Those in water’s path unite in prayer

Faith battled flooding across Morgan City, Amelia and Stephensville streets this weekend with a radio broadcaster and members of a 32-year-old confraternity.

Saying she was overwhelmed with all sorts of emotions, radio station owner Darlene Castay said she began to pray, and “I felt the Lord telling me to take his message to the streets, so that’s what I decided to do.”

Castay co-owns KBZE 105.9, Morgan City’s only FM station. Together with fellow church member Shelly Mayon, Castay mapped out a plan to pray in as many corners of Morgan City, Amelia and Stephensville for Tri-parish area protection from the water, and for backwater to dissipate in the marshes, before it even reaches a barge system in Bayou Chene.

The women began at the Morgan City levee wall Saturday, then broke into groups in the areas, before meeting back on the levee wall Sunday.

“I realized that if God used Moses to part the Red Sea, I wanted him to use me to bring his message to residents of the area, who are concerned,” Castay said.

Mayon said her focus is to stand on scripture.

“Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength, they shall mount up with eagles wings. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. That’s Isaiah 40:31,” she said.

The Rev. Marvin Young II, also joined in with Castay and Mayon.

Young, a Morgan City native, is the founder of One Heart Ministries NOLA, which is based in New Orleans. Young has already begun a fund drive there, collecting cash, clothes and food.

“To be frank, no one and nothing can move this water,” he said. Only God can. I know you think that is a Christian cliche, but it’s not.

“Read Psalms 4, verse 7, which says, ‘But at your rebuke the waters fled, at the sound of your thunder they took to flight; they flowed over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them. You set a boundary they cannot cross; never again will they cover the earth.’ Look, I didn’t write that, God did. There really is nothing left to say.”

Castay said her goal in this is to get persons all across the Tri-parish area, to pray at 6 p.m. daily.

“We’re looking to expand in Terrebonne. We can’t wait to see what God is going to do. And in the end, we will have glorified His name, once more. Please join us,” she said.

Castay said anyone interested in joining the group, from any faith, can call KBZE at (985) 385-6266.

“I would love to go national with prayer time for this cause! Nothing is impossible,” she added.

Meanwhile, deep in the middle of Brashear Boulevard in Morgan City, The Confraternity of Our Lady Star of the Sea met to pray away flooding, just as they first did in 1973, when the Morganza Spillway opened and the waters of the Mississippi threatened Morgan City.

Verlie Loupe said the group had a humble beginning in 1970, as a rosary group that originally met in homes, but later moved their assembly inside Holy Cross Church.

However 3 years later, Loupe said the flood crisis of 1973 posed a serious threat to the area.

“During this crucial period, when many were praying, the rosary group invoked fervent appeals to God through the intercession of Our Lady Star of the Sea, and their supplications were answered, as The Atchafalaya River did not top our 10 foot levee walls,” she said.

After the water subsided, Carol Ackerman, another founding member of the group, said the members decided to call their prayer meetings, the Our Lady Star of the Sea Rosary Group.

In thanksgiving, the group decided to host a raffle to raise money to place a life-sized statue carved from carrera marble by the artist Salvi Girogio of Carrera, Italy.

And on July 27, 1975, Archbishop Philip M. Hannan dedicated the statue and placed the entire area under the protection of Our Lady Star of the Sea.

But, on August 22 of 1979, Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux recognized the group for their continued and flagrant faithfulness, and officially named the rosary group, The Confraternity of Our Lady Star of the Sea.

The Bishop made the decree public on Sept 8, 1979, and later, Pope John Paul II officially gave his Apostolic Blessing upon all members of the Confraternity.

Ackerman said the group has met annually on July 27, the anniversary of the statue dedication.

However, they’ve also met at other times, especially during Hurricane Season.

“This is only the second time we have met to pray away flood waters, and hopefully, it’s the last,” she said.

Carol Ackerman and the Rev. Greg Fratt, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Morgan City, pray with about 50 other parishioners. With sandbags, HESCO baskets and vessels in place to slow flooding, all many could do was pray Sunday. HOWARD J. CASTAY JR.