Messages from the Pastor - Archive
November 29, 2009
Dear parishioners and friends of St. Joseph Cathedral,
With this weekend’s liturgies the Church enters into a new liturgical year, preparing to meet the Lord. Advent is a time to prepare for the coming of Christ in many ways.
First, we anticipate Christmas, a formal – and for most of us usually very sentimental and inspiring – remembrance of Jesus’ first coming, when He became incarnate and was born for us in Bethlehem so long ago. While theologically-speaking our celebration of Christ’s death-and-resurrection in Holy Week outranks it, Christmas is usually just about everybody’s “favorite feast” because of its familiar symbols and joyous message.
And by now just about everyone who has paid attention at Advent Masses over the years also is well aware that we also prepare for a more spectacular coming of Christ, His second coming. At the beginning of the Advent season, the Bible readings proclaimed at Mass and in the Church’s other liturgies focus on “the end of the world,” that final day of judgment when life as we know it ends for everyone. At that time the Lord will reward His faithful people and all who sought Him in sincerity and holiness with eternal blessings.
But I would like to propose two more “comings of Christ” that we can and should deal with, especially in Advent.
First, human nature tends to avoid the thought of our own personal encounter with Christ in death. This is to be expected, surely. But for each one of us Christ is going to come at death. At that time our real relationship with Him will be clear – to the both of us! This is why we must do our utmost to live holy lives in this world: since we will never be completely without sin, the crucial question at life’s end will be the effort we made to overcome sin. At death will Christ come as understanding friend and savior, eager to reward the fact that we “did our best” in trying to do the right thing? Or will He – with great sadness, to be sure – have to agree that our preference and ultimate choice in life always were for other things, not Him and His ways.
Finally, there is another coming of Christ to us that we prepare for, and this can be specially done in Advent. Jesus comes to each of us in our prayer and worship, and most uniquely in the Sacrament of His Body and Blood, the Holy Eucharist. We ought always to look for ways to make this encounter with Christ a more significant, more spiritually-nourishing moment.
In response to these last two “comings of Christ” I invite you to consider a couple of things. First, our personal readiness to meet the Lord in death is best improved in the Sacrament of Penance. Here at the Cathedral we always have more than 6 hours of sacramental reconciliation each week before Masses, and in Advent I’ve scheduled two additional hours of confessions on Mondays just after working hours. I strongly advise you to go to confession this Advent: you’ll be preparing not only for Christmas but also for an even more important eventual coming of Christ to you.
Lastly, as you might expect, I also urge you this Advent to make your worship at Mass more intentional. This means “pay attention” of course, but even more than that. Everybody always wants to “get more out of the Mass,” and the best way to do this always is to prepare for it. (If that’s not an Advent theme I don’t know what is!) For example, before Mass, look at what the Bible readings will be and explore what their message is for you. Also, be clear on what your prayer intention at the Mass will be: who or what are you “offering Mass” for? Then, at Mass, listen actively as the priest prays in your name: unite your heart’s desire with those he mentions. And when you receive Holy Communion, make sure you do so reverently as you try your best to appreciate the significance of Christ’s own personal coming to you. His Sacred Body and His Precious Blood are gifts – they should be among the most valued gifts we receive in this holy season!
There. I guess that’s my quick and easy guide to the comings of Christ in Advent, and how we can begin to respond in a good way. I look forward to sharing this all of our special moments of prayer and celebration with you.
In Christ,
Father Paul
November 22, 2009
Dear parishioners and friends of St. Joseph Cathedral,
Praises continue to come in from many people for the GRAND DAY two weekends ago. Everyone who came had a great time, and everyone who wasn’t able to be here by now has heard that they missed an extremely special event! It was not only fun, it was grace filled, for God surely blessed everyone in attendance not only with smiles but inspired everyone to value “grand” relationships more. Again, thanks to everyone who took part.
If you enjoyed GRAND Day then mark Saturday afternoon, Dec. 5, down on your calendar! At the 4:00 pm Mass that day we’re hosting another of our special “Saturday @ 4” celebrations. The LSU Gospel Ensemble will sing before and during the Mass, and a “Meet the Choir” Reception will follow in the Parish Hall.
The Ensemble is made up of members of the renowned LSU Gospel Choir. Founded in 1978, it has been a feature of the nationally-ranked LSU School of Music since that time, performing to delighted audiences here and in Europe. Everrett Parker, its current director, has taken the choir – all LSU students – to new levels of performance. They have earned much praise not only for their singing skill but also for the joyful exuberance they bring to their musical craft.
We are pleased and fortunate to have the LSU Gospel Ensemble come to sing at St. Joseph Cathedral. I think that parents whose children and teenagers are currently enrolled in music classes or are interested in music as a hobby or career should make special effort to bring them along. This choir will inspire them. But frankly, everyone’s hearts will be lifted up by their music: it will be a very special “Saturday @ 4”celebration for us all. Please come!
And last, but not least, in the name of the whole Parish I’d like to send congratulations to two of our young parishioners.
Philip Vincent recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout. It was awarded at a special BSA Court of Honor held at the St. Francis de Sales Parish Hall on Nov. 1. Only a few Boy Scouts and Explorer Scouts ever attain the highest rank of Eagle; Philip’s “Eagle Project” was a benefit concert for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. Philip, a member of Troop 7, is a senior at Catholic High School and also sings in the Cathedral Choir. Philip’s parents, Susan and Bryan Vincent, have been active parishioners here for 22 years.
And Johnny Ballance, a junior at Catholic High School and a member of the National Honor Society, received the Sacrament of Confirmation from Bishop Robert Muench at St. Aloysius Church on Nov. 11. Johnny’s parents are well-known at the Cathedral: Joy’s voice (she serves as cantor here) and John’s expert photography add so much to our Parish life. Johnny himself assists as a Reader at Mass here, as well as sings in the Cathedral Choir.
We are very proud of these young men. Please pray for them and for all young believers. As Benedict XVI himself said at the Mass inaugurating his ministry as Pope in 2005, “The Church is alive! And the Church is young!” Philip and Johnny are fine examples of this for us all.
In Christ,
Father Paul
November 15, 2009
Dear parishioners and friends of St. Joseph Cathedral,
A huge thank you has to go out to everyone who worked so hard in preparation for our GRAND DAY last weekend. There was so much to do to get ready for the Mass and for the “Four Corners” celebration outside, but Bobbie Carey and her team of helpers did everything necessary and then some. The people who contributed time, talent and treasure to the day are too many for me to name individually but God knows who you are and surely will reward you abundantly.
I think the best thing about the “grandparent-grandchild relationship” is that it’s voluntary. Unlike parents, who have an obligatory relationship of caretaking over their children, grandparents bestow their affection and care always because they “want to,” not because they “have to!”
Now I’m not suggesting that parents don’t want to care for their children. No, no, no: they are the most precious gifts God has blessed them with! But from this one unique perspective, the love of grandparent and grandchild mirrors more the relationship we have with God. The Lord eagerly and freely bestows His love on us, and as a result, we respond in kind. The more love is shared, we discover, the stronger it becomes. And this love complements the love of others, for example helping parents and teachers fulfill their responsibilities as well.
So, grandparents, you can take pride in how “godly” you are acting when you spend time with and lavish attention on your grandchildren! It’s a holy thing you’re doing – now just don’t go overboard and get conceited about it! And grandchildren – if any grandchildren are so precocious as to be reading the pastor’s column in the Parish Bulletin! – your gratitude and love to your grandparents in return is holy too.
May we have more of such holiness!
In Christ,
Father Paul
November 8, 2009
Dear parishioners and friends of St. Joseph Cathedral,
As I write these words I’m aware that this is the last chance I have to invite you to our Parish’s “GRAND DAY”! All grandchildren and their grandparents are specially invited to the special 12:00 noon Mass this Sunday, Nov. 8. I hope you are planning to join us for the Mass, its special presentations and blessings, and the fellowship and fun which follow. It should be our “best ever” celebration!
In the week of Thanksgiving and the following week we will take photographs for our new Parish Pictorial Directory. If you haven’t “signed up” for a photo-shoot session, please call the Parish Office and we’ll try to squeeze you in somehow. We want all “friends of the Cathedral” and not just our own parishioners to be part of this effort. Even if you only visit us occasionally, we want to include you: as the diocesan Cathedral we’re everybody’s church!
I imagine that just about everyone is beginning to look forward to the holidays of Thanksgiving week. You know, Thanksgiving is not only the most uniquely “American” observance, it’s also the most “spiritual” of our nation’s holidays. I mean, the whole idea of “giving thanks” is pretty pointless if there was no one to give thanks to!
Certainly the traditional originators of our Thanksgiving – the “Pilgrims” of the New Plymouth colony in what’s now Massachusetts, in 1621 – were believers in God. They were staunch Congregationalists, who were doing their very best to escape persecution by the Anglican church authorities in Britain. They recognized that their own efforts would come to nothing were it not for God’s providence. As a result, when they managed to survive their first harsh winter and actually begin to harvest some food from their first efforts at planting, they knew who should get the credit!
Sure, human genius and effort are noble contributors to our civilization’s progress. But the origin of our wisdom and the ultimate reason we work is God: He created us, and ultimately He alone provides results and rewards that transcend the here-and-now. Yes, there are atheists, agnostics and other skeptics who honestly believe that there is nothing beyond this life. Such people’s efforts at self-improvement can be quite altruistic and are not necessarily selfish, but in the end humanity does not produce its best efforts separate from the divinity who is our origin, guide and goal. To attempt to do so is frustrating at best, and self-defeating at worst: why would we not want to cooperate with God?
In sum, then, make sure your Thanksgiving properly acknowledges the Lord, “from whom all good things come.” Yes, the cook who prepared the feast deserves our gratitude, and we appreciate the family and friends who host us and share good times. But God comes first, in our thoughts and in our thanks.
One group I’m very thankful for are the volunteer ministers who help out here in our Cathedral Parish. As Bishop Muench said when he installed me in office back in July, “no pastor ministers alone,” and I’m especially grateful for the help! In the past few weeks we’ve been busily “following up” with all those who have generously offered their time and talents as part of our Stewardship of Ministry appeal. Preparation and training sessions for these are now being held, so that those interested in ministry can begin as soon as possible.
On that note, we still are in need of more people to read, serve and distribute Holy Communion at our weekend Masses: it’s not fair to ask just a few people to do this every weekend. So if you could help us as a lector, altar server or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, please let me know. I’ll be happy to explore that possibility with you.
In Christ,
Father Paul