RE: Prayer and Support to be offered to victims of Hurricane Katrina
September 1, 2005
I join with the people of the Archdiocese of Chicago in praying for all those in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida who have suffered the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. We pray particularly that the Lord might bring comfort to those who have lost family or friends in this horrible tragedy. Having studied and taught as a young priest in southern Mississippi and New Orleans, I feel even more personally involved in the suffering now so visibly brought to our attention.
I have asked all parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago to take up a collection over the next few weekends to aid the hurricane relief efforts being conducted by Catholic Charities U.S.A. Checks may be made payable to the Archdiocese of Chicago, with the notation that the funds are to be directed to “Hurricane Relief.” Individuals who wish to contribute directly to Catholic Charities U.S.A. will find information about how to do this at the archdiocesan website at www.archchicago.org .

In the coming days, we will also be inviting our Catholic School students to contribute to the relief efforts through prayer and special projects, coordinated by the National Catholic Education Association.
I have no doubt that our Catholic schools and parishes will continue to respond to the suffering of our sisters and brothers in the South in their own unique and creative ways, and I encourage all their kind efforts to extend the Lord’s comfort to those who need it now so much.