St. Bridget Catholic Church 100 Highway 311 Schriever, Louisiana Very Rev. Simon Peter Engurait, VG, Administrator Deacon Stephen Brunet Church Office (Rectory): 446-6801 or 876-7975 CCD Office: 446-1985 Fax Line: 448-2764 E-mail address: stbridgetchurch@htdiocese.org Daily Mass : Monday Friday 8:00 am Sunday Mass: 8:30 A.M & 10:30 A.M. Confessions: Sat. 3:00 pm - 3:50 pm Sun. 8:00 am 8:20 am 10:00 am 10:20 am Or by appointment Perpetual Adoration Chapel information 985-446-6801 facebook.com/stbridget www.stbridget-htdiocese.org
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph December 31, 2017 My eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples. Luke 2:30-31 TODAY S READINGS First Reading Those who honor their parents will be greatly blessed and will atone for sins (Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14) or Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3. Psalm Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways (Psalm 128) or Psalm 105. Second Reading Be thankful; do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:12-21 [12-17]) or Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19. Gospel The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom (Luke 2:22-40 [22, 39-40]). The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved. BEARERS OF THE WORD The Church has placed a number of notable feast days immediately after Christmas. The feasts of Stephen, John the Evangelist, and the Holy Innocents form a summary of the life lived in Christ, the Word made flesh. What do these have to do with the feast of the Holy Family, which crowns the Octave of Christmas? These feasts remind us that suffering will occur in fulfilling the mission of Christ, and that we are all called to be bearers of this Word whose birth we celebrate. We also see this manifested in the lives of Joseph and Mary, both of whom took social and religious risks in obedience to the will of God, and both of whom were open to the word of God sent to them from on high. In these ways they prefigured the life of Jesus himself. Most likely, few of us found ourselves at Mass this past Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, but the essence of these feasts and the essence of the holiness of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus remain central, a holiness we celebrate today. Copyright J. S. Paluch Co., Inc. Perpetual Adoration Chapel St. Bridget is privileged to have a Perpetual Adoration Chapel. All have the opportunity to experience the real presence of Jesus. Let us treasure the chapel by patronizing it. We need to develop a Catholic habit of making regular visits to the chapel. The chapel is open during daylight hours. Those wishing to spend time with the Blessed Sacrament between 7 pm and 6 am need to contact the rectory at 985-446-6801 for a key fob. Parents are encouraged to stop in and visit Jesus with your children or spend some alone quiet time with Him.
LITURGICAL MINISTERS January 6-7 2018 4 pm 8:30 am 10:30 am Lector Anne Naquin Sarah Major Joan Bourg Commentator Mary Heiser Emily Baudoin Randal Alfred Eucharistic Ministers Team 2 Team 8 Team 13 Homebound Jan. 5 Diana Bailly Money Counters Jan. 8 Team 1 Church Cleaners Jan. Volunteers Altar Linens Jan. Nina Richard DA=Death Anniv. B= Birthday WA=Wedding Anniversary December 30 Mr. & Mrs. Olema Darcey by Sandra Dunbar Katie Ann Boudreaux, Theriot, Boudreaux, and Ordoneaux families by Craig & Aline Boudreaux December 31 Aida Moncivaiz Fontenot by Moncivaiz family Gert Josey by Children Buddy Gagneaux (B) by Betty Gagneaux Katie Ann Boudreaux, Theriot, Boudreaux, and Ordoneaux families by Craig & Aline Boudreaux January 1, 2018 Brandon Filardo by Mom and Dad Katie Ann Boudreaux, Theriot, Boudreaux, and Ordoneaux families by Craig & Aline Boudreaux January 6 Keith Babin (B) by Mom, Dan & family January 7 Gert Josey by Children Aida Moncivaiz Fontenot by Moncivaiz family Bessie P. Use (DA) by Betty & children Clarence Legendre (B) by Betty & children Marion Knight by Godfrey Knight Brandon Filardo (DA) by Mom and Dad Jimmy Coupel by Diana and family Sanctuary Lamp burns in memory of: December 31-January 6 Brandon Filardo by Mom and Dad January 7-13 Leonard Pollet (DA) by Sharon and family Marion Knight (DA) by Godfrey Knight Brandon Filardo (DA) by Mom and Dad Eucharist for the Homebound The Holy Eucharist is provided to the homebound of the parish. Those wishing to receive the Eucharist are to contact the rectory so that arrangements can be made. FINANCE COUNCIL: Fr. Simon Peter Engurait, Phil Schexnayder, Mike Richard, Nina Richard, Tracy Baudoin, Peggy Pitre, Deacon Stephen Brunet PASTORAL COUNCIL: Fr. Simon Peter Engurait, Amy Baudoin, Nicholas Billiot, Nina Billiot, Burnelle and Margaret Landry, Bernadette Mabile, Annie Knight, Curtis Knight, Medrick Levron, Albert Rogers, Deacon Stephen Brunet STRATEGIC PLAN IMPLEMENTATION TEAM: Father Simon Peter, Amy Baudoin, Nicholas Billiot, Nina Billiot, Kellie Bishop, Claire Falgout, Mary Louviere, Bernadette Mabile, Mark Olin, Sharon Pollet, Father Mark Toups (Liaison).
My Dear People of God, Merry Christmas. As we continue to celebrate God s love for us this Christmas season, today we celebrate the HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH. Our Lord and savior was born to a family and in so doing, signifying the importance of the family institution. All of us come from families. Where there are strong families, we get strong communities and societies. In 2006, during his Angelus address on the Feast of the Holy Family, Pope Benedict XVI urged families to resist the disintegrating forces of a certain contemporary culture which undermines the very foundations of the family institution. Many laws and cultural pressures are attacking the family. Families must model themselves on the Holy Family, living as domestic churches, to counter these anti-family forces. There are therefore many lessons we can learn from the Holy Family but probably the most important lesson is that it was Jesus Centered: From the time Joseph decided to take Mary after his own annunciation in a dream, Jesus became the center of their lives. All that they did revolved around Jesus. In the same vein, every family is called to center their lives around Jesus the Lord. The family that does this experiences Emmanuel- God with us and so grows in holiness. There are several things we can do to keep Jesus as the center of our families. May I just suggest two: Prayer: We are probably familiar with the popular phrase: the family that prays together, stays together how so true. Prayer is so foundational to family life. Here are the fundamentals relating to prayer that all families should strive for: Sunday Worship: Going to Church every Sunday as a family is very important as it not only fulfills God s commandments but is also important in building family bonds as well as the formation of the young family members. Family Prayers: Families should cultivate regular family prayers. Most important in this are the prayers before meals, the family rosary and the family night prayers. Individual Prayers: Children in the family should also be encouraged to pray by themselves in their bedrooms. Sacramentals: When one walks into a house, it is very easy to observe important people and relationships in what is displayed in pictures or other works of art. If some one walks into our homes will they be able to observe that we have a relationship with God? The presence of Crucifixes, Images of Jesus or other religious articles manifests the relationship of that household with God. We can therefore keep Jesus as the center of our families by displaying Him in our homes. This Sunday also marks the end of the year 2017. We give thanks to God for His many blessings to us this year and pray that the new year will provide us more opportunities to encounter and share God s love. As we enter into a new year, it is important that we place ourselves in a disposition that will enable us to grow and to experience more of God s love and saving presence. As you make your New Year s Resolutions, may I suggest a few things for your consideration: Weekday Mass: Going to Mass at-least once in the course of the week could be a source of additional graces for the week. Our Weekday Masses here are at 8:00am. If that is not convenient, consider going to another parish that may have an earlier/later Mass or is close to your work place. Reconciliation: Celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation more frequently and regularly. Once every month or two months would be a great goal. Get more involved in the Parish: There are many activities and ministries in our parish that could benefit from your gifts and talents. How might God be calling you to get involved? Growth in Faith: How grounded are you in your Catholic Faith? Might be a good idea to commit to programs, activities, resources that will lead to our growth in faith. Our Diocese is currently implementing an Adult Formation video series whose resources are available on line. Visit the Diocesan website for details (www.htdiocese.org). May I take this opportunity to thank you for your commitment to St Bridget and to wish you a blessed and prosperous new year 2018. Thanks and God bless, Fr Simon Peter Engurait
Faith Formation in the New Year Get Involved-Stay Involved! Strategic Plan Implementation News It s a new calendar year, start off with the Lord! The Diocese of Houma Thibodaux Strategic Plan Implementation is well underway at St. Bridget. It s not too late to become a part of the plan by participating in the online study video programs provided by the diocese. Both Why We Believe and Why We Confess are available at www.htdiocese.org. Several other study materials as well as guidelines for prayer are available at the website. Catholic Daughters of America 19th Anniversary Court St. Bridget of Sweden Catholic Daughters will celebrate their 19th Anniversary with a Dutch Treat supper at Politz Restaurant in Thibodaux on Thursday, January 11th. Members, prospective members, guests are invited to attend the festivities. The cash bar will open at 6 pm. Members are reminded that dues for 2018 are due. The $25 fee includes local, state, and national dues. The local organization meets on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 7 pm in the Community Life Annex. Catholic women age 18 and above are encouraged to join. Jr. High Faith Experience Please pray for the 25 young people (grades 6 8) as they participate in Jr. High Faith Experience Saturday, January 13th at E.D. White. St. Bridget is pleased to also have 2 youth on staff for the event thanks Beth and Kate Olin for answering the call to serve. Knights of Columbus The Knights of Columbus meet on the 4th Wednesday of the month in the Annex at 7 pm. The next meeting is January 24, 2018. The organization is open to all men aged 18 and above. Please prayerfully consider joining the parish organization and serving the Lord. Contact Ricky Billiot at 985-856-6868 for more details. Roast Beef Po-Boy Lunch The youth in conjunction with the Catholic Daughters are sponsoring a roast beef po-boy lunch on Sunday, January 21st. The $10 donation includes roast beef, po-boy bread, lettuce, tomato, and chips. Tickets can be purchased from any youth group member and CDA members. Contact Bernadette at 985-804-6045 for more details. Steubenville on the Bayou! Steubenville on the Bayou is a national youth conference open to young people who share the Catholic faith and beliefs. The conference is June 15 17 at the Houma Terrebonne Civic Center. The cost is approximately $325 per participant. Youth interested in attending should see Miss Bernadette January 8th for more info.
READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Nm 6:22-27; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21 Tuesday: 1 Jn 2:22-28; Ps 98:1-4; Jn 1:19-28 Wednesday: 1 Jn 2:29 3:6; Ps 98:1, 3cd-6; Jn 1:29-34 Thursday: 1 Jn 3:7-10; Ps 98:1, 7-9; Jn 1:35-42 Friday: Please Welcome To Our Parish Family Grant Andrew Loup Son of Jade LeBoeuf and Chad Loup 1 Jn 3:11-21; Ps 100:1b-5; Jn 1:43-51 Saturday: 1 Jn 5:5-13; Ps 147:12-15, 19-20; Mk 1:7-11 or Lk 3:23-28 [23, 31-34, 36, 38] Sunday: Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13; Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12 Please Pray for the Repose of all souls, especially the Soul of Robert Use. May the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen. TIME Do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of. Benjamin Franklin Mass is celebrated each weekday at 8 am. Please join us whenever you can. It is a great way to start the day. Guidelines for Baptism Prior to baptizing a child, the parents and Godparents must attend a baptismal seminar. The next baptismal seminar will be held December 13 at 6:30 pm in the Annex. Those seeking to baptize a child can complete the registration forms in the office Monday Friday between 8 am and 3 pm. The office must be made aware of the desire to baptize a child and desire to attend the seminar. The registration form can also be found at the parish website, stbridget-htdiocese.org, and emailed to the parish through the Contact Us link. While the Church only requires one qualified Godparent for a child to be baptized, two Godparents may be chosen, although in this case one must be male and one female. Anyone who is to be a Godparent must meet the qualifications established by the Church, which are as follows. Godparents must have received the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist, and be practicing Catholics, at least 16 years old who lead a life in harmony with the faith. If married, the proposed Godparents must be in a marriage recognized by the Church. If not married, they must not be simulating marriage by living with someone. Mass Intentions for 2018 The Mass Intention Book is open for 2018. If you would like to have masses for your loved ones or the Sanctuary Light to burn in their memory contact the rectory. The usual donation for Masses is five dollars and for the Sanctuary Light the usual donation is ten dollars (the light burns all week).