March 2021

The Catholic

Connection

Lent’s Last Days

Vol. 30 No. 8 March 2021

Eucharistic Adoration: Why Do We Have It?

From the Pope: Prayer in Daily Life

MARCH 2021 1

Connection The Catholic PUBLISHER

Bishop Francis I. Malone

EDITOR

Kierstin Richter

CONTRIBUTORS

Mike Van Vranken Kim Long Kate Rhea Mary Arcement Alexander Patti Underwood Rosalba Quiroz Meg Goorley Kathryn Landreneau

EDITORIAL BOARD

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

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 www.thecatholiconnection.org 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. Classes are offered every second Wednesday of the month at the Catholic Center in Shreveport.To report child sexual abuse by a cleric or church worker in the Diocese of Shreveport, call your local law enforcement agency and Mary Katherine Arcement, Diocesan Victim Assistance Minister, at 318-584-2411.

On the Cover: Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans Prayer Garden

contents Features 13

Eucharistic Adoration: Why Do We Have It?

14

Mind, Body, Soul: Sacred Heart Starts Weekly Yoga Class

20

The Mission and Spread of the Daughters of the Cross

28

Lent’s Last Days

Columns 3

From the Editor

4

Pope: Prayer in Daily Life

6

From the Bishop

10

Mike’s Meditations: In the End

16 Mary’s Mission: Stop

Existing, Start Living

18 Faithful Food: What’s in a Name?

24

Spiritual Direction: How Will You Labor in this Field?

News 8

Across the Nation

22

Hispanic News

30

School News

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from the editor

dark night of the soul

“O night, that guided me!

O night, sweeter than sunrise!

O night, that joined lover with Beloved!

Lover transformed in Beloved!”

-John of the Cross; Dark Night of the Soul

Have you ever experienced a time of spiritual dryness? If you haven’t, I’m not going to say you’re lying, but I’d be very surprised. As we move through the long middle stretch of Lent, it’s easy to get discouraged with our faith. All the fasting can either energize us or drain us.

Ask any saint. Most of them would tell you they experienced this too. Those days when Mass is boring, the homilies aren’t hitting home, you’re not feeling the rosary or have much motivation to talk to God about anything.

A relationship with God is like a marriage. In marriage, you’re not always going to be in the honeymoon phase. But once those rose-colored glasses are taken off, and you’re met with the struggles of the mundane, day to day life, having to take life together, sometimes a little effort is needed to keep things going.

Even when you’re tired or you just aren’t feeling like being super romantic, you still show up for your spouse, just like we still show up for God. There’s a certain

grace in showing up.

Just ask Mother Teresa. She says she experienced forty years of spiritual darkness. And that doesn’t come without criticism. She admitted that her smile was “a big cloak which covers a multitude of pains.” To this, we understand. The life of a Christian isn’t always so happy-go-lucky. But even the late British journalist Christopher Hitchens accused her of being a “fanatic and a fraud.” He even wrote a whole book about it, criticizing her mission and her character. He even testified in opposition to the Washington Archdiocese considering her cause for sainthood. Doesn’t that make your skin crawl?

But what Hitchens didn’t understand was the life of a Christian is about showing up even when we don’t feel like it. For God, for the people who need help, we aren’t driven by feelings - we are driven by faith. (There were other economic and sociological arguments here, but we’ll save that for another article.)

When asked about her faith, she said, “if I ever become a Saint–I will surely be one of darkness. I will continually be absent from Heaven–to light the light

of those in darkness on earth.” Just like there’s a balance of day and night, there is also a balance of darkness and light in our spiritual lives. It’s in the low moments we gain footing, build a foundation, and cultivate a deeper, more compassionate faith - one that can meet others in their darkness and show them light.

Showing up for God even when you aren’t emotionally available is a sign of strength, courage, and faith. Anyone can show up when they’re feeling great.

But only a few can show up when they can barely stand. So for the remainder of Lent, I encourage you to keep showing up. Keep fighting. Keep praying for guidance. God will pull you through, and even if the world drags you down, God is there to pick you back up.

Kierstin

MISSION STATEMENT

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.

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from the pope

Prayer in Daily Life GENERAL AUDIENCE: Library of the Apostolic Palace, February 10, 2021 In the preceding catechesis, we saw how Christian prayer is “anchored” in the Liturgy. Today, we will shed light on how the Liturgy always enters daily life: on the streets, in offices, on public transportation… And there it continues the dialogue with God: the person who prays is like someone in love who always bears the beloved in his or her heart wherever they go.

Essentially, everything becomes a part of this dialogue with God: every joy becomes a reason for praise, every trial is an opportunity to ask for help. Prayer is always alive in our lives, like embers, even when the mouth does not speak, but the heart speaks. Every thought, even the apparently “profane” ones, can be permeated by prayer. There is even a prayerful aspect in the human intelligence; it is a window peering into the mystery: it illuminates the few steps in front of us and then opens up to the entire reality, this reality that precedes it and surpasses it. This mystery does not have a disquieting or anxious face. No, knowledge of Christ makes us confident that whatever our eyes and the eyes of our minds cannot see, rather than nothing being there, there is someone who is waiting for us, there is infinite grace. And thus, Christian prayer instills

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an invincible hope in the human heart: whatever experience we touch on our journey, God’s love can turn it into good.

Regarding this, the Catechism reads: “We learn to pray at certain moments by hearing the Word of the Lord and sharing in his Paschal Mystery, but his Spirit is offered us at all times, in the events of each day, to make prayer spring up from us. […]

Time is in the Father’s hands; it is in the present that we encounter him, not yesterday or tomorrow, but today” (n. 2659). Today I meet God, today is always the day of the encounter.

There exists no other wonderful day than the day we are living. Those who live always thinking about the future, in the future: “But it will be better...”, but do not take each day as it comes: these are people who live in their fantasy, they do not know how to deal with concrete reality. And today is real, today is concrete. And prayer is to be done today. Jesus comes to meet us today, the day we are living. And it is prayer that transforms this day into grace, or better, it transforms us: it appeases anger, sustains love, multiplies joy, instills the strength to forgive. Sometimes it will seem that it is no longer we who are living, but that grace lives and works

in us through prayer. It is grace that awaits, but always this, don’t forget: take today as it comes. And let’s think about when an angry thought comes to you, of unhappiness, that moves you toward bitterness, stop yourself.

And let’s say to the Lord: “Where are you? And where am I going?” And the Lord is there, the Lord will give you the right word, the advice to go ahead without that bitter, negative taste. For prayer is always, using a profane word, is positive. Always. It will carry you ahead. Each day that begins is accompanied by courage if it is welcomed in prayer. Thus, the problems we face no longer seem to be obstacles to our happiness, but appeals from God, opportunities to meet Him. And when a person is accompanied by the Lord, he or she feels more courageous, freer, and even happier.

6:34). The Lord is – let’s not forget – the Lord of compassion, of nearness, of tenderness: three words never to be forgotten regarding the Lord. Because this is the Lord’s style: compassion, nearness, tenderness.

came to save us. Open your heart, pardon, give others the benefit of the doubt, understand, be close to others, be compassionate, be tender, like Jesus. We need to love each and every person, remembering in prayer that we are all sinners and at Prayer helps us love others, despite the same time loved individually by their mistakes and sins. The person God. Loving the world in this way, loving it with tenderness, we will discover that each day and everything bears within it a fragment of God’s mystery.

Open your heart, pardon, give others the benefit of the doubt, understand, be close to others, be compassionate, be tender, like Jesus. We need to love each and every person, remembering in prayer that we are all sinners and at the same time loved individually by God. Loving the world in this way, loving it with tenderness, we will discover that each day and everything bears within it a fragment of God’s mystery.

Let us pray always, then, for everyone, even for our enemies.

Jesus counseled us to do this: “Pray for your enemies”. Let us pray for our dear ones, even those we do not know. Let us pray even for our enemies, as I said, as the Scriptures often invite us to do. Prayer inclines us toward a superabundant love. Let us pray above all for people who are sad, for those who weep in solitude and despair that there still might be someone who loves them.

Prayer works miracles; and the poor then understand, by God’s grace that, even in their precarious situation, the prayer of a Christian makes Christ’s compassion present. He, in fact, looked with great tenderness on the weary and lost crowd who were like sheep without a shepherd (cf Mk

Again, the Catechism reads: “Prayer in the events of each day and each moment is one of the secrets of the Kingdom revealed to ‘little children,’ to the servants of Christ, to the poor of the beatitudes. It is right and good to pray so that the coming of the kingdom of justice and peace may influence the march of history, but it is just as important to bring the help of prayer into humble, everyday situations; all forms of prayer can be the leaven to which the Lord compares the kingdom” (n. 2660).

The human person – men and women, all of us, – the human person is like a breath, like a blade of grass (cf Ps 144:4; 103:15). The philosopher Pascal once wrote: “There is no need for the whole universe to take up arms to crush him: a vapor, a drop of water is enough to kill him.” We are fragile is always more important than their beings, but we know how to pray: actions, and Jesus did not judge this is our greatest dignity and it is the world, but He saved it. What also our strength. Have courage. Pray a horrible life is that of the person in every moment, in every situation who always judges others, who is so the Lord might be near to us. And always condemning, judging… This when a prayer is said according to the is a horrible, unhappy life when Jesus heart of Jesus, it obtains miracles.

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From the Bishop I have been the recipient of countless gifts over the years. People have been very good to me, very generous.

I have never thought that I “deserved” their generosity, but I have always been humbled by their thoughtfulness.

Some time ago, (and I am not sure whether this occurred here in Shreveport or Arkansas) I caught an infomercial on television advertising what is called “the Garden Weasel.” You may have seen one of these advertised. The Garden Weasel is a four-foot steel rod with a handle at one end and a four-pronged steel end. The purpose of the Weasel is to manually aerate your lawn or flower beds so that the soil can receive the amount of water and nutrients that will make the grass and the flowers thrive. Failure to properly aerate will cause the failure of the growth needed. The Garden Weasel, while not the easiest tool to use, still does its job – by inserting the four prongs into the soil, and turning the apparatus with the handle, it opens up the soil and makes it receptive to those things that will ensure its growth.

I thought that the Garden Weasel advertisement was perfect as a metaphor for what the Lord wants to do to our spiritual lives: He challenges us, particularly in the Lenten season, to open up our lives, to be receptive to what changes He wants to make in our lives. So, I used the Weasel as an image in one of my pre-Lenten sermons.

I could see in the congregation people nodding that they understood the metaphor, and more importantly, they 6 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

grasped the necessary changes they might have to make for the soil of our spiritual lives to be open and receptive to God’s will for us.

Some months back, I received a long package in the mail. I couldn’t imagine, at first glance what the box contained. It had no return address, so I could not see from where it came. But upon opening it, I laughed as I pulled from the box my own ‘Garden Weasel.” Yes, I laughed, but then I wondered if someone had sent that to me as a suggestion that I have some spiritual work to do in my life, to open up the soil of my spiritual life to be more receptive to whatever changes the Lord wants to make in my life. So, I keep it near my desk. It’s a constant reminder that in my life there is much work that needs to be done, and not just seasonally as in Lent, but continually so that I grow into the person that Jesus expects me to be.

For now, I suggest that if you’ve never seen the advertisement for the Weasel, you imagine what it looks like, and more importantly, the kind of twists and turns we can make in our lives that enable spiritual growth to happen. May it happen for us all.

Pictured right: Bishop Malone leading the January 29th Virtual Rosary for Catholic Schools

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“Violence can to attain peace and

USCCB, February 10, 2021

must be purged from

across the nation

Catholic Leaders Urge Temporary Protected Status and Foreign Assistance for Central American Countries Devastated by Recent Hurricanes

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WASHINGTON–Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, auxiliary bishop of Washington, and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Migration, Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on International Justice and Peace, and Sean Callahan, president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), have formally requested that the Biden Administration provide an 18-month designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for foreign nationals from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua—four Central American countries recently devastated by Hurricanes Eta and Iota in November. Under U.S. law, TPS is a temporary and renewable immigration protection that allows individuals to remain and work lawfully in the U.S. during a period in which it is deemed unsafe for them to return to their home country due to certain conditions, including environmental disaster.

In their letter dated February 10, 2021, Bishop Dorsonville, Bishop Malloy, and Mr. Callahan stated: “Recent hurricanes Eta and Iota have devastated communities across Central America. In addition to providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to populations in need, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to provide foreign nationals from these countries currently present in the U.S.

never be the means justice. The sins of

violence, injustice,

racism, and hatred our communities

with acts of mercy, with the protection and care for the dignity of every human person, with respect for the common good, and with an unwavering pursuit of equality and peace.” temporary humanitarian protection. . . .

“Undoubtedly, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala are facing the aftermath of an environmental disaster. Therefore, we strongly urge the Administration to designate TPS for these countries for a period of 18 months.

Current conditions prevent foreign nationals from returning safely, and managing their return would only add to existing challenges. This is compounded with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which further strains limited resources on the ground and imposes an added layer of complication for return.

“As Americans, we know such a response to be supported by the values, laws, and ideals that this country holds dear; and as Christians, we are called in a special way to make this plea. We therefore join with people of faith all across the U.S. in praying for a swift recovery from these devastating storms and a humane response to those impacted by them.”

“[Pope Francis] warns us of the danger of a ‘green rhetoric’ that often coexists with economic privilege and comfort, emphasizing the need to ‘hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.’”

U.S. Bishops’ Domestic Chairman Expresses Support of Executive Orders Protecting the Environment USCCB, February 13, 2021 WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed executive orders during his first week in office addressing climate change and the care for our common home. Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, expressed support for several of the new administration’s environmental priorities: “In his encyclical Laudato Si’, Pope Francis presented Christians and all peoples with an integral ecology oriented towards the common good, drawing on the longstanding tradition of Catholic social teaching and rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He warned

us of the danger of a ‘green rhetoric’ that often coexists with economic privilege and comfort, emphasizing the need to ‘hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.’

“President Biden’s environmental executive orders resonate deeply with an integral ecology that listens to the ‘least of these’ (Mt 25:40). Not only do they recommit our nation to robust and integrated climate mitigation policies, but also emphasize other environmental realities that deserve greater attention: • Climate adaptation and resilience • Just transition and revitalization of communities reliant on the energy industry

• Environmental justice • Clean air, clean water and the conservation of lands, ecosystems, and agriculture • Economic growth, clean infrastructure, and opportunities for workers • Commitment to the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol and to protecting the Amazon rainforest.

“The swift action to restore regulations for which the USCCB previously advocated—including fuel emissions standards, hazardous air pollutants and the integrity of National Environmental Policy Act—speak of a commitment to restoring public health and the common home.”

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mike’s meditations

In the End Mike Van Vranken, Spiritual Director

W

e still hear people proclaiming how the end is imminent, using scripture as their signpost. How much of that scripture is literal?

What is the magnitude of the metaphorical significance? We can easily get caught up looking at the infinite mystery and assume we know something.

What if we sat with this one scripture: “But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of these is love” 1 Cor 13:13 MSG? Let’s walk through this together.

“But for right now . . . ” This is a phrase that is easy for me to read and just keep going further to complete the sentence. Why is that?

What is it about “right now” that eludes me?

Have I found it is easier to imagine the future than to endure and experience the present?

How about you? Is being conscious of “right now” something you regularly enjoy? Are you willing to examine your inner feelings and emotions where “right now” is concerned? Is it so truly difficult to live in the present moment that you would rather form a mental image of something that is described in metaphoric images? “until that completeness . . .” Earlier in the passage, we learn inspired speech and praying in tongues will all end someday. What we know about God is incomplete. Everything is incomplete until we are “consummated” with God. How does that sound to you? Is this referring to what we call “the second coming” or “the end times?” Are you sure? Can this consummation take place in this life? After all, Jesus preached “this is the time of fulfillment, the kingdom of God is at hand” Mark 1:15.

At hand! That seems to mean right here, right now. Could the completeness be experienced now?

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“We have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation . . .” For those who like a prescription, this is good. If you are prone to say “give me the rules and I’ll play the game” this is right up your alley. We have three things to do. Only three! Without reading on, do you blindly commit to doing these three things?

Does it excite and energize you to know you are about to be given your duties? Or, does it drain you because this seems like going through the motions to get something? Will doing the three things come from my heart? Or am I just trying to impress God to get what I want?

And, by the way, what is it that I want?

“Trust steadily in God . . .” What is trust?

Can I define it? Is this the same as “have faith in God?” How do I develop trust? Where does it come from? “hope unswervingly . . .” Stay on the path.

Don’t get distracted to the left or the right.

Some have said the definition for both the Hebrew and Greek words we translate into “hope” means “to have great expectation for.”

What is hope for me? Do I use it in speaking like: “I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow. Maybe it will and maybe it won’t.” Or, “I hope in the Lord that he is always within me.” “love extravagantly.” Some definitions include more than is necessary; excessively high; exceeding the bounds of reason, going beyond what is deserved or justifiable. Another word could be prodigal. The Prodigal Son was wastefully or recklessly extravagant.

The Prodigal Father in the same parable was extravagantly merciful; extravagantly loving.

How did Jesus love extravagantly? How will I love extravagantly? Do I even want to?

“And the best of these is love.” Oh great!

Maybe I would try to trust steadily and hope unswervingly. But to love extravagantly like Jesus; like the Prodigal Father? Maybe this prescription is harder to swallow than I thought.

This Month: As part of your Lenten practice, would you be willing to vulnerably, with God already there, examine and inspect what is going on inside you as you gaze at the scripture we’ve been using?

Prepare your prayer space with a lighted candle, a painting or statue, soft, instrumental music, or the quiet of a church mouse. Begin by acknowledging the presence of God and ask for the grace to let go of all distractions.

On the first day, slowly read the scripture in 1 Cor 13:13 MSG. Pay attention and converse with God. Then, on subsequent days, use only one of the remaining paragraphs for your conversation time each day with Jesus. Add your questions and comments as you dialogue with the Creator. When you finish each day, write down what happened. And it is good to repeat your prayers with each paragraph on subsequent days throughout Lent. Finally, I very well may come to the same conclusion as St. Paul: In the end, the greatest of these is love.

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Many an argument with a well-meaning atheist will contain this point, or one similar to it: Sure, it is nice to believe in God and everything, but all that time spent in prayer and doing “church-y” things, wouldn’t it be better spent doing something useful? Certainly, if you have a free hour in a week, you should to go to a soup kitchen or sort clothing for the homeless. Look at Mother Teresa, an ideal Christian. She did plenty of good in the world. Those sisters in her order must spend every waking minute caring for the destitute. Making time for a Holy Hour like the one described in last month’s Catholic Connection seems like a tremendous waste in the face of all the material things which could be done to make the world a better place.

If the people making that argument experienced a day in the life of the Missionaries of Charity, they would be surprised to find that the sisters’ days follow an unexpected schedule. Each sister spends a total of 4 hours a day in prayer! Jen Fulwiler, well-known convert from atheism, writes that this is a common theme in religious communities. “It requires great trust in God to walk away from your endless list of demands when there is still technically time to get a few more things done.” (The Courage to Rest, February 3, 2014) Jesus Himself frequently walked away in the face of crowds of people pleading to be healed. The Gospels are full of examples of Him making His way off to a deserted place in order to rest and pray.

Making the time every week for a Holy Hour is a personal struggle for me. I have six kids and a full-time job. It is never easy to “walk away from the endless list” of things to do. I rely on my chapel visits, though, as an indispensable part of my week. They allow me to meditate on the swirling issues in my life, often seeing them in a new way and coming out of the chapel with a different focus.

The primary reason that time in front of the Eucharist promotes a life of faith, which will in turn strengthen us in our

Eucharistic Adoration: Why Do We Have It? Kathryn Landreneau, Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans

quest to do good, is that it is the most sure way to build a relationship with Christ.

Eucharistic adoration is a profoundly personal way to encounter Him. Pope Paul VI, re-emphasizing the importance of the Eucharist in the modern world, earnestly begged the Church to spend time adoring the Eucharist, reminding us “just how worthwhile it is to carry on a conversation with Christ” (Mysterium Fidei). When Bishop Anthony Taylor wrote about Bishop Malone for The Catholic Connection, he pointed out that then-Father Malone’s parish emphasized Eucharistic adoration, and it became a “fertile environment for promoting vocations to the priesthood.” This is in part because Eucharistic prayer allows vocation-seekers to have time to listen to Christ and build that relationship. Sally Read, in her conversion memoir, writes, “To respond to God’s call is to do his will in the minute fabric of life. And that only comes through constant listening.”

(Night’s Bright Darkness) For Read, the “constant listening” was gained through hours in front of the Eucharist.

Some of the best experts I know on how to converse with Jesus in a Holy Hour are the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament, from my hometown diocese in Maine. They teach that the types of prayer in a holy hour should start with adoration and thanksgiving, then move on to reparation and petition. Sister Catherine cites St. Peter Julian Eymard, their founder, who said, “You wouldn’t start a conversation with a friend by complaining about how miserable you are.” She also reminds someone who is choosing a particular devotion to use during Adoration: “Remember that you are speaking with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.” It is tempting to bring a whole slew of novenas and litanies into that hour, but they can often interfere with a true conversation.

Given the intensity with which today’s society values work and productivity, making the choice to spend an hour or more each week just sitting in silence is hard to justify. The clarity it brings through relationship with Jesus, though, will make the daily work of our vocations exponentially more meaningful.

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Mind, Body & Sacred Heart Parish Starts Weekly Yoga Class By: Kierstin Richter, Editor

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

We are called to nourish and protect our bodies. Whether that is through healthy eating or physical exercise, God has given us a home within our bodies, and as Catholics, we are called to tend to them. Our bodies house our spirit, so it is essential that we take care of them. What better way 14 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

to do that than some gentle yoga?

Between restrictions on gyms and exercise classes, cold weather that makes it difficult to exercise outside, and a sense of lonliness in quarantine, we’re all in need of a heart rate increase and a social pick me up.

Aga Chandler, Director of Religious Education for Sacred Heart, has been leading a yoga class in the parish hall of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church.

Aga teaches “Radiant Yoga,” which is a set of gentle exercises geared to improve flexibility, strength, and balance. Given its gentle nature, it’s

easy on the joints and perfect for those wanting a weekly workout pick me up, but also want a soothing session to ease your mind.

Each exercise can be adjusted with the use of props such as a chair or wall for comfort and stability. Not only does yoga improve coordination and strength, it also elevates your mood and clears your mind.

As the class wrapped up, Fay Cunningham said it best: “This just goes to show... Inactivity is a killer.”

Like any yoga class, the final cleansing moments were accompanied by a

& Soul

Left: Libby Campbell and Fay Cunningham Right: Mary Nash, Deacon Clary Nash, and Aga Chandler, DRE

meditation on the psalm, “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack, in green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul.”

In these times of struggle, we are asked to lie down (or sit down, if you will), and this is where Christ restores us. It’s in the quiet moments, in the solace of our breath and in the company of friends. This is where we find peace - when God asks us to let go, breathe, and surrender - and Sacred Heart parishoners are doing it every Thursday at noon.

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Stop Existing.

Start Living.

Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Mt. 6:34

and motivate you to live your life fully. With that said, I am also recommending you do so safely and with common sense.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Jn. 10:10

As a mental health professional, 2020 has concerned me in many ways but especially when it comes to the decline of our mental health. According to www.cdc.gov, in June 2020, 40% of adults reported struggling with mental health and/or substance abuse issues. Of the 40%, 31% reported anxiety and depression, 13% started or increased their substance use, 26% experienced trauma/stressorrelated disorder symptoms, and 11% seriously considered suicide. I included this information not to sadden you or to appear doom and gloom. On the contrary, I included it to inspire you. I pray it inspires you to take better care of your mental health and your physical health. I pray it inspires you to reach out to your family, friend or neighbor who may be a part of the 40%. I pray it inspires you to actively decrease your stress levels by implementing healthy coping skills. I pray it inspires you to begin living again.

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 Scripture tells us “Do not be afraid” 365 times. I do not think it is a coincidence that we also have 365 days in a year. I believe God mentions this one message 365 times to represent telling us every single day to stop worrying and stop being afraid. Yet here we are, not only anxious but also living in fear or rather existing in fear. As humans we cannot live in fear, we can only exist in it. Fear debilitates, stagnates and kills. It kills our hopes, our dreams, our desires, and our ability to live life as God intended for us. It is time we stop existing and start living! Before I continue, I want to preface what I am about to say with this: I fully acknowledge that COVID is real, that the pandemic is real, and that we are living in unprecedented times. What I am recommending is meant to both inspire 16 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you.

He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 Brothers and sisters do not fear this virus. Our God is far

mary’s mission greater than any virus, disease, and/or pandemic. He is in control, not the government. He will save us, not the vaccine. He goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. I implore you to trust Him explicitly with what is happening in our world. With that said, I believe He does want us to be safe and smart. If you know you are high risk and the vaccine is available for you, take it. If you know you are high risk, always wear your mask, wash your hands and practice social distancing. If you know you are high risk, take the necessary precautions but still choose to live your life. God does not promise us time. He does not promise us a long healthy life. He does not promise that we will live without pain. He does however promise to be with us through the grief, the pain, the challenges and the fear. He gave us life to live it. He gave us life to live out His will. He gave us life to spread the Good News and bring others to Him. He gave you life, how are you choosing to live it?

Satan is the thief who is stealing, killing and destroying. God is our Lord who gives us life and asks us to live it abundantly. Live abundantly today! Go to Target (or whatever is your favorite store), eat lunch at a restaurant on a patio with a friend, invite people over while sitting outside, laugh with others, celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, ride your bike around your neighborhood, go to the movies, watch the sunset with your favorite person, sing, dance, smile, show the world that your God is greater than this pandemic. Last but not least, go to Mass! Receive the Holy Eucharist! Jesus is waiting for you, brothers and sisters. Go to Him and receive life again.

Mary Arcement Alexander is a private practice, licensed professional counselor in Shreveport, Louisiana. She is also the Victim Assistance Minister for the Diocese of Shreveport. You can read more on her blog, throughhiseyes.love MARCH 2021 17

What’s in a Name?

Kim Long, St. Mary of the Pines Director of Religious Education In scripture, choosing a new name is usually indicative of a new way of life. Marriage, confirmation, and baptism are times when a name change indicates changes are coming. Abram became Abraham, Sarai became Sarah, Jacob became Israel, Saul became Paul on that old road to Damascus, I added Brigid to my name at confirmation, my grandchildren added Frances and Anne to their names at baptism, and so it goes. If clothes make the man, then a name offers possibilities.

Choosing a name is a serious endeavor. There is much to consider, spelling, meaning, family attachment, length.

You need to speak it out loud and see how it flows.

When I was expecting my youngest child choosing his name was difficult. Most of the family names had been used already and I tried looking in family records that were at least one hundred years old to find a name that seemed to “fit.” I found one which my eye was drawn back to more than a time or two-Martin. Well, it was immediately rejected by my husband. Turns out he had a name in mind all along-Kyle, which we used for our son’s middle name. His first name came from the annals of world history rather than family history. History has always been an interest of mine, a gift that was passed down to me by my mother. And while her interests were on one side of the world, Ireland, mine was in quite a different direction.

18 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

Along with history, reading was a big hobby for me. Since childhood, it was easier to find me lost in a book than anywhere else. I read everything, fiction, non-fiction, and when I stumbled upon volumes of published letters I was hooked. To have such an insight into people’s lives was eye-opening, to put it mildly.

Nicholas Romanov was not known for his governmental prowess, but in a book of published letters between him and his wife I began to see another side of this man known to the world as the last Czar of Russia, who was known to his wife as Nicky. They were devoted to one another and God. As their story unfolded, page by page, I saw in him qualities I would have wished my sons to have. He was known to be a devoted husband, father, and Christian. His story still fascinates me. When we finally settled on his name, Nicholas Kyle, I was giving him much more than a moniker, I was giving him a blessing that I hoped would lead him to embody all of those wonderful attributes.

Nicholas II is venerated as a saint in the Russian Orthodox Church. I have asked his prayers upon my son and my entire family more than one time. As we journey toward the glory of the resurrection I pray that I am mindful of what I name in my life...not just children but also of how I use speech to “name” the kind of day I have had for one thing leads to another and soon a habit is formed. Mondays are not always “bad” or something

faithful food to be endured, thoughts form speech, form actions, form They were not the sugar-laden fried pies of my dreams habits and there is no longer room for careless speech in rather they were smooth, tangy, and the sweetness was my life. “just right.” Naturally, I don’t have family recipes for any Russian desserts. After an internet search, I found A couple of weeks ago I made a dessert for our family that most of the recipes are pretty similar. Below is the dinner which was straight out of Nicholas and Alexandra’s amalgamation I settled on, based in part, on ingredients part of the world-cherry pelmeni, which I was introduced that were on hand. to a few years ago when I was blessed to visit Russia.

Cherry Pelmeni Cherry Pie Filling Dough: 2 cups of flour ¼ teaspoon salt ¾ cup water Combine all ingredients until a smooth dough forms. Divide dough into two portions, keeping covered with a clean dishtowel until ready to use.

Roll out half the dough on a lightly floured surface. When the dough is ¼ to 1 /8 inch thick. Use a drinking glass to cut out circles of dough.

Place a small amount of cherry pie filling making sure not to crowd them. into the center of the circles of dough, fold the dough over the filling to make a When they rise to the top or float they are ready to be removed and drained. Cook half-moon shape. no longer than five minutes.

Pinch the dough together making sure it is sealed. Repeat until all pelmeni is Serve plain, sprinkled with sugar, or as we did by mixing a cup of heavy whipping made. cream, a pinch of cinnamon, and sugar Place a large pot of water (add a pinch to taste and pouring over pelmeni. Enjoy of salt) on the stove and bring to a boil. with a cup of coffee or tea and think about Once water is boiling add a few pelmeni naming all the good things in your life!

MARCH 2021 19

Towns and communities in France where the Daughters of the Cross had Convents (https://d-maps.com/m/europa/ france/france/france25.gif )

The Mission and Spread of the Daughters of the Cross By: Patti Underwood

The year is 1618. It is 55 years after the close of the Council of Trent, the response of the Roman Catholic Church to the Reformation. Conflicts and confusion still roil the lands of Europe.

France, while remaining Catholic, has its share of division. In this milieu, the germ of the Daughters of the Cross is born as a desire in the heart of Madame Marie l’Huillier de Villeneuve to educate 20 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

poor children and instruct them in the Catholic faith. Availing herself of the opportunity to consult with the Bishop of Geneva, Francis de Sales, she receives from him solid encouragement and a Rule on which to base a future order for this purpose.

Twenty-three years later, that seed comes to fruition when Marie and four novices

take perpetual vows, becoming the first Daughters of the Cross. Marie purchases a suitable house in the Paris suburb of Vaugirard for the first Convent. Leaving the Paris Convent of the Visitation Sisters, which served as their novitiate, Marie brings the Sisters to the parish church of Vaugirard, entering in procession for a warm welcome ceremony with the priest and parishioners. At Vaugirard,

their ministry begins with day classes for local girls and boarding for daughters of wealthy families. In addition to the education and formation of the young, the Rule provides for the sanctification of the members of the institute and ministry to adult women of all ages. To this end, the Daughters host inspirational talks and closed retreats and accept as temporary boarders women in need of spiritual refreshment. The institute grows quickly, and in 1643, Marie purchases the Hotel des Tournelles, directly across from the Visitation Sisters in Paris. From Paris, expansion into other towns begin, and many of the new establishments spawn daughter convents.

In 1854, the Convent at Treguier, founded in 1665, is visited by a young seminarian bound for Louisiana, M. Jean Pierre. Through him, Mother Marie Hyacinthe le Conniat learns of the creation of a new diocese and volunteers to provide teaching Sisters for the mission. Bishop Auguste Marie Martin of the nascent Diocese of Natchitoches, faced with 22,000 square miles to cover with five priests and one school in Natchitoches, receives the news with joy.

In his welcome letter, he lays out their mission: “…you will offer the benefits of a Christian education to the young girls who are the victims of ignorance, and who are abandoned to the many dangers about them just as their mothers have been for the past 150 years… There are 500 young girls throughout the area of an age to receive instruction, and who later on as mothers of families will be able to transmit the heritage of learning to their children. The first thing to do is to get a foothold… Later, we will see about establishing branch houses in the most advantageous places, wherever we can do the most good.” (McCants, They Came to Louisiana, 1970)

Louisiana Schools Operated by the Daughters of the Cross

https://d-maps.com/conditions.php?lang=en

1. Presentation Academy, Hydropolis (18561869); Marksville (1869-1972) 2. St. Joseph School, Isle Brevelle (18571863; 1867-1876) 3. St. Francis de Sales School, Alexandria (1858-1868) 4. St. Mary’s School, Shreveport (18601954) 5. St. Hyacinth Academy, Monroe (18661928); became St. Matthew’s Parochial School (1928-1963); transferred to St. Frederick (1963-1966) 6. St. Vincent Academy, Shreveport (18681988) 7. Immaculate Conception School, Mansura (1887- 1923) 8. St. Peter Claver Grove School, Shreveport (1887- 1893) 9. St. Anthony School, Cottonport (18991917) 10. St. Francis de Sales School, Moreauville (1899-1920); re-opened as Sacred Heart School (1948-1965)

11. St. Henry School, Hodge (1935-1950) 12. St. Michael School, Shreveport (18991928) 13. St. Joseph School, Bordelonville (19041907) 14. Sacred Heart School, Shreveport (19181937) 15. Holy Cross Day School, Marksville (1919-1930) 16. St. Patrick School, Lake Providence (1926-1966) 17. St. John School, Shreveport (19491984) 18. St. Theresa School, Shreveport (19541988) 19. St. Catherine of Siena School, Shreveport (1954- 1984) 20. Christ the King School, Bossier City (1954-1968) 21. Jesus the Good Shepherd School, Monroe (1960-1997)

We are collecting yearbooks, pictures, artifacts, and stories of the Daughters of the Cross. If you have something you would like to share, you can email the author at pmunderwood@yahoo.com. Are you a priest, deacon or religious sister or brother who was educated by the Daughters of the Cross or whose parent, grandparent, etc. was? Please let us know!

MARCH 2021 21

hispanic news

Becas Para que sus niños o adolescentes puedan ir a Escuelas Católicas Rosalba Quiroz, Directora El enviar a sus hijos a una escuela católica ayuda a prepararlos mejor en la vida, tanto a nivel académico, como a nivel espiritual, les ayudará a crecer en su fe desde muy temprana edad: Dale buena educación al niño de hoy, y el viejo de mañana jamás la abandonará. Prov. 22.6.

Existe un programa estatal llamado “ACE, Becas en Luisiana” que puede favorecer a estudiantes de todas las edades, desde Kindergarten hasta el último año de preparatoria, (K-12).

Para que puedan recibir este programa, los padres deben ser calificados como una familia de bajos recursos además de que los estudiantes deben ser niños o adolescentes que entran a Kínder por primera vez o que ya hayan asistido a una escuela pública de Luisiana por lo menos un año y quieran cambiarlos a estudiar a la sistema de escuelas privadas.

Cada escuela privada que califica para este programa decide si también pueden dar alguna ayuda económica adicional para que el costo anual de la colegiatura sea más bajo. Por ejemplo la escuela preparatoria (High School) de Loyola en

22 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

Shreveport puede ofrecer ayuda, una vez que ha sido aprobado para el programa ACE. Además de las recomendaciones de ACE para ver la situación económica de cada familia y determinar si se le puede ayudar con beca parcial, es importante considerar otros elementos como el salario familiar, el número de miembros de la familia que necesitan recibir beca, y la situación económica en general de la familia.

Las inscripciones para recibir la ayuda del programa ACE abren el 1º. de Marzo y se dan a los que llenen los datos y califiquen primero. Para ver la posibilidad de recibir una beca visite la página de internet en cuanto le sea posible: www. acescholarships.org.

Si usted habla inglés o tiene quien le traduzca, se puede contactar directamente a la High School de Loyola: para Admisiones con Mr. Andy Cline acline@ loyolaprep.org Tel: 318-226-6285 y para finanzas con Ms. Tankia tnash@ loyolaprep.org Tel: 318-226-6893 Para recibir más información en español, favor de llamar a la oficina del

Ministerio Hispano al 318-219-7257. Su información se mantendrá confidencial así que llame para ver la posibilidad de que su hijo reciba una educación espiritual a la par de su educación académica, que también le abrirá puertas en un futuro.

Calendario de Marzo, 2021 Todos los viernes de Cuaresma son de Abstinencia.

Sábado 6 Clase de Intercesión, Cristo Rey, 9am-3pm Viernes 19 Día de San José – Papa Francisco dedica este año a este padre paciente, amoroso y protector de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Ver artículo en página del Vaticano. https://www. vaticannews.va/es/papa/news/202012/papa-francisco-carta-patris-cordesan-jose.html

Por el Obispo He recibido innumerables regalos a través de los años. La gente ha sido muy buena, muy generosa conmigo. Nunca pensé que yo “merecía” tanta bondad, pero siempre he estado muy agradecido con sus detalles generosos. Hace algún tiempo, (no estoy seguro si fue aquí en Shreveport o en Arkansas) donde vi un comercial en la televisión que anunciaba un “removedor de tierra.” Tal vez ustedes lo han visto anunciado. Este removedor es largo como una escoba, pero de acero y mide cuatro pies de largo, tiene una manija en una orilla y cuatro uñas grandes en la otra punta. El propósito de este removedor de tierra airar la tierra de los jardines y ablandarla para que pueda recibir la cantidad de agua y nutrientes que harán crecer bien el pasto y las flores.

Si no se airea la tierra bien, se impide el crecimiento necesario para el jardín. El removedor de tierra, aunque no es una herramienta muy fácil de usar, hace bien su trabajo – se entierran las cuatro uñas en la tierra, y se le da vuelta con fuerza con la manija para que abra la tierra y pueda recibir lo que ayudará a crecer mejor en el jardín.

Pensé que el anuncio del removedor era perfecto como ejemplo de lo que el Señor quiere hacer con nuestra vida spiritual: Él nos reta particularmente en la Temporada de Cuaresma, a abrir nuestras vidas, a ser receptivos a los cambios que él quiere que hagamos en nuestras vidas. Por eso utilicé la figura del removedor de tierra como ejemplo en uno de mis sermones precisamente antes de la Cuaresma. Pude ver como la congregación acertaba que,

si entendieron esta metáfora, y aun más importante, que hicieran los cambios necesarios para ablandar su propia tierra de nuestras vidas espirituales y poder ser receptivos y estar atentos a la voluntad de Dios para nosotros.

Hace algunos meses, recibí un paquete grande en el correo. Al principio no me imaginaba que podría tener la caja.

No traía dirección ni decía de donde venia, pero cuando la abrí, me reí pues contenía ‘mi propio removedor de tierra para mi jardín.” Así es, me reí primero pero después tuve curiosidad de saber si alguien me había mandado esta herramienta como sugerencia de que yo también tengo trabajo espiritual que hacer en mi vida, tengo ablandar la tierra de mi vida espiritual y ser mas receptivo a los cambios que el Señor quiere que yo haga en mi vida. Por eso es por lo que la mantengo cerca de mi escritorio. Este removedor es un recordatorio constante de que aún tengo mucho trabajo por hacer en mi propia vida, y no solamente de temporada como la Cuaresma, si no continuamente para que pueda llegar a ser la persona que Jesús espera que yo llegue a ser.

Por ahora, les sugiero que, si nunca han visto el anuncio de este removedor, se imaginen como se ve, pero aun mas importante, imaginen que clase de aperturas y ablandamientos podemos hacer en nuestras vidas para que se pueda dar un crecimiento espiritual. Que así sea para todos nosotros.

Ayuda financiera para Estudiantes Católicos Ya están disponibles las aplicaciones para ayuda financiera para registrar a sus niños al año escolar 2021-2022. Se otorga parte de la colegiatura a familias de bajos recursos que registren sus niños a alguna de las escuelas católicas de la Diócesis de Shreveport.

La fecha límite para aplicar es el 15 de abril del 2021.

Misas en Espanol CRISTO REY: BOSSIER CITY Rev. Fidel Mondragon 318.221.0238 Oficina Domingo 1:00pm Lunes & Jueves 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. Tony Posadas, 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

STA MARIA DE LOS PINOS: SHREVEPORT Rev. Mark Watson 318.687.5121 Oficina Domingo 11:30am Coordinadora: Alma Mendoza 318.678.9306

SAGRADO CORAZON: OAK GROVE

Rev. Joseph Kallookalam, CMI 318.428.2683 Oficina • Cada dos semanas, Domingo 5:00pm

CONTACTO DIOCESANO: Rosalba Quiroz, Directora 318.219.7265 rquiroz@dioshpt.org

Maria Ivelis Sanchez, Secretaria 318.219.7257 isanchez@dioshpt.org

Para más información pueden llamar a la oficina del Ministerio Hispano (318) 2197265 o si hablan inglés, pueden hablar directamente a las escuelas o a la oficina general de Escuelas Católicas de la diócesis al (318) 219-7298.

MARCH 2021 23

How Will You Labor in this Field?

Mike Van Vranken, Spriritual Director I am currently reading the book Caste: The Origins of our Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson. I am a slow reader, but this book will take longer than usual. Every sentence has something to say. The analogies are numerous and colorfully vivid. At times, a phrase or even a word blindsides my brain and engulfs my heart. So much meaning. So much calling. The internal movements I experience are so present, I have to put the book down, sit in the quiet with God and ask what in the world is going on.

I am very comfortable with my daily conversations with God. I normally find it easy to sift through the movements, discern with the Holy Spirit which of those reactions are from God and which are not, and having that frank discussion with the Trinity itself. But sometimes, I need help seeing the minutiae and the big picture all at the same time.

This is where my wonderful spiritual director comes to the rescue.

No, she does not have my answers.

She and I both know I can only find those in my dialogue and even my wrestling with God. But she also possesses a tender and gentle way of asking deeply evocative questions, coupled with the patience to sit in silence while I articulate a response.

And when I can’t put together that 24 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

response, she pulls as many questions and comments as necessary from her quiver until I begin to see, at least a little bit, where God is moving in me.

Talk about an experience of the real presence of Christ, for me, it doesn’t get any more real than this.

In my practice of sitting in that other chair as the spiritual director, I find more and more people asking for the same kind of help. Wanting answers to “Who is God for me?” and “How is he calling me today?”

Or, “Who is God calling me to be today?” Sometimes they ask: “Is God even here anymore?” They sometimes feel abandoned. Of course, others experience both the presence and the grace of God in such profound ways, they are looking for opportunities to respond with action. Consequently, I find more and more people are searching for the help of a spiritual director to enhance their relationship with God. In 2020 I had to tell 19 or 20 of these seekers that I was not taking on any new spiritual directees and I pointed them to other directors. So far in this short beginning of 2021, I have done the same with another 5 of God’s children searching for ways to get closer to the Divine. In reading articles and attending conferences, I find this search for an intimate

relationship with God is growing around the world. We seem to have an increasing number of searchers and not enough trained spiritual directors.

For over thirty years, the Archdiocesan Spirituality Center has been training spiritual directors in New Orleans. In 2015 an additional training center was added in Grand Coteau, LA. Plans to add a third training center in the Baton Rouge area are complete with informational meetings already held last month.

If you are looking for a spiritual director, please see the accompanying list of trained directors in our diocese. You can also contact the ASC in New Orleans, or log on to the Louisiana Association of Spiritual Directors and even the Association of International Spiritual Directors.

(Since most religious traditions use trained spiritual directors, you may want to ask if the director you find is Catholic.)

If you have felt some calling to become a spiritual director, please contact the Archdiocesan Spirituality Center in New Orleans or any of the spiritual directors listed here.

Our world is ripe for people to turn to God; the “harvest is plenty” Matthew 9:37. How are you being called to labor in this field?

spiritual direction Monroe/West Monroe Area Joe Bernal jkmca2000@aol.com Katherine Bernal jkmca2000@aol.com Shreveport/Bossier Area Brenda Lites badlites@gmail.com Father Jim Moran, C.O. jimmo24@gmail.com Marie Rinaudo prinrin@comcast.net Susan Reiser Rothwell susanreiserrothwell@gmail.com Deacon Mike Straub mstraub@dioshpt.org Nadalie Thomas rereo62450@yahoo.com Mike Van Vranken mikevanvranken@comcast.net (not currently taking new directees) MARCH 2021 25

Board Member Spotlight: Van Sanders Meg Goorley, Catholic Charities of North Louisiana

Van Sanders, a Catholic Charities of North Louisiana board member, has a long history of servant leadership.

After growing up in New York City, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. For nearly 30 years, Van served his country in varied roles, serving in the Vietnam war before rising to Senior Enlisted Advisor while stationed in Spain.

headed to David Wade Correctional Facility. He is now a permanent volunteer with the Diocesan Prison Ministry office run by Deacon Burt Ainsworth.

Since beginning this work locally, Van has visited inmates in Angola, David Wade, and a multitude of the parish and staterun prisons across Louisiana.

The majority of inmates After his military he and others see retirement, Van and are non-Catholic his wife Dianne – an or Catholics who Air Force veteran do not understand in her own right – their faith. “Many moved stateside to have never been to Albuquerque.

Van a Catechism class taught for 11 years or know what their -Van Sanders, before beginning faith is about. They about his prison work in the prison want to be good ministry of his church Catholics, but for ministry work. in 2006. In 2013, Van whatever reason, and Dianne moved to many end up Louisiana to be closer to her family. becoming Protestant or getting Once in Shreveport, Van approached re-baptized when they don’t Deacon Charles Thomas at Our need to.”

Lady of the Blessed Sacrament about prison ministry. Soon after, Van was For the past year, Van has focused in a vehicle with other parish leaders his efforts with Catholic Charities of

“I’m not there to judge the men or the system.

I’m there to bring God in there.”

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North Louisiana on the strategic plan for the organization. This four-year plan evaluates the nonprofit’s viability and future growth efforts through comprehensive SWOT analysis. The planning committee was able to identify six key areas of opportunity for future funding, programming, collaboration, and visibility. The board of directors recently approved the plan and will identify the next steps.

Van says one of the most rewarding things about his involvement with CCNLA centers around how the organization’s help, far outreaches its programs and services. “Catholic Charities doesn’t realize it, but they’re helping the prison population in an indirect way. When they help families through Gabriel’s Closet or with bills, they’re sometimes helping families of these inmates. They’re providing peace of mind to these men and women inside. They also work with other faith-based organizations to help people in the community. They reach out and do things that people don’t even know they’re doing. The people at CCNLA are helping people that need help.”

MARCH 2021 27

Lent’s Last Days By: Kim Long, Director of Religious Education Sometimes when I near the end of something I tend to slack off, relax, not finish it. If you need proof, come to my house and see the “not quite finished” basket of knitting and cross-stitching projects by my chair.

I plan to complete them but so far they remain half-hearted attempts.

Lent can be like that for me. I hate to admit it but it has been true in the past. Convictions so strong in the days before Ash Wednesday seem to lose steam by the last few days leading up to Palm Sunday. In those years I feel like a cheater waving my Palm as we sing Hosanna to the King of David.

But this year will be, is, different, and here is why. With this pandemic going on eleven months now and last year’s Lent and Easter celebrated remotely I am claiming all of the forty days. I want to experience every reading, every sign and symbol we have with my faith community.

I am not alone, most of my friends and some of my colleagues have very similar convictions. We have the bit between our teeth and are not giving it up.

But we will allow ourselves to be shaped and molded by the rhythm of Lent which is so much more than meatless Fridays and the “pain” of no social media or television. If I allow this rhythm to carry me through the desert into the hope of Holy Week I will be reformed.

So we are here, a little more than halfway. The readings are seeping into my bones, giving me strength, showing me yet as Paul says a still 28 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

more perfect way.

I once heard a priest tell his congregation, in the last days of Lent, that we still had time to “make good” or make “better” on our Lenten promises. I heard a Catholic theologian and poet put it a little differently, “God is a God of second chances.”

If your Lenten basket is a bit like my project basket and has some half-

If your Lenten basket is a bit like my project basket and has some half-finishedchangesin it, don’t hesitate to take them out, look them in the eye and finish them as best you can. finished changes in it, don’t hesitate to take them out, look them in the eye and finish them as best you can.

“Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.”

So often, God, I wring my hands and close my eyes tightly to the messes I have made, crying out to you “if only you would show me the way, I would go.” Lord, I thank you for always showing me the way especially when I am willfully ignorant. Let me know your voice above all the worldly chatter which fills me up.

“Let my tongue be silenced if ever I forget You.” In these last days of Lent, as they stretch out before me, let me be silent to hear what You are telling me, O God. Let me listen with not only my ears but with my heart as well. At the end of this Lenten season O God may my heart and my actions be changed so I can better serve you.

“Create a clean heart in me, O God.” Oh God, you know me so well and sometimes that is not a good thing.

I shudder to think of what you do know of me and I tremble that in those shadows the light of your love for me is always there guiding me toward a better choice, better life, better relationship with You. Wash me clean Lord, help me to begin anew.

Soon Holy Week and the Triduum will be upon us. We will walk with Jesus both at the Triumphal Entry and the Via Dolorosa but for today let us take up our Lenten work, or continue it, and know that we still have time to make “good or make better” as the priest said on our Lenten promises.

We will arrive at the empty tomb in time but today, we are not there yet, so let us thank God for His grace which allows us to be in this moment.

MARCH 2021 29

School News

Financial Assistance for Catholic Students Application packets for tuition assistance from the Diocese of Shreveport Catholic Schools Tuition Assistance Fund are now available for the 2021-2022 school year. Partial tuition assistance is available on an as needs-basis for Catholic students registered in a Diocese of Shreveport Catholic School. Parents may contact any Catholic school for information. Deadline for application is April 15, 2021. For more information, contact the Diocesan Catholic Schools Office at (318) 219-7298.

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Jam-packed Catholic Schools Week at SJS: Holy Hour, lunch with the clergy, Mass with Bishop Malone By: Polly Maciulski

Catholic Schools Week looks a little different every year at SJS, but CSW 2021 was one of true celebration at SJS. After watching our students shine as lectors and altar servers at the various weekend Masses at St. Joseph Catholic Church, we started the week with a litany of events and celebrations: On Monday, registration began for the 2021-22 school year; a CSW bulletin board contest among the teachers (those were impressive!); On Tuesday, all students were invited to dress as their favorite teacher, priest, principal, or custodian; Fr. Long and Fr. Kevin hosted our 8thgrade class for lunch in the Family Life Center; we also celebrated the 100th day of school in our Kindergarten Village with great flair and creativity!

On Wednesday, Kandace Landreneau, Youth Director for the Northwest Louisiana Right to Life spoke to the student body about the importance of being a pro-life nation as we celebrated our country with a flag ceremony; that evening we hosted a successful Open House and met many new families; All Religion classes in grades 5th8th spent their class time in church for a Holy Hour for Vocations on Thursday; On Friday, we were honored to celebrate our school Mass with Bishop Francis Malone; and to cap the week of celebrating the gift that Catholic Schools are, the students were treated to ice cream on the playground from our Pastor and our Parochial Vicar, Fr. Long and Fr. Kevin!

Our service project for this special week was to collect items needed at the David Raines Community Health Center: socks, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and dental floss. Our 6th-grade class helped load the collection for our SJS parent and a nurse at the Health Center. As Lent begins, our Confirmandi will experience a retreat at The Pines Catholic Camp, our middle schoolers will plan a performance of the Living Stations of the Cross, and we will celebrate the Solemnity of our Patron, Saint Joseph, in the Year of St. Joseph, while also celebrating the 70th anniversary of SJS. We ask for your prayers as we continue to strive every day to carry out our mission: to prepare students daily to become responsible members of family, church and community.

Registration has begun for 2021-22! You can register on our website (sjsfalcons.org) or in person!

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SAINT JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL SEES RECORD ATTENDANCE AT OPEN HOUSE By: Kirsten Shrewsberry

Between celebrating 70 years of forming students in the Catholic tradition, and recently being named the best private school in the Shreveport-Bossier area, St. Joseph Catholic School is only getting better. In this year of St. Joseph, there seems to be no better time to be a part of the St. Joseph Catholic School family.

On February 3rd, the school hosted its open house and saw record success with new families coming to see why St. Joseph is the best choice for their students. Tours were facilitated by parents as well as faculty to give families a chance to experience the school in a one-on-one setting. Since the open house, registration has greatly increased with both new and returning families across all grade levels.

Katherine Suckle, Instructional Coordinator, says “our updated curriculum continues to provide a rigorous academic experience that better prepares our students for current and future success.” With students’ test scores averaging an increase of 7% in grade-level proficiency on the ACT Aspire Test, it’s clear to see the value education at St. Joseph can offer your student.

Registration is now open and there is still time to schedule a private tour with Principal, Clayton Cobb.

St. Joseph Catholic School is a safe, caring, challenging, loving, and faithcentered environment. Mr. Cobb says it best when he says “There has never been a better time to be a Falcon.”

Registration is open now at sjsfalcons. org or you can call the school office at 318-865-3585 for more information.

OUR LADY OF FATIMA 4-H COMPLETES ANTIBULLYING PROJECT 4-H Co-Presidents, Jada Ballard and Jada Gardner, link together slips for an anti-bullying project to hang in the halls of the new Jr. High wing as a reminder of where they are headed as a school. Each member had to write a time someone teased them on a blue slip, a time they hurt someone’s feelings on a red slip and plans to improve or grow on a green slip.

Afterwards, the slips were connected to make unity chains.

ULM STUDENTS STAND FOR LIFE Angela Chaisson, Seth Guidry, Ben Foret, and Addisyn Dartez braved the wet and the cold to participate in the Stand for Life January 23 in Monroe. One of them was even asked to be interviewed for the 6 pm 32 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

KNOE News.

Because of concerns for safety, other students opted to make a Holy Hour for the Unborn and those affected

by Abortion the Sunday before the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, where

Fr. Jerry Daigle led the congregation in the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

ULM CCM would like to thank their sponsor, Car Town, who allowed them to stand on their lot, use their facilities, and served hot coffee!

SAINT JOHN BERCHMANS HOLDS 12TH ANNUAL RELIGION SCHOLARS BOWL By: Ashley Timmons

St. John Berchmans Catholic School hosted the 12th annual Religion Scholars Bowl during Catholic Schools Week this year.

The competition, began by former principal Mrs. Jo Cazes, traditionally allows Catholic students from around the diocese and the state of Louisiana to compete against grade-level teams, testing their knowledge of religious teachings and our Catholic faith.

In the past, Religion Scholars Bowl has brought together students and scholars from St. Joseph School, St. Mary School in Natchitoches, Our Lady of Fatima, Jesus the Good Shepherd, and St. Frederick High School as they shared their knowledge

with love and fellowship. This year SJB held the Religion Scholars Bowl, but on a smaller family level with St. John Berchmans students participating and competing grade against grade.

Our fifth-grade team wowed the school and our special guests,

judges Sr Carol Shively and Sr Ann Middlebrooks. With a perfect score, sixth grade placed second, and eighth grade took third. Congratulations to all SJB participants and to our religion teachers who pass along our cherished Catholic faith!

SAINT FREDRICK HIGH SCHOOL NEWS By: Rebecca Leaumont

St. Frederick High School celebrated Catholic Schools Week with the enshrinement of a relic of their Patron Saint Frederick of Utrecht. Father Mike Thang’wa, Pastor of Jesus the Good Shepherd Church, was the guest celebrant. He blessed the reliquary and the St. Frederick School choir lead the singing of the litany of saints as the relic was processed to its permanent placement in the Adoration Chapel. A special thanks to board member Brad Bourgeois who acquired this wonderful addition to our school.

St. Frederick High School also celebrated Catholic Schools Week

in style with a variety of themed dress up days. Students honored our Louisiana tradition by coming to school dressed in their best Mardi Gras attire.

And finally, congratulations to St. Frederick Junior High Spelling Bee Winners (picture left) for the Scripps National Spelling Bee. From left to right: Julianna Tan (2nd place/7th grade), Anna Beth Ellerman (1st place/8th grade), and Baylee Mobley (3rd place/8th grade). Anna Beth Ellerman will represent St. Frederick High School in the 2021 At-Large Regional Spelling Bee (Region 1) at the end of February.

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34 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

Bible Study

with Father Pat Madden, PhD

Thursday Mornings: 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

These classes will be available live via Zoom and the recordings subsequently available through the Diocesan web site. These classes will be designed for lectors and for any Catholics who want a better understanding of the Sunday scriptures before Mass begins.

For the Zoom link for his live class, please send him an e-mail: pmadden@dioshpt.org.

SEMINARIAN BURSES Thanks to our Recent Donors: (019)

Mr. & Mrs. Kevin M. Flood ($25) (027) Mr. Keith Evans ($10000) (024) Ms. Dorothy M. Tipton ($500) (020) Mrs. Rosemary C. Ward ($1000) 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) (012) (013) (014) (026) (027) (027)

Rev. David Richter Memorial Burse #1 ($10000) Jack E. Caplis, Jr., Memorial Burse ($10000) Mary Evans Caplis Burse ($10000) Bob & Peggy Semmes Memorial Burse ($10000) Sheryl Seal Sweeney Memorial Burse ($10000) Rev. Richard Lombard Memorial Burse ($10000) Rev. Richard Lombard Memorial Burse #2 ($10000)

Incomplete Burses: (001) (002) (003) (004) (005) (006) (007)

Fr. Mike Bakowski Memorial Burse #2 ($1050) Joseph & Antoinette Bakowski Memorial Burse ($2850) Sam R. Maranto Memorial Burse ($1650) Kathryn Atherton Cook Memorial Burse ($350) Cathedral of St. John Berchmans Burse ($950) Msgr. J. Carson LaCaze Memorial Burse #2 ($3832.12) Dr. Carol Christopher Memorial Burse

(008) (009)

(011) (015) (016) (017)

(018)

($1200) St. Jude Parish Burse ($6018) St. John Berchmans Knights of Columbus Council 10728 Burse ($1550) Rev. David Richter Memorial Burse #2 ($3404) Bishop’s Seminarian Burse ($2760) Elaine Malloy Frantz Memorial Burse ($1000) Msgr. George Martinez Knights of Columbus Council 1337 Burse ($7521.57) Knights of St. Peter Claver Council 144 Burse ($880)

(019) (020) (021) (022) (023) (024) (025)

Margaret Glenn Memorial Burse ($5605) Dr. James V. Ward Memorial Burse ($4915) Rev. Edmund “Larry” Niehoff Memorial Burse ($2000) Rev. Blane O’Neil, OFM Memorial Burse ($250) Msgr. Edmund J. Moore Memorial Burse ($1020) Rev. Joseph Puthupally Memorial Burse ($1100) Kathleen Hightower Memorial Burse ($400)

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.

MARCH 2021 35

Connection The Catholic

DIOCESE OF SHREVEPORT 3500 Fairfield Ave.

•

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.

Fr. Paul Thunduparampil, CMI blessing the statue of St. Joseph at Our Lady of Fatima Church on Saturday, January 30th, in honor of the Year of St. Joseph.

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