From The Rev. Chad Jones, Diocesan Deployment Officer

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The response from the Church across the nation has been overwhelming.  The Dioceses of Texas, Mississippi and Central Gulf Coast have reached out to us in such a way that no thanks I could write in an email would be sufficient.  We are exhausted and emotionally spent.  We are not yet to the point of inventory as we have a long list of clergy still unaccounted for.  We suspect that most of them are simply displaced -- we continue to pray that is the case.  We are incapable of compiling lists of our laity at this point.

Every parish in the Diocese of Louisiana is affected dramatically by this disaster.  At least 15 parishes are unable to function in any capacity at all.  All other parishes are inundated by the hundreds of thousands of newly homeless.  These parishes are stretched to capacity in feeding the hungry and clothing the naked.  Many surrounding cities have almost doubled in population in a few days time.  Our priests and deacons are approaching exhaustion as they minister to their parishioners by day and the refugees in shelters by night.

Bishop Jenkins seems to me to be weary and broken-hearted.  He remains a most comforting presence to his people and his staff.  Please keep him and us continually in your prayers.

Chad Jones+
cjones@stjamesbr.org
scjones3@bellsouth.net
225/387-5141