https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCVQcRjkPFxEs_CvqH1nR7w/videos
 

Parish Services Ongoing:

1) Daily Mass uploaded on YouTube around 9:30 am
2) Adoration chapel open for prayer: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm daily (limitation up to 4 people) ; Pavilion open  24 hours daily
3) Confessions: 3:00-3:45 pm Saturday; 7:30 - 7:50 am on Wednesday and Saturday mornings; after the 8 am Saturday Mass; and by appointment - contact Parish Office
4) Bulletin on website; paper copy in Church
5) Food Bank open at Metairie Rd Entrance to St. Joseph Hall, 9:00 - 11:00 am, Thursdays
6) ALL MASSES OPEN TO 205 PEOPLE AS OF JUNE 5 - SEE DETAILS BELOW
7) Parish Office open 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Monday through Thursday and  8:30 am - 2:00 pm on Friday.  For spiritual, sacramental or other needs, call 504-834-0340 or email  rgriffin@stfrancisxavier.com.  Emergency Line:  504-837-4733.


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         Sunday, July 12
           Sower, Seeds and Soil
        Next Update:  Tuesday, July 14
Yesterday’s 4 pm Vigil Mass celebrated and preached by Fr. Thien and accessible at church.stfrancisxavier.com
 
NOTE:  Facial covering (masks or shields) now required at all Masses, per order of the Governor, the Jefferson Parish President and at the request of the Archbishop.
 
Gospel Reflection – Sower, Seeds and Soil:  Jesus tells a memorable parable about a sower – a farmer – who planted seed by tossing it indiscriminately throughout his property.  The seed was good seed and primed to grow.  But the seed which fell on a footpath, on rocky soil and on soil mixed with weeds did not grow.  Only the seed which landed on fertile soil grew and was fruitful.  Jesus likened the sower, the seed and the soil as follows:  God is the sewer who sews good seed, God’s word, on various kinds of hearers:  the closeminded person (the footpath), the undisciplined person (the rocky soil), the distracted person (the weedy soil), and finally, the openminded, openhearted person (the good soil).  The good seed of God’s Word only grows in the heart of a person who is open to faith and praying regularly.  Jesus challenges us to be good soil:  to hear the Word of God, embrace it, let it ruminate through prayer, and then let it change our hearts and lives.  Let’s be that good soil. 
 
Sunday Mass Schedule:   Sunday Masses are at 8 am, 10 am, 12 noon and 6 pm.
 
Youth Ministry Event Sign-Up this Weekend:  We have a new Parish Youth Minister, Ron Courtade (photo below).  Ron is working hard to reactivate our CYO.  We plan to participate in the Rose Rally for Life, an outdoor, overnight event at St. Angela Merici Church from 9:00 pm on Saturday, August 1, to 6:00 am on Sunday, August 2.  The event is open to rising 8^th graders through 12^th graders.  The sign-up deadline is next Wednesday, July 15.  Ron will be in the back of Church to meet everyone and sign up youth for the Rose Rally immediately after several of the Masses this Sunday, or you can call Ron at the Parish Office (834-0340).

School News:  Meetings are continuing between our Principal and School Staff to prepare for the school year.  Valuable experience has been gained from summer school and summer camp.  Please keep our school administrators in prayer during these days of preparation and planning.
 
Summary of Wednesday Theology Talk.  Below is a summary of the theology talk given last Wednesday evening by Dr. Basil Davis on angels, coronavirus and the scientific theory of emergence.  A video of the talk is accessible at church.stfrancisxavier.com.
 
Two Upcoming Talks on Finding Hope in Addiction:  Substance addiction adversely impacts the lives of many people.  Mary Lou McCall, St. Francis Parishioner, Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist and Theology Student at Notre Dame Seminary, will give two talks on finding hope in addiction from 7-8 pm at St. Joseph Hall:  Part 1 on Wednesday, July 22, and Part 2 on Wednesday, August 5.  Mark your calendar and help us spread the word. 
 
Hope to begin perpetual adoration soon:   We hope to expand the Chapel to perpetual adoration in the near future, instead of from 7 am – 6 pm daily.  Check the list of available hours posted in church near the Chapel or text Dottie Watson at 504-339-4298.
 
Daily Mass, Adoration Chapel, Office Hours and Bulletin:  Daily Masses are at 6:30 am and 8 am Monday through Friday.  Adoration Chapel open daily from 7 am to 6 pm.  Parish Office open from 8:30 am – 4 pm Monday through Thursday and from 8:30 am – 2:00 pm on Friday.  Weekly Bulletin accessible on the parish website and in Church.
 
Parish Finances.  Our Parish collections were down the past two weekends – I think due to the July 4th holiday.  Our Church operates exclusively through the financial generosity of our parishioners.  If you are away on vacation this summer, please consider using Faith Direct’s automatic deduction program or please catch up with your donations when you return from holiday.  Thank you.
 
Next Email Update with Scripture Reflection on Tuesday, July 14. 
 

 
Highlights of Dr. Davis’ talk, “Angels, Coronavirus and the Scientific Concept of Emergence” (July 12, 2020)
 
Angels were created by God in the first moments of creation. Angels are spirits with consciousness and energy.  They do not propagate.  Their number is fixed.  They have superhuman strength and abilities. Since angels were created at a time where the laws of physics were somewhat different from what they are now, Angels appear to act ‘miraculously,’ which means they can act outside the laws of physics as we understand them, though entirely in accord with the laws of nature as God created them.

After God created angels, God created various beings through “emergence,” meaning that beings “emerge” or evolve over time; they continuously propagate and multiply.  This is the case of plants, animals, and humans.  They are subject to the laws of physics as we understand these laws today.

Citing numerous passages from the Old Testament and New Testament (including the Book of Job, the Book of Tobit, the Gospels, the Pauline Letters, Hebrews and the Book of Revelation), Dr. Davis explained how angels serve God, how they ministered to Jesus, and how they serve and heal humans (e.g. the angel Raphael healed Tobiah).  Except for the fallen angels (defeated by the angel Michael), angels are delighted with their role in creation.
Only humans are saved by the death and resurrection of Jesus, i.e. by the blood of the Lamb.  The fallen angels are eternally damned. They will be judged by humans at the end of time (1 Corinthians 6:3; 2 Peter 2:4).

Humans are saved by the “blood of the Lamb.”  Through the reception of the Holy Spirit, humans receive the life of God and become children of God (Galatians 6:4), a higher status than the rest of God’s creation, including angels (Hebrews 1:5).  

Because angels can help and heal us, we do well to invoke their aid in the battle against viruses and the battle against evil. But we need not call them by name, which is why the Bible gives their names so seldom. We call upon Jesus, because it is he who will send the angels to assist us.

Memo from Archbishop Aymond to Priests and Deacons re Facial Covering at Mass (June 30, 2020)

“Some civil parishes are sending representatives to visit churches and businesses to make certain that the guidelines regarding large gatherings are being enforced.

“Please make sure social distancing is observed and masks are worn.  In Orleans and Jefferson parishes, masks are required.  We want to observe these rules so as not to spread the virus.  The Catholic Church is a leader in this effort.

“God’s peace to you and your people.”

                              + + + + +

Loving and faithful God, through the years the people of our Archdiocese have appreciated the prayers and love of Our Lady of Prompt Succor in times of war, disaster, epidemic and illness. We come to you, Father, with Mary our Mother, and ask you to help us in the battle of today against violence, murder and racism.
 
We implore you to give us your wisdom that we may build a community founded on the values of Jesus, which gives respect to the life and dignity of all people.
 
Bless parents that they may form their children in faith. Bless and protect our youth that they may be peacemakers of our time. Give consolation to those who have lost loved ones through violence.
 
Hear our prayer and give us the perseverance to be a voice for life and human dignity in our community.
 
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to help us. Mother Henriette Delille, pray for us that we may be a holy family.