Catholics react swiftly to provide storm relief

When several tornados and severe thunderstorms raked the Albany Diocese last Sunday, a parish building turned into a shelter, Catholic Charities rushed out aid and one pastor braved the weather to capture the devastation on videotape.

Assistant Editor Kate Blain, and staff writers Maureen McGuinness and Paul Quirini compiled these reports on the storm's effects:

* Rev. Christopher Drennan's voice shook as he described the devastation in Mechanicville, where he estimated a tornado destroyed 75 to 100 homes.

"Most of Mechanicville is gone -- like 80 percent. It's as bad as it can be," said the Augustinian pastor of Assumption/St. Paul parish. "Ten or 20 of the houses are leveled to the ground."

One family in the parish was staying in the rectory after their home was destroyed. "They're Russian, and their English is very weak," Father Drennan said. "They said they were just sitting in their kitchen, and their whole house blew away."

Another family made it to their basement before the tornado tore their entire home away over their heads. "They were left with the rain and the hail hitting them," said Father Drennan. "They used their bodies to shield [one another]."

The former parish school became a temporary Red Cross aid station. Candles from the church lined the halls, providing the only light for displaced families who sat in their soaked clothes from the night before.

Although Assumption/St. Paul was just two blocks from where the tornado touched down, the parish's only damage was a fallen tree.

The pastor said he was "awed" at the attitude of those devastated by the tornado. "I'm more upset than they are," he told The Evangelist. "Everyone who's lost their house is just overwhelmed with gratitude that they're alive. People are wonderful."

He was most grateful that no one was killed during the storm, noting that "it's really bad for those who were hit, but everyone's safe. It's a miracle."

* After the storms hit, Catholic Charities of the Albany Diocese leapt into action to help meet the needs of the victims. Sister Maureen Joyce, executive director, toured Mechanicville on Monday to assess the damage. The agency, she said, is trying to determine what the unmet needs are and how to meet them.

"We learned through the ice storm [last winter in the north country] that there are some things they aren't qualified for," Sister Maureen said, explaining that federal relief money can be used for specific items while other critical needs fall to the wayside. To remedy that, Catholic Charities will concentrate on "filling in the gaps," she said.

One of those needs will be for furniture. Federal disaster relief money provides people with beds, $90 for kitchen utensils and $110 for clothing. Other needed furniture is not provided. Sister Maureen said Catholic Charities will be collecting furniture at parish locations still to be announced.

* At Still Point House of Prayer in Stillwater, damage was limited to a two-day loss of power and water. Co-director Sister Lillian Needham, SSJ, called participants in upcoming retreats to postpone those events.

"We've had worse windstorms," she told The Evangelist, noting that downed power lines were more of a problem to neighbors with farms, who were having trouble getting their cows milked. Another neighbor had a tree fall on her roof, Sister Lillian said.

Still Point's co-directors planned to bring vegetarian meals from their freezer down to the Red Cross station set up in the Mechanicville Community Center.

* St. Peter's parish in Stillwater expected to be without power for up to three days following the storm. Though the parish itself was undamaged, Rev. James O'Neill, pastor, was deeply concerned for residents of nearby Mechanicville, calling the aftermath "just devastation. Lines are down all over the place. No one was killed, thanks be to God."

* Immaculate Conception Church in Hoosick Falls was on both the giving and receiving end of assistance.

"Our cemetery got hit really bad," said Marie Bushey, parish office manager. "Trees are down. Headstones are toppled over."

As volunteers were assisting with the clean-up of the cemetery, she explained that "it goes both ways: We're here to help, and people are helping us with the cemetery."

With much of the village out of power, parish staff worked to make sure parishioners, especially the homebound, were all right. The parish nurse called shut-ins to see if they were in need of food, water or other items, while the parish social outreach worker assessed other needs. "We're here for anyone who calls in," Mrs. Bushy said. "We're up and running."

At St. Mary's Academy, the parish school, a downed tree blocking the street in front of the school caused traffic to be re-routed through the parking lot. Besides downed trees and a lack of electricity, some parish families are facing bigger troubles as a result of the storm.

"One family lost their barn and livestock," said Anne Marie Donovan, principal. "The roof of another family's house is gone."

Despite the damage, Mrs. Donovan was thankful that the community survived as well as it did. "We're fortunate we're not Mechanicville or Schaghticoke."

* Rev. Bernard Turner, pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Schaghticoke, recalled seeing the skies darken and rain falling as though "you turned on the shower full blast." He then heard a sound resembling a train whistle and watched trees bending parallel to the ground. From his porch, he captured the power and devastation of the tornado on videotape.

While St. John the Baptist parish didn't sustain any major damage, several nearby homes and vehicles were destroyed by fallen trees, and electrical power was knocked out. Among those parishioners who felt the storm's wrath were the pastoral associate for faith formation, whose house and Ford Explorer were damaged after a tree crashed onto them.

There was limited access to St. John's Cemetery due to fallen trees, and the road leading to St. Monica's Church in Johnsonville, where Father Turner also serves as pastor, was partially blocked by downed trees Property damage also was significant in Valley Falls, where St. John's mission, Our Lady of Good Counsel, is located.

"I'm thankful none of the church buildings or property was damaged, because the damage was clearly all around us," Father Turner said, adding that parishioners of St. John the Baptist or St. Monica's who need assistance should call the parish office.

(Editor's note: Albany diocesan Catholic Charities has received $25,000 from the National Catholic Charities Disaster Relief Fund to aid victims of the May 31 storms. The agency has also joined with WTEN-TV 10, Hannaford food markets and Trustco Bank to raise funds. People wishing to make donations may deposit money directly in a Catholic Charities account at any Trustco Bank or write a check to Catholic Charities and deliver it to a Hannaford store. Checks can also be mailed directly to Catholic Charities, 40 N. Main Ave., Albany, NY 12203. On June 7 at 6:30 a.m. on channel 10, "Catholic Charities At Work" will focus on relief efforts.

(06-04-98)