St. Bridget Catholic Church TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — You Shall Not Oppress an Alien, for You Yourselves Were Once Aliens in Egypt (Exodus 22:20-26)

St. Bridget Catholic Church TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — You shall not oppress an alien, for you yourselves were once aliens in Egypt (Exodus 22:20-26). Psalm — I love you, Lord, my strength (Psalm 18). Second Reading — You became imitators of the Lord, so that you became a model for all believers (1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10). Gospel — You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:34-40).

Very Rev. Simon Peter Engurait, VG Pastor Mass Schedule Deacon Stephen Brunet Daily Mass: Monday to Friday: 8:00 am Church Oﬃce : 446-6801—2076 W Main St. Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 pm Schriever, LA 70395 Sunday Mass: 8:30 & 10:30 am Fax Line: 448-2764 Confession: Saturday 3:00-3:50 pm Youth Formaon Oﬃce: 446-1985 Sunday 7:30– 8:25 am & 10:00-10:25 am E-mail address: [email protected] All who aƩend Mass must wear face masks, use Facebook: facebook.com/StBridget saniƟzer on entering the Church and pracƟce social www.stbridget-htdiocese.org distancing. My dear people of God,

Welcome to our celebration of the Thirtieth Sunday of the year. In the gospel reading today, Jesus gives us the two greatest commandments which are summed up in love: Love of God and love of neighbor. This is the nutshell of all biblical teaching and indeed of our Christian faith. Let us delve a little more into the readings and the command to love.

The first reading from the Book of Exodus comes from a section known as the Covenant Code. In this code, the people of Israel are presented instructions and guidelines on how to live and act as God’s people. In this specific excerpt, they are instructed that there must be no discrimination against or exploitation of, the most vulnerable members of the society. Specific men- tion is made of, the foreigner, the widow, the orphan and the poor.

These instructions come from the God of Israel. The message here therefore is that Israel’s God is a God who cares for the vulnerable. To seek to be attached to God or to be in relation to God while being indifferent and inattentive to the needs of others, especially the vulnerable would be offensive to God. This point forms a link with the gospel, where Jesus says that love of God and love of neighbor are intimately connected.

Today’s gospel reading from Mathew, presents the third of four clashes between Jesus and the reli- gious leaders of the time (the Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees…). In this episode, one of them ques- tioned Jesus as to which of the commandments is the greatest. At that time, if all the commandments and precepts were put together, there were more than 600 of them. As such, the question as to which of them was the greatest was common.

In His response, Jesus names not one, but two. The two of them are inter-connected and both of them are in the Old Testament. The first (You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind) is found in Deuteronomy 6:4. The second (You shall love your neighbor as yourself) is found in Leviticus 19:18.

In the first letter of St John, we find the reason why these two commandments are interconnected. St John in Chapter 4 verse 20, points out that we can’t really and honestly love God whom we do not see if we do not love our neighbor whom we see. Furthermore, in the scene of the Last Judg- ment, Jesus also makes the same point: “as long as you did this for the least of these, you did for me” (Mathew 25:40-45). In other words, loving the vulnerable is loving Jesus (who is God).

There are two other important points in our readings today that I would like to highlight. In the first reading, the prophet warns that anyone who violates these commandments and mistreats the vulnerable ‘will be killed with a sword”. This should not be taken literally. The prophet was simply making the point that this is an important matter and in so doing emphasizes the how abominable it is to God to wrong or mistreat the helpless.

The second other point relates to the command to love one’s neighbor as one’s self. This command assumes that one loves oneself. We all know that, there are some people who clearly don’t love themselves; they are filled with self-loathing and self-hatred. This command therefore does not ap- ply to these individuals. Instead these kind of individuals are called to love themselves (so as to love others).

My dear brothers and sisters, as we continue on our journey of faith and as we strive to love God, let our love for God, manifest in the way we treat others, especially the poor, needy and vulnerable.

Thanks and God bless, Fr Simon Peter MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE & FAREWELL FROM FR DARIUS MAGUNDA Once again in my life, I find it hard to say Goodbye and yet I have to, for there is a time for everything: time to come and time to go! St. Bridget parish had become my home and now I have to return to my old home in Uganda. It was a great pleasure to be in your community and, above all, to share with you the Word of God. I am grateful to Bishop Shelton Fabre who invited and welcomed me to spend my sabbatical leave in his diocese; and I am grateful to Fr. Simon Peter who received me and gave me a home here at St. Bridget. I thank you Fr. Simon Peter for your fraternal care and hospitality. You looked after me so well, and during my stay I didn’t lack anything as far as my personal needs were concerned. Together we formed a little nice community and during the lockdown we experienced together a bit of monastic life. Our prayer and cordial coexistence sustained us and kept us going.

Visitors don’t usually stay a long time but mine was a special one. They say that “man proposes, God dispos- es!” I had planned to stay from the 30th of September 2019 to the 4th of June 2020 and little did I know that I was meant to complete the year here. Certainly nothing happens without a purpose, though mostly hidden. The corona virus pandemic changed the whole trend of things. It had been my hope that I would get to interact with you more and get to know you better, but the lockdown changed all that. Amidst the pandemic and the lockdown, God was calling me to have more quiet time by myself, to pray more, reflect more about my voca- tion and ministry, read more and explore new avenues of enriching my spiritual life and general knowledge, and also to rest.

It was a pleasure to engage in a new way of evangelizing and ministering, especially via the live streamed programs on the St. Bridget Facebook page. It was also a joy to minister to the young people in the youth formation program, although this was cut short by the lockdown. The many weeks we celebrated Mass before a camera without a visible congregation were very difficult times. I thank God that we can again minister to a sizeable congregation that has been gradually growing. The daily celebration of Mass with you has been very enriching and your presence an encouraging sign of a living Church. I thank you for being a committed parish community and for your spirit of generosity in supporting the parish programs. I learned a lot of things in the course of this year and I hope to share them with my brother priests in Uganda, especially those ministering in parishes. Although parish apostolate is my favorite service, I had worked in a parish for only three years. It was therefore a pleasure to do parish ministry for a fourth year here at St. Bridget. I have spent much of my 23 years of priesthood teaching in a seminary (apart from the five years of further studies). Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you. Thank you for accepting me in your community! I have experienced love in your parish and I so much appreciate your hospitality and friendship. I invite you to come and visit us in Uganda so that I may have the opportunity to reciprocate.

I am returning to Uganda, back to the seminary to form more priests. Who knows! Some of these might be missionaries to regions that are short of priests. Let us keep each other in prayer. I will always cherish my stay here at St. Bridget, and at the earliest opportunity I will return to visit you again.

May the Almighty God bless you and fill you with his abundant grace!

Yours in Christ, Fr. Darius Magunda.

LIVING JUSTLY “You give that back right now!” How many of us have heard that line, probably more than once, as we were growing up? We come home with the trophy of what we thought was a really sweet deal, only to have our parents undo our profits by making us return the spoils. They had a different idea of what constituted a “fair trade agreement.” Justice in our dealings with others continues to be an important measure of our character, and like a good parent, God cares very much about how we treat each other and about how others treat us. God hears the cry of the poor, and answers the call of the oppressed. God’s beloved children are not to behave like bullies. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. The Sanctuary Light memory of: Catholic Social Teaching: Option for the Poor In teaching us charity, the Gospel instructs us in October 25-31 the preferential respect due to the poor and the Charles A Duet Jr. by Ellen, Lisa, Mona special situation they have in society: the more for- and families tunate should renounce some of their rights so as to November 1-7 place their goods more generously at the service of Brandon Filardo by Mom and Dad others.-Pope Paul VI, Call to Action, 23 Fred LeBouef by Emily and family Agnes and Ernest Breaux by family & friends In the gospel today, Jesus affirms that both love of Herman & Willie Mae Hebert by family God and love of neighbor are essential to our life as Charles T Hebert by Pat and family Christians and as human beings. Mable Thibodeaux (B) by Marlene and Ronnie The first reading presents challenging examples which DA=Death Anniv. makes this love very concrete.

B= Birthday Mass Intentions Exodus gives very clear instructions. WA=Wedding Anniv. Aliens, widows and orphans are not to be op- —————————————— pressed. October 24 4:00 pm Interest is not to be demanded from the poor, to Catherine Brown by Phyllis and John Ables family who money is lent. Charles A Duet Jr. by Ellen, Lisa, Mona & families October 25 8:30 am Love is not just an emotion. James & Belle Brunet (WA) by Olin family Beverly Baudoin by Baudoin family It moves us to care for those who are most in need. October 25 10:30 am It calls us to consider the needs of people and not just Edgar Chiasson (DA) by Betty Falgout our personal economic security. It calls us to be in solidarity with those in need and to October 28 8 am see things for the perspective of the other. William A. Fanguy (B) Burnelle & Margaret Landry It calls us to learn from one another and to be trans- formed. October 31 & Nov 1— Masses and flower dona- It calls us to focus on the common good and not just tions will be on a flyer in the bulletin our personal gain. Love leads to action. “You shall love the Lord, your God, We are reminded of Catholic Social Teaching’s de- mand for a preferential love for the poor. with all your heart, with all your soul, We must ask ourselves: who are the aliens, widows and with all your mind.” and orphans today? Are they being oppressed in any — Matthew 22:37 way? How can we as individuals and a society show them a love that is made concrete? What are the struc- tures in our society and our government that will pro- Cemetery Blessing mote such justice? How can we learn and grow together “serve the living God?” St. Bridget Cemetery November1, 2020 at 11:30 am ---Education for Justice Lectionary Reflections Fr. John Bucki, S.J.

Garden of Memories Cemetery READINGS FOR THE WEEK

November 1, 20 at 2:00 pm Monday: Eph 4:32 — 5:8; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Lk 13:10-17 Tuesday: Eph 5:21-33; Ps 128:1-5; Lk 13:18-21 Wednesday: Eph 2:19-22; Ps 19:2-5; Lk 6:12-16 Memorial Mass Thursday: Eph 6:10-20; Ps 144:1b, 2, 9-10; Lk 13:31-35 A Mass for all parishioners who have Friday: Phil 1:1-11; Ps 111:1-6; Lk 14:1-6 died since All Saints Day 2019 will be Saturday: Phil 1:18b-26; Ps 42:2, 3, 5cdef; Lk 14:1, 7-11 held on November 7, 2020 at 4:00 pm Sunday: Rv 7:2-4, 9-14; Ps 24:1-6; 1 Jn 3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12a

PRAYER LINE If you or someone Month of Our needs to be added to the prayer line, call Nina Richard at 446- Blessed Mother 1206 or the rectory at 446-6801. In the charity of your prayers, please pray for the sick, elderly, and homebound. Please pray for: Elaine Ables, Susan Arceneaux, Heidi Ardoin, Ja- cob Aucoin, Jeannie Aucoin, Sara Aucoin, Elvin Babin, Tom- my Badeaux, Chad Barrileaux, Ronnie Bednarz, Chuck Rosary Month Beebe, Gertrude Benoit, Fr. Paul Bergeron, Rosemary Bes- son, Mitzy Bettridge, Gretchen Bilello, Pat Billiot, Preston Billiot, Alvin & Gail Blanchard, Dennis Blanchard, Ronald Blanchard, Aline Boudreaux, Cody Bourgeois, Emile “Jay” Bourgeois, Patricia Bourgeois, Troy & Joan Bourgeois, Wade ST. MARTIN DE PORRES MASS FOR Bourgeois, Connie Bouterie, Beau Brassette, Dustin Brassette, AFRICAN-AMERICAN CATHOLICS Mark Brassette, Emma Del Broussard, Susan Caillouet, Gary & Sheila Cavalier, Bessie Chiasson, Randy Chiasson, Brad Bishop Shelton Fabre will preside over the an- Clement, Bryce Comeaux, Huey Cortez Sr., Martha Cortez, Randy Davis, Cary Davis, Jr., Barbara & Ronni Duhon, Alan nual St. Marn de Porres Mass for African- Dunbar, Linda Ekiss, Avery “Brother” and Sonja Fonseca, American Catholics on Thursday, November 5, Darin Fonz, Robin Ford, Marie Fournier, Alisa Frederick, 2020 at 7:00 PM at St. Luke Church, Thibodaux. Dante Galliano, Toby Gambarella, Leigh Ann Gardner, Carrie Gibbens Belinda Gil, Brandon Gil, George Gil, The Gil Fami- This culturally African-American Mass is open to ly, Carrie Mae Givens, Austin Gros, Bryan Gros, Chad Gros, all. St. Marn de Porres, a Dominican brother, is George Gros, Rosebella Gros, Kendra Guillot, Joy Hebert, known for his dedicated service to the poor in Katie Hebert, Jerrell Hebert, Sr., Jessie Hoffpauir, Samara Lima, Peru, his openness to people of all races Holland, Kristen Koppel, Jackson LaFleur, Mona Lambert, Elmay Landry, Judie Landry, Joyce Landry, Craig Landry, and his myscal experiences of prayer. The son Mark Landry, Barbara Nell Lapeyrouse, Allie LeBlanc, Emily of a woman of either African or South American LeBoeuf, Evelyn Leger, Tammy Babin Loney, Tim Long, Indian heritage, St. Marn is the patron of Cath- Payton Martin, Rick Melancon, Asher Miller, Savannah Mil- olics of African heritage and the secondary pa- ler, Emma Mire, Bethany Moore, Meghan Naquin, Misty Naquin, Shannon Naquin, Eric Oliviery, Annie Ordoyne, Kara tron of the Province of New Orleans. November Pellegrin, Sherry Pennison, Lisa Pennison, Kenneth Pitre, is observed in the Catholic Church as African- James Pierce, Kip Pierce, Sharon Prejean, Ed Raidl, Kerri Reynolds, Bryce Richard, Ella Richard, Gladys Richard, Lori- ta Rodrigue, Susan Rodrigue, Cynthia Rogers, Danielle Sama- nie, Chester Sanchez, Karla Saunier, Kathy Savoie, Earline AMERICAN INDIAN MASS OF THANKSGIVING Simmoneaux, Penny Simmons, , Brenda Sonier, Deacon Ryan Stawaizz, Louis Stevens, Melissa Tardiff, Trish Tem- plet, Pierre & Mary Theriot, Cammie Thibodaux, Lacey Bishop Shelton Fabre will preside over the an- Thibodeaux, Thibodaux Family, Wendy Thibodaux, Ronnie nual American Indian Mass of Thanksgiving on Thomas, Chris Toups, Joyce Toups, Ricky Turner, Suzanne Friday, November 20, 2020 at 6:30 PM at St. Usey, Sara Day Vignes, Allison Walters, and Wanda Wawrose, Anna Wooten. Please notify the office when Charles Borromeo Church in Pointe-aux- names can be removed. Chenes. This culturally American Indian Mass is open to all. By an annual presidenal proclama- on, November is observed in the United October 11, 2020 Envelopes $ 3360.00 States as Naonal Nave American Heritage Loose 266.00 Month. According to the President of the Unit- 3626.00 ed States, “This November and every month, we celebrate the culture and heritage of these remarkable Americans who deeply enrich the Thank you for your generosity. quality and character of our Naon.” As our naon celebrates the naonal heritage of American Indians, we in our diocese celebrate PUSH Pray Until their Catholic heritage, and in this month of thanksgiving oﬀer our gratude to God. Something Happens Youth Formation Has Begun Parents of youth registered for Youth Formation Please Pray for the 2020 should have received an email with im- repose of all souls, portant youth formation information. In-person classes have begun. Youth in grades 1 – 5 meet especially the Soul of from 5:30 – 6:20 pm. Youth in grades 6 – 11 meet from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. All classes are held Debra Cressoine in Didier Hall and the Community Life Annex. All are asked to use extreme caution when operat- May the souls of all the faithful ing vehicles on church property on Monday eve- departed rest in peace. Amen. nings. Packets for youth participating in the At-Home Youth Formation option can be picked up in the church from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm This amendment to the LA constitution will be on October Formation Focus and At Home packets the ballot this November 3rd, the same day as the are due by the end of October. Contact the Of- fice of Youth Formation for more details. presidential election. We remain hopeful that passage of this amendment will occur and that October Formation Focus- Louisiana will remain deeply committed to life. Mary, Mother of God Many are complaining that our young people are not formed –

they don’t know Jesus – they don’t know their prayers. Please help us as we help them. The For- mation Focus for the month of October is Mary, Mother of God.

How many different names do you know for Mary? How many Mary prayers do you know? Maybe, all of us could spend a little more time getting to know our Spiritual Mother. Spend the next few weeks praying and learning more as you answer these questions: Who is Our This is a pivotal moment in the history of Louisi- Lady of Guadalupe? Why is Our Lady of Prompt Succor so important to Louisiana? ana. We have the opportunity to protect life in our What is the Annunciation? What is the As- state for generations to come! sumption? Who is Our Lady of Fatima? Where is Fatima? Who is Our Lady of Grace? Join your parish family as we honor Mary and th CHARACTER pray the Rosary, Saturday, October 10 at Character is much easier kept than recovered. noon. Families are encouraged to attend – all are welcome! —Thomas Paine

SAINTS SIMON AND JUDE, APOSTLES October 28 Saint Jude, apostle and . . . Hollywood success story? Indeed! Beyond Simon’s being a “ Zealot” for Israel’s liberation and Jude’s question about Jesus revealing himself (John 14:22), no historic facts are known about either saint. But Saint Jude’s well-known patronage of lost causes and hopeless cases is largely due to a des- perate vow made just before World War II by a struggling entertainer, the son of Arab-American immigrants, Danny Thomas. Unemployed, his wife about to give birth, Danny, attending Mass, impulsively donated his last seven dollars to the collection, promising: “Saint Jude, if you help me find my way in life, I will build a shrine in your honor!” Older Americans remember well Danny’s long, successful movie and television career. Grateful parents worldwide know the miracles that have taken place for fifty years at his Saint Jude Chil- dren’s Research Hospital, where needy children are cared for regardless of race, religion, or financial re- sources, and monumental advances continue in healing and preventing pediatric cancers and catastrophic childhood diseases. A living, life-giving partnership is this “Communion of Saints”: Simon, Jude, Danny Thomas—us! —Peter Scagnelli, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. Quality Funeral Services for Generations THIBODAUX REGIONAL 447-9041 MEDICAL CENTER LAWYER 635 Bayou Blue Road, Houma, LA 70364 602 North Acadia Road 4511 West Park Avenue, Gray, LA 70359 Joseph J. Weigand, Jr. 985.851.6540 (985) 447-5500 Maritime/Workers’ Comp/Successions [email protected] www.samartfuneralhome.com www.thibodaux.com 220 Progressive Blvd. - 876-3071 WHY IS IT A man wakes up after sleeping under an ADVERTISED blanket on an ADVERTISED mattress and pulls off ADVERTISED pajamas bathes in an ADVERTISED shower shaves with an ADVERTISED razor brushes his teeth with ADVERTISED toothpaste Get this washes with ADVERTISED soap puts on ADVERTISED clothes drinks a cup weekly bulletin of ADVERTISED coffee drives to work in an ADVERTISED car Ready Mix Concrete delivered by and then . . . . refuses to ADVERTISE Large & Small Jobs believing it doesn’t pay. 111 Horseshoe Road email - for FREE! Later if business is poor 447-7922 he ADVERTISES it for sale. Schriever Sign up here: WHY IS IT? Keryl Dozer Service • Land Clearing www.jspaluch.com/subscribe • Land Leveling • Dirt Hauling Leo Terracina Courtesy of J.S. Paluch Company, Inc. 446-1239 Serving The Area Since 1939 The Most Complete Morgan City • Bayou Vista Online National Directory of Houma Check It Out Today! Catholic Parishes CHARLES A. PAGE & SONS If You Live Alone You Need MDMedAlert! DANTIN CHEVROLET Insurance Agency, Inc. 24 Hour Protection at HOME and AWAY! ✔ 5911 Main 872-5711 Ambulance Solutions as Low as 95 a month ✔Police ✔Fire $19. Auto • Home • Business • Life • Health ✔Friends/Family FREE Shipping

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