When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. (Mk 6:34) Although the image of a shepherd and his sheep is found throughout both the Old and New Testament, many Catholics have a negative reaction to being compared with “sheep.” As I said once in a homily, sheep are stupid, smelly animals who are defined as “classic prey,” in that they are the food of a great deal of predators, most particularly wolves, wildcats and even birds of prey. But once you study a little about sheep, you find analogies to human behavior. For instance, sheep are incredibly social animals. Sheep have a natural tendency to gather into a flock, and they can become very agitated and nervous when … [Read more...]
Willwoods Supper and Substance
Attention Married Couples! You are invited to the ultimate summer date night, the Faith & Marriage Apostolate’s 15th Annual Diocesan-Wide Supper and Substance on Fri., July 26th, from 5:30pm - 8:30pm at Mid City Lanes Rock 'N' Bowl on S. Carrollton Ave in New Orleans! This ultimate summer date night includes a powerful presentation from Jean & Janice Charbonnet, a TOTALLY 80’s dance experience from the band, L’Eighties Night, drinks at the bar, an array of classic Southern Louisiana cuisine to enjoy, and of course bowling throughout the night! To purchase your tickets or for sponsorship opportunities go to FaithandMarriage.org. … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – July 14, 2024
In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ. (Eph. 1:11-12) The readings for this Sunday are about the idea of “mission.” The word “mission” comes from the Latin verb “mittere,” which means “to send out.” The obvious “sending out” in this week's Gospel is Jesus sending out the Apostles. In fact, the word “apostle” literally means “those sent out” in Greek. The Apostles are sent out on a “mission.” And the idea of “mission” is part of the continuing work of the Church. Every year we have a “mission appeal” in the parish, where we hear about the mission of the church in different countries. However, the idea of … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – July 6, 2024
The woman [healed from her hemorrhage], realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.” (Mk 5:33-34) The interesting thing about the healing of the woman with the hemorrhage in the Gospel this weekend is how it happens. Jesus doesn’t actually “do” anything positive to heal the woman. She took the initiative to touch his clothes, and the power of Jesus healed her. Jesus knew that “power” (His healing power) had gone out of Him, but the healing came about through her faith in Him. What a wonderful message for us! Since we don’t live at the time when we can actually see the incarnate Lord face-to-face, we have … [Read more...]
Happy Father’s Day
God our Father, We give you thanks and praise for fathers young and old. We pray for young fathers, newly embracing their vocation; May they find courage and perseverance to balance work, family and faith in joy and sacrifice. We pray for our own Fathers around the world whose children are lost or suffering; May they know that the God of compassion walks with them in their sorrow. We pray for men who are not fathers but still mentor and guide us with fatherly love and advice. We remember fathers, grandfather, and great grandfathers who are no longer with us but who live forever in our memory and nourish us with their love. Amen … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – June 16, 2024
“To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” (Mk 4:30-32) The people listening to the parables of Jesus didn’t always understand the meanings of His parables, but they surely understood agriculture. A farmer can work as hard as he wants, but he can’t “make” a seed grow into a plant. All the farmer can do is create the best environment for growth by planting in good soil and watering. In the end of the day God causes the growth to occur. So when Jesus is describing the Kingdom of God, … [Read more...]
Divorced People Are Not “Outside” the Church
[What follows is a clarification from the Holy Father. Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI, that you might consider handing along to any of your Catholic friends who are divorced and remarried] We sometimes hear from our friends who are divorced and remarried: “I’m excommunicated.” That’s not true at all. During the World Meeting of Families held in 2012 in Milan, a Brazilian family raised the issue of divorced couples who have remarried and cannot avail themselves of the Sacraments. Pope Benedict XVI affirmed that “this is one of the great causes of suffering for the Church today, and we do not have simple solutions. Naturally, one very important factor is prevention. This means ensuring that, from the beginning, the act of falling in love is transformed in a more profound and mature … [Read more...]
Msgr. Nalty’s Pilgrimage in Paris at St Etienne du Mont Church
The Saint-Étienne-du-Mont Church is a Gothic sanctuary located at Place Sainte-Geneviève next to the Panthéon in the 5th arrondissement. Built between 1492 and 1626, the sanctuary was intended to accommodate the growth of the neighboring abbey of St. Geneviève and the parish of St. Étienne. The impressive façade is made up of three superimposed Renaissance pediments flanked by the soaring belfry from the 16th century. In particular the rood screen (jubé, probably by Pierre Beaucorps in 1530) crossing the nave like a bridge with spiral staircases on either side is an unique feature of the church, being the only rood screen which survived in Paris. Most of the church’s stained-glass windows date between the 16th and 17th centuries and those from the ambulatory and chancel are of … [Read more...]
Ministry to the Poor at the Rebuild Center
Many of you know that our parish, largely through our St. Anthony Poor Box, feeds the poor at the Rebuild Center on almost every Thursday of the month. The meals are cooked at Our Lady of Good Counsel rectory, and then volunteers serve the food at the Rebuild Center. The list below shows how many people we have fed a nutritious meal since the beginning of this year, nearly 3000! Thanks for all you do to feed the poor through your donations to the St. Anthony Poor Box! If you would like to assist directly in cooking and feeding the poor, please call the parish office, or email Eddie Connick at edwinconnick@gmail.com. … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – June 9, 2024
Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him.” Mk 3:23-26) Today’s Gospel tells us that the devil is not divided. In the earlier part of Mark’s third chapter, Jesus had been curing people and performing exorcisms, and He had incurred the wrath of the Pharisees by curing the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath. Mark specifically tells us that “[t]he Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.” So several of Jesus’ relatives came to … [Read more...]
