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“Biker Dude” is Former Missionary

Father Jack Broussard has taken a lot of teasing from his friends and fellow Basilians after the Houston Chronicle ran an article about his spring ride to California on his motorcycle. In April, Father Broussard made a nearly 3,200 mile round-trip journey to Altadena, California to visit relatives. The trip took him eight days aboard his Yamaha V-Star 650CC, which has since been replaced by a Honda Arrow 750CC, a present from one of his nieces.

Father Jack didn’t see the novelty of his trip, since it was about the twentieth time he had made it over the last 45 years. His love for riding a motorcycle is nothing new, either. He says he discovered the attraction in 1953 when he took his first ride. He does admit it is a little unusual to see a priest riding a motorcycle, especially at his age – 84. Speaking of this year’s trip, the first since 1996, he says “I thought I was too old for that, but I wasn’t.”

Broussard has been the assistant pastor at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manvel for 10 years. From 1970 to 1975, he served in the Basilian missions at Unidad Seis, a government built colony in Mexico City. In keeping with the Basilian charism of building up the local church and then heading for other mission fields, this parish was eventually turned over to the Mexican Diocese.

A Note From Father Jack

Dear Friends of the Missions,

This newsletter celebrates beginnings and endings. In its pages, you can see some of our new beginnings. Several fine young men are beginning to walk the Basilian Way of Life, taking vows to love and serve the Lord for all their days. We are beginning a new church in Medellin.

Our annual All Saints/All Souls letter also celebrates the glorious paradox of Christianity, itself a beginning and an ending. When our friends and loved ones have come to the ending of their earthly life, they are now beginning the promised life, the life Christ calls us to – the rewards of the eternal life with the Father. Although they are physically separate from us, we are still joined in the Communion of Saints.

It is in this same blessed communion that we here on earth continue to work to spread the good news. As always, we send you our blessings and thanks for all that you do and have done for our missions. Because of your prayers, sacrifices and alms we are able to make new beginnings in places where many have never heard of Our Loving Father.

As you pray for your deceased loved ones, especially on the Feast of All Souls, be assured that you, and they, will be remembered in our Masses and prayers.

- John R. Whitley, C.S.B.