When Venezuelan Catholics from across the Diocese of Brooklyn gathered at St. Matthias Church in Ridgewood on Sept. 19 to honor Our Lady of Coromoto, their homeland’s patroness, they did so with heavy hearts as the nation continues to rebuild following devastating earthquakes that struck on June 24. 

More than 6,500 people died in the earthquakes, and reports indicate that nearly 18,000 more remain without homes.  

As Bishop Robert Brennan highlighted after the Mass, volunteers across the diocese have worked tirelessly to send supplies to those in need.  

“The people of Brooklyn and Queens put their faith into action to provide relief for the people of Venezuela,” Bishop Brennan told The Tablet. “Despite the distance, our families united in the name of Jesus Christ.” 

The diocese’s feast day of Our Lady of Coromoto Mass and celebration fell during Hispanic Heritage Month, which is held nationwide annually and is a time to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic Americans. 

In the Catholic context, Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to recognize the vibrancy of Hispanic Catholic communities and parishes nationwide — something that is especially true in the Diocese of Brooklyn, where Hispanic Catholics are the lifeblood of so many parishes. It’s also a time to recognize that Hispanic Catholics are integral to the present and future of the American Church, as 36% of Catholic adults in the U.S. are Hispanic, and 40% of Gen-Z Catholics identify as Hispanic or Latino, studies show.  

This year, however, Hispanic Heritage Month is also still an important time to support those in Venezuela who, three months later, are still suffering in the aftermath of the earthquakes and to support those suffering in Colombia from the impact of a 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck on Aug. 10, killing about 330 people.

In the Diocese of Brooklyn, donations, which will help deliver emergency shelter, food, safe water, medical care, and other critical relief, can be made to the Compostela Fund. 

Beyond monetary donations, you can reach out to your pastor or neighbors to find volunteering opportunities in your community to gather food and other relief supplies for those in need, or simply offer prayers and support to those in need.  

As Bishop Brennan reminded us at the feast day of Our Lady of Coromoto Mass, the story of the patroness of Venezuela is the first time that the Blessed Mother appeared to a family, “and I often say the Church is indeed a family of families.”  

So, this Hispanic Heritage Month, as we celebrate Hispanic Americans in the diocese and nationwide, it’s also important to offer prayers and support to our broader Catholic family, especially those who still suffer following the recent natural disasters.