The Diocese
Posted: 10/19/2017
With pained lungs and grieving hearts the Armenian Community of the Bay Area awoke to the devastation of two weeks of raging wildfires in the North Bay region. These historically deadly fires affected the Sonoma, Napa and Santa Rosa areas, where many people lost not only their schools, business and homes, but also their lives.
The parishes of the Western Diocese in the Bay Area, which include St. John Armenian Church of San Francisco, St. Vartan Armenian Church of Oakland, and St. Andrew Armenian Church of San Jose, have promptly responded to this crisis by raising funds to support the relief and recovery process. More importantly they have reached out their parishioners living in the affected areas to assure their safety and offer pastoral care and material support where necessary.
On Sunday, October 15, they offered requiem prayers for all those who lost their lives as a result of the fire.
Working in conjunction with the San Francisco Interfaith Council and the Salvation Army, local Parish Priests will also be volunteering in impacted areas to provided emotional and spiritual care to people affected by the fires.
The Bay Area parishes call upon the faithful of the Western Diocese to join them in prayer that the Almighty Lord bring comfort to those affected by the fires.
