¿De dónde viene la tradición Católica de la Cuaresma? Está arraigada en el Antiguo Testamento, en la tradición  del arrepentimiento, el ayuno y la oración. La costumbre de usar tela de saco y cenizas pretendía mostrar nuestra realización que necesitamos tener un cambio de corazón a fin de acercarse a Dios y a amar más a los demás.

Deadline: Submissions due Thursday (10 days before each issue) calendar@clarionherald.org (504 area code unless noted) March 10-18 SCHOOLS ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART, Heart and Sole Fun Run, March 11.

The annual Southern Regional Conference of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, based on the theme “As By A New Pentecost,” will be held March 23-25 at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner. The theme is taken from the prayer of Blessed Pope John XXIII for the Second Vatican Council: “Renew your wonders, O Lord, in this our day, as by a new Pentecost.” “I  encourage you to attend this conference to share in that Pentecost personally and to encourage others to be open to the Spirit,” Archbishop Gregory Aymond said.

What prayer does the priest say as he presents the bread to God in preparation for the Eucharistic Prayer and consecration? After receiving the gifts of bread and wine from members of the community during the presentation of the gifts, the priest stands before the altar to prepare the offering before the Eucharistic Prayer.

The Office of Catholic Schools invites the public to attend any of the following town hall meetings to discuss the strategic plan for Catholic schools. The coordinators of the plan, Dr. John Convey and Dr. Leonard DeFiore of The Catholic University of America, are seeking input from those who have children in Catholic schools as well as those who do not.

The first few days of March were arguably the worst for the New Orleans Saints since Hurricane Katrina. Think that is being overdramatic? The Saints could not reach agreement with quarterback Drew Brees on a contract extension.

From the moment they raised the Class 5A basketball championship trophy last March, it was almost a “gimme” that St. Augustine would be back for more in 2012. For 2010 champion Brother Martin, few expected the Crusaders to return to the semifinals for the third consecutive year, but there they were, the crimson and old gold sharing the court with their Gentilly rival last week.

The following parishes, schools and entities of the Archdiocese of New Orleans will host St. Joseph Altar altars this month: ➤  ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL (held at St. Mary’s Church/Old Ursuline Convent, 1116 Chartres St.): March 18, open for viewing only from 1-5 p.m. March 19, Blessing by Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond at 8:30 a.m., with public viewing from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

When life feels like a dark and silent tunnel, faith gives a Christian light and music, Pope Benedict XVI said at the end of his weeklong Lenten retreat. Congolese Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kinshasa led the pope’s retreat Feb. 26-March 3 in the Redemptoris Mater Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, offering the pope and top Vatican officials three meditations each day on the theme “Christians’ Communion With God.” Thanking the cardinal at the end of the retreat, Pope Benedict said Cardinal Monsengwo “seasoned these meditations with beautiful stories – taken mostly from your beloved African land – which gave us joy and helped us.” The pope said he was struck by the cardinal’s story about a friend of his who was in a coma and “had the impression of being in a dark tunnel, but at the end he saw a bit of light and heard beautiful music.” “This can be a parable of our lives,” the pope said.

What is your evaluation of the latest developments concerning the federal mandate that church-related entities provide insurance coverage for abortion-inducing drugs, contraception and sterilization?

Our Lady of Holy Cross College will hold information sessions for its 19-month accelerated business degree program on March 28 and April 26. The program is geared to help working adults earn a bachelor’s degree by attending class on campus one night a week.

The Xavier University of Louisiana Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site is offering free tax preparation and electronic filing of federal and Louisiana income tax returns through April 17 to residents of Louisiana who earned less than $50,000 in 2011.

➤ La disposición que ha creado tanto alboroto no ha cambiado para nada las cosas, sino que todo ha terminado como estaba. Después de todo un día anunciando cambios significativos a este mandato, el departamento de HHS emitió una regulación “sin cambios,” terminando así los trámites de esta disposición emitida originalmente en agosto del 2011.

15 de febrero de 2012 Una Carta a los Católicos a nivel Estatal: El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de los Estados Unidos, dictaminó recientemente, que las instituciones Católicas deben proveer seguro de salud que ofrece esterilizaciones, medicamentos para inducir el aborto y los anticonceptivos.

Deadline: Submissions due Thursday (10 days before each issue) calendar@clarionherald.org (504) area code unless noted March 3-10 PARISHES ST. GENEVIEVE, Society of St. Vincent de Paul,  blood drive, March 4, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. 58203 Hwy.

February 27, 2012 Because of the scholarship program already in place, Catholic schools are often the only opportunity for economically disadvantaged young people to receive a quality education. The Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops therefore supports Governor Jindal’s plan to expand statewide the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence program for the 2012‐13 school year.

Pro-life or pro-birth? Harahan The primary goal of the pro-life movement has been to put an end to abortion by awakening the hearts, minds, and consciences of those who embrace what Pope John Paul II referred to as “the culture of death.” In order to do this, we must be consistent, not selective, on all life issues, or the pro-life movement will be dismissed, as the hypocrisy will be evident.

The 40 days of Lent are a time of spiritual renewal in preparation for Easter, but they also are a time to recognize that evil is at work in the world and even the Catholic Church faces temptations, Pope Benedict XVI said.

Click here for the image gallery As a hospital chaplain at Touro Infirmary, Father Douglas Brougher experiences through the eyes of a pastoral minister the suffering that patients regularly endure. One of the amazing things about his ministry, he told priests, deacons and religious  who were celebrating anniversaries of ordination or religious profession March 4, is that people who live with a “spirit of gratitude” offer incredible testimony to the power of faith in their lives.

(Click here for pictures of Charles Anthony in various roles at the Metropolitan Opera) In a previous life – in the 1980s – I lived in New York and covered the New York Jets, a star-crossed NFL franchise suffering from Post-Traumatic Namath Syndrome.