“Bartimaeus threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.” (Mk 10:43-45) Each of us has a deep longing for God. Despite our “worldliness,” we have a deep desire to encounter God. This is nothing new. It’s been the story of human history since the Fall of Adam and Eve as man has tried to “transcend” (the word means to “climb across”) the difficulties of this earthly life and reach into a higher reality that is God’s peace and tranquility. And that’s why God sent us His Son. Jesus joined Himself to our humanity to give us the capability to “climb across” to our Heavenly Father. Jesus makes God the Father accessible to us. And so each of us wants to “see” … [Read more...]
Archives for October 2015
From the Pastor – October 18, 2015
“Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mk 10:43-45) Jesus presents us with a paradox in the Gospel today. If we want to be great, we need to be a servant. He turns earthly ideas of greatness on their head. This paradox of Jesus reminds me of a story told to me by one of my professors in seminary, a famous author named Fr. John Fullenbach. One summer, during a break in the university year, Father Fullenbach he decided to spend some with working in Calcutta with Blessed Mother Teresa and her sisters. On the first day he found himself walking with a sister through the worst slums of … [Read more...]
Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat
RETREAT FOR THOSE HEALING FROM AN ABORTION EXPERIENCE Healing the pain of abortion-one week at a time. There is forgiveness and hope after abortion. If you or someone you love is hurting from an abortion, please consider attending this healing retreat. All faiths are welcome! It will be held at: The Archdiocese of New Orleans Retreat Center 5500 St. Mary Street, Metairie, LA Friday, October 30 - Sunday, November 1, 2015 … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – October 11, 2015
“Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mk 10:25-26) Before I entered seminary, I heard a homily preached on this Gospel passage. The priest explained that one of the gates to enter Jerusalem that was called the “eye of the needle.” Camels could only go through the “eye of the needle” if they were crawling on their knees and stripped of baggage. The implication was that we only get to Heaven “on our knees” and free of attachment to possessions. At the time, it seemed like a good explanation. But when I was in seminary studying Sacred Scripture, I learned there was no such gate. His cute story was a complete fabrication! However, there are … [Read more...]
2015 Victims and Survivors of Violence Mass
Most Rev. Gregory M. Aymond will celebrate the 2015 Annual Archdiocesan Mass for Victims and Survivors of Violence on Sunday, October 11, 2015 at 11:00 AM at St. Louis Cathedral. We invite everyone in the community who has been affected by any type of violence to participate in this Mass. If you know of anyone who wants to be remembered in this Mass, please email Family Life Apostolate their information to familylife@arch-no.org, fax it to (504) 866-2906, attention Family Life. … [Read more...]
Prayer for the Holy Father
V. Let us pray for Francis, our Pope. R. May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies. [Ps 40:3] Our Father, Hail Mary. O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all Thy faithful people, look mercifully upon Thy servant Francis, whom Thou hast chosen as shepherd to preside over Thy Church. Grant him, we beseech Thee, that by his word and example, he may edify those over whom he hath charge, so that together with the flock committed to him, may he attain everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – October 4, 2015
“But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” (Mk 10:6-9) “Marriage is the intimate, exclusive, indissoluble communion of life and love entered by man and woman at the design of the Creator for the purpose of their own good and the procreation and education of children; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a Sacrament.” Gaudium et Spes, 48 Sacred Scripture begins with the creation of man and woman in the image and likeness of God and concludes with a vision of the “wedding feast … [Read more...]
Substance Addiction Ministry
In May of 2011, St. Margaret Mary Church formed a parish-based ministry that offers help, healing, and hope, to those afflicted with or affected by alcohol or drugs through education, prevention, support, and referrals. On Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, the Slidell Substance Addiction Ministry (SAM) group will be hosting an in- formation fair night at the St. Margaret Mary Church, Evangelization Bldg., 1050 Robert Blvd., Slidell, LA, at 7:00 PM. This information night is for those members of the community who are seeking help and information about addiction. The information night is open to everyone especially those who are having issues with alcohol or drug use as well as those who have been affected by someone else’s alcohol or drug use. If you have any questions, please don't … [Read more...]
