Dear Parishioners, The St. Gertrude parish church campus is clear of mostly all the debris, but the buildings continue to be dried out and gutted at this time. The grassy areas and the festival grounds are still in a state of "mess" due to all the trucks and vehicles that have cut up and rutted the grounds. The disaster response company has secured the back gate with a lock of their own to secure the property from Old Spanish Trail, and, so even I don't have access to that key nor access via a vehicle to the back property, and there is no reason at this time for anyone to have to have access by way of the back gate. I inform you all of this because I want to emphasize again that all of the St. Gertrude buildings, with the exception of the "Catfish shed," are unusable and uninhabitable at this time due to severe rainwater intrusion of Hurricane Ida. As of today, the religious education building, the Fr, Mac building, and the church are being gutted, and the gutting of the rectory will begin probably this week. Maria Matherne has taken care of removing all the important church files, records, and all other vital office contents, and I have removed important and vital items from the sacristy and the church, and they are stored in two units of the Paradis Mini Storage. I have had to remove all of my personal belongings to my mother's house in Reserve where I will be staying indefinitely. With that being said, NO Masses, prayer services, or gatherings, are being held on the property for safety reasons at this time. St. Anthony's and Holy Family in Luling are certainly nearby options for Mass, along with St. Mary's and St. Hilary's in Raceland. But that doesn't mean that St. Gertrude's is a closed or suppressed parish just because we can't use the church or the hall or gather on the campus right now. We still have financial obligations even though we can't have Masses, funerals, CCD classes, and hall and pavilion rentals for quite a while. We are still a parish community even though we have suffered this devastating blow. So I gently remind you again to please continue your contributions, especially at this time when we need it most, even though you are temporarily attending Mass elsewhere. Parish financial support still applies for us and for all parishioners of churches that have been badly damaged. Again, please mail your envelopes to 17292 Hwy 631, DA, LA 70030 and they will be safely delivered by the post office. PLEASE DO NOT USE the mail slot at the rectory because no one is there to receive them at this time. Thank you all very much for your attention to this matter. Lastly, I will undergo surgery for cervical (neck) spinal stenosis this Tuesday, Sept. 28 at East Jefferson Hospital, and will have to wear a neck brace/collar for six weeks and will not be able to drive for about the same length of time. I will spend my recuperation time at my mother's in Reserve. After a couple of weeks, if you would need to speak to me about an urgent matter involving St. Gertrude parish, you may call me on my cell phone at 504-442-9299. For emergencies and/or if you need the services of a priest, please call Holy Family, St. Anthony's, or Holy Rosary, and they will be able to help you. Since nothing will be happening at St. Gertrude's for a number of months ahead at least, this is a good time for me to have this surgery and time for recovery. I am glad that covid and Hurricane Ida didn't delay this surgery since my doctor told me that I needed to have surgery sooner than later. Let us continue to put our faith, hope, and trust in the Lord Jesus - with God, all things ae possible. Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to help us! St. Gertrude the Great, pray for us! Fr. Ray Hymel