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January

Every Thursday Memorial Mass

for the enrollees in the CLJ! Memorial Burse

January 5Epiphany of the Lord

January 12

Baptism of the Lord

January 19 Second Sunday in

Ordinary Time

January 26 Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

NEWSLETTERJanuary 2020 VOL. XLIII NO.55Come,

Lord Jesus!

Transformed by FaithWhat is faith? The Catechism of the Catho-lic Church tells us that faith is our response to God who reveals himself and wants to be our intimate friend (CCC 142). By faith we completely submit our intellect and our will to God. With our whole being we give our assent to God the revealer. Sacred scripture calls this human response to God, the author of revelation “the obedience of faith” (Ro-mans 1:5). To obey in faith is to submit freely to the word that has been heard, because its truth is guaranteed by God, who is Truth itself (CCC 144). Faith is a grace, a gift of God, a supernatural virtue infused by him. Before faith can be exercised, we must have the grace of God to move and assist us; we must have the interior help of the Holy Spirit, who moves the heart and converts it to God; he opens the eyes of the mind and makes it easy to accept and believe the truth (CCC 153).St. John tells us, “Whoever believes in the Son of God possesses that testimony within his heart” (1 Jn 5:10). Faith is a testimony of God revealing himself to us. St. Paul tells us that no one can believe that Jesus is Lord, that is, God, except it be given to him as a gift from the Holy Spirit (1 C or 12:3). Faith is a personal adherence to God: through faith we are united to God in Person and cling to him. We lean on him like the bride who comes from the desert “leaning upon her lover (Sg 7:5).Faith unites us to God himself and to the truth he reveals. Through faith we enter into a whole new world, the kingdom of God. Scripture says, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen" (Heb 11:1). Through this virtue we come in contact with the unseen, invisible world of God. Faith brings us into a new exis-tence, a new life. Faith leads to baptism and the new life of the Risen Christ. This new life

"The apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith." LuLuke 17:5

is what made St. Paul exclaim, “The life I live now is not my own; Christ is living in me” (Gal 2:20). Faith is an infused virtue that is part of the righteousness given us with sanc-tifying grace. Through faith we enter into communion with the living God who dwells in us. Faith is the proximate means of union with God because it immediately unites us to God who reveals himself. Faith is also the propor-tionate means to union with God because it opens us to receive all of divine revelation in all of its fullness. The whole of the spiritual life and outpour-ing of grace starts off with faith. Faith is the foundation of holiness inasmuch as all the other virtues, including the great-est of all which is charity, presuppose faith.Without faith it is impossible to hope or to love. Father Conley Bertrand

We are consecrated, that is, set apart as God’s sa-cred possession, by living according to the truth – reality as it really is and as revealed by God’s word. We separate ourselves from this world which is un-der the power of the evil one (1 Jn 5:19) by keeping before our minds the truth so that we are steeped in it and live by it. In order to get this truth into our minds and hearts, we meditate on God’s word regu-larly, as Psalm 1 encourages us, “Happy the man who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on his law day and night”. St. Paul advises us to “Let the word of Christ, rich as it is, dwell in you” (Col 3:16). He urges us to, “Devote yourself to the reading of Scripture” (1 Tim 4:13). We must also steep ourselves in the truth as it is embodied in the Person of Jesus, the Word, who is the source of all reality, of truth. As Jesus himself said, “I am the truth” (Jn 14:6). For the whole uni-verse, both visible and invisible, was created in and through him (Col 1:16). All truth, all reality, ema-nates from him and continues to exist in him. In him, who is The Truth, the fullness of deity resides in bodily form. Yours is a share of this fullness in him (Col 2:9). We must saturate ourselves in the truth of that divine Reality which is Christ as he gives himself for our consumption in the Eucharist. Jesus said, “I consecrate myself for their sakes now, that they may be consecrated in truth” (Jn 17:19).Jesus gave himself over to his Father in obedience to his will by enduring his passion and death. So the Father glorified him in the mystery of the Res-urrection. Thus, he became our food and nourishes us with the substance of the divinity, the quintes-sence of Truth. For Jesus promised, “Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me” (Jn 6:57).In return for giving ourselves over to God by dedi-cating ourselves to him in living according to the truth expressed by his word, God possesses us; he keeps us for himself and protects us from harm. This is what Jesus prayed for, “O Father most holy,

protect them with your name…guard them from the evil one” (Jn 17:11-15). God jealously guards those who are begotten of him in faith and who are consecrated to him by living according to his word. Consider these consoling words, “We know that no one begotten of God commits sin; rather, God protects the one begotten by him, and so the evil one cannot touch him. We know that we belong to God, while the whole world is under the evil one” (1 Jn 5: 18-19).Such is the power of our holy faith. It brings us to the state of original justice, that is, the state of Adam before sin.

Father Conley Bertrand

CONSECRATED IN TRUTH

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Ready for the Harvest?

Church Parish Representatives from the Diocese of Lafayette recently gathered as zealous workers for the harvest in the Kingdom of God. Participants received special training in evangelism in order to lead others to new life in Christ. We want all Catholics to live the highest life - the lifestyle of Come, Lord Jesus!. Our next workshop will be held in the Archdiocese of New Orleans on January 18. Schedule a workshop in your diocese and ignite active faith in your congregations through the spread of the Come, Lord Jesus! program.

Special Blessing of the Missionaries

Calvin James, Keynote Speaker Father Bertrand with Mary Parker, CPR Coordinator- 3 -

Carencro, LA: Margaret and Kent RozasCoteau, LA: Kirby Boutte Harvey, LA: Oren Breaux, Roz Hamilton, Lisa LingoniHouma, LA: Daniel Brien, Claire BrienLacombe, LA: Lauren Untt,Lafayette, LA: Anne TalbotLeesville, LA: Melody DowdenOpelousas, LA: Joy GuichetRagley, LA: Ethel LeBlancSlidell, LA: Carl CosbySt. Amant, LA: Harold Sheets, Edna SheetsVille Platte, LA: Maryann Fontenot, Terry Fontenot

Gretna, LA: ..... Deacon Jerry Labadot.....LeaderElaine Calvo, Alice Chivleatto, Marcia Helton, Peggy Foley, I.Emett Burnett, Jr., Barbara Burnett, Nancy Rau,Lynne Duvic, Sandra Duplantis, Jane Martin, Helen Williams, Kathy Danjean, Emily Gegenheimer, Geri MayvilleLinda Laborde, Bitsy HawsIota, LA: .....Molly Clayton.....Leader Mary Guillory, Natalie Leger, Joey Clayton, Cheryl Clayton Iota, LA: .....Michelle and Floyd Dupre.....LeadersAlisha Pousson, Delores PoussonIota, LA: ...... Mary Beth Miller.....LeaderMaryln LaFleur, Sherry Ardoin, Kirk Cart, Jackie Cart, Judy Burton, Martha SmithEgan, LA: .....Ramona LeJeune.....LeaderDenise LaCombe, Marilynn Leger, Nita Hebert, Rena Davy, Donald Davy, Leonard LeJeune, Linda RivereDaniel DelomeIota, LA: .....Frances Miller.....LeaderJillian Jones, Christina Regan, Karen LeJeuneIota, LA: .....Jude and Jessica LeDoux.....LeadersDoug and Lynette LaCombe, Stephen and Gail LeJeune, Jim and Judy BurtonLafayette, LA: .....John V. Soileau.....LeaderLori Babineaux, Nicholas Christopher Babineaux, Andrew Michael BabineauxSt. Amant, LA: .....Kim Heard.....LeaderCharlotte Delatour, Nikki Landry, Dewanna Babineaux, Bebe Landry, Julie Lato, Sheri Smith,

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November 2019 Gift Bags Received

Thank you for your generosity!

AbbevilleBakerBasileBaton RougeBayou VistaBell CityBerwickBig Lake Breaux Bridge BroussardBuda, TXCanktonCarencroCeciliaChackbayCoteauCow IslandCrowleyDelcambreDeRidderDiboll, TXDusonErathEstherwoodEuniceFentonForked IslandFranklin

Grand IsleGrand LakeGrand PrairieGretnaHarvey HendersonHoumaJeaneretteJeffersonJenningsJudiceKennerKinderLacombeLafayetteLake ArthurLake CharlesLeesvilleLiberty, TXLufkin,TXMarreroMauriceMetairieMidlandMireMorgan CityMorse

New IberiaOpelousasPierre PartPine PrairiePrairie RondeRagleyRayneRichardRiver RidgeSchrieverScottSlidellSugartownSulphurThibodauxVille Platte WashingtonYoungsville

Upcoming Events:

Jan 11-12 Outreach Campaign St. Benilde - MetairieJan 18 Church Parish Representatives Work-shop (Archdiocese of New Orleans)Jan 25 Morning of Reflection for Area Coordinators of the Lafayette DioceseFeb 1 Morning of Reflection- New Orleans Feb 1-2 Outreach Campaign Our Lady of LaSalette - SulphurFeb 6 Introduction Night - OLOL - SulphurFeb 8-9 Outreach CampaignSt. Jules - FranklinFeb 15-16 Outreach CampaignSt. Joseph - VintonMarch 21- Annual CLJ! ConferenceOur Lady of Fatima - Lafayette

Memorial Burse DonationsNOV 18- DECEMBER 16, 2019

Leila Luke Deslatte Jo Anne Durand Fredia Fontenot Verdye Chaze Gauthier Betty Bennett Hastings Jerry Listi Daniel J. Lorio, Jr. Regina Pirolozzi Daniel J. Territo, Sr. Ramona Marie Trahan Debra Lynn "Birdie" Victor

We're keeping our mail carrier very busy due to the high demands of Father Bertrand's commentaries as we enter Cycle A of the Liturgical Calendar.

Order your copy today!

Come, Lord Jesus!1804 W. University Ave.Lafayette, LA 70506

Non-Profit Org.US Postage

PAIDLafayette, LA

Permit No. 729

To member Gayle Hirschey of Baton Rouge, LA on the death of her mother, Verdye Chaze Gauthier.

To member Mary Batiste of Lafayette, LA on the death of her niece, Debra Lynn "Birdie" Victor.

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To the members of "Called By Name" group in Lake Charles, LA on the death of their member, Jo Anne Durand.

To member Sandy LeBlanc of Breaux Bridge, LA on the death of her husband, Larry LeBlanc (who was also a member).

To the members of "The Peacemakers" group in Slidell, LA on the death of their leader, Regina Pirolozzi.

To leader Della Dupuis of Henderson, LA on the death of her brother, Camile Blanchard.

J

To member Rita Courville of Henderson, LA on the death of her brother, Chester LaJaunie.

To member Laura Zuniga of Franklin, LA on the death of her sister, Leila Luke Deslatte.

To member Lynette Roberie of Ville Platte, LA on the death of her father, Jack Latour.

To member Fran Listi of Morgan City, LA on the death of her husband, Jerry Listi.

To the members of "The Lord's Gift" group in Ville Platte, LA on the death of their member, Fredia Fontenot.

To member Janice Bergeron of Metairie, LA on the death of her sister, Edith Perkins.

To leader Jane Sherman of Baton Rouge, LA on the death of her mother, Betty Bennett Hastings.

Condolences January 2020