Heart of Jesus Dominican Laity When Mother Mary Henry, O.P, established the Monastery of the Heart of Jesus in Lockport, her ultimate dream was to see the Dominican vocation extended to a laity chapter. In 2000, a small group of inquirers gathered in response to her invitation. Today, we number 24 active and professed Lay Dominicans in addition to 13 prayer partners and numerous inquirers. We perceive our calling to the laity as a real God-given, Maryblessed, and Dominican-called vocation to preach the word of God. Our members come from several church parishes, but we are united in very active participation in evangelism through multiple missions throughout the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. We share with our pastors in numerous and welcomed duties, from eucharistic visitations to the sick and homebound to leadership in the CCD education of our children and in RCIA to the adults yearning to share our faith. We embrace our privilege of close association with our Dominican nuns who have supported us these 13 years with their love and prayers. At our monthly meetings, we try to address the four pillars of the Dominican charism: prayer, study, preaching and community. A topic of some pertinent area of instruction is presented to the group for study and ultimately to be shared with
family and acquaintances. In this, we treasure our association with our province of St. Martin de Porres, particularly the Dominican Chapter in New Orleans who led us through our first year. We also acknowledge the sacrifices of Annette Bourgeois who for two years attended that chapter’s meetings before our chapter, the
Heart of Jesus Dominican Laity of Lockport, began. We ask you, Bishop Shelton Fabre, to include our chapter and our Dominican nuns, in your prayers and intentions. We extend an open invitation to you to visit us and to pray and preach with us at every opportunity your busy schedule allows.
Come, Lord Jesus! Come, Lord Jesus! groups would like to extend a warm welcome to you, Bishop Fabre! Come, Lord Jesus! is a Bible study and so much more! It is a program that establishes small faith communities which foster discipleship and a strong Catholic spiritual intimacy among its members and with Jesus Christ. One’s knowledge and love of Jesus continue to grow through active participation in the group. Divinely inspired and uniquely designed, Come, Lord Jesus! is based on Acts 2:42 which states, “They devoted themselves to the teaching of the Apostles, and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.” This format offers a powerful and effective method of bringing active Bible study into the lives of
Catholics as it links the truth of Scripture with Sacred Tradition. It creates an atmosphere of prayer and helps to develop an awareness of the divine presence as well as nurtures an ardent desire for God. Come, Lord Jesus! is a program that was developed in the Diocese 127 of Lafayette, Louisiana, in the late 1960s by Father Conley Bertrand, a parish priest. Using the four elements of prayer, Scripture, Eucharist, and Christian community this program is a perfect model for the New Evangelization. Members grow in knowledge of the teachings of the Catholic Church through the study of the Catechism, learn to witness their faith, gain a deeper appreciation of the Sunday liturgy and are inspired to live out the Gospel message.
ANAWIM COMMUNITY - WOMEN’S VOCATION GROUP Our prayers are with you Bishop Shelton Fabre. May the Lord bless the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux with the abundance of men and women answering their vocation call to the priesthood or religious life.
PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS
Creator God, Life is your gift to me, Through Baptism, you invite me to share the gift of my life in service to others. Be with me as I choose each day to show Your presence in our world. Give me the courage and generosity to respond to Your love, to Your call. I pray especially for those who serve You as priests, brothers, sisters, deacons and lay ministers. Keep them close to you. Open the minds and hearts of many other men and women that they may accept Your challenge to build the Kingdom. Amen. ~Roseann Kasayka, OSF www.bayoucatholic.com