[StBernard] Fr. Maestri

[Westley Annis]

Business should never become a part nor stand in the way of religion.  It
appears that Fr. Maestri is doing just that.  

HL
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> The less Fr. Maestri makes public comments the better. He seems to 

> have a knack for pushing people's buttons. His recent quote in the TP 

> article about SBP schools referenced something to the effect that 

> perhaps the Arch. will consider starting another Catholic high in SBP, 

> since the second floor of St. Louise wasn't damaged, and the 

> population is coming back.

>  

> If I knew he would read it, I'd write him an email saying that I know 

> for a fact how instrumental he was in giving HHS two choices-fold or 

> more to affluent Northshore where there was a growing population 

> wanting a Catholic high school because Arch leaders thought SBP was a 

> lost cause. And now that HHS the institution, HHS' reserve funds, and 

> HHS'

> spirit that took 20 years

> to build, primarily with the hard work and donations of the people of 

> SBP, he suggests that we start all over from scratch?

> There were families in the

> 1960s and 70s who pledged money for a Catholic high school that didn't 

> come about until 1986 and then anothe 20 years to nuture it.

>  

> Of course, I'd rather see HHS live on, no matter where. But to 

> insinuate that the second floor of a flooded building is good enough 

> for our community just ten months AFTER the Arch. leaders give up on 

> SBP and to divert HHS and its remaining assets,and its share of FEMA 

> and insurance money away from SBP is adding salt to the wound.

>  

> Where would Catholic education in America be if Maestri had been in 

> charge of spreading the Church in the New World? The Ursulines, 

> Jesuits, Mother Cabrini, Mother Elizabeth Seton, etc. did not abandon 

> the mission when they saw the risk, the hazards, the wars, the 

> uncertainity, the epidemics, etc.

> of New Orleans and cities like it during  times that were much worse 

> than a hurricane.

>  

> Maestri and the Arch leaders decided before Thanksgiving to send HHS 

> to Goodbee. Pretty fast decision that SBP was not going to recover, 

> yet the Arch did financially support St. Aug, St. Mary's, and other 

> inner city Catholic schools not even owned by the Arch because as 

> Maestri alluded to, those children needed inspiration in their time of 

> greatest needs. Gentilly is no better recovered than SBP, not then and 

> not even today.

>  

> Frankly, I would prefer if we Catholics in SBP poured our resources 

> (time, talent, treasurers) into our existing churchs and all existing 

> schools.

> Remember what the Arch giveth the Arch can take away and a high school 

> not linked to a church parish is too easily taken away.

>  

> I know many of you reading this, whether Catholic or not, supported 

> all our high schools, including HHS. I also realize that some of you 

> are on the Northshore and will benefit from the relocated HHS.

> I wish HHS nothing but

> success for the sake of the alumni and continuing the legacy. But some 

> of us in the HHS family are still grieving about our loss and your 

> gain.

>  

> Likewise, I feel for those SBP Holy Cross families, although it will 

> be only a few miles farther away and could be in a more centralized 

> location that helps the school sustain itself for generations to come. 

> At least the brothers didn't move HC a 90 minute drive away. Just 

> remember the Redeemer-Seton families that lost their high school and 

> the nearby church parish,too, that will be dissolved so that Fr.

> Maestri could offer the

> property for sale to the HC brothers.

>  

> ddk