Looking back at the weekly messages of Father Paul Counce, first published in The Carpenter, our weekly Parish Bulletin
Published: May 22, 2016
Let me begin by thanking everyone who made last weekend’s celebration of Pentecost such a wonderful one. One highlight was the packed Cathedral at the 12 noon Mass, when Bishop Muench administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 92 persons from all over the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Among them were nine of our own parishioners: Simone Craven, Hartley Crockett, Teresa Donich, Barnabas Gaudin, Bridget Gaudin, Raul Shelby, Michael Prieur, James Saloom, Caitlyn Thompson, and Jack Tooraen. Congratulations to them!
Our wonderful Cathedral Choir sang at both the 10 am and 12 noon Masses, under the direction of our accomplished organist and director of music, Mr. Robbie Giroir. The Cathedral Brass also added their glorious music. The choir now takes a well-deserved summertime break (although some will sing in the diocesan choir at May 28’s ordination Mass); we all hope they enjoy their “R&R”!
Give some thought to attending our 4 pm Saturday vigil Mass next weekend, the Feast of Corpus Christi. Again this year, the diocesan Holy Name Societies at the end of that Mass are sponsoring a Eucharistic Procession with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. It’s a simple yet effective way to demonstrate and deepen one’s faith in Jesus’ Real Presence in the Eucharist.
Thanks for your many ideas about possible changes to our weekend Mass schedule, as the diocesan Pastoral Plan urges. Your input frankly has not been very surprising: most 8 am Mass attendees say they would prefer the earlier schedule of 8:30 & 10:30 am. Most noon Mass-goers prefer the later one of 9:30 & 11:30 am (The 10 am Mass crowd seems to be split down the middle, with many thrilled that an “early” schedule would paradoxically let them sleep later before going to a 10:30 am Mass!) No one’s really suggesting that the Saturday vigil Mass be changed or eliminated, except for a few die-hard football fans who see no use for it during the fall! And in answer to a question some have asked, I don’t anticipate a change to our Mass schedule to impact our Stewardship of Finance much: “identified givers” are the most loyal and generous parishioners of all!
In any case, keep sharing your preferences if you have them. No decision is likely to be made before midsummer at the earliest, but most folks seem to agree that a new schedule ought to be put into place before fall begins.
In the Lord Jesus,
