DIOCESE OF LAKE CHARLES Established April 25, 1980 The Most Rev. Glen John Provost, D.D. Bishop of Lake Charles PARISH STAFF Rev. Father Rommel P. Tolentino Pastor Rev. Fr. Ruben Buller, In Residence Rev. Deacon Christopher Fontenot Pastoral Assistant Principal SLCHS Sister Jeannette Touchet, S.E.C Pastoral Assistant Mr. Robert Marcantel Music Director Mrs. Charlotte Hine Organist Ms. Sue Burke Receptionist Ms. Lavonne “Cookie” White Secretary Mrs. Pam Menou Bookkeeper Mr. Philip Ardoin Maintenance Mrs. Christi Jarreau Principal ICCS 935 Bilbo Street † P. O. Box 1029 † Lake Charles, LA 70602 † (337) 436-7251 † Fax (337) 436-7240 MASSES SACRAMENT OF PENANCE having attended the Baptism Class. anyone who is interested in Saturday Anticipated 4:00 p.m. Friday 11:00-Noon; Saturday 3:00 pm SACRAMENT OF inquiring into the Roman Catholic 30 minutes before all other Masses. MARRIAGE Sunday 7:30 a.m. faith. The RCIA process is Or call office for appointment. Arrangements should be made at available throughout the year to 9:30 a.m. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM least six (6) months before the those who are seeking initiation 11:15 a.m. A Pre-Baptism class must be wedding date by calling the parish attended before the celebration of into the church as well as for those (Extraordinary Form) 5:00 p.m. office. An appointment must be non-Catholics seeking more Baptism. These classes are held the made for a pre-marriage interview. Monday - Friday 12:05 p.m. information about the Roman 4th Tuesday of January, March, RITE OF CHRISTIAN May, July, September and Catholic church. Information NOVENA INITIATION OF ADULTS. concerning participation in the November. Arrangements for An on-going process of formation celebration of Baptism may be made RCIA process may be obtained Our Lady of Perpetual Help and education is provided for Before 12:05 Mass on Tuesday by calling the parish office after through the parish office. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception January 03, 2016 EPIPHANY OF THE LORD Tradition also has it that the kings were baptized by St. Thomas, and they are considered Saints of the Church. Though their feasts aren't celebrated liturgically, the dates given for them in the martyrology are as follows: St. Cas- The Eve of the Feast of the Epiphany is the twelfth day of par on 1 January; St. Melchior on 6 January; and St. Christmas, and tonight is known as "Twelfth Night". It be- Balthasar on 11 January. gins the celebration of Christ's revealing His Divinity in three ways: The cathedral in Cologne, Germany contains the relics of the Magi, discovered in Persia and brought to Constantin- ♦ to the Magi who, guided by the great and mysterious ople by St. Helena, transferred to Milan in the fifth cen- Star of Bethlehem, came to visit Him when He was a tury, and then to Cologne in 1163. Baby (Matthew 2:1-19) Source: http://fisheaters.com/epiphanyeve.html ♦ through His Baptism by St. John, when "the Spirit of God descending as a dove" came upon Him and there was heard a voice from Heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3, Mark 1, Luke 3, John 1), and all Three Persons of the Most Holy Trinity were manifest. ♦ through His first public miracle -- that of the wedding at Cana when Our Lord turned water into wine at the request of His Mother (John 2). Just as God's first miracle before the Egyptian pharaoh, through Moses, was turning the waters of the Nile into blood, Our Lord's first miracle was turning water into wine. In many Catholic homes (especially Italian ones), it's not Christmas Day that is for giving presents to children, but the Feast of Epiphany, when the gifts are given in a way related to the Magi. So today will have a "feel" of Christ- mas Eve, and because of the Epiphany's association with HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE CATHEDRAL! the Magis' gift-giving, tomorrow is often referred to collo- quially as the "Little Christmas." Please enjoy a free subscription to Formed.org, where you can stream hundreds of hours of inspiring movies and The three Magi entered Jerusalem bearing gold, frankin- video series, read over 15 bestselling Catholic eBooks cense, and myrrh for the newborn King. The Fathers see and listen to over 30 audio presentations from the in their gifts omens of Christ's life: Church’s most compelling speakers! All available from virtually any device...anytime, anywhere. ♦ the gold as a sign of His Kingship. The gifts of gold START ENJOYING YOUR GIFT and frankincense were both prophesied by Isaias in the ♦ sixth chapter of his book. Go to Formed.org ♦ Enter our parish code on the homepage: J8M3GP ♦ the frankincense as a sign of His Deity. Mixed with ♦ Create a personal account with your email and pass- stacte, and onycha, and sweet galbanum, it was used by word Moses to set before the tabernacle as an offering to God, ♦ Start enjoying the best Catholic content all in one and was considered so "holy to the Lord" that it was for- place! bidden to use profanely (see Numbers 30). Memorial Mass Please join us at the 4:00 P.M. Mass Satur- ♦ the myrrh as a sign of His death. Myrrh, along with day, January 9, 2016. We will be remember- cinnamon and cassius, was used by Moses to "anoint the ing all those in our parish who died in 2015. tabernacle of the testimony, and the ark of the testa- Following the Mass will be a reception in the ment" (Numbers 30). It has analgesic properties, too, and Ave Maria Hall at which time you may collect was offered, mixed with wine, to Christ on the Cross, a special personalized Christmas ornament which He refused (Mark 15:23). Nicodemus brought in honor of your loved one. myrrh to anoint Our Lord's Body after death (John 19:39). ╬The Epiphany of the Lord╬ THIS WEEK “I give thanks to God at every remem- January 06...RCIA Inquiry, 6:00 P.M., Day Chapel brance of you, praying always with joy in my January 07...RCIA Catechumenate, 6:00 P.M., Day every prayer for all of you…” Philippians 1:3-4 Chapel Once again I have the challenge of finding adequate January 08...G.N.A.T.S. meet, 9:00 A.M., Library words to express my gratitude for all the assistance ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ that was given by you, our Church parish, in reach- ing out to aid families who were having a difficult time during the past holiday season. Words are so WOMEN’S PRAYER LUNCHEON insufficient to express my joy for your help. For your All women are invited to the Bishop’s Prayer invaluable help, support and patience, I say thank Luncheon on Wednesday, January 13, 2016, you. Your generosity was overwhelming—we were beginning at 11:30 A.M. in the Ave Maria Hall able to adopt seven families, providing food boxes of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. for each family and gifts for 7 adults and 25 children. Please bring your Bible; our scripture reading will be He- How awesome is that! brews 4:14—5:14. Cost: $15.00 per person, checks to be May God bless you, made out to the Diocese of Lake Charles, 414 Iris Street, Sister Jeannette Lake Charles, LA 70601. Please enclose a self- addressed and stamped envelope to be used to send ST. LOUIS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL your ticket to you. GREAT TUITION GIVE-AWAY$$ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ Win Tuition for one year at SLCHS!!! CATHOLIC MISSION TRIP...The Abrazando Cristo Invest in a child’s future—redeemable for up to two years. Mission Trip for 2016 will be July 1-10 to Nicaragua. Cost (Expires August 1, 2017) For every 500 tickets sold, an- of the trip is $1,950.00 (covers all air and ground other tuition prize will be awarded! All proceeds benefit transportation, meals, lodging, tips, taxes, retreat and St. Louis Catholic High School. Drawing to be held Janu- mission shirts). For an information packet/registration ary 30, 2016—-Need not be present to win. Prize is form please contact Monsignor Daniel Torres at 337-439- transferrable. Cannot be redeemed for cash and does 7400 or contact by e-mail [email protected]. not include registration fee. Cost per ticket: $25.00; can A $300.00 non-refundable deposit with the registration be purchased: slchs.org or at school’s office, 1620 form is due by January 11th to secure a seat. Onlly 25 Bank Street...436-7275 or email seats are available. First come, first served. [email protected] for more information. ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ Center for Catholic Studies offers opportunities to grow in faith. In January classes begin in Theology 201: Chris- Cathedral’s Altar Society Spring Trip tology—this course will equip students to respond to the The Cathedral’s Altar Society is planning a Spring Trip to words of Christ, “who do you say I am?”with the depth New Orleans. We will leave from the Ave Maria Hall and clarity provided by the Church’s two-millennia medita- parking lot at 6:30 A.M. on Wednesday, April 20, 2016. tion on the answer He Himself has given her, assisted by Our first stop in New Orleans will be at the Blessed Fran- the Holy Spirit and His promise to “guide her into all truth.” cis Xavier Seelos Shrine. We will then go to the WWII Instructor: Father D.B. Thompson, M.A., M.Div., S.T.B; Museum to have lunch with the Victory Belles and follow Dates: Mondays & Thursdays; Time: 4:50—6:10 P.M.