Bayou Catholic December 2015 Issue

INSIDE

Christmas Features

Bayou

Catholic

C

Recapturing the spirit of

s a m t s i hr

HOUMA, LA ~ DECEMBER 2015 ~ COMPLIMENTARY

The Region’s 1st & Most Comprehensive Spine & Pain Center  No Referral Needed  Michael S. Haydel, M.D. FIPP Michael P. Charlet, M.D., FAAN Karl G. Haydel, Jr., MD Daniel R. Clayton, PA-C Donovan J. Matherne, FNP-C Brandi B. Degruise, FNP-C 2

May the Spirit of this holiday season be with you throughout the coming year.

Merry Christmas Office located in Houma

1022 Belanger Street • 985-223-3132 www.painspecialty.net Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

May the Love and Peace from His Holy Spirit live inside the hearts of you and your loved ones this Christmas and New Year

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God’s Promises Books & Gifts 648 B Corporate Drive (Behind Target)

(985) 876-1283 Houma

Galliano Religious Supply House

God’s Precious Word & Gifts

18210 West Main Suite 13 (985) 632-3040 Galliano

601 St. Mary Street (Next to Politz)

(985) 449-0618 Thibodaux

Serving the Diocese since 1991

Donald & Tammy Plaisance, owners Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9-6 Sat. 9-4 www.bayoucatholic.com

Contents

18

FEATURES

22

18 Father Vicente DeLa Cruz

celebrates 25th

By Janet Marcel

24 Deacon Doug Authement

enjoys serving others

By Janet Marcel

36 Action plan for St. Charles Community

By Janet Marcel

COLUMNS

8

Comfort For My People

By Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

12 Pope Speaks

By Pope Francis I

13 Question Corner

24

By Father Kenneth Doyle

14 Readings Between The Lines

By Father Glenn LeCompte

20 Seeing Clairely

By Claire Joller

4

21 Reading with Raymond

By Raymond Saadi

52 Overtime

30 40

By Ed Daniels

IN EVERY ISSUE

6 Editor’s Corner 16 Scripture Readings 22 Heavenly Recipes 26 Young Voices 33 Diocesan Events GUEST COLUMNS

34 Recapturing the spirit

of Christmas

By Father Joseph Tregre

ANNOUNCEMENTS

50

28 Junior High Faith Experience Jan. 9 42 Food the the Journey Jan. 12 Father Glenn LeCompte speaks

43 Sacred Art and Architecture Series Very Rev. Joshua Rodrigue speaks

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

On Our Cover Bishop Shelton J. Fabre prays before the Nativity scene at St. Joseph CoCathedral in Thibodaux before last year’s Midnight Mass. In this issue’s cover story, Father Joseph Tregre, pastor of St. Joseph Church parish in Galliano, writes about recapturing the spirit of Christmas.

Cover Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier

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

Bayou Catholic Vol. 36, No. 6 How to reach us:

BY PHONE: (985) 850-3132

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

BY FAX: (985) 850-3232

BY E-MAIL: bayoucatholic@htdiocese.org The Bayou Catholic is published monthly, for the people of the Roman Catholic Diocese of HoumaThibodaux 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. National and world-wide news service and photos by National Catholic News Service.

Louis G. Aguirre

Index to Advertisers 12 Days of Christmas ................................ 67 Advanced Eye Institute ............................... 61 AIM Palliative Home Health ......................... 65 Barker Honda ............................................. 44 Bella Cosa ................................................. 33 Betty White Jewelers .................................. 68 Cannata’s .................................................. 53 Cardinal Place ............................................ 36 Channel 10 ................................................ 63 Chauvin Funeral Home ............................... 42 Coastal Commerce Bank ............................ 60 Daigle Himel Daigle .................................... 37 Diocesan Charities Christmas Collection ..... 31 Diocesan Outreach Line .............................. 59 Diocesan Priests Retirement ....................... 32 Diocesan Website ...................................... 57 Falgout Funeral Homes, LLC ....................... 45 Family Vision Clinic .................................... 23 Felger’s Footwear ....................................... 28 God’s Promises Books & Gifts ................... 25 God’s Promises Books & Gifts ................... 29 God’s Promises Books & Gifts ..................... 3 Haydel Memorial Hospice ........................... 43 Haydel, Spine Pain & Wellness ..................... 2

Headache & Pain Center ............................. 19 Houma Digestive Health Specialists ............ 50 Houma Orthopedic Clinic ........................... 66 HTeNews ................................................... 39 KEM Supply House, Inc. ............................. 48 Knights of Columbus Insurance ................... 15 Landry’s Funeral Home .............................. 46 LeBlanc & Associates, LLC ........................ 50 Re-Bath ..................................................... 24 Rod’s Superstore ....................................... 49 Samart Funeral Home & Crematorium of Houma .......................... 48 Seminarian Education Burses ..................... 41 Southland Dodge Chrysler Jeep .................. 47 Spotlight .................................................... 47 St. Joseph Manor ....................................... 29 Synergy Bank ............................................. 35 Terminix ..................................................... 51 The Wishing Well ....................................... 51 Thibodaux Funeral Home ............................ 38 Thibodaux Physical Therapy ....................... 52 Vandebilt Catholic Principal Position ........... 35 Vision Communications .............................. 55

editor and general manager

Lawrence Chatagnier managing editor

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

Peggy Adams

advertising manager

Anna C. Givens

advertising accounts executive

Janet Marcel staff writer

Pat Keese

secretary and circulation

Lisa Schobel Hebert graphic designer

Meridy Liner

accounts receivable/payable assistant

Awards

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

5

Welcome

Editor’s Corner Louis G. Aguirre Editor & General Manager

Every Day is Christmas

6

As I sat by my computer trying to come up with a meaningful “welcome” for this issue, I decided it would be appropriate to write about Christmas. However, as I read our bishop’s message, the different columns on the subject plus all the feature stories in our special section, I drew a blank: What can I write about Christmas that hasn’t already been written? Then a mailed envelope arrived at our office, sent to us by Jene Jeandron DeCuir, a parishioner at Holy Savior Church in Lockport. She had sent us a poem just in case the Bayou Catholic would be interested in using it for our December issue. Voila! Just like that I had the perfect message, at the perfect time.

God is good! With deep appreciation to Ms. DeCuir, I offer here her beautiful poem, entitled “Every Day is Christmas.”

It took a star, a single star,

to light the night, to show the way.

It took a star, a single star,

to strike the dark, to spark the day.

Do not wait for a star, a celestial sign,

to make you act, with grace to shine.

You search for God’s place; it’s not that far.

Do not wait for a sign. Be the star.

It took an angel, a glorious angel,

to shatter the noise of a sinful world.

It took an angel, a glorious angel,

to wave the banner of the Son unfurled.

Do not wait for an angel, His messenger from high,

to make you shout when others deny.

You search the silent heaven; he lies in a manger.

Do not look for an angel. Be the angel.

It took a lamb, a gentle lamb,

to warm the Baby with its soothing breath.

It was another lamb, as gentle a lamb,

to sacrifice His life, to face His death.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

Do not look for shepherds to tell you how

to give your all, to give it now.

You search for a palace, not Bethlehem.

Do not look for the sign. Be the lamb.

It took a manger, a lowly manger

to shelter a family ordained by God. It took a manger, a lowly manger

to show His majesty, His sovereign rod.

Do not look for mangers, if pride is your cross.

Look past your gold, lest you become lost.

You search for a manger, not seeing its worth.

Do not disdain His manger; honor His birth.

It took a Baby, a single little Baby,

to turn the earth from its sinful way.

It took a Baby, a simple little Baby,

to share God’s peace, to find our own way.

Do not ignore the Baby; His message is clear.

Look past your history; His innocence cheer.

You search for wise men, not seeing His love.

Do not look beyond Him; seek from above.

By Jene Jeandron DeCuir

Bishop’s Message

Merry Christmas

Like the Magi and the Shepherds, let us make our way to encounter Jesus Christ, who is the ‘Face of the Father’s Mercy’ as Pope Francis has reminded us. As we reflect again upon the birth of the Lord, let us seek to be forever changed by the love and mercy that the Father offers to us in the child born at Bethlehem. I hope and pray that this Christmas is a season of grace and peace for you. Thank you for your faith! Be assured of my prayers for you and your family members during these holy days and throughout the coming New Year. Merry Christmas!

Feliz Navidad

Así como los Reyes Magos y los Pastores, caminemos hacia nuestro encuentro con Jesucristo, que el Papa Francisco llama ‘el Rostro de la Misericordia del Padre.’ En nuestra reflexión sobre el nacimiento del Señor busquemos la transformación eterna del amor y la Misericordia del Padre que nos ofrece por medio del niño que ha nacido en Belén. Espero y pido que esta navidad los colme de gracia y paz. ¡Les doy mi agradecimiento por su fe! Reciban mis oraciones por ustedes y sus familias durante estos días santos y durante las festividades de Año Nuevo. ¡Feliz Navidad!

, Giang Sinh Chuc Mung ‘ ‘ ‘

Như các nhà Đạo sĩ và các Mục đồng, chúng ta hãy lên đường đến gặp Chúa Giêsu Kitô, Đấng là “Dung Mạo Lòng Thương Xót của Chúa Cha” như Đức Thánh Cha Phanxicô đã nhắc nhở chúng ta. Khi chúng ta suy nghĩ lại ngày sinh của Chúa, chúng ta hãy tìm cho được sự thay đổi mãi mãi bởi tình yêu và lòng thương xót mà Chúa Cha ban cho chúng ta nơi em bé sinh ra tại Bêlem. Tôi cầu nguyện và hy vọng rằng Giáng sinh này sẽ là một mùa của ân sủng và bình an cho tất cả Anh Chị Em. Xin cảm ơn Anh Chị Em về niềm tin của mình! Tôi sẽ luôn dâng những lời cầu nguyện của tôi dành cho tất cả Anh Chị Em và mọi thành viên của gia đình trong những ngày lễ này và trong suốt Năm Mới sắp tới. Chúc Mừng Giáng Sinh!

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre www.bayoucatholic.com

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Comment Comfort For My People Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

M 8

Misericordiae Vultus is the title of the document that Pope Francis wrote to proclaim from Dec. 8, 2015, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, until Nov. 20, 2016, the Solemnity of Christ the King, to be a Holy Year of Mercy. The full title of the document in English is The Face of the Father’s Mercy, and in it Pope Francis writes, “Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy.” 1) During this Holy Year of Mercy, Pope Francis invites us to focus on the concept of mercy.

The Pope is inviting us to contemplate the face of the Father’s mercy, Jesus Christ, because, as he states in the document, “At times we are called to gaze even more attentively on mercy so that we may become a more effective sign of the Father’s action in our lives.” 3) Therefore, as throughout this year we reflect on the concept of mercy and recall and celebrate God’s great mercy shown to us, our reflection should create within us the desire to deal with all others from the perspective of remembering the great mercy that we have received. Such a remembrance of the Father’s mercy to us must inspire in us actions of mercy toward others.

In this manner we become effective signs of the Father’s mercy in our own lives, and we

become ‘Merciful Like the Father,’ which is the motto of this Holy Year of Mercy.

One of the ways that Pope Francis invites us to enter into this reflection on mercy is to grow in our appreciation of the Corporal Works of Mercy and the Spiritual Works of Mercy. It is easy to understand that a Holy Year of Mercy would invite us to focus on these actions that should be a part of the life of every follower of Jesus Christ. The Corporal Works of Mercy are seven (7) in number: to feed the hungry; to give drink to the thirsty; to clothe the naked; to shelter the homeless; to visit the sick; to visit those imprisoned; and to bury the dead.

The Corporal Works of Mercy are actions that are performed with the goal of bringing physical relief and comfort to others. They assist our neighbors with their physical and material needs.

The Spiritual Works of Mercy are also seven (7) in number: to counsel those who doubt; to instruct the ignorant; to admonish sinners; to comfort the afflicted; to forgive offenses; to bear wrongs patiently; and to pray for the living and the dead. The Spiritual Works of Mercy are essentially nonphysical acts that are undertaken to give to the souls of others comfort and guidance. They assist our neighbors with their spiritual and emotional needs. At this time in the history of our world when so many people face material needs as well as spiritual and emotional needs, it is not surprising that Pope Francis is inviting us to a renewed practice of these works of mercy.

As previous popes have done in prior holy years, during this Holy Year of Mercy, Pope Francis has lifted up the concept of pilgrimage, a rich part of our faith history. The image of pilgrimage reminds us of the journey that each of us is

making through this earthly life on our way to heaven. The Pope has designated every cathedral church in the world as a special pilgrimage site where the faithful can obtain a plenary indulgence corresponding to the temporal punishment due for sins. Information on what is required to obtain the indulgence will be provided by our church parishes and in other ways.

However, in our diocese the indulgence can be received by traveling, or making a ‘pilgrimage,’ to the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma or to St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux and passing through the ‘Holy Door’ at the cathedral. One would then perform the prayer and other requirements to receive the indulgence, which include making a good confession in the sacrament of reconciliation.

The reason for the concept of the ‘holy door’ at each cathedral is to remind us that just as a door gives us access to the cathedral church, so Jesus Christ gives us access to the Father’s love and mercy.

We will open the Holy Doors Sunday, Dec. 13 at St. Francis at 9 a.m. Mass, and at St. Joseph CoCathedral at 11:30 a.m. Mass. It is my prayer that all in our diocese will utilize the opportunity during the Holy Year of Mercy to receive God’s mercy, and to offer mercy to others.

This month we celebrate the joy that is Christmas Day and the season of Christmas!! I offer a special Christmas message in this issue of Bayou Catholic (see page 7), but please allow me here to simply wish to you and your family and friends all of the joy, peace and blessings of Christmas! Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year to all!!

The Face of the Father’s Mercy

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

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www.bayoucatholic.com

Comentario

M 10

El Rostro de la Misericordia del Padre

Misericordiae Vultus es el título del documento que el Papa Francisco escribió para proclamar la Solemnidad del Año Santo de Misericordia que se llevará a cabo del 8 de diciembre del 2015 (Día de la Solemnidad de la Inmaculada Concepción de María), hasta el 20 de noviembre del 2016 (Día de la Solemnidad de Cristo Rey.) El nombre completo del documento es El Rostro de la Misericordia del Padre y en ello el Papa Francisco declara: «Jesucristo es el rostro de la misericordia del Padre.»

1) Durante este Año Santo, el Papa Francisco nos invita a concentrarnos en el concepto de la misericordia.

El papa nos invita a contemplar el rostro de la misericordia del Padre, Jesucristo, porque su documento nos dice: «a veces somos llamados a observar la misericordia con mayor atención para que podamos convertirnos en una señal más efectiva de la acción del Padre en nuestras vidas.» 3) Por tanto, mientras reflexionamos sobre el concepto de la misericordia todo el año y recordamos y celebramos la enorme misericordia que Dios nos otorga, nuestra reflexión debe establecer dentro de nosotros el deseo de relacionarnos con nuestros semejantes recordando la gran misericordia que hemos recibido. Si recordamos la misericordia del Padre hacia nosotros, estaremos inspirados a también actuar con misericordia hacia los demás.

Así llegamos a ser señal efectiva de la misericordia del Padre en nuestras propias vidas y nos hacemos «Misericordiosos como el Padre,» que es el lema de este Año Santo de Misericordia.

Una de las maneras que el Papa Francisco nos llama a reflexionar sobre la misericordia es aumentando nuestro aprecio por Las Obras Corporales

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

de la Misericordia y las Obras Espirituales de la Misericordia.

Es fácil comprender que el Año Santo de la Misericordia nos invita a concentrarnos en estas acciones que deben ser parte de la vida de cada seguidor de Jesucristo.

Hay siete Obras Corporales de la Misericordia y ellas son: alimentar al hambriento; dar de beber al sediento; vestir al desnudo; dar techo al indigente; visitar el enfermo; visitar a los presos y dar entierro a los muertos. Los Actos Corporales de la Misericordia se llevan a cabo con el fin de dar alivio físico y comodidad a los demás. Estos ayudan a nuestros vecinos con sus necesidades físicas y materiales.

Las Obras Espirituales de la Misericordia son siete también: Dar consejo a aquéllos que dudan; instruir al ignorante; aconsejar al pecador; confortar al que sufre; perdonar las ofensas; tratar con paciencia el mal recibido; y orar por los vivos y muertos. Las Obras Espirituales de la Misericordia son básicamente acciones no-físicas que se llevan a cabo para otorgar comodidad y guía a las ánimas de nuestros semejantes. Esto ayuda a nuestros vecinos proveyéndoles necesidades espirituales y emocionales. En este momento histórico de nuestro mundo, cuando tantas personas tienen necesidades materiales, espirituales y emocionales, no es sorprendente que el Papa Francisco nos invite a renovar el compromiso de proveer estas obras de misericordia.

Como papas anteriores lo han hecho en años santos pasados, durante este Año Santo de Misericordia, el Papa Francisco ha alzado el concepto del peregrinaje, una tradición rica de la historia de nuestra fe. La imagen del peregrinaje nos recuerda el camino que cada uno de nosotros hace a través de la vida terrenal que vivimos con destino al cielo. El papa ha designado cada catedral

en el mundo un sitio especial de peregrinaje en el que los fieles pueden obtener indulgencias plenarias que corresponden al castigo temporal causado por nuestros pecados. La información que se necesita para obtener la indulgencia será anunciada en nuestras parroquias.

No obstante, la indulgencia en nuestra diócesis puede recibirse viajando o realizando un «peregrinaje» a la Catedral San Francisco de Sales en Houma o a la Co-Catedral San José en Thibodaux y entrando por la «Puerta Santa» de la catedral.

En ese momento se podrá hacer la oración y otros requisitos para recibir la indulgencia, que incluye hacer una buena confesión en el sacramento de la reconciliación.

El concepto de la «Puerta Santa» en cada catedral es para recordarnos que así como la puerta nos da acceso a la catedral, así Jesucristo nos da acceso al amor del Padre y a su misericordia.

Abriremos las Puertas Santas el domingo, 13 de diciembre en la Catedral San Francisco de Sales en la misa de las 9A.M. y en la Co-Catedral San José en la misa de las 11:30A.M. Es mi esperanza que todos los feligreses de nuestra diócesis utilicen la oportunidad durante el Año Santo de recibir la misericordia de Dios y ofrecer esta misericordia a los demás. ¡¡Este mes celebramos la felicidad del Día de Navidad y la época navideña!!

Les ofrezco un mensaje especial navideño en esta publicación de Bayou Catholic (ver página 7), pero permítanme desearles en este momento a todos ustedes, a sus familias y amistades ¡toda la felicidad, la paz y las bendiciones que trae la navidad! ¡Feliz Navidad y feliz Año Nuevo!!

Traducido por Julio Contreras, feligrés de la Iglesia Annunziata

Binh luan bang loi

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Dung Mạo Lòng Thương Xót của Chúa Cha

“Misericordiae Vultus” là tựa đề của tài liệu mà Đức Thánh Cha Phanxicô đã viết để công bố từ ngày 8 tháng 12 năm 2015, Đại Lễ Đức Maria Vô Nhiễm Nguyên Tội, cho đến ngày 20 tháng 11 năm 2016, Lễ Trọng Chúa Kitô Vua, là Năm Thánh Lòng Thương Xót. Tựa đề đầy đủ của tài liệu bằng tiếng Anh là: Dung Mạo Lòng Thương Xót của Chúa Cha, và trong đó Đức Thánh Cha Phanxicô viết: “Chúa Giêsu Kitô là dung mạo lòng thương xót của Chúa Cha.” 1) Trong suốt thời gian Năm Thánh Lòng Thương Xót này, Đức Thánh Cha Phanxicô mời gọi chúng ta phải chú trọng về khái niệm của lòng thương xót. Đức Thánh Cha đang mời gọi chúng ta chiêm ngắm dung mạo lòng thương xót của Chúa Cha, là Chúa Giêsu Kitô, bởi vì như ngài trình bày trong tài liệu, “Thỉnh thoảng chúng ta được mời gọi để nhìn ngắm cách chăm chú hơn vào lòng thương xót để chúng ta có thể trở nên một dấu chỉ hữu hiệu hơn, hành động của Chúa Cha trong cuộc đời chúng ta.” 3) Do đó, trong suốt năm nay chúng ta sẽ suy gẫm về khái niệm của lòng thương xót, tưởng nhớ lại, và ca tụng lòng thương xót của Thiên Chúa đã thể hiện với chúng ta, sự suy gẫm của chúng ta phải phát sinh trong chúng ta ước muốn cư xử với tất cả những người khác bằng việc nhớ lại lòng thương xót mà chúng ta đã lãnh nhận. Sự nhớ lại về lòng thương xót của Chúa Cha như thế dành cho chúng ta phải gợi lên trong chúng ta những hành xử của lòng thương xót đối với người khác.

Bằng cách này, chúng ta trở nên những dấu chỉ hữu hiệu lòng thương xót của Chúa Cha trong đời sống riêng của mỗi người, và chúng ta trở nên “Thương Xót như Chúa Cha,” là phương châm của Năm Thánh Lòng Thương Xót này.

Một trong những phương cách

mà Đức Thánh Cha Phanxicô mời gọi chúng ta bước vào sự suy gẫm về lòng thương xót này là trưởng thành trong sự nhận thức của chúng ta về câu kinh “Thương người có 14 mối”: Thương Xác Bảy Mối và Thương Linh Hồn Bảy Mối. Người ta dễ dàng hiểu rằng Năm Thánh Lòng Thương Xót sẽ mời chúng ta chú trọng vào những hành động này, chúng phải là một phần trong đời sống của mỗi người môn đệ theo Chúa Giêsu Kitô.

Thương Xác Bảy Mối có bảy (7) con số: cho kẻ đói ăn; cho kẻ khát uống; cho kẻ rách rưới ăn mặc; viếng kẻ liệt cùng kẻ tù rạc; cho khách đỗ nhà; chuộc kẻ làm tôi; và chôn xác kẻ chết. Thương xác bảy mối là những hành động được thực hiện với mục tiêu mang lại sự cứu giúp thể lý và xoa dịu những người khác. Chúng giúp đỡ tha nhân bằng những nhu cầu thể lý và vật chất của họ.

Thương Linh Hồn Bảy Mối cũng là con số bảy (7): lấy lời lành mà khuyên người; mở dạy kẻ mê muội; yên ủi kẻ âu lo; răn bảo kẻ có tội; tha kẻ dể ta; nhịn kẻ mất lòng ta; và cầu cho kẻ sống và kẻ chết. Thương Linh Hồn Bảy Mối cơ bản là những hành vi không mang tính thể lý hữu hình, được thực hiện cho các linh hồn sự an ủi và hướng dẫn. Chúng giúp đỡ tha nhân bằng nhu cầu tâm linh và tình cảm của họ. Tại thời điểm này trong lịch sử thế giới của chúng ta, khi có rất nhiều người phải đối mặt với những nhu cầu vật chất cũng như tinh thần và tình cảm, vì thế không có gì đáng ngạc nhiên khi Đức Thánh Cha Phanxicô mời gọi chúng ta đi tới đến sự thực hành mới về mười bốn mối của lòng thương xót này.

Như những vị Giáo hoàng tiền nhiệm đã thực hiện trong các năm thánh trước, trong suốt Năm Thánh Lòng Thương Xót này, Đức Thánh Cha Phanxicô đã đề cao khái niệm về cuộc hành hương, một phần phong phú về lịch sử đức tin của chúng ta.

Hình ảnh của cuộc hành hương nhắc nhở chúng ta về cuộc hành trình mà mỗi người trong chúng ta đang thực hiện thông qua cuộc sống trần thế này trên đường về Thiên đàng. Đức

Giáo Hoàng đã chỉ định mọi nhà thờ chính tòa trên thế giới là địa điểm hành hương đặc biệt nơi các tín hữu có thể được hưởng một ơn toàn xá tương ứng với hình phạt tạm thời do bởi tội lỗi. Thông tin về những điều kiện cần thiết để lãnh nhận ơn toàn xá sẽ được phân phối bởi các giáo xứ và các phương cách khác.

Tuy nhiên, trong giáo phận của chúng ta, ơn toàn xá có thể nhận được bằng việc du hành, hoặc thực hiện một cuộc “hành hương” đến Nhà thờ Chính tòa St. Francis de Sales tại Houma hoặc Nhà thờ Đồng Chính tòa St. Joseph ở Thibodaux và đi qua ‘Cửa Thánh’ tại Thánh đường. Sau đó người ta sẽ đọc kinh cầu nguyện và các yêu cầu khác để lãnh nhận ơn toàn xá, trong đó bao gồm việc lãnh nhận Bí tích Hòa giải.

Lý do về “Cửa Thánh” tại mỗi nhà thờ Chính Tòa là để nhắc nhở chúng ta rằng chỉ có một cánh cửa cho phép 11 chúng ta đi vào nhà thờ, cũng vậy Chúa Giêsu Kitô cho phép chúng ta tiếp cận tình yêu và lòng thương xót của Chúa Cha. Chúng tôi sẽ mở các Cửa Thánh vào ngày Chúa Nhật 13 tháng 12 tại nhà thờ Chính Tòa St. Francis vào Thánh Lễ 9 giờ sáng, và tại nhà thờ Đồng Chính tòa St. Joseph vào Thánh Lễ 11 giờ 30 sáng.

Tôi cầu xin cho tất cả mọi người trong giáo phận của chúng ta sẽ tận dụng cơ hội trong suốt Năm Thánh Lòng Thương Xót để nhận được lòng thương xót của Thiên Chúa, và để bày tỏ lòng thương xót cho người khác.

Trong tháng này chúng ta kỷ niệm một niềm vui, đó là ngày Giáng sinh và mùa Giáng sinh!! Tôi dâng tặng một sứ điệp Giáng sinh đặc biệt trong lần in này của tờ báo Bayou Catholic (xem trang 7). Cũng nhân dịp này, tôi xin cầu chúc cho Anh Chị Em, gia đình, và thân hữu, được hưởng trọn niềm vui, bình an và phúc lành của mùa Giáng sinh! Chúc Mừng Giáng Sinh và Chúc Mừng Năm Mới đến tất cả mọi người!!

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

Comment The Pope Speaks

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Because God always keeps open the door of his mercy and offer of salvation to everyone, the doors of every church and every Christian heart must never be closed to others, Pope Francis said.

All over the world, individual Christians and the whole church must be seen as “the hospitality of a God who never shuts the door in your face with the excuse that you’re not part of the family,” he said during his weekly general audience Nov. 18.

The pope dedicated his catechesis to the symbol of the Holy Door, which will be opened at St. Peter’s Basilica Dec. 8 to mark the start of the extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy.

Holy doors around the world represent the “great door of God’s mercy” and are generously opened to receive people’s repentance and offer the grace of God’s forgiveness, he said.

The recent Synod of Bishops on the family was an occasion to encourage the church and all Catholics to meet God at this open door and to open their own doors to others -- “to go out with the Lord” to encounter his children who are journeying, who are perhaps uncertain, perhaps lost, “in these difficult times,” he said.

“If the door of God’s mercy is always open, the doors of our churches, our love, our communities, our parishes, our institutions, our dioceses also must be open so that we all can go out to bring God’s mercy” to others, he

said.

The jubilee year also represents the need to open the many small doors in everyone’s life so that “the Lord can come in or, many times, to let out the Lord imprisoned by our structures, our selfishness,” the pope said. “The jubilee means to let the Lord come in and go out.”

Don’t let the fact that so many homes and businesses deadbolt their doors for security reasons influence one’s personal approach to life, he said.

“We must not succumb to the idea of having to apply this system to our whole life, to family life,” to life in the city and community and much less to church life, he said.

“It would be terrible. An inhospitable church -- just like a family

have the courage, perhaps not even the strength, to knock,” he said.

“These people have lost trust, they don’t have the courage to knock on the doors of our Christian hearts, the doors of our churches, and there they are -- they don’t have the courage, we took away their trust,” Pope Francis said.

“Please, this must never happen anymore.”

How people watch over this door says a lot about the church and the community, he said, so how one cares for “the doorway” calls for great discernment and must inspire confidence and trust in people on the outside.

Pope Francis said people can learn from concierges, porters and doormen around the world, who always smile and make people feel

closed inside itself -- mortifies the Gospel and parches dry the world.

No bolted doors in the church.

None. Everything open,” he said to applause.

The symbolism of how a door is opened, how Jesus always knocks and asks permission to come in, “he never forces open the door” of one’s heart, is crucial, the pope said. The door is watched over and safeguarded by a custodian, but it is never slammed shut on anyone.

“The door is opened frequently in order to see if there is anyone outside waiting and perhaps doesn’t

welcome and at home. Thanking them for their work, he said the astuteness and politeness they display right at the entrance set the tone for the whole building.

Jesus is the door and the good shepherd whose sheep hear, recognize and follow him, the pope said referring to chapter 10 of the Gospel of St. John.

Like the sheepfold, where God’s people are gathered, the pope said, “the house of God is a shelter, not a prison.” Jesus is the gate that lets people go in “without fear and go out without danger.”

Christian heart must never be closed to others

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

Question Corner Father Kenneth Doyle

Explaining Eucharist to a child

Q A

Q. At Mass recently, after listening intently to the words of consecration, our 4-year-old granddaughter whispered to my wife, “Is wine really blood?”

How would you answer her question? Also, would your answer be different for a 7-yearold, a teenager or an adult taking RCIA classes? (Florence, South Carolina)

A. First of all, I credit your granddaughter for her attentiveness and only wish that many of the grown-ups at Mass were so sharply focused. Next, the short and completely truthful answer to her question is, “Yes.” At Mass, following the consecration, what started as wine has now been changed into the blood of Christ. That is the “mystery of faith” that the church has taught for 2,000 years. (St. Aquinas, in his 13th-century “Summa Theologica” noted that the priest, in repeating the words of Jesus, does not say, “This bread is my body”; he says, instead, “Hoc est enim corpus meum,” which is simply, “This is my body.”)

This is the “hard saying” referred to in the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel. Jesus had said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”

Even though many disciples would not accept that teaching and walked away, Jesus made no attempt to call them back

by saying that he had only been speaking symbolically.

Now having said this, I don’t think your granddaughter needs to know all of that right now. Little children think in pictures, so I’m not sure that I would mention “body and blood” at all.

I might say something like, “It still tastes like wine, but it’s different now and special; it’s Jesus coming into our souls to help us to be good.”

I’m not even sure that a teenager is ready for a philosophical explanation of transubstantiation, but in fairness I think that I would try -- as I certainly would with an adult Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults catechumen. (I would explain that the “accidents” of bread and wine remain -- the taste, smell, texture -- but that, in the Mass, the “substance” is changed into the body and blood of Christ.)

Anger and holy Communion

Q

Q. I have very deep feelings of anger toward my parents. I won’t go into the details, except to say that I have caused many hard feelings in the past but can’t

seem to admit my guilt and take the blame.

My parents, I know, have made many sacrifices on my behalf and helped me to become a successful adult -- but I still can’t seem to free myself of my historic grudge against them.

Now this is bothering me a lot and I’m wondering if it is a sign that I should stop receiving holy Communion until I can resolve this resentment. (New Orleans)

A

A. Without knowing the basis for your “grudge,” it’s hard to decide whether it might be helpful for you to talk it out directly with your parents or perhaps with a counselor.

But I don’t think that you should stop receiving holy Communion. Feelings are rarely within our total control; what we can manage, though, is what we say or do against the background of those feelings.

I’m guessing that your behavior toward your parents is decent and your conversations with them kind -- and your own preference would clearly be to free yourself 13 of the angry feelings.

Moreover, Pope Francis said in “Evangelii Gaudium” that the Eucharist is “not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.”

I hope your continued reception of the Eucharist will sustain you in your goodwill and guide you in reducing your anger.

2015 Catholic News Service

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

Reflections Readings Between The Lines Father Glenn LeCompte

Finding Mercy in Advent

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A “Year of Mercy,” which as you may know has been proclaimed

by Pope Francis, will extend from Dec. 8, 2015, (Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception) until Nov. 20, 2016, (Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe). The Holy Father exhorts us to contemplate both God’s gift of mercy to us and how we might in turn show mercy to others.

We find ourselves in the season of Advent. Is there a biblical passage which reflects our preparation for the celebration of Christ’s birth and the theme of mercy? Indeed we find such a connection in the passage biblical scholars have called the “Magnificat” (Luke 1:46-55).

This title is taken from the first word of the passage in the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible.

The literary form of the Magnificat is that of “canticle” or song. Most likely, Luke has placed this song upon the lips of his character, Mary, whether he composed it himself or took it from another source. In addition to being a canticle, the Magnificat is close in form to the Song of Hannah (1 Samuel 2:110). Both are hymns of praise to God uttered with regard to the birth of a child, although the circumstances for Hannah and Mary are different. Hannah praises God for answering her prayer to relieve her childlessness (1 Samuel 1:1-11).

Mary

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

“sings” the canticle in response to Elizabeth’s observation regarding Mary’s obedient servitude of God in her willingness to cooperate with his plan (Luke 1:45).

Twice in the Magnificat is the Greek word eleos (mercy) used.

In Luke 1:50 Mary asserts that God’s mercy is from age-to-age upon those who fear him. eleos is the most common translation in the Greek version of the Old Testament (Septuagint) for the . .

Hebrew word hesed. hesed occurs between two parties, one in need of something he or she cannot supply for him or herself and the other having the means to supply what is needed. While there may be some relationship between the two, the party who can supply the need does so without expectation of reciprocation on the part of the party who is helped.

In Luke 1:50, Mary proclaims God’s mercy to be from age-toage upon those who fear him.

This proclamation forms a bridge between Mary’s praise of God for exalting her, personally, and what God does for Israel through her.

The beneficiaries of God’s mercy are “those who fear (that is ‘revere’) him.” The phraseology of Luke 1:50 is derived from Psalm 103:17 (J. Fitzmyer, The Gospel According to Luke, I.368). Fear of the Lord is a mark of wisdom (Sirach 1:12), because it disposes one to seek God’s way and heed God’s will.

God’s mercy is displayed in his reversal of situations between the “haves” and the “have-nots,” as seen through the eyes of this world.

God has wielded the “might of his arm,” a human image applied to God to demonstrate God’s ability to

dominate the enemies of him or his people (Exodus 6:6, Deuteronomy 4:34, etc.).

God has scattered the “proud” (hyperphanous) in “thought” (dianoia) (1:51).

In Psalms 94:2; 17:10; 1 Maccabees 1:21 and 2 Maccabees 9:4 the word hyperphanos refers to the proud as enemies of the righteous or God’s people. dianoia refers to thoughts of the “heart” (the organ which in Greek thought represents the seat of thinking). The saving, merciful action God takes is to “disperse” the proud in thought, an indication that the proud have banded together to devise a wicked plan to exercise might against God’s upright ones.

The Greek of Luke 1:52, wherein God is said to cast down the mighty from thrones and exalt the lowly, is close to that of Sirach 10:14: “Thrones of rulers God cast down and he sat the lowly upon them.”

Sirach 10:1-20 is an exhortation to avoid pride and arrogance, and in verse 14, Ben Sira states a truth his readers would have readily acknowledged, that God has toppled even mighty rulers from their lofty dominions. Ironically, God exalts lowly people to their places. God’s mercy is shown in reversing the fortunes of oppressor and oppressed.

The reversal of fortunes of the “hungry” and the “rich” (Luke 1:53) foreshadows that of the rich man and Lazarus in a parable Jesus will utter later in Luke’s narrative (16:19-31). This theme also anticipates beatitudes Jesus will speak, wherein the poor will inherit the Kingdom and the hungry will be satisfied, while the rich will have exhausted

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their consolation and those who have enough to eat now will go hungry in God’s Kingdom (6:2122, 24-25). The rich man’s sin is a . failure to show hesed to Lazarus, who would have been obligated to do so because of prophetic teaching such as Isaiah 58:6-11, which asserts that providing food for the hungry is authentic fasting and will lead to healing in the postexilic Israelite community. God’s mercy is shown by granting comfort to Lazarus in eternal life after his earthly life of suffering.

The second mention of eleos is found in verse 54, when Mary declares that God has displayed his mercy by helping Israel his “child servant” (pais). The thought of this verse perhaps reflects Isaiah 41:89, where Israel, in exile, is referred to as God’s pais whom God promises to help. In the immediate context of the Magnificat, the “help” to which Mary refers is the conception of Jesus as a critical moment in God’s plan to help Israel. God helps Israel, “having remembered his mercy.”

This phrase echoes Psalm (97) 98:3, “He (God) has remembered

his mercy to Jacob, and his fidelity to the house of Israel.” God’s act of “remembering” is more than just the formation of a mental image; God will act on behalf of (or at times against) the party who is remembered. In this case God has sent help to his people by sending the heir to the Davidic throne.

Finally, Mary observes that the divine display of mercy, which she just articulated, comes about because of God’s fidelity once promised to Abraham and to his descendants (1:55). God’s fidelity is paramount to the establishment of

his sovereignty and crucial to the survival of his people. Luke 1:55 reflects Micah 7:20, “You (God) will give fidelity to Jacob, mercy to Abraham, according the oath you swore to our fathers in former days.”

God’s greatest act of mercy was to send his Son to save us.

Recognizing this fact, our proper response is fidelity to and praise of God, not only for this grand act of mercy, but also for the particular ways he has extended mercy to us in our lives.

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December

Holy Father’s prayer intentions

Saints

John Damascene c. 675 - c. 749 feast - December 4

Image Crosiers

The last of the Greek fathers, John was born in Damascus, Syria.

He succeeded his father as chief representative of the Christian community to the caliph in Damascus, then under Islamic rule.

However, after serving some years, he was forced to resign in 719 because of his faith. He entered a monastery in the mountain wilderness between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, and lived there until his death. As a priest, he devoted himself to prayer and writing, producing 150 works on theology, philosophy and religious education, as well as a defense of the veneration of icons and numerous hymns. His work was widely cited in the Middle Ages.

Pope Leo XIII declared him a doctor of the church in 1890.

Saints

Juan Diego Image, Sergio Dorantes

Universal Experiencing God’s Mercy. That all may experience the mercy of God, who never tires of forgiving.

1474 - 1548 feast - December 9

Baptized at 50, this Indian was walking to Mass on Dec. 9, 1531, when Mary appeared to him on Tepeyac Hill, near Mexico City. She asked him to petition the bishop for a shrine to be built there. But the bishop asked for a sign. On Dec. 12, Juan returned to Tepeyac; Mary told him to pick flowers blooming atop the hill and put them in his cloak to take to the bishop. When Juan opened the cloak, the flowers fell out and the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe adorned his garment. This miraculous image is preserved in the famous basilica in Mexico City. Juan lived out his days as a hermit near the first chapel built there; he was canonized in 2002.

Saints

Pope Sylvester I died 335 feast - December 31

Google, public domain

Evangelization Families. That families, especially those who suffer, may find in the birth of Jesus a sign of certain hope.

See www.apostleshipofprayer.org

Thought to be Roman, Sylvester (or Silvester) served as pope from 314 to 335. His papacy ran almost concurrently with the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great, 306-337, but it was Constantine who dominated the times. Sylvester had little influence on Constantine’s pro-Christian decrees and was invited to attend the Council of Nicaea in 325 as one among the church’s bishops. Sylvester did not attend, but sent two legates, who signed the council decrees after the president, a bishop-friend of Constantine’s, had signed them.

Through the emperor’s generosity, Sylvester built Rome’s first great churches. Buried in the cemetery of Priscilla, he was among the first non-martyr saints to be venerated in Rome.

Saints

CNS www.bayoucatholic.com

17

Personalities

‘I love being a priest ’ Very Rev. Vicente DeLa Cruz celebrates 25th

Story by Janet Marcel Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier A young seminarian named Vicente DeLa Cruz was studying in the Philippines when he received a personal letter from a bishop in Louisiana inviting him to come to the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux. That letter and the phone call that followed would eventually change the course of this seminarian’s life.

“Bishop Warren Boudreaux knew a Filipino priest in New Jersey who was a good friend of my family. He told this priest he was looking for Filipino seminarians to come to the diocese and asked him if he knew anyone,” says the Very Rev Vicente DeLa 18 Cruz, J.V., pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church parish in Bayou Black since July 2012, and judicial vicar for the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux since October 1995.

“The priest told Bishop Boudreaux he did know of someone and gave him my name. When this priest came to the Philippines in 1983, he told me about a bishop in Louisiana that was going to contact me. I had no idea who this bishop was and I had never heard of (the Diocese of) HoumaThibodaux.”

Father DeLa Cruz, a native of Olongapo City in the Philippines, arrived in the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux in August 1986, and was ordained to the priesthood by the late Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux, first bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma, 25 years ago Dec. 8, 1990.

“I was recruited by Bishop Boudreaux in 1983, but was unable to come to the diocese until 1986 because I was very involved with the People’s Power Revolution and I was blacklisted from traveling,” says the priest.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

in love, got married and had children.

But, he remained very religious and spent his whole life working for his home church parish as the music director. My grandfather’s first cousin ended up becoming a bishop in his home town.”

If he hadn’t become a priest, Father DeLa Cruz says he most likely would have gone into the field of human resources because he loves working with people.

He also enjoys Father Vicente DeLa Cruz shares a smile with young volunteering and parishioners at the recent St. Anthony Church Family Day. has since he was a young boy.

The time he spent The People’s Power in the seminary was wonderful, Revolution was a series of recalls Father DeLa Cruz. “They nonviolent demonstrations in the were the best years of my life.

Philippines that began in 1983 It was not always easy and at and culminated in 1986 when the some point was difficult and very people came together to restore challenging; but I have been so the democratic Philippines, ending blessed to have had such good the oppressive Marcos regime, professors and rectors, one of explains Father DeLa Cruz. them being Archbishop Gregory “Once the revolution began, any Aymond. We were his first class decisions or plans that I had at when he became rector of Notre that time changed. So three years Dame Seminary.” later, after the revolution was The one thing he remembers over, I made the decision to come most about the day he was here.” ordained was how calm he was.

Father DeLa Cruz says the “My road to the priesthood was greatest influences in his decision not a bed of roses for me. First of to become a priest are his all, my family and friends never grandparents and his mother. “My expected me to be a priest and I whole family is quite religious didn’t either. I have three things and we were brought up from a that I could boast and claim as my young age in a very strict Catholic own. While I was in the seminary religious household. My maternal I had prayer – ‘please let me pass grandfather and his first cousin my exams,’ which God answered. went into the seminary, but When I was ordained that prayer turned to a wish – ‘to end up in a my grandfather was kicked out small parish on the bayou and because of his temper. He then fell

a

to be left alone,’ which has not yet happened. And, when I turned 50 not too long ago, my dream became – ‘after I retire that God will give me enough time to still be able to help the church.’ And from those three things, I have adopted a motto that was told to me by a wise old priest friend who is now gone: to always stay humble, work hard and be kind.’”

Right before he graduated from Notre Dame Seminary, Bishop Boudreaux informed him that he wanted him to study canon law at St. Paul University in Canada.

The young priest’s request to take a yearlong break before he went to Canada was granted and he was assigned to Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church parish in Chackbay, which was his home parish.

While still a seminarian, he met Msgr. William Koninkx who was serving as judicial vicar for the diocese.

Msgr. Koninkx impressed him so much with not only his knowledge and compassion but how he was able to apply those things in his ministry. Msgr. Koninkx introduced him to the tribunal as a ministry and encouraged him to think about being involved in the ministry. Msgr. Koninkx’s successor as judicial vicar, Msgr.

Albert Bergeron, actually showed him how it was done by bringing him into the tribunal system to work as a defender of the bond in 1989. If it weren’t for those two priests, he says, he probably wouldn’t be involved in tribunal ministry.

“In general,” says Father DeLa Cruz, “my life as a priest has been wonderful and I’m happy as a priest. But it didn’t come without any challenges or difficulties.

The life of a priest is not easy but I am so blessed being a priest and being in this diocese. The people have been good to me. My ministry in the parish gives me the greatest satisfaction and I find my fulfillment in celebrating the sacraments in the parish. My tribunal ministry is lagniappe.”

The most challenging aspect of being a priest, he adds, is trying

to be an administrator, business manager, caretaker, custodian, etc., of a parish. “I couldn’t do it all on my own. I have so many people who help me get it all done.

And without the help of many volunteers, it would not get done.”

Father DeLa Cruz says his most memorable “moment” as a priest was actually a series of six events that happened in the diocese from November 2002 to December 2003. The event that started it all was the announcement that Bishop Michael Jarrell, second bishop of Houma-Thibodaux, was being transferred to the Diocese of Lafayette.

Second, Msgr.

Joseph Latino was elected diocesan administrator Dec. 19, 2002; three weeks later Msgr. Latino was appointed 10th bishop of the Diocese of Jackson, MS. Fourth, Msgr. James B. Songy was appointed apostolic administrator of the diocese. Fifth, Bishop Sam G. Jacobs of Alexandria was appointed third bishop of HoumaThibodaux on Aug. 1, 2003. And lastly, on Dec. 12, 2003, Father Oscar Solis was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles.

Father DeLa Cruz says he feels that his greatest accomplishment is being a priest. “I love being a priest.”

His only brother, who live in the Philippines, has four daughters and three grandchildren. His parents are both deceased. In his free time, he enjoys being alone, trying to relax, exercising a little and just taking time to slow down, because he keeps a very hectic schedule.

Father DeLa Cruz says he hopes to be able to continue being a priest at a parish.

On Sunday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Bayou Black, Bishop Shelton J. Fabre will celebrate a Mass in honor of Father DeLa Cruz’s 25th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. Bishop Emeritus Sam G. Jacobs and priests of the diocese will concelebrate.

Anniversary celebration Mass is Dec. 16 at St. Anthony

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Claire Joller

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This month I will give up a longtime part of my siblings’ Christmas gatherings. It has at long last sunk into my thick skull that something I consider important may actually be a big groaner for my brother, sisters, and assorted children.

It’s a long story, one that I admit reveals my tendency to be a big bossy-pants.

My parents spoke what is called Cajun French, especially when we were children. The cadence of their language is something I cannot separate from memories of them and our lives together.

I consider my early association with the language a large part of who I am.

It’s one of the reasons I studied three years of (European) French in high school, and began college as a French minor.

Sadly, though, I did not pursue formal study of the language past my sophomore year in college. And as we children grew to adulthood, my mom and dad spoke their French less and less.

Since the older of us five kids understood it but didn’t practice the tongue of our ancestors, we can understand some of it but not really speak it.

Even after all my courses, I really can’t speak French well today (although I understand what old timers are saying to each other in doctors’ office waiting rooms and in other places local Francophones meet each other).

But the language still sings to me. Literally, in Josh Groban’s renditions of “Hymne à L’Amour” and “Le Temps des Cathédrales.”

Also figuratively, in familiar expressions that have infiltrated the English language from the French.

I suspect also that my admira-

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

u

étien’s fin r h al C t i n

tion for masterful Canadian author Louise Penny’s books has to do with her settings in a village near Montreal with its Anglo and French speakers peppering their English dialog with French sayings I recognize.

My desire to foster love for our conversational past prompted me long ago to sing simple French songs to our daughter when she was young. “Frère Jacques” and “Sur le Pont d’Avignon” and my dad’s silly “Quand le Cheval à Thomas” were among our repertoire, but they were soon lost to Lorna’s growing up.

One seasonal song that has never lost its appeal to me is the beautiful French version of “O Holy Night.” After Dad and then Mom died, I decided, unilaterally, that it would be a great idea for our family to keep the language alive in us at least one night a year at Christmas time. Because our Yuletide parties always include singing carols together, every year I distributed copies of “Minuit Chrétien” and tried to lead everyone in the pro-

es ot

Seeing Clairely

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nunciations that tangled a lot of tongues through the years.

A couple of years ago, I went so far as to do a phonetic representation of pronunciation for the French words, but it didn’t help us that much. My family has been patient with me when I pulled out those papers and have gamely tried, but I have to admit they often looked perplexed. It’s a measure of their love and politeness that nobody ever said, “Enough, already, Claire!”

So I am admitting it was my dream alone to hear the beautiful carol sung en masse by the Domangue family. And I am admitting I have tortured them long enough, at the worst possible time to do so.

This year I intend to apologize for force-feeding my beloved relatives excessive annual helpings of the language I can pronounce, but sing so badly. “Minuit Chrétien” will not be on the musical menu at my house this Christmas. Except when I sing it to myself when no one else is around.

Book Reviews

Three new books for Christmas The Abbey Reading with Raymond Raymond Saadi

Jesus Calling Morning & Evening

By James Martin, SJ Harper One $24.99 My favorite spiritual writer, Father Martin, who’s given us The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything; Between Heaven and Mirth; and Jesus, a Pilgrimage, has now written, of all things, a novel. This story came to him, fully formed, in a dream, he says, and although the plot is simple, the emotional impact on the lives of the three main characters, is powerful; Father Paul, the Abbot of the suburban Pennsylvania Abbey of Saints Philip and James, who he refers to as P&J and who often questions his decision to live in his secluded world; Mark, an architect, retired by his firm for lack of work, who has become the all around handyman at the Monastery and rents a house from Anne, a divorced single mom who is overwhelmed with grief over the accidental death of her young son. When the three somehow come together, wonderful and inscrutable things begin to happen. This is a splendid debut that should encourage Father Martin to dream more often.

By Sarah Young Thomas Nelson $22.99 Jesus Calling has been on the best selling lists ever since Ms. Young wrote it and now, this new version is sure to follow.

She has kept the original text for Morning devotionals and added on the facing page, each Evening, “powerful and poignant excerpts form her bestselling books, and written-out Scripture verses.” For good measure she offers a guided thought to focus on just before you turn out the light. It’s beautifully and solidly bound, perfect for your bedside table and sure to be a welcome gift.

Note: Father Wilmer Todd’s daily readings, What a Life, (reviewed here in March), also makes a welcomed Christmas gift. Call (985) 594-3171

The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto

By Mitch Albom Harper $25.99 In a mix of fascinating fiction and reality, Albom gives us the epic story of war orphan Frankie 21 Presto, born in the loft of a burning Spanish church, rescued from drowning by a hairless dog and its’ master, and brought up by blind music teacher, “El Maestro.” When Frankie was only nine, his teacher has him smuggled in the bottom of a boat to America with only an old guitar and six magical strings, each of which can astoundingly alter lives. Once here, his playing and singing enthralls music greats from his idol Django Reinhardt to Duke Ellington, Elvis, Little Richard, Hank Williams and many others, all who consider him the greatest guitarist in the world. His brilliance is extolled by popular artists like Tony Bennett, Burt Bacharach and Wynton Marsalis.

He meets and marries Aurora, his only love, and they have a beautiful daughter. But, then, he tragically loses his way and disappears for years until he finally returns for one last mystical and incredible performance. Narrated by the personification of Music itself, its’ heart rending and redemptive ending will leave you clamoring to “play it again.” www.bayoucatholic.com

Heavenly Recipes

Nancy’s

s l l a eM Saptabghetti and

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Story and Photos

by Lawrence Chatagnier This month’s heavenly recipe, meatballs and spaghetti, is from Nancy Diedrich, LPC, LMFT, marriage and family counselor for the diocesan Office of Family Ministries. When you think about food in Louisiana, especially south Louisiana, you mostly think of either Cajun or Creole cooking.

However there’s a group who brought their recipes to Louisiana who also know their way around the stove, the Italians. A native of Plaquemine, Nancy was raised in an Italian family. She is one of four girls, the second to oldest. “We were 100 percent Italian. We had an extended family which included my grandparents. My grandfather owned a grocery store and meat market in town.”

Her mother and grandmother’s kitchens were gathering places for family and neighbors. “My mom’s and grandmother’s kitchens were busy, big kitchens. Everyone sat and visited in the kitchen. My mom would serve biscuits and coffee all day long at home. I remember the kitchen being full of people and Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

Nancy Diedrich and her granddaughter Anna Belle prepare meatballs for a spaghetti dinner.

very noisy,” she says.

There were many people in the kitchen but only one person was doing the cooking. “Nobody cooked but my grandmother in her kitchen, and no one but my mom cooked in hers. As kids, my sisters and I would watch them cook. If you asked them what they were doing they would tell you. I remember my mom saying ‘a spoon of sugar for every can of tomatoes you use in a recipe.’ My grandmother would take it further and say ‘If you put more sugar in the tomatoes you can eat more.’”

After graduating from high school Nancy was off to college. She had her sights set on Lafayette as her college destination but a mix up with dormitories kept her from enrolling there in her first semester of college. Her father was able to help her move into one of the first dorms on the Nicholls State University Campus, so Nicholls became the college she would attend. “I went to Nicholls for my first semester with the intention of leaving after that and going to Lafayette. I met my future husband Glenn right before Christmas and

decided to stay at Nicholls. He was a baseball player for Nicholls. We both enjoyed the spring semester while he was playing ball.”

Nancy graduated from Nicholls with a degree in education and taught at West Thibodaux Junior High School for one year. The next 11 years she taught at E.D. White Catholic High School in Thibodaux.

“I was very spoiled with a wonderful faculty and student body at E.D. White. It was like a family. Our principals, Sacred Heart Brothers, Brother Xavier and Brother Paul, and the teachers were eager to help me. I felt welcomed there even though I wasn’t from Thibodaux,” she says.

Nancy taught English and led the student council group at the school. She noticed that students began talking to her about their problems and that she enjoyed talking to them about their problems. “I always wanted to be an encouraging teacher. The teachers there were positive and encouraging. That encouraging atmosphere pushed me into the counseling area. I decided I would go back to Nicholls and

a

study counseling. I stopped teaching and worked at Nicholls in the counseling department. In 1992, I became the counselor for the Office of Family Ministries.

Through her years as a student in high school, her college years and even during her time as counselor there has been a person reappearing in her life from time to time. “Sister Carmelita Centanni, M.S.C., Ph.d. was one of my teachers at St. John the Evangelist in Plaquemine; she was campus minister at Nicholls when I was there and now she is the victims assistance coordinator for the diocesan Office of Child and Youth Protection. She is a great counselor and also a friend.”

Helping people figure out their problems and guiding them toward their solutions is what she does.

“I help people resolve their issues. One of the biggest challenges when counseling is guiding those who want to make changes but are not ready. Sometimes you have to wait until they are ready. I try to encourage them to empower themselves. What people like most about coming to counseling is that they receive compassion; that there is a compassionate ear not to judge but to Nancy’s Meatballs and Spaghetti SAUCE 2 onions, finely chopped 1 bell pepper, finely chopped 3 cloves garlic, chopped 1/2 cup chopped parsley 1/2 cup vegetable oil 2-6 oz. cans tomato paste 4 tbsp. sugar 2-8 oz. cans tomato sauce 1-15oz. can diced tomatoes 2 tsp. basil 24 oz. water 1 cup grated parmesan cheese Sauté first 4 ingredients in vegetable oil until transparent. Add tomato paste and sugar. Fry tomato paste mixture until color changes to dark red. Add tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Sauté until moisture is removed (about 20 minutes). Add water, basil and seasoning to taste (I use Tony’s garlic salt and onion salt to taste). Cook 3-4 hours, then add the grated parmesan cheese and stir completely blending into sauce.

MEATBALLS 2-3 lbs. lean ground meat (have butcher blend 2 parts lean beef to 1 part lean pork) 2 eggs 1-1/2 cups Italian breadcrumbs 1/2 cup parmesan cheese 1 tsp. onion powder 1 tsp. garlic powder 2 tbsp. Season All 2 tbsp. Lea and Perrins 1 cup milk Combine all ingredients and mix well. Add milk last, using as needed for good consistency. Form meat into balls and brown in skillet (making sure they are brown on all sides). Place cooked meatballs into spaghetti sauce and cook 3-4 hours.

Enjoy!

Mangiare!!

listen, to empathize.”

The counseling Nancy does has its own rewards for her. “Many times someone comes into my office upset, then leaves the session saying ‘I didn’t think I would feel better, but I do.’ That has its own reward. The counseling helps me in my family life, also. I don’t carry the grief or burden home with me, you can’t. I’m not taking on their problems. I try to help people to see if they have faith in themselves and in something greater than themselves. Faith can help them heal. If they have faith they know things will get better. I tell my clients when things get so bad that I cannot stand, I kneel. Be sure to kneel and take care of that kind of counseling because that is what heals. Pray first; then come here. Your faith in God is the ultimate healing.”

When Nancy is not counseling she enjoys time with her family. She and Glenn have three children and seven grandchildren. The majority of their grandchildren live in Thibodaux. “All of my kids cook. Like me, they enjoy cooking. I feel that a tradition is being passed on to my kids and now my grandkids. They come over here now and gather at the table and talk while in I’m in the kitchen. I ask my grandkids to help, they enjoy helping even if it’s peeling carrots or slicing apples for a meal.”

In Nancy’s preparation for this story she went back and thought of her grandmother and mom. She got into her cookbooks with recipes that were passed on. She says it was a good journey back in time. And by the way, she says, “My meatballs are close but not as good as my grandmother’s.”

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May the joy of this Christmas stay in your heart throughout the New Year.

Merry Christmas www.familyvisionhouma.com www.bayoucatholic.com

Personalities

Joy serving God and church

Deacon Doug Authement enjoys ministering to others Story by Janet Marcel Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier Deacon Douglas J. Authement, who has been serving as diocesan director of the Permanent Diaconate for the past 10 years, has retired from that position. He was ordained a permanent deacon Dec. 2, 1989, by Archbishop Francis J. Shulte, at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and says he doesn’t ever plan to retire from his ministry as a deacon.

His first assignment as a deacon was at Maria Immacolata Church parish in Houma where he served for 14 years. In 2003, he was assigned to the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma where he still serves today.

He was elected by his fellow 24 deacons to become their director in 2005. Deacon Authement explains that the bishop of the diocese usually assigns a director but at that time Bishop Sam G. Jacobs asked the group to choose a director. As director of the Permanent Diaconate, he made himself available to any deacons that needed him. He also attended classes with the men in formation as a sign of support and for his own personal knowledge.

Shortly after he became director of the deacons, he was able to start a formation class here in Houma-

SINCE FAST

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Deacon Doug and Una Authement

Thibodaux. In 2010, there were nine men ordained permanent deacons, and in May of this year five more permanent deacons were ordained here for the diocese.

The formation classes have since moved back to New Orleans and there are four men from HoumaThibodaux in formation.

Deacon Authement says he

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had always been involved in the church growing up but after college he was not as involved as he once was. He recalls that in the early 1980s he met Father Emile Lafranz, who was involved in the Charismatic Movement in New Orleans. “I attended a retreat where I was baptized in the Holy Spirit and I started really

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getting back involved in the church. It was definitely a time of conversion for me,” says the deacon.

Deacon Authement says some of the aspects of being a deacon that he has enjoyed most were baptizing his own grandchildren and administering the sacraments.

He has also found great satisfaction in his healing ministry. “I know that I have been given a blessing from God to pray with and heal people. God gives you the ability and I knew that he was going to answer my prayers,” says Deacon Authement.

One of his best memories while attending formations classes in New Orleans was when he and his wife, Una, were given the opportunity to serve as eucharistic ministers for the Mass that Saint Pope John Paul II celebrated in New Orleans. “We were given bowls that held the Eucharist as souvenirs,” he says.

The couple agrees that being a permanent deacon is a family vocation.

The wife and children have to support the deacon every step of the way during his formation, as well as after he is ordained. Without the support of his wife, it would be impossible, literally, for a man to be ordained to the permanent diaconate, as his wife must give her approval at each step of the process. The wives are also encouraged to attend the formation classes and be as involved in the ministry with their husbands as they would like to be, explains Una who has been secretary to her husband

in his role as director of the deacons for the past 10 years.

The Houma native and his wife have four children, seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Deacon Authement graduated from the University of Houston Law School, passed the Louisiana Bar Exam in 1965 and has been practicing law in Houma since April of that year. He currently only does a few successions and some light case work.

Deacon Authement enjoys doing a little carpentry work and being outdoors. He says that he and his wife just plan to take it easy now.

“I have enjoyed preaching, teaching, and helping people through the difficult times in their lives. And to watch the wonderful process unfold into the vocations of some fine good men has truly been one of my life’s fondest efforts and accomplishments.

I have loved watching God work in their lives,” says Deacon Authement. “It has also been a privilege and an honor to serve as the director of the deacons. I am retiring from my position at this time because I have health issues that prevent me from doing the job as well as I would like to. I thank Bishop (Emeritus) Jacobs for giving me this opportunity and Bishop Shelton Fabre for his understanding and friendship.”

Deacon Authement says it is a joy to serve God and his church in the ministry of permanent deacon.

Being a permanent deacon is a family vocation

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Young Voices

What does Christmas Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus. To me, Christmas means to love each other, spend time with your family, and care for each other. Just like Jesus loves us and cares for us.

Lexi Blanchard, sixth grade St. Bridget Church parish CCD, Schriever

On Christmas, we celebrate that God gives us the gift of his son Jesus, the light of the world. I love making presents to give my family, decorating the tree with them, and eating dinner together.

These Christmas traditions remind me that Jesus has come to show us how to be light and give all people hope and joy as he did.

Rebecca Cagle, sixth grade St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School, Houma

26 Christmas means a lot to me. It means the Savior of the world was born; the one who came to save us all. Without him we are nothing. So Christmas means everything to me.

Jesse Detillier, seventh grade St. Hilary of Poitiers Church parish CCD, Mathews

Christmas isn’t just about presents. Christmas has greater meaning. When we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate our Lord and Savior’s birthday. Christmas means a lot to me because on this day Jesus became one of us and began his mission of bringing salvation to all humanity and saved us from sin.

Sarah Dupre, seventh grade Maria Immacolata Catholic Elementary School, Houma

Christmas means celebrating the birth of Jesus. I do this with my family every year; we go around the room exchanging gifts. We do this as a symbol of our love for each other. For Christmas, we usually hold a feast, but before we take a bite, we pray. We pray to God to thank him for all we have and for the gift of Jesus. That’s what Christmas means to me.

Zane Griffin, fifth grade Sacred Heart Church parish CCD, Morgan City Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

mean to you?

Christmas is a time to celebrate with family and friends for the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. It is a time of waiting for the birth of our Savior and King. It is the first day of life for the all-mighty, Jesus, the person who gave up his life for us, so we may have hope of heaven.

Jacob Guin, fifth grade St. Genevieve Catholic Elementary School, Thibodaux

Although Christmas is a joyful time for many, it is also a time of sadness for others. Not everyone has the extra money to buy gifts for family and friends. For some, a hot dinner is their only wish. For others, it is a time of sorrow because they are missing loved ones. To me, Christmas is not just about the gifts under the tree, the decorations or the family gatherings.

Christmas is a time of celebrating the birth of Jesus and spreading love. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Christmas is a time to invite Jesus into your heart.

Rae’ne Hebert, eighth grade Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Church parish CCD, Houma

27 Most kids like Christmas because of presents, but some kids don’t realize it is Jesus’ birthday. It is a time when we are giving and spend time with our family. Saint Nicholas got the idea of giving gifts from the Three Wise Men who brought gifts to Jesus.

Joshua J. Mire, fourth grade Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church parish CCD, Chackbay

To me, Christmas is not just a time of gifts and a time of cheer. It is the day God gave us his greatest gift. He sent his only son to save all people from sin. Jesus is a model for all people of how to live.

Nicole Pellegrin, eighth grade Vandebilt Catholic High School, Houma

Christmas means that Jesus, our Savior, is born. It feels as though happiness and joy is all over the world. We receive presents. But we should remember that on that first Christmas day we received the greatest present of all, Jesus! We are thankful for Jesus’ coming into the world.

Ava Thibodeaux, fourth grade St. Mary’s Nativity Catholic Elementary School, Raceland

www.bayoucatholic.com

Junior High Faith Experience Jan. 9 Story by Janet Marcel Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier

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The diocesan Office of Youth Ministry’s eighth annual Junior High Faith Experience will take place Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016, from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. at E.D. White Catholic High School in Thibodaux. Doors open at 9 a.m.

The theme for the event, which is open to all youth in grades six through eight, is “Growing in his Word” (John 15:5). APeX Ministries, an internationally known comedy duo based out of Brooklyn, NY, will be the keynote speaker. Music will be provided

by Abundant Praise.

“Junior High Faith Experience is not just an event; it’s an invitation to the middle school teens to open up themselves to the love of Christ. It is an opportunity for a young person to find an identity early on the Catholic Church by being exposed to an event that accepts them as they are and celebrates what it means to be Catholic teens in today’s world,” says Mike DiSalvo, diocesan director of the Office of Youth Ministry. “Since its inception seven years ago, the Junior High Faith Experience has been a spark that many teens have taken advantage of and have experienced a growth and courage in and for the Catholic faith.

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This year as we make the final preparations, our prayers go out to the young people that have said ‘yes’ to Christ’s invitation to ‘Grow in his Word’ and we challenge these same teens to go back to their parish and make a difference.”

APeX is two Catholic men, Brad Farmer and Gene Monterastelli, who have made it their lives’ work since 1996 to crisscross North America sharing the truth and joy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They have crafted a unique style, “Christian Vaudeville,” that engages audiences and creates rapport through parables, sketch comedy, integrating juggling and street performer style, skill and intensity. The men share personal testimony of spiritual realities and explore the Catholic themes of their parables. They then challenge the audience to put the concepts into practice in everyday life.

In other words, they are evangelists, they throw things at each other and they are funny. APeX has entertained, evangelized and inspired in 48 states, five Canadian provinces, China and Peru at thousands of Catholic events. They keynote large diocesan, regional and national conferences, as well as lead retreats, parish missions or share evenings with youth groups, families and/or full parish communities.

Schedule for the day is as follows: doors open at 9 a.m.; praise and worship at 10 a.m.; keynote at 10:30 a.m.; lunch/outside activities at Noon; praise and worship at 2:30 p.m.; keynote continues at 3 p.m.; Mass at 4 p.m.

For more information, contact the Office of Youth Ministry at (985) 850-3151.

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Bayou Spirit

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Black Catholics honored Bishop Shelton J. Fabre was the main celebrant of a Mass for Black Catholics recently at St. Lucy Church in Houma. The Mass was celebrated in conjunction with the feast of St. Martin de Porres.

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.�

- Isaiah 9:6 Come celebrate the joy of the Lord.

In the Spirit of this Holy Season ... please remember the Diocesan Charities Christmas Collection on December 25.

Thank You and God Bless www.bayoucatholic.com

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Special Collection for Diocesan Priests Retirement December 12 and 13, 2015 “On the weekend of December 12 and December 13, I pray that everyone will support the collection for the retired priests of the diocese.”

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

EVENTS

DIOCESAN

December n Adore, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m., diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall. n Adult Faith Formation: Baptism and Confirmation, Thursday, Dec. 3, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall,

‘Tis the Season at Bella Cosa Fine Gifts Houma’s Only Christmas Store

6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Rev. Robert Rogers. n Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Sat., Dec. 12, Sacred Heart Church, Cut Off, Noon.

january 2016 n Adult Faith Formation: Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Thursday, Jan. 7, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m.

Speaker, Rev. Robert Rogers. n Junior High Faith Experience, Saturday, Jan. 9, E.D. White Catholic High School, Thibodaux. Doors open at 9 a.m. n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, Jan. 12, Quality Hotel, Houma, 10:45-12:45 p.m.

Speaker, Rev. Glenn LeCompte. n More Than Sunday, Wednesday, Jan. 13, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 7 p.m. Speaker, Bishop Emeritus Sam G. Jacobs. n Adult Faith Formation: Matrimony and Holy Orders, Thursday, Jan. 14, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Rev. Robert

february n Catholic Charities will offer free income tax preparation of Federal and State income tax returns every Tuesday beginning Feb. 2, Terrebonne Parish Main Library, Houma, 3 p.m. n Women of God Conference, Friday-Saturday, Feb. 1920, diocesan Pastoral Center

Rogers. n Adult Faith Formation: The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Church, Thursday, Jan. 28, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m.

Speaker, Rev. Jules Brunet. n C.E.N.T.S. will be offering the Small Business Course beginning in January through Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.

This course is free and is designed to help people who are interested in starting a small business.

It will be held one evening a week for nine weeks. A different business topic will be discussed each week. Anyone who is interested in participating may call Brooks Lirette at (985) 8760490 to schedule an orientation appointment.

Conference Hall, beginning at 5 p.m. Friday and ending at 6 p.m.

Saturday. n Teens Encounter Christ 76 retreat, Friday through Sunday, Feb. 19-21, Lumen Christi Souby Building, beginning at 5 p.m.

Friday.

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Bella Cosa Gifts is proud to introduce “Tis the Season” at Bella Cosa Gifts specializing ` in seasonal decor including Christmas, Mardi Gras, Spring and Fall.

Designer creations can be purchased at the store, or they can go to your home or business to create a one-of-a-kind creation for any season or reason.

Did you know we have “The Salon at Bella Cosa?” It is a full service salon where we proudly carry the entire line of Moroccan oil hair products.

Come in and pick out something special at 649 Corporate Dr. Suite A & B in Houma or online at www.bellacosagifts.net.

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Cover Story

Guest Columnist

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Father Joseph Tregre

The first cool fronts are rolling in and the planning of parties has begun. The mall is open later, and our fathers are building the duck blinds and combing the forest for the big score. Yep, it’s that time again; winter has begun, the men are hunting and Christmas is right around the corner.

Just the other month, I was at one of our nation’s premier seminaries, Mundelein Seminary, outside of Chicago.

As I walked the grounds of Mundelein Seminary, God the Father began to speak to my heart. He reminded me that as we prepare for the Season of Advent, it was a time for me to create more room for Jesus in my heart.

Jesus would need some room in the Inn … the “Inn of my heart.”

I was actually on an eight-day silent Ignatian retreat. It was in the silence that I could hear God the Father speaking to me.

If Christ came today, would he find room in the “Inn of our heart?” The family is the heart of society. Without the family, life would lose its bearing and direction. The “togetherness” of the family, to steal one of Pope Francis’ quips, is the hope and joy of our lives and society. The gift of the Holy Family of Nazareth is as a star in the sky that shines brightly the love of God upon us all. This Christmas, the bond of love of children, parents and grandparents, of each and every family, are as so many stars in the sky shining forth God’s goodness.

In his Wednesday audiences, Pope Francis has called for greater love and affection for the elderly, going as far as to say that a society can be measured by its care for the older generation.

In his family catechesis, he also teaches that the love and

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

Recapturing the spirit of Christmas

guidance of moms and dads is the bedrock of children’s growth into the future men and women leaders of our society who promote the value of human life and Christian values.

The “Inn of our heart” should seek the “togetherness” of that family bonded and unified in love. Let us not allow Christmas, and the noise of the season, distract us from the reason for the season. Let us put Christ in “Christ”mas and keep the reason for the season, inviting Jesus into the “Inn of our heart.”

Will we make room for Jesus and family in our hearts this Christmas or will we be consumed with the worldly and commercial aspects of the season?

God has spoken to us through the gift of the four seasons – summer, fall, winter and spring. Though we may only experience summer and winter in Southeast Louisiana, the countryside of Chicago was

in full swing with falling leaves and changing colors. The seasons give us a guide in our spiritual journey with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Foil foliage and bare branches will sprout again with new life and fresh buds. Death brings new life. The beloved apostle says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24); and St. Paul says, “Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him” (Romans 6:8).

These words offer us hope and encouragement that if we receive the sacred season of Advent as a “small Lent” we can die to ourselves and allow for the new life of Christ to take root in our Christian lives.

Just as fall leaves must die for new buds to grow, this Advent, what must die in our lives for the new life of Christ to grow within us?

Every year the Vatican receives a magnificent Christmas tree from the rich forest of Europe and its neighboring countries. Towering as high as 80 plus feet, this Christmas tree becomes the central focus of the Vatican square and the city of Rome. Glimmering in lights and exquisite decorations, the Christmas tree stands as a rich, Christian symbol of Christmas.

Unlike trees that lose their leaves, Christmas trees and other evergreen trees keep their green foliage all year long.

Just as the life of Christ is everlasting, so is the Christmas tree a sign of unending life, on this side of heaven. As St. Paul says, “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11), and the psalmist echoes, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone”

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(Psalm 118:22). Christmas is a living reminder that Jesus Christ is the everlasting source of our life and the chief cornerstone of our families.

Pope Francis, in his Bull of Indiction, has solemnly declared an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy set to open on Dec. 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. The year’s theme is “Merciful like the Father,” and Pope Francis is calling us to live out the mercy God the Father grants us each and every day by seeking mercy and being an ambassador of mercy. “God (is) merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6).

“We need constantly to contemplate the mystery of mercy. It is a wellspring of joy, serenity and peace,” says Pope Francis. The first coming of Christ is on the wood of the manger, and his journey in this life was the mission of the Father for the mercy of the world.

Through the innocent wood of the manger, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus by the Way of the Cross was foreshadowed.

During this Jubilee Year of Mercy, let us especially reach out to those who are in need of reconciliation.

Let us invite Catholics who have left the church to be reconciled. Let us reach out with corporeal and spiritual works of mercy to those who are sick or suffering. Let us assist our family and friends who may be struggling with drug or alcohol abuse. The family who prays together stays together. The Father’s mercy through the gift of his son this Christmas is our joy, our hope and our mercy!

(Father Tregre is pastor of St. Joseph Church in Galliano).

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Send Application to: Marian B. Fertitta Catholic Schools Office P.O. Box 505 Schriever, LA 70395 Deadline to Apply: January 11, 2016 A diocesan-owned, co-educational secondary school with a current enrollment of 905 students. College preparatory curriculum, AdvancED accredited.

President, Assistant Principals of Academics, Discipline and Student Activities, Development Director, and a dedicated faculty and staff of 90 members.

Minimum Qualifications: • Master’s degree in Administration or master’s degree with Administration/ Educational Leadership Certification • At least five years of administrative experience • Catholic school administrative experience preferred • Excellent spiritual, educational, managerial and communication skills The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against applicants or employees by reason of race, age, sex, handicap or national origin.

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New life!

Congregation-based action plan aims to improve St. Charles Community Story by Janet Marcel Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier “Ever since I first came to the St. Charles Community in June of 2008, my heart was moved with pity for the residents of the St. Charles Bypass Road whose homes sit on marshy, trash littered grounds and deteriorating conditions that are mostly the results of constant flooding and the lack of means of the residents to recover from the damages,” says Father Michael Manase, O.C.D., pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Church parish in the St. Charles Community.

At a meeting in January of this year with staff members at Catholic Charities Houma-Thibodaux 36 (CCHT), Father Manase discussed the needs of the people living on the St. Charles Bypass Road.

For too many years, explained the priest, they seem to have been a neglected community. He had a strong desire to be of help to them in some way but simply did not know how to go about it. In response to Father Manase’s concern, Rob Gorman, executive director of CCHT, agreed to take the lead in organizing an action plan for the residents of the community.

The first step was a meeting of St. Charles parishioners who live on the Bypass Road and others who support their fellow parishioners.

“We laid out a congregation-based community organizing process that began with asking residents about their concerns. Subsequently, through a few dozen one-to-one meetings, it very quickly became apparent that drainage and safety were the two most important issues to the residents of the St. Charles Bypass Road,” says Gorman.

From February through August 2015, CCHT and St. Charles Borromeo Church parish led a St. Charles Bypass research committee in meetings with the elected and appointed officials to address safety and drainage issues. Those meetings included Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre and five other members of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office; Joe Fertitta, parish councilman for the district; Don Edwards, director of the Lafourche Parish Department of Public Works; Dwayne Bourgeois, director of the North Lafourche Levee District; and David Duplantis, engineer.

Gorman explains that these officials discussed drainage projects that were already in the planning Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

stages – the most significant of which is the North Lafourche Levee District St. Charles Bypass Backwater Flood Protection Project that will create a series of drainage canals and levees specifically designed to relieve the flooding in the St. Charles Bypass community. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office presented crime statistics for the community and enforcement efforts to provide protection to the residents. Lafourche Parish agreed to several maintenance programs and pointed to plans for a drainage project at Dugas Canal, north of the community.

After reviewing the findings from these research meetings, the St. Charles Bypass research committee drafted a plan of action for the elected

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Rob Gorman

Rev. Michael Manase, O.C.D.

officials to endorse.

The St. Charles Bypass Action was held at St. Charles Borromeo Church, in partnership with Third Zion Baptist Church, which also has members living on the St. Charles Bypass Road.

For several weekends before the Action, Father Manase spoke at Mass about the importance of having all parishioners, no matter where they live, attend

Sheriff Craig Webre

the Action in solidarity with the residents of the St. Charles Bypass Road. Rev. Nolan Smith Sr. of Third Zion Baptist Church also talked about it at his church services. St. Charles Borromeo parish staff sent flyers about the Action to every resident of the St. Charles Bypass Road. Catholic Charities staff went door-todoor in the community passing out the flyers and encouraging attendance.

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New life!

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Father Manase, St. Charles Borromeo Church parish staff and lay leaders, CCHT staff, along with Rev. Smith, led the Action where over 260 people attended. All of the elected and appointed officials who had attended the research meetings were present and publicly committed to the St. Charles Bypass Action Plan. They also committed to a follow-up meeting after six months to review progress on the Action Plan. Following the Action, a meal was served by the St. Charles Knights of Columbus council and attendees had a chance to talk to elected and appointed officials to discuss their specific concerns.

Father Manase, who is most grateful to CCHT for taking on this project, feels the Action Plan is an excellent one and credits Gorman for using his expertise and skills to establish it. He says Gorman did a phenomenal job of coordinating the investigative phase of the project which enabled them to determine what needed to be addressed in the plan. The pastor hopes that in time as the residents begin to see changes taking place, even more will join in the efforts to improve their community and surroundings.

Amber Anderson, St. Charles Borromeo parishioner

and resident of the St. Charles Bypass Road, says that she is grateful to Father Manase and Rob Gorman for the role they played in this project. “I’m so happy to see the church focusing on an area that doesn’t draw as much attention as some other areas. Father Mike and Rob both went above and beyond in their efforts to help us. I agree that the main problem areas are drainage and safety. We’re off to a good start and hopefully things will continue to improve,” says Anderson.

Once the drainage problem has been resolved, explains Father Manase, residents will be able to keep their property clean and the grass cut so that it will no longer be a breeding ground for mosquitos and other pests. Large appliances, mattresses or other such items damaged in floods that sit in yards will be a thing of the past.

As for the safety issue, adds the pastor, with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office committing to step up enforcement of speeding, littering and other violations; and the Lafourche Parish Government committing to promptly fixing streetlight outages, the residents will begin to feel safe and will not have to keep children inside at all times.

“It is my hope that the improved environment and cleaner, safer living conditions of the residents and the pride they begin to take in their homes will encourage them to venture out and become involved with their neighbors, resulting in friendships and new life to a community that has been too long forgotten and overlooked,” says Father Manase.

Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year

104 St. Patrick Hwy. • Thibodaux, LA 70301 • (985) 446-8826 www.thibodauxfuneralhome.com

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

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Veterans honored

Maria Immacolata Catholic School students honored veterans with a Mass and a flag raising ceremony recently.

Father Joseph Pilola, pastor of Maria Immacolata, was the celebrant of the Mass. Pre-K 3, pre-K 4 and kindergarten students sang patriotic songs during the ceremony. A reception was held for the veterans after the event.

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Seminarian Education Burses

What is a seminarian burse fund?

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

How does someone establish a seminarian burse fund?

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

When is a seminarian burse complete?

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

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

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

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

Completed Burses of $15,000 each

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

- Marie Elise Duplantis - Warren J. Harang, Jr. - Msgr. Raphael C. Labit - Msgr. Francis J. Legendre - Rev. Charles Menard - Dr. & Mrs. M.V. Marmande & Fly - Donald Peltier, Sr. (3)* - Harvey Peltier (30)* - Richard Peltier - The Peltier Foundation (4) - Orleans & Louella Pitre - Msgr. Joseph Wester - Robert R. Wright, Jr. - Rev. Kermit Trahan - St. Bernadette Men’s Club - Diocesan K of C - Leighton Delahaye - Mrs. Shirley Conrad - Endowment Fund - $119,136.90

October 2015 Burse Contributions Mrs. Shirley Conrad ....................................... $8,000.00 Elie & Dot Klingman ......................................... $200.00 Edna W. DiSalvo ............................................... $100.00 Matthew Prosperie is a Freshman at Saint Joseph Seminary College. He is from St Ann Church in Bourg, LA and attended Vandebilt High School.

Open Burses with Balance as of 10/31/15 Sidney J. & Lydie C. Duplantis ........... $13,000.00 Donald Peltier, Sr. #4 ............................ $13,000.00 Joseph Strada Memorial ...................... $12,642.63 Msgr. Raphael C. Labit #2 .................. $11,080.00 Harvey Peltier #31 .............................. $10,486.91 Clay Sr. & Evelida Duplantis #2 .......... $10,000.00 C. Remie Duplantis #2 ........................ $10,000.00 Marie Elise Duplantis #2 ..................... $10,000.00 Maude & Edith Daspit #2 .................... $10,000.00 Msgr. George A. Landry ...................... $10,000.00 Elie & Dot Klingman .............................. $8,920.00 Mr. & Mrs. George C. Fakier ................. $8,400.00 Rev. Victor Toth ..................................... $7,000.00 Brides of the Most Blessed Trinity ......... $6,165.00 Rev. Peter Nies ..................................... $5,900.00 Msgr. William Koninkx ........................... $5,400.00 Msgr. Francis Amedee ........................... $5,150.00 Mr. & Mrs. Love W. Pellegrin ................. $5,000.00 Anonymous #2 ...................................... $5,000.00 Mr. & Mrs. Caliste Duplantis Fmly.#4..... $5,000.00 Rev. William M. Fleming ........................ $5,000.00 Mrs. Ayres A. Champagne ..................... $5,000.00 Rev. Kasimir Chmielewski ..................... $4,839.00 Rev. Gerard Hayes ................................ $4,786.00 Catholic Daughters ................................ $4,705.00 Rev. Guy Zeringue ................................ $4,400.00 Joseph “Jay” Fertitta .............................. $4,350.00

Rev. Henry Naquin ................................. $4,281.00 Harry Booker #2 .................................... $4,138.00 Kelly Curole Frazier ............................... $3,610.96 J. R. Occhipinti ...................................... $3,400.00 Anawin Community ............................... $3,100.00 Msgr. James Songy ............................... $3,075.00 Mr. & Mrs. Galip Jacobs ........................ $3,060.00 St. Jude ................................................. $3,000.00 Diocesan K of C #2 ............................... $2,894.62 Rev. Peter H. Brewerton ........................ $2,600.00 Willie & Emelda St. Pierre ...................... $2,000.00 St. Joseph Society ................................. $2,000.00 Warren J. Harang, Jr. #2 ......................... $2,000.00 Rev. H. C. Paul Daigle ........................... $1,900.00 James J. Buquet, Jr. ............................... $1,650.00 Alfrances P. Martin ................................. $1,650.00 Msgr. Francis J. Legendre #2 ................ $1,645.00 Rev. Robert J. Sevigny .......................... $1,600.00 Msgr. Emile J. Fossier ........................... $1,545.00 Dr. William Barlette, Sr........................... $1,525.00 Msgr. Stanislaus Manikowski ................ $1,525.00 Mr. & Mrs. John Marmande .................... $1,500.00 Deacon Robert Dusse’ ........................... $1,450.00 Msgr. John L. Newfield .......................... $1,200.00 Preston & Gladys Webre ........................ $1,150.00 Deacon Connely Duplantis ..................... $1,125.00 Rev. John Gallen .................................... $1,100.00

Rev. Anthony Rousso ............................. $1,100.00 Rev. Hubert C. Broussard ...................... $1,050.00 Rev. Clemens Schneider ....................... $1,000.00 Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux #4 ........... $1,000.00 Msgr. John G. Keller .............................. $1,000.00 Jacob Marcello ....................................... $1,000.00 Deacon Willie Orgeron ............................. $800.00 Ruby Pierce .............................................. $800.00 Deacon Roland Dufrene ........................... $750.00 Juliette & Eugene Wallace ......................... $700.00 Ronnie Haydel .......................................... $685.00 Deacon Edward J. Blanchard ................... $660.00 Judge Louis & Shirley R. Watkins .............. $600.00 Deacon Raymond LeBouef ...................... $550.00 Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Cannata .................... $500.00 Deacon Harold Kurtz ................................ $300.00 Richard Peltier #2 ..................................... $300.00 Anne Veron Aguirre ................................... $280.00 Claude Bergeron ...................................... $250.00 Bernice Harang ......................................... $200.00 Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Naquin .......................... $150.00 Deacon Pedro Pujals ................................ $100.00 Joseph Waitz, Sr. ...................................... $100.00 Edna W. DiSalvo ....................................... $100.00 Deacon Eldon Frazier .............................. $ 50.00 Deacon Nick Messina .............................. $ 50.00 Rev. Warren Chassaniol ........................... $ 50.00

Overall Seminarian Burse Totals: $1,539,251.02 www.bayoucatholic.com

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Food for the Journey is Jan. 12, features Father Glenn LeCompte

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

The speaker for Jan. 12 is Houma native Father Glenn D. LeCompte.

Father LeCompte attended Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans and Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He was ordained to the priesthood May 24, 1986.

He currently serves as diocesan director of the Offices of Worship, Continuing Education of the Clergy and as diocesan Master of Ceremonies.

He has served as associate pastor of St. Bernadette Church parish in Houma, the Cathedral of St.

Rev. Glenn LeCompte

Francis de Sales parish in Houma, St. Joseph Co-Cathedral parish in Thibodaux, St. Hilary of Poitiers Church parish in Mathews, Holy Cross Church parish in Morgan City, as sacramental priest at St. Lucy Church parish in Houma and St. Luke the Evangelist Church

parish in Thibodaux, and as pastor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church parish in Chackbay.

Father LeCompte has also served on the Priests Council, and as a teacher at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.

Those who plan to attend the Jan. 12 event should RSVP with their name, phone number and church parish by Thursday, Jan. 7. To RSVP, email FoodForTheJourney@ htdiocese.org or call (985) 8503178.

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

Cost is $17 and includes meal, drink and tip. Only cash or checks will be accepted.

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

May Your Heart Be Filled with Holiday Spirit and the Love and Laughter of Family and Friends from Jessica Williams and Staff

HONORING LIVES, HEALING PEOPLE HONORING LIVES, HEALING PEOPLE

5899LAHighway 5899 Highway 311 • Houma, 70360 •311 Jessica P. Williams, Manager Houma, LA 70360 Office: (985)868-2536 • Fax: (985)876-5032 985.868.2536

email: chauvinfh@bellsouth.net • www.chauvinfuneralhome.com Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

Sacred Art and Architecture series offered The diocesan Office of Religious Education is sponsoring a series of classes entitled Sacred Art and Architecture that will be taught by the Very Rev. Joshua Rodrigue, S.T.L., pastor of the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma. The classes will take place at the Pastoral Center, 2779 Highway 311 in Schriever on Jan. 20, 27; Feb. 3, 24; and March 2, 16, 2016.

Sacred Art and Architecture will be a study of the relationship between the visual arts and Christian theology. Church architecture and liturgical art throughout the centuries will be surveyed with particular emphasis on its implication for contemporary worship and devotion. The classes will allow participants to learn the shared influence between theology and sacred art and architecture and acquire a reflective (informed) knowledge and appreciation of the subject. The classes will also help participants to assess church architecture from the point of view of a gathering and a worshipping space in keeping with official church documents, and give them the ability to use their knowledge of what constitutes appropriate church art and architecture in the third millennium.

Deadline to register for the classes is Wednesday, Jan. 6. Cost for the series is $20. To register or for more information, contact Rhona Clement at (985) 850-3122.

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

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

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Merry Christmas from Staff Dr. Carla Thurston MD Associate Medical Director

Dr. Richard Haydel MD Medical Director

Dr. Greg Chaisson MD Associate Medical Director

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985-655-1020 • www.haydelhospice.com www.bayoucatholic.com

Nation

Pornography, political responsibility take center stage at USCCB

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Additions to the document were made to reflect the teachings of Pope Francis and the later encyclicals of Pope Benedict XVI. But some bishops said the document does not adequately address poverty, as Pope Francis has asked the church to do.

The most vocal critic was Bishop Robert W. McElroy of San Diego, who said he was concerned that because poverty and the environment did not receive the same priority as abortion and euthanasia, that some people “outside of this room” would “misuse” the document and claim other issues did not carry the same moral weight.

The pornography statement, “Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography,” says that “producing or us-

By Catholic News Service BALTIMORE (CNS) -- The U.S. bishops approved a formal statement on pornography and additions to their quadrennial statement on political responsibility at their Nov. 16-19 fall general meeting in Baltimore.

The votes were made during the public portion of the meeting, which ran Nov. 16-17. The bishops met in executive session Nov. 18-19.

The 2015 version of political responsibility document, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” passed 210-21 with five abstentions, and a separate vote on the statement’s introductory note passed 217-16 with two abstentions; two-thirds of diocesan bishops, or 181 votes, were needed for passage.

ing pornography is gravely wrong” and is a “mortal sin” if committed with deliberate consent and urges Catholics to turn away from it. Approval of the statement came on a vote of 230-4 with one abstention, with 181 votes needed for passage.

Bishop Richard J. Malone, of Buffalo, New York, chair of the bishops’ Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, described pornography as a “dark shadow in our world today.” He added pornography is a “particularly sinister instance of consumption” where men, women and children are “consumed for the pleasure of others.”

The bishops approved a budget for the work of their national conference in 2016, but their vote was inconclusive on a proposed 3 percent increase in 2017 to the

e h t f o y t u a e b e h t y Ma oliday be with you h s a m r t a s i e r Y Ch w e N e h t t u o h throug ! s a m t s i hr

Merry C

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assessment on dioceses that funds the conference.

The budget was approved by the bishops by voice vote Nov. 17. But a separate written ballot on the diocesan assessment failed to gain the required two-thirds majority of bishops who head dioceses or eparchies. The vote was 123-49 in favor of the 3 percent increase, and 132 votes were needed to reach the twothirds majority. Heads of dioceses who were not present at the Baltimore meeting will be polled by mail on the matter.

Bishop Kevin J. Farrell of Dallas, USCCB treasurer and chairman of the bishops’ Committee on Budget and Finance, argued the assessment increase was necessary. The USCCB “needs to have a sustainable income” that does not rely on growth in its long-term investments, he said. “As we have seen between 2008 and 2009, we should not have our fates so heavily dependent on financial markets over which we have no control whatsoever,” he added.

The bishops approved priorities and strategic plans for 2017-20

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CNS PHOTO

Bishop Shelton Fabre listens during deliberations.

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Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

May you have a safe and prosperous New Year.

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Nation

Bishops’ meet

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in a 233-4 vote Nov. 17. The document emphasizes five major areas: evangelization;, family and marriage; human life and dignity; religious freedom; and vocations and ongoing formation.

As part of a series of elections, the bishops chose Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr of Cincinnati as treasurer-elect. They also elected Msgr. J. Brian Bransfield as the new general secretary; he has been associate general secretary for five years. His term starts at the beginning of 2016. He will succeed Msgr.

Ronny Jenkins.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops met in the shadow of the Nov. 13 terror attacks in Paris.

Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo of Seattle, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, issued a statement Nov. 17 from the floor of the meeting.

“I am disturbed,” Bishop Elizondo said, “by calls from both federal and state officials for an end to the resettlement of Syrian refugees in

the United States” in the wake of the attacks. “These refugees are fleeing terror themselves -- violence like we have witnessed in Paris.”

He added, “Moreover, refugees to this country must pass security checks and multiple interviews before entering the United States -- more than any arrival to the United States. It can take up to two years for a refugee to pass through the whole vetting process. We can look at strengthening the already stringent screening program, but we should continue to welcome those in desperate need.”

Dominican Sister Donna Markham, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, told the bishops Nov. 17 that Catholic Charities has been sent “disturbing mail from people angry that we are trying to help these people.

It’s tragic.” She added of the Syrian refugees, “We’re ready to help -- if we can get them here.”

In his USCCB presidential address Nov. 16, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, called on his fellow bishops Nov. 16 to imitate the “pastor’s presence”

exhibited by Pope Francis during his recent U.S. visit, “touching the hearts of the most influential, the forgotten and all of us in between.”

Noting the upcoming Year of Mercy that begins Dec. 8, Archbishop Kurtz said a ministry of “presence means making time and never letting administration come between me and the person. It’s seeing the person first.”

From entering a diocesan Holy Door to undertaking the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, Catholics can model a compassionate life during the Year of Mercy declared

by Pope Francis, said the chairman of the USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis.

The jubilee period, from Dec. 8 through Nov. 13, 2016, can be observed in many different ways that allow every Catholic to be a “credible witness to mercy,” Archbishop Leonard P. Blair of Hartford, Connecticut, said Nov. 17.

CRS Rice Bowl for families, student ambassador programs for high school and college students and a fledgling parish ambassador program can help U.S.

a

May the spirit of the season be with you throughout the New Year

Merry Christmas

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Catholics “deepen their commitment to an essential dimension of their faith,” a Catholic Relief Services official told the U.S. bishops Nov. 17.

“I just wish that every Catholic knew about and could be proud of the wonderful works of mercy and justice they are part of” through the official humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic Church, said Joan Rosenhauer, CRS executive vice president for U.S. operations.

Bishop Frank J. Caggiano of Bridgeport, Connecticut, in a Nov. 17 presentation, said 13,000 people were already registered for World Youth Day, to be held July 25-31 in Krakow, Poland, with U.S. registration expected to top 30,000.

Pope Francis, in inviting young people and young adults to the celebration, connected World Youth Day with the Year of Mercy. The event in the southern Polish city will become a “youth jubilee,” Bishop Caggiano said.

Citing young altar servers’ weak arms and older priests’ weak eyes, the U.S. bishops approved an adapted version of the Roman Missal to be used during the times at Mass when the celebrant is seated, subject to Vatican approval. The bishops endorsed “Excerpts from the Roman Missal: Book for Use at the Chair” by a 187-27 vote, with three abstentions.

Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory of Atlanta used the opportunity to ask whether there would be an opportunity “to examine the reception” by both Catholics in the pew and by priests of the new Mass translations that came into use four years ago. “There are many wonderful things in the new translation, but some inconsistencies too,” he said.

Diocesan Programs This Month “Spotlight on the Diocese” Host: Louis Aguirre With Guest: Bishop Shelton J. Fabre Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

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47

May the joy of the season be wit h you and your family.

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World

Year of Mercy, Christmas, New Year prayers fill pope’s calendar As he did in 2014 and as Pope Benedict XVI did in 2011, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec. 12. The next morning, he will celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. John Lateran and will open the Holy Door there.

U.S. Cardinal James M. Harvey, archpriest of the Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, will preside over the opening of the Holy Door at St. Paul’s Dec. 13, the Vatican said.

The Vatican Nov. 18 released the calendar of the pope’s liturgical celebrations for December and January. The other events include: -- Christmas Mass at 9:30 p.m.

Dec. 24 in St. Peter’s Basilica.

-- Christmas blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) at noon Dec. 25 from the central balco-

By Cindy Wooden

Catholic News Service

48

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis’ calendar of Masses and prayer services for December and January are a combination of annual Advent and Christmas celebrations and added events for the beginning of the Year of Mercy.

In St. Peter’s Basilica Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass and open the Holy Door, ushering in the Year of Mercy with its emphasis on repentance, forgiveness and the need to go into the world sharing God’s mercy.

The same afternoon, he will make the traditional trip to the square by the Spanish Steps in central Rome to lay flowers at the base of a statue of the Immaculate Conception and offer prayers.

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Rejoice in the spirit of Christmas which is Peace, the miracle of Christmas which is Hope, and the heart of Christmas which is Love

ny overlooking St. Peter’s Square.

-- A special Mass for families Dec. 27, the feast of the Holy Family, in St. Peter’s Basilica.

-- Dec. 31 in St. Peter’s Basilica, evening prayer and the singing of the “Te Deum” in thanksgiving for the year that is ending.

-- Morning Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica Jan. 1, the World Day of Prayer for Peace and the feast of Mary, Mother of God. A group of boys’ choirs, participating in an international conference, will sing at the Mass.

-- Evening Mass Jan. 1 at the Basilica of St. Mary Major and opening of the Holy Door there.

-- Mass Jan. 6, the feast of the Epiphany, in St. Peter’s Basilica.

-- Mass in the Sistine Chapel and the baptism of infants Jan. 10, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

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49

Church Life

Native American

A Mass honoring Native Americans was celebrated recently at St. Ann Church in Bourg. Bishop Shelton J. Fabre was the main celebrant of the Mass which was concelebrated by priests of the diocese.

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier 50

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

Celebration

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Sports

Overtime

I 52

Ed Daniels

Rebowe has high hopes for Colonels future

In case you missed it, it was one of the better turnarounds this season in college football.

Nicholls State’s Francisco Condado booted a 40 yard field goal as time expired to give the Colonels a 27-24 win over archrival Southeastern on the final Thursday of the regular season at Strawberry Stadium in Hammond.

In 2014, Condado also kicked a 40 yard field goal against Southeastern, in the first quarter.

The Colonels scored the first three, Southeastern then scored the next 62 points.

After that humiliating 62-3 loss, Nicholls State began its turnaround.

The school hired Tim Rebowe as its football coach.

“We came in and tried to accent the positives,” said Rebowe.

“If you come into our locker room after a win, or a loss, it is still the same.”

“We are not going to hang our heads,” said Rebowe.

The Colonels won three of their last six games, and two of the last three.

Three wins may not seem like plenty. But, when it comes behind a 0-12 season, that is tangible progress.

And, Rebowe has high hopes for the future.

Quarterback Tuscani Figaro, who suffered a broken collarbone against Lamar, will return for his senior season.

Nicholls State has a commitment from Rummel quarterback Chase Fourcade, who is Figaro’s likely successor.

Running backs Michael Henry and Tobias Lofton are seniors.

Rebowe hopes to bring in a transfer and perhaps a junior college running back who will run behind an offensive line by true freshman Ryan Hanley from Rummel.

Defensively, Rebowe says the Colonels need more girth.

And, he says the Colonels need something else.

“We have to have a great offseason,” said Rebowe.

“We know we changed the mindset.”

“We had a taste of it (success),” said Rebowe. “We can compete in this league (Southland Conference).”

Tim Rebowe said the Colonels want to have winning seasons, and play in the FCS playoffs.

“I don’t think that is far away.”

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

A playoff berth would be the first since 2005.

Rebowe said the Colonels also have a huge asset in the president’s office.

Dr. Bruce Murphy got his degree from California, his master’s from Columbia, and his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt.

He retired from the United States Army as a lieutenant colonel.

He taught a leadership class at West Point.

“He is in our locker room all the time,” said Rebowe.

“He gets it.”

A football program has its first win over its archrival since 2010.

And, something more.

A future.

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Happy New Year!

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Christmas

Perfect time to act like God

By FATHER W. THOMAS FAUCHER Catholic News Service

One of the games we humans play is called “If.” A great song from the musical “Fiddler on the Roof” was called “If I Were a Rich Man.” We think of what we would do if we won the lottery or could be president or pope or queen for a day.

The ultimate version of “If” would be this: If I were God, what would I do? How would I display my awesome power, my infinite knowledge and dominion over the universe?

As we celebrate Christmas, we see the reality of God playing “If” when we reverse the equation, imagining God asking himself: “If I were human, what would I do, how would I act, what would I say?”

Scripture says: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... And the Word became flesh and 54 made his dwelling among us” (Jn 1:1, 14).

The fact that God chose to become a human being holds many wonderful mysteries. These have fed theologians for 2,000 years, causing them to ponder just what it means that God was a human being -- and a human being was God! Among these mysteries is the reality that Jesus was not a power player. He did not smite his enemies. He did not destroy cities.

He did not rule.But at the same time, he showed his supremacy over evil, his dominion over sin, his triumph over Satan and his total power over death. And he did all of this without using the awesomeness of his divinity; he used the depth of his divinity.

Jesus showed us that evil, sin, Satan and death are not defeated by force, power or might, but by concern, kindness and love.

If I were God, my temptation would be to confront the powers of evil on their own terms, following a motto of “Fight fire with fire.”

And I would fail, because the source of evil’s strength rests precisely on the idea that might, Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

force and strength are what really matter.

What Jesus did to show his mastery over evil, sin, Satan and death was never to even enter into the fight. He just went around them, isolated them, and showed them to be the hollow, worthless manikins that they are.

When confronted with “For I was hungry and you gave me food” (Mt 25:35), Satan has nothing to say.

When met with “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34), sin has no room.

When evil meets “Love your enemies” (Mt 5:44), evil evaporates.

And when Jesus rose from the tomb “just as he said” he would (Mt 28:6), death is destroyed.

The most divine thing Jesus ever did was to kneel down in front of the apostles at the Last Supper and wash their feet. This was the ultimate act of God being God by loving and serving his fellow man.

This humble act also teaches us that our role in life is not to try to placate God, to be ruled by God or to be afraid of God. Our role in life is to act like God. We are to go out and play “If” all of the time in imitation of God. We are to see the hungry and feed them, see the imprisoned and visit them, see the person without a coat and give him one, and see the woman at the well in our day and time and give her living water.

We are to find those who need help, confidence and love and tell them by our actions that they are our brothers and sisters and, as such, are loved.

As we celebrate Christmas it is the perfect time for us to act like God, showing the ultimate divinity of Jesus Christ being lived out in the world today.

(Father Faucher is pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Boise, Idaho.)

55

www.bayoucatholic.com

Christmas

How to avoid holiday

OVEREATING

By MARGO MACARTHUR Catholic News Service

Holiday eating can be a source of plenty that is flatly too much of a good thing. It is no coincidence, therefore, that nearly one-third of all Americans are obese and two-thirds are overweight, at risk of suffering the health- and lifethreatening effects of overeating that include heart disease and stroke, diabetes and osteoarthritis.

The good news is that the holidays can be far more joyous and a great deal less stressful for those who are -- or ought to be -- dieting by following a few painlessly simple rules: Don’t try to “lose” weight between Nov. 22 and Jan. 2. Just “maintain” 56 and don’t “gain.”

Plan ahead by not expecting to diet in the New Year. If you succeed in maintaining weight that is reasonable for your height and frame through the gauntlet of holiday temptations, there’s a great likelihood you won’t have to lose a pound.

In the event you do find yourself in need of dropping an inch or two beginning in January, you can use some of the following strategies to lose them for good.

Come rain or snow and too much holiday busy-ness, be physically active every day. Walk at the mall, dance to music in the kitchen or perform calisthenics in front of the bedroom mirror. Not only does exercise burn calories, it also relieves stress.

Before going to a holiday party, snack lightly. Eat a small container of vanilla, lemon or coffee-flavored yogurt. Or chew a stick of string cheese. Thus fortified, you will more easily resist the temptation of too much food.

Rehearse your role! Think about what food temptations will be present and imagine sampling just one or two instead of six or seven.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

At the party, take a medium-size plate from the buffet table, place a variety of foods on it -– buffalo wings, raw veggies, a small piece of meat or fish, a tablespoon of macaroni and cheese, potatoes or pasta, fruit salad, two small cookies or a politely small serving of cake.

Pour yourself a glass of water or seltzer. Then MOVE AWAY from the buffet table to eat.

Take small bites and savor what you eat rather than wolf it down.

Watch your alcohol consumption too. If you decide to partake, choose light beer or wine; sip slowly. Watch out for soda, punch and eggnog; they are concentrated sources of calories.

Focus more on spending good times with family and friends and less on the food. Remember what the season is all about, and give thanks for it.

If you’re the cook, reduce the fat in recipes wherever possible. Wise cooks adjust nearly every recipe by substituting reduced-fat/sugar ingredients for higher ones.

Those who have special health concerns may face an even greater eating challenge over the holidays.

If you’re among the estimated 21million diabetics in America, for example, follow these five rules: 1. Eat at the same time every day to maintain consistent blood sugar levels.

2. When baking, use fat and sugar substitutes faithfully.

3. Exercise daily. Take a walk to enjoy the holiday lights.

4. Maintain your current weight until Jan. 2, and then set a longterm goal of losing 5 percent to 7 percent of your body weight by following a doctor-directed program of diet and exercise.

5. Those over 40 who by weight and inheritance “might” be diabetic should give themselves the gift of getting tested; this could add years and quality to their lives.

If you overindulge one day, don’t despair. Be sure to return to your usual eating habits the next day.

(MacArthur is a freelance writer in Andover, N.J.)

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Christmas

E V LO

is at the heart of Christmas

By DOLORES R. LECKEY Catholic News Service

Christmas is about love.

Of course, you say; all the advertising and merriment declare that gift-giving is a sign of love.

And so it is.

But what is the underlying meaning of exchanging gifts and gathering friends and family?

How we understand our nuanced meanings is found in the history of Christmas situated in the narrative of a baby born in the town of Bethlehem, in a country under Roman occupation, to Mary, a woman from the village of Nazareth. All other stories surrounding this central one are about the effect of the child’s life on 58 others.

The stories of this child’s first days and months on earth are stories of high drama: Extraordinary people come to visit the child, the person in authority (Herod) tries to kill him; his family flees their homeland and takes him to an alien place for safety where they all are refugees.

The beginning of the Christmas story is not like a Norman Rockwell painting.

Over the centuries, as the story of Jesus’ birth and early childhood has been told, other children moved to the center of the ongoing narrative.

We have Christmas tales that describe how “the stockings were hung by the chimney with care,” and the next morning the stockings were filled with good things for the children of the house.

We all have our piece of the ongoing Christmas story. Here is mine.

In 2003, six months after the death of my husband Tom, I wondered how I would maneuver my way through the merriment that is rightly part of the Christmas story. The truth is, I did more than wonder -- I dreaded the holy holiday.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

Memories of Christmases past were very present in my mind.

In recent years with our children grown and busy with their children, Tom and I enjoyed the quietude of Christmas Eve, the joy of simply being together before the busyness of Christmas Day and the usual family dinner at our house.

Tom always filled a Christmas stocking for me, small treasures repeated year after year, and I came to count on this part of the Christmas Eve ritual. I didn’t know how I would face “an empty stocking,” symbolic perhaps of the empty place in my life.

However, Christmas Eve brought surprising grace. And once again children old and young led the way.

Granddaughter Monica was an angel at a Christmas Eve Mass, so that solved the problem of where to

worship. After Mass we gathered at the home of our son Tom and his family.

Most of the grandchildren visiting that first Christmas without their grandfather had rehearsed Christmas carols accompanied by various musical instruments.

This musical offering was done with seriousness and skill -- and obviously lots of practice.

One of the glories of Christmas is music! Their pageant brought to mind an unpublished poem by Bishop Robert F. Morneau of Green Bay, Wis., “Christmas Concert”: “They made music -“Children in white robes, “Adults in formal dress, “The symphony with shining instruments.

“The sounds washed over us, “Winter pilgrims housed in

a

the concert hall, “Safe from the cold, dark arctic air.

“We sang of Jesus and his joy to the world; “Handel showed up with his sidekick Isaiah; “And, of course, Franz Gruber allowed us to sing together ‘Stille Nacht.’

“Two hours of beauty “For the ear and eye, “And then we ventured back into the winter’s dark and cold, “Warmed by the music, “Graced by the light of a Christmas star.”

Returning home and settling into my annual reading of the Christmas Eve section of Washington Irving’s “The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon,” I knew the hurdle of Christmas Eve without my husband had been overcome.

When I started for bed I was stunned to see a stocking hanging on the mantle, unnoticed during my reading time. After some hesitation, I emptied the contents so similar to other years: a hummingbird pin, a jar of jam, some pens -– and the giveaway –- a copy of Tom Stoppard’s play, “Arcadia,” a favorite of my daughter Celia.

Obviously Celia had been at work between the Mass and the meal at her brother’s.

I went to sleep feeling surrounded by beatitude -- the hospitality of family, which I had been reading about in the “Sketchbook.”

The next morning I was at peace, ready to prepare a Christmas meal for my family.

At the end of the day as everyone was heading out the door for their own homes, my son Tom announced this year “a wonderful Christmas!”

And so it was. But why? What made his holy holiday so rich for us?

I think two forces were at work to make it so.

One was the conscious exchange of love within the family; each of us was looking out for the others.

The second was simply Christmas itself, an event so much larger than any of our individual lives or our separate sorrows.

Christmas is Christmas, and it carries itself.

(Leckey is a senior fellow at Woodstock Theological Center, Georgetown University.)

Diocesan Outreach Line

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

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

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

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

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

Línea de Comunicación Diocesana

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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59

Christmas

Grasping the full Christmas festival in the person of Christ

By JAMES SCHELLMAN Catholic News Service

Try for a moment to imagine Christmas without Christ. It is actually pretty easy.

Witness the “holiday season” as observed in our contemporary culture. It seems to become longer each year, now starting sometime before Thanksgiving and concluding with Christmas Day, or for those with stamina New Year’s Day. We cannot deny that there are good aspects of this experience.

Our fractured society actually comes together in an unusual if partial way at this time. A sense of goodwill and solidarity takes temporary hold of us.

60 Even so, many Christians are in danger of losing an understanding and observance of the full season under the force of a “cultural Christmas.”

How many Christians grasp the full Christmas festival, which begins four weeks before Christmas with the preparatory season of Advent -- the beginning of the Christian year? The

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

Christmas season reaches a climax on Christmas Day and continues for a few weeks into the new year until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

What is there in this ancient Christmas season of extended preparation and celebration that we lose at our peril?

In short, we lose Christ, the whole person of Christ.

The Christ of the Christmas season is not simply the babe in the manger. This Christ went on to live, to die an unspeakable death and to rise from the dead.

And this same Lord will come again!

All of this history is held together in the few weeks of the Christmas season which proclaims the beginning of the end of the world as we know it -- and that end itself.

Through prayers and Scriptures we hear again the story of our darkened world and of that world’s only salvation.

The feast of God’s first coming in Christ is made the occasion for us to long anew for that time when God will come again to make of

a

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us, and the beloved broken world we share, what God intended from the beginning -- a garden place of graced communion.

This is the promise. We are its keepers and preachers. Our vocation is to embrace the story whole and leave none of it out, to offer it faithfully to a world that longs more than it knows for the truth of this transforming story.

What is at stake here is our way of seeing things whole, of living that vision faithfully. This is our vocation, our graced purpose in this world. We fudge it at our peril.

Doesn’t Advent make this abundantly clear? The first few Sundays do not focus on the Incarnation. Rather, they (and the last few Sundays of Ordinary Time that precede them) raise our eyes to that whole vision of Christ, who will return at the end of time.

John the Baptist becomes for us the herald not so much of that first coming, but of the returning Lord we are to watch for now.

Even when the focus begins to shift to the birth narrative, it is never simply on Jesus’ birth alone.

The babe in the manger is already identified through sign and symbol as the royal one destined to pay the dearest price for our redemption.

Thus the Magi’s gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

No sooner is Jesus’ birth celebrated than we turn our minds and hearts to the major mysteries proclaiming his purpose and power.

The Feast of the Holy Family inserts us immediately into the full humanity of this incarnate Lord, who for three decades was formed and nurtured in the bosom of an extended family. Then, contrary to the usual chronology, we return to the days after Christ’s birth in the feast of the Epiphany to celebrate the mystery of Jesus’ mission as the gift of God to all peoples.

No sooner have we chewed on this than we find ourselves at the edge of the Jordan with John the Baptist, who accedes to the now mature Lord’s desire and plunges him in the waters of the Jordan, ending Jesus’ 40-day sojourn in the desert apart from all he loved and launching Our Lord on his brief public life and the fullness of his

mission.

This sacramental season immerses us anew in our baptismal calling to lay down our lives for that new world where all tears will be wiped away, where broken individuals, families and communities will be made whole, where war can never again be waged let along imagined.

Through this full seasonal celebration we learn once again that this new world is what we pray for every Sunday: “Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus, come in glory!”

It is a holy longing that is at the heart of our vocation. A longing for a God who with unimaginable humility became like us so that we might become like God. That transforming power and grace is meant to be shared. It is Christ’s continuing mission and now ours.

(Schellman is executive director of the North American Forum on the Catechumenate; (www. naforum.org.)

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61

Christmas

Putting Christ back into Christmas

By CHRISTOPHER CARSTENS, M.D. Catholic News Service

We live in San Diego, the site of this autumn’s wildfires.

Throughout that frightening week 62 my wife and I were traveling in Sicily. Waiters and store clerks in Palermo and Catania would ask in broken English where we were from, and when we replied they would anxiously ask if our house was OK, adding, “San Diego!

Terrible fires. So sad, so sad.”

That week the entire planet paid attention to San Diego. Every TV in the world showed lines of flame marching across our hillsides.

A week earlier one imagines that very few Sicilians gave Southern California a thought, but during those days distant San Diego was a real part of their world.

Your meaningful world is made up of those things to which you pay attention. Your world is shaped by what you notice.

You may have rarely thought about white cars, for example, but if you stand by a busy street and pay careful attention you will see waves of white cars going by. They were there all along; you just did not notice. Suddenly you are living in a world full of them.

It is easy to go through the entire Christmas season in America without ever thinking about Jesus.

The Sunday paper this week came Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

with an extra three pounds of advertising, all colored red and green and covered with snowflakes and happy penguins on sleds -but no shepherds, no angels and certainly no baby in a crib.

The birth of our Savior is simply ignored.

American popular culture is ultrasensitive about not offending those with differing religious points of view, and what results is a media world from which Christianity has been banished. When marketers pay the bills they make the rules, and the story of baby Jesus is clearly taboo.

This year most Americans will celebrate a consumerist Christmas, and eagerly await the coming of new stuff. But the consumerist creed is a lie. There is no enduring happiness in new stuff.

Enduring happiness is the free gift of a loving God, but if you are not paying attention you will miss that message altogether.

Missing a critical message is not new for mankind. In the very first chapter of the Gospel of John we read: “He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.”

We are Christ’s own, and we are called to receive him.

This Christmas I invite all

Christians to attentively notice Jesus’ absence. Look carefully for him in ads, on TV shows and in the decorations on the streets. Search for him in the malls.

When you find again and again that the world around you is not paying attention, turn your mind to Jesus all the more and worship him.

How? By paying attention. Like all those white cars, your world will be filled with whatever you carefully look for.

This year I’m especially remembering my mother, my first teacher of the faith. Mom knew what it meant to receive Jesus. She really loved blue Christmas lights, for her a special sign of the Virgin Mary.

So this year, with intention, I will be looking hard for blue Christmas lights as a reminder of Mom and of the mother of our Lord.

What will you look for? Moments of love between parents and their infant children? Christmas cards that carry a Christian message?

Salvation Army bells?

Pick someone or something that is of special meaning for you.

When you see that sign, remember how thankful you are for the real Christmas, and quietly receive Jesus into your heart.

(Dr. Carstens is a psychologist in San Diego, Calif.)

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63

Christmas

Christmas miracle of wire and flannel

By FATHER STAN KONIECZNY Catholic News Service

64

During my first Christmas as a priest, the children of my parish taught me a valuable lesson.

Through their enthusiasm and innocence, I learned that the hope of Christmas can transform the practical and mundane into the holy.

St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish School has its own distinct traditions, one of which is the Energy Club. The students who belong to it volunteer after school to lead recycling drives, promote good ecological practices on the parish campus and assist with some light groundskeeping chores.

Last Christmas the Energy Club decided to take on a new task: holiday decorating. Members figured they could easily add this to their growing repertoire, and the new priest at the parish would be an easy mark as collaborator.

They barraged me after school one autumn afternoon in the parking lot. Excitedly they shared their plans to decorate the nearby shrine to Mary with garlands and lights. They also wanted funds to buy a nearly life-sized crèche from a local hardware store that would be “perfect” for the holiday display.

“It’s on sale, Father,” they cried in chorus.

After a bit of crèche shopping of my own and subjecting them to a suitable number of suspense-filled days, I agreed to the project.

“There have to be some conditions, though,” I explained. “I do not want to have to chase after Nativity scene figures blowing down the street on a blustery day. I want them secured to that wrought iron around Mary.”

The teens’ grinning faces turned solemn as they nodded in agreement.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • December 2015

“And,” I added, trying to sound authoritative, “I do no want the Christ child carried off by some pranksters. Make sure he is secured as well.”

With those words of caution I left the Energy Club to begin planning their project.

Weeks went by without another thought of the club’s holiday ambitions. I even thought that perhaps they gave up on the entire project.

Then one evening as I walked over to the church for Mass, I stopped dead in my tracks.

Twinkling blue Christmas lights surrounded the Mary shrine. Small spotlights focused attention on Mary and Joseph as they stood securely beside wrought-iron posts.

The Christ child was the center

of attention. In a touching addition, one of the Energy Club members tucked the figure under a swatch of soft blue flannel. That impromptu layette made me think of the poverty of the first Christmas. It was a holy moment for me.

The next morning, I walked over to the school to congratulate the Energy Club after the morning assembly. And I said it was a nice touch to cover up the Baby Jesus.

One of the girls replied, “Well, Father, the baby Jesus did look a little cold lying there, and we had to cover up all the wires that you made us use to tie him down!”

The practical becomes holy.

That is the hope, the miracle of Christmas.

(Father Konieczny is associate pastor of St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish, Belleville, Ill.)

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Christmas

Choosing to follow Christ

By FATHER DALE LAUNDERVILLE, OSB Catholic News Service

In the Northern Hemisphere the hours of daylight reverse their course a few days before Christmas and begin to increase.

This victory of light over darkness was marked in the pagan society of ancient Rome by the celebration of the festival of Sol Invictus, “the Unconquered Sun.” In the fourth century, the church designated Dec. 25 as the point in the liturgical year for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, and so supplanted the meaning that pagan Roman society had given to this date.

In American society where respect for the diverse beliefs and values of all citizens is promoted, Christians are asked to be more sensitive in the holiday season to those who do not share our belief in Jesus Christ. This awareness of diversity of beliefs can help us

Christians realize that even though most of us were baptized as infants and raised in Christian families, we are each called to make a decision whether or not to follow Christ.

To be a Christian is no longer simply the thing to do to be part of a community in the United States.

While some feel a sense of loss in a national atmosphere that seems more secularized, this atmosphere does allow Christmas to be an opportunity for Christians to be more intentional about welcoming Jesus Christ into our lives.

To decorate our houses with special lights in this dark time of the annual cycle can lift our spirits by their beauty and illumination.

But if these lights symbolize stars that were seen by the shepherds in Bethlehem or the Magi in the east, then they invite us to remember the Christmas story.

In this remembering, we find ourselves moving closer to the crib

in Bethlehem that was in place over 2,000 years ago.

As we draw closer to the crib, we realize that we are there with our parents, grandparents and ancestors reaching all the way back to the time of Christ. This gathering of relatives at the crib shows us that our family celebrations have a depth that goes far beyond what we are able to articulate.

The love that is expressed, the tensions and disappointments that are navigated are realities that reach beyond the confines of the here and now.

These relations with loved ones have a sacramental character that connects us in the here and now with the long line of loved ones who have gone before us and now live within the communion of saints as members of Christ’s body.

(Benedictine Father Launderville is a Scripture scholar at St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minn.)

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