For World Mission Day 2019Baptized and Sent: The Church of Christ on Mission in the WorldDear Brothers and Sisters,For the month of October 2019, I have asked that the whole Church revive her missionary awareness and commitment as we commemorate the centenary of the Apostolic Letter Maximum Illud of Pope Benedict XV (30 November 1919). Its farsighted and prophetic vision of the apostolate has made me realize once again the importance of renewing the Church’s missionary commitment and giving fresh evangelical impulse to her work of preaching and bringing to the world the salvation of Jesus Christ, who died and rose again.The title of the present Message is the same as that of October’s Missionary Month: Baptized and Sent: The Church of Christ on Mission in the World. … [Read more...]
Roundtable Discussion for Laity on the concept of “Clericalism”
Notre Dame Seminary will host a roundtable discussion for laity to discuss the concept of “clericalism” on October 22, 2019 starting at 6:30pm. This meeting is for laity only and will be facilitated by Sharon Rodi. If anyone would like to participate in this program, please contact Msgr. Nalty by email or through the parish office because space is limited. … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – October 20, 2019
“But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” (Lk 18:8)Only eight years ago, in Ryadh, Saudi Arabia, a Catholic priest and more than a dozen Filipinos were arrested and charged with proselytizing. An easy Internet search can help you find the story. What were they doing? Were they engaged in a Eucharistic Procession? Were they handing out Bibles on street corners? Were they running an illegal radio program trying to convince Muslims to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior? No. None of the above. They were attending Mass in a small Riyadh rest house. Filipinos comprise the vast majority of the more than one million foreign workers in Saudi Arabia. And they are almost exclusively Catholic. There is no freedom of religion in Saudi Arabia; the practice of … [Read more...]
Ministering to Those Who Have Experienced Miscarriage or Abortion
The Archdiocese of New Orleans will be hosting a training by Life Perspectives to broaden your understanding of grief and loss after miscarriage and abortion, explore how to be a safe place for hurting men and women, and provide healing resources to help those in your community. The training will take place on Thursday, October 17, 2019, from 6:30-8:30 PM at Schulte Auditorium at Notre Dame Seminary (2901 S. Carrolton Ave). There is no cost for the training and all materials will be provided. Please register by going to nolacatholic.org/miscarriage or contact the Office of Marriage and Family Life at 504-861-4243 or mfl@arch-no.org. … [Read more...]
Missionaries and Martyrdom
The only reason we know about Jesus Christ is that someone told us. More than likely, that person was our parents, but it could have been a priest, a teacher or even a friend. And the person who told us only knew about Jesus because someone had told him or her. And someone told that person, too. And so on. We trace that chain of people passing on their knowledge of Christ back to the Apostles, who were told by Jesus to: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Mt. 28:19-20). This statement of Jesus is called the “Great Commission” - the instruction of the resurrected Jesus Christ to … [Read more...]
What is “Active Participation”?
“In the celebration of Mass the faithful form a holy people, a people whom God has made his own, a royal priesthood, so that they may give thanks to God and offer the spotless Victim not only through the hands of the priest but also together with him, and so that they may learn to offer themselves.” This is the basis for the “full conscious and active participation” of the faithful demanded by the very nature of the Liturgy. Because the gathered liturgical assembly forms one body, each of its members must shun “any appearance of individualism or division, keeping before their eyes that they have only one Father in heaven and accordingly are all brothers and sisters to each other.” Singing is one of the primary ways that the assembly of the faithful participates actively in the Liturgy. … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – October 13, 2019
“Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” (Lk 17:17-19)This Gospel this weekend concerns gratitude. The story is simple. Jesus cures ten lepers, and only one returns to thank Him. The word gratitude is interesting. It’s usually defined as “a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation.” And we might experience gratitude for many things. If we’re late for work, we might feel gratitude that we make it through all of the stoplights. We might wake up and see a beautiful sunny day, and feel gratitude. We might experience gratitude for any of the amazing little things that happen to us during the day – a rainbow, a sunset, a butterfly floating through … [Read more...]
In Our Parish
Good Shepherd Parish frequently receives calls from “parishioners” to have their children baptized, get a school voucher, get married or serve as a godparent. In order for the parish to agree to these things, the person must either reside in the parish or be “registered” and “contributing” parishioner. This isn’t our rule, it’s the rule of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Obviously, all of your information is kept in strict confidence by the parish.So let’s make sure that we all know: To be “registered” and “contributing” at Good Shepherd Parish means that (1) you have completed a parish census form or have registered online at goodshepherdparishNOLA.com, (2) you use parish envelopes or checks for donations. … [Read more...]
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
October 16 Margaret Mary Alacoque was born on 22 July, 1647 and died on 17 October, 1690. From her early childhood Margaret showed intense love for the Blessed Sacrament, and preferred silence and prayer to childish amusements. Throughout her life Margaret found consolation in the Blessed Sacrament, and Christ made Himself visually apparent to her. This did not surprise her, and she thought others had the same Divine assistance. Although tempted by the luxuries and distractions of the world, Margaret entered the Visitation Convent in 1572, where her visions became known. Because of her perceived “special status,” she was subjected to many trials to prove her vocation. She showed obedience, humility, and invariable charity towards those who persecuted her.First Friday … [Read more...]
