Catholics mobilize to offer food and housing to hurricane refugees

Published: 2005-09-02

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Catholic parishes and organizations across the country and particularly in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas are responding to emergency and long-term needs for Hurricane Katrina refugees by providing shelters, food, medicine and schooling. Virtually all dioceses nationwide planned parish collections the first weekends of September and immediate assistance is coming from Catholic Charities agencies, St. Vincent de Paul societies, Catholic schools, Catholic hospitals, parishes, retreat centers and families. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston has responded to a request from the American Red Cross to open one of its 21 available shelters to help with the flow of refugees from Hurricane Katrina. The archdiocese is prepared to open as many of its shelters as needed, according to Annette Gonzales Taylor, director of communications for the archdiocese. "We are just waiting for the American Red Cross to give us the green light," Taylor told The Texas Catholic Herald, archdiocesan newspaper of Galveston-Houston.

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