Greetings from New Orleans! I arrived in the Crescent City on Thursday for the International Catholic Stewardship Council’s 62nd Annual Conference. This is the third and final year of my term as Board Chair of the organization. While it has been an enriching experience, I am looking forward to next year when I can just be a regular old conference attendee.
Although I have been to New Orleans several times before, being here this time of year feels different. Earlier this week, the city largely dodged the wrath of Hurricane Francine, but as we all remember, it wasn’t that way nineteen years ago with Katrina. The images of the destruction and the stories of lives lost are seared in my mind. My hotel this week is next door to the Super Dome, and I recall vividly how that became a shelter and the horrible conditions that residents had to endure for so long.
This past week was also another painful anniversary – the terror attacks of 9/11/2001. I know there are people receiving this message who personally lost loved ones, and please know of my prayers. Who can ever forget exactly where they were when the first plane hit…the complete shock and disbelief in the hours after…and the sadness and despair in the days, months, and years that followed.
More than 1800 people died because of Hurricane Katrina, and 2977 were killed in the 9/11 attacks. This does not include first responders and others who later died of 9/11 related illnesses. As the saying goes, “we will never forget.” May we continue to hold those personally affected by these tragedies in prayer and in our hearts always.
God Bless,
Margaret
The Catholic Community Foundation of the Diocese of Richmond
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