Looking back at the weekly messages of Father Paul Counce, first published in The Carpenter, our weekly Parish Bulletin
Published: April 03, 2016
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
I don’t have much room in this weekend’s Bulletin, but I do want to make sure I put in one last “plug” for our gala “Evening at the Cathedral” (formerly Bishop’s Day) coming up on Saturday, April 16. Have you bought your ticket to the banquet yet? Even if you can’t join us for a bit of wine and dinner, or help sponsor the event with a special donation – an invitation is printed below – please do come to the special 4 pm vigil Mass that day. It’s the most special annual Parish celebration of ourselves! Additionally, we’ll bestow our Cathedral Community Award on Mr. Davis Rhorer, and recognize as St. Joseph’s Apprentices some of our dearest friends: Archbishop Alfred Hughes, Mr. Chip Landry, Mrs. Angele Davis Kelley, and Mr. & Mrs. Marino & Betty Casem. It’s sure to be a wonderful time.
Both at the Chrism Mass during Holy Week and in his Easter Sunday homily Bishop Robert Muench made special mention of the challenges facing our beloved Dio cese of Baton Rouge. I won’t repeat the various statistics that he shared (these will almost certainly be repeated in articles in The Catholic Commentator soon enough!), I’ll only summarize the most telling one: we have double the Catholics now than in 1961 when the diocese was formed, but only about half the number of priests as we had back then! Two years of intense study by a Task Force of clergy and laity has recently concluded. It’s encouraging us all to greater colla boration among Parishes, better distribution of limited resources and use of facilities, reduction in unneces sary services, concern for our aging priests, and that sort of thing – and we shall surely do our part in all of this – but the bishop’s heartfelt plea for increased prayers and support for priestly vocations certainly has got to be a chief concern. Thanks for your understanding and for doing your part.
In the Risen Lord,
