With the State of Louisiana entering Phase II of reopening and given the number of faithful attending weekend Masses, St. Patrick’s has dropped the 5:30 p.m. Saturday anticipated Mass, which was added only as a temporary measure.

The weekend Mass schedule is as follows, with the temporary Mass in italics:

Saturday, 4 p.m.

Sunday, 7:30 a.m.       Sunday, 8:30 a.m.          Sunday, 10 a.m.

The daily Mass time remains unchanged (7:30 a.m., Mon-Fri).

At the present time, St. Patrick’s is limited to 50% occupancy. However, to respect social distancing norms, only about 60 people can be admitted.

Please be aware that once capacity is reached, no further entry will be allowed. Please plan your attendance with the limited capacity and expanded Mass schedule in mind. Plan to be flexible. Plan to exercise patience and charity.

All Catholics remain dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. Those who wish to gather for the celebration of holy Mass, and who are otherwise healthy, may do so. If you are sick in any way, or have any kind of cough, you should remain at home. Those who have underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable to Covid-19 should follow the recommendations of health professionals.

St. Patrick’s Church has been and will continue to be sanitized according to recommended guidelines.

Since gathering guidelines strongly urge the use of face coverings, please wear the recommended face covering, at the very least as a sign of solidarity with those in attendance who are more at risk or whose worries and fears may be greater than yours. What you do for the least …

The weekend Mass schedule is as follows, with new, temporary Masses in italics:

Saturday, 4 p.m.          Saturday, 5:30 p.m.

Sunday, 7:30 a.m.       Sunday, 8:30 a.m.          Sunday, 10 a.m.

The daily Mass remains unchanged (7:30 a.m., Mon-Fri).

At the present time, St. Patrick’s is limited to 25% occupancy, or 50 people, respecting social distancing norms.

Please be aware that once capacity is reached, no further entry will be allowed. Plan accordingly. Plan to be flexible. Plan to exercise patience and charity.

To accommodate the size of our congregation, and only as long as necessary, two additional Masses are offered on the weekends, one on Saturday and one on Sunday, allowing congregants to spread out over more Masses. Please plan your attendance with the limited capacity and expanded Mass schedule in mind.

All Catholics remain dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. Those who wish to gather for the celebration of holy Mass, and who are otherwise healthy, may do so. If you are sick in any way, or have any kind of cough, you should remain at home. Those who have underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable to Covid-19 should follow the recommendations of health professionals.

St. Patrick’s Church has been and will continue to be sanitized according to recommended guidelines.

Since gathering guidelines strongly urge the use of face coverings, please wear the recommended face covering, at the very least as a sign of solidarity with those in attendance who are more at risk or whose worries and fears may be greater than yours. What you do for the least …

The weekend Mass schedule is as follows, with new, temporary Masses in italics:

Saturday, 4 p.m.          Saturday, 5:30 p.m.

Sunday, 7:30 a.m.       Sunday, 8:30 a.m.          Sunday, 10 a.m.

The daily Mass remains unchanged (7:30 a.m., Mon-Fri).

At the present time, St. Patrick’s is limited to 25% occupancy, or 50 people, respecting social distancing norms.

Please be aware that once capacity is reached, no further entry will be allowed. Plan accordingly. Plan to be flexible. Plan to exercise patience and charity.

To accommodate the size of our congregation, and only as long as necessary, two additional Masses are offered on the weekends, one on Saturday and one on Sunday, allowing congregants to spread out over more Masses. Please plan your attendance with the limited capacity and expanded Mass schedule in mind.

All Catholics remain dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. Those who wish to gather for the celebration of holy Mass, and who are otherwise healthy, may do so. If you are sick in any way, or have any kind of cough, you should remain at home. Those who have underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable to Covid-19 should follow the recommendations of health professionals.

St. Patrick’s Church has been and will continue to be sanitized according to recommended guidelines.

Since gathering guidelines strongly urge the use of face coverings, please wear the recommended face covering, at the very least as a sign of solidarity with those in attendance who are more at risk or whose worries and fears may be greater than yours. What you do for the least …

Dear St. Patricians,

The State of Louisiana entering phase one of reopening, St. Patrick’s Church may again open its doors for the celebration of holy Mass. At the present time, however, we are limited to 25% occupancy, or 50 people, respecting social distancing norms.

Please be aware that once capacity is reached, no further entry will be allowed. Plan accordingly. Plan to be flexible. Plan to exercise patience and charity.

To accommodate the size of our congregation, and only as long as necessary, two additional Masses will be offered on the weekends, one on Saturday and one on Sunday, allowing congregants to spread out over more Masses. Please plan your attendance with the limited capacity and expanded Mass schedule in mind.

The weekend Mass schedule will be as follows:

Saturday, 4 p.m.          Saturday, 5:30 p.m.

Sunday, 7:30 a.m.       Sunday, 8:30 a.m.          Sunday, 10 am.

The daily Mass remains unchanged (7:30 a.m.).

All Catholics remain dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. Those who wish to gather for the celebration of holy Mass, and who are otherwise healthy, may do so. If you are sick in any way, or have any kind of cough, you should remain at home. Those who have underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable to Covid-19 should follow the recommendations of health professionals.

St. Patrick’s Church has been and will continue to be sanitized according to recommended guidelines.

Since gathering guidelines strongly urge the use of face coverings, I am asking all who attend Mass to wear the recommended face covering, at the very least as a sign of solidarity with those in attendance who are more at risk or whose worries and fears may be greater than yours. What you do for the least … 

Yours in our Lord,

Fr. Guillory

 

Click here to read the May 2020 edition of the Acadiana Catholic.

St. Patricians,

Although the weather was gray and cold on Saturday, a fine crowd gathered, and we were able to celebrate Mass beautifully outside under the oak tree.

Sunday, though — Mother’s Day — was extraordinarily beautiful, and the faithful of St. Patrick’s gathered together for 8:30 and 10 a.m. Masses. It was good to see so many familiar faces, and to welcome many new ones from near and far, as we celebrated holy Mass.

Our prayers go out to all mothers, living and deceased, on this special day that honors them and the gift of life that they gave to us.

This past Wednesday, May 6, marked one year since I officially became pastor at St. Patrick’s. How blessed I am, and how grateful to God, that I was sent here to be your priest.

My love and prayers are with you all,

Fr. Guillory

 

Fr. Guillory will again offer Mass outdoors according to our normal Mass schedule: Saturday, 4 p.m.; Sunday, 8:30 and 10 a.m. Masses will be held under the oak tree in the parish hall parking lot (right across from St. Patrick Church).

If you decide to come, you are asked to wear a mask or some face covering, and to stay six feet away from other families. We have plenty of seating available, but you may wish to bring your own lawn chair.

There is no obligation to attend Mass this weekend, as Catholics remained dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays. However, last weekend’s Masses were beautiful, and it looks like we’ll be enjoying good weather again this coming weekend!

This afternoon, May 1, Bishop Deshotel granted permission for outdoor Masses this weekend. Please note that NO ONE IS OBLIGATED TO COME TO MASS, as the dispensation from attending Mass on Sundays is still in effect.

Fr. Guillory will offer Mass outdoors according to our normal Mass schedule: Saturday, 4 p.m.; Sunday, 8:30 and 10 a.m. Masses will be held under the oak tree in the parking lot (right across from St. Patrick Church).

If you decide to come, you are asked to wear a mask or some face covering, and to stay six feet away from other families. You may wish to bring a lawn chair.

Again, there is no obligation to attend Mass this weekend, but we are very happy to enjoy this accommodation.

The Lord is truly risen, alleluia.

For the past weeks, during Lent, the Church has refrained from crying out her joyful alleluia. Now that Easter is come, we again take up that triumphant refrain, alleluia, to profess our faith in the Lord’s Resurrection from the dead.

When doubt and worry creep into our hearts, His promised Resurrection is our hope. The Lord is truly risen, alleluia.

When fear and despair threaten to darken our lives, His rising from the dead confirms that Jesus is the Light that has come into the world. The Lord is truly risen, alleluia.

When death seems to have the final say, His victory over the grave makes plain that Jesus is the Word of the Father, the Word of life, the way and the truth and the life. The Lord is truly risen, alleluia.

* * * * * * *

The past few weeks have been a trying time for all of us, physically and emotionally. But for people of faith, there has also been a spiritual toll. For us Catholics, especially, being separated from the presence of the Lord Jesus in the sacraments has been a new, and somewhat bewildering, experience.

We long to be near Jesus, present in the holy Eucharist; to be near Jesus, present in the scriptures; to be near Jesus, present when His people are gathered in His name to offer worship to the Father in spirit and in truth.

A little while longer, and this, too, shall pass. What we should not let pass is this opportunity to enkindle a real holy longing in our hearts and souls for the things that are above. St. Paul admonished the Colossians about this, in a scripture passage that is used on Easter Sunday (Col 3:1-4):

If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ your life appears,
then you too will appear with him in glory.

Faithful disciples, our hearts filled with the joy and hope of Easter, we can then be heralds of the glorious things above, where Christ reigns, Victor, Ruler, Lord and Redeemer.

* * * * * * *

In St. Patrick’s news, everyone, so far as we know, is well. For that we thank Almighty God!

The work on our Eucharistic adoration chapel has been completed. We’re only waiting for a few pieces to come in: the new altar; the refurbished tabernacle; the refurbished lamp stand. Barring any delays, these things are expected sometime in May. Hopefully sometime in June we can bless the chapel and open it for use.

* * * * * * *

May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus! Christ is risen, alleluia. He is truly risen, alleluia.

With prayers for a blessed and happy Easter, Fr. Guillory

Blessed palms for Palm Sunday will be available for pickup on the front porch of St. Patrick Church, beginning Saturday, April 4 at 5 p.m. and all day on Palm Sunday, April 5.

You will also find there copies of the April edition of the Acadiana Catholic, together with a copy of Bishop Deshotel’s Easter Letter for 2020.

Here are some locally prepared resources for commemorating Holy Week at home:

Holy Week at Home 2020 from the Diocese of Lafayette.

Orders of worship for Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday that can be used  to commemorate these holiest days of the Church year at home.