News Release #400

New Orleans Cathedral Site for Nationally Broadcast Easter Mass

On Easter Sunday, New Orleans Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes will celebrate an Easter Sunday Mass from the city’s Cathedral of St. Louis. The Mass will be available to area viewers on KSTP Channel 5 on Sunday, April 16, 2006, from 10:00-11:00 a.m.

The historic Cathedral survived the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and stands as a symbol of the resilient faith of the people of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The hour-long liturgical special is being produced by WLAE-TV in New Orleans in cooperation with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC). Archbishop Hughes will also be the homilist for the Mass and music will be provided by the Cathedral Choir.

The Cathedral of St. Louis, which was established in 1718, had recently completed an extensive renovation when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans last August. Located on Jackson Square in the French Quarter, the Cathedral fortunately did not sustain major structural damage from the storm and flooding, although a new organ was destroyed.

For further information, visit www.usccb.org/ccc .