| Our Response |
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| Tuesday, 04 October 2005 09:08 | |||
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Hurricane Katrina likely will be recorded as the worst natural disaster in the history of the United States. Now compounded by the effects of Hurricane Rita, the impact will be devastating for years to come. The stories of horrific tragedy have been cascading through the media for the last month. The loss of lives and the ways people have lost their lives are etched in our memories forever. Homes vanished; jobs gone; nothing left but the clothes on one’s back; power out; no potable water; disease spreading; schools, hospitals, churches, cities, towns and villages destroyed; social service agencies and businesses wrecked – it is an accumulation of plagues of unimaginable dimensions. In the face of these catastrophes some people are paralyzed; others are energized. As we say, some people snap, others snap back. It is more than edifying to see the reactions around our Archdiocese from people and from institutions. Parishes have been taking up collections for the hurricane victims. We will publish the total amount when the results are all submitted. Every dollar contributed will be sent to the dioceses in the Gulf region most severely affected by the disaster. Parishes and individual parishioners have been offering housing and assistance with job placement to victims who are interested. The number of people accepting offers has not been overwhelming, presumably because they do not wish to relocate so far from the South. High schools and elementary schools have extended welcomes to students who wish to come. They also have also been collecting nonperishable food, clothing, and funds to be sent to the Gulf region. Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, and St. Joseph College, West Hartford, have extended welcomes to students from the affected areas. They have been involved in projects to raise funds and collect cases of bottled water and personal hygiene items (soaps, shampoos, toothbrushes, toothpaste, towels, washcloths, diapers, etc.). They also are providing funds for bed sheets, electricity for makeshift shelters, etc. St. Francis Hospital, Hartford, St. Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury, and St. Raphael’s Hospital, New Haven, have polled their doctors, nurses, and other personnel for commitments to provide service in the Gulf region. The results continue to be edifying. In addition, the hospitals have offered supplies, medicines, and financial resources to the cause. One of the problems, of course, is the lack of government coordination in the Gulf area. This has held up the involvement of our people, causing frustration and consternation. Some doctors and other staff members, nonetheless, went down and became immediately involved, with impressive accomplishments. The phones in our Catholic Charities offices have been ringing off the hooks with calls from volunteers. For a good while, we were averaging more than 100 calls a day. All these good people and the services they are able to provide have been organized in a database, available to the Catholic Charities people in the Gulf region. Then there is the story of the three boys and three girls in St. Dominic’s Parish, Southington, who came to the rectory on a Sunday afternoon accompanied by a parent and a grandparent. When Father Henry Frascadore, the pastor, answered the doorbell, they presented him with a box containing $77.44, the proceeds from their Kool- Aid sale for the victims of Hurricane Katrina! There are so many of these stories around the Archdiocese. The response has been nothing short of inspirational. Awareness sessions, prayer services, and liturgies continue to address the challenge. The response has been swift, but it shows every sign of commitment for the long haul. There are sprinters and there are marathon runners. It is encouraging to see the qualities of both in the commitment of our people. Some relief agencies arrive in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, stay for a while, do fine work, and then leave. Catholic dioceses, Catholic Charities, and Catholic Relief Services are there for the duration. Our prayers, our work, and our support will be with them and the people to be served. Thank you all so very much.
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