Catholic Connection April 2012

VOL. 21, NO.9 APRIL 2012

Old Easter Eggs

A Personal Story of the Resurrection

April 2012

Contents

Publisher Bishop Michael G. Duca Editor Jessica Rinaudo Regular Contributors Bishop Michael Duca Dianne Rachal Kim Long Christine Rivers Theresa Mormino Katie Sciba Fr. Rothell Price Mike Van Vranken Rosalba Quiroz John Mark Willcox Featured Contributors Kristen Gary Dotye Sue Stanford William Livigne Michael Straub John James Marshall Fr. Pike Thomas Jerry Rowe John Vining Jane Snyder Linda Webster Editorial Board Dianne Rachal Cathy Cobb Christine Rivers Rev. Charles Glorioso John Mark Willcox Kim Long Kelly Phelan Powell The Catholic Connection is a monthly publication funded by your Diocesan Service Appeal; mailed to every known Catholic household in the Diocese of Shreveport. Our Mission is to advance knowledge and understanding of our Catholic Faith among the faithful. We seek to foster the application of Christ’s teachings and our Church’s mission in our daily lives and to encourage our sense of Catholic identity within our family, parish, and diocesan faith community.

For a free subscription, address changes or article submissions: EMAIL: jrinaudo@dioshpt.org WRITE: C atholic Connection The Catholic Center 3500 Fairfield Avenue Shreveport, LA 71104 CALL: 318-868-4441

OR 800-256-1542 FAX: 318-868-4609 WEBSITE: www.thecatholicconnection.org The Catholic Connection is a member of the Catholic Press Association.

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Bishop Michael Duca’s April 2012 Schedule......................................................3 New Appointment and World Day of Prayer for Vocations.................................3 Slattery Library’s New Hours...............................................................................3 Bishop’s Reflection by Most Rev. Michael G. Duca............................................4-5 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Chooses CHRISTUS Sutton Children’s Medical Center by Kristen Gary...................................................6 Diocesan Wide Youth Rally Coming to Ruston in April by John Vining..............6 United for Religious Freedom by the Bishops of the United States...................... 7 Small Church Profile: St. Ann Church, Ebarb by Linda Webster.........................8 Second Collections for April by Fr. Rothell Price................................................9 Loyola’s Womens Basketball Team Wins State Championship

by John James Marshall...............................................................................10 School News.......................................................................................................11 Old Easter Eggs: A Personal Story of the Resurrection

by Fr. Pike Thomas.......................................................................................12-13 Annual Good Friday Way to Proclaim Justice by Dotye Sue Stanford................ 14 St. Catherine Community Center Introduces Gentlemen's Closet and Ministers Through Garden by William Livigne............................................... 14 Diocesan Donation Becomes Lenten Promise Through Fuller Center for Housing by Jerry Rowe............................................................................. 15 Celebration of Service Mass by Jane Snyder....................................................... 15 Stewardship of the Earth by Katie Sciba................................................................ 16 First Native American Saint to Be Canonized by John Mark Willcox.................... 16 Patron Saints for Baking by Kim Long................................................................... 17 Celebrate Easter Sunday Through Appeal Support by John Mark Willcox........... 17 Hispanic Corner by Rosalba Quiroz...................................................................... 18 News Briefs by Catholic News Service.................................................................. 19

The Diocese of Shreveport complies with Virtus’s Protecting God’s Children program. Classes are offered every second Wednesday of the month at the Catholic Center in Shreveport. To report child sexual abuse by a cleric or church worker in the Diocese of Shreveport, call Glennda Lawson.

Hotline is 318-294-1031 and your local law enforcement agency.

Around the Diocese................................................................................................ 20 Catholic Charities Launches Baby Supplies Initiative by Theresa Mormino............. 21 Four New Facilitators Trained for Protecting God’s Children

by Michael Straub................................................................................................ 21 Upcoming Events................................................................................................22 April 2012 Calendar.............................................................................................23 Rite of Election . ..................................................................................................... 24

Bishop Michael Duca’s April Schedule APRIL 1 Cathedral of St. John Berchmans’ Adult Faith Formation Program & RCIA Program; Cathedral of St. John Berchmans; 9:45 a.m.

Palm Sunday Mass; Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Shreveport; 11:00 a.m.

APRIL 3 Chrism Mass; Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Shreveport; 6:00 p.m.

APRIL 5 Mass of the Lord’s Supper; Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Shreveport; 6:00 p.m.

APRIL 6 Social Justice Way of the Cross; First United Methodist Church, Shreveport; 9:00 a.m.

Good Friday Service and Veneration of the Cross; Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Shreveport; 3:00 p.m.

APRIL 7 Easter Vigil; Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Shreveport; 8:00 p.m.

APRIL 14 Diocesan Youth Rally; Louisiana Tech University, Ruston; 9:30 a.m.

Confirmation; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Shreveport; 4:00 p.m.

APRIL 15 Confirmation; St. Paul Church, Minden; 11:00 a.m.

APRIL 17 Pro Life Oratory Contest; Catholic Center, Shreveport; 7:00 p.m.

APRIL 21 Confirmation; St. Paschal Church, West Monroe; 5:30 p.m.

APRIL 22 Confirmation; St. Pius X Church, Shreveport; 9:00 a.m.

Confirmation; St. Joseph Church, Shreveport; 3:00 p.m.

APRIL 25 St. Francis Medical Center Board of Directors’ Meeting; Monroe; 11:30 a.m.

APRIL 27 Southern Methodist University (SMU) Catholic Campus Ministry 80th Anniversary Celebration; SMU Campus, Dallas; 4:00 p.m.

APRIL 28 Confirmation; Our Lady of Fatima Church, Monroe; 4:30 p.m.

APRIL 29 Confirmation; St. Clement Church, Vivian; 9:00 a.m.

Confirmation; Christ the King Church, Bossier City; 3:00 p.m.

New Appointment

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ffective March 23, 2012, Bishop Michael Duca has appointed Reverend Matthew T. Long Associate Vocations Director for the Diocese of Shreveport for a term of three years. Father Long will work under the direction of Father David Richter, diocesan Vocations Director, while remaining Parochial Vicar at the Church of Jesus the Good Shepherd.

Published at the request of Bishop Michael G. Duca, March 26, 2012.

World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Fr. Matthew Long appointed Assc.

Vocations Director

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he World Day of Prayer for Vocations is April 29. Make a special effort this day to pray for all those men and women who have chosen a religious vocation, are persuing one or are discerning one. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has several prayers available on their website (usccb.org).

Loving and Generous God, it is You who calls us by name and asks us to follow You. Help us to grow in the Love and Service of our Church as we experience it today. Give us the energy and courage of Your Spirit to shape its future.

Grant us faith-filled leaders who will embrace Christ’s Mission of love and justice.

Bless the Diocese of Shreveport by raising up dedicated and generous leaders from our families and friends who will serve Your people as Sisters, Priests, Brothers, Deacons and Lay Ministers.

Inspire us to know You better and open our hearts to hear Your call.

We ask this through our Lord. Amen.

Slattery Library’s New Hours

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lattery Library now has a library technician on-site Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Come by and see new acquisitions including Patron Saints by Thomas J. Craughwell. Whether you're a priest, plumber or journalist, you will be able to find a heavenly helper. Please feel free to come by the library and see this and all our fine resources.

2012 Diocesan Directories Available for Order!

Directories are $8, including S&H. Please send checks made out to Diocese of Shreveport and this form to: Diocese of Shreveport Attn: Diocesan Directories 3500 Fairfield Avenue Shreveport, LA 71104 There is a limited supply and they will be sold on a first come, first serve basis.

I would like to purchase _______ copies at $8 each.

Name: ______________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________ City, State and Zip: ____________________________________ Phone Number: _______________________________________

La Reflexión del Obispo

por Obispo Michael G. Duca ¡

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RISTO HA RESUCITADO! ¡EN VERDAD ESTA RESUCITADO!

Siempre he estado un poco en desventaja en como saludar a la gente en el tiempo de Pascua. El saludo común es “Felices Pascuas”, pero ese saludo se siente tan pequeño para la celebración de este evento central de nuestra fe.

También se siente un poco seglar o mundano como los saludos comunes como el de “que tengas un bonito día.”

El saludo de Pascua yo creo que vale la pena en esta gran fiesta ya que es con el saludo que comencé este artículo que se origina en la Pascua Católica y la Pascua Ortodoxa. Este saludo no es un simple deseo de que el otro tendrá una celebración feliz de Pascua, sino más bien es una proclamación que brota de y está en el centro del misterio de nuestra fe en Cristo Resucitado de la muerte. En mi saludo/proclamación, “¡CRISTO HA RESUCITADO!” y después en la respuesta, “¡DE VERDAD HA RESUCITADO!” estamos toda la iglesia viva en ese momento de encuentro vivo, proclamando y dando testigo a nuestra fe común en el Señor Resucitado. ¡CRISTO HA RESUCITADO! ¡EN VERDAD ESTA RESUCITADO! Esta Cuaresma pasada fue difícil para mí, no en mis actos personales de penitencia o en los compromisos de caridad, sino en tener que enfrentar realidades que PUEDEN presentarse si la nueva ley de salud (HHS) cumple su mandato de no restaurar nuestra libertad de excluir el control natal y otros procedimientos moralmente reprobables como la esterilización en el seguro de salud que ofrecemos a nuestros empleados. Les pido que tomen el tiempo cuidadosamente de leer la declaración de los obispos de América en la siguiente página que da una explicación concisa sobre este asunto. Enfrentar este desafío como obispo ha sido difícil pero también ha sido difícil a un nivel personal.

Siempre, desde mis primeros momentos de conciencia, he creído ser un buen católico y un buen ciudadano. Estoy orgulloso de la historia de las diócesis y

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de las comunidades religiosas que han traído cuidados médicos y hospitales a las áreas remotas de nuestro país desde los tiempos cuando todavía éramos una nación en desarrollo. Estoy orgulloso de cómo hemos cuidado a los inmigrantes y creado un sistema de educación de Escuelas Católicas y universidades de excelencia académica. He apreciado y agradecidamente orado por la libertad que disfrutamos como católicos de hacer oración a Dios sin interferencia y de administrar nuestras instituciones Católicas en la luz de esa misma fe.

Es difícil personalmente considerar la posibilidad de tener que decidir entre ser un buen ciudadano y ser un buen católico. Algunos dirán que este no es un tema de gran discusión, pero, en efecto, es un tema muy importante que define

"The Glory of Christ."

(CNS photo/Stephen B. Whatley)

la libertad que tenemos como Iglesia en los Estados Unidos y la influencia del gobierno federal en la administración de nuestras instituciones católicas. ¡CRISTO HA RESUCITADO! ¡EN VERDAD ESTA RESUCITADO! Este nuevo desafío para la Iglesia requiere que consideremos la prioridad de la fe católica en nuestras vidas. Este desafío a la libertad de religión, tan grande como se está presentando, no es más grande que la esperanza que proclamamos en Jesus, el Camino, la Verdad y La Vida, que resucitó de entre los muertos para salvarnos de la oscuridad del pecado y destruir el

aguijón de la muerte. En Jesus tenemos la verdadera esperanza que da a nuestras vidas un significado eterno, una esperanza que ni siquiera la muerte puede destruir. Este mismo Señor viene a nosotros en la celebración de la Misa, en Su palabra proclamada y en el regalo de su verdadero cuerpo y verdadera sangre para darnos fuerza de llegar a ser mas como Cristo cada día. Este es el corazón de la Iglesia, es nuestra proclamación, nuestra esperanza y nuestro testimonio en la manera que vivimos nuestras vidas.

Esta es la libertad que nadie nos puede quitar. Así que, aunque mi Cuaresma ha sido difícil, no estoy de ninguna manera sin esperanza. Si se trata de escoger, la opción siempre será por Cristo. ¡CRISTO HA RESUCITADO! ¡EN VERDAD ESTA RESUCITADO! Tal vez la diferencia en el saludo de Pascua nos da de cierta manera una aclaración. Feliz Pascua es un buen saludo pero uno de cierta manera general que puede salir de nuestra lengua casi sin pensar, y que tampoco espera una respuesta substancial. El saludo “¡CRISTO HA RESUCITADO! ¡DE VERDAD ESTA RESUCITADO!” no se puede fácilmente decir sin que seamos atraídos al misterio de nuestra fe. No se puede tampoco decir sin dar un testimonio público de nuestra fe, sin considerar que verdaderamente creemos y como este testimonio se refleja en nuestras vidas. Se espera una respuesta que nos une y mantiene unidos en la fe. ¡CRISTO HA RESUCITADO! ¡EN VERDAD ESTA RESUCITADO! Los desafíos ante la iglesia de hoy nos llaman a reflexionar si nuestra fe católica es solo un título general que influye en nuestras vidas o si nuestra fe Católica es algo que apreciamos con un amor que influye en nuestra vida completa al ser testigo por la manera en que vivimos. Eleven su voz en contra de este mandato coactivo. NO se dejen influenciar por los medios de comunicación sobre este problema pero sí continúen hablando en contra del mismo. Sean testigos de su fe en su vida.

No solamente esperen una Feliz Pascua, sino que oren también por una fe en Jesús Resucitado de la muerte y en Su iglesia que nos mueve a proclamar: ¡CRISTO HA RESUCITADO! Y a eso yo felizmente respondo ¡EN VERDAD ESTA RESUCITADO!

Bishop’s Reflection

by Bishop Michael G.Duca

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HRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! I have always been at a loss for how to greet people at Easter.

I suppose the default common greeting is “Happy Easter” but that has always seemed too small for so wondrous a Solemnity of our Faith. It is also a little secular, mundane like “Have a nice day.” The greeting I believe is big enough is the one above that comes out of the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox traditions. This greeting is not a simple desire that the other will have a good time but rather a PROCLAMATION that flows out of and draws us into the center of the mystery of our faith in Christ Risen from the dead for our salvation. In my greeting/ proclamation, “CHRIST IS RISEN!” and then the response of the other, “HE IS RISEN INDEED!” we are, in that moment of encounter, together the Church alive, proclaiming and giving witness to our common faith in the Risen Lord.

CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! This past Lent was a hard Lent for me, not in my personal acts of penance or commitments of charity, but in having to face the realities that MAY come our way if the new HHS mandates do not restore our freedom to exclude birth control and other morally objectionable abortafacients and procedures for sterilization from the health insurance we offers our employees. I have had some ask, “Why are the bishops being so difficult? It is not that big of a deal.” But IT IS A BIG ISSUE. I ask that you take the time to carefully read the statement of the American bishops on the next page that gives a succinct explanation of the issue at hand. Facing this as a bishop is challenging, but it has been difficult also on a personal level. I have always, from my first moments of awareness, always believed that being a good Catholic and being a good citizen were not only compatible but also mutually beneficial. I have always been proud of the history of our dioceses and religious communities who brought medical care and hospitals to remote areas in a time when we were still a developing nation. I am proud of how we cared for immigrants and created

Three women bring ointment to Christ’s tomb and discover it open in this artwork attributed to illuminator Cristoforo de Predis. (CNS photo/courtesy of Alinari, Art Resource)

an education system of Catholic schools and colleges that still excel academically.

I have cherished and thankfully prayed for the freedom we enjoy as Catholics to worship God without interference and to administer our Catholic institutions in light of that same faith. It is personally difficult to consider the possibility of having to decide between being a good citizen and being a good Catholic. This is the possible BIG DEAL that we are confronting as a Church.

CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! Of course all these challenges to the Church bring to us an opportunity to consider the priority of our Catholic faith in our lives. This challenge to the freedom of religion, as big as it is, is nowhere near as big as the hope we proclaim in Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life, who was raised from the dead to save us from the darkness of sin and to take away the sting of death. In Jesus we have the true hope that gives our lives an eternal meaning, a hope that not even death can destroy. This same Lord comes to us in the celebration of the Mass as Eucharistic food, His true body and blood to strengthen us to become more like Christ each day.

This is the heart of the Church, it is our proclamation, our hope and our witness in the way we live our lives. This is a freedom no one can take away. So as difficult as my Lent has been I am not in any way without hope. If it comes to a choice, I choose Christ.

CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! Maybe the difference in the Easter greetings gives us some insight. Happy Easter is a good greeting but a somewhat generic one that can come off the tongue almost without thinking, and is certainly not expecting a substantial response.

Whereas the greeting “CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!” can not easily be said without us being pulled into the mystery of our faith, without giving a public witness of our faith, without considering what I truly believe and how it is reflected in my life. The greeting expects a response that ties us together in that faith, that unites us in the Church.

CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! The challenges before the Church today are calling us to consider whether our Catholic faith is just a generic title that has little influence in our lives or whether our Catholic faith is something that we embrace with a love that influences our whole lives and that we give witness to in the way we live. Speak out against this coercive mandate. Do not be pulled into the media downplay of the issue but continue to speak out against it. Give witness to your faith in your life. Do not just hope for a Happy Easter, but rather pray for a faith in Jesus Risen from the dead and in His Church that moves us to proclaim: “CHRIST IS RISEN!” And to that I gladly respond, “HE IS RISEN INDEED!” 5 4

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Chooses CHRISTUS Sutton Children's Medial Center | by Kristen Gary

Diocesan Wide Youth Rally Coming to Ruston in April | by John Vining

Dr. William Lunn, Administrator of CHRISTUS Sutton Children’s Medical Center, introduces Sr. Rose Marie McDermott during the Children’s Miracle Announcement.

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he Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has chosen CHRISTUS Sutton Children’s Medical Center as a member of their network of 170 children’s hospitals in the U.S. CHRISTUS Sutton Children’s joins a prestigious list of member hospitals including Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Texas Children’s in Houston and Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore.

John Lauck, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals President and CEO, said “Sutton Children’s was chosen as a member hospital due to the excellent quality of care they provide for regional kids. The hospital now has access to a North American network of 170 elite health institutions and fundraising resources to further advance their operations. We look forward to Sutton Children’s continuing improvement as a member hospital.”

Stephen F. Wright, CEO of CHRISTUS Health Louisiana, said “This designation is considered a recognition of excellence among children’s hospitals. This partnership assures our community that the services being delivered to children in Northern Louisiana and Texas by CHRISTUS Sutton Children’s Medical Center are of the highest quality available nationwide.”

While Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is a national partnership, 100 percent of donations stays in the local community to be used to pay for the cost of caring for pediatric health needs, to purchase equipment and to fund research and training.

William Lunn, MD, COO of CHRISTUS Health Shreveport– Bossier, discussed how people could help support the children’s hospital. “As you stop by one of the participating Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals corporate partners like Walmart, Sam’s Club, Kroger, Rite Aid and many others, please consider purchasing a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals ‘Miracle Balloon’. These funds will be used by the hospital where the money is needed most, including new equipment, child life services, uncompensated care and research.” Sutton Children’s joins other CHRISTUS hospitals, including CHRISTUS Cabrini Women’s & Children’s Hospital in Alexandria, CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital in Lake Charles and CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital in San Antonio as Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Sutton Children’s Medical Center is recognized as a preeminent community-based private children’s hospital that includes an inpatient unit, a PICU and a Level III NICU. Child Life specialists are available to help children cope with treatment. The Pediatric Emergency Department provides specialized emergency care just for kids.

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he Diocese of Shreveport is gearing up for its annual Youth Rally. This year the rally is headed back east and will take place at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston.

This year’s event is chocked full of great speakers, breakout sessions and music. Here are the basics: Who is coming? Steve Angrisano!

Our diocese is extremely privileged to have a talent sof Steve’s caliber to minister to us this April. Passionate about youth, passionate about the message of Christ, passionate about ministry, Steve will bring inspiring messages to North Louisiana.

What will we learn and discuss?

Priests, religious men and women and the lay faithful will present topics on beliefs and practices, the faith community, scripture, pro-life and emotions from a Catholic perspective.

Where is this taking place? Louisiana Tech University The Student center offers a large meeting space.

Registrations take place at Tolliver Hall across from it, but I encourage you to pre-register with the diocese and purchase your t-shirt today! The cost is only $10 a person.

When? Saturday April 14 from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Breakfast will be provided during registration from 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Java City will be open if students and adults would like to purchase coffee.

What is the food like? Excellent!

During lunch the student center will open up Burger Studio, Montague’s Deli, and even Chick Fil-A. Prices are very reasonable.

Why go?

Your diocese has a passion for every person in North Louisiana and beyond. We earnestly endeavor to share the love of Christ with everyone we meet because we know Christ changes people! He heals, he provides, he nurtures people’s lives. Not only do we have a spectacular group of breakout session leaders, we also have a group of adults expressing their love for you as they devote their time.

You will be encouraged, uplifted, prayed for and have your Catholic faith strengthened.

Please join our speakers, priests and a host of faith-filled youth coming together in Christ’s name the Saturday after Easter in Ruston. We have something wonderful to share: the Love of Christ!

United for Religious Freedom

Cf. Deus Caritas Est, Nos. 20-33. We are commanded both to love and to serve the Lord; laws that protect our freedom to comply with one of these commands but not the other are nothing to celebrate. Indeed, they must be rejected, for they create a “second class” of citizenship within our religious community. And if This is an edited version of the original text. Please visit our this definition is allowed to stand, it will spread throughout website, www.dioshpt.org, to view the letter in its entirety. federal law, weakening its healthy tradition of generous respect for religious freedom and diversity. All—not just some—of our he Administrative Committee of the United States religious institutions share equally in the very same God-given, Conference of Catholic Bishops, gathered for its March legally-recognized right not “to be forced to act in a manner 2012 meeting, is strongly unified and intensely focused in contrary to [their] own beliefs.” Dignitatis Humanae, No. 2. its opposition to the various threats to religious freedom in our A mandate to act against our teachings. The exemption is day. In our role as Bishops, we approach this question prayerfully not merely a government foray into internal Church governance, and as pastors—concerned not only with the protection of the where government has no legal competence or authority— Church’s own institutions, but with the care of the souls of the disturbing though that may be. This error in theory has grave individual faithful, and with the common good. consequences in principle and practice. Those deemed by HHS To address the broader range of religious liberty issues, we look not to be “religious employers” will be forced by government to forward to the upcoming publication of “A Statement on Religious violate their own teachings within their very own institutions.

Liberty,” a document of the Ad Hoc Committee for Religious This is not only an injustice in itself, but it also undermines Liberty. the effective proclamation of those teachings to the faithful One particular religious freedom issue demands our immediate and to the world.

For decades, the Bishops have led the fight attention: the now-finalized rule of the U.S. Department of against such government incursions on conscience, particularly Health and Human Services that would force virtually all private in the area of health care.

Far from making us waver in this health plans nationwide to provide coverage of sterilization and longstanding commitment, the unprecedented magnitude of this contraception—including abortifacient drugs—subject to an latest threat has only strengthened our resolve to maintain that exemption for “religious employers” that is arbitrarily narrow, and consistent view. to an unspecified and dubious future “accommodation” for other A violation of personal civil rights. The HHS mandate religious organizations that are denied the exemption. creates still a third class, those with no conscience protection We wish to clarify what this debate is—and is not—about. at all: individuals who, in their daily lives, strive constantly This is not about access to contraception, which is ubiquitous to act in accordance with their faith and moral values. They, and inexpensive, even when it is not provided by the Church’s too, face a government mandate to aid in providing “services” hand and with the Church’s funds. This is not about the religious contrary to those values—whether in their sponsoring of, and freedom of Catholics only, but also of those who recognize that payment for, insurance as employers; their payment of insurance their cherished beliefs may be next on the block. This is not about premiums as employees; or as insurers themselves—without the Bishops’ somehow “banning contraception,” when the U.S. even the semblance of an exemption.

This, too, is unprecedented Supreme Court took that issue off the table two generations ago. in federal law, which has long been generous in protecting the Indeed, this is not about the Church wanting to force anybody to rights of individuals not to act against their religious beliefs or do anything; it is instead about the federal government forcing moral convictions.

We have consistently supported these rights, the Church—consisting of its faithful and all but a few of its particularly in the area of protecting the dignity of all human institutions—to act against Church teachings. This is not a matter life, and we continue to do so. of opposition to universal health care, which has been a concern We want to indicate our next steps. We will continue our of the Bishops’ Conference since 1919, virtually at its founding. vigorous efforts at education and public advocacy on the This is not a fight we want or asked for, but one forced upon us by principles of religious liberty and their application in this government on its own timing. Finally, this is not a Republican case (and others).

We will continue to accept any invitation or Democratic, a conservative or liberal issue; it is an American to dialogue with the Executive Branch to protect the religious issue. freedom that is rightly ours. We will continue to pursue So what is it about? An unwarranted government definition legislation to restore the same level of religious freedom we have of religion. The mandate includes an extremely narrow enjoyed until just recently.

And we will continue to explore our definition of what HHS deems a “religious employer” deserving options for relief from the courts, under the U.S. Constitution exemption—employers who, among other things, must hire and other federal laws that protect religious freedom. All of and serve primarily those of their own faith. We are deeply these efforts will proceed concurrently, and in a manner that is concerned about this new definition of who we are as people of mutually reinforcing. faith and what constitutes our ministry. The introduction of this Most importantly of all, we call upon the Catholic faithful, unprecedented defining of faith communities and their ministries and all people of faith, throughout our country to join us has precipitated this struggle for religious freedom. Government in prayer and penance for our leaders and for the complete has no place defining religion and religious ministry. HHS thus protection of our First Freedom, religious liberty, which is not creates and enforces a new distinction—alien both to our Catholic only protected in the laws and customs of our great nation, tradition and to federal law—between our houses of worship but rooted in the teachings of our great Tradition. Prayer is the and our great ministries of service to our neighbors, namely, ultimate source of our strength—for without God, we can do the poor, the homeless, the sick, the students in our schools and nothing; but with God, all things are possible. universities, and others in need, of any faith community or none.

A Statement of the Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

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SMALL CHURCH PROFILE: St. Ann Church, Ebarb

by Linda Webster, PhD During the 25th anniversary year of the Diocese of Shreveport we are profiling small churches around the diocese.

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t. Ann houses a robust place of worship in Ebarb, a small area of homes at the western edge of Sabine parish.

“We’re a real Catholic community,” said Maudie Woodruff who grew up in the area. “I like to think of our church as ‘old time religion’ practiced the way our parents and grandparents [did when they] came to this church.”

St. Ann Church in Ebarb, Louisiana.

Dedicated in 1935 by Bishop Desmond, the church looks much the same today as it has for the last 75 years. According

by Mary Lucille Rivers and Travis Ebarb, Jr. confirms Woodruff ’s to Ione Durr, a granddaughter of Homer Ezernack who was one of the four carpenters, a mule-drawn wagon load of materials memory. Fr. William Pierce, the resident pastor at St. Ann from 1953-1968, is shown motoring up a waterway in a small arrived each week on Monday from Zwolle with the head boat filled with eight school-aged children as he ferries them carpenter who boarded with the Albert Ebarb family. Friday, he to the parish for religion classes. A couple of the smaller boys would drive the mules back to Zwolle. The church looks very much the same today with the exception of a stunning altar piece are holding onto the gunnels fiercely but most are smiling. The children in the photograph have last names that are still very brought to Ebarb from Iowa by Fr. Tim Hurd. A front porch has common in the community: Procell and Manshack. A more been added, a wing for housing a resident priest was completed contemporary photograph on page 14 of that same publication in the early 1950s and the St. Ann cemetery was created just shows a group of 11 youngsters, all decked out in canvas-covered down the road on the way to Zwolle. life jackets, waiting by an all-terrain vehicle. The caption reads: “I started singing in the choir when I was in fifth grade,” said “Waiting on Fr. Pierce and getting ready to ‘cross the creek’ to go Woodruff. “The church would be packed with large families back home after catechism …” and lots of children. But when Toledo Bend came in, so many According to Monica Ebarb, some parishioners would walk people had to move and now there is just the one road into the miles to attend Sunday Mass. community from Zwolle.”

“I remember one lady who drove her truck to church always Recognized by the State of Louisiana in 1978 as a Choctawcarrying about 8-10 people in the front and back of her truck.

Apache Tribal Area, many of the residents are descendants of Apache slaves, Choctaw families on the Sabine River or natives of Any time Mass was being held, she was there with her passengers no matter the weather.” the Spanish mission of Los Adaes.

Monica also remembers the men sitting on the left and all “We older ones refer to the pews on the right side as the of the women and children sitting to the right, many praying women’s side and the pews on the left as the men’s side,” noted the rosary silently during Mass. She also remembers when air Durr. “This is a common practice in Native American cultures conditioning and a P.A. system were installed. and about 99% of our members are of the local tribe.”

“Before that, the priest just spoke loudly!”

Originally, a small chapel built in 1920 with $165 of Catholic St. Ann Cemetery is on the left as one drives into the center of Extension Society funding served the community. Mass was said by Fr. Bokhoven when he could get to Ebarb from St. Joseph the community.

“We used to have a men’s club called the ‘King’s Kitchen’ while much like Fr. Tim Hurd serves the parish today. Beginning as a Fr. Williams was here,” mission of St. Joseph Church remembered Woodruff. in Zwolle, seven miles away, “They’d have a little St. Ann was returned to bar-b-que maybe once mission status in 2005 after a year, and take care of 50 years as an independent the cemetery and the parish. church.”

“Growing up, we had Fr. Luis Antlitz is religious education here at buried in the cemetery St. Ann although I think under the main cross.

Confirmation may have He served as pastor from been at St. Joseph,” added 1968 through 1976, then Woodruff. retired. He lived with two A delightful photograph local families until his gracing the front cover death – Raymond and of the Images of America Joan Ebarb and Chester publication titled Around and Oma Procell.

Ebarb and the Toledo Bend Early parishioners await Mass inside St. Ann Church.

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Today, the community gathers at St. Ann Church for Mass on Saturday evenings at 6:30 p.m. Anita Manshack unlocks the main door around 6:00 p.m. and prepares to lead the rosary for the large turn-out of two dozen parishioners.

Among the early arrivals is Nicolette Ebarb and her cousin, Crista Chance, who go out onto the front porch to begin greeting parishioners.

“We volunteered to be greeters,” said Ebarb. “We like being out here and saying ‘Hello’ to everyone. And then we ring the bell. There are big crowds here at Christmas and Easter plus there are newcomers, the visitors who are fishing or camping on the lake.”

Woodruff ’s own great-granddaughter was present in the church when Bishop Duca visited as part of his initial tour of all parishes in the diocese.

“We had her in the choir area at the front of the church and she

Two girls ring the bell to start Mass at St. Ann’s.

started fussing,” she chuckled. “My granddaughter got up to take the child out of church but Bishop Duca told her to stay – that a fussing baby was the sound of new life in the church!”

Woodruff lives just a quarter mile away from St. Ann on the one road that leads in to and out of town. She and her family provide the music for liturgies, practicing at the church for special events like Christmas and Easter, but most of the time singing the hymns they’ve sung together for years. Mia Curtis plays the keyboard and other choir members include Monica Ebarb and her daughter, Amber Cartinez, plus other members of the extended family.

“We love our little church,” Woodruff said.

Second Collections for April | by Fr. Rothell Price, Vicar General Good Friday Holy Land Collection (Announcement: March 25 & April 1. Collection: April 6) Each year Catholics are invited to support Christians in the Holy Land by participating in the pontifical Good Friday Collection.

This collection offers us a direct opportunity to connect with and support Christians in the Holy Land, be witnesses of peace and to help preserve the Holy Places.

Franciscans and others in the Holy Seminarians Keith Garvin and John Bosco are Land are housing and feeding the supported through the Diocese of Shreveport poor, providing information and Church Vocations Collection. education, maintaining shrines and parishes and conducting pastoral to become priests of God. Know there ministry, just as Jesus did. Support are many faces not on the poster who are Christianity in the Holy Land. Please give being courted and cultivated for ordained generously to the pontifical Good Friday, ministry and consecrated life.

Holy Land Collection as urged by the Holy Father.

Home Mission Appeal (Announcement: April 15 & 22 Diocese of Shreveport Collection: April 28 & 29) Church Vocations Collection The Catholic Home Missions Appeal (Announcement: March 25 & strengthens the Catholic Church in the April 1. Collection: April 7 & 8) U.S. and its territories in the Caribbean God the Father started with two; now and the Pacific where resources are there are billions of human beings created thin and priests are few. This collection in His image and likeness. Jesus chose reaches out to those Catholics and un12; now there are millions of followers churched souls in impoverished zones of Christ. The twelve laid hands on of our nation, especially rural locations. some; now there are tens of thousands Your generous sacrifice makes it possible of bishops, priests and deacons. The to bring the light of Christ, the Catholic successors of the twelve accepted the faith, to those who do not have easy vows of some; and now there are some access to it. Through this collection, tens of thousands of consecrated sisters, you and I are Christ who went to all brothers, deacons and priests. The Lord the neighboring towns and villages to has a proven track record of doing a lot announce the Good News. with so little.

The further away from town one gets, This is our collection. This is our the fewer the resources and limited moment to shine and support vocations availability of priests. Through your to the priesthood, diaconate and religious participation in this collection, assistance life for the Diocese of Shreveport. With is given to 87 dioceses. The Home Mission your gift, we educate and spiritually form Appeal funds a wide range of pastoral men for priestly and diaconal ministry services, including evangelization, in the Church and women and men for religious education, mission parishes, consecrated life. training of seminarians and lay ministers, Please join your sacrificial generosity and ministry with ethnic groups. to the dedicated and persistent efforts Our mission diocese is one of the of Fr. David Richter, Director of Church recipients of a large grant from the Home Vocations for our diocese. Your financial Mission Appeal. Please give generously support is a significant part of his and know that your generosity will be nurturing vocations that are watered, returned to us in a very tangible and fertilized and brought to harvest. Please sizeable manner so that we can continue view the vocations poster in your parish to do the work of Christ and build the city and see the faces of our men in formation of God. 9 8

Loyola’s Womens Basketball Team Wins State Championship | by John James Marshall

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mid the celebration that continued in the locker room after the Loyola Flyers had won the Class 3A state championship with a 55-41 win over Albany, it suddenly hit senior guard Kiki Robinson.

“Wait a minute,” she said for all of her teammates to hear, “I’m going to have to take this jersey off for the final time. I don’t ever want to take this jersey off!”

Ninety minutes earlier, assistant coach Rob Horneman was giving his final defensive instructions to the team before the starting lineups were announced. It was the usual “you’ve got her and you’ve got her” discussion. Then Horneman punctuated his final words by looking each of the five starters in the eye with these words: “Heart of a champion.”

And with those words, Evandrielle Matthews, Cinderella Linnear, Jasmin Anderson, Alexis Martin and Morgan Rogers took the floor at the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston.

Awaiting them were the Albany Hornets, the No. 2 seed.

In addition to beating the Hornets, the Loyola girls were also trying to overcome a fouryear quest to get the top; time spent as freshmen watching the games before becoming eligible because of residency requirements; losing in the quarterfinals two years ago to the eventual state champion; being devastated by injuries last year but still making it to the state semifinals, only to lose to another eventual state champion and having a target on their backs almost the entire season as win after win piled up.

Finally it was here. When Rogers stepped in to the center circle for the opening jump ball, it was time to play 32 more minutes and finish the job that had started so long ago. *** Very early, it didn’t look so good. The last two things a coach wants is to get behind by so much at the start that they can’t climb out of the hole and foul trouble.

Though Albany scored the first two baskets of the game, the Flyers quickly established themselves in the middle of the first quarter and took the lead.

As he sat on the bench in the first quarter, head coach Kyle Tanner had to be happy that his team didn’t fall victim to some early jitters and had already taken a lead. What he didn’t like was that the leading scorer was sitting beside him.

Rogers, a 6-foot-3 center, picked up two fouls in the first three minutes. Typically, that would mean Rogers would sit out the rest of the first half and not risk picking up a third foul.

It’s not the first time that has happened to Rogers, but with the

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stakes so high, it wasn’t exactly in Tanner’s game plan.

But Tanner also knew he had a secret weapon - the five girls who were on the court.

Instead of an inside-oriented game, the Lady Flyers simply switched to a more up-tempo game and continued to keep the lead. Meanwhile, the intense defensive pressure by the Flyers was beginning to get to the Hornets. As long as that was happening, Tanner could afford to keep Rogers on the bench.

After holding Albany to only four points in the second quarter, Loyola had a 24-17 halftime lead. Neither team could get much offense going in the third quarter and the Flyers led 30-24 as they entered the final period, eight minutes to a state championship.

Early in the fourth quarter, things were getting uncomfortable for the Flyers as their six-point lead evaporated in five seconds as Albany made a three-point basket, stole the inbounds pass and made a layup. Just like that it was a one-point game.

But the Flyers didn’t have time to get nervous about it as Martin immediately broke free for a basket and was fouled. When she made the free throw the lead was back to four. Martin then made a rebound basket on the next possession and the lead was back to six with five minutes to play.

Albany never got any closer. Martin was named the game’s Outstanding Player, scoring 13 points and grabbing 18 rebounds. Anderson would have been a worthy recipient as well. She kept things calm as Albany continually applied fullcourt pressure. She had a game-high of 18 points and made four free clutch free throws down the stretch.

The Flyers, who have never been confused with a great free throw shooting team this season, made nine free throws in the fourth quarter under some intense pressure. *** Yes, Kiki Robinson did finally take the jersey off for the last time. But it was looooong after the game was over. When she did, the lasting memories of that night and that season were about to begin. *** Following the team’s big win, Loyola College Prep hosted a special lunch for the girls in the school’s brand new cafeteria, which will open to all students after Spring Break. The girls cut the ribbon to open the new cafeteria and were joined by school principal Frank Israel, Superintendent Sr. Carol Shively and Bishop Michael G. Duca, all of whom offered their congratulations.

School News

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ST. JOHN BERCHMANS School triumphed at the Regional Science Olympiad Competition in Ruston on March 10, taking first place. The team participated in 23 events and clinched 12 first place medals. The students will compete in the state competition in Hammond, LA on April 28.

St. John’s 7th grader Anastasia Means took first place at the Regional Social Studies Fair on March 8 and will continue to the state contest in Baton Rouge later in April. Our Regional Science Fair winners were Isabella Silvia, 1st Place - Energy & Transportation; Vinny Peavy, 2nd Place Environmental Management; Adam Cook, 1st Place - Microbiology; and Ben Hyde, 3rd Place - Mathematical Sciences.

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Kindergarteners and 6th graders at OUR LADY OF FATIMA SCHOOL collaborated in a presentation honoring historically significant African-Americans.

Students from both grades dressed up and gave brief speeches about the life and accomplishments of the person they were assigned. Louisiana natives included: Mahalia Jackson, Karl Malone, Kordell Stewart, Lynn Whitfield, Bryant Gumbel,

Aaron Neville, Clifton Chenier, Antoine “Fats Domino,” Madame C.J. Walker and Patrick Marshall.

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Jesus the Good Shepherd School’s 5th and 6th graders recently participated in a school science fair. The winning 6th graders will go on to compete in the Regional Competition at the University of Louisiana Monroe. The students had to be able to demonstrate and talk about their projects with the judges.

The grand prize winners were Zachary Shaw and Zach Burton, 5th graders who experimented with, “Are There Different Amounts of Iron in Cereals?”

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St. JOSEPH School students did well at the regional science fair! Sarah Bigham took first place and won an entry into the State Science Fair with her project “Can You Breathe?” Second place went to Paxton de’Pingre in Engineering Materials and Bioengineering. There were three 3rd place winners: Will Huckabay, “Can you taste what I see?”; Carrigan English, “Weather or Not Here I Come”; and Anna Beth Deck, “Happy Feet!” St. Joseph School also won the 3rd Place Sweepstakes

5 Award! We had the 3rd most winners place in the whole regional fair.

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St. FREDERICK HIGH School student Mason Hume Everett has achieved finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship competition. The competition begins with over 1.5 million high school juniors taking the PSAT, which is the qualifying test. Sixteen thousand students with the highest scores nationally were named semi-finalists. In order to proceed to the next level, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements, which include completing an application, having a consistently very high academic record, writing an essay, being endorsed and recommended by a school official and taking the SAT and earning a score that confirms the PSAT performance. Those that achieve finalist represent the top of the one percent of all high school seniors in terms of academic standing and test performance.

Mason has been awarded a substantial scholarship to Baylor University and will be attending in the fall. He plans to double major in Computer Science and Mathematics.

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Old Easter Eggs

(Photo by dallasweb. Sxc.hu)

he oldest and most precious symbol of Easter is not the Easter Bunny, but the simple egg! As a kid I never quite understood this but enjoyed the surrounding hoopla. Just about every Easter found us at my grandmother’s in Alexandria, LA. Blessed with a large yard, covered by ivy and several “wild” areas, it was the site of the miraculous event called “The Easter Egg Hunt,” conducted since the 1920’s by Fr. Pike Thomas for my mother’s generation as kids. This hunt continues to this day under my sister’s expert guidance.

On Good Friday morning many cousins gathered on the back patio under the exotic loquat tree around tables covered with newsprint where cups of dye of various colors tinged with sweetsmelling vinegar had been poured. These cups were placed in the middle of the tables and we could choose which one to use, for this was the Easter Egg Dyeing Contest! One did not wear one’s best shirt or frock since some of us went home hours later looking like we ourselves had been tie-dyed!

Then came the eggs, mountains of them – twenty dozen or more. It was never clear to me who boiled these eggs, but boiled they had been, and ready for the transformation each would make of them.

In the early years, we simply dyed an egg with one of the colors, but as we progressed in “age and wisdom” we (especially

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A Personal Story of the Resurrection the guys) labored to create the most unusual or ghastly eggs we could by dropping them into multiple dye cups. Our favorites were the ones which came out black-plum or sickly green! There were, of course, token prizes for the most beautiful egg, most creative egg and ugliest egg!

Following this controlled madness, lasting perhaps two hours, the older kids would be redressed in presentable clothes and we would attend an age-appropriate Good Friday service like Stations of the Cross with our companion adults.

My grandmother’s house was never quiet when we all descended upon her, sometimes 20 or more guests, but I recall Friday afternoon and evening, and Saturday to be “subdued” days, with lots of food being prepared for the Easter Feast. The adults tried to find activities for the horde of restless kids - a movie Saturday morning - but mostly we found our own games and hung around the adults’ chit-chat. Older kids were privileged to set the table, sweep the front porch, or clean up the branches in the yard (my grandmother had a rare knack for making “chores” into “privileges”).

On Sunday morning we would get into our best finery – girls with little hats and frilly short dresses, boys in suits, sometimes with short pants for the younger ones - and go to Our Lady of

Prompt Succor about six blocks away. This went off for naps during the larger table was one time we were not late, because the festivity. crowd (as today) was overflowing! Most of I never knew what happened to the the Mass, then in Latin and with the priest “sacred” eggs of that day. It was a mystery doing just about everything with his back we left behind returning home. But I do to the people, was a hushed silence – unless remember the pure joy of those several days punctuated by a child’s shrieks or one of the with great clarity. few festive hymns or chants.

The Lord’s Resurrection presented itself in The long awaited Easter Egg Hunt began the gathering of our “community” of cousins, shortly after arriving home. Everyone had aunts and uncles of several generations, the a festive Easter basket, and we all strained hugs shared by sweet-smelling great aunts, our eyes from the “starting gate” to find the boisterous dinner feast around the table, some head-start “color” amid the greenery. and meeting assorted fascinating friendEveryone hunted at once, but the youngest visitors from far and wide. kids had a chaperone so they wouldn’t be left How to experience “resurrection” in this in the dust. We kept a special eye on some of light? Well, perhaps the egg, with its “perfect our cousins from a particular family branch, form,” offers the reason for its connection who always seemed to emerge with the most with Easter. The reason the encyclopedias eggs, convinced that somehow they cheated. give is that it seems inert or “dead,” yet With a contains within loud “go,” it the seed of new ... the Easter Egg was a we were set life! That was free for the never shared with yearly symbol of the new frenzy. The me as a child, life which came from the whole thing but the Easter pure joy of being with those Egg was a yearly could not have taken symbol of the new I loved, and combining more than 10 life which came that with the religious minutes, but it from the pure seemed to last joy of being with celebration of Jesus’ an eternity. those I loved, and matchless gift to us.

When we combining that finished, with the religious there were exultant cries, momentary tears celebration of Jesus’ matchless gift to us. and pouting in between. Then there was the The New Testament Scriptures are all “bargaining” or “egg fight.” This was not to written from a “Resurrection” perspective. throw eggs at each other, but to grasp the The primary witness of the Early Church egg in a certain way and the one whose egg to the truth of the event is the accounts of was unblemished when the eggs were struck many appearances: Thomas sees Jesus risen together won the “battle” and the bruised egg but with the crucifixion wounds fresh on his itself. Our pushy cousins always won these hands; Mary Magdalene recognizes him only events, and many of the rest of us ended up when he addresses her personally, “Mary”; with few eggs. the Emmaus walkers know him only when he Then we went to the festive table for a dines with them. several hour feast, with the usual culinary Since that time people have yearned treats, but also sparkling stories, jokes, songs, for such a faith experience: “Resurrection poems and stories” from every age are legion, from toasts by all actual appearances to saintly individuals to present – the simple “knowing” somehow that the Lord including the Jesus Christ remains with us. Only one’s own older children faith experience can unlock this door; one above six cannot transfer these moments of faith from or so, who one person to another. were asked So we find “symbols” of this faith in the to “perform.”

Lord in ways to access him, as in Eucharist: A separate the Risen Christ again dines and celebrates nearby table with us! Perhaps this is the connection of was set for the story above and my own experience of the younger Resurrection, found among those we love, children, who both at table and in service to the world!

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Annual Good Friday Way to Proclaim Justice | by Dotye Sue Stanford, St. Vincent de Paul

St. Catherine Community Center Introduces Gentlemen’s Closet and Ministers Through Garden | by William Livigne, Community Center Coordinator Children in the St. Catherine Community Center After School Program tend to their broccoli plants.

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s Catholics we are called to stand with justice, yet it is not often that we have the opportunity as individuals to make a clear and decisive public statement in support of this essential Christian virtue. This Good Friday, April 6, you have such an opportunity! We invite you to join other Christians throughout the Diocese of Shreveport in proclaiming justice in a very public forum by a special “Way of the Cross” that seeks to unite the suffering of Christ with the suffering that exists in the world today.

This Good Friday remembrance will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church on Texas Street in Downtown Shreveport. Local social justice and service organizations will offer prayers, hymns and reflections at each station. Participants will walk a one-mile course through Downtown Shreveport while stopping at various sites. This annual liturgy will focus on the passion of Christ as reflected in the eyes of those who suffer abandonment, abuse, illness and poverty.

Bishop Michael Duca of the Diocese of Shreveport will begin the procession with an opening prayer. The 16 participating organizations come from a broad spectrum of creeds, backgrounds and agendas. The Society of St.Vincent de Paul is the sponsoring group. Those interested in attending this ecumenical service should gather by 9:00 a.m. on Good Friday in the parking lot on Douglas Street in back of the First United Methodist Church. The service will last approximately an hour and 40 minutes and ample parking is available at the church. Please come and join in this prayerful and reflective liturgy of Christ’s passion that proclaims a spirit of justice to be witnessed by all His followers.

For more information or to donate to help support the Walk for Justice, please call Dotye Sue Stanford at 318-8418208 or shreveportsvdp@yahoo.com.

N Route: 1. Society of St. Vincent de Paul 2. VITA - Right to Life/ Pro-Life 3. Fuller Center 4. Christian Service Program 5. Martin Luther King Health Ctr./ NW LA Interfaith Pharmacy 6. Mercy Center 7. Hope House 8. Bread for Life / Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross 9. Providence House 10. S'Port-Bossier Rescue Mission 11. LCADP 12. Centerpoint 13. VOA- Lighthouse 14. First United Methodist Church

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t. Catherine Community Center has established a “Gentlemen’s Closet.” This project was initiated because of a great need for assistance in outfitting men for job interviews, special church functions and other formal appearances.

Many are familiar with the “Dress for Success” programs, but in our community there is a lack of such programs for men. This new Closet is set up at the Community Center and is outfitted with a three-way mirror, giving the closet a formal store feel.

The closet is being stocked through the generosity of several individuals. One of our first beneficiaries of the Gentlemen’s Closet was outfitted for church so he could attend Sunday Services with his new fiancé. This gentleman reported that he received many welcoming compliments from the church congregation on his attire following the special Lenten Services.

Many local clothiers have been contacted through correspondence and personal visits by the Community Center Coordinator, and have been supportive and made verbal pledges of material support in the near future.

The St. Catherine Community Center would like to thank the following inaugural donors of the “Gentlemen’s Closet”: Mr. and Mrs. James Barnard of Barnard Services, LLC, Mr. Jerry Brill, Dr. Joseph Bianca and Mr. Fred Moss IV, President, Rho Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi and Friends, LLC Donations of navy blue, gray or black suits, sport coats and white dress shirts, sizes small, medium or large, can be donated at 7109 Henderson Street, Shreveport. Dress shoes of various sizes in interview condition are also needed. For more information, please call 318-865-9817.

St. Catherine Community Center has also set up a “Children’s Garden” for students of their After School Program. The children have a crop of broccoli they planted from seed and they are learning how to prepare the soil and nurture their plants to harvest.

The children tend to their garden on a weekly basis and discuss possible post harvest preparations, be it served raw, steamed, baked or all of the above.

With the assistance and guidance of Dr. Grace Peterson of LSU Ag Center’s Neighborhood gardening program, students will learn through cooking demonstrations how fun healthy eating can be. Dr. Peterson provided the seeds and fertilizer; the children provided the fun labor. As one can see from the picture, the children are quite proud of the fruits, or should we say the “vegetables of their labor.” As Mahatma Gandhi once said: “To forget how to dig the earth and tend the soil is to forget ourselves.”

Diocesan Donation Becomes Lenten Promise Through Fuller Center for Housing | by Jerry Rowe

Celebration of Service Mass | by Jane Snyder

partnership formed between our diocese and the Fuller Center for Housing of NWLA (previously published in the October 2011 issue of the Catholic Connection) is now announcing its commitment to build a home in the Cedar Grove area of Shreveport. The Diocese of Shreveport, the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans and the former congregation of St. Catherine of Siena Church donated property located on the corner of E. 72nd Street and Henderson Avenue to the Fuller Center. The property has now been re-surveyed and staked off for the construction of two homes.

The good news continues to grow from this wonderful seed planted last fall.

Hope House was one of the honorees at the Celebration of Service Mass.

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This donated property is the future location of two homes in the Cedar Grove area.

Funding for the construction of the first of these two homes has grown to a level that the Fuller Center has openly committed to start their first home build in the Cedar Grove neighborhood on Saturday, April 28 at 8:00 a.m. But there is still much work to be done. More donations are needed and our personal labor, representing the hands and feet of Jesus, is needed to be the force behind this construction. Please consider this opportunity for charity and action just as Randy Tiller wrote in his October 2011 article, “The Bible was very clear that neighbor should help neighbor.

Matthew 22: 37-40 states that two simple commands - Love God and Love your neighbor are the basis of God’s law. Our love of neighbor should flow naturally from our love of God.” The building of this home is significant in so many ways, the greatest of which is making home ownership a reality for another family that otherwise may be

destined to live in poverty, and to think that this all started with the generosity of our faithful evidenced with the signature of Bishop Michael G. Duca on an act of donation! So many firsts: first Fuller Center home construction in Cedar Grove, first new home for a family, first property donated by our diocese, and the first step in the hope of changing the life of another family along with their neighborhood. The Diocese of Shreveport, including the nearby St. Catherine Community Center and Catholic Charities of Shreveport, along with the Fuller Center form a strong nucleus for this change to occur. And let us not forget that this represents another opportunity for each of us to add our personal action to these “firsts” and for our support of the future of Cedar Grove.

You may remember that the Fuller Center of NWLA is committed to build 60 homes in the Allendale section of Shreveport. This commitment remains intact and they take great pride in noting that 43 of these homes have been completed. Their plans still include a neighborhood grocery store and park for the Allendale area as well as a re-purpose/re-use store for our city. Please join me in extending your appreciation for the accomplishments of this faith-based organization and thank them for their commitment to act on our diocesan property donation.

You can get involved by completing the volunteer forms that may be downloaded from the Fuller Center website (fullercenternwla.org/howyou-can-help/volunteer) and bring the forms with you on the morning of April 28. Or you can arrive early on that day and complete these forms on site. The work day is scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. with prayer and continue in a two shift operation (8:00 a.m. until noon and 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.). Please note that lunch will be served to those who participate in the morning shift. Please come and put your faith to action.

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n February 15, 2012, St. Joseph Church in Shreveport offered a “Celebration of Service” Mass and reception for all those who have answered the call to serve. They wanted to honor those volunteers who tirelessly give of themselves to serve those in need in their parishes and in their communities.

Many do so humbly and quietly without the need for recognition or praise, representing the hands and feet of Christ.

Over 150 people attended the Wednesday evening Mass, celebrated by Fr. Karl Daigle, the pastor at St. Joseph Church in Shreveport. Fr. Karl’s homily emphasized the reading from the book of James which says “to be doers of the word and not hearers only.” As Jesus identifies himself in every person, when we serve others we serve Christ present in each person.

The prayers of the faithful were offered by members of the congregation representing some of the many expressions of their Catholic community’s response to Christ’s call: JustFaith, Catholic Charities of Shreveport, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Hope for the Homeless, Vita, Meals on Wheels, Christian Service and St. Joseph Carpenters. They prayed for the Church, the diocese, those in financial distress, those who are hungry, the victims of violence, shut-ins, the homeless and those who have died.

Fr Karl offered a blessing to all in the community who tirelessly serve those who are less fortunate.

Fr. Karl thanked the Beyond Just Faith group for offering this second annual celebration of their response to Christ’s call: “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Matt 5:16).

Annual Report

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Stewardship of the Earth | by Katie Sciba

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t’s the beginning of April and by now springtime is in full swing here in Louisiana! Birds are singing, flowers budding and to hail the bloom of the season, we have Earth Day on April 22.

Very early in my educational career, Earth Day was a widely anticipated event. Every year in elementary school, we planted beans in Styrofoam cups, read books like The Giving Tree, and talked about the importance and impact of conservative consumption of the earth’s resources. By the end of the day, all of us were giddy over recycling and promised the teacher to shut off the water when we brushed our teeth that night. As several years passed, my fellow students and I expected the increasingly hackneyed “bean plant project,” but what stuck with me was the certain gravity of taking good care of the earth. “Going

green” is a common trend nowadays and though many participate in the effort for the sake of the earth itself (or maybe lower electric bills), ultimately it fulfills a divine order, decreed In the Beginning.

Immediately after he manifested the earth in its entirety – sea, sky, plants and animals – God ordained, “’Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over…all the earth” (Genesis 1:26).

The crux in that phrase is the word dominion, which comes from the Latin term Dominus, directly meaning “lord.”

From the very beginning, God has charged us with the responsibility to practice a sort of lordship; to be excellent stewards of the good gifts he originally presented to Adam. Stewardship, by its definition, involves managing another’s property or business. For example, a

16 17 Catholic Connection April 2012

king would require a steward to keep things straight and in order if he were away from the kingdom. Consider then, the magnitude and significance that mankind is called to be stewards for the property and business of the King of Kings. This task is no doubt very daunting, but St. Josemaria Escriva wrote that such work “is a participation in the creative work of God,” and through it we further reflect his image and likeness.

While the earth is certainly ours to accept and “lord over,” it’s still God’s gift to continue giving. We can’t accept the gift, however, without the grave responsibility inseparably attached to it.

As stewards, we know that we don’t have the total authority over the world that God has; but, when we take care of the earth, we allow God to work through us and He can keep offering it to mankind.

In other words, the garden will keep growing as long as we’re tilling it.

Our task from God should be done gratefully and eagerly – it’s natural, isn’t it, to happily (CNS photo/Paul Haring) care for such a glorious gift? Since God gave us the earth and asks that we exercise dominion over it, we should always strive for moderation when using its resources. Ultimately, we’re responsible for seeing that these resources are never exploited, so to speak, through excessive waste. We will have optimal use of them if we consume with caution, and ensure that future generations reap the benefits, too.

Considering Earth Day apart from excellent stewardship of God’s gift, there’s still the “green movement” and even legislation urging us to reduce and reuse. There are human laws to prevent us from abusing the earth; and while these laws might be needed to keep toxic waste from being dumped into the water supply, we need only to recognize our role as stewards to compel us to keep the earth beautiful.

First Native American to Be Canonized as Saint |

by John Mark Willcox, Director of Communications

A painting of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha by Meltem Aktas (Karen Callaway/Catholic New World)

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lessed Kateri Tekakwitha, who represented the blending of Native American culture with that of the first missionaries to this country will take her final step to sainthood at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on Sunday, October 21, 2012, when Pope Benedict XVI canonizes her as the first Native American saint. She was named venerable by Pope Pius XII in 1943, and beatified by Blessed John Paul II in 1980.

Born the daughter of a Mohawk Chief in northern New York, Blessed Kateri narrowly survived an outbreak of smallpox which killed nearly her entire family. She grew up within a very diverse community of both Indians and the many Europeans who were just beginning to flood into America. She came under the influence of French Jesuits and was baptized into the Church in April of 1676.

Despite many hardships that included being shunned by her own people for her new beliefs, Kateri became known as the “Lilly of the Mohawks,” for her chastity and her faithful devotion to Christ. She never married and committed herself totally to prayer, corporal works of mercy and even mortification of the flesh as she continually asked for God’s guidance in the Christian conversion of her people. You can learn more about Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha by visiting our archives and re-reading Kim Long’s great article on Kateri which appeared in the November 2009 issue of the Catholic Connection. (http://www.dioshpt.org/ connection/pdf/1109lr.pdf) Our diocese is enhanced by our many Catholics of Native American heritage and we welcome with joy this new member of the Communion of Saints who will serve as the patroness of the environment and ecology, as well as patroness to all Native Americans of our nation.

Patron Saints for Baking

by Kim Long

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his month my research is sparking my appetite! You see I, like many people, have given up desserts until after Lent. So you can imagine as I sit here reading about the patrons of baking I suddenly wish it were time to sink my teeth into something sweet and delicious and for a short while longer... forbidden!

The saints for bakers are Honoratus of Amiens, Elizabeth of Hungary and Nicholas of Myra; all very different but with God’s love and the love of God’s people in common.

St. Elizabeth of Hungary lived from 1207 until 1231. She was the daughter of Alexander II, King of Hungary.

In her early years she was sent to the court of the Landgraves of Thuringia (eastern Germany), to whose son she was betrothed. As she grew up she became more pious and in the fullness of time she married Louis of Thuringia and, in spite of her royal position, she led a simple life filled with works of charity and penance, dispensing bread to the hungry and devotion to God. Her husband shared her views and encouraged her. Elizabeth and Louis had three children and then tragedy ensued, Louis was killed while fighting in the Crusades.

After his death she made arrangements for the care of her children, and in 1228 renounced the world becoming a member of the third order of St. Francis. She built the Franciscan hospital at Marburg and cared for the sick and dying until her own death in 1231.

Among the areas of her patronage are bakers, bread, the poor and the homeless. Her feast day is November 17.

St. Honoratus of Amiens (or Honore’) was the seventh bishop of Amiens in France. His feast day is May 16. He felt himself unworthy of serving God as a bishop but legend has it that a ray of divine light descended upon his head upon his election as well as holy oil on his forehead. Clearly God wanted Honoratus for this job.

After his death in 1060, his body was exhumed and his devotion became widespread. His relics were invoked against drought. Bishop Guy ordered that a procession be held in which an

The Charity of St. Elizabeth of Hungary

by Edmund Blair Leighton (1853-1922)

Celebrate Easter Sunday Through Appeal Support

by John Mark Willcox, Director of Stewardship and Development

urn containing Honoratus’ relics were carried around the wall of the city. Rain is said to have fallen soon after.

In 1202 a baker donated a plot of land to the city of Paris where a chapel was built in his honor. It became one of the richest in Paris. In 1400 the bakers of Paris established their guild in the church of Saint Honoratus, celebrating his feast on May 16. In 1659 Louis XIV ordered that every baker observe the feast of St. Honoratus and give donations in honor of the saint and for the benefit of the community. He is the namesake of the St. Honore’ cake and the patron of bakers, confections, bakers of altar bread, candle makers, flour merchants and pastry chefs.

I looked up several recipes for St. Honore’ cake and let me just say it’s complicated! There are many steps, it involves whipping cream, puff pastry and lots of French words that don’t roll off my Irish tongue. The pictures, however, look delicious.To honor these saints after Lent is over why not turn off the television, put on some medieval music and pull out your favorite pastry or bread recipe and remember the willingness of these two human beings to be servants for the Lord. Ask their blessings as you are sliding your pans into the oven and give thanks to God for the opportunities Lent affords us, opportunities to grow in service and love. Then set your timer and as you wait with anticipation remember Romans 11:16 “when the first handful is holy, the whole batch will be holy.”

May your Eastertide be sweet!

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ou may have recently received a follow-up letter from your pastor asking for your Appeal support this year. Please be generous to the many Appeal programs and ministries that are available to the faithful through no other source. Did you know that the Catholic Connection is made possible through Appeal funding? Because of your Annual Appeal, this award-winning publication is offered to the people of our diocese free of charge, 11 months of the year!

Support of our monthly news magazine is just one of the many wonderful things made possible by our Annual Appeal. For our many readers who faithfully support our Annual Appeal each year, you are currently enjoying a product of your generosity. Thank You! Join with fellow Catholics throughout our diocese by participating in the 2012 Annual Diocesan Stewardship Appeal now by answering the letter you may have received, or by using the 2012 Appeal Pledge Card located in this issue of your Catholic Connection on the bottom of page 22. Giving via the web is available by visiting the home page of the Diocese of Shreveport at www. dioshpt.org.

Annual Report

17 16

Hispanic Corner

Misas

por Rosalba Quiroz

Bossier City: Christ the King Church 425 McCormick St. Bossier City Sábado 7:00 p.m.

Domingo 3:00 p.m.

Lunes 7:00 p.m.

Confesiones 45 minutos antes de Misa Marilú Rodriguez Tel: 318-286-1492

¿Quieres Resucitar con Jesús? ¡Tienes que Morir con Él!

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n este, el mes de abril y uno de los meses más hermosos del año donde las flores y los colores de la naturaleza regresan (resucitan) después de un invierno de muerte y obscuridad, reconocemos que como la flor más resplandeciente y hermosa que el mundo jamás haya visto, nuestro Señor volvió a la vida, Resucitó para no morir jamás.

Si queremos resucitar con Él tendremos que cargar con nuestras cruces de cada día; tenemos que morir con Él renunciando al pecado, aceptando que con su muerte cargó todas nuestras culpas y que solo por medio de Él podemos ser resucitados porque el es el “Camino, la Verdad y la Vida” (Jn 14, 6). Tenemos la obligación de proclamar a Jesús resucitado a los que no conocen aun de Jesús ni su misión de salvación. Sigamos pues al Hijo de Dios quien se humilló a sí mismo y por obediencia fue a la muerte (Fil 2,8) Jesús, como cordero destrozado y humillado muere cumpliendo la voluntad del Padre pero al tercer día resucita vencedor para mostrarnos el amor, la misericordia y la recompensa de la obediencia diciéndonos: “Dios me ha dado toda autoridad en el cielo y en la tierra. Vayan, pues, a las gentes de todas las naciones, y háganlas mis discípulos, bautícenlas en el nombre del Padre, del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo, y enséñenles a obedecer todo lo que les he mandado a ustedes. Por mi parte, yo estaré con ustedes todos los días, hasta el fin del mundo”. (Mt 28,16-20)

Farmerville: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church 600 E. Water Street Farmerville Sábado 7:00 p.m.

Rev. Al Jost Tel: 318-243-0115 Mansfield: St. Joseph Church 305 Jefferson Street Mansfield 2do Domingo 2:00 p.m. y 3er Martes 6:30 p.m.

Juanita Ibarra Tel: 318-872-5390

Programa de Radio Escucha en vivo todos los domingos de 8:30 – 9:00a.m. el programa católico “Al Que Madruga, Dios lo Ayuda” por la estación 92.1 F.M. o encuentra los programas pasados en nuestra página de internet www. dioshpt.org haciendo clic en español.

Calendario de Actividades para el mes de Abril del 2012 1 Domingo de Ramos y comienzo de Semana Santa 3 Misa del Santo Crisma, Catedral de St. John Berchmans, 939 Jordan St. Shreveport, 5:30 p.m.

5-7 Triduo Pascual de jueves a sábado 8 Resurrección del Señor 13-15 Retiro de fin de semana para jóvenes adultos, Scottsville, TX 21 Escuela de Ministerios: Escuela de Padres, Centro Católico 28 Segunda Reunión de preparación para Búsqueda # 3, Centro Católico

18 19 Catholic Connection April 2012

Minden: St. Paul Church 410 Fincher Road Minden 2do y 4to Viernes 7:00 p.m.

Margarita Bratton Tel: 318-377-9684 Oak Grove: Sacred Heart Church 201 Purvis St Oak Grove Domingo 5:00 p.m.

Feliciano y Rosa Alviso Martinez Tel: 318-428-2137 Ruston: St. Thomas Aquinas Church 810 Carey Ave. Ruston 2do y 4to Domingo 2:30 p.m.

Soledad Broyles Tel: 318-243-1958 Shreveport: St. Mary of the Pines Church 1050 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop Shreveport Domingo 1:00 p.m.

Carmen Bradford Tel: 318-455-2300 West Monroe: St. Paschal Church 711 N 7th Street West Monroe Domingo 2:30 p.m.

Lorena Chaparro Tel: 318-651-9136

Rosalba Quiroz, Directora del Ministerio Hispano 318-219-7265 Jeanne Brown 318-219-7257

News Briefs

by Catholic News Service

Biden Visits Guadalupe Basilica, Speaks of Mother's Devotion

A priest hears confession from a man in 2011 in Burgos, Spain. Confession can help Catholics build lives filled with hope and holiness, which are needed for effective evangelization, Pope Benedict XVI said. (CNS photo/Felix Ordonez, Reuters)

New Evangelization Also Begins with Confession

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ATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Confession can help Catholics build lives filled with hope and holiness, which are needed for effective evangelization, Pope Benedict XVI said. “New evangelization, therefore, also starts from the confessional,” he told confessors and other participants attending a course sponsored by the Apostolic Penitentiary -- a Vatican court that that handles issues related to the absolution of sin. New evangelization “draws its life blood from the holiness of the children of the church, from the daily journey of personal and communal conversion to adhere ever more deeply to Christ,” he said in his address March 9.

There is a strong link between holiness and the sacrament of reconciliation, he said.

The true conversion of a person’s heart that has opened itself to God’s transformative power of renewal “is the driving force of every reform and it translates into a true evangelizing force,” the pope said. The sacrament of reconciliation reminds people of God’s limitless capacity to “transform, illuminate all the dark corners and continually open up new horizons,” he said. Through confession and God’s mercy, the repentant sinner becomes a new person who is “justified, pardoned and sanctified,” who can become a grace-filled and more authentic witness to God’s love, he said. “Only he who lets himself be deeply renewed by divine grace can carry in himself, and therefore proclaim, the Gospel news,” he said.

Vatican Says Number of Catholics, Priests, Bishops Worldwide Increased

V

ATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The number of Catholics in the world and the number of deacons, priests and bishops all increased in 2010, while the number of women in religious orders continued to decline, according to Vatican statistics. At the end of 2010, the worldwide Catholic population reached 1.196 billion, an increase of 15 million or 1.3 percent, slightly outpacing the global population growth rate, which was estimated at 1.1 percent, said a statement published March 10 by the Vatican press office. Catholics as a percentage of the global population “remained stable at around 17.5 percent,” it said. The statement reported a handful of the statistics contained in the 2012 “Annuario Pontificio,” a yearbook containing information about every Vatican office, as well as every diocese and religious order in the world. Officials of the Vatican Secretariat of State and its Central Office of Church Statistics presented the first copy of the 2012 yearbook to Pope Benedict XVI during an audience March 10. Detailed statistics in the yearbook are based on reports from dioceses and religious orders as of Dec. 31, 2010. The percentage of Catholics declined slightly in South America from 28.54 percent to 28.34 percent of the regional population, and dropped considerably in Europe from 24.05 percent to 23.83 percent. The percentage of Catholics increased in 2010 by just under half a percentage point in Southeast Asia and Africa.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is surrounded by clergy and his security staff as he tours the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City March 5. (CNS photo/Tomas Bravo, Reuters)

M

EXICO CITY (CNS) -- Vice President Joe Biden prayed at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe while visiting Mexico City and later told reporters he would have stopped at the shrine even if he had no official business in the Mexican capital.

Biden visited after meeting with Mexican politicians and political candidates March 5. He knelt before an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and later spoke of his mother’s devotion to Mary. “She impressed upon her children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren that they must seek the intercession of the Blessed Mother, and I regret that she is not here with us,” the newspaper Reforma reported Biden said of his mother. Mexican media outlets reported Msgr. Enrique Glennie, rector of the basilica, showed Biden around the site in the northern part of Mexico City, where Mary appeared to St. Juan Diego in 1531. Religion and politics often intersect in polemic ways south of the border, but Biden would have none of it, rebuffing questions about his meetings earlier in the day with the three main presidential candidates for the July 1 election. He also met with President Felipe Calderon.

“I would prefer not to speak of the candidates,” Biden said. “I had a great day with the candidates, but I’ve had a better day here. I would have come if there were nothing but this.”

19 18

Around the Diocese

^

^

Children in the PSR program at St. Mary of the Pines Church celebrated Mardi Gras and welcomed Lent in royal fashion! The students participated in the Mardi Gras run, collecting items for a “spiritual gumbo” and then formed a dancing parade led by royalty from each class. Afterward, the Three Kings from our Christmas play served king cake just before we buried the “Alleluia” which will be raised again at Easter.

St. Frederick High School is serving the community by “extreme couponing.” Students are collecting coupons and shopping for items needed in emergency situations. These products are then packaged and donated to the Battered Women’s Shelter. In addition to making a difference in the lives of those in need of assistance, the students have realized the value of a dollar.

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Blue Star Connection, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing music into the lives of children and young adults who are fighting cancer and other life-challenging situations, recently donated a variety of musical instruments to CHRISTUS Sutton Children’s Medical Center. The initial donation included four acoustic guitars, one bass guitar, a drum set and an electronic keyboard, and the hospital is expecting more to come in the near future. Blue Star Connection “connected” with Sutton Children’s Hospital through local teen musician, Matthew Davidson. He and his mother, Ella Davidson, became aware of this organization through Matthew’s performances and networking at various blues festivals. Pictured: Matthew Davidson gives a guitar lesson to a teen patient at Sutton Children’s in the Teen Lounge.

^

ST. JOSEPH CHURCH in Bastrop had their annual Confirmation on Sunday, February 5. Pictured are the confirmands with Bishop Michael G. Duca.

20 21 Catholic Connection April 2012

^

Ash Wednesday Mass at LSU-Shreveport was jampacked with students and faculty. Bishop Michael Duca led the annual Mass and Sr. Margaret Mitchell, OLS and Carole Moon provided the music.

Catholic Charities Launches Baby Supplies Initiative | by Theresa Mormino

Four New Facilitators Trained for Protecting God’s Children

mazing things are happening at Catholic Charities!

Our volunteer program has enjoyed great growth and the volunteers are engaged and eager to do whatever is necessary and certainly, there is much to accomplish.

We have an especially faithful volunteer, Cedric Pinkney, who has single-handedly organized our food pantry, itemized and logged it, as well as provided many other in-kind gifts and even offered his services to paint Gabriel’s Closet!

Another volunteer spent many hours organizing and sizing the large amount of infant clothing items Cedric Pinkney volunteers for Catholic donated since we first announced Charities. this important undertaking.

Just when we thought everything was going well for our planned opening, we walked in one day to begin prep work for painting and found that the ceiling had fallen down in several places and that we had water damage because of a bullet hole in the roof! Thank goodness we’ve been storing the many donated items elsewhere so they were not damaged. We’ve received everything from baby beds to strollers, car seats to infant clothing and many other items that our low-income new mothers and their infants will need.

The repair work must be done before we can resume getting the closet painted and ready. There’s much to accomplish but we won’t let this little setback keep us from reaching our goal of a late spring/early summer opening. Doesn’t it seem that when we face this sort of disappointment, the Lord always gives us a reminder that He has everything under control?

Recently, Development Director, Theresa Mormino, attended the Russ Reid Catholic Charities Development Conference in Pasadena, California.

The Russ Reid Company works solely with non-profit organizations throughout the country to help find better ways to grow and to raise the necessary funding for successful operations and has worked with some of the largest non-profits in our nation. Throughout the conference there were sessions devoted to cultivation and donor relations, updating and best practices for websites and all social media, the importance of advertising and marketing and so much more. There were great opportunities to mingle with Executive Directors, Development Directors, Emergency Services Directors and others who work for Catholic Charities and Catholic Services across the country. Sharing ideas and hearing how others tackle the everyday tasks required to have a successful operation was one of the best take-aways of the conference. Now, we’ll be busy putting this forward-thinking information to practical use in our efforts to grow and serve those we minister to throughout our community.

Executive Director Jean Dresley continues to visit churches in the diocese each Sunday, telling our story and spreading the good news about Catholic Charities and why the organization is so important today and every day.

Jean’s thoughtful and moving talks help parishoners in every church have a clearer understanding of our mission and how we are working to accomplish it. Jean plans to continue her personal goal of reaching out to every church in the diocese and then spread out into the community to other churches and groups.

by Deacon Michael Straub, Safe Environment Coordinator

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Christie Weeks (Facilitator Trainer), Libby Campbell, Anne Hodge Smith, Michel Gallegos, Deacon Michael Straub (Safe Environment Coordinator) and Deacon Verdine Williams.

D

id you know April is National Child Abuse Prevention month? Did you know that it has been since 1983? This special recognition is designed for us to be aware of the abuses that occur to children and to be diligent in our daily lives to help prevent child abuse.

Blue ribbons are used to help us remember the importance of stopping child abuse and to remember the children who have died from abuse. Let us take time this month to pray for those who are affected by child abuse, those who are abusers that they turn away from their sins and for the many who are working tirelessly to prevent this terrible abuse against children.

For us here at the Diocese of Shreveport we continue to train those who are going to work with and be around children on how to prevent child abuse. We have a three-hour training program by Virtus that looks at how an abuser gets close to children and how we can stop this from happening. The people who do this training are called facilitators. We have recently trained four new facilitators for our diocese. Please pray for them and for all of our 11 facilitators who donate their time for this very important cause.

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Upcoming Events APRIL 3: CHRISM MASS The celebration of Chrism Mass is on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans. Most Reverend Michael Duca will preside.

The Holy Chrism, the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of the Catechumens will be blessed and the priests will renew their commitment to priestly service at this Mass. A reception will follow Chrism Mass in the Multi-Room. Everyone in the diocese is invited to attend.

APRIL 7: EASTER VIGIL MASS Sundown on Saturday, April 7 is 7:40 p.m. Bishop Duca has granted permission for Easter Vigil liturgies to begin between 7:30 and 8:00 p.m.

APRIL 14: DIOCESAN YOUTH RALLY The Diocese of Shreveport invites you to Louisiana Tech on Saturday, April 14 for our Diocesan Jubilee Youth Rally. Last June our Diocese participated in a 25th Anniversary Celebration and we want to keep that spirit of fervor and faith alive this April. Our theme is “Christ is the same Yesterday, Today and Forever,” which really speaks to the faithfulness of Jesus. We have a great program put together for you and your students. We will have Steve Angrisano, a Catholic

speaker in high demand at this event. We were also able to gather faith-filled men and women in our local area to present great topics that everyone needs to hear. The cost is $10 per student. Please register by calling the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry at 318-868-4441.

APRIL 17: PRO-LIFE ORATORY CONTEST The National Right to Life is sponsoring its annual Pro-Life Oratory Contest. The competition is open to all high school juniors and seniors who will address the issues of abortion, infanticide, euthanasia or fetal stem cell research in 5-7 minute oral presentations.

The local contest, now in its 24th year, will be held on Tuesday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m. at the Catholic Center, 3500 Fairfield Ave. in Shreveport. The contest is open to the public at no charge. The local prizes are: First place- $150, Second place$100, and Third place-$50. The first place winner will represent the Shreveport/ Bossier area at the state contest.

For additional information and entry forms, please contact Susan Flanagan at 944 Unadilla Street, Shreveport, LA, 71106, or call 318-861-6879 or go online to www.prolifeoratory.com.

APRIL 30: RENZI CENTER RAFFLE The Renzi Education and Art Center is selling raffle tickets for a hand-stitched heirloom christening gown, sewn with love by Cara Escott along with gorgeous

handmade rosary beads, crafted by Arlene Granger. The Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows had both items blessed by Pope Benedict XVI this past summer.

Tickets are $5 and can be purchased by contacting the office at 318-222-1414.

The drawing will take place on April 30 at 3:00 p.m. at the Renzi Center, 435 Egan Street, Shreveport. All money raised will directly benefit Renzi’s After School Program, which is free of charge and open to youth grades first through twelfth. You need not be present to win.

MAY 4: 20TH ANNUAL RED MASS The 20th annual western deanery Red Mass, honoring Samaritan International, will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Friday, May 4 at 9:00 a.m.

Bishop Michael Duca will be the homilist and all members of the public are invited to attend.

MAY 6: THE CARLOW CHOIR TO PERFORM AT ST. JUDE CHURCH The Carlow Choir, under the direction of John De Chiaro, will present a concert of sacred music at St. Jude Church in Bossier City. The concert will be at 2:30 p.m. in the church sanctuary.

The Carlow Choir has performed in the U.S., Ireland and Italy with a special performance for Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican in Rome. For further information contact the church at 318746-2508.

2 0 1 2 D i o ce s a n s t e w a rd s h i p Appe a l

I / We would like to contribute to the Diocesan Stewardship Appeal with a yearly pledge of: $10,000 $7,500 $5,000 $3,500

$2,500 $2,000 $1,500 $1,000

Please send monthly reminders to:

$800 $750 $650 $500

$400 $350 $300 $250

At this time I / we are enclosing:

$200 $150 $100 $_______

$_____________

Print Name_ _______________________________________________________________________________ Address___________________________________________________________________________________

Diocese of Shreveport The Catholic Center 3500 Fairfield Avenue Shreveport, LA 71104 www.dioshpt.org

City______________________________________________________State_________Zip Code____________ My / Our Church Parish _______________________________________________________ Signature ___________________________________________________________________ You may make a credit card payment online at: www.dioshpt.org (Click on Stewardship)

22 23 Catholic Connection April 2012

APRIL 2012 SUNDAY

1

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

8

MONDAY

TUESDAY

2

EASTER SUNDAY of the Resurrection of the Lord 2nd Collection: Diocese of Shreveport Church Vocations

15 Sunday of the Divine Mercy Confirmation, St. Paul Church, 11am

29 World Day of Prayer for Vocations 2nd Collection: Home Missions Confirmation, St, Clement, 9am Confirmation: Christ the King, 3pm

3

10

4

5 Holy Thursday

11

FRIDAY

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Good Friday Catholic Center Closed 2nd Collection: Holy Land Way of the Cross, Downtown Shreveport, 9am

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13

19

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Deadline for May Catholic Connection

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Earth Day Confirmation: St. Pius X Church, 9am Confirmation, St. Joseph Church, Shreveport, 3pm

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

Chrism Mass, Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, 6pm

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Bishop Duca blesses the oil of holy Chrism at Chrism Mass in 2011.

St. George, martyr; St. Adalbert, bishop & martyr

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Diocesan Liturgical Council Meeting, Catholic Center, 1pm Pro-Life Oratory Contest, Catholic Center, 7pm

24 St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, priest & martyr

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Holocaust Memorial Day

SATURDAY

7 Holy Saturday Passover Begins 2nd Collection: Diocese of Shreveport Church Vocations

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Diocesan Youth Rally, Louisiana Tech, Ruston, 9:30am Confirmation, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 4pm

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Confirmation, St. Paschal Church, 5:30pm

St. Anselm, bishop & doctor of the Church

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St. Mark, evangelist

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2nd Collection: Home Missions Confirmation: Our Lady of Fatima Church, 4:30pm St. Peter Chanel, priest & martyr

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St. Joseph the Worker

1

2

St. Athanasius, bishop & doctor of the Church

3

Sts. Philip & James, apostles

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5

Western Deanery Red Mass, Holy Trinity Church, 9am

MAY 23 22

DIOCESE OF SHREVEPORT 3500 Fairfield Ave.

â&#x20AC;˘

Shreveport, LA 71104

Fairfield

Rite of Election

R

ite of Election, an annual celebration for those preparing to enter the Catholic Church, was held at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans on February 26. Right: Bishop Duca greets a Catechumen as he approaches the altar to stand with the other Catechumens.

Bottom left to right: Catechumens stand with their sponsors after their names are called; a parish representative reads of the names of candidates preparing to enter the Catholic Church while Fr. Peter Mangum looks on; a Catechumen stands with a Book of the Elect at the front of the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans.

24 Catholic Connection April 2012