News - December 2015 RSS Feed

If you normally use weekly envelopes, there was a delay in shipping. Your personalized box of envelopes were shipped first class mail on Thursday, January 7th from New York State. We apologize for any inconvenience.

The Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God on January 1st is a Holy Day of Obligation. The vigil Mass will be Thursday, December 31st, at 4 p.m. Masses on Friday, January 1st, will be at 9 and 11 a.m. There will be no evening Mass.

A reminder to families of St. Benilde school children. In order to maintain the status of registered, active and supporting school family, a contribution level has been set at $520 per calendar year. This obligation must be met by December 31st to avoid paying the higher non-participating tuition rate for the 2016-17 school year.

The Annual Carl Barre Blood Drive will be Wednesday, December 30th. It will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at The Blood Center’s Metairie Donor Center at 2617 Edenborn Ave. Please help us achieve our annual goal of blood and platelet donations. Call the Parish Office for additional information.

The Mass schedule for Christmas: Vigil Masses at 4 and 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve; Mass at midnight; and on Christmas Day, Mass will be celebrated at 9 and 11 a.m. THERE WILL BE NO 6 P.M. MASS ON CHRISTMAS DAY. Please note, the Adoration Chapel will close on Thursday, December 24th at 3 p.m. and will reopen on Monday, December 28th at 7:30 a.m.

A Special Second Collection will be taken up at all the Christmas Masses to help support our seminarians at Notre Dame Seminary and Archdiocesan charitable organizations. Thank you in advance for your generosity as we support the future priests of our Archdiocese.

Make your plans now to join us for the Second Annual Men’s Club Chili Cook-Off Trifecta on Sunday December 20th. Teams begin cooking at 8:45 AM, with gates opening to the public starting at 12:00 PM, with the best tasting chili in the South ready by 12:30 PM. A gate charge of $10 (children 10 and under are free) gets you unlimited tastings, great music by band Paris Avenue, an Old Fire Truck, and inflatables for the kids. If you would like to enter a team, please contact Dax Barret at 504-931-7489 or David Mockin at 504-352-6124, or email [email protected]. Teams must cook chili, participate in the corn hole toss, the jalapeño eating contest, and create your favorite Louisiana-inspired dish.

The parish will have a Holy Hour from 6:00pm till 7:00pm on Monday, December 21st as we prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of the Christ Child at Christmas. Both Fr. Cooper and Fr. H.L. will be available for Confessions from 6:00pm till 7:00pm.

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 before December 23rd. 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.

The second collection this weekend is the annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection. Contributions help to care for our retired brothers, sisters, and religious order priests. Thank you for your generosity.

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday... then Giving Tuesday! We appreciate your support with donations on Tuesday, December 1st, spreading the word about the importance of the mission and ministry of Catholic Education at St. Benilde School, and encouraging others to participate in Giving Tuesday. The Verdict is in .... All By the Grace of God! We achieved our goal! ..... Total raised in 24 hours by 197 individuals: $21,285. With the match from the Whitman Family Foundation, we raised a Grand Total of $42,570!! THANK YOU to all who gave for this campaign! May God bless you abundantly! Know of my gratitude and thanksgiving to each and every one of you! Let the Church say: Amen ... Amen .... Amen!!! Praise Jesus!