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April 19 , 2008 - Clarion Herald
New York couple discovers resilience of New Orleanians
By Christine Bordelon
It was the first trip to New Orleans for Jack and Helene Gilroy of Endwell, N.Y., but it won’t be their last. The retired couple – Jack, a former teacher, and Helene, a former nurse – came to New Orleans for eight weeks ending in March to help rebuild the city.
Talking with friends who had journeyed here previously, the Gilroys hooked up with Catholic Charities and met Josephite Father Joe Campion, pastor at St. David Church, who encouraged them to work on several homes in the 9th Ward and other areas.
“When we left we didn’t know exactly what we were going to be doing, but knew we would be doing something,” Helene Gilroy, 71, said. “We brought a weedwacker and clippers. We were prepared to cut grass if we had to. Mainly, it was physical work we were doing.”
“We worked on about six houses,” Jack Gilroy, 72, said, while living in the rectory at nearby St. Maurice parish. One of the homes was on Ferdinand Street near Pontchartrain Park and owned by 84-year-old Genevieve Brown since her husband built it in 1959.
“There were so many things that needed to be done,” Brown, a member of St. Gabriel Catholic Church, said referring to the damage by flood waters. “The church helped me by sending those people over here and enough paint for inside and outside, and all the sheetrock and insulation I needed. There were so many nice people who worked so hard painting my whole house.”
Sheetrock and flooring work remain until Brown can move from a trailer into her home, but she acknowledges that she wouldn’t be this far without the help of Catholic Charities and the volunteers. “I was so moved,” she said of the volunteers. “I definitely didn’t know how to start. Every time I hired somebody to do something (electric work, air conditioning, etc.) they would charge an arm and a leg.”
The Gilroys also served as advocates for homeowners dealing with FEMA and the Road Home, and Helene Gilroy used her nursing talents to conduct blood pressure screenings after Mass at St. David and at residents’ homes by request.
Working for the needy isn’t anything new for the Gilroys, parishioners at St. James Catholic Church in JohnsonCity, N.Y. Twelve years ago, they started an outreach ministry called “Frutas” near the city of Cuernavaca, Mexico.
But, witnessing the poor there was nothing compared to the shock they experienced finding the devastation in New Orleans. “After 2 1/2 years, we would have thought that things were better,” Helene Gilory said. “It was almost like a war zone when we drove in.”
Both enjoyed working with Catholic Charities, but were disgusted with how the United States government has basically left the rebuilding to volunteers. “For a country that can rebuild other nations that have been destroyed, here you have one of the most interesting cities in the United States, and there should be teams of workers on every street,” Jack Gilroy said. “You can’t wait for years for well-meaning groups to do the job. There is a need in this very rich country to take action.”
“We need a big plan for this city by the government because it’s a disaster – big time,” Helene Gilroy added.
They were pleasantly surprised by attitude of locals who had lost everything. “I was amazed at the hope and patience people have,” Helene Gilroy said. “As New Yorkers, we want things done yesterday. I found people so patient.”
Jack Gilroy said even though he is white and the people he helped were African American, they put aside their racial differences and bonded. “
There was an appreciation from the black community for the people coming down, getting dirty and working in Christian love,” Jack Gilroy added.
While in town for eight weeks, the Gilroys attended Mass at St. David Church and felt heartened with the steady increase in attendance, even though many parishioners have yet to return home. They also noticed more construction work in the area.
The Gilroys plan to return for another eight-week stint in October to reconnect with those they have helped. “I thoroughly enjoyed when we were out and about meeting people,” Helene Gilroy said.
In the meantime, Jack Gilroy will be helping Dillard University research – long distance through his computer – grants for mental health.
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