The people of the Diocese of San Angelo have always been amazingly generous when disasters have hit many different countries. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have flowed from our West Texas families to victims of tsunamis, earthquakes, and monsoons around the world. Now is a special moment to help some of our own neighbors in their hour of need.
 
On Friday, September 21, 2018, a storm sat over Sonora, Texas, dumping large amounts of water over the city and the surrounding area.  The flood control system was overwhelmed by the amount of rain that fell in a small area in a short period of time.
 
About 300 homes were flooded in the low-lying neighborhoods near the draws. Now those low-income residents are trying to find a way to clean up the mess, dispose of their ruined belongings, dry things out, prevent mold, and put their homes back together again. Many of their homes will not be inhabitable, so these people will need to search for a place to live.
 
The Catholic Parish in Sonora is called St. Ann’s. Since it is situated next to the draw, it also suffered serious flooding on that unforgettable day. The church and the parish hall were surrounded by so much water that it looked like they were sitting in a lake.  Now these buildings cannot be used until the flood damage is repaired. Clean-up crews started their work right away, but the actual repair of the church facilities will take plenty of time. The parish will need plenty of assistance and prayer support.
 
In the meantime, a generous local Christian community, Lighthouse Christian Church, has agreed to allow St. Ann’s to celebrate weekend Masses in their church hall until they can move back into their own buildings. We should all pray for God’s blessings upon the people of Lighthouse Community Church for their loving spirit of hospitality.
 
Thankfully, St. Ann’s Parish has flood insurance, which should be helpful in the recovery process. Unfortunately, however, about 90% of the flooded homes in town did not have insurance.  Their prognosis is much more worrisome.  Since the threshold for the federal government to release FEMA money is a total damage level of 36 million dollars, it is not very likely that federal assistance will be forthcoming for the people of Sonora.
 
Many of our Catholic people around the diocese have asked what they can do to help. I asked the community leaders in Sonora, and they gave me some information that I would like to pass on to our readers.

First of all, please do not send any unmanaged informal donations, such as clothing, shoes, or television sets.  They do not have the logistical ability to handle any more such items. 
 
They told me that they can use plastic totes, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene supplies, and demolition equipment such as saws, pry bars, and utility knives. When I was in Sonora, these items were being received and distributed at the Sutton County Civic Center. The center has no paid staff, so the work is being done entirely by volunteers.
 
I was told that there is also a severe need for counseling and spiritual guidance.  Some of the local residents are so traumatized that they desperately need someone to talk and pray with. Any professional counselors, clergy, or trained spiritual directors who are able to assist are asked to contact the coordinator of volunteers in Sonora, Tammy Fisher, at 202-468-5262.
 
There is a Facebook page called Sonora Flood Relief, and that page has been a useful forum for people to express needs and respond to those needs quickly. The designated emergency manager in Sonora is the County Judge, Steve Smith, who can be reached at 325-387-2711.
 
Of course, the greatest need is money. The San Angelo Area Foundation has set up an account for collecting donations for the flood victims in Sonora.  Those funds will be distributed by the Foundation according to the guidance given by the Sonora Ministerial Alliance, which is made up of the pastors of the various churches in Sonora.  Anyone wishing to donate to the flood victims can send the funds electronically through the Foundation website at www.saafound.org or mail a check to this address: San Angelo Area Foundation, 221 S. Irving Street, San Angelo, TX 76903. Their telephone is 325-947-7071.
 
Two of the Sonora pastors in the Sonora Ministerial Alliance are Father Terry Brenon, pastor of St. Ann’s Catholic Parish, and Father Casey Berkhouse, pastor of St. John’s Episcopal Church.
 
As an expression of solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are struggling in Sonora, I have asked all of our parishes and missions in the Diocese of San Angelo to take up a special collection on either the weekend of September 29-30 or the weekend of October 13-14. These funds will be used to assist those residents of Sonora who have been affected by the flood, as well as the parish of St. Ann in Sonora, in their efforts of recovery from this natural disaster. I believe the people of our diocese will respond with exemplary generosity.
 
Please pray for the flood victims in Sonora, as well as all those who have suffered recent flooding in other places, such as in the Carolinas with Hurricane Florence and in southern India.