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For Immediate Release
September 2, 2005
New Orleans’ Nuns Evacuated to Mercy
Oklahoma City — With no more than the clothes on
their backs, 10 Sisters of Mercy in New Orleans were evacuated to Mercy
Health Center’s convent this week.
The retired Sisters, who are from the Mother of
Mercy Convent near Tulane University, went to a nearby elementary school
to ride out the hurricane. A day later, they returned to their convent,
only to be rerouted to the school once again after the levees broke and
water began to rise throughout New Orleans.
“We were in the least damaged area of New Orleans
because we were in the upper rim of the bowl—one of the higher areas of
the city,” said Sister Majella Winters, who has lived most of her life
in New Orleans. “We had time to transport some food and bottled water to
the school, but after a while we ran out of water and we had to drink
limited tap water. When we finally had to evacuate, all we had were the
clothes we had on.”
By Wednesday morning, they were told they must
evacuate the city. Although some of the surrounding streets weren’t yet
flooded, the Sisters—all in their 80s—managed to dodge downed power
lines and trees in a small caravan of cars.
“A boy from Tulane paddled down in his canoe to show
us where dry land was so we wouldn’t get off on flooded streets,” said
Sister Claver Young.
After the Sisters made their way to Baton Rouge,
they were then flown to Oklahoma City to Mercy. Although Sister Majella
and Sister Claver—both high school chums-- were sad to leave New
Orleans, Oklahoma City seemed like a second home.
“New Orleans is home to a number of Sisters of Mercy
and many of us here in Oklahoma City consider New Orleans home,” said
Sister Rose Elizabeth Power, who grew up in New Orleans but for 21 years
has served in Oklahoma City at Mercy. “Many of us have known each other
for years. We’re family.”
Three or four more Sisters of Mercy from New
Orleans, some of who had to be hospitalized in Iberia, Louisiana, are
expected to be transported to Oklahoma City when their health allows.
Mercy’s convent in Oklahoma City, adjacent to Mercy Health Center, is
home to 17 Sisters.
“We received a royal welcome,” said Sister Claver.
Although the Sisters from New Orleans are in good health and good
spirits, they have family and loved ones from New Orleans who they’ve
been unable to contact.
“My sister and her husband were in the French
Quarter and I don’t know how they are,” said Sister Claver. “But we will
just have to take what comes and hope and pray for the best.”
While the Sisters of Mercy from New Orleans hope to
eventually return to their convent in New Orleans, they will remain in
Oklahoma City for some time.
“We are so glad the Sisters are here with us now,
but our prayers are with so many people who are still suffering and have
no place to go,” said Sister Rose. “The Sisters of Mercy Health System
is doing everything possible to raise funds and get assistance to this
great need in the Gulf States.”
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