Acadiana Catholic

t h e

m a g a z i n e

o f

t h e

C ATHO L I C

d i o c e s e

o f

God’s love

l a f a y e t t e

LiveS On special report

Pope Benedict XVI: pastor, scholar, pontiff f e at u r e s t o ry

Walk the Way

contents The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette Copyright 2012 www.diolaf.org PUBLISHER

Most Rev. Michael Jarrell, D.D. Bishop of Lafayette

22

Managing Editor

Stephanie R. Martin 337.261.5512 smartin@diolaf.org Marketing Director Business Mgr / Advertising Director

13

Patrick Breaux 337.261.5518 pbreaux@diolaf.org

April, 2013 • Volume 1: Issue 1

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Kayla Koenigsknecht PRINT MANAGEMENT

InnerWorkings

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Kathleen Toups

Theological Consultants

Msgr. H.A. Larroque, J.C.D. Msgr. Curtis Mallet, J.C.L. Vicars General PROOFREADING

Derek Melot

ACADIANA CATHOLIC (ISSN0888-0247) (USPS507-760) is published monthly, except February and July, by the Southwest Press, 1408 Carmel Drive., Lafayette, LA 70501-5298.

Periodical postage paid at Lafayette, LA and additional mailing offices. Send address changes to Acadiana Catholic, 1408 Carmel Drive, Lafayette, LA 70501-5298.

The Diocese of Lafayette serves eight civil parishes with a population of 304,921 Catholics. The publisher and editor reserve the right to reject, omit or edit any article or letter submitted for publication. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette and/or the Acadiana Catholic cannot be held liable, or in any way responsible for the content of any advertisement printed in this paper.

5

16

from the bishop Keeping print media alive in the electronic age.

10 parenting journey 13 feature story

6 theology 101

11 marriage matters

The fundamental truth.

8 hispanic corner

Abertura y desarrollo de un Grupo de Oración y Estudio Bíblico, por el método de la “LECTIO DIVINA”, en la Comunidad Hispana de Lafayette.

9 feature story

I’m Catholic! One woman rejoices in the fruits of her faith journey.

Shouldn’t my kids

dress up for Mass?

She says: I believe we should pray always.”

He says: “Sarah does nothing but pray – I’m worried she is becoming scrupulous.” What do they do?

12 work life

I thought I was a guest at the company party, not the butler!

Walk the Way.

14 seminary burses 15 clergy profile Father Thomas Voorhies.

16 feature story

Walking on water: the 2013 March for Life in Washington, D.C.

22 cover story

God’s love lives on: Holy Week traditions nurture gratitude for the celebration of Easter.

26 be fire

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

28 catholic schools 30 stay tuned

On the Web and on the Air

17 explore your faith 32 diocesan news 18 special report Pope Benedict XVI: 34 parish life pastor, scholar, pontiff.

36 things to do

3

Photo by P.C. Piazza

looking back from the bishop

from the bishop

Keeping print media alive in the electronic age

W April 1987

Bishop Gerard Frey, third bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette, leads a crowd of approximately 500 Catholics in walking the Way of the Cross on Palm Sunday afternoon. The procession began at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette and continued through various parts of downtown Lafayette before its conclusion.

saint of the month

Live Mercifully St. Julie Billiart Feast Day: April 8 “Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.” This beatitude calls each Christian to be an instrument of God’s mercy in the world. It is for this reason that the church has traditionally articulated the Christian duty to engage in both corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

This mercy is patterned on God’s own mercy. God the Father chose to not only exercise his power by constraining it so that we might have life, but God the Son then emptied himself and submitted to death so that we might have life more fully with God. This is the ultimate good. Thus, as Christians, we are to mirror this example in our own lives and in all of our relationships where we hold some measure of power whether physical, emotional, political, economic or social.

So to be merciful in all of our relationships, Christianity demands a double movement, which is rooted and predicated on the love of God and neighbor. First, we must affirm the existence of the other by constraining ourselves in order to allow goodness to flourish, es-

4

Acadiana Catholic / April 2013 / www.diolaf.org

pecially when it is in our power to “destroy” another. Second, we must empty ourselves and exercise power in humble service to the other so that he or she may not only have life but have it more fully, to share in the goodness of Divine Life.

St. Julie Billiart’s life (1751-1816) constitutes an example of what it means to live mercifully. The fifth of seven children, St. Julie loved her studies, especially in the area of religion, and spent her life teaching, especially the poor. She even founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. In 12 years, she established 15 convents and her order continues her work of educating children today. However, she embodied mercy through much more than instructing the uninformed.

For instance, she suffered paralysis of her lower limbs at 22 as the result of the trauma of seeing her father shot. For the next 22 years, she was confined to a bed. This did not stop her, however, from the spiritual work of mercy that is praying. She would sometimes spend four or five hours per day in contemplation. In addition, she continued catechizing the children in her village from her bed.

She sheltered the homeless and comforted the afflicted during the French Revolution by hiding priests from persecution and certain death. In return, she had to patiently bear the wrong of becoming hunted herself and going into hiding. Even at 63 and in poor health, St. Julie nursed the wounded and fed the starving left from the Battle of Waterloo.

In short, St. Julie was an instrument of God’s mercy. Through her witness, those around her experienced more fully that life which God mercifully wills for us all.

hy would anyone launch a major new effort in print media in this day and age, the electronic age? That is a question I have asked myself many times over the past year. After much study and consultation, my staff and I agreed that the print media still have a significant role in diocesan communications.

Recent surveys on the national level have revealed that church publications in print are more read than electronic media.

Yes, this is the electronic age; yes, many newspapers and magazines are folding; yes, the electronic media have great potential for evangelization; yes, the church is employing the electronic media, including the social media (Twitter, Facebook), more and more.

A new and promising avenue of communication has opened up. Yet, it is not time to abandon print media. The time may come some day, or it may not. It is clear, however, that, at the present time, the print media are more effective than electronic media in the field of church communications.

Young people, especially, have espoused the electronic media, but surveys show that very few of them use those media to gain information on religious matters. They use them for many other purposes, but not for church and religion.

The same is true for people of all ages.

Perhaps the users are not interested in religious information, or perhaps the information is not well presented. I am sure that will change in the future. The Holy Father’s Twitter account is evidence of this.

There are some reasons why having a print magazine around the home or school has advantages. A diocesan publication in print form:

• Is handy and available.

• Does not have to be booted or rebooted.

• Does not crash.

• Does not need repairs.

• Does not need batteries or recharging.

• Has larger pages than a Smart Phone and can be read in full daylight.

One disadvantage is the cost, but I believe it is money well spent for the evangelizing mission of the church. I hope that every Catholic household will have a copy of the Acadiana Catholic handy somewhere in the home so that every member of the family can be more closely connected to the church, and thereby to Our Lord Jesus Christ.

I know that February was Catholic School Month, but the following quotation about Catholic school funding is relevant today: “The biggest obstacle to sustainability is the exclusion of parochial schools from public financing. If the national ambition is to create the best possible educational system with the public’s money, then it should be agnostic about who delivers it.

Catholic schools not only serve the church;

Bishop Michael Jarrell is the sixth bishop of Lafayette. they serve society in general, by educating growing numbers of disadvantaged youngsters — often with better academic results and at less cost per pupil than public schools. Many students at Catholic elementary and high schools, particularly in the inner cities, are not Catholic. On what rational grounds can society continue to deny Catholic schools — which, according to the National Catholic Educational Association, save American taxpayers $20 billion annually — direct public support? The United States is the only major industrial country that does not financially support private and faith-based schools.”

(America, 2/14/13, “All Hands on Desks”).

It’s an old topic that doesn’t go away.

May the Risen Lord bring peace to you and your family.

5

theology 101

Year of FAITH – Year of PRAYER Because it is a gift, there is nothing we can do to grasp it. It is beyond our power to fill the lack of truth in our lives on our own. Rather, the gift of recognizing and knowing the truth, the prerequisite for properly ordered desire, must be received.

Pope Benedict XVI captured this sense in Porta Fidei, “Faith grows when it is lived as an experience of love received.”

Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful as he arrives to celebrate a Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Oct. 11, 2012, to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. The Mass also opened the Year of Faith.

The fundamental truth

S. Olson

Part 1 of a year-long study of the Catechism

Doug Culp is the Chief Administrative Officer of the secretariat for pastoral life at the Diocese of Lexington, Ky. He holds an M.Div. from Mundelein Seminary in Chicago.

6

Acadiana Catholic / April 2013 / www.diolaf.org

P

ope Benedict XVI announced a Year of Faith from Oct. 11, 2012, to Nov. 24, 2013 (Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe). The goal of the initiative is conversion and to re-discover faith so that all members of the church can become credible witnesses of truth.

The pope has asked Catholics to mark the year by studying and reflecting on the documents of the Second Vatican Council and the Catechism for the purpose of deepening their faith. So for the next year, Theology 101 will help the reader do just that.

The fundamental truth The prologue to the Catechism opens with the fundamental truth that God freely created the human person to share eternal life in communion with God. In other words, the human person is by God, for God and unless we live in harmony with that for which we have been made, i.e. communion with God, then we will not have a full, properly ordered life.

But what is communion? St. Paul offers us the perfect definition in Philippians 2:2 – “to be of the same mind, the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing.”

So the key to our happiness is to be of the same mind, love, heart and thought as the God for whom we were made. We come to know this truth by faith.

What is faith?

The Catechism (1814) explains that the freely given gift of faith is the theological virtue “by which we believe in God, in all he has said and revealed, in what Holy Church proposes for our belief, as he is truth itself.” The theological virtue of faith is the virtue by which we can recognize and know the truth.

Where does faith come from?

St. Paul tells us in Romans 10 that faith comes precisely from hearing the Word of God. Obviously, we must first hear the Word of God before we can believe it. But we then must believe the Word. For it is by believing, as St. Augustine teaches, that we are made obedient to God; by being obedient (from the Latin “to listen to”) to God, we live a good life; by a good life, we obtain purity of heart; and with a pure heart, we understand the things we believe.

The problem is that to the degree that there is fear in our hearts, there is no true faith in God. They are mutually exclusive realities that move in opposite directions. Faith in God leads to life while fear leads to death.

In Scripture, Hebrews 11:1 states, “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” Then, in verse 3, we find “what is seen was made from things that are not visible.” In other words, faith enables us to move from the visible to the invisible; to move from mere dependence on our senses (immanence) to the reality of life in the Spirit (transcendence).

In contrast, fear presents false evidence and makes it appear real. The result is worry and doubt that clouds and distorts one’s vision of that which is not yet visible.

What’s more, both faith and fear come from hearing. Again, faith comes from hearing the Word of God. Fear comes from hearing that which contradicts the Word of God.

Vatican II How did the council Q: define religious liberty

A:

The council declared that no one should be forced to act against his or her convictions or be restrained from acting in accordance with his or her convictions in religious matters “in private or public, alone or in associations with others” by individuals, social groups or any other human power. The Declaration on Religious Liberty (Dignitas Humanae) grounds this freedom on the dignity of the human person “as known through the revealed word of God and by reason itself.” The document goes on to assert that this understanding of religious liberty must be recognized as a civil right.

Does this mean Q: there are no limits to one’s exercise of religious liberty?

A:

First and foremost, Dignitas Humanae establishes the

highest norm of human life as divine law – “eternal, objective and universal.” Because God has allowed humanity to participate in this law, everyone has first the duty and subsequently the right to “seek the truth in religious matters so that, through the use of appropriate means, he [or she] may prudently form judgments of conscience which are sincere and true.”

In addition, because the exercise of the right to religious freedom occurs in human society, its use is subject to certain regulatory norms. Like the exercise of any freedom, a person must respect the moral principle of personal and social responsibility: “in exercising their rights [individuals] and social groups are bound by the moral law to have regard for the rights of others, their own duties to others and the common good of all.”(7) Further, civil society has the right to protect itself against possible abuses committed in the name of religious liberty.

In short, the right to religious freedom is always accompanied and limited by the duties to God and neighbor – the duties that make the claims to the right of religious liberty possible.

Catechism quiz

Q:

Catholic doctrine teaches that three degrees are conferred by the sacrament of Holy Orders. The episcopate, or degree of bishop, receives the fullness of the sacrament. The presbyterate, or degree of priest, is ordained to be co-workers of the bishop. Can you name the third degree?

A:

Diaconate, the degree of service.

(CCC 1569 – 1571)

7

hispanic corner

Apertura y desarrollo de un Grupo de Oración y Estudio Bíblico, por el método de la “LECTIO DIVINA”, en la Comunidad Hispana de Lafayette

T

omando en consideración los consejos que nos llegaron durante los cursos del SEPI, se manifestó la urgencia, para nuestro pueblo, de una profundización con respecto al conocimiento bíblico y a su correcta interpretación, basada tanto sobre los valiosos aportes eclesiales, como sobre la línea directriz del método de la “LECTIO DIVINA”, utilizada desde tiempos antiguos por nuestra Iglesia Católica.

Sabiendo por tanto que dicho método puede abarcar contemporáneamente tanto el aspecto oracional como el de estudio bíblico, nos hemos dedicado a iniciar dicho trabajo de grupo, al comienzo, en sentido práctico. Se ha pues dejado a un lado en absoluto el propósito apologético, ya que los presentes somos todos católicos y no necesitamos defender nuestra fe, sino más bien alcanzar una experiencia de Dios y el crecimiento en Cristo.

Ya se han realizado en la ciudad de Lafayette, LA, varias jornadas del susodicho trabajo y, según lo que se

puede apreciar, cosechando bastante entusiasmo de parte de los presentes. En efecto, el número de los asistentes ha ido paulatinamente aumentando. Sin poder precisar con exactitud el número de ellos, ya que nuevos se presentan y, a veces, algunos se ausentan por motivos de trabajo o de familia, se puede calcular que los participantes son alrededor de dos decenas.

Con respecto al lugar, las primeras veces hemos tenido que cambiar diferentes casas, pero ahora se han establecido solamente dos de ellas. Las

HORARIO DE MISAS EN ESPAÑOL

CHURCH POINT Domingos – 10:00 a.m.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chapel 118 N. Rogers Street Church Point, LA 70525-0403 Celebrante: Rev. Thomas Madden / Rev. Jairo Castaño, SDS

ABBEVILLE Domingos – 2:00 p.m.

St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Church P.O. Box 609 101 N. Leonard Street Abbeville, LA 70511-0609 Celebrantes: Por el momento, diversos sacerdotes de la diócesis de Lafayette que hablan español como también el P. Jairo Castaño, SDS

8

CROWLEY Primer Domingo del mes – 3:00 p.m.

Capilla Notre Dame Catholic High School 910 North Eastern Avenue

Acadiana Catholic / April 2013 / www.diolaf.org

reuniones se efectúan cada dos semanas, los días lunes, habiendo tenido la última el 11 de febrero de 2013.

El análisis se ha centralizado en los santos evangelios, cumpliendo los cuatro pasos del método: Lectura cuidadosa; Meditación; Oración y Contemplación.

Sin embargo, hemos agregado, como es de costumbre, el quinto paso: el de la Acción, por el cual se va afirmando el movimiento esperado del cambio espiritual requerido.

En la última reunión de ayer, se ha dado también un poco de teoría, sobre todo referente a la diferencia de los dos propósitos: el apologético y el espiritual, de los cuales se han proporcionado ejemplos bíblicos. Además, se ha explicado los dos distintos tipos de comunicación: el que usa el texto y el que utiliza el cuento. Pensamos seguir adelante, siempre con la previa invocación al Santo Espíritu de Dios.

Crowley, LA 70526 Celebrante: Rev. Jairo Castaño, SDS HENDERSON Último Domingo del mes - 3:00 p.m.

Our Lady of Mercy Church 1454 Henderson Hwy. Breaux Bridge, LA 70517 Celebrante: Rev. Jairo Castaño, SDS LAFAYETTE (misa anticipada) Sábados – 6:00 p.m.

Our Lady of Wisdom Church, ULL

La Oficina del Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Lafayette los invita al Triduo Pascual 2013.

Las misas se celebrarán en la Capilla de la Inmaculada de la Diócesis.

feature story Betty Higginbotham (left) poses with her former RCIA sponsor, Dolores Martin (right), outside of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Port Barre, where Betty was received into the Roman Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil Mass in April 2011.

Dirección: 1408 Carmel Drive, Lafayette, LA 70501 Celebrante: Rev. Jairo Castaño, SDS JUEVES SANTO 28 DE MARZO 6:00 p.m.

VIERNES SANTO 29 DE MARZO PASION DEL SEÑOR Vía Crucis 5:30 p.m.

VIGILIA PASCUAL 30 DE MARZO 8:00 p.m.

Se ruega que los niños menores de 18 años permanezcan con sus papás en todo momento de los servicios del triduo pascual. Se les agradece de antemano el cumplimiento de este reglamento diocesano.

Para más detalles o preguntas favor de llamar a la Oficina del Ministerio Hispano a los siguientes números de teléfono: 337.261.5542 / 261.5543.

Les deseamos a toda la Comunidad Hispana de la Diócesis de Lafayette una Feliz Pascua de Resurrección.

501 E. St. Mary Street Lafayette, LA 70504 Celebrante: Rev. Jairo Castaño, SDS. LAFAYETTE Domingos – 12:00 p.m.

St. Jules Church 116 St. Jules Street Lafayette, LA 70506 Celebrante: Rev. Jairo Castaño, SDS Misa diaria en español: de martes a viernes: 6:00 p.m.

By Gabriella Scarsella

I’m Catholic!

One woman rejoices in the fruits of her faith journey

F

or nearly two years now, Betty Higginbotham has been living a dream.

She didn’t win the lottery or inherit millions, and she was already happily married with a very loving family.

It was largely due to their influence, in fact, that Betty finally chose to pursue her dream. So, in 2011, during the celebration of the Easter Vigil at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Port Barre, she became a full-fledged member of the Roman Catholic Church.

“I always liked church,” Betty says, even though she admits that, she did not grow up in a particularly religious household.

“But I went with my friends, usually to non-denominational churches, and I wanted to be baptized. I knew what it meant to be baptized, and I knew what it meant not to be baptized — it just wasn’t something I had any control over as a child.”

As Betty grew older, she met and married Cody, who was raised in a Catholic family, and began attending Mass with him.

When their own children came along, there was never any question that both parents wanted them to be brought up in the Catholic faith, and this included enrolling them in catechism classes when they came of age. One year, however, there was

a severe shortage of catechism teachers in the parish, and Betty was suddenly asked if she would consider lending a hand.

“They always saw me at church with my family,” Betty laughs.

“They didn’t realize that I wasn’t confirmed, and even when I told them, they still said that they could really use my help, so I said that I would.”

Perhaps it was at that point that something really began to awaken inside Betty, because the more involved she became in assisting with catechism classes, the more her own desire to learn about the Catholic Church demanded attention. She knew, based on her exposure to other Christian faiths when she attended services with her friends during her younger years, that the Catholic faith was the one which truly spoke to her heart, but she yearned to know so much more than the basics. She would often question her husband about certain belief and practices, only to find that she wanted more detail than his answers usually provided. Eventually, these burning questions led Betty to begin the process of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA).

“It was weird at first,” Betty recalls of the experience. “My kids wanted to know why I had to leave Mass after the homily, but once they understood that it was my time to go to class and learn something, they got into it. Afterwards, when we all got together again, they wanted to know what I had learned, and we really started talking about it. We still do that now, too; after Mass on Sundays, we go home and we talk about what we all learned from it.”

Of the RCIA experience itself, Betty admits that she is hardpressed to describe it with mere words. The knowledge she gained from the classes surpassed her expectations, finally answering her questions while simultaneously posing more before going on to answer those as well. There were certainly times when the process was daunting — the rite of election, for instance, marked the first time that Betty had ever been inside the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. If it hadn’t been for the love and support of her RCIA family by her side, she confesses that the beauty of the cathedral and the ceremony might have overwhelmed her.

Even though Betty’s dream to be Catholic is now a reality, her story hasn’t yet concluded with the usual “happily ever after.”

She continues to grow and thrive in the constant practice of her faith, and in the sharing of that faith with her family and all those around her.

To learn more about the RCIA process, please contact the Diocese of Lafayette’s RCIA consultant, Mr. John Schexnaildre, at 337.261.5565.

By Stephanie R. Martin

9

Y O U R

L I F E

parenting journey

Shouldn’t my kids dress up for Mass?

Q

My kids fight me about getting dressed up for Mass – I think the girls should wear dresses and the boys should wear dress pants. They think clean jeans are fine. Now that they are teens, the battle is getting worse.

a

At our parish, I’ve noticed that younger children are dressed in ways that reflect the style of their parents – and they tend to be dressed alike. Preschool-aged brothers wear sweaters with the same patterns in contrasting colors. Sisters have similar hair styles and dresses. As children approach the teen years, however, there is more variation. Disagreements regarding style and taste are common among parents and adolescents. But it is possible to avoid a weekly battle before Mass.

these experiences from everyday events.

Our choices regarding dress continue to reveal our attitudes toward different events. When we attend weddings, we pay particular care to our own clothing, acknowledging the significance of the day to the bride and groom. Mass is a community celebration in which we gather to praise God and eat at the Lord’s Table.

Share your perspective about this with your teenagers during a family meal in the middle of the week so there is time to mull over one another’s comments.

Respect and reverence, not status and attention.

Double-check your own

Acadiana Catholic / April 2013 / www.diolaf.org

care for their children. They are not better or worse than those mothers who decide to bring their children to daycare facilities, hire nannies to take care of their children, or those who have older or unemployed family members take care of their children while they go to work.

Both stay-at-home mothers and working mothers have the same dignity because of their participation in God’s plan.

Dr. Gelasia Marquez is a psychologist and family counselor.

Jim says: It’s not about being a good Catholic – Sarah does nothing but pray, read the Bible, or talk about the church. She lost her job this year, and so it fills all of her time – and I mean all. I am worried that she is becoming scrupulous.

What

do they do?

Sometimes we over-compensate at the exclusion of other responsibilities and duties. In this case, it appears Sarah has forgotten her vocation of marriage and the strength she could attain from including her spouse in the grieving process. Being a “good Catholic” is commendable, as God desires each of us to be in a life-giving relationship with him. Keeping him in our thoughts and prayers each day and making him a part of our daily routine is a right action. As a married couple, we have the opportunity to find God in each other – his love, his forgiveness and his nurturing.

Approached lovingly and with sincerity, Sarah may discover that Jim could assist in helping her find the peace or answers she is searching for. When we lose something dear to us, such as meaningful work, we look for something to ease the pain associated with the loss. It would not be abnormal for Sarah to experience some depression following a loss and to try desperately to search for strength and

purpose. She may, therefore, feel a need for more prayer and more nurturing, not only from God, but from Jim as well.

Losing meaningful work can be a tremendous blow to a person’s self-worth and esteem. Throwing oneself into another activity (church included) is a natural reaction in an attempt to regain selfworth; not realizing that self-worth is not dependent on what we do, but who we are. Society tends to equate worth with the amount we can physically produce or mentally absorb, instead of how much we are being Jesus to others by loving them and caring for them.

It is normal and acceptable to turn to God for assistance during times of trial, but not at the expense of damaging our relationship with our spouse. Our sacramental marriage part-

your marriage matters ner should not be abandoned; quite the contrary, our partner should be allowed to help us through our traumatic events for they touch both of the partners, not just one of them. We would recommend Jim take the opportunity to open a dialogue with Sarah by asking her to share with him her petitions to God. What is it that she is asking of God? Jim also might wish to accompany Sarah in reciting the rosary in the evening before starting a dialogue, remembering to include affirmation of her worth to him personally and remembering the words of Scripture, “... encourage one another and build one another up.”

(1 Thessalonians 5:11) At this juncture in Sarah and Jim’s relationship, it is more about helping Sarah regain her feet and feeling comfortable grieving her loss. Being sensitive to each other’s feelings and honesty in discovering what Sarah is searching for will go a long way in re-establishing their coupleness.

T. Gennara

10

Parents participate with God in renewing humankind. Thus, being a mother and being a father is a sacred action of life and love throughout their children’s life.

Some mothers, along with their husbands, make the decision to remain at home to

conflict resolution

S. Kendrick

Maternity is not a career, aptitude or inclination. Maternity is a gift and a call from God. Through maternity and paternity, God shares with us his creative power. Psalm 139:13 states, “You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb.”

H

says:

“Sarah does nothing but pray – I’m worried she is becoming scrupulous.”

ow we compensate for a loss varies among all peoples, genders and cultures. It is difficult to articulate the proper way to grieve a loss because grieving is highly individualistic. Loss creates a hole in our being and we tend to fill holes with activities; Sarah has chosen to fill it with religious practices.

Dr. Cathleen McGreal is a psychology professor and certified spiritual director.

I am a stay-at-home mom and I feel as if my vocation is not respected. Why don’t people see being a mother as a valuable career?

He

Sarah says: I really love attending Mass once or twice a day, plus saying the rosary and reading Scripture. I believe we are to pray always. Jim is getting annoyed with this – am I supposed to stop being a good Catholic because it irritates him?

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. It is said that St. Augustine was surprised when he learned that Christians in Milan did not fast on Saturdays as the Christians in Rome did. He mentioned this to St. Ambrose and received this advice: “When I am at Rome, I fast on a Saturday; when I am at Milan, I do not.

Follow the custom of the Church where you are.” Members of your households should respect local customs. In Italy, your daughters would be expected to cover their shoulders with a cardigan or shawl.

In the U.S., sleeveless dresses are considered appropriate on warm summer days. Check to see if your expectations match those of your parish community. Help your teens make choices that reflect their own styles while respecting the sacred nature of a house of worship.

More people need to respect stay-at-home moms

says:

“ I believe we should pray always.”

T. Gennara

Explain the reason for wearing your “Sunday Best.” In the past, special clothes were reserved for significant occasions, such as going to church.

Clothing choices helped distinguish

She

intentions – don’t seek the admiration of others through your family’s attire!

Instead, choose clothing that shows respect for the Mass. Talk to your teens about possible clothing choices that would reflect their personal styles while conveying modesty and respect. There are attractive “non-dress” choices for young women that are appropriate. Your sons may compromise by wearing nice slacks rather than jeans. Look through the ads together to brainstorm ideas for alternate clothing choices.

Deacon Tom Fogle and JoAnne Fogle help prepare couples for marriage.

11

Learn more about Ragin’ Cajun Catholics’ thriving student ministry on Facebook or at www.ragincajuncatholics.org.

feature story

work life

I thought I was a guest at the company party, not the butler!

Q

a

Our office invited clients and all of the workers to a party to celebrate the company’s anniversary. It sounded great until I found out we are supposed to work, doing things like checking coats, etc. And, of course, it’s all gratis – the dinner is our only pay. Is this fair?

Sounds like the party is more for clients than for employees, but then again – without clients there are no employees.

Maybe you can reframe your fairness concern.

that you’re being deprived of, a violation of an employee right?

Your disappointment is understandable. You were looking forward to a workfree, care-free evening. But don’t equate your letdown with a grievance, making

Is it unfair to show appreciation to the clients who pay for your company’s services and provide you income?

Is it unfair to enjoy solidarity with your co-workers, providing cheerful service in a festive setting?

Is it unfair to increase your stock with your employer by showcasing your good attitude and professionalism at an important client event?

Is it unfair even if you didn’t get a dinner?

You suggest that an injustice is being done to you. If justice is to give to the other his due, what are you owed

12

Acadiana Catholic / April 2013 / www.diolaf.org

you bitter toward your employer and spoiling the occasion. There’s nothing but downside with that scenario.

Employers notice and really appreciate workers who go the extra mile. Outstanding employees don’t balk at pitching in. They readily

Jim Berlucchi is the executive director of the Spitzer Center, whose mission is to build cultures of evangelization (www.spitzercenter.org).

handle extra assignments and aren’t too puffed up to do a lowly task – especially when it’s under their pay grade. They’re eager to serve and do so happily. If there’s not much work to do, they’re actually frustrated.

So what kind of employee do you want to be?

I have a friend who’s a devout Christian and successful consultant. One of his clients owns a construction firm that hosts an annual customer appreciation lunch. It’s a big job for the employees. They cook, set and serve tables, greet and clean up. It’s a big job.

Though he’s not a customer, my friend was invited. He accepted, but also asked to help. This highly paid professional ended up chopping vegetables and stirring gumbo in 90-degree heat, but he enjoyed every minute of it. He was not unaware that he was indebted to his client. They pay for his services.

So don’t be a grump.

Check those coats with a smile. Enjoy yourself. Love your customers. Compliment your co-workers. Thank your boss for a nice dinner.

And make sure you have seconds. You deserve it.

Wa lk the Way

T

he living Stations of the Cross is a custom steeped in tradition throughout many centuries of church history.

This year, Good Friday will mark the 10th year in which students from Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic Student Center on UL Lafayette’s campus have carried out their own devotion to Christ’s suffering and passion.

In 2003, Brandt Broussard was a senior at UL Lafayette when he took on the role as the first Jesus. He recalls collaborating with other students and the Ministry Team from Our Lady of Wisdom Church “to raise awareness of Jesus’ true sacrifice and to help others grow in their relationship with Jesus by conceptualizing his passion.”

Joseph Summers portrayed Jesus the following two years and shares his hope for the devotion.

“Walking the road to Calvary with Jesus should inspire us to press harder into will of God for our own lives and journey with him daily!”

This year, Treville Belcher, a UL junior from Lake Charles, assumes the solemn role. He offered insight on students’ preparation: “We gather throughout the Lenten season to study our respective roles in a historical and spiritual context. Our goal is to witness to other students and our community, so that as we remember Christ’s passion together, God will give us insight into the mystery of suffering.”

Father Bryce Sibley, pastor and chaplain at Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic Student Center, knows the power of meditating on Christ’s suffering. “The living Way of the Cross is not only a powerful devotion, but it is also a remarkable tool for evangelization. Every year, it's such a blessing to see people who were already in the park join the large crowd and walk the Way with us, and then join us for the Good Friday Liturgy. I've seen many hearts touched by the passion and piety of our students.”

Everyone is invited to walk the living Stations of the Cross on Friday, March 29, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. The first Station begins on the steps of Our Lady of Wisdom Church at the corner of St. Mary Boulevard and McKinley Street. The Stations continue in Girard Park. Good Friday services are held at the church immediately following.

For 10 years, young men have carried on tradition by portraying the suffering and passion of Jesus Christ in Our Lady of Wisdom’s living Stations of the Cross, held annually in Girard Park.

Several of the men who portrayed Jesus have since dedicated themselves to full-time service in spreading the Gospel message. Joseph Summers (2004-2005) serves as director of Family Missions Company; Alex Albert (2009) is a seminarian at Notre Dame in New Orleans; Drew Lege (2011) is a full-time FOCUS missionary (Fellowship of Catholic University Students); and Treville Belcher (2013) plans to enter seminary in August 2013. Learn more about Ragin’ Cajun Catholics’ thriving student ministry on Facebook or at www. ragincajuncatholics.org.

Role of Jesus Christ 2003-2013 2013 Treville Belcher, Lake Charles 2012 Andrew Chauvin, Franklin 2011 Drew Lege, Erath 2010 Tyrone Bufkin, New Orleans 2009 Alex Albert, Kenner 2008 Sean Comiskey, La Place 2007 Saul Hernandez, Lafayette 2006 Chris Waguespack, Erath 2005 Joseph Summers, Abbeville 2004 Joseph Summers, Abbeville 2003 Brandt Broussard, Lafayette

By Mary Langley Hernandez | Photography by P.C. Piazza

13

seminary burses What is a seminarian burse? A seminary burse is a “named” portion of the seminary endowment trust fund, which was started for the Diocese of Lafayette in 1919.

Burses are commonly “named” either by the person or persons who established them, or in memory of a deceased loved one.

How do seminarian burses contribute to the diocese’s ongoing seminary formation? Money donated to the seminary trust fund remains as untouched principal, while interest from the trust is used to pay for the diocese’s annual cost of seminary formation. Currently, the interest from the trust pays 20 percent of this expense, while the remainder is supplemented by funds raised during the Bishop’s Services Appeal Campaign.

When is a seminarian burse complete? Typically, a burse is completed when its balance reaches $15,000.

This amount represented the total cost of educating a single seminarian back when the practice was first established, although today that cost has risen to approximately $200,000. Once a burse has reached $15,000, a new burse may be opened if those who established the original wish to continue their donations.

Who can establish and contribute to a seminarian burse? Anyone is capable of establishing a burse and naming it as desired, and anyone can contribute simply by specifying the designated burse name when the contribution is made. Contributions may be mailed to the Lafayette Diocese’s Office of Vocations, 1408 Carmel Drive, Lafayette, LA 70501.

How is a seminarian burse established? Anyone who is interested in establishing a new seminarian burse may contact the Office of Vocations at 337.261.5690.

Incomplete Burses

219 Msgr. Wm. J. Teurlings —$13,417 236 John E. Lee, Jr. — $9,324.60 239 St. Joseph —$9,076.48 242 Lee C. Lavergne — $7,079.73 244 Rev. Julian Van Exem #2 — $12,524.06 248 Msgr. Alphonse Martel — $11,000 254 Rusty Randol — $1,742.76 260 St. Theresa #2 — $5,697.46 266 Paul & Mary Karre — $2,105.00 268 MMm Fournet #2 — $570.65 271 Rev. J.a.m. Van Brero — $710.00 272 Msgr. P. Alexandre Borel — $1,625.00 274 Msgr. Emery Labbe Burse — $6,310.00 278 Msgr. Daniel Bernard — $3,674.64 281 Harry Van Tiel Family — $3,969 283 Noemie L. Petitjean — $2,000 284 Msgr. Daniel Habetz — $6,590 286 P.J. Reiners #2 — $9,500 288 Rev. Oscar Drapeau — $2,000 290 Rev. P.g.j. Kemps — $1,000 291 Lucille M. Griffin Mem. — $5,000 292 Anonymous — $10,470 293 Msgr. Fernand Gouaux — $4,770 294 Robert A. Frey Memorial — $7,360 297 A Priest Burse #2 — $12,400 308 Harold/Ruby Moreau Family Memorial — $5,000 309 Libby Holcombre Memorial Burse — $2,000 318 Msgr. Marcel Murie Burse — $5,260 319 Marcel/Alfred Gaudet #5 — $1,942.80 322 Father Jean Paradis Burse #2 — $5,000

14

323 Charlene Richard Burse — $3,030 326 Father Raphael Gauthier Burse #2 — $3,757.17 327 Msgr. Albert Bacque Burse #2 — $325 330 Rev. Verbis Lafleur #3 — $8,250 332 Ben/Louisa Larriviere Burse #2 — $3,750 337 Col. Chap Kenneth Bienvenu Bur — $14,414.99 340 Rev. James Doiron Burse — $2,272.17 346 Msgr. Alexander O. Sigur Mem. — $2,250 348 Rev. J. Wilson Matt & Mire Fam. — $600 351 Sonnier Burse #2 — $11,300 352 St. Edmond Church Parish — $9,000 354 CDA #3 — $10,750.63 356 Mrs. Louise White — $10,110 358 Therese Esteves #5 — $7,516.49 359 St Peter Par-New Iberia — $10,422.35 363 Ramona Crosby Bennerfield — $2,180.52 364 St. Jude Burse #2 — $8,030 366 A. Otis & Etta Hebert Memorial — $5,000 367 Bishop O’Donnell Burse — $3,545 368 Rev. Jules Speyrer — $10,000 370 Msgr. Burton Mouton Burse — $10,700 375 Rev. Charles Marin Burse — $500 376 Bishop Jeanmard Burse — $6,964 377 Marie Franques Kenneth Lacaze — $3,500 378 Bishop Gerard Frey Burse — $12,562 379 Rev. Moise Hebert #2 — $3,403.61 380 Lay Honorees #6 — $3,974.50 381 Mrs Dorphi Marie Duhon Mem. — $2,181.50 383 James K Bourque Mem Burse Fund — $4,330

Acadiana Catholic / April 2013 / www.diolaf.org

Featured seminarians

clergy profile

Quinn Hebert is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Eric Hebert. He is sponsored by Our Lady of Wisdom Parish in Lafayette and is in his second college year at St. Joseph Seminary College, Covington.

Andrew Killeen is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Killeen. He is sponsored

by St. Pius X Parish in Lafayette and is in his first college year at St. Joseph Seminary College, Covington.

Alex Leblanc is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Steven Leblanc. He is sponsored

by Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Delcambre and is in his third college year at St. Joseph Seminary College, Covington.

Billy Massie is the son of Mr. Charles W. Massie III and Mrs. Betty Crusta Dore. He is sponsored by St. John the Evangelist Parish in Lafayette and is in his second theology year at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Wisconsin.

January donors 378 Scott and Jennifer Boudreaux­— $40 386 Charles Coignard — $500 394 Sts Leo Seton Catholic School — $100

February donors

330 Carrol & Richard Lafleur — $100 348 Wilson Matt & Mire Family — $100

Completed Burses (Partial List)

To view a list of a completed burses, please visit the Vocations/Seminarians section of www.diolaf.org.

202 Bishop Jeanmard Memorial Burse 203 Bishop Jeanmard Assumption Burse 204 Bishop Jeanmard-Sacred Heart Burse 205 Msgr. Amable S. Doutre Burse 206 Msgr. Joseph Peeters Burse 207 Msgr. Louis Massebiau Burse 208 Msgr. George Mollo Burse 209 Rev. Louis P. Castel Burse 210 Rev. Julian Van Exem Burse #1 211 Bishop Duburg Assembly Burse 212 Henry Lastraps Burse 213 Genevieve Lastrapes Burse 214 Church Point Burse 220 St. John Marie Vianney Burse 222 Rev. Auguste M. Viel Burse

Birthday: Sept. 21 Hometown: Lafayette Ordination anniversary: June 10, 1990 Present assignment: Sts. Peter and Paul Church and School, Scott

Photos by Paul Kieu

384 Bishop Schexnayder Burse #3 — $940.19 385 Father Mike Bakowski Mem Burse — $3,600 386 Coignard/Gremillion Burse #2 — $3,000 387 In Memory Of Mr & Mrs Scranton Mouton — $12,000 389 Rev. Donald Leger Mem Burse — $510 390 Claire and Allen Anding — $13,000 392 John Rochel Landry Memorial Burse — $2,000 393 An Anonymous Retired Priest Burse #8 — $4,000 394 Seminarian Kyle White — $100

Father Thomas Voorhies

223 St. Andre Fournet Burse 224 Julie Landry Burse 226 A.C. Maraist Burse 227 Msgr. Paul Fuselier Burse #1 228 Rev. Moise Hebert Burse 229 Jeff Bienvenu Burse 230 Immaculate Conception Burse #1 231 Gaspard Petitjean Family Burse 232 Msgr. John A. Vigliero Burse 233 Lay Honorees Burse#1 235 J.M. Lapeyre Family Burse 237 St. Stephen Burse 238 Mr. and Mrs. P.J. Reiners Burse 241 John Joseph Borel Burse 243 Msgr. L.C. Habetz Burse 245 Rev. J. Otto Jud Burse #1 246 Rev. J. Otto Jud Burse #2 251 Msgr. Hubert A. Lerchen Burse 252 St. Theresa Burse #1 253 Serra Club Burse 255 CDA Burse #1 256 Msgr. Paul Fuselier Burse #2 258 Heck and Langlois Guillot Burse 259 Mr. and Mrs. Fournet Burse #1 261 Rev. OJ. Chauvin Burse 262 Msgr. Paul Fuselier Burse #3 263 Denise & Erin Canan Burse 265 O’Neil Hebert Burse 267 Msgr. Paul Fuselier Burse #4 269 Lay Honorees Burse #2 270 Military Chaplains Burse 273 Bishop Schexnayder Memorial Burse #1 277 Bishop Schexnayder Memorial Burse #2

How have you personally embraced this Year of Faith as it is being celebrated by members of the Roman Catholic Church throughout the world?

I have had a unique vantage point for this Year of Faith as the chairman of the diocesan committee for this very year. We started meeting many months before the start date of Oct. 11, 2012. Now, to see the fruit of our work unfolding throughout this year is a great joy. Many of you have received the prayer cards at your local parishes, or seen the billboards along the highways, or heard Bishop Jarrell interview people of faith on the Tell the People program, or know that Cardinal Daniel DiNardo will be coming to our diocese.

These are just a few of the diocesan initiatives besides those which the regions and parishes of the diocese are doing.

Personally, I have prayed almost daily the prayer which the bishops put together specifically for this year. I find it a great reminder of the need to pray for our inactive

brothers and sisters and to do our part in this New Evangelization called for by Blessed Pope John Paul II. In preparing talks about Vatican II, I have renewed my appreciation for that great council as we celebrate its 50th anniversary.

My own faith journey continues to develop as I approach the 50-year mark of my life. I was brought up in a Catholic home and with Catholic school training all the way through to my ordination as a priest. So I’ve had a strong foundation on which to build. Daily prayer time and the sacraments continue to be my strength. As a celibate priest, I need that strong, intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus to keep going and keep the well from going dry. I try to do a holy hour every day, besides all the commitments we make as priests for our daily prayer.

Sometimes it’s hard to know where I am with the Lord, but he always makes his presence known in some sort of a way, whether it’s during prayer time or through someone I meet that day or some experience I have.

Prayer allows me to keep the antennas up to be prepared for when he does speak to me, not audibly but in his own way.

Sometimes prayer is dry, but that’s when the Lord is testing us and purifying us from attachments to experiences which are merely his gifts. He wants us to love him for who he is and not just for what he gives us.

Following the Lord always is an exciting journey. I encourage any of our young people who are contemplating a vocation to the priesthood or the consecrated life to discern the Lord’s call and follow through with your commitment to him. He will not call you to an unfulfilled life. My life has been greatly blessed by the Lord and I hope to serve him better and better each day.

15

feature story

The Judice family, surrounded by thousands of pro-life supporters at the 40th annual March for Life Rally in Washington, D.C.

Walking on water

I

the 2013 March for Life in Washington, D.C.

can barely feel the bottom of my feet as I take a step forward pushing a stroller surrounded by people on all sides. An unfamiliar thing is happening as snow flurries surround me. My wife is ahead of me, walking with my oldest son, and one of my brothers in Christ and his family is marching beside us, as well.

As I struggle to push the stroller up the hill with the Capitol to my right and a group enthusiastically praying a decade of the rosary to my left, thoughts of the night before run through my mind. More than 12,000 people gathered in the largest Catholic church in North America, the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C., to celebrate Mass before this march to protest the 40th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. As I turn to look behind me, all I see is a sea of people, which some estimates put close to 700,000.

For the first time in my four-year journey to the heart of the pro–life movement, in the middle of this incredible moment, I finally do not feel all alone.

My mind wanders back.

In September 2008, an ultrasound early in my wife Ashley’s second pregnancy

16

Acadiana Catholic / April 2013 / www.diolaf.org

diagnosed our son Eli with a birth defect known as spina bifida. This would render him paralyzed for life, mentally disabled, having little or no control over his own bowel movements, and numerous other health problems. Overwhelmed with grief and shock, my wife and I had to make a choice. Eighty percent of the couples who receive this diagnosis choose abortion and 75 percent of children in the womb who have this severe birth defect end up causing a miscarriage.

Ours was the path less traveled. With a leap of faith and a belief in acceptance of God’s will, that choice is the best we’ve ever made.

Stories have the power to change hearts and minds, especially personal ones that take theory and principle from the abstract to the firm grip of reality. A personal encounter with Christ is a gift that, when received, must be shared with others. I never intended to be doing what I am now, but all of my education and training in my teaching profession were a preparation for completing the purpose of my life. It’s his plan, not mine, to be Eli’s dad; in turn, Eli was destined to be my son. I will spend the rest of my life working to end the genocide of my generation, which has brought about the death of 54 million human beings in the womb in the United States and 1.2 billion around the world. The only consolation for all of my efforts and sacrifice prior to

this experience came only in reflection and prayer on the crucifix. Knowing that the one greatest act of selfless love in human history already has won a battle I know cannot win on my own, but am compelled by conviction to fight nevertheless. What I witnessed through the eyes of Christ in Washington, D.C., in this march was a glimpse of hope for the future, and reassurance that my choice to embrace suffering and the Lord’s promise to be with me through it has been fulfilled. Every life is a miracle and every life has a purpose.

Turning to the final leg of the march, approaching the Supreme Court, I catch a glimpse of my beautiful family and a warm feeling inside blocks out the frigidly cold conditions around me. One of the items on my bucket list can now be scratched off. Only hours before this epic event, my small contribution has added precedent to the much larger movement of which it is a part — a movement I know God will see through to the end for me, whether it is in this life or the next.

A peace settles into my soul and a moment of triumph I have never felt before is present.

Chad Judice is a local pro-life author and teacher at St. Thomas More High School in Lafayette. This is his personal account of his family’s participation in the 2013 March for Life in our nation’s capital.

By Chad Judice

17

report

The Year of Faith On Oct. 11, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI declared in an Apostolic Letter, Porta Fidei (the “door of faith”), that a “Year of Faith” would begin on Oct.11, 2012, and conclude on Nov. 24, 2013 (Solemnity of Christ the King).

The start of the Year of Faith marked the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It is hoped that the year will be a time for Catholics to study and reflect on the documents of the Second Vatican Council and the Catechism for the purpose of deepening their faith.

A great place to start for Catholics during the Year of Faith is the Evangelization and Catechesis section of the USCCB website (www. usccb.org). Catholics will find catechetical resources, prayers and other resources that can be viewed and downloaded for free.

However, most importantly, the U.S. bishops encourage Catholics to pray daily, study Scripture and celebrate weekly Sunday Mass.

18

Joseph Ratzinger was born in Marktl am Inn, Germany, in 1927. He celebrated his 78th birthday on April 16, two days before he was elected to the papacy. He is now 85 years old. The son of a cook and a policeman, he felt his life was immersed in the paschal mystery from his birth on Holy Saturday and his baptism the next day in the newly blessed Easter waters.

During the turbulent years of World War II, the Ratzinger family moved into successively smaller communities in an attempt to avoid involvement with the Nazi party. They were not completely successful; young Joseph was drafted into the German army for a while, but deserted near the war’s end and spent time in an American prisoner-of-war camp.

He studied philosophy and theology; was ordained, along with his brother Georg, in 1951; and earned a doctorate in theology in 1953. For years, he was a professor of theology at various universities in Germany. He quickly became renowned for the depth and breadth of his intellect and, in 1962, was selected by Cardinal Joseph Frings of Cologne to be his consultor during the Second Vatican Council. He published numer-

ous essays, sermons and reflections over the years, cementing his scholarly reputation.

In March 1977, Pope Paul VI named him archbishop of Munich and Freising; he was elevated to the College of Cardinals in June of the same year.

Perhaps his most prominent position prior to the papacy has been that of prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. It is in this role that Cardinal Ratzinger was responsible for defending the orthodoxy of Church teachings.

Despite his difficult role as the enforcer of church doctrine, Pope Benedict XVI is known to colleagues, neighbors and friends as a gentle, pastoral man with a dry sense of humor.

As Cardinal Ratzinger, he lived quietly in an apartment in Rome, walking to work every day and chatting with those he passed in the streets. He is respected for his ability to listen intently and thoughtfully, even to those with whom he disagrees.

As the pope, Benedict XVI traveled extensively and wrote extensively. He authored a trilogy of books on the life of Jesus Christ.

After retirement, Pope Benedict will spend some time at Castel Gandolfo while a cloistered residence in the Vatican is renovated. He will then move into the cloister, and spend his time in prayer and contemplation.

As the 265th leader of the Catholic Church, Joseph Ratzinger took the name of Benedict. It is the name of the founder of the Benedictine Order, a saint known for his intellectual prowess and for saving Western civilization. St. Benedict is the patron of Europe, a continent Pope Benedict broods over as its adherence to Christianity shrinks. He may have chosen this name as a sign of his desire to strengthen and save the church in Europe.

And the name Benedict means, “blessing.” His papacy has been a blessing for the church.

The Law The Code of Canon Law addresses papal resignation in Canon 332 paragraph 2:

“Should it happen that the Roman Pontiff resigns from his office, it is required for validity that the resignation be freely made and properly manifested, but it is not necessary that it be accepted by anyone.”

Papal resignations: A historical perspective

Reuters

B

efore he became pope, he was well-known as the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, an office that was formerly called the Inquisition. He is also, according to those who know him best, a humble and gentle man, an accomplished pianist who loves Mozart, and a pastor whose greatest gift is his ability to listen.

His reign (April 19, 2005 – Feb. 28, 2013) was marked by a call both to restore traditional Catholic practice and worship in order to correct erroneous interpretations of the Second Vatican Council and to return to fundamental Christian values in order to counter growing secularization around the globe. He also often identified relativism with its denial of objective moral truth as the central problem of the 21st century.

These concerns informed many of his major initiatives as pope. He relaxed restrictions on celebrating the Latin Mass; he reached out to the Society of St. Pius X, a traditionalist, schismatic group, in hopes of accomplishing their return to communion with the Holy See; and he issued an invitation to Anglicans disillusioned with recent decisions by the Anglican Church to join the Roman Catholic Church.

In addition, Pope Benedict XVI affirmed the New Evangelization by establishing the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization in 2010. He followed this by declaring a Year of Faith, which continues through Nov. 24, 2013.

Reuters

special

P o p e B e n e d i c T X V I : pastor , scholar , pontiff

Acadiana Catholic / April 2013 / www.diolaf.org

Pope John Paul II with Cardinal Ratzinger

While the history of papal abdication is sketchy, at best, with various conflicting accounts, all agree that it is rare. No definitive John XVIII Benedict IX Celestine V Gregory XII example of a pope resigning can be cited prior to 1009 when Pope John XVIII is said to have died as a monk in Rome in 1009. However, even with this case, it is unclear whether the pope actually resigned.

The first clear case of a pope voluntarily vacating the Chair of Peter occurred in 1045 when the ill-reputed Pope Benedict IX sold his office to John Gratian in order to, as some say, be free to marry. However, he soon regretted his decision and sought to depose Gratian, who had taken the name Pope Gregory VI. King Henry III intervened in the conflict and deposed both men, along with an antipope (Sylvester III) who Benedict had successfully expelled in 1044, and named a new pope, Clement II. Undeterred, Benedict again seized the Chair of Peter in 1047 before being driven from it in 1048.

Then, in 1294, Pope Celestine V resigned after only five months (July 5 – Dec. 13) as pope. As he was a hermit, his election came as a surprise. However, he quickly fell under the influence of King Charles of Naples, which, when coupled by his inability to deny any request made to him, threw the Curia into disorder. Concerned about the effects of his decisions and with his own soul due to his lack of time for exercises of piety, Celestine V became the first to actually raise the question of whether a pope could resign. The canonist charged with determining the validity of such a step agreed that it was possible. Soon after, Celestine V acted on the new determination and resigned.

Finally and most recently, Pope Gregory XII resigned in 1415 in an attempt to end the 40-year period known as the Western Schism during which three people (Gregory XII, Antipope Benedict XIII and Antipope John XXIII) all claimed the Chair of Peter.

For continued coverage of the papal transition, visit www.diolaf.org

19

New doctors of the church named

Encyclicals published

Age of the pope at resignation

New saints that were to be canonized by Pope Benedict XVI

The process of electing a new pope will begin after the Holy Father officially ends his papal reign. The cardinals must meet in conclave no earlier than 15 days and no later than 20 days after the Chair of Peter is vacated. The purpose of this provision is to allow time for cardinal electors to make the journey to the Vatican. The cardinals will remain in conclave until a new pope is elected.

As for Pope Benedict XVI, the spokesman for the Vatican Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, has indicated that the pope “will move to the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo ... When renovation work of the monastery of cloistered nuns inside the Vatican is complete, the Holy Father will move there for a period of prayer and reflection.”

In terms of his name, official title and status, Msgr. David-Maria Jaeger, OFM, a professor of canon law at Rome’s Pontifical University Antonianum, told Vatican Radio in an interview dated Feb. 11, 2013, “We lack a law, so far, on the status of a former pope, of someone who resigned the papacy.” He continued, “It is possible either Benedict XVI in the next few days or his successor will make such a law, because many questions must be asked: What is the proper title by which to address a former pope? What are his immunities and prerogatives? There is a question of his international standing. All of this has to be settled ... There was never

Pope Benedict XVI

followers on Twitter at time of resignation announcement

20

a timeline

“The one who holds the office of the Petrine ministry must be aware that he is a frail and weak human being – just as his own powers are frail and weak – constantly in need of purification and conversion.”

“The pope is not an absolute monarch whose thoughts and desires are law. On the contrary, the pope’s ministry is a guarantee of obedience to Christ and to his Word. He must not proclaim his own ideas but rather constantly bind himself and the Church to the obedience of God’s word.”

– May 7, 2005, Basilica of St. John Lateran, on occasion of his taking possession as Bishop of Rome

any need to deal with it.”

This, in effect, means all we really know is the pope will remain a bishop until his death as he was ordained such through the sacrament of holy orders. Whether or not he will remain a cardinal or whether his title will be “Bishop of Rome, emeritus” as Vatican Senior Communications Adviser Greg Burke suggested in an Associated Press story by Nicole Winfield dated Feb. 12, 2013, will be determined by his successor.

April 19, 2005: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, elected as the successor to Pope John Paul II. April 24, 2005: Papal Inauguration Mass in St. Peter’s Square, during which he is invested with the pallium and the Ring of the Fisherman.

May 7: He takes possession of his Cathedral church, the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran.

During his papacy, Pope Benedict XVI took 24 apostolic journeys abroad.

August 2005: Traveled to Cologne, Germany, for the 20th World Youth Day. Subsequently, he has taken 23 additional apostolic journeys, the most recent to Lebanon in September 2012. He has traveled to countries in Europe, Latin America, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, the USA and has been welcomed as a guest at the United Nations in New York. He also has undertaken 30 apostolic visits within Italy.

Reuters

The next pontiff will face a plethora of challenges.

Attacks on the sanctity of life, marriage, family life and religious liberty are just the tip of the iceberg. Here are some others: Ongoing clergy sex abuse scandal | Abortion | Same sex marriage | Human trafficking | Rise of radical Islam | Pervasiveness of apathy toward religion/ practical atheism | Persecution of Catholics and other Christians throughout the world | Assaults on freedom of conscience

The pope in his own words

Acadiana Catholic / April 2013 / www.diolaf.org

Dec. 25, 2005: First encyclical, Deus Caritas Est, released.

Nov. 2, 2007: Second encyclical, Spe Salvi released June 29, 2009: Third encyclical, Caritas in Veritate released Feb. 11, 2013: Announces he will retire from the papacy, the first pope to do so since Gregory XII in 1415.

What is next for the church?

The Vatican has announced that a conclave will be called, perhaps as early as Holy Week.

What is a conclave: From a Latin word meaning “with key,” it normally takes place 15-20 days after the pope’s death. The College of Cardinals sets the exact date. By law, the conclave begins in the Sistine Chapel.

The cardinals will celebrate the Votive Mass and begin the election process Who participates: Cardinals who are younger than 80 have the right to vote for the next pope. They are attended by cooks, housekeepers and medical personnel. Everyone involved must swear an oath of secrecy.

What happens: The cardinals are locked in, to prevent any outside influence on their voting. Election takes place by secret ballot. Blank ballots are prepared and distributed. The electors write the name of the candidate on the lower half and fold it in two.

• Each of the active cardinals – those under 80 years of age – walks to an altar in order of seniority and pledges to perform his duty with integrity.

•E ach cardinal then places a folded ballot containing his choice onto a small disc made of precious metal and drops it inside a chalice.

•T he ballots are read by three scrutineers, or tellers, who are selected by lot. As the

names on the ballots are called out, one of the scrutineers threads the ballots together.

If a cardinal receives two-thirds of the votes, he is the new pontiff.

• If there is no winner, another vote is taken.

What is the smoke: The threaded ballots are burned, with chemicals to turn the smoke white if there is an election, and black if there is not.

What if they can’t decide: If there is no election after 13 days, the cardinals may suspend voting for a day in order to pray and discuss. This can occur multiple times.

Who can be elected: Although the next pope will almost certainly be a member of the College of Cardinals, any man who is baptized, and willing to be ordained as a priest and bishop, could be elected. He does not need to be present for election to occur.

The new evangelization Pope Benedict XVI viewed the New Evangelization as critical to combating the “dictatorship of relativism.”

Drawing from Pope Paul VI’s apostolic exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi (1974) and the teaching of Blessed Pope John Paul II, he called the church to re-propose the Gospel to regions “still awaiting a first evangelization” and to regions where the roots of Christianity are deep but that have experienced a “serious crisis” of faith due to secularization.

f r o m t he bish o p The Holy Father’s resignation came as a surprise, although he has hinted at the possibility in the past. This act took great courage and I admire him for it. He will be 86 years old in April; he has served the church well in various offices all of his adult life. It will be difficult to find a replacement who matches him in learning, insight and wisdom. His successor will bring his own gifts and talents to the ancient See of Peter, as the challenge of the implementation of the decrees of the Second Vatican Council continues to be the primary agenda of the church.

- Bishop Michael Jarrell February 11, 2013

Reuters

Pope in history, after Blessed Pope John Paul II, to enter a synagogue

What lies ahead?

Reuters

Pope Benedict XVI By the numbers

21

God’s love Holy Week traditions nurture gratitude for the celebration of Easter 22

Acadiana Catholic / April 2013 / www.diolaf.org

23

F

cover story

or God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”

(John 3:16)

Holy Week is upon us, signifying a most somber time in the Roman Catholic Church, even as the days lead up to one of the most joyous celebrations. For the entire Lenten season, the faithful have been preparing for that celebration through the church’s three traditional pillars of the season — prayer, fasting, and almsgiving — so that, on Easter Sunday morning, all may wake up and rejoice in the glory of Jesus Christ’s resurrection by declaring “Alleluia, He is Risen!”

This year, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a special statement, “God’s Gift of Forgiveness: The Pastoral Exhortation on the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.” It reminds us that, in the Gospel passage John 20:19-23, “the Risen Lord was proclaiming that all the suffering he had just endured was in order to make available the gifts of salvation and forgiveness.” Through this statement, the bishops encourage all Catholics to receive the sacrament of reconciliation as part of their preparations to celebrate Easter. [The full text of this statement from the USCCB may be accessed online at www.diolaf.org; visitors may click on the graphic located directly to the right of Bishop Michael Jarrell’s photo on the homepage.]

Church parishes throughout the Diocese of Lafayette have supported this endeavor for all Catholics to receive the sacrament of reconciliation by hosting a number of penance services and opportunities for confession during the Lenten season. For those who have yet to receive the sacrament, there is still time; please refer to your local parish bulletins for remaining opportunities.

24

Acadiana Catholic / April 2013 / www.diolaf.org

In addition to receiving the sacrament of reconciliation prior to Easter, Holy Week in Acadiana offers many other opportunities for people to embrace Church traditions and prayerfully reflect on the Lord’s sacrifices on our behalf. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, which many people might identify as the Mass where they are given palmetto branches — southwest Louisiana’s substitute for the palm — to take home after enduring an incredibly long Gospel reading. From a more enlightened perspective, of course, that long Gospel reading recounts the Lord’s Passion, beginning with his arrival in Jerusalem. Many church parishes begin the main Sunday ceremony with a Solemn Procession, gathering outside of the church, reading a gospel account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, and then processing with palms into the church — re-enacting John’s account that the people “took out palm branches and went out to meet him, and cried out 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel.” (John 12:13). For this same reason, the palmetto or palm branches are blessed, and Catholics are encouraged to take them for display in their home to remind them year-round of the joyous greeting Jesus Christ received on this occasion.

Holy Thursday marks another very significant day during Holy Week; it is the day on which the Chrism Mass and the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper are celebrated. In the Diocese of Lafayette, the Chrism Mass is celebrated on Holy Thursday morning by Bishop Michael Jarrell in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, with a multitude of the priests of the diocese concelebrating. It has become a tradition in this diocese, since so many of the clergy are present, to recognize the priest jubilarians — those celebrating major anniversaries of their priesthood ordinations during the current year.

Another heart-warming tradition at the Chrism Mass is the presence of students from nearby Cathedral-Carmel School. The children are temporarily excused from class so they can line the walkway between the Cathedral Center and the main entrance of the church, thus po-

By Stephanie R. Martin and Faye Drobnic | Photography by P.C. Piazza

sitioning themselves to greet and cheer on the clergy as they process into the cathedral for the beginning of Mass.

During the Chrism Mass, Bishop Jarrell blesses the oil of the sick, the oil of catechumens and the sacred chrism. These oils will be used in all church parishes throughout the coming year in the celebration of the sacraments. After the Chrism Mass, pastors return to their assigned parishes to celebrate the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper. In some parishes, a reception of these oils will be held before the start of that Mass. During this reception of the oils, parishioners carry the oils up so that the priest can receive and place them in the repository (the place in which they will be reserved).

Remember then, as we prepare to celebrate Easter this year, that this should also be our ultimate goal, to make ourselves worthy of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and to open ourselves to the power of the Holy Spirit, so that we too might have the strength and courage to walk through this world as disciples of the Lord.

The Mass of the Lord’s Supper is the first liturgical service of the Easter Triduum, which begins on the evening of Holy Thursday and concludes with the celebration of the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday evening. Though the actual span of time is covered by three days — Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday — the Triduum is really one cohesive liturgical celebration of the church, signifying Christ’s paschal mystery.

During the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, priests may perform the washing of the feet, commemorating Jesus’ washing the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper. This ancient ritual of the Roman Catholic Church actually fell out of common practice for a long period of time, but it was revived by Pope Pius XII in 1955.

Good Friday is a day of fasting and abstinence, focusing on the Passion of the Lord. For this reason, many Catholic groups participate in Passion plays or celebration of the Stations of the Cross.

Some church parishes also hold Way of the Cross services at some time on Good Friday. The official liturgy of the church, the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord, is held either in the evening or at the recommended hour of 3:00 p.m., in honor of the hour Christ died on the Cross. (Luke 22:44-46). It begins with the Liturgy of the Word, which includes an account of the Passion from the Gospel of John, followed by Solemn Intercessions that are prayed only on Good Friday. It also includes the veneration of the cross, when the cross is brought to the center of the sanctuary for adoration by all present. The congregation then receives Communion from hosts that were consecrated on Holy Thursday evening. No Mass is celebrated anywhere in the world on Good Friday.

Holy Saturday evening concludes the Triduum with the celebration of the Easter Vigil. This service cannot begin before nightfall. It actually begins outside the church, in the dark, with the service of light; the faithful gather around a blazing fire while the celebrating priest greets them before performing a blessing on the

fire. The paschal candle is then brought forward, and once the priest has prepared it according to ritual, he lights the candle from the fire.

It is also at the Easter Vigil that men and women are received into the Roman Catholic Church through the Rite During the Chrism Mass, the of Christian Initiation for bishop will bless the oils which all Adults (RCIA). These catdiocesan parishes will use in the administration of the sacraments echumens and candidates throughout the year. are presented to the faithful after the Liturgy of the Word.

Finally, Easter Sunday arrives, and in the United States, in particular, it is tradition for all Catholics to renew their baptismal promises following the homily of the Mass. This day, however, marks the beginning rather than the end of the Church’s Easter celebration. The Ascension of the Lord is celebrated on the 40th day after Easter (or on the Seventh Sunday of Easter), and the culmination of the church’s Easter celebration actually occurs on the 50th day after Easter, with the celebration of Pentecost Sunday.

Pentecost Sunday celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus, thus giving them the strength and the courage to go out among the people to proclaim the Lord’s word.

Remember then, as we prepare to celebrate Easter this year, that this should also be our ultimate goal, to make ourselves worthy of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and to open ourselves to the power of the Holy Spirit, so that we, too, might have the strength and courage to walk through this world as disciples of the Lord.

25

Pray for our priests for April

be fire

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

J

esus is alive! Toward the end of Luke's Gospel, we find the stone rolled away from his tomb and two angels ask, “Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised.” (Lk. 24:5-6) But here's the rest of the story. He's right here, right now, with you and with me! The Lord has promised, “When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, you will find me with you ... and I will change your lot.” (Jer. 29:13-14)

There's a chorus in an old hymn In the Garden that goes, “And he walks with me, and he talks with me, and he tells me I am his own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.”

That's the intimacy God desires with us. His essential nature is love. (1 Jn. 4:16) It was poured into us when we received the Holy Spirit at our baptism (Rom. 5:5), but most of us never experience it.

That love, like the many gifts of the Holy Spirit that baptism and confirmation bring, often just needs to be turned loose to operate in our lives. I recently heard the story of a devout elderly woman who prayed with great persevering faith, but never felt that intimacy. Then, she was prayed with for what's called the “baptism in the Holy Spirit,” the stirring up of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. One day after that, she was in prayer and suddenly saw Jesus standing there. He said, “God loves you.” That very personal encounter changed her forever.

Not everyone who's prayed with for the baptism in the Holy Spirit has that kind of intimate experience, but it always brings a deep awareness of God's love,

26

and a thirst to spend more time with him. Scripture comes alive in ways that it wasn't before, and there's a great desire to share the love of Jesus with others. The Holy Spirit's still, small voice in our hearts becomes clearer and clearer, and the more time we spend with the Lord in prayer, the more there's a dialogue.

Catholic lay evangelist Babsie Bleasdell, who was in her 50s when she was baptized in the Holy Spirit, says that the Lord would share a joke with her and gently correct her when she needed it.

When the Holy Spirit is turned loose with his gifts, we know that Jesus is alive.

My own experience with this was almost 27 years ago.

When I was prayed with for the baptism in the Holy Spirit, I knew instantly that everything

the Bible says about Jesus is absolutely true. At the same time, I encountered an overwhelming love for me that was beyond any measure of time or space, and it was totally unconditional.

Before that moment, I would never have talked about religion except as an impersonal, abstract topic. When this prayer was over, I was on my feet before I could think about it, telling everyone there about that love I'd just experienced. Jesus had conquered my heart.

If you'd like to experience that kind of intimacy with Jesus, we're offering several “Life in the Spirit Seminars” between Easter and Pentecost. They'll be one night a week for about six weeks, and there's probably one at a parish within easy reach.

You can email me, graham204@ cox.net, for information, or call the Charismatic Renewal office at 337.265.3773.

Jesus is alive!

Graham Smith is the bishop’s liaison for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Diocese of Lafayette. He and his wife, Donna, were baptized in the Holy Spirit in 1986 and have been actively sharing God’s love ever since. They have three grown children and a growing number of grandkids. Donna is a lifelong Catholic. Graham became a Catholic in 1991.

Graham serves on the NSC Council, a national advisory group of renewal leaders. He writes and speaks about the Charismatic Renewal and about evangelization, and blogs at www.befire.us.

Acadiana Catholic / April 2013 / www.diolaf.org

Presented by the Serra Club of Lafayette 01 Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI 02 Bishop Michael Jarrell 03 Father Steven Kimmons, SJ 04 Father Donavan Labbe 05 Father Keith LaBove 06 Father Paul LaFleur 07 Father James Lambert, SJ 08 Father Keith Landry 09 Father Oneil Landry 10 Father Ralph Landry 11 Father Charles Langlois 12 Msgr. H.A. Larroque, JCD, VG 13 Father Bernard Lebiedz, OSB 14 Father Steven LeBlanc 15 Chaplain Col. Louis Ledoux 16 Father Mark Ledoux 17 Father Austin Leger 18 Father Lambert Lein, SVD 19 Father Martin Leonards 20 Father James Liprie, OSB 21 Father Thomas Madden, SJ 22 Msgr. Charles Mallet 23 Msgr. Curtis Mallet, JCL, VG 24 Father Jaison Mangalath, SVD 25 Father Wilson Matt 26 Father Dismas Mauk, SVD 27 Father Kenneth Mayne 28 Father Garrett McIntyre 29 Father Neil McNeill 30 Father Glenn Meaux Eternal Father, we lift up to You these and all the priests of the world.

Sanctify them. Heal and guide them. Mold them into the likeness of your Son, Jesus, the Eternal High Priest. May their lives be pleasing to You. In Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen.

your community the

good

n e ws

from

our

catholic

Our Lady of Fatima School

Fatima School celebrates 30th anniversary of its Special Education Department

sc h o o ls

Redemptorist Catholic School and St. Francis School

Generosity abounds in our Catholic schools

Sts. Leo-Seton School and St. Michael School

Rallies are a great way to show faith and spirit

Whether it’s in celebration of academic achievements or to share the love of faith, nothing beats the fun-loving atmosphere of a school rally.

Sts. Leo-Seton Catholic School in Lafayette recently celebrated the academic accomplishments of its students in grades 2-8 with a “Wild About Grades” ACA PEP school assembly rally. Students received numerous door

prizes and various awards throughout the event, and, as a grand finale, everyone was entertained with a surprise “flash mob” dance performed by the staff.

Following their successful routine, the delighted dancers cheered with students and other guests as they exited the dance floor.

Meanwhile, students at St. Michael School in Crowley celebrated the culmination of Catholic Schools Week and Grandparents’ Day with their

10th annual Faith Rally.

The theme was simply “Celebrate Faith” and each grade performed a specially selected religious song to portray a particular message of faith to the au-

dience. The rally continued with messages of God’s love from the rest of the school, including a number performed by the faculty and staff entitled “I Love Jesus Christ.”

Congratulations St. Cecilia cheerleaders

Congratulations to Broussard’s St. Cecilia School cheerleaders on their recent achievements in the following competitions: Parade of Champions Regional Championship - Division Champions and Grand Champions and Mardi Gras Nationals Division National Champion.

St. Cecilia School

28

Acadiana Catholic / April 2013 / www.diolaf.org

“He who has compassion on the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his good deed.” (Proverbs 19:17) Young people throughout the diocese are learning that a giving heart is just as important as a strong brain, thanks to the many generous activities being sponsored by our Catholic schools.

At Redemptorist Catholic School in Crowley, the student council has been hard at work gathering winter clothing to be donated to needy families.

At Sacred Heart School in Ville Platte, half a dozen sophomores volunteered to work a day at St. Joseph’s Diner in Lafayette, helping to serve food to the homeless and less fortunate. The students also brought canned goods and paper products which were donated by the entire student body to help stock the diner’s kitchen.

At St. Francis School in Iota, 4-H Club members hosted Ms. Lacey Shelton, community liaison for Miles Perret Cancer Services.

In the spring of 1982, plans were finalized for Our Lady of Fatima School in Lafayette to form a Special Education Department that welcomed students from St. Mary’s Learning Center. They began the 1982-83 school year with 20 special-needs children under the guidance of the director of special education, Sister Raymond.

Through the years, the directors, teachers and aides have made this program the school’s pride and joy. Their compassion and dedication have made the program what it is today. Mrs. Mary Guidry, who Ms. Shelton spoke to the students about the services offered by the organization, which provides medical supplies, nutritional supplements, wigs, prostheses and other supportive services and resources for area cancer patients. This inspired the students to go out and collect spare change to fill their “Change for Miles” bottles. An armored truck was later sent to the school to pick up the donations. The school’s pre-K students also took it upon themselves to collect 100 canned goods, in honor of their 100th day of school, and donated the goods to a needy family in the area.

Tell us about your school Send your catholic schools news to smartin@diolaf.org

came with the children at St. Mary’s School more than 30 years ago, is still working with them today.

These special children have touched the lives of so many and have taught their classmates about love, joy and compassion. They have been mainstreamed into the classroom, growing academically to help them reach their fullest potential.

Spiritually, these students have grown closer to God. They have been taught to love God, others, and themselves — and that they are loved in return. The DEC students, teachers, staff and Mrs. Guidry were all recognized at Mass for the kickoff of Catholic Schools Week.

Sacred Heart School

Sacred Heart Students return from Washington, D.C.

Students, sponsors and chaperones of Sacred Heart School in Ville Platte recently returned from their trip to Washington, D.C., where they participated in the 40th annual March for Life.

While the group was in our nation’s capital for the pro-life demonstration, they also did many other things. They visited The Old Post Office, as well as the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, where they assisted in the National Prayer Vigil for Life Mass.

They also visited the Smithsonian Museums before joining hundreds of thousands of others in the March for Life to voice

their opposition to abortion. The march took them near the U.S. Capitol and the U.S. Supreme Court.

After the march, the Sacred Heart group toured the monuments on the National Mall and quickly visited Union Station.

Later, they also visited Arlington National Cemetery and toured Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, including the Lourdes Grotto. They also visited the Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

On their last day in Washington, the group visited Mount Vernon, the plantation home of the first president of the United States, George Washington, and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

29

stay tuned!

On the Web and on the Air How to 'Stay Tuned' to Catholic News in Acadiana

H

ello, reader, and welcome to the “Stay Tuned!” pages of the newly designed Acadiana Catholic.

Whether you’re a long-time subscriber or a first-time browser, we hope that you are enjoying this official publication of the Diocese of Lafayette. Reading through the pages every month is a great way to feel inspired and to refresh your spirituality with each and every issue that you receive, but did you know that the diocese’s Department of Communications also provides two more great media avenues to help foster your desire to be an actively involved member of the Catholic Church? These “Stay Tuned!” pages are intended to guide you in using those avenues more frequently and effectively in order to keep connected with Catholic news and events as they occur throughout the diocese and even the world.

First, let’s take a look at the resources that are made available to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week at www.diolaf.org. Although the diocese had previously established a website in earlier years, this new version was launched near the beginning of 2011 to host a multitude of resources, including contact information and details on the many different programs and ministries

30

Acadiana Catholic / April 2013 / www.diolaf.org

sponsored by the diocesan central offices. There is also a diocesan-wide Calendar of Events located on the bottom half of the home page; only the top items of the calendar are visible here, but clicking on “View All” at the bottom of this section will take visitors to the full-length calendar page, and clicking on individual calendar items often will reveal more details about an event.

Of course, this calendar is by no means representative of every single Catholic event scheduled in the diocese — and is not a substitute for reading your local church bulletins — but it does provide an excellent way to find out about opportunities and activities that might otherwise escape your attention. The diocesan Web calendar is a great supplement to the “Things to Do” section of the Acadiana Catholic (located on pages 3637) and may even include additional event information, such as links to online registration when applicable, or updated details that were unavailable at the time of publication.

As long as visitors are looking at the diocesan homepage, they might also want to glance over at the lower right-hand corner to a section labeled “News.” Similar to the calendar, only the top items are displayed on the home page, but clicking on “View All” will open the full news page, and clicking on the headlines will display an entire news story. In addition to the Acadiana Catholic, these stories are taken from reputable sources such as the newswires of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Catholic News Service (CNS), in order to provide visitors with a broader view of Catholic news and interests from all over the world.

With the support of the Office of Radio/TV Ministry, www.diolaf.org also provides on-demand access to a number of spiritually based videos such as the Mysteries of the Rosary (English and French versions), past episodes of Tell the People, and special diocesan Masses and events as they are filmed on location throughout the year.

These Masses and events often are embedded as a video spotlight on the diocesan homepage, directly beneath the photo of Bishop Michael Jarrell. In future editions of the Acadiana Catholic, the “Stay Tuned!” section will also strive to highlight these videos as a means to further encourage you, our readers, to visit and view the video.

If you are unable to view a video spotlight from the diocesan homepage before a new video is posted, you can still access the diocese’s entire video archive (currently more than 200 videos) by visiting www.vimeo.com and entering

“Diocese of Lafayette, LA” into the search box. You do not need to create an account in order to view these videos; however, if you do choose to create one, you also may sign up to receive automatic email notifications every time a new video is uploaded to the diocese’s account.

Lastly, for those of you who just don’t feel computer-savvy, the Office of Radio/TV Ministry urges you to watch the weekly broadcast of its television program Tell the People, which airs every Sunday at 11:00 a.m. on KACT TV-3, immediately following the broadcast of 10:30 a.m. Mass. Every episode of Tell the People includes “Inside the Diocese” during which the host, Trista Littell, interviews a guest who offers some insight into a particular ministry, program, or upcoming event in the diocese; “Local Catholic News” with Stephanie Bernard, who further informs viewers about upcoming events; and “Interview with the Bishop” in which Msgr. Richard Greene interviews Bishop Michael Jarrell to gain his perspective on vital Catholic issues.

Tell the People also features a segment entitled “What It Means to be Catholic” with Father Michael Russo. This segment is designed to appeal to adults who wish to engage in the ongoing education of their Roman Catholic faith. In the future, “Stay Tuned!” will feature transcribed excerpts of “What it Means to be Catholic” to help further encourage all adults to continue learning about their faith.

In addition to the weekly viewing time on KATC TV-3, Tell the People also airs on Acadiana Open Channel (AOC) at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday evenings, and on KDCG TV (Opelousas) every Monday at 6:30 a.m. Radio broadcasts of Tell the People also may be heard on KLFT 90.5 FM at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday evenings; as well as on KSIG 1450 AM (Crowley) at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings (following the broadcast of Sunday Mass at 7:00 a.m.), and KVPI 1050 AM (Ville Platte) at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings.

A small archive of past episodes of Tell the People is housed on the diocesan website. To access this archive, simply type “Tell the People” into the search box. A larger archive of past episodes also is available through the diocese’s Vimeo account for online viewing at any time.

31

diocesan news

DID YOU KNOW? Rejoice in Hope Scripture tells us to “rejoice in hope” (Rom 12:12), and it is through this powerful invitation that many come to wholeness and healing. St. Augustine said: “We are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song.”

And St. Thomas Aquinas said: “We should be an Alleluia from head to toe.”

They remind us about the importance of our call to be men and women of celebration about our life as fully redeemed, fully loved and fully alive human beings. These reminders call all victims and survivors of sexual abuse to rejoice in the great hope that they will again, one day, be fully a thriver in the community—someone whose gifts are acknowledged, whose abuse is believed and whose life is valued by others.

For more information on preventing sexual abuse and on the outreach programs available to help victims to heal, please visit the “Safe Environment” section of the diocesan website, located at www.diolaf.org.

W HAT T O D O I F Y O U S U S P E C T A B U S E You must follow all applicable civil laws for reporting instances of suspected abuse. As a diocesan employee/volunteer, you must also report to your immediate supervisor and your pastor/principal/administrator. It is then your responsibility to make a report to Office of Community Services/law enforcement.

Within five days of oral report, mandatory reporters are required to complete the following form and submit to Office of Community Services.

• Department of Social Services, Office of Community Services: Written Report Form for Mandated Reporters of Child Abuse/ Neglect Also, if a suspected perpetrator and/ or abused is related to a diocesan/church/school program, a report must also be made to the diocesan victim assistance coordinator, Sister Kathleen Farrelly, O.Carm., LCSW, 337.298.2987 as well as to the Chancellor, Msgr. Russell Harrington, 337.261.5613 HOW TO REPORT ABUSE What to to if you suspect child abuse or neglect: On Monday, July 11, 2012, the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services launched a tollfree number: 855-4LA-KIDS (855.452.5437) is for anyone in the state to call and report child abuse or neglect.

One number, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to speak to a trained child welfare worker to report possible abuse and neglect.

By launching a centralized intake system, workers will be able to

provide a more consistent screening and decision making process of child abuse and neglect reports.

Information needed for report If known, provide: • Name, address, age, sex and race of child.

• Nature, extent and cause of child’s injuries or endangered condition including any previously known or suspected abuse to the child or to the child’s siblings.

• Name and address of child’s parent or caretaker.

• Child's family composition • Names and ages of all other members of the child’s household.

• Account of how this child came to the reporter’s attention.

• Any explanation of the cause of the child’s injury or condition offered by the child, caretaker or any other person.

• Any other information which the reporter believes might be important.

• The report shall also name the person or persons who are thought to have caused or contributed to the child’s condition, if known, and the report shall contain the name of such person if he is named by the child.

Remember: • Your report is a request for an investigation, not an accusation.

• Information you share is confidential.

• You should report EACH incident of suspected abuse.

The Diocese of Lafayette’s Safe Environment program is supported in part by funding received from the annual Bishop’s Services Appeal Campaign. To learn more about the campaign and to make online contributions, please visit www.diolaf.org and look for the special link located directly under Bishop Jarrell’s photo.

32

Acadiana Catholic / April 2013 / www.diolaf.org

parish life

Acadiana Catholic’s

2013 Editorial Schedule

St. Joseph’s Altar painting

Mrs. Sylvia Townsdin, a parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Lafayette, presented one of her paintings to Father Michael Russo, pastor. The painting of the Holy Family adorned the St. Joseph’s altar recently held at Fatima Parish. The altar, which was held on the feast of St. Joseph, March 19, was the sixth altar since the arrival of Father Russo, who is of Sicilian heritage.

Knights of Columbus squires retreat

Squires and Knights of Columbus members from across the state attended an annual retreat in Broussard. Along with fellowship and food, participants marched about a mile and half as they prayed the rosary during a pro-life march around town. Approximately 220 people from ages 1-80 attended the march. Father

Mary’s Little Angels

Immaculate Conception Church in Charenton recently began a new ministry they are calling “Mary’s Little Angels.” Held in conjunction with the parish’s 10:30 a.m.

Mass, the program is open to children up to the age of 6. At the beginning of Mass, they are called up and escorted out for a special Sunday school class designed to help them grasp Bible and Catholic basics. Activities include felt boards, games, coloring sheets and more.

“Mary’s Little Angels” is operated by its parent ministry, the Disciples of Hearts. Ministry coordinator Jill Dugas has recruited members of the parish youth group to help reach and teach these little ones as they prepare to become even more active in the Catholic Church as they grow older.

Father Gregory Cormier also will be overseeing “Mary’s Little Angels” and Disciples of Hearts Ministry.

For more information, please contact the church rectory at 337.923.4281.

Send your parish news to smartin@diolaf.org

34

Acadiana Catholic / April 2013 / www.diolaf.org

Keith Landry, State Squires chaplain, led the rosary.

Participants in this year’s retreat included squires from Leesville, Broussard, Youngsville, Carencro, and St. Amant. Also in attendance was Father Bill Ruskoski, associate pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Broussard, who joined Father Landry in speaking to the squires about the priesthood.

Seelos: Doctor of Souls, a one-man play

The Community of St. Mary Magdalen Church in Abbeville invites everyone to attend a performance of Seelos: Doctor of Souls on Actor Casey Groves Monday, April 8 at the Verperforming Seelos milion Catholic High School Auditorium. The performance is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.

Seelos: Doctor of Souls is a one-man play written and performed by Casey Groves, depicting the true story of a priest from the 1800s whose powerful prayers of intercession resulted in the healing of countless people.

The play is supported by funding from the Seelos Center of New Orleans.

All are invited to attend this special event; no admissions will be charged. A four-minute clip of the play may be viewed at www.stmarymagdalenparish.org. For more information, please call 337.893.0244.

Issue

Submission Deadline

Mailing Date

April

Jan. 30

March 22

May

March 5

April 24

June/July

April 2

May 22

Aug

May 28

July 18

Sept

June 28

August 20

Oct

July 30

Sept. 23

Nov

Aug. 28

Oct. 22

Dec

Oct. 3

Nov. 25

Share your good news with Is there a new Catholic ministry or program starting in your church parish? Did you and your fellow parishioners recently celebrate a special event or participate in a church-sponsored activity that you’d like to share with the other Catholic churches of the diocese? Here’s your chance!

The Acadiana Catholic is happy to accept news and photo submissions from volunteer correspondents throughout the diocese, to help highlight and share these special moments with all our Catholic brothers and sisters. The help always is appreciated, but please remember the following general rules and guidelines when making your submissions: 1. All submissions must be received in accordance with the submission deadlines, as indicated on the 2013 Editorial Schedule.

Acadiana Catholic

2. The Acadiana Catholic reserves the right to edit and/or decline all submissions based on the discretion of the Diocese of Lafayette’s Communications Board.

3. Digital submissions are preferred, and may be emailed to smartin@diolaf.org. Please include an identifying subject line in your email.

4. When preparing your submission, please be sure to provide your name and contact information so that the staff can get in touch with you regarding any possible questions.

5. When submitting news items, please provide all necessary details such as dates, times, location, and purpose of an event or activity. It is also appropriate to include a contact name and telephone number that can be printed with the article, in case our readers wish to request additional information.

When submitting photos for publication, please also adhere to the following rules. Sorry, but photos which do not meet these minimal requirements will automatically be rejected.

1. Digital photos must be submitted as either TIFF or JPEG email attachments. Refrain from submitting photos that have been embedded within another document, such as Microsoft Word.

2. Refrain from submitting photos, either digitally scanned or hard copies, that are: a. Dark or poorly lit b. Blurry or out of focus c. Damaged—scratched, torn, or otherwise visibly altered 3. Digital photos must be submitted as a reasonable file size that will allow the photo to be resized accordingly. It is recommended that you set your digital camera to save your photos to the largest file size allowed.

35

things to do April 1

Holy Hour for Vocations

6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

St. Patrick Church, Lafayette St. Patrick Church in Lafayette invites everyone to join their community in praying for vocations and the spiritual renewal of priests.

April 2

Food for the Journey

12:00 noon Hotel Acadiana, Lafayette Sponsored by the Central Region of the Diocese of Lafayette, the presentation for this monthly lunchtime speaker series will begin at noon. An optional buffet lunch is available beginning at 11:30 a.m. ($12 per person). Preregistration is not required, and all are welcome. For more information, please call Mary Bergeron 337.654.8682 or visit www.centralregiononline.org.

April 7

Divine Mercy Sunday Celebration

2:00 p.m.

Our Lady of Fatima Church, Lafayette All are invited to participate in the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet and other prayers, and the opportunity to receive the sacrament of reconciliation. Mass will be celebrated at 3 p.m. For more information, contact Mary Bergeron by telephone at 337.654.8682 or email at mbergeron@diolaf.org.

April 8

Our Lady’s Rosary Makers

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon Immaculata Center, Lafayette Looking for ways to donate your time and talents?

Consider joining Our Lady’s Rosary Makers, a group of volunteers overseen by the Diocese of Lafayette’s Office of Pro-Life Apostolate. The group meets once a month to help make and prepare pro-life rosaries to be distributed throughout the world. For further details, please visit the Office of Pro-Life Apostolate page at www.diolaf.org; look for the “Rosary Makers” link located under the “Programs and Ministries” section.

April 11

Companions Along the Journey

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Immaculata Center, Lafayette This bereavement support group offers a safe, nonjudgmental place for people to do their grief work through prayer, meditation, music, education-based articles on understanding grief, and small group sharing to honor and acknowledge the reality of personal loss of a loved one.

36

Acadiana Catholic / April 2013 / www.diolaf.com www.diolaf.org

The meetings offer opportunities for participants to find strength in the shared activities in order to move through the losses of life with hope for a renewed vision. For more information, please contact Karol Meynard at 337.261.5607 or Willa Blackwell at 337.261.5654.

April 11, 18, 25

Catechism of the Catholic Church: Year of Faith lecture series

7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Our Lady of Sorrows Retreat House, St. Martinville Renew your knowledge of the Roman Catholic faith with this Year of Faith lecture series on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. For more information, please call 337.394.6550.

April 13, 20

The Catholic’s Divorce Survival Guide

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

St. Edmond Church Hall, Lafayette The Office of Marriage and Family Life is pleased to announce the beginning of this new ministry to men and women who have suffered from divorce. Michelle Hernandez, licensed professional counselor, will facilitate the workshop, which is being offered at the cost of $50 per participant (this will cover provided materials). For more information, please visit www.diolaf.org/marriage.

April 14

Diocesan Marriage Anniversary Celebration

2:00 p.m.

St. Bernard Church, Breaux Bridge The Diocese of Lafayette’s Office of Marriage & Family Life Ministry will sponsor the annual diocesan Marriage Anniversary Celebration Mass, honoring those who are celebrating 25 or 40 years of marriage during the year 2013. Bishop Michael Jarrell will celebrate the Mass, and all registered couples who participate will be recognized as they receive a special certificate during the ceremony.

Pre-registration is required, and no registrations will be accepted at the door on the day of the Mass. Couples may register online until April 2 by visiting the Office of Marriage & Family Life page at www.diolaf.org and selecting the registration link located under “Diocesan Anniversary Masses.” Couples may also contact the office at 337.261.5653 for assistance.

April 15, 16, 17

“Faith of Our Fathers” Session 3

6:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Lafayette The Central Region of the Diocese of Lafayette invites everyone to attend this special Year of Faith event. Presentations will be made from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. each evening, and the featured speakers will be: Father Lambert Lien, SVD on the 15th; Father Kevin Bordelon on the 16th; and Father Hampton Davis on the 17th. For more information, please call Mary Bergeron at 337.654.8682 or email her at mbergeron@diolaf.org, or visit www.centralregiononline.org.

April 16

Annulments: What They Are and How to Go About It

6:30 p.m.

Assumption of the BVM Church Family Life Center, Mire Very Rev. Msgr. Robie Robichaux, JCL, VJ will present this informative session which explains what the church means by a delcaration of nullity and how to petition for one. The presentation is open to all. For information, contact Janeth Harrington by telephone at 337.258.0073 or by email at jharrington@diolaf.org.

April 17

EnCourage Meeting

Further Details TBA EnCourage is a Catholic ministry dedicated to the spiritual needs of parents, siblings, children, and other relatives and friends of persons who have same-sex attractions. Please call the Courage chaplain, Father Donovan Labbe, for details at 985.395.3616, or contact him by email at dlabbe@diolaf.org.

April 19-21

Married Couples’ Retreat

Our Lady of Sorrows Retreat Center, St. Martinville This preached retreat for married couples, directed by Father Michael Champagne, CJC, will consist of talks and meditations pertinent to living out the sacrament of matrimony.

To register, please call Cheryl Moss at 337.453.2385. Those who are interested may also want to note that another Married Couples’ Retreat is scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 27-29.

April 20

Search My Heart: a Youth Gathering and Adult Conference

9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Catholic High School, New Iberia Lunch will be offered as a part of this day-long gathering, with music provided by the Nathan Sam Band. Mass will be celebrated at 4 p.m. for those who wish to attend. For more details, please contact Deacon Jerry Bourg at 337.578.2423.

April 20

Boilin’ Bash

6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Blackham Coliseum, Lafayette Read more information and purchase your ticket online at www.ragincajuncatholics.org/bash, in support of the Ragin’ Cajun Catholics Student Ministry. Your ticket is also your chance to win the $10,000 raffle grand prize!

April 28

Eucharistic Adoration

Following 10:00 a.m. Mass Monastery of Mary, Mother of Grace, Lafayette Please join the Carmelite community in responding to the request of the bishops of the United States in praying to ask God’s blessing upon this nation in regards to the sanctity of life, marriage, and religious freedom. Eucharistic Adoration will immediately follow the celebration of 10 a.m. Mass, and continue until 5 p.m. that evening.

37

38

Acadiana Catholic / April 2013 / www.diolaf.org

1408 Carmel Drive Lafayette, LA 70501 www.diolaf.org