From the Pastor

Office of the Pastor
1901 Division Street · Metairie, LA  70001
Phone (504) 834-4980
Fax (504) 831-5810
Email: [email protected]
 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord:
         
            Welcome to the neighborhood! On behalf of myself and the parishioners of St. Benilde Parish, I want to also welcome you to our vibrant and faith-filled Catholic family! We are truly graced by your presence among us and we want to invite you to call St. Benilde Parish your home. Anyone who drives down Division Street in this quaint little neighborhood of Metairie can see that the people of God at St. Benilde Catholic Church have built something truly beautiful! However, as lovely as our buildings are, and as charming as our grounds may be, the true beauty is not in the buildings, but in what they hold: for they hold the spark of Divine Love. Indeed, it is our commitment at St. Benilde Catholic Church that – by how we worship, pray, work and live - Christ’s love will be known, and our Catholic faith will shine forth, in our every gathering and ministry, and most prominently and importantly, in the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

          For over fifty years, St. Benilde Catholic Church has been serving the people of God. While much has changed in our area throughout these years, one thing has remained the same — the commitment of our parish to our Catholic faith. Since the days of the first Masses of our Parish celebrated at Archbishop Rummel High School, through the construction of our current Church edifice, men and women of faith have gathered together for prayer, worship, and fellowship as part of our parish. How thankful we are to God for all the good fruits that our parish has born in the past; and how excited we are in all the ways the Spirit continues to move in our midst!

            The wording of our Parish Mission Statement provides a compass for us on this pilgrim journey of faith:

          We, the clergy and lay faithful of St. Benilde Catholic Church, by virtue of our baptism and by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, strive to form a vibrant and faith-filled parish family by our common witness to the Lord Jesus Christ. We seek to be instruments of God’s grace for the sanctification of His people through divine worship, evangelization, catechesis and service. With loyalty and obedience to the magisterium of the Church, we strive to live an example of holiness, where Jesus is our center and Mary is our model, and to encourage one another as we journey toward eternal life.  We recognize our call to be stewards of God's many gifts, and joyfully share them to deepen our love of God through service to others. We welcome all who seek the blessing of God, the redeeming love of Jesus Christ, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we strive to build the Kingdom of God and strengthen this family of faith.

           My constant prayer is that you and your family “may find Christ here and bring Christ to the world.” To help this prayer become fully alive and fully realized, St. Benilde Catholic Church has focused on always being Christ-centered in our mission. From divine worship to education, from the celebration of the Sacraments to our outreach to the poor, from our catechetical programs to our focus on youth and families, we are dedicated to ensuring that the Catholic Church is present and meeting the needs of our parishioners.   

           As a parish family, we are grateful for the educational opportunities provided for almost fifty years, by our Parish School. Many people talk about the “St. Benilde difference” where children at every level are inspired to learn and achieve academic success and grow in the practice of our Catholic faith. Integrated into each school day is an adherence to Catholic doctrine and the Christian values of reverence, respect, and responsibility, the cornerstone of our commitment to develop the whole person and prepare him or her for a happy and meaningful future. Our faith-based education extends beyond the classroom to guide our students in the many athletic and extra-curricular endeavors that are available at St. Benilde Catholic School. Any questions that you may have concerning enrollment in St. Benilde Catholic School should be directed to our Principal at (504) 833-4884.

           I am also grateful, to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the numerous ministries which provide catechetical, formational, evangelization, and outreach services to our parishioners. Our parish staff and ministry coordinators work diligently to meet the temporal and spiritual needs of our parishioners. You will find a listing and description of all the ministries within this website. I ask that you prayerfully discern where God may be calling you to be an instrument in building up His Kingdom by offering your time, talents, and financial resources. Questions concerning our various parish ministries should be addressed to our Parish Office at (504) 834-4980.
      
          It is my hope, that our parish website  — while unable to show the many faces of our parish family — will acquaint you with what our parish offers in our mandate by Christ to be at the service of the people of God entrusted to our care. I certainly hope that you will peruse this website so as to become a fully active and engaged member of our parish family. Please contact the Parish Office at (504) 834-4980 if you would like to become a registered parishioner. We will mail you a New Parishioner Registration form as well as other pertinent materials. You are also able to download the form from our website. The Parish’s Administrative and Pastoral Staff, as well as, our parishioners join me in welcoming you to our neighborhood and in inviting and your family to visit St. Benilde Catholic Church as we live out the words of Sacred Scripture "to do right, love goodness, and walk humbly with our God" (Micah 6:8). If I can ever be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me, or any other member of the parish staff.

           Through the intercession of St. Benilde, may all who ever come to this parish named in his honor, find the true King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and then bring His love and truth to the world. Once again, welcome to the Neighborhood!

            Commending you to the tender heart of Our Lady of Prompt Succor and to Saint Louis IX, King of France, patrons of our archdiocese, I remain
 
Sincerely in the Lord

Fr. Matthew

Reverend Father Matthew Johnston

Pastor