October 23, 2016

The Stewardship Fair last weekend (October 15-16) was a great success. My thanks to all of you who took time and spoke to the various ministry coordinators and members of the Stewardship Committee to learn more about the programs and the ministries of St. Elizabeth Seton Church. Several parishioners mentioned to me how ‘they went out of their comfort zone’ and made a commitment to become more involved. One of the strengths of our Church Parish is that so many are already committed and participating in the different ministries of our Parish.  Many more are needed, especially in the liturgical ministries.  God has blessed all of us with many gifts, talents and assets.  May the Lord touch each of our hearts so that we can respond to the needs of our Parish and become more faithful, more devoted and more involved.  For stewardship to be a way of life, each one of us is invited to share ourselves more generously within our Church Parish, within our families, in our neighborhoods and in the community.

My special and personal gratitude to the Stewardship Committee for all their planning, their efforts in setting up and doing the Stewardship Fair!  The Committee are so diligent and so focused on their goal of ‘stewardship-a way of life.’  I appreciate all of the Committee members and I applaud them, in particular Gayle Landry, the Chair Person, for her leadership, her guidance and her perseverance.  The Stewardship Committee is helping all of us to strive to become more faithful and more zealous stewards as parishioners of St. Elizabeth Seton Church Family.  We are all blessed by the Lord; we all have so much to share with one another for the glory of the Lord and for the good of our Church Parish.

Several months ago, St. Elizabeth Seton Church Parish participated in the Diocese of Lafayette Centennial Campaign. The Diocese of Lafayette will observe its 100th Anniversary in 2018.  All the 121 Church Parishes of the Diocese will conduct a campaign to raise funds for the Diocese to provide better for the education of our Seminarians, to take care of the retired Priests, to support the work of Our Lady of Wisdom at UL and to help the poor, the needy and the elderly of our Diocese. Of the money raised in each Parish, 30 % will be returned to the Parish.  The goal for the Diocese for the Centennial Campaign is $42,500,000.  Thus far, the Parishes involved have pledged over $24,000,000.

Our goal as a Parish at St. Elizabeth Seton is $680,000.  As of now, you have pledged a total of $780,000.  My thanks to all of you who have been so helpful and willing. Of the amount pledged a total of $130,000 has already been given.  I encourage all who have pledged to do your best to follow through on your pledge so that we can do our part in supporting the Diocese of Lafayette Centennial Campaign. The amount pledged is from 160 families and individuals.  Your generosity is admirable and as your Pastor, I am truly grateful and appreciative.

The Centennial Campaign was so successful here because of the co-operation and the great work of the Committee of Parishioners who gave so much of their time and their efforts in their support of the Centennial Campaign. I thank all the members of the Committee and Kacee Thompson for all that they did in coming to many meetings, in calling and in visiting members of the Parish to explain the purposes of the Campaign.

In a few weeks, I will give a more detailed report from the pulpit on the Centennial Campaign and to ask those of you who have not made a contribution to do so.  I am hoping that many of you will consider making a gracious pledge. I know all of us want to provide the Bishop and the Diocese with financial support to provide for our Seminarians and our Retired Priests.

May the words of St. Paul be true for us: “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).  My prayers, best wishes, gratitude and love to you and to your loved ones, for who you are and for all you do for the good of the Lord and for the good of St. Elizabeth Seton Church Parish.

Shalom,
Father Gary

Homework for Week of Oct 23 – Oct 30
Luke 18:9-14