Bayou Catholic Magazine October 2017

INSIDE:

Bayou

Bayou Outdoor Guide

Catholic Blue Mass honors first responders

HOUMA, LA ~ OCTOBER 2017 ~ COMPLIMENTARY

®

®

SEE

CLEARLY

We have been treating diabetic eye disease and macular degeneration since 1996 and would be honored to care for you.

If you would like to visit SEECA call 853-0900

WOMEN’S HEALTH EXPO CARING FOR ALL GENERATIONS

WHEN:

Tuesday, October 10th, 2017

WHERE: Ochsner St. Anne Hospital | 4608 Highway 1, Raceland TIME:

5 pm – 7 pm

Meet and Greet your Ochsner St. Anne Physicians and Nurse Practitioners

FREE Health Screenings on site: Cholesterol Testing

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Blood Glucose

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Bone Density for women over age 40

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Blood Pressure

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Body Mass Index calculations

Flu Vaccines ages 18 and up

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Skin Cancer screening

Special Event Features will include: Digital Mammography Education

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Nutritional Tips

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Healthy Cooking Demos

For more information, call 985.537.8350.

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Door Prizes

Contents FEATURES

30 Bayou Patrons

By Janet Marcel

34 Catholic Foundation

makes distributions

By Janet Marcel

38 George Cooke retires

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By Janet Marcel

40 Strategic plan update

18 36

By Janet Marcel

COLUMNS

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Comfort For My People

By Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

12 Pope Speaks

Pope Francis I

13 Questions of Faith

By Father Joshua Rodrigue, S.T.L.

14 Readings Between The Lines

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By Father Glenn LeCompte

28 Thoughts for Millennials

By Ryan Abboud

29 Reading with Raymond

By Raymond Saadi

46 Overtime Bayou O O R T O U D U G ID E

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FA L L 2017

By Ed Daniels

IN EVERY ISSUE

6

From the Editor

16 Scripture Readings 24 Heavenly Recipes 26 Youth in Action 45 Diocesan Events ANNOUNCEMENTS

40 Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2017

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39 Eucharistic procession, Oct. 7 44 Food for the Journey

Father Jean-Marie Nsambu speaks

44 Son Rise Music Fest, Oct. 7

On Our Cover The American flag is draped between two firetrucks in front of the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma for the annual Blue Mass honoring first responders of the area. See page 7 of this issue of the Bayou Catholic for more photos of the Blue Mass.

Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier

Bayou Catholic Vol. 38, No. 4 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 Academy Place .................................................... 25 Advanced Eye Institute ......................................... 42 Associated Pump & Supply Co., Inc. .................... 63 Barker Honda ....................................................... 58 Bayou Catholic Special Collection ......................... 67 Cardinal Place ................................................ 20, 33 Charles A. Page & Sons Insurance Agency, Inc. .... 61 Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center ............... 23 Dagate’s Marine ................................................... 49 Daigle Himel Daigle .............................................. 55 Data Management Services .................................. 51 Diocesan Outreach Line ....................................... 66 E. D. White Catholic High School Open House ...... 25 Edward J. Laperouse Metal Works, Inc. ................ 19 Galliano Religious Supply House .................... 21, 33 Gulf Coast Orthopedics ........................................ 39 H & H Marine ....................................................... 53 Haydel Spine Pain & Wellness .............................. 15 Headache & Pain Center ....................................... 46 Houma Digestive Health Specialists ...................... 39 Kustom’s Autobody, LLC ...................................... 57 Lanaux & Felger ................................................... 19 LeBlanc & Associate, LLC .................................... 25

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center .......................... 35 Ochsner St. Anne Hospital ...................................... 3 Patrick Yancey Law Firm ...................................... 44 Premier Offshore Catering, Inc. ............................. 49 Re-Bath ............................................................... 38 Riviere Insurance Agency Inc. .............................. 28 Robichaux’s Pharmacy ........................................ 22 Rod’s Superstore ................................................. 17 Seeca .................................................................... 2 Seminarian Education Burses ............................... 27 Southland Drugs No. 2.......................................... 19 Southland Mall ..................................................... 68 St. Joseph Seminary College ................................ 42 St. Joseph Manor ........................................... 17, 21 Synergy Bank ....................................................... 41 Terminix ............................................................... 35 Terrebonne-Lafourche Right to Life ....................... 20 Thibodaux Physical Therapy ................................. 56 Thibodaux Regional Medical Center ...................... 43 Vandebilt Catholic High School Open House .......... 33 Watkins, Walker, Eroche & Hoychick ..................... 65 World Mission Sunday Collection ......................... 32

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

Brooks Lirette

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

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Welcome

EVERY LIFE

IS WORTH LIVING

From the Editor 6

The month of October has arrived and with it are thoughts of football, cooler weather, fall fishing and hunting. More importantly it is also known as Respect Life Month beginning with Respect Life Sunday, which this year is Oct. 1.

Since 1972, a year before the U.S. Supreme Court made the Roe vs. Wade ruling that legalized abortion in the U.S., the first Sunday of October has been designated by the church as Respect Life Sunday. For more than 45 years now, the Catholic Church and others have dedicated this month, starting with the first Sunday, to extra time and resources in advancing a culture of life.

Bishop Shelton Fabre’s monthly column, Comfort for my People, comes from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ respect life literature.

As Catholic Christians we believe that all human life is

sacred, from the moment of conception to a natural death.

In this issue’s Questions of Faith, Father Joshua Rodrigue writes about respecting the life of those who are imprisoned; especially those who have been sentenced to the death penalty.

Pope Francis goes on record in The Pope Speaks to say that he hopes the president will reconsider his decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, commonly known as DACA. The pope feels that DACA should be treated as a Pro Life issue that defends the unity of families.

The pontiff has spoken about Pro Life issues on many occasions. When Pope Francis visited the United States in 2015, he addressed the right to life for all to members of the U.S. Congress. He not only pleaded for an end to abortion but also asked for global abolition of the death penalty.

Pope Francis said, “The innocent victim of abortion, children who die of hunger from bombings, immigrants who drown in the search for a better tomorrow, the elderly or the sick who are considered a burden, the victims of terrorism, wars,

violence and drug trafficking, the environment devastated by man’s predatory relationship with nature: At stake in all of this is the gift of God, of which we are noble stewards but not masters.”

Pope Francis has also used The Golden Rule to emphasize a culture of life. “The Golden Rule also reminds us of our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development. This conviction has led me, from the beginning of my ministry, to advocate at different levels for the global abolition of the death penalty. A just and necessary punishment must never exclude the dimension of hope and the goal of rehabilitation.”

Let us also not forget that the church has dedicated the entire month of October to the rosary so that individuals, families and communities would pray the rosary, if possible, on a daily basis for peace in the world.

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 • October 2017

Blue Mass

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The annual Blue Mass honoring community protectors, firefighters, law enforcement, military personnel and first responders was celebrated recently at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma. Bishop Shelton J. Fabre was the main celebrant of the Mass. Very Rev. Mark Toups, V.G., was the homilist.

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

www.bayoucatholic.com

Comment

How to build a culture of life Comfort For My People

T 8

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

To understand more fully how to defend and protect human life, we must first consider who we are, at the deepest level.

God creates us in his image and likeness, which means we are made to be in loving relationship with him. The essence of our identity and worth, the source of our dignity, is that we are loved

by God: “We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of his Son.” We are called to divine intimacy, true communion with God, and we can grow in this closeness with him through daily prayer, reading the Scriptures, and frequent participation in the sacraments, especially confession and the Eucharist.

The knowledge and realization of how deeply we are loved by God elicits a response of love that simultaneously draws us closer to God and, at the same time, impels us to share his love with others.

Embracing a relationship with God means following in his footsteps, wherever he may call. Just as Jesus invited St. Peter and St. Andrew to become his disciples, he invites us to do the same: “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).

Being a disciple of Jesus naturally includes sharing the Gospel with others and inviting them into a deeper relationship with God. As Christians, our

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2017

identity and our mission are two sides of the same coin; like the apostles, we are called to be missionary disciples.

This doesn’t necessarily mean quitting our jobs or moving to foreign countries. For most of us, our mission field is daily life: “Christ teaches us how to evangelize, how to invite people into communion with him, and how to create a culture of witness: namely, through love.

A Christian life lived with charity and faith is the most effective form of evangelization.”

The first step towards living this life is allowing Jesus to meet and transform us daily. If we respond to his grace, our lives will show we have something beyond what the world offers: we follow a person whose love changes our lives, so we want others to also experience his transforming love. When we live in union with God, open to his prompting, we’re more able to see the opportunities for witness and his guidance in responding to these opportunities. We may fear doing the wrong thing or saying the wrong thing, but we do not need to be afraid. Jesus promised his disciples, “I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

As a society and as individuals, we often measure ourselves by false standards: by what and how much we do, our successes or failures, how others treat us, the degree of our pleasure or independence, etc. And when these changeable substitutes prove to be insufficient, or when we are faced with challenges and suffering, we may feel helpless, alone, or abandoned; we may be tempted to feel as though our lives have decreased value or worth.

But God’s love—individual, real, unchanging—is the true source of our worth, identity and dignity.

It really is not a question of who we are, but rather whose we are.

Because his love will never change, nothing can reduce our God-given dignity, and nothing can diminish

the immeasurable worth of our lives.

When someone is facing great trials, we need to meet them where they are, walk with them on their journey, intercede for them, and be open to sharing Christ’s love however he directs. When a woman becomes pregnant, and her boyfriend threatens to leave if she continues the pregnancy, we need to lovingly walk with her.

When family members or friends become seriously ill, we need to assure them that God still offers them something in this life, and they still have purpose. We need to consistently be with them every step of the way. Sometimes our actions speak for themselves; other times, words are needed. Whatever the situation, Jesus knows how to speak to each person’s heart; we simply need to follow where he leads.

This is how we answer our missionary call. This is how we build a culture of life, a culture that joyfully proclaims the truth of God’s love, purpose, and plan for each person. Changing the culture is a process of conversion that begins in our own hearts and includes a willingness to be instructed and a desire to be close to Jesus—the source of joy and love. When we encounter Christ, experience his love, and deepen our relationship with him, we become more aware of our own worth and that of others. His love for each person is cause for great joy, and growing understanding of this priceless treasure motivates us to share his love with others. Our lives are often changed by the witness of others; so too, others’ lives may be changed by our witness and authentic friendship with them. Let us go, therefore, and not be afraid. God is always with us.

Reprinted from Respect Life Program, copyright © 2017, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. All rights reserved.

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www.bayoucatholic.com

Comentario

P 10

Construyendo una cultura de vida

Para obtener una mejor comprensión de cómo defender y proteger la vida humana, debemos reflexionar con profundidad sobre quienes somos. Dios nos ha creado a su imagen y semejanza y por tanto debemos vivir en una relación de amor con El. La esencia de la dignidad, nuestra identidad y nuestro valor, es el amor de Dios: «No somos la suma de nuestras debilidades y fracasos, sino al contrario somos la suma del amor del Padre y nuestra capacidad verdadera de convertirnos en la imagen de su Hijo.» Hemos sido llamados a tener una intimidad divina y una comunión verdadera con Dios; podemos aumentar nuestra proximidad con El a través de la oración cotidiana, la lectura de las Escrituras y la participación continua en los sacramentos, en especial la confesión y la Eucaristía.

El conocimiento y la aceptación del amor profundo de Dios requiere nuestra respuesta de amor que nos acerca a Dios y a la vez nos obliga a compartir su amor con nuestros semejantes.

Aceptar una relación con Dios significa seguir sus pasos incondicionalmente. Así como Jesús invitó a San Pedro y a San Andrés, El nos llama a hacer lo mismo: «Síganme y los haré pescadores de hombres.» (Mateo 4:19) Para ser discípulo de Jesús hay que compartir el Evangelio con los demás y llamarlos a profundizar su relación con Dios. Los cristianos son como dos caras en una sola moneda: a un lado su identidad y al otro su misión; y como los apóstoles hemos sido llamados a ser discípulos misioneros.

Eso no significa necesariamente que debemos dejar nuestros empleos o mudarnos a países extranjeros. Para la mayoría de nosotros nuestra misión se

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2017

encuentra en la vida cotidiana: «Cristo nos enseña a evangelizar, a invitar a nuestros semejantes a recibir la comunión y a crear una cultura de testimonio: por medio del amor. La vida cristiana vivida con caridad y fe es la evangelización más impactante.»

El primer paso en la vida cristiana es permitir que Jesús transforme nuestra vida cotidiana.

Si aceptamos su gracia, nuestras vidas manifestarán algo más allá de lo que el mundo ofrece: Seguimos a Jesús y su amor transforma nuestras vidas y por eso queremos que otros también vivan su amor transformador. Cuando vivimos unidos con Dios y estamos dispuestos a seguirlo tenemos la habilidad de dar mejor testimonio y seguir su llamado. Es posible que temamos cometer errores o decir algo incorrecto, pero no debemos tener miedo. Jesús les prometió a sus discípulos: «Yo permanezco con ustedes siempre, hasta el fin de los tiempos.» (Mateo, 28:20).

Nuestra sociedad y nosotros tenemos la tendencia de medirnos con valores falsos: cuánto hacemos y cómo hacemos las cosas, nuestros éxitos o fracasos, cómo nos tratan los demás, el grado de nuestros placeres o independencia, etc. Cuando estos valores intercambiables son insuficientes o cuando confrontamos situaciones difíciles o sufrimiento, solemos sentirnos vulnerables, solitarios o abandonados; sentimos que nuestras vidas tienen menos valor. El amor de Dios verdadero, incondicional y propio es la fuente verdadera de nuestro sentido de valor, identidad y dignidad. Es en verdad una cuestión sobre a quién pertenecemos y no quiénes somos.

Su amor por nosotros no cambiará y por eso nada puede aminorar la dignidad que Dios nos ha dado y nada puede disminuir el valor incalculable de nuestras vidas.

Al encontrarse con alguien que sufre atribulaciones es necesario

encontrarse con esta persona, caminar con él/ella en su camino, interceder por él/ella y estar dispuesto a compartir el amor de Cristo. Ante el embarazo de una mujer con un novio que amenaza dejarla si no aborta, necesitamos caminar con ella con amor. Cuando miembros de la familia o amistades se enferman, necesitamos asegurarles que Dios les ofrece aun algo en esta vida y que ellos tienen todavía un propósito en la vida. Necesitamos permanecer con ellos durante todo el camino. A veces nuestros actos manifiestan quienes somos; otras veces se necesitan palabras. Según la situación, Jesús sabe hablarle al corazón de cada persona; nosotros solamente tenemos que seguir su voluntad.

He así cómo actuamos como misioneros. He si cómo construimos una cultura de vida, una cultura que proclama con júbilo la verdad del amor de Dios, el propósito y el plan de vida. El cambio de cultura es un proceso de conversión que comienza dentro de nuestros corazones y requiere la disposición a educarse y el deseo a acercarse a Jesús, la fuente de alegría y amor. Cuando encontramos a Cristo, vivimos su amor y profundizamos nuestra relación con El, nuestro concepto de valor propio y por los demás crece. El amor de Cristo nos brinda felicidad y nuestra comprensión de este don precioso debe motivarnos a compartir este amor con nuestro prójimo. Nuestras vidas suelen ser transformadas por el testimonio de otros y las vidas de otros pueden ser cambiadas por nuestro testimonio y amistad auténtica. Por tanto, prosigamos sin miedo. Dios estará siempre con nosotros.

Reproducido del Programa de Respeto por la Vida, Derechos Reservados © 2017, Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los E.E.U.U, Washington, D.C. Todos los derechos reservados.

Binh luan bang loi

Làm thế nào để xây dựng một nền văn hoá của sự sống

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Để hiểu đầy đủ hơn cách bênh vực và bảo vệ sự sống con người, trước hết chúng ta phải xem xét chúng ta là ai, ở mức độ kỹ lưỡng nhất. Thiên Chúa dựng nên chúng ta theo hình ảnh của Người, có nghĩa là chúng ta được dựng nên để có được mối quan hệ yêu thương với Người. Bản chất căn tính và giá trị của chúng ta, nguồn gốc của phẩm giá của chúng ta, là chúng ta được Thiên Chúa yêu thương: “Chúng ta không phải là tổng thể của những khuyết điểm và thất bại, nhưng chúng ta là tổng thể tình yêu của Chúa Cha dành cho chúng ta và khả năng thực sự của chúng ta để trở thành hình ảnh Con của Người.”

Chúng ta được mời gọi đến sự gần gũi thánh thiêng, sự hiệp thông thật sự với Thiên Chúa, và chúng ta có thể phát triển trong sự gần gũi này với Người qua lời cầu nguyện hằng ngày, đọc Kinh Thánh và thường xuyên tham dự các bí tích, đặc biệt là bí tích Hòa giải và Thánh Thể.

Sự hiểu biết và nhận thức rằng chúng ta được Thiên Chúa yêu mến sâu xa như thế nào gợi lên sự đáp trả tình yêu đồng thời thu hút chúng ta gần gũi hơn với Thiên Chúa, đồng thời thúc đẩy chúng ta chia sẻ tình yêu của mình với người khác. Ôm ấp mối quan hệ với Thiên Chúa có nghĩa là đi theo vết chân Người, bất cứ nơi nào Người mời gọi. Giống như Chúa Giêsu mời gọi thánh Phêrô và thánh Anrê làm môn đệ, Ngài cũng mời gọi chúng ta như vậy: “Hãy theo tôi, tôi sẽ làm cho các anh thành những kẻ lưới người” (Mt 4:19).

Là môn đệ của Chúa Giêsu thông thường bao gồm việc chia sẻ Tin mừng với người khác và mời gọi họ vào một mối liên hệ sâu xa hơn với Thiên Chúa.

Là Kitô hữu, căn tính và sứ mạng của chúng ta là hai mặt của cùng một đồng tiền; giống như các tông đồ, chúng ta được kêu gọi trở thành những môn đệ truyền giáo. Điều này không nhất thiết là bỏ hết công việc của chúng ta hoặc đi ra nước ngoài. Đối với hầu hết chúng ta, lãnh vực truyền giáo của chúng ta là cuộc sống hằng ngày: “Đức Kitô dạy chúng ta cách rao giảng Tin Mừng,

cách thức mời gọi mọi người hiệp thông với Người, và làm thế nào để tạo ra một nền văn hoá của chứng tá, qua tình yêu.

Người tín hữu sống với đức tin và đức mến là hình thức phúc âm hóa hiệu quả nhất.”

Bước đầu tiên hướng tới cuộc sống này là để Chúa Giêsu gặp gỡ và biến đổi chúng ta mỗi ngày. Nếu chúng ta đáp trả lại ân sủng của Ngài, cuộc sống của chúng ta sẽ cho thấy chúng ta có cái gì đó vượt trên những gì mà thế gian ban cho: chúng ta đi theo một người có tình yêu thay đổi cuộc sống của chúng ta, để rồi chúng ta muốn người khác cũng trải nghiệm tình yêu biến đổi của Ngài.

Khi chúng ta sống trong sự hiệp nhất với Thiên Chúa, mở ra cho sự thúc đẩy của Ngài, chúng ta có thể nhìn thấy nhiều cơ hội để làm chứng và sự hướng dẫn của Ngài trong việc đáp ứng những cơ hội này. Chúng ta có thể sợ làm sai hoặc nói sai, nhưng chúng ta không cần phải sợ.

Chúa Giêsu đã hứa với các môn đệ rằng: “Ta sẽ ở với các con mọi ngày cho đến tận thế” (Mt 28:20).

Xét về mặt xã hội và cá nhân, chúng ta thường đánh giá bản thân theo các tiêu chuẩn giả tạo: bởi những gì và số lần chúng ta làm, những thành công hay thất bại của chúng ta, cách thức người khác đối xử với chúng ta như thế nào, mức độ vui vẻ và độc lập của chúng ta ... Và khi những điều có thể thay đổi này không đầy đủ, hoặc khi chúng ta phải đương đầu với những thử thách và đau khổ, chúng ta có thể cảm thấy bất lực, cô đơn, hoặc bị bỏ rơi; chúng ta có thể bị cám dỗ cảm thấy như thể cuộc sống của chúng ta đã giảm giá trị hoặc cảm thấy bất xứng.

Nhưng tình yêu của Thiên Chúa – mang tính cá vị, chân thật, và không thay đổi là nguồn gốc thật sự của giá trị, căn tính và nhân phẩm của chúng ta. Nó thật sự không phải là câu hỏi chúng ta là ai, mà đúng hơn là chúng ta thuộc về ai. Bởi vì tình yêu của Người sẽ không bao giờ thay đổi, không gì có thể làm giảm đi căn tính mà Thiên Chúa đã ban cho chúng ta, và không gì có thể làm giảm giá trị vô giá của sự sống chúng ta.

Khi ai đó đang phải đối diện với những thử thách lớn lao, chúng ta cần phải gặp gỡ họ, cùng đồng hành với họ, cầu nguyện cho họ và sẵn sàng chia sẻ

tình yêu của Đức Kitô theo cách thức mà Ngài hướng dẫn. Khi một phụ nữ mang thai, và bạn trai của cô ấy đe dọa sẽ phá bào thai nếu cô ấy vẫn tiếp tục mang thai, chúng ta cần phải đồng hành với cô ấy trong yêu thương. Khi những người trong gia đình hoặc bạn bè bị ốm nặng, chúng ta cần phải an ủi họ rằng Thiên Chúa vẫn cho họ điều gì đó trong cuộc sống này, và họ vẫn còn hữu dụng.

Chúng ta cần phải ở bên cạnh họ luôn. Đôi khi những hành động của chúng ta tự nói lên những công việc làm của chúng ta; lúc khác thì lời nói cũng cần thiết. Bất kể tình huống nào, Chúa Giêsu biết cách nói chuyện với tâm hồn của mỗi người; chúng ta chỉ cần làm theo những gì Ngài hướng dẫn. Đây là cách chúng ta trả lời cho ơn gọi truyền giáo của mình. Đây là cách chúng ta xây dựng một nền văn hoá sự sống, một nền văn hoá vui mừng tuyên bố sự thật về tình yêu, mục đích, và kế hoạch 11 của Thiên Chúa đối với mỗi người. Thay đổi văn hoá là một quá trình chuyển đổi bắt đầu trong trái tim của chúng ta và bao gồm sự sẵn sàng để được hướng dẫn và mong muốn được gần gũi với Chúa Giêsu - nguồn vui tươi và tình yêu. Khi gặp gỡ Đức Kitô, và cảm nghiệm tình yêu của Người, và làm sâu sắc thêm mối quan hệ của chúng ta với Người, chúng ta càng nhận thức được giá trị của mình và của người khác. Tình yêu của Người dành cho mỗi người là niềm vui lớn nhất, và sự hiểu biết ngày càng tăng về kho tàng vô giá này thúc đẩy chúng ta chia sẻ tình yêu của mình với người khác. Cuộc sống của chúng ta thường được thay đổi bởi chứng tá ​​của người khác; cũng vậy, cuộc sống của người khác có thể được thay đổi bởi chứng tá của chúng ta và tình bạn chân thành của chúng ta đối với họ. Vậy, chúng ta hãy ra đi, đừng sợ hãi.

Thiên Chúa luôn luôn ở với chúng ta.

Trích lại từ Chương trình Tôn trọng Sự Sống, bản quyền © 2017, của Hội đồng Giám mục Hoa Kỳ, Washington, D.C. Dịch thuật do Lm. Francis Bui, SDD và Thầy Paul Vu, SDD. Tu Đoàn Tông Đồ Giáo Sĩ Nhà Chúa www.bayoucatholic.com

Comment

Pope hopes Trump will ‘rethink’ DACA decision on pro-life grounds The Pope Speaks

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Vatican City, (CAN/EWTN News) During a press conference recently aboard the papal plane from Colombia to Rome, Pope Francis said that though he is not familiar with how the decision to end DACA was made, he hopes it will be reconsidered as part of a pro-life ethic which defends the unity of families.

“I hope that it will be rethought a little, because I have heard the President of the United States speak as a pro-life man. If he is a good pro-life man, he understands that the family is the cradle of life, and unity must be defended. This is what comes to me,” Francis said Sept. 10.

“I have heard of this law. I have not been able to read the articles, how the decision was made. I don’t know it well,” he stated.

“Keeping young people away from the family is not something that brings good fruit.”

Asked if he thought that ending DACA will cause youth who benefitted under the program to lose their joy and hope in the future, he said that when youth feel exploited, whether in this case or others, they are robbed of hope.

Dependency on drugs and other substances, as well as suicide, also provoke hopelessness, he said, which happens when youth are disconnected from their roots.

“Uprooted young people today ask for help, and this is why I insist so much on dialogue between the elderly and the youth. That they talk to their parents, but (also)

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2017

the elderly,” he said.

The Pope spoke aboard the papal plane Sunday evening on the return flight from Colombia. He made an apostolic visit to the country Sept. 6-11 to promote peace and reconciliation in the country, which has suffered from violence and a decades-long civil war.

In the 40-minute long conference, the Pope also spoke about the crisis in Venezuela, corruption, climate change and whether Colombia could provide a model for the peace process for other countries.

The Trump administration announced Sept. 5 that it would be taking steps to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, commonly known as DACA, which has benefited hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. as minors.

Under the program, eligible immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as minors by their parents could receive a twoyear stay on their deportation. In that time period, they could be eligible for work permits and Social Security.

The program was announced in 2012 by President Obama and implemented by the Department of Homeland Security, in the memorandum “Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion with Respect to Individuals Who Came to the United States as Children.”

Congress had several times tried and failed to pass the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien

Minors Act, or a version of it, that would help young immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally before the age of 16 to lawfully remain in the U.S. and even have a path to citizenship.

The most recent version has been introduced this year by Sens.

Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and would grant permanent legal status to more than 1 million eligible persons.

DACA was expanded to include eligible parents who brought their children illegally to the U.S. in a program called “Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents.” In 2016, the Supreme Court upheld a halt on that program going into effect, and U.S. Secretary of State Jeff Sessions warned Tuesday that DACA could get struck down in court.

The Trump administration said it would end DACA by phasing it out. Sessions said that it was an “unconstitutional” overreach of executive power, especially since Congress refused several times to grant such benefits to undocumented immigrants.

However, the decision has been met with harsh criticism, including from U.S. bishops, who said ending the program was a “national tragedy” for all parties and argued that it is unfair to deport young people who did not make the choice to come to the U.S., but who nevertheless have contributed to the country by holding down jobs, going to college and even serving in the nation’s armed forces.

Questions of Faith Father Joshua Rodrigue, S.T.L.

Pro-Life for the guilty?

The death penalty is used in many states, so why does the Catholic Church teach us that it is wrong?

This past year saw an effort to ban the death penalty in Louisiana, but the measure was defeated.

Louisiana continues to be one of 31 states along with the federal government that allows for the death penalty as part of its penal system.

Where does the Catholic Church stand on this issue? The Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraph 2267), teaches the following: Assuming that the guilty party’s identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor. If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people’s safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person.

Today, in fact, as a consequence of the possibilities which the state has for effectively preventing crime, by rendering one who has committed an offense incapable of doing harm - without definitely taking away from him the possibility of redeeming himself - the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity “are very rare, if not practically non-existent.”

Accordingly, the church is not opposed to the use of the death penalty completely.

It does acknowledge the right and duty of a society to protect its citizens from aggressors if this is the only way to do so. However, because the death penalty is a complete and total act, warranting complete and total guilt of the accused, there can be no room for error or even the slightest doubt. Therefore, there must first be moral certitude in determining the guilt of the accused.

Nevertheless, even if the guilt is correctly determined, the church points out that in most places today, other means of self-defense are available and preferable to capital punishment.

What threatens society is not the perpetrator’s being—who the person is—but his actions—what he does. The death penalty destroys the very being of a person. Prisons today are better capable of protecting society from a criminal’s acts without ending a criminal’s life. Quoting St. Pope John Paul II’s Evangelium Vitae, (The Gospel of Life) No. 56, the Catechism emphasizes that the cases when a criminal is to be executed, “are very rare, if not practically non-existent.”

At the very heart of the church’s opposition to the death penalty is just that—the heart of humanity— the love for our fellow brother or sister, even one who has committed an atrocious transgression against society. The Lord and his church recognize the absolute dignity and uniqueness of the human person, made in the image and likeness of God and loved by God, even if the convicted does not recognize his or her worth. To vilify or characterize

a criminal as a monster helps to dehumanize him or her and makes it easier to forget that, yes, the guilty is also someone’s son or daughter, brother or sister, or parent—a member of a family and, by virtue of their humanity, a member of our own family.

Rather than the desire for vengeance and condemnation, the desire for conversion and redemption for the criminal’s soul should be our truest desire. We can learn from the example of the mother of St. Maria Goretti, who was killed at the hands of Alessandro Serenelli when she refused his advances. For the first three years of his sentence, Alessandro remained unrepentant until after a visit from the local bishop. When released after 27 years in prison, Alessandro visited Assunta Goretti and begged her forgiveness. She forgave him, saying that if Maria had forgiven him on her death bed then she could not do less. They then attended Mass together the next day and received Holy Communion side by side.

To incarcerate a criminal for life gives the opportunity for the cold, 13 hardened heart to be warmed and melted by the grace, love, mercy and forgiveness of God in order to accept responsibility and truly make reparation for the harm done. The death of the guilty does not bring back a life taken or give peace and closure to a victim’s family; mercy and forgiveness give life to one who has been dead and truly will bring peace and closure.

“Answer them: As I live, says the Lord God, I swear I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, but rather in the wicked man’s conversion that he may live.

Turn, turn from your evil ways!

Why should you die, house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11).

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

Jesus, the Model Teacher

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By now we are well into our religious education programs.

Those who teach in those programs are carrying out a 2000-year-old directive from Matthew’s Jesus, first given to the Eleven then passed on to successive generations, to make disciples of all nations by teaching and baptizing them (Matthew 28:19-20). Their model as teachers is Jesus the Teacher.

While Jesus’ delivery of five lengthy discourses contributes much to Matthew’s depiction of him as a teacher, Jesus fulfills that role in a unique way in the Temple during his Jerusalem Ministry (21:1-26:1), passages from which we will read during this month.

After his triumphal entry into Jerusalem (21:1-11), Jesus resumes a ministry of mighty deeds and teaching (21:1226:1). At 21:23 Jesus enters the Temple and, while he is engaged in teaching, the Jewish religious leaders confront him about his authority to do so and to perform the other actions (such as expelling the moneychangers and merchants, 21:12-13 and healing, 21:14). Jesus’ authority surfaces as early as 7:29, when the audience of the Sermon on the Mount notices that he teaches with an authority unlike that of their religious leaders.

In addition, Jesus’ authority is acutely at issue in a number of controversies between himself

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2017

and the Jewish religious leaders as Matthew’s narrative unfolds (e.g.

9:2-8; 15:1-12). These controversies encompass Jesus’ deeds of healing and prophetic actions as well as his teaching.

Having confounded the religious leaders in the controversy over his authority in 21:23-27, Jesus extends his response by uttering three parables: The Two Sons (21:28-32), The Wicked Tenant Farmers (21:33-46) and The Royal Wedding Feast (22:1-14). While parables provide didactic elements, Jesus continues to teach in the midst of four controversies (22:1546) with the Jewish religious leaders. The three parables just mentioned will be read at Masses on the first three Sundays of October, while two of the four controversy dialogs (“Paying Taxes to Caesar” [22:15-22] and “The Greatest Commandment” [22:34-40]) will be read on the last two Sundays.

We will consider how the passages just mentioned: 1) offer instruction about the Kingdom, 2) address the issue of Jesus’ authority and 3) articulate something about who Jesus is (Christology).

In Jesus’ parable about two sons, one refuses his father’s request to work in the vineyard, but later “repents” and goes to work, while the other at first agrees, but does not go. Which one did the father’s will? Obviously the first one did.

The parable points out that “actions speak louder than words” and the catalyst which turns actions into words is repentance. John

the Baptist effectively motivated the tax collectors and prostitutes (extreme images of sinners) to repent and thereby do the Father’s will. The religious leaders, who have not heeded the Baptist’s words, have not done the Father’s will. John the Baptist, in contrast to the inept religious leaders, did in fact wield divine authority, and Jesus has suggested that his authority is of the same origin as that of John.

In the parable of The Wicked Tenant Farmers, the slaves the vineyard owner sends to obtain his portion of the produce from the sharecroppers are abused, and one is even killed by the tenant farmers.

Ultimately the owner sends his son, whom they surprisingly throw out of the vineyard and kill. As it exists in Matthew’s Gospel, this parable has been allegorized to depict the history of rejection of God’s emissaries by Israel’s leaders, a history which culminates in Jesus’ enemies’ rejection of him, the definitive divine (and therefore authoritative) emissary. If the vineyard owner portrays God, then the son would be God’s divine Son. The parable of The Royal Wedding Feast depicts a king throwing a wedding banquet for his son. The king twice sends out slaves to summon the invited guests to the banquet, but the first time they simply refuse and the second time some just go about their business while others abuse and even kill his slaves. Consequently, the king, astonishingly, sends his troops

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to destroy the murderers and burn their city. Then he has the slaves invite whomever they find, the bad and the good alike. Again, if in Matthew’s Gospel this parable is properly understood as an allegory, the king represents God, the son refers to Jesus and the wedding banquet is an image for the advent of the Messianic time. The parable depicts the Kingdom, then, as a time to be gathered with God’s Son in his saving presence which calls for rejoicing, especially in the form of heeding the invitation, but not all do! As Son of the divine King, Jesus is depicted as wielding his Father’s authority. Again, Jesus’ teaching reflects back upon his person, as he images himself as the Father’s divine Son. In the controversy over Paying Taxes to Caesar, Jesus in essence tells those who confront him that the issue of remitting taxes to the emperor, a hot-button issue in first-century Palestine, pales in importance to the much greater issue of what we are to render to God. Thus the Kingdom is about rendering fealty and good works to

God. Jesus’ authority surfaces in that, in their attempt to entrap him, Jesus’ opponents show themselves to be subordinate to him in wisdom, in that they preoccupy themselves with an issue much less significant than the one Jesus raises about “giving to God what is God’s.”

The controversy over The Greatest Commandment is the definitive passage which pins down Jesus’ superiority over the teachers of Israel. When the antagonists of Matthew’s story challenge Jesus to declare the superiority of one of the 613 commandments of the Torah, Jesus’ response, that one

Reflection

is to love God with every ounce of one’s being (Deuteronomy 6:5), and one’s neighbor as oneself (Leviticus 19:18), articulates the heart of the Law. The scribes and Pharisees, with their concerns over minutiae, have failed to see the big picture.

Thus, in Matthew 22:34-40, true subjects of the Kingdom thoroughly love God and their neighbors.

Again, Jesus, by demonstrating his superior wisdom, shows himself to have an equally superior authority as a teacher, an authority which surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees.

Questions

oversy, idst of contr m e th in g in Jesus, teach faith today? n How does teachers of r fo el od m le perior to serve as a ro isdom as su w s’ u es J d re we encounte n How have portant our own? of Jesus im ge d le ow n al k interperson bracing his n Why is an dom and em is w is h g din to understan ? authority

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Monday

16

ScriptureReadings Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

and a listing of Feast days and saints

Friday

Saturday

25 September 26

27

28

29

2

3

Memorial of the Weekday Holy Guardian Zechariah 8:20-23 Angels Luke 9:51-56 Zechariah 8:1-8 Matthew 18:1-5, 10

4

Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi Nehemiah 2:1-8 Luke 9:57-62

5

Weekday Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12 Luke 10:1-12

6

Weekday Baruch 1:15-22 Luke 10:13-16

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary Baruch 4:5-12, 27-29 Luke 10:17-24

9

10

Weekday Weekday Jonah 1:1—2:2, 11 Jonah 3:1-10 Luke 10:25-37 Luke 10:38-42

11

Weekday Jonah 4:1-11 Luke 11:1-4

12

Weekday Malachi 3:13-20b Luke 11:5-13

13

14

Weekday Weekday Joel 1:13-15; 2:1-2 Joel 4:12-21 Luke 11:15-26 Luke 11:27-28

16

17

18

19

20

21

Weekday Romans 1:1-7 Luke 11:29-32

23

Weekday Romans 4:20-25 Luke 12:13-21

30

Weekday Romans 8:12-17 Luke 13:10-17

Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr Romans 1:16-25 Luke 11:37-41

24

Weekday Romans 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21 Luke 12:35-38

31

Weekday Romans 8:18-25 Luke 13:18-21

30

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Ezekiel 18:25-28 Philippians 2:1 Matthew 21:28-32

7

8

Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, priests; and companions, martyrs Romans 3:21-30 Luke 11:47-54

Weekday Romans 4:1-8 Luke 12:1-7

Weekday Romans 4:13, 16-18 Luke 12:8-12

25

26

27

28

Weekday Romans 6:19-23 Luke 12:49-53

1 November 2

Solemnity of All Saints Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14 1 John 3:1-3 Matthew 5:1-12a

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2017

All Souls’ Day – The Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed Wisdom 3:1-9 Romans 5:5-11 John 6:37-40

Weekday Romans 7:18-25a Luke 12:54-59

Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, apostles Ephesians 2:19-22 Luke 5:12-16

3

4

Weekday Romans 9:1-5 Luke 14:1-6

1 October

Memorial of Saint Jerome, priest and doctor of the church Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15a Luke 9:43b-45

Feast of Saint Luke, evangelist 2 Timothy 4:10-17b Luke 10:1-9

Weekday Romans 6:12-18 Luke 12:39-48

Sunday

Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 5:1-7 Philippians 4:6-9 Matthew 21:33-43

15

Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 25:6-10a Philippians 4:1214, 19-20 Matthew 22:1-14

22

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 45:1, 4-6 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b Matthew 22:15-21

29

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Exodus 22:20-26 1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10 Matthew 22:34-40

5

October

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Respect Life What to do when a friend is considering abortion Although the first instinct may be to convince her that abortion ends a baby’s life, hearing facts is not the first thing she needs. Research shows that many women in a pregnancy crisis think, “This is the end of my life as I know it.” To face the challenges before her, your friend needs to know you care about her for her own sake and she is not alone.

First listening to your friend will help build trust and facilitate openness. Eventually, when she knows you truly care about her and she trusts you, you can share the truth in love. You can share facts about abortion, her own intrinsic worth, and the practical help and support available so she can choose life for herself and her baby.

A truly loving approach reflects St. Paul’s description of love in his first letter to the Corinthians: “If I speak in human and angelic tongues, but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. … Love is patient, love is kind” (1 Corinthians 13:1, 4).

When a woman is facing a difficult pregnancy, the reaction of the first person she tells tends to set the tone for her decision-making. How do we respond to our friend in a loving way that is life-affirming for both her and her baby?

Consider the four steps of the L.O.V.E. Approach™: Listen and Learn, Open Options, Vision and Value, and Extend and Empower.

L. Listen and Learn First, prioritize listening over speaking. You don’t have to worry about whether you may say something “wrong,” and you don’t need to have all the answers.

Start by listening to her story.

Ask her about her feelings, thoughts, values, beliefs and wants. Do not interrupt, except to ask her to expound, when appropriate. For example: How did you feel when you first found out? Did you feel abandoned when he said that? What are your feelings now? What did you think about that? What do you think your parents will say or do? What value does that have for you? How does this relate to your religious beliefs? How important is that for you? In your heart of hearts, what do you really want to do?

Ask open-ended questions and statements like, “Tell me more … ”

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Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2017

a

Interpret and confirm what you think you are hearing: “Did I hear you say … ” Pay close attention to her body language. She may show from gestures of discomfort or a lack of eye contact that what she is saying does not actually reflect her innermost feelings, values or wants.

Listen for clues to her needs so you can later bring up helpful ways to address those needs. Listen for her strengths and resources so you can later reflect them back to her, building up her confidence and courage.

O. Open Options When her story is fully shared, it is your turn to provide factual information, always in a loving and caring way. You might share about the reality of abortion and the wounds that typically result.

You might share experiences about having a baby, adoption, marriage, and how such things might apply in her situation. It’s most helpful to keep the focus on her.

At the same time, avoid using the framework of adoption versus abortion. Research indicates that a woman with an unexpected, unwanted pregnancy often views all the possible outcomes of her pregnancy negatively: keeping her child, abortion and adoption

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(which she tends to see as the worst of three “evils”). Research also “suggests that in pitting adoption against abortion, adoption will be the hands-down loser.” It’s better to first focus on encouraging her that she can carry this baby to term.

V. Vision and Value Awaken a vision in her for a healthier life (a vision she may never have had, or that may have dimmed). Help her value herself differently. She is a special creation, worthy of love. She is made in the image of God; as a woman, her maternity is a gift. Jesus loves her and even died for her.

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Encourage her. Help her set and work towards goals that extend beyond her due date to help her see life beyond her pregnancy. Reassure her there is always hope and she is not alone. She can make positive, life-giving choices. She can do it.

E. Extend and Empower Provide practical help and support. Her local pregnancy help center can offer consultation, lists of community resources, and ultrasound services.

Consider keeping such lists of resources in your car, purse or wallet. Help her plan next steps. What would help her? A call from you? How can you 19 contact her?

Pray with her and for her and her baby. The L.O.V.E. Approach™ is a way to bring Christ’s love at a crucial life-saving and life-defining moment. We are created to walk with and support one another; we don’t need to fear reaching out in love. Help your friend experience the strength of God’s message that resounds throughout time: “Do not fear: I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10).

Reprinted (excerpted) from Respect Life Program, copyright © 2017, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. All rights reserved.

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Respect Life

Catholic considerations for our earthly passing 20 Now and at the Hour of Our Death We prepare for eternal life by choosing to love and follow God now, in our daily lives and decisions. For example, through prayer and regular reception of the sacraments, especially confession and the Eucharist, we obtain grace to live in ever-deeper communion with God and with one another in lives of faith, charity and justice.

We ask for Our Blessed Mother’s help now, and we entrust ourselves to her further as we “surrender ‘the hour of our death’ wholly to her care.”

Forming Our Consciences Our journey with Christ naturally includes equipping our consciences to make morally good judgments and acting accordingly. Learning about the dignity of human life and the indispensable respect for it, as well as applicable principles for medical care, is particularly important in preparing for our eventual passing.

Some bishops offer guides applying moral principles to local legal options. Parish and online resources are also widely available for careful and prayerful study, and the Ethical and Religious

Terrebonne-Lafourche Right to Life Working to restore the right to life a labor of love.

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Directives from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops give direction for health care services to those who are seriously ill or dying.

A Note on General Principles No summary can substitute for thorough catechesis, but some general principles are clear. We are entrusted by God with the gift of life, and in response, we care for our lives and health in obedience and gratitude to our Creator.

This obliges us to make use of appropriate, effective medical care.

However, even effective treatments may at times impose such a great burden that we, in good

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conscience, may forgo or discontinue them. This applies even to life-sustaining treatments.

Of course, nothing should be done or deliberately omitted to hasten death.

The church affirms the inviolable dignity of every person, regardless of the duration or extent of the person’s incapacity or dependency. Nothing diminishes the unchangeable dignity and sanctity of a person’s life, or the obligation to protect and care for it. In principle, assisted feeding and hydration should be provided unless it cannot sustain life or is unduly burdensome to the patient, or if death is imminent whether it is provided or not.

Moreover, no one should choose suicide, nor counsel or assist another to take his or her own life.

Discerning Treatment Options Judging the effect and burden of treatments can be difficult, especially as death draws near. To understand health facts and treatment options, we need professional medical advice.

To understand Catholic moral teaching, we need to consult church teaching and those who can faithfully explain it.

Speaking with Loved Ones After informing our consciences, we need to inform our families. If we are unable to make decisions, they most often have legal authority to make surrogate decisions on our behalf. Or we may designate a health care agent by a durable power of attorney.

Though it is often helpful

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to also have written, signed documentation, no living will “check box” can ever replace clear conversations about our faithguided principles. The best option is to choose an agent who will make medical decisions on our behalf in accord with our Catholic faith and church teaching.

We should also inform family of our pastoral care preferences, and make clear that after death, w e desire

Pastoral care is integral to both palliative and hospice care, and includes making available the Eucharist, confession, anointing of the sick, and viaticum. prayer, funeral rites, and C h r i s t i a n burial.

Accompaniment before and after Death Those who are sick should not be alone, as multiple popes have reminded us in messages for the annual World Day of the Sick.

Patients who have serious or lifethreatening illnesses, as well as

their families, can be provided with physical, psychological, and spiritual care through team-based palliative care. Hospice care can provide similar integrated care for those nearing death and for their families.

Pastoral care is integral to both palliative and hospice care, and includes making available the Eucharist, confession, anointing of the sick, and viaticum. It also includes supportive prayer and support for decision makers. It may be helpful to familiarize ourselves with local services available in preparation for our own passing or that of loved ones.

Even after death, accompaniment continues.

Our prayers can help those who are being purified in Purgatory, so it is a spiritual work of mercy to pray for those who have died.

Hope in the Resurrection Those who die in God’s grace and friendship 21 live forever with Christ.

Heaven is not an abstract idea, but a true and lasting relationship with God that is beyond all earthly description and understanding. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead and everlasting life by preparing now, in hope, for our passage from this life into eternal life.

We need not fear. Christ is with us.

Reprinted (excerpted) from Respect Life Program, copyright © 2017, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. All rights reserved.

1201 Cardinal Drive, Thibodaux, LA 70301 (985) 446-9050 Fax: 449-0047 • www.stjosephmanor.org

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Respect Life

Top reasons to oppose assisted suicide A Deadly Mix with Our ProfitDriven Health Care System Some patients in Oregon and California have received word that their health insurance will pay for assisted suicide but will not pay for treatment that may sustain their lives.

Puts Vulnerable Persons at Risk of Abuse and Coercion Once lethal drugs have been prescribed, assisted suicide laws 22 have no requirements for assessing the patient’s consent, competency or voluntariness. Who would know if the drugs are freely taken since there is no supervision or tracking of the drugs once they leave the pharmacy and no witnesses are required at the time of death? Despite a reporting system designed to conceal rather than detect abuses, reports of undue influence have nonetheless surfaced in Oregon.

Elder abuse is considered a major health problem in the United States, with federal estimates that one in 10 elder persons is abused.

Placing lethal drugs into the hands of abusers generates an additional major risk to elder persons.

Assisted suicide laws often allow

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one of the two witnesses to the request for lethal drugs to be an heir to the patient’s estate. Therefore, an heir or friends of the heir can encourage or pressure the patient to request lethal drugs and then be a witness to the request.

Dangerously Broad Definition of Terminal Illness Assisted suicide laws typically appear to limit eligibility to terminally ill patients who are expected to die within six months but don’t distinguish between persons who will die within six months with treatment and those who will die within six months without treatment. This means that patients with treatable diseases (like diabetes or chronic respiratory or cardiac disease) and patients with disabilities requiring ventilator support are all eligible for lethal drugs because they would die within six months without the treatment they would normally receive.

Pain Not the Primary Issue Untreated pain is not among the top reasons for taking lethal drugs.

Per official annual state reports, in 2016, 90 percent of Oregon patients seeking lethal drugs said they were doing so because they were “less able to engage in activities making life enjoyable” and were “losing autonomy,” and 49 percent cited being a “burden” on family, friends or caregivers. And in Washington, 52 percent cited being a “burden” as a reason, while only 35 percent cited a concern about pain.

No Psychiatric Evaluation or Treatment Required Despite medical literature showing that nearly 95 percent of those who commit suicide had a diagnosable psychiatric illness (usually treatable depression) in the months preceding suicide, the prescribing doctor and the doctor he or she selects to give a second opinion are both free to decide

whether to refer suicidal patients for any psychological counseling.

Per Oregon’s official annual report, from 2013-2016 less than 4 percent of patients who died under its assisted suicide law had been referred for counseling to check for “impaired judgment.”

If counseling is provided to patients seeking assisted suicide, its goal isn’t to treat the underlying disorder or depression; it’s to determine whether the disorder or depression is “causing impaired judgment (emphasis added).” The doctors or counselor can decide that, since depression is “a completely normal response” to terminal illness, the depressed patient’s judgment is not impaired.

Threatens Improvement of Palliative Care There is compelling evidence that legalizing assisted suicide undermines efforts to maintain and improve good care for patients nearing the end of life, including patients who never wanted assisted suicide.

Fosters Discrimination Assisted suicide creates two classes of people: those whose suicides we spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year to prevent and those whose suicides we assist and treat as a positive good.

We remove weapons and drugs that can cause harm to one group, while handing deadly drugs to the other, setting up yet another kind of lifethreatening discrimination.

There are many more reasons why legalizing assisted suicide is a bad and dangerous idea. For further information, visit www. usccb.org/toliveeachday and www. patientsrightsaction.org.

Reprinted (excerpted) from Respect Life Program, copyright © 2017, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. All rights reserved.

The annual Life Chains in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux will be held on Respect Life Sunday, October 1, 2017, from 2–3 p.m. (rain or shine). This is a peaceful and prayerful public witness of pro-life Americans standing for one hour praying for our nation and for an end to abortion.

Those participating in the Houma Life Chain will line the median of Tunnel Boulevard in Houma.

The Thibodaux Life Chain participants will line Canal Boulevard in Thibodaux.

The Larose Life Chain participants will stand in the front yard of Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Larose.

Join with other pro-life Christians to make a statement to our community that “Abortion Kills Children.”

Crossroads celebrates 15years of life and hope Annual Gala Oct. 25 in Thibodaux Story by Janet Marcel Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center in Thibodaux, whose mission is “to promote the sanctity of life by providing compassionate care to women experiencing unplanned pregnancies and to provide education, guidance and spiritual support, especially to those considering abortion or other alternatives, in a spirit of compassion, love and grace,” is an excellent resource for young women faced with an unplanned pregnancy who may be looking for alternatives that respect the value and dignity of human life.

The Center became an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation in 2002 and began seeing clients in early 2003. Bishop Oscar A. Solis of Salt Lake City, UT, pastor of St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux at the time, along with some parishioners worked together to make the Center a reality. The CoCathedral parish provided seed money for the project together with a grant from the Peltier Foundation and other individual donations.

Crossroads serves clients in Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. Mary, St. James and Assumption parishes. Clients are served without regard to age, race, income, nationality, religious affiliation, disability or other arbitrary circumstances. The Center is affiliated with Heartbeat International, National Institute for Family Life Advocates (NIFLA), and the American Pregnancy Association.

Michele Beary, LAS, executive director of the Center since March 2016, says that since opening, over 2,500 women and men have been helped with the following free services: pregnancy tests, limited ultrasounds, pregnancy education/support, pregnancy options counseling, post-abortion healing support, community referrals and outreach, sexual integrity education, Merits for Moms program, and maternity and baby items distribution.

“We provide assistance for women throughout their pregnancy with maternity clothes, baby clothes and items, pre-natal education, parenting education for mothers and fathers, referrals to other local agencies, and a listening ear,” says Beary. “We are not just here to support parents as they make decisions in the midst of pregnancy, but also after they have given birth and are entering into their new role as a parent. In the face of an unplanned pregnancy, even in the best of circumstances, parenting can be overwhelming. Crossroads provides as much as we can in the way of resources and support so that our clients feel more confident as a parent.”

The Center’s funding comes from individual donors, grant writing and fundraising events. This year’s annual Gala will commemorate the Center’s 15th

anniversary of celebrating life and offering hope to families throughout the community. “Lives are being saved and transformed through the helping hands and hearts of our staff, volunteers and the gifts of our generous supporters,” says Beary.

The Gala will be held Wednesday, Oct. 25 from 6 – 9 p.m. at The Wellness Center of Thibodaux Regional.

Beary says the event’s new name, Celebrate Life Gala, reflects its mission of promoting the sanctity of life. This year’s Gala will include a performance by critically acclaimed composer and pianist Eric Genuis and his musicians, hors d’oeuvres and wine, followed by a seated dinner.

For more information about Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center, call (985) 446-5004 or visit the website www.crossroadsprc.org. The center is located at 105 St. Louis Street in Thibodaux and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. or by appointment. Walk-ins are welcome.

www.bayoucatholic.com

23

Carroll Angelle

Chef Carroll Cooks a:

TASTY

PASTA MEAL Story and Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

24

This month’s heavenly recipe, Pasta Angelle, comes from Cecilia, LA, native Carroll Angelle. For as long as he remembers food was a big part of his life. “I remember as a small boy watching and helping my mom in the kitchen. Where I grew up southwest Louisiana families would get together and have a boucherie. I was always in the kitchen when they were cooking meatball stew.

That was the beginning for me,” says Carroll.

Carroll has owned two restaurants, Angelle’s Restaurant and Carroll’s Restaurant in Lafayette. He was also an instructor for the Culinary Institute of New Orleans, and had his own television show, Jazz Brunch.

His love for cooking and culinary skills has led him to travel abroad and cook for many dignitaries. “I represented the U.S. in the International Food Show in Osaka, Japan.” He has also cooked in New Zealand, Australia and Tunisia. “Once I cooked for the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. It was an honor to prepare a meal for him,” says Carroll.

He now calls Stephensville home and is a parishioner of Holy Cross Church parish in Morgan City. Carroll is now in the 20th year of being in the catering business.

For the past nine years he has co-owned Premier Offshore Catering, Inc., in Gray.

A devout Catholic, his faith and love of God was instilled in him through his mother. “When we were kids my mom would kneel with us every night and pray the rosary.”

Although none of his siblings would enter the vocation of priesthood or religious life, he has two cousins, Msgr. Robert Angelle and Father Floyd Calais, who are priests.

Upon reflecting on his life and accomplishments, the 70 year old chef says, “God gives you the cross to carry. You have to carry it. He is the one who opens doors for you.”

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2017

Pasta Angelle INGREDIENTS: 1/2 stick butter 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/3 cup red onion, julienned 4 cloves garlic, minced 2-14 oz. cans artichoke hearts, drained and lightly crushed 3 avocadoes, cut into wedges 12 oz. angel hair pasta, cooked al dente 1 tsp. black pepper 1 tsp. crushed red pepper 8 oz. parmesan cheese 1 can evaporated milk 3 leeks, chopped (bottoms only) 1/2 stalk celery, diced 1/3 cup green bell pepper, julienned 1 quart heavy cream 3 lbs. 21-25 shrimp, butterflied 1 tbsp. salt 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper 1/2 tsp. granulated garlic 2 eggs 2 cups flour

DIRECTIONS: Heat olive oil and butter over medium heat. Sweat onions, peppers, celery, leeks, garlic and artichoke hearts until soft; do not brown. Add 1 quart heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes. While that simmers, season flour with salt, black pepper, cayenne and granulated garlic and dredge shrimp through. Next dip into egg wash made from 2 eggs and 1 can evaporated milk mixed well.

Then dredge in seasoned flour again and fry until golden brown.

Meanwhile, add avocado wedges to cream and veggie sauce and cut heat. Immediately add cooked pasta to sauce and stir gently so as not to crush the avocados.

Stir in parmesan cheese to thicken. Top with fried shrimp and serve immediately.

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2018-2019 Application Packets will be distributed at Open House Call Alisha Bergeron at 985.446.8486 ext. 116 or email abergeron@htdiocese.org for more information 555 Cardinal Drive, Thibodaux, LA 70301 www.edwhite.org E. D. White Catholic High School is open to all students and does not discriminate on the basis of race or national origin.

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Youth

in action

Victoria Battaglia School: H.L. Bourgeois High School Grade: 12th Church parish: St. Bernadette Describe your family unit: My parents are Felecia and Steve Battaglia. I have a sister, Teri Aucoin and a brother, Stephen Battaglia.

Favorite Hobby: Reading and playing sports Favorite Movie: Love Actually Favorite T.V. Show: Friends Favorite Genre of Music: Country and Christian music

26

Pope Francis calls us all to be missionary disciples of Christ What comes to mind when I think of the word disciple is a person who grows in Christ while being an example in the real world.

Anybody can claim to be a disciple, but do they show it? You cannot tell somebody that you are a disciple; you have to show people through actions and love.

There are many people in my life who are disciples of Christ, but the one person who comes to mind is my confirmation sponsor and brother, Stephen. He shows his love for Christ through everything he does. No matter how busy he gets, Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2017

he always finds time to grow in his faith. He is always motivating me by letting Christ’s light shine through him.

It is easiest to follow Christ’s example when you surround yourself with holy people such as at retreats and Mass. However, it is hardest to follow Christ’s example when you have a busy schedule.

When you have to juggle school, sports, and a social life, it becomes hard to find time to spend with Jesus. In order to fix this, we must make time. If people do not make time for Christ in their schedule,

they will grow distant from him.

Keeping my faith energized can be difficult sometimes, so I energize my faith by going to Anew and other retreats. I am surrounded by people that share the same faith which makes it easy to be energized.

During the times I am unable to go to retreats, I often go to daily Mass and pray the rosary. The Mass and rosary are two tools that should be used as often as possible. The Mass refuels our love for Christ, while the rosary gives us the peace that we need to keep going.

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 to or establish a burse, send funds to the Pastoral Center, Attn: Seminarian Burse, P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395 or call Darby Robichaux at the Office of the Bishop at (985) 850-3124 for more information.

Completed Burses of $15,000 each 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

Note: Numbers stipulate the amount of completed burses.*

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 & Family 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 Knights of Columbus Leighton Delahaye Mrs. Shirley Conrad Bishop Shelton J. Fabre Elizabeth Hebert Callais Family Fund Rev. Joseph Tu Tran Society of St. Joseph Endowment Fund - $119,136.90 James J. Buquet Jr.

August 2017 Burse Contributions Claude & Lucy Mahler Family ................... $10,000.00 Warren J. Harang Jr. .................. $100.00 Rev. Gerard Hayes ..................... $100.00 Edna W. DiSalvo ............................$50.00

27

Open Burses with Balance as of August 31, 2017 Sidney J. & Lydie C. Duplantis ...................$13,000.00 Donald Peltier Sr. No. 4 ................................$13,000.00 Joseph Strada Memorial ..............................$12,642.63 Msgr. Raphael C. Labit No. 2 ....................$11,320.00 Harvey Peltier No. 31 ....................................$10,486.91 Joseph Waitz Sr. ..............................................$10,100.00 Clay Sr. & Evelida Duplantis No. 2 ...........$10,000.00 C. Remie Duplantis No. 2 .............................$10,000.00 Marie Elise Duplantis No. 2 ........................$10,000.00 Maude & Edith Daspit No. 2 ......................$10,000.00 Msgr. George A. Landry ...............................$10,000.00 Claude & Lucy Mahler Family ....................$10,000.00 Mr. & Mrs. George C. Fakier ......................... $9,600.00 Elie & Dot Klingman .........................................$9,140.00 Rev. Victor Toth ..................................................$7,000.00 Msgr. William Koninkx .....................................$6,600.00 Brides of the Most Blessed Trinity ..............$6,598.00 Rev. Peter Nies ....................................................$6,000.00 Catholic Daughters ............................................$5,995.00 Rev. Guy Zeringue .............................................$5,600.00 Msgr. Francis Amedee .....................................$5,150.00 Mr. & Mrs. Love W. Pellegrin ........................$5,000.00 Anonymous No. 2 ..............................................$5,000.00 Mr. & Mrs. Caliste Duplantis Family No. 4 ...$5,000.00 Rev. William M. Fleming .................................$5,000.00 Mrs. Ayres A. Champagne ..............................$5,000.00 Rev. Gerard Hayes .............................................$4,986.00 Rev. Kasimir Chmielewski ...............................$4,839.00

Joseph “Jay” Fertitta ..........................................$4,450.00 Rev. Henry Naquin ............................................$4,311.00 Harry Booker No. 2 ...........................................$4,138.00 Msgr. James Songy ...........................................$4,075.00 Anawin Community ..........................................$3,700.00 Kelly Curole Frazier ............................................$3,610.96 J. R. Occhipinti .....................................................$3,400.00 Mr. & Mrs. Galip Jacobs ..................................$3,060.00 St. Jude ...................................................................$3,000.00 Diocesan Knights of Columbus No. 2 .......$2,894.62 Rev. Peter H. Brewerton ..................................$2,600.00 Mr. & Mrs. John Marmande ..........................$2,500.00 Warren J. Harang Jr. No. 2 .............................$2,400.00 Willie & Emelda St. Pierre ..............................$2,000.00 Rev. H.C. Paul Daigle ........................................$1,900.00 Deacon Connely Duplantis ............................$1,675.00 Alfrances P. Martin ............................................$1,650.00 Preston & Gladys Webre ................................$1,650.00 Msgr. Francis J. Legendre No. 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 Barletta 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 .......................................$1,200.00 Rev. Joseph Tu Tran No. 2 ..............................$1,094.00 Judge Louis & Shirley R. Watkins ...............$1,050.00 Ronnie Haydel .....................................................$1,035.00 Rev. Clemens Schneider ..................................$1,000.00 Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux No. 4 ............$1,000.00 Msgr. John G. Keller ..........................................$1,000.00 Edna W. DiSalvo .................................................... $800.00 Deacon Willie Orgeron ....................................... $800.00 Ruby Pierce .............................................................. $800.00 Deacon Roland Dufrene .................................... $750.00 Juliette & Eugene Wallace ................................ $700.00 Deacon Edward J. Blanchard ............................ $700.00 Deacon Raymond LeBouef ............................... $550.00 Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Cannata ........................... $500.00 Robert Walsh .......................................................... $500.00 Bernice Harang ...................................................... $600.00 Dean Joseph Chiasson ........................................ $400.00 Anne Veron Aguirre ............................................. $380.00 Deacon Harold Kurtz ........................................... $300.00 Richard Peltier No. 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 Burses Total: $1,675,358.02 www.bayoucatholic.com

Weathering the Thoughts for Millennials

A 28

Ryan Abboud

storms

As Catholics in South Louisiana, hurricanes are definitely natural occurrences that we are very familiar with. Many of us vividly remember the affects that Hurricane Katrina had on us 12 years ago, and with the impact of storms like Hurricane Harvey and Irma, we are reminded all too well of the damage that is caused by such storms both physically and emotionally. These massive hurricanes can infiltrate our lives, homes and neighborhoods and can leave lasting effects on us.

Alternatively, as Catholics we can also experience spiritual “storms” that can infiltrate our personal lives and often cause us emotion pain. These hard times can often bring us to our knees; they typically define our spirituality and are monumental events in our faith journey. When digging deeper we actually find that nature’s hurricanes can be very similar to the “hurricanes” we face in our spirituality.

For example, when hurricanes destroy a city, state, or gulf coast region, we often look up to the sky and ask God, “why?” Why did you destroy our homes and our land? How could you let such a terrible thing happen? In comparison, when terrible things happen to us in our spiritual lives, we often ask the same questions. We shake our fist at heaven and a large dosage of doubt enters our relationship with God. But there’s always a good that comes out of the presumptuous “bad.” Before Hurricane Harvey hit in late August, headlines of race wars occupied TV screens around the country, but soon after Harvey

had passed, we immediately saw headlines of strangers saving victims, and Americans helping Americans. We saw no color; we only saw those in need. Therefore, a good came out of the bad. In our spiritual storms, we may suffer through difficult times filled with doubts and hardship, but there will most definitely be healing at the conclusion of the “storm.” It may not always be visible to us, but there is always good that lies within the seemingly bad.

Brothers and sister, I urge you to never forget that the most important part of natural disasters do not lie in the preparations or the amount of time when the hurricane is actually making landfall. The most important step in natural disasters is the recovery.

Think of what the world would be like if there was no recovery process. Think of a New Orleans that never bounced back like it did after Katrina. The same is true for our spirituality. Often times, we cannot avoid the “storms” that come to us, but we can control how we react to them. After a storm, we pick up what we can, we brush off the dirt and we rebuild. We must do the same in our spirituality. As South Louisianans, we are resilient and we are strong, even after devastating hurricanes. So as Catholics, we must also be solid and tough in our faith to be able to bounce back after the “storms” that we encounter.

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

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Book Reviews

Reading with Raymond Raymond Saadi

Cruel is the Night

By Karo Hamalainen SOHO Crime $25.95

The Quiet Child

By John Burley William Morrow $15.99 Citizens of the little town of Cottonwood, CA, are falling ill and dying, and blaming six-yearold Danny McCray who can’t speak although physically able.

When he and his older brother are kidnapped, only their father and the sheriff care enough to search.

Gripping, frightening, with a surprising ending.

What “Mikko” has in mind for dinner at his once-best friend Robert’s lavish apartment is, murder. His wife, Veera and Robert’s trophy wife, Elise, round out the quartet who trade barbs, quips and stinging critiques. At the end of the evening, only one of the four will survive. A clever novel of suspense.

By Karen LeBlanc Pour Babaee Xulon Press $19.99 In this wonderful little book, the author takes us from France through Acadiana and down Bayou Lafourche; passing Thibodaux, Lockport and Larose, along the way to Grand Isle. Delightful stories, poems, songs, illustrations and photos celebrate our land and people.

By David Baldacci Grand Central Publishing $29 When a man walks up to a woman in front of FBI Headquarters, shoots her in the head and then himself, Detective Amos Decker, who witnessed it all, determines to find out why. The story moves at breakneck speed with no flashbacks, no interruptions, just a linear story beginning to end.

Baldacci is brilliant, his writing superb and compelling.

29

The Year That Made Hitler 1924 Acadian Melody

The Fix

By Peter Ross Range Little, Brown $28 Adolph Hitler spent 1924 in prison for his part in the failed “Beer Hall Putsch,” writing his manifesto, “Mein Kampf,” his vision of a Third Reich. The depressed German economy had “some groups longing for a strongman” and Hitler obliged.

What followed was another war to “end all wars.”

The World of Ben-Hur

By Mike Aquilina Sophia Press $14.95 Aquilina describes the cruelties and slavery of the Roman government, as well as the immensely popular chariot races.

More interestingly, he lets us see Jesus the way other people at that time may have seen him, as a young carpenter.

www.bayoucatholic.com

St . Louis IX

Bayou Patrons

King of France Story by Janet Marcel Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

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C

Continuing our Bayou Patrons series, this month’s featured saint is Louis IX of France, who succeeded to the throne at the age of 12 following the death of his father Louis VIII. His mother, Blanche of Castille, ruled the kingdom until Louis reached the age of 21 and assumed full kingship. At his coronation as king of France, Louis IX bound himself by oath to behave as God’s anointed, as the father of his people and feudal lord of the King of Peace. Other kings had done the same, but Louis was different in that he actually interpreted his kingly duties in the light of faith. After the violence of two previous reigns, he brought peace and justice to his kingdom.

Louis led his first crusade when he was 30. His army seized Damietta in Egypt, but not long after, weakened by dysentery, they were surrounded and captured. Louis obtained the release of the army by giving up the city of Damietta in addition to paying a ransom.

During his reign, Louis extended justice in civil administration and his regulations for royal officials became the first of a series of reform laws. He replaced trial by battle with a form of examination of witnesses and encouraged the use of written records in court. Louis was always respectful of the papacy; however he defended royal interests against the popes.

Louis was devoted to his people. He founded hospitals, visited the sick, and like his patron St. Francis, even cared for people with leprosy. Louis united France—lords and townsfolk, peasants, priests and knights—by the force of his personality and holiness and for many years the nation was at peace.

Every day, Louis would invite 13 special guests from among the poor to eat with him, and a large number of poor were served meals near his palace. During Advent and Lent, all who presented themselves were given a meal, and Louis often served them in person.

He also kept lists of needy people in every province of his dominion and regularly assisted them.

Disturbed by new Muslim advances in Syria, Louis led another crusade in 1267, at the age of 41. The army was decimated by disease within a month, and Louis himself died on foreign soil at the age of 44 (www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-louis-of-france).

St. Louis Church parish in Bayou Blue traces its name back to the city of St. Louis, MO, where a sawmill company used the St. Louis Canal to float cypress to a lumber mill in Houma. The chapel in Bayou Blue, which was only a mile away from the canal, adopted its name. Later, the parish selected

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Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2017

Saint Louis IX, King of France, as its patron saint.

Father Robert Rogers, pastor of St. Louis Church 31 parish in Bayou Blue since July 2015, says he has a long devotion to St. Louis that goes back to his youth. “I was reared in this church parish, so my knowledge goes way back in my life. St. Louis was not a priest or consecrated religious as so many canonized saints are, so he is a man that can be understood by the ordinary lay person as well as the powerfully rich and political leaders. He shows us that power and riches do not negate the need for a relationship with God and a life lead in faith and trust in divine providence.

He was able to humbly take his earthly power to give glory to God by serving the family, church, state and poor. He challenges us not to live compartmental lives where religion is private and is perhaps exercised on Sunday. In daily living we often subscribe to a secular life without thought of the affairs of God, family, or our link to neighbor. St. Louis shows us that we are in need of linking our spiritual lives to our daily lives in family, work, citizenship and recreation.�

As the only king of France to be canonized, St. Louis stands before us a wonderful example to our diocese for the francophone who found a home in Southeast Louisiana, as well as all immigrants who desire to follow Christ with sincerity and devotion, adds Father Rogers.

Pope Boniface VIII canonized Louis in 1297. His feast day is August 25 and he is the patron of the Third Order of St. Francis, France, French monarchy, barbers, hairdressers and grooms. He is often depicted in art as the King of France, generally with a crown, holding a scepter with a fleur-de-lis on the end, possibly wearing blue clothing with a white fleur-delis (coat of arms of the French monarchy). www.bayoucatholic.com

is Oct. 22

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By Father Robert-Joel Cruz October 22 – World Mission Sunday – is a special day for all of us who are called, by baptism, to be involved in the missionary work of the church. On that Sunday, every nation, even the poorest mission countries, contributes to the mission needs of the church worldwide.

World Mission Sunday truly belongs to the world. It is celebrated in every country, in every diocese and in every parish — in a remote chapel far out in the African bush, in a predominantly Muslim or Hindu area in Asia, in a poor village in Latin America. We are citizens of the world, members of the one Body

On this On this World Mission Sunday, World Mission Sunday,

of Christ, and are at our best when we act lovingly and generously to our brothers and sisters in the missions.

So this year remember that on October 22, World Mission Sunday, the family of the church celebrates that we are “one family in mission.”

Please pray for the people of the missions and for missionaries.

I ask also for your generous help to provide for the work of the mission church in pastoral service, education, health care and community outreach.

Whatever you can contribute to the collection for The Society for the Propagation of the Faith will be a great blessing to local priests, religious and lay catechists throughout Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Europe and Latin America.

Asking the Lord to bless you for your generous missionary spirit, I am Father Robert-Joel Cruz, diocesan director for The Society for the Propagation of the Faith, 1220 Aycock Street, Houma, LA 70360.

All for the Greater Glory of God!

...all of us be on mission …all ofareuscalled aretocalled to be

on missio

Society for the Propagation of the Faith

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WORLD MISSION SUNDA October 22, 2017

Name

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Address

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City, State

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Mail to: Rev. Robert-Joel Cruz Phone _____________ Email ____________

We are are all all invited invited to “come “come We out” as missionary disciples. out” as missionary disciples.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2017

Society for the Propagation of the Faith 1220 Aycock Street - Houma, LA 70360 Mail to: Rev. Robert-Joel Cruz 985-850-0035 • Fax 985-850-0063 propfaith@htdiocese.org Society for the Propagation of the www.htdiocese.org/propagation-of-the-faith

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The Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana (CFSL) recently made its first distributions to diocesan entities that currently have endowments established. A check was presented to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux at its recent board meeting. From left are Bill Barbera, Foundation board member; James J. Buquet III, vice-chairman of the CFSL board of directors; Amy Ponson, executive director of the CFSL; Deacon Stephen Brunet, chairman of the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux board; and Bishop Shelton J. Fabre.

The Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana makes first distributions Story by Janet Marcel The Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana’s board of directors recently made the first distributions from the established endowments with the Foundation.

The Foundation was established in 2012 as a nonprofit organization (separate from the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux) to provide better financial stability for the future of its church parishes, schools and social services, and as a means to encourage and assist individuals, families and businesses in giving to Catholic entities in South Louisiana.

“Over the past few years through the diocesan capital campaign, several general endowments and named endowed funds were established for entities within the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux including seminarian education, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma and Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church parish in Chackbay,” says Amy Ponson, executive director of the Foundation.

These endowments have been invested and managed by the Catholic Foundation with the intent to make annual distributions to each beneficiary, adds Ponson.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2017

“The foundation is excited to have the opportunity to make its first distributions to the diocesan entities that currently have endowments established,” says James J. Buquet III, vice chairman of the board of directors. “It is our hope as we continue to develop the foundation that more schools, church parishes and ministries will have donors interested in creating their legacy and establishing endowments for diocesan entities.”

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux was gifted with $43,410; Vandebilt Catholic High School received $5,733; and $1,073 was gifted to Our Lady of Prompt Succor. The amount of the gifts distributed was based on the amount of each of the endowments within the Foundation.

“These earnings from the Catholic Charities Endowment are terrific and just what we have been looking forward to,” says Robert D. Gorman, LCSW, ACSW, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. “Every one of our 14 programs relies on donations and grants as part of the budget and this $43,000, spread over several programs, can be the difference between

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having enough money to continue services or coming up short. Thank you to everyone who has donated through the Catholic Charities Endowment or one of its named funds.”

Ponson says the Foundation serves as a resource for our diocese and a tool for our donors to give through the foundation to a diocesan entity. “We are excited to make our first distributions and we hope to continue to grow the foundation through other donors establishing endowments for more ministries/ organizations, schools and church parishes in the diocese in order to ensure their future financial stability. Our board members are passionate about getting the Foundation off the ground.”

A minimum amount of $10,000 is required to establish a named endowed fund; however, anyone can give any amount to an already established endowment. A donor can also make one gift to the Foundation and direct it toward multiple entities.

Members of the Foundation’s executive board are Charlotte Bollinger, chair; James J. Buquet III, vice-chair; Bill New, secretary-treasurer. Board members are Bonnie Babin, Bill Barbera, Jerald Block, Gloria Callais, Pat Pitre, Father Gregory Fratt, spiritual advisor; and Very Rev. Mark Toups.

For more information about The Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana, making a gift or establishing a named endowment please call (985) 850-3116 or email aponson@htdiocese.org.

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By Very Rev. Jay L. Baker Attending a fund-raiser for the Art Department at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux years ago, I spied a pile of painted plywood panels languishing against the wall of a studio … scraps of torn wallpaper still adhering to its backside, crying out for my attention as they fluttered in the breeze. I was further dismayed to see some of the toggle bolts (which had once secured the wood to its original home) were now leaving scars on the surface of the panels stacked one atop another.

The packrat in me kicked in and I conspired with the artist to salvage his handiwork from subsequent neglect and ultimate oblivion. Originally, I had hoped to incorporate the mural into the new library at St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School … but the bookcases covered up the bottom third of each panel. Eventually, a plan was devised earlier this year to resurrect the mural on the brick Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2017

wall of the parish hall at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux.

“Highway 308” was painted from January 1995 through December 1997 by Ross Jahnke, a professor of Fine Art. He designed the mural for Beauregard Hall on the campus of NSU where he teaches printmaking, drawing, painting and papermaking. LA Hwy 308 runs its entire 82.5 mile length along the banks of Bayou Lafourche. The lion’s share of its leisurely journey – some 58 miles – is through the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, from Labadieville travelling south to where it intersects with LA Hwy 1 in Golden Meadow.

In the eye of the artist, the original format put the viewer entering the building “in” Bayou Lafourche, looking at scenes on the right and left banks. Each

side was divided into three scenes dictated by the architecture of the building.

Jahnke was inspired by the things which clamored for his attention during his daily commute from Baton Rouge to the campus in Thibodaux. In particular he enjoyed the rows of identical statues at D&D Concrete and, likewise, was intrigued by the number of front yards featuring images of Mary, many of which enshrined the Blessed Mother in discarded bathtubs.

Sugarcane was

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hway 37

omnipresent along the route as well; so much of the right “bank” of the mural is dedicated to a sugar mill, rows of the leafy green crop, and a cane truck. The left “bank” also features a cane wagon along with a sewage treatment plant and a refinery, as well as a folk art bottle tree and bleach bottle whirla-gigs.

The artist included social commentary, implying his concern for the environment with a sky that is every color but blue – changing in hue as the result of emissions from the refinery.

Jahnke also chose not to edit out the half-submerged bicycle or the junked car door which littered this once-major tributary of the Mighty Mississippi.

Jahnke said: “Although no one ever told me directly, the mural was apparently liked by some and hated by others who taught

in Beauregard. The multiple images of Mary as lawn art and the sewage treatment plant all raised eyebrows.” Hailing from the Badger State, Jahnke is a native of Milwaukee, WI, and graduated from LSU in Baton Rouge. He is a card-carrying member of the Unitarian Church and still resides in Baton Rouge. www.bayoucatholic.com

Director of Cemeteries retires after

35 years of service Story by Janet Marcel

George Cooke began working for Msgr. Frederic Brunet as his assistant director in the diocesan Office of Cemeteries in October 1981, a position he held for almost seven years before becoming director of that office in July 1988. Cooke retired at the end of July with over 35 years of service to the diocese.

Tana Dempster, assistant administrator for St. Joseph Diocesan Cemetery, worked with Cooke for 24 years. Working in the Office of Cemeteries often requires dealing with people who are filled with grief, says Dempster. “George made individuals, as well as families, who visited our office feel as comfortable as he could. I learned many things just by watching him. He was very knowledgeable about the ins and outs of our diocesan cemeteries. He was a kind soul – if you needed 38 a hand, he’d offer his. George was not only my boss, he became my friend. It wasn’t easy saying goodbye.”

Kayla Kliebert, administrative assistant for the diocesan Office of Cemeteries, worked with Cooke for five years. “George was an excellent boss. He was very giving and treated us more like family than employees.

In all my years of working, he was definitely the kindest supervisor I’ve ever had.”

Jimmie Danos, diocesan director of the Office of Building and Construction, says he and Cooke worked well together. “George had a construction background so he was easy to work with. We were like-minded and would often ask each other for advice. We had a mutual respect for each other. He was also very conscious of liability and safety issues and was always quick to correct any problems or situations that would come about.”

SINCE FAST st Intere Free cing Finan

George Cooke

Some of Cooke’s responsibilities included overseeing the operations, maintenance and perpetual care services of the 30 Catholic cemeteries within the boundaries of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. He worked on projects for mausoleum additions in all of the cemeteries. While director of the office, Cooke instituted sandblasting and engraving tombs in-house, something that used to be contracted outside the office.

He was also a member of the diocesan Cemeteries Trust and the Cemetery Board.

“George had to deal with people at one of the most difficult times in their lives … when they were dealing with an untimely death for which they had made no prior preparations or purchases,” says Danos. “He had a gift for dealing with people in those situations, and he did it with compassion and grace. For George, working in the Cemeteries Office wasn’t a job; it was a ministry.”

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Eucharistic procession Oct. 7

The “Foi de nos Pères” eucharistic procession will take place Saturday, Oct. 7, beginning at 8 a.m. with Mass at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church in Golden Meadow, followed by a boat procession with stops at St. Joseph Church in Galliano (9:30-10:15 a.m.), Sacred Heart Church in Cut Off (11-11:45 a.m.), and Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Larose (12:30-2 p.m.). The second part of the procession will begin in Larose by vehicle with stops at Holy Savior Church in Lockport (2:30-3 p.m.), St. Hilary of Poitiers in Mathews (3:154 p.m.), St. Mary’s Nativity Cemetery in Raceland (4:15-4:45 p.m.), St. Charles Borromeo Church in the St. Charles Community (5-5:20 p.m.), and St. Joseph Cemetery in Thibodaux (5:40 p.m.). The procession will then continue on foot to St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, ending with vespers and Benediction (6:20-6:40 p.m.).

Everyone is invited to take part in this procession.

For more information or how to register a boat, email tduet@htdiocese.org or call any of the participating church parishes.

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Over 200 people representing 26 church parishes across the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux attended the parish implementation teams meeting for the diocesan strategic plan at the Pastoral Center in Schriever recently. Eight parish implementation teams viewed the meeting via a live feed online at their church parishes. Very Rev. Mark Toups, V.G., who led the meeting, explained the progress of the strategic plan and its vision for the future.

Parish implementation teams are hard at work building a culture of planning Story by Janet Marcel Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier At the very heart of the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux’s Strategic Plan is the formation of missionary disciples. Even though the language – forming missionary disciples – is not something that has been historically used in our diocese, the concept of missionary discipleship began with the mandate of Jesus Christ himself, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

One of the goals that came out of the Parish Commission was for the church parishes to “grow in their understanding as being called to be Christian communities intentionally forming missionary disciples.” To this end, the parish implementation team was formed to serve as a consultative body for the church parish with regard to all aspects of strategic planning, including how to modify the plan to fit the parish, and help pastors discern and identify future volunteers. Each team has been assigned Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2017

a liaison to help walk them through the strategic planning process, assist in discernment and tailor the implementation of the plan to the unique needs of their own parish.

Church parish implementation teams are currently in Phase II of their work. The first draft of an 11-point parish wide evaluation focused on 10 (or 11 if the parish has an elementary school) aspects of parish life: 1) Sunday, 2) How do active parish ministries fit inside the process of making disciples, 3) adult formation, 4) CCD, 5) youth formation (other than CCD), 6) pastor’s freedom to “be a priest,” 7) parish staff, 8) volunteerism, 9) physical plant, 10) Finances, 11) parish elementary school.

The purpose of evaluating these aspects of parish life was to help the pastor discern what are the most specific needs of the parish and to tailor the first 12 months of the strategic plan (January – December 2018) to the specific needs of the parish.

Based off of the feedback received on the first draft, the second draft of the 11-point parish wide

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evaluation will unfold in two phases: liaisons will present each parish’s results of the Disciple Maker Index to the team; dive deeper into the process of making disciples; evaluate where active parish ministries fit inside the process of making disciples; identify where each parish is successfully helping people within the process; identify where each parish is struggling to help people within the process; and discern what the next month’s course of action looks like.

The next step in the 11-point parish wide evaluation (based on where each individual parish is in the process) is for parishes to pick one of the following options. n Option No. 1: Host listening sessions in the parish.

Target groups? After Mass? Town Hall meeting?

What are the strengths of the parish? Where does the parish need to improve? What are the most important things the parish needs to focus on the next one–two years? n Option No. 2: Based off of the assessment at the last meeting, go deeper with this process.

What are the specific reasons why your parish is successfully helping people within the process? What’s working? Why is it working? How is this specific ministry feeding other ministries within the process?

What are the specific reasons why your parish is not successfully helping people within aspects of the process. What’s not working? Why is it not working?

What resources are needed?

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To maximally move people through the process, what are the most important things we need to focus on during the next one–two years? n Option No. 3: Pick any of the 10/11 aspects of parish life (listed above) that you feel is most relevant to the parish. n Option No. 4: Slow the process down.

Perhaps because of a parish’s particular circumstances, the pastor, the liaison, or the implementation team feels the parish needs more time before “moving forward.” n Option No. 5: Other.

Very Rev. Mark Toups, V.G., explains that the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is at a historic fork in the road. “The health of our diocese will be significantly influenced by what we do now.

We have a moral obligation to respond to the needs of the faithful of our diocese who according to the results of the Disciple Maker Index are hungry for more in their Catholic faith and in their personal relationship with the Lord.”

Essential Results of the Disciple Maker Index 2,506 online responses • 1,942 paper responses • 4,448 total responses Which of the following best describes the pace of your spiritual growth?

3% Period of rapid spiritual growth 31% Growing at a steady pace 44% I would like to grow more than I am 12% I am content staying right where I am Which of the following best describes where you are on your Catholic journey?

49% My relationship with Jesus Christ is the most important relationship in my life 35% I have personally encountered Jesus Christ and am growing as a disciple 21% Practice, but do not know Jesus personally My parish helps me grow spiritually …

41% Strongly Agree 42% Agree 12% Neither 3% Disagree 2% Strongly Disagree I personally believe the church is critical to my relationship with God …

66% Strongly Agree 23% Agree 6% Neither 3% Disagree 2% Strongly Disagree

TOTAL EYE CARE “Abbey Reflections” by Frankie De Melo

Save the Date

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Announcements

Food for the Journey Nov. 7

Rev. Jean-Marie Nsambu

The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux sponsors a monthly lunchtime 44 speaker series on the first Tuesday of the month at the Ellendale Country Club Restaurant located at 3319 Highway 311 in Houma.

The speaker for November 7 is Rev. Jean-Marie Nsambu.

Father Nsambu is a native of Kampala, Uganda. He currently serves as associate pastor at Annunziata Church parish in Houma and was ordained to the priesthood June 3, 2017.

Those who plan to attend the Nov. 7th event should RSVP with their name, phone number and church parish by Thursday, Nov. 2. To RSVP, email FoodForTheJourney@htdiocese.org or call (985) 850-3178.

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

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

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

Son Rise Christian Music Festival Oct. 7 The Son Rise Christian Music Festival will take place Saturday, Oct. 7, in the main parking lot of the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center and will feature eight bands as well as live art, Louisiana cuisine, a silent auction, kids’ activities, displays and vendors.

Gates open at 9 a.m. with the first band taking the stage at 10 a.m. The event is open to everyone and admission is free. Proceeds raised will benefit World of Hope Ministries and their work in some of the poorest of the poor communities around the world, as well as the Terrebonne Children’s Advocacy Center (TCAC). There will be food, a silent auction in support of World of Hope and TCAC, and donations will also be accepted.

Complete information can be found online at www.sonrisemusicfest.net, by calling the event sponsor, World of Hope Ministries at (985) 8512500, or by emailing worldofhope_ la@att.net.

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you

Diocesan Events

www.bayoucatholic.com

October

n Respect Life Mass, Oct. 1, 11 a.m., Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma. n Holy Hour of Adoration for Men, Sunday, Oct. 1, 7-8 p.m., Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma. n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, Oct. 3, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311 in Houma, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Speaker, Rev. John David Matherne. n “Foi de nos Pères” eucharistic procession beginning Saturday Oct. 7, 8 a.m. with Mass at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church in Golden Meadow, followed by a boat procession to Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Larose with stops at other Catholic churches along the way, a vehicle procession to Thibodaux, ending with a procession on foot to St. Joseph Co-Cathedral. n The annual diocesan Red Mass will be celebrated Tuesday, Oct. 10, at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma, at 11:30

November

n St. Martin de Porres Mass for Black Catholics, Nov. 3, 7 p.m., St. Lucy Church, Houma. n Holy Hour of Adoration for Men, Sunday, Nov. 5, 7-8 p.m., Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma. n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, Nov. 7, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311 in Houma, 10:45 a.m.-12:45

December

n Holy Hour of Adoration for Men, Sunday, Dec. 3, 7-8 p.m., Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma. n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, Dec. 5, Ellendale Country

a.m., by Bishop Shelton J. Fabre. n White Mass, Oct. 14-15 or Oct. 21-22, in individual diocesan church parishes. n St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church in Thibodaux will host its Annual Fall Banquet Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. in the church community center. This year’s theme is taken from Ephesians 4:11-16, “God’s Design for Growth.” n Diocesan wedding anniversary prayer service and celebration, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2 p.m., Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma, for couples celebrating 25, 40, 50, 60 and beyond years of marriage this year. A reception will follow in the courtyard. n World Mission Sunday, Oct. 22, joins all Catholics of the world into one community of faith providing an opportunity to support the life-giving presence of the church among the poor and marginalized in more than 1,111 mission dioceses. Please be generous.

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p.m. Speaker, Rev. Jean-Marie Nsambu. n TEC 79 Retreat, begins Nov. 10 at 5 p.m. until Nov. 12 at 4:30 p.m., at Lumen Christi Retreat Center’s Souby Building in Schriever. n American Indian Mass of Thanksgiving, Nov. 17, 6:30 p.m., St. Charles Borromeo Church, Pointe-aux-Chenes.

Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311 in Houma, 10:45 a.m.12:45 p.m. Speaker, TBA.

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Sports

The Colonels are fashioning a football comeback with home grown talent Overtime

T 46

Ed Daniels

That the Nicholls State Colonels were tied with Texas A&M midway in the fourth quarter surprised many.

But, it shouldn’t.

Last September, the Colonels lost 26-24 at Georgia.

Head coach Tim Rebowe said his team truly believed it would win the game.

“Our guys took it hard,” said Rebowe. “Our guys played their butts off.”

A pair of close defeats to SEC teams can give the Colonels the confidence to pursue their biggest dreams. That is, a Southland Conference football championship and a berth in the Football Championship Series playoffs.

Neither of those have happened since 2005.

“We got into the fourth quarter with a chance to win against two really good football programs,” said Rebowe.

Rebowe said his program changed last September at Georgia.

“We usually don’t walk through a stadium before a game,” said Rebowe.

“But, at Georgia we did. We saw the 100,000 seats, we took a few pictures, were wide eyed for a minute, then got down to business.”

The Colonels, who lost all 12 games in 2014, are fashioning a football comeback with home grown talent.

Defensive tackle Sully Laiche of Lutcher was a first team All Southland Conference selection in 2016.

Laiche had 13 tackles for losses, and 9.5 quarterback sacks.

Linebacker Allen Pittman of Destrehan was named the Louisiana Sportswriters Association defensive player of the week for his 16 tackle performance against Texas A&M. As a true freshman in 2016, linebacker Evan Veron of Riverside played in eight games, starting five.

Rebowe said the key in recruiting for the Colonels has been to watch more for production than skills a player might show at camp.

“We know that if a guy can do it on Friday night, he can also do it on Saturday night,” said Rebowe.

He said Veron was a prime example of that philosophy.

“He’s is not going to drop the fastest,” said Rebowe.

“And, he is not going to jump the highest.”

“But, he can play.”

Rebowe said quarterback Chase Fourcade gives the Colonels a chance in every game. He started 11 games as a true freshman.

Fourcade threw for 264 yards against Texas A&M, and for three touchdowns in the win over McNeese State.

The Colonels have two big tests at the end of September.

They play back to back road games at defending league champion Sam Houston State and then at Lamar.

But, they have already defeated McNeese State, 37-35, in week one. And, the Colonels do not play Central Arkansas, who were 8-1 in Southland play in 2016 and received an at large berth in the FCS playoffs.

“We improved last year, winning five games,” said Rebowe.

“But, we want to prove we are a consistent winning football program.”

And, next September they will be back on the road, playing at Kansas and at Tulane.

And, playing with something to prove.

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O U T D O O R

GUIDE FA L L 2017

Contents

ON

OUR

COVER

For many in south Louisiana a duck blind in the marsh is nothing short of paradise. Outdoor writer John Flores writes in the 2017-2018 waterfowl preview that only a lunatic would try to make a prediction on what hunters can expect for the upcoming waterfowl season. Essentially, there are just too many variables to consider and it’s impossible to know. Nonetheless, the 2017-2018 season from an opportunity standpoint is going to be another 60 day, six duck daily limit, liberal season; the 22nd in a row. This fact alone will have Louisiana’s waterfowl hunters counting the days and giddy with excitement.

Fishing the fall redfish migration

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54

2017-2018 Waterfowl hunting preview

50

2017-2018 Deer hunting preview

52 2017-2018 Small game hunting forecast Fall speckled trout forecast for 2017-2018

56 Young hunter’s inspirational story

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Outdoor Guide

2017-18 Waterfowl hunting preview

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JOHN FLORES PHOTO

The 2017-2018 waterfowl season should have plenty ducks in the flyway, but the jury remains out on what Louisiana hunters can expect.

By John Flores Only a lunatic would try to make a prediction on what hunters can expect for the upcoming waterfowl season. Essentially, there are just too many variables to consider and it’s impossible to know.

Nonetheless, the 2017-2018 season from an opportunity standpoint is going to be another 60 day, six duck daily limit, liberal season; the 22nd in a row. This fact alone will have Louisiana’s waterfowl hunters counting the days and giddy with excitement.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2017

To get a 60 day, six duck liberal season, you have to have some fairly accurate science. And the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USF&WS), Canadian Wildlife Service and various states in each flyway have some of the best to offer.

In mid-August, the USF&WS released their comprehensive annual survey titled: “2017 Trends in Duck Breeding Populations.”

The report may be a good indicator of how many ducks are on the breeding grounds capable of

reproducing, but do not predict what a flyway hunter’s season will be like. Still, waterfowl hunters starved for information, particularly positive information, will often take the report and read more into it than it states.

Take this year’s report for instance. For those hunters who waited with bated breath, there was in all likelihood a collective sigh of relief when the numbers came out stating that total breeding duck populations were only down a -2 percent and still remained +34 percent above the long-term average (LTA).

However, take the diminutive, but popular green winged teal. The BPOP survey says this species’ breeding numbers declined by 16 percent from 2016. That is a significant obvious decline from last year, especially when looking at the harvest data from two popular coastal Wildlife Management Areas, the Atchafalaya Delta and Pointe-Aux-Chenes WMAs. Opening day of the first split (Nov. 12, 2016) revealed green winged teal made up 44 percent of hunter bag limits on the Atchafalaya WMA and 48 percent of hunter bag limits on Pointe-Aux-Chenes WMA. On opening day of second split (Dec. 17, 2016) green winged teal made up 46 percent of the Atchafalaya Delta WMA bag limits and 39 percent of Pointe-AuxChenes WMA. Will the 16 percent decline in BPOP numbers for this species make a difference this year?

Probably not, considering this beautiful bird is 70 percent above the LTA, but it’s still something to think about.

Other ducks besides greenwinged teal, experiencing breeding number declines this year over last year were mallards (-11 percent), wigeon (-19 percent), redheads (-13 percent), canvasbacks (-1 percent), and scaup (-12 percent). But, “all” species reported, except the northern pintail and scaup, remain above the LTA. Probably the more important revelation from the survey is the May pond counts. Pond numbers counted increased significantly over 2016 from 5.012 (in millions) to 6.096. Nesting success is critical when it comes to what the fall flight will be. And,

a

nesting success is directly correlated to what the water conditions are on the breeding grounds. Therefore, a significant increase in pond numbers can influence duck numbers in a positive direction.

In short, the annual survey is only one of several tools that provide scientific data in order to develop a federal framework, where seasons and bag limits can be set by states in each flyway.

Pintails are an example of where the BPOP survey may have contributed a change in bag limit this year. Though this species’ breeding numbers were noted as being 10 percent over 2016, it’s still -27 percent below the LTA. Apparently, Mississippi Flyway biologists are now responding to multiple years, where pintail numbers have remained below the LTA. During the 2017-2018 waterfowl season, hunters will only be allowed to harvest “one” pintail per day.

Weather plays a huge roll when it comes to waterfowl migration.

Some species like blue-winged teal,

northern pintails, and northern shovelers migrate as soon as the days get shorter, while other species prefer to sort of linger along as they move south.

Essentially, as long as there is open water to rest and plenty of food resources available, why migrate if you don’t have to? There were numerous reports coming out of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and southern Illinois during the 20162017 duck season detailing bang-up shoots with plenty of green-headed mallards hanging from the game strap.

Point of fact, there was very little winter in Louisiana last season. As a result, several mid-continent states reaped a bonanza when it came to waterfowl numbers, because of the unseasonably warm conditions.

I would be remiss not to mention a line or two concerning goose numbers. Just over two decades ago, 80 percent of the midcontinent white-fronted goose population wintered in the state of Louisiana. But, according to January mid-winter survey data that’s collected annually by the

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries that number has dwindled to some 32 percent in spite of an increase in overall population numbers.

Anecdotal reports I received last year had some guides and outfitters reporting that they had their best goose seasons ever. But, admittedly, most of these hunters are located in the southwestern Louisiana sweet spots nearer to White Lake Conservation Area, Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge, and Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.

Again, only a lunatic would try and prognosticate what the outcome of a particular waterfowl season might be. But then, it doesn’t take much positive information for waterfowl hunters to get all excited about their prospects. For them, you’re either all in or not at all.

The daily bag limit on ducks is six and may include no more than four mallards (no more than two of which may be female), one pintail, two canvasback, one mottled duck, one black duck, three wood ducks, three scaup, and two red heads.

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Outdoor Guide In the fall of the year, redfish will move in schools and small pods to forage on a diversity of species to fatten up for the spawn. Read on about strategies and locations to score on these bronzed beauties.

By Chris Berzas Motoring up the bayou heading to the lake, we found water pouring out of marsh cuts.

Low tide had begun in earnest, and we were busily looking for signs of wakes, tails or bodies feeding at the mouth of the cuts.

“There’s fish over there,” I said to my buddy Craig Vidrine.

Sure enough, we could see the copper backs of fish moving up to the water’s surface to forage on whatever was coming out of the cut.

Looking at Vidrine, he was quickly tying on a glow-chartreuse Gulp! Shrimp to his 1/4-ounce jighead.

I had a 3-1/2 inch chartreusepepper Wedgetail Mullet already set up, and we both made casts.

As we repeatedly cast and retrieved our baits, a group of pelicans nearby were also working 52 the shoreline plunging their pocketed beaks into the waters.

After the dip, the birds would sweep up their heads, their beaks swollen with small baitfish.

Vidrine was the first to hook up on a good slot red, and the fish responded by making runs as the angler’s drag whined.

I netted his catch, a fat slot fish, while I held on to my arching rod with a running redfish on the end of the fluorocarbon leader attached to my braid.

Both fish were well within the slot at 18 and 20 inches each, and we quickly slipped these into the cooler hoping to add another eight sometimes later.

As I was busy adjusting my lure for another cast, I observed the waters around the boat and saw more than just a few reds running along the starboard side.

“They’re thick in here,” I said.

“I’ve got another one,” said Vidrine, his rod high and arched and his right hand steady winding the reel handle.

This red too made more than a few thrusting runs eventually ending up into the net I had waiting for it. It was another good slot red, this one at about 20 inches.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2017

CHRIS BERZAS PHOTO

Beginning in August and lasting through October, numerous schools of redfish ranging from 20 to 28 inches will move offshore to spawn. There, these upper slot fish will join many schools or herds of offshore bulls for their annual mating rituals.

Fishing the fall redfish migration

Eventually we placed another two redfish in the cooler and headed out into the lake to greet a group of flying and sitting gulls.

Here we found larger reds, some measuring at 28 inches.

After each getting our limits of five slot redfish, we then focused on schools of trout feasting on shrimp beneath the wings of gulls at midlake.

Fall fishing for redfish is a wonderful endeavor if you’re a Louisiana coastal angler.

From Venice moving westward along the entire coastline to Sabine Lake, saltwater anglers will find heated fall redfish action in Louisiana coastal waters.

Beginning in August and lasting through October, numerous schools of redfish ranging from 20 to 28 inches will move offshore to spawn.

There these upper slot fish will join many schools or herds of offshore bulls for their annual mating rituals.

The migration of these fish from inland to offshore waters gives anglers ample opportunities to engage in some tackle-testing adventures.

In preparing to spawn, these

bronzed beauties pod up in marshes, salt canals and the edges of inland salt lakes in Louisiana where they will feast on baitfish, crabs and shrimp, as these species too begin moving out of the marsh on outgoing tides.

In small marsh lakes, they can often be found with gulls hovering over them. In lakes, both flying and sitting gulls will often signal their location.

Baits and lures vary for catching Louisiana’s fall redfish. Truth be known, redfish are not usually as finicky as trout in choosing live bait or lures.

Live or dead baits that work well for fall redfish include mullet, shrimp and pogies – but the mainstay preference of anglers targeting redfish appears to be cracked or whole crab.

As for artificials – spoons, Wedgetail Mullets, spinnerbaits, Gulp! Shrimp and the popular LSU Bayou Chub will catch redfish in all salt inland waters in the bayou state.

Although medium-to-heavy baitcast or spinning tackle will work for reds moderately sized above keepers, anglers are

a

advised to use 40 to 50 pound monofilament or braid on a reel with a good drag system to haul in the real bulls ranging between 25 to 40 pounds.

Over the years, Capt. Bill Lake has targeted fall redfish in the Bayou Catholic readership area.

His favorite fall locations for redfish include Lost Lake, Lake Mechant and Coup Platte Pass connecting Lost Lake with Blue Hammock.

Bull reds can be found out of Dularge in Grand Pass, and the waters (passes) south of Cocodrie are well-known for many huge bull redfish taken on Carolina-rigged cracked crabs.

All redfish taken by saltwater anglers in Louisiana must be at least 16 inches minimum total length. There is a five-fish-perperson daily bag with not more than one exceeding 27 inches in length.

For more fishing information, you can reach Capt. Bill Lake’s Bayou Guide Service at (985)851-6015 (home) and (985)637-3712 (cell).

He can be messaged by email at b.lakejr@comcast.net.

CHRIS BERZAS PHOTO

From Venice moving westward along the entire coastline to Sabine Lake, saltwater anglers will find heated fall redfish action in Louisiana coastal waters.

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Outdoor Guide

2017-18 Small game hunting forecast

Squirrel populations remain stable throughout the state.

JOHN FLORES PHOTO

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By John Flores For 33 years, I’ve lived in Louisiana and during those same years have hunted rabbits and squirrels annually. Never, not once, have I ever seen or read an article on the plight, struggle or cyclical downturn of these two game animals.

In fact, as far back as I can remember, the season’s dates have remained the same annually. You can take to the bank each year that you’re going to be able to legally shoot rabbits and squirrels starting on the first Saturday in October all the way through the last day of February.

It’s been the same with the bag limit, too. The daily limit of eight rabbits and eight squirrels, hasn’t changed either.

About the only thing that has changed is the overall possession limit, going from a two-day bag limit to three a couple years back.

For the upcoming 2017-2018 small game season, it’s all going to be the same again this year. And why not?

Rabbits and squirrels are some pretty prolific animals.

There are basically two species of squirrels in the state of Louisiana; Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2017

the gray and the fox squirrel. If you’re in to their specific scientific names they are sciurus carolinensis and sciurus niger respectively.

Both breed twice a year, typically in the spring and late summer, and usually produce three to four young, though larger litters have been recorded.

Additionally, squirrels eat just about anything. Acorns, pecans, hickories, buds, berries, fruits, tubers, and bulbs are all part of their diet. They even eat protein like beetles and bird’s eggs.

Squirrels aren’t picky eaters.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Small Game Program Manager, Cody Cedotal, said, “We are blessed with some excellent small game populations.

If you have good quality habitat and you get good mast production, you get good reproduction of those species, where hunting becomes compensatory to population levels per se. That’s why you’ve seen such stable seasons over the years.”

Along the gulf coast, where I tend to do most of my squirrel hunting, I always look for three food sources; hackberry, wild pecan, and water oak trees. Pull into any location

canal in the marsh just before daylight, where these three species of trees exist and you’ll kill a mess of gray squirrels.

It’s the same in the northern part of Louisiana. I’ve floated the Dugdemona River for fox squirrels.

Seemingly around every bend were these larger red-colored cousins of the gray squirrels I normally hunt, both burying and digging up mast.

It’s also the same with Louisiana’s two species of rabbits, the eastern cottontail and the larger swamp rabbit. Again, if you’re into specific scientific names they are sylvilagus floridanus sylvilagus aquaticus respectively.

Rabbits breed from late February in to October with three or four kits per litter being the average. It’s not uncommon for them to have up to six litters given the opportunity.

What’s more, it’s common for their young to have their own litters as they reach sexual maturity in two to three months following birth.

Like squirrels, there is no shortage of food resources for rabbits north to south in Louisiana.

For eastern cottontail rabbits, there’s plenty of grasses, clover, blood weed, and other wild

a

plants, as well as agricultural food sources. For swamp rabbits, there’s a plethora of succulent aquatic vegetation like alligator weed, sedges and cow peas.

In short, with strong reproductive traits and plenty of food sources, is there little wonder things remain the same year in and year out when the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries sets season dates and bag limits.

The lives of rabbits and squirrels though prolific, isn’t a bed of roses. They both are low on the food chain and therefore, are preyed upon by bobcats, coyotes, foxes, raptors snakes and domestic animals. They are also susceptible to severe weather such as flooding and tropical events.

Cedotal said, “Those guys in the lower area of the Atchafalaya Basin have suffered the last couple of years with flooding that has had some short-term impact on rabbit populations. But, typically they’re so efficient at reproducing that they can overcome those impacts quite quickly.”

The most up to date small game harvest data released by the LDWF came from the recent 2016-2017 season.

The annual hunter harvest survey report showed 31,600 rabbit hunters harvested 196,400 rabbits and 89,800 squirrel hunters harvested a whopping 1.46 million squirrels last season.

There are a number of public areas throughout the state, where small game hunters can harvest a mess of rabbits and squirrels. Kisatchie National Forest offers vast opportunities for the squirrel hunter, so does many of Louisiana’s Wildlife Management Areas.

Rabbit hunters who reside in the coastal parishes

Leslie Daigle, PT Eddie Himel, PT, DSC, OCS, Cert. MDT John Daigle, PT, OCS, COMT Tracy Peltier, PT, CMT Steven Landry, OT, CHT Frannie B. Allen, PT, DPT Joshua Grabert, PT, DPT Ben Schexnayder, PT, DPT Shayne Higginbotham, PTA

JOHN FLORES PHOTO

Young hunter Joshua Flores with a big swamp rabbit

need to go no further than the Atchafalaya Delta WMA following duck season to harvest a limit of swampers.

Also, the Attakapas WMA is another good destination for rabbits.

In closing, the 2017-2018 small game hunting forecast for rabbits and squirrels this fall is pretty much a repeat of years past. All you have to do is get out and hunt them.

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Outdoor Guide

2017-18 Deer hunting preview JOHN FLORES PHOTO

Louisiana’s deer herd remains stable and has an abundance of food resources; however, deer biologists continue to be concerned about doe lactation rates.

By John Flores A review of the 2016-2017 Louisiana Deer Report released by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will reveal that annual deer harvest numbers peaked in the late 90s and early 2000s. For several years during that period, hunters harvested over 56 250,000 whitetail deer annually.

Since, deer harvest numbers have been in steady decline and have sort of crisscrossed the 150,000 mark.

Last season, Louisiana hunters harvested 138,300 whitetails.

A couple of concerns deer managers continue to look at are low lactation rates and a feral hog population that saw some 130,600 pigs harvested by hunters – a number nearly equal to deer harvest totals.

By studying the lactation rates of does it provides biologists an estimate of the reproductive health of the herd. In short, it impacts

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Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2017

recruitment, where there will be fewer fawns in the mix the following year.

In the course of 2015-2016, lactation rates in all eight Louisiana’s physiographic regions except one, had less than 50 percent of the does lactating. By physiographic, it simply means those landforms specific to a region, such as piney woods, bottomland hardwoods, coastal marsh, etc.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Deer Program Manager, Johnathan Bordelon said, “We did see improved lactation rates during the 20162017 season. In addition, harvest was down, but the combination of improved production and reduced harvest should set the stage for a good season in 2017-2018.”

Louisiana hunters, for all intents and purposes are harvesting as many hogs as they are deer these days; give or take a few. The

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problem with a burgeoning hog population is hogs directly compete with deer for food resources. They also prey on fawns and carry diseases such as leptospirosis and brucellosis.

It will take intense management effort to come even close to putting a dent in hog populations, as the animal’s reproductive rate far exceeds that of deer. Essentially, hogs are here to stay and their harvest numbers will again rival deer harvest.

For the 2017-2018 Deer Season, there are a few notable changes hunters need to be aware of. Deer limits have been changed in Area 4 and 10. Hunters in these areas will only be allowed to harvest three deer of which includes no more than two antlered or two antlerless deer per season.

The reporting window has also changed this year. Previously, hunters had a seven-day

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reporting window. In 2017, the reporting period is 72 hours. And, lastly, a portion of Deer Area 8 has been consolidated into Deer Area 3. It will be important for hunters to become familiar with the boundary of these areas for the upcoming season.

Year in and year out, Louisiana deer hunters harvest their share of big bucks. An interesting statistic that Bordelon reports in his deer management presentation is percent of buck harvest by age class. In all eight physiographic regions, over 50 percent of bucks harvested are over 2-1/2 years old. In bottomland hardwood habitats, the biologist says 79 percent of bucks are over 3-1/2 years old and 54 percent are 4-1/2 years.

One public bottomland habitat where hunters have an opportunity to harvest a record buck is Thistlewaite Wildlife Management Area.

A review of the Louisiana Big Records through the 2015-2016 Deer Hunting seasons will reveal big bucks showing up 11 times on Thistlewaite. Not bad for a “self-clearing” management area.

Located northeast of the town of Washington in St. Landry Parish the WMA encompasses some 11,000 acres of flat bottomland terrain covered in oak trees – all kinds of oak trees. Besides water oak trees the region also contains willow oak, overcup oak, white oak, cherrybark oak, nuttall oak, cow oak, and post oak. Is it any wonder when reviewing Thistlewaite’s “big buck” entries from over the years, numbers like 180-5/8, 166-2/8, 145-5/8, 133-4/8, 132-1/8 Boone & Crockett along with numerous other triple digit scores keep showing up?

Other state public grounds where big deer can be had are Buckhorn, Big Lake and Richard K. Yancey WMAs. Buckhorn and Big Lake WMAs are 11,262 and 19,231 acres in size respectively. When you toss in Richard K. Yancey WMA’s 69,806 acres, what you have is some of the most prime whitetail real estate the country has to offer – 100,000 acres of it.

Buckhorn is located in parts of Franklin, Madison and Tensas Parishes. Big Lake WMA is located entirely in Tensas Parish. And, Richard K. Yancey is located in Concordia Parish.

In Louisiana’s Big Game Records there are 157 bucks listed that come from these four parishes. Considering there are 64 Louisiana parishes, this fact speaks for itself. What’s more, the biggest non-typical Boone

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JOHN FLORES PHOTO

Marsh deer hunter Charles Coak walks up on an Area 7 buck.

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Outdoor Guide

JOHN FLORES PHOTO

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& Crockett buck ever taken in Louisiana hails from Big Lake WMA and scored 281-6/8. And, the biggest typical whitetail scored 184-6/8 and came from Madison Parish.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Deer Program Manager, Johnathan Bordelon says the late season can be primetime for big bucks on these public areas.

“Big Lake, Buckhorn and Richard K. Yancey WMAs all provide good success and some of the largest bucks grown in the state. Additionally, 4-1/2 year-old deer on all of these management areas exceed and average 200 pounds. Both Big Lake and Buckhorn are having great success at this time primarily due to timber management conducted on both to enhance available food and cover for deer. Yancey WMA is a large bottomland hardwood. And all three WMAs offer January hunting opportunities when the peak breeding occurs. These three wildlife management areas offer a combination of high hunter success and large acreage availability for hunters,” says Bordelon.

According to Bordelon, 2017 has been unseasonably wet. The frequent rainfall has promoted favorable growing conditions across most of the state, the biologist says, although some areas will be negatively impacted due to localized flooding. Whenever flooding occurs it can reduce the amount of available habitat.

Nonetheless, look for the 2017-2018 deer season to be much like last year harvest-wise, with plenty of big bucks winding up in taxidermist studios.

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2017-2018 Season Dates Small Game Season

Species

Season Dates

Daily Bag Limit

Possession Limit

Rabbit Squirrel

Oct. 7 - Feb. 28, 2018 Oct. 7 - Feb. 28, 2018

8 8

24 24

Deer Season

Area Archery Season Primitive Weapon

7

Still Hunting Only No Dogs Allowed

With or Without Dogs

Either Sex:

Either Sex:

Either Sex:

Either Sex:

Oct. 1 - Jan 31,

Oct. 14-20

Oct. 21 - Nov. 3

Nov. 27 - Dec. 31

2018

Nov. 4-10

Nov. 11-16

9 Bucks Only: Bucks Only: Bucks Only:

Oct. 1-15 Nov. 11-17 Nov. 18-23

Jan. 29-31, 2018 Nov. 27 - Dec. 8

Either Sex: Either Sex: Either Sex:

Oct. 16 - Feb. 15, 2018 Jan. 22-28, 2018 Nov. 24-26

Bucks Only: Dec. 11-29 Jan. 1-12, 2018 Jan. 15-21, 2018 Either Sex: Dec. 9-10 Dec. 30-31 Jan. 13-14, 2018

Waterfowl Coastal Zone Season

Season

Coastal Zone

Daily Bag Limit

Possession Limit

Nov. 11 - Dec. 3 Dec. 16 - Jan. 21, 2018

Ducks 6 Coots 15 Mergansers 5

Three Times The Daily Bag Limit

Nov. 4-5

Same as Regular Season

Light Geese (Snow,

Blue, Ross)

Nov. 4 - Dec. 3 Dec. 16 - Feb. 11, 2018

20

No Possession Limit

White-Fronted Geese (Specklebelly)

Nov. 4 - Dec. 3 Dec. 16 - Feb. 11, 2018

2

6 Possession Limit

Canada Goose

Nov. 4 - Dec. 3 Dec. 16 - Jan. 21, 2018

1 Per Day

3 Possession Limit

Ducks, Coots, and

Mergansers

Youth Waterfowl

The daily bag limit on ducks is 6 and may include no more than 4 mallards (no more than two of which may be female), 2 pintails, 2 canvasback, 1 mottled duck, 1 black duck, 3 wood ducks, 3 scaup, and 2 red heads. www.bayoucatholic.com

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Outdoor Guide Find the migration of white shrimp into Louisiana’s coastal lakes and bays and find numerous speckled trout. It’s just that simple.

By Chris Berzas My grandchildren have been spoiled.

In early September, my youngest grandson walked up to me and said, “Pa-pere, it’s almost time to go!”

He was referring to scheduling a fishing trip for speckled trout in October – a time when he has experienced the joy of catching loads of trout with live shrimp and artificial VuDus under a popping cork.

With youngsters, the more time they spend catching fish the happier they are. For them, the experience is akin to walking into a candy store.

During our last fall trip together, my three grandchildren just couldn’t keep the speckled trout and sand trout off their live shrimp and VuDus. The popping cork went down repeatedly on almost all casts, and it didn’t take long for me to tell them to release the numerous, 60 small sand trout. There were plenty of larger speckled trout to be taken as well.

It was a cool weekend with great falling tides and moderate cloud cover.

Flocks of gulls were working at about every structural reef we could find, and the fish were feeding heavily beneath their beating winds.

Looking at the cooler after a few hours, I knew I had a lot of work ahead of me with the fillet knife.

But it would be worth it all seeing the smiles on their faces when reeling fish in.

Unfortunately, many anglers give inland fishing a reprieve when football and hunting seasons start.

The fact is however, fall fishing for speckled trout can be just as good if not better than what is experienced in the spring of the year.

The major reason so many trout appear to be congested and easily caught in the fall has to do with the white shrimp migration into Louisiana salt lakes and bays.

Beginning sometime in September or early October, white shrimp move out of the marshes along the coastline and swarm over Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2017

CHRIS BERZAS PHOTO

Speckled trout will congregate in schools chasing the white shrimp migration out of the marshes into canals and interior lakes. Live and artificial shrimp in natural colors will score on numerous trout schooling under the beating wings of gulls.

Fall speckled trout opportunities abound along Louisiana’s coast line reefs and humps.

White shrimp become easy prey for trout as they gorge themselves on these delectable crustaceans.

Trout are easy to find as flocks of gulls will be hovering over schools of these fish forcing shrimp airborne and into the clutches of these birds.

I have taught my grandchildren to hook live shrimp crosswise in the carapace between the two dork spots near the head with a 2/0 Kahle hook. A popping cork set 12 to15 inches above the hook will work, but we use adjustable pocket corks with clips on either end to adjust for varying depths.

Artificial lures that work well include 3-1/4 inch VuDu Shrimp in natural and golden colors.

Other small lures that can easily be worked under a popping cork include Egret Baits’ Bayou Chubs in glow/chartreuse, Cajun pepper and chicken-on-a-chain colors.

Both the VuDu Shrimp and Bayou Chubs can be worked doubly-rigged with success when fishing schools of trout under birds.

The white shrimp migration has been observed to continue well into November giving anglers and their families great opportunities toward catching plenty fish to fillet at camp or home.

a

In the Bayou Catholic readership area, Capt. Bill Lake of Houma stays on the water daily and has historically found fall speckled trout in certain hotspots out of Dularge.

Lake advised that the easiest way for anglers to find speckled trout in October and November is to motor through Lake Mechant and Sister Lake and simply look for birds.

For more fishing information and guide service, Capt. Bill Lake can be reached at (985)851-6015 and (985)637-3712 (cell). He can also be reached by e-mail at b.lakejr@ comcast.net.

Anglers are reminded that the recreational creel limit for speckled trout in the Bayou Catholic readership area remains 25 fish per person at 12 inches minimum total length limit. An exception to these regulations occurs in western Louisiana where in a defined area of Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes there is a 15 fish daily take and possession limit - with no more than two spotted seatrout exceeding 25 inches total length.

CHRIS BERZAS PHOTO

Usually anglers fishing for fall specks will find better quality fish compared to the schooling fish found in spring and summer.

61

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Outdoor Guide

Youth hunter’s fight with cerebral palsy one of

inspiration

By John Flores Twelve-year-old Jason Sanders killed his first buck last season. It was a spike. The feat is not really that uncommon for the typical Mississippi kid who grew up in a hunting family. But, Jason is not your typical youth hunter. He is someone who has cerebral palsy.

Eighteenth century poet Alexander Pope, in his essay on man, “Hope Springs Eternal,” wrote: “Hope springs eternal in the human breast; “Man never is, but always to be blessed: “The soul uneasy and confined from home, “Rests and expatiates in a life to come.”

Born about a month premature, young Jason had some oxygen deficiencies at birth. What’s more, as time 62 passed, his parents began noticing some things weren’t quite right. They had two other boys and knew agewise, what Jason should have been doing physically and verbally.

The concerned parents had an appointment with a neurologist scheduled, when hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast.

Jason’s father, Dana Sanders, who works as a Wetland Consultant in Moss Point, Mississippi, says the family lost three months of their lives recovering from the ravages of the storm. Moreover, it wasn’t until afterwards they were finally able to reschedule the appointment where Jason was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

The older Sanders expressed the diagnoses wasn’t something the couple was ready for, saying, “It wasn’t anything we had any knowledge of. But, what I did know was that word palsy kind of hit home, because I knew that was for life. It was something we weren’t going to get treatments for and be okay. I knew that it was going to be for a long time.”

Sanders says he tried to suck it up at first, but as time passed it started to sink in what was really happening and what the future might look like. He confessed he began struggling internally. That’s when Sanders drew upon his faith.

In that pinnacle moment Sanders says he got on his knees. His conversation with God was candid, where he says he gave Jason to the Lord.

Sanders recounted his prayer that day saying, “I said, Lord! I need you and Jason is your blessing to us.

But, I can’t handle this. I need your help!”

Afterwards Sanders says he felt a peace of God that he couldn’t describe to anyone. What’s more, he felt Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2017

JOHN FLORES PHOTO

Jason Sanders with his parents Dana and Adrian Sanders

like God had showed him that he had a plan for Jason’s life and would take care of him. All Sanders had to do was love him and be a dad to him.

In the subsequent years, Dana and Adrian Sanders have accommodated Jason’s special needs, but haven’t changed their lifestyle as a hunting family.

“We didn’t let it slow us down and we do everything that we did before. But, what happened was our ‘normal,’ isn’t your normal. And, what we’ve had to do is adapt and adjust to make things work for Jason,” Sanders said.

One of the things that the couple has done over the years is hunt more from tent-like popup ground blinds.

They built Jason a special shooting chair; and utilize a Bad Boy Buggy to transport him and equipment to and from the field, where over the years their son has harvested several does off their family farm.

For the past several years Jason had been invited to participate in youth hunts for disabled children sponsored by groups like “Trinity Outdoors,” “Wounded Warriors,” and “Hope Outdoors.” But, because Jason had access to his family’s farm and harvested deer before, his father felt he would be taking the place of a less fortunate child.

It wasn’t until a friend involved with Hope Outdoors convinced Sanders that the focus wasn’t on the hunt, but about ministry and encouraging other children with disabilities.

Sanders said, “He told me, ‘Man it isn’t about the hunting. It’s about ministry. There are little

a

The annual Louisiana Sportsman Big Buck Contest held each spring shows the state’s trophy potential.

kids out there that go on these hunts that have the same afflictions Jason has, and they don’t have that look Jason does. And, there are parents that you need to meet that live the same life you do. You need to network with these parents.’ He was right. We needed to do that.”

During Jason’s Hope Outdoors Hunt, is when he harvested his spike buck. What’s more, Sanders videoed the hunt and took pictures of his wife Adrian carrying Jason on her back more than a quarter mile to the blind.

Sanders posted the video to FACEBOOK and since, the hunt has received over 1.4 million views from around the world in places like England, Australia, South Africa and Canada, besides the United States.

Moreover, Sanders believes Jason indeed has been an inspiration and part of a greater plan God had for him.

Sanders said, “I have received several hundred personal messages on FACEBOOK – I’m not exaggerating. I’ve had people message me and say, ‘You know, I have CP and I appreciate it and I’m moved by this story.’ I’ve had people say, ‘My two-year-old has CP and I didn’t know that was possible.’ Others just say, ‘I’m crying.’”

Sanders says he is glad Jason’s buck was a spike, feeling had it been a monster buck the focus would have been the deer and not the message. He says nor does he want the focus on him as a father, but instead on Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

“It’s not me. It’s nothing I’ve done. I’m just blessed with an extraordinary little boy. And you know – I love him – and that should be normal,” Sanders said.

JOHN FLORES PHOTO

63

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Outdoor Guide

The technology which enables a legally blind person to hunt incorporates a very specialized electronic viewing device. It consists of a small camera and monitor which attaches to a rifle scope, allowing a “companion hunter” standing behind the hunter to be the eyes while the hunter is holding and aiming the rifle. The companion hunter directs the hunter with tap signals or shooting ear muffs with radio capabilities which allow them to whisper back and forth to each other until it’s time to pull the trigger.

64

Beware of blind shooters

By John Flores Over the years I’ve seen some fine shots made by some amazing shooters using both shotguns and rifles. My father-in-law was one of those shooters. He was a guy who rarely ever missed.

Before my wife and I were married, she told me how he could shoot the star completely out of one of those Carnival shooting gallery targets with a .22 till nothing was left of it. She also bragged how he could shoot nutria rats from an airboat with one hand.

“While the boat is moving?” I quizzed.

“Yes,” She replied sensing my doubt.

“Let me get this straight,” I said, “Your dad can shoot a nutria rat on the run one handed, while the boat is moving?”

“Yes he can – you’ll see,” she said.

With eyebrow raised, I let it go.

After we were married I went down to the camp one weekend, where my father-in-law spent winters making a living trapping in the marsh. That Saturday evening, Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2017

he asked me if I wanted to take a ride with him to shoot a few nutria.

He had a little Apache fiberglass hull airboat with a Lycoming aircraft engine. Just behind the main deck he installed a seat for a passenger who generally caught frogs from it. Behind and above the passenger’s seat was the driver’s seat. Fastened to the cage on the airboat was a leather scabbard, just like those you see in a western movie. And inside was a Browning semi-automatic .22.

In the coastal marshes, after a few frosts, most years it knocks the grass down flat where nutria nests sit on top of the ground in plain sight. Nutria have a voracious appetite and propagate year around. They can also destroy a marsh in short order. Not only was Pop shooting them for their fur value back then, he was helping reduce coastal erosion from “eatout” by eliminating a pest.

Sure-enough, just like my wife said, while holding the .22 rifle in one hand, the steering handle in the other, with the boat moving

and nutria running for the bayou, he shot 39 out of 40 above the neck in the head, to spare damage to the hide that afternoon. He cussed “and” swore he got number 40, but we couldn’t dig it out of the lilies it took a dive into.

Father-in-law would also shoot carpenter bees out of midair with a BB gun just for fun in the backyard, while sipping a cold one in the late afternoon.

By the time my father-in-law reached his 60th birthday, his eyes had dimmed. I watched the old crack-shot miss a whitetail doe, no more than 30 yards away, to which he declared I’m half blind and can’t see no more.

I actually hunted with a legally blind hunter once. This fellow tragically lost his sight in a shooting accident while watching some friends shoot clay pigeons. A 12-gauge shotgun shell got lodged and stuck in one of the shooter’s guns. When he tried to shuck the shell from the pump-gun’s action, it was pointed in the wrong direction.

The blind hunter mounted

a

Father and son enjoy a moment in the field.

a Trophy Shot camera made by Wildlife Optics to his rifle scope and wired it directly to a viewfinder with duplex reticle crosshairs. All that he required was someone to loan him their eyes to spot deer and tell him where to move his gun to place the crosshairs.

There was also this fellow from Goldonna, LA, once, who told a bunch of us he was declared legally blind and on disability. We were all about to shoot a round of sporting clays at the time. It was a 50-shot warmup range and he wound up scoring a 39; the highest in our group of shooters.

Afterwards he began to give all of us the business saying, “How could we let a blind man outshoot us?”

One duck season I hunted with a friend who is a Viet Nam war veteran and over the years his eyes had dimmed from aging where he sometimes struggled to see. I asked him once, “How do you shoot ducks?”

He replied, “I watch you or the guys I’m with in the blind. When I see you move or react to something, I get ready. When you raise and point your shotgun, I raise mine and point it towards the way you’re aiming.

Sometimes the birds are a blur when I shoot. I miss a lot, but it’s still fun. If I get a few I’m happy.”

I always took pride in how well I could see. I told my boys when they were younger that I could see a gnat on a telephone pole a hundred yards away. In the military, I shot expert with the M-16 and have the ribbon and Form DD-214 to prove it.

In my early 50s, I went to work one morning and sat down to my computer to check e-mails and noticed everything I tried to read was blurry and hard to see.

I took a sip of coffee, rubbed both of my eyes and tried again. In a panic, I called my wife.

JOHN FLORES PHOTO

“Honey,” I said, “Something’s wrong, I’m going blind.”

She said, “Now calm down. Nothing’s wrong. I’ll make you an appointment with the eye doctor.”

The next day, my doctor just patted me on the shoulder and handed me an eye prescription while saying, “You’re lucky your sight has lasted you this long.”

I’ve hunted ducks with my sons on numerous occasions since seeing the doctor on that infamous day.

By the time the smoke has settled and the ducks have been picked up, I’ve killed my share.

To which my sons have said, giving me some jazz I might add, “I thought you said you can’t see any more Dad!” “That’s right boys, I’m half blind and can’t shoot no more,” I reply. “Always beware of blind shooters.”

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65

Outdoor Guide

The 12 Golden rules for Safe Gun Handling 1. Always treat the gun as loaded.

2. Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.

3. Always keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.

4. Always keep the gun unloaded until you are ready to use it.

66

5. Never point the gun at anything you don’t intend to destroy.

6. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.

7. Learn the mechanical and handling characteristics of the gun you are using.

8. Always use proper ammunition.

9. Be sure the barrel is clear of obstructions before loading and shooting.

10. If your gun fails to fire when the trigger is pulled, hold your shooting position for several seconds; then with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, carefully unload the gun.

11. Don’t rely on the gun’s safety to keep it from firing.

12. Be aware of your surroundings when handling guns so you don’t trip or lose your balance and accidentally point and/or fire the gun at anyone or anything.

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

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

The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Outreach Line Telephone number is (985) 873-0026 or (985) 850-3172

Línea de Comunicación Diocesana

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

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

Línea de Comunicación de la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux Número de teléfono (985) 873-0026 o (985) 850-3172

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

Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp Giaùo phaän Soá ñieän thoaïi: (985) 873-0026; (985) 850-3172

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2017

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