In San Diego, St. Paul's Cathedral responds to fire-scorched community
Episcopal News Service. October 26, 2007 [102607-02]
Matthew Davies
As the Santa Ana winds subside and firefighters begin to get a handle on the raging wildfires that have swept across Southern California for six days, St. Paul's Cathedral in San Diego is assessing the needs of the local community and reaching out as the scale of the devastation becomes clear.
Cathedral parishioners have opened their homes, resulting in more than 200 beds being made available to those in need. "We set up a donation drop off in the Great Hall [and] adopted a shelter to which we are sending our outreach," a Cathedral announcement said.
Volunteers are being organized by trade -- medical, bilingual, sign language, etc -- and being deployed as needed.
In San Diego County, the main fires, were less voracious overnight October 25-26, according to reports. "Right now we're moving into the mop-up and clean-up stage," said California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokeswoman Sarah Gibson, according to the Los Angeles Times. "We're moving into a repopulation phase." Throughout Southern California, the fires have claimed at least 10 lives and forced almost one million people to evacuate their homes. About 30 civilians and 52 firefighters have been injured, the Associated Press reports.
Daily email updates are been sent to the Cathedral community with the latest details, and a special homepage devoted to the fire response has been launched with useful links and regularly updated information. "We are doing all we can to keep you posted on the most recent developments in our response to the local firestorm," the Very Rev. Scott E. Richardson, Cathedral dean, said.
Docent teams are ensuring the Cathedral is open 12 hours a day for prayer and solace and organized teams of chaplains will respond as needs arise.
"People continue to be very generous in their offers of housing and supplies," Richardson said. "We have volunteers in the Great Hall checking in with shelters so that we can keep up with the ever-changing needs. One shelter may be well-stocked while another one is just opening; new situations arise so we continue to receive donated items with gratitude because we believe the need will endure for some time into the future."
A special bilingual service of hope and healing for those affected by the fires will be held Sunday, October 28 at 10:30 a.m. at the Cathedral at 2728 Sixth Avenue in San Diego. Bishop James Mathes will preside and preach, the Cathedral's youth choirs will sing, and prayers will be offered for those who have suffered loss and for those working valiantly to prevent such losses. Pastoral counselors will be available after the 10:30 a.m. service "to speak to those with a need for Godly support," an announcement on the St. Paul's Cathedral website says. "Please invite family, friends and neighbors who would be blessed by being here this Sunday; the service is intended for our cathedral members, our diocesan friends, and the whole San Diego County community."
The 9 a.m. Cathedral forum, held in the Guild Room October 28, will offer an environment for people to "talk through the struggles of this week and recall our God of abundance who gives us every gift to respond to the challenges facing us," said Richardson, who will lead the conversation and use both biblical teaching and the insights of Walter Brueggemann, an Old Testament scholar of note, to help give shape to the discussion.
"You might want to use this Sunday as a time to bring needed items to the cathedral as part of your offering," Richardson said. "You will also be given the opportunity to make a financial gift to the diocesan fund established to support those afflicted by the fire. We are working closely with Episcopal Relief and Development as well as Episcopal Community Services to identify those in need and respond appropriately."
Richardson thanked the Cathedral community for its "tremendous response to the crisis our community is facing. You are active servants of the Gospel and your neighbor; God is undoubtedly well-pleased."