Book Reviews
Guest Columnist Raymond Saadi
Jesus, A Pilgrimage
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Jesus, A Pilgrimage By James Martin, S.J. Harper One $27.99 Imagine walking where Jesus walked and visiting the places where he taught, preached, prayed and died. That was the itinerary Father Martin and a Jesuit friend set out to do. Over two weeks they traveled to Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth, visited the mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus peached the Sermon on the Mount, and the beach at the Sea of Galilee where he called the fishermen to follow him and become his first disciples. Father Martin has written more than a tour guide but a personal and new appreciation of the Gospels, which he shares with us with warmth and frequent humorous Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2015
The Irish in New Orleans
The Irish in New Orleans By Laura D. Kelley UL Press $24.95 Dr. Kelly was born in New York and lived in several foreign countries before arriving in New Orleans where she found a home teaching history at Tulane. Finding little information on the early Irish immigrants and their achievements she determined to search and document their history, the results of which are found in this remarkable book. What a treasure trove of fascinating stories she shares with us: The arrival of Lieutenant General Alejandro “Bloody” O’Reilly in New Orleans to quell a rebellion; the Irish Channel and the surprising story of the Redemptorists Fathers who acted as a “bank” for parishioners; the magnificent St. Patrick’s, “Ole St. Pat’s” Church on Camp St. and the many other Churches catering to the Irish and their burial customs and cemeteries. Of course no history of the Irish in New Orleans would be complete without a chapter on Power and Politics with familiar names like Burke and Comiskey. More physical power was evident in the boxing ring or when necessary,
in the streets. Irish organizations and their numerous pubs are not ignored either. And then, there are the restaurants; does Brennan’s ring a bell? The family owns more than a dozen famous dining places. Well known pubs include Parasol’s, The Irish House, Finn McCool’s and a host of others. Co-author and Singer, Betsy McGovern covers music of and by the Irish, and Kelly wraps it up with an album of shining Irish faces. Beautifully photographed by Carrie Lee Pierson Schwartz and archival illustrations make this a warm and welcome history. (Raymond Saadi, longtime broadcast owner of KHOM FM & KTIB AM, is now retired and in his 15th year as book editor of the Lafayette-New Iberia monthly magazine, Acadiana Lifestyle. He lives in Houma with his wife, Jere.)
details about their trip. Arriving in extremely hot weather they were overjoyed at finding rooms at a hotel with air conditioning. Driving their tiny rental car over very rough roads, they travelled the villages and towns. In Bethlehem, they squeezed through the small entrance to the Church of the Nativity where it’s believed Jesus was born. Then to Nazareth and the Annunciation Grotto where Mary
learned she would be the mother of Jesus. They visited the site where he preached the Sermon on the Mount, prayed at Gethsemane and mourned at Golgotha. In addition to the graphic descriptions of these holy places, Father Martin makes the Bible stories come alive, giving readers a fresher, new and fuller understanding of Jesus’ parables and miracles.