A Vehicle for a Parish in Syria Hit by the Earthquake 

In February of 2023, a powerful earthquake struck the region of southern Turkey and northern Syria. At least 50,000 people died, and a huge number of buildings were destroyed. Among the areas most hard-hit was the city of Aleppo in Syria, already devastated by the civil war in the country. 

Father Hugo Fabian Alaniz, the priest of Our Lady of the Annunciation parish, was clearly protected by his guardian angel, since he himself was unhurt, but his car, which was parked in the street, was crushed by heavy masonry falling onto it from the sixth floor and reduced to scrap metal. This left him with a major problem, since his pastoral and social work within the parish are virtually impossible without a vehicle. It is essential for the priests and the other pastoral workers at its adjoining social center to be mobile, since they often have to ferry relief goods or transport the elderly and handicapped.

Using taxis is not a solution, as the cost is prohibitive, and they are often unreliable. For now Father Alaniz is renting a car, but that, too, is unaffordable in the long run and so is not a permanent solution. He has turned to us with an urgent appeal for help and we cannot let him down, so we have already promised $23,200 to help him replace his car so that he can continue his pastoral work and help the many poor and needy in Aleppo. 

Can you help Father Alaniz purchase a vehicle so that he can better serve his hard-hit parish in Syria? 

We are sure he will gratefully remember you in his prayers.

Aid to the Church in Need commits to invest your funds where they will have the greatest impact for the Church that we serve. Funds donated to Aid to the Church in Need’s projects will be used towards the greatest need in our programs to help keep the Faith alive.

Code: 330-01-29