People need to make peace with their lives and anything they are running from, rather than lose themselves to escapism and playful distraction, Pope Francis said.

Over the last 300 years, one bold person after another has stepped forward to defend and fortify the faith of New Orleans’ black Catholics, even in the most impossible of times – such as when the city was the 19th-century epicenter of America’s slave trade, and even more recently, during the decades in which Jim Crow laws relegated black Catholics to the back pews and choir lofts of the city’s white churches.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Responding quickly and appropriately to the problem of abuse must be a priority for the Catholic Church, said Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

How important is it for parishioners and priests to welcome young families with small children to Mass each weekend? It’s almost impossible to overstate how respectfully and lovingly the parish faith community should treat a young family that has made the effort to come to Mass with small children.

¿Qué tan importante es para los feligreses y sacerdotes, dar la bienvenida a la Misa cada fin de semana, a familias jóvenes con niños pequeños? Es casi imposible exagerar cuán respetuosa y amorosamente, la comunidad de fe de la parroquia debe tratar a una familia joven que se ha esforzado por venir a Misa con niños pequeños.

Dominican Father Sergio Serrano, Archbishop Gregory Aymond and Father Pedro Nunez share a moment on stage at the recent “Sabado de Milagros” (Saturday Miracles) event at the Pontchartrain Center. It was organized by the Hispanic Apostolate of the archdiocese and the Mensaje ministry.

ST. JOSEPH CHURCH AND SHRINE, Mass and Healing Service, Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. with speaker Francis “Frank” Kelly, who was electrocuted with a severe dose of electricity and was restored to life. 610 6th St., Gretna. 368-1313.

Was it really that much of a surprise?  After years and years of out-of-town owners, and years and years of empty seats, our Triple-A baseball team is departing, no later than September 2021. That’s when the Baby Cakes’ lease with the Superdome Commission expires.

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Jesuit Father Nicholas T. Schiro, a fixture for 40 years at Jesuit High School, died Aug. 4 in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. He was 90 years old, a Jesuit for 73 years and a priest for 61 years. 

Deacon Ildefonso R. “Poncho” DeLeón died unexpectedly on July 6 at the age of 71. He was ordained on Dec. 10, 1983, and served for 35 years at St. Maria Goretti Parish in New Orleans. Deacon DeLeón grew up in the remote, high desert town of Marathon, Texas, where his first language was Spanish.

Deacon Raymond Rivere  died on Aug. 12 at age 85. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1983, serving at St. Mark Parish in Chalmette through his retirement.

Deacon Gerard “Gerry” J. Fasullo Sr., a deacon at St. Edward the Confessor Church in Metairie for 26 years, passed away Aug. 8. He was 86. Deacon Fasullo was a graduate of Holy Name of Jesus Elementary School, Jesuit High School and attended Loyola University. He served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Japan and Korea.

Quizzical looks and bemused expressions stared back at me from my juniors and seniors on the first day of class as I gave the overview. It’s a business and professional writing course, housed in the English Department. And I’ve just told them that they’ll be working in teams all semester on a project of their choice to rebrand a base or supposedly trivial topic.

On the day I was born, the dreadnoughts on Ford Island’s battleship row were still afloat. Eight months later, the infamous day that the Imperial Japanese Navy sent the might of the Pacific fleet to the bottom of the shallow waters of Pearl Harbor, the United States was thrown into a world war it had tried to avoid.

As my family and I were nearing the completion of our two-year commitment as missionaries to Nicaragua, Bishop Solórzano of the Diocese of Granada asked if we would extend our stay within the diocese.

By Logan Puissegur, Holy Cross, Clarion Herald contributing writer The Holy Cross senior class held a “meet and greet” at Tiger Prep Day Aug. 10 for the new middle school and high school Tigers. The day spotlighted fifth graders and seniors, as they paired up and became big and little brothers for this school year. 

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ: It is our archdiocesan tradition to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation, better known as confession, on a weekday evening near the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross.

Father John P. Finn, the Irish-born, former Christian Brother who later became a priest and spent many years as pastor of Holy Family Parish in Luling, died Aug. 25 at Chateau de Notre Dame. He was 79. “He was a wonderful, outgoing, special priest who loved life and had a marvelous capacity to connect with people,” said Msgr. Harry Bugler, the pastor of St. Philip Neri Parish, who delivered the homily at Father Finn’s Funeral Mass Aug. 31 at Holy Family Church.

It was known for 100 years as the “Little Red Church,” standing as a landmark for travelers on the Mississippi River. But historical records (according to “A Southern Catholic Heritage,” Volume 1 written by Dr. Charles Nolan) show that St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, abutting River Road and the Mississippi River in Destrehan, actually grew from St. Jean des Allemands (St. John the Baptist) Church established in 1723 in Edgard on the river’s west bank, 38 miles from New Orleans.