1. Discussion Series:
A Pastoral Letter on
Racial Harmony

2. Discussion Series: A Pastoral Letter on Racial Harmony
Opening Prayer for Racial Harmony
God, you have created every person in Your image. Help us recognize this gift by rejecting fear and rejecting the sin of racism so we can welcome and include all our brothers and sisters as members of the human family.
Guide us through the works of our Church leadership. Open our minds and our hearts to discern how we can live together in harmony and in unity.
Forgive us our sins. What we have done and what we have not done.
Make us active bridge builders, to be witnesses to your Word, to the diversity you have created and blessed.
Amen 2

3. Welcome! [add facilitators’ names]
Discussion Series: A Pastoral Letter on Racial Harmony
Welcome!
[add facilitators’ names] 3

4. Discussion Series: A Pastoral Letter on Racial Harmony
The Archdiocesan Implementation Committee
Alecia Bloodworth
Ben Hicks
Deacon Terrel J. Broussard
Derek Rankins
Dr. Nicholas E. Mitchell
Ingrid Fields
Kevin Fitzpatrick
Jacinta McQuarter
Jacques J. Detiege
Jennifer Rogers
Paula Belanger
Ronnie Moore
Sharon Edwards
Ty Salvant
Walter Bonam 4

5. Discussion Series: A Pastoral Letter on Racial Harmony
The Office of Racial Harmony and the Archdiocesan Implementation Committee are fully committed to assisting all parishes, schools, administrative offices, and individual Catholics of the Archdiocese of New Orleans in faithfully learning and implementing ways to promote racial harmony so as to build a more loving, accepting, and respectful community. We are dedicated to addressing the sin of racism and working to change hearts and minds so that the rich blessings of culture, diversity, and ethnic inclusion will be appreciated. We desire to fulfill the command of Jesus – to live as one body, unified in faith.  5

6. Discussion Series: A Pastoral Letter on Racial Harmony
The Office of Racial Harmony and the Archdiocesan Implementation Committee are fully committed to assisting all parishes, schools, administrative offices, and individual Catholics of the Archdiocese of New Orleans in faithfully learning and implementing ways to promote racial harmony so as to build a more loving, accepting, and respectful community. We are dedicated to addressing the sin of racism and working to change hearts and minds so that the rich blessings of culture, diversity, and ethnic inclusion will be appreciated. We desire to fulfill the command of Jesus – to live as one body, unified in faith.  6

7. Discussion Series: A Pastoral Letter on Racial Harmony
The Office of Racial Harmony and the Archdiocesan Implementation Committee are fully committed to assisting all parishes, schools, administrative offices, and individual Catholics of the Archdiocese of New Orleans in faithfully learning and implementing ways to promote racial harmony so as to build a more loving, accepting, and respectful community. We are dedicated to addressing the sin of racism and working to change hearts and minds so that the rich blessings of culture, diversity, and ethnic inclusion will be appreciated. We desire to fulfill the command of Jesus – to live as one body, unified in faith.  7

8. Discussion Series: A Pastoral Letter on Racial Harmony
The Office of Racial Harmony and the Archdiocesan Implementation Committee are fully committed to assisting all parishes, schools, administrative offices, and individual Catholics of the Archdiocese of New Orleans in faithfully learning and implementing ways to promote racial harmony so as to build a more loving, accepting, and respectful community. We are dedicated to addressing the sin of racism and working to change hearts and minds so that the rich blessings of culture, diversity, and ethnic inclusion will be appreciated. We desire to fulfill the command of Jesus – to live as one body, unified in faith.  8

9. Discussion Series: A Pastoral Letter on Racial Harmony
The Office of Racial Harmony and the Archdiocesan Implementation Committee are fully committed to assisting all parishes, schools, administrative offices, and individual Catholics of the Archdiocese of New Orleans in faithfully learning and implementing ways to promote racial harmony so as to build a more loving, accepting, and respectful community.
We are dedicated to addressing the sin of racism and working to change hearts and minds so that the rich blessings of culture, diversity, and ethnic inclusion will be appreciated.
We desire to fulfill the command of Jesus – to live as one body, unified in faith.  9

10. Discussion Series: A Pastoral Letter on Racial Harmony
Our Mission
Impelled by Christ’s call and inspired by the Holy Spirit through the work of the Ninth General Synod, the ministries of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, in union with the Archbishop and with one another, serve the people of the parishes, schools and organizations of the archdiocese in enabling them to encounter Jesus and to witness with joy. 10

11. Discussion Series: A Pastoral Letter on Racial Harmony
Our Mission
Impelled by Christ’s call and inspired by the Holy Spirit through the work of the Ninth General Synod, the ministries of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, in union with the Archbishop and with one another, serve the people of the parishes, schools and organizations of the archdiocese in enabling them to encounter Jesus and to witness with joy. 11

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13. Discussion Series: A Pastoral Letter on Racial Harmony
Getting To Know You
Name
Your Church Parish
What brings you to the Discussion Series?  17

14. Discussion Series: A Pastoral Letter on Racial Harmony
R A C I S M
OUR NATIONAL DISEASE
GETTING SICK
WAS NOT OUR FAULT.
GETTING WELL
IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY. 18

15. Discussion Series: A Pastoral Letter on Racial Harmony
South Pacific, 1949
You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught
Show tune from the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific 19
Picture:

16. Discussion Series: A Pastoral Letter on Racial Harmony
South Pacific, 1949
You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught 20

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22. The Rich Heritage and Challenge of Racial Harmony
Discussion Series: A Pastoral Letter on Racial Harmony
The Rich Heritage and Challenge of
Racial Harmony
+Most Rev. Alfred C. Hughes
Archbishop Emeritus of New Orleans 27

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29. Discussion Series: A Pastoral Letter on Racial Harmony
TABLE SHARING GUIDELINES
Each table needs a:
Facilitator to begin the sharing & ensures that each person gets time to share.
Reporter to record the general remarks and report to the large group in general terms,
using 2 or 3 sentences. Reporter will not use identifiers such as names, gender,
race or job title.
Time Keeper to keep time and ensure that each person has minutes to share. 35

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31. Discussion Series: A Pastoral Letter on Racial Harmony
TABLE SHARING GUIDELINES
Sharing Rules
I will listen with respect and interest. (turn off cell phones)
I will not interrupt except to say I can’t hear the speaker.
I will make “I” statements and share my own experiences not those of someone else.
I will share concisely and allow time for others to speak.
I will “pass” if I am not ready to share but I will not opt out of the conversation completely.
I will not use “us” and “them”, other divisive words, or racist or derogatory labels.  
I will not try to explain away or make excuses for someone else’s experience.
I will stay on the topic of racism and not introduce other “isms”.
I will keep as sacred what is shared in the group and I will not repeat it outside of the group.
If someone becomes upset, the table leader will call a facilitator to help the person. 37

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36. Discussion Series: A Pastoral Letter on Racial Harmony
Questions? 42

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End of Session One 44