NATIVITY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST I praise you, for I am wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:1)

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1 Volume 64, Number 26 Address 225 Eighth Avenue P.O. Box 425 Krotz Springs, LA Tel.: (337) Fax: Website: Parish Office Hours Mon. - Wed. 8 am - 3 pm Thursday 8 am - 2 pm Friday 9 am - Noon Closed Holidays New Parishioners: Please call or come by the Parish Office for registration. Rev. Fr. Michael DeBlanc Pastor Rachel Sanders Office Manager Sabrina Ardoin/Carolyn Conway DRE/Assistant John Kaiser Pastoral Council Shaun Dupré Finance Council Monita Reed Cemetery Committee Nichole Hatten Altar Server Coordinator Norma Moran Homebound Com. Coordinator Sidney Bennett Come! Lord Jesus! (men) The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass Saturday (Anticipated): 4 pm Sunday: 9 am Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday: 12:05 pm Friday: 8 am First Saturday (only): 8 am Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday: 2:45-3:45 30 min. before all other Masses or by request Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Funeral/Burial Arrangements Please contact the Parish Office NATIVITY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST I praise you, for I am wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:1)

2 Volume 64, Number 26, Page 2 Sat., :00 pm Sun., :00 am Mass Schedule and Intentions Alice Ortis Also remembered in prayer: Halphen & Lacassin families (living & deceased), Johnny & Robert David & Barry LeBlanc, Bryan Belleau, Sr., Loretta Kaiser, Clovis & Gayle Meche, Bobby Dupre and Effie Ardoin Belva Plaisance Also remembered in prayer: Louise Guidry and Ray Muse Tues., Wed., Thurs., Fri., :05 pm 12:05 pm 12:05 pm 8:00 am "How beautiful she is, Our Lady of compassion! How dear! How utterly unselfish! How filled with joy for Him - and us - in the depths of her own agony and desolation!" - St. Alphonsus Ligouri Monday Keep Moving Forward Junipero Serra s canonization & following his Camino in California should prompt us to awaken our own missionary spirit. Taking with him only the certainty that God was calling him to missionary discipleship, he came to the New World to be a witness to God s love. As we follow in his way, let us keep his spirit before us, a vision of life encompassed in his motto recalled by Pope Francis: Tuesday Keep Moving Forward Fr. Serra had a motto which inspired his life & work, not just a saying, but above all a reality which shaped the way he lived: siempre adelante! Keep moving forward! For him, this was the way to continue experiencing the joy of the Gospel, to keep his heart from growing numb, from being anesthetized. Wednesday Keep Moving Forward He kept moving forward, because the Lord was waiting. He kept going, because his brothers and sisters were waiting. He kept going forward to the end of his life. Today, like him, may we be able to say: Forward! Let s keep moving forward! Daily Reflection Thursday We Must Meet Christ to Follow Him Christ has told us in his own words that he alone must be the rock foundation on which we build our lives. This can only happen if we have actually encountered him, as did the people that followed him in the Gospels. Once we have decided to leave everything to follow Christ, it becomes readily apparent that we need help in doing so. Thus, if we want to follow him, we must seek out and grab hold of those things that nourish and sustain us in doing so. Friday Assisi Is a Living Prayer Assisi is a living prayer. Its narrow streets stream with pilgrims year after year, their hearts filled with hope that maybe here in this place their prayers will be answered. They ask St. Francis and St. Clare to intercede for them, to help them know what it is they are looking for. They cross the threshold of the Basilica of St. Saturday Assisi Is a Living Prayer Clare and kneel before the San Damiano crucifix that gave St. Francis the direction for his life: Go and repair my house which, as you see, is falling into ruin. They pray before the same crucifix the prayer of St. Francis: Most High, Glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart, and give me correct faith sure hope and perfect charity, with understanding and knowledge, Lord, so that I may fulfill your holy and true command. Amen. Schedule of Liturgical Ministers for this Weekend (June 23rd & June 24th) Saturday, June 23rd, :00 pm Mass EMHC: Reader: Betty Artigue Altar Servers: Hunter Ray & Cierra Collins Sunday, June 24th, :00 am Mass EMHC: Arnold Wiltz Reader: Verna Melancon Altar Servers: Evan Kaiser, Nolan Savoy, Zachary Kaiser & Evan Hatten Schedule of Liturgical Ministers for next Weekend (June 30th & July 1st) Saturday, June 30th, :00 pm Mass EMHC: Reader: Trisha Ortego Altar Servers: Hunter Ray & Cierra Collins Sunday, July 1st, :00 am Mass EMHC: Arnold Wiltz Reader: Jenni Trussell Altar Servers: Evan Kaiser, Nolan Savoy, Zachary Kaiser & Evan Hatten Sunday Become a Pilgrim Saint Junipero Serra s Camino is an ideal way of pilgrimage. Like the ancient pilgrimage routes the path of Jesus through Galilee to Jerusalem, the way of the early martyrs in Rome, and the Camino of Santiago de Campostela it challenges the traveler to make a transforming journey.

3 Volume 64, Number 26, Page 3 ~ From the Pastor ~ God our Savior desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Today is the feast of the Birth of St. John the Baptist, the great forerunner of Christ who prepared the way for Him. In a similar way, we are called to prepare the way for Christ s second coming by our faith and holy example. Over the last few weeks, we have been learning about the characteristics of our Faith as it is laid out in the Catechism. To briefly recap, we looked at faith as both a grace of God and a human act. We also looked at faith s relationship to understanding, reason, and science. Last weekend, we looked at the freedom of faith, the necessity of faith, and the need to persevere in our faith. Today, we come to the last characteristic of faith in this section: faith as the beginning of eternal life. As the paragraphs illustrate below, faith is a gift not just for the here and now: it s also a gift for eternity. This should make sense because, after all, who do we put our faith in? God. And where does God want us? With Him in Heaven, for all eternity. Thus faith has two sides to it it is for us to have here and now while we are plagued by darkness and suffering, but it is also in the future because it reminds us to look ahead at our eternal destiny. It is often asked, but when does our eternal life begin? Most would say it begins after we die, if we are graced to go into Heaven. But in all actuality, it begins now! The reality of faith proves that our lives with God do not begin in death. They begin with this very moment, in our lives on earth. For though we only perceive God in a mirror, dimly, faith still keeps us connected with God now. We can have a relationship with God now, and we should, because He desires it! He wants us to thirst for Him now! I will conclude this thought with a quote by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, which he wrote in his second volume of Jesus of Nazareth: Eternal life is life itself, real life, which can also be lived in the present age and is no longer challenged by physical death. This is the point: to seize life here and now, real life that can no longer be destroyed by anything or anyone. Section III. The Characteristics of Faith (Part Four) Faith The beginning of eternal life #163 Faith makes us taste in advance the light of the beatific vision, the goal of our journey here below. Then we shall see God "face to face", "as he is". 47 So faith is already the beginning of eternal life: When we contemplate the blessings of faith even now, as if gazing at a reflection in a mirror, it is as if we already possessed the wonderful things which our faith assures us we shall one day enjoy. 48 #164 Now, however, "we walk by faith, not by sight"; 49 we perceive God as "in a mirror, dimly" and only "in part". 50 Even though enlightened by him in whom it believes, faith is often lived in darkness and can be put to the test. The world we live in often seems very far from the one promised us by faith. Our experiences of evil and suffering, injustice and death, seem to contradict the Good News; they can shake our faith and become a temptation against it. #165 It is then we must turn to the witnesses of faith: to Abraham, who "in hope... believed against hope"; 51 to the Virgin Mary, who, in "her pilgrimage of faith", walked into the "night of faith" 52 in sharing the darkness of her son's suffering and death; and to so many others: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith." 53 Let us praise the Lord, and give Him thanks! In Christ the Lord, Fr. DeBlanc Stewardship of Finances Offertory (June 16 / June 17) $ 1, Candle sales $ Rice bowl $ 5.00 Property Ins $ Total $ 1, Please remember to put St. Anthony Church in your will. Intention of Pope Francis for the month of June That social networks may work towards inclusiveness which respects others for their differences. Advertiser of the Week Thanks to our Bulletin Sponsors! Please visit our sponsors for your needs.

4 Volume 64, Number 26, Page 4 Saints of the Week Wed., June 27: Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop, Doctor of the Church: d. 444; defending Mary as; (God-bearer) at the Council of Ephesus (431) against the Nestorians; spokesman for orthodoxy; noted especially for his Christological formulations; supported growth of Egyptian monasticism.. Thurs., June 28: Saints Irenaeus, Bishop, Martyr: d. c. 202; from Smyrna; disciple of St. Polycarp (23 Feb.; for twenty-five years the bishop of Lyons; wrote against the Gnostics, esp. Adversus haereses; first to provide a coherent rationale for a Christian Bible including both testaments, and the first to offer a comprehensive account of belief in God s universal providential and redemptive economy. Fri., June 29: SAINT PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES: Peter, d. c. 64 in Rome under Nero; Galilean fisherman; spokesman for the Twelve who became Prince of the Apostles ; two epistles are ascribed to him; patron of those in the fishing industry. Paul, according to tradition, was martyred in Rome c. 67; Pharisee who became the Apostle of the Gentiles ; his letters may be dated from c ; patron of the lay apostolate, the Cursillo Movement, and Catholic Action; also of Malta and Greece. The family of Effie G Ardoin would like to express their sincere appreciation for the prayers, food, nursing home visits, the kind words, and all of the other acts of kindness during our Mother s illness, wake, and funeral. Her love for this church and its congregation was immeasurable. We were blessed to have this congregation support her and us during our time of need. With sincere appreciation, The Children of Effie G. Ardoin Wayne, Brent, Linda, and Keith Pray for a Priest each day Week of June 25 July 1 Mon. Rev. Msgr. Keith DeRouen Tues. Rev. Fr. Kenneth Domingue Wed. Rev. Fr. Zachary Dominguez, LC Thurs Rev. Fr. Dustin Dought Fri...Rev. Fr. Greg Downs Sat. Rev. Fr. Wayne Duet Sun. Pope Francis Eternal Father, we lift up to You these and all the priests of the world. Sanctify them. Heal and guide them. Mold them into the likeness of Your Son, Jesus the Eternal High Priest. May their live pleasing to You in Jesus name. Amen. Elementary CCD summer classes: July 9-13, 2018 stanthonycf.webstarts.com 13th Annual Quilt Show and Sale Saturday, July 14, :00am-2:00pm At Gary Soileau Community Center Come, Lord Jesus Group for Men: Join us for Studying, Praying, & Reflecting on the Holy Scripture. Meeting every Wed. at 4:00 pm in the church hall. For details, contact Sidney Bennett at PRAYER FOR PROTECTION DURING HURRICANE SEASON O God, Master of this passing world, hear the humble voices of your children. The Sea of Galilee obeyed Your order and returned to its former quietude. You are still the Master of land and sea. We live in the shadow of a danger over which we have no control: the Gulf, like a provoked and angry giant, can awake from its seeming lethargy, overstep its conventional boundaries, invade our land, and spread chaos and disaster. During this hurricane season we turn to You, O loving Father. Spare us from past tragedies whose memories are still so vivid and whose wounds seem to refuse to heal with passing of time. O Virgin, Star of the Sea, Our beloved Mother, we ask you to plead with your Son on our behalf, so that spared from the calamities common to this area and animated with a true spirit of gratitude, we will walk in the footsteps of your Divine Son to reach the heavenly Jerusalem, where a stormless eternity awaits us. Amen. [Composed by Most Rev. Maurice Schexnayder ( ),Second Bishop of Lafayette ( ) in 1957]

5 Volume 64, Number 26, Page 5 Prayer List Joyce Angona, Carman B., Victoria Barron, Rosemary Batton, Tyler Bellow, Melinda Higdon Bergeaux, Makayla Ann Bergeron, Vanessa Bergeron, Gloria Bihm, Jayden Blumrich, Herbert Breaux, Jim Breaux, Virgil Brumley, Baby Bordelon, Judy Burleigh, Angie Carriere, Jimmy Carriere, Michael Champaigne, Christine Chustz, Cierra Collins, Albert & Landon Coorley, Betty Cormier, Robert Courville, Diago Dartez, Mike David, Leona Dicapo, Ashley Domingue, Francis Ducote, Johnny Dunbar, Jeremy Duplechain, Velma David, Leah Dupuis, Lillian Dupre, Verbal Ellis, Gene LeBlanc Family, Pory Carter Family, Jose Luis Flores, Carl Fontenot, Kristan Fontenot, Stacy Fontenot, Amanda Kent Ford, Ashley Guidry, Ava Guidry, John Dean Guidry, Kathryn D. Howard, Morgan Hoyt, Casey Hughes, Ginger Johnson, Glory Johnson, Charles Jordan, Stanley & Sandra Kaiser, Jane Kaiser, Chad Kimble, Rodney & Lucy Krantz, Mary Ann Lacassin, Desiree Lamoine, Bradley & Mavis Lanclos, Landry Family, Frankie LaPorte, Mark Lavoy, Sadria LeBleu, Zula Le- Jeune, Leonita Liu, Annette Luneau, Madeline & baby, Bertha Marks, Billy Marks, Brenda & Ferrell McGee, Patricia McGrew, Thelma Meche, Joseph & Jeanette Miller, Larry Mitchell, Diane Moran, Norma Moran, Gayle Morrow, Beth Morton, Preston Muse, Anthony Ortego, Kirtly & Eloise Ortego, Sharon Ortego, Red Ortis, Diane Pecoul, Pam Pereiria, Sandra Pitre, Sharron Polotzola, Raymond Prejean, Lynn Quick, Gale Rabalais, Reva Reed, Joshua Renard, Jamie Sylvester Richard, Hudson Robinson, Paul Schexnayder, Benjamin Sheumaker, Alfred Smith, Wayne Smith, Mavis Sonnier, Edward & Mary Stelly, Daphne Spears, Fr. Gwen (Faye) Lanclos Walls, Judy Williams and Gracie Zaunbrecher Please inform us should you like your name to be taken off the list. Thanks. Diocese of Lafayette: Centennial News St. Peter Dedication- On June 29, 1953, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, the newly constructed church of St. Peter in New Iberia was consecrated by Bishop Jules Jeanmard. The church was the vision of their new pastor, Fr. Albert Bacque. After over a decade of fundraising, the parishioners of St. Peter raised approximately half a million dollars and the construction of the new church began in Two years later, the massive structure was completed with seating for 1,200 parishioners. Two 90-foot tall towers, decorated with large white rosaries, mark the prominence of the Church dedicated to the Prince of the Apostles. National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministries in this Centennial Year, the Diocese of Lafayette is happy to host a national Marriage and Family Conference July at the Cajundome Convention Center. The precious holiness of marriage and family must be strengthened and cherished. Come and join us. For information on the conference and to register, visit, August 15 get your boat and join the procession Fete Dieu de Vermilion our Eucharistic Adoration will be on the Vermilion River this year beginning in Abbeville at St. Mary Magdalen with a Mass in French at 8am. The river procession will begin after with a Rosary and Benediction in then a Rosary and Benediction at River Rufinno s, then a foot 3:45pm from Beaver Park to Cathedral up University St. to the Cathedral Vespers at 5pm and Mass at 5:30 with Bishop Deshotel. Having 121 Church Parishes in our Diocese we would like to have at least 1 boat from each parish. To register, please visit or call This is an extraordinary event and we ask that you please consider being a part of the 121 boats. Happy Birthday! (June 24) = Hannah Dekerlegand, Adam Wiltz; (June 25) = Kade Ardoin, John Thibodeaux; (June 26) = Sandy Badin; (June 27) = Dendal Ansley, Johnny Kaiser; (June 28) = Betty Artigue; (June 29) = Logan Dupre, Sandy Trahan You are gifts from God to us. May the Lord bestow a special blessing upon you on your birthday.

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