Generous hearts abound

Offers of help come from California to New Orleans

By Tim Wenzl

Southwest Kansas Register

Donations from across the diocese, across the state and across the country are coming in for the victims of the May 4th tornados.

A special collection was taken up in the parishes in the diocese on the weekend of May 5-6. There were front page articles in the other three diocesan papers in Kansas in their May 11th issues. Along with their coverage of the disaster, were appeals for assistance. Articles were posted with Catholic News Service and then printed in diocesan newspapers across the country.

Bishop Ronald Gilmore has received calls of support and financial assistance from bishops across the country. There have been calls to the diocese and Catholic Social Service with monetary donations and other assistance from the states of Colorado, Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wyoming, Ohio, Florida, Washington, Arkansas, Michigan, Louisiana, Kentucky, Alabama, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana and California.

A surprising donation came in from the Congregation of St. Joseph in New Orleans, LA. Sister Barbara Hughes wrote: “Enclosed is a check for the Tornado Relief Fund to assist the victims of the devastating tornado that hit Greensburg. As residents of New Orleans, we know first hand the challenges this community will face, and how much it meant to us to have people from all over the country respond to us in our time of need (when hurricane Katrina hit).”

“Individuals, parishes, dioceses and religious congregations are responding with great generosity,” said Bishop Gilmore. “We are grateful for the support and the prayers that are coming to our diocese for the victims of these storms. Our prayers of thanksgiving go out to these good people.”