"Let Us Dream"

"To come out of this crisis together, we have to see clearly, choose well, and act right. Let's talk about how...Let us dare to dream."

Once a month, we will respond to Pope Francis' invitation to "dare to dream."  Throughout these interactive days of prayer, we will join Pope Francis as we reflect upon the Covid-19 crisis, our response, and hope for a new future.  Upcoming topics will include friendship, mercy, solidarity, and love.  Join us as we dare to dream of a new future!

Introduction:

Pope Francis wrote "Let Us Dream" while he was locked down during the height of COVID-19.  Using this book as our guide, we will explore various upheavals in our lives and in the world at large.  In the final hours of this retreat, we will examine an inspiring and actionable blueprint for building a better world for all ourselves and all of humanity.

Presenters:
Matt Rousso was born in Morgan City, La 1940, attended Sacred Heart Academy (Morgan City), St. Joseph Seminary (Covington), Notre Dame Seminary (New Orleans). For 24 years he engaged in pastoral ministry in four different parishes of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.   After several extended stays doing pastoral work in Ecuador (1981-1986), and a full year there as a missionary (1987) Matt became associated with the Maryknoll Missionaries. Since 1991 he has been engaged in Mission Education and Promotion with the Maryknoll Missionaries, directing the Maryknoll Mission Education and Promotion Office in New Orleans. During the past four years of Pope Francis’ papacy, Matt has felt a special calling to enable others to hear and reflect on his writings, especially  “Evangelii Gaudium: Joy of the Gospel” and “Laudato Sí: On Care for Our Common Home.”  Matt has lectured extensively on these documents and given retreats/workshops to Religious and Parish Groups, etc. in the Archdiocese and surrounding dioceses, as well as in Texas and Florida.


Fr. Doug Doussan is a priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.  He is retired and serving as Chaplain for the Archdiocese of New Orleans Retreat Center.  He was the former pastor of St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish in New Orleans and St. Joseph the Worker in Marrero.  He served as Archdiocesan Priest Personnel Director and Priest Continuing Formation Director.  He received a Master's Degree in liturgy from Notre Dame University and special training in Conflict Resolution from Conrad Grebel College in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.  He also served as Chair of the Pax Christi USA Council (the National Catholic Peace Movement) and was co-founder of the Px Christi New Orleans Council.  He has given countless training workshops locally and nationally in inclusive parish organization, lay leadership formation, and consensus decision making.

Registration Information: 
The day of prayer registration is between 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, and includes Mass and lunch. To register for this Day of Prayer, you may do so online by following the link provided below or calling our retreat office at 504-267-9604.