Our parish is nurturing a mutual exchange of ideas and hopes,  and sharing our Catholic faith with members of  SAINT PAUL THE APOSTLE  Catholic Church/School, New Orleans, LA - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Getting to know our twin-sister parish  The first response to our outreach efforts to New Orleans came from the Archdiocese of New Orleans in the form of a response to our email, which was followed up by an official letter dated October 28, 2005.  They had a church with urgent needs. And, now Father Bernard Assenyoh of St. Paul the Apostle is very enthused about the idea of "twinning" his parish with our parish. (Pre-hurricane Katrina, August 2005, St. Paul Parish was had 700 families & school: pre-K to 7th with 200 students).  We invited Father Bernard of St. Paul the Apostle Church, New Orleans, to visit St. Francis in February 2006. His visit kicks-off our "twinning" relationship.  ------

St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church was established in 1947 as the first Catholic church in Eastern New Orleans, we started as a home for black folk that either did not find welcome in or could not easily find transportation to other churches in New Orleans.

As a result of Hurricane Katrina, and the levee break, the Church suffered the loss of its floors, all pews, and Air condition units. The rectory lost all content in the first floor except the studs of the building.  We lost all the contents of the ministry center, including office equipment.  The school suffered the most: two portable (modular) classrooms totally lost; all the contents of the classrooms, offices, cafeteria and kitchen and kitchen equipments were flooded and lost as well.  Meanwhile I am staying with the Vincentian community at St. Stephen's Church on Napolean Avenue. 

Since Katrina, we have lost eight of our parishioners, three of whom were drowned in the flood.  I am indebted to all the pastors and churches that opened their doors to us for these funerals. 

Now  we have approximately 40 parishioners who live around New Orleans who participate in our Sunday Masses at 10am.  Currently, we have water, electricity and gas restored up to our area. 

Our recovery plan based upon identified resources:  St. Paul's had no flood insurance and yet most of our losses were blamed on flood.  There is very little we can claim from the insurance company for wind damages.  Fortunately for us, the school qualifies for federal assistance, hence a FEMA-hired cleaning company has, completed an overall clean up of the school.  Due to separation of church and state, the church does not qualify for federal aide, hence our sources of funds are made of the following: 1. parishioners' contribution to our Recovery Fund, 2. Appealing for funds from benevolent catholic churches in other dioceses in the United States, 3. Insurance-reimbursement for wind damages, 4. Our share (if any) of donations to the Archdiocese of New Orleans.