Excerpt from DECREE ON THE APOSTOLATE OF THE LAITY APOSTOLICAM ACTUOSITATEM SOLEMNLY PROMULGATED BY HIS HOLINESS, POPE PAUL VI ON NOVEMBER 18, 1965 The Church was founded for the purpose of spreading the kingdom of Christ throughout the earth for the glory of God the Father, to enable all men to share in His saving redemption, and that through them the whole world might enter into a relationship with Christ. All activity of the Mystical Body directed to the attainment of this goal is called the apostolate, which the Church carries on in various ways through all her members. For the Christian vocation by its very nature is also a vocation to the apostolate. No part of the structure of a living body is merely passive but has a share in the functions as well as life of the body: so, … [Read more...]

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Many of you know that I am a 1984 graduate of the University of Notre Dame.  And many of you know a little about the controversy surrounding Notre Dame's invitation to President Obama to be the speaker and to receive an honorary law degree at this year's graduation ceremony.  Since you're reading about it at other places, I thought I might address it here.Many people are justifiably happy that race relations in the United States are at the point where our country can elect a minority as President.  And President Obama brings many important gifts to that office, most particularly his intellect, his education, his eloquence and his ability to inspire people.  But President Obama's policies on the important issues of human life are inconsistent with basic principles of natural law – that … [Read more...]

As the cross is being raised, a final thanks to our “Spirit Givers”! Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Ballard, III, In Memory of the Bergeron & Boudreaux Families, Philip & Ella Boudreaux, Kathy, Molly & Katie Burns, Matalin & Emma Carville, Robert & Druscilla Charlebois, The Chisesi Family, In Memory of Mae Colgan Clementino, The Howell Crosby Family, Ronnie Demilio, In Memory of Louis J. Derbes, C.M., Martin Feldman, Dr. & Mrs. Norman Francis, Arthemise Galle, Joyce Griener, In Memory of Mary & Jimmie Hanemann, Hunter P. Harris & Family, Lucy M. LaBella, Ronald & Mary Ellen Leggio, Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Liljeberg, Sr., In Memory of Garrett & Claire Martin, McNamara & McAuliffe Families, Patricia & David Mitchell, Superintendent & Mrs. Henry … [Read more...]

Our Lady of Good Counsel Church Rectory As most of you know, one of the traditions of the “Irish Channel” in Uptown New Orleans is a St. Patrick's Day parade. The parade takes place on SATURDAY, MARCH 14 beginning at 12:30pm, and passes right in front of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church.  In keeping with a tradition, Good Shepherd Parish is sponsoring a St. Patrick's Day party to take place in the garden of the rectory, which is located adjacent to OLGC at 1307 Louisiana Avenue. The party will go from 12:00 noon until 4:00 pm, and I am told that the party has another tradition of good food and beverages! Volunteers are asked to email Barbara Fortier at barbaraf13@aol.com.  Donations will be accepted at the party, and the proceeds will support the ministry of Good Shepherd Parish.  … [Read more...]

There has been one thing for which I have received the most complaints since I have been here at Good Shepherd Parish: our sound system. It is something that one usually takes for granted, and it has become a thorn in my side. One of the most important things that a pastor does is to preach the Sunday Mass, and your not being able to hear me makes my job very very difficult!  After dealing with a variety of expert and inexpert technicians, I finally got in touch with the company that installed the system, and they came out to inspect it several weeks ago.  They made some adjustments and checked the wiring, but some of the original components have been removed or replaced.  With an eye toward restoring or replacing the entire system, they are coming out again on Friday. If there is no … [Read more...]

Over the last several months, we have experienced a large increase in the number of requests for financial assistance. We provide assistance in the form of help with electricity and rent bills, canned goods and small gift cards to area food stores. Since Lent is a season to practice almsgiving, please consider making donations at the St. Anthony Statue on the right rear of the church, or by increasing your offerings in the envelopes. There are a lot of poor people in our area, and Jesus told us: “to whom much has been given, much will be expected.” Whatever we do for the poor of our parish, we do for Jesus. Thank you! … [Read more...]

As I mentioned in the bulletin and at Mass several weeks ago, we will start using some of the Latin Mass parts in our Lenten Sunday Masses.  On the opposite page are those parts.  They are the “Sanctus” (Holy, Holy, Holy), the “Mysterium Fidei” (the Mystery of Faith) and the “Agnus Dei” (the Lamb of God).  Many of the older members of the parish will be quite familiar with the Sanctus and the Agnus Dei, if not the Mysterium Fidei, but everyone will find that they are very easy to chant, once you get used to it.As I wrote in that earlier bulletin article, the Mass was song almost exclusively in Latin from the earliest days of the Church, and certainly from the 3rd and 4th centuries.   In the middle of last century, Mass in the “vernacular” (the common, local language) began to be … [Read more...]

Saturday Vigil at 4:00pmSunday at 8:00am and 10:30am Weekdays (Monday -Friday)6:30am in St. Henry Church 6:00pm Mass Tuesdays in the Church Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Tuesday 4:45pm - 5:45pm Thursday morning 7:00am - 8:00am         … [Read more...]

Many younger Catholics don't remember when the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was celebrated entirely in Latin. Some older ones remember those days, either fondly or frustratingly! Because the issue of the “Latin Mass” seems to be in the secular news from time to time, I thought I would discuss it briefly here in our bulletin. I want to focus on three things: (1) the “language” of the Mass; (2) the changes in the Mass since the Second Vatican Council; and (3) the current state of the “Latin Mass.”First of all, let's discuss “language.” Jesus Christ and his followers probably spoke a version of the Aramaic language. But they all probably had some working knowledge of both Greek and Latin because they lived in one of the world's crossroads, where merchants and soldiers who spoke those … [Read more...]