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September 5, 2017PENSACOLA (Sept. 5, 2017) – In this time of ongoing crises, such as the international tensions with North Korea and recent domestic issues surrounding childhood immigration through the DACA program (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), Hurricane Irma looms on the horizon, just weeks after the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. Today, Floridians are bracing for the potential impact of this storm and Governor Rick Scott has already declared a state of emergency across Florida. In light of these troubling difficulties and concerns, Bishop Bill Wack CSC of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, is encouraging all people to lean on one another, stay informed, and trust in God.
“In the midst of our uncertainty and angst, we join with our ancestors, for whom the storms of nature seemed just as ominous,” said Bishop Bill, who became the 6 th bishop of the diocese August 22. “We have each other, and that’s our greatest asset—we must lean on our community, and offer each other the strength of love and compassion.”
Last week, several schools and parishes in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee rallied to the aid of Texans and those in Louisiana who were impacted by the wreckage of Hurricane Harvey, which came ashore as a category 4 storm Friday, August 25, and caused record-breaking flooding and massive homelessness throughout the region.
Supplies and donations poured into four school distribution points last Friday, which included St. Paul Catholic School, Sacred Heart Catholic School, Little Flower Catholic School, and St. John the Evangelist School. The truckloads of emergency aid are in the process of being delivered to hard-hit areas of Texas this week.
Additionally, An emergency collection will be taken by parishes within the diocese the weekend of September 9 and 10, and these funds will be used to support the humanitarian recovery efforts of Catholic Charities USA, which works with a variety of agencies nationwide to help people through both the immediate and the long-term process of recovery and restoration after a natural disaster.
Bishop Bill pointed to Psalm 46, which addresses the formidable power of natural, as well as human-caused, disasters.
“The entire Psalm speaks to our modern situation,” said Bishop Bill. “The psalm begins with the reassurance that, ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea.”
“We’ve seen amazing acts of heroism with Hurricane Harvey,” he added. “We have the same courage and resolve here in Florida.”