We’ve been practicing the command of “wait” in my household. Sitting expectantly, my puppy looks attentively – for about five seconds. Then her eyes start to wander.

Brother Martin seniors helped organize a “Day of the Dead” program at thier school. From left, top row: Chris Meyer, Elliot Martinez, Jackson Anuskiewicz, Griffin Ervin and Spanish IV teacher Aaron Reller. Seated:  Tyler Hoang, Vidal Amador-Flores and Michael Armbruster. 

“Multi-tasking” has a special meaning for a small clutch of residents at Rouquette Lodge IV, a Christopher Homes-managed apartment complex in Mandeville. Nearly every day, a half-dozen women in their 70s, 80s and 90s gather in Rouquette’s community room for some lively fellowship, while crocheting snuggly blankets and hats for newborns.

When Father Herb Kiff, pastor of Mater Dolorosa Parish in New Orleans, first met Galina Kuleshova-Baricev from Ukraine four years ago, he could see pain through her tears, even though he didn’t understand all the words spoken in her language.

Dennis Adams was attending St. Peter Church in Covington in 2004 when it looked as though his dream of becoming a permanent deacon might be going up prematurely in smoke – and it was not the kind of white smoke emanating from the Sistine Chapel.

Mirabile Dictu – the International Catholic Film Festival in Rome – bestowed high honors last week on a local documentary by Storyville Films entitled “The Monumental Journey.” The 40-minute documentary depicts the “journey” associated with the crafting of a white Carrara marble statue of Pope John Paul II by Italian-born sculptor Franco Alessandrini, right, who has lived in New Orleans for the last 50 years

Hundreds of Catholic faithful venerated first-class relic of St. John Vianney, the patron saint of priests, during the weekend of Dec. 1-2 at St. Rita Church in New Orleans. A relic is a physical object associated with someone who has been declared a saint. The object is not worshipped but venerated as a sign of the person’s holiness.

Grandparents throughout the Archdiocese of New Orleans descended Nov. 1 on the Academy of Our Lady campus in Marrero for the recent Grandparents’ Day. Grandparents were invited to campus to celebrate All Saints’ Day for Mass with their granddaughters. Prior to Mass, grandparents and students were treated to coffee and donuts.

St. Mary’s Dominican High School Scholarship recipients are, front row, from left, seated: Lauryn Ancar, Emma Bertaut, Isabella Bordelon, McKinley Bordelon, Victoria Bordelon, Emma Clesi, Riley Crespo, Sophia delCorral, Victoria Despenza, and Avery Donnelly. Standing: Rocio Gaitan, Maria Garcia, Emily Giacona, Carly Langford, Chyra Lee, Aria Lewis, Elizabeth McCabe, Emma Nichols, Mary Grace Ohler, Andelyn Passantino, Mia Signorelli, Carolyn Sosa and Laila Young.

Capping off a series of three holidays recognized by many Americans and Christians as connections to their deceased loved ones, St. Paul’s School in Covington held a “Day of the Dead” ceremony Nov. 2. It followed the annual All Saints’ Day School Mass in the Briggs Assembly Center. 

Sister of St. Joseph Patricia Brandner (formerly Sister Joseph Louise), who served for 26 years as an assistant principal and guidance counselor at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini School in New Orleans, died Nov. 24 at Mount St. Mary Convent in Wichita, Kansas. She was 91 and had served for 74 years in religious life.

“Prepare the way of the Lord” echoes the words of the Prophet Isaiah and St. John the Baptist. As St. John the Baptist prepared the way for the coming of Christ, so are we called to do so within our hearts. As you drive around New Orleans, you see the “Keep Christ in Christmas” bumper stickers and billboards.

Pope Francis last week finished up his catechesis on the Ten Commandments at his general audience in Rome. What struck you about his teaching? For decades, popes have used their weekly audience as a time to teach and call us to discipleship.

La semana pasada, el Papa Francisco terminó su catequesis sobre los Diez Mandamientos en su audiencia general en Roma. ¿Qué le llamó la atención de su enseñanza?

The numbers are awe-inspiring – $1.6 million raised locally and $5.6 million raised nationwide for participating ministries, parishes, schools and nonprofits during the 24-hour, #iGiveCatholic online giving campaign on Nov. 27.

Did he live up to his moniker? When LSU cornerback Greedy Williams declared for the NFL draft, he also said he would skip LSU’s Fiesta Bowl game against Central Florida.

Dec. 9-Jan. 11 EVENTS; A GARDEN DISTRICT CHRISTMAS CONCERT, Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Dec. 9, at 4 p.m., preceding 5 p.m. Mass. 1307 Louisiana Ave., New Orleans.  New Orleans’ finest musicians with the Good Shepherd Choir. Mixture of the familiar and unfamiliar compositions by Adolphe Adam, Jehan Alain, Georges Bizet, Benjamin Britten, Charles Gounod, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Cesar Franck, Calvin Hampton, Nicola A. Montani and Pietro A. Yon. Free-will donation will be accepted.  Details: 227-3793.

Father Harry Joseph Adams, the founding pastor of Our Lady of the Angels Parish in Waggaman and the former pastor of St. Joachim Parish in Marrero, died on Nov. 20. He was 79 years old and had served for 50 years as a priest.

Sister of St. Joseph Mildred Guillot, a native of Natchitoches who served for 75 years in religious life, died at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge on Nov. 22. She was 92.

Sister of Mount Carmel Margaret Safford, who served for 66 years in religious life, died Nov. 4 at Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare Center in New Orleans.  She was 86 years old.