Wednesday, June 7, is a memorable day in my life and a day of great blessing! By the grace of God, I was ordained a Priest on June 7, 1969 at my home parish of St. Francis Regis Church in Arnaudville by Bishop Warren Boudreaux. The seeds of my vocation came from my Pastor, Father Daniel Bernard, my parents, the Marianite Sisters who were my teachers and the Seminarians, especially my cousin, Dan Schexnayder. Since the third grade, I became interested in the Priesthood and I entered the Seminary in August 1956 as I began high school. For six years, I studied at Immaculata Seminary on the Breaux Bridge highway from 1956-1962. In August 1962, I went to study at Theological College at Catholic University in Washington, DC. I completed my junior and senior years of College and one year of graduate school in Philosophy in May 1965. For the next four years, I studied Theology until I graduated in May 1969 with a STL degree (comparable to a Master’s Degree).
My first assignment after Ordination was as an Associate Pastor in New Iberia at St. Peter’s Church where Bishop Boudreaux was Pastor. I was so blessed to be an Associate at St. Peter Church for six years until April 1975 when I was assigned to be Pastor at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Scott. After four years in Scott, I was assigned to be Pastor at St. Landry Church in Opelousas in 1979. Ten years later in the summer of 1989, I was transferred to St. Edmond Church in Lafayette where I stayed for 13 years (the longest time I was in one parish). In November 2002, I was assigned to be Pastor of St. Michael Church in Crowley and to be Chancellor at Notre Dame High School. From St. Michael in Crowley, I was assigned to be your Pastor here at St. Elizabeth Seton Church beginning on July 1, 2012. For the past five years, I have been so blessed and honored to be your Pastor and to be a fellow parishioner as we have served, worshipped and praised the living God as we have sought to be good stewards of the gifts and blessings of the Lord.
As we pray for one another, I ask your prayers these coming few days, especially on Wednesday, the 48th Anniversary of my Ordination to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. As I often pray and reflect on my life and on the many years of being a Priest, I am amazed, I am in wonder and I am in profound gratitude to the Lord for his graces, his blessings and his presence in my life and in being a Priest for the past 48 years. The years have been busy, graced, fulfilling, challenging, humbling, educational, comforting, hectic, serene, reassuring and passionate. My desire to be a Priest in the example of Jesus Christ, the great High Priest, is as strong and as passionate today as it was before I was ordained. My body is older of course; the 48 years of priestly ministry have been so formative and my heart is more understanding and more compassionate. I thank the Lord for the five years that we have prayed, served, shared, ministered and honored the Lord our God for the abundance of his goodness and for his generous providence. Your kindness, your faith, your friendship, your acceptance, your hospitality and your generosity have blessed me and made my years at St. Elizabeth Seton so enjoyable, pleasant, exciting and energizing.
This Sunday is the Feast of Pentecost! As we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, may we welcome his presence in our lives as the Spirit fills us with our unique gifts, talents, blessings and charisms. May the Spirit enable us to know and to appreciate our gifts, and to know and appreciate the gifts that others have been given. One of the most important verses in our readings for the Feast of Pentecost is: “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” (1 Corinthians 12:7) The gifts we have are to be shared within the Body of Christ, the Church as the family of God. Each one of us is blessed and each one of us has much to offer the community. Our gifts are different, diverse and important for the building up of the Church. As we share together, we all grow in our relationship with the Lord and with one another as members of Christ.
My prayers, gratitude, best wishes and love to you and to your loved ones, for who you are and for all you do for the Lord and for the good of St. Elizabeth Seton Church Parish. May the days of summer be restful, peaceful, safe and refreshing. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day during your outings, vacations and trips.
SHALOM!
Fr. Gary
Homework for the week of June 4 – June 10
Mark 12: 28-34
