Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, 'I am going away and I will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. (Jn 14:27-31) How do we define peace? Politically, it can be defined as an “absence of conflict.” If we are busy at work, it might mean “no interruptions.” Some parents might equate peace with their kids being asleep or at their grandparents for the night. Peace happens to some people when their cell phone finally runs out of batteries or when a power outage knocks out the internet and the … [Read more...]
Nominations for the Pope John Paul II Award
The Catholic Foundation is seeking nominations for the Pope John Paul II Award. The award is presented annually to an outstanding Catholic layperson(s) or permanent deacon who resides in the Archdiocese of New Orleans and who exhibits inspirational examples of Christian stewardship. This year's award will be presented at The Catholic Foundation's Annual Dinner held at the Hilton Riverside on Tuesday, November 19, 2013. Award nominees should be a practicing Roman Catholic with an outstanding record of volunteer service in the Catholic Community, high moral character, volunteer board memberships and exemplary values. A nomination form is available on The Catholic Foundation website (www.archdiocese-no.org/catholicfoundation). Nominations should be no longer than three pages in length. All … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – April 28, 2013
My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (Jn 13:33a, 34-35) The Gospel of John could be called the “Gospel of Love.” It condenses the stories about Christ into one succinct passage in the third chapter, the verse seen often on signs at football games: John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” It gives us the reason and purpose of the first coming of Christ. He came because God loves us, and He came to give us eternal life in His love. The word “love” that is frequently … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – April 21, 2013
Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand.” (Jn 10:27-28) For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (Rev. 7:17) This week is the Fourth Sunday in Easter, and it is traditionally known as “Good Shepherd Sunday” because of the Gospel reading today in which Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd. We're all familiar with the images: Jesus standing, staff in hand, with the lamb across his shoulders. Or perhaps we think of Jesus sitting under a tree – a little lamb on his lap. These are beautiful images, but they are incomplete. For thousands of … [Read more...]
PLEASE SOUND OFF!
In February 2013 the Obama administration published a new “proposed rule” containing revisions to its earlier mandate requiring most health plans to cover contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs. These revisions did very little to correct the underlying problem with the mandate. A large number of religious organizations, including schools, colleges and universities, hospitals and charitable organizations will be forced to provide objectionable coverage. Businesses and individuals of faith will lose the right to provide health care coverage that respects their deeply held religious and moral convictions. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has expressed serious concerns about the new proposed rule and its violation of religious freedom. Public comments on … [Read more...]
John Paul II Exhibit
To Open at NOMA March 8 The Archdiocese invites everyone to visit the exhibit, Portrait of Faith: John Paul II in Life and Art, which opens Friday, March 8 and runs through Sunday, June 16, 2013 at the New Orleans Museum of Art. We're excited to have this opportunity to remind people of the deep faith of Blessed John Paul II. We encourage everyone to make plans to visit and reach out to people of all faiths to visit. For more information, visit www.JPIIinNOLA.com or call 866-608-4799. … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – April 14, 2013
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to Simon Peter a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” Jesus said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that Jesus had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” (Jn 21:15-17) Simon Peter is one the most intriguing characters in the New Testament. Unlike people like John the Baptist, … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – April 7, 2013
Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” (Jn 21-26-29) We call him “Doubting Thomas,” but the words spoken by Thomas after he touched the hands and side of Jesus are the most important of John's Gospel because they form a literary “inclusion” with the very first words of the Gospel. In John 1:1 we read: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” And then that … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – March 24, 2013
It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”; and when he had said this he breathed his last. (Lk. 23:44-46) “Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion” begins Holy Week. If you have never really experienced all of the services of Holy Week, consider doing so this year. Commemorating the events of the Lord's Suffering and Death help us to have a greater understanding of the importance of the Easter Resurrection. Jesus had to suffer and die before he rose. On Holy Thursday we will celebrate the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7:00pm, which commemorates the night when Jesus instituted … [Read more...]
