News - June 2016 RSS Feed

Mass in observance of Independence Day will be celebrated on Monday, July 4th at 7:00 AM and 5:30 PM (The 5:30 PM Mass will be followed by adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until 7:00 PM.) The Adoration Chapel will close at 3:45 PM (Prior to the 4:00 PM Vigil Mass) on Saturday, July 2nd and will reopen after the 7:30 AM Mass on Tuesday, July 5th. The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day.

Rev. Robert T. Cooper, Pastor of St. Benilde Church and School released the following statement: "This morning, June 14, 2016, the Times-Picayune/NOLA.com released a slideshow entitled The 11 School Cafeterias with the Most Critical Health Violations. St. Benilde School was listed amongst the schools in the article. Please be assured that as pastor, I take the health and welfare of our students very seriously. Each day, I collaborate with the administration and faculty to ensure that we are providing a holy, healthy, and happy environment for our little ones to be formed in the values of the Gospel and the teachings of the Church. The majority of the health violations cited in the article where due to the construction and installation of our new cook-in kitchen which took place in the summer of 2015. It is also to be noted that many of the violations were duplicates as changes were being made to ensure the new facility fulfilled the requirements of the Health Department. It is my understanding after speaking with our principal and archdiocesan Food and Nutrition Service staff, which operates the cafeteria, that the violations have been addressed and any issues rectified as the new kitchen was completed. Our school continues to work collaboratively with Food and Nutrition Services of the Archdiocese of New Orleans to ensure that we are providing the best possible services to our students. I am grateful to Food and Nutrition Services for installing and operating our school cafeteria, and I am confident that they are providing a safe and healthy lunch program for our children."

The sixth annual Jazzin' on the River fundraiser for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul will be held July 9th, from 6 to 9 p.m., on the Steamboat Natchez. (Cruising will be from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.) Admission tickets are $100 per person. The cost includes dinner, drinks, dancing, and silent auction. Music will be provided by the Dukes of Dixieland. In addition to give-a-ways and other prizes, there will be a raffle drawing for "Dining at the Top 10 Restaurants in Metro-New Orleans. You do not need to be present to win the raffle. Members of St. Benilde SVDP will be on hand the weekend of June 18/19 with more information, raffle tickets, and to accept cruise registrations.

Our CYO members will again participate in the All Catholic Youth Relay for Life on June 24 & 25. The event this year is at St. Angela Merici. The purpose of the Relay is to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Members will be selling luminaries next weekend after each Mass. They may be purchased in thanksgiving for a cancer survivor or in memory of a loved one who died from cancer. The cost is $5 each. Please support this great event. The Relay for Life would like to invite cancer survivors to attend the opening ceremonies on June 24. Please contact John Stiegman at 504-382-4081 so an invitation will be sent to you.