NEW ORLEANS -- Members of one of the nation's oldest historically black Catholic churches will gather this weekend to commemorate its founding in the days before the Civil War ...
The church sustained roof and bell tower damage when Katrina struck in August 2005, but the sanctuary was spared flooding. Since the storm, St. Augustine has been a source of comfort and peace for parishioners like Sandra Gordon and others who lost so much ...
St. Augustine was founded by whites and free people of color in 1841, then consecrated and dedicated on Oct. 9, 1842. Around that time, free black members of the congregation bought pews in the church so more and more family members and slaves could attend Mass.
Protests erupted over the announced closing this spring, and the archdiocese eventually relented and gave the parish an 18-month grace period to rebuild its congregation, reinstate spiritual education programs and get its budget in order to avoid closure ...
http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=5507426
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