Bishop Francis I. Malone
EDITOR
Sophia Romanski
Mary Arcement Alexander
Karla Alvarez
Delia Barr
Karen Dill
Angel Gomez
Cassandra Key
Diane Libro
Polly Maciulski
Allie Moroney
Lucy Medvec
Mary Preziosi
Isabella Romanski
Noemi Saybe
Mike Van Vranken
Volume 34, Number 10
THE MANY NAMES OF MARY
FOR WORKING CONDITIONS Let us pray that through work, each person might find fulfilment, families might be sustained in dignity, and that society might be humanized.
Cover photo: a young woman prays in front of a Statue of the Blessed Mother in the Prayer Garden at St. Jude Catholic Church in Benton, Louisiana.
Photo by: Sophia Romanski
SUBSCRIPTIONS & ADDRESS CHANGES
Blanca Vice bvice@dioshpt.org 318-868-4441
Sophia Romanski sromanski@dioshpt.org
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The Diocese of Shreveport complies with Virtus’ Protecting God’s Children program (www.virtus.org). Online sessions are available. To report child sexual abuse by a cleric or church worker in the Diocese of Shreveport, call your local law enforcement agency and Mary Arcement Alexander, Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator at 318-588-2120. Thank you for helping to keep our children and vulnerable adults safe.
The Catholic Connection is funded in part by a grant from Catholic Home Missions and donations to the Catholic Service Appeal.
The Catholic Connection is a monthly publication funded by your Catholic Service Appeal, mailed to every known Catholic household in the Diocese of Shreveport. Our mission is to advance knowledge and understanding of our Catholic faith among the faithful. We seek to foster the application of Christ’s teachings and our Church’s mission in our daily lives and to encourage our sense of Catholic identity within our family, parish, and faith community.
May 3 & 4 - Catholic Home Missions Appeal strengthens the Church at Home by supporting essential pastoral programs in financially challenged dioceses and eparchies in the United States.
May 31 - Catholic Communications Campaign connects Catholics with Christ using the internet, television, radio, and print media.
Confirmation; St. Pius X Church, Shreveport, 11:00 AM
Mass, Our Lady of Fatima, Monroe, 9:00 AM
Confirmation; St. Mary of the Pines Church, Shreveport, 1:00 PM
Confirmation; St. Joseph Church, Mansfield, 6:00 PM
Confirmation; Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church, Shreveport, 5:00 PM
Red Mass; Holy Trinity Shreveport, 9:00 AM
Solemnities Priest(s) in the Diocese of Shreveport to pray for daily
Bishop Malone's Calendar Special Events in the Diocese of Shreveport
of St. Philip
Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima
Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle
Frederick High School Baccalaureate Mass, Jesus the Good Shepherd Church, Monroe, 11:00 AM
St. Frederick High School Graduation, Jesus the Good Shepherd Church, Monroe, 5:00 PM
Loyola College Prep Board Meeting, St. Vincent's Hall, Loyola College Prep Campus, Shreveport, 5:15 PM
Confirmation; St. Jude Church, Benton, 6:00 PM
Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of our priests. Especially ___________________________________ (insert name(s) here) Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments.
Confirmation; St. Joseph Church, Zwolle, 6:00 PM
Loyola College Prep Graduation, Bossier City Civic Center, Bossier City, 1:00 PM
Fr. Jocesph C. Howard, Jr.
Help our priests to be strong in their vocation. Set their souls on fire with love for your people.
Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.
Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel.
Confirmation; St. Joseph Church, Shreveport, 6:00 PM
Confirmation; St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Ruston, 5:00 PM
Confirmation; St. John the Baptist Church, Many, 4:00 PM 31
Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Confirmation; Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Farmerville, 6:00 PM
Allow them to experience joy in their ministry. Help them to become instruments of your divine grace.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest. Amen.
Mater Dolorosa Guest columnist Mary Preziosi shares her experience serving infants and families in the NICU at CHRISTUS Highland Hospital.
14
The Steady Strength of a Mother's Love: Our Lady of the Pillar Catholic writer and podcaster Allie Moronoey shares an inspiring story of the intercession of Our Lady of the Pillar in her own life.
This edition is dense! The Catholic Connection is bursting at the seams this month with stories, reflections, and history lessons about the Blessed Mother. Reading and thinking about nothing else for a whole month has been a real treat.
No woman has a greater positive impact on history than the Blessed Mother. Just one issue is barely enough to contain the stories of her influence on the people of our diocese, much less the whole of humanity. There certainly is not enough space in this column.
So, I will not use this space to try and say what has been said much more eloquently and interestingly throughout this issue. Instead, I will say 'thank you.'
With the exuberant chaos of the Easter season overshadowing every single day leading up to this magazine's printing, I felt the Blessed Mother's presence at my side. Nothing is more soothing than knowing that the Queen of Heaven and Earth is praying for me just because I asked for a little peace of mind.
Mary, Mother of Good Counsel, pray for us.
I AM OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER MY SEVENTH GRADE TEACHER, SISTER JAMES LABOURE, announcing to our class that at a certain hour that school day, we would hear the Church bells ring. Their pealing would signify the beginning of the Second Vatican Council in Rome. It was 1964. All further information about the Council was given to us second-hand and long after it concluded.
Who better to share their experience of the Council than a bishop who participated? As seminarians in 1972, we were honored and blessed at our annual retreat to have as our retreat master Archbishop Fulton Sheen, an excellent teacher and a great story teller. I clearly remember him telling us of being in Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome and of one lengthy debate among the bishops who had gathered from around the world to discuss topics of this “Ecumenical Council.” The lively discussion was about a particularly contentious issue raised by one group of bishops over what some judged as an excessive emphasis on Mary. They specifically recommended to then Pope Paul VI that the Church should
stop attributing titles to Mary.
For those unfamiliar with the “Litany of Loretto,” it lists over 50 Marian titles, which these bishops considered excessive and an obstacle to our relationship with Christian denominations that did not place as much importance on Mary. Archbishop Sheen described the high anxiety among bishops over how the Holy Father would decide. Many were sure the Pope would agree: “No new titles for Mary.” But, Archbishop Sheen said, with lunch behind them, the 2,500 bishops awaiting Pope Paul VI’s decision watched as he rose to his chair (his Cathedra) and announced to all: “Mary is the ‘Mother of the Church.’” Stunned at her new title, the entire body of bishops rose from their seats and applauded nonstop for thirty minutes in agreement: indeed, Mary IS the “Mother of the Church.”
I have often pondered how Pope Paul VI reached that decision. My own opinion is that he was drawn to the moment on the Cross when Jesus, near the moment of His death, looked down at His mother standing there
and His beloved disciple, John, next to her, and He proclaimed, “Woman, behold your son,” and to John, “Behold your mother.” John, of course, represented the Church standing there, and since Mary is indeed not only John’s mother but Jesus’ own mother – then she must be our (the Church’s) mother too.
The Church’s devotion to Mary is exemplified in her title “Mother of the Church” because she is and remains the mother of us all. And our reverence of her cannot possibly be separated from our relationship with her as our heavenly mother. That’s where the strength of her intercession is made all the more powerful – as our mother, my mother, your mother, and mother of the Church. With each of our intercessory prayers to the Lord, we pray through her. May this month of May, this month of Mary, instill in us a deeper devotion to the woman through whom Jesus took on flesh and because of whom salvation comes our way.
STUDYING CHURCH HISTORY AS A FIFTH GRADER LEFT ME BETTER EDUCATED – BUT MOSTLY SAD. MY heartbreak centered on the Church’s split in the Great Schism of 1054 AD. I have always felt more than a strong kinship to the Eastern Church. And although many Catholics address Mary as Virgin Mary and Blessed Mother, I have been drawn to her title Theotokos, a Greek word that means God-bearer. It’s a title the Eastern church has clung to for over 1,700 years.
Theotokos refers to more than Mary’s motherhood: because Jesus was fully God and fully human, Theotokos supernaturally elevates her status to mother of God. This understanding is a dogmatic belief ("a truth revealed by God … [that] the Church declared as binding" for all Catholics to believe), and we are called to imitate Mary; thus, her image as God-bearer is meant for all of us to imitate.
Through grace, Mary had the strength to say “yes,” revealing to us what “hope in the Lord” looks like in action. As Theotokos, Mary’s surrender to God’s call brings our focus to womanhood and is where God elevates femininity to a place of honor.
Mary, the teenage girl from Nazareth, is the heart of femininity. “Blessed is the fruit” of her womb, for she is the dwelling of God; she bears the Christ and gives birth to Jesus. Her body provides the care, nourishment, nurturing and, most of all, continued love to the Child when within her and once He’s born. She lovingly protects, nurtures, feeds, and even heals whenever it is required. Her gentle touch and loving embrace extend to the Child into His adulthood. She is a testament to how femininity gives dignity to the beauty of life. Because we are all God-bearers (as Temples of the Holy Spirit), we are all, both male and female, called to live this same femininity as we encounter creation – as persons bearing God within us.
We then ponder with all Scripture: how might this term “God-bearer” be stirring in us?
Mary’s submission to God’s call could not have been easy for her. She likely pictured her betrothal and subsequent marriage, but probably never imagined being overcome by the Holy Spirit. And yet, we see her rejoice in her role as God-bearer. What about you?
Do you rejoice in your calling as a bearer of Christ to those around you?
What is it like knowing God wants you to nourish, feed, and heal the people He includes in your journey?
Who are you asked to welcome in the way Mary welcomed her child?
Whose face are you being asked to hold, caress, and see as the face of Jesus, as Mary did?
How are you moved and motivated by Theotokos, whose femininity gave life to God in the world, doing what mothers do to lovingly accompany and sustain that life, no matter the cost?
Theotokos, my favorite title for Mary, is pregnant with the image that all of us are God-bearers and are thus all mothers giving birth to Christ in our everyday lives. Mary lived her role, giving her own feminine example for us, so that we, too, could dignify womanhood as Theotokos ourselves. It is a Divine calling – for all of us.
Mike Van Vranken is a spiritual director for the Diocese of Shreveport and a teacher of new spiritual directors for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
The Impact of Praying the Rosary in the Diocese of Shreveport
BISHOP MALONE HAS AGAIN CHALLENGED US TO PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY THROUGHOUT May with special intentions for our diocese. Last year’s goal for our diocesan community was 10,000 Rosaries prayed – that was a big ask! But the challenge was made and accepted, and our diocesan parishioners got on their knees and together prayed 11,168 Rosaries in May 2024! Our goal in 2025, during this Jubilee Year of Hope: 20,000!
Last year’s outpouring of prayer from people across the diocese was amazing! It was wonderful knowing we were all lifting up intentions together for our diocesan community. One of those intentions was “For our parish communities to become true Disciples of Christ, in word and deed, as we give witness of our faith to others.” On Sunday, March 9, at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Bishop Malone welcomed and blessed over 300 people (catechumens and candidates) who have been preparing for entry into the Catholic Church during this year’s Easter Vigils in our parishes. Talk about God answering prayers!! The power of prayer is real, and the Holy Spirit is working among us in our diocese.
I shared last year that one intention
was personal for me: “For a greater awareness and understanding of the Blessed Mother’s role in our lives of faith through an increase in devotion to her.” While I always had a love for the Blessed Mother, praying the Rosary daily and really understanding the Blessed Mother’s role in my life was untapped. Last year, we Catholic Center staff committed to praying the Rosary daily during May and met faithfully in the chapel here at 3:00 to pray it in community. When May ended and I had reflected on the Blessed Mother’s role in my life, I was drawn to continue praying a daily Rosary, which I did through this past year, praise God! It became important in the prayer life I share with my husband, and my relationship with the Blessed Mother blossomed into something new. I find great comfort in the repetitive prayers that are an opportunity to reflect on the mysteries, which draw me closer to Jesus through Mary.
Please prayerfully consider taking on (or continuing) a daily Rosary prayer during May, by yourself or with a group, and share them with us as we count them across the diocese in May! Is it possible our 40,000 Catholics could unite to pray 20,000 rosaries?
SPECIAL DIOCESAN INTENTIONS TO PRAY DURING MAY
Intention: For an increase of belief in the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
Intention: For families to cultivate the planting of the spirit for vocations in their children through prayer and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Intention: For greater attendance and participation in the sacrifice of the Mass.
Intention: For a greater awareness and understanding of the Blessed Mother’s role in our lives of faith through an increase in devotion to her.
Intention: For our parish communities to become true Disciples of Christ, in word and deed, as we give witness of our faith to others.
Delia Barr is the Director of Faith Formation for the Diocese of Shreveport.
“LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER.”
“MOM ALWAYS KNOWS BEST.”
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE heard (or said) that in our lives? As a daughter, I did not appreciate my mother’s advice until after she was gone. As a mother, I hope my sons won’t wait that long! When we think of Mary, we see her as obedient, full of faith, and of course, as the Blessed Mother. But in John’s telling of the wedding at Cana, we also see her as a mother who knows the time has come for Jesus to step forward.
His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5).
As I discerned a theme for this year’s Catholic Service Appeal, I halfjokingly considered, “Do whatever He tells you.” I mean, how can we say “no” to Jesus? Especially when it comes to sharing the gifts He gave us.
The wedding at Cana story reveals so many things: the celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage, Mary’s attentiveness to the wine shortage, her realization that Jesus’ time had come, and of course, Jesus’ miracle that turned water into wine. Although He seemed hesitant at first, it was Mary’s firm directive to the stewards – “Do whatever He tells you” – that began His ministry.
An often overlooked lesson here is about abundance – when we trust. Jesus’ transformation of water into wine illustrated that there is more than enough when we trust in divine provision. His miracle should inspire us to look beyond scarcity and embrace generosity in our lives. This can be generosity found through acts of kindness or service, but also through the act of giving.
You hear that gifts to the Catholic
Service Appeal support ministries in the Diocese of Shreveport, but what does that mean? It means that your donation helps to cover, in this diocese, tuition and living costs for our seminarians; our retired priests’ medical and insurance costs; funds used by organizations like the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to help people pay for food, rent, and utilities; and expenses that enable everyone in our diocese, from babies to senior citizens, to grow in their faith through worship, education, retreats, bible studies, and community events. We talk about this all the time, but when we truly think about the thousands of people who benefit from the Catholic Service Appeal, then can we realize that your gift – of any amount – is a gift of unimaginable grace.
This issue of the Catholic Connection – also funded through your support of the Appeal – is about Mary, our Blessed Mother of Jesus. Yes, we should all listen to our mothers, but we should also heed Mary. Her words to Jesus were so important in His journey that John recorded them for posterity. They were the last words Mary spoke that were recorded in the Gospel, and they contain the best advice in the entire world: “Do whatever He tells you.” Mary told the waiter – and all of us – to obey Jesus in all things. Listen to her, then listen to Him.
Lucy Medvec is the Director of Development and Stewardship for the Diocese of Shreveport.
I CAN’T REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT THE TITLE OF MARY AS “THE UNDOER OF KNOTS,” but I was immediately intrigued. This Marian identity originated from a teaching of the second-century bishop, St. Irenaeus, in which he compared Mary to Eve. He taught that whereas Eve tied the knot of disgrace for the human race by her disobedience, Mary undid it by her obedience. About 1600 years later, a German artist painted this action of Our Lady as an image, to honor the grandparents of his patron, Father Hieronymus Langenmantrel. The couple had asked Mary to untie the knots in their marriage, their divorce was avoided, and their faith was renewed. The painting hangs today in a museum in Augsburg, Germany.
Before Cardinal Bergoglio was elected Pope, a nun sent him this image on a Christmas card. He liked it so much that he sent postcards of the painting to his friends in Argentina, a gesture that helped spread this Marian devotion around the world. When I discovered it, I immediately felt the impact of Mary as my spiritual Mother.
In his Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius suggests having a “colloquy” with Mary at the beginning of a prayer of
petition. “Colloquy” is a Latin term for a friendly, but reverent, conversation. He encourages us to approach Our Lady and beg for the grace we need as we lay before her the “knots” in our spiritual lives. Being the perfect intercessor, she will then take us by the hand and into the presence of her Son. He in turn will hear our requests and join His mother in taking our prayers to His Father.
Captivated by this method of entering into prayer, I like to have an inner colloquy with Mary when I go to adoration. I often enter the chapel full of worry and anxiety over small and large knots in my life. Difficult relationships, roadblocks to practicing the faith, resentments, fears, weaknesses – I can mentally lay them all down in the presence of Jesus in the monstrance. Then, I have a woman-to-woman conversation about them with Mary. I feel that she understands me completely. In her graciousness, I can almost hear her say, “Let me help you with that,” in the same loving voice my own mother used whenever I ran to her with a problem.
Mary has never given a quick, definite answer to the difficulties I present. Instead, she gives something far more valuable – the gift of inner peace.
What can be more soothing than being listened to and understood? I can feel the knots begin to loosen as I sit in the silence of her company. She never judges or scolds me for the knots that, at least partly, resulted from my own misdoings. She stands with me at the foot of the Cross as, together, we go to her Son in faith. “Do whatever He tells you,” she whispers. So, we sit awhile with Him, then allow Him to lead us to the Throne of Grace.
I have never left adoration with the sense of being spiritually emptyhanded. Instead, thanks to these colloquies, I leave rested, restored, and renewed. I receive her prompt succor. The knots in my stomach are gone. The ribbon of my connection to God is strengthened and smoothed once more.
Karen Dill is a spiritual director for the Diocese of Shreveport and a parishioner at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
GROWING UP, MY MOM ALWAYS SAID, “TIENES QUE SER PRUDENTE, UNO SIEMPRE TIENE QUE SER prudente con lo que dice y en cómo se visten.” “You always have to be prudent — in what you say and how you dress.”
I grew up in a family of seven: Mom, Dad, four girls, and one boy. When younger, I didn’t fully understand what she meant by those words, but as an adult, I am grateful for them. I realize now that she was forming us to live lives grounded in virtue. And we saw her practice prudence daily — in her words, actions, and silence.
Practicing prudence is not the most popular choice. It challenges us to slow down, think before we speak, and reflect before we act. It’s countercultural in this world that praises impulsiveness and loud opinions.
When I think of someone prudent, I imagine a person who is both quiet and confident. Quiet — not because they lack something to say, but because they don’t need to convince anyone of anything. Confident –because they know who they are.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines prudence as “the virtue that disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it… it guides the other virtues by setting rule and measure” (CCC 1806). This virtue fosters an atmosphere of safety and love.
I’m sure Mary had a lot to say. But in Scripture, we don’t see her speak much. We see her suffer in silence, obey with love, and ponder deeply. Prudence doesn’t mean selfish withdrawal, but rather invites us to go beyond emotion and act according to
what is good and true.
I have no doubt that Mary didn’t want to see her Son suffer — much less die. She certainly longed to defend Him, to correct the false accusations, and to stop the injustice. But instead, she “kept all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:51). Throughout the Gospel, Mary practices self-control. There was no need for her to take matters into her own hands — because she knew it wasn’t her will that needed to be done, it was God’s. And she responded accordingly.
The Catechism also says: “A virtue is an habitual and firm disposition to do the good. It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of himself [or herself]” (CCC 1803). Mary made prudence a habit of her heart. She practiced silence, and she carefully considered her words before they ever left her mouth. This virtue doesn’t stifle — it nurtures. It creates an atmosphere of safety and love, where people feel seen, valued, and not judged. Prudence makes space for healing. It invites restoration. It allows us to respond, not react.
Virgin Most Prudent, teach us to pause, listen, and seek God’s will before our own. Help us form habits that give the best of ourselves — for His glory, not ours. Virgin most prudent, pray for us.
Karla Alvarez is the Director of Multicultural Ministry for the Diocese of Shreveport.
CUANDO ERA NIÑA, MI MAMÁ SIEMPRE DECÍA: “TIENES QUE SER PRUDENTE, UNO SIEMPRE TIENE que ser prudente con lo que dice y en cómo se visten.”
Crecí en una familia de siete: mamá, papá, cuatro niñas y un niño. De pequeña, no entendía del todo lo que mi mamá quería decir con esas palabras. Pero ahora, como adulta, miro atrás con gratitud. Me doy cuenta de que nos estaba formando para vivir una vida arraigada en la virtud. Y vi cómo ella practicaba la prudencia todos los días—con sus palabras, sus acciones y su silencio.
Practicar la prudencia no es la opción más popular. Nos reta a detenernos, a pensar antes de hablar y a reflexionar antes de actuar. Es contracultural en un mundo que aplaude la impulsividad y las opiniones ruidosas.
Cuando pienso en alguien prudente, imagino a una persona silenciosa y segura. Silenciosa—no porque le falte qué decir, sino porque no necesita convencer a nadie de nada. Segura— porque sabe quién es.
El Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica define la prudencia como “la virtud que dispone la razón práctica a discernir nuestro verdadero bien en toda circunstancia y a elegir los
medios adecuados para realizarlo... guía a las otras virtudes indicándoles regla y medida” (CIC 1806). Esta virtud ayuda a crear un ambiente de seguridad y amor.
Estoy segura de que María tenía mucho que decir. Pero en la Escritura no la vemos hablar mucho. La vemos sufrir en silencio, obedecer con amor y meditar profundamente. La prudencia no significa alejamiento egoísta—nos invita a ir más allá de las emociones y actuar conforme a lo que es bueno y verdadero.
No tengo duda de que María no quería ver sufrir a su Hijo—mucho menos morir. Estoy convencida de que deseaba defenderlo, corregir las falsas acusaciones y detener la injusticia. Pero en lugar de eso, “guardaba todas estas cosas en su corazón” (Lucas 2,51). A lo largo del Evangelio, María practica el dominio propio. No necesitaba tomar el control de la situación, porque sabía que no se trataba de hacer su voluntad, sino la de Dios. Y respondió conforme a esa certeza.
El Catecismo también dice: “La virtud es una disposición habitual y firme a hacer el bien. Permite a la persona no sólo realizar actos buenos, sino dar lo mejor de sí misma” (CIC 1803).
María hizo de la prudencia un hábito
del corazón. Practicó el silencio y pensó cuidadosamente sus palabras antes de pronunciarlas. Esta virtud no sofoca—sino que alimenta. Crea un ambiente de seguridad y amor, donde las personas se sienten vistas, valoradas y no juzgadas. La prudencia abre espacio para la sanación. Invita a la restauración. Nos permite responder, no reaccionar.
Virgen Santísima, la Más Prudente, enséñanos a hacer una pausa, a escuchar, y a buscar la voluntad de Dios antes que la nuestra. Ayúdanos a formar hábitos que nos lleven a dar lo mejor de nosotros mismos— para Su gloria, no la nuestra. Virgen prudentísima, ruega por nosotros.
Karla Alvarez es la directora del Ministerio Multicultural de la Diócesis de Shreveport.
Oh Moon, queen of the stars, my advocate above, Fair light so brilliant against the darkness of the night. You are my witness to your brightest Sun.
Oh Moon our life, gift of the Sun who gave the Sun.
Oh Moon our sweetness, whose gentle beams light up the night. Oh Moon our hope, light of the Sun when set.
Most fair and gentle light who hears my mournful cries, In your veil of beams, the softest light, I mourn and weep; Cries of a poor child banished from the sky.
Dearest Moon, my most great and gracious advocate, Most beautiful Pearl gate through which we enter Heaven
Let your sweet beams of mercy fall on us.
Heavenly light we pray to you to ask your Sun
That we be his light on earth then lovely stars above
After this our gift of earthly exile.
Oh Moon so clement, mother of mercy divine. Oh Moon so loving, seat of wisdom and queen of peace. Oh Moon so sweet, immaculately made.
Queen of the Stars do pray for us, your children dear, That we may be worthy of the splendors of your Sun
Just as you are, our lady of the moon.
For your brilliance proclaims the greatness of your Sun. Your pure light rejoices in your Sun the source of life.
Oh blessed Mother, most holy is the name of your one, beloved Son.
Q: Talk to me about your decision to compare the Blessed Mother to the moon.
A: The moon does not produce its own light. It reflects the light from the sun. I just felt like Mary does the same thing. She doesn't ever produce her own light because she's so humble, but she's also perfectly aligned with Christ, so she purely reflects His light.
Q: Would you say there is any specific poem you were thinking about while you were writing? Do you take inspiration from prayers?
A: I tend to think that poetry and prayer are the same thing. At least for most prayers. Like the Salve Regina prayer, which is what I based this poem on, is pure poetry. If you look at the lines of the Hail, Holy Queen, just every line is so beautiful and poetic. I basically took that prayer and the Magnificat and rewrote them with my own spin on it.
Q: Do you have any partifular relationship or devotion to the Blessed Mother that you feel informed your writing?
A: Compared to other people, I think I lask a devotion to Mary. But all Catholics have a special devotion to Mary I think, just because she is so unique to the Catholic faith. I think knowing you have such a powerful, spiritual mother is something really profound. I do try to pray the Rosary. My school does a daily Rosary I try to attend. We also pray the Liturgy of the Hours, and at night we always end with a Marian song.
The beautiful thing about the Liturgy of the Hours is that you tend to memorize the songs very easily, and then they'll get stuck in your head. Throughout the day, you'll get these Marian songs stuck in your head, and you'll just be singing all day. It's the most beautiful thing, to have prayers stuck in your head.
Isabella Romanski is a freshman History Major at the University ot Dallas in Irving, Texas.
AS WE ALL KNOW, MAY IS THE MONTH DEDICATED TO OUR BLESSED MOTHER MARY. WE celebrate the Immaculate woman that God chose to be the perfect, model disciple. When the many struggles of daily life arise, we are often left with questions and searching for answers. I find it significant to release ourselves into the supernatural reality of the Immaculate Heart of our mother Mary.
It is profoundly humbling when we replay the moment the Angel Gabriel appears to Mary and announces that she is to conceive of a divine child, and her simple response is, “How can this be?” She demonstrates a lot here. Mary is presented with the news of giving birth to the story of salvation, yet expresses a sense of unworthiness, a profound, yet simple, humility. Mary was free to choose whether to fulfill this call or not, but through a humble submission of
will to God’s will and grace she was strengthened to heed such a call and ultimately give her"yes."
This image of Mary embracing the call given to her by God is a beautiful unfolding of God’s salvation plan for us, and it is the beautiful symphony of life that God allows our Blessed Mother to embrace it. It is worth reflecting on the beauty of God allowing the sacredness of life to flourish in a woman’s life beginning at conception. As we tend to fall into arrogance and pride by various means, we should turn to our Blessed Mother as our model disciple.
Submitting to God’s will in whatever way that may look for us in our many different paths of life is us growing deeper into the Immaculate Heart. When we give God our yes that He is asking of us, that is when we will grow closer to him through the example of the meekness, surrender, and self-
sacrifice of our Blessed Mother in her Immaculate Heart and authentic womanhood. Let us turn and always grow closer to our Blessed Mother, always following her Son, our Lord, and living as stewards of light in the darkness.
Angel Gomez is a Seminarian of the Diocese of Shreveport.
LAS DEVOCIONES MARIANAS PUEDEN CLASIFICARSE EN VARIOS TIPOS, SEGÚN LOS DIFERENTES aspectos de la vida de la Virgen María, su papel y representación simbólica. Asi tenemos los títulos:
• Relacionadas con los Misterios o Eventos en su Vida: como la Anunciación, la Asunción y la Presentación.
• Verdades teológicas: como Esperanza, Caridad y Consuelo relacionadas con sus virtudes.
• Estados emocionales: enfocándose en el sufrimiento y la soledad de la Virgen, como Nuestra Señora de los Dolores.
• Mediadora y Protectora: como Auxilio de los Cristianos, etc.
• Referencias simbólicas: como la Reina de la Paz, el Arca de la Alianza, etc.
• Localizaciones geográficas: como Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Fátima, Lourdes o Champion (la primera y única aparición mariana aprobada en los EE. UU.)
Las advocaciones marianas honran varios aspectos de la identidad, el papel y los atributos de la Virgen María. Uno de sus títulos significativos fue otorgado por San Juan Pablo II en 1995, "María, Reina de las Familias".
Las Escrituras mencionan su presteza por primera vez ayudando a Isabel durante su embarazo y luego intercediendo en la boda de Caná, donde pidió a Jesús que proveyera vino, incluso cuando Él dijo: “Mujer, mi hora no ha llegado aún” (Juan 2:4).
Aunque el término "mujer" pueda parecer despectivo hacia ella, es el término usado para Eva; así, Jesús confirma su participación dentro de su ministerio. La Virgen María no retrocede ante este término, sino que, valientemente, dirige a los sirvientes a "hacer todo lo que él les diga," indicando la fidelidad (Marcos 10:9). Este momento sirve como un modelo para la Iglesia, especialmente en el sacramento del matrimonio ya que la Virgen María sigue intercediendo por las parejas durante el pre-cana, así como por los recién casados a través de mentores matrimoniales cuando están disponibles, y por aquellos que viven sus votos con fidelidad en el pos-cana, lo cual dura "hasta que la muerte les separe".
En una Audiencia General, San Juan Pablo II también dijo que “la presencia de Jesús en Caná es también una señal del plan salvador de Dios para el matrimonio. Desde esta perspectiva, la falta de vino puede interpretarse como una alusión a la falta de amor…
y la división que, lamentablemente, a menudo amenaza las uniones matrimoniales. La gracia del sacramento ofrece a la pareja esta fuerza superior de amor, que puede reforzar su compromiso con la fidelidad, incluso en circunstancias difíciles.” (1997)
Que el buen ejemplo de las parejas comprometidas y casadas fielmente, a través de la intercesión de la Santísima Madre, Reina de las Familias, nos inspire a todos a evangelizar nuestras comunidades al abrazar el camino de Cristo, tal como ella nos anima a hacer.
Santa María, Reina de la Familia, ruega por nosotros.
Noemi Saybe es la directora de Matrimonio y Vida Familiar de la Diócesis de Shreveport.
Models Compassion for All
MARY, COMFORT OF THE AFFLICTED, PRAY FOR US.
I AM NOT A SOCIAL WORKER. AND FRANKLY, I WOULDN’T BE A GOOD ONE IF I WAS.
God gave me gifts in communications and administration. I can process a whole lot of data and make it make sense. I can look at a process and tell you where the holes are. I can write a story that sheds light on a problem.
Sit me in a room with a crying client?
My heart races, and all I think is, “What do I say?”
But here I am, leading a social service agency.
I care deeply for the people who come through our doors each week. My greatest frustration is not being able to fix their problems.
Here, I need to pause and take a lesson from Mary, Comforter (or Consoler) of the Afflicted. This is one of the oldest titles for the Blessed Virgin, rooted in the suffering she both experienced and witnessed as she raised Jesus.
From the ominous prophecy of Simeon to the flight into Egypt to watching His Passion, Mary knows what it means to suffer. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians that understanding leads
us to consolation: “For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too” (2 Cor 1:5).
In one particularly famous image of Our Lady of Consolation, Mary holds the infant Jesus in one hand and a scepter in the other. The scepter certainly reflects her royalty, but it kind of looks like a magic wand, too – you know, the kind all moms are supposed to have to heal everything from skinned knees to broken hearts.
Don’t tell my 13-year-old, but we don’t have those. What moms do have is an infinite capacity for comfort. Sometimes, that is enough.
A woman came in with a $1,600 electric bill. She was injured at work, is out on workers comp, and is thus missing half her income. Meanwhile, she still has a teenager at home and is caring for her mother. Adding to her stress, she recently buried her granddaughter, who died of cancer. Overwhelmed does not begin to describe her mental state!
Our funds would not cover the whole bill, but our Emergency Assistance counselor recommended she call SWEPCO to see if they would pause the cut off with a good faith payment. It worked. Her electricity would not be cut off, and she could breathe.
It wasn’t a complete solution, but it was consolation.
Catholic Charities has a fabulous team of people who are built more like social workers. They empathize with those we serve and share their strong faith that God will provide the comfort they need.
I will keep praying.
Mary, Consoler and Mother, we turn to you as we meet those in our community who suffer. Be our strength and refuge as we face the trials of this world. Pray that we emulate the love and comfort you showed to your Son and His disciples. May the love of our heavenly Father flow through us and console those in need. O Mary, Comforter of the Afflicted, pray for us.
Diane Libro is the Executive Director of Catholic Charities of North Louisiana.
The Diocese of Shreveport invites you to celebrate the Jubilee Year of 2025 with an unforgettable pilgrimage to Italy alongside thousands of young adults to rediscover the beauty of our Catholic faith!
Embark on a Pilgrimage to Italy with the Department of Multicultural Ministries!
The Music Ministry Department at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans recently held a fundraiser in support of our diocese’s seminarians. Held in January, “Pasta, Pianos, and Priestly Ordinations” featured food, fellowship, and a piano concert for all in attendance. The event was a great success with all funds donated in support of priestly vocations. One area that received a portion of the proceeds was the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans Seminarian Burse. Seminarian burses provide financial support for our seminarians’ livelihood and education until they are ordained as priests.
If your parish would like to hold an event to raise funds for our seminarians through the Seminarian Burse Program, please contact Lucy Medvec, Director of Development at lmedvec@dioshpt.org or (318) 219-7260.
The Diocese of Shreveport invites you to celebrate the Jubilee Year of 2025 with an unforgettable pilgrimage to Italy alongside thousandas of young adults to rediscover the beauty of our Catholic Faith! JULY 26 - AUGUST 5TH, 2025 ROME & ASSISI
To donate to an established seminarian burse, please scan here
To see an up-to-date list of incomplete and complete burses, please scan here
AS WE APPROACH THE SCHOOL YEAR’S END, WE REFLECT ON THE MANY WONDERFUL EVENTS THAT MADE SPRING SO SPECIAL AT SJB.
Holy Week is always meaningful here at the Cathedral and provided wonderful opportunities for our students to deepen their faith through prayer and reflection. The sacred time reminded us of the importance of Christ’s love and sacrifice as we prepared for His Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Once again, one of our most cherished traditions, the annual Butterfly Release, took flight. This beautiful event symbolizes renewal and hope and was made more special this year by news channel KTBS highlighting the moment. Seeing the butterflies soar was a touching reminder of God’s creation and the new life we celebrate each spring.
On Monday, May 5, Cinco de Mayo brought vibrant festivities to our school, where students enjoyed music, food, and cultural activities. It was a joyful day filled with learning and appreciation for Hispanic heritage and the culmination of another year for our Spanish language program.
Finally, we wrapped up the season with Field Day, a day of fun and friendly competition and school spirit. Laughter filled the air as students participated in games and challenges, creating lasting memories.
As we say goodbye to another school year, we are grateful for the faith, friendship, and joy that continue to make SJB such a special place.
Our Sports Banquet celebration night honored our student athletes’ dedication and hard work. Coaches, families, and teammates came together to recognize achievements and share memories from an exciting year of competition and teamwork.
Cassandra Key is the Director of Communications and Development for the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans Parish and School.
AT ST. JUDE DAY SCHOOL AND MDO, WE CELEBRATE AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY. SINCE FATHER'S DAY falls during the summer, when school is out, we decided to celebrate fathers and father figures during March, on the Feast of Saint Joseph, by hosting an event that honored both St. Joseph and the fathers of St. Jude Day School and MDO. Our Family Life Center filled with proud dads enjoying doughnuts, coffee, and juice with their children. The children gathered at chapel to hear Deacon Steve talk about Saint Joseph, who is the patron saint of fathers, families, workers, and other causes. And the dads went home with certificates, made by the children to express their love.
Our Annual Mardi Gras celebration and parade were also successful. The children enjoyed throwing beads and candy to family, friends, and the St. Jude staff and decorating honey buns, with frosting and sprinkles, to look like little King cakes.
On Ash Wednesday, we attended chapel where Deacon Steve blessed us with ashes and spoke about the Lenten season and how we can best prepare for Easter. We hold our Easter celebration on Holy Thursday, before Easter break begins, and of course, the children always eagerly anticipate the great Easter egg hunt and special appearance by the Easter Bunny.
"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it."
— Proverbs 22:6
Sharon McCabe is the Pre-K 3 teacher at St. Jude Day School & Mother's Day Out.
NESTLED IN THE RHYTHM OF OUR SCHOOL LIFE AT JESUS THE GOOD SHEPHERD, WE FIND MOMENTS OF PROFOUND GRACE, THOUGH NON MORE TENDER THAN those spent in prayer with Our Blessed Mother. In the quiet of our Mary Garden, students gather with rosaries in hand, hearts open, and souls stilled, embracing Mary’s femininity, not as something soft or passive, but as something beautifully strong, nurturing, and fiercely faithful.
Mary, the Mother of God, offers our children a model of pure devotion and unwavering trust. She teaches them that strength lies in surrender to God's will, and love – true, self-giving love – is the greatest power of all. During the Lenten season, our students find themselves drawn closer to Christ through Mary’s example, contemplating her “yes” at the Annunciation and her sorrow at the foot of the Cross. In these mysteries, they see a woman fully alive with purpose, grace, and courage.
Queen of Heaven, keeping her close in mind, body and spirit. In those quiet moments when Hail Marys are prayed, our students not only pray – they imitate. They learn to listen like Mary, to trust like Mary, to love like Mary.
Our young students are growing in both faith and virtue. And in doing so, they help keep alive a culture of Marian devotion that will sustain them far beyond the classroom. Through Mary’s femininity, our students – boys and girls alike – learn the truth of who they are and whose they are.
Jesus the Good Shepherd School is, in many ways, a garden where the seeds of faith are planted in Marian soil. We are blessed beyond measure to have the Queen of Heaven as our Mother, our model, and our guide.
Each week, a class is entrusted with the statue of Our Lady, a tradition that invites them to draw closer to her through the Rosary. This devotion becomes more than routine; it becomes a relationship with Mary and an honor to take the Blessed Mother back to the classroom and care for our
Amy Fakhre is the Director of Development at Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic School.
During this year Catholics in our diocese are called to undertake a pilgrimage to the designated churches and our minor shrine and receive a Plenary Indulgence. At each of the Holy Sites, you will find signs of welcome and a Prayer Card with the Jubilee Prayer, conditions for receiving the indulgence (see below), and a place to note the date you visited each of the sites, a “passport” to the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Holy Trinity Church and the Minor Shrine of the Shreveport Martyrs, St. Matthew Church in Monroe, and St. John the Baptist Church in Many.
The ULM Christ the King Catholic Campus Ministry’s annual Charity Ball was a wonderful event with a significant impact. The ULM Catholic Campus Ministry (ULM CCM) chose the Christopher Youth Center as its charity this year because they directly contribute to the well-being of vulnerable youth in the Monroe community. The Christopher Youth Center, which originally aimed to help abused women and children, now provides a range of services including emergency housing, food, counseling, and tutoring. Their programs for young people aged 11-24, especially those transitioning out of foster care or experiencing homelessness, are incredibly valuable. Their focus on both transitional living and rapid rehousing offers a comprehensive approach to helping these youth build stable, independent lives. It’s inspiring to see the students from the Catholic Campus Ministry invest in such a meaningful way, making a positive difference in their community.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES? Witness how ordinary people ENCOUNTER God’s LOVE and PRESENCE. See Lives touched and changed in an instant because God speaks to them, touches them and heals them. Save the date and attend The Encounter School of Ministry Shreveport Campus showing of “FEARLESS: A Documentary on Catholic Evangelization" hosted at Saint Mary of the Pines Catholic Church in Shreveport on May 12, 2025 at 6PM in Vandegaer Hall. See you there, and bring a friend!
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish held a Lenten morning of reflection for ladies from our parish, as well as other churches. The theme was “Growing through Suffering.” Spiritual director Karen Dill spoke, Jodie Tolliver provided music, and Beth McMurry gave a moving account of spiritual lessons she learned at MD Anderson. Our Lady’s Ladies and the St. Anne’s group provided a delicious brunch and beautiful decorations. Over 60 women enjoyed a morning of fellowship and faith.
Chris Brunelle of Portland, Oregon, is performing two concerts in June, at St. Jude and SEAS. With a voice and style considered worthy of imitation, he is particularly well-known in the Catholic musician community as a "goto" when learning liturgical music. His sizable recording library can be found on YouTube.
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