Blessing of St. Joseph's Altar this evening

At Our Lady of Mercy, Opelousas, Louisiana, 207 North Camille Street, Opelousas, LA 70570 ...

The blessing of the St. Joseph’s Altar will be on Thursday March 18 at 5:30 pm followed by a rosary in the Church Hall. On Friday, March 19, there will be Mass and the Tupa-Tupa at 8:00 am at the St. Joseph’s Altar. Lunch will be served at 11 am. You may reserve your candles for the altar by calling Priscilla at 942-4174 ext. 212.

Proud to be Catholic

Mass at Iwo Jima.

From the blog "Why I Am Catholic" which can be found by clicking here.

Readings and Themes for the Week of March 21, 2010

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of March 21, 2010,
The Fifth Sunday of Lent

Reading Isaiah 43:16-21

The mystery of the Passover will be made new.

Psalm 126

"The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy."

Reading II Philippians 3:8-1

Paul desires a share in the paschal mystery of the land.

Gospel: John 8:1-11

No one is without sin except our merciful judge.

THEME:

Jesus’ love and forgiveness offer true freedom.

Today’s Gospel passage, perhaps more than any other, captures the immensity of God’s mercy. The Lord Jesus shows the kind of mercy that we strive to show to others. When we take on the mind and heart of Saint Paul, who considered everything as a loss compared to his knowledge of Jesus Christ, we will know the tender mercy of our God. As the word of God is proclaimed, let us ask God to open our hearts to the transforming power of that word.

Questions of the week

Question for Children:

How does the Sacrament of Reconciliation help us experience God’s forgiveness?

Question for Youth:

Whom among your family and friends do you need to forgive so that you can heal a broken relationship and experience newness?

Question for Adults:

Against whom do you hold prejudices?

Who do you believe is a greater sinner than yourself?

Bulletin for the Week of March 21, 2010

The bulletin for the week of March 21, 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.

Fourth Sunday in Lent 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 questions 299 through 302 in the Compendium.

299. Do the baptized have need of conversion?

1427-1429

The call of Christ to conversion continues to resound in the lives of the baptized. Conversion is a continuing obligation for the whole Church. She is holy but includes sinners in her midst.

300. What is interior penance?

1430-1433
1490

It is the movement of a “contrite heart” (Psalm 51:19) drawn by divine grace to respond to the merciful love of God. This entails sorrow for and abhorrence of sins committed, a firm purpose not to sin again in the future and trust in the help of God. It is nourished by hope in divine mercy.

301. What forms does penance take in the Christian life?

1434-1439

Penance can be expressed in many and various ways but above all in fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. These and many other forms of penance can be practiced in the daily life of a Christian, particularly during the time of Lent and on the penitential day of Friday.

302. What are the essential elements of the sacrament of Reconciliation?

1440-1449

The essential elements are two: the acts of the penitent who comes to repentance through the action of the Holy Spirit, and the absolution of the priest who in the name of Christ grants forgiveness and determines the ways of making satisfaction.

Homily for the Fourth Sunday in Lent

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 of Lent, is our fifty 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 Fourth Sunday of Lent homily from St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, Louisiana.

The Scrutinies

Samaritan Woman at the Well - 1593 Annibale Carracci

Last Sunday we began the Scrutinies. These are special times where we pray for those who are in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. These adults are in preparation to celebrate the Sacraments of Christian Initiation at the Easter Vigil. A dictionary gives us three views of scrutiny. Scrutiny is a careful inspection that is a close, cared, and thorough examination or inspection. Scrutiny is an observation that is a careful study or surveillance. A scrutiny can be a gaze where we give a searching look.

When we come to the scrutiny of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, scrutiny is mainly spiritual. The Scrutinies are intended to purify the mind and heart, to strengthen against temptation, to purify intentions, and to help make a firm decision of those in the RCIA. We ask that they remain more closely united with Christ and make progress in their efforts to love God more deeply.

We pray that they arrive at an intimate knowledge of Christ and his Church, and progress in sincere self-knowledge in a serious appraisal of self, and in true penance.

The Catechumens in the RCIA learn the mysteries of Christ who frees from sin. We pray they be free of the effects of sin and from the influence of the devil. We pray they are strengthened in their journey and open their hearts to receive the gifts of the Savior.

Each scrutiny focuses on Christ the Redeemer. In the first scrutiny, the Samaritan woman discovers Christ is the living water. In the second scrutiny, the man born blind discovers Christ the light. In the third scrutiny, Lazarus discovers Christ is the resurrection and life. As the Scrutinies proceed, parishioners grow deeper with the elect in our understanding of sin and in our desire for salvation.

Year for Priests - 35th Anniversary of the Ordination of Monsignor J. Robert Romero

YEAR FOR PRIESTS

Faithfulness of Christ, faithfulness of priests

Sunday, March 14, 2010, in this Year of Priests, I celebrate my 35th Anniversary of ordination as a priest. Bishop Frey ordained me on March 14, 1975 at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Lafayette.

Others ordained with me as a priest were Father Mike Arnaud and Father Tom Finley. I am grateful God has called me to be a priest. I am grateful I am here at St. Landry Church. In this Year of Priests, may God strengthen all priests in his Church with an intense renewal of being Christ to the baptized, Christ as head of the Church. May God also make real in the life of the baptized an intense realization of being the Body of Christ to the world. May God bring together, the head, in his priests, and the body, in the baptized. So that the whole body of Christ – head and body - may grow in holiness and witness of Christ.

Monsignor J. Robert Romero

Happy anniversary, Monsignor, from your friends and the parishioners of St. Landry Catholic Church.

Readings and Themes for the Week of March 14, 2010

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of March 14, 2010,
The Fourth Sunday of Lent

Reading Joshua 5:9a, 10-12

The people celebrate the first Passover in the promised land.

Psalm 34

"Taste and see the goodness of the Lord."

Reading II 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Jesus reconciles us to his Father.

Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Forgiveness and reconciliation are reasons for celebration.

THEME:

God wants us to come back. Now is the time to reconcile.

As we listen to the word of God today, let us be open to the power of the Holy Spirit. We often become lost in sin, hoping for a way out. Today’s Gospel serves as an everlasting reminder that God is always there when we admit our sinfulness and come home to God’s loving embrace. Let us truly taste and see the goodness of the Lord as that goodness is made present in the proclamation of the word.

Questions of the week

Question for Children:

Who is the one person you most need to say, “I’m sorry” to in your family?

Question for Youth:

Is it difficult for you to say, “I’m sorry” when you hurt another or get off track in your own life?

Question for Adults:

How have you or your family welcomed a family member who has been distant and/or absent from you?

Bulletin for the Weekend of March 14, 2010

The bulletin for the weekend of March 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.

Two Wolves and Ash Wednesday

Someone forwarded to me a story about TWO WOLVES with a hand written note saying, “Reminds me of your sermon on Ash Wednesday.” Here follows the story called TWO WOLVES:

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.”

“One is Evil – It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”

“The other is Good – It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

On Ash Wednesday I referred to Mark 7:21-23 and Galatians 5:19-26. Anyone wanting to listen to it again can find in on the church’s website at www.stlandrycatholicchurch.org, click on ‘Prior Bulletin and Homilies’, on the Homily Column click ‘Ash Wednesday 5:30 p.m. mass’. Or just click here to go directly to the homily.

Monsignor J. Robert Romero

Chamber's Citizen of the Year - James Douget

Congratulations to Mr. James Douget on receiving the ‘Citizen of the Year Award’ from the Opelousas St. Landry Chamber of Commerce. This award was given last Thursday night, March 4, 2010. Mr. Douget attends the 8:00 a.m. mass. He has been active in researching and portraying characters in our annual cemetery tour. He also is very involved in the preservation of the Michel Prudhomme home near St. Landry Catholic Church. Thank you Mr. Douget for all you do in our community.

Blessing for the Keeping of Lent

“Lent is a privileged time of interior pilgrimage towards him who is the fount of mercy ... Even in the ‘valley of darkness’ ... while the tempter prompts us to despair ... God is there to guard us and sustain us. In the desolation of misery, loneliness, violence, and hunger that indiscriminately afflict children, adults, and the elderly, God does not allow darkness to prevail. The gaze of Jesus embraces individuals and multitudes, and he brings them all before the Father, offering himself as a sacrifice of expiation. In turning to the Divine Master, in being converted to him…we will discover a ‘gaze’ that searches us profoundly and gives new life to…each one of us. It restores trust to those who do not succumb to skepticism.”

Pope Benedict XVI

Bulletin for the Weekend of March 07, 2010

The bulletin for the weekend of March 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.

Forming Good Stewards - This week's gospel message

"For three years I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down! Why should I exhaust the soil?" Luke 13:1-9

Jesus tells of a gardener who pleads to save a fig tree so he can cultivate it and hope to make it productive. In chapters one and two of Genesis, God reveals that He created man and woman and gave them dominion over His Garden---all creation.

Bishop Robert Morneau poignantly describes how God made us stewards of many gardens; the gardens of our faith, our body, our family, our mind, our creativity, our many abilities and most importantly, our ability to reason and our free will. He points out that all of the gardens belong to God and poses the question, “How are we caring for our gardens? Are we being good stewards? Have we cultivated our gardens or let them go fallow? Are our gardens as productive as God intended? If not, it is not too late. The first step is to identify and accept responsibility for the gardens that God has entrusted to our care. Do not be afraid. We have Jesus as our helper in our garden.

Readings and Themes for the Week of March 07, 2010

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of March 07, 2010,
The Third Sunday of Lent

Reading Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15

I AM sent you to me.

Psalm 103

"The Lord is Kind and Merciful."

Reading II 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12

The life of the people with Moses in the desert was written down as a warning to us.

Gospel: Luke 13:1-9

If you do not repent, you will all perish as they did.

THEME:

Lent calls us to conversion

The sacred word of God is a spring that flows forth in this holy place to reveal our sinfulness and strengthen us in holiness. As we listen to God’s word, let us pray that we will cease all grumbling and grow into real evangelizers, unafraid to share the wonders the Lord has worked in each of our lives.

Questions of the week

Question for Children:

God wants your faith to result in good living.

What steps can you take during Lent to make sure that happens?

Question for Youth:

What needs changing in your life right now and how will you invite God into that change?

Question for Adults:

What steps are you taking this Lent to make sure that your faith bears fruit in good works?

Year for Priests

YEAR FOR PRIESTS

Faithfulness of Christ, faithfulness of priests

It seems to me that throughout his time of discipleship, even until his own crucifixion, Saint Peter always had to listen anew to Jesus, to enter more profoundly into the mystery of his priesthood, of Christ’s priesthood communicated to the Apostles and their successors. In this sense, the figure of Peter appears to me like the image of all of us in these days.

Pope Benedict XVI’s address at the conclusion of the annual Lenten retreat, February 16, 2008

Opelousas Catholic School Spring Barbecue Dinner

OC CORNER

The OC Athletic Council is holding their Spring Barbecue Dinner sale on Sunday, March 7th, for $6.00 per dinner with the option of chicken or pork. Contact any OC student or Dwayne Joubert @ 594-8408 as soon as possible for tickets.

OC classes are enjoying masses with Msgr. Louis Melancon in the school’s new chapel during Lent. Parents and family members may attend the masses and should check with their children for the scheduled times.

Parents are urged to register children for the 2010-2011 school year as classes are filling. Call 942-5404 ext. 101 for more information.

Way of the Cross - Fridays, 6 PM during Lent

The Way of the Cross is celebrated at St. Landry Catholic Church on Fridays of Lent (except Good Friday) at 6:00 p.m. Following the Way of the Cross is a short period of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction. We use for the Way of the Cross , the version composed by St. Alphonsus Liguori.

Background of Way of the Cross: It is called Via Crucis (or Via Dolorosa) in Latin. In the early centuries the common starting point was the Antonia Fortress and the Praetorium near the northwest corner of the second Temple. Through the decades various routes led to Golgotha, the place of the Skull. Eventually a traditional path developed, although it is not until the middle of the fifteenth century into the writings of an English pilgrim, William Wey, that there is a description that somewhat matches what could be described as the traditional Way of the Cross today. In Jerusalem, only nine of the typical Stations exist on the way. The others are inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Over the years various meditations have been written for the Via Crucis, one of the more popular classic ones by St. Alphonsus Liguori. In recent years Pope John-Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have sought to focus more on the scriptural roots of the events of Christ’s final hours. Consequently, a new ordering of the Via Crucis with newly written meditations is celebrated in Rome at the Coliseum each Good Friday. We can download those meditations at: http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/documents/index_via-crucis_en.html.

The Holy Father's Prayer Intentions for March 2010

Pope Benedict XVI kneels during spiritual exercises, AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for March 2010 is: "That the world economy may be managed according to the principles of justice and equity, taking account of the real needs of peoples, especially the poorest."

His mission intention is: "That the Churches in Africa may be signs and instruments of reconciliation and justice in every part of that continent."