By Peter Finney Jr. Clarion Herald He grew up in Venezuela and speaks Spanish. He dreams mostly in Italian. Ten years ago, when he lived and studied in Ireland for six months, he preached in English.

By Ron Brocato Seven football teams representing the Archdiocese of New Orleans advanced to the quarterfinal round of the LHSAA division playoffs for select schools last week. Just two survived to fight another day as semifinalists.

In today’s topsy-turvy, chaotic world, everyone can use a few words of hope. And, that’s exactly what the 36th annual Gulf Coast Faith Formation Conference, Jan. 11-13, plans to deliver. Themed “Go! Build a Future of Hope” the conference is scheduled at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner and open to all those who want to deepen their faith and share an uplifting experience.

“Did the Carmelite order worldwide address global issues in a unified effort?” was the question Sister of Mount Carmel Jane Remson of New Orleans raised almost two decades ago among her fellow religious when researching the congregation’s social justice ministries worldwide.

By Peter Finney Jr., Clarion Herald The Bioethics Defense Fund (BDF), a nonprofit legal and educational organization that advances strategies to support the cause for life, bestowed the BDF Archbishop Hannan Witness for Life Award on Donna and Stephen Stumpf Nov. 17 for their generous financial and prayerful support over many years.

By William James, Contributing writer Holiday season is coming up, and while that means gifts, family and fun, some families are not guaranteed the same amenities that many of us are. Across St. Tammany Parish, almost 10,000 children and 30,000 people overall live below the poverty line.

Deadline: Submissions due Thursday (10 days before each issue) calendar@clarionherald.org (504) area code unless noted Nov. 26-Dec. 18 EVENTS CRECHE EXHIBIT , Friends of St. Alphonsus, Nov. 26-Dec. 3, 2025 Constance St., (between St. Andrew and Josephine streets), New Orleans.

By Ron Brocato Clarion Herald The 64th annual CYO high school basketball tournament, sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl since 2008, begins on Nov. 29 at four Catholic school gymnasiums. The 16-team tournament returns 2016 champion De La Salle, which defeated John Curtis, 83-72, in the CYO finals.

This would never sell at Fox News or MSNBC, where the sizzle of slash-and-burn politics is served up nightly by “guests” from the right and the left hurling verbal Molotov cocktails at each other. Those networks’ steel-cage death matches put a ratings premium on ad hominem attacks, because uncivil people who fundamentally disagree know they have cornered the market on truth.

The Religious Sisters of the Sacred Heart celebrated a milestone on Nov. 18 – the 200th anniversary of the arrival in the New World of the community of nuns who would go on to establish the Academy of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans and more than 40 schools throughout the world.

Clarion Herald Staff Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans received Thanksgiving food donations from 40 area businesses, churches and individuals that were delivered to 100 families during an annual Thanksgiving basket drive.

Mass is the highest form of prayer and not an appropriate moment for small talk, Pope Francis said. At church, Catholics should spend their time in silence before Mass, preparing “to meet with Jesus” instead of engaging in “chitchat,” the pope said Nov. 15 during his weekly general audience.

By Peter Finney Jr., Clarion Herald Sculptor Franco Alessandrini unwrapped his dazzling, Carrara marble statue of St. John Paul II in St. Peter’s Square before Pope Francis held his general audience at the Vatican on Nov. 15.

A continuación se describe un resumen de la reunión de USCCB del 12 al 16 de noviembre de 2017. Este es mi resumen, no es un documento oficial de USCCB. Gracias a todos los que nos recordaron en oración durante nuestra reunión.

Ou tlined below is a summary of the USCCB meeting from November 12-16, 2017. This is my summary, not an official document from the USCCB. Thanks to all who remembered us in prayer during our meeting.

By Clarion Herald Staff Embracing the theme, “To Love and Be Loved,” St. Mary’s Dominican High freshmen explored their relationship with God and others in light of the question, “What does it mean to love?” on their retreat.

This year I’ve missed the social media campaign #30daysofthanks . Following the #metoo opportunity for confronting the prevalence of sexual abuse, and the ever-increasing revelations from Hollywood and other areas of celebrity culture, perhaps an awareness of gratitude is something our society desperately needs.

By Peter Finney Jr. Every Thanksgiving for the last 32 years, the YMCA of Greater New Orleans has mobilized a small army of meal-preparation volunteers that would make the commander of a special ops unit proud.

Author Christopher West, world-renowned presenter of Catholic teaching on marriage and the family, will present “Living the Joy of Love” Dec. 2 from 8:30 a.m.-noon at Our Lady of the Lake Chotin Center, 312 Lafitte St., Mandeville.

Making a Difference Pope Francis is a determined man with a mission – to lead the church to best reflect Jesus’ call to be the light of the world! Within the course of just one month, he has dramatically moved the Catholic Church forward in two major ways.