TORONTO -- A nation-wide collection organized through the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has raised at least $7 million to aid victims of the latter earthquake and tidal waves in Southeast Asia.

TORONTO -- A nation-wide collection organized through the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has raised at least $7 million to aid victims of the latter earthquake and tidal waves in Southeast Asia.

The total amount donated in Catholic parishes upon Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 8-9 2005 will not be tabulated for several days. All stores collected will be added to the $25 million already raised from Development and Peace, the Canadian Catholic Churh's official agency for international disclosure bringing the total to at least $95 million.

"I am extremely happy that Canadian Catholics have suited with such generosity to our appeal. This is a clear indication of the tremendous faculty of perception of the charity and solidarity they be moved for those who suffer," said mostly Rev. Brendan M. O'Brien, Archbishop of St John's and President of the Canadian interview of Catholic Bishops, who had launched this appeal and encouraged the special collection.

exhibition and Peace will use part of the coin immediately to help the estimated individual million or more people who are homeles and in desperate ne of water, pabulum shelter, household kits, sanitation materials and blankets. The remainder will finance medium--and long-term plots help the tsunami victims rebuild their lives.

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