Sports Complex – Built to NCAA standards; includes a multi-purpose field with 8-lane track, tennis courts, beach volleyball and outdoor basketball court.
Fitness Center – State-of-the-art facility equipped with the latest technology and programs, aquatics, gymnasium and more; Certified and a top-ranked facility in the nation by the Medical Fitness Association; More than 1M visits since opening.
Playground & Education Initiative – Addressing childhood obesity through nutrition education and new playground equipment for numerous area elementary schools.
Sports – Keeping athletes safe by providing athletic trainers in high schools as well as Nicholls State University; Helping athletes grow and excel in sports through formation of competitive youth volleyball and swim teams.
Wellness Education – Numerous and expanding programs for individuals and families on subjects like nutrition, weight management, diabetes, CPR and more.
WellFit – Integrating wellness into clinical care to address specific health conditions like cancer, orthopaedic conditions, chronic pain and diabetes.
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Very Rev. Simon Peter Engurait
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Joe O’Sullivan
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Alaina Maiorana
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Bill Barbera
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Serdave Duncan
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Sermon
COVER
Jacob Zumo
THE
REDEMPTION OF SUFFERING:
WALKING
WITH CHRIST THIS LENT
A LENTEN MESSAGE FROM FR. SIMON PETER ENGURAIT, DIOCESAN ADMINISTRATOR
JESUS CHOSE TO SAVE US FROM SUFFERING THROUGH SUFFERING.
It is quite easy to see that we live in a world that is filled with suffering of all kinds. Wars and civil conflicts continue to inflict pain and destruction on so many parts of the world. People are forced to flee their homes for safety and in hopes of a better life. Diseases like cancer ravage the lives of so many across the world. And the reality of death, perhaps the most painful of all suffering, continues to afflict every single one of us. It’s easy to look at the state of our world and wonder, “What on earth is God doing? Why would He let things get so bad? Is there any hope in the face of so much suffering?”
For millennia, the answer seemed to be “no.” Suffering was a reality that had no real meaning. Suffering –whether through injury, violence, illness, or death – was, at best, seen as a punishment from God for sin or wrongdoing. We see an example of this thought in the Gospels, when Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind” (John 9:2)? Suffering was something that was out of our control and could not be escaped, no matter how hard man tried.
In his answer to the disciples, Jesus begins to hint at something new with regards to the meaning of suffering. He tells them, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him” (John 9:3). Jesus came to bring something definitively new to mankind’s experience of suffering, to give it new meaning and new power. He could have chosen to redeem us and offer us salvation in any way that he wanted – he is God after all. However, Jesus intentionally chose to save us from suffering through suffering. What at first glance can seem paradoxical is actually the heart of the Good News of the Gospel.
Unfortunately, on this side of heaven, suffering is not an “optional” part of our existence. All of us experience it in some way or another because suffering is a necessary part of our finite world. Jesus, therefore, took the darkest part of our life and made it a brilliant light, a place of encounter with Him. When we experience suffering, the temptation to doubt God’s love and presence with us is at its greatest. It’s easy to believe that we are alone, there is no hope, and God cannot and will not do anything. In bringing redemption to suffering, Jesus brings a brilliant truth to combat those lies: He is here with us. He suffered so that we would never suffer alone but would be able to do so with Him. He even experienced the pain of feeling abandoned by God so that He could share that pain with us. He wanted us to suffer nothing alone, and so out of love for us, He entered into the depths of suffering to make it redemptive, a place of encounter with God.
If you find yourself entering into this season of Lent in a season of difficult suffering, know that contrary to what it may feel like, you are not alone, you never have been alone, and you never will be alone. Christ has redeemed suffering so that He could be with you in your suffering. He is the Good Shepherd we read about in the famous Psalm 23 and so with the Psalmist, you can say: “Even though I walk through the valley of darkness, I fear no evil because you are by my side.” (Ps. 23:4). It is this experience that allows us to truly know the depth of the love that God has for us. There is no suffering so great that His love is unwilling or unable to permeate it. By redeeming our suffering, we see the power of God’s love for us. It gives powerful force to St. Paul’s triumphant acclamation: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, of peril, or sword? No! In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:35, 37).
As we enter into a season that can feel marked by suffering, know that you do not do so alone. You do so with Him whose love for you will never be conquered. May each of us experience that love in a new and profound way this Lent.
LA REDENCIÓN DEL SUFRIMIENTO CAMINANDO CON CRISTO ESTA CUARESMA
Es fácil darse cuenta de que vivimos en un mundo lleno de sufrimientos de todo tipo. Las guerras y los conflictos civiles siguen causando dolor y destrucción en muchas partes del mundo. La gente se ve obligada a huir de sus hogares en busca de seguridad y con la esperanza de una vida mejor. Enfermedades como el cáncer devastan las vidas de tantas personas en todo el mundo. Y la realidad de la muerte, quizá el más doloroso de todos los sufrimientos, sigue afligiéndonos a todos y cada uno de nosotros. Es fácil contemplar la situación de nuestro mundo y preguntarse: «¿Qué está haciendo Dios? ¿Por qué deja que las cosas vayan tan mal? ¿Hay esperanza ante tanto sufrimiento?».
Durante milenios, la respuesta parecía ser «no». El sufrimiento era una realidad sin sentido. El sufrimiento -ya fuera por heridas, violencia, enfermedad o muerte- se consideraba, en el mejor de los casos, un castigo de Dios por el pecado o las malas acciones. Vemos un ejemplo de este pensamiento en los Evangelios, cuando los discípulos de Jesús le preguntaron: «Rabí, ¿quién pecó, éste o sus padres, para que naciera ciego?» (Juan 9:2). El sufrimiento era algo que estaba fuera de nuestro control y de lo que no podíamos escapar, por mucho que lo intentáramos.
En su respuesta a los discípulos, Jesús empieza a infundir algo nuevo con respecto al significado del sufrimiento. Les dice: «No es que pecara éste, ni sus padres, sino para que las obras de Dios se manifestaran en él» (Jn 9,3).
Jesús vino a aportar algo definitivamente nuevo a la experiencia del sufrimiento de la humanidad, a darle un nuevo significado y poder. Podría haber optado por redimirnos y ofrecernos la salvación de la forma que quisiera -al fin y al cabo, es Dios-. Sin embargo, Jesús eligió intencionadamente salvarnos del sufrimiento a través del sufrimiento. Lo que a primera vista puede parecer paradójico es en realidad el corazón de la Buena Nueva del Evangelio.
Por desgracia, en este lado del cielo, el sufrimiento no es una parte «opcional» de nuestra existencia. Todos lo experimentamos de un modo u otro, porque el sufrimiento es una parte necesaria de nuestro mundo finito. Por eso, Jesús tomó la parte más oscura de nuestra vida y la convirtió en una luz brillante, en un lugar de encuentro con Él. Cuando experimentamos sufrimiento, la tentación de dudar del amor de Dios y de su presencia es grande. Es fácil creer que estamos solos, que no hay esperanza y que Dios no puede ni quiere hacer nada. Al traer la redención al sufrimiento, Jesús aporta una verdad resplandeciente para combatir estas mentiras: Él está aquí con nosotros. Sufrió para que nunca sufriéramos solos, sino que pudiéramos hacerlo con Él. Incluso experimentó el dolor de sentirse abandonado por Dios para poder compartir ese dolor con nosotros. No quería que sufriéramos solos, y por eso, por amor a nosotros, entró en las profundidades del sufrimiento para hacerlo redentor, un lugar de encuentro con Dios.
Si estas entrando en este tiempo de Cuaresma, en una temporada de sufrimiento, debes saber que, contrariamente a lo que pueda parecer, no estás solo, nunca has estado solo, y nunca estarás solo. Cristo ha redimido el sufrimiento para poder estar contigo en tu sufrimiento. Él es el Buen Pastor y sobre Él leemos en el famoso Salmo 23, con el salmista, puedes decir: «Aunque camine por el valle de las tinieblas, no temo ningún mal porque tú estás a mi lado...» (Sal. 23, 4). Es esta experiencia la que nos permite conocer verdaderamente la profundidad del amor de Dios. No hay sufrimiento tan grande que el amor de Dios no quiera o no pueda impregnarlo. Al redimir nuestro sufrimiento, vemos el poder del amor de Dios por nosotros. Esto da una fuerza poderosa a la aclamación triunfante de San Pablo: «¿Quién nos separará del amor de Cristo? ¿La tribulación, la angustia, la persecución, el hambre, la desnudez, el peligro o la espada? No. En todas estas cosas somos más que vencedores por medio de Aquel que nos amó» (Romanos 8:35, 37).
Al entrar en este tiempo, que puede sentirse marcado por el sufrimiento, debes saber que no lo haces solo. Lo haces con Aquél cuyo amor por nosotros nunca será vencido. Que cada uno de nosotros pueda experimentar ese amor de un modo nuevo y profundo en esta Cuaresma.
SỰ CỨU CHUỘC CỦA ĐAU KHỔ ĐỒNG HÀNH VỚI ĐỨC KITÔ MÙA CHAY NÀY
Thật là dễ hiểu cho thấy rằng chúng ta đang sống trong một thế giới đầy dẫy những thứ đau khổ. Chiến tranh và xung đột dân sự tiếp tục gây ra đau khổ và tàn phá ở rất nhiều nơi trên thế giới. Mọi người buộc phải rời bỏ nhà cửa để được an toàn và hy vọng có một cuộc sống tốt đẹp hơn. Các căn bệnh như ung thư tàn phá cuộc sống của rất nhiều người trên khắp thế giới. Và thực tế về cái chết, có lẽ là đau đớn nhất trong tất cả các đau khổ, tiếp tục hành hạ từng người chúng ta. Thật dễ dàng để nhìn vào tình trạng thế giới của chúng ta và tự hỏi, “Chúa đang làm gì trên đời này? Tại sao Chúa lại để mọi thứ trở nên xấu như vậy? Có hy vọng nào đứng trước quá nhiều đau khổ như vậy không?”
Trong nhiều thiên niên kỷ, câu trả lời dường như là “không”. Đau Khổ là một thực tế không có ý nghĩa thực sự. Đau Khổ - dù là do thương tích, bạo lực, bệnh tật hay cái chết - thì hơn hết, được coi như là sự trừng phạt của Chúa đối với tội lỗi hoặc hành vi sai trái. Chúng ta thấy một ví dụ về cách suy nghĩ này trong Phúc âm, khi các môn đệ của Chúa Giêsu hỏi Người, “Thưa Thầy, ai đã phạm tội khiến người này sinh ra đã bị mù, anh ta hay cha mẹ anh ta?” (Ga 9:2). Đau Khổ là điều nằm ngoài tầm kiểm soát của chúng ta và không thể thoát khỏi, bất kể con người cố gắng thế nào đi chăng nữa.
Trong câu trả lời cho các tông đồ, Chúa Giêsu bắt đầu ám chỉ một điều gì đó mới mẻ liên quan đến ý nghĩa của sự đau khổ. Ngài nói với họ, “Không phải anh ta, cũng chẳng phải cha mẹ anh ta đã phạm tội. Nhưng sở dĩ như thế là để thiên hạ nhìn thấy công trình của Thiên Chúa được tỏ hiện nơi anh” (Ga 9:3). Chúa Giêsu đến để mang đến một điều gì đó hoàn toàn mới mẻ cho trải nghiệm đau khổ của nhân loại, để mang đến cho nhân loại một ý nghĩa mới và sức mạnh mới. Ngài có thể đã chọn cứu chuộc chúng ta và ban cho chúng ta sự cứu rỗi theo bất kỳ cách nào Ngài muốn - sau cùng, Ngài là Thiên Chúa. Tuy nhiên, Chúa Giêsu đã cố ý chọn cứu chúng ta từ khỏi đau khổ thông qua đau khổ. Điều thoạt nhìn có vẻ nghịch lý thực ra lại là cốt lõi của Tin Mừng Phúc Âm.
Thật không may, ở bên này thiên đàng, đau khổ không phải là một phần “tùy ý chọn” trong cuộc sống của chúng ta. Tất cả chúng ta đều trải qua đau khổ, theo cách này hay cách khác, vì đau khổ là một phần cần thiết trong thế giới hữu hạn của chúng ta. Do đó, Chúa Giêsu đã lấy phần đen tối nhất trong cuộc sống của chúng ta và biến nó thành ánh sáng rực rỡ, một nơi gặp gỡ với Ngài. Khi chúng ta trải qua đau khổ, sự cám dỗ nghi ngờ tình yêu và sự hiện diện của Chúa với chúng ta lên đến tột đỉnh. Thật dễ dàng để tin rằng chúng ta cô đơn, không có hy vọng, và Chúa không thể và sẽ không làm bất cứ điều gì. Khi mang lại sự cứu chuộc cho đau khổ, Chúa Giêsu mang đến một sự thật tuyệt vời để chống lại những lời dối trá đó: Ngài ở đây với chúng ta. Ngài đã chịu đau khổ để chúng ta không bao giờ phải chịu đau khổ một mình mà có thể cùng chịu đau khổ cùng với Ngài. Ngài thậm chí đã trải qua nỗi đau khi cảm thấy bị Thiên Chúa bỏ rơi để Ngài có thể chia sẻ nỗi đau đó với chúng ta. Ngài muốn chúng ta không phải chịu đau khổ một mình, và vì yêu thương chúng ta, Ngài đã bước vào vực thẳm của đau khổ để biến nó thành sự cứu chuộc, thành nơi gặp gỡ với Chúa.
Nếu anh chị em thấy mình đang bước vào mùa Chay năm nay trong một mùa đau khổ khó khăn, hãy biết rằng trái ngược với những gì anh chị em cảm thấy, anh chị em không đơn độc, chưa bao giờ cô đơn và sẽ không bao giờ cô đơn. Chúa Kitô đã cứu chuộc đau khổ để Ngài có thể ở bên trong đau khổ của anh chị em. Chúa là Đấng Chăn Chiên Nhân Lành mà chúng ta đọc trong Thánh vịnh 23 tuyệt vời, và vì vậy với Tác giả Thánh thi, anh chị em có thể nói: “Lạy Chúa, dầu qua thung lũng âm u, con sợ gì nguy khốn, vì có Chúa ở cùng. Côn trượng Ngài bảo vệ, con vững dạ an tâm…” (Tv 23:4). Chính trải nghiệm này cho phép chúng ta thực sự biết được chiều sâu tình yêu mà Chúa dành cho chúng ta. Không có đau khổ nào lớn đến mức tình yêu của Ngài không muốn hoặc không thể thấm nhuần vào đó. Bằng cách cứu chuộc đau khổ của mình, chúng ta thấy được sức mạnh của tình yêu Chúa dành cho chúng ta. Điều này mang lại sức mạnh quyền năng cho lời tuyên bố chiến thắng của Thánh Phaolô: “Ai có thể tách chúng ta ra khỏi tình yêu của Đức Kitô? Phải chăng là gian truân, khốn khổ, đói rách, hiểm nguy, bắt bớ, gươm giáo? Nhưng, trong mọi thử thách ấy, chúng ta đã toàn thắng nhờ Đấng đã yêu mến chúng ta” (Rm 8:35, 37).
Khi chúng ta bước vào một mùa có thể cảm thấy bị đánh dấu bởi đau khổ, hãy biết rằng anh chị em không cảm nghiệm một mình. Anh chị em cảm nghiệm như vậy với Chúa, Người có tình yêu dành cho anh chị em sẽ không bao giờ bị khuất phục. Mong rằng mỗi người chúng ta trải nghiệm tình yêu đó theo một phương cách mới mẻ và sâu đậm trong Mùa Chay này.
PRACTICAL PRAYER
THE EUCHARIST, PRAYER, AND A CATHOLIC AUTHOR FROM GEORGIA
JOE
O’SULLIVAN
is the Writer and Content Developer for the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux. He moved from Minnesota to South Louisiana in December 2023 to be closer to family. He attends St. Catherine’s Church in Metairie.
“The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life.’ The other sacraments … ministries and works of the apostolate … are oriented toward it” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1324).
When I was in college, I was struck by a story I heard from my professor about a Catholic author from Georgia. The author, Flannery O’Connor, was known for her powerful short stories, reflections on the human condition, and defense of Catholicism. The story my professor shared about her personal life has become famous over time.
When she was a young, up and coming writer, she was invited to a dinner party with some “New York Intellectuals.” Sadly, her hosts did not provide the most welcoming environment for her. In Ms. O’Connor’s own words, she explains, “having me there was like having a dog present who had been trained to say a few words, but overcome with inadequacy, had forgotten them.”
At one point, the dinner host turned the conversation to the Eucharist and made a comment in Ms. O’Connor’s direction. The host informed the group that she thought of the Eucharist as a mere “symbol.” To that, Ms. O’Connor gave a somewhat comical, yet shockingly profound response: “Well, if it’s a symbol, to hell with it.”
At first, it might sound like she wasn’t taking the question seriously. But upon further reflection, it shows the depth of her faith. The Church places the utmost importance on the Eucharist, because it’s the true presence of Jesus. So, without the Eucharist, what would be the point of “going to church” for Catholics? It’s not that going to church wouldn’t still have value, but rather, that it would change things drastically for Catholics because of what happens when we go to Mass.
I believe that Ms. O’Connor’s response emphasizes the central and undeniable importance of the Eucharist, as well as the impact it had on her life. When she was reflecting on that event at a later time, she wrote, “that was all the defense I was capable of, but I realize now that this is all I will ever be able to say about [the Eucharist] … that it is the true center of existence for me.”
O’Connor’s beautiful devotion to the Eucharist is a great inspiration, and it reminds us that the heart of being Catholic is sharing in Jesus’ life. Her example invites us to explore how we can approach the Eucharist with reverence and personal devotion, allowing it to become the center of our lives as well.
One of the simplest ways we can develop this special devotion is through prayer. When we go to Mass to receive the Eucharist, we can make our hopes, desires, and struggles known, offering them with Jesus’ sacrifice. By making these prayers quietly in our hearts throughout Mass, we develop a stronger personal connection to Jesus in the Eucharist.
It’s “right and just” to pray this way because we are God’s children, and God is like a good parent who listens lovingly to the cries of his child. Indeed, he wants us to come to him just as we are, not as we think we “should” be. And while we might not get everything we pray for, or at least not right away, he never turns us away when we come to him for help. If we’re feeling great pain, shame, or anger about something, it can be easy to think God won’t accept us if we tell him what’s really going on. But through Jesus, we receive love, discover who we truly are in God’s image, and gain peace. In my experience, it often turns out that that’s what we needed the most all along – God’s fatherly love.
Whenever we pray to God this way, especially during Mass, we unite ourselves more closely to Jesus in the Eucharist. As Pope St. John Paul II encouraged, we are invited to “open wide the doors for Christ.” The more we open ourselves to him when we receive the Eucharist, the more we’re able to receive his kindness, grow in love, and become who we’re meant to be in God’s image.
As we move through the Lenten season, may we follow Flannery O’Connor’s example in placing the Eucharist at the center of our lives and embracing the spirit of childlike prayer that St. Paul encourages:
“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:15-16).
MARCH DAILY PRAYER
FOR PRIESTS, DEACONS, RELIGIOUS, AND SEMINARIANS
Mar 1: Very Rev. Simon Peter Engurait
Mar 2: Rev. Varghese (Joe) Josekutty
Mar 3: Deacon Dennis Dupre, retired
Mar 4: Rev. Brice Higginbotham
Mar 5: Rev. Francis Kayaye
Mar 6: Rev. Stuart King
Mar 7: Deacon Randall Jennings
Mar 8: Rev. Thomas Kuriakose
Mar 9: Rev. Baby (Phillip) Kurvilla
Mar 10: Rev. Brett Lapeyrouse
Mar 11: Rev. Joseph Lapeyrouse
Mar 12: Deacon Gary Lapeyrouse
Mar 13: Rev. Alexis (Alex) Lazarra
Mar 14: Rev. Peter Tai Le
Mar 15: Rev. Glenn LeCompte
Mar 16: Seminarian Anthony Lajaunie
Mar 17: Very Rev. Eric P. Leyble, JCL
Mar 18: Rev. Joey Lirette
Mar 19: Very Rev. P.J. Madden, retired
Mar 20: Deacon Harold Fanguy, retired
Mar 21: Rev. Clyde Mahler, retired
Mar 22: Rev. Fernando Anaya Maida
Mar 23: Rev. John David Matherne
Mar 24: Sister Catherine Siracusa, O.S.B
Mar 25: Very Rev. Andre Melancon, VF
Mar 26: Very Rev. Thankachan (John) Nambusseril, VF
Mar 27: Rev. Roch Naquin
Mar 28: Deacon James LeFevre
Mar 29: Rev. Ty Nguyen, retired
Mar 30: Rev. Jean-Marie Nsambu
Mar 31: Bishop Emeritus Sam Jacobs
MARCH DAILY SCRIPTURE
Mar 1: Sir 17:1-15/Mk 10:13-16
Mar 2: Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sir 27:4-7/1 Cor 15:54-58/Lk 6:39-45
Mar 3: Sir 17:20-24/Mk 10:17-27
Mar 4: Sir 35:1-12/Mk 10:28-31
Mar 5: Ash Wednesday Jl 2:12-18/2 Cor 5:20—6:2/Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
Mar 6: Dt 30:15-20/Lk 9:22-25
Mar 7: Is 58:1-9a/Mt 9:14-15
Mar 8: Is 58:9b-14/Lk 5:27-32
Mar 9: First Sunday of Lent Dt 26:4-10/Rom 10:8-13/Lk 4:1-13
Mar 10: Lv 19:1-2, 11-18/Mt 25:31-46
Mar 11: Is 55:10-11/Mt 6:7-15
Mar 12: Jon 3:1-10/Lk 11:29-32
Mar 13: Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25/Mt 7:7-12
Mar 14: Ez 18:21-28/Mt 5:20-26
Mar 15: Dt 26:16-19/Mt 5:43-48
Mar 16: Gn 15:5-12, 17-18/Phil 3:17—4:1 or 3:20—4:1/Lk
9:28b-36
Mar 17: Dn 9:4b-10/Lk 6:36-38
Mar 18: Is 1:10, 16-20/Mt 23:1-12
Mar 19: Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16/Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22/Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a or Lk 2:41-51a
Mar 20: Jer 17:5-10/Lk 16:19-31
Mar 21: Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a/Mt 21:33-43, 45-46
Mar 22: Mi 7:14-15, 18-20/Lk 15:1-3, 11-32
Mar 23: Third Sunday of Lent Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15/1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12/Lk 13:1-9
Mar 24: 2 Kgs 5:1-15b/Lk 4:24-30
Mar 25: Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord Is 7:10-14; 8:10/Heb 10:4-10/Lk 1:26-38
Mar 26: Dt 4:1, 5-9/Mt 5:17-19
Mar 27: Jer 7:23-28/Lk 11:14-23
Mar 28: Hos 14:2-10/Mk 12:28-34
Mar 29: Hos 6:1-6/Lk 18:9-14
Mar 30: Fourth Sunday of Lent
Jos 5:9a, 10-12/2 Cor 5:17-21/Lk 15:1-3, 11-32
Mar 31: Is 65:17-21/Jn 4:43-54
APRIL DAILY PRAYER
FOR PRIESTS, DEACONS, RELIGIOUS, AND SEMINARIANS
Apr 1: Very Rev. Simon Peter Engurait
Apr 2: Rev. Samuel Okyere
Apr 3: Sister Effata Maria Teresa, MT
Apr 4: Rev. Charles Perkins, retired
Apr 5: Rev. Joey Pilola
Apr 6: Rev. Matthew Prosperie
Apr 7: Deacon Jesse LeCompte, retired
Apr 8: Rev. Patrick Riviere
Apr 9: Very Rev. Joshua Rodrigue
Apr 10: Rev. James Rome
Apr 11: Rev. Robert Rogers
Apr 12: Rev. Mitchel Semar
Apr 13: Rev. Glenn Porche, retired
Apr 14: Deacon Brent Bourgeois
Apr 15: Rev. Sebastian Stephen
Apr 16: Rev. Carlos Talavera
Apr 17: Rev. Wilmer Todd
Apr 18: Seminarian Michael Robichaux
Apr 19: Rev. Mark Toups
Apr 20: Rev. Mike Tran, VF
Apr 21: Rev. Joseph Tregre
Apr 22: Deacon Bertrand Rabalais, retired
Apr 23: Rev. Alphonse TriVu, CRM
Apr 24: Rev. Augustine Ky Truong, CRM
Apr 25: Deacon Chris Prestenback
Apr 26: Rev. Romeo (Billy) Velasco
Apr 27: Sister Mary Assumta Thien Oanh Tran, FMSR
Apr 28: Deacon Jeff Pitre
Apr 29: Rev. Ronilo (Ron) Villamor
Apr 30: Bishop Emeritus Sam Jacobs
APRIL DAILY SCRIPTURE
Apr 1: Ez 47:1-9, 12/Jn 5:1-16
Apr 2: Is 49:8-15/Jn 5:17-30
Apr 3: Ex 32:7-14/Jn 5:31-47
Apr 4: Wis 2:1a, 12-22/Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
Apr 5: Jer 11:18-20/Jn 7:40-53
Apr 6: Fifth Sunday of Lent Is 43:16-21/Phil 3:8-14/Jn 8:1-11
Apr 7: Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62/Jn 8:12-20
Apr 8: Nm 21:4-9/Jn 8:21-30
Apr 9: Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95/Jn 8:31-42
Apr 10: Gn 17:3-9/Jn 8:51-59
Apr 11: Jer 20:10-13/Jn 10:31-42
Apr 12: Ez 37:21-28/Jn 11:45-56
Apr 13: Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord Lk 19:28-40 (37)/Is 50:4-7/Phil 2:6-11/Lk 22:14—23:56 or 23:1-49
Apr 14: Is 42:1-7/Jn 12:1-11
Apr 15: Is 49:1-6/Jn 13:21-33, 36-38
Apr 16: Is 50:4-9a/Mt 26:14-25
Apr 17: Holy Thursday
Chrism Mass: Is 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9/Rv 1:5-8/Lk 4:16-21
Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper: Ex 12:1-8, 11-14/1
Cor 11:23-26/Jn 13:1-15
Apr 18: Good Friday
Is 52:13-53:12/Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9/Jn 18:1-19:42
Apr 19: Holy Saturday (Easter Vigil)
Gn 1:1—2:2/Gn 22:1-18/Ex 14:15—15:1/Is 54:5-14/Is 55:1-11/ Bar 3:9-15, 32—4:4/Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28/Rom 6:3-11/Lk 24:1-12
Apr 20: Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord Acts 10:34a, 37-43/Col 3:1-4/Jn 20:1-9 or Lk 24:1-12
Apr 21: Acts 2:14, 22-33/Mt 28:8-15
Apr 22: Acts 2:36-41/Jn 20:11-18
Apr 23: Acts 3:1-10/Lk 24:13-35
Apr 24: Acts 3:11-26/Lk 24:35-48
Apr 25: Acts 4:1-12/Jn 21:1-14
Apr 26: Acts 4:13-21/Mk 16:9-15
Apr 27: Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy) Acts 5:12-16/Rv 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19/Jn 20:19-31
Apr 28: Acts 4:23-31/Jn 3:1-8
Apr 29: Memorial of St. Catherine of Siena Acts 4:3237/Jn 3:7b-15
Apr 30: Acts 5:17-26/Jn 3:16-21
JESUS’ TEMPTATIONS IN THE DESERT BIBLE STUDY:
Before beginning his public ministry, Jesus faces three temptations in the desert. In this time of trial, he succeeds where the Israelites in the Old Testament failed. As he fulfills God’s promises, he also shows us how we can strive for personal holiness. Today, we reflect on these temptations and their meaning for our own lives.
READ MATTHEW 4:1-11
Why does Jesus go into the wilderness?
Answer: In verse 1, we see that Jesus is led by the Spirit into the desert just after God declares of Jesus, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). It seems strange then that Jesus would need to be tempted at all; why is he tested if God says he’s well pleased with Jesus? As part of God’s divine plan, Jesus succeeds where the Israelites from the Old Testament failed. He’s righting wrongs from the past so that all will be able to share in his life.
What happens during Jesus’ time in the wilderness?
Answer: Jesus fasts for forty days and forty nights and is visited three different times by “the tempter” (4:3). It’s important that Jesus spent forty days in the desert, because it would have reminded the Jews of all the different periods of testing that the Israelites endured. Moses fasted on Sinai for forty days and the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years (Numbers 14:33-34); Elijah traveled for forty days to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8). Matthew, the author of the Gospel, wanted his readers to know that Jesus was getting ready to begin his public ministry.
What is the first temptation?
Answer: The tempter tells Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread (4:3). Instead of giving in and satisfying his hunger, Jesus firmly resists by quoting the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 8:3): “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the Mouth of God” (4:4). Jesus shows us that true life comes not from satisfying our physical hunger, but from satisfying our souls by following God’s will.
How does Jesus’ response inspire you? Do you ever place physical desires at the expense of higher things?
Answer: Reflect and discuss.
What is the second temptation?
Answer: The tempter, now referred to as “the devil,” takes him to a holy city and challenges Jesus: “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will give his angels charge of you,’ and ‘on their hands, they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone’ ” (4:5-6). Jesus responds calmly, “Again it is written, you shall not tempt the Lord your God” (4:7). Jesus is showing us how to trust God in all circumstances, especially when we’re faced with temptation.
How does the second temptation reflect Jesus’ trust? Are there ways you can exercise greater trust in God’s plan, even if you don’t understand why in the moment?
Answer: Reflect and discuss.
What is the third temptation?
Answer: The devil takes Jesus to a different location on a very high mountain, making one
more attempt to trick him. The devil shows him “all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me” (4:89). Jesus says in response, “Begone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve” (4:10). Satan offers Jesus power over all the kingdoms of the world, but instead of accepting, Jesus commands him to leave. Jesus shows us that no amount of power and control is worth our relationship to God.
What are modern examples of this temptation? Why is temptation like a “trick”? Does it really make us happy after we give in?
Answer: Reflect and discuss.
What happens after the temptations are over?
Answer: The devil leaves because Jesus commands him to leave. After he’s gone, “angels came and ministered to him” (4:11). It’s striking that angels minister to Jesus here, considering that’s what the devil promised if Jesus would only throw himself down. This shows that the devil is a liar, always trying to get us to do things that will harm us and move us further away from God. After this moment, Jesus returns from the wilderness and begins his public ministry.
Conclusion & Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, as we journey through this season of Lent, give us the strength to overcome temptation. Help us to see through lies and draw us always closer to you. We trust you and we love you. Amen.
YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND HIM ONLY SHALL YOU SERVE. ” “
SAINT STORIES
MICHELLE DUPPONG, SERVANT OF GOD
A MODEL OF JOY AND TRUST FOR MODERN TIMES
Michelle Duppong was always described by her friends, family, and colleagues as deeply joyful, even in the face of profound suffering. Born in 1984, she grew up on a small farm in North Dakota in a faithful catholic family. From a young age, she showed a deep devotion to her faith, which became a defining quality in her life.
At North Dakota State University, Michelle majored in horticulture, but the thing she was most passionate about was sharing the love of Christ. When the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) arrived on campus at the start of her junior year, Michelle got involved and went deeper with her faith. It was a decision that shaped the rest of her life. After graduation, she answered God’s call to serve as a FOCUS missionary, dedicating six years to serving and evangelizing on college campuses throughout the Midwest. Known for her profound faith and down-to-earth spirit, she was described as “effervescent” when she was with people she was called to serve.
In 2013, Michelle became the Director of Adult Formation for the Diocese of Bismarck, bringing the same contagious joy to her new role. She was instrumental in launching the diocese’s first ever Eucharistic Conference, “Thirst,” which helped countless others deepen their relationship with Jesus.
Just a year later, at 30, Michelle went to the doctor to discuss a pain in her side. Sadly, Michelle received devastating news that she had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. She met this news with complete trust in God’s plan, never asking why me? Instead, she saw her suffering as an opportunity to unite herself more closely to Jesus. Despite the increasing levels of extreme pain, and multiple aggressive surgeries, Michelle remained a source of joy and light to others around her. A doctor, moved to tears by her kindness despite her suffering, recalled her showing more concern for him than for herself.
Michelle believed that redemptive suffering was the most powerful form of evangelization. She offered her suffering for others, always trusting completely in God’s will with a spirit of peace. When offered hospice care to alleviate her pain, she declined, believing that it was what Jesus wanted for her. Surrounded by family and friends, she passed away peacefully at home on December 25, 2015
Michelle’s impact hasn’t ended with her death. Stories of healings and answered prayers through her intercession have emerged, including healings from cancer and infertility struggles. This has prompted the Diocese of Bismarck to open her cause for canonization to become a saint. If canonized, she would become only the 4th American-born saint in history.
Michelle’s radical trust in God’s will for her, despite her circumstances, continues to inspire, reminding us that true peace and happiness is found in God.
Servant of God, Michelle Duppong, pray for us!
HEART OF THE CHURCH ON THE BEGINNING OF LENT SERMON
207 BY ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO
1. With the mercy of the Lord, we overcome the temptations of this world through almsgiving, fasting, and prayer. These are always necessary but especially as we prepare for Easter, which reminds us of the mercy Christ has shown us. He fasted and prayed for us, and He became one of us so that He might redeem us. The Creator humbled Himself, the Bread of Life became hungry, and He who is without sin suffered and died—all to heal our wounds, satisfy our hunger, and stir our hearts toward love.
What greater mercy could there be? He gave Himself to us when we hungered, and He welcomed us though He Himself was rejected. Let us then give bread to the hungry, welcome the stranger, and perform works of mercy all the more generously as the day of His sacrifice approaches. For fasting without kindness and mercy is worth nothing to the one who fasts.
2. Let us fast with humility, imitating Christ, who was obedient even to the death of the cross (Phil 2:8). Let us not only restrain our appetites but also our hearts, disciplining our desires so they do not rule over us. Let us chastise our bodies and subject them to self-denial so that we do not fall into sin.
Fasting should not be a mere rearranging of pleasures. Some people replace one luxury with another, crafting new delights for themselves during Lent rather than truly simplifying. They abstain from one kind of indulgence, only to seek another, refining their tastes rather than purifying their hearts. This is not fasting—it is merely shifting desires.
To avoid such deception, let our fasting be accompanied by frugality. Just as we restrain the stomach, let us also restrain the tongue and the mind. It is not that certain foods are unclean, but that the love of pleasure must be kept in check. Holy David repented not for eating forbidden food, but for desiring water too much (2 Sam 23:15-17). It is not only forbidden pleasures that corrupt, but also
an excessive attachment to lawful ones. Let us, therefore, fast in a way that renews our spirit, not just our habits.
3. Prayer, too, must be chaste and sincere. It is pointless to ask God for mercy if we refuse it to others. Many cry out to God but harbor anger, hatred, and bitterness in their hearts. If we fast from food, how much more must we fast from resentment?
Some people, unable to take revenge, instead pray vengeful prayers, asking God to harm those who have wronged them. But just as fasting strengthens prayer, prayer must be free from hatred. Christ Himself commands us: “Forgive, and you shall be forgiven” (Luke 6:37). If we hold on to resentment, how can we expect God to let go of our sins?
Therefore, let our prayer be pure, humble, and persistent. Just as our bodies need food at the proper time, our souls must be nourished at all times by love. True prayer fasts from selfishness and malice. True prayer feeds on love.
4. In this holy season, let us fast, not just in body but in soul. Let us give up not only excess food, but excess pride. Let us abstain not only from meat and wine, but also from gossip and cruelty. Let our hunger be for righteousness, our thirst be for holiness, and our satisfaction be in Christ alone.
When we fast in this way—with love, mercy, and sincerity—then our sacrifice will be pleasing to God. And when the feast of Easter arrives, we shall rejoice not only in the Risen Lord, but in the renewal of our own souls.
WHAT GREATER MERCY COULD THERE BE?
” “
ENTERING INTO LENT
ASH WEDNESDAY 2024 HOMILY, POPE FRANCIS
When you give alms, or pray or fast, take care to do these things in secret, for your Father sees in secret (cf. Mt 6:4). “Go to your room”: this is the invitation that Jesus addresses to each of us at the beginning of the Lenten journey.
Going to your room means returning to the heart, as the prophet Joel admonishes (cf. Joel 2:12). It means journeying from without to within, so that our whole life, including our relationship with God, is not reduced to mere outward show, a frame without a picture, a draping of the soul, but is born from within and reflects the movements of our heart, our deepest desires, our thoughts, our feelings, the very core of our person.
Lent, then, immerses us in a bath of purification and of self-spoliation: it helps us to remove all the cosmetics that we use in order to appear presentable, better than we really are. To return to the heart means to go back to our true self and to present it just as it is, naked and defenseless, in the sight of God. It means looking within ourselves and acknowledging our real identity, removing the masks we so often wear, slowing the frantic pace of our lives and embracing life and the truth of who we are. Life is not a play; Lent invites us to come down from the stage and return to the heart, to the reality of who we are: a return to the heart and the truth.
That is why… in a spirit of prayer and humility, we receive ashes on our foreheads. This gesture is meant to remind us of the ultimate reality of our lives: that we are dust and our life passes away like a breath (cf. Ps 39:6; 144:4). Yet the Lord – he and he alone – does not allow it to vanish; he gathers and shapes the dust that we are, lest it be swept away by the winds of life or sink into the abyss of death.
The ashes placed on our head invite us to rediscover the secret of life. They tell us that as long as we continue to shield our hearts and hide ourselves behind a mask, to appear invincible, we will be empty and arid within. When, on the other hand, we have the courage to bow our heads in order to look within, we will discover the presence of God who loves us and has always loved us. At last those shields you have built for yourself will be shattered and you will be able to feel yourself loved with an eternal love.
GO TO YOUR ROOM, RETURN TO YOUR HEART. “ ”
Sister, brother, I, you, each of us, is loved with an eternal love. We are ashes on which God has breathed his breath of life, we are the earth which he has shaped with his own hands (cf. Gen 2:7; Ps 119:73), dust from which we will rise for a life without end prepared for us from all eternity (cf. Is 26:9). And if, in the ashes that we are, the fire of the love of God burns, then we will discover that we have indeed been shaped by that love and called to love others in turn. To love the brothers and sisters all around us, to be considerate of others, to feel compassion, to show mercy, to share all that we are and all that we have with those in need. Almsgiving, prayer and fasting are not mere external practices; they are paths that lead to the heart, to the core of the Christian life. They make us realize that we are ashes loved by God, and they enable us to spread that love on the “ashes” of so many situations in our daily lives, so that in them hope, trust and joy may be reborn.
Let us listen then, throughout this Lent, to the voice of the Lord who does not tire of repeating: go to your room, return to your heart. It is a salutary invitation for us, who so often live on the surface of things, who are so concerned to be noticed, who constantly need to be admired and appreciated. Without realizing it, we find ourselves no longer having an “inner chamber” in which we can stop and care for ourselves, immersed as we are in a world in which everything, including our emotions and deepest feelings, has to become “social” – but how can something be “social” that does not come from the heart?
Even the most tragic and painful experiences risk not having a quiet place where they can be kept. Everything has to be exposed, shown off, fed to the gossip-mill of the moment. But the Lord says to us: Enter into the secret, return to the center of yourself. Precisely there, where so many fears, feelings of guilt and sin are lurking, precisely there the Lord has descended in order to heal and cleanse you. Let us enter into our inner chamber: there the Lord dwells, there our frailty is accepted and we are loved unconditionally.
Brothers and sisters, let us not be afraid to strip ourselves of worldly trappings and return to the heart, returning to what is essential. Let us think of Saint Francis, who after stripping himself embraced with his entire being the Father in heaven. Let us acknowledge what we are: dust loved by God, called to be dust in love with God. Thanks to him, we will be reborn from the ashes of sin to new life in Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit.
TANZIE WILLIAMS
serves as the Secretary and Bookkeeper St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Galiano, where she is a dedicated parishioner. She and her husband, Tate, are proud parents of 5.
TELL US ABOUT WHERE YOU’RE FROM AND YOUR FAMILY.
I am originally from Westwego, Louisiana, where I received baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation at Our Lady of Prompt Succor. My husband, Tate, and I celebrated five years of marriage on January 24. I have two children of my own and three stepchildren. My oldest son, Wilson, is married to Kristy, and they have blessed us with two grandchildren, Colt and Emreigh. My youngest son, Terry, passed away five years ago. Tate’s children—Seth, Sarah, and Sierra—currently live in California. We also have a four-year-old dog, Rocky.
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE WITHIN THE DIOCESE?
I am currently the Secretary and Bookkeeper at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Galliano, I will be celebrating my 3rd year in April.
HOW DO YOU LIKE TO GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR FAITH?
I start my day at the gym at 5 AM and attend Mass at 7 AM when I can. On Wednesdays, I lead the Rosary at 6:30 AM and lector at the 7 AM Mass. Twice a month, I serve as a commentator, lector, and extraordinary minister of Holy Communion at the 10 AM Sunday Mass. I am also the president of the Terry L. Hunter III Foundation, named after my son Terry, who died by suicide in May 2019. The foundation provides scholarships and suicide prevention resources to local high schools.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE SAINT? HOW DOES THEIR EXAMPLE
GUIDE YOU DURING LENT?
St. Dymphna is my favorite right now. Her intercession guides our mission of prayer for those struggling with anxiety, depression, and mental health challenges.
HOLINESS
HOW DO YOU PURSUE HOLINESS DURING LENT?
This year we have discussed attending the Way of the Cross every Friday. We have not done this in the past, but I feel a calling for it this year. I try to remember that Lent is the time to remember what Jesus sacrificed for me and my family.
THE PATH TO HOLINESS CAN BE CHALLENGING SOMETIMES. HOW DO YOU PERSEVERE THROUGH THOSE CHALLENGES AND WHAT ENCOURAGEMENT CAN YOU OFFER OTHERS?
My challenge is to sit in silence with God every day. There are so many ways to be with God one-on-one. My encouragement for others (and myself), would be to challenge yourself to find “God Time” – that one-on-one silence with God and time of reflection for the day.
HOW HAS LENT CHANGED FOR YOU OVER THE YEARS?
I watched The Passion of the Christ for the first time in 2022 and it deeply impacted me. Seeing the suffering that Jesus went through for me and my family and how Mary’s love continued even after his death… seeing how Jesus told his father in heaven when he was at the brink of death, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:24). They are examples to me of how love prevailed. I think Lent is a true testimony of love.
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF LENT THIS YEAR?
Get out of your comfort zone and seek the Lord’s presence!
IS A TRUE TESTIMONY OF LOVE. ” “
GROWING IN VIRTUE virtue
CHAD CHERAMIE, JR. is a seminarian for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. He attends Notre Dame Seminary where he is in his 5th year of studies for the priesthood
HUMILITY
“In your relations with one another, clothe yourselves with humility, because God is stern with the arrogant but to the humble he shows kindness.’ Bow humbly under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time he may lift you high. Cast all your cares on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:5-7).
The virtue of humility can be the toughest to put into practice. Recently in prayer, I heard God the Father telling me that when he was creating the world – the sun, the moon, the stars, the land, the water, the birds of the air and the beast of the field – he had me in mind and was doing it specifically for me. This is why man is created last as the pinnacle of creation and given dominion over all living things. On hearing this, I was immediately tempted with self-pride. But the prayer went deeper. As a matter of fact, the prayer led to a reflection on salvation history: from the creation of man and his fall to Noah, Abraham, Moses, the prophets, and ultimately to the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
Beginning with Adam, I was struck by the reality that I am subject to the sins of Adam and Eve, and that led me to look down at myself and my sinfulness. But we cannot forget about the rest of salvation history. God the Father was working and guiding the Israelites through their failings, never giving up on them. Then, as I thought about the Incarnation, it struck me that the God of gods became a vulnerable little baby to reveal that He is “Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.” The Incarnation is not just a lofty idea, but a profound reality that impacts the future of man. The Incarnation is not the end, but the beginning – the means through which Christ would give his life for ours. However, we can’t stop there…
When we read the Gospel accounts of Jesus’s Passion, we can’t help but put our pride to the side and sit humbly before our God, appreciating the marvelous mercy he has shown to us. Just as all creation was intended as a gift to us, so too was every drop of blood from the brow of Christ. The Lenten Season is not a time for us to hang our heads and accuse ourselves of causing Christ’s passion because of our sin, but rather a time to embrace the identity of Beloved in relation to the Father, who is the One who Loves. The Passion of Christ’s body is not meant to create a burden of obligation, but an invitation to love. It is a bouquet of mercy – a bundle of roses from the hands of Christ, but with the thorns withheld.
As the Son of Man is lifted up in his nakedness on the Cross, we find the true definition of humility. It is here that we have a choice, just like the two thieves at Christ’s side on Calvary: we can abuse this gift of the cross and demand to be saved, or we can proclaim in full humility, without shame, that we are sinners and ask Jesus to remember us when he returns to His Father.
In his work Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis had an interesting definition of humility that’s illustrated by the two thieves. The one who is commonly known as the “good thief” did not think less of himself because of his just condemnation but thought of himself less. That’s how we should be inspired to think about humility too.
As Lent approaches, let us pray for the virtue of humility. Don’t shy away from opportunities to be humbled. But instead of seeing yourself as a burden to Christ, thinking less of yourself, see yourself as God the Father sees you and this will bring about true humility. As St. Theresa of Avila says, “Humility is truth. It is becoming aware of and accepting the truth of who we are.”
My brothers and sisters in Christ, you are the pearl of great price that the Father sells everything to acquire; you are the lost coin, the prodigal son, and the one Jesus left the ninety-nine to find. Great is His rejoicing when you are reunited with Him. This Lent may be the first time you experience true humility – seeing yourself as God the Father sees you – so do not think less of yourself; rather, think of yourself less and allow the Father to come into your heart to find you and remind you that you are His beloved.
“If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninetynine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost” (Matthew 18:12-14).
INDEED, YOU ARE THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE THAT THE FATHER SELLS EVERYTHING TO ACQUIRE; YOU ARE THE LOST COIN, THE PRODIGAL SON, AND THE ONE JESUS LEFT THE NINETY-NINE TO FIND. ” “
LENT:
A PILGRIMAGE OF HOPE
FR. BRICE HIGGINBOTHAM, SSL
is the administrator of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Parish in Chackbay. Having earned a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies from Notre Dame Seminary in 2017 and served in various pastoral assignments throughout the Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux from 2017 –2021, he earned a License in Sacred Scripture (S.S.L.) from the Pontifical Institute in Rome in June of 2024 before moving to Chackbay on July 1, 2024.
This year, Lent has a particular feel because we celebrate it in the context of the Jubilee of Hope. Much more could be written about the Jubilee and if you want to know more feel free to follow along with our Lenten podcast series on the topic at podcast.olopschackbay.org and/or read Dr. John Bergsma’s book, Jesus and the Jubilee.
Let’s therefore focus on the virtue of hope in our journey through Lent and through life. The Catechism of the Catholic Church follows St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans (4:18) and the Letter to the Hebrews (chapters 6 and 11) in presenting Abraham as a model of faith and of hope for us. In fact, faith and hope are closely related—so much so that faith is part of hope. We cannot have hope if we do not first have faith.
In paragraph 1817 of the Catechism, the Church teaches us that there are three aspects of hope:
1. desire for the kingdom of heaven and eternal life
2. trust in Christ’s promises, which is part of faith (cf. CCC 1814)
3. reliance on the Holy Spirit
Abraham exhibits all three aspects of hope in ways appropriate to the level of Revelation he had received in these early days of God’s forming His covenant family. One could say that he exercises Old Testament hope in a way that anticipates New Testament hope. Let’s go back to his first mention in Scripture. Having traveled from Ur of the Chaldeans to Haran with his father Terah, God called Abraham (Abram at that point) to go farther—all the way to the land of Canaan, to which his father had failed to persevere:
“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran” (Genesis 12:1–4).
Having received these covenant promises from God, Abraham trusted that God would come through and departed for the promised land which, of course, points forward to the true promised land: Heaven. Thus, both his trust and desire for this land reveal Abraham’s character as a man of hope. Abraham and his wife Sarah, Hebrews tells us, “desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:16, emphasis added).
In fact, it is God’s promise—in the form of a covenant oath—that is our hope. And this hope is “a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul”, held fast in Heaven (Hebrews
6:19). This is what hope does: in the constant bombardment of the temptations and discouragements which come from the world, the flesh, and the devil, our hope in Heaven is what allows us to avoid capsizing into mortal sin. By it we begin to be rocked less and less by venial sin, and even experience fewer imperfections like distractions, worries, and the like.
The anchor is a most fitting image for hope because the anchor is a tool for a journey. Like Abraham journeyed from a land of sin to the earthly promised land, we disciples of Jesus are meant to be journeying upon the hard and narrow road to Heaven (Matthew 7:13–14). Further, after the Exodus from Egypt the host of Hebrews was also a wandering people, spending 40 years in the desert on their way back to the land that God had promised.
Yet God had a plan for their wandering. Over and over again his people let go of the rope attached to the anchor of His promise. Over and over again they failed to rely on the Spirit of God. Over and over again, many of them capsized into the death of mortal sin. Their father—our father—Abraham had relied on God’s Spirit, especially when asked to offer up his son Isaac and trusting that, if necessary, God would even raise him from the dead (Hebrews 11:17–19).
And how did they know that God would come through? They knew that God would come through because, as mentioned above, God swore a covenant oath to them (Genesis 12:1–3; 15:1–21). A covenant is a sacred family bond between persons. Covenants make family. God would not abandon them, because God had taken them in as His sons and daughters.
We too have become children of God, through an even greater covenant than that made with Abraham. By the Sacrament of Baptism which incorporates us into the new and eternal covenant in the Blood of Jesus, the Christ, who is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, we have been washed clean of sin, adopted as God’s own sons/daughters, and made part of His family, the Church.
As we journey through Lent, engaging in whatever mortifications and other spiritual practices we’ve discerned for ourselves and our families, we can have hope because Almighty God, the Creator of the Universe, has chosen to make Himself our Father. In the ups and downs, the winds and the waves, the times of smooth sailing and the times of being tossed about on the rough seas, let us hold on to the anchor rooted in Heaven which is hope by praying for and fostering by our actions the desire for Heaven, trust in the promises of Christ, and reliance on the Holy Spirit who “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).
IS OUR HOPE. ” “
IT IS GOD’S PROMISE
THAT
THE SUBTLE TEMPTATION OF COMPARISON:
LESSONS FROM THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS
ANNIE BREERWOOD
lives in Thibodaux with her husband David, and their son, Lewis, as they joyfully await the arrival of a new baby in March. A full-time homemaker, she and her family are devoted parishioners of St. Bridget.
The sacrifices we make during Lent can feel more or less burdensome depending on the challenges we’re facing each year when Lent starts. Yet, the Church, in her wisdom, provides this sacred season to help us reflect on Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on the Cross. Through this reflection, the Church invites all the faithful to view suffering as an opportunity for redemption by uniting our struggles with Christ. In doing so, we can transform our suffering from something meaningless into a source of grace and spiritual growth.
Focusing on the redemptive nature of our own suffering can be difficult if we fall into the temptation of comparison. For instance, a parent juggling work and family life may start to envy a friend with seemingly fewer responsibilities. Someone enduring chronic illness who observes others enjoying good health may resent those with better health. These thoughts are, and should be, treated as tactics from
Satan for keeping us from progressing on our spiritual journey. Comparison shifts our focus away from God’s work in our own lives and tempts us to question His plan and goodness.
C.S. Lewis explores this exact struggle in his work
The Screwtape Letters — a series of fictional letters written by Screwtape, a senior demon, to his nephew Wormwood, a novice tempter. In these letters, Screwtape advises Wormwood how to lead a human soul away from God, whom he mockingly refers to as “the Enemy.” By revealing the subtle and often unnoticed ways spiritual distractions can take root in our lives, Lewis provides wisdom that can help us resist the temptation of comparison and embrace the redemptive potential of our suffering during this holy season of Lent.
In Letter 12, Screwtape writes, “Do not let the patient (the human) think about his own condition in relation
to the Enemy’s designs for him. Instead, focus his mind on others.” This strategy highlights how small distractions, especially through comparison, can draw us away from God. When we compare our suffering to others, we often spiral into envy, resentment, or feelings of inadequacy – none of which align with the Christian call to love and trust in God. These comparisons, though subtle, are powerful tools Satan uses to derail our focus on our unique path to holiness. Recognizing these thoughts as temptations rather than truths is the first step to overcoming them.
Jesus teaches, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Each cross is a unique opportunity for sanctification. Comparing our suffering to that of others distracts us from the graces and lessons God offers us in our own circumstances. The parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-6) further illustrates this point. In the parable, God’s generosity to one person is not diminished by how He chooses to bless others. Trusting in His divine plan allows us to embrace our suffering as a path to holiness without resentment or doubt.
One practical way to overcome the temptation of comparison is to cultivate gratitude and trust. St. Paul advises us to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). A daily practice of gratitude shifts our perspective, helping us to recognize God’s
presence and blessings even amid hardship. Trusting in God’s providence and timing also brings peace.
Screwtape warns in Letter 12: “The safest road to Hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” Constant comparison leads to gradual discontentment, eroding our faith over time. By focusing instead on gratitude and trust, we redirect our hearts toward God, breaking the cycle of dissatisfaction and envy.
Jesus provides the ultimate example of embracing suffering without comparison. During His Passion, He accepted His cross willingly and bore it for the redemption of humanity. He did not compare His suffering to others but trusted entirely in the Father’s will.
By identifying the spiritual pitfalls and drawing inspiration from the wisdom of The Screwtape Letters and the example of Christ, we can equip ourselves to resist the temptation of comparison. In doing so, we embrace the unique journey of faith God has planned for each of us. This Lent, may we fix our eyes on Christ and trust that God’s redemptive power will also work in us as we prayerfully bring our sufferings to be united with Him at the Cross.
TRUSTING IN GOD’S PROVIDENCE AND TIMING ALSO BRINGS PEACE. ” “
THE WAY TO GOD
PURIFICATION AND DOING GOD’S WILL
CONRAD COLLINS
lives in New Orleans with his wife and they attend St. Patrick’s Church in Downtown New Orleans.
As we seek to grow in our relationship with our Lord, we inevitably experience spiritual deserts – times of difficulty in prayer and desolation. It is universal. The reality is that we are imperfect and finite beings. God, though intimately close to us, is infinite and incomprehensible. Wounded by sin, we tend to desire things that lead us away from true happiness, which is God. Jesus is called our Savior, which means we need saving. Before we can talk about how to act in times of purification, we need to accept that we need these times.
Anytime we don’t get what we want, it hurts. As we try to love God and do his will we must go through painful experiences and periods of darkness, because our will does not always align with what God wants for us.
This realization is necessary for anyone to grow in their interior life. Until we come to prefer God’s will over our own, and the suffering that will come with that, we cannot hope to begin the process of transforming our will so that it is the same as God’s. And we won’t prefer God’s will until we begin to distrust our own.
Always, the saints tell us to renounce our old selves. This is the meaning of conversion. That is the goal St. Francis de Sales has in mind for the soul in the first part of the Introduction to the Devout Life: “The soul that aims at the dignity of becoming the spouse of Christ, must put off the old man, and put on the new man, forsaking sin. Moreover, it must pare and shave away every impediment that can hinder the love of God.” Every time I return to this, I am always struck that the first step encouraged by the saints, not only by St. Francis de Sales, is purgation and purification.
There are two parts to this first step. First, we renounce our sins and especially mortal sins. Then, we work to detach from all sinful affections. This second part is difficult—it is the kind of renunciation of will that I have mentioned— but St. Francis de Sales believes that a series of meditations will establish a proper spirit of contrition and fear of sinful attachments. These meditations are where we truly begin to see ourselves honestly, and to see how good God is.
We are invited, first, to consider how God made us from nothing solely out of his goodness. Not only this, but even the way we were created is directed towards union with God. The saint reminds us that each of our faculties—the understanding, memory, will, imagination, sight, etc.—are given to us that we may know and love God. He not only gives us our faculties, but many other gifts as well. God’s love is immense, and he constantly proves it.
It is at this point that the saint directs our attention toward our own sinfulness. He invites us to consider how long it has been since our first sin and how many times we have sinned since that moment. Then, he leads us to consider our tendencies and how often we follow them away from God, and finally to consider all the ways in which we have used our gifts against God or simply ignored or neglected Him.
Have you ever made an inventory or list of every sin you have ever committed? I tried with just one type of sin once – and the list grew long very quickly. This alone should have been enough for me to accept how opposed I have been to God’s will, and it didn’t even include my imperfections. When I also considered my desires and tendencies, I began to realize very little of my life had been given back to God. I was tempted to despair at this. It was easy to get down on myself, but I believe that is why St. Francis meditates on the goodness of God first, that we may have hope.
God, despite our best efforts, has continually worked to give us our greatest happiness. We may not be able to trust ourselves, but we can trust Him.
I would think by now all of us would be convinced of the need for purification, and the need for a deeper relationship with God. Only now are we able to talk about what to do when desolation and periods of purification come. Our greatest aid is God Himself, even though He may feel far. In these times, we can follow the steps laid down by St. Francis de Sales: remind ourselves of God’s goodness, examine our conscience, make a good confession, pray daily, and receive the Eucharist.
Remind yourself of God’s goodness. Read the Gospels. Meditate on the fact that you exist. Consider the great purpose for which you were made. The truth is that God has made you for union with Him, to share in his divine life.
Examine your conscience. When you experience desolation, it is because God knows there is something within you that must be rooted out. Don’t be afraid to search with Him into the depths of your heart and remember that His love is greater than anything you find there. Then, go to confession and receive the graces God has in store for you.
Pray daily. The saints are of one voice here. There is no point in making sacrifices if you don’t make them with God. You aren’t just getting rid of things to create a void in your heart, but to make room for God. It is especially in times of desolation, when you least desire it, that you need to make time for God. This goes for receiving the Eucharist as well. Receive Him.
In the moment, you will not feel like doing these things. They may be distasteful to you and feel like a burden. But, as we’ve learned, through grace, we can learn to do all for the love of God.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TRUST OURSELVES, BUT WE CAN TRUST HIM. ” “
HACKSAW RIDGE AND REDEMPTIVE SUFFERING
serves
BRENNAN GARRIQUES
as Campus Minister for Men’s Ministries at Christ the King on the campus of LSU. He resides in Baton Rouge with his wife, Teresa.
“Jesus said, ‘A new commandment I give unto you; that you love one another just as I have loved you’” (John 13:34). The way Jesus has loved us is the way of the cross. Through the suffering He endured, He won our salvation and definitively made suffering redemptive. Now, we can participate in the salvation of souls when we unite our suffering to Christ’s and “offer it” in conjunction with His. During the season of Lent, we are asked to pray and fast, indeed to suffer, in a special way to prepare for Easter and to “fill up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church” (Colossians 1:24)
Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge, one of the better films released in the last decade, offers a beautiful image of how we can embrace redemptive suffering and the fruit it can bear. Set during World War II and based on a true story, Hacksaw Ridge follows Desmond Doss (played by Andrew Garfield) as he becomes the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor, America’s highest award for courage under fire. However, as he says in the film, he likes to think of himself as more of a conscientious cooperator.
As a deeply convicted Seventh-Day Adventist, Desmond takes the Sixth Commandment of the Lord, “Thou shalt not kill,” very seriously; so seriously, in fact, that he refuses to carry a weapon even on the front lines of Okinawa, Japan. But to the front lines he wishes to go, for he thinks it not right for other men to fight and die while he stays at home. Even still, his position does not sit well with his fellow draftsmen nor with his commanding officers. They think him soft, cowardly, and extremist in his religious beliefs. While at boot camp, both his peers and superiors abuse him physically and emotionally, but he endures it with meekness and humility of heart.
The last attempt by his superiors to break him is to court-martial him for refusing a direct order to demonstrate his ability to use a rifle (which he is not required to carry), an order they know he will not follow. In a moving speech given at his trial, Desmond offers a beautiful vision for his participation in the war:
“I need to serve. I got the energy and the passion to serve as a medic right in the middle with the other guys. No less danger, just while everybody else is taking life, I’m gonna be saving it. With the world so set on tearing itself apart, it don’t seem like such a bad thing to me to want to put a little bit of it back together.”
Although these are powerful words, it takes some additional intervention from his father’s connections as a World War I veteran to have the court-martial withdrawn and to allow Desmond to go to Okinawa. He and the rest of the 77th Infantry Division are meant to take Hacksaw Ridge from the Japanese. In classic Mel Gibson fashion, there is a gruesome display of blood, death, and heroism wrapped up in the chaos of war. In the first day of fighting, Desmond immediately proves he is no coward, but it is in his efforts the following day that we really witness the kind of love with which Christ loves us.
It seems obvious to me that it is nothing less than supernatural grace that allows Desmond to do what he does atop Hacksaw Ridge. Indeed, his actions are driven by the marriage of his love for God with his love for neighbor. Over the course of about 12 hours, he manages to save 75 wounded men from dying, searching for his fallen comrades either in the midst of heavy artillery or lurking Japanese soldiers. In addition, securing the safety of each man entails lowering that man down a 30-foot ridge before being able to search for the next.
Naturally, there comes a point in this cycle of search and rescue where he is fatigued and clearly in quite a bit of pain, and here he begins to ask the Lord for just one more. Each time he saves another, he asks the Lord again for one more. At one point, he comes across a man whose eyes have been covered with blood, causing the man to think he has gone blind. Desmond pours water from his canteen over the man’s eyes, and he is able to see again. It’s a fairly insignificant scene relative to the whole story, but I highlight it because so does the real Desmond Doss.
In a clip from a 2003 interview with the then 84-year-old Doss, he recounts the experience eventually re-presented in the movie. He says that when the blood washed away from the man’s eyes, “he just lit up… And if I hadn’t gotten anything more out of the war than that smile he gave me, I’d have been well repaid.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “Love causes a desire for the absent good and the hope of obtaining it; this movement finds completion in the pleasure and joy of the good possessed” (1765). In the case of Desmond Doss, the good he desired to possess was the saving of human life, and it was indeed a good he came to possess, 75 times over, as a fruit of suffering borne with love.
In Desmond’s story, the truth of redemptive suffering is revealed. Through the passion and death of Jesus Christ, the suffering He endured and the love with which He endured it became the way of salvation for all the world. If we wish to join Him in His resurrection, we must join Him in His suffering, just as He came to join us in ours. He did not do this to condemn us nor to leave us alone with the consequences of sin. He did it to meet us face to face in the midst of those consequences. “For the sake of the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2), and it is to be face to face with you that is His joy, just as it was for Desmond to see the smile on that man’s face. Let us all then endure the sufferings of this present age in union with Christ so that we may obtain our salvation and that of others and be face to face with Him forever in the Kingdom of Heaven.
IF WE WISH TO JOIN HIM IN HIS RESURRECTION, WE MUST JOIN HIM IN HIS SUFFERING, JUST AS HE CAME TO JOIN US IN OURS.
“
MOTHER OF SORROWS
BY VIRGINIA MOAN EVANSEM, ST. ANTHONY MESSENGER
My Son, could I have climbed this hill for You, How willingly had I endured each stone: Yet, I too struggled up steep Calvary; You have not climbed alone!
Could I have borne the monstrous cross for You, I would have carried it unto my death. Though I could not, still I have felt its weight, My Son, with every breath!
Oh, could I pluck these nails from Your loved flesh, And driving them through mine, make them a part Of my own body’s pain, I would! But Son, I wear them in my heart!
Fr. Andrew “Sol” Souby is a priest who may be closer to you than you realize – and one who has had an immense and lasting impact on the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.
Born in New Orleans in 1871 as Andre’ Guillaume Souby, he attended St. Mary of Archbishopric’s parochial school for his elementary education. He later attended the Jesuit College on Baronne Street in 1883 before graduating in 1889 with full honors. He was then sent to study with the Vincentian Brothers in Genoa, Italy before being ordained in 1894. After he returned to New Orleans, he was assigned to be an assistant pastor in Baton Rouge.
When he was 27, he was appointed the Pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church of Brashear City (now Morgan City). Considered a remarkable achievement for the time, the average priest usually wasn’t assigned as a pastor unless he’d been a priest for at least 5 years – usually 10 years.
His parish boundaries were massive – 25 miles in one direction, 60 miles in the other – but that didn’t stop Fr. Souby from reaching his people. To serve them, he traveled by train, car, boat, and in the earlier days, by foot! Fr. Souby would fast while he worked long hours and then walk an estimated 4 miles a day to
FATHER ANDREW “SOL” SOUBY: OUR HISTORY: RESIGNING TO GOD’S WILL
MICHELLE LEBLANC
is the Archivist of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s Archives turned 40 on November 11, 2023. The Archives and Records Center contains the diocese’s historical records and maintains school and church records for the diocese. For questions or further research, please email archives@htdiocese.org
celebrate mass at different locations. But Fr. Souby had another practice he observed during these long and hot walks; it was believed that he wrapped chains around his body for mortification. He liked to offer his penances for the lost souls within his parish boundaries.
Fr. Souby gave his money away to his own church parish and the needy, so his cassocks tended to be old and worn. People would usually hear from him that he needed only “a place to sleep and a little to eat.” During the Great Depression, Fr. Souby and the local Catholic Daughters group worked to feed the poor with Souby, who helped cook the meals himself. His charity work including helping place children from orphan trains in New York in local homes became an important part of his legacy. He wrote to the families yearly to check on the children and share details of their previous families.
Fr. Souby was taken away from his people at one point because he became very sick with tuberculosis. He took healing breaks in San Antonio and El Paso, Texas and Las Cruces, New Mexico. When he was temporarily assigned to Las Cruces’s Fort Stanton, his holiness and character seemed to shine through in other ways: he learned Spanish and became an accredited chaplain.
Fr. Souby had a deep and personal devotion to our Lord, giving his life completely to God’s will even in suffering and illness. He wrote, “I have all the confidence in the world that God is working to preserve me for a few more years of usefulness, when I shall be perfectly satisfied to release my burden at his beck,” showing his ultimate trust in God’s plan for him. That devotion led him to serve his parish and its people with all his strength. Writing to the Bishop one day, he explained that he had “the least desire, to resign my parish, as it would kill me to think of it.”
In 1938, when Fr. Souby became so ill he needed a hospital, he was taken to Thibodaux’s hospital where he later died. On the day of his funeral, many local businesses closed and mourners lined the blocks outside of the church with flags being flown at halfmast.
Fr. Souby’s pastoral ministry is still felt up to this day. He was the pastor for Warren Boudreaux, who later became the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s first bishop, influencing him as a child all the way up to adulthood. As a result, when Bishop Boudreaux was looking to name the retreat buildings at Lumen Christi, the diocese’s picturesque retreat center, it was Fr. Souby he chose to honor because of his lasting impact.
Fr. Andrew Souby worked hard to serve the local people and bring them into a relationship with Jesus Christ. He was a tireless worker and brought many to God through his holiness, building churches and missions to share God’s word with the local people. Fr. Souby worked hard to push himself through pain, sickness, grief, and poverty – all for God’s glory and for serving the people entrusted to him.
Sources:
The Bayou Catholic: “Lumen Christi Retreat Center,” (pages 26-27), May 29, 1985.
The Bayou Catholic: “Sacred Heart, Morgan City: ‘A celebration of people’ 1885 to 1985,” (pages 19-35) August 21, 1985.
People of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Morgan City, Louisiana
Souby Letters: August 16, 1920, March 24, 1922, July 18, 1923, June 6, 1923, and October 30, 1923.
Sacred Heart Parish 100th Anniversary 1885-1985 A Celebration of People
MEMORIAL MASS FOR BISHOP MARIO E. DORSONVILLE PHOTO ESSAY:
On Sunday, January 19th, St. Joseph’s Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux hosted a special Memorial Mass for Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, commemorating the 1st anniversary of his passing. The Church was filled as those in attendance celebrated Bishop Dorsonville’s spirit of joy, devotion, and Christ-like friendship, which endeared so many to him during his time as our Bishop.
Archbishop Aymond has a laugh after Mass with Michael Robichaux, Seminarian for the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux.
beginning of the Memorial Mass.
An attendee follows along with the program for the Memorial Mass.
The Altar of St. Joseph’s CoCathedral in Thibodaux, just before the
A portrait of Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville was displayed near the altar for the duration of the Memorial Mass.
Father Simon Peter Engurait, Diocesan Administrator, delivered opening remarks at the Memorial Mass. It is tradition in Uganda to honor loved ones on the first anniversary of their passing.
Father Patrick Riviere, Administrator of Holy Cross Catholic Church and Priest Secretary for the Office of the Bishop, gave a moving homily honoring Bishop Dorsonville’s life and legacy during his time as Bishop.
Archbishop Aymond consecrates the host during the Memorial Mass for Bishop Dorsonville.
Francesco “Franco” Saleme carries the wreath to be laid at Bishop Dorsonville’s tomb following the Memorial Mass.
Father Simon Peter Engurait, Diocesan Administrator, lays a commemorative wreath at Bishop Dorsonville’s tomb after mass.
Archbishop Gregory Michael Aymond of New Orleans greets Father Mitch Semar, Director for the Office of Vocations and Seminarians, before the start of the Memorial Mass.
Scott Belanger, Executive Director of Catholic Charities, prays quietly during a collective moment of silence for Bishop Dorsonville following the mass.
A young girl enjoys a wide selection of King Cakes that were served at the reception in the Life Center.
Father Josh Rodrigue, Rector for Notre Dame Seminary, catches up with some of the visitors for the Memorial Mass during the reception.
FAITH IN ACTION
VERONICA PERTUIT teaches 1st and 8th grade at St. Mary’s Nativity School. She lives with her husband and two sons in Raceland and attends St. Hilary Catholic Church.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING THE ANNUAL BISHOP’S APPEAL
As we enter the sacred season of Lent, a time of reflection, sacrifice, and renewal, I am reminded of the profound impact that our collective generosity can have on our community. As a first-grade teacher at St. Mary’s Nativity School, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of the Bishop’s Appeal within the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux – both at St. Mary’s and across the Diocese. This appeal is not just a call for financial support; it is an invitation to participate in the mission of the Church, to nurture faith, and to make a concrete difference in the lives of those we serve. This mission is one that we actively teach and engage our students in at St. Mary’s and witness daily.
One of the ministries supported by the Bishop’s Appeal is our Catholic schools. Through this appeal, we receive vital resources that enhance our curriculum, provide student testing, and promote virtue-based programs within our schools. These programs are instrumental in shaping the hearts and minds of our students, helping them grow not only academically but also in their faith and character. The generosity of our community makes this possible, and I see the fruits of this support every day in my classroom.
Each school within our diocese has implemented a virtue program to instill distinct virtues in our students as we grow and develop together. At St. Mary’s our Virtue program emphasizes the Ten Colossian Virtues, which highlight the traits that we, as Catholics, should embody. These virtues help students grow in their personal, spiritual, and relational development within the classroom and beyond. We have developed family faith groups where students from different classes and ages come together as a true family to discuss and interact together and reflect upon the Gospel. Their discussions and interactions have flourished into relationships built upon faith and love. Incorporating these virtues fosters a classroom environment where Christ’s love is tangible in every moment.
In addition to supporting our schools, the Bishop’s Appeal provides for other vital ministries, including our seminarians and retired priests. Our seminarians are the future leaders of our Church, and their formation
is essential to the continued growth and vitality of our faith community. The appeal ensures that they receive the education, spiritual guidance, and resources they need to become holy, effective and compassionate priests. I have been deeply inspired by the selfless service of Fr. Charlie Perkins, who continues to serve our parish even in his retirement. His dedication and presence remind us of the importance of supporting those who have dedicated their lives to God and His people. Our students look forward to having him on campus as he is a bright light for vocations to our students.
Memories of Fr. Charlie go back to when I was a student at St. Mary’s. Many years later, the students continue to look forward to his kind and nurturing presence. One of the many kind acts shared with us by Fr. Charlie was the annual tour of his beautifully decorated house during Christmas. He shared his love of Christmas and Mickey Mouse with us, creating lasting impressions that were not just spiritual, but emotional and personal as well.
As a teacher at St. Mary’s Nativity School, I have personally benefited from the Bishop’s Appeal through opportunities for professional development and leadership training. This support has allowed me to grow as an educator and better serve my students. It is a blessing to be part of a community that values and invests in the growth of its teachers.
During this Lenten season, I encourage you to consider the sacrifices we are called to make and the ways in which we can support the Bishop’s Appeal. Lent is a time of giving, not just in terms of financial contributions, but also in terms of our time, talents, and prayers. By supporting the appeal, we are participating in a collective act of faith and charity that has a profound impact on our diocese and its people.
I am deeply grateful for the generosity of our community and the opportunities that the appeal provides. Your support makes a substantial and everyday impact on the lives of our students, teachers, seminarians and so many others. This Lent, let us come together in faith and support the Bishop’s Appeal, knowing that our contributions are making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.
Thank you for your continued support and generosity. May God bless you and your families during this holy season of Lent.
...IT IS AN INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH, TO NURTURE FAITH, AND TO MAKE A CONCRETE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THOSE WE SERVE.
AROUND THE DIOCESE
IMPORTANT DATES:
Ash Wednesday
March 5, 2025
Palm Sunday
Sunday, April 13, 2025
Holy Thursday April 17, 2025
Good Friday April 18, 2025
Holy Saturday April 19, 2025
Easter Sunday April 20, 2025
New Director of Catholic Charities
Diocesan Leadership, on behalf of Catholic Charities, has announced the appointment of Scott Belanger as the new Executive Director of Catholic Charities. Since June 2024, Scott has served as Associate Director and Interim Executive Director in our diocese. He oversaw programs for family assistance, community engagement, and disaster response while managing food banks and thrift stores for the diocese. Scott began his career at LSU’s Department of University Recreation, specializing in marketing and graphic design. In 2012, he returned to Houma where he grew up, serving as Manager for the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government. He and his family are active parishioners at St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Thibodaux, where they participate in youth formation and ministry programs.
The Jubilee Year
The Jubilee Year runs until the Feast of the Holy Family on December 28, 2025. It officially began on December 29, 2024. Be sure to gain a plenary indulgence for yourself or a loved one by following the requirements set out by our diocese. Check out our social media channels for the details or ask your local parish for more information.
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