News - December 2018 RSS Feed

Archbishop Aymond will be the celebrant and homilist Sunday, January 13, at 1 PM for a healing Mass at Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos , 919 Josephine St. We will also be celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Francis Xavier Seelos. Confession before Mass. Anointing of the Sick. Veneration of the Relic Crucifix of Blessed Francis Seelos. Cake and coffee will be served following the celebration of Mass. All are welcome. Free parking lot and wheelchair accessible.

With the calendar year almost over, please be reminded that many of you indicated during school registration in January 2018 that you desired to be a registered, active, and supporting (RAS) family of St. Benilde Parish. Thank you for your commitment to our parish and for your desire to support the work of the Church in proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel! Please note that to be recognized as a RAS family at St. Benilde Parish, a contribution level has been set at $520 per calendar year. This is a friendly reminder that if you do not maintain the status of a RAS family by December 31, 2018, you will have to pay a higher non-participating tuition rate per child for the 2019-2020 school year. This has been a long-standing policy of our parish and is consistent with our neighboring Catholic Churches in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. If you would like to check your current contribution level, please call the Parish Office at 834-4980.

The Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God is a Holy Day of Obligation. Vigil Mass will be celebrated at 4:00pm on Monday, December 31st. Masses on Tuesday, January 1st will be at 9:00am and 11:00am. Please note that there will be No 6PM Holy Hour or Confessions on Monday, December 31st.

The Adoration Chapel will close at 4:00 PM on Saturday, December 29th and will re-open at 7:30 AM on Wednesday, January 2, 2019. The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, December 31st and Tuesday, January 1st in observance of the Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God and the New Year’s Holiday. We will reopen on Wednesday, January 2nd at 9:00 AM.

Dear Members of the St. Benilde Family, Our school is deeply humbled and grateful for your prayers & generous support. Through your iGiveCatholic contributions, the Whitman Family Foundation matching gift, donations that are still coming in, and the $3,000 of prize money awarded for winning both number of donation competitions, you helped raise just over $90,000 for our school. God is so good & faithful! Here are just a few of the accolades our school can claim for iGiveCatholic 2018: 1st in the nation for number of donations for a Catholic school; 1st in the Archdiocese of New Orleans for number of donations for a Catholic institution/organization; 2nd in the nation for number of donations for a Catholic institution/organization; 2nd in the Archdiocese of New Orleans for total donation amount for a Catholic school; 9th in the nation for total donation amount for a Catholic institution/organization; 3rd in the nation for total donation amount for a Catholic school. Yes, small school, small parish, BIG HEARTS!!!

The Adoration Chapel will close at 4:00 PM on Saturday, December 22nd and will re-open at 7:30 AM on Wednesday, December 26th. The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, December 24th through Wednesday, December 26th in observance of Christmas. We will reopen on Thursday, December 27th at 9:00 AM.

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 remembrance. Please place your envelopes in the collection basket, the Poor Box or bring it to the Parish Office. 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.

Masses on Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24th will be celebrated at 4:00PM and 6:00PM. Masses on Christmas Day, Tuesday, December 25th will be celebrated at 9:00AM and 11:00AM. Please note that there will be No Christmas Midnight Mass this year due to marginal attendance over the past three calendar years. In Addition, there will be No Confessions or Holy Hour on Monday, December 24th at 6:00PM.

There will be a special Second Collection taken at all the Christmas Masses to help support Priestly Formation at Notre Dame Seminary and to assist with the various Charitable Organizations of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Thank you for your generosity as we help our young men studying for the priesthood.

The Bless the Baby Jesus devotion will be held with Fr. Cooper on Sunday, December 16th as part of the 11:00 a.m. Mass for the Third Sunday of Advent. This is an excellent opportunity for families to grow in faith as the “domestic church.” All Children are invited to bring a figurine of the baby Jesus, particularly from their family Nativity Crèche to be blessed by Fr. Cooper during Mass. Fr. Cooper will invite the children to sit at the foot of the step of the sanctuary for the homily and then to come forward to have their figurines blessed. Please come and enjoy this beautiful Advent Mass and devotion. Immediately following the Bless the Baby Jesus devotion, there will be a hot Breakfast with Baby Jesus including eggs, bacon, and biscuits served in the Cafeteria. Hospitality coffee and donuts will also be provided for those not wishing a full breakfast. The suggested donation is $5.00 per family. Please come and join in this faith-filled, family activity!

Thanks to all who took an angel off the Giving Tree to help make Christmas a little happier for the less fortunate in our Parish. Additional angels are still available on the Giving Tree in the vestibule of church. The deadline to return the gifts to the Parish Office is Wednesday, December 12. It is very important to include the angel attached securely on the outside of the gift.

Join your fellow parishioners for the BEST ADVENT EVER, a free email program from Dynamic Catholic. Advent is a time to prepare our hearts for Christmas, but we often get distracted and busy. Don’t let this Advent pass you by. Slow down and focus on what matters most with BEST ADVENT EVER. Each day, you’ll receive an email with short inspirational videos from Allen Hunt and Dominick Albano, practical tips for your everyday life, and real-life stories to encourage you in your faith journey. All you have to do is sign up at BestAdventEver.com.