Members of the Roman Catholic community in Bermuda have dug deep and collected nearly $90,000 to boost worldwide disaster relief efforts.

Kind-hearted parishioners from churches across the Island raised $86,000 to help victims of Hurricane Katrina on the American Gulf Coast, Hurricane Stan in Central America as well as earthquake victims in Pakistan.

Cash was sent to Catholic Charities USA for distribution to Katrina victims, and to Caritas Internationalis to assist people hit by Hurricane Stan in Central America and those made homeless in Pakistan.

In the past twelve months ? since Hurricane Ivan ripped through the Caribbean ? the Roman Catholic community in Bermuda has contributed more than $176,000 to the victims of natural disasters that have had catastrophic impacts on people from all walks of life.

A total of $48,800 has been sent to various islands in the Caribbean; $41,600 to tsunami victims in South East Asia; $55,000 to victims of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and $31,000 to help the recovery operation in Central America and earthquake survivors in Pakistan.

The Catholic Charities USA is the North American branch of Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 162 Roman Catholic relief, development and social service organisations throughout 198 countries.