ST. BENILDE. ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 1901 Division Street Metairie, Louisiana 70001

Transcription

1 June 24, 2018 The Nativity of St. John the Baptist ORDINARY FAMILIES EXTRAORDINARY FAITH ST. BENILDE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 1901 Division Street Metairie, Louisiana Church Office: (504) Church Fax: (504) Church CLERGY Rev. Robert T. Cooper, Pastor Rev. H.L. Brignac, Sacramental Asst. Deacon Biaggio DiGiovanni Deacon Stephen Gordon Deacon Clifford Wright BAPTISMS First and Third Sundays of the month at 12 Noon. Please call the Parish Office for more information. MATRIMONY Please contact a priest/deacon 8 months prior to your wedding. FUNERALS Arrangements may be made at the Parish Office. MASS TIMES Saturday Vigil 4 p.m. Sunday 9:00, 11:00 a.m. & 6 p.m. Monday Friday 7:00 a.m. Monday and Thursday 5:30 p.m. First Saturday 8:45 a.m. HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION See Inside the Bulletin for Schedule CONFESSION TIMES Saturday 3:00 3:45 p.m. Sunday 5:00 5:45 p.m. Monday 6:00 6:45 p.m. and by appointment at the Parish Office DIVINE MERCY ADORATION CHAPEL Eucharistic Adoration from 7:00 p.m. Sunday till 4:00 p.m. Saturday DEVOTIONS Holy Hour in Church Monday, 6:00-7:00 p.m. Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Following 7 a.m. Mass on Tuesday NEWCOMERS Call the Parish Office to receive a New Parishioner Registration Packet. ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY St. Benilde Conference (504) ST. BENILDE SCHOOL Michael Buras, Interim Principal 1801 Division Street Metairie, LA (504)

2 St. Benilde Catholic Church Ministers of the Liturgy June 23 & 24, 2018 Saturday - 4 P.M. Intention: Julie Periou, Hubert La Borde, Sylvia Hebert (L), George Spaulding, Geno Soleto, Catherine S. Finnan, Joseph Segari, Jeanne Couturie, Melissa Mendel Zimmerman, Gabriel Borrello (L), Merle & Charles Dittmer, Patrick C. McKinney, Flora Maria Be, Michelle Membreno Thibodeaux, Austin Burroughs, Edward Van Hoven, Jr., Keith Micas, Cathy & Jack D Antoni (L), Joseph Evola, Sr., Frank Golemi, Rita Meyer, Mara Teresa Hollingsworth J. Rodosta, L. Segari Cantor: Kevin Rouchell Organist: Jared Croal Sunday - 9 A.M. Intention: Joy Rojas C. & R. Ayers, K. Klapatch, R. Theriot Song Leaders: Traditional Choir Sunday - 11 A.M. Intention: Michelle Thibodeaux, Steven Bonnet, Ronnie & Dianne Harrison, Michael Nolan (L), Connie Gay (L), Joseph Donald Bernard, Geno Soleto, Julie Periou, O Sullivan & Zito Families, Judith Theisges, Sr. Fletchinger SSND, Audrey Cusimano, Kelvin Ducote, Henry Joseph Bearmann, Sr., Mary & Melvin Ducote, Todd Hillburn, Frank Golemi, Glory Cresson, Joanie Allen, Paul J. Hymel, Jr., John G. Scala, Danelle Kimble, Claiborne (Tutti) Moulton C. & T. Pitre, N. Bostick, L. Frey Song Leaders: Contemporary Choir Monday Sunday - 6 P.M. Intention: Parishioners D. Childers, D. Powers Cantor: Lauren Gisclair Pianist: Beth Kettenring Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Weekday Masses 7:00 a.m. Audrey Cusimano 5:30 p.m. Joseph Evola, Sr. 7:00 a.m. Chris Peters 7:00 a.m. Ralph Alvarez 7:00 a.m. Melvin Ducote 5:30 p.m. Joy Rojas 7:00 a.m. June & Marvin Ackermann (L) The Church Sanctuary Lamp burns in memory of The Souls in Purgatory The Blessed Mother Votive Lamps burn For Reparations for Sins The St. Joseph Votive Lamps burn for Prayers Answered Adoration Chapel Sanctuary Lamp burns in memory of Stuart & Gloria Fourroux Adoration Chapel Candles burn in memory of Deceased Priests Altar Ladies Week of June 24 M. Curry, G. Boling Linens Large - L. Ducrow Small - S. Holliday The Altar Flowers are in memory of Ellwood & Lillie Soupenne

3 St. Benilde Catholic Church Volume 36: Issue 25 Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Stewardship of Treasure Weekend of June 23 & 24 Envelopes... $4, Loose.1, Electronic Giving Repairs & Maintenance Msgr. Richaud Fund Totaling... $6, June 30/July 1 4 PM C. Casente, K. Hartdegan 9 AM M. Evola, P. Fleming, R. Meche, B. O Hara 11 AM A. Duersel, R. Oleksik, K. Archer, K. Sorensen 6 PM A. Calongne, M. Plaideau Out Of Reverence For The Lord Jesus Let us focus on generosity, or returning God s gifts with increase, through the generous sharing of our time, talent and treasure. ~ who so generously shares with us His Body and Blood in the Eucharist, worshipers are earnestly invited to remain with the congregation until Mass is concluded. Priest Mass Schedule 4pm 9am 11am 6pm July 7 & 8 July 14 & 15 July 21 & 22 July 28 & 29 July Calendar July 5 Pro-Life 6:15 PM Teen Center CALM 7 PM Church July 7 Legion of Mary 2:05 PM Parish Office July 9 Radio Rosary 5:45 PM Library July 14 Legion of Mary 2:05 PM Parish Office July 17 SVDP 6:30 PM Parish Office July 21 Legion of Mary 2:05 PM Parish Office July 25 Movie: The Way-6:30 PM Teen Center July 28 Legion of Mary 2:05 PM Parish Office Ministry Workshops Scheduled We are in need of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion for weekend Masses and for Homebound Communion. Two workshops for new ministers have been scheduled: July 21 and August 18, from 9 AM to 1 PM, at the Archdiocesan Administration Building, 7887 Walmsley Ave., New Orleans. If you feel called to this ministry, you must get s permission before calling the Parish Office to register.

4 St. Benilde Catholic Church s Corner St. John the Baptist Today we celebrate the Nativity, the birth, of St. John the Baptist. Throughout the year, the Church has marked dates upon which we remember the work of the Lord through particular people: Apostles and Prophets and pastors and missionaries and many other holy men and women of God through whom the Lord has proclaimed His saving Gospel and shown us His gracious good works. So today, we remember and give thanks for the birth of St. John the Baptist. St. John the Baptist was a unique man. He is rightly called the last of the Old Testament prophets. He was the last one to preach the Gospel before the Savior came. John is also the first of the New Testament preachers. His calling was to point out Christ for the world and to identify, for the people, the man who is God in the Flesh, Jesus, the Son of God the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Some people would like to remember John simply because of the strange circumstances surrounding his birth: the angel's announcing his coming to his father, Zechariah; striking Zechariah unable to speak until his birth; the birth of John to Elisabeth, who was well beyond her childbearing years. Some think John should be remembered for the kind of life he lived: a harsh and strange life dressed in camel's hair, eating locusts and wild honey. Some remember John for his harsh preaching against the self-righteous Pharisees. Many would say that John's death by being beheaded by King Herod was what made John most famous. We are going to cast all of these aside today and remember St. John the Baptist for his finger. That's right, his finger! Because of all the things that John the Baptist did, the most important was what he did with his finger: he pointed to Christ. He pointed to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He did this in fulfillment of his father's words: "You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His way; to give His people knowledge of salvation, in the forgiveness of their sins" (Luke 1:76-77). John's finger pointed to Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. That is salvation for all of us, who are also finger-pointers. However, when you and I "point the finger," we do not point to Jesus. When you and I point fingers, we are pointing them at each other. From the highest levels of scandal in world government and big corporations to kids running around outdoors and getting into trouble, "finger-pointing" is our thing. Our finger-pointing even does double duty! When we point the finger at someone to blame them, we are making them the one responsible for whatever problems there are, while at the same time trying to escape our own responsibility and blame! Adam, when he was caught in sin pointed his finger at Eve, and even at God Himself. "The woman YOU gave me made me eat the fruit" (Gen. 3:12). The woman pointed her finger at the serpent. It was his fault. And ever since that day, we have loved ourselves rather than our neighbor by using our fingers to identify the people around us who ought to get in trouble so that we do not. Oh yes, the way in which we love to point the finger, lay the blame, and try to save ourselves is the way of people in this fallen world. Moreover, it is a damnable way. For such finger-pointing leads to death and hell! After all, what use does God

5 St. Benilde Catholic Church Volume 36: Issue 25 have for those who are only worried about themselves and would abandon their neighbor the instant they can save their own skins? For a world full of such finger-pointing people comes the finger of John the Baptist, pointing not to the sins of others but to the Lamb of God. "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Zechariah knew that, beginning with John, the days of salvation were about to be accomplished. By the Holy Spirit, John's father prophesied of his son's place in the world: to be the man who points us all to the Savior, to Jesus, to the Lamb who takes away all our sins. John came into this world for this purpose: to point to Christ. To call God's people away from their sins in repentance and to faith in the One to whom he pointed. John baptized in the Jordan River for the forgiveness of sins and to bring sinners to faith in Christ, the Son of God. John wasn't there to bring attention to himself but to Christ. His finger was aimed always at Jesus: "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" All fingers ultimately point to Jesus. Not only the fingers of faithful preachers, but also the fingers of all the blame in the world, for Jesus took upon Himself our sins. It was to Jesus that the Jewish religious leaders pointed as the One who was worthy of death. It was to Jesus that the finger of Pontius Pilate pointed when he announced, "Behold the man!" (John 19:5). It was to the crucified Jesus that the fingers of His enemies and those who mocked Him pointed. And it was in the wounds of Jesus that the fingers of His disciples rested when He showed that He was indeed risen from the dead! How worthless and silly all of our finger pointing seems in comparison with the Lamb of God who was pure and innocent and yet suffered for our sins and conquered death! Dear friends, follow the finger of St. John the Baptist! See to Whom it points! And follow the finger of your priest to see where it points! For I, too am called to point my finger. But, like John, my finger is not here to point out your sins for condemnation or to point you to the sins of others. My finger is to point where John's pointed: to the Lamb of God. Repent of your own finger-pointing! Receive our Lord s forgiveness from such finger-pointing! Moreover, learn, then, to use your fingers for good and not for evil! Use them for pointing others to Christ, not for pointing out their sins. Husbands and wives, instead of pointing out what's wrong with each other, point one another to your rings and vows and the grace of God which has bound you together. Parents, as your kids grow, point them to the Altar as the sure and certain means of knowing that God loves them in Christ. All of you: whether you are on the playground, or at work, or with friends or family learn to stop pointing out the sins of others, whether to blame them, or excuse yourself, or to make others laugh at them! Rather, point one another to Christ and to His means of grace and to His forgiveness. Let it be said of you, "Gee, she never points fingers!" What a blessing that would be wouldn't it? In addition, of course, when the sinful urge to point your finger at someone overcomes you, run back to the Church and receive the Lord s mercy in the Confessional. Today we remember the Nativity, the birth of St. John the Baptist not for his sake, but for yours to recall that he was the one born into this world to identify the Christ for us. John the Baptist points to Jesus. And by pointing to Jesus, John has identified for us the one Source of all of our hope and comfort and peace and life and joy. John brings God's people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of our sins. That is salvation: the forgiveness of sins. John was born to point to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Let all who are entrusted with the care of God s people do this faithfully. Then we will always be directed to the Savior who takes away our sins. To the Altar! To the Font! To the Confessional! To Scripture, and Tradition, and the Teaching office of the Church! To the preaching and absolving! There is Christ, just as St. John has shown us. Praise be God for the birth of St. John the Baptist! Praise God for St. John's finger, for it points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who has taken away our sins. Happy Nativity of St. John the Baptist!

6 Toiletry Drive Benefiting Metro Centers for Community Advocacy Metro Centers for Community Advocacy is a local domestic violence shelter. Their mission is to break the cycle of violence and aid survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking through advocacy, intervention, empowerment and transformation. There is a great need for basic items, particularly toiletries. Although all items are accepted, the most needed items are: toilet paper; paper hand towel; Kleenex; pump hand soap; face cloths; bath towels; and new twin and standard size pillows. A collection box will be in the foyer of Church the weekends of July 7/8 and July 14/15. Thank you for your generosity. For more information about the drive, please contact Jillian Wohlgemuth at (504) For more information about Metro Centers for Community Advocacy, please visit

7 JULY 24, 2018 ST. BENILDE CATHOLIC CHURCH ID # DIVISION ST. METAIRIE, LA NANCY CAROLLO MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAYS - 9 A.M. TO 3 P.M. FRIDAYS - 9 A.M. TO 12 NOON SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: