Common Currents THE. June 3, 2018 The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Transcription

1 Common Currents THE Serving the Roman Catholic Community Along the Amite River in Southern Livingston Parish June 3, 2018 The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ ST. JOSEPH CHURCH LA Highway 16 French Settlement, LA Fax: ST. STEPHEN THE MARTYR CHURCH LA Highway 22 Maurepas, LA Fax: stjosephststephen.weconnect.com CLUSTER SUPPORT STAFF Carmela Pulliam... Bulletin/Website Bill Abbott / Laura Wutke... Secretary / Bookkeeping Patricia Little... Parish Secretary Dana Vicknair / Duane Lee... Financial Overview Randy Millet / Joe Ganaway / Jason Cates... Maintenance Lynda Dupuy... Housekeeping Angela Cavalier... Church Custodian Jinx Berthelot / Kim Bourgeois... Elem. Religious Education Dana Vicknair... HS Religious Education Adrienne Halphen... RCIA Coordinator Glen Forbes / Colby Chabaud... Music Coordinators Kade Guitreau... Music Ministry Selena Guitreau... Youth Ministry Office / Darci Delatte... Child Protection Denise Aydell / Patsy Brignac... SJ Sacristans Buck Fontenot / Mary Louise Leader... SS Sacristans OFFICE HOURS MondayThursday...8:00 a.m.3:00 p.m. Friday...8:00 a.m.12 Noon MINISTERIAL TEAM Rev. Jason Palermo... Pastor Deacon James Little... Pastoral Associate Deacon Leon Murphy... Pastoral Associate MASS SCHEDULE Saturday... 4:00 p.m. (St. Stephen) Saturday... 5:30 p.m. (St. Joseph) Sunday... 9:00 a.m. (St. Joseph) Sunday... 10:45 a.m. (St. Stephen) Monday...8:00 a.m. (St. Stephen) Tuesday... 6:00 p.m. (St. Stephen) Wednesday... 8:00 a.m. (St. Joseph) Thursday... 7:00 a.m. (St. Joseph) First Friday... 8:00 a.m. (St. Joseph) First Saturday... 8:00 a.m. (location varies) Fourth Sunday, Charismatic Mass... 2:00 p.m. (St. Joseph) SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Saturday... 3:153:45 p.m. (St. Stephen) Sunday... 8:158:45 a.m. (St. Joseph) Tuesday... 5:305:50 p.m. (St. Stephen) Wednesday... 8:45 a.m. (St. Joseph) Other times are available by appointment. ADORATION OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT Tuesday... 5:305:50p.m. (St. Stephen) Wednesday... 6:00 a.m.7:00 p.m. (old St. Joseph Church) Please contact the St. Joseph Parish Office if you would like to commit to an hour of prayer on a weekly basis or if you would like to be called to substitute as needed. Sign up forms on the rack near the church entry. MISSION STATEMENT We exist to help individuals get to Heaven and be part of the Communion of Saints. Fed by the Word of God and the sacraments of the Church, we strive to battle mediocrity and seek holiness and spiritual discipline. Our challenge: to understand God s vocation for each of our lives, to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, to recognize that the spiritual life necessitates personal change, and to love and serve our God and neighbor.

2 SACRAMENTS Baptism policy brochures are located near the church main entry.* *Baptism & Confirmation sponsors must be CONFIRMED PRACTICING Catholics in good standing in the Catholic Church. Confirmation is celebrated with students in the 11th grade PSR program upon completion of sacramental preparation and to adults upon preparation.* Marriage: Couples are asked to contact the priest at least six months prior to the projected date of the marriage. FAITH FORMATION / SPIRITUAL GROWTH Parish School of Religion (PSR) provides religious education and sacramental preparation for students attending public or noncatholic private schools in grades 111 at either St. Joseph or St. Stephen. RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) sessions are offered for adults, not yet baptized or previously baptized in another Christian faith, interested in the Catholic faith. RCIA meets at 6:30 PM on Mondays beginning in August and is open to all as continued spiritual growth. Children s Church provides for the sharing of God s Word for children from 3 years of age to grade 3 on the 3 rd Sunday of each month during the 9:00 AM Mass at St. Joseph. Study groups meet at 6:30 PM on Tuesdays at St. Stephen. FORMED is a parish subscription online platform, at Formed.org, the best Catholic content all in 1 place, 24/7 on computer, tablet, smartphone. WORSHIP Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is open in the old St. Joseph church on Wednesdays from 6:00 AM 7:00 PM. Adoration: Tuesday, 5:30pm followed by Benediction 5:50 PM, at St. Stephen before 6:00 PM Mass. St. Joseph Rosary Group leads the rosary before Masses at St. Joseph and at 9:00 AM on Wednesdays in St. Joseph chapel. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena is offered on Wednesdays along with 8:00 AM Mass in the St. Joseph chapel. Charismatic Praise & Worship: 6 PM, 2 nd Sunday; 1:30 PM, 4 th Sunday, SJ Charismatic Mass: 2:00 PM, 4th Sunday ALL at St. Joseph Music Ministry rehearses at St. Joseph on Wednesdays at 7:15 PM. COMMUNITY Common Ministries Parish Registration: A parish registration / census form must be completed for an individual or family to be considered a parishioner of St. Joseph or St. Stephen the Martyr Parish. Ministry to the Sick: Please contact the parish office regarding the ill, hospitalized, homebound, or in need of a visit, the Eucharist, or anointing. Christian Burial: Families should contact the parish office as soon as possible prior to making other funeral arrangements. Youth Ministry: St. Joseph / St. Stephen youth group, Teens for Christ, The Next Generation, is open to all students in the cluster, from any school, in grades 712. Contact Selena, Altar Society St. Joseph: 6 PM, 4 th Monday / month, Karen Berthelot, St. Stephen: 5:30 PM, 3 rd Sunday / month, Wendi Berthelot, Knights of Columbus, St. Eugene Council 6753 St. Joseph / St. Stephen K.C monthly meetings: 6:30 PM, 3 rd Tuesday in St. Joseph hall Grand Knight, Robert Clouatre, Pro Life: Call Leslie Verdin, "SINGLES4CHRIST" is a multiparish ministry for single persons and those who find themselves divorced or widowed. For information contact Janice Kosak at or janice.kosak@gmail.com. St. Vincent de Paul ministry assists those with emergency needs. Call and leave a message for a return call. Assistance is not handled out of the parish offices. Cluster St. Vincent de Paul conference meetings are held monthly on the 2 nd Tuesday at 5:15 PM at St. Joseph. Catholic Daughters of the Americas is an organization for women at least 18 years of age. The two Chapters meet monthly: St. Joseph Court: St. Catherine Laboure #2701, First Thursday St. Stephen Court: St. Louise de Marillac #2703, Third Wednesday WEEKLY READINGS Sunday, June 3 Exodus 24:38 / Hebrews 9:1115 / Mark 14:1216, 2226 Moses and the people commit to the Lord and his covenant. In Hebrews, the author uses the image of a mediator in describing Jesus role in the new covenant we have with the Father. The Gospel recalls the first Eucharistic meal. There are many reasons people give for no longer going to church, but one great reason to attend Mass in church, as a community of believers. Here, we receive the most precious and sacred of all gifts from our God this side of heaven, the most sacred gift of Jesus in the Eucharist. We cannot afford to take the gift of Eucharist for granted. Monday, June 4 2 Peter 1:27 / Mark 12:112 Peter exhorts believers to supplement their faith with virtue, knowledge, selfcontrol, endurance and devotion. In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the owner of a vineyard, whose tenants beat and kill his servants, even his beloved Son. The owner will put the wicked servants to death and give the vineyard to others. God has given us gifts to supplement our faith to help build his kingdom. We must reflect on how those gifts can strengthen our faith, and how we might use those gifts to bear fruit for God. Tuesday, June 5 2 Peter 3:1215a, 1718 / Mark 12:1317 Peter warns his readers to stay true to the Lord s teaching in preparing for life eternal. In the Gospel, Pharisees and Herodians try to trap Jesus about paying taxes to Rome, and he says: Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God. As Jesus disciples, let us seek the wisdom of the Holy Spirit each day so that we may be courageous witnesses of Christ s truth and his presence in our lives. Wednesday, June 6 2 Timothy 1:13, 612 / Mark 12:1827 Paul encourages Timothy to make good use of the gifts of God that he received to spread the Gospel and build up the Church. In the Gospel, Jesus responds to the Sadducees question about resurrection, designed to trick him, pointing out their error and affirming that God is not God of the dead but of the living. We are asked to use our gift of strength which comes from God for the good of others to share the Gospel and to give others the sense of hope that comes from knowing that God is all good and powerful. Thursday, June 7 2 Timothy 2:815 / Mark 12:2834 St. Paul addresses Timothy with words of encouragement and endearment. He speaks of the hardship which results from preaching the Gospel, as well as the power of the unchained word of God. In the Gospel, Jesus answers the question from the scribe concerning the greatest of all commandments. Sometimes we may doubt our own beliefs or struggle with contrary outside influences. We cannot rely only on ourselves to live a vibrant Christian life but must allow God s grace to form us into his disciples and to preach Jesus Christ raised from the dead for the salvation of every person. Friday, June 8 H o s e a 11:1, 34, 8c9 / Ephesians 3: 812, 1419 / John 19: 3137 In poetic, metaphoric language, the first reading tells of God's personal and tender love for his people. In the next reading, the author explains that his calling is to help the Gentiles know the love God has for them. In the Gospel, we hear that the soldiers do not break Jesus legs, but do pierce his side both of which occur so that the Scriptures may be fulfilled. Today's solemnity, honoring the Sacred Heart of Jesus, provides a special time to focus on what his love has done for us and how we might best respond. Let us search our own hearts to see how well Jesus' love is reflected. Saturday, June 9 2 Timothy 4:18 / Luke 2:4151 Timothy charges the community members to proclaim the word and fulfill their ministry, as he himself is close to fulfilling his. In the Gospel, Jesus remains behind in the Temple doing the work of his father, but no one else understands that yet. We are called to proclaim the word and be persistent about it whether it is convenient or inconvenient. Because we are guided by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, we can persevere.

3 CURRENT EVENTS Saturday, June 2 No 4pm@SS nor 5:30pm Mass@SJ Cluster Vigil: 4:00pm at SJ June 23 Weekend Sp. Coll.: Building & Maintenance Fund Monday, June 4 No Mass Youth Group returns from Arkansas Tuesday, June 5 5:30pm, Adoration, Confession, SS 5:50pm, Benediction, SS 6pm, Mass, SS 6:30pm, Bible Study, SS Wednesday, June 6 6am7pm, Adoration, SJ 8am, Mass, Rosary, SJ 7pm, Baptism Seminar, SJ Thursday, June 7 7am, Mass, SJ 6:30pm, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, SJ Sunday, June 10 6pm, Charismatic Praise & Worship, S J CURRENT ANNOUNCEMENTS What are the origins for the feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ often referred to as Corpus Christi Sunday? By the year 1000, active participation of the laity at Mass was minimal. Most people did not receive Communion for a variety of reasons, especially the notion of unworthiness. A form of eucharistic spirituality that attempted to involve them developed, known as "ocular communion." It put forth the notion that eucharistic graces were received by merely looking at the host. Instead of physically partaking, one fervently looked at and adored the host. Elevating the bread and wine at consecration dates to this period. The practice of viewing the host outside of Mass developed into a devotion called Benediction, where the exposed host could be viewed and adored for a more extended period of time. The request for even more time to view the host led to a devotion known as Forty Hours, the exposition of the host for 40 hours straight. By 1250, we have the development of Corpus Christi, a procession through the streets with the exposed host in a holder called a monstrance, enabling all to view and adore the Blessed Sacrament. With the return to the full, conscious, and active participation at Mass by all, these devotions, while appropriate for their day and time, have lost some of their significance. They are still valid devotions, but only in relationship to the source and summit of our faith, the eucharistic celebration by the whole assembly. Common Currents It was a close call! Most of the Jambalaya batches scored just a few points apart. Yum! First Place: Bruce Clouatre Sr., $100 (Robert Clouatre's brother from Ascension Parish) Second Place: Josh Lobell, $75 Third Place: Brady Harrell, $50 Fourth Place (but out of the money): Scott Lobell (from just a mile or so down Hwy 444) A great time and lots of great jambalaya was had by all! A great big Thank You goes to all who participated in the cookoff and to all who supported the efforts of the Knights of Columbus.

4 Common Currents Please check the VBS display in church for registration forms, volunteer signup sheet, and donation envelopes. All adults must comply with Child Protection Policy. June 1822, 9am12pm Children 4 yearsgrade 6 Volunteers include students in grade 7 adults. June 2529, 9am12pm Children 3years grade 6 Volunteers include students in grade 7 adults. God s Promise to Us On this feast of Corpus Christi, we hear the account of the Last Supper. This was Passover, an ancient sign of the covenant of Moses. The Hebrew people celebrated God's providential care for His people. To the listening disciples, Jesus makes a very bold claim. "This is my blood of the covenant." At the time of the first Passover the redemption of the Hebrew people from slavery to the Egyptians the blood of the sacrificial lamb was spread on the lintels of the doorpost. Tomorrow, some of the disciples would witness the blood of the new covenant spread across the wood of the cross. Christ's Body and Blood are more than a sign. They are a sacrament. In the sacrament, the sign makes real what it signifies. More than ritual, a sacrament enacts truth of the covenantal love of God and His promise of fidelity. It's a promise God keeps. The same bread and wine of that first Holy Thursday liturgy becomes throughout the centuries and until the end of time the very Body and Blood of Christ. On this feast, we celebrate the unfailing covenantal love of our God. As you partake in the Eucharist today, and next Sunday, and the Sunday after that, remember that you receive neither a meaningless sign nor an empty offer. You receive God Himself, as He fulfills His promise to remain with us always. A Taste of Heaven Call the office, , to order, and pick up a youth group cookbook(s) for $15 each. H L P with St. Joseph & St. Stephen Catholic Church September 211, 2018 Spiritual Director: Fr. Jason Palermo Pilgrimage Highlights: Peter s Primacy Caesarea Philippi St. Anne s Church Holocaust Memorial St. Peter in Gallicantu Mount of the Beatitudes Church of the Nativity Qumran & Dead Sea Scrolls Grotto of the Annunciation Boat Ride on the Sea of Galilee Tabgha, Site of the Miracle of Multiplication Cana Bethsaida Mount Carmel Mount of Olives Via Dolorosa Mount Tabor Capernaum Stella Mares Gethsemane Nazareth Holy Sepulcher All are Welcome! We need 5 more travelers.

5 Common Currents Recognizing Educational Excellence The St. Joseph Catholic Daughters of the Americas, St Catherine Labourre' Court #2701 proudly presented a $300 scholarship to Delayne Lee, a 2018 graduate of Denham Springs High School. Congratulations, Delayne! Our cluster community applauds your accomplishments. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalm 32:88 A Reflection Relative to Our World Today Planned Parenthood: Killing 4,000 children a day before they ever make it to school. No guns required. Just their complete disregard for the sanctity of human life.

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