Father Paysse's Article

Dear Family in Christ,

The month of February begins the holy season of Lent, which starts the day after Mardi Gras, on Wednesday, February 17, Ash Wednesday. With the pandemic and the caution we must all take, it is no different with Ash Wednesday. This year when you come to Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Ash Wednesday, the priest or minister will not press his thumb into the dish of blessed ashes and make the sacred cross upon your foreheads, but will press a Q-tip into the ashes to mark your foreheads.  As you may have read in the Clarion Herald or elsewhere, this is one of the options presented to us. Thus, the Q-tip!
Apart from the mechanics of this year's Ash Wednesday, let us focus on grace-filled spiritual formation for ourselves and our families. Please be attentive to the many, many opportunities being presented during this Holy Year of St. Joseph and the Eucharist. We are beginning to unroll the programs through the bulletin, announcements at Mass, the OLL website and our Facebook page, in addition to regular e-blasts. We are excited and are encouraged that many of you will participate!

Also, we are looking for volunteers to assist with some of these programs or presentations. Don't be afraid or shy away, please. Father Cletus and the staff have been busy at work to secure a friendly-user binder with easy-to-follow steps to facilitate one of our many upcoming opportunities for all of us to grow deeper in love with Jesus and His Church.

If you are interested in possibly being a "Holy Year Facilitator" one or more times, please contact the rectory office at 985-643-4137, and someone will contact you. For those who say “no”, please at least make an inquiry to learn more about what you would be doing. Perhaps you would consider assisting with another person or friend. This is certainly acceptable. Do you feel better about stepping forward to help? We really, really need you!

This is an opportunity to be involved in the parish in a small way that will make a big impact in the lives of our sisters and brothers in Christ, not to mention the graces and insights Christ will afford you. So, please bring it to prayer, give it further reflection and take the leap to become a "Holy Year Facilitator".

Father Cletus, the deacons and I are all looking forward to ministering with you during this Holy Year of St. Joseph and the Eucharist!

In the joy of Good St. Joseph,

Sincerely in Christ, 
Very Reverend W.C. Paysse, V.F.
Pastor