Joan Gass has been writing her musings for years, not really thinking it would amount to a published work. But this year, after encouragement from a friend in Marietta, Ga., who by chance met a Christian book publisher from Georgia, Gass published “Alpha Bits of Prayer,” a 46-page book of poems, one for each letter of the alphabet.

Encouraging reading among Americans is the impetus behind the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) “Big Read” project. Locally, Xavier University of Louisiana, in partnership with the New Orleans Public Library, was awarded a “Big Read” grant from the NEA this year to take part in the project to encourage reading everywhere – in schools, libraries and bookstores.

The Broadway Around the World Concert took place at Academy of Our Lady High School February 27, 2013. Students in Choir and in Small Vocal Ensembles performed songs from Aida , The Sound of Music , Miss Saigon, Cinderella, South Pacific and Les Misérables .

As Tom Benson and his wife Gayle stood at the top steps of Notre Dame Seminary March 11, dozens of seminarians walked up single file and shook hands with the owner of the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Hornets, thankful for his gift of $7 million to restore Archbishop Shaw Hall, the massive, main residence on South Carrollton Avenue that was built in 1923.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Citing a distinguished German theologian and an anonymous elderly penitent from Argentina, Pope Francis told an overflow crowd in St. Peter’s Square never to despair of God’s mercy to sinners.

Good Friday ‘walk’: (click map below for details) Many Catholics make a special devotion on Good Friday by walking to nine churches to offer silent prayers and reflect on the passion and death of Jesus Christ.

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The ostensibly dichotomous pillars of a decent society versus a dynamic society are capable of co-existing, ultimately creating a community in which the family unit is celebrated and the business arena not viewed with suspicion.

Usted debe estar muy emocionado, por la exposición del Beato, Juan Pablo II, que ya está abierta al público en el Museo de Arte de Nueva Orleáns. ¿Cuáles son sus mejores recuerdos de su visita en 1987?

Deadline: Submissions due Thursday (10 days before each issue) calendar@clarionherald.org (504) unless noted March 24-31 PARISHES CENTER OF JESUS THE LORD, Soles for Christ, five-mile, nine-church walk in New Orleans to commemorate the Passion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday, March 29, 7:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Tens of thousands of pilgrims packed St. Peter’s Square and adjoining streets March 17 to hear Pope Francis deliver his first Angelus, saying prayers at noon and greeting pilgrims not only from Rome but from around the world.

Habemus Papam Franciscum! Selfishly, I was thankful that the conclave occurred during my spring break so that I could witness this wonderfully historic moment live, rather than read or review it online.

In the Jubilee Year of 2000, at the canonization of Saint Faustina, Pope John Paul II declared the Sunday after Easter to be Divine Mercy Sunday. Special graces of mercy for the forgiveness of sin and remittance of the temporal punishment for sin are available on this day.

As another major league baseball season approaches, I have a question. “Hey, weren’t you once the Houston Astros?” When the Houston Colt 45s began play in the National League in 1962, they began to cultivate a fan base in Louisiana.

St. Paul’s final tally of points in the Christian Brothers Relays read: Ninety-two points on the track. Seventy-three and a half points in field events. Are the Wolves ready to compete for a Class 5A state track and field championship  on May 4?

When Archbishop Rummel opened its doors to become Metairie’s flagship Catholic high school for boys in 1962, the key figures in its initial coaching staff had established their capabilities at Redemptorist High in New Orleans’ Irish Channel.

Los próximos días se llenarán con drama, cuando el Colegio Cardenalicio se reúna en el Cónclave para elegir al próximo Papa. ¿Qué piensa acerca de la naturaleza histórica de lo que está sucediendo? Se trata de una elección histórica, porque, como todos saben, algo como esto no ha ocurrido en 600 años – desde que un Papa ha renunciado a su cargo papal.

In order to provide pastoral care for the people of God in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Archbishop Aymond has made the following appointments: TRANSITIONAL DEACONS (to be ordained May 18, 2013) Rev.

Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond will officiate at the Blessing of Palms at 10:50 a.m. March 24 outside St. Louis Cathedral to open the observance of Holy Week, followed by a procession into the Cathedral for the 11 a.m. Mass.

An old saying has it that “familiarity breeds contempt,” and several passages in Scripture seem to bear this out. For instance, in Matthew 13:57 Jesus says, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” The next verse spells out a significant consequence of such contempt-laden familiarity: “And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.” So, what has this to do with the Year of Family and Faith?