NYNEWYOR-L Archives

Archiver > NYNEWYOR > 2005-10 > 1128296088


From: "Elizabeth V Cardinal" <>
Subject: Church records in Katrina area
Date: Sun, 2 Oct 2005 19:34:48 -0400


I read in a catholic newspaper yesterday that numerous catholic parish have
lost years and years of church records to Katrina and the flood waters.

Apparently, there is no way to reconstruct them.

What they are intending to do for future marriages, if have the witnesses,
maid of honor and best man, sign a document stating they know the couple
were baptized and raised catholic. This will satisfy the church
requirements for the sacraments of First Communion, Confirmation, matrimony
and Holy Orders.

It may help future generations who search for records but it will not help
those looking for records of their ancestors.

No doubt the records of other denominations have also been destroyed as have
those of some cemeteries.

The article mentioned nothing about civil records.



Elizabeth V. Cardinal




This thread: