| Diocesan News

“When I first returned in October,” she explained. “The only picture that came to mind was of places that had been bombed. There were no animals or people at all. Just a dead silence everywhere.”

As vicar of the Sisters of the Holy Family based in eastern New Orleans, Sister Claire understands great loss. The congregation lost more than a dozens sisters who were in poor health and died soon after the storm. They also lost their motherhouse, nursing home, academy for girls, day care facilities and independent living home.

Now, as the neighborhood in one of the hardest hit areas of the city slowly begins to show signs of life, Sister Claire believes God is helping the community start over. “When you really don’t know what to do, you turn to God and He sends people from nowhere,” she said.

People like the Sisters of Notre Dame in Chardon who are answering the call from hundreds of miles away.

Notre Dame Sister Mary Lisette Petelin was inspired to organize a trip south last Thanksgiving. She was watching Brian Williams’ report on NBC showing New Orleans one year after Katrina.

“It was two hours of reporting that I watched of just hopelessness there,” Sister Petelin said. “The one part showed the crying out and the pitiful people who were not being helped and yelling please come rescue us. All I could think is our country let them down, but all I could think is I’m our country too.”

She soon heard of the disastrous situation with which the group of African American nuns is coping with, and after a short trip to visit them in mid-May she learned the courageous sisters are still committed to helping the poor even though they have nothing themselves.

“We talked about it and we just quietly prayed about the community of sisters, about their commitment to the poor and education is so similar to ours,” Sister Petelin said. And one by one, the Sisters of Notre Dame signed up to make the 16½-hour drive south. Twenty-two sisters, ranging in age from 27 to 80, are spending more than $150 each to travel to New Orleans.

“It touched me because I know we don’t have much,” Sister Petelin said. “It just meant someone didn’t buy a pair of shoes, or didn’t go out to eat.”

The sisters also have raised thousands of dollars through various events. But it still is a small amount compared with what the Sisters of the Holy Family need.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is paying only 90 percent of the cost to rebuild St. Mary’s Academy which the Sisters of the Holy Family operate. That means the sisters owe close to $900,000. Construction of the new classrooms is expected to begin soon so the sisters also need help moving classroom supplies from their temporary school to the new modular units.

The Sisters of Notre Dame also hope to bring hope and joy to their colleagues in ministry in New Orleans. A lay massage therapist will offer massages. One sister will help with the bookkeeping, another will bring homemade chocolate candy. One sister will give them manicures, while others write their stories of survival. Sister Petelin said she will lighten the mood by playing a few polkas on her accordion.

“They may not like polkas, but we will probably be able to interest them in dancing one or two with us,” she said.

Sister Claire of Assisi said volunteers like the Sisters of Notre Dame are proof that hope can ease devastation. “I am grateful for the goodness and graciousness of God,” she said.

She said she feels that tremendous good can come out of Hurricane Katrina, like drawing attention to the flaws of the neighborhood.

“Instead of putting back what we had,” Sister Claire said, “this is an opportunity to look forward to something new.”

Donations to the Sisters of the Holy Family can be sent to Sister Claire of Assisi, 6901 Chef Menpeur Highway, New Orleans, La. 70126. In the subject line write, “For the rebuilding of St. Mary’s Academy.”

Boresz is a freelance writer.