
In addition to recovering from the physical devastation from Ike, the Archdiocese made the difficult decision not to rebuild either of the parish churches on the peninsula, instead, to combine their parishes with those on nearby Galveston island to create one large parish with several satellite churches and mass sites. I can only imagine the effect that news had on the community still living on the peninsula. Instead of watching the two Catholic Churches on the peninsula be rebuilt, they watched as what was left of the sanctuaries were bulldozed. So, when I read they resumed celebrating mass after so many months of pure devastation, I had tears of relief for these strong and resilient people.