Catholic Connection June 2015

Vol. 24, No. 11 June 2015

Deacons

Celebrate

Anniversaries June 2015 1

Words of Remembrance Publisher Bishop Michael G. Duca Editor Jessica Rinaudo Assistant Editor Raney Johnson Contributors Christine Rivers Fr. John Paul Crispin Sr. Martinette Rivers Fr. Karl Daigle Katie Sciba Bishop Michael Duca Courtney Smith Raney Johnson Bonny Van Kim Long Mike Van Vranken Theresa Mormino Mike Whitehead Fr. Rothell Price John Mark Willcox Dianne Rachal Editorial Board Kim Long Fr. Matthew Long Kelly Phelan Powell Dianne Rachal Christine Rivers Deacon Mike Whitehead John Mark Willcox Mission Statement The Catholic Connection is a monthly publication funded by your Diocesan Service Appeal; mailed to every known Catholic household in the Diocese of Shreveport.

Our Mission is to advance knowledge and understanding of our Catholic Faith among the faithful. We seek to foster the application of Christ’s teachings and our Church’s mission in our daily lives and to encourage our sense of Catholic identity within our family, parish, and diocesan faith community.

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.

2 Catholic Connection

I

f we have died with Christ, we believe we shall also live with him.

Romans 6:8 This spring has been a season of loss in the Diocese of Shreveport.

The Catholic Funeral Rites help us remember and pray for those who have gone before us in faith.

It is our hope in the promise of the resurrection that sustains us in times of grief.

The Diocese of Shreveport has Guidelines for Catholic Funerals to help families and parishes prepare the funeral liturgies for their loved ones: http://www.dioshpt.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Guidelines-for-CatholicFunerals-21.pdf.

Of particular importance are Words of Remembrance spoken by a family member or friend, and what is the pastorally appropriate setting for sharing these remembrances. The Guidelines for Catholic Funerals state: Only a priest or deacon may preach the homily at the funeral liturgy. A eulogy is not appropriate in the Funeral Mass where a homily is prescribed, although examples from the person’s life of faith and love may be used in the homily.

The Order of Christian Funerals recognizes the need to reflect on the life of the loved one who has just died by providing an invitation in the vigil for a member or friend of the family to speak in remembrance of the deceased person just before the concluding rite. The vigil is the most appropriate time for members of the family and friends to share remembrances of the deceased or to pay tribute to the deceased. The Catholic Funeral Rites are celebrations that enable the Christian community to mourn as well as hope by focusing on the mystery of the death and resurrection of Christ.

by Dianne Rachal, Director of Worship

bishop’s june calendar JUNE 6 Confirmation; St. Matthew Parish, Monroe; 4:00 p.m.

JUNE 7 Confirmation; St. Lawrence Church, Swartz; 10:00 a.m.

JUNE 8 - 13 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Spring Meeting; St. Louis JUNE 13 Marian Council #3779 Knights of Columbus Appreciation Banquet; Shreveport; 6:00 p.m.

JUNE 14 Confirmation & Sacred Heart Feast Day Celebration; Sacred Heart Parish, Rayville; 9:00 a.m.

JUNE 16 Catholic Charities of North Louisiana Membership Board meeting; Shreveport; 12:00 p.m.

JUNE 18 Investment Committee meeting; Catholic Center, Shreveport; 10:00 a.m.

JUNE 20 Confirmation; Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Farmerville; 6:00 p.m.

JUNE 24 Diocesan Finance Council meeting; Catholic Center, Shreveport; 12:00 p.m.

JUNE 27 St. Vincent Alumni Association Luncheon; Pierremont Oaks Tennis Club, Shreveport; 12:00 p.m.

JUNE 28 Confirmation; St. Ann Church, Stonewall; 9:00 a.m.

contents

june 2015

columns Shaping a Vision for Our Diocese by Bishop Michael G. Duca............................... 4-5 Mike’s Meditations: Understanding God

by Mike Van Vranken.................................................................................................6 Second Collection: Peter's Pence

by Fr. Rothell Price .....................................................................................................6 From the Pope: The Beauty of Christian Marriage

by Vatican Information Services..................................................................................7 In the Words of Pope Francis by Vatican Information Services...............................7 Catholic Food: A Taste of the Ancient World by Kim Long..................................8 Domestic Church: Fathers Love Your Daughters by Katie Sciba........................9 How to "Date" Daughters by Katie Sciba ...............................................................9 Book Review: Something Other Than God Written by Jennifer Fulweiler

by Katie Sciba ..........................................................................................................10 Navigating the Faith: Ember Days: Marking the Seasons by Kim Long ............11

9

11

features Deacons Celebrate Anniversaries Deacon Mike Whitehead ........................................................................................ 11-12 Celebrating 10 Years of Service

by Deacon Mike Whitehead .................................................................................... 12

news LaTech Students Serve Poor During Break by Courtney Smith.............................. 10

15

Youth "Unplugs" for Ministry by Bonny Van.............................................................. 14 Catholic School Inspires Faithful Life by Raney Johnson ...................................... 14 Sewing for the Future by Theresa Mormino.............................................................. 15

on the cover

100% PSR Participation by Raney Johnson ............................................................ 15 Msgr. Edmund Moore Leaves Legacy of Ministry by John Mark Willcox .............. 16 Sr. Margaret Daues was Pillar of Faith Community by Christine Rivers ............... 16 Reflection: Holy Tears by Fr. John Paul Crispin ........................................................ 17 Reflection: Senior Season by Sr. Martinette Rivers, OLS ......................................... 17 Hispanic Corner by Fr. Karl Daigle ........................................................................... 18 Around the Globe U.S. Bishops to Meet June 10-12 in St. Louis, Hear Presentations on Synod, Family, Strategic Plan, Encyclical Themes

by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops......................................................19 School News ...........................................................................................................20 Around the Diocese ...............................................................................................21 Upcoming Events....................................................................................................22 June Calendar .......................................................................................................23 Picture of the Month ..............................................................................................24

Deacon Mike Wise baptizes Cruz Atan Stelly at St. Jude Parish. Photo

by Elaine Pierce Photography.

June 2015 3

LA REFLEXIÓN del obispo

por Obispo Michael G. Duca

Formando una Visión para Nuestra Diócesis

E

l 19 de mayo pasado cumplí siete años como Obispo de la Diócesis de Shreveport. Estos años han sido de los más satisfactorios de mi vida. Disfruto visitar nuestras parroquias y estar con ustedes como su pastor. El tiempo que he sido obispo me ha inspirado con un nuevo entendimiento del llamado de Dios en mi vida. Además de haber disfrutado, y continuaré disfrutando mi tiempo visitando y orando con ustedes en la parroquia, un obispo es llamado a ser algo más. Me toca a mí leer las señales de los tiempos y tratar de dirigir el Cuerpo de Cristo, la Diócesis de Shreveport hacia el futuro. Creo que es hora de que comencemos a considerar las prioridades diocesanas que nos ayudarán a solteros y todas las etnias que son parte enfrentar los retos de años venideros y crear oportunidades que apoyarán nuestra misión de esta conversación tan importante. Más que nada quiero proveer una manera de del Evangelio: construir el reino de Dios expresar juntos como Iglesia, o mejor en nuestros hogares, nuestras parroquias, dicho, como podemos juntos ayudarnos nuestras ciudades y, de hecho, en todo el mutuamente a sobrepasar los retos Norte de Luisiana. viviendo como miembros fieles y testigos Podrán recordar que comencé mi Católicos, el Cuerpo de Cristo en el artículo de enero en este espacio con las mismas palabras y son tan verdaderas para mundo. ¡Este plan está todavía vivo y va a mí hoy como lo fueron cuando las escribí suceder! Lo que ha cambiado es que en enero. Tenía la esperanza de comenzar está tomando más tiempo de lo que una serie de reuniones esta primavera en yo esperaba. El proceso también se ha la diócesis para escuchar sus esperanzas tardado por para el futuro el sufrimiento de la Iglesia Católica Esta es una invitación que en las muertes y pérdidas en nuestra les hago personalmente del Padre diócesis. Estas David Richter, reuniones a cada uno de ustedes del Obispo nos ayudarán de que se unan a mí y Emérito también William Friend, a celebrar participen en una de las de la Hermana lo que está reuniones de su parroquia.

Margaret funcionando Daues, y del bien en las Monseñor Eddie Moore. Pero ahora me parroquias y la diócesis, así como la place reportar que estamos de regreso oportunidad de una audiencia donde en acción. Planeamos comenzar las podamos sugerir como mejorar donde lo reuniones en cada parroquia o parroquias necesitamos. Quiero que este proceso se sumerja en las riquezas de nuestra diócesis en la Diócesis en el otoño comenzando en septiembre. Se publicará con anticipación tratando de proveer oportunidades para una lista de los lugares donde nos todos los fieles, el clero, los laicos y religiosos, los estudiantes de preparatoria, reuniremos para animar a todos a que participen en las sesiones cercanas a su los jóvenes adultos, los matrimonios, los 4 Catholic Connection

localidad.

Tal vez parezca que falta mucho tiempo pero no tenemos una edición de la revista en julio así que quería mantenerlos al corriente de mis planes ahora y darles tiempo de pensar en sus esperanzas y deseos de tener una iglesia más vibrante en nuestra diócesis.

En Agosto comenzarán a ver nuestros planes y el itinerario se publicará tanto en esta revista de la Catholic Connection, como en los boletines de sus parroquias y en la página de internet de la diócesis, www.dioshpt.org. Esta es una invitación que les hago personalmente a cada uno de ustedes de que se unan a mí y participen en una de las reuniones de su parroquia.

Esta es su oportunidad de ser parte en marcar el curso que tomarán nuestras parroquias y nuestra diócesis en el futuro.

Sus ideas y participación son importantes para mí. Juntos formaremos una visión para la Diócesis de Shreveport que apoyará la misión de nuestro Evangelio: construir el reino de Dios en nuestros hogares, nuestras parroquias, nuestras ciudades y de hecho, en todo el Norte de Luisiana.”

Oren por nuestro éxito. Oren para que este proceso de escuchar y crear una nueva visión para nuestra diócesis engendre en todos nosotros un entusiasmo renovado para nuestra fe y una nueva esperanza para el futuro.

bishop’s reflection

by Bishop Michael G. Duca

Shaping a Vision for Our Diocese

O

n May 19, I completed my seventh year as Bishop of the Diocese of Shreveport. These years have been some of the most rewarding of my life.

I enjoy visiting our parishes and being present to you as your shepherd and pastor.

My time as bishop inspires me with a new understanding of God’s call in my life. Yet, as much as I Bishop Duca have enjoyed and will continue to enjoy my time visiting and praying with you in the parish, a bishop is also called to do more. It falls to me to read the signs of the time and to try to lead the Body of Christ, the Diocese of Shreveport, into the future. I believe that it is time we begin to consider our diocesan priorities that will help us meet the challenges of the coming years and create the opportunities that will support our Gospel mission: to build up the kingdom of God in our homes, our parishes, our cities and, indeed, throughout all of North Louisiana.

You may remember that I began my January article in this space with these words and they are as true to me today as they were when I wrote them in January.

It was my hope to begin a series of meetings this spring throughout the diocese to hear from you about your hopes for the future of the Catholic Church in our diocese. These meetings will help us also celebrate what is working well in our parishes and diocese and offer a forum where we can suggest improvement where needed. I want this process to tap into the diverse richness of our diocese by trying to provide

locations and dates will be published well opportunities for all the faithful, clergy, in advance and everyone is encouraged laity, religious, high school students, to attend the listening session in a young adults, married, single and all convenient location. ethnicities to be a part of this important It may seem that this is still a long way conversation. Most of all, I want to off, but we do not have a July edition of provide a way for us to express together the Catholic Connection, so I wanted to how the Church, or maybe better said, keep you up to date on my plans now and how we together as members of the to give you time to consider your hopes Church can help one another to meet the and desires for a more vibrant church in challenges of living as faithful Catholics our diocese. and witnesses to Christ in the world in which we live. Beginning in August, you will see our plans and timetable published in This plan is the Catholic Connection, in your church still alive and bulletins and on our diocesan website, it is going to www.dioshpt.org. This is my personal happen! What invitation to each of you to join me and has changed attend a gathering in your parish. This is that it has is your opportunity to help chart the taken longer course our parishes and our diocese will to plan than I take in the future. Your input and your expected. The process has also ideas are important to me. Together we will shape a vision for the Diocese of been delayed Shreveport that will support our Gospel as we have all mission: to build up the kingdom of God been deeply in our homes, our parishes, our cities burdened by the death of Father David Richter, Bishop Emeritus William Friend, and, indeed, throughout all of North Louisiana.”

Sister Margaret Daues and Monsignor Pray for our success. Pray that this Eddie Moore. But I am now pleased to process of listening and creating a new report we are back on track. We plan to vision for our diocese will engender begin meetings in every parish or parish within all of us a new enthusiasm for our cluster throughout the diocese in the fall faith and new hope for the future. beginning in September. A list of all the

This is my personal

invitation to each of you to join me and attend a gathering in your parish.

June 2015 5

Collections SC Second

by Fr. Rothell Price

Meditations MM Mike's

by Mike Van Vranken

Understanding God

A

friend confided in me recently that he didn’t want to learn any more about God. It had been his experience that the more he learned, the more questions he had. Of course, there is truth in his explanation. We will never fully know God because He is God and we are not. However, the more we know Him, the greater he is manifested in our lives. And one way to know him more is through his sacred Word.

Psalm 25:14 explains, “The counsel of the Lord belongs to those who fear him; and his covenant instructs them.” Another name for covenant is testament. Many refer to the two sections of our Bible as the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.

In other words, we receive counsel or wisdom from God when we fear Him and obey what he has taught us through sacred scripture. Psalm 111:10 similarly teaches, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

So just what is the fear of the Lord?

It involves a reverential respect for the Almighty God. This fear acknowledges how much God loves us and the power that accompanies that love.

Consequently, this fear is our reaction to God because we do not want to displease Him. We want to honor and serve Him. Now, back to Psalm 25:14. “The counsel of the Lord belongs to those who fear him; and his covenant instructs them.” To increase our understanding of God, we begin with our reverential respect of His glory, power, honor, justice and mercy. Then, because His covenant, or testament, or his Word instructs us, we go to it and not only learn it, but actively obey it. That’s when real revelation comes.

When we take our head knowledge of his word, move it to heart knowledge and then begin to live it, God manifests Himself to us in every aspect of His creation. He begins to teach us through our thoughts, the words and actions of others, and literally every part of man and nature. However, He only does this once we begin to obey 6 Catholic Connection

and act on His word with a reverential humility that we can accurately call “fear of the Lord.”

If you want to know God more, consider these suggestions: • Begin your day by deepening your intimate relationship with Him in His word.

• Then, whatever His word tells you that day, deliberately live it. No excuses and no exceptions.

• As you specifically obey His every word, desire to see him in every aspect of your life.

• As you recognize Him, consider what He is doing at that moment and remember He is always working behind the scenes as well.

• Finally, give Him thanks and praise for walking with you at all times.

Before long you will discover that you are learning more and more about God, each person of the Trinity and how your relationship with the Almighty has deepened and grown.

Will you ever completely understand Him? Certainly not on this side of heaven. But by inviting Him into an active role in your life through studying and obeying his word, your relationship with Him and your understanding of Him will reach new heights you would have never imagined or dreamed.

Mike is a writer and teacher, and coauthor of the book: Faith Positive in a Negative World. You can contact him at www.mikevanvrankenministries.org

Second Collection: Peter's Pence

Collection Dates: June 27 & 28 Announcement Dates: June 14 & 21

B

e a Witness of Charity.” This is the theme for the 2015 Peter’s Pence Collection.

This collection provides the Holy Father with the funds he needs to carry out his charitable works around the world. The proceeds benefit the most disadvantaged in our world: victims of war, oppression and disasters.

Join our Holy Father Francis as a witness of charity to those who are suffering. Pope Francis said, “To love God and neighbor is not something abstract but profoundly concrete: It means seeing in every person the face of the Lord to be served, to serve him concretely.” We have received divine charity: the Eternal Father’s love, the Son’s redeeming sacrifice and the Holy Spirit’s grace and power. We’ve received human charity: the charity of parents, grandparents, siblings, relatives, neighbors, teachers, friends, the Saints of God and Angels.

It’s our turn to “Be a Witness to Charity.”

We join Pope Francis in bearing concrete witness to what we have gratefully received.

This is the mission of Jesus, and this is the mission of his holy people who are the Church.

Our Lord bore witness to the Father’s love and mercy. We take this opportunity to do likewise in union with him. Please be generous in the Peter’s Pence Collection in June. “Be a Witness of Charity.”

Fr. Rothell Price, Vicar General, is the Director of Special Collections.

“

from the

from Vatican Information Services

The Beauty of CHristian Marriage

V

atican City, 6 May 2015 (VIS) – The beauty of Christian marriage, which is not “simply the beauty of the ceremony that takes place in church, but rather the Sacrament made by the Church, giving rise to a new family community”, was the theme chosen by Pope Francis in the catechesis Pope Francis of this Wednesday�s general audience.

“It is what the apostle Paul summarizes in his famous expression: ‘This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the Church�. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul affirms that the love between spouses is the image of the love between Christ and the Church. An unimaginable dignity! But in reality it is inscribed in God�s plan of creation, and with Christ�s grace countless Christian couples, even with their limits, their sins, have achieved this.”

St. Paul, speaking of new life in Christ, says that “all Christians are called to love each other as Christ has loved them, that is ‘submitting to one another,� meaning at each other�s service. Here he introduces the analogy between the husband-wife couple and that of Christ and the Church.

It is clear that this is an imperfect analogy, but we must grasp the spiritual meaning, elevated and revolutionary but at the same time very simple, within the reach of every man and woman who trust in God�s grace.” “‘Husbands should love their wives as their own bodies,� says Paul; ‘as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.� The effect of this radicalism of the devotion required of man, for the love and the dignity of the woman, based on the example of Christ, must have been enormous within the Christian community itself. This seed of evangelical newness, that re-establishes the original reciprocity of devotion and respect, has

ripened slowly throughout history, but in the end it has prevailed.”

The sacrament of marriage “is a great act of faith and of love: it bears witness to the courage of believing in God�s creating act and of living that love that drives us always to go onwards, beyond ourselves and even beyond the family itself. The Christian vocation to love without reserve and without measure is such that, with Christ�s grace, it is at the base of the free consensus that constitutes marriage.”

Furthermore, the Church herself “is fully involved in the history of each Christian marriage: she is built on its successes and suffers in its failures. However we must ask ourselves seriously: do we accept fully, ourselves, as believers and pastors, this indissoluble bond of the history of Christ and the Church with the history of marriage and the human family? Are we willing to take on this responsibility seriously?”

The decision to ‘marry in the Lord� also contains a missionary dimension, which means having at heart the willingness to become conduits of God�s blessing and the Lord�s grace for all. Indeed, Christian couples participate in the mission of the Church inasmuch as they are couples. … And thus the life of the Church is enriched every time by the beauty of this matrimonial alliance, just as it is impoverished every time it is defaced. The Church, to offer the gift of faith, love and hope to all, is in need of the courageous faithfulness of married couples in the grace of their sacrament. The people of God needs their daily progress in faith, love and hope, with all the joys and the hardships that this path involves in a marriage and in a family.”

“Yes: St. Paul was right, it is a great mystery”, concluded the Pope. “Men and women, courageous enough to place this treasure in the clay vessels of our humanity, are an essential resource for the Church, and also for all the world. May God bless you a thousand times for this!”

Words

In the of

Pope Francis

“There is a strong bond that already unites us which goes beyond all divisions.

It is the testimony of Christians from different Churches and traditions, victims of persecution and violence simply because of the faith they profess. And not only now, that there are many of them; I think also of the martyrs of Uganda, half Catholics and half Anglicans. The blood of these martyrs will nourish a new era of ecumenical commitment, a fervent desire to fulfill the last will and testament of the Lord: that all may be one.” (Address to the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission 4/30/15) “Faced with a culture of illegality, corruption and confrontation, you are called to devote yourselves to the common good, also through service to those linked to politics. If Christians dissociate themselves from direct involvement in politics, it would be a betrayal of the mission of the lay faithful, who are called upon to be salt and light in the world, also through this form of presence” (Address to the Community of Christian Life and the Student Missionary League 4/30/15) “In the next few days various capital cities will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. On this occasion I entrust to the Lord, by the intercession of Mary Queen of Peace, my hope that society may learn from the mistakes of the past and that, faced with the current conflicts that are tearing asunder various regions of the world, all civil leaders may persevere in their search for the common good and in the promotion of a culture of peace”.

(Vatican City 5/6/16) “Peace is built day by day. It is not an industrial product, it is an artisanal product. It is crafted every day with our work, with our life, with our closeness.”

(Address to children of the Peace Factory 5/12/15) June 2015 7

CF

Catholic Food

by Kim Long

A Taste of the Ancient World

T

ransition is a popular word these days. It can have either a positive or negative connotation depending on the circumstances.

I have in my recipe stash a variety of well-marked and slightly butter-smeared and vanilla-soaked index cards written in “many hands,” and it is to these less-thanpristine cards I go when called to make a certain something. These are admittedly like “chick flick” movies that will feed a woman’s soul or sense of humor, which will speak to the feminine population; it is likewise with some recipes. In my grandmother’s time, these dishes were prepared for what she and her friends called “ladies luncheons” which may have marked the end of a book study, a pause in the round of Garden Club meetings or a birthday. Transitions: Life is filled with them.

Recently, our Ladies Bible Study Group finished our book. Before jumping into the next adventure, we decided to watch The Red Tent, a mini-series based on Anita Diamant’s bestselling novel of the same name. For two weeks we were transported to the time of Rachel, Leah and Dinah, Jacob’s wives and daughter. We were granted a peek into their ancient world.

After much lively discussion about what

to study next, we decided to mark this time with a Biblical-themed meal: a little taste of the food of the ancient world.

Desserts were different back then. When the Bible speaks of sweet cakes of pressed figs, they weren’t kidding. In his book Keeping the Feast, Jeff Smith gives a nod to Jewish cuisine with a recipe for Honey Cake. I thought it sounded more palatable than cakes of pressed figs, so I whipped one up. Fresh and warm from the oven, I presented it to my son who politely took a bite and handed it back to me, “It’s not bad, but it’s not for me. Sorry.” I assured him no apologies were necessary.

Honey, it seems, is an acquired taste.

The main course was Beef with Apricots and Figs. Again, he was polite but not interested. Fast forward to the following day: The women gathered in the kitchen, and we worked in a flurry of activity and then sat down to enjoy our version of a “ladies luncheon.” There it was – the sound of silence! My father’s voice rose in my mind, "You can always tell when the

food is good – everyone is too busy eating to talk.”

After eating our fill and feeding the staff at St. Mary of the Pines, we put away the very few leftovers, and I realized that perhaps not every dish occupies the province of men, that my grandmother and her friends were correct and wise saving some things only for themselves.

They brought forth particular recipes to produce a meal served on a delicate set of china and some stemware, giggles, laughter and girl talk. For a time, they recalled who they had been. This delicately seasoned meat, the salad without lettuce and the honey cake rested well on our palates, on the palates of women. This roast recipe is very good and worthy of a try. It’s a bit of Braised Beef with Figs and Apricots an expensive dish, so I recommend Ingredients: preheated 475-degree oven for 25 minutes. trying it for a special occasion, • 1 four pound brisket or roast (I found a Remove the meat and set aside. perhaps a moment of transition. roast on sale rather than a brisket) • Salt and pepper, olive oil • 2 medium yellow onions, peeled and coarsely chopped • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley • 2 cups beef stock • 1 cup water • Juice of one lemon • 1 ½ cinnamon sticks • 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar • 1 tablespoon honey • 2 cups dried figs • 1 ½ cup dried apricots

Directions: 1) Season the meat lightly with salt and pepper and rub with olive oil.

2) Brown in a pan.

3) Remove to roasting pan and bake in a

8 Catholic Connection

4) Add onions to pan and set meat on top. Add parsley, stock, water, lemon juice, and cinnamon sticks.

5) Cover pan (foil or lid) and return to oven.

6) Reduce temp to 300 and bake for two hours and 15 minutes. Remove pan from oven.

7) Mix vinegar and honey and pour over meat.

8) Add dried fruit.

9) Cover and bake one hour and 15 minutes more until tender.

10) Slice meat across the grain and serve with sauce.

Recipe based on The Frugal Gourmet Keeps the Feast Past, Present, and Future, written by Jeff Smith and published by William Morrow, 1995

Prayer in Time of Change As routine’s comfort falls away from me, O God, I feel as though part of me is being exposed. Trusting You I seek your mantle of protection As I face new days and weeks help me to be still and recall That You alone are God, You alone have the power to create order from the chaos change in any form. As I move into this new time, guide me from strength to strength with the comfort that You are with me. And as I discover and celebrate the wonderful and new things You have planned and designed with me alone in mind, know O God You are welcome in my joy. AMEN

Church DC Domestic

by Katie Sciba

Fathers Love Your Daughters Dads are supposed to be conduits of God's love

T

he delights and nuances of the fatherdaughter relationship are new in our house. Jane is a darling 6 1/2 months old and, like her brothers before her, she wiggles, squeals and smiles at anyone who looks her way; but something remarkable happens when my husband walks in the room. Jane doesn�t just smile, she charms. At a glance from her dad, she suddenly becomes a sweet coquette seeking his attention, and Andrew can�t resist.

Her pretty face warms in his gaze and immediately he stretches out his arms to hold her.

With Andrew, Jane laughs and stares in a way she doesn�t with her brothers or me, and it�s obvious that, even this early, their relationship holds a different dynamic simply because she�s his daughter.

Stasi Eldredge, co-author of Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman�s Soul, asserts that every girl and woman holds a question deep within her heart: Am I lovely?

Am I worth your attention?, and they will spend their lives searching and hoping for an answer. Women of every age want to know that they�re beautiful and irreplaceable, Eldgredge says, and we especially want to hear a “Yes!” from our fathers. Think of any classic little girl behavior - playing dress up, dancing, putting on Mama�s makeup to look pretty - these are all attention-getting behaviors seeking affirmation. While I wasn�t prone to twirling in dresses as a tomboyish little girl, I sought my dad�s attention in other ways: lingering around him while he did house projects, going for a ride in his truck and, as an adult, surprising him with phone calls at work. I wanted his time and attention. Fathers are big, strong and smart in their daughters� eyes - an ideal recipe for safety and assurance - with a natural inclination to protect. It�s no

coincidence that with this nature, a father possesses the ability to demonstrate to his daughter that she is captivating and worthy of love.

Possessing the ability, however, is only the first step. The nuts and bolts of fatherhood are God-given and, under a sharp lens, it�s clear that God contains within him the same expression of strength that he bestows to dads.

What else should we conclude but that dads are supposed to love their daughters as God does, to be conduits of God�s strength as well as his gentleness?

Regardless of a daughter�s age, her dad can tell her “Yes, you are worth my time and attention,” in a myriad of ways.

I know a dad who asks his four-yearold on dates – he wears slacks and a tie, she wears a dress, and he takes her out for ice cream; another dad never misses his 12-yearold�s soccer games, which is a challenge for his work schedule; when I visited home from college, my own dad surprised me by washing my pickup, and he asked about my plans for the future. Each circumstance involves a father extending a hand to his daughter to tell her she�s important and worthy, a priceless and life changing gift.

A daughter on the receiving end of this message will carry it with her and hold it as a standard when choosing a husband.

The power and influence of fathers is easily unnoticed in the daily grind, but it�s in the midst of the ordinary that fathers can convey the most extraordinary gift to their daughters – daughters who desire nothing more than to feel beautiful and worthy from the first man who ever loved them.

Katie Sciba is the author of thecatholicwife. net. She lives in Shreveport with her husband, Andrew, and four children, Liam,Thomas, Peter and Jane.

How Dads “Date”

Daughters

Women young and old want to know that they’re lovely and worth your time. This Father’s Day, offer your daughter a gift by giving her one message she absolutely needs to hear: You are loved.

Ask Her What She Thinks Offering your daughter a safe place to express her ideas, hopes, and plans will encourage her to develop them. Listen to her concerns and help her address each one with patience. You can act as her confidence when she has none and her affirmation when she needs it.

Sweep Her Off Her Feet Show your little (or not so little) girl that she’s worth loving by dressing up, giving her a flower, and taking her to eat, see a movie or play putt-putt – whatever! Do something together that she likes.

Extra Hugs In reading about Christ and being with him in Mass and adoration, you’ll learn to better imitate him. Ask him to lead you in his ways, grace you with courage to learn his will and follow it and guide you on his path to salvation.

June 2015 9

BR

Book Review

by Katie Sciba

Something Other Than God

by Jennifer Fulwiler

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always peruse the bookshelf before walking into adoration and almost as often, I grab my favorite stand-by about Divine Mercy. But that day, sitting there waiting for me was a shiny new copy of Something Other Than God

by Jennifer Fulwiler. The author herself is renowned for her own site Conversion Diary, as well as her presence on SiriusXM, and her new release had been at the top of my To Read list.

There in the chapel, I snatched up the book that would paint Catholicism in an entirely new light for me.

Jennifer Fulwiler's book is an autobiographical account of her very gradual conversion to Catholicism, which began when she was a small child. She grew up without any concrete understanding of Jesus and felt a thrilling confidence the day she declared herself an atheist; but despite her delight in assuming this non-religious label, Jennifer was never at peace. In fact, she was shaken to the core wondering what lies beyond death, certain there had to be more to life than a final ending. Through her natural curiosity and incessant questioning, coupled with extensive research and an equally inquisitive husband, God led Jennifer to Catholicism where she has become a light for a very particular brand of Christians - the skeptics.

The nature of skepticism is hesitation, and when it comes to the tough stuff of Catholicism - transubstantiation, natural family planning, the saints, abortion - so many people ask not so they can dive into the same beliefs, but because they think we're nuts. And who can blame them?

From the outside looking in, Catholicism looks like a strange land.

It's this underlying strangeness that underscores the fact that one of the most compelling elements of any conversion, especially Fulwiler's, is the educated Catholic. How many of us know the hows or whys of our profoundly deep religion? If an atheist, agnostic or Protestant asked why we genuflect on the right knee, why we 10 Catholic Connection

ring bells during the Consecration or the purpose of fasting during Lent, would we be able to answer coherently? Issue by issue, Jennifer explored the details of the faith, initially determined to find an illogical flaw to send Catholicism crashing down and ruled out in her mind; but issue by issue, she encountered people who not only knew the reasons for traditions and beliefs, but loved them as well. Additionally, these educated Catholics Jennifer found wanted her and her husband to be part of their communities and parishes.

The Fulwilers were received with love and mercy. It's the combination of education, love and mercy that invited Jennifer out of a dark confusion into a thrilling and hopeful life.

Despite its being autobiographical, Something Other Than God reads like enticing fiction, and I found myself stealing an extra minute here or there to read as much as I could. What makes it so interesting is that Jennifer and her husband had the same questions Catholics and non-Catholics alike have about the faith, and they address each one, particularly issues of family planning and contraception. It's this informative quality that is one of my favorite aspects of the book; simply put, it's fun to read and clears any confusion a reader might have about why we Catholics believe what we believe. What I found especially fascinating, too, was walking with someone who gradually and intellectually arrives at Catholicism with joy and peace.

The enthusiasm for Catholicism she and her husband discover and share within their marriage is contagious.

Truly, I have only positive notes to make about Jennifer Fulwiler's Something Other Than God. Picking it up was an experience that brightened my understanding of the Catholic faith and invited me to study it further. You can find it at the Catholic Center's Slattery Library, Amazon or the St. Joseph (Shreveport) chapel bookshelf.

LaTech Catholics Serve Poor During Break

D

uring spring break, 11 members from the Association of Catholic Tech Students (ACTS) traveled to Kansas City, MO, to minister to the poor with A Simple House mission. Staffed by three full-time missionaries and located in what used to be the “Hood of the Hoods,” the volunteers live a life of simplicity while ministering to the homeless, poor, or otherwise disadvantaged.

When we arrived, many of us were not sure what to expect. We began by splitting into teams and working on projects around the house: pouring concrete steps, putting in flooring for a bedroom and insulating the walls. Later, the missionaries invited us to go deeper into service by joining them on some of their “ministry runs,” where they go out to be Christ to those who need Him. We met some of the material needs of the poor by bringing them dinner or giving them rides for errands. The volunteers’ service, however, went deeper.

Erin, a missionary, told a story about a homeless mother and son to whom she ministered. When Erin began to mention finding them housing, she could tell they were not interested in getting off the streets. Erin spoke of her frustration, how it was tempting to get in there and fix the problem of their homelessness, but then she realized that her true role in the situation was not to be the problemfixer, but rather an unconditional friend as Christ is to us. This unconditional friendship is what A Simple House is all about and what we learned during our stay there – to love as Christ loves, no matter what.

by ACTS Member Courtney Smith

Navigating the Faith

Ember Days: Marking the Seasons

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by Kim Long, DRE, St. Mary of the Pines Parish, Shreveport

ne of the things I have always loved about the Catholic Church is the way we mark time. We are aware of the big four: Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter. They shape and form our schedule, our thinking, our shopping. They are our year.

I learned about Ember Days in my early years as a convert to Catholicism, and they fascinated me. They are another way to mark not just time, but the actual seasons. They are opportunities, moments of transition and celebration in and out of one phase to another. If the term Ember Days doesn’t seem familiar, you may have heard the term "Michaelmas" in Jane Austin’s Sense and Sensibility, or perhaps you have heard of the Michaelmas goose.

These phrases are tied to Ember Days or Embertide for the autumn.

Here is a bit of background: Before the revision of the liturgical calendar in 1969, the Church celebrated Ember Days four times a year. They were tied to the changing of the seasons but also to the liturgical cycles of the Church. It is common to claim that the dates of such feasts were set to compete or replace certain pagan festivals even though some scholarship indicates otherwise. In the case of Ember Days, it may ring true. The Catholic Encyclopedia states that Romans were originally agrarian, and their native gods belonged to the same class. At the beginning of the time for seeding and harvesting, religious ceremonies were performed to implore the help and blessing of the gods. In June, the request was for a bountiful harvest; in September, a rich vintage; and in December, for seeding.

The adoption of Ember Days was not an attempt to displace paganism as much as a way to avoid disrupting the lives of Roman converts to Christianity.

This adoption happened so early in the Church’s history that Pope Leo the Great (440-461 A.D.) considered the Ember Days (with the exception of the one for spring) to have been instituted by the Apostles themselves. Originally only celebrated by the Church in Rome, they spread throughout the West starting in the fifth century.

With the revision of the calendar in

1969, the Vatican left the celebration of Ember Days up to the discretion of each national group of bishops. These days are still very much celebrated in rural areas of Europe, but in the U.S., the bishops’ conference decided not to, although individual Catholics are free to celebrate them. Many do by fasting and “halfabstinence,” which means meat may be taken at one meal per day.

We Focus Four times a year, the Church sets aside three days to focus on God as viewed through his marvelous and wondrous creation. These quarterly periods fall around the beginning of the four natural seasons, give or take a day or two. In scripture, we are reminded that there is a time for everything under heaven. In the book of Daniel we hear it put a bit differently. In chapter three, there is a long passage in which all of the earth – showers, dew, fire, heat, light and darkness, lightening and clouds – are being instructed to praise and exalt and bless the Lord above all forever. So during these three day periods, we have an invitation to come out of our busy-ness and just be. I am not suggesting we refrain from working or drop out of sight altogether, but I am hoping we can carve but a few minutes and utter a prayer of gratitude for all that we have been given. With the shift, even a slight one, away from the “must hurry and get ready for the next thing” mentality, the breathing is promised to be a little easier.

We Practice Mark your calendar so you know when the Ember Days are occurring and consider fasting on at least one of these days; if you cannot fast from food due to health or age restrictions, fast from something else.

Remember, we don’t deprive for the sake of deprivation, but we do it to bring ourselves into a better focus with God. Consider fasting from television – turn it off, go outside and enjoy some of the beauty God has given to us. I always feel better after even a short walk and bring home some leaves or acorns to set in the center of the table for a visual reminder of creation.

Go to Mass. Go to Church when it’s quiet and just sit for a minute. Light a candle; give thanks for the bees and their

contribution to our liturgies with beeswax candles. Look inward as well as out and seek the sacrament of reconciliation, the sacrament of healing, so we arrive whole and happy. Revisit a way to be rather than do, a way to gaze anew at creation in all its seasons.

Looking Forward I don’t like beginning so many liturgical seasons and seldom do I like closing them.

Ember Days will be a great transition for me from each season by allowing me some quiet time to focus on the lessons, the beauty and the deep spiritual power with which our liturgical calendar is packed.

I don’t know if the Apostles instituted the celebration of Ember Days, but I do know they are a good thing for a person like me who desires to get every last drop from the time God has granted me. It can mean marking the winding down of time through quiet meditation on the prayers, readings and traditions of the seasons by checking in with myself to see what I learned, and by paying attention to the earth and its rhythms and reading the creation accounts in Genesis. I can do all this while thanking God who created me and the earth on which I stand. After all, can I really thank God enough?

As for fasting, there are definitely times when less is more. Will I be rigorous? I pray not; I want to be gentle in my approach and rest a bit spiritually before moving on to the next adventure. I hope we consider incorporating the practice of Ember Days into our lives.

Here are the times for Ember Days: Wednesday, Friday and Saturday following the Feast of St. Lucy on December 13 (winter); following the first Sunday of Lent (spring); following Pentecost (summer); and following the Feast of the Holy Cross on September 14 (fall).

June 2015 11

I

t has been Deacon one year Steve Lehr since 16 men St. Jude were ordained to Parish the Permanent My first year Diaconate by as a deacon Bishop Michael began with me Duca in the Diocese being ordained of Shreveport. Each on a Saturday, of the 16 Permanent and an hour later Deacons would tell I assisted at Mass you it has indeed at St. Jude and been a life of service was called to give to God’s people and my first homily. the Church.

What a day of joy and “My expectations for a little bit of anxiety. I this group of deacons were made it through that day that these would be well and was welcomed by a

by Deacon Mike Whitehead prepared, holy men who great community of people would truly be men of at St. Jude. I have stood service to the Church,” Bishop Duca said. “They have done an many times at the altar and looked out into the congregation and excellent job. They are filled with zeal and excitement. They are witnessed great reverence and praise for our Lord in the most very accomplished and confident. Additionally, they are involved holy Eucharist. As a community, we are truly participating in in their parishes in many different ways. It has been a great the most important event in all of our lives and that has become success.” more evident to me as a Deacon on the altar. I am very thankful For these men, their wives and families, this journey truly to serve at the Mass. has been a blessing. From baptisms and funerals and Christian Initiation and hospital ministry, these deacons have been welcomed Deacon Danny LeMoine into their parishes throughout the diocese.

Christ the King Parish It’s a journey best told in their own words.

My year has been very full and my wife, Linda, and I have become more involved in the parish. I have been well received Deacon Tom Deal by the parishioners of Christ the King and Holy Trinity, and I Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish am so grateful for the love and support that I have received from I’ll never forget the first time I was asked to preside at a vigil them. It is real now. The first time I was addressed as Deacon service, funeral and graveside service. It was for a young man killed Daniel was so humbling. The feedback has been very positive. in a car accident. I had almost no time to prepare. I’m still not Several parishioners have told me that they can connect to or see sure exactly what I said in the reflection at the vigil service, but themselves in my homilies. the family said it was perfect. The funeral and graveside service the next day were equally spiritual and rewarding experiences as Deacon Jack Lynch a deacon in service. I have since done three funerals as presider, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish and I have come to the realization that our service as deacons is no Hospital visits are so rewarding, and some of the situations more needed, appreciated and rewarding than when provided to a you are called into are rather dire. Recently, I prayed over a grieving family at the death of a loved one. young man whose two friends had been killed in a motor vehicle accident and he was in extremely serious condition. When I Deacon Chris Domingue arrived at the hospital, his mother was anxiously standing beside Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish him. His body was covered with a sheet, but his mom and I I have led sessions in the RCIA process and was able to see 12 managed to uncover his hand. We placed our hands on his hand candidates come into full communion at the Easter Vigil. I have and we prayed for the Lord to be with him. But I also prayed for personally welcomed five new members to the Catholic family the mom who would see her son slip away to be with the Lord through the Sacrament of Baptism and assisted in the wedding of in a few short hours. Prayers for the dying are important, but a nephew in South Louisiana. I have found myself in complete prayers for the living are important as well. awe of the Liturgy of the Eucharist as I served on the altar. I have spoken words that I did not know were there as I prepared and Deacon Robert Ransom then delivered my homilies. Through it all my wife, Szu-Wei, and St. Thomas Aquinas Parish my family have been solidly at my side.I have been blessed by I am involved in several ministries, and that is going well. I coeverything God has brought me to and through. teach the Confirmation class with Tracey Oakley, and we had a

Deacons

Celebrate

Anniversaries

12 Catholic Connection

record number of students in our class this year –– 32. And one-half of them were Latinos. I must admit, I became tearyeyed during the ceremony, watching so many 9th and 10th graders saying “yes” to the Holy Spirit. It was awesome. I’m also working with the CYO group in Ruston.

Indeed, I am staying very busy.

Deacon Ricardo Rivera Christ the King Parish I have had the opportunity to assist at several funerals. So far, I have performed one baptism but assisted with seven or eight. I’ve had the privilege to participate in hospital visits. I’ve continued to work with my wife, Wanda, in Pre-Cana classes in the Spanish ministry at Christ the King. Doing Spanish and English homilies has been some work, but it has been very rewarding. It has been very humbling when you get compliments about the homilies –– I chalk it up to the Holy Spirit working through me to maybe touch someone out there.

Deacon Charles Thomas Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish One thing that makes me feel good is the overwhelming acceptance and appreciation the people in my parish have for my calling to the diaconate. I do make visits to the hospital and nursing homes, and you can see in the faces of the people I visit how much it means to them just for me to stop by to visit and bring them communion.

Deacon Marc Vereen St. Joseph Parish, Bastrop While I do, in fact, credit God for being there for me, I would be remiss without acknowledging my family. My son was only six-years-old when I began this journey, and I missed a lot of his activities. But he always understood, and for that I am grateful. My wife, Kim, stood by me the whole time as well; she was my tutor, critique person, sounding board, classmate and, most importantly, my rock. Together we persevered, and together we continue to go forward and grow in and with the ministry of the diaconate. To say it has been a blessing seems a little cliché, but it’s the truth.

Please read the full reflections of these deacons on the Diocese of Shreveport website, dioshpt.org.

Celebrating 10 Years ofService Deacon Jeff Chapman

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or well over a decade, Deacon Clary Nash, Director of the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Shreveport, has had the privilege of watching the good work of the Permanent Deacons in our diocese.

That includes the group of deacons ordained in 2005. In May, the men from that formation celebrated 10 years of serving God’s people.

“It’s so joyful to see the outcome of their ministries,” Deacon Nash said. “It’s exciting to see so many men called to serve God and God’s people by serving through the Catholic Church.”

Bishop Michael Duca reinforced Deacon Nash’s observation: “Their success and good work encouraged me to have another formation in 2010.”

The journey of all the deacons celebrating their 10-year anniversary can be told through the lens of Deacon Jeff Chapman, assigned to St. Pius X Parish.

His is just one example of a deacon’s service. Extrapolate this example through all the deacons over the past 10 years, and we can see where thousands of lives have been touched.

“What a wonderful journey God has begun with me,” Deacon Chapman begins. “It was after my formation and ordination that I was helping and facilitating the RCIA program in our parish. I also helped in youth ministry from time to time. The youth minister in our parish, Chris, was a college student and was dating a young woman who was interested in becoming a Catholic.

“In September 2006, Rebecca decided to enter the RCIA program and began the period of inquiry. This began her journey to become a Catholic and she

was received into the church at the Easter Vigil Mass in 2007. She received the sacraments of Confirmation and the Eucharist, and I had the honor of being there to witness that evening.

“Rebecca and Chris became engaged and a date was set for their marriage –– June 2009. As a part of the process of Pre-Cana, I had the privilege to work with the two of them and prepare them to receive the Sacrament of Marriage.

I indeed witnessed their marriage at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. What a wonderful couple they are and what a very memorable occasion it was to bless this union and witness another of Rebecca's sacramental achievements.

“As their marriage progressed, Chris and Rebecca decided that it was time to raise a family. In 2011, they were blessed with the birth of their first child, Aidan.

Again, I had the privilege to administer a sacrament to this family by baptizing their son in 2012.

“In 2014, this couple was blessed by God in the form of a daughter. Harper was born in December and was baptized in 2015, shortly after the Christmas season.

“God has truly blessed me, allowing me to administer several sacraments to this wonderful family. The experience of seeing them grow in their love for each other and their love for God is one of those gifts of ordination for which I really wasn’t prepared. You just have to experience it and let God work through you and give him thanks for it.

I thank him everyday for bringing me on this journey in the ministry and vocation of the diaconate. I know he is not done with me yet.”

June 2015 13

NEWS

Youth "Unplugs" for Ministry Catholic School Inspires Faithful Life n August 8, 22-year-

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old Olivia Landry is going unplugged.

And in order to do that, she is practicing turning off and tuning out. It’s part of her year long service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC), which provides volunteers to work with people who are poor and marginalized both domestically and overseas.

“I’m spending more and more time away from my cell phone.

Now, I turn on ‘do not disturb’ automatically at 10:00,” she said, via cell phone from Ruston, where she is set to graduate with a degree in Family and Child Studies from Louisiana Tech University.

By the end of the summer, Olivia will join other JVC volunteers for a week-long retreat in California. From there, they will head to their posts where they will be assigned four people to a house in the communities they’ll be serving. They won’t have TV or wifi.

“They’re living among the folks they’re serving so they’re learning about those communities and what those people deal with,” said Kelly Gibbons, JVC Program Coordinator. “It makes you dependent on the people you�re living with. They’ll have communal budgeting and they’ll share meal costs.”

Gibbons admitted there are challenges with the living situation.

“We ask our volunteers to go deeper so they can get to know each other and their communities on a deeper level,” she said.

“I’m super excited,” said Olivia. The Shreveport native will work as a program aid in early childhood development at the Pio Decimo Center in Tucson, AZ. “I never thought I’d ever do anything mission-based. I had to decide what I wanted to do, like teaching, getting my Master�s degree or going to law school, and this was perfect.”

Olivia certainly had plenty of time to think about signing up.

Her father began sending her JVC information her freshman year in college. “Olivia is the perfect fit for this ministry,” said her father Brian Landry, who learned about the program at a spiritual retreat in Manresa. “St. Paul told the Corinthians, ‘Faith, hope and love abide, but the greatest of these is love.� Olivia is love. It is the single most important trait that marks her life.”

Olivia, whose family includes dad Brian, mom Denise and brothers Brian, 19, and Adam, 14, said she is most afraid of being away from her family. “I mean, I went an hour away from family to college,” she laughed. “My mom is already asking me if she can order a pizza and have it delivered to our house in Tucson.”

“It will be hard for Olivia to be so far away and not just down the road like Ruston,” said her mom, Denise. “I hope what she learns from the program is strength, both as an independent woman and in her faith.” Already, Denise is planning a family Thanksgiving trip to Arizona.

As for Olivia, being a part of the JVC community is definitely a leap of faith. “I learned from my parents,” she said. “They always guided me to helping others.”

by Bonny Van 14 Catholic Connection

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hile reading the “Class of 2014: Survey of Ordinands to the Priesthood” done for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) through Georgetown University, I was excited to learn 50 percent of the diocesan and religious ordinands who responded attended a Catholic elementary school.

It meant a lot to me, because as I reflect on the many parts of my past God used to guide me on my path of discerning the priesthood, attending Catholic school holds a lot of the influence. It was during my time at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Academy in Shreveport when I first started thinking of joining the priesthood.

Although I did not seriously consider discerning the priesthood until my 7th grade year at OLBSA, the seeds were planted as early as second grade.

I do not think my time at Catholic school was similar to the typical Catholic student's experience, because the majority of the students belonged to a Protestant faith. I remember after making my First Communion in May of my second grade year feeling guilty because my fellow classmates were unable to come up with me to receive communion. However, it also helped me understand the importance of the sacrament and receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus. I never really found it strange that there were so few Catholics at my school until 5th grade. During this period, I was asked many questions about different parts of the Mass and Catholic teachings.

Unable to give an answer most of the time, I encouraged myself to better understand my faith.

As I reflect back on my time at Catholic school, especially the spiritual moments, God reveals to me constantly the aspects of my time there he used to call me to the priesthood. He used Fr. Andre McGrath and the religious priests and brothers of the Franciscan Missionaries of Hope, some of whom actually lived in a house on the school property. God used the Friday Masses and the morning devotions. He also used the Sisters of the Holy Family who came to the school after Hurricane Katrina, and it was one of those sisters who first invited me to consider the priesthood.

Catholic, Protestant or any other religious belief, I wish sending a child to Catholic school is something every parent could experience, even if they could only do it for one year. There is something different about attending a private school, especially a Catholic one.

At Catholic school, I was able to attend Mass every Friday, discuss spirituality openly in religion class and live in a truly ecumenical environment. I realize now a Catholic school can act as both a place for instruction in the faith for young Catholics and a way to introduce the faith to non-Catholics. I enjoyed my time attending a public high school and university, but after nine years, I am happy to return to Catholic school when I attend seminary in the fall.

by Raney Johnson, Seminarian

Sewing for the Future

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ost know the story about teaching a man to fish rather than giving him a fish. It makes perfect sense to us that a lifelong skill that can readily fulfill a need has enormous value, especially as it concerns the multitude of poor people around the world and right here in our own community.

At Catholic Charities, we always teach about a hand up rather than a hand out. We teach financial education through The Money School because when people spend their lives never having enough, never knowing if they will be able to pay for their most basic needs, it is our duty to help them understand a better way to manage whatever income they have and to aspire to something better.

We teach young women who are about to become mothers and those who already are how to safely care for themselves during pregnancy and for their children after birth. It is never enough to help with supplies like diapers, a car seat and a safe bed. Our nurse volunteers teach the safest way to put baby down for sleep time, how to give an infant a bath and much more. The safety concerns for children can be overlooked because of insurmountable stress and crisis. For some, finding a way to earn something, anything, is the first hurdle.

We currently offer sewing classes for those who wish to learn this important skill, one that will help them with more than a garment for their child. The current class is teaching the group, including immigrants and an unemployed father, to create attractive clothing for little ones that they can then sell for personal profit. They can earn some income and enjoy the work that helps them achieve that goal. There is a great sense of pride and satisfaction for all the students when they first complete a piece.

All the supplies are donated, so there is no cost to the students.

Teacher Donna Collins has a heart for giving more than sewing instructions. It was her idea to find outlets where the students can sell their beautiful projects, like outdoor festivals and markets. She is invested in them and their success! And that’s what it is all about at Catholic Charities of North Louisiana, investing in the future for those who haven’t had much hope of one. Clearly, this may not support an entire family, but it is a great beginning and learning process that teaches many more skills than sewing.

Please pray for these students and for all who come to us with a desire to learn and move forward in their lives. Your prayers are as important as anything we receive, and we thank you for caring about our clients and the work of Catholic Charities.

by Theresa Mormino

100% PSR Participation

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he Parish School of Religion program at Sacred Heart Parish in Oak Grove has received 100 percent participation by children in the parish the last few years.

Marie Costello, Director of Religious Education, said of the 12 families who have children who are of age to participate in the PSR classes, all attend each week. This year the parish has 19 in the PSR program for children in grades Pre-K through 12th.

“All of our students go until they graduate from high school,” Costello said. “We start in September and go until May.” In the past, classes took place before the 10:00 Mass on Sunday.

However, Costello said the attendance was low during that time. The parish then changed the time of classes to 5:30 for Pre-K through 8th grade and 6:00 for the high school students on Wednesday evenings. This helped to create the 100 percent participation rate.

Costello said parents are another reason for the high attendance.

“The parents are faithful and want to see their children get religious education,” she said. The five teachers who teach the classes are all parents of PSR students.

She said another positive aspect of the program for students is taking part in activities outside of the classroom. “About every quarter we have a youth Mass. The high school students will do the serving and lectoring, and the younger students will usually sing in the choir,” Costello said.

Starting in January, students who will receive their First Communion or First Reconciliation in May prepare during eight weeks of classes. The completion of both these classess end in retreat.

“At the Reconciliation retreat, we have a little skit the high school students do to start off the retreat,” Costello said. “Then we divide the parents and children off into groups to answer questions about what is sin.” The retreat ends with a ceremony right before the children go into the church for their first Reconciliation.

Students make First Communion banners at their retreat that are displayed in the parish hall. There is also a person at the retreat who gives a tour of the church and explains certain areas such as the sacristy and the sanctuary.

Costello said students in the PSR program are allowed to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation when they are in the 8th or 9th grade, and students are encouraged to keep attending after their Confirmation. “Confirmation does not end religious education.

They go until they finish high school,” she said. Graduating seniors are encouraged to get involved in whatever campus ministry they can, she said.

Costello said although Sacred Heart is a small community, they have great participation by families, and even if they have only two students participating, they would do the same thing. “It is not the quantity,” she said. “If we only have one student, we will do it for the one student.”

by Raney Johnson June 2015 15

NEWS

Msgr. Edmund Moore Sr. Margaret Daues was Leaves Legacy of Ministry Pillar of Faith Community

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here are some priests who enter our lives and never seem to depart. They are present for Baptisms, Confirmations, marriages and funerals.

For the faithful of Jesus the Good Shepherd Church, Msgr.

Edmund Moore was that priest for so many members. Nearly every parishioner of Good Shepherd had a connection to Msgr.

Moore through one of the sacraments because he was faithfully present to the people of God for so long. After nearly 60 years of dedicated priesthood, Msgr. Moore departed this life on April 13, and was laid to rest by Bishop Duca and the people of Monroe.

Thus ends a remarkable legacy of ministry to God’s people by a priest who was a dear friend to so many and who would never forget a name once a person made his acquaintance.

He would also remember the names of family members and the maiden name of a person�s mother because he was very good at genealogy. In his own mild-mannered way, Msgr.

Moore grew Jesus the Good Shepherd into a vibrant, active parish and school over two decades of serving as Pastor.

He also had a great love for St. Frederick High School and countless generous donations to the various missions of the school are a testament to his passion for Catholic education.

While he was overly generous to the causes he believed in, Msgr. Moore was also famously frugal when it came to Church finances, and his penchant for saving money helped provide the seed funding for Good Shepherd’s present sanctuary to be built at the conclusion of his role as Pastor.

Even with a new worship space and a successful conclusion to his active work as a priest, Msgr. Moore did not slow down much during his retirement years. He visited the sick, attended Catholic events in the area and was always present at the entrance to Good Shepherd to greet parishioners as they arrived for worship at each and every Mass. For so long he looked and acted so healthy that he just didn’t seem to age, but everyone knew he was actually getting older.

His smiling face that greeted everyone by name is what so many worshippers will miss. How he loved the people of Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish, and it seems only fitting that his wonderful spirit will surely be present in the Narthex of Good Shepherd Church for eternity.

by John Mark Willcox 16 Catholic Connection

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wo objects stood on the credenza in the Shreveport Chancery office of Sister Margaret Daues: a statue of St. Joseph the Worker and a wooden plaque of a mallard with the phrase, “Be like a duck.

Stay calm on the surface but paddle furiously underneath.”

Together they characterize the life and ministry of Sr. Margaret: her strong faith, her joy and commitment to religious life, and her dedication to unceasingly proclaiming the Gospel.

Sr. Margaret, first chancellor of the Diocese of Shreveport, died peacefully in the early morning of April 10, in St. Louis, MO. Sister came to Shreveport in 1983 after completing studies for a doctorate in administration for non-public schools and church leadership at Fordham University in New York. She accepted the position of Vicar for Education for the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport.

In this role she directed and coordinated the educational ministries of five offices. Her educational experience in other parts of the country included service as Vicar for Education and superintendent of Catholic schools in Mobile, AL, and principal and teacher in Catholic schools in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Colorado.

In 1986, Sr. Margaret was appointed chancellor of the newly established Diocese of Shreveport. She was the fifth woman in the U.S. to achieve this role. Her many talents were the perfect complement to those of Bishop Friend as they structured and developed the ministries of this new diocese. In addition to authoring policy books, board manuals and pastoral planning materials, Sister was instrumental in creating programs for lay education and working with pastoral councils.

Sr. Margaret served the Diocese of Shreveport for 20 years: 18 as chancellor and a final two as Director of Mission Effectiveness. Upon her retirement, she returned to the St. Louis Province of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

During her 69 years of ministry, Sr. Margaret received many awards and was involved in numerous organizations. She was especially honored to be chosen in 1985 as a board member of the National Council of Christians and Jews, and, later, to receive the Founders’ Day Award for Church Leadership from Fontbonne College, St. Louis.

On her 50th anniversary as a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Sister was asked to reflect on her ministry. She wrote, “I entered the religious order at 17 years of age, following high school graduation. My hope as a young religious was to love God and to help others know how good He is. My entire adult life has been spent in seeking to help our society and myself grow and function as members of God’s family.”

During her life, Sr. Margaret did not view death with sorrow but instead with joy, trusting completely in the promises of Christ. Let us pray in thanksgiving for her ministry in our diocese and consider the words of Matthew, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”

by Christine Rivers, Chancellor

REFLECTIONS

Reflection: Holy Tears

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hen a child is delivered from her mother’s womb, she sheds tears of joy, for she is alive! When a child grows up, a mother sheds tears of pain and suffering. If a dad does not have a job, he sheds tears of burden when he is not able to feed his family.

Some parents shed tears of distress when their child takes a wrong path. Every mother and father wants their children to grow in their sight; mothers shed tears of joy, love and happiness when their children succeed in school, college or professional work. At a wedding the groom, bride, parents and sometimes the faithful shed tears of love.

Mother Mary shed tears of sorrow when her son was lost in the temple, but those tears turned to joy when she found him in the midst of the elders proclaiming the kingdom of God. She was in tears of anguish when her son was pulled, dragged, whipped, stripped, hit and crucified on Calvary. She shed tears of joy when he was raised from the dead. She sheds tears of sorrow when her spiritual children sin and go away from her son, Jesus Christ. His tears and blood washed us clean and made us adopted children of the Heavenly Father through our Baptism.

St. Ambrose says of the two conversions in the Church, “There are water and tears: the water of Baptism and the tears of repentance.” Whenever we go to confession, we shed tears of repentance. When Simon Peter remembered that he denied Jesus three times, he shed tears of repentance. A sinful woman began to wet the feet of Jesus with her tears, wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet and anointed them with ointment.

Many of us shed tears of joy, sorrow, pain, anguish and suffering in our lifetimes, but these tears speak a lot in our lives. St. Monica shed tears for the conversion of her son and her husband. Her tears were non-verbal prayers to God. My own mother shed tears of grief when my dad died, but she was consoled by God. She shed tears of joy when her two sons became priests to serve God and his people. I shed tears of prayer when I was ordained on June 21, 2014 at St. Mary of the Pines Parish by Bishop Michael G. Duca. My friends, my church family and people who came from near and far shed tears of prayer when I was ordained. Sometimes we cannot express our joy, pain, sorrow and happiness through words; rather, we shed tears of love, hope, faith, prayer and repentance.

Very certainly we shed tears of prayer for all our brothers and sisters who have been killed by ISIS. God hears our tears and soon He will wipe away all our sorrows by his son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus hears the tears deep down from our hearts because he has an open ear to listen to us. The Lord God will wipe away tears from every face of the earth.

by Fr. John Paul Crispin, FMH

Reflection: Senior Season

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have been writing articles for many years now, and all the while, I grow older and constantly try to live each new aging moment with grace. Yet I know sometimes it is difficult to find God in aging, like when we have a heart attack, find out that we have cancer or break a hip.

We must remain open-minded to the mysterious ways of God working in our lives, because aging is filled with mystery and wonder. Clear all the roadblocks so your path may be empty of the obstacles that pop up here and there. Growing older is a mystery because often, we are unable to understand all the things that happen to us. If we can keep moving our bodies, minds, spirits and souls away from the past and move them into the future with faith and trust all will be well with God and us.

We would like to stop time, but we have no power over it. I’ve heard aging called “The Great Liberator,” which simply means that oldsters simply care less what others think about them. However, what we think as we age is what's so important. Pope Francis said, “Old people are transmitters of a story; they bring us memories, the memories of a people, of a nation, of a family, of a culture and of a religion.” The legacy we leave is up to us.

Eleanor Roosevelt said, “When you cease to make a contribution as you age, you begin to die.” Do you have new expectations for yourself? What else to do but live the present with passion? We will live into the future as long as God permits us. Continue to be a creative person and embrace your future with hope.

How do we open the doors to the future during a celebration of aging? Is it possible to realize the beauty, passion and wonder aging constantly places before us? All we need to do is keep our hands and hearts ready to accept it. Why should we spend all our aging moments in tears and sorrow? Why is it so difficult to see God�s blessings in all this? We should get in touch with our hearts and move much deeper into the recesses of our souls.

Fr. Ronald Rolheiser says we spend 98 percent of our lives waiting for something else to happen to us. We need to ask God to give new meaning to our lives as each day passes instead of waiting. We are destined for much more than our lives can give us now.

Pope Francis is waking us up and calling us to task. Transforming the Catholic Church has been the hallmark of his two-year papacy.

This calls us to spread joy as we go about our daily activities. He also calls us to authenticity, to a new hope, to a new Christianity of aging and to step out into something new and different. Let us step out in faith together as we appreciate growing older with God�s graces. The quality of your aging should be your delight. Our season of old age is here and what really matters is what we do with it today.

by Sr. Martinette Rivers, OLS June 2015 17

HISPANIC corner

por Rev. Karl Daigle 318-868-4441

Pentecostés: Un Recordatorio de la Nueva Alianza

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n el libro de Jeremías (31,31-34), hay una profecía que nos habla de la nueva alianza. A la luz del Nuevo Testamento, sabemos que esta Alianza se consuma con el hecho de la vida, muerte y resurrección de Jesucristo. Es importante recalcar que es eterna, ya que aun cuando Jesús asciende al cielo, esta alianza continuará como regalo del Espíritu Santo que nos fue enviado el Día de Pentecostés.

Una de las principales maneras que encontramos el Espíritu de Dios es por medio del Cuerpo de la Iglesia. Por medio de la conexión con el Cuerpo de Cristo nos encontramos con el Espíritu del Dios vivo por medio de los Sacramentos de Bautizo, Reconciliación, Eucaristía, Confirmación, Unción de los Enfermos, Matrimonio y la Vocación Religiosa. Al igual experimentamos la presencia del Espíritu Santo por medio de las Sagradas Escrituras, por medio de las enseñanzas y guía del Magisterio (El Papa, los Obispos en unión con Él), nuestra celebración en comunidad de la Santa Misa, y todas nuestras amistades en la comunidad nos ayudarán a ser más abiertos a la guía, motivación, sanación, retos y consuelo del Espíritu Santo.

A pesar que la Iglesia es uno de los principales caminos para encontrarnos con el espíritu Santo, es importante que también

Calendario del Mes de Junio del 2015 4-7 Retiro para jovencitas “BeLoved”, Alexandria (Inglés) 6 Escuela de Fe, Espiritualidad y Oración, Centro Católico, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

7 Visita y Venta de libros de las Hermanas Paulinas en las parroquias de Cristo Rey, Bossier City y de Santa María de los Pinos, Shreveport, antes y después de Misas en español y en inglés

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alimentemos y cuidemos nuestra vida espiritual durante toda nuestra vida, experimentando la Presencia del Espíritu Santo en lo más profundo de nuestros corazones. Es importante que mantengamos viva la llama del Espíritu Santo a través de la oración individual, la reflexión individual de las Sagradas Escrituras, así como a través de la lectura espiritual, que nos ayudarán a profundizar y fortalecer nuestra fe, nuestro amor y nuestra esperanza.

Es importante saber que El Espíritu Santo está activo en nosotros y en los demás, en nuestras actividades diarias. El Espíritu Santo siempre está con nosotros, no dudemos en invocarlo siempre que necesitemos de Él, ya sea en medio de la tormenta, de los problemas, de las tentaciones, del peligro o de las decisiones que debamos tomar. El Espíritu Santo elevará nuestra mente hacia Cristo, inflamará nuestro corazón con la decisión de amar y servir al otro, y seguirá transformando nuestro corazón, para que continuemos dentro del Plan que Dios tiene para cada uno de nosotros.

Rev. Karl Daigle, Párroco de la parroquia de Cristo Rey, Bossier City, LA. Traducido por Marilú Rodríguez.

Calendario del Mes de Julio del 2015 9-12 Retiro para jovencitos, “Mission Possible” en King’s Camp Center (inglés).

18 Primera Reunión en preparación para retiro “Experiencia Cristo” 10:00 Centro Católico

across the

by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

U.S. Bishops To Meet June 10-12 in St. Louis, Hear Presentations on Synod, Family, Strategic Plan, Encyclical Themes

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ASHINGTON—The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will gather for their annual Spring General Assembly, June 10-12, in St. Louis. Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, USCCB president, will present a summary to the bishops on the consultation of U.S. dioceses for the 2015 Synod on the Family. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap., will give an update on the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, which Pope Francis will attend on his September Apostolic Journey to the United States.

Alice and Jeffrey Heinzen of the Diocee of La Crosse, WI, will give one of three presentations by married couples on marriage and family. The Heinzens were observers to the 2014 Extraordinary Synod on the Family.

The other presenters are Lucia and Ricardo Luzondo, directors of Hispanic Outreach for Marriage Builders, and Claire and John Grabowski, Ph.D., members of the Pontifical Council for the Family. Curtis Martin, founder and CEO of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), will speak on messaging the Gospel to young people.

Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, New Mexico, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Communications, will unveil new digital resources available to U.S. bishops and dioceses. Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami, chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, will lead a discussion on themes associated with the anticipated encyclical by Pope Francis on ecology. Archbishop Wenski will also give an update on a planned 2017 convocation by the Bishops’ Working Group on the Life and Dignity of the Human Person.

Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco, chairman of the Subcommittee on the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, will present on the Conference’s marriage policy efforts ahead of the anticipated decision by the U.S Supreme Court. Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio L. Elizondo, MSpS, of Seattle will give an update on USCCB’s ongoing work in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake. Bishop Elizondo, who chairs the Subcommittee on the Church in Latin America and the Committee on Migration, will join Bishop Kevin W. Vann of Orange, California, for an update on immigration reform.

Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houson, USCCB vice president, will provide an update on the work to update the bishops’ quadrennial statement on political responsibility, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.” Bishop Frank J. Caggiano of Bridgeport, Connecticut, the bishops’ liaison to World Youth Day, will give an update on World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow. Bishop Richard J. Malone of Buffalo, New York, will report on the Lay Ecclesial Ministry Summit, to be held in St. Louis ahead of the bishops’ meeting.

Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle, USCCB secretary and chairman of the Committee on Priorities and Plans, along with Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond of New Orleans, secretaryelect, will lead a discussion on feedback on the bishops’ recommended priorities for the 2017-2020 planning cycle.

The bishops will vote on the strategic priorities for the next planning cycle.

The bishops will also debate and vote on revised Canticles for the Liturgy of the Hours for use in U.S. dioceses and whether to seek renewal of a five-year recognitio from the Vatican for the Program of Priestly Formation, Fifth Edition.

Vatican Information Services

VAtICAN news & notes • Each one of Christ’s followers is called to become a witness to His resurrection, above all in those human settings where forgetfulness of God and human disorientation are most evident,” said the Pope in the homily he pronounced during the Mass for the canonization of four new saints: Jeanne-Emilie de Villeneuve (1811-1854), French nun and founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of Castres; Maria Cristina of the Immaculate Conception (nee Maria Cristina Brando, 1856-1906), Italian nun and founder of the Oblation Sisters of the Holy Sacrament; MarieAlphonsine Danil Ghattas (nee Maryam Sultanah, 1843-1927), Palestinian co-founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Rosary of Jerusalem; and Mary of Jesus Crucified (nee Maryam Baouardy 1846-1878) Palestinian nun of the Order of Discalced Carmelites. The solemn ceremony, which took place in a packed St. Peter's Square, was attended by more than 2,000 Christians from the Middle East, the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal, and an Israeli delegation whom the Pope greeted at the end of the celebration.

• On the morning of May 5, the Holy See Press Office, Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation, and Msgr. Graham Bell presented the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (December 8, 2015 to November 20, 2016).

June 2015 19

school NEWS < Â Two hundred moms came to St. Joseph School's Mothers Day Mass on Wednesday, May 6, which began with a solemn Marian procession throughout the school's campus. As the procession ended, students brought up flowers for the statue of Mary that stands behind the presider's chair, and several PTO mothers were on hand to help arrange them in vases. SJS students happily extended their hands toward their mothers as Fr. Mark Franklin blessed those gathered.

^ Terry McKinley and Landen Erwin of Our Lady of Fatima School hold their First Holy Communion banners. Terry and Landen received the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist on May 13 at the 9:00 school Mass. Their classmates celebrated with them at a reception held in their honor after Mass. > The students, staff, and families of Jesus the Good Shepherd School went back in time as the students "Rock the 80's" during the annual May Day celebration.

The celebration was a way to honor the 6th graders as they move on to Junior High and to celebrate another successful school year.

We wish our sixth graders the best with their future endeavors. Pictured: 6th graders wrapping the May Pole.

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^ Mrs. Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first grade class at St. John Berchmans School presented its annual Mary Queen of Angels play on May 8.

Students sang hymns and recited scripture readings about the Virgin Mary in front of parents and friends in St. Michael Chapel.

The Mary Queen of Angels play was written and directed by Tookie Barr.

^ Loyola College Prep graduated 122 students in the 122nd annual ceremonies on May 15 at Riverview Hall. Ben Maxey was the valedictorian and Emily Milner was the salutatorian. Eighty-five percent of the Class of 2015 earned more than $11.4 million in scholarships for four years of college.

around the DIOCESE

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St. Joseph Parish in Bastrop honored Blessed Mother Mary with a special â&#x20AC;&#x153;May Crowningâ&#x20AC;? ceremony. The Youth Department participated in the May Crowning by processing down the aisle with flowers to present to Mary. The ceremony culminated with a wreath of flowers (serving as the crown) being placed on a statue of Mary by Holly Johnson.

Msgr. Earl V. Provenza, Pastor of Holy Trinity Parish, recently presented a very special recognition to Louis B. Cordaro for 50 years of service as an usher. Msgr. Provenza noted that this was normally a once in a lifetime achievement, as such, the collection basket was retired with that presentation. This was a special way to give memories for years to come.

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St. Joseph Parish in Zwolle PSR class ended the year with the Crowing of Blessed Virgin Mary, and awards. The Knights of Columbus, together with Conference of Catholic Women, provided snacks, refreshments, and dessert. Pictured is Landry Remedies who received the honor of Crowing Mary.

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A Memorial Mass honoring Bishop Friend, Fr. David Richter and Msgr. Edmund Moore was held at the Catholic Campus Ministry at ULM on May 3. Bishop Duca, Fr. Job Edathinatt and Fr. Joseph Martina were the celebrants.

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Fr. James Dominic blesses the hands of team member Victoria Greer during National Hospital Week celebrations at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe.

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upcoming EVENTS June 6: Retreat for Liturgical Ministers This retreat, entitled "Live in the Spirit," will take place Saturday, June 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Catholic Center. This retreat is for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Readers, Music Ministers, Sacristans and Ushers.

Registration is $10, and everyone is welcome to register with Brandy Boudreau at bboudreau@ dioshpt.org or 318-868-4441.

June 4-7: BeLoved: A Fun FaithFilled Summer Camp for Girls This retreat is being sponsored by the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows and is open to all young ladies, from those who have finished eighth grade through those who have just graduated from high school.

This awesome weekend includes Eucharistic Adoration, inspiring speakers, spiritual guidance and fun activities like ropes courses, swimming, paddle boats and sports. The camp will be at Tall Timbers in Alexandria, LA. To register, or for more info, visit BeLovedRetreat.com. Cost is $50.

July 2: Christopher West to Speak at Cathedral Christopher West will be here Thursday, July 2, from 6:00-9:00 p.m.! He will give an introduction to “Theology of the Body” and discuss his book, Fill These Hearts: God, Sex, and the Universal Longing. Visit the Cathedral website for more information: www.sjbcathedral. org. Purchase your tickets ($10) in the church office or online.

July 4-7: Mission Possible: A Fun Faith-filled Summer Camp for Boys This camp is being hosted by the diocesan office of Church Vocations. It is open to all young men, from those who have finished eighth grade through those who have just graduated high school. This awesome weekend includes Eucharistic Adoration, inspiring speakers, spiritual guidance and fun activities like zip lining, canoeing, swimming and earth ball. For more information, visit www. dioshpt.org, or call 318-868-4441.

Cost is $50.

Wanted: Diocesan Youth Council!

The Diocesan Youth Council Retreat is Saturday,June 13, at the Catholic Center. The DYC will have two main purposes: to help the Diocese to “hear the voice of youth” and help plan and lead diocesan youth ministry events of the coming year. Most critical is that we have representation from each of the deaneries: East, South and West.

The Council will meet four times a year. We recommend that every parish consider sending two high school (HS) youth and two middle school (MS) youth along with an adult or two who will accompany them.

Questions: Call or email Kevin Prevou Director, Campus, Youth & Young Adult Ministries Diocese of Shreveport 3500 Fairfield Avenue Shreveport, Louisiana 71104 318-219-7258 (office) kprevou@dioshpt.org 318-219-7258 or 817-808-4831

2 0 1 5 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

At this time I / we are enclosing:

$200 $150 $100 $_______

$_____________

Print Name________________________________________________________________________________

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

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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)

calendar

june & july 2015

JUNE 2015 CALENDAR

JULY 2015 CALENDAR

JUNE 1 - Confirmation; St. Matthew Parish, 4pm

Western Deanery Catechetical Leaders

Meeting, Catholic Center, 6pm

St. Justin, martyr

JULY 1 - Blessed Junipero Serra, priest JULY 2 - Christopher West Talk, Cathedral of St. John

Berchmans, 6pm JULY 3 - St. Thomas, apostle

JUNE 2 - Sts. Marcelinus & Peter, martyrs JUNE 3 - St. Charles Lwanga and companions, martyrs JUNE 4 - BeLoved Retreat for Girls, Tall Timbers Camp,

Alexandria (through June 7)

Southern Deanery Catechetical Leaders

Meeting, St. Joseph Parish, Zwolle, 10am

JULY 4 - Independence Day

Catholic Center Closed JULY 6 - St. Maria Goretti, virgin & martyr JULY 7 - Escuela de Fe, Catholic Center, 9am JULY 9 - Mission Possible Retreat for Boys, King's Camp,

Mer Rouge, LA (through July 12)

Protecting God's Children, Catholic Center, 6pm

JUNE 5 - St. Boniface, bishop & martyr JUNE 6 - Live in the Spirit Retreat for Liturgical Ministers,

Catholic Center, 9am

St. Norbert, bishop

St. Augustine Zhao Rong, priest & martyrs

JULY 10 - Deadline for August Catholic Connection

JUNE 7 - Confirmation; St. Lawrence Church, 10am

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

JULY 11 - St. Benedict, abbot JULY 13 - St. Henry

JUNE 8 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Spring Meeting; St. Louis (through June 13)

JULY 14 - St. Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin

JUNE 9 - St. Ephrem, deacon & doctor of the Church

JULY 15 - St. Bonaventure, bishop & doctor of the Church

JUNE 10 - Protecting God's Children, Catholic Center, 6pm

JULY 16 - Our Lady of Mount Carmel

JUNE 11 - St. Barnabas, apostle

JULY 18 - St. Camilus de Lelis, priest

JUNE 12 - The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

JULY 20 - St. Apolinaris, bishop

JUNE 13 - Diocesan Youth Council Retreat, Catholic

Center, 8:30am

The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary;

St. Anthony of Padua, priest & doctor of the Church

JULY 21 - St. Lawrence of Brindisi, priest & doctor of the Church

JUNE 14 - Confirmation & Sacred Heart Feast Day, Sacred

Heart Parish, Rayville; 9am

JULY 24 - St. Sharbel Makhluf, priest

JULY 22 - St. Mary Magdalene JULY 23 - St. Bridget, religious

JUNE 18 - Investment Committee meeting; Catholic Center,

Shreveport; 10am

JULY 25 - RCIA Workshop, Catholic Center, 9am

St.James, apostle

JUNE 19 - St. Romuald, abbot

JULY 29 - St. Martha

JUNE 20 - Confirmation; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 6pm

JULY 30 - St. Peter Chrysologus, bishop & doctor of the Church

JUNE 21 - Father's Day

JULY 31 - St. Ignatius of Loyola, priest

JUNE 22 - St. Paulinus of Nola, bishop; Sts. John Fisher,

bishop, and Thomas More, martyrs

JUNE 24 - Diocesan Finance Council meeting; Catholic

Center, Shreveport; 12pm

The Nativity of St. John the Baptist JUNE 27 - St. Cyril of Alexandria, bishop JUNE 28 - Confirmation; St. Ann Church, Stonewall, 9am JUNE 29 - Sts. Peter and Paul, apostles JUNE 30 - The First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church June 2015 23

D IO C ESE O F SH R E V E P O R T 3500 Fairfield Ave.

â&#x20AC;˘

Shreveport, LA 71104

Fairfield

Photo of the month The senior football players of St. Frederick Catholic High School coached the 5th and 6th graders from Jesus the Good Shepherd in flag football. The JGS students came to SFHS and enjoyed playing against each other. Following the game, the players and coaches enjoyed pizza and a chance to rehash the game.

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