Massive Changes in the Archdiocese of New Orleans

[brotherhrolf]

The Archdiocese of New Orleans on Wednesday announced a sweeping post-Hurricane Katrina reorganization of parish life that essentially accepted the storm’s permanent destruction of 17 church communities in New Orleans, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes.
Beyond that, however, Archbishop Alfred Hughes announced a wide-ranging package of mergers, closures, downsizings and shared-pastor arrangements that reached far beyond the flood zone to touch parishes in relatively undamaged communities such as Algiers and West Jefferson, Metairie, Kenner and Luling.
All told, the plan closed 33 parishes, reducing the number of archdiocesan parishes to 108, according to church figures.

blog.nola.com/updates/2008/04/bishop_cutting_costs_was_not_g.html

blog.nola.com/updates/2008/04/empty_churches_breed_concerns.html

We knew this was coming but it is nonetheless heart breaking. The Archdiocese lost 20% of its population after Katrina in addition to population shifts within the Archdiocese. The parish church of my great-great grandfather is affected as well as the parish where I first attended Mass with my mother and the parish in which I grew up. The effects of Katrina are still evident almost three years later.

 

[acadian]

I am so sorry to hear this. My prayers are with those going through all of this right now. Change is never easy, and certainly there will be grieving and mourning. We lost our pastor last summer, but at least we still had our parish.

When visiting the Crescent City last December, we happened upon Our Lady of Guadalupe on Rampart Street. What an experience!

 

[brotherhrolf]

My sister who has lived in Lafayette for the last 15 years emailed me this morning in shock because that uptown cluster of Our Lady of Good Counsel, St. Stephen, and St. Henry has a profound impact on us since those are the parishes that my father’s family have their roots in.

I remember when St. Lawrence and Divine Providence were both built - I was an altar boy at Divine Providence. The only good part about that situation is that St. Lawrence, while not a parish, will be used for the celebration of the TLM.

Our Lady of Guadalupe - past it every day during the school day on my ride home from high school. How many people still make the sign of the cross when passing in front of a church on public transportation?

 

[acadian]

I’ve lived in Lafayette for the past 25 years. How time flies! Our parish here was linked with another for about 4 years and shared a pastor, but that link was dissolved last year. It’s rather nice having a pastor all to ourselves, now.

I haven’t attended the churches you mention, but I can imagine the sense of loss.

How many people today still ride on public transportation? In this area anyway? Still make the sign of the cross when we pass a church, though.

 

[rien]

Te Mormon and Pentacostal churches sure aren’t downsizing after Katrina.

IMO this is an excuse to try to hide the collapse, fleeing of many Catholics, from the church.

Necessary true as many nex generation catholics are embracing Pentecostalism, LDS and Islam.

The hurricane is not the problem. The church is. You have to question whether it is really the true church.

Don’t be afraid to read. Even the Catholic church today says if in concious you don’t accept it, you can still be saved.

A sign of its liberality yes. But also a sign of its self-doubts IMO.

 

[oremus]

At the time of hurricane Katrina, our parish adopted St. Brigid, and father and some of the parish men, who could take time off from work, brought down supplies to St. Brigid’s. We’ve been praying for them all this time. Father brought back photos that were heartbreaking. So much damage. This parish was primarily Vietnamese. Is this the same St. Brigid that is closing?

Pax

 

[brotherhrolf]

At the time of hurricane Katrina, our parish adopted St. Brigid, and father and some of the parish men, who could take time off from work, brought down supplies to St. Brigid’s. We’ve been praying for them all this time. Father brought back photos that were heartbreaking. So much damage. This parish was primarily Vietnamese. Is this the same St. Brigid that is closing?

Pax

Yes. And, yes, an incredible amount of damage still there today. The two parishes are very close in a geographic sense but Mary Queen of Vietnam Parish is getting back on its feet.

 

[Patrick_Eastin]

Te Mormon and Pentacostal churches sure aren’t downsizing after Katrina.

IMO this is an excuse to try to hide the collapse, fleeing of many Catholics, from the church.

Necessary true as many nex generation catholics are embracing Pentecostalism, LDS and Islam.

The hurricane is not the problem. The church is. You have to question whether it is really the true church.

Don’t be afraid to read. Even the Catholic church today says if in concious you don’t accept it, you can still be saved.

A sign of its liberality yes. But also a sign of its self-doubts IMO.

An Archdiocese looses 20% of its population due to unbelievable damage caused by a hurricane and you think they’ve left the church for Pentacostalism, LDS and Islam. I was born and raised in New Orleans. Still have family in New Orleans and, more importantly, have seen the damage with my own two eyes. I only have one word to say to you. Shame!

 

[brotherhrolf]

Te Mormon and Pentacostal churches sure aren’t downsizing after Katrina.

IMO this is an excuse to try to hide the collapse, fleeing of many Catholics, from the church.

Necessary true as many nex generation catholics are embracing Pentecostalism, LDS and Islam.

The hurricane is not the problem. The church is. You have to question whether it is really the true church.

Don’t be afraid to read. Even the Catholic church today says if in concious you don’t accept it, you can still be saved.

A sign of its liberality yes. But also a sign of its self-doubts IMO.

I am a native of New Orleans. I still have family in New Orleans. I have been on the ground in New Orleans and have seen the devastation with my own two eyes. When an archdiocese looses 20% of its population (many of whom are here in Baton Rouge 70 miles upriver) and many have moved to the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Have they abandoned the Faith and become Pentecostals, LDS, or Muslim or are they reacting to the devastation?