We all want to hear GOOD NEWS! On this Special Sunday, both GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY and WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS, I like to share with you some GOOD NEWS FIRST GOOD NEWS: I just got a call from our own DEACON JUAN PABLO (with us since last May, first as a Seminarian and then as Deacon). Our Archbishop Cardinal Gregory had just CALLED HIM TO THE HOLY ORDER OF PRIEST! Which means that he is now chosen by the Church to be ordained a diocesan priest this June!!! PRAISE THE LORD! SECOND GOOD NEWS: Deacon Juan Pablo has asked me to invite all of you to attend...

My column of last week "HOUMA... THIBODAUX" raised a few questions, not so much about the central story about the Installation of Bishop Dorsonville as Fifth Bishop of Houma Thibodaux Diocese in Louisiana but rather about the related story of the CELEBRATION of the CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF FATHER MARTIN. WHO IS FATHER MARTIN? In a few words Father Narcisse Martin is a French Sulpician Priest who taught in many seminaries ( France, Canada, Baltimore USA) before becoming a pastor caring for the souls of the Waldorf area with great zeal for 29 years until his death on August 6, 1923. The Waldorf area he served covers three current parishes :St Michael Baden (with its own mission church St Dominic), St Peter and Our Lady Help of Christians. WHY DO WE STILL TALK ABOUT A PRIEST 100 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH?...

Have you ever heard the word HOUMA? (pronounce HOMA, a native American name as in OklaHOMA). Maybe not. Have you ever heard the word THIBODAUX? (pronounce Ti-bo-do, Fourth Governor of Louisiana). Maybe not. If you were present at the 5 pm Mass one month ago (March 4), you would have heard those two words HOUMA THIBODAUX mentioned together several times. Bishop DORSONVILLE had accepted our Parish Council's invitation. We wanted to express all our appreciation for his continuous support for the last 10 years. Bishop Dorsonville was leaving our Archdiocese of Washington as a long-time Auxiliary Bishop to become the new Bishop of the Diocese of HOUMA THIBODAUX in LOUISIANA. While he was with us in Waldorf probably for the last time, he...

THE PEOPLE WHO WALKED IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT: THEY HAVE RETURNED TO THE LORD! They have returned to worship as a community: THEY ARE BACK ENTERING THE JOY OF THE HOLY WEEK! We have just entered this Holy Week with GREAT JOY. I was present at all Masses this PALM SUNDAY: what a JOY to see our church as packed as ever: one could not find a seat at the 11:30 AM Mass. At the 7 PM Mass, there was standing room only following an outdoor procession as long as ever. I felt in my heart: THEY ARE BACK! PRAISE THE LORD! Our entire parish community...