[StBernard] The Archdiocese

[Westley Annis]

Well said "Kellers" !
 
I had not followed the entire story of Hannan closely as I don't have
children, but recalled the article about St. Mary's/St. James and it struck
me odd at the time, having read how bad the destruction was in parts of
Gentilly.
 
Hmm... so does St. Bernard Parish civil parish have to solicit a religious
order to open a Catholic High School in the parish?
 
I was very disappointed in the response of the Archdiocese to Katrina.  And
I'll say this:  If we still had our old archbishop (HHS' namesake) I don't
think we would have had the same response in many of these circumstances.
 
JY


 


	We find it frustrating as St. Bernard Catholics that Fr. Maestri 
	announced last fall that basically St. Bernard was too unsafe and
then 
	was quoted in the TP (and I wished I had saved it so I could quote 
	verbatim) that with regards to Hannan High, the Archdiocese would
have 
	to see a poplulation returning (which they didn't) and this I
remember 
	distinctly,and to rebuild HHS would require "support from the
business 
	community". We remember it because we asked what the business 
	community had to do with recovering our only Catholic high school.
And 
	since the Archdiocese considered only closing the school permanently
or 
	moving it to their property in Goodbee, alas, we find HHS starting
up 
	next fall on the Northshore, never to return to St. Bernard once
they 
	invest in building in Goodbee. Of course there is a demand for more 
	private schools in St. Tammany parish and it will be an instant 
	financial success there.
	
	Then in the TP on 3/23/06 we read that the same Fr. Maestri, on
behalf 
	of the Archdiocese, with regards to re-opening St. Ma ry's Academy
at 
	St. James the Major parish buildings in Gentilly, "We need to give 
	families a reason to come back to the city...". No questioning
safety, 
	no questioning what population is there now to support a private 
	education, NO COMMENT ABOUT NEEDING THE SUPPORT OF THE GENTILLY 
	BUSINESS COMMUNITY. Never mind that St. Mary's, like St. Aug and
Xavier 
	Prep, are all NON-ARCHDIOCESE owned schools. Figure out the common 
	denominator.
	
	So while the Archdiocese concentrates on schools that are owned 
	privately by religious orders, we lost our only Catholic high school

	and the Catholics of St. Bernard are dependent on the generosity of 
	people in other states and the donations of services by local 
	businesses with regards to restoring even one church and school. And
I 
	don't count Catholic Charities giving out food and mental counseling
as 
	being on par.
	
	The fiasco happening at St. Augustine Parish which has been closed
as a 
	parish by the Archdiocese is a reflection of the flock's frustration

	with leadership. Lucky for Maestri the St. Bernard Catholics have 
	submitted to the will of the Church quietly and obediently regarding

	our churches and schools. I have sent several emails to their
website 
	and have yet to get a phone call or reply email. God hears me, but 
	the Archdiocese turns a deaf ear. We just hope our offerings in the 
	collection basket are staying in St. Bernard and not going to
privately 
	owned schools elsewhere. But once it's in the basket, we know its
the 
	Archdiocese's money, just like the thousands of dollars raised and 
	banked for HHS on the backs of the HHS families who gave their time,

	talents, and money for all the Catholic schools and churches in St. 
	Bernard Parish.
	
	The Kellers