Catholic agencies begin rebuilding after Ecuador quake

Archdiocese of Vancouver approves special collection for Ecuador

Residents recover some of their belongings April 25 from debris of a destroyed building in Canoa, Ecuador. (Photo Credit: Jose Jacome)

Catholic agencies are beginning to build temporary shelters for thousands of families in Ecuador made homeless by the South American country's worst natural disaster in nearly seven decades.

"On April 16, 2016, a violent earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck Ecuador. Hundreds were killed, and thousands have been left injured or in need of assistance," said Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB. "The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace has allocated emergency relief efforts through its partner organization Caritas Ecuador. CCODP is also collecting funds for the country, where a state of emergency has been declared.

The fund will be collected during the second collection on May 7-8.

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