April 2022

CATHOLIC CONNECTION Volume 31 No. 9 | April 2022

Celebrating the Feast of Divine Mercy The 2022 Red Mass Returns at Holy Trinity Catholic Church Schools:

Jesuit Alumnus Leaves Loyola College Prep $1.5 Million to Support Tuition Assistance Program Jesus the Good Shepherd School Fifth Grade Student Selected as a 2022 Louisiana Student of the Year Finalist

The Salon on Thora

Catholic Women Educating and Entertaining Their Community in the Early 20th Century

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CATHOLIC CONNECTION PUBLISHER

Bishop Francis I. Malone

EDITOR

Kierstin Richter

CONTRIBUTORS

Mike Van Vranken Kim Long Mary Arcement Alexander Patti Underwood Rosalba Quiroz Polly Maciulski Jordan Harris Kate Rhea Julia Vanchiere Benjamin Luckett Father Peter Mangum Julie Pettiette Doolin, Ph.D. Jim Beadles Meg Goorley Lucy Medvec

EDITORIAL BOARD Deacon Mike Whitehead John Mark Willcox Kim Long Kate Rhea Rosalba Quiroz Fr. Matthew Long Dr. Carynn Wiggins Fr. Pat Madden

SUBSCRIPTIONS & ADDRESS CHANGES Contact: Blanca Vice Email: bvice@dioshpt.org Write: The Catholic Connection 3500 Fairfield Ave. Shreveport, LA 71104 Call: 318-868-4441 Fax: 318-868-4609

SUBMISSIONS

Contact: Kierstin Richter Email: krichter@dioshpt.org The Catholic Connection is a member of the Catholic Press Association.

The Diocese of Shreveport complies with Virtus’ Protecting God’s Children program. (www.virtus.org) Classes are offered every second Wednesday of the month at the Catholic Center in Shreveport. Online sessions are also available.

To report child sexual abuse by a cleric or church worker in the Diocese of Shreveport, call your local law enforcement agency and Mary Katherine Arcement, Diocesan Victim Assistance Minister, at 318-584-2411.

MISSION STATEMENT

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The Catholic Connection is a monthly publication funded by your Diocesan Stewardship 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 faith community.

CATHOLIC CONNECTION

perfect flowers and perfect catholics The picture above depicts me in one of my favorite hoodies from college: an $18 baja pullover from a gas station in Greenwood, Louisiana. I wore it to most classes, most parties, music festivals (like the one above). The only drawback was when I wore it, I was asked more frequently if I was in possession of any magic mushrooms. (And to their disappointment, the answer was always no).

I remember wearing this hoodie as I sat waiting for a FOCUS session to start on “Catholics and the Environment.”

I looked at the group of girls sitting across from me waiting for Emily Wilson’s talk, and they were dressed in cute midi dresses and trendy blue light glasses, and toted their Blessed is She Bibles in cute little tote bags. They seemed to be perfectly fashionable, perfectly modest, and all encompassing of what I would imagine a Catholic cover-girl would look like. The kind of girls that were engaged by senior year of college and had a pretty good plan of what post-grad life would look like.

I wondered if I was doing this whole “Catholic” thing right.

Should I be dressing like those girls? Should I actually be leading a bible study? Should I be posting more “Catholic” related posts on Instagram rather than music festivals and parties?

Was I being hypocritical? Or was I just being myself? And was that enough?

My friend group frequented more music festivals and house parties than anything else. I spent more time in the politically angtsy student media suite than the Newman Center. I felt a little too religious for the non-religious and too “spiritual but not quite religious enough” for the church crowd.

It wasn’t that I felt rejected or judged, I just didn’t feel like I totally fit in with the campus ministry. My faith was much more rooted in going to Mass alone outside of town as a personal retreat than it was as part of a social network.

But as I prayed about it, I found the superficials don’t matter.

It doesn’t matter where you shop or how your home looks or what kind of music you listen to. (Although they can affect your mindset).

Simply put, to be Catholic is to be a safe space for others. A helping hand, an understanding ear, a compassionate disposition.

Being Catholic means sitting on the side of suffering. It means

from the editor cultivating humility and patience and allowing your struggles to sanctify you. Being Catholic means cultivating a presence of peace and letting your heart swell with the love of Christ, and allowing it to overflow.

If you think being “the perfect Catholic” is having the perfect family or the perfect style or the perfect veil, don’t worry, Jesus didn’t feel like he fit in much either.

As Saint Therese of Lisieux once said, “The splendor of

the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not rob the little violet of its scent nor the daisy of its simple charm.” Like

all the little flowers are different, so are we. There’s no one “way” to be Catholic. We have saints that were total hippies like Saint Francis of Assisi, or mothers like Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, or rouge queens like Saint Olga of Kiev.

Just like there’s no “best” flower, there is no “best” Catholic.

All of us, children in Christ, and children of love, look a little different, sound a little different, sing a little different, and it all blends together in the beautiful symphony of the human experience.

And the beautiful thing is, as we kneel in Mass before Christ, it’s not even about us. It doesn’t matter what our homes look like or what we wear or how many kids we have or whether or not we went to the ladies’ guild or church social the week prior. In that moment, all of that falls away, and we are simply kneeling in the presence of the infinite. We are basking in warmth of the sun. For once in our day, a quiet moment, like driving under a bridge in the rain. In that silence, we are reminded how small we are. It isn’t until we socialize after Mass that we start comparing ourselves again. If you’re going to compare yourself, compare yourself to Christ.

So as we let this new, warm spring sun soak into our skin, take notice of all the beautiful new blooms around us. Take notice of the white lilies on the altar this Easter season. Take notice of all the new life around us, birthed from the Lenten season.

All of the hues and colors and essences of our brothers and sisters, all so different, yet so perfectly designed as one big, holy, Catholic, and apostolic family.

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contents 4

FEATURES

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How to Be a Good Steward How to Recite the Chaplet of Divine Mercy The Salon on Thora: Catholic Women Educating and Entertaining Their Community in the Early 20th Century 90-Year-Old Promotes Faith and Family Through YouTube

COLUMNS 5 9 19 20

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Bishop: The Art of Being Chosen Mike’s Meditations: The Communal Life Mary’s Mission: Oh Holy Week Faithful Food: Onward to a New Day, Onward to a New Way [Crawfish Dressing Recipe]

Daughters of the Cross: A Grand Centennial Catholic Charities: Expressing Gratitude

NEWS 6 12 13 21 26 34 36 37

Diocese of Shreveport Prepares for Three Ordinations in 2022 Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Good Friday Way of the Cross Walk for Justice Divine Mercy Sunday 2022 The 2022 Red Mass Returns at Holy Trinity Catholic Church School News Hispanic News Upcoming Events Around the Diocese

On the cover: Gracie Wilkes, Saint Joseph School student, presenting her project on The Yellow Fever Priests to Bishop Malone at the Catholic Center. Great job, Gracie!

the art of being chosen

As a child, when our neighborhood group of friends would have a spontaneous game of baseball or football, we initiated our play with the all too familiar “choosing of sides.” Even in the seminary, when we had recreational games, the “choosing of sides,” was almost as exciting as the actual game itself. I can remember the exhilaration of hearing my name called – never first – but never last, and then the game began. The art of being chosen, whether in sports or other childhood activities was important, as the two captains, going back and forth would put together, what they thought was the potentially winning side. This becomes, of course, more sophisticated later on in life when we might be chosen from among others to assume a new task, position, or new role to play. Even in the Church, there is the art of choosing or selecting individuals for some important work.

On the first Sunday of Lent, each year, the local parishes hold a Mass wherein there is the “Rite of Sending.” The Director of Faith Formation for the parish presents to the pastor of the parish the names of individuals who have journeyed for many months in the “Order of the Christian Initiation of Adults,” and are deemed ready to be chosen or selected by the local bishop to receive the sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil. In that ceremony, during a regular weekend Mass, they approach the pastor when their name is called and sign their name in, what is called, “The Book of the Elect.” The ceremony calls for the pastor to then “send” them to the bishop at the Cathedral, and it is there at the Cathedral where the bishop “elects,” or “chooses” them to receive the sacraments at the Easter Vigil.

When I was a pastor and had the opportunity to attend both the Rite of Sending at my parish Church, and then, later that day, the Rite of Election at the Cathedral, there was always a feeling of exhilaration I would feel when my parishioners’ names were called out, and then when the bishop would sign his name in the Book of the Elect, and tell them, each of them, that they have been chosen. These two ceremonies are relatively new in the Church, and many of our parishioners never experienced these for themselves – but it’s just wonderful to witness – and now as a bishop – more exciting to be the one to call out to these candidates and catechumens, in much the same way as we did as children before a sporting game.

How wonderful it was for me to preside over the Rite of Election at our Cathedral, and even more so, how wonderful to look into the faces of those who will officially join our numbers on Holy Saturday.

And now, in the weeks before they do so, I have the opportunity to enjoin the entire diocesan family to pray for these “Elect,” that God will make the most of their love for Him, and create in them through the sacraments they will receive for the first time, faithful members of the Church.

Through this medium, I ask you to pray, not only for our new Catholics in your parish, but for all those who have been called from among the many, the chosen, the Elect throughout our Diocese who will hear their name called, and begin the activity to follow as a member of the Church!

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Diocese of Shreveport Prepares for Three Ordinations in 2022 With praise and thanksgiving to almighty God, we joyfully prepare to celebrate the priesthood ordination of Rev. Mr. Nicholas Duncan and the diaconate ordinations of Gabriel Cisneros and Kelby Tingle.

Bishop Malone is pleased to invite you to the priesthood ordination of soon-to-be “Father Nicholas Duncan” on May 21, 2022, in the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, at 10:00 am. As individuals and families, as supporters of vocations and members of youth groups, come and pray for our future priest!

Father Duncan will celebrate his first Mass of Thanksgiving at 12:30 p.m. at St. Joseph, in Shreveport, on Sunday, May 22. After six years of seminary formation, he is in his final months of seminary formation at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.

Deacon Duncan spent his deacon internship in the parish of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Shreveport. His seminarian summer assignments have included Christ the King (Bossier), Jesus Good Shepherd (Monroe) and St. Joseph Church (Shreveport).

You can read about Deacon Duncan’s call to the priesthood in the August 2021 issue of the Catholic Connection.

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Two Shreveport seminarians will be ordained transitional deacons, the final step toward priestly ordination: Gabriel Cisneros (Christ the King, Bossier City) will be ordained to the Order of Deacon on Wednesday, May 25, at Christ the King Church in Bossier City, at 6:00 pm. We already look forward to his priestly ordination in May of 2023.

Kelby Tingle (Cathedral Parish) will be ordained to the Order of Deacon on Thursday, September 29, in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. His priestly ordination will be in Shreveport’s Cathedral in June of 2023. Kelby was featured in the February 2022 issue of the Catholic Connection.

When their time comes, each will actually lay down in prostration on the floor before the altar, their faces to the ground. If you have attended an ordination, you likely remember this moment. It is a profound gesture of self-gift to God and a symbol of the future

priest’s special conformity to Christ. They accompany the people of God in some of life’s most touching moments which are often marked by the Sacraments – the birth and baptism of a child, the reception of First Communion or Confirmation, marriage preparation and weddings, life-threatening illness and funerals, etc.

The priest is a father figure who forms a deep bond with the people in the parish.

They have experienced that grace builds upon nature. In seminary formation, a man’s humanity must be continually perfected in order to reflect the Fatherhood of God. By growing in communion with God, in the midst of brothers, a seminarian grows in virtue and becomes a channel for others to experience Christ’s love.

Please continue to pray for the seminarians of the diocese as well as for the number of young men currently discerning a call to the priesthood. Do more than pray…. encourage someone in your family or parish to consider the call to the priesthood. Odds are that a priest has already encouraged them— hearing from you could be what it takes for them to enter seminary formation where they learn to better understand the human condition and the truths of faith. They will learn to appreciate the deep wisdom contained within the Church and, as a result, come to know Christ in a richer way.

Pope Francis ordained sixteen new priests for the Diocese of Rome. In his ordination homily, Pope Francis calls the newly ordained to “Always keep in mind the example of the Good Shepherd who came not to be served but to serve, and to seek out and rescue those who were lost.” Anticipating the great celebration of priestly and diaconal ordinations, let us accompany these three men with prayer as they prepare to lay down their lives to serve God’s people in the Diocese of Shreveport as ordained priests of God. Pray for those to be ordained priest and deacons, as well as our other current seminarians: Matthew Vitacca (Cathedral Parish) Tristan Frisk (St. Jude’s, Benton) FATHER PETER MANGUM is the Vocations Director for the Diocese of Shreveport, as well as rector of the Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans.

From the Rite of Ordination As sharers in Christ’s sacred ministry, through the laying on of hands, newly ordained priests are to renew in his name the sacrifice of human redemption, to set before your children the paschal banquet, to lead your holy people in charity, to nourish them with your word and strengthen them with the Sacraments.

As they give up their lives for you and for the salvation of their brothers and sisters, they strive to be conformed to the image of Christ himself and offer you a constant witness of faith and love.

O God, who have willed to provide shepherds for your people, pour out a spirit of reverence and fortitude in your Church, to make these your servants worthy ministers at your altar and ardent yet gentle heralds of your Gospel. through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

Amen

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the communal life “They devoted themselves to the communal life. All who believed had all things in common, they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need” Acts 2:42, 45

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mike's meditations the heart of Jesus himself. My Catholic Study Bible says, “this sharing of goods exemplifies the differing and various contributions of each person to the whole.”

If we want to follow Jesus, Saint JP II insists “it is a strict duty of justice and truth” to take care of those who cannot take care of themselves. This would include economically, spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. He says we do this because of the “lofty dignity” of all human beings.

In other words, sharing what we have with others is not optional. And seemingly, Jesus is saying it is a prerequisite to following him. This is Catholic teaching. And this is also the true definition of the Christian practice of stewardship. We are mandated to share our gifts with others.

I invite you to sit with God and pray for the insight to name all of the instances in your life today where you find yourself in community. Be assured the risen Christ is there, too. Use your imagination. Your neighborhood, your guild, or circle of friends, bible study group, exercise classes, your church parish, your diocese, your city, town, state, country, planet, etc. Take it slowly and write them all down. Ask God to reveal to you the gifts he wants you to share in each one of these communities. These may include financial gifts, wisdom, ideas, skills, talents, companionship, and many more. Again, allow the Holy Spirit to carry your imagination wherever he wishes.

Remind yourself it is our strict duty of justice and truth to share with and help others. As you have this intimate conversation with God, pay attention to any movements or feelings in your heart. Talk to God about them and promise to come back each day and continue the dialogue – these listening sessions with God. In having these particular conversations with God each “. . . there are many human needs which find no place day, we eventually realize our number one community on the market. It is a strict duty of justice and truth is with the Father, Son, and Spirit. Over time, we also not to allow fundamental human needs to remain conclude if we are one with the Holy Trinity, we are one unsatisfied, and not to allow those burdened by such with all creation. The earliest times of the church found needs to perish. It is also necessary to help these needy its members following Christ by devoting “themselves to people to acquire expertise, to enter the circle of the communal life.” Do we dare do the same? exchange, and to develop their skills to make the best use of their capacities and resources (34).

“They devoted themselves to the communal life. All who believed had all things in common, they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need” Acts 2:42, 45. This is what the bible says the early church looked like. This is how they lived shortly after Pentecost.

They were devoted, faithful, dedicated, dutiful, and even zealous to this communal way of living. We could say they lived in common, or in community. We read the explanation of what that meant. They sold all they had.

They owned no property. How does this settle with you? Or does it settle at all? They owned no possessions.

Again, are we ready to own nothing and be devoted and faithful to sharing everything?

Jesus taught one to go and sell their possessions, give to the poor and then come follow him (Mt 19:21 and Luke 18:22). Did Jesus mean we could not follow him without selling our possessions? Maybe being a Christian is much harder than we thought. Or maybe, somewhere over the years, we lost the “way.”

I’m guessing if I ask you to take these scriptures literally, you are already describing to me how that was a different time, and how this communal life obviously didn’t last long, and we could not do this today. I normally would suggest you take it to God and get his opinion. But, just for fun, let’s squeeze out the truth of these passages metaphorically and see if we feel any better.

Many Catholics remember Pope St. John Paul II with much love and affection. While he fought the dictatorrun experiences of Communism and Marxism, he still seemed to understand biblical communal life. In his encyclical Centesimos Annus, he teaches:

Now, relax, settle into your chair, and read that again.

The heart of Pope St. John Paul II is exactly in the same place as the hearts of those in the early church, and

MIKE VAN VRANKEN is a spiritual director, a member of the teaching staff for the Archdiocesan Spirituality Center of New Orleans Formation of New Spiritual Directors, an author and a speaker.

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HOW TO BE A GOOD STEWARD

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CATHOLIC CONNECTION Photo by Kirsten Shrewsberry, Saint Joseph Catholic Church Director of Communications

We are called to be good stewards of the gifts God has given us. The Bible reminds of this, most notably in 1 Peter 4:10: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” Using our gifts in service in God is a resolution that each of us can do and that we should do.

Stewardship can be broken down into gifts of time, talent, and treasure. We all have these gifts to give and using the following examples we can share them with others.

TIME Time is always tricky; we do not have enough of it and it is easy to waste. Some examples of how your time can be shared are as follows: ATTEND MASS ON A WEEKLY BASIS Make a conscious effort to attend one additional daily Mass each week.

ENHANCE YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE THROUGH DEVOTION, REFLECTION, AND PRAYER. Prayer changes lives in so many ways. Make time each day for scriptural readings and prayer in order to give you focus throughout the day.

SAY THE ROSARY OR DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET ON A DAILY OR WEEKLY BASIS. Combine this with a walk so that you are spending time in prayer and improving your physical wellbeing.

GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR PARISH MINISTRIES. Find out ways that you can serve others whether it is through OCIA (RCIA), bible study groups, teaching PSR classes, or volunteering at events.You will have fun and make new friends all while helping other people in your parish.

TALENT We all have talents that can help others. Whether it is reading, teaching, helping, or serving, our God-given talents help us, our church, and our community.

BECOME AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE MASS. You can sing in the choir, serve as a lector, or distribute holy communion as a Eucharistic minister.

CONTACT YOUR CHURCH OFFICE AND INQUIRE ABOUT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES. Whether it is answering the phone, helping with mailings, or assisting with events, your talents can be put to good use in service of others. If you enjoy working with crafts, teaching lessons, or assisting with music, Vacation Bible School is always looking for eager volunteers of all ages. Every parish needs talented people and that means you!

TREASURE Treasure is what most people think of when it comes to stewardship, but it is just as important as time and talent.

GIVE TO YOUR PARISH Give to your church on a regular basis. The amount of the gift is not what matters, it is just the fact that you do give. The majority of any parish budget comes from donations made by parishioners, so it is important that we all do our part.

GIVE TO THE DIOCESE The annual Diocesan Stewardship Appeal should be supported by all of us. Again, it does not matter the size of the gift, but just that you do give. The Appeal supports many programs that benefit all Catholics in North Louisiana. Our seminarians, Catholic schools, publications such as The Catholic Connection, Hispanic ministries, retired and infirmed priests, faith formation programs, and St. Vincent de Paul chapters all receive support from the Diocesan Stewardship Appeal. If you have never contributed to the Appeal, make a gift in 2022. If you already donate to the Appeal, think about increasing your gift of support.

GIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY Matthew 25:35-40 encourages all of us to support those who are less fortunate than us. We all know this passage that begins with “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink.” Jesus is calling us to see him in the faces of those who need help. Support the local organizations in our community who are doing God’s work – they truly need our help.

Stewardship is not only a way of life, it is also life-changing. By using our gifts in service to God, we are answering his call to serve him and to serve others. Take it slowly and implement simple steps to incorporate stewardship into your daily life.

LUCY MEDVEC is the Director of Parish Stewardship at Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Shreveport.

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SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL GOOD FRIDAY WAY OF THE CROSS WALK FOR JUSTICE Jim Beadles, President of the Shreveport Diocesan Council of Society of Saint Vincent de Paul

For more than 20 years, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has sponsored the Good Friday Way of the Cross, Walk for Justice in downtown Shreveport. The purpose of the event is to not only follow Christ in his Passion on the Way of the Cross, but also to recognize the efforts of multiple local agencies that put the Passion of Christ into practice by serving those in need.

The event continues to grow with more than 400 people participating.

It is truly a community and ecumenical event. We are honored that our friends at First United Methodist Church graciously offer their property as the gathering place for both the beginning and end of the event.

In addition to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and First United Methodist Church, we also are joined by the following agencies: Mary’s House, The Fuller Center, Christian 12

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Service, MLK Health Center, The Mercy Center, Hope House, Holy Cross Episcopal, The Providence House, The Hub Ministries, Louisiana Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, Catholic Charities, and VOA Lighthouse.

The event covers approximately 1.4 miles. It is a service of 14 prayers at 14 sites/stations. Representatives from the agencies will lead each station’s prayer. Another reason to participate is to learn more about each of the agencies and their ministries. We are all called to be more than observers. We are all called to discipleship. Perhaps you will find a calling to mission and ministry of one of these agencies as they serve those in need in our community.

There is plenty of parking behind First United Methodist Church at the head of Texas Street downtown. We will begin the walk at 9:00 a.m., and

it should be completed no later than 11:00 a.m. If it rains, the event will be moved to Holy Trinity Catholic Church located at 315 Marshall Street, also in downtown Shreveport.

This is a perfect way to move toward Easter. All who attend find it to be a meaningful experience.

Please plan to join us at this year’s St. Vincent de Paul Walk For Justice. We hope to see you there.

When: Good Friday, April 15, 2022 Where: Behind First United Methodist Church, head of Texas Street, downtown Shreveport Time: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Rain venue: Holy Trinity Catholic Church

divine mercy sunday

See the next page on how to say the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, given to us by Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Julie Pettiette Doolin, Ph.D., St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish

The first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Divine Mercy. This year, that date falls on April 24, 2022. The devotion to the Divine Mercy began spreading throughout the world in the 1930s and is based upon private revelations to a young Polish nun whom we now know as St. Faustina.

The message is not a new one, but is instead, a reminder of what the Church has always taught through Scripture and tradition: God is merciful and forgiving and we, too, must show mercy and forgiveness.

But the message of the Divine Mercy devotion calls people to a deeper understanding that God’s love is unlimited and available to everyone – especially the greatest sinners. In a decree dated May 23, 2000, the Congregation for Divine Worship and

the Discipline of the Sacraments stated that “throughout the world the Second Sunday of Easter will receive the name Divine Mercy Sunday, a perennial invitation to the Christian world to face, with confidence in divine benevolence, the difficulties and trials that mankind will experience in the years to come.” Taking the declaration of the feast day a step further, the Apostolic Penitentiary announced on August 3, 2002, that in order “to ensure that the faithful would observe Divine Mercy Sunday with intense devotion, the Supreme Pontiff himself established that this Sunday be enriched by a plenary indulgence… so that the faithful might receive in great abundance the gift of the consolation of the Holy Spirit.”

With regard to the plenary indulgence associated with Divine Mercy Sunday, the usual conditions apply: sacramental confession (typically several days before or after the indulgenced act), Eucharistic communion, and prayer for the intentions of Supreme Pontiff. The faithful are asked to gather in any church or chapel, in a spirit that is completely detached from the affection for sin, even a venial sin, take part in the prayers and devotions held in honor of Divine Mercy, or who, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed or reserved in the tabernacle, recite the Our Father and the Creed, adding a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus (e.g.

“Jesus, I trust in you!”)

This year, the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, located at 939 Jordan Street in Shreveport, will host a holy hour in honor of Divine Mercy Sunday. The holy hour will begin promptly at 2:30 and will include the Chaplet of Divine Mercy as well as veneration of the Divine Mercy Image. The Reverend Jerry Daigle will preside. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available during and following the holy hour as time permits. Please join us for this wonderful opportunity to experience God’s unfathomable mercy!

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how to recite the chaplet of 1. Make the Sign of the Cross In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2. Opening Prayers St. Faustina’s Prayer for Sinners O Jesus, eternal Truth, our Life, I call upon You and I beg Your mercy for poor sinners. O sweetest Heart of my Lord, full of pity and unfathomable mercy, I plead with You for poor sinners.

O Most Sacred Heart, Fount of Mercy from which gush forth rays of inconceivable graces upon the entire human race, I beg of You light for poor sinners. O Jesus, be mindful of Your own bitter Passion and do not permit the loss of souls redeemed at so dear a price of Your most precious Blood.

O Jesus, when I consider the great price of Your Blood, I rejoice at its immensity, for one drop alone would have been enough for the salvation of all sinners. Although sin is an abyss of wickedness and ingratitude, the price paid for us can never be equalled. Therefore, let every soul trust in the Passion 14

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divine mercy of the Lord, and place its hope in His mercy. God will not deny His mercy to anyone. Heaven and earth may change, but God's mercy will never be exhausted.

Oh, what immense joy burns in my heart when I contemplate Your incomprehensible goodness, O Jesus! I desire to bring all sinners to Your feet that they may glorify Your mercy throughout endless ages (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 72).

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world.

O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

(Repeat three times) O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You! 3. Our Father Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy

kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen.

4. Hail Mary Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

5. The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He

ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

8. Repeat for the remaining decades Saying the "Eternal Father" (6) on the "Our Father" bead and then 10 "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion" (7) on the following "Hail Mary" beads.

9. Conclude with Holy God (Repeat three times) Holy God, Holy Mighty One, 6. The Eternal Father Holy Immortal One, have Eternal Father, I offer you the mercy on us and on the whole Body and Blood, Soul and world.

Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in 10. Closing Prayers atonement for our sins and Eternal God, in whom mercy those of the whole world. is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, 7. On the 10 Small Beads of look kindly upon us and increase Each Decade Your mercy in us, that in difficult For the sake of His sorrowful moments we might not despair Passion, have mercy on us and nor become despondent, but on the whole world. with great confidence submit

ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.

O Greatly Merciful God, Infinite Goodness, today all mankind calls out from the abyss of its misery to Your mercy — to Your compassion, O God; and it is with its mighty voice of misery that it cries out. Gracious God, do not reject the prayer of this earth's exiles! O Lord, Goodness beyond our understanding, Who are acquainted with our misery through and through, and know that by our own power we cannot ascend to You, we implore You: anticipate us with Your grace and keep on increasing Your mercy in us, that we may faithfully do Your holy will all through our life and at death's hour. Let the omnipotence of Your mercy shield us from the darts of our salvation’s enemies, that we may with confidence, as Your children, await Your [Son’s] final coming — that day known to You alone. And we expect to obtain everything promised us by Jesus in spite of all our wretchedness. For Jesus is our Hope: through His merciful Heart, as through an open gate, we pass through to heaven (Diary, 1570).

https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/pray-the-chaplet

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the salon on thora Catholic Women Educating and Entertaining Their Community in the Early 20th Century On any given day in the early 1930s, the society page of The Shreveport Journal and The Shreveport Times would be lined with announcements advising the public of the time and location of various club, organizational, and society meetings. The Y.W.C.A., American Legion, Junior League, and Women’s Department Club posted notices about luncheons and fund-raising, but among these ubiquitous socializing-as-charity events, one location would stand out for years as a hub for something more progressive.

The house on the corner of Fairfield Avenue and Thora Boulevard is remarkable in design and curbappeal; fitting in with while simultaneously standing out among the flat-front colonials, pitched-roof Tudors, and massive Greek revival manors with which South Highland’s cup – then and now – runeth-over.

In a popular section of The Times in the early 20th century entitled,“Shreveport: See It Grow Day By Day,” construction on the house was publicly announced, listing $18,571.00 [roughly $301,079.42 in today’s money] as the cost for permits and building supplies 16

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and now-famed Shreveporter D. A. Somdal as the architect. The Haddads were faithful practicing Catholics of Marionite descent, but being from “Assyria” or present-day Lebanon, they would have been culturally influenced by Islamic architecture. Undoubtedly, this blend of influences resulted in a home designed to honor the Haddad’s lineage and assimilate to the functional and stylistic design of surrounding homes.

There are no grand statues or garish exterior fixtures.

The façade resembles Mission Revival architectural design, popular during the time, with its front-facing arcade or corredor featuring a series of contiguous arches. Blending that with the Louisiana style Spanish Colonial architecture, [think LSU’s main campus in Baton Rouge or A.C. Steere Elementary in Shreveport] the home is topped with rounded clay roof tiles. The middle-eastern influence is gracefully displayed; each of the three arches forming the arcade are pointed into a sinuous ogee arch, popular in Islamic architecture.

Smaller trefoil keyhole arches along the second story add to the structure’s distinctive quality.

George and Rosalie Haddad began hosting events at their home soon after its completion. Rosalie, an avid horticulturist, was praised for her beautiful garden and landscaping. Typical events such as wedding showers and tea parties were celebrated at the Haddad’s new home, but the Haddads took it further by offering more educational events including progressive art pilgrimages, philosophical lectures with titles such as, “Woman’s Place in Economic and Civil Life,” and meetings of the Delphian Society, a national organization dedicated to the education of American women. These meetings advanced the high-society atmosphere by fostering progressive intellectual engagement, the latter of which resembles the post-enlightenment salons of the 17th and 18th centuries.

The modern salon bears little resemblance to its antiquated namesake. Over the last one hundred years, a trip to the salon has almost exclusively referred to the maintenance or enhancement of beauty; haircuts, manicures, spa treatments, and more. But, in the much longer historical context, a salon refers not to a location, but a meeting of minds and hearts for leisure and learning, the idea of which sought to honor legendary Roman lyric poet Horace’s definition of the rationale of poetry; “aut delectare aut prodesse,” which translates to, “either to please or educate.”

The concept – one of meeting to broaden the mind through education and exposure to different cultures and perspectives - has long been studied and haughtily debated among historians, anthropologists, and politicians who have attempted to create a singular definition of a salon.

The Haddads and their circle of friends may not have consciously thought of these events at the house on Thora in those exact terms, but it is clear that they had a different objective to their event than that of more typical societal club offerings of the time.

The support for these experiences was widespread within the Catholic community in Shreveport. George Haddad was a dealer of fine rugs from western Asia and was often featured in local news for his ventures.

Rosalie Haddad’s sister, Louise Yazbeck, was a gifted musician, and performed in many variety programs, offered musical theory instruction, and gained notoriety for her band, “Miss Yazbeck’s Rhythm Orchestra;” even arranging and hosting radio programs featuring her piano pupils. Matriarchs of well-known Catholic families

“Mrs. Haddad’s lovely home was aglow with myriads of soft lights in hand-wrought iron lamps that cast their mellow light on the deep rich Persian rugs and Oriental pearl-inlaid chairs, stools, desks, and screens.

Bright chrysanthemums filled the reception suite. The rich, varied hued created an atmosphere of mysterious beauty …” such as the Josephs, the Ferrises, and others - many of whom now rest at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

As the years went by and TVs entered American homes, the progressive, educational programs would wane and the Haddad home on Thora would more often host social or honorary events like dinners honoring Gold Star Mothers of the World Wars for the American Legion.The Haddads’ home, which still stands at the corner of Fairfield Avenue and Thora Boulevard, was, in its prime, a place where love of learning was celebrated. A remarkable description of a meeting of The Delphian Society is detailed in November 14th, 1929 edition of The Shreveport Journal, stating, “Mrs. Haddad’s lovely home was aglow with myriads of soft lights in hand-wrought iron lamps that cast their mellow light on the deep rich Persian rugs and Oriental pearl-inlaid chairs, stools, desks, and screens.

Bright chrysanthemums filled the reception suite.

The rich, varied hued created an atmosphere of mysterious beauty … The stairway was most unusual, each portion of the hand-wrought iron railing forming Arabic characters. These designs when transcribed proved to be a verse or proverb praising the home in loving tribute.”

KATE RHEA is the Library/Cemetery Administrative Assistant for Slattery Library and Saint Joseph Cemetery at the Diocese of Shreveport.

APRIL 2022

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Oh Holy Week 18

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mary's mission For most of my adult life, I did not put much thought into Holy Week. I of course knew its significance and made sure to attend both Palm Sunday and Holy Thursday services, but I rarely did anything special to honor the sacredness of Good Friday or Holy Saturday. I put most of the emphasis on Easter Sunday (which makes sense, right?). I falsely assumed that Easter was a part of Holy Week. In case you were thinking the same thing, it is not. Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Holy Saturday. It was some time during my early forties when my thoughts and feelings about this one, incredibly holy and sacred week greatly shifted. I am unaware of any particular trigger, rather just a slow progression of the opening of my eyes and heart. For the purpose of this month’s article, I want to take you on a deeper dive into the last week of Jesus’ life. Let us begin with Palm Sunday.

The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a small donkey, and he sat upon it. Jn. 12:12-14 Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the city where His ultimate fate occurred. He willingly entered knowing the denial, betrayal and persecution He would soon encounter. As He rode in on the young donkey through the streets of Jerusalem, where palm branches laid on the ground beneath Him and people all around Him shouted out “Hosanna!” I wonder, what went through His mind? Was He anxious about the coming days? Did He have an aching heart? Did the sense of dread linger in the air around Him? Did He think, “Why am I dying for these sinners?” We all know while in the garden of Gethsemane, He asked for God to take this cup from Him but we also know He ultimately said, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.” While I do not believe Jesus wondered why He was dying for sinners, I do believe He had some anxiety about it. After all, He was fully human. As I type these words, I shudder to think of the immense heaviness on this fateful day for our Lord.

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you.

Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” Luke 22:19-20 In the Catholic Church, the evening of Holy Thursday begins the Triduum, a single celebration marking the ending of the Lenten season. More importantly, it is the celebration of the last supper between Christ and His disciples. For Catholics, it is the most important supper of all times, for on this unforgettable night Jesus Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist.

The magnitude of this single meal overwhelms me. To be at the table with Jesus, listening to Him say, “Take this and eat of it, for it is my body,” had to be equally powerful and confusing.

I like to imagine the disciples were hanging on His every word.

Brothers and sisters, there will come a day when we will sit at the heavenly table with Jesus and hang on His every word.

And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him.

And after three days he will rise. Mark 10:34 There is a scene in The Passion of the Christ where His mother Mary is looking on as Jesus falls while carrying His Cross. As she watches with horror in her eyes as her beloved son is tortured, she flashes back to a time when Jesus was a little boy (probably three or four years old) running to her. As He ran, He stumbled and fell. Mary rushes to Him and like any loving mother, picks Him up and cradles Him in her arms. I love this particular scene for it shows both the depth of her love for her son as well as the humanness of Christ. Seeing Him as a little boy put it all into perspective for me. Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior who gave His life for our salvation had a childhood where he ran, played, and giggled. He was fully God and fully human. He experienced both divinity and difficulty. He played with friends, helped with chores, learned new things. He felt pain, joy, love, happiness, sadness, agony, hurt and so much more. On this day, this Good Friday, He died the most excruciating death. I imagine in that moment as Mary watched her son fall, it took all she had to not run to Him, pick Him up and cradle Him in her arms. The agony of watching your child suffer is an unimaginable sight. As the clock strikes 3:00pm Good Friday, remember not only our beloved Lord, but also our beloved Father in heaven who will pick you up and cradle you in His arms every time you fall. For God loves you so much, He gave His only Son. Sabbatum Sanctum is the official liturgical name for Holy Saturday. Although many (myself included) do not typically spend this day in mourning, as Christians we should rethink our actions on this particular day. I do not believe we need to be sad all day crying while in bed unable to do anything, but I also do not believe we should be celebrating in any way.

On this sacred day after Jesus’ excruciating death, his disciples, Mother Mary, Mary Magdalene and many more were broken hearted. They lost their teacher, friend, and most importantly, their beloved Son. Brothers and sisters, instead of doing what you normally do on Saturdays, I encourage spending time this upcoming Holy Saturday reflecting upon the enormity of what Christ did for you. See yourself sitting outside His tomb quietly saying, “Thank you Lord for dying for me.” Allow yourself to feel sadness while simultaneously anticipating the joy you will feel Easter Sunday when we will all exclaim, “He is risen!”

MARY ARCEMENT ALEXANDER is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a private practice in Shreveport, LA. You can read more on her blog, www.throughhiseyes.love APRIL 2022

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faithful food Crawfish Dressing This is a variation of a recipe given

by Dot Markaverich in the St. Joseph Altar notebook she passed on to me several years ago.

4 cups bread crumbs (just use old buns or rolls; don’t buy them) 1 can cream of onion soup 1 can vegetable broth 2 onions, chopped fine 3 eggs 2 green bell peppers, 2 red bell peppers and 2 yellow or orange ones, seeded and chopped Garlic cloves (this is subjective so use at least 2 but more if your taste runs that way) 1 bunch of celery, strings removed and stalks chopped fine Olive oil to cover the bottom of a heavy pot 1 to 2 pounds of Louisiana crawfish Warm olive oil, adding salt and pepper directly to the pot. When warm, add vegetables and crawfish and cook for about 30 minutes longer if you are not in a rush.

Add bread crumbs and mix thoroughly. Add one can cream of onion soup. Mix again. Add broth and mix well. Add beaten eggs and mix again. Spoon into a buttered casserole dish and bake at 350 until firm.

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Onward to a New Day, Onward to a New Way Working in a Catholic parish during Lent is not easy. There are so many events that need to be planned, executed, and evaluated. There are so many people who are looking for a friendly face and a few moments of time that it can seem like a herculean task to make an extra Mass or pop in to spend a few precious minutes before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament that often it all feels too exhausting.

The old saying that if we do not learn from history we are doomed to repeat applies to our personal histories as well as the wider canvas.

I considered my own history during adoration, while I was sweeping, or looking out of the window above my kitchen sink, how did my life become so cloudy, how did I reach a place where I felt so out of touch with my own body, soul, and spirit? I came to see that for me, it was my two old familiar sins of the desire for perfection and busyness. I have confessed these many times but it was not until the Lent of my sixtyfirst year that I lessened my grip on what I now see as something akin to smoke and mirrors; only Jesus is perfect and as to being busy I quote a dear aunt who reminded me periodically that we are all allotted the same amount of time each day and it is how we prioritize it that makes all the difference.

This Lent was a clean mirror to what had somehow become the murkiness of my soul. And oh how I needed to see but cringed from that reflection. I saw that I had become

automated, which is what I began to see as the shadow side of organized; numb and robotic, the darker shadowy version of mature and sensible; in other words, my days and nights lacked purpose and intention.

Lent and the arduous journey to Holy Week helped me move forward.

I recently had my family over for a Sunday supper. The grocery store sales dictate my menu now more than before; Louisiana crawfish and fresh asparagus were on sale. I thought a spring meal would be a welcome change from stews and soups. Some arrived before the appointed time and I was not as prepared as I would have liked to have been. I began to feel the old anxiety because things were not “perfect” and then I realized that I was about to repeat history.

We are not called to perfection but to holiness. I literally felt the weight leave my shoulders and I smiled in genuine gratitude at having extra time with family.

As I type this column, our world is coming out of the depths of a pandemic and into concern over a war. I comfort myself with the knowledge and belief that God has a plan even if He doesn’t give me all the details. So this year more than ever let us glory in the resurrection and spend the 50 days of Eastertide moving forward, our steps not burdened with old habits.

KIM LONG is the Director of Religious Education at Saint Mary of the Pines Catholic Church.

The 2022 Red Mass Returns at Holy Trinity Catholic Church The annual Shreveport Red Mass will be held on Friday, May 6, 2022 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in downtown Shreveport. Music provided by Zion Baptist Church Choir under the direction of Pastor Brady Blade will begin at 8:30 a.m. Aaron Wilson will be directing the St. Cecilia Choir for the liturgical music. Bishop Francis Malone will deliver the homily.

This is his first year celebrating the Red Mass here in Shreveport. This year’s honoree is John A.Vanchiere, MD, PhD, and the LSUHS COVID-19 Strike Team.

The Mass starts promptly at 9:00 a.m.

The Red Mass tradition dates to La Sainte-Chapelle Chapel in 1246. It was brought to the United States

in 1928 and first celebrated at old Saint Andrews in New York City. The opening of the Supreme Court in Washington D.C. and the opening of the Louisiana Supreme Court in New Orleans are accompanied by a Red Mass. The name is taken from the color of the vestment that is worn by the priest: red, since it is a votive mass of the holy spirit and a prayer for guidance in judicial proceedings. Individuals who have attended in the past include Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia, Archbishop Cardinal Edward Egan and U.S. District Judge Tom Stagg.

JOIN US AT HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC CHURCH ON MAY 6 AT 9:00 AM FOR THE 2022 RED MASS IN HONOR OF JOHN A.VANCHIERE, MD, PHD, AND THE LSUHS COVID-19 STRIKE TEAM. APRIL 2022

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@ThreeGenerationsSinging

90-Year-Old Promotes Faith and Family Through YouTube Did you know we have a 90 year-old YouTube star right here in the Diocese of Shreveport? You may have seen her at countless church events. You may have heard her in the past as the organist at various Catholic parishes. Or, you may have been lucky enough to have witnessed her outspoken comments in a Bible Study group. But, if you haven’t watched her on YouTube, you are missing out! Who is this person and what does YouTube have to do with her story? To answer those questions, let me tell you about my mom, Marilyn Pettiette, our family matriarch and the headliner of Three Generations Singing.

Mom is an accomplished vocalist, pianist, and organist. She grew up in Minnesota and migrated South after she and my dad (a talented musician from the great state of Texas) met one another at the Minneapolis College of Music. As a child, Mom was groomed to be a Shirley Temple look alike. She tap danced and sang in numerous talent shows. As a young adult, she performed with Big Band groups in various Minneapolis supper clubs. In her early twenties, Mom was offered the chance to join the Phil Silvers’ “Top Banana” tour.

That would have been her big break. However, my mom and dad had recently married, and Mom was expecting the first of six children. She declined the offer. In other words, Mom gave up her stage career to raise a family.

While my siblings and I were growing up, Mom was a music educator in the public schools. She believed in the 22

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power of music to bring various cultures together. During our elementary school years, Mom founded a group called “The Young Americans.” The group was comprised of childhood friends from Dixie, Louisiana, our hometown at the time.

Mom took us to nursing homes, the VA Hospital, and to isolated members of the community to perform. We even appeared on the Saturday morning television show “Bob and His Buddies” with local celebrity, Bob Griffin.

Now, fast forward to our adulthood…The six original siblings have families of our own. About three years ago, I began to wonder if it might be time for Mom to return to the stage - albeit a cyber stage. I founded a YouTube channel called Three Generations Singing to showcase Mom’s talent, but also, to have priceless memories of our kids performing with their grandmother.

The first number we published was “Hallelujah” which my son Sean, my mom, and I recorded. At the beginning of the video, Sean casually announced that we were three generations singing together. That phrase was the perfect name for our channel.The video was well-received on FB and YouTube, and our channel was born.

Mom’s grandchildren are scattered across the United States, but our families gather for Christmas every year and record a large group video. Sometimes, we have four generations performing together. Currently, our age range spans 6 months to 90 years! As far as logistics go, we are blessed to have Brent Latin of Young Pros Entertainment assist us. Brent has

directed, filmed, mixed, and edited all of our videos with the exception of our cell phone recordings. One of our most ambitious productions (and Mom’s personal favorite) is our four-generation recording of “We Are The World.”

In November of 2019, we experienced a traumatic event when my mom’s house burned down. At the age of 87, Mom lost all her possessions, including her piano. But, the Catholic community rallied around her. We started a grass-roots effort to promote the channel and to tell my mom’s story of enduring faith even though she had literally been tested by fire. (Mom’s testament of “Faith Through Fire” can be found on the channel.) Loyola College Prep invited me to speak to the students about Mom’s incredible experience which includes a special “miracle” that took place during the fire. The students provided emotional support by viewing videos and leaving encouraging comments. Several confirmation classes offered service hours to candidates who watched videos, and various youth groups invited me to share the account of the fire and the story behind the channel. Thus, at a very Catholic and local level, we were able to spread the word about Three Generations Singing.

During the early days of COVID, the channel really took off. I believe people were looking for a wholesome, happy diversion - a chance to forget their cares for a while. Currently, we have well over one million views and over 80 videos on the channel. We post a variety of selections ranging from faith-based genre to country music to a bit of rock-n-roll. My mom is featured in multiple jazz piano solos as well. At this time, our most popular video is “Wagon Wheel.” However, we have a few other numbers closing in on that top spot. But, across all our recordings, the common denominator is the concept of FAMILY. We have received lovely comments from thousands of viewers who tell us how inspiring it is to see a multi-generational family making music together.

So, where do we go from here? As I write this article, our group is under consideration to appear on a syndicated television show in Los Angeles. In the mean time, my mom says that as long as she is able, she will continue to perform for the enjoyment and entertainment of others. She believes that God has given her a mission to give joy through music.

How can you help promote this wonderful endeavor?

Take a look at Three Generations Singing on YouTube (@ ThreeGenerationsSinging). Please leave comments and give a thumbs’ up on various videos. The more interaction on the channel, the greater the likelihood others will find us. We are also on FB. Keep us in your prayers as we continue to follow this path. Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I hope you will be inspired and blessed, in some way, by Three Generations Singing.

JULIE PETTIETTE DOOLIN, PH.D. Dr. Doolin is available to give presentations regarding this article and various topics related to the Catholic faith. She can be reached at Threegenerationssinging@gmail.com.

She is a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish.

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A Grand Centennial The year is 1954. Americans who returned from the wars in Korea, Europe and the Pacific are establishing homes and raising families, cherishing peace. Air travel is growing in popularity, and television sets are beginning to appear in living rooms. President Eisenhower is leading the nation in navigating the Cold War, and students practice “duck and cover” drills in school hallways. “Mr. Sandman,” “Rock Around the Clock,” and Elvis Presley’s first single, “That’s All Right,” are playing on the radio and at sock hop dances held in school gyms.

At St.Vincent’s, the Daughters of the Cross are excitedly planning a grand celebration commemorating their 100 years in Louisiana. Mother Elizabeth Freeman charges Sister Mary Clarissa LaCour, from Avoyelles Parish, the cradle of the mission, with the planning. The year-long festivities are inaugurated with a pontifical High Mass at St. Joseph’s Church in Marksville, offered by Rt. Rev. Henry Van der Putten, pastor. Most Rev. Charles Paschal Greco, Bishop of Alexandria, addresses the congregants, extolling the sacrifices, commitment and accomplishments of the 24

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Daughters of the Cross. The second Solemn High Mass is celebrated on Easter Sunday, April 12, 1955, at St. Matthew Church in Monroe by Bishop Greco, assisted

by Rt. Rev. John C. Marsh, pastor. The climax of the jubilee year is the pontifical Mass of Thanksgiving offered on November 10, 1955, by Bishop Greco, assisted by priests from Louisiana and surrounding states, at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium. The speaker is Rev. Lawrence O’Neill, S. J., of the New Orleans Province.

Congratulations and benediction from Pope Pius XII are read, and music is provided by the combined choirs of the sisters’ schools in Shreveport and Bossier, directed by Sister Mary Grace Lagana, D. C. In addition, the Sisters publish a commemorative booklet titled “Daughters of the Cross in Louisiana: 1855-1955.”

In it, they provide a broad overview of their history, beginning with St. Francis de Sales and Venerable Mother Marie l’Huillier de Villeneuve. They proudly feature each school, including many photos of the sisters, priests, and students. Twenty-one schools are listed, of which nine

daughters of the cross

1957 Father Woods Retreat, St.Vincent’s Convent, 1st row, L-R: Sr. Mary Alice, Sr. Agnes Ruth, Sr. Raphael, Sr. Mary Evelyn, Sr. Aloysius, Sr. Mercedes, Sr. Rita, Sr. Sophia, Sr. Margaret Mary, Sr. Benedict, Sr. Lucy, Sr. Magdalen, Sr. Chantal, Sr. Camille, Sr. Margaret Rose, Fr. Nowlan, Mother Clarissa, Fr. Woods, Sr. Mary Grace, Sr. Joan, Sr. Adrian, Sr. Marietta, Sr. Marie Eloise, Sr. Mary Faith, Sr. Philip, Sr. Mary Margaret, Sr. Ellen Claire, Sr. Maria de Sales, Sr. Mary Madeline; 2nd row: Sr. Elizabeth, Sr. Ephrem, Sr. Mary of the Cross, Sr. Maria Goretti (Sr. Maria), Sr. Anna, Sr. Fabian Rose, Sr. Mary Ann, Sr. Mary Louise, Sr.Theresa, Sr. Laurentia, Sr. Ann Patricia, Sr. Andrea; 3rd row: Sr. Christine, Sr. Martha (Sr. Elizabeth Marie), Sr. Bridget, Sr. Cornelia, Sr. Eugenia, Sr. Angela, Sr. Francis; 4th row: Sr. Dorothea, Sr. Celine, Sr. Monica, Sr.Veronica, Sr. Imelda, Sr. Leonie, Sr. Joachim; 5th row: Sr. Constance, Sr. Helen Marie, Sr. John Roberta, Sr. Fidelis, Sr. Celeste, Sr. Catherine, Sr. Bernardine, Sr. Leocadie, Sr. Bernadette; 6th row: Sr. Patricia, Sr. Germaine, Sr. Miriam, Sr. Rose Marie, Sr. Geraldine, Sr. Mary Carmel, Sr. Mary Joseph; 7th row: Sr. Cabrini, Sr. Philomena, Sr. Mary Michael, Sr. Clement, Sr. Mary John, Sr. Loretta, Sr. Joseph Marie, Sr. Damien. Special thanks to Madeline Howard Elford for identifying the Sisters.

LSUS Northwest Louisiana Archives, Noel Memorial Library

were operating in six locations: Presentation Academy in Marksville; St. Matthew’s in Monroe; St.Vincent’s, St. John’s, St. Catherine’s, and St. Theresa’s in Shreveport; Christ the King in Bossier City; St. Patrick’s in Lake Providence; and Sacred Heart in Moreauville. A special section honors the nine jubilarians, of whom seven came to Louisiana from France. Four young professed Sisters and three Novices received in 1954 are pictured. Two pages are dedicated to former students who have answered God’s call to a vocation: 44 to the priesthood; 79 to the Daughters of the Cross; and 30 to other religious sisterhoods.

Schools staffed by the Daughters of the Cross in Louisiana “Daughters of the Cross in Louisiana, 1855-1955” Courtesy of Madeline Howard Elford

In August, 1957, the sisters gather at the St. Vincent’s motherhouse for their annual retreat, conducted by Rev. Joseph E. Woods, O. S. F. S. Afterwards, 70 Daughters of the Cross and 7 novices gather for a picture with Rev. Woods and Rev. Kevin Nowlan, S. J., chaplain. An additional 12 Daughters of the Cross are not pictured, bringing the total number of professed sisters in August, 1957, to 82. Not pictured are Sr. Aimee, Sr. Ann Barnard, Sr. Gabriel, Sr. Genevieve, Sr. Juliann, Sr. Loyola, Sr. Marcella, Sr. Martina, Sr. Paula Marie, Sr. Placide, Sr. Sebastian, and Sr. Theophane.

PATTI UNDERWOOD is a lover of history and is blessed to be a graduate of St. Vincent’s Academy and LSU-Shreveport.

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Continuing a Legacy Dufrene, Farr, and Hodges Named Loyola F.A.i.T.H Chairmen Each year, Loyola College Prep students put their faith into action for local families in need during the holiday season. This year Audrey Dufrene, Ashton Farr, and Maggie Hodges will take the reins as the chairmen for Flyers Aiding the Hungry (F.Ai.T.H.) 2022.

For the past 33 years F.Ai.T.H. has worked to provide a holiday meal for disadvantaged families in the ShreveportBossier area. Supported by fundraisers, donations, and basket sales, the F.Ai.T.H. organization is able to raise the more than $30,000 necessary to sponsor this event.

Since its inception in 1988, and through the partnerships with area businesses, local elementary schools and middle schools, and the generosity of our many Loyola families and alumni, F.Ai.T.H. has been able to serve over 20,000 families in our community.

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The chairmen have already started planning for the December 5, 2022 event and are optimistic that it will be back in the Loyola Gym this year as opposed to a drive through the last two years due to COVID. Let’s hear from each of them about their vision, passion, and what they are looking forward to most for this year’s F.Ai.T.H. event.

Audrey Dufrene I have wanted to be a F.Ai.T.H. chairperson ever since I became a member freshman year. Going to St. Joseph Catholic School I was exposed to the bond with Loyola and that included a canned food drive in the fall to support F.Ai.T.H. So, the thought of joining continued

“F.Ai.T.H. has been at the heart of both the community and Loyola for many years. It’s an honor to hold the title and even more special to me to carry on my mom’s legacy when she started it 34 years ago. Giving back to the community as a Loyola community is so incredibly rewarding and I hope we as a group this year can do the organization and the people who come to it justice.” - Ashton Farr, Chairman on into high school and my freshmen class was lucky enough to experience the last indoor F.Ai.T.H. day before COVID. It was truly an eye-opening day and I knew that going forward I wanted to have a more active role in serving the community.

I am ready to get started on fundraising and working with the different charities within our area! I am excited to work with my fellow chairmen in order to get the student body and community engaged in activities that will give us the opportunity to have a great F.Ai.T.H day.

To me, being a part of this project is an incredible responsibility and opportunity because I have seen through my years as a member and officer of F.Ai.T.H. how impactful this day is to these families. In such a financially demanding season, I just hope that we can ease some of their stress and put smiles on their faces. As for the legacy F.Ai.T.H. continues to leave at Loyola, I think it speaks for itself. The fact that I get to leave my mark along with all the past Chairmen is an amazing honor, and I cannot wait to get started!

F.Ai.T.H. has been at the heart of both the community and Loyola for many years. It’s an honor to hold the title and even more special to me to carry on my mom’s legacy when she started it 34 years ago. Giving back to the community as a Loyola community is so incredibly rewarding and I hope we as a group this year can do the organization and the people who come to it justice.

Maggie Hodges

I wanted to be a F.Ai.T.H. chairman because I truly believe in the cause and want to help the community.

It is important to me that I do everything in my power to ensure that families who come to F.Ai.T.H. receive a basket.

In addition to the actual F.Ai.T.H. day, I am most excited about fundraising and raising awareness about F.Ai.T.H. We have many ideas for fundraisers that our entire community, not just Loyola, can participate in.

I am very grateful for the opportunity to organize and be in charge of a tradition that means so much to Loyola. Knowing that I have been entrusted with this Ashton Farr responsibility makes me very proud to represent our F.A.i.T.H chairman is a title that I’m honored to have and school. I hope that I and my fellow chairmen make our have wanted since freshman year. F.A.i.T.H is an amazing Loyola family proud and make this the best year for organization, and I was very inspired by the people we F.Ai.T.H yet! have served in the past. They are the ones who inspired To learn more about F.Ai.T.H., visit loyolaprep.org/faith me to want to become a chairman.

I’m looking forward to doing F.Ai.T.H. in the gym again this year post COVID. The drive through was very JORDAN HARRIS successful and really well done, but I’m excited for it to is the Director of Communications at Loyola College Prep in Shreveport. be more interactive again and bring back Santa and all of the things that are truly the spirit of F.Ai.T.H. APRIL 2022

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SJS K4 Krewe of the Carpenter brings season to a festive close; 6th graders learn Church history with Inaugural Religion Fair It’s a long-standing tradition, and one we just can’t imagine doing without: a bunch of four-year-olds donning masks and other Mardi Gras attire, throwing beads from wagons to bring the Mardi Gras season to a festive end.

This year’s Krewe of the Carpenter enjoyed perfect weather as they paraded through the school parking lot, even getting some help from Fr. Matthew Long and members of the Krewe of Centaur and Justinian! Our Middle Schoolers also celebrated the season with the annual Mardi Gras Ball in the St. Joseph Activity Center, to which local private schools are also invited.

On Thursday, March 3, our sixth graders participated in our first-ever Religion Fair. The style of this event is similar to that of a Social Studies Fair, but the topics are all Catholic figures. This year, the theme was those who contributed to the growth of the Catholic Church in North America. Students spent two months researching, then submitting an outline of ideas, a rough draft, then creating display boards and final drafts. They offered their oral presentations to three esteemed judges: Fr. Long, Sr. Carol Shively, and Delia Barr. It was unanimous: all presentations showed an impressive depth of knowledge of the many ways that the Catholic Church grew on our continent, and the students could reflect on a job well done. Our award winners were: 1st place: Sam Sullivan (topic - Venerable Pierre Toussaint) 2nd place: Gracie Wilkes (topic - the 5 Yellow Fever Priests) 28

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3rd place: Lang Lawson (topic - Thea Bowman) Honorable Mention: Mason DeBroeck (topic - Mother Angelica) Honorable Mention: Austin Hamilton (topic - Saint Rene Goupil) This is definitely a new tradition at SJS - watch for it again next year!

Coming up: SJS begins preparing for 2nd annual Living Stations of the Cross Once the Mardi Gras Ball and K4 Krewe parade were over, it was time to begin preparations for our 2nd annual Living Stations of the Cross, offered by our 8th graders.

As I write this, we are still in the planning stages, but it is set for Holy Thursday, April 14th, at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Last year’s class set the bar pretty high, but we have confidence that this year will be no different.

POLLY MACIULSKI is the middle school religion teacher at St. Joseph School in Shreveport

A Season of Reflection: Lent at St. Johns Lent is one of the most beautiful seasons of our faith.

A time to reconnect with our Lord, make amends, and build positive habits in our faith life. We contemplate the sacrifices that Jesus and the saints modeled for us as we consider habits that will build us on our way to sainthood.

The season begins with the austerity of Ash Wednesday.

At St. Johns, we began Lent, together with Loyola College Prep, led in the celebration of the Mass by Father Peter Mangum. Students ranging in age from five to eighteen lined up to receive ashes from Father Peter, teachers, and student altar servers.

As Lent continues, students make resolutions to abstain or take on new habits of prayerfulness in their lives. Students support one another in remaining faithful to their Lenten promises. We practice self-control with silent Friday dismissals. Each year we also celebrate the stations of the cross and join together in repentance at our Lenten penance service. These help us to show the breadth of Catholic prayer during the Lenten season.

The highlight of our Lenten observance each year is the Living Stations written and shared by the eighth grade class. The Living Stations is an opportunity for our school community to enter more deeply into the Passion of Christ, seeing the events of our Savior’s last days interpreted and enacted by the eighth grade class always helps to grow our emotional connection with our faith story.

This year, the seventh grade class is joining in the events by sharing their interpretation of the last supper. We are excited to see how this new tradition helps us join in the love of our Lord during this Lenten Season.

COMING UP AT ST. JOHNS April 11-15 - Holy Week

April 14 - 1:00-2:30 PM - Last Supper Presented

by Seventh Grade and Living Stations Presented

by Eighth Grade April 20-22 - 5th Grade goes to Starbase at Barksdale Air Force Base to learn all about STEM April 23 - 7:00-11:00 PM - Totally 80’s Spring Auction hosted by the SJB Parents Association at the Swim School May 1 - Second Grade celebrates First Communion at 11 AM Mass and Eighth Grade celebrates Confirmation at 5:30 PM Mass May 2-6 - Teacher Appreciation Week and Spring Scholastic Book Fair May 6 - Field Day May 18 - 9:00 AM - Eighth Grade Graduation May 19 - 9:00 AM - Kindergarten Graduation May 20 - Last Day of School

Want to learn more about our school?

Give us a call at (318) 221-6005 or go to sjbcathedralschool.org/visit to schedule a tour JULIA VANCHIERE is the school librarian at Saint John Berchmans Cathedral School in Shreveport.

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Pictured above: Gary Christ’s family

Jesuit Alumnus Leaves Loyola College Prep $1.5 Million to Support Tuition Assistance Program Loyola College Prep announced February 24 a $1.5 million planned gift that will create an endowment for tuition assistance.

The gift was made by 1968 Jesuit alumnus, Gary Christ. Christ was a member of the Jesuit 1967 state championship football team in addition to participating in other sports, band, and student government during his time in high school.

“The students of Loyola College Prep and all of the Flyer family are blessed by the generosity of Mr. Christ who never forgot his alma mater even as he served our country, excelled in his career as a pilot, and lived outside of our city ,” said John LeBlanc, Loyola College Prep Principal. “We are thankful for this extraordinary gift, and I don’t think we can fully express how this will impact our school for generations to come. Mr. Christ showed the importance of generosity and giving back that we try to instill in all of our students.”

After graduating from Jesuit, Christ received his bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from Louisiana Tech University and received an MBA in business and political science from Arizona State University. Christ proudly served his country in the United States Air Force as a fighter pilot. Upon leaving the Air Force with the rank of Captain, he became a pilot for Southwest Airlines in 1987 and retired in 2015. Gary was an avid outdoorsman, climbing many of the world’s largest peaks.

He passed away in October 2020.

“Gary was so special and passionate about many things in his life. He loved his time at Jesuit, his classmates, and the legacy Loyola continues today,” said Christ’s sister, Karen Smith. “The bonds that Gary made at Jesuit, the education he received, and his life experiences from being a Flyer are what helped shape him. It was Gary’s wish to continue to provide a Catholic high school education for many generations to 30

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come. Our family knows the impact this donation will have on students for years to come, and we can’t wait to see how graduates from Loyola continue ‘to set the world on fire’ because of Gary’s contribution.”

Income from the $1.5 million Gary Christ Endowment will go towards tuition assistance for students. Endowed funds provide a perpetual source of income that enhance Loyola College Prep and attract and keep students while ensuring students with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds have access to a Catholic high school education.

“This extraordinary gift ensures the stability of tuition assistance for students who want a Catholic high school education and also enables the Loyola legacy to continue,” said Troy Raburn, Loyola College Prep Board of Directors President. “We are thankful for Gary and his service to our country and our school, and proud that he represents what it means to be a Flyer.”

Loyola will proudly display Christ’s letterman blanket and his other Jesuit memorabilia in the school in honor of his generous gift and dedication to the school.

Picture: Christ’s 1968 Jesuit Classmates

JORDAN HARRIS is the Director of Communications at Loyola College Prep in Shreveport.

Jesus the Good Shepherd School’s Fifth Grade Student Selected as a 2022 Louisiana Student of the Year Finalist The Louisiana Department of Education released the names of 21 students selected as finalists in the state’s Annual Students of the Year competition. The 21 students selected include one elementary, middle and high school student from each of the state’s seven regions. The finalists represent traditional public, public charter, and nonpublic schools.

Seven of those 21 named students are 5th grade students selected as finalists for the Annual Louisiana Student of the Year competition. Included in the seven selected students is Jesus the Good Shepherd School’s 5th grade student, Harrison Tarver, son of Justin and Dana Tarver. Harrison will represent Region 6 in the state competition.

Harrison was selected as the 2021-22 Diocesan Fifth Grade Student of the Year for the Diocese of Shreveport. He then went on to be named the 5th grade Student of the Year for all private schools in the state. Harrison has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills and community involvement while maintaining high academic scores and participating in numerous extra-curricular activities.

Students are selected for the Louisiana Student of the Year competition based on academic achievement, leadership skills, character, and service to their schools and communities.

Regional selection committees also use electronic portfolios of accomplishments, along with student writing samples and interviews, to assess the communication and critical thinking skills of each candidate. Prior to selecting the three state winners, the state selection committee will conduct interviews

and review portfolios and writing samples from each finalist.

The finalists will participate in an awards ceremony on April 13 in Baton Rouge, when the winners will be announced for each grade level.

We are honored to have Harrison represent Jesus the Good Shepherd School as a Louisiana Student of the Year finalist. We are very proud of all his many accomplishments and wish him luck in the next round of the competition.

AMY FAKHRE works in the Development Office at Jesus the Good Shepherd School in Monroe.

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SFHS BASKETBALL CHAMPS, SPELLING BEE AND SCIENCE FAIR WINNERS ANNOUNCED 1. St. Frederick Junior High State Basketball Champions 2. Osey Anumele - St. Frederick’s Spelling Bee Winner. Osey is eligible to compete at the regional competition in March.

3. St. Frederick High School takes it all at the Regional Science Fair: Congratulations to Mr. Lindow and his students who participated in the 67th Annual Region III Science and Engineering Fair on the campus of the University of Louisiana Monroe. St. Frederick High School placed 1st overall, and 8th grader Julianna Tan was named Best in Show 1st Place.

Brady Eppinette was Best in Show 2nd place. All students that placed in their category are eligible to attend the state science fair at Louisiana State University. St. Frederick High School had eight first-place winners by category: Anna Beth Cordill - Biochemistry Forrest Sherman - Chemistry Sadie Prince - Chemistry Ellen Brockman - Materials Science Avery Houser - Material Science Julianna Tan - Microbiology Bradie Eppinette - Physics and Astronomy Hannah Gammage - Plant Science

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LOYOLA GIRLS SOCCER TEAM CELEBRATES STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH SISTER SCHOOLS The Loyola College Prep Girls Soccer team was excited to continue celebrating their state championship with their sister schools, St. Joseph Catholic School and St. John Berchmans Catholic School. Last month the team worked the morning carpool line at both schools along with Principal John LeBlanc

and Admissions Director, Andy Cline. The high schoolers greeted students to school and even made a soccer tunnel for the students to run through on their way into school. Loyola was grateful for the opportunity to serve at fellow Catholic schools!

OUR LADY OF FATIMA SCHOOL CELEBRATES MARDI GRAS AND NATIONAL SCHOOL BREAKFAST WEEK Our Lady of Fatima’s Kindergarten class hosted a Mardi Gras Parade. Students created wearable floats and entertained the school. This is a tradition for our Kindergarten class. A King and Queen are chosen and students learn all about Mardi Gras. Students in Pre-K and 1st-8th grade students enjoyed good music, beads, and candy. Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler! We also celebrated National School 32

Breakfast Week. Our cafeteria staff made breakfast fun.

Everyone eating breakfast this week received a raffle ticket and prizes were given out daily.

Mrs. Teena Lenard has been the cafeteria manager at OLF for 8 years and always goes above and beyond to make lunch and breakfast fun for the students.

She’s always dressing up in silly costumes to make breakfast and lunch entertaining.

CATHOLIC CONNECTION

Catholic Charities: Expressing Gratitude One of the first things I heard when I came to work at Catholic Charities six year ago was, “We have to remember that we don’t have to like them (the clients) in order to help them.”You see, when people are hurting physically or emotionally, they often lash out and say awful things as a means of self-protection because they anticipate more disappointment by the time they’ve reached out for help. The team at CCNLA are pros at respecting others’ dignity.

There have been several occasions where Catholic Charities of North Louisiana was not able to help clients in the way that they were hoping we would.

Often this news makes them angry. Everyone leaves CCNLA with something that should help them— whether it’s tangible assistance or simply a plan on how to move forward. A couple of years ago, an unhappy client called a TV station to complain about us, and when the reporter arrived, she was totally impressed with how we conducted business and ended up doing a “feel-good” story about Catholic Charities. (Addendum: this same client reached out to us for help in February 2022, and we were able to help her.)

Most clients express gratitude for things like simply listening to them, not judging them, and teaching them skills that they didn’t know. They appreciate that we have confidence in them to succeed. How do we know? Because they tell us. It is amazing to see people go from crying during a consultation to joking and smiling as they leave the building.

“I really appreciate everyone,” said Misa Maxie, a mother of a 14-year-old daughter. Misa had gotten hurt on the job and then later suffered from Covid-19 and was unable to pay her rent. “Carl taught me a lot about budgeting in Money School®, and Mrs. Jean was really organized and wanted things done right. She was very nice. I also met Mrs. Meg, and everyone here has a sweet soul.”

There’s no doubt that it feels good to be appreciated.

And that is why I’d like to take this opportunity to publicly thank my staff: Sister Bernie Barrett in Lake Providence; LaTris Smith, Siu Lam, and Kirsten Gladen in Monroe; and Silvia Herrera de Reanez, Daniela Bernabe, Briana Bianca, Joe Bulger, Paul Hand, Allison Kulbeth, Carl Piehl, Gilda Rada, Kathy Schimschock, Giselle Trejo, and Jean Woods. I’ve never met a finer group of people with whom I’d trust my life.

I’d like to credit my Board of Directors for taking their fiscal responsibility seriously. And finally, I’d like to thank the people who make our work possible: our donors and grantors: Community Foundation, Sisters of the Holy Spirit, Grayson Foundation, Powers Foundation, Caddo Parish Commission, City of Shreveport, City of Bossier, Louisiana Bar Foundation, Atmos Energy Fund, Capital One, Walmart, CCUSA, First United Methodist Church, and Westerman Foundation.

MEG GOORLEY is the Executive Director for Catholic Charities of North Louisiana.

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hispanic news

Resurrección del Señor; Tiempo de Amor Rosalba Quiroz, Directora

Mientras seguimos sacudiendo la incertidumbre que trajo la pandemia, nos llegan la agradable temporada de primavera y la Resurrección del Señor, que nos traen gran gozo y energía renovada.

Aunque ya tenemos mas confianza en las actividades que realizamos, seguimos precavidos en cuanto a los cuidados de las enfermedades, las tristezas por la guerra en Ucrania y el sufrimiento del mundo.

Nos dice Jesús en su Palabra: “Esto es lo que les decía cuando todavía estaba con ustedes: que tenía que cumplirse en mí todo lo escrito en la ley de Moisés, en los profetas y en los salmos; así está escrito: que el Mesías tenia que padecer y resucitar de entre los muertos al tercer día; que en su nombre se predicaría penitencia y perdón de pecados a todas las naciones, empezando por Jerusalén”. Lucas 24: 44, 46.

En medio de todos estos sentimientos encontrados, de no poder terminar por completo con las secuelas del COVID-19, pero comenzando a realizar nuestras actividades familiares y comunitarias, tendremos este mes tres de los retiros para adultos que se llevan a cabo en la diócesis. El Vinedo de Raquel

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para personas que hayan provocado un aborto y vivan con remordinimiento y culpa. Y Emaus Los retiros de Emaús se trajeron a nuestra Diócesis en el 2015 y son ya parte del programa anual del Ministerio Hispano.

Calendario del mes de abril, 2022

1-3 Retiro El Viñedo de Raquel, para personas que provocaron un aborto 23-24 Retiro Emaús para hombres, Springhill, LA 30 – 1º de Mayo Retiro Emaús para mujeres, Springhill, LA

Por El Obispo Cuando yo era niño jugaba con un grupo de amigos del vecindario baseball o futbol. comenzábamos siempre el juego “escogiendo a los equipos.” También en el semanario, ya más grande cuando jugábamos en nuestros ratos libres, “escogíamos los equipos.” Esta parte del juego era casi igual de emocionante que el mismo juego. Recuerdo la emoción de escuchar mi nombre cuando me escogían – aunque nunca me escogían primero – pero tampoco era el último, y así, comenzaba el partido. El arte de ser escogido, ya sea en deportes o en otra actividad de niños era muy importante, ver que los dos capitanes se alternaban uno a uno para escoger lo que ellos creían iba a ser el lado ganador. Claro que esta técnica es más sofisticada en la vida cuando podemos ser escogidos entre otros, ya sea para tomar un nuevo cargo, o posición o desempeñar un nuevo papel. Aun en la Iglesia existe este arte de seleccionar o escoger personas para algún trabajo importante.

Cada año, el primer domingo de Cuaresma, las parroquias tienen una Misa donde celebran el “Rito de Envío.” El Director de Formación de Fe parroquial presenta al sacerdote los nombres de las personas que han estudiado por varios meses para recibir la Orden de Iniciación Cristiana para Adultos,” y están listos para ser escogidos o seleccionados por el obispo para recibir los sacramentos de Iniciación durante la Vigilia Pascual. En esa ceremonia, durante una Misa regular de fin de semana, se les llama a cada uno por su nombre y ellos se acercan al sacerdote, escriben su nombre en lo que llamamos, “El Libro de los Elegidos.” Como parte de la ceremonia, el sacerdote entonces los “envía” al obispo a la catedral, y ya

misas en español CRISTO REY: BOSSIER CITY Rev. Fidel Mondragon 318.221.0238 Oficina Domingo 1:00pm Lunes 7:00pm Sabado 6:00pm Coordinador Oscar Gomez 972.567.2710

SAN PASCUAL: W. MONROE Rev. Luis Jost, OFM Domingo: 4:00pm Coordinadora: Lorena Chaparro 318.267.4018

SANTO TOMAS AQUINO: RUSTON Rev. Edward Shea, OFM 318.225.2870 Oficina Domingo 1:30pm Coordinadora: Luz Martinez 318.224.0980

NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL PEPETUO SOCORRO: FARMERVILLE Rev. Luis Jost, OFM Sabados 7:00 pm Coordinadora: Paola Gonalez 817.801.3499

ahí en la catedral el obispo los “elige,” o “escoge” para que puedan recibir los sacramentos en la Vigilia Pascual.

Cuando yo era sacerdote y tenía oportunidad, iba a las dos ceremonias, al Rito del envío en mi parroquia, y después, el mismo día, al Rito de Elección en la Catedral, sentía siempre mucha emoción cuando los nombres de los enviados de mi parroquia eran mencionados, y luego cuando el obispo firmaba sus nombres en el Libro de los Elegidos, y le decía a cada uno que había sido escogido. Estas dos ceremonias son relativamente nuevas en la Iglesia, y muchos de nuestros fieles nunca las experimentaron en su persona – pero es igual de maravilloso ser testigo de ellas – y ahora como obispo – es para mí más emocionante ser el que llama a los candidatos y catecúmenos, de alguna manera muy parecido a cuando lo hacíamos en aquellos juegos de niños antes de comenzar cada partido.

Que hermoso fue para mi poder dirigir el Rito de Elección en nuestra Catedral, y aún más hermoso fue poder ver los rostros de cada uno de los que oficialmente se unirán a los nombres de los fieles el sábado Santo.

Y ahora, que estamos en camino a la Vigilia Pascual, tengo la oportunidad de orar junto con toda la familia de la diócesis por estos “Elegidos,” que Dios los ayude a darle Gloria y amarlo a través de los sacramentos que recibirán por primera vez, y que los convertirán en nuevos fieles y miembros de la Iglesia.

A través de este medio les pido también a ustedes que oren, no solamente por nuestros nuevos Católicos de su parroquia, sino por todos los que han sido llamados entre muchos, los escogidos, los Elegidos en nuestra Diócesis que escurarán su nombre, y ¡comenzaran la actividad de seguir su vida como miembros de la Iglesia!

STA MARIA DE LOS PINOS: SHREVEPORT Rev. Mark Watson 318.687.5121 Oficina Domingo 12:30 am Coordinadora: Alma Mendoza 318.678.9306 SAGRADO CORAZON: OAK GROVE Rev. Jean Bosco Uwamungu 318.428.2983 Oficina, Domingo 1:00pm SAN JOHN THE BAPTIST, MANY Rev. Francis Kamau, FMH 318-256-5680 Oficina • primer domingo 5:00pm

SAN PABLO: MINDEN Rev. Rigoberto Betancurt 318-458-6045 Cell 2do Domingo 4:00pm Coordinadora: Dora Rodriguez 870-904-9137 SAN JOSE: MANSFIELD 305 Jefferson Street Mansfield, LA 71052 Rev. Rigoberto Betancurt 3118-458-6045 3er Domingo 3:00pm

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upcoming events April 4 Saint Isidore April 5 Saint Vincent Ferrer April 10 Palm Sunday

APRIL 8-10 Men’s Come and See Weekend Retreat Saint Joseph Abbey, Covington, LA

APRIL 15 9:00-11:00 am Saint Vincent de Paul Good Friday Walk Join us for the Saint Vincent de Paul Good Friday Walk in Downtown Shreveport, Behind First United Methodist Church, head of Texas Street, downtown Shreveport (Rain venue: Holy Trinity Catholic Church) See page 29 for more information.

APRIL 24 1:30 pm

Saint Joseph School Alumni Fish Fry

April 14 Holy Thursday April 15 Good Friday April 17 Easter Sunday

The SJS Alumni fish fry will be held in the Family Life Center after the 12:30 pm Mass.

APRIL 24 2:30 pm

Divine Mercy Sunday Holy Hour @ Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans See pg. 28 for more information.

MAY 1-3 6:00 pm

Saint Mary of the Pines Easter Mission Everyone is invited to St. Mary of the Pines Parish Easter Mission with guest speaker Fr. Ron Hoye. Fr. Hoye is the director of Vincentian TeamWorks- a collaborative effort of Catholic Evangelization that includes the ministries of Catholic home Study and Vincentian Parish Mission. A published author, Fr. Hoye travels extensively

April 24 Divine Mercy Sunday April 25 Saint Mark the Evangelist April 28 Saint Louis Marie de Montfort

throughout the country leading parish missions and leadership renewal. Fellowship follows each evening. Call the Parish Office for more information 318-687-5121.

MAY 6 9:00 am

Red Mass @ Holy Trinity Catholic Church Music by Zion Baptist Church Choir will begin at 8:30 am. Bishop Malone will be the principal celebrant and homilist. See page 21 for more information.

MAY 2110:00 a.m.

Ordination of Fr. Nicholas Duncan Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans

MAY 25 6:00 p.m.

Ordination of Dcn. Gabriel Ciscernos

April 29 Saint Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church

Christ the King Church

Protecting God’s Children Training Now Available Online!

Don’t want to sit through a three hour seminar for Protecting God’s Children?

That’s okay! Virtus now offers an online option to complete the course in 90 minutes. Once you open the course, you will have two weeks to complete it.

For more information, visit www.dioshpt.org/safe-environment.

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around the diocese

Sacred Heart Parish Hosts Catholic Black History Celebration

In recognition of Black History Month, Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Shreveport held a special Catholic Black History Celebration Mass Sunday, February 20.The committee, Jean Woods, chairperson, selected to honor Deacon Charles Thomas of our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament. Deacon Charles delivered the homily and spoke on his journey as a Deacon.

Choir Director, Stephanie Carr, Cantor, Mary Nash along with the adult and youth choirs provided special music during the Mass. The Knights of Peter Claver Council 144 and Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Court 144 Degree also participated during Mass.

It was a joyful and memorable day for the “The Little Church with the Big Heart”! The parish which comprises a diverse and active faith community worked together with loving dedication, provided delicious refreshments, and worked together to ensure it was a special day for Deacon Charles Thomas, his wife Nadalie Thomas, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, and Sacred Heart Church.

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Ford & Watkins Celebrate Combined 75 Years of Service

Congratulations, to Lady Ivy Ford (25 Years) and Lady Patricia Wakins (50Years) of service to the Knights of Saint Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Court 144. We greatly appreciate your years of meritorious service, vision, dedication, and determination towards our Knights of Saint Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Noble Order.

Bishop Visits Association of Catholic Tech Students (ACTS) in Ruston

Bishop Malone was in Ruston to visit with the leadership team of the Association of Catholic Tech Students (ACTS). The students asked various questions in regards to the state of affairs of St.Thomas Aquinas Church and Student Center since the Franciscan Friars will no longer be in Ruston come June. After the listening

session, Bishop Malone celebrated the 7 pm Sunday Mass which was a service planned by the college students from Louisiana Tech. All of the liturgical roles at this liturgy are filled by students with the campus minister, Br. Mike Ward, OFM serving as deacon.

Parishes around the Diocese Celebrate Mardi Gras

Saint Ann held its Mardi Gras celebration February 19, joined by the Krewe of Demeter royalty. Activities included a trunkor-treat parade, a gumbo cook-off, and a performance by Broken Chains.

Pictured above in their Mardi Gras jackets are Deacon Bill Roche, Fr Mark Watson, and Fr Raney Johnson. They helped the PSR students and OCIA participants celebrate Mardi Gras at St Mary of the Pines. The

jackets are handcrafted by Mary Cadwell (right) and are a St Mary’s tradition for clergy as members of St Mary’s “Krewe of the Divine.” Mary has made them for many past priests.

Elaborate decorations, a Cajun feast, and Mardi Gras fun were the focus of the St. Ann Mission Church in Ebarb on Sunday, February 27th.

Youth led the parade and were quizzed on Church trivia as locals enjoyed the celebration.

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Annual Diocesan Stewardship Appeal

A Joyful Response

( ) $15,000 ( ) $10,000 ( ) $7,500 ( ) $5,000 ( ) Other $

( ) $3,500 ( ) $2,000 ( ) $1,500 ( ) $1,000

( ) $800 ( ) $750 ( ) $650 ( ) $500

( ) $400 ( ) $350 ( ) $300 ( ) $250

( ) $200 ( ) $150 ( ) $100

Please list below any special intentions or requests for which you would like prayer assistance:

Enclosed is a pledge payment of: $ for year 2022.

Please make checks payable to Diocese of Shreveport Name Address City/State/Zip Church

Diocese of Shreveport 3500 Fairfield Ave Shreveport, LA 71104 Or donate online at www.dioshpt.org

Seminarian Burses Thanks to our Recent Donors:

(005) Cathedral of St. John Berchmans ($250) (029) Mr. & Mrs. George & Anita Manshack ($100) (035) Mrs. Rosemary C. Ward ($500) (030) Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Cobb ($1000) (011) Dorothy Jarzabek ($400) (002) Dr. George & Sandra Bakowski Foundation ($100) (001) Dr. George & Sandra Bakowski Foundation ($100) Completed Burses: (001) Fr. Mike Bakowski Memorial Burse #1 ($10000) (006) Msgr. J. Carson LaCaze Memorial Burse #1 ($10000)

(010) Memory of Rita Scott from the John Scott Family Burse ($10000) (011) Rev. David Richter Memorial Burse #1 ($10000) (012) Jack E. Caplis, Jr., Memorial Burse ($10000) (013) Mary Evans Caplis Burse ($10000) (014) Bob & Peggy Semmes Memorial Burse ($10000) (019) Margaret Glenn Memorial Burse ($10000) (020) Dr. James V. Ward Memorial Burse ($10000) (026) Sheryl Seal Sweeney Memorial Burse ($10000) (027) Rev. Richard Lombard Memorial Burse ($10000) (027) Rev. Richard Lombard Memorial Burse #2 ($10000)

(031) Pearl Heck & Leona Boudreaux Memorial Burse ($10000) (033) Beryl K. & Joseph D. Ozenne Memorial Burse ($10000) Incomplete Burses: (001) Fr. Mike Bakowski Memorial Burse #2 ($1350) (002) Joseph & Antoinette Bakowski Memorial Burse ($3150) (003) Sam R. Maranto Memorial Burse ($1650) (004) Kathryn Atherton Cook Memorial Burse ($350) (005) Cathedral of St. John Berchmans Burse ($1200) (006) Msgr. J. Carson LaCaze Memorial Burse #2 ($3832.12)

(007) Dr. Carol Christopher Memorial Burse ($1200) (008) St. Jude Parish Burse ($6218) (009) St. John Berchmans Knights of Columbus Council 10728 Burse ($1550) (011) Rev. David Richter Memorial Burse #2 ($4029) (015) Bishop’s Seminarian Burse ($2910) (016) Elaine Malloy Frantz Memorial Burse ($1000) (017) Msgr. George Martinez Knights of Columbus Council 1337 Burse ($7521.57) (018) Knights of St. Peter Claver Council 144 Burse ($1180) (021) Rev. Edmund “Larry” Niehoff Memorial Burse ($2000) (022) Rev. Blane O’Neil, OFM Memorial

Burse ($700) (023) Msgr. Edmund J. Moore Memorial Burse ($1020) (024) Rev. Joseph Puthupally Memorial Burse ($1100) (025) Kathleen Hightower Memorial Burse ($400) (028) Friends-n-Faith Burse ($300) (029) Rev. Kenneth Williams Memorial Burse ($200) (030) Ottis and Anne Krupa Littlejohn Memorial Burse ($4000) (032) Madeline and Joe Tiller Memorial Burse ($1000) (034) Joseph B. and Lucille Provenza Cordaro Burse ($6000) (035) Dr. James V. & Rosemary C. Ward Burse ($3200) (036) Msgr. Earl Vincent Provenza Burse ($1000)

The Diocesan Seminary Burse Program provides the faithful of North Louisiana the opportunity to invest in the education and formation of our seminarians into holy and effective priests to serve the Diocese of Shreveport.

Interested in contributing to or establishing a burse?

You can establish and name a burse with a donation of at least $250 or you can contribute any amount to a burse simply by designating its name when the contribution is made. Contributions may be mailed to the Office of Church Vocations, Diocese of Shreveport, 3500 Fairfield Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71104.

Be sure to note the name of the burse in the memo line. Burses are completed at $10,000.

APRIL 2022

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CATHOLIC CONNECTION DIOCESE OF SHREVEPORT 3500 Fairfield Ave.

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Shreveport, LA 71104

Catholic Connection USPS 024-824 is published monthly except for July by the Diocese of Shreveport, 3500 Fairfield Ave., Shreveport, LA 71104. Periodicals Postage PAID at Shreveport, LA 71102. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Catholic Connection, 3500 Fairfield Ave, Shreveport, LA 71104.

Great job to all the students who visited the Diocese to give their saint presentations. Everyone did a wonderful job, and Bishop Malone is so proud of them for their hard work and research!

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CATHOLIC CONNECTION