It has now been two weeks of “normal” since the Great Flood of 2016.  The flooding was tragic to our community, affecting approximately 40 MBS families and 8 members of our faculty and staff.  While tragic, the flooding has also reminded us of the goodness in others, the goodness of our families, the goodness of our faculty, and the goodness of our students. 

In the days since the flood, our families have taken in flooded families, gutted houses, provided supplies and food, organized a uniform and school supply drive, and with the help of the MBS Men’s Club and many volunteer bakers, served jambalaya and dessert to approximately 500 people. In addition, MBS families donated over $5000 worth of gift cards that were used to provide financial support to those who were impacted by the flooding.

The day we returned to school after the flooding, about a third of the teachers on campus were former MBS teachers.  They, along with our current teachers, were available to support the students, faculty, and staff members as we returned to school for a sense of normalcy during a very chaotic time.

Just days after the flooding, I received several calls from schools around the country offering their support.  Last week, students from Ascension of Our Lord in LaPlace joined us for Mass and presented MBS with funds generously collected on our behalf to share with those who were impacted by the flooding.  This week, I received a package from St. Rita’s Catholic School in Dallas, TX.  The package contained over $5000 worth of gift cards to share with families in need.  Today, one of our teachers informed us that her high school choir in Iowa took a collection and wanted to adopt a school family in need.

MBS students have lugged boxes, gutted houses, sold lemonade using the proceeds to purchase gift cards, organized donated goods, and supported friends who were flooded. One of the most touching acts of goodness occurred when a student, whose home flooded, shared that he was worried about his dad because he was sad.  The student went on to say that he wanted to collect money to give him for his birthday so he could fix their house. This story was shared in a thank you message to the representative of St. Rita’s school, and the very next day, a package showed up with a gift for the student’s dad. This compassion shown by both the student for his dad and St. Rita’s for the student is something that comes from living our faith and living as Jesus did.  

In closing, yes, The Great Flood of 2016 was devastating, but with the flood came God’s grace and blessings reminding us that we are a community of faith united by The Body of Christ.

In Christ, heri Gioe