FURTHERING THE MISSION UPDATE:  July 7, 2020
 
Dear Friends,
 
We have just crossed the threshold of July and
now talk of the opening of school becomes more
prominent. We have a little more than a month
until our expected day of opening and I Know both
Schools are thinking hard and meeting often about
how we will open, what will be our procedures and
how this will affect school days ahead.  Opening the
Church building for worship was filled with details
and decisions that were in a way brand new for
everyone. I expect this to be the same for the
School year as long as the pandemic is with us.
Yet, I know our schools will remain a welcoming,
accessible and competent community dedicated
to sharing faith through the educational arts just
as they have been doing for the past 40+ years.
July also brings with it the issues of flash floods.
​
Just this week I joined with some of our parishioners
helping keep drains open during a particularly hard
extended rainstorm.  I really had wished I could have
gone to the beach this summer but I’ve had to
take my soaking during this summer rain to be
my substitute dips into the ocean.

Recently the Diocesan Racial Harmony Commission offered a statement with the support of Bishop Duca regarding working for racial understanding, and restorative reconciliation. You can find that statement on the parish website or by this link
Statement Racial Harmony Commission Diocese of Baton Rouge
I would encourage you to read it, reflect on the aspirations offered and consider the work that remains for all of us to do for the sake
of our neighbor.

To that end, I have been in conversation with Deacon Alfred Adams, who is deacon in the cluster parishes of Sacred Heart in Gramercy, St Joseph in Paulina and St Michael in Convent, to offer here a Racial Sobriety Workshop which is witnessing to ourselves and others that our thinking, feeling and acting reflects our commitment to seeing each person as a member of the same human family. During these times, such reflection in the light of the Gospel, can open up light for us to see better. My hope is to offer this in the months ahead. The Racial Sobriety Workshop has been offered in many parishes in our Diocese.

For the past years the parish has offered a variety of adult faith formation opportunities under the leadership of Mrs. Patsy Burgess and Mrs. Jarja Carville.  Despite the complicated issued caused as a result of the coronavirus, the fall plans are underway for some new programs. Look for details coming soon.

The parish Finance Committee recommended that the current budget 2019-2020 remain in place for the new fiscal year,
2020-2021 which we will do. I thank you who are so generous with your financial stewardship and appreciate your faith in the parish
ministry efforts which your stewardship supports. Those able to give financially to the Church, I encourage you to do so on line, or with the weekly envelopes or through bank draft or credit card. Those not able to give financially at this time; I only request your prayers and that you remain with the parish.

Remember, Daily Mass Monday- Friday is live streamed
from Church at 8:30am at our website; the 9:30am Sunday
Mass is too!  www.stjeanvianney.org
​
So, here is hoping that the month of July is remembered
as a blessing for us all.

God bless Fr. Tom

The next live stream will begin at

8:30am CDT
Wednesday, July 8
Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

THE LINKS ABOVE ARE ONLY FOR LIVE MASS STREAMS

Click here for previous masses and other Covid-19 resources

Here is  The Catholic Commentator » Home Page
 http://thecatholiccommentator.org/pages/?cat=12
​

Deacon Dan's Reflection
April 26, 2020

Michelle Reddinger,
​Social Ministry Coordinator
​Reflection
​April 30, 2020

Click here for Eucharistic Minister training program
Click here for Online Directory & Mobile App.
Click here for Volunteer Opportunities in
​ St. Jean Vianney Parish

MASS TIMES:
Please note: all masses are live-streamed in Facebook until further notice

The following mass times will resume in the future:
Saturday Vigil-4:00 PM
Sunday.-7:30, 9:30, 11:30 AM and 5:30 PM
Monday & Wednesday-8:30 AM
Tuesday & Wednesday-6:15 AM
Friday-8:00 AM
Holy Days Mass Schedule click here

GOING TO CONFESSION : WHAT TO DO DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES
 Many people are asking about lack of access to the sacrament of Reconciliation. The following may be of help and consolation to you.
 Act of Perfect Contrition: The Holy Father has recently drawn attention to the fact that, before Easter, many faithful go to Confession to meet with God again. “However,” he acknowledged, “many will say to me today: ‘But, Father, where can I find a priest, a confessor, because one can’t leave home? And I want to make peace with the Lord, I want Him to embrace me, that my Papa embrace me . . . What can I do if I can’t find priests?’”
“Do what the Catechism says,” the Pope stressed, “it’s very clear: if you don’t find a priest to hear your Confession, talk with God, He is your Father, and tell Him the truth: ‘Lord, I’ve done this, and that, and that .  . . I’m sorry,’ and ask Him for forgiveness with all your heart, with the Act of Contrition and promise Him: ‘Afterwards I will go to Confession, but forgive me now.’”
 “If you do all this,” Francis said, “you will return to God’s grace immediately. As the Catechism teaches,” he reminded, “you yourself can approach God’s forgiveness without having a priest at hand. Think: ‘it’s the moment!’ And this is the right moment, the opportune moment. An Act of Contrition well made,” Francis said, “will make our soul become white as snow.”
– Pope Francis, Daily Mass Homily, Friday of the Third Week in Lent,” 20 March 2020
While there is no set formula for making a Perfect Act of Contrition, a common one reads as follows: 
My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good,
I have sinned against You, whom I should love above all things.
I firmly intend, with Your help, to do penance,
to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin

Read more about making a Perfect Act of Contrition in the following article.  

Equipping the Family, Safeguarding Children

Coming to St. Jean Vianney the weekend of March 7/2, 2020

Safe haven Sunday is celebrating its first year of raising awareness throughout Dioceses and Parishes in the United States regarding the negative impacts of pornography on individuals, marriages, families and society.

Safe Haven is a weekend set aside by Dioceses and Parishes to directly address the harms of pornography in an appropriate way. Within the context of Mass, Dioceses and Parishes are able to provide teaching and resources that will support and protect individuals, marriages and families in making all homes a safe haven.
​
It is inspired by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ formal statement Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography, where they explain, “The use of pornography by anyone in the home deprives the home of its role as a safe haven and has negative effects throughout a family’s life and across generations.
Please visit the website https://learn.covenanteyes.com/safe-haven-sunday

Visit our sister sites.

Until further notice Masses will be:
1) live streamed in the St. Jean Vianney Catholic Church Facebook group, and

2) accessible for later viewing immediately after each Mass (click here)

Sunday Masses are live streamed at 9:30am
​Daily Masses are live streamed at 8:30am