Calendar: Dec. 29-Jan. 18

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, Christmas at St. Jude’s, free Christmas concert with the parish’s two church choirs, Dec. 29, 5 p.m., 411 North Rampart St., New Orleans. Followed by dessert and a social.

FREE TRAINING RETREAT, for those interested in facilitating or learning about Lord, Teach Me to Pray, a, Ignatian Prayer series with three parts. Jan. 4, St. Pius X Parish, 6666 Spanish Fort Blvd., New Orleans. Dominican Father Marty Gleeson will co-facilitate. www.lordteachmetopray.com, 283-9292.

DOMINICAN SISTERS OF PEACE, Mission Immersion Experience, Jan. 4 at noon to Jan. 8 at 4 p.m., for single women ages 18-45 contemplating a religious life to experience service-oriented ministries of the Dominican sisters such as cooking for needy families, rebuilding a house, stopping at the community’s outreach center in Gert Town, touring St. Mary’s Dominican High School and living with the sisters. Register: at oppeace.org, btiboli@oppeace.org, (614) 400-1255.

DAY OF PRAYER AND RECOLLECTION, New Orleans Discalced Carmelites,  Jan. 11, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Dominic Parish, 775 Harrison Ave., New Orleans. Speaker:  Discalced Carmelite Father Jorge Cabera, reflecting on the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Bring your Bible and brown bag lunch. Mass and vespers celebrated. Drinks and snacks provided. Call 884-4575.

MARRIED COUPLES RETREAT, break away with your spouse and spend quality time enriching your marriage, Jan. 11-12 at the Willwoods Married Couples Retreat. St. Joseph Abbey’s Retreat Center in Covington. The  weekend is dedicated to giving you and your beloved time to rest and grow stronger in your faith and in your love for God and each other. The retreat ends at 1 p.m. Sunday. Register: 830-3716 or visit www.FaithandMarriage.org. A suggested donation is requested but not required.

INTERFAITH PRAYER SERVICE, MEMORIAL FOR THE HOMELESS, who have died on the streets of New Orleans in 2019, Jan. 14, 5:30 p.m.  St. Joseph Church, 1802 Tulane Ave., New Orleans.

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR THE UNBORN, Jan. 15, noon, Holy Innocents Prayer Garden at St. Patrick No. 1 Cemetery, 5000 Canal St., New Orleans. Archbishop Gregory Aymond presides over the prayer service to pray for those lost to miscarriage, stillbirth or abortion and those who mourn them. Call the Respect Life Office at respectlife@arch-no.org., https://respectlife.arch-no.org/memorial-for-the-unborn.

PROUDLY PRO-LIFE GALA, 50th anniversary gala, Jan. 18, 6 p.m. reception; 7 p.m. dinner. Hyatt Regency in Downtown New Orleans. Sponsored by Louisiana Right to Life. Republican Congressman Steve Scalise, minority whip,  will be honored. Guest speaker: actor/producer Kirk Cameron. https://prolifelouisiana.org/gala or 1 (866) 463-5433.

ST. ANN, open house for prospective students, Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m., cafeteria, 4921 Meadowdale St., Metairie. Walk-thru tours given every Monday and Thursday at 9:30 a.m., school office. Upcoming dates:  Jan. 6, 9, 13, 16, 23, 27, 30. Men’s Club meeting, Jan. 20, 7 p.m. www.stannmensclub.org.

  ARCHBISHOP RUMMEL HIGH,  Parent Booster Club monthly rosary prayer group,  Jan. 14, 7:30 a.m., school chapel. Coffee, donuts follow in the teachers’ lounge.  Booster Club hosts January CCSCC meeting,  Jan. 14, in Raider Room, 1901 Severn Ave., Metairie. Sign in at 6:30 p.m; meeting begins at 7 p.m. Guest speaker Dr. RaeNell Houston, superintendent of Catholic schools Archdiocese of New Orleans. Grandparents of ninth graders invited to a Mass and luncheon Jan. 22, 11:30 a.m.- 12:45 p.m., Raider Room, Catered meal follows.

   ST. DOMINIC, Mothers’ Club, business meeting, Jan. 14, 6:30 p.m. In conjunction with the St. Dominic’s Fathers’ Club.  In the gym.

CABRINI HIGH SCHOOL, Prom Fest Committee, Mardi Gras Paint Party fundraiser, Jan. 17, 5:30 p.m. social; 6:30 p.m. painting. Cabrini’s cafeteria, 1400 Moss St., New Orleans. Participants will create Mardi décor (six designs from which to choose) on a wooden door hanger or a garden sign. Proceeds benefit Senior Prom Fest following the Junior/Senior Prom. Registration: www.cabrinihigh.com.

LOYOLA UNIVERSITY NEW ORLEANS, renowned environmentalist and chair of Environmental Communication at Loyola University New Orleans Dr. Robert A. “Bob” Thomas was one of six environmentalists honored by the Environmental Law Institute at the 30th Annual National Wetlands Awards in Washington, D.C., for extraordinary commitment to the conservation and restoration of our wetlands. Thomas won the Education and Outreach Award. He holds the Loyola Distinguished Scholar Chair in environmental communication, is a professor of mass communication and an adjunct professor of biological sciences and is the founding director of Loyola’s Center for Environmental Communication and a crucial member of the university’s environment program. With associate professor of biological sciences Aimée Thomas, he is working on the grant-funded at Mirabeau Water Garden supported by the city of New Orleans. Also, Carol Ahn Markowitz was named the university’s new senior vice president of finance and chief operating officer. Since July, she has provided leadership over a plan to revitalize the institution and its financial stability and had oversight over the financial functions of the university, as well as other business function areas.  Also, junior student Rana Thabata was awarded a Truman Fellowship. A lifelong resident of New Orleans’ West Bank  and a graduate of John Ehret High School, Rana is double majoring in economics and political science and is one of approximately 60 students in the nation to win this distinguished honor for students pursuing a career in public service. It comes with a $30,000 scholarship toward graduate school. She is the fourth Loyola student and first female Loyola student to win a Truman – and the first in 31 years. She is the only student from Louisiana to be named a Truman Fellow this year. She is a Horatio Alger National Scholar, a Dell Scholar, a B.A. Rudolph Undergraduate Public Service Scholar. A first-generation American who is a student campus leader interested in social justice, diversity and inclusivity. She hopes one day to write educational policy for New Orleans Public Schools.