Calendar - November 26, 2011

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

Nov. 27-Dec. 3

EVENTS
    ARCHDIOCESAN SPIRITUALITY CENTER, “Advent Longing for God,” Nov. 29 and Dec. 6, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Presenter: Dominican Sister Dorothy Trosclair. St. Jane de Chantal Church, 72040 Maple St., Abita Springs. Fee: $25; registration required. (985) 641-2286 or e-mail bon [email protected]. Also, “Praying With the Advent Readings,” with Sister Dorothy, Nov. 30, Dec. 7 and 14, 7-8:30 p.m., 2901 South Carrrollton Ave., New Orleans. Fee: $30. Register online: http://asc.arch-no.org, 861-3254.
    SISTER OF MERCY ENDEAVORS SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER, senior showcase sale, Dec. 2, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Food, games, crafts, live entertainment (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.). 1017 St. Andrew St., New Orleans. 568-0607.
    TOTUS TUUS, Archdiocese of New Orleans Vocation Office hosts gathering Dec. 3, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Notre Dame Seminary, 2901 South Carrollton Ave. Prayer, reflection, food. Open to men, high school seniors, college age and older discerning priesthood. Presenters: Fathers Walter Austin and Rodney Bourg, “No Cookie Cutter Vocation. … Priests have Varying Stories.” 861-6298, e-mail [email protected].
    CHRISTMAS IN NEW ORLEANS, fifth annual concert series, three locations: Dec. 4, 4 p.m., Holy Rosary, 3368 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans; Dec. 11, 6:30 p.m., St. Anselm, 306 St. Mary St., Madisonville; Dec. 18, 5 p.m., Trinity Episcopal, 1329 Jackson Ave. Selections from Trish Foti Genco’s 2008 Catholic Grammy winning Christmas CD and upcoming album. Other performers: Father Kenny Allen (organ), Anne Chabreck (flute), Helen Maxwell (harp), Karen Ray (cello), principal LPO trumpet player Vance Woolf.  Free admission; donations accepted. tfotigenco.com, [email protected].  
    CHRIST IN THE CITY, an evening of Eucharistic adoration for young adults ages 20s-40s, Dec. 6, 7 p.m., Notre Dame Seminary Chapel, 2901 South Carrollton Ave. Music, silent worship, benediction, confession. Gathering after at Ye Olde College Inn. E-mail [email protected]. Upcoming dates: Jan. 3, Feb. 7, March 6.   
    PEOPLE PROGRAM, creative lifelong learning, registration for spring classes (Jan. 17-May 11), begins Nov. 29, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on three campuses: West Bank (6201 Stratford Place), Tuesday-Thursday, 394-5433; Lakefront (2240 Lakeshore Drive), Monday through Wednesday and Thursday, 284-7678; in Metairie (6017 Camphor St.), Tuesday and Thursday, 454-5900. Registration: $150 for one or more classes. www.peopleprogram.com.

PARISHES
    ST. RITA, Home and School Association’s annual Christmas tree blessing, Nov. 27, 6-7 p.m., parish community center, 7118 Jefferson Hwy., Harahan. Pictures with Santa, Christmas caroling, refreshments. Suggestion: bring unwrapped toy for St. Vincent De Paul toy drive.
    ST. HUBERT, a celebration dinner for Deacon Garland Roussel Jr., for his 10 years of service to the parish, Dec. 3, 5 p.m., parish hall, 176 Anthony Monica St., Garyville. Friends, family, and parishioners are invited. Call (985) 535-3312.
    OUR LADY OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE, annual Parents’ Club Christmas Boutique for students, Dec. 5-9, 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Prices: 50 cents to $5. Gifts wrapped in holiday paper. Public hours: Dec. 7, 4-7 p.m. during Family Night. Proceeds benefit school.
    ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, movie night, Dec. 3, 7 p.m. “Snowmen.” Concessions: $1; benefits youth group. Folsom. (985) 796-3806.
    BLESSED SACRAMENT-ST. JOAN OF ARC, second annual Women’s Prayer Brunch “Women of God: Get Your Inheritance!,” Dec. 3; registration 10 a.m.  Guest speaker: Cynthia Willard-Lewis. Reserved seating: 650-9913; 723-4696; 866-7330. St. Joan of Arc school hall, 919 Cambronne St., New Orleans

SCHOOLS
    XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA, Department of English hosts Katherine Soniat, Nov. 30, 7 p.m., University Center ballroom. Soniat’s works: The Swing Girl” poetry collection, “Raft, A Boat, A Bridge” publishing in 2012, Iowa Poetry Prize winner “A Shared Life.” Soniat teaches workshops in the Great Smokies Writing Program at UNC-Asheville. 520-5155, [email protected]. 
    ST. ANN, school choir performance. Dec. 2, 6:15-6:45 p.m., Celebration in the Oaks. Tickets: $7, for those 3 years old and older. Also, Grandparents Club meeting, Dec. 5, 7 p.m. cafeteria. Speaker: Dr. Ricky Dantagnan; book exchange; $15 membership dues; [email protected]. www.stannschool.org (click Grandparents Club).

OUT OF AREA
    ROSARYVILLE SPIRIT LIFE CENTER, “Advent, Waiting with Mary,” one-day mini-retreat, Nov. 29, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Presenter: Dominican Sister Rose Bowen. Talks, reflection, Mass. Cost: $35, includes lunch.(225) 294-5039. 39003 Rosaryville Road, Ponchatoula.
    ST. JOSEPH SPIRITUALITY CENTER, Advent Retreat, “Just a Closer Walk,” Dec. 3, 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Presenter: Jesuit Father Stephen Sauer. St. Joseph’s Academy dining hall, 3080 Kleinert Ave., Baton Rouge. Fee: $50 (includes lunch). Reflection on Jesus of Nazareth. (225) 383-3349.
    NATIONAL CATHOLIC YOUTH CHOIR, Catholic students entering 10th-12th grade may apply by March 19 for 13th season camp and concert tour, June 12-27, 2012. Register: www.Catholic YouthChoir.org. (320) 363-3154.

COMING
    MAGNIFICAT METAIRIE, Prayer breakfast, Dec. 6, 9 a.m.–noon, Jefferson Orleans South, 2536 Edenborn Ave., Metairie. Speaker: Lisa Winter, wife and mother (one of whom is autistic)  will witness as to how God’s spirit taught her a “battle plan to face trials with courage, holiness and joy.” Reservations $20. Send to: “Magnificat Metairie,” c/o Jane Margavio, 1005 Maryland Ave, Kenner LA 70062.
    ST. VINCENT INFANT AND MATERNITY GUILD, annual Christmas Mass and luncheon, Dec. 6, doors open at 10:15 a.m.; Mass at 11 a.m. Southern Yacht Club, 105 North Roadway, New Orleans. Tickets: $32. Bring unwrapped child’s gift (ages birth to 14) for Catholic Charities. Reservations: 471-0715.
    LEGACY GALA, Dec. 8, Immaculate Conception Church, 130 Baronne St., New Orleans. Mass at 5:15 p.m., followed by second line led by Jeremy Davenport to the Roosevelt Hotel; cocktails at 6 p.m., dinner at 7:15 p.m. a five-course meal by the Besh Restaurant Group and the Roosevelt Hotel, entertainment by Jeremy Davenport and the Wendell Brunious Quartet; live auction including a Rex pin owned by former Immaculate Conception pastor, Father Harry Tompson. Proceeds help restore church’s historic stained glass windows and other parish projects.
    ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, 84th annual Mass honoring St. Lucy of Syracuse, the patron saint of eye diseases, Dec. 10, 4 p.m.  1139 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. (formerly Dryades Street), New Orleans. Celebrant: Jesuit Father Nicholas Schiro. St. Lucy relic offered for veneration after Mass.
    CHRISTMAS MOCK SLEEPOVER, St. Scholastica Academy Royalette Dance team fun night for children in kindergarten through sixth grade, Dec. 9, 6:30-10 p.m., gym, 122 South Massachusetts Ave., Covington. $30 for first child, $20 each additional sibling/ e-mail Laurell [email protected]. Children invited to wear pajamas and dancing shoes.
    ST. FRANCIS XAVIER, Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, Dec. 11, 7 p.m., in church, 444 Metairie Road, Metairie. 834-0340.