Catholic Media Journal

Today we traveled to Louisiana and met with Archbishop Hughes of New Orleans and several other people from the Archdiocese of New Orleans – now working, as Archbishop Hughes out it, as an “Administration in Exile” in Baton Rouge. While his temporary office is in Baton Rouge, Archbishop Hughes spends about half of each week in New Orleans.

A common theme we heard was the belief that the Church in New Orleans will be a stronger diocese even though it will be smaller because many people are expected to decide not to return to New Orleans – or not be able to return. While many of the Catholic Churches, parishes and schools in some areas of the Archdiocese are still closed, there are many in other areas that have opened.

For several weeks, the Archdiocese has been trying to find out where it’s members are so that pastors can reach out to them – and so the Church can get some idea about how many people are planning to return. It’s a time of real uncertainty at so many levels. For example, leaders of religious communities are asking themselves “How are we going to realign our ministry in an archdiocese that will have fewer Catholics, fewer churches – and where will those churches be?” Questions like these are being asked throughout the offices and among the people of New Orleans.

Tomorrow we’ll have our first visit to New Orleans. I wonder how ready we are.

- Jim Coyle