News - December 2017 RSS Feed

The Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation this calendar year. However, because of the importance of this Feast Day in the Universal Church, we will have Mass on Monday, January 1st at 7:00 AM and 5:30 PM. Even though the obligation has been dispensed this year, all are invited and encouraged to attend Mass to ask for the special intercession of our Lady. Please note that there will be No 6PM Holy Hour or Confessions on Monday, January 1st.

The Adoration Chapel will close at 4:00 PM on Saturday, December 30th and will re-open at 7:30 AM on Tuesday, January 2, 2018. The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, January 1, 2018 in observance of the Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God and New Year’s Day.

There will be a special Second Collection taken at all the Christmas Masses to help support Priestly Formation at Notre Dame Seminary and to assist with the various Charitable Organizations of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Thank you for your generosity as we help our young men studying for the priesthood.

The Mass Schedule for Christmas at St. Benilde – Christmas Eve: Sunday, December 24th: 4PM, 6PM, and Midnight. Christmas Day: Monday, December 25th: 9AM and 11AM. Please note that there will be No Confessions neither on Sunday, December 24th at 5PM nor on Monday, December 25th at 6PM. There will also be no 5PM Mass or 6PM Holy Hour on Monday, December 25th. The Adoration Chapel will close at 4:00 PM on Saturday, December 23rd and will re-open at 7:30 AM on Tuesday, December 26th. The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, December 25rd and Tuesday, December 26th in observance of Christmas. We will reopen on Wednesday, December 27th at 9:00 am.

This year, December 24, 2017 (Christmas Eve), is on the 4th Sunday of Advent. This has given rise to some questions regarding the liturgies for these consecutive celebrations. In order to celebrate appropriately, a person should participate in Masses for the 4th Sunday of Advent and again for Christmas Vigil/Day. This means that at St. Benilde an individual must attend Mass on Saturday, December 23rd at 4PM or Sunday, December 25th at 9AM or 11AM to fulfill their Sunday Obligation. In addition, to fulfill one’s obligation for Christmas (which is a Holy Day of Obligation) an individual must attend Mass on Sunday, December 24th at 4PM, 6PM, or Midnight or on Monday, December 25th at 9AM or 11AM. Please call the Parish Office if you have any questions or need additional clarifications.

The beautiful poinsettias and greenery that adorn our altar and sanctuary are a special part of the celebration of Christmas at St. Benilde Catholic Church. We invite all parishioners to share in the experience through a memorial or thanksgiving gift by using the Christmas Flowers Memorial Envelopes found in the vestibule of Church. Donations toward the cost of Christmas decorations in the Church may be made in memory or honor of your family members and friends. This is a wonderful way to remember loved ones, honor friends, and offer thanksgiving to God for prayers answered and blessings received during this past year. The suggested donation is $10.00 per rememberance. Please place your envelopes in the collection basket, the Poor Box or bring it to the Parish Office by December 26th. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. Memorial Envelopes will be placed on the altar throughout the Christmas Season and names will be printed in the bulletin.

The parish will have a Holy Hour from 6:00pm till 7:00pm on Monday, December 18th as we prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of the Christ Child at Christmas. Both Fr. Cooper and Fr. H.L. will be available for Confessions from 6:00pm till 7:00pm.

Immediately following the Bless the Baby Jesus devotion on Sunday, December 17th as part of the 11:00 a.m. Mass, there will be a hot Breakfast with Baby Jesus including eggs, bacon, and biscuits served in the Cafeteria. Hospitality coffee and donuts will also be provided for those not wishing a full breakfast. The suggested donation is $5.00 per family. We will have several activities for the children: making a nativity ornament, constructing an advent wreath, and camel food to name a few. Our CCD high school students, accompanied by other volunteers, will also put on the brief play about keeping Christ in Christmas. Please come and join in this faith-filled, family activity!

The Bless the Baby Jesus devotion will be held with Fr. Cooper on Sunday, December 17th as part of the 11:00 a.m. Mass for the Third Sunday of Advent. This is an excellent opportunity for families to grow in faith as the “domestic church.” All Children are invited to bring a figurine of the baby Jesus, particularly from their family Nativity Crèche to be blessed by Fr. Cooper during Mass. Fr. Cooper will invite the children to sit at the foot of the step of the sanctuary for the homily and then to come forward to have their figurines blessed. Please come and enjoy this beautiful Advent Mass and devotion.

Tuesday, November 28th was the third annual #iGiveCatholic Day of Giving. Fr. Cooper challenged St. Benilde School to raise $24,000 in24 hours. Thanks to over 270 parents and parishioners, we were able to meet and exceed that challenge! Between on-line giving and checks sent in, we raised $25,820! With the matching donation from the Whitman Family Foundation, we received another $20,000! There was also a contest where schools with the most early donations would win $1,500 and we won that prize for the most early donations. Finally, there was a contest where schools with the most donations the day of #iGiveCatholic would win another $1,500. We won that one too! So thanks to all of your hard work and generous hearts, we were able to raise $48,820!

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Holy Day of Obligation. Vigil Mass will be celebrated at 5:30pm on Thursday, December 7th. Masses on Friday, December 8th will be at 7am, 8:15am (School Mass – all are welcome to attend), and 6:00pm.

Make your plans now to join us for the Fourth Annual Men’s Club Chili Cook-Off Trifecta on Saturday, December 9th. Teams begin cooking at 8:45 AM, with gates opening to the public starting at 12:00 PM, with the best tasting chili in the South ready by 12:30 PM. A gate charge of $10 (children 10 and under are free) gets you unlimited tastings, great music by the band Weathered and inflatables for the kids. If you would like to enter a team, please contact Dax Barret at 504-931-7489 or David Mockin at 504-352-6124, or email sbschilicookoff@outlook.com. Teams must cook chili, participate in the corn hole toss, the jalapeño eating contest, and create your favorite Louisiana-inspired dish.