April 9, 2023

Dear Parishioners,

I wish to thank everyone who contributed to our beautiful liturgies during Holy Week whether by decorating the church, washing the linens, singing in the choir, serving at Mass, or sponsoring an RCIA candidate, now a new Catholic. The dying and rising of Christ was very evident as we celebrated the deepest mysteries of our faith. His death and resurrection are also present in the lives of all believers who have been baptized into this sacred mystery.

Please continue to help welcome our new Catholics who were received into the Church at the Easter Vigil. Maria Barragan, Ruben Bautista, Mikelyn Bourgeois, Quintin Joshua, Jack LeBeau, Landon LeBeau, Sabrina Luke, Bill Lusk, Alexandra Rand, and Colton Torres are now one with us at the Eucharistic table. May their enthusiastic reception of their new faith help us to renew our own sense of gratitude in being chosen by God for membership in his family.

I will be off this Monday-Wednesday, April 10-12, visiting family and gathering with priest friends, so please watch over the parish while I am away. We will not have Mass on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning in my absence.

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, we are offering a short course on the Sacrament of ConÞrmation for any adult aged 18 or older who has not yet been conÞrmed and wishes to receive the sacrament this spring. The course is comprised of six sessions to be held at 9:00 a.m. on the mornings of April 16, 23, 30, and May 7, 14, & 21. Those completing the short course will be confirmed by Bishop Duca on May 28, Pentecost Sunday, at the 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral. Please call Wendy at the parish office for more information or to register.

Parishioners of Ascension of Our Lord Parish in Donaldsonville are celebrating their 250th Anniversary on Saturday, April 15, at a 4:00 p.m. Mass. The parish was established in August 1772 by Capuchin Franciscan priests under authority granted them by the King of Spain. Congratulations to Father Matt Dupré and parishioners and friends on reaching such an important milestone.

All are invited to our Divine Mercy Service from 3:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m., next Sunday, Divine Mercy Sunday, April 16, 2023. The service will include Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, praying of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, opportunity for Confession, and music.

Easter is the high point of the liturgical year for Catholics. We return to singing the Alleluia and the Gloria at Mass, we feel the cool drops of baptismal water during the sprinkling rite, and we participate in the new life that is so visible in nature this time of year. Our rebirth is a gift of the Holy Spirit resulting from our Lenten practice and Christs sacrificial love. I pray that the Holy Spirit may strengthen and renew our parish community throughout this coming year.

In Christ,
Father Matt