“Motherhood” is the first concept we understand as a child. Our earliest experience of love is the embrace of our own mother. And the love of our mother becomes the defining experience that helps us to understand God's love for us. A Jewish proverb says that: “God could not be everywhere, and that's why He created mothers.” The safest and surest thing in the world is a mother's love. It doesn't have to be acquired or deserved. Even when it's rejected, it still stays strong. The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. And motherhood has the greatest potential influence on human society. Our mother's embrace awakens our original sense of security. In her kisses, we first experience affection. In her empathy and sympathy we receive … [Read more...]

As I mentioned in the bulletin and during Mass over the last two weeks, this Sunday is our parish “Ministry Fair.” It's a chance to see the different ways that the members of Good Shepherd Parish serve the Church and each other. And it's a chance to find some way to get involved in the mission of Jesus Christ. In the documents of the Second Vatican Council, there were tremendous exhortations for the lay faithful to actively participate in the life of the Church.  This participation begins in the Sacred Liturgy, where we actively seek to encounter Jesus Christ in Word and Sacrament. That doesn't mean we all need a “job” during Mass; it means that we are attentive and reflective when we hear the readings, and that we prepare ourselves devoutly to receive Holy Communion, and that we do … [Read more...]

This past week many of the priests of Louisiana got together for an annual “priest convention.” Among these priests were many from New Orleans, but also quite a few from the other 6 dioceses in Louisiana: Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, Houma-Thibodaux, Lake Charles and Alexandria. It was a great time to renew priestly friendships, and to catch up on the news. Many of the priests, of course, knew about my new pastorate and some of the difficulties involved. I tend to be a “glass is half full” type of person, so I generally told them that I thought things were going fairly well here at Good Shepherd Parish. But in reflecting upon this later, I realized that I needed to do two things: (1) I need to continue to reach out to those who are still feeling pain about the closing of Our … [Read more...]

This week, I have several beautiful things that I want to tell you about our parish and our Church. They involve the beautiful virtues of faith, hope and charity. The first virtue of faith is reflected this weekend in the large number of children who will be receiving their First Holy Communion at the 10:30am Mass on Sunday.  Our greatest joy is when we are able to pass along our faith to others. This weekend, our parish and school parents will be privilege to see the fruit of their faith in the reception of the Body and Blood of Christ by their children. How wonderful! Hope is the second virtue I experienced this week in New York City. Many of you have probably heard about the new Archbishop of New York, +Timothy Michael Dolan.  What you might not know is that Archbishop Dolan was … [Read more...]

A few years ago, I was in Rome, and my parents came to visit me in the weeks before Easter. Since my Dad is a permanent deacon, he sat next to me on the altar when we went to celebrate Mass at the beautiful church of St. Alphonsus near St. Mary Major where the original image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is enshrined.  As it came time to read the Gospel, my Dad came and asked for a blessing, and then he began to solemnly intone “Al-le-luia!  Al-le-luia!” I quietly said: “Shhh  We don't say that now  It's Lent!” To this he remarked that since we were celebrating a Solemn Mass of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (a “Solemnity”), then it was allowed.  Well, some of the Catholics of Rome got a lesson in American Catholicism that day! As my Dad learned later (through some help from a “certain … [Read more...]

Today marks the beginning of our Holy Week celebration. And if you've rarely experienced the events of Holy Week, consider doing so this year. On HOLY THURSDAY we will celebrate the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7:00 p.m., the Mass commemorating the institution of the Holy Eucharist where Jesus also washed his Apostle's feet.  This Mass begins the Sacred Triduum, and it is when the Eucharist is taken out of the main Tabernacle and “reposed” in another altar to commemorate the arrest of Jesus and imprisonment of Jesus.  This year we will have Adoration at this Altar of Repose from the end of Mass until the sun rises on Good Friday at 6:00 a.m. The GOOD FRIDAY service with Veneration of the Cross begins at 3:00 p.m.,the hour of the death of Our Lord, and Stations of the Cross will … [Read more...]

It's hard to believe that it's only two weeks until Easter Sunday! Next weekend is Palm Sunday, and then we begin Holy Week. I know that there is a very strong group in our parish that attends all of the events of Holy Week, but many Catholics limit themselves to the bare necessities: Holy Days of Obligation. If you're one of those who have never really experienced each of the events of Holy Week, consider doing so this year. On Thursday we will celebrate the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7:00 p.m., the Mass commemorating the institution of the Holy Eucharist where Jesus also washed his Apostle's feet. This Mass begins the Sacred Triduum, and it is when the Eucharist is taken out of the main Tabernacle in the church and “reposed” in another altar to commemorate Jesus being arrested in … [Read more...]

This Sunday is “Laetare” Sunday, which comes from the introit (the introductory antiphon) of Mass “Laetare Jerusalem" ("O be joyful, Jerusalem"). We are called to have a restrained joyfulness because we're halfway through the pilgrimage of Lent and getting closer to Holy Week. While we should strengthen our resolutions regarding our penitential sacrifice, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The rose vestments testify to this special Sunday which also has several other meanings attached to it throughout the centuries.  Since the Jews frequently referred to the city of Jerusalem as “Mother Jersusalem” the early Christians began referring to the Church as “Mother Church.”  And since Jerusalem was mentioned in the introit, Lætare Sunday began to known as “mothering” … [Read more...]

What's the Big Deal with Stem Cells??? Last week, President Barack Obama gave a speech wherein he reversed a policy which strictly limited the Federal money that could be spent on research involving embryonic stem cells. As someone who has followed this issue over the last several years, I thought as your pastor, it would be good to briefly explain the science, ethics and morality involved in his decision. Let's start with a few facts: (1) AREN'T STEM CELLS JUST STEM CELLS? No. President Obama's speech is not about “stem cells” per se. There are different types of stem cells. Some stem cells come from living adults, and some stem cells come from destroyed human embryos. There are no ethical arguments against doing research on adult stem cells that are voluntarily donated for … [Read more...]

Last week, I admit I might have thrown a “curve ball” to you – I changed the liturgy without explaining my reasoning: I decided to distribute the Eucharist only under one species during Lent. Let me tell you the reasons behind my decision. It started on Ash Wednesday, when I was pleasantly surprised by the large crowds that came for Mass and ashes. When I saw the crowds, and realized that everyone would come to the altar twice (one for ashes and once for Communion), I decided that it would be faster if we had 4 stations for ashes and 4 stations for the Body of Christ (rather than two for the Body and two for the Blood, since we only had 3 Eucharistic ministers). After all, most people didn't anticipate a 90 minute Mass on Ash Wednesday! This “short term” decision led me to reflect … [Read more...]