St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church

Father Chris has arranged to make Blessed Palms available at SMM!  This Saturday, April 4th, from 2pm - 4pm.  Father Chris will be geared up with PPE to distribute Palms in the horseshoe parking lot....this is for DRIVE-THRU  only!!! Father will also be able to bless your own personal palms.  Please stay in your vehicle.

Palms will also be available on a table at the Cardinal Street entrance for pick-up.  Please adhere to all of the COVID-19 precautions...wash/sanitize hands before and after, maintain social distance etc.  Above all be considerate. 

Friends in Christ-We are working diligently to provide daily Mass and reflections by Father Chris here. If you are having difficulty viewing these videos please go to his YouTube Channel.  

The below YouTube playlist has videos that begin with the most recently posted video, so it will appear to be the same as one of the above-either today's Mass or a reflection. However, there is a playlist icon found on the upper right hand corner of the below module. Click on that icon and the list of past vidoes will appear and you may select the one you wish to view by clicking on it.

UPDATED Message - 3/31/20

Dear Parishioners and Students and everyone else,
    Before anything, just know that God loves you as a remarkable, unrepeatable, needed for all humanity, human being!  As pastor of SMM, I certainly hope to do my part to tell anyone interested about this greatest of all truths---You are completely loved and God is waiting for you to turn to Him to receive more love!  Information at a Glance:

1. The Directives from the Archdiocese of New Orleans allow for priests to continue providing:  Confession, baptism, marriage and anointing of the sick, as long as proper precautions are maintained.  For confessions, I am available at almost any given time; I love this sacrament and will do what is needed to ensure you have it!  Please just contact me at the office at (504) 733-0922 or at cdelerno@arch-no.org and we can set up a day/time and place thatis best for you (including back to back if you don't want to be seen).  Baptisms need to be scheduled with the parish office of the church in which you plan to have a baptism; let the parish know if you have someone in mind to celebrate the sacrament.  For anyone in need of an Anointing of the Sick, please call our office, asap if a person is close to death.  For Weddings; please call the church you plan to be married at to reserve it and then contact the priest or deacon you would like to officiate your wedding.

2. As per archdiocesan directives, Communion may only be given to those immediately in danger of death. I understand the challenge of being Catholic and not being able to receive Holy Communion.  I am grateful that Archbishop Aymond has recommended an Act of Spiritual Communion for anyone unable to receive the Eucharist (it is best prayed during the time you would usually receive the Eucharist):   "My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.  I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.  Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.”

3. I am now celebrating Masses daily online.  There have been many uploading issues which have delayed my providing them in a timely manner.  At this point, I hope to have the masses posted every day by 6am for your convenience.  It has been a huge learning curve; sorry for my delay to this point.  If there is anything you would like me to change in my presentation or intentions you would like me to add in the Mass, just email me at cdelerno@arch-no.org.

4. Fr. Lee will be moving to St. Matthew the Apostle as their pastor effective 1 July 20.  We had planned to have a going away party for him and letting him say goodbye at all the Masses; if that can’t happen, we will see what we can do based on his (and our) future availability.  I am very grateful to him for all he has done to help improve our parish.  Please thank him when you see him!   We will not be having another associate pastor.  However, Fr. Ken Smith will be living in residence here while serving as chaplain at East Jefferson General Hospital.  You may see him around the parish celebrating a few Masses and I will certainly introduce him as I can.

5. If you are looking for something to do while at home, PLEASE check out FORMED.  It is similar to Netflix in how it works, only you don’t have to worry about the morals of any content.  It has great movies, books, educational faith content, documentaries, lives of the saints, etc.  To access from I-Phone/Pad, Android, PC or using ROKU or similar for TV; Visit Formed.org (click here).  Click Sign Up.  Select “I belong to a Parish or Organization”.  Find out parish by zip code, 70003.  Enter your email and you’re in.  Enjoy and binge on faith!!!

6. Please pray as best you can every day.  Pray for yourself to become the person God intends you to become.  Pray for your family and friends.  Pray for our Catholic Church leaders--me, Archbishop Aymond and Pope Francis; the best leaders always have the best of people assisting them.  Pray that everyone, even our enemies will be with God forever.  Mary always invites us to prayer and to do what her Son Jesus tells us to do.  Let us all follow those tender requests!

 God bless you, yours, ours and theirs to include the whole world!!!
 
Your friend in Jesus Christ Our Lord and God,
Fr. Chris
 

Online Giving

Formed.org
 

March 27:  Important update #iGiveCatholic has been geared up to facilitate financial support.  The minimum donation has been dropped to $10 and donors have the option to cover fees. SMM has been added as a participant.  You may also give using our own website.

March 18, 2020:
The Archdiocese has a list of various links for online Masses/Reflections offered by local parishes, click here:  Taking Mass Online.

The Church will be OPEN daily for private prayer from 8AM-4PM. Social Apostolate will remain OPEN on Wednesday evenings from 5:30-6:30 PM. Campus buildings are presently NOT available for any meetings or event.           

Friday, April 3
Kenny Strickland, Clara Reggio
Saturday, April 4
George Cook
Saturday, April 4 - Palm Sunday of The Lord’s Passion Vigil
Joan Ferry, Jack & Rosalie Couch, James Maunoir, Bobb W. Hunley, John & Clare McDermott, Harold & Hazel Howat, Walter Howat, Norma & Lance Hubble, Dee Broussard, Joe Paci, Aimee Marus, Vetter Amadeo Taylor, Theodore Graham, Theodore Kirn, III, Dean D’Arcangelo, Vincent Degrouttola, Sr., Bonnie McGibbon
Sunday, April 5 - Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
Jud Mitchel & Lacinak Family, SMM Parishioners, Ray Bianchini, Sr., Marilyn Reynolds, Joe Dewhirst, Josephine Paine, Dave & Jane Pugh, Ian Michael Racine, Patrick LeBlanc,  Richard & Genevieve Ducote, Hal Ducote, Dewey & Alice Ponthier, Hanning & Eudolie Ducote
 

Bulletin Prayer List: Mark Lucich, Sherry Gaffney, Norvin Schexnaildre, Joyce Chiusano, Richard LeBlanc, Rose Keller, Leah Conlin, Abigail Robertson, Patrick Mulhern, George  “Mickey” Krause, Tommy Keller, Brenda Simon, Jena Serigne, Deborah Woodward, Kevin Pineo, Rosemarie Entringer, Teresa Lacour, Mary Ann Meaux, Gayle Songy, Jerry Fender, Tommy Bittel, Jr., Judy Massa, Kevin & Kenneth Teen, Gracelynn Chaplain, Celine Wild, Carol P. Ramos, Dominic Manthey, Deavon Dill, Larry & Clara Leslie, Dennis Coughlin, Jr., Hector Benoit, Russell Palmer, Ann Robert, Gaynell Robin, Linda Speciale, Baby Sean, Daphne  Dufour, Dave “Brother” Dupuy, Janice Liang, Macy Guidry, Matt Niclosi, Riley Joseph Growl, Kenneth Blanke, Michelle & Jason Branch, Kelli Broussard & Family, Janice LeBlanc, Lynn Cailouette, Kevin & Philomena Colton,Rosemary Pizza Dianna Parks, Alfred Alphonso, Jr., Elizabeth Truxillo, Claire Noble, Rhonda & Keith Haviel, Evie Williamson, Nancy Lawrence, Mary Johnson, Edmund & Shirley Blancher, Donald Bock, Harry Bilbe, Phyllis Mustacchia, Pat Klaman, Mark Merrell,  Kathleen Jones, Regina Lussier

Recently Deceased Parishioners:  Rosemary Pizza, Bernard D'Arcangelo
 

SPECIAL PRAYER from ARCHBISHOP AYMOND

Let us pray.
Loving and faithful God, the coronavirus reminds us that we have no power and we are dependent on you. We place ourselves in your loving hands. Give eternal rest to all who have died from the virus.  Place your healing hand on those who are ill, and give your protection to us in this time of fear and uncertainty. Calm our fears and help us to trust you as our faithful God. Enlighten our government and Church leaders as they are faced with important decisions. Give blessing to those in health care and protect them.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to help us.
Blessed Francis Seelos, pray for us. (His life was taken while caring for the sick in the yellow fever epidemic.)
 

Sadly, during these challenging times, unscrupulous characters are at work.

Some parishioners have recently received text messages or emails supposedly from Fr. Chris asking for monetary or gift card donations. Please do NOT fall for this scam as Fr. Chris would never solicit any type of donation in this manner.

St. Mary Magdalen Parish Mission Statement

St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church is called to foster a welcoming community, to form disciples for Jesus Christ and to joyfully evangelize.

Unifying Vision: Walking together with Christ, igniting the Spirit within, living God’s Call.
 

SAVE THE DATE
The 2020 SMM Fair
will be
September 25, 26 & 27

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St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School
NOW REGISTERING-All grade levels
PK - 7th grade
Please contact the office 
for more information
504-733-1433

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RECTORY OFFICE REQUEST:
PLEASE HELP US UPDATE OUR RECORDS

PARISHIONERS: Do we have your current phone number and/or email address???  Please send your updated info to bcroy@arch-no.org or call 733-0922.

2020 DONATION ENVELOPE BOXES

Donation envelope box sets for those parishioners who requested them are available for pickup from the rectory office, Monday-Thursday during regular business hours (9AM-4PM).
 

PARISH SCAM ALERT

Some parishioners have recently received text messages or emails supposedly from Fr. Chris asking for monetary or gift card donations. Please do NOT fall for this scam as Fr. Chris would never solicit any type of donation in this manner.

 PARISH ADVOCATES for PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

SMM Parish Advocates for Persons with Disabilities are Shirley Bertucci and Cindy Graham.  In keeping with the mission of the Archdiocesan Commission, we at SMM want to ensure that individuals with disabilities and their families are full, active participants in all aspects of our church community. 
If you or a family member is a person with a disability and: 

• Would like to know about accessibility at SMM
• Have questions or concern about inclusion in our parish
• Have suggestions about how we can improve participation in the life of our parish as a person with a disability,

we want to hear from you. Please contact Shirley Bertucci shirlb2c@cox.net or Cindy Graham  grahamo@cox.net

 

SUPPLIES FOR SEMINARIANS

The KC Ladies Auxiliary are continuing their drive to collect toiletries and school supplies for the seminarians who attend Notre Dame Seminary. This is done throughout the year. Please drop off these items and supplies in the box located by the Cardinal St. door.

 

ALTAR SOCIETY NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

The SMM Altar Society is looking for volunteers of all ages to help with the weekly light cleaning of the church (mainly dusting in Sanctuary, Sacristy, statues, etc).  Volunteers are assigned to a team that commits to help one weekend a month (teams rotate). Call Kitty Marzoni at 812-8648 for more information or to sign-up to help.