From The Ashes
Bishop Malloy Explains How You Can Help Rebuild Notre Dame
April 25, 2019
April 17, 2019
 
Dear Friends in Christ,
 
This week we watched with sadness as fire tore through historic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, causing severe damage to the centuries-old structure. The impact of the fire on the faithful of the city and of the world is immense and the full extent will not be known for some time.
 
The parishioners of the Rockford Diocese along with all those across the United States have been generous with prayers, outreach, and donations in past disaster situations. 
 
In that spirit of generosity parishioners have contacted their pastors and the Diocesan Administration inquiring how they can help. 
 
Rather than issuing a formal request for a national appeal, Archbishop Paul D. Etienne, chairman of the USCCB Committee on National Collections, sent information to me and to all bishops regarding donations for the rebuilding of the Cathedral of Notre Dame.  
 
‘This will be an opportunity for all of us to manifest our unity, our fervor and our confidence in the future.
 
We feel well that we will not only have to rebuild our cathedral but also reconstruct our church whose face is so wounded.’
 
— Archbishop Michel Aupetit of Paris
Rather than request a national collection for this cause the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has informed me that the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, has set up a fund to help the cathedral resurrect and rebuild. The shrine, whose Board of Members consists of the Administrative Committee of the USCCB, has the infrastructure to manage donated funds and established relationships to provide the necessary and appropriate due diligence on the distribution of funds. All proceeds received will be used solely for the assistance of Notre Dame Cathedral and those affected by this tragedy.  
 
Even though there will be no diocesan-wide collection, those wishing to contribute can do so by sending funds to: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Attn: Msgr. Walter Rossi, Rector, 400 Michigan Ave. NE, Washington, D.C. 20017.
 
Checks should be made payable to “Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception;” indicate “Cathedral of Notre Dame Fund” in the memo portion of the check.
 
Funds should not be sent to USCCB or to the Diocese of Rockford. Another way for individual parishioners to support the effort is to visit www.SupportNotreDame.org which is a site solely dedicated to this cause.
 
Thank you in advance for your continued prayers and support of the people of Paris and the Cathedral of Notre Dame which has been a beacon of faith for so many and for so long.
 
With gratitude and prayers for a blessed Triduum and a joyous Easter, I am
 
Sincerely yours in Christ,
 
 
 
Most Reverend David J. Malloy
Bishop of Rockford