The Catholic Connection May 2019

Connection The Catholic

Vol. 28 No. 10 May 2019

Beauty The

of

Par ish Life

Also Inside

On the Trail of History: France and the Priest-Martyrs of 1873

CONTENTS

14

5

19

9

16

FEATURES

12 FROM THE POPE

5

On the Trail of History: France and the Priest-Martyrs of 1873

by Fr. Peter B. Mangum

14 The Beauty of Parish Life

by Kim Long

16 The Catholic Cemetery Tradition

from The Catholic Parish Cemetery

16 Revitalizing St. Joseph Cemetery

by Randy Tiller

COLUMNS 7

LIBRARY NOTES

by Kate Rhea

Forgive Us Our Trespasses from the Vatican Press Office

13 VOCATIONS VIEW

Celebrating Our Vocations!

21 GRAPHIC NOVEL SERIES

Shreveport 1873: No Greater Love

by Fr. Peter Mangum, W. Ryan Smith, & Dr. Cheryl White Illustration Deacon Andrew Thomas

22 KIDS’ CONNECTION

Celebrating Mary in May!

by Kelly Phelan Powell

23 HISPANIC NEWS

8

FAITHFUL FOOD Power in a Word

by Kim Long

9

DOMESTIC CHURCH

NEWS

The Take-Aways

by Katie Sciba

10 SECOND COLLECTIONS

Second Collections for May & June

by Fr. Rothell Price

11 NAVIGATING THE FAITH

Titles of Our Lady

by Jessica Rinaudo

2 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

Melina Sanchez y su Pequeña Familia por Rosalba Quiroz

18 Living Out the Love to Which

Jesus Calls Us

by Mary Ellen Foley

19 Humanitarian Award Presented

to Sister Martinette

by Mary Ann Van Osdell

20 Purposeful Work with

Meaningful People

by Tiffany Olah

24 Appeal Helps Care for God’s People

by John Mark Willcox

25 ACROSS THE NATION

from the USCCB

Christus Vivit, Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment

USCCB Issues Statement on Notre Dame Cathedral Fire

26 School News 28 Around the Diocese 30 May Calendar

Connection The Catholic

Vol. 28 No. 10 May 2019

Beauty

The of Par ish Also Inside

Life

On the Trail of History: France and the Priest-Martyrs of 1873

On the Cover:

Maxine Sarpy and seminarian Raney Johnson share a meal and visit during the “Taste of Blessed Sacrament” event at their home parish, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church.

FROM THE EDITOR

Bidding Farewell to Longtime Connection Columnist

Connection The Catholic

Publisher The Diocese of Shreveport Editor Jessica Rinaudo Contributors

Catholic Connection columnists Kim Long, Katie Sciba and Mike Van Vranken stand with editor Jessica Rinaudo (second from left).

W

hile every issue of The Catholic Connection is dear to me, this one, in particular, will always hold a special place in my heart.

After more than eight years of column and feature writing, longtime columnist Katie Sciba has penned her last Domestic Church column in this May issue.

I’ll never forget when Katie first tentatively contacted me about writing for The Catholic Connection.

Unbeknownst to her, she reached out to me at just the right time. I was in the middle of completely overhauling the format of The Catholic Connection, working to give it more of a “feature magazine” feel. Part of this reimagining meant that I would need regular columnists. Through conversations with my editorial board and while chatting with friends in the local Catholic community, I learned that there was an overwhelming desire for information on how to better bring the Catholic faith into the home, especially to children.

And, fortunately, as a newly minted wife and mother, Katie was up to the challenge. Thus, the Domestic Church column was born.

Working in print media, readers often reach out to tell me what we did wrong, or how we infuriated them.

I’ve discovered that we only really hear when we’re doing a good job through secondary sources, or, on occasion, people will joyfully call or email if a piece really knocks it out of the park. To this day, however, I still regularly hear

from people who enjoy Katie’s column on family life. I know a mom who pulls out her Domestic Church column each month, laminates it, and places it on her fridge as a spiritual reminder!

I’ve always known Katie’s writing was special – partly because as a young mother myself I found her writing so encouraging – but also, because her column brought home a Catholic Press Award to our magazine for the first time in many, many years. And that was only the beginning. Katie’s column, feature writing as well as her in depth series on the harm of pornography, continued to rake in the awards in the years that followed.

I watched her grow from a tentative budding writer to a confident author, willing and able to share her own vulnerabilities to help others with the pains and struggles in their own lives.

I am so grateful Katie reached out to me that day more than eight years ago.

Not only did she play an essential role in raising the quality of The Catholic Connection, but she became a dear friend and an inspiration. Thank you for sharing your time and talent with the people of the Diocese of Shreveport, Katie. May God bless your future endeavors.

Jessica Rinaudo, Editor, The Catholic Connection

Mary Ellen Foley Katie Sciba Kim Long Melissa Shepard Fr. Peter Mangum W. Ryan Smith Dcn. Andrew Thomas Tiffany Olah Randy Tiller Kelly Phelan Powell Mary Ann Van Osdell Fr. Rothell Price Dr. Cheryl White Rosalba Quiroz John Mark Willcox Kate Rhea Jessica Rinaudo Editorial Board Lisa Cooper Kim Long Fr. Matthew Long Dianne Rachal Melina Sanchez Randy Tiller Deacon Mike Whitehead John Mark Willcox Mission Statement The Catholic Connection is a monthly publication funded by your Diocesan Stewardship 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.

Subscriptions & Address Changes Contact: Jessica Rinaudo, Editor Email: jrinaudo@dioshpt.org Write: Catholic Connection 3500 Fairfield Avenue Shreveport, LA 71104 Call: 318-868-4441• Fax: 318-868-4609 Website: www.thecatholicconnection.org

The Catholic Connection is a member of the Catholic Press Association.

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.

MAY 2019 3

grow.

and

germinate

to

earth

the

on

present

good

of

seed

every

lead

will

love

His

sure:

is

Lord

the

of

victory

The

pain

The

perpetuated.

and

up

covered

being

their

of

possibility

the

prevent

to

also

but

happening,

from

situations

such

prevent

to

able

culture

a

create

to

spared

be

must

effort

no

future,

the

to

ahead

Looking

sufficient.

be

ever

will

done

harm

the

repair

to

seek

to

and

pardon

beg

to

effort

no

past,

the

to

back

Looking

alike.

nonbelievers

and

believers

of

community

larger

the

in

and

members

family

their

in

also

but

victims,

the

among

primarily

powerlessness,

and

pain

of

wounds

deep

inflict

that

Crimes

persons.

consecrated

and

clerics

of

number

significant

a

by

perpetrated

conscience

of

abuse

the

and

power

of

abuse

the

abuse,

sexual

to

due

minors

many

by

endured

suffering

the

more

once

acknowledge

I

as

heart

my

in

echo

forcefully

Paul

Saint

of

words

These

12:26).

Cor

(1

it”

with

together

suffer

all

suffers,

member

one

If

Siguiendo la Historia:

Francia y los Sacerdotes Mártires de 1873 Por el Padre Peter B. Mangum

C

omo algunos ya saben, en los dos últimos años he estado trabajando en un Proyecto para investigar y publicar sobre las vidas de los 5 sacerdotes formidables que ofrecieron sus vidas en Shreveport durante la epidemia de la Fiebre Amarilla en el año 1873. Este proyecto ha tomado varias formas, incluyendo la escritura de un manuscrito tamaño libro que será publicado, al igual que una novela gráfica de lo que se ha publicado en las páginas de su revista The Catholic Connection. Además, se produjo una edición limitada que se publicó el otoño pasado en una serie especial para dar a conocer las vidas de estos sacerdotes con el título “No hay amor más grande: Shreveport, 1873” El autor W. Ryan Smith, y la historiadora Dra. Cheryl White están colaborando conmigo en este proyecto.

Nuestra meta principal es desarrollar una enriquecedora y convincente biografía sobre estos hombres, para promoverse ante la Congregación en Roma de las Causas de los Santos. Estos hombres fueron ejemplares en su dedicación hacia los demás, y fueron verdaderos devotos “mártires de la caridad,” ya que todos voluntariamente murieron en servicio a los enfermos y moribundos de Shreveport.

La lista de los cinco nombres, que para algunos ya es familiar incluye: Isidore Quemerais, Fr. Jean Pierre, Fr. Jean Marie Biler, Fr. Louis Gergaud, y Fr. Francois Le Vezouet, todos ellos murieron de la Fiebre Amarilla en unas pocas semanas, entre el 15 de septiembre y el 8 de octubre del 1873. Este proyecto de investigación para conocer todo más posible sobre sus vidas, me llevó a la región del norte de Francia conocida como Brittany, a los valles pintorescos, las pequeñas aldeas y pueblos a los que ellos una vez llamaron su hogar antes de responder al llamado misionero del primer obispo de Natchitoches, Auguste Marie Martin, también un nativo de St. Malo en Brittany. A mediados de los años 1850s, y otra vez siguiendo de cerca al Primer Concilio Vaticano de 1870, el Obispo Martin hizo un viaje por Brittany

4 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

para llamar a jóvenes sacerdotes a ser misioneros para el área de Luisiana que para entonces parecía aun desierta.

Todos ellos vinieron a lo desconocido en Luisiana, dejando atrás sus familias y las vidas que siempre habían conocido, lo que es ya en sí, un gran sacrificio.

A finales de febrero viajé a Francia con una pequeña delegación que incluía la co-autora Dra. Cheryl White, como traductora a Chantal Dickson, y a su hijo, Michael. El primer propósito fue de reunirnos con los obispos de tres diócesis – Nantes, Rennes, y San Brieuc para entablar relaciones más cercanas y compartir mutuamente lo que sabíamos sobre estos sacerdotes.

La Dra. White y yo buscábamos poder adquirir una fuente de información por medio de la investigación de los archivos de su localidad. De igual importancia era el propósito de tener la oportunidad de visitar los pueblos de continúa en la página 6

grow.

and

germinate

to

earth

the

on

present

good

of

seed

every

lead

will

love

His

sure:

is

Lord

the

of

victory

The

pain

The

perpetuated.

and

up

covered

being

their

of

possibility

the

prevent

to

also

but

happening,

from

situations

such

prevent

to

able

culture

a

create

to

spared

be

must

effort

no

future,

the

to

ahead

Looking

sufficient.

be

ever

will

done

harm

the

repair

to

seek

to

and

pardon

beg

to

effort

no

past,

the

to

back

Looking

alike.

nonbelievers

and

believers

of

community

larger

the

in

and

members

family

their

in

also

but

victims,

the

among

primarily

powerlessness,

and

pain

of

wounds

deep

inflict

that

Crimes

persons.

consecrated

and

clerics

of

number

significant

a

by

perpetrated

conscience

of

abuse

the

and

power

of

abuse

the

abuse,

sexual

to

due

minors

many

by

endured

suffering

the

more

once

acknowledge

I

as

heart

my

in

echo

forcefully

Paul

Saint

of

words

These

12:26).

Cor

(1

it”

with

together

suffer

all

suffers,

member

one

If

St. Nicholas Church in Heric, France, where Fr. Louis Gergaud was baptized in 1832.

On the Trail of History:

France and the Priest-Martyrs of 1873

by Fr. Peter B. Mangum

The delegation from the Diocese of Shreveport in the archives of the Diocese of Saint-Brieuc examining original letters and documents related to the Yellow Fever priests. French National Television covered the visit.

A

s many are aware, I have been working on a project over the last two years to explore and raise awareness of the lives of five remarkable priests who gave their lives in the Shreveport Yellow Fever epidemic of 1873. This project has taken many forms, including the writing of a book-length manuscript for publication in the near future, as well as a graphic novel that is being published serially in the pages of The Catholic Connection. In addition, there was a special limited-edition podcast series produced to highlight the lives of these priests, which was released last fall under the title of “No Greater Love: Shreveport 1873.” Collaborating with me on

this project have been author W. Ryan Smith and historian Dr. Cheryl White.

Our ultimate goal is to develop rich and compelling biographies of these men to bring to the attention of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome. These men were exemplary in their devotion to others and were truly “martyrs of their charity,” as all of them willingly died in the service of the sick and dying of Shreveport.

The roll call of names is by now becoming more familiar to us all: Fr. Isidore Quemerais, Fr. Jean Pierre, Fr. Jean Marie Biler, Fr. Louis Gergaud, and Fr. Francois Le Vezouet, all of whom died of Yellow Fever in the short weeks between September 15 and October 8, 1873. The search to know as much as possible about their lives led me to the region of northern France known as Brittany, to picturesque rolling fields and small villages and towns that these men once called home. That is, before they each

continued on page 6 MAY 2019 5

continued from page 5

The baptismal record of Fr. Louis Gergaud held in Blain, France. continúa de la página 4

estos sacerdotes, esparcidos por los valles de Brittany: Heric, Plourivo, Lanloup, Brelidy, y Pleine-Fougeres. ¡El viaje fue todo un éxito! No solamente los Obispos Jean-Paul James de Nantes, Alexandre Joly de Rennes, y Denis Moutel de St. Brieuc nos dieron una calurosa bienvenida, sino que ya habían hecho investigaciones previas a nuestra llegada. La hospitalidad que nos ofrecieron fue verdaderamente extraordinaria. Además, el Obispo Moutel se encargó de hacer una conferencia de prensa por nuestra visita, que resultó en la cobertura de la televisión nacional francesa, la radio católica, y varios periódicos nacionales.

El Obispo Moutel también hizo preparativos para que conociéramos oficiales de cada uno de los pueblos donde otra vez nos daban una entusiasta bienvenida y nos recibían con entusiasmo por saber más sobre sus sacerdotes. Pudimos visitar las iglesias donde fueron bautizados (y en el caso del padre Gergaud, la Catedral de Nantes donde fue ordenado), lo que dio una mayor dimensión a poder contar sus historias.

En un hermoso intercambio, hemos compartido con la diócesis de Brittany nuestra novela gráfica en una traducción al Francés y estamos planeando aún más para los meses y años que se acercan al 150 aniversario en el 2023. Nunca nos imaginamos que regresaríamos a la Diócesis de Shreveport con mucho más historia y no solo con las cartas que no se conocían, sino también con nuevas amistades, enraizadas en una historia que ahora compartiremos. Ya tenemos un futuro prometedor conectados que nos ayudará a poder honrar la vida de estos cinco sacerdotes-mártires de 1873, ¡aun con más fervor! • 6 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

answered the missionary call of the first Bishop of Natchitoches, Auguste Marie Martin, also a native of St. Malo in Brittany. In the mid-1850s, and again following the close of the First Vatican Council in 1870, Bishop Martin made a trip through Brittany to recruit young missionary priests for an area of Louisiana that was still very much a wilderness. All of them came to the uncertainty of Louisiana, leaving behind family and the only lives they had ever known, which is itself no small measure of sacrifice.

In late February, I traveled to France with a small delegation that included project co-author Dr. Cheryl White, as well as Chantal Dickson (who served as translator) and her son, Michael.

The primary purpose was to meet with the bishops of three dioceses – Nantes, Rennes and St. Brieuc to forge closer relationships over our shared priests and common historical link. Dr. White and I also hoped to be able to acquire more primary source information through archival research. An equally important purpose was to have the opportunity to visit the hometowns of these priests, dotted across the Brittany countryside: Heric, Plourivo, Lanloup, Brelidy, and Pleine-Fougeres.

The trip was a resounding success on all accounts! Not only did Bishops Jean-Paul James of Nantes, Alexandre Joly of Rennes, and Denis Moutel of St. Brieuc warmly welcome us, they had already made archival inquiries before we even arrived. The hospitality they extended to us was extraordinary indeed. Additionally, Bishop Moutel called a press conference for our visit, which resulted in coverage by French National Television, Catholic radio and several regional and national newspapers. Bishop Moutel also arranged for us to meet with officials from each of the hometowns, where again, we were warmly welcomed by townspeople eager to know more about their native sons. To be able to visit the churches where the priests were baptized (and in the case of Fr. Gergaud, the Cathedral of Nantes where he was ordained), added broad new dimension to telling their stories.

In exchange, we have shared with these dioceses of Brittany our graphic novel in a French translation, and are making plans to share much more over the coming months and years leading up to the 150th anniversary in 2023. Little did I know that I would return to the Diocese of Shreveport with much more than the historical record of previously unknown letters and documents, but with new friendships rooted in a story that we now share. I greatly look forward to the continued strengthening of our ties, and being able to honor the five priest-martyrs of 1873 with even greater fervor! •

LIBRARY NOTES

Explore the Slattery Library Looking for a good read?

Check out a book from the Slattery Library inside the Catholic Center in Shreveport! Our vast collection spans across many subjects of faith and includes material for all ages. Kate Rhea shares some of the library’s featured titles and new books that can be borrowed.

Hail, Holy Queen

by Scott Hahn

Hail, Holy Queen melds autobiographical reflections, scriptural interpretation and historical anecdotes in an accessible style to clarify some sophisticated points of Catholic theology. From the book's first sentence (“For all my newfound piety, I was still 15 years old, and all too conscious of ‘cool’”), the author’s assured voice will capture the reader’s interest.

The Rosary: A Journey to the Beloved

by Gary Jansen

Written for both Catholic and Protestant Christians, candid explanations on why and how to pray the rosary along with useful instructions on how to get the most out of the meditative and spiritual exercise of repeating prayers are in the first of two sections. Prayers including a visual and spiritual journey that illuminates the teachings of the New Testament follow in the second section.

Word by Word: Slowing Down with the Hail Mary edited by Sarah A. Reinhard

In Word by Word, Slowing Down with the Hail Mary, popular Catholic author Sarah Reinhard compiled an accessible, profound and unique meditation on each word of the Hail Mary, one of the most important prayer traditions in Catholic life.

In Search of Mary: The Woman and the Symbol

by Sally Cunneen

How did a humble Jewish girl become the most honored woman in human history?

Why is there so much about her in the art and history of Christianity? And in an age dominated by science and technology, why does devotion to Mary persist? In Search of Mary is Cunneen’s provocative response to these questions. As she eloquently points out, in order to see Mary whole, it is important to look at all the different visions and versions of her, revisiting history through the eyes of a present day searcher.

VISIT THE SLATTERY LIBRARY The Slattery Library is open every week day from 8am to 4:30pm! Kate Rhea is the Administrative Assistant for the Slattery Library and St. Joseph Cemetery, and is available to help patrons research information, search and select reading material, and even host group meetings in the library. With themed displays each month and many newly cataloged materials ready to borrow, our library is revitalized and ready to serve our patrons.

MAY 2019 7

FAITHFUL FOOD

Power in a Word

W

ise speech is rarer and more valuable than gold and rubies.

Proverbs 20:15 There is an old story in which a penitent seeks forgiveness for gossip (read here words that hurt or offend Long whether intentional or not). The priest forgoes a traditional penance of prayer instead charging the penitent with these instructions: cut open a feather pillow and shake it out and gather all the feathers to refill it. This lesson can be applied anytime speech goes awry.

Recently, this happened to me with my daughter-in-law. No malice aforethought, no anger, just one person trying to be helpful and the help – which was offered in kindness – was not received as intended. The path from brain to mouth to ear is not always straightforward, often the route is fraught with nuances, tone and points of reference to which the involved parties are not always privy.

This can run the best of intentions afoul. God speaks creation into being and with His help, repair can occur.

Once my offer of help was uttered it took a moment to see that it wasn’t helpful at all. I saw my daughter-inlaw struggle, become upset and then suddenly she was very busy, too busy, and brightly cheerful. Always a bad sign. I was ready to throw my bags in the car and leave, my rode home paved with cowardice, escape my sole aim, good intentions all but forgotten.

Thankfully, I abandoned my first instinct. Speaking a second time I allowed God’s loving kindness to guide me, reminding me of the love I feel for her, gratitude for the happiness she brings my son, and her goodness to my grandchildren. Those feelings come from a deep reservoir of Divine Love, available and waiting for us when we 8 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

by Kim Long

Milk and Honey Kugel Ingredients: • 16 oz package of egg noodles • ½ cup butter • ½ cup honey • 2 teaspoons salt • 2 teaspoons vanilla sugar • ½ cup cream • 5 large eggs • ½ teaspoon ground cardamom Directions: 1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2) Boil and drain noodles and return to pot.

3) Add butter, honey, salt and vanilla sugar.

4) Mix well and add eggs and cream.

5) Pour into a buttered casserole dish and bake for about an hour, or until kugel is golden brown and firm to touch. Serves 8-10. are ready. Understanding between the two of us was spoken into being that late Friday night with much help from God. You would think as a writer awareness of the power of words would be second nature for me, but not always.

Beginning with a blank page, a sentence, or a scrap of memory, we as writers weave something around these fragments in an effort to make them whole and complete and, by extension, ourselves. That text holds us accountable.

With spoken words carelessness is almost second nature, and calling those words back to us is impossible. Words have the power to build up and tear down sometimes in the space of a few moments; take care with them.

Like most of us, whether intentional or not, I have feathers I am chasing, but when kind or cheerful words lead me to

This unusual dessert should make for some good conversation since your words are already sweetened! Enjoy! (from Eating the Bible by Rena Rossner, published by Skyhorse Publishing copyright 2013) respond rather than react, I believe I am refilling my pillow that way, too. With God’s help, I pray that I think before I speak and that when I must give chase He will guide my steps.

With 66 references in both testaments enjoining the wise use of speech, and 56 references about honey and its benefits, this offering combines the two. Here is a little prayer before you begin: “Lord guide my hands as I create this dish both for your glory and the nourishment of those who will eat it. May we always be mindful of what is offered and how we receive it. AMEN.” Psalm 119:103 “How sweet are your words, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” • Kim Long is the Director of Religious Education at St. Mary of the Pines Parish in Shreveport, LA.

DOMESTIC CHURCH

The Take-Aways

H

by Katie Sciba

ow do you begin a conclusion? When I started writing for The Catholic Connection over eight years ago, I had a two-year-old marriage and a one-year old son. My lofty theories on how the domestic church - the family - should function had yet to be tested in the School of Experience, but I was eager. Sitting here in Nebraska, hundreds of miles away from where I penned my first column, my babies aged 9 down to 2 sleep while their youngest sibling waits for us in Heaven. Andrew, my husband of nearly 11 years, and I have had our share Sciba of storms both together and even against one another. We’ve been blessed by friendships with other married couples living their lives for Christ. I’ve been humbled and honored to win six Catholic Press Awards in as many years, and my writing became a springboard for my work as a national speaker. I’m so incredibly grateful, but, my friends, the Lord is calling me away from The Catholic Connection, so I’m writing this last time to bid farewell and offer my prayers for your families.

To wrap up, here are the take-aways - the hopes I have for our families and some lessons I’ve learned in my time as a wife, mother and writer. I pray they will bring our hearts closer to Jesus, so we can see with more clarity that He is actually with us and calling us to eternal life.

1. Go to Mass – The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith; there is no greater way to pray than to participate in the Mass, to receive the God of the universe in the form of a simple host, and to reflect Jesus’ love to others.

2. Be real with Jesus - Once I told Bishop Duca that, in the wake of my father’s passing, I was too angry to pray. “Why don’t you tell God?” Bishop asked me, “He can take it. He’s big enough.” In showing Jesus just how angry I was, I consequently opened my heart and let him in. Following Bishop Duca’s advice saved my faith.

3. Keeping in touch with God is ESSENTIAL - We are made in the image of God, which means that we’re called to imitate Him. Have you ever tried to imitate someone you hardly know? It doesn’t work out too well. When we are in touch with the Lord through prayer - Mass, Confession, reading scripture, etc, the more spot-on our imitation will be.

4. Mom and Dad are a kid’s first teachers - Our kids do what we do, say what we say (sometimes to our horror and humiliation), and they will consider Jesus and their Catholic faith as important as we do. Whether we like it or not, kids are the ultimate copycats. So parents, take hold of your faith, pray with each other and keep Catholic families among your friends.

5. Pornography destroys family - I wrote a column series on pornography’s effect in 2017. Pornography consumption easily leads to addiction in a short period of time, causing anxiety,

depression, isolation and shame for the consumer. Spouses of pornography users often develop a deep sense of rejection, as well as Betrayal Trauma or PTSD. The average age of exposure to pornography is 8-years-old, and because children don’t have the cognitive ability to process it, pornography effects unusual behaviors in children, including isolation and depression. For help, go to addorecovery.com and bloomforcatholicwomen.com.

6. Minimalism is a way to imitate Christ - The idea of minimalism involves cutting distractions in favor of what deserves our full attention. It’s clearing physical clutter to reveal hidden beauty; it’s freeing a calendar of activities not conducive to the life God desires for us, the life we hope to have. It’s finally seeing possessions as just things and recognizing people as more deserving of our time and attention. Giving our best to Jesus and others becomes easier and more joyful.

7. There’s more than one way to be a faithful Catholic - I know good, holy parents who pray the Rosary with their kids every night and I know good, holy parents who haul their rambunctious kids to Mass only to leave early because of a temper tantrum. The Lord asks for our love and our best; offer Him that and give others the benefit of the doubt.

8. We have an audience of One - The point of all of the above? To please God; to become fully aware that He is with us and encouraging us to Heaven.

Thank you Jessica Rinaudo, my dear friend and editor, for your confidence in me; and thank you to you, dear readers, for your support and encouragement over my time here at the Domestic Church column. Please pray that I do what the Holy Spirit wills, and know that your families are in my prayers. God bless you. • Katie Sciba is married to Andrew. Together they have five children. She is the author of thecatholicwife.net.

MAY 2019 9

SECOND COLLECTIONS

Second Collections for May & June

by Father Rothell Price

Retired Priests Father Phil Michiels and Msgr. Earl V. Provenza both benefit from the Diocesan Retired Priests' Fund Second Collection.

A

DIOCESAN RETIRED PRIESTS’ FUND Collection Dates: May 4th & 5th

s we move toward the climax of the Easter Season, I wish you every spiritual blessing from Heaven. I especially wish you a new and transforming encounter with the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit. May the grace of Christ’s resurrection from among the dead lead you to a heartfelt and generous support of our Diocesan Retired Priests’ Fund. Make a simple and dignified life possible for our Price retired diocesan priests who have given all to Jesus Christ and his mission of salvation. These are priestly men you know and love. You can personally vouch for their good name and character. You can truthfully testify to their inspired labor among the people of God. So again, I thank you for opening your heart and your resources to the men who have faithfully served the Risen Lord Jesus and the People of God in north Louisiana with heart and soul.

Our Diocese of Shreveport Retired Priests’ Fund supports good and faithful priests you know and love. One hundred percent of this collection remains in our diocese to cover the care of your loving shepherds in their retirement years: Fathers Kenneth Williams, Pike Thomas, Patrick Scully, Joseph Puthuppally, Phil Michiels, Patrick Madden, James McLelland, John Kennedy and Msgr. Earl Provenza.

You know them, love them and can bear witness to their good work. Our active priests, who are such a spiritual help and joy to you, will one day reach the reward of retirement age. I thank you for helping us take care of our current and future retirees. Please give generously to our Diocesan Retired Priests Fund collection. •

CATHOLIC COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN Announcement Dates: June 1st & 2nd Collection Dates: May 19th & 26th

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y father, Robert, was the strong silent type. He wasn’t shy and retiring, nor was he a wall flower.

He said little, but did much. He reminds me so much of St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster father and guardian of our Lord Jesus Christ.

St. Joseph and my father, Robert, communicated profound wisdom in his sparsity of words and largess of action. Their fatherly examples express something of essence and power of our second collection for the Catholic Communication Campaign. This second collection gives our nationwide Catholic family the opportunity to receive and spread the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. Jesus communicated to us what he heard and learned from his Father. The Apostles communicated what they heard and learned from Jesus. We, the Church today, communicate to each other and the society around us what we have heard and come to believe. Our words and actions continue those of Jesus and the Apostles through the Catholic Communication Campaign.

I hope this “communication” campaign comes to mind each time you profess your faith in “one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. Half the funds collected in the Catholic Communication Campaign remain in our diocese so that we can reach souls through the internet, television, radio, print and social media. The various departments at the Catholic Center share the Good News with you in many forms. Be part of this “campaign” to spread the Gospel message. Please generously support the Catholic Communication Campaign. •

Father Rothell Price, Moderator of the Curia, is the Director of Second Collections for the Diocese of Shreveport.

10 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

NAVIGATING THE FAITH

Titles of Our Lady

by Jessica Rinaudo

May is the month of Mary, a time when we bring the Rosary to the forefront, have May crownings and make special time to pray through the intercession of the Blessed Mother. Mary is represented under a number of different titles. Here are a few you may not be as familiar with.

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Our Lady of Knock

Our Lady of Kibeho

Our Lady of Guidance

On August 21, 1879, Mary Beirne and Mary McLoughlin were traveling home in Knock, Ireland, through the rain when they saw three figures outside the St. John the Baptist Church’s gables. Many witnesses said they also saw an apparition of the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist.

To this day, visitors to the apparition site claim cures and favors associated with their visit.

This title of Mary is bestowed upon the apparitions of the Blessed Mother to three teen girls in the 1980s in Kibeho, Rwanda. There Mary shared a vision of Rwanda’s descent into violence. Many believe these visions foreshadowed the Rwandan Genocide and Kibeho Massacre.

This title of Mary is venerated in the Philippines as the patroness of navigators and travelers. Her feast day is May 19. This wooden Black Madonna is considered the oldest Marian statue in the Philippines. In 1570, sailors to Luzon came upon natives who told them the statue had the power to create miracles and that she was the Mother of God. Its image is enshrined at the Ermita Church in Manila.

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Our Lady of the Pillar This title comes from the apparition of Mary to the Apostle James by the banks of the Ebro in 40 AD. Under this title, Mary is the patroness of the Spanish region of Aragon and the Spanish Civil Guard.

Her feast day is October 12 and a celebrated wooden image of her under this title is located at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Saragossa.

MAY 2019 11

FROM THE POPE

Forgive Us Our Trespasses from the Vatican Press Office

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ear brothers and sisters, good morning!

After asking God for our daily bread, the Lord’s Prayer enters into the field of our relations with others. Jesus teaches us to ask the Father, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us” (Mt 6: 12). Just as we need bread, we need forgiveness. Every day.

The Christian who prays asks first and foremost that God forgive our trespasses. This is the first truth of every prayer: even if we were perfect people, even if we were also crystalline saints who never deflect from a life of good, we always remain children who owe everything to the Father.

The most dangerous attitude of every Christian life is pride. It is the attitude of those who place themselves before God, thinking that they always have their accounts in order with Him. Like that Pharisee in the parable, who thinks he prays in the temple but in reality praises himself before God. On Pope Francis the contrary the publican, a sinner despised by all, stops at the threshold of the temple, as he does not lunae,” not only in the identity of the Church, but also in the feel he is worthy of entering, and entrusts himself to God’s history of each one of us. If you love, it is because someone, mercy. And Jesus comments, “This man, rather than the external to you, smiled at you when you were a child, other, went home justified before God” (Lk 18: 14), and is teaching you to respond with a smile. If you love it is because therefore forgiven, saved. someone next to you reawakened you to love, making you There are sins that are seen and sins that are not seen. understand that in it there resides the meaning of existence.

There are egregious sins that make a noise, but there are also Let us try to listen to the sly sins that lurk in the heart story of someone who has without us even realizing. The made a mistake: a prison worst of these is pride, which Even if all of us have difficult inmate, a convict, a drug can even affect people who live days, we must always remember addict. Without prejudice to an intense religious life. It is the responsibility, which is always sin that divides fraternity, that that personal, you ask yourself makes us presume we are better sometimes who should be than others, that makes us blamed for his mistakes, if only believe we are similar to God. his conscience, or the history of And instead before God hatred and abandonment that we are all sinners, and have a some carry with them. reason to beat our breast, like It is the mysterium lunae: we love first and foremost the publican at the temple. Saint John, in his first Letter, because we have been loved; we forgive because we have been writes: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves forgiven. And if someone has not been illuminated by the and the truth is not in us” (1 Jn 1: 8). sunlight, he becomes frozen like the ground in winter.

We are trespassers, debtors, first and foremost because in How can we not recognize, in the chain of love that this life we have received so much: our existence, a father and precedes us, also the provident presence of God’s love? None a mother, friendship, the wonders of creation. Even if all of of us loves God as much as He has loved us. It is enough to us have difficult days, we must always remember that life is a stand before a crucifix to grasp the disproportion. He has grace, it is the miracle that God extracted from nothing. loved us and always loves us first.

Secondly, we are debtors because, even if we succeed in So, let us pray. Lord, even the most holy among us never loving, none of us is able to do so with his own strength. ceases to be in debt to You. O Father, have pity on us all! • None of us shines with his own light. There is a “mysterium

life is a grace, it is the miracle that God extracted from nothing.

12 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

VOCATIONS VIEW

Celebrating Our Vocations!

The Diocese of Shreveport has much to celebrate as we prepare for a priestly ordination, a Rite of Candidacy Mass for four of our seminarians, and celebrate the 5th anniversary of ordination for our most recent permanent diaconate class!

Pray for our priests, seminarians and deacons in May and June, and join us for these special Masses.

Ordination to the Priesthood

Congratulations to Our Deacons on the 5th Anniversary of Their Ordination to the Permanent Diaconate!

Orlando Batongbakal

St. Clement Parish, Vivian

Scott Brandle

St. Matthew Parish, Monroe

Tom Deal

Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish, Monroe

Christopher Domingue

With Praise and Thanksgiving to Almighty God, the Diocese of Shreveport Announces with Great Joy the Ordination of

Deacon Kevin Joseph Mues

to the Sacred Order of Presbyter Through the Imposition of Hands and the Invocation of the Holy Spirit by His Excellency

Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish, Monroe

Bill Goss

St. Lawrence Parish, Swartz

Bill Kleinpeter

St. Joseph Parish, Mansfield

Steve Lehr

Most Reverend Michael G. Duca, Bishop of Baton Rouge

St. Jude Parish, Benton

at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans 939 Jordan Street, Shreveport, Louisiana

Holy Trinity Parish, Shreveport

On Saturday, May 18, 2019 at 10:00 in the Morning

First Priestly Blessing and a Reception to follow at St. John Berchmans Multi Room

Rite of Candidacy Mass

Danny Lemoine Jack Lynch

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Shreveport

David Nagem

Sacred Heart Parish, Oak Grove

Robert Ransom

St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Ruston

Ricardo Rivera

Christ the King Parish, Bossier City

Charles Thomas

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish, Shreveport

Marc Vereen

St. Joseph Parish, Bastrop

Mike Whitehead

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Shreveport

Four of the Diocese of Shreveport's Seminarians will take part in the Rite of Candidacy Mass, officially declaring them candidates for the priesthood. Please join us for Mass honoring

Jeb Key, Nicholas Duncan, Raney Johnson & Kelby Tingle On Sunday, June 2, 2019 at 11:00 in the Morning at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans

Mike Wise

St. Jude Parish, Benton If you would like more information about the priesthood, contact Father Jerry Daigle, jdaigle@dioshpt.org, or call 318.868.4441.

MAY 2019 13

Beauty The

of

Par ish Life

by Kim Long

ecently I began to reflect on what God used to get my attention over 30 years ago when “becoming Catholic” began to go from a wild exotic notion to a path God put me on. The carrot on the end of God’s stick was something called “parish life,” and it intrigued me beyond measure.

The idea of people united under the banner of a common belief and the care bestowed upon one another seemed ideal. I was reading Fr. Andrew Greeley’s novels at the time, and his descriptions of the seamlessness between the parish and the lives of individual families reminded me that God isn’t left behind when we exit the parking lot on Sunday. I wanted that. I searched for it. And like most things we seek, we find... eventually. Thirty years later my view has altered very little, parish life is still a vital part of my Catholic experience.

I recall the first time on my journey toward Catholicism that I experienced the joyfulness of belonging. Picture this scene: a young mother of three on an early spring day, young children in tow, bringing donations of individually wrapped candy for the parish Easter egg hunt, dinner napkins for the St. Joseph Altar, and cakes for bingo – a then time-honored parish fundraiser, to the Parish Hall. The unity, the oneness I felt in that moment was crystallized in one word “Catholic.” Never underestimate the experience of “belonging.” That feeling has been a great teaching moment for me as I have grown into parish life and shared my own experiences with other new Catholics: some through the RCIA process, others simply new to the area and the parish.

As I began to focus my thoughts in this direction, I found this statement on the USCCB’s Parish Life website: “The parish is where the Church lives.”

This is the kernel of truth I found in those novels so many decades ago.

Psalm 133:1: See how good and pleasing it is for brothers to live together as one.

Already we have an outline. In our “me” world, we are encouraged to want “me” time, encouraged to think solely along the lines of the individual rather than the whole. While my faith encourages me to go broader and think about how my actions affect my family, my parish, my community, parish life gives me a lived example of what life can look like when my focus is more outward than in. When I walk through the doors of the church building on 14 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

any given Sunday it is good and pleasing to greet and be greeted and to just be with people who I may not see socially, but there in church we are offered another glimpse of the passage from the Our Father: “On earth as it is in heaven.”

1st Peter 2:9:10: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of the darkness into his marvelous light.

Togetherness

God has called us, claimed us for His own and the parish is where we join together. The parish is home to God’s marvelous light in so many ways. The Easter Vigil experience is one of the most obvious moments where we move together, literally from darkness to light. That experience can certainly be re-lived on a regular basis as we help one another in our small day-to-day actions. Each time we see candles on the altar we are reminded we are not alone, that the light of Christ helps us in the darkness, even in the darkness we pray no one else can see or feel. When someone in your parish reaches out to you or you to them, remember we are each going forward both in and toward the light of Christ.

Philippians 2:4-7: Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his

divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.

Worship

On Holy Thursday I experience one of the most profound of these times. In the rubrics, 12 men represent the apostles, but in our parish, it has become a sweet moment of impromptu reconciliation and kinship between parents and children of all ages, between spouses, siblings, neighbors, and strangers. It is one of our most Christ-like moments, one which has been scripted on our hearts and souls, directed by the Holy Spirit.

The choir sings, “the Lord Jesus after eating with His friends washed their feet and said to them, do you know what I your Lord have done for you?

I have given you example so you also may do.”

Hebrews 10: 24-25: Rouse one another to love and to good works.

On the USCCB website under the heading Parish Life, there are many listings. I looked at “Call to Family, Community, and Participation.”

There it says: “the person is not only sacred but social.”

Many parish celebrations have an element of rousing whether it is cooking together, baking thousands of cookies, preparing receptions, celebrating our various and rich cultures, or celebrating our unity in a particular way during that Holy Thursday Mass. It is also seeing families remove tags from the Angel Tree or tie knots on a quilt, offering prayers for a person experiencing sickness. We pray together in adoration and the Rosary. We gather for Mass, begin the modern version of the “prayer chain” by texting one another, donate what we can and are called to help our Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

The list goes on and it varies from parish to parish as we vary in our own lives. What is unified is that we are living out our Gospel mission by being strengthened in

participation in the sacraments, and in the sacramental life of the Church.

In that strengthening we are taking ourselves and our faith out of the church building, out of the parish hall, out of the PSR classrooms and bringing it to those among us who can no longer be present due to illness, immobility or even memory issues.

Bumps in the Road

Lest I make parish life sound like one big happy road trip, I want to stop here and say it is not always.

Exhausted people are asked to go the extra mile; families whose budgets are stretched to the breaking point may feel they have no worth since money is not plentiful; sick people can become invisible; liturgies can seem unfulfilling; homilies and inspirational messages can fall flat – the list goes on. For every good thing about parish life, there is a counterpoint.

Here are the contradictions I have learned living, working, growing and being invested in parish life: • Parishes are inclusive; they are exclusive.

• Parishes are exhausting; they are exhilarating, • Parishes are friendly; they are not.

• Parishes are fulfilling; they are draining.

• Parishes are where we live out the Christian life in the space between openness to God and our desire to carry out His will.

Finally Ever After

1 Peter 3:8 “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”

Parish life is the glue which helps hold us all together, the example of the lived reality of “on earth as it is in heaven.”

For all its failures, human error and ego, for all its foibles and warts, I would never want to live without it.

Parish life is the life for me, and the parish is where the Church lives! •

Things You Can DO for Your

Parish

• Pray for Your Parish!

• If you would like to serve the Church as a reader,

extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, usher, minister of hospitality, sacristan or altar server, believe me when I say no one will turn you away and you will receive free training.

• If you need a support group of any kind, speak to the pastor, DRE, deacon, or any parish personnel.

Help is available. Later, when you have come through the worst of your particular need, consider giving back by becoming part of that ministry.

• Birds of a feather flock together, in other words, if you sit, eat, talk, pray, work, and teach with the same people each week, consider shaking things up a bit. If someone you do not know heads toward you the author of 1st Peter has something for you there too, “Show

hospitality to one another without grumbling.” Smile and ask if they would like to join you.

• If you are the president of an organization and are in need of new blood start observing and stop lamenting! Who attends what, how do they respond, boredom, excitement, tranquility, comfort? You can learn a lot in silence.

MAY 2019 15

The Catholic Cemetery Tradition from The Catholic Parish Cemetery

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atholic cemeteries trace their roots back to the Jewish practice of providing separate burial grounds for community members. The early Christians continued this practice, both because it was a familiar tradition, and also because it was a statement of faith about the dignity of the human body in death and the reality of Jesus’ resurrection.

At death we focus on Baptism and the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit, nourished at the Eucharistic table. Rooted in that recognition, we remember our beloved and give thanks for the life we shared. When we visit the burial sites of our loved ones, we experience the same Eucharistic dynamic.

Oftentimes we recognize the need for reconciliation with our beloved dead and prayer at the cemetery is an effective approach toward healing.

Catholic cemeteries manifest the “now/not yet” status of the Kingdom of God. We are now a people of history, a people redeemed but still in pain and sorrow. This is why we pray as Jesus did, “Thy Kingdom come ... ” We are a people who visit our cemeteries to be reminded of our history, our Catholic beliefs and practices, and our parish community/ family. We, as a community, profess our beliefs and value system ... even in the silence of the grave.

In the Catholic parish cemetery, our deceased relatives and friends are laid to rest among members of the same faith community who preceded them into eternal life, and professed the same sure conviction that one day the body will be reunited with the soul in glory to be with the Risen Lord. Then the kingdom of God will be fully realized.

Painful as it might be, family and friends are encouraged to return to the burial places to find there, in the presence of those mortal remains, people joined with the Communion of Saints. The church invites you to unite in prayer for 16 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

their eternal rest. In the stillness of the cemetery, may you connect with that great prayer of the early Church, "Marana tha!"

“Lord Jesus, come!” • Article originally published in The Catholic Parish Cemetery, Vol. 1, Issue 3. Reprinted with permission.

Revitalizing St. Joseph Cemetery

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by Randy Tiller

aving celebrated Lent and the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, I cannot help but reflect on my life and turn my thoughts to my death, salvation and resurrection. Burials and cemeteries are an inherent part of our passing through this life. Thus we are all called upon to not only consider our days in the tomb, but those loved ones, those faithful and those communion of saints who have gone before us.

There is a commitment to revitalizing St. Joseph Cemetery and we need your help. Whether or not you one day will be laid to rest there, whether you have laid to rest family members, or friends; or whether you are just one of those people that find peace and consolation at the cemetery as I do, it is our responsibility to care for the dead, to respect the dead and to pray for the repose of their souls.

Please help us continue the work with your prayers, your talents and your treasure.

Msgr. Earl V. Provenza will be offering Mass at St. Joseph Cemetery on Memorial Day, May 27, 2019, at 10:30 am. If there is inclement weather, we will have Mass in the chapel Mausoleum. We look forward to celebrating with you. •

St. Joseph Cemetery Completed & Working Projects COMPLETED PROJECTS Replaced the back fence across the entire cemetery: $12,500 Continue to clean and straighten tombstones: $5,000 Widened St. Beatrice Street: $5,000 New flag pole: $1,000 Posts and chains to stop traffic in the alleys and grass roadways: $2,000 Rebuild Calvary crypts with wire mesh and concrete: $7,500 Saw cut and repaired the steps to Calvary: $5,000 WORKING PROJECTS: Contacting families to help in the renovation of their family plots Designate first four graves in the cemetery: $1,000 Replacing the tops of the crypts of the three priests who gave their lives in the Yellow Fever epidemic with granite: $5,000 each installed Installing restroom facilities: $12,000 FUTURE PROJECTS: Enclosing additional contiguous property Widening streets and reconfiguring turns to accommodate vehicles such as funeral cars and hearses Establishing and fencing a section for burial of diocesan priests : $12,000 Extending the irrigation system to the mausoleum Stained glass windows in the chapel mausoleum

Thank You! A special thank you to the donors who have made contributions to St. Joseph Cemetery so far, including more than $11,000 to replace two of the tops of the crypts of the Yellow Fever priests. Your generosity is so appreciated and goes a long way to ensuring the future of our Catholic cemetery with its rich history.

Seminarian Burses

For more information on donating to seminarian burses for the support of educating men in formation for the priesthood for our diocese, contact Fr. Jerry Daigle at 318-868-4441, or jdaigle@dioshpt.org.

Thanks to Our Recent Donors

• (005) William Marak ($100 – in memory of Kathleen Hightower) • (014) John G. Semmes ($100) • (018) Carolyn H. Miles ($25) • (018) Brenda S. Addison ($50) • (019) William & Elizabeth Glenn ($1,250)

Completed Burses

• (001) Fr. Mike Bakowski Memorial Burse ($10,000) • (006) Cathedral of St. John Berchmans ($10,000) • (010) Memory of Rita Scott, John Scott Family ($10,000) • (011) Rev. David Richter Memorial Burse #1 ($10,000) • (012) Jack E. Caplis, Jr., Memorial Burse ($10,000) • (013) Mary Evans Caplis Burse ($10,000)

Incomplete Burses

• (001) Fr. Mike Bakowski Memorial Burse #2 ($1,000) • (002) Joseph & Antoinette Bakowski Memorial

Burse ($2,400) • (003) Sam R. Maranto Memorial Burse ($1,200) • (004) Kathryn Atherton Cook Memorial Burse ($350) • (005) Cathedral of St. John Berchmans ($450) • (006) Msgr. J. Carson LaCaze Memorial Burse ($3,082.12) • (007) Dr. Carol Christopher Memorial Burse ($1,300) • (008) St. Jude Parish ($5,718) • (009) St. John Berchmans Knights of Columbus #10728 ($550) • (011) Rev. David Richter Memorial Burse #2 ($1,604) • (014) Bob & Peggy Semmes Memorial Burse ($6,400) • (015) Bishop’s Seminarian Burse ($260) • (016) Elaine Malloy Frantz Memorial Burse ($1,000) • (017) Msgr. George Martinez Knights of Columbus

#1337 ($7,521) • (018) Knights of St. Peter Claver Council 144 ($405) • (019) Margaret Glenn Memorial Burse ($1,250)

MAY 2019 17

Living Out the Love to Which Jesus Calls Us

by Mary Ellen Foley

H

ow do you define love? No dictionary can capture the essence of love. The same is true of our understanding of words like justice, solidarity and compassion.

Before I experienced JustFaith, my understanding of justice and my definition of solidarity were dictionary definitions.

So inadequate! Such understandings must be formed in relationships. For me, solidarity and justice came to life through our small group sharing and the relationships we formed during the JustFaith program.

In this program, we reflected on the lives of those who hunger for justice, compassion and understanding. We struggled with our preconceived notions; we challenged conventional wisdom. We visited with people in need, “the least of these.” We began to view their situation through their eyes. Through these experiences we began to develop the compassion that Jesus wants us to have for the poor. And we learned how justice and charity, the two aspects of love in action, go hand in hand.

The JustFaith program explores the long-standing social doctrine of the Catholic Church. From the early church fathers right up until our present time, the church has expressed concern for the poor and the laws and social conditions that lead to poverty. Pope Leo XIII responded to the working conditions of the Industrial Revolution with his famous 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum. Since that time the popes of the 20th and 21st centuries have responded to the conditions of their times with major messages concerning social justice. It 18 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

is now up to us, the people of God, to read, experience and reflect on the principles of justice proclaimed by the Church for the last 130 years.

St. Joseph Parish, Shreveport, will offer the JustFaith experience this coming fall and spring, on Thursday evenings, beginning September 19, and ending in April. This experience uses the adult learning model to help us fully understand the principles of justice that the Church holds dear. We dialogue as a faith-sharing community to deepen our faith and our solidarity with our neighbors. We will explore today’s issues and engage in dialogue around those issues in the light of Catholic social teaching. The program is open to anyone who would like to participate.

“Thirteen years ago I participated in the JustFaith program.

The program was a great learning experience in Catholic Social Teaching. The program challenged me to become more active in my faith. It allowed me to form deeper friendships with the other participants. Since that experience we have all been involved in more actively living out the love to which Jesus calls us.” – Fr. Mark Watson.

“In 2007, St. Joseph Church offered the JustFaith program to people in our community who were interested in learning more about social justice in a small community setting. When I joined, I had no idea how powerful this experience would be for me. I learned to view the world with new eyes, seeing it from the heart of those who were less fortunate than me, and responding in a new compassionate way to those who are different from me. The JustFaith experience was truly life changing.” – Jane Snyder For more information, contact Mary Ellen Foley at me.foley@comcast.net, or 318-869-1120. •

Humanitarian Award Presented to Sister Martinette

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by Mary Ann Van Osdell

r. Martinette Rivers, OLS, 82, has dedicated her life to serving others around the world. On March 26, she received the first Humanitarian Award from the Sabine Hall of Fame at its 22nd annual banquet in Many.

Seventy years ago she left Zwolle to follow her dream of religious life. She has been a Sister of Our Lady of Sorrows for 66 years.

“I have done many things, but I suppose the highlights of my life’s work would be working in Bangladesh from 1988 to 2002 with Muslims, Hindus and Christians,” she said.

From the seminary, to the poorest villages, Sr. Martinette has lived her life helping the last, the least, the lost and the lowest of all peoples. Rather than see their children die of starvation, Sr. Martinette saw the people of Bangladesh give them up. This meant she brought six of those babies to the United States to be adopted by her friends. Those children have become well educated, adult citizens.

Sr. Martinette also opened a clinic and a school for the poor and begged for money to build them homes after the 1998 flood in Bangladesh. More than 200 homes were built for Muslims, Hindus and Christians from her efforts. In her honor, community members built a school, college and hospital, all which bear her name.

“Poor people don’t care where one studied or what degrees you have, but only how much you love them,” Sr. Martinette said. He motto is living the Gospel message of love and service, spreading His loving concern for others, and loving as Jesus did.

Sr. Martinette met Mother Teresa many times, as well as several popes. Slowing down is not in the picture for her as she continues to remain active in body and spirit. She has lived the seasons of her life very well. In her acceptance speech she said that she hopes to dazzle everyone she meets.

On August 29, 1936, Joan Martinette Rivers was born in Shreveport to Thomas Rivers, descendant of Richard Rivers, and Elizabeth Ebarb. She remembers growing up in Zwolle, riding a wagon to church and pretending to be a religious sister by wearing a towel on her head. She knew at an early age that she wanted to become a sister and go out to help the poor and disadvantaged.

In 1947, her teacher, Mr. Mulkey, told his class to think about how they could make a dent in society. After class, she hurried up to speak to the Sisters at St. Joseph School for information.

She was known as a rascal, but they encouraged her to pursue her dream. Her dad left to study at Mississippi College and the family followed, but Sr. Martinette went to San Antonio, TX, to go to high school and later to pursue a vocation to become a Missionary Sister.

After finishing Little Flower High School in 1952, Sr. Martinette entered the convent and continued her education at Incarnate Word University and St. Mary's University before traveling to Mexico City as an exchange student to study art

and architecture. As a young sister, she learned eight languages and ended up at the university in Monterrey, Mexico, studying advanced Spanish and prose and poetry. She later studied at the Gregorian University in Rome, returning to the U.S. to teach for eight years before heading back to Rome to study Bangla and missionary spirituality to prepare for going to Asia. Before she departed, she was garlanded by Saint Pope John Paul II. In Asia she taught theology at the National Major Seminary in Bangladesh, where she remained for many years. There she helped young women discern their call to sisterhood.

In 2002, Sr. Martinette returned to America from Asia and decided to go back to school at the age of 66, studying gerontology in St. Louis, MO. She finished her studies in 2005 and began working as a gerontologist and geriatric counselor at Azalea Estates Assisted Living, teaching their seniors how to age gracefully with happy hearts.

She is part of a facility where she is loved and respected. She sings, plays the piano, loves to dance, teaches, tells jokes, paints, cooks, does music and grief therapy, or whatever the needs there are at the moment, keeping the residents on their toes and happy. She is teaching one older man to speak Italian and has arranged violin lessons for another resident.

Sr. Martinette is very involved with the interfaith groups in Shreveport-Bossier. The world religion group is her favorite.

She writes for The Catholic Connection, is a religious adviser for Catholic women, a diocesan spiritual director, retreat director, and hopes to finish her own book on “The Delights of Aging” one day. She is a speaker on aging spirituality. “No matter how old one becomes, one can still learn,” she says. • MAY 2019 19

Purposeful Work with Meaningful People

by Tiffany Olah, Catholic Charities of North Louisiana

enjoys spending time with people and getting to know them. So then, imagine that the case worker establishes a rapport with the man, commits to checking in with him on a regular basis, visits him on the weekends at his home and even offers him contract work that gives the man purpose. Realize now that after spending time talking with the CCNLA case worker, the man admits that he tried to take his own life the very night before coming into Catholic Charities.

This man is just one of those whose life was changed by their encounter with Catholic Charities. Often CCNLA staff will encounter the tears of the mother of five who is so behind in bills she has lost all hope. We see the gratitude of elderly clients who need help applying for food stamps online because they don’t know how to use a computer. We even get the chance to celebrate with the man or woman who has been granted The Catholic Charities of North Louisiana staff with Olah (front, third from left). legal status and can finally see a path towards becoming a U.S. citizen. These orking at Catholic Charities of North Louisiana are the reasons why working at Catholic Charities of North (CCNLA) means being part of a greater life Louisiana is both gratifying and good for the soul. experience. It is the opportunity to love others for It is also why leaving CCNLA in May will be so who they are and not where they come from, understanding bittersweet.

On one hand, my family and I have decided different cultural perspectives of those who have walked that after nine years in Shreveport, it is time for us to move down different paths, and recognizing that no act of service back home to Florida and be closer to all of our family. On is too small or meaningless. the other hand, I feel that I am leaving my CCNLA family The poor, the uneducated, the foreigner, the one whose too soon, leaving an organization that makes such a positive native language is not the same as yours – all of these I have impact in people’s lives. I hope whoever joins Catholic encountered while working at CCNLA. They are the clients, Charities in my place will feel the same joy and satisfaction the fellow staff members and volunteers. I am surrounded of being part of such a wonderful organization • by diversity ethnically, educationally and spiritually. Yet each and every person has a story to tell that is both fascinating and inspiring. At Catholic Charities, we not only lend a helping hand, but we make a difference every day to people Graphic Novel Series on from all walks of life. The impact of reaching out to others in Shreveport 1873 Yellow Fever service and in love can never be underestimated.

Imagine a man coming to CCNLA on an ordinary Epidemic Martyrs Tuesday morning. He is there to attend The Money School, a RIGHT: The Catholic Connection is running a graphic requirement for emergency rent or utility assistance. Imagine novel series each month, featuring the story of five priests that same man, in hopelessness and despair, mentioning who gave their lives in service to others in the Shreveport to the front desk receptionist that he probably would not Yellow Fever epidemic of 1873. The sixth page of this series be coming back. Ever. Now imagine that same receptionist shows the mounting death toll and the priests and religious is intuitive enough to be greatly concerned for this man’s sisters comforting the people. This graphic novel is provided emotional stability. She mentions to one of the case workers courtesy of the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans and is illustrated that the man needs some extra attention and care. Now, this

by Deacon Andrew Thomas. case worker loves his job, understands his clients well and

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20 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

MAY 2019 21

K i d s ' Connection

by Kelly Phelan Powell

Celebrating Mary in May!

It’s May, the month that the Catholic Church sets aside to honor the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, who is also our Spiritual Mother! Because we love our Blessed Mother and want so much to honor her, we use symbols in art to represent her:

1. Rose

There is a real rose, called the Mystic Rose, developed in Our Lady’s honor!

2. Moon, sun and stars

This comes from Revelation 12:1, which reads, “Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, robed with the sun, standing on the moon, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”

3. Lily of the Valley

The whiteness of the blooms and the sweetness of their scent are symbols of the Virgin Mary. Canticles 2:1 says, “I am the flower of the field, and the lily of the valley.”

We also have a lot of special names that we call her: Mater Ecclesiae (MAH-ter eh-KLEE-zee-ah Latin for “Mother of the Church”) Mirror of Justice Morning Star Mother of Mothers Queen of Heaven Queen of the Most Holy Family Queen of Mothers Queen of Peace Star of the Sea Theotokos (thay-oh-TOH-kose - Ancient Greek for “Mother of God”) Undoer of Knots Virgin Most Powerful Be sure to pray the Rosary this month to honor the beloved Mother of Our Savior!

22 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

HISPANIC NEWS

Melina Sanchez y su Pequeña Familia Por Rosalba Quiroz

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n la foto vemos a Melina Sanchez, con su esposo Norberto Aguilar, sus hijos Mateo, Camila, y la bebé que estaba por nacer – los miembros que formarán la familia Aguilar Sánchez. Melina ha sido Asistente de las oficinas del Ministerio Hispano y de Jóvenes por dos años. Ella también apoya otras oficinas de la diócesis como la oficina del Tribunal con traducciones y algunas otras actividades del día a día. Melina estará en recuperación y atendiendo a su nueva bebé por los próximos dos meses. Le deseamos mucha felicidad y paz mientras se integra y fortalece su pequeño y nuevo miembro de la familia.

Que regalo tan especial de Dios para el mundo es la mujer que en su naturaleza puede – en colaboración con el hombre, procrear y así contribuir con Dios y su creación. Tan especial la vio Dios, que quiso venir a la tierra y nacer a través del

vientre de una mujer. ¡María nos da el maravilloso ejemplo de obediencia aceptando ser la Madre de Dios! aunque de momento no entendió su misión, esta obediencia y amor que tenía a Dios Padre, la motivaron a decir Sí y así se convirtió en la primera misionera del mundo. El Papa Francisco dice: “una sociedad sin madres sería una sociedad inhumana, porque las madres saben testimoniar siempre, incluso en los peores momentos, la ternura, la entrega, y la fuerza moral”. Que gran bendición que Dios en su obra redentora, permita que el mismo ser humano – su creatura predilecta, colabore con Él en la procreación y prolongación de la vida.

Los sacrificios que hacen los padres como los que hicieron la virgen María y San José por su Hijo amado Jesús, son una

MINISTERIO HISPANO CATOLICO - DIOCESIS Rosalba Quiroz, Directora (318) 219-7265; rquiroz@dioshpt.org Melina Sanchez, Secretaria (318) 219-7257; msanchez@dioshpt.org Cristo Rey: Bossier City

425 McCormick Street P. Rigo Betancurt P. Mark Watson (318) 221-0238 Domingo-1:00pm Lunes y Martes-7pm Sabado-6pm

Santo Tomás Aquino: Ruston

810 Carey Avenue P. Tony Posadas (318) 243-0115 Domingo-1:30pm

Sta Maria de los Pinos: Shreveport

1050 Bert Kouns Ind. Loop P. Fidel Mondragon (318) 455-2300 Domingo-11:30am

Calendario Diocesano del Mes Mayo, 2019 3-5. Retiro Emaús para Mujeres, Scottsville, TX 18. Escuela de liderazgo pastoral. Tema: Servicio.

Cristo Rey – de 9am-5pm La oficina del Ministerio Hispano estará cerrada del 23 de Mayo al 12 de Junio manera de responder al amor y misericordia de Dios. Los hijos de Melina, al igual que todos somos producto del amor, amor familiar pero sobretodo amor infinito de nuestro Padre Dios que nos amó desde antes de nacer: “Yahvé me llamó desde el vientre de mi madre, conoció mi nombre antes que naciera”. (Is 49.1) Aprovechando este mes de mayo en el que celebramos también en muchos lugares el Día de las Madres, digámosle con mucho cariño y agradecimiento a nuestra mamá, ya sea que este en el cielo gozando del amor infinito de Dios o en la tierra cerca o lejos de nosotros, ¡Te Amo Mamá! •

Vicario General para la Diocesis de Shreveport Padre Rothell Price, V.G. (318)219-7259; rprice@dioshpt.org Coordinador de la Vicaria del Este Padre Luis Jost, OFM (318) 243-0115; pluisofm@yahoo.com

San Pascual: W. Monroe

711 North 7th Street P. Luis Jost (318) 243-0115 Domingo-4:00pm Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro: Farmerville

600 East Water Street P. Luis Jost (318) 243-0115 Sábado-7:00pm

San Juan Bautista: Many

1130 San Antonio Ave. P. Francis Kamau (318) 256-5680 1er Domingo de Mes-5pm

Sagrado Corazon: Oak Grove

201 Purvis St. P. Joseph Kallookalam (318) 559-2876 Domingo-5:00pm

MAY 2019 23

Your Appeal Helps Care for God's People Subsidies for Retried and Infirm Priests

by John Mark Willcox, Director of Development

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his past year our diocese has witnessed the passing of two of our most beloved retired priests with the death of Msgr. Carson LaCaze and Fr. Richard Lombard. Both of these men continued to serve the Church well past their official retirement and their impact on our faith community will be long-lasting. Even though our diocese continues to lose retired priests to advanced age and death, the number of our retired diocesan priests still stands at nine men.

Some of our priests claim retirement but remain an active part of our Church family. You may see Fr. Phil Michiels, Msgr. Earl V. Provenza or Fr. James McLelland celebrating a Mass at your parish while your pastor is on leave. Fr. Patrick Madden was famous for counting down the days to his official retirement, yet he still enthralls his faithful students each Thursday at the Catholic Center as scripture and Church teachings are examined in his class. These men are just some

Diocese of Shreveport Annual Diocesan Stewardship Appeal 3500 Fairfield Avenue Shreveport, Louisiana 71104 www.dioshpt.org

of the retired priests who remain committed to the people of our diocese and count on our Annual Diocesan Stewardship Appeal to provide them with financial support in their later years.

Your Appeal generosity also helps to provide high-quality medical care for our aging retirees, while trying to anticipate the annual rise in health care costs every year. In some instances, retired priests require hospitalization, after care and rehab, which can be very costly. In 2019, a significant portion of Appeal funding is dedicated to offering our retired priests a well-deserved quality of life in their later years as they continue to depend on the Church they served so well.

If you have yet to make your gift to our 2019 Appeal campaign, please use the pledge card found below. If you have already supported our 2019 Appeal effort, may God bless you for helping provide for the needs of our retired priests. •

2 0 1 9 D I O C E S A N S T E WA R D S H I P A P P E A L

I / We would like to contribute to the Diocesan Stewardship Appeal with a total 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

$200 $150 $100 $_______

At this time I / we are enclosing: $_____________

Print Name________________________________________________________________________________ Address___________________________________________________________________________________ City______________________________________________________ State________ Zip Code____________ My / Our Church Parish______________________________________________________________________ Signature__________________________________________________________________________________ You may make a credit card payment online at: www.dioshpt.org (Click on Stewardship)

24 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

ACROSS THE NATION from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Christus Vivit, Pope Francis’s Apostolic Exhortation on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment

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ardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and President of the USCCB, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R, of Newark, chairman of the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations, and Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., of Philadelphia, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, have issued the following joint statement on the release of Christus Vivit.

Full statement follows: “The Church of the United States welcomes this teaching from Pope Francis as the fruit of the synodal journey in which we walked with and listened to young people. This exhortation is a wonderful summons to the whole Church to more vigorously invest in youth and young adults, especially those on the peripheries and those who are disconnected from the Church.

We encourage all Catholic leaders to read and study this exhortation and the pertinent documents of the Synod.

They provide for us a framework from which we can build upon in our dioceses, parishes, and communities.

Now more than ever, we must turn our attention to our young people and engage them as ‘protagonists’ of the Church’s mission. Their insights can help us grow as a Church and guide us as we all learn to become better missionary disciples in an intercultural and intergenerational context. We look forward to what comes next, in collaboration with Catholic ministry leaders already working alongside young people. We look forward to the journey ahead, and pray with St. John Paul II, a patron of young people whose passing we remember today, for

USCCB Issues Statement on Notre Dame Cathedral Fire

W the Church’s ongoing mission to all generations.

The post-synodal apostolic exhortation, Christus Vivit, is a significant milestone of the synodal process begun by Pope Francis in 2016.

After two years of consultation by episcopal conferences, movements, and Catholic organizations, along with a worldwide online survey and a PreSynod Meeting with young adults in March 2018, the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops met in October 2018 on the theme ‘Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment.’

Bishops, clergy, religious and lay people, including a number of young people, together with Pope Francis, addressed the challenges facing younger generations today and ways in which the Church can best respond. Now the work of the Holy Spirit, manifest in the sessions of the Synod, will bear fruit in the dioceses of the United States.” •

ASHINGTON—Amidst the devastating fire taking place at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Pairs, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of GalvestonHouston and President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement to the people of Paris.

The full statement follows: “The horrific fire that is engulfing the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris is shocking and saddens us all, for this particular cathedral is not only a majestic Church, it is also a world treasure. Noble in architecture and art, it has long been a symbol of the transcendent human spirit as well as our longing for God. Our hearts go out to the Archbishop and the people of Paris, and we pray for all the people of France, entrusting all to the prayers and intercession of the Mother of God, especially the firefighters battling the fire. We are a people of hope and of the resurrection, and as devastating as this fire is, I know that the faith and love embodied by this magnificent Cathedral will grow stronger in the hearts of all Christians.” • MAY 2019 25

SCHOOL NEWS

Loyola's Dean Selected for Spain Academic Program

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ron June of this year, Junior Chloe Dean will experience classroom instruction with cultural activities and excursions throughout Spain.

The National Spanish Examinations Junior Study Abroad Scholarship requires applicants to: • have received medal placement by scoring above the 75th percentile on the 2018 National Spanish Examination in Level II or above • be registered to take the 2019 National Spanish Examination in Level III or above • agree to continue studying Spanish during senior year Dean met the criteria with flying colors, and the award will not only include education and experience in Spain, but will include tuition for classes, lodging and meals.

JGS Students Embrace Lent

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esus the Good Shepherd School participated in the Stations of the Cross at JGS Parish with Deacon Tom Deal officiating the event. Students in grades 1st through 6th were present. It was a wonderful addition to the school’s Lenten activities, which also included a service project arranged by the JGS Student Council to help stock the shelves of Catholic Charities of Monroe with goods and supplies needed by those in our local area. Additionally, JGS 5th and 6th grade students held their annual “Living Stations of the Cross” on April 17 and 18. JGS School is grateful to be able to help students live out their Lenten responsibilities of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. • 26 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

SJB Wins Multiple Science Olympiad Awards at State

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ongratulations St. John Berchmans Middle School Science Olympiad Team for winning 2nd place in the state tournament in Hammond, LA on April 13. Every team member placed in an event!

St. Joseph Kindergartners Join In Stations of the Cross

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t. Joseph School kindergarteners now attend the Stations of the Cross. Last year, Fr. Long decided to offer Stations to three groups of students, rather than have the whole school attended at once, providing each group with a more intimate, age-appropriate set of reflections and meditations. The kindergartners attend with first and second graders and listened to shorter, simpler meditations at each Station. In Religion class, they learned about the Stations, as well as the response, “...because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.” •

A "Slime" Sensation at St. Frederick High School

by Melissa Shepard

Social media star Giselle Fakhre has more than 920,000 followers on Instagram.

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t. Frederick High School Junior, Giselle Fakhre, has become a social media sensation. The 16-yearold entrepreneur and member of Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish in Monroe, spends her time working as somewhat of a celebrity in the world of slime.

The 16-year-old entrepreneur has 920,000 followers on her SlimeSlime101 Instagram account.

Giselle is a creator of slime, which for those who are unaware is a gooey, sticky substance that is all the rage with children today. Slime lovers enjoy the

gooiness of the stuff which they say relieves stress. Followers also love all the different slime designs Giselle makes.

Slime is becoming an art form for this generation of youngsters. Slime lovers manipulate the sticky substance and all the different things that are mixed into it to make it both fun and attractive.

Giselle mixes a variety of items into her slime creations including plastic balls, colors, sparkles, balloons and anything else she can think of to include.

Giselle’s business has grown so much that she is now sought after by toy

companies such as ORB Toys and Compound Kings from Wecool Toys.

Additionally, she is on the PR list for big name companies such as Elmer’s and Karina Garcia. This month she and her mother will attend Slime Bash, a slime convention in Chicago, IL, where she will be a VIP guest and will sell her slime add-in kits, which are of course packaged and decorated.

Giselle is a life-long member of Jesus Good Shepherd Parish. She attributes the start of her love of art to her elementary school art classes at Jesus Good Shepherd School. At St. Frederick High School, her civics class studied economic systems which inspired her to expand her small business. Giselle’s faith sustains her on days when she is extremely busy with school work, cheerleading, yearbook, social media accounts and business commitments. Her favorite Bible verse is “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13.

Giselle is the daughter of Dr. Saidi Sowma-Fakhre and Dr. Fakhre Fakhre who are both extremely proud of her initiative and success. Upon graduation from St. Frederick High School she would like to attend an out of state university where she can study business and draw upon her entrepreneurial experiences. •

Our Lady of Fatima Students Leap Into Testing

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ur Lady of Fatima School is leaping into testing! Students are taking the LEAP test from April 24 to May 3.

MAY 2019 27

AROUND THE DIOCESE

1

Mansfield Donates to Renzi Center

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he St. Joseph Altar Society hosted Omari Ho-Sang at their April meeting. Omari had a short presentation on the Renzi Education & Art Center and joined them for their meeting and lunch. The Altar Society presented Omari a check for $500 to help with operating expenses. The St. Joseph Parish community is also collecting snacks for the Renzi Center’s Backpack program to ensure that students who attend have meals over the weekend. (1)

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3

Lenten Revival at Little Flower Parish

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r. Art Anderson, OFM from St. Peter Friary in Chicago, preached the Lenten Revival for Little Flower of Jesus Parish in Monroe April 2 - 4. His preaching brought the Holy Spirit into the church and revived the congregation to celebrate the Paschal Mystery. (2)

Bears for Victims and Their Children

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he parishioners at St. Lucy Parish in Hodge made comfort bears for D.A.R.T. victims. The Domestic Abuse Resistance Team (D.A.R.T.) provides help to domestic violence victims and their children in North Central Louisiana in Jackson, Lincoln, Union, Winn, Claiborne, Bienville and Grant. (3)

Youth Seder Meal

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s part of the Lenten observance, St. John the Baptist Parish held a traditional Seder Meal for the their youth group on Sunday, March 24.

(4)

28 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

Parishioners Attend Mandeville Mission

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6

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eacon Tom Deal from Jesus Good Shepherd Parish attended a Lenten mission in Mandeville with Scott Hahn. Pictured: Deacon Tom Deal, Buff Harvey, Jo Ann Deal, Mark and Rosie Nix and Scott Hahn. (5)

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Lent in Bastrop

t. Joseph Parish in Bastrop hosted seven guest speakers representing a word for each letter of the word “faith.” They also had “Soup & Saints” every Thursday during Lent. Pictured: speakers Deacon Chris Domingue and Fr. Joseph Kuzichalil, CMI. (6)

7

Sacred Heart Receives Donation

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he Friends in Faith Service Organization donated a Last Supper chalice and bowl paten set, two Communion cups, two Ciborium with cross covers and 16 Jerusalem lavabo towels as a gift from the organization to the church and community for service over the past 23 years. Fr. John Paul Crispin, FMH received them at the end of Mass. (7)

Baking for Prisoners

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t. Jude youth group members teamed up in the kitchen to bake cookies for the Kairos weekend at David Wade Correctional Center. While baking, the youth learned how the cookies are a tangible example of God’s love. (8)

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9

Easter Baskets for Those in Need

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ach year St. Jude Parish fills Easter baskets with food items. These baskets are put together with love, prayers and delivered to families in need in our area. (9) Send submissions to "Around the Diocese" to jrinaudo@dioshpt.org.

Please include a photo that has not been resized and a brief description.

MAY 2019 29

MAY CALENDAR Parish in downtown Shreveport. This Mass honors lawyers, judges and court officials. Music will begin at 8:30 a.m.

This year’s honoree is the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Fr. Peter Mangum will be the principal celebrant and homilist.

May 4 Protecting God’s Children

St. Paschal Parish, 9:00 a.m., 711 N 7th St., Monroe.

For more information, email Deacon Mike Straub at mstraub@dioshpt.org.

May 8

FEAST DAYS May 1

St. Joseph the Worker

May 2

May 21

St. Christopher Magallanes, priest, & companions, martyrs

May 22

St. Athanasius, bishop & doctor of the Chuch

St. Rita of Cascia, religious

May 3

St. Bede the Venerable, priest & doctor of the Church; St. Gregory VII, pope; St. Mary Magdalene de'Pazzi, virgin

Sts. Philip & James, apostles

May 5

Third Sunday of Easter

May 25

May 26

May 10

Sixth Sunday of Easter

May 12

St. Augustine of Canterbury, bishop

St. Damien de Veuster, priest

May 27

Protecting God’s Children Catholic Center, 6:00 p.m. For more information, email Deacon Mike Straub at mstraub@dioshpt.org.

May 18

Ordination of Kevin Joseph Mues to the Priesthood at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, 10:00 a.m.

May 27

Memorial Day Mass at St. Joseph Cemetery with Msgr. Earl V. Provenza at 10:00 a.m. St. Joseph Cemetery is located at 2100 Texas Ave., in Shreveport. If there is inclement weather, the Mass will be moved to the chapel in the mausoleum.

May 28

May 13

May 31

Our Lady of Fatima

The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Protecting God’s Children Catholic Center, 3500 Fairfield Avenue, Shreveport, 9:00 a.m. For more information, email Deacon Mike Straub at mstraub@dioshpt.org.

May 14

St. Matthias, apostle

HOLIDAYS

PARISH & MINISTRY EVENTS

May 15

Memorial Day

Fourth Sunday of Easter World Day of Prayer for Vocations

St. Isisdore

May 18

St. John I, pope & martyr

May 19

Fifth Sunday of Easter

May 20

St. Bernardine of Siena, priest 30 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

May 30

The Ascension of the Lord

May 27

DIOCESAN & MINISTRY EVENTS May 3 Annual Red Mass

The Annual Red Mass will be celebrated on Friday, May 3, at 9:00 a.m. at Holy Trinity

May 21

Organ Concert at the Cathedral: Director of Music, Aaron D. Wilson and Fr. James McLelland will host an Organ Concert at the Cathedral featuring Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21. The Cathedral is located at 939 Jordan Street in Shreveport.

Priesthood Ordination • May 18 May 26

Rev. Jim Sichko to Present Mission at St. Joseph, Zwolle: Fr. Jim Sichko, a priest of the Diocese of Lexington, KY, and Papal Missionary of Mercy, will be presenting a three-night mission at St. Joseph Parish in Zwolle beginning May 26 and continuing through May 28 at 6:00 p.m. each evening. Fr Jim uses real life experiences and ties those experiences into the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. Known for his presentations entitled “60 Minutes for Jesus,” each talk is geared for all ages.

June 1

Magnificat Brunch with Chris Dixon: Men and women are invited to Magnificat’s Brunch on Saturday, June 1, from 10:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Catholic Center, 3500 Fairfield Ave, Shreveport. Despite growing up Protestant, speaker Chris Dixon has felt the call to the priesthood. Come hear the amazing story that brought him to the Catholic Church.

Tickets are $15 and include a meal. Checks should be mailed to Magnificat Nowela Chapter, P.O. Box 4293 Shreveport, LA 71134, by May 29. Please include the name of attendees with your check. For questions call 318-564-2672 or 318-222-0007.

July 4 - 15

Trip to Kenya: The Franciscan Missionaries of Hope are planning a group trip to Kenya for those interested. The trip is set for July 4-15, 2019. Each person is responsible for securing their own airline ticket. Food, attractions, accommodations, souvenirs and travel while in Kenya will total approximately $1500. If you are interested in going, please contact Father Nick Onyach at nick2@yahoo.com or (318) 752-5971.

September 3-12

Pilgrimage to the Shrines of Italy: Join Fr. Mike Thang’wa for a 10-day Pilgrimage to visit the shrines of Italy. Dates are September 3-12, 2019 and the cost is $3450 per person which includes round-trip from Shreveport. Sites of interest include Rome, Assisi, Vatican City, Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Catacombs, etc. For more information, contact Nativity Pilgrimage at 844-400-9559, or Fr. Mike at: thangwamike@ gmail.com.

On Saturday, May 4, the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans will have a special grand opening exhibit displaying more than 100 items related to the Shroud of Turin in the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans’ new Museum of the Holy Shroud!

The day will begin with a beautiful Mass in the Cathedral at 9:00 a.m., followed by the opening of the exhibition with some special speakers, including original Shroud of Turin Research Project documenting photographer Barrie Schwortz, and events for the whole family.

FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC A box sandwich lunch option will be offered for $10 per person (rsvp/purchase lunch online at www.sjbcathedral.org).

MAY 2019 31

Connection The Catholic

DIOCESE OF SHREVEPORT 3500 Fairfield Ave. • Shreveport, LA 71104

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

The St Paschal Youth hosted a baby shower as their Lenten service project. Donations collected throughout Lent benefited Life Choices Pregnancy Resource Center in Monroe.

32 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

Fairfield