Undergraduate
College Launches Special Katrina Fund
September 9, 2005
To the Members of the Saint Michael’s College Community:
Thank you for the many calls and emails concerning the members of the Society of
Saint Edmund stationed in the New Orleans area and the people they serve. As you
can conclude from media reports, the city is devastated and Saint Peter Claver
parish and the Bishop Perry Middle School are at the center of the disaster. Fr.
Michael Jacques, Fr. Paul McQuillen and Fr. David Theroux safely evacuated to
the Edmundite Mission House in Selma, Alabama before the hurricane hit.
Unfortunately, many parishioners were unable to leave the city and the Saint
Peter Claver church and the Bishop Perry Middle School have sustained
significant damage. We are grateful to learn that the families of our two Saint
Michael’s students from New Orleans have safely evacuated the city.
The Society of Saint Edmund took over the administration of Saint Peter Claver
in 1984 and the ministry has grown remarkably under the leadership of Fr.
Michael Jacques. The parish is known for its energetic liturgies with a
magnificent gospel choir and the social outreach ministry to area residents has
expanded in great degree. The Bishop Perry Middle School was opened in 1994 as a
tuition-free school for at risk African-American boys for grades five through
eight. For more information on these Edmundite Apostolates, please see the
Edmundite web site at www.sse.org.
The College has a special relationship with Saint Peter Claver and Bishop Perry
Middle School. The Gospel Choir has made a number of visits to campus in the
past several years and many in our own community have served as host families.
Our own liturgical choir has visited Saint Peter Claver in the past as well,
staying with parishioners in New Orleans. In each case, relationships and
friendships were formed that remain and continue to this day. Our MOVE Office
has sponsored a number of service trips to Bishop Perry Middle School and some
of our Alumni have devoted a year of service in the Edmundite Mission Corps
volunteering at Bishop Perry. Saint Michael’s has had students enrolled from
both Saint Peter Claver and Bishop Perry in the past twenty years. We currently
have two graduates from Bishop Perry at Saint Michael’s today. In addition, many
Edmundite priests from New Orleans have consistently served on our College Board
of Trustees.
Given our strong relationship, the College Community will raise funds to assist
those who have been adversely affected by Hurricane Katrina. If you would like
to contribute to this effort, please see instructions below. Gifts to the
Katrina Relief Fund will assist students, families, and the Edmundite
Apostolates impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Edmundite Campus Ministry will manage
the Katrina Relief Fund and direct support to the Edmundite Southern Missions so
the Edmundites on the scene can use the funds for those people most in need.
If you would like to assist our Apostolates you can make a gift to the Edmundite
Campus Ministry Katrina Relief Fund as follows. In all cases, please note that
your gift is to support this special fund:
We appreciate the many various offers of assistance made thus far and want to
encourage your involvement. In the future we are hoping to plan M.O.V.E.
service trips to New Orleans when possible. This will be open to all in our
community, including Alumni and friends of the College.
On this Feast day of Saint Peter Claver, our hearts go out to all those
suffering. Thank you again for your continued prayers and concern.
Sincerely,
Rev. Brian J. Cummings ‘86, S.S.E.
Director of Edmundite Campus Ministry
To the Members of the Saint Michael’s College Community:
Thank you for the many calls and emails concerning the members of the Society of
Saint Edmund stationed in the New Orleans area and the people they serve. As you
can conclude from media reports, the city is devastated and Saint Peter Claver
parish and the Bishop Perry Middle School are at the center of the disaster. Fr.
Michael Jacques, Fr. Paul McQuillen and Fr. David Theroux safely evacuated to
the Edmundite Mission House in Selma, Alabama before the hurricane hit.
Unfortunately, many parishioners were unable to leave the city and the Saint
Peter Claver church and the Bishop Perry Middle School have sustained
significant damage. We are grateful to learn that the families of our two Saint
Michael’s students from New Orleans have safely evacuated the city.
The Society of Saint Edmund took over the administration of Saint Peter Claver
in 1984 and the ministry has grown remarkably under the leadership of Fr.
Michael Jacques. The parish is known for its energetic liturgies with a
magnificent gospel choir and the social outreach ministry to area residents has
expanded in great degree. The Bishop Perry Middle School was opened in 1994 as a
tuition-free school for at risk African-American boys for grades five through
eight. For more information on these Edmundite Apostolates, please see the
Edmundite web site at www.sse.org.
The College has a special relationship with Saint Peter Claver and Bishop Perry
Middle School. The Gospel Choir has made a number of visits to campus in the
past several years and many in our own community have served as host families.
Our own liturgical choir has visited Saint Peter Claver in the past as well,
staying with parishioners in New Orleans. In each case, relationships and
friendships were formed that remain and continue to this day. Our MOVE Office
has sponsored a number of service trips to Bishop Perry Middle School and some
of our Alumni have devoted a year of service in the Edmundite Mission Corps
volunteering at Bishop Perry. Saint Michael’s has had students enrolled from
both Saint Peter Claver and Bishop Perry in the past twenty years. We currently
have two graduates from Bishop Perry at Saint Michael’s today. In addition, many
Edmundite priests from New Orleans have consistently served on our College Board
of Trustees.
Given our strong relationship, the College Community will raise funds to assist
those who have been adversely affected by Hurricane Katrina. If you would like
to contribute to this effort, please see instructions below. Gifts to the
Katrina Relief Fund will assist students, families, and the Edmundite
Apostolates impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Edmundite Campus Ministry will manage
the Katrina Relief Fund and direct support to the Edmundite Southern Missions so
the Edmundites on the scene can use the funds for those people most in need.
If you would like to assist our Apostolates you can make a gift to the Edmundite
Campus Ministry Katrina Relief Fund as follows. In all cases, please note that
your gift is to support this special fund:
- Use your credit card to make a gift through our secure website
www.smcvt.edu/giveback. Please note “Katrina Relief Fund” on the designation line of the form. - Make your gift with a credit card over the phone by calling 1-888-448-7111.
- Mail your gift to Saint Michael's College, Edmundite Campus Ministry Katrina Relief Fund, Box 256, Colchester, VT 05439. Please make your check payable to Saint Michael’s College and write “Edmundite Campus Ministry Katrina Relief Fund” in the memo section of your check.
We appreciate the many various offers of assistance made thus far and want to
encourage your involvement. In the future we are hoping to plan M.O.V.E.
service trips to New Orleans when possible. This will be open to all in our
community, including Alumni and friends of the College.
On this Feast day of Saint Peter Claver, our hearts go out to all those
suffering. Thank you again for your continued prayers and concern.
Sincerely,
Rev. Brian J. Cummings ‘86, S.S.E.
Director of Edmundite Campus Ministry
