Here is the latest news about my house.

I just saw a website photo taken on Wed. Aug. 31. It is a good aerial photo which helps me see my neighborhood , even letting me see my street‘; return true;” onmouseout=”window.status='’; return true;”>my street. This is the area and the photo.

I am near the upper left where the 2 canals intersect…most of that area you can see is dry.

It confirms most reports. Namely, there seems to be no standing flooding, and from this photo, the old oak tree in my front yard SEEMS to be standing. We won’t be able to tell about windows, shed (seems missing), limbs, roof damage or minor flooding until we go in on Monday.

As of now (2 pm on Saturday), we are going in on Monday even there is no electricity and water. We go in, get as much as we can and come out, with the expectation we cannot return for at least a month.

This is good news, and I invite you to offer prayers of thanks with me at Eucharist this weekend.

The website may be helpful to other people who want to scan their neighborhood. Pass it on if you can.

http://ngs.woc.noaa.gov/katrina/

From there, you click on Louisiana (or other areas) and then try to find your particular area by looking for familiar landscapes. My area is 24425035. You can enlarge the photo from there.

So many of you are asking how to help with the Hurricane Katrina Recovery. This e-mail comes from a young person in connection with the website for young Catholics, Disciples Now. (www.disciplesnow.com)

Cards of Care is a great idea and one which so many can join in on….the amount doesn’t matter, the support does.

If you are not into that, e-mail me and I will take the money and get the cards for you. And make sure it gets to people who need it most.

Many thanks to the Disciples Now people and Matt Helmrath.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the past 24 hours, have you:
Eaten at least one meal?
Had something to drink?
Slept in a bed?
Taken a bath or shower?

Then you probably weren’t in the coastal regions of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, or Mississippi. But, if you’re like me, you have wondered in the past 24 hours, “What can I do to help? How can I make a difference in the lives of those affected by Hurricane Katrina?”

My name is Matt Helmrath. I am a senior at Loyola Blakefield High School in Maryland and an active member of my parish. Having been involved in my youth group for five years now has helped me to realize how important it is to be willing to answer Christ’s call to serve. Today, I am privileged to share an opportunity with you that allows each of us to keep saying “yes” to that call to serve.

The opportunity is CARDS OF CARE, a national youth response to Hurricane Katrina. The effort, simply put, is a gift card‘; return true;” onmouseout=”window.status='’; return true;”>gift card collection. You buy. Your friends buy. Your parents buy. Get everyone you know to buy gift cards in amounts from $5 to $25. Then mail them to Cards of Care organizers who will forward them to Catholic charities working directly with hurricane victims.

This is our chance. Now is the time to respond. Log on to www.CardsofCare.org for more information.

God bless -
Matt Helmrath
Youth Chair, Cards of Care

P.S. Don’t forget to share this with your friends — and, oh yeah, there’s a download on the website that makes a great cheat sheet for talking this up. Check it out:
http://www.disciplesnow.com/cardsofcare/teen_flyer.pdf

The city, my “adopted home”, known for Mardi Gras and the Jazz Fest, for good food, music and good times, is at its knees. I am safe but the more I hear and see of this catastrophe, the more I am saddened, angered and numbed.

There are deaths, fires, trapped people and slow–devastaingly slow–evacuations.

For my youth ministry friends, these crowds of people in the Superdome and waiting for safe haven remind me of the throngs of teens at the global World Youth Day events…but this time, the situation is so dire. If you remember the inconveniences some of you (us) faced, multiply it by a thousand.

This is the exit of the interstate closest to my home in Metairie–less than 2 miles. As you can see, it looks dry. But while this is good news, seeing a sight like this gives me chills.

I can’t imagine being on a roof or in a shelter, waiting and having no control. I can’t imagine not knowing how my relatives are. I can’t imagine being stripped of all my comforts with no idea where you are being taken next and “what next?”

I know this is bringing the best and worst out of people.

I once gave a keynote address in Minneapolis and repeated the sentiment, “If we are going to claim to be followers of Jesus, our hearts must be broken by the things that break His heart. ” Today I feel that deep sadness.

I met people today while I drove whos homes are GONE. My friend Bragg is likely in that number. I met a couple from Bay St. Louis who know they had 24-28 foot storm surges. I met people shopping at Goodwill for clothing. I met people in gas lines wondering what they would do next as money and options ran out.

I just watched a story of Charmaine Neville, a local singer.

She was crying as she talks with Archbishop Hughes od New Orleans in Baton Rouge, speaking of flood waters, alligators eating people, walking over dead people, and admitting to stealing a city bus to drive refugees to safety.

I am listening to a state representative from New Orleans begging people, “If you want to help us, send busses and gas”, there are still people trapped and dieing in New Orleans.

I know this storm has affected so many others…and it will affect you as well–”if one part of the body suffers, all suffer.”

And yet I am called to action, to hope, to resurrection. Our governor is calling for Operation Hope. Your e-mails and well wishes help me, but now I turn my eyes (and ask you to turn yours) to the city and area where I live.

Some of you have asked how to help…I don’t know the BEST way, I really don’t. It will be a long while before schools and parishes know what they need.

1. Write your government officials and ask them to work WITH (and vote FOR) measures to send emergency assistance to New Orleans now!
2. For now, either Catholic Charities USA http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/news/katrina.cfm or Red Cross http://www.redcross.org/
3. Pray. Make some visible reminder everyday to pray for people who are losing their lives and people risking their lives to rescue people. I saw my police chief cry as he is near exhuastion and trying to give his men and women rest.

4. Pray for hope.