Men of Manresa members Norbert J. (N.J.) and Shirley Bourgeois were recently inducted into the Order of St. Louis by Archbishop Hughes in recognition of outstanding service to the Church. Also receiving the award were wonderful SCB parishioners Lou and Ann Coniglio. May God’s choicest blessings fall upon both of these couples, true leaders in our parish.

Fun-loving Shirley Bourgeois says she was very mischievous when she was a little girl, but anything malicious is hard to imagine. Likewise, her ever-playful husband N.J. and Father Jeff Montz joke that they are “cousins” because when N.J. was a little boy he stayed with Father Jeff’s grandmother after school until his own mother got home.

When N.J. was a cheerleader at Warren Easton High School, one of Shirley’s girlfriends wanted to introduce them to each other at a football game but at that time, N.J. was “too busy” leading cheers. Years later, after N.J. had returned from the military, they re-met in a comical situation in a bowling alley. They hit it off immediately and were married within a year. N.J. and Shirley are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this year.

N.J. and Shirley lived in seven houses during their lifetime and remarkably, every one of them - with the exception of their current home on Ormond Blvd.- flooded after Katrina. In fact, as they were purchasing their current home and moving from St. Ann parish to St. Charles Borromeo in May 1995, their Ormond home was one of only a few in the neighborhood that were spared water in that terrible flood.

They both light up when they talk about their move to St. Charles Borromeo parish. In gentle and loving, yet excited tones they say “The people here are wonderful. Truly wonderful. The community...the parish... the people.” They recount their first Mass as SCB and how parishioners approached them, welcomed them, and introduced themselves. “That never happened at any other parish we had ever been to.” Now, it seems, NJ and Shirley are the ones who make everyone else feel so welcome, wherever they go. They are an effervescent couple whose love for each other and those around them is contagious.

Humble as well, N.J. and Shirley greatly understate their involvement in church ministries and their contribution to the parish good. They are leaders of the Nifty Fifties, involved in the parish fair, and are instrumental in the ministry of church cleaning and décor. They prepare meals for the bereaved through the Servants of the Good Shepherd, and they minister the Eucharist to parishioners in church and to those who are homebound. Much of their ministry to others extends beyond such organized channels of service; whether they are assisting others with health and transportation issues or helping our clergy with various events.

Their love of family is an example for us all as well. Indeed, their love and care for their daughter Shirleen from the time she was first diagnosed in 1992 until her death in 2007 was unparalleled. The entire parish shared their love of Shirleen and grieved together in her passing. Since that time, N.J. and Shirley have donated a set of clerical vestments to the parish in Shirleen’s memory.

On behalf of the Men of Manresa, we congratulate N.J. and Shirley Bourgeois, and Lou and Ann Coniglio for the recognition they have received for giving without asking and loving without limits.