New Orleans pastor thanks St. Matthias for support
By Kathleen Ogle
Managing Editor
SOMERSET — The pastor of two Catholic parishes in New Orleans, who have been the recipients of ongoing support — both financial and spiritual — from St. Matthias Parish, took the opportunity to personally thank parishioners at weekend Masses Jan. 27-28.
The visit was a first for Josephite Father Ray Bomberger, pastor of Corpus Christi and Epiphany Parishes in New Orleans. The Josephites were founded to serve African Americans.
“The storm came and went 17 months ago. We continue to experience the effects of the wind and the water, and recovery is slow and frustrating, and you have stuck with us from then until now, and we so very deeply appreciate that,” he said.
Father Bomberger thanked parishioners at St. Matthias for their stewardship, financial support, their mission trip, prayers, sacrifices and the many gifts sent to the families, children and ministries at Corpus Christi and Epiphany Parishes.
To date, St. Matthias has given $98,878 to help rebuild the parishes since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, according Dolores R. Nann, pastoral associate for faith formation at St. Matthias.
“New Orleans isn’t the French Quarter or the Superdome, even though they may lie at the base of our economy,” Father Bomberger said in his homily. “New Orleans is families and neighborhoods. Mardi Gras is a time for family gatherings and community celebration. But now our neighborhoods are in disarray and our families are scattered.”
He estimates that about 20 percent of the parishes’ 1,400 to 1,500 families are currently living in their own homes or on trailers on their property. Other families — as many as 40 to 50 percent — are living nearby, either in other areas of the city, across the Mississippi River or between the city and Baton Rouge, he said.
About 500 people attend the parishes’ three weekend Masses, including some who drive into the city to attend. Epiphany Church is closed and both communities worship at Corpus Christi Church.
“What we have been doing is trying to get them back, doing what we can to bring them home, and to help them to get home,” he said.
Corpus Christi Church continues as a gathering space for Mass as well as community meetings, family gatherings and for other congregations to use for their worship services.
“It’s amazing how flexible a space a church can be without pews, although we hope to get them back in there soon,” he said.
With the help of St. Matthias as well as other parishes throughout the country, the Corpus Christi and Epiphany communities have been providing building materials and cleaning supplies to residents as well.
He believes that the work of two parish ministries is of particular importance: the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which has been active for many years serving the poor, and their ministry of evangelization.
“Seventy-five to 80 percent of the houses in our neighborhoods are rental properties. So there’s going to be people returning but hopefully a whole lot of new people moving in,” he said.
In addition to supporting people who remained or have returned to New Orleans, the parishes continue to reach out to those who are scattered throughout the country.
One project involves helping to restore the New Orleans tradition of home altars. The parishes send care packages that include a crucifix, statue, Rosary beads, holy water bottle, a candle and prayer cards to help people restore their home altars.
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law