Archbishop Aymond at local prayer breakfast

Archbishop Gregory Aymond urges 400 at Kenner prayer breakfast to work for change
Published: Friday, October 22, 2010
Mary Sparacello, The Times-Picayune

Instead of "playing the blame game," Archbishop Gregory Aymond said people should instead ask how they can make a difference!

"Cynicism can bring us down," said Aymond, the featured speaker at Kenner Mayor Mike Yenni's prayer breakfast Friday morning. Aymond said it's "always impressive for me when servants of the people are bold enough" to gather to pray.

Such a fast-paced world, he said, can make it easier to "nudge God out of our lives."
He said that there are good reasons for the separation of church and state but that both have common goals.

"Whether we are the church or the government, we're interested in the common good," Aymond said.

Aymond, who was named archbishop of New Orleans last summer, shared some of his major concerns. He said he is worried for young adults, facing temptations including texting, sexting, bullying, alcohol and drugs. Some of those temptations didn't exist when many in the audience were younger, he said.

He encouraged giving youth quality time, saying we "look to them to be the leaders of tomorrow." "We must see them as a priority."

More than 400 people attended the breakfast and proceeds will go to the Kenner Food Bank, according to Valerie Waguespack, an executive assistant in Yenni's office.