Even children in the earliest grades can perform meaningful acts of charity to make the world a better place. Case in point: The 15 first graders at St. Benedict the Moor, led by their teacher Sharon Campbell, recently collaborated on a hands-on service project called “Care for God’s Creatures” in which they mixed and kneaded dough using a recipe for dog biscuits.

Although Beth Dillmann has never wavered in her belief that an unborn baby at any stage of development is a complete human being, she only became truly active in the pro-life movement when she began teaching science to middle-schoolers at Holy Name of Jesus in 1989.

Archbishop Gregory Aymond responded today to the announcement by Pope Benedict XVI that he would resign on Feb. 28.

Con el “Super Bowl XLVII” arrancando el domingo, ¿Cómo se describiría usted, como aficionado al fútbol? ¿Ha evolucionado eso a través de los años? Definitivamente que sí. Yo nunca he sido una persona que pasaría el sábado o el domingo por la tarde viendo fútbol en TV.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Kenner will host the 25th annual Holy Face Triduum Feb. 10-12, beginning each night with a scriptural rosary at 6:30 p.m., followed by Mass at 7 p.m. and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Deadline: Submissions due Thursday (10 days before each issue) calendar@clarionherald.org (504) area code Feb. 9-17 EVENTS CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL WESTBANK, prayer meeting, Mass, healing service, Feb. 13.

St. John the Baptist Church, which since Hurricane Katrina has been open only for the celebration of weddings and funerals, has begun celebrating a vigil Mass every Saturday at 4 p.m. to meet the pastoral needs of parishioners.

Beyond the millions of dollars generated for the local economy by Super Bowl XLVII, archdiocesan nonprofits came away big winners in the “Super Service Challenge” sponsored by the Brees Dream Foundation and Companies With A Mission.

Asparagus sandwiches. My family jokingly gave up asparagus sandwiches every Lent growing up, as it was something we had no problem doing. We DID NOT LIKE asparagus sandwiches. Sacrifice? I think not.

When the Christian creed refers to God as "father," it is affirming a trust that the God who created the universe loves each individual and will never abandon anyone, Pope Benedict XVI said. “It isn’t always easy” to explain to people what it means to believe in God the father, especially when today’s fathers and their children experience such difficulty communicating with each other, the pope said Jan. 30 at his general audience.

When Jesus called his 12 apostles, he asked them to leave behind their livelihoods, their families, all that they knew, to follow him. In a word, Jesus was asking for change, and his apostles were willing to accept that change in order to follow Jesus.

With the LHSAA principals voting 206-119 for a “split” football playoff, I have many questions. How can some “select” schools (privates, magnets, charters) meet at several locations around the state and talk about forming a new association without John Curtis and Evangel?

The annual World Day of Consecrated Life will be celebrated in the Archdiocese of New Orleans on Feb. 16 at Xavier University of Louisiana with a 30-minute prayer service led by Archbishop Gregory Aymond and a viewing of “Women in Spirit,” a video that traces the history of women religious in North America starting with the Ursulines.

Catholic churches in the Central Business District of New Orleans will celebrate Ash Wednesday, Feb. 13,  and Lenten Masses as follows: >  St. Louis Cathedral will offer Masses at 7:30 a.m., noon and 5 p.m. on Ash Wednesday, with ashes distributed at all Masses following the homily.

The stigma of being an ex-con still haunts Kevin McCarthy, even three decades after he’s been sober, out of jail and earned a doctorate degree in clinical psychology. Knowing the pain and shame that families and friends endure when a loved is imprisoned, McCarthy – who is now retired – is making it his life’s work to help others through his Christian-based nonprofit, the Dismas Project and Knowetics Institute.

The pain of losing a dynamic pastor in the prime of his priestly ministry was apparent Feb. 2 at the packed funeral Mass for Father Michael­Joseph Nguyen, pastor of Resurrection of Our Lord Church in New Orleans East since 2003.

Msgr. Robert G. Vincent, who died Jan. 29 at the age of 83, knew the Bible far better than most, but his erudite nature might have been overshadowed by his good humor and ability to relate easily to people of all ages, Archbishop Gregory Aymond said.

Blessing and distribution of ashes The blessing and imposition of ashes takes place only on Ash Wednesday, ordinarily during the celebration of the Eucharist. If the Eucharist is not celebrated, the blessing and distribution is to take place within the celebration of the Liturgy of the Word.

Archbishop Hannan High School celebrated more than the blessing of new buildings with a 25th anniversary Mass on Jan. 31. When alumni, students, parents, teachers and friends gathered on the campus, they were also celebrating the building of new bridges – bridges between the school’s past in St. Bernard and its future in western St. Tammany.