[StBernard] From Mr. Fish to Fishers of Men- New Church Opens Christmas Eve

[Westley Annis]

What items from St.  Mark's were donated ? And is Father Lomax still at St.
Luke's ? 
 
Syl
 
-----Original Message-----

>From Mr. Fish to Fishers of Men- New Church Opens Christmas Eve 

Updated: 8 hrs ago

With a sparce crowd in a newly renovated former pet shop, Most Holy Trinity
Catholic Church held its first service on Christmas Eve.  The church, some
20 years in the making, is the newest of 15 catholic churches now servicing
St. Tammany.

The new parish had been on the drawing board for last two Archbishops, but
neither was able to make it a reality because of a shortage of priests.
However, with the destruction of Katrina and the shifting demographic,
several parishes have closed in the last year.  This allowed Archbishop
Alfred Hughes to shift needed personnel and resources to service the
expansive, fast-growing area between Highway 1088 in Mandeville and
Harrison/Dog Pound Road in Covington.  This area, until today, was primarily
serviced by St. Jane de Chantal in Abita Springs, and Our Lady of the Lake
of Mandeville.  OLOL, with 5000 registered families, is by far the largest
Catholic parish in the state of Louisiana.

In its newly renovated space, Most Holy Trinity mixes modern convenience
with humble accoutrements.  Most of the furnishing, from pews to statues to
the altar, were donated by other parishes either destroyed by Katrina or
closed by her effects (namely, St. Theresa the Little Flower, St. Mark's of
Chalmette and St. Rose of Lima).

The pastor is Father Rodney Bourg of Chalmette, formerly with St. Luke's
Catholic Church in Slidell (which is open and still servicing its parish).
He notes that his surroundings are temporary, as Most Holy Trinity has 20
acres in the forests that surround what is to be the future extension of
Fairway Drive.  Bourg believes with St. Tammany's present plans to extend
Fairway, the new Church and School could be open by 2009.  However, he is
ready to service his parish for at least five years in its temporary
facility.

But don't call it "Mr. Fish."  When asked by a parishoner if mass would be
at Mr. Fish's, Father Bourg answers no- it is at our new church on Highway
190.

The mass schedule for Christmas eve and Christmas include services at 4PM
and 6 PM, then 12 midnight, 9AM and 11AM.  Regular Sunday services are held
at 7, 9 and 11AM with a Saturday vigil at 4PM.  Soon daily masses will begin
at 8:45AM Mon, Tues, Thurs. and Friday.