Support for Puerto Rico

October 2, 2017

Dear Members of the Boston College Community:

All of us within the BC community have been pained by the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria on the island of Puerto Rico.

BC has faculty, students, staff, and alumni from Puerto Rico, many of whom have experienced great difficulty in reaching loved ones who were directly affected by the flooding and electrical blackouts that continue to confront the island.

To show our support, Boston College will host a Mass on Tuesday, October 3, at 7:00 pm in St. Ignatius Church, to pray for the victims and offer support for those in need. The Mass will be followed by a gathering in the basement of St. Ignatius to provide community members with an opportunity for discussion. Additional collections for Puerto Rico will be held at BC Masses throughout the semester.

In addition, a student-led vigil has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 10, on the Plaza at O’Neill Library, which will feature BC’s Catholic Relief Services Ambassadors and other student groups.

There also will be a collection at the BC- Florida State football game on October 27 in support of Puerto Rican relief that will be administered through Catholic Relief Services, Catholic Charities, and Jesuit ministries in Puerto Rico. The collection will supplement funds raised through student point drives that have occurred in dining halls across campus and several other efforts directed by student groups.

Academic deans also are available to assist students with any academic accommodations they might need.   

Please feel free to reach out to colleagues Akua Sarr in Academic Affairs, Ines Maturana Sendoya in the Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center, or Rick Rossi in Campus Ministry with questions.

Thank you for your support and assistance.

Sincerely,