Bulletin for the Week of February 1, 2015 and the Pastor's Corner

The Pastor’s Corner 

With the beginning of the new year, a spring time of sorts comes early to our parish - the beginning of sacramental preparation of our children for their First Confession and First Communion, and of our young adults for their reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation. We have approximately 20 of our children preparing for their First Confession and First Communion, and about 20 more of our young adults preparing for Confirmation.  This time of year is a good time for us as a  parish community to reflect on the goodness of God in giving us the gifts of the sacraments, which are channels of grace that help us to live the Christian vocation and mission given to each of us. Please remember in your prayers all those preparing to receive sacraments this year, their families and our church community, as these times are definitely times of great joy and thanksgiving for all of us!

There are several other upcoming activities about which you should know.  We will administer the Anointing of the Sick at the 4pm Mass next Saturday, February 7 in conjunction with the World Day of the Sick (which is The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes on February 11).  Please see the announcement below for details about it.  Anointing of the Sick, of course, is also available at any time for those in need.  Just call the office to set up a time for a visit.

Lent is also just around the corner (Ash Wednesday is February 18), so we should be making preparations for our prayer, almsgiving and fasting.  Weekly activities that we currently have at St. Landry that can help us with our prayer life during Lent, or any other time of year, are:

Tuesdays at 6pm:  Come, Lord Jesus! (Prayer and Scripture Study focused on Sunday's Gospel      Reading);
Wednesdays at 5:45am:  That Man Is You! (Presentation and Discussion on Men's Spirituality);
Wednesdays at 5:15pm:  Come, Lord Jesus! (Prayer and Scripture Study focused on Sunday's First Reading).

In addition, we will be adding this year a traditional Bible Study Class on Monday evenings at 6pm.  An introduction to the course will be held at 6pm in Valentin Hall on Monday, February 9.  The course will be introductory and designed to be helpful to beginners and those who regularly study the bible.  The course is Jeff Cavin's "A Quick Journey Through the Bible," which provides an introduction and overview of the bible from a Catholic perspective.

Finally, for those baptized adults who have not received the sacrament of Confirmation, we will have an Adult Confirmation Class led by Deacon Diesi on Sunday afternoons, with Confirmation taking place at the Easter Vigil on April 19, 2014.  Please call Deacon Diesi at the office for more details.  Let's hope that in these activities we can come to greater knowledge and love of Our Savior during the Lenten Season.

World Day of the Sick

The week after next, on February 11, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, we will mark the World Day of the Sick.  The focus of this remembrance is prayer for healing and the redemptive value of suffering.  In conjunction with this day, we will offer Anointing of the Sick at the 4pm Mass on February 7 for those who suffer from a serious illness or are infirmed due to age.  If you or someone you know would like to receive the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, please make plans to come to this Mass.  If one is unable to walk up to Communion at regular Masses, then they should sit in the pews marked and reserved at the front of the church.  This is a wonderful way for us as a community to support and pray for those who suffer from illness or the burden of years, and for them to receive the Grace of strength to bear their burden in the light of the salvation of the world and the hope for eternal life.

      God Bless

      Father James Brady

The bulletin for the week of February 01, 2015 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 in Ordinary Time

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 in Ordinary Time, is our three hundred and sixty fifth 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 January 25, 2015 and the Pastor's Corner

The Pastor’s Corner 

On Thursday of last week we marked the 42nd anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, which required states to legalize abortion. Since that date, some 50 plus million children were never given the opportunity to live the life God intended to give them, something we may take for granted.  Science is slowly but surely catching up to what we have always known in faith, that life begins at the time of conception and should be nurtured and protected from that time, just like any human being who has been born.  In this day and age, the value of human life and its dignity is not fully recognized by the world in general, nor in our society in particular.  It would be naive and foolish to believe that many of our recent tragic events which we all mourn as a nation, whether it be terrorism or school shootings, are not related to this lack of respect for human life in general.  Let's do our best in word and action to help change the minds and hearts of all, to respect and cherish all human life as the gift from God that it is, and to respect and dignify all people not only in the big things, but in the little things.

The Catholic Church has been in the forefront of the movement to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision. More importantly, though, our Church has been in the forefront of trying to change the minds and hearts of individuals and our society about abortion.  We do this in several ways, not the least of which is to publicly protest the injustice of abortion.  In that regard, last week a group of students from Opelousas Catholic and other groups from our area traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Pro-Life Rally and March for Life.  The March for Life is the longest sustained annual civil rights protest in our nation.  Not all of us can travel to Washington, D.C. each year, so many of us also participated in our local march here in Opelousas this weekend.

On a more personal level, and in Christian charity, we all have a duty to help those who participate or have participated in abortion to see the immorality of the act, be they the mothers, the fathers, the doctors or the nurses.  If we know someone considering an abortion, we should try to persuade them to give life to their child.  We should not be afraid to voice the right thing to do and try to persuade their hearts and minds.  Additionally, we have a duty to help those who have participated in abortion to heal, especially on a spiritual level, as no sin is greater than God's mercy.  Project Rachel is a diocesan program designed for men and woman who have participated in abortion and tries to provide healing of the wound left by the abortion.  If you know of anyone who might benefit from this program, please inform them of the program's availability so that they, who often are also victims of abortion because of the harm it has done to them, might begin the healing process.  For information, they can call our office or contact the Diocese of Lafayette directly.

Let us do what we can to help our society become more just and loving in its respect of the dignity of all people to whom God has given the gift of life!

      God Bless

      Father James Brady

The bulletin for the week of January 25, 2015 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 Ordinary Time

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 in Ordinary Time, is our three hundred and sixty fourth 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 January 18, 2015 and the Pastor's Corner

The Pastor’s Corner 

 Next weekend, we begin Catholic Schools Week, a national celebration of Catholic Education particularly celebrating our Catholic Schools.  The kick-off for the week will be at our 5pm Sunday Mass next weekend, at which time students at Opelousas Catholic will provide the music.  We hope you are able to attend!  Each of our children has a right to a Catholic Education, and this takes several forms: in our Catholic Schools; in home-schooling; and in CCD programs. During Catholic Schools week, we especially celebrate the gift that AIC and Holy Ghost Schools have been to our community, and that Opelousas Catholic continues to be to our community.

Now is also a good time to remember that the first and primary educators of our children are parents.  Proper education of children is both the right and obligation of parents.  It is important that parents transmit to their children by both word and deed the faith that was handed down to them.  Especially important is the teaching by "deed," that is, by example.  No matter what is said or taught about our faith, if there is not a serious and committed effort to practice the faith to go along with the words, the message will be undercut or not taken seriously by our children.  Children may hear what is said, but they more closely watch what is done.  Good parenting requires both, so let us make it our resolve to give both to our children!

The End of an Era at Opelousas Catholic:  Mr. Perry Fontenot

As you may have noticed, a few weeks ago we had a bulletin insert regarding the principal's position at Opelousas Catholic.  The Chancellor of Opelousas Catholic, Msgr. Keith DeRouen, asked that all the local parishes include in their bulletin a notice of job opening for that position because after some 14 years of service Mr. Perry Fontenot, our current principal, has decided to retire at the end of this semester.  Mr. Fontenot began his tenure at a time when Opelousas Catholic was struggling in many areas (as were many private schools), and he has worked diligently over his time as principal to help OC grow and prosper.  He has been devoted in his service to Opelousas Catholic and its children and families.  He has also been most gracious and pleasant to work with in my time as pastor here.  There is no doubt that he leaves Opelousas Catholic in better shape than it was when he arrived, and we are very grateful for his leadership, stewardship and service to our community.  We wish Mr. Fontenot good luck in any future endeavors he may have, and if you get a chance over the next few months, be sure to thank him for his service!

      God Bless

      Father James Brady

The bulletin for the week of January 18, 2015 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 Baptism of the Lord

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 Baptism of the Lord, is our three hundred and sixty third 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 January 11, 2015 - and the Pastor's Corner

The Pastor’s Corner 

We come to the end of the Christmas Season today in celebrating the Baptism of the Lord.  The Baptism of Jesus reminds us of our own baptism.  By our Baptism the Gates of Heaven are thrown open to us and we receive the Grace to live a Christian Life.  However, we must cooperate with our Baptismal Grace, that is, we must accept the Grace, as God never forces Himself into our lives.  We dispose ourselves to receive His Grace by undertaking prayer and the study of our faith and by practicing virtue.  In this way, we are "formed" into the life of Christ.  Christian Formation is a combination of study, prayer and worship (both formal and in the lives we lead) that directs and leads us towards Christ.

Our church parish provides opportunities for such activities.  We have two Come, Lord Jesus! groups that meet on Tuesday's at 6pm and Wednesday's at 5:15pm.  These groups combine prayer and scripture study that focuses on the Mass readings for the following Sunday.  For men, we have the "That Man is You" program directed by Deacon Joubert and meets Wednesday mornings at 5:45am.  Also, I highly recommend a yearly retreat for all as part of our continuing formation.  We have two groups, one men's and one women's, who make the retreat each year at Our Lady of the Oaks in Grand Coteau.  The dates of the retreats are in early March for the men and the week before Mother's Day for the women. Please call Andrew Guidroz for the men's retreat at 351-0732 and Yvonne Normand at 308-3474 for the women's retreat.  Let's make 2015 a year of faith for each and every one of us!

The Sanctuary Project Update

Just a note about the progress of the work on the Sanctuary Project.  I am happy to inform you  that we have completed the outside bathroom and it is ready to use.  It turned out beautifully, and we look forward to having the inside bathroom looking as good.  In that regard, we will begin construction on the inside bathroom this Spring.  It will not be usable during construction, so during that time we will use the outside bathroom.

On the flooring and the altar, our time frame has changed a bit.  The flooring experts recently recommended that we install the altar first and then tile around it so that the weight of the altar is not on the tile, as this could affect the expansion joints between the tiles.  Therefore, we are designing and ordering the altar now, and it will take 4-6 months to arrive.  Therefore, the tile may be installed closer to Summer time.

      God Bless

      Father James Brady

The bulletin for the week of January 11, 2015 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 Epiphany

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 Epiphany, is our three hundred and sixty second 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 January 4, 2015

The Pastor’s Corner 

"Happy Mary, Mother of God!!"  On this day, that sounds a bit strange, as opposed to "Happy New Year!!"  However, that is the feast day that we celebrate on January 1st each year.  The celebration is not as much about our Blessed Mother as it is about the fact that Jesus is indeed God in His Divine Nature.  Therefore, our Blessed Mother is the Mother of God.  The celebration of this feast is intended to strengthen our faith about the two natures of Jesus, both divine and human, to celebrate that God Himself has visited us on earth, and to properly understand the special role our Blessed Mother was given in God's plan of salvation.

As we continue to celebrate Christmastide this weekend, we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord this Sunday. Traditionally, this feast was celebrated on January 6, ending the "twelve days"  of Christmas.  However, we now celebrate it liturgically on the Sunday between January 2 and January 8.  "Ephiphany" comes from a Greek verb meaning "to reveal."

Therefore, the Epiphany celebrates God's revealing or manifesting Jesus' identity as true God, Messiah, and Savior of the world.  It not only commemorates the fact that Jesus appeared to save us, but that God revealed the identity of Jesus to the world.  The Gospel reading for the day is from the second chapter of Matthew, where the magi from the east seek the newborn king of the Jews, and of course, find Him and pay Him homage.

As we continue to celebrate the joy of Christmas for the remaining time in the Christmas season, we are reminded in the Epiphany that God not only sent his Incarnate Son as our Lord and Savior, but that He did so in a way that we could recognize, understand and follow Him in the way of truth and peace.  Like the magi, our mission is to seek Him, come to know Him, and pay homage to Him not only with our words, but also by living our lives in the way Jesus taught us!

A Word of Welcome to Fr. Jerry Mesley

I am pleased to announce that Fr. Jerry Mesley will be coming to live at St. Landry for the next month or two prior to his departure to New Mexico.  Fr. Mesley is well known to many of you because of his many years of service to our area during his yearly trip to south Louisiana.  We are so pleased to have the blessing of Fr. Mesley's presence during his time here, and please be sure to welcome him when you see him around the church.

      God Bless

      Father James Brady

The bulletin for the week of January 04, 2015 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.