Men of the parish: The 2022 Archdiocese of New Orleans Men's Conference will be held on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at St Catherine of Siena, Metairie. The day will include enpowering speakers, prayer, Mass, and reconciliation to help men reflect on what it means to be "Sons of the Father". Don't miss this great opportunity to bring a new energy to your faith, your family, and our parish community. Learn more and register at NolaCatholicMen.org

DUE TO WORK ON CATHEDRAL, THIS EVENT IS CANCELLED ++ On Sunday, February 6, 2022, Archbishop Aymond will celebrate the annual liturgy for the Victims and Survivors of Violence at the 11:00 a.m. Mass at St Louis Cathedral. Please call the Church Office with the names of families in our Parish who have been affected by violence and murder. The Archbishop will send them an invitation to this special Mass. The Archdiocese of New Orleans are asking the families who have lost loved ones to bring a photo of them to carry during the procession. Survivors who attend will also be remembered in prayer.

THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING OUR CHILI COOKOFF SUCH A SUCCESS. WE TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR PATRONAGE. $37,949.61 was raised. The profits were shared between St. Joseph Restoration Fund And Lafitte Disaster Relief

Fr Thomas has been appointed as Assistant Parish Priest of St Anthony of Padua Parish, Wulensi Ghana effective January 15, 2022. Congratulations Fr. Thomas on your new assignment!

The Notre Dame Seminary Programs for Laity and the ANO Office of Catholic Education and Faith Formation will be offering a FREE “Spring Ministry Workshop Series” for all lay ministers on topics related to current issues that we all face in ministry today. We strongly recommend that parishes send a team of clergy and lay ministers to each event so that the workshops can be as beneficial as possible to your parish moving forward. Spring Ministry Workshop Series Hosted by Notre Dame Seminary and the Archdiocese of New Orleans Office of Catholic Education andFaith Formation, the Spring Ministry Formation Workshops is a FREE workshop series offered to layand ordained ministers in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The workshop format will highlight currentissues facing ministers in the field and allow for fellowship amongst ministers throughout our area. You can register atwww.nds.edu/springministryworkshops. For more information, please contactlayprograms@nds.edu or 504- 866-7426 ext. 742. Sexual Integrity Ministry: Best Practices for Ministry Leaders Presented by: Chris O'Neill and Gary LeBlanc Wednesday, January 12, 2022 The Northshore Pastoral Center from 6:30- 8:00 PM Cultivating Virtuous Leadership in Ministry Presented by: Dr. Susie Veters and Dr. Tom Neal Saturday, February 5, 2022 Notre Dame Seminary, Schulte Auditorium from 8:00 - 11:00 AM Partnering with Parents in Faith Formation Presented by: Dcn. Michael Whitehouse and Christina Uhlich Wednesday , April 6, 2022 St. Dominic Catholic Church from 6:30 - 8:00 PM These workshops will be very practical in nature, and our hope is that each attendee will leave with new knowledge, new skills, new resources, and a new plan for better ministering to the lay faithful in our parishes concerning these issues. We hope to see you there! To RSVP to reserve your spot, please click the following links: Sexual Integrity Ministry: Best Practices for Ministers Cultivating Virtuous Leadership in Ministry Partnering with Parents in Fatih Formation

There is an email out there that says "Rev Gary Copping" which is from frpastor585@gmail.com. This is not Fr Gary Copping's email. His is gcmetairie@hotmail.com or gcopping@arch-no.org. The message reads, "Good afternoon Hello how are you doing I need a favor from you email Me as soon as you receive this message God bless Rev Gary Copping Pastor " Notice the typos and the wording. Fr. Gary is more meticulous than this and does not speak like the email reads. Please ignore it.

Mission Details - Dates: Monday December 6th, Tuesday December 7th, Wednesday December 8th at 7PM - Title: The Virtues: Building the habits for lasting happiness" - Summary: Three nights of talks 50 mins +10 mins Q&A. Each night is related but stands alone. - Description: o Night #1: The Four Forgotten Truths of our Faith. A practical review of the Kerygma and our call to be saints. o Night #2: Understanding the Temperament God Gave You Knowing our temperament and what it means to align our will with God's will for our lives. o Night #3: The Virtues that Give Life A Deep yet practical overview of the virtues and how to put them into practice in your life. Biography: Ryan Hanning PhD is a scholar and homesteader with a passion for teaching the faith. As a professor of Theology and Catholic Studies he has taught students to better understand, apply and share the timeless truths of our faith. Dr. Hanning is the author of The WillPower Advantage: Building Habits for Lasting Happiness, and the Asst. Editor of Hearth and Field. He serves as a theological consultant and speaker for Catholics Come Home™ & Amen Alleluia™ and writes and speaks internationally. Ryan currently homesteads in Tennessee with his beautiful wife Rebecca, and their ten well socialized homeschooled children.

The Office of Marriage and Family Life is pleased to announce that the annual Silver Wedding Anniversary Celebration will be held on Sunday, March 27, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Church, New Orleans. This prayer service will honor couples who are celebrating or have recently celebrated their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. The celebration is open to couples married between 1992 - 1997. To register, please contact your parish office before Monday, January 24, 2022 Please Note: The Silver Wedding Anniversary celebration is a prayer service, not a Mass and will not fulfil the couple’s Sunday obligation. Couples should plan to attend Mass at their home parishes.

Notre Dame Seminary is excited to announce that the Institute for Lay Ecclesial Ministry (ILEM) and Master of Arts in Pastoral Leadership (MAPL) programs are now accepting applications from prospective students who are interested to joining the Summer 2022 cohort to begin their program of studies. Both ILEM and MAPL offers a holistic formation in the Catholic faith akin to the formation experience of our seminarians and diaconal candidates. Students not only take courses in Scripture and the various areas of theology, but they also undergo regular spiritual direction, annual retreats, and human and pastoral formation experiences. Furthermore, upon completion of the ILEM program, students are commissioned by Archbishop Aymond as Lay Ecclesial Ministers of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and upon completion of the MAPL program, students earn an accredited Masters degree from NDS.

Many people have said that they have received a text from me, Fr. Gary, about an urgent need. IGNORE IT!! It is not me. If I need anything for anyone, I will mention it personally, face to face, or call you directly. During the Holidays, there are many scams going about. Beware of these scams.

ATTENTION YOUNG ADULTS AGED 18 TO 40 -- Fr Gary, along with some of the St Joseph Church & Shrine Leadership, hosted the first "Pizza With The Pastor" Gathering in the St Joseph Rectory on Monday October 11 at 6:30pm. A great time was had by all. We are planning our next "Pizza With The Pastor" on Monday November 8th at 6:30 PM, so please come and invite your friend(s) and acquaintances. We ask that you please email missylacour@gmail.com to RSVP so we know how much pizza to order and how much soft drinks to provide. We had seven young adults come to the invite and we would like to see more. The Westbank needs Young Adult Ministry and St Joseph is proud to answer that need. Come one; Come all!!!

My Dear Parishioners, It gives me great joy to share with you that our parish has a subscription to FORMED, a premier online platform filled with over 4,000 Catholic studies, movies, audio dramas, talks, e-books, and even cartoons for our children. FORMED has content from over 60 apostolates, including Augustine Institute, Ignatius Press, and the Knights of Columbus, with material that is professionally produced, engaging, and solid in its catechism. Best of all, this material is FREE to you. Our parish will be using the material on FORMED to support our ministries and provide continuing education for staff members and parishioners, as well as outreach for our sick and homebound members. Much of FORMED’s content is available in both English and Spanish. You have easy access to all of the material on FORMED to support your own faith journey and that of your family members. Are you hesitant to return to the Sacrament of Reconciliation after a long absence? Watch Forgiven: The Transforming Power of Confession. Would you like to be more confident in answering your teenagers’ questions about the validity of the Gospels? Watch Lectio: The Case for Jesus. Do you search for a reliable source of Catholic teaching on current issues? Tune in each week to The Augustine Institute Show with Dr. Tim Gray. Have you despaired of finding good movies that your family can enjoy together on a Friday night? Start with Mother Teresa, the story of the selfless saint who brought hope and love to the poorest of the poor.  You can enjoy FORMED on your computer or on your television with an inexpensive Roku device or Apple TV. You can even listen on your phone as you commute to work or do chores.  My hope and prayer is that the content on FORMED will enrich, deepen, and inspire your faith. Please pray for our benefactors who have made a FORMED subscription a reality for our parish. Please pray for the people at the Augustine Institute who create this wonderful and much-needed Catholic content for our people. May the good Lord bless you and all of your loved ones! Rev. Fr. Gary Copping To gain access to all of FORMED’s content, follow these simple steps:  · Go to https://signup.formed.org/  · Enter our parish’s zip code · Enter your name and your email address That’s it! You’re in. Now you can get the free FORMED app for your phone by searching FORMED Catholic in your app store.

The Missionaries of St. Therese is celebrating its 75+ year anniversary this October with a special Mass to be celebrated by Archbishop Aymond on October 1st and a Rose Petal Luncheon Social also to be attended by Archbishop Aymond on October 13th. The Missionary Rose Petals of St. Thérèse was founded by a group of New Orleans ladies on July 15, 1945 to offer spiritual and financial assistance to the missionary work of the Church. The ministry is within one of The Holy See’s four established Pontifical Mission Societies and is under the Archdiocese’s Office of Missions/Propagation of the Faith. Although Missionaries of St. Thérèse is unique to New Orleans, our outreach extends to the national and global community. Like our patron St. Thérèse, our members work in "little ways with great love" to serve others and make a difference in the lives of those who need help and hope. Through prayer circles and small fundraising activities the Rose Petals have supported seminarians and missionary priests in the U.S., China, Algeria, Granada, Timor-Leste, and elsewhere; religious educational programs in the Philippines after the destructive typhoon, Tennessee after the extensive fires, and in the poorest U.S. diocese in Brownsville, Texas; and various assistance to local churches across our region. The anniversary events will commemorate all of the Rose Petals' accomplishments over these many years. Although Missionaries of St. Thérèse began long before the Church’s “new evangelization,” the Rose Petals have been doing just that all along – fulfilling the goal of St. Thérèse "to plant the Cross of Christ on every shore".If you would like to learn more about this special organization or to start a circle in your parish, please do not hesitate to contact Lynn Schonberg lilbit74@cox.net 504-577-4711

Deacon Oscar Dennis Alegria Sr. has been a resident on the Westbank for the past 50 plus years. He has been married to his dear lovely wife, Lilian M. Alegria, for the past 40 years. He is the father of three children: Oscar Jr., Johanna, and Lilianita, who have blessed him and his wife with seven grandchildren. At a young age, Deacon Oscar came from Honduras C.A. to the USA in 1967 and he has made his roots here in New Orleans to the present time. He attended middle school at Live Oaks Junior High, high school at Warren Easton, and, in his later years, Delgado Community College School of Nursing and graduated from Delta Community School of Business. Deacon Oscar is semi-retired and currently an employee at East Jefferson General Hospital. In the year 2000 and continuing until he entered the diaconate formation period, Oscar began serving in the Hispanic Catholic Charismatic Renewal (HCCR) of New Orleans. Deacon Oscar was ordained with the class of 2018 as a Permanent Deacon for the Archdiocese of New Orleans and served at Immaculate Conception in Marrero for three years, and recently given a new assignment to serve at both communities of St Joseph and St Anthony Churches. Deacon Oscar states, "I am thankful for the warm and affectionate welcoming Father Gary and the parishioners have given me. I am so very excited to start serving and ministering as a Permanent Deacon for both communities."

A personal PA allows parishioners to use their own audio device to listen to priest/speaker/lector so that they may hear what is being said. The sound is broadcast on 72.9MHz which is a FM frequency (although not on the regular radio which is 87 to 109MHz). We have headphones at the entrances of the Church for general use along with wipes to sanitize units before and after use. Devices can also be purchased from William Sound retailers, online retailers, EBay, and the like. Some cheaper units are available for purchase from Parish Office. In general, the device allows the listener to control the volume and hear better what is being audibly conveyed. These devices are not necessarily for those whose hearing is impaired but also for those who want to hear more clearly and distinctly what is being said. The better the device and/or earphones; the better the sound quality. It is well worth the investment to get something that allows one to hear better. Our Church is like a cave with an echo. It is great for concerts and chorales but not so great for public addresses. Bad acoustics, area of seating, and other factors affect how we hear. This system will help us all out. These PA devices help eliminate a lot of the interference that comes from these negative factors. If interested in utilizing this system, speak to your Pastor, Fr. Gary.

St Joseph Church & Shrine is located in the heart of Old Towne Gretna, the municipal seat of Jefferson Parish Government. We are blessed to have a wonderful Police Department, Volunteer Fire Service, and Government here in Gretna. We honor our First Responders (Military, EMS, and Police) by our statue of St Michael the Archangel. Fr. Gary, upon being stationed here, saw a niche to honor our other First Responders in Government and the Fire Service by working on bringing in statues of St Thomas More and St Florian. St Thomas More was a judge, lawyer, and statesman. St Thomas More was Lord Chancellor, the second highest position in England from October 1529 to May 1532. He was a man loyal to his country and his Church. He refused, however, to recognize King Henry VIII's divorce from his wife, Catherine of Aragorn, to remarry his mistress, Anne Bolyn, and to recognize Henry VIII as supreme head over the church in England by taking the Oath of Supremacy. Not to take the Oath was seen as treason and Sir Thomas More's silence and conscientious objection to Henry VIII's remarriage and schism made him, in the eyes of the State, a traitor. He was sentenced to be hung, drawn, and quartered. Henry, though in an act of “mercy”, commuted More's sentence to mere decapitation. More climbed the scaffold to be beheaded and said, “I die his Majesty's good servant, but God's first.” St Thomas More was martyred on July 6, 1535. Sir Thomas More became St Thomas More on May 19, 1935 thus becoming the Patron Saint of lawyers, judges, and public servants. He is also the Patron Saint of adopted children and difficult marriages. We blessed our new statue before the 4:00 Vigil Mass on September 11, 2021, the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in honor of our First Responders, those who lost their lives and those that give their lives for us on a daily basis. St Thomas More reminds us of many things. We can conscientiously disagree with the way things are and still be good citizens. We can stand firm in our beliefs on the sanctity of marriage as God intended the Covenant to be honored. We should place our relationship with God as higher than our relationship to Government, especially when Government tries to contradict our core beliefs and inalienable human rights of life, liberty, and security of person. And we must follow our conscience (as long as it is a well informed conscience). All we have to do is to look at our world today and see how much it is in need of God's help and St Thomas More's intercession. All three branches of our Government could stand some reform. Hopefully, through our prayers to God and the intercession of St Thomas More, our Country, State, and local Governments can enact and uphold laws that are in accordance with God's Will and for the Common Good of all. The Archdiocese of New Orleans is honored to have the St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers' Association, which is an organization of Catholic attorneys whose mission it is to promote the ideals of St. Thomas More and professionalism in the law. We now have our St Thomas More statue and Fr. Gary is working on getting St Joseph Church & Shrine a statue of St Florian so that we can also honor our Fire Service, especially the David Crockett Steam Fire Company No. 1, the oldest continuously active volunteer fire department in the USA. If you would like to donate for the St Florian Statue, please see Fr. Gary or contact the church office.

You are invited to explore the various ministries being conducted at St Anthony Parish during the week beginning on Saturday September 18, 2021 through Sunday September 26, 2021. Cards listing the various ministries will be distributed at the weekend Masses. Without making a commitment you may check all the ministries which you might like to better understand, and perhaps, enjoy serving.

Congratulations to Ralph and Kathy Paige on their 50th Wedding Anniversary. They were married on August 28, 1971 at St Christopher Parish in San Jose, CA and they renewed their vows at St Anthony at the 5:00 pm Mass on August 28, 2021. Their daughter, Rebecca, and their grandchild, Madison, were in attendance to witness the blessed event.

Community Center for Life at 539 Lafayette Street in Gretna would like to invite you to participate in a local ministry opportunity. We are a pregnancy and family resource center dedicated to walking alongside mothers and families facing unplanned pregnancies, with the goal of helping them choose life for their babies. We are currently seeking to hire a trauma-informed counselor, as well as recruit volunteers who are committed to loving our neighbors in our own community! For details, please call at 504-227-9090 and ask for Rachael Stanley or email at rachaels.ccl@gmail.com

Joe and JerryAnn Dellucky were married by Fr Poche on August 14th, 1961 at St Anthony Church. Twenty-five years later, Fr Poche renewed their vows. They participated in the Archdiocesan 50th Wedding Anniversary Prayer Service celebrated by Archbishop Aymond this year. And after the 11:30 am Mass on Sunday August 15th, 2021, Fr Gary gave them a special blessing on their Anniversary. Please join us in congratulating Joe and extending our best wishes to JerryAnn on the Wedding Anniversary.