September 2, 2005

Dear Cistercian Families, 

Attached is a form which will be used to gather information about potentially providing housing assistance to families with children in schools accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) that are victims of Hurricane Katrina.  In the event we are called upon to provide housing assistance to any of these families who are moving into the Dallas area, we would like to know what the Cistercian community can do to help.  This is preliminary step and your response is not a formal commitment.

Please complete the attached form and email it to Meg Squiers at fivesquiers@comcast.net by noon on Monday, September 5.  The information will be compiled for my Tuesday meeting with other ISAS heads of school.  I will update you as soon as the specific housing needs are identified.

In the coming weeks and months the Cistercian family will reach out in additional ways to help those affected by this disaster.  These later efforts will probably be organized by the individual Forms.  Your Form Mothers will be in touch with you once these additional outreach opportunities are determined. 

Thank you very much for your help and prompt attention to this rather short deadline!

Sincerely,

Fr. Bernard

Acting Headmaster

PS—In case you are wondering, while Fr. Peter is in Rome with Fr. Abbot to attend the General Chapter of the Cistercian Order they have left me in charge of both the Abbey and the School.