St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church

Greetings & Welcome!

I am grateful if you are already a parishioner or if you are considering joining our parish. St. Mary Magdalen is an incredible place and I have greatly enjoyed working here since my arrival!

Led by the Holy Spirit, we are currently in the process of reimaging our parish; in essence, doing everything we can to provide a spiritual home for all interested.  We want and need you to join us so that you are encouraged to take your faith seriously, live your faith daily and share that faith with others - inviting them to join our parish.  We certainly have room to grow in this overall process, but we also welcome you to help us to become the best parish we can be.  I invite you to share your gifts and talents with us so that we can all truly live God’s desire for Christian charity and community.  THAT is the easiest way and the true meaning of evangelization.

I would love to get to know you better, so please contact me at the rectory office to set up an appointment.  May God bless you and yours!

Your friend in Christ Jesus Our Lord,

Fr. Chris DeLerno, Pastor

Catholicism: 

To learn more about our faith click here: I want to learn more.

Were you once Catholic?  Click here: I used to be Catholic.

St. Mary Magdalen:

Our history. 

Our award winning school-St Mary Magdalen School.

To become a member of our faith family click here:  New Parishioner Registration.

OCTOBER IS RESPECT LIFE MONTH

October is the month when we recall the tragic ways our country has turned away from the Gospel of Life.  During this month, we will have a weekly reflection on respecting life: “Nothing, not even a patient’s request - which more often than not is a cry for help - can justify the taking of a life which is precious in the eyes of God and which can be a great gift of love to a family even in the suffering of the final days.”  

Prayer for Life

Almighty God, Our Father, you have given us life and intend for us to live forever. Grant us your blessings as we stand together and pray for LIFE. Ground us in the belief that human life is sacred, because all people were made in your image and likeness. And give us the courage to stand up and defend all life from creation until natural death. Help us to teach by word and example that all men, women and children, in every land, on every continent are precious because we are a gift from God, who is all Love. Grace us with the strength and the wisdom we need to eliminate poverty, discrimination and ignorance that diminish the value of life in our country. May the tender mercy of God shine on those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow and guide our feet into the path of peace.  Amen.
 

Humanae Vitae 

Pope Paul IV wrote and dated the encyclical Humane Vitae  July 25, 1968 and it was issued at a Vatican press conference on July 29, 1968 making it 50 years old.  Section 17 of the encyclical contained 4 predictions made by Pope Paul IV,  there would be:

1) An increase in marital infidelity.
 

2) A general lowering of moral standards.
 

3) A loss of respect for women (man would “reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires”).
 

4) Governments would coerce people into using contraception and intervene in citizens’ sexual relationships.  

The Pope's predictions were controversial in 1968.  Many of the predictions have come true, but the debate has shifted to whether contraception had any influence on those societal changes. 
Do you think there is any connection?

Supreme Court News 

Supreme Court Ruling,  June 26, 2018--NIFLA v. Becerra, a 5-4 ruling written by Justice Clarence Thomas. The suit, brought by the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, challenged a California law requiring licensed pregnancy resource centers to disclose where women could receive free or low-cost abortions, and requiring unlicensed centers to insert state-dictated material in their advertising, thus violating the First Amendment rights of all pregnancy resource centers in the state. 
This was a freedom of speech issue, focusing on the required speech in which the pro-life facility was required to give notification of abortion as an alternative.  With the 5-4 ruling it is somewhat concerning how precariously close to loss of freedom of speech our country has come.
For more analysis-  National Right to Life News

Saturday 2:30 - 3:30PM

Archdiocesan Guide to Going to Confession and Examination of Conscience (click) 

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.
 

If any parishioner wishes to send a gift to those affected by Hurricane Michael, they may send their gift to Archbishop Aymond @ Archdiocese of N.O./7887 Walmsley Ave/N.O., LA 70125
May Our Lady of Prompt Succor continue to pray for us and all those in the Gulf Coast during this hurricane season.

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL
2018 Nominations/Elections

Nominations for Parishioners-at-Large positions are open from October 1 thru October 31 to any registered SMM Parishioner who is a practicing Catholic, at least 18 years of age & in good standing in the Church (only 1 person per household may be nominated).
Nominees are expected to fill out a questionnaire, go thru an interview process & attend a workshop before their name is placed on the ballot. Please make sure that the Nominee is aware of and agreeable to this criteria before proceeding with nomination.
Parishioners-at-Large elected this year are expected to serve a term of 2 years (from January 2019-December 2020). The Parish Council meets quarterly in the months of January, April, July & October. Nomination forms may be found at all church entrances/exits or at the rectory office. Please return form in the collection basket, mail or drop it off to school or rectory office.  Thanks!             PPC Nomination Committee

 

SMM PARISH LIBRARY
LOST & MISSING BOOKS

Members of the Saint Mary Magdalen Church Library committee recently completed an inventory of the collection.  Since the library was established in 2007, 170 books have become lost or are missing.  If you have one of these books, please place it in the “Return Books Here” basket next to the library shelves in the church or turn it in to the church office during business hours.  Thank you very much!
 

ARE YOU EDUCATING YOUR CHILD IN THE CATHOLIC FAITH?

When a child is baptized into the Catholic Church, it is the parents responsibility to raise and educate that child in the Catholic faith.  In order to help parents with this education, each parish offers a School of Religion Program (Grades 1-12) for those children attending a public or private school. Religion Classes for students are held every Monday evening from 6:45 PM-8:00 PM. Call Linda Earle, CRE at 733-8980 for further information about registering your child for these classes.

ROSARIES NEEDED FOR HEALTHCARE

Rosaries are needed for patients in healthcare facilities. We need rosaries that are made of either rope-like twine or plastic. We are unable to use the ones that have any metal parts as they have a tendency to tear the skin of some patients. If you can donate any of the needed rosaries, please send them to:
Deacon Jeff Tully | 1000 Howard Ave. | New Orleans, LA 70113

 

 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 at 504-554-5024 or shirlb2c@cox.net or Cindy Graham at 504-733-3638 or grahamo@cox.net