Bishops Emergency Disaster Fund: Hurricane Ida

By Carissa Krautscheid 

At the end of August, Hurricane Ida made landfall on the Gulf Coast and continued to the Northeast, killing dozens, damaging churches, homes, and businesses, and leaving communities without power along the Gulf Coast and the Northeast. After Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Ida is the second most damaging hurricane to hit Louisiana and the sixth costliest in damages. Millions of people were affected by the devastating wind and rain, catastrophic flooding, and tornado outbreak that damaged hundreds of Catholic parishes and schools across the southeastern and northeastern United States. 

Countless neighboring communities have risen to aid those affected by the hurricane by driving supplies to areas in need or sheltering refugees. Several states away, in Arizona, the Diocese of Tucson can still support the relief efforts taking place across the nation by contributing financially. 

As we respond as a unified Church, please prayerfully consider supporting the USCCB’s Bishops Emergency Disaster Fund in a special collection online here or in parishes on October 2-3. Parishioners are urged to support the pastoral and reconstruction needs of the Church as well as the efforts of Catholic Charities and Catholic Relief Services, the official relief agencies of the U.S. Catholic Church. Local agencies will respond to the dire and immediate needs as well as aid in long-term rebuilding and recovery efforts.  

USCCB President, Archbishop José Gomez emphasized, “Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we know the generosity of our people and their deep care for those in need. I have confidence in their prayerful consideration and generous response.”  

Prayers continue for all those impacted by Hurricane Ida, some of whom are friends and family of many in the Diocese of Tucson. Thank you for your ongoing generosity to the civic and faith communities affected by natural disasters!