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	Archbishop Hughes: Parishes Will Remain Closed WWL October 28, 2008 http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl102808archbishop.15a6882eb.html The following is a statement issued by Archbishop Alfred Hughes Tuesday afternoon regarding the closing of several local churches and the sit-ins that have been staged since. Last weekend, the celebration of the Eucharist was held for the final time at three church buildings in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. It is never a happy occasion when a parish has to close. Throughout this process our priority has been the pastoral care of the parishioners and a responsible distribution of priests. We believe that by merging parishes together, stronger communities of faith with more spiritual, pastoral and social outreach resources. My prayer now is that we can all move forward together to a transition in which parishioner vigils may come to a peaceful end and all may come together at the new parish. On Saturday, beginning with the Sunday Vigil Mass, the first Sunday Masses will be celebrated at Good Shepherd Parish with a new pastor, in Msgr. Christopher Nalty. This can be a time of great hope and grace. I personally invite all parishioners of St. Stephen's, St. Henry's and Our Lady of Good Counsel and anyone in the community wanting to share this occasion to participate. Let me remind you now, that the buildings of the former parishes of Our Lady of Good Counsel and St. Henry are no longer parish churches. The parishes are closed and the new parish church is at St. Stephen's. Therefore, with the exception of three weddings scheduled for early November, one at St. Henry and two at Our Lady of Good Counsel, no celebration of the Eucharist or celebration of sacraments of any kind or any liturgical services should take place in those former church buildings. Any clergy that celebrates or contributes to the celebration of the sacraments there will face serious canonical implications. It is our hope again that we may move forward as one Body of Christ, focused first and foremost on the Eucharist as the source and summit of our Catholic faith. I want to again reassure you that it is not the intention of the archdiocese to seize property or assets of any kind, but that all net assets and sacred items will become the property of the newly merged parishes. It is our intent to provide for the care and maintenance of buildings until a suitable use hopefully within the archdiocese ministries may be found for them. May God grant us all the grace to move forward together through a peaceful transition to form vibrant new parishes, relying on God's grace and building on our history and strengths.
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