Jesus’ first miracle is not an exorcism, nor a healing, nor an act of nature, but to supply wine at a wedding. Fundamental to Jesus’ mission is his identity as the divine bridegroom. Understanding this properly changes the way we understand our experience at Mass. To learn more about our mission, visit stleolafayette.com…

We are experiencing an identity crisis, which is causing too many of us to feel lost, discouraged, and confused. The Father announces Jesus' identity at his baptism, which also tells us something about our identity. Instead of believing all the identity lies that the world tells us, we choose to believe what the Father says to us. To learn more abo…

Why do you seek what you seek? King Herod and the Magi each sought Christ, but with different intentions. Sometimes we seek the wrong things in life, but sometimes we seek the right things with the wrong intentions. Instead, we want to seek the right things with the right intentions. To learn more about our mission, visit stleolafayette.com…

The Holy Family is not just an example that’s too idealistic to imitate. The Holy Family is your family, too. Jesus shares his family with us, and they make up for where our families fall short. To learn more about our mission, visit stleolafayette.comبقلم St. Leo - Lafayette

The Christmas story is so much more than a sweet children's tale. It's a bold proclamation that God lowered himself to rescue us from the powers of darkness by elevating us into his divine life. Christ was born for you because he loves you that much. Do not forget your dignity. Merry Christmas! To learn more about our mission, visit stleolafayette.…

While Christmas is supposed to be a time of happiness & cheer, sometimes family members have a way of robbing us of our joy. Taking Mary & Elizabeth as an example, here is one concrete way to discover joy in the midst of everyone we encounter, including the difficult people in our lives. To learn more about our mission, visit stleolafayette.com…

Anyone with a heartbeat knows that anxiety is just a part of life, but St. Paul tells us to rejoice always and to have no anxiety at all! He's not suggesting that we run away from the cross, but that we embrace Christ in the midst of our suffering. Here are two concrete things that we can do when we are anxious: a prayer of petition and a prayer of…

Advent is about embracing John the Baptist's desire to decrease so that Christ can increase in us. Here are three concrete ways to die to your ego so that you would have more room in your life for Jesus Christ. To learn more about our mission, visit stleolafayette.comبقلم St. Leo - Lafayette

Our hearts become weak and weary from overindulgence and all of our worries. Advent is a time to reset. Since Jesus tells us to pray for strength, we will strengthen our hearts these next 24 days. To learn more about our mission, visit stleolafayette.comبقلم St. Leo - Lafayette

Most of us have a few smaller fears that, although they aren’t debilitating, they tend to influence the way that we see the world and make decisions. Sometimes those smaller fears can prevent us from seeing Jesus in front of us. Today we surrender our fears, big and small, to Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.…

The apocalyptic passages in scripture are not meant to scare us, but to motivate us. Everything in this world is passing away, except the Word of God. Be not afraid to live for his Kingdom.بقلم St. Leo - Lafayette

We tend to feel good when we give our time, energy, and money to a good cause… until it starts to hurt. Resentment can creep in when we give beyond our surplus. The story of the poor widow’s coin reminds us that the primary reason we give is not for our personal fulfillment, nor for economic benefit. The fundamental reason we give is to die to our …

Since American politics is often an emotional rollercoaster, we can be tempted toward one of two extremes: total disengagement or over engagement. Instead, Jesus gives us the commandment of charity, which is love of God and neighbor. The law of charity serves as our guiding light in everything, including our political engagement. **Please forgive o…

We tend to hold on to things, even if we know they aren’t good for us, because it’s what we know. But these things prevent us from approaching Jesus. The gospel demands a responds, and Jesus invites us to “throw our cloak aside” and follow him. Be not afraid. It’s time to be set free.بقلم St. Leo - Lafayette

Most would agree that if something is important to us, it’s worth making sacrifices in order to achieve it or obtain it. But there’s a difference between making a sacrifice for personal gain and offering a sacrifice for God & for others. Jesus calls us beyond self-interest.بقلم St. Leo - Lafayette

When push comes to shove, most of us place our trust in our financial stability. We all want to trust Jesus, but our finances tend to have more of an impact on our sense of peace. But no matter how much wealth we have, putting our trust in material possessions ultimately gives us a false sense of security.…

The number one threat to marriages is the same top threat to our salvation: selfishness. St John Paul II speaks about the personalistic norm as a fundamental principal for human relationships. Persons are meant to be loved, not used.بقلم St. Leo - Lafayette

Jesus emphasizes the seriousness of sin & scandal by acknowledging the reality of hell. Parents especially need to be on guard from leading their children to sin. Although God’s mercy is essentially the good news of the gospel, it’s not very good news if we don’t take seriously sin, scandal, and hell.…

For most of us, the single biggest obstacle in our spiritual life is our tendency to cling to control. We may have even tried to “let go & let God”, only to get discouraged when it got hard. But the way of Christ is different.بقلم St. Leo - Lafayette

We tend to flee from suffering at all costs, only to be frustrated in finding it to be unavoidable. Yet, by his cross & resurrection, Jesus gives new meaning to all of human suffering. We have a choice: to use it or lose it.بقلم St. Leo - Lafayette

Our distractions make it difficult to hear the Word of God, which in turn makes us less confident in speaking God’s Word. In a spiritual sense, we become like the deaf & mute man in the gospel reading. Yet, even in the midst of all our distractions, there is hope. Our mission at St. Leo Lafayette is made possible because of many generous donors, in…

Jesus doesn’t say that all traditions are bad, but he does criticize the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. When traditions undermine the fundamental message of the Gospel, we got a problem. Our mission at St. Leo Lafayette is made possible because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out?…

Much of evangelization is about making good invitations. I’ve see this done well, but also done poorly. Here are 5 things to avoid when inviting someone back to church. Our mission at St. Leo Lafayette is made possible because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at s…

The Church’s teachings on marriage, family, and the body can be difficult to accept. Every conversation will be unique because every situation has its nuances. Although truth doesn’t change, we should always be evaluating and adjusting our rhetoric when speaking about tough moral topics. Jesus shows us how to speak with both truth & charity. Our mi…

Nutrition is often just as important as the training for Olympic athletes. We may not be elite athletes, but we are disciples called to be saints. The road to holiness does not happen by accident, but involves a firm commitment and divine nutrition. Our mission at St. Leo Lafayette is made possible because of many generous donors, including recurri…

Some foods satisfy us more than others. The same can be said about media. Underneath our hunger for food, stuff, and entertainment is a deeper desire for God, who alone truly satisfies. Our mission at St. Leo Lafayette is made possible because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? …

As the secular world celebrates an unlimited self-expression in the name of peace, it falls short in achieving a world without conflict. In contrast, Jesus calls us to strive for peace through an unconditioned self-gift, which leads to a tranquility of order. These two opposing worldviews were particularly on display at the 10th National Eucharisti…

Work & entertainment are both good, but they must be rightly ordered. Otherwise, our overindulgence in either one can lead to a constant distraction from the spiritual life. Beware of the vice of acedia, which restlessly avoids spiritual matters. Our mission at St. Leo Lafayette is made possible because of many generous donors, including recurring …

In one generation, Quebec went from being one of the most religiously active cities in the world, to one of the least. Just because we have a strong Catholic history & culture in Lafayette doesn’t mean that we’re immune from the same fate. We must evangelize. Our mission at St. Leo Lafayette is made possible because of many generous donors, includi…

Human strength becomes divine power when we focus on Christ. Instead of getting sad or angry about our limitations, what if we rejoiced? Our mission at St. Leo Lafayette is made possible because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at stleolafayette.com/give Thank you…

Sometimes we doubt and wonder why we even bother, especially after repeated disappointments and let downs. So what's the point? The point is our transformation, and it's not a waste of our time. Our mission at St. Leo Lafayette is made possible because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about help…

We often don't believe in Divine Providence because we are too afraid to give him the chance to be provident. When we make space for God to act, he provides in ways beyond our imagination. Our mission at St. Leo Lafayette is made possible because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping ou…

Sometimes we overcomplicate growing in faith. We feel like our emotional experience is the measure of whether or not we are growing. However, here are three failsafe ways to always be growing in faith, regardless of how you feel. Our mission at St. Leo Lafayette is made possible because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations…

There’s no sin too great for God’s mercy… except for one. The sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit can be understood as un-repentance or hardness of heart. This is the only “unforgivable sin” because it is a refusal to accept the mercy that God offers to us. Our mission at St. Leo Lafayette is made possible because of many generous donors, incl…

We tend to develop a “spiritual amnesia” as the days go on. Hence, it’s incredibly important for us to be continually reminded (”anamnesis”) of who God is and what he has done for us, which happens every time we go to Mass. Our mission at St. Leo Lafayette is made possible because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of an…

The health and vitality of a family is measured by the love and service each member gives to another. If we get this wrong, we will get evangelization wrong. Our mission at St. Leo Lafayette is made possible because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at stleolafayet…

Holiness is measured not by extraordinary miracles, but by the fruits of the Holy Spirit. If these fruits are lacking in our daily lives, the solution is not to “try harder” or “do better”, but to rely more heavily on the Holy Spirit. Our mission at St. Leo Lafayette is made possible because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly dona…

We often overcomplicate evangelization. Often times, people are only an invite away from encountering the Lord more personally. Our mission at St. Leo Lafayette is made possible because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at stleolafayette.com/give Thank you!…

Christian joy is a fruit of charity, which is made possible by remaining in Jesus. Our mission at St. Leo Lafayette is made possible because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You can give at stleolafayette.com/give Thank you!بقلم St. Leo - Lafayette

There's something about sacred beauty that inspires us to do God's work. Please prayerfully consider supporting our church renovation project. To see our renderings, go to stleolafayette.com/revival Our mission at St. Leo Lafayette is made possible because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about …

Most parents naturally protect their children from physical danger, but how many parents are concerned about their spiritual protection? Parents are the spiritual leaders of their families, which comes with a great spiritual responsibility. Our mission at St. Leo Lafayette is made possible because of many generous donors, including recurring monthl…

The Risen Jesus has a glorified, human body. This points to our destiny, when our bodies will reunite with our souls on the last day. It also points to the profound dignity of every human person. Our mission at St. Leo Lafayette is made possible because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about hel…

Sin causes real damage. Even though our eternal punishment may be forgiven through confession, the need for reparation remains. On Divine Mercy Sunday, Jesus offers us a unique opportunity to make spiritual reparation for the damage due to sin. Our mission at St. Leo Lafayette is made possible because of many generous donors, including recurring mo…

Imagine if you knew ahead of time that someone was going to hurt you. Would you treat that person any different? Jesus was free enough to give himself totally to those that he knew would betray, deny, and abandon him.بقلم St. Leo - Lafayette

If you knew ahead of time how much something was going to hurt, would you do it anyway? Jesus was free enough to lay down his life for us.بقلم St. Leo - Lafayette

If you could change anything about your life in order to make it more fulfilling, what would it be? Jesus is the Resurrection & the Life. He sets us free to live life to the fullest. Our mission at St. Leo Lafayette is made possible because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out? You…

It’s not easy being Christian, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it. Even though Jesus was troubled, he was not doubting, nor was he trying to avoid the cross. Instead, he freely chose the Father’s will.بقلم St. Leo - Lafayette

Unless & until we experience the real damage of sin in our lives, God’s mercy doesn’t mean much. But when we take an honest look at the darkness within us, we find hope only in the light of Jesus.بقلم St. Leo - Lafayette

Jesus transforms our experience of worship. Our worship is no longer limited to a particular time & place, but a lifestyle that we embrace at every moment.بقلم St. Leo - Lafayette

In the details of scripture & the particular events of your life, God has a plan. Just because we can’t see it doesn’t mean he doesn’t have it. And yet, in his goodness, God gives us glimpses of hope to encourage us to persevere when times get tough.بقلم St. Leo - Lafayette