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.

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!”

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.

The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated with a Vigil Mass at St Joseph on Wednesday August 14 at 6:30 pm. Masses on Thursday August 15 will be at 8 am, 12:10 pm, and 6:30 pm at St Joseph. St Anthony will have only one mass at 8:30 am on Thursday August 15. See you at mass.

Save the date --- Community Center For Life's TASTE FOR LIFE BANQUET AND AUCTION ++ Thursday October 10, 2019 6:30 in the evening. Call CCLife at 504-227-9090 or email cclife@bellsouth.net for more information or drop by 539 Lafayette St Gretna LA 70053.

The next opportunity for potential marriage preparation mentor couples to be trained in the In Home Marriage Preparation program written by Jan and Lloyd Tate will be Saturday, August 17, 2019, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Slidell from 8:30 AM- 5:00 PM. The training will be presented by the Tate's, and the cost is $125 per couple.

Since its inception in 2008, Auctions in August has raised $946,000 for hundreds of non-profits. Auctions in August is a silent auction Gulf Coast Bank hosts & facilitates beginning August 1st and ending August 30th. Items are available for bidding at each our 19 branches and online. The auction is open to everyone: bank employees, customers, and the general public. Please consider donating a gift certificate, unique gift, or priceless item that will attract bidders and help us raise funds for your favorite non-profit organization. Donors are able to choose which non-profit they would like 100% of the proceeds from the sale of their items to benefit. For more information, please feel free to contact auction@gulfbank.com with any questions.

JPSO is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2019 Citizen's Academy! It runs on Thursdays from 6-9 pm beginning on September 19. Come get a behind the scenes look at all divisions within JPSO that make us one of the best around! Spots always fill up quickly, so be sure to get your application in as soon as possible. You can find the application by clicking on this article.

Miss Creole Gumbo reigns as an ambassador for the Bridge City Gumbo Festival for one year. Being Miss Creole Gumbo is about community, involvement with other Fairs and Festivals, Friendships and allaround Fun. Promoting the Gumbo Festival is a chance of a lifetime. As Miss Creole Gumbo, you will get to experience Louisiana at its best and do fun things along the way like; pick strawberries in the fields, have orange eating contest in Plaquemines Parish, race down the levee in a cardboard box, shuck Oysters in Amite, race frogs in Rayne, light bonfires, and so much more. Most of this is on the weekends with a group of other festival queens you will soon call sisters. As Miss Creole Gumbo you will receive a trophy, two beautiful embroidered banners, signature personalized Gumbo crown (outgoing). She will receive a travel reimbursement up to $50 or each of the 12 mandatory events. Her chaperone will also receive the same travel reimbursement (see details in contract). An award of $1,000 on odd years, i.e. 2019, 2021, 2023, will be payable to the Queen upon fulfillment of signed contract. On even years, i.e. 2020, 2022, 2024 Miss Creole Gumbo will represent the Gumbo Festival at the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians Washington Mardi Gras Ball held in our Nation’s Capital, Washington D.C. Entry and accommodations will also be paid for her to represent the Gumbo Festival at the annual Louisiana Fairs and Festivals (LAFF) convention held in Baton Rouge. During this weekend, Miss Creole Gumbo will compete for the title of Queen of Queens. After almost a full year of traveling the state of Louisiana as an ambassador for the Gumbo Festival, she will reign over the Gumbo Festival enjoying a fun-filled weekend welcoming visitors from across the state. As she ends her reign Miss Creole Gumbo will host visiting queens from across the state, during the coronation ball weekend, in a weekend of fun activities including staying at the cabins at Bayou Segnette, a swamp tour and many other fun activities. This weekend will be the culmination of a year of travel and fun as Miss Creole Gumbo. However, although your reign will end you will always be a member of the past queens club with opportunities to stay involved in the strong tradition of the Gumbo Festival. If you are a Catholic young lady between the ages of 17-23 by January 2020, Natural born female and a citizen of the United States, single status, never having been married or cohabitated with anyone, no children and have never been pregnant, currently do not hold a binding title, have never been convicted of a crime, are of moral character, reside on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish (minimum 1 year), and/or the daughter / granddaughter of an active parishioner of Our Lady or Prompt Succor or Holy Guarding Angels (minimum 1 year). YOU could be the next Queen of the World Famous Bridge City Gumbo Festival. Please read full details by clicking on this article. The deadline is August 30, 2019.

This year marks two decades since GACC opened its doors at 519 Huey P Long Avenue. The Center's Museum interprets the unique German immigrant contribution to Louisiana's history through exhibits, lectures, and events. Free of charge, the museum is open from 10 am to 3 pm Wednesday through Saturday. In recognition of the center's 20 years, a special exhibit of photographs will debut on July 24 entitiled, "From Mechanickham to Gretna: German Families, Events and Landmarks."

Clarence Acosta died Friday June 28, 2019 on the Feast of the Sacred Heart. Clarence served faithfully at St Joseph Church & Shrine for many years as an Altar Server. His funeral will be on Wednesday July 3, 2019 at St Joseph Church & Shrine. Visitation is from 10 am to 11 am and Mass will begin at 11. Please come and pay your last respects and keep Clarence and his family in your prayers. Well done good and faithful servant. Come and receive the place prepared for you since the foundation of the world.

A proposal from the New Orleans and Gulf Coast Railway Company would expand train tracks by creating another spur in the city of Gretna in order to transport Canadian crude oil. This would be dangerous to our city. Smaller trains have already derailed in Gretna from NOGC Railway Company. Send a letter to your Senators and Representative to stop this atrocity. Tell them to go a different route and to respect our city, our community, and our citizens. Click on this article to get to the pdf's to print and send to Senators Kennedy and Cassidy, as well as Representative Richmond.

Come, Lord Jesus! is a Bible Study and So Much More! *** It's a program that was developed in the Diocese of Lafayette in the late sixties and early seventies by Father Conley Bertrand, a parish priest. Graced with a love for prayer and Scripture and an ardent zeal, he sought to communicate these qualities to his parishioners. Come, Lord Jesus! is the fruit of many years of prayer, reflection on Sacred Scripture, and experimentation. This inspiring program is a complete study of the Sunday Readings, including Gospels (Be My Witness), Epistles(Love One Another) and the Old Testament(Give Glory to God) in three separate volumes. Following the Liturgical Calendar and utilizing the Catechism of the Catholic Church, members grow in sanctification through prayer, Scripture, Eucharist, and Christian community. This Catholic faith formation program creates an atmosphere of prayer and helps to develop an awareness of the Divine Presence as well as nurtures an ardent desire for God. --- Divinely inspired and uniquely designed, Come, Lord Jesus! is based on Acts 2:42 which states, "They devoted themselves to the teaching of the Apostles, and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers." This format offers a powerful and effective method of bringing active Bible study into the life of every Catholic as it links the truth of Scripture with Sacred Tradition. +++ Come, Lord Jesus! is a program spread by personal witness. +++ It began as one group and continues to grow. Currently, there are thousands of members who meet weekly for an unparalleled style of Bible study. Come, Lord Jesus! has extended through dioceses of Louisiana and in many other states. It has also reached territories beyond the USA; all by a method of evangelization encouraged by Father Conley Bertrand. This program is so powerful that several groups which started in the early seventies are still meeting weekly! Mission Statement +++++ The Mission of Come, Lord Jesus! is the transformation of each member into the very image and likeness of Jesus by a process of formation that includes prayer, Scripture, Eucharist, and Christian community. The program assists its members in developing their full potential as human beings and as children of God, as well as developing a more personal relationship with Jesus. It requires a commitment to meet weekly in small Catholic faith communities where its members are formed into ardent apostolic witnesses and zealous parish ministers. ++++ Membership ++++ Members come into the program by way of personal invitation or through one of our many Outreach Campaigns in Church Parishes across the country. All members who are meeting in a Come, Lord Jesus! group are to be registered with the central office and are expected to follow the prescriptions and guidelines for conducting Come, Lord Jesus! meetings as outlined in the Come, Lord Jesus! office manuals. There is no registration fee to join; however, weekly "Gift Bags" are passed around the group to support the administration of the central office. The cost of materials equates to around $7.00 per year.

Want to have more meaning in your life? Do you want to do something that is satisfying and of great service to your community? Then come volunteer for Hospice Specialists of Louisiana! Volunteers are needed on the North Shore, South Shore, Baton Rouge, Laplace, and Gretna. Being a hospice volunteer is like helping out a friend or neighbor in their time of need. No special skills are needed. Working around schedules is not a problem. Volunteering helps boost your resume and you also get to meet new and interesting people from all walks of life. Give volunteering a try and call Tawnya Sisco at 985-710-6008 or email at tsisco@ashla.healthcar