Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
New York (Fides Service) - Catholic institutions all over the United States continue to offer all kinds of help in the emergency caused by Hurricane Katrina collecting funds and providing shelter and assistance. The national office of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States said the dioceses most affected by the disaster are New Orleans archdiocese, Louisiana, Biloxi diocese, Mississippi and Mobile diocese, Alabama. After some days of concern the archbishop emeritus of New Orleans Philip Hannon has been found safe and well. The elderly Bishop refused to leave his people and although his own house was flooded he stayed. When to the great concern of Catholics in New Orleans nothing was heard of him for several days a rescue team was sent to find him and take him to safety.
Also Archbishop Hughes of New Orleans and Bishop Stieb of Memphis had to evacuate their residences, and are now staying with Bishop Muench of Baton Rouge diocese in Louisiana. Both Bishops spent several days with refugees in makeshift shelters praying with them and encouraging them.
Shreveport diocese announced its schools will offer free schooling to hurricane victim children. Already 200 children have applied. Alexandria diocese has opened many of its institutions to refugees. Jackson diocese in Mississippi is sheltering numerous refugees and in Florida teams are preparing to go to Louisiana and Mississippi next week to provide technical assistance. Miami archdiocese in Florida has sent food and other prime necessities. St. Petersburg diocese opened its Catholic hospitals to refugees in need of medical care. Pensacola-Tallahassee diocese has launched a special Katrina Kids collection in aid of hurrican victim children.
In Texas, the diocese of Galveston-Houston is provding shelter and economic aid to 30,000 displaced persons from New Orleans. St. Joseph’s Catholic hospital in the same diocese has put a mobil unit at the service of the refugees and local Catholic schools are accepting hurricane victim children. In Tyler diocese numerous Catholic families have opened their homes to hurricane victims left homeless.
Sister Glenn Anne McPhee, the U.S. Bishops’ Secretary for Education, praised the work and pledged that Catholic schools across the country would do whatever was needed to bring stability and hope to students affected by Hurricane Katrina. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 9/9/2005 righe 32 parole 457)
