In the life of a parish, with Mardi Gras on going and Lent upcoming

Life at St. Jane de Chantal Parish lately has been a little bit of everything.  The life of the parish is the life of her people, her community, her environment, always with God in the middle of it all.  Last Sunday, as our Latin Mass was dispersing, our Pastor, Fr. Ken, waited outside for the arrival of Abita Spring's only Mardi Gras Parade, the Krewe of Push Mow, so the parade could get a blessing, Holy Water and all.  See the picture below.  The Krewe actually consulted and worked with our parish so the parade would not adversely impact any of our masses; remember, we have masses going on from before 8 in the morning until almost 8 at night with a 3 hour break in the mid/late afternoon.  All week long, as Carnival/Mardi Gras is on so many folks minds, we work tirelessly that everything else is well centered on all things God.  There is Lenten preparation ongoing, including guest speakers and missions, Ash Wednesday prep and Stations of the Cross and also the big KC sponsored Fish Fry's.  But before Lent we already are busy; we have 2 daily masses every day but Saturday, 6 am in the extraordinary form and 8 am in the ordinary form.  This week, we had two powerfully sad funerals on the same day; one a dedicated long-time parishioner who lived to the grand old age of 88; the other, a beautiful baby who was maybe 3-4 months old.  Both were given beautiful funerals, commended to the Lord and families were comforted.  Just 24 hours later, the parish celebrates a beautiful Baptism for our newest Christian and then a wedding celebration for couple, Catherine and Daniel.  Finally, tonight, we were visited by a Priest from Cross International who does great mission work in third world countries.  And now we prepare for Sunday and then Ash Wednesday, after all of south Louisiana celebrates Mardi Gras on Tuesday.  Did I mention, we're even preparing already for the Easter liturgies, RCIA activities and the next Bible Study to start right after Easter.  The Life of a parish, the work of God, serving Go's people here at home and thankful for it all.