Pastor of Mandeville Catholic church steps down amid turmoil over construction project
By on February 20, 2013
Citing the litigious struggle to build a new church for Our Lady of the Lake Catholic parish and the emotional toll it has taken, the Rev. Michael Schneller has decided to step down as pastor of the Old Mandeville church. In a letter to parishioners, Schneller said Archbishop Gregory Aymond has "confirmed my decision requesting a new pastoral assignment."
Rendering of proposed new Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church
Schneller has been pastor at OLL since July of 2012, taking over for the Rev. John Talamo, who began the push in 2010 to build a new, larger church on the OLL campus. The proposal triggered significant opposition in Old Mandeville, leading to legal action that is now pending before the state's First Circuit Court of Appeal.
"Seeing the new church project through to completion within the current socio-political environment has been a major distraction to my ministry among you and has caused me much emotional turmoil and physical distress," Schneller wrote. "After many hours of prayer and reflection, the advice from my social network and my retreat this past January, I have reached the decision that another priest with more skills as a fundraiser and builder will better serve the parish community."
The rezoning case for the new place of worship is now pending before the First Circuit. The appeals court was asked by church attorneys to intervene following a lower court ruling that essentially upheld the Mandeville Zoning Commission's decision to disallow construction of a new church across Lafitte Street from the existing OLL chapel.
Meanwhile, OLL submitted revised plans to the city in December. Because the original case was pending before the appellate court, the city decided not to accept the revised plans, which called for the church to have fewer seats than the original plans. OLL appealed that decision to the city's Planning and Zoning Commission, which ruled against the church Tuesday night.
Plans for the new church became a divisive issue immediately after Talamo announced them at Easter Masses in 2010. Opponents fear the proposed $13 million, 16,715-square-foot Gothic Revival church would create drainage, traffic and parking problems in the lakefront community and would not fit in with surrounding buildings. Supporters said the existing 465-seat church can't accommodate the congregation, which church officials say is the largest in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. For some Masses, OLL uses a multipurpose building that houses a gymnasium. The church parish has been a part of the Mandeville community for 160 years.
In his letter, Schneller recounts how he was in a difficult period of his life last year - having lost two brothers to death within a year of each other - when he was approached by the archbishop to tackle the job of running the parish and guiding the construction of the new church.
"Feeling fearful, anxious, and a deep disquiet, I submitted to what at the time appeared to be the will of God. Since that "yes," I have discovered that another side of obedience is to be true to one's self. In saying yes to Archbishop Aymond's appointment, I compromised my own integrity in wanting to live up to his expectations. He sincerely believed that I was the right priest with the skills needed to bring the community together to see the new church project to completion."
Schneller said he was welcomed by the parish and offered kind words for its staff and the "lay men and women who love Our Lady of the Lake Parish. I ask that you please accept and respect my decision offered to you in a spirit of honesty and openness."
In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, the archdiocese confirmed that Schneller will be reassigned.
"The people of Our Lady of the Lake have been most welcoming to Father Schneller and Father Schneller has appreciated the privilege to lead this parish," according to the statement. "However, given the complexity of the issues facing Our Lady of the Lake, Father Schneller felt someone with different gifts would best serve the people there. He humbly requested a new assignment and the archbishop agreed."
A new pastor will be appointed by June, the archdiocese said.
Rendering of proposed new Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church "Seeing the new church project through to completion within the current socio-political environment has been a major distraction to my ministry among you and has caused me much emotional turmoil and physical distress," Schneller wrote. "After many hours of prayer and reflection, the advice from my social network and my retreat this past January, I have reached the decision that another priest with more skills as a fundraiser and builder will better serve the parish community."
The rezoning case for the new place of worship is now pending before the First Circuit. The appeals court was asked by church attorneys to intervene following a lower court ruling that essentially upheld the Mandeville Zoning Commission's decision to disallow construction of a new church across Lafitte Street from the existing OLL chapel.
Meanwhile, OLL submitted revised plans to the city in December. Because the original case was pending before the appellate court, the city decided not to accept the revised plans, which called for the church to have fewer seats than the original plans. OLL appealed that decision to the city's Planning and Zoning Commission, which ruled against the church Tuesday night.
Plans for the new church became a divisive issue immediately after Talamo announced them at Easter Masses in 2010. Opponents fear the proposed $13 million, 16,715-square-foot Gothic Revival church would create drainage, traffic and parking problems in the lakefront community and would not fit in with surrounding buildings. Supporters said the existing 465-seat church can't accommodate the congregation, which church officials say is the largest in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. For some Masses, OLL uses a multipurpose building that houses a gymnasium. The church parish has been a part of the Mandeville community for 160 years.
In his letter, Schneller recounts how he was in a difficult period of his life last year - having lost two brothers to death within a year of each other - when he was approached by the archbishop to tackle the job of running the parish and guiding the construction of the new church.
"Feeling fearful, anxious, and a deep disquiet, I submitted to what at the time appeared to be the will of God. Since that "yes," I have discovered that another side of obedience is to be true to one's self. In saying yes to Archbishop Aymond's appointment, I compromised my own integrity in wanting to live up to his expectations. He sincerely believed that I was the right priest with the skills needed to bring the community together to see the new church project to completion."
Schneller said he was welcomed by the parish and offered kind words for its staff and the "lay men and women who love Our Lady of the Lake Parish. I ask that you please accept and respect my decision offered to you in a spirit of honesty and openness."
In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, the archdiocese confirmed that Schneller will be reassigned.
"The people of Our Lady of the Lake have been most welcoming to Father Schneller and Father Schneller has appreciated the privilege to lead this parish," according to the statement. "However, given the complexity of the issues facing Our Lady of the Lake, Father Schneller felt someone with different gifts would best serve the people there. He humbly requested a new assignment and the archbishop agreed."
A new pastor will be appointed by June, the archdiocese said.
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