Page 39 - Spring 2019 Extension Magazine

Extension | Spring 2019 39

lthough heavily damaged from Hurricane Michael, St.
Dominic Church in Panama City became the relief cen-
ter in the area, tending to hundreds in need and giving
the parish a new focus. “The mission just showed up
Aon our front door,” Pastor Michael Nixon said.
In the weeks after the disaster struck, an estimated four million
pounds of supplies were distributed from its parking lot, including
water, food, clothing, medicine and other necessities.
While rebuilding activities are underway — including debris
removal and structural repairs — many projects remain unfin-
ished and lives are still turned upside down. Residents note that
most outsiders have turned their attention to the next news story,
but Catholic Extension has not forgotten and is seeking to support
the important work of parishes in the region.
Before the hurricane, St. Dominic Parish, home to 500 families,
had a large campus including a church, parish center, apartments
for retirees and a TV studio, where among other projects, Catholic
Extension’s weekly TV Mass is
edited.
All the buildings were badly
damaged. The church will be
rebuilt, but the parish hall and stu-
dio are a total loss. The apartments
are re-roofed and inhabited. Many
parishioners have left the region,
at least temporarily. Father Nixon
reported a decline in offertory
collections of 30 percent. Repairs
and rebuilding the campus will cost St. Dominic parish holds Mass in a
between $10 and $15 million. temporary shelter.
Nearby Sts. Peter and Paul Church, a Vietnamese parish of 300
families led by Father Anthony Nguyen, a builder, who is helping to
repair his damaged church. Additionally, St. Joseph Church in Port
St. Joe, led by Pastor Chris Winkeljohn, is also undergoing repairs.
Bishop Bill Wack, CSC, a member of Catholic Extension’s Board
of Governors, is grateful for the generosity of Catholic Extension
donors, who have supported his Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
for decades and again stepped up to the plate for hurricane
rebuilding. He praised the heroic work of the priests and residents
in the affected parishes and noted that there is still much work to
be done.
“Thank you Catholic Extension donors, for your immense
generosity in helping the residents of Florida to recover,” said
Father Jack Wall. “You are making a big difference.”
To help, please visit catholicextension.org/hurricanemichael.