St. Louis parishes persevere despite loss of power, storm damage

Published: 2006-07-26

ST. LOUIS (CNS) -- Many parishes and properties of the St. Louis Archdiocese were among the victims of two storms that slammed the area in July. The initial storm hit the evening of July 19 and left almost half a million households without power. A second storm struck July 21, hitting areas such as St. Charles that had escaped much damage in the earlier storm. Victims of the first storm also had to suffer through record heat and 100-degree temperatures, which dropped to the upper 80s shortly before the second storm hit. The drop in temperature over the weekend made it easier for parishes to hold Mass without air conditioning. Hundreds of thousands were without power and, in some cases, water. Telephones didn't work, e-mail didn't work, fax machines didn't work. Communication wasn't easy, even for the archdiocese. "We had no phones, no faxes, no e-mail," said Sister M. Luka Brandenburg, a secretary to Archbishop Raymond L. Burke of St. Louis and a member of the Sisters of St. George Martyr.

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