ABC program to feature Houston Catholics’ aid to hurricane survivors

Washington D.C., Oct 12, 2005 / 22:00 pm

A new documentary, slated to air soon on ABC, shares the stories of Catholic individuals and communities across the United States, whose Catholic faith propels them to do good works.

“Faith Works: Across the U.S.A. 2005” was produced by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC). It will be offered to ABC affiliates, beginning Oct. 23, to air at their discretion.

The one-hour program is the second installment of the Faith Works series. It features the recent response of the Houston Catholic community to Hurricane Katrina.

In Houston, Hanh Nguyen gives up a vacation in Paris—a college graduation gift from her parents—to help find homes for displaced New Orleans families, and Fr. Mike Amesse of New Orleans’s Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus ministers to his parishioners temporarily housed at the Astrodome.

In Morgan, Minn., a Catholic woman known as the “Garage Grandma” helps anyone who is hungry, sick or in need. Mary Larsen explains how her 30-year “We Care” project, which she operates out of her four-car garage, provides nearly 20,000 lbs of food to more than 150 families each month.

Patty Doyle, executive director of the Chernobyl Children Project USA, explains how host families in Boston continue to provide temporary homes for sick children from the contaminated Chernobyl region while they receive quality health care not available in their homeland.

In East Los Angeles, Jesuit Fr. Greg Boyle speaks about Homeboy Industries, an organization he founded to help young men and women leave gangs and build productive futures.

On Johns Island in coastal South Carolina, Sister of Charity of our Lady of Mercy Mary Joseph Ritter explains how the N.A.I.L.S. (Neighborly Assistance in Living Safely) home-repair program improves the quality of life for families by making their homes safer and more conducive to healthy living.

A list of stations and scheduled air times will be posted on the CCC Web site (www.usccb.org/ccc) as they become available.