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NEWSLETTERJune 2018 Vol XXXIV No.37

In our pursuit of a deeper relationship with our Lord, we strive for wisdom in fulfilling his holy will for our lives. Every decision either con-tributes to or impedes our growth in holiness. How can we be directed to live in wisdom, to make the best choices so that we please God and live successfully? Consider praying and meditating on the Book of Proverbs, one of the most intriguing books of the Bible, which compiles numerous short instructions for living an effective and righ-teous life .Identified as the author of most of the Book of Proverbs is Solomon, who asked God for wis-dom in his reign over Israel. Very pleased with this attitude, God granted his request. “Be-cause you have asked this and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but you have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold now I do according to your word” (1 Kings 3:11). The wisdom of God speaks to us from the proverbs. It cries out (Proverbs 1: 20) and delivers its purpose in instructing in what is right, just and fair. “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and under-standing” ( 2:6). It proclaims the many blessings obtained from the wisdom of God: knowledge and understanding (2:5) success (2:7) protection (2:8), peace (3:2), favor (3:4), health and vigor (3:8), as well as prosperity (3:10).

There are 915 verses in 31 chapters of Proverbs. Below are some of my favorites: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will keep your paths straight” (3:5-6). “With all vigilance guard your heart, for in it are the sources of life” (4:23). “My son, to my words be atten-tive...for they are life to those who find them, bringing health to one’s whole being” (4:20-22). “Survey the path of your feet, and all your ways will be sure” (4:26). “A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones” (17:22). “Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may eventually become wise” (19:20). “Many are the plans of the human heart, but it is the decision of the Lord that endures” (19:21). “Train the young in the way they should go; even when old they will not swerve from it” (22:6).“As iron sharp-ens iron, so one person sharpens another” (27:17). “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart” (27:19). “Blessed are those who always tremble before God, but those who harden their hearts fall into trouble” (28:14).

The Book of Proverbs reminds us that God concerns himself not just with the big events and circumstances of life, but in the simple and small details as well. May they lead us to closer union with our Lord in a life of joy and success in the eyes of God. Marianne Hebert, Outreach Administrator

June Every Thursday Masses for the enrollees in the CLJ! Memorial Burse

June 3rd The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

June 8th The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

June 10th Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 17th Eleventth Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 24th Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

by Father Conley Bertrand

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It is through prayer that we have access to the sacred dwelling place of God. It is through prayer that we can reach God and establish continuous contact with him. In this way, we can get in touch with the divinity that is hidden within us so that we can be transfigured into light, into God. Through prayer we open up our whole beings to the inva-sion of God who is light (1Jn 1:5). Thus he is able to purify us - even our bodies with its faculties and tendencies are cleansed and transformed through this light of divinity. The more often we can expose ourselves to this Divine Sun, the more we take on the qualities of light, purity and love. The key to this transfor-mation into God is extended and deep prayer. We must learn to look at God (contemplate) and gaze upon his loveli-ness at length. Then we will be able to understand and experience for ourselves these inspired words, “All of us, gazing on the Lord’s glory with unveiled faces (through contemplative prayer), are be-ing transformed from glory to glory into his very image by the Lord who is the Spirit (2Cor 3:18).The first step toward holiness is to be faithful to prayer, both informal and for-mal. To begin with, spontaneous prayer of the heart must constantly arise from within us. We need God. We crave God. Our welfare depends on our being con-nected to God who is a life-giving Spirit. We must respond to God’s love which brought us into existence and continues to sustain us this very moment. Every-thing we experience all day long reminds us of the God who constantly loves us. We respond by relating everything to him. Our good consists in constant interpersonal communion with him in joy, in sorrow, in thanksgiving, petition, love, adoration,

admiration, contrition etc. Each time we pray, even if it is simply asking God for something, we open ourselves to God’s transforming light. But these brief moments interspersed throughout the day are not enough to satisfy us! We need to prolong our union with God by arranging set and extended times each day - to say nothing about days of recollection and retreat. There we can keep God company and remain in his presence, as he repeatedly asked us (Jn 15: 1-10) for longer periods of time. Like Jesus, we can become absorbed in prayer (Mk 1:35), or spend the night in communion with God (Lk 6:12). The more divine love takes over our lives, the more habitually we will live in commu-nion with God and be transformed into his very image (Col 3:10).We begin our prayer in the company of Jesus who is always with us (Mt 28:20). We reflect upon his word and listen to God in the silent depths of our heart; then we speak to him and express our love and our needs. In time, these acts become more and more simple and intuitive. Our prayer becomes a lov-ing knowledge. If we are faithful, and persistent in prayer, God may eventually give us an experience of his presence. Moreover, he may draw us into the very life of the Trinity so that we begin to par-ticipate in that same loving knowledge that takes place within the Godhead between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is the beginning of eternal life (Jn 17:3) which is experienced in contempla-tive prayer. Translated into our lives, we become simple desire for God. Prayer becomes love. We begin to participate in the very aspiration of love within the Godhead. Indeed, prayer in its full development, shares completely in the very life of God.

The more perfectly we open up to God and share in his divine being through love, the more he takes possession of us and transforms us. At first we may not even perceive his presence - rather we experience darkness and aridity. But if we can hold still and persevere in patient endurance, the resulting purification of our faculties enables us to perceive God’s presence as light or consolation. We may also experience a quieting of our faculties, tranquility and peace. We are happily at one within ourselves and with God. His light is now reaching further into our inmost beings. Our wills, especially, are being taken over by God. See what God has prepared for those who love him! We will be like Stephen whose “face seemed like that of an an-gel” (Acts 6:15); we will be transfigured in light in anticipation of becoming like our Jesus “whose face shone like the Sun at its brightest: (Rev 1:16). Even now, on earth, we are called to begin to experi-ence what will take place in the end times when “the just will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom” (Mt 13:43).

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Anniversary Mass St. Augustine in Basile, LA

April 2018 Gift Bags Received

AbbevilleArnaudvilleBakerBasileBaton RougeBell CityBerwickBorger TX Breaux Bridge BroussardCarencroCeciliaChackbayCoteauDalhart TXDelcambreDeRidderDusonEltonErathEstherEstherwoodEuniceFranklin

Grand PrairieHarveyHoumaJeffersonJudiceKennerKinderKrotz SpringsKyle,TXLafayetteLake CharlesLeonvilleLoreauvilleMandevilleMarreroMauriceMetairieMireMorgan CityMorseNew IberiaOberlinOpelousasPierre PartPine Prairie

Prairie RondeRagleyRayneSchrieverScottSlidellSulphurThibodauxVille PlatteYoungsville

June 5Anniversary Mass... 6:00 p.m. Assumption of the Blessed Mother Franklin, LA June 9 Celebration of 40 Years of CLJ! in Diocese of Houma - Thibodaux.... 9:00 a.m. Sacred Heart....Morgan City June 13 Anniversary Mass.. 10:00 a.m. St. Margaret..Lake Charles June 26 Anniversary Mass.. 6:00 p.m. St. Genevieve..Lafayette October 9 Anniversary Mass... 6:00 p.m. St. Edwards ..New Iberia October 20Anniversary Mass... 10:00 a.m. New Orleans area

Mary Cedar presenting her testimony Jace Gyles extending an invitation to CLJ!in Erath at Our Lady of Lourdes

Steve Morgan leading a To Know Jesus Encounterin New Orleans at Our Lady of Divine Providence

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Adding to our NumbersNEW MEMBERS:Baton Rouge, LA: Taylor Hayden, Alex Dileo, Heather Termini Borger TX : David Myers, Patti MyersBroussard, LA: Diane Meche, Frederica Grace Banks Brenda JonesCarencro, LA: Patsy SonnierChackbay, LA: Marilyn PlaisanceCoteau, LA: Ricky ArmenterEunice, LA: Paula Miller, Lee EdwardsGray, LA: Jimmie DanosHouma, LA: Cathy Carlos, Mel BabinLafayette, LA: Beth RussellMorgan City, LA: Deborah Hymel, Lee Anne LandryOpelousas, LA: Kitty WyblePine Prairie, LA: Erica Landreneau FontenotRagley, LA: Danny and Selene LandryThibodaux, LA: Lisa Legleu

Returning MemberEunice, LA: Kristen Edwards NEW GROUPS:

Abbeville, LA: Carolyn Trahan .... LeaderDianne Forsythe, Artie Garbarino, Paul Trahan, Dewey WareRagley, LA: Arlene Bostick ....LeaderJanelle Bruce, Sharon Chisolm, Debbie Habetz,Margaret Sykes, Carde Thompson, Darlene WatsonVille Platte, LA: Sybil Vidrine.... LeaderBrandi Darbonne, Lisa Deshotel, Tim Donovan, Angie Donovan, Cheryl Fontenot, Peggy Fontenot, Voncille Fontenot, Shirlene VidrineMaurice, LA: Neysa Pourciau.... LeaderPat Campbell, Yvonne Campbell, Sarah DarbonneAlyce Doiga, Barbara Guidry, Patty Simon

NEW GROUPS (CONTINUED)Lafayette, LA: Tim Norby.... LeaderGene Callais, Charlie and Debbie Dupey, Natalie Harris, Michelle Perron, Marie NorbyVille Platte, LA: Jackie Vidrine.... LeaderMarlena Fontenot, Carroll FontenotJoEl Guillory, Barbara Vidrine, Emerella SoileauCarol R. Fontenot, Elizabeth FontenotLynn Tate DelhommeAbbeville, LA: Liz Dartez....LeaderReba Broussard, Linda Hollier, Jackie NashCherly Landry, Kim David, Cindy Morgan, Ferne Leblanc

We still have a few leaders that have notreturned their Update Sheet (green) that was sentto each leader at the end of March. Leaders, pleasereturn these sheets ..ASAP!

We welcome new groups forming at St. Pauland St. Joseph in Elton!

Everett Barrow William Caballero Bernice A. Dispenza Susie Arceneaux Gremillion Ida Kelly Hall Joan Harrell Glinden (Glen) Leger

APRIL 18-MAY 15 2018Memorial Burse Donations

Come, Lord Jesus!1804 West UniversityLafayette, LA 70506-2544

Non-Profit Org.US Postage

PAIDLafayette, LA

Permit No. 729 Condolences June 2018 To the members of “A Mustard Seed” group in

Morgan City , LA on the death of their member,

Carolyn S. Watson.

To members Louis and Patti Kelly of Baker, LA on the death of Louis’ sister, Ida Kelly Hall.

To member Catherine Bacon-Callahan of Washington, LA

on the death of her mother, Mrs. Alice B. McCelland.

To member Mildred Whipp of Opelousas, LA on the death of her daughter, Lisa Whipp Perrodin.

To member Gaston Dubrock of Bell City, LA on the death

of his wife, LeAnna Dubrock (also a member).

To member Brenda Soileau of Grand Prairie, LA on the death

of her husband, Brent Soileau.

June Eggart LepineCarla OlsenJohn Henry PerkinsLisa Whipp PerrodinOctavia Ledoux SansovichChris SteinWoodrow VidrineCarolyn S. Watson