Hurricane Harvey

In a video chat with young children participating in a program of the international network of “Scholas Occurrentes” Oct. 26, the pope spoke with children from Texas and Puerto Rico, where Hurricanes Harvey and Maria struck hardest.

When Hurricane Harvey stranded Father David Bergeron, he used his kayak for a greater purpose: to be present for the many hurricane victims stranded in his midst.

Bishop Donald Kettler is asking parishes of the Diocese of St. Cloud to take up a special collection on the weekend of Sept. 23-24 to assist victims of Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean and the southeastern region of the United States.

The U.S. bishops’ Executive Committee Sept. 12 prayed for “the safety and care of human life” after two catastrophic hurricanes and urged Catholics around the country to offer their prayers as well as financial support and volunteer help as they can.

Catholic Charities USA presented a $2 million check Sept. 4 representing donations received to date for immediate emergency assistance for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey and its catastrophic flooding.

The parish hall at St. Mary of the Isle Church on the South Shore of Long Island was a beehive of activity Sept. 2 as an army of volunteers packed canned food, baby formula, flashlights, cleaning products and an assortment of other relief supplies into corrugated boxes for the victims of Hurricane Harvey.

Pope Francis offered his prayers for the people of Texas and Louisiana struggling to cope with the devastating impact of Hurricane Harvey and he praised all those engaged in rescuing and caring for the thousands of people forced out of their homes.

The 200-home community of McDade Estates down the road from Sacred Heart Parish had just hours to evacuate Aug. 27. City officials knocked door-to-door, alerting residents to escape to higher ground.