Cardinal Timothy Dolan has asked the bishops, priests, and deacons for the prayers and support of the people of the archdiocese on behalf of earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria, he wrote in a letter to the clergy of the Archdiocese of New York on Thursday.
More than 21,000 people have died since a 7.8-magnitude earthquake and subsequent aftershocks struck Turkey and Syria on Monday, with tens of thousands more injured.
"The talk in the Holy Land was all about the anguish in neighboring Syria and Turkey. We even felt the tremors," said Cardinal Dolan, who just returned from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
"This archdiocese has never failed to assist such suffering," the Cardinal wrote.
Parishes may choose to take up a second collection during Masses on Sunday, February 19, or create donation baskets specifically designated for earthquake relief. Proceeds from funds raised will benefit victims of all faiths, the Cardinal wrote.