The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time and the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church

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

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

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

During the homily, Monsignor Romero referenced paragraphs 89 thru 93 in the Compendium. This is in "The Profession of Faith", Section II, "The Profession of Christian Faith", Chapter 2, "I believe in Jesus Christ, the only son of God".

89. How does the Church set forth the Mystery of the Incarnation?

464-470
479-481

The Church confesses that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, with two natures, a divine nature and a human nature, not confused with each other but united in the Person of the Word. Therefore, in the humanity of Jesus all things - his miracles, his suffering, and his death - must be attributed to his divine Person which acts by means of his assumed human nature.

“O Only-begotten Son and Word of God you who are immortal, you who deigned for our salvation to become incarnate of the holy Mother of God and ever Virgin Mary (...) You who are one of the Holy Trinity, glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us!” (Byzantine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom)

90. Did the incarnate Son of God have a soul with human knowledge?

470-474
482

The Son of God assumed a body animated by a rational human soul. With his human intellect Jesus learned many things by way of experience; but also as man the Son of God had an intimate and immediate knowledge of God his Father. He likewise understood people’s secret thoughts and he knew fully the eternal plans which he had come to reveal.

91. How did the two wills of the incarnate Word cooperate

475
482

Jesus had a divine will and a human will. In his earthly life the Son of God humanly willed all that he had divinely decided with the Father and the Holy Spirit for our salvation. The human will of Christ followed without opposition or reluctance the divine will or, in other words, it was subject to it.

92. Did Christ have a true human body?

476-477

Christ assumed a true human body by means of which the invisible God became visible. This is the reason why Christ can be represented and venerated in sacred images.

93. What does the heart of Jesus exemplify?

478

Jesus knew us and loved us with a human heart. His Heart, pierced for our salvation, is the symbol of that infinite love with which he loves the Father and each one of us.

Homily for the Fourth 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. This week, The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our forty third podcast to be posted. This week, the homily is given by Monsignor J. Robert Romero.

So, take a listen and let us know what you think. Click here to download The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time homily from St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, Louisiana.

Forming Good Stewards - This week's gospel passage

"Isn't this the son of Joseph?" Luke 4:22

In his home town of Nazareth, Jesus read a passage from Isaiah that prophesied the coming of the Messiah. He closed the scroll and claimed it had been fulfilled in their hearing. They “all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth”. But they instinctively realized that if Jesus, the son of Mary and Joseph, the carpenter, was truly the Messiah, he was destined to do great things. And, if he did great things, he might challenge them to do great things. He had grown up among them and was like them. They became fearful and agitated and tried to throw him off a high cliff at the top of the craggy hill where Nazareth is located. From our youth we have learned about Jesus through the revealed Word of God. We have come to know him as the Messiah who did great things and who saved us by his death and resurrection. We know he expects us to be all that God created us to be. How do we respond? Do we try to throw Jesus over a high cliff? Or do we try to imitate Jesus and do great things?

Readings and Themes for the Week of January 31, 2010

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of January 31, 2010,
The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading I Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19

The word of the Lord comes to Jeremiah.

Psalm 71

"I will sing of your salvation."

Reading II 1 Corinthians 12:31 - 13:13

The greatest of these is love.

Gospel: Luke 4:21-30

The people rise up to drive Jesus out of their town.

THEME:

Jesus' words and love are for everyone!

As the sacred word of God is proclaimed this day, let us be attentive to its power to transform us into people filled with the wonder of God's love.

Questions of the week

Question for Children:

What ways do you show God's love to someone who is lonely or hurting?

Question for Youth:

Who are the people in your life who mean the most to you?

How do you show them how important they are to you?

Question for Adults:

What is a way you show members of your family your love for them?

Bulletin for the Weekend of January 31, 2010

The bulletin for the weekend of January 31, 2010 has been posted. Click here to see it.

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

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

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

Opelousas Catholic School - Tasters' Dinner

OC CORNER

OPELOUSAS CATHOLIC TASTERS’ DINNER, AUCTION & CULINARY COMPETITION

A great assortment of cuisine will be offered at the upcoming Opelousas Catholic School Tasters’ Dinner, Auction and Culinary Competition. Final plans for the evening of Wednesday, February 3rd, in the new Opelousas Civic Center are now being made. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for beverages and browsing of auction items. Serving of food will begin at 6:30 p.m. The theme for the evening is “A Royal and Majestic Evening” with a Mardi Gras flair. In its eleventh year, the event is being held to celebrate the school’s impending Annual Angel Appeal Drive.

Many area chefs have accepted invitations to participate, and the event now has 26 delicious dishes for tasting. Bringing in their favorite recipes are the following: Back in Time, Blue Dog Café, The Fabulous Café Breen, Cannatella’s, Tony Chachere’s, Crawfish Corner, Crawfish Town USA, Fezzo’s Seafood, Steakhouse and Oyster Bar, Joe’s Dreyfus Store Restaurant, Jolie’s Louisiana Bistro, La Hacienda, Not Your Mama’s Café & Tavern, NuNu’s Creole Traditions, Piggly Wiggly South, Steamboat Warehouse Restaurant, Super One Foods, Tsunami Sushi, Virtual Bistro Catering, and Zea Rotisserie and Grill. These establishments will be competing in a “people’s choice” competition in one or more of six categories: salad, soup, seafood, meat, ethnic, and dessert.

A variety of interesting items will be available for auction during the evening. Some of these items will be auctioned in a “live” format and include autographed Saints and LSU memorabilia, an awesome Long River Lodge package and a beautifully-crafted multi-functional cabinet along with the ever-popular “O.C. Cheerleader for a Day”. In the Silent Auction segment, there will be a Natchez dinner cruise for four, children’s Cajun Mardi Gras costumes, jewelry, home décor and garden pieces, children’s items, unique gift baskets and gift certificates. O.C. parents and grandparents will be especially drawn to the precious class projects and baskets including handmade quilts, wooden crafts, books and calendars. In addition, top bidders may leave with “prime graduation seating” or an opportunity for their child to be “principal for a day”!

Upon entry with a dinner ticket, the tickets will be placed in a basket for a drawing later in the evening where there will be three chances to win one month’s free tuition for one child enrolled at Opelousas Catholic School.

Tickets at $30 per person are available in the O.C. Development Office, Piggly Wiggly on Heather Drive, St. Landry Homestead Bank, and Bodemuller the Printer. The dinner ticket price also includes water and soft drinks, while a cash bar is available for other beverages. Parents, grandparents, family and friends of Catholic education are invited to attend and enjoy this special evening.

Opelousas Catholic School - Open House

OC CORNER

This Thursday (Jan. 28th), Opelousas Catholic will hold a special Open House for family and friends to come in to see the school renovations and the new chapel. The school will be open to visitors from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time and the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church

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

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

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

During the homily, Monsignor Romero referenced paragraph 82 in the Compendium. This is in "The Profession of Faith", Section II, "The Profession of Christian Faith", Chapter 2, "I believe in Jesus Christ, the only son of God".

82. Why is Jesus called “Christ”?

436-440
453

“Christ” in Greek, “Messiah” in Hebrew, means the “anointed one”. Jesus is the Christ because he is consecrated by God and anointed by the Holy Spirit for his redeeming mission. He is the Messiah awaited by Israel, sent into the world by the Father. Jesus accepted the title of Messiah but he made the meaning of the term
clear: “come down from heaven” (John 3:13), crucified and then risen , he is the Suffering Servant “who gives his life as a ransom for the many” (Matthew 20:28). From the name Christ comes our name of Christian.

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. This week, The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our forty second podcast to be posted. This week, the homily is given by Monsignor J. Robert Romero.

So, take a listen and let us know what you think. Click here to download The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time homily from St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, Louisiana.

Forming Good Stewards

“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke: 4:21

Jesus, his parents and grandparents lived in the small town of Nazareth that had a population of about 400 people and would have fit inside the physical boundaries of an average sized parish. In the synagogue at Nazareth, after reading a passage from Isaiah, Jesus declared, “Today this passage is fulfilled in your hearing … The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” How would you react if someone you know in your parish stood up and said that? Now imagine the speaker says to you, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon you…” and you have been sent to do all of those things. As a result of our Baptism and Confirmation, the Spirit is upon us and we have an obligation to do all those things—and more.

Readings and Themes for the Week of January 24, 2010

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of January 24, 2010,
The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading I Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10

They read from the book of the Law and understood what was read.

Psalm 19

"Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life."

Reading II 1 Corinthians 12:12-30

We are Christ's body.

Gospel: Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21

Today the Scripture passage is fulfilled.

THEME:
Jesus is the one sent by God to save us.

Today we hear about the unrolling of two scrolls. For the Israelites, the scroll that contained the Law of the Lord was unrolled and read. The people bowed down in sadness as they came to realize that they had not lived lives in accordance with God’s law. In today’s Gospel, Jesus opens the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, announcing that its prophecy has been fulfilled in him. As the sacred word is proclaimed today—as our scroll that is our scripture is unrolled—let us welcome words that call us to greater union with Christ Jesus.

Question for Children:

Jesus is present to each of us in a different way.

Was there ever a time that you knew Jesus was with you?

Question for Youth:

What are some situations or places where you wish that Jesus was more visible?

Question for Adults:

Jesus came to bring glad tidings to the poor and set free the enslaved.

How has this mission of Christ in the world affected you personally?

Year of the Priest - Pray for Vocations

During this Year of the Priest, there have been a lot of prayers asking for young men to answer the call.

Today, Grant Desme, a 23 year old young man from Bakersfield, California and one of the top baseball prospects for Major League Baseball, has retired from professional baseball to enter the seminary. He was the MVP in the AFL as a player in the Oakland A's farm system, a home run hitting outfielder.

It's making for a large stir in the sports world today with headlines such as, "Top Prospect gives up Baseball for Priesthood" and "A's lose prospect to Higher League". But it is another sign that this Year of the Priest is producing great fruits.

Bulletin for the Weekend of January 24, 2010

The bulletin for the weekend of January 24, 2010 has been posted. Click here to see it.

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

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

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

23rd Annual Walk for Life

January 22, 2010 marks the 37th year we have allowed God’s innocent unborn children to be legally destroyed by abortion in our country.

St. Landry Right to Life invites you to show support and respect for ALL life, born and unborn, elderly, or handicapped.

Come join our 23rd. Annual Walk for Life on Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 @10:00am at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church.

All faiths and groups are invited and encouraged to participate in the Walk for Life.

Bring the Family and Take A Stand for Life!!!

For more information, contact John or Jeri Miller @ 948-9559

Friend us on Facebook

We're on Facebook!

Actually, St. Landry Catholic Church has been on Facebook for a few months and we already have over 30 friends! If you are active on Facebook, "Friend" us and you can stay up to date on events, news, and website updates.

Click here to see our Facebook page.

Praying during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Joining the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

January 18-25, 2010

By Monsignor J. Robert Romero

This year’s theme is “You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:48)

The year 2010 is the hundredth anniversary of the 1910 World Mission Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland. This conference marked the beginnings of the modern ecumenical movement.

At the 1910 conference chapter 24 of St. Luke’s gospel was read.

To mark the centenary of the conference in this year’s, material jointly prepared and published by The Pontifical Council for Christian Unity and The Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches, suggest we use biblical passages from chapter 24 of St. Luke’s gospel as prayer during the week. Please start these prayers tomorrow, January 18, 2010.

These passages are:

1. Day 1 Monday – “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:17)


2. Day 2 Tuesday – “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” (Luke 24:17)


3. Day 3 Wednesday – “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” (Luke 24:18)


4. Day 4 Thursday – “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth.” (Luke 24:19)


5. Day 5 Friday – “Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:26)


6. Day 6 Saturday – “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:2)


7. Day 7 Sunday – “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?” (Luke 24:38)


8. Day 8 Monday – “Have you anything here to eat?” (Luke 24:41)

(These scripture quotations are from The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible)

We can on each day close our scripture with a prayer used in the 1910 Conference:

Take us from where we are, to where you want us to be make us not merely guardians of a heritage but living signs of your coming Kingdom, fire us with passion for justice and peace between all people, fill us with that faith, hope and love which embody the Gospel, and through the power of the Holy Spirit make us one. That the world may believe, that your name may be enthroned in our nation, that your church may more effectively be your body, we commit ourselves to love you, serve you, and follow you as pilgrims not strangers.

SOURCE ON THE INTERNET: www.vatican.va – The Roman Curia, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Spiritual Ecumenism at the International Level [Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: 18-25 January]

Forming Good Stewards

Marriage at Cana by Mattia Preti circa 1660

“Do whatever He tells you!” John 2:1-11

The Bible records four times when Mary speaks:

1. At the Annunciation she concludes by saying, “May it be done unto me according to your word.” Luke 1:34, 38.



2. When she visits Elizabeth, she proclaims the Magnificat. Luke 1:46-55



3. Then Mary scolds Jesus for staying behind in Jerusalem. Luke 2:48



4. Mary’s last words in the Bible are at the wedding feast at Cana. She says to Jesus, “They have no more wine”; then to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you!” John 2:3, 5.

Mary is a woman of few words, [a total of 175 words recorded in the Bible]. But what powerful words they are!

From “May it be done unto me according to your word,” to “Do whatever He tells you!” she gives us a model of faith, courage and openness to the will of God. She challenges us to listen to Jesus in prayer and to do whatever He tells us, to become all that God created us to be.

What is such a “woman of a few words” telling us to today? Probably: “Do whatever He tells you!”

The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time and the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church

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

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

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

During the homily, Monsignor Romero referenced paragraphs 79 and 80 in the Compendium. These are in "The Profession of Faith", Section II, "The Profession of Christian Faith", Chapter 2, "I believe in Jesus Christ, the only son of God".

79. What is the Good News for humanity?

422-424

It is the proclamation of Jesus Christ, the “Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16), who died and rose from the dead. In the time of King Herod and the Emperor Caesar Augustus, God fulfilled the promises that he made to Abraham and his descendants. He sent “his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4-5).

80. How is the Good News spread?

425-429

From the very beginning the first disciples burned with the desire to proclaim Jesus Christ in order to lead all to faith in him. Even today, from the loving knowledge of Christ there springs up in the believer the desire to evangelize and catechize, that is, to reveal in the Person of Christ the entire design of God and to put humanity in communion with him.

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. This week, The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our forty first podcast to be posted. This week, the homily is given by Monsignor J. Robert Romero.

So, take a listen and let us know what you think. Click here to download The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time homily from St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, Louisiana.

The Crux Vaticana - Update

Photo by the AP.

About 2 months ago, I first posted an entry on the Crux Vaticana. But what is new today is a video with more detail about this great treasure at the Vatican from Rome Reports. See the video at the end of this posting.

The Crux Vaticana has been restored and will soon be displayed.

It is a reliquary containing fragments of the True Cross and was given to the people of Rome by Byzantine Emperor Justin II over 1500 years ago. It's considered to be the oldest reliquary of the cross. It's approximately a foot high and has been used in masses and ceremonies around Easter and Christmas.

An anonymous donor funded the restoration. It will be publicly displayed within St. Peter's Basilica starting on April 12. More info at the AP article can be found by clicking here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY9wMpCQ3gs