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The Archdiocese of New York is sending $20,000 to Caritas in the Archdiocese of Managua, Nicaragua, to help provide rebuilding materials for the many people who lost their homes, businesses and farms in the two devastating hurricanes that struck the Central American country last month.
Hurricane Iota brought 155-mile winds to Nicaragua just a week after the devastation of Hurricane Eta, which was responsible for more than 130 deaths. Honduras, Guatemala and other neighboring countries also sustained significant damage.
The just-ended Atlantic hurricane season was a severe one with a total of 30 storms.
The funds the archdiocese is sending will come from an account earmarked for emergency assistance.
Father Enrique Salvo, a native of Nicaragua who is pastor of St. Anselm and St. Roch parish in the Bronx, told CNY that Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes of Managua was “extremely grateful to Cardinal Dolan and the Archdiocese of New York” when he told him about the donation during a recent phone call.
Father Salvo said many members of his own family live in Nicaragua, though not in the area affected by the hurricanes.
“The two hurricanes add to the already existing poverty in the region,” said Father Salvo, who said that many of his parishioners are originally from those areas.
St. Anselm and St. Roch parish has raised $7,500 from special collections and other fund-raising efforts. Those funds will be sent to individual priests serving in Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala to assist with rebuilding efforts, Father Salvo said.
