Archdiocese Intends to Close Haven for Katrina Survivors: Protest in Progress

March 21, 2006

The Archdiocese of New Orleans has 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. The decision was effective March 15, 2006, but implementation has been delayed.

Activists barricaded themselves in the empty rectory early Monday March 20, 2006, and say they will not leave until the Archdiocese promises to reopen the church.

St. Augustine’s was one of the few churches to escape destruction during Hurricane Katrina and the flooding caused by the breaking of the levees. Since the storm, it has been the central provider of services to the historic Treme community. Its fellowship hall operates as the sole community pantry where survivors can get donations of food and clothing.

In addition, St. Augustine's is one of the few institutions to open its doors to those working to rebuild New Orleans. Its sanctuary has been opened to hundreds of young people as a place to sleep while volunteering throughout the city.

Just last week, young people participating with Katrina On the Ground as part of an FOR-sponsored Alternative Spring Break stayed at the church while volunteering.

St. Augustine parishioners are asking people to take the following action steps to support the struggle to keep their parish open:

• Send or e-mail letters to:
  Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes
  The Archdiocese of New Orleans
  7887 Walmsley Ave.,
  New Orleans, LA 70125
  
• Send letters to your local newspaper raising awareness and gathering support for the reopening of the parish.
  
• Write to your local diocesan newspaper.

Here are a few talking points:

• Attendance at Sunday Mass has grown steadily since early October and was among the first Catholic Churches to reopen since Hurricane Katrina. They have offered the use of their 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.

In addition to being a center of refuge, St. Augustine's is an major African American historic site. Visit the St. Augustine Parish Web site to learn more about this priceless cultural and spiritual community institution.

Contact: Danae Davis, 651-647-4465, danae@forusa.org

In response to requests for more information about reasons for closing St. Augustine, we are providing a quote from an article in a local New Orleans’ newspaper from The Rev. William Maestri, a spokesman for the archdiocese of New Orleans. He said on Tuesday, March 21, that “St. Augustine had too few families and could not adequately offer the full range of Catholic educational and social ministries that families can get from St. Peter Claver.” 

After spending a week at St. Augustine church, it is hard not to suspect that racism and gentrification are at the heart of this matter. Given the history and cultural significance of the church and what it means to the people in the community in this time of crisis, closing this parish shouldn’t be an option. The entire city seems to be poised for corporate face lift. The people of New Orleans, mostly poor and or black, who do not fit into the plan for gentrification and expanding tourism, are being slowly forced out. One resident mentioned a meeting with Barnes and Noble to discuss plans to develop the land where the church now stands.

We can’t give concrete answers when parishioners haven’t been given any.  We are only relaying the current situation and what we witnessed. 

Sincerely,
Danae Davis and Virginia Wilber, FOR Interns