More than two dozen graduates of Catholic elementary and high schools were recently honored as “Distinguished Alumni” at a brunch and award ceremony at St. Philip Neri’s parish center. After an opening prayer, Archbishop Gregory Aymond thanked the honorees, who were nominated by their school communities, for witnessing to the values of Catholic education into adulthood.

“If you came here to mourn, you came to the wrong place,” said Father Tony Ricard, who celebrated the funeral Mass July 8 for musician, composer, band leader, arranger and producer Dave Bartholomew.

Abby Hagen and her fiancé, Dr. Trevor Boudreaux, were at daily Mass July 10 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor on State Street, and it was difficult to tell who was producing more water – Abby’s eyes or the New Orleans skies.

Dr. Tracy Bonday, J.D., M.S. Ed, who served from 2015-19 as superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa, and led a strategic planning initiative to maintain the longtime viability of Catholic schools, has been named head of the high school division of Ursuline Academy.

While confident in their abilities to care for their flock and preach, some Catholic priests and pastors may need a little more administrative training to effectively operate a parish.

Through Jesus’ death on the cross, St. Paul says, “the world has been crucified” to him and he to the world (Gal 6:14). With this shocking image – think of what crucifixion is – St. Paul declares the end of his connection with “the world.” But what is this “world” to which he no longer has any ties?

Are you the brave type of person who tries something new or goes exploring while others wait? Or are you more like the proverbial brothers who refuse to try “Life” cereal until coaxing “Mikey” to try it first? 

In April 2015, when an appellate court ruled that Rhonda Oliver had been over-sentenced by 10 years, Oliver was immediately released from St. Gabriel Penitentiary with a prison-issued $20 debit card and the clothes on her back.

Rudy Ruettiger, the subject of the 1993 movie “Rudy” about a young man who never gave up his dream to play football for the University of Notre Dame, will give a motivational talk July 12 at 7 p.m. at Visitation of Our Lady Church in Marrero.

Empowerment as a woman began for Abby Johnson in 2009 at age 29 – the day she walked out of Planned Parenthood after eight years of employment. 

Lifting a monstrance exposing the Blessed Sacrament, Archbishop Gregory Aymond leads a procession marking the June 23 Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (the Feast of Corpus Christi) after the 11 a.m. Mass at St. Louis Cathedral. As they walked the few blocks between the cathedral and their destination – St. Mary’s Church at the Old Ursuline Convent – both processors and spectators alike joined in the singing of hymns such as “To Jesus Christ, Our Sovereign King” and “Here I Am, Lord.”

Xavier University of Louisiana’s Ed Cassiere has been voted by his peers as Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Sports Information Director (SID) of the Year for 2018-19.

One of the rich traditions of the Vietnamese Catholic community is for a priest to serve as a “godfather” or spiritual mentor to a young seminarian or a woman who is discerning a call to the priesthood or religious life.

At age 91, Helena Burrell left this world a better place. She lived this Gospel passage from John 15: “That you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you.”

Daughters of Charity Health Centers (DCHC) continues to strengthen compassionate and affordable healthcare at its 10 healthcare centers in New Orleans.

On June 6, I was saddened that the New Orleans City Council would take action to condemn the Louisiana Legislative action that protects the dignity of unborn life. Our city is built upon Catholic Christian values and a respect for all. To see the city council reject these values is disheartening.

Susan Anderson Zeringue has been named in-house legal counsel for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, succeeding Wendy Vitter, who was confirmed recently by the U.S. Senate as a federal judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Among the items on the menu of the Passover meal are flat bread, made without leaven, and wine. In the course of the meal, the host prays blessings over them.

The 56th annual Golden Wedding Anniversary celebration, sponsored by the Family Life Apostolate of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, was held June 2 at St. Philip Neri Church in Metairie.

Father David Rabe, whose conversion from atheism to Catholicism ultimately led to his ordination to the priesthood at age 36, was remembered at his funeral Mass as a brilliant scholar and pastor who had a special love for the poor, elderly and infirm.