St. Joseph Co-Cathedral P.O. Box 966 721 Canal Boulevard Thibodaux, LA 70301

Pastoral Staff Most Rev. Shelton, J. Fabre, D.D. 4th Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux Very Rev. Vicente N. DeLa Cruz, J.C.L, V.F. Pastor Rev. Aurelio D. Luzon Parochial Vicar Permanent Deacons Deacon Ambrose Ayzinne Deacon Joseph Bourgeois Mrs. Miriam C. Guillot Office Manager Ms. Renée E. Guillot Secretary Youth Formation Program Mrs. Susan Manning Ms. Patty McKee Adult Formation Program Ms. Margaret Orgeron Maintenance Mr. Carl Waguespack Contact Information Church Office: (985) 446-1387 Fax Number: (985) 446-6571 Website: www.stjoseph-cc.org Email Address: stjosephcc@htdiocese.org Facebook Page: St. Joseph-Co-Cathedral—Catholic-Church-Thibodaux

Mass Schedule Weekday Monday to Friday 6:30 AM and 5:30 PM Saturday at 6:30 AM Weekend Saturday Vigil Mass 4:00 PM Sunday 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30 AM; 6:00 PM Confession/Reconciliation 30 minutes before each Weekday and weekend Masses and from 3 to 4 PM on Saturday Baptisms FIRST Sunday of each month (except during Lent) following the 11:30 AM Mass. Baptismal Seminar on the last Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM in the Life Center Building. Please call the Church Office for arrangements. Weddings Arrangements should be made six months before the wedding. Please call the Church Office to schedule. St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School 501 Cardinal Drive, Thibodaux, LA 70301 Mr. Gerard Rodrigue Jr., Principal Email Address: stjoeelm@htdiocese.org (985) 446-1346 Church Office Hours Monday to Thursday 8:00 Am to 4:30 PM Friday 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM Closed for Lunch 12 noon to 1:00 PM TRMC Hospital Chaplain Rev. Jacob Lipari III (985) 438-0215

Page 2 Vol. 51 No. 18 November 3, 2019

Father Vic+

PASTOR’S THOUGHTS: November 2-3, 2019 This is a packed weekend for us with the celebrations of our Annual Memorial Mass commemorating all our deceased love ones this past Friday’s 5:30 PM Mass, followed by the Blessing of the Tombs this Saturday morning, and this Sunday, we will resume having our annual Church Parish Picnic at our new location – the KC Home on St. Patrick Street! After a year of consultation and study we have decided to move our church parish picnic there because of space (lots of it at the KC Home) and for us to really have “a picnic-experience” away from the familiar place. A church parish picnic is aimed at bringing families together to celebrate our families, visit with each oth-er, have some quality-time with one another, and most of all—have fun! To those of you who will join us (or who joined us) at our church parish picnic, THANK YOU! One of my favorite gospel narratives is from St. Luke that we will be proclaiming this weekend (Lk. 19:1-10). The story of Zaccheus, a man of great wealth and status but short on “stature,” is one of those Bible stories that connects with most of us. Without wealth or status to brag about, the only 2 things I have in common with Zaccheus is (1) we’re both short and (2) we both would like to see Jesus! Zaccheus became a tax collector probably because it’s their family trade. It was common in ancient times to pass on the family trade to your sons who are expected not only to do well in the said trade but bring wealth, prestige and security to all the members of the family. Obviously, Zaccheus did very well that he became a wealthy man. But all the wealth in this world could not bring or give Zaccheus one thing – the presence of Jesus in his life. Zaccheus probably have already heard about Jesus long before Jesus passed by Jericho. With his power, influence and connections he probably had heard through his fellow tax collectors (or from Matthew?) about this Holy Man from Nazareth who is “a friend of tax collectors.” Despised by their fellow Jews be-cause of their profession (they take taxes from them on behalf of the Roman rulers) tax collectors really don’t have too many friends even among other tax collectors because of the prevalent “crab-mentality” among them (everyone wants to get ahead!). Despised, unwanted, unfulfilled and perhaps lonely for acceptance, Zaccheus really wanted to see Jesus to see IF what he had heard about him is true. May be Jesus could be a friend to him as well. Zaccheus

wanted to see Jesus not only to have a glimpse of kindness that he was deprived of, but of also to have an experience of the “holy” (Jesus was considered the holy man from Nazareth) in a community and life that stifles hope and faith. Jesus knew what was going on in the minds and hearts of those who follow Him even those from a distance like Zaccheus. This is the one of the reasons why Jesus INTENDED TO VISIT JERICHO even just to pass by through the town in order to encounter Zaccheus. But as you have heard, this encounter would not be easy for Zaccheus. The popularity of Jesus preceded Him so much so that by the time He got to Jericho, a great crowd was already expecting Him. A man of short stature, Zaccheus could not compete with the crowd. His only chance to see Jesus would be lost because he was short not only physical-ly but opportunity as well. As I’ve already said, Jesus knew that and so He provided a Sycamore tree for Zaccheus to climb upon! Remember, God always provide! That Sycamore tree probably have been there all this time, Zaccheus was just not paying attention to it until now. Sycamore trees grow naturally in Asia minor and are desired for its hardwood that carpenters use for building homes and making furniture. Sycamore trees fed and provided well for Joseph, Jesus and Mary of Nazareth who depended on them for a living. Ironically, the very tree that Zaccheus ignored for so long before now provided a way for him to see Jesus, and live. Perhaps the same thing happened or could happen in our own lives. God placed plenty of “Sycamore trees” in our paths of life. Some of them are people, experiences or oppor-tunities that allow us to see God. Like Zaccheus, sometimes our life-experiences “crowd” us too much and because we are “short” on God-experiences, we’re unable to see God in the midst of them no matter how much we try. This is the reason why God provided “Sycamore Trees” for us to climb upon. Or perhaps YOU are still ignoring ‘dem trees. Are you? I hope not. Jesus will be passing by soon. If you would like to see Him, get up on your Sycamore tree so that he could see you too and stay at your house today!

Please remember Marie Kearns who passed on into the Kingdom of our Father recently. Please pray also that her family may find comfort and consolation through their faith.

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Our Sunday Bulletin is supported by the advertisers who are listed on our back page. What better way to say THANK YOU than to remember them the next time you go shopping.

Thank you for your generosity !

Oct. 19th/20th, 2019 Weekly Collection $ 10,795.33 Weekly Loose 1,157.00 ACH Monthly 4,752.00 ACH Weekly 340.00 $ 17,039.33 Mission Sunday $2,710.37

Getting to know each other over

Cookies & Coffee Join us in the Life Center on the

1st Tuesday of the month; November 5th

following the 6:30 AM Mass Thank you!!

Rory Hebert & Annie Waguespack (1)

Catholic Charities Can Help!

Why go through the stress of applying for Social Security Disability on your own if you can get help FREE OF CHARGE from someone who is experienced in the application process? If you are disabled and are no longer able to perform the duties of your employment, call Jennifer Gaudet at Catholic Charites 985-876-0490 to set up your appointment today!!

Parish Picnic with 10 AM Mass

@ the K.C. Home on St. Patrick Street

Sunday, November 3rd

BRING YOUR FAVORITE DESSERT

And LAWN CHAIRS

Daylight Savings Time Ends, November 3rd. Also, remember to change the batteries in

your smoke detectors.

Crossroads Baby Bottle Fundraiser

Thank you for your participa-tion in the Crossroads Baby Bottle Fundraiser. Your support helps save lives. It’s not too late to turn in your bottle even if it is empty. Crossroads reuses them for each event. God Bless you for your generosi-ty. St. Joseph Co-Cathedral has collected $4,365.21. Please keep Crossroads in your prayers.

Mass of St. Martin de Porres for Black Catholics: All Catholics are invited to a Mass commemorating St. Martin de Porres, patron saint of Catholics of African heritage and secondary patron of the province of New Orleans. St. Martin was a mixed-race Dominican lay brother who worked among the poor in Lima, Peru, and espe-cially attended to the African slaves who arrived sick at the port of Lima. On Thursday, November 7, 2019 at 7:00 pm at St. Lucy Church, Houma, Bishop Fabre will preside over this Mass. While the music and liturgical environment of the Mass will reflect African American culture, all Catho-lics are welcomed and invited to take part.