Today we celebrate the Feast of the Pentecost: When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Acts 2:1-4 Pentecost commemorates the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, an event which occurred fifty days (including Easter Sunday) after the Resurrection. Historically and symbolically, Pentecost is related to the Jewish Festival of Weeks, celebrating the day (occurring fifty days after the Exodus) on … [Read more...]

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension, which is the elevation of Christ into heaven by His own power in presence of His disciples. In Sacred Scripture, this occurred on the fortieth day after the Resurrection – which was actually last Thursday, traditionally called “Ascension Thursday. However, the celebration of the Ascension has been moved to Sunday to encourage a more active participation in the Feast. In terms of modern aviation, I guess Jesus' flight got postponed for three days! The Ascension was prophesized by Christ's own words. In John 6:63, Christ asks the Jews: “What if you were to see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before?” and in 20:17, He says to Mary Magdalen: “Do not touch Me, for I am not yet ascended to My Father, but go to My brethren, and say to them: … [Read more...]

Friendship and love are the keywords in the Gospel this weekend.  Even before Christ, these were heavily discussed topics among Greek philosophers and Roman orators. Friendship was so important to Cicero that he once said “Without friends no one would choose to live, even though he had all other goods.” But what is friendship? The Greek philosopher Aristotle mentions three “types” of friendships: the first type is where there is a quality in a person which gives me pleasure (I like this person because she's funny), the second type is where the other person is useful to me in some way (I like this person because he takes me fishing), and the third type is when I recognize the goodness in another person that causes me to desire to be that person's friend.  In the first two types, I am … [Read more...]

“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...]