People looked to Catholic church on tiny island for refuge in storm

Published: 2004-09-20

BOKEELIA, Fla. (CNS) -- For many Floridians an abiding hope and faith in God has gotten them through one of the worst hurricane seasons in memory. Though Pine Island in southwest Florida was not in the path of Hurricane Ivan, which hit the Gulf Coast Sept. 17, the close-knit community on the tiny barrier island was still recovering from back-to-back hurricanes Charley and Francis. After Hurricane Charley ravaged Pine Island in August, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church in Bokeelia became the center of refuge for people. Four days after the storm, the parish center was converted into a shelter and warehouse for relief supplies. Its education building became a day care center and clothing storehouse. Volunteers came from everywhere to help. The massive recovery effort included people from churches of several denominations, governmental agencies, police organizations and civic groups. Representatives from a group called Fellow Islanders Sending Help also pitched in.

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