Prayers for those in the Path of Irma

To all, I would like for you to ask for consideration for those who are in the path of Hurricane Irma. This looks like it’s gonna be nuclear.

Most especially, say a prayer for Fr Hans Jacobse and his parish of St Peter the Apostle, my Thea Mitsa and Peter Papoutsis’ father who lives in Clearwater. I’m sure that there are others who read this blog and/or have friends and relatives in Florida. This plea goes out to you all:

“O Lord, Who fashioned the universe out of naught, we humbly beseech Thee that Thou turnest these immoderate winds away and spare Thy humble creation, who cry out unto Thee for mercy. In the name of Thine only-begotten Son Who died for us sinners and through the power of Thine Holy Spirit, Who did bring all things to life, we humbly beseech Thee.”

Comments

  1. Looks like Tampa, and West Florida will be hit hard. Fervent prayers for our brothers and sisters in Christ, and all in Irma’s path. Hope Fr Hans and parish, George’s Thea, and Peter’s dad are all out of harms way.

    Most Glorious Ever-Virgin Mary, mother of Christ our God, receive our prayer, and present it to your Son and our God, that, for your sake, He may save souls. Amen

    • Many many of our people and our Churches are in the path of Irma. Especially in the large Greek-American community in and around Tarpon Springs. To the extent preparations have not yet been made time has largely run out. All we can do is pray and ask for the intercession of the Holy Theotokos for all people in harm’s way. And remember to be as generous as we can in the aftermath to our Churches and charities to help them rebuild.

  2. May the mercies of our Lord and Savior be with all those in harms way.

    Thank you George.

  3. Peter A. Papoutsis says

    Thank you George, and for everyone’s prayers. Irma is now a Category 2 hurricane so it is a good sign, but tonight between 2am to 7am the storm surge (i.e. flooding) is supposed to occur in Tampa, Clearwater and St. Pete’s. The same is for Naples and Marco Island, etc., so keep your prayers going. We see light at the end of the tunnel, but we are still in the tunnel. Thank you all.

    Peter

  4. George Michalopulos says

    To all: I am happy to report that Fr Hans Jacobse and his parish have been spared any damage from Hurricane Irma! This is nothing short of miraculous as Naples was pretty much ground zero for this storm.

    I ask that you help me honor the confidence he placed in me in relating certain miracles that took place during Irma as he does not want to draw attention to himself.

    All I will say from this point forward is “thank you for your prayers” and “miracles do happen”!

    • Not surprised by the power of prayer, but still speechless, and don’t want my comments to tarnish such a blessing from above. Now as vessels of Christ’s love, we must step up a give from at least our pockets. I.O.C.C. would be a good start.

  5. ARCHPASTORAL LETTER IF ABP MICHAEL OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY
    REGARDING HURRICAE RELIEF

    http://www.nynjoca.org/files/Hurricane_Relief_Archpastoral_Letter_SEPT2017.pdf

    Prot. No. 01-006 /2017 September 9, 2017

    To All of the Clergy and Faithful of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey:

    Dearly Beloved in the Lord,

    Christ is in our midst!

    All of us have seen on our televisions or computers images of the disaster and devastation that has occurred in the southern parts of our country as a result of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The loss of life, the destruction of property, and the displacement of whole families are staggering.

    Of course, I am asking that prayers be offered in all our churches for the victims of this horrific tragedy. But our response to this national crisis must be more than that. It must be what the Lord has asked of us in the Gospel: “Whatever you do for the least of My brethren, you do it for Me” (Matthew 25:40).

    In the face of incredibly great need, I am requesting our immediate assistance with the relief efforts of International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), which is already responding to the aftermaths of both hurricanes.

    I am directing that all our parishes take up a special collection for IOCC as soon as possible, and I ask that each of us give whatever we are able. Please send parish offerings DIRECTLY to IOCC: International Orthodox Christian Charities, 110 West Road, Suite 360, Baltimore, MD 21204.

    Additionally, parishes are urged to consider gathering much-needed items, specifically requested by IOCC, and assembling them into emergency kits, that will be delivered to the hurricane victims by IOCC. For parish young people or members of church organizations, this can be a meaningful service project of our “faith in action.” Parishes will be receiving information regarding this option in the very near future.

    Once the collection of funds or relief items has been completed, the Chancery will send out an e-mail form, requesting the amount sent and the number of kits assembled, so that we can track the total contributions of the OCA Diocese of New York and New Jersey.

    From the bottom of my heart, I thank you in advance for your faith-filled response to this national disaster, and pray that God will bless you richly for the holy work that you undertake in His Name.

    With my humble prayers, Archpastoral blessings and sincere love,

    + M I C H A E L Archbishop of New York and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    A link to International Orthodox Christian Charities will follow.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES IS HELPING HURRICANE VICTIMS

    Every dollar we send to IOCC will be matched by various organizations to become seven dollars — a rare multiplication of resources no matter what our religious affiliations might be.

    IOCC also has a rather low administrative overhead, 92 cents of every dollar going directly to their relief efforts.

    Our local parish is asking its 125 or so people to set aside $20 for each of the next four Sundays in order to make an $80 total contribution. If our people here can sustain this effort, we will contribute around $12,000 to IOCC, whose matching donors will multiply that to almost $85,000.

    Please help IOCC by donating directly to them.

    To participate in their good work, please go to:

    https://www.iocc.org/

    ‘Pray as if everything depends on God. Work as if everything depends on you.’