Millions of displaced families from the Middle East are in need of emergency support. More than 2.6 million people in Iraq have been displaced, and almost 4 million Syrians have become refugees as they flee the devastating civil war that has ravaged their country for more than 4 years. Half of those Syrian refugees are children, and a majority of them have been out of school for most of their young lives.

These refugees are primarily finding shelter in neighboring countries, including Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, and Egypt. Lately some have been following migration routes through the Balkan countries as they seek to enter Western Europe.

The Catholic Church is present in these places providing emergency assistance, including food, sleeping bags, hygiene packages, clean water, temporary shelter, medical care, legal assistance, children's education, support, and trauma counseling.

To participate in this corporal work of mercy, I recommend that Catholics send contributions through Catholic Relief Services (CRS). CRS is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. It is governed by a board of directors composed of bishops, priests, religious, and Catholic lay men and women.

For over four years CRS has worked to assist more than 600,000 Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt, including Christians and people of other faiths. In addition to providing basic living supplies, they have particularly focused on helping children who have been traumatized by the violence and displacement. One Muslim refugee girl told CRS staff that she'd never heard the word "Catholic" before, but when she came to the CRS children's tent and saw the children playing, she just assumed the word "Catholic" meant "help."

Parishes may choose to take up a special collection for these refugees at any time, and send the proceeds to the Finance Office of the Diocese of San Angelo. The diocese will consolidate these funds and forward them to Catholic Relief Services.

Individuals who wish to make private donations can make their contributions directly to Catholic Relief Services. Individual contributions can be made here:

• By mail: Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21297-0303 ("Middle East Refugee Crisis" in memo line)
• By phone: 1-800-736-3467
• Online: www.crs.org (click on "Donate Now" button).

At this link, learn more information about what we are doing, and what you can do.

Let us offer up prayers to God for the safety and health of these, our suffering brothers and sisters.