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CNN Live Today
Interview With Rev. Charles Filiatrea
Aired May 06, 2003 - 11:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We want to bring in right now a gentleman who has been walking down here with -- despite the damage here, a rather chipper look on his face, Reverend Chuck Filiatrea is the pastor over at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, which is right around the corner here, and your building is one of the most historic buildings in this town. And the damage over there? Give us an assessment.
REV. CHARLES FILIATREA, ST. LUKE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH: Well, it's hard to make an assessment on a historical building with such beautiful architecture, and that sort of thing. We've been waiting on all that. Obviously, our sanctuary and the main part of it, was pretty well taken. But we're there working, trying to save whatever we can, and maybe put it back together.
HARRIS: Now, what you said to me a little while ago was that yesterday it was for the emotions. Today is for just picking up.
FILIATREA: Today is the work. Yesterday was a very emotional day, lot of tears. We're back there to work today.
HARRIS: It's understandable, because as I understand it, your church has been there since, what, the 1830s, 1840s?
FILIATREA: 1832 it was formed, and that building was actually built in 1845. So, it's a treasure that we've lost.
HARRIS: And that's a treasure that has survived countless other weather issues and other human ones as well that have come through here historically, and yet and still it didn't stand up to this storm.
FILIATREA: Yes, that is right, but it's just a building. No matter how beautiful everything, we didn't lose any people, so we thank God for that. That's what's really important.
HARRIS: That may not have been the case had the storm come here a few hours earlier.
FILIATREA: Absolutely correct. Absolutely. But downtown, people were not downtown at that time of day. So again, we have to look for the blessings amidst all this, and this really has brought out the good for most people. We have people coming by the church, What can we do to help?
And actually, they just start helping. Moving, lifting, carrying debris away. It's been wonderful. HARRIS: Now, this is a turn of events for you and this church, because as I learned, last time around, back in '99, when that storm hit here, your church was on the helping end, and now you're on the other end of it.
FILIATREA: Right. It's more fun being on the giving end than the receiving, I promise you. But this has been an opportunity. It's hard for everyone, I think, to receive. And so we're receiving a blessing from that.
HARRIS: But what do think -- what are you getting from people here? Are you going to rebuild? Do you think people here are taking this really hard? Are they taking this as just another of life's challenges that they have to just deal with and move on with or what?
FILIATREA: Well, I think, personally, for our church, none of us built that church. It was a gift to us. So we will rebuild, and give that gift to our children and grandchildren.
HARRIS: You can rebuild, but can you replace it?
FILIATREA: Maybe even better. Not as beautiful architecturally, but maybe even better.
HARRIS: Well, we're wishing you lots of luck, Reverend Chuck Filiatrea.
(CROSSTALK)
FILIATREA: Thank you, Leon. God bless you.
HARRIS: God bless you. Good luck to you, as well.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 6, 2003 - 11:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We want to bring in right now a gentleman who has been walking down here with -- despite the damage here, a rather chipper look on his face, Reverend Chuck Filiatrea is the pastor over at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, which is right around the corner here, and your building is one of the most historic buildings in this town. And the damage over there? Give us an assessment.
REV. CHARLES FILIATREA, ST. LUKE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH: Well, it's hard to make an assessment on a historical building with such beautiful architecture, and that sort of thing. We've been waiting on all that. Obviously, our sanctuary and the main part of it, was pretty well taken. But we're there working, trying to save whatever we can, and maybe put it back together.
HARRIS: Now, what you said to me a little while ago was that yesterday it was for the emotions. Today is for just picking up.
FILIATREA: Today is the work. Yesterday was a very emotional day, lot of tears. We're back there to work today.
HARRIS: It's understandable, because as I understand it, your church has been there since, what, the 1830s, 1840s?
FILIATREA: 1832 it was formed, and that building was actually built in 1845. So, it's a treasure that we've lost.
HARRIS: And that's a treasure that has survived countless other weather issues and other human ones as well that have come through here historically, and yet and still it didn't stand up to this storm.
FILIATREA: Yes, that is right, but it's just a building. No matter how beautiful everything, we didn't lose any people, so we thank God for that. That's what's really important.
HARRIS: That may not have been the case had the storm come here a few hours earlier.
FILIATREA: Absolutely correct. Absolutely. But downtown, people were not downtown at that time of day. So again, we have to look for the blessings amidst all this, and this really has brought out the good for most people. We have people coming by the church, What can we do to help?
And actually, they just start helping. Moving, lifting, carrying debris away. It's been wonderful. HARRIS: Now, this is a turn of events for you and this church, because as I learned, last time around, back in '99, when that storm hit here, your church was on the helping end, and now you're on the other end of it.
FILIATREA: Right. It's more fun being on the giving end than the receiving, I promise you. But this has been an opportunity. It's hard for everyone, I think, to receive. And so we're receiving a blessing from that.
HARRIS: But what do think -- what are you getting from people here? Are you going to rebuild? Do you think people here are taking this really hard? Are they taking this as just another of life's challenges that they have to just deal with and move on with or what?
FILIATREA: Well, I think, personally, for our church, none of us built that church. It was a gift to us. So we will rebuild, and give that gift to our children and grandchildren.
HARRIS: You can rebuild, but can you replace it?
FILIATREA: Maybe even better. Not as beautiful architecturally, but maybe even better.
HARRIS: Well, we're wishing you lots of luck, Reverend Chuck Filiatrea.
(CROSSTALK)
FILIATREA: Thank you, Leon. God bless you.
HARRIS: God bless you. Good luck to you, as well.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
