Catholic Connection October 2016

Connection The Catholic

Affirming

Vol. 26, No. 3 October 2016

Life at ALL

Ages in ALL Stages October 2016 1

Connection The Catholic

Publisher Bishop Michael G. Duca Editor Jessica Rinaudo Contributors Shelly Bole Fr. Jerry Daigle Bishop Michael Duca Susan Flanagan Kim Long Fr. Matthew Long Lucy Medvec

Kevin Mues Mary Nash Fr. Rothell Price Rosalba Quiroz Katie Sciba Mike Van Vranken Br. Mike Ward

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.

Don't Forget to Visit the Holy Door!

T

he Holy Year of Mercy will be coming to a close soon. And if you haven’t yet, now is the perfect time to visit the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans and walk through the Holy Door.

Here’s what you need to do!

1. Establish a specific date and time for your pilgrimage. 2. Contact the Cathedral

(318-221-5296) to ensure the Holy Door will be open at the time you plan to arrive.

3. Think of ways to make your pilgrimage spiritual. Pre-determine the prayers, psalms, scriptures or reflections you will reflect on during your journey. 4. Bring your Bible.

5. Are there other churches along the way where you can stop and visit the Blessed Sacrament? Or cemeteries to stop at and pray for the dead? 6. Consider stopping at other churches along the way and pick up other pilgrims for your caravan. 7. If

you need to stop for lunch, pack a simple picnic meal or pre-determine a restaurant where a simple meal is available. 8. Consider inviting families from PSR programs, Catholic schools or youth groups to join you. 9. As you walk through the Holy Door, offer prayers of gratitude for the opportunity and for arriving safely. 10. Once inside, quietly spend time with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Read one of the scriptures or reflections.

The Cathedral of St. John Berchmans expresses gratitude to all of the churches and groups who have made a pilgrimage to the Cathedral and the Holy Door during this Extraordinary Jubilee Year! Almost every parish has participated!

The closing of the door will take place November 20, at the 11:00 a.m. Mass.

bishop’s october calendar OCTOBER 1 Holy Trinity Parish 160th Anniversary Mass; Holy Trinity Parish, Shreveport; 4:15 p.m.

OCTOBER 4 Principals’ Meeting; Loyola College Prep, Shreveport; 9:00 a.m.

OCTOBER 20 35th Annual Taste: A Festival of ShreveportBossier Food and Art (Holy Angels Residential Facility Fundraiser); Bossier Civic Center, Bossier City

OCTOBER 5 Fr. Joseph Puthuppally’s 50th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood Mass; St. Matthew Parish, Monroe; 6:00 p.m.

OCTOBER 25 Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word Sesquicentennial Mass; Villa de Matel Chapel; Houston

OCTOBER 6 Meeting of Notre Dame Seminary Board & St. Joseph Seminary Board; Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans, LA

OCTOBER 26 Diocesan Finance Council meeting; Catholic Center, Shreveport; 12:00 p.m.

OCTOBER 2 Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux Mass & Celebration; St. Theresa Church, Delhi; 11:00 a.m.

OCTOBER 7-10 Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem Investiture Weekend; Miami OCTOBER 12 Blue Mass; St. Joseph Parish, Bastrop; 12:00 p.m.

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.

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OCTOBER 15 Run with the Nuns Motorcycle Rally; Silver Star Stage, Bossier City OCTOBER 19 Bishop Martin David Holley’s Installation Ceremony; Memphis

Faustina: Messenger of Divine Mercy Production; Catholic Center, Shreveport; 7:00 p.m.

OCTOBER 27 Our Lady Queen of Palestine Mass; Holy Trinity Parish, Shreveport; 5:30 p.m.

OCTOBER 29 Bingo on the Bayou (Catholic Charities of North Louisiana Fundraiser); 601 Spring Street, Shreveport; 6:00 p.m.

OCTOBER 30 Mass; Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Shreveport; 11:00 a.m.

contents

october 2016

columns Let Us Stand Up for the Life of Every Person by Bishop Michael Duca.................... 4-5 Mike’s Meditations: Mercy During Elections by Mike Van Vranken...................... 6 In Review: Divine Mercy for Moms by Katie Sciba ............................................... 7 Faithful Food: Creating Order Out of Chaos by Kim Long................................... 8

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Domestic Church: Show the World Children are Blessings by Katie Sciba......... 9 From the Pope: The Relationship Between Mercy and Redemption from Vatican Information Services...............................................................................10 Navigating the Faith: Our Lady of the Rosary - A Reflection from a Former Catholic Outsider by Fr. Matthew Long .........................................11 World Mission Sunday Collection by Fr. Rothell Price ............................................12 Vocations View: Seminarian Serves Migrants in Mexico by Kevin Mues.................. 13 Kids' Connection: Saint Francis of Assisi.................................................................24

features

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Affirming Life at All Ages in All Stages

by Kim Long ............................................................................................................. 14-15 Mercy in Action: Catholics Rally in Support of Louisiana Flood Victims

by Greg Beauclair, Jennifer Chunn, Jessica Rinaudo, Shirley Rivers .......................... 16-17

news College Students Aid Orphans in Guatemala by Br. Mike Ward .........................18 Pro-Life Ministry's Local Roots: Alpha Right to Life by Susan Flanagan ................19 Sacred Heart Celebrated 50 Years in Golden Jubilee by Mary Nash ................20 Faustina Live Production Coming to Catholic Center .....................................21

16 on the cover

Catholic Charities Presents "Bingo on the Bayou" by Lucy Medvec ...................21 Daigle New Associate Vocations Director by Fr. Jerry Daigle .............................22 Growing Confident Catholics by Shelly Bole ........................................................22 Hispanic News by Rosalba Quiroz ...........................................................................23 School News ...........................................................................................................25 Around the Globe: Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Tireless Worker of Mercy from Vatican Information Services ............................................................................26 Across the Diocese ................................................................................................28 Blessing of the Graves in the Diocese of Shreveport by Fr. Rothell Price ............29 Multicultural Rosary at St. Joseph Parish by Kay Nader .......................................29 Mark Your Calendar ...............................................................................................30 October Calendar .................................................................................................31 Picture of the Month...............................................................................................32

Three generations of family: Diane Hudson, Lauren Merrick, Abigail Merrick, David Merrick, David Hudson, Andrew Merrick & Hudson Merrick.

October 2016 3

la reflexión Del Obispo por Obispo Michael G. Duca

Defendamos la Vida de Cada Persona

C

uando era rector del Seminario de la Santísima Trinidad en Dallas, con frecuencia advertía a mi equipo de trabajo sobre la importancia de estar sanos y claros en las enseñanzas de la iglesia – porque estando sanos, nos daríamos cuenta cuando alguien en el seminario actuaba enloquecido. PERO si toda la facultad estaba enloquecida, lo desquiciado se vería normal.

El 12 de Septiembre del 2016, un grupo que se hizo llamar Católicos para la Opción, (CFC) por sus siglas en inglés, publicaron un anuncio grande y a todo color en muchos de los periódicos más grandes nacionales, apoyando el derecho de cada mujer de recibir fondos del gobierno para realizar un aborto como una parte esencial del seguro médico. Este anuncio salió en las noticias de la mañana en Dallas con la fotografía de un hombre joven con un letrero que decía: “Negarle a alguien la opción del aborto, o cualquier cuidado médico porque no puede pagar el procedimiento, es agresión a su dignidad regalada por Dios” Católicos para la Opción.

El Cardenal Tim Dolan, arzobispo de Nueva York y Presidente del Comité ProVida de la Conferencia de Obispos de los Estados Unidos respondió: “Como ya los obispos católicos de U.S.A han dicho por muchos años, usar el nombre ‘Católico’ como base para promover quitar la vida humana de inocentes, es ofensivo no solo para los Católicos, sino para todos los que esperan honestidad y dirección en un discurso público.” CFC no está afiliado con la Iglesia Católica en ninguna manera. No tiene membresía, y claramente no habla por los fieles. Es patrocinado por fundaciones poderosas privadas que quieren promover el aborto como un método de controlar el crecimiento de la población.

La organización CFC rechaza y distorsiona la enseñanza social Católica – y en realidad ataca sus fundamentos. Como el Papa Francisco lo dijo este verano a los líderes en Polonia, “La vida debe ser protegida y bienvenida… desde la concepción hasta la muerte natural….”

El núcleo de la creencia de la Iglesia Católica en la santificación de la vida, es una enseñanza central que es el fundamento de la justicia social para el cuidado de la humanidad. Es una creencia arraigada en el hecho de que somos creados a la misma imagen de Dios, y que cada vida es sagrada desde el momento en que comienza en el vientre de la madre. En todo el dialogo del aborto, esta cuestión de cuando comienza la vida nunca ha sido respondida legalmente. O tal vez una manera más seglar y legal de decirlo es: “¿Cuándo, dentro del vientre de su madre, esta vida obtiene la protección completa de la ley igual que cualquier otra persona viva?”

El problema con esta pregunta es que siempre trae consigo otra pregunta.

Si alguien dice que la vida comienza a los tres meses después de la concepción, entonces ¿Porque no entonces faltando un día para los tres meses? ¿Porque hasta este día sería una vida pero no antes? La respuesta es siempre una opción injusta a menos que aceptemos la VERDAD que la vida humana es sagrada desde el primer momento de vida en el vientre y que el aborto es grave. Para mantener el aborto legal no se puede contestar la pregunta de cuando comienza la vida, porque nombrar una fecha es limitar la opción. De hecho, el movimiento Pro-opción DEBE siempre responder la pregunta de cuando la vida es valorada con una respuesta también vaga e injusta. Así que, como resultado, vivimos en un mundo esquizofrénico donde si la mamá quiere la vida que carga en su vientre, esta vida se convierte en un amado hijo(a) de Dios, pero si la mamá no la quiere, es solo un feto y no una vida humana merecedora de ser valorada con la dignidad de un ser humano.

Esta manera injusta y concerniente de pensar es un gran peligro para nuestra sociedad. La vida ha sido siempre uno de los derechos inalienables. Esto significa “nuestro derecho a vivir” el cual se nos ha dado por Dios, y no es creada o dada por el estado. El estado, el gobierno, debe proteger ese derecho. En la decisión legal de 4 Catholic Connection

Roe vs Wade, el derecho a la vida se convirtió en injusticia dependiendo en la opción de una sociedad de los que ya están vivos sobre los que no han nacido – una decisión de los poderosos sobre los vulnerables, los que tienes sobre los que no tienen. Y si la vida es injusta en una etapa de la vida, entonces que se espera en nuestra sociedad al decidir el derecho de una persona a la vida cuando envejece o se enferma, o que los poderosos decidan por los vulnerables.

El aborto no es cuidado médico. El cuidado médico busca restaurar la integridad del cuerpo humano a su orden natural, el aborto es más bien una interrupción al proceso fundamental y más hermoso y natural de la creación de una nueva vida. Proteger el derecho al aborto no es una justicia social, sino que golpea el fundamento de la justicia social porque niega a una persona su derecho elemental a la vida, que es el punto de comienzo de toda justicia social.

El Cardenal Dolan resume este problema bellamente en su declaración: “Los anuncios extremos de la organización CFC promueve el aborto como si fuera algo bueno. Sin embargo, el aborto mata al más indefenso entre nosotros, daña a las mujeres, y desgarra el corazón de las familias. Tratar agresivamente de recibir fondos públicos hace que los pagadores de impuestos sean cómplices en la violencia del aborto y en la industria que pone ganancias más arriba que el bienestar de las mujeres y de los niños.

Finalmente, el CFC pone las necesidades de la mujer embarazada sobre las del niño que no ha nacido. Esta es una opción falsa. Los católicos y toda la gente de bien son llamados a amar a los dos. Consideren mejor, apoyar los centros locales de ayuda a las embarazadas, que hacen un trabajo increíble cuidando a las mujeres y a los bebes de igual manera consistente con la verdad social y misericordia.”

Algunas veces se siente como que lo enloquecido se ve normal. No perdamos nuestro camino. Defendamos la vida en todas sus etapas y de todas las maneras posible, ya sea una persona ya nacida al igual que de cada bebe en el vientre de su madre esperando nacer.

Seamos instrumentos de la misericordia de Dios y mantengámonos libres en la verdad para que lo que esta enloquecido, así lo parezca, y para que la vida sea valorada así como Dios lo designó. •

bishop’s REFLECTION

by Bishop Michael G. Duca

Let Us Stand Up for the Life of Every Person

W

hen I was rector of Holy Trinity College Seminary in Dallas, I would regularly warn my staff that it was important that we stay sane and clear about the teachings of the Church – because if we are sane, then when someone in the seminary acts crazy, it will look crazy. BUT if the faculty is crazy, then crazy will look normal.

On September 12, 2016, a group who called themselves Catholics for Choice (CFC) put a full page color ad in many of the nation’s largest newspapers supporting the right of every woman to have an abortion funded, if needed, by the government as a part of essential healthcare. The ad placed in the Dallas Morning News pictured a young man with the caption: “Denying someone abortion care, or any healthcare, simply Bishop Duca because they cannot afford the procedure is an assault on their God-given dignity” Catholics for Choice.

Cardinal Tim Dolan, archbishop of New York and the Chairman of the ProLife Committee of the U.S. Conference of Bishops, responded: “As the U.S. Catholic bishops have stated for many years, the use of the name ‘Catholic’ as a platform to promote the taking of innocent human life is offensive not only to Catholics, but to all who expect honesty and forthrightness in public discourse.” CFC is not affiliated with the Catholic Church in any way. It has no membership, and clearly does not speak for the faithful. It is funded by powerful private foundations to promote abortion as a method of population control.

The organization rejects and distorts Catholic social teaching – and actually attacks its foundation. As Pope Francis said this summer to leaders in Poland, “Life must always be welcomed and protected…from conception to natural death....”

The Catholic Church’s core belief in the sanctity of life is a central teaching on which all social teachings for the care of humanity are founded. It is a belief rooted in the fact that we are created in the very image and likeness of God, and that each life is sacred from the moment it begins in the mother’s womb. In all the discussions concerning abortion, the question has never been answered legally as to when life begins. Or maybe a more secular and legal way to state the question is, “When does the human life in the mother’s womb gain the full protection of the law as any other person alive?”

The problem with this question is that it always begs another. If someone says life begins at three months after conception, then why not three months less one day? Why this day is it life, but not the day before? The answer is always an arbitrary choice unless you accept the TRUTH that human life is sacred from the first moments of life in the womb and abortion is morally wrong. To keep abortion legal, you cannot answer the question as to when life begins, because to name a date is to limit choice. In fact, the pro-choice movement MUST always respond to the question of when human life is to be valued with an arbitrary, relative and vague response. So, as a result, we live in a schizophrenic world where if the mother wants the life in her womb it becomes a child who is loved, and if she does not, it is a fetus and not a human being worthy of value.

This arbitrary and relative way of thinking is a great danger to our society.

Life has always been one of the inalienable rights. This means that our “right to life” is given to us by God, not created or given to us by the state. The state, the government, is required to protect that right. In Roe vs Wade the right to life became an arbitrary right depending on the choice of a society of those

already alive over one not yet born – a decision of the powerful over the vulnerable, the haves over the have nots. And if life is arbitrary in one stage of life, then what is to keep our society from deciding a person’s right to life as they age or become sick, or for the powerful to make more decisions over the vulnerable.

Abortion is not healthcare. Healthcare seeks to restore the integrity of the human body to its natural order, whereas abortion is a fundamental disruption of the most natural and beautiful process of creating new life. Protecting abortion rights is not social justice, but in fact abortion strikes at the foundation of social justice in denying a person their very right to life, which is the beginning point of all social justice.

Cardinal Dolan sums up the issue in his statement beautifully.

“CFC’s extreme ads promote abortion as if it were a social good. But abortion kills the most defenseless among us, harms women, and tears at the heart of families.

Pushing for public funding would force all taxpaying Americans to be complicit in the violence of abortion and an industry that puts profit above the well-being of women and children.

Finally, the CFC pits the needs of pregnant women against those of their unborn children. This is a false choice. Catholics and all people of good will are called to love them both. Consider supporting local pregnancy help centers, which do incredible work caring for mothers and children alike in a manner consistent with true social justice and mercy.”

I sometimes feel like crazy is starting to look normal. Let’s not lose our way. In all ways let us stand for the life of every person already born and every child in the womb waiting to be born. Let us be instruments of God’s mercy and keep ourselves clear on the truth so that crazy will look crazy, so that life is valued as God intended. • October 2016 5

mike’s meditations

by Mike Van Vranken

Mercy During Elections

I

t is said the Roman Emperor Nero hated Christians so much that two of his favorite activities included: 1 – Dressing captured Christians in the skins of wild animals and then throwing them to the lions; and 2 – Dipping captured Christians in oil and setting them on fire at night using them for light in his garden. So it was somewhat surprising when, around the same time Nero was persecuting Christ’s church, Paul wrote a letter to his friend Titus saying: “Remind them (Christians) to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work. They must not slander anyone, but be peaceable, Van Vranken gentle, showing complete courtesy to all people” Titus 3:1-2 (NET).

It seems pretty difficult to be subject and obedient to rulers who set your oil-dipped friends on fire; especially knowing you may be next. However, that’s exactly what the early Christians, and us, are taught to do when our leaders persecute us for our faith. And, not just be obedient, but to be peaceful, gentle and show courtesy to them, including not talking bad about them.

Around the same time, the first letter to Timothy reads: “I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity” 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NAB).

Ten to 20 years later, the author of 1 Peter wrote: “Give honor to all, love the community, fear God, honor the king” 1 Peter 2:17 (NAB).

Finally, here’s how Jesus put it: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Stop judging” Luke 6:27-28,37 (NAB).

Have you had the opportunity to be involved in any political conversations over the past 10 months? Yeah, me too. And, how did they go for you? If you are like me, some may not have gone so well.

But, if the early Christians were forbidden to slander Nero, how much more respect are we to show our federal, state and local leaders today?

Another way to ask the question is: How have we displayed God’s mercy during those conversations? Did we ask God for His opinion on the issue or candidate we were discussing? Or, did we use God’s word in a special way to be able to judge a candidate or condemn a particular issue? Sometimes we think we get away with manipulating God’s words or teachings so we can validate our own positions where politics are concerned. But as we meditate on the words of Jesus and the teachings from Titus, 1 Timothy and 1 Peter, we discover we don’t have a lot of wiggle room where our political behavior is concerned. And once our upcoming elections are over, we are still directed to be merciful by continuing to pray, to love and to forgive our leaders until Jesus returns.

So let’s look at a few specific ways we can spread God’s divine mercy: PRAYER – We begin our prayers this month by first asking for God’s forgiveness for the times we have been unkind, slanderous and even hateful towards any candidates, elected officials or their supporters.

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Then, let’s ask God to transform these leaders to be exactly who He wants them to be.

The next prayer we can lift to God is to ask Him who He wants us to vote for in every race. Even if our minds are already made up, let’s go to God and ask Him for the grace to open our hearts and minds to listen only to His direction to make our voting decisions.

COMPASSION – Who among us hasn’t made many mistakes? And, most of us have no desire to ever serve our communities or our country as an elected politician. Let’s show compassion for our leaders, their families and those who work with them and support them. When we remember they are all God’s children, it is much easier to care about who they are and what they do.

STOP JUDGING – This is a direct command from Jesus. It is the desire of God’s heart that we never judge each other. Yet we see evil, destruction, hatred and corruption all around us. We forget where it all comes from. While some human beings may be the visible conduits of evil, people are not the source. So, let’s let God judge people; our role is to love each other.

This very long election season is almost over.

But God’s desire for us to spread His divine mercy everywhere never ends. Let’s begin today to allow God’s mercy to flow through us in such a way that, not only are we transformed, but the entire political world around us will change as well. • 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

in REVIEW

by Katie Sciba

Divine Mercy for Moms

by Michele Faehnle & Emily Jaminet

T

he Year of Mercy is wrapping up and, to be honest, I had become so accustomed to hearing about our Church-wide celebration that my enthusiasm had worn off. Then I picked up Divine Mercy for Moms, which must have been God’s will, and realized that when it comes to Jesus and mercy, my heart has barely scratched the surface of either.

Let me start by saying this book makes the abstract idea of Divine Mercy accessible and real. As moms, it’s possible for us to receive mercy and in turn give it to others. I learned that I can perform the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy here in my home and I was encouraged to do so for my friends and fellow mamas.

Divine Mercy for Moms: Sharing the Lessons of St. Faustina by Michele Faehnle and Emily Jaminet begins appropriately with a historical snapshot of the story of a nun, Sr. Maria Faustina Kowalska, and the incredible apparitions she had of both Jesus and Mary. Her apparitions were so frequent in fact, that she was able to speak with our Lord as easily as a friend, with complete vulnerability. When Jesus charged her with the weighty task of conveying the Divine Mercy to the world and Sr. Faustina felt unsuitable.

She was uneducated and lived in a small community where she had no influence, yet what she deemed to be inadequacies Jesus used to further reveal himself to humanity.

The story alone speaks to me as a wife and mom. I’m fully aware of my shortcomings and simplicities. I have wounds, habitual sins, hesitations and quirks like every other woman in the world; yet, as the book conveys, God will use these to move mountains. All I have to do is remain as close to Him as

possible for strength and grace.

But to be close to somebody, there has to be trust. My favorite aspect of Divine Mercy for Moms is that among its initial chapters is one dedicated to increasing my trust in Jesus.

“But who has time to up their trust? I don’t have time to pray; and if I do, I’m completely wiped out by the kids and life in general that what I need is coffee, or a glass of wine. And a nap.”

Holiness isn’t something we reach for only in the stillness and quiet; if I waited around for that, I’d be a lost cause!

Ms. Jaminet wrote, “I felt [my vocation] was holding me back from growing spiritually… I soon discovered that each moment I gave to Christ with intentionality and love, I received not only the grace I needed to be a good mother, but true happiness as well.”

I felt so validated throughout this whole book. The authors spoke to the bliss, pain, needs and desires of motherhood, never taking for granted how much we mamas must give for our families. To be a mom is to be a servant to those we love most, and it’s a near guarantee that those we serve will never appreciate the depth of our devotion to them. It’s hard, endless work and Jesus pines to go through it with us. “[T]alk to me about everything,” Christ said to St. Faustina, “for my ears and heart are inclined towards you, and your words are dear to me.”

The end of the Year of Mercy is no time to drop the habit to pick up a new one. It’s a resolution! It’s a chance to keep it with us from here on out. As wives and mamas, we have a particular need to receive mercy in order to give it.

I’m quite certain that with Divine Mercy for Moms, I’m ready with a manual on how to live it. •

“I felt [my vocation] was holding me back from growing spiritually…I soon discovered that each moment I gave to Christ with intentionality and love, I received not only the grace I needed to be a good mother, but true happiness as well. " – Divine Mercy for Moms: Sharing the Lessons of St. Faustina

Divine Mercy for Moms: Sharing the Lessons of St. Faustina is available online through Amazon.com.

October 2016 7

faithful FOOD

by Kim Long

Creating Order Out of Chaos Reclaiming Space and Making Your Home for God

Y

ears ago there was a popular saying which hung in our home, “God bless this mess.” Looking back, I think it was intended to be a tongue in cheek humorous statement, but I think it became a selffulfilling prophecy. My Long mother, God be good to her, filled our home with ideas, books, Irish cultural icons, a dog and a cat, three children, piano music and Dylan Thomas on the “record” player. Our home was NOT, however, particularly sterile. Oh it was clean alright, but she used to quip that she’d be dead one day and she would rather spend her time reading and being with her children.

So when someone gave her the plaque, she loved it. It jockeyed for position with family photos.

My grandmother, on the other hand, had the proverbial “you can eat off her floor” mentality. I am somewhere between those extremes. My house though can pile up on occasion, especially when outside events are numerous or I have worked a few late nights with parish events. When I slow down long enough to get a good look at my house, I am

often surprised by the disarray.

That is when I know it is time for a tidy up. So on goes the music and up go my sleeves.

I begin with a countertop and work from left to right cleaning everything, silently wishing I were a “clean-as-I-go” kind of cook, rather than inheriting my grandfather’s ability to dirty every dish and spoon when I cook.

There is something so gratifying about cleaning. I know it is not a favorite task of most of us, but as I am filled with the creative gene, I can see that I am creating a peaceful place from the chaos of activity which has been out of balance.

Many people are becoming more and more aware of the need to use cleaning products that are safe for our planet earth.

My problem is that while they are easier to find now, they are still pretty costly. I know they are worth it, but sometimes my budget is tight. Sometimes it is habit to put the products I have used before in my shopping cart. Occasionally I will think to look up “recipes” for cleansers and they are usually much less expensive.

So as the music winds down and I step back and see the fruits of my labor and

Homemade Cleaner Ingredients: • 1 teaspoon Borax or baking soda (I use baking soda) • 2 cups boiled water (do not let it cool) • ½ teaspoon liquid dish soap • 3 tablespoons white vinegar • 15 drops of lavender essential oil • 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil • 5 drops tea tree essential oil

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Directions: 1) Place ingredients in a glass bowl and mix until everything is incorporated.

2) Apply with a sponge or damp cloth to the bathroom surface you are cleaning and rinse well.

If you don’t care for the fragrances of the oils listed above, citrus oils are great too. All essential oils can be purchased at Drug Emporium or Amazon.com.

the kitchen (yes, dear friends, it is always the kitchen for me!) coming back to life.

I smile – order out of chaos is always a good feeling.

Once my task is complete I do a couple of things, I put some water to boil on the stove and add a few drops of essential oil or orange peels and cinnamon to make everything smell cozy, then I go from room to room with holy water and bless the space which WAS a mess! I really do this and recently in Bible study a friend said their mother did that too. Others said they had not thought of it, but would try it.

It is a reclaiming of space, a refocusing, a moment of re-dedication and an acknowledgement that I want God to feel at home here and I am attempting to give Him my best.

I am including a recipe for homemade bathroom cleaner (commercial bathroom cleaning products are often very caustic).

It works well and I have realized that baking soda is good for nearly everything! • Kim Long is the Director of Religious Education at St. Mary of the Pines Parish in Shreveport.

domestic CHURCH

by Katie Sciba

Show the World Children are Blessings

W

e go through our pep talk every time I take our four kids out with me. “What do we need to show the world?!” I shout to my knee-high passengers. “That children are blessings!” they cheer back.

A couple years ago, I told my sweet kids that even though we know every life is a gift, not everybody else does; so if we behave and have a Sciba positive attitude when we’re out, then maybe we can reveal just how much of a blessing a handful of kids can be.

And if you’ve ever made a grocery run with even one small child, you know it’s a gamble. Walking in with my chain of ducklings trailing behind, we chant, “No fits! Inside voices! Ohhhh-bey!” Under my breath, I beg for God’s mercy and try to get out of the store as quickly as we get in.

A child out in public is a wild card, and anything from barometric pressure to sugar intake can affect behavior. Multiply it by four, and my life and reputation are in their tiny hands. As a parent however, I know regardless of the day’s elements, my demeanor is far more important than my kids’ because ultimately, if someone is going to convince public onlookers that children are blessings, it’s me.

And in addition to those four on the ground, the Lord has given our family a FIFTH sweet blessing with our newest addition set to debut in the spring.

And we’re psyched. And yes, the baby is a bit of a surprise, but most definitely a hoped-for and welcomed one.

Already anticipating public appearances with a growing bump, three sons and toddler daughter in tow, I’m sure the looks, questions and comments our family received in the past will come again from curious strangers. We’ve heard it all from “Do you know what causes that?” to “You got your girl - time to stop!” Though our family of now seven is hardly record-

What do we Need to

Show the World?

…that children are blessings! From babies on airplanes to toddlers in the produce section, children are gifts to parents, each other and society straight from above. No matter if your little one is adorably new, cautiously 13 or impossibly adult, join the pro-life movement by showing the world that your babies are precious.

breaking, I know we’re a sight to see.

Maybe it’s pride, but I like to think the pro-life movement needs more traveling circuses - couples willing to welcome children by conception or adoption, small families willing to become big families.

A woman considers abortion out of fear that a baby could turn her world upside down in the worst of ways; secular society at large views children as obstacles to a free life. What bolder statement, what happier invitation, could we make than to accept babies – planned or not – for all the upsidedown they bring with them?

A store employee recently approached my crew, eyes big as saucers. I laughed happily when I told her I’m in the early weeks of my fifth pregnancy. “Don’t they fight?

Don’t they make a mess?” I didn’t hesitate to tell her they absolutely do - all the time; but they’re also the best of friends who have the most compelling concern for each other and it comes so naturally to them. I laid down that awesome JPII line, “The greatest gift you can give your child is a sibling.”

And isn’t that the whole message of the pro-life movement? We know that life at any stage is a gift from God; even if that stage throws fits, needs a trip to the bathroom during Mass or makes a mess.

An imprint, an image of Divinity Himself will always be worth the upside-down. •

Smile

It’s quite simple really. Smile and people know you’re having a good time. Smile when your kids are around and people will know you’re having fun with them. You’ll be walking proof that kids aren’t ruining your life, but are enhancing it.

Laugh

It doesn’t matter how old kids are, they are blessed with the ability to make parents crazy. Laugh it off! Laugh it off when the tantrums come, when the Lord blesses you with a surprise baby, when your clean house is destroyed in seconds.

Turn your frustration into fascination and laugh it off.

Pray

Always pray. But this time, pray that you’ll be able to see your children as God sees them - precious and pure, priceless gifts and images of Himself.

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

October 2016 9

from the POPE from Vatican Information Services

The Relationship Between Mercy and Redemption

T

he relationship between mercy and redemption was the theme of the Holy Father’s catechesis during his September 10 Jubilee audience in St. Peter’s Square. Close to the pope on the podium was a stone statue of St. Agnes of Bohemia, a gift from Pope Francis the Czech Republic, brought by faithful of the country during their national pilgrimage for the Holy Year of Mercy.

“The word redemption, that refers to the salvation that God procures for us through the blood of His Son Jesus, is little-used,” Francis observed; “yet it is fundamental to indicate the most radical freedom that God can realize for us, for all humanity, and for all creation.”

“It seems that man today no longer likes to think he has been freed and saved through God’s intervention; he deludes himself that his freedom is a force for obtaining everything. But in reality this is not the case. How many illusions are sold on the pretext of freedom, and how many new forms of slavery are created in our times in the name of a false freedom? Many, many slaves. ‘I do this because I want to, I take drugs because I like to, I am free’…

They are slaves! They become slaves in the name of freedom. We have all seen people like this who end up on the ground. We need God to free us from every form of indifference, selfishness and self-sufficiency.”

“By making himself one of us, the Lord Jesus not only takes on the human condition, but also raises us up to the possibility of being Sons of God,” he explained. “By his death and resurrection, Jesus Christ, the blameless Lamb, conquered death and sin to free 10 Catholic Connection

us from their dominion. He is the Lamb that was sacrificed for us, so that we can receive a new life made up of forgiveness, love and joy. All that he assumed was also redeemed, freed and saved. Certainly, it is true that life puts us to the test, and at times we suffer for this. However, in these moments we are invited to turn our gaze to the crucified Jesus who suffers for us and with us, as sure proof that God does not abandon us. Let us never forget that in anguish and persecution, as in everyday sufferings, we are always freed by the merciful hand of God Who raises us up to Him and leads us to a new life.”

“God’s love is boundless,” the pope

... how many new forms

of slavery are created in our times in the name of a false freedom! emphasized. “We can discover ever new signs that show His attention towards us and, above all, His wish to reach us and to await us. All our life, although marked by the fragility of sin, is placed under the gaze of God Who loves us. How many pages of the Sacred Scripture speak to us of God’s presence, closeness and tenderness for every man, especially for the smallest, the poor and the troubled?

The greater our need, the more His gaze upon us is filled with mercy. He feels compassion and pity towards us because He knows our weaknesses.”

Francis concluded his catechesis by inviting the thousands of faithful in St. Peter’s Square to “open up to the Lord, and receive His grace,” as, along with the pope, they repeated three times the invocation of Psalm 130: “For with the Lord there is steadfast love and with Him is plentiful redemption.” •

In theWords of

Pope Francis

“Brothers and sisters, you represent the large and varied world of voluntary workers. You are among the most precious things the Church has, you who every day, often silently and unassumingly, give shape and visibility to mercy. You are artisans of mercy: with your hands, your eyes, through listening, closeness and caresses, you express one of the most noble desires of the human heart: making a suffering person feel loved.” (To Paricipants in the Jubilee of Volunteers, 9/3/16) “Dear young people, become, like [Mother Theresa], workers of mercy; dear sick people, feel her compassionate closeness especially at the hour of the cross; dear newly-weds, invoke her so that care for and attention to the weakest may never be lacking in your families.” (To Pilgrims after Catechesis, 9/7/16) “The world constantly watches us, believers, observing our attitude to our common home and towards human rights; it also requires us to collaborate with men and women of goodwill, who do not profess any religion, so as to offer effective responses to the scourges of our world, such as war and hunger, the poverty that afflicts millions of people, the environmental crisis, violence, corruption and moral degradation, the crisis of the family and of the economy, and above all the lack of hope.” (To Participants in Symposium for Interreligious Dialogue, 9/8/16) “God always waits for us to resume our journey; He awaits us patiently, He sees when we are still far from Him, He runs out to meet us, He embraces us, He kisses us, He forgives us. This is how God is.” (Angelus, 9/11/16)

navigating the Faith

by Fr. Matthew Long

Our Lady of the Rosary

A Marian reflection from a former Catholic outsider

H

ow does one become devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, especially if you are raised in the Southern Baptist Tradition? The answer is simple: the Rosary.

Growing up I heard my Catholic cousin say, “Holy Mary, Mother of God.” He said many things over the years, but this is the only thing I remember with clarity. We were riding bikes behind my house and we were about to go down this hill that looked scary. We sat there side by side and as we got ready to race down the hill he uttered those words.

Mary was always honored when I was growing up in the Baptist church, but the only time we ever heard about her was at Christmas, and possibly on Mother’s Day. The honor given to her was only regarding her willingness to bear Christ into the world. I had never heard until that day behind my house that she was the Mother of God. Don’t misunderstand me, I did not race into the house and try to find anything else about it. I didn’t question my cousin about it. I simply stored that phrase into the back of my mind. It was always there and I would sometimes pull it out and think about it, or occasionally say it when no one was around.

As my faith deepened in Jesus Christ, I adopted the belief that Catholics worshipped Mary. I firmly believed this and the few Catholics who I came into contact with heard me rant and rave about this. Unfortunately, not one of them ever tried to set me straight. None of them ever explained to me what Catholics actually believed. Therefore, I walked through life brandishing my Bible and my belief that I had a responsibility to help them change their ways. In other words, I walked through life in ignorance.

I did what a lot of people did in college: I quit going to church. I continued to pray and occasionally read the Bible, but mostly I went my own way. When I finished college, I returned home for the summer before beginning Law School at LSU in the fall. During that summer I began going to church again on a regular basis. I was there on Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings and on Wednesday nights. All that summer I came to the realization that I had missed gathering with a worshipping community regularly and I missed my relationship with God. I made a vow as the summer came to an end that I would never again miss church on Sunday. When I arrived in Baton Rouge I kept that vow. I began visiting every Southern Baptist church in the city until I found one I liked.

I did not know anyone at Law School, but on the first day I met a young man from Eunice, Louisiana. He was a married man about five years older than me with two children and he was Catholic. As our friendship developed, I discovered something else – he was unlike any Catholic I had ever met. He did not allow me to steamroll over him with my quotes from scripture. He was also willing to explain to me what he, as a Roman Catholic, actually believed. I then set out on my quest to help him and his wife see the truth. Our discussions were illuminating to me – and we had many. If he did not know the answer, he would say, “I don’t know,” and then the next day he would provide me with the answer.

I was learning a great deal, but I was not swayed in my beliefs, and the biggest hurdle was Mary.

One Saturday in October we were all gathered on the LSU campus to attend

the football game. In the course of our day of tailgating, he invited me to join his family at Mass the next day. My answer was immediate, I said “Yes.” I had never been to a church, other than a Baptist church on a Sunday. I had attended a Methodist and a Presbyterian wedding, but other than that I had only worshipped in a Baptist church. This was the reason I said “Yes,” I was naturally curious. The next morning I joined them at Mass and, to say the least, I was not impressed. I thought it was the most sterile thing I had ever attended.

In my mind I was thinking, “They call this the worship of God?” Any interest I had in learning about the Catholic Church came to an end that day.

A few months later my friend gave me a book to read. I have always loved to read so I accepted this book entitled Pierced by a Sword. The book was very interesting and it would later change my life. There was a character in the book called Joe Jackson, a Southern Baptist from Louisiana. I was intrigued by this character, especially as the continued on page 27.

October 2016 11

second COLLECTIONS

by Fr. Rothell Price, Vicar General

World Mission Sunday Collection Our dear, compassionate and passion-filled Pope Francis notes that, “The Mercy of God is His loving concern for each one of us… As the Father loves, so do His children. Just as He is merciful, so we are called to be merciful to each other.”

I leave you with another quote from our Holy Father Pope Francis, “Mercy… this word changes everything. This is the best thing we can feel; it changes the world.”

Help change the world with your divinely given and inspired mercy, please give generously to the World Mission Sunday Collection.

Collection for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. Collection Dates: November 5th & 6th Announcement Dates: October 23rd & 30th World Mission Sunday Collection Collection Dates: October 22nd & 23rd Announcement Dates: October 9th & 16th

W

orld Mission Sunday will be celebrated on October 23. World Mission Sunday is celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of October. This day is set aside for Catholics worldwide to recommit themselves to the Church’s missionary activity through prayer and sacrifice. The World Mission Sunday Collection gives you and me an opportunity to bring Jesus Christ and his Church where his divine mercy is most needed.

This year’s World Mission Sunday theme is MERCY CHANGES THE WORLD/LA MISERICORDIA CAMBIA AL MUNDO! Every person’s missionary vocation has its origins in our Baptism.

Price Jesus commissioned his disciples to “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15b.

Our participation in our missionary vocation extends God’s loving mercy to our brothers and sisters living in the greatest need. Your support of this collection for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith reaches clinics for the sick and dying, orphanages providing a place of safety and nourishment, shelters for victims of human trafficking, schools educating children from kindergarten through high school. Your help provides for seminarians preparing for the priesthood, and religious sisters and brothers in formation programs. Your support does so much to bring God’s loving mercy to vulnerable individuals and communities throughout the world.

Thank you for supporting this year’s World Mission Sunday Collection.

12 Catholic Connection

T

he Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA is, by far, the largest diocese in the world. Whereas all other dioceses encompass a defined geographical territory, the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA encompasses the five continents of our world.

Wherever our military personnel are deployed, the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA is there with and for them through the priestly ministry of Catholic chaplains.

Please support the spiritual and pastoral needs of our service men and women, and their families, by your cheerful participation in the Collection for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. • Fr. Rothell Price, Vicar General, is the Director of Second & Special Collections.

vocations View

by Kevin Mues, Seminarian

Seminarian Serves Migrants in Mexico

T

his summer I went to Mexico City in order to gain insight into Hispanic culture and Spanish language. The seminary program offered students many opportunities to see the ministerial and cultural differences between Mexico and the United States.

One of my most powerful experiences was visiting Casa del Migrante where those who are traveling through Mexico to the United States can stop for only 48 hours or less.

Our trip to Casa del Migrante de San Diego was a very faith affirming and inspiring experience. I had no idea what to expect when we arrived. When we got off the bus and were told that the train that many people took to the border was right next to the house, it cemented in my mind the reality of the struggles that people were facing in order to make their way to what they hoped would be opportunities and safety.

When we entered the house and were shown the clinic area and bunks for the migrants, I noticed people were being told about house rules that were to be followed and the different procedures that would allow everyone to stay there comfortably. The people looked weary, but genuinely happy to be there.

After introductions, we had the chance to meet with the people there.

The majority of the immigrants were Hondurans who were fleeing the violence of their country.

Then it was time for Mass. I sat towards the front by the altar so I had a chance to really look at the people during Mass.

It touched my heart to see how reverently they participated. Just by looking, it was possible to see that these were a people who were truly being sustained by their faith.

After Mass, we passed out rosaries we brought with us. They seemed completely touched by such a small gesture. The small gift that we were able to give them was important, not because of its great material value or its physical beauty, but because it gave them an opportunity to carry their faith with them on their journey through the wilderness.

We had the opportunity to serve lunch to the people there. I could tell that the act of serving them and joining them at table was a simple way to show them that we recognized their humanity and their dignity as children of God. This experience caused me to think

of the parable of the Good Samaritan and the question that results from that parable, “Who is my neighbor?”

The answer to this question for the person discerning a priestly or religious vocation is always going to be, “Anyone whom God sends.” At Casa del Migrante, we were all neighbors. Seeing their depth of prayer and reliance on the will of God bolstered and enlivened my own faith. Watching a woman who had traveled there the day before take a shift helping in the kitchen made me realize more deeply my call to be a servant.

Seeing the weariness on the face of the workers there as they described the trials and struggles of the people who have walked through their doors reminded me of the deep sacrifice that is required to love people, not for what they have or what they can do, but for who they are in their identity as a child of God. In my own small way, I was able to join with these people in prayer and with them in the pain they felt. I have not suffered in the ways they have, nor will I ever understand the individual circumstances that have led them on the path they were walking, but I have felt pain, loss, confusion and suffering.

My own feelings of helplessness and raw hurt that I experienced in the sight of their pain has allowed me to see in a deeper way how Christ calls to us in our suffering. Christ has not abandoned them, but looks on them with love. • Interested in a vocation to the priesthood or religious life? Contact Fr. Matthew Long, Director of Vocations, 318-868-4441, or mlong@dioshpt.org.

October 2016 13

Life

Affirming at ALL

Ages in ALL Stages

by Kim Long

P

ro-life can be a sensitive subject. Opinions are often developed by people who are uninformed or only partially informed about Church teaching on life, or by people who are conflicted based on personal situations. And while I am no expert on theology, I am a person who seeks information, forms opinions and prays for wisdom.

The Catholic Church teaches that life begins at conception and ends at natural death.

In Deuteronomy 30:19 we are told, “ I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. So choose life in order that you may live and your descendants.”

The directive seems quite clear, yet somehow the waters have been troubled.

Several years ago I traveled into uncharted territory: I had to teach high school religion at my parish. Now as a mother of four sons, perhaps I’m thought to be brave and tough. And however true I may believe that to be, my courage did not transfer into the classroom of the eleventh grade confirmation class.

One of the first things they asked me was, “if we don’t believe everything the Church teaches, can we believe some things?” I prayed for divine assistance. I drew a line on the chalkboard near the bottom, another slightly hovering above the first and then one at the top of the board. I told them the bottom line was nothingness. The line right above it was us, and the line at the top was all the Church teaches and believes, the repository of faith.

No one knows everything the Church teaches and believes. The space between these lines is our lives and we spend that time journeying toward a fullness of understanding.

As the weeks continued, it was only a matter of time before someone brought up birth control and abortion. Sadly that was their entire scope of understanding the Church’s rich teaching on pro-life. It was then I realized we needed to spend some time “unpacking” the pro-life teaching.

We began by examining the actual phrase “pro-life.” I pointed out that with every choice we make, we are enjoined to choose life. For exmaple, “Do you really need the triple cheeseburger? Do you really need to put someone down? Are the friends you have chosen helping you create or destroy?”

As we talked, the possibilities opened up. We considered “pro-life” as an acronym.

P

urpose: Do you know why you are here? The old Baltimore Catechism has this to offer: “Who made you? God. Why? To know Him, love Him, and serve Him in this world and be happy with Him in the next.” Simple? Yes. Easy? Not so much.

14 Catholic Connection

1 Thessalonians also has a similar statement: “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ.”

Until we accept this is our purpose, everything else can get stuck. Take a little time to sit with these phrases from the catechism and scripture. Ask God to reveal what you need to know in order to fulfill your purpose!

R

espect: This may seem like a no brainer, but what is respect really? I checked with Webster’s and found an interesting take: “high or special regard.”

Years ago I was introduced to a great book called Codependent No More by Melodie Beattie. It was wonderful, but the truth it contained stung a bit.

I liked approval and, according to the text, depended on it too much. If all my self worth came from exterior sources, how I could I respect myself?

True, I could look at some of the things I had achieved so far, but I was unable to apply those feelings of past achievements to myself in general. I did not understand then that I have value simply because I am made in the image and likeness of a God who knew me before I was formed in the

womb. Until we hold ourselves in some regard, it is difficult to extend that regard to others. As my mother used to say, “Charity begins at home.”

O

NENESS: Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength.” In Luke 10, Jesus repeats this with the addition of “love your neighbor as yourself.”

In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus tells the confused disciples that whenever they had helped the least of these their brothers and sisters, they had done likewise to him.

When we begin to see that we are treating our “brothers and sisters” differently than how we treat God, we are not choosing life. Simple. End of story. Now I have lots of trouble with this concept and I doubt that I am alone.

Try taking a breath and responding rather than reacting. Learn that it is absolutely fine to refrain from immediately weighing in on every situation; in fact some situations are best left alone.

Increase your awareness. Pray and think before you act.

out on her faith the moment her two feet hit the floor in the morning. At the time I was reading some lofty theological book and I silently thought how “basic” her statement was. God has forgiven me for that bit of arrogance and ignorance and, thankfully, has brought me full circle.

Now when my feet hit the floor, I acknowledge this posture as one of faith. I confess I am that person who wants to know the why of it all. Scripture reminds me that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Experience, age and my feet have led me to a place of rest, a place where I don’t need (and sometimes don’t want) every answer – a place of faith. Without faith no choice seems to matter.

L

IFE: Enjoy life! Don’t keep it on the shelf until “one day.”

You know “one day,” don’t you? One day I will exercise.

One day I will call up my cousin I haven’t spoken with in 10, 20, 30 years. One day things will be different. Not true – one day we will be older and still thinking, “I wish I would have done…” Be moderate in your enjoyment; don’t range out of balance. Remember with every action we engage in, we create or destroy. Choose to create!

Native American spiritual leader Black Elk said, “In a sacred manner I am walking…” I ask myself, “How am I walking?

How am I approaching life? How are all my choices leading me to life and to blessing?” If I cannot learn that how I treat myself and others is a direct reflection of how I relate to God, then I may only crawl.

I

NTENTION: Intention is defined as determination to act in a certain manner, a plan. I was surprised to read that it also means a manner of healing certain types of wounds. Each morning, for the past several months, upon waking I utter, “Thank you, God.” There are two prayers that are great examples of setting the day’s intention. The modeh ani, a Jewish prayer, thanks God for waking us, “great is your faithfulness in me for giving me another day.”

In our Catholic tradition we have the Morning Offering, where we offer all things coming our way to God for what He deems best. These prayers really make me aware of the amazing opportunity God gives me for setting an intention to all I do, say and pray that day.

In the evening there is a beautiful prayer which encourages us to look back on our day, ask forgiveness and sleep well knowing God understands, forgives and will work with us to help us grow.

F

aith: What is life without faith? For me nothing. My faith has been tested and bent at pretty uncomfortable angles, but it is still there. My grandmother used to say she stepped

When we begin to see that we are treating our

“brothers and sisters” differently than how we

treat God, we are not choosing life.

E

nter: Enter the miracle which is life in all of its many forms. Fr. Thomas Berry, a Jesuit priest who wrote extensively about creation, says all of creation is the great curriculum. Life can be difficult, life can be sublime, life can be filled with joy and overflowing with sorrow. Life can be a direct reflection of our own understanding of this miracle, this gift which we are plainly told to choose. Don’t sleepwalk through this experience, instead laugh, cry, have a dessert, love your neighbor, don’t neglect yourself, never forget God is with us always and everywhere. Cry, dance, pray, laugh out loud, be with friends and family. Set an intention, be alone in reflective silence, be alive – choose life!

This was the basic talk I had with my class that year. Of course abortion is wrong, sex should be reserved for marriage and not seen as currency. We shouldn’t overeat, we shouldn’t gossip, balance is vital and prayer is our glue. But in the end, it comes down to awareness and choices. It comes down to knowing our purpose, why we are here. I told them God doesn’t expect perfection, but He does expect us to show up. We are to assist in bringing about the kingdom “on earth AS IT IS in heaven.”

Some days that may mean speaking to an unpopular person at school, sharing your last dollar or attending a weekday Mass out of sheer desire to connect with God through the Eucharist. The choice is yours. • October 2016 15

Mercy in Action

Volunteers from St. John the Baptist Parish in Many collected supplies for South Louisiana.

Catholics Rally in Support of Louisiana Flood Victims

A

s the rains fell and the waters rose in south Louisiana, the devastation of those waters quickly became evident. Tens of thousands of homes and businesses were lost. Schools were consumed, churches drowned and people lost everything. Recovery efforts are still overwhelming and daunting. How do entire cities recover from such tragedy?

It starts with people reaching out to victims in acts of mercy. Catholics from around the entire Diocese of Shreveport, including parishes, Knights of Columbus, Societies of St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic schools and Bishop Duca, all spearheaded different relief efforts to begin helping people meet their immediate needs and take steps towards recovery.

St. John the Baptist Parish, Many St. John the Baptist Parish’s Society of St. Vincent de Paul and their Knights of Columbus Council partnered with community businesses and organizations to help provide disaster relief to the south Louisiana flood victims. The Knights of Columbus Council also worked with other councils throughout the state, the Pokemon for Progress Community and the Louisiana State Police in a statewide effort to collect supplies for flood victims and to deliver those supplies to the areas where they are most needed.

Needed items and supplies have been collected from church members and other interested people and groups in the community and have been sent to south Louisiana for distribution.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul from St. John the Baptist will continue to accept donations and send shipments to those in south Louisiana. Needed items include non-perishable food, new bedding such as sheets, blankets, comforters, dishes, new towels, housewares, gift cards in any denomination such as Visa, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and places to eat. Any and all donations are appreciated and may be dropped off at the St. John the Baptist Parish office between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on weekdays.

16 Catholic Connection

St. JOSEPH PARISH & SCHOOl, SHREVEPORT St. Joseph Parish and School collected donations in support of south Louisiana flood victims for two churches and school parishes – St. Joseph Catholic Church and Rayne Catholic School in Rayne, LA, and St. Alphonsus Catholic Church and School in Greenwell Springs, LA. Each grade was asked to collect specific items to aid in the recovery- our students and their families responded by helping to fill a full size PODS storage container with supplies including diapers, wipes, bleach and assorted school supplies.

St. Joseph Catholic School also held a fundraising jeans/casual dress day, which raised over $1,200 to support relief efforts in those parishes. St. Joseph Catholic School sent members of their Student Council and National Junior Honor Society to St. Joseph-Rayne August 29 for assistance and fellowship with the Rayne Catholic School student council and to assist with the delivery and organization of the donated supplies.

Additionally, school librarian Mrs. Karam donated 2,960 library books from the school library to Denham Springs Elementary School in Denham Springs, LA, just in time for their students to start back to school on September 12. St. Joseph partnered with Caddo Middle Magnet teacher Mrs. McCrary, whose school also donated and transported the books to Denham Springs.

St. MATTHEW PARISH, MONROE The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) St. Matthew Parish forwarded a $1,000 donation to the Baton Rouge SVdP to assist them in their relief efforts.

St. LUCY PARISH, HODGE St. Lucy in Hodge received $1,000 from the Jonesboro State Bank to add to their own donation for south Louisiana flood relief.

St. PASCHAL PARISH, WEST MONROE St. Paschal Parish contacted Catholic Charities of Baton Rouge and took up

a collection in addition to a donation from their general fund and sent it directly to Catholic Charities.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS The Knights of Columbus State Council, located in Lafayette, reached out to all councils in Louisiana to help with the effects of the flooding in the state. There have been many Catholic families and Knights impacted by this flood and their need is great. The local Knights of Columbus opened a collection point to ask for donations of emergency supplies and/or money to help those that are displaced and in need at the Broadmoor Council #3407 location.

Cameron Lavespere with a collection of pet supplies for south Louisiana.

people were collecting food and water for flood victims, but there was also a need to collect food and supplies for pets.

“My horse trainer called me on Tuesday night and said that someone was coming through Monroe to collect pet supplies for the animal victims,

and her mother, Cindy, took the truck to Farmerville, where a trailer was waiting to collect the supplies and St. JOHN BERCHMANS SCHOOL, transport them to the Lamar Dixon SHREVEPORT Center in Gonzales, where most of the St. John Berchmans School held a pets are being held during the time.

Jeans Day where students paid to wear With the donation from SFHS and jeans. All proceeds from the event were others, the students were able to collect donated to assist those in need in south over 6,000 pounds of food and Louisiana. supplies.

“One of the best things about JESUS THE GOOD SHEPHERD our Warriors is they are always SCHOOL, MONROE willing to help where needed. These Jesus the Good Shepherd School amazing students always go above faculty and students collected and beyond to meet that need,” said cases of water to send to the south Webber.

Louisiana flood victims. Billy These are a sampling of ways Burton, JGS custodian of 20 years, Catholics across north Louisiana delivered the water to a local church worked together to help others in in the Baton Rouge area that had need. Still more parishes and more been devastated by the recent Catholic groups have selflessly flooding. donated their time and goods to aid victims.

St. FREDERICK HIGH St. Joseph students with donations for flood victims.

SCHOOL, MONROE so I thought this was something St. OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE On August 18, St. Frederick High Frederick could help out with.”

We continue to pray for all those School collected a truck load of pet Cameron’s presentations during affected by the floods. The Diocese of food and supplies to donate to the lunch included a video showing clips Baton Rouge contacted our diocese and flood victims in south Louisiana. of animals being rescued during the asked us to share the following: Ninth grade student Cameron floods.

She asked the students to bring A Disaster Assistance Fund has been Lavespere approached Dr. Bob in food the next morning so that it established in the Diocese of Baton Webber, principal, with the idea. could be picked up in Farmerville and Rouge to provide relief to those in our “Cameron’s initiative and added to other collections going down diocese who have been impacted by compassion on this project impressed south the next afternoon. the flood. We have received a positive me. Our students are caring and In less than 24 hours, the students response thus far, but many, many people giving, so I knew they would help at St. Frederick High School pulled have completely lost everything. For with this very worthy cause,” said together and filled the back bed of a more information about the fund, or to Webber. truck with food and supplies.

Cameron make a donation, visit diobr.org. • Cameron explained that she knew October 2016 17

local NEWS College Students Aid Orphans in Guatemala

by Brother Mike Ward

the group to join them.

This year nine ACTS members made the journey to continue the relationship that has been built over the past five years. In total, ACTS has sent 50 missionaries to the Valley, with nearly half of them being repeat visitors.

Most of the ACTS members are not fluent in Spanish, so one of the challenges is to not let barriers or obstacles get in the way of establishing relationships.

The college students learn other ways to communicate, while also challenging the children to practice their English. The result is that both groups learn how to minister to each other, realizing that respecting each other’s human dignity is the greatest relationship builder on the planet. In Brother Mike Ward with Louisiana Tech students at Valley of the Angels Orphanage in Guatemala. other words, being present to each other is a valuable ministry in and of ive years ago, four courageous every aspect of the physical plant and itself and abundant blessings follow.

Louisiana Tech students from curriculum has been upgraded. Every Since the first visit in 2011, the the Association of Catholic Tech child is taught English and computer Valley of the Angels has received Students (ACTS) at St. Thomas Parish skills. Each year two of the senior girls so much, that they are now able to in Ruston accompanied by Br. Mike have an opportunity to attend a six-week reach out to 90 other ministries in Ward, OFM, their campus minister, to course in London, England. Last year Guatemala, providing food, clothing the Valley of the Angels Orphanage in Guatemala City. At the time director “ACTS has sent 50 and school supplies. Most recently, the Valley has constructed an “Angel Fr. Michael DellaPenna, OFM had no missionaries to the Garden” so they are now able to volunteer program in place and trusted their own fruits and vegetables the ACTS members to initiate one. The Valley, with nearly half of grow while teaching agricultural skills group had one guiding principle: spend as much time developing a relationship them being "repeat" visitors. ” to the children and visiting missionaries. with as many of the 110 children in the From its very humble beginnings, orphanage as possible. This goal is called the ACTS Guatemala mission trip “Ministry of Presence.” Simply being three graduates received full scholarships has now evolved into a full-fledged present with those who suffer poverty, to major universities. injustice and abuse is an act of mercy For the second year the Valley has been program. As such, more resources that our Holy Father Pope Francis is blessed with two full-time volunteers who are necessary to sustain and support suggesting our young people experience. now coordinate the efforts of missionaries the efforts of the college students.

Donations for the Guatemala This past year eight other schools have who visit. Of all the visiting volunteer mission trip, as well as all of what sent students to follow the path blazed groups, ACTS spends the most time at ACTS does at Louisiana Tech, can

by ACTS members. Today the Valley the Valley. Student leaders head down be sent to: ACTS, 600 Thornton St. of the Angels serves more than double early to plan the two-week mission trip Ruston, LA 71270. • the children it did in 2011. Nearly while Br. Mike accompanies the rest of

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18 Catholic Connection

Pro-Life Ministry's Local Roots: Alpha Right to Life

by Susan Flanagan

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aith-filled Christians of many denominations were trying to make a difference in the Shreveport-Bossier pro-life arena in the 1980’s. When Flo and Ladd Alexander’s Pregnancy Referral Information service ceased to exist, others stepped up to try to fill that gap. Long-time Shreveporters may remember Alpha Right to Life, which was begun in the mid1980’s, and its longest-running president, Presbyterian Pastor Ed Hopkins. But how many of you know that Ed’s pro-life work in Shreveport was instrumental in his eventual conversion to the Catholic Church?

Ed was called to Shreveport in 1986 as the Pastor of Fairfield Avenue Presbyterian Church. Although many pastors and members of his denomination were moving in a pro-abortion direction, Ed had become pro-life during his seminary years and had been involved in pro-life ministries in previous assignments.

Upon his arrival in Shreveport, he discovered Alpha Right to Life, which had recently been started by Brenda Nichols and two other women from the First Assembly of God Church.

Ed Hopkins soon became its president, assembled a board of directors and many worthwhile accomplishments followed.

Alpha Right to Life’s original purpose was to start and maintain a hotline to help pregnant women. Since God is the beginning, the Creator of all life, the name Alpha was chosen.

In a providential coincidence, the founders realized that Alpha’s listing in the phone book would be in close proximity to listings for “abortion” and “alternatives to abortion,” thereby hopefully catching the eye of potential abortion-minded callers. The hotline was manned by volunteers, many of whom came from Pastor Denny Duron’s Assembly of God Church.

Alpha Right to Life also staffed an information table annually at the State Fair of Louisiana, where volunteers handed out prolife literature and displayed models showing fetal development.

Alpha developed brochures listing various crisis pregnancy centers and maternity homes around the state where women could receive help. An Alpha pamphlet from the late 1980’s also listed speakers who were available for meetings and functions, including some who shared their personal stories of regret over their abortions.

In 1989 under Ed’s direction, Alpha organized a community forum at the Bossier Civic Center to help educate people about abortion from many different angles. Participants who facilitated this broad discussion included a lawyer, a doctor, a minister, a pregnancy counselor and high school senior Scott Semon, the first winner of the Shreveport-Bossier Pro-Life Oratory Contest, which had just begun in 1989.

Another important educational role that Pastor Ed Hopkins played in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, was monitoring the local newspapers for articles and letters to the editor regarding abortion, of which there were many. Often stories and letters were filled with inaccuracies and misinformation about the issues and Ed always sent the newspaper a rebuttal, which was often published. Since accurate information in the newspaper is

Ed Hopkins with a painting of Saint Thomas Moore.

“Alpha Right to Life's original purpose was

to start

and maintain a hotline to help pregnant women.”

so vital, Ed wonders in retrospect if these corrections might have been one of his most important accomplishments.

This author chaired many annual Alpha “Respect Life” banquets, where nationally-known pro-life speakers, such as syndicated columnist Cal Thomas, former abortionist Dr. Bernard Nathanson, chastity speaker Molly Kelly and professional football player Pete Metzelaars, riveted the hundreds in attendance with their presentations. Metzelaars painfully recounted the abortion he and his wife undertook because his football career had stalled, only to be offered a lucrative contract shortly after they had aborted their baby.

During his tenure as Alpha Right to Life president, Ed for the first time met and worked with many Catholics. He was struck by the teachings of the Catholic Church and impressed with the consistency of the pro-life message the Church promoted.

The more he read and learned, the more drawn he was to the truth and beauty of these ideas. The first time Ed ever saw or heard a Rosary being prayed was by Fr. Joseph Howard and a Catholic group in front of the Hope abortion clinic, an event Ed poignantly remembers well over 25 years later. The seed for Ed’s eventual conversion was planted in Shreveport as a result of his pro-life experiences.

Ed Hopkins ended up being reassigned in 1991 and moving away from Shreveport, and a few years later, Alpha Right to Life ended. But while it existed, many women were helped, people were educated, pro-life initiatives were begun or expanded and a Presbyterian Pastor was led to become Catholic. • October 2016 19

Sacred Heart Celebrated 50 Years in Golden Jubilee

by Mary Nash

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unday, August 21, 2016 is a day parishioners of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Shreveport will always remember with love, thanksgiving and joy.

Fifty years ago, Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church was established and celebrated its first Mass with Fr. Richard Lombard as the founding pastor. He was commissioned by Bishop Greco to establish a church on the west side of Shreveport.

Fifty years later, Fr. Lombard was back to help celebrate with Bishop Michael Duca on this joyous occasion!

Known as “The Little Church with the Big Heart,” Sacred Heart began planning for this special event 18 months in advance, enlisting the help of parishioners to form a special planning committee. This committee, with Jean Woods as chairperson, organized fundraisers and events to raise awareness of the upcoming event and funds to cover expenses of the banquet.

“We took ownership of our parish by painting the church and rectory, by creating a beautiful prayer garden, cutting the lawn, refurbishing the Sacred Heart statue, painting the parking lot, donating the papal blessing, creating special anniversary keepsakes, designing our anniversary program, cakes and banner, honoring our faithfully departed, giving our time, talent and donations in honor and praise to God. In addition, we had a professional photographer on hand to take photos of our memorable occasion and design DVDs,” Jean said.

The Golden Jubilee celebration began with a special Mass at 10:00 a.m. with Bishop Michael G. Duca as the celebrant. Concelebrants included Fr. Rothell Price, Fr. Francis Kamau, FMH, pastor, Fr. John Paul Crispin, FMH, parochial vicar, Fr. Thomas John Vadakemuriyil, CMI, and Deacon Clary Nash.

As Jean recalled, “We had a joyous celebration. The special Mass made our spirits soar! The music brought joy to our hearts! When Bishop Duca acknowledged and thanked Fr. Richard Lombard for building a community and serving as the first pastor of Sacred Heart, everyone rose to their feet and gave him a standing ovation.”

The celebration continued with a banquet at the Ramada Shreveport Airport.

20 Catholic Connection

Through the efforts of the Golden Jubilee Planning Committee, all parishioners, including founding members, enjoyed a catered meal provided by Maison Louisiane Catering and Events of Natchitoches.

Elaine Smith, co-chairman of the committee said, “The food was wonderfully displayed, the tables were beautifully done with centerpieces of heart dishes with Sacred Heart Candles, and prayer cards and special commemorative Golden Jubilee Sacred Heart Christmas ornaments were placed at all seats. A special video of pictures of the past 50 years played throughout the meal and a special collage of pictures was displayed. Fr. John Paul Crispin had special gifts; crystal paperweights with an image of our church, a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and inscription noting Golden Jubilee, made in India to give away. I felt proud to be part of the church with the big heart.”

Today nearly 300 families comprise the diverse and active faith community of “The Little Church with the Big Heart” and work together to reflect our mission statement, “We, the parish of Sacred Heart, are committed to enriching the spirituality of the parish family, the Christian community, and all brothers and sisters created in God’s divine image and likeness. We are called by the Holy Spirit, under the leadership of our bishop and pastor, to assist others through the development and promotion of various ministries. We pray for divine guidance that we may serve others with truth, courage, forethought and compassion.” •

Faustina Live Production Coming to Catholic Center

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austina: Messenger of Divine Mercy, the moving, live production performed by actress Maria Vargo and directed by Leonardo Defilippis of Saint Luke Productions, will be presented at the Catholic Center Holoubek Theater in Shreveport on Wednesday, October 26th at 7:00 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Diocese of Shreveport.

Experience firsthand the life and message of St. Faustina whose personal encounters with Jesus have inspired a world-wide devotion to Christ’s Divine Mercy. This drama also brings audiences a riveting modern story that makes Divine Mercy remarkably relevant and urgent for our world today.

The program is filled with all the elements of professional theater, runs 90 minutes and is suitable for ages 13 and up. Admission is $5. • Information at-a-Glance: Faustina: Messenger of Divine Mercy www.DivineMercyDrama.com Wednesday, October 26, 2016 – 7:00 p.m.

Catholic Center – Holoubek Theater 3500 Fairfield Ave, Shreveport, LA 71104 Admission: $5.00 (purchase tickets in advance) – Suitable for Ages 13 & Up Tickets & Information: Contact the Diocese of Shreveport (318) 868-4441 or email rtiller@dioshpt.org Sponsored by: The Diocese of Shreveport

Catholic Charities Presents "Bingo on the Bayou"

by Lucy Medvec

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et ready to yell “Bingo!” in support of Catholic Charities of North Louisiana! “Bingo on the Bayou” will be held on Saturday, October 29, at 601 Spring Street in downtown Shreveport. This inaugural fundraising event will feature delicious catering from Silver Star Smokehouse, complimentary beer sampling from Great Raft Brewing and Eagle Distributing of Shreveport, and a limited silent auction featuring Louisiana-themed items.

Local priests will serve as bingo callers for the event with prizes of gift certificates to upscale local restaurants. The bingo callers are: Bishop Michael G. Duca, Msgr. Carson LaCaze (Cathedral of St. John Berchmans), Fr. Matthew Long (St. Joseph, Mansfield/ St. Ann), Fr. Rothell Price (Vicar General), Msgr. Earl Provenza (Holy Trinity), Fr. Mike Thang’wa (St. John the Baptist/St. Terence) and Fr. Pike Thomas (St. Jude).

All proceeds from “Bingo on the Bayou” will benefit the programs of Catholic Charities of North Louisiana, including financial education, emergency assistance, healthy eating classes, parenting programs and assistance for low-income mothers and immigration services.

Individual tickets are $50 each with table sponsor levels of $750, $1000, and $1500. Dress is casual and the event is open to guests 21 years and older.

Auction items include: Four New Orleans Saints tickets (December 4th vs. Detroit Lions), LSU tickets, a Louisiana state flag flown over the state capitol, artwork from local Louisiana artists, autographed books from George Rodrigue and much more! • October 2016 21

Daigle New Associate Vocations Director Growing Confident Catholics

by Fr. Jerry Daigle

by Shelly Bole

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have long been intrigued by moments found throughout the Gospels, when Jesus stops to look a person in the eye and extend an invitation: “Follow me.”

On the lips of Christ, these words are rich with expectation and promise. Not everyone answers or accepts, but each person who does is drawn into a unique, intimate relationship with Christ.

His call is specific and truly personal because he knows us better than we can ever know ourselves, and has conceived the one path of life that will bring each of us to our greatest fulfillment, and will ultimately make us most like Christ himself. Many are invited to share his life of communion and creation through marriage and family. Others are invited to share his life of consecration and prayer through religious vows. Some of us hear Jesus Christ calling us to share his priesthood – a joyful and challenging life of virtue, self-surrender and service.

During my years at Notre Dame Seminary, I was often bewildered and amused by the diversity of men chosen to be formed into priests. They were young and old, craftsmen and businessmen, athletes, artists, bookworms, unseasoned and streetwise, introverts and extroverts.

They hailed from nearly every continent of the world, and spoke a multitude of languages. With amazement, I watched their gradual transformation.

In September, shortly after our seminarians Fidel Mondragon and Duane Trombetta were admitted to Candidacy for Holy Orders, I was shown a photograph of one of them publicly 22 Catholic Connection

wearing the attire of a priest for the first time. It was an outward sign of the profound transformation occurring within, and it made him look like the new, different man he is becoming.

It brought to mind my own seminary experience of the first morning that Third Theology students would step out of their dorm rooms wearing their black clothes and clerical collars. Truly, clothes do not make the man, but, on this special day, those clothes always seemed to visually change the character of these men. In a real way, we saw them clothed in Christ and beginning to share in his priesthood.

I am truly blessed that Bishop Duca has asked me to participate in the formation of men into priests for our diocese by working with Fr. Matthew Long as Associate Vocations Director.

Witnessing some of our young men in the parish of St. Jude begin to hear and try to answer Christ’s call to priesthood has been exciting. Trying to assist in their discernment and guide their spiritual lives has been humbling. It has brought me a sense of great joy and hope for our diocese.

I encourage each of you to continue offering prayers and sacrifices to the Lord, asking that He call more men to the priesthood from and for our diocese.

Pray they may be able to clearly hear Christ’s call, and that their parents, siblings, friends and parishes will help them boldly accept Jesus’ invitation to be conformed to himself in such a profound and beautiful way. •

A

re you a parent who is constantly trying to keep up with the family schedule? Is it hard for you to find time to pray, let alone as a family? Do you want your family to become a little more holy?

The Church knows the struggles that families face and they know the crazy questions like: “Were there dinosaurs on the ark?” and “Does God take naps?” And then there are those questions from teenagers and adults, “Why does the Church/Bible say sex should be saved for marriage?”

“Why do I have to honor my father and mother?”

In response to requests received during the Into the Deep parish visits, the Office of Catechesis is sponsoring a series of seminars for catechists, parents and other inquiring adults.

In Growing Confident Catholics, we will help parents, grandparents and catechists find these answers.

The second part of this series is the Forming Families of Faith webinars.

In this two part webinar, parents, grandparents and catechists will discover the beauty of the Domestic Church along with concrete applicable tools for helping families know Jesus and grow in holiness.

Please join us Tuesdays, October 18 and 25 at 8:30 p.m. for the Forming Families of Faith online webinars.

Special guests include Pat and Lisha Harrington and Roxanne and Matthew Chumley.

Please register online at http:// tinyurl.com/familiesoffaithwebinar or call 318-219-7266. •

hispanic NEWS por Rosalba Quiroz

La Iglesia, Signo e Instrumento de Salvación Calendario del Mes de Octubre 15 Reunión de Coordinadores, Centro Católico, 12-3 p.m.

22 Escuela de Liderazgo (Servicio) Pastoral, Parroquia de Cristo Rey, 9 am – 5 p.m.

29 3ª Reunión en preparación de Experiencia Cristo, Centro Católico 10am-12pm.

Comunidad Hispana en la Parroquia de San Pascual, W. Monroe, LA.

9

1. La primera beneficiaria de la salvación es la Iglesia. Cristo la ha adquirido con su sangre (cf. Act 20, 28) y la ha hecho su colaboradora en la obra de la salvación universal. En efecto, Cristo vive en ella; es su esposo; fomenta su crecimiento; por medio de ella cumple su misión.

La Iglesia profesa que Dios ha constituido a Cristo como único mediador y que ella misma ha sido constituida como sacramento universal de salvación. « Todos los hombres son llamados a esta unidad católica del Pueblo de Dios, y a ella pertenecen o se ordenan de diversos modos, sea los fieles católicos, sea los demás creyentes en Cristo, sea también todos los hombres en general llamados

a la salvación por la gracia de Dios ».

Es necesario, pues, mantener unidas estas dos verdades, o sea, la posibilidad real de la salvación en Cristo para todos los hombres y la necesidad de la Iglesia en orden a esta misma salvación … La salvación, que siempre es don del Espíritu, exige la colaboración del hombre para salvarse tanto a sí mismo como a los demás. Así lo ha querido Dios, y para esto ha establecido y asociado a la Iglesia a su plan de salvación … y es enviado a todo el mundo como luz del mundo y sal de la tierra » 92. Nunca como hoy la Iglesia ha tenido la oportunidad de hacer llegar el Evangelio, con el testimonio y la palabra, a todos los hombres y a todos

los pueblos. Veo amanecer una nueva época misionera, que llegará a ser un día radiante y rica en frutos, si todos los cristianos y, en particular, los misioneros y las jóvenes Iglesias responden con generosidad y santidad a las solicitaciones y desafíos de nuestro tiempo. Como los Apóstoles después de la Ascensión de Cristo, la Iglesia debe reunirse en el Cenáculo con « María, la madre de Jesús » (Act 1, 14), para implorar el Espíritu y obtener fuerza y valor para cumplir el mandato misionero. También nosotros, mucho más que los Apóstoles, tenemos necesidad de ser transformados y guiados por el Espíritu.

Porción de Encíclica “Redemptoris Missio” de San Juan Pablo II. •

MINISTERIO HISPANO CATOLICO - DIOCESIS DE SHREVEPORT Rosalba Quiroz, Directora 1-800-256-1542, Ext. 265; o (318) 219-7265; rquiroz@dioshpt.org Gabriela Willis, Secretaria (318) 219-7257; gwillis@dioshpt.org Fidel Mondragón, Apoyo Pastoral (318) 751-1661, fmondragon0509@yahoo.com

Cristo Rey, Bossier City

425 McCormick St. Misa: Domingos 3pm Lunes, Martes, Jueves y Sabados 7pm Ricardo Rivera (318) 572-7629

Santo Tomás Aquino, Ruston

810 Carey Ave Misa: Domingos 2:30 pm

Nta Sra del Perp. Socorro Farmerville

600 E. Water Street Misa: Sabados 7:00 pm Claudia Wade (318) 282-9971

Sagrado Corazón, OakGrove

San Pascual,W. Monroe

201 Purvis St Misa: Domingos 5pm Feliciano y Rosa Alviso (318) 428-2137

711 N. 7th Street Domingos 2:30 pm Lorena Chaparro, (318) 267-4018

San José, Mansfield

305 Jefferson Street Misa: Domingos 3pm

Sta María de los Pinos Shreveport

1050 Bert Kouns Ind. Loop Misa: Domingos 11:30 am Carmen Bradford (318) 455.2300

Sacerdotes: Bossier - P. Rigo Bentacurt (318) 754-6104; Farmerville/W. Monroe - P. Luis Jost (318) 243-0115 Oak Grove - P. Mark Watson (318) 559-1276; Ruston - P. Blane O’Neill (318) 255-2870 October 2016 23

Kids' Connection!

This Month We Learn About Saint francis of assisi

who was he?

Francis was born to rich merchant parents in France. He was raised in a life of riches and eventually became a soldier for Assisi. Despite his easy life, he started having visions. What he saw directed him back to Assisi and made him lose his taste for a wealthy lifestyle. On a pilgrimage in Rome, he joined the beggars at St. Peter’s Basilica and this experience led him to live a life of poverty and to preach in the streets. Together, with 11 followers, he formed the Franciscan Order. He often preached on care of the environment and animals and traveled frequently to teach people the faith.

Word Find ANIMALS

FRANCIS

POOR CLARES

ASSISI

FRANCISCANS

POPE INNOCENT III

CRUSADES

HOLY LAND

POVERTY

FIORETTI

LEPERS

STIGMATA

24 Catholic Connection

Fun Facts

• St. Francis of Assisi’s feast day is October 4.

• St. Francis famously went to Egypt during the Fifth Crusade where he tried to convert the Sultan. Some say he eventually succeeded, but regardless, he got permission to visit and preach in the Holy Land.

• He famously wrote “Canticle of the Creatures,” a song for the earth and its creatures.

• St. Francis’ order, the Franciscans, have been present in the Holy Land since 1217.

school NEWS

OLF Honored Patriots

SJS Dressed Like Pirates for Books

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hoy, me Hearties! St. Joseph Catholic School held its pirate-themed fall book fair August 26 – September 2. This year, Librarian Mrs. Karam not only raised money for the school library, she was able to help other schools around the state stock their bookshelves.

One of the events Mrs. Karam planned for the students was “Dress Like a Pirate Day.” For a donation, students were given the opportunity to come to school dressed in pirate costume. The fundraiser was used to purchase books for the Summerfield Elementary School Library in Shreveport. In addition, Mrs. Karam donated 2,960 library books from St. Joseph’s library to

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ur Lady of Fatima held its annual Patriot Day celebration on September 8. The program honored brave local first responders.

Early Education at SJB

Denham Springs Elementary School in Denham Springs, LA, just in time for their students to start back to school on September 12.

Loyola's ACT Scores on the Rise

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t. John Berchmans K3 class is excited about their first year of school! Early education teachers help get kids excited about learning, doing experiments and enriching their faith. In support of these programs, SJB is offering open houses for grades PreK-3 through Kindergarten on October 19 and 26 at 9:30 a.m.

JGS Assists Flood Victims

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ach year, Louisiana high schools receive a report from ACT indicating their five-year trend in English, math, science and reading scores. Also included is their average composite score. This year, students at Loyola College Prep outshined both the state and national averages. The average ACT score across the nation dipped from a 21 to a 20.8, and Louisiana’s dropped nearly a point to a 19.4. Loyola’s average score rose over two points.

Loyola’s composite average is 25.6,

a point higher than the national leader. The top 50% of Loyola seniors earned a 29 or higher.

Stephanie Johnson, Assistant Principal, said, “With Academic Excellence standing as one of our three pillars, Loyola is proud to have concrete proof that we are reaching our goals. These scores reinforce to our families that their investment in a Loyola education equips their students to be more college ready than they otherwise would have been.”

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esus the Good Shepherd School faculty and students collected cases of water to send to the south Louisiana flood victims. Billy Burton, JGS custodian of 20 years, delivered the water to a local church in the Baton Rouge area that had been devastated by the recent flooding.

October 2016 25

across the GLOBE from Vatican Information Services

For Mother Teresa,

mercy was the ‘salt’ which gave flavor to her work, it was the ‘light’ which shone in the darkness of the many who no longer had tears to shed for their poverty and suffering.

– Pope Francis

Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Tireless Worker of Mercy

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other Teresa of Calcutta is now a saint for the entire Catholic Church. Applause followed the phrase “Beatam Teresiam de Calcutta Sanctam esse decernimus et definimus ac Sanctorum Catalogo adscribimus…,” by which the Holy Father proclaimed her a saint on September 9, before more than 120,000 people in St. Peter’s Square during the holy Mass celebrated with 70 cardinals, 400 bishops and more than 1,700 priests. Many of the faithful present were from Albania, reflecting the new saint’s ethnic origin, and from India, where she spent most of her life and was buried. It was also attended by many volunteers and workers of mercy, participating in their Jubilee.

“On many occasions the prophets proclaimed what was pleasing to God,” said the pope in his homily. “Their message found a wonderful synthesis in the words ‘I want mercy, not sacrifice.’

God is pleased by every act of mercy, because in the brother or sister that we assist, we recognize the face of God, which no one can see. Each time we 26 Catholic Connection

bend down to the needs of our brothers and sisters, we give Jesus something to eat and drink; we clothe, we help and we visit the Son of God. In a word, we touch the flesh of Christ.”

“We are thus called to translate into concrete acts that which we invoke in prayer and profess in faith. There is no alternative to charity: those who put themselves at the service of others, even when they don’t know it, are those who love God. The Christian life, however, is not merely extending a hand in times of need. If it is just this, it can be, certainly, a lovely expression of human solidarity which offers immediate benefits, but it is sterile because it lacks roots. The task which the Lord gives us, on the contrary, is the vocation to charity in which each of Christ’s disciples puts his or her entire life at his service, so to grow each day in love.”

“We heard in the Gospel, ‘Large crowds were travelling with Jesus,’” he continued. “Today, this ‘large crowd’ is seen in the great number of volunteers who have come together for the Jubilee

of Mercy. You are that crowd who follows the Master and who makes visible His concrete love for each person. I repeat to you the words of the Apostle Paul: ‘I have indeed received much joy and comfort from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.’ How many hearts have been comforted by volunteers! How many hands they have held; how many tears they have wiped away; how much love has been poured out in hidden, humble and selfless service! This praiseworthy service gives voice to the faith – it gives voice to the faith! – and expresses the mercy of the Father, who draws near to those in need.”

“Following Jesus is a serious task, and, at the same time, one filled with joy; it takes a certain daring and courage to recognize the divine Master in the poorest of the poor and those who are cast aside, and to give oneself in their service. In order to do so, volunteers, who out of love of Jesus serve the poor and the needy, do not expect any thanks or recompense; rather they renounce all this because they have discovered true love. And each one of us can say: ‘Just as the Lord has come to meet me and has stooped down to my level in my hour of need, so too do I go to meet Him, bending low before those who have lost faith or who live as though God did not exist, before young people without values or ideals, before families in crisis, before the ill and the imprisoned, before refugees and immigrants, before the weak and defenseless in body and spirit, before abandoned children, before the elderly who are on their own. Wherever someone is reaching out, asking for a helping hand in order to get up, this is where our presence – and the presence of the Church which sustains and offers hope – must be.’ And I do this, keeping alive the memory of those times when the Lord’s hand reached out to me when

I was in need.”

He went on to refer directly to Mother Teresa herself, who “in all aspects of her life was a generous dispenser of divine mercy, making herself available for everyone through her welcome and defense of human life, those unborn and those abandoned and discarded. She was committed to defending life, ceaselessly proclaiming that ‘the unborn are the weakest, the smallest, the most vulnerable.’ She bowed down before those who were spent, left to die on the side of the road, seeing in them their God-given dignity; she made her voice heard before the powers of this world, so that they might recognize their guilt for the crime – the crimes! – of poverty they created. For Mother Teresa, mercy was the ‘salt’ which gave flavor to her work, it was the ‘light’ which shone in the darkness of the many who no longer had tears to shed for their poverty and suffering.”

“Her mission to the urban and existential peripheries remains for us today an eloquent witness to God’s closeness to the poorest of the poor.

Today, I pass on this emblematic figure of womanhood and of consecrated life to the whole world of volunteers: may she be your model of holiness! I think, perhaps, we may have some difficulty in calling her ‘Saint Teresa:’ her holiness is so near to us, so tender and so fruitful that we continue to spontaneously call her ‘Mother Teresa.’”

“May this tireless worker of mercy help us increasingly to understand that our only criterion for action is gratuitous love, free from every ideology and all obligations, offered freely to everyone without distinction of language, culture, race or religion,” Pope Francis concluded. “Mother Teresa loved to say, ‘Perhaps I don’t speak their language, but I can smile’. Let us carry her smile in our hearts and give it to those whom we meet along our journey, especially those who suffer. In this way, we will open up opportunities of joy and hope for our many brothers and sisters who are discouraged and who stand in need of understanding and tenderness.” •

Our Lady of the Rosary continued from page 11.

book explained how he came to believe in honoring Mary, the Mother of God. The book gave the Marian Scripture that explains why she was honored by every generation.

The first scripture was unexpected.

It came from the Book of Genesis immediately after the Fall.

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; They will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel. Genesis 3:14-15 The second passage of scripture was when the angel appeared to Mary at the Annunciation in Luke 1:26-28.

The third passage of scripture was in John 2:1-5 at the wedding feast at Cana.

His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:1-5 The fourth passage of scripture was the crucifixion of the Lord in John 19:25-27.

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”

Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

The fifth passage of scripture was from the book of Revelation.

A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Revelation 12:1 After reading this in the book I began to study the Scriptures continuously, trying to understand what I was reading. I reached the conclusion that the common theme throughout these readings was the word “woman.”

This woman would be the vehicle through which God would bring about His salvation and redemption into the world. This was clearly indicated by the passage from Genesis coupled with the passage from Revelation – the alpha and omega of Sacred Scripture, the first and last books of Christian scripture. But what I came to realize was that the only way to understand it was by referencing the three passages from the Gospels.

Not only was a “woman” to play an instrumental role, but that woman’s name was Mary and she was the Mother

of God. Once I came to this realization, I began to look into this ancient prayer of the Catholic Church: the Rosary.

As I read how to pray the Rosary, I realized that the prayers themselves were all Biblical for the most part. Then, when I looked at the Mysteries of the Rosary, it was evident that it was Jesus who was the central figure of the Rosary and that Mary played the supporting role – the vehicle through whom the life of Jesus could be understood and made relatable because it was all about relationship. I then took the hesitant step with a cheap plastic Rosary: I prayed it – even before I considered becoming Catholic. I prayed it still firmly convinced of my Baptist faith. I prayed it at my own risk and everything changed. Mary became not

Then I took a hesitant step with a cheap plastic

Rosary: I prayed it – even before I considered becoming Catholic. some distant figure from history or the Bible, instead she became a part of my life. She became my Mother.

Of course most of you know how this story ends. She spoke those words to me from the pages of scripture, “Do whatever he tells you.” That is exactly what I did. I followed the Lord whom she bore. I followed the Son whom she raised. I followed the Christ that she followed.

After I entered into full communion with the Church, it was the Rosary that continued to play such a vital part of my devotional life. It is a prayer that unites us to God. It is a tool that instructs us in our faith. It is an instrument of God’s mercy and grace. But what I love about it most is that each time I count my beads and intone those ancient Scriptural prayers, I know that I am giving to that “woman” promised in Genesis, hailed in Luke, given to us in John, defending us in Revelation, a bouquet of roses to honor and thank her. • October 2016 27

around the DIOCESE Sons of Italy Honor Law Enforcement Smith Award for Excellence

T

he Sons of Italy Heritage Club of Shreveport-Bossier recently honored local law enforcement.

On August 16, they held a Law Enforcement Appreciation Banquet at Gullo’s Market. They invited representatives of the Bossier City and Shreveport Police Departments, Caddo and Bossier Parish Sheriffs’ Offices, Shreveport and Bossier City Marshals’ Offices, and the Louisiana

State Police.

Phillip, Angie and Tammy Gullo prepared a special lasagna dinner for club members and guests. St. Michael the Archangel medals and prayer cards were given to the representatives in attendance, to be distributed among all their officers.

Msgr. Earl Provenza and Bishop Michael Duca blessed the medals and cards.

Fr. Richard Norsworthy Welcomed by Zwolle & Ebarb

M

embers of St. Ann Church in Ebarb organized a welcome party and birthday celebration for Fr. Richard Norsworthy on August 22 in the church fellowship hall. Fr. Norsworthy, Parochial Vicar, was assigned to St. Joseph Parish in Zwolle and St. Ann in July to assist Fr. Timothy Hurd in ministering to those Catholic communities. Local Catholics are extremely fortunate to have another priest in residence at Zwolle.

Youth members from St. Ann and St. Joseph, including two foreign exchange students from Brazil and Spain, gathered around Fr. Richard and his birthday cake to offer birthday greetings.

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T

he Ryan William Smith Award for Excellence was presented to the 2015 excellent teachers and employee from the Catherdral of St. John Berchmans, St. John Berchmans School and Loyola on August 31.

The award is in its first year and was established

by Ryan's parents to honor their son who died from cancer in 2014. He attended both schools from Pre-K3 through high school.

Teen Raises Money to Help Those Who Need Food

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t. Jude teen, Lynnse Terhune, has been standing up to hunger for the past four years, bringing awareness of the needs in our community.

“As of 2014, northwest Louisiana reached an 18.4% food insecurity rate. That is equivalent to 139,380 people in Northwest Louisiana who worry about where their next meal is coming from. They are constantly unsure of a luxury we take for granted. I created Stand Up 2 Hunger four years ago in hopes of conquering this ever-growing issue our community faces. By selling t-shirts, I hope to double, if not triple, the profit made last year to help feed more individuals and families,” said Lynnse.

T

Blessing of the Graves in the Diocese of Shreveport

he Church seeks to help the faithful departed, especially those souls in purgatory, by earnest prayer to God. We collectively remember our faithful departed on All Souls Day and throughout the month of November.

In the communion of Christ’s members with one another, the Church obtains spiritual help for those who have preceded us in faith. This spiritual communion brings the consolation of hope to those of us who pray for our Saturday, October 29, 2016 Forest Park Cemetery West Shreveport 1:00 pm Rev. Joseph Kallookalam, Deacon Jeff Chapman, Deacon Daniel Lemoine, Deacon Homer Tucker Lincoln Park Cemetery Shreveport 1:00 pm Rev. John Paul Crispin, Deacon Clary Nash, Deacon Bill Roche Round Grove Cemetery Shreveport 1:00 pm Rev. Jean Bosco Uwamungu, Deacon Charles Thomas

Sunday, October 30, 2016 Rose-Neath Cemetery Bossier City 2:00 pm Rev. Jerry Daigle, Jr., Deacon Freeman Ligon, Deacon Larry Mills Forest Park Cemetery East Shreveport 2:00 pm Rev. Charles Glorioso, Deacon Steve Lehr, Deacon Mike Wise, Deacon Daniel Lemoine Mansfield Cemetery, Highland Cemetery, Allen Cemetery Mansfield after 11:00 a.m. Mass Rev. Matthew Long

Monday, October 31, 2016 St. Mary Cemetery Rambin after 6:00 p.m. Mass Rev. Matthew Long Thursday, November 1, 2016 Catholic Cemetery at St. Lucy Hodge after 6:00 p.m. Mass Rev. Pat Madden St. Ann Cemetery Stonewall 5:15 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Rev. Matthew Long

dearly departed with gratitude, love and devotion. Our belief in Christ’s resurrection from the dead is the reason we commemorate our faithful departed on All Souls Day and bless their graves.

We entrust them to the purifying, merciful love of the One Eternal God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Our priests and deacons will offer prayers at our local cemeteries on the weekends closest to All Souls Day on the following dates: Thursday, November 2, 2016 St. Paschal Cemetery West Monroe 8:45 a.m.

Rev. Frank Coens St. Catherine Cemetery Noble 9:00 a.m.

Rev. Tim Hurd, Rev. Richard Norsworthy St. Ann Cemetery Ebarb 10:00 a.m.

Rev. Tim Hurd, Rev. Richard Norsworthy San Miguel Cemetery Zwolle 11:00 a.m.

Rev. Tim Hurd, Rev. Richard Norsworthy

Saturday, November 5, 2016 Hillcrest Cemetery Haughton 1:00 pm Rev. Karl Daigle, Deacon Larry Mills, Deacon Ricardo Rivera, Deacon Michael Straub Centuries Memorial Cemetery Shreveport 1:00 pm Rev. Francis Kamau, FMH, Deacon Mike Whitehead

Sunday, November 6, 2016 St. Joseph Cemetery Shreveport 2:00 pm Msgr. Earl Provenza, Deacon John Basco, Deacon Jorge Martinez Carver Cemetery Shreveport 2:00 pm Rev. John Paul Crispin, FMH, Deacon Jack Lynch Veteran Cemetery of Northwest LA Keithville 2:00 pm Deacon Bruce Pistorius

Multicultural Rosary at St. Joseph Parish

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n Sunday, October 9, St. Joseph Parish, Shreveport will host their third annual Diocesan Multicultural Rosary at 2:00 p.m. The Rosary will be held in the Church located at 204 Patton Ave., Shreveport. One decade of the Rosary will be prayed in each of the following languages: Italian (Sr. AnnaMaria Iannetti), Spanish (Wanda M. Rivera), Filipino (Loretta Leavitt), French (Normand R. Roy) and Malayalam (Sr. Jaya Channakat).

The first half of each prayer will be said in the foreign languages and all responses to those prayers will be in English.

Catholic Charities of North Louisiana will sell knotted rosaries and St. Therese bracelets before and after the Rosary. All proceeds from the sale of those items will benefit Catholic Charities of North Louisiana. A reception with light refreshments will follow the Rosary.

Committee Chairperson Kay Nader stated that the idea for the Rosary originated from the thought of having countries around the world pray in unity with Mary for solutions to problems that plague our world in today’s time.

Musicians will be the Women’s Choir from the Diocese of Shreveport and Dan Santelices on the Violin.

We invite all our brothers and sisters of other Christian denominations to participate. Please come join us for this glorious event.

For more information, call the parish office at 318-865-3581. • October 2016 29

mark your CALENDAR 10/1

Pumpkin Patch at Mary, Queen of Peace The 6th Annual Pumpkin Patch is a ministry supported by parishioners and community members that benefits youth programs at Mary, Queen of Peace Parish. Located 5 miles south of the Jimmie Davis Highway, the Patch is available for the duration of October.

Hours of operation are Mon-Fri (11am7pm); Sat (9am-7pm); and Sun (noon7pm). Please consider visiting our patch if it is a pumpkin you are pondering. For more information, contact the church office at 318-752-5971.

10/2

Blessing of the Pets and Low Cost Vaccination at St. Mary of the Pines St. Mary of the Pines will offer a blessing for pets as well as a low cost pet vaccination clinic on October 2, from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at 1050 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop in Shreveport. Southern Hills Animal Hospital and Drs. Steven and Brad Everson will be available. For more information call the Parish Office, 318-687-5121.

10/8

Growing Confident Catholics: Scripture Basics – Cathedral This two hour seminar will include understanding the Catholic approach to Scripture, learning how the Bible is God’s revelation of Himself, how the Bible is divided, finding verses and praying with Scripture. Participants will experience the Bible with hands on approaches and leave with tools for guiding others. This seminar will take place at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, located at 939 Jordan St., Shreveport at 9:30 a.m. For more information, call Shelly Bole at the Catholic Center, 318-868-4441.

10/9

Multicultural Rosary St. Joseph Parish in Shreveport will host their annual diocesan Multicultural Rosary at 2:00 p.m. The Rosary will be held in the Church, 204 Patton Ave., Shreveport.

Each decade of the Rosary will be prayed in a different language.

A reception will follow. For more information, contact the parish office at 318-865-3581.

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10/13

Free Concert Featuring Classical Guitarist, John De Chiaro St. Jude Parish is sponsoring a free concert on Thursday, October 13 at 6:30 p.m. They are located at 4700 Palmetto Rd., Benton. All are welcome.

For more information, contact the church office at 318-746-2508.

10/14

Weekend for Married Couples October 14-15, at the Bishop Robert E. Tracy Center in Baton Rouge. Go on a worldwide marriage encounter weekend for 44 hours where married couples get away from jobs, kids, chores and phones and focus on each other. For more information, call 470-297-8560 or go online to LAMS-wwme.org.

10/15

National Association of Pastoral Musicians Shreveport Chapter Presents: A Musicians Retreat Join your fellow church musicians for an enlightening morning retreat with presenter and fellow musician Fr. James McLelland.

Following the retreat will be a pizza and salad social. Retreat begins at 9:30 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, 810 Carey Ave., Ruston. Cost is $15.

10/18

Growing Confident Catholics: Forming Families of Faith Webinar Did you know the Church calls the family the “Domestic Church”? In this two part webinar, catechists, parents, grandparents and other inquiring minds will discover the beauty of the Domestic Church and concrete, applicable tools for helping families know Jesus and grow in holiness. Part 2 of the webinar will take place on October 25. You can log-in to the webinar by visiting www.dioshpt.org/ catechesis .

10/19

Cathedral of St. John Berchmans Catholic School Early Childhood Open House St. John Berchmans Catholic School will host an Early Childhood (PreK3Kindergarten) Open House on October 19 at 9:30 a.m. at the school, located at 947 Jordan Street. Parents are invited to learn more about the school's early

childhood program for the 2017-2018 school year. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Ashley Timmons at 318-221-6005 or admissions@ sjbcathedralschool.org.

10/20

Taste: A Festival of Food & Art to Benefit Holy Angels This fundraiser benefits the clients and day program participants of Holy Angels. “The Taste” brings together premiere chefs from over 20 local restaurants to create a sensational culinary experience. The evening also boasts some of the area’s finest music and art from both the creative and talented members of our region and from Holy Angels’ extraordinary clients, whose artwork is truly exceptional and inimitable. The event will be Thursday, October 20, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Bossier Civic Center, located at 620 Benton Road in Bossier City.

For more information, contact Lindsey H. Tison at 318-629-1711, or ltison@ laholyangels.org.

10/22

St. Paschal Church Herbal Harvest Arts and Crafts Festival This free event hosts more than 60 vendors selling herb plants, original arts and crafts and homeprepared foods. Bring the whole family.

The event will take place at St. Paschal Parish, 711 N. 7th St., West Monroe, on October 22 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. For more information about the event or to be a vendor, contact Pat Regan at 318801-9138, or patregan1@bellsouth.net.

10/29

Catholic Charities' Bingo on the Bayou Save the date! Catholic Charities of North Louisiana is presenting a fundraiser – Bingo on the Bayou! This casual night will be October 29 at 601 Spring Street in downtown Shreveport. Local priests will serve as bingo callers, including Bishop Michael G. Duca. Tickets are $50 each with table sponsorships at $750, $1000 and $1500. Catering provided by Silver Star Smokehouse and there will be a Louisiana-themed silent auction.

For more information, contact CCNLA at 318-865-0200, ext. 101 or visit www. ccnla.org.

OCTOBER

2016

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

SATURDAY

25 26 27 28 29 30 1 Sts. Cosmas & Damian, martyrs

Theology on Tap, Monago Fieldhouse, Monroe, 6:30pm St. Vincent de Paul, priest

St. Wenceslaus, martyr; St. Lawrence Ruiz & companions, martyrs

Sts. Michael, Gabriel & Raphael, Archangels

St. Jerome, priest & doctor of the Church

Holy Trinity's 160th Anniversary Mass, 4:15pm St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus

HOLY TRINITY ANNIVERSARy MASS / OCT 1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Respect Life Sunday

Shreveport Fr. Puthuppally's Monroe Principals Our Lady of the Principals 50th Anniversary Meeting, 9:30am Rosary Meeting, Mass, St. Catholic Center, Matthew Parish, St. Bruno, priest 9am 6pm & Blessed Marie Rose Durocher, St. Francis of virgin Assisi

Youth Ministry Training, St. Paschal Parish, 9am Growing Confident Catholics, Scripture Basics, Cathedral, 9:30am

MULTICULTURAL ROSARY / OCT 9

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Deadline for the Multicultural November issue Rosary, St. of the Catholic Joseph, Connection Shreveport, 2pm Columbus Day

St. John XXIII, pope

Blue Mass, St. Joseph Parish, Bastrop, 12pm Protecting God's Children, Catholic Center, 6pm

Theology on Tap, Red River Brewing, Shreveport, 6:30pm

St. Callistus I, pope & martyr

Run with the Nuns, Silver Stage, Bossier St. Teresa of Jesus, virgin & doctor of the Church

BLUE MASS, Bastrop / OCT 12

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 St. Ignatius of Antioch, bishop & martyr

Forming Families Early Childhood in Faith Webinar, Education Open dioshpt.org House at St. John Berchmans St. Luke, School, 9:30am evangelist Sts. John de Brebeuf & Isaac Jogues, priests, & companions, martyrs

Second Collection: World Mission Sunday

35th Annual Taste, Bossier Civic Center

St. Paul of the Cross, priest

St. John Paul II, pope

FAUStINA Production / OCT 26

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Second Collection: World Mission Sunday

30

St. Anthony Mary Claret, bishop

31 Halloween

Diocesan Theology on Finance Council Tap, Monago Meeting, Fieldhouse, Monroe, 6:30pm Catholic Center, 12pm Faustina: Messenger of Divine Mercy Production, Catholic Center, 7pm

Sts. Simon and Jude, apostles

Catholic Charities' Bingo on the Bayou, 601 Spring Street, 6pm

BINGO ON THE BAYOU / OCT 29 October 2016 31

Connection The Catholic

D I O CE S E O F S H RE V E P O RT 3500 Fairfield Ave.

•

Shreveport, LA 71104

Photo of the Month Bishop Michael G. Duca with a member of the Sheriff's Office at the Blue Mass, honoring all police, firefighters and emergency personnel, at St. Mary of the Pines Parish.

32 Catholic Connection

Fairfield