Dear Parishoners, Alumni, and School Families, It was announced unknowingly to all, a few weeks ago, that our precious school would be closing its doors at the end of this school year, after 60 years. This news was shocking to all. A core group of school families, parishoners and alumni immediately joined efforts and formed a group called Friends of OLPH BC in order to develop and implement a strategic and viable plan to keep the doors of OLPH open, alive and thriving for many years to come. After having several meetings with Father Kyle, Ms. Accomando(school principal), representatives from the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Dr. RaeNell Houston (superintendent of catholic education), Father Patrick Carr (vicar of finances with the archdiocese), and the church finance committee we have been given the green light to reopen school registration and implement our proposed pledge campaign. The pledge campaign is seeking as many pledge commitments that we can secure by April 15th, but there is no deadline to submit a pledge. Our goal with the pledge campaign is to raise at least $500,000 a year for the next five years in order to: 1. Offset enrollment for the next school year, giving us time to design and implement a strategic marketing plan to grow future enrollment, restructure, make necessary adjustments and put forth a balanced budget to work from 2. Replenish our surplus for future rainy day needs 3. Create sustainability to keep OLPH open and operating indefinitely 4. Provide future capital improvements to the school We have so much dedication and faith in our efforts and have already received tremendous support so that we can keep the doors open to the only Catholic/Christian education option inside the boundaries of our parish. The catholic/christian education that OLPH offers is so unique. We are truly a family-oriented setting and have the ability to offer a more one on one atmosphere and experience. Not only do our students receive a quality academic education, they learn in an environment where the presence of Jesus is the center of focus. We must not stand by and allow our doors to be closed. We must make every effort and exhaust all possibilities in order to keep this most important ministry viable, the ministry of our youth, providing the word of God in their everyday life to insure their growth in faith and spirituality and to insure we continue to mold the future leaders of our parish and our world. We are a world that needs Jesus now more than ever. We cannot afford to continue to allow our Catholicism and Christianity to slowly be chipped away. Our youth and our world relies on our fight. Please see attached pledge form as it explains how donations can be made as well as designating the amount to be donated. We are also welcoming of flat donations and company matches. We can be contacted at olphbcsaveourschool@gmail.com. We ask that you prayerfully consider how you can help and what contribution amount you feel called by God to pledge. We thank everyone in advance for your donation and consideration. God bless. Sincerely, Friends of OLPH BC
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church invites you, in the Crucified and Risen Lord Jesus Christ, to the Triduum and Easter Celebrations: Holy Thursday, April 1 Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7 PM, followed by Nocturnal Adoration in the Church; Good Friday, April 2 Celebrate the Lord’s Passion at 3 PM, Stations of the Cross at 6 PM; Holy Saturday, April 3 Easter Vigil Mass at 8 PM; Easter Sunday, April 4 Masses at 7 AM, 9 AM, & 11 AM. If you are unable to attend, please visit our Facebook page to watch via livestreaming.
Dear OLPH Families: As most of you already are aware, on Thursday there was a meeting of school and parish leadership of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and families concerned about the planned closure of the school at the end of the school year. Our Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Dr. RaeNell Houston and Fr. Patrick Carr, Vicar of Finance were also in attendance. The meeting was productive and permission has been granted for the school community to develop a proposal for keeping Our Lady of Perpetual Help School open. The proposal must include viable plans to keep the school open for multiple years, and ideally for future generations. The proposal must be submitted to Fr. Kyle by April 15th.
Holy Land Gifts Olive Wood Carving for sale on Palm Sunday Holy Land Gifrts, represented by the Rashmawi family who are volunteer members from the Roman Catholic Church in Bethlehem, will be visiting our Parish the weekend of March 27/28 and sell their olive wood gifts. They will speak to us about the dire Christian situation in the Holy Land.
A Message from the Music Director of OLPH: Since a year devoted to focusing on the Eucharist began, you may have noticed the selection of a Communion Song at Sunday liturgies is being replaced for several weeks at a time. As the Christmas season was drawing to a close and I was preparing music for the Sundays in Ordinary Time leading up to the Lenten Season, I wanted to emphasize that Jesus Christ is alive and present in the bread and wine transformed into His body and blood.
Easter Flowers If anyone is interested in donating toward the Easte Flowers used in the Church in memory of a loved one, please contact Dawn in the Church Office.
Archdiocesan Golden Anniversary Celebration Sunday, June 27,2021 3:00 p.m. at St. Philip Neri (Metairie) Each couple will receive a certificate and picture with Archbishop Aymond. The event is for couples married 50 years or more.
In association with the Year of the Eucharist here in the Archdiocese, Our Lady of Perpetual Help will be praying the Stations of the Eucharist one Thursday a month. This is a beautiful prayer focusing on several biblical stories that point toward the institution of the Eucharist we celebrate today. The dates for the first three months are January 21, February 11, and March 11 begining at 6:00 p.m. in the church.
The Pascal Candle for the Easter Season burns in our place of worship unitl Penecost Sunday and for baptisms,funerals, and all special prayer services. Holy Oils the holy oils blessed by Archbishop Aymond at the Chrism Mass are used to anoint the sick,to baptize and confirm.
Memorial Walk to Honor our Loved Ones We are taking orders for the next Phase of the Memorial Walki in the back of OLPH Cemetery. We invite all who wish to honor the memory of a deceased family member or friend to participate by purchasing an engraved brick for $50, thus assuring them a permanent place to be remebered at OLPH.
Archdiocesan Silver Wedding Anniversary Celebration will take place on Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 3:00 p.m., in St. Joseph Church in New Orleans. If you will be celebrating your 25 Wedding Anniversary next year (married in the year 1996) and wish to attend, please register with the parish office by January 15, 2021.
Parishioners, Several people have reported getting a message from Fr. Kyle asking for help. This message is a SCAM. Please do NOT respond. Fr. Kyle would never reach out to you in this way. If you ever have questions about any communication that does not seem in character, please call the church office before you respond or take action. -OLPH Church Office
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish wishes to express our appreciation to Archbishop Gregory Aymond for his time and spiritual commitment in celebration of the dedication of and blessing of our new altar and ambo. We also wish to acknowledge those from the Office of Worship who assisted in the preparation and execution of the celebration. We especially wish to thank all of our ministries and those who volunteer regularly to help keep our parish vibrant. Thank you also to the benefactors and all who were instrumental in the installation of the altar and ambo. May God pour out blessings on all of them.
Pope’s Prayer Intention for the Year 2021 Universal intention - Violence against Women We pray for women who are victims of violence, that they may be protected by society and have their sufferings considered and heeded.
Order of St. Louis IX Medallion Two hundred thirty -five laypersons who have devoted themselves to the work of the Catholic Church throughout the Archdiocese of New Orleans were awarded the Orde of St. Louis IX Medallion in ceremonies Oct. 18. Archbishop Gregory Aymond presented the awards at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Metairie.
This years gospel value is Trust. The children are learning to trust in God and to learn to be trustworthy themselves. The gospel value for March is The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him. (Nahum 1:7)