Dear Parish Community- These past weeks we have had discussion with you about our Building On Our Past, Living In The Present, Securing Our Future Program. Our parish has so much to offer to those in the Gretna community. We are a beacon of hope for those in need, for those suffering, for those who are hungry, searching, and need our prayers and assistance in a multitude of ways. We are also there for our parish family through the administration of the sacraments, the celebration of Mass, and the Holy Eucharist. How blessed we are to be able to serve so many in our parish and community! We are called by God to continue to advance our mission and to build up God’s Kingdom here in Gretna. There are so many more people who need our assistance. There is so much more work to be done. The reality is that we will always need resources to do God’s work. Until the needy are clothed, the hungry are fed, and the Gospel is spread to the ends of the earth, we will need resources. Many of you have already submitted your Commitment Card to the church and have committed your offertory support to continue to advance our parish mission. Thank you! Many of you have not yet submitted your commitment card. Our goal through this initiative is 100% participation from our parish community. Please turn in your Commitment Card this week if you have not already done so. Please pray for our parish. Please become involved in the life of our parish by joining a ministry to help serve those in need. St Joseph and St Anthony Churches are wonderful parishes because of YOU and what each one of you make of it! I thank you for your generosity and am humbled by your sacrifice. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. May the Lord continue to bless us and the work we are doing!

The guidelines for Catholics on fasting and abstinence are as follows: Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59. Those who are bound to fast may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength according to each one’s needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted. Abstinence from meat is to be observed by all Catholics 14 years or older on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and on all Fridays of Lent. The determination of certain days as obligatory days of penance should not be understood as limiting the occasions for Christian penance.

Feeling hopeless after a past abortion? You're not alone. Forgiven and Set Free Winter Bible Study 2020 Hosted by COMMUNITY CENTER FOR LIFE 539 Lafayette St, Gretna LA 70053 (504) 227-9090 * cclife@bellsouth.net Call now to register! Contact is confidential. ++ The annual Forgiven and Set Free Bible Study is tailored to women who have had a past abortion. This is a unique aspect of Community Center For Life's ministry as it is a specific outreach to women that are already connected to a local church.

Lutheran Bishop Vsevolod Lytkin, the Bishop of Salem Lutherans's sister church in Siberia, spoke at Salem Lutheran Church on Sunday January 26 about the Persecution of Lutheran Church in Russia under Communist Rule and the hardships they are still enduring in a post Cold-War world. Please pray for all persecuted Christians throughout the world. To learn more about the persecution, click on title of this article.

Serenity Hospice is currently seeking volunteers who have a desire to serve and be a companion to our patients or serve in the administrative office. All volunteers will go through orientation/training in the office and will match the volunteer with the patient. Contact June at (504) 366-3996

Learn about the 4 steps of the L.O.V.E. Approach™ by going to https://www.respectlife.org/l-o-v-e "L" is for "Listen & Learn"; "O" is for "Open Options"; "V" is for "Vision & Value"; and "E" is for "Extend & Empower".

Our Human Trafficking Symposium: A Light in the Darkness will be held February 8, 2020 from 9:00 AM-4:00 PM at the University of Holy Cross, 4123 Woodland DR in New Orleans. Speakers include a trafficking survivor/advocate, the executive director for Governor Edwards’ Children’s Cabinet, the managing director for a street team/drop-in center providing outreach to trafficked men, the president of the Louisiana Chapter Foster Care Alumni of America of the LA foster care system, and others. Due to the sensitive nature of topics, no one under the age of 18 will be admitted. Registration is REQUIRED. To register please visit https://respectlife.arch-no.org/a-light-in-the-darkness-human-trafficking-symposium . For more information please contact the Respect Life Office at respectlife@arch-no.org Day of Silence on Social Media, February 8, 2020. On this day we will again be going Silent on Social Media with the theme: “Don’t post…pray!” For 24 hours, beginning at 12 midnight on February 8, do not use your social media for viewing or posting until midnight on February 9th. Traffickers often use social media to exploit their victims. Buyers often use social media to purchase victims. Let’s go silent in solidarity with those who are being victimized and as a sacrifice to offer for all involved in Human Trafficking. “Like” the Respect Life Office page on Facebook to get social media updates for February 8th. https://www.facebook.com/NOLArespectlife/ On February 1st the Respect Life Office’s anti-trafficking profile picture will be up. You can make it your own profile picture to raise awareness. Novena to End Human Trafficking, February 9th-17th-go to https://nolacatholic.org/novena-to-end-human-trafficking for information.

Men who believe they may have a vocational call to the permanent diaconate are invited to attend one of four information sessions to learn more about the formation process and what it means to serve as an ordained deacon of the Catholic Church. The information nights, which will run from 7 to 8:30 p.m., are scheduled for Jan. 22 at the Corpus Christi-Epiphany Center, 2022 St. Bernard Ave, New Orleans; Jan. 23 at the Infant Jesus of Prague Church Diaconate Center, 700 Maple St., Harvey; Jan. 29 at the Northshore Pastoral Center, 4465 Highway 190 East Service Road, Covington; or Feb. 5 at the Archdiocese of New Orleans Administration Building, 7887 Walmsley Ave., New Orleans. This diaconate class would be ordained in 2025 following a 5 1/2-year formation process, said Deacon Ray Duplechain, director of the archdiocesan Permanent Diaconate Office. +++ Men are asked to preregister for one of the sessions by email – pdiaconate@arch-no.org. More information can be obtained by calling the Permanent Diaconate Office at 861-6329.

Linda St. Cyr discusses her new children's book, "Teepees on the Levee," about the Christmas bonfire tradition. Please follow the link to see it on WWL-TV.

We need your help in finding mentors. Several children, both boys and girls, in our program are currently not matched with a mentor. Requirements to be a mentor: 25 years of age and older, commit to a minimum of 4 hours in one-on-one activities with mentee (2 of those hours are spent at monthly site workshops), active in a Christian church, and commit to a one year mentoring relationship. Mentors need not be perfect, but simply have a desire to make a difference in the life of a child through a caring relationship. Isaiah 43 provides training, on-going development opportunities, and support for mentors. Isaiah 43 uses evidence-based mentoring practices that benefit a child’s personal, social, and spiritual development. Please help the youth in our program by sharing this information with men and women who might be a good fit with our program. Please contact Cindy Self at 504-861-6345 or cself@ccano.org .

2020 TRAINING-RETREAT -- On January 4, 2020 at St Pius X Catholic Church in New Orleans, LTMTP will be conducting a "Training Retreat" for those interested in facilitating small prayer groups, or for those simply interested in finding out more about Ignatian Prayer and the LTMTP prayer series. New Orleans LA ♦ January 4, 2020 St. Pius X Catholic Church 6666 Spanish Fort Blvd New Orleans LA 70124 Saturday January 4, 2020: On-Site Training-Retreat for Part 1 “Praying Christian Virtues” The Mission of LTMTP is straight forward and simple; i.e. to make it easy for more and more people to develop a deep intimate relationship with the Lord through this most beautiful way of prayer. We would like to point out that there is no charge for the "Training Retreat" or for the materials. In addition, there is no cost to the parishes where LTMTP is offered. The only resource required is a meeting space for a small group to meet once per week. LTMTP often begins in a parish with one small group and grows from there.+++ Lord Teach Me To Pray is a three-part Ignatian prayer series developed in 2001 to meet the desire of men and women for on-going spiritual growth as they respond to the call to holiness and to a deeper commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord. It was developed as an outreach program to bring the Holy Spirit into our daily lives in facilitated faith-sharing prayer communities, where the Lord, himself, teaches them to pray. Lord Teach Me To Pray is part of the New Evangelization as understood in the writings and initiatives of Blessed John Paul II, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. The mission of Lord, Teach Me To Pray consists in enabling men and women to grow in their knowledge and love of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, thus facilitating their eternal salvation and that of their family.

Our parish welcomes renowned national inspirational speaker, prime-time EWTN TV host and Catholic author, Tom Peterson to St Joseph’s Parish on December 2nd, 3rd and 4th from 7-8:15pm.   You’ve likely seen the amazing Catholics Come Home’s TV evangomercialsTM that helped more than a half million people come home to the Catholic Church in Florida and across North America.  Now, learn how to go deeper in your faith and help loved ones home, during his presentation.  Afterward, Tom will sign his  humorous and uplifting new book, endorsed by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Dr. Scott Hahn, Roma Downey, Rick Warren and Coach Lou Holtz.  Come hear this international speaker and learn how to go deeper in your faith, and to help love more souls to heaven...especially your closest family members and friends! The title for the talk the first evening will be: “Our World needs Catholic Heroes!” The second night’s talk is entitled: “God’s font of Healing Mercy!” The third night’s talk is entitled: “What the World Needs Now is Love!”

Bible Marathon Coming to New Orleans January 28, 2020 ++ What : Reading the entire Bible in public for 100 hours NON-STOP When : Begins at 12:30pm, January 28, 2020 (Tuesday); ends 6:00pm February 1, 2020 (Saturday) Where : Front yard of Notre Dame Seminary, Who : Anyone who reverences the Scriptures as the Word of God 5 possible ways to help: 1. Sign up as a proclaimer a. Proclaimers read the word for one 20 minute slot each. b. Sign up at: https://goo.gl/forms/gBsdjg1KysVeQxBx1 2. Sign up as a captain a. Captains coordinate for one 2 hour slot each. b. Sign up at: https://goo.gl/forms/gBsdjg1KysVeQxBx1 3. Cook food for the event (at any meal time) a. Directly email me ( johnbourque@nds.edu) b. Can also help serve popcorn 4. Listen to the Word of God and bring friends! 5. Help spread the WORD! Any questions email johnbourque@nds.edu.

From September 30 , 2019 - October 28, 2019, we are collecting our Spiritual Bouquet for the November Rachel's Vineyard Retreat! Consider what prayer/offering you might add into your prayer life for our retreatants. Send your prayer(s) or offering(s) to the Respect Life Office (respectlife@arch-no.org) anytime BEFORE Monday October 28, 2019. I will create a Spiritual Bouquet booklet for those making the November 1, 2, 3 retreat. Let's cover those making the retreat in prayer!

Remember to check your smoke detectors!!

Dear Parishioners: Cross Catholic Outreach wishes to thank you for the welcome you extended to Fr. O'Malley on our recent visit to your parish. On behalf of the poorest of the poor, we thank you for having shared in their lives. May our Lord continue to bless all of you for your love and support. Yours In Christ, Jim Cavnar, President CCO.

Father Herb Bennerfield, Pastor of St Joseph Church in Patterson, will be leading a pilgrimage to the Oberammergau Passion Play from September 30 through October 10, 2020. Other highlights of the pilgrimage include visits to Fussen, Germany, home of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, Oktoberfest in Munich, Mass at Our Lady of Victory in Prague (home of the Infant Jesus of Prague), Our Lady of Czestochowa (the Black Madonna), Auschwitz (martyrdom site of Sts. Maximillian Kolbe and Teresa Benedicta of the Cross), convent of St Faustina and shrine of Divine Mercy, and various sites associated with St. John Paul II during the 100th anniversary year of his birth. For further details please pick up a flyer in church or contact Fr. Herb Bennerfield at (985) 395-3616 for more details.

ATTENTION MEN OF ST JOSEPH, ST ANTHONY, & ALL THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES OF THE WESTBANK Are you looking to deepen your relationship with God? Be a better husband? Become a more loving father? Build friendships with other like-minded men? And seek to be the best man you can be? Then Come Join… That Man is You! FRIDAY Mornings Starting on September 6TH, 2019 6:20 to 7:30 “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17 Session 1: The Issue is Leadership ● Story of Failed Leadership ● How Leadership Affects our Society ● A Focus on Leadership ● What is Authentic Leadership ● The Three Wisdoms ● Intellectual and Spiritual Formation ● Bringing Others Along This Journey Session 2: The Price of Failed Leadership ● Fidelity Statistics ● Consequences of Infidelity ● The Story of King David ● Family, Children and Church Affected by Infidelity ● The Media’s Role in Forming Society ● Shocking Media Statistics ● The Issue is Failed Male Leadership Session 3: The Four Leadership Roles of Men ● Origin and Hierarchy of the Four Leadership Roles ● Fruits of Fulfilled Leadership Roles ● Marriage is Good for Your Bottom Line ● Shaping the Foundation for the Future ● Joys and Blessings of Marriage ● Peace is in the Balance Session 4: The Five Traits of Authentic Leaders ● How to Fulfill Your Leadership Roles ● Five Traits of Authentic Leader ● Moral Leadership is Cornerstone ● What We Can Learn from Kind David ● The Responsibility of Adam ● Adam’s Failed Responsibility and the Consequences ● Taking Responsibility for Our Actions Session 5: Steadfast Leadership ● Clarity of Thought and Integrity of Action ● King Solomon’s Rise and Fall ● Remaining Steadfast in Thought and Action ● Mother Theresa as an Example ● Saints Have to Start Somewhere Session 6: Attaining Clarity of Thought ● Clarity of Thought for Mother Teresa ● God is Found in Communion ● Promise of Christ ● Jesus Christ is Present in the Spousal Union ● The Blessing of Fruitfulness ● God is Present in the Midst of Family Life Session 7: Developing Integrity of Action ● The Church Guides Us in the Finding of God in The Family ● Integrity of Action in the Home ● The Issue is Freedom ● The Enslavement of Sin ● Freedom in Christ ● The Challenge of the Christian Marriage Session 8: Laying a Foundation for the Future ● Selfishness Versus Selflessness ● Education and Family are Engines for Economic Expansion ● The Family and Human Capital ● Family Dinner is Essential ● Reality of Peer Pressure ● The Family Forms Children as Foundation for Future Session 9: The Willingness to Pay the Price ● Christ Perfectly Fulfilled Authentic Leadership ● Life and Death of Christ ● The Ultimate Teaching of Christ ● Failure in Eyes of the World ● Christ in the Four Leadership Roles ● Leaders Pay the Price and Christ Paid the Ultimate Price ● Only Authentic Leadership is Fruitful Session 10: Authentic Leadership in the Home ● Must Find and Adore God in the Home ● Holy Family as Our Example ● Saint Joseph, Patriarch of the Holy Family ● Joseph as Image of the Bridegroom and the Merciful Father ● Servant Leadership ● How the Domestic Church Changed Rome ● Authentic Leadership Can Transform the World Section 11: The Death of the West ● The Atheistic Western Model ● Culture Shaped by Education and Media ● Education and Media affect Marriage, Faith and Fertility ● Secularization of Europe as a Case Study ● When Men Are Given a Pass, Society Suffers ● JP II’s Warning to the West Section 12: The Cry of the Child ● POW Example of Facing the Brutal Truth ● How Men Have Succumbed to Temptation ● The Attack on Fatherhood is Real and Relentless ● A Father’s Legacy ● The Story of Eminem ● Failed Leadership Always Has a Personal Price Section 13: A New Day for Men ● Saint John Paul II Shows the Power of True Leadership ● JP II Sets Foundation for Family in the Third Millennium ● The Seven Last Words and JP II ● JP II Was Faithful Unto Death ● Fruit of JP II’s Leadership is the New Springtime ● Crossing the Threshold of Hope ● The Triumph of Mercy

A Call to Battle: Catholic Men's Conference, presented by Men of Immaculata, is held annually in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on the first Saturday of Lent. This nationally recognized conference draws over a thousand men from across the Gulf Coast to experience a day of prayer, worship, world-reknown Catholic speakers, and fellowship. The 2020 Call to Battle Conference, titled "What is Truth?" features key note speakers, Fr. Wade Menezes (Fathers of Mercy), from EWTN Television and Radio, Catholic Bible Scholar and Author, Jeff Cavins, and dynamic parish priest, Fr. Mark Beard, of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. In exploring the question, "What is Truth?" posed to Jesus by Pilate in the Gospel of John 18:38, this conference will expose the distorted view of relativism in the modern world and clearly reveal the Truth, Who is Jesus Christ. With keynote talks by our featured speakers, Mass with Bishop Michael Duca, lunch by chef John Folse, and 1200 men praying the Rosary, this is an event that will ignite the Holy Spirit within all in attendance. In addition, there will be time for fellowship with other Catholic men, to discover ministries and resources in the exhibit area and experience the Lord's mercy and forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconcilation offered throughout the day. Early discount ticket pricing of $50 for adults and $25 for students (ages 13-24) is available through December 29th, 2019. On December 30th, tickets price increase to $60/$30 while available. Demand for this annual conference is always high and with limited seating, this conference will sell out early. Don't wait to reserve your tickets, get yours today! Begin your Lent with over 1000 brothers in Christ! Join us in Baton Rouge, St. George Church on Saturday, February 29th,2020 for the 4th Annual Men of Immaculata: A Call to Battle Conference - "What is Truth?"

As a ministry of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Catholic Counseling Service provides ongoing support to our local community through affordable quality counseling with a unique perspective that upholds the richness of our Catholic faith. Understanding that each person has God-given dignity and inherent goodness, we accompany our clients on their journey towards healing and change. Making the decision to start counseling can be difficult. Let us accompany you on the journey by speaking confidentially with one of our intake coordinators. The intake coordinator will collect necessary information and match you with one of our counselors—who will contact you personally for an appointment. We provide services in three locations: Main Office:2814 S. Carrollton Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118 North Shore: 4465 Highway 190 East Service Rd, Covington, LA 70433 Laplace: 799 Fairway Dr., Laplace, LA 70068 To speak with someone or to make an appointment please call Catholic Counseling Service at (504) 861-6245 or email us at CCS@arch-no.org. Appointments are available day or evening, and all inquiries are completely confidential.