Pastoral Letters

Dear brothers and sisters: In a spirit of heartfelt pastoral concern for the Asian and Pacific people in our midst, we Catholic bishops of the United States write this statement to all Catholics and especially to our Asian and Pacific brothers and sisters to recognize and affirm with loving assurance their presence and prominence in the Lord's house. We pray that this pastoral statement will facilitate a fuller appreciation of their communities in our local churches and will encourage Asian and Pacific Catholics to take on active leadership roles in every level of church life.
-- Asian and Pacific Presence: Harmony in Faith

Click here for the Pastoral Response, PDF

From the pastoral letter of Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes, S.T.D, a discussion series has been created to promote racial harmony so as to build a more loving, accepting, and respectful community.  The discussion series are conducted by trained facilitators and all work is done in small table groups. Participants are encouraged to attend all four evenings in the series.

Session One:     A Pastoral Letter on Racial Harmony and My Own Story
Session Two:     Racism's Damage to the Individual and to Society
Session Three:  Our Archdiocesan Heritage and our Response
Session Four:     The Need of the Church - And of Us as Members - To Respond

For further information or to schedule a discussion series at your school or parish, contact  the Office of Racial Harmony at (504) 861-6272.

Video: Archbishop Hughes. Click Here.
Video: Archbishop Aymond: Click Here.

U.S. Catholic Bishops Pastoral Letter on Racism 1979
Racism is an evil which endures in our society and in our Church. Despite apparent advances and even significant changes in the last two decades, the reality of racism remains. 
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