Hurricane Ida and helping our neighbors

As you may imagine, the Cathedral rectory where I live along with two other priests, Msgr. William Skoneki, the Vicar General, and Fr. Victor Ingalls, the Vocations Director is usually a quiet and sedate home. There is certainly activity during office hours and when there are meetings, but for the most part it is not a noisy place.
For two weeks it was very different. In addition to the three of us, we had 15 other people stay with us. There were two priests and 13 relatives of Fr. Ingalls and me who evacuated from Louisiana due to Hurricane Ida. Five of these evacuees were under 10 years old. They evacuated because of the danger of being in the storm’s path and then, after the storm, being without electricity, water and sewer, in addition to damage to one of the homes.
It actually was a blessing to open our home to our friends and families. Fr. Ingalls and my families got to meet each other. We enjoyed the time together and sharing the kitchen together. It was a little sad to bid them goodbye when they were able to return to their homes.
Our home was crowded with people, but that is what family and friends do. They watch out for each other. This ought to be true, not only for our families, but also for the family of God. 
Our neighbors in Haiti and in Louisiana have suffered greatly these past few weeks. There is widespread destruction in both places.
In Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere, more than 2,000 people are reported to have died, 50,000 homes destroyed and another 77,000 homes heavily damaged. 
The destruction in Louisiana is only now being measured. I contacted Archbishop Greg Aymond of the Archdiocese of New Orleans where so many homes were flooded and damaged. I also spoke with Bishop Shelton Fabre, the Bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is located south of New Orleans and it is where Hurricane Ida made landfall with wind gusts measured at over 170 mph. The people of his diocese are reduced to very difficult conditions. It has been reported that Houma, the main city of his diocese, might not receive electricity until the end of September. That is a long time to endure the sweltering heat of a Louisiana summer and the lack of the basic utilities that can only be provided once electricity is restored.
Bishop Fabre said that the damage to homes is widespread and the conditions are even worse in the small towns closer to the coast south of Houma. So many of the people who live in those small towns are low income and the damage to homes and businesses is an incredible challenge to them.
The people in Haiti and in southeastern Louisiana are our relatives, even more so because both areas are predominantly Catholic. I have already requested a collection for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, and most of our parishes have conducted this collection. Last Friday I asked for a collection in our parishes for hurricane relief in Louisiana. Please be generous. We in Alabama know the suffering that natural disasters can cause and we have experienced the help of others when those disasters have occurred in our State. We need to watch out for those in need elsewhere. That is what neighbors do.
I know of the generosity of the people of our archdiocese. The people of this archdiocese are exemplary in caring about those who need our help. Time and again we have responded with a kindness that brings the light of God’s love to many. I am confident that this occasion will be no exception. May God bless you all.