On Morning Air, John Morales spoke with Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller in the wake of the catastrophic flash floods that swept through Kerrville, Texas, over the Fourth of July weekend. The floods claimed the lives of more than 100 people, including children and staff from Camp Mystic.

Pope Leo XIV offered his condolences and prayers for the families affected by the floods in his address following the Angelus on Sunday.

“I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters who were at summer camp, in the disaster caused by the flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas in the United States. We pray for them.”

The pain is raw and overwhelming—but the Archbishop’s presence and pastoral words offered a light in the darkness.

Archbishop Gustavo shared that his first instinct was simply to be present with the survivors and families. He didn’t arrive with speeches or solutions. He arrived with hope and prayers. “Presence is the first response,” he says, underscoring the power of just showing up. That ministry of presence became a living embodiment of God’s mercy.

He presided at Mass in Kerrville on Sunday, where five babies were baptized even as the community mourned those lost in the floods. That stark contrast between floodwater and baptismal water became the central image of his homily. Water that drowns, and water that gives new life, both realities held in tension. In that moment, grief and grace stood side by side. The Body of Christ, the Archbishop said, is wounded, but not dead. It’s still breathing, still praying, still rising.

John asked the inevitable question: “Where is God in all this?” Archbishop Gustavo answers with quiet conviction. In tragedies like these, people aren’t seeking theological explanations; they’re searching for comfort, solidarity, and human connection. “Faith isn’t about airtight answers,” he explains. “It’s about being there in the storm.” Even if we can’t see the sun through the clouds, we trust it hasn’t stopped shining. That’s what faith looks like in the valley of death.

There are also moments of undeniable providence. Archbishop Gustavo spoke of the hundreds of water rescues—more than 850 in total—including one man who saved over 160 lives on his own. These acts of courage are more than heroism; they are grace in action. God is working through these ordinary people, through neighbors helping neighbors, strangers saving strangers.

As for how we can help, the Archbishop pointed to Catholic Charities San Antonio, which is spearheading the relief effort. At this stage, monetary donations are the most effective form of physical support. Supplies have poured in, but long-term recovery will require sustained generosity. Prayers are essential, and they will accompany the concrete acts of mercy that come in the form of financial aid.

This conversation served as a reminder that the Church is not a distant institution—it’s a living body. Right now, that body is bruised and aching in Kerrville. But it is also full of life, hope, and grace. Archbishop Gustavo’s message was clear: God is still with us. In every tear, every prayer, every baptism, and every act of rescue, Christ remains present.

Now is the time for all of us to be the healing hands of Christ. Let us lift Kerrville in our prayers—and if we are able, let us act.