Twenty - Third Week of Ordinary Time - St Hyacinth Catholic Church

September 6, 2017

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ

          This week in the Gospel, we are challenged to see the resin Christ in our midst when we gather together in his name. Jesus is where reconciliation occurs. Forgiveness is a way in which we can make present Jesus in our lives. By coming together in his name, we bring the community together even closer during hard times.
          The following is the telegram of condolences for the victims of the devastating hurricane Harvey that has affected the United States of America in recent days, sent by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, on behalf of the Holy Father, to the archbishop of Galveston-Houston, His Eminence Cardinal Daniel DiNardo:

His Holiness Pope Francis asks you kindly to convey the assurance of his spiritual closeness and pastoral concern to all those affected by the violent hurricane that swept through the states of Texas and Louisiana in these days. Deeply moved by the tragic loss of life and the immense material devastation that this natural catastrophe has left in its wake, he prays for the victims and their families, and for all those engaged in the vital work of relief, recovery and rebuilding. He likewise trusts that the immense and immediate needs of so many individuals and communities will continue to inspire a vast outpouring of solidarity and mutual aid in the best traditions of the nation. With these sentiments, and with the renewed promise of his prayers, the Holy Father sends his blessing as a pledge of consolation, strength and peace in the Lord.
          Cardinal DiNardo has stated in a letter to all priests that as of August 31st , 41 parishes, schools and other Archdiocesan locations across our 10 counties have reported storm damage from Hurricane Harvey. The number of reports increases with each passing day.
          Thank you for your generous response to the call to provide disaster relief supplies this past week. Across ours and surrounding communities, the response has been most heartening. The needs, however, are still great – and in a constant state of flux. As these needs change, so will our response to them.
For now, St. Hyacinth we are receiving specific requests from area agencies for:

Baby formula
Baby food
Disposable diapers (baby and adult)
School supplies for all grades: notebooks, notebook paper, pencils, pens, glue sticks, etc.
Non perishable and packaged food items (no expired items please)

We are still accepting:

Bottled water
Household cleaning products (don’t forget bleach!)
Personal care items (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, towelettes)
Feminine hygiene products
Paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, paper plates)
First aid supplies and batteries
Gift Cards (Walmart, Target, Walgreens, HEB, Kroger, CVS. (Please indicate amount on card.)

We are not able to accommodate the collection of clothing or furniture items at this time.

Where your donated items go: Emergency shelters, civic and faith organizations that are set up for distribution to flood victims. We are not set up for walk-in distribution. Flood victims seeking direct assistance from St. Hyacinth are going through our St. Vincent de Paul Society.

When to drop off donations: During the week, donations may be dropped off at the church office during regular business hours.
For the immediate future, our collection operation in Guyot Hall will be open for donations on:

Fridays: 5-7 p.m.
Saturdays: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sundays: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

God Bless,
Fr. Reginald Samuels