1 October 2008 from Office of Worship

Due to Hurricane Ike, the following workshops and events of the Office of Worship were canceled:

October 4, 2008
Liturgical Ministry Formation Day Workshop for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy
Communion, St. John Church, Port Arthur

October 18, 2008
Liturgical Ministry Formation Day Workshop for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy
Communion, St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica

October 18, 2008
Liturgical Ministry Formation Day Workshop for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy
Communion, St. Martin de Porres Church, Corrigan

October 25, 2008
Liturgical Ministry Formation Day Workshop for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy
Communion, St. Elizabeth Church, Port Neches

November 8, 2008
Episcopal Altar Server Training

November 8, 2008
Liturgical Ministry Formation Day Workshop for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy
Communion, Our Mother of Mercy Church, Ames

November 8, 2008
Liturgical Ministry Formation Day Workshop for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy
Communion, St. Joseph Church, Port Arthur

November 20, 2008
Dinner and Gathering of Directors of Parish Music Ministry, St. Anthony
Cathedral Basilica

November 22, 2008
Sacristan Workshop
St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica

December 6, 2008
Liturgical Ministry Formation Day Workshop for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion,
St. Henry Church, Bridge City

Announcment on the Bishop’s Faith Appeal

Because of Hurricane Ike, Bishop’s Faith Appeal pledge statements were not mailed on September 15, 2008. Regular statement mailing will resume on October 15, 2008.  Our Southeast Texas Community and our parishioners are in our prayers. Please continue to pray for the diocesan ministries and Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas who are  supported by BFA, as we also rebuild and recover.  

- Bishop’s Faith Appeal Staff

St. Paul Mass Rescheduled

Mass of St. Paul scheduled for Tuesday September 30 at 6:30 at St. Anthony Basilica has been rescheduled by Bishop Curtis Guillory for Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 6:30 PM, St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, Beaumont.

Catholic Charities volunteers needed

Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas is in need of volunteers for various assignments in conjunction with its disaster emergency response and also with its disaster recovery efforts. Please call the office at (409) 835-7118 and press 0 when the automated system answers. Let the receptionist know you want to volunteer and your call will be forwarded to the appropriate person. Thanks!

Stewardship
The Diocesan Stewardship Conference scheduled for Sept. 27 has been cancelled.

Catholic Schools

All Catholic schools in the Diocese of Beaumont reopened Thursday, Sept.25, 2008.

The Office of Worship cancels the following:

October 4, 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Liturgical Ministry Formation Day workshop for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, St. John Parish, Port Arthur.

October 11, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Liturgy Course for Deacons in Formation. Will not be re-scheduled.

November 20, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Dinner and Gathering of Parish Music Directors, St. Anthony Cathedral Center.

November 22, 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Sacristan Workshop, St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica Chapel

December 6, 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Liturgical Ministry Formation Day workshop for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, St. Henry Parish, Bridge City.

The following events have also been cancelled or rescheduled:

• Sept 18-20 DCCW 38th Annual Convention
• Sept 18 Diocesan Finance Council Meeting
• Sept 20 ALL Diaconate Formation Classes cancelled until further notice
• Sept 20 Altar Server Mass
• Sept 21 Vietnamese Dominican Sisters 50th Jubilee Mass Celebration
• Sept 21 50th & 25th Wedding Anniversary Masses
• Sept 22 Parish Catechetical Leader Gathering
• Sept 23 The Hispanic Immigration Meeting scheduled for September 23 at 12:00 has been cancelled, will reschedule at a later date.
• Sept 25 Logos II Training
• Sept 25 Diocesan Retirement Committee Meeting
• Sept 26-27 Diocesan Stewardship Conference
• Entire CEMI Fall 2008 semester
• Oct. 3 Red Mass
• Oct. 11, Harvest of Hope benefiting Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas will be rescheduled.

SCAM WARNINGS:

Southeast Texas Emergency Management

Southeast Texas Emergency Management urges residents who have sustained damage to their homes or property during Hurricane Ike to beware of potential scams. The Better Business Bureau, at www.bbb.org, provides much needed information which can help citizens recognize phony contractors.  The following information is provided by the BBB:

Homeowner should be suspicious of door-to-door workers, who in order to get the job, may use scare tactics such as allegedly unsafe structural conditions.  If possible, homeowners should request two or three estimates of the cost of repairs.  The homeowners should also be certain that the contractors are bidding the same package including materials to be used, when work is to begin and be completed and when payments are to be made.  A down payment of 30% of the total is standard for the industry.  The time when work is to begin is particularly important as many contractors may have a backlog of work due to the disaster.  Homeowners should not sign a completion form until they are totally satisfied.  It is wise for homeowners to ask for a lien waiver to protect them in the event the contractor fails to pay their suppliers.   When selecting a contractor, the homeowner should make sure the contract contains a detailed description of the necessary work. In the Cities of Beaumont, Groves and Port Arthur, contractors are required to be licensed by the State of Texas and bonded in order to perform work.  Check to make sure that the contractor you have chosen meets these requirements. Citizens in all other jurisdictions should check with their local governments for verifications of requirements.

Citizens are cautioned to be wary of door to door solicitors.

Blue Roof Program Available

The "Blue Roof" Program is available for homeowners who have damage to their roofs. The program is free and available through the Corps of Engineers. Locations have been set up throughout Southeast Texas Homeowners can call 1-888-766-3258, take option 4, and register for the program or find local sites throughout Southeast Texas.

The following has been accomplished

Diocesan staff has toured most of the locations in the Diocese to make an initial assessment of the damage.

Contractors have been secured to make temporary repairs to buildings to prevent further damage (covering open windows, placing tarps on roofs).  Additionally, companies have been secured to remove water and moisture for those locations that are wet inside.

Catholic Mutual is dispatching construction companies to locations with major or moderate damage so that the bid process can start and restoration can start as soon as possible.  Catholic Mutual is dispatching adjusters to locations with minor damages so that a list of damages can be created and dealt with when possible.