Last Sunday (October 9) as you noticed I was a ‘floton’. As I have for the past many years, I go to Port Neches, Texas to say Mass in French for the group, ‘Les Cajuns du Texas.’ Last Sunday, the weather was almost perfect, the spirit of the group in Port Neches was friendly and gracious and ‘La Messe en francais’ was most enjoyable and faith-filled. I thank Father Conley Bertrand for coming to say the 8:15 and 10:15AM Masses and Father Michael Arnaud for coming to say the 6:15PM Mass. I am so very grateful to these two fellow Priests for their kindness and generosity. As much as I do enjoy going to Port Neches for the French Mass, I do miss being here with all of you for the Sunday Masses.

Last weekend parishioners spoke before each of the Masses sharing their faith and their involvement here at St. Elizabeth Seton and inviting all of us to look forward to the Stewardship Fair this weekend. I applaud those who were so willing to stand before you the congregation and share their personal faith in Jesus and their devotion to our Church Parish. Those who spoke last weekend were: Connie Thibodeaux at the 4:15PM Mass; Cindy Comeaux at the 8:15AM Mass; Lisa and Kevin Prejean at the 10:15AM Mass and Jacob Venable at the 6:15PM Mass. I thank each of them and appreciate their commitment to sharing their love of the Lord. This weekend is the Stewardship Fair after all the Masses and I encourage you to open your heart and your faith to consider becoming more involved in some of the ministries, programs and activities that are part of St. Elizabeth Seton Church Parish. The Stewardship Committee has been diligently preparing for this weekend and I applaud their efforts, their planning and their challenge to us to become better and more faithful stewards of the god-given gifts, talents and blessings of our lives. May Stewardship become a way of life for us in all the dimensions of our lives: within our family, here at Church, and also in our neighborhoods, among our relatives and friends, and in the workplace. As the Lord blesses us, may we use and share our blessings for the honor and glory of God, for our good and for the good of others.

Since I became your Pastor in July 2012, I have consistently tried to encourage you to become readers of the Bible and to let the powerful and living Word of the Lord be part of your daily life. For several years, the weekly Bible homework has been in the bulletin. This weekend, the second reading of the Mass from the words of St. Paul to his protégé, St. Timothy, guides us to let the Scripture be our guide, our teacher and our strength. Paul writes to Timothy: “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

These two verses will be your Bible homework for this week, October 16-23. I ask that you read them often, not only silently but out loud. I have found that reading the words of the Bible out loud helps me to better hear the words, to understand them better and to let them fill my mind, my heart, my will and my actions. The inspired words of the Bible are to teach us, to guide us, to inspire us, to challenge us, to comfort us, to remind us of the truth of God, to give us strength and hope in our daily lives and to call us to a closer walk with the Lord so that the peace of Jesus fills our thoughts, our actions and our relationships.

One habit I have had for many years is to have a list of my favorite Bible passages and verses. I encourage you, if you have not done so, to begin making a list of your favorite passages. You can begin with Psalm 23, Psalm 25, Psalm 34, the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12; the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13; the Annunciation in Luke 1:26-38; the Magnificat of Mary in Luke 1:46-56; the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37, the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32; the words of St. Paul on love in 1 Corinthians 13; and my favorite verse in all of St. Paul’s letters, Philippians 4:13: “I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.”

My prayers, best wishes, love and gratitude to you and to your loved ones for who you are, for all you do for the Lord and all the good you do for St. Elizabeth Seton Church Parish. May our help always be from the Lord who made heaven and earth. Shalom.

Fr. Gary
Homework for the week of October 16 – October 22
Timothy 3:16-17