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CV NEWS FEED // Bishop Michael Martin of the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina, joined Relevant Radio this week to discuss the physical impact and spiritual toll of Hurricane Helene.
Bishop Martin spoke with radio hosts Patrick Conley on an episode of “The Inner Life” on October 16 and Drew Mariani on “The Drew Mariani Show” on October 17.
The Bishop had personally visited some of the hardest-hit areas and described the overwhelming destruction he witnessed, noting that seeing it in person was far more profound than watching the coverage on television.
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He explained that many people’s lives had been dramatically altered, and they were struggling to cope with the loss of their homes and the basic routines of daily life. Despite these hardships, he observed, many survivors remained deeply grateful for their lives and leaned heavily on the Church for support. While spiritual struggles like despair and resentment were present, most people the Bishop spoke with expressed gratitude to God and found strength through the solidarity of the Church and their parish.
“Most of the folks that I spoke to,” Bishop Martin told Conley, “I was so edified by their ability to be able to find Jesus in the midst of this. And so I agree with you that despair, resentment, why me — all of those are real spiritual experiences that any of us could encounter. But I will tell you that most of the folks that I spoke with, their primary response was gratitude to God that they still had their lives.”
The long road to recovery remained a central focus of the conversation. Bishop Martin emphasized that, while those outside the affected areas might quickly return to normal, the survivors faced a much longer process of rebuilding. He highlighted the destruction of essential infrastructure — such as grocery stores and gas stations — which made it even harder for residents to resume daily life. Some might choose to leave their homes and relocate, but for those who stayed, the rebuilding process would be arduous and uncertain, he said.
“The infrastructure of these communities has been eviscerated,” he emphasized. “And so you’re not able to, you know, go to your local grocery store because the local grocery store is gone, you know, or the gas station is gone. And so that’s where there’s a much longer and larger rebuild that has to take place in communities like this.”
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When asked about the state of the parishes and clergy in the hurricane-affected areas, Bishop Martin expressed gratitude for the resilience of clergy and laity alike. While diocesan facilities had avoided the worst of the damage, challenges like access to clean water and power remained an issue in some areas.
Catholic Charities had been on the ground providing immediate relief, and they are now shifting their focus toward helping families rebuild. The Bishop noted that many people did not have flood insurance, further complicating recovery efforts. Additionally, undocumented residents who had lost everything were unable to access federal assistance, making them particularly vulnerable.
Reflecting on his own experience as the new bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte, Bishop Martin acknowledged the difficulties of leading the local Church during such a crisis. Having recently taken on the role, he expressed gratitude for the dedication of his staff, clergy, and volunteers, who had worked tirelessly to provide support to those in need. He praised their willingness to go above and beyond, often without concern for themselves, to ensure that the Church could be a beacon of hope for those suffering.
“We want to try and be there for those folks to be able to try and help them to rebuild their lives as best as we can,” he said.
The conversation concluded with a call to action for listeners to reflect on their involvement in the relief efforts, whether through prayer, donations, or other forms of support.
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