Homily for Holy Family

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 --- over five years ago. This mass, Feast of the Holy Family, is our three hundred and sixtieth podcast to be posted. The homily is given by Father James Brady.

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

Bulletin for the Week of December 28, 2014

The Pastor’s Corner 

Merry Christmas!!  Today we begin our celebration of Christmas, and over the next 8 days celebrate the Octave of Christmas, ending on the Feast Day of Mary, the Mother of God (January 1st).  Of course, we celebrate today in a special way, it being the day of the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  However, we continue to celebrate the Christmas Season until the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord on January 11, 2015.  Just another reminder that much of the secular world will be finished with Christmas by tomorrow morning, but we continue to celebrate the Mystery of the Incarnation for more than two weeks.  Our Blessed Mother reflected on the marvel of the Incarnation in her heart (Luke 2:19). So should we.  Please also remember that the feast day of Mary, the Mother of God (Jan. 1st) is also a holy day of obligation, so we attend Mass that day just as if it were a Sunday.  I look forward to seeing you all then.

At this time of year, it is always good to give God thanks for the gifts he has given to us, the first and foremost being His Son, from whom all graces flow and who is the source of our salvation.  We should also take into account the particular gifts we have received in the past year and thank God for them.  Each and every one of us has at least been blessed with the gift of living another year here on earth, with the opportunity to grow in our knowledge and love of God.

In my case, there is the specific gift that St. Landry Church and its people have been to me.  I want to thank all of you for your support of me in my vocation and as your pastor.  The last four and a half years have been a joyful time for me, and I am lucky to be here.  You have been supportive in every initiative we have undertaken, and have been patient with me when I make mistakes.  I know that you have helped me to become a better priest and pastor. The longer I am here, my appreciation for God's gift to me to be pastor here only deepens.  I want to especially thank our staff, who have been absolutely wonderful in their help to me and our parish.  

I also want to thank you for your generosity, especially over the last few weeks. The number of cards, the amount of food, and the Christmas gifts you have dropped by was both generous and humbling.  I will try to thank you individually when we see each other.  In the meantime, please know of my thanks and appreciation for the Christmas gifts and for all you have done for me and our parish, not only during the past few weeks, but ever since I arrived.

Thanks again, and may God Bless you in this Christmas Season, that you may receive the Graces God the Father gives to you in the Incarnation of His Son, that you may cooperate with them through the power of the Holy Spirit, and that you may come to know Him ever more deeply in the upcoming year.

      God Bless

      Father James Brady

MARY, MOTHER OF GOD
NEW YEAR’S DAY MASS SCHEDULE

December 31, 2014, Wednesday @ 12:05pm

(Regular weekday Mass)

Feast of Mary, Mother of God Vigil Mass
December 31, 2014 Wednesday @ 4:00pm

Feast of Mary, Mother of God/New Year’s Day
Thursday, January 1, 2015 @ 9:00am and 5:00pm

     

The bulletin for the week of December 28, 2014 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.

And we're also on Facebook --- friend us! You can see our updates on our page SaintLandryCatholicChurch.

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 --- over five years ago. This mass, Christmas, is our three hundred and fifty ninth podcast to be posted. The homily is given by Father James Brady.

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

Homily for the Fourth 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 --- over five years ago. This mass, the Fourth Sunday of Advent, is our three hundred and fifty eighth podcast to be posted. The homily is given by Father James Brady.

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

Bulletin for the Week of December 21, 2014

The Pastor’s Corner 

Today we celebrate the fourth and final Sunday of Advent.  As the time celebrating the birth of our Savior approaches, we should intensify our preparation and anticipation of celebrating the Incarnation of our Lord.  This Fourth Sunday of Advent reminds us of our "call" by God to a mission here on earth, just like our Blessed Mother at the Annunciation in our Gospel reading today.  The goal of our life on earth is to fulfill the mission God has given to us, whether it be as wife, husband, single person, mother, father or religious.  God created us for this mission, but he made us free, so we are able to accept or reject the role God has given us in His overall plan of salvation as well as His plan for OUR salvation.  If we allow God to speak to us through the life of Jesus, not only this week, but at all times, then we can discern what is truly good for us in our lives.  Whatever mission God has for us, He will provide the Grace to accomplish it.  Once we determine what God is asking, then we decide whether or not to accept His invitation. During this last week in Advent, as we prepare for and anticiplate the coming of Jesus to the world, in our prayer let us put ourselves in a position to hear God's voice and accept the Graces Jesus gives us to fulfill our mission.

This week we also begin to celebrate Christmas.  Of course, we celebrate Christmas Day on Thursday in a special way, it being the birthday of Jesus.  However, we continue to celebrate the Christmas Season until the Baptism of the Lord, which is celebrated on January 11, 2015.  For the most part, the secular world will be finished with Christmas by the day after.  We, on the other hand, will continue to celebrate the Mystery of the Incarnation for more than two weeks.  Our Blessed Mother reflected on the marvel of the Incarnation in her heart (Luke 2:19).  So should we.  Let's not just enjoy Christmas Day, but the Christmas Season.

During the Christmas Season, we will celebrate The Holy Family, Our Blessed Mother, The Epiphany and the Baptism of our Lord in the weeks following Christmas Day.  We are given these Holy Days to strengthen our faith in The Incarnation and ponder the gift of God's love in the human nature of His Son.

Enjoy reflecting on the gift God the Father has given us in His Son.  Enjoy reflecting on the gift Jesus has given us in His Life, Death and Resurrection, the events that have led to our salvation.  Enjoy reflecting on the gift of the Holy Spirit, who prompts and empowers us to live a life in imitation of Christ.  Ponder the gift of eternal life (our one true Hope) given to us if we follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  Let us, as a community, not follow the world in allowing Christmas to end after December 25, but rather keep the Christmas spirit in our hearts all year by continuing to celebrate and reflect on the great gift we have all received at Christmas: the gift of God Himself dwelling among us and leading us to eternal life with Him.

For all those who are out of town for Christmas, know of my prayers for you and wishes for your Merry Christmas!

      God Bless

      Father James Brady

Christmas Season Mass Schedule

Wednesday, December 24, 2014 @ 8:00am in Valentin Hall Chapel
(Regular weekday Mass)

Christmas Vigil Mass
4:00pm, Wednesday, Dec. 24 – Adult Choir
(Prelude music begins at 3:30pm)

Children’s Christmas Vigil Mass
6:00pm Wednesday, Dec. 24 – Youth Choir

Instructions for children bringing gifts:
Meet at the inside of the main entrance of the church at least 10 minutes before Mass to line up and process into church.
Please bring a new, unwrapped gift for a child.

Children will process in with Father Brady before Mass begins.
As the children come to the altar area, they bow before the altar, place their gift where shown,
and then return to the pew with their family.

Christmas Day
9:00am, Thursday, Dec. 25 - Cantor
Note:  This is the only Mass on Christmas Day


MARY, MOTHER OF GOD/NEW YEAR’S DAY MASS SCHEDULEDecember 31, 2014, Wednesday @ 12:05pm
(Regular weekday Mass)

Feast of Mary, Mother of God Vigil Mass
December 31, 2014 Wednesday @ 4:00pm

Feast of Mary, Mother of God/New Year’s Day
Thursday, January 1, 2015 @ 9:00am and 5:00pm

     

The bulletin for the week of December 21, 2014 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.

And we're also on Facebook --- friend us! You can see our updates on our page SaintLandryCatholicChurch.

Homily for the Third 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 --- over five years ago. This mass, the Third Sunday of Advent, is our three hundred and fifty seventh podcast to be posted. The homily is given by Father James Brady.

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

Bulletin for the Week of December 14, 2014 and the Pastor's Corner - and Christmas Season Schedule

The Pastor’s Corner 

Today, we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday. "Gaudete" is the Latin word for "rejoice." This weekend, we "lighten up" a little bit from the work of our Advent preparation to anticipate and rejoice the coming of the gift of The Incarnation at Christmas. This continuing gift of Christ is already present now in the lives we lead in imitation of Christ. The gift comes again this year in our continued change to more closely configure our lives to Jesus' life, that is, in our continuing conversion. To mark this celebration, in our liturgy lighter colored vestments can be used rather than the usual Advent violet, so rose colored vestments will be used this weekend.

Considering this is a time when we should rejoice because of the events that give rise to our salvation, it is good to remember that our goal is to live our Christian vocation with joy. At times, we might feel like our faith is a burden, but in reality it truly frees us from slavery to sin and frees us to grow closer to God. We should always rejoice and give thanks to God for the gift of faith that he has given to each of us in our journey of life!

New Memorial Plaques of Previous Pastors

Please note the two new bronze plaques that were recently installed in the vestibule of the church.  They honor two of St. Landry’s earlier priests who served the faithful of the Opelousas Post.  They honor Louis du bourg de Saint Sépulchre, a Capuchin friar from France who served from 1776 to 1778, and Louis Marie Grumeau, a French Dominican friar who served from 1779 to 1783.  Both died while at Opelousas and both were interred in the church.

These plaques join two other plaques that were installed in 1991 in honor of Father Louis Buhot, the first diocesan priest to serve St. Landry from 1801 to 1813, and Jean Michel Prudhomme, donor of much of the land for the 1798 church building.

Special thanks to John Harper for his research and design of the plaques and to the St. Landry Catholic Cemetery Tours Committee for generously financing this project!

      God Bless

      Father James Brady

Christmas Season Mass Schedule

Wednesday, December 24, 2014 @ 8:00am in Valentin Hall Chapel
(Regular weekday Mass)

Christmas Vigil Mass
4:00pm, Wednesday, Dec. 24 – Adult Choir
(Prelude music begins at 3:30pm)

Children’s Christmas Vigil Mass
6:00pm Wednesday, Dec. 24 – Youth Choir

Instructions for children bringing gifts:
Meet at the inside of the main entrance of the church at least 10 minutes before Mass to line up and process into church.
Please bring a new, unwrapped gift for a child.

Children will process in with Father Brady before Mass begins.
As the children come to the altar area, they bow before the altar, place their gift where shown,
and then return to the pew with their family.

Christmas Day
9:00am, Thursday, Dec. 25 - Cantor
Note:  This is the only Mass on Christmas Day


MARY, MOTHER OF GOD/NEW YEAR’S DAY MASS SCHEDULEDecember 31, 2014, Wednesday @ 12:05pm
(Regular weekday Mass)

Feast of Mary, Mother of God Vigil Mass
December 31, 2014 Wednesday @ 4:00pm

Feast of Mary, Mother of God/New Year’s Day
Thursday, January 1, 2015 @ 9:00am and 5:00pm

     

The bulletin for the week of December 14, 2014 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.

And we're also on Facebook --- friend us! You can see our updates on our page SaintLandryCatholicChurch.

Homily for the 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 --- over five years ago. This mass, the Second Sunday of Advent, is our three hundred and fifty sixth podcast to be posted. The homily is given by Father James Brady.

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

Bulletin for the Week of December 7, 2014 and the Pastor's Corner

The Pastor’s Corner 

As we move into the Second Week of Advent, the theme of our Gospel reading shifts from vigilance to preparing the way of the Lord so that we can fully receive the gift of Christ at Christmas.  The movement of our hearts this week should be one of repentance and seeking the forgiveness for our sins, as preached by John the Baptist.  In that regard, we as Catholics are privileged to have the Sacrament of Confession (also referred to as the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Penance).  During Advent, in preparation for receiving the Grace God wants to give us in Jesus' Incarnation, Sacramental Confession is highly recommended.  Besides the opportunity for Sacramental Confession in each of our four parishes in Opelousas at their regularly scheduled times, please remember that there will continue to be the diocesan wide program, "The Light is on for You," every Wednesday from 6:30 to 8pm in every church in the diocese.  The experience of God's Mercy in Sacramental Confession is something we should regularly desire and seek, especially during this seasons of Advent and Lent.  It should be noted that because of "The Light is on for You" program, the citywide Penance Service, which usually occurs on the Monday before Christmas at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church, will not be held this year.    

Many thanks to all who donated goods and money over Thanksgiving for those who are in need. The outpouring was generous, so please know of the appreciation of those who will be helped during the holiday season.  However, we continue to have need in our community throughout the holiday season, so the boxes in the church by the doors will continue to be left out for donations.  Primarily, donations are needed for clothing, non-perishable food and toys for families in need.  Thanks again for your help!

Finally, with the end of the calendar year we are also approaching the end of the first half of our fiscal year. In September we published a budget for expenses for the upcoming year along with anticipated revenue. The Finance Council also asked that a weekly goal for our offertory be established and that the actual weekly offertory be published each week so that all could keep up with how we are doing on a weekly basis.  As you can see, we are a bit behind on the goal set for our weekly offering.  As you make your Christmas list this year, please remember St. Landry and also consider an increase in your regular offering in the new year. Please know that every offering is appreciated, and our hope is to continue to make progress in improving the beauty of our worship, the maintenance and improvements of our beautiful buildings, and to provide better pastoral services to all in need, especially those who are most vulnerable. Know of my thanks in advance for your generous response!

      God Bless

      Father James Brady

     

The bulletin for the week of December 07, 2014 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.

And we're also on Facebook --- friend us! You can see our updates on our page SaintLandryCatholicChurch.