New Archbishop named for New Orleans Diocese

The Holy Father is accepting the retirement of Archbishop Alfred Hughes and has named the current Bishop of Austin, Gregory Aymond, as the new archbishop of the Diocese of New Orleans. His installation mass is scheduled at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans on August 20, 2009 at 2 PM.

Bishop Aymond is 59 years old and could well serve many years for the diocese. He was raised in New Orleans (Gentilly) ... the first New Orleans native to be named Archbishop of the New Orleans Diocese ... and graduated from Cor Jesu High School (now Brother Martin). He enrolled in seminary at St. Joseph's in Covington and received his Master of Divinity from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. He became rector and president of Notre Dame Seminary at that time. He became an auxiliary bishop in New Orleans in 1997 and Bishop of Austin Texas in 2001.

New Orleans becomes what seems to be the first archdiocese to have 4 living archbishops ... including the retired archbishops. The legendary Archbishop Philip Hannan (1965-89) 96 years old, Archbishop Francis Schulte (1989-2001) 82 years old, and Archbishop Alfred Hughes (2002-2009) 76 years old, and now Aymond will make 4.

New Orleans is still struggling with parish and school closings, much of which is a direct result of Hurricane Katrina. Having a young, strong, energetic archbishop at this time will certainly be welcomed.

Bishop Aymond's experience at the seminary in the formation of priests fits well with the pattern of appointments made by Pope Benedict XVI. It seems nearly every appointment has had some experience teaching. And that fits well with Lumen Gentium, Light of the Nations, from Number 25:

For the bishops are heralds of the faith, who draw new disciples to Christ; they are authentic teachers, that is, teachers endowed with the authority of Christ, who preach the faith to the people assigned to them, the faith which is destined to inform their thinking and direct their conduct; and under the light of the Holy Spirit they make that faith shine forth, drawing from the storehouse of revelation new things and old (cf. Mt. 13:52); they make it bear fruit and with watchfulness they ward off whatever errors threaten their flock (cf. 2 Tim. 4-14).