Easter Sunday’s Celebration

 
 

Thursday April 2 Morning Mass

 

March 31st

 
 

5th Sunday in Lent March 29th 2020

 

    • Watch Sunday Mass & Daily Mass from St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans by visiting: thedailymass.com/mass

    • Bishop Fabre Announces Mass Cancellations

      Posted Monday, March 16, 2020 | 6:45pm

      My dear people of God in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux,
       
      May God’s blessings and His peace be with you.  I speak to you again today with news regarding our continuing response to the coronavirus pandemic, news which brings up many emotions in my own heart and I’m sure emotions in your hearts as well.  In response to suggested restrictions on gatherings made by our national and state leaders today, I have chosen to cancel the public celebration of Mass in our diocese on Sundays and weekdays until further notice, effective immediately.  This includes the public celebration of weddings, funerals, and confirmations.  I know that these sacred events are incredibly important to you, and I do not make this decision lightly.
       
      I recognize that this decision brings up many different emotions in each one of us. While acknowledging these emotions, we must also together recognize that, in this time of pandemic, God is not going anywhere; and neither are your priests; and neither is your Church.  We are here for you in this time of uncertainty.  Knowing our need to be remembered in the presence of the Lord, I want to assure you that our priests will daily continue to offer Masses privately for you and for your intentions.  I encourage each member of the faithful to make an Act of Spiritual Communiondaily.  Our churches will remain open for the daily personal prayer of the faithful.
       
      I make these decisions because I care for you and because I care for those who are especially vulnerable to this virus. The outbreak of this novel coronavirus has disrupted all of our lives.  This is difficult and it is inconvenient.  Because there are many unknown variables in terms of the transmission and effects of this virus, we must be prudent in our decision-making to care for “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40) by taking these necessary extra precautions for their sake.
       
      In the coming days, the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux will be providing many resources for your prayer, reflection, and spiritual aids to help you live fruitfully during this difficult time. These resources can be found on our diocesan website, htdiocese.org. The first of these, available now, is an Act of Spiritual Communion. 
       
      However, I want to speak with you more personally and directly. Therefore, I will be addressing the people of the diocese this Wednesday, March 18, at 7 PM through our diocesan website, Facebook Page, and other venues.  The purpose of the address is to answer questions that I know many of you may have, as well as to offer a way forward in the midst of such challenging times.  Again, I invite you to join me this Wednesday, March 18, at 7 PM.  Please check our diocesan website for further information.
       
      My dear friends in Christ, let us continue to pray for one another and with one another during this time of uncertainty.  Together, let us offer the inconveniences and any other sacrifices in union with our crucified Lord for those who are suffering.  Let us attentively love and care for our families, our loved ones, and our elderly neighbors in this time.

      May God’s grace and God’s peace be with you.

      Sincerely yours in Christ,
      + Most Reverend Shelton J. Fabre

       

      ____________________________________

      Act of Spiritual Communion

      Whenever you cannot go to Mass or receive the Eucharist, there is a prayer that allows you to make a Spiritual Communion.

       

      The Act of Spiritual Communion was written by St. Alphonsus de Liguori:

       

      My Jesus, 

      I believe that You

      are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. 

      I love You above all things, 

      and I desire to receive You into my soul. 

      Since I cannot at this moment

      receive You sacramentally, 

      come at least spiritually into my heart.

      I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.

      Never permit me to be separated from You.

      Amen.

       

      (You may make this Spiritual Communion anytime you need it and as often as you need it)

    • A Letter from Bishop Fabre on the Mass Attendance & Catholic School Closures

     
     
    Posted Friday, March 13, 2020 | 1:15pm

    All Catholic schools in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and all public schools in the state of Louisiana will be closed from Monday, March 16th until Monday, April 13th, as Louisiana seeks to slow the spread of coronavirus in the state.  Over the last several weeks, our Catholic Schools Office has been preparing for this possibility.  

    In response, the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux will begin implementing their distance learning plans.  Families will receive communication from their child’s school with specific details pertaining to the expectations of their students.

    Please continue to monitor messages received from your school’s current family communication method, including PlusPortals, as well as the diocesan website and Facebook Page.

     

     

     

     

    A Prayer During This Time of Need

    Posted Friday, March 13, 2020

    Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has issued the following regarding Coronavirus:

    With the worldwide outbreak of the coronavirus, we are confronted once more with the fragility of our lives, and again we are reminded of our common humanity — that the peoples of this world are our brothers and sisters, that we are all one family under God.

    God does not abandon us, he goes with us even now in this time of trial and testing.  In this moment, it is important for us to anchor our hearts in the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. Now is the time to intensify our prayers and sacrifices for the love of God and the love of our neighbor.  Let us draw closer to one another in our love for him, and rediscover the things that truly matter in our lives.

    United with our Holy Father Pope Francis, let us pray in solidarity for our brothers and sisters here and around the world who are sick.  Let us pray for those who have lost loved ones to this virus. May God console them and grant them peace. 

    We pray also for doctors, nurses, and caregivers, for public health officials and all civic leaders.  May God grant them courage and prudence as they seek to respond to this emergency with compassion and in service to the common good.

    In this time of need, I invite all the faithful to seek together the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and I share this prayer with you:  

    Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, 
    Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Americas. 
    We fly to you today as your beloved children. 
    We ask you to intercede for us with your Son,
    as you did at the wedding in Cana. 

    Pray for us, loving Mother,
    and gain for our nation and world, 
    and for all our families and loved ones,
    the protection of your holy angels,
    that we may be spared the worst of this illness. 

    For those already afflicted, 
    we ask you to obtain the grace of healing and deliverance. 
    Hear the cries of those who are vulnerable and fearful, 
    wipe away their tears and help them to trust. 

    In this time of trial and testing, 
    teach all of us in the Church to love one another and to be patient and kind. 
    Help us to bring the peace of Jesus to our land and to our hearts.

    We come to you with confidence, 
    knowing that you truly are our compassionate mother,
    health of the sick and cause of our joy.

    Shelter us under the mantle of your protection,
    keep us in the embrace of your arms, 
    help us always to know the love of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
     

     

  •  

  • Coronavirus F.A.Q.  |  Bishop Fabre
    Posted Thursday, March 12, 2020

    1)  Is the Diocese cancelling Masses this weekend? 
    As of Thursday, March 12 at 4:30 pm, there are no plans to cancel Masses this weekend.  While a few (arch)dioceses have made decisions to cancel Masses, those decisions were made in concert with state or local government.  As of this time we WILL have Mass this weekend.

    2)  Are there any extra-ordinary liturgical requirements for Masses this weekend? 
    Please be reminded that the following requirements are in effect for this weekend:

    • All Holy Water fonts are to be emptied and/or removed  

    • Non-physical, verbal only gesture during the Sign of Peace

    • Communion under form of Eucharistic Bread only; only the priest is allowed to receive from the sacred Chalice

    • I am asking that parishioners NOT  hold hands during the recitation of the Our Father.

    • Communicants are required to receive Holy Communion in the hand.  This is a change from the previous option.  At this time, I am going to take the additional step of REQUIRING that all communicants receive in the hand.  

    3)  What about non-liturgical parish gatherings such as Bible studies, prayer groups, meetings, etc.? 
    As of Thursday, March 12 at 4:30 pm, there are no restrictions on small, non-liturgical parish gatherings such as Bible studies, prayer groups, meetings, etc. However, pastors retain the authority to make their own decisions; therefore, at this moment I defer this decision making to the pastor.

    4)  What about Saint Joseph Altars?
    Bishop Shelton Fabre would like to thank parishes for their commitment to St. Joseph’s Altars.  These altars remain a beautiful legacy that we are happy to see passed down from one generation to the next.  In light of the prudence required of us because of the coronavirus pandemic, Bishop Fabre has announced that all St. Joseph’s Altars that are scheduled to take place after Sunday, March 15, 2020 are to be transferred to the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker on May 1, 2020.