Leah Kennedy of De La Salle won the girls’ shot put at the Jim Bickford Invitational Track and Field meet at Chalmette High School on March  15. Kennedy’s winning throw of 38 feet, 5 inches edged second-place Bailey Braud of Cabrini.

Former players and friends of retired Archbishop Shaw baseball coach Pat O’Shea gather around him to celebrate the school’s naming its home team dugout in his name at a ceremony on March 16. O’Shea, an alumnus of Jesuit and longtime coach at Shaw, is battling colon cancer. A group of more than 100 joined O’Shea in the ceremony.

The Lenten season is a time for reflection. And there are many years of reflection in this boy’s life, both personally and professionally, that come to mind at this time. I often think about my grandmother taking me to 11:30 a.m. Mass at St. Rose de Lima Church after I received my first Communion.

I’m lucky to have many memories with my great-grandparents. They were the ones to pick us up from school, up until high school. They invented games for us to play, always had hidden surprises in the house and gave us a model for living a faithful life and trusting in God. My favorite image of my great-grandfather is his church attire: always in a suit, with a tie, his nice belt buckle and a fedora.

It was easy to remember the pronunciation of Father Nicholas Pericone’s last name. Whenever he was new to a parish, he would demonstrate a “pair of ice cream conies” with his hands.

Nine years ago, Emily Abry Barré found herself in the middle of a literal crossfire on the streets of New Orleans. When two men began shooting at one another from their respective vehicles, Barré was the innocent – and unlucky – driver lodged between them. She walked away unharmed, but shaken.

When a disciple of Jesus takes his or her prophetic baptismal call seriously, that person’s words and actions live on long after he or she leaves this world. An outstanding example of this truth is found in the prophetic discipleship of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. who with selfless courage, faithfully lived out his God-given mission 50 years ago – albeit ending tragically too short.

Amy Yacorzynski’s lifelong fascination with seeking answers to questions she had landed her as a contestant on the game show “Jeopardy!” Her segment aired Thursday, March 15. “I’d call it an out-of-body experience with lights and cameras,” Yacorzynski said about being a contestant. “I don’t think I really warmed up until two-thirds of the way through the program.”

“What exactly is Creole?” This is one of the most common questions I receive when people hear that I do research related to Creoles in New Orleans. Depending on how one approaches the question, the answer is either quite simple or very complex. At the most basic level, “creole” refers to being born in, or of, the Americas. In this sense, the word was applied not only to people but also to livestock or produce raised in the Americas.

All students, faculty and staff of St. Augustine High School began exams on March 14 with 17 minutes of prayer to join a nationwide memorial for the 17 students and teachers killed in a school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Students gathered outside and encircled the school campus by linking arms in solidarity and called for an end to violence.

OFFICIAL In order to provide pastoral care for the people of God in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Archbishop Aymond has made the following appointments: PASTORS (In accordance with Canon 522 and the USCCB norms, all appointments for pastors are for a six-year term, which may be renewed.)

You have announced new pastoral assignments for many pastors and parochial vicars. What is the process you go through in making these assignments? I like to announce the new assignments as early as possible. In the past, we’ve announced all the changes in parish and ministry assignments after Easter. We moved it up a couple of weeks this year because we have completed our work, and the assignments have been finalized. I think announcing the new assignments this early gives the priest an opportunity to prepare for his transition instead of asking him to announce it a few weeks before he leaves. It also gives the parish an opportunity to appropriately bid him farewell and to ask God’s blessings upon him. Even though none of the new pastors goes to his new parish before his assignment begins in July, it gives the parish the extra time to welcome the new pastor. It’s a way to make the transition easier.

Ha anunciado nuevas asignaciones pastorales para muchos pastores y vicarios parroquiales. ¿Cuál es el proceso por el que pasa al hacer estas asignaciones? Me gusta anunciar las nuevas asignaciones tan pronto como sea posible. En el pasado, anunciamos todos los cambios de las asignaciones de la parroquia y el ministerio, después de Pascua. Lo hicimos antes, un par de semanas este año, porque hemos completado nuestro trabajo, y las tareas se han finalizado. Creo que anunciar las nuevas tareas tan temprano, le da al sacerdote la oportunidad de prepararse para su transición, en lugar de pedirle que lo anuncie unas semanas antes de irse. También, le da a la parroquia la oportunidad de despedirse adecuadamente, y pedir las bendiciones de Dios sobre él. Aunque ninguno de los nuevos pastores va a su nueva parroquia, antes de que su asignación comience en julio, le da a la parroquia el tiempo extra, para recibir al nuevo pastor. Es una forma de facilitar la transición.

BLOOD DONATION, March 25, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., St. Pius X gym. Free T-shirt while supplies last. 6600 Spanish Fort Blvd., New Orleans. Details: thebloodcenter.org. MERCY FAMILY CENTER, Grief Support Group, “The Life After,” loss of someone, a series that began March 14, continues March 28, April 4, April 11, April 18, 5:30-7 p.m. Explores questions as how to accept loss, relate to families, find meaning in life. Details: 723-0881, mary.muller@mercy.net. 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., suite 425, Metairie.

During Super Bowl week in 2010, Saints owner Tom Benson and his wife Gayle invited media members to a breakfast. When the meal ended he asked two reporters to interview his wife. One, was Times-Picayune legend Pete Finney. I was the other. I considered it to be quite an honor.

Forgiving those who have caused pain or offense is not easy, Pope Francis said. “It is a grace that we have to ask for,” because the peace offered by Christ cannot take root in a heart that is incapable of living in fraternity with others and incapable of rebuilding those bonds after being wounded, the pope said at his weekly general audience at the Vatican March 14. The pope continued his series of talks on the Mass, focusing on the Communion rite, which begins with the assembly’s recitation of the Lord’s Prayer.

Whenever Jesuit Father James Carter, the former president of Loyola University New Orleans, would have a conversation with New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson, it had nothing to do with Benson’s far-flung, professional sports empire.

Father Brad Doyle says the joys of the priesthood are numerous and often unexpected – like the night adults celebrating Halloween began lining up outside a pub for confession when word spread that the collared Doyle – one of the pub’s patrons – was a “real priest” and not someone simply costumed as one.

Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond will officiate at the Blessing of Palms at 10:50 a.m. March 25 outside St. Louis Cathedral to open the observance of Holy Week, followed by a procession into the Cathedral for the 11 a.m. Mass. There will also be a 5 p.m. Vigil Mass on Saturday, March 24, and a 9 a.m. Mass on Palm Sunday. Blessing of the Palms will be at all Masses.