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August 18, 2007 - Clarion Herald
Church has ministered steadily in post-Katrina years
This report has been prepared to communicate some of the work accomplished by the Archdiocese of New Orleans in the days and months following Hurricane Katrina. Throughout the past 24 months, the archdiocese has remained focused on the pastoral care of its people. While providing for their physical needs immediately, the church made it a priority to minister to their spiritual needs as well.
Emergency Response
Aug. 30 to Oct. 31, 2005
Two archdiocesan priests ministered to those stranded in the Superdome in the days following the storm. Three priests ministered at Louis Armstrong International Airport, where the sick were being triaged. Two priests ministered at area hospitals and were among the last to leave, almost one week after the storm.
Priests accompanied rescue workers to minister both to those being rescued and to the rescue workers. Priests also served the families of police, firefighters and rescue workers living on boats on the Mississippi River.
Local priests were assigned to 10 surrounding dioceses in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Georgia which received most of the evacuees in public shelters. Archbishop Alfred Hughes frequently visited evacuees at the Baton Rouge River Center and other shelters where housing was provided for evacuees.
Second Harvest Food Bank distributed almost 20 million pounds of food to mobile kitchens and agencies throughout the Gulf Coast region.
Catholic Charities provided more than $7 million in direct survival assistance, established community centers to offer emergency help, served more than 700,000 personally and established a clinic in a hotel to immunize, treat and counsel first responders.
The Clarion Herald resumed publication on Oct. 1 and increased its frequency to weekly to provide vital communications. Ninety-five percent of Catholic school children were relocated to other schools to minimize the effect of the loss or closure of local schools.
The Archdiocese of New Orleans Office of Catholic Schools reopened schools in the least-affected areas within two weeks after the storm, triggering a return of families to the devastated city. These schools welcomed all children, no matter what school they previously attended, public or Catholic.
Recovery
Nov. 1, 2005, to March 15, 2006.
The Archdiocese of New Orleans:
• Assessed damage to 1,274 buildings – 864 of which experienced severe wind damage and 397 of which experienced severe flood damage. The estimated total loss is $250 million of pre-Katrina value and pre-Katrina costs of replacement.
• Conducted an extensive pastoral planning effort in the severely impacted areas resulting in the decision to reopen 113 of 142 parishes, to permanently close six parishes and to reopen 84 of 107 schools.
• Has received more than $60 million in donations that has been distributed to schools, parishes, housing and nursing homes.
• Established a platoon system in a number of schools to accommodate students from temporarily closed Catholic schools and 1,500 public school students. The Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office worked to pair out-of-state youth groups with New Orleans groups so they could assist with resources, volunteers and prayer buddies.
Rebuilding
March 15, 2006, to present
A coalition of Catholic agencies developed Providence Community Housing Corporation to renovate or build 7,000 affordable housing units.
The Hispanic Apostolate ministered to thousands of Hispanics working on damage repair.
Second Harvest Food Bank continues to distribute food – a total of more than 70 million pounds distributed to an estimated four million people.
The Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office worked with the Hispanic Apostolate to hire a consultant for Hispanic youth and young adult ministry due to the influx of Hispanic families.
The Office of Catholic Schools has provided more than $2 million in scholarships and continues to educate 500 former public school students free of tuition, and has reopened 88 elementary, secondary and special schools.
Through Catholic Charities, Operation Helping Hands cleaned and gutted 1,800 homes for the elderly, disabled and uninsured through the efforts of 11,481 volunteers. The archdiocese created a new Office of Emergency Preparedness to create emergency protocols for various offices and coordinate the Catholic Church’s response to crisis situations in the region.
More than 1 million people have been served through the various other ministries of Catholic Charities and are still urging those in need to seek help.
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