Spiritual work of mercy - During the month of October, please join in our prayer. “Father and maker of all, you adorn all creation with splendor and beauty, and fashion human lives in your image and likeness. Awaken in every heart reverence for the work of your hands, and renew among your people a readiness to nurture and sustain your precious gift of life. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen. … [Read more...]
Archives for September 2020
From the Pastor – September 27, 2020
September 25, 2020 By
“Thus says the LORD: You say, ‘The LORD's way is not fair!’ Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?” (Ez. 18:25) “That’s not fair!” I can’t even imagine how many times I heard that growing up. I grew up in a house with three sisters and a brother. And one thing about us, we grew up with a strong understanding of justice. Well, justice as we defined it. When it came time to cut the pecan pie for dessert, we would scrutinize the pieces down to the last crumb. And if someone got a bigger piece, one of us would exclaim: “That’s not fair!” And if one of us was invited to spend the night at our grandparents, then a scorecard was kept. If there was not a perfect rotation so that each of us went in order, it would happen again: … [Read more...]
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship
September 18, 2020 By
"We need to participate for the common good. Sometimes we hear: a good Catholic is not interested in politics. This is not true: good Catholics immerse themselves in politics by offering the best of themselves so that the leader can govern." - Pope Francis, 9/16/13 As important local, state, and national elections approach, the Archdiocese of New Orleans is launching an informational campaign to educate Catholics on their responsibility to exercise their right to vote with a properly formed conscience. Using resources based on the US Bishops’ document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” the archdiocese will share through the Clarion Herald and digital communications resources about the roles and responsibilities of Catholic clergy, religious, and laity in public life, how to … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – September 20, 2020
September 18, 2020 By
“Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous? ‘Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.’” (Mt. 20:13-16a) A number of years ago, one of my closest friends and I were on a retreat at Manresa. Although it was a silent retreat, several of my buddies and I used to sneak out to the levee late on the last evening of the retreat as kind of “debriefing.” I remember looking up at the starry sky and my friend saying: “Wouldn’t it be great to have a ‘simple faith,’ like a farmer. You just got up in the morning, did the farm work, went back into the house in the evening and prayed for good weather.” … [Read more...]
68th Annual Red Mass
September 16, 2020 By
OCTOBER 5, 2020 The Saint Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Association, in conjunction with the Archdiocese of New Orleans, announce the celebration of the 68th Annual Red Mass, invoking the Holy Spirit upon the bench and bar of the State of Louisiana, on Monday, October 5, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans. Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans, will be the principal celebrant. Reverend Mike Kettenring, a priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, will be the homilist. Members of the bench and bar of the State of Louisiana, as well as the public, are invited to attend. Masks are required and social distancing will be observed in the Cathedral. … [Read more...]
Catholic Communications Campaign
September 15, 2020 By
The Catholic Communications Campaign is set for September 20-21, 2020, in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. This collection supports the evangelizing work of the church throughout the world by supporting media: news- papers, television, radio and digital or online media. Fifty percent of the funds collected in the Archdiocese of New Orleans remain here to support Catholic new media efforts and the Clarion Herald. To learn more about the national program visit www.usccb.org/ccc and locally visit http://nolacatholic.org. … [Read more...]
Truth and Intrinsically Evil Acts
September 11, 2020 By
In 1993, Pope St. John Paul II presented the world with an encyclical entitled Veritatis Splendor, Latin for “the splendor of the truth.” The encyclical is one of the most comprehensive and philosophical documents on moral theology in the Catholic Church. The opening sentences set the tone: “The splendor of truth shines forth in all the works of the Creator and, in a special way, in man, created in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen 1:26). Truth enlightens man’s intelligence and shapes his freedom, leading him to know and love the Lord. Hence the Psalmist prays: ‘Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord’ (Ps 4:6).” The encyclical begins by asserting that there are absolute truths accessible to all persons, and that that moral law is universal across people in varying … [Read more...]
Appeal for Hurricane Laura Survivors
September 11, 2020 By
On Septmeber 12 – 13 ONLY at St. Stephen Church The Knights of Columbus will collect donations of items listed on the flyers in the back of church. … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – September 13, 2020
September 11, 2020 By
Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” (Mt. 18:21-22) When I was younger, my sisters and brother and I had a lot of little “family” jokes and expressions. Sometimes when we’re together again, we use them to get a laugh. In our teenage years those “inside jokes” tended to revolve around quotes from television shows or movies that we found funny. Most of us can do imitations of Eddie Murphy’s more memorable gags or lines uttered by Bill Murray in “Caddyshack” or “Stripes.” But one of the older expressions I remember when I was very young was “seventy-eleven.” Of course, it’s not an actual number, but it was used by us as kids … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – September 6, 2020
September 6, 2020 By
“Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Mt. 18:19-20) Most priests tend to pray a lot. I’m one of them. At my ordination to the diaconate, I promised to pray the “prayer of the Church” called the Liturgy of the Hours. It’s made up of Morning Prayer, Daytime Prayer, Evening Prayer, the Office of Reading and Night Prayer. Of course, I also celebrate at least one Mass daily. I also try daily to make a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament, recite the Rosary, do some spiritual reading and pray other devotional prayers according to the season. But I try not to “isolate” my prayer into … [Read more...]
