Contact: Ben Peterson, PR Specialist, OCP, 503-460-5363

PORTLAND, Oregon, July 24 /Christian Newswire/ -- OCP recently donated $65,000 to the Archdiocese of New Orleans to aid the ongoing rebuilding efforts of several parishes devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The funds were distributed to 17 churches in and around New Orleans. Including this recent donation, OCP has given $150,000 to faith communities throughout the Gulf Coast since the storm ravaged the region in 2005.

"I write to you as I learn of the remarkably generous financial support you are offering to a number of parishes in the Archdiocese in support of our work of recovery," wrote Most Rev. Alfred C. Hughes, Archbishop of New Orleans, in a letter to OCP. "I want you to know how much this means to me and those whom you are assisting. Integral to our response, of course, is the restoration of good worship. Your grants will help to make this possible. May God bless you abundantly for this sacrificial generosity and support."

OCP has already received letters of appreciation from several of the parishes.

"We are all deeply grateful to you and OCP for the generous grant to improve our sound system for our parish church," wrote Rev. Quentin E. Moody of St. Augustine Church in a thank you note to OCP. "This is a blessing to our faith community and I express sincere thanks on behalf of the parishioners and myself for this very special gift to us."

The following Catholic churches received grants:
 

• The Center of Jesus the Lord, New Orleans
• Our Lady of Lourdes, Slidell
• Assumption of Our Lady Mission, Braithwaite
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Belle Chasse
• St. Francis of Assisi, New Orleans
• Sacred Heart, Lacombe
• St. Augustine, New Orleans
• St. Anthony of Padua, New Orleans
• St. Jerome, Kenner
• Our Lady of the Angels, Waggaman
• Most Holy Trinity, Covington
• St. John the Baptist, Edgard
• St. Dominic, New Orleans
• St. Margaret Mary, Slidell
• Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Chalmette
• St. Anthony of Padua, Luling
• Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Westwego

"We continue to be inspired by the resilient spirit of the communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina," said OCP Publisher John Limb. "However, a long journey remains in the recovery process. It is our sincere hope that this contribution to the Archdiocese will help in the restoration of the Gulf Coast region."

For more information on OCP's commitment to serving faith communities, including the annual OCP Parish Grants program, visit OCP.org or call 1-800-548-8749.

About OCP
OCP, a not-for-profit publisher of liturgical music and worship resources based in Portland, Oregon, has been in operation for more than 80 years. Worship materials produced by OCP are used in two-thirds of Catholic churches in the United States and are distributed worldwide.