By now, at the age of 46, I should have a very clear sense of my own identity. Most times I do. I consider myself blessed for many reasons. One of them is being comfortable in my own skin and knowing who I am.

Deacon Colin V. Braud By Beth Donze When Colin Braud is ordained to the transitional diaconate on May 19, the Archdiocese of New Orleans will mark what is believed to be an unprecedented occasion: the ordination of someone who was home-schooled as a high schooler.

The church’s first martyr found the strength to face his accusers because of his close relationship with God, Pope Benedict XVI said. St. Stephen, who was accused of blasphemy and stoned to death, upheld the faith and gave witness to Christ as the righteous one proclaimed by the prophets, the pope said during the general audience in St. Peter’s Square May 2.

Religious freedom remains a top priority for the U.S. bishops, especially in light of the federal healthcare mandates and the U.S. Supreme Court’s pending ruling on the constitutionality of the healthcare law.

The bedroom ceiling in Brenda and Luke Tromatore’s unfinished home in Mississippi is a window into the mystery of faith and a canvas in broad strokes depicting the power of a half-century of love. They were married in 1960 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Violet, and their 52-year marriage has been a testament to the poetic and scripturally based “Exhortation Before Marriage” that used to be directed to the wide-eyed bride and groom standing at the altar as well as to the world-wise married couples in the pews: “Sacrifice is usually difficult and irksome; only love can make it easy, and perfect love can make it a joy.” The ceiling in the new home Luke is still piecing together after they lost their Chalmette home in Katrina is about 12 feet above their bed.

See the image gallery The visitors’ entrance to the archdiocesan offices at 1000 Howard Avenue received an ecclesiastical makeover last week with the installation of two stained glass windows, placed in light boxes by Attenhofer’s Stained Glass Restoration and Design Studio.

I recently read an article in the Harvard Business Review Blog Network that began with an anecdote by the author about an occurrence at a friend’s wedding. Apparently, as the groom was asked to declare his intent to accept his bride as his wife, the groom held up his hand to pause the ceremony.

¿Puede explicar cómo procederá cuando reciba las recomendaciones del plan estratégico para las escuelas Católicas? El Dr. Lancaster y yo recibiremos el informe, probablemente a principios de junio, y haremos copias para ser enviadas a todos los pastores, los directores y presidentes.

Deadline: Submissions due Thursday (10 days before each issue) calendar@clarionherald.org (504) area code unless noted May 5-12 PARISHES ST. CLETUS, summer camp for children ages 5-13, May 28-July 6, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Sister Bernadette Daigle, age 103, died April 18 in Wichita, Kan., at Marian Hall, residence of the Sisters of St. Joseph. After attending high school in Port Allen, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in New Orleans in 1934.

Daughter of Charity Sister Catherine (Catherine Dolores) Chernick, a member of the Province of St. Louis, died April 25 at Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare Center in New Orleans. Sister Catherine was 97 years old and had spent 79 years in religious life.

Many of my colleagues in the local media are sold on Monty Williams as the Hornets head coach and Dell Demps as the Hornets general manager. They may be right. But in the meantime, I would say there is not nearly enough evidence to support those assumptions.

Most appropriately, the LHSAA outdoor Track and Field championships will be held in Baton Rouge this weekend because it appears obvious that the Class 5A team champions will be schools in and around the capital city.

Three significant things happened last weekend at the “Fast Pitch 56” state high school softball championships that affected three local Catholic schools entered in the championship tournament. Archbishop Hannan’s Lady Hawks made their own breaks and won a second consecutive Class 1A title.

The Serra Clubs of the New Orleans area held a Mass, awards ceremony and banquet April 18 at St. Rita Church, New Orleans, to honor the 2012 Altar Servers of the Year from parishes in the archdiocese.

Two hundred thirty-one laypersons who have devoted themselves to the work of the Catholic Church throughout the Archdiocese of New Orleans will be awarded the Order of St. Louis IX Medallion in ceremonies May 6.

Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) President Dr. Norman C. Francis has received a prestigious honor from Catholic Charities USA. Father Larry Snyder, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, presented Francis with a Centennial Medal for the university’s commitment to racial equality in higher education.

Ursuline Academy of New Orleans has named Glenn Gennaro as interim president for the 2012-13 school year, as the Academy accelerates its search for a permanent president of the 284-year-old institution.

Father Tony Ricard, pastor of Our Lady Star of the Sea, was a featured evangelist during an April 15-18 St. Raymond-St. Leo the Great tent revival called “It’s a Love Thing.” Father Ricard shared a riveting story about how his father overcame his troubles with alcohol through love and family prayer.

All pastoral work, including promoting social justice and providing for the poor, must be nourished by prayer, Pope Benedict XVI said. Without contemplating and internalizing God’s word daily, one risks being suffocated by too heavy a workload and one’s heart risks hardening to the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, he said.