Message from our Administrator

“Oh Sacred Banquet, in which Christ is received,
the memory of his passion is celebrated,
the mind is filled with grace,
and a pledge of future glory is given to us.”

Peace be with you all this November day, as we begin a month of mixed emotions: Remembering deceased loved ones, celebrating Thanksgiving, and entering the Advent season!

As we continue our three-year eucharistic revival journey, I start this reflection with the beautiful Aquinas prayer already offered for your own prayer time. However, I want to emphasize the last few words as we remember and pray for our loved ones who have gone before us, marked with the sign of faith.

Every time we celebrate the eucharistic sacrifice (holy Mass), we remember (my emphasis) the death and resurrection of Christ. His death, at age 33, brought untold pain to his Mother Mary and his close friends. But, after three days he rose from the dead, and at each Mass we re – member, that is, we reenact this central mystery of our faith. All we believe and profess begins and ends with the eucharistic sacrifice of Christ, in which we participate every time we come to Mass.

Keeping this in mind, we begin to see how the funeral Mass, though celebrated in grief, is always a celebration of hope. Why? Because Christ, in rising from the dead, conquered death itself. Hence, we can be assured that our participation at Mass, and especially our reverent reception of Communion, confirms Christ’s Pledge of Future Glory given to us! This assurance of sharing the glory of the risen Savior, for ever and ever in heaven, is our consolation at all times of pain, suffering and the darkness of losing loved ones from our homes and community.

This is why we encourage visits to the graves of our loved ones, to remember where their soul is now and, while praying for them, to ask them to pray for us. Remember (that word again!), the saints in heaven, and the souls in purgatory awaiting entry there, can make and do make powerful intercession for us to the risen Lord. Add in the prayers of our own patron saints (mine is St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower), and of course, the powerful protection and prayers of our Mother Mary, and we can feel the consolation of our faith in our hearts.

The whole mystery is summed up in the beautiful hymn:

"We remember how you loved us to your death

and still we celebrate for you are with us here

and we believe that we will see you when you come

in your glory, Lord,

We remember, we celebrate, we believe.”

I pray especially for all who have lost a loved one in the recent past, and for whom this November is particularly difficult, that this reflection, and your strong faith, will sustain you. I will be remembering you particularly in my Masses on All Souls Day, Nov. 2.

November is also the month in which we celebrate Thanksgiving, when families return home and remember events of childhood and school and making new friends, and to talk of loved ones already living Thanksgiving at the eternal eucharistic table! I wish all of you a very blessed November and Thanksgiving season.

As I write this reflection, I am deeply moved by the number of people who have asked us how we can assist the people who recently suffered from Hurricane Ian, even though we ourselves are still in recovery from Ida. This is rooted in your Cajun sense of family, generosity of spirit, and is an example of our faith in action. I am proud and grateful to lead such a diocese. I wish you all, and our extended family of readers a very blessed and peaceful Thanksgiving!

“May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.”