Celebrating Our Good Shepherds

On April 16, Mary, Queen of Peace held its inaugural Legacy Dinner, honoring Fr. Ronnie Calkins with the first Legacy Award for the enduring imprint he has left on this parish family. It was a beautiful evening as we celebrated Fr. Ronnie’s 19 years as pastor and this parish’s nearly 40 years of living as the Body of Christ.

Fr. Ronnie opened our Catholic school, built a new church, and a second school building. His legacy is one of pastoral care of souls, empowering people to share their gifts abundantly, and being a humble and transformational leader. Fr. Ronnie has left a lasting legacy on Mary, Queen of Peace!

On this Good Shepherd Sunday, it is fitting to think about retired diocesan priests such as Fr. Ronnie, priests ordained in the Archdiocese of New Orleans who obediently served wherever assigned; priests who have devoted much of their lives to shepherding God’s people through prayer, the celebration of the sacraments, pastoral care, service, and outreach.

Today, as we take up a collection for Retired Diocesan Priests, I ask you to think about these good shepherds, the many retired priests of the Archdiocese of New Orleans who have given their lives in service of the Church. What can we do for these men? Since the archdiocese does not have a funded pension plan for retired priests, a major capital source is this annual collection, which is always taken up on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, also known as Good Shepherd Sunday.

Your contributions this weekend ensure that our retired priests, more than 60 of them who have served tirelessly in this archdiocese, are comfortable and cared for; the funds will help provide them with housing, food, and health care. The funds will also remind them that they are remembered, that their many years of selfless service have not gone unappreciated.

Jesus said, "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." And that is exactly what our retired priests have done for a lifetime: laid down their lives in service and love. You can make a gift to help support them in retirement. If you would like to give online, please click the link below. Thank you for your generosity!

Click here to Donate