Note from Sr. Jackie after Hurricane Katrina

Let me begin by telling you something about the state of Mississippi. It is a state with a small population. Several years ago I was told that the total population of the state is less than that of Atlanta and its suburbs. I think it is probably still true. The federal government classifies the entire state as “rural” except for the city of Jackson. Certainly it is a poor state and it has just gotten poorer with the destruction of the fishing industry and the casino industry, two major employers and sources of income.

The Catholic Church in Mississippi is still a mission church. Southern Baptist is the religion of choice for most folks. The Church is divided into two Dioceses – the Jackson Diocese serves the top two thirds of the state, and the Biloxi Diocese serves the bottom third. In the entire state, there are only nine Catholic high schools.

In the Biloxi Diocese there are about 50 parishes and missions and nineteen schools, including five high schools. Our Lady Academy is one of those five high schools. It is an all-girls’ junior-senior high school; in fact, it is the only all-girls’ school in the state.

Now, let me tell you about our little school. It is a wonderful little place, serving 284 young women, grades 7-12. We had just finished our first three weeks of classes and all of us were looking forward to a fabulous school year. Our volleyball team had a record of 12-0; our soccer team was just about to begin practice, in search of their seventh straight state championship. We had just been informed that we have three National Merit semi-finalists – the most in ten years for OLA. Our ACT scores, which had improved for five straight years, were awesome. Our campus ministry program had a record number of girls involved and the group had just completed a great planning retreat. Our faculty, with 75% holding advanced degrees, was professional, caring, filled with mercy, and committed. Yes, it was going to be a great year!

And then Katrina came. Six feet of water washed into the buildings and she took just about everything with her when she receded back to the Gulf. All student records and all financial records were lost. All computers were destroyed. All books are water-logged. Now, half of the school has to be demolished. One-fourth needs major, major repair. We have no gym for volleyball. We have no field for soccer. We have no desks, no science equipment, no art supplies, no cafeteria, no nothing. Insurance will take care of part of it, but we were insured for a disaster, not for a catastrophe.

What I worry about most are the girls. Many do not have homes; slabs are all that is left. Because the damage was caused by a 30 foot tidal surge and because most folks did not have flood insurance, most losses are not covered. All businesses are damaged. Many, many of my parents are without work. The girls have already missed a month of school and will miss another before we can get under roof and underway again. How do we get our seniors into college and make the college deadlines for scholarships? How do we administer the PSAT to the juniors? How many girls will be able to return to OLA when we do open in November? How many can pay any tuition? How do we handle the deficit? These are some of the questions that keep me awake at night.

More important than any of that, I believe, is the girls’ emotional state. Although no OLA girl or any member of her immediate family died, everyone lost someone they know. Most were displaced; many are still displaced or homeless; all have been through unspeakable hardships. How do we help them heal? I pray that we have the words and the wisdom.

To anyone who is offering assistance, I am asking it for the girls. Somehow, we will manage to get walls up and a roof on. But my girls need to return to OLA, to their home away from home. To do that, many need financial assistance. If you could sponsor part or all of one student’s tuition and fees for this year (total cost: $4000.00), it would help us to “get over the hill” and begin again. Coast people are resourceful; they are already beginning to rebuild. Things will be better next year. But, for right now, we need to be together as the OLA school community, to share our stories, to cry, to support each other. To do that, we need the girls in school. Any financial help you can give would be most appreciated.

Thanks so much.

Sister Jackie Howard, RSM