Dear Parishioners,
This coming Sunday, January 10th, 2021, the Archbishop has declared as the beginning of the Year of the Eucharist in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. A very providential time for many of us. This past year has truly shown us the hunger we have for the Eucharist, which we were unable to receive at times due to Covid. The Eucharist is the single most miraculous gift we are able to receive, and we can even receive Him daily! The Lord calls out to each of our hearts and wants us to long for Him with the same longing that He has for us.
How do we grow in the longing? Very simply. The same way we grow in intimacy with all those around us. By spending time with Him. I encourage each of you to take the challenge of spending time in the adoration chapel. If you ever find mass boring, it can be because you don’t have a relationship with the one who is giving Himself to you at Mass. If you ever find it hard to pray, it can be because you don’t take enough time to spend in silence with our Lord. If you ever find yourself struggling with the battle between virtue and vice, it can be because we don’t have the intimacy with the Lord and the openness to grace that we need to overcome those sins in our lives. It is amazing how many problems of our lives can be overcome when our lives are built on the rock who is Jesus Christ. If you don’t believe me that the Eucharist can truly transform our lives, I leave you with a story of a deacon I know.
A few years ago, a permanent deacon that I know well shared with me the story of his conversion to the Catholic faith. His wife has always been a faith-filled Catholic and is truly in love with Jesus. She was even a dedicated adorer and had an hour of adoration scheduled weekly. Well, when she had a new-born baby at home, she was unable to go to her scheduled adoration time. Instead of having her find a replacement, her husband (the eventual deacon) said he would go for her. Now at this point in his life, this deacon was a strong protestant and had zero belief in the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. He thought the hour in the chapel would simply be an hour that he would use to get work done. Yet while it started off as a time to get work done, it slowly began to change. It became a time for silence and eventually a time for prayer. His love for the Eucharist began during that time just by simply being in the true presence of the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus. As a result, he eventually converted to the faith and later became a deacon of the Church.
My brothers and sisters, this year is an opportunity to become the saints that God is calling us to be. It begins with a growth in faith in the Eucharist and the power that it has to change our hearts and our lives. I challenge each of us to take on that calling and to make Eucharist adoration a part of our lives.
-Fr. Matthew Johnston
Please use the below link to schedule your appointment!
Please use the below link to answer your 46 Medical/Travel questions the morning of the drive on 1/17 to save time once you come to the bloodmobile!
We will be accepting walk-ins and we are still screening for COVID-19 antibodies!
The Evangelization and Faith Formation Ministry invites you to
"God's Mercy in Suffering and Suicide", on Friday, January 15, 2021, from 7:00-8:30 pm, in the school cafeteria. This DVD presentation, from the Explaining the Faith Series by Fr. Chris Alar, MIC., helps us understand God's mercy even in the midst of suffering.
There is no cost to attend.
Masks/facial coverings and physical distancing requirements will be observed. Contact Val Hebert at valencemet@aol.com or at 504-427-0327 for more information.
