Tropical Cyclone Idai is regarded as one of the worst tropical cyclones on record to affect Africa and the Southern Hemisphere as a whole.  A tropical cyclone is essentially a hurricane that occurs in the south Pacific or Indian Ocean. The long-lived storm caused catastrophic damage in multiple nations, leaving more than a thousand people dead and hundreds more missing.  The Category 2 storm made landfall shortly after midnight on March 15 in Beira, a port city on the coast of Mozambique, with winds that brought huge rains and submerged villages as it moved inland towards Mission Amatongas, the mission run by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart.  Tomorrow in religion class, students will view a Presentation that documents Mission Amatongas and the damage it received in this storm. At our Lenten school-wide liturgy on Thursday, there will be a special collection for Mission Amatongas.

Let us call to mind that we are in God’s presence.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Dear Lord,

Teach us to be generous as You have been generous with us. Teach us that all we are and have are gifts from You, and our gifts, Lord, are meant to be shared with others.

Show us the joys of generosity. Help us to understand that others at times depend on us for help.

Remind us that our world, our city, our school, need “Good Samaritans” to heal the wounds of our times.  Make us a gift to others in Your name.

Help us to be generous to those suffering in Mozambique.

We pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Ametur Cor Jesu! Ametur Cor Mariae!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.