Hit hard by Hurricane Ida and the pandemic, this small Louisiana church community in Des Allemands prays for good news from the Archdiocese of New Orleans

 

As St. Gertrude awaits news from Archdiocese, church community sticks together

The tight-knit community at St. Gertrude the Great Catholic Church will celebrate Easter together this year, and the hope is that this continues for the year after and the one after that, and so on.

But nothing is guaranteed – it’s been a struggle for the Des Allemands church, one only compounded since Hurricane Ida and COVID-19.

In 2022, the Archdiocese told parishioners that the church would undergo a feasibility study to see whether it is viable for the parish to remain open. St. Gertrude Pastor Fr. Ray Hymel said it isn’t likely the church will receive an answer to that question until at least the summer.

“The decision isn’t up to us,” Hymel said. “We’re waiting for the Archdiocese to give us that answer. There are 15 other churches in the Archdiocese in the same situation.”

According to Hymel, the church’s attendance has steadily  been in decline for more than a decade, and the Archdiocese study was on the way regardless of Hurricane Ida. Ida left the church significantly damaged. Insurance and rebuilding costs have set the church parish back greatly, and in fact its facilities are still not back to use: it largely has one truly operable building, where it is able to hold its weekly mass.

“We have an outdoor pavilion that lets us be self-sufficient for things … but no bathroom facilities, or kitchen facilities. Our numbers are lower, staff as well … we can’t do what we were doing before with our cooking fundraisers,” Hymel said.

Chief among those fundraisers is its largest annual fundraiser, the three-day Louisiana Catfish Festival, which has been sidelined for three years because of Ida and COVID-19. The event provides the great bulk of funding for the church and has long been a very popular outing for families in St. Charles Parish.

The plan was to bring it back in September of 2021, but rising COVID-19 cases spoiled that. In 2022, Ida spoiled any comeback thoughts.

The festival was established in 1975 by Rev. William McCallion as a fundraiser for St. Gertrude. The church was set to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the festival in 2020, but pandemic cancelled that celebration. To make up for lost revenue – the festival brought in an average of $40,000 a year – local parishioners including Catfish Festival organizer Sheena Candies pivoted to organizing craft fairs to keep the church afloat. The plans were to hold a one-day festival with no rides but with the traditional fair foods and bands prior to the cancellation.

Hymel said the festival is in limbo for now, hinging on the Archdiocese decision – planning a festival of that scale wouldn’t be viable with so much uncertainty surrounding it.

The question the Archdiocese is attempting to answer is whether the church parish can support itself financially and whether the size of its congregation justifies continuing on.

“It’s a big red flag if you don’t have enough parishioners … if you don’t have enough people to do things or support the parish,” Hymel said. “The Catfish Festival has been a very important cultural event since 1975, but it can’t be the only means of support … it’s not just a question of financially keeping the doors open.”

The good news is the church’s attendance has not starkly declined since prior to Ida. But more of a factor has been the community-wide decline for Des Allemands over the years, something shared by many other towns locally.

“It affects the Catfish Festival in a major way. Between 1975 and 2005,there  was a much bigger population, but not anymore,” Hymel said.

In lieu of the Catfish Festival and other cooking fundraisers, the church has turned to craft fundraisers to make ends meet.

The upcoming Easter Egg-stravaganza vendor and craft show is one such change-up made by the St. Gertrude brain trust. Featuring crafts, prizes and a 50/50 raffle, the Easter Egg-stravaganza is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 23 at 17292 Highway 631 in Des Allemands. Covered and non-covered vendor and craft booth spots are available starting at $30 while garage sale booths are also available. For information about vendor opportunities and applications, one may contact Sheena Candies at 985-520-1541 or sheenacandies@icloud.com.

The church has been able to restore a few longtime traditions  through all of the difficulties. In December, the St. Gertrude community  held  its annual veteran memorial service where area residents come together to recognize and honor those who passed in the previous calendar year. That was also a practice that had been relegated to the sidelines over the past two years due to COVID-19 and Hurricane Ida.

A full room’s worth of residents were in attendance recently, eager to bring the event back for the first time since 2019. Thirty-one names were called out and honored at the service, which recognized all known veterans who have passed over the years it was not held.

As St. Gertrude awaits news on its fate, Hymel said the best way parishioners can help is to continue showing support.

“We’re a very tight-knit community,” Hymel said. “The congregation that still gathers with us is very faithful, loyal and supportive. Continuing that and keeping us where we are right now helps tremendously.”

Hurricane Ida; one year later

 One year ago today my family was hunkered down in a hotel room in Greenville, Alabama.  Hurricane Ida was hitting the next day.  She was a beast and we remained on the road for a total of almost 2 weeks.  No power, no water, few services but at least we escaped major property damage.

So many of our south Louisiana neighbors who bore the brunt of Ida last year are still not whole, still suffering 365 days later.  

Ida struck on August 29th, the same date that Hurricane Katrina destroyed so much some 16 years prior.  And while there are storms brewing out in the waters right now, at least we won't be dealing with another storm on August 29th.

God Bless Louisiana and we pray the intercession of Our Lady of Prompt Succor.

The story of a little church in Louisiana full of hope even after Hurricane Ida

 

For churches hit by disasters, Easter brings promise of hope

LOUISIANA

The windows at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic church were blown out, and its ceiling, sacristy and vestibule crumbled after Hurricane Ida blasted ashore in August, hitting the small fishing community of Point-aux-Chenes, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southwest of New Orleans.

Since then, its pastor, the Rev. Rajasekar Karumelnathan, has celebrated Mass in the rectory and under a tent in the parking lot. Attendance dwindled after the storm: from about 80 people who used to attend Sunday services to about 15 now.

Celebrating Christmas under the ruins was especially emotional for the congregation, the pastor said. But he expects a lighter mood for their first, post-Ida Easter service, with its promise of eternal life.

“We have lots of hope,” he said. “Easter strengthens us.”

Parishioner Teddy Neal, who lives a half mile from the church, is still rebuilding his storm-damaged home. He would love to see his church and home restored.

“I see Easter as a new beginning,” said Neal, a truck driver. “I’m pretty much humbled, where it doesn’t matter what the conditions are -- as long as I’m present with Jesus during the Eucharist.”

One month ago today

 It was August 29th, incredibly the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, when Hurricane Ida came ashore at Port Fouchon, LA with sustained winds of 150mph.  Once again and for the fourth time in just over a year, Louisiana residents would have lives changed for a very long time, if not forever.  Widescale destruction came to places with names like Grand Isle, Lafourche Parish, Terrebonne Parish, St. Charles Parish, St. John the Baptist Parish, Laplace, St. James Parish, Tangipahoa Parish, Lafitte, Barataria, Irondale, Myrtle Grove and lower Plaquemines Parish as well as parts of New Orleans and my community in St. Tammany Parish.  Homes destroyed, severely damaged, some lives lost and very long periods without electricity, water and gasoline.  Yet at the same time, it has now been 30 days with incredible acts of charity, generosity and love from neighbor helping neighbor, families banding together, churches stepping up big time and various forms of social service coming to the aid of so many.  And with over 1 million homes and businesses without power, today that number is below 10,000.  Linemen from across the nation came in to help us.  Crews from across the country arrived ready to tarp roofs and muck out houses.  Debris and garbage crews can hardly keep up.  And incredibly most, not all, schools are back teaching.  There is a resilient spirit here, a never say die or give up attitude, yet the work post hurricane is exhausting.  In some cases, very exhausting, both physically and mentally.

Louisiana has actually been hit by 7 named storms since June of 2020; not all very strong, but 4 that were huge impactful hurricanes.  We have had our fair share of dangerous foul weather.  And still we stand!  

We have a huge devotion in southeast Louisiana to Mary under the title Our Lady of Prompt Succor; this dates back to the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.  Every year, from June through November, the churches of the dioceses of south Louisiana invoke her motherly intercession and protection.  And yes, even when the storms come, we feel her powerful help.

For many, the days of fall the coming holidays will still be a time of rebuilding and recovery.  Think of these good people often and include them in your prayers.  We will persevere, with the help of God.  But please forgive us if we beg God for a break from inclement weather, particularly hurricanes.

Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to help us.

Hurricane Ida and beyond some 18 days later

 Hurricane Ida, a strong Category 4 storm, visited our corner of the world some 18 days ago.  While most national reports want to focus on New Orleans, the brunt of this horrible hurricane was in places to the south and west of the Crescent City.  Now New Orleans and her suburbs did take a hit but the worst impacts were in places with names like Grand Isle, Port Fouchon, Lafitte, Barataria, Houma-Thibodaux, lower Terrebonne Parish, lower Lafourche Parish, lower Plaquemines Parish, Hammond, Ponchatoula, Laplace, Lutcher-Gramercy, Luling, Destrehan, Hahnville, Des Allemands, and so many other places in southeast Louisiana.

Many are comparing this storm to Katrina, minus the flooding from a levee failure, and others compare Ida to the 1965 beast known as Betsy.  As the storm made landfall and that first Monday morning dawned it was reported that over 1 million did not have power.  The effort to restore power has been herculean but still today almost 50,000 folks still wait.  And some areas may not be able to receive power for weeks to come.  In many areas, a loss of electricity also means a loss of water and sewer; imagine, not having the ability to flush your toilet for weeks.  Roofs all over the place are damaged and many now sport the famous blue tarp roof.  Tree debris is everywhere you look, piles of tree limbs, trunks and root balls can be found on streets across 20+ civil parishes.  Gas was impossible to find for the first week, it's much better now.  Grocery store shelves are light.  Folks are learning the intricacies of running generators.  

The direct hit of a strong hurricane is awful.  For us in Louisiana, this is the not the first storm in recent memory; no, Ida, followed by the much less powerful Nicholas brings the total # of named storms to hit Louisiana since June of 2020 to 8.  That's right; 8; unprecedented.

How did I handle this storm?  Options abound for many including riding it out, taking shelter or getting the heck out of town.  For me and my family, we opted to go.  We were lucky that we could muster the funds to find hotel rooms about 4 hours north and east of the impact zone.  It's not cheap to go with 3 adults, 2 young toddlers and 2 dogs, including one that weighs 80 lbs.  When we realized we would be without power for quite some time, we ventured off to Orlando since there was a relative that could help us and we got the most ridiculous "good deal" on a 4 bedroom house.  It was great for the kids as they got to visit Disney way earlier than ever expected.  Wendy and I opted to stay near the house and work the FEMA and insurance gauntlet from the house.  In all, we stayed away for a total of 12 days.

By the time we arrived back home the power was back in my world, we even got internet and TV and phone back within 1 day.  But we were shocked at the tree damage on my property.  We were thrilled that the house stood strong, but the tree damage was not insignificant.  Fortunately, we have had friends already remove the largest and most complicated of the felled trees; what a relief.  Still some remain, including the one laying on my barn's roof.  

Returning home allowed me to get back to normal; returning to work at my church parish, ministry as a Deacon, cutting grass, and sleeping in my own bed.  But it's hard to accept that so many neighbors, fellow Louisiana people were still struggling with extreme heat, and broken roofs overhead.  So many great people have rallied to the aid of those in most needs.  Supply drives, free food, volunteers with chainsaws and equipment to remove all the debris.  We were blessed to have a supply drive at our own parish in Abita Springs of St. Jane de Chantal.  Through the organization of two parishioners and the generosity of an entire community, we were able to help more people than we ever thought possible.  Motivated by this effort we are know getting ready to drive down to St. Charles civil parish to help the good folks in and around St. Gertrude the Great church parish.  Even our Knights of Columbus are preparing to feed hot meals to anyone who needs one.  In many ways, despite the horrific impact of Ida, we have witnessed the hands and feet of Jesus, the goodness of so many people and the realization that, even in storms, God is with us and so very much loves us.

I'm never sure if readers who live no where near a hurricane zone can fully understand the issues related to getting ready for a storm and then the subsequent recovery; just like we don't comprehend a blizzard or earthquake.  But we get by with lots of prayers, neighbor helping neighbor and whatever help comes from insurance and various government assistance.  

I hope this gives some insight into hurricane experiences for those of you that have never been through it; and we hope you never do.  Send some prayers to the victims of Hurricane Ida and if you can, find a worthy program to support the rebuilding of southeast Louisiana.

Catholics in Louisiana coming to the aid of those most impacted by Hurricane Ida

 

Louisiana Catholics reach out to help those hit hard by Hurricane Ida

Father David Ducote, pastor at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Parish in LaPlace, La., celebrates an outdoor Mass Sept. 9, 2021, at the home of Adam and Michelle Williams for approximately 35 storm-weary Catholics who needed a respite from cleaning up their homes from Hurricane Ida damage. (CNS photo/Christine Bordelon, Clarion Herald)

By: Christine Bordelon

Date: September 14, 2021

LA PLACE, La. (CNS) — The saying goes: “It takes a village to raise a child.”

While it will take more than a village, including help from local, state and federal government agencies, to bring relief to southern Louisiana from the devastation left in the path of Hurricane Ida, Covington resident Betty-Ann Hickey recently learned that one person doing one small thing can have an impact.

Hickey, with her son James, her friend Tammy Morris and Morris’ sons Kenneth and Matthew, traveled from St. Tammany Parish to help her friend Father David Ducote, pastor of St. Joan of Arc Church in LaPlace, an area that was heavily devastated during Ida.

“I have never done anything like this before,” said Hickey, director of music at Most Holy Trinity Church in Covington and associate director of the Office of Worship for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. “A true friend means you will be there to help people when they need it.”

Once the storm had passed, Hickey was posting on Facebook that she was OK to friends and family, since phones and emails weren’t going through. While many were responding, it was a plea from Father Ducote about the need in his area for manpower to do clean up, remove trees, gut houses that impelled her to act.

“I didn’t have any damage to my home, so once we got power back, I didn’t want to sit around feeling sorry for myself,” Hickey told the Clarion Herald, archdiocesan newspaper of New Orleans.

Her husband Dennis, who works for St. Tammany Parish and is a permanent deacon, was telling her daily how bad the damage was in the area.

“We who weren’t badly affected have the responsibility to help,” Hickey said. “Today, it’s not us, but the next time, it might be. I would want someone to come help cut a tree off my house.”

She and the Morrises gutted one house that day, helping a family stop mold from spreading further. The reaction to her efforts floored Hickey.

“I posted it on Facebook, and people started reaching out and saying, ‘If you do it again, we want to be part of it,'” Hickey said. “What started last week with me and a friend now has six Catholic parishes and over 50 volunteers (as of Sept. 8.)”

On Sept. 9, she took a crew carrying a truckload of supplies from her parish, Most Holy Trinity in Covington, to Lafitte to help.

Jeannie Callaway, administrative assistant to Father Jared Rodrigue, pastor of St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Slidell, is helping Hickey coordinate volunteers and get donations of supplies and money to the parishes and people who need it most.

Father Rodrigue traveled first Sept. 3 to Destrehan with several parishioners and $3,000 in donations and helped with the relief effort of food coordinated by the local Knights of Columbus.

Then about 50 St. Luke parishioners helped Sept. 7 with manpower and donations in LaPlace, where they gutted houses and cut down trees (with the help of fraternity brothers with three chain saws) from a list compiled by St. Joan of Arc Church.

Beyond that, St. Luke has become a hub “of sorts” for all efforts archdiocese-wide, Father Rodrigue said.

The priest said the parish put the word out about what’s happening with New Orleans Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond and the local government in Slidell.

“We’ve canceled all events in our parish to respond to the needs. We haven’t been affected too much, so we are helping others who need more.”

St. Luke has established a website — https://saintlukeslidell.org/ida — where those who want to help can donate money or buy needed supplies that parishes in affected areas desperately need. In less than 24 hours when the site was established, $5,600 and 80 items (tents, pressure washers, hoses, etc.) were donated.

“The hardest part we’ve found is getting manpower,” Father Rodrigue said, especially now that people are returning to work.

“There is a lot of need,” Callaway said. “We’re trying to build a consensus of organizations.” She has reached out to other local parishes, youth groups and high schools to find able bodies to help with cleanup in LaPlace and Lafitte.

St. Luke is working directly with Father Luke Nguyen, pastor of St. Anthony Church in Lafitte, where several Lafitte residents are being housed, to discover immediate needs.

“As people give us their needs, we are meeting their needs,” Callaway said. “It’s important.”

“It is unfortunate that it takes a tragedy to see Catholic Church teaching in its essence — to see faith in action,” Father Rodrigue said. “Hopefully, those who have less damage are seeing they can be of service.”

“There’s great hope in knowing we are capable of giving time and resources and yet it poses a challenge in learning how to do this better and more often in the future, not just when a tragedy strikes,” the priest added.

St. Luke’s Good Sams (Samaritans) ministry that helps with emergency food and utility expenses has been distributing a lot of food and water to hurricane victims.

“We’re kind of a jack-of-all-trades right now,” director Sue Rotolo said. She mentioned how former St. Luke parishioners now living in Georgia filled a U-Haul and their truck full of water, Gatorade, 5-gallon containers of gas and nonperishable food and delivered it to St. Luke to give out to those in need. They came full circle, she said, returning the help they received after Hurricane Katrina.

“They couldn’t wait to get back to help,” Rotolo said. “It truly is a beautiful thing. This may be hard to go through, but people pull through in this community. Everybody wants to help.”

While working on houses in LaPlace, Hickey said New Orleans Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond told her how bad it was in Lafitte and how they could use anything sent to them.

When Hickey first went to Lafitte Sept. 8, she wasn’t prepared for what she saw. People were living in cars or out in the open because their homes and cars were destroyed by floodwaters.

“There are so many houses still with water; some houses are not even accessible. There is so much water and mud in the yards,” said Hickey, who helped serve 500 prepared meals from World Central Kitchen.

“It’s great that these people sent the food, but you need people to serve the food,” Hickey said. “I am going back to Lafitte where cleaning supplies of any kind (bleach, brooms, wipes, blankets, towels, sheets, rubber boots) are needed.”

Hickey said she is inspired by her Catholic faith to help others.

“In all of this, I see the best of the church. When you read the Acts of the Apostles, the apostles were of one accord — everyone cared for everyone. One who has more should care for one who has less. The church that Jesus founded is that you share what you have. … If we believe in the mission of the church, we have a responsibility to be the hands and hearts of the Lord.”

Hickey said her small volunteer effort has grown well beyond her expectations.

“I never imagined this,” she said. “This proves to me that all it takes is initiative and a couple of phone numbers.”

A great interview with Archbishop Aymond from ground zero of Hurricane Ida's devastation

 

We need to offer prayer and action for those affected by Ida

We need to offer prayer and action for those affected by Ida - Clarion Herald - New Orleans, LA

Update from the evacuated Deacon

 On this Tuesday me and my family are in day 11 of the great Hurricane Ida evacuation.  Important to note is that we all are returning home tomorrow if we can handle the nearly 10 hour drive with 4 adults, 2 kiddos and 2 dogs.  All homes are back with power but there is absolutely no internet and that could still be quite awhile.

Yes, I am anxious to get home, assess the damage and formulate a plan.  While the house seems ok, the tree damage is substantial as is some of the buildings out back on the property.

I cannot wait to join up with my parish family as many of them have gone above and beyond and organized a relief drive for the community.  Outstanding job by these parishioners and sharing the mission of Christ with those impacted by the storm.

Going forward I do not know what posting will be like as we first travel and then land back in the world of no internet.  Even the church parish offices do not have internet.  So we will see how blogging goes in the post Ida return reality.

Keep all who were impacted by Hurricane Ida in your prayers.

Christopher Homes, Archdiocese of New Orleans, responds to reports of deaths in facilities post Ida

 

A Statement from Christopher Homes

September 5, 2021

by Christopher Homes, Inc.

Since 1966, Christopher Homes has provided the elderly and those with physical disabilities opportunities to lease decent affordable housing throughout the New Orleans area in partnership with HUD.  Christopher Homes now manages 21 apartment complexes with nearly 2,500 apartment units.  One thousand one hundred of these apartments are located in Orleans Parish. Residents are independent living tenants with leases, and before storm season, all residents were required to provide a personal evacuation plan to property management, which verifies the plan.

Without a mandatory evacuation order, Christopher Homes could not close the buildings for Hurricane Ida.  All residents were encouraged to evacuate. Two hundred eighty-six residents in Orleans Parish chose to stay in their apartments or did not have the means to evacuate without the resources usually provided by the City of New Orleans in a mandatory evacuation.  Christopher Homes staff prepared and followed the city’s directives to shelter in place with the resources available.

A Christopher Homes management team was available to all remaining residents during and after the storm. Generators remained on site at all of the properties powering elevators and safety and other systems.

In the days following Sunday’s landfall, Christopher Homes leadership repeatedly requested assistance and resources from civil authorities.  After the death of one of our residents was reported five days later, on Friday, September 3, civil authorities finally responded and provided resources to evacuate those residents who had not voluntarily evacuated.   Those residents have been evacuated to state provided shelters where they will remain until power is restored to the apartment buildings.

Christopher Homes leadership and staff are saddened by the deaths of three residents in properties in Orleans Parish. The leadership is grateful for the care and compassion of the staff who stayed behind to help the residents who chose to stay and look forward to welcoming all residents to their homes once building inspections certify the safety of residents.

Pope Francis offers prayers for all victims of Hurricane Ida

 

Hurricane Ida Makes Landfall In Louisiana Leaving Devastation In Its Wake  (2021 Getty Images)

POPE

• POPE FRANCIS
• ANGELUS
• PRAYER
• JEWS
• UNITED STATES
• ARGENTINA
• SAINTS AND BLESSED
• MOTHER TERESA OF CALCUTTA

Pope prays for victims of US flooding 

Pope Francis turns his thoughts to north Americans affected by devastating floods 

By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis said he is praying for the victims and for all those who have been affected by Hurricane Ida, a monster storm that triggered flooding and widespread damage.

Speaking after the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope said he is praying “for the people of the United States of America who have been struck in recent days by a severe hurricane. May the Lord receive the souls of the deceased and support those who are suffering from this calamity.”

More than 40 people were killed in New Jersey, New York City, and at least 12 in Louisiana, where at least 718,000 people are still without power after Hurricane Ida made landfall last Sunday triggering floods, downing trees, and creating serious damage.

What Bishops do in the land of hurricanes

 Bishop Shelton Fabre, Bishop of the Diocese of Houma Thibodaux!

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans

1 hr  · 

Prayers for our sisters and brothers in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux! Bishop Fabre, who was Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans and is now Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux is working hard to provide for his people!

Catholic Charities and more fully engaged in Hurricane Ida relief

 

Hurricane Ida: Catholics Mobilize to Help Communities in Need

Ida, a Category-4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, made landfall in Southeast Louisiana on Aug. 29 exactly 16 years after Hurricane Katrina.

NationSeptember 3, 2021

Editor's Note: CNA contributed to this report.

At least one Catholic church near New Orleans opened its doors to serve as an emergency shelter amid widespread power outages, wind damage and flooding caused by Hurricane Ida. 

St. Francis Xavier Church in Metairie, the city adjoining New Orleans to the west, served as an emergency overnight shelter, despite having lost electricity, for 34 residents of the seven-story Metairie Towers apartment building across the street, Peter Finney, editor of the Clarion-Herald, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, told the Register. 

“Metairie Towers lost its roof. And so, water obviously started peeling into the building. The fire chief came over to see Father Joe Palermo [St. Francis’ pastor] and said, ‘Can you take these people? Just get them out of harm’s way.’ He said, of course, and he opened up the church,” he said, adding that the residents, mostly elderly, were now safely housed with family.

Ida, a Category-4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, made landfall in Southeast Louisiana on Aug. 29 exactly 16 years after Hurricane Katrina. The storm proceeded to cause devastation as it worked its way across the eastern United States. 

Northeastern states declared emergencies late Sept. 1 and early Sept. 2. Numerous people were killed in New York, and tornadoes did heavy damage to parts of New Jersey as the evening storm caught many off guard with the severity of its rain and wind and resulting flooding.

In greater New Orleans, 95% of the area remained without electricity by press time. Mayor LaToya Cantrell imposed an 8pm to 6am curfew on New Orleans amid widespread power outages. Several deaths have been reported in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Amid the damage, the Archdiocese of New Orleans announced Aug. 30 that all schools and archdiocesan main administrative offices would remain closed until at least Sept. 6. In the nearby Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, all Catholic schools will remain closed “until further notice.”

According to Finney, the archdiocese was still in the process of assessing damage to parishes, schools and other properties. The power outages and inconsistent cellular service in the area were making reporting of damage difficult. Especially uncertain were how Lafitte, to the south of New Orleans, and some of the counties known as the river parishes, located along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, fared.

“I keep going back to Katrina, where you sat in water for two to three weeks, and that was just a game changer. This is more of a wind event. And, right now, it looks okay in most parts of the archdiocese,” said Finney during a Sept. 1 Register Radio interview.

“St. Louis Cathedral had reported some roof damage to the steeples, but it’s certainly structurally fine,” he said. “Virtually every building in the archdiocesan school system got some kind of damage. But, right now, it does not look as though it is tremendously significant … things like roofs, shingles, windows, and some wind-driven rain into the schools. We’re still doing the assessment. So, again, this is just preliminary.”

New Orleans’ Catholic Charities has already begun to respond to needs, along with Second Harvest Food Bank, which is under the Archdiocese of New Orleans and serves 23 civil parishes of Southeast Louisiana. “They have already set up distribution sites, not only for food and water, but also for needed supplies for cleanup and things like that,” said Finney. 

“You hate to see any kind of tragedy. But I think, really, we have learned so much over the last 16 years about how to respond quickly, and the programs are in place.”

Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. bishops’ conference, urged prayers for those affected by the disaster. 

“I call on people of goodwill to join me in praying for the safety, well-being and protection of everyone in these impacted areas. 

“We also pray in a special way for the first responders, health-care workers and emergency personnel who bring relief, comfort and healing,” Archbishop Gomez wrote.

“I urge our Catholic faithful and all people of goodwill across the country to stand in solidarity with these impacted communities,” he said, recommending that all people of goodwill consider donating to Catholic Charities USA to help with relief efforts. 

Catholic Charities USA has said it will direct 100% of the funds raised through texts of “HurrIda” to 41444 to its agencies with residents impacted by Hurricane Ida.

Post Hurricane Ida update from abitadeacon

 So we are still away from home; day 6.  We left Saturday, Ida ravaged my neighborhood Sunday and we are estimated to be without power at least another week(although I hear the linemen are providing heroic service).  Yesterday we left Greenville Alabama and drove 8 hours, with two toddlers and two crazy dogs, and landed somewhere just north of Disney World.  Yep, you herd it.  In fact my daughter and granddaughter are at the House of Mouse as we speak.  Nona and Pops get to stay home and watch Walker and the dogs but don't feel bad for us.  Home is beautiful, huge, big time pool and all the TV and internet you can stand; not to mention electricity and AC.

As I read updates from home I am saddened by the devastation, the challenges, the hardships and at the same time inspired and encouraged by all the good citizens, volunteers and others taking care of each other, helping out and doing whatever it takes to survive and help neighbors.  When an area gets hit like this we are all in it together.  In fact, I feel a little guilty but trust me, evacuating is not without it's own set of challenges and complications.  And damn expensive too.

Slowly but surely churches will be back celebrating masses; many are already.  Other churches in the Archdiocese have huge challenges to overcome.  My home parish is having mass, organizing clean up crews and collecting and distributing much needed supplies.  God Bless the folks of dear St. Jane de Chantal in Abita Springs.

My plan is to stay another several days so the family can enjoy Disney and we, hopefully will have power restored soon.  If not, await plan C.

Pray for all who were impacted by this horrible hurricane.  Louisiana strong!   Abita Springs strong!  St. Jane de Chantal Parish strong!

Post Hurricane Update

 Reports from my home town, neighborhood and surrounding areas are difficult to hear.  Certainly not all is gloom and doom but it is overwhelmingly bad.

As for me and my family we have decided to stay far away for another week; hoping when we return we will be closer to full power restoration.

We will be moving to another temporary home away from home and will post as often as possible.

Please pray for my families safety and the safety of all those living in unbearable heat amidst various levels of destruction.

The saga and the travel log of a hurricane fleeing Deacon

Hurricane Ida hit us yesterday and she hit us hard.  This hurricane was not Katrina but in some ways, many ways, she was worse.  A lot of damage and most of the deaths from Katrina came from a man-made levee failure, although Katrina was a bad storm.  Ida was bad too.  Almost all of southeast Louisiana, a place home to probably 2.5 million plus, is damaged and with no electricity, spotty cell and internet service and plenty of  lives challenged.  It's also home to plenty of "helpers" who come to the aid of their neighbor.

For me and my family we left; got out of ground zero Saturday early.  And although my home and my daughter's home is relatively fine there is tree damage and no power, which means no water or sewer for me.  It appears we can reasonably expect no power, no internet and no water for at least 2 weeks.  Therefore we have made plans to stay away until September 8th.

It's hard to leave but after Katrina we vowed to go anytime these storms grow big and lately that's what they do.  So pray for me and my family as we sojourn across the south in search of safe weather, full electricity and safety and comfort.  And pray for all my family, friends, neighbors, parishioners trying to survive in damaged homes and no way to escape the late summer heat and humidity.  I'll update later; this is all I have for now.

For all Catholics in Archdiocese of New Orleans

 The obligation to attend Mass this Sunday (and Saturday vigil) is dispensed due to Hurricane Ida.

Check with local parishes as some are cancelling and others are continuing to offer Mass at least in the morning.

The decision to dispense Mass obligation was made by Archbishop Aymond.

I'm evacuated far from the Archdiocese but will be praying all weekend for best possible outcomes.  May we be protected from harm, damage and stay safe.

Our Lady of Prompt Succor, pray for us.

Jesus, you calmed the seas, calm the wind and the rain and the storm surge from Hurricane Ida!