Dioceses around country respond to needs of Katrina victims

Published: 2005-09-21

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- In the weeks since Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast, dioceses around the country have raised money to help victims, sent volunteers to the hurricane-ravaged area and taken in storm evacuees at shelters, schools and homes. In Washington, the U.S. bishops' Office for Priestly Life and Ministry announced it was coordinating offers by priests around the United States who volunteered to help address pastoral needs in areas hit by the hurricane. Dioceses also are offering liturgical items such as chalices and processional crosses to replace those destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. In the Diocese of Spokane, Wash., for example, Bishop William S. Skylstad said he could assign one priest to work for four to six weeks in the stricken region. The Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa, said it could assign two priests to work outside the archdiocese, and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee said it could assign up to 12 priests. The Diocese of Orange, Calif., already has been in contact with the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston particularly to work with the Vietnamese community there.

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