Bulletin for the Week of October 20, 2013 - and the Pastor's Corner

The Pastor’s Corner 

Last weekend, we introduced the annual Bishop's Service Appeal (BSA), and a message from Bishop Jarrell was presented at all of our weekend Masses.  The Bishop's Service Appeal funds services and programs that we, as a parish, cannot afford to pay on our own.  By pooling the resources of all the individual church parishes in the diocese, services can be provided to the poor and vulnerable that would not be feasible for any individual church parish to provide.  In addition to aiding the poor and the vulnerable among us, the appeal supports other diocesan works, such as the education and support of our seminarians and the continued education of our priests.  St. Landry is blessed to have a seminarian studying for the priesthood, Ben Pitre (as always, please keep him in your prayers) who directly benefits from the donations made to the BSA.  St. Landry could not afford to pay for his education and training, but with funding from the BSA, his education and training is possible.

      The BSA pledge cards/envelopes will remain in the pews and at the doors of the church for your use.  Donations to the appeal can be made in the same manner as last year. First, for those who use offertory envelopes, you will receive special envelopes for the appeal in the mail with your regular envelopes, and the donations can be placed in the offertory at any Mass.  Second, for those who do not use envelopes for the regular offertory, the envelopes in the pews and at the church doors can be used and placed in any offertory at any Mass.  Third, for those who prefer to send the donation directly to the diocese, there are instructions on how to do so on the same envelopes located in the church.  When making a donation in this manner, please make sure that St. Landry is marked on the envelope so that we are able to track whether or not we have met our goal for the appeal.  Finally, donations can be made online at www.diolaf.org.

      Last year, we were a little short of our goal for the appeal. Of course, our hope is that our parish will reach the goal this year in support of the many good programs provided by the diocese to St. Landry and to the people of our diocese. Many thanks for your generosity!

           God Bless!

           Father James Brady

The bulletin for the week of October 20, 2013 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 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Bishop's Services Appeal

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 --- four years ago. This week, the Twenty Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our two hundred eighty sixth!! podcast to be posted. The homily is given by Bishop Michael Jarrell.

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 October 13, 2013 - and the Pastor's Corner

The Pastor’s Corner 

Beginning next week, we will place baskets at the church entrances to be used for non-perishable food collection for those in need. The baskets will remain in the church until after Thanksgiving. This collection of food items is intended to help ICONS, our local food pantry which is sponsored by an interfaith consortium, to provide for those in need during the upcoming holiday season. In addition we will also have an offertory at our Thanksgiving Day Mass to support ICONS' mission to provide food to those who are in need. Each week we will collect the food items donated and transport them to the ICONS facility located here in Opelousas for distribution.

Obviously, as Christians we are called to love and provide for our brothers and sisters who are in need, and the most basic need is that of food. In each act of charity we do, we learn to see the Face of Jesus in everyone we meet, knowing that what we do for each other, we do for Him. Conversely, what we do not do for our brothers and sisters, we did not do for Jesus Himself! Let us always pray for an end to hunger and poverty in our community, our country and in the world. But let us also make sure we do what we can to help end hunger, beginning here in our own community.

           God Bless!

           Father James Brady

The bulletin for the week of October 13, 2013 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 Twenty Seventh 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 --- four years ago. This week, the Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our two hundred eighty 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 October 6, 2013 - and the Pastor's Corner

The Pastor’s Corner 

As we enter the month of October, we begin a month devoted to our appreciation of those who have gone before us to the next life. The Cemetery Tours will begin next weekend and will continue the following weekend. Many of you will be cleaning up tombs and we will be sprucing up our cemetery. Our celebration will culminate with our celebration of All Saints Day on November 1st and All Souls Day on November 2nd. Besides our usual blessing of the cemetery on November 2nd after the 4pm Mass, we have added a special Mass that morning which we hope will become an annual celebration.

The Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, November 2nd at 10am. It will be a Memorial Mass where we will pray for all our faithful departed, but the specific Mass intention will be for those who passed away this past year. We have had approximately 65 of our fellow brothers and sisters who have gone to the next life, and we want to remember them, their families, and their friends in prayer. We thank God for the gift of their life, and we pray for the repose of their souls and the consolation of family and friends.

Next weekend, we will publish a list of those who will be remembered at the Mass. This list will contain those for whom we've had funerals here at St. Landry and those whose death we were informed of through our ministry to the bereaved. We are happy to add any other people who passed away last year. If there is someone you would like to have added, please call the office to let us know. We will include all who died through September 30th of this year. Those who pass away this month will be included in next year's Mass. We will publish a final list in the bulletin for the weekend of November 2nd and 3rd.

We are taught in the Bible that praying for the dead is a righteous act (2 Maccabees 12: 43-46). Let us pray together for those who have gone before us, and for each other's consolation for the physical separation we have now until we all meet in God's Kingdom. I hope all are able to make it on November 2nd for the Memorial Mass.

           God Bless!

           Father James Brady

The bulletin for the week of October 06, 2013 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.

Homilies for the 26th 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 homilies are 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 --- four years ago. This week, the Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our two hundred eighty third and two hundred and eighty fourth!! podcasts to be posted. The homily at 8AM is given by Deacon Dwayne Joubert and the 10AM is given by Deacon Sammy Diesi.

So, take a listen and let us know what you think. Click here to download the 8AM homily and click here to download the 10AM homily from St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, Louisiana.

Bulletin for the Week of September 29, 2013 - and the Pastor's Corner

The Pastor’s Corner 

Jesus' words after the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, and after he had washed His disciples’ feet:  [If] I washed your feet...then you must wash each other's feet....What I just did was to give you an example:  as I have done, so must you do."  Jn 13: 14-15.  As Jesus teaches us, our worship of God in the Eucharistic celebration does not end after Mass, but rather is just beginning.  We receive in the Eucharist the grace to live our Christian lives in serving God and each other.  This service extends outside the walls of our church to our neighbors.  We help others by serving in our church and helping those in need.  Thus, our worship of God and our spiritual lives are incomplete without this service.  Traditionally, we have categorized service in the gifts of "time, talent and treasure."  Last week, we spoke of "treasure," that is, monetary gifts to our church and to other charities.  This week, with our Ministry Fair, we focus on "time and talent."

Our annual Ministry Fair is an opportunity for us to see the various ways we can serve here at St. Landry and to consider giving our time and talent for the church's ministry.  There are opportunities for service individually and in a group or social setting.  There's something for everyone.  Since service is the primary function of a deacon, Deacons Diesi and Joubert will preach the homily this weekend about the importance of service in our spiritual life.  Please stop by the Ministry Fair after Mass!    

           God Bless!

           Father James Brady

The bulletin for the week of September 29, 2013 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 25th 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 --- four years ago. This week, the Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our two hundred eighty 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 September 22, 2013 - and the Pastor's Corner

The Pastor’s Corner 

Enclosed in our bulletin this weekend is our annual financial report for last year and our budget for the upcoming year.  I have worked with the Finance Council to provide you with an accurate and easily understandable presentation of our church finances.  As pastor, I am accountable to you for the proper use of the funds given in support of our church, and these reports are a way of keeping you adequately informed of the financial status of our church family.  Many thanks to the Finance Council for its work and assistance in this endeavor!  Overall, our financial status is stable and getting better.  As I've mentioned in my previous yearly financial reports to you, one goal we've had as a community is to put St. Landry on firm financial footing, and at this point we have achieved that goal.  Many thanks to you for your support, as it would not have been possible without you!

As is indicated in the budget, there is a large project included under "Repair and Maintenance" to replace the underground pipes for our air conditioning system in the church.  This is a project that has been needed for some 20 years, but we have been unable to afford it.  As mentioned last year, the pipes are some 50 years old and have been leaking.  The leaking has worsened over the last year.  The project to replace the pipes will begin in the next month or two after we receive all necessary approvals, and should be completed by Christmas.

Over the last three years, we have been able to save enough money to pay for this project without incurring any debt.  A portion of this has come from our increase in the weekly offering.  However, a large portion has come from special donations we received over the last year, without which the project would not be possible.  The two major donations came in the form of a gift from the Estate of Joseph Wyble and the donation of the Titard Family home.  Many thanks to the Titard Family and Mr. Wyble and his family for their generosity and kindness in remembering St. Landry.

These special gifts to the church are a way to express gratitude for the service of the church to us and our community throughout our lives, and to perpetuate the mission of the Church in providing proper worship of God in the liturgy and service to our neighbors.  Similar to memorials, it is a tangible gift that leaves a spiritual legacy to help those still on their earthly journey.  There are many ways one can provide a gift to the church in their estate planning, including wills, bequests, trusts, life insurance policies or the gift of a family home.  If you are so moved, please remember a gift to the church in your estate planning, and if you have any questions we can certainly help you with the process.

Thanks again for your generosity over the past year and your continued support!

           God Bless!

           Father James Brady

The bulletin for the week of September 22, 2013 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 24th 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 --- four years ago. This week, the Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our two hundred eighty first!! 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 September 15, 2013 - and the Pastor's Corner

The Pastor’s Corner 

For the next two weekends, we will have our annual stewardship reports and information on service opportunities. Next weekend, September 21st and 22nd, we will begin with my annual report to you regarding the state of our church community, publication of our financial report and budget, and our goals for this coming year. The following weekend, September 28th and 29th, we will conduct our annual ministry fair, coordinated by our deacons, which will provide information regarding our service and social groups within the parish, and provide an opportunity to join those groups in their service to God and neighbor.

Please know of my appreciation to all of you for your support of St. Landry in time, talent and treasure during the last three years. So many of you have generously given and entrusted the gifts with which God has blessed you to St. Landry for the work of ministry. This year, besides our usual financial reports and guidelines for discernment of monetary gifts to the church, we also provide information regarding other ways to give, including memorials gifts. The following is intended to provide information about the nature of a memorial gift (especially as it enhances our spiritual life), and to provide examples of some of the recent memorial gifts that have been given.

Memorials are tangible gifts given in response and remembrance to a gift first given from God to us, usually a person or an event that has touched our lives and helped us to know Jesus more closely. It is a way to thank God for that gift in a tangible way, and to perpetuate the spiritual legacy of the person or event. There are memorial gifts in our church building in many places, from the beautiful stained glass windows to the statues of saints, which remind us of specific events of theological significance such as The Resurrection of Our Lord (the center stained glass in the sanctuary) or saints who have shown us how to live a life in Christ (the various saint statues in the church). These things remind us how we can live a life in Christ by the events or people they depict.

Over the last few months, we have received several memorial gifts for beautification or preservation of our church and liturgy, and these memorial gifts have enabled us to either restore items we use in worship or administration of the church, or to obtain items used for more beautiful worship. Recent memorial gifts include the badly needed restoration of our older and historical sacramental books from the Doucet Family in memory of their beloved sister, Cecile, who passed away last year. The children of Ed and Martha Moise provided the gift of the beautiful restoration of our altar and paschal candle stands, which had not been professionally cleaned in some 50 years, in thanksgiving for Ed and Martha's 50 years of marriage. The estate of Aline Lafond, who recently passed away, provided a memorial gift for her "beloved St. Landry," which will enable us to restore our processional cross and the six candleholders we use during the high liturgical seasons, thus completing the restoration of all of our candle holders. We have recently received a memorial gift for beautiful Sunday vestments which we hope to begin using in the near future. We have also received money donations in memory of a person, which we note in the bulletin if the donor permits, for use by the church as she may need.

These memorials have enabled us to more beautifully worship God, while at the same time acknowledging the gift that God first gave to us in the person or event remembered. It also helps to support the church by providing for things that we would not usually include in our regular budget. Many thanks to all those who have helped St. Landry in this way, be they an individual or family. If you or your family need information on how a memorial might be given, or for memorial ideas, simply call the office and we will be happy to assist.

           God Bless!

           Father James Brady

The bulletin for the week of September 15, 2013 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.

Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace in Syria

Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace in Syria

The Holy Father has called for a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Syria back on September 7, 2013. To read a statement from the US Conference of Bishops, please click here. For more related items including the Holy Father’s statement, please click here.

Homily for the 23rd 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 --- four years ago. This week, the Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our two hundred eightieth!! 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 September 08, 2013 - and the Pastor's Corner

The Pastor’s Corner 

The Annointing of the Sick is a sacrament instituted by Jesus in Sacred Scripture in the Book of James:  "Are there any who are sick among you?  Let them send for the priests of the Church, and let the priests pray over them, annointing them with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick persons, and the Lord will raise them up; and if they have committed any sins, their sins will be forgiven." (James 5:14).  The Annointing of the Sick (sometimes referred to as "Last Rites") is given to those who begin "to be in danger (of death) due to sickness or old age."  In case of doubt about whether the circumstances warrant the sacrament, the sacrament is to be administered.  We receive many calls at St. Landry to provide this sacrament, whether it be someone preparing for a medical procedure, someone who is hospitalized, or someone who is a resident in a nursing home.  The sacrament has brought great consolation and relief to many people in our community.  The sacrament helps us to configure the suffering caused by the illness or injury to Jesus suffering on the Cross for the salvation of the world.  It also gives us consolation in the time of difficulty by helping us to understand and accept the suffering because it has this salvific effect, just as Jesus' suffering saved the world.  It helps us to realize that we have a role in the salvation of the world, and suffering is a part of it, so it aids us "to carry our cross" by giving us the Grace to do so.

I hope that all take advantage of this sacrament when needed.  You need only call the church and myself or Monsignor will be glad to administer it.  As a practical matter, it is good not to wait until the last minute to request it.  Some people are of the mistaken belief that it should only be administered just prior to one's passing from this life to the next.  However, it can be administered any time when someone is seriously ill (or has a serious condition) or is of a certain age (around 70, depending on the person's general health).  Anyone who is homebound or in a nursing home can be annointed regularly (usually every few months).  Please let us know if you have a loved one who needs to be annointed and we will be happy to administer the sacrament.  Waiting until the last minute can be a problem, as there are times when both Monsignor Melancon and I are unavailable.  We've had a couple of close calls due to waiting until the last minute.  In this case, it is certainly better to be safe than sorry!  Also, please know that if there is an emergency and someone requires hospital care at Opelousas General, there is a priest on call each day for annointings.  Therefore, if you are unable to reach myself or Monsignor Melancon at the office, let the hospital staff know that you would like the priest on call to come for an annointing, and they will know how to contact him.

Let us thank God for the goodness He gives to us in all the Sacraments, making sure that we dutifully dispose ourselves to receive them and fully cooperate with the Graces received in them!

           God Bless!

           Father James Brady

The bulletin for the week of September 08, 2013 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 Twenty 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 --- four years ago. This week, the Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our two hundred seventy 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.

Bulletin for the Week of September 01, 2013 - and the Pastor's Corner - August 29, 2013

The Pastor’s Corner 

Happy Labor Day to all!  As Christians, we especially celebrate this weekend because we recognize our labor as something redeemed by Christ.  In other words, labor is not just toil and sweat that is a result of our fallen world, but in being redeemed labor also has a salvific effect.  Put simply, work done well is good for the soul.  There are no bad jobs, only jobs done badly.  Let us thank God for the dignity of labor and always strive in our endeavors to do the best job possible with the talents God has given us!

Below you will find the announcement for our annual Lt. Fr. Joseph VerbisLafleur Memorial Mass next Saturday at 10:30am.  I hope you are able to attend.

See you there!

           God Bless!

           Father James Brady

LT. FATHER JOSEPH VERBIS LAFLEUR MEMORIAL MASS

The ‘Friends of Lt. Fr. Lafleur’ request your presence to commemorate the 69th Anniversary of the death of Lt. Father Joseph Verbis Lafleur, Chaplain-United States Army Air Corps, on Saturday, September 7, 2013 at 10:30am Mass at St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, LA. The Celebrant and Homilist will be Very Rev. James A. Wehner, S.T.D., Rector/President of Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans, LA.

Joseph Verbis Lafleur was born in the Louisiana town of Ville Platte on January 24, 1912. Later, he would move with his family to nearby Opelousas, where he faithfully served as an altar boy at St. Landry Church during his youth; and where he also celebrated his first Solemn Mass following his ordination to the priesthood for the Diocese of Lafayette in 1938. Fr. Lafleur’s first and only diocesan assignment was to St. Mary Magdalen Church in Abbeville but he soon joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and was sent to serve at Clark Field in the Philippine Islands before the United States entered the War.

During his service, Father Lafleur was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart, and Bronze star for his valor. He was taken as a prisoner of war by the Japanese, and on September 7, 1944, he and several hundred other prisoners were killed when the ship upon which they were being transported was torpedoed. Father Lafleur's body was never recovered, but memories of survivors report that he was last seen aiding others to escape the sinking ship. The year 2013 marks the 69th anniversary of his death.

All are invited and encouraged to attend the Memorial Mass on September 7th. Learn more about Father Lafleur by visiting http://www.fatherlafleur.org for further information and by purchasing the newly published book "But He Dies Not” available in Catholic bookstores in Lafayette.

The bulletin for the week of September 01, 2013 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 Twenty First 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 --- four years ago. This week, the Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our two hundred seventy 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 August 25, 2013 - and the Pastor's Corner

The Pastor’s Corner 

This week, we are happy to welcome Deacon Dwayne Joubert to full-time ministry in our parish!  Obviously, Deacon Joubert has been very active in his ministry as a deacon since his ordination to the diaconate last year, and as a lay member of our church parish prior to that time.  However, he now will be employed full-time in service to St. Landry.  Deacon Joubert and his wife, Mary, and daughter, Sarah are Opelousas natives and long time active parishioners here at St. Landry.  Please keep them in your prayers as they make this transition.

 Deacon Joubert will continue to minister in the same manner as he has in the past, that is, liturgical coordination, altar server training and scheduling, youth group coordination, and the myriad of other functions he volunteered to do for our church.  In addition, he will now be the coordinator for our cemetery re-organization.  The goal of the cemetery re-organization is to provide long term financial stability for the cemetery, while at the same time preserving its beauty and historical heritage.  He will work with me as well as the Cemetery Committee to achieve this goal.  It will be a time intensive task, and we thank Deacon Joubert for being willing to undertake it.

The ability to hire Deacon Joubert is directly due to the generosity of Joseph Wyble, a parishioner of St. Landry Church who moved away as a young man some 60 years ago, but never forgot his home.  He recently passed away and left a substantial donation in his estate for the maintenance of the cemetery.  Let us thank God for Mr. Wyble's generosity, and remember him and his family in our prayers!

           God Bless!

           Father James Brady

The bulletin for the week of August 25, 2013 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 Twentieth 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 --- four years ago. This week, the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our two hundred seventy seventh!! podcast to be posted. The homily is given by Father Andrew Moses from Papua/New Guinea. You can read details about his work there by reading the pastor's corner here.

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

In service day for our altar servers

Our servers participated in their annual "in service" Saturday morning! After a few hours of prayer and training, the group headed outside for grilled burgers and hotdogs. A good time was had by all!

Bulletin for the Week of August 18, 2013 - and the Pastor's Corner

The Pastor’s Corner 

This week, Fr. Andrew Moses from the Diocese of Daru-Kiunga in Papua New Guinea will be speaking at all masses here at St. Landry. Fr. Jose is seeking support for his diocese as a part of our diocesan mission program. We recall in our generosity towards our brothers and sisters in need that we are a Universal Church and remain in solidarity with Catholics all across the world, especially in our works of charity. This weekend we welcome Fr. Jose and open our hearts to the support of the work that he does! Below please find information on the mission provided by Fr. Jose.

           God Bless!

           Father James Brady

DIOCESE OF DARU-KIUNGA IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

The country of Papua New Guinea is a cluster of islands located south of the equator to the north of Australia and to the east of Indonesia. The Diocese of Daru-Kiunga is one of the 18 Catholic dioceses in this country and covers the entire state of Western Province. The geography of this massive area of approximately 42,000 sq. miles is most challenging: swamps, lakes, rivers and mountains most of which are dense tropical forests cover the area. As the country is close to the equator it is very hot and humid throughout the year.

The tribal people, of Melanesian race, came in contact with the external world when Montfort Missionaries from Canada arrived in the late 1950’s. Since then the Church in this remote and undeveloped part of the world has brought faith, health and education to the people. Today the Catholic population is around 40,000 and makes up approximately 42% of the total population of the state.

The church began its work in the remote villages by establishing schools and primary health clinics which gave brought considerable improvement in the quality of life of the people. To this day it is the diocese that provides basic health and educational needs of the people, in the absence of such services from the government. The area has few transportation facilities and depends on small planes to transport essential medical supplies and other necessities. In the absence of telephones, electricity and roads our only means of communication between parishes and the diocesan headquarters is two way radios.

A very vibrant and energetic Church has emerged here over the past 40 years due to the hard work of the innumerable missionaries, some of whom have given their entire working years in the service of these simple, yet happy and welcoming people. Having emerged in the post Vatican period, the diocese promotes the Spirituality of Communion among all its faithful thus involving them in the decision making from the grassroots level.

One of the main challenges before the diocese is to raise enough funds to continue all these services in the formation of faith as well as other humanitarian and developmental activities. It is with the help of Catholics from Canada, the United States and Germany that the diocese has been able to accomplish so much over these years.

Through the mission appeal during the weekend of July August 17-18, 2013 we invite the parishioners of St. Landry, to join us in bringing the message of Jesus to the people of Western Province in Papua New Guinea. Fr. Andrew Moses will preach at your parish. Please visit us at: missionfrontier.org

                          Fr. Jose K. Jacob SMM.

The bulletin for the week of August 18, 2013 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.

Diocese of Lafayette Vocations Thriving

Our diocese, the Diocese of Lafayette, has a website related to vocations to the priesthood. It contains news about our current seminarians and also information for those considering a vocation to look over. The website is located at: http://lafayettevocations.org/

Some of the very good news there is about the large number of seminarians currently studying. To quote the latest blog entry:

When the average Catholic thinks of problems related to priestly vocations, most likely they envision aging priests and empty seminaries.  In south Louisiana we have a different problem: where to put all the young men desiring to discern priesthood?  Just two years ago (at the conclusion of the spring semester 2012) the student body at St. Joseph’s Seminary College in Covington numbered 80.  Last fall enrollment increased to 106.  And this fall the Benedict monks expect to welcome 120 young men into their program of priestly formation.  This “problem” has required the renovation of a building (long ago designated for storage) into an new dormitory.

Below is a photo of our seminarians taken at Our Lady of Oaks Retreat House in Grand Coteau:

Bulletin for the Week of August 11, 2013 - and the Pastor's Corner

The Pastor’s Corner 

This week we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother on Thursday, August 15.  In the Assumption, we celebrate our Blessed Mother being taken up to heaven body and soul, a day which we ourselves look forward to at the Second Coming.  It is a holy day of obligation, meaning that we are obligated to attend Mass that day just as if it were Sunday.  We have a special mass schedule for that day, beginning with a vigil mass on Wednesday, August 14 at 5:30pm.  Masses on Thursday will be at 8:40am (school mass), 12:05pm and 5:30pm.  In celebration of this holy day, our offices will be closed Thursday and Friday.

In addition, school starts this week and we welcome back all the students, faculty and staff at Opelousas Catholic.  We also pray for students, teachers and staff at other schools or who are schooled at home.  The beginning of the school year brings excitement to all as we think of our young people continuing the journey of their education, not only an education in academics, but also their growth in faith and human maturity.  Of course, they are growing physically, and it always amazes me how much our children grow each summer!

As we begin this school year, let us pray that our children and teachers have a safe and successful school year, developing the talents given to them for use in service to God and neighbor.  May they, and we, continue to grow in religious maturity, that is, in the growth of faith, hope and charity over the coming nine months.

           God Bless!

           Father James Brady


The bulletin for the week of August 11, 2013 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 Eighteenth 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 --- four years ago. This week, the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our two hundred seventy 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 August 4, 2013 - and the Pastor's Corner

The Pastor’s Corner 

In our homily last week, we discussed Pope Francis’ emphasis on proclaiming the Good News of God's Mercy in the forgiveness of our sins.  In order to receive God's Mercy, we must first realize our own need for mercy.  In that regard, we must first acknowledge that we are all sinners (if we were not sinners, then why the need for His mercy?) and repent.  Pope Francis himself acknowledges his own sinfulness and need for continued repentance in his own life.  With repentance (meaning sorrow for our sins and the desire to not sin again), God's Mercy is available to all, regardless of what we have done in the past.  God's memory is short for the truly repentant.  That indeed is good news!!

Pope Francis has emphasized from the beginning of his papacy our relationship with each other in light of God's Mercy towards each of us individually.  This mercy is modeled for us by the life of Jesus.  As recipients of God's Mercy, we must be merciful toward each other and are commanded to love each other, just as Jesus did, truly seeking good for each other by being selfless in our lives.

For ourselves, we must remember that in our relationship with each other, our love (or charity) should not be conditioned on the "goodness" we perceive in others, any more than God's love for us is conditioned on perceived "goodness."  In other words, true charity is unconditional in this respect.

Imitating God's Love is indeed a tall order for Christians, especially in our society, which at times is quite unforgiving and unmerciful.  It is easy to slip into the thought process of being charitable (or not) because of the perceived "worthiness" of the recipient.  While fulfilling our family or societal obligations, our available resources or prudence may certainly impact our decisions on how to be charitable toward one another, the perceived "worthiness" of the recipient should not if we are going to truly imitate Christ.  Let us all renew our dedication to love as Jesus did!

           God Bless!

           Father James Brady


The bulletin for the week of July 28, 2013 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 Seventeenth 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 --- four years ago. This week, the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our two hundred seventy 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 July 28, 2013 - and the Pastor's Corner

The Pastor’s Corner 

Over the last several weeks we have had a bulletin announcement seeking volunteers to help distribute Holy Communion to our parishioners at Heritage Manor Nursing Home on the first Tuesday of each month.  What a wonderful response we have had!  We thank those who responded to this request and are able and willing to serve those in need.  With the generous response of these volunteers, we will begin the ministry in August, led by Deacon Diesi, who we also thank for his work in coordinating the program.

There are two nursing homes in our geographical parish, Heritage Manor and Our Lady of Prompt Succor.  Senior Village is also located in our Opelousas community.  We minister at all three nursing homes, but there was a need at Heritage Manor to provide Holy Communion for our parishioners who are unable to attend weekly Mass due to their physical limitations.  In the spirit of St. Landry, we as a parish are imitating his willingness to follow Christ by reaching out and ministering to those who are in need.  Bringing Holy Communion to our fellow parishioners at Heritage Manor unites us as a parish in the Eucharist and also brings the ministers great benefit by being exposed to the resident's wisdom and their ability to live in an institution, often under very difficult circumstances and with great suffering due to their physical condition.  It is in this service to them that we ourselves learn more about Jesus in their suffering and example.  Thus, they minister to us!

Whenever visiting nursing homes, I am always struck by the care and love given by those who work there, as their work affirms the dignity of every human being.  On our part, we can witness to that dignity by providing them the sacraments, reminding them that they are part of our parish and our Church community, and showing them the love and care that Jesus requires of us.    This can also be done by a simple visit.  I encourage all who have family members or friends living in a nursing home to visit when you can.  It is always appreciated and always fruitful.

Thank you again for your response to this call to love as Christ has loved us.

           God Bless!

           Father James Brady


The bulletin for the week of July 28, 2013 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.

Homilies for the Sixteenth 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 --- four years ago. This week, the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our two hundred seventy third and two hundred seventy fourth!! podcasts to be posted. The 8 AM mass homily is given by Deacon Sammy Diesi while the 10 AM mass homily is given by Deacon Dwayne Joubert.

So, take a listen and let us know what you think. Click here to download the 8 AM homily and click here to download the 10 AM homily from St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, Louisiana.

Bulletin for the Week of July 21, 2013 - and the Pastor's Corner

The Pastor’s Corner 

During this time of the year, the "ordination season," we celebrate ordinations to Holy Orders.  As you all know, we celebrated Monsignor Melancon's 50th Anniversary to the priesthood in May.  What a wonderful celebration it was.  At St. Landry, we are also blessed with three deacons who actively serve us:  Deacon John Miller, Deacon Sammy Diesi, and Deacon Dwayne Joubert.  They serve our community in various capacities, from our youth group to our elderly shut-ins.  They are a great help to me personally and to our church community as a whole, and we thank them for responding "Yes" to God's call.  Each of their anniversaries are celebrated this time of year, so we want to thank them for their service and remember them and their families in our prayers.  Their ordination dates are as follows:

Deacon Miller:  June 27, 1977
Deacon Diesi:   September 9, 2006
Deacon Joubert:  August 18, 2012

Please remember them especially in your prayers on their anniversary dates.  We also want to remember the two deacons who have served here at St. Landry and have passed to the next life:  Deacon Carlo Cannatella and Deacon Arthur B. Lognion.  We pray for their eternal rest with Christ and the continued consolation of their families and friends.  We also pray that God continue to bless St. Landry with such good deacons with a heart for service to our community.

           God Bless!

           Father James Brady


The bulletin for the week of July 21, 2013 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 Fifteenth 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 --- four years ago. This week, the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our two hundred seventy 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 July 14, 2013 - and the Pastor's Corner

The Pastor’s Corner 

This weekend, we say goodbye to our summer seminarian, Blake Dubroc.  Blake has been a blessing to our parish since his arrival at the beginning of June, and we wish he could spend some more time with us before his departure.  He has worked with our young people, assisted at liturgies, and taken on several projects during his stay.  However, he will be leaving this week a little earlier than usual for World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, where our new Holy Father, Pope Francis, is scheduled to address young people from around the world.  We wish Blake a safe and fruitful trip, and we continue to pray for him, along with all our seminarians, in their discernment for the priesthood.  Blake will speak briefly at all the Masses this weekend, and if you are able, wish him well after Mass at the main entrance to the church.

           God Bless!

           Father James Brady


The bulletin for the week of July 14, 2013 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 Fourteenth 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 --- four years ago. This week, the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our two hundred seventy first!! podcast to be posted. The homily is given by Monsignor Louis Melancon.

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 July 07, 2013 - and the Pastor's Corner

The Pastor’s Corner 

Follow last week's homily, this week we celebrated Independence Day on July 4, which celebrates the founding of our country. Despite the movement away from the founding principles of our country (as well as Catholic teaching) in today's current climate, especially as it relates to virtue and morality, we are certainly blessed to live in a country where we are able to freely exercise our faith without the concern of retribution or negative consequences. We have been blessed by ancestors who have handed on to us a legacy of freedom on many levels, a legacy no other modern society has provided for its citizens. In that regard, let us thank God for those who had the foresight and inspiration to establish a society with so many freedoms, thank God for those who throughout our history have defended these freedoms (and given their lives for them) by service in the armed forces, and renew our devotion to God who has given us such a great blessing. We have been given an opportunity to live a life few other people in human history have been given, and as such we have a greater responsibility to take advantage of these freedoms and using them for God's greater glory, especially in living out our Catholic Faith. Let us continue to pray for our country to become more just, as we did in the Fortnight for Freedom, but also let us thank God for the great blessing of being a part of this society. May God Bless America!

           God Bless!

           Father James Brady


The bulletin for the week of July 07, 2013 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.