Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles has called for prayers as wildfires continue to sweep through parts of southern California, having killed at least five people and forced thousands to flee their homes.
“Please keep praying for all those suffering in the wildfires sweeping through Southern California,” Archbishop Gomez said in a late Jan. 8 statement. “My heart goes out to our neighbors who have lost their homes and livelihoods. Let’s pray for them, and let’s pray for our firefighters and first responders.”
“May God keep all of our brothers and sisters safe and bring an end to these fires!” he said.
The three major wind-fueled fires continued into Jan. 9, with crews working tirelessly to control them. The major blazes are the Palisades fire west of Los Angeles, the Eaton fire north of Pasadena, and the Hurst fire in the San Fernando Valley.
Another fire also started overnight on Jan. 9 in the Hollywood Hills.
At a news conference late on Jan. 8, Victor M. Gordo, the mayor of Pasadena, said over 100,000 people had been ordered to evacuate, and 100,000 more had been warned they should evacuate because they were in a danger zone. Gordo also noted that “hundreds of homes have been lost.”
Earlier in the day, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said that more than 1,000 structures had been destroyed, making it the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history. Some reports indicate that the number has grown to over 2,000.
With Archbishop Gomez’s statement, the archdiocese announced it was still assessing the damage and impact of the fires on Catholic parishes and schools and will share updates on its website, social media channels, and Angelus News, the archdiocese’s multimedia news magazine.
Angelus News has already reported that Corpus Christi Catholic Church in the Pacific Palisades has been destroyed by the fires, with only the frame of its structure remaining.
Archbishop Gomez will preside at two special Masses for the victims of the fires and first responders on Jan. 9, according to the archdiocese. Both will be livestreamed on the archdiocese’s website. A special fund has been created to support archdiocesan schools and parishes impacted by the fires directly. Donations for the fund can be made through the archdiocese’s website, as well.
On Jan. 8, the White House announced that President Joe Biden had approved a major disaster declaration for California, which allows impacted communities and survivors to immediately access funds and resources to “jumpstart their recovery.”
Later in the day, he canceled his upcoming trip to Italy to focus on the federal response to the fires.
“We’re prepared to do anything and everything as long as it takes,” Biden said at a briefing. “It’s astounding what’s happening.”
