[StBernard] Meetings For the Displaced

[Westley Annis]

Meetings For the Displaced 

December 8 , 2005

By: Steve Cannizaro


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Series of meetings in Baton Rouge for displaced St. Bernard residents kicks
off Saturday with featured speaker Council Chairman Joseph DiFatta Jr.

It's called The Gathering, a series of meetings in Baton Rouge for displaced

residents of St. Bernard organized by the United Churches of St Bernard, and

the first get-together is Saturday, Dec. 10.

St. Bernard Parish Council Chairman Joseph DiFatta Jr. will be the featured 
speaker at the 10 a.m. event at Florida Boulevard Baptist Church, 10915 
Florida Blvd. in Baton Rouge.

"The Gathering is intended to be a time for displaced residents of St. 
Bernard to reunite with displaced family and displaced friends,'' said Dr. 
John D. Jeffries, pastor of First Baptist Church of Chalmette. "It's a time 
to reconnect with our neighbors and restore that special sense of community 
that we enjoyed pre-Katrina.''

The series will be comprised of two segments, an inspirational portion led 
by the newly formed coalition, United Churches of St. Bernard by 
participating pastors of churches located in St. Bernard Parish.

The format will include use of Christian music, video projections and 
participant involvement through prayer for leaders, our community, our 
families, our churches and one another, Jeffries said.

"Our churches will return,'' Jeffries said. "We will rebuild and we will 
remain and be a vital part of the restoration'' of St. Bernard, providing 
inspiration.

He said the informational portion will provide a question and answer format 
whereby displaced residents can receive personal attention and get answers 
to their questions or referrals to appropriate agencies.

DiFatta said, "I'll tell them what has been happening'' in St. Bernard. 
"They want to hear from someone who has been living here day to day so they 
can know what their future is to come home to.''

Jeffries said U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal, R-La., is scheduled to speak at The 
Gathering on Jan. 7 and state Rep. Nita Hitter, R-Chalmette, will be 
scheduled in the future.