Aleteia logoAleteia logoAleteia
Friday 29 March |
Good Friday
Aleteia logo

New Orleans mourns man who ‘personified what a priest is to be in the 21st century’

arnone_john

Deacon Greg Kandra - published on 05/07/17

Please consider a gift for Aleteia!
Help us spread the joy of Christ's victory.
Aleteia depends on your support.

Join our Lenten Campaign 2024.

DONATE NOW

Details: 

The Rev. John Arnone, a popular former pastor who taught at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, died Friday (May 5) from complications associated with heart surgery. He was 49. Known as a “priest’s priest,” Arnone was well regarded for his open and unassuming approach to ministry, said the Rev. Jim Wehner, rector at Notre Dame Seminary. “From our standpoint, Pope Francis has been challenging the Catholic Church to be very hands on and very accessible, and I think our Father Arnone personified what a priest is to be in the 21st century,” said Wehner. Arnone was serving as the seminary’s assistant director of pastoral formation, where he focused on teaching soon-to-be priests how to make the transition from school and spiritual training to the real world of running a parish. He was charged with mentoring 30 new seminarians through their spiritual educations, Wehner said. A native of Algiers, Arnone served as pastor of St. Rita of Cascia Parish in Harahan for four years before joining the seminary’s faculty in June. Before that he was pastor for Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Violet and St. Bernard Catholic Church, said Sarah McDonald, communications director for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Condolences and well wishes for his family were pouring out over social media Saturday morning. “Sometimes priest can seem to be on a pedestal, or seem too theological, too hierarchical. And people appreciate it when they can see the humanity,” the Rev. Steven Bruno, the pastor at St. Rita who succeeded Arnone, said in an interview Saturday. “He was a good friend, in other words, to people, not just a priest.”

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him…

Support Aleteia!

Enjoying your time on Aleteia?

Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you.

Thanks to their partnership in our mission, we reach more than 20 million unique users per month!

Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting and transformative Catholic news, stories, spirituality, and more.

Support Aleteia with a gift today!

jour1_V2.gif
Daily prayer
And today we celebrate...




Top 10
See More