The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15) falls on a Saturday this year. For this reason, the Bishops of the United States have removed the obligation to attend Holy Mass for the feast. While it is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation this year, it remains a great Holy Day in honor of Our Lady. For your spiritual benefit, Holy Mass for the feast of the Assumption will be celebrated in the two different forms of the Church’s Liturgy: on Friday, August 14, there will be a Vigil Mass celebrated at 5:30pm in the Ordinary Form (which you’re used to). On Saturday morning, there will be a Mass at 9:30am in the Extraordinary Form (in Latin, as it was before the Second Vatican Council). May our Mother Mary continue to help us to serve Our Lord faithfully that we may join her in praising Him forever in Heaven.
Are you or someone you know interested in joining the Catholic Church? Are you a Baptized adult Catholic who has never received the Sacrament of Confirmation? If you answered “Yes” to either of those two questions, contact St. Peter Parish Office to register for RCIA Classes. These classes (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) will begin in September. Spread the word! To get more information about the R.C.I.A. process, contact: Christine Campbell, the Director of R.C.I.A., 337. 536.9258, christine@saintpeterchurch.com or click here.
No longer “guess work,” Natural Family Planning (NFP) is an effective, scientifically based method of family planning that treats fertility as a normal, healthy process. The most common approach is the Sympto-Thermal Method which is based on changes in a woman’s cervical mucus, waking or resting temperature, and cervix. These observable signs change in response to the hormones of the menstrual cycle. It only takes seconds a day for a woman to track her fertility; then the couple interprets the chart and makes a decision based on their family planning intention. NFP works through periodic abstinence during the method-defined fertile time for couples who are avoiding a pregnancy. NFP can be used effectively throughout a woman’s entire reproductive life. Regular cycles are NOT required. NFP is NOT Calendar Rhythm.
Does it work? It can be highly effective for couples who are avoiding or achieving a pregnancy. Couples who are taught well, understand the method, are clear about their family planning intention, and carefully follow all the rules for avoiding a pregnancy all the time will experience a 98 to 99.9 percent effectiveness rate. Couples who occasionally do not follow all the rules for avoiding a pregnancy will most likely experience a pregnancy rate similar to the many artificial methods of family planning.
How do I learn? Effective use of NFP involves learning from a certified NFP Provider. The Diocese of Lafayette recommends two organizations: the Couple to Couple League and the North West Family Services, which provide several ways for women and couples to learn NFP.
Who can use NFP?
Couples who want to share responsibility for family planning
Couples who are trying to avoid a pregnancy
Couples who are trying to achieve a pregnancy
Women who want to understand their menstrual cycle
Women during all phases of their reproductive life: typical, long, or short cycles, after childbirth and discontinuation of hormonal contraception, while breastfeeding, and during premenopause
Benefits
Low cost
No harmful side effects
Highly effective for avoiding or achieving a pregnancy
Marriage enrichment and mutual understanding
Morally acceptable by all religious faiths
Self understanding
Appreciation of fertility and children
Fosters respect for and acceptance of the total person.
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen used to say often, “As goes the family, so goes society.” We do not need much explanation to see the truth of his words today. Because the Sacrament of Marriage is under so great an attack and Married Couples are greatly struggling, the moral fabric of society seems to be melting away before our very eyes. The fruit of this is seen in the great evils that are happening to the human person every day. We must return and hold fast to the Truth that Christ Jesus has revealed and that is safeguarded by His Church! This includes the Truth about the family, marriage, and human sexuality.
Natural Family Planning Awareness Week begins on Sunday, July 19 and goes to Saturday, July 25. This national educational campaign is sponsored by the United States Bishops. Everyone should know about Natural Family Planning methods and the teachings of the Church, which support their use in marriage. The dates of Natural Family Planning Awareness Week highlight the anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Humanae Vitae (July 25) which articulates the Catholic Church’s teaching about human sexuality, conjugal love and responsible parenthood. The dates also mark the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne (July 26), the parents of the Blessed Mother. For further information, you can go to: www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/nfp/nfpweek/index.shtml. This is one testimony among many: “We don’t just like natural family planning, we love it. It isn’t just achieving or avoiding pregnancy. It is really the way we live our life.” Let us open our minds and hearts to the gift of LIFE!
CCD PROGRAM——–TEACHERS ARE NEEDED FOR 3RD, 4TH, 6TH AND 7TH GRADES–
What is a Catechist (religion teacher)? A Catechist is an ordinary person who is extraordinary because he or she teaches as Jesus did. A Catechist is a sign of Christian hope in a world turned in on itself. A Catechist is an expression of the mission entrusted by Jesus to Gods’ people. A catechist is the ”good news” in flesh and blood in today’s humanity. A catechist is proof that someone is still wise enough to care about all the important things in life. A catechist is faithful to the past, open to the future, but especially dedicated to deepening the faith of the present generation. A catechist is the bible and the Church in human form. A catechist is St. Paul in modern disguise. A catechist is the gem who makes it possible for priests, sisters and religious education coordinators to sleep a bit better at night. A catechist is the backbone of the mystical body of Christ and the guarantee that the Bible will be printed tomorrow. A catechist is a person who makes Christ come alive to the child who never hears of Him at home. A catechist is the busiest person in the parish, who somehow finds time to do those important things which everyone else is too busy to do. A catechist is faith, hope and love attached to arms and legs, aches and pains, family duties and not enough time. A catechist is a person who has no time for himself, yet who finds enough time for other people’s children who need to hear about Jesus.
PLEASE PRAY AND CONSIDER ANSWERNG YOUR CALL BY TEACHING IN THIS YEAR’S CCD PROGRAM.
We are happy to welcome our new Pastor, Fr. Jason Vidrine to St. Peter Church in Gueydan. Fr. Vidrine is originally from Ville Platte. He was ordained in 2006 and has had pastoral assignments at Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic Student Center on the Campus of UL and Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Scott. We look forward to getting to know him. During this Year for Priests, we pray in a special way for him and all Priests. Welcome, Fr. Vidrine!
We hope that you will find this website helpful in knowing who we are and how we can help you. Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions or commments. God bless!
