September 23, 2020 Saint Padre Pio was born Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887 in Pietrelcina, Italy. He was the son of farmers Grazio Forgione and Maria Giuseppa Di Nunzio, and had three younger sisters and one older brother. As a child, Francesco worked on his family farm by taking care of a small flock of sheep that the family owned, but by the time he was five years old, Franceso had already decided to dedicate his life to God. In January of 1903, at the young age of 15 he was allowed to enter the novitiate with the Capuchin Franciscan Friars in Morcone where he took on the name “Friar Pio.” Once he joined the Friary of St. Francis, he had several bouts of serious illness and religious ecstasy. Friars would report strange noises coming from his cell. Friar Pio frequently … [Read more...]
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship
"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
“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...]
St. Francis of Assisi – Blessing of the Pets
October 4 at Noon Feast Day - October 4 Many of the stories that surround the life of St. Francis of Assisi deal with his love for animals. Part of his appreciation of the environment is expressed in his Canticle of the Sun, a poem written in Umbrian Italian in perhaps 1224 which expresses a love and appreciation of Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Mother Earth, Brother Fire, etc. and all of God's creations personified in their fundamental forms. Francis' attitude towards the natural world, while poetically expressed, was conventionally Christian. He believed that the world was created good and beautiful by God but suffers a need for redemption because of the primordial sin of man. He preached the universal ability and duty of all creatures to praise God (a common theme in the Psalms) and … [Read more...]
68th Annual Red Mass
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
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
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
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...]
St. Januarius September 19
According to various sources, Januarius was born in Benevento to a rich patrician family near Naples, Italy. At a young age of 15, he became a priest of his parish in Benevento, which at the time was primarily pagan. When Januarius was 20, he became Bishop of Naples. During the persecution of Christians by the Emperor Diocletian in 305 AD, Januarius was arrested and beheaded at the Solfatara crater near Pozzuoli. According to the Roman Martyrology, “the body of St. Januarius was brought to Naples, and there honourably interred in the church, where his holy blood is kept unto this day in a phial of glass, which being set near his head becomes liquid and bubbles up as though it were fresh.” The miracle of the liquification is the chief reason for the notoriety of St Januarius. The relic … [Read more...]
In Our Parish
The parish office frequently receives calls from “parishioners” to have their children baptized, get a school voucher, get married or have permission to serve as a godparent. Being a “parishioner” at Good Shepherd Parish means that you either (1) reside in the parish boundaries (Leontine to Seventh Street, Carondelet to the River) or (2) you have completed a parish census form (3) have registered online at goodshepherdparishNOLA.com. This isn’t our rule, it’s the rule of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. To be a “contributing parishioner” (for the purposes of school vouchers) you must use parish envelopes or personal checks for donations. … [Read more...]
