|
September 5, 2008 For immediate release
UPDATE ON ARCHDIOCESAN REOCVERY AND RESPONSE
Humanitarian aid and pastoral care first priorities of Church response
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The following is a list of updates and important announcements from the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The archdiocese and Catholic Charities remain committed to the region’s recovery and to its mission that all people are treated with dignity and respect. Through collaboration with governmental and other nonprofit partners Catholic Charities is on the front lines of the humanitarian aid to those returning to the area.
PASTORAL CARE OF PEOPLE
- Archbishop Alfred Hughes and Bishop Roger Morin along with priests of the archdiocese were part of a delegation of clergy that met returning evacuees at Union Passenger Station this morning. Throughout the day today, the Archbishop, Bishop Morin and Bishop Fabre will be at the station to greet people returning to the city and priests of the archdiocese have been assigned to minister to the evacuees at the CAEP neighborhood drop-off points.
HUMANITARIAN AID
- Catholic Charities has stationed a team of case managers at Union Passenger Station and case managers and counselors at the 17 CAEP drop-off sites. Through Second Harvest Food Bank, a Catholic Charities agency, water and food is being provided to those going through the check-in points.
- Second Harvest Food Bank has provided food to Grace Harbor Church in Port Sulphur to prepare hot meals as well as to St. Bernard Parish Habitat for Humanity. There are an additional 10 truckloads of food on the way to the region from Feeding America and two from FEMA to be distributed as quickly as possible.
- Teams of out of state nurses have arrived in the area to assist in the recovery effort.
- To make a donation for Hurricane Gustav Recovery, go online to http://www.ccano.org/DonatetoHurricaneGustavVictims.htm.
ARCHDIOCESAN RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES
- Christopher Homes, Inc., today reopened Christopher Inn in New Orleans. Residents may return anytime today. This reopening means 90% of the 1200 Christopher Homes residents may return to their apartments now. The only Christopher Homes property remaining closed at this time is Place du Bourg in LaPlace because power has yet to be restored there.
- Christopher Homes will be serving meals throughout the weekend to provide for their residents and families.
- The archdiocese is working to return their nursing home residents. Wynhoven Health Care residents returned to their Marrero facility yesterday and residents of Chateau de Notre Dame will return to their New Orleans facility late this afternoon today.
- Padua Pediatrics, the Catholic Charities home for individuals with profound disabilities, will return to their Belle Chasse facility tomorrow.
- Ciara House, another Catholic Charities residential facility are returning today.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
- All schools are scheduled to reopen Monday, September 8 unless power has yet to be restored.
- Parents are asked to call 1-866-346-2617 for the most up-to-date information on school closures or check www.archdiocese-no.org.
REGIONAL OUTREACH
- Colleen D’Aquin, archdiocesan/Catholic Charities Director of Emergency Management, is stationed in Baton Rouge with a team of CCUSA disaster management experts.
- Tom Costanza, archdiocesan/Catholic Charities Director of the Office of Justice and Peace, is stationed in Assumption Parish to coordinate relief efforts in collaboration with Catholic Charities Baton Rouge.
- Aaron Portier, Catholic Charities Director of Planning and Evaluation, is stationed in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux to coordinate relief efforts with Catholic Social Services.
ARCHDIOCESAN ADMINISTRATION
All archdiocesan administration employees should return to work as normal on Monday, September 8.
COMMUNITY CENTERS TO REOPEN MONDAY
The following Community Centers will be open for business beginning Monday, September 8, 2008. Services provided will be listed under each center.
HOPE HAVEN – Marrero, LA
1101 Barataria Boulevard
Marrero, LA 70072
Food, Counseling, Case Management
ST. JEROME – Kenner, LA
2400 33rd Street
Kenner, LA 70065
Food, Counseling, Case Management
ST. LUKE – Slidell, LA
901 Cross Gates Boulevard
Slidell, LA 70461
Food, Counseling, Case Management
ST. JOHN – New Orleans, LA
1920 Clio Street
New Orleans, LA 70113
Food, Counseling, Case Management
The following Community Centers will be open as soon as power is restored and staff return:
ANNUNCIATION – Washington Parish
517 Avenue B
Bogalusa, LA 70427
INCARNATE WORD – New Orleans, LA
8326 Apricot Street
New Orleans, LA 70118
ST. GABRIEL – New Orleans, LA
4700 Pineda Street
New Orleans, LA 70126
HOLY FAMILY–Washington/Tangipahoa Parishes
1213 14th Avenue
Franklinton, LA 70438
GERT TOWN – New Orleans, LA
3425 Audubon Court
New Orleans, LA 70125
ST. BERNARD – Chalmette, LA
1519 E. Judge Perez Drive
Chalmette, LA 70043
###
|
