Knights of Columbus
Our area wide Knights of Columbus De La Salle Council 3411 offers a real, visible example of Catholic Charity in action. Our chapter participates in many regularly scheduled service projects: they provide food and clothing to the needy, bring Holy Eucharist to shut-ins and schedule monthly service days at St. Henry and St. Stephen campuses to address maintenance issues, among other things. Open to men over 18 years of age, the KC are a great group that has fun as they serve the parish and wider community!
Altar Servers
Our Altar Servers play a very important role in the liturgy. They are part of the procession, handle incense, help prepare the altar for Mass, aid with baptisms, and help with the sacred vessels. Our parish has a great need for young men desiring to serve at the altar as some of our current servers will be going off to college soon.
Altar Society
The Altar Society prepares the altar and sanctuary for Mass. This includes replenishing oil and wax candles, providing clean, ironed altar linens, attending to flowers on the altar and to holy water fonts. The Altar Society also decorates the church for Christmas, Easter and other special occasions.
Rectory Volunteers
We are always in need of help at the Rectory Office. Some volunteers handle specific record keeping tasks like updating sacramental registers that must be done on a regular basis. Others help with our service ministries, like distributing snack packs or canned goods, and some are just willing to help with whatever needs doing! The time commitment is up to you.
Ozanam Inn
The Ozanam Inn (OI) Support Group provides a hot meal every month for the homeless living on our city streets. On the fourth Thursday of the month, volunteers meet at the rectory to prepare the meal, which they serve the same day at Ozanam Inn. Volunteers who serve with the OI Support Group experience the overwhelming joy – a true blessing from the Holy Spirit – that God pours out on those who serve the needy.
Rebuild Center Support Group
The Rebuild Center, located at St. Joseph Church on Tulane Avenue, provides basic services to help ‘rebuild’ the lives of the homeless and those in need. Volunteers from Good Shepherd Parish provide a tasty, nourishing meal on the first and third Thursday of every month. One day before serving, we prepare the meals (usually from scratch!) at the rectory.
Choir
The Choir sings at the 10:30 am Mass on Sundays, which is preceded by a 10:00 am rehearsal. On the last Sunday of the month, the Choir sings at the Extraordinary Form of the Mass of the Roman Rite, the “Tridentine” (Latin) Mass, which is preceded by a rehearsal at noon. All are welcome to join, no musical training necessary!
Healthcare/Homebound Eucharistic Ministry
In recognition of the needs of those unable to attend Mass, volunteers in the Healthcare/Homebound Eucharistic Ministry bring Holy Eucharist to the homebound in the parish and to Kindred Hospital, Unity and Uptown nursing homes. This service is offered on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings. Volunteers must be Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC), trained for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
Special Events Committee
The Special Events Committee needs YOU! If you like to help with meal based events, you’ll have a great time! Our busy season is February to June as the committee organizes the Lenten fish fry, St. Joseph Altar (including Cookie Sunday) and Corpus Christi post-procession lunch.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) experience the great diversity of the Church, the Body of Christ, when they serve our parish community by assisting the celebrant in sharing the Body and Blood of Our Lord. Adults 18 years and older who have received the three sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Holy Eucharist and Confirmation) may serve as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
Lectors
Lectors serve the parish community in a very special way; their goal is to engage the hearts and minds of the congregation as they hear the Word of God.
Good Shepherd always welcomes of volunteers in both groups, although our greatest need at this time is for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion! Please prayerfully consider whether God is calling you to serve your parish in either of these special ministries. Scheduling is flexible.
Society of St Vincent de Paul
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul offers volunteers meaningful opportunities to serve their neighbors in need with love and compassion. Our chapter of is one of the most active in New Orleans. Regular activities include “Christmas in July”, weekly distribution of lunch snack-packs, weekly distribution of shelter vouchers and information sessions on managing finances. We strive to be more than a one time “emergency” help line and really make a change in our clients’ lives. Monthly meetings are held in the rectory.
Religious Education
Good Shepherd Parish offers religious education for school children, adults and those non-Catholics interested in learning about our faith.
We offer CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) classes for grades 1 – 4. Classes meet on Sunday mornings 9:20-10:20, beginning mid-September and follow the academic calendar. We are in need of volunteer teachers!
Bible study classes can help you develop a better understanding of our faith, and a deeper relationship with God. Small groups meet weekly to study and discuss salvation history.
RCIA is a process of reflection, prayer, instruction, discernment, and formation for those who wish to come into full communion with the Catholic Church. Catholics are also invited to attend to further their religious education.