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By: Sister Alice Abate, O.Carm. Congregation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, New Orleans, Louisiana
Rebounding from the tragedy wrought by Hurricane Katrina is a daunting task. No one, regardless of race, color, creed, socioeconomic class, men, women or children, was exempt. Each one of us experienced personal loss to some degree. A collective pall hangs over our area. Some pockets that were less affected have rebounded more quickly. Yet, rampant devastation remains. Photos and videos provide glimpses of the destruction for our national audience but they pale in comparison to the personal experience of actually walking the path of destruction. The enormity of the task at hand can be paralyzing. Where does one begin? Where do we begin?
Those two questions bring to mind a philosophy class I grappled with some twenty-five years ago. I was moved then and still am by a casual statement from the Jesuit priest’s lecture. “A rock thrown into a pond affects the cosmos.” In my mind’s eye, I can visualize the gentle ripples radiating from the rock’s point of entry into the water. In mid June, I was blessed to witness that effect in my own Katrina story. The event, entitled, “Project Hope,” was orchestrated by Deacon Sal Lema of the Archdiocese of Chicago, the communications director for our Carmelite brothers of the Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary.
Over a two week span of time, nine permanent deacons from the Archdiocese of Chicago and one from the Archdiocese of New Orleans descended on our congregation’s Motherhouse in the Lakeview area of New Orleans. Lakeview was one of the hardest hit areas suffering a massive breach in a drainage canal that flooded the area with up to twelve feet of water which remained through most of September. They arrived by air and land, armed with building materials, tools, donations from their generous parishioners and an ardent desire to make a difference.
“Project Hope” was an apt description as it renewed my hope. Prior to their arrival, our work at the Motherhouse focused on “disposing.” With the assistance of the sisters, family and friends, over the course of several months, I had disposed of food, carpeting, floor tiles, furniture, appliances, kitchenware, clothing, paper supplies and anything that could have been even remotely contaminated by exposure to the standing waters. The deacons brought boundless energy and enthusiasm and it was contagious. Their thrust was reconstructing rather than disposing. The building was a flurry of activity. Their primary focus was on the second floor of our Motherhouse, a four story building. The second floor houses our chapel, kitchen and dining room, handicapped bathrooms and bedrooms, community room and offices. By the conclusion of their stay, all of the plumbing in the house was inspected and repaired, bathroom floors, laundry floors and the janitor’s room was all tiled. To the faint of heart, this may seem a mere dent in the restoration of a 45,000 plus square foot building. To me, it is a sign of hope. Much remains to be done. However, I need only stand by the doorways and marvel at 6’ x 6’ squares of tiles to refuel my hope and remind me of my new friends and brothers who embraced a new “project” and filled me with “hope.”
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