Beginning Thursday, September 19, we will continue the “Bible Timeline Adventure Series Class” at Good Shepherd Parish. The class will begin at 7:00 pm and will end at 8:30 pm. It is a 24-part series by Jeff Cavins , Sarah Christmyer and Tim Gray. The Bible Timeline is an immensely rich study, diving deep into each time period of the Bible. Salvation history is covered from its beginning in Genesis through the coming of Christ and the establishment of the Catholic Church. The cost for all the materials is $40.00. Please sign up by calling Phillip Bellini (899-1378) to enroll in this class so we can find out how many study kits we need to order. … [Read more...]
Back to School!
August 19, 2013 By
St. Stephen Catholic School had its first day of classes on Tuesday, August 14, and we had our first weekly school Mass the next day on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary at 9:00 am. I wish each parishioner could come to at least one school Mass (which is normally at 8:30 am on Friday) during the year to see what well-behaved, enthusiastic and attentive students we have at St. Stephen’s. Unfortunately, many of the families that attend St. Stephen Catholic School do not live in the parish and, therefore, attend Mass at their home parish. However, you do know some of our students (and former students) who participate as altar servers at our Saturday 4:00pm Vigil and Sunday 10:30am Mass. Those young men are representative of the quality of the students that we … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – August 4, 2013
August 2, 2013 By
There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, ‘Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!’” But God said to him, “You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?” Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God. (Lk 12:18b-21). A few years ago I spoke to a Catholic group in Baton Rouge. Although my talk was about the Apostolicity of the Church (being founded on the Apostles and the current bishops being their successors), at the end a man asked me a question about clerical celibacy. “Father, why do priests have to be celibate” was the simple question. Unfortunately, celibacy is … [Read more...]
Zucchetto Trick!
July 28, 2013 By
The Holy Father’s New Encyclical, Lumen Fidei A “hat trick” in sports is when an athlete accomplishes three outstanding feats in one game. The term originated in a cricket match in 1858 when a player hit three consecutive wickets, after which he was presented with a hat. On June 29, 2013 Pope Francis accomplished a “hat trick” of sorts when he announced the upcoming canonizations of Blessed Pope John XXIII and Blessed Pope John Paul II. What was the third accomplishment? Unfortunately, it took a back seat to the other two announcements, but it was the publication of his first Papal Encyclical, entitled “Lumen Fidei,” or “Light of Faith.” If you didn’t hear about it, it’s because the news focused so much on the two new saints. And that’s not surprising because these are the first … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – July 28, 2013
July 28, 2013 By
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Lk 11:9-10) per·se·ver·ance?[pur-suh-veer-uhns] –noun 1.steady persistence in a course of action, a pur-pose, a state,etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. 2.Theology . continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation. Anything that’s worth doing requires perseverance. The Latin verb “perseverare” is composed of two words: “per” meaning “through”; and “severare” meaning “to be severe or strict.” So perseverance means to achieve something through being strict. And the obvious object of the … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – July 21, 2013
July 28, 2013 By
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Lk 10:25-27) If you could ask God one question, what would it be? Would you ask about the future? Would you ask for the next Powerball number? Next year’s Superbowl Champion? Or perhaps you’d want to know about something from the past. Why did Katrina hit us? Why did my Dad have to die? Perhaps you’d want to know the answer to something current. Why do bad things happen to good people? What is the cure for cancer or … [Read more...]
Year of Faith & Family Grandparents’ Liturgy
July 12, 2013 By
As part of this year’s Year of Family and Faith, we will celebrate a “Grandparents’ Mass” on Sunday, July 28, 2013. The purpose for this liturgy is to encourage all families to worship together demonstrating generational unity. In the New Orleans culture, grandparents hold a place of honor within families. It is hoped that all families will see the gift of grandparents in their lives. … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – July 14, 2013
July 12, 2013 By
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Lk 10:25-27) If you could ask God one question, what would it be? Would you ask about the future? Would you ask for the next Powerball number? Next year’s Superbowl Champion? Or perhaps you’d want to know about something from the past. Why did Katrina hit us? Why did my Dad have to die? Perhaps you’d want to know the answer to something current. Why do bad things happen to good people? What is the cure for cancer or … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – June 30, 2013
June 27, 2013 By
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 week, 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 these … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – June 16, 2013
June 24, 2013 By
Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. (Lk 8:1) This Sunday’s Gospel recounts one story in the life of Christ. It’s one visit to a household, one sinner anointing the feet of Jesus, one lesson taught, and one sinner forgiven. When Jesus was on earth in the flesh, He limited Himself to being in one place at a time, and those encounters – so beautifully recounted in Sacred Scripture – reveal him reaching out and touching and healing specific individuals through the power of His love. And Jesus was accompanied by the Twelve Apostles and some women who were witnesses to His love. After the Ascension and Pentecost, the Apostles obeyed the commands of Christ to go out to preach, sanctify (by the … [Read more...]
