Archdiocesan Hurricane Harvey Updates

August 26, 2017

By Communications Staff • Updated Dec. 27, 2017, at 4:16 p.m. CST

Help us help others

Recovery from catastrophes like Hurricane Harvey will take years. We need your help to recover from this disaster and continue to serve the faithful of the Archdiocese and those in need in the greater community. Thank you for your prayers and your generosity.

Give to the Archdiocesan Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund

You can also donate to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

IMPACT ON THE ARCHDIOCESE

In the weeks after the storm, 80-plus parish, school and archdiocesan locations reported damage from Hurricane Harvey. Of those parish and school sites, 4 locations have sustained damage that has been categorized as catastrophic: Shrine of the True Cross Parish and School in Dickinson, St. Francis of Assisi Parish and School in Houston, St. Ignatius Loyola Parish in Spring and St. Philip the Apostle Parish in Huffman. Each site experienced several feet of water in each building on campus.

The communities moved quickly on the road to recovery finding new locations to celebrate Masses with their communities and are working hard to rebuild and reopen their churches and schools.

The Shrine of the True Cross Parish and School is celebrating Sunday Masses at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Dickinson. The True Cross School has relocated to the Our Lady of Fatima School Campus in Texas City.

St. Francis of Assisi Parish & School is celebrating Masses at Our Mother of Mercy Church in Houston. St. Francis of Assisi School has relocated to the Resurrection School Campus in Houston.

St. Ignatius Loyola Parish is celebrating weekend Masses on church grounds.

St. Philip the Apostle Parish is celebrating Sunday Masses at The Overlook in Atascocita (formerly the Atascocita Country Club).

In the weeks immediately following Harvey, Cardinal DiNardo celebrated Mass with each of the these hard hit parish communities at their temporary locations. The parishioners have been battered, but they are not broken. Their faith is strong and they look forward to rebuilding and returning to their parish homes. Cardinal DiNardo also visited and celebrated Mass at Sacred Heart Parish in Manvel. Their sanctuary was flooded during Harvey.

OUTREACH EFFORTS

In the immediate aftermath of the storm, many parishes served as emergency shelters and donation centers. Local officials and the Red Cross began consolidating when evacuees were beginning the process of returning to their homes for cleanup or transition to other housing. As we continue the recovery phase, the Knights of Columbus and our social service agencies are providing for the current needs of those affected as through a number of activities summarized below:

• Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus developed a network of Point of Distribution (POD) sites to house donated items, including food, water, cleaning supplies, etc. in the community for further distribution to individuals and parishes in the areas where the PODS are located. They are designed to bring in food and supplies in the morning and turn them around into the communities by the afternoon. The PODS will be open Tuesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. They are also coordinating with the Houston Food Bank to have fresh produce available at the PODS on distribution days.

For more info and the location of other PODS throughout the Archdiocese, please contact:

Main POD Center
Council 3077 (Bishop Byrne)
420 Telephone Rd., Houston, TX 77023
Paul Gloria 832-364-9390
John Hinojosa, 713-412-6477

• Catholic Charities

NOTE: As of November 2017, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is currently at capacity and cannot accept new Hurricane Harvey clients at this time.

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is currently providing the following disaster relief services around the Archdiocese:

Intake/Case Management Services – including assistance with FEMA registration
Supplies distribution (cleaning supplies, toiletries, water, food, etc.)
Gift Card distribution
Counseling

Call the Disaster Recovery Hotline: 713-874-6594 to get help through Catholic Charities inquire about assistance or make an appointment to meet with a case manager. Click here for more information.

Locations

Catholic Charities Central Office - 2900 Louisiana Street, Houston, TX 77006, 713-526-4611
Mamie George Community Center - 1111 Collins Road, Richmond, Texas 77469, 281-202-6200
Texas City, Mainland - 712 5th Ave North, Texas City, TX 77590, 409-948-0405 - Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Galveston - 4700 Broadway, #Fl 03, Galveston, TX 77550, 409-762-2064- Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Bay Area Office - 1300-A Bay Area Blvd, Houston, TX 77058, 281-282-6069 - Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

• Society of St. Vincent de Paul

The Society works to provide basic needs in terms of food, clothing, furniture or other home goods that may need to be replaced following natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul works to help get those impacted by disaster not only temporary relief, but also get them moving toward self-sufficient and dignified living.

Since the first weeks of the disaster, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul continues to provide food, clothing, hygiene, cleaning supplies and furniture. The Society set up four Parish Recovery Assistance Centers where 5,500 people were assisted with supplies, FEMA registration help, and provided other vital referral resources to help them rebuild.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is committed to being there every step of the way in the recovery process. The Hurricane Harvey Homes Program provides new household items like beds, dressers, sofas, dining tables, kitchen items and more for families in need.

To get help from The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, click here or call 713-741-8234 during normal business hours on Monday through Friday.

• San José Clinic

Through community support and volunteers from around the world, the Clinic delivered care to thousands affected by Harvey directly after the storm, both in Houston and at satellite locations in hard-hit, rural areas of Brazoria and Fort Bend counties. San José Clinic continues to provide quality, affordable medical, dental, and pharmacy care, as well as a full range of diagnostic services, to low-income, uninsured in the community at 2615 Fannin, Houston 77002. In addition, limited care is currently available one day per week in Brazoria County at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

Midtown Clinic
2615 Fannin Street
Houston, Texas 77002
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
713-228-9411

Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church
Brazoria County Outreach
415 S Erskine Street
Angleton, Texas 77515
One day per week, call ahead for schedule
979-849-9458

www.sanjoseclinic.org/harveyrelief

• Catholic Charismatic Center

The Catholic Charismatic Center (CCC) has opened a The Navidad Center at 1608 Cullen Blvd. in East Houston right down the street from the Center, to house their ongoing relief operation. They are distributing relief supplies, including water, food, baby food and supplies, toiletries, cleaning supplies and pet food.

Donations of food, water, cleaning supplies and money accepted. Volunteers are needed for muck trips on Thursdays to help clean houses, yards, streets and special projects. Please bring gloves, trash bags, cleaning supplies, etc.

The Navidad Center
1608 Cullen Blvd.
Houston, TX 77003
Open Wednesdays and Fridays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Relief line: 346-234-4295.