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OFFICE: 444 Metairie Road ~ Metairie, LA 70005 WEBSITE: church.stfrancisxavier.com CLERGY: Pastor: Rev. Joe Palermo Parochial Vicar: Rev. Thien Nguyen Deacons: Robert D. Normand, M.D. Mr. Kevin J. Darrah Mr. V. M. Wheeler III

Secretary: Rachel Griffin Business Manager: Ray Massett Assistant: Jack Siciliano Office Phone: 504-834-0340; Office Fax: 504-837-8735 Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Fri. 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM SCHOOL Principal: Barbara Martin 215 Betz Place Asst. Principal: Jack Glover Metairie, LA 70005 Registrar: Liz Brisolara 504-833-1471 Admin. Asst.: Cheryl Toujouse Fax 504-833-1498 RELIGIOUS ED. OFFICE Director: Claudia Todaro 504-834-0348 CYO YOUTH MINISTER Parish Office 504-834-0340 Vince Liberto (Athletics) 504-250-9697 MUSIC AND LITURGY Choir Director: Bart Folse 504-613-7728 Music Coordinator: Alyce Coincon 225-936-5794 Contemporary Choir Director: Jamie Diliberto 504-258-8826 SHARING PROGRAM - Carol Pritchard 504-835-6809 CAPITAL CAMPAIGN – Paul Laiche 504-834-0340 ADORATION CHAPEL - Dottie Watson 504-339-4298

MASS SCHEDULE Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM Sunday: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12N & 6:00 P.M. Holy Days: Vigil 4:00 PM; Feast as announced Weekdays: 6:30 & 8:00 AM MondayMondayMonday-Friday; Saturday 8:00 AM School Mass: Friday 9:10 AM (or as announced) Eucharistic Adoration Chapel: Open 24 hours daily. Confessions: Monday to Friday: 7:40-7:55 AM Saturday morning 7:40-7:55 AM and 8:30-9:00 AM Saturday afternoon: 3:00-3:45 PM And 5:00-5:30 PM Baptism: Contact Parish Center 1 month prior to due date. Seminar 7:00 P.M. - Second Monday of the month. Wedding: Contact parish clergy at least 6 months in advance. Coordinator: Linda Jones 504-421-7946.

SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 2019 8TH SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME

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SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 2019 EIGHTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME

Judging others and bearing fruit-Luke 6:39-45 In these seven verses of Scripture, Jesus gives

teachings and parables to warn about three great dangers of the spiritual life: following false prophets; self-righteousness and hypocrisy; and a deceived heart.

Regarding the first danger, Jesus says that those who follow false prophets will perish with them. He analogizes following a false prophet to following a blind man, which will cause one to fall into a pit. Following a false prophet will draw one from the light of Christ into spiritual darkness.

Regarding the second danger, Jesus speaks about self-righteousness and hypocrisy together. It is impossible to have one without the other. Nothing is more natural for fallen man or more obnoxious to God than self-righteousness and hypocrisy. All of us will have to stand before God on the day of judgment and justify if we acted as we spoke or if there was a divergence between our actions and our words. Regarding the third danger, Jesus warns us about having a deceived heart. A deceived heart follows its passions and desires without regard to God’s laws. God wants our hearts. Only if our hearts are focused on God will we be God’s faithful witnesses in the world. This is like a tree: only a good tree can produce good fruit.

How do we avoid falsehood and bad fruit in our lives? By being true to God, God’s word, and God’s grace, we can turn away from evil and wrongdoing. The Lord strengthens us with the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit. We grow in godly character through exercising the gifts and strength which God supplies. That is how we bear good fruit in our daily lives. And so we pray:

"Heavenly Father, give us the humility to admit our mistakes, welcome advice and accept rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at their best rather than at their worst. Amen."

PASTOR’S COLUMN

Mardi Gras, Carnival, and Ash Wednesday

Mardi Gras is almost here. Mardi Gras is the kissing cousin of Carnival. Carnival comes from the Latin words caro (a piece of flesh) and levare (to remove). Carnival literally means “to remove flesh,” or more colloquially, “Farewell to Flesh.” Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday” and embodies the same concept as Carnival – a farewell to the flesh on the last day of Ordinary Time before the start of the penitential season of Lent.

According to historians, Carnival is embedded deeply in the tradition of the Catholic faith. Its origin is the annual pagan celebrations of the god of fertility in ancient Rome. The celebrations involved feasting, drinking and carnal behavior. With the rise of Christianity in Rome, Christian morals took root and there was a need to blend traditional Roman practices with the mores of the Catholic faith. The concept of Carnival began as the Church’s way to compress all the carnal celebrating into a single time period before Lent began.

As Christianity spread through Europe, different countries celebrated Carnival according to their own cultural expression. In France, the holiday became a day to finish off meat, eggs and milk before Ash Wednesday. That is how the term Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday originated – a day to slaughter the fattened calf and feast before the great 40-day fast.

When French immigrants came to America, they brought the tradition of Mardi Gras with them. Over time, the celebration of Mardi Gras became more and more elaborate and secular. In New Orleans, grand celebrations became common place with masked balls and parades. Even non-Catholics joined the party.

In sum, Mardi Gras is a Catholic tradition intended to condense the celebration of the flesh into the final days of Ordinary Time preceding Lent – so that people are ready spiritually to enter into the penitential character of Lent. In these final days of the Mardi Gras season, may we enjoy ourselves within reason so we can hit the ground running with the prayer, repentance, sacrifice and conversion that Lent calls us to engage.

Enclosed in this bulletin is a flyer for Ash Wednesday Masses and Services. We mark ourselves with ashes as a sign of our mortality and need to repent and turn from sin. May Lent 2019 help us focus on the brevity of earthly life and the call to live for the life that never ends.

Happy Mardi Gras, and God bless,

Fr. Joe

PARISH FINANCIAL REPORTING FEB. 17TH YEAR TO DATE WEEKLY OFFERING $10,920.00 $88,061.00 OTHER (Faith Direct) $22,370.00 MISCELLANEOUS* $885.00 $35,222.00 TOTAL INCOME $11,805.00 $145,653.00 WEEKLY BUDGET** $20,395.00 $142,765.00 SURPLUS (DEFICIT) ($8,590.00) $2,888.00

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“PARISH NEWS” GIRL SCOUT COOKIE SALES AT 10 AM MASS

St. Francis Girl Scout Troops will sell cookies after the 10AM Mass this Sunday. Support our Girl Scout Troops by purchasing cookies just in time for Mardi Gras.

CHANGE IN PSR AND CONFIRMATION CLASS Parish School of Religion and Confirmation classes will be held on Sunday, March 10th. We will not have class on Sunday, March 17th due to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Metairie Road. Sorry for the inconvenience.

OLD METAIRIE FEST HEADS WEST Save the date for SFX School’s 19th annual “Old Metairie Fest”--April 6, 2019 from 11:00 AM-8:00 PM. This year’s theme is “Old Metairie Fest Heads West” with the Bucktown All Stars at 5:00 PM. Please consider being a sponsor, donor, or volunteer for our Fest.

ST. JOSEPH FEAST DAY AND ALTAR TIMES The Feast of St. Joseph is Tuesday, March 19. On Monday, March 18, the Eve of the Feast, there will be a public viewing of the St. Joseph Altar in the School Auditorium from 9 am – 6 pm; the evening concludes with a Rosary at 6 pm. On St. Joseph Day, there will be a Feast Day Mass at 8 am in Church, followed by the Tupa-Tupa reenactment and meal (Auditorium), public viewing of the altar from 9 am – 5 pm (Auditorium), public feeding from 11 am – 2 pm (School Cafeteria), and a Closing Rosary at 5 pm (Auditorium). Archbishop Aymond is scheduled to visit the Altar around 2 pm on the Feast Day. We thank the many people who have been working to make our Feast Day celebration and Altar a blessed opportunity for the community.

LENTEN COMPANION BOOK We are providing a Lenten gift to all parishioners – the Magnificat Lenten Companion. This excellent resource will be distributed at all masses this weekend. Please take one copy per family. May this booklet help have a spiritually enriching Lent.

COMING EVENTS IN THE PARISH Saturday/Sunday, 3/2 - 3/3

- Special Collection - Dcn Ed Helping Hands Ministry - Distribution of Magnificat Lenten prayer books - Welcome Sunday at all weekend masses - Girl Scout Cookie Sales after the 10 AM Mass Sunday - NO PSR or Confirmation classes due to Mardi Gras

Monday/Tuesday, 3/4—3/5 Mardi Gras holidays-School & Parish Offices are closed

Wednesday, 3/6 School resumes, see flyer for Ash Wednesday Services

Sunday, 3/10 - God’s Special Children Mass at 2PM - PSR and Confirmation Classes resume - CYO serves 6:00 PM Mass - mtg & social to follow

St. Francis Xavier Lenten Mission March 25-27 Healing Family Relationships and Hurts

Reverend Joe Krafft Director of Pastoral Formation, Notre Dame Seminary

*Monday, March 25 – 7:00 – 8:00 PM - Talk, “You mean your Family isn’t Perfect?!?”

*Tuesday, March 26 – 7:00 – 8:30 PM – Talk, “Reconciling Family Hurts,” followed by Sacrament of Reconciliation with Several Confessors

*Wednesday, March 27 – 7:00 – 8:30 PM – Mass with Healing Prayer and Homily, “Tips for Dealing with Family Differences,” with reception to follow

Fr. Krafft will preach at all Masses on March 23-24.

(Babysitting available; for info, call Rachel at 834-0340).

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES AND GUIDE-LINES

6:30 am Mass with Ashes 8:00 am Mass with Ashes 9:45 am Mass with Ashes (School Mass) 12 Noon Prayer Service with Ashes 6:30 pm Mass with Ashes *All Catholics who are 18- 59 years of age must fast on Ash Wednesday – one regular meal, two smaller meals if needed for strength, no snacking between meals. *All Catholics age 14 and over must abstain from meat.

ST. FRANCIS 6-WEEK LENTEN BIBLE STUDY Our Parish Lenten Bible Study will begin Thursday, March 7th. We will study St. Paul’s Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon. Sessions will be offered at four different times each week: Monday 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, Tuesday 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, Thursday 2:00 to 4:00 PM and Thursday 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Please pick up a flyer in church or call our Office of Religious Education 834-0348 for details.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS/LIVING STATIONS We will have Stations of the Cross twice each Friday in Lent at 8:30 am and at 6:30 pm in Church. Our CYO will present the “Living Stations of the Cross” on Friday, March 22, at 6:30 pm. CYO members will costume as Jesus, the disciples and the soldiers and will pose as each station is prayed. Mark your calendars and plan to partici-pate in this Lenten

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Lent 2019 at St. Francis Xavier Church

Ash Wednesday Services: Mass with Ashes at 6:30 am, 8:00 am, 9:45 am (with School) and 6:30 pm;

Prayer Service with Ashes at 12 noon Sunday Masses: 4:00 pm Vigil on Saturday; 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 noon and 6:00 pm on Sunday Daily Masses: 6:30 am and 8:00 am Monday through Friday, and 8:00 am on

Saturday Prayer Opportunities: Adoration Chapel open 24 hours; Rosary daily after 8:00 am

Mass Stations of the Cross: Fridays of Lent at 8:30 am and 6:30 pm Lenten Bible Study: Six-Week Lenten Bible Study (see Flyer or Website:

www.stfrancisxavier.com) Parish Lenten Mission: March 25 – 27, 7:00 pm, “Healing Family Relationships and

Hurts,” Fr. Joe Krafft of Notre Dame Seminary Sac. of Reconciliation: Monday through Friday at 7:40 am;

Saturday, 7:40 am, 8:30 am, 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm; Communal Penance Service with Several Confessors, March 26, 7:00 pm; April 3 and April 10, 5:00 – 6:30 pm

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Do you want to fast this Lent? (In the words of Pope Francis)

• Fast from hurting words...and say kind words

• Fast from sadness...and be filled with gratitude • Fast from anger...and be filled with patience • Fast from pessimism…and be filled with hope • Fast from worries...and have trust in God • Fast from complaints…and contemplate simplicity • Fast from pressures...and be prayerful • Fast from bitterness...and fill your hearts with joy • Fast from selfish...and be compassionate to others • Fast from grudges...and be reconciled • Fast from words...and be silent so you can listen.

Scouts enjoy Pinewood Derby

The annual Pinewood Derby was a big success. The top three winners of the various categories are pictured above. (From left) The Leaders’ Choice winner, the Scouts’ Choice winner, and the sibling winners. One big surprise is that this year, the top three in each grade will be invited to compete in a District Derby, and Mr. Thomassie has been asked to bring his equipment to electronically record the winners.

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PRAYER LIST FOR THE SICK Ann Marie Briuglio White, Kaylin, Barbara Johnson Arghiro Kleamenakis, Mary Guidry, Mr. Greg, L.P.T. Toni Edwards, Sherron Smith {If you would like yourself or your loved one to be placed on our Parish Prayer List, call our church office at (834-0340).}

ADORATION CHAPEL ADORERS NEEDED The Adoration Chapel needs permanent adorers for: Tuesday 1 AM 4 people/month; Tuesday 2:00 AM 3 people/month; Tuesday 11:00 PM 1 person/week; Wednesday- 2:00 AM-2 people/month; Sunday 5:00 PM 1 person/week. Call Dottie Watson at 339-4298 to help.

VOCATION PRAYER CHALICE This week the Vocation Chalice will be at the home of Stacy and Kristopher Lamorte. Please join them in praying for vocations to the priesthood, religious life and permanent diaconate. Call the Parish Center to sign up to have the chalice in your home for one week. SANCTUARY LAMP FLOWERS ON THE ALTAR There are several dates still available for the There are no remembrances this weekend. We don’t decorate sanctuary lamp. If you’d like to reserve the the altar with flowers in Lent. The next time we will have lamp, Rachel, 834-0340. flowers on the altar is during the Easter season.

CELEBRANTS, READERS & EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS FOR MARCH 2 & 3

Saturday, 3/2—4:00 PM Celebrant: Rev. Thien Nguyen Reader: Kathy Calder EM: Billy Guste, Julie Holmes, Betty Miles Dcn. Robert D. Normand, Mary Ann Phillips

Sunday, 3/3—8:00 AM Celebrant: Rev. Joseph Palermo Reader: Charlene Peterson EM: Ron Carter, Conner Ellis, Aileen Foley Patty Jourdan, Diane Killeen

Sunday, 3/3—10:00 AM Celebrant: Rev. Joseph Palermo Reader: Billy Blessey EM: Bob Menard, Joann Miller, Val Miller Frank Palermo, Paige Rahn

Sunday, 3/3—12:00 Noon Celebrant: Rev Thien Nguyen Reader: Gary Knoepfler EM: Peggy Kleinschmidt, Sherri Knoepfler, Jane Pendleton Jeannie Redmann, Ann Rhodenhiser

Sunday, 3/3—6:00 PM Celebrant: Rev Thien Nguyen Reader: Jennifer Heath EM: Ray Massett, Cuqui Moore, Doug Robicheaux Norris Robicheaux, Dcn. V. M. Wheeler, III

READINGS FOR MARCH 3 thru 9 Sun: Sir 27:4-7; Ps 92:2-3, 13-16; 1 Cor 15:54-58; Lk 6:39-45 Mon: Sir 17:20-24; Ps 32:1-2, 5-7; Mk 10:17-27 Tues: Sir 35:1-12; Ps 50:5-8, 14, 23; Mk 10:28-31 Wed: Jl 2:12-18; Ps 51:3-6b, 12-14, 17; 2 Cor 5:20-6:2; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 Thurs: Dt 30:15-20; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Lk 9:22-25 Fri: Is 58:1-9a; Ps 51:3-6b, 18-19; Mt 9:14-15 Sat: Is 58:9b-14; Ps 86:1-6; Lk 5:27-32

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK Saturday, March 2, 2019—4:00 PM Divine Infant Jesus Shannon Mary Phillips Houghton, Mr. & Mrs. C. L. Phillips Jr. Raymond Bailey, Sr., Raymond Bailey Jr., Carolyn Zangrilli Elizabeth Rooney Fitzwilliam, MaryEllen Rooney,Charles Sabrio August T Mora, Esmond DeVun Sr., Frances Ferran, Larry Bauer Laverne Flannigan, Harold A. Buchler, Jack Culotta, Roger Jobe Joseph Briuglio, Karen Gordon Crawford, Mary M. Pfister Allard Mavis Boudreaux, Dr. Bryce LeBlanc Stephen & Margaret Schott, Jimmy Holmes* Sunday, March 3, 2019—8:00 AM—Dorris Sylvester Sunday, March 3, 2019—10:00 AM Stephen J. Laizer, Jr., Stephen J. Laizer III, Thelma Laizer Edward Laizer, Estelle Laizer, Janet Brignac, Dr. John Daly Aimeé Perrault, Harold A Buchler, Doris Staples, Jay Bodet Bonnie Murray, Adrienne Miller, Robert Harper, Gregory Brunet Kelly Harper Miller, Emma Lou Richardson Huck, Sue Rooney Betty Bowen, Jeannie Maloney, Judge Thomas Early, Pat Ledet Karen Gordon Crawford, Dr Luis Antonio Balart, August T Mora Henry Richard Merritt, Divine Infant Jesus, Keith Pyburn III John Echoldt, Jay Liberto, John Porter, Robert Bridgewater Dolores Cheairs* Sunday, March 3, 2019—12:00 Noon Lester and Therese Stickler, Parishioners of St. Francis Xavier Sunday, March 3, 2019—6:00PM Sean Patrick Griffin Monday, March 4, 2019—6:30 AM Divine Infant Jesus Monday, March 4, 2019—8:00 AM Harold A. Buchler, A special intention* Tuesday, March 5, 2019—6:30 AM Divine Infant Jesus Tuesday, March 5, 2019—8:00AM Harold A. Buchler, Adrienne Miller Wednesday, March 6, 2019—6:30 AM Divine Infant Jesus Wednesday, March 6, 2019—8:00 AM Harold A. Buchler, Ashley Capra Wednesday, March 6, 2019—5:30 PM Parishioners of St. Francis Xavier Thursday, March 7, 2019—6:30 AM Divine Infant Jesus Thursday, March 7, 2019—8:00 AM Harold A. Buchler, Charles Sabrio Friday, March 8, 2019—6:30 AM Reid Chadwick Friday, March 8, 2019—8:00 AM Harold A. Buchler, Charles Sabrio Saturday, March 9, 2019—8:00 AM Karen Gordon Crawford *Denotes Living

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CHURCH NAME AND ADDRESS St. Francis Xavier #022588 444 Metairie Road Metairie, LA 70005 PHONE 504-834-0340 CONTACT PERSON Rachel Griffin SOFTWARE Microsoft Publisher® 2007 Adobe Acrobat 9.0® PRINTER ??? NUMBER OF PAGES SENT Cover + 3 text pages + this page = 5 SUNDAY DATE OF PUBLICATION March 3, 2019 TRANSMISSION TIME Friday by Noon SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS SPLIT-SHIP FedEx shipping address (church): St. Francis Xavier Church 444 Metairie Road Metairie, LA 70005-4307 FedEx shipping address (Direct Mail): Direct Mail Plus 1431 Edwards Avenue Harahan, LA 70123

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