During the wonderful days of the Octave of Easter, we heard at Mass, stories of the early witnesses of the Resurrected Lord.  Some who witnessed were struck with fear, and others with joy, as they became hope-filled beyond their wildest imagination.  Also struck by fear in the midst of the shock, chaos, and now clean-up efforts, are those affected or devastated by the tornado that struck our state on Sunday.

It is heartwarming to hear of those who rushed to the affected areas to offer help and hope to the tornado victims.  I am personally proud of a nephew, Nicholas, who is in the Army National Guard and a first responder, who spent nearly the whole night helping victims of this terrible storm.  It was also uplifting to hear from so many victims who are people of strong faith, who are not allowing the devastation to overwhelm them; but instead, are looking for and finding comfort, help and hope from The Lord and from Christ-like people.

In addition to our continued prayers, I would recommend making a donation to the Red Cross (for short-term relief) or Catholic Charities (through our parish) who will be there long-term to help rebuild the lives of those affected by these storms.  I'm so thankful for our disaster-response team from our parish who are ready to swing into action as needed.