The Men’s Club will be serving up the first Fish Fry of the Lenten Season on Friday, March 10, from 5:30 to 8 PM in the cafeteria. The menu includes soft shell crab plate, fish taco, Thai shrimp taco, fish plate, grilled redfish with shrimp cream sauce, and more. Pre-sale tickets for adult fish plate—$10 ($11 at the door), child fish plate—$6 ($7 at the door) and redfish with sauce plate—$11 ($12 at the door). Tickets will be sold after all the Masses the weekend of March 4 & 5 and at the parish office during normal office hours.

During the 50 days of the Easter Season the Paschal Candle (Easter Candle) will burn at all Masses celebrated at St. Benilde Church. The Paschal Candle represents Christ, the Light of the World. The pure beeswax of which the candle is made represents the sinless Christ who was formed in the womb of His Mother. The wick signifies His humanity, the flame, His Divine Nature, both soul and body. Five grains of incense inserted into the candle in the form of a cross recall the aromatic spices with which His Sacred Body was prepared for the tomb, and of the five wounds in His hands, feet, and side. During the Easter Vigil, the deacon carries the candle in procession into the dark church. The candle, representing Christ himself, is blessed by the priest who then inscribes in it a cross, the first letters and last of the Greek alphabet and the current year. If you would like the Paschal Candle to burn in memory of a loved one or in thanksgiving for prayers answered throughout the Easter season, please contact the Parish Office. The cost of the candle is $300.

The Archdiocese of New Orleans will offer a writing workshop for persons seeking an annulment in the Catholic Church or for persons responding to an annulment. The workshop will be held in St. Rita Parish’s Msgr. Champagne Complex, 7100 Jefferson Hwy. in Harahan. The series will be for five (5) Tuesdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 and April 4, 2017. Hours are 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. The materials for the series cost $25.00. To register or for more information, call Cathy, 504-861-6243.

Experience the power of the Church’s seven signs of grace in the St. Paul Center’s new video study, The Bible and the Sacraments. This Lent, join thousands of Catholics online by participating in the free study at www.BibleandtheSacraments.com. Join host Matthew Leonard for this visually stunning eleven lesson series that explores how and why the seven Sacraments are God’s gifts of life and love to His children. The free online study begins on March 1, 2017 and will continue throughout the Lenten season.

The Archdiocesan Golden Wedding Anniversary Celebration will take place on Sunday, June 11, 2017 at 3 PM, in St. Philip Neri Church, 6500 Kawanee, Ave., Metairie. This year’s celebration will be a Prayer Service not a Mass. Couples must register with the Parish Office by February 24th.

The second collection this weekend is for our Repairs and Maintenance Fund. Monies are currently being used to pay for replacing the air-conditioning and heating system, including the replacement of all ductwork in the Parish Office. The cost of the project is approximately $20,000. Thank you for your continued generosity as we make much-needed repairs to our aging buildings.

Mark your calendar! St. Benilde Boy Scout Troop 227 will hold its annual Spaghetti and Meatball Dinner on Sunday, February 5. Dinner will be available for eat-in or take-out, from 10 AM - 2 PM, in the cafeteria. Dinners cost $6 each. Subs will also be on the menu. This fundraiser helps defray the cost of summer camp. Hope to see you there!

Catholics often participate in the tradition of having their throats blessed. To do this, the priest consecrates two candles, generally by a prayer, and then holds each in a crossed position on the throat of the person being blessed. At the same time, the following blessing is given: “Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from ailments of the throat and from every other evil. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” Why does the blessing of the throat take place on St. Blaise Day? St. Blaise, a physician and bishop, asked God to cure a child who was choking to death on a fish bone and the child’s life was saved. Thus, St. Blaise is the patron saint of healthy throats. The Blessing of Throats will take place at St. Benilde after the 5:30PM Mass on Thursday, February 2nd and after the 7:00AM Mass on Friday, February 3rd.

Mark your calendar for the annual “Night at the Races” hosted by the St. Benilde Home & School Association. It will be held on Saturday, January 28th. Clubhouse will open at 7 p.m. with racing to begin at 7:30 p.m. Admission to the Clubhouse is $3 per individual and $5 per couple. We will have plenty of food and drinks for everyone to enjoy. If you would like to volunteer to be a Jockey, please contact the Home & School Association at stbenildehomeandschool@gmail.com. This event is for adults only.

All parishioners are welcome to attend the St. Benilde School Town Hall meeting with the principal that will be held Sunday, January 29th, at noon, in the cafeteria.

Safe Environment Training will be held at St. Benilde on January 19th, at 6:30 p.m., in the cafeteria. All volunteers who have even one unsupervised contact with minors, and all who participate in an overnight event, must attend safe environment training prior to volunteering for the first time and every three years thereafter. Please contact Mary Kelly, 504-834-4980 ext. 113, for further information.

Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible is an engaging journey beginning with Genesis and ending with Jesus' passion, death and resurrection. Uncover the story woven throughout Scripture and get the "big picture" of the Bible. The journey will begin on January 11 and end on March 15, 2017. All sessions will be on Wednesday evenings, in the Teen Center, and begin at 7:00pm. If you have questions or would like to pre-register, contact Val Hebert by email valencemet@aol.com or call 504-427-0327.

We will follow our normal weekend Mass schedule for Saturday, December 31st and Sunday, January 1st (the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God): 4:00 PM Vigil and 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 6:00 PM. The Adoration Chapel will close at 3:00 PM on Saturday, December 31st and will re-open at 7:30 AM on Monday, December 2nd. The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, January 2nd and will reopen on Tuesday, January 3rd at 9:00 AM.

Please note the following Mass schedule for Christmas: Masses on Christmas Eve, December 24th, will be celebrated at 4 PM, 6 PM, and Midnight. On Christmas Day, December 25th, Masses will be at 9 AM and 11 AM. There will be No 6PM Mass on Christmas Day. There will also be No Confessions neither on Saturday, December 24th at 3 PM nor on Sunday, December 25th at 5 PM. The Adoration Chapel will close at 3 PM on Saturday, December 24th and will reopen on Monday, December 26th at 7:30 AM. The Parish Office will be closed on Friday, December 23rd, through Monday, December 26th in observance of Christmas. We will reopen on Tuesday, December 27th at 9 AM.

The “Bless the Baby Jesus” devotion will be held on Sunday, December 18th as part of the 11:00 a.m. Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Advent. After Mass all children and their families are invited to our first “Breakfast with the Baby Jesus.” It will be held in the cafeteria. A hot breakfast will be served. Donuts, milk and coffee will be available for those not wanting a full breakfast. A nativity play will be performed. Crafts and activities are also planned for the children. The cost is $5 per family. Pre-sale tickets will be sold at all the Masses next weekend. Tickets may also be purchased at the door that day.

The beautiful poinsettias and greenery that adorn our altar and sanctuary are a special part of the celebration of Christmas at St. Benilde Catholic Church. We invite all parishioners to share in the experience through a memorial or thanksgiving gift by using the Christmas Flowers Memorial Envelopes found in the vestibule of Church. Donations toward the cost of Christmas decorations in the Church may be made in memory or honor of your family members and friends. This is a wonderful way to remember loved ones, honor friends, and offer thanksgiving to God for prayers answered and blessings received during this past year. The suggested donation is $10.00 per rememberance. Please place your envelopes in the collection basket, the Poor Box or bring it to the Parish Office by December 26th. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. Memorial Envelopes will be placed on the altar throughout the Christmas Season and names will be printed in the bulletin.

Mark your calendar for the 3rd Annual St. Benilde Men’s Club Chili Cook-off Trifecta. It will be held Sunday, December 11th, in the St. Benilde School Yard. Gates open at 12 noon. Food tasting begins at 12:30 PM. The cost is $10 per person. Children 10 years and under are free. The cost includes unlimited tasting of chili and the each team’s favorite Louisiana inspired dish. There will be live music, inflatable and concessions available for purchase. Hope to see you there.

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Holy Day of Obligation. Vigil Mass will be celebrated at 5:30pm on Wednesday, December 7th. Masses on Thursday, December 8th will be at 7am, 8:15am (School Mass), 12 Noon, and 6:00pm. The Parish Office will be closed on Thursday, December 8th in observance of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. We will reopen on Friday, December 9th at 9:00 am.

Fr. Cooper will celebrate a special Thanksgiving Day Mass on Thursday, November 24th at 9:00 am. Thanksgiving Day is a special time to remember the blessings we have received from God, so that we can be a more thankful people every day. The reasons for having grateful hearts make up a long litany: the gift of life itself, faith in a God who loves us and is very near to us, good health, loving family, caring friends, opportunities to serve, food on our tables, roofs over our heads. Yes, we have our times of doubt, our aches and pains, our family conflicts, and our economic struggles. But in spite of all these challenges, we are incredibly blessed! There will be no 7:00 am or 5:30 pm Mass on Thursday, November 24th. The Adoration Chapel will close at 11:59 PM on Wednesday, November 23rd and will reopen at 7:30 AM on Friday, November 25th. The Parish Office will be closed on Thursday, November 24th and Friday, November 25th in observance of Thanksgiving Day. We will reopen on Monday, November 28th at 9:00 am.

The 2017 Mass Book opens on Wednesday, November 2nd. Each Mass intentions is $5. The sanctuary lights and candles are $10 each and burn for the entire week. The weekly altar flowers may be purchased in memory of a loved one for $120. We do not carry over Mass intentions from year to year.