Spiritual Insights Reports Formation Program Updates September Every Thursday Memorial Mass for the enrollees in the CLJ! Memorial Burse September 1 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time September 8 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time September 15 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time September 22 25 th Sunday in Ordinary Time NEWSLETTER September 2019 VOL. XXXIX NO. 51 Holy Leadership Jesus comes to us as the Good Shepherd. God himself becomes human in Jesus to lead us to holiness of life. He exemplifies the holy leadership qualities every leader ought to have, whether one is a priest, a Come, Lord Jesus! Leader, a father or mother of a family, or whatever leader- ship position one is in. In order to be properly equipped to lead God’s people, one must go through Christ, who is the gate of the sheepfold. The true shepherd must have the same attitudes and dispositions that Jesus possesses. He must be ready to sacrifice himself for them; he lays his life down in service and self-gift. That is why we must read and reflect on Jesus’ life in the Gospels; and we must live in his presence to draw light and strength for good leadership. “The sheep hear his voice” – We are attentive to Jesus who lives in our hearts. He speaks to us in the silence of our con- science. He inspires us to do good and avoid evil in specific ways. Throughout the day, as we go about doing his will, we live in loving communion with him. We receive and return his love. He also speaks to us in the Holy Scriptures and through the teaching authority of his holy Catholic Church. We also know that it is his will that we fulfill our duties of state. “The shepherd calls his own sheep by name.” Jesus knows us individually, as persons. He respects our uniqueness, our personal value. He wants to be in a relationship with us, a relationship of love and companionship. He calls each of us in the depths of our heart for love. He calls us continuously throughout the day – for love. “He walks ahead of them.” Jesus sets the example for us. He teaches us by do- ing. He shows us how to love and serve; he teaches us how to forgive; how to suffer patiently. As stated in 1 Peter 2:21- 25: “When he was insulted, he returned no insult. When he suffered, he did not threaten…. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” “The sheep follow him because they recognize his voice.” The people of God follow Jesus because he is the truth for which they have an affinity. They are drawn to him because he is the truth and speaks the truth. Here Jesus is speaking of those who follow a well-formed con- science. They live in fellowship with God and follow his inspirations. As Jesus says, “Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me: (Jn 6:45) Since they cooperate with God’s grace, they are drawn to Jesus and his words. Father Conley Bertrand
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September Every Thursday Memorial Mass
for the enrollees in the CLJ! Memorial Burse
September 1 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 8
September 15 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 22
NEWSLETTER September 2019 VOL. XXXIX NO. 51
Holy Leadership Jesus comes to us as the Good Shepherd. God himself
becomes human in Jesus to lead us to holiness of life. He
exemplifies the holy leadership qualities every leader ought to
have, whether one is a priest, a Come, Lord Jesus! Leader, a father
or mother of a family, or whatever leader- ship position one is in.
In order to be properly equipped to lead God’s people, one must go
through Christ, who is the gate of the sheepfold. The true shepherd
must have the same attitudes and dispositions that Jesus possesses.
He must be ready to sacrifice himself for them; he lays his life
down in service and self-gift. That is why we must read and reflect
on Jesus’ life in the Gospels; and we must live in his presence to
draw light and strength for good leadership. “The sheep hear his
voice” – We are attentive to Jesus who lives in our hearts. He
speaks to us in the silence of our con- science. He inspires us to
do good and avoid evil in specific ways. Throughout the day, as we
go about doing his will, we live in loving communion with him. We
receive and return his love. He also speaks to us in the Holy
Scriptures and through the teaching authority of his holy Catholic
Church. We also know that it is his will that we fulfill our duties
of state.
“The shepherd calls his own sheep by name.” Jesus knows us
individually, as persons. He respects our uniqueness, our personal
value. He wants to be in a relationship with us, a relationship of
love and companionship. He calls each of us in the depths of our
heart for love. He calls us continuously throughout the day – for
love. “He walks ahead of them.” Jesus sets the example for us. He
teaches us by do- ing. He shows us how to love and serve; he
teaches us how to forgive; how to suffer patiently. As stated in 1
Peter 2:21- 25: “When he was insulted, he returned no insult. When
he suffered, he did not threaten…. He himself bore our sins in his
body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for
righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” “The sheep
follow him because they recognize his voice.” The people of God
follow Jesus because he is the truth for which they have an
affinity. They are drawn to him because he is the truth and speaks
the truth. Here Jesus is speaking of those who follow a well-formed
con- science. They live in fellowship with God and follow his
inspirations. As Jesus says, “Everyone who listens to my Father and
learns from him comes to me: (Jn 6:45) Since they cooperate with
God’s grace, they are drawn to Jesus and his words.
Father Conley Bertrand
Our Unity in Christ
“ I pray not only for them (the apos- tles), but also for those who
will be- lieve in me through their word, so that they may all be
one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be
in us, that the world may be- lieve that you sent me.” (John 17:20)
What is Jesus saying? This astonishing unity among us in God will
cause the world to believe that God did indeed send his anointed
one, Jesus, whose Holy Spirit gathered together such a variety of
peoples and made them into one communion of love. Jesus’ prayer
continues, “And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that
they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they
may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that
you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.” (Jn
17:22-23) Jesus’ prayer helps us to understand how such a close
communion of dif- ferent people is possible. The glory Jesus
receives from the Father and makes them one is the Holy Spirit.
(CCC 690) This same Holy Spirit is given to us and brings about the
divine indwelling within us. This is what is known as Uncreated
Grace. From this indwelling presence of the Holy Trinity
sanctifying grace flows in us, to give us a created participation
in the divine life. All of us, in the state of sanctifying grace,
participate in the unifying nature of the one divine being. This
grace unites us all into one body, the body of Christ. As members
of this body, we exist and work in harmony for the good of the
whole body. Each of us is concerned for the other. As members of
the same
body, we do not fight against each other. Rather, we cherish each
other. We are not jealous. We are secure in our possession of God
and his bless- ings. Though each of us is differ- ent from the
other, we live together in harmony. We appreciate variety, and
value individual differences. We realize it is for the good of the
whole body. We are not envious. We are too rich in God and the
enjoyment of his presence to desire anything more. We all make
important contributions as we collaborate for the good of all the
members. When one of us suffers, the whole body suffers with us.
When one of us is spiritually healthy, the others are benefited.
Since we all belong to the body of Christ, the good of each of us
benefits the whole body. (See 1 Cor 12:12-26)
Ministering God to Each Other
The members of the body are in con- tinuous communion with each
other for the mutual sharing of goods. We assist each other in our
needs. These needs may be on a physical or finan- cial level. But
perhaps the greater and more frequently encountered needs are on a
personal and spiritual level. This requires that we minister to one
anoth- er. We are attentive to each other. We ourselves are fully
satisfied in God. So we can afford to go out of ourselves to be
aware of others and their needs. We are at peace within ourselves
and therefore, we can listen attentively to each other. As we
listen to each other, we are also in communion with God in
each other. And since we are in com- munion with God within
ourselves, we minister God to the other person we are listening to
and with whom we are enjoying interpersonal communion.
We both give and receive God from each other. Ours is first of all
a su- pernatural ministry. We minister God to each other. I give
God to you. You give God to me. I draw divine nour- ishment from
communion with God in you. You draw divine nourishment from
communion with God in me. I believe that this is the highest kind
of ministry that we could possibly engage in on this earth.
Unity of Faith
Diocesan & Area Coordinator’s Meeting 2019
Anniversary Mass - St. Bernard - Breaux Bridge Anniversary Mass -
St. Aloysius - Baton Rouge
United in Christ
-4-
—5 —
Breaux Bridge, LA: Gretchen Bradshaw, Michel Cazayoux, Jenet
Cazayoux, Pascal Cazayoux DeRidder LA: Suzanne Lestage, Theresa
Stout Tad Matte, Paula Granger, Alex Hidalgo, Joe Lee, Rosa Lee,
Linda Lewis, James Lewis, Earline Ann Hennigan Elton LA: Betty
Aguillard Grand Isle, LA: Fr. Joseph Chacko, I.M.S. Jefferson, LA:
Liz Laiche, Wayne Higgins Kinder, LA: Mariah Granger Lake Arthur,
LA: Steven Oliver, Yvonne Marie Brown Dean Trahan, Susan B. Matt,
Charlotte C. Suire Sue Armentor, Beverly Lapointe, Lynette Fox,
Chris Hymel, Dorothy Leger, Arthur Leger, Geneva Sonnier, Kenneth
Sonnier Lafayette LA: Anne Gros, Julie Menard, Nicole Ducharme
Mamou, LA: Jack Haller, Kim Soileau, Danielle Marcantel Ragley, LA:
Kathy Breaux Sulphur LA: Toni LeDoux, Rita Gray Ville Platte, LA:
Pamela P. Fontenot, Pat McElweeing Members Returning Members
Lacombe, LA: Dorothy Akins Crowley, LA: Susan Sebetto
July 2019 Gift Bags Received
Thank you for your generosity!
Abbeville Basile Bayou Vista Bell City Breaux Bridge Broussard
Cankton Carencro Cecilia Chackbay Coteau Cow Island Delcambre
DeRidder Diboll TX Duson Erath Estherwood Eunice Forked Island
Franklin Grand Isle Grand Lake Grand Prairie Harvey Henderson
Houma
Huntingburg IN Jefferson Jennings Judice Kaplan Kenner Kinder Krotz
Springs Lafayette Lake Arthur Lake Charles Leonville Liberty TX
Loreauville Lufkin,TX Mamou Maurice Metairie Mire Morgan City Morse
New Iberia Oberlin Opelousas Parks Patterson Pierre Part
Pine Prairie Plaisance Prairie Ronde Ragley Rayne Richard Schriever
Slidell St. Martinville Sulphur Verdunville Ville Platte Washington
Youngsville
Attention Leaders and Co-Leaders
The annual Leader Seminar will be held on Saturday, September 21,
2019 at St. Pius X Life Center in Lafayette,LA Registration forms
were mailed out to all leaders. Please submit registration
information to the office ASAP.
NEW GROUPS! Jennings, LA: Loretta Broussard- Leader Lorilee
Broussard, Kay Landry, Elmer Landry Tammie Landry, Julie Hanks,
Derrick Landry Elizabeth Landry, Nickie Landry, Warren Landry
Sherry Whitehouse, Connie LeGros, Joey LeGros Annette
Broussard
Fenton, LA: Margaret Bebee- Leader Chris Bebee, Pam Chaumont, Annie
Janice, Joyce Marcantel, Pam Reed Eula Buller, Yvonne Bebee, Peggy
LeBlanc Gretna, LA: Jan Mitchell- Leader Marie Cannon, Diane
Crawford,Dianne Davis Margaret Davis, Susan C. Kalil, Peggy LeBlanc
Steve Murphy, Mary Jo Relle, Charlotte Roussel
Ray Bienssenberger Vivian Chiappetta George B. Danenburg Richard
Fredette Daniel Hawkins Dan LeBlanc Lena Broussard Navarre John E.
Ortego, Jr. Sr. Maria Rabalais Timothy Wayne Stears
Come, Lord Jesus! 1804 W. University Ave. Lafayette, LA 70506
Non-Profit Org. US Postage
PAID Lafayette, LA
Permit No. 729
Condolences September 2019 To the members of “Your Face Lord Do I
Seek” group in
Broussard, LA on the death of their member,
Ra Ramona Harris.
To member Tarlton Nico, Jr. of New Iberia, LA on the death of his
father, Tarlton, Nico, Sr.
To leader Cheryl Fuselier of Elton, LA on the death of her father,
John E. Ortego, Jr.
To member Liz Pavy of Carencro, LA on the death of her mother,
Patricia Roberts Gauthier.
To member Norma Callaway of Ville Platte, LA on the death of her
brother-in-law, Ray Bienssenberger.
To member Sandra Vidrine of Ville Platte, LA on the death of her
sister, Janita Fontenot Chopman.
To member Margarita Wetzel of Baton Rouge, LA on the death of her
mother, Antonia Gonzalez De Baez.
Rainey Brown Janita Fontenot Chopman Antonia Gonzalez DeBaez
Patricia Roberts Gauthier Una Johnson Sr. Barbara Moreau Constance
Negrotto Mary Ann Petkovsek Davey Lee Saunier Kristy Lynn
Williams
JULY 20 - AUGUST 21,2019 Memorial Burse Donations