Task force distributes $10 million to Katrina-stricken dioceses

Published: 2007-09-04

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- More than $10 million was distributed by the U.S. bishops' Hurricane Recovery Task Force to the two dioceses hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina two years ago. The "Rebuild Church, Rebuild Hope" collection approved in June 2006 by the bishops distributed $6,175,103.41 to the Archdiocese of New Orleans and $4,116,735.60 to the Diocese of Biloxi, Miss., according to Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, retired archbishop of Galveston-Houston and task force chairman. The bishops of the two dioceses had previously agreed on a 60-40 division of the funds raised through the collection, Archbishop Fiorenza said in a letter dated Aug. 8; the letter, addressed to the U.S. bishops, was released Aug. 31. The first national collection to support hurricane relief and recovery efforts generated more than $130 million, Archbishop Fiorenza said. The $10 million in funds was raised in a collection in U.S. parishes last year on the weekend closest to the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

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