The Mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul - “A network of friends, inspired by Gospel values, growing in holiness and building a more just world through personal relationships with and service to people in need.” Our Accomplishments – In 2018, within the in St Joseph and St Anthony Church Parishes boundaries, we assisted 68 families of all religious affiliations with rental assistance, utility payments, clothing, food, and moral support. How to Receive Help – Please leave a voice mail on our phone line (504) 298-6907. A team member will contact you to set up an appointment for a home visit. How to Provide Help – Monetary donations are accepted by placing funds in the Poor Box inside St Joseph and St Anthony Churches. How to Join the Society of St. Vincent de Paul – We welcome all to attend our monthly meetings held in the St Joseph Church Office on the first Wednesday of each month at 3 p.m. We begin at 2:45 p.m. by reciting the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. If you have any questions, please leave a message on our phone line (504) 298-6907.

My father and my mother were married for 55 years. In all the years that I have known my father, I have never known him to take off his wedding ring. Even when he worked for the Orleans Parish School Board as a TV/VCR repairman and was told that he could not wear his at work, he told them he could not take it off. It never left his finger. Even after the death of my mother 3 years ago, Dad still kept the ring on and it is buried with it on the finger that my mother put it on 58 years ago on June 12, 1960. *** When I got married on September 14, 1996, taking my inspiration from my father, I told my wife Judy that the only person that could the ring off my finger would be her. My wife died on November 22, 2009. I kept the ring on my finger until Holy Thursday 2014. The reason why I took the ring off is simple and profound. Holy Thursday is the day when the priest washes the feet of 12 people in imitation of Jesus washing the feet of the 12 Apostles. I was washing the feet of one parishioner. Once I had finished and was trying to stand up, I tripped over my alb, falling backwards. The only thing that I hit was my left hand ring finger, bending it to the side. As my finger began to swell, I removed my wedding ring. I think my finger was broken. I tried to put the ring back on; but it would not fit. Holy Thursday is also the Institution of the Holy Eucharist and the Origin of the Priesthood. By me taking off the ring, in a way, it was the way my wife was telling me from beyond the grave that I was no longer obligated to keep the ring on because I was now wed to the Church. Now you know the rest of the story.

Obituary for Leon L. Copping ** Leon L. Copping passed away on Saturday, December 22, 2018 at the age of 83. Beloved husband of the late Mary Frances Copping for 55 years. Father of Michael, David (Millie), Steven (Liza) and Father Gary Copping. Son of the late Eugenie and Charles Copping. Brother-in-law of Jim Valenti and Betty Ann Seals. Grandfather of Gemara Castin (Cory), Annabel Copping and the late Arnold Diaz. Great grandfather of Ezra, Amelia, and the late Sophia. Also survived by nieces, nephews and other relatives. He was an Orleans Parish School Board employee for 25 years and a member of Knights of Columbus JFK Council No. 2952. He was a native of New Orleans, LA and a resident of Hammond, LA for 10 years following Hurricane Katrina before returning to New Orleans. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Gretna, LA on Wednesday, January 2, 2019 at 11:30am. Visitation will be held at the church Wednesday morning from 9:30am until 11:30am. Interment, Panemah Cemetery, Bogalusa, LA. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to St. Anthony Catholic Church, Gretna, LA. Family and friends may view and sign the online guest book at www.mothefunerals.com.

For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven. for in this tent we groan, longing to be further clothed with our heavenly habitation if indeed, when we have taken it off, we shall not be found naked. For while we are in this tent we groan and are weighed down, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a first installment. So we are always courageous, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord. Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil. (2 Cor 5)

On the occasion of their first Mass, it is traditional that the newly ordained priest presents a gift to his parents. To his mother, he give the Maniturgium, which was used to cleanse his hands. The Maniturgium is given to the mother, because she was the first protector of the newly ordained priest, during his time in her womb. When the newly ordained priest's mother is called home to God, she is buried holding the Maniturgium so that all in Heaven and on Earth will know that she is the mother of a priest. And on the last day when we are raised from the dead, she can present the Maniturgium to Christ the Lord and say, "My son too shared in your priesthood." To his father, the priest presents his first confessional stole. The stole is the sign of priestly office, and the priest wears it when he engages in holy things, like celebrating the Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Penance. It was the father of the newly ordained priest who first taught him about justice and mercy. And like the mother of the newly ordained priest, when his father dies, he is buried holding the purple stole so that all in Heaven and on Earth will know that he was the father of a priest. And on the last day when we are raised from the dead, he can present the purple stole to Christ the Lord and say, "My son too shared in your priesthood."

St Anthony School hosted two Parenting Sessions to help parents in raising their children. The first session on "Parenting for School Success" had a whopping 36 people in attendance. The second session on "Responsibility & Discipline, Part I" had 13 in attendance. Because of the busyness of the last part of the year, it was decided to postpone the last 5 sessions until the beginning of next year, 2019. Please join us again when we host the next parenting sessions at St Anthony School.

In October 2017, the Restoration Committee was formed to raise an estimated $500,000 to remove and re-apply the protective sealant over the stucco on the church’s exterior, with a paint job to follow and to repair old termite damage in the auditorium. The Restoration Committee, which also serves as the Parish Finance Committee included, Mary Helen Williams as Chairman, Belinda Constant, Kim Enger, Linda LaBorde, Mary Grace Orsag and Bill Swiler. After Bill’s untimely death, James Rolf III was invited to serve. Father Gary and Deacon Jerry are included. To date an estimated $340,000 has been raised that includes money from Major Sponsors, generous donations from the parishioners and local residents, several raffles and special events that started with selling hot dogs at Gretna’s Lundi Gras and a School Reunion chaired by Toni Hollis in May. Chairman Debbie Swiler began the Rummage Sale in June to be a part of the annual Gretna Citywide Yard Sale on Oct. 13. On Wednesdays, two Women’s Club members accepted donations and every Monday, a group of mostly non-parishioner volunteers sorted and packed. Collections were stopped at the end of August. With generous furniture donations and the hard work of everyone involved, the Rummage Sale made a phenomenal $16,000. There were three major events in three weeks. Slated to become an annual fundraiser for St. Joseph’s, Chili Cookoff on the River, set for Oct. 27 got hit with a big blow two days before the event when the river flooded the batture! Thanks to Mayor Constant and Police Capt. Russell Lloyd, Chili Cookoff NEAR the River was moved to the largest parking lot in Gretna which turned out to be a blessing. Over 400 people attended to enjoy chili cooked by 16 teams, 40 volunteers helped and the Chili Poker Run had 50 bikers and riders. Chili Cookoff made over $20,000. Winners were 1st Place-Brett’s Jambalaya Company, 2nd Place-NOLA Gold Rugby, 3rd Place-Entergy Lineman. Trosclair Electric was Honorable Mention. Thanks to our own parishioners: Mayor Belinda Constant, Linda LaBorde, Geri Mayville, James Rolf, Glenn Esteve, Garry Vedros, Jill DeBroeck, Peter DeBroeck, Ray Markase, Paul Coles, Leon Cuccia, Debbie Morse, Val Coles, the St. Joseph office staff and the Women’s Club members who stepped up. Judging was in a blind method by 15 Judges that included real judges and community leaders. Gratitude to Holly Williams and her committee that volunteered from Gretna Historical Society to handle all phases of judging and our own Darrell Hollis, CPA to keep everything orderly. Then there was Neal Vaught, everything from Weigh-in guru to a Final Judge and countless outsiders like Ryan Templet, Jeff Parish Councilman Ricky Templet, Gretna Councilmen Mike Hinyub, Tony Buckley, David Crockett Fire Company, Academy of Our Lady students and West Jeff ROTC. On Nov. 2, the $10,000 Raffle/Gala, chaired by Darnell LeBlanc was a huge success earning $24,000. The 300 - $100 raffle tickets were all sold and the pick-a- prizes, silent auctions and 50/50 split raffles were very successful. Charlotte Roussell was the winner of the $10,000 Grand Prize. But, the constant in the Restoration Campaign has been the steady sales of our Mother Church Cookbook. We took delivery of 1,000 cookbooks on the Thursday before St. Joseph’s Day, March 2018. One week later we ordered a second 1,000. We are now promoting cookbook sales as “gifts you can give for Christmas!” Cookbook sales so far is $33,000. Projected costs to restore the church are greater than the original estimate. A contractor will be selected shortly and work will commence. It is important to keep up the efforts so we can pay for the repairs without burdening the budget with monthly payments. Thanks to all of you that have been so generous. Please continue to keep the Restoration Fund in mind with your donations and prayers for success.

CatholicJourneys.com is the premier provider of Catholic Pilgrimages to Medjugorje. They provide pilgrims with the opportunity to increase one's spirituality, grow in faith and better understand God's presence in our lives. May 2 - 10, 2019 Special Pilgrimage_____ Fr. Gary Copping+++ St. Joseph Church & Shrine in Gretna, LA =====$2439 From New York=====$2699 From New Orleans^^^ Double Occupancy