News - September 2012 RSS Feed

I recently read an article concerning being connected to one’s spouse. Dr. Sue Johnson, in her book “Hold Me Tight,” states that “a sense of secure connection … is a key in positive loving relationships and a huge source of strength.” Johnson goes on to say most fights are really protests over the fear of emotional disconnection.

Why is it that so many marriages, even after all the good intentions, careful planning and faithful promises, end in divorce? Studies might point to inadequate communication skills, lack of education, insufficient finances and poor effort as the reasons for divorce.

Anyone who was married after Hurricane Katrina at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church – the gold-domed church visible from the I-10 across from the Superdome – collaborated with Mary Ann Ciravolo. Ciravolo was the volunteer wedding coordinator for the downtown church until just before her death in 2011.

Once, when I was in graduate school, I was having a conversation with one of my professors concerning the upcoming marriage of a fellow grad student. We were sharing our thoughts, excitement and joy about the moment, when he suddenly made the off-hand comment, “I don’t understand what motivates anyone to get married anymore.

El 24 de septiembre, sacerdotes, presidentes de las escuelas, los directores y los jefes de las comunidades religiosas se reunirán para discutir el plan estratégico para las escuelas Católicas de la Arquidiócesis.

Deadline: Submissions due Thursday (10 days before each issue) calendar@clarionherald.org (504) area code unless noted Sept. 29-Oct. 6 PARISHES ST. RITA, Knights of Columbus, fourth annual car show, Sept. 29, 6-9 p.m., schoolyard, 7100 Jefferson Hwy., Harahan.

Pope Benedict XVI said his three-day trip to Lebanon convinced him that now is the time for Christians and Muslims to bear witness together against violence and in favor of dialogue and peace. In Lebanon, he said, Muslims “welcomed me with great respect,” and their presence at each of his public events “gave me an opportunity to launch a message of dialogue and cooperation between Christianity and Islam.” “I believe the time has come to give a sincere and decisive witness together against divisions, against violence and against war,” the pope said Sept. 19 at his weekly general audience.

With October’s arrival, we should remember that October is reserved as the month of Mary. This year, in particular, we should do all that we can to preserve October as not only the “respect life” month but also use this month as a devotion to Mary, praying for her intercession for our country.

The 12-10 LSU win over Auburn was a head-scratcher. LSU’s offensive line, thought to be one of the strengths of a national title contender, struggled against Auburn’s defensive front. Quarterback Zach Mettenberger, in his first SEC road start, looked more like a game manager than game changer.

The rebirth of the Archbishop Hannan Football Classic has served a two-fold objective: It enabled prep football followers to get a sneak preview at the Catholic League in 2013 while allowing the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) to raise  funds for the competing high schools.

Archbishop Gregory Aymond will formally consecrate the new 450-seat St. Katharine Drexel Chapel at Xavier University of Louisiana with a Mass Oct. 6 at 4 p.m. The chapel is the culmination of years of planning, and it is the first chapel ever designed by world-renowned architect Cesar Pelli, who will attend the invitation-only Mass and reception .

Regina and Kenny Heine of Metairie first got the news that something might be wrong with their unborn child during a prenatal exam. Because Regina was approaching her mid-30s, doctors recommended that she be screened by a perinatologist, who is well versed in the associated risk factors with what is termed “advanced maternal age.” And now, the grainy image on the ultrasound screen was sending out warning signals to those who could read the digital tea leaves.

With jobs, the demands of raising children and relentless technology consuming modern family life, getting adults to attend parish programming can be a tough sell, no matter how engaging the content.

Loyola University New Orleans launched its Presidential Centennial Guest Series Sept. 20 with an address by Archbishop Gregory Aymond on “Catholic Education: The Gifts and Challenges in 2012 and Beyond.” A brief discussion followed by Jesuit Father Kevin Wildes, president, Loyola University New Orleans; Dr. Norman C. Francis, president, Xavier University of Louisiana; and Dr. Ronald Ambrosetti, president, Our Lady of Holy Cross College.

Kristi Jacobs, the theatre director and acting and fine arts survey teacher at Mount Carmel Academy, loves Shakespeare. Wanting to share her enthusiasm beyond producing his plays, Jacobs devised a two-pronged approach for her upcoming run of “The Comedy of Errors”: educate her student-actors about the intricacies of Shakespeare’s work, and develop cross-curricular Shakespeare lessons plans for elementary schools attending the production.

The Catholic faith is the cornerstone of everything at Archbishop Chapelle High School, said Constance Buisson, the school’s director of institutional advancement, Sept. 20 at the school’s 11th annual community breakfast at Chateau Golf and Country Club in Kenner.

Parishioners at St. Katharine Drexel Parish in New Orleans celebrated a Creole Mass Sept. 23, courtesy of Father Jean Francois Tristant, pastor of Notre Dame Des Sept Douleurs in Grand Boulage, Haiti.

ST. BENEDICT – Fire damaged the main administration building at St. Joseph Abbey early Wednesday, but Archbishop Gregory Aymond said there were no injuries and educational activities at St. Joseph Seminary College would resume on Thursday.

Most Holy Trinity Church is bursting at the seams, having outgrown the temporary worship space on the Highway 190 Service Road in Covington it has called home for almost six years. But, in the coming months, Most Holy Trinity parishioners will see progress on a new church site to be built on 365 acres owned by the Archdiocese of New Orleans, off Judge Tanner Road in Mandeville.