“Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy name…” we pray every day.  “Hallow,” there’s that word we’re hearing a lot about at this time of year. And it means “holy.”  So what does “Halloween” mean, and where does it come from? The origins of Halloween are very Christian and very American.  Although it’s true that the ancient Celts of Ireland and Britain celebrated a minor festival at this time of year which commemorated the end of summer and the beginning of the darkness of winter, that feast wasn’t on a specific day but tied to the position of the sun.  Halloween specifically falls on the last day of October because it’s the Evening before the Feast of All Saints, or "All Hallows," which falls on November 1.  So it’s All Hallow’s Eve, contracted to Hallowe’en. … [Read more...]

The only reason we know about Jesus Christ is that someone told us. More than likely, that person was our parents, but it could have been a priest, a teacher or even a friend. And the person who told us only knew about Jesus because someone had told him or her. And someone told that person, too. And so on. We trace that chain of people passing on their knowledge of Christ back to the Apostles, who were told by Jesus to: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Mt. 28:19-20). This statement of Jesus is called the “Great Commission” - the instruction of the resurrected Jesus Christ to … [Read more...]

A Prayer for Life to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament O Jesus, you came that we might have life—and have it in abundance. Together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, you form us in our mothers' wombs and call us to love you for all eternity. As your most precious gift of human life is attacked, draw us ever closer to your Real Presence in the Eucharist. Dispel the darkness of the culture of death, for you are the light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it. By the power of your Eucharistic Presence, help us to defend the life of every human person at every stage. Transform our hearts to protect and cherish all whose lives are most vulnerable. For you are God, forever and ever. Amen. … [Read more...]

October 2 Angels are intellectual beings created by God with a natural higher dignity than man; they have intelligence and will, are personal and immortal. Good angels serve God and help man. They always behold the face of God in heaven (Matt. 18:10).  Christ is at the center of the angels. Each one of us has a Guardian Angel to accompany us through life and shield us from the assaults of demons and even temporal evils, except what God permits for spiritual advancement.  Keep close to your Guardian Angel! Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom His love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, too rule and guide. Amen. … [Read more...]

THÉRÈSE MARTIN was born at Alençon, France on 2 January 1873. Two days later, she was baptized Marie Frances Thérèse at Notre Dame Church. Her parents were Louis Martin and Zélie Guérin (the only married couple ever canonized together). After the death of her mother on 28 August 1877, Thérèse and her family moved to Lisieux. She was one of nine children, and of the five daughters who lived to adulthood, all became nuns. From an early age Thérèse wished to embrace the contemplative life, as her sisters Pauline and Marie had done before her in the Carmel of Lisieux, but she was prevented from doing so by her young age. On a visit to Italy, during an audience granted by Pope Leo XIII to the pilgrims from Lisieux on 20 November 1887, she asked the Holy Father with childlike audacity to be … [Read more...]

Born in 1581 into a farming family in Pouy, France, Vincent's initial desire to be a priest was mainly for social advancement and monetary gain. Through a process of careful planning and being in the right place at the right time, Vincent was ordained a priest at the ripe age of nineteen by an elderly bishop who could barely see or hear. Beginning his ordained life with less than pure motives, Vincent's change of heart began in the middle of one of his visits to the poor tenants of a wealthy estate holder. When Vincent was called to hear the confession of a dying man, the spiritual naiveté of the penitent shocked Vincent. The poor man knew next to nothing about his religion.  Not long after, Vincent preached a sermon on general confession from the pulpit in the village chapel of … [Read more...]

We were fortunate during Hurricane Francine that little damage was done to the parish plant. We did have some water blown into both the school and the Basilica, which happens during high winds, but it was nothing major. As I’m writing this, we still don’t have power in either the school or the Basilica, each of which receives power from Napoleon Avenue. The rectory receives its power from General Pershing rather than Napoleon Avenue, so staff were able to return to work on Friday. One fortunate thing is that while the scaffolding on the steeple has now been fully erected, the workers have not begun work. Therefore, there were no loose materials up there to get blown about by the winds. … [Read more...]

The Convocation of Priests will be held from September 11-13, 2024, at the New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District Hotel. All priests serving in the Archdiocese will begin the Convocation 11:00 AM on Wednesday, September 11th. We will conclude by 1:00 PM on Friday, September 13th. … [Read more...]

August 14 St. Maximilian Kolbe was born in Poland in 1894 and at about the age of 10 had a vision of the Virgin Mary. She offered him a white crown and a red crown, representing purity and martyrdom. He chose both, a foreshadowing of his life to come. In 1910, he joined the Conventual Franciscan Order. He was sent to study in Rome where he founded the Militia Immaculatae on October 16, 1917, an organization dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Ordained a priest in 1918, Father Maximilian returned to Poland and began his untiring missionary activity, starting a monthly magazine and establishing two evangelization centers dedicated to the Immaculate Virgin: Niepokalanów, the “City of the Immaculata,” in Poland, and Mugenzai no Sono in Japan, and envisioned missionary centers worldwide. … [Read more...]

The internet has opened up an easy access to pornography which has become a major addiction in our society and a burden to many men. And the Church wants to help.  The Archdiocese of New Orleans has a confidential Catholic 12-step program for men struggling with an addition to pornography called the “My House Men’s Group.”  For more information contact (504) 430-3060 or email myhouse@archdiocese-no.org … [Read more...]