Katrina

Dear friends:
August 29 marks the fifth anniversary of what may very well be the worst natural disaster in United States History, or at least in our memory. As Hurricane Katrina made landfall on that fateful day I had no idea how it would personally impact my own life.

The Church, as she always does, responded by asking for special collections to help those suffering from the devastation. But in the parish where I was serving as pastor, I had people asking me "I will give whatever money is needed, but, Father, how can I help right now?" They were looking for ways to get personally involved. In the immediate aftermath, it was impossible to figure out what to do. Destruction was of catastrophic proportions. Assessments were needed and people's lives needed to be stabilized in some way.

What happened in our parish and to me is where I want to take this reflection. Discussions at Pastoral Council over the next few months led to a decision by St. Agnes Parish in West Chester to "move beyond our comfort zones" - i.e., to go the Gulf and do whatever would be asked of us.
Thirty-eight parishioners, ages 18 through 76, signed on with their pastor to spend a week in the fishing village of Bayou La Batre, Alabama.

Thirty-eight folks went at their own personal expense, shared a piece of a gym floor for a week, prayed together, made new friends and tackled what seemed the impossible. Clean-up, plumbing, roofing, masonry, you name it and our folks did it - uncomplaining, generously, sacrificially!

Each day started with Mass. Out came my trusty Mass Kit. The Liturgies were among the best I ever celebrated. Evenings found us, after showers, some dinner and other clean up, praying together and sharing the events of the day. Five years ago and even to this day, much of the rebuilding was done and is done today by faith-based communities.

I was never a missionary that got to go to a foreign country but the Gulf Coast experience came pretty close. I never did roofing, but I quickly learned. A shower with hot water became a greatly appreciated"event." The gym floor of the Lutheran Church may have been more comfy that what the displaced people had; simple conversation with folks who experienced the worst was a blessing. The people of the Gulf Coast and especially, Bayou La Batre, Alabama are a resilient people. No "woe is me". They were rebuilding long before we arrived and they continue to this day.

I once saw the aftermath of an earthquake in another country. The aftermath of Katrina was personal and the worst that this poor servant ever saw. But, as beat up as the people were, their smiling faces welcomed us with open arms - "Thank you for coming".

God bless the Gulf Coast.
God bless St. Margaret Parish in Bayou La Batre
God bless those 38 Disciples in Mission of St. Agnes Parish.

Pax et Bonum