Edmundite Father Michael P. Jacques
In Baltimore for the National Black Catholic Congress Board Meeting, I received word this morning that Edmundite Father Michael Jacques, pastor of Saint Peter Claver Church of New Orleans, has died.
According to the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Father Jacques was admitted to the hospital Thursday after an apparent heart attack. He died overnight. "Father Mike," as many of his parishioners fondly called him, was instrumental in the growth and development of the parish church.
I am deeply shocked and greatly saddened to learn of the death of Father Jacques. We were scheduled to be together in San Diego tomorrow for the meeting of the African-American Affairs Subcommittee of the USCCB Secretariat on Cultural Diversity where each of us serves as consultants. Having looked forward to the opportunity to be with him this weekend, I am sure that his death will overshadow our gathering.
