Hurricane Katrina response

All of us are very much aware of the destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, one of the worst natural disasters in our history. Many have lost everything and the situation will get worse before it gets better. We have several employees who have families in the area who have indeed lost everything. As always, our community is very committed to helping our sisters and brothers in their time of need. The Office of Campus Ministry and Community Service, with the help of Student Life and SGA, will coordinate our response.

Our initial response will be to accept monetary donations toward the relief efforts offered through Catholic Charities. We will begin accepting donations immediately. Special collections will also be taken at all weekend liturgies. You can make checks payable to La Roche College with a memo “Hurricane Katrina” and send them to Sr. Marilyn. LRC student and staff volunteers will also be around with boxes to collect whatever you can give. No amount of money is too small. As always we know you will be generous.

As events emerge and the affected areas are ready to accept volunteers, we will explore the possibilities of sending teams to the area to assist in cleanup and rebuilding.

As we monitor the situation and hear of other needs, we will continue to expand our efforts to assist with other needs we are able to meet.

Please join us in prayer and service to the people and places so much in need of our help.

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LRC Hurricane Katrina Response
UPDATE: Sept 22, 2005

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Your response to the request for basic household items for the family from New Orleans has been outstanding! The entire list was spoken for and I have delivered the last of the items to the family representative.

Here’s the status so far of the 18 relatives. One family moved to the North Side last week. Another is moving to the South Side this week. The remaining 9, two households, continue to look for housing. Our contribution enables them to begin with the absolute, non-furniture basics. Some other people are also helping them out a bit. As furniture needs arise you may hear from me.

In short, they are beginning to settle-in a little. The kids have begun school. The adults are all looking for jobs. As a family they are trying to move into some sense of a routine.

What’s next?
Several people have asked if/when we are going to do anything in the actual areas hit my Katrina. I have made initial contact with a Josephite priest ministering in Louisiana who is the designated “point person” for volunteer needs in the Katrina-hit areas they minister. The Josephites, www.josephite.com, are a congregation of priests and brothers whose mission is to minister to the African American community in the United States. Eleven of their churches and schools where hit by Katrina: 7 in areas of New Orleans where the complete extent of the damage is still unclear; 4 other areas of Louisiana and Mississippi. Four churches and their schools were totally destroyed. There are lots of needs.

Right now the Josephites in Louisiana are ministering to many people from their areas of New Orleans in several ways:

1. Visiting to the people in shelters in the areas around New Orleans: helping them find housing; find family members; connect with other people from their parish family; connecting with ministers from other churches in their area; helping the kids from their schools find other schools . . . to name just a few things
2. The priests who taught at St. Augustine High School are working with the faculty helping them find other teaching jobs and keeping them networked together for support; working with the students wherever they are, keeping them networked and connected for personal support and trying to make sure they have gotten into schools.
3. In and through all of this they are trying to decide if and where to build/rebuild churches and schools if/where their people will return.
4. How to help some of their people rebuild/return.

Sounds like a place and mission where we can “throw out hat in the ring” to help doesn’t it?

I have offered the services of La Roche volunteers to help with what they need . . .anything from clean-up, to tear-down, to rebuilding, to whatever they need live human beings to help. I have also given them dates we might be available during the Christmas and Spring Breaks. There will be lots of need for volunteer help: help here preparing everything for the trip; help there rebuilding; help raising money to do this.

I know many you are interested and truly want to help. I’ll keep you posted. STAY TUNED! Keep checking for updates in your email and on: http://lrccs.org/katrina.htm

Let us continue to pray for everyone involved in this disaster: those persons devastated by the hurricane; the disaster relief personnel; those of us striving to do whatever we can. Let us also pray for everyone affected by Hurricane Rita.

Again, God bless you and thank you.
Sr. Marilyn

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Visit our new Website: www.lrccs.org

Sister Marilyn Bergt, CDP
Coordinator of Community Service
La Roche College
9000 Babcock Blvd. SC109
Pittsuburgh, PA 15237
Phone: 412-536-1053
Fax: 412-536-1048
E-Mail: bergtm1@laroche.edu

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe"
Anatole France

Please join us in prayer and service to the people and places so much in need of our help.

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Basic needs for entire family devastated
by Hurricane Katrina - click here

Learn how you can help these students
rebuild their school band.

View Katrina Photos

La Roche College Mission Statement

La Roche College, a Catholic institution of higher learning, founded and sponsored by the Congregation of Divine Providence, creates an international community of scholars from the region, the nation and around the world, in particular from conflict, post conflict and developing regions. Liberal and professional educational experiences are integrated into a way of life that empowers men and women to become lifelong learners, achieve success in their chosen careers and become activists for justice and peace in a constantly changing global society.