Homily for Ash Wednesday

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, Ash Wednesday, is our forty 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 Ash Wednesday homily from St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, Louisiana.

The Beatitudes on a snowy day at St. Landry Catholic Church

We had a nice snow on Friday, February 12, 2010 at St. Landry Catholic Church.

This photo seems timely with the gospel over the weekend on the Beatitudes.

Saying goodbye to Alleluia

Today is the last Sunday that we sing the Alleluia. From Ash Wednesday and all through Lent, we give up the singing of the word that the choirs of angels use in adoration of God.

Through the season of Lent, we will focus on readings from the Old Testament that point to the coming of Christ. By not joining in the song of the angels, we remember the time before Jesus' great gift of salvation. For us now, it also helps us to focus on the second coming of Christ and our life to come in heaven.

When Easter Vigil arrives, and we again sing the Alleluia, we celebrate Christ risen and once again acknowledge how, in the mass, we are joined with the angels in heaven, praising God.

The Sixth 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 359 thru 362 in the Compendium. This section is called "Our Vocation to Beatitude". Beatitude means, "the state of supreme happiness".

359. How do we attain beatitude?

1716

We attain beatitude by virtue of the grace of Christ which makes us participants in the divine life. Christ in the Gospel points out to his followers the way that leads to eternal happiness: the beatitudes.

The grace of Christ also is operative in every person who, following a correct conscience, seeks and loves the true and the good and avoids evil.

360. Why are the beatitudes important for us?

1716-1717
1725-1726

The beatitudes are at the heart of Jesus’ preaching and they take up and fulfill the promises that God made starting with Abraham. They depict the very countenance of Jesus and they characterize authentic Christian life. They reveal the ultimate goal of human activity, which is eternal happiness.

361. What is the relationship between the beatitudes and our desire for happiness?

1718-1719

The beatitudes respond to the innate desire for happiness that God has placed in the human heart in order to draw us to himself. God alone can satisfy this desire.

362. What is eternal happiness?

1720-1724
1727-1729

It is the vision of God in eternal life in which we are fully “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4), of the glory of Christ and of the joy of the trinitarian life. This happiness surpasses human capabilities. It is a supernatural and gratuitous gift of God just as is the grace which leads to it. This promised happiness confronts us with decisive moral choices concerning earthly goods and urges us to love God above all things.

Homily for Sixth 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 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our forty 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 in Ordinary Time homily from St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, Louisiana.

Lenten Mission - February 22, 23, and 24

Lenten Mission at St. Landry Catholic Church
Monday Feb. 22, Tuesday Feb. 23, Wednesday Feb. 24
6:30 PM

Presenter: Father Jerome Neyrey, S.J.

Title: The Paschal Mystery: What the New Testament and the Early Church have to say about the Death and Resurrection of Jesus

Contents:
1st night: Monday, Feb. 22 - Despising the Shame of the Cross

2nd night: Tuesday, Feb. 23 - Looking at the Cross as the Early Church Did

3rd night: Wednesday, Feb. 24 - You killed him, God raised him: What do Christians say about Jesus who was raised?

Father Jerome Neyrey, a native of New Orleans, entered the Jesuits in 1957. He received academic degrees of a B.A. at St. Louis University, two Masters of Theology at Regis College in Toronto, and a Ph.D. at Yale University. He taught for 14 years at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology and 15 years at the Notre Dame University in South Bend, IN, from which he retired May 2007. As professors must, he taught for 36 years at all levels: undergraduate – masters – doctoral students. He published books and especially articles which are available full text at http://www.nd.edu/~jneyrey1. He is a recent president of the Catholic Biblical Association. As a “retired” Jesuit he took up a new ministry, that of preaching retreats at Our Lady of the Oaks, Grand Coteau LA. Most importantly, he is an avid bird watcher, a stamp collector, and a glutton for fiction, good and bad.

Lent 2010

With Ash Wednesday on February 17th, we begin our Season of Lent. Lent is a time we prepare for the celebration of the Easter Triduum, beginning with the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thusday night.

Ashes will be given during the masses on Ash Wednesday. These masses are the Opelousas Catholic School mass at 8:40 a.m., 12:10 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. masses for the public. “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel” or “Remember, man, you are dust and to dust you will return” are the words we use in blessing each person with the ashes. We begin our time of seeing how well we live our baptism and prepare to renew our baptismal promises at Easter.

Lent is a time of penance. We do fasting and abstinence from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. We do abstinence from meat on the other Fridays of Lent. Fasting is eating one full meal with two lighter meals during the day. The lighter meals together should not be more than the one full meal. We do not eat between meals. Abstinence from meat means that we do not eat meat. The obligation to fast binds Catholics from the age of 18 to 59. Those who are younger or older may freely embrace these disciplines. Lenten disciplines should never endanger our health.

Please remember that the Fridays of the year outside of Lent are Days of Penance. On these days we choose the penance that meets our spiritual needs. The Acadiana Catholic (February 2010, page 22) suggests, “It is obvious that abstaining from meat is meaningless for vegetarians, who must choose some other form of abstinence. It is equally obvious that replacing meat with a gourmet seafood meal is not in keeping with the spirit of Lent. Abstaining from meat may be replaced on Fridays [outside of Lent] during the year with abstaining from some other food. It may also be replaced with time spent reading and studying the Scriptures, special prayers, such as the rosary or visit to the Blessed Sacrament, acts of thoughtfulness and charity to those in need, or acts of personal witness to one’s faith, such as teaching a religion class or speaking out on the sinfulness of abortion, euthanasia, racism, and other social evils.”

The Acadiana Catholic also reminds us: “The Catholic faithful should be reminded of the teaching of Pope Paul VI concerning the seriousness of being faithful to Lenten discipline. He said that the obligation to follow these disciplines in solidarity with the Church is a serious one. However, Catholics should not become scrupulous in this regard. Failure to observe individual days of penance is not considered a serious matter. However, the faithful should look for ways to do more rather than less. Fast and abstinence on days prescribed, and works of religion and charity on the Fridays outside Lent, should be considered a minimal response to the call of Jesus to go up to Jerusalem with Him in order that we might experience true Christian conversion in our lives.”

A Lenten Mission is scheduled at St. Landry Catholic Church on February 22nd, 23rd and 24th. The Director is Father Jerome H. Neyrey, SJ. The mission begins at 6:30 p.m.

A Citywide Penance (Reconciliation) Service is scheduled at St. Landry Catholic Church on March 29 at 6:30 p.m. Please do not wait until the end of Lent to go to confession. Use all of Lent to do penance. The last day for confession before Easter is Wednesday of Holy Week, March 31, 2010. Once the Easter Triduum begins, ordinarily the only celebration sacraments are suspended. The Easter Triduum ends at the conclusion of Evening Prayer. For practical purposes, that means confession resumes on Easter Monday, April 5, 2010.

A Way of the Cross is celebrated on the Fridays of Lent (except Good Friday) in St. Landry Catholic Church at 6:00 p.m. followed by a short period of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction. We use the Way of the Cross composed by St. Alphonsus Liguori. Everyone is welcomed. I especially encourage parents to come with the children.

Forming Good Stewards - This week's gospel message

"Blessed are you ..." Luke 6:20-26

The passive tone of the beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount in St. Matthew’s Gospel must be read in concert with the mandate to act in St. Luke’s version of the same event in his Sermon on the Plain. The words of Jesus in St. Luke are not only more forceful, but he adds the “woes” to those who fail or refuse to act. Rev. Abuna Elias Chacour is a Melkite Catholic priest who was born in Biram in Galilee (northern part of Israel). His family and fellow villagers were forced off their land and out of their homes by the Israelis. He speaks Aramaic, the language that Jesus spoke. He translates the Beatitudes in a more pro-active way. He proposes that Jesus meant: “You who are poor—who seek justice—peacemakers—get up, go ahead, do something, about your poverty—justice—peace—and you will be blessed.”

Readings and Themes for the Week of February 14, 2010

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of February 14, 2010,
The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading I Jeremiah 17:5-8

Cursed are those whose hearts turn away from God.

Psalm 1

"Blessed are they who hope in the Lord."

Reading II 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20

Christ has been raised from the dead.

Gospel: Luke 6:17, 20-26

The Beatitudes.

THEME:

Trust in Jesus, the way to true happiness.

Last weekend, we heard the story of the call of the prophet Isaiah and the call of the first apostles. Like them, we are given the choice to follow the Lord or turn away. Today the stark contrast between those who say “yes” and those who say “no” is laid before us. As the sacred word is proclaimed this day, let us pray fervently that by our actions we will show forth to the world that we are the blessed ones of God.

Questions of the week

Question for Children:

How do you experience God’s blessing in difficult times, when you are sad, hungry, or when friends reject you?

Question for Youth:

How does trusting in God make a difference in your life?

Question for Adults:

In today’s Gospel, we are reminded that we will be either blessed or have woe done unto us. It is a challenging teaching!

Which half of this Gospel reading applies to you?

Bulletin for the Weekend of February 14, 2010

The bulletin for the weekend of February 14, 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.

The Fifth 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 586 in the Compendium.

586. What does the phrase “Who art in heaven” mean?

2794-2796
2802 

This biblical expression does not indicate a place but a way of being: God transcends everything. The expression refers to the majesty, the holiness of God, and also to his presence in the hearts of the just. Heaven, or the Father’s house, constitutes our true homeland toward which we are moving in hope while we are still on earth. “Hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3), we live already in this homeland.

Homily for the Fifth 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 Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our forty fourth 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 Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time homily from St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, Louisiana.

Knights of Columbus Po-Boy sale - February 24, 2010

Knights of Columbus Council 1173 is sponsoring a benefit Lunch consisting of BBQ Sausage Po-Boy with Chips for a donation of $5.00, on Wednesday, February 24, 2010.

Lunches may be picked up at the KC Hall at 917 N. Main St. There is FREE DELIVERY FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE.

Tickets are available during office hours at Valentin Hall or contact a KC member.

Forming Good Stewards - This week's gospel passage

"Master, we have worked hard all night and have
caught nothing, but at your command I will lower
the nets!" Luke 5:1-11

Fishing is a difficult and dangerous way to make a living. The profits sometimes do not justify the perspiration and the peril. And it is highly unlikely that a man who has spent his life fishing on a small [14 miles north to south and 7 miles east to west], pear-shaped sea in the northern part of Galilee would accept the advice of a carpenter about where and when to lower his nets. That is why Simon’s response to Jesus is such a strong statement of faith. When Simon Peter realized that Jesus was calling him to be his disciple he fell to his knees and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man”. When Isaiah heard the Lord’s call, he proclaimed his unworthiness. The Lord asked, Whom shall I send?” Isaiah responded, “Here I am Lord, send me!’ Isaiah and Simon Peter teach us that responding to God and being a disciple of Jesus Christ, is not about being worthy. It is about being willing. If we wait until we feel worthy, we may never begin. If we are willing, we have already begun.

Readings and Themes for the Week of February 07, 2010

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of February 07, 2010,
The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading I Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8

Her I am, send me!

Psalm 138

"In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord."

Reading II 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

I handed on to you what I received.

Gospel: Luke 5:1-11

They left everything, even their nets, and followed him.

THEME:

Let us preach the good news to all!

Today’s readings are all about responding to the presence of God. Isaiah, Paul, and Peter react in similar fashion to God’s presence. We believe that God comes to us when the sacred word is proclaimed. Let us respond to that living word with hearts filled with gratitude.

Questions of the week

Question for Children:

What can you do to help your friends and classmates know more about Jesus?

Question for Youth:

What can you do to help your friends and classmates know more about Jesus?

Question for Adults:

If you were going to pray for healing for any reason, what would it be?

What needs to be healed in our world and society?

Bulletin for the Weekend of February 7, 2010

The bulletin for the weekend of February 07, 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.

Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple - Candlemas

When the day came to purify them according to the law of Moses, the couple brought him up to Jerusalem so that he could be presented to the Lord. Luke 2:22

Today, February 2nd, it is the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. It was the day of the year when all of the beeswax candles for the year were blessed --- and so it was known commonly as Candlemas. In some places, it was customary to jump over a lit candle and, if it didn't go out, that was good luck.

There is an old rhyme about it ...

Jack be nimble,
Jack be quick,
Jack jumped over
The candlestick.

People look to the weather on Candlemas as a sign of how much winter we have left. This is the connection that has led to the modern Groundhog's Day.

The Presentation is the Fourth of the Joyous Mysteries of the Rosary.

The painting above, painted in 1623, is by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, better known as Guercino ... a name that means "squint". He was from near Bologna in Italy. In the painting, Joseph and Mary present the child to Simeon ... who was told by God that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. At the foot of the altar are two turtledoves that will be used for sacrifice.

The Song of Simeon, his response to seeing the child, is a beautiful prayer, known by the Latin "Nunc dimittis". It's said as part of the Liturgy of the Hours as the night prayer.

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;
Your word has been fulfilled.
My eyes have seen the salvation
You have prepared in the sight of every people,
A light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people, Israel.

Prayer for the Saints - Archbishop Philip M. Hannan

Everyone is very excited about our own New Orleans Saints playing in the big game this weekend.

The following is a "Prayer for the Saints", delivered by Archbishop Philip M. Hannan at the first Saints and Sinners Banquet, 1968. Click the above photo to see a scanned copy.

Prayer for the Saints

God, we ask your blessing upon all who participate in this event, and all who have supported our Saints. Our Heavenly Father, who has instructed us that the "saints by faith conquered kingdoms ... and overcame lions", grant our Saints an increase of faith and strength so that they will not only overcome the Lions, but also the Bears, the Rams, the Giants, and even those awesome people in Green Bay.

May they continue to tame the Redskins and fetter the Falcons as well as the Eagles. Give to our owners and coaches the continued ability to be as wise as serpents and simple as doves, so that no good talent will dodge our draft. Grant to our fans perseverance in their devotion and unlimited lung power, tempered with a sense of charity to all, including the referees.

May our beloved "Bedlam Bowl" be a source of good fellowship and may the "Saint Come Marching In" be a victory march for all, now and in eternity.

Philip M. Hannan
Archbishop of New Orleans

The Holy Father's Prayer Intentions for February 2010

Pope Benedict XVI kisses a child, REUTERS/Max Rossi/Files

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for February 2010 is: "For all scholars and intellectuals, that by means of sincere search for the truth they may arrive at an understanding of the one true God."

His mission intention is: "That the Church, aware of its own missionary identity, may strive to follow Christ faithfully and to proclaim His Gospel to all peoples."

Opelousas Catholic School - Tasters' Dinner and Catholic School Week

OC CORNER

It is Catholic Schools Week across the nation this week. OC is celebrating with an opening mass at the 11:00am Sunday mass at Our Lady of Mercy Church this weekend.

Activities will be held during the week with a closing mass this Friday at 8:40am in St. Landry Church recognizing Mr. Richard “Dick” Hollier, Jr. with NCEA “Distinguished Graduate Award”.

Tickets are still available in the OC Development Office for this Wednesday’s Tasters’ Dinner and Auction event. Plan to attend and enjoy the evening!!

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.