Uptown New Orleans Catholic Church on Napolean Avenue - Monsignor Nalty
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From the Pastor – August 16, 2026
Jesus said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.”
She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” (Mt. 15:26-27)
For the first 36 years of my life, I spent a lot of time listening to homilies at Mass, rather than giving them. Of course, I’ve heard some amazing homilies. But I’ve also heard some that didn’t say a lot to me. One of my biggest pet peeves was when there was a line in the Gospel that begged to be explained and the homilist ignored it like nobody heard it.
I think that the above quote from this Sunday’s Gospel is just that sort of quote. Think about it, did Jesus just call that woman a “dog”? That’s strong language! And she just accepted it??
First, we have to begin with the recognition that the Jews of the time of Jesus referred to the Gentiles around which they lived as “dogs” and “swine” because they were unbelievers who did not keep the law of Moses, especially those on diet and ritual purity. And so, in an earlier part of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells his followers not to “give what is holy to dogs” (Mt. 7:6). This is a simple recognition that there will always be unbelievers. Obviously, something holy like the Eucharist is not to be given to someone who doesn’t believe.
We must remember that Jesus came first to the Jewish people, to whom God had promised (through the prophets) to send a Savior. And Jesus came to fulfill that.
But what about this Canaanite woman? First, is she really an unbeliever? Think about it. She calls Jesus “Lord, Son of David,” which seems to point to both His divinity and His humanity. So why does Jesus obliquely refer to her as a “dog.” I think you would have had to see the expression on His face and heard his words in the Gospel’s original Greek to understand it. When Jesus says not to throw what is holy to “dogs” earlier in Matthew’s Gospel (Mt. 7:6), He uses the Greek word “cu-on” from where we get the English word “canine.” But when He addresses the Canaanite woman, he uses the Greek word “cunarion”, which is a diminutive. It doesn’t mean a wild, “outside” dog, but a dog that eats at his master’s feet and sleeps in his master’s room. This is the little puppy that we can’t stop petting. I can detect a sly smile where Jesus rewards this woman’s faith in Him by deviating slightly from His mission (as He had done with Mary at Cana) and lets her know she was His little puppy dog. And she understands, calls Him master, and begs for a scrap. And He rewards her faith, curing her daughter and undoubtedly eventually leading her to the Heavenly banquet. Humility is a great virtue, and a prerequisite of faith.
(Very Rev. Msgr.) Christopher H. Nalty
msgr.nalty@gmail.com
Masses
St. Stephen
Saturday Vigil at 4:00 pm
Sunday at 8:00 am and 10:30 am
Sunday at 5:00 pm at OLGC
Our Lady of Good Counsel (OLGC)
Center of Jesus the Lord
Charismatic Mass
Sunday at 10 am
Weekdays Masses
Monday – Friday 6:30 am St. Henry
Tuesdays 6:00 pm St. Stephen
First Fridays 6:00 pm Latin Mass
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Tuesdays 4:45 – 5:45pm St. Stephen
Thursdays 7:00 – 8:00am St. Henry
Confession Times at Good Shepherd
Saturdays 3:00 – 3:45pm St. Stephen
Sundays 9:30 – 10:15am St. Stephen
Sundays 10:00 – 10:30am OLGC
First Fridays 6:30 – 7:00pm OLGC
Welcome Home Sunday!
At this past Wednesday’s General Audience, Pope Leo XIV said, “The liturgical year is not a static representation of past events, but an encounter with Christ Himself, who desires to immerse His people in the mysteries of the history of salvation.” The heart of Welcome Home Sunday isn’t just asking someone back into a building, or even back into a habit. We are inviting everyone into an encounter with the living Christ, who still speaks, heals, nourishes, and sends His people forth. The Holy Father continued: “To sanctify Sunday, it is fundamental to celebrate the Eucharist. Listening to the Word and partaking of the Body of Christ entails … the coming together in one, that is, the joyful gathering of the faithful. In this assembly, the Christian community makes visible its communion with the Lord and bears witness to its belonging to Christ and its fidelity to the Church.”
The Assumption of Mary
August 15, 2026
After the Ascension of Jesus, Mary aided the beginnings of the Church by her prayers. In her association with the apostles and several women, we also see Mary by her prayers imploring the gift of the Spirit, who had already overshadowed her in the Annunciation. Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians: “In giving birth you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death.”
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians: In giving birth you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death.
When we speak of the origin, mission, and destiny of the Church, we can find no better way to conclude than by looking to Mary. In her we contemplate what the Church is at present through its “pilgrimage of faith,” and what the Church will be in the homeland at the end of the Church’s journey. There, “in the glory of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity,” “in the communion of all the saints,” the Church is awaited by the one she venerates as Mother of her Lord and as her own mother.
In the meantime, the Mother of Jesus, in the glory which she possesses in body and soul in heaven, is the image and beginning of the Church as it is to be perfected in the world to come. Likewise, she shines forth on earth, until the day of the Lord shall come, a sign of certain hope and comfort to the pilgrim People of God.
(Since it falls on a Saturday, the Assumption of Mary is not a Holy Day of Obligation this year.)
Back to School
St. Stephen Catholic School has its first day of classes on Tuesday, August 18, and we have our first weekly school Mass on August 21 at 9:00 am. I wish each parishioner could come to at least one school Mass during the year to see what well-behaved, enthusiastic, attentive and participatory students we have at St. Stephen’s. Unfortunately, most of the children that attend St. Stephen Catholic School do not live in the parish and, therefore, attend Mass at their home parish. However, you do know some of our students (and former students) who participate as altar servers at our Saturday 4:00pm Vigil and Sunday 10:30am Mass. Those young men are representative of the quality of the students that we educate here in our parish. If you know someone who is looking for a wonderful Catholic environment in which to educate their children, please have them investigate St. Stephen Catholic School!
Christmas in July!
The St. Vincent de Paul Society needs your help. During the hot summer months, we have many asking for help with their utility bills. A Christmas Giving Tree has been set up next to the St. Anthony Statue. All you have to do is pick an envelope and place in a donation. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul will do the rest! God bless you!
Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola – July 31
Ignacio López de Loyola was born in Spain in 1491, the youngest of 13 children. In 1506, he adopted the last name “de Loyola” in reference of the Basque city of Loyola where he was born. In 1509, Ignatius took up arms under the Duke of Nájera and participated in many battles without injury to himself. However, on May 20, 1521, in a battle against the French, a cannonball wounded both of his legs. During his recuperation at Loyola, Ignatius read the Life of Christ by Ludolph of Saxony, a commentary on the Gospels with extracts from the works of over sixty of the Fathers of the Church; the book influenced his whole life. Ludolph proposes that the reader place himself at the scene of a Gospel story and visualize the scene in a simple contemplation.
During his recuperation at Loyola, Ignatius read the Life of Christ by Ludolph of Saxony, a commentary on the Gospels with extracts from the works of over sixty of the Fathers of the Church; the book influenced his whole life. Ludolph proposes that the reader place himself at the scene of a Gospel story and visualize the scene in a simple contemplation. He also read the lives of the saints.
When Ignatius left Loyola he had no definite plans for the future, except that he wished to rival all the saints had done in the way of penance. His first care was to make a general confession at the famous sanctuary of Montserrat, where, after three days of self-examination, and carefully noting his sins, he confessed, gave to the poor the rich clothes in which he had come, and put on garment of sack-cloth reaching to his feet. His sword and dagger he suspended at Our Lady’s altar, and passed the night watching before them. The next morning, he retired to a cave near the neighboring town of Manresa, where he retired for prayer, austerities, and contemplation, while he lived on alms.
It was at this time, too, that he began to make notes of his spiritual experiences, notes which grew into the little book of “Spiritual Exercises.”
St. Ignatius spent a number of years studying in Paris, where he became thoroughly versed in the science of education, and learned by experience how the life of prayer and penance might be combined with that of teaching and study. Starting a small society in Paris, the Society of Jesus was approved by the Holy See in 1540. He died on July 30, 1556 and was canonized in 1622.
Currently, the Jesuits are the single largest religious order in the world, numbering nearly 20,000 members, of which nearly 14,000 are priests. They work in 112 nations on six continents.
The Queenship of Mary Aug. 22
The Feast of the Queenship of Mary – the Coronation – was established in 1954 by Pope Pius XII in a document called Ad Caeli Reginam. The original date for this feast was chosen as May 31st, but was later moved to the octave day of the feast of the Assumption, August 22nd. The Catholic faith states as a dogma that Mary was assumed into heaven, and is with Jesus Christ, her Divine Son. Mary should be called Queen, not only because of her Divine Motherhood of Jesus Christ, but also because God has willed her to have an exceptional role in the work of eternal salvation.
Jesus Christ as Redeemer is Lord and King. The Blessed Virgin is Queen, because of the unique manner in which she assisted in our redemption, by giving of her own substance, by freely offering Him for us, by her singular desire and petition for, and active interest in our souls. Mary was chosen Mother of Christ so she might become a partner in the redemption of the human race.
As Pope Pius XII wrote: “From the earliest ages of the Catholic Church a Christian people, whether in time of triumph or more especially in time of crisis, has addressed prayers of petition and hymns of praise and veneration to the Queen of Heaven And never has that hope wavered which they placed in the Mother of the Divine King, Jesus Christ; nor has that faith ever failed by which we are taught that Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, reigns with a mother’s solicitude over the entire world, just as she is crowned in heavenly blessedness with the glory of a Queen.”
The Catechism tells us that “the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death.” (CCC 966).
All devotion to Mary is intrinsically linked to the worship of Jesus Christ. However, devotion is different than the worship. Because God is infinite, we offer him worship – called “latria” in Greek. Devotion is different. We can be devoted to our parents or our closest friends. And we owe special devotion to the saints who have preceded us to Heaven. But to Mary is owed the highest devotion because of the special role that God chose for her in His plan of salvation. In Greek, devotion is called “dulia” and to Mary we owe the highest devotion or “hyperdulia.”
And as Queen of Heaven, Mary serves as a powerful intercessor for us. This intercession in no way diminishes the unique salvific mediation of Jesus Christ; rather, she reveals to us His power. As she herself states in her great “Magnificat”: her soul “magnifies” the Lord. Just as a magnifying glass doesn’t change the size of the thing it magnifies, but only makes it easier to see and understand, Mary does the same thing for us with Christ. She adds nothing to His greatness but she allows us to understand it and appreciate Him more and more.
Pope St. Pius X – August 21
Pope Saint Pius X was an Italian named Giuseppe Sarto, who was born in 1835 near Treviso, Italy. He was the second born of ten children of Giovanni Battista Sarto, the village postman, and Margherita Sanson. He was baptized on June 3, 1835. Though poor, his parents valued education, and Giuseppe walked 4 miles to school each day. As a poor boy, he was often teased for his meager lunches and shabby clothes, but he never complained about this to his teachers. He eventually came to the attention of the parish priest because of his devotion to the Mass as an altar server. In 1850, at the age of 15, he was given a scholarship from Cardinal of Venice (who his parish priest had written) to attend the Seminary of Padua, where he finished his classical, philosophical, and theological studies with distinction.
On 18 September 1858, Sarto was ordained a priest, and was renowned for his holiness. He later became bishop of Mantua in 1884, a Cardinal in 1893, and was elected Pope in August, 1903. The pontificate of Pius X was noted for its conservative theology and reforms in liturgy and church law. In what became his motto, the Pope stated in 1903 that his papacy would undertake Instaurare Omnia in Christo, or “to restore all things in Christ.” In the Basilica of St. Stephen, there is a mural high on the wall on the Camp Street side of Pope St. Pius X, surrounded by children. Part of the reason for this is that as parish priest he developed a reputation as being very friendly with children. He always carried candy in his pockets for the street urchins in Mantua and Venice, and taught catechism to them. As Pope, his weekly catechism lessons in the courtyard of San Damaso in the Vatican included a special place for children. Further, his decision to require the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) in every parish was motivated by a desire to reclaim children from religious ignorance. But most importantly, in 1910 he issued the decree Quam singulari, which changed the age at which Holy Communion could be received by children from 12 to 7 years old. And that’s probably the best reason that the children loved him! Pope St. Pius X was beatified in 1951 and canonized in 1954, both times by Pope Pius XII.
Pornography Addiction
The internet has opened up an easy access to pornography which has become a major addiction in our society and a burden to many men. And the Church wants to help. The Archdiocese of New Orleans has a confidential Catholic 12-step program for men struggling with an addition to pornography called the “My House Men’s Group.” For more information contact (504) 430-3060 or email myhouse@archdiocese-no.org
Feast of St. Lawrence, Deacon & Martyr – August 10
One of my favorite saints, and one of the patrons of the City of Rome is the Deacon-Martyr, St. Lawrence. There are actually more churches built in Rome to honor St. Lawrence in the Holy City than any other saint, including St. Peter, himself. His story of courage and his great love for the poor reveal the reasons behind these devotions.
During the persecutions of the Emperor Valerian in 258 A.D., numerous priests and deacons were put to death and wealthier Christians had their wealth confiscated and were forced into exile. Pope Sixtus II was one of the first victims of this persecution, being beheaded on August 6. According to the writings of St. Ambrose, as Pope Sixtus was being lead to his death, Lawrence met him and asked: “Where are you going, my dear father, without your son? Where are you hurrying off to, holy priest, without your deacon? Before you never mounted the altar of sacrifice without your servant, and now you wish to do it without me?” The Pope assured him that: “after three days you will follow me.”
After the death of Sixtus, the prefect of Rome demanded that Lawrence hand over the riches of the Church. Lawrence asked for three days to gather together the wealth. On the third day, at the head of a small delegation, he presented himself to the prefect. When ordered to give up the treasures of the Church, he presented the poor, the crippled, the blind and the suffering, and said: “these are the true treasures of the Church.”
The prefect was angered by his perception of the saint’s flippancy, so he ordered that Lawrence die by being placed on a gridiron and “grilled” to death. St. Ambrose relates that during his torture Lawrence cried out “This side’s done, turn me over and eat.” (Assum est, inquit, versa et manduca.) As a result of his death and his courage, St. Lawrence is considered the patron saint of chefs. He is also a patron saint of deacons and comedians (!).
Since the Perseid Meteor Shower typically occurs on or near Saint Lawrence’s feast day, some refer to the shower as the “Tears of Saint Lawrence.”
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