A statement from Archbishop Hughes concerning the appointment of Archbishop Aymond
Archbishop Hughes' retirement accepted; now holds position of Apostolic Administrator until Installation Mass on August 20
STATEMENT OF
ARCHBISHOP ALFRED C. HUGHES
June 12, 2009
I rejoice at the announcement in Rome today that Our Holy
Father Pope Benedict XVI has appointed
Archbishop-designate Gregory Aymond the fourteenth Archbishop of New
Orleans. Welcome home, Archbishop
Aymond. You are no stranger to us
all. You are the first native son to be
called to shepherd this wonderful Archdiocese.
Archbishop Aymond will be installed on August 20 at 2:00 p.m. at St.
Louis Cathedral.
Archbishop Aymond was born in New Orleans on November
12, 1949. He attended St. Joseph Seminary
College and completed his
theological studies at Notre Dame Seminary where he earned a Master of Divinity
degree in 1975. From the beginning
Archbishop Hannan recognized Father Aymond=s
special gifts. He appointed him to teach
at St. John Vianney Prep Seminary where he not only taught but then became its
rector. Archbishop Schulte missioned
Father Aymond to Notre Dame Seminary in 1981.
He served first as Director of Pastoral Formation and then Rector of
Notre Dame Seminary from 1986-2000. In
1997 Pope John Paul II appointed Monsignor Aymond Auxiliary Bishop in New Orleans. Then in 2000 he appointed him to serve the
Diocese of Austin, Texas.
Archbishop Aymond brings a rich
background in Catholic education. While
simultaneously serving as Rector of Notre Dame Seminary, he held the post of
Executive Director of Christian Formation.
In that role, he oversaw the Catholic
Schools, Religious
Education, Campus Ministry, the Youth Office and the Office for the Pontifical
Mission Societies. On the national scene
he has been recognized as a leader in Catholic education and serves now as the
Chairman of the Board of the National Catholic Education Association.
In Austin, Texas,
Bishop Aymond presided over significant growth in parishes and schools. The campus ministry in the Diocese of Austin
is a model for outreach to young adults of college age. Archbishop Aymond brings a lively faith, a
keen intelligence and a zealous commitment to the mission of the Church.
I will now serve as the Apostolic
Administrator of the Archdiocese until the installation on August 20. As I prepare to conclude my service as
Archbishop of New Orleans I want to acknowledge the extraordinary sacrifices
which people around me have had to make.
I came in May 2001. These eight
years have been rather turbulent.
Extraordinary people in leadership around me have given of themselves
unstintingly to address a series of challenges.
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 rocked our nation. The clergy sex abuse crisis rocked our
Church. Hurricane Katrina rocked New Orleans and
the surrounding Gulf
Coast area. Reconfiguration of the parishes and schools
has rocked this Archdiocese. Now the
economic downturn has rocked the global economy. In each case, faith-filled, competent men and
women have stepped forward to lead our Church response.
The difficult decisions that I have
been called upon to make have been made after careful consultation and
prayerful discernment. Inevitably there
will be those who differ with me. I want
to express my sorrow for the pain that has been experienced and ask forgiveness
where hurt has angered some. We are one
Church, with one Father, one Lord and Savior, in one Holy Spirit. God grant the understanding and the healing
that will enable us fully to be the vibrant, evangelizing and Eucharistic
Church he calls us to be.
May God bless Archbishop
Aymond. May God bless us all.
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