04 Apr Faith at Work: Fr. Alex Gaudet
For this month’s Faith at Work, we would like to introduce Father Alex Gaudet. Fr. Alex was born and raised in Thibodaux, Louisiana and says that, “the bayous are a place that I am fiercely proud to be from and to serve.” He graduated from Thibodaux High School and spent a year at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Nicholls State University in Thibodaux.
Like any bayou boy, Fr. Alex loves cooking, but his love for all things food goes beyond the taste. He sees food and meals as a meeting point for individuals from all walks of life. He says that hospitality is the best way to meet strangers and make new friends.
Fr. Alex’s journey to the priesthood stemmed from several life altering experiences of Jesus Christ in his own life. He took his own experiences and decided that he would use them to help others meet Jesus as well. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 30, 2015 which just so happens to be the anniversary of Bishop Boudreaux’s episcopal consecration. Fr. Alex currently serves as pastor of Christ the Redeemer Church in his hometown of Thibodaux.
When asked what he wanted lay people to know about priests, Fr. Alex simply says, “my time is for you.” He wishes people knew that his favorite part of ministry is when he is able to meet with his parishioners face-to-face. Fr. Alex says, “It is useless to allow myself to be called father if there were no interaction between my children and I.” He went on to say that he feels more confident in those interactions with his “children” than when he is doing paperwork, problem solving, or even preparing his homilies because he can address the heart of the matter and deal with something very real and raw. If you know Fr. Alex, you know that he is fascinated with the world of the mind. He says, “I find that the way that we think about things directly impacts the way we interact with the world around us.” This is probably why he loves face-to-face interactions so much!
He loves scripture and is especially fascinated by John 11:51 where God worked through Caiaphas without him knowing, and Romans 10:14-15a which says, “How can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent?”
Fr. Alex currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Catholic Foundation: a position that he acquired while working as Bishop Fabre’s secretary. He says that the foundation is carrying on the stewardship that was evident in the lives of the apostles in the first century church. Through the connections made by the foundation, individuals and groups can make sure that their passions and hopes will come to life. Fr. Alex says that working with the foundation and especially serving on the board has been a wonderful and eye-opening experience.
Fr. Alex’s favorite part about working with the foundation is seeing Catholicism thrive in the bayou region. He also loves to see other people realize that they can make a meaningful change in the community for years to come. His primary focus with the foundation is on planned giving. By accepting the reality of their death, individuals can plan accordingly and, with the help of the foundation, they can ensure that their legacy lives on through their favorite church, school, or ministry. One thing that Fr. Alex learned while working with the foundation is that most people have far more to give than they think. He also learned that most individuals are able to give 10 times more at the end of their life than they are able to give during their lifetime.
Thank you Fr. Alex for your “yes” to the priesthood and your dedication to our diocese and the Catholic Foundation! If you are interested in the work the Catholic Foundation is doing within our community and want to get involved, please take a look around our website, give us a call at 985-850-3116, or send us an email at amy@htdiocese.org to learn more.