Uptown New Orleans Catholic Church on Napolean Avenue - Monsignor Nalty
Rectory 504-899-1378 | Fax 504-899-0480
School 504-891-1927
ststephenpar@archdiocese-no.org
From the Pastor – May 10, 2026
Beloved: Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope. (1 Pet. 3:15)
For a number of years, or dearly departed Director of Religious Education, Phillip Bellini, ran a series of articles in the bulletin on “Apologetics.” Since the word has the same origin as our word “apology,” often time people think that the word means to “say you’re sorry.” That’s not the case, but the origins of the words are similar.
Both “apology” and “apologetics” come from the Greek word “apologia” but the original meaning of the word has changed in our current use of the word “apology.”
In the classical Greek legal system two key technical terms were employed: the prosecution delivered the “kategoria” which was like “bringing charges,” and the defendant replied with an “apologia.” To deliver an “apologia” then meant making a formal defense speech to reply and rebut the charges against onesself.
That word “apologia” appears in the Greek of the New Testament when St. Paul uses it in his trial speech: “I make my defense” (Acts 26:2). It’s also used in his Letter to the Philippians as he is “defending the gospel” (1:7 & 17). And it’s used in the second reading for Mass today (quoted above) where St. Peter tells the early Christians must be ready to give an “explanation” for their faith.
The word “apologia” in Greek is formed by two words: “apo” meaning “for” and “logos” meaning “word.” In its most basic form, one is giving a “word” “for” what one believes. In a sense, it’s giving a “word” for the Word made Flesh.
Learning to give a good “defense” of one’s faith means learning about Jesus and what He said and did. But it also means learning how the Holy Spirit has guided the Church over its 2,000 year history. Jesus didn’t leave us alone. He sent the Holy Spirit upon the early Church at Pentecost, and that same Holy Spirit continues to guide the Church. So even though “apologetics” involves some studying, it must be animated by the Holy Spirit. It must be done in a spirit of charity and compassion toward those who have not come into a more personal relationship with Jesus. And Jesus Himself gives us encouragement and peace. Because He even used the word apology: “When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.” (Lk 12:11-12).
I hope a lot of parishioners will think about attending some of our Apologetics classes as we give them from time to time. As St. Peter says, we need to be able to explain the hope that is within us!
(Rev. Msgr.) Christopher H. Nalty
msgr.nalty@gmail.com
Masses
St. Stephen
Saturday Vigil at 4:00 pm
Sunday at 8:00 am and 10:30 am
Sunday at 5:00 pm at OLGC
Our Lady of Good Counsel (OLGC)
Center of Jesus the Lord
Charismatic Mass
Sunday at 10 am
Weekdays Masses
Monday – Friday 6:30 am St. Henry
Tuesdays 6:00 pm St. Stephen
First Fridays 6:00 pm Latin Mass
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Tuesdays 4:45 – 5:45pm St. Stephen
Thursdays 7:00 – 8:00am St. Henry
Confession Times at Good Shepherd
Saturdays 3:00 – 3:45pm St. Stephen
Sundays 9:30 – 10:15am St. Stephen
Sundays 10:00 – 10:30am OLGC
First Fridays 6:30 – 7:00pm OLGC
Happy Anniversary to the Basilica of St. Stephen!
May 12, 2026
Feast of Sts. Nereus and Achilleus, Martyrs;
Feast of St. Pancras, Martyr
This Tuesday marks the fourth anniversary of the designation of Church of St. Stephen as a Minor Basilica. It’s also one of the days upon which one can receive a plenary indulgence (under the conditions listed on the plaque at the front entrance on the Camp Street side) for visiting. We are grateful to the Holy See for the honor of being one of only ninety-four Minor Basilicas in the United States.
Prayer in Preparation for the Consecration of the Archdiocese of New Orleans to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
O Sacred Heart of Jesus,
fountain of eternal life,
Your Heart is a glowing furnace of Love.
You are my refuge and my sanctuary.
O my adorable and loving Savior,
consume my heart with the burning fire
with which Yours is inflamed.
Pour down on my soul those graces
which flow from Your love.
Let my heart never rest until it finds You, who are its center, its love, and its happiness.
Let my heart be united with Yours.
Let my will be conformed to Yours in all things.
May Your Will be the rule of all my desires and actions. Amen.
Novena to the Holy Spirit
Novena to the Holy Spirit for the Seven Gifts
(to be prayed beginning May 14)
The novena in honor of the Holy Spirit is the oldest of all novenas since it was first made at the direction of Our Lord Himself when He sent His apostles back to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost. Addressed to the Third Person of the Blessed Trbinity, it is a powerful plea for the light and strength and love so sorely needed y every Christian.
NOVENA PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT
O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, and the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Your true disciples and animate me in all things with Your Spirit. Amen. (Say 7X Our Father, Hail Mary & Glory Be)
Easter Week Mission
Thanks to all who attended the Easter Week Mission with Sister Joseph Andrew, OP. Sister had some wonderful stories about the Holy Eucharist.
Upcoming Ordinations
On Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Louis Cathedral, Archbishop James Checchio will ordain to the Diaconate Hoang Pham and Seth Smith for the Archdiocese of New Orleans; and Micheal Jawino for the Archdiocese of Tororo.
On Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Louis Cathedral, Archbishop James Checchio will ordain Deacons Brett Christopher Barrios, Joseph Ky Thanh Bui. William Joseph Sigl and James Vu to the Presbyterate for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
May Crowning of Mary
May 3, 2026
10:30am Mass
The month of May is traditionally dedicated to Mary in many cultures, since May is considered the season of the beginning of new life. In ancient Roman culture, May was dedicated to Flora, the goddess of bloom, of blossoms, and the Romans celebrated ludi florales (floral games) at the end of April, asking the help of Flora for all that blooms since May 1 was considered the beginning of growth. In the same way, the Blessed Virgin Mary gives us the newness of life in the person of Jesus Christ so that we might become new creations born into Eternal Life.
Since medieval times, we begin to see a connection between Mary and the month of May. Among the earliest witnesses are: Alphonsus X, King of Castille, Spain (+1284) with his “Cantigas de Santa Maria.” Here and elsewhere, both Mary and the month of May are greeted, welcomed and celebrated on specific days in May. Later, it became the custon in Italy to devote the whole month of May to Mary. On each day of the month, special devotions to Mary were organized.
Today, May crownings occur in many Catholic parishes and homes with the crowning of a statue of Mary. The ceremony traditionally takes place with young girls dressed in dresses carrying flowers (traditionally hawthorn) to adorn the statue. One of the girls (often the youngest) carries a crown of flowers or an actual golden crown on a cushion for placement by the May Queen (often the oldest girl) on the statue. The flowers are replaced throughout the month to keep them fresh.
Crowning Mary is associated with adding ornamentation to an icon of Mary, sometimes as simple as adding additional gold trim. Perhaps in homage to this, Pope Clement VIII (+1605) added two crowns to the icon of Mary with the Infant Jesus in the Saint Mary Major Basilica in Rome. The crowns were eventually lost, but were replaced by Gregory XVI in 1837 in a Rite that was to become the standard practice for crowning.
Holy Father’s Prayer Intentions
May 2026
That everyone might have food.
Let us pray that everyone, from large producers to small consumers, be committed to avoid wasting food, and to ensure that everyone has access to quality food.
Please pray for the intentions of the Holy Father!
Divine Mercy
Divine Mercy Sunday is dedicated to the devotion to the Divine Mercy promoted by St. Faustina , and is based upon an entry in St. Faustina’s diary stating that anyone who participates in the Mass and receives the sacraments of confession and Eucharist on this day is assured by Jesus of full remission of sins.
According to the notebooks of Saint Faustina, Jesus made the following statements about this day: “On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity.” (Diary of Saint Faustina, 699)
The devotion was celebrated unofficially in many places for some years. However, on April 30, 2000 (Divine Mercy Sunday of that year), Pope John Paul II canonized St. Faustina and designated the Sunday after Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday in the General Roman Calendar , with effect from the following year. He also decreed a plenary indulgence associated with this devotion. Pope John Paul II said he felt a closeness to St. Faustina when he was writing his letter Dives in misericordia. He died during the vigil of the Divine Mercy Sunday in 2005.
Divine Mercy Sunday may be the greatest day of the year because of the immeasurable amount of grace Jesus promised to pour forth on this day. In the private revelation accepted publicly by the Church, Jesus made a specific promise to Saint Faustina about Divine Mercy Sunday:
“On that day… The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.” (Diary, 699)
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