The discovery that the first U.S.-born pope has black and Creole roots is a finding that illustrates the nation’s rich, multiracial history, the experiences of black Catholics, and the importance of the Church’s sacramental records
New Orleans
Retired New Orleans Priest Indicted by Grand Jury, Arrested for Sexual Abuse
A retired New Orleans priest who walked back a recent public admission of sexual abuse has been arrested and charged for offenses dating from 1975-1976.
Eco-Activist Who Uses Faith to Fight Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley’ Wins ND Award
Sharon Lavigne, a renowned environmental activist in Louisiana, will receive the 2022 Laetare Medal from the University of Notre Dame, one of the oldest and most prestigious honors given to American Catholics.
‘It Was Over in Four Hail Marys,’ Says Survivor of New Orleans Tornado
The tornado ripped through several Arabi neighborhoods March 22, killing one man, destroying 40 homes and severely damaging more than 100 others in neighborhoods submerged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
‘From Gumbo to Barbecue’: Louisiana Bishop Becomes Louisville’s First Black Archbishop
Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville on Jan. 8 and appointed Bishop Fabre, the bishop of Houma-Thibodaux in southeastern Louisiana, as his successor.
Dioceses Emerge From Hurricane Ida’s Wrath as Others Prepare to Help
Catholic Charities in and around the areas of Louisiana and Mississippi affected by Hurricane Ida — one of the most powerful storms to hit the continental U.S. since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 — are collecting donations as they prepare to help with the yet-unknown damage caused by the late August storm.
Catholic Church in New Orleans Is Emergency Shelter During Hurricane Ida
After the winds from Hurricane Ida peeled off the roof of the seven-story apartment building in Metairie, Louisiana, Aug. 29, St. Francis Xavier Church — across the street from the apartment building — was transformed into an emergency shelter for 34 residents, even though the parish had also lost electrical power.
New Orleans Archdiocese Assesses Damage From Hurricane Ida
With most of South Louisiana cut off from electrical power due to the 150-mph winds of Hurricane Ida, the Archdiocese of New Orleans announced Aug. 30 that all schools, along with its main administrative offices, would remain closed until at least Labor Day, Sept. 6.
Three Generations of Catholic Women Marry in Same Church with Same Dress
All three wore the dress as they walked down the aisle of the same church — St. Agnes Church in Jefferson. Hillman’s great grandparents had moved into this Catholic parish in the 1940s, sent their children to school there and never left. Her grandmother was 19 when she got married. Her mom was 24, and Hillman was 28 on her wedding day this April.
Weathering the Storm Together
Lily Hannigan, a Catholic from Flushing, and Troy Hobson faced a tempest right at the start. They got married on July 12 in New Orleans, while Category 1 Hurricane Barry was raging outside.