Registration for Elementary Catechesis for the 2019-2020 school year is ongoing! Elementary Catechesis is our Parish Religious Education program for children in grades Kindergarten-5th Grade. All children who are not in Catholic school are invited and encouraged to attend, including and especially those who have already received their First Communion.

2 Important Changes:
1. Starting in August 2019, Elementary Catechesis will no longer be on the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (SEAS) Site. Catechesis will also be moving to the Divine Mercy Church Site into the new school buildings!

2. We just held our first Catechesis session on Tuesday, September 3rd, where we gathered together as a community for Mass at 6:30 PM, followed by showing the families where we will be gathering for the Catechesis sessions this year. For those who were unable to make it on September 3rd, that's okay! Please join us on Tuesday, September 10th. It is not too late to sign up!

We will be meeting at the 2-story school building in the back behind the Church starting on September 10th. There will be a few adults and signs there to guide you all to where you need to go. All classes will be held in the 2-story building.

Adults and teens, including parents and relatives of the children attending Catechesis, are invited and encouraged to serve and volunteer.

For more information and to register, or if you would like to volunteer, go to the Elementary Catechesis page. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please call the office and ask to speak with Jacques Delouche, or you may e-mail Jacques.
​​

CARRYING OUR CROSS
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. (Gal 6:14) 
                          
Whatever our cross in life consists of – whether it is health issues, financial insufficiency, relationship problems, or something else, we can be sure that it was allowed by God. His greatest desire is for us to go to heaven when we die, and we must have suffering to deal with to help us get there. It is not the problem that is the issue but rather how we choose to deal with it. If we choose to deny it or resent it, we only give it more weight. However, if we surrender it to the Lord and ask for His help to bear it with love, grace is poured out on us and the burden becomes lighter, much like Jesus’ cross becoming less heavy when Simon took some of the weight from him on the climb to Calvary.

Dear Jesus, sometimes my cross seems too heavy to bear and I get weary.  I surrender it to you.  Help me to meditate on your journey as you climbed that hill which led to your death. Please give me the grace to be grateful for my cross as I unite my sufferings with yours.
​
Reflection by Anne-Marie Barrilleaux

The Door-To-Door Evangelization date, Saturday, September, 7, has been cancelled.  For more information about Door-To-Door Ministry, click here.

​Archbishop Aymond is asking all Churches in the Archdiocese of New Orleans to have a light on in the confessional on Wednesday, September 11th as a sign that Christ is not only the light of the world, but also the one who is eager to forgive and to heal us. Divine Mercy Catholic Parish will offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation on September 11th from 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. If you have been away from the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we invite you to come back to God’s loving mercy and forgiveness.

Often we may ask, "Why do I have to actually tell my sins to a priest?"
The Sacrament of Confession, or Reconciliation, can be intimidating. No one enjoys admitting their sins, let alone out loud to another person. However, Reconciliation can also be awesome!

You're Not Alone
Romans 3:23 "All have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God."  You are not the only person who has ever sinned, nor the only person who will confess.

God Wants to Forgive You
1 John 1:9 "If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and will forgive our sins and cleanse us form every wrongdoing."   In today's world we can easily become enslaved. Are you enslaved because of a particular sin or habit? Gossip, pornography, drinking, drugs, or lying? Are you enslaved by social media; streaks, likes, and views? Are you enslaved by other people’s opinions of you? Are you enslaved by unhealthy relationships? Are you enslaved by the expectations of others? Are you enslaved because you struggle to integrate your sexual identity? No matter what, God wants to forgive you and set you free!

You Can Be Free
John 8:31-32 "Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him, 'If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  If we can recognize Jesus as our Lord, Savior, and king, He not only speaks truth into our hearts, but gives us the grace to live out that truth.

Freedom Is Awesome
Acts 3:19-20 "Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away, and that the Lord may grant you times of refreshment and send you the Messiah already appointed for you, Jesus."  While the life and teachings of Jesus challenge us, we know and believe that He offers us something no one else can — freedom.  If Jesus is who He really says He is, we are who He says we are.  We are beautiful creations, made in the image and likeness of God and loved abundantly by God.

The Merciful Father (CCC 1439)
"The process of conversion and repentance was described by Jesus in the parable of the prodigal son, the center of which is the merciful father: the fascination of illusory freedom, the abandonment of the father's house; the extreme misery in which the son finds himself after squandering his fortune; his deep humiliation at finding himself obliged to feed swine, and still worse, at wanting to feed on the husks the pigs ate; his reflection on all he has lost; his repentance and decision to declare himself guilty before his father; the journey back; the father's generous welcome; the father's joy - all these are characteristic of the process of conversion. The beautiful robe, the ring, and the festive banquet are symbols of that new life - pure worthy, and joyful - of anyone who returns to God and to the bosom of his family, which is the Church. Only the heart of Christ who knows the depths of his Father's love could reveal to us the abyss of his mercy in so simple and beautiful a way."

So consider yourself invited to encounter the Lord in a powerful, yet gentle way in the Sacrament of Confession. Galatians 5:1 "For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery."  The Lord wants to set you free. God bless you!

Due to the Priest Convocation, we will have a Communion Service at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 24th. A Communion Service will also take place at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 25th and Thursday, September 26th. There will be no School Mass on Thursday, September 26th. In Addition, Confessions scheduled from 6:10 p.m. till 6:25 p.m. on Tuesday, September 24th have been cancelled. Please pray for of our priest during these days of prayer, reflection, and study. 

Featuring the insightful biblical teaching of Dr. Brant Pitre, Lectio Mary: The Bible and the Mother of God examines what scripture, the life of Christ and the early Church fathers reveal about Mary.  In this 8-session series, Dr. Pitre closely examines the connections between the Old and New Testaments and presents clear and easily understood explanations about the life and identity of Mary, the Mother of God.

Wednesdays, September 18th-November 6th

Two Meeting Time Options:

• Wednesday Mornings - 10:00AM-11:30 AM 
• Wednesday Evenings - 7:00PM-8:30 PM

​
For more information, check out the Lectio Mary Flyer and visit the Lectio Website which gives even more in-depth information about each lesson as well as even a video preview!

Two ways to register: 
1.  REGISTER ONLINE HERE
2. DOWNLOAD AND PRINT REGISTRATION FORM

Registration closes Friday, August 30th, 2019.

​We have been working for a while with ADS systems on fixing a number of issues with our sound system and have signed a proposal with them to provide needed upgrades and fixes at a discounted cost of $30,000.  Because this will strain our budget, we are seeking donations to defray the cost. If you can help, please send any donations to the parish office, marking them “sound system.”  You can also make donations to this fund using our online giving.

​Thank you as always for your generosity!