St. Benilde Catholic Church

Join us as we embark with Bishop Robert Barron for this engaging presentation concerning the seven deadly sins, those great spiritual blocks that inhibit our flourishing in relationship with God and one another. Based on Dante’s writings, the seven deadly sins correspond to the seven levels of Dante’s Mt. Purgatory. Pride, envy, anger, sloth, gluttony, avarice, and lust are all presented as patterns of dysfunction within us that lead to unhappiness. However, Bishop Barron shows us how to counteract these seven sinful patterns through a conscious process of opposition, which are the “seven lively virtues." The seven lively virtues offer antidotes to each sin and help set us on the right path to healing and happiness. All sessions will be held on Tuesday evenings at 7pm beginning on February 19th in the St. Benilde Teen Center. The cost of the group retreat is $10. Please make checks payable to St. Benilde Catholic Church. Preregister by contacting Val Hebert at 504-427-0327 or valencemet@aol.com.

Is Purgatory real? Could the Afterlife require suffering? Can the living help alleviate the anguish of the dead? Please join us on Friday, February 22, for a showing of Purgatory, The Forgotten Church. This inspiring documentary will be shown at 7 PM in the Teen Center. Top scholars, scientists, historians, and church leaders revisit age-old questions and embark on a spiritual quest to unlock the controversy and consolation of Purgatory using new research and offering fresh insights. Refreshments will be available. For more information, please contact Val Hebert at (504) 427-0327 or at valencemet@aol.com.

During the 40 Days of Lent, Mass will be celebrated Monday - Friday at 7:00 AM and 5:30 PM. The Stations of the Cross will be prayed on all Fridays during Lent at 6:00 PM in the Church. Join our school children in praying the Stations of the Cross at 9:00 AM in the Church on the following Fridays: March 15, March 22, March 29, April 5, and April 12. For our complete Lenten Schedule visit: www.stbenilde.org/lent

The holy and penitential Season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 6th, with the distribution of Ashes. The Mass Schedule is 7AM, 9AM, 12Noon (Word Service with the Distribution of Ashes – No Mass) and 6PM.

The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, March 4th and Tuesday, March 5th for the Mardi Gras Holiday. We will reopen on Wednesday, March 6th at 9:00 am. The Adoration Chapel will be open on Mardi Gras Day, Tuesday, March 5th.

I’d like to invite you to join me and your fellow parishioners for BEST LENT EVER, a free email program from Dynamic Catholic. Lent comes every year. It’s meant to be a time when we invite God to help us become the-best-version-of-ourselves. But for many of us, Lent isn’t a transformative experience. It’s just a time when we give up chocolate or something else we enjoy, then go back to it at Easter. This year, you can change that with BEST LENT EVER. Each day of Lent, you’ll receive a short inspirational video that will help you find areas for growth, build better habits, and spark lasting change in your life. All you have to do is sign up at BestLentEver.com - Fr. Robert Cooper, Pastor

Early Childhood Formation Aftercare Openings: St. Benilde School is a Roman Catholic parochial school serving St. Benilde Parish and the metropolitan New Orleans area. We specifically focus on teaching and caring for children from infancy (six weeks) through Seventh Grade. St. Benilde School is known for innovative academic and faith formation programs. The Loreto Early Learning Center is a division of St. Benilde School serving infants and toddlers Monday -Friday from 7 AM -6 PM. We are currently seeking energetic and hard working employees to work as teachers in our programs. We can offer both full time and part time positions. Pay ranges depending upon the individuals experience and degree level. A competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and 401K are available to full time employees. All applicants must be able to pass a criminal background check and complete all required training by the Archdiocese of New Orleans Office of Safe Environment as a condition of employment.

We are in need of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and Lectors. Several workshops have been scheduled this spring: Extraordinary Ministers of Communion—Feb. 16, March 16, March 30, April 6, and May 4—Archdiocesan Administration Bldg., 7887 Walmsley Ave., NOLA; Feb16, St. Joseph Church, 1802 Tulane Ave., NOLA; and Lectors—March 30, St. Clement of Rome Church, 4317 Richland Ave., Metairie. All workshops run from 9 AM until 1 PM. You must get Fr. Cooper’s permission before registering with the Parish Office. Please note: these workshops are for new ministers only.