Places of worship keep National Day of Prayer for Katrina victims

Washington D.C., Sep 18, 2005 / 22:00 pm

Americans across the country joined Friday in a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for victims of Hurricane Katrina. President George W. Bush called for the special day of prayer.

Interdenominational services were held in state Capitols and especially in the Gulf Coast region and Texas, where many of those displaced by the hurricane have sought refuge. 

Bush attended a service with other religious and political leaders at the National Cathedral in Washington.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Camden, N.J., held a 40-minute service. Fr. Michael Mannion told the assembly that Katrina taught people who and what are important, reported the Associated Press.

“They learned that it's each other who are important," he was quoted as saying.

Cantor Seth Warner of New Orleans, his wife and four-month-old son, who were displaced by the hurricane, planned to attend a prayer service at Temple Beth-El in San Antonio.

"I think God is in the soul of those who have been heroes, God is in the midst of those who risked their lives for others, God is in the hearts and minds of those who have given up something so that others can have a little bit, too," he told the AP.

While many places of worship around the country participated, the AP reported that several didn’t, saying they had already held such services.