Bayou Catholic Magazine April 2017

Bayou

Catholic

HOLY WEEK: A time for spiritual memories

INSIDE

Bayou Wellness

HOUMA, LA ~ APRIL 2017 ~ COMPLIMENTARY

1977 - 2017

THE THE

CATHOLIC HOME MISSIONS APPEAL

STRENGTHENING the CHURCH AT HOME

The collection will be held April 29 and 30, 2017 Thank you for your generosity.

Copyright © 2016, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Photo credits: © Getty Images, CNS/Nancy Weichec, CNS/Chaz Muth, Diocese of Great Falls–Billings.

Contents FEATURES

20

26 Bayou Patrons

By Janet Marcel

28 Vandebilt senior is

National Merit Finalist

By Janet Marcel

29 Jeremy Becker leaves

stewardship position

By Janet Marcel

34 Vandy girls perform at

Carnegie Hall

By Janet Marcel

COLUMNS

8

Brooks Lirette

8

Comfort For My People

By Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

12 Pope Speaks

24

Pope Francis I

13 Questions of Faith

By Very Rev. Jay L. Baker

14 Readings Between The Lines 4

Brooks Cooks a:

QUICK

SHRIMP MEAL 24

This month’s heavenly recipe comes from Brooks Lirette, program manager for Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s Coastal Entrepreneurs’ Net To Success (CENTS) program. Brooks is sharing her recipe for lemon Italian shrimp, which she says is quick and easy.

“Like most working moms, I’m busy with work and a child in school. This recipe is both quick and easy, and good for you. It is also great for people who do the Paleo diet. It is carb free and gluten free,” she says.

Brooks has been working with the CENTS program for the past six years. The Houma native and her husband Todd have two children.

Dylan is a sophomore at St. Ben’s Seminary; and Lexie is a seventh grade student at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School in Houma.

As CENTS program manager she teaches people how to start their own business or help those with a small business improve their business. “We cover a wide range of topics which include feasibility, market research and a need for your product or service in your area. During the nine-week course we also cover legal issues, marketing, budgeting, a business plan, pricing, financial statements, insurance and tax education. We have a very diverse group attending the classes. I have seen people come to the class and realize that maybe it is not in their best interest to start a business. It is considered a smart step that is necessary in many cases.”

Brooks is very proud of her two children. She says she is grateful have a son studying LA for the priesthood.

Bayou to Catholic • Houma, • April 2017 “It is humbling and a blessing combined. I am so proud of

28

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • Arpil 2017

LEMON ITALIAN SHRIMP

1-1/2 lbs. headless shrimp 2 lemons 1-1/2 sticks margarine 1 package dry Italian seasoning mix

26

Melt butter over stove or in microwave and pour into dish or pan. Slice one lemon and layer it on top of the butter. Toss shrimp in seasoning mix and add to lemons and butter. Take the other lemon and squeeze over shrimp. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Very quick and easy

Bay u s Wellnes

Great for Paleo or gluten-free diet

By Father Glenn LeCompte

31 Reading with Raymond

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

By Raymond Saadi

36 Thoughts for Millennials

By Ryan Abboud

40 Overtime

By Ed Daniels

IN EVERY ISSUE

6

From the Editor

16 Scripture Readings 18 Young Voices 24 Heavenly Recipes 30 Diocesan Events ANNOUNCEMENTS

nal’s ux Regio Thiboda ss Center ellne has always been WDylan him and his accomplishments. s a years. He makehis a humble child. He is also wiser beyond

43

splash

has been on this journey since he was 12 years old,” she says.

She has learned much about seminary life and the Catholic support Bayouseminarians need. “It is my hope that the faithful of the diocese get to know the seminarians, especially those who have a seminarian from their own church parish. Not enough people know about our seminarians and the process involved in becoming a priest.”

37 Steubenville on the Bayou

June 16-18

38 Leadership appointments announced 41 Food for the Journey

Deacon James P. Brunet Jr. speaks

On Our

COVER In this month’s Comfort For My People, Bishop Shelton J. Fabre says that the final days of Lent can be a time when our Lenten spiritual practices weigh heavy upon us. He also says that the season of Lent and especially Holy Week are times to form spiritual memories in the minds and hearts of our children.

Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier

Bayou Catholic Vol. 37, No. 10 How to reach us:

BY PHONE: (985) 850-3132

BY MAIL: P.O. Box 505 Schriever, LA 70395

BY FAX: (985) 850-3232

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 Janet Marcel 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

Index to Advertisers Advanced Eye Institute ................................ 57 Annual Bishop’s Appeal ................................. 2 Camp Abbey Summer Camp ....................... 35 Camp Stanislaus ......................................... 20 Cardinal Place ............................................. 65 Cardiovascular Institute of the South ............ 55 Catholic Home Missions Appeal .................... 3 Daigle Himel Daigle ..................................... 51 Diocesan Outreach Line .............................. 41 Education to Ministry Collection .................. 23 Family Doctor Clinic .................................... 57 God’s Promises Books & Gifts .................... 21 Guidry Family Dentistry ............................... 50 Hagen Beyer Simon .................................... 53 Haydel Family Practice ................................ 59 Haydel Spine Pain & Wellness ..................... 15 Headache & Pain Center .............................. 40 Holy Land Collection ..................................... 7 Houma Digestive Health Specialists ............. 61 Houma Physical Therapy ............................. 57 LA Terre Physical Therapy, Inc. .................... 61 LeBlanc & Associates, LLC ......................... 42 Notre Dame Hospice ................................... 53 Ochsner St. Anne Hospital ........................... 49

Patrick Yancey Law Firm ............................. 34 Re-Bath ...................................................... 29 Riviere Insurance Agency, Inc. ..................... 36 Rod’s Superstore ........................................ 42 Rouses Markets .......................................... 25 Seminarian Education Burses ...................... 19 Southland Mall ............................................ 68 St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School Principal Position .................................... 17 St. Gregory Catholic School Principal Position .................................... 42 St. Joseph Manor ........................................ 65 Sterling Wellness Solutions ......................... 61 Synergy Bank .............................................. 17 Terminix ...................................................... 22 Terrebonne Physical Therapy Clinic ............. 65 TGMC Well and Wise.................................... 67 The Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine ............................... 56 The Dermatology Clinic ............................... 66 Thibodaux Physical Therapy ........................ 47 Thibodaux Regional Medical Center ............. 45 Thibodaux Firemen’s Fair ............................. 33 Watkins, Walker, Eroche & Hoychick ............ 20

BY E-MAIL: bayoucatholic@htdiocese.org The Bayou Catholic is published monthly, for the people of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux by the H-T Publishing Co., P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395.

Subscription rate is $35 per year.

The Bayou Catholic is a member of the Catholic Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and an associate member of the Louisiana Press Association.

Lawrence Chatagnier

editor and general manager

Glenn J. Landry, C.P.A. business manager

Janet Marcel

staff writer/administrative assistant

Katie DeRoche

advertising accounts executive

Lisa Schobel Hebert graphic designer

Meridy Liner

accounts receivable/payable assistant

Awards

CPA First Place General Excellence 2013 - 2014 LPA First Place General Excellence 2015 www.bayoucatholic.com

5

Welcome

J

ourney

Faith of

From the Editor 6

The month of April usually signals that spring has arrived here in south Louisiana.

This year Easter is celebrated during the month of April. In a couple of weeks Holy Week will be observed and culminate with Easter.

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre explains in his monthly column Comfort For My People that the season of Lent and Holy Week are times in which spiritual memories are formed. He goes on to say how important it is for parents to help form these memories in their children.

Father Glenn LeCompte, in his column Readings Between the Lines, breaks down each Sunday of the Easter season and explains the significance of the readings for each of these Sundays.

Each month Bayou Catholic has columns and articles written by our bishop and priests of the diocese, professionals who are called by God to help us on our journey to deepen our spiritual life and lead us to Jesus Christ.

The month of April also features Bayou Catholic’s annual Bayou Wellness special section. There are articles written by professionals in the field of medicine that are designed to help us to make mental and physical wellness a part of our everyday life.

Living in south Louisiana can be a curse for everyone who tries to eat healthy. We are famous for our rich food which can take a toll on one’s heart health. Our lifestyle for having fun at any cost and a laissez faire attitude about our health can be detrimental to our physical well-being. However we are also blessed with some of the best wellness centers and hospitals in the area. All offer instructional classes, workout opportunities and programs specifically designed to promote wellness and well-being for all ages.

There is much to look forward to during the month of April. It is our hope at Bayou Catholic that this issue will strike a balance between the importance of spiritual and physical wellness. Our physical health and spiritual health are intrinsically linked. Both can be improved by the addition of good habits into our lifestyle. When we spend more time in prayer or reading the Scriptures, we are more likely to live our lives in accordance with Gospel values.

Likewise when we eat healthy and exercise we are also more likely to continue to practice a healthy lifestyle which leads to a healthier and more active person.

Enjoy this issue of the Bayou Catholic. It is our hope that the articles and columns help you to find a balance that will lead you to a life of spiritual and physical well-being.

Remember, after reading Bayou Catholic, pass it on to a friend or relative who might not be attending Mass. It’s one of the great ways to do your part in spreading the Good News!

Lawrence

Lawrence Chatagnier Editor & General Manager Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

GOOD

FRIDAY The collection will be held April 14, 2017 Thank you for your generosity.

SUPPORT

CHRISTIANS IN THE

HOLY LAND

NOW

PontiďŹ cal Good Friday Collection Commissaries of the Holy Land in the United States 1400 Quincy Street N.E., Washington D.C. 20017 MyFranciscan.org 3140 Meramec Street, St. Louis, MO 63118 4050 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92057

Comment Comfort For My People

T 8

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

The final days of Lent can be a time when our Lenten spiritual practices weigh heavily upon us. The enthusiasm that we had on Ash Wednesday and the beginning days of Lent may have begun to diminish, and we might find ourselves becoming lax in the spiritual practices of prayers, fasting and almsgiving that we so readily embraced at the beginning of Lent. However, God is pleased with any effort we make to draw closer to him.

Even if we have failed in our penitential practices during Lent, it is never too late to begin again – or even to begin for the first time. We are approaching Holy Week, the holiest days of the Church’s liturgical year, and our efforts during Lent whenever we began them and flawed though they may be - can prepare our hearts to welcome the celebrations of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus.

The liturgical celebrations that take place during Holy Week are the occasion for some of the most moving spoken prayers and ritual actions of the church. The Mass of the Holy Chrism (at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales on Holy Thursday morning, April 13, at 10:30 a.m.) is when we gather to bless the Holy Oils that will be used throughout our diocese for the coming year. The Chrism Mass, named for one of the oils consecrated during the Mass, is a powerful reminder of the unity that exists between the bishop, the clergy and the lay faithful of our diocese. During the Chrism Mass, the priests renew their commitment to the promises of priesthood, to serving the People of God as a priest of Jesus Christ.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

Spiritual memories are formed during Lent and Holy Week This annual renewal of promises by our priests is one of the most beautiful and powerful moments during the Chrism Mass. Also during the Chrism Mass, the three sacred oils are blessed: the Oil of the Catechumens, used for anointing prior to baptism; the Oil of the Sick, used to anoint those who struggle with acute or chronic illness; and the Sacred Chrism, used to anoint candidates at confirmation and to anoint priests and bishops at the time of their ordination. At the end of our Chrism Mass, parishioners come forward to receive the oils and take them to all the church parishes in our diocese. If you have never attended the Chrism Mass, I encourage you to be present for this Mass if at all possible.

Some of the most powerful and well know rituals of the church occur during the Sacred Triduum, or the three days of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. To experience the power and beauty of sacred ritual actions, one need only remember and understand the call to humility expressed in the foot-washing on Holy Thursday, or the call to sacrifice and self-denial expressed in the Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday, or the hope and promise of life coming forth from death in the proclamation or the Exsultet, sacraments of initiation and renewal of baptism promises that take place at the Easter Vigil and on Easter Sunday.

During these holiest days of the year, we come to a greater understanding and appreciation of

the fact that the church expresses its prayer not only in words, but also in ritual actions that provide us with greater insight and understanding into what we are called to as baptized sons and daughters of God and as missionary disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Each year, the church calls us to enter deeply into the season of Lent, and, following Lent, in a special way into Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

The days of Lent and especially the days of the Triduum should ‘feel’ different to us. We should be keenly aware of what the church is inviting us to undertake and remember during these days, and our activities should reflect the spiritual realities that we are remembering.

It is my sincere prayer that the remaining days of Lent will assist you in deepening your relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. It is also my hope and desire that we all mark the coming days of the Triduum by giving prayerful attention to the spiritual realities we are remembering and celebrating during these days. Some of my most cherished childhood memories of spiritual life are from the season of Lent and the time of the Triduum. I urge you to form these same spiritual memories in the minds and hearts of your children by the activities of your family during the remainder of this Lent, and by attending the liturgical celebrations of Holy Week.

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Comentario

Los recuerdos espirituales se hacen durante la Cuaresma y la Semana Santa

E 10

En los últimos días de la Cuaresma las costumbres espirituales de la Cuaresma nos pesan. El entusiasmo que vivimos el Miércoles de Ceniza y en los primeros días de la Cuaresma empiezan a disminuirse y nos llegamos a sentir flojos en las costumbres espirituales de la oración, el ayuno y la limosna que llevamos a cabo con más facilidad al comienzo de la Cuaresma.

Sin embargo, Dios se alegra con cualquier esfuerzo que hacemos para acercarnos a El. Aun cuando no hacemos nuestras costumbres penitenciales durante la Cuaresma, nunca es tarde para comenzar de nuevo o comenzar por primera vez. Nos estamos acercando a la Semana Santa, los días más santos del año litúrgico, y nuestro esfuerzo durante la Cuaresma – cuando comenzamos a llevar a cabo estas costumbres y por muy defectuosas que sean- tienen la capacidad de preparar nuestros corazones y recibir con los brazos abiertos las celebraciones de la pasión, muerte y resurrección de Jesús.

Las celebraciones litúrgicas que se llevan a cabo durante la Semana Santa son el tema para muchos de las mejores oraciones y los rituales de la Iglesia.

Durante La Misa Crismal Santa (en la Catedral de San Francis de Sales en la mañana del Jueves Santo el 13 de abril a las 10:30a.m.) nos congregaremos

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

para bendecir los Santos Olios que serán usados a lo largo del año en nuestra diócesis. La Misa Crismal, llamado así por uno de los olios consagrados durante la misa, es un llamado a la unidad que existe entre el obispo, el clero y los laicos fieles de nuestra diócesis. Durante la Misa Crismal, los sacerdotes renuevan su compromiso con sus votos sacerdotales y con su compromiso a servir el Pueblo de Dios como sacerdote de Jesucristo.

Esta renovación anual de las promesas hechas por nuestros sacerdotes es un momento muy bello y poderoso durante la Misa Crismal. También durante la Misa Crismal, los tres olios sagrados son bendecidos: El Olio de los Catecúmenos que se usa para ungir antes del bautismo; El Olio de los Enfermos que se usa para ungir a los que luchan contra enfermedades agudas o crónicas; y el Crisma Sagrado que se usa para ungir a los candidatos de confirmación y para ungir a sacerdotes y obispos durante el momento de ordinación.

Al final de la Misa Crismal, los feligreses reciben los olios y los llevan a todas las parroquias de nuestra Diócesis. Si usted no ha ido a la Misa Crismal, le pido que se presente a esta misa.

Algunos de los rituales más poderosos y mejor conocidos se llevan a cabo durante el Triduo Sagrado: los tres días de Jueves Santo, Viernes Santo y Sábado de Gloria. Para vivir el poder y la belleza de los rituales sagrados es

necesario recordar y comprender el llamado a la humildad que se expresa en el lavado de pies el Jueves Santo o el llamado al sacrificio y la abnegación propia que se lleva a cabo en la Veneración de la Cruz el Viernes Santo o la esperanza y promesa de la vida después de la muerte en la proclamación o Exsultet, sacramentos de iniciación y renovación de los votos bautismales que se realizan durante la Vigilia Pascual y durante el Domingo de Resurrección.

Durante estos días santos del año llegamos a tener una mayor comprensión y aprecio por el hecho que la Iglesia se expresa en las oraciones no solamente con palabras, sino también con rituales que nos proveen una mayor visión y comprensión de lo que hemos sido llamados a hacer como hijos e hijas bautizados de Dios y como misioneros y discípulos de nuestro Señor Jesucristo.

Cada año, la Iglesia nos llama a profundizar en la Cuaresma y en forma especial profundizar en el Jueves Santo, El viernes Santo y el Sábado de Gloria. Los días de la Cuaresma y los días especiales del Triduo deben sentirse especiales para nosotros. Debemos estar enterados de lo que la Iglesia nos invita a hacer y recordar durante estos días que las actividades que llevamos a cabo deben reflejar la realidad espiritual que estamos celebrando.

Ruego que en los días que quedan de Cuaresma le ayuden a profundizar su relación con el Señor Jesucristo. Espero también y deseo que recordemos los días del Triduo por medio de la oración enfocando la realidad espiritual que estamos celebrando durante estos días.

Algunos de mis mejores recuerdos de mi niñez de vida espiritual han provenido de la Cuaresma y el Triduo. Les pido que formen este mismo recuerdo espiritual en las mentes y corazones de sus hijos/hijas con las acciones que su familia tome durante el resto de esta Cuaresma y su participación en las celebraciones litúrgicas de la Semana Santa.

Traducido por Julio Contreras, feligrés de la iglesia católica Annunziata en Houma.

Binh luan bang loi

N

Những ngày cuối của Mùa Chay có thể là thời gian khi các thực hành đạo đức Mùa Chay của chúng ta trở nên nặng nề trên chúng ta.

Lòng sốt sắng mà chúng ta đã có được trong Ngày Thứ Tư Lễ Tro và trong những ngày đầu của Mùa Chay rất có thể đã bắt đầu sút giảm, và chúng ta có thể thấy mình trở nên bê trễ trong việc thi hành các việc đạo đức như cầu nguyện, ăn chay và bố thí mà chúng ta đã sẵn sàng chấp nhận vào đầu Mùa Chay.

Tuy nhiên, Thiên Chúa rất hài lòng với bất kỳ nỗ lực nào chúng ta thực hiện để đến gần Người hơn.

Ngay cả nếu chúng ta đã thiếu sót thực hành các việc đền tội của chúng ta trong Mùa Chay, thì mùa chay cũng không bao giờ quá trễ để bắt đầu lại - hoặc thậm chí để bắt đầu cho lần đầu tiên. Chúng ta đang đến gần Tuần Thánh, những ngày thánh thiêng nhất trong năm phụng vụ của Giáo Hội, và những nỗ lực của chúng ta trong Mùa Chay - bất cứ khi nào chúng ta đã bắt đầu hay thiếu sót mặc dù có thể xảy ra - có thể chuẩn bị tâm hồn của chúng ta để cử hành cuộc khổ nạn, sự chết, và phục sinh của Chúa Giêsu.

Các việc cử hành phụng vụ diễn ra trong suốt Tuần Thánh là dịp để cho các kinh nguyện phát suốt và những hành động nghi thức sống động nhất của giáo hội. Thánh Lễ Truyền Dầu (tại Nhà thờ Chính Tòa St. Francis de Sales vào lúc 10:30 sáng Thứ Năm, 13 tháng 4) là lúc chúng ta qui tụ lại để làm phép Dầu Thánh sẽ được sử dụng trong suốt giáo phận của chúng ta trong năm tới. Thánh lễ Truyền Dầu, có tên từ một trong những loại dầu được làm phép trong Thánh lễ, là một nhắc nhở mạnh mẽ về sự hiệp nhất hiện hữa giữa Giám mục, hàng giáo sĩ và giáo dân trong giáo phận chúng ta. Trong Thánh Lễ Truyền Dầu, các Linh mục tái cam kết những lời hứa của mình về chức vụ tư tế, về việc phục vụ Dân Chúa với tư cách là Linh mục của Chúa Giêsu Kitô.

Những lời tái cam kết hằng năm này của các Linh mục là một trong những giây phút uy hùng và ấn tượng nhất trong Thánh Lễ Truyền Dầu. Cũng trong thánh lễ Truyền Dầu, ba loại dầu thánh được làm

Những ký ứctinh thần được hình thành trong suốt Mùa Chay và Tuần Thánh phép: Dầu Dự Tòng, dùng để xức trước khi chịu phép Rửa tội; Dầu Bệnh Nhân, dùng để xức cho những ai đang phải chiến đấu với bệnh tật bình thường hoặc nan giải; Và Dầu Thánh, dùng để xức cho các ứng viên Thêm Sức và xức cho các Linh mục và Giám mục lúc thụ phong. Cuối Thánh Truyền Dầu, các giáo dân tiến lên để nhận dầu và mang dầu về các thánh đường trong giáo phận của chúng ta. Nếu Anh Chị Em (ACE) chưa bao giờ tham dự Thánh lễ Truyền Dầu, tôi khuyến khích ACE nên tham dự Thánh lễ này nếu có thể được.

Một số các nghi thức quen thuộc và nổi bật nhất của Giáo hội diễn ra trong Tam Nhật Thánh, tức là trong ba ngày: Thứ Năm, Thứ Sáu và Thứ Bảy Tuần Thánh. Để kinh nghiệm sức mạnh và vẻ đẹp của các nghi thức thánh thiêng này, người ta chỉ cần nhớ và hiểu lời kêu gọi khiêm tốn được bày tỏ trong việc rửa chân vào ngày Thứ Năm Tuần Thánh, hay là lời kêu gọi hy sinh hãm mình được biểu lộ trong sự suy tôn Thánh Giá vào ngày Thứ Sáu Tuần Thánh, hoặc niềm hy vọng và lời hứa của sự sống mang đến từ cõi chết trong lời công bố hay bài ca Exsultet (Mừng Vui Lên), các bí tích khai tâm và sự tái cam kết những lời hứa của ngày Rửa tội sẽ diễn ra trong Thánh lễ Vọng Phục Sinh và trong lễ Chúa Nhật Phục Sinh.

Trong suốt những ngày thánh thiêng nhất trong năm, chúng ta hiểu rõ hơn và đánh giá cao sự kiện là Giáo hội biểu lộ lời cầu nguyện của mình không chỉ bằng lời nói, mà còn trong các nghi lễ đem lại cho chúng

ta cái nhìn sâu sắc và hiểu biết rộng hơn vào những gì mà chúng ta được kêu gọi là những người con của Chúa qua bí tích Rửa tội và là những môn đệ truyền giáo của Chúa Giêsu Kitô.

Mỗi năm, Giáo hội kêu gọi chúng ta bước vào trong mùa Mùa Chay một cách sâu rộng, và đi theo Mùa Chay trong một chiều hướng đặc biệt để bước vào Thứ Năm, Thứ Sáu và Thứ Bảy Tuần Thánh. Những ngày Mùa Chay và đặc biệt là Tam Nhật 11 Thánh nên có “cảm nghiệm” khác thường đối với chúng ta. Chúng ta nên nhận thức rõ ràng những gì Giáo hội mời gọi chúng ta thực hiện và ghi nhớ trong những ngày này, và các hoạt động của chúng ta phải phản ánh những thực tại thiêng liêng mà chúng ta đang tưởng nhớ.

Lời cầu nguyện chân thành của tôi là những ngày còn lại của Mùa Chay sẽ giúp Anh Chị Em có mối quan hệ sâu đậm với Chúa Giêsu Kitô. Đó cũng là hy vọng và mong muốn của tôi để tất cả chúng ta đánh dấu những ngày sắp tới của Tam Nhật Thánh bằng cách chú ý đến các thực tại thiêng liêng mà chúng ta đang tưởng nhớ và cử hành trong những ngày này. Một số ký ức tuổi thơ đáng yêu nhất của tôi về đời sống tâm linh là từ Mùa Chay và ba ngày Tam Nhật Thánh. Tôi khích lệ ACE tạo nên những ký ức thiêng liêng này trong tâm trí và trái tim của con cái ACE qua các hoạt động của gia đình trong thời gian còn lại của Mùa Chay này bằng việc tham dự các buổi cử hành phụng vụ Tuần Thánh.

Dịch thuật do Lm. Francis Bui, SDD và Thầy Paul Vu, SDD. Tu Đoàn Tông Đồ Giáo Sĩ Nhà Chúa. www.bayoucatholic.com

Comment

Francis asks, ‘Do you read the Bible as often as you check your phone?’

The Pope Speaks

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Vatican City, (CNA/EWTN News) Pope Francis said if we want to fight against the temptation of sin, we must be familiar with the Word of God – treating the Bible more like how we treat our cellphone.

“During the forty days of Lent, as Christians we are called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and address the spiritual battle against evil with the power of the Word of God,” he said March 5. “For this you have to become familiar with the Bible, read it often, meditate on it, assimilate it.”

“Someone said: what would happen if we treated the Bible like we treat our cell phone? If we always carried it with us; or at least the small pocket-sized Gospel, what would happen?”

Pope Francis spoke to pilgrims before leading the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square, drawing a stark comparison between the attention we give our cellphones and the attention we give Scripture, for example, always taking it with us, and going back if we forget it at home.

“You forget you mobile phone – oh! I do not have it, I go back to look for it; if you read the messages of God contained in the Bible as we read the messages of the phone…” he said.

The Pope reflected on the day’s Gospel reading from Matthew, which tells about the temptation of Jesus in the desert by Satan.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

The episode comes at a specific point, he said, soon after Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River but before his public prosecution.

“He has just received the solemn investiture: the Spirit of God descended upon Him, the Father from heaven declared him ‘my beloved Son’ (Matt. 3:17). Jesus is now ready to begin his mission,” he said.

But first he must go up against the Enemy, Satan, who presents him with three temptations. “By means of this triple temptation, Satan wants to divert Jesus from the path of obedience and humiliation – because he knows that in this way evil will be defeated,” the Pope said.

But the Word of God is like a shield against the poisonous arrows of the devil, Francis said.

Jesus doesn’t use just any words – he uses the words of God, and in this way, the Son, full of the Holy Spirit, emerges victorious from the desert.”

This is what we must do against the temptations of the devil, the

Pope said. The comparison between the Bible and our cellphones “is strange, but sobering.”

“In effect, if we had the Word of God always in our heart, no temptation could turn us away from God and no obstacle could deflect us from the path of goodness,” he stressed. We would know how “to win” against the daily temptations within and around us.

“We would be better able to live a resurrected life in the Spirit, accepting and loving our brothers, especially the most vulnerable and needy, and even our enemies.”

Let us ask the Virgin Mary, “the perfect icon of obedience to God and of unconditional trust to his will,” to help us during this Lent to listen to the Word of God in the Bible and “to make a real change of heart,” he concluded.

“And, please, do not forget – do not forget! – What would happen if we treated the Bible like we treat our cellphone. Think about this.

The Bible always with us, close to us!”

Questions of Faith Very Rev. Jay L. Baker

I see so many people with tattoos today. I’ve been thinking about getting one, but before I do I would like to know what the teachings of the Catholic Church are with regard to having a tattoo?

Your question brings to mind a story once shared with my class by our seminary professor to explain the importance the “life setting” in interpreting a passage in Scripture.

As a similar story I found online tells it: “When the spiritual teacher and his disciples began their evening meditation, the cat which lived in the monastery made so much noise that it distracted them. So the teacher ordered that the cat be tied up during the evening exercise.

Years later, after the teacher died, the disciples continued to tie up the cat during the meditation session.

And when that cat eventually died, another cat was brought to the monastery and tied up. Centuries later, learned descendants of the spiritual teacher wrote scholarly treatises about the religious significance of tying up a cat for meditation practice” (97 Spiritual Enlightenment Stories from in5d).

My Scripture professor used such a story to emphasize what the passage meant for “them, then and there” so as to understand its implications for “us, here and now.”

In the Book of Leviticus, we find the admonition: “Do not lacerate your bodies for the dead, and do not tattoo yourselves.” Most Scripture scholars attribute this passage as a prohibition against the practices in which various pagan cultures participated.

This passage’s context within the chapter of Scripture is included among various rules of conduct: “Do not eat anything with the blood still in it. Do not recite charms

or practice soothsaying. Do not clip your hair at the temples, nor spoil the edges of your beard. Do not lacerate your bodies for the dead, and do not tattoo yourselves.

I am the Lord. You shall not degrade your daughter by making a prostitute of her” (Leviticus 19:26b-29a).

To begin with, I don’t think the last admonition regarding one’s daughter needs any further explanation! In addition to being harmful to one’s health, eating meat with blood still in it was a pagan ritual, as well as cutting one’s hair at the temples and trimming one’s beard. Reciting charms and soothsaying were methods of divining various and sundry gods and goddesses. Generally speaking, various pagan cults practiced these and other rituals as significant parts of their nonIsraelite religions: eating, divining, cutting, trimming, lacerating, tattooing and degrading.

So, the Chosen People were instructed not to follow suit or do what the pagans did so as to set themselves apart. Thereby, the Israelites showed outwardly that they followed the God of Israel. The USCCB website specifically points out that the lacerations and tattoos which were being prohibited were

both common means in the ancient Near East employed in the branding of slaves with their owner’s name or the branding devotees of a god 13 with its name.

So even though the Bible says not to tattoo yourself, Catholics are not prohibited from getting tattooed.

Even so, I would advise someone against getting tattooed as part of a pagan ritual or if the imagery desired is anti-Catholic or defames Christianity. Similarly, one should avoid imagery that would be offensive to anyone, suggestive, discriminatory or bigoted.

That being said, remember: your body was created in the image and likeness of God. And, as St. Paul says, your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, when you are free from sin, you are as much a repository of Christ as is the tabernacle in your church.

Readers are encouraged to send their questions to our local Bayou Catholic columnists by email to bayoucatholic@htdiocese.org. www.bayoucatholic.com

Reflections Readings Between The Lines Father Glenn LeCompte

Reflecting on the Easter experience

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During the Easter Season, the RCIA elect and candidates, who are initiated during the Easter Vigil, begin a new phase of their journey. During the period of “Mystagogy,” those initiated at the Easter Vigil reflect upon their experience of celebrating the sacraments. Technically, all fullyinitiated Catholics are invited to do mystagogical reflection for the rest of their lives. In this column I will comment on the Gospels of the Easter Season with the aim of facilitating such reflection.

Easter Vigil Matthew 28:1-10 As is the case with the other three Gospels, Matthew has an account of disciples finding Jesus’ tomb empty. Matthew uniquely interprets Jesus’ resurrection as a victory over death which points to the end-time consummation of God’s Kingdom. Newly-initiated Catholics (neophytes) can draw from this Scripture passage a reflection upon their own triumph over spiritual death, and how through the reception of the sacraments they have been given a foretaste of God’s endtime reign.

Second Sunday of Easter John 20:19-31 While most readers of this passage focus on Thomas’ doubt, they often miss the fact that he makes the greatest statement of faith in John’s Gospel when he acclaims Jesus, “My Lord and my

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

God!” Jesus contrasts Thomas, one who has believed because he has seen the risen Lord, with those who have “not seen, and have believed.

The neophytes might contemplate the blessedness they enjoy because they are among those who have not seen the risen Lord, but believed through the teaching they received.

Third Sunday of Easter Luke 24:13-35 Luke narrates a powerful story that demonstrates the transition of two of Jesus’ disciples from dejection at Jesus’ death to exuberant resurrection faith. The two disciples unknowingly encounter the risen Lord as they travel in sadness from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Two things are necessary for them to come to faith: 1) they must understand that Jesus fulfilled his Messianic role by suffering, dying and rising, and 2) they must come to recognize the presence of the risen Lord in the breaking of the bread. In the course of their faith journey, the neophytes have been instructed in the significance of the Paschal Mystery as the fulfillment of God’s plan. Equipped with that understanding, they too encounter the risen Lord in the breaking of the bread. Neophytes need to connect with the joy and peace that come from understanding the Paschal Mystery and mull over what it means to experience the risen Lord in the eucharistic celebration.

Fourth Sunday of Easter John 10:1-10 Jesus’ parable of the Good Shepherd is rich with images for mystagogical reflection. By using the image of a shepherd caring for sheep to describe his relationship with his followers Jesus intimates that he is a trustworthy guide for

life who will care for and protect them always. By following the Good Shepherd, neophytes can find confidence and security in the midst of life, which is often confusing and at times treacherous. They might reflect on how the Shepherd will feed their spiritual hungers. Jesus’ voice, unlike that of many the new initiates may encounter in the world, can always be counted on to lead them in a safe and life-giving direction. In 10:10, Jesus declares that he has come to give abundant life to his followers. By following the Shepherd, they will enjoy a rich, meaningful and purposeful life.

Fifth Sunday of Easter John 14:1-12 This passage, as well as the next Sunday’s Gospel reading, both from John’s Last Supper Discourses (13:1—17:26), is read liturgically as if the risen Lord were giving final instructions to his disciples before he ascends to the Father.

While the neophytes may be rejoicing in the way their newfound faith has enriched their lives in the here and now, Jesus invites them to reflect upon their ultimate destiny, their eternal union with him and the Father (14:2-3). That ultimate union is not unconnected to their current lives. Jesus in John’s Gospel declares that for the believer, eternal life begins now and continues into eternity (6:54; 11:25-26). Neophytes, then, are invited to consider that their lives are oriented toward eternity, and how their continual consciousness of their ultimate destiny of eternal union with God must shape their current lives. In 14:12, Jesus says that those who believe in him will do the works Jesus does and

a

even greater ones. The neophytes here might be prompted to reflect on how, through their participation in the sacraments, they have been both empowered and commissioned to continue Jesus’ work in today’s world.

Sixth Sunday of Easter John 14:15-21 Although those who enter into a spiritual intimacy with Jesus are obliged to keep his commandments (to love one another and to believe in Jesus as the one sent by God), to do so is not to be viewed as an imposition, but as an act of love.

For guidance in the matter of keeping the commandments, the believer enjoys the gift of Jesus’ own indwelling presence, as well as that of the Paraclete. Neophytes may perpend this indwelling presence of both Jesus and the Spirit and think about how their presence enlightens and enables them to carry out their obligations to Jesus.

Ascension of the Lord Matthew 28:16-20 Although this passage is assigned to the Solemnity of the Ascension

in the A cycle of the Lectionary, Matthew has no ascension. Jesus sends his disciples on a universal evangelization mission to teach what he has “commanded” them, and to baptize, but the risen Lord remains with his church “until the end of the age” (28:20). Now that they have become disciples of the Lord and been formed in his teaching, neophytes should see the commission Jesus gave to the original apostles as being given to them as well. They must discern how they will fulfill the Lord’s

Reflection

command to make disciples.

Pentecost John 20:19-23 Jesus’ act of breathing upon the disciples recalls the ruach (wind/ breath/spirit) which hovers over the chaotic waters of the earth (Genesis 1:2) and is engaged in God’s act of creating the cosmos. Through sacramental initiation, new life is breathed into the neophytes and each becomes a new creation.

Neophytes could ponder how their newness of life is to be expressed practically in their daily living.

Questions

into the ore deeply m e v el d Easter n you do to tion of the n What ca ra u d e th r eries fo Easter myst bove Season? entioned a m gs in d a re re the Scriptu n Which of hy? ues you? W Jesus lead most intrig rrection of su re e th faith in n How does aily living? of joy in d it ir sp a you into 15

Michael S. Haydel, M.D. FIPP • Michael P. Charlet, M.D., FAAN Daniel R. Clayton, PA-C • Donovan J. Matherne, FNP-C • Brandi B. Degruise, FNP-C

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1022 Belanger Street • 985-223-3132 www.painspecialty.net

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www.bayoucatholic.com

ScriptureReadings and a listing of Feast days and saints

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1 April

2

7

8

9

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Sunday

Lenten Weekday Fifth Sunday of Lent Jeremiah 11:18-20 Ezekiel 37:12-14 John 7:40-53 Romans 8:8-11 John 11:1-45

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Lenten Weekday Daniel 13:1-9, 1517, 19-30, 33-62 John 8:1-11

4

Lenten Weekday Numbers 21:4-9 John 8:21-30

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6

Lenten Weekday Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 John 8:31-42

Lenten Weekday Genesis 17:3-9 John 8:51-59

Lenten Weekday Lenten Weekday Jeremiah 20:10-13 Ezekiel 37:21-28 John 10:31-42 John 11:45-56

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11

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13

14

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Monday of Holy Week Isaiah 42:1-7 John 12:1-11

Tuesday of Holy Week Isaiah 49:1-6 John 13:21-33, 36-38

Wednesday of Holy Week Isaiah 50:4-9a Matthew 26:14-25

Holy Thursday Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 John 13:1-15

Good Friday Isaiah 52:13— 53:12 Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 John 18:1—19:42

Holy Saturday Genesis 1:1—2:2 Genesis 22:1-18 Exodus 14:15—15:1 Isaiah 54:5-14 Isaiah 55:1-11 Baruch 3:9-15, 32—4:4 Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28 Romans 6:3-11 Matthew 28:1-10

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Monday within the Octave of Easter Acts 2:14, 22-33 Matthew 28:8-15

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Easter Weekday Acts 4:23-31 John 3:1-8

Tuesday within the Octave of Easter Acts 2:36-41 John 20:11-18

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Feast of St. Mark, evangelist 1 Peter 5:5b-14 Mark 16:15-20

Wednesday within the Octave of Easter Acts 3:1-10 Luke 24:13-35

Thursday within the Octave of Easter Acts 3:11-26 Luke 24:35-48

Friday within the Octave of Easter Acts 4:1-12 John 21:1-14

Saturday within the Octave of Easter Acts 4:13-21 Mark 16:9-15

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Easter Weekday Acts 5:17-26 John 3:16-21

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

Easter Weekday Acts 5:27-33 John 3:31-36

Easter Weekday Acts 5:34-42 John 6:1-15

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord Matthew 2:1-11 Isaiah 50:4-7 Philippians 2:6-11 Matthew 26:14— 27:66

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Solemnity of Easter Acts 10:34a, 37-43 Colossians 3:1-4 John 20:1-9

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Solemnity of the Second Sunday of Easter Acts 2:42-47 1 Peter 1:3-9 John 20:19-31

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April

POSITION AVAILABLE Principal of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School

Holy Father’s prayer intentions

300 Verret Street, Houma, LA 70360 Who May Apply:

A Catholic who is in full communion in the Church

Salary:

Commensurate with qualifications and experience; Comprehensive benefits package included

How to Apply:

Submit a cover letter, resume’, application form, and transcripts to hr@htdiocese.org, or mail to Human Resource Director, P. O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395.

Application may be obtained from www.htdiocese.org/catholic-schools or by calling (985)850-3114.

Applications Due: April 14, 2017

Universal

Youth. That young people may respond generously to their vocations and seriously consider offering themselves to God in the priesthood or consecrated life.

See www.apostleshipofprayer.org

Minimum Qualifications: • Master’s degree in Administration or master’s degree with Administration/Educational Leadership Certification • Have a current Louisiana Teacher’s Certificate • Have a minimum of 5 years teaching experience and 3 years of administrative experience • Excellent spiritual, educational, managerial and communication skills The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against applicants or employees by reason of race, color, religion*, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information of any other basis prohibited by applicable law. * The Diocese, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to require “practicing Catholic” to be a qualification for a position.

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SYNERGY IS LIKE FAMILY TO ME. -Linda Milligan, Customer Service Rep

www.bayoucatholic.com

Young Voices

What do you do to stay focused on living out your faith when the world tries to redirect you to things that aren’t important?

My Catholic faith is a very important part of my life. If I need to focus on what I know is right, I clear my thoughts and repeat a simple prayer over and over asking Jesus for guidance. Distractions are a part of life, and turning to him keeps me on the right path. My family, Father Andre’ (Melancon) and others in my church community are there to listen and advise me as well.

Mark Cheesebrough, 15 years old St. Thomas Aquinas Church parish Thibodaux High School

Even though the pathway to living out my faith can be sidetracked sometimes, there are several things that I do in my daily life to help me push past these obstacles.

One thing I do is I listen to my Christian radio stations while doing homework or reading books to immerse myself in God’s word. What I also do throughout the week is I attend daily Mass to redirect myself from troubles I faced during the week. I also try to surround myself with people who will not try to bring me down away from my faithful life to God, but will bring me closer to him.

Emma Foret, 15 years old Maria Immacolata Church parish Terrebonne High School

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I always pray that God will help me stay on track in my faith. I attend as many church functions as possible such as Steubenville on the Bayou, Youth Rally and TEC. I also always seek prayer and advice from family members and other trusted adults that I know are strong in their faith life as well. Staying connected to people who love Jesus like I do is the most important thing.

Abby Guidry, 15 years old St. Bernadette Church parish Terrebonne High School

I guess I would have to say that when something hinders my life from what God would want it to be, I try to think about if that activity will help me to achieve life after death in heaven. Another factor here is the people partaking in said activity, in which case I think about how they and their actions will reflect on my ability to love and serve the Lord.

Samuel Robert, 16 years old St. Joseph Church parish, Chauvin South Terrebonne High School

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

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)* - Mr. Eledier Broussard - 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 (5) - Orleans & Louella Pitre - Msgr. Joseph Wester - Robert R. Wright, Jr. - Rev. Kermit Trahan - St. Bernadette Men’s Club - Diocesan K of C - Leighton Delahaye - Mrs. Shirley Conrad - Bishop Shelton Fabre - Elizabeth Hebert - Callais Family Fund - Rev. Joseph Tu Tran - Endowment Fund - $119,136.90

February 2017 Burse Contributions Rev. Joseph Tu Tran #2 ...................................... $213.00 Jacob Marcello .................................................. $200.00 Elie & Dot Klingman ........................................... $40.00

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Open Burses with Balance as of 2/28/17

Sidney J. & Lydie C. Duplantis ........... $13,000.00 Donald Peltier, Sr. #4 ............................ $13,000.00 Joseph Strada Memorial ...................... $12,642.63 Msgr. Raphael C. Labit #2 .................. $11,200.00 Harvey Peltier #31 .............................. $10,486.91 Joseph Waitz, Sr. ................................. $10,100.00 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 Mr. & Mrs. George C. Fakier ................. $9,200.00 Elie & Dot Klingman .............................. $9,140.00 Rev. Victor Toth ..................................... $7,000.00 Brides of the Most Blessed Trinity ......... $6,598.00 Msgr. William Koninkx ........................... $6,200.00 Rev. Peter Nies ..................................... $6,000.00 Rev. Guy Zeringue ................................ $5,400.00 Catholic Daughters ................................ $5,225.00 Msgr. Francis Amedee ........................... $5,150.00 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 Society of St. Joseph .............................. $5,000.00 Rev. Kasimir Chmielewski ..................... $4,839.00 Rev. Gerard Hayes ................................ $4,786.00

Joseph “Jay” Fertitta .............................. $4,450.00 Rev. Henry Naquin ................................. $4,331.00 Harry Booker #2 .................................... $4,138.00 Kelly Curole Frazier ............................... $3,610.96 Msgr. James Songy ............................... $3,575.00 J. R. Occhipinti ...................................... $3,400.00 Anawin Community ............................... $3,400.00 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 Mr. & Mrs. John Marmande .................... $2,500.00 Warren J. Harang, Jr. #2 ......................... $2,300.00 Willie & Emelda St. Pierre ...................... $2,000.00 Rev. H. C. Paul Daigle ........................... $1,900.00 Deacon Connely Duplantis ..................... $1,675.00 James J. Buquet, Jr. ............................... $1,650.00 Alfrances P. Martin ................................. $1,650.00 Preston & Gladys Webre ........................ $1,650.00 Msgr. Francis J. Legendre #2 ................ $1,645.00 Rev. Robert J. Sevigny .......................... $1,600.00 Rev. John Gallen .................................... $1,600.00 Rev. Hubert C. Broussard ...................... $1,550.00 Msgr. Emile J. Fossier ........................... $1,545.00 Dr. William Barlette, Sr........................... $1,525.00 Msgr. Stanislaus Manikowski ................ $1,525.00 Deacon Robert Dusse’ ........................... $1,450.00 Jacob Marcello ....................................... $1,400.00

Msgr. John L. Newfield .......................... $1,200.00 Rev. Anthony Rousso ............................. $1,150.00 Judge Louis & Shirley R. Watkins ........... $1,050.00 Ronnie Haydel ....................................... $1,035.00 Rev. Clemens Schneider ....................... $1,000.00 Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux #4 ........... $1,000.00 Msgr. John G. Keller .............................. $1,000.00 Deacon Willie Orgeron ............................. $800.00 Ruby Pierce .............................................. $800.00 Rev. Jospeh Tu Tran #2 ............................. $764.00 Deacon Roland Dufrene ........................... $750.00 Juliette & Eugene Wallace ......................... $700.00 Deacon Edward J. Blanchard ................... $660.00 Edna W. DiSalvo ....................................... $650.00 Deacon Raymond LeBouef ...................... $550.00 Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Cannata .................... $500.00 Bernice Harang ......................................... $500.00 Anne Veron Aguirre ................................... $380.00 Dean Joseph Chiasson ............................. $350.00 Deacon Harold Kurtz ................................ $300.00 Richard Peltier #2 ..................................... $300.00 Claude Bergeron ...................................... $250.00 Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Naquin .......................... $150.00 Deacon Pedro Pujals ................................ $100.00 Deacon Eldon Frazier .............................. $ 50.00 Deacon Nick Messina .............................. $ 50.00 Rev. Warren Chassaniol ........................... $ 50.00

Overall Seminarian Burse Totals: $1,638,838.02 www.bayoucatholic.com

Bishop Shelton Fabre greets 25 catechumens, 37 candidates

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LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre greeted 25 catechumens and 37 candidates of the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux at the Rite of Election of Catechumens and the Rite of the Call to Continuing Conversion of Candidates ceremony on the first Sunday of Lent at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma.

The catechumens, those who have not been baptized, are called forth by name. Pastors, godparents, catechists and members of the faith community give witness to the bishop that the “chosen”

catechumens are appropriately prepared for the Easter sacraments. The catechumens are then invited to sign their name in the Book of the Elect. The “elect” keep the Lenten season as their final preparation before they come forward at the Easter Vigil to accept the sacred mysteries of the Easter sacraments. This is called the “Period of Purification and Enlightenment.”

Catechumens from the church parishes of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux are: Jacob

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Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

Heigl, St. Anthony of Padua, Bayou Black; Stephanie Lapeyrouse, Jesse Pellegrin, St. Ann, Bourg; Butch Billiot, Sienna Bruce, St. Joseph, Chauvin; Case Lovell, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma; Aeriel Brown, Avayen Falgout, Sharon Pellegrin, Reginald Roberts, St. Bernadette, Houma; Gabrielle Cantrelle, Felicia Joseph, Joseph Twiner III, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma; Christie Guidry, St. Eloi, Theriot; Renae Sevin, Sacred Heart, Cut Off; Travis Spence, St. Joseph,

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Galliano; Jamee LeBlanc, Our Lady of the Isle, Grand Isle; Jennifer Young, Holy Cross, Morgan City; Ian Achee, Joshua Francois, Sacred Heart, Morgan City; Gabriel Ledet, Andre Victor, Christ the Redeemer, Thibodaux; Kali Bourg, St. John the Evangelist, Thibodaux; Fleming Moore, St. Luke the Evangelist, Thibodaux; Holly Wolfe, St. Thomas Aquinas, Thibodaux.

The candidates are those who are already baptized in another Christian tradition and desire to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church or those uncatechized Catholics completing their Christian initiation. In a process of formation similar to the catechumenate, these candidates who have been prepared within the parish are presented to the bishop and he celebrates with them the Rite of the Call to Continuing Conversion to be enacted in their parish during Lent to become full members in the Catholic Church.

Candidates from the church parishes of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux are: April Zeringue, St. Louis, Bayou Blue; Brooke Giordano, Ashley Triplett, Annunziata, Houma; Cammey Domangue, Ian Dombrowski, Brittany Soileau, Gavin Thibodeaux, St. Bernadette, Houma; Alexandra Cantrelle, Hollyn Davis, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma; Shantelle Smith, St. Lucy, Houma; Diana Chaisson, St. Charles Borromeo, Pointe-aux-Chenes; Ted Garner, Maria Immacolata, Houma; Taryn Boudreaux, Constance Cochran, Sacred Heart, Cut Off; Macy Angelette, Tristan Doucet, Alexus Lirette,

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LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Catechumen Ian Achee, of Sacred Heart Church parish in Morgan City, signs the Book of the Elect during the Rite of Election at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma on the first Sunday of Lent, as Deacon Lee Crochet, diocesan director for the Office of RCIA, looks on.

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LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER PHOTOS/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre greets candidate Cammey Domangue, of St. Bernadette Church parish in Houma, during the Rite of Election. In the photo above sponsors placed their right hand on the candidates’ shoulders as a sign of their support during the rite.

22 St. Joseph, Galliano; Mona Santiny, Our Lady of the Isle, Grand Isle; Keenan Cortez, Melissa Credeur, Peyton Landry, St. Lawrence the Martyr, Kraemer; Terry Adams, James Davis, James Hale Jr., Callie Lavergne, Bryan Robin, Tina Trombley, Holy Cross, Morgan City; John Hickman, Travis Leonard, Christ the Redeemer, Thibodaux; Amber Erwin, Andrew Erwin, Jamie Ledet, St. Genevieve, Thibodaux; Renee Leblanc, St. John the Evangelist, Thibodaux; Blake Westerman, Sarah Youens, St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux; Logan Cavalier, Hailey Sellers, St. Thomas Aquinas, Thibodaux.

Those who participated in the ceremony were Very Rev. Joshua Rodrigue, master of ceremonies; Deacon Stephen Brunet and Deacon Linwood Liner, assisting master of ceremonies; Deacon Joseph Bourgeois Sr., Deacon John Mattingly, Deacon Chris Prestenback, bishop’s deacons; Deacon Chris Prestenback, deacon of the Gospel; Teddy Neil, cross bearer; James Lefevre, book bearer; Richard Guidry, thurifer; Timothy Vedros and Larry Callais, candle bearers; Ulyse “Woody” Louviere, miter bearer; Timothy White, crozier bearer; Catherine Butler, book of the elect; Margaret Orgeron, commentator; Greg Landry and Carmen Chauff, readers; Amy Adams, psalmist; Rev. Glenn LeCompte, Rev. Joseph Pilola, Amy Adams, Zachary Barker, Kim Champagne, Ellen Heidenreich, Becky Plaisance, music ministry/intercessions; deacons’ wives, hospitality ministers; Deacon Randall Jennings, Upper Lafourche Deanery; Deacon Jesse LeCompte, South Lafourche Deanery; Deacon Malcolm Andry, Terrebonne Deanery; calling of the names.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

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Many are Called, Few are Chosen This Easter season, there will be a Diocesan Collection for Education to Ministry April 15 - 16

Brooks Lirette

Brooks Cooks a:

QUICK

SHRIMP MEAL Story and Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

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This month’s heavenly recipe comes from Brooks Lirette, program manager for Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s Coastal Entrepreneurs’ Net To Success (CENTS) program. Brooks is sharing her recipe for lemon Italian shrimp, which she says is quick and easy.

“Like most working moms, I’m busy with work and a child in school. This recipe is both quick and easy, and good for you. It is also great for people who do the Paleo diet. It is carb free and gluten free,” she says.

Brooks has been working with the CENTS program for the past six years. The Houma native and her husband Todd have two children.

Dylan is a sophomore at St. Ben’s Seminary; and Lexie is a seventh grade student at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School in Houma.

As CENTS program manager she teaches people how to start their own business or help those with a small business improve their business. “We cover a wide range of topics which include feasibility, market research and a need for your product or service in your area. During the nine-week course we also cover legal issues, marketing, budgeting, a business plan, pricing, financial statements, insurance and tax education. We have a very diverse group attending the classes. I have seen people come to the class and realize that maybe it is not in their best interest to start a business. It is considered a smart step that is necessary in many cases.”

Brooks is very proud of her two children. She says she is grateful to have a son studying for the priesthood. “It is humbling and a blessing combined. I am so proud of Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

LEMON ITALIAN SHRIMP

INGREDIENTS: 1-1/2 lbs. headless shrimp 2 lemons 1-1/2 sticks margarine 1 package dry Italian seasoning mix

DIRECTIONS: Melt butter over stove or in microwave and pour into dish or pan. Slice one lemon and layer it on top of the butter. Toss shrimp in seasoning mix and add to lemons and butter. Take the other lemon and squeeze over shrimp. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Very quick and easy Great for Paleo or gluten-free diet

him and his accomplishments. Dylan has always been a humble child. He is also wiser beyond his years. He has been on this journey since he was 12 years old,” she says.

She has learned much about seminary life and the support seminarians need. “It is my hope that the faithful of the diocese get to know the seminarians, especially those who have a seminarian from their own church parish. Not enough people know about our seminarians and the process involved in becoming a priest.”

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St.Lucy

Bayou Patrons

Patron Saint of the blind and eye disorders

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Story by Janet Marcel Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

Continuing our Bayou Patrons series, this month’s featured saint is Lucy, a brave, young woman from Syracuse (Sicily) who vowed to live her life in service of Christ and was executed during the persecution of Christians in the early fourth century.

Though the details of Lucy’s life remain largely unknown, the fact is that during her lifetime Christians were forced to endure horrific torture and often met painful ends because of their faith.

Because people wanted to shed light on Lucy’s bravery, legends began to crop up. The one that has passed the test of time was that Lucy’s mother tried to arrange a marriage for her with a pagan. Lucy knew her mother could not be swayed by a young girl’s vow, so she devised a plan to convince her mother that Christ was the better partner for life. After several prayers at the tomb of Saint Agatha, Lucy saw the saint in a dream. Saint Agatha told Lucy her mother’s illness would be cured through faith, which Lucy used

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

to persuade her mother to give the dowry money to the poor and allow her to commit her life to God. While Lucy and her mother were grateful to God, the rejected bridegroom was deeply angered and betrayed Lucy’s faith to the governor Paschasius, who attempted to force her into defilement at a brothel. However, when the guards came to take her away they were unable to move her, even after hitching her to a team of oxen.

The guards then heaped bundles of wood around her but they wouldn’t burn; so they finally resorted to their swords and Lucy met her death.

Her veneration spread to Rome so that by the sixth century the whole church recognized her courage in defense of the faith.

Lucy’s legend did not end with her death. According to later accounts, Lucy warned Paschasius he would be punished. When the governor heard this he ordered the guards to gouge out her eyes; however, in another telling, it was Lucy who removed her eyes

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in an attempt to discourage a persistent suitor who greatly admired them. When her body was being prepared for burial, it was discovered that her eyes had been restored (www.catholic. org/saints).

According to the history of St. Lucy Church parish in Houma, says Father Carl Diederichs, administrator since October 2015, “St. Lucy’s mission church was named in honor of the patron saint of H.L. Bourgeois’ late mother, a devoted Catholic who took an interest in the neglected Negro children of the church” (Rev. John A. McShane, S.S.J., founding pastor).

Lucy, whose name means “light” or “lucid,” is the patron saint of the blind and eye disorders.

In paintings, she is often depicted with a golden plate holding her eyes and frequently holds a palm branch, which is a symbol of victory over evil. Her feast day is Dec. 13. www.bayoucatholic.com

Vandebilt senior Hayden Cagle named a National Merit Finalist Story by Janet Marcel Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier Hayden Cagle, senior at Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma, was recently named a National Merit Finalist by the National Merit® Scholarship 28 Program, an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955.

Hayden is the son of Sam and Madeline Cagle. He has an older sister, a younger sister and a younger brother. They are parishioners of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Thibodaux.

More than anything, Hayden says he was excited when he learned that he had been named a National Merit Finalist.

“I feel like putting as much effort as possible into your school work is something you should be doing anyway so to be recognized for doing what I should be doing is humbling. Even though I put in work over the years to get this, it’s certainly not just me. I’m grateful to everybody around me who helped to form me into the best person I could be and achieve what I have.

They deserve a lot of the credit.”

Hayden runs cross country, is a member of campus ministry, National Honor Society and co-president of the Pro-Life club. In his free time, Hayden takes piano lessons and says playing helps him relieve stress. He enjoys reading and watching movies, as well.

In the fall, he plans to attend the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to major in either biology or chemistry as a foundation for pre-med.

“I’m going to miss all of the people I’ve gotten to know so well over the last five years at Vandebilt. I feel fortunate to have been able to attend a Catholic school. Having the religion classes and faith support has helped me to take everything in stride. When I am working hard and start to get overwhelmed, I know I have a place to go where I can calm myself, reflect and get back to what I was doing. We have great teachers Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

here that walk with you on your journey and help keep you grounded.”

Wendy Matherne, Vandebilt’s senior high guidance counselor, says, “Hayden Cagle is much more than a standardized test score or GPA. He is genuine, humble, and a true gift to our school community as well as the Terrebonne and Lafourche parish communities. He gives of his service to those in need without a second thought. Hayden’s rule of life is putting others before himself and using the gifts God has blessed him with to the fullest of his ability. I have witnessed him practice this all year. His love and appreciation for his family, school community and religious beliefs are ingrained in his everyday life.”

About 1.6 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2015 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants.

National Merit Finalists are the highest-scoring entrants in each state and represent less than one percent of each state’s high school seniors. Information about a semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received are submitted by the student and his high school to support this nomination. The student must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test. Semifinalists meeting these requirements are then confirmed as National Merit Finalists.

Vandebilt Catholic High School has had a total of 41 National Merit Scholars.

Jeremy Becker

begins new journey with Nicholls State University Story by Janet Marcel

Jeremy Becker left his position as director of the Office of Stewardship & Development for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux at the end of March after serving in this capacity for over 12 years. He held this position since February 2010, and previously from January 1999 until August 2004.

The Thibodaux native is a graduate of E.D. White Catholic High School. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Nicholls State University in 1995 and completed a master’s of business administration in 1997. Becker is currently a resident of Schriever and has been married to Dawn Richard for 20 years. The couple has one daughter, Sydney, 10, who is a fourth grader at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School. They are parishioners of the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma.

In 2004, Becker went to work for Letter Concepts Inc. as vice president overseeing fund raising campaigns for church parishes and dioceses throughout the country. He also served as executive director of Bayou Area Habitat for Humanity for three years before returning to the diocese to resume his position as director of the Office of Stewardship & Development.

Becker recalls three accomplishments that he is proud to have been able to contribute to while serving the diocese. The first, he explains, was working with Bishop Emeritus Sam G. Jacobs and the initial board members to create the Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana.

Jeremy Becker with a group on a Rome Pilgrimage

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Jeremy Becker holds a Jerusalem Cross that he acquired during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

The second is that overall giving to the diocese – which includes the funds he helped raise through the Annual Bishop’s Appeal, the Catholic schools’ Annual Fund Drives and the Catholic Foundation – has gone up every year he’s been here. “It is gratifying when you talk to someone who’s excited about their gift because they know it’s going to make a difference,” says Becker.

And lastly, he is proud that he was able to create the Pilgrimage program for the people of the diocese.

Becker organized six pilgrimages to Rome and two to the Holy Land. Being able to experience these pilgrimages with others has produced some of his most memorable moments while working for the diocese.

“Having someone come to me after a few months or even years and tell me that something I helped to create was one of the most important things they’ve ever done for their Catholic faith, actually seeing people’s faith strengthen based on things we did or locations we visited, celebrating Mass on the spot where Jesus was laid to rest or on a boat in the Sea of

Galilee; watching the excitement on someone’s face as they get to meet or see the pope up close … all of these are things I’ll never forget,” says Becker.

The relationships he’s made with his co-workers and all of the priests throughout the diocese, as well as the bonds he’s formed with parishioners, especially those that have attended the pilgrimages with him are what Becker says he has enjoyed most about working for the diocese.

As the new executive director of the Nicholls Foundation for Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Becker will be working with the foundation’s board in an effort to provide funding for long term initiatives such as endowment funds that can assist with salaries for professors, scholarships for students, and other university needs like athletics and campus organizations.

As he begins this next chapter of his life, Becker says what he will miss most about working for the diocese will be the people at the Pastoral Center and the great work environment there.

Very Rev. Jay L. Baker and Jeremy Becker in the Jordan River

Jeremy Becker with a group on a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land www.bayoucatholic.com

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Diocesan Events

www.bayoucatholic.com

April

n Free income tax preparation and e-filing is available every Tuesday until April 11 from 9 a.m.–3 p.m., on the second floor of the Terrebonne Parish Main Library, for individuals/families making up to $55,000. n C.E.N.T.S. will be offering the Small Business Course beginning in April through Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. This course is designed to help people who are interested in starting a small business or currently have one. It will be held one evening a week for nine weeks with a different business topic discussed each week. There is a $20 fee for the nine week session. Anyone who is interested in participating may call Brooks Lirette at (985) 876-0490 to schedule an orientation appointment. n Holy Hour of Adoration for Men, Sunday, April 2, 7-8 p.m., Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma. n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, April 4, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311 in Schriever, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Speaker, Bishop Emeritus Sam G. Jacobs. n Adult Faith Formation: Pastoral Theology and Administration, Wednesday, April 5, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall in Schriever, 6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Kathy Lirette. n Rachel’s Vineyard ministry for healing after abortion retreat,

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May

n Mass for the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, Monday, May 1, 6:30 p.m., St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux. n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, May 2, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311 in Schriever, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Speaker, Deacon James Brunet Jr. n “A New Start,” a reconciliation workshop for American Indians,

June

n Ordinations to the priesthood, Saturday June 3, St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux, 10 a.m. n Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s 40th anniversary vespers, Saturday June 3, St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux, 7 p.m. n Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s 40th anniversary Mass with Bishop Shelton J. Fabre promulgating the Strategic Plan, Sunday,

you

c i l o h Cat

April 7–9 at Rosaryville Retreat Center, 39003 Rosaryville Road, Pontchatoula. Cost is $170; financial assistance available. This Catholic healing retreat is open to anyone whose life has been touched by abortion. For more information/to register, contact: Pam Richard at (504) 460-9360 or (985) 809-0773, by email: richj504@bellsouth.net; or Melanie Baglow at (504) 889-2431 or (504) 710-6458, by email: mkbaglow@cox.net. Retreat is strictly confidential. n Youth Rally, Saturday, April 8, Vandebilt Catholic High School, Houma, beginning at Noon. Onsite registration is accepted. n In commemoration of the first celebration of the sacrament of matrimony in St. Joseph parish in Thibodaux, April 11, 1820, when Felicité Breau married Joseph Heber, anniversary couples celebrating 25, 40, 50, 60 and beyond years of marriage will be honored Tuesday, April 11 at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, 6:30 p.m. n Chrism Mass, Thursday, April 13, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma, 10:30 a.m. n Firemen’s Mass, Sunday April 30, St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, 9:30 a.m., preceded by the St. Valerie procession from the fire station on Tetreau Street to the Co-Cathedral at 8:30 a.m. Bishop Shelton J. Fabre, presider.

May 5-7 at the Lumen Christi Retreat center in Schriever. Encounter Christ in the core of your spirit and develop a deeper relationship with yourself, others and God’s creation. For more information, call (985) 688-8145. n Holy Hour of Adoration for Men, Sunday, May 7, 7-8 p.m., Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma.

June 4, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma, 2 p.m. n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, June 6, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311 in Schriever, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Speaker, Father Andre Melancon. n Steubenville on the Bayou Catholic Youth Conference, June 16-18, Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, Houma.

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Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

Book Reviews

Books for Living Reading with Raymond Raymond Saadi

By Will Schwalbe Knopf $25.95 The author loves to read and share the nuggets of wisdom he gleans from books like The Importance of Living by Lin Yutang, his obvious favorite.

Yutang “makes a case for loafing, savoring food and drink, for not striving too much.” Sounds good to me. The book that touched me the most was John Gunther’s Death Be Not Proud written about the last 15 months of his 170 year old son’s life, the most poignant words from the boy’s mother; “I wish we had loved Johnny more.” Similar wishes are often heard today. Schwalbe’s insights are sure to stimulate your love of reading.

Signals

By Tim Gautreaux Knopf $26.95 Gautreaux’s stories will draw you in from the first lines and its’ fascinating characters: The Furnace Man who braves a raging winter storm to restart a broken furnace and save a young boy’s life; the Piano Tuner who tries his hand at matchmaking a young widow with a newcomer; an obviously (to police) drunk woman who it turns out has just had a root canal. I loved them all, especially the one about an amateur novelist who goes looking for the man who gave him a bad Amazon review. If you’ve never read Gautreaux before, this collection will introduce you to a superb storyteller.

According to Your Mercy

By Martin Shannon, C.J. Paraclete Press $14.99 Psalms for Lent, interpreted by the author with follow up commentary by several church fathers, ending with a closing prayer.

Metaphors be With You An A to Z Dictionary of History’s Greatest Metaphorical Quotations

By Dr. Mardy Grothe Harper $19.99 Fans of puns won’t be alone in enjoying this entertaining and instructive book on metaphors featuring his 10 favorites on 250 topics. And, if that’s not enough, each subject features a QR code you can scan with your smartphone or tablet for hundreds more. You’ll find John Cheever’s, “I can’t write without a reader. It’s precisely like a kiss—you can’t do it alone.” and Robert Frost’s, “Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length.” Many you won’t find in other collections. You can read it to learn or just be entertained. You won’t be disappointed.

Never Never

By James Patterson & Candice Fox Little, Brown $28 Patterson introduces a new character, Harry Blue, who’s faced with a dilemma. Her brother has been arrested and charged with murdering three women. Harry’s experience and background could aid his defense but, to protect the police department from favoritism, she’s sent instead to a desert outpost to solve the case of a missing person. What she finds there may have her go missing, too.

Meditations for Lent

By Jacques Benigne Bossuet Sophia Books $12.95 A week-by-week, day-by day narrative of events during Lent with biblical references to inspire prayer and devotion. www.bayoucatholic.com

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LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

The sacred relic of St. Valerie, sealed in a waxen statue representing a young woman, is displayed in a coffin-like reliquary of oak and glass at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux.

Devotion to St. Valerie

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Thibodaux Firemen’s Mass is April 30

By Janet Marcel Devotion to St. Valerie, who is considered to be the patron saint of Thibodaux especially invoked for protection from storms and floods, can be traced back to1868 when Pere Charles Menard procured part of the arm bone of Valerie from Cardinal Constantino Patrizi Naro while on a pilgrimage in Rome and brought it back to Thibodaux for the veneration of his parishioners.

The prized relic was placed in a box of pasteboard, sealed in a waxen statue which represented a young woman and dressed in a robe of silk moire embroidered with gold and a crimson tunic of velvet and gold, then laid in a coffin-like reliquary of oak and glass. On the morning of April 18, 1868, the reliquary of Saint Valerie arrived from New Orleans on the steamboat Nina Simmes by way of Bayou Lafourche.

Thibodaux firemen unloaded the reliquary in Donaldsonville and led a procession in her honor to the altar of St. Joseph Church.

On May 25, 1916, a fire began in the sacristy of St. Joseph Church.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

Cries of “Save St. Valerie! Save St. Valerie!” were said to have been heard from onlookers who watched the fire engulf the church. The reliquary, one of the few objects saved from the ruins, was brought to the Mount Carmel Convent Chapel until a new church was built (Cross, Crozier, and Crucible, Glenn R. Conrad, The Roman Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, 1993).

In an article written for Bayou Catholic in 1991 by the late Lee A. Martin, author and historian, he recounted how the Thibodaux firemen responded quickly to the May 1916 fire with all of their equipment, but because of the town’s inadequate water system, the blaze was soon completely out of control.

“The Thibodaux firemen were undoubtedly the saddest and most frustrated of the city’s residents.

Most were Catholic and all were dedicated firemen. … At a time when firemen were needed most and at a time when they most wanted to help, they were forced to watch helplessly as their venerated

church burned to a mere shell.”

The relic was transferred back to St. Joseph Church April 26, 1925, atop a fire truck belonging to Hook and Ladder Fire Co., as parishioners lined the streets to show their devotion to St. Valerie.

The Thibodaux firemen, who also consider St. Valerie to be their patron, have always participated in the St. Valerie procession that is sponsored by St. Joseph CoCathedral on or near her Feast Day, which is April 28.

A Fireman’s Mass is celebrated annually the weekend before the Fireman’s Fair at one of three churches in Thibodaux: St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Christ the Redeemer or St. Genevieve.

In conjunction with St. Joseph Co-Cathedral’s 200 anniversary this year, Bishop Shelton J. Fabre will celebrate the Fireman’s Mass at the Co-Cathedral, Sunday, April 30 at 9:30 a.m. The St. Valerie procession will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Thibodaux Fire Department’s Tetreau Street station and end at the Co-Cathedral.

Vandy girls experience once in a lifetime opportunity at Carnegie Hall Story by Janet Marcel Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier 34

Two Vandebilt Catholic High School students recently traveled to New York City to perform at the 2017 High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall.

Junior Harley Trahan and sophomore Carlie Hay were chosen for this once in a lifetime opportunity from among thousands of student applicants worldwide. Harley played the French horn as a member of the honors symphony orchestra and Carlie sang with the honors concert choir.

The High School Honors Performance Series

challenges elite students to perform at their very best.

The honor of participation is limited to select high school performers. In most cases, qualified students are invited to apply after having been nominated by a music teacher familiar with their accomplishments.

Selected finalists receive the opportunity to work with and learn from renowned master conductors as they prepare for and perform at a truly world-class venue – Carnegie Hall – for New York concert-going patrons, educators and family.

Harley, who has been playing the French

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horn since fifth grade, is currently the drum major for the Vandebilt marching band and a member of the winter guard and indoor winds. She was nominated by her band director, Brad Adams, who accompanied her on the trip.

As part of the application process, Harley had to submit a recording of herself playing a certain song.

When she went to the band room to record it, there was something going on in there so she ended up recording the piece in the school’s chapel. “I think it was divine intervention,” says Harley, “because the recording sounded so beautiful in the chapel.”

Harley says she had to wait four months before she found out if she was chosen. “I just started crying when I found out because I didn’t think I was going to make it. It was so awesome! … Then, when I finally got my music to rehearse, I found out I was going to be first chair.”

She is so grateful to her grandparents for paying for her trip. Harley says when she told them about it and how much the trip would cost, her grandfather immediately told her he couldn’t let her miss this incredible opportunity.

“The trip was so much fun. We had to rehearse a lot, but we also got to go to a Broadway show and see other sights like the Top of the Rock,” she says.

Harley says she definitely wants to play in the band in college and plans to either major or minor in music to be a performer with the hope that she can travel the world. She is the daughter of Rhonda and Tracey Trahan and has two older brothers. They are parishioners of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Church parish in Houma.

Carlie says she has been singing her entire life but started taking voice lessons when she was 10 or 11 years old. She has been a member of Vandebilt’s choir since the eighth grade and it was her choir director, Sarah Todd, who nominated her for the Carnegie Hall experience. Carlie is also a member of VC theatre and the drama and art clubs.

“When I found out that I had been chosen, at first I was in shock, then I was really happy. I just felt so lucky and very blessed and thankful for this experience. It’s my dream to sing on Broadway,” says Carlie with a smile. “But if that doesn’t happen, I’d still like to work with the technical aspect of things backstage.”

Besides performing at Carnegie Hall and rehearsing, students were given time to see some of the iconic New York City landmarks. Carlie, whose parents traveled with her, went to a Broadway show, and attended a Finalist Celebration Cruise aboard a private yacht that sailed down the Hudson River where they were able to see the Statue of Liberty.

Carlie says approximately 18,000 students auditioned and there were about 200 people in the choir.

“Singing (at Carnegie Hall) was surreal. You get on stage and it’s like, ‘wow, I’m really here!’ I was kind of nervous until I stepped on the stage and then everything just goes away,” says Carlie.

Carlie is the daughter of Alyssia Hay and Steven Hay, and she has one brother and two stepbrothers.

They are parishioners of Annunziata Church parish in Houma.

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35

The month of the Eucharist Thoughts for Millennials

36

T

Ryan Abboud

The month of April is perhaps one of the most significant months in the Catholic Church due to its title as the month that is dedicated to the holy Eucharist. The Catechism of the Catholic Church refers to the Eucharist as the “source and summit of Christian life,” which denotes just how significant this month’s designation is.

Traditionally, April is an incredibly unique time of year in regards to the Liturgical Calendar and the four seasons. Liturgically, April is the time of year where we solemnly consider Jesus’ suffering and death while recounting his last days on earth. We wrap up our Lenten journey wiwth Holy Week and walk with Jesus on Good Friday as we fast and pray.

However, soon after the closing of Lent, we rejoice in his resurrection and spend the remainder of April celebrating life! We also experience Divine Mercy Sunday shortly after Easter which gives us a chance to revisit the astonishing mercy of God through his

forgiveness. In regards to the four seasons, the earth exults with us as flowers bloom and spring emerges into our Louisiana air. The correlation of weather patterns and the church’s commemoration of Jesus’ resurrection provides for a strong, prevailing, and evident display of cheerfulness and joy.

But wait, the month of April gets better! This year Pope Francis has assigned a prayer intention to every month of the year. He asks that the universal church join him in praying for the designated intention for that specific month. For the month of April, Pope Francis asks that the church unite in prayer in petition for young people, and that they may “respond generously to their vocations and seriously consider offering themselves to God in the priesthood or consecrated life.”

So millennials, this month is for you! I invite you all to pray for yourselves and to pray for each other as we journey through this month. Together, united through prayer, may we see the paths that God is laying out for us in our lives, and may we be made conscious to the possibility of our call to religious life. As youth, the struggles that we face regarding planning our lives and “having it all together” are increasingly difficult.

But this month in particular, we pray for the gift of guidance from God and that he may open our ears.

All in all, the month of April is such an incredible time of the year for Catholics. There are many opportunities to strengthen our union with God, and I invite you all to take advantage of them. May we all have the consciousness to take a step back and smell the flowers – both liturgically and literally! Also, don’t forget to celebrate the Eucharist during this commemorative month. St. Maximillian Kolbe once said that “If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion.” All too often, we take the gift of the holy Eucharist for granted. I invite you to receive the Eucharist often and deliberately this month. Happy April!

(Ryan Abboud is a 2015 graduate of Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma and a sophomore at LSU in Baton Rouge.)

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Vandy girls are state soccer champs The Vandebilt Catholic High School girls’ soccer team took home their second straight Division III state championship title after scoring the winning goal in second overtime at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans recently. This is the fourth state championship for girls’ soccer in the school’s history. Members of the winning team pictured back row, from left, are, Anna Doskey, Morgan Alston, Madeline Haydel, Megan Blanchard, Gillian Breaux, Sarah Boudreaux, Camryn Beebe, Reagan Chauvin, Rylie Neal, Gabrielle Bergeron, Eleana Callejas; middle row, Sophia Bouzigard, Katie Haydel, Maria Smith, Katherine Prentice, Molly Thompson; and front row, Lauren Andre’, Julianne DeBlieux, Hannah Cuneo, Emma Guidry, Grace Champagne, Karoline Calongne, Julia Wood.

Steubenville on the Bayou Catholic Youth Conference is June 16-18

By Shawn Lapeyrouse The 12th annual Steubenville on the Bayou Catholic Youth Conference is set for June 16-18 at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center in Houma. A Steubenville Catholic Youth Conference is an event that addresses the needs of today’s Catholic youth.

Steubenville on the Bayou is co-sponsored by Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, and Lift 3:16, Inc., a nonprofit based in Houma. The theme for the 2017 conferences is “Elevate,” which is taken from the Book of Revelation 21:5, “Behold, I make all things new.”

Franciscan University explains: From his throne in heaven to the depths of your heart, these words of Jesus are an invitation for you to receive the new life that he alone can give. He is longing to elevate your life above the things of this world – to help you overcome fear, anxiety, confusion and doubt. He wants to break the things that hold you down and give you freedom

from sin. He is calling you to follow him and enter into a transforming experience with his love, grace and mercy! He can make you new!

Our Ministry Team will consist of: Chris Padgett, host; More Than Sunday, worship team; Emily Wilson, Kris Frank, Matt Fradd and Bishop Emeritus Sam G. Jacobs, speakers. Bishop Shelton J. Fabre, will be the main celebrant for the closing Mass.

Registration for the youth conference is currently open for groups ($150/participant, youth must register with a group, individual registrations not accepted), Mercy Crew (a service retreat for young adults ages 18-29) and LEAD participants (Leadership, Evangelization And Discipleship retreat for youth held the week prior to the conference).

Please check our website, www.

SteubenvilleOnTheBayou.com, for more information on these opportunities.

(Shawn Lapeyrouse is a cofounder of Lift 3:16, a nonprofit

organization formed to oversee the Steubenville on the Bayou Catholic Youth Conference that takes place in the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux.)

www.bayoucatholic.com

37

Very Rev. Simon Peter Engurait, V.G.

38

Very Rev. Mark Toups, V.G.

Very Rev. Jay Baker, J.C.L.

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

Rev. Mitchel Semar

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre announces new diocesan leadership Bishop Shelton J. Fabre recently introduced the following leadership changes for the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux.

Very Rev. Simon Peter Engurait, V.G., who has been serving the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux as moderator of the curia and coordinator of Christian formation since May 2016, has been appointed vicar general of administration, effective immediately. He will remain administrator of St. Bridget Church parish in Schriever where he has served since February 2017. As vicar general, Very Rev. Engurait will be responsible for the executive management of the diocesan Pastoral Center and will assist Bishop Fabre with the overall administration of the diocese.

Prior to his ordination to the priesthood in 2013, Very Rev. Engurait specialized in business analysis and administration for 11 years while working professionally

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

for the federal government of Uganda. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and public administration, and the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, as well as a master’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in theology.

“It is a great honor and I am humbled,” says Very Rev. Engurait. “More importantly, it is a tremendous responsibility entrusted to me and I trust that the Lord who calls also empowers.

I look forward to closely supporting the bishop in his role as shepherd, forming disciples and building the Kingdom of God here in HoumaThibodaux.”

Very Rev. Mark Toups, V.G., who has been serving the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux as chancellor since October 2015, has been appointed vicar general of parish life, effective immediately. He will be responsible for coordinating the

implementation of the diocesan strategic plan and will assist Bishop Fabre with the presbyterial needs of pastors while providing a pastoral presence in parishes.

Prior to his ordination to the priesthood in 2001, Very Rev. Toups worked professionally in change management and strategic planning while employed by the world’s largest management consulting firm. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history, the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, and a master’s degree in theology. A certified spiritual director, he has served the Institute for Priestly Formation since 2003 as an adjunct professor of spiritual theology, spiritual director, and program coordinator for the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

“I love our diocese: the people, our history, and the mission that has been given to us. I have

a

great hope for our future,” says Very Rev. Toups. “It is an honor to be asked to serve in any capacity and I am humbled to embrace a new chapter of service. It has been a profound pleasure to work with Bishop Fabre since his arrival and I look forward to serving him, our pastors and our parishes.”

Very Rev. Jay L. Baker, J.C.L., who has been serving the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux as vicar general since July 2003, has been appointed chancellor and vicar for priests, effective immediately. He will remain pastor of St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux. As chancellor, Very Rev. Baker will serve as a special consultant to the bishop. As vicar for priests, he will coordinate a variety of presbyterial programs such as priests’ continuing education, initiatives for newly ordained priests, initiatives for new pastors, etc.

Very Rev. Baker holds a licentiate of canon law, a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, and a master’s degree in theology.

“It has been my honor to serve Bishops Fabre and Jacobs as their vicar general as well as Msgr.

Songy in sede vacante before them,” says Very Rev. Baker. “I am humbled by the amount of responsibility these men shouldered. Even when I could not

SINCE FAST st Intere Free cing Finan

help carry their load, it was always my hope to walk alongside them in prayerful support. I appreciate Bishop Fabre’s confidence in appointing me to serve him as chancellor and vicar for priests and, again, I look forward to walking with him in this new capacity in the years ahead.”

Bishop Fabre says of the three new appointments: “I am deeply grateful to Father Simon Peter Engurait, Father Mark Toups and to Father Jay Baker for their willingness to assume these new roles in service to the priests, people and church parishes in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. I am thankful for their willingness to give so generously of themselves and their time in assisting me in providing for the administrative and pastoral needs of our diocese.

Each of them has great gifts that will serve well in the areas of responsibility that they are assuming, and I look forward to our ongoing efforts to form missionary disciples and to build up the Kingdom of God here in our area.”

In addition to the curia appointments, the following appointments were also made.

Very Rev. Joshua Rodrigue, S.T.L., who has been serving the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in the Vocations Office since 2010 and as pastor of the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma

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since July 2012, has been granted permission to serve as the director of Pastoral Formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. As director of Pastoral Formation, Very Rev. Rodrigue will help seminarians appropriate and apply their theological study, teaching them how to be effective pastors. His appointment is effective July 1.

Very Rev. Rodrigue holds a licentiate in sacred theology, a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology, philosophy and liberal arts. He has served on the faculty at Saint Joseph Seminary College since 2006, as an adjunct professor of both moral and sacramental theology with specialization on holy orders and the priesthood.

Beginning July 1, Bishop Fabre will serve as pastor of the Cathedral parish and Very Rev. Toups as administrator.

Rev. Mitchel Semar has been appointed diocesan assistant 39 director of Seminarians, assigned to seminarians at St. Joseph Seminary College, effective July 1. He will remain pastor of Christ the Redeemer Church parish in Thibodaux.

Rev. André Melancon, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church parish in Thibodaux, will remain diocesan director of Seminarians, assigned to seminarians at Notre Dame Seminary.

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Sports

Saints actions indicate a team looking to win

Overtime

H 40

Ed Daniels

He didn’t get fed enough in New Orleans. And, now he’s off to New England.

As he departs, here’s a number Brandin Cooks should ponder.

In 2016, seven different New England Patriots had at least three touchdown receptions.

The numbers were certainly skewed by the fact that tight end Rob Gronkowski played only five games due to injury.

But, the numbers are the numbers.

And, the Patriots leading receiver in 2016, Julian Edelman caught 98 passes, but scored only three touchdowns.

In the meantime, the chatter is ceaseless about how the Patriots

fleeced the Saints in the trade.

The Saints traded Cooks and a fourth round pick to New England for the last pick in the first round (No. 32) and a third round pick.

Did you think the Saints were going to do better?

The Saints were clearly looking to unload Cooks, and getting a first and third in return is solid value.

The trade of Cooks fits the narrative of a team looking to the short term.

The Saints now have three of the top 42 picks in the draft, and five of the top 103.

At pick 11, the Saints will have a chance to add another piece to their defense.

At pick 32, the club will have a multitude of options.

If the Saints hit on the majority of their picks, they could make a huge leap forward, just as the Atlanta Falcons did in 2016.

The Saints actions in free agency also fit the narrative of a team looking to win, now.

If guard Larry Worford from Detroit plays at a high level, the Saints will have their best offensive line since the 2009 Super Bowl champions.

NOW Speedy wide receiver Ted Ginn is a one or two year rental.

And, by re-signing defensive tackle Nick Fairley, the Saints made sure they didn’t take another step back, defensively.

As productive as Brandin Cooks was (17 touchdown receptions the last two seasons), the Saints will not make a big move forward until they fix the defense.

In the 2016 draft, the Saints added defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and safety Vonn Bell.

But, there are many holes to fill.

And, my guess is, whether the Saints fill them adequately or not, it is at least 50/50 that this is the last year of the Brees/Payton partnership in New Orleans.

If the Saints have a fourth straight losing season, the decision by ownership will be relatively simple.

Brees, on the final year of his contract, and Payton depart.

If the Saints win 10 games or more, the Saints can trade Sean Payton for draft picks.

A change of venue can often do wonders for a coach or player.

Brandin Cooks is sure, hoping.

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Food for the Journey is May 2

Deacon James P. Brunet Jr.

The diocesan Office of Religious Education sponsors a monthly lunchtime speaker series on the first Tuesday of the month at the Ellendale Country Club Restaurant located at 3319 Highway 311 in Schriever.

The speaker for May 2 is Deacon James P. Brunet Jr. Deacon Brunet is currently assigned as deacon for St. Bernadette Church parish in Houma. He and his wife Amy have been married for 37 years and they have two children. Deacon Brunet graduated from Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma, completed the LIMEX course with a certificate in pastoral studies in 2002 and was ordained a permanent deacon

by Bishop Sam G. Jacobs in 2010.

Along with his parish duties, he serves as the diocesan associate director of Continuing Formation for the Permanent Diaconate. He is employed as a chaplain for Journey Hospice of Houma.

Those who plan to attend the May 2nd event should RSVP with their name, phone number and church parish by Thursday, April 27. To RSVP, email FoodForTheJourney@ htdiocese.org or call (985) 8503178.

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 $15 and includes meal, drink and tip. Only cash or checks will be accepted.

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

41

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POSITION AVAILABLE Principal of St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic School 441 Sixth Street, Houma, LA 70364 Who May Apply:

A Catholic who is in full communion in the Church

Salary:

Commensurate with qualifications and experience; Comprehensive benefits package included

How to Apply:

Submit a cover letter, resume’, application form, and transcripts to hr@htdiocese.org, or mail to Human Resource Director, P. O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395.

Application may be obtained from www.htdiocese.org/catholic-schools or by calling (985)850-3114.

Applications Due: April 14, 2017 Minimum Qualifications: • Master’s degree in Administration or master’s degree with Administration/Educational Leadership Certification • Have a current Louisiana Teacher’s Certificate • Have a minimum of 5 years teaching experience and 3 years of administrative experience • Excellent spiritual, educational, managerial and communication skills The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against applicants or employees by reason of race, color, religion*, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information of any other basis prohibited by applicable law. * The Diocese, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to require “practicing Catholic” to be a qualification for a position.

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Bay u Wellness

Thibodaux Regional’s Wellness Center makes a Bayou

Catholic

splash

Contents

On Our Cover Amber Folchetti, a fitness specialist/personal trainer, at the Thibodaux Regional Wellness Center warms up by swimming laps in the Aquatics Center pool. One of the many features of the Wellness Center is the state-of-the-art competition lap pool, group therapy/ exercise pool, and a Hydroworx therapy and conditioning pool. Postsurgical, neurological, orthopaedic and physical rehabilitation patients as well as fitness program participants can realize the benefits of the Aquatics Center.

Cover photo by Lawrence Chatagnier

A positive mental attitude toward wellness is essential

46

Diabetes: Are you at risk?

48

Spring into health

54

Cataract surgery options

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52 Chiropractic care and pain management

58 Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

Take your health to heart

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Colon cancer screenings save lives

Well and Wise

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Making Our Region a Healthier Community to Live, Work and Play The state-of-the-art, medically integrated Wellness Center is designed to improve the health and well-being of the region through prevention, education, fitness, rehabilitation and focused sports and wellness services.

Inside the Wellness Center: Aquatics Center CafĂŠ Chapel Comprehensive Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Conference Center Fitness Center Imaging Center Pain Center Physician Specialty Clinics: Including endocrinology, neurosurgery, pain management, orthopaedics and sports medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and rheumatology

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Rehabilitation Center Spine Center Sports Medicine & Sports Performance Centers Weight Management Center Wellness Education Center

Bayou Wellness

46

Spring into Guest Columnist Dr. Catherine Diebold

S

Spring is a time for renewal, both spiritually and physically.

The Lenten season inspires us to reflect on how to help others and give up the usual comforts to bring about deeper reflection. This is a perfect time of year to reflect on one’s own health, take pause, and see if there are better choices for our health … if not only for the betterment of our own health, but so we will be strong and healthy in times of need of our family and friends.

Let us take stock …

When was your last annual

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

health this season

wellness checkup with your doctor?

Not the last doctor appointment for a problem, but the time for an overall health assessment?

How is your weight? A Body Mass Index greater than 25 is overweight and over 30 is obese. An increased waist to hip ratio can be indicative of fat surrounding one’s inner organs as well. This increases one’s risk for diabetes as well as other diseases.

How is your blood pressure? If elevated, sometimes medication needs to be prescribed, but weight loss and a healthy diet may put less strain on your heart and thus eliminate the need for medications.

How is your height? Have you or your doctor measured your height recently? A decreased height may be a sign of osteoporosis and spinal compression fractures. Have you had a bone density test if you are post-menopausal? Both men and women can get osteoporosis after menopause and andropause (male menopause). Talk to your doctor if you are up to date on bone density testing.

How is your physical examination?

A routine checkup can detect small problems before they become insurmountable. A routine yearly exam may detect anything from minor infections to more serious cancers. Don’t hesitate to mention to your doctor anything that “feels different” to you.

How is your routine blood work?

A wellness panel can check many things. A CBC checks for white and red cell blood counts. This checks for anemias and leukemias, as well as infectious issues.

A Chem 7 or BMP checks for kidney function and the electrolyte status in the body. This is important for processing the fluids and toxins in your body and maintaining a proper blood and heart function.

The liver panel checks on the status of your liver function. The liver must filter your blood, remove toxins, metabolize drugs and balance the sugar in your blood. Rising liver enzymes may be indicative of liver stress and or disease. Hepatitis infections can also harm the liver.

A lipid panel is a blood test that measures the good and

a

bad cholesterol in the blood.

Elevated total cholesterol with elevated bad LDL and low HDL cholesterol especially increases risk for heart and vascular disease.

Know your numbers, and if not ideal, plan to get them back on track with your doctor.

Thyroid tests check the status of your thyroid gland.

Over or underactive thyroid can affect many other body functions.

Metabolism issues are connected to the thyroid. Heat and cold tolerance are handled by this gland. It also helps in brain, heart and colon function. The thyroid interacts with many other hormonal systems as well. A proper functioning thyroid is crucial to overall health and wellness.

Another test to get yearly is your Vitamin D level. This important vitamin interacts with your bones, heart, brain and metabolism. A low level can wreak havoc on one’s health. If low or suboptimal, your doctor can suggest a supplement to improve it.

A screen for diabetes and prediabetes is the glucose, insulin

and hemoglobin A1c test. These tests can be crucial in preventing and/or treating diabetes.

Everyone’s goal should be to prevent diabetes in their lifetime.

If these test abnormalities are detected early enough and action is taken, diabetes should be preventable.

What is your hormone status?

Both men and women get to an age later in life when their male and female hormones start to decline.

Supplementing hormones in the menopause and andropause will help keep the individual healthy and prevent disease. A Bioidentical hormone replacement program will keep one feeling healthy and vital as they age, along with preventing heart disease, memory decline, osteoporosis, certain cancers, and other age related health problems.

Do you have a healthy exercise regimen? Ten thousand steps daily along with a weight/strength program three times a week will help keep one’s core and bones strong. Exercise also helps prevent brain, heart, and bone disease.

Finally, how is your stress? A

daily regimen of meditation and prayer can greatly reduce one’s stress and improve health. Close your eyes, breathe deep and let it all go for 10 minutes! Have faith that it will all work out. Meditation improves longevity and health in many studies. Most smart phones have free apps that can help you get into this healthy habit.

So, take stock of where you are now and where you would like to be this time next year. Small daily improvements do add up to big accomplishments! See your doctor, get your full wellness assessment and come up with a plan. Choose health not just for yourself, but for those you love and who love you!

(Dr. Catherine Diebold is a boardcertified Gynecologist, as well as certified in Age Management Medicine. Her office is Thibodaux Women’s Center, 506 N. Acadia.

She is an active staff member at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center. Appointments can be made at (985) 448-1216.)

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47

Bayou Wellness

Guest Columnist

A 48

Diabetes: Are

you at risk?

Mae Hitt, RN, CDE

According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are 29 million people diagnosed with diabetes in the United States and 86 million people living with pre-diabetes. There are over 500,000 people in Louisiana diagnosed with diabetes and over 1 million people living with prediabetes. Are you included in these numbers or are you at risk to becoming the next person with diabetes?

Before determining if you are at risk, do you know what Diabetes is? Diabetes is a disease that affects you body’s ability to produce or use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas. Insulin is needed to transport the sugar that is made by the body, when we eat certain foods. The sugar remains in your bloodstream, instead of being transported to your cells for energy.

There are three types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes. Type 1 is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. Type 2 is the most prevalent type of diabetes.

Pregnant women, who had no history of diabetes prior to their pregnancy, can develop Gestational Diabetes for the duration of their pregnancy.

Asking yourself the following questions can help you to determine if you are at risk for Type 2 Diabetes: n Am I overweight? The more overweight you are, the harder it is for the insulin in your body to do its job. Losing 5-10 percent of your body weight can reduce your risk. n Am I over 45 years of age?

As you age, the greater the risk of your pancreas function decreasing, therefore it produces

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

less insulin. In Louisiana, over 15 percent of people who are age 45-64 have diabetes and over 25 percent of age 65, or older, have diabetes. n Does someone in my family have diabetes? If your parents or siblings have diabetes, the risk of you developing diabetes is greater. n Am I physically active? Five days a week of being active, for at least 30 minutes, is what is recommended to decrease your risk. Exercise can reduce the amount of sugar in your blood.

When you exercise, your muscles get the sugar they need and your blood sugar levels go down. Choices of increased activity can include walking, bike riding, swimming, aerobics, dancing or sport activities. n Do I make healthy food choices?

Decrease the amounts of fatty foods you eat. Eat healthy fats such as nuts, olive oil or avocados. Eat less Trans fats and less packaged and fast foods. Eat more fruits and vegetables, ideally fresh fruits and vegetables. Eat high fiber cereals and breads made from whole grains. You can still eat sweets, but remember portion control. If you drink alcohol, limit the amount you drink per day. For men, it is recommended to have no more than two alcoholic beverages a day.

For women, it is recommended no more than one alcoholic beverage per day. n What is my race? African Americans, Native Americans and Hispanics are at a higher risk of developing diabetes. n In addition to looking at your risk assessment, you should

be checked by your physician if you experience any of the following symptoms: excessive thirst, excessive hunger, frequent urination – especially at night, reoccurring bladder infections, frequent yeast infections, blurred vision, weight gain or weight loss, being tired and poor wound healing. n Not only should you look at your risks, but you should also look at your child’s risk assessment.

Children can also experience the above mention symptoms. An additional symptom, in children, is called acanthosis nigricans. Some children with Type 2 Diabetes develop a skin rash that looks like dirty skin with a smooth and raised surface that usually appears on their neck, arm pit or groin. If your child is exhibiting any of these symptoms, they should be checked by a physician.

If you are diagnosed with diabetes, you will need to follow the treatment plan recommended by your physician. Treatment includes following a meal plan, increased physical activity to 30 minutes a day, five days per week, and taking your medication as prescribed. It is important to keep your blood sugars under control to prevent complications caused by uncontrolled diabetes.

Don’t wait until you are diagnosed, be proactive and reduce your risk factors now!

(Mae Hitt, RN, CDE, is the community outreach director for Ochsner St. Anne Hospital in Raceland.)

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Bayou Wellness

Guest Columnist

F 50

Deacon Lloyd Duplantis

For millennia, people around the globe have prized butter for its health benefits.

So how did butter become a villain in the quest for good health?

At the turn of our century, heart disease in America was rare. By 1960, it was our number one killer. Yet during the same time period, butter consumption had decreased - from 18 pounds per person per year, to four. Researchers proposed that saturated fat and cholesterol in the diet were to blame for coronary heart disease (CAD). Even though numerous studies have failed to conclusively support these proposals, the notion that a healthy diet is one with minimal fat, particularly saturated fat, has persisted.

As a result, Americans drastically reduced their intake of natural animal fats like butter and meat. Margarine began being promoted as the healthier alternative. As a result, since the early 1970’s, Americans’ average saturated fat intake has dropped considerably, while rates of obesity, diabetes, and consequently,

Butter

is better!

heart disease, have surged.

Reducing healthy sources of dietary fat has contributed to a serious decline in our well-being and overall health. After all, we humans have been eating butter for thousands of years.

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Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

So, from a health standpoint, “Is margarine better than butter”?

Unfortunately, the answer seems to be no! Butter is a completely natural food containing ingredients that are essential to your health, whereas most

a

margarines or similar hydrogenated oils are chemically processed to make them spreadable.

Healthy oils and a moderate amount of fats in your diet work together as a team to supply your body with essential fatty acids for longevity, hormone balance, heart health, sharp vision, glowing moist skin and energy to name a few.

Take a look at some of the benefits you receive when you include real butter as part of healthy eating in your diet: Butter is a rich source of Vitamins A, D, E, K, lecithin and the minerals iodine and selenium.

All of these work together and are necessary for thyroid and adrenal health, cholesterol metabolism and hormone development, as well as support healthy immune system function.

Many cultures down through the ages have regarded butter as precious, especially the butter made from the first milk produced by female animals. Tibetan monks to this day use butter from yak milk to create large and intricate sculptures inspired by stories of

Buddha and creation. And then there is the “Stollen Butter Letter.”

Stollen is a German bread which, in the 15th century was made as a Christmas bread. (Christstollen is the German word for Christ – thus the Christmas bread “stollen”).

Early Stollen was made with flour, oats, butter and water.

As a Christmas bread however, since it had to be baked during the season of Advent which was a time of fasting and bakers were not allowed to use butter, only oil, the bread was rendered tasteless and hard. In the 15th century, in medieval Saxony in central Germany, the Prince Elector Ernst (1441–1486) and his brother Duke Albrecht (1443–1500) decided to remedy this by writing to the Pope in Rome.

The Saxon bakers needed to use butter, not only because of the taste and quality of the bread but oil in Saxony was expensive, hard to come by, and had to be made from turnips. Pope Nicholas V (1397–1455), in 1450 denied the first appeal. Five popes died before

finally, Pope Innocent VIII (1432– 1492), in 1490 sent a letter to the Prince, known as the “ButterLetter” which granted the use of butter (without having to pay a fine), but only for the Prince, his family and household. Others were also permitted to use butter, but on the condition of having to pay annually a small fee to support a building project of the Holy Father.

The new Stollen recipe containing butter was baked for the Council of Trent in 1545.

So, you see, it is very “Catholic” to eat butter and contribute to the church! Include real butter as part of your healthy eating lifestyle for good taste and good health.

Be sure to check with your doctor or nutritionist before making any changes in your diet but in combination with exercise and prayer, including butter in your diet can help you feel better and maybe even look better!

(Deacon Lloyd Duplantis is a retired pharmacist, speaker and author focusing on physical and spiritual health and wellness.)

51

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Bayou Wellness

A positive mental attitude toward wellness is

essential Guest Columnist

52

S

Greg Stock, CEO

Someone once said, “The greatest gift you can give your family and the world is a healthy you.” What a great thought!

For us to enjoy our families— and for them to enjoy us—being healthy is key. In an increasingly busy and complex world, limited family time is much more meaningful when not prevented by sickness and ill health. Too often, we awake to the fact that health is not valued until sickness comes. When sickness comes—and it always does—our perspective usually changes, if even for a short period of time.

We realize our own mortality and that many of the simple but most meaningful aspects of life, such as positive family relations, cannot be realized. Once those moments are lost, we will be able to retrieve them.

Families can build wellness together—rather than fight disease apart. Applied family wisdom and mutual support are highly impactful factors in achieving wellness. A family that continues to learn healthy habits from each other is well on its way to a happier, more productive,

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

fun and successful, long life for each family member. Why not live longer, live better and make this wonderful gift a central feature of your family? Why not enjoy every possible moment together—and live life to its fullest!

Families that are willing to take small steps toward wellness are going to win. Adopting small steps is a much better way to success than trying to achieve wellness in one giant step. Failure occurs much more often with an attempt to achieve success in one giant step than it ever does with seemingly small, successive steps—built one upon another. Sometimes, we go backward in the process of improvement, but a long term commitment, coupled with patience (something that is missing in our society today) will yield impressive results for years to come. A positive mental attitude toward wellness is essential—not only does it benefit the individual who ignites a family around this important family

matter, but it “lights up” everyone else as well.

The Wellness Center of Thibodaux Regional is a place where families can come together and make real improvements to individual and family health and wellness. It has been particularly gratifying to see families join the Fitness Center within the Wellness Center. Between 5,000 and 6,000 people are utilizing the Center and many of them are attending with their families. Healthier families make a healthier community—a better place to live and work and enjoy our families. As Gandhi said, “It is health that is real wealth and not gold and silver.” I encourage us all to take care of those things that matter the most: our health and our families.

For more information about the Wellness Center of Thibodaux Regional call (985) 493-4400.

(Greg Stock is the chief executive officer for Thibodaux Regional Medical Center in Thibodaux.)

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53

“We are the Right People, Doing the Right Things, for the Right Reasons” Deacon Brent Bourgeois, Chaplain, has been a deacon for 10 years with 7 years of hospice experience and is a deacon with St. Charles Borromeo Church parish in the St. Charles Community.

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Bayou Wellness

Take your health to heart:

get a checkup Kent Barton’s story

Guest Columnist 54

‘I

Bevi Jimenez

“I never saw the need to see a cardiologist,” said Kent Barton, 68, of Baton Rouge. “I’m healthy and active, I don’t smoke, and I don’t have a history of heart disease in my family.”

But while working at a golf course on Jan. 5, 2013, Barton could tell that something was not quite right. He was lightheaded and dizzy, and he felt a slight tingling in his left arm. “It alarmed me because it was something I hadn’t felt before,” he said. “It just didn’t feel normal.”

Without hesitation, Barton knew he should head to the hospital. Luckily, Baton Rouge General was only five minutes away. Looking back, Barton reflected, “The good Lord must have been driving the truck for me, because I might not have made it.”

Barton walked into the emergency room and told the front desk that he thought he might be having a heart attack. In that moment, he fell unconscious in front of the ER triage nurse. A defibrillator pad was put on his

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

Dr. Amit Patel with patient Kent Barton

chest which showed that he was in cardiac arrest, so his heart was shocked. After his heart rhythm was stabilized, an electrocardiogram (EKG) test was performed, and it showed the effects and damages of a heart attack.

Dr. Amit Patel, interventional cardiologist at Cardiovascular Institute of the South, was called to the ER to review Barton’s case. He saw the need for an intervention, and decided to take him to the catheterization laboratory immediately to perform a lifesaving procedure. Dr. Patel and his team had to shock Barton’s heart 17 times before Dr. Patel was able to open his blockage in the cath lab.

“When you have a heart attack, time is muscle,” explained Dr. Patel. “The faster we open the blockage, the better the outcome.”

LESLEY RODRIGUE PHOTO

But Dr. Patel noted that if someone is experiencing chest pain, 911 should be called immediately.

“Driving while having chest pain is like jumping off of a cliff without a parachute,” he warned.

Barton had five blockages that were nearly 100 percent blocked.

“They told my sons that I had a 10 percent chance of surviving,” he revealed.

Barton woke up about five days later and learned that he had had a heart attack, and that he had a blood condition that causes his blood to be thicker than normal.

“They said my platelet count was triple what it should have been,” he described. “It was as thick as motor oil!”

The hospital staff said that Barton was one of the most critical patients they had ever seen,

a

and he was told he would need a heart transplant or a temporary mechanical heart. But despite his severe case, Barton’s health progressively improved through other methods of care, and he only needed bypass surgery for the remaining blockages in his heart.

“By the grace of God, I miraculously recovered!” he exclaimed.

Three years have now passed since Barton’s heart attack. He knows the importance of regular visits with his cardiologist, and he continually sees Dr. Patel every six months to monitor his condition and keep his medications current. He is still active, and golfing remains a big part of his life, as he continues to play his favorite pastime multiple days a week. “I can do anything and everything that I want; I just have to be careful not to overexert myself,” he explained.

Barton is also pleased with the personal care that he receives at CIS, saying that the staff is commendable.

“I can’t say enough about Dr. Patel’s staff and his facility. They are very nice and accommodating, and they call me by name.”

JOIN

HEALTH FAIR & EKG SCREENING AN

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‘Dr. Patel is my hero!

He didn’t give up on me, and he saved my life!’

Additionally, Barton said he holds Dr. Patel in high regard and trusts him with his care moving forward.

“He is very knowledgeable, intelligent and educated.

He explains everything and doesn’t rush through a visit. He knows my history, and I trust that he stays on top of it.”

According to Barton, he is just grateful to be here.

“I’m a walking miracle!” he exclaimed. And he credits this to Dr. Patel, saying—“Dr. Patel is my hero! He didn’t give up on me, and he saved my life!”

Knowing his situation, Barton has also referred many of his family and friends to CIS to be checked.

He encourages everyone to visit a cardiologist for a workup regardless of their age or risk factors. “I would recommend for anyone to get a preventative visit,” he emphasized. “I always thought I was healthy, and I didn’t have any common risk factors. You just don’t know until you are checked.”

Do you know your risk of cardiovascular disease?

Now is the time to determine your risk factors and take preventative measures to lessen your risk. To learn more about CIS, or to schedule an appointment, visit www.cardio.com to find the CIS location nearest you.

(Bevi Jimenez is the corporate communications specialist at Cardiovascular Institute of the South.)

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55

Bayou Wellness

Guest Columnist

C 56

Dr. Quentin D. Falgoust

Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed surgery in the U.S. in those 65 and older. Cataracts affect millions of Americans and are a leading cause of blindness worldwide.

What is a cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens of the eye, causing decreased vision. While it’s rare in the U.S. for someone to go blind, cataracts do sometimes develop slowly enough that vision loss occurs gradually, and the cataract can become significant without you realizing it.

When should a cataract be removed?

A general rule of thumb is that surgery is recommended when your vision is interfering with your preferred activities and lifestyle. Rarely, surgery is recommended for eye health reasons before vision has been affected. A discussion with your eye doctor can help you decide if it’s time to consider cataract surgery or if simply updating

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

Understanding

your cataract surgery options your glasses will suffice.

What are my options with cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery has been performed now for decades with a process called phacoemulsification (ultrasound which breaks up the lens of the eye, after which the fragments are suctioned out). This is still the most current way of removing a cataract. During your surgery, a small incision is made to gain access to the lens, then the bag (capsule) which holds the lens in the eye will be opened, and the cataract is removed using the

phacoemulsification process. An artificial lens (IOL) will then be inserted to replace the natural lens.

This is still the primary way cataracts are removed, but there are now more advanced ways to gain access to the eye and the capsular bag. Also, there are now different IOL choices that can reduce or eliminate the need for glasses after surgery.

Which option should I choose?

If you are interested in greatly reducing your dependency on glasses, then the advanced process of using laser assisted

a

cataract surgery and/or a premium IOL may be your best choice. There is now also the ORA system, a new technology which helps customize your results.

What is the advantage of using laser assistance, premium IOLs or the ORA System?

Laser surgery has several advantages. First, it offers quicker recovery time due to less ultrasound energy spent in the eye. Using the laser to breakup dense lenses may also reduce the risk of edema or swelling postoperatively. Last, the laser can reduce/eliminate small amounts of astigmatism in the cornea by providing more accurate incision placement, which can reduce the need for glasses/ contacts.

There are now many choices in types of IOLs. The standard IOL is generally calculated to best correct your distance vision, but some type of correction (glasses/contacts) is often needed to refine your vision and/or help you to see close.

The more advanced (or premium) IOLs can correct higher amounts of astigmatism, as well as give

you good distance AND near vision, which reduces or virtually eliminates dependence on glasses.

Premium IOLs are performed in conjunction with laser assisted surgery to achieve the most accurate surgical outcome.

The ORA system analyzes the state of the eye during surgery after the cataract is removed, confirming the measurements and your vision correction needs. This allows the surgeon to make realtime adjustments to arrive at a better result.

Are the advanced procedures more expensive?

Currently, most health plans pay only the cost up to the standard surgery and IOL. If you should decide to invest in laser and/ or premium IOL surgery, then there will be out-of-pocket costs in addition to what your insurance pays. Many patients feel the investment is worth it, as the cost of glasses or contacts is then reduced or eliminated.

Is everyone a candidate for the advanced cataract removal?

No. Your eye doctor will perform

measurements as well as a thorough examination of your eyes to determine which procedure or IOL is best for you. This will then be discussed in detail with you at your cataract evaluation.

What if I cannot afford the premium services? Will my result be poor?

No. The standard procedure and IOL are still the most common among patients undergoing cataract removal. Measurements are still calculated to the best of our ability to leave you with the least glasses prescription possible.

But if you feel strongly about reducing or eliminating your need for glasses, then you should discuss all available options with your eye doctor.

(Quentin D. Falgoust, MD, is a LASIK and cataract specialist with over 30 years of experience in south Louisiana. He was the first LASIK surgeon in the Houma-Thibodaux area and has performed over 35,000 surgical procedures. Dr. Richard Arceneaux also performs laser cataract surgery for Advanced Eye Institute in Thibodaux.)

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57

Bayou Wellness

Is chiropractic care right for pain management?

your

58

Guest Columnist

T

Dr. J. Michael Flynn

The doctor of the future will give no medication, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and in the cause and prevention of disease (Thomas Edison).

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

We are taught as students by teachers, parents and clergy to follow what is often referred to as the Golden Rule - “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” This was a road map on how to live a life with love, kindness and respect for others.

When I joined my dad in his chiropractic practice in 1975, he taught me a lesson to treat every patient like they were a member of your family. One of the most influential responsibilities of any doctor is to educate their patients.

There are lessons to be learned about chiropractic and health care.

In 2017, the United States has awakened to the impact of an opioid abuse epidemic. Calls have come forward from the Centers on Disease Control and Prevention, the Institute of Medicine, the Food and Drug Administration, and Joint Commission, for a shift away from opioid use toward nonpharmacologic approaches to manage pain.

The data speaks for itself. Overdose deaths involving prescription opioids have quadrupled since 1999, as have sales of these drugs. From 1999 to 2014, more than 165,000 people - three times

a

the U.S. military deaths during the 20 years of the Vietnam War - have died in the U.S. from overdoses related to prescription opioids. The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians published that Americans constitute 4.6 percent of the world population, yet consume 80 percent of the global opioid supply, and 99 percent of the global hydrocodone supply.

Guidelines of the American College of Physicians (ACP) published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, February 2017, call for non-drug therapy as a first approach in the treatments of acute, subacute and chronic low back pain.

The guidelines state that clinicians and patients should select non-pharmacologic treatment and that, “Exercise, rehabilitation, massage, acupuncture … and spinal manipulation are shown to improve symptoms.”

Doctors of chiropractic are health care professionals whose non-pharmacological approach is focused on diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the spine as well as other parts of the musculoskeletal system, and the associated effects on the neurological system. These disorders impact 44.6 million Americans annually and are increasingly the result of poor posture, workplace and sportsrelated injuries, car accidents or simply sedentary lifestyles.

Studies demonstrate that back

pain is the leading cause of workrelated disability and absenteeism.

Chronic back pain is associated with reduced mobility, quality of life and longevity, and often includes increased rates of other health problems.

Acute and chronic pain conditions are regularly seen by chiropractors.

In January of 2016 the Joint Commission, an independent, not for profit organization that accredits and certifies nearly 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, included chiropractic care in its evidence-based guidelines for pain management.

The June 2016 issue of Consumer Reports ranked chiropractic care as the No. 1 preferred treatment by its member survey for low back pain.

The August 2016 Gallup-Palmer survey indicated that 93 percent of recent chiropractic patients rate chiropractic care effective and 97 percent of past-year chiropractic patients are likely to see a chiropractor if having neck or back pain.

The art of chiropractic treatment is spinal manipulation/adjustments by hand or in some case instrument assisted to improve joint motion and effect posture, balance and neurological expression. Specific soft tissue recovery procedures are utilized along with instruction and advice on nutrition, hydration, stretching, exercise, rehabilitation and healthy lifestyle choices, all

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part of chiropractic education and clinical training.

An important step to make positive changes in our health care is accepting responsibility for the choices we are making about our health.

Chiropractic has proven to be safe, effective with high patient satisfaction in the care of headaches, neck pain and back pain. There are currently 18 chiropractic colleges in the United States. A minimum of seven years of academic and clinical education is required to receive a doctor of chiropractic degree.

Chiropractors can be found at the Office of Attending Physicians in the United States Capitol, in Veterans Hospitals and military treatment facilities and employed at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Chiropractors are a significant part of the health team at all Olympic Games and international sporting events. At the 2016 Rio Olympics the U.S. medical team included 28 MD/DO’s, 59 18 doctors of chiropractic and 10 physical therapists.

Indeed, as it is written, “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” In life and for good health the choices we make are important.

(Dr. J. Michael Flynn provides chiropractic health care for patients of all ages at the Flynn Clinic of Chiropractic, 567 Corporate Drive, Houma – (985) 223-3811 – www. drmikeflynn.com.)

Richard M. Haydel, M.D. Scott A. Haydel, M.D. Lisa B. Black, M.D. J. Matthew Watkins, M.D. 502 Barrow St. • Houma, LA 985.876.2150 www.bayoucatholic.com

Bayou Wellness

Guest Columnist

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Dr. N.S. Teddy Winstead

I’ve been asked to write a piece again this year about colon cancer and the importance of screening and early detection. I’m always happy to write these articles as I believe that they help somewhat to ease concerns people may have about seeing the doctor about embarrassing problems and things they may not feel comfortable talking about.

Unfortunately, due to a combination of genetic factors, diet and environmental influences, all of us in southern Louisiana live in an area with an extremely high rate of colon cancer - among the highest in the country. Because we are a high risk population, I thought it would be useful to share information about what’s new in colon cancer screening and how these tests might be appropriate in some situations. It’s important to remember, however, that (unpleasant as it is) colonoscopy is the most effective tool for colon cancer prevention with decades of proven results.

A new test, called Cologuard, was first approved by the FDA in 2014. In the last one-two years, its use has spread, primarily because many insurance companies now cover its use. This test uses a stool sample, usually collected at home, and analyzes the stool both for blood and DNA changes found in colon cancer cells which are shed into the stool. It’s important to remember that it’s not a perfect test, as not all cancers bleed nor do all cancers shed DNA into the stool that can be detected by the Cologuard test. However, for many people who refuse to have a colonoscopy, or are too infirm to undergo a colonoscopy, it may be a viable alternative.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

Colon cancer screenings

save lives

Another test which has been around for a few years, but seems to be increasingly accepted is called FIT (short for Fecal Immunochemcial Test) uses antibodies to detect very small amounts of blood in a stool sample (again, usually collected at home).

It performs somewhat better than previously available stool tests for blood, but has similar shortcomings to the Cologuard test because not all cancers will bleed and therefore will not be detected. The estimates on percentages of colon cancers

that do not bleed is as high as 20 percent, so the FIT test may miss up to one in five colon cancers.

Estimates for the Cologuard are somewhat better - it may only miss about 10 percent of colon cancer, but it can miss up to 50 percent of advanced colon polyps which are at risk of turning into cancer within the next several years.

Finally, these tests have wide variations in cost. The FIT test only costs a few dollars (estimates vary depending on insurance plan, lab, etc.). The Cologuard test

a

costs nearly as much as a colonoscopy. In fact, when I checked local Medicare reimbursement rates for Cologuard vs. colonoscopy (and I counted all costs associated with colonoscopy - bowel prep, facility fees, professional fees, anesthesia charges, etc.), I found that for the Houma-Thibodaux area the Cologuard is only nominally less expensive than a full colonoscopy.

However, both of these tests may be very useful in certain situations and if they help prevent deaths from colon cancer, then they are useful tools for us and should be discussed with our doctors.

A final disturbing bit of news that I wanted to share in this year’s article is the unexpected rise of colon cancer in younger people. An article in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, published Feb. 28, 2017, reported the troubling news that colon and rectal cancer rates among people aged 20-39 years old has increased at rates of approximately 1.5 percent per year, every year for the last three decades. This is particularly disheartening because of the success we have had at preventing colon cancer and deaths from colon cancer in the last 30 years. The article even went so far as to recommend that we should consider starting colon cancer screening before age 50 (when we traditionally start colon cancer screening).

Every year, my practice alone identifies between one and three patients under the age of 35 with colon cancer. Most of the time, the patient will have had symptoms of bleeding which they have attributed to

hemorrhoids and have therefore not sought medical attention. This usually leads to a delay in diagnosis and more advanced cancer at the time of diagnosis. I’ll share the story that the first cancer diagnosis I made after opening my practice in Houma was in a 28 year old woman, mother of three, who had had intermittent bleeding for a year prior to seeking medical attention.

So please, talk to your doctor about appropriate cancer screening strategies. If you have blood in your stool or other symptoms, go see a doctor. Nobody ever died of embarrassment.

(Nathaniel S. “Teddy” Winstead, MD, MSPH, FACP, FACG, AGA-F, is a board certified gastroenterologist with Houma Digestive Health Specialists.)

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Embarrassment can’t kill you.

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Bayou Wellness

American Cancer Society

Guest Columnist

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Becky Breaux

The American Cancer Society’s (ACS) mission is to save lives, celebrate lives and lead the fight for a world without cancer.

With care, empathy, courage, determination and innovation, there’s hardly a person or family that has not benefited from the organization’s work. The ACS, together with millions of supporters, is getting closer to the goal of a world free from the ill-effects of cancer. We’ve seen a 23 percent decline in cancer death rates since 1991; that’s 1.7 million lives saved. Bringing awareness in our communities by educating people about prevention, living healthy lifestyles through diet and exercise, and patient support services through our Cancer Resource Center have contributed to the success we’ve seen locally.

Caring and Empathy The ACS is helping people face cancer today through caring and empathy. The organization has received 1 million requests from people seeking information and support through their National Call-In Center (NCIC) and the cancer.org website. There are trained professionals answering calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the NCIC; the number is 1(800) 227-2345. The Hope Lodge in New Orleans has provided more than 19,000 free or reduced nights of lodging for cancer patients and caregivers from our community.

In Louisiana, the ACS has helped navigate 440 patients through the health care system, offered more than 4,300 rides to and from treatment, and helped 540 patients with appearance-related side effects of treatment. The care and empathy provided by the ACS to cancer patients is helping them face cancer.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

leading the fight for a world without cancer

Courage The ACS is giving people courage to face cancer by helping them take steps to stay healthy. The organization has provided 1.7 million outreach interventions to reduce the unequal burden of cancer, specifically funding a $416,000 CHANGE grant program in Louisiana in 2011.

The ACS has partnered with corporations to increase awareness for our cause, has 500 corporate CEO’s and leaders that are making health and wellness a priority in the workplace, and 2 million volunteers were brought together to help save lives from cancer through their fundraising efforts and volunteerism. In 2015, in Louisiana, 525 women were navigated to breast cancer screenings and seven individuals were navigated to colorectal cancer screenings by a community health advisor. Early detection, through screenings, is key to reducing the incidents of death related to cancer.

The ACS is helping our community have the courage to stay healthy and face cancer.

Determination The ACS is helping people through determination by rallying communities and creating partnerships to help save lives.

The ACS has received 150,000 signed petitions helping restore $2 billion in research funding to the federal budget, helped 63 municipalities pass laws for smokefree workplaces, restaurants and bars. The organization’s advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) helped secure passage in New Orleans of a smoke-free bar and casino ordinance that includes e-cigarettes. There are currently 12 states that have increased funding for cancer research, prevention and screening programs.

Locally, we rally our community

through Relay for Life, the largest grass roots fundraising effort in the world. With over 3,500 Relay events across the globe, we are determined to save lives through our fundraising efforts. If you are interested in joining Relay for Life, please visit: www.relayforlife.org to join your local event. There are events in Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary and Assumption parishes, and most communities across our state. We are always looking for volunteers and creating partnerships that help save more lives.

Innovation The ACS is finding cancer’s causes and cures through innovation.

There are currently more than $2.1 million in cancer research grants being funded in the State of Louisiana. The ACS continues to seek and uncover answers where no one else is looking. The ACS has been saving lives by conducting groundbreaking research and funding the best scientists for more than 70 years. No other nonprofit organization in the U.S. has invested more to find the causes and cures for cancer. Through innovation, the ACS is leading the efforts to finding cancer causes and cures.

The ACS is fulfilling its mission each day to save lives, celebrate lives, and is the leader in the fight for a world without cancer. The care, empathy, courage, determination and innovation supported by the organization is fulfilling the vision of a world free from the pain and suffering of cancer. “Together, we are getting closer to that goal every day and we are stronger than cancer.”

The statistics and numbers in this article were provided by the American Cancer Society.

(Becky Breaux is the community manager of Relay for Life of Terrebonne Parish.)

Guest Columnist

S

Bringing mindfulness to the mundane

Jaclyn Beaty, CWP

Stop. What was the last thought you had? Was it a positive thought or negative?

Do you even remember what it was? Research proves that over 95 percent of our thoughts are subconscious, meaning our brain is running on auto-pilot. Much of those subconscious thoughts are negative, and when we let our minds run wild with negativity, it begins to take a toll on the mind, body and spirit.

Your brain generates about 50,000 thoughts per day, and the information travels over 200 miles an hour. Gaining control over the constant stream of muddled thinking can help bring focus, awareness and productivity back into your life.

How Mindfulness Helps The practice of mindfulness can help re-wire your brain’s way of thinking absently to one that brings awareness and freedom from negative thoughts. Mindfulness is being aware of each moment mentally, emotionally and physically.

Regular mindfulness can: n Reduce stress n Improve eating habits n Increase energy and happiness n Improve problem-solving and decision-making n Increase emotional intelligence n Improve social relationships n Reduce depression and anxiety n Lower blood pressure n Reduce chronic pain A Better Way of Eating It’s likely you know what foods to eat, but have you ever thought about why you eat what you eat?

Our fast-paced world leaves little time to recognize non-hunger triggers like stress, comfort,

boredom or tiredness. Choosing food for both enjoyment and nourishment will help you eat for optimal satisfaction and satiety.

Eating mindfully brings your conscious to experience every bite; the textures, colors, smells and flavors. To bring mindfulness to your mealtime: n Take five deep breaths prior to each meal. n Sit down while eating. n Never eat out of a bag. n Eat slowly and taste each bite. n Take small bites. n Once you feel satisfied, stop eating. n Carry foods with you that you like and that support your health. n Honoring your hunger is an important aspect to eating mindfully. Food should not be feared. True physical hunger comes on gradually and can be satisfied with any type of food.

Conversely, emotional hunger comes on suddenly and causes specific cravings.

A Stress-Free Way of Living Our response to stress is often a mindless reaction. We get anxious, our blood pressure rises, our mood turns sour. When life hands you stress, fight back mindfully: n Disengage from the situation.

Walk away, look away, or remove yourself for a few minutes. n Take a few deep breaths.

Feel the full cycle of inhaling and exhaling. n Take note of how you feel.

What are your thoughts, emotions and sensations? n Proceed with a response that is an appropriate next step.

Bringing your mind and body back into balance with a relaxation response can help you cope with stress. Find a way to relax that is best for you, like vigorous exercise, laughing, journaling, enjoying nature, or being around uplifting people.

A Compassionate View of Yourself If others could hear your thoughts, would they be shocked by what you say about yourself?

Being aware of the way you treat and speak to yourself will increase your happiness, self-confidence and optimism. It’s easy to be our own worst enemy. Constant feelings of inadequacy, comparison, and shame can lead to low self-esteem.

Understanding how you measure yourself against others will help you overcome negative thinking.

Other ways to practice selfcompassion include: n Give yourself a hug. Your body doesn’t know the difference and the feel-good hormone oxytocin is 63 released. n Write yourself a letter. What would a kind and compassionate friend say to you? n Reflect on your self-talk. Write down things you say in difficult situations, then ask what a friend would say. n Develop a self-compassion mantra. Repeatedly telling yourself “I am enough” or “I’m doing the best I can” can change your entire day.

Give yourself the same kindness and respect that you give to others.

These mindful self-compassion practices will improve your resilience, motivation, personal accountability and body-image.

So What Are You Waiting For? If mindfulness is a new practice for you, start small in one area of your life. Choose to bring mindfulness to your mealtime, your work life, or your inner self.

Integrate these aspects of wellness to bring balance to the whole person and achieve optimal wellbeing physically, mentally and emotionally.

(Jaclyn Beaty, CWP, is the director of Health Education for Sterling Wellness Solutions.) www.bayoucatholic.com

Bayou Wellness

Guest Columnist

P 64

Kirbie LeCompte, RN,BSN

People in the United States today can expect to live longer than ever before.

Terrebonne General Medical Center’s (TGMC) new program, Well and Wise, provides older adults with the resources and tools to keep them healthy and maintaining a high quality of life.

Similar to all other stages of life, older adults should eat nutritiously and stay active to fight off preventable diseases and maintain an overall wellbeing. Health trends for seniors are showing concerning results.

In fact, according to 2016 United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings Senior Report, 32 percent of individuals age 65 and older are obese, almost 40 percent of seniors do not get the recommended amount of daily physical fitness and Louisiana is ranked among the lowest in the nation for having the highest percentage of inactive seniors.

TGMC’s Healthy Lifestyles Center identified that there was a limited number of free programs available for this population and created the Well and Wise program. “We recognized the need in the community to provide our older population with tools and resources,” said Phyllis Peoples, President and CEO. “We wanted to create a program that would inspire our older population to live a more active and healthy lifestyle while still in a fun, social setting. The Well and Wise program does exactly this.”

Well and Wise is a free, educational and inspirational program for adults age 60 and older. TGMC later partnered with the Terrebonne Council on Aging on the program to expand its offerings. The six-month program

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

Free blood pressure screenings are part of the Well and Wise event. Participants’ progress will be monitored at the end of the six month program.

TGMC’s Healthy Lifestyles Center introduces

Well and Wise

meets on a monthly basis at TGMC’s Community Sports Institute.

The initial meeting includes free preventative screenings, such as blood pressure, resting pulse and body composition tests measuring participants’ body fat percentage, muscle mass and water weight.

Results are then compared at the end of the six-month period and participants are offered one-on-one guidance for any questions.

During the meetings, participants reunite with old friends or make fresh connections over healthy breakfast snacks and coffee. They

play social games, like bingo and trivia, while getting into the competitive spirit and competing for prizes. They receive instruction on low impact exercises using resistance bands and light weights and are taught stretching and breathing techniques which they can incorporate into their daily routine. A health specialist attends the monthly meeting to discuss agerelated topics ranging from disease prevention to nutrition. At the end of each meeting, attendees are given a tour highlighting a unique offering at TGMC, including

a

the pharmacy and on-site fitness center, Workout 360.

The program also provides attendees with the necessary resources to set themselves up for success

outside of the classroom. They receive at home workouts and are encouraged to attend the biweekly walking group.

Well and Wise delivers a new way of health to the community. It incorporates the three vital components to a healthy being – physical, nutritional and emotional, and encourages everyone that no matter what age or stage you are in your life, being proactive in your health can only bring about positive change.

The 2017 classes have already reached capacity; however, registration is underway for the January– June 2018 course. To enroll, please call (985) 850-6206.

(Kirbie LeCompte, RN, BSN, is the Healthy Lifestyles Center wellness coordinator at TGMC.)

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TGMC Well and Wise participants test their body mass, muscle mass and water weight at the initial Well and Wise event and will retest at the end of the six month program.

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Bayou Wellness

Guest Columnist

A 66

Dr. P. Mark Neal

Acne is the most common skin condition affecting teenagers and young adults, and while people think of it as a teenager’s problem, it can commonly persist into adulthood and middle age. From mild to severe, acne can cause anxiety, social impairment, and even scars. For these reasons, treatment is important.

Acne starts when skin cells and oil plug the hair follicle making a blackhead or whitehead. As the oil produced by the oil glands builds behind the plugged follicle, the follicle can rupture causing an inflammatory reaction resulting in the red, pustular or cystic acne lesions. Certain products or devices can clog the follicle as well.

For example, oily hair products and football shoulder pads can flare or cause acne. The inflamed lesions, especially deep cysts can be painful and scar. Picking at acne can result in scars as well.

Even though acne isn’t physically disabling, treating acne is important because it affects people so much psychologically. Acne isn’t caused from being dirty, and after washing your face regularly with soap and water twice a day, soap and water won’t help much more. There are multiple good

Acne: What can

I do about it?

over the counter medicines available. Most over the counter acne creams and washes contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. These are a good place to start treatment for acne. Salicylic acid is a weak acid that helps to dissolve the skin cells that are plugging the blackhead or whitehead. It is generally well tolerated, but can irritate skin.

Benzoyl peroxide helps with red inflamed acne. It can be a little more irritating and can bleach fabric if you get it on towels or sheets. Both salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide can be used to an entire area or as a spot treatment. Adapalene is another very helpful product that was prescription previously and just recently went over the counter. By putting a small amount over the affected area, it changes the way your skin makes itself and unclogs the pores over time. It can cause redness and peeling, but is usually well tolerated when used in moderation. It can even fade dark spots left behind by resolving acne lesions. In our older acne patients, it may even help with fine lines and wrinkles. Sulfur products are available over the counter to help treat acne as well. Sulfur products can decrease redness and inflammation, but the smell can be offputting to some people. They tend

to be harder to find as well. If you have an allergy or suspect an allergy to any of these products, you should avoid them. Also, if you are pregnant or considering getting pregnant, you should check with a doctor about which products are safe to use. Just because products are over the counter, doesn’t mean they are safe during pregnancy. If you have acne, make sure moisturizers and makeup say that they are “non-comedogenic,” “acne free” or “won’t clog pores.” Picking acne lesions should be avoided. Sometimes mild acne results in scars from the picking and not the acne!

If over the counter acne treatments aren’t working or if acne is severe or scarring, don’t get discouraged. Make an appointment with a board certified dermatologist as there are many more aggressive prescription treatment options available, and your dermatologist can determine which one is best for you.

(Dr. P. Mark Neal is a board certified dermatologist that practices in Houma, Morgan City and Galliano. He was raised in Thibodaux and went to college and medical school at LSU. He completed his dermatology residency training at Tulane where he served as chief resident.)

For All Your MEDICAL & COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY Dr. Mark Neal ~ Dr. William Wilder HOUMA 12 Professional Dr. Houma, LA 70360 Mon.-Fr. 9-12 & 1-5 985.868.1810

HOUMADERMCLINIC.COM Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2017

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