Personnel moves can either sink or elevate an NFL franchise. In 2003, the Saints spent two first-round picks on defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan. In 36 career games, Sullivan produced 1.5 quarterbacks sacks.

I had the great blessing in July of being in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, for the 5th Missionary Congress of the Americas. The congress happens every five years and has an even longer history as the Missionary Congress of Latin America. 

Autumn is upon us. We may not know it in the weather, but the flavors of pumpkin, spices and apples are everywhere. It’s something that my husband brings up each time we grocery shop: pumpkin spice everything. We even found pumpkin spice dental bones for dogs. 

On Sept. 11, St. Scholastica Academy (SSA) honored local heroes to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.  St. Scholastica’s volleyball team invited active military, veterans and first responders to the junior varsity and varsity Appreciation Matches, where the school community recognized and thanked St. Tammany Parish service members. 

As a football player at Jesuit and Southern Miss under coaches Jay Pittman and Jeff Bower, respectively, Mark Bonis was well prepared to some day lead his own team into battle from the sideline.

Twenty agencies involved in helping with the issue of alcohol and drug abuse were on hand at Mary Queen of Peace Church Sept. 27 as Catholic Charities and the Substance Addiction Ministry (SAM) presented the third of six planned workshops titled, “You Are Not Alone.” 

Josephite Father John E. O’Hallaran, who served as pastor of Corpus Christi, St. Leo the Great, St. Raymond and All Saints parishes and whose love for sports energized his ministry, died Sept. 2 in Red Bank, New Jersey.

For four years as director of campus ministry at Cabrini High, Laura Arand brought her own perspective as a young-adult Catholic to teenage girls preparing for life in the wider world – planning Masses that responded to their interests, acquainting them with social justice issues and keeping her office door open at lunchtime for any student who wanted to drop by and just talk.

Josephite Father Oswald Pierre-Jules, St. David Church’s pastor in the Lower 9th Ward,  knew he was loved by his parishioners but felt something was missing. He wanted to know them better.

Two very different men, facing different sets of dire challenges with prophetic courage, faithfully journeyed along two different paths to the same destination: sainthood! Who would have predicted it?

Here’s the “Final Jeopardy!” answer for those who think they know everything about the local church: “As part of the Ninth General Synod of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, it is known as Priority No. 4, Goal No. 1.”

Father Paul Scalia, son of the late United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and vicar for clergy for the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, delivered the homily at the annual Red Mass on Oct. 1 at St. Louis Cathedral, attended by members of the legal profession.

The 2018 St. Elizabeth Guild Volunteer activists were named at a luncheon. They are, front row from left, Diann M. Sanborn, Hall of Famer Carol Porter, Carol Short and Debbie Albert. Back row, Ann Duffy, Ann Heslin, Hall of Famer Mark Suprenant, Allison Giffin Talley, Alfred E. Stacey IV and Todd Matherne.

You and your brother bishops across the country have been deeply affected by the reports of clergy sexual abuse. Two weeks ago you talked about this with your priests. What did you tell them?

Yesterday, as my oldest child studied Spanish, she stated, “Did you know God speaks every language?” It is quite possibly one of the most beautiful things she has said. In that statement, she proved that God is universal, all loving, all understanding and all knowing.

During times of freedom or persecution, the Gospel is needed to bring meaning, fullness and hope to life, Pope Francis said. Speaking about his Sept. 22-25 visit to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, the pope said he visited these Baltic nations as they celebrated the 100th anniversary of their declarations of independence.

Brother Martin Choir members, from left, Robbie McDonald, Chase Lormand, Hunter Dunn and Keelan Didier were named to the all-state honor choir.

Please send event announcements two weeks before each issue to calendar@clarionherald.org

Usted y sus hermanos obispos en todo el país, se han visto profundamente afectados por los informes de abuso sexual del clero. Hace dos semanas habló de esto con sus sacerdotes. ¿Qué les ha dicho?

ST. MICHAEL SCHOOL, 1522 Chippewa St., New Orleans: The mission of St. Michael School is to provide a Catholic environment where students with special educational needs are able to grow in faith and reach their full potential – academically, socially and physically. St. Michael has an Upper School that is specialized to meet the individual needs of its students while also providing a typical high school experience.