Catholic Connection February 2016

Connection The Catholic

Vol. 25, No. 7 February 2016

Diocesan

Serving in the Year of Mercy February 2016 1

Publisher Bishop Michael G. Duca Editor Jessica Rinaudo Contributors Katie Aranda Martin Aviles-Vazquez Bishop Michael Duca Jordan Harris Kim Long Fr. Matthew Long Fr. Peter Mangum

Fr. Rothell Price Rosalba Quiroz Jessica Rinaudo Katie Sciba Courtney Smith Mike Van Vranken John Mark Willcox

Editorial Board Kim Long Fr. Matthew Long Kelly Phelan Powell Dianne Rachal Christine Rivers Deacon Mike Whitehead John Mark Willcox Mission Statement The Catholic Connection is a monthly publication funded by your Diocesan Service Appeal; mailed to every known Catholic household in the Diocese of Shreveport.

Our Mission is to advance knowledge and understanding of our Catholic Faith among the faithful. We seek to foster the application of Christ’s teachings and our Church’s mission in our daily lives and to encourage our sense of Catholic identity within our family, parish, and diocesan faith community.

Subscriptions & Address Changes Contact: Jessica Rinaudo, Editor Email: jrinaudo@dioshpt.org Write: Catholic Connection 3500 Fairfield Avenue Shreveport, LA 71104 Call: 318-868-4441 Fax: 318-868-4609 Website: www.thecatholicconnection.org

The Catholic Connection is a member of the Catholic Press Association.

The Diocese of Shreveport complies with Virtus’s Protecting God’s Children program. Classes are offered every second Wednesday of the month at the Catholic Center in Shreveport. To report child sexual abuse by a cleric or church worker in the Diocese of Shreveport, call Glennda Lawson.

Hotline is 318-294-1031 and your local law enforcement agency.

2 Catholic Connection

D

uring the 2016 Lenten season, parishes throughout the diocese are taking the opportunity to welcome back those who were “once Catholic” through the program “Calling Catholics Home.” If you are a Catholic who has been away from the Church for a while, this invitation is for you. Our faith community misses you and is incomplete without you. No matter how long you have been away, and for whatever reason, we invite you to consider renewing your relationship with the Catholic Church.

Please join us for informal sessions and an update of the Catholic faith. The sessions are conducted in a support-group format with speakers including local lay people, priests, deacons and Bishop Michael Duca. Everyone is welcome.

Please keep this program in mind while visiting with friends and family who might be fallen away Catholics.

This six week program will take place at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans Parish Hall, located at 939 Jordan Street in Shreveport, on Tuesdays, February 2, 2016 - March 8, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. For more information, contact Jane at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans in Shreveport at 318-221-5296, or go to www. callingcatholicshome.com.

bishop’s february calendar FEBRUARY 4 Cathedral of St. John Berchmans Catholic School 7th Annual Religion Scholars' Bowl; Shreveport

the Virgin of Guadalupe, Dallas; 2:00 p.m.

Western Deanery Stewardship Appeal Donor Reception; Shreveport Club, Shreveport; 6:30 p.m.

FEBRUARY 14 Rite of Election; Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Shreveport; 2:30 p.m.

FEBRUARY 6 Confirmation; Holy Trinity Parish, Shreveport; 4:15 p.m.

FEBRUARY 7 Catholic Scouting Mass, Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Shreveport; 11:00 a.m.

FEBRUARY 8 Confirmation; Mary, Queen of Peace Parish, Bossier City; 6:00 p.m.

FEBRUARY 9 Priest Retirement Committee Meeting; Catholic Center, Shreveport; 11:00 a.m.

FEBRUARY 10 Ash Wednesday Mass; LSU-S, Shreveport; 11:00 a.m.

FEBRUARY 11 Episcopal Ordination and Installation of Bishop-elect John Gregory Kelly; Cathedral Shrine of

FEBRUARY 15 Presbyteral Council Meeting; Catholic Center, Shreveport; 1:00 p.m.

FEBRUARY 16 Calling Catholics Home; St. Michael the Archangel Chapel, Shreveport; 6:30 p.m.

FEBRUARY 17 Diocesan Finance Council Meeting; Catholic Center, Shreveport; 12:00 p.m.

FEBRUARY 20 Catholic Youth Day; Catholic Center, Shreveport FEBRUARY 21 Premiere Video Production of “A Musical Celebration of the Saints;” Catholic Center, Shreveport; 7:00 p.m.

contents

february 2016

columns The Rhythm of Winter Events by Bishop Michael G. Duca....................................... 4-5 Mercy in Action: Meet Vita: Hosting Orphans with Project 143

by Katie Aranda ....................................................................................................... 7

Mike’s Meditations: Experience Mercy and Love Yourself

by Mike Van Vranken.................................................................................................8

13

In Review: Rediscover Jesus by Matthew Kelly by Jessica Rinaudo ...................9 Faithful Food: Leading Lent with Valentine's Day by Kim Long...........................10 Domestic Church: Make Your Fast Meaningful by Katie Sciba............................11 From the Pope: Jubilee of Mercy Message for the Young

by Vatican Information Services..................................................................................12

Navigating the Faith: Indulgences by Fr. Peter Mangum ......................................13 Second Collections and Programs in February by Fr. Rothell Price ....................14 Vocations View: Pastoral Assignment at the Boys and Girls Club

by Martin Aviles-Vazquez ...........................................................................................15

14

Kids' Connection: Lent Acts of Love Tree .. ...........................................................26

features Diocesan Stewardship Appeal: Serving in the Year of Mercy

by John Mark Willcox................................................................................................ 16-17 Diocese of Shreveport Annual Report ................................................................ 18-20

news Lenten Reconciliation Services .............................................................................6 Bishop Duca's Annual Pro-Life Banquet ..............................................................6

20 on the cover

Mansfield Celebrates 160 Years wtih New Church Fixtures and Stained Glass

by Fr. Matthew Long...................................................................................................21 Q&A with Catholic Charities' Lucy Medvec........................................................22 Hispanic News by Rosalba Quiroz ..........................................................................23 CHRISTUS Highland Celebrates New West Wing Opening

by Lisa Cooper .........................................................................................................24 School News ...........................................................................................................25 Across the Globe: Pope Begins His Fridays of Mercy

by Vatican Information Services ................................................................................27 Across the Diocese ................................................................................................28-29 Mark Your Calendar ...............................................................................................30 February Calendar ................................................................................................31 Picture of the Month...............................................................................................32

Bishop Michael Duca bestows a blessing in this year's Annual Stewardship Appeal Poster.

February 2016 3

la reflexión Del Obispo por Obispo Michael G. Duca

El Ritmo de los Acontecimientos de Invierno

C

uando vi mi teclado en la computadora para escribir mi artículo de enero en la Catholic Connection recuerdo que ya estaba listo para el frío del invierno. Ahora que escribo este artículo a mediados de enero siento que el invierno por fin nos está llegando a la Diócesis de Shreveport.

Con el invierno llega un cambio de ritmo en los acontecimientos de nuestra diócesis son también oportunidades de profundizar nuestro compartir en el misterio de la Cruz y Resurrección de Jesucristo. Los invito a ver algunos de estos momentos de gracia.

La Cuaresma comienza pronto este año. De hecho, si están leyendo este artículo en febrero, el Miércoles de Ceniza ya está solo a unos días, el 10 de febrero del 2016. Al prepararse para obras de misericordia espirituales y corporales de Cuaresma, busquen compromisos espirituales de actos de amor y caridad además de los actos personales de sacrificio y negación a sí mismos.

Una buena ayuda son las sugerencias que damos en nuestra aplicación de Catholic Connections, bajo el nombre #52weeksofmercy. También pueden encontrar los retos de este mes en la página 22 de esta revista. Bajen la aplicación y hagan que les recuerde cada semana cual es el desafío semanal.

Este simple recordatorio puede ser de mucha ayuda y de momentos de gracia en su vida y tal vez inesperados.

Marzo traerá uno de mis acontecimientos favoritos: el Banquete Anual Pro-Vida. (vean la siguiente página para la información de este banquete.)

La presentadora este año será Camille Paule de la organización “Healing the Culture” (Sanando la cultura). Estoy emocionado de recibir a esta modelo de inspiración, especialmente porque me gusta como da su mensaje de proclamar la Buena Nueva de nuestra fe, y el respeto por la vida de traer verdadera libertad y gozo y revelar la superficialidad y lo pecaminoso de la Cultura de Muerte. Los animo a que participen. Ya sé que para muchos de ustedes es difícil encontrar palabras para ser testimonio en su fe Católica sobre la tragedia del aborto. Yo escogí personalmente a Camille porque su mensaje les dará las palabras convincentes para ser testimonios hacia otros y también para profundizar en su fe sobre los problemas de pro-vida. Todos los fondos recaudados irán a la organización de Mary’s House, un ministerio de apoyo para mujeres embarazadas para ayudarlas a escoger la vida para su bebe, y darles la esperanza de que el aborto no es su única opción.

Claro que la Semana Santa es el punto culminante de nuestro Año Litúrgico. Este caminar con Jesús, nos recuerda Su acto de amor final, no es solamente la culminación de la Cuaresma sino también el corazón del Año de la Misericordia. En la pasión y muerte de Jesús en la cruz, Él nos revela que el corazón de Dios no busca recompensa sino perdón. En la cruz Jesús actúa con un amor misericordioso cuando pide al Padre, “Padre perdónalos porque no saben lo que hacen” (Lc 23:34). O tal vez en Romanos 5:7 se diga aún mejor, “Dios prueba su amor por nosotros ya que aun siendo pecadores Cristo murió por nosotros.” Aquí se revela el amor y misericordia de Dios. Porque la misericordia es el amor que siempre ve y toma en consideración lo bueno de los demás, una bondad no por nuestra opción, sino porque fuimos hechos a imagen y semejanza de Dios. Nuestros pecados podrán hacer que nuestra bondad sea difícil de verse por otros y aun por nosotros mismos. Tal vez hasta alejamos a Dios de nosotros, pero siempre permanecemos siendo los hijos 4 Catholic Connection

de Dios y Su muerte en la cruz nos mostró que Él siempre ve la bondad, “aun cuando éramos (somos) pecadores.”

En este año de Misericordia somos llamados a profundizar en nuestra fe y a tratar de amar con misericordia aún más que nunca. Esto significa que necesitamos aumentar el número de aquellos a los que estamos llamados a amar, aun cuando sean pecadores o pensemos que no lo merecen. Esto es difícil. Esta Cuaresma busquen la gracia que necesitan haciendo una buena confesión (vean la lista de oportunidades para recibir este Sacramento en la siguiente página) y también participen en los servicios de la Semana Santa. Vayan a la iglesia el Jueves Santo y recuerden La Última Cena en que Cristo instituyó el regalo de la Eucaristía para nuestra salvación. Después el Viernes Santo hagan tiempo para asistir y escuchar el relato de la proclamación de la pasión y muerte de Cristo, acérquense a venerar la cruz y recuerden la misericordia de Dios y el perdón de los pecados. Renueven su compromiso de ser testimonios del amor misericordioso de Dios y demuéstrenlo a los que son parte de sus vidas.

Claro que el final de la Semana Santa llega con el Sábado Santo y la Pascua que son la cúspide del Año Litúrgico. El regalo misericordioso de Cristo mismo en la Cruz nos da a todos el perdón y la libertad de la esclavitud del pecado y el camino a la Vida Eterna.

Esta celebración de la Pascua también nos saca espiritualmente del invierno y nos mete en la nueva vida de la primavera. Aun cuando el frío del invierno trae estos acontecimientos en su ritmo normal, oro para que puedan descubrir el calor y gozo Pascual que nace del amor misericordioso de Cristo en la cruz. •

bishop’s REFLECTION

by Bishop Michael G. Duca

The Rhythm of Winter Events

W

hen I last took to my keyboard to write my Catholic Connection article for the January issue in the balmy days of December, I remember being ready for some cold weather. Well, as I write this article in the middle of January, winter has finally arrived in the Diocese of Shreveport.

With winter comes a rhythm of events in our diocese that provides us with opportunities to deepen our sharing in the mystery of the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let’s look ahead at a few of these moments of grace.

Lent will begin early this year. In fact, if you are reading this in February, Ash Wednesday is probably just a few days awayon February 10. As you prepare Bishop Duca for Lent remember this is the Year of Mercy, so be sure to add to your Lenten practices the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

Direct your spiritual commitments to acts of love and charity in addition to personal acts of sacrifice and self-denial.

A good help along the way are the suggestions we provide through our app, Catholic Connections, under #52weeksofmercy. You can also find this month’s challenges on page 22 of this issue. Download the app and have it notify you each week with a challenge. This simple reminder may prove to help create unexpected moments of grace in your life.

March will bring one of my favorite events: the Bishop’s Annual Pro- Life Banquet. (See the information on the next page.) This year’s presenter will be Camille Pauley of “Healing the Culture.” I am excited to have such an inspiring speaker, especially since her message of proclaiming how the Good News of our faith and our respect for life bring us true freedom and joy and reveals the shallowness and sinfulness of the Culture of Death. I encourage you to attend. I know many of you find it hard to find the words to witness your Catholic belief of the tragedy of abortion. I personally chose Camille as our presenter because her message will give you the words to give a convincing witness to others and also deepen your personal faith in pro-life issues. All proceeds go to Mary’s House, a ministry of support for pregnant women to help them choose life for their baby, and give them hope that abortion is not their only choice.

Of course Holy Week is the high point of our liturgical year. This walk with Jesus, remembering his final act of love, is not only the culmination of Lent, but also the heart of the Year of Mercy. In Jesus’ passion and death on the cross he reveals that the heart of God seeks not retribution, but forgiveness. On the cross Jesus acts with a merciful love when he prays, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”(Lk 23:34). Or maybe Romans 5:7 says it better, “God proves His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” Here is revealed the love and mercy of God. For mercy is the love that always sees and takes into account the good in others, a goodness that is there not because of our choices, but because we have been made in the image and likeness of God. Our sins may make our goodness hard for others to see and even see in ourselves. We may even push God away, but we always remain God’s children and his death on the cross

showed us that he always sees the goodness even “while we were (are) still sinners.”

In this Year of Mercy we are called to deepen our faith and try to love with mercy more than ever. This means we need to widen our community of those who we are called to love, even while they are still sinners or not worthy in our eyes. This is hard. This Lent seek the grace you need by making a good confession (see list of opportunities for confession on the next page), and by attending Holy Week services. Be there on Holy Thursday and remember the Last Supper when Christ instituted the gift of the Eucharist for our salvation. Then on Good Friday, make the time to attend a church service and listen to the account of Christ’s passion and death proclaimed, walk up and venerate the cross and remember the mercy of God and the forgiveness of your sins.

Recommit to being a witness to the merciful love of God to those who are a part of your life.

Of course the end of holy week brings us to Holy Saturday and Easter as the high point of the liturgical year. Christ’s merciful gift of himself on the Cross earns for us all the forgiveness and freedom from the slavery of sin and the way to eternal life. This Easter celebration also takes us spiritually out of winter and into the spring of new life. Even as the cold winter arrives with a regular rhythm of events, may you discover the warmth of Easter joy born from the merciful love of Christ on the cross. • February 2016 5

Lenten Reconciliation Services February 22 • 5:30 pm Cathedral of St. John Berchmans February 29 • 5:00 pm Holy Trinity Parish March 2 • 8:15 am St. John Berchmans School

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD Bishop Michael Duca's 6th Annual

Pro-Life Banquet March 16, 2016

March 2 • 9:30 am Loyola College Prep

Bossier Civic Center

March 2 • 6:00 pm Mary, Queen of Peace Parish March 9 • 9:45am St. Joseph School

SEATING begins at 5:00 p.m.

DINNER 6:00 p.m.

PROGRAM 6:45 p.m.

March 10 • 6:30pm St. Jude Parish

Proceeds Benefit Mary's House

March 12 • 10:00am Christ the King Parish March 14 • 6:30pm Sacred Heart Church March 15 • 6:30pm St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish March 16 • 6:30pm St. Pius X Parish March 17 • 6:30pm St. Joseph X Parish March 21 • 6:30pm St. Mary of the Pines Parish

Camille Pauley Keynote Speaker

Reservation Deadline: March 9, 2016

Camille Pauley co-founded with Father Robert Spitzer Healing the Culture, which uses Father Spitzer's "Life Principles" curriculum to change hearts and minds and build a life culture.

Questions: 318-218-3834 or 318-469-2018

Name: ______________________________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________________________ Phone #: (_____)_______________

Email: _______________________________

Reservations: $60 a person or $500 for a table of 8 ($30 per student) # of Individual Reservations ______

# of Tables ________

Amount Enclosed $ ______ List names of people at table:

1. _____________________

3. _________________________

4. ______________________ 5. ______________________

6. _________________________

7. ______________________ 8. ______________________

2. ______________________

Additional donation to underwrite cost of the evet: $___________ For sponsorship contact: prolifedioshreveport@dioshpt.org

Make check payable to and mail registration / check to:

Diocese of Shreveport, Pro-Life Banquet 3500 Fairfield Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71104

Copy form as needed. Thank you for supporting Bishop Duca's Pro-Life Banquet

6 Catholic Connection

Mercy in Action

Vita with her host family, the Arandas

Meet Vita

Hosting Orphans with Project 143

by Katie Aranda

R

eligion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world. – James 1:27 There are orphans all over the world and as Catholics, we all try to do what we can to care and love God’s people. Sometimes we help through prayer, sometimes through our treasure or our time.

This Christmas we chose to do it through Project 143 (www.projectonefortythree.org).

The Project’s mission is to give some of God’s precious, forgotten and orphaned children hope for a better present and a better future.

Our family decided to open our home and hearts to a 15-year old orphan girl named Vita.

She hailed from Eastern Europe and stayed with us for four weeks over Christmas. We were concerned about the language barrier and many unknowns, but taking a leap of faith, we completed the application in a few days over Thanksgiving break.

She arrived with nothing but a smile and the clothes she wore on the airplane.

She spoke very little English and at first we communicated through Google Translate. Surprisingly, it took us very little time to fall in love with this young lady. We cooked together, ate together, celebrated together, played together, and loved together. Our young kids talked non-stop to her in English and she spoke non-stop to them in Russian and Ukrainian, but everyone communicated somehow. Friends and family showered her and our family with attention and love, too. We wanted to show her love, her value, and give her hope, but it is this one child who has shown us more of God’s love than we could have ever imagined. What courage it takes to leave everything you have ever known behind and be placed in unfamiliar surroundings with people who don’t speak your language or know your culture. I know that God has a plan for her and for every one of His children. I am glad we had the chance to be a small part of His plan.

It is unknown whether adoption is in her future, but we hope through our marriage, our family and our friends’ love and support that we have shown her in this short time not a perfect life, but a hopeful future, full of opportunities and of love. I don’t want anyone to think that we are special or unique for hosting an orphan. There are many ways to use God’s gifts, but we wanted to share this mission because we have been blessed through this experience.

Anyone interested in impacting a child’s life for the better by hosting them for summer or Christmas can contact Project 143 (www. projectonefortythree. org) or Katie Aranda (katielou73@yahoo. com). • Photos courtesy of Elizabeth Strong Photography.

February 2016 7

mike’s meditations

by Mike Van Vranken

Experience Mercy and Love Yourself

A

pilgrimage to the Holy Land would be a very spiritual trip.

“Walking the Bible stories” would be thrilling and edifying, but until we’ve actually experienced the Holy Land, we never really understand how such a pilgrimage would change us.

The same is true for God’s mercy. We know His mercy lasts forever. We understand He crowns us with His mercy. (Ps 103:4) His mercy and forgiveness is so great He doesn’t even remember our sins. (Ps 103:12) But have you truly experienced God’s mercy?

Sure, you know He’s lavished you with it. But have you internalized it? Have you bathed in it? Have you Van Vranken allowed it to wash you and cleanse you of all guilt, shame and self doubts because of the very experience that you have been made “the righteousness of God?” (2 Cor 5:21) If someone gave you an expensive gift, how would they feel if they came to your house and found the gift on the floor, hidden in a corner, unused and covered with dust. Hurt? Mocked? Depressed that you have not found joy in the favor they’ve shown you? That’s how God must feel when we don’t experience His Divine Mercy, when we don’t understand that He loved the world so much that He sent His son to be crucified so we can be free from sin.

Two blind men came to Jesus. Before he healed them, he asked: “Do you believe?” (Mt 9:27-31) Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he asked Martha: “Do you believe?” (John 11:26) At this moment, stop where you are and see yourself in the two blind men and in Martha. Jesus is asking you: “Do you believe?”

• Do you believe God’s mercies for you continue to come new every morning, and therefore, like God, you’ve forgiven yourself for every mistake you’ve ever made?

• Do you believe Jesus shed his blood for the remission of your sins?

• Do you believe if you confess your sins, that God is faithful to forgive you and cleanse you from unrighteousness?

• Will you dare to declare: “I have been made the righteousness of God?” God is constantly giving us the gift, the grace, the real blessing of His mercy. Learn to receive it now. Learn to love yourself as He loves you.

Learn to forgive yourself with compassion and begin each day as the new person you are in Christ. Don’t leave His grace in the corner to collect dust. Accept it; experience it; allow it to fill your heart to such an extent that it runs over into every area of your life.

It’s only when you love yourself enough to forgive yourself, that you can share God’s gift of His mercy with others. It’s only when you fall to your knees in daily meditation of who you are in Christ that His mercy becomes a real experience in your life. Once you’ve experienced this divine gift, you are free to share it with the world. • Mike is a writer and teacher, and co-author of the book: Faith Positive in a Negative World. You can contact him at www.mikevanvrankenministries.org

8 Catholic Connection

MONTHLY REFLECTION Spend time in these verses until you are convinced they pertain to you. Then, when Jesus asks: “Do you believe?” you can honestly say: “Yes Lord, I believe.” Sit in faith with these words from God and experience the glorious gift of His Divine Mercy.

“The Lord’s acts of mercy are not exhausted, his compassion is not spent. They are renewed each morning – great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23) “Who redeems your life from the pit, and crowns you with mercy and compassion?”

(Psalm 103:4) “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us." (Psalm 103:12) “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his mercy endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1) “But when the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us.” (Titus 3:4-5) “With age-old (everlasting) love I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you.” (Jeremiah 31:3) “For our sake, he (God) made him (Christ) to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

in REVIEW

by Jessica Rinaudo

Rediscover Jesus: An Invitation

by Matthew Kelly

W

e often take Jesus for granted, his words, actions and deeds glaze past our brains as we hear them in our daily lives or at church.

But in Kelly’s book, Rediscover Jesus, he tells us to truly stop and think about Jesus as an integral and essential part of our lives. He asks us to consider, “Who is Jesus? Who do people say that Jesus is? Who do you say that Jesus is? Who does Jesus say that you are?”

Written in 40 short chapters, this book can be read “all at once,” or over the course of 40 days, making it a great companion for Lent. Rediscover Jesus looks at the works and messages of Jesus Christ and breaks them down simply, explaining their context at the time they happened and how they apply to our daily lives now. Kelly digs in deep, exploring the words of Jesus from the Gospel, quoting them directly so that we can clearly see who Jesus says he is and who he is to us.

When Kelly asks you to apply the words and teachings of Christ to your life with some specific examples, it can be challenging and uncomfortable as we reflect how often we skim past what Jesus actually asks from us. Jesus, as Kelly often says, is radical, and those who follow him should live radically as well.

Kelly navigates his way through the many teachings and actions of Christ. I expected to read about valuing the poor and loving your neighbor as yourself.

What I didn’t expect was to read about placing value on myself.

“Jesus believes that you are infinitely valuable. Anytime you don’t believe that, you are living in a state of deception, disconnected from the deepest, truest reality,” says Kelly. And while he discourages pride, Kelly insists that we

must see the value of Christ in ourselves before we can see the value of him in others.

Kelly also covers many points of Jesus’ ministry that go hand in hand with Pope Francis’ Year of Mercy. He challenges us to unconditional love, even when we have been wronged. He asks to pray for our enemies, broadening the scope of “enemy” to include even those politicians we may vehemently despise. He tells us to love our neighbors, which includes refugees and immigrants. He even tells us to count the number of times in a 24 hour period we find ourselves passing judgment. Uncomfortable?

Yes. Eye opening? Most certainly. Jesus, Kelly says, wants us to be generous and forgiving.

For a little over the first half of the book, Kelly tells us who Jesus is and what he wants from us. The second part of the book he uses to tell us steps we can take in our lives to draw closer to Jesus and allow him to transform our lives for him. Some of these include reading the Gospels every day, ways to pray and encouraging ongoing conversations with Jesus throughout our day.

Each of the 40 chapters closes with a Point to Ponder, a Verse to Live, a Question to Consider and a Prayer. And while I read this book “all at once,” I often found myself reading passages out loud to my husband, so much so that we decided to read it together, one chapter a day, during Lent for deeper reflection, consideration and transformation.

“God will not snap his fingers and bring about the type of transformation we are talking about here,” says Kelly.

“He desires a dynamic collaboration with each of us. God wants us to do our part.” •

"How well do you know the story of Jesus Christ?

It is the most powerful story ever told. But it loses its power when we take it for granted. It loses its power when we become so familiar with it that we stop hearing it as part of our own story. " Rediscover Jesus: An Invitation

by Matthew Kelly

Rediscover Jesus: An Invitation is available through Amazon.com and the Slattery Library in the Catholic Center.

February 2016 9

faithful FOOD

by Kim Long

Leading Lent with Valentine's Day We are filled with the knowledge that we are loved by God

T

his Christmas seemed to arrive almost without warning, and once here seemed not to want to leave. As I removed ornaments and began the tedious task of wrapping each one, memories flooded the room and the layers Long of my life seemed to rest before me on the branches of the tree – and those memories seemed more like Valentine cards than Christmas ornaments.

There are ornaments my children made in elementary school, which serve as faithful messengers of Christmas cheer and reminders of childhood expectations from years past. Others were made by my grandmother, some bought in the early years of my adulthood, when spending five dollars for a “fancy” Christmas tree ornament seemed the height of extravagance. Wrapping them almost seemed cruel; they all seemed to have something to say.

With Easter Sunday falling on March 27, Lent is just around the corner. Early

Lent floods into my life with a cold wind and forces me to face things on its own timetable, things which the cozy candlelit season of Christmas only hinted of – things a later Lent would have allowed me to bring forth and meet at a slower pace as I work up the courage to really look in the mirror.

This year Valentine’s Day occurs during the Lenten season, in fact it falls on the first Sunday of Lent. Upon first glance they couldn’t be more oppositional.

There’s the commercial point of view with pink foil wrapped candy and sentimental cards, but after looking at the readings for Lent, I really had to chuckle. God has the last laugh.

On Ash Wednesday Joel invites us to return with our whole heart, not a sentimental caricature, reminding us that now is an acceptable time. The verse before reminds us not to harden our hearts. Looking at the Sunday readings, when all or most of the environmental distractions have been put away, we hear the psalmist say, “Be with me Lord when I am in trouble,” followed by Paul’s exhortation that in Christ there is

about 15 minutes. When tender, drain and transfer to a large bowl. Let cool a bit (you can put in fridge for a few minutes to speed the process).

favorite marinara/spaghetti sauce) and your choice of toppings. Return to oven until heated through. Even my sons like this!

no division, one Lord for all. And then another verse before that reminds me that we do not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. If I entered Lent feeling a bit rushed, I leave this set of readings feeling reunited with the fundamental understanding that God loves us so much that He came here to be physically among us. I look around at everyone in my life and how, at times, it is “tedious” caring for them, not only in sickness, but in health as well. Just the act of considering another person’s needs and feelings can seem monumental.

The timing of Lent to not only include Valentine’s Day, but to lead with it and with this set of readings to set the course of our Lenten journey is such a Veggie Crust Pizza wonderful “valentine.” I am filled with Ingredients: joy with the certain knowledge that I • 1 head cauliflower chopped into florets am, we are, all loved.

• 1 egg 3) Add egg, cheese and garlic As I approach my kitchen and I • 1/2 cup shredded cheese powder. Mix thoroughly to incorporate. think of what to cook for our Monday • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder night family dinners to show my 4) Cut a sheet of parchment paper • Marinara / spaghetti sauce of choice children how they are loved, I offer to fit a baking pan (pizza pan or • Your favorite veggie pizza toppings a recipe for pizza which is meatless cookie sheet). Shape into crusts (either (although you can add any topping individual or one large).

Directions: you like) so it is suitable for both 1) Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees.

5) Bake for about 15 minutes, remove family time and meatless Lenten Fridays. • 2) Place florets in a steamer and cook from oven and add sauce ( I use my

10 Catholic Connection

Kim Long is the Director of Religious Education at St. Mary of the Pines Parish in Shreveport.

domestic CHURCH

by Katie Sciba

Make Your Fast Meaningful “

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haven’t decided what to give up yet,” I told my husband. “Chocolate’s a good one. Or maybe snacks between meals.”

“What’s the one thing you don’t want to give up?” he returned. I immediately tightened my lips and crossed my arms. I knew my answer, but didn’t like entertaining the idea of real sacrifice or potential pain during Lent. It’s ok to offer up Sciba being inconvenienced, I justified, but to invite real suffering?

Every liturgical year it comes up; our Lenten fasts vary from no sweets to getting up when the alarm goes off. We task ourselves with sacrifice after sacrifice, but what is it all for? In the name of what or Whom do we fast? Lent is a penitential season - a time when we rebuke our own sins and vices for the sake of drawing closer to Christ; imitating him and realizing the depth and reality of his death and resurrection. And yet, sometimes all we consider are the weight loss from fasting or getting a leg up on the day.

I’m certain if we understood the why behind our sacrifices, we would encounter a more meaningful Lent. One in which we’d actually invite and accept difficulty with joy.

Crazy, right?

“Giving things up” for Lent is a form of fasting, an active prayer that suspends earthly desires for the sake of spiritual self-discipline. It’s simple - in fasting, we practice self discipline to better reject sin; rejecting sins frees us so we can be in the presence of God, one with the Father. It’s necessary. Indeed, Christ said that some demons could “not be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29). In both the Old and New Testaments, people fasted in preparation for greater events on the horizon. Moses fasted prior to receiving the Ten Commandments.

Jesus was baptized, then fasted in the desert prior to his temptation by Satan and the

Fast

Intentionally Lent is the time to say NO to sin and YES to God’s will and work in our lives. Be sure to give all of your sacrifices and struggles to God with the following acts of prayer.

Ready, Set...

Moses, Elijah, Daniel, and Jesus all fasted prior to significant events in their lives. Ask God to ready and strengthen your heart prior so you can prepare your heart for Easter and accept the big challenges coming your way.

beginning of his ministry. As 21st century Catholics, we fast in preparation for the highest feast, not only in the liturgical calendar, but in the span of time - The Feast of the Resurrection. We fast so we can, like Jesus in the desert, detach from the world in order to say yes to what the Father asks of us.

Fasting will bear fruit if we set our anchors in Jesus, which also means that fasting without inviting Jesus into the consequential suffering is mostly pointless.

Giving up the snooze button or my favorite snack might make me an early riser or a slimmer mama, but without Jesus, the sacrifice has no spiritual impact. With the Lord, however, the smallest sacrifices can have an infinitely deeper effect. In fasting during Lent, we’re strengthened by our detachment from what we don’t need. In those initial instances of denial, we can say “I need you, Jesus, not this thing,” and proceed with hope in whatever God calls us to do.

Ask the Lord to make it clear; ask Him to reveal what He wants you to offer back to Him. It’s likely that His answer will seem impossible; but for the person who invites Him who bore the suffering of the world into the pains of Lent, there will be success, freedom and a more powerful relationship with God. •

Invite Him In

Fasting without inviting Jesus into the difficulty is pointless. But talking to Jesus about how hard the sacrifices is, asking him to handle the temptation to cave with you, and then realizing fasting is more important than the thing you want is a surefire way to peace and resolve.

Pray It!

Lord Jesus Christ, you bore all suffering so man could live eternally with the Father in heaven.

Aid me when my promised fast becomes difficult, so I can know freedom from the world and joy with you. Amen.

Memorize It! “You shall worship the Lord your God; and him alone shall you serve.”

(Matthew 4:10)

Katie Sciba is the author of thecatholicwife.net. She lives in Shreveport with her husband, Andrew, and four children.

February 2016 11

from the POPE from Vatican Information Services

Jubilee of Mercy Message for the Young

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ear Young Friends, The Church is celebrating the Holy Year of Mercy, a time of grace, peace, conversion and joy. It is meant for everyone: people of every age, from far and near.

There are no walls or distances which can prevent the Father’s Pope Francis mercy from reaching and embracing us. The Holy Door is now open in Rome and in all the dioceses of the world.

This grace-filled moment also concerns you, dear young people. I encourage you to take an active part in this celebration and to realize that each of you is a child of God. I would like to invite you, one by one, calling you by name, as Jesus does each day. For you know that your names are written in heaven, in the heart of the Father, that Merciful Heart which is the source of all reconciliation and kindness.

The Jubilee is a year-long celebration, in which every moment becomes a chance for us to grow in holiness. It is a time when we can discover that life together as brothers and sisters is like a great party, perhaps the most beautiful party we can imagine, the endless party that Jesus has taught us to celebrate by his Spirit. The Jubilee is the party to which Jesus invites us all, without excluding anyone. That is why I also wanted to have some days of prayer and celebration with you. I am looking forward to seeing many of you in April.

‘Merciful like the Father.’ This is the theme of the Jubilee, but it is also the prayer we make for all of you as we welcome you in the name of Jesus. To be merciful means to grow in a love which is courageous, generous and real. It means to grow physically and spiritually. You are preparing to be Christians capable of making courageous choices and decisions, 12 Catholic Connection

in order to build daily, even through little things, a world of peace.

Yours is a time of life which is full of amazing changes. Everything seems possible and impossible all at once. I repeat what I said to some of your friends: ‘Remain steadfast in the journey of faith, with firm hope in the Lord. This is the secret of our journey! He gives us the courage to swim against the tide. Pay attention, my young friends: to go against the current; this is good for the heart, but we need courage to swim against the tide.

Jesus gives us this courage! … With Him we can do great things; He will give us the joy of being His disciples, His witnesses.

Commit yourselves to great ideals, to the most important things. We Christians were not chosen by the Lord for little things; push onwards toward the highest principles. Stake your lives on noble ideals.’

Here I cannot forget those of you who are living in situations of war, extreme poverty, daily troubles and loneliness.

Don’t ever lose hope! The Lord has a great dream which, with your help, He wants to come true! Your friends, young people your age living in less trying conditions than your own, have not forgotten you; they are working for peace and justice for everyone everywhere. Don’t be taken in by the messages of hatred or terror all around us. Instead, make new friends. Give of your time and always show concern for those who ask your help. Be brave and go against the tide; be friends of Jesus, Who is the Prince of Peace. ‘Everything in him speaks of mercy. Nothing in him is devoid of compassion’. ...

May the Lord bless your journey towards the Holy Door. I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide your steps and enlighten you. For you and your families, and for all who help you to grow in goodness and in grace, may the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of us all, be a true Door of Mercy.” •

In theWords of

Pope Francis

“A faithfulness without limits: here is the last word of God’s revelation to Moses. God’s faithfulness never ceases because the Lord … never sleeps, but rather keeps watch over us continually to bring us to life.”

(General Audience 1/13/16) “The Holy Spirit, in fact, in the Christian Baptism is the principal architect: it is He who burns and destroys Original Sin, restoring to the baptized the beauty of divine grace; It is He who delivers us from the dominion of darkness, that is, of sin, and transfers us into the realm of light, that is, of love, truth and peace. This is the realm of light.”

(Angelus 1/10/16) “The Magi represent the men and women throughout the world who are welcomed into the house of God. Before Jesus, all divisions of race, language and culture disappear.” (Solemnity of the Lord’s Epiphany 1/6/16) “For us, Mary is an icon of how the Church must offer forgiveness to those who seek it. The Mother of forgiveness teaches the Church that the forgiveness granted on Golgotha knows no limits. Neither the law with its quibbles, nor the wisdom of this world with its distinctions, can hold it back. The Church’s forgiveness must be every bit as broad as that offered by Jesus on the Cross and by Mary at His feet.

There is no other way. It is for this purpose that the Holy Spirit made the Apostles the effective ministers of forgiveness, so what was obtained by the death of Jesus may reach all men and women in every age.”

(Pope Francis Opens Holy Door of St. Mary Major 1/1/16)

navigating the Faith

by Fr. Peter Mangum

Indulgences During the Year of Mercy there is a holy door at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans.

When the right circumstances are met, you can pass through the door and receive a plenary indulgence. This article has been updated from its original publication in our September 2013 issue, and explains indulgences.

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still remember Sister Martina, at Christ the King School in Bossier, teaching us all about purgatory and confession and indulgences. The Our Lady of Sorrows nun took a piece of wood and drove a nail into it with a hammer, and then she took the nail out. She said: “The wood is the soul, the nail is the sin, the hammering it in is our act of sinning.” She continued: “Going to confession takes that nail out, which is wonderful, but look at the wood; it’s damaged – there’s a hole that remains.” She said that is where an indulgence comes in to play, “It fills in that hole!”

With a good sacramental confession God forgives our eternal punishment so we don’t end up in hell for our mortal sins, but the indulgence helps us to erase the temporal punishment that we would otherwise go through in Purgatory. We either pay for it now or we will pay for it later when we are saved “as by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:15).

Though for many the word “indulgence” conjures up images of the Middle Ages or simply of pre-Vatican II days, the doctrine and practice of indulgences is still very much alive in our Church! [cf: Catechism 1471-1479] Pope Francis himself made indulgences available for those who attended the World Youth Day in Brazil, as well as for those who, by use of the media, even followed the proceedings. And now indulgences, besides those always available, are offered this Holy Year!

Just a few years back, TIME Magazine ran a story entitled “Why Catholic Indulgences are making a Comeback” in which it says, to explain to their readers, that at the core of indulgences is sin, which can either lead to eternal punishment — i.e., hell — or time spent in purgatory, where imperfections are purged in preparation for entering heaven. Confession erases eternal punishment, but temporal punishment remains. Plenary, or full, indulgences are the equivalent of a get-out-of-purgatory-free card. Partial indulgences simply shorten your stay. Fulfilling all needed for a plenary, or full, indulgence eliminates our temporal punishment (or that of the person to whom we offer it). Partial indulgences decrease the temporal punishment.

Now that you know more about indulgences, plan to obtain one, for yourself or for anyone, living or deceased. The Year of Mercy and the Holy Door at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans provide a unique opportunity to obtain an idulgence to be applied to souls in Purgatory so that they can be released from the bondage of Purgatory and enjoy the beatific vision of heaven. Such an act is a great spiritual work of mercy recognized by the Church. (Who knows... that soul may then return the favor and pray for you.)

Obtaining a Plenary Indulgence When We Make a Pilgrimage to the Holy Door at the Cathedral: • make a good confession within a week of your pilgrimage to the door • be free from all attachment to sin, even venial sin, in order to receive a plenary indulgence • recipient must pray for the intentions of the Holy Father at the time of the indulgenced work (pilgrimage), and make a Profession of Faith, one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be or other suitable prayers.

• receive Holy Communion within a week of the indulged work

Bishop Duca passes through the Door of Mercy.

If you are not correctly disposed or if you don’t fulfill the prescribed works and/or the three conditions the indulgence will be partial and not plenary. Anyway, have a plan for gaining your indulgences for the poor souls. The Jubilee Plenary Indulgence may be obtained for the living or the dead and will be available only one time daily. •

Catechism of the Catholic Church 1471 “An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions throughout the action of the Church which, as minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.”

In simpler terms, in virtue of the merits of Christ and His Church, an indulgence is the remission of the temporal punishment due to already forgiven sins.

Because of God’s holiness and justice, our sins (even venial) bring with them guilt and punishment, not out of vengeance, but for the purification of our souls. Though the guilt of sin (and eternal punishment, in the case of grave sin) is removed through the Sacrament of Penance, temporal punishment is here on Earth or in Purgatory.

February 2016 13

second COLLECTIONS

by Fr. Rothell Price

Second Collections and Programs in February from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, while the CRS Collection is taken up on the Fourth Sunday of Lent. This year’s Rice Bowl program is titled, “For Lent, For Life.” The Rice Bowl offers families, schools and faith communities an opportunity to prayerfully journey through Lent, putting their faith in action, and learning about the lives and struggles of our brothers and sisters around the world. Operation Rice Bowl allows us to express our Faith in Action, and see tangible results. Look for the Rice Bowl in our Catholic schools and parishes prior to Ash Wednesday. Increase your Easter Day joy by presenting your CRS Rice Bowl to our Risen Lord on Easter Sunday in your parish collection.

AID TO THE CHURCH IN CENTRAL and EASTERN EUROPE Collection Dates: February 10th Announcement Dates: January 31st & February 7th he poster for this year’s Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe is especially endearing. It features a captivating image of a mother and freshly bathed child. The happy mama is lovingly focused on this child who requires/needs so much of her. Our heavenly Father’s eyes and heart are fixed mercifully on us. The theme for this year’s Collection for Aid to the Church in Central and Eastern Europe is “Restore the Church, Build the Future.” Each year, the Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe assists Catholics who live in countries once dominated by the Soviet regime in order to rebuild their communities. Show Price the Father’s mercy to our brothers and sisters in Central and Eastern Europe who still feel poverty, have infrequent pastoral care, and lack buildings for worship. Your support is needed to strengthen the Church in this region through grants that promote ministries for children and families, create affordable housing, and provide a cultural and spiritual education. Please be generous in your parish collection. Your gift will continue to restore the Church and build the future in Central and Eastern Europe.

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OPERATION RICE BOWL Collection Dates: February 10th – March 27th Ash Wednesday – Easter Sunday Announcement Dates: January 31st & February 7th peration Rice Bowl is a project of Catholic Relief Services (CRS).

CRS is our unique Catholic complementary counterpoint to the Red Cross. It is easy to confuse this season-long spiritual program with the annual collection. They are not the same. The Rice Bowl program extends

O

14 Catholic Connection

BLACK AND INDIAN MISSIONS Collection Dates: February 13th & 14th Announcement Dates: January 31st & February 7th he Black and Indian Missions Collection exists to help communities build the Church and preach the Gospel of Jesus among the African American, Native American and Alaska Native people of God. Every year, it is the amazing generosity of Catholic faithful just like you who enable the Black and Indian Mission Office to support the following priorities: enlivening parish life and catechesis, helping educators reach kids, encouraging vocations and empowering evangelizers. Proceeds from this collection are distributed as grants to dioceses supporting and strengthening evangelization programs, which would otherwise be in danger of disappearing among the Black, American Indian, Eskimo and Aleute communities of the United States.

In this Jubilee Year of Mercy, “Be Merciful like the Father.” Self-sacrifice and generosity are among Our Father’s greatest attributes, gifts, and mercies to us. Please give generously to this work of the Church. •

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Fr. Rothell Price, Vicar General, is the Director of Second & Special Collections.

vocations View

by Martin Aviles-Vazquez, Seminarian

Pastoral Assignment at the Boys and Girls Club

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efore I started my pastoral assignment at the Boys and Girls Club (B&GC) in Covington, Louisiana for the fall 2015, I was very excited about it because I was going to be working with kids. I have a lot of experience working with them, and I love it. In 2011, when I was in the seminary in Mexico, I taught catechism to 45 kids every Saturday and I was the Hispanic Youth leader in Ruston for about a year. I was also happy because the B&GC is located very close to the seminary. However, I was not that One of my favorite things to excited about the size and facilities of the club. I had seen it before and do in my pastoral assignment it was not big enough for the great was helping the kids with number of children attending it. their homework. ... It is My experience with the kids in the B&GC was very different from a good feeling to know that what I expected. Some of these I was contributing to experiences were a huge challenge and some were enjoyable for me. children's education in Most of the kids who attend the a positive way. club are African-American, and they taught me a lot about themselves and their culture. This has helped me see firsthand the multicultural reality of the United States, which is in the Catholic Church as well.

One of my favorite things to do in my pastoral assignment was to help the kids with their homework. Most of the time, when I was helping them, they actually paid attention and listened to me. Sometimes they also read for me and I would help them with their pronunciation. It was a good feeling to know that I was

contributing to children’s education in a positive way.

One day I was drawing for them, and a few kids gathered around me and were very amazed at my drawing.

That was remarkable, not because my drawing was so great, in fact, it was very simple, but the reaction of the kids was priceless. I also enjoyed playing sports with them outside, such as soccer or basketball. Of course they loved it as well.

One time we stayed longer than we were supposed to because the kids wanted us to stay to play football with them. They were having a lot of fun and we were too.

Nevertheless, it wasn't all positive.

I experienced some difficulties that have helped me grow in my human formation. For example, sometimes kids don’t behave well and the instructors don’t respond adequately to them. In these cases I remember how I was educated. My parents didn’t allow their children to disrespect anybody, especially adults.

I tried to teach this to the kids by treating them with respect. At first they still disrespected me, but I knew that perseverance always works. If I treated them with love and respect, they would treat me the same way.

It is not the children’s fault if they are not well educated. By working with them, we can help them better themselves and create a brighter future. • Are you feeling called to a vocation in the Church? Contact Fr. Matthew Long, Director of Church Vocations, at 318-868-4441, or mlong@dioshpt.org

February 2016 15

Diocesan Serving in the Year of Mercy

by John Mark Willcox, Director of Stewardship & Development

For only the second time in its history, our Annual Diocesan Stewardship Appeal will take place during a Jubilee Year for the Church. As we work to serve during this “Year of Mercy,” there is no better way to enter into the Jubilee spirit than by supporting our Annual Appeal and all it provides for the people of our diocese. Various Appeal programs and ministries take on an even greater significance in light of our “Year of Mercy,” as your Appeal continues its mission to provide for the work of Christ in our region.

As in prior years, Appeal care for our retired and infirm priests remains a priority as our ordained workforce continues to age and require assistance.

This includes those dedicated priests who are currently working past retirement age to provide for the people of God within our diocese. This year, eight retired priests will depend on Appeal assistance with additional retirees expected.

“I have visited all of our retired priests recently and I can say with confidence that they are well cared for,” commented Vicar General Fr. Rothell Price. “Appeal assistance makes a real difference in their lives and they greatly appreciate this annual support from the faithful.”

Working to replace our retired priests with the newly ordained remains the job of Vocation Director Fr. Matthew Long. “We simply could not facilitate the seminary education for our nine men in formation without Appeal support,” said Fr. Long. “These seminarians are very aware of how our Appeal assists in their journey to ordination and I join them in thankfulness for the assistance of our Appeal supporters.” To have nine men in training for the priesthood is indeed a blessing for our diocese, and your Appeal dollar is key to bringing their desire to serve as priests to fruition.

Appeal support is also assisting Catholic Charities in their efforts to establish an office in the Eastern Deanery. “We are so excited to be able to have an office in Monroe,” related Catholic Charities of North Louisiana Executive Director Jean Dresley. “Being able to provide assistance for the needy of our Eastern Deanery has been a goal since our inception and now, due in part to Appeal support, we will see it happen this year.”

Your Appeal gift will help to further the development of a comprehensive youth plan fostered by the Office of Campus, Youth and Young Adult Ministry. Since 2015, Kevin Prevou has directed this office which seeks to provide 16 Catholic Connection

the very best in outreach and ministry to these critical members of our worship community.

“Our Appeal truly helps us reach out to our youth and young adults within this diocese.” reminds Kevin. “Appeal support allowed us to host a number of special events and training opportunities for the youth of our diocese last year, including a November trip to Indianapolis for the National Catholic Youth Convention for nearly one hundred Catholic high-schoolers from across our diocese.”

Our Catholic educational system that

includes our schools and catechesis

remains strong because of yearly Appeal support of tuition assistance and services provided to those teaching the Catholic faith at the local parish level. Our numbers of Spanish-speaking Catholics continues to grow and Appeal support of our Hispanic Ministry efforts is sustaining successful outreach to this vibrant part of our Various worship community.

Your Appeal also supports a Safe Environment take on an even greater Program that has educated thousands across our diocese.

It also sponsors the mission of our diocesan Office significance in light of our “Year of of Worship, continuing education for our Mercy” as your Appeal continues its clergy and our award-winning monthly publication, the Catholic Connection. mission to provide for the Having visited all of our worship locations last year, Bishop Duca remains upbeat about our future as a . combined worship family. “Seeing and speaking with so many of our Catholic faithful last year just reminds me as bishop how lucky I am to serve such a diverse and active group of believers,” noted Bishop Duca. “I am not only inspired by the work being done in our parishes, chapels and missions, but the generosity of our people is also very inspirational to me personally. Know that your support of our Annual Appeal really does make a difference and I was able to experience GO ONLINE that fact for myself during my weeks of visitation across the diocese.”

You can watch the Annual Whether you want to help a Catholic child attend school, provide for Appeal video and give online a retired priest, assist the needy through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, give a Catholic foundation to our youth and young adults at www.dioshpt.org or sponsor a man in seminary, our Annual Diocesan Stewardship IN YOUR CHURCH Appeal is the perfect vehicle to Appeal Sunday is Feb. 21. accomplish all of this and more.

Learn more that day in your Take time this year in prayer to parish and pick up a brochure discern how you can assist our Appeal campaign and make your to make your gift.

10-month pledge on February 21 to aid the Church with IN YOUR CATHOLIC ministries and programs that CONNECTION are available through no other Turn to page 30 of this issue source. Let us strive to make to cut out and mail in your this “Year of Mercy” a tangible Appeal pledge card.

Jubilee Year to those in need across our region. •

Appeal Programs and Ministries

work of Christ in our region

Participate!

February 2016 17

18 Catholic Connection

Diocese of Shreveport Annual Report 1

February 2016 19

Diocese of Shreveport Annual Report 2

Diocese of Shreveport Statements of Financial Position

2015 Total Operating Revenues

Grant Allocations

Diocese of Shreveport Annual Report 3

2015 Total Operating Expenses Donations & Other Income Allocations

2015 Total Catholic Center

Special Collection Allocations

Diocesan Service Appeal Allocations

Assesment Allocations

20 Catholic Connection

local NEWS Mansfield Celebrates 160 Years with New Church Fixtures and Stained Glass

by Fr. Matthew Long, Pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Mansfield

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ne hundred and sixty years ago the first Catholic Church, dedicated to the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, was built in what is now Desoto Parish in Carmel. Sixty years ago the Catholic Church in Mansfield built a new brick church for $35,000 that replaced the original wood frame church built on the site in 1908. The church rose there, brick by brick, and over the years through the generosity of the people and the talent of Mrs. Eugenia Manning, religious art was added to the Church’s patrimony. One of the things done to enhance the worship experience and to glorify God was to paint images of the life of Christ on the existing windows. Time passed, the sun shone and paint faded.

During the sixtieth year of the current church’s existence, the people of Mansfield were inspired to once again be generous and use the talent God has blessed them with to enhance the worship experience and to glorify God. Needles and threads sewed a new curtain and cushion covers, seats were reupholstered, new paint was put on old wood, skilled wood workers built and a new, more beautiful church emerged. One family commissioned a wood carving from a local artist of the pelican sacrificing herself for her young (an ancient symbol of Christ) to be placed above the crucifix. Another family put a new floor in the sanctuary, another rebuilt the sacristy, and another replaced the existing windows with insulated clear glass. The magnificent wooden altar from Immaculate Conception Church in Carmel and the altar rails from St. Jude Church in Logansport were placed in the sanctuary, and an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego were brought from Mexico. All of this was done in preparation for the fulfillment of a dream long held by the people to replace the painted windows with stained glass, to complete the work begun in 1955.

The third week of Advent dawned bright and clear, and although the people awaited the coming of Christ in joyful anticipation, something else would arrive

instead: 13 stained glass windows. These windows were carefully and thoughtfully chosen by the parishioners, mindful of the heritage they had received from those first Catholics who arrived there in 1855. On the south side of the church the windows represent the history of the Catholic Church in Desoto Parish.

The first and second windows are images of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. The third window is an image of the Immaculate Conception, which represents the Church at Carmel and St. Mary’s in Rambin. There are also images of the Rock Chapel contained in this window. The next window is of St. Anne.

Her patronage is important in the life of the Church in Desoto Parish. She is the patroness of the Rock Chapel and the former church in Benson as well as of the only existing Mission of St. Joseph still active in Stonewall. The fifth and sixth windows on this side are St. Jude and St. Francis Xavier, representing the former churches in Logansport and Frierson.

On the north side of the Church the windows represent the life of the church’s Patron St. Joseph. They are the betrothal, the nativity, the flight into Egypt, the ordinary life in Nazareth, the finding of the child in the temple, and the death of St. Joseph. The final window is of St. Michael the Archangel, above the front doors of the Church, who is the co-patron and protector of the church along with St. Joseph.

What a blessing the 160th year of Catholicism in Desoto Parish has been.

We are blessed with generous spirits and are blessed each time we pass into this beautiful church that represents all the history, all the goodness and especially all the love the vibrant People of God of Desoto Parish have to offer to the Glory of God. • February 2016 21

Q&A with Catholic Charities' Lucy Medvec

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ucy Medvec began work at Catholic Charities of North Louisiana on January 4, filling the role of director of development and communications. Her job will be instrumental in helping raise awareness of Catholic Charities of North Louisiana and the ministries they provide to help those most in need in our community, as well as assisting in raising funds to support one of the social justice arms of the Church.

Q: Welcome to Catholic Charities of North Louisiana! You have a background of working in development for hospitals and Catholic schools. Catholic Charities is a little bit different from those ministries. What do you look forward to most as you begin your job with Catholic Charities of North Louisiana?

What I look forward to most is the opportunity to interact with so many people; whether it will be our clients and their families, our volunteers, or our donors. We can all come together to make such a difference in our community and I want to get out there and let people know what they can do to help those who are in need. I have lived with my family in Shreveport for over 20 years and have worked in the non-profit community for a variety of organizations. I like to say that if there is a non-profit in our community, it’s highly likely that I have worked for, volunteered, or donated money to it! I have worked within the Diocese of Shreveport for the last eight years and am honored to be called to serve in this ministry.

Q: Development is an important part of any non-profit organization. Why is it so integral to the support of Catholic Charities of North Louisiana?

Every day, Catholic Charities of North Louisiana responds to the needs of many in our community who are struggling. We are one of many organizations who can provide assistance to those who need help and get them in a place where they can get back on their feet. Every donation we receive is greatly appreciated and put to good use. We take our role as stewards seriously and like to work with donors to make their gifts count. We have many viable programs at Catholic Charities that help so many, but they can only be successful with the support of our donors and volunteers.

Q: Catholic Charities of North Louisiana has put down strong roots in Shreveport with several well established programs to help people in our community help themselves and is now beginning to expand East. What is one of your greatest hopes for the future of CCNLA? With the opening of our satellite office in Monroe this February, we are now able to reach a larger population of North Louisiana.

It is amazing to see how large our diocese is and how Catholic Charities of North Louisiana reaches all corners of the region.

My hope for the coming year is to expand our base of support (time, talent and treasure) throughout the diocese so we can touch thousands of lives who need us most. We have just completed our fifth year of service in Shreveport and see the coming year as one of expansion and growth.

22 Catholic Connection

Q: Pope Francis has announced a “Year of Mercy,” and it seems like Catholic Charities is a natural extension of the corporal works of mercy. What are some of the ways CCNLA is embracing this Year of Mercy?

Pope Francis’ teachings on mercy speak directly to our organization’s mission to bring Christ’s message of love to the poor and vulnerable by providing quality social services to families and individuals without discrimination. Pope Francis has asked each of us this year to be vessels of God’s mercy for others. Through both corporal and spiritual works of mercy, we all have the opportunity to embody our faith on a daily basis.

Q: The Year of Mercy is a great opportunity to get more people, especially Catholics, involved in helping one another. What are some of the ways for people to get involved with CCNLA? One thing I like most about Catholic Charities is that we reach people of all ages and faiths, whether they are clients, volunteers or donors – it is truly for everyone. We have dedicated volunteers who work with Gabriel’s Closet (items for low-income mothers and children, parenting classes), assist with immigration integration services and help us with other ministries. There are volunteer opportunities for all levels of involvement and we can help you find your place. I would love for our base of support to grow throughout our diocese and the community as a whole.

We do great things here every day and it is an amazing opportunity to be able to serve those who need us most. •

331 East 71st Street • Shreveport 318-865-0200 • www.ccnla.org

hispanic NEWS (Artículo del Comité de Asuntos Hispanos de la Conferencia Episcopal (Obispos) de los Estados Unidos)

Visita del Papa Francisco a México

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l Pontífice realizará su primera visita pastoral a México del 12 al 17 de febrero de este año. Su programa consta de una amplia agenda de actividades oficiales y religiosas que se desarrollarán en la Ciudad de México y en los estados de México, Chiapas, Michoacán y Chihuahua, indicó la Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) en un comunicado.

“Los encuentros oficiales serán una ocasión propicia para dialogar sobre los mecanismos que generen soluciones concretas a temas como el cuidado del medio ambiente, la paz y la seguridad, la protección de los migrantes, la promoción del desarrollo incluyente, el combate a la pobreza, el desarme nuclear y los derechos humanos, entre otros”, informó la SRE. El papa dijo que llevará a la Virgen de Guadalupe “los sufrimientos y alegrías de los pueblos de todo el continente americano”. “Viajaré a venerarla a su santuario el 13 de febrero, allí pediré por toda América, de la cual es especialmente madre.”

La agenda oficial del Papa Francisco:

*Viernes 12. El papa llega a la Ciudad de México procedente de Roma. *Sábado 13. Ceremonia de bienvenida en Palacio Nacional, encuentro con autoridades, sociedad civil, cuerpo diplomático y obispos; además de una misa en la Basílica de Guadalupe. *Domingo 14. Oficiará una misa en Ecatepec de Morelos, Estado de México, luego en la Ciudad de México, visitará el hospital pediátrico Federico Gómez y tendrá un encuentro con representantes del sector cultural, en el Auditorio Nacional. *Lunes 15. Programa de actividades en Chiapas, que incluye misa con comunidades indígenas en San Cristóbal de las Casas, y diálogo con familias en Tuxtla Gutiérrez. *Martes 16. Visitará Morelia, Michoacán, donde celebrará misa en compañía de sacerdotes, religiosos(as), consagrados, y seminaristas así como una reunión con jóvenes.

*Miércoles 17. Viajará a Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, donde visitará a reclusos, sostendrá un encuentro con representantes del sector laboral y celebrará misa con los fieles.

Mismo día que regresará a Roma saliendo del Aeropuerto Internacional de Ciudad Juárez.

Artículo publicado por CNN en español Diciembre 12, 2015.

Gracias a Dios por el regalo de nuestro santo Padre Francisco y por su ejemplo y amor para todos y especialmente para los más necesitados. •

Calendario del Mes de Febrero 2016 6-7 Tercer taller de Pascual Juvenil, San Agustín, FL. Libro 2016 “Misericordia” 10 Miércoles de Ceniza 14 Primer Domingo de Cuaresma” 20 Encuentro Juvenil (Youth Rally) Centro Católico, 9am-5pm

February 2016 23

24 Catholic Connection

J FEBRUARY 7 - 13 FEBRUARY 14 - 20

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HRISTUS Health Shreveport-Bossier celebrated the official ribbon cutting of the new West Wing addition at CHRISTUS Highland Medical Center in Shreveport on January 14. The West Wing is an expansion of services and facilities to the Highland campus, funded by a $60 million investment that was announced in 2013.

“Today is a true milestone in our ministry,” Isaac Palmer, CHRISTUS Health Shreveport-Bossier CEO, said. “The West Wing is proof that CHRISTUS Health is committed to this community and that we are here to stay. We are not only celebrating the opening of the West Bishop Michael Duca, Sister Antoninus and Wing. We celebrate our expansion Isaac Palmer, CHRISTUS Health Shreveportinto Bossier; we celebrate the Bossier CEO at the West Wing ribbon cutting. wound care and breast center who are housed at the CHRISTUS again in the new building with the state Specialty Care Center. We celebrate our of the art facilities,” Dr. Scott Boniol, Associates, medical staff, volunteers, and medical director of the CHRISTUS our community who have supported us Cancer Treatment Center, said. “This and understand our vision of bringing transition to a new building is like health care to where people live and having a new church. At the end of the work. Most importantly, we celebrate day it’s not the building that makes our legacy in this community that Dr. the church, but the congregation. In T. E. Schumpert started 120 years ago.” our new location, we are providing our The West Wing will be home to patients with the same people who have the CHRSTUS Cancer Treatment such pride in what they do, the same Center (first floor), hospital pharmacy humility and dignity. The West Wing (first floor), The Birth Place/Neonatal is a new building, but it will still have Intensive Care Unit (second floor), our CHRISTUS family and values, and Acute Comprehensive Inpatient Rehab that’s what makes the difference.” (third floor), and other office and A faith-based, not-for-profit health conference space. system, CHRISTUS Health Shreveport“This is a significant expansion Bossier is part of CHRISTUS Health, of CHRISTUS Highland Medical sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Center. The entire campus, including the Incarnate Word. CHRISTUS is the separate wound care and imaging among the 10 largest Catholic health centers, has been redesigned and systems in the country and one of the expanded to better meet the needs of 20 largest of all health systems in the patients and medical staff,” said Stephen nation. CHRISTUS Health Shreveport Wright, Senior Vice President Group Bossier has provided health care in Operations CHRISTUS Health.

Northwest Louisiana for over 100 years.

“We are most excited about being Their mission is to extend the healing together with our CHRISTUS family ministry of Jesus Christ. •

oin us in our 52 Weeks of Mercy campaign throughout the Year of Mercy. Follow along, use the hashtag and let’s serve together.

FEBRUARY 21 - 27

by Jordan Harris

#52WeeksofMercy

FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 5

CHRISTUS Highland Celebrates New West Wing Opening

school NEWS

Howell Awarded Scholarship at OLF

Winning Robotics Club at SJB

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R

ecently, the St. John Berchmans’ Robotics Club competed in a National Integrated Cyber Education Research Center (NICERC) sponsored Regional Autonomous Robotics Competition (RARC) against 22 schools from Northwest Louisiana to earn 4th place overall. The club, made up of 10 5th graders, used their Science,

r. Joe is pictured with Makira Howell, recipient of the Msgr. George Martinez Scholarship for outstanding academics and good citizenship. Makira is also Our Lady of Fatima’s Student of the Year.

Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), as well as geography skills to complete several challenging tasks based on a strict set of guidelines all while striving to achieve the best overall competition time. The club is led by Coach Andy Hitt and Sponsor Annalisa Blanchard.

Congratulations on an outstanding competition!

St. Fred's Students Help Local Family

St. Joseph Students' Operation Love

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t. Joseph School eighth grade students served the homeless at Christian Service a Christmas lunch during the break. The middle school collected items and assembled love bags that were distributed. Operation Love was started several years ago by a former student.

Annual Play at JGS

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or Christmas, one of Stephanie Hay’s sophomore religion classes at St. Frederick High School adopted the Vazquez family, who are originally from Venezuela but moved to Monroe for a better life.

The students collected and purchased Christmas gifts for the family and

their three-year-old daughter. Hay said it was an amazing experience for her class, and the Vazquez family was so appreciative of the class for providing a great Christmas for them. Pictured: The Sophomore religion class presents the Vazquez family with the gifts they purchased for them.

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esus the Good Shepherd School had their annual Christmas play featuring students in grades Kindergarten through third grade. This year’s play was an adaptation of the bestselling book The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

February 2016 25

Kids' Connection!

What Can We Learn This Month?

This month we experience

LENT

Acts of Love Tree

from Theresa Brandle

During Lent every good thing you do for someone else can be offered to Jesus who loves you very much.

To create an Acts of Love tree:

1. Go for a walk and find a limb with branches.

2. Set it up in a vase or coffee can like a tree, and

anchor it with rocks.

3. Use purple cloth to wrap around the base.

4. Write down your acts of love as you do them

and hang them on your tree. By the time Holy Week arrives, your tree will be covered with reminders of all the acts of love, sacrifices and little services you have done and offered to Jesus.

5. On Easter morning, transform your tree!

You can cover it with beads, paint, flowers, etc.

Just as Jesus transformed the world, celebrate his resurrection with your transformed tree!

26 Catholic Connection

Acts of Love Ideas

Use these for inspiration to fill up your tree!

Help Fold and put away clothes

Make a card for your loved ones and friends

pray for your parents

choose clothes and food items to donate to the poor

praise God through song, writing, art or prayer

help a friend at school

do something nice for your brothers or sisters

help set the table and say the blessing before dinner

Word Find ALMSGIVING

jesus

prayer

ASH WEDNESDAY

lent

resurrection

Easter

love

risen

fasting

palm sunday

triduum

across the GLOBE

Vatican Information Services

by Vatican Information Services

... may the Jubilee of Mercy be for all of us a time that

is strong for the spirit, a time of reconciliation with God and with our brothers.

– Pope Francis

Pope Begins His Fridays of Mercy

V

atican City, January 16, 2016 organized as a hospital, but rather as a (VIS) – Pope Francis began family house where the residents can his “Fridays of mercy” with be continually assisted by members of a visit to a rest home for the elderly their families. on the outskirts of Rome. He announced Pope Francis especially wished this initiative at the beginning of the to counter the "throwaway Jubilee, explaining that culture" on this occasion by one Friday each month he would perform a highlighting "the great special gesture of mercy.

The Holy Father, importance and value of accompanied by Archbishop Rino the elderly and grandparents, Fisichella, responsible as well as the value and dignity of for the organization of the Jubilee of Mercy, life in every situation." arrived at 4:00 p.m. at the Bruno Buozzi rest home, which accommodates 33 elderly people. He According to a note from the Holy spoke with all the residents, who were See Press Office, Pope Francis especially happy and surprised at the visit, which wished to counter the “throwaway had not been announced in advance. culture” on this occasion by Before returning to the Vatican, highlighting “the great importance and the pope also visited the Casa Iride, value of the elderly and grandparents, which accommodates six patients in as well as the value and dignity of life in a vegetative state. The center is not every situation.” •

VAtICAN news & notes • Pope Francis visited the Great Synagogue of Rome to greet the Jewish community of the capital, the longest-established in the world, on January 17.

• After praying the Angelus on December 27, Pope Francis spoke on behalf of the ''numerous Cuban migrants who are in difficulty in Central America,'' many of whom are victims of human trafficking.

He called on the countries in the region to generously renew the necessary efforts to finding a timely solution to this humanitarian tragedy.

• After the Angelus prayer on January 17, the Pope affectionately greeted the members of the various ethnic communities present in the Square. He also said, "I now invite you all to pray to God for the victims of the attacks that have taken place in recent days in Indonesia and Burkina Faso. May the Lord welcome them into His home, and support the efforts of the international community to build peace", Francis concluded, praying the Hail Mary with all those present.

• Education, sharing and witness were the three words the pope suggested to the members of the Christian Workers' Movement for living the vocation of work, a vocation that "calls us to imitate actively the tireless work of the Father and of Jesus who, as the Gospel tells us, are always working."

February 2016 27

Faith Formation Conference

around the DIOCESE

C

hristine Ternosky and Christine Sloan went to the Gulf Coast Faith Formation Conference January 9-10. Afterwards, they went to the Shrine of Blessed Father Seelos.

Tech Students Host "Life Tree"

W

ith less than 20 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas break, the Association of Catholic Tech Students (ACTS) packed the days of Advent with acts of social justice.

In coordination with Bulldogs for Life, Tech’s pro-life organization, ACTS hosted a Life Tree in their Catholic Student Center to benefit Life Choices of North Central Louisiana in Ruston.

Ornaments requesting baby items like diapers or baby clothes decked the tree, and over the course of the Advent season students donated over 40 baby items to the cause. Additionally, in the year’s largest charitable outreach for the organization, ACTS spent one Saturday night doing “Operation Help,” a project which involves collecting boxes of food and toiletry items for needy families in the parish through a fast-paced scavenger hunt.

28 Catholic Connection

Donations were also collected from St. Thomas Aquinas Parish members and the young women of Sigma Kappa.

After the scavenger hunt, the ACTS members, dressed in crazy holiday attire, were able to compile 15 boxes for needy families.

Finally, in perhaps the most touching event of Advent, ACTS brought its musical talent to an assisted living center in Ruston to perform Christmas carols. Residents sang along and one enthusiastic woman shared lyrics with a caroler and joined the choir!

Our campus minister, Br. Mike Ward, OFM, often reminds us that we are called to be God’s hands and feet in the world, and this season we all certainly saw in our group an enthusiasm for giving that reminded us “God is with us.”

by Courtney Smith

St. Martha's Circle Raffles Off Quilt

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t. Martha’s Circle of the Council of Catholic Women raffled off a beautiful cross quilt made and donated to them by Carmen Swindoll of Zwolle. The lucky winner was Daniel Parrie of Zwolle.

Catholic Youth Day Coming!

We are the Diocesan Youth Council and we want to invite all high school and middle school youth to join us for the Catholic Youth Day on February 20, 9am-5pm at the Catholic Center. The focus of the day will be to deepen our Catholic faith and develop our identity as Catholics so that we will be able to share our faith with others. Come join us! For more information on Catholic Youth Day contact Kevin Prevou at the Office of Youth Ministry 318-219-7258.

Priests and Bishop Celebrate Feast of St. Chavara

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ost Rev. Bishop Michael Duca celebrated the feast of St Kuriakose Elias Chavara in Monroe with the priests from India. St. Chavara is the founder of the religious order Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) that was officially started on December 8, 1855 in Kerala, India and now has 2,500 members working all over the world. He was declared a saint last year and his feast day is on January 3. There are seven CMI priests now working in the Diocese of Shreveport. – Fr. Philip Pazhayakari, CMI

Ladies Auxiliary Prepared Gift Bags for Nursing Home

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embers of the Ladies Auxiliary Knights of St. Peter Claver, Court 160, Little Flower of Jesus Catholic Church, Monroe, met recently to prepare gift bags to be distributed to residents of one of the nursing homes in the Monroe area just in time for Christmas.

- Evelyn T. Body

February 2016 29

mark your CALENDAR 2/6

Pianist Eric Genius to Perform at St. Jude Church Eric Genuis, internationally acclaimed virtuoso pianist, will bring Music to Move the Soul to St. Jude Catholic Church in Benton on Saturday, February 6 at 6:00 p.m. This concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the church office at 318-746-2508.

2/7

Year of Consecrated Life Celebration at St. John the Baptist Parish To conclude the Year of Consecrated Life, St. John the Baptist Parish in Many will be hosting a special celebration on Sunday, February 7. All Religious are invited to attend the 10:00 a.m. Mass. There will also be a special luncheon in their honor afterwards. Everyone is invited to attend this event as we show our appreciation to these special people who have devoted their lives to serving God’s people.

2/13

Magnificat Ladies Brunch Ladies are invited to a brunch sponsored by NOWELA Magnificat Chapter on Saturday, February 13, from 10:30am

- 1:30pm at the Shreveport Catholic Center, 3500 Fairfield Ave. Our guest speaker will be Sr. Dulce Maria, of Baton Rouge LA. Sister is the Superior of the house of the Blessed Sacrament in Baton Rouge. Many around Baton Rouge know her as the angel of healing. Her whole life has been about caring for others.

She has prayed with thousands of patients. Tickets are $15. Make reservations by mailing a check to Magnificat-NOWELA Chapter, Marjorie Ainsworth,1575 Parks Road, Benton, LA, 71006. If you have questions call Sandy Chapman, at 318-222-0007.

2/13

Murder Mystery Event at the Cathedral Tired of the same Valentine’s Day? Try something different! Have a night out with the girls or treat someone special to a delicious meal with a side of MURDER! Tickets are $50 and include dinner, chance for a prize and the show. Cash bar available.

Purchase tickets online or in office!

Theme: Crime & Pun-ishment. Dress for this night of murderous mayhem includes flapper dresses, feather boas and headbands, zoot suits, pinstriped suits and fedoras. If you

aren’t feeling that jive, you can dress as a private detective to help solve the crime. Business casual is also an option. Make plans to attend this FUNdraiser at St. John’s on the evening of Saturday, February 13.

Proceeds will be applied to the cost for the new addition of the Parish Hall & School Library/Technology Center. Please call St. John’s church office at 318-221-5296 for more information.

2/21

"Celebrating the Saints" Video Production The musical performance "Within the Orb of Glories Wearing" premiered during the Year of St. Paul, Saturday, November 1, 2008, at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans. We look to the saints as examples of how to live our lives, especially during this Year of Mercy. After many years of planning and production, the video created by conductor/composer Kermit Poling, with performance from Leonard Kacenjar and the Festival String Quartet, and narration

by Fr. Peter Mangum, will have its debut showing at the Catholic Center's Holoubek Theater, 7:00pm, Sunday, February 21, 2016. All are invited to attend!

2 0 1 6 D i o c e s a n s t e wa r d s h i p A p p e a l

I / We would like to contribute to the Diocesan Stewardship Appeal with a total yearly pledge of: $10,000 $7,500 $5,000 $3,500

$2,500 $2,000 $1,500 $1,000

Please send monthly reminders to:

$800 $750 $650 $500

$400 $350 $300 $250

At this time I / we are enclosing:

$200 $150 $100 $_______

$_____________

Print Name________________________________________________________________________________

Diocese of Shreveport The Catholic Center 3500 Fairfield Avenue Shreveport, LA 71104 www.dioshpt.org

30 Catholic Connection

Address___________________________________________________________________________________ City______________________________________________________State_________Zip Code____________ My / Our Church Parish______________________________________________________________________ Signature__________________________________________________________________________________ You may make a credit card payment online at: www.dioshpt.org (Click on Stewardship)

FEBRUARY

2016

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

SATURDAY

31 1 2 3 4 5 6 Catholic Schools Week Begins

Immaculee Ilibagiza to Speak at St. Frederick High School, 7pm

Calling Catholics Home Begins, Cathedral, 6:30pm

St. Blaise, bishop & martyr; St. Ansgar, bishop

The Presentation of the Lord

7th Annual Catholic School Religion Scholars' Bowl, St. John Berchmans Cathedral School

St, Agatha, virgin & martyr

Confirmation, Holy Trinity Parish, 4:15pm St. Paul Miki and companions, martyrs

World Day of Consecrated Life

Religion SchOlars Bowl / Feb 4

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Year of Consecrated Life Celebration, St. John the Baptist Parish, 10am Catholic Scouting Mass, Cathedral, 11am

Confirmation, Mary, Queen of Peace Parish, 6pm St. Jerome Emiliani; St. Josephine Bakhita, virgin

Appeal Announcement Sunday

Priest Retirement Ash Wednesday Committee Meeting, Lent Begins Catholic Center, 11am Second Collection: Church in Central and Eastern Europe

Second Collection: Black and Indian Missions (through 2/14)

Our Lady of Lourdes World Day of the Sick

ASH WEDNESDAY / FEB 10

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Rite of Election, Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, 2:30pm

Presbyteral Council Meeting, Catholic Center, 1pm

Appeal Education Sunday

President's Day

Diocesan Monroe Finance Council, Principals' Catholic Center, Meeting, Our 12pm Lady of Fatima School, 9:30am Protecting God's Children, Catholic Center, 6pm

Shreveport Principals' Meeting, St. Joseph School, 9:30am

Catholic Youth Day, Catholic Center

RITE of Election / Feb 14

The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order

First Sunday of Lent

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 APPEAL SUNDAY Celebrating the Saints Video Production, Catholic Center, 7pm Second Sunday of Lent

Lenten Reconciliation Service, Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, 5:30pm The Chair of St. Peter the Apostle

Diocesan Liturgical Commission Meeting, Catholic Center, 1:15pm

St. Fabian, pope & martyr; St. Sebastian, martyr

St. Polycarp, bishop & martyr

Catholic Youth Day / FEB 20

28 29 1 2 3 4 5 Third Sunday of Lent

Lenten Reconciliation Service, Holy Trinity Parish, 5pm

Lenten Reconciliation Service, St. John Berchmans School, 8:15am; Loyola College Prep, 9:30am; Mary, Queen of Peace Parish, 6pm

St. Katharine Drexel, virgin

St. Casimir

APPEAL SUNDAY / FEB 21 February 2016 31

Connection The Catholic

DIOCESE OF SHREVEPORT 3500 Fairfield Ave.

•

Shreveport, LA 71104

Photo of the Month

The first Theology on Tap event in the Southern Deanery, led by Fr. Matthew Long in Mansfield, was welcomed with great enthusiasm by Catholics from as far south as Zwolle and Many to Mansfield and the Shreveport / Bossier area.

32 Catholic Connection

Fairfield