THE Catholic Church has set Dec. 25 and Dec. 26 as national days of prayer for families affected by typhoon Odette, the second most powerful typhoon to hit the country.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines called on dioceses to dedicate the said days to pray for the recovery of communities affected by the typhoon.

Dioceses are also encouraged to hold a second collection in all Masses on Christmas Day and the following day for the typhoon victims.

Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, CBCP president, said the “Alay Kapwa Solidarity Fund” will be used for the Church’s collective emergency response.

“We encourage everyone to remit all collections to Caritas Philippines that will then plan and implement our overall response,” he said.

David added that the church’s social action arm will also provide the dioceses reports and updates on a regular basis.

“May this season of giving offer us more opportunities to do consistent acts of Alay Kapwa (offering of oneself),” he also said.

The national Caritas said that at least 10 dioceses in Visayas and Mindanao regions were heavily affected by the typhoon.

Odette intensified into a super typhoon before making a landfall in the island of Siargao in Surigao del Norte on Thursday, forcing mass evacuation in low-lying areas.

Packing a maximum sustained winds of up to 195 km, the 15th typhoon to enter the Philippine territory this year destroyed houses displacing thousands of families. It also cut power and communication lines in the affected areas.

Caritas Philippines has launched an appeal to help the communities devastated by typhoon Odette that claimed dozens of lives.

Fr. Antonio Labiao, the national Caritas’ executive secretary, said many dioceses in the Visayas and Mindanao regions were “devastated” by the typhoon.

“They need shelter materials, food, water and medicines urgently. That is why we are appealing for your help,” he said.

According to the situationer report submitted by Caritas Philippines to Caritas Internationalis, at least 10 dioceses were ravaged by the typhoon.

The initial report indicated that the Cebu archdiocese and the dioceses of Tagbilaran, Maasin, and Surigao are considered “severely damaged” by the typhoon.

“We are sending this appeal to everyone. As we prepare for Christmas, let us not forget the Filipino families, especially children, who were affected by typhoon Odette. Let us celebrate the birth of Christ through our kindness, compassion and generosity,” he said.

Several dioceses held a second collection during Sunday Masses to augment the Church’s emergency response.

Aside from sending assistance, Caritas Philippines will also be helping dioceses conduct rapid assessments.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said at least 181,500 families in 2, 209 villages were affected by the devastation of typhoon Odette.

As of Sunday, more than 140 people are believed to have been killed after the typhoon ravaged the central and southern regions of the archipelago. About half of the 142 deaths reported so far from the typhoon were in the province of Bohol in the Visayas region.

For donations, these are Caritas Philippines’ donation details:

Euro

Acct. Name: CBCP CARITAS FILIPINAS FOUNDATION INC.

Account No.: 632-2-632-00293-3

Bank: Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company

SWIFT Code: MBTCPHMM

US Dollar

Acct. Name: CBCP CARITAS FILIPINAS FOUNDATION INC.

Account No.: 632-2-632-60023-7

Bank: Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company

SWIFT Code: MBTCPHMM

Philippine Peso

Acct. Name: CBCP CARITAS FILIPINAS FOUNDATION INC.

Account No.: 632-7-632-02788-1

Bank: Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company

SWIFT Code: MBTCPHMM

In another development, Pope Francis on Sunday asked for prayers and assistance for victims of the strong typhoon that claimed lives and rendered thousands homeless in the Philippines.

After praying the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square, the pope expressed his closeness to Filipinos suffering from the devastation caused by typhoon “Odette” on Dec. 16.

“I express my closeness to the people of the Philippines hit by a strong typhoon, which has destroyed many homes. May the Santo Niño [de Cebú] bring consolation and hope to the families most in need; and may he inspire all of us to give concrete help. The first concrete help is prayer, and other aids,” he said.

The death toll from the strongest typhoon to hit the nation this year has topped 100, but scores of people are still missing as rescuers reach more devastated areas.