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"It
ain't over till it's over."
-- Yogi Berra
And Guess What?
It ain’t
over!
On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina arrived in
Louisiana and the gulf coast of Mississippi and Alabama. In a matter
of hours, our country experienced the greatest natural disaster
in it history – the destruction of a great American City,
New Orleans, and for all practical purposes the elimination of some
small gulf coast towns in Mississippi and Alabama.
But Katrina is not over. The hurricane passed
in 24 hours, but it will not be over for a number of years. We will
hear a one-day mention about hurricane Katrina and the 2-year aftermath
on the occasion of the 2nd anniversary on August 29th. Most likely,
we will not hear another word until the 3rd anniversary in another
year.
The Young Adult Ministry Office has been supporting
the efforts of the “Harbor of Hope” to rebuild St. Clare
Catholic parish in Waveland, Mississippi and the residents of the
town of Waveland, Mississippi. Waveland and St. Clare took the eye
of Katrina. The Chicago Tribune called Waveland “the town
that disappeared.”
Can you help us help the people of St. Clare and
the community of Waveland, Mississippi?
Here is what is needed 2 years
later:
1. Gift Cards
The gift of gift cards (in any amount) from Wal-Mart,
Home Depot or Lowe’s. These cards will be distributed to people
who are rebuilding their houses. A gift card allows them to buy
the specific items needed for their home. You can mail your gift
card to us at the Young Adult Ministry, 711 W. Monroe, Chicago,
IL 60661.
2. Sheet Rock
The gift of sheet rock, known by many of us as
wallboard, @ $10 per sheet. Sheet rock is needed to begin rebuilding
the interior walls of destroyed houses as well as houses that experienced
many degrees of damaged from hurricane wind and coastal flooding.
To make a donation, contact us with your credit card information,
or write a check payable to Young Adult Ministry (711 W. Monroe,
Chicago, IL, 60661) and we will send it along to the people of St.
Clare. Please write "For St. Clare" in the memo line of
your check.
3. Attend a Reception
The gift of your presence
at a reception on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 7 pm at Bistrot Margot. The
reception will feature Fr. Jack Wall, President of Catholic Extnesion
Society. Cost to attend the reception is a $100 donation to St.
Clare. Reception RSVP.
4. Prayer at a Special Mass
The gift of prayer at Catholic Mass on August
29, 2007 at 6:00 in Old St. Patrick’s Church. Father John
Cusick, the Director of the Young Adult Ministry Office will preside
at Mass here in Chicago at Old St. Pat’s and Father Cuddy
O’Connell will preside at Mass simultaneously in the tent
church of St. Clare in Waveland, Mississippi. This Mass will be
simulcast with people present at both locations sharing the readings,
the prayers and songs. A big screen will be set up so that both
groups gathering for Mass will be in visual contact with one another.
4. Volunteer
The gift of volunteering. At the moment, the greatest
volunteer need is for people skilled in carpentry, electricity,
wiring, plumbing, etc. If you or someone you know has these gifts
and skills, please contact the Young Adult Ministry Office by email
at yam@yamchicago,org or by phone at 312/466-9473. We can connect
you with people at St. Clare’s in need of this help.
5. Donate
The gift of financial contributions in any amount
are still needed. Remember many people had inadequate insurance
to cover such a catastrophe, while other people did not receive
adequate compensation for their insurance companies. A number of
people are elderly and are living on fixed incomes. And there are
other people who lost not only their homes but also their businesses
and jobs. Consequently any financial donation will help. Again,
contact us with your credit card information, or write a check payable
to Young Adult Ministry (711 W. Monroe, Chicago, IL, 60661), and
we will forward all money collected to St. Clare Church in Waveland,
MS. If you write a check, please put "For St. Clare" in
the memo line.
Quoting that great New York Yankee catcher, Yogi
Berra, "It ain't over till it's over." Let us all give
a little extra of our time, treasure or talent to assist God’s
people to say very soon, “it is finally over!”
Sincerely,
Fr. John Cusick
Prayer
in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina_
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