Catholic News Service and Record Staff Report
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz is asking parishes in the Archdiocese of Louisville to take up a special collection during the month of September to help flood victims in Louisiana.
The floods, that resulted from heavy rains in early to mid-August, were the worst natural disaster in the United States since Sandy, the superstorm of 2012, according to Red Cross officials. Civil authorities reported that at least 13 people died in the floods and that about 60,000 homes were damaged, although a Baton Rouge economic development group put the number of damaged houses at 110,000. The Red Cross put the overall cost of recovery at $30 million.
Archbishop Kurtz asked that the collection be taken up during one weekend in September (the collection for Catholic Higher Education will be taken up the weekend of September 17-18). The money will go to “support the humanitarian efforts of Catholic Charities USA and to provide pastoral and rebuilding support to impacted Catholic dioceses,” said a statement from the Archdiocese of Louisville.
“The recent storms in Louisiana may not have a name, but the names of the those suffering in the wake of the worst flooding since hurricane Katrina are our sisters and brothers,” the statement said. “Our prayers and material support is urgently needed to help rebuild lives.”
Donations should be sent to: Catholic Charities, ATTN: September 2016 Louisiana Flood Collection, 2911 South Fourth St., Louisville, Ky., 40208. Checks should include a notation that reads September 2016 Louisiana Flood Collection.
