Save St. Augustine Parish: Appeals

March 3, 2006

Most Rev. Alfred C. Hughes, S.T.D.
ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW ORLEANS
7887 Walmsley Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70125

Dear Archbishop Hughes:

This letter is submitted to formally appeal the decision to consolidate St. Augustine Parish on March 15, 2006. Our congregation asks that you defer that action to allow more time for our parish to demonstrate that we are capable of meeting the benchmark criteria of Catholic Life 2000, required of a vibrant self-sufficient Faith Community.

We are not blind to some of the reasons for your consolidation decision. Much water has passed under the bridge, many opportunites have been afforded over a long period of time for the Parish to operate more efficiently - opportunities that weren't utilized. However, before dramatic action, there is good reason to reconsider whether or not consolidation is in the long-term best interests of the Parish, the Archdiocese, and the communities they serve.

There is a new coalition of public and private sector interests that are committed to working within the Parish to stabilize its finances, repair and enhance its structures, retrieve and reorganize its records, and verify and document its history. This will free me from administrative tasks and allow a greate portion of my time to tend to the needs of the community - continuing the 163 years of service that St. Augustine Parish has provided. Specificially, several initiatives are proposed:

Pastoral Council
The Pastoral Council is reorganized with energetic committed persons who will diligently and consistently oversee the operations of the Parish. Complete minutes of all meetings will be recorded and sent to the Archdiocese monthly.

Finance Council
The Finance Council is reorganized with competent businesspersons who will properly raise funds and distribute them in a budgeted, organized, professional, audited fashion. Regular statements of financial status will be forwarded to the Archdiocese monthly.

Facilities Council
The Facilities Council is reorganized with capable construction and building management persons who will restore the church and who will produce a plan for the renovation and restoration of the Parish Center as a safe, multi-purpose facility for worship and community services.

Historical Council
A Historical Council will be formed to professionally and accurately research, verify, and document the rich cultural history of the Parish in the community.

Society of the Divine Word Order
Attached to this correspondence is an acknowledgement from my Provincial Superior, Rev. Joseph Simon, S.V.D., confirming the wishes of our Society of the Divine Word Order to remain at St. Augustine Church for the foreseeable future.

Foundation Formation
A plan is being crafted to form a non-profit Foundation for the benefit of St. Augustine, to enhance its spiritual programs, provide a stable financial base, renovate its physical structures, and provide for the long-term health of the Parish.

Archbishop, in a meeting with a parishioner last week you asked for patience from our congregation. They have graciously afforded it even though emotions are extremely and understandably high. We now ask the same of you - patience - in the form of a March 15th decision deferral - to give our congregation time to assimilate this information and to prepare a formal appeal to the Archdiocese.

Sincerely,

Reverend Jerome LeDoux, S.V.D.
Pastor, St. Augustine Parish

and

Sandra Gordon
President, St. Augustine Pastoral Council