Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio will celebrate Mass at St. Thomas More Church, 204-25 Rockaway Point Blvd., this Sunday, Nov. 4th at 12 p.m. Almost every single family in the parish was displaced due to Hurricane Sandy.

“When confronted by natural disasters I am reminded of the words of the Lord found in the prophet Isaiah ‘O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in precious metal, and lay your foundations with sapphires.’ While we humans have learned how to mitigate against natural calamity, we cannot despite these advances, change the reality that life is fragile,” Bishop DiMarzio said in a statement in response to the devastation left by the hurricane.

The bishop also announced that all parishes in the diocese will take up a second collection to assist those who are in distress as a result of this natural disaster. “Most of our families throughout Brooklyn and Queens are middle-class or working poor. All are so incredibly generous to those suffering in other parts of our country and world. Now we need to come together to assist our neighbors,” he said.

For information on relief efforts in Brooklyn and Queens, as well as volunteer opportunities, visit www.dioceseofbrooklyn.org.