From Reader Louis

I inquired as to whether the motherchurch of Texas Catholicism had survived another hurricane (it still has the high water marks from 1900), and got a response...you may want to pass it on to those inclined to donate.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:33:46 -0700 (PDT)
From: St. Mary Cathedral Basilica
To: Louis E.
Subject: Re: Weathered the Hurricane?

The island is uninhabitable and the mayor has said that those who did not evacuate should leave. Basic services like water and power are not going to be restored soon.

The church had 8 feet of water and will need to be cleaned and repaired. The pastor is taking residence in Lake Charles, Louisiana and have no access to a computer. I have evacuated to Dallas and there is nobody at the church.

We have no information of when the postal service will become operational in Galveston. We do not know when we will be able to get back either. The island is in lock down.

If you would like to make a monetary donation to the church please make the check payable to St. Mary Cathedral Basilica and remit to:

Rev. Brendan Murphy
1425 N Chateau Cir
Lake Charles, LA 70605

Also please add a note specifying how you would like your donation to be used. For example: to the needy or for church repair.

Please contact Rev. Brendan Murphy at (409) 370-8844

Blessings,

Sandra.

Parish Secretary

--- On Sat, 9/13/08, Louis Epstein wrote:
From: Louis E.
Subject: Weathered the Hurricane?
To: cathedralstmary@sbcglobal.net
Date: Saturday, September 13, 2008, 9:14 PM

Was the Cathedral damaged by Ike?

-=-=-
The World Trade Center towers MUST rise again,
at least as tall as before...or terror has triumphed.