We are half way through the summer vacation and I pray that you have had a safe, enjoyable, relaxing and refreshing few weeks. We all have our preferences about how we spend our vacation: some like the beach, some like camping, some like visiting friends and relatives, some like going to places that refresh and inspire us, some like to go to ball games (like me) and some like to just ‘be.’ May we all have some time during the second part of the summer to take good care of ourselves, to rest, to relax and to enjoy some of the Lord’s blessings and beauty.

For the past few months, St. Elizabeth Seton Church, along with thirty other Church Parishes, has been involved in the Diocese of Lafayette Centennial Campaign: Building our Future Together. The occasion of the Campaign is that the Diocese of Lafayette will celebrate its one hundred anniversary in 2018. There has not been a diocesan campaign for over fifty years. I have been part of a Committee of fifteen Priests meeting since the summer of 2015 to prepare for the Campaign. I am very committed to the project and the various parts of the Centennial Campaign: the education of our Seminarians, the care of our retired Priests of the Diocese, providing resources for Our Lady of Wisdom at UL Student Center and helping the many groups in the Diocese that care for the poor, the hungry and the needy. Part of the Centennial Campaign is that 30% of the money raised will come back to our Parish.

Each Parish in the Diocese was assessed an amount so that all the parishes of the Diocese would reach the goal of $42,500,000! That is a large amount of money to raise. I feel that if every parish and every Priest and Pastor along with thousands of Catholics in the Diocese do their part, we can reach the goal and surpass it. Our goal at St. Elizabeth Seton is $680,000. Through your generosity and through the diligence and hard work of the Volunteers, we have raised a total of $727,000 in pledges to be honored over the next five years. As your pastor, I am well pleased and am so deeply grateful to the 140 families and individuals who have contributed generously to the Centennial Campaign. I want to offer special appreciation to the group of Volunteers who were so willing to attend some planning meetings, to get out
of their comfort zone and visit parishioners and to make calls encouraging people to support the Diocesan Campaign. I
am personally thankful to Kacee Thompson who was the Chairperson of the Volunteers and to Karen Sonnier who was
the Secretary and recorder of the pledges.

When the Diocesan Centennial Campaign was being developed over the past year and the goals of each parish were
determined, I felt that we here at St. Elizabeth Seton would be able to achieve our goal of $680,000. After a few
months, I felt that if 250 families and individuals would support the effort, we would surpass our goal and have $800,000
in pledges. I again thank those who have made their pledges and I ask those who have not yet pledged to consider doing
so in the coming weeks. We will have pledge cards in the Church and also at the Parish Office. What we pledge and
give to the Diocese will be a source of blessing and of great financial resources for years and generations to come.
Personally I have been so blessed by the Diocese of Lafayette during the years I was in the seminary from 1956-1969
and during the 47 years I have been a Priest from 1969-2016. The last four years, I have been honored and so blessed
to be here at St. Elizabeth Seton as your Pastor. As the Lord has blessed us, may we give back gladly and generously
to help Bishop Deshotel build up the Kingdom of God in our Diocese.

Our Gospel reading this weekend is the famous teaching of Jesus on the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. Of all the
teachings of Jesus in the Gospels, the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son and the Good Shepherd are among the most
memorable and most powerful. Please read the story of the Good Samaritan and pray about it and discuss these verses
within your family. May the Spirit inspire us to live our daily lives as good Samaritans. My love, prayers, best wishes
and gratitude 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.

SHALOM! Fr. Gary

Homework for the week of July 10 – July 16
Luke 10:25-37