“I placed my faith in St. Joseph that the deal with LSU Press would come through and on March 19 I received an email congratulating me that my project was approved. Thank you, St. Joseph.” - Sandra Scalise Juneau, author of “Celebrating with St. Joseph Altars: The History, Recipes and Symbols of a New Orleans Tradition"

Lent is a little like that desert for us. It’s a special time when God invites us to slow down and make time for him. Life can feel very busy. We have school, sports, activities, screens, worries, but Lent gently presses pause and helps us remember and focus on what matters most.

Beginning this weekend through next weekend over 50 area Catholic churches will be welcoming the community for their annual St. Joseph Altars. The majority will be open on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, March 19 when Archbishop James Checchio, 15th Archbishop of New Orleans will experience his first St. Joseph’s Day in New Orleans.

Archbishop Checchio is appealing to the faithful of New Orleans to pray for vocations to the priesthood and to assist the archdiocese with what is the largest line item in the budget: Seminarian Education for 23 seminarians in formation for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

The Order of St. Louis IX award is among the highest honors in the Archdiocese of New Orleans and always something to be celebrated, but this year presented a unique experience for two local families as a father and daughter, along with her husband and two brothers were honored together during a ceremony on March 8.

On March 8, Archbishop James Checchio conferred the Order of St. Louis IX Medal on nearly 200 local Catholics in recognition of their leadership and dedication of service to the Church, in their parishes and throughout the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

On Feb. 5, Archbishop Gregory Aymond celebrated a special Mass to honor the 2026 Altar Servers of the Year. This annual celebration, sponsored by the local chapters of the Serra Club, is a way for each parish in the Archdiocese of New Orleans to honor the young men and women who give generously of themselves to serve at the Eucharistic table of the Lord at Mass in their home parishes. The Mass was celebrated at St. Rita Church, New Orleans with Archbishop Aymond and over a dozen local priests concelebrating.

Archbishop Checchio shares a reflection for the Lenten season in his regular column.

NOLA Catholic Parenting blogger/columnist Philip Garside delves into teaching children what is probably the most spiritually immature type of prayer of supplication, the “imprecatory prayer.” A prayer that invokes a curse upon one’s enemies – It is the duty of a parent to quickly teach children that praying for something “bad” to happen to others is not charitable.

NOLA Catholic Parenting blogger/columnist Gina Sternfels writes about God working in her heart and calling her to awareness.

More than 720 people are planning to enter the Catholic Church at Easter through their parish Order of Christion Initiation (OCIA) programs. During his homily at the Southshore Rite of Election, Archbishop Checchio talked about St. Francis of Assisi and his devotion to Jesus and rebuilding the church. “Jesus told St. Francis to rebuild his church and he took it literally, but we need to also look at the broader call of renewing our Christian vows for ourselves and the community,” he said. “We need to be like St. Francis and fall more in love with Jesus and follow his example by changing our lives and hearts first.”

First Sunday of Lent Matthew 4:1–11 February 22, 2026

The former civil rights lawyer led the school for nearly 50 years, from the Civil Rights Movement through Hurricane Katrina and beyond. Francis will lie in state at Xavier University on March 2. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 am on March 3 at St. Louis Cathedral.

This column was originally published in September 2022

Ash Wednesday dates back to the 11th century. Yet the tradition of receiving ashes has even earlier roots to the ancient Hebrew custom of clothing oneself in sackcloth and dusting oneself with ashes as a sign of penance.

"There is no more appropriate way to begin my first Clarion Herald column as your new archbishop than with these words of gratitude. I am honored and privileged that our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, sent me to serve here. Since arriving here in New Orleans a little less than three months ago as your Coadjutor Archbishop, you have been so kind and gracious. Thank you for being so warm in welcoming me to my new home and making my transition so enjoyable."