Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans received a $15 million grant Wednesday from the Baton Rouge Area Foundation to oversee a consortium of 16 nonprofits that provide mental health, counseling and direct assistance to fishing families severely impacted by the BP oil spill.

Now in its fourth year in New Orleans, the “40 Days for Life” celebration is attracting people of all ages and faiths.

At a recent organizational meeting for this year’s month-long event Sept. 28-Nov. 6, yard signs and prayer cards were distributed and individuals signed up for a prayer shift during the 40 days for an end to abortion.

“We’re excited about this year’s event,” organizer and Louisiana Right to Life Federation executive director Ben Clapper said.

The official kickoff rally will be Sept. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at 3044 Ridgelake Drive in Metairie. A

She may be small in stature, but Pat Evans’ verve to uplift others is as enormous as her faith.

Her life’s work has united disparate groups. She worked to bring together Muslims and Croats in the war-torn Baltic States. She has been active in issues of significance to Tremé neighborhood associations and to St. Augustine Church. As a nonprofit leadership teacher at the University of New Orleans, she has addressed crime in New Orleans.

Through all her experiences – happy and challenging – she turned to God as her source of strength. She has chosen to live the Gospel message through interaction with others in daily life. 

“My God is a God of harmony,” Evans said, “and I’ll do anything I can do to create harmonious relationships with people.”

As the population of individuals of Latino descent continues to grow in the United States – the 2010 census estimates that 15 percent of the U.S. work force is Latino – reports of workplace injustice have increased at Mexican consulates nationwide.

In an effort to inform Latino workers of their rights, the United States Department of Labor, in cooperation with the consulates of Mexico and Honduras and several nonprofits, civic organizations and labor rights activists, presented “Labor Rights Week 2011” Aug. 29-Sept. 2.

In New Orleans, consulate lawyers and representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) spoke about wage fairness, safe work environments, disability benefits, resolving employer disagreements and workman’s compensation if a person is hurt on the job and.

These informational events were held at the Mexican and Honduran consulates in New Orleans and at St. Jerome Church in Kenner and St. Ann Church in Metairie. Wage clinics were held at Loyola University New Orleans and in Jackson, Miss., said Belinda Flores, a protection department staff member of the Mexican consulate.

On Aug. 31, representatives of the Archdiocese of New Orleans’ Hispanic Apostolate collaborated with the Department of Labor, the Mexican consulate and the Metropolitan Center for Women and Children at a community outreach at St. Jerome Church.