Willwoods Community

02/26/2026

Join the Archdiocese of New Orleans at 11 AM Saturday, February 28, 2026 as we come together in prayer to honor and celebrate Black History Month, reflecting on faith, heritage, and hope. The Mass will be broadcast on WLAE-TV and livestreamed on TheDailyMass.com.

📅 Saturday, February 28, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM
📍 St. Louis Cathedral
Jackson Square | New Orleans, LA

🙏 Celebrant: Rev. R. Tony Ricard
🎶 Music: Archdiocesan Mass Choir

🤝 Reception immediately following
📍 St. Augustine Catholic Church
1210 Gov. Nicholls St. | New Orleans

All are welcome to this beautiful celebration of faith and history within our Church community. Please join us!

02/21/2026

Dr. Norman Francis' funeral Mass will be broadcast live from St. Louis Cathedral on WLAE-TV and livestreamed on TheDailyMass.com on Tuesday, March 3 at 10 am.

The Willwoods Community's prayers are with all at Xavier University, and the family and friends of Dr. Francis, who was a dear friend and supporter of WLAE in their Tuition Auction for 40 years. He is greatly missed and will be fondly remembered always. May he rest in peace. ✝️🙏🏿

It is a profound honor for the Cathedral to host the funeral Mass for Dr. Norman C. Francis on Tuesday, March 3. Visitation will take place at the Cathedral from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., followed by a Mass at 10 a.m., with Cardinal Wilton Gregory serving as principal celebrant.

A civil rights pioneer, the longtime president of Xavier University, a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and a deeply faithful Catholic, Dr. Francis leaves an incredible legacy both in our city and beyond.

He is survived by his six children and 11 grandchildren and was preceded in death by his wife, Blanche. Please join us in sending prayers to his family and many, many friends.

02/11/2026

02/11/2026

An exciting new chapter begins today for the Archdiocese of New Orleans! See the announcement below and watch our already-beloved new Archbishop James Checchio's installation Mass live on WLAE-TV and streamed on TheDailyMass.com at 12:05 pm Ash Wednesday, February 18. Since we can't say it during Lent, let's say it now-Alleluia! Let us Rejoice! 🙏🏽🕊️✝️🎉

Today, Wednesday, February 11, 2026, it was announced that Pope Leo XIV formally accepted the resignation of Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans formally making Most Reverend James F. Checchio, JCD, MBA, the 15th Archbishop of New Orleans.

Since arriving in the area, Archbishop Checchio has spent time visiting parishes, schools and ministries around the archdiocese to meet the people and become more familiar with the Archdiocese of New Orleans. He has embraced the local culture by celebrating the Christmas season with Mass at a local parish and caroling in Jackson Square, attending Saints games, and even riding on a float in the Sugar Bowl parade and watching a Mardi Gras parade.

“These three months since my arrival in New Orleans have gone by very quickly as I learn more about our local Church and seek to understand how God is calling me to best serve this beautiful part of His vineyard,” said Archbishop Checchio. “It is fascinating that the faith has been so active here in Southeastern Louisiana for so long! The contributions of the many priests, religious men and women and the lay faithful over the years are a testament to the inter-connectedness of faith in public life in our Archdiocese of New Orleans - something within which we should take great pride.”

Read the full announcement in the link below.

11/11/2025

11/01/2025

Remembering in prayer all of our loved ones, friends and supporters this weekend, especially those who have died.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace.
Amen

10/29/2025

Join us for our annual prayer breakfast on Wednesday, November 19, benefiting the apostolates of the Willwoods Community: Faith and Marriage retreats, parish talks and special events, TheDailyMass.com, WLAE-TV and Affordable Housing. Our guest speaker is Very Rev. Josh Rodrigue, STL, Rector/President of Notre Dame Seminary. Tickets and table sponsorships are still available. For details, and to register online, visit https://www.willwoods.org/prayer-breakfast

10/02/2025

Bishop Simon Peter extends a warm south Louisiana welcome to Archbishop Checchio, new Coadjutor Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans!

09/24/2025

Thanks be to God! The Willwoods Community welcomes our New Coadjutor Archbishop!

Pope Leo XIV has chosen our new Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans! The Most Reverend James F. Checchio will assist and eventually succeed Archbishop Gregory Aymond. Checchio, currently the bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey, was appointed to the position by Pope Leo XIV on September 24, 2025. His role is to help Aymond with archdiocesan matters, especially the resolution of the recent s*x abuse settlement, and then become the Archbishop once Aymond retires.

Let us all pray for Bishop Checchio, that the Holy Spirit will guide him in the healing work that he has been called to do for our Archdiocese and all those who have suffered harm as he prepares to settle into his new home and ministry. Welcome! 🙏🏽✝️

08/24/2025

We got our tabernacle regilded. This is the reason our Church exists. What’s inside may look like bread, but we believe it to be the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.