Messages from the Pastor - Archive

February 1, 2009

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Of all places…but why not? While sitting in my doctor’s office last week, I looked on the table by my chair to find something to read, and what should I see but the picture of our “friend of the Cathedral,† Janet Rhorer, smiling up at me from the cover of the Greater Baton Rouge Senior Resource Guide! Not only her, but her daughter Kathy and her mother. All three looked in the best of health; however, may I reveal, and of course most women would send brimstones upon me, that Janet’s mother, “Zip† McAdams Quinn, is age 105!! To me she looks around 80—very much with it—and you can see that she still frequents the beauty parlor! I spoke with her at a recent Christmas party, and she is definitely not a geriatric case. What a lady! Janet, Kathy, and the rest of the family are praying that they have her genes, and Davis Rhorer, Executive Director of the Downtown Development District, plans never to retire! The best of blessings to “Zip,† and best wishes to her family.

Please allow me to make a call for more volunteers to become ushers in the Cathedral. We have been in need at many masses this year and had to use people such as my brother who generally sits in the back of the church. Please let me make it clear that our ushers are not an all male group, but a ministry to God and this church, and women are also welcome. Ladies, please consider this opportunity to serve.

We had a fine weekend at St. Joseph, and I must say that Fr. Michael Alello makes a fine celebrant for our TV Mass. His homily was excellent! I was in the side chapel, and I was inspired! I’m sure our 10:00 a.m. community would welcome him back. Thank you, Fr. Michael. I had the 12:00 Noon Mass with the anointing afterwards, but do you wonder why our deacon cannot help me with the anointing? Well, because this powerful sacrament, when given, also takes away sin. In other words, it has relationship with the Sacrament of Confession (Reconciliation), and only ordained priests may administer this sacrament. So, that answers for you a question I have often been asked. I have had so many comforting and loving comments from the people in Baton Rouge and elsewhere who participate in this sacrament. Sacraments give us: Baptism, new life; Confirmation and the Eucharist, growth; and Penance and Anointing of the Sick, healing. In the sacrament of Baptism, the Christian receives the Life of Christ.

However, we carry this life, as St. Paul says, in “jars of clay,† thus we are not only subjected to and (endure) sufferings, illness and death, but also this new life as a child of God can be weakened and even lost through willful sinful acts. Almost everyday I sit in the confessional and listen to the sins of men and women. It is one of the most satisfying experiences and sincerely humbling gifts of my priesthood. I know I am one of those “ jars of clay,† easily broken by turning away from what God wants of me. So I am always grateful for a confessor who is understanding. Now it is a joy for me to be kind and in the image of Christ. I am happy to welcome anyone to absolution, to give the wonderful experience of spiritual relief and joy that Jesus permits me to give through the priesthood.

If you’ve put off the Sacrament of Reconciliation because of serious sin, come and reunite yourself in honesty to the Lord. If your sins are venial and you are not well, come to the Sacrament of Anointing. You will be healed both in body and in soul.

In this year of St. Paul, he said in his letter to the Ephesians 4:30, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger…be put away from you…and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God…forgave you.â€

Fr. Paul A. Mickey, wrote in Tough Marriage: One woman, on her 50th anniversary revealed that on her wedding day she was to make a list of 10 of her husband’s faults, which for the sake of their marriage she would overlook. Asked to divulge the faults, she said,† I never did get around to writing them down, but whenever my husband did something that made me hopping mad, I would say to myself, ‘Lucky for him, that’s one of the 10!† The presence of Jesus among us is real when we try to live in unity with His forgiving love.

Father Jerry Young

January 18, 2009

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

$800,000 has been realized for the good works of the Cathedral over the eleven years that individuals and families throughout Louisiana have given to, first, our 138 Club, and later called The Millennium Founders. Last Sunday evening the members were hosted to a very nice “thank you† reception in the Rectory with our chair-couple, Joe and Paula Melancon, and Bishop Muench. This church and pastor salutes their generosity and thanks them on your behalf.

On another note, Bishop Muench, at the end of the 10:00 a.m. liturgy, called me forth to say that a new silver censer was donated to St. Joseph Cathedral in my honor. I knew this was planned because he asked me to be present, but I was unaware an inscription would be placed on the bottom with the dedication. Thank you, Bishop, and a special thanks to the man who donated it to St. Joseph, and remains anonymous. He is truly one of our best, faithful, and super parishioners, and I love him for this generous and touching gesture, for the Cathedral and myself.

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger…be put away from you…and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God…forgave you.† (St. Paul to the Eph. 4:31) As we all begin another week of this New Year, let us rethink our ‘09 resolution to become a more gentle human being in the image that our God models. We all manifest our imperfections in unchristian ways: to one another; in the home; and what that treasured place means to us, should be the place this New Year directs us, for there are many little wounds that spouses inflict on each other, and often they lie open too long. The greatest balm I know for these hurts is the simple act of seeking forgiveness. It may not be accepted immediately, but it can become the gateway to greater peace and, above all, growth in a marriage or relationship and all relationships. Nonetheless, we mirror our Lord, and this wins acceptance and God’s powerful grace in our Christian lives.

The Cathedral was proud to host Mayor Kip Holden’s Inaugural Interfaith Prayer Service last Monday, and I want to recognize the sensitive work of Father Tom Ranzino, our Diocesan Liturgist and Master of Ceremonies. The service was carried out with care for all faiths and with genuine sincerity. The Presbyterian Bishop was unable to attend, so I had the privilege of being the principal leader in this prayer service.

It was interesting that Friday’s Gospel before the Prayer Service had Jesus putting into action his own platform for his ministry. In Luke 4:18 He says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free and proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.† This Jesus did in his ministry, and we give our hopes and prayers that Kip will strive, along with those in his administration, to accomplish noble ideals for Baton Rouge with this sacred text in mind. Kip has become a good friend of the Cathedral Church, and we appreciate our special rapport
with the City Parish.

Father Young

January 11, 2009

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

The Bishop gave one of his humorous observations after the 10:00 a.m. Epiphany Mass last weekend by remarking, “The Louisiana Conservation Department is working on ways to stop coastal erosion with used Christmas trees!† He called the community’s attention to our largest Christmas tree ever in our sanctuary and suggested that it might take care of half the State’s problem! Smart, isn’t he?

I’m going to really miss Christmas at this grand old Cathedral—you the community, and friends. What we do in liturgy, music, and environment just can’t be done elsewhere in Baton Rouge. What other church could hold a twenty-foot tree comfortably, have music like Robbie, Joy, and Derek contribute, or have pontifical servers as we? I want to exalt and thank all that give such extraordinary service, talent, and gifts to this Mother Church. You truly make Bishop Muench, Father Hill, and this old pastor so happy and blessed to celebrate great feast days at our Diocesan Cathedral. But, allow me to commend again this new year the Roger May family who has donated, over the twelve years of my pastorate, the trees that make Christmas so lush and rich. When I went to their lot on Florida Blvd. and saw the gorgeous big tree, it called to me, “Come take me! I saw its price, shrank back; but nevertheless, they gave it to us. I remember them and their intentions in the Christmas masses every year for this generosity. I also thank the Cathedral Knights, for it took men with “brawn† to get the big one!! Pray they show up to take it out! The greatest compliment was from a child at one of our concerts. He said, “WOW!!† I loved it!!

Pardon me a moment, but Easter is the highest feast, as you may imagine, but Christmas for me carries with it such warm and human memories that always spring to my mind and heart. It is not only the power of our God sending His son as a babe in Bethlehem to us, but the fantasy of the three wise men and the beginning of a new year of hope for a better year ahead and our intentions to improve ourselves before our Lord and Maker in gratitude for His tremendous gifts. Let us honor and respect what He has done in us and respect all life in His name.

I know we are all concerned about the downturn in the economy and how it effects us and the less fortunate. As for myself, I have found a more conservative approach to my spending, but I never ever want to “pinch† on my Lord and Savior, and I ask you to consider this challenge also.

By the time you read this, the Christmas Season will be over; however, there are elements and truths of this Christ season that will linger with us all year long. Do you recall hearing or singing the carol, Do You Hear What I Hear? In the second line a second question is asked, “Do you see what I see?† Of course, it is the child, “a child is born…it is the Christ, it is God made incarnate.† May I thank all our Christ- seeing volunteers who worked each weekend on our “Giving Tree† prior to Christmas and all of you who were able to see the Christ child in your giving of gifts to some of our children in Baton Rouge, many of whom may not have had such a good Christmas. I wish I could share with you their excited reactions that I saw on one occasion, nevertheless, in your good spirit, you have accomplished one of the deepest actions of your Christian faith—that is to see Christ in all the charitable gifts you give throughout the year, and I hope in your heart you can see Him smile. I hope you can see the appreciation that we at St. Joseph have, especially your pastor and the people you assist who labor, minister, and serve the many good works we do for you as a friend or member and the downtown needy. “Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear?† Yes, I’m sure you do, and I hope you continue through this rather depressed year to see Jesus’ face in your church-giving and the face of Jesus in the many needy in our area. This will always be your greatest holiness and the greatest challenge to your sensibilities—that when asked or when you see a duty or need, to see Christ in the garments of your church, neighbor, or less fortunate.

My prayers at daily Mass and best blessings are sent to you this week that your New Year will keep you healthy, prosperous, and holy in the faith.

Father Young