All Saints Catholic Parish will celebrate its 100th-year anniversary in November. Several programs are leading up to the big celebration.
Josephite Father Peter Weiss, All Saints pastor, said the fourth annual Black History Program this year, entitled “A Home of Our Own.” Several parishioners were honored, including elder Georgia Brunet with family above, and Carmelite Lombard Goodreaux and her family below.
Brunet, age 94 was baptized in 1947. She has been a member of the parish for over 70 years. She has served as a lecturer, minister of the Eucharist and has been a member of the Sodality, the Rosary Group and the Social Outreach Committee. Currently a member of the Ladies Auxiliary, Saint Rita Court #36, she has held the position of secretary and state treasurer. Believe it or not, her service to the community has almost been as active as her involvement in the church. She has been awarded the St. Louis Medal.
Goodreaux, age 84, attends daily Mass. She was married in the church and had her four children baptized there as well. Ms. Goodreaux continues to lead the Rosary Group which her mother started and has been a member of the traditional choir for 67 years. She has taught CCD, visited the sick and has been a member of the Legion of Mary. She comes from the Lombard family, one of the founding families of the parish.
Finally the Parish remembered “The Children of 1955.” The Honorable Edwin A. Lombard, judge on the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal since 2003, came home to serve as guest speaker (below).
He and his family were grateful for their tribute to his brother, Rudy Lombard, one of thefourteen children of ‘55 who entered the neighboring “white only” playground. The children wouldgo into the park to retrieve their ball, but would have to grab it and get out of there. That is until one day, they decided to stay and play, making it possible for others to enjoy the playground today. Rudy Lombard also organized a sit-in at F. W. Woolworth at the corner of Rampart and Canal Streets in New Orleans on September 9, 1960. Rudy Lombard passed in December, 2014 at the age of 75. Judge Lombard acknowledged his and many other families in the parish andstated how the Josephite Priests and the Holy Family Sisters “put him on the straight and narrow,”molding him into the leader he is today.
Youth of the Parish also participated in the program Shomari Norwood, Destiny Williams and Andre Lewis presented the biographies of each honoree as well as that of Civil rights activists Rudy Lombard and Fr. Osborne. The musical tributes by guests from The New Orleans Steel Orchestra, playing instruments they developed, traditional songs from Trinidad and Tobago as well as some Gospel favorites. Neighboring Second Good Hope Baptist Church, along with theirpastor Rev. Brian Richardson, and his wife offered their support by way of song. All Saints’ threechoirs combined to present various musical selections.