Dominican Order to Withdraw in 2022

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January 26, 2021


Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

When the Master of the Dominican Order visited the Southern Dominican Province of St. Martin de Porres in 2016, he encouraged us to consider a consolidation of our ministries and communities. In response to the Master's request, the 2018 Provincial Chapter commissioned the friars to begin a process of reconfiguration. Since then the Provincial Council, with the assistance of a professional consultant and in dialogue with our membership, articulated priorities that emphasize strengthening community life from which our ministries flow. This process has led us to recognize that we are in fact an aging province with fewer vocations, serving a vast geographical territory. Therefore after much prayer and deliberation, the Province has come to the painful decision that we must withdraw from Holy Ghost Parish and St. Albert Catholic Student Center and close the related Dominican Community in Hammond by June 30, 2022. We are returning the parish to the pastoral care and ministry of the Diocese of Baton Rouge who will provide the clergy in the future.

For over 100 years the Dominican friars have faithfully served the people of Holy Ghost Parish. We are quite aware of the legacy we leave behind and the hard work and dedication that many of our friars demonstrated in their years of service in Tangipahoa Parish. We are deeply grateful for the collaboration in ministry and your generous support of the friars in Hammond and throughout the Province of St. Martin de Porres over these many years.

We want to assure you that the Dominicans have no desire to leave you. However, for the sake of strengthening our community life and to better serve the many pressing needs of the Church in our Province we must consolidate our houses and ministries.

We will work diligently with Bishop Duca to assure a smooth transition and ensure that you continue to receive the pastoral care and ministry you expect.

The Dominican friars assure you of our prayers, support, and our great gratitude as we go forward in faith in the coming months.

Sincerely in St. Dominic,

Very Rev. Thomas Condon, O.P.
Prior Provincial

Very Rev. Victor Laroche, O.P.
Socius and Vicar Provincial

Rev. Francis Orozco, O.P.
Councilor

Rev. Scott O'Brien, O.P
Councilor

Br. Herman Johnson, O.P.
Councilor

Rev. Ian Bordenave, O.P.
Councilor

Rev. Mark Wedig, O.P.
Councilor

Rev. Carl Joseph Paustian, O.P.
Councilor

Rev. Marcos Ramos, O.P.
Regent of Studies

Rev. John Dominic Sims, O.P.
Syndic

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02 February 2021
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

While the Gospel encourages us to seek opportunities for renewal and recommitment, change is never easy. It is our hope, though, that in times of challenge, we can continue to strengthen our core mission as baptized members of the faithful – to bring Christ and his salvation to others.

In a letter dated 26 January 2021 and subsequently read from the pulpit at Holy Ghost Church on 30/31 January 2021, Fr. Thomas Condon, OP, Prior Provincial of the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Martin de Porres, announced that the Dominican Community currently present in Hammond would withdraw from ministry at Holy Ghost and St. Albert Student Center no later than 30 June 2022. Father Condon and the order cited personnel limitations, a desire to strengthen community life, and new directions for ministry as the primary motivations for this difficult decision.

For well over 100 years, the Dominican Friars have served Holy Ghost and other church communities in Tangipahoa civil parish. 50 years ago, all the Church Parishes within the Northeast Deanery were served by religious priests (Dominicans and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate). In June 2022, these same seven parishes and the student center at Southeastern Louisiana University will all be served by priests of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Indeed, the presence of the Order of Preachers has left a lasting legacy for these parishes and our Diocese that will never be replicated.

It is my commitment as Bishop of Baton Rouge to work with the Dominican Provincial and the four men who serve Holy Ghost and St. Albert (Frs. Roberto Merced, Michael O’Rourke, Cayet Mangiaracina and Dc. Mauricio Salazar) to help achieve a smooth transition as possible for both the parish and student center. The leadership of these four brothers are an inspiration to you and to me, and we thank them for their continued commitment in this time of painful transition.

Over the next year and a half, I will, through my delegates and even personally, work with parishioners of Holy Ghost and St. Albert to discern our next steps moving forward in terms of future parish leadership, a continuation of the parish’s mission, and an expansion of evangelization efforts through the greater Hammond community.

Upon meeting St. Francis of Assisi, St. Dominic told him, “You are my companion and must walk with me. For if we hold together, no earthly power can withstand us.” I repeat these words to the parishioners of Holy Ghost and St. Albert today. Let us walk together into a future filled with hope, where nothing will separate us from the love of Christ.

In Christ our Hope,

Most Reverend Michael G. Duca
Bishop of Baton Rouge