CATHOLIC CHURCH OFFERS PRAYERS AND PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE IN QUEENSLAND FLOODS

‘The Australian Catholic Bishops and people around Australia are united in prayer and practical support as the State of Queensland suffers its worst flooding in decades.  The bishops extend heartfelt sympathy to the victims and their families.
Archdiocesan priest, Fr John Conway, is currently the administrator of three parishes in an area at the bottom of the Toowoomba ranges.  He and people in the area are responding in the aftermath:  “I’d like to express my gratitude to all the people and priests across Australia who have rung to offer support.    Many places still have no drinking water, roads are damaged so trucks can’t get through.  We can’t get fuel, milk, bread.  We’re basically rationing everything”, he said.
St Vincent de Paul Queensland President Brian Moore hopes to assist people as quickly as possible:  ‘We are appealing for money to get to the conferences to give concrete support to those affected.  When the water subsides, Vinnies is going to be there for months meeting the needs of people.  It is really heart wrenching to see all the people affected by these floods.
For  those  who  did not have the opportunity last weekend to donate to the Special Collection last weekend for St Vinnies, Rockhampton, phone 13 18 12 or www.vinnies.org.au which will allow you to contribute to the St Vincent de Paul Statewide appeal’.