Monday, June 29, is the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul. And it is an important day for the Church Universal as well as for our new Metropolitan Archbishop, the Most Reverend Gregory Aymond. On that date he will be at the Basilica of St. Peter at the Vatican to receive a very special vestment from His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI. The vestment is called a “pallium,” (plural is “pallia”) and it is a narrow band of cloth woven of white lamb's wool with a ring in the center which rests on the shoulders of its wearer. The narrow band falls down the front of the chest like a necktie and goes similarly down the back. It is decorated with six black crosses, one on each tail and four on the loop. The pallium has its origin as a liturgical vestment of the Holy Father since at least the … [Read more...]
Archives for May 2013
Volunteer Toward Rebuilding
Next Saturday, May 30, we are seeking volunteers to begin with the work of repairing and restoring our beautiful church. We will meet at the Rectory Chapel (back door) for Mass at 8:30am, and we will go to work after a brief breakfast. The first order of business will be organizing building materials underneath the church. So bring clothes that can get dirty and a pair of work gloves. The day will end with a late lunch. Please call or email the parish office if you can attend so that we know how much food to order! … [Read more...]
Building Projects
The church building is a concrete sign of the Church community, formed from the "living stones" who are the believers, an image very dear to the Apostles. St Peter (cf. I Pt 2: 4-5) and St Paul (cf. Eph 2: 20-22) emphasize how the "cornerstone" of this spiritual temple is Christ and that, united to him and well compact, we are also called to participate in the building of this living temple.If God therefore takes the initiative to come and dwell among men and it is always he who is the principal author of this project, then it is true that he also does not want to accomplish it without our active collaboration.Thus, to prepare oneself for Christmas means to be committed to building the "dwelling of God with men". No one is excluded; everyone can and must contribute in order to make this … [Read more...]
Celibate Love
Over the past week, a scandal has ripped through the heart of Spanish-speaking Catholicism and spilled over into the national network morning television programs. At the center of it is Fr. Alberto Cutié, a telegenic 40 year-old priest of the Archdiocese of Miami, who, though largely unknown to most English-speaking Catholics, has for a decade been the country's most well-known Spanish-speaking cleric. He has been dubbed “Padre Oprah” for his work as a host of television talk shows on Telemundo, weekly programs on EWTN Español, call-in shows on Radio Paz and Radio Peace, syndicated advice columns in Latin America newspapers, and best-selling Spanish self-help books. Last week, Father Alberto's parish and priestly apostolates were thrown into chaos as 25 paparazzi photographs of him … [Read more...]
Spirit Givers Update
The date for the mounting of the Cross on the top of our steeple is the weekend of November 21-22, which is the Solemnity of Christ the King. To celebrate this occasion, the Most Reverend Gregory Aymond, the Archbishop of New Orleans will celebrate the 10:30 am Mass on Sunday, November 22! The last day to become a Spirit Giver by donating $1000 to pay for the fabrication and mounting of our new steeple cross is Tuesday, October 27. All names need to be in by that date so they can be engraved on the base of the cross.  … [Read more...]
Take me out to the Ballgame!
On Friday, June 5 at 7:00 p.m., Msgr. Nalty has scheduled the Zephyr's game as the first outing for the altar servers of the parish, and wants to make it into a parish outing. He's already spoken with Father John Arnone, and it will be a joint outing with both of our parishes! Tickets are $8 each and can be reserved by signing the sheet on the back table or calling the parish office. We need to preorder tickets by May 19 at the latest, so MONDAY is the LAST DAY to SIGN-UP! … [Read more...]
Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity
Excerpt from DECREE ON THE APOSTOLATE OF THE LAITY APOSTOLICAM ACTUOSITATEM SOLEMNLY PROMULGATED BY HIS HOLINESS, POPE PAUL VI ON NOVEMBER 18, 1965 The Church was founded for the purpose of spreading the kingdom of Christ throughout the earth for the glory of God the Father, to enable all men to share in His saving redemption, and that through them the whole world might enter into a relationship with Christ. All activity of the Mystical Body directed to the attainment of this goal is called the apostolate, which the Church carries on in various ways through all her members. For the Christian vocation by its very nature is also a vocation to the apostolate. No part of the structure of a living body is merely passive but has a share in the functions as well as life of the body: so, … [Read more...]
Good Shepherd Sunday
This week is the Fourth Sunday in Easter, and it is traditionally known as “Good Shepherd Sunday” because of the Gospel reading today in which Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd. We're all familiar with the images: Jesus standing, staff in hand, with the lamb across his shoulders. Or perhaps we think of Jesus sitting under a tree – a little lamb on his lap. These are beautiful images, but they are incomplete. Â For thousands of years, the Jewish people have used the Good Shepherd image to refer to God. It goes back to Genesis 49:24, where Joseph was saved “By the power of the mighty one of Jacob, by the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, the God of your father...” Such imagery was used by Moses and most of the prophets. And it was used most familiarly by David in the 23rd Psalm: … [Read more...]
Our Lady of Good Counsel
Our Lady of Good Counsel is a title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary after a miraculous painting found in the Augustinian church at Genazzano, Italy. According to tradition, during festivities for the Feast of St Mark in 1467, the townspeople suddenly heard “exquisite music.” A mysterious cloud then descended and obliterated an unfinished wall of the parish church. The cloud dissipated before the people, and a beautiful fresco of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Christ Child was revealed. The image received its papal coronation on November 17, 1682 from Pope Innocent XI. A report written five days later describes the image as touching the wall only at the upper edge and unsupported by other means. Eyewitnesses testify to extraordinary phenomena regarding changing features of the image. … [Read more...]
