St. Gertrude plants seeds for future of faith

by Jonelle Foltz

By Jonelle Foltz
Clarion Herald

The final Mass of St. Gertrude the Great Parish was celebrated June 30 in Des Allemands by Father Ray Hymel, St. Gertrude’s pastor.

Parishioners worshiping in a refurbished rectory space sang “City of God” for the opening hymn. A crowd of current and former parishioners spilled out of the modest rectory space.
Since Hurricane Ida’s damage to the church in 2021, Masses have been celebrated in the rectory. The mood was joyful, though sadness was expressed in Father Hymel’s homily, reminding his parishioners that they are the church, not any building.

Gospel on target

In his homily, Father Hymel said the Gospel spoke eloquently to “what all of us are going through in different ways.”

“How do we experience death in our lives?” he asked. “In this case, as our parish situation is, part of us dies as well. We die … if we lose heart or lose hope. We may feel dead. … It is then that we need to hear Jesus’ words to Jairus: ‘Do not be afraid. Just have faith.’

“Jesus has defeated death in all its forms … at times like this for us … we recognize God’s healing and mercy. … As we come to this close on this property … we have living to do. With our transition to St. Michael the Archangel Parish, we must give ourselves time to adjust. ‘Do not be afraid. Just have faith.’”

Eucharist processed

At the end of Mass, Father Hymel, accompanied by two altar servers, transferred St. Gertrude’s monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament and a relic of St. Gertrude the Great in its reliquary to a waiting vehicle, which was led in a police motorcade with parishioners following, to St. John the Baptist Church in Paradis.

Awaiting them was the pastor of St. John the Baptist, Father Joseph Duc Dzien, and St. John parishioners, who sang “All Are Welcome” as they entered the church. Father Dzien, with Father Hymel on the altar, led the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and a short time of adoration, after which the Eucharist was reposed to the tabernacle.

Both parishes contributed items representing their respective histories, which were placed in a golden time capsule. Following adoration, the two pastors led the congregation outside to the bell tower near the entrance of the church. Elders of each parish were given the honor, along with their pastors, of placing a shovel of mud into the prepared hole containing the capsule.
It was a ceremonial coming together of the parishes as the new St. Michael the Archangel Parish.

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