At this past Wednesday’s General Audience, Pope Leo XIV said, “The liturgical year is not a static representation of past events, but an encounter with Christ Himself, who desires to immerse His people in the mysteries of the history of salvation.” The heart of Welcome Home Sunday isn’t just asking someone back into a building, or even back into a habit. We are inviting everyone into an encounter with the living Christ, who still speaks, heals, nourishes, and sends His people forth. The Holy Father continued: “To sanctify Sunday, it is fundamental to celebrate the Eucharist. Listening to the Word and partaking of the Body of Christ entails … the coming together in one, that is, the joyful gathering of the faithful. In this assembly, the Christian community makes visible its communion with … [Read more...]

August 15, 2026 After the Ascension of Jesus, Mary aided the beginnings of the Church by her prayers. In her association with the apostles and several women, we also see Mary by her prayers imploring the gift of the Spirit, who had already overshadowed her in the Annunciation. Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son's Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians: “In giving birth you kept your … [Read more...]

St. Stephen Catholic School has its first day of classes on Tuesday, August 18, and we have our first weekly school Mass on August 21 at 9:00 am. I wish each parishioner could come to at least one school Mass during the year to see what well-behaved, enthusiastic, attentive and participatory students we have at St. Stephen’s. Unfortunately, most of the children 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 educate here in our parish. If you know someone who is looking for a wonderful Catholic … [Read more...]

The St. Vincent de Paul Society needs your help. During the hot summer months, we have many asking for help with their utility bills. A Christmas Giving Tree has been set up next to the St. Anthony Statue. All you have to do is pick an envelope and place in a donation. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul will do the rest!  God bless you! … [Read more...]

Ignacio López de Loyola was born in Spain in 1491, the youngest of 13 children. In 1506, he adopted the last name "de Loyola" in reference of the Basque city of Loyola where he was born.  In 1509, Ignatius took up arms under the Duke of Nájera and participated in many battles without injury to himself.  However, on May 20, 1521, in a battle against the French, a cannonball wounded both of his legs.  During his recuperation at Loyola, Ignatius read the Life of Christ by Ludolph of Saxony, a commentary on the Gospels with extracts from the works of over sixty of the Fathers of the Church; the book influenced his whole life.  Ludolph proposes that the reader place himself at the scene of a Gospel story and visualize the scene in a simple contemplation. During his recuperation at Loyola, … [Read more...]

ENRICH YOUR RETIREMENT – ENRICH THE LIVES OF OTHERS Are you retired or finished raising your family?  Do you want to give back, enrich your spiritual life and build community with other mature adults?  Then consider joining the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) here in New Orleans.  At IVC we believe the life experience, wisdom, and skills of 50+ women and men, rooted in Gospel values, can bring justice, and transform the world. For more details, visit our website at ivcusa.org/ivc-offices/welcome-to-ivc-new-orleans, or contact Becky Goff (Regional Director) at bgoff@ivcusa.org. … [Read more...]

Saturday, July 11, 2026 THE VIGIL MASS IS MOVED TO ST. HENRY CHURCH! Next Saturday at 4:00pm, there will be the annual St. Henry Feast Day Mass at St Henry Church, followed by a small reception at Grits Bar, located at 530 Lyons Street. If you went to St. Henry’s School, attended Mass at St. Henry, are named Henry, been to Henry’s bar, or have ever met anyone named Henry, you are invited! St. Henry (6 May 973 – 13 July 1024) was the fifth and last Holy Roman Emperor of the Ottonian dynasty, from his coronation in Rome in 1014 until his death a decade later. He was crowned King of Germany in 1002 and King of Italy in 1004. He is the only German king to have been canonized. Henry was the son of Henry, Duke of Bavaria. As his father was in rebellion against two previous emperors, he … [Read more...]

On Monday, June 29, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter & Paul, the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV will bestow the pallium (pictured above, plural “pallia”) on the metropolitan archbishops named during the last year, including our own Archbishop James Checchio. The pallium is a narrow band of cloth woven of white lamb’s wool with a ring in the center which rests on the shoulders of its wearer. The narrow band falls down the front of the chest like a necktie and goes similarly down the back. It is decorated with six black crosses, one on each tail and four on the loop. The pallium has its origin as a liturgical vestment of the Holy Father since at least the 4th century, and it has been given to each Metropolitan Archbishop since at least the 9th century. The story of how the pallium is made gives … [Read more...]

Thanks to all who took part in the Eucharistic Procession on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, especially the organizers! … [Read more...]