Two Homilies - Blessing of the Palms and The Passion

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.

This week, we have TWO homilies. The current homilies are available on links 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 homilies 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, Homily for the Blessing of the Palms and the Homily for the Passion, are our fifty fourth and fifty fifth podcasts to be posted. This week, the homilies are given by Monsignor J. Robert Romero.

So, take a listen and let us know what you think. Click here to download The Palm Sunday, Blessing of the Palms homily from St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, Louisiana. And click here to download The Palm Sunday, The Passion homily.

Stewardship during Holy Week

Palm Sunday begins Holy Week. Jesus’ arrival in town was cheered and celebrated before attitudes changed later in the week. This week let us especially show our constant love of Christ. Reread the Gospel from Ash Wednesday (Matt. 6:16, 16-18). Attend Holy Week services.

Celebrate the gift of the Eucharist. Fast and abstain with a willing and loving spirit. Be attentive for opportunities to be servant leaders. Good stewards live in communion with Christ.

Let Every Tongue Confess that Jesus is Lord

Once again, we have reached that special week we call “Holy’. Once again, Christ is striding across its days, leaving his bloody footprints on his way to our salvation. Once again we are looking at a way to come to know THAT Jesus. This time we turn to Scripture, specifically the Passion according to Mark. Pray for the grace to come to know Christ as you read slowly through this dreadful time in his life. Give yourself time that you may pause when you need to, bow in your heart if you need to, weep if you need to. Let the Spirit guide you in this meditation.

Customs of the Triduum

The Mass of the Lord’s Supper:

The first day of the Triduum begins in the Upper Room with Jesus sharing His Body and Blood in bread and wine. The re-enactment of the Washing of the Disciples Feet takes place at this mass also.

The Stripping of the Altar:

At the end of Mass on Holy Thursday, all the altar coverings and decorations are removed, symbolizing the fact that Christ was stripped of His garments upon His arrest.

The Veneration of the Cross:
The Good Friday liturgy features a reading of the Passion according to St. John, veneration of the cross and Holy Communion as well as prayers for the Church and the whole world.

Easter Vigil:

The selected set of readings for the Easter Vigil follows the story of salvation from God’s creation of the world, the sparing of Noah and his family from the flood and the deliverance of God’s people from Egypt to the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ rising from the grave to redeem all people.

A Day in the Diocese

Here are a few photos from around the diocese yesterday.

Click here to see them: http://stlandrycatholicchurch.org/gallery2/main.php/v/20100326DayInTheDiocese/

(1) The adoration chapel at St. Anthony of Padua in Eunice, Louisiana
(2) The grave of Charlene Richard in Richard, Louisiana
(3) The altar at St. Edward's in Richard, Louisiana. Painting of Abraham's Sacrifice of Isaac
(4) Baptism of Christ, stained glass, at St. Edward's in Richard, Louisiana.
(5) Candle at St. Edward's in Richard, Louisiana
(6) Tabernacle at the chapel in Opelousas General Hospital, Opelousas, Louisiana
(7) Altar at the chapel in Opelousas General Hospital, Opelousas, Louisiana
(8) Crucifix at the chapel in Opelousas General Hospital, Opelousas, Louisiana

Way of the Cross - last one of Lent

Tonight, we have our last Way of the Cross for Lent. It's at 6 PM at St. Landry Catholic Church and is followed by about 15 minutes of Eucharistic Adoration.

Please come by. The prayers come from the classic prayers of St. Alphonsus Ligouri.

Pictured above is one of the beautiful stations inside at St. Landry Catholic Church.

Readings and Themes for the Week of March 28, 2010

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of March 28, 2010,
Palm Sunday

Reading Isaiah 50:4-7

The Suffering Servant speaks to the weary.

Psalm 122

"My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"

Reading II Philippians 2:6-11

Jesus emptied himself, and God filled this emptiness with exaltation.

Gospel: Luke 22:14 - 23:56

The Passion of the lord itself gives witness to the shout: 'Cleary this is the Son of God!'

THEME:

Jesus shows us how much He truly loves us.

Let us prepare ourselves to feast at the table of God’s word. The story of Christ’s passion and death has drawn countless billions to declare their belief that Jesus is the Son of God. As the Lord forgives the repentant thief, let us ask for the same outpouring of mercy. Let us be open to the wonders of the power of Christ’s death - - a power that brings new life to those who have lost hope, a home to the lost, and healing to all who suffer.

Questions of the week

Question for Children:

In your own words, what does the suffering and death of Christ mean to you?

Question for Youth:

How can you spend time with each member of your family this week in a way that will communicate your love for them?

Question for Adults:

In your own words, what does the suffering and death of Christ mean to you?

Bulletin for the Week of March 28, 2010

The bulletin for the week of March 28, 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 the Annunciation today

The Annunciation by Botticelli

Today is the Feast of the Annunciation. Our church bell, the Immaculate Conception Bell at St. Landry Catholic Church, has very strong ties to this feast.

It's name ... the Immaculate Conception ... refers to the Marian dogma that Mary was conceived without sin.

Our bell also tolls the Angelus prayer 3 times a day.

The Angelus is a ringing of the bell at 6:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. This custom of ringing developed over many years in the middle ages. It is a ring where there is a toll for three times, then a space of time followed by another ring of three tolls, then a second space of time followed by a third ring of three tolls, then a third space of time followed by a swinging ring.

The word Angelus means Angel. It is a prayer coming from the Bible calling to mind the Incarnation of Jesus. This is taken from St. Luke 1:26-38. “The angel of the Lord announced unto Mary.” In Latin it is “Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ.” Thus the naming of the prayer and ring of the bell is called Angelus.

In the development of the custom of three rings of the Angelus, the first development was to ring the Angelus at the evening. This ringing was focused on the Incarnation of Jesus which happened in the evening. Later the custom developed to ring the Angelus also in the morning. Here the focus was on Jesus’ resurrection which happened in the morning. As time continued, a third ringing at noon was added. This third ringing was focused on Jesus’ death which happened around noon.

During the year the Angelus is said. During Easter time the Regina Caeli (Queen of Heaven) is said.

The Angelus

(Prayer starts with bell ringing 3 times here)

V. The angel of the Lord announced unto Mary.
R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

(Bell rings 3 times here)

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to your Word.

Hail Mary...
(Bell rings 3 times here)

V. And the Word was made flesh.
R. And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary...
(Bell swings here)

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: We beseech you, O Lord, pour your grace into our hearts, that as we have known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ by the message of an angel, so by his cross and passion we may be brought to the glory of his resurrection; through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Queen of Heaven – Regina Caeli(Said during Easter Season)

Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.
Has risen, as He said, alleluia.
Pray for us to God, alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray. O God, who gave joy to the world through the
resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we
beseech You, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary,
His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.
Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Anyone who would like to see the bell ringing the Angelus can see it on YouTube. The link to St. Landry Catholic Church’s YouTube channel is http://www.youtube.com/user/StLandryCatholic. The testing of the bell on October 30, 2010 can be seen.

3D virtual reality view of the Sistine Chapel

Here's another 3D virtual reality view ... this time of the Sistine Chapel. Notice the small + and - controls on the lower left to zoom in and zoom out. Drag around on the page. The link is down below.

http://www.vatican.va/various/cappelle/sistina_vr/index.html

This is hosted at the Vatican website. Thanks to our friend at the Opinionated Catholic blog for giving us a heads up.

Reconciliation at St. Landry Catholic Church during Lent

Reconciliation at St. Landry Catholic Church during Lent
Saturdays 3:00 – 3:45 p.m.
Weekdays: 11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

City Wide Penance Service... St. Landry Church
March 29, 2010 @ 6:30 p.m.

We ask parishioners to remember to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession) before the Wednesday of Holy Week.

Ordinarily the last day for Confession before the Easter Triduum is the Wednesday of Holy Week. We have a City-Wide Penance Service here at St. Landry Catholic Church on Monday of Holy Week, March 29, 2010 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Please remember confessions are heard on Saturdays (except Holy Saturday) from 3:00 pm until 3:45 p.m. in church. Confessions resume on Easter Monday, April 5, 2010.

And ... some thoughts from the Holy Father on reconciliation:

The ministry of Reconciliation is an act of extraordinary caring which the person needs in order to be perfectly healthy. Thus, this sacramental care begins with Baptism, which is the fundamental renewal of our life, and extends to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick. Of course, all the other sacraments and the Eucharist involve great care for souls. We have to care for people but above all – this is our mandate [as priests] – for their souls.

          Pope Benedict XVI’s meeting with clergy of the Dioceses of Belluno-Feltre and Treviso,
          July 24, 2007

New Kneeler Bumpers - Thanks to the Knights of Columbus

Pictured - Keith Normand of the Knights of Columbus

Thanks to the St. Landry Church Knights of Columbus Council 1173 for the pew kneeler bumpers we have for the kneelers in church. Nearly 1,000 old bumpers were removed and replaced with new ones! The Knights purchased these bumpers and installed them. I have heard good comments from parishioners. The kneelers are quieter as they are moved up and down. We appreciate the thoughtfulness and generosity of the Knights of Columbus. When we kneel in prayer, let us ask God to bless the Knights.

Schedule for Holy Week

Schedule for Holy Week

Holy Thursday;	April 1;	6:00 PM Mass
Good Friday;	April 2;	10:30 AM Children's Way of the Cross
Good Friday;	April 2;	6:00 PM Service
Holy Saturday;	April 3;	8:00 PM Vigil Mass
Easter Sunday;	April 4;	8:00 AM Mass 10:00 AM Mass NOT 5 PM MASS

Information on The Immaculate Conception Bell: ringing times, prayers, and an insert

From Monsignor J. Robert Romero:

I have heard good words from parishioners as our church bell is back in operation. With today’s bulletin, please find an insert updating parishioners of the times the bell tolls and swings. As the former equipment was damaged by lightning, Catholic Mutual, our insurance company, has replaced the equipment minus the deductible. This equipment replacement does more than the former equipment did. The new equipment is a ‘state of the art’ computer system and allows us to do more with our one bell. The insert explains all the many times and ways the bell calls us to conversation with God. Remember the bell was donated to us by the Catholic Daughters of America (they were called The Daughters of Isabella then.) In two more years, the bell will be 100 years old, as the installation was in November, 1912.

From the opening paragraph of the insert:

As parishioners have noticed, our bell, donated to St. Landry Catholic Church by the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Number 119, cast in April 1912, and installed in November 1912, is back in operation. We may remember some time ago it stopped ringing as a result of lightning striking some of the equipment. We were able to get it running on October 30, 2009 using 1960’s technology. Recently, we removed the 1960’s technology and have installed a ‘state of the art’ computer system to manage the ringing of the bell. This allows us to have the one bell do several types of ringing. These are the Angelus, Call to Worship, De Profundis, Hours of the Day, and other times. I would like to update parishioners about these.

Click here to read the rest and download the whole insert:  The Bell Insert in PDF form

The Vatican is now on Twitter

The Vatican announced this weekend that it is opening up Twitter accounts in various languages. Vatican Radio and the Vatican's news service will use it to keep all of us updated with the latest Vatican news.

This is all part of the Holy Father's call for everyone to embrace new communication systems for spreading the gospel.

For the English version of the Vatican Twitter Account, you can go here: http://twitter.com/news_va_en

Remember that you can follow St. Landry Catholic Church on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/StLandryCath

Tomorrow, we'll be announcing our newest presence on the internet: a Twitter account for the St. Landry Catholic Church Immaculate Conception Bell. If you want a preview, go here: http://twitter.com/StLandryBell

Fifth 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 487 through 494 in the Compendium on The Sixth Commandment: You Shall Not Commit Adultery.

487. What responsibility do human persons have in regard to their own sexual identity?

2331-2336
2392-2393

God has created human beings as male and female, equal in personal dignity, and has called them to a vocation of love and of communion.
Everyone should accept his or her identity as male or female, recognizing its importance for the whole of the person, its specificity and complementarity.

488. What is chastity?

2337-2338

Chastity means the positive integration of sexuality within the person. Sexuality becomes truly human when it is integrated in a correct way into the relationship of one person to another. Chastity is a moral virtue, a gift of God, a grace, and a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

489. What is involved in the virtue of chastity?

2339-2341

The virtue of chastity involves an apprenticeship in self-mastery as an expression of human freedom directed towards self-giving. An integral and continuing formation, which is brought about in stages, is necessary to achieve this goal.

490. What are the means that aid the living of chastity?

2340-2347

There are many means at one's disposal: the grace of God, the help of the sacraments, prayer, self-knowledge, the practice of an asceticism adapted to various situations, the exercise of the moral virtues, especially the virtue of temperance which seeks to have the passions guided by reason.

491. In what way is everyone called to live chastity?

2348-2350
2394

As followers of Christ, the model of all chastity, all the baptised are called to live chastely in keeping with their particular states of life. Some profess virginity or consecrated celibacy which enables them to give themselves to God alone with an undivided heart in a remarkable manner. Others, if they are married live in conjugal chastity, or if unmarried practise chastity in continence.

492. What are the principal sins against chastity?

2351-2359
2396

Grave sins against chastity differ according to their object:
adultery, masturbation, fornication, pornography, prostitution, rape, and homosexual acts. These sins are expressions of the vice of lust.
These kinds of acts committed against the physical and moral integrity of minors become even more grave.

493. Although it says only “you shall not commit adultery” why does the sixth commandment forbid all sins against chastity?

2336

Although the biblical text of the Decalogue reads “you shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14), the Tradition of the Church comprehensively follows the moral teachings of the Old and New Testaments and considers the sixth commandment as encompassing all sins against chastity.

494. What is the responsibility of civil authority in regard to chastity?

2354

Insofar as it is bound to promote respect for the dignity of the person, civil authority should seek to create an environment conducive to the practice of chastity. It should also enact suitable legislation to prevent the spread of the grave offenses against chastity mentioned above, especially in order to protect minors and those who are the weakest members of society.

Homily for the Fifth 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 Fifth Sunday of Lent, is our fifty third podcast to be posted. This week, the homily is given by Monsignor J. Robert Romero.

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

3D Tour of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Now online --- 3D tour of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It is said to contain the grounds of Golgotha, the Hill of Calvary, where Christ was crucified. It also is said to contain the place of the tomb of Christ.

http://www.3disrael.com/jerusalem/Church_of_the_Holy_Sepulcher.cfm

Drag around inside of the image ... up, down, right and left ... to look around inside.

The Church of Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem is also there.

http://www.3disrael.com/jerusalem/church_magdalene_out.cfm

Bishop Jarrell, Archbishop Aymond, and Louisiana Catholic Bishops release statement on health care reform

Archbishop Aymond and Louisiana Catholic Bishops release a statement on health care reform

Thursday March 18th 2010

The Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops strongly supports the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in their opposition to the current Senate health care bill. Some in the Catholic Church maintain that the Senate bill will not provide taxpayer funding for abortions and that it will uphold longstanding conscience protections. They are mistaken. It is our belief that the Senate bill fails to maintain longstanding policy against federal funding of abortion and does not include adequate conscience protections. Therefore, the bishops of Louisiana are disappointed in both the inaccurate interpretations of some within the church, as well as the confusion that this has caused. Our focus continues to be to advocate for health care reform that respects the life and dignity of all, while being both accessible and affordable. Please pray for those who represent us in Congress that they will re-examine the health care bill.

LOUISIANA CATHOLIC BISHOPS SPEAK OUT ON HEALTH CARE REFORM

Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans, issues the following statement on behalf of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops addressing the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ stance on health care reform.

“The Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops strongly supports the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in their opposition to the current Senate health care bill. Some in the Catholic Church maintain that the Senate bill will not provide taxpayer funding for abortions and that it will uphold longstanding conscience protections. They are mistaken. It is our belief that the Senate bill fails to maintain longstanding policy against federal funding of abortion and does not include adequate conscience protections. Therefore, the bishops of Louisiana are disappointed in both the inaccurate interpretations of some within the church, as well as the confusion that this has caused. Our focus continues to be to advocate for health care reform that respects the life and dignity of all, while being both accessible and affordable. Please pray for those who represent us in Congress that they will re-examine the health care bill.”

The Most Rev. Gregory M. Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans

The Most Rev. Sam G. Jacobs, Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux

The Most Rev. Michael Jarrell, Bishop of Lafayette

The Most Rev. Robert W. Muench, Bishop of Baton Rouge

The Most Rev. Ronald P. Herzog, Bishop of Alexandria

The Most Rev. Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles

The Most Rev. Michael G. Duca, Bishop of Shreveport

The Most Rev. Shelton J. Fabre, Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans

Traditional Architecture Returns

Nice write up on the return of traditional architecture in the Wall Street Journal.

Click here.