As I am writing this on Wednesday morning, the beautiful state of Florida is waiting for the arrival of an epic, and described as the storm of a century. The city of Tampa is in peril as well as most of the western coast of Florida. There have been forced evacuations and the dire warning to those who stay, to write their name and phone number with permanent marker on their arm, so the authorities can easily identify the dead bodies.
The news and weather channels with its endless loop of words like “catastrophic,” “monster” and “killer” while showing the eerie emptiness of the streets. All of the stores are closed, the gas stations have sold out, and the airports are shut down. Just waiting to see the mighty force and power of nature on display.
We must pray for those who are affected by the storms; we also need to help them.
I know it is last minute, but we will have a second collection today for the victims of the hurricanes, or if you want to send a contribution during the week to the Parish Office. We will then send the money directly to one of the Dioceses in Florida.
In the meantime, we can pray for the people of Florida and all those States affected by hurricanes:
Prayer for Protection during a Hurricane O God, Master of this passing world, hear the humble voices of your children. The Sea of Galilee obeyed Your order and returned to its former quietude. You are still the Master of land and sea. We live in the shadow of a danger over which we have no control; the Gulf, like a provoked and angry giant, can awake from its seeming lethargy, overstep its conventional boundaries, invade our land, and spread chaos and disaster. During this hurricane season we turn to You, O loving Father. Spare us from past tragedies whose memories are still so vivid and whose wounds seem to refuse to heal with passing of time. O Virgin, Star of the Sea, Our beloved Mother, we ask you to plead with your Son on our behalf, so that spared from the calamities common to this area and animated with a true spirit of gratitude, we will walk in the footsteps of your Divine Son to reach the heavenly Jerusalem, where a stormless eternity awaits us. Amen.
[Composed by Most Rev. Maurice Schexnayder (1895-1981), Second Bishop of Lafayette (1956-1973), following Hurricane Audrey in 1957]
Next Sunday is World Mission Sunday; there will be a second collection for the missions of the Church.
Instituted in 1926 by Pope Pius XI as a mandatory, global second collection in every parish in the world, the proceeds benefit 1,150 territories where the Gospel has not yet been received, has been only recently embraced, or is courageously upheld in the face of persecution.
World Mission Sunday is a special day that unites Catholics worldwide in prayer, solidarity, and support for the Church’s mission efforts.