Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York and chair of CNEWA, will lead the faithful in praying the rosary for the people of India who are sick and suffering from the COVID-19 virus, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, 8 May at the Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, located at 174 Filors Lane, Stony Point, New York.
The cardinal is extending a special invitation to Indian American Catholic priests and parishioners to join him in praying in a special way for the people of India, where the coronavirus continues to have a devastating impact.
In announcing his visit to the shrine, the cardinal said, “Thanks be to God, we seem to have turned a corner in our battle against this disease in our country, but we are also to care for those who are suffering elsewhere.
“Prayer is the most powerful weapon we have, and by praying the rosary we will call upon our Blessed Mother Mary, to intercede with her son, Jesus, on behalf of those who are still struggling to overcome the effects of the pandemic.”
Cardinal Dolan has also asked the nearly 300 parishes of the Archdiocese of New York to consider raising funds to help alleviate the suffering in India, as they have generously done on many other occasions in the past to help people in need. Any funds raised will be sent to the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, an agency of the Holy See of which the archbishops of New York serve ex officio as chair and treasurer.
CNEWA’s president, Msgr. Peter I. Vaccari, announced this week the launching of an emergency COVID campaign for India. Donations will be used to rush PPE, medical supplies, food parcels and vaccines to CNEWA partners on the frontlines combating the pandemic. Visit cnewa.org/india to learn more.