Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

Catholics in Connecticut are working to help those impacted by what one lawmaker described as “historic, unprecedented flooding” on August 18-19 that took two lives and forced hundreds to flee for safety.

The southwestern part of the state was deluged by 6-10 inches of rainfall in as many hours on August 18, with more rain pummeling the region the following day. At an August 19 news conference, Brenda Bergeron, deputy commissioner of Connecticut’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, said the rainfall totals in some areas were at the “1,000-year level” high.

Two women in the town of Oxford drowned as rescuers tried to save them. Hundreds of residents were evacuated, with roads and infrastructure in the area devastated. Governor Ned Lamont declared a state of emergency on August 19.

A volunteer staffer at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Oxford told OSV News that while the church buildings were intact, “a lot of people here” in the parish “did get hit” by the flooding. The parish is “having 300 cases of water delivered to the church on Friday (August 23), and the town hall is going to spread the word that we have water available for people,” said the staffer. In the meantime, “all activities are canceled for this week” except for Masses, funerals, and a scheduled blood drive.

In Seymour, which also saw significant destruction particularly to public infrastructure and area businesses, Father Thomas Cieslikowski, pastor of St. Nicholas Parish, said that storm’s full impact is still being assessed. The priest told OSV News that while his parish’s two churches “are on high ground” and did not sustain any damage, “one of the two bridges in town are washed out,” and several parishioners who live in Oxford have been cut off from leaving their homes due to floodwaters.

Catholic parishes on Long Island, New York were also battling similar flooding as storms hammered various communities and damaged roads, rail lines, and homes.

On its Facebook page, St. Thomas the Apostle invited those affected to contact the parish for help. The post included a prayer on August 18 for flood victims and those aiding them—a text adapted from a similar supplication during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

“Lord, please be with our rescue workers and keep them safe as they make heroic efforts in dangerous situations to rescue those in trouble. Lord, please be with everyone waiting to be rescued; keep them safe and bring help to them soon,” read part of the prayer. "God bless each person affected by this storm; surround them with Your love protection and angels... We give You all praise forever Lord... even in darkest hours You are always with us.”