Craft Fair, continued on p. 2 E-d o l a E-News from the Diocese of Louisiana

Volume 2, Issue 25 June 25- July 1, 2008 Co-Ops at Work ECS Gaudet Scholarships in New Orleans Awarded for By Carrie Crockett The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana joined with organizations such as the ‘08-’09 Academic Year Federation of Southern Cooperatives, The board of Episcopal Community Ser- All Congregations Together, the Ka- vices (ECS) is pleased to announce the trina Fund, the Cooperative Develop- awarding of 77 Frances Joseph Gaudet ment Foundation, and many others to scholarships. Scholarship amounts vary sponsor the 2008 Democracy at Work based on need, with ECS offering a com- Conference of Worker Cooperatives bined total of $110,000 in tuition assis- and Democratic Workplaces, which tance to students at the following Episco- took place over a three-day session of pal schools: workshops last weekend. • Christ Episcopal Church, Covington With more than 35 years of experi- • Episcopal High School, Baton Rouge ence and hundreds of community- based organizations formed with his • St. Andrew’s, New Orleans help, Community Organizer for the • St. George’s, New Orleans Diocese, Shakoor Aljuwani, was in- strumental in orchestrating this event • St. James, Baton Rouge to help bring more co-ops to the New • St. Luke’s, Baton Rouge Orleans area. Co-ops work in numer- • St. Martin’s, Metairie ous industries and address a complex range of social issues, including un- • St. Matthew’s, Houma employment and livable wages, bank- • St. Paul’s, New Orleans ing services and credit, education, access to affordable, quality food, lit- • Trinity, Baton Rouge eracy, and affordable housing. • Trinity, New Orleans “The usual for-profit business models In awarding these scholarships, ECS don’t work. With co-ops, you can pull continues its pledge to work for the ben- off things that aren’t possible with the efit of needy children, specifically to ad- usual methods,” said Andrew McLeod, Frances Joseph Gaudet. vance the education of African American students through need-based partial Co-Op, continued on p. 5 scholarships to attend primary and sec- ondary schools that offer rigorous curri- cula in preparation for entry to and completion of college. In This Issue The scholarships are funded through a trust given to the Episcopal Church by Fran- ces Joseph Gaudet. Gaudet, who was born in 1861 and was a descendent of freed Gaudet Scholarships...... 1 slaves, became a major philanthropist in New Orleans during the early 20th century. Co-Ops in NOLA ...... 1 She was the first woman to support juvenile offenders in Louisiana, and her efforts helped found the juvenile court. Eventually, Gaudet purchased land and founded the Midwestern Flooding Woes...... 1 Gaudet Normal and Industrial School which closed in 1950 but was transformed into an orphanage and school for African American youth. EDOLA Saturdays Launched ...... 2 Today, ECS is charged to continue the mission of Gaudet in changing times. Bulletin Insert...... 2 Gaudet scholarship applications will be available in late January 2009 for the ‘09-‘10 academic year. Visit the diocesan website, www.edola.org, to read the scholarship Anti-Violence March...... 3 guidelines, or call Jennifer Hirstius for more information at 225.706.6634. Robyn Ordained to Priesthood...... 4 Bishop Brown’s Grandchild...... 4 EDOLA Offers Support for Jericho Road Adds Staff...... 4 Rhodes to Retire...... 4 Midwestern Flood Victims Hail and Farewell...... 5 In response to the tragic flooding of the past few weeks in the Mid- west, parishioners from across the Diocese of Louisiana have offered Independence Festival...... 5 their prayers and support. St. James Place Confirmation...... 5 Bishop Jenkins and other members of the diocesan staff have been in contact with Bishops in the affected dioceses to offer guidance and Trinity Confirmations...... 5 support as needed. Katie Mears, diocesan rebuild coordinator and an St. Margaret’s Announces Rector..5 Iowa native, will be traveling to the flood zone this weekend, offering Flooding, continued on p. 6

E-DoLA is published weekly by the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana. Send articles and pictures for submission to [email protected] EDOLA Saturdays Rebuild Program Invites Parishioners to Volunteer By Carrie Crockett The rebuilding efforts of the Diocese’s Office of Disaster Response are well known throughout the national Episcopal community. To ensure that they’re equally familiar to parishioners right here in our own Diocese of Louisiana, parishioners from all churches in the Diocese are invited to volunteer for a Saturday and experience a program that belongs to all members of the Diocese, as well as to those we serve. To date, the ODR has rebuilt 36 homes and is currently working on 10 more. ODR’s Rebuild program targets homeowners who are in FEMA trailers or are displaced and struggling to return home, and who lack the resources to restore their homes to habitable conditions. Our work focuses primarily on residents who are elderly or those who struggle with physical or mental disabilities. On average, 250 volunteers each month come from all over the country, and as far away as Poland and South Africa. The Rebuild program re- quires zero prior knowledge or experience. Trained crew chiefs teach the necessary skills, from sheetrocking and tiling to trimming and hanging doors. Many volunteers undergo life-changing spiritual growth and return to volunteer again and again. If you’d like to schedule a presentation or begin organizing volunteers at your church, please contact Pete Nunnally, Mission and Volunteer Coordinator for the Diocesan Office of Disaster Response, at pnun- [email protected]. We invite all Louisiana parishioners who would like to join us on a Saturday to come help rebuild the lives and homes of a part of the Body of Christ that is still suffering from the devastating effects of Katrina. Parish communicators are welcome to obtain a free copy of the bulletin insert featured below to include in their Sunday bulletins. A free copy of this bulletin insert can be found at www.edola.org or if you CLICK HERE.

e d o l a s a t u r d a y s

Parishioners are invited to organize and volunteer in the Office of Disaster Response’s Rebuild Program.

The rebuild program targets New Orleans homeowners who are still in FEMA trailers, the elderly and the physicallly and mentally disabled.

Volunteering in the rebuild program requires zero prior knowledge. All that is needed is a free Saturday to come help renew hope and rebuild homes. If you have a group interested in volunteering one Saturday in Join with us to take pride and ownership in New Orleans: helping to rebuild New Orleans. Call Pete Nunnally 504. 895.6634, ext. 207 [photo by Carrie Crockett] Marchers head out from City Hall as part of an anti-violence protest in New Orleans. Many Episcopalians, including Bishop Charles Jenkins, were a part of this march. Episcopalians a Major Presence at New Orleans Anti-Violence March By Carrie Crockett lected in Texas to neighborhood children. St. Michaels has Visiting members from Trinity Church, Wall Street, been an active supporter of the planned Early Childhood marched with the Rt. Rev’d Jenkins and approximately Education Center and, along with Trinity New Orleans, is 100 other community leaders and youths Saturday morn- particularly committed to the family literacy program. ing, June 21, in an anti-violence protest. The route took “Our church has had eight mission outreaches here,” marchers from New Orleans City Hall to a playground in said Debbie Rhodus, chair of St. Michael’s New Orleans Central City, which was then dedicated to Nicola Cotton, Committee. “This time we came down to clean up the a young NOPD officer slain in the line of duty earlier this park to help get ready for this event and to distribute the year. The new playground sits on the site of the former thousands of books we’ve collected. We want to form a Mahalia Jackson Elementary school, which was Cotton’s partnership between our parish and Trinity, New Orleans, alma mater, and is part of an effort to open a comprehen- and help out this city any way we can.” sive Early Childhood Education Cen- ter at the site of the former school. “We came down again, for the sec- ond time, to look at long-term oppor- tunities for our parish to engage in the equitable recovery of New Orleans,” said the Rev’d Steve Smith of Trinity Church, Wall Street. “We’re looking at both faith-based and secular pro- grams, and we want to hear directly from the people what they think is im- portant in terms of the alliances and partnerships we form.” Beverly Shelton-Sanchez, also visit- ing from Trinity, said she decided to join the scout trip to “come up with ideas for how youth groups from Trinity can participate in the recov- ery here. There are so many things young people can do that go beyond rebuilding housing.” Upon arrival at the playground, marchers joined up with Mayor Nag- in, neighborhood families, and visiting members from St. Michael and All An- [photo by Carrie Crockett] gels Episcopal Church in Dallas, who Bishop Jenkins, Mayor Ray Nagin and a group from St. Michael and All An- were distributing books they had col- gels Church, Dallas, TX. PEOPLE IN THE NEWS Rick Robÿn Clergy Transitions Ordained to New Priests in the Diocese The Rev’d Tom Blackmon, Christ Church, Covington (Rector) Priesthood The Rev’d Henry Hudson, Trinity, New Orleans (Rector) The Rev’d Townsend Waddill, St. Margaret’s, Baton Rouge (Rector)

Ordinations to the Priesthood, Summer 2008 The Rev’d Giulianna Cappelletti Gray, St. George’s (Assistant) The Rev’d Edward Gleason, St. Luke’s, Baton Rouge (Assistant) The Rev’d Phoebe Roaf, Trinity, New Orleans (Assistant) The Rev’d Rick Robyn, Church of the Resurrection, Manhattan (Curate)

New Transitional Deacons The Rev’d Peter Gray, St. Anna’s, New Orleans (Pastor of the Latino Apostolate) The Rev’d Tim Heflin, Trinity, Baton Rouge (Assistant) The Rev’d Dianne Turgeon, Holy Communion, Plaquemine (Assistant) The Rev’d Lonell Wright, Church of All Souls, New Orleans (Assistant)

New Callings The Rev’d Karen Gay will move from Trinity, Baton Rouge to begin serving as rector of Holy Communion, Plaquemine on September 1. [photo by Kenn Elder] The Rev’d Rob Rhodes has accepted a call as rector at Grace Episcopal The Rev’d Rick Robÿn offers his first Church, Westwood, New Jersey. blessing as a priest to the Rt. Rev’d E. Don Taylor. Retired The Rev’d Susan Davidson retired earlier this year and now resides in Texas. Rick Robÿn was ordained to The Rev’d Joe Rhodes will retire July 1 and is moving to Sumter, South the sacred order of priests on Carolina. He and his wife Tina will develop a Ministry Training School for June 11, 2008 at Church of the the Diocese of Honduras in La Ceiba. Transfiguration in New York City, New York. The Rt. Rev’d E. Don Rhodes to Retire; Taylor of the Episcopal Diocese of New York presided. Begin Ministry Training School As a special aspect of the service, three original pieces of service music were written by James Arey, a well-known New Orleans based composer and WWNO NPR radio personality. Bishop Brown Welcomes Grandchild By George Nussel Ellie June Thomas entered this world on Father’s Day morning, June 15, 2008 at 1:49 a.m. at Touro Infirmary. She weighed 6-1/2 pounds and was 19 inches long. [photo by Diocesan Archives] Her proud parents are Claire and Trevor Thomas, and her first-time The Rev’d Joe Rhodes and Tina, his wife, playfully smile for the camera while grandparents are the Rt. Rev’d assisting the Mobile Respite Care Unit outside the Church of All Souls in the and Mrs. James Brown. Upon Lower Ninth Ward. notification that Bishop Brown The Rev’d Joseph Rhodes will retire on July 1. was now Grandpa Bishop Brown, Rhodes and his wife, Tina, have been asked to develop a Ministry Training School the heavens opened and joyfully for the Diocese of Honduras in the city of La Ceiba by Bishop Lloyd Allen. showered New Orleans with six Rhodes will leave the Church of the Holy Spirit, Baton Rouge, where he served inches of rain in two hours on a since 1986. Rhodes also helped establish a church plant, Church of the Beloved, splendid Father’s Day, flooding near Covington. After retiring from the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana, he and his many streets Uptown and in Riv- wife will become missionaries with the South American Missionary Society. er Ridge, where Bishop Brown During his time in Louisiana, Rhodes was active in a number of ministries at the par- serves with distinction as Interim ish and diocesan level. He was instrumental in planting “Our Father’s Garden” near Rector at All Saints. Church of the Holy Spirit where fresh vegetables and fruits are grown and donated to Rhodes, continued on p. 6 AROUND THE DIOCESE Bishop Visits 8th Annual Independence Trinity, Baton Rouge Music Festival, Trinity, New Orleans Trinity, New Orleans, will host its 8th Annual Independence Day Music Festival on June 29 from 3-6 p.m. The event will feature three hours of patriotic music in honor of World War II Veterans, 255 of whom live in the city of New Orleans. There will be over one hundred performers, including The Navy Band New Orleans; Delfeayo Marsalis, an international trombonist; Topsy Chapman, an internationally acclaimed vocalist; Albinas Prizgintas, Trinity’s music director; [photo by Trinity, Baton Rouge] The New Orleans Trombone Choir; and many more. Trinity welcomes everyone to this special event. (Pictured from left to right) The Rev’d Karen Gay, the Rev’d Ken Rit- ter, Bishop Charles Jenkins, the Rev’d Tim Heflin, and Archdeacon Charlie deGravelles. On Sunday June 15, Trinity Church, Baton Rouge, celebrated the confir- mation and reception of seven new parishioners and welcomed Bishop Charles Jenkins for a festive visit and reception, with more than 200 in attendance that morning. In addi- tion to confirmation, Trinity also wel- comed to the parish the Rev’d Tim Heflin, who will begin his ministry at Trinity as a transitional deacon.

Co-Op, continued from p. 1 who traveled from Long Island to at- tend the conference. “With co-ops, victims of disasters are able to rebuild their own homes. An example would be, after the wildfires in San Diego, a co-op of homeowners hired a contrac- tor as a group and wound up saving 50% or more than they would had they each hired contractors individu- ally. It also helps prevent defrauding, [photo by Manon Prizgintas] and the work gets done faster. This is something that could obviously be Trinity’s director of music ministries, Albinas Prizgintas, poses for the cam- beneficial to New Orleans and the era in costume. Prizgintas began the Trinity Artist Series 20 years ago. Gulf Coast.” Since then, the program has earned many awards, including the Mayor’s A group of conference attendees Artist Award and an “Outstanding Contribution” award in 2008 from the Big from Restaurant Opportunities Center United is staying in New Orleans for Easy Tribute to the Classical Arts. a week to work with city youth to pro- vide them with restaurant skills train- ing, as well as a group providing tech- nical assitance to a range of start-up co-op efforts. E-DoLA Staff

Bishop Charles E. Jenkins Publisher

The Rev’d Canon Mark Stevenson Canon to the Ordinary

The Rev’d Canon Scott Albergate Canon for Mission and Congregational Development

Heather Parker Publications Coordinator

Kenn Elder Web Coordinator St. Margaret’s, St. James Place Confirmations Baton Rouge Calls Rector The vestry of St. Margaret’s, Baton Rouge, is honored to announce that the Rev’d Townsend Waddill has been called as the next rector. Waddill graduated in May 2008 from Nashotah House and will move to Baton Rouge from his home in Tal- lahassee, Florida. Prior to entering seminary, Waddill worked as a CPA on the governor’s staff in Florida.

[photo by Deacon Linda Armstrong] Miss Carol Stirling, Miss Mailande Walker and Mrs. Vida Broussard pose with Bishop Charles Jenkins following a June 19th confirmation service at St. James Place, Baton Rouge. St. James Place, a continuing care community, was first opened in 1983 with initial support from the parishioners of St. James, Baton Rouge. Today, St. James Place is a separate non-profit organization which hopes to provide a continuing, thriving spiritual life for residents.

Flooding, continued from p. 1 ecutive director of the Broadmoor [photo provided by ground support. Development Corporation, said. The Rev’d Canon Mark Stevenson] “We are connected with the Bish- “It is our hope that our residents ops and diocesan offices of the will do everything in their capacity The Rev’d Townsend Waddill and to return the favor.” his wife, Lisa. flooded areas, and we are ready to support them any way we can,” Grace Memorial, Hammond, has Rhodes continued from p. 4 Nell Bolton, executive director for pledged $6,000 of its Katrina funds The Office of Disaster Response, to those affected by the Midwest- a local feeding ministry. Every year he said. “However, we want to follow ern floods. The church had been and Tina organized a group of teenag- their lead.” selected as a recipient of funds ers to do outreach in Honduras. He is from the Diocese of Alabama after also very active in the prison ministry at During conversations with Bish- Chapel of the Transfiguration at Angola ops in Iowa and Illinois, spiritual Hurricane Katrina so that it might Prison. In a letter written on behalf of care, especially for clergy and pay insurance deductibles. The congregation had never needed the family of the Chapel of the Transfig- caregivers, was identified as a uration, Deacon Michael Hackett hon- to use those funds, and rather priority need. Several diocesan ored Rhodes for his service, than sending the money back to clergy have offered to provide the Diocese of Louisiana, it com- “We praise God for all of you and your pastoral care in flood zones. Bol- work with our fellow men, women and mitted them toward fellow flood children in Honduras, knowing that you ton and others with the Diocese victims in the Midwest. will bring the love of Christ and the good of Louisiana continue to offer any news of the Gospel to them as you have lessons learned in the aftermath The St. Paul’s Homecoming to us. You will always be in our prayers. and recovery from Hurricane Ka- Center in Lakeview and Beacon Our challenge will be to be for each oth- trina. of Hope are displaying a banner er what you have been to us…a beacon outside their offices saying, “Our a mission, faith and service.” Many diocesan parishes have thoughts and prayers are with the Archdeacon Charles deGravelles also stepped forward with offers of Iowa flood victims.” These groups echoes this sentiment, “Joe and Tina assistance. Members of Church are also accepting donations on Rhodes have added so much to our of the Annunciation, New Orleans, site and will pool any collections diocesan life, and they will be greatly will travel to the flood-damaged with those collected through The missed. The depth of their conviction, town of Quincy, Illinois on June 25. Office of Disaster Response. their unswerving faith in Jesus Christ as The Diocese of Quincy has made Lord and Savior, their faithfulness to the The Episcopal Diocese of Loui- ministries to which they’ve been called over twenty trips to assist rebuild- ing and relief efforts at Annuncia- siana continues to accept dona- are, for me, the hallmarks of their work tions for the flooded region. To tion and the Broadmoor neighbor- in the Church. My sense is that they’ve help those affected by flooding in probably felt besieged from time to time hood of New Orleans. in a church as wide in its theology and the Midwest, please send a check practice as ours, but Joe’s great sense “The volunteers from Quincy have to the attention of Liz Shortess, of humor, his reverence for the sacra- been unwavering in their support P.O. Box 5026, Baton Rouge, LA mental nature of the Episcopal Church, of Broadmoor since Katrina, and 70801, or you can donate online and his determined spirit have kept him have dedicated an extraordinary at: www.edola or if you CLICK going. He’s been for many of us an an- amount of time and resources to HERE. ERD is also collecting do- chor and is one of my heroes.” our neighborhood,” Hal Roark, ex- nations at: http://www.er-d.org/.