Sunday, March 19, 2006
To our Friends, Neighbors, Brothers and Sisters of Faith. .
We as members of St. Augustine Parish, want to communicate with you directly
so that you may know what is in our thoughts and our hearts as we continue
to work toward a just, compassionate, and logical resolution to the unfortunate
set of circumstances in which we find ourselves.
We dearly cherish you as friends, kinfolk and neighbors as well as brothers
and sisters in the Lord. We believe there has been too much confusion, obfuscation,
and distortion.
Here are the facts:
- Attendance at Sunday Mass has grown steadily since early October when
we were among the first Catholic Churches to reopen since Katrina. Indeed,
we offered the use of our sanctuary to several congregations who suffered
substantial hurricane damage.
- St. Augustine Parish enrollment has increased by more than 30 percent
since Katrina; attendance at Sunday Mass has literally been “standing
room only” for the last several weeks
- Since Katrina, St. Augustine Parish ministries and its partnerships
have expanded to provide medical services and healthcare screening, a food
pantry, mold remediation training, and a variety of other services essential
to the recovery of the larger community..
- The operations of St. Augustine Parish are financially self-sufficient,
and Sunday collections have increased since Katrina. A viable, comprehensive
plan has been developed to address debt and the long term financial and
administrative stability of St. Augustine Parish.
- The Society of Divine Word has expressed its explicit wish that Fr.
Jerome LeDoux remain assigned to St. Augustine so long as Fr. LeDoux wished
to serve.
We appeal to your faith and commitment to the C hristian values of fairness,
respect, and decency. We need your help to save our parish and your prayers
to restore our faith in the administrators of our Church ..
Please pray for us and stand with us in our struggle for fairness, justice,
and decent treatment. Now is not the time to close one of the most historic
and culturally significant Parishes in New Orleans –or in the nation – as
we go about the business of trying to rebuild our lives.
Sincerely,
The Parishioners and Friends of St. Augustine Parish
