Thoughts and Updates from Monsignor J. Robert Romero

Cemetery

I was reminded that it was on June 22, 2005 that Father Gene Tremie and I woke up in two different towns, he in Ville Platte and I in Opelousas - Father Tremie, the 25th Pastor of St. Landry Catholic Church; I the 26th Pastor of St. Landry Catholic Church. Father Tremie coached me on a particular need. After putting a new layer of asphalt on the church parking lot, Father Gene told me that he thought the cemetery roads should be asphalted. I told Father Tremie, “I have never been in St. Landry’s Cemetery.” So the first morning as Pastor, I visited the cemetery. It did not take a rocket scientist to agree, the cemetery needed asphalting. So we were able to get the project accomplished before the Cemetery Tours in October.

I did not realize how much an improvement it made to our historic cemetery. Over the years, as I walked to check things out in the cemetery, I realized how beneficial the asphalting is. Visiting the cemetery is easier and its appearance is more attractive. [The appearance is also enhanced with the refurbishment of the fence on Union Street. This was accomplished in the Fall of 2009.]

Mausoleum

At the same time, I noticed the Mausoleum needed attention. I was able to get someone to give it a good cleaning. But that was not enough. It needed more maintenance. In one section the terrazzo floor sank. The curb was falling off in some places. The roof was leaking. The paint was coming off. It needed a good refurbishment. It took a while, as we experienced hurricanes by the names of Katrina, Rita, and Gustav. I wanted a company to do refurbishment who builds mausoleums. So, we were able to get Architectural Concrete Products, Inc. of Gretna, Louisiana to do it. They work for Acme Mausoleum Company. Architectural Concrete is the only company in Louisiana with the specialty to build mausoleums. They did a very good job in refurbishment. The total cost of the project was $31,200. We paid $26,792.30 and borrowed $4,407.70 to complete the payment.

Property and Liability Insurance

Now you may think I am a little cheap. I am conscious of the fact that we need $39,000 to pay the Property and Liability Insurance in July. At this time we have a little over this amount in savings. I am not complaining. I just make a point, income and expenses are not always on the same page. It is not unlike many people’s personal finances. We have to put aside for some bills and wait to pay other bills. The church survives financially from Sunday’s to Sunday’s collection. Many people survive from pay check to pay check. Many of us depend on God from week to week. Our church buildings are big. So our Insurance reflects our condition.

Valentin Hall

Now let me update in regard to Valentin Hall. This is the old convent built in the 1950’s. We use it as our Office and Family Life Center. It is a strong building. It is a beautiful building. Over time, repainting was done inside the building. This winter, with the severe winter, we began work in the cemetery later than usual. We used the time to continue repainting. We repainted two halls, and the east room (yellow room) and the north room (green room). As we continued, we noticed moisture was coming through the walls. We stopped painting in the north room, thinking we should stop painting until we correct the moisture coming through the walls.

So as Father Tremie coached me about the cemetery roads, I now coach Father Brady about Valentin Hall. Contractor and consulting architect advise we begin with the roof and facia repairs at the same time. I also think that we should do water sealing of the bricks so it is complete. This will be difficult for us to do financially as our Property and Liability Insurance takes up most of our savings. We are advised that while the shingles on the roof are asbestos, (at this time) the rules of abatement for roofs are not as complicated as other asbestos abatement. Valentin Hall and the car garage are both in need of attention. This is going to be one of Father Brady’s concerns.

Hearing Assistance

Some parishioners tell me they sometimes have difficulty hearing at mass. We recently installed a special broadcasting device that uses the airwaves to broadcast what is said and sung in church. It is like a radio for inside church. To benefit from this hearing assistance, one needs a receiver with ear pieces. Some who tried this hearing assistance found it helpful, some did not. As we get receivers, we will let parishioners know. The receiver will need to be purchased by the person who will use it and be responsible for replacing the battery in the receiver. The cost of the receiver is to be announced.

Other Items

Now other items were accomplished, namely: We improved our air conditioning in church with a new compressor. We beautified the liturgy with new altar server’s vestments. We refurbished some church vessels. We installed a new bell management software. We have a Father Lafleur shrine in church and monument in front of church. We have a new church website with the weekly bulletin and Sunday homily. We are on facebook and twitter. We have a Father Lafleur website. We did some painting in the rectory but more attention needs to be done. We began a parish outreach ministry, ministry fair, and International Dinner. An item that is still on-going is the work Mr. Lee LeJeune is doing indexing our sacramental records and checking the quality of our digital copies of these records. When he completes the project, we will be more effective in using computers to do archival research.

Our Greatest Resource

Our greatest resource is our parishioners. I find we have great parishioners who are dedicated and talented. We have parishioners who are very spiritual and who are very alive with God. However, we may be working on legacy and not on reality. We are no longer a church parish with 2,000 plus families. We are a smaller church parish whose parishioners number around 800 families. We give around 500 communions a weekend. With our large church building, we are spreading ourselves as a congregation too thin. The 5:00 p.m. mass is attended by a vast majority of non-parishioners from whom we have difficulty finding altar servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of communion and musicians. There are not many parishioners attending this mass. We have a strong need for our parishioners to know each other and to appreciate each other. We are a small integrated congregation who is spread out among four masses and who is busy with life. [When we divide 800 families by 4 masses we have 200 families per mass, in a big church building.] Even young families with both parents working have a difficult time organizing their family life with church. If we can continue inviting and welcoming, we may see growth in our church life. Let us continue reaching out to each other and seek to grow in the love of Jesus Christ.

Please Keep Growing

Keep coming to Christ as He calls us to deeper conversion of life and to greater love of Him and neighbor, to greater love with each other. Let us follow Jesus’ Way and become parishioners of whom people say of us, “See how they love each other.”

PRAYER

Almighty God, you made St. Landry an outstanding exemplar of Divine love and faith that conquers the world and added him to the role of saintly pastors. Grant by his intercession that we may persevere in faith and love, and become sharers with St. Landry in your glory. We ask this through Christ Lord. Amen.

Readings and Themes for the Week of June 20, 2010

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of June 20, 2010,
Twelfth Sunday

Reading I Zechariah 12:10-11, 13:1

He was pierced for our sins.

Psalm 63

“My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God”.

Reading II Galatians 3:26-29

We are children of God in Christ Jesus.

Gospel Luke 9:18-24

Take up the cross.

THEME:

Filled with the Holy Spirit, John the Baptist spread the good news of Jesus

We take up again the Sunday-by-Sunday reading through the Gospel according to Luke that was interrupted by Lent and Eastertime. We find ourselves at a great crescendo in the Gospel as Peter identifies Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus throws cold water on this declaration of faith by reminding the disciples about the Messiah’s sorrowful fate. And the followers of the Messiah must share this fate.

Questions of the week

Question for Children:

How can you follow the example of John the Baptist and tell others about Jesus this week?

Question for Youth:

John the Baptist was sent ahead to prepare people for Jesus’ message.

How does your life, including your words and actions, help others to know what it means to be a follower of Jesus?

Question for Adults:

What can you do this week to spread the good news about Jesus?

Bulletin Bites
"But who do you say I am?"

Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do the crowds say that I am”? They respond with several names or possibilities. Then Jesus asked, “But who you say that I am”? Now the question is personal. To answer they must reveal what is in their heart and head.

Peter said, “You are the Messiah of God”. That took great faith and courage.

The implications were enormous: Jesus wastes no time in bluntly telling them that the “Son of Man” was going to suffer, be rejected by the authorities: killed and rise on the third day.” Jesus leaves nothing to the imagination. Then he adds what his closest friends were most afraid to hear:

“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me”. We may be relieved that we were not present with Jesus two thousand years ago. But Jesus is present with us today—in the Eucharist, in His Church. He asks each of us, “Who do you say that I am”?

How do you answer him? Are we willing to accept the consequences?

Bulletin for the Week of June 20, 2010

The bulletin for the week of June 20, 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.

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

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

Today, during his homily, Monsignor Romero referenced the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. These are a wonderful references to Catholic teaching.

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 questions 422 thru 423 of the Compendium. Then, Monsignor referenced paragraphs 1993 thru 1995 in the Catechism.

First, the Compendium:

422. What is justification?

1987-1995
2017-2020

Justification is the most excellent work of God's love. It is the merciful and freely-given act of God which takes away our sins and makes us just and holy in our whole being. It is brought about by means of the grace of the Holy Spirit which has been merited for us by the passion of Christ and is given to us in Baptism. Justification is the beginning of the free response of man, that is, faith in Christ and of cooperation with the grace of the Holy Spirit.

423. What is the grace that justifies?

1996-1998
2005
2021

That grace is the gratuitous gift that God gives us to make us participants in his trinitarian life and able to act by his love. It is called habitual, sanctifying or deifying grace because it sanctifies and divinizes us. It is supernatural because it depends entirely on God’s gratuitous initiative and surpasses the abilities of the intellect and the powers of human beings. It therefore escapes our experience.

And now, the Catechism.


1993 Justification establishes cooperation between God's grace and man's freedom. On man's part it is expressed by the assent of faith to the Word of God, which invites him to conversion, and in the cooperation of charity with the prompting of the Holy Spirit who precedes and preserves his assent:

When God touches man's heart through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, man himself is not inactive while receiving that inspiration, since he could reject it; and yet, without God's grace, he cannot by his own free will move himself toward justice in God's sight.

1994 Justification is the most excellent work of God's love made manifest in Christ Jesus and granted by the Holy Spirit. It is the opinion of St. Augustine that "the justification of the wicked is a greater work than the creation of heaven and earth," because "heaven and earth will pass away but the salvation and justification of the elect . . . will not pass away." He holds also that the justification of sinners surpasses the creation of the angels in justice, in that it bears witness to a greater mercy.


1995 The Holy Spirit is the master of the interior life. By giving birth to the "inner man," justification entails the sanctification of his whole being:

Just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification. . . . But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life.

Homily for the Eleventh 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 --- one year ago. This week, the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our seventieth 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 Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time homily from St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, Louisiana.

Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Sacred Heart of Jesus from Valentin Chapel, donated by Nita Vandergriff David and Children

Today is the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Below, you'll find instructions to pray the Chaplet of the Sacred Heart.

The Chaplet Of The Sacred Heart Of Jesus

On the Crucifix say:

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.

Body of Christ, save me.

Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me! Passion of Christ, strengthen me! O good Jesus, hear me. Within Your wounds, hide me. Permit me not be separated from You. From the malignant enemy, defend me. At the hour of death, call me and bid me come to You; that with Your Saints, I may praise You forever and ever. Amen.

On each of the large beads say:

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I implore that I may ever love You more and more. (say this once)

On each of the small beads say:

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You! (say this 10x)

At the end of each set of small beads say:

Sacred Heart of Jesus be my salvation! (say this once)

At the end of each decade:

Mary, Mother of God, be my love.

At the conclusion say:

May the Heart of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament be blessed, adored and loved with grateful affection at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. Amen.

We'll miss our Monsignor Romero

Monsignor J. Robert Romero with Father Jared Suire, a former seminarian who was assigned to St. Landry Catholic Church, at Father Suire's First Mass at St. Therese in Abbeville, Louisiana, June 6, 2010

Monsignor J. Robert Romero, our Monsignor, is being assigned to St. Anthony Padua in Eunice, Louisiana. We all have heavy hearts as we tell him goodbye and wish him well in his new assignment. After only 5 years, Bishop Jarrell needs him in another parish and, though we are sad to lose him, we understand that this is part of the life of a priest within our Church.

This Sunday, after 10 AM mass, we'll be having a party in his honor. Please join us at the Knights of Columbus Hall next to Roy Motors right near St. Landry Catholic Church here in Opelousas, Louisiana.

His last mass will be the 5 PM Sunday Mass on June 20th. There, he wil install our new pastor, Father James Brady.

From Monsignor J. Robert Romero:

As announced last weekend, I am being transferred to Eunice and Duralde. Bishop Jarrell has asked me to be the Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Eunice and Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Duralde. That is right, two (2) church parishes. Bishop Jarrell has appointed Father James Brady to be Pastor of St. Landry Parish in Opelousas. The date that the appointments are effective is on June 22, 2010.

God challenged me on Friday, May 21, 2010. The gospel reading for the mass on that day (Friday of Seventh Week of Easter, Year II) was John 21:15-19. It is the gospel where Jesus asks Peter three times “do you love me?” Peter says, “Yes, Lord …” Jesus answers“, Feed my sheep.” Then Jesus ends by saying, “Follow me.”

As I was giving the homily, I realized the homily was for me. Jesus is the gateway to love. When we love Jesus, Jesus gives us something to do. In the doing, we follow Him. Bishop Jarrell’s request was an opportunity to accept Jesus’ love and then respond in love. It also becomes for me a time of pruning selfishness out of my life and letting love grow more intense. However, it is not just me, it is all parishioners also being challenged by Jesus to love Him as Jesus gives us a task. Then Jesus says to us, “Follow me”. May we together ask Jesus, “Jesus, console us as we accept your invitation. Help us love you more intensely. Amen.” [We love Jesus first. Then Jesus gives us a task. When we do the task in love, we follow Jesus.]

Readings and Themes for the Week of June 13, 2010

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of June 13, 2010,
Eleventh Sunday

Reading I 2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13

The Lord forgives David’s sin.

Psalm 32

"Lord, forgive the wrong I have done."

Reading II Galatians 2:16, 19-21

Christ lives in me.

Gospel Luke 7:36—8:3 OR 7:36-50

Jesus forgives the woman's sins.

THEME:

Love rather than judge.

This first Sunday in the very long stretch of Ordinary Time that will bring us to the threshold of Advent roots us firmly in the Gospel of Saint Luke. Today we listen to the story of a meal that Jesus shares in the home of a Pharisee. At that meal, the Lord has something to teach this Pharisee and something to teach us about the nature of the Eucharist. May today’s word be one of reconciliation and hope for each one of us and for our Church.

Questions of the week

Question for Children:

This week, how can you welcome someone in your neighborhood who is feeling left out?

Question for Youth:

Jesus was able to see the faith of the woman, even though she was a sinner.

Who is in need of your forgiveness, even though they have done you harm?

What is one way that you can offer forgiveness to someone in the weeks to come?

Question for Adults:

How can you show compassion toward the marginalized members of society today?

Bulletin Bites

"The one, I suppose, whose larger debt is forgiven."

Kenny Rogers sings a Country Western Song, “Oh Lord it is hard to be humble when you are perfect in every way”. Could it be our theme song? Is the fact that we might be mistaken or wrong pretty far down on our list of possibilities? And we are proud of that? The ability to admit that we are in error or have done evil does not come easy. For many people, the three most difficult words are not “I love you”, but “I am wrong” and “I am sorry”. And there is the always difficult “I forgive you!” Contrary to the song by Kenny Rogers, true humility is the willingness to say, “I am wrong”! and “I am sorry!”, when necessary. And sometimes the best way we can give is to forgive. And the more we feel we have to forgive, the more we need to give. God gave us all that we have and are. Have we used all of god’s gifts as he intended? If not, have we said, “I am wrong” and “I am sorry”? Our God is an awesome God. He wants to say, “I forgive you”! in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. When was the last time we took advantage of that blessed Sacrament? Well, that is too long!

Summer Expressions

Look for God’s presence and gifts. See Jesus reflected in the faces, words, and actions of others. Know that your call to discipleship and stewardship commissions you to also imitate Christ in all aspects of daily living. Give yourself summer gifts of time for contemplation, prayer, and spiritual reading to enhance your relationship with God. Keep Mass attendance a priority throughout the summer months. Look for opportunities to “pay forward” kindnesses received from others. Gift others with caring words, acts of service and gracious hospitality.

Bulletin for the Week of June 13, 2010

The bulletin for the week of June 13, 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.

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

Feast of St. Landry is today, June 10

This is a reposting from the blog last year.


St. Landry’s feast day is today, June 10th. Who is St. Landry? St. Landry is a former Bishop of Paris, France, being consecrated Bishop of Paris in 650. On becoming Bishop of Paris, St. Landry saw the need of a proper institution for the care of the many sick poor of Paris. St. Landry built the first major hospital in Paris and dedicated it to St. Christopher. The hospital later changed its name to the Hotel-Dieu and is still open today. St. Landry is known for his generosity in times of famine and for his concern for the suffering poor. There are many stories that describe him selling off his possessions to help.

He is the patron of our church parish as well as our civil parish here in Opelousas, Louisiana. The Landry name is also a common surname for Cajun families in south Louisiana.

A Prayer:

Almighty God, you made St. Landry an outstanding exemplar of Divine love and faith that conquers the world and added him to the role of saintly pastors. Grant by his intercession that we may persevere in faith and love, and become shares with St. Landry in your glory. We ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.

New Father Lafleur book featured in the Opelousas Daily World

We had a nice visit with the authors of the new book, "But He Dies Not", written by Pete Guerra and Suzanne Dore Guerra last week. In the coming weeks, I'll be posting video of interviews with them. The book is scheduled for release this summer.

There was a wonderful article on them in the Opelousas Daily World that you can find by clicking here.

Don't forget ... the Father Lafleur website can be found at http://fatherlafleur.org/

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ 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 Catechism is a wonderful reference to Catholic teaching.

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 questions 282 thru 286 of the Compendium.

282. How is Christ present in the Eucharist?

1373-1375
1413

Jesus Christ is present in the Eucharist in a unique and incomparable way. He is present in a true, real and substantial way, with his Body and his Blood, with his Soul and his Divinity. In the Eucharist, therefore, there is present in a sacramental way, that is, under the Eucharistic species of bread and wine, Christ whole and entire, God and Man.

283. What is the meaning of transubstantiation?

1376-1377
1413

Transubstantiation means the change of the whole substance of bread into the substance of the Body of Christ and of the whole substance of wine into the substance of his Blood. This change is brought about in the eucharistic prayer through the efficacy of the word of Christ and by the action of the Holy Spirit. However, the outward characteristics of bread and wine, that is the “eucharistic species”, remain unaltered.

284. Does the breaking of the bread divide Christ?

1377

The breaking of the bread does not divide Christ. He is present whole and entire in each of the eucharistic species and in each of their parts.

285. How long does the presence of Christ last in the Eucharist?

1377

The presence of Christ continues in the Eucharist as long as the eucharistic species subsist.

286. What kind of worship is due to the sacrament of the Eucharist?

1378-1381
1418

The worship due to the sacrament of the Eucharist, whether during the celebration of the Mass or outside it, is the worship of latria, that is, the adoration given to God alone. The Church guards with the greatest care Hosts that have been consecrated. She brings them to the sick and to other persons who find it impossible to participate at Mass. She also presents them for the solemn adoration of the faithful and she bears them in processions. The Church encourages the faithful to make frequent visits to adore the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle.

Homily for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

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 --- one year ago. This week, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, is our sixty ninth 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 Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ homily from St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, Louisiana.

Readings and Themes for the Week of June 06, 2010

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of June 06, 2010,
Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Reading I Genesis 14:18-20

Over bread and wine, the mysterious Melchizedek blessed the Lord.

Psalm 110

"You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek."

Reading II Corinthians 11:23-26

Every time we eat the Lord's body and drink his blood, we proclaim his life giving death.

Gospel Luke 9:11b-17

The feeding of the multitudes.

THEME:

Jesus continues to offer himself to us and feed us in the Holy Eucharist.

The miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes stands as a reminder to us of the abundance of God’s generosity. As we listen to this remarkable story, let us ask God to do what may seem impossible to us, just as the feeding of the multitudes seemed impossible to the disciples. The things that seem so out of reach---world peace, justice of the oppressed, ood for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, an end to terrorism----can become a reality when we become what today’s festival calls us to become: the very body of Christ sent forth to a hungry world.

Questions of the week

Question for Children:

How can you share what you have received from Jesus with others this week?

Question for Youth:

Each week when we celebrate the Holy Eucharist, we are asked to "do this in remembrance of me".

How else do you acknowledge the importance of Jesus in your life?

Through prayer? Through the ways that you treat others?

Question for Adults:

How can you prepare yourself to be nourished by Jesus in the Eucharist this week?

Bulletin Bites

“He said the blessing over them (the fishes and the loaves), broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd." Luke 9:11b-17

None of the Gospels tells the exact details of how four or five thousand men, plus women and children, are fed with a few loaves and two fish. The Church teaches us that the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fish was a prefiguration of the Body and Blood of Jesus. But let us consider another miracle, just as great. Jesus knew the Semitic ethic that required people to share with others. He knew people carried food and wine under their garments, but refrained from taking it out for fear others had not brought their own. Note that Jesus blessed the loaves and fish and gave them away. He did not keep any for himself. Did people see his generous act and decide to share what they had with one another? In the context of God’s gifts to us of reason and free will—the ability to choose to be generous or not to be generous, what is the greater miracle: multiplication of loaves and fish, or multiplication of generous hearts? Which makes us a greater witness to the Real Presence of the Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist?

Summer Expressions

Think back to the time(s) you first felt loved. How did you notice the feeling? What circumstances gave you the awareness of another’s care and connection to you? How has your sense of being loved grown over time? Using your personal experiences, in what ways do you show others your care and love in daily life and in special ways?

Bulletin for the Week of June 06, 2010

The bulletin for the week of June 06, 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.

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

The Holy Father's Prayer Intentions for June 2010

Pope Benedict XVI prays at the tomb of the shepherd children at the end of a mass at the Catholic shrine of Fatima in central Portugal, May 13, 2010. Thousands of pilgrims made their way to the Fatima Shrine to attend a mass by Pope Benedict XVI to mark the 93rd anniversary celebrations of the first appearance of the Virgin Mary to three shepherd children in 1917. Picture taken May 13, 2010. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for June 2010 is:

"That every national and trans-national institution may strive to guarantee respect for human life from conception to natural death."

His mission intention is:

"That the Churches in Asia, which constitute a 'little flock' among non-Christina populations, may know how to communicate the Gospel and give joyful witness to their adherence to Christ".

Homily for the Feast of the Holy Trinity

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 --- one year ago. This week, the Feast of the Holy Trinity, is our sixty eighth podcast to be posted. This week, the homily is given by Monsignor J. Robert Romero.

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

Bulletin for the Week of May 30, 2010

The bulletin for the week of May 30, 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.

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

Readings and Themes for the Week of May 30, 2010

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of May 30, 2010,
Feast of the Most Holy Trinity

Reading Proverbs 8:22-31

Holy Wisdom is God's playmate, God's creative companion.

Psalm 8

"O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!"

Reading II Romans 5:1-5

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one in perfect communication.

THEME:

God is Love

Today we listen to words that reveal the marvelous works of our God --- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, our hearts are opened to the transforming love of our God. Let our attentiveness to the sacred word be a sign of our praise and gratitude to God for sending the Lord Jesus to be our redeemer and friend.

Questions of the week

Question for Children:

God fills us with love.

This week, how will you show your family----your mom, dad, brothers, sisters, grandparents, cousins — that you love them as God loves them?

Question for Youth:

When Jesus left the world, He sent the Holy Spirit to be with us.

Have you ever given something important to someone else as a sign of your love for them?

Have you ever experienced the Holy Spirit as a similar gift to you?

Question for Adults:

Today we celebrate the relationship of love among the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

In what similar community of love do you live?

Bulletin Bites

“Everything the Father has is mine….” John 16:12-15

We live in a world in which the spirit of competition is so strong that it is difficult for some people to acknowledge that they are not solely responsible for their achievements. We can be very presumptuous. Yet the manner in which we speak the words and phrases we use, our tone and dialect, come from the people who raise us, or from teachers who help us learn another way. People who are successful in business or sports owe much to the teachers, coaches, teammates, supervisors and co-workers who helped them on their journey to success.

The intimate, albeit mysterious, union of the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity, and our union with Jesus, is reflected in the words of Jesus, “Everything the Father has is mine, for this reason I told you He will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” Do we demonstrate in the way we live that everything we have comes from God, belongs to God, and is intended to be used for ourselves and for others? Does our life reflect our gratitude to our Triune God for all that we have, are, and ever will be?

Summer Expressions

Ponder the daily activities surrounding a vocation as a priest, and as either a father or mother to a family. Pray that each may faithfully honor his or her vows/roles, accept responsibility, reflect love, and serve with a willingness to respond as called and needed.

The Parachuting Padre

There is a beautiful article about Archbishop Hannan today ... http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2010/05/archbishop_hannan_has_seen_it.html

A few years ago, he was the main celebrant for the Father Lafleur anniversary mass. I didn't take any photos that day ... I really couldn't ... because I was so focused on watching and hearing everything this great man said and did that day.

He is truly an inspiration.

New Father Lafleur website

Last week, we teased that something new was coming this Pentecost. On Pentecost each year, we've done something new on the website and the blog to get the Good News out into the world. Last year, we added recordings of homilies to the website ... podcasts. This year, we have a new website to announce!

The new website is called http://fatherlafleur.org/ and it is the official website to promote the cause of Lieutenant Joseph Verbis Lafleur. At the website, you can find biography information along with a timeline of Father Lafleur's life. There is a page for the latest News and Events. There is a detailed page on the monument in front of St. Landry Catholic Church that honors the memory of Father Lafleur, sculpted by Italian artist Franco Alessandrini .. his website is here: http://www.francoalessandrini.net/ On the monument page, there is a 3D model of the statue that allows you to zoom in/zoom out and "spin" the statue around for more detailed looking.

There is also a page that contains prayers, rosary meditations, downloadable prayer cards.

Lastly, there is a page on a new book on Father Lafleur's life, "But He Dies Not". This book, written by Lieutenant Colonel Peter Joseph Guerra and Suzanne Dore' Guerra and published by Andrepont Printing, is the most detailed book ever written about Father Lafleur's life. It contains detailed information from Father Lafleur's childhood, his time in the seminary, and his early years as a priest in Abbeville. The book contains details of his military service from eyewitnesses who survived and saw the courage of Father Lafleur even as he gave the ultimate sacrifice.

The book should be published sometime this summer and we'll update you with information as it becomes available.

Check out the new website here http://fatherlafleur.org/  and we'll let you know as new updates on the book as well as other events come along.

The Solemnity of Pentecost and the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Today, during his homily, Monsignor Romero referenced the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Catechism is a wonderful reference to Catholic teaching.

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 1103 and 1105 of the Catechism.

1103 Anamnesis. The liturgical celebration always refers to God's saving interventions in history. "The economy of Revelation is realized by deeds and words which are intrinsically bound up with each other. . . . [T]he words for their part proclaim the works and bring to light the mystery they contain."22 In the Liturgy of the Word the Holy Spirit "recalls" to the assembly all that Christ has done for us. In keeping with the nature of liturgical actions and the ritual traditions of the churches, the celebration "makes a remembrance" of the marvelous works of God in an anamnesis which may be more or less developed. The Holy Spirit who thus awakens the memory of the Church then inspires thanksgiving and praise (doxology).

1105 The Epiclesis ("invocation upon") is the intercession in which the priest begs the Father to send the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, so that the offerings may become the body and blood of Christ and that the faithful by receiving them, may themselves become a living offering to God.

Homily for the Solemnity of Pentecost

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 --- one year ago. This week, the Solemnity of Pentecost, is our sixty seventh podcast to be posted. This week, the homily is given by Monsignor J. Robert Romero.

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

Readings and Themes for the Week of May 23, 2010

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of May 23, 2010,
Solemnity of Pentecost

Reading Acts 2:1-11

As on Sinai, the Lord descends in fire and wind.

Psalm 104

"Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth."

Reading II 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13

The Spirit calls the baptized to ministry for the common good.

OR Romans 8:8-18

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

Gospel: John 20:19-23

On the first day of the week, the risen Christ imparts the Holy Spirit.

OR: John 14:15-16,23b-26

The Holy Spirit will teach you everything.

THEME:

God's breath, the Holy Spirit, gives us true life and peace.

Throughout the history of salvation, God’s spirit has breathed upon all creation, bringing life and renewal. Today we remember those events and pray for an ever more generous outpouring of that same Spirit. Let this holy place resound with the prayer of our responsorial psalm, “Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth”.

Questions of the week

Question for Children:

Jesus tells us that we need to forgive to have peace.

What is one way that you can forgive a friend or classmate?

Question for Youth:

St. Paul tells that we all have unique gifts for the good of others.

What is special about you?

How can you use those gifts to help others --- family, friends, and strangers?

Question for Adults:

Even as working disciples of Christ, we are given the gift of peace.

How do you experience this gift and how do you share it with others?

Forming Good Stewards

"To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit."

It has been seven weeks and one day since Easter Sunday. It is Pentecost [from the Greek word for “fiftieth”], the day on which the Holy Spirit encourages the Apostles to proclaim Jesus Christ to people from many nations, cultures, languages and religious beliefs. Each person heard the Apostles in their own tongue. Amazing! Even more amazing is that people with a variety of religious beliefs came to believe in Jesus. Later Paul writes to Christians in Corinth, a seaport city with people from many nations, cultures, languages, and religious beliefs. He tells them something so obvious we often forget it: Each of us is a person with a unique array of talents, abilities, and gifts that God has given to us to use for ourselves and for others. Material wealth, intelligence, artistic talent, athletic ability, the gift of music, and many others—God intends for us to enjoy them ourselves and to share them with others. How are we doing with that? One day God will ask.

Bulletin for the Week of May 23, 2010

The bulletin for the week of May 23, 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.

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

Code Red - Wear Red this Sunday

This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, May 23. It's the anniversary of the posting of podcasts of the Sunday homilies on the St. Landry Catholic Church website. We hope you've enjoyed them. The choice of the birthday of our Church as the date to start was not a coincidence. And, we hope to introduce new things again on this Pentecost in order to spread the message of Catholicism around the world.

The liturgical color for Pentecost Sunday is red. Perhaps everyone could consider wearing some red item ... a dress, a shirt, a tie, a purse ... in recognition of the birthday of Holy Mother, the Church and in support of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.

Below, Pentecost Window, St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, Louisiana

Homily for the Ascension of the Lord

Homilies are now available to download and listen to!

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

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

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

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

Mass of Confirmation, May 16, 2010, 10 AM with celebrant Bishop Michael Jarrell

The Mass of Confirmation will be celebrated May 16, 2010, 10 AM with celebrant Bishop Michael Jarrell at St. Landry Catholic Church.

From the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the topic of Confirmation:

265. What place does Confirmation have in the divine plan of salvation?

1285-1288
1315

In the Old Testament, the prophets announced that the Spirit of the Lord would rest on the awaited Messiah and on the entire messianic people. The whole life and mission of Jesus were carried out in total communion with the Holy Spirit. The apostles received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and proclaimed “the great works of God” (Acts 2:11). They gave the gift of the same Spirit to the newly baptized by the laying on of hands. Down through the centuries, the Church has continued to live by the Spirit and to impart him to her children.

268. What is the effect of Confirmation?

1302-1305
1316-1317

The effect of Confirmation is a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit like that of Pentecost. This outpouring impresses on the soul an indelible character and produces a growth in the grace of Baptism. It roots the recipient more deeply in divine sonship, binds him more firmly to Christ and to the Church and reinvigorates the gifts of the Holy Spirit in his soul. It gives a special strength to witness to the Christian faith.

Consecration of Priests to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Pope Benedict XVI holds a rosary as he prays at Fatima's Sanctuary, Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at a candle light vigil. The Pope arrived Tuesday for a four-day visit to Portugal.(AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

 The Holy Father is currently in Fatima, Portugal for the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. Yesterday, during this Year for Priests, he has entrusted and consecrated all of the world's priests to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, invoking her maternal protection on them. After Vesper prayers last night, he prayed the following prayer as part of that consecration:

Act of Entrustment and Consecration of Priests to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Prayer of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

Church of the Most Holy Trinity - Fatima

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Immaculate Mother,

in this place of grace,

called together by the love of your Son Jesus

the Eternal High Priest, we,

sons in the Son and his priests,

consecrate ourselves to your maternal Heart,

in order to carry out faithfully the Father’s Will.

We are mindful that, without Jesus,

we can do nothing good (cf. Jn 15:5)

and that only through him, with him and in him,

will we be instruments of salvation

for the world.

Bride of the Holy Spirit,

obtain for us the inestimable gift

of transformation in Christ.

Through the same power of the Spirit that

overshadowed you,

making you the Mother of the Saviour,

help us to bring Christ your Son

to birth in ourselves too.

May the Church

be thus renewed by priests who are holy,

priests transfigured by the grace of him

who makes all things new.

Mother of Mercy,

it was your Son Jesus who called us

to become like him:

light of the world and salt of the earth

(cf. Mt 5:13-14).

Help us,

through your powerful intercession,

never to fall short of this sublime vocation,

nor to give way to our selfishness,

to the allurements of the world

and to the wiles of the Evil One.

Preserve us with your purity,

guard us with your humility

and enfold us with your maternal love

that is reflected in so many souls

consecrated to you,

who have become for us

true spiritual mothers.

Mother of the Church,

we priests want to be pastors

who do not feed themselves

but rather give themselves to God for their brethren,

finding their happiness in this.

Not only with words, but with our lives,

we want to repeat humbly,

day after day,

Our “here I am”.

Guided by you,

we want to be Apostles

of Divine Mercy,

glad to celebrate every day

the Holy Sacrifice of the Altar

and to offer to those who request it

the sacrament of Reconciliation.

Advocate and Mediatrix of grace,

you who are fully immersed

in the one universal mediation of Christ,

invoke upon us, from God,

a heart completely renewed

that loves God with all its strength

and serves mankind as you did.

Repeat to the Lord

your efficacious word:

“They have no wine” (Jn 2:3),

so that the Father and the Son will send upon us

a new outpouring of

the Holy Spirit.

Full of wonder and gratitude

at your continuing presence in our midst,

in the name of all priests

I too want to cry out:

“Why is this granted me,

that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Lk 1:43).

Our Mother for all time,

do not tire of “visiting us”,

consoling us, sustaining us.

Come to our aid

and deliver us from every danger

that threatens us.

With this act of entrustment and consecration,

we wish to welcome you

more deeply, more radically,

for ever and totally

into our human and priestly lives.

Let your presence cause new blooms to burst forth

in the desert of our loneliness,

let it cause the sun to shine on our darkness,

let it restore calm after the tempest,

so that all mankind shall see the salvation

of the Lord,

who has the name and the face of Jesus,

who is reflected in our hearts,

for ever united to yours!

Amen!

Readings and Themes for the Week of May 16, 2010

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of May 16, 2010,
Ascension of the Lord

Reading Acts 1:1-11

The Lord Jesus ascends into a cloud.

Psalm 47

"God mounts his throne to shouts of joy, a blare of trumpets for the Lord."

Reading II Ephesians 1:17-23

Christ is the head of the church, where he is, we are to follow.

Gospel: Luke 24:46-53

Jesus commands us to go and baptize.

THEME:

Jesus ascends to heaven!

Throughout the fifty days of Easter, we have rejoiced in the resurrection of Christ. Today we listen to the story of his glorious ascension into heaven, where he intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father. As we listen to these words, let our hearts sing for joy, for the Risen Lord is truly with us in this holy place.

Questions of the week

Question for Children:

Jesus blessed the disciples and said He would be with them in a special way.

When was Jesus with you in a special way?

Question for Youth:

The disciples were filled with joy even though Jesus was leaving them.

Have you ever been joyful when you had to say goodbye to someone who was special to you?

What was the source of that joy?

Question for Adults:

How often we stand looking up at the sky to find God.

When did you see God present in your life this past week?

Bulletin for the Week of May 16, 2010

The bulletin for the week of May 16, 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.

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

A Prayer for Mother's Day

A Prayer for Mothers

All-loving God, we give thanks and praise for mothers young and old.

We pray for young mothers, who give life and count toes and tend to our every need. May they be blessed with patience and tenderness to care for their families and themselves with great joy.

We pray for our own mothers who have nurtured and cared for us. May they continue to guide in strong and gentle ways.

We remember mothers who are separated from their children because of war, poverty, or conflict. May they feel the loving embrace of our God who wipes every tear away.

We pray for women who are not mothers but still love and shape us with motherly care and compassion.

We remember mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers who are no longer with us but who live forever in our memory and nourish us with their love.

AMEN

The Sixth Sunday of Easter 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 Catechism is a wonderful reference to Catholic teaching.

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 question 144 of the Compendium.

144. What happened at Pentecost?

731-732
738

Fifty days after the Resurrection at Pentecost the glorified Jesus Christ poured out the Spirit in abundance and revealed him as a divine Person so that the Holy Trinity was fully manifest. The mission of Christ and of the Spirit became the mission of the Church which is sent to proclaim and spread the mystery of the communion of the Holy Trinity.

“We have seen the true Light, we have received the heavenly Spirit, we have found the true faith: we adore the indivisible Trinity, who has saved us.” (Byzantine Liturgy, Troparion of Vespers of Pentecost)

Homily for the Sixth Sunday of Easter

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 Sixth Sunday of Easter, is our sixty fifth podcast to be posted. This week, the homily is given by Monsignor J. Robert Romero.

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

Readings and Themes for the Week of May 09, 2010

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of May 09, 2010,
Sixth Sunday of Easter

Reading Acts 15:1-2,22-29

Faced with controversy, the disciples reach a decision under the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Psalm 67

"O God, let all the nations praise you!"

Reading II Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23

John sees the city of God illumined in splendor.

Gospel: John 14:23-29

Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit to guide his followers.

THEME:

The Holy Spirit instructs us in everything we do.

Keeping the Word that is Christ close to our hearts, we listen to the Lord promise his disciples that he will send them an Advocate. This Advocate, the Holy Spirit, opens our minds and hearts to receive the kind of love that comes only from God.

Questions of the week

Question for Children:

How do you experience the peace, which Christ offers us?

Question for Youth:

Jesus told us to trust in the Holy Spirit to help guide our lives.

How can you be open to what the Holy Spirit might say to you?

Question for Adults:

How do you experience the peace which Christ offers us?

Bulletin Bites
"I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb"

The Apostle John was banished to Patmos for refusing to give up his mission to bring Christ to all people. Patmos is a charming small island in the Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey where John wrote the Book of Revelations, a letter he addressed to the Seven Churches of Asia. Today they are on the western side of Turkey along the shores of the Dardenelles and the Agean Sea. John employs sinister images and applies coded references to people and groups to convey the beauty of the Love of God and to challenge disciples of Jesus to stay firm in the faith. He taught that God was not confined to a building, the temple in Jerusalem... Rather, Jesus, the Lamb, and all who believe in Him and imitate Him, are temples. This challenged the beliefs and threatened the livelihood of the Jewish leaders. John also challenges us to believe in God as the source of all that we have, all that we are, and all that we ever will be. Are we good stewards of all that God has given to us?

Bulletin for the Week of May 09, 2010

The bulletin for the week of May 09, 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.

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

St. Landry Bell featured in May edition of Country Roads Magazine

The St. Landry Bell has finally made it to Country Roads Magazine.

To read the article online, click here: http://www.countryroadsmagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2146:the-st-landry-church-bell&catid=134:news-a-noteworthies&Itemid=156

We're also featured on Page 9 in the print edition. If you're interested in picking up a copy of the magazine and want to see where it is available, click here: http://www.countryroadsmagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2145&Itemid=107

In Opelousas, you can pick up a copy at Back in Time (gifts and good food) from Ms. Wanda Juneau at 123 W Landry ... right across from the Court House. You can also pick it up at the St. Landry Tourist Commission, 131 W. Bellevue St --- in the old City Hall building on the Parish Court House square. Their website is here: http://cajuntravel.com/