When Hurricane Katrina struck and devastated much of the Gulf Coast a few years ago, one of its victims was Christ Episcopal Church in the community of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.  The church buildings and furnishings were completely destroyed.  Many parishioners and most people who lived in that area lost their homes and their possessions.  

St. Matthew’s Parish in Hillsborough, responding to a broad appeal for help from the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, chose to adopt Christ Church in Bay St. Louis as our project.  We have sent teams of parishioners to help with the cleanup and rebuilding work at Christ Church and in the Bay St. Louis area.  We have contributed clothing and other goods for the use of the people there.  We have sent the church money to use as its leaders see best.  We consider them a partner parish, and we pray regularly for them.

The cleanup work in Bay St. Louis now complete.  The people there have adjusted to their new situations.  Christ Church is rebuilding its structures.  We no longer send volunteer teams to the area.  We do still send the parish some money and our prayers for their complete recovery.