Litchfield, who retired in June after 17 years as rector of Christ Church n Elizabethtown, opposed the 2003 General Convention's approval of the election and consecration of a homosexual bishop. A week after his retirement in June, he announced in a press conference that he was leaving the Episcopal Church and starting a new congregation with a group of Christ Church parishioners in Elizabethtown.

Wednesday our parish treasurer made a rather heroic all day rescue trip to pull one of our members out of Metairie. A young man who works security, he had been in his apartment since the storm: no power, no food, litter water and living in 10 inches of toxic water. Refused to leave because his father would not evacuate.

The Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA) and the recently formed Council of Anglican Provinces of the Americas and Caribbean (CAPAC) will represent up to two-thirds of the world's 77 million Anglicans.

In a new African-based Anglican community they plan to replace the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams as their spiritual leader with the Archbishop of Nigeria, Peter Jasper Akinola, and exclude homosexuals from full church life.

The team will focus on construction and repair, clean-up and health concerns. Pastoral work among those who suffered losses from the component is also an important part of the work that the team will be doing.

The Very Rev. Dr. Paul F.M. Zahl, Dean of Trinity said, "We want to be hands-on and concrete, putting our bodies where our mouths are. Maybe we can be a little part of our Brothers' and Sisters' Good Friday as they wait for the break of day."