Archbishop José H. Gomez asks all people of faith and good-will to join him in offering prayers and support for all our brothers and sisters affected by the fires in Southern California.
"Friends, the devastation of the wildfires continues — both here in southern California and in the northern part of the state. We need to keep praying for those who have lost their lives and their homes and livelihoods, and for all the men and women fighting the fires. May God keep everyone safe and bring these fires under control. We have started a fund to help the victims of these fires. Please offer whatever help you can."
Earlier this year, a special fund was created to provide support during the Thomas Fire. This fund has now been expanded to include those affected by the recent fires in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is providing support to the communities affected by the fires through Catholic Charities of Los Angeles and our local parishes and schools. Donations can be made at archla.org/fires.
If you know of anyone who is in immediate need of temporary shelter, food or assistance, they can contact the pastor of their nearest parish for help.
There are also resources available from city and county agencies for those who are in the evacuation zones. You can find more information regarding where to get help if you are affected by the fires at the following links:
Ventura County Fire Department: http://vcfd.org
Ventura County Emergency Information: https://www.vcemergency.com
Los Angeles Fire Department: https://www.lafd.org
