As evacuated residents return to Southeast Texas following Hurricane Gustav, Bishop Curtis J. Guillory, leader of the 80,000 people of the Catholic Diocese of Beaumont, has invited all civic officials, emergency management teams, first responders and citizens to prayerfully gather at noon Wednesday in Beaumont's Saint Anthony Cathedral Basilica in Saint Anthony Cathedral Basilica to thank God for safety and for sparing Southeast Texas from Hurricane Gustav.

“As our people return to Southeast Texas, it is important for us to immediately express our gratitude to God in prayer for our safety during this major hurricane. During this special Mass we will prayer for all hurricane victims, the millions of people affective by Gustav, our first responders, emergency management teams and civic officials,” Bishop Guillory, who stayed in Beaumont as a first responder, said.

Bishop Guillory will ask that these special intentions be prayed for at all Masses celebrated this weekend in the nine counties of Southeast Texas that make up The Diocese of Beaumont.