Brothers and sisters: For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. (Gal 5:1) As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day next weekend, we might reflect a little bit about what it means to be “free.” In the context of the Fourth of July holiday, freedom means being separated from the political control of a king as had been the case prior to the American revolution. But “freedom” means many things. Webster’s Dictionary has a very lengthy definition of freedom. In part it reads: “a : the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action b : liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another : independence c : the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous.” In all of … [Read more...]
Archives for June 2014
Free Food for Low-Income Seniors
FREE FOOD FOR LOW-INCOME SENIORS IN YOUR PARISH WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES FOOD FOR SENIORS Food for Seniors provides monthly supplemental food boxes for qualifying low-income seniors with distribution sites located in all 64 civil parishes Louisiana. Enrollment in Food For Seniors is always open! Interested seniors can call toll free 1-800-522-3333 to see if they qualify, to register or to find the Food For Seniors distribution site nearest them. Distribution sites include senior living facilities, senior day care centers, community centers and churches. Food for Seniors is the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). It is an equal opportunity program of the US Department of Agriculture and the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals in collaboration with Catholic Charities … [Read more...]
Archdiocese Launches “Where Y’at Mass Finder App
Where Y’at? Just like stopping by “ya mama n'dems, you’re always welcome home to the house of the Lord! With 118 Catholic parishes and mission churches in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, many visitors and locals alike often find themselves asking for the location of the nearest church or wondering what church has a mass time that can fit their schedules. Now, they need look no further than a few swipes with the Archdiocese of New Orleans “Where Y’at?” Mass Finder App. The free app available on iTunes and in the Android Market allows users to quickly search for a nearby Catholic Church by GPS location within the eight civil parishes of the Archdiocese of New Orleans or by time of day they wish to attend a Mass. In addition, the app offers easy access to local and world Catholic news, … [Read more...]
Congratulations to Doug and Gay Kariker!
On June 29, 2014 at 3:00pm at St. Louis Cathedral, our parishioners Doug and Gay Kariker will be awarded the Order of St. Louis IX Medallion by Archbishop Aymond at St. Louis Cathedral. Doug and Kay, you deserve this honor. Congratulations! … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – June 22, 2014
Jesus said to the Jewish crowds: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.". (Jn 6:51) Today’s Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (“Corpus Christi” in Latin) is a fairly recent addition to the Church calendar, dating from only the 13th century. We know that the Body and Blood of Christ are present at every Mass, but this special feast to honor the Body and Blood of Christ owes its existence to the petitions of a Belgium nun named Juliana of Liège from the 13th century. From a young age, Juliana had a great love for the Blessed Sacrament and longed for a special feast in its honor. Her desire was increased by a vision she had of the Church under the … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – June 15, 2014
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. (Jn 3:16) I don’t believe in “coincidences,” a word that means “the occurrence of events that happen at the same time by accident but seem to have some connection.” No, I believe in “God-incidences,” where God gives us two events at the same time and asks us to make a connection – to see that there are no “accidents.” Today, we have two events happening: the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity and Father’s Day. I can’t help but make a connection. Do you realize that almost all of the “solemnities” and “feasts” of our Church point to some “earthly” event? Think about it. They’re either focused on an event in the life of Christ (His incarnation, His … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – June 8, 2014
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst?and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (Jn 20:19-21a) In the context of the season of Easter, it was only 53 days ago that the apostles were gathered together in the Upper Room for the Last Supper. Jesus instituted the Eucharist, and fed them His Body and Blood. He made them priests by commanding them to “do this in memory of me.” He washed their feet and instructed them about true service. But what happened when they left the Upper Room that first time? They ran away like scattered sheep without a shepherd. Judas sold Him for 30 pieces of silver. Peter denied Him three times. Only St. John, who leaned on His breast at the … [Read more...]
