From the Editor

Happy Thanksgiving

It’s November and our thoughts turn to autumn with its cooler, shorter days, football, pumpkins, harvest time and anything and everything to do with pumpkin spice. It is also a month that we take the time to be especially thankful for all of God’s blessings upon us. Thanksgiving Day is a significant day in November when friends and family get together and give thanks for all that they enjoy in life. We have much to be thankful for in a country where we as Americans live out many freedoms daily.

Here in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, we are especially thankful for being spared from a hurricane this year after we received widespread damage from Hurricane Ida last year. As Thanksgiving approaches at the end of this month, we have the opportunity to thank God for our many blessings. Let us also be mindful in prayer for all those who will not have a happy Thanksgiving Day this year that God’s grace and mercy will touch their lives so they may find joy.

The staff of the Bayou Catholic magazine and all who contribute news, events, commentaries and noteworthy reflections are grateful for our loyal readership. We are also very grateful for those who advertise in the monthly publication, and for all those who support our mission to inform, educate, inspire, guide, challenge and unify our readership through print media, our Facebook page and online presence.

The Bayou Catholic magazine is first and foremost designed to be an evangelization tool for the people of the diocese.

Over the past few years the publication has had to rely more heavily on its advertising revenue rather than diocesan support, and since 2015, from a second collection in all of the church parishes. We are constantly trying to find ways to cut costs and manage the income we receive, always mindful of being good stewards. We are also mindful of how many magazines we print so that there are not too many left at the churches at the end of each month. We have been making every effort to be good stewards of the resources provided to us. By closely watching our income and expenditures, and keeping a keen eye on how many magazines are printed, an overall reduction of costs has been achieved.

But we still need your help. Next month there will be a second collection in all church parishes of the diocese on Dec. 3-4. Your contribution will help the Bayou Catholic continue to be the informative, award winning publication that the people of the diocese are accustomed to receiving. Your participation in the second collection for the Bayou Catholic is greatly appreciated.

Remember, after reading Bayou Catholic, pass it on to a friend or relative who might not be attending Mass. It’s one of the great ways to do your part in spreading the Good News! BC

Lawrence

Lawrence Chatagnier Editor & General Manager

Blue Mass

The Blue Mass honoring firefighters, law enforcement, emergency responders and military personnel, was celebrated recently at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux. Very Rev. Patrick (P.J.) Madden was the celebrant of the Mass, which takes place on or near the feast of the Archangels, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.

Photos by Maegan Martin