My Cup Overflows

       Three days ago, two of my best friends got married.  It was one of the most joyful occasions of my life.  I have known them both for a while, the groom since 2003 and the bride since a couple year after that.  Over these last couple of days, I've been trying to process it all.  I know weddings are supposed to be joyful occasions, but what made this wedding so different?  What made this wedding so special?  Why am I finding it hard to express how overwhelmingly joyful I am?

Em and I love a good pun!

     Friendship.  This is what makes the difference.  The people that got married are my friends.  They have played an enormous role in my life.  I met Philip at a time when I really needed friends.  I had had a conversion, which caused me to lose a lot of friends.  I needed companionship, I needed support in living the Christian life, I needed to be loved.  Philip, along with others, filled that role.  I have known Emily for a while, but it wasn't until I began working with her at my first priestly assignment that I really got to be friends with her.  She quickly became like a sister to me.  We are both hilarious (we love puns!) and love to have a good time.  Philip has challenged me to consider ideas and positions that I would normally overlook.  Emily has helped me to get to work when I need to, and also helps me not to take myself too seriously.  They have both helped me to grow in many ways.  As hard as it is to say, I have also helped them.  As a friend, and as a priest, I have guided them in different ways throughout their lives.  Philip has recently recounted to me a time during college when I asked him if he was doing ok.  Admittedly, I don't recall that interaction, but he says it was a big moment for him, and he is thankful.  In my years at Wisdom, I had several real conversations with Emily, mostly about guys.  It was awesome to see their relationship develop, for them both to finally find the one, and to help prepare them for marriage.  On the night they got engaged they had some friends over at Phil's parents' house, and I was able to bless them and their engagement.  A few days later on my birthday, they asked me to preside at their wedding.

My sweet birthday cod (card) asking
me to preside at their wedding.

     That idea of friendship extends beyond just the amazing couple.  Through them so many people were brought together.  Another priest friend preached the homily for the Nuptial Mass (amazing!).  During the homily I got to sit, enjoy, and look out.  Of course I got to look out at Phil and Em as they listened attentively.  But I also got to look out beyond them.  It filled my heart with inexpressible joy to look out and to see so many people that I love so dearly.  I saw many families that have taken me in as one of their own, some as a friend of their child, others as a priest.  I saw many people that I've worked with and have become close to.  I saw people who I meet with regularly for a book club.  I saw people who's marriages I've witnessed, who's babies I've baptized, people with whom I've celebrated and mourned.  I saw my parents, my brother priests, and so many others who challenge me to be more generous, who challenge me to be holy.  C.S. Lewis writes about friendship in his book, The Four Loves.  He writes about how the love of friends is not exclusive.  In fact, he says that people become more interesting, and friendships deepen if you expand the group.  Philip brings out something in me that only he can bring out.  Emily brings out something in me that only she can bring out.  When they are not around, that part of me lies dormant.  I have loved being introduced to more people, including more people in our friend group through Philip and Emily.  Several people made the remark to me and others after the wedding that they want to be friends with us because they love what we have!  In this authentic growth, our friendships deepen, and we grow, we become more truly who we are in the process.

Incensing the altar during the preparation of the gifts.

     The thing about all of these people and this idea of friendship is that it is real!  One of the most memorable ideas is in the section on friendship from The Four Loves is when C.S. Lewis distinguishes the love of friends from intimate love by saying that lovers stand facing each other and gaze at each other, into each others eyes, whereas friends stand side by side and gaze together at some common thing.  Friendship can be based on any common interest, but the deeper, the more meaningful that toward which friends look, the deeper, the more meaningful the friendship.  This is why my friendship with Philip and Emily is so wonderful.  It is based on God.  That is the foundation.  That is the common interest.  He is the common goal toward Whom we are striving.  This was captured in a strikingly beautiful picture from their wedding.  Our entire life should look like this picture.  All three of us, facing the same direction, facing the Lord.  My love for them is so deep and real because they help to keep me focused on Him.  They demand that I am a good friend, they demand that I am a good Catholic, they demand that I am a good priest!  By the way they live their lives, they help me to stay on the straight and narrow path that leads to life.

     Another thing that has amazed me about the wedding is how quickly this beautiful couple began living the sacrament.  Each sacrament has an outward sign that points us to the inward reality.  In baptism, for example, we wash with water symbolizing the inward reality of sin being removed from the soul.  In marriage, the outward sign is the couple, the people themselves.  They are to be, in their love for God and for one another, a sign to the world of God's love.  They became this sign in a real way when they exchanged their vows.  They lived as this sign by their attentiveness at Mass.  They lived as this sign by their focus on the Lord with and for each other.  I know they lived as this sign well because of the many people I have heard comment on it.  People have said it was the most beautiful, the most prayerful wedding they've ever been to.  People expressed sorrow at not having friends that live out the faith like this couple and their friends.  I know they lived as this sign because they told me that their wedding Mass was like a retreat for them!  May they always continue to live as a sign to the world, a world so desperately in need of God's love.

     In thinking about writing my reflections on the wedding, I kept going back to verses from Scripture that speak of God's abundant goodness.  The title I chose is from Psalm 23.  I also think of the quote I used for my prayer card when I was ordained a priest.  I chose Psalm 116: 12-13, which reads: "How can I repay the LORD / for all the great good done for me? / I will raise the cup of salvation / and call on the name of the LORD."  How do I repay the Lord and my friends for their goodness to me?  I live my life well.  I can only repay the Lord and my friends by living my vocation well, by being a good priest.  That is what the Lord asks of me.  That is what my friends need from me.  That is what will bring my and many other souls to heaven.  Lord, I thank you for the many many blessings you have lavished upon me.  I thank you for my friends, for my family, and for my faith.  I thank you for the great gift you have given me in calling me to be your priest.  Help me to repay you by raising the cup of salvation and calling up on your name!

Holy Thursday 2018

Today, was an unexpectedly emotional day.  If I had to sum it all up in a few words, I'd say, "I love being a priest."

Today is Holy Thursday, the day in which Catholics celebrate the end of Lent, and the beginning of the Easter Triduum, the holiest three days of the year.  It is also the day in which in dioceses around the world, priests come together to celebrate the Chrism Mass with their bishop.  At this Mass, priests renew the promises they made at ordination.  In the evening, each parish has the first Triduum liturgy, the Mass of the Lord's Supper.

I began the day as I normally do, with an hour of prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.  I then did some office work before I had to get ready for the Chrism Mass.  Just before Mass and the renewal of priestly promises, I went to confession.  I confessed those sins that I had committed since my last confession (as we always do in confession), but then I went through an extensive list of shortcomings in living out my priestly promises over the last year.  It was humbling to admit how far I am from the ideal of the priest, from being an alter Christus, another Christ.  I am far from perfect, but with God's grace I press on, confident that He can work with imperfect instruments.

The crucifixion scene to the right caught my attention.

I must admit I was a little saddened by the rain.  Because of the weather, we did not process in like we normally do, which includes a row of Cathedral Carmel students on each side of the procession welcoming us and cheering us on as we make our way into the cathedral.  This has brought me a whole new level of joy now that I am assigned at the Cathedral and know many of the students.  Instead of the normal procession, we priests were seated when Mass began.  I was moved up from one of the last pews to the second pew which for some reason had remained empty.  This brought Luke 14:10 to life!  Whereas before I was seated far away, and behind a huge pillar, now I was seated up close with a wonderful view of the beautiful stained glass windows that adorn the sanctuary.  Gazing up at that window, which I have looked at many times, I was reminded of the fact that I am called to that too!  Yes, today is a wonderful day of celebration and joy, but it is followed by Good Friday.  As His priest, I am called to offer myself daily for my flock, and many times it will look like the cross, not like today.  One thing I have come to learn though, is that even in the Cross, there is joy...maybe even especially in the Cross!

In just a few days, I will turn 33, the traditional age at which Jesus died.  I have been commenting on this to a few people lately saying that this is my year!  Of course, it is up to God when He calls me home, but I do think that this will be a very important year in my life.  I'm not sure what He has in store for me, but I know that whatever it is He will also give me the grace to do it.  With this in mind, I was moved by the opening hymn for the Chrism Mass.  It was To Jesus Christ, Our Sovereign King, which we used to sing each week after Benediction at St. Ben's.  It brought back great memories from my two years there.  I was also struck by the final verse: "To You and to Your Church, great King,/We pledge our hearts' oblation;/Until before Your throne we sing/In endless jubilation."  This was the fourth time I have renewed my priestly promises, but for some reason this year seemed more serious.  Singing that I pledge my heart's oblation, I meant it...I really want more than anything to be holy and to help others do the same!  Lord, help me to be a good and holy priest.

Another source of emotion for me today was that it was the first Chrism Mass without Msgr. Mouton (at least physically present...I know he was certainly there!).  It helped me to realize once more just how thankful I am for his priesthood.  He taught me so much, not only in the many conversations we had, but more so in the prayerful and dedicated way that he lived out his priesthood.  I don't know if there is anyone I have known personally that has been more priestly in everything he did.  Msgr, help me to be a good and holy priest!

Finally, the decorations!  It probably isn't a big surprise that a church would use white roses for decorations during the Triduum, but they still got me!  Anyone who knows me knows about my great love for St. Thérèse, and her great love for me!  I can't get into the all the details, but suffice it to say that through a novena I prayed to St. Thérèse early on in theology, white roses have become a symbol for me of my call to the priesthood.  Over and over and over again I have "received" white roses exactly when I needed them.  Each time I am troubled, or doubting my call or my ability to live it out, white roses appear!  What better day than today, the day of the institution of the priesthood to have that reminder once again from my tireless intercessor.  One of my friends (a self-admitted creeper) kept some of the white roses from my first Mass decorations.  Three years later she gave them to me arranged around one of my favorite quotes of St. Thérèse.  She wrote it to a young priest who was struggling in his vocation, but I like to think she said it to me (and repeats it often); "Truly, only in heaven will you know how dear you are to me."  St. Therese, help me to be a good and holy priest.

Did I say finally?  One more thing.  I was also reminded today what one of my seminarian classmates  that shared my birthday pointed out to me.  In 1985 (the year I was born), my birthday fell on Holy Thursday.  Now I know that there are many, many priests who were not born on Holy Thursday, but I see this as another assurance of God's call, and of His great love for me.  "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you."  Before I was ever a thought on earth, God knew that He would create me to be a priest.  I truly believe this.  I truly believe that it is the source of my joy and happiness in being a priest...that I KNOW without the shadow of a doubt that I am being who God created me to be...that I am doing what God created me to do.

What a great day to renew my promises.  Here is what that looks like:

Beloved sons,
on the anniversary of that day
when Christ our Lord conferred his priesthood
on his Apostles and on us,
are you resolved to renew
in the presence of your Bishop and God’s holy people,
the promises you once made?

The Priests, all together, respond: I am.

Are you resolved to be more united with the Lord Jesus
and more closely conformed to him,
denying yourselves and confirming those promises
about sacred duties towards Christ&srquo;s Church
which, prompted by love of him,
you willingly and joyfully pledged
on the day of your priestly ordination?

Priests: I am. 

Are you resolved to be faithful stewards of the mysteries of God
in the Holy Eucharist and the other liturgical rites
and to discharge faithfully the sacred office of teaching,
following Christ the Head and Shepherd,
not seeking any gain,
but moved only by zeal for souls?

Priests: I am.

I have met so many amazing people in my six years of seminary and now almost four years of priesthood.  I know that I have been able to do many good things because of God's grace, and your prayers.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your love and prayers.  Please, continue to pray for me, that I may be a good and holy priest!

Lord, I don't know why you saw fit to call me to be a priest, but I am thankful, and I absolutely love being your priest!

Vacation Reveals the Vocation

            This past Thursday I left for a little Labor Day Weekend getaway with some friends.  We left Lafayette around 2:45pm and got to Orange Beach, AL just after 11:00pm…yes almost 8.5 hours later (this is usually a little over a 5 hour trip).  We came to a complete stop at least 4 times on the Interstate during the course of our travels, which made for the extended trip…that along with a stop at Café du Monde and Cracker Barrel.

            At one of the standstills several emergency responder vehicles were passing by us.  I made a comment that this situation always makes me nervous as a priest.  After several more vehicles passed us and an Air Med helicopter flew over us, I, prompted by my friends went to see what was going on.  I got out of the drivers seat, grabbed my anointing oil, book, and stole and ran towards the accident.  Since I was traveling I was in khaki short, a white polo (Geaux Cajuns), and Chocó’s…not the easiest to run in!

            As I got closer, I could see a car that had run off of the road and partially into the woods.  There were many emergency personnel cars blocking the road with police standing by them.  I introduced myself to the first one that I came to, telling him that I was a Catholic priest and wanted to see if they needed me.  He told me to go speak to another officer a little farther up.  I did so, and she gave me the go ahead.  As I got closer, I noticed an ambulance along with the helicopter in the road.  I went up to a truck where people were gathered and introduced myself to them.  One of the people in the truck was a middle-aged woman who had been in the car that went off the road due to a blow out.  She seemed fine, except for a sore shoulder and being understandably shaken.  This woman was traveling with her fiancé, who had been thrown from the car and was in far worse shape.  I asked her if he was Catholic and she responded yes.  I asked her if she thought he would want to be anointed and she again responded yes.  I walked to the ambulance where the paramedics were working on him.  I waited outside and told the fireman standing nearby who I was and what I wanted to do.  He said that it wasn’t a problem, but that I would have to probably do it while they brought him to the helicopter.

            As I waited, I watched the paramedics and a doctor who also happened to be in the traffic work on the man and get prepping him to be put on the Air Med helicopter.  I also sent a message to my friends waiting in the car to pray for Julian (that was his name).  Once they got him out of the back of the ambulance, I got a little better look at him.  Though he was conscious, he had pretty serious injuries to his head.  I had been standing there for a while, so I had my stole on with my anointing card (for situations just like this) and my oil ready.  After they got him out and transferred him to another stretcher, I jumped in for a few seconds and anointed him.  I stepped back to all them to work on him again.  From behind a row of first responders I held up my hand and prayed the beautiful prayer called the Apostolic Pardon, which is to be given in danger of death (“Through the holy mysteries of our redemption, may almighty God release you from all punishments in this life and in the life to come.  May He open to you the gates of paradise and welcome you to everlasting joy.”).  I noticed out of the corner of my eye that as I prayed, the firefighter that I had talked to extended his hand over the man to join in the prayer.

            A few seconds later, they were wheeling him to the helicopter.  I turned and began to walk back to the car.  I let the man’s fiancé know that I anointed him and that I would pray for them.  I continued my walk and the second police officer that I had approached stopped me and thanked me for coming to see about the man.  Along the way, many people were out of their cars and asked me what happened.  I told them briefly that there had been an accident and that one man was seriously injured.  When I got back to the car I got in and my friends were in the middle of praying the rosary.  We continued praying and it wasn’t’ long before the helicopter flew away and we were moving.  When we finished the rosary, one of my friends made a comment that this had been a “Fishers of Men” moment.  For those of you who don’t know, “Fishers of Men” is a video that the USCCB put out several years ago to promote vocations (Click here to watch the Fisher's of Men video).  The story revolves around a priest coming up on an accident and anointing a young man as he dies in his arms.  A young boy witnesses this.  As the priest walks away he tells the boy hello.  The video then cuts to an ordination, which makes one think that it was the boy that witnessed the actions of that priest that is being ordained.  We continued our long trip with several more stops, though none of them were as intense as this one.

            As I said earlier, we arrived a little after 11pm.  I had waited to celebrate Mass so that my friends could have Mass that day.  We brought our things up to our condo quickly and set up so that we could get Mass in before midnight.  We began normally.  One of my friends read the readings, then handed me the Missal for the Gospel.  I had not looked at the readings before now because I figured I’d give my friends a break and not preach.

            I took the missal, bent down and said the prayer before proclaiming the gospel (“Cleanse my heart and my lips, almighty God that I may worthily proclaim your holy gospel”), and then I began.  “The Lord be with you.”  “And with your spirit.”  “A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.”  “Glory to you O Lord.”  

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God,
he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
He saw two boats there alongside the lake;
the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.
Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,
he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.
Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Simon said in reply,
“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets.”
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them.
They came and filled both boats
so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him
and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men.”
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him.

God has an amazing way of getting my attention when he wants to!  Once I realized what gospel it was, I almost couldn’t finish proclaiming it.  Although I had not planned it I did give a homily.  I don’t remember exactly what I said, but it was something along the lines of, “Can you believe that?  God knows what he is doing!”  After celebrating over 1,000 Masses in my 2+ years of priesthood, I have to admit that many times I no longer have that amazement that I had initially.  Don’t get me wrong, I look at the Mass as the most important part of my day.  I try as best I can to celebrate it reverently and well.  But, many times I don’t comprehend what it is I get to do (not that we can ever comprehend it fully this side of heaven).  But celebrating that Mass I prayed harder.   I feel like I celebrated it with the mindset that I should celebrate every Mass, the way I am reminded to celebrate every time I have Mass with the Missionaries of Charity.  They have a sign where I vest that reads: “Remember, priest of God, celebrate this Mass as if it were your first Mass, as if it were your last Mass, as if it were your only Mass.”

            Thank you Lord for this wonderful gift with which you have entrusted me.  Thank you for calling me to be your priest.  Thank you for allowing me to be there in that uncomfortable situation, to administer the Sacrament of your Church to that man in need.  Thank you for reminding me why you have called me to this life.  Thank you for reminding me that I’m called to this life for nothing other than to save souls!  Thank you for allowing my vacation to strengthen my vocation.  Help me to cooperate with your grace so that I can continue serving you and you Church, and to do so more faithfully.

Fr. Broussard

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception - 12.8.2014

I don't know how to put my homilies up on the RCC website yet, so I will post here.  This is my homily from the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on Monday.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_Io8Icgf0pQVmZzNmR1Qk55TTg/view?usp=sharing

Reflections: Four Years in the Eternal City

There is a line in the 1998 song Closing Time by SemiSonic which goes, “Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end.”  I feel that it is an appropriate quote as I make these reflections on my time in Rome on the brink of priestly ordination on June 21^st.  This past week, I was asked to give some words at a fundraiser for the NAC (The North American College, which is where I lived in Rome) in New Orleans.  As I thought about what I might say, what was unique about my time in seminary in Rome, one word made its way into my thoughts that seemed to tie what I wanted to say together: Friendship.  There are three different areas of friendship that I would like to focus on to describe my four years of formation in Rome.

Dinner with some friends as we travel.

The first type of friendship is friendship in the traditional sense.  One of the tough things about studying theology in Rome is that we do not come home very often.  For most of us, the first summer is spent away from home.  That means that we have amazing, once in a lifetime opportunities during those 2-3 months, but it also means that we do not see family, friends, or home for almost 2 full years.  Because of that, I think that the men at the NAC form deep, lasting friendships with each other, and this was certainly true for me.  As I prepared to leave Rome and head back to South Louisiana for good, I was obviously very happy to be returning home.  However, there were many things that I realized I would miss about Rome, and perhaps the thing that I will miss most is living in a house with so many close friends.  Though I made many friends, there were about 10-15 men to whom I became particularly close.  Our bonds of friendship were deepened due to our common experience of being away from home, our going through classes at the university together, the common formation we received at the NAC, and the many wonderful opportunities we had to travel together all over Europe.  In the days before I left I had to say goodbye to a few friends who managed to finish finals before me.  On the day of my clap-out (a NAC tradition for those returning home), I had to say goodbye to many more friends who were finishing up their finals.  It was hard because I realized that I would never see some of them again in this life.  Though it was difficult, I was comforted by two thoughts.  The first was that I know that I will see many of the men with whom I am close again.  We have already made a pact to get together each year in a different hometown of one of us so that we can all experience the wonderful places from which we come.  The second, and even more important thing that consoled me as I said goodbye was the hope that I have that we will all be together again one day in heaven.  After all, that is the goal for each one of us, to get to heaven and to take others there with us!

The Angelus on my last Sunday in Rome.

Tomb of St. Catherine with white roses.

The second type of friendship that I developed while in Rome is with the Church/The Holy Father/the Saints.  Being in Rome, you get a sense for the Church in a way that I don’t think you can anywhere else.  That is not saying that those who study elsewhere can’t love the Church, no.  However, there is something about being in the Eternal City and being among the dealings of the Church.  One of the most powerful experiences that I had of the Church while there is being able to attend the events surrounding the conclave and the election of Pope Francis.  Seeing the Church at prayer (and at work) was a wonderful experience, and I don’t think I have ever felt more Catholic than when I was standing in St. Peter’s Square that night watching the white smoke come out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel and all of the other events that unfolded.  One of the missions of the NAC is to form men in the “shadow of St. Peter’s,” and to send them home with a great love for the Holy Father.  I can honestly say that this goal has certainly been achieved in my time there.  Finally, Rome, like no other place, is filled with the stories and bodies of the saints.  Being in Europe, one also has access to other places which house the bodies of the saints.  Perhaps a story can bring home what I want to say about the saints.  This past Saturday I was blessed to be able to serve as deacon for the priestly ordination of 4 men in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.  As part of the ordination rite, all of us present prayed a Litany of the Saints for the 4 men being ordained as they laid prostrate on the ground.  As we went through the list of saints names and asked them to pray for these men, I couldn’t help but think of my encounters with these holy men and women of God.  Each time they would invoke a saint to whom I have a particular devotion, I would think of how my friendship with that saint began and the time that I was able to visit their tomb.  For the sake of brevity I will recall only two.  St. Therese of Lisieux:  My devotion to St. Therese began at St. Ben’s, when one of the men being ordained in New Orleans introduced me to her.  She has followed me throughout my time in formation and has been a great help to me in difficult times.  She has also reassured me many times of my call to the priesthood by sending me white roses when I have doubted that call.  I was able to pray at her tomb in Lisieux in December of 2010.  St. Catherine of Siena:  I took a class on St. Catherine last semester and she quickly became a new favorite saint friend of mine.  She has constantly called me to suffer well, and she has given me a great example of how to do that!  She is buried in Rome, and I had the privilege of visiting her tomb often.  She teamed up with St. Therese on my last visit to Catherine’s tomb the day before I left Rome.  When I walked into Santa Maria Sopra Minerva (Where Catherine is buried) there were white roses all over…very comforting as I prepared to return home to be ordained in a few weeks!  There are many other stories and many other saints, but this gives you an idea of the types of friends I made while in Rome!  There are two reasons for including the Church, the Holy Father, and the Saints all in one.  The first is that 3 types of friendship is easier to remember than 4 or 5.  The second is that they belong together.  The Saints and Holy Father mean nothing if they are not connected to the Church.  If they are not connected to the Church, they lose what makes them special, they cease to be what they are.

Serving with Pope Francis for the 2014 Easter Vigil.

I have certainly saved the best and most important for last.  The third friendship that grew during my time in Rome is my friendship with Jesus Christ.  This was fostered by my friendship with the men in the house, by the Church/the Holy Father/the Saints, and by the constant reminder that the most important thing in formation is growing in my relationship with our Lord.  In his regular conferences to the house, the rector would always remind us to stay faithful to our daily personal pray, including our holy hour and devotions.  He would also remind us of the importance of attending Mass daily, receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly, remaining faithful to the Liturgy of the Hours, and fostering our devotion to the Blessed Mother.  All of these things are so important if any of us, priests, religious, or laity, want to grow in our love for Christ and His Church.  Being away from home also helped in the growth of my friendship with Christ.  There were many moments when I felt alone, especially early on in my time at the NAC.  One moment in particular stands out in my mind as I write.  It was a Sunday early on in my time in Rome, perhaps during the first semester.  As we finished Mass around 10:45, I thought about how if I were home I would be leaving to go to my grandmother’s house for Sunday lunch with the family.  As I thought about this I was saddened by how far away my family was.  Feeling like I had no one to turn to, I realized that I did have a friend who would never let me down, who would never be far from me, and that I HAD to turn to Him.  My friendship with Jesus grew at times out of a type of necessity, but more than that, it grew out of a realization of how much He loves me.  Realizing this love that God has for me, and growing in my love for Him has made me happier than I have ever been.  I will be forever grateful for the NAC and for my time in Rome for helping me to grow in that love.

Saying goodbye is never easy.  As I have had to say goodbye many times in the last couple of weeks, I am comforted by the fact that “Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end.”  I am so incredibly happy to be back home among the great people of the Diocese of Lafayette who have supported me so much through these last 6 years.  I look forward to all that is in store in this new beginning which will begin with ordination to the priesthood in just a few days, and my arrival on the UL campus at Our Lady of Wisdom on July 1^st!

In Christ,

Dcn. Patrick

That's My Home

     The refrain of Billy Joel's song You're My Home says "Whenever we're together that's my home."  After a typical Italian expierience of going out into the city to recharge my cell phone, only to find that the store was closed, I slipped into one of my favorite churches in the city, the Basilica of St. Andrew.  I walked in and as I was going to the side altar where the Blessed Sacrament is reposed, I noticed all of the people taking in the beauty of the church.  This particular basilica has beautiful paintings of the martyrdom of St. Andrew along with many other treasures.
     As I walked past these people captivated by the beauty of the church, I began to wonder if I was becoming calloused to beautiful churches after having been in Rome for 3 years.  Though this may be a small factor in my experience, I think something deeper was at work.  The beautiful art, the precious materials, they are all meant to lead us to God.  I have had many experience when a painting or a sculpture or the vast quantities of precious materials in a church have led me to prayer.  But in this particular moment, I didn't need them, I already knew what the real treasure was, or should I say, Who the real treasure was and where I could find Him.  No matter where in the world I find myself, no matter what is wrong, when I step into a church and kneel before the tabernacle which houses our Savior, I feel at home.  So Billy Joel was right, whenever were together, that's my home!

Love Covers a Multitude of Sins...and Shortcomings!

     Last night I was invited to speak to a group of high school students who gather at a local Church each week to discuss life.  I was invited so that they could be exposed to another seminarian to see that we are normal people (I'm still trying to figure out why I was picked to show them we are normal!).  One of the questions that I was asked after I gave a brief story of my life was "do you still get scared of not knowing how to answer people?"  Have these people been reading my journal?  That is probably the number one fear I have had recently in approaching the altar of God to be ordained a priest.  What will I say when people ask me about x, y, or z?
     The answer I gave surprised me, sort of.  I said that it is important to be vulnerable.  It is important to show people that you love them and that you are willing to stand there and not know what to say...but that you are willing to stand there anyway.  We must be willing to journey with people.  That means that we won't always know the answers, but we are willing to seek the answers together with them.
     This approach will require a lot of time and effort on our part, but it takes away a great burden.  We don't need to know all of the answers.  Of course we can't use this as an excuse not to learn as much as we can about our Catholic faith, but we must come to the point where we are humble enough to admit when we don't know...and that will happen a lot!
     The key is love. We have to love people enough to tell them the truth and to stand there when they have questions, especially "why?".  We must love them enough to stand there and take whatever may come our way when they don't agree with us or when we don't know answers, and we must love them enough to agree to journey with them in finding those answers however difficult and painful it might be.  So in the end St. Paul was right (shocking, I know), "love covers a multitude of sins," and it can also cover a multitude of our shortcomings, if we are willing to give of ourselves.