Joan Ory, mother of Marie Ory Dupont whom a scholarship at St. Charles Catholic was named, recently presented money to the following students who wrote top-notch essays – bottom row, left to right: Mallory Brignac, Callie Henry and Grace Richoux.

Academy of Our Lady senior Gisselle Balleza of Gretna has received the Gulf Coast NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing. Sponsored by the National Center for Women and  Information Technology (NCWIT) and the University of South Alabama, this award honors young women at the high school level for their computing-related achievements and interests.

Selected to perform in the District VI Honor Band were these St. Mary’s Dominican students: Isabella Brockway, Kate Heller, Abigail Pratt, junior high honor band; and Alexis Favalora, Lan Le, Andrea Garces and Samantha Siliezar, senior high honor band.

St. Mary’s Dominican High School students inducted into NAHS, f ront row, from left: Camryn Wisniewski, Emma Wehlen, Natalie Rodriguez-Ema, Madison Lewis, Chloé Lemoine, Logan Jackson, Catherine Elvir, Celia Candies, Marian Boyd and Elizabeth Bourg.

As the season of Lent has begun, Loyola University New Orleans presents the 2017 Lenten Series: “Ignatian Spirituality: The Virtues of the Spiritual Exercises.” The Lenten series will host four talks that center on the Ignatian virtues based on the chapters of Jesuit Father Jerry Fagin’s book, “Putting on the Heart of Christ.” Each talk will be held on a Wednesday evening during Lent at 7 p.m. in the Ignatius Chapel, located in Bobet Hall at the center of Loyola’s main campus, 6363 St. Charles Ave. All are welcome.

The Archdiocesan Morning of Spirituality for Men will be held March 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 4640 Canal St., New Orleans. The theme for the gathering will be “As God Is My Witness,” featuring attorney Ralph Capitelli and U.S. District Judge Jay Zainey.

One of the things I’ve gotten used to is the growing number of baby announcements among my circle of friends. I’ve transitioned from the marriage phase into the child phase in a relatively brief period of time.

The appropriate question to ask Pope John Paul II High School senior Michelle Hasenkampf is when she finds the time to sleep. In the last three years, Hasenkampf has taken eight Advanced Placement (AP) exams in various subjects – English language and composition; psychology; U.S. history; environmental science; English literature and composition; comparative government and politics; world history; and biology – and scored a perfect 5 on each of them.

People are beginning to starve to death in South Sudan. The United Nations has formally declared that a state of famine exists in this east African nation, with 100,000 people immediately facing starvation, and 1 million additional South Sudanese teetering on the brink of famine.

Deacon Peter “Pete” B. Schlette Sr., who was ordained to the permanent diaconate for the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1996, died Feb. 19 at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge after a long illness.

Deacon Walter Beyer, who spent a lifetime masterfully painting church interiors, died Feb. 17 at the age of 98. A native of Savannah, Georgia, Deacon Beyer grew up in New Orleans and graduated from Alcee Fortier High School.

Deacon Garland L. Bourgeois Jr., a former New Orleans police officer who served for more than 36 years as a permanent deacon, died Feb. 16. He was 75. A native of New Orleans, Deacon Bourgeois was a longtime resident of Kenner and resided in Bayou Gauche, Louisiana, after Hurricane Katrina.

Jesuit Father Louis A. “Doc” Poché, who served as a high school teacher, university chaplain, retreat master and pastor, died Feb. 7 at the Jesuit retirement community in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. He was 91 years old, a Jesuit for 74 years and a priest for 61 years.

Deadline: Submissions due Thursday (10 days before each issue) calendar@clarionherald.org (504) area code unless noted March 7-20 PARISHES SALA, meeting for ladies of St. Angela Merici parish, March 7, 7 p.m., Kern Center (gym).

Humanity’s greed and selfishness can turn creation into a sad and desolate world instead of the sign of God’s love that it was meant to be, Pope Francis said. Human beings are often tempted to view creation as “a possession we can exploit as we please and for which we do not have to answer to anyone,” the pope said Feb. 22 at his weekly general audience.

Nick Parker reached a milestone in his basketball career at Loyola University on Feb. 23 when he scored his 1,000th career point in the Wolf Pack’s 91-81 victory over William Carey College in Ellisville, Mississippi.

It was Mardi Gras week, but he was grinding away at his craft, as always. If Jordan Hunter, a senior at St. Augustine High School, wanted to throw a party, you couldn’t blame him. What Hunter has done in one year is well … amazing.

Andrea Williams followed Ursuline Academy’s state championship season in 2015-16 with another stellar campaign during which the Lions produced a 20-9 record and a share of the District 9-4A title. Brooklyn Mitchell, right, took charge of the Ursuline Academy offense while All-State teammate Kourtney Weber was unable to compete because of knee surgery.

While undertaking the emotionally charged, often painful work of reviewing the cases of those seeking an annulment of their marriage, Dominican Sister of Peace Judene Lillie always recognizes the dejected adults before her as the beloved sons and daughters of God.

Abbigail Alonzo,  junior at Mount Carmel Academy. Life-changing isn’t the word. Mount Carmel Academy’s junior retreat was a spectacular experience that included many laughs, tears and hugs! The theme “Friendship” was fitting, as junior year is a year of forming lifelong bonds.