We will have monthly activities during the coming year so as to bring families together to celebrate our history and traditions. These events will include a school reunion, summer evenings under the pines, and recognizing the families of our church during Masses in the Fall. On March 10, 2019, we invite all families to come to the school auditorium after the 11AM Mass for a pot luck lunch. If you have photos of significate events, such as, weddings, baptisms, etc., you are invited to bring them to be scanned to add to the historical record of our Parish. Additionally, you will have an option to be interviewed and your memories recorded.

I am pleased to announce three significant projects that will serve us well into our second century: First, a local artist will be commissioned to paint a lovely image of Our Lady to be mounted above the high altar in the Church. It will not be painted on the wall as the previous artwork was, which was lost in Hurricane Katrina; rather it will be mounted on a frame attached to the wall. Ideally this painting could be removed reasonably quickly should a hurricane threaten us again. (approximately $20,000.00)

Second, as has been announced, our pipe organ is in an advanced state of disrepair. Because of this unforeseen situation, we have been renting a digital organ until a decision could be made as to how to proceed. After consulting with several experts, it has become evident that our pipe organ will have to be replaced. Currently, we are in negotiations with a college in Minnesota that has an exceptional pipe organ that they are willing to sell for a fraction of the cost of a new one being built and assembled from scratch. An instrument such as this one would be a fitting achievement for a space such as ours to exclaim to Almighty God the gratitude we have for a century of ministry. (approximately $150,000.00)

Third, there are small scale improvements which we wish to pursue, such as refurbishing the plaza in front of Church, the reconfiguring of our church bathrooms, restoring the inner doors that lead into the nave of the church, and completely replacing the sound system. (approximately $65,000.00)

We will be looking at various avenues for raising funds for these projects. Centennial envelopes will

soon be placed in the pews for you to contribute. You may also wish to commit to a specific amount via a memorial for a loved one.

There will be three specific levels of giving for the Centennial, designated by the names of the four Archangels:

Michael 1000.00
Gabriel 500.00
Raphael 250.00
Uriel 100.00

Please prayerfully consider helping the Parish community to achieve its goals by contributing to this once in a lifetime Centennial celebration. May God continue to bless us all and our community as we mark a Century of being in service to our Lord and to our brothers and sisters in Westwego!

In Christ, Our Brother,

Fr. Buddy Noel , Pastor