Saturday - Anticipated 4 p.m. (organ & cantor) Sunday - 9:00 a.m. (organ, cantor & choir September - April);

11:00 a.m. (organ & cantor); 5:00 p.m. (organ & cantor) Monday & Wednesday: 6:15 a.m.

Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 5:30 p.m. Saturday - 8:00 a.m.

First Saturday: 8:00 a.m. followed by recitation of the Rosary

Fatima Votive Mass: 13th of the Month, May - October at 5:30 p.m.

Monthly Peace Mass: First Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. This Mass heeds Our Lady’s call to pray for world peace

and conversion of hearts.

The Sacrament of Penance

Saturday 3:00 to 3:55 p.m.;

Sunday 30 minutes prior to Mass;

First Saturday

7:30 to 7:55 a.m.

Monday & Wednesday 5:45 to 6:10 a.m.

Tuesday, Thursday & Friday

4:30 to 5:25 p.m.

The Sacrament of Baptism The Sacrament is celebrated on the third Sunday of each month, following the 11:00 a.m. Mass. Please contact the parish office before the baby is born for required classes. Sponsors are to be confirmed and practicing Catholics who attend Sunday Mass.

The Sacrament of Matrimony Arrangements are to be made with the Church office, if at all possible, at least ONE YEAR in advance. To avoid scheduling conflicts, all wedding dates must be confirmed with the Parish Administrator, who should be the first point of contact for the couple. Please visit our Parish Website to review guidelines, and details of paperwork and preparation requirements.

2319 Johnston St., Lafayette, LA 70503 Pastor: .................................................................. Rev. Msgr. Jefferson DeBlanc Parochial Vicar: .................................................................. Rev. Randall Moreau Deacon........................................................ Timothy Maragos & Randy Hyde Administrator: ........................................................................... Stephanie Supple Parish Secretary: ............................................................................ Mona Bouillion Receptionist: ...................................................................................... D D McElligott Bookkeeper: .................................................................................. Annie Governale Director of Music, Organist, Choir Master ...................... Keith D’Anna Bulletin Editor ................................................................................ Keith D’Anna Church Office: .................................................................................... (337) 232-8945 Church Fax: .......................................................................................... (337) 232-0323 School Office: ......................................................................................(337) 235-2464 Church Website: .................................................... www.fatimalafayette.org Office Hours ...................................... Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

MASS SCHEDULE

Sunday, august 15th - the assumption of mary into heaven

CONTACT US

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The Miraculous Medal and Saint Catherine Labouré X. Sister Catherine’s Family, Association of the Children of Mary,

the 1848 Revolution, and the Cross of Victory

Sister Catherine Labouré maintained regular contact with her family after she entered the Sisters of Charity in Paris. As it turned out, many of her siblings lived in Paris and this made it easier for them to visit one an-other. Her eldest brother Hubert made his career in the French army. Jacques was a wine merchant. An-toine was a pharmacist. Antoine lived in Paris, but eventually returned to Fain-les-Moutiers where he pur-chased the family home and looked after his father Pierre and his youngest brother Auguste who was crip-pled. (Pierre Labouré died on March 19, 1844 at the family farm in Fain-les-Moutiers.) Charles owned a res-taurant in Paris. Joseph was a bottle merchant. Pierre Charles was a merchant.

Tonine married Claude Meugniot. One of their sons, Philippe Meugniot, entered the seminary and was ordained a Vin-centian priest on May 22, 1869. Catherine’s sister Marie-Louise was also a Sister of Charity. However, in 1834, Marie-Louise left the religious order and became a teacher in Paris. She returned to religious life in 1845, receiving anew the habit at Enghien Hospice where Catherine was stationed. *

§ § §

The Blessed Virgin had entrusted Father Aladel with the mission to be founder and director of the Association of the Chil-dren of Mary. Groups sprung up throughout France and the Association itself was constituted in February 1840. Father Etienne, who had become superior of the two Vincentian congregations in 1844, appointed Father Aladel to be director of the Association. Blessed Pope Pius IX gave his approval. Father Aladel wrote the Manual of the Children of Mary in 1848.

§ § §

The year 1848 was a year of revolution in Europe. ** Archbishop Denis Auguste Affre of Paris died from wounds received during the disturbances of 1848. The revolution led to the downfall of King Louis-Philippe in February 1848 and the sub-sequent proclamation of a republic. Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, nephew of Napoléon Bonaparte, became President of the Second Republic (1848-1852). In 1852, Louis-Napoléon proclaimed himself Emperor and took the name Napoléon III. He ruled the Second Empire from 1852 to 1870.

§ § §

During the restless and revolutionary nineteenth century, the Cross was deeply rooted in the consciousness of French Catholics. People began erecting “calvaires, or wayside crosses, … by the thousands all over France, as if in riposte to the … blasphemies of the beginning of the century.” In 1826, a luminous cross miraculously appeared in the skies above the town of Migné, France, leaving an enduring memory among the population. A similar supernatural phenomenon occurred as the March 1917 Russian Revolution was gaining full traction. In Petro-grad (Leningrad in Soviet times and Saint Petersburg today), a large cross atop the Russian Orthodox Trinity Izmailovsky Cathedral became illuminated with an unknown light in the nighttime hours of March 12 while anarchy was taking hold of the city.

Surviving witnesses later asserted that in the surrounding darkness the cross on the cupola shone inex-plicably. And anyone who noticed it removed his cap and crossed himself. ***

These wonders that involved miraculous luminous crosses and ordinary roadside crosses are reminders of our redemp-tion in Christ Jesus and signs to steer away from violence and revolution. When the 1848 revolution unfolded in France, Sister Catherine experienced a vision of a monumental crucifix in the square of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. This Cross of Victory remains unrealized even today. Who knows? Now that the cathedral is being rebuilt after the tragic fire in 2019, will the Cross of Victory become a reality in the twenty-first cen-tury?

Next Week: Franco-Prussian War, Sacré-Coeur Basilica, Our Lady of Pontmain, and the Paris Commune

* René Laurentin, Catherine Labouré: Visionary of the Miraculous Medal, Paul Inwood, trans. (Boston: Pauline Books and Media, 2006). I have drawn extensively from Father Laurentin’s book in preparing this article. Unless otherwise indicated, quotes are from Lau-rentin’s book.

** Peter N. Stearns, 1848: The Revolutionary Tide in Europe (New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1974), pp. 1-9. *** Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, March 1917, The Red Wheel: Node III, Book One, Marian Schwartz, trans. (Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre

Dame Press, 2017), p. 573.

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14 Sat . 4:00 p.m. Anticipated: † Vivian Boudreaux, † Mary Catherine Bouvier, † Mrs. Beatrice Boustany, † Ashley Cormier, † Ison & Eva Fontenot, † Gerald & Alberta Gossen, † Edwina Smith Hernandez, † Amanda Claire Judice, Lynn Kallam Ditch, James Judice, † Anna Maria, † Mr. & Mrs. Ste-phen R. Moore, Sr., Mr. & Mrs. Frederick J. Forstall, Avis Moore Rupert, Ryan Robert Guilbeau, † Douglas Mistich, †

The Nugier Family, † Rosamaria Reyes-Silva, † Charles Blanchard, † Flossie L. Purpera, † Peter Tu Pham, † Souls in Purga-tory, † Matthew McLain; Living: Suzanne Sparks, Cathy Tra, Douglas Touchet, Celeste Gary, Michelle Rachelle Blanchard; Living & Deceased Members of: The Ison & Eva Fontenot Families, Michael & Fred Landry & Family, The Caillouet, Henry, Randazzo, Costanza, & Campos Families, The Judice, Kallam, Langlinais, & Hamilton Families 15 Sun. 9:00 a.m.: Fatima Parishioners / Pro-Populo 11:00 a.m.: † Charles Blanchard, † Clara Kopfler Conley, † Faye Marie Gesser, † Anna Maria, † Parrish Ladd Cline, † Evangeline Grace Breaux, † Col. Thomas N. & Lena B. Ritchie, † Employees, † Flossie Purpera; Living: Mary Rieu Tran, Josh-ua Dinh; Living & Deceased Members of: The Ison & Eva Fontenot Families 5:00 p.m.: † Ison & Eva Fontenot 16 Mon. 6:15 a.m.: † Elroy Perrien 17 Tue. 5:30 p.m.: † Ison & Eva Fontenot 18 Wed. 6:15 a.m.: † The Nugier Family 19 Thu. 5:30 p.m.: Living & Deceased Members of: The Ison & Eva Fontenot Families 20 Fri. 5:30 p.m.: † Parrish Ladd Cline 21 Sat. 8:00 a.m.: † Ison & Eva Fontenot 4:00 p.m. Anticipated: † Faye Marie Gesser, † Gerald & Alberta Gossen, † Edwina Smith Hernandez, † Amanda Claire Ju-dice, Lynn Kallam Ditch, James Judice, † Anna Maria, † Mr. & Mrs. Stephen R. Moore, Sr., Mr. & Mrs. Frederick J. Forstall, Avis Moore Rupert, Ryan Robert Guilbeau, † The Nugier Family, † Rosamaria Reyes-Silva, † Flossie L. Purpera, † Charles Blanchard, † Matthew McLain; Living:Emily Dinh, Elijah Dinh, Douglas Touchet; Living & Deceased Members of: The Catho-lic Daughters of America, The Ison & Eva Fontenot Families, Michael & Fred Landry & Family, The Quebedeau Family, The Judice, Kallam, Langlinais, & Hamilton Families 22 Sun. 9:00 a.m.: Living & Deceased Members of: The Caillouet, Henry, Randazzo, Costanza, & Campos Families 11:00 a.m.: Fatima Parishioners / Pro-Populo 5:00 p.m.: † Ison & Eva Fontenot, † Anna Maria, † Marc Judice, † Lou Ella Blanchard, † Lelby Blanchard, † Col. Thomas N. & Lena B. Ritchie, † Employees; Living: Alicia Kreamer, Lewis Landreneau, Paige LaFleur, Joseph Billeaud, Kurt Deshotels, Noah Dinh, Sarah Dinh; Living & Deceased Members of: The Ison & Eva Fontenot Families

In today’s Gospel we hear Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth, bestow the gift of two blessing son Mary when she greets her. Eliza-beth blesses Mary not only because she believes that Mary is the mother of the Lord, but also because she recognizes that Mary has complete faith in God’s promise. When Elizabeth prophetically pronounces Mary “blessed...among women” and proclaims that the fruit of Mary’s womb is blessed, she

uses the same term that Jesus uses to bless people in the Beatitudes. Good stewards recognize the Spirit-driven love and courage that inspired Elizabeth’s hospitality toward a young, unmarried, pregnant woman and the honor Eliza-beth bestowed upon Mary who would ordinarily be shamed for bearing this child. In what ways can we extend the blessings we receive in the Eucharistic celebration to others in order to honor them and offer them God’s hospitality?” Financial Information for the weekend of August 7/8 was not available at time of printing. Stewardship for August 7/8 and August 14/15 will be reported in the August 22nd Parish Family Bulletin. Thank you for your understanding and patience. Please remember to continue to support your parish during the hot summer months. Utility bills are especially high during this

time and attendance at weekend Mass de-clines due to families being out of town for vacation. Thank you for your generous sup-port of our parish.

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exposition of the blessed sacrament chapel of the little shepherds

The Adoration Chapel of the Little Shepherds in Knight Hall is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The following days & hours are in need of additional adorers:

Monday at 10 a.m. & 3 p.m., Tuesday at 11 a.m., 12 Noon, 2 p.m. & 3 p.m.

Wednesday at 2:00 p.m., Thursday at 2:00 and urgent need for 3:00 p.m. on Thursday

Please consider committing to an hour listed above. Call the parish office during regular business hours or email DD at office@fatimalafayette.org.

Many thanks to those who spend time in prayer with the Lord present in the Blessed Sacrament.

prayer for hurricane season

O God, Master of this passing world, hear the humble voices of your children. The Sea of Gal-ilee obeyed your order & returned to its former quietude. You are still the Master of land & sea. We live in the shad-ow of danger over which we have no con-trol: the Gulf, like a pro-voked & angry giant, can awake from its seeming lethargy, over-step its boundaries, in-vade our land & spread chaos & disaster. During this hurricane season we turn to you, O loving Father. Spare us from past tragedies whose memories are still so vivid and whose wounds seem to refuse to heal with the passing of time. O Virgin, Star of the Sea, Our Beloved Mother, we ask you to plead with your Son on our behalf, so that spared from the calamaties com-mon to this area and animated with a true spirit of gratitude, we will walk in the footsteps of your divine Son to reach heav-enly Jerusalem where a stormless entity awaits us.

August 17 Faculty Meeting August 17 Safe Environment Training August 17 School Pictures August 18 School Pictures August 20 School Mass August 21 Bingo

School is off to a great start! Mark your cal-endar for the evening of August 21, 2021 for the Fatima Family Bingo. All are welcome to come and support the school and enjoy good food, great prizes and a fun time with the Fatima family!

red bird ministries Come join us for a fun-filled “Roaring 20’s” themed fund-raising event to support Red Bird Ministries and the families we serve. Red Bird Ministries (RBM) is a non-profit, pro-life, pro-family, Catholic grief support ministry serving individuals and cou-ples who have experienced the loss of a child. We help ordi-nary families who have been given an extraordinary cross to carry. The Soiree is sure to be the bee’s knee! Sponsors and their guests are invited to enjoy live music by Jet Seven, dine on award-winning chef cuisine, participate in fun activities, shop our Benefit Boutique Pop Up, and so much more. We need your support because Red Bird Minis-tries is a pioneer - paving the way locally and na-tionally! There are no other Catholic-specific grief support programs that have been developed. RBM is the only grief ministry providing universal resources and tools to the church and its members. This ap-proach allows families to work through their grief in a Catholic integrated approach.

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Today, Catholics and many other Christians celebrate the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This significant feast day recalls the spiritual and physical departure of the mother of Jesus Christ from the earth, when both her soul and her body were taken into the presence of God. Venerable Pope Pius XII confirmed this belief about the Virgin Mary as the perennial teaching of the Church when he defined it formally as a dogma of Catholic faith in 1950, invoking papal infallibility to proclaim, “that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever-Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.” His Apostolic Constitution “Munificentissimus Deus” (Most Bountiful God), which defined the dogma, contained the Pon-tiff’s accounts of many longstanding traditions by which the Church has celebrated the Assumption throughout its history. The constitution also cited testimonies from the early Church fathers on the subject, and described the history of theological reflection on many Biblical passages which are seen as indicat-ing that Mary was assumed into heaven following her death. Although the bodily assumption of Mary is not explicitly rec-orded in Scripture, Catholic tradition identifies her with the “woman clothed with the sun” who is described in the 12th chapter of the Book of Revelation. The passage calls that woman’s appearance “a great sign” which “appeared in heaven,” indicating that she is the mother of the Jewish Messiah and has “the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” Accordingly, Catholic iconography of the Western tradition often depicts the Virgin Mary’s assumption into heaven in this manner. Eastern Christians have also traditionally held Mary’s assumption into heaven as an essential component of their faith. Pius XII cited several early Byzantine liturgical texts, as well as the eighth-century Arab Christian theologian St. John of Damascus, in his own authoritative definition of her assumption. “It was fitting,” St. John of Damascus wrote in a sermon on the assumption, “that she, who had kept her vir-ginity intact in childbirth, should keep her own body free from all corruption even after death,” and “that she, who had carried the creator as a child at her breast, should dwell in the divine tabernacles.” In Eastern Christian tradition, the same feast is celebrated on the same calendar date, although typically known as the Dormition (falling asleep) of Mary. Eastern Catholic celebration of the Dormition is preceded by a two-week period of fasting which is similar to Lent. Pius XII, in “Munificentissimus Deus,” mentioned this same fasting period as belonging to the traditional patrimony of Western Christians as well. The feast of the Assumption is always a Holy Day of Obligation for both Roman and Eastern-rite Catholics, on which they are obliged to attend Mass or Divine Liturgy.

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Knights of Columbus News Our Lady of Fatima Council 3470

WHY YOU SHOULD BECOME A KNIGHT

In 1882, Father Michael J. McGivney gathered a small group of parishion-ers in St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Connecticut. His purpose was to estab-lish a group of men, united in their faith, and to pro-vide for Catholic families in times of need. This was the beginning of the Knights of Columbus.

Guided by the principles of charity, unity, and fraternity, members of the Knights of Columbus work to overcome the hardships that people face in their parishes and com-munities. We are a growing organization — nearly 2 mil-lion members — and for over 130 years, we have commit-ted to overcome the challenges of the need for food, shelter, warm clothing and financial security, as well as provide aid for widows and orphans in our local commu-nities. Joining your local council of the Knights of Columbus can change your life. As a Knight, you have the opportunity to strengthen your parish, give back to your community, and grow in your faith. Councils conduct many programs that support your parish and community. But joining your local council does not mean that you need to sacri-fice quality time with your family. In fact, volunteering an hour here or an hour there with your family can make an enormous impact in your life and in the lives of others. Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to men 18 years of age or older who are practical (that is, practic-ing) Catholics in union with the Holy See. This means that an applicant or member accepts the teaching authority of the Catholic Church on matters of faith and morals, aspires to live in accord with the precepts of the Catholic Church, and is in good standing in the Catholic Church. For more information on becoming a Knight of Colum-bus at Fatima, contact Conrad Chapman at 257-0590 or stop by the KC Hall on meeting night. Fatima’s Knights meet at 6:30 p.m. the 2nd Monday of every month at our KC Hall at 515 Rena Drive. For information on renting the KC Hall for your special events, please contact Dionne Pastor at 257-3135.

Spend a weekend away from the cares and distractions of everyday living. Attend a Catholic Engaged Encounter Weekend. The weekend is open to any engaged couple wanting to prepare for a deeper more meaningful life together in a marriage recognized by the Catho-lic Church according to its Church

law. Upcoming weekend dates are September 17-19, and November 12-14. For cost of weekends, oth-er dates, and to learn more, visit our website at www.ceelafayette.org or contact Paul & Carolyn Trahan at 337.254.8947 or cee.trahan@gmail.com. A Weekend of Discovery, a Lifetime of Love. Mar-ried couples, do you want to turn your good mar-riage into a GREAT mar-riage? Worldwide Marriage Encounter is a week-end for married Christian couples who value their relationship and desire a richer, fuller life togeth-er. Attend a Marriage Encounter weekend and learn the tools needed to keep your marriage strong. Some Weekends at this time are Virtual, but some are in-person with social distancing be-tween the attending couples and the team lead-ers of the Weekend. In-person Weekends are held at a retreat center, or a church facility. The emphasis of Worldwide Marriage En-counter is on communication between husband and wife, who spend a weekend together away from the distractions and the tensions of every-day life, to concentrate on each other. It’s not a retreat, nor a marriage clinic, nor group sensitivity. It’s a unique approach aimed at revitalizing Chris-tian Marriage. This is a time for you and your spouse to be alone together. To rediscover each other and together focus on your relationship for an entire weekend. Every marriage deserves that kind of attention! The mission of Worldwide Marriage En-counter is to proclaim the value of Marriage and Holy Orders in the Church and in the world. WWME is faithful to the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching that marriage is a covenant that exists between one man and one woman. Any reference to marriage or couple made by WWME is in this context. For more information or to register for a Weekend, go to: wwme.org.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 16 - St. Roch

French noble who early developed a sympathy for the poor and sick; reported to have been born with the image of a red cross on his breast. Orphaned at age 20, he gave his fortune to the poor, and became a mendicant pilgrim; may have been a Franciscan tertiary. While on pilgrim-age Roch encountered an area afflicted with plague. He stayed to minister to the sick, and affected sev-eral miraculous cures, usu-ally by making the sign of the cross over them, but

contracted the plague himself. He walked into a forest to die, but was befriended by a dog. The dog fed him with food stolen from his master’s table, and Roch eventually recovered. When Roch returned to Montpellier, France, he was arrest-ed for being a spy. He languished in jail for five years, never mentioning his noble connections, cared for by an angel until his death. Born: 1295 at Montpelier, France Died: 1327 at Montpelier or Angleria, France of natural caus-es

TUESDAY, AUGUST 17 - Blessed Nicholas Politi

Born to the nobility, an only child and born to aged parents. Received a good cultural and religious education. He was a pious child with a devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and contemplation of the Passion of Christ, and was early drawn to a life consecrated to God. Wed at age 17 in an arranged marriage; the wedding was a crisis point in his discernment of a vocation, and he fled to become a lay monk with the Basilian monas-tery of Santa Maria Del Rogato. He retired to become a cave hermit on Mount Calanna, Ar-

caria, Sicily. He lived a life of severe asceticism, but returned to the monastery of Rogato every weekend to go to Confes-sion and receive Communion. Nicholas had a reputation as a miracle worker, and some incidents record his connection to the miraculous:

• When the water used to wash him at birth was thrown out, a spring began gushing up from where it hit the ground.

• Even as a newborn, he refused to nurse or eat on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, beginning a self-imposed fast his first week on earth.

• As a boy, he could drive wolves away from the sheep by making the sign of the cross at them, and could heal both humans and sheep through prayer.

• When he decided to flee his wedding, an angel ap-peared to help him sneak out; the angel would reap-pear to warn him whenever his family sent guards to bring him home.

• When he was fleeing his parents to the cave that would become his home, he was fed along the way by an ea-gle, and obtained water by striking a rock with his staff.

• The eagle sitting at the entrance would later let him know he had reached the correct cave.

• During his flight from the wedding, Satan came to him in the form of a wealthy merchant, and tried to con-vince him to return to a worldly life and earthly pleas-ures; Nicholas prayed for strength, and Satan vanished.

• An angel gave him a warning of his own impending death so that Nicholas could make his way to the mon-astery for his final Confession, final Communion, and a final evening of prayer with his Basilian brothers.

Born: 1117 in Adrano (Aderno), Catania, Sicily, Italy Died: at dawn on August 17, 1167 in Arcaria, Sicily, Italy

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19 - Saint John Eudes

Farmer’s son who at-tended the Jesuit col-lege at Caen, France at age 14. Joined the Con-gregation of the Orato-ry of France. Studied at Paris and Aubervilliers in France. Priest. Minis-tered to plague victims. Missionary and preach-er, working well over 100 missions. Worked against Jansenism. Es-

tablished seminaries. Founded the Congregation of Jesus and Mary Eudists on March 25, 1643 to promote virtuous secular parochial clergy not bound by vows, but dedicated to improving the clergy through seminaries and missions; due to opposition by Oratorians and Jansenists, he never obtained papal approval. Founded the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity who worked for the welfare of penitent women. Au-thor of the liturgical devotion of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Born: November 14, 1601 at Ri, Normandy, France Died: August 19, 1680 at Caen, Normandy, France Canonized: May 31, 1925 by Pope Pius XI

the saints - our extended family in heaven

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Our Weekday Mass Schedule has changed. The new schedule is listed below.

Monday - 6:15 a.m. Confessions begin at 5:45 a.m.

Tuesday - 5:30 p.m. Confessions begin at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday - 6:15 a.m. - Confessions begin at 5:45 a.m.

Thursday - 5:30 p.m. Confessions begin at 4:30 p.m. Friday - 5:30 p.m. Confessions begin at 4:30 p.m.

Saturday - 8:00 a.m. Confessions begin at 7:30 a.m.

THERE WILL NO LONGER BE A 5:30 P.M. MASS ON WEDNESDAY

Purchase your Lourdes Foun-dation Spiritual SongFest tick-et(s) online at www.LourdesFoundation.com to benefit the children of Aca-diana for $35/seat - general admission. The event will be

filled with faith-inspired testimonies, stories and musical per-formances by JB Saax & Friends, Shawn & Lance Band (Shawn Carter and Lance Strother), and Grammy-nominated Sweet Cecilia at the Vermilionville Performance Center, 300 Fisher Rd., Lafayette on Thursday, September 2 at 7 p.m. Proceeds will benefit healing initiatives for the children of Aca-diana at Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s and Children’s Hospi-tal. Call 337-470-4610 for more information or email Lourdes-Foundation@fmolhs.org.

the church on angels

Taken from Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Catholic Doctrine

As the twentieth century drew to a close, there was an upsurge of pop-ular interest in angels. Although having some elements of a fad and in some cases reflecting New Age preoccupations, it dealt with im-portant matters of religious belief. At the same time, many people re-jected the idea that there are such beings as angels. Setting aside scriptural testimony and religious doc-trine, they dismissed this age-old belief as naïve and mythological; the testimony of the Bible was treat-ed simply as literary convention; on the whole, to believe in angels, much less practice religious devo-tions to them, was considered by such persons childish and unsophisticated. How should Catholics view this matter? Their guide is the Church’s teaching authority. The existence of these free, personal beings was taught by the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215: “We firmly believe and profess without qualification that there is only one true God . . . creator of all things visible and in-visible, spiritual and corporal, who, by his almighty power, from the very beginning of time has created both orders of creatures in the same way out of nothing, the spiritual or angelic world and the cor-poreal or visible universe.” How many and what kinds of angels there are fall in the realm of speculation. Doubtless there are myri-ads on myriads of them, each its own species. We know that early in their existence some of these pure spirits chose to remain in loving submission to God while others rejected that. Those who did were thereby ushered into heaven’s beatific vision, while those who abused their freedom sinned, became evil, and thereby became denizens of, and recruiters for, hell. The word “angel” designates the good spirits’ divine commission: to be envoys sent to help humanity. Scripture is replete with references to these spiritual guardians. Angels are said to convey God’s direc-tives to humanity and to protect them (cf. Gn 24:7, 48:16; Ps 33:8, 90:11-13, 120:20-21; Mt 18:10), and to bring human petitions before God (cf. Tob 12:12; Rv 8:2-4). “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent for service, for the sake of those who shall inherit salva-tion?” (Heb 1:14).

To be continued in next week’s bulletin

Do you know someone who is interested in be-coming a member of the Catholic Church? Are you interested in learning more about your faith as

a practicing Catholic? Registration for 2021-2022 RCIA Classes is now taking place. The first class begins in two weeks on Sunday, August 29th from 6 to 8 p.m. in Knight Hall. Registration forms can be found on the Fatima website (www.fatimalafayette.org.) Call the parish of-fice during regular business hours for more details.

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Sacred Heart Enthronements Call the Parish Office to schedule your Sacred Heart Home Enthrone-ment. Promoters go into the home to conduct the Enthronement, which fol-lows a 9 day period of pray-er by the family.

Prayer for Cancer Patients

A statue of St. Peregrine, pa-tron of cancer patients, is made available to go into the homes of those diagnosed with cancer. This statue of St. Peregrine was acquired from a convent in the city of Lille, northern France. The statue was hand-painted by nuns in the mid 1900s. Call the parish

office to get on the roster.

Prayer Calendar for Priests

Monday, August 16 Rev. Matthew Hebert Tuesday, August 17

Rev. T. J. Hebert Wednesday, August 18 Rev. Gregory Heslip, LC

Thursday, August 19 Rev. Matthew Higginbotham

Friday, August 20 Rev. Godwin Imoru

Saturday, August 21 Rev. Salinger Istre

Sunday, August 22 Rev. Thomas James, SVD

Send the names of those who have left the church to St. Monica Sodality, c/o St. John Cantins Parish, 825 N. Carpenter Street, Chicago, IL 60622-5499. The So-dality will include your loved ones in their prayers and sacrifices. When all other efforts fail, the only thing left to do is pray and sacrifice. Consider joining the St. Monica Sodality. Writing to the above address will give you information on how to do so and the requirements for membership.

The Blessing of the Unborn Child follows the Sunday 9 & 11:00 a.m. Masses

the 1st weekend of the month.

come, lord jesus

Mondays 6:30pm (WOMEN) - DD McElligott, 319.8866 Tuesdays 6:30pm (WOMEN)

Email: Stef.Buchholz1@gmail.com Thursdays 6:00 am (MEN) - Joe Wolf, 349.2645

6:00 am (MEN) - Deacon Tim Maragos, 298.5516 Fridays 1:00 pm - Jennifer Connolly, 288.4386 Saturdays 8:00am - Anne Pesacreta, 739.5903 First Saturday - 9:00 a.m. after Mass & Rosary

Parish Representatives Jill Jordan or DD McElligott - 337-319-8866

united in faith - visionaries for Fatima’s future

On Wednesday, July 21, 2021, the Steering Com-mittee of Fatima parish-ioners and/or school par-ents met for the first time in the 11 month process where they will serve as the “steering wheel” in creating our new and comprehensive parish pas-toral vision. We would like to introduce to you the members of your Parish & School Steering Commit-tee volunteers. Over the next year you will be invit-ed by the Steering Com-mittee to join them in

team meetings, listening sessions, and at a parish summit to assist and lead the committee in developing our Parish/School Vision Plan. Katie Heard Patti Judice Emily Babineaux Daniel Kedinger Claire Bailey Keith Kishbaugh Stuart Billeaud Stephen Kramer Aaron Breaux Meredith Lalonde Erol Catalan Madalyn Maragos Jared Cocke Austin Milke Lindsey Collins Stephen R. Moore Ethan Davidson Abbie Nicolosi Mallory Gauthier Joshua Pellerin Kay Gautreaux Beth Resweber Christopher Hebert Doris Tatford Dee Stanley Please pray the success of this important parish process . In addition, watch closely for more information over the next year in the bulletin, on our webpage, and through school and parish emails and the parish Facebook page.

PARISH ORGANIZATIONS AND INFORMATION

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Engaged Couples Attend a Catholic Engaged Encounter Weekend. The weekend is open to any engaged couple wanting to prepare for a deeper more meaningful life together. For more information contact Paul & Carolyn Trahan at 337.254.8947 or 337.898.9257 or cee.trahan@gmail.com.

Natural Family Planning Natural Family Planning Courses are held in conjunction with marital prep. For more information, contact the Parish Office during regular business hours.

Reclaim Sexual Health Catholic Recovery Program: reclaimsexualhealth.com (online help 24/7)

Porn Addiction Support Group for Men:

Weekly meetings are held for one hour and fifteen minutes. Strict confidentiality is observed. A confidentiality statement is signed by each prospective member of the group. Call and leave a confidential message at 337.945.3995 for more information.

Healing Hearts Weekly meetings for women whose lives have been affected by porn or sexual addiction of a loved one.

Must sign confidentiality statement.

Call 337.404.6113.

Unplanned Pregnancy

Call 1.800.256.7222 for free confidential counseling regarding keeping or placing your baby.

PARISH ORGANIZATIONS ARE SUSPENDED OR

MEETING VIRTUALLY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!

SESSIONS OF “COME, LORD JESUS!” ARE

EITHER MEETING IN PERSON, VIA ZOOM, OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH.

SEE PAGE 9 FOR A SCHEDULE.

Women’s Group “WOMEN OF GRACE”

(Contact Stephanie Supple at the Parish Office

for upcoming events!)

Mommy Meals Outreach to new moms

Mercy Meal Team

Outreach to the sick

St. Gemma Food Bank Outreach to the needy

Mary’s Mothers

Formation for mothers of school age children

Catholic Daughters 3rd Thursday, 6 pm

Knights of Columbus

1st Thursday, 7 pm

Sts. Joachim & Anne Society 2nd Tuesday - Rosary/Social

Fatima Mercy Works

Monthly outreach to needy

6th through 8th grade YOUTH FORMATION

(Contact Stephanie Supple

for more information)

Young Women of Grace and Young Warriors

THE CHURCH - SEXUALITY Project Rachel

A post abortion healing and recon-ciliation program for those suffer-ing the negative effects of an abor-tion experience. Individual sessions are offered where one can receive the healing grace of God through a 9-10 step healing program. Take the first step and call 337.261.5598.

Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat A Rachel’s Vineyard Weekend Re-treat is an opportunity for any man, woman, couple, grandparent, sib-ling, or anyone who struggles with the emotional or spiritual pain of abortion. Retreats begins at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and concludes at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. For more in-formation please call 337.261.5598.

Project Joseph (for men suffering after an abortion)

In honor of the year of St. Joseph, the Office of Pro-Life Apostolate has begun planning the Diocese of Lafa-yette’s first Project Joseph Retreat exclusively for men. This ministry offers men the opportunity to heal after an abortion. Studies have shown that women are not the only ones who suffer from the detri-mental effects of abortion. Men are deeply affected as well, although many remain in denial and want to bury the feelings. Some may have initially felt relief after their partner’s abortion but now experience regret and remorse. If you or someone you know would like to attend a Project Joseph Retreat, please call 337.261.5598. We are happy to speak with you and prepare you for up-coming retreats.

PRO-LIFE APOSTOLATE