The most powerful and profound moments at St. Jane de Chantal Church

I made the statement at Mass this weekend that of all the powerful and profound moments experienced in my 27 years at St. Jane de Chantal Church, Friday night, the last night of our Mission that included Mass and a Healing Service, was the most powerful and profound.  Comparisons like this are truly human expressions of great sincerity but also can be awkward too.  I hope to explain.

First, some context.  Every year we work hard to prepare a Lenten Parish Mission at St. Jane.  Often, these are much-needed powerfully spiritual events.  We have been blessed with wonderful presenters including priests from the Fathers of Mercy, Fr. Cedric Pisegna who has a national TV show, and many more.  This year we had planned a Redemptorist Mission to be led by Father Peter Schavitz.  We were well on our way to building a committee, holding meetings and even meeting with Fr. Peter who flew in to help us plan.  Dates were set, promotional materials were being prepared.  Before 2022 would come to an end we received word that Fr. Peter was presented with a formidable health challenge and would not be traveling for some time.  We keep him in prayer.  Now, we are faced with a decision; do we hustle something last minute, do we just let it go given the circumstances, what to do?  

Enter in Fr. Anthony Odiong, a Priest of our own Archdiocese who happens to have a powerful teaching and healing ministry.  But by now, surely, he must be booked for the Lent that is about to begin in a month.  The reception I received from his parish staff was understanding and hopeful.  They would try hard to give us some dates.  And true to their word, Fr. Anthony would fit us in if we were ok with a Wednesday through Friday Mission.  Indeed, we were fine with that, and it got booked, March 8-10th.  The Mission theme would be simple: forgiveness, mercy and healing.  The last night would include a Mass followed by a healing service.  We were so thankful, relieved and full of anticipation.

We received word that Fr. Anthony's beloved mom had passed to the Lord and he would be returning to Africa for the funeral and be with family.  We were assured that he would arrange travel and all the details so he would not miss our Parish Mission.  So sure enough, on Wednesday evening, March 8th, Fr. Anthony was at St. Jane leading us in a discussion on forgiveness.  It was a powerful teaching.  The next evening, he used Scripture skillfully to teach us about mercy, reminding us that God IS mercy!  Then we arrived at Friday night.

We prayed Stations of the Cross first, a Friday night tradition during Lent, and followed with a Rosary.  Now when Fr. Anthony has a Healing Service, he has a large dedicated team who accompanies him.  Their support, in the form of fasting, praying and actively participating in the healing, was incredible and especially spiritual.  With Jesus on the altar in the monstrance to be adored, the healing begin.  And the healing continued for quite some time.  One by one, those in attendance felt the power of the Holy Spirit and the healing power of the great healer.  With music playing in the background, people were praying and praising and worshipping as many received healing.  It was prayerful, serene, peaceful and powerful.  I, along with everyone else was deeply touched by the power in the Church.  Wendy received healing prayers and a special anointing of the Holy Spirit.  To see her, and so many of our friends, filled with joy and peace and healing was so powerfully profound.  As I have stated before, the evening was most powerful and profound.

I have witnessed many profound moments in my home parish Church.  I joined this parish in 1996, fostered my vocation journey in this holy place, ordained a Deacon from this place and have served as Deacon here for all but four and a half years of my diaconate.  Every mass is, well, mass!!  Jesus becomes really, truly present at each and every Mass.  I have witnessed the Holy Spirit at many a Confirmation, watched young children receive Jesus in Holy Communion for the first time, baptized over a hundred new Christians in this very place and witnessed my fair share of weddings.  I have attended so many funerals, all tender and some raw and all so moving.  We recently had a funeral for the most beautiful, and perfect little 5-month-old.  Trust me, that was an impactful, powerful and spiritual moment.  

After many years I returned to the Sacrament of Reconciliation in this very church, returned to the Eucharist, learned about Adoration and Benediction, we said goodbye to my mom and Wendy's mom from this place.  Every time and in ways so numerous, I have been moved, encouraged, and strengthened in this holy place.  And still, I truly believe that this past Friday night was the most profound of countless profound, holy and spiritual experiences at venerable St. Jane de Chantal Church and Parish in beautiful downtown Abita Springs.

I cannot thank Fr. Anthony Odiong enough for his yes to our last-minute plea for help, for his Priesthood, his gift of preaching and teaching and his special gift of healing.  His openness to the Spirit is evident.  I also want to thank his entire team from St. Anthony of Padua Church in Luling.  They were true prayer-warriors and spirit filled people.  I want to thank our own Fr. Adoga who helped with confessions and healings. Thanks too to our Pastor, Fr. Ken Allen, for all his encouragement and support. And I want to thank the many parishioners who helped to support this important and powerful Parish Mission.

To God be the Glory and thanks to God for the gift of this holy Parish, our Priests and all those who call this place their spiritual home.  May we take to heart and take to others, the great lessons of forgiveness, mercy and healing, and to seek that one lost sheep that needs to be found.

St. Jane de Chantal, pray for us and help us to always Live Jesus.