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September 6 Update New Orleans Oblates and Katrina |
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Several members of the provincial administration in Washington had a September 5 phone conversation with Frs. Mike Amesse and Tony Rigoli. Fr. Bill O'Donnell, OMI, sent this report of the conversation:
We here in DC (Louie, Billy and I) just got off the phone with Mike Amesse and Tony Rigoli. They are at the Oblate retreat house just outside Houston, and, along with scholastic Porfirio Garcia, are ministering to the various people from New Orleans located in the 4 centers (Astrodome, Reliant Center, Arena, Convention Center) in Houston. Many of those people are parishioners of St. Jude or people from the neighborhood. Mike says things are very well organized by FEMA in these places, and that people with skills are using them—barbers are cutting hair, hair dressers are doing women’s hair, garbage men are collecting garbage, etc. Folks are clean and getting rested, clothes have been provided, and there are plenty of services (doctors, etc.) and security. For the moment, people seem to be being taken care of (today the Social Security people were there to work with those on Social Security and get their benefits straightened out) but long term issues remain to be seen.
St. Jude’s itself and the Cathedral were basically OK. Mike’s car was in the garage where he parks it and is fine, but he couldn’t get to it because of the water around the building, so he borrowed a car from the Jesuits to go to Houston. That’s the latest that we know here. Mike said he would keep us informed. He seemed in good spirits, as did Tony.
Temporary Address for: Fr. Michael Amesse, OMI Fr. Tony Rigoli, OMI Bro. Porfirio Garcia, OMI Christian Renewal Center 1515 Hughes Road, P.O. Box 699 Dickinson, TX 77539-0699
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Many have inquired how they can help financially in this tragic situation. We are asking people who are interested in financial donations to help the Oblates of St. Jude Shrine help victims of the disaster to contribute through either the Oblates' Missionary Association in Belleville IL (www.oblatesusa.org; 888-330-6264) or Oblate Missions in San Antonio TX (www.oblatemissions.org; 210-736-1685). |
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