(This is part of series of letters Fr. Christopher Nalty is writing about his experience in the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Fr. Nalty is a canon lawyer who works for the Congregation of the Clergy in Rome. He was home visiting family when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans.)
Before I leave to head back to New Orleans, I wanted to give you a little update as to what has been happening. As the news media begins to shift its focus onto other matters, a dire situation still exists in New Orleans with parts of St. Bernard, Lakeview, and Slidell still under water. On the other hand, I'd like to focus a little bit on the hope.
If you didn't see or hear President Bush on television, he gave a speech from Jackson Square in New Orleans in front of St. Louis Cathedral, where I was ordained a priest 6 years ago. To see the dark streets (the electricity is still out) was sad, but to see the façade of the Cathedral really brought to mind what role faith has played in this entire event.
From the first week after the storm, I have made trips into New Orleans. As you may know, the City has been under a “lockdown,” and entering has been reserved until recently for “police and rescue workers.” Every time I've gone to New Orleans I've worn my Roman Collar, and I have never been denied entry. Usually, the officers have also asked for a blessing. Clearly, they see priests as “rescue workers.”
Two weekends ago, I drove into New Orleans, and with the permission of the pastor, I offered two Masses at my home parish of St. Francis Xavier. The only notice I could give was a spray-painted sign in front of the church that said “Sunday Mass 9:00 a.m.,” yet people saw the doors to the church open as they drove or walked by. The storm had tossed oak branches all around the Church, but it was intact. Although there was no electricity, candlelight and the sun pouring through the stained glass gave us enough light. At the Mass were police, rescue workers, and parishioners who had not left. Their homes were flooded and tears were in many eyes after what they'd seen, but they came together around the altar to worship their God, receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and celebrate their faith.
Last week, I drove to Baton Rouge to say Mass for a group of parishioners from St. Dominic Parish, probably the most dynamic parish in the Archdiocese. They're all in their mid-40s, and they lost everything. Three weeks later, their homes were all still underwater, and so was their church. The only way they could get to their neighborhood was by boat, and the National Guard was no longer allowing that. Yet, the thing they wanted most was to get together, to place the Mass at the center, and to celebrate the safety of their friends and families. And what was the reading for that Mass? Paul's First Letter to Timothy:
Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain.
For we brought nothing into the world,
just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.
If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.
Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.But you, man of God, avoid all this.
Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith.
Lay hold of eternal life,
to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Who needed a homily with a reading like that?
Afterward, I headed back to New Orleans for the 4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass and the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass. The word had gotten out that the church was open, and I had a cantor and readers. The faith goes on.
I'm hopeful. The signs are all around me. My faith is strong, and it is reinforced by the faith of others. And many of you are signs of faith to me by your generosity.
The notes I've received are signs of faith: a letter from a woman in Wisconsin with $25 saying that her pastor, Fr. Mark Vandersteeg (a seminary classmate) had made an appeal at Mass; a large donation from classmates at Notre Dame, and connections with a friend who has donated a mobile home; personal donations from other former hallmates in seminary; my cousin convincing a Brooklyn music festival to sponsor us; a large donation from a woman whose only connection to me was that I once took her on a visit to the Tomb of Peter in Rome. And many more. I thank all of you, sincerely.
So how is Willwoods? It's picking itself back up. Our corporate offices are destroyed, so we've moved what equipment we can salvage to a new location on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain.
Hopefully, we'll have an office and website again soon. Our station manager Mark Coudrain, is a champ, and is in constant communication with Fr. Chambers, our president. Wayne Mayeaux is doing damage assessment on all of our affordable housing, and coordinating possible repairs. The Knights of Malta have mobilized international groups to tend to our displaced elderly residents from Malta Park and Malta Square. And so far, we've raised a little over $36,000. It's not a huge amount, in light of the $100 million given to Bush and Clinton's charity, but we're making headway. If you can still help, we'd appreciate it. We don't get public funds; we count on charity. You can find info on www.pbs.org/wlae.
There's lots of work left to do before I head back to Rome on October 15. Please continue to pray for us. It's getting better, but there's a long road ahead.
See also:
Supporting the First Steps to New Orleans’s Recovery
Fr. Christopher Nalty is a canon lawyer. He lives and works in Vatican City for the Congregation of the Clergy.
