• May 26, 2013
      HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!
      Please remember in prayer all service men and women, living and deceased


      PARISH CALENDAR
      Saturday, May 25
      4:00    -Mass for Mary Adams, Fred & Peter Beauchesne, Cecilia Billimek, Bruce DeKeyzer, Alice Feazell, Bill Humphries, Betty Mathews, Rodney McNeal, Joan Nicholas, Emma Rae Petrus, Pat Rabalais, Ruby Trahan, Patty Verderamo, J.J. & Una Wilson, Intention of Kenneth Trahan
      5:30    -Mass for Wendall Winegeart

      Sunday, May 26
      8:00    -Mass for Albert “Strut” Vanderlick
      9:30    -Mass for Marvin Finney
                  -Children’s Church (5-10 yrs old)
      11:00    -Mass for the people of the parish
                  -Children’s Church (5-10 yrs old)
      12:30    -Spanish Mass for Edna Rabalais
      6:00    -Mass for Callista Groom

      Monday, May 27
      8:00    -Mass for Hyacinthe “Hiway” Mathews Bailey

      Tuesday, May 28
      8:00    -Mass for James Dupuy
      10:00    -Mass at Lexington House for Mary Weston
      5:45    -Exercise Class (HFC)

      Wednesday, May 29
      8:00    -Mass for Betty Mathews

      Thursday, May 30
      8:00    -Mass for Audrey Mayeaux

      Friday, May 31
      8:00    -Barbara Jeansonne, Emma Rae Petrus, Darryl and Robert Rigby, Eldine Robertson, Sid Rud, Joe Scarbrock, In Thanksgiving

      Saturday, June 1
      4:00    -Mass for Mary Adams, Bruce Dekeyzer, Bernice Dorsey, Greg Ellis, Alice Feazell, Fred and Oceana Geisel, Bill Humphries, Jules Lacour, Betty Mathews, Joan Nichols, Pat Rabalais, Berthe Rebagliati and Gaetan, Chuck Saucier, Ruby Trahan, Patty Verderamo, Intention of Kenneth Trahan
      5:30    -Mass for Maude and Allen Mayeux

      Sunday, June 2
      8:00    -Mass for Taylor Roberts
      9:30    -Mass for Jan Tolito
                  - Children’s Church (5 - 10 yrs old)
      11:00    -Mass for the people of the parish
                  -Children’s Church (5-10 yrs old)
      12:30    -Spanish Mass for Edna Rabalais    
      6:00    -Mass for Jack Dekeyzer, Julie Dekeyzer Williams

      ALTAR FLOWERS: If you are interested in donating fresh flowers for the altar, call the church office at 445-7141 ext 20.
       
      ALTAR SANCTUARY LAMPS were provided in loving memory of Bob Davis by Harold Black; and Amy Prestridge by Mary Faircloth. If you are interested in having a loved one remembered by providing the sanctuary lamps, call the church office at 445-7141 ext 20. $7.50 per candle.

      ADORATION CHAPEL: The Blessed Sacrament is reserved for adoration by all the faithful in the St. Pius X Chapel located in the rear of the Church building. Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament is strongly encouraged as the Eucharist is the ‘source and summit’ of our spiritual lives. Adorers can attest to the many favors received through this devout practice. To obtain the combination for the chapel please stop by the church office at 3822 Bayou Rapides Road, during office hours.

      READINGS FOR NEXT WEEKEND: Gn 14:18-20 Ps 110:1-4 1 Cor 11:23-26 Lk 9:11b-17 Catechism 1373-1381

      OUR OFFERTORY GIFTS
       
      Regular Collection    
      Average expenses for week                             $19,966.67
      Gifts for the week of May 19                             $18,399.34
      Short for the week of May 19                              $1,567.33
      Holy Family Center    
      Balance on HFC Note 05/03/2013                  $1,140,325.61
      Collected on Pledges for Month of May           $10,735.28
      Holy Family Center Monthly Note                     $12,462.04
      Balance on School Loan 05/03/2013                $182,601.53
      Monthly Note on School Loan                              $2,026.00

          THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

          Today’s Psalm reminds us that we have been crowned with glory and honor and given rule over the works of God’s hands. But we must be good stewards, for the Lord will surely hold us accountable for the use of those gifts!

      FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED AND FOR THE CONSOLATION OF THEIR FAMILIES: Lillian Bruyninckx, Jimmy Kramer

      OUR SICK: Jean Belgard, Phillip Kramer, Maria McKenzie

      RECOVERING, CONVALESCING OR ONGOING TREATMENT: Joanne Andries, Alyce Bertrand, Neilson Burke, Gloria Collins, Pat Curcio, Christine Jahner, Tina LaBorde, Ann Lambert, Dallas Lewis, Susan McKinney, Kester Porter, Antony Ross, Ethan Simpson, Joan Schneider, Danny Thompson, Dawn Thornton, Reese Wiggins, Rivers Wilson

      OUR SHUT- INS: Elsie Ducote Allen, Harry Armand, Virgie Armand, Alice Arsenault, Eudore Arsenault, Jacqueline Barthel, Minnie Basco, Belton Beaubouef, Emile Belgard,  Joseph Belgard, Lizzie Belgard, Maretta Benoit, Calvin Bordelon, Nellie Bordelon, Shirley Bost, Margie Braud, Elaine Brodnax, Daniel Brooks, Eleanor Bynum, Larry Cancienne, Madeline Cancienne, Rita Cormier, Rebecca Curcio, Myrtis Daigre, Huey Deal, Aleda DeKeyzer, Frank Dellabitta, Eileen Drerup, Yvonne Dubroc, Michael Dwyer, Thelma Elie, Elsie Farman, Mary Fisher, Mary Funk, Aline Garon, Mary Gaspard, Lois Gauthier,  Gloria Gonzales, Mercier Grant, Doris Greene, Jessie Griffin, Anita Guillory, Gladys Guillory, Grace Hamilton, Claire Hebert, Bertha Hopewell,  Aileen Humphries, Carl Kimbrell, Tess Kirkwood,  Patricia Lamkin, Earline Leavines, Alice LeJeune, Josephine Marcotte, Clara Martin, Alice Mathews, Marjorie Mathews, Eula Maumphrey, Margaret McDonald, Dorothy McGee, Maxine Meadows, Lydia Menache, Clemmie Michiels, Elaine Michiels, Lettie Michiels, Ann Miller, Ovada Morgan, Hilda Naquin, Jacqueline O’Neal, Yvonne Perrin, Rose Ponthieux, Kathleen Poole, Phyllis Potts, Dorothy Reagan, Lucille Robinette, Peggy Rock, Theresa Rudisill, Ann Saucier, Glynn Scarborough, Ina Steiner, Enola Stewart, Marie Swido, Catherine Turner, Michael Turner, Susan Turner, Frances Vance, Herman Vandersypen, Cornelia Vanlangendonck, Angie Vercher, Leala Vercher, Mary Verzwyvelt, Rowena Vidrine, Willie Voorhies, Elcho Young
          
      PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY: Captain Greg Abide, 1st  Lt. Donald R. Bolton, Jr., SSgt Chad Bordelon, Lt. Luke Borrel, Chaplain Captain John Brocato, SSgt. Mike Carlin, Sgt. Brad Cavrak, 1st Lt. Brian Clayton, E4 Cruz Cline, USCG-BM1 Todd Crooks, Lieutenant Brian Dendy, PFC Rachael Ducote, Col. Richard Fenoli, Captain Christina Frazier, Captain Mike Frazier, Sgt. Matthew Gallagher, Lance Cpl. Jack Ryan Haller,  SSgt. Bryan Lachney, SSgt. Danielle Lachney, SFC Steven C. Looney, SA Jacob A. Orlando, HN Christian Perkins, Greg Perkins, AO1 Jacob Spangler, Corporal Kaitlyn Tritle, 2nd Lt. Francis Jerome Vanderlick, Lt. JG Claire M. Vidrine. If you have members of your family who have been called to active military duty, or are already on active duty, please call 445-7141 ext 20 or e-mail us at dbrown@strita.org.  Please remember to keep all our military and their families in your prayers.

      PARISH OFFICES will be closed on Monday, May 27, in observance of Memorial Day.

      CATHOLIC COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN: (CCC) focuses on finding new ways to bring the gospel message to you by working to be wherever the faithful and those seeking the faith are. CCC provides content the way you need it—on the Internet to strengthen marriage, in podcasts for daily readings, on television for Christmas Mass, and on Facebook for news, discussions, and sharing of the faith. Please be generous in the Collection and support this important work. CCC is how the Good News gets around to you.  You may use the envelope in your monthly packet or a pew envelope clearly marked and simple drop in the collection basket to make a contribution to CCC.
          
      MASS INTENTIONS: At this time, we have an abundance of Mass Intention request with the exception of our two multi-intention Masses. However, there are many parishes in our Diocese that have a grave lack of Mass Intentions. If you would like to request a Mass, and are open to having that Mass forwarded to another parish, please call us at 445-7141, ext. 20. We appreciate your help and understanding!                 – Fr. Scott

      NEW SHUT-INS: In the past we have found people who were in the hospital, who should have been on our shut-ins list. If you know someone who is Catholic, belongs to St. Rita Parish and cannot come to Mass because of medical reasons, please contact Sr. Hannah Marie O’Brien at 445-7141 ext 16. We have Eucharistic servers who bring communion to all our shut-ins at least once a week. Our priests visit shut-ins regularly. Please be aware of your neighbors.

      Pastor’s Notes.....

        As was announced last weekend, Fr. Blake Deshautelle has been appointed Pastor of St. Joseph Church in Colfax by Bishop Herzog! He will continue as Chaplain to Holy Savior Menard Central High School.  Please join me in thanking him for his ministry to St. Rita this past year. Congratulations, Fr. Blake!

        We will be receiving some sacramental and Mass assistance at St. Rita, although no assignments to such have been finalized at this time.

        I have asked Bishop Herzog to relieve me of the position of President of Holy Savior Menard.  It has been my pleasure to serve in this capacity for the last three years. Fr. Chad Partain has been appointed as President.

        I am pleased to announce that Bishop Herzog has assigned a Permanent Deacon to St. Rita, Rev. Mr. Ray Gibson. We look forward to welcoming Deacon Ray to our St. Rita family!    

         I will continue in my role as Vicar for Clergy, serving Bishop Herzog and the priests of our diocese. Please pray for me as I continue this ministry and as I begin my 12th year as Pastor of St. Rita.                                                        – Fr. Scott

      VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL will be held the week of July 15 - 19, 8:00 AM - 12:15 PM for students in grades Pre - K through 6 (2013-14) at the Holy Family Center. There will be no charge for registered parishioners; cost for all others is $25 per family. Registration will be held after all Masses , June 22 - 23. This will be a fun week.    
                                                                         – Sr. Nell Murray

      ST. RITA ALTAR SOCIETY COOKBOOK: The Altar Society is putting together a new cookbook.  Please send us your favorite recipes as soon as possible! You may drop off your recipes at the Church office or in the Sacristy after Masses. Or you can mail your recipes to; 3822 Bayou Rapides Road, Alexandria, LA 71303. You may also email your recipes to etta@strita.org. Please type or print your recipes and be sure to include your name and phone number. Our goal is to collect 500 recipes, we have 378 recipes to date! For more information, contact Belinda Guillory at 290-7709 or Gail Sylvia at 487-1447.

      HOLY FAMILY CENTER: For questions concerning the rental or scheduling of the hall please contact Debbie Brown at 445-7141 ext 20.
          
      EXERCISE CLASSES on Tuesdays at 5:45 PM in the Holy Family Center. Classes are free and open to the public. For more information call Debbie Brown at 445-7141 ext 20.

      STEUBENVILLE SOUTH VOLUNTEERS: If you are interested in helping in the food service area, please contact Mrs. Belinda Guillory at 290-7709 or Janice Simms at 201-0358. Volunteer registration forms are available at the church office or on the Diocese website www.diocesealex.org.

      HEART OF LOUISIANA CREDIT UNION: If you or any member of your family are parishioners of St. Rita Church, you are eligible to join Heart of Louisiana Credit Union. By joining you begin a lifetime of benefits. Your savings deposited earn dividends and loans can be made for any purpose. All deposits are insured  up to $100,000.  Stop by any of our locations or call 437-4562 for more information.

      TASTE OF FAITH: Mark your calendars now for the annual Taste of Faith dinner will be held Thursday, August 8 from 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM at the St. Rita Holy Family Center. This seminarian benefit dinner is prepared by Bishop Ronald Herzog and assisted by the seminarians.  All you can eat dishes are free, but donations are welcome.  Details TBA.

      JOB OPENINGS: TEACHERS AT ST. ANTHONY SCHOOL, BUNKIE: St. Anthony School in Bunkie will have a teacher vacancy in the 2013-14 school year in grade 2 and also in the upper grades (5,6,7, and 8) specifically to teach math. Certification and knowledge of basic computer skills is required. Interested and qualified persons are asked to send a resume to Martha Coulon, St. Anthony School, 116 S. Knoll, Bunkie, LA  71322.

      NATIONWIDE MASS TIME AND LOCATIONS: If you are traveling in the United States and wish to know about the Mass schedule and the locations of the Catholic churches in your destination area, please call toll free 1-800-627-7846 or visit www.masstimes.org