ParishWatch: Tracking Parish Closings in North America
Here is the information we have about parish reconfigurations in this state. Please send your parish consolidation/reconfiguration news to parishrights@futurechurch.org and we will update our information.
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LOUISIANA
Archdiocese of New Orleans
Archdiocese of New Orleans
The Mass Is Ended
But some parishioners are not going in peace. They suspect the decision to close some Catholic parishes was more about real estate values than a priest shortage. By Jason Berry 9/16/08
http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/2008-09-16/cover_story.php
Hughes rejects plan to stop closings 8/16/08 http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/neworleans/index.ssf?/base//news-9/121886482913010.xml&coll=1
Advocates to save parishes get audience with Hughes 8/15/08 http://www.nola.com/timespic/stories/index.ssf?/base//library-153/1218777785147110.xml&coll=1
Archbishop Hughes says no to proposal to keep closing churches open 8/15/08 http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl081508tparchbishop.4e2fccd2.html
Catholics Protest Church Closings, Mergers 8/15/08 http://www.wdsu.com/news/17199823/detail.html
10 more Catholic parishes close 8/12/08 http://www.nola.com/timespic/stories/index.ssf?/base//news-0/1218518574318090.xml&coll=1
Parishioners still have hope, solutions for restructuring 8/10/08 http://www.wwltv.com/topstories/stories/wwl081008cbparishioners.341b563d.html
Archbishop suppresses 18 New Orleans parishes; more closings to come 7/14/08 http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0803651.htm
Decree Signed To Close 18 Parishes Under Pastoral Plan 7/12/08 http://abc26.trb.com/news/wgno_news_071208churchclosings,0,2709025.story
Archbishop officially closes 18 churches 7/10/08 http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/07/archbishop_officially_closes_1.html
St. Francis Church Parishioners speak up 7/06/08 http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl070608cbfrancis.2d684bc3.html
St. Francis de Sales parishioners protest merger 7/06/08 http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/07/st_francis_de_sales_parishione.html
St. Henry's Parishioners Prepared To Occupy Building? Parishioners at St. Henry's say the Archdiocese has refused to discussed possible alternatives to the closing of the parish 6/30/08 http://995fm.com/cccommon/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=135361&article=3891407
St. Henry parishioners reject merger talk, but do not seize church 6/30/08 http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/st_henry.htm
ST. Henry's parishioners pledge to keep church open 6/30/08 http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl063008tpsthenry's.f1f8693.html
Boston church group shares tough tactics to keep parishes open 6/13/08 http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/boston_church_group_shares_tou.html
Hughes visits closing church. Archbishop takes criticism after Mass 6/1/08 http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-29/1212297645113860.xml&coll=1
Group vows to resist church closures 5/8/08 http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-8/1210225110270110.xml&coll=1
Reorganization threatens to shutter 33 New Orleans parish 5/7/08
NEW ORLEANS — The faithful of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church are not leaving quietly. (New Orleans plans to close or merger 33 of 142 parishes) http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-05-06-new-orleans-church_N.htm
Parishioners Struggle to Save Parish, FutureChurch supplied organizing resources and consultation to parishioners from St Francis Cabrini Church who are struggling to keep their parish open after the Archdiocese secured a deal to use the church’s $5 million insurance reimbursement without their knowledge. The Archdiocese apparently entered into an arrangement with a religious order to relocate their high school on Cabrini’s land, thereby acquiring 20 million in FEMA money to rebuild, as well as the 5 million from Church insurance. “ .. Almost half of the [the Archdiocese’s $12 million] coverage came just from our little church....they want to sell and demolish our church in order to get the insurance money that should go to rebuilding our facility,” said a parishioner speaking on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile FEMA declared Cabrini parish eligible to be listed as an historic landmark, leading to a dispute between school supporters and Cabrini parishioners. A FEMA hearing is scheduled on February 26. (Winter 07)