On Aug. 8, four separate fires started burning in Maui, Hawaii, which have since reaped devastation and claimed the lives of over 100 people so far.
Pope Francis sent a telegram to the Diocese of Honolulu in the days that followed expressing “his solidarity with all those suffering from this tragedy, especially those whose loved ones have died or are missing.” He also offered “the assurance of prayers for the dead, injured, and displaced, as well as for the first responders and emergency personnel.”
“As a sign of his spiritual closeness, the Holy Father willingly invokes upon all the people of Maui Almighty God’s blessings of strength and peace,” the telegram said.
We join our own prayers with the Holy Father and the universal Church in praying for all of those lives that were lost and affected by the fires in Maui. As of now, they are still not totally contained and firefighters are continuing heroic efforts to extinguish them.
For those who would like to donate to help rebuild all that’s been lost, the Diocese of Honolulu has set up a donation page to the Hawaii Catholic Community Foundation.
“Every donation, no matter the amount, will play a crucial role in helping to rebuild lives and restore hope,” Bishop Larry Silva of the Diocese of Honolulu wrote in a letter.