Readings and Themes for the Week of July 11, 2010

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of July 14, 2010,
Fifteenth Sunday

Reading I Deuteronomy 30:10-14

God’s law is planted in our hearts.

Psalm 69

“Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.”

Reading II Colossians 1:15-20

In the cross, all creation is united in Christ.

Gospel Luke 10:25-37

Even the stranger is to be loved as a neighbor.

THEME:

Go and do the same!

The scriptures challenge us to examine the world around us to discover just who our neighbors are. The law of love is not something that is beyond our reach. As believers, this law is planted within us. Let us find in today’s scriptures the inspiration and strength we need to be Christ for one another.

Questions of the week

Question for Children:

Jesus tells us to love today.

When during the past week or two have you showed your love for your family or friends?

Question for Youth:

The Samaritan reached out to a stranger and helped him.

Who are the strangers to whom you could reach out and help in the coming week or month?

How will you respond?

Question for Adults:

Jesus tells us today to love God, our neighbor and our self.

How will you love God this week? Your neighbor? Yourself?

Bulletin Bites
"Which one of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers' victim?" He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy."

“Rabbi, why do Jews always answer a question with a question?” The rabbi responded, “And why shouldn’t we?” Jesus is a Jew. When the scholar of the (Jewish) law asked him, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered with a question, “What is written in the law?” The scholar quotes Deuteronomy 6:5, "You shall love the Lord your God with your Whole Heart, being, strength, and mind" and Leviticus 19:19 … "and your neighbor as yourself." The scholar knew the law. It had been handed down to Moses. But the scholar (a lawyer) looks for a loophole: “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus answers this question with the story of the Good Samaritan, then asks, “Which one, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robber’s victim?” The scholar answers, the one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus then said to him, “Go and do likewise.” The scholar had no other choice. If we are true believers in Jesus, neither do we. Jesus challenges us to want for our neighbor what we want ourselves. And everyone is our neighbor, no matter how unlovable they may be.

Bulletin for the Week of July 11, 2010

The bulletin for the week of July 11, 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.

Homily for the Fourteenth 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 --- just over one year ago. This week, the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our seventy-third podcast to be posted. This week, the homily is given by Father James Brady, our new pastor.

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

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day, 4th of July! Today, we remember the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Written by Thomas Jefferson with the input of others that included John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, this document clearly defines that all men "are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights". He also references "the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them". This speaks directly to what we call "natural law".

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraph 1955, quotes Pope Leo XIII's encyclical, Libertas praestantissimum, "The Nature of Human Liberty".

The natural law is written and engraved in the soul of each and every man, because it is human reason ordaining him to do good and forbidding him to sin . . . But this command of human reason would not have the force of law if it were not the voice and interpreter of a higher reason to which our spirit and our freedom must be submitted.

To read the full encyclical, you can click here.

The year 1776 is also very significant for us here at St. Landry Catholic Church: our church parish was founded in that year.

The Holy Father's Prayer Intentions for July 2010

Pope Benedict XVI prays in front of the tomb of Saint Peter at the end of a solemn mass to celebrate the feast of Saints Peter and Paul in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican June 29, 2010. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano

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

"That in every nation of the world the election of officials may be carried out with justice, transparency and honesty, respecting the free decisions of citizens."

His mission intention is:

"That Christians may strive to offer everywhere, but especially in great urban centres, an effective contribution to the promotion of education, justice, solidarity and peace."

Readings and Themes for the Week of July 4, 2010

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of July 04, 2010,
Fourteenth Sunday

Reading I Isaiah 66:10-14c

Mother Jerusalem will gather her children.

Psalm 66

“Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.”

Reading II Galatians 6:14-18

I bear in my body the brand marks of Jesus.

Gospel Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

If people welcome you, bid them peace. If not, shake their dust from your feet and move on.

THEME:

We are called to evangelize.

We welcome the sacred word of God this day with hearts open to transformation. This word has the power to change us. As this word is proclaimed in our midst, let us receive it with hearts filled with joy. Let us respond by echoing the sentiments of the psalmist: “let all the earth cry out to God with joy.”

Questions of the week

Question for Children:

How do you let others know about your faith?

Question for Youth:

Jesus sent the disciples out into the world, but told them that it wouldn’t be an easy job.

How have you shared your faith with others this past week?

What were the risks for you?

Question for Adults:

To what part of the harvest are you being sent?

What are you being called to do for the Reign of God?

Bulletin Bites
"The seventy two returned, rejoicing, and said, 'Lord, even demons are subject to us because of your name.'"

The seventy-two disciples that Jesus sent in thirty-six directions were amazed at their success. Did they really have faith in Jesus as they left on their mission? We can almost hear them grumbling. “He is sending us like lambs among wolves with no money, no provisions, no sandals, and we cannot even greet people on the way. Does he expect us to work miracles?” But off they went. And they performed miracles. Despite their doubts, they had faith in Jesus and they were able to do great things because of their faith. When we feel called to step out in faith to imitate Jesus in our world, do we have doubts? Do we fail to act because of our doubts? Or do we act, despite our doubts, amazed at what we can accomplish when we have faith in Jesus? As a result of our Baptism it is our responsibility to nurture our faith in Jesus so we can constantly be amazed at what we can accomplish in His name.

Bulletin for the Week of July 4, 2010

The bulletin for the week of July 04, 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.

Catholic Men and the Rosary

Today, I ran into an article about Catholic Men and the Rosary ... how praying the rosary can be a masculine exercise not restricted to women and funerals. The news site it is posted on is a secular one and they didn't get everything perfect. But I think you'll find this a nice, enjoyable read.

Also remember, each and every Monday, at 6 PM, there is a rosary prayed in front of the Father Verbis Lafleur Monument. At this time of the year, the rosary is prayed for protection from hurricanes. Come join us tonight!

Here is the article:

http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_rosary28.234e215.html

Homily for the Thirteenth 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 --- just over one year ago. This week, the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our seventy-second podcast to be posted. This week, the homily is given by Father James Brady, our new pastor.

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

Cast the Love of Christ upon the World

This weekend, the second collection will be the Peter's Pence Collection.

The Peter’s Pence Collection provides the Holy Father with the assistance he needs to carry out his most important charitable works. The proceeds benefit the most disadvantaged: victims of war, oppression, natural disasters, and others.

Pope Benedict XVI has said, “God’s love . . . gives us the courage to continue seeking and working for the benefit of all” (Caritas in Veritate, no. 78). Cast the love of Christ upon the world—please be generous in today’s Collection.

The Peter’s Pence Collection derives its name from an ancient custom. In ninth-century England. King Alfred the Great collected money – “pence” or pennies – from landowners as financial support for the Pope. Today, the Peter’s Pence Collection supports the Pope’s philanthropy by giving the Holy Father the means to provide emergency assistance to those in need because of natural disaster, war, oppression, and disease

Examples of Peter’s Pence Collection Funded Programs

• Nazareth Boys Town in Mbare, Rwanda, received assistance from Pope Benedict XVI to take in abandoned orphans who are victims of genocide and civil war.
• Casa di accoglienza Giovanni Paolo II Opera Don Orione is a residence that gives free shelter and specializes in helping special-needs pilgrims to travel to Rome. It was recently refurbished through assistance provided by the Peter’s Pence Collection.
• In Bosnia, the Hospital of St. Vincent de Paul, a health institution in Sarajevo staffed by religious, was established with support of the Collection.

The second reading this weekend reminds us that our abundance must supply the needs of others.  Jesus became poor, so that we might become rich.  We are called to follow his example by giving of our time, talent, and treasure to help those in need.

Contacting Monsignor J. Robert Romero at his new parish, St. Anthony of Padua in Eunice

Contact information for Monsignor J. Robert Romero at his new parish, St. Anthony of Padua in Eunice:

Msgr. J. Robert Romero
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church
P.O. Box 31
Eunice, La. 70535

Bio of our Seminarian this summer, Alex Albert

Seminarian Alex Albert at Altar Server's Day Mass, Teurlings Catholic High School

Hello St. Landry Church. My name is Alexander Albert and I am the seminarian assigned to your parish for the summer. I just finished my first year at seminary and will be classified as a junior at St. Joseph Seminary College (a.k.a St. Ben’s) this fall.

I grew up in Kenner, La. which is just west of New Orleans. I have two brothers, one older and one younger. My parents are married and live in Semmes, just north of Mobile, Al. They moved there about a year after Katrina hit our home because my mother’s job relocated and offered incentives to pay for moving costs.

As for my education, I went to public school in Kenner until 5th grade, when I transferred to our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School. From there I attended Archbishop Rummel High School. I graduated and went to UL where I majored in Middle School Education for three years. During that time I began to grow in my faith with guidance from Our Lady of Wisdom student center and eventually discerned the call to the priesthood. After finishing my junior year at UL, I transferred into St. Ben’s with enough credits to classify me as a sophomore there. Because Wisdom was so integral to my discernment, I decided to enter under the Diocese of Lafayette with Wisdom as my home parish.

I enjoyed my first year at seminary and should be ordained, God-willing, in about 6 years. I look forward to working in the parish and getting to know the community.

God Bless!

Alex Albert

Short bio of our new pastor, Father James Brady

Father James Brady on his way to the installation mass at St. Landry Catholic Church

Fr. Brady was born in Philadelphia, PA and moved with his family to Pascagoula, MS as a child. He is one of seven children, and his older brother is also a priest serving the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. His father is a permanent deacon. After high school, Fr. Brady attended
Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL and received a degree in accounting in 1987. After college he attended the University of Mississippi School of Law where he received a juris doctorate in 1990 and then moved to Lafayette where he practiced law for 11 years. In 2001 Fr. Brady entered formation for the priesthood and attended Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. He was ordained a deacon in January of 2006 and a priest in July of the same year. After ordination, he was assigned to study Canon Law at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and received a degree May of 2009.

Since that time, Fr. Brady has been serving as associate pastor of St. Michael’s Church in Crowley.

BLOG EDITOR'S NOTE: Just as in the parable that showed the good in the Samaritan, we need to be able to embrace our Yankee/Ole Miss new pastor (very big smile). Welcome Father Brady!

Google Background Image

Screen shot of St. Landry Catholic Church themed Google Home Page

If you are a big user of Google and need a background image, download the image here: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuM7HFvAHFU1p4yU0LW-rMldgAL0Orkr4EwbMg7Hohi_hUiwMGVHHsa5faw79OMdFZfGW1Q97ktHcx8zc2QIfMTAFUn-BE2L7-Uox0-adUvlBXAluy2mpPC5phXUbPIl1wuRK_zGdpEDRq/

On the Google Home page, there is a link in the lower left hand corner that allows you to pick an image downloaded to your PC as your image.

Readings and Themes for the Week of June 27, 2010

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of June 27, 2010,
Thirteenth Sunday

Reading 1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21

Elisha left everything to inherit Elijah's prophetic role.

Psalm 16

“You are my inheritance, O Lord”.

Reading II Galatians 5:1, 13-18

A proper use of freedom includes service to others, motivated by love.

Gospel Luke 9:51-62

Jesus expects us to leave everything to follow him.

THEME:

We are invited to "come follow"

Today’s readings give us examples of ways we can respond to the Lord’s call. Elisha abandons his livelihood and his family to become Elijah’s attendant. The Lord Jesus demands a single-hearted response to the call to follow him. Saint Paul reminds us that when we say “yes” to the Lord, much is demanded of us. Saint Paul tells us that our response is summed up in one statement: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Questions of the week

Question for Children:

To follow Jesus means to do what is right.

During this past week, when did you follow Jesus by doing the right thing you were asked to do, the first time, without an excuse?

Question for Youth:

The people in the story had lots of reasons why they couldn’t follow Jesus.

What makes it hard to be a disciple of Jesus?

Why do you make the choice to follow Jesus even though it is hard?

Question for Adults:

Sometimes we are like the people in the Gospel and have many excuses for why we cannot follow Jesus.

This past week when did you follow Jesus even though you had many excuses not to?

Bulletin Bites
"No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God."

When Elijah calls to Elisha, he hesitated, “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye.” Elijah does not prevent him. Then Elisha kills the team of oxen he was driving, uses the wood of the plow to build a fire to burn their flesh and distributes it to the people and follows Elijah. He detaches himself from everything he previously depended on. Paul tells us, “For freedom Christ set us free.” Christ teaches us to be free from attachment to things of this world. This freedom is not for selfish pursuits, but “to serve one another in love.” Jesus calls us to follow him, but we sometimes hesitate. If we start to follow Jesus but let other attachments distract us, we will never be free to discern God’s will for us and respond in freedom to God for all that he has given to us. What are the attachments in our life that keep us from the true freedom that allows us to follow Christ, without hesitation? Make a list.

Bulletin for the Week of June 27, 2010

The bulletin for the week of June 27, 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.

It's official! Welcome to our new pastor, Father James Brady!

Father James Brady on his way to the installation mass at St. Landry Catholic Church

Today is the official first day of our new pastor, Father James Brady!

Father Brady was installed at the 5 PM Sunday mass at St. Landry Catholic Church. We all want to congratulate him on his assignment here at the Mother Church of St. Landry Parish. We all look forward to working together with him.

Father James Brady, after the installation ceremony, sits in the pastor's chair at St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, Louisiana

We love you, Monsignor! St. Anthony's is getting a fine priest!

Monsignor J. Robert Romero (center) with his brother Kenneth Wayne Romero (left) and his father Joseph Robert Romero (right)

It's official today. Monsignor J. Robert Romero, our pastor for the last 5 years, is now the pastor of St. Anthony of Padua in Eunice, Louisiana. Monsignor, we all want to thank you for your leadership and your love. Good luck in your new assignment and I feel confident we'll see you as part of your duties as episcopal vicar of the northern region of the Diocese of Lafayette.

Installation of Father James Brady

Installation mass of Father James Brady, celebrant Vicar Monsignor J. Robert Romero, St. Landry Catholic Church. http://yfrog.com/5fc4jnj

Homily for the Twelfth 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 --- just over one year ago. This week, the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, is our seventy-first podcast to be posted. This week, the homily is given by Monsignor J. Robert Romero.

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