The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher, you are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than He.’ And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions. (Mk 12:32-34) This weekend’s Gospel contains a beautiful conversation between a scribe and Jesus about the most important things of our faith: love of God and love of neighbor. The scribe listens to Jesus and agrees that love of God and neighbor “is worth more than any burnt offering or sacrifice.” And Jesus tells the scribe: … [Read more...]
Archives for October 2021
November Liturgies
During November, we come to the end of the Church year, and we are asked to consider the end times – our own as well as the world's. The culmination of the liturgical year is the Feast of Christ the King which asserts the supreme authority of Christ over human beings and their institutions. Beyond it we see Advent dawning with its preparation for the birth of Christ and its foreshadowing of the Lord’s coming in glory. The main feasts are the Solemnity of All Saints, (November 1), All Souls, (November 2), St. Charles Borromeo, (November 4), the Lateran Basilica, (November 9), St. Leo the Great, (November 10), St. Martin of Tours, (November 11), St. Josaphat, (November 12), St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, (November 13), St. Albert the Great, (November 15), Sts. Margaret of Scotland and Gertrude … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – October 24, 2021
The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher, you are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than He.’ And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions. (Mk 12:32-34) This weekend’s Gospel contains a beautiful conversation between a scribe and Jesus about the most important things of our faith: love of God and love of neighbor. The scribe listens to Jesus and agrees that love of God and neighbor “is worth more than any burnt offering or sacrifice.” And Jesus tells the scribe: … [Read more...]
Hurricane Ida Severely Damages St. Stephen School
We very much need and appreciate your assistance. No amount is too small! CLICK HERE to see a video describing the damage. DONATE HERE … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – October 17, 2021
“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 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 Calcutta … [Read more...]
World Mission Sunday
October 24, 2021 World Mission Sunday, organized by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, is a day set aside for Catholics worldwide to recommit themselves to the Church's missionary activity through prayer and sacrifice. Annually, World Mission Sunday is celebrated on the next-to-last Sunday in October. As described by Pope John Paul II, World Mission Sunday is “an important day in the life of the Church because it teaches how to give: as an offering made to God, in the Eucharistic celebration and for all the missions of the world” (see Redemptoris Missio 81). This year’s theme for World Mission Sunday is “We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). Every parish in the world can participate, united in this special Eucharistic celebration. Every … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – October 10, 2021
“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...]
Feast Day of Pope St. John Paul II
Friday, October 22, 2015 the Church throughout the world will celebrate the Feast Day of Pope St. John Paul II. Pope St. John Paul II, also known as Saint John Paul the Great, was Pope from October 16, 1978 until his death on April 2, 2005. He was the second longest-serving pope in modern history after Pope Pius IX, who served for nearly 32 years from 1846 to 1878. Born in Poland, John Paul II is credited as helping to end Communist rule in his native Poland and eventually all of Europe. John Paul II significantly improved the Catholic Church's relations with Judaism, Islam, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion. One of the most traveled world leaders in history, John Paul II visited 129 countries during his pontificate. As part of his special emphasis on the … [Read more...]
Monthly Explanation of the Mass
The Eucharistic Prayer The Eucharistic Prayer is the “center and high point of the entire celebration,” through which “the whole congregation of the faithful joins with Christ in confessing the great deeds of God and in the offering of Sacrifice” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 78). This central prayer of the Mass is why we often refer to the entire celebration as Eucharist, which is not a thing, but rather an action – Eucharist (a Greek term) literally means “to give thanks.” Although this prayer is spoken mostly by the priest, the gathered faithful are in no way spectators. We are all doing something even if we are not speaking – our active participation is paramount here, for we are offering our very selves in thanksgiving for all God has done to save us and we join … [Read more...]
40 Days for Life
Want to help mark the beginning of the end of abortion in New Orleans? The 2021 40 Days for Life New Orleans campaign began September 22nd. 40 Days for Life is an international inter-denominational campaign focused on saving lives through prayer, vigil, and outreach. In New Orleans, our 40 Days for Life peaceful and prayerful vigil runs all 40 days from 7 AM – 7 PM at “Women’s Health Care Center,” New Orleans’ only abortion facility located at 2701 General Pershing St. For more information contact sarah@prolifelouisiana.org, call 504-835-6520 or visit 40 Days online at http://prolifelouisiana.org/40daysforlifenola … [Read more...]
