Divine Mercy Sunday is dedicated to the devotion to the Divine Mercy promoted by St. Faustina , and is based upon an entry in St. Faustina's diary stating that anyone who participates in the Mass and receives the sacraments of confession and Eucharist on this day is assured by Jesus of full remission of sins. According to the notebooks of Saint Faustina, Jesus made the following statements about this day: "On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though … [Read more...]

Instructions on how to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, using as a Rosary Start at the Crucifix Make the Sign of the Cross. “Thou didst expire, Lord Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Thyself out upon us.” (3 times) “O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in Thee!” 1. Pray the Our Father. 2. Pray the Hail Mary. 3. Recite the Apostles' Creed. * On the large bead before each of the five decades (set of ten prayers) say: “Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Thy Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and … [Read more...]

The relics on display in the church are in the custody of the Community of Jesus Crucified, and highlight the Year of the Family.  They include: the True Cross, large bones of St. John the Baptist, St. Zachariah, and St. Elizabeth. St. Therese of Lisieux and her parents Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin. St. Cosmas and his brother St. Damian, St. Benedict and his sister St. Scholastica, Saint Peter and his brother Andrew, Saint James and his brother John, Saint Martha, St. Mary and Lazarus, all the Apostles, Mary’s mother St. Anne and the Veil of the blessed Virgin Mary, the cloak of St. Joseph, the veil of St. Rita of Cassia, the veil of St. Rose of Viterbo, the manger of the Lord, the column of flagellation, the titulus of Jesus’ Cross, St. Agnes and St. Ursula, St. Louis King of France and … [Read more...]

The tradition of covering (or “veiling”) the crucifix and statues this Sunday dates from the Church calendar prior to the Second Vatican Council when the Fifth Sunday of Lent was called “Passion Sunday” and the period from this Sunday until Holy Saturday was called “Passiontide.”  Elements of Passiontide remain in the liturgy in that the Preface of the Passion of Our Lord is read at all weekday Masses from now until Holy Thursday. In the Roman Missal we find this instruction: “In the Dioceses of the United States, the practice of covering crosses and images throughout the church from [the fifth] Sunday [of Lent] may be observed. Crosses remain covered until the end of the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, but images remain covered until the beginning of the Easter … [Read more...]

A request from Deacon Richard Eason: “The parish provides a meal service for the homeless at the Rebuild Center on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month, and at the Ozanam Inn on the 4th Thursday of each month. This is a great opportunity to serve Our Lord’s neediest people and enjoy fellowship with our parishioners. The next meal service is set for March 3rd. For those interested, the meal is cooked in the kitchen of the rectory of Our Lady of Good Counsel, beginning at noon on the day before. The meal service is provided at the Please contact Dorothy ‘Dottie’ Forly,” at 242-1919. … [Read more...]

St Stephen Catholic School will be hosting their annual school fundraiser during the Mardi Gras parades.  Please patronize the school by purchasing food and drinks through the windows of the school facing Napoleon Avenue.  They will also offer bathroom passes for those wishing to avoid the Port-o-Lets.  They clean the bathrooms continuously throughout each day.  Please support our school that serves some of the neediest members of our community! … [Read more...]

With professional instruction, Natural Family Planning has proven itself to be safe, effective, and a moral way for couples to plan their families. It is a method which respects the meaning of human sexuality as God created it and thus marital love is enhanced and strengthened. This class series the Office of Marriage and Family Life is offering in the SymptoProTM Method of Natural Family Planning will be conducted by Kelly Donahue of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. This series will be virtual by using Zoom. The dates of the class series are March 4, March 18, April 1 and May 6, 2022. The Zoom class hours are 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. The cost is $105.00 and includes all classes and materials. Preregistration is required. You can register online here nolacatholicfla.regfox.com … [Read more...]

From the Christmas Martyrology (traditional version read at Midnight Mass) The twenty-fifth day of December. In the five thousand one hundred and ninety-ninth year of the creation of the world from the time when God in the beginning created the heavens & earth; the two thousand nine hundred and fifty-seventh year after the flood; the two thousand and fifteenth year from the birth of Abraham; the one thousand five hundred and tenth year from Moses and the going forth of the people of Israel from Egypt; the one thousand and thirty-second year from David's being anointed king; in the sixty-fifth week according to the prophecy of Daniel; in the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad; he seven hundred & fifty-second year from the foundation of the city of Rome; the forty … [Read more...]

The Church has been singing the "O" Antiphons since at least the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer in the Divine Office from December 17-23, a time called the “Golden Nights.” They are part of a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative "Come!" embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah. The seven "O Antiphons" (also called the "Greater Antiphons" or "Major Antiphons") are prayers that come from Vespers of the Liturgy of the Hours during the Octave before Christmas Eve, a time which is called the “Golden … [Read more...]

Casey Candebat will be performing is a Christmas Concert at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church on Friday, December 17th a 7 PM, all are invited.  Admission is free, and refreshments will be served following the concert.  Donations with be accepted with a portion supporting the OLGC restoration fund. … [Read more...]