Prayer for Vocations

Gracious God, with grateful hearts we welcome the presence of Jesus, our Good Shepherd. We accept the mission of Jesus to bring good news to the world by our baptismal commitment to gospel living.

Bless us with discerning hearts. May we have the courage to give our lives in loving service through married life, the single life, the consecrated life, and ordained life. Inspire men and women to respond generously and embrace the gift of a religious vocation.

We unite our prayers with the whole Church, with the communion of saints, with Jesus and the Spirit in praise and thanksgiving now and forever. Amen.

©2008 NCCV

Meet Our Seminarian

Seminarian Matthew Hebert of St. Mary Magdalen

Seminarian Matthew Hebert

We are proud to announce that St. Mary Magdalen will sponsor another seminarian from our parish. Matthew Christopher Hebert, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph and Angie Hebert, began his studies at St. Joseph Seminary in Covington, Louisiana in January 2011. Matt is a graduate of North Vermilion High School and also attended UL in Lafayette. At that time, Matt enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and after graduating from basic training served a one year assignment in San Antonio, Texas.  Following this assignment he attended LSU and then went on to enter the Seminary.  Matt is still active in the Air Force Reserve and is also an avid baseball player and fan. He has two siblings, Jacob and Danielle.

Meet Our Deacon Candidates

From L to R: Mr. Billy Vincent, Mr. Jay Bergeron, and Mr. Joe Hebert

St. Mary Magdalen Parish is truly blessed to have three candidates studying to be ordained as permanent deacons. Jay Bergeron, Joe Hebert and Billy Vincent started the process of discernment for the permanent diaconate in January, 2007. The diaconate formation process, over a 6 year period, involves application for the program, an inquiry phase of about 7 months, and then five years of class instruction. Beginning in January 2008 they were considered aspirants in the diaconate program and have been attending classes at the Diocese. On Saturday, August 8th, 2009 these men, along with 23 other candidates in the Diocese of Lafayette, participated in the Ceremony of Admission to Candidacy for Ordination as a Permanent Deacon. At this liturgy the candidates make a public expression of their intention to receive holy orders and the Bishop gives public acceptance of this intention. As candidates for the Permanent Diaconate they will continue to attend classes at the Diocese through May of 2012.

During the Second Vatican Council, the restoration of the diaconate was ratified. The deacons are at the service of the bishop to serve the whole people of God and take care of the sick and the poor. Deacons are entrusted with the duty of taking the Eucharist to the sick, conferring baptism, and attending to the preaching of the word of God in accordance with the will and intention of the bishop. Deacons receive the laying on of hands not unto the priesthood but for a ministry of service for the people of God in communion with the bishop and the presbyterate. In June 1967 suitable canonical norms for the permanent deaconate were established. One who aspires to ordination as a deacon publicly manifests his will to offer himself to God and the Church so that he may exercise a sacred order. The Church in accepting this offering chooses and calls him to prepare himself to receive a sacred order.