(NewsNation) — Religious institutions have not been spared from the wildfires sweeping through the Los Angeles area, with churches, synagogues, mosques and other religious structures burned or evacuated.
For clergy, however, the responsibility of serving their community hasn’t ended when they are displaced.
Friar Christopher Iwancio evacuated to the Pasadena Convention Center along with several other friars who ranged from 40 to 90 years old.
“Once we got settled in there, myself and one of the other friars got our food truck ready to help serve the folks there,” he said.
Iwancio said the experience reminded him of what he saw during Hurricane Katrina. While the pace was hectic, he told NewsNation, more people came to join in and help as the day went on.
Some in the St. Francis congregation have lost their homes and all of their belongings, including some students at the attached school.
“We’ve had some of my students show up at the Pasadena Convention Center to help out,” Iwancio said. “These are kids who don’t even know if their houses are still standing, coming here to just help, and it’s just beautiful.”
People have been donating food and water, and Iwancio said World Central Kitchen has also helped coordinate with the city to help provide hot meals to people affected by the fires.
Pastor Justin Anderson of Cavalry Church said he doesn’t know if the church is still standing, having witnessed one building start to burn. He said most of the congregation has been displaced.
“We’ve been working to make contact with everyone to make sure they have a place to go,” Anderson said.
As for the fires, Iwancio described the area as almost snowing ash as high winds continued to fuel the wildfires.
“I described to my friends, [it’s] like going through a hurricane with fire,” he said.
