Other Links
  Page Updated: March 23, 2024
3310 Jefferson Highway, Lousiana 70121 | Phone:(504)-833-3366/ 833-4118 | Fax:(504)-834-1532

Pastor's Corner - Fr. Bac-Hai Viet Tran

Fr. Bac-Hai Viet Tran

Greeting you with love and blessings from God.

How was your week? How was your week? Hopefully the good weather has cheered you up these last few days. I was away for a wedding two weeks ago and guess what, even in Florida it was cold. There are a lot of people in Florida now and talk about traffic. It was crazy. If you complain about traffic in New Orleans, you should go to Florida and see what happens. Even my friend who picked me up from the airport who has travel technology to notify him of all the traffic problems could not avoid the traffic. I was not up to date on this technology, but when I see my friend using this new type of GPS for traffic information, I was shocked. It told us everything that we could avoid, even the police. I liked it. The day after the wedding they took me to Epcot Center and man let me tell you, it was crowded. It was truly international. It was so funny to hear people speaking all different languages in the same location. It was beautiful.

I was away when the time changed that weekend so I not only lost one hour, but two hours. Well, years ago it didn’t matter, but now as I am getting older two hours is a lot of time. To begin with, the wedding was almost 25 minutes late and by the time we finished the wedding it was 2:30 in the afternoon. Right after that there was a tea party in the parish center, and from there they went to the reception venue at 5:00. At the reception they had cocktail hour for over an hour and photos. And then at almost 6:30pm we were allowed to go into the dining room for supper. Then it took another hour for introduction of both families. Just imagine, we didn’t eat supper until almost 8:00pm. Of course, I had to drink a lot of coffee to stay awake. By the time the party started I was ready for bed. When you are young you can do a lot of things, but when you are older an hour waiting for one event to another is a long time. That Monday they took me to the airport and before we could say goodbye, they thanked me for coming, and I told them it was a honor to be there. It was a wonderful wedding. After an hour delay at the airport, I got home around 9:00pm and was exhausted. So you see, everything can happen in one event, some people are happy, some not so happy and some people just suffer through it.

Back to other activities in our own city, this year marked the first year of my automobile accident which happened on St. Patrick’s Day. Even though the weather was bad, there were still many celebrations in honor of St. Patrick’s Day last weekend. The Irish really know how to enjoy themselves and the Irish food and libations that they offer. And for those who are not Irish, we are just so happy to collect a lot of cabbage, potatoes, carrots, oranges, etc., and share the good things that are offered at the parades. Even though I did not go to the parades, I still received a few cabbages, potatoes, and onions. And yes, I cooked the cabbage the next day the oriental way, and it was delicious. Also, a week ago last Tuesday, we went right into St. Joseph’s Day for all of the Italians, and of course the Italians had so many things to offer. I opened the Times Picayune and learned that just in Jefferson Parish alone we had a ton of St. Joseph’s Altars which offered beautiful altars and food for free to the public. This Sunday, once again, the Italian and Irish had another parade in honor of their combined heritage. Isn’t that wonderful that we have come this far? Just about sixty to seventy years ago it was a big scandal when an Italian girl got married to an Irish guy, or vice versa. And now, the rest is history. Times change, people change, and our way of thinking changes too. Thank God for it.

This Sunday is Palm Sunday. It is also a time for us to enter into Holy Week. The Masses and Services for Holy Week are published here in the bulletin. I highly recommend that all of you try the best you can to attend the Masses and services this week. Remember there is NO MASS on the morning of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. By the way, the office will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday according to the Archdiocese of New Orleans holiday schedule. Personally, I am not so happy about it, but what can you do??!!! I’m just a little Pastor in this big ’ole’ parish, a servant of all servants. What is written is written. I cannot change it. Even if it is against my will. Just pray for good weather so that everyone could attend the Easter services.

I will be attending the Chrism Mass this Tuesday, March 26th at St. Louis Cathedral. Once again, most of the priests gather at this Mass yearly to renew their vows with Archbishop of their priestly duties, and also to receive the blessed holy oils for the Sacrament of Baptism, Sacrament of the Sick, and the Sacrament of Confirmation for their parish. There will be a Prayer Service at 12:00 Noon on the 26th instead of Mass. Also, this year we have two candidates who will be received into the Catholic Church at Easter.

Well, since it is Holy Week, I have a few prayers that I would once again like to share with you, that will reflect on the meaning of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Please remember, if you are healthy and not on any kind of special medication or diet, that on Good Friday you are required to fast and abstain from meat if you are age 16 to 59.

HOLY THURSDAY: Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you that in this wonderful sacrament you have given us the memorial of your passion: grant us so to reverence the sacred mysteries of your body and blood that we may know within ourselves and show forth in our lives the fruits of your redemption; for you are alive and reign, now and forever.

GOOD FRIDAY: Who is this who waits with arms extended and wide open hands? It is Christ, Our Lord. For ages and ages, he has been waiting here, generations have passed, he has not folded his wings or closed his eyes. For whom does he wait, for whom the invitation, for whom the inexhaustible patience of infinite love? It is for one, who comes slowly, hesitating, afraid, trusting more to chance, to perishable things and the frailties of men, than to the everlasting arms. It is for me, that for two thousand years, Love has waited here, with wide wings spread. It is for me, the courtesy that will not be importunate, will not constrain my love or force the suit. It is for me, the silence of the word wherein the beating heart alone is audible. It is for me that God awaits, with open hands, a beggar at the locked gates of soul. It is for one who doubts, mistrusts and fears, who sees the tears upon the human face of God, through her own tears, and is not moved. Of all the world unworthiest to be loved, driven at last from self-inflicted harms, reluctantly, to the Eternal Arms.

HOLY SATURDAY: May our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who alone by his powerful word governs all things, yet has buried the shame of the cross and iron bonds, who has broken the bars of the bronze doors and has descended into hell, who has shone with the brightness of a new light on those who were sitting in the shadow of death - may he, the sun of justice, rising from the tomb, shine upon our darkness with the marvelous light of his risen body.

Well, that’s all for this week. Get ready for Holy Week. God bless you and your loved ones, and as I always say, be happy, be healthy, be kind to one another, keep smiling, it makes you younger, healthier, happier and those around you are happier too.

Fr. Bac-Hai