Here’s just some notes from all over, how Catholic institutions are dealing:<\/p>\n
There’s a Girls and Boys Town Louisiana – they headed to San Antonio<\/a><\/p>\n Volunteers and supporters of Girls and Boys Town are donating beds, clean clothes, basic necessities and even some great Texas barbeque for which they are all very grateful, but more is needed. <\/p>\n \u201cWe want to thank everyone in San Antonio for helping us care for these extremely needy children, many of whom are still waiting to find out if their families are safe,\u201d said Father Steven Boes, Girls and Boys Town National Executive Director.<\/p>\n For now, the children will stay at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church convent in downtown San Antonio, near the Girls and Boys Town Emergency Shelter.<\/p>\n (The page goes on to say they anticipate that their facility has experienced serious damage. There’s another small way to help)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n Sacred Heart schools placing their students in other schools in the Sacred Heart network<\/a><\/p>\n The Redemptorists:<\/a><\/p>\n First, members of the order rushed to Biloxi, where there’s a retirement home for CSSR priests:<\/p>\n Deacon Dennis Ryan, C.Ss.R., of the St. Mary of Assumption Parish in New Orleans now staying at St. Gerard\u2019s in Baton Rouge, and Fr. Luberti reported that when they arrived in Biloxi at St. John Neumann Residence, they had to park in the back by the school since the front and the parking area between the school and the residence was filled with debris. When they approached the building together the sight was incredible. To the right of the double doors was the remains of Dressler House, the double door entrance to the residence was broken open by Katrina, and the front window in the parlor was missing. On the porch, in the middle of all this chaos, were Fathers Al Babin and Earl Toups, C.Ss.R.\u2019s, sitting on the porch chairs and saying their office, the Liturgy of Hours priests pray for the Church every day, throughout the day.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n And then an eyewitness account from the pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Church in NO, shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Selos<\/a><\/p>\n New Orleans is, of course, the center of a Jesuit province. Here’s a status report on their institutions.<\/a> (actually, the damage to their buildings does not seem too serious. Relatively speaking.)<\/p>\n The Divine Word Missionaries:<\/a><\/p>\n Hurricane Katrina slammed the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Mississippi, devastating the Divine Word headquarters in Bay St. Louis, MississippiTwenty Divine Word Missionaries make Bay St Louis their home. The community house and campus are located about one mile from the bay of St. Louis and the Gulf of Mexico. SSND’s sustained damage to their retreat house in MS, but are housing dozens there, nonetheless.<\/a><\/p>\n Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, the order of St. Katharine Drexel, and, oif course, Xavier University in NO, have a fund<\/a><\/p>\n PLEASE check out this page from the Mississippi Catholic, the paper of the Jackson diocese<\/a><\/p>\n Here’s the USCCB page on the hurricane, with links to relief agencies and stories<\/a><\/p>\n The Archdiocese of New Orleans webpage is up in a limited fashion, mostly with news for employees and plans for getting a satellite school system up and running.<\/a><\/p>\n What the Louisiana Knights of Columbus are hoping to do<\/a><\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Most of the priests and Brothers are in retirement. Communication with members has been difficult and sporadic. Fortunately, all the members of the community survived the storm, but the provincial headquarters was destroyed. The new retreat center is in shambles. The main residence sustained heavy damage. The priests and Brothers of the community weathered the storm in the residence but were
forced to move to the second floor when the entire first floor was completely flooded. The residence has no electricity, potable water or sewage. Meals are prepared outside on charcoal grills<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n