By Currents News
The country of Jamaica endured high winds and heavy rain on Oct. 28 as Hurricane Melissa, the strongest storm on the planet so far in 2025, made landfall.
The rare Category 5 hurricane, boasting winds of up to 175 miles per hour, left the streets of Kingston, the capital city, deserted as it ravaged the Caribbean.
The massive rainfall is anticipated to trigger landslides and catastrophic flash flooding, while the powerful storm surge and high winds threaten widespread damage to the island nation’s infrastructure.
Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan expressed solidarity with those affected, posting on X: “Prayers for those who stand in the path of Hurricane Melissa, especially in Jamaica, and those already affected in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Many of our Brooklyn Diocese parishioners have family on these islands in the Caribbean. Let us ask God to protect them, and all the people of these nations.”
In response to the devastation, Catholic Relief Services has committed $250,000 in lifesaving relief to support those impacted by Hurricane Melissa.
Individuals wishing to contribute can visit crs.org/donate/hurricane-melissa.