Uptown New Orleans Catholic Church on Napolean Avenue - Monsignor Nalty
Rectory 504-899-1378 | Fax 504-899-0480
School 504-891-1927
ststephenpar@archdiocese-no.org
From the Pastor – July 12, 2026
Thus says the LORD: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it. (IS. 55:10-11)
The Gospel for this 15th Sunday in Ordinary time is the parable from Matthew 13 about the field sown with good and bad seed. We might have heard the expression “bad seed” as referring to someone who came from a “bad family.” While it’s true that one’s environment can have a serious effect on our personalities, attitudes and habits, the Church teaches that we are all God’s children. You might also hear the expression that someone is “beyond redemption.” This expression is contrary to Catholic doctrine. The catechism teaches that “There is not, never has been, and never will be a single human being for whom Christ did not suffer.” (CCC 605).
In other words, no one is beyond redemption. Since the time of Jesus, the Church has declared many men and women to be “saints.” But never in the history has the Church declared that anyone has been condemned to hell – not Pontius Pilate, not Judas, not Hitler, not Stalin, not Mao. So nobody goes to hell? No, that’s not true. Jesus said that some go to Eternal Damnation. But who?
Jesus gives us a clue one chapter back in Matthew’s Gospel: “Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.” What is “blasphemy against the Spirit”? The catechism says “there are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept His mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss.” (CCC 1864)
So the moral is that God has unlimited mercy, but we have to seek it. We seek it each time we attend Mass and “acknowledge our sins” so that we might “prepare to celebrate the Sacred Mysteries.” And then we say “Lord, have Mercy.” But if our sins are mortal sins, we need to seek forgiveness in the Sacrament of Confession. If we have what we consider “terrible sins,” we might be afraid to reveal them. “You must hear some ‘terrible things’ in the confession, Monsignor,” I’ve sometimes been asked. But Confession isn’t about the sin; it’s about the mercy of God. When we seek mercy from Jesus, He gives it to us. Our souls are clean, and the sin is just gone. I am always available for Confession privately, and I’m in the confessional on Saturdays (3:00pm – 3:45pm) and Sundays (9:00am – 10:15am).
(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
Feast of St. Henry Mass July 11th Vigil Mass
Saturday, July 11, 2026
THE VIGIL MASS IS MOVED TO ST. HENRY CHURCH!
Next Saturday at 4:00pm, there will be the annual St. Henry Feast Day Mass at St Henry Church, followed by a small reception at Grits Bar, located at 530 Lyons Street. If you went to St. Henry’s School, attended Mass at St. Henry, are named Henry, been to Henry’s bar, or have ever met anyone named Henry, you are invited!
St. Henry (6 May 973 – 13 July 1024) was the fifth and last Holy Roman Emperor of the Ottonian dynasty, from his coronation in Rome in 1014 until his death a decade later. He was crowned King of Germany in 1002 and King of Italy in 1004. He is the only German king to have been canonized.
Henry was the son of Henry, Duke of Bavaria. As his father was in rebellion against two previous emperors, he was often in exile. This led the younger Henry to turn to the Church at an early age, first finding refuge with the Bishop of Freising, and later being educated at the cathedral school of Hildesheim. He succeeded his father as Duke of Bavaria in 995 as Henry IV.
Henry’s most significant contributions as emperor came in the realm of church-state relations and ecclesiastic administration within the Empire. He supported the bishops against the monastic clergy and aided them in establishing their temporal rule over broad territories. He strongly enforced clerical celibacy in order that the public land and offices he granted the church would not be passed on to heirs. This ensured that the bishops remained loyal to him, from whom they received their power, and provided a powerful bulwark against rebellious nobles and ambitious family members. Henry founded the Diocese of Bamberg, which quickly became a center of scholarship and art.
Henry had been working with the pope to call a Church Council to confirm his new system of politico-ecclesiastical control when he died suddenly in 1024, leaving this work unfinished. Henry was canonized in July, 1147 by Pope Clement II; and his wife, Cunigunde, was canonized in the year 1200, by Pope Innocent III. His relics were carried on campaigns against heretics in the 1160s. He is buried in Bamberg Cathedral. Because as king he supported the Church, Henry is usually portrayed wearing a crown and holding a small model of a church.
Christmas in July!
A Christmas Giving Tree has been set up next to the St. Anthony Statue. St. Vincent de Paul Society would like to be able to offer more dollars and maybe pay an entire utility bill for someone in need. All donations will be designated to assist with an utility bill payment. Take an “ornament” from the tree in the rear of church and return before the end of July. There is no need to buy a present and wrap it; the Society of St. Vincent de Paul will do the rest! God’s blessing to all of you!
Ignatian Volunteer Corps
ENRICH YOUR RETIREMENT – ENRICH THE LIVES OF OTHERS
Are you retired or finished raising your family? Do you want to give back, enrich your spiritual life and build community with other mature adults? Then consider joining the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) here in New Orleans. At IVC we believe the life experience, wisdom, and skills of 50+ women and men, rooted in Gospel values, can bring justice, and transform the world. For more details, visit our website at ivcusa.org/ivc-offices/welcome-to-ivc-new-orleans, or contact Becky Goff (Regional Director) at bgoff@ivcusa.org.
Solemnity of Peter and Paul
On Monday, June 29, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter & Paul, the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV will bestow the pallium (pictured above, plural “pallia”) on the metropolitan archbishops named during the last year, including our own Archbishop James Checchio. The pallium is a narrow band of cloth woven of white lamb’s wool with a ring in the center which rests on the shoulders of its wearer. The narrow band falls down the front of the chest like a necktie and goes similarly down the back. It is decorated with six black crosses, one on each tail and four on the loop. The pallium has its origin as a liturgical vestment of the Holy Father since at least the 4th century, and it has been given to each Metropolitan Archbishop since at least the 9th century.
The story of how the pallium is made gives clues to its symbolism. The wool comes from lambs raised by Trappist monks. On, January 21, the Feast of St. Agnes (“agnes” is from the Latin word for lamb), the lambs whose wool is destined for the making of the pallia are solemnly blessed at the Basilica of Saint Agnes. Wool from these lambs is then given to the Benedictine nuns of the Basilica of St Cecilia in Trastevere, and they weave the pallia. The new pallia are solemnly blessed at the Basilica of St. Peter after the Second Vespers on the feast of Sts Peter & Paul, and are then stored in a special golden chest located directly above the original tomb of St. Peter. It is called the “Niche of the Pallia.” There are two connections here, the wool on the shoulders calls to mind the Good Shepherd and storing the pallia over the tomb of St. Peter symbolizes the unity of the bishops with St. Peter and his successors.
Worn by the Pope, the pallium symbolizes the plenitudo pontificalis officii (i.e., the “fullness of pontifical office”). When worn by metropolitan archbishops, it signifies the power which the metropolitan, in communion with the Roman Church, has by law in his own province. If you’re ever at St Louis Cathedral on a Sunday, notice Archbishop Checchio’s pallium. It’s a great reminder of the universality and long history of our Church.
Eucharistic Procession!
Thanks to all who took part in the Eucharistic Procession on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, especially the organizers!
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