2014-2015

57) 12 January 2014

An invitation was extended to Suzanne Louise, to be a guest on ‘Lead, Kindly Light’, my diocesan Catholic television segment and she replied in the affirmative! I requested a summation of her thoughts for her introduction and questions to be asked of her and here is the verbiage which I will enjoy to my dying day!

“My name is Suzanne Louise Monlezun. I am the youngest of 3 children born to Dominique and Tina Monlezun from Lake Arthur, LA. My two older brothers have instructed and guided me through my life from the time I began to ask questions. They separate the “Red Sea” of life for me! My parents are the dearest people in my life. Their love reminds me of the Father’s love for me: nothing I do will ever lessen or increase their love for me. It is pure and whole. This love has given me the courage and hope needed to overcome the many little obstacles I face daily. I attended Our Lady Immaculate High School from age 2 when I told my mom that I wanted to be with my brothers at school. Since I was potty trained, they let me in…with my lisp and all! I am currently a Senior at St. Louis Catholic High School where I call both Lake Arthur, the place where I will never grow tired of calling my home, and Lake Charles, the place where I have recently grown fond of calling my home. My parents have lovingly and humbly sacrificed more than my brothers and I will ever know in order for us to have a strong Catholic education. Oddly enough, I was not afraid to begin high school because I knew that there were more than plenty of Monlezuns who walked the same halls before me. My Aunt Bet met me at the front door of my now high school my first day of Freshman year with flowers and a smile… How could I not be okay? Love. She has taught me to stay close to Mary at the foot of Christ’s cross. No award or achievements recognized by this world will ever satisfy my heart, my soul that is constantly unsatisfied the promises of this world because I have caught glimpses of the world to come. I choose to live my life with joy and a hope that my life is not my own. I am so grateful to be the youngest of 18 grandchildren…my vocation is to be a child is God’s family!”

The Interview: Airing Date: 12 January 2014 Suzanne Louise Monlezun is the third child, only daughter of Dominique Joseph and Tina King-Monlezun of Lake Arthur, LA. She is a senior at SLCHS in Lake Charles having finished elementary school at Our Lady Immaculate in Jennings like her two brothers before her, Dominique Joseph, Jr. and Christian Joseph. They are members of Our Lake of the Lake Catholic Church in Lake Arthur where the entire family served or serves in various ministries. (Suzanne Louise is considering attending the University of Dallas in Irving, TX and/or Spring Hill in Biloxi, MS.) Either location she will be an asset to her school and community as she has been at her previous schools, in her associations, academics, extra-curricula formation, parish and diocesan organizations. She is the 18^th of 18 grandchildren in her extended family and my beloved niece! WELCOME!!!

I am so very proud of you as a child of God and all that you are and in the process of becoming as a soldier in Christ army! How much do you love our Father in heaven?!

I will read your words to me and if you would, please expound on them:

“My parents are the dearest people in my life. Their love reminds me of the Father’s love for me: nothing I do will ever lessen or increase their love for me. It is pure and whole. This love has given me the courage and hope needed to overcome the many little obstacles I face daily.”

“My two older brothers have instructed and guided me through my life from the time I began to ask questions. They separate the “Red Sea” of life for me!”

“I am currently a senior at St. Louis Catholic High School where I call both Lake Arthur, the place where I will never grow tired of calling my home, and Lake Charles, the place where I have recently grown fond of calling my home. My parents have lovingly and humbly sacrificed more than my brothers and I will ever know in order for us to have a strong Catholic education. Oddly enough, I was not afraid to begin high school because I knew that there were more than plenty of Monlezuns who walked the same halls before me.”

What joys and challenges have you found in your young life and how do you offer all of it to The Father?

What would you tell someone who is preparing for high school and is unsure of their themselves?

How proud are you of your parents for the sacrifice to send you and your brothers to Catholic schools for your formation in the faith?

This are the last months of your senior year in high school. What do you feel is your personal call to holiness and how do you plan to live that call as you enter the next phase of your long, long life?

We are able to spend time together at MawMaw’s house in Lake Arthur. What does heritage mean to you especially seeing yours on Family Walls throughout the entire home as you spent many an hour there with your MawMaw?!

In conclusion ~ Suzanne writes “No award or achievements recognized by this world will ever satisfy my heart, my soul that is constantly unsatisfied the promises of this world because I have caught glimpses of the world to come. I choose to live my life with joy and a hope that my life is not my own. I am so grateful to be the youngest of 18 grandchildren…my vocation is to be a child in God’s family!”

God bless this child of God and use her to Your honor and glory!

This interview is streamed at www.lcdiocese.org/Glad Tidings/12 January 2014. Enjoy!!

58) Today’s Date: 17 November 2014...133 years ago today that the families of

Christian Joseph Hensgens and Franz Anton Reiners arrived in Roberts Cove, LA from Germany!!!

TO: Dominique Joseph and Lee Joseph, Jr., Co-owners of our Home of Origin (and extended family)

IN CELEBRATION! Twelve years as Co-owners of Arthur Avenue ~ 29 March 2002 to

17 November 2014

FROM: Anna Bernadette, Caretaker

Tis a meaningful, ongoing sojourn tending, maintaining, inviting and teaching in our Ancestral Home of Origin…to date on Arthur Avenue:

1) 3 March 2001 to 17 November 2014:

48 ‘Silent Retreats’: #343 retreatants on Arthur Avenue…752 total retreatants in my residences in VA, D.C., Lake Charles and presently Arthur Avenue (commenced March 2001) for a total of 31 years facilitating Silent Retreats!

2) 1 May 2009 to 9 May 2014:

12 ‘Place Based Heritage Education’ on Arthur Avenue with 2 LA dioceses (Lafayette and Lake Charles) Catholic elementary schools: Iota, Gueydan, Rayne, Crowley and St. Margaret, Lake Charles, principals, faculty, parents, grandparents and 4^th-5^th graders = #229! Three schools are scheduled for 2015!

3) 10 February 2009 to 22 October 2014:

35 ‘Arthur Avenue Heritage Tours’ hosting #308 people through our wonderful heritage home!

4) Monlezun/Peterson ‘05 and Hensgens/Reiners ‘07 Family Reunions - #400

5) (Extended Family Christmas Gatherings 2000 to 2013 averaging 40 attendees per year – #520 (I didn’t think to count the early Easter gatherings!)

6) 3 Sings-Alongs ’07 – ’09 average 30 people – #90

7) Twice held: 13 September 2013 & 21 February 2014:

‘Heritage Workshops on Arthur Avenue’ entitled “What Am I Suppose To Do With All That Paper?!’ People are requesting help after the heritage tours and other events in the home for they have seen what can be!!! Eleven brave souls to date…

8) ‘A Bridal Shower (Family Only!) on Arthur Avenue’: #28 in attendance, now the newest link on my website…was held 31 August 2014 for bride-elect of Joseph Wayne Darbonne and another scheduled 21 February 2015 for the bride-elect of Dominique Joseph Monlezun, Jr.!!

03 March 2001 through 17 November 2014 there have been

116 Events in the home with approximately 1,783 persons entering her back door!!

The folks always did say “Come if you can!!”

January 2001 to November 2014 x 52 Fridays in a year = 676 hours in the home

116 events x 24 hours (for we spend two days and one night for each event) = 2,784 hours spent on Arthur Avenue!!

’A Family Heritage Sequence’ PowerPoint Presentation which is all about Arthur Avenue and her ‘Heritage Rooms and Walls’! People love this heritage stuff!!

To Gather! Preserve! Make Relevant! Sustain! ^{PowerPoint Presentation}

03 & 04 October 2009 ~ “Germanfest Folklore Tent!” Roberts Cove, LA

01 & 03 October 2010 ~ “Germanfest Folklore Tent!” Roberts Cove, LA

21 October 2010 ~ Genealogical Society, Lafayette, LA

04 January 2011~ Southwest Louisiana Historical Society, Lake Charles, LA

16 June 2011 ~ Vermilion Parish Library Adult Program, Abbeville, LA

14 July 2011 ~ Kiwanis Club, Lake Charles, LA

17 September 2011 ~ Southwest Louisiana Genealogical Society, Lake Charles, LA

01 October 2011 ~ “Germanfest Folklore Tent” Roberts Cove, LA

11 February 2012 ~ Point del’Eglise Historical and Genealogical Society, Crowley, LA

02 March 2012 ~ Serra Club, Lake Charles, LA

06 October 2012 ~ “Germanfest Folklore Tent”, Roberts Cove, LA

18-20 July 2013 ~ Holy Angels Convent, ‘OSB Oblate ‘Spiritual Day’ Speaker, Jonesboro, AR

10 February 2015 ~ Catholic Daughters of America, Lake Charles, LA

I continue to enjoy, and with the efficient and committed assistance of Renee, am able to schedule all the above, make presentations, travel to present and publish on my website. Enjoy ‘Heritage and Archival Special Collections’ link – ‘Timeline’ and ‘Journals and Binders’ for it tells all!! These 2 links have somewhat replaced ‘Happenings’ for there is far too much to record (see ‘Timeline’ link) although I have divided ‘Happenings’ and ‘Remembrances’ links in sections for tactical reading! Lordy, mercy!

In process: Commencing Roberts Cove ‘On Holy Ground’ Germanfest 2015…I am discerning a ‘monologue in the spirit’ of Maria Veronika Knoben-Reiners, our maternal great-grandmother, donning an 1880 costume, to be presented in the RC cemetery next to her grave at the conclusion of my ‘RC Heritage Walking Tour!!’

In appreciation and in an undying labor of love, commitment, resolve, time and humble gratefulness, I remain your lovin-lovin Caretaker!

Lead, Kindly Light…and He does!

P.S. Renee just sanded and painted the ‘Back Room’ east door (white) next to our updated ‘Roman Catholic Special Collections’ with a proper book case (glass doors), Daddy’s Knights of Columbus uniform to include his sword, pic on wall of Grandpa Monlezun at the tip top of the old church steeple hanging the bell, etc…! And, ‘The Front Room’ holds the brand new “Louisiana” and “Lake Arthur” Special Collection!” So wonderful to share with so many and more scheduled for 2015-2016!

Below compilation is published on my website/Timeline 2014!

01 January 2001 to 17 November 2014	Link Category: ‘Heritage and Archival Special Collection!’ Link: ‘Arthur Avenue	ü 48 ‘Silent Retreats’ – 343 retreatants ü 12 ‘Place Based Heritage Education’ Days – 229 ü 35 ‘Arthur Avenue Heritage Tours’ – 308 ü 2 Family Reunions ’05 & ‘07 – 400 ü (13 ‘Family Christmas Gatherings’ (average 40 per event) – 520) ü 3 Sing-Alongs – 90 ü 2 Heritage Workshops – 11 ü 1 ½ Bridal Showers! – 28 (- Family Christmas Gathering #146) TOTAL – 116 Events in the Home = 1,783 persons in attendance!	January 2001 to November 2014: 13 years x 52 Fridays in a year = 676 days in the Home 116 events (for we spend 2 days and one night for each event) = 2,784 hours spent on Arthur Avenue!!
1995 to 2014	Medical Resource Books	Given away: 1,373	Volunteer hours – 3 hours per teaching = 4,119 hrs.
November 1990 – 2014	‘Lead, Kindly Light’ Catholic diocesan television	Guests 1990 to March 2015 - 468	To contact, write and do the interviews – 3 hours per guest = 1,404 hours	By His Grace!
2001 to 2014	13^th year serving as ‘Eucharistic Minister’ CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital (Pastoral Care Log for hours!) and tending ‘The Heritage Center’ 2003 est.
	‘Heritage and Archival Special Collection’ -	25 links!
	‘Journal and Binders’	304!!
	‘Timeline’	Mercy!!
2014	5^th year directing Germanfest Folk Singers!	2^nd year directing Roberts Cove ‘Heritage Walking Tour!’	6^th year hosting the ‘Hensgens/Reiners Table’ with electronic heritage mining!