As your pastor, I am sure many of you have heard me say those words over the years. I am often trying to encourage others to realize that God has a plan for our lives, even when we are unsure or tentative in our trusting Him. Last week was filled with planning and preparation for me, (especially with the help of our wonderful volunteers), in anticipation of the Centennial Memorial Mass and Celebration in honor of Father Narcisse Martin. You may have heard me mention that name a few times.

An added joy for me was a very short trip of three days that I was embarking on—to visit my family in California and celebrate a special birthday for my twin granddaughters. To ensure I was not away from the parish too long, I had flights on the “red-eye”, going and coming back. Although our family time was brief, we experienced great joy being together, and I prepared to return to my beloved parishioners.

Alas, it was not to be. As you have been informed, I experienced a slight stroke. Certainly not something I expected, and a shocking reminder of the fragility of our humanity. My plans included returning to continue the preparation for the Fr. Martin celebration, not hospitalization. Trying to get a handle of what was ahead of me, I was reminded of words I had stated many times--“Yes, God is in charge”! We are in His good hands all the time! We just have to surrender to Him and He will do everything for us.

It is impossible for me to fully express my gratitude to all of you for your support though your many prayers. They are of great strength and inspiration to me! May He give me the Grace to accept His Will at all times, good and bad. Yes, God is in charge!

“Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you for the service of our priests and religious sisters and brothers. May they be inspired by the heroic legacy of Father Narcisse Martin, scholar, priest, and pastor a century ago, especially in devotion to the Eucharist, support for the Priesthood, and their fruits of intercultural unity. May our love and appreciation for all who have served us as priests and religious open the hearts of our children you call to conform their lives to Jesus Christ. We ask this through the intercession or Mary, The Immaculate Conception, by the power of your Holy Spirit, through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.” 


One in Christ,

Fr. Alain

Si, Dios esta a Cargo!

Y agregandome alegria sobre este corto viaje de tres dias que estaba emprendiendo—y asi poder visitar a mi familia en California y celebrara un cumpleanos especial para mis nietas gemelas. Asegurandome que no iba a estar lejos de la parroquia por mucho tiempo, tenia vuelos de “ultimo momento”, yendo y regresando. Sin embargo, nuestro tiempo en familia fue breve, aun asi experimentamos gran alegria estando juntos, y estaba listo para volver a mis queridos parroquianos.

Entonces, no seria asi. Como se les ha informado, experimente un leve derrame cerebral. Ciertamente nada de esto lo esperaba, y me dio un impresionantes recordatorio de la fragilidad humana. Mis planes incluyendo el returno para continuar la preparacion para la celebracion del Padre Martin, no una hospitalizacion. Y tratando de manejar lo que estaba delante de mi, Me acorde de las palabras que dije muchas veces--“Si, Dios esta a cargo”! Estamos en Sus manos todo el tiempo! Solo tenemos que someternos a El y El hara todo por nosotros.

Es imposible para mi expresar completamente la gratitude hacia todos ustedes por su apoyo y sus muchas oraciones. Son una gran Fortaleza e inspiracion para mi! Que El me de la Gracia de aceptar su Voluntad todo el tiempo, bueno o malo. Si, Dios esta a cargo!

“Padre Celestial, te damos gracias y te alabamos por el servicio de nuestros sacerdotes y los hermanos y hermanas religiosas. Para que sean inspirados por el heroico legado de Padre Narcisse Martin, estudioso, sacerdote, y pastror de hace un centenar, especialmente en la devocios hacia la Eucaristia, su apoyo hacia el sacerdocio, y sus frutos de la unidad intercultural. Que nuestro amor y aprecio para todos los que han servido como sacerdotes y religiosos y abran los corazones de nuestros ninos que has llamado a formar sus vidas a Jesucristo. Te pedimos esto a traves de la intersecion de Sta Maria, la inmaculada concepcion, por el poder de su Santo Espiritu, a traves del mismo Cristo, nuestro Senor. Amen.”

Uno en Cristo,

Padre Alain