The Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese of New Orleans invites everyone to kick off the charitable season by taking part in the fourth-annual #iGiveCatholic Giving Day on Tuesday, Nov. 27. The 24-hour online giving event is held in conjunction with #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media. 

The week before Thanksgiving, I learned of a friend’s passing. Usually, I immediately disregard the campus-wide e-mails, but for some reason, I clicked on this one.  As it opened, it told the story not of death, but of life: of a life marked by strength and determination, but – above all – optimism.

Third graders at Stuart Hall School for Boys sprang into action when they learned that many hospital chaplains, priests, extraordinary ministers of holy Communion and others who minister to the sick and dying had a dwindling supply of rosaries to offer their patients.

Our new baby is due in January, right after the new year, and one question everybody seems to ask is, “Do you know if you’re having a boy or a girl?” The answer is, “Not yet.” Most often, we get the response of, “Why? Don’t you want to know?” 

The Brother Martin Crusaders for Life and Justice Team coordinated a Respect Life Week recently that included adoption, the death penalty  and abortion. Positive facts about adoption were posted in the hallways on the first day to call attention to the beauty of adoption. Junior T.J. Burgess read the morning prayer and explained that adoption is not giving up a child but rather giving the child a better chance at life.

Lying or being inauthentic is seriously wrong because it hinders or harms human relationships, Pope Francis said. “Where there are lies, there is no love, one cannot have love,” he said Nov. 14 during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square.

St. Paul’s will have its task of repeating as champion of the Allstate Sugar Bowl CYO Basketball Tournament cut out when it joins a lineup of 12 teams for opening night on Nov. 27. The Wolves, winners of two of the last three CYO championships, will begin pursuit  of the classic’s 65th title when they meet Newman at Holy Cross in a 7:30 p.m. Pool D game on Nov. 28, the second day of the classic.  

Ellie Holzman’s departure from the local high school volleyball scene will be a bitter-sweet occasion. Bitter for Mount Carmel, whose side of the net she has ruled since her sophomore season in 2016, and sweet for every opponent on the Cubs’ 2019 schedule.

Archbishop Gregory Aymond, above, accompanies Tania Tetlow down the aisle of Holy Name of Jesus Church Nov. 16 following her formal inauguration as the 17th president of Loyola University New Orleans. Tetlow, who grew up in Holy Name of Jesus Parish and graduated from Harvard Law School, is one of four women to lead the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S.

BALTIMORE (CNS) – The U.S. bishops overwhelmingly approved a pastoral letter against racism Nov. 14 during their fall general meeting at Baltimore.

Queridos hermanos: si observamos a nuestro alrededor, verán que, por estos días, muchos comienzan a poner los adornos navideños. Los programas y anuncios de televisión no tratan otro tema que Acción de Gracias, las Navidades y la compra de regalos. Y para muchos de nosotros, este domingo no quiere decir nada salvo que queda una semana menos para las Navidades. 

BALTIMORE (CNS) –  U.S. bishops admitted during a wide-ranging discussion during their fall general assembly that parishioners are angry and continually ask how a charismatic clergyman was able to rise through church ranks despite widespread knowledge of allegations that he sexually abused seminarians and boys.

Every Wednesday when the 10:30 a.m. bell rings, the students of Mount Carmel Academy embark on an encounter with Christ in one of the most intimate ways – through their “Come, Lord Jesus” sessions.  Once inside a designated classroom, students are greeted by their leader with a candle, a Bible and a smile. Their only worry: What if they run out of time before they talk about everything? 

NOVEMBER 24 St. Augustine Church, 1210 Governor Nicholls St., New Orleans, Christmas Angel Toy Drive continues. Toy collection ends Dec. 8 and will be distributed Dec. 15 at 10 a.m. in the parish hall for ages 3-12. Contact Debra Jackson. For more info, call the office, 520-0642, or the rectory, 525-5934.

“Adoption is life-changing for a child, providing not only a family but a sense of belonging that can buoy a child’s spirit and serve as the foundation they need to reach their fullest potential,” said Louisiana First Lady Donna Edwards at the state’s 20th annual Adoption Celebration held in November in Baton Rouge. November is National Adoption Awareness Month.

Outlined below is a summary of the November 2018 meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). This is not an official summary but from my personal notes. At the end of the summary is the statement from Cardinal Daniel DiNardo summarizing our two-day deliberations.

Retired Auxiliary Bishop Dominic Carmon, S.V.D., was remembered Nov. 17 at his Funeral Mass at St. Louis Cathedral as a humble, dedicated priest and bishop who always put the needs of others before his own.

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, president of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, offered the following statement at the close of the Fall General Assembly Nov. 12-14: Brothers, I opened the meeting expressing some disappointment. I end it with hope.

A continuación, se hace un resumen de la reunión de noviembre de 2018, de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos (USCCB por sus siglas en inglés). Esto no es un resumen oficial, pero son mis notas personales. Al final del resumen, se encuentra en la declaración del cardenal DiNardo, que resume nuestras deliberaciones de dos días.

It is a smash hire by the University of Kansas football team. Getting one Leslie Miles to coach the Jayhawks football team gives the school instant credibility and instant exposure. The networks can trot out all the video of the former LSU coach eating grass and denying his interest in the Michigan job.