New Leadership for Archbishop Shaw High School and local Salesians Announced

After some time of discernment, the Salesian provincial, Fr.  Timothy Zak, SDB, has announced a leadership transition at Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero. Fr. Louis Molinelli, SDB, who has led Archbishop Shaw for over a decade, will be departing the school at the end of the school year to take on a new role within the Salesian order. Fr. Zak has named Fr. Stephen Ryan, SDB as the new director of Archbishop Shaw High School and of the local Salesian Community.

Fr. Ryan served as a teacher at Archbishop Shaw from 1986-1988.  Fr. Ryan was ordained a priest on May 31, 1992 at St Anthony Parish, Nanuet, NY. Since his ordination, he has ministered in youth ministry  and served as the province Delegate for Youth Ministry. While directing Salesian ministry in Tampa, Florida, he was part of a team that founded Cristo Rey Tampa High School. For the past three years he has served as the Vice Provincial. I look forward to working with him to continue the legacy of academic excellence in the Salesian tradition at Archbishop Shaw High School.

I express appreciation and gratitude to Fr. Lou who has served in both the role of director and principal at Archbishop Shaw and Director of the local Salesian Community over these past 10 years. Fr. Lou’s commitment to the Archbishop Shaw community has been unwavering, and the school has been successful under his leadership. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to share ministry with him in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. I ask that everyone join me in prayers of thanksgiving for Fr. Lou and his time in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Fr. Lou will head the search committee for a new principal for Archbishop Shaw High School and will be available as a consultant in assisting Archbishop Shaw High School in the continued work of implementation of its strategic plan.  It is our hope that we will be able to announce the new principal in early March to ensure a smooth transition in leadership for the school.

Please know of my fraternal support for both Fr. Ryan and Fr. Lou as they take on new roles in service to the people of God and of my prayers for the Archbishop Shaw High School community as we move through this time of leadership change. May the prayerful intercession of St. John Bosco guide us!