“No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon.” (Lk 16:13) There’s an old expression, “no man on his deathbed ever wished he had spent more time at the office.” It’s a way of reinforcing the advice that Jesus gives us today. The question boils down to this: what is the most important thing in our lives? Most of us wouldn’t have a hard time saying that two things in our lives are incredibly important: our families and our friends. These are the people that we can count on. And to them we devote a lot of time. And when it comes to money? Well, that’s one of those necessary evils of life. We need it to survive, but I don’t think any of us would consider it our “god.” But … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – September 15, 2013
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Lk 15:2b) Jesus was often criticized during His earthly ministry. He was criticized for breaking Mosaic law (curing on the Sabbath). He was criticized for fraternizing with a woman (the woman at the well). He was criticized for being a glutton and a drunkard (contra John the Baptist). And He was criticized for blasphemy (for forgiving sins). But one of the most frequent criticisms of Jesus was that He ate and drank with sinners. Sometimes, we can use that criticism to justify our own conduct. So what’s the big deal if I hang out with sinners? Jesus did the same thing! There is a different reality: God came to save His people from their sins. The name “Jesus” means “God saves.” God sent us His Son to save us from the darkness of sin and … [Read more...]
Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat For Those Healing From An Abortion Experience Scheduled For November
Rachel's Vineyard Retreats are healing retreats that present the opportunity for women and men who have struggled with the emotional or spiritual pain of abortion to experience God's forgiveness and mercy. The weekend also presents an opportunity to surface and release repressed feelings of anger, shame, guilt and grief. Each weekend is led by trained professionals as well as individuals who have personally experienced abortion. The retreat team consists of non-abortive and post-abortive persons, a priest, and a licensed counselor. The Rachel's Vineyard New Orleans site will be facilitated through Access Pregnancy Centers. A Rachel's Vineyard retreat will be held November 15-17 2013 at Rosaryville Retreat Center in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. Fr. Joseph Palermo will be the spiritual … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – September 8, 2013
“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Lk 14:26-27). What does it mean to be a Christian? The word was first used by St. Luke in Acts 11:26, where he recounts that: “it was at Antioch that the disciples [of Jesus] were called ‘Christians’ for the first time.” So being a Christian means being a disciple (from the Greek word for “pupil”) of Christ. If you read the Scriptural quote above, then Jesus has some pretty high standards for those who would choose to be His disciple. A disciple must “hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters and even his own life” and he must … [Read more...]
The Archbishop Wore Combat Boots: The Life & Ministry Of Archbishop Philip M. Hannan
To honor the legacy of the late Archbishop Philip M. Hannan, the Archdiocese of New Orleans Catholic Cultural Heritage Center will host a special exhibit titled, The Archbishop Wore Combat Boots: the Life & Ministry of Archbishop Philip Hannan at the Old Ursuline Convent Museum from October 5, 2013 through Memorial Day, May 26, 2014. Along with his personal belongings and photographs, The Archbishop Wore Combat Boots will be the first exhibition at the Old Ursuline Convent Museum to offer an electronic interactive experience for visitors. … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – September 1, 2013
For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted. (Lk 14:11). What is humility? The word origin comes from the Latin word “humus,” which means “dirt.” It can have negative connotations as being “lowly” or “abased,” but Catholics tend to see humility as a virtue. And the reason for that? It’s because Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is the epitome, the essence of humility. He came from the highest station possible: He is the Lord, the Creator of the Universe, the Word made Flesh, the Alpha and the Omega. And from the highest station, He chose the lowliest station on Earth. He was born in a stable. He grew up in one of the smallest backwaters of the Middle East. He became an “itinerant” preacher, and had nowhere to lay his head. He owned nothing … [Read more...]
Scheduling Prayer in the Home
1. At the beginning of every meal, giving thanks for the company at the table and for the food, is most appropriate. Allowing “Grace before Meals” or a prayer made up by one of the members teaches the children prayer is necessary in our lives and can be personalized. 2. Saying “The Morning Offering” each morning as a family unites the family for the day. 3. Praying the Rosary as a family bolsters the unity of the family. It also provides a forum for teaching the Mysteries of the Rosary as well as Scripture. 4. Just as each morning the family gathers to recite the “Morning Offering,” the family can gather at the end of each day to give thanks to God for the blessings they have received. During this time, they can share one blessing for which they are most grateful. … [Read more...]
Getting Back to the Table!
The dining table over the years has taken on a different purpose than originally designed. It has become the “dropping off zone” for assorted things coming into the house. When it’s time to eat, we grab a plate, get the comfortable place on the sofa and eat off a T.V. tray. Losing the dining table as a place to gather and share a meal as a family is not all that is lost. Spending quality time with one’s family, utilizing the time to share the experiences of the day, gives the family the opportunity to bond with one another. Additionally, table time with the family opens opportunities to educate in faith and life. Before starting what can be shared at the table, it will help to understand the dining table as one of the most important “tools” in the home. It may not be the place … [Read more...]
Topics to be Discussed at Table
1. Parents are expected to be the first and best teachers of their children in the ways of faith. Unfortunately, many parents have forgotten the basic teachings of the faith. Thus, it makes it difficult to teach the children. Spending time at the table discussing these teachings enables both parents and children to learn. It will also provide a forum to understand what your children understand regarding faith. 2. List some of the basic teachings of the faith, such as: a. The Liturgical Year is broken up into Seasons of the year much like our regular calendar. Our Church year begins with Advent (Color is Purple). Christmas Season follows Advent. The color is White. Green is the Color for Ordinary Time which follows Christmas. This leads to Lent, Purple color. Lent melts into Easter … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – August 18, 2013
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name. (Lk 1:46-49). What does it mean to be “famous”? One clue is found in the origin of the word “fame,” which comes from a Greek word that means “talked about.” In our modern culture, being famous usually means being on television, where many people can come to recognize you. Being “famous” means that a person is talked about. But something interesting might happen when you actually meet a “famous” person. They might be exactly like you thought they would be, or you might be surprised how they’re different. Being famous can be good or bad. Read … [Read more...]
