New Orleans call to Maine results in priest rescue

SACO – A phone call to Maine by a priest stranded by Hurricane Katrina’s floods may have led to his and a fellow priest’s rescue, a Maine Army National Guard official said Friday.

The Rev. Bob Brennan, a 70-year-old priest who was formerly assigned to the Most Holy Trinity Parish in Saco, was trapped on the third floor of the Sacred Heart Parish Rectory in New Orleans before he and another 70-year-old priest in the building were rescued.

Brennan failed to make cell phone connections with local authorities to ask for help. But he did reach a member of his former parish, who called the Maine Army National Guard.

Col. Jerry Dunlap, Maine guard chief of staff, tried to pass information about the priests’ plight to officials in Louisiana but was unable to do so. Dunlap notified Maine’s emergency operations center, which was able to reach its counterpart in Louisiana.

After that, a search and rescue effort was launched, Maine Army National Guard spokesman Maj. Michael Backus said Friday.

“We heard that the rescue was a success,” Backus said. “But we don’t have confirmation of their physical condition.” Backus said he did not know the name of the parishioner called by Brennan.

Maine Gov. John Baldacci’s office said it had received word that Brennan was on his way to Texas after his rescue. Still unclear was whether the call led to the two priests’ rescue, or if it was already under way when the call was made.

Lynnette Miller, spokeswoman for the Maine Emergency Management Agency in Augusta, said the agency also was unclear whether the circuit of phone calls led to the priests’ rescue. But she confirmed the two are all right.

“That’s the one thing we are certain of,” said Miller.

The Rev. Patrick Walsh of the Most Holy Trinity Parish said he has no idea where Brennan’s call was placed. Walsh said his parish did receive confirmation from a religious affiliate in Connecticut that Brennan was OK.