St. Clement of Rome Parish One of the 100 Great Catholic Parishes of the United States

4317 Richland Avenue, Metairie, Louisiana 70002  |  Phone (504) 887-7821  |  Fax (504) 454-3906  |  stclement@archdiocese-no.org

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Pastor's Desk Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time July 5, 2009

Father Luis Rodriguez

Dear Parishioners:      I would like to take advantage of this opportunity to share with you a bit about myself. I was born in Chicago almost forty-four years ago. My father is originally from Puerto Rico and my mother is a native Chicagoan of Lithuanian decent. At age six my family moved to Puerto Rico where I lived through high school. I returned to the U.S. to attend college at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, where I obtained a B.A. and M.B.A. degrees. Upon completion of my undergraduate degree, I began a career in the human resources management field.      It was a new job opportunity with Tulane University Hospital and Clinic that brought me to the New Orleans area. It was an exciting time for me because out of the options with which I was presented, I felt that God was asking me to choose New Orleans. Even though I had no relatives or friends in the area, I felt instantly at home. This was a surprise to me. I expected to feel homesick for some time. But one place that helped me feel at home so quickly was St. Clement. I found a place to live in Metairie and St. Clement was the nearest church. Many folks here made me feel so welcomed, so I became active in the parish almost immediately. I was a lector at several of the Masses, joined the ten o'clock choir, played the piano for the Spanish Mass and taught third grade CCD for one year. I loved those years at St. Clement.      After vowing that I would never go back to school again, I left SCR to attend Notre Dame Seminary as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. After five years of priestly formation, I was ordained a priest in June 2001. I first served as parochial vicar of Immaculate Conception in Marrero for almost two years. I was later transferred to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Kenner for only thirteen months. I was then appointed parochial vicar of St. Angela Merici in Metairie and Vocation Director for the Archdiocese. Just three years ago I was transferred to Nativity of Our Lord in Kenner as parochial vicar to later become pastor. As you may know, Nativity and St. Elizabeth parishes have been suppressed and formed a new parish: Divine Mercy.      When Archbishop Hughes asked me to become the next Pastor of St. Clement, I was delighted. After praying about it I felt God telling me, "You're going back home." Next Sunday, July 12 at the 10 a.m. Mass, Msgr. Taormina, Dean of the East Jefferson Deanery, will install me as Pastor. After the Mass the parish will have a reception in the gym where we can greet each other.      For the past five years I have had the privilege of serving as Fr. Nile Gross' vocation director. I already feel blessed that he has been appointed as our parochial vicar. You will have a chance to meet him next weekend at all Masses and at the reception as well.      A special note of thanks to Fr. Ralph for having been your spiritual father for these past twenty-five years. He was one of those who welcomed me years ago to the parish. Let us assure him of our love and prayerful support.      I ask that you please keep me in your prayers so that I may have a good transition and always be a good and holy priest.           Father Luis Rodriguez

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