Photo by David Grundfield, The Times-Picayune Obviously, we finally did it!  Thanks to parish sexton, Liam Cousino; B & G Crane, LLC; CIS Steeplejack, LLC; and all who worked so hard to raise the Cross fabricated by Thomas Bruno.  Although the Times Picayune declined to tell the story of the Cross in the paper (apparently “good news is no news” is the order of the day with our local paper!), they did send a brave photographer, David Grundfield, who went up in the crane to take some spectacular photos of the cross towering high above the City of New Orleans. … [Read more...]

Ave Crux, Spes Nostra!(Hail the Cross, Our Hope!) In honor of the raising of the cross this week, I wanted to share a beautiful sermon by Saint Theodore the Studite about the precious and life-giving Cross of Christ:How precious the gift of the cross, how splendid to contemplate! In the cross there is no mingling of good and evil, as in the tree of paradise: it is wholly beautiful to behold and good to taste. The fruit of this tree is not death but life, not darkness but light. This tree does not cast us out of paradise, but opens the way for our return. This was the tree on which Christ, like a king on a chariot, destroyed the devil, the Lord of death, and freed the human race from his tyranny. This was the tree upon which the Lord, like a brave warrior wounded in his hands, feet and … [Read more...]

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In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I … [Read more...]

In the summer of 64 A.D., a fire started on one end of the Circus Maximus in Rome, and it quickly spread throughout the Eternal City. By the time it was extinguished, it had burned for a week and destroyed 80% of Rome. While it was burning, the Emperor Nero remained at his summer home in Anzio, deservedly earning the taunting phrase "Nero fiddled while Rome burned." When Nero returned to Rome, the populace greeted him with anger and derision. In order to avoid a political disaster, Nero decided to blame the fire on a small but growing religious group of then-pagan Rome: the Christians. Over the next three years, until his death in 67 A.D., Nero arrested as many Christians as he could find, and put them on trial for arson. Unable to convict them of arson (they had nothing to do with the … [Read more...]

Family Adoration of the Blessed SacramentTuesday, January 26, 2010“Let the little children come to me!” - Mt. 19:14 Sometimes it gets so difficult to take time out for prayer, especially for a family with small children. There are so many things to do in the evening, and afterwards, everybody just wants to “plop down” in front of the television. Next Tuesday, make a commitment to do something about that pattern! As we prepare to enter into Lent, come for an early evening of education, prayer and fellowship. Come and join us to help strengthen your family, clear you mind, restore your faith and commit to loving Jesus more deeply in the New Year! Schedule 5:00 pm - Meet in the rectory to watch a video on Eucharistic Adoration. Coloring and crafts for the little ones, and the older … [Read more...]

January 18 - 25 Friday, January 18 began the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  Jesus prays that we might be united in Him, yet we are sadly separated.  Remember to add an intention “for the unity of all Christians” in your daily prayers this week. May they all be one, just as, Father, you are in me and I am in you, so that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me. I have given them the glory you gave to me, that they may be one as we are one. With me in them and you in me, may they be so perfected in unity that the world will recognise that it was you who sent me and that you have loved them as you have loved me. (John 17, 21-23) Additional information on the International Week of Prayer for Christian Unity can be found on the USCCB'S … [Read more...]

Reverend Thomas Chambers, CSC was the celebrant last week for the 10:30am Mass, and is now in residence at Good Shepherd Parish. Father Chambers is a member of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, and lived at Sacred Heart Church on Canal Street until it was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. He is the past president of Our Lady of Holy Cross College on the West Bank, and he is currently President of the Willwoods Community (www.willwoods.org), an entity of the Archdiocese of New Orleans that ministers in the areas of faith and marriage, affordable housing, and assisted-care living (Malta Park in our parish). Willwoods also co-owns and operates WLAE public television station. The slogan of Willwoods is “rooted in prayer, united in service,” and that could best describe Father Tom! Father is … [Read more...]

Special THANKS to Doug, Gay, Ertha, Laura and Laurie for all of the help with the parish open house!  And thanks to all who attended and got to eat some traditional New Year's black-eyed peas, cabbage and some spicy pasta! … [Read more...]

Alumnae of the Academy of the Sacred Heart, J. Lucien Archer, Antoinette Archer, James L. Archer, Marshall & Eleanor Ballard, the Boudreux & Bergeron Families, Lucy Brocato, Rosa G. Brocato, Camelia Bychurch, Jean Charbonnet, Mr & Mrs Victor A. Chisesi, Mr & Mrs William (Bill) Collins, Roy Craft Jr, Jokomo Davis, Denise Drury, the Botpouey/Dwyer Families, Richmond Gerard Favrot, Richmond Favrot, Aline & William Heausler, the Gallaher, Collins & Egatz Families, Mr & Mrs Robert F. Grace, Leslie W. Guise, the Lloyd W. Hall Family, Louis Hanemann, Oliver Miles Sr, Joseph Wise, Lester & Ethel Heidingsfelder, Mr & Mrs William A. Heausler Jr, Dr Frederic Christopher Giles, Henry & Mary Heim, Eva Loubat Horridge, Jan Moore Jenkins, Pete & Rosemary … [Read more...]