July 31st, 2009
Dear Seminarians:

Peace and greetings in the Lord during this year dedicated to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ! By now summer time is almost complete and coming to an end, and you have been deeply engaged in ministry to the people of God in many, many places. First let me tell you how happy and proud I am of all your work and dedication to the Lord and to His people during this summer. I have heard great stories of all that you have done, and I myself have been able to share personally in some of those stories. May God continue to bless you in you ministry and discernment!

Just a few items that I am sure will be of interest to you. First of all, please check the Orientation schedule for this year which is posted on our website www.nds.edu. My expectation is that the members of the SA will be helping throughout the Orientation and they need to be back in the Seminary by August 17th. Orientation begins the next day.

As you all know by now, the Holy Father has named a new Archbishop for New Orleans in the person of Bishop Gregory M. Aymond. Archbishop Elect Aymond is no stranger to Notre Dame Seminary since he is a priest from New Orleans and served NDS for over 20 years in many capacities, including 14 years as President Rector. You may notice in the Orientation Schedule that the afternoon of his installation on August 20, 2009 is wide open so as to be able to attend. The installation will be at 2:00 PM at St. Louis Cathedral. They are already planning for an overflow crowd. Admission is by ticket only, and seminarians who can get a ticket from the Archdiocese of New Orleans or from any of their Dioceses, will be able to attend the ceremony. Otherwise I know that for many of you this has been a very intense summer, and you do well securing the time you need to rest and be with your families and friends. All returning seminarians must be back for Sunday, August 23, 2009, as we celebrate Holy Mass together at 11:00 AM in our Chapel of the Immaculate Conception.

We are getting ready to welcome all of you back, and I look forward to welcome you personally as you arrive in New Orleans. As you know, you can always reach me by writing me an email or by calling me. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you at this time as you prepare to begin a
new year of formation to the priesthood. We do well remembering the words of St. Ignatius of Loyola, whose feast day is today, as we make his prayer our own:

"Receive, Lord, all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. You have given me all that I have, all that I am, and I surrender all to your divine will, that you dispose of me. Give me only your love and your grace. With this I am rich enough, and I have no more to ask."

With all my support and blessing to you,

Peace in the Lord!

Fr. José I. Lavastida

June 16, 2009
Dear Seminarians:

Peace and greetings in the Lord! I am sure by now you are pretty settled in your summer endeavors. I pray for you daily so that everything may be going well.

As you may be aware, we have a new Archbishop in New Orleans. Bishop Gregory Aymond will become our 14th Archbishop on August 20, 2009.  This will be in the midst of our orientation for the new students coming for the Fall semester 2009, so we will have to make some adjustments to our Orientation Schedule in order to make it possible for all of us to attend the installation at 2:00PM at St. Louis King of France Cathedral on August 20, 2009. I will keep you posted about this.

Archbishop Designate Aymond is no stranger to Notre Dame Seminary, since he served the Seminary for almost 20 years, fourteen of them as President Rector. Now he will become our Chancellor! He will also be our next door neighbor. Let us pray for him at this time of transition and for the people of Austin as they await a new shepherd.  I have written to him on behalf of our seminary community, and let him know that we are praying for him.

Make sure you keep checking the information posted on the web page www.nds.edu. Let's help the effort related to the Gala 2009. Continue to keep your daily commitment to prayer, and let's continue to pray for each other as we minister this summer in the name of the Lord.

Many blessings to all of you!

Fr. José I. Lavastida

Dear Seminarians:

As you settle into your summer assignments, ministries and duties, I would like to thank you and offer you my prayerful support for all the blessings you brought to this community this past year. I thank you also for the many ways you have helped me in my ministry to you and to the Church. I want to, in a special way, congratulate our graduates for this year 2009, and also celebrate with those to be ordained to the priesthood and the diaconate in the upcoming days, their great joy at being called to ordained ministry in the Church. I look forward, as well as those ministering with me, to be present with them at their ordinations and first masses.

In the next few days you will receive our complete Fall Calendar and Orientation schedule. These will go out as an email with the appropriate attachments, and also will be posted on our website. Those of you who graduated this year, be attentive to the new Alumni Page. There will be items of interest to you posted there.

Make sure you exercise self-care during the summer months, and I know you will represent us very well in the communities you will be participating in and serving. May Our Lord and Our Lady continue to bless you abundantly as you serve the Church.

With my blessing in Him who loves us all,

Fr. José I. Lavastida