New Orleans native, the Rev. Edwin Gros, S.J., replaced the Rev. Donald Hawkins, S.J. as the pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Parish.

Gros succeeded Hawkins, who served as the parish pastor for six years.

“I have enjoyed it very much,” Hawkins said. “The parish has been very supportive.”

“I hope that there will be a continual close and sort of bonding among the people in the parish. That what has certainly been done will continue and grow even more,” Hawkins said.

Gros appreciates the work that Hawkins has done and is thankful for his guidance.

“Father Hawkins has provided some wonderful leadership,” Gros said. “I have big shoes to fill.”

Gros looks forward to rekindling some of his relationships, describing his return as a homecoming. Gros previously served at Holy Name of Jesus for one year after hurricane Katrina.

Gros also worked in Loyola’s campus ministry as a campus minister for 12 years and as director of campus ministry for three years.

“I enjoyed working with LUCAP and one of the things I did in university ministry was have these emersion trips, I helped kind of start that,” Gros said.

Loyola Director of University Ministry Kurt Bindewald admires Gros and his sincerity as a pastor.

“He is just a very humble, prayerful guy. I’m personally very excited that he is coming back,” Bindewald said.

Both Bindewald and Gros look forward to engaging the Holy Name of Jesus and Loyola communities together.

“One of my real desires is to continue fostering a close connection between Holy Name of Jesus Church and Loyola,” Gros said. “We shouldn’t be distant neighbors, we should be close neighbors.”

Holy Name of Jesus Parish officially welcomed Gros at an installation mass held at Holy Name of Jesus Church on March 17.

“So far, it’s been very positive, people are happy to have me back,” Gros said.

Janeicia Neely can be reached at [email protected]