A plea from the Rt Revd Leo Frade to diocesan bishops

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

As I prepare this email, we are getting the news that the southernmost part of our diocese, the Florida Keys, is beginning to be evacuated due to the threat from Hurricane Ivan. If this hurricane comes ashore in anywhere in Florida, our state will be facing the third devastating storm in less than a month. We need your prayers for God's protection for our people in Florida.

Some of you have called or emailed me and have asked if you could be of help in our recovery from Hurricane Frances. After surveying the damage around our diocese, we have found that although there is little severe structural damage, electricity has not been restored in several areas and there are still many parishes and communities in need of help. Our congregations have been able to assist their parishioners and other people in need. I am proud of how they have responded even in the midst of this horrible disaster.

Our major problem seems to be the predicament that some of our churches are facing in order to repair the damage to their buildings. We have found that even without major structural damage, several churches had sufficient roof damage to cause serious leaks, with resulting water damage to the interior and furnishings. Churches, rectories, parish halls and some of our schools have been hit hard.

Some of our congregations simply do not have the funds to pay the high deductible amounts required by the insurance companies. Unfortunately, several of our ethnic minority and poor congregations find themselves in that place.

At this time there is no church agency able to respond to the needs of these congregations. We need your help to be able to repair the damage as soon as possible in order to prevent further damage from the rains. I am asking you to consider helping us and letting others in your diocese know of our plea.

We need your prayers and also your financial support to repair our churches, rectories and parish halls. If you need further information you can email me at: bishopfrade@aol.com

Donations should be sent to:

Diocese of Southeast Florida

525 N.E. 15 Street

Miami, FL 33132

Att: Hurricane Relief

Donations may also be made online at www.diosef.org. Click on donations and indicate that the donation is for Hurricane Frances relief.

It will be a great blessing to me and to the people of our diocese to know that we have the support of the rest of our church family in this difficult time.

Blessings,

The Rt Revd Leo Frade Bishop of South East Florida