St. Rose de Lima Church

ST ROSE DE LIMA CATHOLIC CHURCH
301 SOUTH NECAISE AVENUE
BAY ST. LOUIS, MS 39520
Tel: 228-467-7347/467-7357
Fax: 228-467-7740
E-mails: strdc@bellsouth.net, office@strosedelima-bsl.org
Website: www.strosedelima-bsl.org

“In that day I will restore David’s tent.
I will repair its broken places, restore its
ruins, and build it as it used to be”(Amos 9:11)

Gift Cards are also appreciated...
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/02/stores-to-buy-gift-cards-through.html

3/18/07
Shrimp po-boy sale sponsored by the Booster Club, will be held on Fri., March 23rd, 11:00a.m.- 2:30 p.m.

8/23 Relief and Recovery Effort Progress and Status
(Taken from their Newsletter)

Completed Remaining
Roofs 68 153
Drywall 32 310
Electrical 41 229
Plumbing 30 200
Interior Paint 20
Carpentry 12
Debris Removal 96

Average Funds Needed For Roof And Drywall Work: 4670.00

Money Raised - 552,000 Money Used - 433,000

Appliance Drive Received Needed

Refrigerators 85 308
Stoves 67 244
Washers 79 256
Dryers 60 126
Dishwashers 13 30

Coming Soon:
2007 Calendar with photos of church community, volunteers and the recovery efforts. Available at St. Rose for $10 in late September. Proceeds to be divided between Relief Effort and St. Rose Education Fund.

New Housing Location:
Since the school is going to be returned to its orginal use, there is hope of repairing the Retreat Center at St. Augustine Seminary. Hands On will be assisting with the repairs and St Augustine will be furnishing the materials, with use being able to use the building to house volunteers for an 18 month period.
Until then, we have rented a 7 bedroom house for volunteers.

Schedule
Major Volunteer Weeks:
October 13-22
November 17-26
December 8-17
January 5-14
February 9-18

A FEW FACTS

Time after time we have heard people say: “we did not know” ; “this is nothing like what we saw on TV or what we read….”No TV coverage or report can do justice to the reality of destruction.” We have witnessed many people breaking into tears as they see the level of destruction and how people are struggling to cope with the new stresses of life.

Post-Katrina life remains a challenge on a daily basis. Most individuals and families at St. Rose and in the Bay St. Louis-Waveland community are displaced residing in tents, temporary FEMA trailers or with multiple families or neighbors in single-family dwellings that are in ill repair. Many parishioners and residents have lost employment and health care benefits due to the destruction of local businesses.

Access to health care remains very limited. Our local hospital was severely damaged due to the hurricane.

Fortunately, the National Guard set up a large M.A.S.H. unit and doctors and nurses from across the U.S. provided immediate health care to residents of our county as well as to displaced persons from New Orleans. Recently, the hospital was able to reopen the emergency room but can only admit 26 patients to the facility. When the school system re-opened in November only 39% of the pre-Katrina students returned. Hancock County was reduced to ground zero. Of the 400 + local businesses, only 5% of them are back in operation.

The community is down to two operational gas stations, one grocery store, a couple of restaurants, one bank and a few much-needed hardware stores. The rebuilding process is going to be a long and tedious endeavor. As the majority of our people have experienced considerable problems with their Insurance Companies and FEMA, a number of Churches and Faithbased organizations have shown the face of God, brought a Spirit of Hope to our People, empowering us to continue our journey of faith.