Looking back at the weekly messages of Father Paul Counce, first published in The Carpenter, our weekly Parish Bulletin
Published: October 07, 2018
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Okay, I admit it: the months before Christmas and Easter each year (December and usually March) are the busiest ones here in the Cathedral Parish. But October each year always comes in right behind them in terms of special activities here!
Last weekend I mentioned our Priests’ Retreat this past week. Although I’m writing this column before I depart for Manresa, it surely will be a wonderful and graced time for me, for Bishop Duca, and for all of the other priests of the diocese in attendance. We draw closer to God on such occasions, but that also means we make special effort to rededicate ourselves to serving you, God’s People, at the same time!
This weekend, on October 6/7, our Ladies of the Cathedral are again sponsoring their “Country Store.” On Saturday morning outside while the Farmers’ and Arts Markets are going on, and then inside the Hall after all weekend Masses, you’ll find lots of hand-crafted items, perfect for decorating your own home or giving as gifts! And of course the big drawing in the Doll House raffle will make some little girl very, very happy!
On the next weekend, that is, Sunday, October 14, please come to church hungry! If you come to our 8:30 am Mass, our Knights of Columbus Council No. 13632 will serve a free Pancake Breakfast to everyone after it. But if you come to the 10:30 am Mass, stay afterwards and our Development Committee will serve you and your family a free lunch! Either way, we’ll put a smile on your face as well as a wonderful meal into your stomach!
I’ve already invited you already to our annual special celebration called GRAND Day here on Sunday, October 28. That will be a wonderful “family time” both at our 10:30 am Sunday Mass and at the party that follows in the Hall and around the block! Families and children are specially invited to enjoy lots of hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, ice cream, soft drinks, music, a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, caricatures, balloons, our “round the block train,” and much more! If it’s not on your calendar yet please, please put it down! And invite your extended family to come and join the fun that day.
Finally, it’s also not too early to begin to remind people of the Holy Day of Obligation coming up on the Solemnity of All Saints, Thursday, November 1. In most of the world, it’s the next day, November 2, the Commemoration of All Souls, that’s observed as the special day of prayer for the dead, but here in south Louisiana there has always been a strong tendency to anticipate the salvation of our loved ones just a little bit!
If at all possible, visit the graves where the remains of your loved ones rest until the consummation of the world. The Church permits a plenary indulgence applicable to the faithful departed to be gained when visiting a cemetery between November 1 and 8 and praying for those who have passed from this world to the next. Here at the Cathedral throughout November, our “Book of Remembrance” permits everyone to enroll their departed family and friends onto our Purgatorial List and thus obtain prayers for their salvation year-round. Church doctrine rightly upholds God’s infinite mercy and love for us, but admits also the reality that sin chosen by us jeopardizes our eternal salvation. So please pray for the repose of souls who have gone before us. One day we shall depend on others similarly to pray for us.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Rev. Paul D. Counce
