The dioceses of Louisiana and Mississippi formally launched a three-year, nationwide capital campaign March 3 designed to restore and rebuild the Episcopal church buildings and congregations affected by Hurricane Katrina. The appeal, titled “Darkness into Day,” is supported by the office of the Presiding Bishop and the Episcopal Church Foundation. Both organizations will continue to provide financial, structural and administrative support.

Hurricane Katrina completely destroyed six churches in the Diocese of Mississippi and damaged more than 20 others, according to Lauren Auttonberry, diocesan coordinator of communications. The Diocese of Mississippi contains 84 parishes. Flooding in the Diocese of Louisiana severely damaged or destroyed six churches with an additional 19 suffering damage, according to the Rev. Canon E. Mark Stevenson, diocesan canon for administration and finance. There are 50 parishes in the Diocese of Louisiana, according to the most recent edition of the Episcopal Church Annual.

In addition to rebuilding damaged church buildings, proceeds from the capital campaign will be used to pay clergy salaries as congregations reorganize, and to allow the congregations to establish or re-establish local programs (such as parochial schools, outreach ministries and ministry centers) with funding that is separate from donations received for assistance to Katrina victims.

While the situation in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi remains critical in many ways, and the ongoing efforts to provide relief assistance will continue, “we must also look to how we will move forward, restore and transform the Episcopal Church in Louisiana and Mississippi,” said Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold in a recent letter to the House of Bishops.

“Darkness into Day” will be publicized by a variety of events throughout the entire Episcopal Church as well as via advertising, email and a website with resources for use by local congregations. The program will also ultimately streamline pre-existing partnerships and efforts at the national and local levels to provide devastated churches and ministries in Mississippi and Louisiana with long-term support from the wider Episcopal Church, according to a release distributed by the Rev. Kyle Dice Seage, campaign manager.

For more information contact Ms. Seage at 601-605-1457 or e-mail Darkness into Day.

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