Louisiana Episcopal MRI Program Planned
Diocesan Press Service. March 14, 1974 [74071]
NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Some 150 high school-age Episcopalians from the Diocese of Louisiana will be travelling as far away as Mexico, Barbados and Honduras this summer to conduct vacation church schools, all in the spirit of MRI.
MRI means "mutual responsibility and interdependence," and the phrase itself has become a catchword for exchanging ideas, skills and fellowship within the Episcopal Church.
Started several years ago by the national church as a means of bringing together dioceses (church units) from different parts of the world, the MRI program has fostered international exchange and understanding among Episcopalians from many lands.
Louisiana's program is now in its eighth year. Students will be dispersed all over the state, getting to know other churches within their own diocese, and some will be going to the Diocese of Northwest Texas, whose see city is Lubbock.
Those going out of the country will receive orientation and training sessions, so they will be familiar with the customs and life styles of the people they work with. In most cases they will be living in private homes while conducting week-long schools in Christian education for children.
The team headed for Honduras will be engaged in a work project. Last year a similar team built a parish house.
All teams will be chaperoned by Louisiana priests, who will also act as consultants for the school. The Louisiana MRI program is administered by Archdeacon James B. Brown of Baton Rouge.
The Rt. Rev. Iveson B. Noland of New Orleans is bishop of the diocese, and the Rt. Rev. R. Heber Gooden of Shreveport is assistant bishop.