Irish-British Province

NEW ORLEANS/USA
Gathering the scattered

Hurricane Katrina has dealt a severe blow to the resources of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Many parishes face closure, many churches will never be rebuilt.

Fr. Jerome LeDOUX, the pastor at St. Augustine’s parish tells his folk, “The Archdiocese of New Orleans is broke, thanks to wholesale devastation of numerous Catholic churches, offices, schools and rectories through much of the Archdiocese.”

St. Augustine, reopened its doors with their first post-Katrina Mass on October 9, 163 years to the date of its foundation. Repair of the church alone is estimated to cost about US $ 400,000.

Plans to organize parishes into “clusters” may be revived (the plan was originally proposed thirty years ago). St. Augustine Church was projected as a mission church for St. Peter Claver with the pastor residing at St. Peter Claver, not at St. Augustine. Now that plan threatens to become a reality.

Fr. LeDoux called on his faithful to rise up to the occasion and help retain St. Augustine as an independent parish, “What happens in this regard between now and next summer is strictly up to you. You will vote one way or the other with your feet, with your presence, with your praying hands and with your tithes.”

He also notes that if one can arrange for a place to stay, there are plenty of opportunities for employment in New Orelans.

Source: Arnoldus Nota