September 2020

Connection The Catholic

Vol. 30 No. 2 September 2020

Sister Martinette Rivers (1936-2020) May her soul rest in peace.

SEPTEMBER 2020  1

contents

FEATURES 4 From the Bishop 8

Blessed Elisabetta Renzi and How Her Legacy Lives on in Shreveport, Louisiana

10

From the Pope

12 Embracing the Mission to Evangelize 20

Faithful Citizenship

NEWS 14 Across the Nation 17

Love Life, Vote Yes

26

Around the Diocese

28

School News: Saint John Berchmans Reopens

30

School News: Three Longtime Loyola Educators Retire

31

Seminarian Burses

32

In Loving Memory of Sr. Martinette Rivers, OLS

2 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

COLUMNS 18 Mike’s Meditations:

From Pro-Life to Prostitution 19

Mary’s Mission: Beloved Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows

21

Yellow Fever Graphic Novel Series

22 Faithful Food: A Case for Joy 23 Hispanic News: Las

Virtudes Teologales

24 Library Notes 25

Burial Privileges: Choosing Catholic Cemeteries

CLOSING 34 Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows 35 September Calander

From the Editor What’s your fiat? No, not the little Italian car. The word “fiat” comes from the Latin “let it be done.” Mary’s “fiat” was saying yes to God, or “let it be done to me” as it is written in Luke 1:38. To know your “fiat” is to know your “yes.”

What are you saying yes to? What are you letting God do in your life?

Mine was to say yes to this magazine - a publication my family has had on the coffee table for as long as I can remember. I could go on about the absurdity of my wrestling with God to say I knew better and had other plans, but alas, He usually has the last word, and I’m so thankful to take on this responsiblity.

We say no to things from fears of inadequacy, failure, or even other people’s opinions. Despite what God puts on our hearts, we still try to take control.

Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, whom this issue is dedicated to, said yes to a heck of a lot. Who would say yes to bear a child as an unmarried woman in a time you could be stoned for such a situation? Who would say yes to watch your own child be tortured and crucified? Who would say yes to hold the lifeless body of your only child in your arms after you’ve seen him executed like a common criminal?

Your fiat won’t always be easy. Your fiat may be the most difficult thing you’ve ever done. But I can say it’s worth it. It’s worth every bit of pain because pain is what transforms us. All good theology is what we do with our pain.

Being a Catholic can be painful. There are high expectations and incredible mountains to scale, but the beauty is even when we fall, we’re still enveloped in the goodness of God’s grace - the grace that keeps us at peace even when our world is falling apart.

2020 is no doubt a year of growth. It’s been a year of waiting, uncertainty, unpredictability and immense animosity between a whole lot of people. But these are the times when our faith is tested. These are the days that build our hearts for something greater. Learning to wait. Learning to let go. Even learning to love the people who are sometimes very hard to love.

“To live without a faith,” Blessed Pier Girogio Frassati once said, “without a heritage to defend, without battling constantly for truth, is not to live, but to ‘get along.’ We must never just get along.”

To answer your “fiat” is to step into uncertainty with a sense of peace. It is what it means to be Catholic. It’s not to do everything right. It’s not to know all the answers. It’s to tread into unknown waters with the faith that you will not sink.

And if you do, God’s hand is there to pull you up again.

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.

FACEBOOK FACEBOOK.COM/DIOCESEOFSHREVEPORT

Connection The Catholic

PUBLISHER Most Rev. Bishop Francis I. Malone EDITOR Kierstin Richter CONTRIBUTORS Mike Van Vranken Kim Long Kate Rhea Mary Arcement Alexander Mark Loyet Deacon Andrew Thomas Dr. Cheryl White Rosalba Quiroz EDITORIAL BOARD Deacon Mike Whitehead John Mark Willcox Kim Long Kate Rhea Rosalba Quiroz Fr. Matthew Long Dr. Carynn Wiggins SUBSCRIPTIONS & ADDRESS CHANGES Contact: Blanca Vice Email: bvice@dioshpt.org Write: The Catholic Connection 3500 Fairfield Ave. Shreveport, LA 71104 Call: 318-868-4441 Fax: 318-868-4609 www.thecatholiconnection.org The Catholic Connection is a member of the Catholic Press Association.

The Diocese of Shreveport complies with Virtus’s Protecting God’s Children program. Classes are offered every second Wednesday of the month at the Catholic Center in Shreveport.To report child sexual abuse by a cleric or church worker in the Diocese of Shreveport, call Glennda Lawson. Hotline is 318-294-1031 and your local law enforcement agency.

INSTAGRAM @CATHOLICCONNECTION

SEPTEMBER 2020 3

from the bishop

Bishop Francis I. Malone Dates are important – both the good dates, like birthdays and anniversaries; so are bad dates, like November 22, 1963 or September 11, 2001.

There are some dates that are forever etched in our minds that we could never forget them.

In particular, I am thinking of those dates that resulted in a sense of being overwhelmed to the point of feeling so totally lost or abandoned that recovery from whatever it was that happened eludes or evades us.

Fortunately, I have had only one of those overwhelming dates in my life, God has been so good to me. But I know the feeling of being overwhelmed, and I have encountered too many people in my life who felt the same way. Have you one of those dates, an event, a memory that stays with you because it overwhelmed you at the time? Have you ever encountered a person in such a condition?

The frustrating part of encountering someone who is overwhelmed is trying to help them get through it – or past it.

2020 has been quite an unusual year for us

4 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

all. As a nation we have had to face the reality of issues related to the inequality of race relations, and the violence that followed, and continues to surface. We watch the news, or we talk to those negatively impacted by such events, and we can see their hurt and hear about their pain, and we know they are overwhelmed…lost…abandoned.

Then the Coronavirus comes our way – and not just our way, but globally infects most of the world. No one seems to be immune to it, and it doesn’t take much to observe the sick, their families, those on the front lines of health care.

Without a vaccine and in the face of increased numbers of the sick and the dying – so many become overwhelmed by this pandemic that seems to have no end.

Then nature raises its ugly head in the form of a Hurricane. How odd that we give them names instead of numbers, as if personalizing them makes them seem less ominous. Hurricanes are not new to us – we even have a “season” dedicated to when they are most likely to come our way. Hurricane “Laura” came to Louisiana

Pictures by Kierstin Richter

in the last week of August, and left in its wake the kind of destruction from which people do not recover easily. In the aftermath of the storm, the news reports have us listening and watching the devastation it left behind. Simply put, those who call Lake Charles “home,” have been overwhelmed. 2020 has given us more than we could ever have anticipated, and for those of us who escaped the catastrophic results, we are left to ponder the situation with a question, “what can I do for those who are overwhelmed? They are, after all, our Louisiana brothers and sisters.

In the early 1990’s, in the face of the increased terroristic attacks in our country and in the world, our daily news gave us front row seats to some of the most overwhelming events we will ever witness in our lives. There was an interview on a news program of Mr. Fred Rogers by a reporter who asked Mr. Rogers what we should tell our children when they see these events on television.

“How should we counsel them?” the reporter asked.

Mr. Rogers’ response was, “tell the children, ‘look for the helpers…look for the helpers in those terrible

images.’” His counsel then, remains the best advice we can hear today in the face of racial tension and violence, in the pandemic that challenges those in the health care field, in the rush of first responders in the aftermath of a hurricane. For our part in the Diocese of Shreveport, we have been taking up a collection to aid Lake Charles, we have been collecting much needed tarps to cover homes from continued water damage, we have supplied thousands of bottles of water for those without water to drink. I asked our diocese to help in these ways because I am confident in your response – but also because I knew that the stuff of what you are made as a community of faith places you in the body of “helpers” who, when all is said and done, will alleviate the sense of being overwhelmed in our brothers and sisters.

Your response makes me so blessed to be your bishop, and in the name of the overwhelmed, to thank you.

SEPTEMBER 2020 5

por el obispo

Bishop Francis I. Malone Las fechas son importantes en nuestras vidas - tanto las fechas agradables como cumpleaños y aniversarios; así como las fechas difíciles como el 22 de Noviembre de 1963 o el 11 de septiembre del 2001. Hay algunas fechas sin embargo, que se quedan por siempre marcadas en nuestras vidas y nunca las podremos olvidar. Estoy pensando en particular, de aquellas fechas que han sido tan abrumadoras que nos han dejado un sentimiento de pérdida total o de abandono, y la recuperación de lo que nos pasó, nos huye y nos evade.

Afortunadamente yo solo he tenido una de esas fechas dolorosas en mi vida, Dios ha sido muy generoso conmigo. Aunque sí he experimentado estar agobiado y me he encontrado con mucha gente en mi vida que se han sentido desesperados y devastados. ¿Has tenido tú uno de esos días? ¿Algún evento, o un recuerdo que se queda contigo porque es muy doloroso? ¿Has encontrado una persona en esta condición? La parte frustrante de encontrar a alguien que está abrumado es tratar de ayudarle a pasar su dolor.

El 2020 ha sido un año verdaderamente inusual para todos. Como nación hemos tenido que enfrentar la realidad de situaciones relacionadas

6 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

a la desigualdad y violencia que han surgido y siguen surgiendo en relación a la raza. Vemos las noticias, o hablamos con aquellos que han sido impactados negativamente por estos eventos, y podemos escuchar su dolor y ver sus sufrimientos, y sabemos que se sienten abrumados… perdidos… abandonados.

Después nos llega el Coronavirus - y no solo llegó a nuestras vidas, sino que llegó a infectar en todo el mundo. Nadie parece estar exento y todos podemos ver a los enfermos, a las familias, y a los que están ofreciendo cuidados de salud. Sin una vacuna aún, vemos cómo crece el número de enfermos y de fallecidos – tanta gente está abrumada por esta pandemia que pareciera que nunca se va a terminar.

Después la naturaleza levanta su lado devastador en forma de Huracán. Qué raro parece que se le dé a los huracanes nombres de personas en vez de darles solo un número, como si personalizándolos fueran menos amenazadores. Los huracanes no son nuevos para nosotros – inclusive se les dedica toda una temporada que es cuando están más activos y propensos a llegar a tierra. El Huracán “Laura” vino a Luisiana en la última semana de

Pictures by Kierstin Richter

Agosto, y dejó tanta destrucción que para la gente afectada será muy difícil recuperarse. Después del desastre de la tormenta, los noticieros nos tienen escuchando y viendo la devastación que dejó el huracán a su paso. Sabemos perfectamente que los que llaman a Lake Charles su “hogar”, están muy agobiados. El 2020 nos ha traído mucho más de lo que pudimos haber imaginado, y para los que escapamos daños catastróficos, nos ha dejado con la gran pregunta ¿Qué puedo hacer yo por los que están angustiados? ellos son, a fin de cuentas, nuestros hermanos y hermanas de Luisiana.

En los primeros años de los 1990’s, cuando enfrentábamos un incremento de ataques terroristas en nuestro país, y en el mundo, las noticias nos mostraban eventos muy abrumadores que nunca habíamos visto en nuestras vidas. En ese entonces un reportero le hizo una entrevista en su programa de noticias a Mr. Fred Rogers y le preguntaba que deberíamos decir a nuestros niños cuando veían esos eventos en la televisión, “¿Cómo aconsejarlos?” Mr. Rogers contestó: “Digan a los niños que busquen a las personas que ayudan… en medio de todo el disturbio, busquen a los que ayudan”. Su consejo de ese entonces, sigue siendo el mejor consejo que

podemos escuchar hoy que enfrentamos la tensión y violencia raciales, en la pandemia que reta a los que trabajan en el cuidado de la salud, y en la lucha y la prisa de responder pronto después de un huracán.

Por nuestra parte en la Diócesis de Shreveport, hemos estado haciendo colectas para ayudar a Lake Charles, también hemos estado recibiendo materiales que serán de mucha ayuda para cubrir las casas que fueron dañadas por las inundaciones, les hemos enviado miles de botellas de agua para los que se quedaron sin agua para tomar. Pedí a nuestra diócesis que ayudara de esta manera porque tengo confianza en su respuesta - pero también pedí la ayuda porque sé que somos una comunidad de fe y buscamos el bien común, somos el cuerpo de ayudantes, que aún en medio de esta devastación, podremos ser de alguna manera parte de acompañar a nuestros hermanos y hermanas en su dolor y angustia. Su respuesta me hace sentir muy bendecido de ser su obispo y en nombre de todos los que se encuentran abrumados en estos momentos, agradezco su ayuda.

SEPTEMBER 2020 7

“Adhere et Lucere”

The entrance to the convent welcomes you with a beatiful sculpture of the Blessed Mother holding her son in her arms, one of the seven sorrows of Mary, for which the order is named.

Sister Martinette Rivers admires the gardening her sisters have worked diligently on near the grotto of the Blessed Mother.

8 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

“I find no words to express my happiness in the religious life.

Every day I appreciate it more; here there is no one but Him. He is everything and sufficient for everything and everyone.”

Blessed Elisabetta Renzi

“To Burn and to Light”

Blessed Elisabetta Renzi and how her legacy lives on in Shreveport, Louisiana Kierstin Richter, Editor “Adhere et lucere,” or to “burn and to light.” This is the motto Blessed Elisabetta Renzi attributed to her order that we must burn to give light and warmth to our brothers and sisters. “Contemplative life is not enough,” she says.

“Active life alone is vain. Together, contemplation and action are perfect. This is our life.”

Nestled away down Norris Ferry Road in Shreveport, Louisiana, surrounded by trees and gardens and incomparable peace, the women of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows not only serve the Shreveport community through education, but also travel worldwide to the order’s other locations such as Italy, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Brazil to expand their ministry. Well traveled and well spoken, each sister is fluent in multiple languages, specifically Italian.

Their foundress, Maria Elisabetta Renzi, born and raised in Saludecio, Italy, was on her way to beatification from a young age. “Even as a child,” her brother said, “Elisabetta opened herself up to silence and prayer...a ray of light shining on pure gold; she did not acquire beauty from the wealth around her, but everything precious around her. She herself made beautiful with her great goodness and sweetness.”

Renzi entered the monastic life at the age of 21, but her time was cut short after the storm of the Napoleonic Revolution, sending her home to stay with her family for the next fourteen years. She was later invited to the Conservatory at Coriano, where she realized her vocation was to be an educator. She soon became the directress of the conservatory and purchased the property. To improve the reputation damaged by the Masons, she chose a deep spiritual life as the foundation for the community.

pleurisy, and later, tubercular peritonitis, unable to eat solid foods. After development of cardiovascular problems as well, doctors gave her hardly any hope of recovery. She received her last rights while on oxygen, but through it all, she says she was “convinced [she] was not going to die.” She and her sisters prayed to Mother Elisabetta for a miracle, and sure enough, after her profession of the restoration of her health, she immediately sat straight up and walked around the room like nothing had ever happened. After this miraculous healing, Elisabetta Renzi was declared venerable in 1988 and beatified in 1989.

In partnership with Donna Service, a local artist, the Shreveport sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows designed an after The Chapel is home to a school program for at-risk piece of Renzi’s bone, a youth called the Renzi Art first class relic. & Education Center, a free program that gives children the opportunity to “explore, learn and create under the guidance of professional teachers and artists.” As well as studying music theory, language arts, graphic design and dance, this summer, the kids also had the opportunity to work with local filmmakers and artists to create a music video for a local band.

In 1839, she founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows, and soon her own niece came to Coriano as a boarding student and joined the order.

The Sisters also own and operate the OLS Cookie Jar in Alexandria, proudly claiming “there are NUN better.”

From brownies to cinnamon rolls to mini-cheesecakes, these ladies have got you covered.

A little over a century after her death, Renzi’s beatification process began after a miraculous healing of Sister Agostina Galli, OLS in 1965. Galli suffered from a dry bilateral

Renzi’s legacy lives on in the lives of these children and sisters who guide them, carrying on her life and spirit right here in Shreveport, Louisiana.

SEPTEMBER 2020 9

From the Pope Dear brothers and sisters, good day! The pandemic has exposed the plight of the poor and the great inequality that reigns in the world. And the virus, while it does not distinguish between people, has found, in its devastating path, great inequalities and discrimination. And it has exacerbated them!

The response to the pandemic is therefore dual.

On the one hand, it is essential to find a cure for this small but terrible virus, which has brought the whole world to its knees. On the other, we must also cure a larger virus, that of social injustice, inequality of opportunity, marginalisation, and the lack of protection for the weakest. In this dual response for healing there is a choice that, according to the Gospel, cannot be lacking: the preferential option for the poor (see Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium [EG], 195). And this is not a political option; nor is it an ideological option, a party option… no. The preferential option for the poor is at the centre of the Gospel. And the first to do this was Jesus; we heard this in the reading from the Letter to the Corinthians which was read at the beginning. Since He was rich, He made Himself poor to enrich us. He made Himself one of us and for this reason, at the centre of the Gospel, there is this option, at the centre of Jesus’ proclamation.

this made people impure, according to the law of the age. And He took risks to be near to the poor.

Therefore, Jesus’ followers recognise themselves by their closeness to the poor, the little ones, the sick and the imprisoned, the excluded and the forgotten, those without food and clothing (cf. Mt 25:31-36; CCC, 2443). We can read that famous protocol by which we will all be judged, we will all be judged. It is Matthew, chapter 25. This is a key criterion of Christian authenticity (cf. Gal 2:10; EG, 195). Some mistakenly think that this preferential love for the poor is a task for the few, but in reality it is the mission of the Church as a whole, as Saint John Paul II said. (cf. St. John Paul II, Sollicitudo rei socialis, 42). “Each individual Christian and every community is called to be an instrument of God for the liberation and promotion of the poor society” (EG, 187).

Faith, hope and love necessarily push us towards this preference for those most in need, [1] which goes beyond necessary assistance (cf. EG, 198).

Indeed it implies walking together, letting ourselves be evangelised by them, who know the suffering Christ well, letting ourselves be “infected” by their experience of salvation, by their wisdom and by their creativity (see ibid). Sharing with the poor means mutual enrichment. And, if there are unhealthy social structures that prevent them from dreaming of the future, we must work together to heal them, to change them (see ibid, 195). And we are led to this by the love of Christ, Who loved us to the extreme (see Jn 13:1), and reaches the boundaries, the margins, the existential frontiers. Bringing the peripheries to the centre means focusing our life on Christ, Who “made Himself poor” for us, to enrich us “by His poverty” (2 Cor 8:9), as we have heard.

Christ Himself, Who is God, despoiled Himself, making Himself similar to men; and he chose not a life of privilege, but he chose the condition of a servant (cf. Phil 2:6-7). He annihilated Himself by making Himself a servant. He was born into a humble family and worked as a craftsman. At the beginning of His preaching, He announced that in the Kingdom of God the poor are blessed (cf.

Mt 5:3; Lk 6:20; EG, 197). He stood among the sick, the poor, the excluded, showing them God’s merciful love (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, We are all worried about the social consequences 2444). And many times He was judged an impure of the pandemic. All of us. Many people want man because He went to the sick, to lepers… and to return to normality and resume economic 10 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

From the Vatican Press Office, 8/19/20 activities. Certainly, but this “normality” should not another, rather than universal and for all. And what include social injustices and the degradation of the a scandal it would be if all the economic assistance environment. The pandemic is a crisis, and we do we are observing - most of it with public money not emerge from a crisis the same as before: either were to focus on rescuing those industries that do we come out of it better, or we come out of it worse. not contribute to the inclusion of the excluded, the We must come out of it better, to counter social promotion of the least, the common good or the care injustice and environmental damage. Today we have of creation (ibid.). There are criteria for choosing an opportunity to build something different. For which industries should be helped: those which example, we can nurture contribute to the inclusion he pandemic is a of the excluded, to the an economy of the integral development promotion of the last, to the of the poor, and not of crisis and we do not common good and the care of creation. Four criteria. providing assistance.

By this I do not wish to emerge from a crisis If the virus were to condemn assistance: aid is intensify again in a world important. I am thinking of the same as before that is unjust to the poor the voluntary sector, which and vulnerable, then we is one of the best structures either we come out of must change this world. of the Italian Church.

Following the example of Yes, aid does this, but we Jesus, the doctor of integral must go beyond this, to it better or we come divine love, that is, of resolve the problems that physical, social and spiritual lead us to provide aid. out of it worse healing (cf. Jn 5:6-9) - like An economy that does not the healing worked by Jesus resort to remedies that in fact poison society, such - we must act now, to heal the epidemics caused as profits not linked to the creation of dignified jobs by small, invisible viruses, and to heal those caused (see EG, 204). This type of profit is dissociated from by the great and visible social injustices. I propose the real economy, that which should bring benefits that this be done by starting from the love of God, to the common people (see Encyclical Laudato si’ placing the peripheries at the centre and the last in [LS], 109), and in addition is at times indifferent first place. Do not forget that protocol by which we to the damage inflicted to our common home. The will be judged. (Matthew, chapter 25.) Let us put preferential option for the poor, this ethical-social it into practice in this recovery from the epidemic. need that comes from God’s love (cf. LS, 158), inspires And starting from this tangible love - as the Gospel us to conceive of and design an economy where says, there - anchored in hope and founded in faith, people, and especially the poorest, are at the centre. a healthier world will be possible. Otherwise, we And it also encourages us to plan the treatment of will come out of the crisis worse. May the Lord help viruses by prioritising those who are most in need. It us, and give us the strength to come out of it better, would be sad if, for the vaccine for Covid-19, priority responding to the needs of today’s world. Thank you. were to be given to the richest! It would be sad if this vaccine were to become the property of this nation or

“T

,

:

,

.”

SEPTEMBER 2020 11

EMBRACING THE MISSION TO EVANGELIZE

“What we know is that our mission, to ‘...make disciples of all nations...,’ has not, and will never change. However, our delivery needs updating.”

By: Mark Loyet, Director of Pastoral Ministry Despite the pandemic and the plethora of restrictions and challenges to ministry it has brought, pastoral leaders across our diocese have been working hard to continue to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to their communities. However, this is no easy task amidst the ever evolving landscape of safety protocols that our entire world is facing. One positive change that has come out of the shift from in person to mostly online meeting is that connectedness among leaders has actually increased…and that is not only good, but also new.

Before the pandemic, no matter what part of the country you looked at, typically, dioceses consisted of large numbers of parishes that pretty much existed like islands of ministry which were mostly disconnected from each other. But now that leaders everywhere have been thrust into completely uncharted ministry waters, crossparish collegiality and collaboration have become more important than ever. Now it really matters what other parishes are doing. No one knows whether or not a new ministry strategy will work, but when sharing ideas and outcomes with colleagues, success spreads fast and mistakes can be avoided.

To help foster this collegiality, the Office of Pastoral Ministry hosted the first ever Convocation for Pastoral Leaders all across the diocese on August 4th. The theme was “Trading in Old 12 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

Wineskins: A Missionary Approach to Ministry.” The Convocation was attended via Zoom by almost 60 pastoral leaders including priests, deacons, Directors of Religious Education, youth ministers, RCIA coordinators, social justice ministries, and volunteers from various backgrounds. Over 30 more viewed the recording online at a later date.

The convocation began with an invocation given by our very own, Bishop Francis Malone. Bishop Malone chose to give an invocation that was given at the beginning of every session of the Second Vatican Council. This set a beautiful tone as he invoked the Holy Spirit to come to us and help us each use the Gifts of the Spirit we have received through our Baptisms and Confirmations.

I then gave an introduction to the convocation and introduced our guest speaker, Matt Schwartz, who is a trainer and coach with the Parish Success group, which has succeeded in empowering parishes all across the United States to maximize the effectiveness of their ministry.

During the course of the main presentation, Matt highlighted areas in which the Church is primed for new strategies and how the Church has increasingly been calling pastoral leaders everywhere to evolve with the changing culture and needs of the people.

“Now is the time to do what our church documents have been urging us to do for three generations: embrace our mission,

empower families and evangelize.”

To summarize the overarching message of the day, the Church today is no doubt facing challenges that are 100+ years in the making, and unfortunately there are no 6 month solutions. In fact, there are no guaranteed solutions at all—that is with respect to programs, new strategies, and innovation. What we know is that our mission, to “… make disciples of all nations…,” (Matthew 28:19) has not, and will never change. However, our delivery system needs updating. We need to move away from using programmatic solutions to spiritual, relational, and pastoral problems. Now is the time to do what our church documents have been urging us to do for three generations: embrace our mission, empower families, and evangelize.

Now that being said, I would like to speak for the leaders across the diocese, and invite YOU into the mission field.

Our Church cannot change the world without you. Our priests, deacons and parish staff cannot do it alone. They need your gifts…yes, YOU have gifts!

My prayer is that if you are reading this article, you will take time to pray and ask God to show you where your gifts can be used at your parish. Make an appointment with a leader at your parish and ask how you can help. Your time equals spreading the Gospel, which in turn equals the salvation of souls—and that is why the Church exists.

Top Left: Matt Schwartz, Main Presenter, Trainer and Coach Below: Bishop Malone and the whole Zoom gang Photos by Mark Loyet

Author’s Note: This convocation was for anyone in ministry in our diocese and anyone interested in getting involved. If you would like to watch the recording of the convocation and get copies of the related documents, please e-mail me at mloyet@dioshopt.org.

SEPTEMBER 2020 13

In Wake of Kenosha Violence, U.S. Bishops’ Chairman for Committee Against Racism Urges Day of Prayer and Fasting

across the nation

From the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, August 27, 2020

WASHINGTON - This Friday, August 28 marks the 57th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington where Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech.

In this historic address, he proclaimed that when the builders of our nation wrote the words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, “they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre of Houma-Thibodaux, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism offered a reflection on Dr. King’s iconic words on the anniversary: “That promissory note must be satisfied. On this Friday’s anniversary, in the midst of our country’s ongoing racial unrest, we restate our commitment to peacefully seeking racial justice. We stand in solidarity with Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki of Milwaukee, which serves the City of Kenosha, who earlier this week said, ‘Violence can never be the means to attain peace and justice. The Church stands as a beacon of hope. The sins of violence, injustice, racism, and hatred must be purged from our communities with acts of mercy, with the protection and care for the dignity of every human person, with respect for the common good, and with an unwavering pursuit of equality and peace.’

“We reiterate the value of those whose human life and dignity in this country are marginalized through racism and our need to fight for them including the unborn. Considering the violence in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and in other cities across the nation, we urge all people of faith to observe August 28 or the Feast of St. Peter Claver on September 9 as a day

14 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

“Violence can never be the means to attain peace and justice. The sins of

violence, injustice,

racism, and hatred

must be purged from our communities with acts of mercy, with the protection and care for the dignity of every human person, with respect for the common good, and with an unwavering pursuit of equality and peace.”

of fasting and prayer. We urge Catholics to consider attending the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and offer your participation in reparation for sins of racism to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We invite the faithful to also consider praying the rosary, the USCCB’s Prayer Service for Racial Healing, and for the intercession of the saints who have fought for racial equality such as St. Katharine Drexel and St. Peter Claver. We must continue to engage the battle against the current evils of our society and in the words of Dr. King, refuse to believe ‘that the bank of justice is bankrupt.’ Dr. King’s dream, as he himself said, is deeply rooted in the American Dream. Let us not forget the price that he and so many courageous witnesses of all faiths and creeds paid to bring us to this moment.”

Catholic Bishops’ Pro-Life Chairman Praises Trump Administration for Ensuring that U.S. Global Health Assistance Doesn’t Promote Abortion USCCB, August 20, 2020

WA S H I N G TO N – A r c h b i s h o p Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, thanked and praised the Trump Administration following the release of its second report showing successful implementation of an expanded Mexico City Policy aptly renamed, “Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance.” The report shows that the vast majority of foreign NGOs (Non-governmental organizations)—1,285 out of 1,340— have complied with this policy with minimal disruption of health services and no reduction in funding.

“The Trump Administration deserves our praise for ensuring that U.S. global health assistance funding actually promotes health and human rights, and doesn’t undermine them by promoting abortion. Killing innocent and defenseless unborn children through abortion is not health care. Abortion violates an unborn child’s most basic human right, the right to life, and it also can wound the mother emotionally and physically. Americans recognize this injustice and an overwhelming majority of them oppose giving tax dollars to organizations that are more committed to promoting abortion than providing health services.”

“Killing innocent and defenseless unborn children through abortion is not health care.

Abortion violates an unborn child’s most basic human right, the right to life, and it also can wound the mother emotionally and physically.”

SEPTEMBER 2020 15

Statement from U.S. Bishops’ Chairman on International Justice and Peace on the Normalization of Israel and United Arab Emirates Relations USCCB, August 20, 2020

WASHINGTON—Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, offered the following statement in reaction to the normalization of Israel and the United Arab Emirates relations, announced on August 13: “On the announcement of normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it was gratifying to note that as part of this agreement, the State of Israel announced that it would suspend its efforts for annexation of disputed territory, a proposal not resulting from dialogue and agreement with the Palestinian authorities. The Catholic bishops of the United States have long held that both morally and as a basis for lasting peace, the two parties must negotiate directly and arrive at a fair compromise that respects

16 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

the aspirations and needs of both peoples. As Catholic bishops, we join in this aspiration and know much work remains in the pursuit of peace in this region.

“As Pope Francis said during his historic visit to the UAE in 2019, ‘Dialogue, understanding and the widespread promotion of a culture of tolerance, acceptance of others and of living together peacefully would contribute significantly to reducing many economic, social, political and environmental problems that weigh so heavily on a large part of humanity…’

“It is our hope that this agreement will contribute to that peace.”

Love Life, Vote Yes Mary Ann Van Osdell, Caddo Parish Captain An amendment to the Louisiana constitution to ensure the protection of the right to human life will be voted on by the people on Nov. 3. The Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement indicating support of the Love Life Amendment. Catholics are encouraged statewide to advocate for the passage. “As Catholics, we are called to ensure life is indeed valued and that the dignity of all is upheld,” it reads. “This is the foundational principle of our social teaching and must be intentionally considered in all that we do.”

Rep. Katrina Jackson, a Democrat from Monroe, authored the bill. “I see it as fighting for the life of the child,” Jackson said. “And I tell women all the time, fighting for the life of the child is like fighting for them because someone chose to have them. If you were born after 1973, someone chose you and gave you a fighting chance. So we don’t see it as restrictive... we see it as fighting for life altogether.”

Jackson said the state constitution needs to be amended in case the federal law legalizing abortion is overturned.

Pro-life forces backed her up, including Ben Clapper, the executive director of Louisiana Right to Life. “All it’s doing is ensuring there is no right to abortion in our state’s constitution,” Clapper said.

The highest parish of abortion occurrence is Caddo in the 2019 report, with 3,231 performed. Twenty-six girls under 15 had abortions in Louisiana in 2019. Another 726 girls between 15-19 aborted their babies. Fifteen percent of women who had abortions were married.

Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to know how to be involved, either at the church level or individually. Please visit: www.lovelifevoteyes.com for more information.

SEPTEMBER 2020 17

Mike’s Meditations

From Pro-Life to Prostitution Jesus lumped prostitutes and tax collectors together (Mt 21:31 NAB) when speaking of sinful ways. God’s Wisdom compels us not to be lured by prostitutes (Proverbs 9:13-18). As adult Catholics, we realize that “prostitute” in the bible has a much larger meaning than some pelvic sin. It refers to any time we sell our physical, spiritual or emotional body for some type of financial, material or physical gain. As an example, if I put my prayer life, family and/or friends to the side while I work too many hours for financial security, I’m a prostitute.

If this workaholic lifestyle causes pain and disease to my body, I’m also a prostitute.

Over 17,000 people have died of Covid-19 in the last 6 months; many very painfully and alone.

We struggle with decisions of keeping more people safe and yet helping those who have lost income, jobs and businesses. In making these decisions, are we diligent in seeking God’s wisdom and not the world’s?

It seems the Catholic Pro-life movement has been very quiet where Covid-19 is concerned.

Where are the outcry’s for the lives of the 5 million Americans who have tested positive; many with terrible pain and suffering, many with seemingly long-term damage to their bodies, and the many, mentioned above, who have died? Where are the Pro-life voices demanding safer conditions for those in nursing homes and retirement facilities? Where are our Pro-life Catholics, crying out for safer environments in our prisons and jails? Where are the Pro-life advocates for our tireless doctors, nurses, first responders and other health care workers?

And, of course, where are the Pro-life concerns in our parishes

18 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

to financially help those who are unemployed, who can’t pay their rent or mortgage payments, and for many, whose jobs will not return? Why do we not hear Prolife demands for the Church and for Congress to help so many Americans around the country? And remember, it was announced February 13th, before the reality of the virus had reached our consciousness, that American credit card debt was at an “all-time high.” In other words, the economy was nowhere near as strong as people have told us.

Church! They helped each other; they shared their goods, including their money. Should the Church be paying rent and groceries for those who have lost income, lost jobs, lost businesses, and lost a loved one who was also their breadwinner?

Should the church be helping re-design prisons, jails, nursing homes, retirement centers, schools, workplaces and anywhere that people congregate because of our Pro-life beliefs? Or, have we aborted these Pro-life values for the value of the U. S. dollar?

In this month of September, I I have, of course, heard many urge you to ask these questions to Pro-life cries to “open up the God himself, rather than request economy.” And yes, I agree, we someone’s human opinion. What need to get as many people back to is God’s take work as quickly as this? Will healthily possible, “...if we make “opening on you dare to sit and as soon as healthily possible. the economy” our focus, with God in the silence each But, if we make haven’t we put the financial day this month “opening the ask him: economy” our aspect ahead of our pro- and God, am I focus, haven’t we put the financial life beliefs? How many Pro-life; or am I a prostitute? aspect ahead of us would argue that Tell him how of our Pro-life you beliefs? How not one unborn baby itfeelmakes to even ask many of us would argue that should ever be destroyed?” the question.

Does it make not one unborn you squirm child should ever a little? Ask be destroyed? where that “squirm” is coming from.

Yet, are we willing to put a small Sit and listen for his answers. Not percentage of living Americans at only during your prayer time, but risk so we can “open the economy?”

Are we putting dollars ahead of lives throughout your day, and maybe even in your dreams at night. But, and justifying it by saying it gives people an income again? Truthfully, be ready, because he will answer you? are we prostitutes; believing that the In a paraphrase of Deuteronomy 30: 15-19, hear God saying: “The virus is dangerous, and yet allowing commandment I am giving you others to be at risk so money can today isn’t too much for you. I set freely flow again? before you Pro-life and prostitution; In a graphic image of the early choose life, that you and everyone Church, we read that not a person else, may live.” was needy, they shared everything in common, and no one said: “that’s mine, you can’t have it” Mike Van Vranken (Acts 4:32-34). Talk about a Pro-life

Mary’s Mission

Beloved Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows God did not bless me with children, but He did bless me with 14 amazing nieces and nephews whom I adore. The thought of watching any one of them suffer is unbearable and yet that is exactly what Mary endured. She watched her beloved Son not only die on the Cross, but also suffer unspeakable acts of torture and violence. I truly cannot imagine the pain she felt.

In the movie, The Passion of Christ, there is a scene where Mary is reminiscing about Jesus as a child.

The film shows Jesus, roughly age three or four, playing while Mary watched on. The entire movie made me sob, but that one scene did me in, for it showed the humanness of both Mary and Jesus. It showed how He was not only our Savior dying for our sins but also her baby boy whom she loved beyond imagine.

Our Blessed Mother suffered seven sorrows throughout Jesus’ life.

Among them are: the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt, the loss and finding of Jesus in the Temple, holding Jesus after He was taken down from the cross, and His burial.

The Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt “The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt and stay there until I tell you.

Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Matt. 2:13 Can you even imagine giving birth to your first child, falling in love with him, only to later find out he is in grave danger? Your sweet, innocent infant child in danger of being killed? That alone would be enough for me. However, Mary took it all in stride for she knew when she said yes to the Angel Gabriel she was also saying yes to more than she could fathom.

The loss and finding of Jesus in the temple

“Son, why have you done this to us?

Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Lk. 2:48-49 In my 20’s I worked as a nanny for two small girls. When Mary Taylor was about three years old, I took her to the mall and for one brief moment, which felt like an eternity, I “lost” her. Thankfully, she had not gone far but all I felt in those brief moments was fear and panic.

Jesus was gone for three days, three days! I am sure if I could ask Mary she would say those were three of the longest, most terrifying days of her life. I imagine she did a lot of pacing, crying, biting of her nails and slept very little. The sheer joy she must have felt when she was finally able to hug her little boy on that fateful day in the Temple.

Mary holding Jesus after He was taken down from the Cross His lifeless body lay in her arms.

The same arms that first held him as an infant. The same arms that hugged him and held him when he fell down as a boy. The same arms he ran to as a small child. The same arms that bathed, fed, cared for him throughout his childhood. He came into the world in her arms and He left it in a similar way. As I close my eyes, I can see Mary gently caressing Jesus’ blood-stained face. I can see her push back His long hair. I can see the tears of grief stream from her weary eyes. I can see our Mother hold her Son, our Lord and Savior.

I remember my paternal grandfather’s burial vividly. The moment they began to lower his casket into the ground was heart wrenching. It still brings tears to my eyes. Placing her son in the tomb and then watching as they closed it up had to be even more heart wrenching for Mary. I like to think as Mary held Jesus after his crucifixion she savored every moment of having him in her arms one last time before they took him away. I like to think she memorized every line of his face, the shape of his eyes, the softness of his skin, and the feel of his hair as it fell on her arms. I like to think that although her heart was broken, she was also able to find peace in knowing she would spend eternity with him. I like to think that she would do it all again.

Mary Arcement Alexander

The Burial “They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom.” Jn. 19:40 SEPTEMBER 2020 19

Faithful Citizenship The election for President of the United States has begun a vibrant national debate concerning the direction of our country. An aspect of our faith includes being involved in the political process. The Bishops of the United States assist us in this process through publishing, every four years, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship. This resource presents Catholic teaching concerning current political issues. The following article summarizes Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.

THE RIGHT TO LIFE AND THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON Human life is sacred. Direct attacks on all innocent persons are never morally acceptable. Human life is under direct threat from abortion, euthanasia and the death penalty. The taking of human life through abortion and euthanasia, human cloning and destructive research on human embryos must always be rejected.

Threats to innocent life also include torture, the targeting of innocent civilians in war and the treating workers as mere means to an end.

While Catholics do not vote based on one issue, we are called to not vote for candidates who support an intrinsic moral evil such as abortion or racism.

CALL TO FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND PARTICIPATION The human person is not only sacred but also social. Full human development takes place in relationship with others. The family – based on marriage between a man and a woman – is the first and fundamental unit within society and is a sanctuary for the creation and nurturing of children. Respect for the family should be reflected in every policy and program. “Wages should allow workers to care for their families.” (#70) RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Human dignity is respected and the common good is fostered only if 20 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

human rights are protected and basic responsibilities are met. The common good is that which makes society thrive. Every human being has a right to those things required for living a decent human life, such as food, water, shelter, health care, housing, freedom of religion and family-life.

Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities – to one another, to our families, to our places of employment, to co-workers and to the larger society.

PREFERENTIAL OPTION FOR THE POOR AND VULNERABLE While the common good embraces all, the Church has a preferential love for those who are weak, vulnerable, and most in need. A basic moral test for any society is how it treats those who are most vulnerable. “Strategies for a solution demand an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature” (Laudato Si, no. 139) This includes offering affordable and accessible health care.

DIGNITY OF WORK AND RIGHTS OF WORKERS The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Employers contribute to the common good through the products or goods they provide and by creating jobs that uphold the dignity and rights of workers—to productive work, to decent and just wages, to adequate benefits and security in their old age

and to the right to organize and join unions.

SOLIDARITY We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic and ideological differences. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions and requires us to eradicate racism and address the extreme poverty and disease plaguing so much of the world. The United States should welcome the stranger among us - including immigrants seeking work - by ensuring that they have opportunities for a safe home, education for their children and a decent life for their families.

Catholics must work to avoid war and to promote peace throughout the world.

CARING FOR GOD’S CREATION God has called us to be stewards of God’s creation. Care for the earth is a duty of our faith and a sign of our concern for all people. This is especially true since the degradation of the environment most often hurts those who are most poor.

Extreme consumerism brings about this degradation. In his Encyclical Laudato Si, Pope Francis has recently lifted up pollution, climate change, lack of access to clean water and the loss of biodiversity as particular challenges.

Rev. Mark Watson

Yellow Fever Graphic Novel Series

The Catholic Connection is running a graphic novel series each month featuring the story of five priests who gave their lives in service to others in the Shreveport Yellow Fever epidemic of 1873. This graphic novel is provided courtesy of the Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans and is illustrated by Deacon Andrew Thomas.

SEPTEMBER 2020  21

Faithful Food

A Case for Joy “Weeping may endure at night, but joy comes in the morning.”

Psalm 30:5 I have to tell you I have always shied away from the image of Mary as sorrowful. My connection with the Blessed Mother was forged in the early days of my “preconversion” experience when I read everything Andrew Greeley wrote.

His version of Mary was young, based in his experience with the Irish women of his own family and neighborhood, and she was somewhat sassy, not a woman who clutched her pearls or wailed or gnashed her teeth. Instead, she seemed to be sure, steady, solid, and filled with quiet joy. This image of Mary filled my thoughts.

My children were still young as was I. My hope was in the Lord and Mary was my example of joy.

Seeing the image of the Pieta in the prayer garden of the parish which would claim me forever was a bit of a shock. Jesus looked so grown up, fully human as his mother held him in her arms in what seemed at the time a cruel mockery of the tenderness we hold our children as infants. I shied away then and if I am honest am not much braver today.

But herein the lesson lies.

My grandmother, whom I certainly never likened to Greeley’s sassy joyful Mary, was instead dependable, faithful, and my example of God’s love. Until, as John Shea, theologian and storyteller tells us, then something happens. For my grandmother that something was the untimely death of first one 22 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

daughter and then a second. Those surreal events caught and held us, rendering me unable to imagine how she felt. During this time I thought of the image in the prayer garden from which I had turned my eyes and my thoughts so long ago.

My grandmother spoke so quietly as we sat in a generic hospital waiting room remembering when the doctor handed her each of her daughters and now she was handing them back to God. I think it was a prayer that spilled from her heart, one she may not have realized she had actually uttered aloud.

Time passes.

My grandmother is gone now. At St. Mary’s the prayer garden is in sight of my office. Sometimes I sit there, drinking in the image I so often pretended was invisible.

Greeley’s Madonna is still in my mind’s eye with a mirthful mouth and knowing eyes which I begin to understand now. She experienced hope and loss, and now offers us respite, help, and yes in the end, reminds us that joy remains.

Kim Long DRE, St. Mary of the Pines Church

MILK GRAVY Sharing lunch with my grandmother after church on Sunday was always a treat. Even with the simplest of fare just being with her was what mattered. She often brought milk gravy and “light bread” to the table on her “good” plates along with cups of tea.

Milk Gravy: Combine butter (she used bacon drippings) with flour in a heavy pan.

Stir constantly until flour is golden but not dark.

Slowly add milk while stirring all the time until desired consistency is achieved.

Add salt and black pepper and serve piping hot over bread, toast, biscuits, or rice.

Consume knowing our hope and joy are well placed.

Hispanic News

Las Virtudes Teologales Siguiendo con el artículo del mes pasado, repasaremos ahora las tres virtudes teologales según los siguientes numerales del catecismo de la Iglesia Católica: Fe, Esperanza y Caridad (Amor).

1812-13. Las virtudes teologales adaptan las facultades del hombre a la participación de la naturaleza divina (cf 2 P 1, 4). Se refieren y originan directamente a Dios, Uno y Trino; Disponen a los cristianos a vivir en relación con la Santísima Trinidad. Fundan, animan y caracterizan el obrar moral del cristiano. Son infundidas por Dios en el alma de los fieles para que obren como hijos suyos y merezcan la vida eterna. Son la garantía de la presencia y la acción del Espíritu Santo en las facultades del ser humano.

1814-16. La Fe es la virtud por la que creemos en Dios y en todo lo que Él nos ha revelado. Por la fe “el hombre se entrega entera y libremente a Dios”. “La fe sin obras está muerta” (St 2, 26): privada de la esperanza y de la caridad, la fe no une plenamente el fiel a Cristo ni hace de él un miembro vivo de su Cuerpo.

El discípulo de Cristo no debe sólo guardar la fe y vivir de ella sino también profesarla, testimoniarla, y difundirla.

1817-20. La Esperanza es la virtud por la que aspiramos al Reino de los Cielos y vida eterna de felicidad, poniendo nuestra confianza en las promesas de Cristo y apoyándonos en los auxilios de la gracia del Espíritu Santo. El impulso de la esperanza preserva del egoísmo y conduce a la dicha de la caridad. La esperanza es “el ancla del alma”. Es también un arma que nos protege

en el combate de la salvación: “Revistámonos con la coraza de la fe y de la caridad, con el yelmo de la esperanza de salvación” (1 Tes 5, 8).

1822-1823, 1829. La Caridad es la virtud por la cual amamos a Dios sobre todas las cosas y a nuestro prójimo como a nosotros mismos por amor de Dios. Tiene por frutos el gozo, la paz y la misericordia. Exige la práctica del bien y la corrección fraterna; es siempre desinteresada y generosa; es amistad y comunión. Jesús hace de la caridad el mandamiento nuevo (cf Jn 13, 34). Amando a los suyos “hasta el fin” (Juan 13, 1).

Rosalba Quiroz

Calendario de Septiembre, 2020 Esperando poder reanudar algunas de las actividades: 19 Clase de oración de intercesión, Cristo Rey 11am-2pm 29-1 de Octubre Conferencia Proceso del V Encuentro, (virtual)

MINISTERIO HISPANO CATOLICO DIOCESIS CRISTO REY: BOSSIER CITY

Rev. Fidel Mondragon 318.221.0238 Oficina • Domingo 1:00pm Lunes y Martes 7:00pm • Sabado 6:00pm

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA: MANY

Rev. Rigoberto Betancurt 318.256-5680 Oficina • Domingo 5:00pm

SAN PASCUAL: W. MONROE Rev. Luis Jost, OFM Domingo: 4:00pm

SANTO TOMAS AQUINO: RUSTON

Rev. Tony Posadas, OFM 318.225.2870 Oficina • Domingo 1:30pm Coordinator: Luz Martinez • 318.224.0980

NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL PEPETUO SOCORRO: FARMERVILLE

Rev. Luis Jost, OFM 318.342.0115 Cell • Coordinator: Paola Gonalez

STA MARIA DE LOS PINOS: SHREVEPORT

Rev. Rigoberto Betancurt 318.687.5121 Oficina • Domingo 11:30am Coordinator: Alma Mendoza • 318.678.9306

SAGRADO CORAZON: OAK GROVE Rev. Joseph Kallookalam, CMI 318.428.2683 Oficina • Domingo 5:00pm

SAN JOSE: MANSFIELD

Rev. Rigoberto Betancurt 318.458.6045 • Domingo 3:00pm

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

SEPTEMBER 2020 23

library notes

Care of the Soul: A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday Life

by Thomas Moore This New York Times bestseller provides a path-breaking lifestyle handbook that shows how to add spirituality, depth, and meaning to modern-day life by nurturing the soul. Readers are presented with a revolutionary approach to thinking about daily life—everyday activities, events, problems and creative opportunities—and a therapeutic lifestyle is proposed that focuses on looking more deeply into emotional problems and learning how to sense sacredness in even ordinary things.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff ... and It’s All Small Stuff: Simple Ways to Keep the Little Things From Taking Over Your Life

by Richard Carlson In thoughtful and insightful language, author Richard Carlson reveals ways to calm down in the midst of your incredibly hurried, stress-filled life. With gentle, supportive suggestions, Dr. Carlson reveals ways to make your actions more peaceful and caring with the added benefit of making your life more calm and stress-free.

In Over Our Heads: The Mental Demands of Modern Life

by Robert Kegan If contemporary culture was a school, with all the tasks and expectations meted out by modern life as its curriculum, would anyone graduate? In the spirit of a sympathetic teacher, Robert Kegan guides us through this tricky curriculum, assessing the fit between its complex demands and our mental capacities, and showing what happens when we find ourselves, as we so often do, in over our heads. In this dazzling intellectual tour, he completely reintroduces us to the psychological landscape of our private and public lives.

Healing for Damaged Emotions [book & workbook]

by David A. Seamands Whether through our own fallen temperament, willful disobedience, or as victims of the hurtful actions of others, many of us struggle with crippling emotions, among them perfectionism, depression, and low self-worth. The pain of such emotions is often present with us even though the incidents and relationships that caused the hurt may be long past. Through the realistic, scriptural approach that Dr. David Seamands brings to this deeply personal subject, you too can find healing--and then become an agent of healing for other strugglers.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Slattery Library & Resource Center is not currently open to the public.

However, you may e-mail Kate Rhea at krhea@dioshpt.org to request a title and it can be checked out to you. The pick-up location will be in the reception area of the Catholic Center near the Book Drop. We appreciate your patience as we strive to keep everyone safe and healthy during this time.

24 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

cemetery

Burial Privileges: Choosing Catholic Cemeteries

Progressing through the stages of life, Catholics come to be perfect examples of how important continuity is to faith.

Unbroken and perpetual, Catholic faithfulness is marked and solemnized at various stages of life on earth.

Baptism, Confirmation, receiving sacraments, and practicing devotion within their communities demonstrates a continuous exercise of Catholics’ devotion to God. Naturally, the life of a faithful Catholic culminates with the tradition of Christian rite of burial. Catholic Cemeteries are central to this final rite; their purposeful presence provides an ideal resting place, an idyllic harbor marking the end of a faithful life on earth.

Christian Burial Guidelines published by the national Catholic Cemetery Conference state that a Catholic cemetery “expresses the link of community between all the faithful living and dead—the Communion of Saints.” Iconography and symbolism abound in Catholic cemeteries, they are holy and serene by nature and by consecration. Choosing a Catholic cemetery is a way to secure a final resting place among other faithful Catholics, ensuring serenity in perpetuity.

God calls us to be present at the end of life’s journey; those who are kept together in life are kept together in death. Catholics in Shreveport have the privilege of being able to purchase burial sites in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, a beautiful and historical landmark that has served as the peaceful home of beloved and devoted Catholics for over a century.

Kate Rhea Cemeterian, St. Joseph Cemetery; Librarian/Archivist, Slattery Library & Resource Center

For information on purchasing burial sites, please contact Kate Rhea at (318) 219-7264 or krhea@dioshpt.org.

SEPTEMBER 2020 25

Around the Diocese

Left to right – Brandy Adams, Father Mark Watson, Hudson Dye, Bert Fletcher, Carolanne Adams, Adeline Davidson, Mackenzie Miles, Peyton McKinnon, Grace Miller, Mary Katherine McKinnon, Elana Davidson, Mason Thomas, Morgan Fraser, Father Seby Shan

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton just held their first inaugural youth council meeting on August 16, 2020. The SEAS Youth Council is comprised of 10 middle and high school youth, who are active leaders in their parish. The meeting was filled with a lot of enthusiasm, excitement and great ideas had by all! SEAS has also hired two new Youth Directors, Brandy Adams, Middle School Youth Director, and Elana Davidson, High School Youth Director. They are both eager to help implement their new Youth Council’s ideas and, help guide them in reaching their goals for Youth Ministry as a whole. A large part of this Council’s goals for the Youth will be service/mission work. SEAS parish is full of eager youth who have a love and willingness to serve God and His people.

Father Francis Kamau, FMH, celebrated his 20th anniversary of Ordination on August 12.

Celebrating with him for lunch were Father Mike Thang’wa, FMH, Father Jean Bosco Uwamungu and Father John Paul Crispin, FMH.

26 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

Knights of Columbus Coordinator Steve Cude and Bishop Desmond Assembly 324 Navigator James Foshee present Bishop Malone with a check supporting the Knight’s Excellence in Religious Education fund.

Around the Diocese

Mary Queen of Peace celebrated this year’s class of First Communicants and RCIA initiates.

RCIA: (left to right) Dennis Watters, Barbara Watters, Dylan Wilson, Beaux Sepulvado, Brad Webster, James Blount Back: Deacon Michael Straub and Fr. Jim Moran

On Sunday, August 16, 2020, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament welcomed two new members: Damien Chapman and Tacky Mbavyinshyuti. They received the sacraments of Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation.

Sacraments were given by Monsignor Earl Provenza, with Father Jean Bosco Uwamungu and Deacon Charles L. Thomas assisting.

Kirsten Gladden (left), Regional Director in the Monroe office of Catholic Charities, will be honored as one of the Top 20 Under 40 Professionals in the Monroe area.

Erin Smith (right), Director of Development, will be recognized as one of the Top 40 Under Forty Professionals of Shreveport-Bossier.

SEPTEMBER 2020  27

School News

Saint John Berchmans Reopens Ashley Timmons

St. John Berchmans Catholic School reopened its doors on Monday, August 10 for our traditional five days a week, face-to-face learning for K3-8th grade, with 7 families opting for our fully virtual Home Academy program.

After spending the summer moving desks around and strategically placing plastic sheeting in the classrooms and cafeteria, we were able to meet and sometimes exceed CDC guidelines and can now accommodate students comfortably in a classroom with plenty of room for physical 28 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

distancing. Students in grades 3-8 and all faculty and staff are following the mask mandate; while they are not required to, many of our younger students wear the masks as well.

Every student, faculty, staff, and parent entering SJB has their temperature checked and uses the hand sanitizing stations installed strategically around the school.

In the near future, we will have a thermal scanner to read body temperature, an ionic partical air filtration system, and a water bottle filling station to replace the water fountains which were disabled as a safety precaution.

“Most of our classes are full because of the demand for inperson learning. As a small school, one thing we can do that large public systems cannot is to be reactive to our own situation.

We are fortunate to able to go to school and have face-to-face connections while maintaining a safe environment,” says principal Dr. Deason. “Students are eager to come back to school. It’s important for them to connect with their friends and interact.”

School counselor Sarah Duncan points out the psycho-emotional impact of returning to the brickand-mortar schoolhouse, “The

School News

Left: Ava Grace Keyser, Kindergarten Top Middle: Blake Graff has his temperature taken by school counselor Sarah Duncan.

Middle Bottom: Dr. Jennifer Deason takes temperatures before allowing students to enter the classroom.

Right: Students practice social distancing with desktop barriers to create a safer learning environment.

psychological toll of isolation is significant, and we find that children crave the routine and rituals in our school culture. We are not made to be alone, and when we experience fear, we have found that we are stronger when we are together, safely.”

Our pastor, Father Peter Mangam, gave our first homily and referenced the story of St. Peter walking on water, doing that seemingly impossible thing, and faltering in his fear, and then hearing those beautiful words, “Be not afraid.”

“We are not made to be alone, and when we experience fear, we have found that we are stronger when we are together, safely.”

-Sarah Duncan, Counselor SEPTEMBER 2020 29

School News

Three Long Time Loyola Educators Retire John James Marshall Things are a little bit different at Loyola College Prep this school year as three long-time educators retired at the end of the 2019-20 school year.

Tony Rinaudo, Camille Meehan and Cathy Kyle have combined for almost 100 years of experience as teachers and administrators at Loyola.

For Rinaudo and Meehan, the connection to Catholic schools goes back even further than that. Both were 1967 graduates of either Jesuit (now Loyola) or the former St. Vincent’s Academy.

“These three have been treasured members of our community for a long time,” Principal John LeBlanc said.

“Not only were they great in the classroom, but all three spent countless hours after the school day was done with many extracurricular activities.”

“It’s hard to put into words how much these three have influenced the lives of thousands of our students over the years,” LeBlanc said. “Our school is better because of the quality education and guidance they have provided.”

Tony Rinaudo

Camille Meehan

Cathy Kyle

Rinaudo began his long career as a biology teacher and coach in 1971. He was named Assistant Principal on two occasions and was also head football coach and Athletic Director.

Meehan began teaching at Loyola in the 1991-92 school year as a foreign language instructor. She was also the advisor for the Student Government Association for 28 years.

Kyle came to Loyola in the 1996-97 school year and taught a variety of subjects including math and social studies. She also served as cheerleader sponsor and was the coordinator of the annual European trip for the senior class.

30 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

Seminarian Burses

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.

What is a seminary burse, and how do they contribute to seminarians?

A seminary burse is an endowment used to pay tuition, room and board for the seminarians of the Diocese of Shreveport.

The principal amount donated is not touched, but invested, and the support for our seminarians comes from the earned interest. Each donation to a burse is truly a gift that will continue giving as more men enter priestly formation in the years to come!

Who can establish a burse?

Anyone can establish a seminary burse, and name it in honor of loved ones (e.g., family members, teachers, mentors, pastors), in honor of organizations and faith or social groups (e.g., Knights of Columbus councils, ACTS, schools, church parishes), for themselves or their families as an instrument of personal giving, or in memory of a deceased loved one. Burses and their balances, and new contributions, are listed monthly in The Catholic Connection.

Who can contribute to a burse?

Anyone can contribute any amount to any established burse.

How can I establish or contribute to 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.

Completed Burses: (001) Fr. Mike Bakowski Memorial Burse #1 ($10,000) (006) Msgr. J. Carson LaCaze Memorial Burse #1 ($10,000) (010) Memory of Rita Scott from the John Scott Family ($10,000) (011) Rev. David Richter Memorial Burse #1 ($10,000) (012) Jack E. Caplis, Jr., Memorial Burse ($10,000) (013) Mary Evans Caplis Burse ($10,000) (014) Bob & Peggy Semmes Memorial Burse ($10,000) Incomplete Burses: (001) Fr. Mike Bakowski Memorial Burse #2 ($950) (002) Joseph & Antoinette Bakowski Memorial Burse ($2750) (003) Sam R. Maranto Memorial Burse ($1400) (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 ($5918) (009) St. John Berchmans Knights of Columbus Council 10728 Burse ($1550) (011) Rev. David Richter Memorial Burse #2 ($3404) (015) Bishop’s Seminarian Burse ($1335) (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 ($880) (019) Margaret Glenn Memorial Burse ($1350) (020) Dr. James V. Ward Memorial Burse ($2815) (021) Rev. Edmund “Larry” Niehoff Memorial Burse ($2000) (022) Rev. Blane O’Neil, OFM Memorial Burse ($250) (023) Msgr. Edmund J. Moore Memorial Burse ($1000) (024) Rev. Joseph Puthupally Memorial Burse ($500)

When is a burse completed?

Seminary burses are completed when the balance reaches $10,000. Once this goal has been reached, and those who established the original burse wish to continue their donations, a new burse in the same name may be opened.

SEPTEMBER 2020 31

In Loving Memory of Sister Martinette Rivers, OLS John Mark Willcox Our entire diocesan faith community mourns the passing of Sr. Martinette Rivers, OLS who departed this earth for the realm of the Lord on September 1, 2020. Sr. Martinette was a main fixture in so many Catholic events throughout our diocese and always did a fine job of representing the Church in all she did.

Sr. Martinette had several passions in the world of ministry and one was reaching out to Senior Catholics. Her many Catholic Connection articles dealing with how to involve the aged of our faith community were uplifting to all of us. Her energy, her zeal for her faith was so evident in everything she did.

Another special vocation for Sr. Martinette was her involvement with World Religion Day held each year in Shreveport. She dutifully served each year as the Catholic representative in the event and claimed several conversions to our faith through her volunteerism in this program.

32 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

Finally it was her energy. Sr. Martinette had boundless reservoirs of energy and it was truly inspiring to spend time with her on any subject of God’s creation. Our Vicar General Fr. Matthew Long summed her up best, “Sr. Martinette loved the Lord, loved her religious life and loved her congregation’s foundress, blessed Elisabetta Renzi. I believe she would echo Elisabetta’s words to us who are saddend by her passing, ‘We will see each other up there is heaven…from up there I will tell you again to be grateful to the Lord.’”

Sr. Martinette and former editor of the Catholic Connection, Jessica Rinaudo

Sr. Martinette and Rinaudo’s children

SEPTEMBER 2020  33

Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows “We pray the Novena in preparation of the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows who is the“Special patron of our Congregation, is the object of our particular devotion, which we carry out with filial love and sacrifice.

Her maternity, her living faith in the fulfillment of the most profound mysteries of the redemption, her contemplative silence, her humble, hidden, and constant activity in the simple life of Nazareth an the early Church, should be the basis of our nourishment and spiritual growth.” (Constitution of the Congregation) In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Virgin Most Sorrowful, Pray for us.

O Mary, humble servant of Sion, we pray to you. You heard the prophetic voice of Simeon; you accepted the revelation of the sorrowful road of your Son that pierced the depths of your heart like a sword. You experienced immense pain from his rejection by the people.

Mary, we pray to you. Obtain for us the gift of understanding the sacrifice of Christ, of following his example as disciples, and of welcoming his salvation.

Hail, Mary…

Holy Mary…

Virgin most Sorrowful, Pray for us.

O Mary, young virgin of Israel, fleeing to Egypt with your Son, Jesus, and defending his life against every danger, you endured the weariness of all mothers. Obtain the gifts of hope and strength for those who, like you, are attentive and watchful over the birth and growth of future generations, for those who are guardians of the designs of God for the future of the world.

Hail, Mary…

Holy Mary…

Virgin most Sorrowful, Pray for us.

34 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

O Mary, faithful woman, you rejoiced greatly in the presence of your Son at the Passover feast of your people, but grieved at his unexpected disappearance. Grant the gift of a constant search in faith for your Son to those who are restless because of doubt, and to us, grant the joy of being found again when we are lost.

Hail, Mary…

Holy Mary…

Virgin most Sorrowful, Pray for us.

O Mary, humble handmaid of the Lord, you were enraptured by the blessedness your Son promised to those who fulfill the will of the Father. Help us to be docile to the will of God for us, and to accept the cross in our lives with the same love with which you accepted and bore it.

Hail, Mary…

Holy Mary…

Virgin most Sorrowful, Pray for us.

O Mary, sorrowful Mother of the Lord, you have given us a wonderful example of love and strength near the cross. Teach us to love and be generously present to all who suffer. Grant that we may receive you in our home like a mother and learn through your example a new way of accepting the inevitable sufferings of life.

Hail, Mary…

Holy Mary…

Virgin most Sorrowful, Pray for us.

(CREDIT: OFFICIAL WEBSITE FOR OLS, OLS.ORG)

September Calendar FEAST DAYS September 3 Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church September 5 Saint Teresa of Calcutta September 8 The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary September 9 Saint Peter Claver September 14 The Exaltation of the Cross September 15 Our Lady of Sorrows September 16 Saint Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs September 21 Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangalist September 23 Saint Pius of Pietrelcina September 29 Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels September 30 Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church

DIOCESAN EVENTS

September 9, 2020 6:00 pm Protecting God’s Children @ Zoom Meeting October 14, 2020 6:00 pm Protecting God’s Children @ Catholic Center or Zoom Meeting (TDB)

PARISH EVENTS

September 13, 2020 3:00 pm Second Annual Rosary for Daughters of the Cross The Daughters of the Cross came to Louisiana from France in 1855 to bring Catholic education to the scattered pioneer populace of the brand new Diocese of Natchitoches. For over 140 years, they uplifted their students with faith, knowledge and culture. In their memory, you are invited to join in the 2nd Annual Rosary for the Daughters of the Cross on Sunday, September 13, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s rosary will be held online on the Facebook page of the Diocese of Shreveport. We are looking forward to seeing you there!

LIVE STREAM SERVICES:

Cathedral of St. John Berchmans facebook.com/cathedralofsjb Sunday Masses: 4pm Sat Vigil; Sunday, 8am, 11am, 5:30pm Monday-Friday, Adoration; 12:10 pm Mass Traditional Latin Masses: Thurs, Aug 13, 12:10pm; Sat, Aug 15, 9am Christ the King Parish Sunday 11:00 am English ; 1:00 pm Spanish facebook.com/ ChristtheKingbossier Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish 8:30 am and 5 pm Masses on YouTube channel: JGS DRE Mary, Queen of Peace Parish Sunday 11:00 am - facebook.com/ MQOPBossierCity Our Lady of Fatima Parish facebook.com/ OLFCatholicChurch Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish Sunday 9:00 am - facebook.com/ OLBSShreveport

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Tuesday-Friday: 7:30 am, Saturday: 4:00 pm, Sunday: 11:00 am - seasshreveport.com/ live-masses St. George Church Sunday 11:00 am - facebook.com/ MQOPBossierCity St. John the Baptist Parish Sunday 11:00 am - facebook.com/ stjohnsmanyla St. Lawrence Church Sunday 10:45 am - facebook.com/ St-Lawrence-Catholic-ChurchSwartz-La-159206814231608 St. Paschal Parish Sunday: 9:00 am on YouTube channel: St. Paschal’s Catholic Church - West Monroe,LA St. Pius X Parish Sunday: 11:00 am - facebook. com/shreveportstpiusx St. Jude Parish Sunday 8:30 and 11:15 Monday-Friday live 11:30 am facebook.com/StJudeBossier SEPTEMBER 2020 35

Connection The Catholic

DIOCESE OF SHREVEPORT 3500 Fairfield Ave.

•

Shreveport, LA 71104

36 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

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.