More than 30 Academy of Our Lady  (AOL) students proved to be fearless at World Youth Day Nov. 4 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Students spent their day listening to keynote speakers, attending workshops and playing icebreakers based on this year’s theme, “Fearless.”

El Papa Francisco, ha pedido a los obispos de los Estados Unidos que, se reúnan como un grupo, para un retiro de una semana a partir del 2 de enero en el Seminario Mundelein, cerca de Chicago. ¿Qué piensa sobre eso?

Pope Francis has called for the bishops of the United States to meet as a group for a one-week retreat beginning Jan. 2 at Mundelein Seminary near Chicago. What are your thoughts about that?

Children are gifts from God whom we are to love unconditionally. Each child should grow up with as much love, respect and dignity as any other sibling receives. 

Normally, Santa Claus arrives by boat on Bayou St. John in front of Cabrini High School, but this year, the weather did not cooperate and Santa resorted to Rudolph Plan B. Students, faculty and staff, alumnae, parents and community members braved the rain Dec. 8 to greet Santa at Cabrini’s annual Christmas on the Bayou.

Jesus’ way of praying to his father throughout his life is a reminder for Christians that prayer is more than asking God for something but is a way of establishing an intimate relationship with him, Pope Francis said.

On Oct. 30, Our Lady of Lourdes in Slidell (above) captured the senior varsity title in the CSAL Girls’ Volleyball final against Our Lady of the Lake. In JV action, St. Catherine of Siena (below) had the thrill of winning the championship in its home gym, beating St. Rita, Harahan. (Photos by Beth Donze)

Every heart enslaved by false idols and evil desires needs a “transplant” with a heart filled with love, joy, goodness, hope and generosity, Pope Francis said.

In your own life, do you recall a specific moment that God sheltered you with love?  I am a believer, and I know wholeheartedly that God loves me.  His love for me is a constant in my life.  

Queridos hermanos:  El texto evangélico de este segundo Domingo de Adviento se abre con la presentación de Juan el Bautista en un contexto histórico preciso que nos ayuda a ubicar el momento en que el profeta, un hombre muy poco convencional y ubicado muy lejos de los centros del poder político y religioso, recibe el mensaje de Dios e invita a un bautismo de conversión.

The city’s longest running boys’ basketball tournament appears to be heading for a new renaissance. It was evident by the large crowd in the Jesuit gym on Dec. 1 that watched the Allstate Sugar Bowl CYO Basketball Classic’s championship game that there is renewed interest in the early-season games.

We’ve been practicing the command of “wait” in my household. Sitting expectantly, my puppy looks attentively – for about five seconds. Then her eyes start to wander.

Brother Martin seniors helped organize a “Day of the Dead” program at thier school. From left, top row: Chris Meyer, Elliot Martinez, Jackson Anuskiewicz, Griffin Ervin and Spanish IV teacher Aaron Reller. Seated:  Tyler Hoang, Vidal Amador-Flores and Michael Armbruster. 

“Multi-tasking” has a special meaning for a small clutch of residents at Rouquette Lodge IV, a Christopher Homes-managed apartment complex in Mandeville. Nearly every day, a half-dozen women in their 70s, 80s and 90s gather in Rouquette’s community room for some lively fellowship, while crocheting snuggly blankets and hats for newborns.

When Father Herb Kiff, pastor of Mater Dolorosa Parish in New Orleans, first met Galina Kuleshova-Baricev from Ukraine four years ago, he could see pain through her tears, even though he didn’t understand all the words spoken in her language.

Dennis Adams was attending St. Peter Church in Covington in 2004 when it looked as though his dream of becoming a permanent deacon might be going up prematurely in smoke – and it was not the kind of white smoke emanating from the Sistine Chapel.

Mirabile Dictu – the International Catholic Film Festival in Rome – bestowed high honors last week on a local documentary by Storyville Films entitled “The Monumental Journey.” The 40-minute documentary depicts the “journey” associated with the crafting of a white Carrara marble statue of Pope John Paul II by Italian-born sculptor Franco Alessandrini, right, who has lived in New Orleans for the last 50 years

Hundreds of Catholic faithful venerated first-class relic of St. John Vianney, the patron saint of priests, during the weekend of Dec. 1-2 at St. Rita Church in New Orleans. A relic is a physical object associated with someone who has been declared a saint. The object is not worshipped but venerated as a sign of the person’s holiness.

Grandparents throughout the Archdiocese of New Orleans descended Nov. 1 on the Academy of Our Lady campus in Marrero for the recent Grandparents’ Day. Grandparents were invited to campus to celebrate All Saints’ Day for Mass with their granddaughters. Prior to Mass, grandparents and students were treated to coffee and donuts.

St. Mary’s Dominican High School Scholarship recipients are, front row, from left, seated: Lauryn Ancar, Emma Bertaut, Isabella Bordelon, McKinley Bordelon, Victoria Bordelon, Emma Clesi, Riley Crespo, Sophia delCorral, Victoria Despenza, and Avery Donnelly. Standing: Rocio Gaitan, Maria Garcia, Emily Giacona, Carly Langford, Chyra Lee, Aria Lewis, Elizabeth McCabe, Emma Nichols, Mary Grace Ohler, Andelyn Passantino, Mia Signorelli, Carolyn Sosa and Laila Young.