A devastating earthquake has left thousands of families without shelter, food, or medical care. Your gift today helps the Church provide immediate emergency relief in Colombia.
When All Else Collapses, the Church Stands With Its People
“The Holy Father is “deeply saddened to learn of the sorrowful news of the earthquake that has severely affected several areas of Colombia, causing casualties and numerous injuries, as well as serious material damage, including to many churches.” He “offers prayers for the eternal rest of the deceased and raises his prayers to the Lord for the speedy recovery of those affected by this tragedy.” — Telegram expressing Pope Leo XIV’s sadness over the Colombia earthquake
Colombia in Crisis - Help Today
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia this morning, its epicenter in San José del Palmar in Chócó province, one of the country’s poorest regions and a longtime focus of support from Aid to the Church in Need.
Local dioceses report widespread damage to parish buildings, and the cities of Cali, Pereira and Manizales were also severely affected.
ACN has approved emergency funding to support the Catholic Church in Colombia as it responds to the disaster. We are coordinating with local dioceses to assess damage and identify the most urgent pastoral and humanitarian needs in the affected communities. Please keep all those impacted in your prayers and give if you can.
Updates from the field
Here is an update of the situation:
281 people have been killed.
3971 people have been injured.
379 are still missing.
12,000 homes were destroyed; more than 74,000 damaged.
News of the Suffering in Colombia
Earthquake in Colombia: Church assessing needs for emergency aid
A devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck much of western and central Colombia on Monday. While authorities assess the scale of the emergency, the Catholic Church
A priest’s fight against violence in Colombia: “Our neighborhood has two or three murders every week”
Father Gersaín Paz, the parish priest of one of Colombia’s most dangerous neighborhoods, tells Aid to the Church in Need how faith and music have
Colombia: Bombing destroys bishops’ residence and offices
Early on November 2nd, an explosion aimed at the police station in Guapi, southwest Colombia, killed three people and destroyed a large part of the
Colombia: A donor deep in the jungle
Martín Alberto Peña, 47, was born in Mitú and is ACN’s only donor in the entire region. He told the foundation that he is sustained by the power of prayer, because “with God, anything is possible,”
Colombia: Walking to heaven together
Mitú is a tough place, unknown to even most Colombians. It is covered in dense forests and plagued with diseases, snakes, and other poisonous animals, not to mention perilous rivers and waterfalls. However, despite these challenges, the Church has been in the region for 100 years.
Colombia: Being the compassionate face of God
“Whenever I see a hungry child I remember, there is Christ. It is my duty, as a Christian, to make sure the cihld is fed. Jesus is always present.”