Looking back at the weekly messages of Father Paul Counce, first published in The Carpenter, our weekly Parish Bulletin
Published: May 12, 2019
I’m sitting down to write this column the day after our wonderful celebration of The Cathedral Evening on May 4. It was a particular joy to share both Eucharist and then a wonderful evening of smiles and wine, food and music with over 150 parishioners and friends of the Cathedral. Honored as St. Joseph’s Apprentices were Mr. & Mrs. Tom & Mary Acosta, Mrs. Lillie Dorothy Hall, Mrs. Sheila Juneau and Bishop emeritus Robert Muench. Over the past decades they have been vital parts of our Cathedral Parish family, and so it was a distinct pleasure to recognize them for all of the good work they’ve done in our midst. We also conferred the Cathedral Community Award on Mr. & Mrs. Charles & Nancy Valluzzo. Their generous philanthropy and involvement throughout our area have made Baton Rouge a better place to be, not just for our Parish and Church but for everyone.
The Cathedral Evening could not take place without the hard work of our Development Committee, chaired by Mrs. Bobbie Carey, and that of the Parish Staff: Mrs. Lorie Weeks, Mrs. Debbie Orsot, Mrs. Ann Marie Waller, Mrs. Carla Kennedy and Mr. Rick Naputi. My appreciation to them all knows no limits!
And The Cathedral Evening also is the kind of event, like receptions and potlucks, food pantries and PSR sessions, that reminds us of how blessed we are in having our large and functional Parish Hall: since 2014 we’ve been putting its spaciousness and versatility to great use! This means I still have to thank all of you for your generosity in making it a reality at the beginning of this decade. I think that those of us old enough to remember the small and dilapidated “old” hall – and its miserable bathrooms above all! – are the ones who rejoice the most whenever we host something in the “new” one! Can we still pat ourselves on the back for that immense achievement? I hope so!
The other “main event” of this past weekend was First Holy Communion shared by six of our young parishioners: Gabriel and Ivy Broussard, Patrick Dunagan, Eleanor Gendron, Philip Takyi and Evan Villa. They were so very precious at the Mass – so serious and reverent, and of course cute! Their families so obviously prepared them well for this very special moment in their spiritual lives: congratulations to them all! Join me in praying that they will stay close to the Lord Jesus by an active life of faith and prayer, nourished weekly by receiving Him in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
The calendar will stay busy for a while. This weekend of course we observe the “secular” holiday of Mother’s Day. But it dovetails well with the Church’s traditional dedication of May to the Blessed Virgin Mary. At the end of the month we’ll see the priestly ordinations of Deacons Tim Grimes and John Vu, and then the next day Father Grimes’ “First Mass of Thanksgiving” here. In June occur both Father’s Day and also Pentecost, which is always the occasion here at the Cathedral of our massive celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation for our parishioners and adults from throughout the diocese. We’ll also host in June the deacon ordinations of seminarians Mathew Dunn and Danny Roussel. Whew! While I’m already tired just thinking about it all, please mark your calendars and plan to share it all with us!!
Yours in the Risen Lord,
Very Rev Paul D. Counce
