A message concerning Hurricane "Rita" from Bishop MacPherson
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The wind is calm and the sun shines forth, yet we live within the continuing realm and effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. It has been a little over forty-eight hours since Rita hit shore on the Texas/Louisiana border. Much has taken place in these past hours, and in fact the hours leading up to her arrival as people from across southern Louisiana and the southeastern part of Texas fled in a variety of directions.
What
are the effects upon our diocese and this part of the State of Louisiana?
Much destruction; the town of Cameron, Louisiana, just south of Lake Charles
is gone. The reports of this day state that "not a single house is left."
Across in the east side of the diocese in Vermillion Parish, and on the
south side of Abbeville, the area south of Highway 90 is underwater to
the rooftops, and as of this afternoon over 1,000 people have been rescued
from their water engulfed settings. There is much loss from one side of
the diocese to the other, and moving north, many crops that were swept
away.
Looking at our diocese, I must state that I am once again so grateful for the witness of Christian care and concern, and for the outpouring of support across the diocese as people from within the Diocese of Western Louisiana came north seeking a place to stay, and in their midst, Katrina evacuees that had begun to go home, found themselves returning to the many places of shelter being provided to those who came from the Dioceses of Louisiana and Mississippi.
A major difference in our ability to care for all who came this time, was the fact that we ourselves had be struck and our infrastructure wounded. Power resources failed along with telephone systems across the affected areas, which were almost statewide now as a result of the two storms. This was further complicated by the failure of our water systems across the central part of the diocese, an area that has literally housed thousands of evacuees. This night finds us waiting to see the return of the commodity that we so often take for granted — water. Hardtner Camp and Conference Center, a major shelter for evacuees over the past four weeks, had to shut down and the people placed in other settings due to the lack of power and water.
Throughout this time, I have sought to locate our clergy from the southern portion to check on their safety, their families, and the people committed to their care. Also important to learn was how the communities and churches were doing.
After almost two days of calling, I am pleased to say that I have either made contact with each of the clergy or with someone who knew where they were and how they were doing. As I made contact with the last person this day, and having found him two states east of here, I stated I truly understood Jesus' parable about the "lost coin," for he and his family were "my lost coin." I am pleased however, that although the clergy are scattered across a vast geographical area of several states, all are accounted for and reported to be safe. All of the congregations across the Lake Charles Convocation haven't been reported on as yet, and this being due to inaccessibility. Word is the church structures fared well, although so much of the area was severely damaged or destroyed. Due to conditions of continued flooding and debris, the authorities report it will be 3-5 days before they allow the local resident to start returning.
I had hoped to be able to visit the area by now, but in a telephone conversation today with the Washington office of one of our congressmen, I was advised to refrain a few days as they were "concerned for my safety." I will say they were helpful in lining up the necessary contacts for me.
The most common thing one will hear at the moment as people look at what has transpired, is the phrase "It is unbelievable." But then, this was the reaction of many to the empty tomb of Easter, and out of this came the resurrection promise, the gift of life. I pray this night that those affected so personally by all that has taken place will experience the presence of the risen Christ and God's healing grace.
Faithfully in the God of hope,
The Rt. Rev'd D. Bruce MacPherson
Bishop of Western Louisiana
dbm3wla@aol.com
318.442.1304
318.442.8712 fax