Most Reverend Alfred Clifton Hughes

Last evening I had the opportunity to speak with Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes, the retiring Bishop of the Diocese of New Orleans. In fact, tomorrow The Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond, a native of New Orleans will be installed as the new Archbishop. I had the pleasure of meeting Archbishop Hughes in the Spring of 1997 when he was the Bishop of the Diocese of Baton Rouge He confirmed my son Caleb, who just yesterday entered the Notre Dame Seminary. The following years we would talk again each Spring as I was a Confirmation catechist at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Denham Springs. We shared a few things in common; we are both natives of Massachusetts and both Red Sox fans. I found him to be a delightful man with a deep sense of spirituality. In May 2001, he became the new Archbishop of New Orleans. I remember so vividly seeing him during the coverage of Hurricane Katrina and all the turmoil that occurred after that horrific disaster. As I said to him last night, that sort of event is not usually found in the job description and game plan of the task of overseeing a diocese. But all that is in the past and Archbishop Hughes was at peace last night and will be living at the Notre Seminary giving spiritual direction to those young future priests. God Bless you Archbishop Hughes for your faithful years of service to the Church as Shepherd to its people. You are in our prayers.