Joy in the Service of the Lord

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1 NEWSLETTER October 2016 VOL. XV NO. 18 Spiritual Insights Reports Formation Program Updates October Every Thursday Memorial Mass for the enrollees in the CLJ! Memorial Burse October 2 27th Sunday in October 9 28th Sunday in October 16 29th Sunday in October 23 30th Sunday in October 30 31st Sunday in Joy in the Service of the Lord Area Coordinators from around the state recently gathered to pray for and plan our upcoming year. How blessed we are to be served by these dedicated coordinators! The theme of our day was JOY. What could be more joyful that serving our Lord in the Come, Lord Jesus! program? Joy means pleasure, delight, exhilaration of spirit, excitement caused by hope whereas happiness means fully contented, extensive pleasure. So we see that joy is of the spirit. It does not depend on circumstances. Nothing is more contrary to the spirit of Jesus and to the Christian life and certainly to the Come, Lord Jesus! lifestyle which we all represent than a negative attitude towards life. Because we have new life in Christ and our lives have been given to God, controlled by the Holy Spirit, our daily lives are given to him in joyful service. What an honor and holy privilege that is! As baptized Christians we announce the presence of the Savior among us. We are messengers of good tidings and so Christianity is a religion of joy! Happy are the people whose God is the Lord (Ps 144:5). It is the joy within us that is considered the greatest attraction to leading others to Christ and so joy is a powerful evangelization tool. Christian service must be a service of joy. The New Testament s use of joy show it to be a consistent mark of the individual Christian. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.(rom 5:11). The lives of saints are a constant incentive to joy. Do you have compete joy? The word of God tells us the key to living in fullness of joy. St. John boldly and clearly states that his personal and complete joy is made possible by sharing with others the message about Christ. We write this so that our joy may be complete (1John 1:4). He affirms this truth in the 3rd letter of John vs 4: I have no greater joy than to know that my children are walking in truth. And so to find more joy in our lives, witness Christ, share your faith. It s a reciprocal process. Our joy brings others to Christ. In doing so, it fills us with his joy. Joy marked the life of the early church.whose primary purpose was to spread Christianity. Let Us Pray For Joy In The Lord Heavenly Father, who in giving us Jesus became the cause of our joy, make Him increase more and more in our lives, in order that, in us and by us, His joy may shine. Obtain for us better understanding that with you and the Holy Spirit he is the only source of stable and profound joy, of joy radiating unceasingly. Under your influence may we learn to make all of our activities, and even our sufferings, help to extend the reign of His joy in this world. May we bring many souls with us into the glory of joy eternal. Amen Marianne Hebert, Outreach Administrator

2 Joy is the echo of God s presence in our hearts; it is a sign of God s nearness scintillating his glorious life throughout our whole being. God s indwelling presence radiates heavenly joy sparkling through our whole persons. Joy is indicative of our intimate union with God, free from conflicting desires that interfere with pure receptivity of God s own bliss. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal5:22) delightfully pervading our hearts and minds. Such joy is made possible through spirit dominance which has overcome sense and self intrusions. Sense and self are like dark clouds that prevent the joy of God s Son from shining his joy-giving radiance in our hearts. The experience of God s overwhelming joy indicates that, out of his great love and mercy for us, he has overcome our inclination toward sense and self, overpowering them with his own joy-giving presence. He wants to show us that the happiness that comes from giving in to sense and self is second rate and an inferior form of well-being to the joy that comes from communion with God when we live according to the spirit. This implies the need for depriving ourselves of a lower form of happiness attained through sense and self. That kind of happiness can easily be overshadowed by suffering; whereas spiritual joy reigns above the reach of suffering. Hankering for that form of happiness coming from human nature produces only misery and frustration; it interferes with the true joy of longing for God which is expectant hope experiencing God and his joy. When human nature asserts itself in its desire for sensible and selfish consolation, we must respond with constant prayer to God that he may grace us to transcend and overcome such a temptation. Such renunciation calls for the fortitude that embraces suffering and deprivation. The joy that God gives is a foretaste of heavenly bliss. It is beyond any happiness we can experience on a natural level. Only faith can help us forego the happiness of pleasure that comes from sense and self to await that joy that God gives when we are faithful to his will and live habitually on the level of spirit. Joy comes directly from God in a Spirit to spirit encounter. Like Mary, we can sing, my spirit rejoices in God my savior (Lk 1:47 NAB). God is Spirit (Jn 4:24), therefore, in order to be disposed and receptive to the joy of God, we must maintain an atmosphere of spirit through spirit assertiveness. Spirit assertiveness arises from the depths of our heart where we are being born of God. It is that which is most spiritual in us and most like God. We gain divine strength by prayerfully reflecting on the word of God (Rom 10:17; 1: 16-17). Through that word we draw into ourselves the very righteousness or holiness of God for holy living. We also need to nourish ourselves on the Holy Eucharist. Jesus explained, As I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me (Jn 6:57 RSV). We also have the consolation of the Sacrament of Penance when we fail, which enables us to put sin behind us, regain our perspective, and continue on the road of self-discipline and restraint. We can then re-establish ourselves in a spirit-dominant atmosphere to receive the joy of God and delight in the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). Father Conley Bertrand 2

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4 The Joy of Evangelization When I think of the word joy, I always like to go back to an acronym that I have heard through a few people. Joy, true joy is Jesus, others, then yourself. Why do I agree with this? Well say for instance, the joy Jesus gives is not of ourselves but comes from the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. God gave us this same divine presence, when he birthed the church at Pentecost. Jesus said, Peace I leave you, my own peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give to you (John 14:27). This peace is connected to a true joy. We don t have to have a smile to have joy. Joy is a fruit of the spirit as in (Galatians 5:22). We will not always feel joyful, but the presence of Christ is within. This is not an on and off switch. He said he would never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Did not our Lord tell us that he is the vine and we are the branches in (John 15:5)? We have to be connected to him to bear the fruit that will last. The true joy of evangelization is that Christ s love compels us (2Corinthians 5:14). We are captured by his loving presence which makes us on fire and enthusiastic to spread the Gospel. When we leave our Come, Lord Jesus! meeting, we are filled with the presence of Christ and his fruit. Did not Jesus say that a tree is known by the fruit it bears (Luke 6:44). We need to spend time in prayer, in front of the Blessed Sacrament, in scripture and in the catechism, so we can listen, learn, and be sent out to do the work of Evangelization. This will produce in us a joy so complete that like Jesus said no one can take away (John 16:22), especially when we will see him face to face in heavenly glory. In the Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis writes that all those who encounter Jesus are filled with joy. We know well that with Jesus life becomes richer and that with him it is easier to find meaning in everything. This is why we evangelize. A true missionary, who never ceases to be a disciple, knows that Jesus walks with him, speaks to him, breathes with him, works with him. He senses Jesus alive with him in the midst of the missionary enterprise. Unless we see him present at the heart of missionary commitment, our enthusiasm soon wanes and we are no longer sure of what it is that we are handing on; we lack vigor and passion. A person who is not convinced, enthusiastic, certain and in love, will convince no one. Pope Francis says he or she will not convince anyone. Why? He says that there has to be an inner presence urging and enthusiastically compelling us. We have to have the fire that Jesus said we need. He said he came to bring fire upon the earth and how he wished it was burned up already in (Luke 12:49). Elijah had this same zeal. He said with zeal have I been zealous for the Lord of hosts. All the prophets were compelled and could not hold back speaking in God s name. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:16). If we are going to evangelize I reiterate, we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit and the joy of Evangelization will follow. Did not John the Baptist leap for joy in Elizabeth s womb when she heard Mary s greeting? This is why Father Bertrand always reminds us of the importance of this person to person communication. It stirs faith in each of us knowing that the Lord resides in our souls and is very effective to the power of God s spirit. The joy that the apostles received going two by two to do God s work was incredible. They could not keep it to themselves, but were so full of excitement and joy that they had to tell somebody. Come, Lord Jesus! continues to renew us in the word, continually keeps us in prayer, and gives us a great understanding through the catechism about our Catholic faith. The Lord wants us to continually bring this joy to a world that is so in desperate need of Jesus, our true joy. Jesus, others, and then yourself. Let us go forth and spread this wonderful program and message. I also ask that Mary will be our guide and intercessor as we evangelize those who need God s grace, mercy, joy and peace. Shawn Gaurtreaux 4

5 August2016 Gift Bags Received Abbeville Basile Baton Rouge Bayou Vista Bell City Borger, TX Breaux Bridge Broussard Carencro Basile, LA: Blair Ceasar, JoAnn Smith. Broussard,LA: Sandy Dimiterchik, Betty Dimiterchik Chackbay Carencro, LA: Mary Ann Marshall DeRidder, LA: Kathy LaBove, John LaBove Elton, LA: Sarah Daggett Esther, LA: Becky Cormier Eunice, LA: Carolyn Darbonne Franklin, LA: Jackie Burleigh Kinder, LA: Mary Gautreaux,Sylvia Manuel, Cynthia Smith Lacombe, LA: Susan Hattier Lafayette, LA: Dianne Cormier,Jan Vinning, David Koury, Angela Richard, Linda Elkins Lufkin, TX: Pat Luna Morse, LA: Kelly Boudreaux New Iberia, LA: Nathan Dugas,Allen LaSalle, Belinda LaSalle,Lionel Louviere, Doris Louviere,Rachel Tenney Plaisance, LA: Jane Dupre,Heather Thomas Slidell, LA: Julie Bacon,Denise M. Shepherd Ville Platte, LA: Connie Veillion,Darlene Roberie John Soileau NEW GROUPS: Leonville, LA: Leader: Vickie L.Robin James Davis, Elaine Deville, Kyle Deville, Donny Robin,Ariel B. Robin, Ashby L.Robin, Tina Schexnayder Eunice, LA: Leader: Amy Olivier Donna R.Andrepont, Lauren Lomas, Lacy Olivier Coteau, LA: Leader: Bonnie Arceneaux Evelyn Menard,Cathy Mouton,Linda M.Poe,Tim Poe. Coteau, LA : Leader: Kim Pusateri Jeannine Farmer, Megan McDonald,Curtis Nelson, Matilde Nelson, Alicia Poirier, Ruby Segura Cow Island Crowley Delcambre DeRidder Duson Elton Erath Estherwood Eunice Evangeline Franklin Fritch, TX Grand Prairie Harvey Henderson Houma Kaplan Kenner Kinder Krotz Springs Lacombe Lafayette Lake Charles LeBlanc Leonville Leroy Lufkin, TX Maurice Metairie Milton Morgan City Morse New Iberia New Orleans Oberlin Opelousas Parks Pierre Part Pine Prairie Prairie Ronde Rayne Richard River Ridge Rynela Schriever Scott Slidell St.Martinville Sulphur Thibodaux Verdunville Ville Platte Washington Welch Williamsport,PA Youngsville 5

6 AUGUST 17- SEPTEMBER 16,2016 Memorial Burse Donations James Toups Charles Freeburgh Jerry Lowe Raymond Waguespack Samuel A. Pruet, Sr. Marshall Gray Brad Dunphy Carol Stutes Elvin J.Michaud Zula M. Hebert Condolences October 2016 o co-leader Rosa Perez of Borger, Tx on the death of her father-in-law, Gilbert Perez. o member Dorothy Scherien of Borger,TX on the death of her grandson, Police officer Justin Scherlen. o member Jane Dupre of Plaisance, LA on the death of her husband, Raymond Dupre. o members of Led By The Spirit group in Franklin, LA on the death of their member, Laura Belle Trahan. o member Charlotte Gray of Patterson, LA on the death of her husband, Marshall Gray (who was also member}. o members of Spirit of Christ group in Rayne, LA on the death of former member, Ruby Credeur. o member Nancy Michaud of Esther, LA on the death Tof her father-in-law, Elvin J. Michaud. o leader Vicky H. Landry of Esther, LA on the death of her mother, Zula M. Hebert. T Come, Lord Jesus! 1804 West University Lafayette, LA Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Lafayette, LA Permit No. 729