Thursday, December 31, 2009

Bulletin for the Week of January 03, 2010



The bulletin for the weekend of January 03, 2010 has been posted. Click here to see it.

The calendar on the website has been updated with all events for the coming week along with prayer intention information and information on the second collection for all of the masses. Take some time to look at our calendar here.

Updates are also being made to our St. Landry Catholic Church blog. You can get to the blog from the church home page under the Bulletins and News section or you can just click here to go to it.

Don't forget, we're also sending out live updates via Twitter. Our Twitter name is StLandryCath. You can see updates by clicking here.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Readings and Themes for the Weekend of December 27, 2009

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of December 27, 2009,
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

Reading I 1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28
Samuel is dedicated to the Lord.

Psalm 84
"Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord."

Reading II 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24
We are God's children now.

Gospel: Luke 2:41-52
Mary and Joseph find Jesus teaching in the temple.

THEME:
Jesus established his obedience to, and relationship with, God the Father

Like Samuel, son of Hannah, we have been dedicated to the Lord and have become God’s beloved children. The Letter of John tells God’s children just how to act: we must love one another as we have been commanded. Let us pray that the word of God proclaimed this day will inspire us to reach out in love to all of God’s family members who seek comfort and assurance in time of need.

Question for Children:
Why is it important to obey our parents?
Why is it important to obey God?

Question for Youth:
Jesus was obedient to his parents, even though he was the Son of God.
Why is obedience so important?
Is it something you struggle with?

Question for Adults:
How are you, too, called to our Father’s house?

Bulletin for the Week of December 27, 2009



The bulletin for the weekend of December 27, 2009 has been posted. Click here to see it.

The calendar on the website has been updated with all events for the coming week along with prayer intention information and information on the second collection for all of the masses. Take some time to look at our calendar here.

Updates are also being made to our St. Landry Catholic Church blog. You can get to the blog from the church home page under the Bulletins and News section or you can just click here to go to it.

Don't forget, we're also sending out live updates via Twitter. Our Twitter name is StLandryCath. You can see updates by clicking here.

Homily for Feast of the Holy Family, December 27

Homilies are now available to download and listen to!

As part of our answering the challenge of the Holy Father to go out and evangelize utilizing new technologies, we're now offering the homily each week for download. Clicking the link to the homily should download it and automatically start it playing in whatever music player your computer is set up with.

On the technical side, the file sizes are about 5 megs which means it may a minute or two to download on slower internet connections. It is also an MP3 formatted file which means that these are essentially podcasts. Don't worry if all the technical words don't mean much to you. It means we're using the latest in technology in order to make sure our church parish can reach the most people.

The current week's homily is available on a link on the front page of the website next to the link for the current week's bulletin. On the page with the prior bulletins, the corresponding homily will be sitting side by side with its bulletin. We started on the anniversary of the start of the Catholic Church, Pentecost Sunday. This week, Feast of the Holy Family, is our thirty seventh podcast to be posted. This week, the homily is given by Monsignor J. Robert Romero.

So, take a listen and let us know what you think. Click here to download the Feast of the Holy Family homily from St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, Louisiana.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Feast of St. Stephen - December 26


The Stoning of St. Stephen by Pietro Da Cotona, circa 1660. Currently in the Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia


Today is the Feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr described in the Acts of the Apostles and one of the first deacons. The church fathers write of him as first of the deacons just as Peter was first of the apostles.

The painting above depicts his stoning with Saul, who later became St. Paul, looking on and holding the cloaks of the crowd. Above is Stephen's vision of God the Father with Jesus the Son at his right hand.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Christmas Homily Closing Prayer


The Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence by Caravaggio, painted in 1609. Stolen from Palermo in 1969, whereabouts still unknown 40 years later. Click painting for more detail.


This week's homily by Monsignor J. Robert Romero was short but full of many powerful images. Monsignor closed with the following prayer:

Like foolish folk of old I would not be,
Who had no room that night for Him and thee.
See, Mother Mary, here within my heart
I've made a little shrine for Him apart;

Swept it of sin, and cleansed it with all care;
Warmed it with love and scented it with prayer.
So, Mother, when the Christmas anthems start,
Please let me hold your baby -- in my heart.

Sr. Maryanna, O.P.

Christmas - Historical Origins by Pope Benedict XVI

Today, Monsignor J. Robert Romero quoted at length from the Pope's Wednesday audience of December 23, 2009. In his weekly talk, the Holy Father talked at length about the history of the way we currently celebrate Christmas. One of the more powerful quotes referenced by Monsignor Romero was, "the birth of Christ is the victory of the true light over the darkness of evil and sin."


Below is the full text of the Holy Father's talk.

----------------------

Dear brothers and sisters, with the Christmas novena, which we are celebrating in these days, the Church is inviting us to live in an intense and profound way the preparation for the Nativity of the Savior, which is now imminent. The desire that we all hold in our hearts is that the upcoming feast of Christmas may give us, in the midst of the frenetic activity of our days, the serene and profound joy that allows us to touch with our hands the goodness of our God, and fills us with new courage.

In order to understand better the significance of the Nativity of the Lord, I would like to make some brief remarks on the historical origin of this solemnity. In fact, the Church's liturgical year did not initially develop beginning from the birth of Christ, but from faith in his resurrection. For this reason, the most ancient feast of Christianity is not Christmas, it is Easter; the resurrection of Christ is the foundation of the Christian faith, it is at the basis of the proclamation of the Gospel, and gives birth to the Church. Therefore being Christian means living in a Paschal manner, participating in the dynamism that arises from baptism and leads us to die to sin in order to live with God (cf. Romans 6:4).

The first to state clearly that Jesus was born on December 25 was Hippolytus of Rome, in his commentary on the book of the prophet Daniel, written about the year 204. Some exegetes later noted that the feast of the dedication of the Temple of Jerusalem, instituted by Judas Maccabeus in 164 B.C., was celebrated on that day. The coinciding of these dates would therefore mean that with Jesus, who appeared as the light of God in the darkness, there is the true realization of the consecration of the Temple, the Advent of God upon this earth.

The feast of Christmas took on definitive form in Christianity in the fourth century, when it replaced the Roman feast of the "Sol Invictus," the invincible sun; this highlighted the fact that the birth of Christ is the victory of the true light over the darkness of evil and sin.

However, the special and intense spiritual atmosphere that surrounds Christmas developed in the Middle Ages, thanks to St. Francis of Assisi, who was deeply in love with the man Jesus, with God-with-us. His first biographer, Thomas of Celano, recounts in the book "Second Life" that Saint Francis "above all of the other solemnities celebrated with indescribable fervor the Nativity of the Child Jesus, and called a 'feast of feasts' the day on which God, having become a little infant, suckled at a human breast" (Fonti Francescane, 199, p. 492).

This special devotion to the mystery of the incarnation gave rise to the famous celebration of Christmas in Greccio. St. Francis probably got his inspiration for this from his pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and from the crèche at Saint Mary Major in Rome. What drove the Little Poor Man of Assisi was the desire to experience in a concrete, living, and present way the greatness of the event of the birth of the Child Jesus, and to communicate its joy to everyone.

In his first biography, Thomas of Celano talks about the night of the crèche in Greccio in a living and touching way, making a decisive contribution to the spread of the most beautiful Christmas tradition, that of the crèche. Christmas Eve in Greccio, in fact, restored to Christianity the intensity and beauty of the feast of Christmas, and taught the people of God to grasp its most authentic message, its unique warmth, and to love and adore the humanity of Christ.

This unique approach to Christmas brought a new dimension to the Christian faith. Easter had focused attention on the power of God who conquers death, inaugurates the new life, and teaches hope in the world to come. St. Francis and his crèche highlighted the defenseless love of God, his humility and kindness, which in the incarnation of the Word are manifested to man in order to teach a new way of living and loving.

Celano recounts that, on that Christmas Eve, Francis was granted the grace of a wonderful vision. He saw lying motionless in the manger a little baby, who was awakened from his sleep by the presence of Francis. And he adds: "Nor was this vision at odds with the facts, because, through the work of his grace acting by means of his holy servant Francis, the Child Jesus was reawakened in the hearts of many who had forgotten him, and was profoundly impressed in their loving memory" (Vita prima, Fonti Francescane, 86, p. 307).

This backdrop describes with great precision how much Francis' living faith in and love for the humanity of Christ transmitted to the Christian feast of Christmas: the discovery that God reveals himself in the tender members of the Child Jesus. Thanks to St. Francis, the Christian people have been able to perceive that at Christmas, God truly became "Emmanuel," God-with-us, who is not separated from us by any barrier or distance. In that Child, God became so close to each one of us, so near, that we are able to talk to him as a friend and establish a familiar relationship of profound affection with him, as we do with a newborn.

In that Child, in fact, is manifested God-Love: God comes without weapons, without power, because he does not intend to conquer, so to speak, from the outside, but instead intends to be welcomed by man in freedom; God becomes a defenseless Child in order to overcome man's arrogance, violence, and desire for possession. In Jesus, God has taken on this poor and unarmed condition in order to conquer us with love, and lead us to our true identity. We must not forget that the greatest title of Jesus Christ is precisely that of "Son," Son of God; the divine dignity is indicated with a term that extends the reference to the humble condition of the manger in Bethlehem, although it still corresponds in a unique way to his divinity, which is the divinity of the "Son."

Moreover, his condition as a Child shows us how we can encounter God and enjoy his presence. It is in the light of Christmas that we can understand the words of Jesus: "If you do not convert and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). Those who have not understood the mystery of Christmas have not understood the decisive element of Christian existence. Those who do not welcome Jesus with the heart of a child cannot enter the kingdom of heaven: this is what Francis wanted to remind the Christianity of this time and of all times, up until today.

Let us pray to the Father that he grant our hearts that simplicity which recognizes the Child as Lord, just as Francis did in Greccio. Then we too may experience what Thomas of Celano - referring to the experience of the shepherds on Christmas Eve (cf. Luke 2:20) - recounts about those who were present at the event in Greccio: "Everyone went home full of inexpressible joy" (Vita prima, Fonti Francescane, 86, p. 479).

This is the wish that I extend with affection to all of you, to your families and loved ones. Merry Christmas to you all!

Christmas and the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church


Today, during his homily, Monsignor Romero referenced the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Compendium is a wonderful reference to Catholic teaching that, in turn, references back into the more detailed Catechism of the Catholic Church. Both books are wonderful reference texts to have.

The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is available by clicking here for the Vatican website.

And the Catechism of the Catholic Church is available by clicking here for the Vatican website.

During the homily, Monsignor Romero referenced paragraph 103 in the Compendium from Chapter 2, “Jesus Christ was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and was born of the Virgin Mary”.

The exact quote he used was, "At Christmas the glory of heaven is shown forth in the weakness of a baby". It's a powerful thought on Christmas Day.

That question in full follows here ...

103. What does the Gospel teach about the mysteries of the birth and infancy of Jesus?

525-530
563-564

At Christmas the glory of heaven is shown forth in the weakness of a baby; the circumcision of Jesus is a sign of his belonging to the Hebrew people and is a prefiguration of our Baptism; the Epiphany is the manifestation of the Messiah King of Israel to all the nations; at the presentation in the temple, Simeon and Anna symbolise all the anticipation of Israel awaiting its encounter with its Savior; the flight into Egypt and the massacre of the innocents proclaim that the entire life of Christ will be under the sign of persecution; the departure from Egypt recalls the exodus and presents Jesus as the new Moses and the true and definitive liberator.

Homily for Christmas

Homilies are now available to download and listen to!

As part of our answering the challenge of the Holy Father to go out and evangelize utilizing new technologies, we're now offering the homily each week for download. Clicking the link to the homily should download it and automatically start it playing in whatever music player your computer is set up with.

On the technical side, the file sizes are about 5 megs which means it may a minute or two to download on slower internet connections. It is also an MP3 formatted file which means that these are essentially podcasts. Don't worry if all the technical words don't mean much to you. It means we're using the latest in technology in order to make sure our church parish can reach the most people.

The current week's homily is available on a link on the front page of the website next to the link for the current week's bulletin. On the page with the prior bulletins, the corresponding homily will be sitting side by side with its bulletin. We started on the anniversary of the start of the Catholic Church, Pentecost Sunday. This week, Christmas, is our thirty sixth podcast to be posted. This week, the homily is given by Monsignor J. Robert Romero.

So, take a listen and let us know what you think. Click here to download the Christmas homily from St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, Louisiana.

The Christmas Proclamation

The Proclamation of the Birth of Christ

Today, the twenty-fifth day of December, unknown ages from the time when God created the heavens and the earth and then formed man and woman in his own image.

Several thousand years after the flood, when God made the rainbow shine forth as a sign of the covenant.

Twenty-one centuries from the time of Abraham and Sarah; thirteen centuries after Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt.

Eleven hundred years from the time of Ruth and the Judges; one thousand years from the anointing of David as king; in the sixty-fifth week according to the prophecy of Daniel.

In the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad; the seven hundred and fifty-second year from the foundation of the city of Rome.

The forty-second year of the reign of Octavian Augustus; the whole world being at peace, Jesus Christ, eternal God and Son of the eternal Father, desiring to sanctify the world by his most merciful coming, being conceived by the Holy Spirit, and nine months having passed since his conception, was born in Bethlehem of Judea of the Virgin Mary.

Today is the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.

Pope Benedict XVI's Urbi et Orbi Message, Christmas 2009

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Rome and throughout the world, and all men and women, Whom the Lord loves!

"Lux fulgebit hodie super nos,

quia natus est nobis Dominus.

A light will shine on us this day,

The Lord is born for us "

(Roman Missal, Christmas, Entrance Antiphon for the Mass at Dawn)


The liturgy of the Mass at Dawn reminded us that the night is now past, the day has begun, the light radiating from the cave of Bethlehem shines upon us.

The Bible and the Liturgy do not, however, speak to us about a natural light, but a different, special light, which is somehow directed to and focused upon "us," the same "us" For Whom the Child of Bethlehem "is born. This "us" is the Church, the great universal family of those who believe in Christ, who have awaited in hope the new birth of the Savior, and who today celebrated in the perennial mystery significance of this event.

At first, beside the manger in Bethlehem, that "us" was almost imperceptible to human eyes. As the Gospel of Saint Luke recounts, it included, in addition to Mary and Joseph, a few lowly shepherds who came to the cave after hearing the message of the Angels. The light of that first Christmas was like a fire kindled in the night. All about there was darkness, while in the cave there shone the true light "that enlightens every man" (Jn 1:9). And yet all this took place in simplicity and hiddenness, in the way that God works in all of salvation history. God loves to light Little lights, so as then to vast lit spaces. Truth and Love, Which are its content, are kindled wherever the light is welcomed, they then radiated in concentric circles, as if by contact, in the hearts and minds of all those who, by opening themselves freely to its splendor, themselves become sources of light. Such is the history of the Church: She Began her journey in the lowly cave of Bethlehem, and down the centuries she has become a People and a source of light for Humanity. Today too, in those who encounter that Child, God still kindles fires in the night of the world, calling men and women everywhere to acknowledge in Jesus the "sign" of his saving and Liberating presence and to extend the "us" of those who Believe in Christ to the whole of mankind.

Wherever there is an "us" which welcomes God's love, there the light of Christ shines forth, even in the most difficult situations. The Church, like the Virgin Mary, offers the World Jesus, the Son, Whom she herself has received as a gift, the One who came to set mankind free from the slavery of sin. Like Mary, the Church does not fear, for that Child is her strength. But she does not keep him for herself: she offers him to all those who seek him with a sincere heart, to the earth's lowly and Afflicted, to the victims of violence, and to all who yearn for peace. Today too, on Behalf of a human family profoundly affected by a severe financial crisis, yet even more by a moral crisis, and by the painful wounds of wars and conflicts, the Church, faithful in solidarity with mankind, repeats with the shepherds: " Let us go to Bethlehem "(Lk 2:15), for there we shall find our hope.

The "us" of the Church is alive in the place where Jesus was born, in the Holy Land, inviting people to abandon its every logic of violence and vengeance, and to engage with renewed vigor and generosity in the process Which leads to peaceful coexistence . The "us" of the Church is present in the other countries of the Middle East. How can we forget the troubled situation in Iraq and the "little flock" of Christians Which lives in the region? At times it is subject to violence and injustice, but it remains determined to make its own contribution to the building of a society opposed to the logic of conflict and the rejection of one's neighbor. The "us" of the Church is active in Sri Lanka, in the Korean peninsula and in the Philippines, as well as in the other countries of Asia, as a Leaven of reconciliation and peace. On the continent of Africa she does not cease to lift her voice to God, imploring an end to every injustice in the Democratic Republic of Congo, she invites the citizens of Guinea and Niger to respect for the rights of every person and to dialogue, she Those of Madagascar begs to overcome their internal divisions and to Be Mutually accepting, and she reminds all men and women that they are called to hope, despite the tragedies, trials and difficulties Which Still Afflict them. In Europe and North America, the "us" of the Church urges people to leave behind the technicist and selfish mentality, to advance the common good and to show respect for the persons who are most Defenseless, starting with the unborn. In Honduras she is assisting in the process of rebuilding institutions; throughout Latin America, the "us" of the Church is a source of identity, a fullness of truth and of charity Which ideology can not replace, a summons to respect for the inalienable rights of each person and his or her integral development, a proclamation of justice and fraternity, a source of unity.

In fidelity to the mandate of her Founder, the Church shows solidarity with the victims of natural disasters and poverty, even within opulent societies. In the face of the exodus of all those who migrated from their homelands and are driven away by hunger, intolerance or environmental degradation, the Church is a presence calling others to an attitude of acceptance and welcome. In a word, everywhere the Church proclaims the Gospel of Christ, despite persecutions, discriminations, attacks and at times hostile indifference. These, in fact, enable her to share the lot of her Master and Lord.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, how great a gift it is to be part of a communion Which is Open to everyone! It is the communion of the Most Holy Trinity, from Whose heart Emmanuel, Jesus, "God with us", came into the world. Like the shepherds of Bethlehem, let us contemplate, filled with wonder and gratitude, this mystery of love and light! Happy Christmas to all!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Pope Benedict XVI Christmas Mass Homily 2009

Below is the Homily given this evening by Pope Benedict XVI at the Christmas Mass in St. Peter's.

The part that really stood out for me is ...

“The Rule of Saint Benedict contains this teaching: “Place nothing at all before the work of God (i.e. the divine office)”. For monks, the Liturgy is the first priority. Everything else comes later.”


Pope Benedict XVI Christmas Mass Homily 2009

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Fourth Sunday in Advent and the Compendium of the Catechism


Today, during his homily, Monsignor Romero referenced the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Compendium is a wonderful reference to Catholic teaching that, in turn, references back into the more detailed Catechism of the Catholic Church. Both books are wonderful reference texts to have.

The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is available by clicking here for the Vatican website.

And the Catechism of the Catholic Church is available by clicking here for the Vatican website.

During the homily, Monsignor Romero referenced paragraph 142 in the Compendium from Chapter 3, "I Believe in the Holy Spirit".
142. What is the work of the Spirit in Mary?

721-726
744

The Holy Spirit brought to fulfillment in Mary all the waiting and the preparation of the Old Testament for the coming of Christ. In a singular way he filled her with grace and made her virginity fruitful so that she could give birth to the Son of God made flesh. He made her the Mother of the “whole Christ”, that is, of Jesus the Head and of the Church his body. Mary was present with the twelve on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit inaugurated the “last days” with the manifestation of the Church.

Homily for Fourth Sunday in Advent

Homilies are now available to download and listen to!

As part of our answering the challenge of the Holy Father to go out and evangelize utilizing new technologies, we're now offering the homily each week for download. Clicking the link to the homily should download it and automatically start it playing in whatever music player your computer is set up with.

On the technical side, the file sizes are about 5 megs which means it may a minute or two to download on slower internet connections. It is also an MP3 formatted file which means that these are essentially podcasts. Don't worry if all the technical words don't mean much to you. It means we're using the latest in technology in order to make sure our church parish can reach the most people.

The current week's homily is available on a link on the front page of the website next to the link for the current week's bulletin. On the page with the prior bulletins, the corresponding homily will be sitting side by side with its bulletin. We started on the anniversary of the start of the Catholic Church, Pentecost Sunday. This week, the Fourth Sunday of Advent, is our thirty fifth podcast to be posted. This week, the homily is given by Monsignor J. Robert Romero.

So, take a listen and let us know what you think. Click here to download the Fourth Sunday of Advent homily from St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, Louisiana.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Readings and Themes for the Weekend of December 20, 2009

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of December 13, 2009,
Third Sunday in Advent

Reading I Micah 5:1-4a
From Bethlehem shall come the ruler of Israel.

Psalm 80
"Lord, make us turn to you, let us see your face and we shall be saved."

Reading II Hebrews 10:5-10
Behold, I come to do your will.

Gospel: Luke 1:39-45
Mary visits her kinswoman Elizabeth

THEME:
Jesus is identified as Lord before He is born

The first reading and Gospel tell stories of a place and a person: Bethlehem and Mary. Bethlehem was such a tiny place that it was not even counted among the clans of Judah. Mary was a young Jewish woman living what many would consider an insignificant life. Yet Bethlehem is the place where the Son of God was to be born. And Mary carried that Son within her womb. These readings speak to each of us. When we may feel unimportant or insignificant, we may be surprised by what God has in store for us.

Question for Children:
How does the Blessed Virgin Mary help you to follow Jesus?

Question for Youth:
When have you experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit?

Question for Adults:
What role does Mary play in your own spirituality?
If you were Elizabeth, how would you greet her at your doorway, if she were to arrive there?

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Bulletin for the Week of December 20, 2009



The bulletin for the weekend of December 20, 2009 has been posted. Click here to see it.

The calendar on the website has been updated with all events for the coming week along with prayer intention information and information on the second collection for all of the masses. Take some time to look at our calendar here.

Updates are also being made to our St. Landry Catholic Church blog. You can get to the blog from the church home page under the Bulletins and News section or you can just click here to go to it.

Don't forget, we're also sending out live updates via Twitter. Our Twitter name is StLandryCath. You can see updates by clicking here.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Year for Priests

YEAR FOR PRIESTS
Faithfulness of Christ, faithfulness of priests

Every priest should be able to feel happiness in serving the Church. In the school of the Cure d’Ars, a son of your land and patron of pastors throughout the world, constantly reiterate that the greatest thing a man can do is to give the body and blood of Christ to the faithful and to forgive their sins.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Christmas Novena Prayer



Christmas Novena Prayer

From the Discalced Carmelites of Monastery of Mary, Mother of Grace, Lafayette, Louisiana. Click here for their website. Start the prayer on the 17th for a 9-day novena to end on Christmas Day.

Father, in Baptism we have been freed from sin and reborn as your children. Through Mary, may this Christmas celebration renew in us the graces of our Baptism and make us more like Jesus, your Son and hers.

In Confirmation, you anointed us with your Holy Spirit. Through Mary, may this Christmas celebration root all your people in the grace of their Confirmation and make them courageous in living their faith. In the Holy Eucharist, you give us the body and blood of Jesus, the eternal High Priest, whom Mary conceived and brought forth. Through her, may this Christmas celebration deepen our faith and increase our love for Jesus, truly present in the Holy Eucharist.

In Penance, you forgive our sins and restore Jesus’ life in our souls. Through Mary may this Christmas celebration make us more receptive to the power of this sacrament and more forgiving toward others. In Matrimony, you sanctify the union of man and woman. Through Mary may this Christmas celebration enable husbands and wives, parents and children to love one another deeply and to support one another in trials and difficulties.

In Holy Orders, you consecrate to the Priesthood of your Son the men you have chosen. Through Mary may this Christmas celebration conform all priests more fully to Jesus, the great High Priest. In the Sacrament of the Sick, you give peace and courage to the ill and the elderly. Through Mary, may this Christmas celebration bring healing and comfort of soul and body to the sick, the suffering, the troubled, and tempted. AMEN

Doll and Toy Fund


This year the Catholic Daughters are again sponsoring the Doll & Toy Fund for Christmas. The Daughters are celebrating their 100th year at St. Landry Catholic Church and the Doll and Toy Fund is nearly 90 years old.

Anyone wishing to make a monetary donation please send a check or money order payable to DOLL & TOY FUND % Janis Courvelle, 1826 Edwards St., Opelousas, LA 70570.

We welcome NEW toys, which may be brought to Valentin Hall during office hours.

For more information, call 789-0971.

But some history ...

The Doll and Toy Fund dates back to the 1920's. Men who came home after serving in World War I were having problems making ends meet. The Catholic Daughters mended clothing and cleaned up toys to be given out to help these families.

Currently, the Fund helps more than 2,000 children per year. 7 local schools in Opelousas submit lists of needy children looking for a bright spot in the holiday season. Children who receive treatment at the Opelousas Area Cerebral Palsy Clinic also receive toys.

Drop off boxes are located in St. Landry Bank and Trust, St. Landry Homestead Savings Bank, Guarantee Glass, Village Boutique, Century 21, Ventura Foods, Van Eaton and Romero, Acadiana Prep, Donuts Galore and the Opelousas Daily World.

Boxes are also located in Valentine Hall at St. Landry Catholic Church, Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church and Queen of Angels Catholic Church.

Coin boxes are located at the Meat Block Diner, La Belle Salon, Courvelle RV and Courvelle Toyota, the Medicine Shoppe, Village Boutique, Service Drugs, Donuts Galore and at the city's three Thrifty Way Pharmacy locations.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Third Sunday in Advent Homily and the Compendium of the Catechism


Today, during his homily, Monsignor Romero referenced the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Compendium is a wonderful reference to Catholic teaching that, in turn, references back into the more detailed Catechism of the Catholic Church. Both books are wonderful reference texts to have.

The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is available by clicking here for the Vatican website.

And the Catechism of the Catholic Church is available by clicking here for the Vatican website.

During the homily, Monsignor Romero referenced paragraph 591 in the Compendium from the section on the Christian Prayer, The Lord's Prayer.
591. Why pray “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”?

2822-2827
2860

The will of the Father is that “all men be saved” (1 Timothy 2:4). For this Jesus came: to perfectly fulfill the saving will of his Father. We pray God our Father to unite our will to that of his Son after the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints. We ask that this loving plan be fully realized on earth as it is already in heaven. It is through prayer that we can discern “what is the will of God” (Romans 12:2) and have the “steadfastness to do it” (Hebrews 10:36).

Homily for Third Sunday in Advent

Homilies are now available to download and listen to!

As part of our answering the challenge of the Holy Father to go out and evangelize utilizing new technologies, we're now offering the homily each week for download. Clicking the link to the homily should download it and automatically start it playing in whatever music player your computer is set up with.

On the technical side, the file sizes are about 5 megs which means it may a minute or two to download on slower internet connections. It is also an MP3 formatted file which means that these are essentially podcasts. Don't worry if all the technical words don't mean much to you. It means we're using the latest in technology in order to make sure our church parish can reach the most people.

The current week's homily is available on a link on the front page of the website next to the link for the current week's bulletin. On the page with the prior bulletins, the corresponding homily will be sitting side by side with its bulletin. We started on the anniversary of the start of the Catholic Church, Pentecost Sunday. This week, the Third Sunday of Advent, is our thirty fourth podcast to be posted. This week, the homily is given by Monsignor J. Robert Romero.

So, take a listen and let us know what you think. Click here to download the Third Sunday of Advent homily from St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, Louisiana.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe - December 12



Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas. The image of the pregnant virgin is a powerful one, full of Marian symbolism including stars and the crescent moon at her feet.

A few weeks ago, the Silver Rose made its way through our church on its way to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico. Click here to see a few photos from the prayer service at St. Landry Catholic Church in Opelousas, Louisiana that evening.

The Silver Rose program features a sculpted silver rose carried by Knights from Canada, through the United States, to Mexico, bringing the Culture of Life message on its journey. The silver rose is received at councils and parishes along its way and Masses and prayer services are offered. Special border ceremonies with Fourth Degree honor guards are held when the rose is transferred from one state to another. The Silver Rose program is a sign of the Order's unity on life issues.

Click here for the official web site.

Readings and Themes for the Weekend of December 13, 2009

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of December 13, 2009,
Third Sunday in Advent

Reading I Zephaniah 3: 14-18a
The Lord will sing joyfully because of you.

Isaiah 12
"Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel."

Reading II 1 Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always, for the Lord is near.

Gospel: Luke 3:10-18
They all asked whether John might be the Christ.

THEME:
John baptized with water, but the Messiah will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Today John the Baptist reminds his followers that the nearness of the Lord should be marked by a sharing of food and clothing with the poor. This kind of behavior characterizes those who wait in joyful hope for the coming of the Lord. This is true joy: helping those who are most in need. Let today’s holy word inspire us to be a people filled with Christian joy.

Question for Children:
Why is it so important to keep promises which you have made?

Question for Youth:
What do you remember from stories about your Baptism?
What does your Baptism mean to you now?

Question for Adults:
How can you live the promise of your Baptism each day?

Bulletin for the Week of December 13, 2009



The bulletin for the weekend of December 13, 2009 has been posted. Click here to see it.

The calendar on the website has been updated with all events for the coming week along with prayer intention information and information on the second collection for all of the masses. Take some time to look at our calendar here.

Updates are also being made to our St. Landry Catholic Church blog. You can get to the blog from the church home page under the Bulletins and News section or you can just click here to go to it.

Don't forget, we're also sending out live updates via Twitter. Our Twitter name is StLandryCath. You can see updates by clicking here.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Second Sunday in Advent Homily and the Compendium of the Catechism


Today, during his homily, Monsignor Romero referenced the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Compendium is a wonderful reference to Catholic teaching that, in turn, references back into the more detailed Catechism of the Catholic Church. Both books are wonderful reference texts to have.

The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is available by clicking here for the Vatican website.

And the Catechism of the Catholic Church is available by clicking here for the Vatican website.

During the homily, Monsignor Romero referenced paragraph 141 in the Compendium from the section on the Profession of Faith, The Holy Spirit.
141. What did the Holy Spirit accomplish in John the Baptist?

717-720

The Spirit filled John the Baptist, who was the last prophet of the Old Testament. Under his inspiration John was sent to “prepare for the Lord a people well disposed” (Luke 1:17). He was to proclaim the coming of Christ, the Son of God, upon whom he saw the Spirit descend and remain, the one who “baptizes with the Spirit” (John 1:33).

Homily for Second Sunday in Advent

Homilies are now available to download and listen to!

As part of our answering the challenge of the Holy Father to go out and evangelize utilizing new technologies, we're now offering the homily each week for download. Clicking the link to the homily should download it and automatically start it playing in whatever music player your computer is set up with.

On the technical side, the file sizes are about 5 megs which means it may a minute or two to download on slower internet connections. It is also an MP3 formatted file which means that these are essentially podcasts. Don't worry if all the technical words don't mean much to you. It means we're using the latest in technology in order to make sure our church parish can reach the most people.

The current week's homily is available on a link on the front page of the website next to the link for the current week's bulletin. On the page with the prior bulletins, the corresponding homily will be sitting side by side with its bulletin. We started on the anniversary of the start of the Catholic Church, Pentecost Sunday. This week, the Second Sunday of Advent, is our thirty third podcast to be posted. This week, the homily is given by Monsignor J. Robert Romero.

So, take a listen and let us know what you think. Click here to download the Second Sunday of Advent homily from St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, Louisiana.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Readings and Themes for the Week of December 6, 2009

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of December 6, 2009,
Second Sunday in Advent

Reading I Baruch 5:1-9
God is leading Israel in joy.

Psalm 126
"The Lord has done great things for us, we are filled with joy.

Reading II 1 Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11
May your love increase ever more.

Gospel: Luke 3:1-6
Prepare the way of the Lord.

THEME:
We are getting ready to welcome Christ into our hearts

The words of the prophet Baruch, a wondrous inspiration to the people of Israel, are proclaimed this day to bring us hope in a world scarred by war, terrorism, and violence to the human person. As these words resound in this holy place, let us ask God to wrap us in a cloak of justice and peace until the day of the coming of the Lord Jesus.

Question for Children:
What things do you do to get ready for a big event or celebration?

Question for Youth:
How do you share the Good News of Jesus with others?

Question for Adults:
Can you name one thing you can do to help prepare the way of the Lord?

Bulletin for the Week of December 6, 2009



The bulletin for the weekend of December 06, 2009 has been posted. Click here to see it.

The calendar on the website has been updated with all events for the coming week along with prayer intention information and information on the second collection for all of the masses. Take some time to look at our calendar here.

Updates are also being made to our St. Landry Catholic Church blog. You can get to the blog from the church home page under the Bulletins and News section or you can just click here to go to it.

Don't forget, we're also sending out live updates via Twitter. Our Twitter name is StLandryCath. You can see updates by clicking here.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

The Holy Father's Prayer Intentions for December, 2009



Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for December is: "That children may be respected and loved and never be the victims of exploitation in its various forms".

His mission intention is: "That at Christmas the peoples of the earth may recognise in the Word Incarnate the light which illuminates every man, and that the nations may open their doors to Christ, the Saviour of the world".

Advent

Advent is a time of waiting and hoping, of renewing our trust in God’s merciful love and care, and of reflecting on the several comings (advents) of Christ in our lives. Besides his first coming at his birth we are asked to reflect on Christ’s coming as the risen Lord at Easter, in the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), in our everyday lives, at the moment of death, (the third coming/middle coming) and at the end of human history (the second coming).

The Church invites us to join a pilgrimage of faith by showing us a prophetic vision of Christ’s first coming through the prophecy of Jeremiah, his glorious Second Coming through the gospel selection from Luke, and his daily coming into our lives here and now through the second reading (third coming).

She also reminds us that these are days of "joyful and prayerful anticipation of Jesus’ coming” because the Advent Season is intended to fill us with great expectations of the comings of the Messiah just as parents expectantly wait for the birth of their child, and make preparations for receiving the child into their family. We know that all valuable things in life – a healthy child, a loving marriage relationship, a work of art, a scientific discovery – need a period of quiet incubation.

To help us keep alive the freshness of Advent, we offer An Advent Examination (Edward Hays, A Pilgrim’s Almanac, p. 196): "Advent is the perfect time to clear and prepare the Way. By reflection and prayer, by reading and meditation, we can make our hearts a place where a blessing of peace would desire to abide and where the birth of the Prince of Peace might take place. Daily we can make an Advent Examination. Are there any feelings of discrimination toward race, sex, or religion? Is there a lingering resentment, an unforgiving injury living in our hearts? Do we look down upon others of lesser social standing or educational achievement? Are we generous with the gifts that have been given to us, seeing ourselves as their stewards and not their owners? Are we reverent of others, their ideas and needs, and of creation? These and other questions become Advent lights by which we may search the deep, dark corners of our hearts.

May this Advent season be a time for bringing hope, transformation, and fulfillment into the Advent of our lives.”

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Liturgy of the Hours in the Internet Age



Clergy and the religious have an obligation to pray the Liturgy of the Hours (sometimes called the Breviary or The Divine Office). But the laity are also encouraged to participate in the Prayer of the Church.

The Liturgy of the Hours comes in a 4 volume set from Catholic Book Publishing. One edition is in a colored imitation leather (click here) at $149 and the other edition is black leather (click here) at $179. Shopping it from other retailers can save some money.

Folks who begin to learn to pray The Hours find it confusing to know just where to flip within the books for that day's readings, psalms, and prayers. There is a St. Joseph's Yearly Guide that does help (click here) for $2.

Even with this guide, some still find it confusing. But, with new technology, there is an easier way.

Those with Apple iPhones or the Apple iPod Touch can install an application called iBreviary. This application sells for only $.99! That price is accurate. The application contains all of the prayers and text of the printed Liturgy of the Hours. Each day, pressing the refresh button downloads all of that day's prayers for each hour. It matches the book version exactly and is also a good guide to help you learn how to use the books. It includes that day's readings for mass. And it contains many popular prayers. The beauty of the application is in its simplicity and portability. You no longer have to worry about packing a volume with you while traveling. And it also makes it easier for you to pray the daytime hour while away from your normal praying place. The prayers it includes are:

  1. Angelus

  2. Hail Mary

  3. Hail Holy Queen

  4. Magnificat (beautiful Revised Standard Version translation)

  5. Our Father

  6. Apostles Creed

  7. Act of Faith

  8. Act of Hope

  9. Act of Charity

  10. Act of Contrition (traditional and second version)

  11. Morning Offering


It is highly recommended and might just be that excuse you're looking for to purchase an iPod Touch or an iPhone.

See below for a few screen shots of the application.




First Sunday of Advent Homily, the Catechism, and the Compendium


Today, during his homily, Monsignor Romero referenced the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Compendium is a wonderful reference to Catholic teaching that, in turn, references back into the more detailed Catechism of the Catholic Church. Both books are wonderful reference texts to have.

The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is available by clicking here for the Vatican website.

And the Catechism of the Catholic Church is available by clicking here for the Vatican website.

During the homily, Monsignor Romero referenced first paragraph 596 and then paragraph 597 in the Compendium from the section on the Our Father Prayer.

596. What does “Lead us not into temptation” mean?

2846-2849
2863

We ask God our Father not to leave us alone and in the power of temptation. We ask the Holy Spirit to help us know how to discern, on the one hand, between a trial that makes us grow in goodness and a temptation that leads to sin and death and, on the other hand, between being tempted and consenting to temptation. This petition unites us to Jesus who overcame temptation by his prayer. It requests the grace of vigilance and of final perseverance.


597. Why do we conclude by asking “But deliver us from evil”?

2850-2854
2864

“Evil” indicates the person of Satan who opposes God and is “the deceiver of the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). Victory over the devil has already been won by Christ. We pray, however, that the human family be freed from Satan and his works. We also ask for the precious gift of peace and the grace of perseverance as we wait for the coming of Christ who will free us definitively from the Evil One.


From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Monsignor referenced paragraphs 2847 thru 2849, from Section VI, "And lead us not into temptation". Also, 2852 from Section VII, "But Deliver us from Evil". Origen, an early church father, is quoted in 2847 and St. Ambrose is quoted in 2852.

2847
The Holy Spirit makes us discern between trials, which are necessary for the growth of the inner man, and temptation, which leads to sin and death. We must also discern between being tempted and consenting to temptation. Finally, discernment unmasks the lie of temptation, whose object appears to be good, a "delight to the eyes" and desirable, when in reality its fruit is death.

God does not want to impose the good, but wants free beings. . . . There is a certain usefulness to temptation. No one but God knows what our soul has received from him, not even we ourselves. But temptation reveals it in order to teach us to know ourselves, and in this way we discover our evil inclinations and are obliged to give thanks for the goods that temptation has revealed to us.


2848
"Lead us not into temptation" implies a decision of the heart: "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. . . . No one can serve two masters." "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." In this assent to the Holy Spirit the Father gives us strength. "No testing has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, so that you may be able to endure it."


2852
"A murderer from the beginning, . . . a liar and the father of lies," Satan is "the deceiver of the whole world." Through him sin and death entered the world and by his definitive defeat all creation will be "freed from the corruption of sin and death." Now "we know that anyone born of God does not sin, but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world is in the power of the evil one."

The Lord who has taken away your sin and pardoned your faults also protects you and keeps you from the wiles of your adversary the devil, so that the enemy, who is accustomed to leading into sin, may not surprise you. One who entrusts himself to God does not dread the devil. "If God is for us, who is against us?"

Homily for the First Sunday of Advent

Homilies are now available to download and listen to!

As part of our answering the challenge of the Holy Father to go out and evangelize utilizing new technologies, we're now offering the homily each week for download. Clicking the link to the homily should download it and automatically start it playing in whatever music player your computer is set up with.

On the technical side, the file sizes are about 5 megs which means it may a minute or two to download on slower internet connections. It is also an MP3 formatted file which means that these are essentially podcasts. Don't worry if all the technical words don't mean much to you. It means we're using the latest in technology in order to make sure our church parish can reach the most people.

The current week's homily is available on a link on the front page of the website next to the link for the current week's bulletin. On the page with the prior bulletins, the corresponding homily will be sitting side by side with its bulletin. We started on the anniversary of the start of the Catholic Church, Pentecost Sunday. This week, the First Sunday of Advent, is our thirty second podcast to be posted. This week, the homily is given by Monsignor J. Robert Romero.

So, take a listen and let us know what you think. Click here to download the First Sunday of Advent homily from St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, Louisiana.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Readings and Themes for the Week of November 29, 2009

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of November 29, 2009,
First Sunday in Advent

Reading I Jeremiah 33:14-16
I will raise up for David a just shoot.

Psalm 25
"To you, O Lord, I lift my soul."

Reading II 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2
May the Lord make you abound in love.

Gospel: Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
Be vigilant at all times.

THEME:
Be on guard!

In today’s Gospel, the Lord Jesus warns us not to let our hearts become drowsy. Instead, we are summoned to be ready for the coming of the Lord. That stance of readiness is described by Saint Paul today in the letter to the Thessalonians, where we are told to increase and abound in love for one another. As we listen to these inspiring words, let us pray that we will be ready for the coming of the Lord.

Question for Children:
What helps you to grow in your faith?
Who helps you?

Question for Youth:
Advent is the Church season when we prepare for Christ's birth at Christmas.
What is one thing you can do to prepare yourself spiritually for Christmas?

Question for Adults:
Paul exhorts us to "make greater progress" in our spiritual lives.
What one step could you take to make greater progress in your own life?

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Bulletin for the Week of November 29, 2009



The bulletin for the weekend of November 29, 2009 has been posted. Click here to see it.

The calendar on the website has been updated with all events for the coming week along with prayer intention information and information on the second collection for all of the masses. Take some time to look at our calendar here.

Updates are also being made to our St. Landry Catholic Church blog. You can get to the blog from the church home page under the Bulletins and News section or you can just click here to go to it.

Don't forget, we're also sending out live updates via Twitter. Our Twitter name is StLandryCath. You can see updates by clicking here.

Homily for Thanksgiving

Homilies are now available to download and listen to!

As part of our answering the challenge of the Holy Father to go out and evangelize utilizing new technologies, we're now offering the homily each week for download. Clicking the link to the homily should download it and automatically start it playing in whatever music player your computer is set up with.

On the technical side, the file sizes are about 5 megs which means it may a minute or two to download on slower internet connections. It is also an MP3 formatted file which means that these are essentially podcasts. Don't worry if all the technical words don't mean much to you. It means we're using the latest in technology in order to make sure our church parish can reach the most people.

The current week's homily is available on a link on the front page of the website next to the link for the current week's bulletin. On the page with the prior bulletins, the corresponding homily will be sitting side by side with its bulletin. We started on the anniversary of the start of the Catholic Church, Pentecost Sunday. This week, Thanksgiving, is our thirty-first podcast to be posted. This week, the homily is given by Monsignor J. Robert Romero.

So, take a listen and let us know what you think. Click here to download the Thanksgiving homily from St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, Louisiana.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

U.S. Bishops announce new Advent website


For the second consecutive year, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has created a Website http://www.usccb.org/advent/ with suggestions for daily prayer, reading, reflection and action throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons.

The focal points of the site are the interactive calendars for the Advent season, which begins with the first Sunday of Advent, November 29, and the Christmas season, which ends on January 12 with the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. Clicking on each date on the calendar brings up a menu of resources for reading, prayer, reflection and action. Another highlight of the site is the Festival of Lesson and Carols, which can be heard live online or downloaded for later listening.

The Website includes biographies from Catholic News Service on many of the saints whose feasts are celebrated during the Advent and Christmas seasons along with audio “Saint of the Day” podcasts from Franciscan Radio.

Other resources on the Web site include a list of recommend holiday-themed movies from the USCCB’s Office for Film and Broadcasting, prayers and blessings from the USCCB publication Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, and suggestions for remembering the needs of immigrants and the poor throughout the season.

Doll and Toy Fund


This year the Catholic Daughters are again sponsoring the Doll & Toy Fund for Christmas.

Anyone wishing to make a monetary donation please send a check or money order payable to DOLL & TOY FUND % Janis Courvelle, 1826 Edwards St., Opelousas, LA 70570.

We welcome NEW toys, which may be brought to Valentin Hall during office hours.

For more information, call 789-0971.

Come Home for Christmas

As Advent approaches, we celebrate the coming of Jesus. During this particular season of the Liturgical Year, we are reminded of our family and friends who have drifted away from the church.

Once again, the Diocese of Lafayette will be sponsoring their annual “Come Home for Christmas Program”. We want our brothers and sisters to return home to be with their spiritual family.

Every active Catholic is encouraged to invite someone to accompany them to Mass on Christmas Day. Offer to pick them up and bring them with you. Please pray for the success of this outreach.

We also encourage you to participate in your parish program by submitting to the Rectory the name of a special friend or family member that you would like to invite to Come Home for Christmas. Please submit the names and addresses by December 11th. A simple slip of paper in the collection basket with the person's name and address will suffice.

Monday, November 23, 2009

The 2009 Running of the Silver Rose


The Silver Rose program features a sculpted silver rose carried by Knights from Canada, through the United States, to Mexico, bringing the Culture of Life message on its journey. The silver rose is received at councils and parishes along its way and Masses and prayer services are offered. Special border ceremonies with Fourth Degree honor guards are held when the rose is transferred from one state to another. The Silver Rose program is a sign of the Order's unity on life issues.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 24, the Knights of Columbus of Louisiana will participate in a North American effort paying special tribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe through the Silver Rose Program. The Silver Rose will arrive in Opelousas and be displayed at St. Landry Catholic Church. The prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm. The public is invited to take part in the service. All 4th Degree members are encouraged to dress out for the procession. If there are any questions, please contact Deacon John Miller, Grand Knight 1173 at 942-2911.

Click here for the official web site.

Thanksgiving Appreciations by Monsignor J. Robert Romero

As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, I offer some reasons for thanks and appreciation this year:

I am thankful for the Parish Mission we had on March 23-24-25, 2009. It was conducted by Father Mark Thibodeaux, S.J. The Theme of the Mission was ‘Cloister’ (one’s intimate relationship with God), ‘Community’ (one’s relationship with loved ones), and ‘Hospitality’ (one’s relationship with the stranger). It was a powerful experience.

I am grateful for the updated church website at http://www.stlandrycatholicchurch.org Mr. Andrew Guidroz II is our web Coordinator for this site. He puts a lot of time to maintain the site. It is a good church presence on the internet. We have a website that has a blog, Twitter, Facebook, video, weekly bulletin, weekly homily and more.

I am also appreciative of the update at Opelousas Catholic School’s physical plant. This work is the result of 5 years of planning. We were able to update the classrooms during the summer so that with school beginning in August 2009 all classrooms were not only habitable but also functional. This update is not 100% improvement, but 1,000% improvement. We are still working on the rest of the project and should be completed soon. I cannot thank the public enough for your gracious support of this project.

This year’s Ministry Fair has given us more parishioners involved in our church ministries. It is a great testament to our parishioners’ love of God and Church. We even were able to grow our ministries, as a group of parishioners is forming a Church Parish Outreach/Parish Visitors Committee. I appreciate our maturity in church involvement.

The Cemetery Tours this year was an excellent way to remember those in our city who did community service. We as a community should appreciate these wonderful people. They are Mr. J. B. Sandoz, Sr. Mary Bernadette Beyer, Mrs. Cornelius Segar, Judge Arthur Simon, Mr. Charles Thibodeaux, Father Hyland, Miss Jannis Marie Ballard, Monsignor A. B. Colliard, and Father Verbis Lafleur. I thank all who made the Cemetery Tours such a success.

On the last day of October, St. Landry Court of the Catholic Daughters of America celebrated their 100th Anniversary. I enjoyed hearing their history. They were first named the Daughters of Isabella. They do great work. I thank God they are in our midst.

In April of 1912, the Daughters of Isabella gave St. Landry Church our Church Bell. The bell was not working as some electric parts were struck by lighting. By the grace of God, we were able to do repairs so that the bell could ring on the 100th Anniversary of the St. Landry Court. [Currently the bell is working, but we hope to get more use from it in the near future. Right now, we are testing the parts to make sure it will work without any problems. In a few weeks, we hope to have it ring on the hour beginning at 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.]. It is good to have a working church bell. It makes church feel more like church.

The visit of the Relic of St. Mary Magdalene was a surprise. WOW! What an impact St. Mary Magdalene made on us. The spiritual attachment we all have to her and her attachment to us is comforting. Let us appreciate a deeper love and discipleship of Jesus in us. The many people who came to St. Landry Church to visit the relic were terrific. It is good to see so many people growing in a deeper relationship to Christ by way of the Communion of Saints. I am most grateful to have witnessed this and give thanks to God.

The Church International Dinner on November 8 was both enjoyable and restful. It was good to be with parishioners and enjoy a good meal. We had around 35 participants. The variety of food and the abundance of food made it look like a food fest. It is a good way to bring us together as parishioners who attend different masses. This helps us know one another. The whole experience was gratifying.

Lastly, [on a personal note] I am grateful for the canonization of St. Damien the Leper on October 11, 2009. St. Damien is buried in the National Shrine of St. Joseph, Louvain, Belgium. He is buried in the crypt of the church. It was in this church I was ordained a deacon on May 1, 1974, the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. I was a student at the American College in Louvain. I would at times stop by to visit Fr. Damien’s tomb. As he served in Hawaii, our 50th state, he is not only a Belgian Saint but also an American Saint. In this Year of Priests, may all priests and future priests appreciate the gift of their priesthood and be as effective in their ministry as Fr. Damien.

Opelousas Area Ministerial Alliance Thanksgiving Prayer Service



It was a nice night at the Opelousas Area Ministerial Alliance Thanksgiving Prayer Service. This year, it was held at the Louisiana Memorial United Methodist Church in Opelousas. It is the Oldest United Methodist Church West of the Mississippi. Rev. Pamela Roy was a wonderful host. Our own Monsignor J. Robert Romero gave the Thanksgiving message. He brought in descriptions of the earliest historical Thanksgiving celebrations and called on all of us to reconcile with those we hold hard feelings against. Participating from other churches were Rev. Pete Smith, Rev. Conrad, Rev. Uhl, Rev. Ford, and others.

Music was performed by True Praise Choir, Loren Carriere, Jonathan Young, La Memorial UMC Choir, and Hope Presbyterian Choir. For a quick listen, click here.

A collection was taken up to benefit the Lighthouse Mission, the only men's shelter in Acadiana. The director there is Johnny Carriere who was surprised and very thankful for the donations. Click here for more information on this great organization.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Feast of Christ the King Homily, the Compendium, and a Papal Encyclical


Today, during his homily, Monsignor Romero referenced the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Compendium is a wonderful reference to Catholic teaching that, in turn, references back into the more detailed Catechism of the Catholic Church. Both books are wonderful reference texts to have.

The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is available by clicking here for the Vatican website.

And the Catechism of the Catholic Church is available by clicking here for the Vatican website.

During the homily, Monsignor Romero referenced first paragraph 521 and then paragraph 522 in the Compendium from the section on the Eighth Commandment: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

521. What is one’s duty toward the truth?

2464-2470
2504

Every person is called to sincerity and truthfulness in acting and speaking. Everyone has the duty to seek the truth, to adhere to it and to order one’s whole life in accordance with its demands. In Jesus Christ the whole of God’s truth has been made manifest. He is “the truth”. Those who follow him live in the Spirit of truth and guard against duplicity, dissimulation, and hypocrisy.

522. How does one bear witness to the truth?

2471-2474
2505-2506

A Christian must bear witness to the truth of the Gospel in every field of his activity, both public and private, and also if necessary, with the sacrifice of his very life. Martyrdom is the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith.


Monsignor Romero also quoted from the papal encyclical Quas Primas, "In the first ...", written by Pope Pius XI in 1925 and distributed on the Feast of Christ the King that year. This encyclical was given at a difficult time in the history of the world. Things were changing that set the stage for the impending Second World War. Pope Pius XI calls to all men, from the most humble to those who rule nations, to recognize Jesus as our King and Savior and calls all to look to the peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ.

Click here to read the entire encyclical in English on the Vatican's website.

Homily for the Feast of Christ the King

Homilies are now available to download and listen to!

As part of our answering the challenge of the Holy Father to go out and evangelize utilizing new technologies, we're now offering the homily each week for download. Clicking the link to the homily should download it and automatically start it playing in whatever music player your computer is set up with.

On the technical side, the file sizes are about 5 megs which means it may a minute or two to download on slower internet connections. It is also an MP3 formatted file which means that these are essentially podcasts. Don't worry if all the technical words don't mean much to you. It means we're using the latest in technology in order to make sure our church parish can reach the most people.

The current week's homily is available on a link on the front page of the website next to the link for the current week's bulletin. On the page with the prior bulletins, the corresponding homily will be sitting side by side with its bulletin. We started on the anniversary of the start of the Catholic Church, Pentecost Sunday. This week, the Feast of Christ the King, is our thirtieth podcast to be posted. This week, the homily is given by Monsignor J. Robert Romero.

So, take a listen and let us know what you think. Click here to download the Feast of Christ the King homily from St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, Louisiana.

Hail, King of the Heavens!



Salve Rex Coelorum - Hail, King of the Heavens!

Today is the Feast of Christ the King. It's a good day to post a photo of one of the art glass windows at St. Landry Catholic Church. Click on the photo to see more detail.

Christ is enthroned with all the symbols of kingship: the crown, sceptre, and orb. He sits above a rainbow, his covenant after the Flood. To either side are the Alpha and the Omega, Christ as beginning and end. The world is at his feast. And symbols of the four gospel writers, symbols found again and again within the artwork of St. Landry Catholic Church, sit at four points around him.

Today in Rome, the Holy Father said in his homily, "Choosing Christ does not guarantee success according to the criteria of today’s world, but ensures that peace and joy that only He can give."

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Readings and Themes for the week of November 22, 2009

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of November 22, 2009,
Feast of Christ the King

Reading I Daniel 7:13-14
His dominion is an everlasting dominion.

Psalm 93
"The Lord is King, He is robed in majesty."

Reading II Revelation 1:5-8
The Lord God is the Alpha and the Omega.

Gospel: John 18:33b-37
Are you the King of the Jews?

THEME:
Jesus reigns over us in truth

Let us listen to words that define for us what true kingship is. The Lord Jesus roots his kingly ministry squarely in the truth that comes only from God. As this liturgical year draws to a close, let our hearts once again be open to hearing the truth spoken by Christ the King, whose dominion lasts forever.

Question for Children:
Is it difficult or easy for you to tell the truth?
How does Jesus help you?

Question for Youth:
Today we celebrate Christ the King. How much do you let Jesus' truth rule your life?
How difficult is it for you to follow Jesus?

Question for Adults:
What is the truth for you? How do you live the truth every day?

Friday, November 20, 2009

The arts and architecture



Tomorrow, the Holy Father meets with hundreds of architects and artists within the Sistine Chapel. There will be Catholics, Protestants, agnostics, and some will be atheists. He will speak of how art and faith work together, "because both can and intend to speak of God, making the invisible visible."

This week, the Holy Father gave a talk on architecture and theology as sort of a prelude to the meeting tomorrow. Being blessed with "the big red church", our church parish is a great place to see these elements coming together.

You will notice the arch, semi circles, and circles throughout our church in a style that is reminiscent of Romanesque architecture. Straight lines and corners were associated with man and this world. The circle and arc represented the perfect and therefore signified God and heaven.

The apse ... the sanctuary area ... of our church is a large semi circle. Notice the ceilings filled with arches, semi circles, and circles. Though the art glass windows of our church have more of a gothic influence, each is arched. The doorways in the church have arches over them signifying Christ as the doorway into perfection. The only straight lines within the church ... two doorways, the altar rail, and the angled roof over the tabernacle .... were changes during a renovation around 50 years ago that didn't grasp the larger vision of the original design.

The original architect wanted to convey the feeling that, once you entered the church and participated in the mass, you were as close to heaven as you can get on earth. We are truly lucky to have a building that, in itself, speaks so loudly of our theology.

The following is the full text of Pope Benedict XVI's talk on the architecture this week.

Pope Benedict XVI
Rome, general audience of Wednesday, November 18, 2009


Dear brothers and sisters, in the catecheses of recent weeks I have presented some of the aspects of medieval theology. But the Christian faith, profoundly rooted in the men and women of those centuries, did not give rise only to masterpieces of theological literature, of thought and of faith. It also inspired one of the loftiest artistic creations of all civilization: the cathedrals, the true glory of the Christian Middle Ages.

In fact, for about three centuries, beginning from the start of the 11th century, one witnessed in Europe an extraordinary artistic fervor. An ancient commentator describes the enthusiasm and industry of those times: "It happened that all over the world, but especially in Italy and in Gaul, they began to rebuild the churches, although many of these, since they were still in good condition, did not need this kind of restoration. It was like a competition between one people and another; one might have believed that the world, throwing off its old rags, had wanted to drape itself all over in the white garments of new churches. In short, almost all of the cathedral churches, a great number of monastic churches, and even village oratories were renovated by the faithful" (Rodulfus Glaber, Historiarum 3, 4).

Various factors contributed to this renaissance of religious architecture. First of all, there were more favorable historical conditions, like greater political stability, accompanied by a constant rise in the population and by the progressive development of the cities, of trade, and of wealth. Moreover, the architects discovered increasingly elaborate technical solutions for increasing the dimensions of buildings, simultaneously ensuring both their solidity and their grandeur.

But it was mainly due to the ardor and spiritual zeal of a monasticism in full flower that the abbey churches were erected, where the liturgy could be celebrated with dignity and solemnity, and the faithful could pause in prayer, attracted by the veneration of the relics of the saints, the destination of incessant pilgrimages.

This led to the building of the Romanesque churches and cathedrals, characterized by the longitudinal expansion, in length, of their naves in order to accommodate large crowds of the faithful; very solid churches, with thick walls, vaults of bare rock, and simple, essential lines.

One novelty is represented by the introduction of sculptures. Since the Romanesque churches were the place of monastic prayer and of the worship of the faithful, the sculptors, rather than worrying about technical perfection, cared above all about the aim of education. Since it was necessary to create strong impressions in the soul, sentiments that would encourage the avoidance of vice and evil and the practice of virtue and goodness, the recurring theme was the representation of Christ as the universal judge, surrounded by the figures of Revelation.

In general, it is the doorways of the Romanesque churches that offer this representation, to emphasize that Christ is the Door that opens into Heaven. The faithful, by crossing the threshold of the sacred building, enter into a time and a space that are different from those of ordinary life. In the intention of the artist, once they were past the doorway of the church the believers in Christ – sovereign, just, and merciful – could enjoy a foretaste of eternal beatitude in the celebration of the liturgy and in the acts of devotion performed inside the sacred building.

In the 12th and 13th centuries, beginning in northern France, there spread another type of architecture for constructing sacred buildings, Gothic architecture, with two new characteristics compared to the Romanesque: vertical thrust, and luminosity.

The Gothic cathedrals displayed a synthesis of faith and art that was harmoniously expressed through the universal and fascinating language of beauty, which still causes amazement today. Through the introduction of vaults with pointed arches, resting on robust pillars, it was possible to increase height considerably. The upward thrust was intended to foster prayer, and was itself a prayer. The Gothic cathedral thus intended to translate, in its architectural contours, the yearning of souls for God.

Moreover, with the new technical solutions that were adopted, the outer walls could be decorated with stained glass windows. In other words, the windows became great luminous images, highly suitable for instructing the people in the faith. In them – scene by scene – were narrated the life of a saint, a parable, or other biblical events. Through the stained glass, a cascade of light poured out over the faithful to tell them the story of salvation, and involve them in this story.

Another virtue of the Gothic cathedrals consists in the fact that the entire Christian and civil community participated in their construction and decoration, in different but complementary ways: the lowly and the powerful, the illiterate and the educated all participated, because in this shared house all believers were instructed in the faith. Gothic sculpture made the cathedrals a "Bible in stone," representing the episodes of the Gospel and illustrating the contents of the liturgical year, from the Nativity to the Glorification of the Lord.

During those centuries, moreover, there was a growing perception of the humanity of the Lord, and the sufferings of his Passion were represented in a realistic way: the suffering Christ, the "Christus patiens," became an image loved by all, and capable of inspiring devotion and repentance for sin. Nor were the figures of the Old Testament overlooked, whose stories in that way became familiar to the faithful who went to the cathedrals, as part of the one, common story of salvation.

With its faces full of beauty, sweetness, intelligence, the Gothic sculpture of the 13th century reveals a happy, serene piety, which loves to pour out heartfelt and filial devotion to the Mother of God, who is sometimes seen as a young woman, smiling and maternal, and is mainly represented as the queen of heaven and earth, powerful and merciful. The faithful who crowded the Gothic cathedrals also loved to find artistic expressions there that commemorated the saints, models of Christian life and intercessors with God.

And the "secular" dimensions of life were not left out; here and there appear representations of work in the fields, of the sciences and the arts. All of it was oriented and offered to God in the place where the liturgy was celebrated.

We can better understand the meaning that was attributed to a Gothic cathedral by considering the text of the inscription carved on the central doorway of Saint-Denis, in Paris: "Passer-by, you who wish to praise the beauty of these doors, do not be dazzled by the gold, nor by the magnificence, but rather by the painstaking labor. Here shines a famous work, but may heaven grant that this famous and shining work give splendor to souls, so that with the luminous truths they may walk toward the light, where Christ is the true door."

Dear brothers and sisters, I am now happy to highlight two elements of Romanesque and Gothic art that are useful for us as well.

The first: the artistic masterpieces born in Europe in past centuries are incomprehensible if one does not take into account the religious spirit that inspired them. One artist who has always testified to the encounter between aesthetics and faith, Marc Chagall, wrote that "for centuries, painters dipped their brushes in that colored alphabet which was the Bible." When the faith, particularly as celebrated in the liturgy, encounters art, a profound symphony is created, because both can and intend to speak of God, making the Invisible visible. I would like to share this in the encounter with artists on November 21, extending to them once again the proposal of friendship between Christian spirituality and art that was desired by my venerable predecessors, in particular by the servants of God Paul VI and John Paul II.

The second element: the power of the Romanesque style and the splendor of the Gothic cathedrals remind us that the "via pulchritudinis," the way of beauty, is a privileged and fascinating route for approaching the Mystery of God. What is the beauty that writers, poets, musicians, artists contemplate and translate in their language, if not the reflection of the splendor of the eternal Word made flesh? St. Augustine affirms: "Question the beauty of the earth, question the beauty of the sea, question the beauty of the air, amply spread around everywhere, question the beauty of the sky, question the serried ranks of the stars, question the sun making the day glorious with its bright beams, question the moon tempering the darkness of the following night with its shining rays, question the animals that move in the waters, that amble about on dry land, that fly in the air; their souls hidden, their bodies evident; the visible bodies needing to be controlled, the invisible souls controlling them; question all these things. They all answer you, 'Here we are, look ; we're beautiful.' Their beauty is their confession. Who made these beautiful changeable things, if not one who is beautiful and unchangeable?" (Sermo CCXLI, 2: PL 38, 1134).

Dear brothers and sisters, may the Lord help us to rediscover the way of beauty as one of the ways, perhaps the most attractive and fascinating, to come to encounter and love God.