Save St. Augustine Parish: Appeals

February 17, 2006

Most Reverend Alfred C. Hughes
Archdiocese of New Orleans
7887 Walmsley Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70125

Dear Archbishop Hughes:

We, the Pastoral Council of St. Augustine Catholic Church, request that you meet with us for the purpose of good-faith and open communication as soon as your schedule permits. We hope you allow us to inform you about the programs in progress at St. Augustine and our financial practices and plans to achieve greater fiscal stability. We are grieved at your proposal to terminate St. Augustine as a parish. In hindsight we apparently misunderstood a communication from the November 2, 2005 Cathedral Deanery meeting suggesting that radical action would be deferred until late summer or early fall of 2006.

St. Augustine is not just a "church," but a flourishing faith community. Father Jerome LeDoux's ministry extends not only within the walls of St. Augustine, but encompasses communities both near and far. His presence alone is a ministry unto itself. During this aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Fr. LeDoux continues to ensure that the spiritual and secular needs of the community are met. Although the parish and community are especially concerned about the unilateral plan to terminate the services of Fr. LeDoux, we realize that his work is only a small segment of the 163 years of St. Augustine's history.

The historic and cultural significance of St. Augustine is widely known. Slaves and free people of color established the first African-American Catholic Church on this property; since its beginnings, St. Augustine has been a racially integrated church. In 1836, the Ursuline Sisters resided at the Claude Treme home located in the present-day parking lot of St. Augustine. Following that period, the Carmelites took over and merged the school for colored girls with their school for white girls. In 1842, Henriette Delille and Juliette Gaudin under the guidance of Jeanne Marie Aliquot and Pere Etienne Rousselin founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family. Today the Catholic Creole culture among many others continues to flourish at St. Augustine. Other nationalities from Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas enter the welcoming doors of St. Augustine greeted in their native tongues by Fr. LeDoux. Throughout history, St. Augustine has been an integrated place of worship for all regardless of race, socio-economic status, or background. Pope John Paul II confirmed this in his 1987 speech regarding St. Augustine's cultural diversity stating that St. Augustine should be the model for all Catholic parishes.

St. Augustine served as a vibrant community center well before Hurricane Katrina with weekly gospel Masses and the annual Jazz Gospel Satchmo Celebration Mass. However, since Katrina, St. Augustine has blossomed into a critical community center including a free food pantry, a clothing and toy distribution center, and an information center. With the help of international and national organizations and numerous volunteers, St. Augustine feeds approximately 100 families per day. In addition, people come there seeking medical supplies, grief support, and housing assistance. The following organizations are partnering with St. Augustine to provide assistance to the community: Tulane University, Recovery Action Learning Laboratory (RALLY), the New Orleans Musicians Clinic, Toys for Tots, Bundle Up New Orleans, Rotary International, and the Friends of St. Augustine.

Since Katrina, the pastoral council has resumed its meetings with the congregation and larger faith community to develop a strategy to strengthen the financial base and organizational life of the parish. Despite their hardships after Katrina, members and visitors continue to attend Mass and make contributions. Six weeks after Katrina, on October 9th, 2005, St. Augustine and the community celebrated its 163rd Anniversary Mass. As parishioners overcame their own hardships, the congregation also reached out to flooded sister congregations, offering the use of the parish and fellowship hall. Weekly attendance at Mass has steadily increased and 65% of the congregation has returned and is supporting the church. CCD classes have begun and other ministries to the youth such as drumming camp and a mentoring program are being developed. The altar servers, choir, lectors, music director, and ministers actively serve every Sunday regardless of their situation. The music director drives from Houston every Sunday to direct the choir and play the piano, and two choir members drive from Georgia and Texas to participate in the enlightening and vibrant Mass.

The numbers in the congregation are steadily increasing as are the collections at Mass. In addition to revenues from fellowship hall rentals, fish fries, tours, and monetary assistance from other congregations, our weekly collection at Mass brings in an average of $3,379 per week. Several local, national, and international entities support St. Augustine's endeavors spiritually and are willing to support the parish financially as well. These include, but are not limited to: The French Consulate General; Friends of St. Augustine in Pforzheim, Germany; St. A Stepinac in Croatia; Klaus Lumma; and St. Augustine churches in the Bronx, Detroit and other U.S. cities.

Great value lies not only within the rich history of St. Augustine, but also in the poise the parish has demonstrated post-Katrina with increasing attendance, collections, and services to the community. For good faith and open communication, please allow the Pastoral Council to meet with you to further discuss the current programs and plans at St. Augustine. Be assured of our love and prayers for you during this difficult time.

Faithfully yours,

Allen Powell and Sandra Gordon
St. Augustine Pastoral Council