St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church

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 beginning September 10, 2018 from 6:45 PM -8:00 PM. Call Linda Earle, CRE at 733-8980 for further info about registering your child for these classes.

Archdiocesan Sidewalk Counseling and Prayer Ministry

Please consider joining us (from your home or place of choice) in the 54 Day Rosary Novena praying for our country and all of the life issues.  The novena starts on the Feast of the Assumption, Aug. 15th, and runs through Oct. 7th, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
Here is the link to follow the novena:  http://archive.fatima.org/apostolate/vlarchive/vl130_1211.asp

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 this week.  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

October 5, 2018, 8-11PM
Club XLIV, Champions Square

There will be live music, Silent Auction, fine food & Open Bar. All proceeds will support the Woman’s New Life Center next door to Planned Parenthood and providing service to women in unplanned pregnancies. For more info: www.womansnewlife.com/gala
 

ARCHDIOCESAN SPIRITUALITY CENTER

Mind/Body/Spirit Connection: A Holistic Approach to Prayer

Join Archdiocesan Spirituality Center Director, Sr. Dorothy Trosclair, O.P. and Kathy Anzelmo as they lead you into calming techniques such as deep breathing, meditation and progressive muscle relaxation as a way to enter into deeper prayer through imaginative contemplation. MondayS, October 8, 15, 22, 2018, 9:30-Noon at the Archdiocesan Spirituality Center, 2501 Maine Ave. Metairie. Cost $40.00 (adjustments can be made).

Finding God in Our Everyday Life Experiences

Learn the importance of reflecting on your everyday experiences, how to pray with your everyday life experiences, to recognize the presence of God in those experiences and to learn a method for reflection on the action of God in your life.
Wednesday, October 10, 2018, 7:00-9:00 PM, Sr. Gloria Murillo, S.T.J. will be the presenter, at the Archdiocesan Spirituality Center, 2501 Maine Avenue Metairie. Register on the web: https://asc.arch-no.org or telephone 504- 861-3254 Cost $25.00 (adjustments can be made.) .
This workshop will also be offered in Spanish on Thursday, October 18, 2018. For additional information please call the Archdiocesan Spirituality Center at 504-861-3254.
 

BEGINNING EXPERIENCE

The Beginning Experience Weekend on October 19-21, 2018, is a wonderful healing opportunity for those suffering a loss of a spouse either through death or separation/divorce. The weekend will take place at Rosaryville Spirit Life Center in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. Those who have attended this week-end attest to the new hope they have received and the powerful safe and loving environment they found in the experience. Under the sponsorship of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Office of Marriage and Family Life, this international program has helped thousands navigate the road through grief. Call Jeani (985) 640-8505 or Renell (985) 290-7348 renelld1@yahoo.com for more information.

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

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.
 

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!
 

R.C.I.A. Process
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS

Do you know someone who is interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith?  Someone who has been thinking about converting to Catholicism, but has not taken the initial step?  Someone who is already Catholic but feels that they have not progressed in or fully understand their faith and would like to pursue it further?  Our journey of faith will begin in August and continue through Easter.  If you are interested in joining the RCIA Program or have further questions, please call Susie at 733-8980.

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