St. Augustine Church is located in the Treme Neighborhood of New Orleans. In 1841, it was the founded by “free people of color and slaves”. It is the oldest mixed-race Catholic Church in the country. The Church had survived Hurricane Katrina. St. Augustine’s served the community through its food pantry and relief services after the storm. However, it was the attack by the Catholic Archdiocese that caused its closure. Through prayer, organization and action, the Parishioners and Community worked to reopen their Church. St. Thaddeus Parish is like St. Augustine. Tremendous history (the third African–American parish founded by predominately by African-Americans); serving the community though a wide varieties of activities; and the strength of its parishioners and community uniting to reopen their Church. Three ways to take action: 1. Pray, Organize and Take Action 2. Write Pope Francis 3. Ask friends and neighbors to sign Change.org St. Thaddeus Church Matters