Is it time to press the panic button in Tigertown? For the first time since 2008, LSU enters the month of November with little chance of winning the SEC West Division championship. Maybe the loss of 10 underclassmen to the NFL draft was just too much for these Tigers to overcome.

The final week of October will mark the final scramble for positions in the fall sports playoffs. While it won’t mean much to Class 5A football teams classified as “Select,” it will set the stage for the pairings for the State Farm championship volleyball tournament at the Pontchartrain Center on Nov. 14-16.

The church can describe itself as "apostolic" only if it shares the Gospel with the world, remaining faithful to the teaching of the apostles and living out Gospel values, Pope Francis said. “A church closed in on itself and its past, a church concerned only with its little rules, customs and attitudes is a church that betrays its identity,” the pope told more than 70,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square Oct. 16 for his weekly general audience.

Popes throughout the ages have given wisdom and understanding of the Catholic faith through written encyclicals. “Humanae Vitae” is probably one of the most oft-quoted encyclicals written by Pope Paul VI in 1968.

School Sister of Notre Dame  Caroleen Hensgen, died of cancer Oct. 15 at St. Mary of the Pines in Chatawa, Miss., from cancer. She was 98 and an educator for 60 years in Catholic schools. She served as the superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Dallas from 1967-91.

With the 200th anniversary of the Ursuline nuns praying to Our Lady of Prompt Succor for her intercession to win the Battle of New Orleans approaching in 2015, sacristan Thais Carriere wants the Uptown shrine in her honor to be in mint condition.

St. Francis Xavier pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students in Metairie and students from St. Mary’s Academy in New Orleans rode a hayride and picked out pumpkins on a field trip Oct. 18 to the pumpkin patch at St. Bernard Church in St. Bernard.

In order to provide pastoral care for the people of God in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Archbishop Aymond has made the following appointment: PASTOR

Jesuit Father Robert Spitzer has written a remarkable book, “Ten Universal Principles: A Brief Philosophy on the Life Issues,” in which he reverences “The Silver Rule.” Everyone knows “The Golden Rule”: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Notre Dame Seminary is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. When you were rector of the seminary, did you know much about the seminary’s history and its establishment by Archbishop John Shaw? I knew it was Archbishop Shaw who had the dream for the seminary and did the actual groundbreaking.

El Evangelio del Domingo 30 Tiempo Ordinario, Oct. 27. Lc. 18: 9-14 “El Fariseo y El Cobrador de Impuestos” Jesus dirige esta parábola a aquellos que confían en si mismos como justos y desprecian a los demás.

For five straight hours on Nov. 8, the gymnasium at Visitation of Our Lady School in Marrero will be transformed into an extraordinary living museum called “A Day with the Saints,” courtesy of the eighth-grade class.

“Does this look like anyone in this room?” asked Pat Meiklejohn, showing a classroom of Ursuline prekindergartners the cover of her recently published children’s book, “Already a Hero.” Upon closer examination of the book’s cover illustration, the students’ answer was unanimous: “That’s Carmela !” they said, pointing to their pony-tailed classmate, Carmela Juan.

The fact that St. Therese of Lisieux is the patroness of missionaries – yet never traveled outside of her native France – speaks volumes about how everyone , not just global travelers, can fulfill his or her baptismal calling to spread the love of God throughout the world, said Father Jimmy Jeanfreau, speaking to fourth, fifth and sixth graders assembled at Mary Queen of Peace Church in Mandeville for the Oct. 12 celebration of Children’s Mission Day.

Before arriving at church to shoot the wedding, the photographer should introduce himself to the presiding priest at church to inquire about his individual dos and don’ts – guidelines that usually boil down to the answers to two questions: “Where am I permitted to take pictures inside church?” and “Do you allow flash photography?” “Every church is different and every priest has his own little rules,” said Darryl Schmitt, owner of the eponymous photography business based in Metairie.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association issued the following press release Oct. 17: BATON ROUGE, LA (Oct. 17, 2013) — The Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) was pleased to learn that Covington Mayor Mike Cooper and Covington Police Chief Tim Lentz announced this afternoon that they will request the District Attorney to drop the charges of public intimidation against high school officials James Radcliffe and Chris Gambino.

October is pro-life month, and this year a new resource helps teachers of religion at all levels – elementary, high school and in parishes – delve into all aspects of life from womb to tomb. The resource, “Pro-life Calendar 2013 – 30 days to a more consistent ethic of life through prayer, reflection and action,” was created over the summer by St. Mary’s Dominican senior Lily Ryan during an internship with the Louisiana Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (LCADP) and its affiliate REPEAL: Catholics for Justice and Mercy, groups dedicated to ending capital punishment in Louisiana.

Raising a child with emotional, physical or behavioral issues can be daunting when that child is your own. Imagine taking on that responsibility for an at-risk or special-needs foster child. Regularly, the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services contacts Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans (CCANO) Therapeutic Foster Care program for short-term placement of children in a foster home.

One thing is for certain. New Catholic Youth Organization associate directors Brigitte Burke and Chelsea Colomb don’t have to waste time getting acquainted. The two, hired weeks apart this summer for the Archdiocese of New Orleans CYO/Young Adult office, had worked together in youth ministry in the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

Usted hizo un gran revuelo nacional recientemente, con su iniciativa de “recuperar” el domingo, como un día para pasar juntos en el culto y con la familia, al pedirle a las escuelas y otras entidades Católicas, a evitar las prácticas deportivas y otros eventos el domingo.