DePaul Offers Assistance to Students Affected by the Disaster

The DePaul University community will pause to remember victims of Hurricane Katrina, as well as to stand in solidarity with students, family members and friends affected by the disaster, during three interfaith prayer services to be held Sept. 8 on the university’s city campuses.

The first two services will take place at 12:30 p.m. on the Loop Campus in the 11th floor lounge of the DePaul Center, 1 E. Jackson Blvd., and the Lincoln Park Campus Quad, located just west of Kenmore Avenue along Fullerton Parkway (rain location: Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave.). A third service of remembrance will take place at 7 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 1010 W. Webster Ave. The public is welcome to attend the services, which are sponsored by DePaul University Ministry.

Also, books of prayer and remembrance will be available on both campuses following the services. Members of the community are invited to write the names of friends or family whom they would like to remember and keep in prayer, or to include private intentions for which they would like the DePaul community to keep in prayer. The books will be available in the Lewis Center Chapel, 25 E. Jackson Blvd., 1st Floor, on the Loop Campus and in the Student Center Reflection Room, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave., 1st Floor, on the Lincoln Park Campus. They will remain there throughout the academic year. The intentions will be included in the daily Masses held in those locations at noon weekdays during the school year.

To date, more than 300 displaced students from Gulf Coast universities impacted by Hurricane Katrina have inquired about temporary, expedited enrollment at DePaul, and university officials expect approximately 100 of them to enroll for fall classes. Additionally, DePaul’s Student Affairs office is offering counseling and other assistance to current students affected by the crisis.

The services are each scheduled to last approximately 30 minutes. For parking information, please visit http://www.depaul.edu/about_DP/parking.asp.