When you inaugurate a new Mayor in New Orleans you start with a Catholic Mass

 

Helena Moreno celebrates eve of inauguration with Mass

• BY BLAKE PATERSON | Staff writer

It took until the eve of her inauguration, walking down the center aisle at St. Louis Cathedral, with a gospel choir behind her, for it to sink in for Mayor-elect Helena Moreno: on Monday, she’d become the 63rd mayor of New Orleans. 

“Out of nowhere, like this emotion swelled within me,” Moreno said, speaking to reporters after her inauguration Mass on Sunday. “And that was the first time the moment really hit me.”

Moreno will be sworn in on Monday at the Saenger Theater. She becomes mayor after a tumultuous three-month transition and has said she plans to get City Hall back to basics on infrastructure and permitting. 

On Sunday, Moreno hosted a free culture festival in Lafayette Square with food trucks, local entertainers and booths from community groups. Later that evening, her inauguration hosted a traditional Mass at St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square.

Moreno’s inauguration committee, chaired by Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson, held a Mass at St. Louis Cathedral.

The Franklin Avenue Baptist Church Choir greeted Moreno’s guests with bellowing hymns. Attendees included a diverse mix of city leaders, incoming City Council members, campaign donors, former mayors and Republican state legislators. Outgoing Mayor LaToya Cantrell did not attend but was present at the inauguration ceremony on Monday.

Archbishop Gregory Aymond and Coadjutor Archbishop James Checchio led the service, and Moreno, a devout Catholic, asked her pastor from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Rev. Tony Rigolo, to deliver a homily on servant leadership. During communion, Irma Thomas, the Soul Queen of New Orleans, sang How Great Thou Art. An interdenominational group of faith leaders also blessed Moreno. 

Speaking to reporters after the Mass, Moreno said she prays every night that she’ll be a “humble servant.”

“My faith is deep within me,” she said. “I keep his guidance always very close. I know the path that got me here is one that certainly was guided by someone.”