Around the Diocese

Sacred Heart Parish Hosts Catholic Black History Celebration

In recognition of Black History Month, Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Shreveport held a special Catholic Black History Celebration Mass Sunday, February 20. The committee, Jean Woods, chairperson, selected to honor Deacon Charles Thomas of our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament. Deacon Charles delivered the homily and spoke on his journey as a Deacon. Choir Director, Stephanie Carr, Cantor, Mary Nash along with the adult and youth choirs provided special music during the Mass. The Knights of Peter Claver Council 144 and Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Court 144 Degree also participated during Mass. It was a joyful and memorable day for the “The Little Church with the Big Heart”! The parish which comprises a diverse and active faith community worked together with loving dedication, provided delicious refreshments, and worked together to ensure it was a special day for Deacon Charles Thomas, his wife Nadalie Thomas, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, and Sacred Heart Church.

Ford & Watkins Celebrate Combined 75 Years of Service

Congratulations, to Lady Ivy Ford (25 Years) and Lady Patricia Wakins (50 Years) of service to the Knights of Saint Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Court 144. We greatly appreciate your years of meritorious service, vision, dedication, and determination towards our Knights of Saint Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Noble Order.

Bishop Visits Association of Catholic Tech Students (ACTS) in Ruston

Parishes around the Diocese Celebrate Mardi Gras

Bishop Malone was in Ruston to visit with the leadership team of the Association of Catholic Tech Students (ACTS). The students asked various questions in regards to the state of affairs of St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Student Center since the Franciscan Friars will no longer be in Ruston come June. After the listening session, Bishop Malone celebrated the 7 pm Sunday Mass which was a service planned by the college students from Louisiana Tech. All of the liturgical roles at this liturgy are filled by students with the campus minister, Br. Mike Ward, OFM serving as deacon.

Saint Ann held its Mardi Gras celebration February 19, joined by the Krewe of Demeter royalty. Activities included a trunkor-treat parade, a gumbo cook-off, and a performance by Broken Chains. Pictured above in their Mardi Gras jackets are Deacon Bill Roche, Fr Mark Watson, and Fr Raney Johnson. They helped the PSR students and OCIA participants celebrate Mardi Gras at St Mary of the Pines. The jackets are handcrafted by Mary Cadwell (right) and are a St Mary’s tradition for clergy as members of St Mary’s “Krewe of the Divine.” Mary has made them for many past priests.

Elaborate decorations, a Cajun feast, and Mardi Gras fun were the focus of the St. Ann Mission Church in Ebarb on Sunday, February 27th. Youth led the parade and were quizzed on Church trivia as locals enjoyed the celebration.

Annual Diocesan Stewardship Appeal A Joyful Response ( ) $15,000 ( ) $3,500 ( ) $800 ( ) $400 ( ) $200 ( ) $10,000 ( ) $2,000 ( ) $750 ( ) $350 ( ) $150 ( ) $7,500 ( ) $1,500 ( ) $650 ( ) $300 ( ) $100 ( ) $5,000 ( ) $1,000 ( ) $500 ( ) $250 ( ) Other $

Enclosed is a pledge payment of: $ for year 2022. Please make checks payable to Diocese of Shreveport

Name Address City/State/Zip Church

Diocese of Shreveport 3500 Fairfield Ave Shreveport, LA 71104 Or donate online at www.dioshpt.org

Please list below any special intentions or requests for which you would like prayer assistance:

Seminarian Burses

Thanks to our Recent Donors:

(005) Cathedral of St. John Berchmans ($250) (029) Mr. & Mrs. George & Anita Manshack ($100) (035) Mrs. Rosemary C. Ward ($500) (030) Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Cobb ($1000) (011) Dorothy Jarzabek ($400) (002) Dr. George & Sandra Bakowski Foundation ($100) (001) Dr. George & Sandra Bakowski Foundation ($100)

Completed Burses:

(001) Fr. Mike Bakowski Memorial Burse #1 ($10000) (006) Msgr. J. Carson LaCaze Memorial Burse #1 ($10000) (010) Memory of Rita Scott from the John Scott Family Burse ($10000) (011) Rev. David Richter Memorial Burse #1 ($10000) (012) Jack E. Caplis, Jr., Memorial Burse ($10000) (013) Mary Evans Caplis Burse ($10000) (014) Bob & Peggy Semmes Memorial Burse ($10000) (019) Margaret Glenn Memorial Burse ($10000) (020) Dr. James V. Ward Memorial Burse ($10000) (026) Sheryl Seal Sweeney Memorial Burse ($10000) (027) Rev. Richard Lombard Memorial Burse ($10000) (027) Rev. Richard Lombard Memorial Burse #2 ($10000) (031) Pearl Heck & Leona Boudreaux Memorial Burse ($10000) (033) Beryl K. & Joseph D. Ozenne Memorial Burse ($10000)

Incomplete Burses:

(001) Fr. Mike Bakowski Memorial Burse #2 ($1350) (002) Joseph & Antoinette Bakowski Memorial Burse ($3150) (003) Sam R. Maranto Memorial Burse ($1650) (004) Kathryn Atherton Cook Memorial Burse ($350) (005) Cathedral of St. John Berchmans Burse ($1200) (006) Msgr. J. Carson LaCaze Memorial Burse #2 ($3832.12) (007) Dr. Carol Christopher Memorial Burse ($1200) (008) St. Jude Parish Burse ($6218) (009) St. John Berchmans Knights of Columbus Council 10728 Burse ($1550) (011) Rev. David Richter Memorial Burse #2 ($4029) (015) Bishop’s Seminarian Burse ($2910) (016) Elaine Malloy Frantz Memorial Burse ($1000) (017) Msgr. George Martinez Knights of Columbus Council 1337 Burse ($7521.57) (018) Knights of St. Peter Claver Council 144 Burse ($1180) (021) Rev. Edmund “Larry” Niehoff Memorial Burse ($2000) (022) Rev. Blane O’Neil, OFM Memorial Burse ($700) (023) Msgr. Edmund J. Moore Memorial Burse ($1020) (024) Rev. Joseph Puthupally Memorial Burse ($1100) (025) Kathleen Hightower Memorial Burse ($400) (028) Friends-n-Faith Burse ($300) (029) Rev. Kenneth Williams Memorial Burse ($200) (030) Ottis and Anne Krupa Littlejohn Memorial Burse ($4000) (032) Madeline and Joe Tiller Memorial Burse ($1000) (034) Joseph B. and Lucille Provenza Cordaro Burse ($6000) (035) Dr. James V. & Rosemary C. Ward Burse ($3200) (036) Msgr. Earl Vincent Provenza Burse ($1000)

The Diocesan Seminary Burse Program provides the faithful of North Louisiana the opportunity to invest in the education and formation of our seminarians into holy and effective priests to serve the Diocese of Shreveport.

Interested in contributing to or establishing a burse?

You can establish and name a burse with a donation of at least $250 or you can contribute any amount to a burse simply by designating its name when the contribution is made. Contributions may be mailed to the Office of Church Vocations, Diocese of Shreveport, 3500 Fairfield Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71104. Be sure to note the name of the burse in the memo line. Burses are completed at $10,000.

CATHOLIC CONNECTION

DIOCESE OF SHREVEPORT

3500 Fairfield Ave. • Shreveport, LA 71104

Catholic Connection USPS 024-824 is published monthly except for July by the Diocese of Shreveport, 3500 Fairfield Ave., Shreveport, LA 71104. Periodicals Postage PAID at Shreveport, LA 71102. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Catholic Connection, 3500 Fairfield Ave, Shreveport, LA 71104.

Great job to all the students who visited the Diocese to give their saint presentations. Everyone did a wonderful job, and Bishop Malone is so proud of them for their hard work and research!