Catholic Connection November 2014

Vol. 24, No. 4 November 2014

ALL

Saints& ALL Souls Remembering the Faithful Departed

November 2014 1

Safe Environment Audit Passed!

Publisher Bishop Michael G. Duca Editor Jessica Rinaudo Contributors Jessica Rinaudo Brian Burgess Christine Rivers Bishop Michael Duca Sr. Martinette Rivers Kim Long Rosalba Quiroz Fr. Matthew Long Katie Sciba John Parker Michael Straub Fr. Philip Pazhayakari Randy Tiller Carl Piehl Kelly Phelan Powell Mike Van Vranken Mike Whitehead Fr. Rothell Price Dianne Rachal Editorial Board Kim Long Fr. Matthew Long Kelly Phelan Powell Dianne Rachal Christine Rivers Deacon Mike Whitehead John Mark Willcox Mission Statement The Catholic Connection is a monthly publication funded by your Diocesan Service Appeal; mailed to every known Catholic household in the Diocese of Shreveport.

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

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

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

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

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

2 Catholic Connection

T

he Diocese of Shreveport is audited annually for its safe environment policies and procedures. There is a three-year cycle for audits. For the first two years the audit is a “paper” audit. Our diocesan Safe Environment division, which is a part of the diocesan Human Resources department, collects data from our parishes and schools on the number of employees and volunteers who have been trained and background checked. This allows these individuals to be in compliance with our safe environment policies. The data collected is then compared with all our volunteers who are serving where children might be present and for all employees to see the percentage of those who are considered to be compliant with our Safe Environment Program.

Every third year is our “on-site” audit.

The auditors from Stonebridge Business Partners, a CPA firm appointed by the USCCB, audit over a three year period all the dioceses in the country. During the on-site audit they perform record checks,

interviews with certain staff and support members, and even do a handful of visits to some of our parish and school locations.

The audits are concluded with a visit with the bishop to communicate their findings and give recommendations to improve our work to keep children safe through our Safe Environment Program. Approximately two weeks later the bishop receives a determination letter from the auditors stating our status as being compliant or not.

As of September of this year we received confirmation of the findings from this onsite audit that the Diocese of Shreveport is compliant with its policies and procedures.

Safe environment training is a continual process and more individuals each month become trained in how to keep children safe. If you wish to attend a session please go to our VIRTUS™ website (www.virtus.org) and register to attend one of our sessions and make a difference in the lives of those most vulnerable.

by Deacon Michael Straub, Safe Environment Coordinator

bishop’s november calendar NOVEMBER 2 All Souls’ Day Mass; Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Shreveport; 8:30 a.m.

Blessing of Graves, followed by Blessing of Sons of Italy donated bench; St. Joseph Cemetery, Shreveport; 2:00 p.m.

NOVEMBER 3 Marquette Reading Club; Catholic Center, Shreveport; 11:00 a.m.

NOVEMBER 4 Priests Retirement Committee Meeting; Catholic Center, Shreveport; 11:00 a.m.

NOVEMBER 5 Diocesan Finance Council meeting; Catholic Center, Shreveport; 12:00 p.m.

NOVEMBER 7-14 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ meeting; Baltimore, MD NOVEMBER 14 St. Cecilia Hymn Sing: Hymns Across the Ages sponsored by Shreveport Chapter of National Association of Pastoral Musicians; St. Joseph Parish, Shreveport; 7:00 p.m.

NOVEMBER 15 Fr. Karl Daigle’s Installation as Pastor Mass; Christ the King Parish, Bossier City; 4:00 p.m.

NOVEMBER 16 Parish School of Religion/

Confirmation Class; St. Joseph Parish, Shreveport; 10:45 a.m.

NOVEMBER 17 8th Grade Confirmation Classes; St. Joseph School, Shreveport; 1:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

NOVEMBER 18 Priests & Nuns Appreciation Luncheon; Ernest’s Orleans Restaurant, Shreveport; 12:00 p.m.

NOVEMBER 19 Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting; Baton Rouge NOVEMBER 23 Feast of Christ the King Mass; Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Shreveport; 11:00 a.m.

Poor Man’s Supper; Christian Service, Shreveport; 5:30 p.m.

NOVEMBER 27 Thanksgiving Day Mass; Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Shreveport; 9:00 a.m.

NOVEMBER 29 Mass; Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Shreveport; 4:00 p.m.

NOVEMBER 30 Mass; Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Shreveport; 8:30 a.m.

contents

november 2014

columns Break the Slavery of the World in Our Lives

by Bishop Michael G. Duca........................................................................................... 4-5

Mike’s Meditations: Love Your Enemies by Mike Van Vranken.............................6 Second Collections: Catholic Campaign for Human Development

by Fr. Rothell Price .....................................................................................................6

9

From the Pope: Pope Fancis Closes the Synod and Beatifies Paul VI

by Vatican Information Services..................................................................................7 Catholic Food: On Cake and Remembrance by Kim Long................................8 Domestic Church: Red Flags of Discontentment by Katie Sciba.......................9 Maintain Respect, Charity and Love by Katie Sciba ...........................................9 Book Review: The Heart of Catholicism: Practicing the Everyday Habits that Shape Us by Deacon Mike Whitehead ...........................................................10 Navigating the Faith: Blessings by Dianne Rachal .................................................11 Vocations Corner: Seminary: A Fall Reflection by John Parker ............................14

12

Vocations Corner: Seminary is a Time of Discernment by Fr. Matthew Long........14

feature All Saints & All Souls: Remembering the Faithful Departed

by Jessica Rinaudo ................................................................................................... 12-13

news St. Vincent de Paul Month a Success! by Brian Burgess .......................................10 Catholic Charities Hosts Successful ESL Program by Carl Piehl ...........................15

15 on the cover

World Meeting of Families Publishes Catechesis

by Christine Rivers & Randy Tiller ................................................................................15 Carmelite Founder Elevated to Sainthood by Fr. Philip Pazhayakari, CMI ..........16 Cathedral Celebrates New High Altar Relief by Kelly Phelan Powell ..................16 Reflection: Embrace Your Aging with Gratefulness this Thanksgiving

by Sr. Martinette Rivers, OLS .......................................................................................17

Hispanic Corner by Rosalba Quiroz ........................................................................18 Around the Globe Evaluation and Suggestion Based on the Synod's Post-Discussion Report

by Vatican Information Services ................................................................................19 School News ...........................................................................................................20 Around the Diocese ...............................................................................................21 Upcoming Events....................................................................................................22 November Calendar .............................................................................................23 Picture of the Month ..............................................................................................24

This statue of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and her children is located in the garden at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Shreveport.

(Photo by Jessica Rinaudo)

November 2014 3

LA REFLEXIÓN del obispo

por Obispo Michael G. Duca

Romper la Esclavitud del Mundo en Nuestras Vidas

E

l otro día leí una frase de la autora Dorothy Bass que, en su libro Keeping the Sabbath, dice que el mandamiento en el libro del Deuteronomio de santificar el domingo está ligado a la experiencia de la gente que ha sido liberada de la esclavitud.

Ella dice, “LOS ESCLAVOS NO PUEDEN TOMAR UN DIA LIBRE; LA GENTE LIBRE SI PUEDE.” Este fue un mandamiento, dado a los israelitas cuando fueron liberados para vivir como la gente de Dios LIBRE. En los Estados Unidos vivimos disfrutando de una libertad maravillosa.

Desafortunadamente nuestra cultura puede ser tan poderosa que podemos esclavizarnos sin darnos cuenta, o somos forzados al adaptarnos, aun en contra de nuestros deseos. Cuando leí la frase, “Esclavos no pueden tomar un día libre, la gente libre si puede,” pensé de las muchas maneras en las que podemos ser esclavos y no nos damos cuenta: esclavos de nuestros deseos, nuestras cosas y de las opiniones de los demás. Tal vez no somos en verdad libres.

No soy tan grande para recordar cuando salió el uso de “la contestadora.” Yo no tenía una porque sentía que los feligreses podían encontrarme durante las horas de oficina.

Después de un tiempo los mismos feligreses se molestaron un poco cuando mi teléfono no contestaba las veces que yo no estaba en casa. Así que a final de cuentas tuve que ceder para tener esa comodidad que me hacía más libre, sin embargo esto solo me permitió recibir más llamadas y tener mi vida más ocupada.

Recuerdo el tiempo antes de tener celulares cuando se iba uno de vacaciones y la única manera de comunicarse con el trabajo o la familia era por medio del teléfono público o en el hotel.

Adelantémonos a la vida de hoy y vemos que tan importante son nuestros teléfonos, que estamos pegados (esclavizados) a ellos.

Ahora me siento incómodo cuando voy a la tienda a solo unas millas fuera de casa sin mi teléfono. Son de gran ayuda, pero no 4 Catholic Connection

estamos nunca solos, y estamos siempre en espera. ¿Cómo nos podemos asegurar que somos libres para vivir y tomar decisiones como discípulos de Jesucristo y buenos Católicos?

La libertad de Jesús está en la libertad de amarnos los unos a los otros como Dios nos ha amado primero. La libertad que debemos estar buscando está en la virtud de ser libres para amar a los demás, a nuestra familia, al pobre, a nuestros compañeros de trabajo con el amor de Cristo. Si esta es nuestra meta como Cristianos, la conversión que buscamos aumentará nuestro amor a Dios y al prójimo y será una guía para romper la esclavitud del mundo en nuestras vidas.

La dificultad con esta manera de pensar es que para amar a los demás debemos desenfocarnos de nosotros mismos.

Tenemos que decidir hacer una prioridad nuestra vida espiritual.

Necesitamos estar conscientes de que nuestras vidas son sutilmente controladas por el amor de realidades que parecen darnos la libertad personal, pero que pueden también ser esclavitud y obstáculo para seguir a Jesús. Por ejemplo: desear estar “a la moda” o tener el último aparato, ¿Es una libertad o una esclavitud? ¿Somos libres para estar fuera de la moda y/o escoger un estilo más simple? ¿Escogemos a cual Misa Dominical iremos antes de escoger otra cosa o hacer otras cosas que nos interesan en nuestras vidas? Cunado conversamos con los demás, ¿Somos libres para ponerlos antes que a nosotros mismos, dándoles toda nuestra atención sin mirar nuestro teléfono? ¿De verdad necesitamos

checar nuestro teléfono o los textos aun cuando estamos en la iglesia? (Recuerden que Jesús en le Jardín de Getsemaní les dijo a sus apóstoles, “¿Qué no pueden vigilar conmigo por una hora?”) ¿Somos libres para no ver pornografía o nos engañamos a nosotros mismos de que podemos parar cuando queramos? ¿Somos libres de perdonar a alguien que nos ha herido o disfrutamos seguir molestos con ellos?

Examinemos nuestras vidas y confiemos en la sabiduría de Cristo y Su Iglesia más que en la sabiduría del mundo. Vean sus vidas con los ojos de la fe y vean que algunas de las “opciones libres” que hacemos no son tan libres. Muchas de nuestras preocupaciones, deseos, heridas, rencores y miedos que llevamos son cargas que nos esclavizan, nos roban la energía y nos hacen sentir como que no podemos cambiar. Con frecuencia, en lo más profundo no queremos cambiar porque nos sentimos seguros viviendo en nuestra esclavitud; nos gusta nuestro pecado y somos consolados en nuestro mundo egoísta.

Pero esto es una mentira que nos roba la esperanza y el entusiasmo por la vida. Examinen sus vidas. Hagan que sea prioridad su oración y su vida sacramental y las relaciones de amor. No distraigan con opciones egoístas, sino más bien busquen siempre seguir el mandamiento de Jesús “ámense unos a otros como yo los he amado.” Esta es la única manera Cristiana de Amar, donde encontraremos gozo, esperanza y la verdadera libertad.

bishop’s reflection

by Bishop Michael G. Duca

Break the Slavery of the World in Our Lives

T

he other day I read a quote from author Dorothy Bass who, in her book Keeping the Sabbath, suggested that in the book of Deuteronomy the commandment to “observe the Sabbath Day” is tied to the experience of a people newly released from bondage. She reflected, “SLAVES CANNOT TAKE A DAY OFF; FREE Bishop Duca PEOPLE CAN.” This was a commandment, but one given to the now freed Israelites to live as the FREE people of God. We enjoy in the United States a wonderful freedom to live our lives.

Unfortunately our culture can be so pervasive that we can become enslaved without realizing it, or we are forced to adapt, even against our wishes. When I read the quote, “Slaves cannot take a day off, free people can,” I thought of so many ways we may be slaves that we are unaware of: to our desires, to our things and to the opinions of others. Perhaps we are not free at all.

I am old enough to remember the introduction of the “answering machine.”

I did not have one because I felt the parishioners could reach me during my office hours. After a while parishioners became a little angry when my phone was not answered when I was not home. So eventually I had to give in to the pressure and connect an answering machine to my phone. The machine was supposed to be a convenience that made me freer, but instead it only allowed me to take more calls and made my life busier.

I remember the time before cell phones when you would go on vacation and the only way to communicate with your job or family was at a pay phone or at the hotel.

Fast forward to today and look at how important our phones are and how we are attached (enslaved) to them. Now I feel

uncomfortable even going to the store a few miles away without my phone. They are great helps, but we are never alone and always on call.

How can we be sure that we are free to live and make decisions as a disciple of Jesus Christ and as good Catholics?

The freedom of Jesus is the freedom to Love one another as God has loved us first. The freedom we should be striving for is the virtue to be free to love others, our family, the poor, our coworkers with the love of Christ.

This is our goal as Christians and the conversion we seek will increase our love of God and neighbor and it will be a guide to break the slavery of the world in our lives.

The difficulty with this way is that to love others we must take the focus off ourselves. We have to decide to make our spiritual life a priority. We need to be aware of how our lives are controlled by subtle realities that seem to be an exercise in personal freedom, but may also be a kind of enslavement and obstacle to following Jesus. For example: Is our desire to be “in style” or to have the latest gadget a freedom or a slavery? Are we free to be out of fashion and/or choose a simpler lifestyle? Do we choose to schedule what Sunday Mass we will attend before we schedule anything else or do other things exert more influence in our lives? In conversation with others are we free to put them first, giving our full attention while not looking at our phones? Do we really need to check our phones or text when

we are in church? (Remember Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane asked his apostles, “Can you not watch one hour with me?”)

Are we free to not look at pornography or do we fool ourselves that we can stop when we want to? Are we free to forgive someone who has hurt us or do we enjoy holding on to the grudge?

Let us examine our lives and trust the wisdom of Christ and His Church more than the wisdom of the world. Look at your life with eyes of faith and see that some of the “free choices” we make are not so free. So many of the worries, concerns, wants, unhealed wounds, angers and grudges we carry are burdens that enslave us, drain our energy and make us feel like we cannot change. Often we may deep down not want to change because we feel safe in our enslavement; we like our sin and are even comforted in our self-centered world. But this is a lie that robs us of hope and enthusiasm for life.

Examine your life. Make your prayer and sacramental life and relationships of love a priority. Do not let yourself be distracted by self-serving choices but rather strive always to follow Jesus’ command to “Love one another as I have loved you.” It is only in the Christian way of Love that we will find joy, hope and true freedom.

November 2014 5

Meditations MM Mike's

by Mike Van Vranken

Collections SC Second

by Fr. Rothell Price

Love Your Enemies

Catholic Campaign for Human Development

Which Enemies Do You Need to Love & Pray For?

O

ur society seems to have lost any tolerance for the mistakes we make against each other. The new definition of justice now includes punishing anyone who has wronged another human being.

In this meditation, I would like to ask you to sit up straight, lay your hands in your lap, take a deep breath, close your eyes and use your imagination.

Imagine yourself physically transferred back to the first century AD. You are sitting on the side of a grassy hill with a group of 40 or 50 people listening to the teacher – Jesus from Nazareth. You are comfortable sitting in the grass, the temperature is warm but not hot, and you feel a slight breeze brush across your face. The hill is high enough that you are removed from the noise down below. The atmosphere is quiet as you stare intently into the eyes of the speaker. He is sharing with you many of the instructions and training he has taught over the last couple of years. He has just finished telling the crowd about this man who had two sons. One of the sons just returned home after committing some despicable acts.

The man not only forgives his son, but reconciles him back into complete union with his family and with society – no condemnation or punishment. You are startled by this kind of love the father has for his son, yet joy has filled your being as you wait for more from the master. As he locks his eyes in on you, you hear him say: “Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you.”

Chills start to run down your spine as your mind wonders if you heard him correctly. How many enemies do you really have? Have you ever prayed for any of them? Finally, you hear him say: “I give you a new commandment – love one another.” You stop your thoughts and realize – these are all new commandments and he’s giving them to you. The others on the hill are as amazed as you, but you have forgotten they are even there. This intimate conversation has become personal between you and Jesus.

Without losing the feeling of oneness with the Lord, allow yourself to come back into your present life in the 21st century, but keep your imagination on the words you just heard on the grassy hill. Which enemies do you need to love and pray for?

Maybe you can’t stand a political figure you don’t even know. You may disagree with the mayor of your town or the president of your country. Perhaps some famous star has shown his racial feelings or degraded someone publicly. Then again, your enemy might be your neighbor or even a family member. You continue to see Jesus’ piercing eyes as you linger on the thought of those “enemies” who you have privately or even publicly denounced and recommended they be punished.

You now know your responsibility is not to punish them, but to love them and pray for them.

Mike is a writer and teacher. You can contact him at: www. mikevanvrankenministries.org or write him at: Mike Van Vranken, 523 Loch Ridge Drive, Shreveport, LA 71106.

6 Catholic Connection

Collection Dates: November 22nd & 23rd Announcement Dates: November 9th & 16th

O

ur very dear Pope Francis continues to encourage and challenge us to live our faith in Jesus Christ. He, by word and deed, guides us in the way of “being” Good News.

Our Holy Father consistently urges us to evangelize with the unique testimony of our lives. This month we unite in participation with our Catholic brothers and sisters in the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). This campaign is a special work of the Catholic bishops of our country to rally the Christian faithful to support and sustain those efforts and programs that are aimed at ending poverty in our nation. Through these second collections we can joyfully witness the love of Jesus Christ.

This campaign addresses the root causes of poverty in America through promotion and support of community-controlled self-help organizations and transformative education. Grants are awarded by the subcommittee on the CCHD with the approval of local bishops.

The CCHD has funded organizations that work to end poverty and defend human dignity in neighborhoods throughout the U.S. In the Diocese of Shreveport, CCHD funding was instrumental in the effort to bring night bus service to Shreveport. People who want to work can now get to work. Employers needing workers in the evening, at night and in the early morning have them. CCHD funding has been instrumental in our regional efforts in the Lake Providence and the delta region for training people for “living wage” jobs at local employers’ requests.

I ask your generous participation in this pastoral ministry of the bishops of the U.S. The CCHD is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty. You are essential to its success. Your generous donations will give those in poverty the support they need to make lasting changes.

CCHD is not a program of handouts; rather, it is a systematic program of a hand up. The work of CCHD is the embodiment of the popular saying, “give a man a fish and you feed him for day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Together we can make a difference in families and communities across the U.S. Our Lord doesn’t ask a large contribution from us; He asks that we give, and do so from the heart. Our Lord teaches us that our small generosity given in faith is counted as more by our God than someone’s large surplus. Give what you can, not what you can’t. The Lord’s concern is not what, but how we give.

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

from the

from Vatican Information Services

Pope Francis Closes the Synod and Beatifies Paul VI

V

atican City, October 19, 2014 – The Holy Mass celebrated at 10.30 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, during which Pope Paul VI was proclaimed Blessed, closed the Synod of Bishops devoted to “Pastoral challenges to the family in the context of evangelization.”

The ceremony was attended by Pope Emeritus Benedict Pope Francis XVI and 70,000 faithful from all over the world, and the Holy Father concelebrated with the cardinals, patriarchs, archbishops and presbyters who took part in the Synod.

Francis pronounced a homily in which he emphasized that during the Synod, the participants “felt the power of the Holy Spirit who constantly guides and renews the Church ... called to waste no time in seeking to bind up open wounds and to rekindle hope in so many people who have lost it.” He described the new Blessed as a “courageous Christian, a tireless apostle and the great helmsman of the Council.”

“We have just heard one of the most famous phrases in the entire Gospel: ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ Goaded by the Pharisees who want to put him to the test in matters of religion, Jesus gives this ironic and brilliant reply.

It is a striking phrase which the Lord has bequeathed to all those who experience qualms of conscience, particularly when their comfort, their wealth, their prestige, their power and their reputation are in question. This happens all the time; it always has.”

He continued, “Jesus puts the stress on the second part of the phrase: ‘and [render] to God the things that are God’s.’ This means acknowledging and professing – in the face of any sort of power – that God alone is the Lord of mankind, that there is no other. This is the perennial newness to be discovered each day, and it requires mastering the fear which we often feel at

God’s surprises. God is not afraid of the new! That is why he is continually surprising us, opening our hearts and guiding us in unexpected ways. He renews us: he constantly makes us ‘new.’ A Christian who lives the Gospel is ‘God’s newness’ in the Church and in the world. How much God loves this ‘newness!’”. “‘Rendering to God the things that are God’s’ means being docile to his will, devoting our lives to him and working for his kingdom of mercy, love and peace. Here is where our true strength is found; here is the leaven which makes it grow and the salt which gives flavor to all our efforts to combat the prevalent pessimism which the world proposes to us. Here too is where our hope is found, for when we put our hope in God we are neither fleeing from reality nor seeking an alibi: instead, we are striving to render to God what is God’s. That is why we Christians look to the future, God’s future. It is so that we can live this life to the fullest – with our feet firmly planted on the ground – and respond courageously to whatever new challenges come our way.”

“In these days, during the extraordinary Synod of Bishops, we have seen how true this is. ‘Synod’ means ‘journeying together.’

And indeed pastors and lay people from every part of the world have come to Rome, bringing the voice of their particular churches in order to help today’s families walk the path of the Gospel with their gaze fixed on Jesus. It has been a great experience, in which we have lived synodality and collegiality, and felt the power of the Holy Spirit who constantly guides and renews the Church. For the Church is called to waste no time in seeking to bind up open wounds and to rekindle hope in so many people who have lost it. For the gift of this Synod and for the constructive spirit which everyone has shown, in union with the Apostle Paul ‘we give thanks to God always for you all, constantly mentioning you in our prayers.’ May the Holy Spirit, who during these busy days has enabled us to work generously, in true freedom and humble creativity, continue to guide the

journey which, in the churches throughout the world, is bringing us to the Ordinary Synod of Bishops in October 2015. We have sown and we continued to sow, patiently and perseveringly, in the certainty that it is the Lord who gives growth to what we have sown.”

Pope Francis went on to focus on the figure of Pope Paul VI, recalling on the day of his beatification the words with which he established the Synod of Bishops: “by carefully surveying the signs of the times, we are making every effort to adapt ways and methods… to the growing needs of our time and the changing conditions of society.”

“When we look to this great pope, this courageous Christian, this tireless apostle, we cannot but say in the sight of God a word as simple as it is heartfelt and important: thank you. Thank you, our dear and beloved Pope Paul VI! Thank you for your humble and prophetic witness of love for Christ and his Church. In his personal journal, the great helmsman of the Council wrote, at the conclusion of its final session: ‘Perhaps the Lord has called me and preserved me for this service not because I am particularly fit for it, or so that I can govern and rescue the Church from her present difficulties, but so that I can suffer something for the Church, and in that way it will be clear that he, and no other, is her guide and savior.’”

The Holy Father concluded, “In this humility the grandeur of Blessed Paul VI shines forth: before the advent of a secularized and hostile society, he was able to hold fast, with farsightedness and wisdom – and at times alone – to the helm of the barque of Peter, while never losing his joy and his trust in the Lord. Paul VI truly ‘rendered to God what is God’s’ by devoting his whole life to the ‘sacred, solemn and serious task of continuing in history and extending on earth the mission of Christ,’ loving the Church and leading her so that she might be ‘a loving mother of the whole human family and at the same time the minister of its salvation.’”

November 2014 7

CF

Catholic Food

by Kim Long

On Cake and Remembrance

I

I love a good ghost story hands down, no questions asked.

Fall decorations and autumnal menus court me with perseverance, those sneaky suitors. I find myself drawn to pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, glow-in-the-dark skeletons, and I have a Pandora channel called Spooky Symphonies. I am soothed by overcast skies, minor key music, and am seldom out of sorts when stirring a big pot of something on the stove.

Is it any wonder I love October and November? These are months we celebrate ghosts and goblins, begging door-to-door, saints invoked and souls prayed for.

Is it any surprise that I have my own real ghost story? Or at least a diligent search for the graves of two ancestors of whom I have only some stories from childhood, a fading, curling photograph and a sweater with more than a hole or two (gifts from the unwelcome combination of time, wool and moths).

Here is how it goes: Uncle Joe and Aunt Ruby Cumella lived in Shreveport. They were buried here. When I moved to Shreveport, I had a burning desire to find their graves if for no other reason (and there were many) than to pay my respects. I heard all my life about the gracious spirit Aunt Ruby had, how she was loved and respected. My paternal grandmother and she were sisters and “Mamaw” spoke in hushed tones about Aunt Ruby. At one point in my late teenage years I followed Mamaw around with a pencil and notebook desperate for family history.

All I could get out of her about Aunt Ruby was she knitted, made a coconut cake each Christmas and was married to Joe who was “eye-talian.” Then after a strong cup of Maxwell House coffee, she could be persuaded to open the cedar chest (an experience not unlike a treasure chest) and pull out the photo of Aunt Ruby and the sweater she knitted. Now these artifacts rest in my care.

I recall examining the stitches and wondering what kind of needles she used, where the pattern originated and why in the world couldn’t she have lived a bit longer. Suffice to say I felt

connected to her then and still do.

With the help of persistence I managed to write down Mamaw’s memory of the coconut cake recipe in longhand with a number 2 pencil in a wire composition book. With the help of ancestry. com, I found out about the pair of them. She was born in Grand Cane, he in Caccamo, Sicily. She married Joseph, born Giuseppe, at the age of 19 in Benton, LA. She died in 1963 and he lived for many years until they were reunited in Heaven in 1984. I called every Catholic church in Shreveport until I found out that Uncle Joe had been buried by Msgr. Clayton and finally I had a location.

When I stood before their double headstone it felt glorious to have found them. It was my Indiana Jones and the Holy Grail moment as this surely was a treasure! This November I will take fall flowers, write their names in the Book of Remembrance, and this year I shall, in their memory, make the 30 day prayer for the souls in purgatory, while believing in my heart they are smiling down on me and all of our scattered family.

May their souls and the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. AMEN.

Coconut Cake Cake Ingredients: • 1 cup butter, softened • 2 cups sugar • 4 large eggs • 3 1/4 cups all purpose flour • 1 tablespoon baking powder • 1 can Coco Lopez coconut cream (add a little more milk to achieve right consistency) • 1 teaspoon vanilla • 1 teaspoon coconut extract Sour Cream Filling Ingredients: • 2 cups powdered sugar • 1 (16 ounce) carton sour cream • 1 small carton whipping cream, whipped • 2 six ounce packages frozen coconut, thawed Directions for filling: Combine all ingredients EXCEPT coconut.

Once ingredients are combined, add coconut.

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Directions: 1) Beat butter at medium speed until fluffy.

2) Gradually add sugar beating well.

3) Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

4) Combine flour and baking powder; add to creamed mixture alternately with coconut cream ( 1/2 cup milk if needed).

5) Stir in extracts.

6) Pour into greased and floured pans (you may use two layer pans, I used the large Wilton round pan) 7) Bake until tester comes out clean at 350 degrees (about 30 minutes or so). Let cool completely.

8) Split cool layers and spread with sour cream filling.

9) Use your favorite frosting recipe to frost the cake. Sprinkle coconut on cake if desired.

Church DC Domestic

by Katie Sciba

Red Flags of Discontentment Keep your speech charitable to cultivate love and respect

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was in the carpool line at my boys’ preschool to pick up my oldest two.

Without fail, my three-year-old gets 150% excited every time I arrive.

“MAMA!!! I’m so glad to see you!!” he squealed with a tiny, tight hug as I buckled him and his big brother hurriedly, knowing the line was waiting on us. A teacher was helping me load them both and she laughed, “Isn’t it great to be such a rock star all the time?” I chuckled, playfully gesturing at my van full of three little boys and said, “Sometimes I wish I weren’t so popular!” More laughing from both of us, then the fellas and I were on our way.

It was a joke. It totally was. The teacher knew I was kidding, too. Still, I felt a slight sting on the drive home because the facts are that A) I was kidding about my kids being a burden B) in front of my kids, who, though they be little, are sharp and perceptive.

Honestly, I’ve noticed comments like this becoming a touch more frequent lately and I wonder at their effect not just on our family, but within myself as a mother.

Andrew and I have been married for just over six years and we’re four kids deep into wedded bliss. They’re work. They fight and they whine like pros. They have needs at inconvenient times and they wear me out; but they’re not the sum of my exhaustion or burdens to bemoan.

Each little one is a huge gift - a unique soul God intentionally gave specifically for us to entrust back to Him and to love as members of our particular family. The crosses of parenthood are painful aspects of a much greater blessing; but in the

emotional strain of my vocation, I think I’ve convinced myself that my lot gives me the right to complain, even if the complaint is veiled as a joke.

Taking a good look at general parenthood, it’s hard. But we know that. Whether parents have one or 10, raising kids is a harrowing task that consumes body and soul.

The position itself demands respect, but then so does the child overhearing my comments. There’s a fine line between making a playful jab at the trials of motherhood and belittling the children who seek shelter in our relationship.

Sarcastic remarks are often red flags to discontentment; in such instances, it’s more fruitful to identify struggles and seek to overcome them rather than cultivate bitterness within ourselves. I certainly don’t want to consider my children as burdens, no more than they want to be regarded as such.

Was it a big deal? That two-second exchange with the teacher? No - probably not; but what I’d like to change is how I speak of my children in and out of their company. Even if this one slipped past them, they’ll reach a point when they’ll infer what they will from my sarcasm; which, though lighthearted, may cause true pain. And even when my kids aren’t around, I want my speech to be charitable without a hint of irony, so I can cultivate love and respect for them within myself and maybe, by a good example, in others as well.

Katie Sciba is the author of thecatholicwife.net. She lives in Shreveport with her husband, Andrew, and three sons, Liam,Thomas & Peter.

Maintain Respect, Charity & Love Parenthood is challenging no matter how old your children are or how many you have. Follow these tips to maintain respect, charity and love for your children within yourself and among others.

Know that Your Cross is a Blessing God gave these particular children to you. They were meant to be yours to raise in the Light of Christ and to love for your whole life. Maintain this truth in all difficulties in order to entrust your little souls back to God.

If You Can't Say Something Nice...

Don’t say anything at all. Maintain respectful, charitable speech about your kids in front of them, to them, and most especially when they’re not around. Parents will be respected when they in turn give respect to their children.

It's All About Your Intentions If you’re having difficulty with your children and you need help, relay your troubles to someone else for the sake of seeking counsel over simply complaining. Ask yourself if you’re looking for advice or cultivating a negative attitude of your child.

November 2014 9

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Book Review

by Deacon Mike Whitehead

The Heart of Catholicism: Practicing the Everyday Habits That Shape Us by Bert Ghezzi

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rom the beginning of The Heart of Catholicism, author Bert Ghezzi lays out his premise –– this book is geared toward women and men participating in the Christian Initiation process, as well as cradle Catholics looking for a way to plug the holes in their knowledge about faith and the Church.

So, we will use that as the standard to set the benchmarks by which we will judge Ghezzi’s work.

Actually, there is an interesting correlation between adults seeking to enter or learn more about Catholicism and Catholics practicing the faith over decades. Both groups need to be grounded in the basics of the faith. We see it consistently in the Christian Initiation process –– the Catholic spouse of the person going through RCIA learns a great deal, as well.

For Ghezzi, being Catholic is all about our relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s that simple.

He says “Catholics are joined to Christ and to each other in the Church by these bonds: profession of faith and participation in the sacraments.” Score one for the author.

He offers a very good breakdown of faith, conversion and discipleship. For the author, faith and conversion must be in place before discipleship is possible. In Christian Initiation, as well as for practicing Catholics, we are called to be disciples of Christ.

As we know, the sacraments and Mass are a big part of our Catholic identity.

Ghezzi gives a good overview of the sacraments without getting tangled in language that might confound readers.

Not only does he give straight-forward explanations of each of the seven sacraments, he takes it a step further by explaining what the sacraments do for us.

There is an entire chapter devoted to the Mass. Although we might argue that any discussion of the Mass is worth two or three chapters, The Heart of Catholicism gives a thorough nuts-and-bolts breakdown of the Mass. Of particular note: Ghezzi speaks from the heart about how the Mass is 10 Catholic Connection

transformative in his life.

He does the same with prayer. All of us know obtaining and maintaining a meaningful prayer life takes time and attention. It can be difficult and overwhelming, especially if you are just entering the faith or your knowledge of Catholicism is grounded at an eighthgrade level. The author allows us into his life by offering personal reflections on his prayer life. That vulnerability makes us feel better about our struggle with the peaks and valleys of our own prayer life.

The most disappointing chapter in the book is called “Reading and Applying Scripture.” As a reader, you would think that reading and applying scripture would be one of the most important chapters in the book.

And you would be correct. But, for whatever reason, Ghezzi truncated his discussion of the Bible. However, there is a useful breakout on how Catholics interpret scripture.

Speaking of breakouts, The Heart of Catholicism is full of breakouts, as well as end-of-chapter discussion questions. Plus, this isn’t a 500-page tome. In 164 pages, the author adheres to our 21st century mantra of a quick read.

Ghezzi also gets bonus points for his “Choose an Action” segment at the end of each chapter. For example, under the chapter titled “Observing the Liturgical Seasons,” his first plan of action is to make Sunday Mass central to our lives. Each chapter is full of great plans that can play a central role in your faith life. He also gets kudos for discussions on the importance of parish life, caring for the poor and putting faith into practice.

In the end, we give The Heart of Catholicism a B+ – Ghezzi maintains his focus and delivers an informative read that gives us all food for the journey.

The Heart of Catholicism can be found in Slattery Library at the Catholic Center, as well as Barnes and Noble, Amazon and Books-AMillion.

St. Vincent de Paul Month a Success!

Friends of the Poor Walk

The Diocese of Shreveport hosted two locations of the 7th annual Friends of the Poor® Walk/Run on September 20. The Walk, conducted by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, is a nationwide event intended to raise awareness of the challenges faced by the nation’s poor and to raise funds for use in direct service to the poor. Our two locations this year included one in Shreveport and one in Monroe. Nearly $3,000 was raised at the Shreveport event while the Monroe event included some 145 walkers who raised in excess of $5,200. All funds raised locally will be used locally within each SVdP Conference.

Poor Man's Supper

On September 30, the 15th annual SVdP Society Poor Man’s Supper was held at Jesus the Good Shepherd School in Monroe. The Supper, which had over 25 varieties of delicious soups available plus a silent auction, was an overwhelming success with about 500 people attending. Bishop Duca was present for the occasion and helped serve soup to those in attendance.

Proceeds from this event will benefit the SVdP Community Pharmacy in downtown Monroe which serves the needy in a 17-parish area in Northeast Louisiana. In excess of $22,000 was raised in connection with this event.

Navigating the Faith Blessings

by Dianne Rachal, Director of the Office of Worship

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lessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.”

Ephesians 1:3 The source from whom every good gift comes is God. He made all things good, and continues his blessings as a sign of his merciful love. Christ is the Father’s supreme blessing upon us.

The power of the Holy Spirit enables us to offer the Father praise, adoration and thanksgiving, and, through works of charity, to be numbered among the blessed in the Father’s kingdom.

Blessings fall within the category of sacramentals. Sacramentals are instituted for the sanctification of certain ministries of the Church, certain states of life, a great variety of circumstances in Christian life and the use of many things helpful to people.

Among sacramentals, blessings (of persons, meals, objects and places) come first. Every blessing praises God and prays for his gifts.

In Christ, Christians are blessed by God the Father “with every spiritual blessing.”

This is why the Church imparts blessings by invoking the name of Jesus, usually while making the holy sign of the cross of Christ.

Blessings are signs to the faithful of the spiritual benefits achieved through the Church’s intercession. Blessings always include a prayer, often accompanied by a specific sign, such as the laying on of hands, the sign of the cross, the sprinkling of holy water and incensation. When we make the sign of the cross with holy water when entering a church, we are reminded of our baptism, awakened to the presence of God, and disposed to receiving God’s grace.

Unlike a sacrament, a sacramental does not itself confer the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture recounts how God blessed all living creatures, especially Adam and Eve, Noah and his sons, and the people of Israel. Jesus blessed little children, loaves and fishes, the bread and wine at the Last Supper. The Church has instituted various blessings for people as well as objects to prompt the faithful to implore God’s protection, divine assistance, faithfulness and favor.

Who can give blessings?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Every baptized person is called to be a ‘blessing’ and to bless. (No. 1669) Lay people may bless their children, food at mealtime, Christmas trees or make the sign of the cross for example. The blessings given by lay people do not confer a sacred character on the person or thing, but merely invoke God’s protection and blessing.

The more a blessing concerns ecclesial and sacramental life, the more its administration is reserved to the ordained ministry of bishops, priests and deacons.

Consecrations are the solemn rites by which persons or things are permanently made over to the service of God. Consecrations and dedications are reserved for bishops, such as the consecrations of priests, virgins and sacred chrism, and the dedication of churches and altars. Priests can impart all other blessings apart from blessings reserved to bishops. A deacon “can impart only those blessings which are expressly permitted to him by law.” Deacons can give blessings at all the rites at which they preside, including Liturgy of the Hours, Baptism, marriage, Holy Communion outside Mass and Eucharistic Benediction, and may bless objects like rosaries and holy water outside of Mass.

Blessings are categorized into two types: invocative and constitutive. In an invocative blessing, the minister implores the divine favor of God to grant some spiritual or temporal good without any change of condition, such as when a parent blesses a child. An invocative blessing is a recognition of God’s goodness in bestowing this blessing

upon us, such as when we offer a blessing for our food at meal time.

A constitutive blessing, invoked by a bishop, priest or deacon, signifies the permanent sanctification and dedication of a person or thing for some sacred purpose.

Here the person or object takes on a sacred character and would not be returned to non-sacred or profane use. For example, when religious Sisters or Brothers profess final vows, they are blessed, indicating a permanent change in their lives. When a chalice is blessed, it becomes a sacred vessel dedicated solely to sacred usage. Likewise holy water once blessed cannot return to ordinary water.

Blessing of Graves Each November 2nd as the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day) is celebrated, we turn our attention to commemorating the departed who are buried in a cemetery. The Book of Blessings has a rite for the Order for Visiting a Cemetery on All Souls Day, commonly known as the blessing of the graves. This rite may be celebrated on November 2 or on another day during the month of November. It may be used at a public celebration or by family members when they visit the cemetery. This practice reminds the faithful that our departed brothers and sisters in Christ are in need of our prayers, especially those who are still in Purgatory. In our diocese priests and deacons visit most of the cemeteries to bless the graves on weekends close to All Souls Day. The notion of blessing is bound up with praising God and giving thanks to God; bound up with our way of seeing, understanding and being in this world and in the human community. Whether we say simply, “God bless you,” when someone sneezes, or join in a formal rite of blessing with song and prayer and Scripture, we are proclaiming the good news of God’s love and reign. The Preface for Eucharistic Prayer IV captures this understanding of a blessing: “Father in Heaven... source of life and goodness, you have created all things, to fill your creatures with every blessing and lead all men to the joyful vision of your light.”

November 2014 11

ALL

Saints& ALL Souls Remembering the Faithfully Departed

by Jessica Rinaudo

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ovember is the month of remembrance, and as saints. “For instance in the East, the city of Edessa celebrated part of that month the Catholic Church celebrates this feast on May 13; the Syrians, on the Friday after Easter; All Saints Day on November 1 and All Souls Day and the city of Antioch, on the first Sunday after Pentecost. on November 2. Because the two days fall one after another Both St. Ephrem (373) and St. John Chrysostom (407) and both commemorate the faithful departed, they are often attest to this feast day in their preaching,” said Fr. William confused or lumped together. Each day, however, has its own Saunders in his article on “All Saints and All Souls.” significance within the history and practices of the Catholic On May 13, 610 the “Feast of all Holy Martyrs” was Church. introduced in Rome by Pope Boniface IV on the occasion of The first, All Saints Day, Emperor Phocas giving him falls on November 1. This the Pantheon in Rome. It was feast day is a commemoration later transferred to November Those two feast days are related of all the saints canonized by 1 during the pontificate of destination of because the the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Gregory VII in 1085, “Because we have so and by then it included all the is , the many saints in the course the saints. Why the change of the year we can’t honor in date? There are several destination of the them all,” said Fr. Rothell theories on the topic. The Price, Vicar General of the date was already popular in is and in the Diocese of Shreveport. “We the Irish and English churches communion of saints we certainly only have 365 days in the and it also fell during harvest remember them. year. It’s usually only one time, when food would be saint we commemorate on a plentiful for those traveling to particular day and sometimes celebrate the feast day. there’s a grouping, like a group of martyrs…. Because we Today the feast of All Saints Day remains on the Catholic have thousands of saints, we can’t honor all of them on every calendar as a holy day of obligation, on which we are to calendar, every year. So once a year the Church has a special attend Mass.

Mass during which we remember all the saints. All Saints “All Saints Day is a solemnity, so we treat it with the Day is the Church’s commemoration of that whole body of dignity that we treat a Sunday,” said Fr. Price. “We sing the saints who number in the thousands.”

Gloria, a hymn of praise to God. On Sundays we stand for While the origins of All Saints Day are not specific, in the the profession of faith, so on All Saints Day we do that as 300’s, various countries had their own celebrations of the well, followed by intercessory prayer or the prayers of the

Saints Heaven Faithful Departed Heaven

12 Catholic Connection

faithful.”

November 2 holds another important feast day in the life of the Church: All Souls Day. “On All Souls Day we are commending our dearly departed to the love and care of God,” said Fr. Price. “And throughout the month of November, we remember our dearly departed with gratitude to God for the gift of them in our lives and we pray that through our prayers, they be admitted to the eternal banquet feast of heaven. If any sins have clung to their souls, that they be fully pardoned of their sins to enter into the fullness of the life of Heaven.”

Praying for the dead has always been a part of Catholic tradition. As early as the seventh century, monks would offer Mass for their deceased community members on the day after Pentecost, and in 998, the Benedictine monastery of Cluny celebrated all their dead on November 2. The practice slowly began to spread throughout the monasteries, and eventually to parishes. In the thirteenth century, November 2 was marked officially as All Souls Day on the calendar of the Catholic Church.

Many traditions have sprung up around the Feast of All Souls Day. Locally, we celebrate the feast day on the weekends surrounding November 2 by blessing local cemeteries.

“The scriptures tell us our prayers are efficacious for the faithful departed,” said Fr. Price. “Our prayers help them, as well as their prayers assist us. So annually on the feast day of All Souls, or close to the feast of All Souls, we will have an annual commemoration of the dead and that’s often marked by a visit to cemeteries and a blessing of graves.”

Local parishes also have individual ways of celebrating and praying for loved ones who have passed. Many will place tables in their sanctuary where parishioners can display photos of deceased loved ones, sometimes accompanied by candles that burn throughout the month of November.

In other parts of the world, namely Portugal, Spain and Latin America, priests have a custom of celebrating three Masses on November 2, a practice extended to all priests by Pope Benedict XV in 1915.

While these two feast days are distinct celebrations in the life of the Church, they share a common desire to pray for the faithfully departed.

“Those two feast days are related because the destination of the saints is Heaven, the destination of the faithful departed is Heaven and in the communion of saints we certainly remember them,” said Fr. Price. “In the Nicene Creed and in the Apostles Creed we pray for the resurrection of the dead and the life in the world to come.”

The month of November holds the Church’s “Memorial Days.” It is also sometimes dubbed the month of saints, the month of holy souls or memorial month. It is a time to pray for both the saints who have gone before us in death, and for the souls of our loved ones. Take time this month to pray for them all.

Ways to

Remember

How can we celebrate All Saints Day and All Souls Day? Try a few of these suggestions to keep the faithful departed in your mind and prayers throughout the month. Some of these suggestions are also great ways to teach your family about these two special feast days on the Church’s calendar!

1. Pick a saint, any saint. All Saints Day is a great time to become familiar with a saint you may not know much about. Maybe you need to find prayers and blessings for patron saints who help with something you’re troubled with in your life. Traveling? Motherhood? Addiction? Healing?

Nurses? There’s a saint for that!

2. Ever heard of Happy Saints? This website is a great resource for ebooks for children (and adults) that include relatable stories of the lives of the saints with illustrations. www.happysaints.com 3. Mark your calendar! The whole month of November is a month of remembrance. Write the name of a saint on each day of the month and ask for their prayers that day.

4. Find a tradition. For All Souls Day, find out if your parish has a tradition for the day. If so, join in by bringing a photo of a deceased loved one, attending Mass or attending a Blessing of the Graves.

5. Share Memories! Many times our children will never know those whom we have loved dearly and who passed away before their time. Share memories of those loved ones throughout the month, then say a prayer for their soul after you share the memory.

6. Prayer. On All Souls Day, remember your loved ones with prayer, family and food. Soul cakes and other breads are a traditional treat for this day.

November 2014 13

Corner VC Vocations

by John Parker

Seminary: A Fall Reflection

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s I age, I frequently find that when the fall season blows in, mistral and earnest, I get to thinking on my life. The first things I recall are childhood related: rowdy front yard football games with my neighborhood buddies, leaf forts and leaf fights, the tremendous Gingko in my front yard turning from green to yellow-gold (often in the span of a week if fall comes late). All these memories strike me as immensely good, and I would love to sit with these memories for as long as I am able, let my life glide by in lazy reverie, like the leaves parting from fall-season trees. These days, however, fall finds me thinking on more than childhood good-times.

Life here in the seminary is decidedly busy. An average week demands of me and my brother seminarians that we carry an extremely heavy academic workload. We pray in community three times a day, go to Mass daily, share our meals together, exercise together, recreate together, etc. We at St. Joseph Seminary College (SJSC) are an active community with many outlets for socializing, for building relationships with one another. However, community involvement, just like in our parish churches, is not absolutely compulsory. A seminarian could easily drift through community life, show up to everything, fulfill the dutiful requirement to be present at events, participate in the bare minimum and retire each day to his own concerns and pleasures (namely, his laptop, social media, the friends he keeps up with who are miles away, the life he lives that is far away from his present place). In the past, and frequently in the present, because it is not wrong to have a private life, I have resorted to such behavior in the extreme. I can be a recluse.

This year, as my final year at SJSC, I entered with a determination in mind: I am not going to continue through life like a spider spinning my own web. I want to be a part of something in a complete and total way. I want to live my life outside my precisely arranged box. So, what did I do to facilitate this wish? Many simple things, I just used the gifts I have. I’m helping to build our tremendous bonfire, tutoring students for English Lit, training for a half-marathon, working out with my friends and whoever needs help getting in shape; in short, I’m getting to know my neighbor by doing what I enjoy doing.

I’ve discovered a few things in the process of living my determined life. You wouldn’t believe how refreshing life is beyond our solitarily brains. There is a whole network of people in this world who just want to feel a little less alone, and we are the only ones who can do a happy thing about it. As of late, fall has me thinking in different terms than before. I’m not just thinking on my own memories; I’m thinking of others. I want to live with the understanding that I will die and be judged on the 14 Catholic Connection

standard of not how often I showed up, not of how many times I stepped over the line, but on how often and to what intensity I loved my neighbor, the manifestation of the image and likeness of the God I am supposed to love with all my heart, all my being, and all my strength. It is a great responsibility, living this life of loving God in our neighbors. We rationalize: “That’s too much, I can’t love that much, I can’t get to know everybody, the world’s too big, I’m too small, I have nothing to offer, etc.” To which I reply to you, “Sure, sure, but you don’t have to love all of them at once. You love one person at a time. Just try that, loving one person at a time. You’ll be ok. Don’t worry.”

John Parker is a seminarian for the Diocese of Shreveport in his fourth year college at St. Joseph Seminary in St. Benedict, LA.

Vocations Corner

by Fr. Matthew Long

Seminary is a Time of Discernment

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any people think that once a young man begins seminary formation or a young woman begins formation with a religious community that they will become a priest or a religious sister. The reality is that formation is primarily a time of discernment. It is a place either in a seminary or a house of formation where they can truly discern the will of God. It is here as they go about their work and prayer that they can determine whether or not God is calling them to priesthood or religious life. This is not an easy process and it often requires more courage for a young man or woman to discern that they do not have a call than it does for them to remain in formation.

Brandon Rice, one of our seminarians, after prayer, discussion with the formation staff at the seminary and with me has decided that he should step out of formation. It has not been an easy decision for him and it has required great courage on his part. He has the full support of his diocesan brothers, the formation staff, the vocations office and the bishop in making this decision. I ask that you continue to pray for Brandon as he begins a new chapter in his life and that you offer him your support as well. Brandon will no longer be a seminarian of the diocese effective November 1, 2014.

The men and women who discern that they do not have a vocation to priesthood and religious life should be recognized for their courage. They are important to the formation process because they prove that it works. It is an encouragement to those who continue to discern in the seminary and houses of formation. It is an assurance that all of us should be listening intently to the voice of God to follow where He leads. Please continue to pray for our seminarians and for other young men and women of courage to step forth to discern God’s will in their lives.

NEWS

Catholic CHarities Hosts Successful ESL Program

Volunteer Carl Piehl, student Gerardo Rico and Catholic Charities of North Louisiana employee Guiel Hausen.

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t’s Thursday, October 2 and it’s the heaviest rain of the year, water pouring down in torrents. Yet in the midst of the downpour they file into the classroom, drenched but determined to learn English.

The ESL classes (English as a Second Language) are sponsored by Catholic Charities of North Louisiana and are held twice weekly at Christ the King Parish in Bossier City. Three levels of classes, basic, intermediate and advanced, are taught by dedicated volunteers to approximately 50 Hispanic immigrants.

Who are these people braving the storm to come and attend the evening classes? They are your cleaning lady, your painter, your landscaper, your roofer, your waitress. They are your neighbors! They are valiant people who have endured unimaginable hardships to come here. Their stories will break your heart and need to be told.

Why? Because they are our neighbors and fellow worshipers. Their children are the classmates of our children and since all of us are children of God, they are our brothers and sisters. They bring with them a rich cultural heritage, strong family and spiritual values and an unsurpassed work ethic. They add enormously to that diverse amalgam that is the strength of American society.

Our mission at Catholic Charities is to share Christ’s love with the poor and vulnerable and to offer quality social services without discrimination and in accordance with Catholic social teachings.

Our credo comes from Matthew 25 which instructs us to welcome the stranger. In this case “the stranger” is the immigrant who has risked so much and in many cases suffered hardship, deprivation and indignity. The legal services our immigration program provides coupled with teaching English are two of the best ways for us to serve the immigrant community and to ensure their success.

In addition to offering ESL and legal services, Catholic Charities also offers a Citizenship Preparation Course for those who have the opportunity to become American citizens. We have had eight graduates of this course who have passed their Citizenship Exams and an additional four who are working towards citizenship. One client, Gerardo Rico, has worked diligently to accomplish his goal of becoming a citizen. When he arrived in the U.S. he was working 80 hours a week just to take care of his wife and two sons. He purchased self-study programs and taught himself as much as he could. Finally he was able to take the time to attend classes and slowly but surely his English improved. Earlier this year he started studying for the Citizenship Test with the help of the Citizenship Preparation Course at Catholic Charities. He passed with flying colors!

by Carl Piehl

World Meeting of Families Publishes Catechesis

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he World Meeting of Families, in anticipation of the event to be held September 22-27, 2015, in Philadelphia, has published “Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive.” This 127-page book serves as a preparatory catechesis for the meeting. It was prepared by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Pontifical Council for the Family, and offers a narrative that “explains how all of Catholic teaching about sex, marriage and the family flows from our basic beliefs about Jesus.” This catechesis explores the meaning of the statement by the Second Vatican Council that the family is “a domestic church.”

The publication includes 10 chapters of about 10 pages each and closes with a special prayer written specifically for the World Meeting of Families 2015. It is available from the publisher, Our Sunday Visitor, for under $10, exclusive of shipping costs.

The Diocese of Shreveport is in contact with a reputable pilgrimage company to obtain a proposal for interested persons from our area to attend the World Meeting of Families.

Information is in the preliminary stage; however, it is hoped that a pilgrimage package for the six days and five nights of the meeting will be priced under $2,000 per person.

The Canterbury Pilgrimages and Tours, Inc. company is basing their pricing information on a group of about 25 people. It does include roundtrip airfare from Shreveport Regional Airport including airport taxes and fuel charges. It does not include baggage fees. Of course, airfares are subject to change. The hotel stay is for five nights at the Wingate Hotel in Vineland, NJ, across the river from Philadelphia. Package will include daily breakfast at the hotel, two dinners at restaurants in the greater Philadelphia area, luxury motor coach transportation for the six days, sightseeing opportunities in historic Philadelphia, as well as visits to the Shrines of St. John Neumann and St. Katherine Drexel and other places of interest. Registration information has not been posted at this point, therefore the package DOES NOT include Families Conference Registration Fees.

If you are interested in making the pilgrimage, please contact the Family Life representative in your parish or your parish secretary for more information. They will in turn give your name to the Diocesan Family Life Committee.

This conference is a wonderful opportunity for you to become involved in Family Life Ministry in your parish. It is also hoped that Pope Francis will be traveling to Philadelphia and have Mass on September 27, 2015. Look for more information as it becomes available in the Catholic Connection and on the diocesan website (www.dioshpt.org).

by Christine Rivers and Randy Tiller November 2014 15

NEWS

Carmelite Founder Elevated to Sainthood

Cathedral Celebrates New High Altar Relief

lessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara, the founder of the first Indian religious Order for men, the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), will be canonized in Rome as a saint on November 23 by Pope Francis.

Chavara was born in Kerala, India in 1805. He joined the seminary at an early age and was ordained a priest at the age of 24.

Soon he was noted as an ardent and exemplary priest in the SyroMalabar Catholic Church in India.

On January 3, 1871, at the age of 66, he was called to his eternal reward and his mortal remains are venerated in the monastery church in Mannanam, the Mother House of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate.

St. Chavara had three great devotions in his life. The first was to the Holy Eucharist. He spent many hours before the Blessed Sacrament in adoration and is known for introducing and spreading the 40-hour Eucharistic adoration in Kerala. The second was his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, which he inherited from his pious parents, Mary and Kuriakose. He was instrumental in the spread of the rosary and the special May devotion to Mary. Third was his special devotion to the Holy Family.

He saw a great need for spiritual renewal of the local Church.

That gave him the vision to establish two religious orders: one for men and the other for women. The Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) was founded in 1831 and was officially formed as a religious order in 1855 – the largest to start in India. The order ministers in 30 different countries of the world with more than 3,000 professed members including 1,800 priests. Many of those priests currently serve in the Diocese of Shreveport. In 1866 he founded the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC), which has now more than 7000 nuns serving in numerous countries of the world.

Chavara took pioneering steps in 1864 to establish schools as an integral part of every parish church, which paved the way for the widespread literacy in the state. He also started the first Catholic printing press in Kerala and made available to the people religious and devotional books on faith and morals. A major accomplishment of his was the establishment of a charitable institute for the sick and destitute. The institute also offered the sick and destitute a peaceful place to die.

The miracle needed for his canonization was the cure of a young girl named Mary Jose. She was born with a very serious squint and it was cured without any surgery through the intercession of Chavara.

Kuriakose Elias Chavara inspires us to be genuine disciples of the Lord, to be a people nurtured by the Lord in the Eucharist, and to have a childlike devotion to Mother Mary. He was always a man of God who led a simple life and had a great vision beyond his times.

So let us ask for his intercession: BLESSED CHAVARA, PRAY FOR US.

by Fr Philip Pazhayakari, CMI Provincial Coordinator

n Aug. 17, the Diocese of Shreveport celebrated the blessing and dedication of a new high altar relief at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans. When the Cathedral underwent renovations earlier this year, the cathedra (bishop’s chair) was relocated, per Bishop Duca’s request to be closer to the people, from its place behind the altar to its current position on the left side of the sanctuary, which left an undecorated area behind the altar. An anonymous benefactor generously donated funds for the creation and installation of a new high altar relief, and the chosen design is stunningly beautiful. It depicts the Last Holy Communion of the patron saint of the cathedral parish, St. John Berchmans.

Established in 1902, the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans is the only Cathedral with him as its patron saint. In attendance was Fr. Felix van Meerbergen, pastor of the Church of SaintSulpice in Diest, Belgium, where St. John Berchmans was baptized and home of the original high altar relief on which the one in Shreveport is based.

St. John Berchmans’ piety was truly extraordinary. He served at Mass each morning and sometimes two Masses in a row. In all that he did, he sought perfection, but he manifested a profound humility, charity and interior peace that caused him to advance unceasingly on the road of virtue that leads directly to heaven.

During his three years as a Jesuit novice in Rome, he gave continual proof of his perfect sanctity. He left nothing to chance but entrusted everything to the intercession of his Heavenly Mother, to whom his devotion increased day by day.

The story of St. John Berchmans’ last days is a touching one. He was overcome with a fever, and in a residence of several hundred priests and students, every single one followed the progress of his illness with anxious compassion. When it became clear that he would not recover, the infirmarian told his patient that he would likely receive Holy Communion as viaticum the following morning, an exception to the rule at the time that prescribed it only for Sundays.

Fr. Cepari, who gave St. John Berchmans his last Holy Communion, gave the following account: A mattress was then laid on the floor, and he was stretched upon it, in the habit he loved so well. The room began rapidly to fill, and none could restrain their tears when they saw the wasted frame of him they loved so well on that lowly bed, and heard the burning words

B

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REFLECTION of love which, as if unconscious of their presence, he addressed, now to Jesus, and now to Mary…Berchmans lay motionless, absorbed in prayer; but the moment the Father drew near to place the Sacred Host on his tongue, then, he bounded up and threw himself on his knees, but his love was greater than his strength, and he would have fallen had not two who were at his side supported him under each arm.

And kneeling thus…he broke forth into a magnificent Latin act of faith, unstudied and unprepared, his voice vibrating with love, which gave it a power and clearness far beyond its natural strength. “I declare that there is here really present the Son of God the Father Almighty, and of the most Blessed Mary, ever a Virgin…” …As soon as John had received his Lord, he bowed down his head, placed his arms cross wise on his breast, and remained completely taken up with the fervent reception he offered his Heavenly Guest. Nearby were his little crucifix and his rule-book, with the rosary entwined around them.

A seminarian from Diest, Jens Incognito, accompanied Fr. Felix to Shreveport, and on Aug. 13, the anniversary of the death of St. John Berchmans, the two along with Fr. Peter Mangum made a pilgrimage to Grand Coteau, LA, the site of a miracle that led to St. John’s canonization in 1888.

At the Convent at the Academy of the Sacred Heart, he appeared to Mary Wilson, who, the day before she was to become a novice, fell gravely ill. After several months of weakening condition, it became clear she would die. She was offered what was thought to be the last Holy Communion. On the ninth day of a novena to Blessed John Berchmans, the saint appeared to her during prayers, and she was immediately healed.

Bishop Duca presided at the beautiful liturgy. Present also were Fr. Mangum and seven sisters from the Academy of the Sacred Heart, the project coordinator, Jeff Slusher, and the sculptor of the new high altar relief, Carolann Haggard. Sculpted in a studio outside of Rome from marble from Macedonia, the relief is truly breathtaking and will be a religious and creative inspiration to all who enter the Cathedral for generations to come.

by Kelly Phelan Powell

Embrace Your Aging with Gratefulness This Thanksgiving

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n September “The them on to future Blessings of a Long generations, but Life” were celebrated continuing to shine

by Pope Francis at like stars ourselves. the Vatican with In a religious thousands of people context, God is always from all over the the “Giver” and world in attendance. we humans are the Since many of us have “Thanks – Givers,” and crossed the threshold thus Thanksgiving can of old age, including be sacred for us. It’s Pope Francis, he said, possible that our whole Sr. Carla Bertani, OLS with Sr. Martinette “...because of our lives could be full of Rivers, OLS on her 78th birthday. experience, faith and thanksgiving, all made wisdom, we deserve respect.” He reminded possible by God, himself. us that communities who don’t care for Our gratitude makes sense of our past, and respect their elders, don’t have a future brings peace for today and creates a new because they will be rootless without their vision for tomorrow. Gratitude during the memories. We must keep our memories time of Thanksgiving is our door to many alive. Pope Francis encourages us to embrace heavenly gifts. If we do not have gratitude we our lives with confidence, day by day and to do not appreciate the greatest gift God gave recommit ourselves to see the good in our us: the gift of Life. lives, even when our hearts are heavy. Of Amazing things can happen if we permit course the question always remains: Can I them to come our way. At this time of see the blessing in my old age infirmities as Thanksgiving, we can develop a new point they continue to grow on me? I think he’s of view about this season of harvest. Has it telling us to fire up those engines (old as they taught us anything about our aging? We can may be), or simply to get up and look for the only reap what we have sown. I see my aging blessings that come with our elder years. as a blessing and a grace and not something God is our secret to full joy, that which to be feared. truly warms the heart. Gratitude is a greater Our gratitude this Thanksgiving is part of this secret to full joy and isn’t the something of which none of us can give month of November our time to be thankful too much. It’s not the holiday we celebrate for all God’s gifts? so much, or the weekend off, the food and We can’t change the process of aging one friends, as much as it is our reflection on the bit, so what is there left for us to do? Be person we have become with our experiences, grateful! God considers us treasures and our love of God, family and friends. How do because of this we are a source of joy for him. they see us today? With or without turkey, Perhaps as this Thanksgiving Day draws near our aches and pains remain with age, but one we can cultivate a list of blessings and show should have an overwhelming, joyful feeling our gratitude to God. One must find his love of gratitude and thanksgiving. If your feelings for us in everything because if we are full of are not of this nature, then you do not reflect ourselves, not even God will be able to fill us enough on your blessings. up with love and gratitude.

Fr. Murray Clayton once told me, “There’s Living a spirited life is what it’s all about as a place in us where God sees himself and we grow older. It’s grateful living that makes loves us there as we are and that we must every thankful moment spirited. Gratitude find the ‘pearl of great price’ in ourselves often refers to another person because we and others and be grateful.” Be at peace invest so much in their lives. Prepare a joyful and turn everything you do into a blessing. meal for Thanksgiving with them and truly Happy Thanksgiving from Italy! No turkey let your spirits soar. Is joy not at the basis for me for the fifth Thanksgiving away from of this kind of spirited gratitude needed by home, but I am still grateful for all God’s all? It’s living rather than dying, harvesting blessings. our wisdom and values and not only passing

by Sr. Martinette Rivers, OLS November 2014 17

HISPANIC corner EVANGELII GAUDIUM (El Gozo del Evangelio) Primera Exhortación Apostólica de Su Santidad el Papa Francisco

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n su primera Encíclica, el Papa Francisco se dirige a TODOS los católicos. Nos da consejos prácticos en una manera amorosa y alentadora. Que gocemos y compartamos el Evangelio, nos dice y, sobretodo, que VIVAMOS como criaturas amadas por Dios.

“La alegría del Evangelio llena el corazón y la vida entera de los que se encuentran con Jesús. Quienes se dejan salvar por Él son liberados del pecado, de la tristeza, del vacío interior, del aislamiento. Con Jesucristo siempre nace y renace la alegría” (n. 1).

“El gran riesgo del mundo actual, con su múltiple y abrumadora oferta de consumo, es una tristeza individualista que brota del corazón cómodo y avaro, de la búsqueda enfermiza de placeres superficiales, de la conciencia aislada… Ésa no es la opción de una vida digna y plena, ése no es el deseo de Dios para nosotros” (n. 2). Ante esta triste realidad, “pido a cada cristiano que renueve su encuentro personal con Jesucristo” (n. 3).

“El Evangelio, donde deslumbra gloriosa la Cruz de Cristo, invita insistentemente a la alegría” (cfr. Lc 1,28; 1,41; 1,47; Jn 3,29; Lc 10,21; Jn 15,11). Quien “ha acogido ese amor que le devuelve el sentido de la vida, ¿cómo puede contener el deseo de comunicarlo a otros? (9) “Cuando la Iglesia convoca a la

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por Rosalba Quiroz 318-868-4441

tarea evangelizadora, no hace más que indicar a los cristianos el verdadero dinamismo de la realización personal… un evangelizador no debería tener cara de funeral (n. 5) “La evangelización convoca a todos y se realiza Retiro Anual Experiencia Cristo 21-23 de Noviembre fundamentalmente ¡Regístrate! Oficina de Pastoral Juvenil al 318-219-7288 en tres ámbitos: la pastoral ordinaria, y de esperanza: 1. La Transformación destinada a encender Misionera de la Iglesia 2. En la Crisis del los corazones de los fieles que frecuentan la comunidad, a los que conservan la fe aunque Compromiso Comunitario, 3. El Anuncio del Evangelio, 4. La Dimensión Social de no participen frecuentemente del culto; el la Evangelización y 5. Evangelizadores con ámbito de « las personas bautizadas que no Espíritu. Se puede descargar por internet viven las exigencias del Bautismo »; y los que en páginas confiables como: www. no conocen a Jesucristo o lo han rechazado vatican.va; www.cem.org.mx; www. (n. 12). Todos tienen derecho a recibir el aciprensa.com Evangelio.

Porciones del resumen de la Secretaría La Encíclica consta de la introducción Episcopal de México. y cinco capítulos sencillos llenos de amor

Calendario del Mes de Noviembre 2014 30 de Octubre al 2 de Noviembre:

Conferencia Nacional de Ministerio Hispano, San Antonio, TX. 2

Conmemoración de todas las Almas que ya no están con nosotros.

8 Reunión de preparación para retiro Experiencia Cristo 2015, Centro Católico 10 – 2 p.m.

22-23 Retiro para jóvenes adultos “Experiencia Cristo” Scottsville, TX 23 Día de Celebración por Jesucristo, Rey del Universo 26 Sesión de VIRTUS, Protecting God’s Children, St. Paschal, 6-9 p.m.

30 Primer Domingo de Adviento, preparación para la Navidad

across the

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by Vatican Information Services

evaluation and suggestions based on Synod’s post-discussion report

atican City, October 16, 2014 – attention should be paid to the presence The twelfth General Congregation of the elderly within families, and included the presentation, in to families who live in conditions of the Assembly, of the Reports of the 10 extreme poverty. The grave problems of Small Groups. In general, the Small prostitution, female genital mutilation Groups presented both an evaluation of and the exploitation of minors for the “Relatio post disceptationem” (RPD), sexual purposes and for labor were a provisional document published at denounced. It is important, it was said, the midway point during the Synod, as to underline the essential role of families well as proposals to incorporate in the in evangelization and in the transmission “Relatio Synodi” (RS), the definitive and of faith, highlighting their missionary conclusive document of the Assembly. vocation. Overall, the aim is to offer a Firstly, some perplexity was voiced balanced and global idea of the “family” regarding to the publication, although in a Christian sense. legitimate, of the RPD since, it was said, With regard to difficult family this is a working document that does situations, the Small Groups highlighted not express a univocal opinion shared by that the Church should be a welcoming all the Synod Fathers. Therefore, after home for all, in order that no-one feel expressing their appreciation of the work involved in drawing up the text The vision of the world must and regarding its structure, the Small Groups presented their suggestions. be one which passes through It was first underlined that in the the lens of the Gospel, RPD there is a focus on the concerns of families in crisis, without broader to encourage men and reference to the positive message of women to the conversion the Gospel of the family or to the of the heart. fact that marriage as a sacrament, an indissoluble union between man and woman, retains a very current refused. However, greater clarity was value in which many couples believe. advocated, to avoid confusion, hesitation Therefore, the hope was expressed that and euphemisms in language, regarding the RS may contain a strong message for example the law of gradualness, so of encouragement and support for the that it does not become gradualness of Church and for faithful married couples. the law. Various Groups, furthermore, Furthermore, it was remarked that expressed perplexity regarding the analogy it is essential to underline more clearly made with paragraph 8 of “Lumen the doctrine on marriage, emphasising Gentium,” inasmuch as this could give that it is a gift from God. It was further the impression of a willingness on the proposed that elements not contained in part of the Church to legitimize irregular the RPD be integrated in the RS, such family situations, even though these as the theme of adoption, expressing may represent a phase in the itinerary the hope that bureaucratic procedures towards the sacrament of marriage. be streamlined, both at national and Other Groups expressed their hope for international levels, and also the themes a more in-depth focus on the concept of of biotechnology and the spread of “spiritual communion”, so that it may be culture via the internet, which may evaluated and eventually promoted and condition family life, as well as a note disseminated. regarding the importance of policies in With regard to possibility of divorced favour of the family. and remarried persons partaking in the In addition, it was said that greater sacrament of the Eucharist, two main

perspectives emerged: on the one hand, it was suggested that the doctrine not be modified and to remain as it is at present; on the other, to open up the possibility of communication, with an approach based on compassion and mercy, but only under certain conditions. In other cases, furthermore, it was suggested that the matter be studied by a specific interdisciplinary Commission. Greater care was suggested in relation to divorced persons who have not remarried, and who are often heroic witnesses of conjugal fidelity. At the same time, an acceleration of the procedures for acknowledging matrimonial nullity and the confirmation of validity was advocated; furthermore, it was emphasized that children are not a burden but rather a gift from God, the fruit of love between spouses.

A more “Christ-centric” orientation was required, as well as clearer emphasis of the link between the sacraments of marriage and baptism.

The vision of the world must be one which passes through the lens of the Gospel, to encourage men and women to the conversion of the heart.

Furthermore, it was emphasised that, despite the impossibility of equating marriage between a man and a woman with homosexual unions, persons of this orientation must receive pastoral accompaniment and their dignity must be protected, without however implying that this may indicate a form of approval, on the part of the Church, of their orientation and way of life. With regard to the issue of polygamy, especially polygamists who convert to Catholicism and wish to partake in the sacraments, thorough study was suggested.

The Small Groups advocated broader reflection on the figure of Mary and the Holy Family, to be better promoted as a model for reference for all family units.

Finally, it was asked that it be highlighted that the RS will in any case be a preparatory document for the Ordinary Synod scheduled for October 2015.

November 2014 19

school NEWS < Jesus the Good Shepherd School’s 5th and 6th grade cheerleaders, had the opportunity to cheer during half time at the LSU vs New Mexico game in Baton Rouge. The JGS cheerleaders participated in the half time show with other cheerleaders from surrounding areas, but were the only ones from an elementary school. The girls did a great job and had a wonderful time.

^ Fr. Joe Martina blessed stuffed animals in honor of St. Francis of Assisi’s feast day on October 3. Our Lady of Fatima School students brought their favorite stuffed animals to class with them to be blessed and Fr. Joe spoke to them about how it is important to take special care of all of God’s creation. > The St. John Berchmans School eighth grade class recently attended its annual retreat at The Pines Catholic Camp in Big Sandy, TX. The 31 students and their chaperones were there for three days while participating in leadership and faith-building activities. When asked about their favorite memories of Pines Camp, the class of 2015 answered, “spending time with friends,” “participating in zipline and the team wall,” “the counselors” and “walking through the forest.”

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^ Fr. Mark blessed the various animals of St. Joseph School on October 7 in celebration of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. He visited the science lab where Mr. Bell, Middle School Science teacher, has snakes and hissing cockroaches in residence; Mrs. Roper’s first grade class frog received blessings as well.

^ Loyola College Prep student Ben Maxey has joined the ranks of an elite group of high school students to earn the highly-coveted perfect ACT score of 36.

The ACT is a national college admissions exam consisting of subject area tests in English, Math, Reading and Science. Of the more than 1.9 million U.S. students who took the ACT last year, less than one-tenth of one percent scored a perfect 36. Similarly, in Louisiana, only 21 out of 49,178 earned a perfect score. Students at Loyola College Prep earned an average composite score of 25 on this year’s ACT. By comparison, the national average is 21.

In Louisiana, students averaged 19.1.

Ben attributes his success to the educational foundation he has received at Loyola as well as a lot of practice. “For me, the best preparation was just taking the ACT before,” said Maxey, who took it three times before with scores of 33, 34, and 35. “You can get all those study books, but the best practice is just to keep taking it and being familiar with it.”

Maxey also credited Loyola with helping achieve the perfect score. “The challenging classes and the content in those classes at Loyola have really helped me with a wellrounded education,” he said.

Ben was also recently named a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist, making him eligible for more than $33 million in scholarships. Less than one percent of students in each state qualify to be considered a semi-finalist. Finalists will be announced in January 2015.

around the DIOCESE

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The Hispanic Youth had their annual reunion for POST-BUSQUEDA which is an event for those who have attended the “BUSQUEDA” retreat in previous years. We had a great turnout of more than 30 youth full of energy and passion during the feast day of St. Francis at the Catholic Center where we played volleyball, soccer and had a great fellowship together in prayer on a beautiful day.

St. Joseph Parish in Bastrop held their annual Blue Mass to honor local law enforcement, firefighters and emergency personnel. Fr. Rothell Price gave the homily and Bishop Duca was there to help celebrate the Mass. Numerous local law enforcement officers took part in the Blue Mass, including the Bastrop/Morehouse Honor Guard, who performed the Presentation of Colors, and Officer Michelangelo Watkins with the BPD, who performed the National Anthem.

St. Francis Medical Center celebrated the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi with the annual Blessing of the Pets on Sunday, October 5. The Pet Blessing, conducted by Fr. James Dominic, was held in Anna Gray Noe Park.

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St. Theresa Circle from St. Joseph Parish in Zwolle hosted the September birthday party for the residents at Toledo Retirement & Rehabilitation Home.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish had a successful blessing of the pets conducted by Deacon Homer Tucker.

The annual “Blessing of the Pets” was held at St. Joseph Parish in Bastrop on Saturday, October 4. Fr. Lijo Thomas offered a prayer; pets were then gently sprinkled with holy water. The “Blessing of the Pets” was held behind the church at the statue of St. Francis of Assisi. The parish welcomed all faiths via the local newspaper and local community television channel.

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upcoming EVENTS November 4 & 6: St. Joseph School Open House St. Joseph School in Shreveport will host two Open House events on Nov. 4th from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. and Nov. 6th, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. for families interested in a school with academic excellence surrounded by faith. The vision of St. Joseph Catholic School is to provide a religious and academic education that prepares students to become responsible members of family, Church and community. For more information, please call 318-865-3585.

November 8: Mission Marketplace The sixth annual Mission Marketplace will be held Saturday, November 8, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. in the Family Life Center of St. Joseph Parish, 211 Atlantic Ave, Shreveport. St Joseph will join the Cathedral of St John Berchmans, Broadmoor Methodist Church, Broadmoor Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church to present Fair Trade crafts made by artisans in underdeveloped countries to help them earn a living wage. Please join us to support this important mission and fill your Christmas shopping list at the same time. For more information, please call 318865-3581.

November 11: The Cathedral of St. John Berchmans presents David Briggs World renowned organist David Briggs will play a free concert at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, located at 939 Jordan St. in Shreveport, on Tuesday, November 11 at 6:30 p.m. The event is open to the public. For more information, contact the Cathedral office at 318-221-5296.

November 14: St. Cecilia Hymn Sing: Hymns through the Ages We would like to invite our diocesan community to attend the first event of our 2014-15 planning year: “St. Cecilia Hymn Sing: Hymns through the Ages,” on Friday, November 14th at 7:00 pm at St. Joseph Parish, Shreveport. Fr. Pike Thomas will officiate and musicians from St. Joseph Parish, St. Jude Parish, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish and St. Ann Church in Stonewall will lead us in a joyful celebration of Catholic Liturgical Music. All are welcome! Invite your Protestant friends and neighbors as music is the best ecumenical dialog we can share. A light reception will follow the program and members will be available to answer any questions.

This event is a result of our work with National Pastoral Musicians (NPM). It is an

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organization for music ministers intended to assist and support parish musicians in their work. They provide a variety of resources to help educate, inspire, and support directors of music, organists, choir directors, cantors, ensemble members and liturgy planners. Many of our diocesan musicians have benefitted from attending NPM conferences and institutes. Because we have learned so much from these opportunities, several of us have begun meeting to form a local chapter.

November 22 & 23: Christ the King Parish's 75th Anniversary Celebration The parish's 75th anniversary celebration will take place over two days at their location, 425 McCormick St., Bossier City. On Saturday, Nov. 22, there will be soccer games, hamburgers and hotdogs and historical displays in the former Christ the King School auditorium. There will be a 4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass in English, and a 7:00 p.m. Vigil Mass in Spanish. The following day, Nov. 23, following the 11:00 a.m. Mass there will be a reception with entertainment, as well as a 3:00 p.m. Spanish Mass followed by a potluck dinner. All are invited to attend. For more information, contact Kathellen Daluene, 318-741-1904, or kath321@msn.com November 23: Christian Service Poor Man’s Supper On Sunday, November 23, from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. the Christian Service Program is sponsoring their

annual Poor Man's Supper in the Hunter Activities Building of the First United Methodist Church (head of Texas Street in Downtown Shreveport). The meal of soup and bread will be served and entertainment will be provided by local music groups of the area. The Poor Man’s Supper is held to raise critical funds and the awareness of the ministry of Christian Service Program that provides food, clothing and help with utility bills for the hungry and homeless of our area. The Supper is free to any and all, but freewill donations will be gladly accepted. Come and support this most worthy cause. For more information, please call 318-2214857.

February 12, 2015: Shreveport-Bossier Pro-Life Oratory Contest The ShreveportBossier Pro-Life Oratory Contest is open to all high school juniors and seniors and will be held Thursday, February 12, 2015, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Catholic Center.

The contest offers an opportunity for high school juniors and seniors to develop and express their pro-life views on one of four topics, i.e. the tragedy of abortion, the tragedy of euthanasia, the tragedy of infanticide or the tragedy of embryonic stem cell research. Talks must be 5-7 minutes in length and do not have to be memorized. Cash prizes are awarded for first, second and third places. The winner of the local contest is invited to speak at Bishop Duca’s Pro-Life Banquet on March 11, 2015 at the Bossier Civic Center and

calendar

november 2014

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

SATURDAY

26 27 28 29 30 31 1 Growing Up Catholic, St. Paschal Parish, 1pm

Halloween

Sts. Simon and Jude, apostles

All Saints Day

All Saints Day / NOV 1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day)

St. Martin de Porres, religious

Priests Retirement Diocesan Finance Committee Council Meeting, Meeting, Catholic Catholic Center, Center, 11am 12pm

USCCB Meeting, Baltimore, MD (thru Nov. 14)

Election Day

Daylight Savings Time Ends

St. Charles Borromeo, bishop

All Souls Day / NOV 2

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

Deadline for the December Catholic Connection

St. Leo the Great, pope & doctor of the Church

Veteran's Day

Principals Meeting, St. Joseph School, 8:30am St. Martin of Tours, bishop

Principals Meeting, St. Frederick Alumni Center, 9:30am

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, virgin

Protecting God's Children, Catholic Center, 6pm

St. Cecilia Hymn Sing: Hymns Across the Ages, St. Joseph Parish, Shreveport, 7pm

Fr. Karl Daigleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Installation as Pastor Mass; Christ the King Parish, 4pm St. Albert the Great, bishop & doctor of the Church

St. Josaphat, bishop

Veteran's Day / NOV 11

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 St. Elizabeth of Hungary, religious

The Dedication of the Basilicas of Sts. Peter and Paul, apostles; St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, virgin

Experienca Cristo, Scottsville Camp, TX (thru Nov.23)

Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops Meeting, Baton Rouge

St. Cecilia, virgin & martyr

The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

THanksgiving Day/ NOV 27

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

30 First Sunday of Advent

St. Andrew Dung-Lac, priest, and companions, martyrs

St. Catherine of Alexandria, virgin & martyr

Thanksgiving Day Catholic Center Closed

Catholic Center Closed

First Day of Advent/ NOV 30 November 2014 23

DIOCESE OF SHREVEPORT 3500 Fairfield Ave.

â&#x20AC;˘

Shreveport, LA 71104

Fairfield

Photo of the month Madilyn Laroux and Deacon Jerry Daigle show that no heart is too small to bless the Lord at St. Joseph Parish in Zwolle's annual Blessing of the Pets.

24 Catholic Connection