Uptown New Orleans Catholic Church on Napolean Avenue - Monsignor Nalty
Rectory 504-899-1378 | Fax 504-899-0480
School 504-891-1927
ststephenpar@archdiocese-no.org
From the Pastor – April 6, 2025
I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having any righteousness of my own based on the law but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God, depending on faith to know Him and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of His sufferings by being conformed to his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Phil. 3:8-11)
St. Paul constantly used the words “in Christ” to speak about his goal. He wanted to “gain Christ” and gain righteousness from faith “in Christ.” The great spiritual classic “Imitation of Christ” and even wrist bands asking “What Would Jesus Do?” remind us that we are called to configure our life to Christ. We don’t just follow His example; we are called to live like Him. When we suffer, we carry His cross. When we rejoice, we thank Him. Easter is a good time to conform our lives to the Passion.
There are only two weeks until Easter Sunday. Next weekend is Palm Sunday, and then we begin Holy Week. Each year there are quite a few who attend all of the events of Holy Week, but many people limit themselves to the bare necessities: Holy Days of Obligation. If you have never really experienced all of the services of Holy Week, consider doing so this year. Commemorating the events of the Lord’s Suffering and Death help us to have a greater understanding of the importance of the Easter Resurrection. Jesus had to suffer and die before he rose.
On Holy Thursday we will celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:00 p.m., which commemorates the institution of the Holy Eucharist when Jesus washed his Apostle’s feet. This Mass begins the Sacred Triduum, and it is when the Eucharist is removed from the Tabernacle in the center of the church and “reposed” in another altar to commemorate Jesus’ being arrested and jailed. We will have Adoration at this Altar of Repose from the end of Mass until the sun rises on Good Friday at 6:00 a.m. On Good Friday the church will be open beginning at 7:00am for those who are walking to visit the nine churches. Also open will be St. Henry Church and Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, both of which will be closed at noon. Later on Good Friday will be the Veneration of the Cross at 3:00 p.m., the hour of the death of Our Lord. Finally, we will have the Easter Vigil Mass at 8:00 p.m., which will be preceded by Confessions at 6:30 p.m. There will be no 4:00 p.m. vigil Mass, and Masses on Easter Sunday will be as usual at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Next Sunday there will be a sign-up sheet at the back of church for those who will respond to the plea of Jesus “to stay awake with me one hour.” (Mt. 26:40) on Holy Thursday. It is one of the most solemn nights of the year to contemplate Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane as he prepares for his Passion and Death. Please consider taking one of the hours to fill out our Holy Thursday Vigil. And please consider attending all of the events of Holy Week, which is the most important week of the year for all Catholics.
(Very Rev. Msgr.) Christopher H. Nalty
msgr.nalty@gmail.com
Masses
St. Stephen
Saturday Vigil at 4:00 pm
Sunday at 8:00 am and 10:30 am
Sunday at 5:00 pm at OLGC
Our Lady of Good Counsel (OLGC)
Center of Jesus the Lord
Charismatic Mass
Sunday at 10 am
Weekdays Masses
Monday – Friday 6:30 am St. Henry
Tuesdays 6:00 pm St. Stephen
First Fridays 6:00 pm Latin Mass
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Tuesdays 4:45 – 5:45pm St. Stephen
Thursdays 7:00 – 8:00am St. Henry
Confession Times at Good Shepherd
Saturdays 3:00 – 3:45pm St. Stephen
Sundays 9:30 – 10:15am St. Stephen
Sundays 10:00 – 10:30am OLGC
First Fridays 6:30 – 7:00pm OLGC
Stations of the Cross
There will be Stations of the Cross and Confessions on Fridays of Lent at the Basilica of St. Stephen with Confession at 5:30pm and the Stations at 6:00pm. Remember that Msgr. Nalty is also in the Confessional from 3:00-3:45 pm on Saturdays and 9:00-10:15 am on Sundays.
Lenten Fish Fry
Knights of Columbus will be hosting the Lenten Fish Fry on the Fridays of March 14th, March 21st, April 4th and April 11th. Food will be served after the Stations of the Cross at St. Stephen Church. Plates consist of Fried Fish, French Fries, Cole Slaw, Vegetable, Dessert, and a drink. More details will follow next Sunday!
Proceeds benefit the K of C’s and Good Shepherd Parish.
Adoration and Confessions
During the next three weeks the Archbishop has asked every parish in the Archdiocese to offer Confessions from 5:00-6:30pm on Wednesday. The basilica will be open for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions over the next two Wednesdays, March 26, April 2 and April 9. The Eucharist will be exposed on the throne above the tabernacle.
Last Year’s Palm Branches Needed!
If any of you have access to sago palms (the kind pictured here), we would love to get some for decorations in the church and to bless in two weeks on Palm Sunday (April 13, 2025). Please don’t cut your palms until a few days before Palm Sunday! Please bring them to the rectory or leave at the back door of the sacristy.
Congratulations to Michael Shanklin & Gil D’Aguin!
At 2:30pm on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at St. Catherine of Siena Church, Archbishop Aymond will present the Order of St. Louis IX Medallion to our parishioners Michael Shanklin and Gil D’Aguin. The Order of St. Louis IX award was established more than 40 years ago to honor those members of the laity who have contributed their time and talents to the church.
Even if you don’t know Michael and Gil, you know of their work! Michael is one of our faithful sacristans who opens the church, sets up and serves the 8:00am Mass. Gil is an usher at the 10:30am Mass and is also our “parish artist,” responsible for beautifully painting our Stations of the Cross and repairing our statues. “Whatsoever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me.” (Mt 25:40).
Why are the Statues Covered?
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 Vigil.”
The origin of this practice is difficult to determine. Some liturgical commentators date it to 9th century Germany when a “hunger cloth” was hung in front of the altar on Ash Wednesday to veil it from view. The cloth remained throughout Lent and was removed during the reading of the Passion on Holy Wednesday at the words “the veil of the temple was rent in two.” Others attribute the veiling to an even more ancient origin (pre-5th century) because of the passage from the Gospel of John formerly read on this Sunday where he “veiled” His Divinity: “Jesus hid himself and went out of the Temple” (Jn 8:59). Whatever the origin, the veiled images are a reminder that we have entered into a different, more sacred time. The veils provide a heightened sense of anticipation as we approach Holy Week, when we celebrate the events in the life of Jesus Christ that led to our salvation.
Easter Lilies!
Some of the most beautiful and fragrant reminders of Easter morning are Easter lilies. We will be purchasing them for the altar for use over the Easter season. If you would like to donate an Easter lily in the name of a loved one, there are envelopes in the back of church. Please return by April 11, 2025.
Adoration and Confessions
During the next three weeks the Archbishop has asked every parish in the Archdiocese to offer Confessions from 5:00-6:30pm on Wednesday. The basilica will be open for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions over the next two Wednesdays, March 26, April 2 and April 9. The Eucharist will be exposed on the throne above the tabernacle.
Christmas in March
Solemnity of the Annunciation
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Masses 6:30am (St. Henry) & 6:00pm (Basilica of St. Stephen)
If Jesus was born on December 25, then he was conceived nine months earlier. And that’s why the Church singles out March 25 as the Solemnity of the Annunciation – the day when Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel. As any mother can tell you, although a child’s birthday is the day that the world gets to see him in person for the first time, her baby was alive in her womb long before he was born! Jesus became incarnate in Mary’s womb at the Annunciation. God became man on March 25, not December 25. Let’s celebrate at Mass! And since the Solemnity falls on a Friday, the feast of a Solemnity is celebrated rather than the abstinence of a Lenten Friday. You can eat meat and celebrate the incarnation of Jesus!
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