St. Gerard Majella Church A REDEMPTORIST FAMILY

5354 PLANK ROAD • BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA 70805 Phone: 225-355-2553 • Fax: 225-356-7472 Email: [email protected] www.stgerardmajellachurch.org

   # 

                                #   !  "#$O"#$ &      ! '( &      #         )* +   ,                   #             #            #        P Q   "

      ! #  # $% & '         ( )(     * + ,        " #   #   - . '/ ' ( 01      2/3'4 45 ''67   '          SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2019



A HALF CUP OF INSPIRATION WITH FR. TAT

“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come af- ter me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:2533)  One of the comments I’ve received when I moved to St. Gerard’s in Baton Rouge to work for the next four years is “Fr. Tat, you will be close to your family. You can go to New Orleans every week to visit your Mom and your family.” That is true and not true. It is true because yes, it is much more convenient to drive home to see Mommy in New Orleans. It takes me only one hour and 30 minutes. I will enjoy Mom’s food more easily compared with the last times when I stationed in Chicago and .  But it is not true because I am a Redemptorist missionary. I belong to everyone. Wherever I am sent, I call it home for myself. Every parishioner is part of my family. My parents have generously offered me to God to serve the Church since I entered into the Redemptorist formation in 1998. The most difficult cross for those who want to follow Jesus is not about the cross of family but the cross of their own. Mom, Dad and family may pass on. But our own cross never goes away. It stays with us until we die. The late Vietnamese Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan wrote in his Road of Hope, “If you do not give up your own self, you will eventually collect everything you gave up back to yourself.”  Who wants to become Jesus’ disciple? To follow Jesus we need to dedicate our whole life and intention. There is no distraction. There is no “maybe” or “5050” or “one day per week”. It takes daily practices and discipline. We do not need to go to seminary or convent to become Jesus’ disciples. You can be a great disciple of Jesus from where you are and with the people you live and work. Be gener- ous and grateful to all. May we all believe in Jesus and fol- low Him.   Fr. Tat Hoang, C.Ss.R. .

                 G     $  /   /) '   /  4 '       '     '  &-     '   / .( /         '/  &/   / .  +      , &( 0 ( *   * .           S        

RCIAVBECOME CATHOLIC Mass. All members, Parish Council, Finance Council, Sec- retary, bookkeeper, all Parishioners, Redemptorist alumni RCIA will begin on September 15th a er 8 am Mass. and friends are invited to come and celebrate together Please sign up now. If you know someone who is interest- our patron ’s Day. ed please put their names on the list in the back of the church. NEW LAY MISSIONARIES NEEDED

CATECHISM Our parish needs more leaders, teachers and lay mission- aries in: We welcome all children to sign up for religious and faith  Visitaon and Communion for the homebound and educaon. We will begin on September 15th a er 10 am sick. Mass. Please sign your children up for first Communion  RCIA and Catechism to Confirmaon classes. The list will be available in the  The Word of God back of the church. COMMUNITY BUILDING THE WORD OF GOD We will have Bingo (game for fun) to build our communi- ty every second Sunday in the Parish Hall a er 10 am Speak with God through the Word of God. You will be Mass beginning September 8th. Please come out and inspired and empowered by the Word of God. This group enjoy with one another. will reflect on the upcoming Sunday Gospel each week to pray, to learn and to serve. Please join us on Thursday  September 5th at 6 pm in Majella Chapel. As four Redemptorist missionaries, Frs. Chuong Cao, UPCOMING EVENTS C.Ss.R., Gil Enderle, C.Ss.R., Donnell Kirchner, C.Ss.R. and Br. Clement Furno, C.Ss.R. leave us for new ministries, St. Please mark your calendar to join the parish to celebrate Gerard Majella Community is so grateful for their services together the Feast Day of St. Gerard Majella and Fr. Tat’s and generosity of heart and words. We wish and pray Pastor installaon on Sunday October 6th at 10 am that they are always blessed with God’s grace. QUOTES FOR LIFE

“You excuse yourself saying, “I cannot perform acts of charity because I have no money.” Why do you think you need money to pracce charity? What about the charity of a smile and a warm hand- shake, the charity of human compassion and understanding, the charity of a visit or a remembrance in your prayers?” ―Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan

REDEMPTORIST STAFF

  !  !"#      !              "                               "                                   #         Property & Casualty Insurance Ronnie Marino Plumbing, LLC Commercial Real Estate 6035 Plank Rd Great Schools and Free Enterprise Baton Rouge Are Key to the Future of the Carl & Karen Saucier, Owners LJP #4065 Istrouma Area. 726-7169 www.theaffordableway.com Phone (225) 275-5890 • Cell (225) 413-5930 Bring in this Coupon 726-7759 Harold Williams Mon-Thu 10am-12 midnight, Fri-Sat 10am 2am Fax (225) 272-5127 • [email protected] Sunday 11am 11pm P. O. Box 74465 • Baton Rouge, LA 70874 4325 Airline Hwy. 355-5511 Office 225-354-2848 • Cell: 225-806-6923 PHONE IN YOUR ORDER Baton Rouge 9705 Florida Blvd. 927-5511 [email protected] FOR FASTER SERVICE

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING Contact Debra Mayeux to place an ad today! Baton Rouge, LA [email protected] or (800) 477-4574 x6524 SINCE 1972 225-356-0171

Family Owned & operated since 1959

M-S 7:30am-6:00pm 4828 McClelland Dr. • Baton Rouge 356-2249 Serving Baton Rouge for 30 Years

2-B-4-2 For ad info. call 1-800-477-4574 • www.4lpi.com 14-1558