On Aug. 25, people across the nation were shocked and disgusted by Miley Cyrus’ performance at the Video Music Awards. That night, the following morning and even today, people continue to talk about the performance in a negative light.

A group of St. Augustine High School leadership and alumni gathered at the school’s campus Aug. 17 for the school’s first Alumni Summit. The purpose of the event was to bring together all of St. Aug’s alumni and chapters, to build strong relationships and to promote consistency with all fund-raising partners.

The arrow for LSU football is pointing up. “We have a lot of momentum in our program,” said LSU head coach Les Miles. “We have guys who are very motivated.” If subliminal man from Saturday Night Live was standing alongside, he would do the immediate translation.

Fall may not be in the air yet, but the first sports season is definitely off to a rousing start. And I’m seeing state championship caliber performances in football and volleyball. A few observations: It didn’t take St. Augustine’s Leonard Fournette long to show a crowd of about 13,000 spectators why he is the nation’s No.

The stories emerging from behind the Vatican walls about the “cold-call pope” – the man in the white cassock who, out of the blue, has been telephoning strangers who have written to him with petitions, sorrows or ethical dilemmas – reveal a pontiff who understands what it means to be a priest and a pastor.

“No more war. War never again,” was Archbishop Gregory Aymond’s plea to the several hundred gathered Sept. 7 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor on State Street to pray for peace in Syria.

Martyrs for the faith come in all descriptions and provide examples of heroic witness against racism and other forms of injustice, Archbishop Gregory Aymond said at a racial harmony prayer service Sept. 5 at St. Angela Merici Parish in Metairie.

In order to provide for the pastoral care to the Hispanic communities in the two Northshore deaneries, Archbishop Aymond has made the following appointment: Rev. Angel Antonio Diaz-Perez, O.P. to work with the Hispanic Apostolate effective Aug. 31, 2013.

After years of writing books and columns, I’ve discovered a new way to communicate. I’ve taken to Twitter, which I’ve found to be yet another channel I can use to help others grow in joy and in spirit.

Pope Francis recalled his July 22-28 visit to Rio de Janeiro, thanking his Brazilian hosts for their warm welcome and describing World Youth Day celebrations there as a great party of faith. The pope made his remarks Sept. 4 during his weekly public audience in St. Peter’s Square.

You announced plans this week to begin preparations for an archdiocesan synod. First of all, can you explain what a synod is? In its simplest form, a diocesan synod is a gathering of priests, religious and laity that has the objective of getting feedback and ideas and then advising the bishop on priorities for ministry, diocesan policies and pastoral care.

Academy of Our Lady recently held elections for Student Council Class Representatives and 8th Grade Officers. Seniors elected are: Hunter Picard, Jasmine Dorsey, Alyssa Hinds, Jordan Simmons and Brooke Pereira.

Since 2008, the St. Vincent de Paul Friends of the Poor Walk/Run has attracted walkers across the country to support their local special works projects. Last year, more than $1.8 million was raised at 220 sites nationwide.

Academy of Our Lady Senior Marley Schaefer is following in the footsteps of her mother, Tracey Tourelle Schaefer, a 1990 graduate of Immaculata;  and her grandmother, Cheryl Tourelle. All three are  extraordinary ministers of holy Communion.

Fourteen months ago, Tasha Duplantis arrived at Project Lazarus with a garbage bag filled with three changes of clothes. HIV-positive since 1996 and fresh from 28 days of rehab for an addiction to cocaine, she was finally drug-free but felt worthless.

Briana Lawson’s account of “What I Did Last Summer” is unique, to put it mildly. For example, it is highly probable that Lawson is the only local teen to have spent part of her summer witnessing a real heart valve transplant, an artificial heart procedure, a hysterectomy and a full-knee replacement.

On Aug. 28, 1963, at the historic “March on Washington,” Washington Archbishop Patrick O’Boyle addressed these words to the 300,000 Americans of diverse races who rallied together for civil and economic rights for African Americans: “(God) bless this nation and all its people.

The Marists will celebrate their 150-year history in the New Orleans area Sept. 12 on the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary with a 5 p.m. Mass at St. Michael Church in Convent, La. Father Michael Keating, the provincial of the Marist fathers and brothers of the United States, will concelebrate with other Marist priests.

The Daughters of Divine Providence, a religious order founded in Italy in 1832, embarks on a new mission in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico – building an “internata,” a home away from home where village children in first through eighth grade will live while attending the local school.

Del 17 al 19 de septiembre, casi 350 sacerdotes y obispos de la Provincia de Nueva Orleáns, que abarca todo el estado de Luisiana, se reunirán en Nueva Orleáns para la Convención de Sacerdotes de Luisiana.