Messages from the Pastor - Archive
April 26, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
No sooner than the decision to retire from pastorate administration in my beloved St. Joseph was made with a certain agony of mind and heart, the Bishop called and asked if he could appoint me Chaplain to the Papal Order of the Knights of St. Gregory. This did not go to my head, and, secondly, I did not realize that this spiritual ministry need not wear my 73-year-old energy to despair. I discovered there may be five or so Knights of St. Gregory yet alive in the diocese. Surely I can be of some spiritual assistance before Ollie Steele, so I accepted and deemed it an honor.
I bring this subject up to connect with another announcement of interest to you and our parish. One of the deceased members of the worthy Knights of St. Gregory was the distinguished Baton Rouge layman Fred Bahlinger, Sr., along with his wife, Lady Rose Bahlinger. They were honored years ago because of their outstanding gift of time and talent in the building up of this fine Church and Diocese of Baton Rouge under the leadership they extended to Bishop Robert Tracy, our founding bishop. Although this papal honor has not been extended by the Church of Baton Rouge in many years, there is a roster of fine Catholic men from the past so honored because of outstanding service. I sincerely believe the call of these Knights and Ladies has no less come to us and is no less important and honorable, and continues to be extended because of the church and its call to humble service. Such was one of these calls made recently and extended not by the church, but no less because of the Church of Baton Rouge. Our parishioner Fred Bahlinger, Jr., and wife, Claire, were singled out this year, along with Mildred Clark, for the “Powell-Reznikoff Humanitarian Award” by the Baton Rouge Council of Human Relations. Hopefully you read the article in the April 4 Advocate. He is definitely following in the footsteps of his father’s recognition in the Knights of St. Gregory for service . This city’s prestigious award sings and celebrates all that is great and noble to our universal church, the fellowship of man, and our great city, for Fred and Claire internalized Jesus’ call to serve by serving the poor and needy in the turbulent days of desegregation. They became bridge builders between Christian churches and the Jewish faithful. Our society here in Baton Rouge has been made better by the energy and Catholic work of Fred and Claire, along with so many others of faith in commitment to the social teachings of the church and ideals of country.
Fred today walks a little slower, but he and Claire are no less committed as gentle and loving people of service. Together they work with the missions of St. Joseph, to include all and special ministries to downtown by involvement in our weekly outreach, Food Bank, and social responsibility work, as well as the spiritual work of gathering all people in the embrace of St. Joseph Church. Knowing them as my dear and compassionate friends, I think they best express in their lives the Christ who says “ love all God’s people.”
Congratulations, Fred and Claire, your church also honors you in bringing what’s most dear to us in Christ Jesus into our secular and multi-religious world. Our community and Diocese bids you a big “Hip Hip Hooray!!” Thank you for helping us see Christ’s Word in action and our catechism come alive!
I want to take some space in this article to thank and say how proud I am of all the men and women who served our Holy Week and Easter Liturgy this year. People all over the diocese had the gift of seeing the Holy Week services and glorious Easter vigil liturgy by way of the church’s TV coverage. I was extremely proud of all who carried our Bishop through these sacred rites of our faith with real style and grace. Not every church is so blessed with young and mature men and women committed as servants who take great joy in serving these liturgies with such perfection and dignity. To all who faithfully served, read the sacred readings, prepared the palms, the fire, our magnificent music, picked up the Easter “cash,” prepared coffee and donuts, helped distribute communion, etc. I want to say again I admire your commitment and the gift of your service to God in such a humble and faithful manner. You, too, are the Fred and Claire Bahlingers of St. Joseph, and I award you with my love and prayers.
Happy Easter Season!
Father Jerry Young
April 5, 2009
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
A big “Hip Hip Hooray” for Mrs. Peggy Langston and our new woman’s organization called “Women in Spirit.” The first event hosted former Governor Kathleen Blanco, who spoke on the “Qualities of Leadership.” It was a treat to see her and Raymond again, and I realized how much I missed them, for they attended liturgies and events at the Cathedral. So many of Kathleen’s remarks were based on stories and challenges she had faced during Hurricane Katrina, and it was a very revealing humorous and terrific talk. I’ve always said that women are a powerful example of strength and commitment to us and, when joined in communion and cause with one another, very powerful. My best wish to “Women in Spirit.” I’m proud of you and look forward to great things from our organization! It’s open to all our ladies who want to come together in common spirit and the Holy Spirit, so call the rectory if interested!
I had the privilege of announcing my replacement as Pastor of St. Joseph to all this weekend prior to its’ publication to the diocese in our Commentator. It’s Father Paul Counce. It’s always a good sign when a priest applies for a parish, and many of you who were parishioners before I arrived, know Father Paul was in residence with Father Uter for several years and a short time during my pastorate. We welcome Father Paul to the Mother Church, and we recognize his many talents. I remember when he served as pastor of St. Pius, but appreciate him more for his truly competent and superior work for all in this diocese as head of our Marriage Tribunal. This very skilled ministry has made it possible for so many men and women to procure annulments from previous invalid marriages and begin anew. One does not always realize what joy and peace this area of our diocese’s good works can accomplish in people’s lives! I will meet with him this week and soon have a reception at church before he assumes his new post as Pastor of St. Joseph Cathedral. Please help me extend our gratitude and happy transition of pastorship to Father Counce.
It may be close to Holy Week by the time this bulletin reaches some of you; however, I wish you a deep awareness of what this solemn time before Easter means for you and our Christian community amid a society that seems to be growing more indifferent to practice and a growing militant faith that is spread in this world. I think it is imperative that we as individuals and for Christians as a whole to get a hold of who we are and what we are called to be by reason of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection in our daily lives. It is certainly not merely saying we are Christians and merrily going about a good life neglecting the serious practice of our Catholicism. If this Lent, and what time we have left, is fully entered into with spiritual sincerity, recognizing all that Christ has done for us as individuals and for the world by the new life given through his death and resurrection, it will assuredly moderate a change of heart. To share in His Way of the Cross in deeper commitment and allow our faith to rebound into new resolve so as to live for him and share that enthusiasm with others who may not know Him is paramount. We must, however, start within the sincerity of ourselves.
Last week’s Gospel spoke of men going to Philip and saying, “We would like to see Jesus.” It is only a little later in his chapter that Jesus says to them, “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat, but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” Jesus was talking about Himself and what He will do for the world, but if we, too, really want to see Jesus, we today must see Him in our faith, in our sincere practice of holiness that calls us to see Christ in our neighbors, poor and needy. A good desire to see Christ through the practice of Lent and Holy Week sensitizes us to see Christ and experience Him in our hearts and commit ourselves deeply to His cause. Then we will experience the conversion and joy of the resurrection! Then, we can really see Christ.
A blessed Holy Week and Easter to all,
Father Jerry Young