St. Christopher the Martyr Catholic Church |
| 309 Manson Avenue, Metairie, Louisiana 70001 Phone: 504-837-8214 |
Sunday: 7:30, 9:30, and 11 a.m. (6 p.m. on 2nd Sunday, CYO) Mon., Tues., Thurs., & Fri.: 6:30 and 9:30 a.m. Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. Feast: 6:30 a.m, 9:30 a.m., and 6 p.m. Confession: Saturday, 3:00-3:45 p.m. Contact the rectory to make an appointment for other times. Sacrament of the Sick: Second Saturday of the month following the 4 p.m. Mass Adoration Chapel: Mon.-Fri., 8:00-1:00 Novena: Tues., following the 6:30 a.m. Mass |
| MASS SCHEDULE |
Rev. Raymond Igbogidi, Pastor e-mail: pastor@stchristopherano.com Deacon Charles Duke e-mail: ewduke@msn.com Deacon Phil McManamon e-mail: pmcmanam@yahoo.com Ms. Janet Schluter, Secretary e-mail: scmrectory@outlook.com |
| CLERGY AND STAFF |
| RECTORY OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 504-837-8214 |
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| May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Our condolences go out to family and loved ones. |
| Save the date for next year's 12-day Pilgrimage to the Holy Land lead by Deacon Jerry Martinez: May 26 to June 6, 2020. You will visit the humble home of Joachim and Anna where the Angel Gabriel visited Mary, the birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem, the Sea of Galilee, the house of Caiaphas where Jesus was held for trial, the Antonia Fortress where Jesus was tried by Pilot, the site of the Crucifixion, and the tomb where Jesus rose from the dead. The pilgrimage to Turkey and Greece with Fr. Beau Charbonnet from June 12-25, 2020, will follow in the footsteps of St. Paul as he formed Christian communities that spread the growth of the Church Jesus founded. Starting from Istanbul (Constantinople), we travel south to visit the Seven Cities of the Book of Revelations, then take a cruise across the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, stopping at Patmos, Rhodes, Crete, and Santorini, then tour Athens, Corinth, and Delphi. The pilgrimage to Ireland with Msgr Harry Bugler will be July 7-18, 2020. If you are interested in attending one or more of the meetings, please contact Deacon Jerry at 559-4495 or pilgrimswayusa@aol.com and provide your name and contact information. |
| Precious in His Sight |
| Adoration Chapel |
| We welcome into the faith community of St. Christopher our newest member, who received the Sacrament of Baptism on September 8, 2019: Olivia Cabral Mendel, daughter of Michael and Wanele Mendel, born August 30, 2018. May God's grace and blessings received through this Sacrament guide her throughout her life! |
| October 16, 9:30 a.m., Mass for PK3, 1, 5-7 grades, 7th grade Grandparents Day October 17, 7 p.m., Knights of Columbus meeting October 21, 6 p.m., Legion of Mary meeting October 22, 4:30-9:00, Andy's Bistro Give-Back Night to benefit the CYO October 22, 6:30 p.m., School of Religion October 24, 7 p.m., Men's Club meeting October 26-27, Altar Society raffle October 26, 7-9 p.m., Trunk or Treat October 27, 5:15 p.m., CYO meeting (no Mass) October 28, 6 p.m., Legion of Mary meeting October 29, 6:30 p.m., School of Religion October 31, 7 p.m., Men's Prayer Group, Adoration Chapel November 1, All Saints' Day November 2, All Souls' Day November 3, Daylight Saving ends |
| A “Gift” is offered to all members of St. Christopher Parish. Spending only one hour with OUR LORD in the Blessed Sacrament can be a way to clear your mind and help you live a better life. Come join in adoration of OUR LORD. The hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. Information is on the table at the entrance to church, or you may direct any questions to Jerry Cox at 458-3152. Please help us to keep our Adoration Chapel open. Thank you and God bless. |
| Pilgrimages to the Holy Land, Turkey/Greece, and Ireland |
| Mark Your Calendars |
| "Prayer Room" on Our Web Site |
| In the words of Alfred Tennyson, "More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of." There is a new Resources page on our site that is focused on prayer, where we, as St. Christopher parishioners, can learn about and join together in praying for each other's concerns and intentions. You are invited to contribute your intentions (large and small, your thanksgiving or your needs) so that we may all join in lifting them in prayer. Quiet time with God spent thanking Him, seeking His will, listening . . . is a gift that you give yourself! May our relationship with God be strengthened, and may our capacity to love and be loved increase as our hearts reach out to each other. |
| Knights of Columbus Family of the Month |
| Each month, the Knights of Columbus present this award to recognize a deserving family for their outstanding contributions to St. Christopher Parish and School. The Steven and Lena Pardo Family has been selected as the October Family of the Month. The Pardos own Quarter View Restaurant, one of our favorite places to dine, and have been so generous and accommodating to our parish! Over the years, they have provided countless trays of pasta and food for the Fall Fest and different receptions at the Parish Center and rectory. They have also hosted luncheons for several of our parish ministries. The dishes they prepare and donate are always delicious and very much appreciated! We are so grateful for their tireless commitment to serving God within our parish and thank them for sharing their love and faith. May God richly bless them! |
Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus tells the crowds who
seek a sign that they will only receive the sign of
Jonah: "Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation."
Jonah is called by God to preach to Nineveh, which is
described as an enormously large city. It takes, they
say, three days to walk through it. I can’t help but think
of Nineveh as one of our large, modern cities, a
center of all sorts of worldly activity and preoccupation.
What would its conversion look like? A turning back to
God as the only enduring good. After hearing the
word of Jonah, the Ninevites proclaim a fast, and all of
them, great and small, put on sackcloth. What is the
purpose of these ascetic practices? To wean people
away from an attachment to worldly pleasures.
Go beyond the mind that you have. Repent. Live as
though nothing in this world finally matters. And you
will be living in the kingdom of God!
Peace,
Bishop Robert Barron
seek a sign that they will only receive the sign of
Jonah: "Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation."
Jonah is called by God to preach to Nineveh, which is
described as an enormously large city. It takes, they
say, three days to walk through it. I can’t help but think
of Nineveh as one of our large, modern cities, a
center of all sorts of worldly activity and preoccupation.
What would its conversion look like? A turning back to
God as the only enduring good. After hearing the
word of Jonah, the Ninevites proclaim a fast, and all of
them, great and small, put on sackcloth. What is the
purpose of these ascetic practices? To wean people
away from an attachment to worldly pleasures.
Go beyond the mind that you have. Repent. Live as
though nothing in this world finally matters. And you
will be living in the kingdom of God!
Peace,
Bishop Robert Barron
| Gospel Reflection |
| Luke 11:29-32 |
| We are very thankful for all the support by our parishioners. Without your help, we would not be able to provide the assistance needed. We are probably as low on food as we have ever been. We are in need of boxes or bags of cereal, beans and rice, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, pasta and rice mixes, grits, oatmeal, and ramen noodles. We also need cans of tuna, chicken, Vienna sausages, spam or similar products, fruit, peanut butter and jelly, soups, tomato sauce, gravy in packs or bottles and drink mixes like tea bags, Kool-Aid, hot chocolate, and Crystal Light. Please help us by checking current "best by" dates. If you are in need of assistance, call 831-7692 and leave a message. We will return your call. May God bless all of you. |
| William "Billy" Simon, September 20, 2019 Rose Rita Guarino Deckelman, September 23, 2019 |
| Flowers and Sanctuary Lights |
| Flowers and sanctuary lights for 2019 are available. There are several open weeks for the flowers on the altar and for sanctuary lights. What a beautiful way to remember relatives or someone special (living or deceased)! You could say “Congratulations,” “Happy Birthday,” or “Happy Anniversary.” Please call 837-8214 to reserve a weekend. The cost is $40, made payable to “St. Christopher Altar Society." |
| Advertiser of the Week |
| Executive Tax Service Your tax and business advisors Judith Phillpott, EA Laurie Schmaltz 2901 Houma Blvd. 504-780-0456 https://etsmetairie.com |
| Lost and Found |
| There are many items that have been left in church and are on the shelf on top of the poor box under St. Anthony. The items include rosaries, umbrellas, etc. Please check to see if any of the items belong to you. |
| St. Christopher Parish Census Form |
| St. Christopher Parish is developing enhanced paper and digital communication capabilities. You can help us by providing us with your information. Use this link to set up your personal user name and password for the database. |
| Food Pantry for Outreach |
| Spiritual Retreats |
| A spiritual retreat is an opportunity to withdraw from the routine and pressures of life, and to open our heart and mind to God’s love for us and discern the movement of the Spirit in our life and surrender to God’s will. There are a variety of options available for a retreat in and near the Archdiocese of New Orleans, ranging from one day of reflection to a three-day silent retreat. For people seeking a deeper experience of growth in their relationship with God, there are also options for individual spiritual direction with a companion experienced in the spirituality of the Desert Fathers and saints of the Church. St. Christopher is blessed to have clergy with experience in spiritual direction and companionship. For more information and assistance in determining the spiritual experience that best suits you, please contact Dcn. Phil McManamon at 451-0009 or pmcmanam@yahoo.com. |
| Holy Baptism |
| If you have a child who will be Baptized, the upcoming dates to prepare for are as outlined below. You must attend the Baptismal Seminar in order for your child to be Baptized. |
| Baptism: November 10 December 8 January 12, 2020 |
| Baptismal Seminar: October 25 November 22 December 20 |
| Altar Society Appeal |
| Ever wonder what exactly the Altar Society is about? Do you know who prepares the altar each week with the beautiful floral arrangements, cleans the linens, vacuums, dusts, cleans the door and windows, etc.? Well, it’s the Ladies of the Altar Society (and sometimes with a little help from their spouses). The ladies also prepare for the receptions for the St. Louis Awards and the 25th-50th Wedding Anniversaries and also sponsor the Day of Reflection each Spring, among other needs when called upon. The Altar Society is always looking for new members. If you would like to join us, our meetings are the 3rd Tuesday of each month, preceded by the Rosary and Mass in the Church at 9 a.m. We would love to have you! |
| Pro Life |
| "Abortion is the only surgery for which the surgeon is not obligated to inform the patient of the possible risks of the procedure, or even the exact nature of the procedure. Indeed, abortion providers are the only medical personnel who have a 'constitutional right' to withhold information, even when directly questioned by the patient." David Reardon, Aborted Women: Silent No More |
| St. Jude Solemn Novena |
| The St. Jude Novena will be offered October 21-29 at St. Mary Magdelen Church, 6425 W. Metairie Avenue. Monday through Friday, the Novena will begin at 12:15 p.m., with Mass and Novena at 6 p.m. Saturday Novena is at 12:15 p.m., with Mass and Novena at 4 p.m. Sunday Novena will follow the 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Masses. The celebrant is Rev. Jose I. Lavastida of Blessed Frances Xavier Seelos Church. |
| New Rectory Staff |
| Please welcome Ms. Phyllis Reppel, who recently joined St. Christopher’s Rectory office staff. |
| Second Collection |
| The second collection this weekend, October 19-20, is for World Missions. The theme this year is “Baptized and Sent.” Pope Francis invites us to see this October as a special time to live out the mission we share through our baptism as God’s children, that is, to bring the Gospel of Christ. Thank you for your generosity! |
| Patriotic Rosary |
| On Friday, November 8, at 7 p.m., the Knights of Columbus will be sponsoring a Patriotic Rosary in church. A reception will follow in the Parish Center. Please join us as we pray for our country and give thanks for all the freedoms we enjoy. May God bless America! |
| Altar Society Raffle |
| Our Altar Society will hold their yearly raffle on October 26-27 after all Masses. Raffle tickets are $1.00 each, and there are many prizes. Plan to stop by and take a chance. You may be a lucky winner! Besides preparing altar linens and the beautiful altar arrangements each week, the Altar Society also clean our church and prepare for some of the receptions hosted in the Parish Center. They are well deserving of our support! |
| Trunk or Treat |
| Trunk or Treat, benefiting the CYO, will be on Saturday, October 26, from 7-9 p.m. in the school yard. This is such a fun and safe event for trick-or- treaters and those entering cars alike! Concessions will be sold, and there are awards for Best Decorations! Registration is $10 per vehicle, and you provide your own treats and decorations. We will allow 50 cars in the yard - First come, first serve! Cars may start to arrive at 5:15 p.m. but, for safety reasons, must be in the yard by 6 p.m. If you are interested in entering a car, please contact Sherri at seck@stchristopherschool.org. Trick-or-treaters can purchase tickets at the gate for $1.00. Come have a spooky good time! |
