Jacksonville, Fla. – Bishop Felipe Estévez of the Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine will close all diocesan offices and Catholic schools on Friday (Sept. 8) and Monday (Sept. 11) due to Hurricane Irma.

Catholic Schools Closures

Catholic Schools for all 17 counties of the diocese will be closed on Friday and Monday as well. Please continue to check the diocesan website at www.dosafl.com for the operation status of each school. The diocese owns and operates 36 schools including early learning centers, preschools, elementary and high schools and a special education school.

Parishes

Parishes are continuing their preparations to minimize the impact of the storm to our facilities.

Pastors at each parish will determine if they are celebrating Mass on Saturday and Sunday. Parishioners can contact their parish office for further updates regarding Mass schedules.

No diocesan building, including churches, meets the criteria to function as a community shelter. The diocese can’t provide the necessary care that is required. We recommend community members utilize official and approved shelters for their area. After the storm, and once the buildings have been declared structurally sound, our parishes may be used for the distribution of food and other supplies.

Community Response and Recovery

Catholic Charities Bureau, Inc. is equipped to provide long-term recovery assistance for members of the community as needed. In the case of a disaster, such as Hurricane Irma, the agency works with other Catholic Charities offices throughout Florida to obtain necessary food, supplies, and services.

Catholic Charities will organize the collection, packaging, and distribution of large amounts of food, water, and personal care items by working closely with our parishes in affected communities. For more information, please contact Anita Hassell, CEO and diocesan director of Catholic Charities Bureau Inc., by calling (904) 899-5500 or email ahassell@ccbdosa.org.