The Need for Priests

Dear Parishioners:

Beware the Ides of March, the ancients told us. And Shakespeare the bard echoed that in his classic play, Julius Caesar. But today, March 15, the Ides of March, is not for usCatholics a day to beware, but rather this year, a day of rejoicing! We celebrate Laetare Sunday today. The Latin word Laetare means “rejoice”. It is taken from something we don’t use at Sunday Masses, but nonetheless has been a major part of our liturgy for centuries, the introit or entrance psalm. The first word of the Entrance psalm for today is “rejoice”, because Christ the Savior’s life-giving resurrection is closer at hand, even as we continue the Lenten observances. So find something, at Mass, but today, particularly away from Mass, to rejoice, and give thanks to God for it! This is the day the Lord has made. Let us be glad and rejoice!
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Father Cooper, who had just recently returned to helping us on the weekend, had to go down last week to cover for Fr. J.P. Grenham, the pastor of St. Thomas in Pointe a-la-Hache, who died unexpectedly of a heart attach on March 6. Father Cooper may continue to help down there until a pastor is appointed. He will be the celebrant of our vigil Mass this weekend. Once again, this shuffling of priests to cover emergencies calls to mind WHY we are praying the prayer for vocations on the Sundays of Lent, but also calls to mind the need for EVERY Catholic family to get serious about praying for vocations to priesthood in our Archdiocese. I do mean to be a bit of a scare-monger here. We’ve been very spoiled in New Orleans for a long time, with a multiplicity of Masses at many parishes for many years. That’s changing, and may continue to change, if we don’t have the priests we need to take care of the people we have. So I urge you, in the Lord, do your part by praying for vocations. But I challenge you to do more, particularly if you are parents of college age or young professional age sons. Pray for them to know and follow their God-given vocation in this life, but speak to them, particularly if they are single, to consider priesthood as a valid option—-that has YOUR blessing as a parent. That parental support is essential to nurturing the potential vocation to priesthood. I ca do a great deal as a promoter and recruiter for vocations, but I can’t do that part of it, as I am not your sons’ biological father. For the good of the Church, I urge you to prayerfully take up this ministry within your domestic church in your homes!

God bless you all,
Father Pat