1037
Audubon Street
New Orleans, LA 70118
Ph. 504-866-0984
Fax 504-865-1914
Baptism of Infants
"Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is
born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God"
(John 3:5).
Baptism is the gateway to life in the Spirit, the Church, and the other
Sacraments. So it makes sense that it be conveyed as early as possible.
While a child obviously can't consciously choose Baptism, her parents
can choose for her. In so doing, they accept for her the priceless gift
of becoming a child of God.
"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him." (Acts 2:38-39) Infant Baptisms predate the 2nd century and it is quite possible that from the beginning of the apostolic preaching, when whole "households" received baptism, infants may also have been baptized. (Acts 16:15). It is quite logical that most of the Baptisms in the Bible were on adults since Jesus had just died. If I was there just after he rose from the dead and saw the apostles speaking in tongues I'd run into the water for a Baptism too. But as generations moved forward in time, history bears out that entire Christian families were Baptized.
For more information about baptizing your children (up to 8 years of age), Please contact Fr. Jose David, Fr. John, or Deacon Ron at (504)866-0984.
First Communion
The Eucharist is either the celebration of the Christian sacrament commemorating Christ’s Last Supper, or the consecrated bread and wine of this sacrament. The term is used mainly in Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Lutheran traditions, and is derived from a Greek word that means to give thanks. The form of the liturgical rite and the relevant theology vary from tradition to tradition. This is also known as "Communion" or "Holy Communion", a term in Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and Eastern Orthodox circles.
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke as well as Saint Paul's first Letter to the Corinthians contain versions of the so-called "Words of Institution" spoken by Jesus at the Last Supper: "Take, eat, this is my body.... Take, drink, this is my blood.... Do this in remembrance of me" (Lk 22:14-20). All subsequent celebration of the Eucharist is based on this injunction.
The Eucharist has always been at the center of Christian worship, though theological interpretations vary. In general, Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox traditions the Eucharist is the fulfillment of the Divine Economy (God's plan for the salvation of humanity from sin), a commemoration and making present of Jesus' Crucifixion on Calvary and his Resurrection, the means for Christians to unite with God and with each other, and the giving of thanks for all these things.
For Catholics, the sacrament of First Communion--the first time a child receives the Eucharist--is the second step into full initiation in the church, after baptism and before confirmation. For more information about your children (from 8 to 13 years of age), Please contact Fr. Jose David, Fr. John, or Deacon Ron at (504)866-0984.
Confirmation
The sacrament of confirmation is found in Bible passages such as Acts 8:14–17, 9:17, 19:6, and Hebrews 6:2, which speak of a laying on of hands for the purpose of bestowing the Holy Spirit. This text is especially important because it is not a narrative account of how confirmation was given and, thus, cannot be dismissed by those who reject the sacrament as something unique to the apostolic age. In fact, the passage refers to confirmation as one of Christianity’s basic teachings, which is to be expected since confirmation, like baptism, is a sacrament of initiation into the Christian life. The laying on of hands mentioned in the passage must be confirmation: The other kinds of the imposition of hands (for ordination and for healing) are not done to each and every Christian and scarcely qualify as part of the order of salvation.
The early Christian writers also recognized confirmation as a sacrament distinct from baptism, even though it was usually given simultaneously with baptism. Their words speak powerfully about this anointing and imposition of hands for reception of the Holy Spirit and the role it has in Christian initiation.
Please contact Fr. Jose David, Fr. John, or Deacon Ron at (504)866-0984 if you are or about to be 16 years old in order to be confirmed in the Church.
Matrimony
For the community of Catholic believers, the matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament. The intimate partnership of married life and love has been established by the Creator and qualified by His laws, and is rooted in the jugal covenant of irrevocable personal consent. Hence by that human act whereby spouses mutually bestow and accept each other a relationship arises which by divine will and in the eyes of society too is a lasting one. For the good of the spouses and their off-springs as well as of society, the existence of the sacred bond no longer depends on human decisions alone. For, God Himself is the author of matrimony, endowed as it is with various benefits and purposes.
All of these have a very decisive bearing on the continuation of the human race, on the personal development and eternal destiny of the individual members of a family, and on the dignity, stability, peace and prosperity of the family itself and of human society as a whole. By their very nature, the institution of matrimony itself and conjugal love are ordained for the procreation and education of children, and find in them their ultimate crown. Thus a man and a woman, who by their compact of conjugal love "are no longer two, but one flesh" (Matt. 19:ff), render mutual help and service to each other through an intimate union of their persons and of their actions. Through this union they experience the meaning of their oneness and attain to it with growing perfection day by day. As a mutual gift of two persons, this intimate union and the good of the children impose total fidelity on the spouses and argue for an unbreakable oneness between them.
Please observe these guidelines: The Archdiocese of New Orleans states that couples interested in being married in the Church must contact the priest six (6) months before the wedding date. Please contact Fr. Jose David, Fr. John, or Deacon Ron at (504)866-0984 if you would like to receive the sacrament of Marriage in the Catholic Church before any dates are set or arrangements made.
Anointing of the Sick
The anointing of the sick is administered to bring spiritual and even physical strength during an illness, especially near the time of death. It is most likely one of the last sacraments one will receive. A sacrament is an outward sign established by Jesus Christ to confer inward grace. In more basic terms, it is a rite that is performed to convey God’s grace to the recipient, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Like all the sacraments, holy anointing was instituted by Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry. The Catechism explains, "This sacred anointing of the sick was instituted by Christ our Lord as a true and proper sacrament of the New Testament. It is alluded to indeed by Mark, but is recommended to the faithful and promulgated by James the apostle and brother of the Lord" (CCC 1511; Mark 6:13; Jas. 5:14-15). The anointing of the sick conveys several graces and imparts gifts of strengthening in the Holy Spirit against anxiety, discouragement, and temptation, and conveys peace and fortitude (CCC 1520). These graces flow from the atoning death of Jesus Christ, for "this was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, ‘He took our infirmities and bore our diseases’" (Matt. 8:17).
Please contact Fr. Jose David or Fr. John at (504)866-0984 about receiving the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick at your home or hospital.
Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
Are you or someone you know interested in learning
more about the Catholic Faith and/or receive the sacrament of Baptism,
Communion and Confirmation? Are you a Catholic who has not received First
Eucharist and /or Confirmation, or do you know someone who is a Catholic
but has not received these Sacraments? Are you a member of St. Thomas
More Parish/ Tulane Catholic Center and willing to serve as a Sponsor
for candidates preparing to be initiated into our faith?
If your answer is "yes" to any of these questions, CALL or INVITE
your family member or friend to speak to Father Jose David at (504)866-0984.
You may be wondering what is involved in the RCIA
process, or the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. There are several
periods in this process; the beginning period is called a time of Inquiry
or the Pre-Catechumrnate. The other periods are called the, Catechumenate,
Enlightenment and Purification, and Mystagogy. These periods of the process
are all preceded by formal Rites with the assembly that will be your affirmation
to the community as well as yourself that you are ready to move on in
your journey towards the Easter Vigil, your initiation into our "Catholic
Christian" community. For more information click on the link below: