Deacon W. Gerard Gautrau Guest Columnist for The Clarion Herald

June 24, 2022 Clarion Herald By Deacon W. Gerard Gautrau Bridal Registry, Guest Column

St. Ann Church and Shrine in Metairie held a eucharistic procession April 25 on a Sunday designated as the “World Day of Prayer for Vocations.” Father Vincent Nguyen, parochial vicar at St. Ann, led the procession from the church with a dozen first Communion candidates in tow and close to 200 participants after the 11 a.m. Mass. Father Nguyen was the Mass celebrant and encouraged Massgoers to follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd. They stopped for benediction at an altar erected in the parking lot and ended inside the church. Archbishop Gregory Aymond has declared 2021 to be the “Year of the Eucharist” in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Father Billy O’Riordan, pastor, assisted.

When the 2019-20 academic year begins in August at St. Ann School in Metairie, it will be the first time in 39 years that Susan Kropog won’t be there greeting students, parents, faculty, and staff.

"When the week of Annelise’s first Communion arrived, she fell sick. On Saturday, April 21, when more than 100 children from St. Ann’s school and parish school of religion went to Mass to receive their first Holy Communion, Annelise awoke for another doctor visit. She was upset that she was missing out on such an important day...Annelise’s first Communion was rescheduled for the 9:30 a.m. Sunday Mass on April 29. The rectory reserved seats for our family in the front of church. ... It was emotional for me as her mom to see the love and support from such a great group of kids and from their parents who made it happen. The actions of Annelise’s teacher and pastor served as a reminder of how Catholic school is the right choice for our family.

“We hope this effort will further enhance the pro-life movement and raise awareness about how tragic (and immense) the loss of life is,” Wilson said, “to give a visual representation, in a tasteful way, of what (abortion) looks like; to get people to contemplate the loss of life every year.”