The Archdiocese of New Orleans will offer a writing workshop for persons seeking an annulment in the Catholic Church or for persons responding to an annulment. The workshop will be held in St. Rita Parish’s Msgr. Champagne Complex, 7100 Jefferson Hwy in Harahan. The series will be for  five (5) Tuesdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 and April 4, 2017. Hours are 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. The materials for the series cost $25.00. To register or for more information, call Cathy, 504-861-6243. … [Read more...]

Monday, December 26, 2016 at 6:30pm Archbishop Gregory Aymond will celebrate a Mass with the Community of Deacons for the annual Feast of St. Stephen on Monday, December 26, 2016, 6:30 PM at St. Stephen Church. He will be specifically honoring the deacons who are celebrating anniversaries of 10, 15, 20, 25, 35, and 40 years of diaconal service. All are invited. … [Read more...]

Thanks to all who donated presents to the poor of our neighborhood by participating in the Christmas Giving Tree program! The Society of St Vincent de Paul and the children of our neighborhood appreciate your wonderful Advent generosity! Nineteen families with 43 children were provided Christmas gifts and a family gift. Additionally, 35 food baskets were given out for Christmas including 25 we received from Sacred Heart. Because of monetary donations we were able to increase the amount of the gift card for the turkey or ham gift certificate that went with the food baskets we made. The thirty-five also includes the 19 who received gifts. … [Read more...]

A picture is painted for each of us concerning the transition from Old Testament to New. We are able to see the thread running from one to the other. A Savior will come forth from David. It was prophesied, it was spoken, and it was done. Paul brings this picture into our reality as he did in his own reality. We are reminded of our own call to apostleship in Baptism, our responsibility to bring the faith to all the Gentiles and of our call to be holy. The Gospel portrays how “God centered” Joseph and Mary were in the manner they responded to God. Mary responded in the affirmative when asked to become the Mother of Jesus. Joseph, ever ready to protect Mary, is able to believe and act on advice from an angel of the Lord.  Are we that “God centered”? … [Read more...]

The world-famous International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima is on an historic 2-year tour to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the apparitions at Fatima, and is coming to the Archdiocese of New Orleans. It will be an extraordinary occasion of healing, hope and grace, including the opportunity to hear the story of Fatima and venerate this beautiful statue that set out from Fatima in 1947 to bring the graces of Fatima to all who might not ever be able to make a pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal. We bring the pilgrimage to you! Hundreds of favors and graces, including cures, and countless conversions are associated with the image. The presence of this special Statue (sculpted according to the description of Sister Lucia, the Fatima seer) is a great gift to our community. The schedule … [Read more...]

Parish Intentions In Memoriam.... William Allen, Clyde Arnoult, Kate Arnoult, Yvonne Arnoult, Claude Baehr, Harold Baquet, Elmo & Joséphine Bourgeois, James M. Brenn, Laura Brenn, Maurice W. Brenn Sr, Elbée & Frank Bynum, Mildred Curlee, Shelly Domingue, Lester & Ethel Heidingsfelder, Earline Johnson, Pauline Johnson, Andriana Kappesser, Mr Jean Lapeyre, Lionel Lopez, Stephen W. Mensingh, Deacon Paul Nalty, Maria Nguyen Thi Voc, Miriam Ogden, Brenda Schmitt, Edwin Sullivan Jr, Shirley Sullivan, Lloyd & Emma Templet, Irma Wetzel, Mary & Edwin Wetzel, Milton & Vivian Wetzel, Clarence "Pete" Wolbrette, the Favor Family, the Klotz Family, the Mercante Family, the Nguyen Family, the Youngblood Family, and the Poor Souls in Purgatory. … [Read more...]

We are beginning to organize the 2016 weekly donation envelopes for pick-up in mid-December.  If you are not currently using envelopes or would like to donate electronically, please e-mail ststephenpar@archdiocese-no.org or call (899-1378) the rectory for details. … [Read more...]

“Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy name…” we pray every day.  “Hallow,” there’s that word we’re hearing a lot about at this time of year. And it means “holy.”  So what does “Halloween” mean, and where does it come from? The origins of Halloween are very Christian and very American.  Although it’s true that the ancient Celts of Ireland and Britain celebrated a minor festival at this time of year which commemorated the end of summer and the beginning of the darkness of winter, that feast wasn’t on a specific day but tied to the position of the sun.  Halloween specifically falls on the last day of October because it’s the Evening before the Feast of All Saints, or "All Hallows," which falls on November 1.  So it’s All Hallow’s Eve, contracted to Hallowe’en. … [Read more...]

6 STEPS FOR A GOOD CONFESSION Examine your conscience - what sins have you committed since your last good confession. Be sincerely sorry for your sins. Confess your sins to the priest. Make certain that you confess all your mortal sins and the number of them. After your confession, do the penance the priest gives to you. Pray daily for the strength to avoid the occasion of sin, especially for those sins you were just absolved from. ACT OF CONTRITION O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, Who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and … [Read more...]

Respect Life Sunday will be observed October 1-2, 2016. The CYO or another parish organization will be selling the 2017 Right to Life Calendars at parishes that weekend. The calendars cost $5.00 and portray pro-life themes in beau ful full color graphics. The proceeds will help all the good pro-life work of New Orleans Right to Life, CYO, and other parish organizations. For more information contact Jan Delcorral at (504) 952- 7277 or email Jan at jdelcorral@cox.net. … [Read more...]