Calendar - December 3, 2011

Deadline: Submissions due Thursday (10 days before each issue)
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(504) area code unless noted

Dec. 3-10

PARISHES
    ST. JOAN OF ARC, second annual Women’s Prayer Brunch, “WOMEN OF GOD: Get Your Inheritance,” Dec. 3, school hall; registration starts at 10 a.m.  Guest speaker: Cynthia Willard-Lewis. RSVP: 650-9913, 723-4696, 866-7330.
    ST. MARY MAGDALEN, photos with Santa, Dec. 4, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. $4 for a 5×7 print. Sponsored by the KC Ladies’ Auxiliary in cafeteria, 6425 West Metairie Ave., Metairie.
    St. Angela Merici, Ladies’ Auxiliary (SALA), meeting, Dec.  6, 7 p.m., Kern Center, 901 Beverly Garden Drive, Metairie. Speaker: Deacon Ray Heap. Small toiletry items needed for Presentation Sister Vera Butler, director of the Rebuild Center for the needy at St. Joseph Church. Potluck supper, Christmas carols.   
    SACRED HEART, Father Kyle Dave, pastor, speaks on “Christ Jesus, Savior of the World,” Dec. 7, 6 p.m., parish hall, 28088 Main St., Lacombe. Free admission; refreshments follow (985) 882-5229.
    ST. ANN, “An Evening with tenor Eric McCrary,” Christmas concert, Dec. 9, 7 p.m., church. He will be accompanied by a string quintet, performing traditional and classical Christmas songs. McCrary is the St. Ann liturgical music minister and teen choir director and cantors at Immaculate Conception Church. Free admission. Also, Men’s Club meeting, Dec. 12, 7 p.m., cafeteria. 3601 Transcontinental Drive, Metairie.
    ST. RITA, arts and crafts fair, Dec. 10, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., more than 100 vendors. Santa photos, Christmas items, clothing, kids’ items, paintings, candles, wood, specialty food baskets, concessions. 7100 Jefferson Hwy., Harahan. 737-2915.
    ST. ANSELM, Knights of Columbus pancake breakfast with Santa Claus, Dec. 10, 9-11 a.m., St. Joseph Hall, 306 St. Mary St., Madisonville. Also, “Christmas in New Orleans,” holiday concert, Dec. 11, 6:30 p.m., with Trish Foti Genco, members of the New Orleans Philharmonic, Father Kenny Allen, Anne Chabreck, and Vance Woolf, in the church.
    ST. CLEMENT OF ROME, “O Holy Night,” crèche exhibit of more than 170 nativity scenes, prints, photos, items depicting Jesus’ birth, Dec. 10, noon-8 p.m.; Dec. 11, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Vosbein Hall, 3978 West Esplanade at Cleary avenues, Metairie. Children’s area will be available. Free admission.  http://livaudaisnet.com/nativity.html.

SCHOOLS
    ST. MATTHEW THE APOSTLE, Home and School Association’s annual Breakfast with Santa, Dec. 3, 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. in the MBC, 10021 Jefferson Hwy. Cost:  $10 a child, includes breakfast, crafts, games, Santa visit. Photo packages: $20. Reservations, Emilypfuselier @gmail.com.
    ST. PHILIP NERI, Grandparents’ Club meeting, Dec. 8, 10 a.m., parishioners’ center. Also, Ladies’ Co-Operative Club, general membership meeting, Dec. 8, 7 p.m., school assembly hall.
    OUR LADY OF HOLY CROSS COLLEGE, information session for prospective students in the 19-month, Accelerated Business Degree program, Dec. 8, 6:30 p.m. Program is geared to help working adults earn a bachelor’s degree at weekly night classes. The bachelor of science in business administration (BS) with a concentration in organizational management is designed to serve the non-traditional learner and working adult age 23 and older. 4123 Woodland Drive, New Orleans. 398-2304.
    OUR LADY OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE, Parents’ Club Santa Bingo, Dec. 10, 6-8 p.m., Bahan Center. Admission: one canned good for every five-pack of bingo cards. Benefits church parish’s food pantry. Additional cards and concessions sold. Santa visit. 1000 North Starrett Road at West Metairie Ave., Metairie.

COMING
    ST. FRANCIS XAVIER, Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, Dec. 11, 7 p.m., in church, 444 Metairie Road, Metairie. Msgr. Andrew C. Taormina, SFX School Choir, Adult Liturgical Choir, and parish ministers of the word, will lead. 834-0340. Also, God’s Special Children Mass, Dec. 11, 2 p.m. 444 Metairie Road.  St. Francis Xavier Knights of Columbus and Daughters of Isabella host annual Christmas party.
    BENEFIT FOR WALTER BONAM, Archdiocese of New Orleans Mass Gospel Choir sings for Bonam family, Dec. 11, 4 p.m., Corpus Christi-Epiphany Church, 2022 St. Bernard Ave., New Orleans. Donation: $10. Tickets also sold at Catholic Bookstore. (985) 287-0161.
    “A GARDEN DISTRICT CHRISTMAS CONCERT 2011,” Dec. 11, 4 p.m., Our Lady of Good Counsel (Good Shepherd Parish), 1307 Louisiana Ave. Performers of sacred music: sopranos Phyllis Treigle and Melissa Brocato, Kirk Redmann, tenor Kevin Rouchell, organist Brian Morgan, and Good Shepherd Choir.  Free admission, but free-will donation taken.  899-1378.
    HOLY NAME OF JESUS, free Christmas concert, Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m. New Orleans native Sarah Jane McMahon has performed at Avery Fisher Hall, Carnegie Hall, with Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, the New York City Opera, the New Orleans Opera, European halls, and in Broadway reviews. A summa cum laude graduate of Loyola University New Orleans, and Yale University.  6367 St. Charles Ave., 
New Orleans. [email protected], 861-9709.
    ST. PHILIP NERI, Ladies’ Co-Operative Club hosts annual Adopt-A-Family program for students to donate wrapped gifts, toys or clothing for local needy children. Gift deadline: Dec. 13. Assistance needed to sort gifts, Dec. 13 at 8:45 a.m. in parishioners’ center, 6500 Kawanee Ave., Metairie.
    THEOLOGY ON TAP NORTHSHORE, “The Surprising Grace of Purgatory,” with Dr. Nathan Eubank, Notre Dame Seminary professor of sacred Scripture, Dec. 16. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Abita Brewery, 21084 Hwy. 36, Abita Springs. For adults ages 21-35. $5 cover appreciated to help with costs. www.stpeterparish.com.
    CHRISTMAS CONCERT, 
“Singin’ and Swingin’ on the Avenue – A Holiday Jazz Celebration,” Dec. 17, 7 p.m. Presented by 
NOLA Art House Music, Holy Name of Jesus Church, NOLAvie.com. Holy Name of Jesus Church, 6367 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans. Featured artists:
Leah Chase, Phillip Manuel, Holy Name of Jesus School Children’s Choir, directed by Colleen Maher, as vocalists; 
Edward Anderson, trumpet; Evan Christopher, clarinet; Khari Lee, saxophone; Delfeayo Marsalis, trombone; Mike Pellera, piano. Donation: $10. Reception with artists follows concert.
    HARPS FOR HUMANITY, an evening of music with harpists from harpist Catherine Anderson’s studio, Dec. 18, 7:30-9 p.m. Ozanam Inn, 843 Camp St., New Orleans. 523-1184.
    VISITATION OF OUR LADY, Christmas concert with adult and children’s choirs, Dec. 20, 6:30 p.m., church, 3520 Ames Blvd., Marrero. Free admission. Refreshments follow.
    ST. GERTRUDE, New Year’s Eve dance, Dec. 31. $40 a couple. Set-ups provided. Music by Gary T. 17292 La. Hwy. 631, Des Allemands. (985) 758-2260.