While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. (Lk 15:20) When we hear the Gospel for this Sunday, our mind immediately identifies it as the “Parable of the Prodigal Son.” It’s so familiar that we could probably recite it from memory and likely explain it to others. We call the son “prodigal” because what he did was “prodigious” meaning “extraordinary in size and degree.” Calling someone a “prodigious” spender means they are a person who spends a lot of money. And the son is call “prodigal” because he spent his money with a wasteful extravagance. Our eyes tend to be fixed on the prodigal son rather than on the father or the other son. He’s the protagonist. He’s the one who carries … [Read more...]
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. … [Read more...]
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. … [Read more...]
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). … [Read more...]
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. … [Read more...]
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. … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
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. … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – March 23, 2025
There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not, you can cut it down.’ (Lk 13:6-9) I love the agricultural parables of Jesus. Anyone who has ever planted and nurtured a garden can understand them. We have such rich soil here in Southern Louisiana that just about anything can grow. So if something in our garden isn’t growing, we’re pretty quick to remove it. In this parable, it’s pretty … [Read more...]
Lætare Sunday
This Sunday is “Lætare” Sunday, which comes from the introductory antiphon of Mass “Laetare Jerusalem” shown above (meaning “O be joyful, Jerusalem”). On this Sunday we are called to have a restrained joyfulness because we’re halfway through the pilgrimage of Lent and getting closer to Holy Week. While we should strengthen our resolutions regarding our penitential sacrifice, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The rose vestments testify to this special Sunday which also has several other meanings attached to it throughout the centuries. Since the Jews frequently referred to the city of Jerusalem as “Mother Jerusalem” the early Christians began referring to the Church as “Mother Church.” And since Jerusalem was mentioned in the introit, Lætare Sunday began to known as … [Read more...]
