Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church Sunday, June 24

th, 2018—The Nativity of St. John the Baptist

PLAQUES BY CHURCH ENTRANCES - PLEASE NOTE

Weekend Safety Precaution: On weekends, the side doors facing Oakview Boulevard and the side doors by the Marian Altar will be locked once Mass begins. Entrance into the Church will be through the side doors (monitored by the ushers) at the end of the Pathway of the Little Shepherds nearest Johnston Street. In This Holy Place: Love of God and neighbor is the core of Jesus’ teachings. At Church, we show our love for God and neighbor by creating an environment of prayer and reverence for others to connect with God. Church attire should not distract others, and reflects an interior attitude. We come to Church for sacred work, sacred worship, even if that “work” is to utter a private prayer. Our dress, our demeanor, our discipline ought to speak of our recognition of that sacredness and manifest a genuine respect for Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.

No gum chewing/No food in Church

THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS: Saturday Anticipated—4 pm (organ and cantor);

Sunday—9 am (choir); 11 am (organ and cantor); 5 pm (organ and cantor) Monday, Wednesday, Friday—6:15 am; Tuesday and Thursday—5:30 pm

FIRST SATURDAY: 8 am followed by Recitation of the Rosary

FATIMA NOVENA MASS: 13th of the Month, May—October

5 pm Rosary followed by 5:30 pm Mass (with the Fatima Farewell Procession)

MONTHLY PEACE MASS: First Tuesday of the month at 5:30 pm. The recitation of the Rosary and an Act of Consecration precedes the Mass at 5:00 pm. ROSARY FOR PRIESTS: The recitation of the Rosary is prayed each Thursday in Church at 8:10 a.m. All are invited to offer prayers for the priests of our Diocese.

THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE Saturdays—3 pm to 3:45 pm prior to the Vigil Mass

Weekdays—15 minutes before the am Masses 30 minutes before the pm Masses

THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

The Sacrament is celebrated on the third Sunday of each month, following the 11:00 am Mass. Please contact the parish office before the baby is born for required classes. Sponsors are to be practicing Catholics who attend Sunday Mass every week. Spon-sors are to be confirmed.

THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY Due to a new “couple mentoring” marriage preparation program, arrangements are to be made with the Church office, if at all possible, at least ONE YEAR in advance. To avoid schedule conflicts, all wedding dates held at Our Lady of Fatima must be con-firmed with the Parish Administrator, who should be the first contact of the couple. Please visit our Parish Website to review wedding and music guidelines, and details of paperwork and preparation requirements.

2319 Johnston Street, Lafayette, LA 70503—Established 1949 Rev. Fr. Michael J. Russo, Pastor; Rev. Nathan Comeaux, Associate Pastor

Deacon Timothy Maragos & Deacon Ed Boustany Parish Office: (337) 232-8945; Parish Fax: (337) 232-0323; School Office: (337) 235-2464

Church Website: www.fatimalafayette.org Office Hours: Monday—Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.; Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon

23 Sat. 4:00 p.m. Anticipated: Michael & Fred Landry & Family, Gerald & Alberta Gossen, Edwina Smith Hernandez, The Keenze Family, Nathan, Loretta, & Robert Schiller, Mr. & Mrs. Stephen R. Moore Sr., Matthew Pusateri, Mr. & Mrs. Frederick J. Forstall, Avis Moore Rupert, Ryan Robert Guilbeau, Roberta Kiffe, Vernon Tekell, Sr., James Judice, Eva Fontenot, Hermann Collier, George Fortenberry, Mark Corner,Timothy Costello, Randon Costello; Living & De-ceased Members of: The Kolwe & The Faugot Families, The Catholic Daughters, The Connolly & Comeaux Families; Spe-cial Intention Pamela Rodrigue, Edwin J. Buford, Jr. Living: Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Bouvier & Family, Matt Person & Family 24 Sun. 9:00 a.m.: Fatima Parishioners / Pro-populo 11:00 a.m.: The Nugier Family, Faye Marie Gesser, Eva Fontenot, Amanda Claire Judice, Lynn Kallam Ditch, George W. Fortenberry; Living & Deceased Members of: The Roy & Justine Elder Family, The Prejean, Fleming, Martin, Leger, & Cary Families, The Kallam, Langlinais, Ju-dice, & Hamilton Families, The Ison & Eva Fontenot Family; Living: Deborah Mahtook 5:00 p.m.: Mr. & Mrs. W. J. Charles 25 Mon. 6:15 a.m.: Clare Daugherty 26 Tues. 5:30 p.m.: Sammy Governale 27 Wed. 6:15 a.m.: Eva Fontenot 28 Thur. 5:30 p.m.: Mr. Frem Boustany, Sr. 29 Fri. 6:15 a.m.: Madeline Summers 30 Sat. 4:00 p.m. Anticipated: Joseph C. Russo Jr., Joseph C. Russo Sr. & Margaret, Frank A. Russo, Jake F. & Lydia Lipa-ri, Michael & Fred Landry & Family, Gerald & Alberta Gossen, Henry J. Kaufman,Jr., Juliette L. Kaufman, Veronica D. Lemoine, Louis H. Lemoine, Jr., Edwina Smith Hernandez, Randon Costello, Iola Cornibe, Nathan, Loretta, & Robert Schiller, Faye Marie Gesser, Mr. & Mrs. Stephen R. Moore, Sr., Mr. & Mrs. Frederick J. Forstall, Avis Moore Rupert, Ryan Robert Guilbeau, James Judice, Amanda Claire Judice, Lynn Kallam Ditch, Eva Fontenot, Tom Flynn, Alfredo & Iolanda P. Raimondi, Timothy Costello, Randon Costello, Edwin J. Buford, Jr. , Dr. Mosey E. Rausch; Living & De-ceased Members of: The Kolwe & The Faugot Families, The Kallam, Langlinais, Judice, & Hamil Families 1 Sun. 9:00 a.m.: David Claudet 11:00 a.m.: Fatima Parishioners / Pro-populo 5:00 p.m.: The Nugier Family, Monsignor Robert Gabriel "Bob" Angelle; Living & Deceased Members of: The Prejean, Fleming, Martin, Leger, & Cary Families, The Roy & Justine Elder Family, The Ison & Eva Fontenot Family, Living: Dr. Chad Heinen & Family

Pray Daily for your deceased relatives and friends! We loved them in life,

Pray for them in death!

Diocese of Lafayette Centennial News

St. Peter Dedication: On June 29, 1953, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, the newly constructed church of St. Peter in New Iberia was consecrated by Bishop Jules Jeanmard. The church was the vision nof their new pastor, Fr. Albert Bacque. After over a dec-ade of fundraising, the parishioners of St. Peter raised approximately half a million dollars and the construction of the new church began in 1951. Two years later, the massive structure was completed with seating for 1,200 parishioners. Two 90-foot tall towers, decorated with large white rosaries, mark the prominence of the Church dedicated to the “Prince of the Apostles.” National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministries: In this Centennial Year, the Diocese of Lafayette is happy to host a national Marriage and Family Conference - July 15-17 at the Cajundome Convention Center. The precious holiness of mar-riage and family must be strengthened and cherished. Come and join us. For information on the conference and to register, visit, www.nacflm.org. Diocese of Lafayette Youth: Gathering at Parc International on Saturday, October 20th for Faith, Fun, Music, Food and Eucharistic Adoration. Our Youth, all Youth Groups, families, clergy and religious are invited. Please mark your calendars now and watch for more information soon.

Fatima Mercy Works will sponsor a field trip to Acadiana Lanes bowling alley for the children who attend the Missionar-ies of Charity Summer Camp. Please consider penciling this into your schedule as you make summer plans. We are looking for about 15-20 volunteers to help the children while bowling. This is a great opportunity to involve your whole family in ser-vice. Please contact Tonia (298-6253) or Cassie (962-2788) if you are able to help. (Safe Environment Training Required).

NOVENA TO SAINT ANNE St. John Cathedral

The Saint Anne Novena is from July 18-26. If you have not ordered novena booklets, you may contact Bonnie Broussard at 337.937.5697. On the final day of the Novena, July 26th, which is the Feast Day of Sts. Anne and Joachim, all members are invited to at-tend Mass at St. John the Evangelist Cathedral in honor of the Centennial Year of our Diocese.

Agenda for July 26th 11:30 ............................................................ Recitation of the Rosary 12:05 ................................................................................... Holy Mass 12:45 .............................................................. Closing Novena Prayer 1:00 .......... “Dutch” Lunch at Don’s Seafood Hut (RSVP required) 3:00 ... Tour of St. John the Evangelist Cathedral (RSVP required) The cost of the tour is $3 for ages 59 or younger and $2 for ages 60 and older. The deadline for the RSVP for both the lunch and tour is July 10.

FATIMA MERCY WORKS — a MONTHLY outreach to the needy in our community.

Activity details are listed on our web page. If you would like to participate, call the Parish Office.

STEWARDSHIP Today we celebrate the birth of St. John the Baptist. This prophet, who practiced austerity in the desert, proclaimed the kingdom of God, a coming judgment, and baptism as a sign of repentance. With deep humility, John directed atten-tion not to himself but to Jesus. John’s attitude was, “He must increase, I must decrease” (John 3:30). John’s birth, days after the summer solstice when daylight hours begin to decrease, contrasts with Jesus’ birth days after the winter sol-stice, heralding daylight’s increase. Like John the Baptist, stewards turn attention away from themselves and towards Je-sus. The stewardship question for us is whether or not we ourselves are pre-pared to “decrease” and allow Jesus to “increase” in our hearts, minds, words and actions. Good News: The Diocesan Centennial Campaign was very successful, with Fatima receiving in pledges (over a five year period) over 2 million dollars. Thirty percent of our goal of $1,170,000.00 will be returned to Fati-ma; thereafter fifty percent of what is collected will eventually be returned to us.

Bad News: Since the Campaign, our weekly collections are substantially lower. This is understandable and to be expected. This is a friendly reminder to do what you can to keep our weekly operation budget running smoothly, particularly in the summer months. Online giving is a wonderful way to make sure you are up to date. Thanks, Fr. Russo.

The Weekend of June 16th & 17th

Envelopes / Cash .................................................... $13,412.00 Online Giving ........................................................... $6,072.00 Total Offertory Collection .............................. $19,484.00 Envelopes / Cash ......................................................... $545.00 Online Giving .............................................................. $410.00 Total Fatima Mercy Works ................................. $955.00 Envelopes / Cash ...................................................... $1,824.00 Online Giving .............................................................. $358.00 Total 2nd Collection: Bldg. & Maint. .............. $2,182.00

Office of Marriage & Family Life

Retrouvaille Weekend: Retrouvaille is a program for troubled marriages. The weekend provides a safe setting; encouraging couples to learn communication in marriage in a respectful manner. Visit the website (www.helpourmarriage.com) for more information and to register. Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend: Escape from the busyness of your everyday lifestyle and endless obligations and spend a weekend alone together without distractions. Discover once again why you married each other; fall in love again with each other; share a romantic weekend that will remind you of why you chose each other as a spouse for life. Learn simple communication techniques that will enhance your intimacy and will bring you joy and help with everyday conflicts. 2018 weekends are: July 27-29 and October 12-14, both at the Tracy Center, Baton Rouge. Contact Matt & Gail Quinn: 504.371.5066 or 800.586.5469 or go to www.wwme.org. Annulment Process Workshop: On July 24, 2018, the Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Lafayette, Msgr. Robie Robichaux, will be presenting workshops on Declaration of Nullity and what is needed to begin the process. Two workshop times are offered: 10 a.m. to noon, or 6 p.m to 8 p.m., at the Diocesan offices, Immaculata Center, 1408 Carmel Drive, Lafayette, LA. All are invited to attend. Prior to attending one of the sessions, please register by calling 261.5623, or via email to ca-trahan@diolaf.org. There is no charge for this workshop. Rachel’s Vineyard: A retreat for those who have suffered the wounds of abortion. It is an extraordinary opportunity for any person who struggles with the emotional and spiritual pain of abortion. The weekend is a unique and effective process de-signed specifically to help you experience the mercy and com-passion of God. The next retreat will be held October 5-7, 2018. Pre-registration is required. Contact Trista @ 337.261.5607 for more information. NFP Teachers and Marriage Prep Instructors: The Office of Marriage, Family and Pro-Life Activities is attempting to estab-lish a core of NFP instructors as well as Marriage Preparation instructors that will serve the needs of each of the four regions of our diocese. With that being said, we will host a training for the Foundations in a Christian Marriage program as well as a NFP instructors training for those interested in working with parishes in their deanery. Any individuals or couples that are interested in teaching marriage prep or NFP for their deanery, please contact Kelley Chapman at 337.261.5653 or email at kchampman@diolaf.org. Trainings will be held August 25, 2018 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Marriage Prep and December 6-9 for NFP.

February 1 - 2, 2019 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Lafayette

Tickets on Sale beginning May 20, 2018

Early Bird Special: $140 Regular Ticket Price: $165 after July 31st

Register online at www.abidewomensconference.com

“COME, LORD JESUS!” BIBLE STUDY

Mondays 1:00pm (WOMEN): Susan Foret, 316.4932 Email: ssforet@usa.net

6:30pm (WOMEN): DD McElligott, 319.8866

Tuesdays 5:30pm (MEN): Art Mixon; contact by email only Email: amixon@petroquest.com

6:30pm (WOMEN): Email: Stef.Buchholz1@gmail.com

Wednesdays 10am: Warren Stelly, 989.1611

Thursdays 6:00 am (MEN): Joe Wolf, 349.2645 6:00 am (MEN): Deacon Tim Maragos, 235.1521

6:15pm: Deacon Tim Maragos, 235.1521

Fridays 1:00 pm: Adele Connolly, 278.0531

Saturdays 8:00am: Anne Pesacreta, 739.5903 First Saturday: 9:00 a.m. after Mass & Rosary

Parish Representative: Kathy Purpera, 578.1860

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of the Little Shepherds (Knight Hall)

Monday and Wednesday,

following the 6:15 am Mass to 5pm; Tuesday and Thursday,

9am to 5pm; Friday,

following the 6:15am Mass to 12 Noon; First Friday/First Saturday All Night Vigil, (Friday 6pm until the 8am First Saturday Mass)

ADORATION COORDINATORS (Call to Commit) If interested on Monday, call Elaine Martin, 234-6752 If interested on Tuesday, call Lesha Theriot, 232.8945

If interested on Wednesday, call Dotsie Butcher, 234-6678 If interested on Thursday, call Lesha Theriot, 232-8945 If interested on Friday, call Bubbles Stelly, 233-8660

If interested on First Friday/First Saturday Night Vigil -call Lesha Theriot, 578-1984 SACRED HEART HOME ENTHRONEMENTS

Call the Parish Office to schedule. Promoters go into the home to conduct the Enthronement, which follows a nine day period of prayer by the family.

The Church’s teaching on human sexuality

Natural Family Planning Courses are held at Fatima twice annually. The course is a once a month session for three con-secutive months. The instructor is Dr. Kim Hardey, Ob-Gyn. For scheduling information, go to: ccli.org.

RECLAIM Sexual Health Catholic Recovery Program www.reclaimsexualhealth.com (online help 24/7)

Porn Addiction Support Group for Men: Weekly meetings are held for one hour and fifteen minutes. Strict confidentiality is observed. A confidentiality statement is signed by each pro-spective member of the group after an initial meeting with the facilitator. Call and leave a confidential message at 337.944.9860 and the group facilitator will return your call and give you more information.

Healing Hearts: Weekly meetings for women whose relation-ships have been affected by porn use or sexual addiction of a loved one. Must sign confidentiality statement. Call 337.404.6113.

Unplanned Pregnancy: Call 1.800.256.7222 for free, profes-sional, confidential counseling regarding keeping or placing your baby.

Post Abortion Trauma: Call Project Rachel (337) 561-5607 for help and healing. Rachel’s Vineyard: Rachel’s Vineyard is a retreat for those who have suffered the wounds of abortion. It is an extraordi-nary opportunity for any person who struggles with the emo-tional and spiritual pain of abortion. The next retreat will be held October 6-8. Pre-registration is required. Contact Karol or Trista @337-261-5607 for more information. All inquiries are strictly confidential.

LOVED ONES WHO LEAVE THE CHURCH

Send their names to St. Monica Sodality, c/o St. John Can-tins Parish, 825 N. Carpenter Street, Chicago, IL 60622-5499. The Sodality will include your loved ones in their pray-ers and sacrifices. When all other efforts fail, the only thing left to do is pray and sacrifice. Consider joining the St. Monica Sodality. Writing to the above address will give you infor-mation on how to do so and the requirements for membership.

PRAYER FOR CANCER PATIENTS: A statue of St. Peregrine, patron of cancer patients, along with his pre-cious relic, is made available to go into the homes of those diagnosed with cancer. Call the parish office to get on the roster.

PARISH ORGANIZATIONS

Women’s Group “WOMEN OF GRACE”

(Contact Stephanie at the Parish Office for upcoming events!) Catholic Daughters - 3rd Thursday, 6 pm

Knights of Columbus - 1st Thursday, 7 pm Sts. Joachim & Anne Society 2nd Tuesday - Rosary/Social

Fatima Mercy Works -monthly outreach to needy

Men’s Group - CAST CAST stands for Catholic, Apostolic, Sacramental, Theology. The CAST men who have attended the retreat meet regularly on a monthly or bi-monthly basis for dinner and fellowship, study, and community prayer. The CAST Mass is every Mon-day morning at 6:15 a.m. If interested in making the CAST retreat, contact Deacon Ed Boustany at the Parish Office.

Weekly Rosary Group: Each Tuesday in Church, 9:15 to 11:00 a.m. (except on the second Tuesday of the month) to pray the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious mysteries for priests, world peace and individual intentions. FMI call Dotsie Butcher (234.6678) or Claire Randazzo (984.4415).

BLESSING OF CHILD IN THE WOMB Follows the Sunday 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Masses

on the 1st weekend of the month.

Saints—Our Extended Family in Heaven Celebrating the Saints of the Week. Read more at CatholicSaints.info!

Monday, June 25 - Saint Adalbert of Egmond Member of the Northumbrian royal family. Spiritual student of and fellow evangelist in Ireland with Saint Egbert of Rathemigisi. Deacon at Rathemigisi mon-astery. Evangelized in Friesland with Saint Wil-librord in 690. Converted most of the people of Eg-mond by his preaching and his example. May have been abbot of Epternach; records are unclear. Arch-deacon of the diocese of Utrecht, Netherlands.

Born: in Northumbria, England Died: c.740 of natural causes Canonized: Pre-Congregation

Tuesday, June 26 - Blessed Andrea Giacinto Longhin

The only son of Matthew and Judith Marin, poor and pious tenant farmers. He early felt a call to the priesthood. Against the wishes of his father, he became a Capuchin novice, taking the name Andrew of Campodarsego at Bassano del Grap-pa, Venice on August 27, 1879 at age 16. He studied at Padua and Venice in Italy, made his solemn profession on October 4, 1883, and was ordained on June 19, 1886. Spiritual director for young religious for 18 years. Taught at the Capuchin seminary at Udi-ne, Italy. Director of Capuchin teachers at Padua

in 1889. Director of theology students in Venice in 1891. Capu-chin Provincial Minister at Venice on April 18, 1902 where he came to the attention of the future Pope Saint Pius X. Bishop of Treviso, Italy, consecrated in Rome, Italy on April 17, 1904, a see he would hold for 32 years. He entered the see with reform in mind, and spent five years travelling from parish to parish, preaching and becoming close to his parishioners and clergy, many of whom resisted his reforming efforts. He reformed the diocesan seminary, improving the quali-ty of teaching and spiritual formation. He promoted spiritual re-treats for the clergy, and worked with lay groups, especially those involved in the Catholic social movement, supporting the right for workers to organize. He encouraged religious orders to work in his diocese; male institutes went from 7 to 12, women’s from 10 to 24 during his bishopric, and these included houses of Franciscans, Passionists, Salesians, Carmelites, Somaschi Fa-thers, Camillians, and Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Friend of Saint Leopold Mandic. During the air and ground attacks that destroyed Treviso in World War I, Bishop Andrew stayed at his post, and told his priests that they could leave if they were ministering to refugees. Andrew became the center of work in the community, organizing help for soldiers, the wounded, the sick and the poor. Because he refused to ally himself with any of the war parties, he was con-victed of defeatism, and was imprisoned with several of his priests. Upon his release, he resumed his work of ministering in his diocese, and rebuilding the city and the 47 parishes that had been destroyed, and was eventually awarded the Cross of Merit was decoration. During the post war years, Bishop Andrew worked with many lay groups to help keep the Catholic social movement as Catholic as possible. He insisted on non-violence and loyalty to the Church, which put him at odds with the growing Fascist move-ment. In 1920 he supported Leghe Bianche, a Christian union

movement. Pope Pius X chose him as Apostolic Visitor to Padua in 1923 and then Udine in 1927 to 1928 in order to return unity between the priests and bishops of those dioceses. Born: November 22, 1863 in Fiumicello di Campodarsego, province and diocese of Padua, Italy as Hyacinth Bonaventure Longhin Died: Friday, June 26, 1936 in Treviso, Italy of natural causes after an eight month illness Beatified: October 20, 2002 by Pope John Paul II Wednesday, June 27 - Saint Cyril of Alexandria

Nephew of Theophilus the Patriarch. Monk. Priest. Bishop and patriarch of Alexandria, Egypt on October 18, 412. Suppressed the Novatians. Worked at the Council of Ephesus. Fought against Nestorius who taught the heresy that there were two persons in Christ. Catechetical writer. Wrote a book opposing Julian the Apos-tate. Greek Father of the Church. Doctor of the Church.

Born: 376 at Alexandria, Egypt Died: 444 at Alexandria, Egypt of natural causes Canonized: Pre-Cogregation

Thursday, June 28 - Saint Irenaeus of Lyons Disciple of Saint Polycarp of Smyrna. Ordained in 177. Bishop of Lugdunum, Gaul (modern Lyons, France). Worked and wrote against Gnosticism, bas-ing his arguments on the works of Saint John the Apostle, whose Gospel is often cited by Gnostics. Dispatched evangelists, including Saint Ferreolus of Besancon and Saint Ferrutio of Besancon. Consid-ered the first great Western ecclesiastical write and theologian, he emphasized the unity of the Old and New Testaments, and of Christ’s simultaneous hu-man and divine nature, and the value of tradition. A Father of the Church. Martyr.

Born: c.130 in Smyrna, Asia Minor (modern Izmir, Turkey) Died: martyred in 202 in Lyons, France Canonized: Pre-Congregation

Friday, June 29 - Saint Paul the Apostle Jewish Talmudic student. Pharisee. Tent-maker by trade. Saul the Jew hated and persecuted Christians as heretical, even assisting at the stoning of Saint Stephen the Martyr. On his way to Damascus, Syria, to arrest another group of faithful, he was knocked to the ground, struck blind by a heavenly light, and given the message that in persecuting Christians, he was persecuting Christ. The experience had a pro-found spiritual effect on him, causing his conversion to Christianity. He was baptized, changed his name to Paul to reflect his new persona, and began traveling, preaching and teaching. His letters to the churches he help found form a large percentage of the New Testament. Knew and worked with many of the earliest saints and fathers of the Church. Martyr. Born: c.3 at Tarsus, Cilicia (modern Turkey) as Saul Died: beheaded c.65 at Rome, Italy Canonized: Pre-Congregation

We are given the story of the ministry of John the Baptist, called the Precursor or Forerunner of the Lord, with some variation of detail, in the three synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, as well as in the Book of John. Luke tells us of the birth of John the Baptist in a town of Judea, about six months before the birth of the Savior. The attendant circumstances of his parents, suggest the miraculous and wonderful. The New Testament tells us nothing of John’s early years, but we know that his pious, virtuous parents must have reared the boy with care, conscious always of the important work to which he was appointed, and imbuing him with a sense of his destiny. When John began final preparations for his mission, he was proba-bly in his thirty-second year. He withdrew into the harsh, rocky desert beyond the Jordan to fast and pray, as was the ancient custom of holy men. We are told that he kept himself alive by eating locusts and wild honey and wore a rough garment of camel’s hair, tied with a leathern girdle. When he came back to start preaching in the villages of Judea, he was haggard and uncouth, but his eyes burned with zeal and his voice carried deep conviction. The Jews were accustomed to preachers and prophets who gave no thought to outward appearances, and they accepted John at once; the times were troubled, and the people yearned for reassurance and comfort. So transcendant was the power emanating from the holy man that after hearing him many believed he was indeed the long-awaited Messiah. John quickly put them right, saying he had come only to prepare the way, and that he was not worthy to unloose the Master’s sandals. Although his preaching and baptizing continued for some months during the Savior’s own ministry, John always made plain that he was merely the Forerunner. His humility remained incorruptible even when his fame spread to Jerusalem and members of the higher priesthood came to make inquiries and to hear him. “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” - this was John’s oft-repeated theme. For the evils of the times his remedy was individual purification. “Every tree,” he said, “that is not bringing forth good fruit is to be cut down and thrown into the fire.” The reformation of each person’s life must be complete - the wheat must be separated from the chaff and the chaff burned “with unquenchable fire.” The rite of baptism, a symbolic act signifying sincere repentance as well as a desire to be spiritually cleansed in order to receive the Christ, was so strongly emphasized by John that people began to call him “the baptizer.” The Scriptures tell us of the day when Jesus joined the group of those who wished to receive baptism at John’s hands. John knew Jesus for the Messiah they had so long expected, and at first excused himself as unworthy. Then, in obedience to Jesus, he acquiesced and baptized Him. Although sinless, Jesus chose to be baptized in order to identify Himself with the human lot. And when He arose from the waters of the Jordan, where the rite was performed, “the heavens opened and the Spirit as a dove descended. And there came a voice from the heavens, Thou art my beloved Son, in Thee I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11). John’s life now rushes on towards its tragic end. In the fifteenth year of the reign of the Roman emperor, Tiberias Caesar, Herod Antipas was the provincial governor or tetrarch of a subdivision of Palestine which included Galilee and Peraea, a district lying east of the Jordan. In the course of John’s preaching, he had denounced in unmeasured terms the immorality of Herod’s petty court, and had even boldly upbraided Herod to his face for his defiance of old Jewish law, especially in having taken to himself the wife of his half-brother, Philip. This woman, the dissolute Herodias, was also Herod’s niece. Herod feared and reverenced John, knowing him to be a holy man, and he followed his advice in many matters; but he could not endure having his private life castigated. Herodias stimulated his anger by lies and artifices. His resentment at length got the better of his judgment and he had John cast into the for-tress of Machaerus, near the Dead Sea. When Jesus heard of this, and knew that some of His disciples had gone to see John, He spoke thus of him: “What went you to see? A prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written: Behold I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say to you, amongst those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:10-12). Herodias never ceased plotting against the life of John, who was not silenced even by prison walls. His followers now became even more turbulent. To Herodias soon came the opportunity she had long sought to put an end to the trouble-maker. On Herod’s birthday he gave a feast for the chief men of that region. In Matthew 14, Mark 6, and Luke 9, we are given parallel accounts of this infamous occasion which was to culminate in John’s death. At the feast, Salome, fourteen-year-old daughter of Herodias by her lawful husband, pleased Herod and his guests so much by her dancing that Herod promised on oath to give her anything that it was in his power to give, even though it should amount to half his kingdom. Salome, acting under the direction and influence of her wicked mother, answered that she wished to have the head of John the Baptist, presented to her on a platter. Such a horrible request shocked and unnerved Herod. Still, he had given his word and was afraid to break it. So, with no legal formalities whatever, he dis-patched a soldier to the prison with orders to behead the prisoner and return with it immediately. This was quickly done, and the cruel girl did not hesitate to accept the dish with its dreadful offering and give it to her mother. John’s brief ministry was thus termi-nated by a monstrous crime. There was great sadness among the people who had hearkened to him, and when the disciples of Jesus hear the news of John’s death, they came and took the body and laid it reverently in a tomb. Jesus, with some of his disciples, retired “to a desert place apart,” to mourn. The Jewish historian Josephus, giving further testimony of John’s holiness, writes: “He was indeed a man endued with all virtue, who exhorted the Jews to the practice of justice towards men and piety towards God; and also to baptism, preaching that they would become acceptable to God if they renounced their sins, and to the cleanness of their bodies added purity of soul.” Thus Jews and Christians unite in reverence and love for this prophet-saint whose life is an incomparable example of both humility and courage.

Fête-Dieu du Vermilion

Come and Celebrate the Centennial of the Diocese of Lafa-yette! Fête-Dieu du Vermilion, Eucharistic Boat Procession up the Vermilion River, will take place on the Feast of the As-sumption, Wednesday, August 15. All are invited to a Mass in Franch at 8 a.m. at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Abbeville to begin the day. Bishop Glen Provost of the Lake Charles Diocese will preside and give the homily. At the end of the Mass there will be a procession from Church with the Blessed Sacrament and a statue of Mary across the draw bridge to the old River Side Restaurant. At 10:00 a.m., 121 boats will embark in procession (one for each of the 121 parishes of the Diocese) and make their way up Bayou Vermilion to Lafayette. The boat procession will stop in Milton at Wawee’s at 11:35 a.m. for recitation of the rosary and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The flotilla will re-commence at 12:35 p.m. and continue upstream, arriving at Rufino’s in River Ranch at 1:40 p.m. for Rosary and Benediction. The boat procession will em-bark once again at 2:40 p.m. and arrive at Beaver Park at about 3:20 p.m. At 3:45 p.m. a foot procession with the Blessed Sac-rament and a statue of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary will leave the landing and process up University Avenue in Lafayette all the way to the Cathedral of St. John the Evan-gelist. Solemn Vespers will be prayed at 5 p.m. and Holy Mass will follow at 5:30 p.m. with Bishop Douglas Deshotel to con-clude the historic day. Confessions will be heard in mobile units at each of the stops along the way. Don’t miss this “once in a hundred years’ event!” Schedule your vacation day now and register your boat! For more information or to register a boat, visit our website at www.fetedieuduteche.org, visit us on Fete-Dieu du Teche Facebook, send us an email at fetedi-euduteche@gmail.com, or call (337) 394-6550.

O God, Master of this passing world, hear the humble voices of your children. The Sea of Galilee obeyed your order and re-turned to its former quietude. You are still the Master of land and sea. We live in the shadow of a danger over which we have no control: the Gulf, like a provoked and angry giant, can awake from its seeming lethargy, overstep its conventional boundaries, invade our land and spread chaos and disaster. During this hurricane season we turn to you, O Loving Father. Spare us from past tragedies whose memories are still so vivid and whose wounds seem to refuse to heal with the passing of time. O Virgin, Star of the Sea, Our Beloved Mother, we ask you to plead with your Son on our behalf, so that spared from the calamities common to this area and animated with a true spirit of gratitude, we will walk in the footsteps of your Divine Son to reach heavenly Jerusalem where a stormless eter-nity awaits us. AMEN. Composed by Bishop Maurice Schexnayder Second Bishop of Lafayette

CATECHISM CORNER

QUESTION: Am I obligated to attend Mass on Sun-day when I am traveling, or on vacation? What if I can’t find a Church? ANSWER: If someone is traveling, there is no Sunday Mass obligation - only if there is no Church within a reasonable distance. Every effort should be made to find a Church. There is now a website (www.Masstimes.org) which provides a list of Catholic Churches and their Mass times. A few years ago, Pope John Paul II issued a document called “Dies Domini” (The Day of the Lord). In it he reminded the Catholic faithful of the obligation to attend Mass “unless there is grave impediment.” The Pope goes on to write: “Moreover, pastors should remind the faith-ful that when they are away from home on Sundays they are to take care to attend Mass wherever they may be, enriching the local community with their personal wit-ness. At the same time, these communtiies should show a warm sense of welcome to visiting brothers and sisters, especially in places which attract many tourists and pil-grims.” The issue here is really rooted in minimalism, which is another kind of legalism. When a man is in love with his wife, he doesn't ask her how little he can do to express that love; he does all that he can. Similarly, in our rela-tionship with God, we should never seek to “get away with” as much as possible (a rather childish approach to both human and Christian living.) On the contrary, we should endeavor to demonstrate our love for Christ in as many concrete ways as possible, particularly by remem-bering Him on His Day! Are we minimalists when it comes to matters of our Catholic Faith? The answer is usually found in our reac-tion to sacramental preparation; our use of confession; our attendance at Mass on holy days of obligation, etc.

FEATURED CD OF THE WEEK

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VOCATION RETREAT FOR YOUNG MEN

WHEN: June 26-28, 2018

WHO: Young men, ages 15-25 WHERE: Community of Jesus Crucified

103 Railroad Ave., St. Martinville, LA COST: No Charge

REGISTER: www.Lafayettevocations.org or 337-261-5690

WHAT TO EXPECT

Quo Vadis Days (Where are you going?) is a time of recrea-tion, fellowship, prayer and discussion to help you explore our Lord’s call in your life. There will be priests, seminarians and other young men like yourself gathered together for these days.

Discover all the best Catholic content in one place.

Entertaining movies, enlightening programs,

inspiring talks and audio dramas,

and a great selection of popular e-books

All just a click away!

Parish Access Code: 7f573e

June 24: The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

Study: Reborn Study: Lectio: Eucharist, Session 3: Lamb of God

Read: Read-Aloud Book of Bible Stories

June 29: Solemnity of Saints Peter & Paul

Study: Lectio: Peter Watch: Saint Peter

Listen: Right Here, Right Now Listen: Lectio Divina

Listen: Truth and Life Audio Bible: Paul’s Letters Listen: Truth and Life Audio Bible:

Universal Letters

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