I have always been proud to be a Cajun. For many people the word cajun may bring to mind food seasoning, swamp people, or Mardi Gras. But for those of us who are Cajun there is so much more to us than spicy food, humidity, and late night partying. I’m talking about a region of our nation that is not only deeply rooted in the Catholic faith but one where the sacramental and incarnational life of the Catholic Church is visible and active.

It’s August in Louisiana. Late afternoon tropical storms are the norm during this season.  But when it started to rain on Friday, August 12, no one was really ready for what is now being labeled as the most significant natural disaster in our nation since Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Today we are being told that this flood was not the usual 100-year flood but rather a 1000-year flood. And let me tell you, the rain really came down. It caught most people by surprise and has affected communities throughout our state. There has been a tragic loss of not only homes, business, and property but also lives. It can be difficult to see your way out of moments such as these, but this 1000-year flood is taking place among a group of people of deep Catholic faith. 

Half the churches were closed in the Diocese of Lafayette on Sunday as the rains continued to pour down. To provide for the spiritual needs of those who could not attend Mass that day Lafayette’s CBS affiliate aired a live Mass of our Bishop Douglas Deshotel (who is Cajun) at the television studio. His homily was excellent. On Monday, August 15, three days after the flooding rains began, churches were packed in our area celebrating the Feast of Our Lady’s Assumption into Heaven. Many people were exhausted, anxious, and disoriented from all the damage around us. Still, Cajuns and non-Cajuns alike made time to thank God for our lives and additionally to honor the patron of the Acadians, Our Lady of the Assumption.  I was so encouraged by how many people went to Mass that Holy Day and sang the song that our ancestors have sung so many times over the past hundreds of years: J'irai la voir un jour.

Finally, I want to highlight what we are seeing over and over again among our neighbors and the people of Acadiana. We are seeing an amazing outpouring of generosity. People in this area want to help and encourage their neighbors. We are seeing heroic acts of charity from not only the self-initiated volunteer “Cajun Navy” but among the young and the not-so-young who are spending their days removing drywall and carpeting that was under feet of water. They are cooking meals and delivering food with those that lost everything. They are taking time to hug those who are overwhelmed and pray with them so they can make it through the day.

I’m particularly impressed with our young people here. They are not sitting around waiting to be told to help. High school football teams and youth groups are out in their communities cleaning up while their schools are closed. They are ready to work and help in any way they can. The Church has also been very visible during this time as well. One of the days I was out this week I worked alongside a young newly ordained priest, helping out a veteran who had a foot and a half of water in his home. Fr. Joel was one of dozens of priests who, after offering morning Mass in their churches, changed into work clothes and labored side-by-side with their parishioners trying to help the communities they serve clean up and rebuild.

I’ve been so encouraged this past week. If we only look down towards the ground we see an overwhelming amount of water that needs to dry up and property that has been destroyed. But if we look up a little, we see people helping each other, praying with each other, and refusing to settle into a victim mentality. Our Acadian ancestors came to Louisiana after their homes and property were torched in Nova Scotia for refusing to abandon their Catholic faith. I’m grateful and proud to see the enduring character of hope and dedication that endures among today’s Cajuns and among all who will continue to call this special place home.