Archbishop leads "blessing of the streets" in crime-weary neighborhood .wwltv.com
Posted on June 19, 2011 at 5:54 PM
Scott Satchfield / Eyewitness News
NEW ORELANS - They walked for peace, while remembering the many lives claimed by violence on the streets of New Orleans.
Led by Archbishop Gregory Aymond, a procession of worshippers delivered their message in the Saint Roch neighborhood Sunday -- an area all too familiar with the harsh realities of violent crime in the city.
Clark Richardson walked to honor a friend -- killed just a few weeks ago.
"We all have someone or multiple people that we're all marching for and that we're all thinking about," Richardson said. "United we stand, divided we fall, especially with stuff as serious as people hurting and killing one another."
They call it a blessing of the streets -- an event organized by Our Lady Star of the Sea Church and its pastor, Father Tony Ricard.
"I've had to bury so many young people as the pastor of this church and it's extremely difficult to try to console a mother and a father when you're burying their 17-year-old son, and so our congregation, they're tired of having to go through this," Ricard said.
Marynell Fernandez is one of them.
"Every time you look at the news, it's two and three young men getting killed and we need to stop this -- stop these guns and drugs from coming into our city," she said.
That's why, for some, this showing of solidarity is comforting.
"Just trying to come together as one, as a people, and showing that there is a means other than resorting to things that's gonna cause fatalities," said Gerard Moore.
Along the way, Archbishop Aymond led the group in prayer.
"On the streets that we marched, people, especially our young people, have shed their blood because of murder and violence and racism, and we ask god to bless them, to give them eternal rest," Aymond said.
Those walking for peace know the effort can't solve all the problems, but they hope it will help.
Their message is targeted toward the many young men who, they say, have gone down a dangerous path -- often ending in tragedy.
"They feel lost. They're out there wandering. They don't know where to turn to next, and so part of my goal is to let them know, that even when you've done something wrong, you can always come back to God," Ricard said.
http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/Archbishop-leads-blessing-of-the-streets-in-crime-weary-neighborhood-124163339.html
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Saint Romuald
St. Romuald
Feastday: June 19
1027
St. Romuald was born at Ravenna about the year 956. In spite of an infinite desire for virtue and sanctity, his early life was wasted in the service of the world and its pleasures. Then one day, obliged by his father, Sergius, to be present at a duel fought by him, he beheld him slay his adversary. The crime made such an impression upon him that he determined to expiate it for forty days, as though it were entirely his own. For this purpose he retired to a Benedictine monastery of St. Apollinare, near Ravenna, where he became Abbot. After founding several monasteries, he laid the foundations of the austere Order of Camaldoli in Tuscany. Like all the saints, he fought a lifelong battle against the assaults of devils and men. In the beginning of his spiritual life he was strongly assailed by numerous temptations, which he conquered by vigilance and prayer. More than one attempt was made on his life, but Divine Providence enabled him to escape from the danger. Like many servants of God, he also became the victim of calumny, which he bore in patience and silence. In his old age, he increased his austerities instead of diminishing them. After a long life of merit, he died in the monastery of Castro, which he founded in Marquisate of Ancona. His death occurred on June 19, about the year 1027. His feast day is June 19th.
Feastday: June 19
1027
St. Romuald was born at Ravenna about the year 956. In spite of an infinite desire for virtue and sanctity, his early life was wasted in the service of the world and its pleasures. Then one day, obliged by his father, Sergius, to be present at a duel fought by him, he beheld him slay his adversary. The crime made such an impression upon him that he determined to expiate it for forty days, as though it were entirely his own. For this purpose he retired to a Benedictine monastery of St. Apollinare, near Ravenna, where he became Abbot. After founding several monasteries, he laid the foundations of the austere Order of Camaldoli in Tuscany. Like all the saints, he fought a lifelong battle against the assaults of devils and men. In the beginning of his spiritual life he was strongly assailed by numerous temptations, which he conquered by vigilance and prayer. More than one attempt was made on his life, but Divine Providence enabled him to escape from the danger. Like many servants of God, he also became the victim of calumny, which he bore in patience and silence. In his old age, he increased his austerities instead of diminishing them. After a long life of merit, he died in the monastery of Castro, which he founded in Marquisate of Ancona. His death occurred on June 19, about the year 1027. His feast day is June 19th.
A Blessing for Father's Day
Sunday, June 19, 2011
A blessing for Father's Day
God our Father,
in your wisdom and love you made all things.
Bless these men,
that they may be strengthened as Christian fathers.
Let the example of their faith and love shine forth.
Grant that we, their sons and daughters,
may honor them always
with a spirit of profound respect.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
From the Book of Blessings)
>>>Thanks to the Concord Pastor I did not even need to get up to post this as I saw this on his website. This is the blessing from the Book of Blessings we father's received in church today(hopefully).
A blessing for Father's Day
God our Father,
in your wisdom and love you made all things.
Bless these men,
that they may be strengthened as Christian fathers.
Let the example of their faith and love shine forth.
Grant that we, their sons and daughters,
may honor them always
with a spirit of profound respect.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
From the Book of Blessings)
>>>Thanks to the Concord Pastor I did not even need to get up to post this as I saw this on his website. This is the blessing from the Book of Blessings we father's received in church today(hopefully).
Celebrating Father's
Father's Day is upon us again and at this afternoon hour I am relaxing with computer in lap and a good movie on the TV. It's been a busy day! I assisted at the 7 am and 9 am masses on this Sunday which also is Trinity Sunday; which is also the feast day of my parish. Because of this our parish picnic was also today and my family attended to socialize with the church community. Great food and fellowship! And a surprisingly large turnout considering Father's Day. And now the rest of the day will be devoted to rest!
Father's Day always seems to be a bit of a challenge for many. And it surely seems to be a little less of a big deal than Mother's Day. And that's OK by me. I've spent many a Father's Day away on vacations and last year without the benefit of seeing either of my children; one lives far away and the other was in Europe for the summer. At least this year my daughter is with me and I just had a very nice phone visit with my son.
Back to the challenge. Father's Day for many can be a sad day. I'm not talking about those of us whose father's are no longer with us. I'm talking about the countless children who have absent fathers. Recent statistics still point to an unacceptable level of absentee fathers. I can never understand this although it has been such a profound reality in my own life.
My father was not around much in my life. Hopelessly addicted to alcohol and a victim of related health issues, he had little interaction in my life and died by the time I was 15. Gratefully, other men in my life stepped up and I did have father figures but never my own father to do things with, to share things or to witness those watershed moments in my life. And I know of so many other close and personal instances where a relative or a friend failed to live up to their responsibility as a father and I have other friends who raise their children without the help of the fathers. How sad.
Fatherhood is a gift from God. Of course becoming a father has always been, in God's plan, part of the marriage covenant. Having children running around with your last name and not being intimately involved with them or their mother is ashame. As I've often said, and from the pulpit, the greatest gift a father can give their children is to love their mother. And of course the great gift of presence cannot be discounted either. Not presents; presence. Little boys and girls, and not so little boys and girls, desperately want the affection, time and presence of dad. As fathers reading this we must ask ourselves: is this true for us?
I love being a dad and am blessed with two great kids and a wonderful wife who is an equally wonderful mom. And knowing all of this I realize that I can be even more of a great dad and regret some lapses in my earlier fatherhood days. Here are some things as dads we all should do: teach the children about God and the love of Jesus and pray with the kids. Take them to church. Be engaged. Let them see you in prayer and let them know you love God. Be a man's dad and be firm but fair. Teach them something that will be both useful and a great lifetime memory. Avoid the temptation to be their friend; you are dad, be that. Show affection and never skip out on the I love you's.
I hope this is a wonderful Father's Day for all of you. I hope that if you are a father you are actively involved in the life of your children. And for the rest, I hope your memories and realities of fathers is happy and healthy.
And perhaps all of us can thank the Father above for all the gifts He gives us and ask Him to place all fathers under His provedential care and bless and protect all the children who do not have the love and support of dad.
Father's Day always seems to be a bit of a challenge for many. And it surely seems to be a little less of a big deal than Mother's Day. And that's OK by me. I've spent many a Father's Day away on vacations and last year without the benefit of seeing either of my children; one lives far away and the other was in Europe for the summer. At least this year my daughter is with me and I just had a very nice phone visit with my son.
Back to the challenge. Father's Day for many can be a sad day. I'm not talking about those of us whose father's are no longer with us. I'm talking about the countless children who have absent fathers. Recent statistics still point to an unacceptable level of absentee fathers. I can never understand this although it has been such a profound reality in my own life.
My father was not around much in my life. Hopelessly addicted to alcohol and a victim of related health issues, he had little interaction in my life and died by the time I was 15. Gratefully, other men in my life stepped up and I did have father figures but never my own father to do things with, to share things or to witness those watershed moments in my life. And I know of so many other close and personal instances where a relative or a friend failed to live up to their responsibility as a father and I have other friends who raise their children without the help of the fathers. How sad.
Fatherhood is a gift from God. Of course becoming a father has always been, in God's plan, part of the marriage covenant. Having children running around with your last name and not being intimately involved with them or their mother is ashame. As I've often said, and from the pulpit, the greatest gift a father can give their children is to love their mother. And of course the great gift of presence cannot be discounted either. Not presents; presence. Little boys and girls, and not so little boys and girls, desperately want the affection, time and presence of dad. As fathers reading this we must ask ourselves: is this true for us?
I love being a dad and am blessed with two great kids and a wonderful wife who is an equally wonderful mom. And knowing all of this I realize that I can be even more of a great dad and regret some lapses in my earlier fatherhood days. Here are some things as dads we all should do: teach the children about God and the love of Jesus and pray with the kids. Take them to church. Be engaged. Let them see you in prayer and let them know you love God. Be a man's dad and be firm but fair. Teach them something that will be both useful and a great lifetime memory. Avoid the temptation to be their friend; you are dad, be that. Show affection and never skip out on the I love you's.
I hope this is a wonderful Father's Day for all of you. I hope that if you are a father you are actively involved in the life of your children. And for the rest, I hope your memories and realities of fathers is happy and healthy.
And perhaps all of us can thank the Father above for all the gifts He gives us and ask Him to place all fathers under His provedential care and bless and protect all the children who do not have the love and support of dad.
Glory be to the Trinity
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be; world without end. Amen.
>>What an appropriate prayer for this day we celebrate the Most Holy Trinity and for all the days of our lives. A prayer worshipping God in three persons!
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be; world without end. Amen.
>>What an appropriate prayer for this day we celebrate the Most Holy Trinity and for all the days of our lives. A prayer worshipping God in three persons!
More on the Holy Trinity
On this Father's Day the Church finds itself celebrating the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Today Catholics across the world will hear various explanations to help us understand the doctrine of the Trinity. We may hear about how St. Patrick used a clover to teach about the Trinity or how in France and parts of Spain they used the Fleur-de-lis. Of course we can use that one here in the New Orleans area. Others may have heard about how water is water but can be ice and vapor too.
Perhaps you heard the story today about the little boy trying to scoop the whole ocean into a hole dug in the sand and St. Augustine telling him it's impossible. And the boy replies that it too is impossible to understand the mystery of the Trinity even with our intelligient minds.
Ah, there is the key word: mystery. Without a doubt we can all agree that the teaching, doctrine and belief in the Trinity is a mystery. And when we understand that it is intended to be a mystery we can focus more on worshipping Trinity than understanding Trinity. Quite simply; the Trinity is God. Period!
God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit: one God in three persons.
And the Trinity helps us to focus on relationship and communion, as in community. The Trinity is a community of persons and lives in relationship.
We too must live in community and relationships and we are most certainly called to relationship with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit!
Perhaps you heard the story today about the little boy trying to scoop the whole ocean into a hole dug in the sand and St. Augustine telling him it's impossible. And the boy replies that it too is impossible to understand the mystery of the Trinity even with our intelligient minds.
Ah, there is the key word: mystery. Without a doubt we can all agree that the teaching, doctrine and belief in the Trinity is a mystery. And when we understand that it is intended to be a mystery we can focus more on worshipping Trinity than understanding Trinity. Quite simply; the Trinity is God. Period!
God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit: one God in three persons.
And the Trinity helps us to focus on relationship and communion, as in community. The Trinity is a community of persons and lives in relationship.
We too must live in community and relationships and we are most certainly called to relationship with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Oh Most Holy Trinity
Are you ready to celebrate the great Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. I recall the words of that great Catholic hymn: O Most Holy Trinity, undivided unity. Holy God, Mighty God, God Immortal be adored. The doctrine of the Most Holy Trinity is foundational but also a mystery that requires faith.
The website provided here will give you all you need to know about the Most Holy Trinity from the catechism of the Catholic Church:
http://www.scborromeo.org/mobileccc/p1s2c1p2.htm#I
And on a personal note, this weekend is our parish feast day at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Covington, LA.
Celebrate God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit; one God in three divine persons!
The website provided here will give you all you need to know about the Most Holy Trinity from the catechism of the Catholic Church:
http://www.scborromeo.org/mobileccc/p1s2c1p2.htm#I
And on a personal note, this weekend is our parish feast day at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Covington, LA.
Celebrate God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit; one God in three divine persons!
Saint of the day
St. Emily de Vialar Feastday: June 17
St. Emily de Vialar, Virgin, Foundress of the Sisters of St. Joseph "of the Apparition"
Anne Marguerite Adelaide Emily de Vialar was the eldest child and only daughter of Baron James Augustine de Vialar and his wife Antoinette, daughter of that Baron de Portal who was physician-in-ordinary to Louis XVIII and Charles X of France. She was born at Gaillac in Languedoc in 1797. At the age of fifteen she was removed from school in Paris to be companion to her father, now a widower, at Gaillac; but unhappily, differences arose between them because of Emily's refusal to consider a suitable marriage.
For fifteen years, Emily was the good angel of Gaillac, devoting herself to the care of children neglected by their parents and to the help of the poor generally. In 1832, her maternal grandfather died, leaving her a share of his estate which was a quite considerable fortune. She bought a large house at Gaillac and took possession of it with three companions. Others joined them and three months later, the archbishop authorized the Abbe to clothe twelve postulants with the religious habit. They called themselves the Congregation of Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition. Their work was to be the care of the needy, especially the sick, and the education of children. In 1835, she made her profession with seventeen other sisters, and received formal approval for the rule of the Congregation.
The foundress, in the course of twenty-two years, saw her Congregation grow from one to some forty houses, many of which she had founded in person. The physical energy and achievements of St. Emily de Vialar are the more remarkable in that from her youth she was troubled by hernia, contracted characteristically in doing a deed of charity. From 1850 this became more and more serious, and it hastened her end, which came on August 24, 1856. The burden of her last testament to her daughters was "Love one another". Her canonization took place in 1951; her feast is June 17th.
St. Emily de Vialar, Virgin, Foundress of the Sisters of St. Joseph "of the Apparition"
Anne Marguerite Adelaide Emily de Vialar was the eldest child and only daughter of Baron James Augustine de Vialar and his wife Antoinette, daughter of that Baron de Portal who was physician-in-ordinary to Louis XVIII and Charles X of France. She was born at Gaillac in Languedoc in 1797. At the age of fifteen she was removed from school in Paris to be companion to her father, now a widower, at Gaillac; but unhappily, differences arose between them because of Emily's refusal to consider a suitable marriage.
For fifteen years, Emily was the good angel of Gaillac, devoting herself to the care of children neglected by their parents and to the help of the poor generally. In 1832, her maternal grandfather died, leaving her a share of his estate which was a quite considerable fortune. She bought a large house at Gaillac and took possession of it with three companions. Others joined them and three months later, the archbishop authorized the Abbe to clothe twelve postulants with the religious habit. They called themselves the Congregation of Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition. Their work was to be the care of the needy, especially the sick, and the education of children. In 1835, she made her profession with seventeen other sisters, and received formal approval for the rule of the Congregation.
The foundress, in the course of twenty-two years, saw her Congregation grow from one to some forty houses, many of which she had founded in person. The physical energy and achievements of St. Emily de Vialar are the more remarkable in that from her youth she was troubled by hernia, contracted characteristically in doing a deed of charity. From 1850 this became more and more serious, and it hastened her end, which came on August 24, 1856. The burden of her last testament to her daughters was "Love one another". Her canonization took place in 1951; her feast is June 17th.
A local honor for a soon-to-be New Orleans Saint (not the football kind)
St. Claude Street in Treme renamed after sainthood candidate Henriette Delille
Published: Friday, June 17, 2011, 10:30 PM
By Bruce Eggler, The Times-Picayune The Times-Picayune
Goodbye, St. Claude. Hello, possible future saint Henriette Delille.
The New Orleans City Council voted 7-0 Thursday to rename St. Claude Street in Treme to honor the New Orleans-born free woman of color who in 1847 founded the religious order that became known as the Sisters of the Holy Family.
The change affects the 1000 through 1800 blocks of St. Claude, from St. Philip Street, at the edge of Louis Armstrong Park, to Pauger Street, where St. Claude Street and McShane Place come together to form St. Claude Avenue. The avenue will still be known as St. Claude.
The idea for the change originated with the Historic Faubourg Treme Association.
Some Treme residents, including some who live or have businesses on St. Claude, opposed it, but Councilwoman Kristin Gisleson Palmer, whose district includes the area, said her office received several times as many messages of support as of opposition from neighborhood residents.
Proponents cited both mundane and spiritual reasons for the change.
The mundane argument, they said, is to eliminate confusion that can send taxis, packages and pizzas to the wrong street.
St. Claude Street is one block on the lake side of North Rampart Street, which turns briefly into McShane Place before becoming St. Claude Avenue. Those not familiar with the neighborhood sometimes assume that St. Claude Street is the same as North Rampart Street.
The spiritual reason is to honor Henriette Delille, who lived and worked in the Treme neighborhood. Born in 1812, she is widely recognized for her work serving the city's poor, especially slaves, before the Civil War. She founded a nursing home for the poor in 1841 and operated it on St. Bernard Avenue. She died in 1862.
Last year, the Catholic Church declared her to be "venerable," two steps short of sainthood. If she is eventually canonized, she would be the first native-born African-American declared a saint by the Catholic Church.
Opponents of the change, some of whom joked about what punishment awaits them after death for their position, said they agreed that Delille deserves recognition but that renaming this particular street was not appropriate.
P.B. Hubbard, who recently bought a home on St. Claude Street, said the nine-block-long Delille Street will be even more unknown to outsiders than under its current name. "If I wanted to live on a street that no one had ever heard of, I could have moved out to Harahan," he said.
He said the change would also end the last link in the city to the line in Professor Longhair's classic song "Go to the Mardi Gras" about seeing the Zulu king "down on St. Claude and Dumaine" -- a corner that has not existed since Armstrong Park was built.
But Palmer said the change was appropriate, both to eliminate confusion that can be a nuisance and even hazardous to residents, and to "recognize a woman who contributed significantly to the community." No street in Treme is named for a "person of color," she noted.
Her colleagues lined up behind her.
Councilwoman Cynthia Hedge-Morrell said she felt "privileged to cast a vote for this."
By law, the direct costs of changing a street name, primarily installing new street signs, must be borne by those proposing the change -- in this case, the Historic Faubourg Treme Association, St. Augustine Church and the Sisters of the Holy Family. The City Planning Commission estimates those costs at about $500.
But many residents also would have expenses as a result. Sylvester Francis, owner of the Backstreet Cultural Museum, at 1116 St. Claude St., said in a letter that the change "would force us to revise business cards, stationery, our website, etc. at great expense to us." Moreover, he said, "customers worldwide know us to be located on St. Claude Street."
Palmer said she would work to set up a fund to assist Francis and others who will face added costs because of the change.
Bruce Eggler can be reached at beggler@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3320.
Published: Friday, June 17, 2011, 10:30 PM
By Bruce Eggler, The Times-Picayune The Times-Picayune
Goodbye, St. Claude. Hello, possible future saint Henriette Delille.
The New Orleans City Council voted 7-0 Thursday to rename St. Claude Street in Treme to honor the New Orleans-born free woman of color who in 1847 founded the religious order that became known as the Sisters of the Holy Family.
The change affects the 1000 through 1800 blocks of St. Claude, from St. Philip Street, at the edge of Louis Armstrong Park, to Pauger Street, where St. Claude Street and McShane Place come together to form St. Claude Avenue. The avenue will still be known as St. Claude.
The idea for the change originated with the Historic Faubourg Treme Association.
Some Treme residents, including some who live or have businesses on St. Claude, opposed it, but Councilwoman Kristin Gisleson Palmer, whose district includes the area, said her office received several times as many messages of support as of opposition from neighborhood residents.
Proponents cited both mundane and spiritual reasons for the change.
The mundane argument, they said, is to eliminate confusion that can send taxis, packages and pizzas to the wrong street.
St. Claude Street is one block on the lake side of North Rampart Street, which turns briefly into McShane Place before becoming St. Claude Avenue. Those not familiar with the neighborhood sometimes assume that St. Claude Street is the same as North Rampart Street.
The spiritual reason is to honor Henriette Delille, who lived and worked in the Treme neighborhood. Born in 1812, she is widely recognized for her work serving the city's poor, especially slaves, before the Civil War. She founded a nursing home for the poor in 1841 and operated it on St. Bernard Avenue. She died in 1862.
Last year, the Catholic Church declared her to be "venerable," two steps short of sainthood. If she is eventually canonized, she would be the first native-born African-American declared a saint by the Catholic Church.
Opponents of the change, some of whom joked about what punishment awaits them after death for their position, said they agreed that Delille deserves recognition but that renaming this particular street was not appropriate.
P.B. Hubbard, who recently bought a home on St. Claude Street, said the nine-block-long Delille Street will be even more unknown to outsiders than under its current name. "If I wanted to live on a street that no one had ever heard of, I could have moved out to Harahan," he said.
He said the change would also end the last link in the city to the line in Professor Longhair's classic song "Go to the Mardi Gras" about seeing the Zulu king "down on St. Claude and Dumaine" -- a corner that has not existed since Armstrong Park was built.
But Palmer said the change was appropriate, both to eliminate confusion that can be a nuisance and even hazardous to residents, and to "recognize a woman who contributed significantly to the community." No street in Treme is named for a "person of color," she noted.
Her colleagues lined up behind her.
Councilwoman Cynthia Hedge-Morrell said she felt "privileged to cast a vote for this."
By law, the direct costs of changing a street name, primarily installing new street signs, must be borne by those proposing the change -- in this case, the Historic Faubourg Treme Association, St. Augustine Church and the Sisters of the Holy Family. The City Planning Commission estimates those costs at about $500.
But many residents also would have expenses as a result. Sylvester Francis, owner of the Backstreet Cultural Museum, at 1116 St. Claude St., said in a letter that the change "would force us to revise business cards, stationery, our website, etc. at great expense to us." Moreover, he said, "customers worldwide know us to be located on St. Claude Street."
Palmer said she would work to set up a fund to assist Francis and others who will face added costs because of the change.
Bruce Eggler can be reached at beggler@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3320.
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