Traumatized New Orleans returnees pack first post-storm Catholic Mass

Yahoo News ^ | October 2, 2005

[NYer]

About a thousand people crammed a Catholic church in the heart of New Orleans for an emotional Sunday Mass and prayed for the resurrection of their storm-savaged city.

Some worshippers hugged and wept as Archbishop Alfred Hughes spoke from the St. Louis Cathedral altar of suffering and losses endured, and thanked those who risked their lives to rescue others.

"I thank God for all of you who have made such special effort," Hughes told the congregation. "We are coming to pray New Orleans comes back to life."

The wooden pews under the vaulted ceiling and chandeliers were full and worshippers stood along the walls, hands folded and heads bowed. They seemed not to notice the patches of dried sewage on the sanctuary floor and the flies.

"I'm stunned to see how packed the church was," Father Ted Mahne said as congregants streamed out, many pausing to speak with Hughes on the steps. "It is certainly a symbol that the city and the church will rise up again."

Mahne estimated that nearly a thousand people attended the mass.

[NYer]

AP - Sun Oct 2, 3:19 PM ET

Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes greets Chief Warrant Officer Stephen Flamm, from the 33rd Area Support Group of the Illinois National Guard, right, after the first Mass at the historic St. Louis Cathedral since Hurricane Katrina hit more than a month ago, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2005, in New Orleans.(AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

AP - Sun Oct 2, 3:34 PM ET

New Orleans firefighter Dwayne Seghers wipes his eye, as he and Illinois firefighter Reid Rissman, second left, and New Orleans firefighter Richard Jensen, right, attend the first Mass at the historic St. Louis Cathedral since Hurricane Katrina hit more than a month ago, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2005, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

[NYer]

"I'm stunned to see how packed the church was," Father Ted Mahne said as congregants streamed out, many pausing to speak with Hughes on the steps. "It is certainly a symbol that the city and the church will rise up again."

Nothing like a disaster to remind people of where there focus should be.

AP - Sun Oct 2, 2:52 PM ET A National Guardsman receives communion during the first Mass at the historic St. Louis Cathedral since Hurricane Katrina hit more than a month ago, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2005, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Catholic Ping
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[the invisib1e hand]

They seemed not to notice the patches of dried sewage on the sanctuary floor and the flies.

there are all sorts of ways to word things. this is an example of really mediocre style. the media just has no class.

[Maeve]

Awesome and good. What my family hopes for: this City reborn around her Cathedral.

Our Lady of Prompt Succor, pray for us.

[Maeve]

And a good Catholic bump for the Mass at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans

[SandRat]

Traumatized New Orleans returnees pack first post-storm Catholic Mass

Uh-Oh!!! That's not good news for the RAT Ballot machine!!!

GOOD!!!

[PAR35]

Uh-Oh!!! That's not good news for the RAT Ballot machine!!!

Three word response: Durbin Kerry Kennedy

[SandRat]

None of the "supposedly Catholic" three were there either.

[Salvation]

Sounds wonderful to me too!