January 2022 | Adult Education & Faith Formation

CATHOLIC CONNECTION Volume 31 No. 6 | January 2022

Adult Education and Faith Formation

The 2023 Synod: We Start By Listening

Introducing the Franciscan Catechetical Institute:

Online Learning at your

Convenience

Forming the Family: It Begins at Home

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CATHOLIC CONNECTION PUBLISHER

Bishop Francis I. Malone

EDITOR

Kierstin Richter

CONTRIBUTORS

Mike Van Vranken Kim Long Mary Arcement Alexander John Mark Willcox Patti Underwood Rosalba Quiroz Polly Maciulski Julia Vanchiere Genevieve Carney

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

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.

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 editor

Get a Little Wormy & Squirmy I remember learning about the mysteries of the faith as a kid and being told “that’s just the way it is. And if you don’t accept it blindly, even if it doesn’t make any sense, you have poor faith.” Okay, not those exact words, but that’s how my ten-year-old ears understood it. Some parts of our faith are difficult to understand. And if I have doubts or disbelief or questions, I automatically rule myself out as a nonbeliever or a heretic. That’s like, a lot of pressure on a kid.

But I read a quote once that gave me a little bit of comfort. “Remember, mystery isn’t something that you cannot understand—it is something that you can endlessly understand! There is no point at which you can say, “I’ve got it.” Always and forever, mystery gets you!” (Father Richard Rohr) It ran alongside something I heard Father Pat Madden explain, which was the idea of our faith being like an asymptote. You can get closer and closer and closer to making sense, but you never quite get to the bottom of things. You never reach a point where you can say, “I know it all!”

Adult faith education, whether that comes in the form of classes, conferences, or spiritual reading, is monumentally important if we are to be good evangelists of our faith. Further faith formation encourages us to keep seeking truth because the deeper we dive into our theology, the richer in the knowledge we are, and the closer we can grow towards Christ. This isn’t to say you have to be super smart to be a Christian. That’s an old heresy called Gnosticism. What I’m saying is that we can never stop finding new ways to love our faith. We grow in our relationship with Christ when we endlessly pursue Him. And you’ll find, there’s always something you don’t know. And you have a brain blast and say, “OH. That’s insane. Never thought about it like that before.”

I wrote an article a while back called “Never Lose the Pursuit,” to which I equated our faith with a marriage. If you say “I do,” one day, and live the rest of your life not seeking to get to know your relationship in new seasons of life, it’s easy, and almost inevitable, to drift away. The same goes for our relationship with Christ. We will enter new seasons in our lives, where we have to reassess and

Slattery Library at the Catholic Center

grow in our relationship over and over and over again because, contrary to what some people may tell you, our faith is not a one-and-done deal. We aren’t ‘saved’ and go dilly dally for the rest of our lives. Relationships take work. But it’s good work.

On that note, Pope Francis has instituted a Synod for a silent portion of our Church to have a chance to be heard. So for the next year, we will be talking about some hard issues that have left the Church divided. So let’s lean into the discomfort. That’s where we grow and we heal. Let’s talk about the hard things - the things that make us a little wormy and squirmy. Because some of the most misunderstood parts of our faith are the most beautiful parts of our faith. So let’s not run away, let’s lean in and bridge some gaps.

So here’s my challenge to you this month: Get Curious.

What are the issues you have with the Church? What are the issues you have with the faith? I’m not just going to say to take those to prayer, but to crack open a book. Read an encyclical. (I know, they’re long.) Dive deep into the teachings of the faith. Talk to your priest.

Because you’ll find that most of the answers you’re looking for have already been answered theologically you just didn’t hear it from the pulpit. Catholicism has homework. It doesn’t end when we leave Mass.

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contents

FEATURES 8 Why Adult Education is Important 11 Introducing the Franciscan

Catechetical Institute 15 Forming the Family: It Begins at Home

22 Faithful Food: Preparing for the

New Year + Damp Veg Cake 26 Daughters of the Cross Series: The Durier Years

COLUMNS

23 School News 32 Hispanic News 34 Around the Diocese + Announcements

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From the Bishop Jesus Listened: Starting the Year

as a Synodal Church 16 Your Appeal Dollars at Work:

Campus Ministry 18 Mary’s Mission: Ready, Set, Grow 18 Daughters of the Cross Series: Into the Modern Age

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NEWS

On the cover + Contents collage: Slattery Library at the Catholic Center in Shreveport, which is now open again to the public!

from the bishop

to know, love, and serve In the 1800s, our country was experiencing a tremendous influx of immigrants from all parts of Europe. Most of these people came from places like Ireland, Poland, Germany, and came in such great numbers that our country was faced with the problem of how to take care of such a great number of new people. Most of these immigrants settled in the northeastern part of the country and slowly made their way west. The normal problems of such a great number of new people also had a tremendous impact on the Catholic Church in America. The bishops of the country had to face this with a full range of meeting the needs of the new Americans.

So the bishops decided to hold meetings of all the American bishops to try to answer the many problems the growing new American population brought with them. The bishops met in the city of Baltimore on several occasions in the hope that they could minister to these millions of people. Among their concerns was “how do we provide a Catholic education for the very large number of European Catholics who immigrated here?” One of the products of their work was the formulation of an education tool called the “Baltimore Catechism.” Some of our readers here will remember this famous series of questions and answers aimed at helping the new and growing number of Catholics.

Among one of the first questions in the Catechism was “why did God make me?” The answer was, “God made me to know, love, and serve Him in this life so as to be happy with Him in the next.” When we think of the progression in this answer: KNOW – LOVE – SERVE, we can readily

see how logical this is: You cannot SERVE someone you do not LOVE AND YOU CANNOT LOVE someone you do not KNOW. It just makes sense. So, I would like to point out the first of these: to KNOW. The more we know about God, the rest follows in loving Him and in serving Him. All three of these (know – love – serve) are built upon our life of prayer, our attendance at Mass, and our devotions (especially our devotion of Mary). And when we set our sights on reading and gaining knowledge of God through the Bible, God speaks to us and gives us direction in our lives. This is especially true when we do not know or are not sure about the future – all the more reason to desire to know more about this loving God Who sent to us His only begotten Son, through whom we gain even greater knowledge and understanding of Him. God wants us to serve Him, and for sure, He desires that we love Him. But it all begins when we try to get to know Him. And while there are so many good authors and great saints whose writings help us, we should keep His Word, Sacred Scriptures, as the best place to start. May this new year be one of growing in the knowledge of Him, of falling in love with Him, and of a deepening of our desire to serve Him with our lives.

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Jesus Listened Starting the year as a Synodal Church

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he wedding feast at Cana has many layers of meaning relevant to our day.

Like so many other miracles, Jesus only performed this one after he first, listened. In this case, he listened to his mother and then he acted. Right now, the Church is in a special listening mode to the people of God to become better aware of life experiences as we are exiting the postmodern world and entering a new, not yet named age. The Church’s magisterial teaching explains: “The joys and the hopes, the griefs, and the anxieties of the (people) of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ” (The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 1).

As followers of Christ when we stop to actively and compassionately listen to the joys and hopes and griefs and anxieties of others, it is then these become ours as well. The magisterial teaching in this document goes on to say: “With the help of the Holy Spirit, it is the task of the entire People of God, especially pastors and theologians, to hear, distinguish and interpret the many voices of our age, and to judge them in the light of the divine word, so that revealed truth can always be more deeply penetrated, better understood and set forth to greater advantage” (44).

Notice, like Jesus, we first must listen and “hear” before we can accompany another. We are, right now, and until mid-July, in a listening mode in the worldwide church. And this includes the Diocese of Shreveport. In every parish around our diocese and the globe, pastors and priests are sitting down in listening sessions to hear from the people of God and especially hear from those on the margins – the poor, sick, lonely, elderly, unemployed, remarried without annulments, LGBTQ+, those who have experienced or performed an abortion, immigrants, refugees, prisoners, physically, mentally, and sexually abused, captive to any addiction, ignored, women, and many more. In these listening meetings, we are especially called to listen to the religious women and men who have been caring for all these children of God on the margins for centuries.

Equally important, this way of life in the Church will not stop this summer. In August, the lessons learned from these grassroots listening sessions will be sent to the U. S. bishops who will continue to combine all these listening sessions from around our country

and forward them to the Vatican. Finally, these worldwide issues will all be taken into consideration next year at the 2023 Synod of Bishops.

Don’t fret, the Church is not becoming a parliament or some type of congress by listening to the people.

The truth is, the early hundreds of years of church history are littered with examples of the people of God expressing their daily experiences of life so the Church can respond. But again, it can only respond after passionate and deliberate listening.

As you read this, how are you feeling? Does a listening Church excite you, or does it evoke a sense of fear? Does it give you comfort that the Church makes itself vulnerable to hear from the broken and wounded?

As we continue to pray with and contemplate listening, you and I might consider the following evocative questions each day in prayer for the next few months: In society, who are the people I walk with and listen to? Who are those that seem further apart?

What groups or individuals are abandoned on the margins? How can I listen to them?

Listening like Jesus comes first. How is God speaking to me about having an open mind and heart where listening is concerned?

As I speak to the Church, do I feel free and unjudged to share and articulate what is on my heart? What hinders me from speaking up courageously and candidly?

How do prayer and communal life in the Church inspire and guide me to make important decisions and promote participation in liturgy and parish life?

Hopefully, this will get us all started on living as a synodal church – one that walks hand-in-hand sharing the love of Christ. Imagine listening to each other with such intensity and love that we share in the joys and the hopes, the griefs, and the anxieties of the people we accompany – of the people we minister to. Listening followed by loving and compassionate action is what Jesus did. As followers of Christ, doing the same is our only option.

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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Why Adult Education is Important There was a time when most American Catholics were poor immigrants. Many of them never graduated from high school. My own Grandfather Madden’s formal education ended in the third grade. After that he was self-educated. On my bookshelf I have the book, Archdiocesan Normal Course In Christian Doctrine from the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. On the cover, in his own handwriting, is “Col. E. A. Madden.” The “E.” is smeared. Adult education has been a tradition in my family.

As long as a person’s faith-knowledge is at the same level as their knowledge in other areas of life, the exact level of that faith-knowledge is not a problem. If someone has a grammar-school or high-school knowledge of religion, and their knowledge of science and literature is at the same level, they are fine! However, today it is not uncommon for a person’s religious knowledge to end with grammar school or high school, while their secular knowledge is enriched by college 8 CATHOLIC CONNECTION

studies, and perhaps even a master’s degree or a doctorate -- not uncommon for the laity of today!

For such people, the danger is that their faithknowledge will seem childish, and unrelated to the complexities of “real life” that they face in the secular world. For such educated Catholics, continuing adult education is more important than ever.

I will add a personal remark. God has given me the gift to be a teacher. When I am teaching, the joy I experience is God’s gift to me. My prayer is that all adults who study our Catholic faith, my students, and the students of other Catholic teachers, will experience that same joy as they enter more deeply into the mystery that we name “God in Christ.”

FATHER PAT MADDEN, PHD. is a retired priest for the Diocese of Shreveport.

He teaches a GRECO course on Thursdays at the Catholic Center.

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Introducing the Franciscan Catechetical Instiute: Online Learning at Your Convienince Have you ever wanted to further your faith formation, but theology graduate courses take up too much time and are way too expensive? Say hello to the Franciscian Catechetical Institute, a go at your own pace faith formation program paid for by the Diocese of Shreveport.

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he word catechesis comes from the Greek meaning “to echo the teaching”. When I hear this definition, I imagine the bible story of Jesus feeding the five thousand or what I like to call the first “church picnic!” I see Jesus and his disciples sharing the Word with thousands, but how was that possible without a surround sound system and Jumbotron Screen? It must have been the disciples “echoing” the teaching to those in the back, those who could not hear. This was no game of “Telephone,” this was the Holy Spirit working his way through the crowd sharing the Word. I proudly call myself a catechist. I long to echo the Word to all who will listen.

I arrived in Shreveport at the beginning of May 2021 to serve as the Director of Faith Formation for the Diocese of Shreveport. One of my first conversations with Bishop Malone was his question of the formation of our catechists.

What I discovered was we did not have a comprehensive plan for the diocese. Each parish community on their own was finding and using resources for faith formation for their catechetical leaders. While their efforts were fruitful, I knew we could and should do more.

Bishop Malone understood that forming those who form others was a vital task for our diocese. In the new Directory of Catechesis that was released this year, it states “The Bishop is the first preacher of the Gospel by his words and the witness of his life”, and, like the one primarily responsible for catechesis in the diocese, has the principal function, together with preaching, of promoting catechesis,” The directory also directs the Bishop to “develop a comprehensive plan of catechesis that is at the service of the needs of the people.” (p 75 Directory of Catechesis) His goal was to find and fund a resource that would form those who form others in a thoughtful comprehensive manner.

I needed to find a resource that would serve the needs of all the leaders and learners in English and Spanish.

A process that would engage parents, grandparents, catechists, Catholic school teachers, youth ministers, and those who serve in the RCIA program.

While working in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, I was fortunate to be close to Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, and receive formation through their Catechetical Institute. While I knew the formation JANUARY 2022 11

Tracks Available:

Catechist (CT) Track Parish Catechetical Leader (PCL) Track Catechumenal Ministry (RCIA) Track Youth Ministry (YM) Track Catholic Schools (CS) Track Pastoral Accompaniment (PA) Track Familia y Fe Hispana (Hispanic Faith and Family Track) First Proclamation and Evangelization (FPE) Track Ministry of Parenting (MP) Track Culture of Life (CL) Track Young Adults (YA) Track Priestly Renewal (PR) Track Music Ministry (MM) Track Mentor Formation (MF) Track Four Pillars of the Catechism (FPC) Track Forming Faith at Home (FFH) Track Diocesan Officials (DO) Track Español: Certificación Básica Para Catequistas

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would be thorough and very user-friendly, I, more importantly, understood that spiritual formation for our catechists would be such a priority. As a catechist myself, I understand how easy it is to get lost in the doctrine and the presentation of the subject matter and to miss out on personal spiritual formation. Without that personal relationship with Jesus Christ, it is impossible to truly invite others into a relationship with Christ. It is critical we as catechists are truly fed on the Word so we can truly witness our faith in others. This process from Franciscan University will be sure to form the person as a catechist and disciple. Knowing that our learning is never complete will provide continuing education for them as well.

The Catechetical Institute from Franciscan University will provide all the needs for our diocese set out by Bishop Malone. This is an online platform of nondegreed workshops taught by professors from Franciscan University along with leaders in ministry from across the United States. Our leaders will be formed by the best in their fields, sharing and witnessing their wisdom and knowledge. The platform offers workshops in English and Spanish.

Over the last two months, I have been meeting with leaders in ministry across the diocese sharing this information. Everyone is very enthusiastic and excited to get started. This is such an amazing opportunity for all our catechists and those who are interested in becoming a catechist. The platform offers the learner the opportunity to learn on their own at their own pace or the parish may invite a group of people to gather and journey through a workshop together.

The platform allows the learner to go online and register and begin taking workshops in their chosen ministry.

You may register at www.franciscanathome.com, at the top of the page you will see “Partnering Diocese.” Choose Diocese of Shreveport, and it will lead you to our landing page. You will see directions on how to register and get started. We have come up with some workshops for our catechists to begin their formation and certification process. Please note ALL are welcome to participate on the site. There are workshops for families as well as scripture formation.

Here is your New Year’s gift from Bishop Malone, there is no cost to any individual in the diocese to access this platform. Bishop Malone has funded this project for our diocese. The critical nature of this teaching made it clear we needed to make this available to everyone.

Each of us as we ECHO the faith we cooperate with the Holy Spirit and communicate His message. As Pope Francis has reminded us: ‘Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you.’

My prayer is each of us will feel our hearts burning within us, this resource will help prepare us to ECHO the Word to all who will listen. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news! (Romans 10:15) Franciscan at Home Catechetical Institute is for EVERYONE in the diocese. You will find workshop tracks on The Ministry of Parenting, Forming Faith at Home, Young Adult Ministry, along with scriptural and doctrinal resources.

DELIA BARR is the Director of Faith Formation at the Diocese of Shreveport.

Go to Franciscanathome.com. At the top of the page, choose Partnering Diocese, and then click Diocese of Shreveport.

You will be taken to our Diocese of Shreveport landing page that will direct you to Create New Account.

Go to the button: "My parish or school is already registered." https://franciscanathome.com/diocese-shreveport JANUARY 2022 13

"As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live." - Pope John Paul II

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Forming the Family: It Begins at Home In his great encyclical on the family, Pope St. John Paul II wrote, “The future of humanity passes by way of the family” (Familiaris Consortio 86). In the lead-up to this statement, he presents a beautiful exposition on the role of the family as a Church in miniature (49) - a domestic Church - and a place where the Gospel is first transmitted and from which the Gospel radiates (52). He reaffirms the role of parents as the first teachers of their children, and that their “role as educators of their children is so decisive that scarcely anything can compensate for their failure in it” (36). He sees the “Church of the home” as being crucial to the future of evangelization (52). In light of this vision of the role of the family, how do we foster the Church of the home, the domestic church, within our families? Do our parish Faith Formation programs reflect a vision of the family as a Church in miniature that grows together in the Faith? Do they assist our parents to be the primary educators of their children in the Faith? As the Director of Faith Formation, these are questions that press on my heart.

Over the last couple of years, in the wake of pandemic restrictions and the like, we have had to re-think how we form our families in the Faith. More than ever, our world needs the light of Christian families who are deeply committed to Christ, and families need the support of other families to help them grow in their faith. To respond to this need, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Shreveport has recently moved to a whole-family model of catechesis.

What does this look like in a practical sense? At our parish,

our children are grouped in grade clusters with their peers and attend a catechist-led Sunday morning session while their parents gather together in our parish hall to hear a short lecture by one of our priests on a topic, then break into small groups for discussion, scripture reflection, and prayer. Both parents and children are learning the same topic on different levels; for instance, this year our program covers the Sacraments of the Church. In October, everyone learned about the Sacrament of Baptism and we talked about ways of drawing the grace of this sacrament into our homes, such as celebrating baptism days of family members, having a holy water font in the home, and taking a moment each day to remember your baptismal dignity when you make the sign of the cross. The main goal here is for the whole family to learn the Faith together and to draw the sacramental life of the Church into their homes so that, ultimately, they can become the saints they are meant to be.

At St. Joseph, we like to think of our parish as a “family of families,” and we strive to keep this motto in mind as we discern how to provide opportunities for our parishioners to encounter Christ more deeply. We have great hope that this whole-family model of catechesis will be fruitful for our families and our Church at large.

GENEVIEVE CARNEY is the Director of Faith Formation at Saint Joseph Church in Shreveport.

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Your Appeal Dollars at Work

Campus Ministry in the Diocese of Shreveport Appeal-funded Campus Ministry provides outreach, liturgical, and fellowship offerings to Catholic students attending Centenary College, Grambling State University, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana State University in Shreveport, and the University of Louisiana at Monroe. These young adults remain important members of our faith community and your Appeal donation provides Church involvement in their lives as well as supporting concentrated interest in religious life among this group of our faithful who are students at college campuses within our diocese.

Keeping this particular age group close to their Catholic faith is a critical ministry for the future of 16 CATHOLIC CONNECTION

the Church in this region. Having a large contingent of places of higher learning brings with it pressure to minister to the students who frequent our universities so that they will remain close to the Church during this critical time in their lives.

Our diocese remains thankful that the Catholic Church Extension Society and the USCCB Office of Home Missions continue to assist in sharing the costs of this ministry. We are indebted to these fine Catholic organizations for their generosity to campus ministry.

JOHN MARK WILLCOX is the Director of Communications and Development at the Diocese of Shreveport.

Come Visit Slattery Library at the Catholic Center!

Slattery Library has re-opened to the public! Our hours are 9amNoon Monday through Friday. As always, if you’d like to inquire about a book or periodical before your visit, please e-mail Kate Rhea at krhea@dioshpt.org or call (318) 219-7264.

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Ready, Set, Grow.

R

Speak the Truth. Get Uncomfortable. Pray Daily ather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. Ephesians 4:15

Speaking the truth in love. As I was searching for scripture that spoke on spiritual growth, this Bible verse caught my eye. The main reason I chose it over the others is due to these five words: speaking the truth in love. It spoke to me for two main reasons: first, because I firmly believe to grow in our spirituality and our faith we must speak God’s truth, and secondly because the world we live in today encourages us to speak relative truth. Relative truth teaches people that whatever they believe is true is indeed true. Period. We as followers of Christ know this is blasphemy. There is only one truth: God’s Word. In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1. With that being said, this is easier said than done. I know I have my 18 CATHOLIC CONNECTION

struggles of going against the norms mainly due to the people pleaser that still exists deep inside of me. By nature, I want to avoid conflict as well as go against the grain. However, by God, I am working through this instinct and pushing myself into discomfort. When we speak God’s truth it can be uncomfortable, but it is through this discomfort that God does some of His best work in us and through us. Growth flourishes in discomfort. Stagnation flourishes in comfort and ease. Brothers and sisters, it is time to get uncomfortable!

When I reflect on my personal spiritual growth over the last 20 years, it is very apparent that my spirituality and faith grew by leaps and bounds when I was the most uncomfortable in life. God revealed His presence very subtly for several years. He was not bold in His attempts, but rather He slowly, steadily, and constantly nudged me towards a more in-depth relationship with Him

“When the world is screaming this truth or that truth and insisting you agree, instead of conforming to the world, challenge the world with His truth.” as well as with my Catholic faith. I can say with confidence that because of His slow and steady work in and through me, my desire to know Him more intimately, to love Him more deeply, and to understand my Catholic faith more intentionally became my reality. Fast forward to today; growing my relationship with Him is at the forefront of my mind daily. I have recently added to my daily prayer this request, “Lord, please reveal to me today whatever or whoever is standing in the way of our relationship especially if it is me.” This simple yet important request helps me to stay alert to what I am doing or not doing concerning my spiritual growth and faith formation.

In the August issue of Catholic Connection, the focal point was on Catholic education. I expressed to you then my thoughts about my own Catholic school experience. I stand by my opinion that having a Catholic education not only created a solid foundation for my faith but also (just like God), nudged me slowly and steadily towards a deeper spirituality. Being able to pray before each class as well as before lunch made an impact on my spiritual growth. I firmly believe that prayer in schools is vital to our faith, our relationship with God, and our growth. This, of course, does not mean those who have attended or are attending public schools have a disadvantage; rather it simply means daily prayer is the key ingredient to everything. If you are a parent whose child attends a local public school, I strongly encourage you to implement a daily practice of prayer with

mary’s mission your child (children) if you have not already done so. I also encourage you to take it a step further and teach your child how to pray as if having a conversation with God, because ultimately, that is what prayer is, little chats with God. To take it yet another step further than that, help your child (children) to use their imagination and visualize Jesus sitting next to them or perhaps across the room in a chair. This visualization may seem odd at first, but in time, it can become a source of comfort to “see” our Lord there with us as we pray.

Speaking God’s truth, allowing yourself to be uncomfortable, and daily prayer are just a few ways to grow your spirituality and faith. To list all the ways would take a lot more than the 987 words written before you. For the sake of this limited space, let us explore how speaking God’s truth in love will bring you to a depth in your spirituality you have probably never experienced before. When the world is screaming this truth or that truth and insisting you agree, instead of conforming to the world, challenge the world with His truth. A very controversial topic is abortion. The world is screaming “my body my choice.” It is also screaming, “It’s not a real life.”

When faced with this so-called truth, stand firm in the armor of God’s word. For God’s truth says, For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Luke 1:44. In addition, For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. Ps. 139:13. Standing firm in your beliefs, standing firm in speaking God’s truth is both empowering and immensely rewarding. Each time we do so is like building actual physical strength. The more you exercise the more muscle you build. The more muscle you build, the stronger you become. The stronger you become, the more you exercise. The same is true with our spiritual life. The more we exercise speaking God’s truth, the more spiritual muscle we build. The more spiritual muscle we build, the deeper we grow in our faith.

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 JANUARY 2022 19

Into the Modern Age

Continuing the Daughters of the Cross series, Underwood shares the growth and success of Saint Vincent Academy, the fun and mischief of the students, and a natural disaster that surpises them all.

The year is 1919. The Great War has ended, the flu epidemic continues to wax and wane, and the Daughters of the Cross are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their convent and school at St. Vincent’s. Rev. A. Snebelen, S. J., of St. John’s College in Shreveport, has succeeded Monsignor Roulleaux as chaplain. The Sisters are operating nine schools in the Diocese of Alexandria. In response to new theories of education, they are making adjustments to their teaching methods while striving to retain their traditional moral and religious training.

For the second year in a row, Sisters are attending college in the summer to further their education. Teacher training is done in-house. When a young lady enters the convent as a postulant, she is apprenticed to a teaching nun. She teaches classes under her mentor’s supervision, submitting weekly lesson plans and attending weekly conferences. She is also required to submit an outline for the entire school year. The second year, she becomes a novice and receives

the habit with a white veil and a miraculous medal. Then begins her religious formation in earnest, along with duties in the convent, more education, and more practice teaching. After three years in the novitiate, she pronounces perpetual vows and receives the black veil and cross.

In 1921, with the aid of Miss Inez Chaplin of Northwestern State Normal College, St. Vincent’s adds a two-year teacher’s college under Sister St. Ignatius Le Roux’s direction.

Five years later, Sister Dorothea McCants establishes an education lab with the help of college students. There the budding teachers have recourse to the latest texts as they plan and prepare lesson plans and educational projects, observed and encouraged by St. Vincent’s faculty.

The curriculum includes observation periods at public and private schools, practice teaching, and finally full responsibility for a class.

In 1922, the city of Shreveport expands to include the entire St. Vincent’s campus. With incorporation comes

75th Anniversary of the Daughters of the Cross in Louisiana; Bishop Van de Ven, Sisters, Students and Guests; December 2, 1930; Courtesy of Madeline Elford

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St. Vincent’s College and Academy, January, 1930; Archives, Diocese of Shreveport

paved streets and trolley cars, which brings about increased day school attendance. To add more classrooms, the fourth floor is finished and converted to dormitory space. The music department is installed in the east wing of the fourth floor, and the third floor houses the library, study hall, and art department. The dormitory has 60 beds. Boarding students come from all over Louisiana and from Texas, ranging in age from three years through college.

Boarders rise early for morning prayers, Mass, and breakfast. School begins at 8:00 a.m. The academic curriculum is challenging, requiring three years each of French and Latin in high school. Discipline is strict. The girls wear uniforms, and they are not allowed to wear makeup, read newspapers, or dance. Walks and picnics are Sacred Heart Dormitory; St. Vincent’s College and Academy; 1926 Vincentian favorite activities, and the students love to slip through the gate and past the cows to have lunch in the fragrant woods.

On rainy days, the east side of the basement becomes an indoor playground.

Students make occasional mischief with such forbidden activities as sliding down the banisters and the circular fire escape, going out on the third-floor balcony, skipping lunch to play tennis, chewing gum, dropping items from the top of the rotunda in the center of the building, wading in the icy-cold creek, and even sneaking off-campus. But too many demerits may cause a student to forfeit her monthly home visit; the Sisters are loved and respected, and obedience is the rule rather than the exception.

Through the 1920s and 1930s, the Daughters of the Cross open four schools in Louisiana: St. Patrick’s in Lake Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto at SVA; Gift of Sodality, 1937; Courtesy of Providence, 1926; St. Catherine’s in Shreveport, 1930; St. Madeline Elford Margaret’s in Boyce, 1935; St. Henry’s in Hodge, 1935. St. with his team after plowing potatoes when he spotted the Catherine’s closes after two years. Other schools that close approaching funnel. Unable to reach shelter, he witnessed in this period are St. Francis de Sales in Moreauville, 1920; the tornado split when it hit the convent, taking down trees Immaculate Conception in Mansura, 1923; St. Michael’s in before and behind but sparing the building. Mother Mary Shreveport, 1928; and Sacred Heart in Shreveport, 1937.

Constance Caplis reports that there are no injuries.

In 1939, a tornado hits Shreveport, roaring across St. Vincent’s campus. In the aftermath, a reporter arrives PATTI UNDERWOOD and interviews Alphonse Gallion, who works and lives is a lover of history and is blessed to be a graduate of on the campus. Mr. Gallion states that he was returning St. Vincent’s Academy and LSU-Shreveport.

JANUARY 2022 21

faithful food Damp Veg Salad Here is a forgiving recipe for using up the uneaten bits and pieces of feasts gone by.

2 cans small diced tomatoes with onions and peppers 2 jars hearts of palm 1 jar capers 1 jar olive mix 1 bunch green onions and 1 bunch celery strung and sliced very thin 1 can of tiny English peas Drain all veg, reserving liquid. Dump the veg into a large non-metal bowl.

In a separate bowl mix up some Italian dressing (I like the powdered mix you make at home, it is tastier and has a good consistency). Add salad dressing to veg.

If it seems a little still you may add a couple of tablespoons of the reserved liquid.

This is excellent served with crackers, rolled up in lettuce, or just “on the side” with wintery dishes such as greens or beans.

The forgiving nature is that it lends itself to personal taste...you can add or subtract ingredients to this basic recipe.

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Preparing for the New Year January always feels like a clean sweep.

Perhaps it is the cold weather, the empty space where so many decorations were placed in my home (and the anticipation of next Christmas), or the smaller, tighter food budget, or maybe just maybe I feel the blessing of being able to have another blank slate, another year, another opportunity to become, as Matthew Kelly states, a better version of myself.

The older I become, the more I realize what a blessing it is just to be in this moment, in this here and now. Something the evangelist Lisa Bevere said once has stuck with me; “do not be afraid of these times, she said, God created you to be here right now. There is something you are here to accomplish.” I am not sure how theologically astute that statement is for me as a Catholic since the evangelist was not Catholic; what I am sure of is that it makes me think of my part, my contributions in bringing about the kingdom of God, and the times when I have not. And in January I am aware of and celebrating that I have another time to begin anew. That alone is such a blessing.

Two of my favorite words are still point and touchstone. I looked up their meanings so I could be precise here and was surprised to find what full and varied definitions they have. Here are the two meanings which resonate with me.

STILLPOINT 1st Peter 5:7 “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

This is the meaning this word has always held for me: undisturbed tranquility, silence, and calm. Now please understand, gentle reader. I have not had too much experience with tranquility which is why I suppose I have often groaned toward it clutching madly for something which I can rarely capture. And then it arrives when I least expect it- a smile, a clean

kitchen counter, a beautiful January sky… these stop me in my tracks at times, these make me know that all is well, that God is in charge, that I am included in that care too. This moment, this blip is a boost that gives me not only strength but fills me with gratitude.

TOUCHSTONE Psalm 34:14 “Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”

Touchstone can be any test by which the quality of a thing is measured. In those cold, usually damp, and dark evenings when I come through the door longing for a cup of tea or coffee what I long for more than that is a few moments of quiet and reflection to breathe and look back over my day making assessments and praying for the courage to make changes where needed…and gentle reader they are almost always needed.

Thus my usual January experience.

So just for this month I will take stock, enjoy some quiet and slightly undecorated environs, and breathe preparing myself for the days ahead and my part in them.

I will pray by listening more and asking less. I will savor rather than expedite.

I will be still and know that God is here with me in my home, my heart, and my family. I will hopefully learn to eat the elephant one bite at a time.

Scripture tells us this in the letter of James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds knowing that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

That is quite the New Year’s resolution!

May we merit to see this in our days.

Happy New Year.

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

School News Congratulations to Our Lady of Fatima Students of the Year, Jada Ballard (8th grade) and Aiden Cloman (5th grade)! We are so proud of these high flying Falcons.

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Jesus the Good Shepherd Names 20212022 Student of the Year; Continues Spiritual Growth and Faith Formation (Top) Mr. Harrison Tarver, son of Justin and Dana Tarver, (pictured above) was chosen as the 2021-22 JGS Student of the Year. For the past ten years, Jesus the Good Shepherd School has honored a 5th-grade student with the Student of the Year Award. This child goes on to compete for the Diocesan Student of the Year in January. He will compete against all other non-public 5th grade Students of the Year that reside in North Louisiana. The student is selected based on cumulative grades, 3rd through 5th grades, standardized test scores, volunteer work, Christian attitude, conduct, and positive leadership qualities. Harrison will compile a portfolio, over the next few weeks, for submission to a selection committee in Shreveport. He will then go through an interview process. We are honored to have Harrison represent JGS School!

(Right) “Through their prayers of intercession, the saints in heaven play an integral role in the life of the Church on earth.” A truth that we hold dear here at Jesus the Good Shepherd School. From the youngest to the oldest, JGS students begin to learn and love the saints in so many different ways! We dress up like saints on All Saints Day, color and paint saints, pick saint names and pretend to be that saint, put out one shoe on St. Nicholas feast day, feed and clothe those in need to honor St. Vincent de Paul, and much more. We believe the saints play a major role in the faith formation of our students. The saints teach us all that ordinary people can be called to do extraordinary things through the grace of God. 24 CATHOLIC CONNECTION

AMY FAKHRE is the Development/Marketing Coordinator at Jesus the Good Shepherd.

Year of Saint Joseph proves to be year of blessings at Saint Joseph School When Pope Francis declared The Year of Saint Joseph in 2020, St. Joseph Catholic School was excited for the opportunity to learn more about our patron, and to find ways to honor him throughout the year. What we did not realize was how many blessings we would see during this special time in the Church.

It began with the honor of being voted the Top Private School in the Shreveport-Bossier Area by SB Magazine.

Soon after that news, we learned that our eighth grade Student of the Year, Carter Doyal, was recognized as the top overall student for the private school district, the Diocese of Shreveport, Louisiana Catholic Schools, and Louisiana Private Schools divisions for 2020-21, and a finalist of the Louisiana Student of the year. Our fifth grade Student of the Year, John Foret, was recognized as the top overall student for the private school district in Northwest Louisiana, the Diocese of Shreveport, and a finalist for the Catholic School Student of the Year. In this, our 70th anniversary year, our school enrollment has increased steadily and we have officially returned to the original school colors of navy, green, and white.

A statue of St. Joseph “traveled” around our school from classroom to classroom throughout the year, and even made a special trip to the Vatican to be blessed

by Pope Francis himself. Finally, as we gathered to close this special year in the life of our Church, Bishop Malone celebrated the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception with us, and we learned that we have been voted the Top Private School in the Shreveport-Bossier Area by SB magazine for the second year in a row.

It is a bittersweet feeling, to look back with humility

at the blessings we enjoyed, and to see the focus on our patron saint come to an end. But as that year comes to a close, other great things are beginning, as well.

The first-ever school conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul - a “MiniVinnie” - commissioned 33 members from our Middle School, and has already completed their first service project: filling stockings for needy children in our area with toys and toiletries.

They also assisted in gathering and loading the items collected school-wide for the families that our parish chapter of SVdP assisted this Christmas. We have expanded our Virtues program to include recognition of faculty members who exemplify the Virtue of the Month, in addition to the recognition of students from each grade. We began the tradition of writing cards and letters to patients at the Veterans’ Hospital on Veterans Day in November, and we are planning our first-ever Religion Fair (similar to a Social Studies or Science Fair) in the Spring.

From the first blessing to the very last, St. Joseph Catholic School has seen God’s hand at work in so many ways at our school, in our families, and the community. We ask for your continued prayers as we strive daily to live our mission statement: To provide authentic Catholic education, directed towards academic excellence, and the formation of each child in the virtue of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

POLLY MACIULSKI teaches 5th-8th grade Religion at Saint Joseph Catholic School in Shreveport.

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Flyers Continue F.Ai.T.H. Tradition, Feed over 650 Families Since 1989, Loyola College Prep students put their said everyone was most excited about watching their faith into action for local families in need during the hard work pay off today. holiday season. The student-led organization, Flyers Aiding the Hungry (F.Ai.T.H.), provided an additional 650 families with baskets of food today with over 58% of the student body participating in the community project. This year the F.Ai.T.H. is led by chairwomen Emma Cate Dailey, Lauren Henson and Frances Kalmbach.

“I am honored to be able to continue F.Ai.T.H.’s tradition of excellence through my role as a chairman this year,” said Kalmbach. “Through serving, I’ve been able to recognize the hard work that goes into planning something that is on as large of a scale as F.Ai.T.H. Truly, every member, officer, chairman, and sponsor plays an essential role in making F.Ai.T.H. a possibility.” Each year F.Ai.T.H. works to provide a holiday meal for disadvantaged families in the Shreveport-Bossier area. Supported by fundraisers, donations, and basket sales, the F.Ai.T.H. organization can raise more than $25,000 necessary to sponsor this event. This effort is not done by the three chairmen alone. With 65 officers and 150 members, the F.Ai.T.H. organization at Loyola College Prep works almost year-round to plan, raise money, and organize.

“This project is so much bigger than anything one person can accomplish,” said Susan Hymel, F.Ai.T.H. sponsor. “With so many people willing to put service above self, we learn that no matter who we are or how JORDAN HARRIS small our personal community may be, we all have serves as the Director of Communications at Loyola the power to affect people far and wide.” Kalmbach College Prep in Shreveport.

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S S

(A W D

(R B T

(B H a

Saint Frederick High School News (Above and Bottom Left) St. Frederick High School Warriors salute our Veterans for their service on Veterans Day with a “Ride by Celebration!”

(Right) St. Frederick High School Senior Night”- picturedBridgette and Chad Tannehill with their two seniors, Grace Tannehill and Gunter Tannehill.

(Bottom Right) St. Frederick High School Junior National Honor Society collected food items for St. Vincent de Paul and made Thanksgiving baskets for needy families.

JANUARY 2022 29

Faith, Excellence and Service in Action Catholic schools are a place of faith, joy, and scholarship.

At St. John Berchmans, our sacred ministry is focused on the three-fold mission to nurture our students in Catholic values, promote excellence in education, and model lives of service. During Catholic Schools Week, Catholic schools across the country celebrate our strengths in bringing this mission to life. At St. John Berchmans, we celebrate Catholic Schools week with joy in our community of faith both within the school and in the broader Catholic Schools community.

Each Catholic Schools week for the past 12 years, St. Johns has hosted the other Catholic 3rd through 8th-graders in the Diocese of Shreveport for the Religion Scholars Bowl.

This competition teams up students in the same grade at different schools to share their knowledge of our Catholic faith and scripture. This focuses our students on achieving excellence not only in the traditional core subjects but also in their religious education. Our Catholic formation begins with the youngest Cardinals - the Pre-K 3 class practices the sign of the cross in the mirror and learning basic prayers and songs to give glory to God. All grades from Pre-K through eighth grade attend weekly school Mass and participate in community prayer during assemblies. Second graders prepare for First Communion and Reconciliation and share their favorite saints with our community at All Saints Day Mass. Eighth graders prepare for Confirmation and build community as a class with a trip to the Pines Camp where they strengthen their faith and learn many of the skills they need to become the leaders of the school.

The prayer and community that begins our day set our students up for success in academics. Many classes begin and end in prayer and signs of our faith can be seen throughout the classrooms and hallways. Within the classroom, teachers maintain high expectations and a supportive environment for student success. Activities like monthly reading challenges through the library, Crazy 30 CATHOLIC CONNECTION

8s Math Club in elementary, and Science Olympiad for middle school students help to keep learning fun and engaging. Our seventh and eighth-grade students have the opportunity to experience the LSUS Humanities 101 course with Dr. Cheryl White and other LSUS Faculty earning a certificate of completion of undergraduate level work. The eighth-grade Algebra I class walks over to join a Loyola class in learning the basics of higher-level math and begin earning high school credits.

Throughout the year and during Catholic Schools Week, the school and individual classrooms complete service projects. We give of our treasure to assist people in need, share our time in projects around the school, and use our talents to bring joy to our community. Clubs like the Junior Librarians Association, National Junior Honor Society, and Student Council all give generously of their time to the school and school-based projects. The National Junior Honor Society also sponsors Caring and Sharing Thursdays, an ongoing supply drive to make blessing bags for the St. Vincent DePaul Society.

Coming Up at St. Johns January 6 - Epiphany Mass with Loyola January 30- February 5 - Catholic Schools Week February 2 - All Schools Mass February 4 - Religion Scholars Bowl February 7-28 - Read-A-Thon March 2 - Ash Wednesday Mass with Loyola JULIA VANCHIERE is the school librarian at Saint John Berchmans Cathedral School.

JANUARY 2022 31

Por El Obispo Bishop Francis I. Malone

En la década de 1800, nuestro país estaba experimentando una cantidad abundante de inmigrantes de todas partes de Europa. La mayoría de estas personas provenían de lugares como Irlanda, Polonia, Alemania, y llegaron en cantidades tan grandes que nuestro país se enfrentó al problema de cómo cuidar a una cantidad tan grande de personas nuevas.

La mayoría de estos inmigrantes se establecieron en la parte noreste del país y poco a poco se dirigieron hacia el oeste. Los problemas normales de tanta gente nueva también tuvieron un impacto tremendo en la Iglesia Católica en Estados Unidos. Los Obispos del país tuvieron que enfrentar este cambio y ver como podían satisfacer las necesidades de los nuevos estadounidenses.

Así que los Obispos decidieron celebrar reuniones de todos los Obispos estadounidenses para tratar de responder a los muchos problemas que traía consigo la creciente nueva población estadounidense.

Los Obispos se reunieron en la ciudad de Baltimore en varias ocasiones con la esperanza de poder ministrar a estos millones de personas. Entre sus preocupaciones estaba “cómo podemos proporcionar una educación católica para el gran número de Católicos Europeos que inmigraron aquí”. Uno de los productos de su trabajo fue la formulación de una herramienta educativa llamada “Catecismo de Baltimore”. Algunos de nuestros lectores aquí recordarán esta famosa serie de preguntas y respuestas destinadas a ayudar al nuevo y creciente número de católicos.

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

Entre una de las primeras preguntas del Catecismo estaba: “¿Por qué me hizo Dios?” La respuesta fue: “Dios me hizo conocerlo, amarlo y servirlo en esta vida para ser feliz con Él en la próxima”.

Cuando pensamos en la progresión en esta respuesta: CONOCER - AMAR - SERVIR, podemos ver fácilmente cuán lógico es esto: no puedes SERVIR a alguien que no AMAS Y NO PUEDES AMAR a alguien que no CONOCES. Simplemente tiene sentido. Entonces, me gustaría señalar el primero de ellos: CONOCER. Cuanto más sabemos acerca de Dios, el resto sigue en amarlo y servirlo. Los tres (conocer - amar - servir) se basan en nuestra vida de oración, nuestra asistencia a la Misa, nuestras devociones (especialmente nuestra devoción a María). Y cuando ponemos nuestra mirada en leer y adquirir conocimiento de Dios a través de la Biblia, Dios nos habla y nos da dirección en nuestras vidas. Esto es especialmente cierto cuando no sabemos o no estamos seguros sobre el futuro; razón de más para desear saber más acerca de este Dios amoroso que nos envió a su Hijo unigénito, a través del cual obtenemos un conocimiento y una comprensión aún mayores de Él.

Claramente, Dios quiere que le sirvamos y, por supuesto, desea que le amemos. Pero todo comienza cuando tratamos de conocerlo. Y aunque hay tantos buenos autores y grandes santos sus Escrituras nos ayudan, debemos guardar Su Palabra, las Sagradas Escrituras como el mejor lugar para comenzar. Que este nuevo año sea de crecimiento en el conocimiento de Él, de enamoramiento de Él y de profundización de nuestro deseo de servirle con nuestras vidas.

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

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

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

SAGRADO CORAZON: OAK GROVE Rev. Jean Bosco Uwamungu 318.428.2983 Oficina, Domingo 1:00pm

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SAN JOHN THE BAPTIST, MANY Rev. Francis Kamau, FMH 318-256-5680 Oficina • primer domingo del mes Domingo 5:00pm SAN PABLO: MINDEN Rev. Rigoberto Betancurt 318-458-6045 Cell 2do Domingo 4:00pm Coordinadora: Dora Rodriguez 870-904-9137

Programa de Formación de Fe en Nuestra Diócesis Rosalba Quiroz, Directora

Jesucristo nos invita a todos y también a cada uno personalmente a tener una relación íntima con Él.

Sin esa relación es imposible invitar a otros a tener ellos mismos una verdadera relación personal con Cristo. Es fundamental que cada uno, como catequistas – porque todos somos catequistas ya que la palabra catequesis derivada del idioma griego significa “hacer eco de la enseñanza” y todos tenemos la misión de enseñar de lo que aprendemos.

El obispo Francis Malone nos ha traído un programa en inglés y español que todos podemos aprovechar. Esta educación no tiene costo para los estudiantes pues la diócesis está pagando una mensualidad para que todos aprovechemos esta gran oportunidad. Por medio de la Universidad Franciscana se ha creado un Instituto de formación de fe en línea que tiene como objetivo formar catequistas y discípulos. Esa era la manera de evangelizar y formar evangelizadores de San Juan Bosco, quien es el modelo del Instituto Franciscano. Esta educación será y es para todos los que estén interesados en aprender más sobre su fe y la vida pastoral de su parroquia.

Este regalo excepcional tiene varios beneficios: en primer lugar, es gratis ya que la diócesis está pagando una membresía al instituto que beneficia a todos los católicos de nuestra diócesis; no tiene que tomar las clases apresuradamente, sino ir a su propio ritmo; el programa se explica por sí mismo y es fácil de seguir; además de que todos podrán tener un mentor que los vaya guiando y acompañando en sus clases.

Estos estudios son de la mejor calidad ya que las clases son impartidas por profesores especializados en la materia y con niveles de educación de Doctorados y Maestrías, que comparten y son testigos de su sabiduría y conocimiento en cada clase. Lo único que tiene que hacer usted es conectarse en línea, https:// franciscanathome.com/es, registrarse y tomar las clases

que usted elija. Vea la parte superior de la página donde dice “Diócesis asociada”, elija Diócesis de Shreveport y verá instrucciones sobre cómo registrarse y comenzar.

Las clases pueden comenzar cuando usted lo decida, y puede ya comenzar su proceso de formación y certificación que el obispo reconocerá y le será de beneficio personal y también en cualquier ministerio que usted realice en su parroquia. Tenga en cuenta que TODOS son bienvenidos a participar. Hay talleres también dedicados a la familia y a la formación en Las Sagradas Escrituras. Como nos ha recordado el Papa Francisco: “Jesucristo te ama; dio su vida para salvarte; y ahora vive a tu lado todos los días para iluminarte, fortalecerte y liberarte “.

Nota: El próximo mes ofreceremos un taller presencial en español para los que quieran aprovechar las instrucciones directamente de la Universidad Franciscana; les daremos fecha, lugar, y horario por medio de su coordinador parroquial.

El retiro de Emaús para hombres es del 28-30 de enero en Scottsville, TX.

CONTACTO DIOCESANO: Rosalba Quiroz, Directora 318.219.7265 rquiroz@dioshpt.org Maria Ivelis Sanchez, Secretaria 318.219.7257 isanchez@dioshpt.org

JANUARY 2022 33

On November 15, 2021, the lives of Anneka & John Henderson changed drastically when their daughter-in-law was found dead in her apartment. She left behind four children three boys and one girl. The Henderson’s stepped up to the plate to help their son raise these children in their home. The ages of the children are 11, 7, 3, and 1. Upon hearing of this tragic event the ladies of the G.P.S. group (God’s Powerful Servants) banned together to see that these children would not go without this Christmas.

These ladies are Monica Addison, Gaye Craig, Margaret Horne, Pat Joseph, Frances Sampognaro, and not pictured Kathy Gilstrap, Sheri Letlow, Vita Southern, Margaret Tarver, Brenda Taylor, and Pat McGraw.

Knights of Saint Peter Claver new members: seated from left to right are Terry Salvant, Damien Chapman, Thomas Gadson, and Father Raney Johnson

The ladies from the G. P. S. Group (God’s Powerful Servants) recently presented Thanksgiving baskets to the cafeteria workers from Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School. These ladies are Bessie Pratt, Theresa Johnson, Gwen Jackson, and Anneka Henderson. Members of this volunteer G. P. S. spend their spare time helping others in need. We are composed of ladies in Monroe and surrounding small towns who search out people or organizations in need throughout the year. These ladies consist of: Monica Addison, Gaye Craig, Kathy Gilstrap, Margaret Horne, Pat Joseph, Sheri Letlow, Pat McGraw, Vernita O’Pry, Frances Sampognaro, Karen Siegel, Vita Southern, Margaret Tarver, and Brenda Taylor.

By Brother Mike Ward Fr. Raney was here as the presider at St. Thomas to kick off Vocation Week with us at our Sunday 7 PM Mass on November 7th. I served as the deacon at that Mass which was quite emotional, to say the least. We call our 7 PM Mass our “Student Mass” as the liturgical ministers are all college students. Fr. Raney, Class of 2015, discerned his vocation at Tech with me as his spiritual director. While at Tech, he volunteered with our Youth Program and was a lector and altar server at the student Masses held at 7 PM on Sundays. In his homily, Fr. Raney challenged our college students to consider the example of the poor widow in the Gospel, by giving their all to God. To emphasize his point, he recounted his days at Tech and how he decided to seek the priesthood. After Mass, the Association of Catholic Tech Students (ACTS) hosted a Thanksgiving-themed meal for all those who wished to come. The 80-yearold campus ministry program at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Ruston became known as the Association of Catholic Tech Students (ACTS) in 1997. On March 26, 2022, we will be officially celebrating that momentous act with an all-day feast, Mass, and banquet.

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MAGNIFICAT BRUNCH FEBRUARY 12, 2022 The Magnificat team would like to invite all women to our next brunch, Saturday, February 12, 2022 from 10:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at The Catholic Center, 3500 Fairfield Ave, Shreveport, LA 71104. Our brunch includes a meal, fellowship, praise and worship and a speaker. The speaker will be Melanie Richard, and she will share her journey recovering from COVID-19. Come and hear how the Lord is working in her life.

Tickets are $20.00 per person. Checks should be mailed to Magnificat Nowela Chapter P. O. Box 4293 Shreveport, LA 71134 by February 10, 2022. Please include the name of attendees with your check. For questions call 318-564-2672 or 318-222-0007.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY CHRISTUS Hospice and Palliative Care in Shreveport-Bossier is looking for volunteers. If you are interested in providing patient care, housekeeping, administrative work, or bereavement services, please contact Carmen Powell, Volunteer Coordinator, at 318-383-6748. Full details can be found at www. dioshpt.org/volunteer-opportunities.

ng

,

Annual Diocesan Stewardship Appeal What shall I return to the Lord? ( ) $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 2021.

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

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

Seminarian Burses Thanks to our Recent Donors: (020) Mr. Richard W. Ward ($300) (020) Mrs. Rosemary C. Ward ($485) (020) Chris A. Ward ($200) 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) (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)2 Fr. Mike Bakowski Memorial Burse #2 ($1250) (002) Joseph & Antoinette Bakowski Memorial Burse ($3050) (003) Sam R. Maranto Memorial Burse ($1650) (004) Kathryn Atherton Cook Memorial Burse ($350) (005) Cathedral of St. John Berchmans Burse ($950) (006) Msgr. J. Carson LaCaze Memorial Burse #2 ($3832.12) (007) Dr. Carol Christopher Memorial Burse ($1200) (008) St. Jude Parish Burse ($6118)

(009) St. John Berchmans Knights of Columbus Council 10728 Burse ($1550) (011) Rev. David Richter Memorial Burse #2 ($3404) (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) (019) Margaret Glenn Memorial Burse ($8700) (021) Rev. Edmund “Larry” Niehoff Memorial Burse ($2000)

(022) Rev. Blane O’Neil, OFM Memorial Burse ($600) (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 ($100) (030) Ottis and Anne Krupa Littlejohn Memorial Burse ($3000) (032) Madeline and Joe Tiller Memorial 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.

JANUARY 2022 35

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.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH: Sister Suny teaching Fr. Peter to shoot pool over the Thanksgiving break.

36 CATHOLIC CONNECTION