The Jesuits at Loyola want to welcome Archbishop Gregory Aymond to the Archdiocese of New Orleans. 
As a native son,  Archbishop Aymond brings to the Church of New Orleans, not only a depth of experience as a minister to God’s people, but also a personal insight into the rich culture and history of the city of New Orleans. 
He was educated here and gave many years of service and leadership at Notre Dame Seminary and throughout the archdiocese. 
He is not only known and admired as a spiritual leader by the priests of the diocese, but also by the deacons, religious, lay ministers and all the people of the local Church. 
He brings many gifts to this city at a crucial time in its history. He brings as well a deep commitment to the work that lies ahead.
We Jesuits at Loyola offer him our prayerful support as he takes on the many challenges facing the our city and our local Church. 
We also offer to contribute any of our educational resources which might help foster the life and growth of the ministries of the archdiocese.
Ignatius and the first Jesuits in the sixteenth century went to the Pope and offered their services to respond to the various needs of the Church at that time.
This long tradition of service to the Church motivates the Jesuits at Loyola to offer the knowledge and expertise of all the members of the Loyola community to respond to the needs of the Church of New Orleans and throughout the archdiocese.
If Archbishop Aymond should perceive an area which might be serviced by our expertise, we gladly offer him our contribution. 
We all see the challenges, but also the opportunities before us.  We Jesuits offer our collaboration in any way possible to meet the challenges and to make the most of the opportunities. 
We believe that universities have a special role to play in reflecting on the faith in a particular cultural context and historical situation and in helping to build the Kingdom of God, especially by promoting peace and justice.
Again the Jesuits of Loyola University are committed to the life and growth of this archdiocese and we pledge our support to Archbishop Aymond.
To this commitment we add our prayers that God may bless his leadership of the New Orleans archdiocese and strengthen him in his challenging ministry.

Peter S. Rogers, S.J. is a languages professor. He wrote this on behalf of the Loyola University Jesuit community. He can be reached at  [email protected]