Nuncio, Archbishop Pierre with +pde during Pallium Mass, Anchorage.

Last Friday morning, within 30 minutes of the 7.0 earthquake that struck the Anchorage area, I received a phone call from the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre.  He was concerned of the report he heard, and wanted to know how the people of the Archdiocese were doing after the earthquake.

Yesterday I sent the Archbishop a brief report of our condition and of the damage assessments.

Today, I received the following message of prayer and support.  While we continue to experience strong aftershocks and put our homes, businesses, parishes, and lives back together, it is comforting to know of the solidarity of so many people, especially our Nuncio, and through him, of our Holy Father.

Hang in there everyone!

Your Excellency,

Thank you for your email of 5 December 2018 and for keeping me informed of the situation in the Archdiocese of Anchorage following the earthquake last Friday. While grateful to God that there was no loss of life and that injuries were minimal, I am saddened to hear about the damages to the parishes and schools, the expense that will be incurred to repair the structures, the inconvenience to families and workers, and, most of all, the trauma to the people there. Thankfully, the Church in Anchorage is able to be present to the people and Catholic Charities has remained open and maintained its services.

Please assure the people of my spiritual closeness and solidarity of the Holy Father during this difficult period of recovery. To this, I would offer my own heartfelt prayers for the people of Anchorage and for you as Shepherd of the local church – that you may be strengthened in your ministry of offering the flock the comfort and consolation of the living God.

Assuring you of my prayers, I am

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio

 

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