This site was published when the Archdiocese of New Orleans announced its intention to close the parish of St. Augustine Catholic Church in New Orleans, Louisiana, the oldest African-American Catholic Parish in the United States, effective March 15, 2006. Parishioners & friends of St. Augustine from all over the city of New Orleans, the state of Louisiana, the United States and the world asked the Archdiocese to reconsider this decision because of St. Augustine's spiritual leadership and vitality; and its unparallelled historic and cultural significance both to New Orleans and to African-Americans throughout the world. 

After many, many prayers, discussions and negotiations, on April 8th, 2006, Archbishop Alfred Hughes announced that St. Augustine Parish would remain open. The Parish has been given 18 months to address 12 challenges facing the church. The challenges relate to membership and attendance, finances, church ministries and administration. Sandra Gordon, President of St. Augustine's Pastoral Council expresssed her confidence that the goals would be met.

(See www.staugustinecatholicchurch-neworleans.org/hist-sum.htm for a complete history of this unique spiritual sanctuary know as "St. Augustine's".)

The document reproduced below, "The Road Ahead", was issued by St. Augustine's Pastoral Council on April 11th to spell out the tasks which must be done to meet the 12 challenges facing St. Augustine's church parish. We ask both parishioners and supporters to read it and volunteer to help in whatever area they can.

Be careful what you wish for. You might get it. We have gotten our wish to keep St. Augustine as an independent parish. Now it is time to put our energies and our resources where our mouths have been. There is A LOT of work ahead of us during the 18 month probationary period. The work will go on far beyond that if we are to achieve our marvelous potential as a parish and as a community. Please don't abandon the struggle now. Get involved. Stay involved. Below is an outline of promises we have made to the Archdiocese, supplemented by a list of tasks which will need to be accomplished in order to keep our promises. United we stand. Divided we fall. Let us join our talents, resources and energy toward our unity.

This plan is still in the formative stages. It will be modified as we develop.

• Administrative:
  
  
• Database:
• Sacramental records. We have agreed to have these records in order within one month. The Archdiocese has agreed to provide a training session for the keeping of such records. We would like to have more than one person attend this session.
• New memberships have been pouring in. Old memberships need to be reviewed and brought into accordance with the new organization. We need a database and the talent to run it.
• We have promised to increase our membership. We need to get word of our church out. The Bible calls each of us to evangelism in the spirit of the apostles.
• Communication:
• Our supporters in this struggle were many and enthusiastic. Thank you cards and /or emails with news updates and donation requests need to be sent.
• Publicity, artwork, copying and collating are needed for each of our ministries and events.
  
  
• Ministries:
  We have promised the Archdiocese that all our current ministries will be made functional. They include:
  
  
• Ministry Coordinator: A central source for information, contacts and development of our parish ministries.
• Youth Ministries: We are in the process of reestablishing our youth ministry program. Our parish will begin a new CYO group within the next few months. We would love to hear from you as we get things rolling. If you are a young person (12-18 years of age) and are interested in joining CYO, or if you are an adult interested in helping, please let us know.
• Religious Education Program:to be in place by September, 2006.
• RCIA (Rights of Christian Initiation for Adults)
• Religious Education Ministry (CCD) for children
• Bereavement and Commemorative:A committee who will host a recitation of the rosary for a wake service for the family of deceased parishioner.
• Addiction and Codependency: (AA and Al-anon)
• Development/Tourism Ministry
• Elderly Ministry: Help around the house, transportation to and from church or other events.
• Family/Marriage Ministry: Organize classes, retreats and counselling services.
• Finances/Fundraising Council: We have promised to establish a finance council in accordance with the canonical and Archdiocesan norms by July 1, 2006, and to present a balanced operating budget by October 1, 2006. The purpose of the finance councild is to advise the pastor in administering the ecclesiastical goods of the parish. The council's responsibilities include preparation of the parish budget, reviewing income and expenses of the parish, and advising the pastor regarding capital expenditures.
• Liturgy Ministry: Readers who proclaim the word of God at weekend and weekday Masses. (Eucharistic ministers, music, and liturgical symbols)
• Musical Ministry: The goal of the Music Ministry is to inspire the congregation to participate in praising God in song. We have a variety of music styles, from traditional and contemporary to praise and worship that enriches our ministry.
• Publicity/Public Relations Ministry: To inform the public of our ministries and programs or any cultural activities which take place in our parish.
• Spirituality Ministry: Plan revivals and arrange for lectures.
• Telephone Tree Network Ministry: In order to lighten the burden of phone calls in communicating church events and needs, each person on the telephone tree will be responsible for phoning a portion of the calling list.
• Ushers/Hospitality Ministry: Will greet and seat people during Masses.
• Vocation Ministry: Help to guide youth interested in a spiritual career.
• Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Communion: Work within the parish with distribution of communion. Their ministry takes them to scheduled Masses, hospitals, nursing homes, or wherever Catholics are confined and communion distribution is needed.
• Ministry to the Needy: This ministry provides a food pantry for needy families to pick up groceries each week. We also offer limited financial assistance with rent, utilities and medicine. Absolute confidentiality is maintained, as well as respect for the person requesting help.
  
  
• Facilities:
• Cleanup:
• Grounds,: Flower beds need weeding and replanting. Mowing and weedeating. Sidewalks.
• Buildings: The sanctuary and fellowship hall are in need of constant cleaning.
• Maintenance:
• Doors and windows need levelling and repair.
• Painting, from top to bottom.
• Floors need mopping, waxing and buffing.
• Restoration:
• Structural and/or carpentry
• Floors, tile, carpet
• Painting
• Windows