Priests gave me Laura lift

By FATHER JEFFREY STARKOVICH
Guest columnist

In the early hours of Aug. 27, 2020, Hurricane Laura made landfall in Cameron Parish. As one of the most powerful storms to make landfall in our history, it brought great devastation. The day after the storm, I remember struggling to find a single structure unaffected.

St. Pius X Parish in Ragley, where I am assigned, suffered like many others. The church lost its eastern roof; our office/religious education building was a total loss; and, our parish hall suffered a partial wall collapse. 

Our people, though, were undeterred. We celebrated Mass on Sunday, Aug. 30, in our darkened church for the nearly 50 parishioners. After Mass, they asked me, “Father, what can we do to help?”

The eight priests of my support group asked me the same question. In all, priests helped send over 200,000 pounds of supplies to St. Pius X alone. With only a parking lot and the love of the Lord, priestly fraternity and charity made an enormous difference. 

I am most grateful to the priests of my support group. They were the first ones to assist. I am grateful, too, for the priests of Louisiana who helped the people of southwest Louisiana. When the time comes, I look forward to asking, “Father, what can we do to help?”

Father Jeffrey Starkovich is pastor of St. Pius X Parish, Ragley, in the Diocese of Lake Charles.