Bayou Catholic Magazine - August 2014

Bayou

Catholic

The magazine for the people of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

Honoring Kateri LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Contents FEATURES

56

72

78 Our Lady Star of the Sea Confraternity has 125 local members

83 Tekakwitha Conference office has new home

COLUMNS

46 Comfort For My People

By Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

50 Pope Speaks

By Pope Francis I

51 Question Corner

By Father Kenneth Doyle

52 Readings Between The Lines

By Father Glenn LeCompte

82

78

70 Seeing Clairely

By Claire Joller

IN EVERY ISSUE

4 Editor’s Corner 56 Our Churches 60 Scripture Readings 74 Diocesan Events 84 Heavenly Recipes

44

GUEST COLUMNS

54 How do I strengthen my church parish?

By Jeremy Becker

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Where to find your Bayou Catholic Bayou Catholic magazine can be found at all Catholic churches in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, at the three Catholic high schools in Houma, Morgan City and Thibodaux, as well as the 10 elementary schools throughout the diocese. You may also visit the merchants listed in the Advertisers’ Index to pick up your copy. Those wishing to receive the magazine by mail can call Pat Keese at (985) 850-3132 or write to Bayou Catholic, P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395. Subscription price is $35 annually. For the online edition, go to www.bayoucatholic.com

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2014

62 Celebrating the priesthood

By Very Rev. Joshua Rodrigue, S.T.L.

68 Adult Faith Formation classes announced

By Dr. Faith Ann Spinella

80 Our Lady of the Assumption

By Father Michael Bergeron

ANNOUNCEMENTS

76 Pastoral Appointments Pastor, chaplain, associate appointed

76 Food for the Journey Father Jospeh Tregre speaks

77 Retreat at Lumen Christi Rev. Glenn LeCompte directs retreat

92 Educators Conference Father Charles Latour to speak

Comment Comfort For My People

I 46

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

I remember as a very young priest attending the 25th anniversary celebrations of my brother priests and being awed by their long service and inspired by their lived example. At those times it was hard not to wonder what my life would be like should I, by God’s grace, celebrate 25 years of priestly service. Well, in his mercy God has allowed me to live into the answer to this question. I celebrate my own 25th anniversary of priestly ordination in August 2014. I also want to congratulate Bishop Sam G. Jacobs, who during this month of August will celebrate 25 years of ordination as a bishop and 50 years of ordination as a priest. God bless him!!

As others who celebrate joyfilled anniversaries can testify, the thing that strikes me the most is how quickly the time has seemed to pass!! While the passage of time can take many things from us, there are some things that it cannot touch, and among these are our memories and good experiences of the years that we have lived. My memories of my own journey to priesthood take me back to my family, who inspired me to faith and always supported me strongly. After study and formation at St. Joseph Seminary College in Covington and at the American College of the Catholic University of Louvain in Leuven, Belgium, I was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Baton Rouge at St.

Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge on Saturday, Aug. 5, 1989, by Bishop Stanley J. Ott. I remember that day clearly!! I go back to the wonderful memories that I have of that day very often. My first Mass was celebrated at my home parish of St. Augustine in New Roads at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6, 1989, the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.

My first assignment was to St. Alphonsus Liguori in Greenwell Springs. The first assignment for a priest is such an important

Installed as Reader in 1986

one, and I will always be grateful to the people of St. Alphonsus for their patience and support of me so very early in my priesthood.

After a wonderful experience at St. Alphonsus, I went on to serve as an associate pastor at St. George in Baton Rouge, at St. Isidore the Farmer in Baker, at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge, and also for a short time as Catholic Chaplain at Louisiana State Prison at Angola. I will always be grateful to the people of these parish

communities and to the pastors with whom I served, for these were all great experiences.

In 1996, I became a pastor for the first time, and I was assigned as the shared pastor to two rural parish communities: Immaculate Heart of Mary parish in Maringouin and St. Joseph parish in Grosse Tete. My eight years in Maringouin and Grosse Tete are the longest assignment I have had in my 25 years of priesthood, and I grew very close to the people of these two parish communities. The parishioners of these rural parishes taught me a lot and I enjoyed living among them and serving as their pastor.

After this assignment, I was sent as pastor to Sacred Heart parish in Baton Rouge where I served two years before being named auxiliary bishop of New Orleans. The people of Sacred Heart and its school also have a place in my heart and I am grateful for them and all that we experienced together. In February 2007, I was ordained as auxiliary bishop of New Orleans, and in addition to my duties there as an auxiliary bishop, I also served for about a year as pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary parish on Esplanade Avenue. For most of my years in New Orleans, I was in residence at Our Lady of the Rosary parish.

The good people at Our Lady of the Rosary helped me to transition from being a priest to being a bishop, and I will be forever grateful for the ways that they helped me at that time in my life. I hope I also assisted them in their faith life.

I have prayed, laughed, cried, stumbled and celebrated as I journeyed through 25 years of priestly ministry, and I have loved every minute of it. I am deeply grateful for the love, support, patience and forgiveness given to me by those whom I was sent to serve, but in the end I learned more about faith and trust from them than they learned from me. Thank you all very much! Pray for me!

I have loved every minute of my 25 years of priesthood

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2014

Comentario

He disfrutado cada minuto de mis veinticinco años de sacerdocio

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Recuerdo que cuando era sacerdote joven y asistía a las celebraciones de mis sacerdotes compañeros que cumplían su vigésimo quinto aniversario sentía admiración por los largos años de servicio que ellos cumplían y me sentía inspirado por el ejemplo que me daban.

En esos tiempos era difícil para mí evitar la idea de cómo sería, con la voluntad de Dios, celebrar veinticinco años de servicio en el sacerdocio. Bueno, Dios misericordioso me ha permitido vivir lo suficiente para contestar mi pregunta. Celebro mi propio vigésimo quinto aniversario de ordenación sacerdotal en agosto, 2014. También quiero felicitar al Obispo Sam G. Jacobs que en este agosto celebra veinticinco años de ordenación como obispo y cincuenta años en su ordenación sacerdotal. ¡Qué Dios lo bendiga!

Así cómo otros que han celebrado estos gozosos aniversarios pueden afirmarlo, lo que más me impacta es ¡la rapidez con que estos años han transcurrido! Mientras que el pasar del tiempo puede tomar muchas cosas de nosotros, hay algunas cosas que no puede tocar y entre estos se encuentran nuestros recuerdos y las buenas experiencias que hemos vivido durante estos años. El camino de mis recuerdos en el sacerdocio me lleva hacia mi familia que me inspiró en la fe y siempre me apoyó férreamente. Después de mi formación en el Seminario St. Joseph en Covington y en la Facultad Americana de la Universidad Católica de Louvain en Leuven, Bélgica, fui ordenado al sacerdocio por la Diócesis de Baton Rouge en la Catedral St. Joseph en Baton Rouge el sábado 5 de agosto, 1989 por el Obispo Stanley J. Ott. ¡Recuerdo muy bien ese día! Vuelvo a esos recuerdos maravillosos de ese día con mucha frecuencia. Celebré mi

primera misa en la parroquia de mi hogar St. Augustine en New Roads a las tres de la tarde el domingo 6 de agosto, 1989 en la Festividad de la Transfiguración del Señor.

Mi primer encargo fue en St. Alphonsus Liguori en Greenwell Springs. El primer encargo para un sacerdote es importante y siempre estaré agradecido con la feligresía de St. Alphonsus por su paciencia y por todo el apoyo que me aportaron en mis primeros días de sacerdocio.

Después de una fantástica experiencia en St. Alphonsus fui pastor asociado en St. George de Baton Rouge, en St. Isidore the Farmer en Baker, en la Catedral St. Joseph de Baton Rouge y por poco

Ordained to priesthood in 1989

tiempo serví de capellán católico en la Prisión Estatal de Luisiana en Angola. Siempre estaré agradecido con todos los feligreses de estas comunidades y con los pastores con quien he servido porque todos estos fueron grandes experiencias.

En 1996 ejercí como párroco por primera vez y fui asignado a dos comunidades rurales: Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish

en Maringouin y St. Joseph Parish en Grosse Tete. Mis ocho años en Maringouin en Grosse Tette es el encargo más largo que he tenido en mis veinticinco años de sacerdocio y me encariñé con la feligresía de estas dos comunidades parroquiales. Los feligreses de estas dos parroquias rurales me enseñaron mucho y disfruté vivir con ellos y servirles como párroco.

Luego después de este encargo fui asignado párroco de Sacred Heart Parish en Baton Rouge y serví allí por dos años antes de ser nombrado obispo auxiliar de Nueva Orléans.

Los feligreses de Sacred Heart y su escuela tienen también un puesto en mi corazón y les agradezco por todas las bellas experiencias que tuvimos juntos. En febrero del 2007 fui ordenado obispo auxiliar de Nueva Orléans y además de 47 mis responsabilidades como obispo auxiliar también fui, por un año, párroco de Our Lady of the Rosary Parish en Esplanade Avenue.

Residí la mayoría de mis años en Nueva Orléans en Our Lady of the Rosary Parish. Los buenos feligreses en Our Lady of the Rosary me ayudaron en mi transición de sacerdote a obispo y siempre les agradeceré por las maneras en que me ayudaron durante ese momento en mi vida. Tengo la esperanza que yo también les haya ayudado en su vida de fe.

He rogado, me he reído, he llorado, me he tropezado y he celebrado en mi camino a través de 25 años de ministerio sacerdotal y he disfrutado cada minuto. Estoy profundamente agradecido por el amor, apoyo, paciencia y perdón que me han dado aquéllos que he sido enviado a servir, pero al final he aprendido más sobre la fe y confianza de ellos que lo que ellos han aprendido de mí. ¡Muchas gracias a todos ustedes! ¡Rueguen por mí!

Traducido por Julio Contreras, feligrés de Annunziata Catholic Church en Houma. www.bayoucatholic.com

Binh luan bang loi

N 48

Tôi Yêu Mến Từng Phút Trong 25 Năm Đời Linh Mục

Nhớ lại lúc tôi còn là một linh mục rất trẻ tham dự Thánh Lễ mừng 25 năm thụ phong của một linh mục bạn và tôi cảm nhận được sự tuyệt vời qua những năm tháng mục vụ của họ và cũng nhận thấy gương sáng mà các linh mục ấy mang lại. Vào những dịp như thế không thể nào không nghĩ đến đời linh mục của mình sẽ ra sao, trong hồng ân của Chúa, khi đến ngày tôi sẽ mừng 25 năm thụ phong.

Cũng may vì lòng thương xót của Chúa đã cho tôi cơ hội để có câu trả lời. Tôi sẽ mừng 25 năm linh mục vào tháng tám năm 2014 này. Tôi cũng xin chúc mừng Đức Giám Mục Sam G. Jacobs trong tháng tám tới đây mừng 25 năm giám mục và 50 năm đời linh mục. Xin Thiên Chúa chúc lành cho ngài.

Trong khi các chức sắc mừng kỷ niệm ngày thụ phong và những thành quả đã đạt được, một điều làm tôi xúc động nhất là sao thời gian trôi qua quá nhanh!! Trong khi thời gian có thể lấy đi nhiều thứ thuộc về chúng ta , những thứ khác thì không thể lấy đi được, đó chính là ký ức và kinh nghiệm mà chúng ta đã trải qua. Những ký ức mà tôi còn nhớ trong đời linh mục là đến từ gia đình, họ là những người giúp tôi lớn lên trong đức tin và củng cố ơn gọi cho tôi rất mạnh mẽ. Sau khi tu học tại đại chủng viện Thánh Bênêđictô, thành phố Covington và tại đại học Huê Kỳ, một chi nhánh thuộc đại học Công Giáo Louvain bên Bỉ, tôi đã lãnh nhận thiên chức linh mục cho giáo phận Baton Rouge, tại nhà thờ chính tòa nhằm vào ngày thứ bảy mồng 5 tháng 8, 1989, do bởi Đức Cha Stanley J. Ott, giám mục chính tòa. Tôi còn nhớ ngày ấy rất rõ. Tôi hay hồi tưởng lại những kỷ niệm tốt đẹp đã xảy ra trong ngày hôm đó.

Tôi đã cử hành Thánh Lễ đầu tay tại giáo xứ nhà tên là Thánh Augustinô, thành phố New Roads vào lúc 3

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2014

giờ chiều Chúa Nhật mồng 6 tháng 8, 1989, đúng vào ngày Lễ Chúa Giêsu Biến Hình. Nhiệm sở đầu tiên của tôi là giáo xứ Thánh Alphonsô Liguori, thành phố Greenwell Springs. Nhiệm sở đầu tiên của đời linh mục rất quan trọng, và tôi luôn luôn mang ơn giáo dân ở đó vì sự kiên nhẫn và tận tâm rõ rệt mà giáo dân đã dành cho một linh

Ordained to episcopacy in 2007

mục trẻ. Sau những kinh nghiệm mục vụ tốt đẹp tại giáo xứ Thánh Alphonsô tôi được đề cử làm cha phó tại nhà thờ Thánh George, thành phố Baton Rouge, đến Thánh Isadore Thợ, thành phố Baker, rồi đến nhà thờ Chính Tòa, thành phố Baton Rouge, và cũng làm tuyên uý ngắn hạn cho nhà tù tiểu bang tại Angola. Tôi sẽ luôn mang ơn cộng

đồng dân Chúa ở những xứ đó và các cha xứ mà tôi cùng phục vụ, đó là kinh nghiệm rất tốt đẹp. Năm 1996 tôi được đề cử làm cha xứ lần đầu tiên và cùng chia sẻ chánh sở của hai giáo xứ vùng ngoại ô là giáo xứ Mẹ Vô Nhiễm Nguyên Tội, thành phố Maringouin và Thánh Giuse, thành phố Grosse Tete. 8 năm cha xứ tại hai giáo xứ vừa nói là dài nhất trong 25 năm linh mục của tôi, và tôi cũng rất gần gũi với anh chị em trong hai giáo xứ đó. Giáo dân trong hai giáo xứ ngoại ô này đã dạy tôi rất nhiều và riêng tôi rất vui mừng được sống và phục vụ cho họ trong tư cách là cha sở. Sau khi phục ở đây tôi được đề cử làm cha xứ Thánh Tâm Chúa Giêsu, thành phố Baton Rouge, cũng tại đây sau hai năm phục vụ tôi được chọn làm giám mục phụ tá cho Tổng Giáo Phận New Orleans. Giáo dân và trường học ở đó có chỗ đứng trong tim tôi và tôi cũng mang ơn họ, họ cùng tôi sống và hành trình. Tháng 2, 2007 tôi được tấn phong giám mục phụ tá cho Tổng Giáo Phận New Orleans, ngoài giám mục phụ tá tôi còn được đề cử làm cha xứ Đức Mẹ Mân Côi gần một năm trên đại lộ Esplanade. Những năm còn lại tôi tạm trú tại đó. Những anh chị em tốt lành ở giáo xứ đó đã giúp tôi chuyển từ đời sống linh mục đến giám mục , và tôi sẽ không quên công ơn mà họ đã dành cho tôi. Tôi mong rằng mình cũng giúp họ sống đức tin.

Khi cầu nguyện, cười, khóc, té ngã và thi hành mục vụ trong 25 năm hành trình, và phải nói rằng tôi yêu quý đời linh mục từng phút một. Tôi rất biết ơn vì sự yêu thương, nâng đỡ, kiên nhẫn và vị tha mà những giáo dân mà tôi đã phục vụ dành cho tôi, nhưng sau cùng tôi phải cảm nhận là mình nhận biết về đức tin và giáo dân tin tôi nhiều hơn mình tin vào mình. Cám ơn anh chị em rất nhiều!! Cầu nguyện cho tôi!

Dòch thuaät: Linh Muïc Pheâroâ Leâ Taøi, Chaùnh sôû nhaø thôø Our Lady of the Isle.

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Together in the

Work of the Lord For we are God's fellow workers.

You are God's field, God's building.

1 Corinthians 3:9

For more information, visit: www.htdiocese.org

Comment The Pope Speaks

V 50

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -Though exactly what happened to Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 remained unclear, Pope Francis offered prayers for the 298 passengers and crew members who died when it came down in eastern Ukraine.

According to Australian news reports, as many as 108 of those who died July 17 were on their way to Melbourne for the International AIDS Conference.

Also killed was Sacred Heart Sister Philomene Tiernan, a member of the staff at KincoppalRose Bay School, a Catholic girls’ school in Sydney.

“The Holy Father, Francis, has learned with dismay of the tragedy of the Malaysian Airlines aircraft downed in east Ukraine, a region marked by high tensions,” said a statement July 18 from the Vatican press office. “The pope raises prayers for the numerous victims of the incident and for their relatives, and renews his heartfelt appeal to all parties in the conflict to seek peace and solutions through dialogue, in order to avoid further loss of innocent human lives.”

Given the ongoing tensions between Ukraine, Ukrainian separatists and Russia, and reports that the plane was flying at 33,000 feet, it was widely believed the plane was shot down.

Regarding the death of Sister Tiernan, the school principal sent a message to parents confirming

CNS PHOTO/EDGAR SU, REUTERS

A bystander points in front of a “Pray for MH17” message on a flight information board at Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur International Airport July 18. Pope Francis offered prayers for the 298 passengers and crew members who died when the plane went down July 17 in eastern Ukraine.

the news and saying, “this has come as an enormous shock to me and our school community.”

“I heard from Phil yesterday morning,” when the nun was still in France, wrote the principal, Hilary Johnston-Croke. “She told me that she had left Joigny, where she had been attending a retreat,” and had gone to Paris to venerate the remains of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, founder of the Society of the Sacred Heart, “which was a very special moment for her.”

“We are devastated by the loss of such a wonderfully kind, wise and compassionate woman who was greatly loved by us all. She was a great friend and mentor to me personally,” the principal said.

The Archdiocese of Sydney announced that a special memorial Mass for all of the victims would be celebrated July 20 in St. Mary’s Cathedral. Australia’s governor

general and prime minister were scheduled to attend the Mass.

In Melbourne, as representatives of faith-based groups caring for people with HIV/AIDS held a preconference to the international AIDS meeting, they began their work with prayers for the victims.

The White House press office released a statement July 17 offering the country’s condolences to the victims and their families.

“It is critical that there be a full, credible, and unimpeded international investigation as quickly as possible,” the White House statement said. “We urge all concerned -- Russia, the proRussian separatists, and Ukraine -- to support an immediate ceasefire in order to ensure safe and unfettered access to the crash site for international investigators and in order to facilitate the recovery of remains.”

Pope prays for victims of downed plane, urges peace in Ukraine Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2014

Question Corner Father Kenneth Doyle

Clarity on Mary’s privilege

Q

Q. In a recent article on Our Lady in a well-known Catholic magazine, I was disturbed to read that the Blessed Mother was “saved retroactively from original sin” in view of the merits of Jesus Christ. I had always learned that, from the time of her conception, Mary was born without sin and already saved.

My knowledge of theology is admittedly limited so I could be wrong, but I find no reference to “retroactivity” in the church’s official teaching. Was the author of the article taking liberties in defining dogma? (Prospect, Kentucky)

A

A. I agree with you, and you are correct. The Catholic Church does believe that Mary was free from all sin from the time she was conceived in the womb of her mother, St. Anne. The problem, in the magazine article you reference, would seem to come from the author’s misuse of the word “retroactively.”

The correct word might have been “prospectively.” As Pope Pius IX said, when proclaiming the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854, “the most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, savior of the human race, preserved immune from all

stain of original sin.”

There was nothing “retroactive” about it: Mary’s privilege happened first, before the death and resurrection of her son Jesus -- but it was an anticipatory privilege, granted in view of the (foreseen) merits of Christ’s redemptive action.

I think you can feel assured that the author of the article does understand the teaching properly since, in the paragraph previous to the one you quote, he wrote: “This dogma of the Immaculate Conception teaches that from the moment of Mary’s conception, which took place in the natural way between her parents Anne and Joachim, she was uniquely preserved from the stain of original sin.”

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Presbyterian service instead?

Q

Q. Where we live in Virginia, we don’t have many Catholic churches. For the four churches in our area, we have five priests and only one speaks understandable English. The other four are from Africa and speak with thick accents. We may catch one or two words in the homily, but that’s all. Basically, we just sit there and get no teaching or inspiration. Is it possible for us to attend the Presbyterian church service instead? (Virginia)

A

A. No. Your obligation as a Catholic is to participate in the Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation, as you’ll find in the Code of Canon Law, No. 1247. You would not fulfill that requirement by attendance at a Presbyterian service -- nor would you receive the immeasurable benefit of weekly Communion with Jesus through the Eucharist.

I do, however, sympathize with your plight. Hearing the word of God broken open in a homily is a vital part of the eucharistic experience -- and if you are regularly missing that, you are missing a lot.

So here are my suggestions. I think you should talk with your pastor and voice your concern -ideally, along with a small group of like-minded parishioners.

Perhaps some accommodation could be made, such as having the homily written by the priest-celebrant read to the congregation by a lector, or, coupled with an oral delivery, having the homily text printed on the parish’s website so that 51 parishioners could read it later on.

My hope is that, eventually, there will be larger numbers of American young men entering the seminary. In the meantime, I am very grateful to priests from Africa and elsewhere who are coming to the U.S. to fill the gap.

Without them, there would be far more U.S. Catholics without a weekly Sunday Mass.

Questions may be sent to Father Kenneth Doyle at askfatherdoyle@ gmail.com and 40 Hopewell St., Albany, N.Y. 12208 www.bayoucatholic.com

Reflections

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Readings Between The Lines

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Father Glenn LeCompte

‘You cannot serve God and mammon!’

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“The worship of the ancient golden calf (cf. Exodus 32:135) has returned in a new and ruthless guise in the idolatry of money and the dictatorship of an impersonal economy lacking a truly human purpose” (Evangelium Gaudii No. 55).

These words of Pope Francis resonate with Matthew 6:24, which asserts that no one can serve God and money (mammon) simultaneously.

The Gospel of Matthew does

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2014

not offer as many admonitions on the relationship of material items to the spiritual life as does the Gospel of Luke, nevertheless, the Gospel of our current liturgical cycle contains teachings on this issue.

Matthew 6:24 is found in the context of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), whose primary theme is “the greater righteousness.”

Righteousness involves being in a justified relationship with God, and in Matthew 6:24-34 such a relationship is characterized by a proper attitude toward and handling of material possessions.

The Aramaic word, mamona means either “wealth” or “property.” Jesus depicts the compulsory service (in Greek, douleuein) to mamona as directly opposed to such service to God. The Greek verb here indicates a strong bond of servitude to a master. The attachment required to serve one of the two masters will render a parallel devotion to the other impossible.

In verses 25-34, Jesus goes on to point out that trust in God requires a detachment from the desire for material things. To seek to provide for ourselves redirects our focus away from God and destroys filial trust in him. However, living with anticipation of God’s providential

care for us implies that we have an underlying trust in and devotion to God. Jesus’ warning about the danger of mammon plays itself out in Matthew 19:16-22, when a rich young man approaches Jesus and asks what, beyond keeping the commandments, he must do to possess eternal life. Jesus enjoins him to sell his possessions and give to the poor that he might have “treasure in heaven.” In 6:1921, Jesus teaches the disciples to store up for themselves heavenly rather than earthly treasure, for one’s heart will be where one’s treasure is. Again we see the direct opposition of material to spiritual goods and how preference for the former leads one away from God, whereas a desire for the latter leads to justification. So attached to his possessions is the rich young man that he cannot move himself to replace his earthly treasure with that which is heavenly. He becomes a living example of Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount.

In Evangelium Gaudii No. 54, Pope Francis makes a statement about materialism that has disturbed some people. The pope maintains that trickle-down economic theories, in short, ensuring first that business can thrive will provide prosperity

a

for workers, “has never been confirmed by facts.” He further says that such a theory “expresses a crude and naive trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power and in the sacralized working of the prevailing economic system.

Meanwhile, the excluded are still waiting.” Pope Francis here applies the teaching of Matthew’s Jesus to a situation we face today.

In Sollicitudo Rei Socialis No. 21, Saint John Paul II mentions that the church’s social teaching adopts a critical attitude toward both “liberal capitalism and Marxist collectivism.” The U.S. bishops further specify and apply this teaching to the U.S. economy when they say, for example, “We cannot separate what we believe from how we act in the marketplace and the broader community, for this is where we make our primary contribution to the pursuit of economic justice” (Economic Justice for All, No. 25). The bishops stress the importance of the common good in the practice of business in the United States. “Business

and finance have the duty to be faithful trustees of the resources at their disposal. No one can ever own capital resources absolutely or control their use without regard for others and society as a whole” (Economic Justice No. 112).

Saint John Paul II asserts that when the dignity of the person is compromised in favor of the pursuit of “a certain level of material well-being,” ultimately this pursuit will prove “unsatisfying and in the end contemptible” (Sollicitudo No. 33). Pope Paul VI

(Populorum Progressio, No. 2526) earlier observed that while industrialization has beneficially provided economic growth and human development, when the pursuit of profit overshadows the dignity of workers and individuals in society, a certain kind of “tyranny” emerges.

The church’s social teaching on the economy is not meant to attack business itself, but it reminds us that in the midst of doing business the maintenance of human dignity is essential!

ons

sti n Que o i t c e fl

for desire e h t fe? n i own li inta a r Re u m o o y t strive oods in stem do you terial g a w o m H mic sy r o e n v n o o c s e d ? . al goo aching the U.S spiritu cial te ents of o s m e ’s l h e c fic e chur for t speci d by th justice e g c n Wha i n e m l l o be cha e “econ might promot o t o d e t can w ce? n Wha rketpla a m e h t all” in 53

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Guest Columnist

How do I strengthen my church parish?

Jermey Becker

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If you are like many Catholics, not only in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, but across the country, you are proud of your faith and you are proud to be Catholic. And just like many Catholics, you notice that the church might not be as full as it used to be for Sunday Mass and you see that it always seems like the same people volunteering for many of the different positions in the parish and you want to know how you can help to reverse this trend and to strengthen your parish.

Can one person do everything that is necessary to strengthen their parish? The simple answer is that it would be very difficult; however, great change can begin with one person who can influence a second and that second can influence a third and so on and so on. How can this change begin?

The answer is stewardship, but probably not in the way most people think of stewardship.

Unfortunately, when someone hears the word stewardship, usually the first thing that comes to mind is money and in this instance it will not even be discussed except as an end result. Instead, we will discuss the importance of evangelization, along with time and talent, as a manner of using stewardship to strengthen your parish.

Locally, and throughout the country, Mass attendance is averaging around 22–25 percent of registered Catholics in a parish. While this number still creates some churches with pews that look fairly full, we all know there is still room for more. I am willing to bet that we all know at least one person and likely many more, be it a family member, friend, co-worker, etc, who still

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2014

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

considers themselves Catholic, yet they have not gone to Mass, at least other than Christmas and/or Easter Mass, in a very long time.

Just think for a moment, if the percentage of parishioners who attend Mass were able to bring that one, or more, person back to Mass.

Can you imagine the attendance?

For example, the average parish in the diocese has about 2,000 total parishioners (not total families) with about 450 – 500 people attending weekend Masses. If you, and your fellow parishioners, can invite that family member or friend to come back to Mass and come back to the church, now how will that church begin to look with 800 or 900 people for weekend Masses?

I think it would look great.

Evangelization is always an important need in the Catholic Church and by reaching out to our “not attending Mass” Catholics, we can begin to improve the attendance in our churches. Now that we hopefully have more people attending Mass, what do we do next – get them involved.

How does getting them involved begin with you? First of all, you should be involved in your parish in some form and secondly, like the evangelization model, you ask someone to join what you are doing and you get others to also ask for parishioners to join.

If many consider Mass attendance to be a low percentage, then they will be more disappointed in knowing that the volunteering level amongst registered parishioners is only at about seven percent. Studies have shown that the more involved a person is in their parish, the more engaged they become and the lesser the chance of the person leaving the church. Here lies a challenging area for many churches, engaging the parishioners. Being able to offer many ministries that allow for many to participate and being able to handle the different ministries, is not an easy task for the pastor and the parish staff; however, if a parish can offer many opportunities it can usually be a parish that is full on the weekends and not one that is “just getting by.”

I mentioned earlier that money would not be discussed except as an end result and here we are.

Since you have evangelized simply to other Catholics and got them to come back to Mass; since you are not only involved in your parish in some form, but you have also gotten others to get involved in more than just attending Mass, you have created more engaged Catholics. And what do engaged Catholics do, usually without even being asked, they give more money to their parish. So there you have it – you can be the one snowflake that causes the avalanche that strengthens your parish through stewardship and evangelization.

(Becker is diocesan director of Stewardship and Development).

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www.bayoucatholic.com

Our Churches

Story by Janet Marcel Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

St. Genevieve Warm, loving, welcoming parish

St. Genevieve Church parish in Thibodaux, according to its parishioners, has a warm, loving and welcoming environment. So it came as no surprise to Very Rev. Dean Danos, V.F., pastor since June 2009, that a recent survey taken among parishioners revealed that the most important selling point of the parish is its overall theme which is “All are Welcome.”

“The song All are Welcome written by Marty Haugen, is played very often during Mass,” says the pastor. “Parishioners always greet each other and welcome visitors, and they often stay after Mass just to visit.”

Archbishop Joseph Francis Rummel of New Orleans established St. Genevieve Church parish in Thibodaux June 28, 1959, with Msgr. John Newfield as the founding pastor. According to the parish’s history,

parishioners along with a volunteer army of numerous craftsmen completely renovated and furnished an old warehouse (which the Protestant owners of Lafourche Lumber Company offered rent-free until the parish could build a permanent church) with an altar, communion rail, tabernacle, Stations of the Cross and confessional, in time for Mass on July 5, 1959.

The new church was completed and dedicated in 1961. Faceted glass windows over the side doors feature scenes from the Old and New Testaments, and creation scenes are depicted in the stained glass windows lining the sides of the church. Over the door to the front entrance of the church is a large stained glass window which features the resurrected Christ along with scenes common to this area. In 2009, the original raised sanctuary floor was removed

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Our Churches

St. Genevieve

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completely to allow the installation of an extended newly designed raised sanctuary floor. The existing brick sanctuary backdrop was overlaid with natural stone to enhance the aesthetics of the church. A new marble altar and all new liturgical décor were brought in as part of the renovation. New pews were purchased and positioned to surround the extended sanctuary floor.

St. Genevieve School opened Aug. 2, 1960, with an all-lay faculty. The school began with grades kindergarten through three and added a grade each year until it reached seventh grade. In August 1964, Msgr. Newfield secured the services of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. The school had never been financially stable and when the School Sisters of Notre Dame announced their departure in 1969 because of a lack of vocations, many felt the school would not survive.

In 1983, Christ the Redeemer Church parish was established with about 500 families formerly of St. Genevieve designated as parishioners of the new parish.

Father Danos, whose first assignment as an associate pastor was at St. Genevieve from 1980-85, says there are currently 1,200 families in the parish.

Because of the school, notes the pastor, there are a lot of young families and also many well educated professionals in the parish.

St. Genevieve is an active and flourishing parish with many organizations /ministries offered to its members. Some of these include an active youth group, music ministry, Ladies Altar Society, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, Come! Lord Jesus, Cursillo, Helping Hands which assists the needy of the parish with medication, utility bills, rent; Good News People, an evangelization committee, a welcoming committee, a bereavement committee, eucharistic adoration and a prayer line. The parish Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2014

also has an active children’s ministry, vacation Bible school, children’s liturgy every Sunday, and Children of Mary for girls in kindergarten through seventh grade.

St. Genevieve has an annual Thanksgiving Mass the night before Thanksgiving where 300 parishioners participate by bringing up a gift to represent their ministry.

Father Danos says the environment that they celebrate the Eucharist from the very beginning of the setting of Mass is something that makes the church parish unique. He also invites families to bring their children to Mass. “We have a cry room but we encourage parents to keep their children in church as much as possible so that they can see and hear and learn the Mass. We distribute something we call ‘pew art’ to children and we have colors in the back of church for them to use to create their ‘mercy masterpiece.’”

Another unique program in the parish is called

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Staff St. Genevieve staff members from left are Melissa Granier, administrative assistant; Chris Knobloch, school principal; Very Rev. Dean Danos, V.F., pastor; Sister Lauren Lindee, O.P., religious education coordinator; and Deacon Irving Daigle.

Back row from left are Margie Melancon, cook; Justin Rodrigue, development/ youth director; Cheryl Thibodaux, assistant principal; Sidney Robichaux, janitor; Elaine Gros, business manager/bulletin coordinator; and Chris Barrilleaux, music coordinator. Not pictured is Annette Landry, housekeeper.

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“Flocknote” in which an email goes out to every person who registers to inform them about activities and events happening in the parish. The address for Flocknote is text “Risen” to 84576 or visit their website at www.flocknote.com/stgenevieve to join.

St. Genevieve parish is also recognized by Notre Dame Seminary as a teaching parish. Over the years transitional deacons have been assigned to minister at St. Genevieve as part of their priestly formation.

Father Danos explains that the recent survey of the parishioners revealed some very encouraging results.

“All parts of the survey were important, and the parishioners said it was difficult to number them in order of importance,” says Father Danos.

The second most important selling point is the caring and dedicated church parish staff, who Father Danos says view their job as a ministry. “They often go over and above to minister and are willing to work hard to get the job done.”

The third most important selling point is that there is good music at Mass. “We have some wonderful musicians and singers at our Masses,” says Father Danos.

Coming in as the fourth most important selling point is St. Genevieve School. “We have 480 students enrolled at our school. There is a very loving faculty

who knows the children by name,” says Father Danos.

“The faculty does a lot of spiritual teachings and activities that enhance students so that when they do go on to other schools, the people at those schools can tell that the student went to St. Genevieve by their manners, their spirituality and the way they are disciplined.”

The fifth most important selling point was the Genevieve Foundation which was organized to pay off the church parish debt. The organization built a house with donations from parishioners and local businesses that was raffled off and the proceeds used to pay off the parish’s debt.

A few of the other selling points of the parish were the inspirational, motivating guest speakers and entertainers who visit year round; an outstanding bulletin/newsletter which is colorful and informative and features interviews with parishioners so that everyone can get to know each other; and the way in which it uses media such as Facebook, its website and “Flocknote” to keep parishioners informed about what is happening in the parish.

Father Danos says that the family center was renovated recently and in the near future they will be making some improvements to the facilities including a drive through canopy and some new landscaping. www.bayoucatholic.com

Scripture Readings Monday

4 August

Tuesday

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Wednesday

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Thursday

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and a listing of Feast days and saints Friday

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Saturday

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Sunday

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Weekday Nineteenth Sunday Hebrews 1:12—2:4 in Ordinary Time Matthew 17:14-20 1 Kings 19:9a, 1113a Romans 9:1-5 Matthew 14:22-33

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12

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15

16

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Memorial of Clare, virgin Ezekiel 1:2-5, 2428c Matthew 17:22-27

Weekday Ezekiel 2:8—3:4 Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

Weekday Ezekiel 9:1-7; 10:18-22 Matthew 18:15-20

Memorial of Maximilian Kolbe, priest and martyr Ezekiel 12:1-12 Matthew 18:21— 19:1

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab 1 Corinthians 15:20-27 Luke 1:39-56

Weekday Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32 Matthew 19:13-15

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 56:1, 6-7 Romans 11:13-15, 29-32 Matthew 15:21-28

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19

20

21

22

23

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Weekday Ezekiel 24:15-24 Matthew 19:16-22

Weekday Ezekiel 28:1-10 Matthew 19:23-30

Memorial of Bernard, abbot and doctor of the church Ezekiel 34:1-11 Matthew 20:1-16

Memorial of Pius X, pope Ezekiel 36:23-28 Matthew 22:1-14

Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ezekiel 37:1-14 Matthew 22:34-40

Weekday Ezekiel 43:1-7a Matthew 23:1-12

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 22:19-23 Romans 11:33-36 Matthew 16:13-20

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26

27

28

29

30

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Weekday 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12 Matthew 23:13-22

Weekday 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a, 14-17 Matthew 23:23-26

Memorial of Monica 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, 16-18 Matthew 23:27-32

Memorial of Augustine, bishop and doctor of the church 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 Matthew 24:42-51

Memorial of the Passion of John the Baptist 1 Corinthians 1:1725 Mark 6:17-29

Weekday 1 Corinthians 1:2631 Matthew 25:14-30

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Jeremiah 20:7-9 Romans 12:1-2 Matthew 16:21-27

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4

5

6

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Memorial of Gregory the Great, pope and doctor of the church 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 Luke 4:38-44

Weekday 1 Corinthians 3:1823 Luke 5:1-11

Weekday 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 Luke 5:33-39

1 September 2 Weekday 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Luke 4:16-30

Weekday 1 Corinthians 2:10b-16 Luke 4:31-37

Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Seminarian Education Burses

What is a seminarian burse fund?

A seminarian burse fund is an invested sum of money where the interest is used in perpetuity to help fund the education of men to the priesthood in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.

How does someone establish a seminarian burse fund?

Very simply, a burse may be established and named for anyone you choose, be it family, friend, bishop, priest, deacon, religious, etc.

When is a seminarian burse complete?

A seminarian burse fund is complete once it reaches $15,000.

If you choose to continue to contribute, a new burse will be created for you.

Who do I contact to contribute to or establish a burse fund?

To contribute or establish a burse, send funds to Pastoral Center, Attn: Seminarian Burse, P. O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395 or call Jeremy Becker, Director of Stewardship and Development, at 985-850-3155 for more information.

Completed Burses of $15,000 each

Note: those wtih a number stipulates the number of completed burses* - Anonymous - Mr. & Mrs. C. Thomas Bienvenu - Harry Booker - Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux (3)* - Rev. Adrian J. Caillouet - Rev. James Louis Caillouet - Bishop L. Abel Caillouet - Judge/Mrs L. P. Caillouet - Msgr. Lucien J. Caillouet - Abdon J. & Ada B. Callais - Harold & Gloria Callais Family - Paul A. Callais - Peter W. Callais - Vincent & Fannie Cannata - Minor Sr. & Lou Ella Cheramie - Maude & Edith Daspit - Mr. & Mrs. Caliste Duplantis family (3)* - Clay Sr. & Evelida Duplantis

- C. Remie Duplantis - Marie Elise Duplantis - Warren J. Harang, Jr. - Msgr. Raphael C. Labit - Msgr. Francis J. Legendre - Rev. Charles Menard - Dr. & Mrs. M.V. Marmande & Fly - Donald Peltier, Sr. (3)* - Harvey Peltier (30)* - Richard Peltier - The Peltier Foundation (2) - Orleans & Louella Pitre - Msgr. Joseph Wester - Robert R. Wright, Jr. - Rev. Kermit Trahan - St. Bernadette Men’s Club - Diocesan K of C - Endowment Fund - $119,136.90

June 2014 Burse Contributions Mrs. Ayers A. Champagne .............................. $2,900.00 Rev. Guy Zeringue .......................................... $1,000.00 Ruby Pierce ....................................................... $800.00 Catholic Daughters ............................................ $100.00 Mr. Eledier Broussard ........................................ $100.00 Joseph “Jay” Fertitta .......................................... $100.00 Elie & Dot Klingman ........................................... $40.00 Rev. Henry Naquin .............................................. $30.00

Open Burses with Balance as of 6/30/14 Mr. Eledier Broussard ................. $14,200.00 Sidney J. & Lydie C. Duplantis ........... $13,000.00 Donald Peltier, Sr. #4 ............................ $13,000.00 Msgr. Raphael C. Labit #2 .................. $10,960.00 Harvey Peltier #31 .............................. $10,486.91 Clay Sr. & Evelida Duplantis #2 .......... $10,000.00 C. Remie Duplantis #2 ........................ $10,000.00 Marie Elise Duplantis #2 ..................... $10,000.00 Maude & Edith Daspit #2 .................... $10,000.00 Msgr. George A. Landry ...................... $10,000.00 Elie & Dot Klingman .............................. $8,400.00 Mr. & Mrs. George C. Fakier ................. $7,700.00 Rev. Victor Toth ..................................... $7,000.00 Brides of the Most Blessed Trinity ......... $5,935.00 Rev. Peter Nies ..................................... $5,810.00 Mr. & Mrs. Love W. Pellegrin ................. $5,000.00 Anonymous #2 ...................................... $5,000.00 Mr. & Mrs. Caliste Duplantis Fmly.#4..... $5,000.00 Rev. William M. Fleming ........................ $5,000.00 Mrs. Ayres A. Champagne ..................... $5,000.00 Rev. Kasimir Chmielewski ..................... $4,839.00 Rev. Gerard Hayes ................................ $4,786.00 Msgr. William Koninkx ........................... $4,700.00 Rev. Henry Naquin ................................. $4,251.00 Harry Booker #2 .................................... $4,138.00

Catholic Daughters ................................ $4,080.00 Mrs. Shirley Conrad ............................... $4,000.00 Joseph “Jay” Fertitta .............................. $3,900.00 Kelly Curole Frazier ............................... $3,610.96 J. R. Occhipinti ...................................... $3,400.00 Rev. Guy Zeringue ................................ $3,200.00 Msgr. James Songy ............................... $3,075.00 Mr. & Mrs. Galip Jacobs ........................ $3,060.00 St. Jude ................................................. $3,000.00 Diocesan K of C #2 ............................... $2,894.62 Rev. Peter H. Brewerton ........................ $2,600.00 Anawin Community ............................... $2,300.00 Willie & Emelda St. Pierre ...................... $2,000.00 Rev. H. C. Paul Daigle ........................... $1,900.00 Warren J. Harang, Jr. #2 ......................... $1,700.00 James J. Buquet, Jr. ............................... $1,650.00 Msgr. Francis J. Legendre #2 ................ $1,645.00 Rev. Robert J. Sevigny .......................... $1,600.00 Msgr. Emile J. Fossier ........................... $1,545.00 Dr. William Barlette, Sr........................... $1,525.00 Msgr. Stanislaus Manikowski ................ $1,525.00 Mr. & Mrs. John Marmande .................... $1,500.00 Deacon Robert Dusse’ ........................... $1,450.00 Msgr. John L. Newfield .......................... $1,200.00 Rev. Hubert C. Broussard ...................... $1,050.00

Rev. Clemens Schneider ....................... $1,000.00 St. Joseph Italian Society ...................... $1,000.00 Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux #4 ........... $1,000.00 Msgr. John G. Keller .............................. $1,000.00 Rev. Anthony Rousso ............................. $1,000.00 Deacon Willie Orgeron ............................. $800.00 Jacob Marcello .......................................... $800.00 Ruby Pierce .............................................. $800.00 Deacon Roland Dufrene ........................... $750.00 Juliette & Eugene Wallace ......................... $700.00 Deacon Edward J. Blanchard ................... $660.00 Deacon Raymond LeBouef ...................... $550.00 Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Cannata .................... $500.00 Ronnie Haydel .......................................... $485.00 Deacon Harold Kurtz ................................ $300.00 Richard Peltier #2 ..................................... $300.00 Claude Bergeron ...................................... $250.00 Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Naquin .......................... $150.00 Deacon Connely Duplantis ........................ $100.00 Deacon Pedro Pujals ................................ $100.00 Rev. John Gallen ....................................... $100.00 Deacon Eldon Frazier .............................. $ 50.00 Deacon Nick Messina .............................. $ 50.00 Rev. Warren Chassaniol ........................... $ 50.00

Overall Seminarian Burse Totals: $1,450,288.39 www.bayoucatholic.com

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Church Life Guest Columnist Very Rev. Joshua Rodrigue, S.T.L.

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While summer is a season for observing a time of rest and relaxation, these months are also marked with a time for celebrating anniversaries of priesthood ordinations. This past year saw significant anniversaries for a number of our clergy: Bishop Shelton J. Fabre, Father John Arogyasami, and Father Joseph Henry Sebastian celebrating 25 years; Father Pat O’Brien and Father Cesar Silva observing 40 years, and Bishop Sam G. Jacobs marking 25 years of ordination as a bishop and 50 years as a priest.

Together, these priests have 205 years of priestly ministry in the Lord’s fields. Their years of ministry have allowed them to touch the hearts of tens of thousands of people and to lead many souls to the Lord. But there is a priest who has had a tremendous influence on the people and priestly vocations of our diocese and is celebrating nearly 175 years of priesthood.

Père Charles Menard, the Apostle of the Bayous and pastor of St. Joseph in Thibodaux for over 50 years, forever shaped the Catholic faith in our diocese. We are still reaping the fruits of his labors, especially those numerous church parishes he established.

Psalm 110:4 proclaims, “The LORD has sworn and will not waver: ‘You are a priest forever in the manner of Melchizedek.’”

Since a priest never ceases being

a priest, even in eternal life, Father Menard continues to celebrate with his brother priests the joys of priestly service. He knew the importance of celebrating with great joy the jubilee anniversary of a priest.

Recently in the Nicholls State University archives, I discovered a homily given by Father Menard on November 7, 1888, in the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of eight priests of the diocese. Perhaps this can be a fitting tribute to our priests who tirelessly serve their people. As we rejoice with our bishops and priests in celebrating

Père Charles Menard

their years of faithful commitment to guiding our brothers and sisters in the ways of faith, let us allow the words, translated from French, of this venerable and tireless pastor’s homily, to stir up a sense of gratitude toward the priests, deacons and religious working in our diocese. May his words inflame the hearts of our youth to consider a similar life of selfless, joyful service for the people of God. Speech delivered by the Very Rev. Charles Menard, Nov. 7, 1888, in the St. Louis Cathedral, in New Orleans, on the occasion of the Jubilee of eight priests of the diocese.

Sancitficabis annum Quinquagesimum, quia Jubileus est Quinquagesimus annus.

You shall render holy the 50th year because that is the year of the jubilee.

(Leviticus, Ch. 25, V. IC & I1).

Excellency, Dear Confreres, My Brothers: I will admit to you, first of all, that in looking around, I can see that this vast chamber has become too cramped to receive the many numbers of clergy and representatives of Louisiana, Catholic or French. I feel touched and filled with emotion, the fortunate witness of a sight which has never been enjoyed to this extent by a metropolis of the South, I dare say by no other in the United States, in a similar circumstance.

And this solemnity, my brothers, is offered to you by eight priests who have come under the regards of our venerable archbishop to offer together the sacrifice of the new law and their tributes to the God of goodness who brought them to the jubilee of their 25th year of priesthood.

Ah! there it is then, my brothers, a beautiful and touching sight.

But under what form will we summarize our feelings? I say that respect and recognition must dominate everything at the present hour. I have, dear confreres, neither the intention nor the thought of offering you vain praises. My sole purpose is to delight the hearts of the faithful by outlining, in a few words, your priestly virtues in order to seek for us, priests of the Lord, a new pattern of love and trust in our Lord and by drawing additional zeal for his glory and for the sanctification of souls.

First of all, the church approves the feeling, natural to man, which brings him to celebrate the significant anniversaries of his existence. Man is made for eternity; he seems to avoid the mobility of the passing time

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Celebrating priesthood in the present with words from the past Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2014

Our Service Center now has extended hours!

Monday - Friday 8am - 7pm Saturday 9am - 1pm

Church Life

Present and past

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in renewing each year the recollection of the events which have touched him greatly, either through joy or through pain. Do we not see the church, herself, celebrating the anniversaries of deaths with a quite maternal tenderness? But it is for some anniversaries that God seems to want us to consecrate in a special manner. “You shall celebrate the 50th year,” said the Lord to the Hebrew people; “it is the year of holy joy.” However, each man who is given to renew, at the end of 50 years, the memory of the kindness of God must one day offer him a hymn of gratitude which will tell us of the priests who bore for 25 years the joys and pains of a spiritual fatherhood.

Is it not, in fact, a grace great among all graces, and must not the hymn come from their hearts as a hymn of gratitude toward God for this more excellent gift, the priestly gift? This priest, or rather these priests, are here before you, my brothers; they form a crown around the Holy Tabernacle, and soon they will sing the hymn of gratitude.

But, let us go into a few details about the events which concern those who we are celebrating today.

On April 3, 1863, New Orleans, defeated and overwhelmed by the federal army, was waiting with anxiety the fate that awaited the city. All of a sudden, a sailing ship (“The Geneviève”) appeared. It was not loaded with devastating soldiers, but with pacifists coming, as did the shepherd of Nanterre, to console the homeland in prey to the horrors of war. It dropped its 52 Levites here in front of St. Louis Cathedral, some intended for the State of Texas and others for Louisiana.

The new Maccabees had left everything: parents, friends, homeland, welfare... [torn part].

They had not been afraid, although still young, to confront under… [torn part] Msgr. Dubuis who accompanied them, the events of a long and terrible crossing of 58 Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2014

Rev. Arogyasami

Bishop Fabre

Bishop Jacobs

Rev. O’Brien

Rev. Sebastian

Rev. Silva

days, while envisioning treading for the first time, this hospitable land.

They would be able, with reason, to hold on to language; “they are precious the steps of those who come on behalf of the Lord.” They had come to suffer the first ordeals of life. Soon they would join those things no less unpleasant for the preparation to the priesthood.

You know, my brothers, three periods share in the life of the priest: the years of study, the seminary, and, when he has arrived at the fullness of age and experience, the pastoral ministry which God has given him through the hands of his bishop.

However, my brothers, aided by a thought of the Apostle Saint Paul, I can say that, as priests, you belong to everything altogether. Yes, the humble schoolboy, the seminarian who is preparing for the daunting duties of ministry in silence and solitude, the pastor who is aging among you and who falls asleep in the Lord in the midst of families who have lived long in this life. Yes,

everything belongs to you, and you, you belong to Jesus Christ. Omnia vestra sunt, vos autem Christi. And, is it not true, venerable brothers in the priesthood, that advancing in the experience of life we better understand what we learned in college and seminary.

However, the work of the seminary, our future apostles knew it already. They had drawn virtue and knowledge which make a good priest. But, as they placed their feet on the shores of foreign soil, they had yet to acquire new knowledge, those habits of their new homeland of adoption. Also the seminary of Bouligny, headed by the worthy children of St. Vincent de Paul, received with attentiveness the aspirants to the priesthood who soon, under a wise administration, became the zealous priests and instructors that we celebrate on this day.

A few months ensued, therefore, for you dear, good confreres in this refuge removed from the noise of the world. Finally Archbishop

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Church Life

Present and past

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Odin of holy and venerable memory who, after having chosen you mostly from France, the classical land of missionaries, appealed for you to be his dear collaborators.

And, here, my brothers, permit me to digress a little in quoting to you some words spoken recently in a feast similar to that of this day, words spoken by Bishop Ireland, Bishop of St. Paul, Minnesota: “Yes France,” he says, “is really the mother of missionaries.” See the first pioneers of the holy word who have carried the torch of faith in this vast country of America. These were, among others, Jugues, Daniel, Allouez, Marquette, and those who are no longer present to the spirit of these holy Apostles; Cheverus, Flaget, Dubois, Bruté and Loras, to the… [torn part] adding justly, Blanc and the Odin, who have… [torn part] of their sweat in the field of the family father’s faith and have spread the precious seed of the Christian spirit.” But, let us return to our subject. Archbishop Odin called you, dear confreres, to be his collaborators. It was on Nov. 4, 1863, a day forever memorable, that his hand rested on you and consecrated you priests of the Lord. And you, you have offered to God the sacrifice of your life to this country of Louisiana which is all the more dear to you, for it represents you by her faith and piety, your absent homeland.

You were 10 then, surrounding the altar of sacrifice. Two, after having worked in the vineyard of the Lord, succumbed and received, we hope, the crown promised to the good and faithful servant. But, immortal graces be rendered to God, your phalanx has not been too decimated if we compare it to those who accompanied you and to those who have preceded you in the holy ministry. You have, however, faced disastrous epidemics, experienced dangers, and worked with zeal and energy under a climate often murderous for foreigners. Your zeal has not been unsuccessful among our dear populations of the Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2014

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

towns and countryside. Some of you have given your care to youth by erecting flourishing schools; others have erected churches; some, even, have aspired to the higher offices in the religious order and diocesan administration. Finally, all of you have been good servants by contributing your zeal, your piety, and your knowledge to extend the reign of Jesus Christ. Ah! You have been blessed by God and by souls whom you have evangelized!

Presented here is a reflection to our spirit. A good number of priests stop sadly: some at the beginning of their careers, others in the middle, and those sighing with the hapless Jonathan: gustans gustavi paululm melis and ecce moriens: (I only tasted a little honey from the end of the staff I was holding and behold I am dying). There were also those who repeated with King Hezekiah this song full of melancholy: su medio dierum meorum vadam ad portas inferni: (I am only in the middle of my days, and I descend into the tomb.) They are quite rare, in fact those who reach their silver wedding banquet.

My dear confreres, you are the

number of these who are privileged, the valiant for which old age comes earlier than the white hairs.

We salute you, therefore, at this passage, and we say to you from all hearts, admitting you in our small numbered ranks: ad multus annos [to many years].

But Christians, by what expressions and under what form will we finally summarize our sentiments? Oh! It seems to me that you will not disown me if I repeat as the leader that respect and the recognition must animate all on this day.

The first is respect. In fact, what is a priest? He is the man of God: homo Dei. Is it not of God alone that priests come to him by their august titles, their merits, and his sacred character? Do their powers present something divine? And, whether he offers the holy sacrifice, or administers the sacraments, does he not produce the things that God alone is able to accomplish? Is this not still by the hands of the priest that God loves to lead us, to bless us, to sanctify us? Let us say that the mission of the priest is that of God.

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There it is, my brothers, the feelings that you must feel at this time; there is also the tribute that you have come to offer your pastors in this jubilee celebration of their promotion to the priesthood. But to their veneration we join in recognizing the Man of God, the priest is also the man of the people, whose teaching perpetuates on the earth, for the happiness of each of us, the work of reparation undertaken by the Son of God. Such is the mission of the priest; and of all the offices he exercises, is he not at the point where he would have for his objective doing the good?

If he offers the sacrifice of the Mass, is it not for us to apply the merits and pay the debt of our atonements? If he guides the consciences and receives the sins, is it not to render us pure in the eyes of the Sovereign Judge and to have us arrive at the heavenly rewards?

If he announces the Holy Word, if he takes back, if he corrects, is it not to divert us from the bad ways and to protect us from the abyss where they lead? There is no need for which the priest did not have some aid. To your intelligence, he is the light; to your heart, he is a guide; to your trouble, he is a consolation.

Your bodily miseries, themselves, find in him more powerful relief.

Behold well the priest as has been done on his holy ordination, behold well the priest, my brothers, as you have seen in the worthy clergymen that we are celebrating. Yes, your first benefactor is your pastor, and the recognition must not be a vain word on the face of the earth.

Where else do you think there is someone who deserves a more just qualification of your feelings of

gratitude?

And your presence here expresses, rather than thought that motivates you.

Now, dear confreres, after having taken a quick glance at the deeds that have been done by you for a quarter of a century, ah! go up again to the altar of the God who has welcomed your youthfulness.

Resume the celebration of the holy mysteries, a suspended moment. In the desert of the present life, where a lily flourished for you on this day,

‘

You have been blessed

by God and by souls whom you have evangelized

,

Père Charles Menard

it is good to approach the stone of Horeb. The stone is Jesus Christ; strike here anew, and the living water will gush out. It is not you who can doubt, O men of God, who each morning for 25 years drew abundance at the fountains of the Savior, justice, piety, faith, charity, the joy of hopes eternal. And, while the inexhaustible spring will flow under our eyes for you, they will escape from our heart with our prayers, ardent wishes that will take form for you. We will ask God

that he keep you many long days in our midst and that you continue to be blessed by him who has favored you and your works.

But, at the same time, we ask that you return thanks to God, the author of any gift, for the long career that he had arranged for you, that you do not forget you parishes in your prayers, which today are so proud of and so happy for their shepherds, and that you pray for this countless crowd, gathered together within these confines who accompany you with all their greetings. Pray also for fellow priests, your friends, your brothers in the priesthood. Finally, pray for the first shepherd of this vast diocese, who has deigned to come to enhance by his presence the solemnity of this day. We pray that the hand of God direct him and lighten the heavy burden that has been imposed on him, the one to lead us all, shepherds and sheep, in the way of eternal blessedness.

So be it.

While this homily was given 125 years ago, its truths concerning the priesthood are timeless. Père Menard’s continued intercession for 67 the people of the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux reminds us that even in death he and all our priests who have gone before us to eternal life, still care for the Lord’s flock, which they hold so dear to their hearts.

Through their intercession, we pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life so that the people of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux may never be left without shepherds who provide for us the opportunity to participate in the great sacramental life of the church.

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Religious Education

Adult Faith Formation

program for catechists, Catholic school teachers and all parishioners in the diocese Guest Columnist

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Dr. Faith Ann Spinella

To be a Christian means that we belong to the church thus our identity as a Christian is belonging! Our entrance into the church began with our parents who brought us to Mass and who spoke for us at our baptism.

We have continued to grow and mature in the church as we have become active members and the idea of church has become paramount in our lives.

Many tools are at our disposal to aid us in our journey of faith.

One tool that is helpful in our diocese is the Faith Formation program entrusted to the Office of Religious Education. It is important for us to remember that the Bishops of the United States have called the church to a “renewed commitment to adult faith formation, positioning it at the heart of our catechetical vision and practice. In order to respond to the bishops of our church and to the God who leads all Catholics to new life, we wish to make our faith known to all adult Catholics.

One way that we can achieve this call is to educate ourselves in the faith. It is not sufficient that we attended Catholic school as a small child, or that we attended religious education in our church parish when we were young, rather we must grow with our faith and continue learning as an adult, not just as a child or

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2014

teenager.

Catholics in the pews who might wonder whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in on-going faith formation might consider the words stated in the instrumentum laboris, the working document used by the Synod of Bishops when they met in Rome in October 2008 which stated, “An attentive listening to the Word is fundamental to a personal encounter with God.” However, only in listening and a personal encounter with God can “the Word take hold of and convert a person, making that person discover its riches and secrets, widening horizons and promising freedom and full human development.”

The Office of Religious Education will again provide an opportunity for all people to increase their knowledge of various aspects of our faith. The Adult Faith Formation program which is divided into two sections Faith Enrichment Level (see the chart for course titles, dates and presenters) and the Proclaiming and Living Our Faith Level offers a wealth of information. The program for basic formation will begin Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, from 6 to 8:15 p.m. with a presentation entitled Graceful Catechesis: The Call and the Challenge by a national speaker, writer and catechist, Kathy Hendricks. This session is free for all who wish to attend and promises to be an excellent opportunity for all regardless of their ministry or participation in the church or in religious education.

We believe that this diocesan Adult Faith Formation program meets the needs of the laity to grow in knowledge and in faith. Over the years this program has proven to provide something for everyone.

The total Faith Enrichment Level comprises 15 sessions of special

topics that will be addressed. The sessions and presenters provide outstanding teachings with inspiring information from which all will receive great benefit. The Faith Enrichment Level offers a comprehensive introduction to the Catholic faith, as well as effective catechesis. Participation in the Faith Enrichment Level is only $50 per year for the 15 sessions and the cost of books. The upper-level costs $20 for a five or six session course and $10 for a three-session course, and the cost of books.

All levels will be offered at the diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall from 6–8:15 p.m. with the exception of the Morality course which begins a half hour later and therefore ends later. Besides providing effective formation for all Catholics, the Faith Enrichment Level is the entry level certification program for directors of religious education (DRE’s), coordinators of religious education (CRE’s), catechists, lay ministers, Catholic school teachers, church office workers and individuals who wish to grow in their faith and those who are beginning the faith journey as Catholics. Certification is available for catechists, but everyone is encouraged to attend whether they wish to receive catechist certification or not.

Those who completed the Faith Enrichment Level in previous years are encouraged to come join us for the upper level of the Adult Faith Formation program, Proclaiming and Living Our Faith. This level allows participants an opportunity to dive deeper into the mysteries and truths of our rich Catholic faith. See the description of each course below with course titles, dates and presenters.

Fall 2014 n Morality and will be taught by Very Rev. Josh Rodrigue,

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The following sessions and presenters on the given dates provide outstanding teachings with inspiring information from which all will receive great benefit. The Faith Enrichment Level (below) offers a comprehensive introduction to the Catholic faith, as well as effective catechesis.

Date Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Nov. 6 Nov. 20 Jan. 8, 2015 Jan. 22 Feb. 5 March 12 March 19 March 26 April 16

Speaker Topic Kathy Hendricks Grace-ful Catechesis: The Call and the Challenge Father Simon Peter Engurait The Call to Holiness Father Simon Peter Engurait Revelation, Tradition and Magisterium Katie Austin God and the Human Person Deacon John Pippenger The Old Testament Deacon John Pippenger Jesus in the Gospels Father Jules Brunet The Trinity Father Robert Rogers Baptism and Confirmation Father Robert Rogers Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick Father Robert Rogers Matrimony and Holy Orders Father Jules Brunet The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Church Deacon Vic Bonnaffee Freedom, Law, and the Beatitudes Deacon Vic Bonnaffee The Commandments 1-3 Deacon Vic Bonnaffee The Commandments 4-10 Distribution of Certificates and Prayer Service

pastor of the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales. This course on morality is scheduled for Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27 and Sept. 3 and 10.

This course will focus on the Christian application of basic ethical norms and values.

The treatment of the Ten Commandments, as given in Part III of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, will serve as a basis for understanding Catholic morality as a lived reality. Through lecture, discussion, assigned readings and reflection, this course will examine from a Christological point of view biblical morality along with contemporary moral issues in order to aid in the formation of Christians who desire to live a life of moral virtue at the service of love while striving toward ultimate perfection so that they are able to assist others in their life’s journey. n Fundamental Theology will be taught by Katie Austin, who works at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette and received her master’s degree from Notre Dame Seminary.

The course will be taught on Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29 and Nov. 5 and 12.

Fundamental Theology examines the study of theology and its sources: Scripture and Tradition. Students explore the role of philosophy in theology, man’s capacity and desire for God, and ways of coming to know

God. Through this course students will study the church’s teaching on Scripture: the formation of the canon, the concepts of inspiration and inerrancy, and the senses of Scripture. Students will gain an understanding of sacred Tradition, the role of the Magisterium, and an introduction of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

2015 n Church History will be taught

by Father Danny Poche, who is recently retired from full time ministry. The dates for this course are Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28 and Feb. 4.

This course covers the history of the church beginning with the life of Christ through the election of Pope Francis. This concise study of the church looks at her triumphs over paganism, the making and unmaking of Christendom, and the church under siege at different points in history. n Catholic Social Teaching, a three session course, will be taught

by Rob Gorman, executive director of Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. The sessions will be held March 11, 25 and April 15.

This course examines the seven key themes of Catholic Social Teaching: life and dignity of the human person; call to family, community, and participation;

rights and responsibilities; option for the poor and vulnerable; the dignity of work and the rights of workers; solidarity; and care for God’s creation. Through lecture 69 and discussion students gain a deeper appreciation for the social teachings of the church as well as practical application in their communities.

All are welcome to attend these Adult Faith Formation classes during 2014-2015. The courses need not be taken in any particular order; however, if a person is seeking catechist certification the first level entitled Faith Enrichment should be completed first.

Registrations are being accepted now for all courses and all registrations should be received by us at least a week prior to the beginning of a course. Registration forms can be obtained by calling the Office of Religious Education at (985) 850-3144 and speaking to Margaret Vargas, administrative assistant; or Dr. Faith Ann Spinella, director; by contacting your parish director of religious education, or by going to the diocesan website at www.htdiocese.org and clicking on Formation Ministries, then Religious Education and follow the links for Adult Faith Formation.

We look forward to seeing many of you in this year’s courses. www.bayoucatholic.com

Entertainment

Seeing Clairely Claire Joller

At random

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The song from Porgy and Bess that begins with the languid “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy…..” captures for me the essence and pace of August in coastal Louisiana.

August is a catch-as-catchcan month, when summer’s lazy zenith prompts daydreaming instead of introspection or analysis. My concentration ebbs around this time every year, and my thoughts are more scattered than focused.

Why, I wonder idly, do I often call my daughter Lorna by my sister Charlette’s name, and vice versa? They have both become so accustomed to this quirk that they understand when I correct myself, “I mean the other Lorna,” or “the other Charlette.” And since they love each other, they don’t object.

The two are 20 years apart in age, do not resemble each other, and one is my daughter, for goodness’ sake. I can’t blame age-related absent-mindedness for this, because it all started long ago, when Lorna became a teenager. It’s just too much trouble at this juncture to plumb the depths of my psyche that causes this mis-speak.

My thoughts turn to something a local friend said to me last week. “I’m a creature of place, and I miss my hometown of New Orleans.” That statement made me think about my own sense of place and identity.

Living in the bayou country of Louisiana and born of generations before who lived here has given me a sense of belonging that can come only from firm entrenchment here. It is a rare transplant who can develop such a sense of place.

Luckily for me, my easygoing husband is one of them.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2014

I can commiserate with that friend, who still feels that she belongs in and to the Crescent City.

My mind wanders to a video that news outlets are making much of today. The incident in a South Dakota Wal-Mart, taken by a man who was in line at a check-out register, shows a young woman apparently struggling to come up with enough money to buy the diapers she had placed on the counter.

An older woman at the same register who was ready to wheel out her paid-for purchases bent over her own full cart, pulled out her purse, and inconspicuously paid for the diapers. She simply patted the younger woman’s back and went on her way, not calling attention to herself.

The man who posted the act of kindness did so because he was so touched by the older woman’s humanity.

Which makes me wonder, when did such everyday courtesies, which we’ve all witnessed, become so rare

that the national news considers it rather extraordinary?

A quick swerve of thought takes me to the book about writing I spent time with yesterday. Some of my favorite pages were those devoted to authors’ methods and idiosyncrasies.

Carl Sandburg walked 20 miles a day. Charles Dickens walked 20-30 miles per day.

Mark Twain, Truman Capote and Voltaire wrote lying down.

Edith Sitwell did them one better; she lay in an open coffin.

Amy Lowell and George Sand smoked cigars.

Ernest Hemingway, Thomas Wolfe, Virginia Woolf and Lewis Carroll wrote standing up.

Victor Hugo and Benjamin Franklin wrote in the nude.

T.S. Eliot liked to write when he had a head cold.

As a child, Louisa May Alcott sat in the walnut tree in front of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s house at midnight and sang to the moon.

Set Over 250,000 Fractured Limbs

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Even over 60 years, that’s a lot of autographed casts.

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It’s a true calling for all the doctors, nurses, and staff that are proud to call this area home. Visit TGMC.com.

7/8/14 12:16 PM www.bayoucatholic.com

Church Alive

Vacation Bible Schools

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Christ the Redeemer Church parish in Thibodaux and St. Charles Borromeo Church parish in the St. Charles Community were two of the many church parishes in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux to offer Vacation Bible Schools for the youth this summer. Activities during the week-long camp included arts and crafts, skits, as well as lessons from famous Bible stories. In the bottom left photo, Christ the Redeemer campers are practicing songs for the final day’s presentation to parents and grandparents. In the St. Charles Community the youth painted statutes of the Blessed Mother which were given to shut-ins of the parish.

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2014

…will Support Local Parish Needs

…will create An Endowment Fund for Seminarian Support

…will create An Endowment Fund for Catholic Charities

V Online Safe Environment Training Still can Access: Diocesan Calendar Specific office information extensive Catholic Charities information Bishop’s articles & videos

V Videos from Food for the Journey programs available V Conference registrations available

www.catholicfoundationsl.org (985) 850-3116

DofH-T_Newsletter Ad_0813.indd 1

8/15/2013 6:00:29 PM

Latest Videos

V Online links to Catholic News Service and Vatican YouTube for national and international news

Spiritual resources Online contributions (ABA, Disaster Relief) Updated parish information with times for Mass and other liturgical services and parish personnel

Bayou

Catholic

Past Ordinations Daily Scripture Other Resources

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

w w w. h t d i o c e s e . o r g www.bayoucatholic.com

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AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

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n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, Sept. 2, Quality Hotel, Houma, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Speaker, Rev. Joseph Tregre. n Morality, Wednesday, Sept.

3, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6:30-8:45 p.m.

Speaker, Very Rev. Josh Rodrigue, S.T.L. n Man of God Gathering, Tuesday, Sept. 9, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall.

Meal served at 6 p.m.; events begin at 6:30 p.m. Free event; all men over 18 years of age are invited.

OCTOBER n Red Mass, Thursday, Oct. 2, St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, 11:30 a.m. n God and the Human Person, Thursday, Oct. 2, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Ms. Katie Austin. n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, Oct. 7, Quality Hotel, Houma, 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Speaker, Very Rev. Joshua Rodrigue, S.T.L. n Fundamental Theology, Wednesdays, Oct. 8, 15, 22 and 29, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m.

Speaker, Ms. Katie Austin

Ballroom, Houma, 6 p.m. Visit www.htconferences.org for online registration. Everyone must preregister by Friday, Aug. 8; seating is limited. If registered by Friday, Aug. 1, names will be entered into drawing for free room at Marriott for Date Night. Cost is $75 per couple for dinner and dancing (Room packages available online) Full service dinner includes appetizer, salad, main course and dessert. n Feeding from the Hand of the Shepherd: Spiritual Nourishment

from Pope Francis Retreat, Saturday, Aug. 16-17, Lumen Christi Retreat Center, 8 a.m., concluding with Mass on Sunday at 10:45 a.m. n RCIA Workshop, Saturday, Aug. 23, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 8 a.m.1 p.m. Focus is Evangelizing Parish: Getting the vision, sharing the passion. Presenter, Jim Schellman. Cost is $15 per person. Call (985)850-3157 to register.

n Grace-full Catechesis: The Call and the Challenge, Thursday, Sept. 11, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6:30-8:45 p.m.

Speaker, Mrs. Kathy Hendricks. n The Call to Holiness, Thursday, Sept. 18, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6:30-8:45 p.m. Speaker, Rev. Simon Peter Engurait. n Adore, Wednesday, Sept.

24, Houma Municipal Auditorium, 7 p.m. n Revelation, Tradition and Magisterium, Thursday, Sept.

25, diocesan Pastoral Center

Conference Hall, 6:30-8:45 p.m. Speaker, Rev. Simon Peter Engurait. n Blue Mass, Thursday, Sept.

25, St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, 11 a.m. n Healing and Hope retreat with Immaculee Ilibagiza, Sept. 26-27, Maria Immacolata Church. Doors open at 4 p.m. Retreat concludes Saturday at 2:30 p.m. For more information contact Dot Vice at (985)855-2228 or (985)6280752, by email at dotsvice@att. net, or visit www.Immaculee.com.

n Women of God Gathering, Tuesday, Oct. 14, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall.

Meal served at 6 p.m.; events begin at 6:30 p.m. Free event, all women over 18 years of age are invited. n The Old Testament, Thursday, Oct. 16, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m.

Speaker, Deacon John Pippenger. n Jesus in the Gospels, Thursday, Oct. 23, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Deacon John Pippenger. n Catholic Charities will be taking applications for its

annual Christmas Toy Drive for residents of Terrebonne Parish, Oct. 20-24, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at St. Bernadette KC Hall, 5522 West Main Street. Terrebonne Parish residents on the Food Stamp program who find themselves financially strapped this holiday season are encouraged to apply.

Items needed to register are: Food Stamp printout, child support printout, proof of birthdates for all children, check stubs and proof of all monthly household expenses. n Adore, Wednesday, Oct. 29, Houma Municipal Auditorium, 7 p.m.

DIOCESAN

n Morality, Wednesdays, Aug. 6, 13, 20 and 27, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6:30-8:45 p.m. Speaker, Very Rev. Joshua Rodrigue, S.T.L. n Acadian Mass, Friday, Aug. 15, St. Hilary of Poitiers, Mathews, 6 p.m. Mass will be celebrated in French on the Solemnity of the Assumption, the patronal feast of the Acadian people. n Married Couple’s Date Night with “The Groove,” Saturday, Aug. 16, Courtyard Marriott

www.bayoucatholic@htdiocese.org

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2014

EVENTS

Saints

ADVANCED EYE INSTITUTE GROWS AGAIN!

Hippolytus circa 170 - circa 235 feast - August 13

Google, public domain

A theologian and martyr who died of ill treatment in the quarries of Sardinia, Hippolytus was an important Christian in third-century Rome. In his writings, he attacked several popes for their doctrinal teaching and lax discipline. Followers set him up to rival Pope Callistus I, making him the first antipope. Banished to Sardinia during a Roman persecution, this cleric was there reconciled to the church and to another exile, Pope Pontian, with whom he shares this feast. He wrote in Greek and may have been from the East. His work “The Apostolic Tradition” preserved details about Christian life and customs in the early church. Visiting Rome around 212, Origen, a famous Christian teacher and writer, went to hear Hippolytus preach.

Saints

Advanced Eye Institute has grown again with the addition of full-time ophthalmologist

Richard Arceneaux, MD.

Bernard

1090 - 1153 feast - August 20

Google, public domain

Known as Bernard of Clairvaux, this French abbot and doctor of the church is considered the second founder of the Cistercians. He entered the relatively new monastery at Citeaux in 1113 with four of his own brothers and 27 friends, and later founded the monastery at Clairvaux, which gave birth to 68 other communities. Despite poor health and his devotion to personal mortification, Bernard was an early Western European rock star: He was consulted by popes and kings, battled heresies, and supported the Second Crusade. The sick and maimed lined the roads he traveled, hoping for a miracle.

Dante chose Bernard as his final guide in “Paradiso,” at the end of “The Divine Comedy.” He is the patron of Gibraltar.

Saints

Richard Apt, MD • Richard Arceneaux, MD Satish Arora, MD • Darby Chaisson, OD H. Spraque Eustis, MD • Quentin D. Falgoust, MD Edward Langlow, MD • Edward Stahel, MD

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Joseph Calasanz 1556 - 1648 feast - August 25

Google, public domain

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This Spaniard studied law at the University of Lerida and was ordained a priest in 1583, despite his father’s hope that he would be a soldier. He became vicar general of a Spanish diocese, but in 1592 left for Rome, where he joined the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine and worked with neglected children. In 1597 he established the first free school in Rome with three other priests. This work led him to found the Clerks Regular of the Religious (or Pious) Schools, known as Piarists. He overcame internal and external opposition and served as superior general of the order. He was canonized in 1767, and in 1948 Pope Pius XII named him the patron saint of Christian schools.

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Special Events

Food for the Journey Sept. 2

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The diocesan Office of Religious Education sponsors a monthly lunchtime speaker series on the first Tuesday of the month at the Quality Hotel on Hollywood Road in Houma across from Vandebilt Catholic High School.

The speaker for September 2 is Houma native Father Joseph “Joey” Tregre.

Father Tregre, administrator of St. Joseph Church parish in Galliano since July 2014, is a graduate of Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma. He attended St. Joseph Seminary in St. Benedict and Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, and was ordained to the priesthood May 26, 2012.

Father Tregre served as associate pastor at Annunziata Church parish in Houma from June 2012 until June 2014.

Those who plan to attend the September 2nd event should RSVP with their name, phone number and church parish by Thursday, August 28. To RSVP, email FoodForTheJourney@htdiocese.org or call (985) 850-3178.

Doors open at 10:45 a.m. Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. The program begins at Noon with the speaker’s presentation from 12:10-12:45 p.m.

Cost is $13 and includes meal, drink and tip. Only cash or checks will be accepted.

All are invited to come “eat and be fed.”

Rev. Joseph Tregre Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2014

Rev. Doan

Rev. Jambon

Rev. Nguyen

Pastor, chaplain, associate appointed Three pastoral appointments have been announced by Bishop Shelton J. Fabre, effective immediately.

The Rev. Basil T. Doan, C.M.C., who has been serving as pastor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church parish in El Dorado Springs, MO, since 2008, has been appointed pastor of Thanh Gia Church parish in Amelia, for a period of two years.

Father Doan is a native of Dalat, Vietnam. He was ordained May 30, 1999.

The Rev. Jeffrey Jambon, who has been serving as administrator of St. Patrick Church parish in St. Joseph, MO, since 2013, has

been appointed chaplain of the Dominican Contemplative Sisters at the Monastery of the Heart of Jesus in Lockport, for a period of two years. Father Jambon is a native of New Orleans, LA. He was ordained December 22, 2001.

The Rev. James Thien Nguyen, C.M.C., who has been serving as an associate pastor of a Church parish in Vietnam since 2011, has been appointed associate pastor of Thanh Gia Church parish in Amelia, for a period of two years.

Father Van Nguyen is a native of Playou, Kontum, Vietnam. He was ordained June 24, 2008.

Anniversary couples to be honored Anniversary couples in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux celebrating 25, 40, 50, 60 and beyond years of marriage this year will be honored Sunday, October 19. There will be a prayer service at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux followed by a reception in the Life Center.

Couples wishing to participate in this program should contact their church parish before August 25 to register. All registered anniversary couples will receive an inscribed diocesan certificate in their own church parish during a scheduled parish celebration.

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Catechists receive certification

Twenty-three catechists from across the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux received either basic or master catechist certification recently during a prayer service at the Pastoral Center in Schriever. Bishop Shelton J. Fabre presented the certification certificates to those in attendance. Master catechists in photo above are Greg Terrebonne, Carroll Kraemer and Nicholas LaRocca.

Those receiving basic certification in bottom photo are front row from left Ashley Alcazar, Phia Kreamer, Celeste Matherne, Meagan Hebert, Stephanie Chiasson, Debbie Terry, Linda Baudoin, Mary Bergeron, and Reagan Roberthon. Back row from left, Margaret Vargas, administrative assistant for the diocesan Office of Religious Education; Sara Boudreaux, Meghan Scott, Sharon Vazquez, Monica Liner, Teddy Neil, Bishop Fabre, Nathan Meidinger, Bobby Charpentier, Caroline Bourgeois and Dr. Faith Ann Spinella, diocesan director of the Office of Religious Education. Not pictured are Ann Barker, Aimee Champagne and Leneni Krioua.

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Rev. Glenn LeCompte, S.T.L., will direct the retreat, which is intended to help retreatants reflect upon the refreshing and challenging message Pope Francis has communicated to the world

in the past year, that we might embrace our faith with renewed love and devotion.

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Our Organizations

Confraternity

Our Lady Star of the Sea has 125 local members Story by Janet Marcel Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier

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Forty-one years ago in the spring of 1973, a group of locals in the Morgan City area who had been meeting weekly in neighborhood homes to pray the rosary for three years, came to together to invoke fervent appeals to God through the intercession of Our Lady Star of the Sea after massive rains caused the Mississippi River to reach its highest level in more than 150 years resulting in historic flooding in Morgan City.

“A lot of people were saying that it was our prayers and devotion to the Blessed Mother that saved the city,” says Carol Ackerman, one of only two original members of the group who serves as coordinator for what is now the Confraternity of Our Lady Star of the Sea in Morgan City which has over 125 members.

Membership extends throughout the United States and to many parts of the world including Australia, Canada, the Philippines, India, Finland, Nigeria, Africa and Ghana, says Ackerman.

“After the flood, we talked about having something spiritual to represent our devotion to Mary, so the rosary group decided to have a life size statue of Our Lady Star of the Sea carved from Carrera marble. Artist Salvi Giorgio of Carrera, Italy, was commissioned to carve the statue, which took about five and a half months to complete. A side of beef donated by local grocery store owner Leo Streva was raffled off to raise money for the statue which cost about $3,000.

The mayor of Morgan City at the time, C.R. Brownell, gave his full support to the project and helped in many ways in assisting the group with

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Carol Ackerman at left and Roberta Justillian, the last two original members of the Our Lady Star of the Sea Confraternity in Morgan City, stand next to the statue of Our Lady Star of the Sea which was erected on Brashear Avenue in Morgan City July 27, 1975.

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the state highway right of way, says Ackerman. The One of the main purposes of the Confraternity is to statue of Our Lady Star of the Sea was erected on increase greater dedication to Mary under the title of Brashear Ave. in Morgan City July 27, 1975. The Our Lady Star of the Sea, says Ackerman. late Archbishop Philip M. Hannan of New Orleans Each year in the spring, the group along with many dedicated the statue and placed the entire area under others in the community, join in prayer for nine days the protection of Our Lady Star of the Sea. to petition Our Lady for her protection during the On May 17, 1978, Bishop Boudreaux gave his coming hurricane and flood season. The group meets permission to strike and distribute a medal in honor every day in May to pray to the Blessed Mother and of Our Lady Star of the Sea. This was another step during the month of October they pray the rosary in furthering the efforts to promote every day in front of the grotto. Many dedication to Our Lady, says of the members also attend first Ackerman.

Saturday Mass and pray the rosary One of the main On the Feast of the Queenship afterwards. Beginning November 30 a of Mary, Aug. 22, 1979, (the late) novena of thanksgiving is prayed for purposes of The Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux, nine days ending on December 8, the officially named the rosary group, Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Confraternity is to “The Confraternity of Our Lady According to Ackerman, the increase greater Star of the Sea.” A confraternity is Confraternity is currently working defined as a Catholic or Orthodox on a project with the Apostleship dedication to Mary organization of lay people created of the Sea of the United States of for the purpose of promoting special America to have a four and a half foot works of Christian charity or piety, rondel marble relief carved in Italy and approved by the church hierarchy. and placed above the Cardinal’s door in the East The decree was made public Sept. 8, 1979, and Pope Narthex at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the John Paul II officially gave his apostolic blessing upon Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. The all members of the Confraternity. relief portrays Mary calming the troubled sea, with Of her over 40 year involvement with the the North Star above her head. organization, Ackerman says, “All my life I’ve always Father Gregory Fratt serves as spiritual director had a special devotion to Mary. Even all the way back of the organization, which is open to all practicing to my childhood, I guess my mother had a devotion to Catholics who are willing to follow the constitution the Blessed Mother and it just rubbed off on me.” outlined in the membership program.

) )

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Church Life

Guest Columnist

O 80

Father Michael Bergeron

Of all the ethnic groups, the strongest influence on the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux has been the Cajuns. Being a Cajun means being a Catholic.

You cannot separate the two.

As a culture, Catholicism is the reason Acadians settled in South Louisiana. In 1710, when Britain took over their colony of Acadia from the French and demanded allegiance to the Protestant King of England, their shout was, “Better for us to obey God than men!” Exiled and settled in bayous of South Louisiana, the Cajun culture grew. Intermarrying with other cultures including people coming directly from France, until 1916, the Cajun culture maintained its traditions and customs.

The Patron Saint of Cajuns is “Our Lady of the Assumption.”

On her feast day of August 15, Cajuns celebrate their culture.

The Blessed Mother is on the Cajun flag The Cajun flag was designed by the late Dr. Thomas J. Arceneaux, dean of the College of Agriculture at the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette, 1941-1973. The flag’s official name is “The Louisiana Acadian Flag” but it is commonly referred to as the “Cajun Flag.”

Its colors resemble the Acadian Flag and the French Flag which are the origins of the Cajun people.

To further symbolize the

French origin of the Cajuns, a portion of the arms of their mother country – three fleurs de lis, are in silver on a blue field. Most flags omit the silver color and the fleurs de lis are in white.

The gold star is the official symbol of the Virgin Mary, under the title of “Our Lady of the Assumption.”

This symbol has special religious significance for the Acadians, since they left France for the New World during a period of great devotion to Mary. It was at that time that the King of France, Louis XIII, declared Mary the “Patroness of the Kingdom,” and so on August 15, 1638, France and her colonies were

consecrated to Mary under the title of “Our Lady of the Assumption.”

Our Lady of the Assumption is symbolized by the yellow “St. Stella Maris” or “Star of the Sea” on the Louisiana Cajun Flag as well as the Canadian Acadian Flag. The international Acadian anthem is “Ave Stella Maris.” The mother of Jesus is associated with Polaris or the North Star, most important to the navigation of the Cajuns’ seafaring ancestors.

Then in 1938, Pope Pius XI solemnly proclaimed “Our Lady of the Assumption” as the patroness of all Acadians – those in Canada as well as those in Louisiana and elsewhere.

Shortly after the arrival of the displaced Acadians in Louisiana, the American colonies started their struggle for independence. At that time, Louisiana was a Spanish colony. It is significant to recall the fact that Spain decided to champion the cause of the 13 American colonies in their revolution against the same nation that had so cruelly exiled the Acadians. Thus the gold castle reminds us of our Spanish friends. Many Acadians of Louisiana, serving under Galvez, the governor of Spanish Louisiana, actively participated in the battles of Manchac, Baton Rouge, Mobile and Pensacola – all very important and decisive victories which contributed to the successful conclusion of the American Revolution.

Since the Acadians were citizens of Spain at the time of the American Revolution, their star could not appear on the first American flag. Thus, the gold star on the Louisiana Acadian Flag also serves as a reminder of Louisiana’s participation in the American Revolution and of the significant contributions of Louisiana Acadians during the struggle for the establishment of our nation.

The Assumption is a dogma of faith defined only recently by the church. Pope Pius XII made it

Our Lady of the Assumption, Patron Saint of Cajuns Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2014

a

Acadian Flag

Cajun Flag

French Flag

an infallible statement on Nov. 1, 1950. It was a long tradition of belief in the church and to state it infallibly simply meant that it became an “official” teaching which we believe as Catholics.

The statement declares that after Mary’s “going to sleep,” God raised her body and soul, into the glory of heaven. With her son, she now lives with God forever. Mary’s destiny is a foretaste and promise of our own humanity’s destiny along with hers. Mary is the mother and model

of church for us.

From the cross Jesus gave his Mother to us as our mother. When he said it to John, he said it to us: “Behold, your mother.” We must never forget that. It is the will of Jesus, it is the will of his Father, that we look to Mary and go to Mary in our needs. She was not used by God and then put into a closet like we do a broom after we sweep with it. She is willed by God to help him not only with the beginning of our salvation (through the birth

of Jesus), but also to assist him in carrying it through to the end. Mary at this very moment is working in our world at the bidding of God for the salvation of humanity.

We are her cherished children.

Mary understands our human conditions and intercedes on our behalf. Like any mother, she cares deeply about us. Our Mother’s ear is always open to us in prayer.

Mary was the first Christian. Now she points the way for the rest of us.

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Bayou Spirit

Kateri Mass The annual Native American celebration honoring Saint Kateri Tekakwitha was held recently at Holy Family Church in Grand Caillou.

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre was the main celebrant of the Mass which was concelebrated by priests of the diocese.

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Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2014

Special

New home

Tekakwitha Conference office moves to Louisiana

By Jeannie Petrus After more than a year of searching and planning, the national office of the St. Kateri Tekakwitha Conference has finally opened its doors to its new location at 2225 N. Bolton Ave. in Alexandria, LA. Father Rickey Gremilllion, director of Special Services for the Diocese of Alexandria, which includes Native American ministry, was invited by the conference director, Sister Kateri Mitchell, to bless the facility recently.

“We are delighted to be in our new home, here in Alexandria, Louisiana,” Sister Kateri said at the gathering for the blessing. “There are many people who have been been so kind and gracious in helping us make this move. Most of all, I want to thank Bishop Ronald Herzog, for encouraging us to move here and for making us feel most welcome.”

The Grand Opening of the conference center was held Thursday, March 27.

Originally located in Great Falls, Montana, the Tekakwitha Conference is the voice, presence, and identity of Indigenous Catholics of North America.

Among its many functions, the Conference promotes a devotion to St. Kateri Tekakwitha, promotes and supports strong Kateri Circles, publicizes and promotes resource material for those entering and already in ministry with Native American Catholics, and promotes and encourages inculturation in all liturgies and religious education programs.

One of the largest functions of the conference is to host the annual Tekakwitha Conference in different cities across the United States. The 2014 Tekakwitha Conference will be held in Fargo, ND, and the 2015 Tekakwitha Conference will be held in Alexandria, La. The Tekakwitha Conference is located at:

Sister Kateri Mitchell, photo below, director of the national office of the St. Kateri Tekakwitha Conference demonstrates a Native American ritual during the celebration.

2225 N. Bolton Ave Alexandria, LA 71303 For more information, call: 318-483-3908 (local) 844-483-3900 (toll-free) Email: tekconf@gmail.com.

Website: www.tekconf.org FB: http://facebook.com/Tekconf www.bayoucatholic.com

83

Heavenly Recipes

Deacon Ambrose’s

i t t e Spagh lls and Meatba Story and Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

84

This month’s heavenly recipe comes from Deacon Ambrose Ayzinne. Deacon Ambrose is preparing spaghetti and meatballs. The deacon is no stranger to the stove. He learned to cook from watching his mom when he was young. “My mom was a wonderful cook.

Every Sunday she would cook chicken stew, sweet peas and potato salad. Like her, I cook Cajun dishes such as white beans, potato stew, roast, spaghetti and number seven steaks,” says the deacon.

He and his wife Linda are parishioners of St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux. They have two grown children, a boy and a girl.

Deacon Ambrose, who was a transport driver for 20 years, was in Baton Rouge one day when he began experiencing a tightness in his chest and difficulty breathing. He was rushed to the hospital where he stayed for eight days. The doctor there told him he had an enlarged heart and blockages. He was only 47 years old at the time. “That was the beginning of a 17 year ordeal. I was taking 17 pills a day, and requiring hospital visits two times a week just to survive. Of those 17 years, I was on a heart transplant list for 10 of them.”

The deacon’s blood type is A-negative which made it difficult to find a compatible donor. In 2003, the deacon and his wife moved to Houston to be near the hospital where he received a transplant. In January 2005 he received a transplant. “The operation lasted seven hours. Everything went very well. I am not certain but I believe my new heart was from a 17-year-old who was shot several times and killed. I feel fine and I thank God every day. I didn’t have any rejection from this heart.

I am currently off of one of my rejection medications.”

It was during the time Deacon Ambrose was sick that he began discerning the diaconate. “I thank Father Mike Bergeron for helping me during that time. He is responsible for me becoming a deacon. God gave me a second chance at life. I believe that God had a plan for me. I think he had something else for me to do with my life.”

Deacon Ambrose says that his ministry with the elderly is what brings him the most joy. “I bring Jesus to the elderly through the Eucharist. I have a special compassion for the elderly. I visit the shut-ins on Mondays and whenever I have the opportunity I visit the elderly in the nursing homes and the hospital here in Thibodaux. My first love in ministry is to the elderly.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2014

My second is baptizing babies. It’s wonderful to be able to bring new life into the Catholic faith. I have baptized all my grandchildren and great grandchildren,” he says.

The deacon taught CCD for about 12 years and stopped teaching for a while. Next month he plans to start teaching again. He will be teaching ninth grade students about faith. Now that is something he is sure to have a lot of, after having a second chance at life.

Spaghetti and Meatballs 2 bottles of Ragu tomato sauce 1 16 ounce bag of uncooked spaghetti 1-1/2 pounds of ground round meat 2 eggs Italian bread crumbs, approx. 1 cup 1 bag of seasoning-onions, celery and bell pepper Salt Onion powder Garlic powder Mrs. Dash seasoning White pepper to taste Place one tablespoon cooking oil in the bottom of a large pot; add the onions, celery and bell pepper and saute’. While sautéing seasonings, prepare the meatballs by seasoning the ground beef with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, Mrs. Dash and white pepper to taste.

Break two eggs in the mixture and mix thoroughly with the bread crumbs. Make the meatballs about medium sized; place on a baking pan and bake in an oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Add the tomato sauce to the sauted vegetables and cook for about an hour and a half. Add approximately two tablespoons of Splenda sweetener to the tomato sauce. Add the meatballs to the sauce and cook for another half an hour.

Boil the spaghetti for the required amount of time.

After draining the spaghetti add a little cooking oil to keep it from sticking.

Serve with garlic bread. Topping with Parmesan cheese is optional.

State

LCCB has new executive director

By Peter Finney Jr. Clarion Herald

Robert M. Tasman, who has served since 2008 as associate director of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops (LCCB), was named as executive director July 1, succeeding Daniel J. Loar, who had directed the organization for the last 12 years.

With main headquarters in Baton Rouge, the LCCB is the policymaking arm of the seven Catholic bishops of Louisiana. The executive director is the chief lobbyist for the Catholic Church with the governor’s office and the state Legislature and works with Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond and the other Louisiana bishops to promote Catholic issues in the public square.

“I hope to build on the very positive relationships we have with policymakers and their staffs so that the influence of the church and its teachings can be expressed in a loving and resolute way,” Tasman said. “I also hope to expand those responsibilities to include our federal legislators because many of the issues being discussed have an impact at both levels.”

Tasman’s major role as associate director was advising the bishops on issues related to pro-life, social justice and family. Tasman was appointed last year by Gov. Bobby Jindal to the Louisiana Commission on Marriage and Family.

Tasman holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and theology and a master’s degree in theology with a specialization in Christian social

Robert M. Tasman

ethics from Boston College. He earned a law degree from Louisiana State University and has been a member of the state bar since 2009.

In the most recent legislative session, Tasman said he was thrilled by a law, signed by Gov. Jindal, that would require doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital not more than 30 miles away from the abortion facility. Pregnant women also must be given the name and telephone number of the nearest hospital in the event she suffers complications from the abortion.

Because of the requirement that abortion facilities meet the same standards of an ambulatory surgical center, the new law, which goes into effect Sept. 1, may close three of the five abortion clinics in

the state, leaving just the two in the Shreveport area open.

Many pro-life successes “We had some extraordinarily good, pro-life measures passed,” Tasman said, citing another law that would prohibit abortion providers from instructing or delivering materials in schools.

The LCCB also was able to use its influence to obtain a $1 million increase in funding to Catholic schools to pay for the state’s “required services.” It fought a bill that would have kept confidential the way in which the state acquires drugs to be used during a lethal injection. Instead, a resolution passed to study the financial costs of administering the death penalty.

“One of the great myths is that it is somehow cheaper to execute an inmate than it is to give him a life sentence,” Tasman said.

Loar said in his retirement he will continue to work as a religion and American history teacher at St. 85 Theresa Middle School in Gonzales.

“All of this is a blessing because I love kids, history and my Catholic faith,” Loar said.

Tasman said he will use the period between now and the April 2015 legislative session to build relationships with legislators and their staffs.

“The nice part is that I can go to them at a time when we can have a productive conversation, not necessarily when I am asking them for anything,” Tasman said.

Peter Finney Jr. can be reached at pfinney@clarionherald.org.

www.bayoucatholic.com

National

Special Olympics Knights of Columbus pledges $1.4 million

By Catholic News Service LOS ANGELES (CNS) -- The Knights of Columbus has pledged $1.4 million to help cover costs for next year’s Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.

The donation, announced July 14 in Los Angeles, will help cover on-the-ground costs for the 7,000 participants expected to compete in the games.

The contribution covers more than 8 percent of the Special Olympics’ projected $17 million budget for the 2015 games. Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, the head of the fraternal organization, told Catholic News Service that the donation would cover the costs of all Americans and Canadians expected to participate.

In tandem with the Knights’ announcement, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles outlined the archdiocese’s spiritual support for the athletes attending the games.

Mass will be celebrated daily, but efforts will also be made to open up Los Angeles Catholics’ homes to athletes and coaches.

86 84 “A big part of Special Olympics is athletes’ interaction with the community around the sponsoring city,” Anderson said. “That’s going to be very important.”

The Knights’ affiliation with a sponsorship of Special Olympics dates back to 1968, the year of the very first Special Olympics games, conducted at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Anderson told CNS that Sargent Shriver, Peace Corps director under President John Kennedy and Job Corps director under President Lyndon Johnson, “was a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus.

So when Eunice (Kennedy Shriver) and Sarge started Special Olympics, it was just natural for his brother Knights to rally around and help out.”

He added, “I remember having the opportunity to meet with Sarge in Dublin for first the Special Olympics international games that were held outside the U.S. That was a special occasion to be with him. That was in 2003.”

As large as the Knights’ gift is to Special Olympics, it is dwarfed by the contributions made by members of the Knights at the state and local levels.

“The $1.4 million comes from our international headquarters, but last year, for example, at the local level we donated $3.6 million to Special Olympics,” Anderson said. “And 130,000 of our members volunteer at the different Special Olympics games. So we are very much involved. ... Since 1968 the big involvement has been at the local level.”

Anderson added, “Getting there, working with the athletes, seeing what it means to them, seeing what it means to their families, you learn the lesson: It’s more blessed to give than to receive.”

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2014

International

Pope: Stop throwaway culture now

By Carol Glatz

Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis urged a group of economists and financiers to help reverse the current “throwaway” culture and put people at the center -- not the fringes -- of monetary strategies and policies.

Children, the elderly and young adults are all being rejected “because they’re not useful,” he said.

“Who’s going to be disposed of next? Let’s stop ourselves in time, please,” he said July 12.

The pope spoke to a group of experts participating in an international seminar organized by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. About 70 people, many of them leading economists, central bankers, heads of international and intergovernmental organizations and church leaders, came together July 11-12 to discuss ways economic systems and policies could work toward “a more

inclusive economy” and the common good.

The pope thanked participants for meeting to discuss such important issues and urged them to reflect on the current situation “without fear and with intelligence.”

He said people today have been stripped of their humanity and turned into cogs of a “social, economic system, a system where inequalities rule.”

He likened the process to the way Italian “grappa” or brandy is made, in which grapes are distilled and transformed into something completely different.

Individuals, he said, are also being run through a sort of “organizational” distillery -- transforming their original essence, making them “lose their humanity” and “become an instrument of the system.”

He said there is “a politics, a sociology” and a mindset of peo-

ple being “disposable; you throw away what isn’t needed, because man isn’t at the center.”

Low birthrates show that children are considered disposable, as are the elderly, and also an “entire generation of young people, and this is very serious.”

High unemployment for young adults has created a “neither-nor” generation of young people who “neither study nor work,” he said, because -- for so many -- getting a higher education isn’t possible and there are no jobs.

People need to be made the focus again and become “the center of society, of thinking, of reflection,” he said, urging the group to study and reflect “so that man is not disposed of.”

That the human person should be at the center of all things, “isn’t theology, it’s not philosophy, it’s human reality,” the pope said.

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87

International

Vatican pledges full support for ‘humanitarian emergency’ of child migrants

By David Agren

Catholic News Service

88

MEXICO CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican’s secretary of state pledged full support for addressing the issue of child migrants streaming out Central America in search of safety and family reunification in the United States.

Pope Francis, meanwhile, described the situation a “humanitarian emergency” and called for the international community to act.

Speaking at the Mexico’s Foreign Relations Secretariat July 14, Cardinal Pietro Parolin repeated a recent call of bishops in five countries for Catholics and society at large to lend a helping hand for the thousands of young migrants traveling through Mexico and often arriving unaccompanied in the United States.

“Given these migratory facts, we urgently need to overcome primitive misgivings and again propose common strategies at the subregional, regional and world levels that include all sectors of society,” Cardinal Parolin said in a speech attended by clergy and the foreign ministers of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.

“Their numbers grow daily exponentially,” he said of the Central Americans abandoning their countries.

“Whether they travel for reasons of poverty, violence or the hope of uniting with families on the other side of the border, it is urgent to protect and assist them, because their frailty is greater and they’re defenseless, they’re at the mercy of any abuse or misfortune.”

The cardinal traveled to Mexico as countries in the region came to grips with an increase in the number of Central American migrants not seen in decades -- and an influx so unexpected and massive that U.S. officials have had difficulties properly processing those arriving at their border. It also came as countries such as Mexico confront longstanding issues such as crimes committed against migrants with impunity and an indifference toward providing protection to Central Americans traveling through the country -- even as Mexico complains of the treatment experienced by Mexicans living in the United States illegally.

The plight of the child migrants has the full attention of Pope Francis, who sent a message in advance of the forum, jointly sponsored by Mexico and the Vatican.

“I wish to also call attention to the tens of thousands of children that emigrate alone, unaccompanied to escape violence and poverty,” Pope Francis said in the message, dated July 11 and read July 14 by

a

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2014

CNS PHOTO/ DAVID AGREN

A member of the Salvadoran national police is seen July 1 holding an infant who arrived back in San Salvador from Mexico.

The number of children leaving the country is increasing due to factors such as violence and a belief that minors will be granted asylum upon arriving in the United States.

Diocesan Programs This Month “Spotlight on the Diocese” Host: Louis Aguirre With Guest: Bishop Emeritus Sam G. Jacobs of Houma-Thibodaux

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Archbishop Christophe Pierre, papal nuncio to Mexico.

“This is the category of migrants from Central America and Mexico itself that cross the United States’ border under extreme conditions and pursuing a hope that, for the majority, will be in vain.

“This humanitarian emergency requires, as a first urgent measure, these children be welcomed and protected,” Pope Francis continued.

“Many people forced to emigrate suffer, and often, die tragically; many of their rights are violated, they are obliged to separate from their families and, unfortunately, continue to be the subject of racist and xenophobic attitudes,” the pope said.

The pope also called for information campaigns on the risks of migrating and a commitment to developing the poor countries of Central America.

Cardinal Parolin committed the church to finding solutions and offering assistance -- something already carried out by a string of Catholic-run migrant shelters stretching the length of Mexico, which offer spiritual and material support for the thousands of Central Americans transiting the country, often atop a train known as “La Bestia” (The Beast) for the way it maims so many migrants.

“The church will always support at the national and international level any initiative directed at the adoption of correct policies. No institution, not even the state, possesses the necessary economic, political or informative resources or social capital or legitimacy to resolve the root problems with emigration,” the cardinal said.

“It is evident that the phenomenon of migration cannot be resolved only with legislative measures or adopting public policies, however good, and much less only with law enforcement and security forces,” he continued. “The solution of the migration problem goes through an in-depth cultural and social conversion that permits passage from the ‘cultural of closure’ to a ‘culture of reception and meeting.’”

Central America suffers from high homicide rates, gang violence and some of the worst poverty in the hemisphere, motivating many people to leave for the United States, where they seek safety and earn money to support families left behind.

Diocesan Outreach Line

In response to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is offering an Outreach Line (formerly known as the Child Protection Contact Line). The Outreach Line is an effort to continue the diocesan commitment to support healing for people who have been hurt or sexually abused recently or in the past by clergy, religious or other employees of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.

The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Outreach Line operates from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. A trained mental health professional responds to the line. Individuals are offered additional assistance if requested.

The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Outreach Line Telephone number is (985) 873-0026.

For detailed reporting procedures see: www.htdiocese.org.

Click on the Safe Environment tab, then on S.E. Forms and Links.

Línea de Comunicación Diocesana

Con el fin de cumplir con las Políticas de Protección de Niños y Jóvenes de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Los Estados Unidos, la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux ofrece una Línea de Comunicación (antes Línea de Contacto para la Protección de los Niños). La Línea de Comunicación es parte del esfuerzo diocesano de comprometerse con el mejoramiento de aquéllos que han sido lastimados o abusados sexualmente recientemente o en el pasado por miembros del clero, religiosos u otros empleados de la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux.

El horario de la Línea de Comunicación de la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux es de 8:30 a.m. a 4:30 p.m., de lunes a viernes. El encargado de esta línea es un profesional capacitado en salud mental. Se ofrece asistencia adicional al ser solicitada.

Línea de Comunicación de la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux Número de teléfono (985) 873-0026.

Vea el detallado procedimiento de informes en: www.htdiocese.org.

Haga clic en Safe Environment y luego S.E. Forms and Links.

Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp Giaùo phaän Ñeå höôûng öùng Hieán chöông Baûo veä Treû em vaø Giôùi treû töø Hoäi ñoàng Giaùm muïc Hoa kyø, Giaùo phaän Houma-Thibodaux ñang chuaån bò ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp (luùc tröôùc laø ñöôøng daây lieân laïc baûo veä treû em). Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp laø moät söï coá gaéng cuûa giaùo phaän nhaèm cam keát haøn gaén naâng ñôõ nhöõng ai ñaõ bò toån thöông hoaëc bò laïm duïng tính duïc hoaëc gaàn ñaây hoaëc trong quaù khöù bôûi giaùo só, tu só hoaëc caùc coâng nhaân vieân cuûa Giaùo phaän Houma-Thibodaux. Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp Giaùo phaän hoaït ñoäng töø 8:30 saùng ñeán 4:30 chieàu, thöù hai ñeán thöù saùu. Moät nhaân vieân chuyeân nghieäp veà söùc khoûe taâm thaàn traû lôøi treân ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi. Nhöõng caù nhaân seõ ñöôïc trôï giuùp naâng ñôõ theâm neáu caàn. Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp Giaùo phaän Soá ñieän thoaïi: (985) 873-0026.

Caàn bieát theâm chi tieát veà caùch baùo caùo xin vaøo trang web cuûa ñòa phaän laø www.htdiocese.org.

Baám vaøo muïc Safe Environment, sau ñoù tôùi muïc S.E. Forms vaø Links.

www.bayoucatholic.com

89

Philippines typhoon

CNS photo/Erik De Castro, Reuters

Residents walk amid debris and mud July 17 brought by Typhoon Rammasun, locally named Glenda, in a coastal village in Batangas, south of Manila. Catholic Relief Services teams were fanning out to affected areas after Typhoon Rammasun propelled its way a cross the northern half of the Philippines, leaving at least 40 people dead and destroying more than 26,000 houses.

90

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Programs produced by the Diocesan Office of TV Communications. We reserve the right to make program changes. www.bayoucatholic.com

91

Hannan High School’s Father Charles Latour is keynote speaker for Educators Conference His educational background includes a bachelor of arts in child development from Purdue University, a law degree from Boston College, and a master Father Charles L. Latour, O.P., J.D., M.A., M.Div., of theology and master of divinity from Aquinas principal of Archbishop Hannan High School in Institute of Theology.

Covington, LA, will be the keynote speaker for the Approximately 400 Catholic school edu29th annual diocesan Catholic School cators will attend the conference this year.

Educators Conference, as announced by Bishop Shelton J. Fabre will celebrate Mass Marian Fertitta, diocesan superintendent of to begin the conference. Those who have Catholic Schools. completed 25 years in Catholic education in The conference will be held Tuesday, the diocese will be recognized after the Mass.

Sept. 2 at Vandebilt Catholic High School in The 2014 Inspirational Teachers of the Year Houma. The theme for this year’s conference and grant award recipients will also be anis “Catholic Education: A Vocation to nounced at the conference.

Excellence.”

“This year’s conference will focus on reFather Charles Latour is a Dominican newing of faith by an opening Mass celebratfriar of the Province of Saint Martin de ed by Bishop Fabre, enlightening of spirit Porres (Southern United States). Over the last 25 years he has ministered in a variety Rev. Charles Latour through Father Charlie’s presentation of teaching as a vocation, and a time for fellowof educational settings from dean of students ship with other educators from throughout at two universities to high school teacher, the diocese,” says Fertitta. “We are looking forward to coach and administrator. being together and enjoying this day.”

Father Latour is originally from Miami, FL.

Story by Janet Marcel

92

National Collection for The Catholic University of America Providing direct financial aid to students from your diocese. giving.cuatoday.com

THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA Wa s h i n g t o n , D . C .

The collection will be held September 6 and 7, 2014. Thank you for your generosity.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • August 2014