This week, the Archdiocese of New Orleans is expected to announce the formal closing of 15 area parishes. It's all part of the ongoing effort to re-organize the church, post-Katrina. Yet at one Central City parish, worshippers are breaking their silence.

While chanting, "Save our church!," several dozen parishioners gathered on the steps of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church after mass on Sunday morning.

"We have tried to be very respectful," said parishioner Lydwina Hurst. "However, we would like to be respected also."

The question of respect comes out of the controversial plan from the Archdiocese to merge and close some of their parishes.

"We have a lot of history at this church," Hurst said. "We are a vibrant parish."

St. Francis de Sales Church has been a part of this African American community since 1870. It was one of the first parishes in the country to ever incorporate black culture into Catholic traditions. Parishioners say, with such a rich history, they don't want to see the church close its doors.

"I am upset, and I'm still upset over it because we worked too hard in this church," said Mary Breaux, an 83-year-old churchgoer.

"I was very upset because we have so many memories here," said 12-year-old Tia Flotte.

"It's really sad," added 13-year-old Taylor King. "It's upsetting because I grew to know and love people here."

A spokeswoman for the Archdiocese tells Eyewitness News they know and have come to expect that parishioners will be upset about the church closures. So far, though, the emotional protests have changed nothing.

"Anytime you close a parish, it's emotional. We know that, we understand that," said archdiocese spokeswoman Sarah Comiskey. "We can only hope that people will bring the same zeal for their faith and encouragement into the new parish they're going to be a part of."

Yet, before that happens, these parishioners say they want answers and a meeting with the archbishop.

"We are not prepared, nor are we ready for this," Hurst said. "We are still waiting for our questions to be answered."

However, Comiskey says such a meeting probably won't happen.

"Right now, the archbishop does not plan to meet-- or the archdiocese-- with the parishes," she said.

Pastors will announce the formal closures of 15 churches during masses beginning on July 12th.