|
|
|
|
||
New Orleans Oblates continue their ministry in Houston |
||
|
|
||
|
|
Mitch Millar, who works with Oblate Missions in San Antonio, had a long phone conversation with Fr. Tony Rigoli, OMI, a refugee from hurricane Katrina, and now in flight from hurricane Rita. This is Mitch’s account of his conversation:
Due to tropical storm Rita which may be heading near Galveston, about 12 miles from Dickinson, (where the refugees had been staying) it is very likely that all area residents will be asked to evacuate. Oblate Fathers. Mike Amesse and Tony Rigoli, along with seminarian Bro. Porfirio Garcia, plan to head to San Antonio today or tomorrow, staying at the Oblate Renewal Center for a few days. The Oblates hope to head back to St. Jude's (their shrine/parish in New Orleans) next week, if they are allowed to, since the church and rectory were not significantly damaged by Katrina.
Those displaced by Hurricane Katrina who are staying at the Reliant Center in Houston, where the Oblates have been doing ministry, are being provided with air transportation to other locations, most of them to an air base in Arkansas. Fr. Tony estimates that there were about 2,700 at the Reliant Center in the days immediately following Katrina; there were about 1,500 yesterday (September 19).
Frs. Mike and Tony have been offering spiritual counseling, as well as the sacraments, including Mass on the weekends, for their parishioners and others at the Reliant Center. Another part of their work has been delivering about 40 large packages of clothes and toiletries they have received, to centers that will accept them or to the Red Cross. Bro. Porfirio has been involved in counseling and delivering the packages as well. It has been quite a pastoral internship year for him so far, as he was only two weeks into the year when Katrina hit. But it is a time which will almost surely provide a unique and rewarding first-hand experience of Oblate ministry amid the challenges.
Fr. Mike has been especially visible, ministering at the Reliant Center morning to night each day. Fr. Tony mentioned that a group from the US Bishops' Conference came to make a program on the Church in response to Katrina, and both followed Fr. Mike as he visited and ministered to people, and interviewed him. Fr. Tony believes the program will be televised, he assumes soon, but doesn't know when or by whom.
The people may or may not have met Frs. Mike and Tony, but both of them simply mention "St. Jude's on Rampart" for they know that. The Shrine is "a beacon of hope" for the local community there, Catholics and non-Catholics alike. The parish is located very close to a 700-unit housing project. It is uncertain whether or not the projects will be renovated; that would change the whole atmosphere of the parish.
Donations that they have received will go toward necessary items such as clothes and food, to be distributed at the St. Jude Community Center as people are able to move back. There will obviously also be a good number of people needing assistance in getting furnishings for their homes. Another need they are addressing is getting pay checks to the ten workers from the parish.
Through this difficult time, they continue to do well, lifted by the outpouring of generosity by many who support the people along with them. In Fr. Tony's words, "The spirit of the people is unbelievable. The volunteers are out of this world." As they say to the people, "We've gone through Good Friday. Easter is on its way."
Here are stories Fr. Tony told of some of the people they have met and helped. § A homeless man who told Fr. Tony that a group had found him an apartment in Houston; he said "It'll be the first time in ten years I'll be living someplace." Another man told him he'd never been treated so well in his life, adding jokingly, "My only complaint is that there's no breakfast in bed." § A parishioner named Darius and his brother who were altar servers, worked at the parish for about 14 years as kids, helping with cleaning the church and the like. He and his family have found temporary housing in El Paso. They do hope to return to New Orleans. § A lady named Helen and her 40-year old son, who is autistic are currently in a hotel in Houston. Their house was destroyed. § There is another lady with a sister who has Alzheimer's. Though the sister is calm through the turmoil, possibly unaware of what's going on around her, it has surely been tough for the lady to provide constant care for her, showing great patience throughout.
|
|