Photos by Amy Diaz | ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW ORLEANS  Gordon Stevens, the president and CEO of New Orleans Steamboat Company, was honored by the Catholic Foundation Oct. 11 with the St. John Paul II Award, given to a layperson or permanent deacon who is an inspirational example of Christian stewardship. Stevens offers a crucifix to new employees to place either in their office or in their home, and often places a prayer in his workers’ paycheck envelope. “As we get older, we realize how very short our time is here on this earth,” Stevens said. There were tough economic times with tourism after Katrina, and “those crosses brought me to my knees and changed me. They brought me to daily Mass. ... We all became stronger spiritually during those difficult times.”

As we are in constant battle with ourselves to rely on God (Jesus, I Trust in You), being a parent seems like it is twice as hard of a job. One great resource for all is Catholic cell phone applications or phone apps.  With various phone apps, one can assist his or her family’s catechizing and prayer time. Raising our children with the values of Jesus calls precisely for a strong connection with the Lord. We as parents make sure the family makes it to Mass on Sunday, and confession at least once a month. At any stage, rhythm or subtopic of evangelization, we are not alone in the matter. Yes, we have God and the community of saints, but I’m suggesting using technology for a good purpose.  Technology has been heaven-sent to assist in my family’s effort to further make our way towards salvation. 

Is the Catholic presence on college campuses in the United States adequate to serve Catholic and non-Catholic students alike? The findings from “A National Study on Catholic Campus Ministry 2017” released Oct. 9 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Catholic Education showed we have a long way to go to. “The Catholic Church has to look at this seriously and ask ourselves, ‘What can we do to keep the Catholic presence in the minds of young people,’” said New Orleans Auxiliary Bishop Fernand Cheri, who, as the episcopal liaison for the Catholic Campus Ministry Association (CCMA), was involved in the study. “These are the people of the future, and we have no contact with them. What does it mean to be Catholic in the lives of college students?” What surprised him most from the survey was the lack of Catholic campus ministries at the nation’s more than 3,000 four-year colleges and universities. “Campus ministries are only located in one quarter of all major universities in the country,” he said. “That means three quarters of major universities don’t have campus ministries. So, young adults are being neglected. On junior college campuses (about 1,500), the number drops to one of every 60 campuses.” “We have to look at all the factors of where the church is and how the church is meeting the needs of young people today,” he said.  One factor to consider, he said, “Young people today aren’t seeing Catholic religious priests’ or sisters’ presence (on campus). It is not a part of their lives anymore. How do we recapture that fire?”

You have decided to release the names of priests who over the years have been removed from ministry for the sexual abuse of a minor. What led you to make this decision? I received many phone calls and emails from people asking me to release the names, and many phone calls and emails from people asking me not to release the names. After much prayer, I believe the just thing is to release the names. I was very much concerned that we would be able to do this accurately and completely. In prayer, it became very clear to me that this is the right thing to do in a spirit of justice and transparency.

Archbishop Gregory Aymond is collecting emergency relief funds for all those affected by Hurricane Michael. Financial gifts may be sent directly to the Archdiocese of New Orleans, 7887 Walmsley Ave., New Orleans, LA 70125.  These gifts will go directly to those most in need. Archbishop Aymond has asked for daily prayers for those who have died and those who have lost homes and property. He said: “May Our Lady of Prompt Succor continue to pray for us and all those in the Gulf Coast during this hurricane season.”

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Even on the ninth day of the 25-day-long Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment, two bishops said they already had ideas for things they would want to start in their ministries. Auxiliary Bishop Robert E. Barron of Los Angeles told reporters Oct. 12 that the presence and input of 34 young adults at the synod has convinced him of the importance of having regular structures for listening to young people and seeking their opinion. Auxiliary Bishop Everardus de Jong of Roermond, Netherlands, said he was so struck by the personal testimony of Safa al Abbia, a 26-year-old Chaldean Catholic dentist from Iraq, that he vowed to do more in his diocese to raise awareness of and help persecuted Christians. “Global solidarity is part of the faith,” he said. Both bishops also said the 30 or so women at the synod are being heard and offering important insights, but neither could address the question of why, when two religious brothers are voting members of the synod, no religious sisters are.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Even on the ninth day of the 25-day-long Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment, two bishops said they already had ideas for things they would want to start in their ministries. Auxiliary Bishop Robert E. Barron of Los Angeles told reporters Oct. 12 that the presence and input of 34 young adults at the synod has convinced him of the importance of having regular structures for listening to young people and seeking their opinion. Auxiliary Bishop Everardus de Jong of Roermond, Netherlands, said he was so struck by the personal testimony of Safa al Abbia, a 26-year-old Chaldean Catholic dentist from Iraq, that he vowed to do more in his diocese to raise awareness of and help persecuted Christians. “Global solidarity is part of the faith,” he said. Both bishops also said the 30 or so women at the synod are being heard and offering important insights, but neither could address the question of why, when two religious brothers are voting members of the synod, no religious sisters are.

Bishop Robert Barron, auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles and founder of Word on Fire ministries, offered the following intervention at the Vatican during the 2018 Synod on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment. For more synod content from Bishop Barron, visit WordFromRome.com, where you’ll find behind-the-scenes videos, interviews, commentaries, and more. Jesus’ encounter with two erstwhile disciples on the road to Emmaus provides a beautiful template for the Church’s work of accompaniment across the ages. The Lord walks with the couple, even as they move away from Jerusalem, which is to say, spiritually speaking, in the wrong direction. He does not commence with a word of judgment but rather with attention and quiet encouragement. Jesus continues to listen, even as they recount, accurately enough, all the data having to do with him. But then, knowing that they lack the interpretive pattern that will make sense of the data, he upbraids them (“Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!”), and then he lays out the form (“beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures”).

VATICAN CITY (CNS) –Pope Francis asked bishops to be bold, honest, open-minded, charitable and, especially, prayerful as they begin a three-week meeting on “young people, the faith and vocational discernment.” While many young people think no older person has anything useful to teach them for living today, the pope said, the age of the bishops, combined with clericalism, can lead “us to believe that we belong to a group that has all the answers and no longer needs to listen or learn anything.”

Archbishop Hannan High senior Catherine Kurucar was awarded the bronze-level Presidential Volunteer Service Award. It’s an award bestowed by the President of the United States in recognition of outstanding volunteer contributions in her local community. She completed a total of 117 service hours and also received a certificate of recognition for completing the hours through the Hugh O’ Brian Youth Leadership service program (HOBY). Its  motto is empower, lead and excel.

The Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops strongly affirms the Nov. 6 ballot initiative to return Louisiana to a state possessing unanimous juries, and therefore enabling its legal practices to become more truly reflective of justice. Louisiana must return to the wisdom of its origins within this matter and bring its practice in line with the 48 states that require unanimous jury verdicts for all felony convictions. During her founding in 1803, Louisiana required unanimous juries. However, unanimity was abandoned in 1880, and this abandonment was subsequently codified in 1898 by way of Article 116 of her Constitution. The opportunity and time are ripe for Louisiana to move beyond such abandonment and fully embrace the justice of unanimity. “There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. … A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 7).

Priesthood Sunday, a special day set aside throughout the U.S. since 2005 to reflect upon and affirm the central role of the priesthood in the life of the church, will be celebrated Oct. 28 in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Priesthood Sunday is coordinated and sponsored by the USA Council of Serra International. Traditionally scheduled for the fourth Sunday of October, all parishes are encouraged to choose any Sunday that works best within their liturgical schedule. 

VATICAN CITY (CNS) –Promising a thorough review of how the Vatican handled allegations of sexual misconduct by former Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, the Vatican acknowledged that what happened may fall short of the procedures that are in place today. “The Holy See is conscious that, from the examination of the facts and of the circumstances, it may emerge that choices were taken that would not be consonant with a contemporary approach to such issues. However, as Pope Francis has said: ‘We will follow the path of truth wherever it may lead,’” the Vatican said in statement released Oct. 6.

VATICAN CITY (Vatican News) – Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops, released a letter Oct. 7 to “his fellow brother,” Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, responding to Archbishop Viganò’s recent accusations against the Holy See. Cardinal Ouellet said he based his letter on his own personal knowledge and documents in the archives of the Congregation for Bishops. In the letter, he asks Archbishop Viganò to return to full communion with Pope Francis.

Jack Jezreel, the founder of JustFaith Ministries (JFM) that seeks to explore the link between faith in God and care of neighbor, will present the 2018 Roppolo Memorial Endowment Workshop Oct. 19-20 at Schulte Auditorium of Notre Dame Seminary, 2901 S. Carrollton Ave., New Orleans. Jezreel will discuss “Discipleship and Public Life: Realizing Pope Francis’ Vision.” He will deliver a keynote address Oct. 19 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and then lead a workshop on his theme Oct. 20 from 9 a.m. to noon. The workshop is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided. The workshop is in keeping with one of the five archdiocesan synod priorities, which urges Catholics to be “a voice and witness for Catholic social teaching.”

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. 

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. 

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.” 

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.

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.