DIVINE MERCY CATHOLIC PARISH Loving Mercifully, Living Marian

May 3. 2020 Fourth Sunday of Easter

DIVINE MERCY CATHOLIC PARISH Loving Mercifully, Living Marian.

4337 Sal Lentini Parkway • Kenner, Louisiana 70065 Church Office: (504) 466-5016 • Church Email: [email protected] www.divinemercyparish.org

Parish Staff Mass Times Devotions Pastor: Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m. & Eucharistic Adoration: Rev. Robert T. Cooper 7:00 p.m. (Español) 24/7 in the Adoration Chapel Sunday: 8:30, 10:30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. Parochial Vicar: Monday and Tuesday: Chaplet of Divine Mercy: Rev. Paul Clark 6:30 p.m. Thursday & Friday, 3 p.m. in

Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: Adoration Chapel Deacons: and following Noel Martinsen, Drea Capaci, 7:30 a.m. Holy Days of Obligation Weekday Morning Masses Larry Oney, and David Caldero See Inside the Bulletin for Schedule Rosary: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School Monday—Friday before Mass, Joan Kathmann, Principal Confession Times Sunday before 8:30 a.m. Mass, and (504) 468-3524 Saturday: 3:00—3:45p.m. Sábados, 6:30 p.m. (Español) Sábado: 6:15—6:45 p.m. (Español) Director of Religious Ed.: Sunday: 30 minutes before Mass Our Lady of Perpetual Help: Jacques Delouche Tuesday: Prior to 6:30 p.m. Mass Novena on Wednesday following And by Appointment Youth Minister: the 7:30 a.m. Mass Ryan Foulon Culture of Life Rosary Director of Music: 1st Thursday of Month following the Garrett Fried 7:30 a.m. Mass

Administrative Staff: Sherryl Clements Antoinette Silver

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St. Joseph Sunday Missal Today’s Readings: p. 448 Mass Intentions Next Sunday: p. 454 To schedule Mass intentions, please visit website To purchase a Sunday Missal for $20, www.divinemercyparish.org. The link for the please see an usher. Mass intentions page is under “Pray,” then “Prayer & Liturgy,” then “Mass Intentions”, or The Sanctuary Candle contact the Parish Office. burns this week

For Peace, Courage May 2 - 8, 2020 & Health of Adela Martinez Saturday 4:00 pm Audrey Cones, Charles Kronlage, Danny Picou, Gary Waguespack, The Adoration Chapel James Bohm, MD, Joan Preston, Lucienne D. Siragusa, Candles burn this week Margaret Mertz (Living), Mike Lemmon, Mirian Chacon, Nelson Guarin Campof, Patrick White (Living), Prayer Blanket Recipients-Living & Deceased, Samuel John Sara, All Who have died III, Stanley j. Adamcewicz, Sr., William Jackson from Coronavirus Sábado-Misa de las 7:00 pm Angelita Padilla Pray for the Repose of the Sunday 8:30 am Souls of those who have died: Ruth B. Falanga (Living), Jay Lazarre, Prayer Blanket Recipients-Living & Deceased, Iris Brechtel Anna Louise Powers, Jacqueline Olinde Sunday 10:30 am Andrew Lopez, III Violet Batis Andres Albarado Flores Sunday 6:00 pm Mass May their souls and the All Parishioners souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in Weekday Masses peace! Monday 6:30 pm: Sara Francisca Morales

Acto de Comunión Espiritual Tuesday 6:30 pm: Rev. H. L. Brignac, Jr.

Mi Jesús, yo creo que Tú estás en el Santísi- Wednesday 7:30 am: Pray for World Peace mo Sacramento. Yo te amo por encima de todas las cosas y yo Te deseo en mi alma. Thursday 7:30 am: Peggy Florane Como ahora no puedo recibirte sacramentalmente, al menos ven a mi corazón espiri- Friday 7:30 am: Mason Seals tualmente. Como ya has venido, Yo te abrazo y me uno enteramente a Ti. Nunca permitas que me separe de ti.

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Stewardship of Treasure

Weekend of April 19, 2020 Calendar of Events Envelopes ………………………….. $ 9,142 Sunday, May 3 Loose …………………………...…... $ 106 Online Giving ………………….…. $ 7,818 • No Masses Capital Campaign ..……..……….. $ 2,353 • Church open 8 AM to 6 PM for personal prayer Other Income ……...…..…………. $ 1,987 • Second Collection: Diocesan Priest Retirement Totaling ……………...….……….. $ 21,406

Monday, May 4 St. Anthony Ministry ..…….…….. $ 1,246 • Church open 8 AM to 6 PM for personal prayer • No 6:30 pm Mass

“Let us focus on generosity, or Tuesday, May 5 returning God’s gifts with • Church open 8 AM to 6 PM for personal prayer increase, through the • No 6:30 pm Mass generous sharing of our time, talent and treasure.” ~ Fr. Cooper Wednesday, May 6 • No 7:30 am Mass • Church open 8 AM to 6 PM for personal prayer

Thursday, May 7 • No 7:30 am Mass • Church open 8 AM to 6 PM for personal prayer May 3, 2020 - 4th Sunday of Easter

Friday, May 8 “And Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized, every • No 7:30 am Mass one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ…” • Church open 8 AM to 6 PM for personal prayer (Acts 2:38)

Saturday, May 9 • No Masses The word “repent” means to turn from sin, to • Church open 8 AM to 6 PM for personal prayer change our actions. Change that is permanent comes from within. It requires prayer, discipline, Sunday, May 10 and perseverance. Change is also hard. We have • No Masses to recognize that we are broken and need • Church open 8 AM to 6 PM for personal prayer help. The good news - we are not alone in our journey. Ask Jesus daily for guidance and patiently listen for his response.

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Divine Mercy Parish would like to thank our Today, we celebrate the fourth Sunday of Easter. families who are currently giving electronically. In the Gospel (JN 10:1-10), we are presented with You may not see these fellow parishioners place the story of the Good Shepherd. Jesus says, “I am an envelope in the basket every week, but their the gate. Whoever enters through me will be consistent giving does not go unnoticed. Each month our parish receives a steady and predict- saved,” (JN 10:9). During these times of the able stream of income from Coronavirus and all the different sources of those donors who have made information available to us, it is helpful to note the commitment to give to God that a LIFETEEN author states, “Christ made it first by having a clear that His people would know His voice, for designated contribution those He shepherds know His voice.” The author automatically transferred to our then reminds us to “Make sure that prayer is a parish through our Online bookend to your day: let God be the first thought Giving Program. If you would like to learn more when you rise and the last thought as you fall about this easy, safe, and secure way of giving, asleep. Fill your day with prayer.” The author adds please check out our website: that, “While we live in this fallen world, if we live https://giving.parishsoft.com/App/Giving/dmp holy lives — this means we love God and our neighbor, avoid sin, and frequent the sacraments Prayer Intentions — we can look forward to eternal life with Christ.” Angel Roberto Caso, Barbara Marroccoli, Tico Bevier, At LIFETEEN and Edge we want to help each other Andrew Thibodeaux, Maria Martinez, Bill Abadie, Katherine to follow Jesus. You are invited to stay connected Seals, Karen Anderson, Deborah Simon, The Fernandez with us on Instagram at divinemercylte, Family, Chris Fontan, Michelle Santamaria, Gilda Rebecca Twitter at divinemercylte, and Morales, Janice & Sherry Arena, Barbara Sutphen, Miley YouTube at Divine Mercy Life Teen. Zapata, Douglas Hux, Stanley Pearse, Parker Shy, Amy Waguespack, Sylvia Bordelon, Louise Ogier, Rosemary Cotham, Irma Schmidt, Rob- erto Aguilar, Karen Tassin, Sandra Woods, All Prayer Blanket Recipients, and All Prayer Intentions on the Divine Mercy website.

Names will remain on the list one month. Call 466-5016 to add a name. Confession Prayer Blanket Ministry All Regular Scheduled Confession Times are Relief to the suffering, peace to the fearful. May each Prayer Blanket Recipient know they Cancelled. To schedule an appointment for are not alone. We are praying for their healing individual confession, please call the and comfort. This beautiful act of sacrifice Parish Office at 504-466-5016, ext. 116. before the Lord transforms this blanket into a prayer blanket whose very threads become interwoven with pleas for healing on Arrangements will be discussed between the behalf of the recipient. To request a Prayer Blanket for someone who is ill or in need, contact Meryl Rooney at (504) 472-4383. priest and penitent.

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“Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day. (Acts 2:36-41)

These words could have been written specifically for this time in history. Peter is speaking to us, loud and clear. The “civilized” world has left Christianity behind and returned to pagan ways. Do we doubt that? Jesus told us to love everyone, not to follow them. He said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34). How does He love us? He gave His very life for us. Did He make excuses for Godlessness? No, He condemned it. Did he gloss over debauchery? No, He said, “Go, and sin no more.” (John 8:11). He spoke truth to power.

After the Resurrection when the Apostles preached, they called a spade a spade and guess what? People were converted in droves! In their souls they knew that the society was corrupt, they realized that they were being dishonest, and they turned their lives around, and Christianity blossomed despite the persecution that they encountered. They chose death rather than participate any longer. It is time for us to look within and make a choice. Reflection by Anne-Marie Barrilleaux

Universal Charitable Deduction

The signing of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act has created a Universal Charitable Deduction of $300 for taxpayers. This is an “above-the-line” deduction, which means it will be available to all taxpayers, not just those who itemize.

Example: A taxpayer who takes the standard deduction and makes a $300 cash gift (not stock) to a qualified charitable organization, like their parish, may claim the $300 deduction in computing his or her adjusted gross income.

The gift may be made at any time during the remainder of 2020. This deduction is in addition to the taxpayer’s standard deduction.

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To sign up online, go to: https://giving.parishsoft.com/App/Giving/dmp

Or From your smartphone, text “Give” to 504-500-4666. You will receive a link to the Divine Mercy Online Giving website to complete a one-time registration.

Or For an Online Giving Authorization Form, go to: http:// www.divinemercyparish.org/ways-to-give. Complete the form, return to the Ofﬁce and we will setup your Online Giving Account.

Due to the Corona Virus, All Dates and Debido al Corona Virus, todas las fechas y Times for Upcoming Events are horas de los eventos programados, están subject to change or cancellation. sujetos a cambios o, a cancelación.

For Up to Date Information, Para ver información actualizada, por Please consult the Divine Mercy website favor, consulte el website de la Divina at: www.divinemercyparish.org Misericordia en: and www.divinemercyparish.org Archdiocese of New Orleans website at Y el website de la arquidiócesis de Nueva https://clarionherald.org/following- Orleáns, en: https://clarionherald.org/ coronavirus following-coronavirus

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Hispanic ministry

EL Ministerio de San Antonio "Sálvense de esta Despensa de Alimentos generación corrupta". Los que aceptaron su Artículos enlatados (tamaños 14-16 oz.): Mensaje fueron Verduras mixtas, Zanahorias, Tomate, Judías Verdes, bautizados, y se Guisantes dulces, Maíz, Sopas, Frijoles, Leche Evaporada, Frutas, Carnes Enlatadas 14.5 oz (Pollo, Chef Boyardee, agregaron alrededor de Espaguetis y Albóndigas), Atún (5 oz.), Mantequilla de tres mil personas ese Maní (18 oz.), Mermelada - (botella de plástico 16 a 20 on- día. (Hechos 2: 36-41) zas), Macarrones con queso (caja de 7.25 oz.), Pasta (1 lb), Frijoles Secos (1 lb), Papas Instantáneas (14 oz), Ce- real de desayuno, Mezcla para Muffins o para Panqueques (12 a 16 oz), Avena o Sémola (1 a 2 libras o paquetes, individuales), Jugo - (1/2 galón)

Estas palabras podrían haber sido escritas Por favor no vidrio o comida vencida y específicamente para este tiempo en la historia. de tamaño regular. ¡Muchas Gracias! Pedro nos está hablando alto y claro. El mundo "civilizado" ha dejado atrás el cristianismo y ha vuelto a las costumbres Deducción Universal Caritativa paganas. ¿Dudamos de eso? Jesús dijo que amemos a todos, que no los sigamos a ellos. Él La firma de la Ley de Ayuda, Alivio Coronavirus y dijo: "Ámense los unos a los otros como yo los Seguridad Económica ("CARES") ha creado una deducción he amado". (Juan 13:34) ¿Cómo nos ama el? Él caritativa universal de $ 300 para los contribuyentes. Esta es dio su propia vida por nosotros. ¿Hizo excusas una deducción “por encima del límite”, lo que significa que para la impiedad? No, el la condenó. ¿Él pasó por estará disponible para todos los contribuyentes, no solo alto el libertinaje? No, Él dijo: "Ve, y no peques aquellos que detallan (itemizan). más". (Juan 8:11). Ejemplo: un contribuyente que toma la deducción estándar El dijo la verdad con poder. y hace una donación en efectivo de $ 300 (no acciones) a una organización benéfica calificada, como su parroquia, Después de la resurrección, cuando los apóstoles puede reclamar la deducción de $ 300 al calcular su ingreso predicaron, llamaron a las cosas por su nombre y bruto (total) ajustado. La donación se puede hacer en ¿adivinen qué? ¡La gente se convirtió en masa! En cualquier momento durante el resto del 2020. Esta sus almas sabían que la sociedad era corrupta, se deducción es adicional a la deducción estándar dieron cuenta de que estaban siendo deshonestos, del contribuyente. cambiaron sus vidas y el cristianismo floreció a pesar de la persecución que encontraron. Confesión Todas las horas regulares de Confesión están Eligieron la muerte en lugar de participar por más canceladas. Para programar una cita para tiempo. Es hora de que miremos adentro de confesarse, por favor llame a la Oficina Parroquial nosotros y tomemos una decisión. al 504-466-5016, ext. 116. Detalles se coordinarán entre el sacerdote y el penitente. Reflexión de Anne-Marie Barrilleaux

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Fr. Cooper’s Corner

The Cornerstone of the Common Good

Last February, Pope Francis welcomed to the Vatican leaders of the Italian pro-life movement the day before Italy’s annual pro-life day, held since 1978 on the first Sunday of February. He spoke powerfully about how “the defense of life is not carried out in only one way, or with one gesture, but it’s done in a multiplicity of actions, attentions, and initiatives; nor does it concern some persons or certain professional realms, but it involves every citizen and the complex web of social relations.” Catholics in a particular way, he added, are called to “be leaven to spread a style and practices of reception and respect for life in the whole ‘dough’ of society, [which] must always be a jealous and firm custodian of life.”

While stating that “to take care of life exacts doing so during the whole of life, and up to the end … [and giving] attention to the conditions of life: health, education, work opportunities, and so on,” he nevertheless underlined that “the defense of life has its fulcrum in the reception of the one generated and who is still protected in the maternal womb, enveloped in the mother’s womb as in one loving embrace that unites them.” Therefore, we cannot promote and protect life, he said, without first defending the life of the unborn. There’s no seamless garment if there is no child to be covered by that garment as the child grows from conception to natural death.

Pope Francis continued, “To extinguish life voluntarily in its budding is … a betrayal of … the pact that binds the generations among themselves, a pact that enables us to look ahead with hope. If life itself, however, is violated in its beginning, what remains is no longer the grateful and amazed reception of the gift, but rather a cold calculation of how much we have and what we can get rid of. Then life is also reduced to a good of consumption, to be used for ourselves and for others or discarded. How tragic this vision is, unfortunately, widespread and rooted, and how much suffering it causes the weakest of our brothers and sisters!” He then turned to the political dimension of the pro-life movement. He thanked those present for their “attachment to the Catholic faith and to the Church, which renders you explicit and courageous witnesses of the Lord Jesus.” But he added, “At the same time, I appreciate the secular nature with which you present yourselves and operate, a secular nature founded on the truth of the good of life, which is a human and civil value and, as such, calls to be recognized by all persons of good will, of whatever religion or creed they belong.”

Pro-life convictions, though strengthened by faith, are not in the least sectarian, he stressed. They flow also from reason about the nature of the child in the womb—at the same age and with the same humanity every one of us once was—and the basic principle of ethics that the intentional slaughter of innocent human beings is always wrong. Pope Francis added that the children whose lives are threatened by abortion are not the property of the mother, but are “are children of the whole society, and their killing at such an enormous rate, with the endorsement of the States, is a grave problem that undermines the foundations of justice and compromises the right solution to any other human and social question.” He finished by mak- ing a special appeal to those in public office, “so that, regardless of each one’s faith convictions, they will place as the cornerstone of the common good the defense of the life of those that are about to be born and make their entrance in society.” He prayed that they will not “let themselves be conditioned by a logic that looks only to personal success or immediate or partisan interests, but always looks beyond, and looks to all with the heart.”

His reflections provide a Catholic lens with which to look at the very disturbing events that have occurred in New York and seem to be on the way in other states. On January 22, 2019, the 46th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, as faithful Catholics in the United States were observing a day of prayer and penance in reparation for the nearly 60,000,000 children who have legally been killed in the womb since that judicial travesty, Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York was holding a celebration in Albany. Cuomo, baptized Catholic soon after he left the womb in 1957 and recipient of sixteen years of Catholic education at St. Gerard Majella Elementary School and Archbishop Malloy High School in Queens and Fordham University in the Bronx, hosted a jovial ceremony at the State House in which he signed the Reproductive Health Act. His signature made abortion legal up to the moment of birth for any reason, eliminated the conscience rights of health care professionals not to

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participate in abortions, made it possible for abortions to be performed by those who are not doctors, and permitted that babies who survive abortion and are born alive to be left to die without any medical assistance.

Cuomo ebulliently began the signing ceremony observing, “It is a good evening this evening! Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations!” He gave shout outs to the legislators who supported the Act and a special welcome to Sarah Weddington, the lawyer who argued Roe v. Wade before the Supreme Court. He dubbed the night “bittersweet,” sweet “because we won … after a long, long, long fight” to “ensure a woman’s right to … access an abortion,” and bitter for two reasons: because “we shouldn’t be here” trying to defend abortion against pro-lifers who are trying to take society back fifty years to before Roe; and because, as he said he told his daughter—whom he thankfully chose not to abort—the Reproductive Health Act should have gone into law eight years ago. But Cuomo was not done celebrating. He signed an executive order requiring that the One World Trade Center’s 408 foot spire, the bridge named after his father Mario (the former Tappan Zee spanning the Hud- son), the Kosciuszko Bridge between Brooklyn and Queens and the Alfred Smith State Office Building in Albany be lit in pink that night. Cuomo turned a monument rising up from the ashes of the deaths of 2,831 at the World Trade Center— including 11 children who were victims of the terrorists while still in their mother’s wombs—into a festive symbol for a practice that since Roe has taken the lives of an average of 3,574 innocent children a day in their mother’s wombs. And he said he believes that “we have to go even a step further and do a constitutional amendment so no governor, no legislator, no political swing, can ever jeopardize a woman’s right to control her own body in this state.”

This is something quite far from what Pope Francis was saying those in public office should do: placing the defense of life of those about to be born at the cornerstone of the common good. This is essentially putting the destruction of life of those about to enter society as the foundation of one’s political platform. Cuomo likes to quote Pope Francis when it serves his purposes, especially when he thinks he is joining Pope Francis in criticizing the Church and her leaders for opposing Cuomo’s own priorities. But in this case, we cannot but help quote Pope Francis, who very bluntly likened abortion to “hiring a contract killer” to “take out a human life to solve a problem.” In this papal simile, Cuomo is a don in such a mafia culture.

The logic of abortion is that those who are bigger, stronger, older, more politically connected should have the right to end the life of those who are smaller, more vulnerable, younger and without a voice. When we accept that, then why not infanticide for unwanted children? Why not let the “hired killers” have a bigger and easier target? To oppose infanticide, however, should logically require opposing abortion. Pretending that abortion is the equivalent of sloughing off a wart or ending the life of some insignificant non-human species, is no longer possible. Abortion is plainly about the willful killing of another human being.

Some, like Cuomo, think that such intentional killing of little children is something to be proud of, that the whole world should be lit in pink while the crimson blood of babies stains latex gloves and forceps. No longer is there the political need, they think, to say that abortion should be “safe, legal and rare.” Now it should be celebrated as a great human rights advance and women should unabashedly brag about their abortions. The more, the merrier. What should happen to them? Many are calling for Cuomo and the other Catholics who supported the Reproductive Health Act to be excommunicated. Even if the bishops with the responsibility to make that call do so, however, it would not be enough. What is really needed is for voters politically to excommunicate them from public office.

The question is: What is it going to take for voters, especially Catholic voters, to conclude that those who celebrate the destruction of human life in the womb as if it is the Fourth of July, who desecrate monuments and landmarks to gloat about it, who think that babies who survive abortions should be allowed to die without medical assistance, do not represent their values? And when will they resolve to do something about it?

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DIVINE WORSHIP AND SACRED MUSIC

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Memorare Prayer to St. Michael

REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in never was it known that anyone who fled to thy battle, be our protection against the protection, implored thy help, or sought thy wickedness and snares of the devil. May God intercession was left unaided. Inspired with rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but souls. Amen. in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Family Prayer

Loving and faithful God, through the years the people of our archdiocese have appreciated the prayers and love of Our Lady of Prompt Succor in times or war, disaster, epidemic and illness. We come to you, Father, with Mary our Mother, and ask you to help us in the battle of today against violence, murder and racism. We implore you to give us your wisdom that we may build a community founded on the values of Jesus, which gives respect to the life and dignity of all people. Bless parents that they may form their children in faith. Bless and protect our youth that they may be peacemakers of our time. Give consolation to those who have lost loved ones through violence. Hear our prayer and give us the perseverance to be a voice for life and human dignity in our community. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to help us. Mother Henriette Delille, pray for us that we may be a holy family.

Act of Spiritual Communion My Jesus, I believe that You are in the Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I long for You in my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though You have already come, I embrace You and unite myself entirely to You; never permit me to be separated from You.

Acto de Comunión Espiritual Mi Jesús, yo creo que Tú estás en el Santísimo Sacramento. Yo te amo por encima de todas las cosas y yo Te deseo en mi alma. Como ahora no puedo recibirte sacramentalmente, al menos ven a mi corazón espiritualmente. Como ya has venido, Yo te abrazo y me uno enteramente a Ti. Nun- ca permitas que me separe de ti.

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Happy Feast Day and thank you to all who came by today for the drive-up Confession and Eucharistic Blessing. It was truly a moving experience to celebrate as a community (from a safe distance in our cars, of course) God's loving mercy for us all.

While this is the last day of the Octave of Easter, we recall the beauty of the Incarnation- when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, how Christ came down to our messy world as one of us to meet us where we needed Him most. What a powerful reminder of this Truth, as we gaze into His very Body through a holy monstrance, that God loves us unconditionally and will enter into our lives and our hearts no matter how uncertain or formidable our situations may be.

May our hearts be encouraged after this spiritual nourishment to be like the monstrance which holds our Lord, that we might cling so tightly to Jesus during this time of trial and hardship that when others see us, all they really see is Jesus. May we be His hands and feet to our families, our neighbors, and the world.

Father Cooper continues to remind us during this pandemic that "the church is not empty, brothers and sisters. The Church has been deployed!"

Happy Feast Day, Divine Mercy!

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URBI ET ORBI MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS EASTER 2020 Saint Peter’s Basilica Easter, 12 April 2020 Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!

Today the Church’s proclamation echoes throughout the world: “Jesus Christ is risen!” – “He is truly risen!”.

Like a new flame this Good News springs up in the night: the night of a world already faced with epochal challenges and now oppressed by a pandemic severely testing our whole human family. In this night, the Church’s voice rings out: “Christ, my hope, has arisen!” (Easter Sequence).

This is a different “contagion”, a message transmitted from heart to heart – for every human heart awaits this Good News. It is the contagion of hope: “Christ, my hope, is risen!”. This is no magic formula that makes problems vanish. No, the resurrection of Christ is not that. Instead, it is the victory of love over the root of evil, a victory that does not “by-pass” suffering and death, but passes through them, opening a path in the abyss, transforming evil into good: this is the unique hallmark of the power of God.

The Risen Lord is also the Crucified One, not someone else. In his glorious body he bears indelible wounds: wounds that have become windows of hope. Let us turn our gaze to him that he may heal the wounds of an afflicted humanity.

Today my thoughts turn in the first place to the many who have been directly affected by the coronavirus: the sick, those who have died and family members who mourn the loss of their loved ones, to whom, in some cases, they were unable even to bid a final farewell. May the Lord of life welcome the departed into his kingdom and grant comfort and hope to those still suffering, especially the elderly and those who are alone. May he never withdraw his consolation and help from those who are especially vulnerable, such as persons who work in nursing homes, or live in barracks and prisons. For many, this is an Easter of solitude lived amid the sorrow and hardship that the pandemic is causing, from physical suffering to economic difficulties.

This disease has not only deprived us of human closeness, but also of the possibility of receiving in person the consolation that flows from the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist and Reconciliation. In many countries, it has not been possible to approach them, but the Lord has not left us alone! United in our prayer, we are convinced that he has laid his hand upon us (cf. Ps 138:5), firmly reassuring us: Do not be afraid, “I have risen and I am with you still!” (cf. Roman Missal, Entrance Antiphon, Mass of Easter Sunday).

May Jesus, our Passover, grant strength and hope to doctors and nurses, who everywhere offer a witness of care and love for our neighbours, to the point of exhaustion and not infrequently at the expense of their own health. Our gratitude and affection go to them, to all who work diligently to guarantee the essential services necessary for civil society, and to the law enforcement and military personnel who in many countries have helped ease people’s difficulties and sufferings.

In these weeks, the lives of millions of people have suddenly changed. For many, remaining at home has been an opportunity to reflect, to withdraw from the frenetic pace of life, stay with loved ones and enjoy their company. For many, though, this is also a time of worry about an uncertain future, about jobs that are at risk and about other consequences of the current crisis. I encourage political leaders to work actively for the common good, to provide the means and resources needed to enable everyone to lead a dignified life and, when circumstances allow, to assist them in resuming their normal daily activities.

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This is not a time for indifference, because the whole world is suffering and needs to be united in facing the pandemic. May the risen Jesus grant hope to all the poor, to those living on the peripheries, to refugees and the homeless. May these, the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters living in the cities and peripheries of every part of the world, not be abandoned. Let us ensure that they do not lack basic necessities (all the more difficult to find now that many businesses are closed) such as medicine and especially the possibility of adequate health care. In light of the present circumstances, may international sanctions be relaxed, since these make it difficult for countries on which they have been imposed to provide adequate support to their citizens, and may all nations be put in a position to meet the greatest needs of the moment through the reduction, if not the for- giveness, of the debt burdening the balance sheets of the poorest nations.

This is not a time for self-centredness, because the challenge we are facing is shared by all, without distinguishing between persons. Among the many areas of the world affected by the coronavirus, I think in a special way of Europe. After the Second World War, this continent was able to rise again, thanks to a concrete spirit of solidarity that enabled it to overcome the rivalries of the past. It is more urgent than ever, especially in the present circumstances, that these rivalries do not regain force, but that all recognize themselves as part of a single family and support one another. The European Union is presently facing an epochal challenge, on which will depend not only its future but that of the whole world. Let us not lose the opportunity to give further proof of solidarity, also by turning to innovative solutions. The only alternative is the selfishness of particular interests and the temptation of a return to the past, at the risk of severely damaging the peaceful coexistence and development of future generations.

This is not a time for division. May Christ our peace enlighten all who have responsibility in conflicts, that they may have the courage to support the appeal for an immediate global ceasefire in all corners of the world. This is not a time for continuing to manufacture and deal in arms, spending vast amounts of money that ought to be used to care for others and save lives. Rather, may this be a time for finally ending the long war that has caused such great bloodshed in beloved Syria, the conflict in Yemen and the hostilities in Iraq and in Lebanon. May this be the time when Israelis and Palestinians resume dialogue in order to find a stable and lasting solution that will allow both to live in peace. May the sufferings of the people who live in the eastern regions of Ukraine come to an end. May the terrorist attacks carried out against so many innocent people in different African countries come to an end.

This is not a time for forgetfulness. The crisis we are facing should not make us forget the many other crises that bring suffering to so many people. May the Lord of life be close to all those in Asia and Africa who are experiencing grave humanitarian crises, as in the Province of Cabo Delgado in the north of Mozambique. May he warm the hearts of the many refugees displaced because of wars, drought and famine. May he grant protection to migrants and refugees, many of them children, who are living in unbearable conditions, especially in Libya and on the border between Greece and Turkey. And I do not want to forget the island of Lesvos. In Venezuela, may he enable concrete and immediate solutions to be reached that can permit international assistance to a population suffering from the grave political, socio-economic and health situation.

Dear brothers and sisters,

Indifference, self-centredness, division and forgetfulness are not words we want to hear at this time. We want to ban these words for ever! They seem to prevail when fear and death overwhelm us, that is, when we do not let the Lord Jesus triumph in our hearts and lives. May Christ, who has already defeated death and opened for us the way to eternal salvation, dispel the darkness of our suffering humanity and lead us into the light of his glorious day, a day that knows no end.

With these thoughts, I would like to wish all of you a happy Easter.

Loving Mercifully, Living Marian. Page 14

The Culture of Life Committee wants to share some information with you:

How to help those in Need and Find help for those in Need: The Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of New Orleans offers many helpful resources on their website and in their weekly newsletter. The most recent newsletter can be found at https://respectlife.arch-no.org/weekly-respect-life-update

Unborn/Babies: Louisiana Right to Life is collecting items for babies in need! In response to the COVID-19 crisis, New Or- leans Right to Life wants to help mothers in need in the New Orleans area. The organization will distribute 200 bags filled with in-demand baby items such as diapers, formula, baby soap, and baby wipes, as well as a list of area pregnancy resource centers, to pregnant women or mothers of infants. For more information, click here - https://prolifelouisiana.org/babybags

Woman's New Life Clinic is still serving clients. They are doing a Virtual Baby Bottle Fundraiser - To con- tribute, go to iGiveCatholic at https://neworleans.igivecatholic.org/ and search for - Woman's New Life Clinic (New Orleans)

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans is in need of items for ACCESS Maternity Ser- vices. To help please go to www.ccano.org/donation-drive

"Choose Life" Song - recorded by a local artist, Bobby Stephens and is Free -- take a listen at https://www.bandmix.com/strat62/

Elderly: Here is a specific activity to discuss the importance of the elderly and how we can care for them. The activity can be found at http://www.choosethechild.com/activity-of-the-month.php. A video explaining the activity can be found here—https://www.facebook.com/choosethechild/. Many thanks to Louisiana Right to Life for their help with this.

Youth and Families Choose the Child offers many FREE fun lessons and many small activities that can be done from your home and shared :) Visit ChoosetheChild.com

Louisiana Right to Life has many great resources, especially for high school students! Visit https://prolifelouisiana.org/

If you have any questions, please contact, Natasia Kissinger - 504-339-5384 or [email protected]

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