Spiritual InsightsReportsFormationProgram Updates

OctoberEvery Thursday Memorial Mass for the enrollees

in the CLJ! Memorial Burse

October 627th Sunday in

Ordinary Time

October 13 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 20 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 27

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

NEWSLETTEROctober 2019 VOL. XL NO. 52

Jesus saw a man named Matthew (called Levi in Mk 2:14) sitting at the custom post.He said to him, “Follow me, and he got up and followed him.”We would expect Matthew to have seen and heard Jesus before. Jesus’ words and person would have struck and impressed Matthew in a stirring way: He wanted more! And now he is being called to be with Jesus — to follow him wherever he goes. He could not get enough of Jesus and all he had to say. And now he is being invited and even being ordered to follow Jesus. He is privileged to become one of the twelve Apostles. Matthew must have been tired of deal-ing with money, of having to take money from people. He wanted more from life! And now he is being offered a marvelous opportunity.When Jesus said to Matthew, “Follow me,” that word empowered Matthew to execute that command. It would seem that this kind of word is called a “substantial locu-tion:” it produces substantially in the soul what is said. St. John of the Cross explains, “For as the wise man declares, God’s word and utterance is full of power (Eccl 8:4), and thus it produces substantially in the soul what is said. David meant this when he stated: “Behold, he will give his voice the voice of power” (Ps 68:33). God did this to Abraham. When he said: “Walk,

in my presence and be perfect” (Gn 17:1), Abraham immediately became perfect and always proceeded with reverence for God. We note this power of God’s word in the Gospel when with a mere expression, he healed the sick, raised the dead, and so on.” (Ascent, Bk 2 Chapter 31). As a result of the power of Jesus’ word, Matthew “got up and followed him.” We are left with the impression that Mat-thew was so excited about his call to be with Jesus and to proclaim the kingdom of God in his company, he had to celebrate the event with a banquet. He invited many of his tax collector friends as well as other “sinners” (non-observant Jews) so they could get to be with Jesus and his disciples. He was so filled with joy to be in the pres-ence of Jesus, he did not even think of the high income that he was forfeiting. Matthew could say with St. Paul: “to me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given [to me] to preach to the Gentiles [the nations] the unsearch-able riches of Christ…” (Eph 3:8 RSV)

What did you leave behind to joinCome Lord Jesus!? Are you as excited as Matthew for the priviledge of being called to be in the company of Jesus?

Father Conley Bertrand

Jesus summoned the twelve Apostles to send them on a mission. He gave them his own authority and power over the demons and to cure diseases. These were signs that God himself and his rule or reign were arriving. His pres-ence and power seen in these miracles gave evidence of this fact. The grace of the Kingdom is an environment the devils cannot live in. The Kingdom proclaims the truth of God’s love and forgiveness. The devils are liars by nature – they cannot speak the truth. The devils live in hate and are unable to love and forgive. Above all, the Apostles were sent to evangelize, to reveal the good news of the arrival of God’s presence and forgiving love. The Kingdom was beginning to be given. It will be fully given and revealed in the paschal mystery. Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrec-tion and the outpouring of the Spirit will bring it to com-pletion. We tend to take this wonderful gift for granted; or we keep it to ourselves. But we must be concerned about those who are not benefitting from its fruits. We need to make known the Kingdom and the revelation of God’s love and forgiveness, and the eternal life he gives – as far superior to our earthly goods. We must evangelize! Any degree of love in us calls us to this mission. The gospel is summoning you to engage in this apostolate. Jesus him-self is calling you to do this! On this occasion Jesus tells his Apostles to depend on God and the people they are evangelizing for their needs such as food and shelter and other provisions. He directs them to remain in one house to avoid distraction and competition. In times of peace and freedom from persecution that is how they are to conduct themselves. However, when they are in a hostile environ-ment, they must learn to provide for themselves and be on guard (see Lk 22:35-38).

The Apostles are to have a forward thrust in their mission. If someone rejects them and their message, they are to shake the dust from their feet as a sign of judgment and complete disassociation from these unbelievers. These will have to answer and face judgment for rejecting God’s love. The Apostles, however, are to move on to other areas to proclaim the good news, that is, to evangelize with joy God’s marvelous merciful love. This is what the Apostles did: they set out and went from village to village proclaim-ing the good news, giving evidence of God’s special power and love present in them by curing diseases everywhere. You also are being called! You must think beyond those under your immediate care. You are called to be on the lookout for those who are dissatisfied with what this life has to offer or even with their present superficial level of understanding and living their Catholic faith.Befriend them and tell them what our program is doing for you. Tell them how the Come, Lord Jesus! Program has deepened your prayer life and intimacy with Jesus; how your life has been spiritually transformed and filled with joy; how your increased knowledge of the scriptures has radically transformed your appreciation of the Mass and the Sunday Readings; how exciting your meetings are as you share with each other all those deep insights into the meaning of God’s life-giving word; how our holy Catholic faith, presented by the Catechism of the Catholic Church, has given you a new conviction and security in the Church Jesus founded. In short, how you have been lifted to a new level of being. Now you are living in a continuous inter-personal communion with the indwelling Trinity; you are living in a supportive fellowship with your members, and a new appreciation of the Communion of Saints already begun on earth….Surely, the person with whom you are sharing the superla-tive extent of your personal enrichment will want to visit your Come, Lord Jesus! small faith community. They will want to see and experience for themselves the marvelous effects of this Come, Lord Jesus! Program you have de-scribed to them.

Father Conley Bertrand

-2-

Father Bertrand and Father Randy Moreau, who presented “Gifts of the Holy Spirit”

Kellie Comeaux presented “Living the Beatitudes”

Pam Sonnier, Leadership Coordinator Jane Fournet, Cantor

Come, Lord Jesus! Leaders - St. Pius X

-3-

—4 —

St. Michael the Archangel - Leesville

Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church - Chackbay St. Joseph- Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada

Evangelizing for Come,Lord Jesus!

Leader training- St. Michael the Archangel-Leesville

Immaculate Conception - Jennings Father Susil - Immaculate Conception - Jennings

St. John the Evangelist - Jeanerette St. Charles Borromeo - Fenton

Breaux Bridge, LA: Kathleen Clark Coteau, LA: Annie MelanconErath, LA: Anne MayeuxFenton, LA: Melissa Murphy, Phyllis Fontenot Lindsey Compton, Renee ThibodeauxGrand Isle, LA: Lawrence Laiche, Roselyn Besson Harvey, LA: Mitzi LabadotKinder, LA: Nancy BurleighLafayette, LA: Pam France, Laurie Pfeffer, Phyllis DupuisLufkin, TX: Nick Beasley Mermentau, LA: Emma MyersMorgan City, LA: Gloria CanovaNew Iberia, LA: Gloria Dooley, Deacon John Sarkies Linda Sarkies, Terri Lancon Richard, , LA: Barbara MayeuxScott, LA: Fran WillinghamSulphur, LA: Anthony NocillaVille Platte, LA: Dana Broussard, Fannie SoileauYoungsville, LA: Debra Bodin Returning MemberBreaux Bridge, LA : Carla Boudreaux

August 2019 Gift Bags Received

Thank you for your generosity!

AbbevilleArnaudvilleBakerBasileBaton RougeBayou VistaBell City Breaux Bridge BroussardCanktonCarencroCeciliaCoteauDelcambreDeRidderErathEstherwoodEuniceEvangelineFranklinGrand Bois

Grand Isle New OrleansGrand Lake OpelousasGrand Prairie Pierre PartGrand Prairie, Alberta, CanadaHarvey Prairie RondeHenderson RagleyHouma RayneJefferson RynelaKenner SchrieverKinder ScottLafayette SlidellLake Arthur St. MartinvilleLake Charles SulphurLiberty, TX Ville PlatteMelville WashingtonMermentau YoungsvilleMetarie Milton Mire Morgan CityMorseNew Iberia

Slidell, LA: Sandra Montalbano - LeaderElizabeth Young, Deborah Guillory, Cyril (CJ) Miller, Philip Montalbano, Diane Summerlin, Lorine Chaupetta Lafayette, LA: Mona Izzo - LeaderOvide B. “Chip” Richard, III, David Koury Fenton, LA: Bonnie Waguespack -LeaderRodney Waguespack, Carl Johnson, Janelle Johnson, Beverly Cormier, Patricia Augustine, Stephanie Tarver, Dorthy Augustine, Jill Portie, Gail Buller Cankton,LA: John Morgan - LeaderHelena Montgomery, Angela Chapman, Peggy Thibodeaux

Alexandria, LA: Tracy Simpson-LeaderPat Tesada, Peggy Wilson, Michelle Tatum, Michelle Karan, Annette Curley, Kay Gaspard, Leslie MoranLisa Hardy

-5-

Patrick Joseph BenezechPeggy Ann Hebert BernardStephen BowenGracie BrasseauxLila Faye ChaissonAmy CounceAntonia Gonzalez deBaezJames Donald DidierJames D. Didier IIKenneth DommaIrene LeBlanc DronetCarol DucoteRandolph Faucheaux, Jr.

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

Non-Profit Org.US Postage

PAIDLafayette, LA

Permit No. 729

Condolences October 2019 To members of “Your Word is a Lamp for My Feet” group in New Iberia on the death of their member, Mike Broussard

To Area Coodinator and Leader Phyyllis LeBlanc of Erath, LA on the death of her mother, Irene LeBlanc Dronet.

To member Michelle Soileau of Ville Platte, LA on the death of her sister, Janie LaHaye.

To member Betty Giardina of Metairie, LA on the death of her brother, Jackie Roberts.

To member Alicia Robicheaux of Morgan City, LA on the death of her husband David Robicheaux..

Raphael GuidryDavid M. GuillotRamona Harris Eric “Todd” HebertJanet L. JacksonBertha MarksFrances McCullaJohn “Jay” McDonough, Jr.Dale MorreauBenjamin MorreauFrances Grace UffmanEileen WehnerStephen and Abby Young

AUG 23- SEPT 23, 2019 Memorial Burse Donations