August 2022

CATHOLIC CONNECTION VOL. 32 NO. 1 | AUGUST 2022

the back to school issue AUGUST 2022

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CATHOLIC CONNECTION PUBLISHER

Bishop Francis I. Malone

EDITOR

Kierstin Richter

CONTRIBUTORS

Mike Van Vranken Kim Long Mary Arcement Alexander Rosalba Quiroz Polly Maciulski Jordan Harris Karen Dill Deacon Gabriel Cisneros Campos Lucy Medvec Sr. Carol Shively Kimberley Hopwood

EDITORIAL BOARD Deacon Mike Whitehead John Mark Willcox Kim Long Kate Rhea Rosalba Quiroz Fr. Matthew Long Dr. Carynn Wiggins Fr. Pat Madden

SUBSCRIPTIONS & ADDRESS CHANGES Contact: Blanca Vice Email: bvice@dioshpt.org Write: The Catholic Connection 3500 Fairfield Ave. Shreveport, LA 71104 Call: 318-868-4441 Fax: 318-868-4609

SUBMISSIONS

Contact: Kierstin Richter Email: krichter@dioshpt.org The Catholic Connection is a member of the Catholic Press Association.

The Diocese of Shreveport complies with Virtus’ Protecting God’s Children program. (www.virtus.org) Classes are offered every second Wednesday of the month at the Catholic Center in Shreveport. Online sessions are also available.

To report child sexual abuse by a cleric or church worker in the Diocese of Shreveport, call your local law enforcement agency and Mary Katherine Arcement, Diocesan Victim Assistance Minister at 318-584-2411.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Catholic Connection is a monthly publication funded by your Diocesan Stewardship Appeal; mailed to every known Catholic household in the Diocese of Shreveport. Our mission is to advance knowledge and understanding of our Catholic faith among the faithful. We seek to foster the application of Christ’s teachings and our church’s mission in our daily lives and to encourage our sense of Catholic identity within our family, parish, and faith community.

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So Fresh, So Clean Kierstin Richter, Editor & Public Relations Director Ahh Back to School season is here. Last minute summer reading projects your kids swore they did a month ago, bare aisles in Walmart stripped of binders your kids said they “had to have because the affordable ones are ‘too boring,’ ” And don’t forget the momentary dread of accidentally getting stuck in another school’s car pool line because you forgot those exist in other neighborhoods. It’s the most wonderful time of the year (If you like school, that is.)

But I did love school! I always enjoyed the weeks leading up to the first day back - new teachers, new classmates, a yearly shopping trip to Dallas with my mom for new clothes, and most of all, school supply shopping. It was this bright shiny promise of a fresh beginning, complete with bright white, empty notebooks that I swore I would take the prettiest notes in.

But then, a few weeks into school, reality sets in. The notebooks are filled with scribbles and chicken-scratch.

Calculus turns out to be much harder than I thought. Physics makes no sense and seems to become irrelevant since I don’t need to know how to keep the fundamental constituents of the universe intact when all I really want to do is write books and go to reformer pilates and drink chai tea lattes.

Often we get excited for new years and new eras because we have this comfort of a clean slate. We start working out in the mornings and making green smoothies. After work, we stick to a solid schedule of cooking healthy dinners and cleaning the house. But after a while, the habits slowly start to fade, the cat litter smells, the floors need vacuuming, and we’re left wondering where that fresh shiny feeling went.

After working an 8-5, the years start to roll together and next thing you know, my last “first day of school” was five years ago! (I know, I’m still a baby.) But still! The cyclical nature of our lives is often what gives us motivation to try new things and keep things fresh!

The Church recognizes this, and this is one reason we follow a liturgical calendar. There is a season for everything. And we are always arriving at new beginnings, whether it’s the beginning of lent, advent, or in this case (less liturgically) the beginning of an academic year.

A cool thing to do is to sync your life with the seasons and feasts of the liturgical calendar. Learn about new feasts and celebrate them! Or take a new class to freshen up your spiritual life. We offer adult education here at the Catholic Center - come spend the morning with Father Pat for a bible study! Or get together with a church friend for brunch and adoration!

We often become complacent in our lives, especially our spiritual lives, and allow the years to roll on without regard for time’s passing, so when we grow up, we seem to forget the excitement and refreshment of trying new things.

So as this new academic year begins, I encourage you to be intentional with your time. Find a new morning routine.

Decorate your home in accordance with the liturgical colors of the season. Start a new novena. Make friends with a new saint. Revisit the intentionality in your life. Sync your prayer time to your daily routine and make Catholicism not only a Sunday obligation, but an integrated part of your lifestyle.

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contents

FEATURES

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Welcoming Father Nicholas Duncan I See Jesus: Kicking off the Eucharistic Revival Above All, God Will Provide: Deacon Gabriel Cisneros Campos shares his vocations journey A Fisher of Men: Jim Beadles and the Saint Joseph OCIA Ministry

COLUMNS 6 8 19 21 25

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Bishop: There is No Graduation from the Faith Pope: Catechesis on Old Age: Peter & John Mike’s Meditations: Grappling with the Issues Faithful Food: Interesting Times Mary’s Mission: The Kids are Back!

The Kids are Back!

NEWS 5

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Shreveport Priests in Vatican Canonization Cause Receive New Tomb Markers at Historic St. Joseph Cemetery New Catholic Summer Camp Launching in July 2023: Camp Little Flower Catholic Charities: HUD Housing Counseling: A New Program at Catholic Charities of North Louisiana Have y’all HERD about Jesus The Good Shepherd Youth Group?

Hispanic News Your Appeal Dollars at Work: What’s So Great About Catholic Education?

Sr. Carol Shivley, Superintendent: It Takes a Village Child Nutrition Program More School News

There is No Graduation From the Faith Bishop Francis I. Malone, Bishop of Shreveport I have just completed my “confirmation tour” of the diocese for the Spring of 2022. I will have two more in the late summer or early fall. It has been a wonderful experience visiting SO many of our parishes and missions, from Zwolle to Oak Grove and in between – from a few in number to close to ninety. The Holy Spirit is alive and well in our diocese.

My pattern is to arrive early enough at each church in order to meet with the confirmandi prior to the Mass. I use this time to relieve their anxiety, and to let them know what to expect during the Confirmation Mass. I have found that virtually all of the candidates are well-prepared to receive this sacrament, and I am indebted to their pastors, Catechists and DRE’s for the great work they do in preparing them.

From my experience over the years I have noticed that most bishops have, what they call their “Confirmation Sermon for this year.” In other words, they preach the same sermon to each of the groups of candidates, and come up with a new one the next year. I have done the same. The advantage of this is that everyone hears the same message from the bishop. One of the stories I have used this year is a YouTube video I came across of Pope Francis in his “pope mobile,” being driven around St. Peter’s Square so that those who are a distance from the stage can get to see him up close.

In this one video, the pope mobile approaches a group of high school students, who shout out to him, “Papa Francisco….Papa Francisco!” The pope has the driver stop the vehicle, and he leans over the side and one of the young people announce to him that they are newly

confirmed. His response to them is simple, “remember,” he says, “Confirmation is not graduation.” What I really like about his message is that I have used the same one for years with those entrusted to my care in preparation for their Confirmation.

But, I also found that this is a perfect message for all of us, whether we attend school or not, whether we are involved in our parish’s PSR or not, whether we are newly confirmed or not. Simply, there is no graduation from our lives of faith – unless, of course, we think of the day of our final transition from this life to the next. We are pilgrims of faith, sojourners on the way, travelers with one another until the Lord calls us home. And even then – we become advocates for those we leave behind.

Look at it this way: as my former bishop would say, “we are all in this together!” We belong to one another – and we owe it to each other to be a model for how one acts who is filled with God’s Holy Spirit. The sacraments change us – some permanently like baptism and confirmation – and some continually like the Eucharist we receive EACH Sunday, or the sacrament of reconciliation we receive when we most need it.

There is no graduation – no end we experience to our daily and regular encounter with the Lord. I see this happen each time I anoint someone in Confirmation – I hope, that if you have already been Confirmed that you feel that too!

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Welcoming Father Nicholas Duncan Kierstin Richter, Editor & Public Relations Director On Saturday, May 21, 2022, Father Nicholas Duncan was ordained to the priesthood at 10:00 am in the Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans. Father Duncan is a Shreveport native and a graduate of Southwood High School and Louisiana Tech University. He completed his Seminary in New Orleans and completed a five month internship at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Shreveport.

Returning for his last year of formation in New Orleans, he completed courses on scripture, psalms, literature, social teaching, and outreach ecumenism, as well as lab practicals on celebrating Mass and practicing other sacraments such as confession and weddings.

I asked him how he felt about taking this big step to the priesthood, and he was unphased.

“The reality is the big step really feels more like your ordination to the diaconate. You’ve already made your vows of celibacy and your decision to go forth, so that next year of seminary really just feels more like a waiting period until it’s official. You’re already halfway there. I was even more excited to sit and witness Deacon Gabriel’s ordination to the diaconate [at Chirst the King] because I got to be one of the priests.”

Father Duncan began his assignment at Saint Joseph Church in Shreveport, taking the place of Father Kevin Mues who was assigned to Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish in Ruston, in June.

For those discerning the priesthood, Father Duncan offers this piece of advice: “There’s a temptation in our culture not to tell anyone [about your discernment] because in our culture it’s often frowned upon. You’re met with a sense of shock and awe from others, even Catholics. A lot of people discern in private, but it’s best to be open about it because you can’t do it on your own.

It’s like a marriage. You can say yes, but the Church has to say ‘yes’ too. Be in dialogue, and come out to talk to people about it. We don’t talk enough about vocations so we don’t know what they really are.”

In reference to the “vocations crisis,” Father Duncan offered an alternative perspective. “I don’t think we have a vocations crisis as much as not enough people wanting to be holy. When you have that need, you will have more priests.” He elaborated that the foundation for the priesthood is the vocation of marriage. Holy families raise holy children and there’s not enough marketing in the world you can do to increase the number of vocations. It starts at home, and it starts with the family. “ Everyone please continue to pray for Father Duncan as he serves the people of Saint Joseph Parish and the Diocese of Shreveport.

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from the pope

Catechesis on Old Age: Peter & John GENERAL AUDIENCE: St Peter’s Square, Wednesday, 22 June 2022

In our catechetical journey on old age, today we will meditate on the dialogue between the risen Jesus and Peter at the end of John’s Gospel (21:15-23). It is a moving dialogue, from which shines all the love of Jesus for his disciples, and also the sublime humanity of his relationship with them, in particular with Peter: a tender relationship, but not melancholic; direct, strong, free, open. A relationship as men and in truth. Thus, John’s Gospel, so spiritual, so lofty, closes with a poignant request and offer of love between Jesus and Peter, which is intertwined, quite naturally, with a discussion between them. The Evangelist alerts us: he is bearing witness to the truth of the facts (cf. Jn 21:24). And it is in the facts that the truth is to be sought.

We can ask ourselves: are we capable of preserving the tenor of this relationship of Jesus with the disciples, according to his style that is so open, so frank, so direct, so humanly real? How is our relationship with Jesus? Is it like this, like that of the Apostles with Him? Are we not, instead, very often tempted to enclose the testimony of the Gospel in the cocoon of a ‘sugar-coated’ revelation, to which is added our own circumstantial veneration? This attitude, which seems respectful, actually distances us from the real Jesus, and even becomes the occasion for a very abstract, very self-referential, very worldly journey of faith, which is not the path of Jesus. Jesus is the Word of God made man, and He comports Himself as man, He speaks to us as man, God-man: with this tenderness, with this friendship, with this closeness. Jesus is not like the image of holy cards, no: Jesus is close at hand, he is near us.

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In the course of Jesus’ discussion with Peter, we find two passages that deal precisely with old age and the passage of time : the time of testimony, the time of life.The first passage is Jesus’ warning to Peter: when you were young you were self-sufficient, when you will be old, you will no longer be so much the master of yourself and your life. You’re telling me; I have to go around in a wheelchair, eh? But that’s how it is, that’s life. With old age you get all these illnesses and we have to accept them as they come, don’t we? We don’t have the strength of youth! And your witness, Jesus says, will also be accompanied by this weakness. You have to be a witness to Jesus even in weakness, illness and death. There is a beautiful passage from Saint Ignatius of Loyola that says: “Just as in life, so also in death we must bear witness as disciples of Jesus.” The end of life must be a disciple’s end of life: of disciples of Jesus, because the Lord always speaks to us according to our age.The Evangelist adds his commentary, explaining that Jesus was alluding to the extreme witness, that of martyrdom and death.

But we can understand more generally the meaning of this admonition: your sequela [following in my footsteps] will have to learn to allow itself to be instructed and moulded by your frailty, your helplessness, your dependence on others, even in getting dressed, in walking. But you: “Follow me” (v.

19). Following Jesus always continues, in good health, in not so good health; with physical self-sufficiency and without physical self-sufficiency. But following Jesus is important: to follow Jesus always, on foot, running, going slowly, in a wheelchair… but always following Him. The wisdom of following [Jesus] must find the way to abide in its profession

of faith — thus Peter responds: “Lord, you know that I love you” (vv. 15-17) — even in the limited conditions of weakness and old age. I like talking to the elderly, looking into their eyes: they have those bright eyes, those eyes that speak to you more than words, the witness of a life. And this is beautiful, we must preserve it until the end. To follow Jesus like this: full of life.

This conversation between Jesus and Peter contains a valuable teaching for all disciples, for all of us believers, and also for all the elderly. From our frailty we learn to express the consistency of our witness of life in the conditions of a life largely entrusted to others, largely dependent on the initiative of others. With sickness, with old age, dependence grows and we are no longer as self-sufficient as before; dependence on others grows and there too faith matures, there too Jesus is with us, there too that richness of the faith well lived on the road of life springs forth.

But again we must ask ourselves: do we have a spirituality truly capable of interpreting the season — by now long and widespread — of this time of our weakness, that is entrusted to others more than to the power of our autonomy? How do we remain faithful to the sequela we have lived, to the promised love, to the justice sought in the time of our capacity for initiative, in the time of fragility, in the time of dependence, of farewell, in the time of moving away from being the protagonist of our lives? It’s not easy to move away from being the protagonist.

It’s not easy.

This new time is also certainly a time of trial — beginning with the temptation — very human, undoubtedly, but also very insidious — to preserve our protagonism. And at times the protagonist has to diminish, has to lower him or herself, to accept that old age reduces you as a protagonist.

But you will have another way of expressing yourself, another way of

participating in the family, in society, in a group of friends. And it is the curiosity that comes to Peter: “What about him?”, says Peter, seeing the beloved disciple following them (cf. vv. 20-21).

Sticking your nose in other people’s lives. But no: Jesus says: “Shut up!”. Does he have to be part of “my” following [of Jesus]? Does he have to occupy

bad moments of failing. And when we want to insert ourselves into other people’s lives, Jesus answers, “What is that to you? Follow me.” Beautiful.

We elderly people should not be envious of young people who take their path, who occupy our place, who outlive us. The honour of our faithfulness to sworn love, fidelity to the following of the faith in which we have believed, even in the conditions that bring us nearer to the end of life, are our claim to the admiration of the generations to come and of grateful recognition from the Lord. Learning to take leave: this is the wisdom of the elderly. But to take leave well, with a smile. To learn to take one’s leave in society, to take one’s leave with others.

The life of the elderly is a very slow but joyful farewell: I have lived life, I have kept my faith. This is beautiful, when an elderly person can say this: “I have lived life, this is my family; I have lived life, I was a sinner but I have also done good.” And this peace that comes, this is the farewell of the elderly person.

Even the forcibly inactive following [of Jesus], made up of enthusiastic contemplation and rapt listening to the word of the Lord — like that of Mary, Lazarus’ sister — will become the best part of their lives, of the lives of us elderly persons. May this part never be taken from us again, never (cf. Lk 10:42). Let us look to the elderly, let us look upon them, and let us help them so that they may live and express their “my” space? Will he be my successor? wisdom of life, that they may give us These are questions that do no good, what is beautiful and good in them. Let that don’t help. Must he outlive me and us look at them, let us listen to them. take my place? Jesus’ answer is frank And we elders, let us look at the young and even rude: “What is that to you? always with a smile. They will follow Follow me” (v. 22). As if saying: You the path, they will carry forward what worry about your own life, about your we have sown, even what we have not present situation, and don’t stick your sown because we have not had the nose into the lives of others.You follow courage or the opportunity. They will me. This is important: following Jesus, carry it forward. But always this mutual to follow Jesus in life and in death, in relationship. An elderly person cannot health and in sickness, in life when it is be happy without looking to young prosperous with many successes, and people, and young people cannot carry in life even when it is difficult with many on in life without looking to the elderly.

We can ask ourselves: are we capable of preserving the tenor of this relationship of Jesus with the disciples, according to his style that is so open, so frank, so direct, so humanly real?

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I See Jesus!

Delia Barr, Director of Faith Formation In preparation for the Diocesan Year of the Eucharistic Revival, I spent some time in personal reflection about my own thoughts on what this Eucharistic Revival truly means to me and how the Eucharist is present in my daily life. As someone who has been blessed to work for the Catholic Church for many years, I have enjoyed the added benefit of being able to receive the Eucharist at daily Masses at the parishes I have worked. There isn’t a better insurance benefit than daily Mass.

Early in the papacy of Pope Francis, he shared, “I am a sinner, but I trust in the infinite mercy and patience of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This was a truly humbling moment for me - to hear our pope admit to his sinfulness and his trust in the forgiveness of the Lord. What an example of not just “talking the talk” but “walking the walk.” What an inspiring moment of humility and grace. I am a sinner too, and apparently, I’m in good company.

Jesus didn’t seek out the perfect people he was seeking those in need, those just like me, sinners.

I am a cradle Catholic, and 15 years ago, when my dear husband Tom signed us up for an hour of Eucharistic Adoration from 8:00-9:00 AM every Saturday, I am embarrassed to admit I did not know what this was all about.The bigger struggle was with my husband and my attitude toward him cutting into my precious Saturday morning sleep time, the only day a teacher can sleep in! When I finally got over that, and I drug myself to that first Saturday 8:00 AM commitment to sit with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament exposed in the Monstrance, I was hooked. That silent hour which was not silent in my head, my heart was filled with joy and praise during my time with the Lord. I came out so excited to share with Tom all the emotions and feelings that flowed through me during that first hour.

Each week was better than the last.

This experience of Eucharistic Adoration opened so many more experiences in my faith journey. So many close 10

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“This experience of Eucharistic Adoration opened so many more experiences in my faith journey.

So many close encounters with my friend Jesus grew from my time sitting with him in prayerful adoration. As a couple, our prayer life and spiritual formation grew exponentially.” encounters with my friend Jesus grew from my time sitting with him in prayerful adoration. As a couple, our prayer life and spiritual formation grew exponentially. We were so blessed to be in this faith-filled parish.

A few years later, we were transferred away from this parish to a place far away in Canada! It was an exciting opportunity, and we knew the Lord would be with us and guiding us.

At first, we thought we needed to re-create the parish we just came from, quickly realizing that was not our place in this journey. We did find on our Saturday mornings that we now had the opportunity to attend Saturday morning Mass.

We went from adoration to receiving Jesus in the Eucharist.

Awesome. During this time, we were also introduced to a ministry in this parish “Feed the Hungry,” feeding the poor and homeless in the community. We recognized Jesus in those we served. This experience changed us.

When it was time to leave Canada and return to the US, our new home parish did not have Saturday Eucharistic Adoration

Are you interested in sharing your “answered prayers” from your time in prayerful discernment with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament?

Go to https://www.dioshpt.org/eucharistic-revival and scroll to the bottom of the page and submit your gifts of answered prayers from our Lord.

or Saturday morning Mass, but it did have a Red Door Ministry.

This ministry fed the poor and homeless daily out of the “red door.” This ministry needed volunteer leaders to serve Saturday mornings. We arrived early every Saturday, opened the door, coordinated the volunteers, made the lunches, and served. We encountered Jesus every Saturday. We called them “Red Door Miracles.”

Are you seeing this journey the Lord has taken us on? From Adoration to Reception, to Mission. We are so blessed. It is so joyful to look back at your journey and see how the Lord works.

Now at our new parish here in Shreveport, early on, we found a place to serve those in need at the “Blessing Meal” at the Highland Center Ministries. Our parish offers volunteers one Thursday per month. We gladly went to our first blessing meal with great expectation.This meal truly is a blessing to the community, and many from our parish graciously offer their time on our assigned Thursday night. We found ourselves with a group of more volunteers than those guests attending the meal. After standing with a pitcher of water in my hand, ready to serve the thirsty at a moment’s notice, I realized Tom was missing. I looked around and found him in the kitchen washing dishes. He asked the chef in the kitchen if she would bless him by letting him do the dishes. Not a big surprise that she gave that blessing to him immediately. We now go every Thursday to this meal to do the dishes.

And now the full circle, since we have arrived, our parish (Cathedral of St. John Berchmans) has offered Eucharistic Adoration during the week around the daily Mass. Recently, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, they have decided to open Eucharistic Adoration on Saturday mornings. Guess who signed up for that first hour of Adoration on Saturday! We are thrilled and blessed to have the blessing to sit with Jesus on Saturday morning again.

For more information and resources on the Eucharistic Revival, visit our diocesan website, www.dioshpt.org, or scan this QR Code.

JGS Photos by Kelly Moore Clark

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Above All, God Will Provide Deacon Gabriel Cisneros Campos, Notre Dame Seminary We all want to be like our favorite hero, the one who is invincible with superpowers that other heroes don’t have. A hero does not necessarily need to be Superman.

There are heroes without capes. They could be your coach, your science teacher or your physical education teacher. It could be your dad or mom.

I always wanted to be like my dad, he was the model of a hero that I wanted to be. He was strong because he would pick me up with one hand, and when we played arm wrestling, he always won. He knew a lot about mechanical things and construction. Even when I grew older, and my physique changed, and my mentality about things in the world was different, my father continued to be my hero even though we no longer shared the same ideas. He noticed my change, and he was always attentive.

Contemporary heroes no longer caught my attention, Superman, Batman and the others moved to the plane of fantasy and the unreal. I believed that there were men who really flew like Superman and who lifted an entire house with one hand. It was then that my father told me about a person I knew but not completely, everyone talked about him in books, magazines, movies and all the priests, nuns and catechists. “Jesus is the true hero of the history of mankind” they said. Jesus… I do know him, well… in part. At this point in my life I did not attend church regularly, I attended with my friends and because I knew that at Mass I would see the nice girl who caught my attention. I had no idea of the ​​ sacramentality, of the sacred and much less of the mystery behind Jesus. I was listening to Mass but had no idea of everything ​​ that the 12

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celebration entailed. For me and some of my friends, it was boring to go to Mass. It never caught my attention to be part of the group of altar boys or people who help in the church. And much less be a priest.

Time passed, the years accumulated, and without realizing it, I turned 30. I stopped attending Mass - my parents never forced me to go - and I did not receive a religious education. I did not take communion because I did not prepare for that moment... until a new preparation course for the sacraments was opened and I was invited by the Director of Religion of the parish. I enlisted to prepare myself. At first I was embarrassed because I was already 30 years old, and I wondered what others would say about me when they saw an older person taking the sacrament courses. Sometimes shame is an obstacle to knowing Jesus, society before us now is against the Truth. So I signed up and took the courses. While that was happening, I met Saint Martin de Porres through a film. His humility and love for Jesus captivated me and I adopted him as my Patron, as my favorite saint, my hero who helped me meet the true hero, Jesus.

It also influences the testimony of the priest of the community a lot, a man who wore boots with his cassock. I asked myself why he always wore boots, so one day I asked him, and he told me that they were work boots. He, himself, worked in the construction of the parish together with the construction workers, and they were building some rooms for catechesis in the church property, and construction workers did not mind getting dirty - that caught my attention. I thought that the priests

did not get dirty or even get involved in these activities.

Time passed and I finally received Communion. It was a special day that I confessed and received Jesus.

But like all adult adolescents, I had aspirations, and one of them was to get married and have children. I met a girl with whom I got along very well. After a while I asked her what she thought of marriage. Her answer was negative.

At least in the next five years, we had already known each other for four. So I stepped back.

It was then that I asked God to show me the way.

Religious life caught my attention because of Saint Martin de Porres, so I thought about entering a monastery. But there was a problem, I had dropped out of school a long time ago and to enter the seminary I needed to have finished high school. I got discouraged, then I talked with the priest of the community who recommended that I study at the minor seminary. I followed his advice, but not before attending the parish, serving in it and attending the sacraments. I was finally accepted into the minor seminary despite my age.

SEMINARY LIFE Life in the seminary is an adventure to which Christ invites you so that you get to know him from a different perspective because in the seminary you stop doing the things that you were regularly accustomed to - to dedicate yourself to study and prayer. As for pastoral activities: First, you have to follow a schedule, this schedule helps you manage your time. We also take classes in the morning. Before classes, we say morning prayer, also called Lauds. Every day we have an exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in both the morning and afternoon. After class at 10 o’clock, we have the Eucharistic celebration. After the Eucharistic celebration, we went to the dining room for lunch. You also usually take classes in the afternoon.

After lunch we have time to study until Vespers, which is said every day. After the prayers you can manage your free time, whether you can use it to exercise, which is very important, or use it to do your homework.

Regularly the schedule is the same from Monday to Friday; the weekends are a little different because on Saturday and Sunday we attend different parishes as part of pastoral training, some attend schools. On Sunday afternoon we have an exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with solemn vespers - all this in a fraternal atmosphere. The seminary has its alumni association. We have a president who represents us before the rector, we have a vice president and a treasurer, we also have a seminarian who is in charge of the spiritual area, another

seminarian is in charge of the social area. Each class has a representative in these areas.

The seminary formation helps us to balance the four human dimensions: the intellectual dimension, the human dimension, the spiritual dimension and the pastoral dimension. Each of these dimensions is fundamental to discernment for the priesthood. During the course of the semester we have important cultural activities. We also have the presence of important personalities, they can be important theologians or philosophers who make presentations to all the students.

For me, being formed in the seminary has been very important for my discernment, but the support of my family, my parents, my brothers and sisters, who encourage me to move forward, has also been important to me. The support of our family is essential to be able to give a positive response to the call that Christ makes of us in this vocation.The formation, the support and the prayers of all the people will help us to discern, whether for life as a priest or as a religious or it may be that we are called to married life. The important thing is to serve God from our reality. If God calls you to the priesthood, don’t be afraid to respond, God will provide.

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A Fisher of Men Karen Dill, Spiritual Director

“Put Jim in a room full of strangers and in about ten minutes, he’ll have every one of them wanting to join the Church!”

Several times in recent years I have had the privilege of serving as a sponsor for an OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, formerly RCIA) candidate wishing to join the Catholic Church. As part of that process, on a Sunday in February the candidates and their sponsors attend the Rite of Election at St. John Berchmans Cathedral, where the bishop formally acknowledges the candidates and catechumens from each parish. Every year, our parish participants took up a couple of pews in the church. The group from St. Joseph’s parish in Shreveport usually occupied most of the front quadrant of the Cathedral.

“How are they motivating so many people to want to become Catholic?” I began to wonder. Then I ran into Suzanne Beadles in the grocery store. Her husband Jim heads up the OCIA program at St. Joseph’s. When I asked her that question, she smiled and told me, “Put Jim in a room full of strangers and in about ten minutes, he’ll have every one of them wanting to join the Church!” I decided I needed to sit down with him and find out what the St. Joseph’s OCIA Team is doing right.

Jim exudes the energy of the Holy Spirit. A convert himself, he was appointed director of the OCIA program at St. Joseph’s just a few years after he joined the Church.

He started out by explaining that he belongs to a vibrant parish where many parishioners are involved in evangelization, led by an enthusiastic priest, Fr. Long, who 14

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strongly supports this ministry. He sees a real hunger for Christ in his parish, which of course is the work of the Holy Spirit. Of the 150+ converts he has helped usher into the parish, the average age is 28 with outliers ranging from elementary school children to senior citizens.

He began by stressing that OCIA at St. Joseph’s is a team effort. His team is made up of over 20 parishioners, each with his or her explicit task. These include: administrative coordinator; sponsor coordinator; facility coordinator; communications coordinator; resource coordinator; alumni coordinator; Advent and Lent coordinator (Suzanne fills that role); even a medical advisor who keeps him current on the Covid restrictions. The whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. By working together, his team creates the OCIA “family” that Jim lovingly refers to often. And by delegating these tasks, he can devote himself to his two chief roles of teaching and developing relationships.

Jim keeps two OCIA groups running all year, depending on each individual’s circumstances. Classes meet for one hour on week nights. He teaches most of them but brings in team members to present specific topics. He opens with prayer and the Scriptures for next Sunday’s Mass, followed by a brief introduction to one of the Church Father’s teachings on the topic for the evening.

He strongly encourages sponsors to attend class as well. The topics for the next four weeks are listed in

the church bulletin, encouraging anyone from the parish who’s interested to attend.

The success of the program is achieved by the relationships that he and his team strive to create with each individual class member. If a person is interested in exploring OCIA, he or she can go to a link on the church website and contact Jim by e-mail. He is adamant about responding within the hour! When that candidate (or catechumen depending on whether the person has been baptized or not) comes to class, he goes through an orientation period for a few weeks and then is strategically appointed to a sponsor. From the beginning of the program, Jim reminds his group that OCIA doesn’t end at the Easter Vigil when the candidates are officially confirmed. He stresses the importance of “mystagogy,” or the period after confirmation when the candidate is encouraged to take an active role in the parish and/or community.

Jim and his team keep each candidate on the collective radar screen throughout the OCIA period and the years to follow. Candidates know that Mass attendance and class attendance are both expected. If they begin to miss either one, he contacts them by e-mail or phone to check in and see if he can help in any way. Then he offers them an individual make-up class on-line. He has created a website, www.ask-ocia.com, where any parishioner can ask a question about the faith and Jim will e-mail back an answer or point to a resource. Even after candidates join the Church, they become part of an alumni group that the alumni coordinator contacts at least once every few months to keep track of how things are going and inform them of anything new they might be interested in.

When I asked Jim what he does personally to stay in the game spiritually, he identified several practices. He constantly reads current and classic Christian literature because, as he put it “I never want to stop learning.” He attends a silent men’s retreat at Manresa each year and usually attends a national OCIA conference in Chicago if he feels the theme that year is pertinent to this program.

These along with prayer and the sacraments all combine to keep him spiritually fed for the task he feels certain God has given him.

I got the sense that God tapped me on the shoulder and simply said, “It’s time. I’ve got things for you to do.”

In Luke’s gospel, Jesus encounters Simon Peter on the shore of Lake Gennesaret. Although Simon and his companions had been fishing all night with no luck, Jesus instructs him to “Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch.” (Luke 5:4) When Simon and his companions do so, they catch so many fish that their nets begin to break. Jesus assures them, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” (Luke 5:10) In his recent book written to help others who are considering joining the Church, My Reason for Hope, Jim describes his own encounter with God during a retreat at Manresa as he was considering joining the Church himself: “I got the sense that God tapped me on the shoulder and simply said, “It’s time. I’ve got things for you to do.’”

At His ascension into heaven, Jesus gave all of us disciples the Great Commission—to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. Jim Beadles has inspired me to go fishing.

With whom can I share the beauty of my Catholic faith?

In this post-Covid season, it’s time for all of us to call on the help of the Holy Spirit and cast out our nets.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the Catholic faith, please visit https://www.dioshpt.org/ocia or reach out to your local parish’s OCIA Coordinator.

AUGUST 2022

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The Diocese of Shreveport Welcomes New Director of Youth Ministry,

Laurie Nick Kierstin Richter, Editor & Public Relations Director

“Young people, do not be afraid to be holy!” -Saint Pope John Paul II The Diocese of Shreveport is proud to welcome Laurie Nick as our new Director of Youth Ministry. Laurie is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, where she graduated from Mount St. Mary Academy, Summa Cum Laude. Laurie has a strong background in youth ministry, as she served on the Faith Formation Committee on the Youth Advisory Team for Christ the King Catholic Church in Little Rock, as well as chairing the prayer committee for the Youth Advisory Council for the Diocese of Little Rock.

She completed her Master of Science in Education from Arkansas State University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Middle-Level Education in Math & Science from the University of Central Arkansas.

Laurie moved to Baton Rouge, where she taught Middle School Science and Religion at St. Aloysius Catholic School for four years.

Laurie truly has “a teacher’s heart” and the desire to love and help those around her.

“This is something I’ve prayed about and take seriously,” she says. “I want to go out and meet everyone in the diocese to assess the needs of youth ministry, seeing where we are and where we’re going.

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Although she’s a native of Arkansas, Laurie says she loved her time in Baton Rouge, and she’s excited to stay in Louisiana and become a part of the community of the Diocese of Shreveport.

Laurie will handle youth ministry on a diocesan level, providing leadership training and resources for the adults who assist and participate in youth ministries at the parishes, as well as implementing and coordinating retreats, workshops, networking events, meetings, and other opportunities.

Laurie loves the outdoors and enjoys biking, swimming, and running, which fuels her love for triathlons. (She actually competed in the River Cities Triathlon here!)

Her patron saint, from who she takes a lot of inspiration, is St. Gianna Beretta, who once said, “The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for all that He, in His goodness, sends to us day after day.” Laurie lives by this in her ministry and embraces every moment God has given.

Everyone please extend a warm welcome to Laurie as she joins our team here in Shreveport. Keep her and the youth of our diocese in your prayers as this academic year begins.

Laurie will join us August 15, 2022. If you’d like to welcome her or have any questions, email her at lnick@dioshpt.org.

New Catholic Summer Camp Launching in July 2023: Camp Little Flower Jared Simoneaux, Fr. Raney Johnson, Co-Directors of Camp Little Flower in the Diocese of Shreveport WHAT IS CAMP LITTLE FLOWER? Camp Little Flower began with the ordinary idea of bringing a Catholic camp to the Diocese of Shreveport. Camp Little Flower will not only be a summer camp, but also a ministry of the Church. The camp will be for campers from the ages of 8 to 13.

WHY THE NAME LITTLE FLOWER? St. Therese of Lisieux, also known as the Little Flower, taught through her Little Way model to do ordinary things well.

Camp Little Flower seeks to follow the Little Way of Saint Therese. Under the patronage of St. Therese of Lisieux, Camp Little Flower desires to discern God’s will as it tries to bring a Catholic camp experience to the people of North Louisiana.

WHY A CATHOLIC CAMP? A Catholic camp brings a unique opportunity to the camp experience. Fewer and fewer children have the opportunity to experience a Catholic education for a variety of reasons.

Catholic camps offer children the opportunity to have a Catholic educational experience with their peers that they otherwise might never experience. Of course, camp offers them a different type of education, i.e. an outdoor education.

Camp Little Flower also seeks to provide what Pope Francis calls an ecological education.

“Ecological education can take place in a variety of settings: at school, in families, in the media, in catechesis and elsewhere.

Good education plants seeds when we are young, and these continue to bear fruit throughout life.” - Pope Francis Laudato si’, 213.

WHO IS CAMP LITTLE FLOWER FOR? In the same way that all students can benefit from a Catholic education, Camp Little Flower is meant for all campers. Yes, Camp Little Flower will be a Catholic camp, but it will be a place where campers from a diversity of backgrounds can come together and share a summer camp experience with each other.

WHEN WILL CAMP LITTLE FLOWER START? Camp Little Flower plans to start off with one week of camp in July of 2023. The plan is to find an already existing physical camp location and use that camp’s facilities to host Camp Little Flower. Presently, Camp Little Flower will use the facilities of Camp Bethany in Bethany, LA. Check out the diocesan website and find us on social media for updates.

WHAT WILL THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE? The hope is that from this one week of camp will grow all that Camp Little Flower seeks to be. From this little mustard seed of one week, will hopefully grow a large tree with many branches, whatever that might look like, only God knows.

Under the protection and guidance of the Blessed Mother, Camp Little Flower will help spread the good news of Jesus Christ in the Diocese of Shreveport.

AUGUST 2022

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HUD Housing Counseling: A New Program at Catholic Charities of North Louisiana Kathy Schimschock, Development Director Catholic Charities of North Louisiana is offering a new program—HUD Housing Counseling—so that the working poor can become homeowners.This program will help the community at large because homeowners become taxpayers. Our clients will be the biggest beneficiaries of this program. It may take up to two years, but with our help, these potential home buyers will increase their credit score, understand the home-buying process, save for a down payment, and feel pride when they are successful.

CCNLA is pleased to announce the addition of Yvonne Bartley to our staff.

Yvonne has been in the Shreveport/ Bossier area since 1980. A graduate from Northeast LA University (University of Louisiana Monroe), she is the only certified HUD Housing Counselor in North Louisiana. Her expertise is in helping clients with soft services, such as improving FICO Scores to purchase a home or car and most importantly, keep their home. Most of the clients Yvonne works with don’t know how to navigate getting an automobile or mortgage loan. The training involved includes one-on-one confidential credit counseling and creating a credit action plan, preparing a budget specifically for them, and walking them through the process of shopping for a home, home inspector, and a mortgage. Clarifying the myths versus the truth with credit repair can take 3 months to 2 years, depending upon the severity of the case. Holding the hands of clients who need long term help is what she does best. No case is too small or too big. If a client is willing to put in the work, she’ll be right there with them to get them back on track and where they need to be.

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Certified HUD Housing Counselors also help people who already have a house but, are in jeopardy of losing that house. At that time, the lender or HUD will refer the client to the HUD Housing counseling agency to obtain loan modifications if other options are not available. The majority of the clients Yvonne works with don’t know their options or if they have an FHA, Fannie, or Rural Development Loan, nor what the difference is. The counselor will help the client prepare the paperwork, send it to the lender and monitor the process from the time the application is filled out, inception and to the very end. All this is done to save the home.

Being a no-nonsense counselor, the long story short is, if you are spending $300 - $400 a month on personal care such as hair and nails, or hobbies such as hunting and fishing trips, and you can’t pay your mortgage, something must change. There have been a few times when homeowners are not willing to make that change and she’s honest and straightforward by letting them know, she can’t help them.

Before she retires in September 2023, Yvonne will make sure that Catholic Charities of North Louisiana becomes an approved HUD Housing Counseling Agency, usually a two-year process.

Executive Director, Meg Goorley noted, “Our goal is to have four Certified HUD Housing Counselors to cover the entire Diocese of Shreveport.”

When asked how Meg Goorley found her, Yvonne emphatically answered, “By the Grace of God. If there is anywhere that God means for me to be, it’s here doing this with Catholic Charities. I know this without a doubt.” God’s plan

Yvonne Bartley, Certified HUD Housing Counselor

for Yvonne was years in the making and CCNLA will reap the benefits of all she has to teach us in the months and years to come. Catholic Charities is blessed to have her on staff.

If you want to make a difference in the lives of the people we serve at Catholic Charities of North Louisiana, please send your donation to CCNLA, Attention: Development, 902 Olive Street, Shreveport, LA 71104. Perhaps making a donation is not possible for you at this time, but volunteering would be something you would consider. Please pray for us and the programs we offer as we continue our mission of bringing Christ’s love to the poor and vulnerable by providing quality social services to families and individuals without discrimination and in accordance with Catholic Social Teachings and professional standards.

mike’s meditations Grappling with the Issues Mike Van Vranken, Spiritual Director If you’ve read this column more than once or twice, you know I often see both sides of many issues. I’m not one to hang on to the dualistic thinking that everything is either good or bad, happy or sad, right or wrong, weak or strong, clear or fuzzy, white or black, sacred or profane, and on and on. I recently listened to a podcast where representatives from two Catholic universities were explaining how their institutions have made the decision to be fully divested of fossil fuels within a particular number of years. It is easily a pro-life issue where the use of these non-renewable energy resources damages the health of God’s creation, including humans. At the same time, at least in our state, the use of fossil fuels provides much needed jobs, incomes, and tax revenues.

In the short term, it seems we need to continue producing and using these resources. In the long run, if the rest of the world continues to find ways to divest, we end up with no value to our resources at all, and consequently, a loss of jobs, incomes, and taxes.

Catholic teaching tells us to always have our focus on the common good for all people. When we make decisions, we lean towards those choices that help people spiritually, morally, physically, emotionally, mentally, and economically. In other words, our hearts and our actions are synchronized to lift and improve the circumstances of all life both now and in the future. So, to me, deciding to divest in something like fossil fuels is one that takes prayer and discernment.

Let’s use the Diocese of Shreveport as an example. First look at Pope St. John Paul II’s 1990 World Peace Day address where he said the ecology issue is a moral issue and specifically mentioned the harmful effects of burning fossil fuels. Benedict XVI referred to the same issues on World Peace Day in 2010.

It was in 1971, over 50 years ago, that Pope St. John XXIII wrote of the harmful effects of burning fossil fuels. And we have all studied Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si (Praise Be to You) where we are challenged as Catholics to have the ultimate respect for all of God’s creation, and especially the human race and the harmful experiences we’ve had and will continue to have with the burning of fossil fuels.

If the Diocese of Shreveport discerned to be completely divested of fossil fuels by a certain year, what would it mean? First, it certainly includes examining every monetary investment in burses, mutual funds, endowments, and other growth vehicles and moving that money away from fossil fuel enterprises. At the same time, it would eventually mean an electric fleet of vehicles, solar panels on any diocesan building for power, maybe different materials for pavement of parking lots, roofing, furniture, and more. All the while, at least in

“My advice is to take out your journal, light a candle, sit in the quiet and open your heart, mind, and soul to God. Then go to papal documents and U. S. bishops’ documents and find out what they have written. Write down how all of this makes you feel, and ask God where these feelings are coming from. Are they coming from God, or from another place? Spend a month or two, or even six or seven praying with this.” the short term, it would probably damage economies and businesses – the incomes of Catholics around the diocese.Yet, if the common good includes the long-term spiritual, moral, physical, mental, and economic health of all peoples, divesting of fossil fuels might just be a good choice for our diocese.

Here’s where the grappling, at least for me, comes in.

Taking this issue to God and honestly opening our hearts and explaining - we see both sides. Which is the better choice?

How do we know? How do we protect those who might lose income? How do we prepare our diocese for the future? How do we listen to the last four popes and not take care of the people around us while making sure we find alternative forms of renewable energy to fossil fuels? What is God’s will for us on this issue? How do we know, for sure?

Maybe you have a pat answer for these questions. Maybe you could easily decide it is “yes”, we do something different or “no” we keep things the same. Maybe you feel you’re old enough to kick this can down the road because you won’t be here 25 to 30 years from now. Maybe it’s hard enough just making ends meet and living your life without thinking of these more complex issues. But there’s that pesky Catholic teaching given us by all those popes. My advice is to take out your journal, light a candle, sit in the quiet and open your heart, mind, and soul to God. Then go to papal documents and U. S. bishops’ documents and find out what they have written. Write down how all of this makes you feel and ask God where these feelings are coming from. Are they coming from God, or from another place? Spend a month or two, or even six or seven praying with this. Do what it takes to hear and know how God is calling you. And whatever his answer is, just make sure you lovingly respond. Like Jacob wrestling with God through the night, you might walk away physically different and with a new purpose. It worked out so good for him, we’re still talking about him thousands of years later. Why not give “grappling with the issues” a try?

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Have y’all HERD about Jesus The Good Shepherd Youth Group?

Hillary Sirmon

Youth Ministry is Moving in Monroe!

“Arise! Shine, for your light has come, the glory of the LORD has dawned upon you.”

Isaiah 60:1 About a year ago, I realized the youth community needed a booster of its own following the pains of the pandemic. During a conversation at a retreat last year, a priest was discussing the impact of COVID and social distancing on our young people.

When I also expressed my concerns, he looked at me and said something like, “Well, what are you going to do about it?”

Those words stuck with me like gum to a shoe. I just couldn’t shake it. In fact, I realized there were many in our church who couldn’t shake it. Since then, with the support of our priest, community and youth, the Jesus The Good Shepherd Church Youth Group is back and building every day. The lives of our children are flooded with the ways of the world. Now, more than ever, they need to be filled with the ways of the WORD OF GOD. We held the first youth Mass on May 1st. It was full of youth group members and Confirmation candidates. Our young people read scripture, led the music, brought the gifts, and served as ushers. It was inspiring to see the next generation of faithful participants in action.Their presence gives us hope and is a beautiful sign of the future of the Body of Christ.

Since that day, the youth group has PRAYED together, PLAYED together, and PLEDGED their time to volunteering.

In May, they led the most beautiful afternoon Luminary Rosary for the congregation. They worked together to build the rosary, then led the church in prayers and song.

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In June, there were Bayou Bash celebrations for our youth.

One was held for high school students and the other for junior high. The gatherings were full of fun with swimming, canoeing, and kayaking. The events culminated with a bonfire and fireside discussion. We talked and prayed about filling our hearts and minds with God’s words and not the words of the world.

Our JGS Youth Group is packed with outstanding teens. The love in their hearts shines brightest when they volunteer. Many have spent their Saturday mornings helping to package food for “Meals on Wheels.” This past month, they assisted with Vacation Bible School and they totally ROCKED! Our teens have accomplished so much! We’re only a few months into the revitalization process, and this is only the beginning. Many members of the JGS Youth group are just returning from Steubenville South. They are full of the Holy Spirit, and ready to share their gifts and faith with their church family.

Interesting Times

January 1, 2020 was a morning which did not prepare me for anything the ensuing years brought. The sunrise over the lake was like a painting, intricate and mysterious and breathtaking.

Talk about holding your cards close to your chest, that sunrise did not give away a single hint of any of the changes we have seen in these past two years.

While I do not like the destruction they bring, I have been drawn to storms since childhood; the way the wind blows, stops, and picks up again, the feel of that wind on my face, and the acknowledgment of all the energy it contains.

The concern people feel about inflation, illness, and the general state of things are a storm of a different kind; one which I am not enjoying at all. Many of us are trying to find the beauty in small moments which seem increasingly more cherished. Many are digging deeper into the Catholic faith by returning to adoration, praying a daily rosary, and taking stock and counting blessings. And in those blessings I hear the whisper of an old comfort from childhood... “peace be still.”

Last week found me in the grocery store with list in hand.

I realized it had been some time since I had to be quite so careful with my budget. I realized that there were a few things I could do without. It was a good feeling to know that I had “just enough” and that my needs were met. Oh don’t get me wrong, I would have loved not shopping from that side of my list so to speak but we must adjust with the times. I am using this as an exercise in reflection on what I truly need, on what I can make rather than purchase, and how to make the best choices for my family.

During the stay home order of 2020 I became reacquainted with some skills I had not used in years. One of those was preserving food using a pressure canner. Last week, a friend and I met at the church and before long we had three pressure canners whistling away on the large commercial stove. After weeks of bargain shopping and freezing my spoils, I canned 21 pints of chicken. I realize not everyone is interested in food preservation and the words pressure canner can strike fear in the bravest of cook’s hearts, but I must tell you, inflation notwithstanding, home-canned food is the original convenience food. Case in point, one day I worked later than I had planned.

With family coming for a late lunch I was pressed for time.

I took jars of chicken and stirred them into the yellow rice,

faithful food

Birthday Chicken Salad

Two of my daughters-in-law, Jess and Nikki, requested this for birthday lunches. It is a variation of the recipe for Coronation Chicken Salad and is always a winner.

• • •

•

2 pints of chicken (or 6 cans of chicken from the grocery store) 6 stalks of celery with strings removed and finely diced Pecan chips (1 to 2 packages sold in the baking aisle. These are usually small. If you are lucky enough to have pecans put away in freezer, chop them fine using a good knife or the food processor.)

If using home-canned chicken, break up meat with your fingers, if using chicken purchased in the store, put it in a food processor and pulse one to two times to break up chunks. Put meat in large bowl and add celery and pecan chips.

In a separate bowl whisk together the following: • • • • •

1 small carton of sour cream Mayonnaise (enough for your desired consistency) ½ jar of mango chutney Salt and pepper to taste Start with ½ teaspoon of curry powder and stir and taste and adjust to your preference.

Mix all ingredients together ( I wash and use my hands) until well blended. Store in fridge until ready to serve. Goes well with crackers, buns, and lettuce. warmed a jar of pinto beans and added some sausage from the fridge, opened another jar of apple pie filling and made a lazy man’s cobbler. In less than an hour a delicious meal underway, all thanks to home canning. Canned food is versatile and will take you as far as your culinary imagination wanders.

As we navigate our current times, days which many of us have never seen, let us root ourselves in prayer, secure in the belief that God indeed has a plan and each of us has a place in it. If we incline our ears and hearts we may again hear that familiar comforting truth “peace be still.”

AUGUST 2022

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San Maximiliano Kolbe: mártir de la generosidad Rosalba Quiroz, Directora

Cada 14 de agosto, la Iglesia celebra la memoria litúrgica de San Maximiliano Kolbe, cuyo ejemplo de fe y de entrega a los demás por amor a Cristo, continúa dando frutos en todo el mundo, traducido en muchas de sus célebres frases como esta que hoy resuena con especial fuerza: “se vive una sola vez; es necesario ser santos”. Este año porque la celebración de la Asunción de la virgen se pasa del lunes 15 al domingo 14, la festividad del mártir se omite pero no significa que no podamos celebrarlo otro día y poder conocerlo mejor.

San Maximiliano Kolbe fue un franciscano polaco nacido en 1894 y dedicado al periodismo católico. Con el estallido de la Segunda Guerra Mundial y la ocupación de Polonia fue deportado dos veces a Alemania por los nazis. En 1941 fue confinado en el campo de concentración de Auschwitz, tristemente célebre por sus horrores.

Fue precisamente allí, en Auschwitz, donde se ofreció voluntariamente para cumplir el suplicio impuesto a un padre de familia, que había sido condenado a morir de hambre.

Cuando un oficial nazi le preguntó porqué lo hacía, Kolbe contestó: “porque soy un sacerdote católico”. Kolbe murió de agotamiento en su celda, convertida hoy en lugar de peregrinación, y su ejemplar sacrificio se divulgó por todo el mundo. Fue beatificado por San Pablo VI en 1971 y canonizado por San Juan Pablo II en 1982.

San Maximiliano fue muy estudioso, muy devoto de la Virgen María, y muy entregado en su sacerdocio. Sigamos las enseñanzas de Santos como San Maximiliano, de nuestro Papa Francisco y de tanta gente iluminada por el Espíritu Santo para inspirarnos. Busquemos santidad, educación en la Fe, vivir en paz y armonía con todo el mundo. Sigamos luchando por ser mejores cada día, por aprender más y ser cristianos generosos, ofreciendo sacrificios por nuestros amigos y hasta por nuestros enemigos, como dijo San Maximiliano “la vida es corta”.

El Papa Francisco publicó en su cuenta oficial de Twitter a San Maximiliano como modelo de vida del mártir polaco: “Pidamos la gracia de recordar cada día que Dios no nos olvida, que somos sus hijos amados, únicos e irremplazables: recordarlo nos da la fuerza para no rendirnos ante los reveses de la vida”.

Que nuestro Señor Jesucristo, el Espíritu Santo, nuestra Madre Santísima la Virgen María, y todos los santos nos ayuden a seguir por los caminos de amor y entrega al prójimo para después gozar eternamente en compañía de todos los Santos y de nuestros seres queridos en la Gloria de la Vida Eterna.

Para leer más sobre la historia de este santo, ir a la siguiente página del Vaticano. https://www.vaticannews.va/es/iglesia/news/2019-08/14agosto-san-maximiliano-kolbe-martir-de-la-generosidad. html

CALENDARIO DEL MES DE AGOSTO Sábado 6: Reunión de Mujeres Emausas de 9-11am en Cristo Rey Sábado 20: Reunión en preparación para el retiro de Búsqueda, 11am-4pm. Cristo Rey

Rachel's Vineyard Retreat September 23-25, 2022 If you or someone you love is hurting from an abortion, please call 318588-1064 for information, or visit the website at www.rachelsvineyard.org.

Absolute confidentiality is maintained by team members and participants prior to, during, and following a Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat. A Rachel’s Vineyard retreat in Spanish is scheduled in the spring of 2023.

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Por el Obispo Obispo, Francis I. Malone

Casi he terminado las confirmaciones en la diócesis por la temporada del 2022. Solo me faltan dos que tendré ya para terminar el verano o principios de otoño. Ha sido para mi una experiencia maravillosa el visitar TANTAS de nuestras parroquias y capillas, desde el sur en Zwolle hasta arriba en Oak Grove y todas las de en medio – confirmando ya sea a unos pocos o casi 90 en un grupo.

Me doy cuenta que El Espíritu Santo esta vivo y vibrante en nuestra diócesis.

Mi rutina es llegar temprano a cada Iglesia para poder reunirme con los candidatos a la confirmación antes de la Misa. Uso este momento para ayudarles a sacar su ansiedad, y anticiparles como será la Misa de confirmación. Me he dado cuenta que por lo general todos los candidatos están bien-preparados a recibir este sacramento, por lo que estoy en deuda con sus párrocos, catequistas y directores de catequesis por el gran trabajo que hacen preparándolos.

Desde mi experiencia por los años, he notado que la mayoría de los obispos, tienen lo que ellos llaman “El sermón de la confirmación para este año.”

O sea que predican el mismo sermón a cada lugar y grupo de candidatos, y lo cambian cada año. Yo he hecho lo mismo.

La ventaja de hacer esto es que todos escuchan el mismo mensaje de su obispo.

Una de las historias que he usado este año es la de un video de “YouTube” del Papa Francisco en su “Papamóvil,” que manejan en la Plaza de San Pedro para que los que están lejos del escenario también puedan verlo de cerca.

En este video, el papamóvil se acerca a un grupo de estudiantes de preparatoria, que le gritan, “¡Papa Francisco…. Papa Francisco!” El Papa pide al chofer que detenga el vehículo, se inclina y un joven le dice que el grupo apenas ha sido confirmado. Su respuesta es simple, “recuerden, la confirmación no es graduación.” Lo que me gusta mucho de su mensaje es que yo también lo he usado por años con los estudiantes que

se han preparado a recibir el sacramento bajo mi cuidado.

De la misma manera, creo que este mensaje es también perfecto para todos nosotros, en cualquiera que sea nuestra situación: ya sea que vayamos a la escuela o no, ya sea que estemos involucrados en el programa de catecismo de nuestras parroquias o no, seamos recién confirmados o no. Simplemente, no hay graduación en nuestras vidas de fe – a menos que, pensemos en el día de nuestra transición final de este mundo al próximo. Somos peregrinos de fe, compañeros en el camino, viajeros unos con otros, hasta que el Señor nos llame a nuestro hogar eterno. Y aun así – nos convertimos en defensores de los que aun dejamos atrás.

Veámoslo de esta manera: como mi obispo pasado lo dice, “¡estamos todos juntos en esto!” pertenecemos unos a otros – y debemos ser modelos unos a otros actuando como alguien que está lleno del Espíritu santo de Dios. Los sacramentos nos cambian – algunos permanentemente como el del bautismo y la confirmación – y otros continuamente como el de la Eucaristía que recibimos TODOS los domingos o el de reconciliación que podemos recibir siempre que lo necesitemos.

No hay graduación – no hay final a las experiencias y encuentros regulares que tenemos con el Señor. Veo que esto pasa cada vez que unjo a alguien el día de su confirmación. Espero que, si ya has sido confirmado, puedas sentirte de igual manera.

CRISTO REY: BOSSIER CITY Rev. Fidel Mondragon 318.221.0238 Oficina Domingo 1:00pm Lunes 7:00pm Sabado 6:00pm Coordinador Oscar Gomez 972.567.2710 SAN PASCUAL: W. MONROE Rev. Luis Jost, OFM Domingo: 4:00pm Coordinadora: Lorena Chaparro 318.267.4018 SANTO TOMAS AQUINO: RUSTON Rev. Edward Shea, OFM 318.225.2870 Oficina Domingo 1:30pm Coordinadora: Luz Martinez 318.224.0980 NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL PEPETUO SOCORRO: FARMERVILLE Rev. Luis Jost, OFM Sabados 7:00 pm Coordinadora: Paola Gonalez 817.801.3499 STA MARIA DE LOS PINOS: SHREVEPORT Rev. Mark Watson 318.687.5121 Oficina Domingo 12:30 am Coordinadora: Alma Mendoza 318.678.9306 SAGRADO CORAZON: OAK GROVE Rev. Jean Bosco Uwamungu 318.428.2983 Oficina, Domingo 1:00pm SAN JOHN THE BAPTIST, MANY Rev. Francis Kamau, FMH 318-256-5680 Oficina • primer domingo 1:00pm SAN PABLO: MINDEN Rev. Rigoberto Betancurt 318-458-6045 Cell 2do Domingo 4:00pm Coordinadora: Dora Rodriguez 870-904-9137 SAN JOSE: MANSFIELD 305 Jefferson Street Mansfield, LA 71052 Rev. Rigoberto Betancurt 3118-458-6045 3er Domingo 3:00pm

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Your Appeal Dollars at Work What’s So Great About Catholic Education?

Our Lady of Fatima School, Monroe

In many ways, a Catholic education is no different than other school settings. For example, the following are some of the things taught in Catholic schools: • A sentence to be a sentence, must contain a subject, a verb and be a complete thought, • Two plus two equals four, and • Mexico is to the south of the United States and Canada is to the north.

Pretty standard stuff, wouldn’t you agree?

So, what’s so great about Catholic education and why should we be concerned that it is available to as many children and families as possible? The answer to that question is not in the “what” of education but in the “why.”

Much like having an educated electorate - something Thomas Jefferson stated as a“vital requisite for our survival as a free people” - the Church has many arguments for the place and purpose of Catholic education. From the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, we hear: “Our schools serve both the faith community and society by educating children, young people and adults to contribute to the common good by becoming active and caring members of the communities, cities, and nation in which they live.” There seems to be something to this, 24

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in that: the percentage of Catholics who are engaged in public service occupations (healthcare, military service, public safety, politics, etc.) is significantly greater than the percentage of U.S. citizens who identify as Catholics.

Certainly Catholic schools are not the only source for the formation of the faith and promoting our consideration of the common good. Our religious education programs (for youth and adults) also play an important role in advancing our development in having - a mind and heart for God and neighbor. But, as our schools are about to open for a new academic year, we should be mindful that our support for Catholic education – through the Annual Diocesan Stewardship Appeal – is our support for the Church and society.

So, what’s so great about Catholic education? It’s all in the “why.” The following quote can be found at the entrance of many Catholic schools across the nation.

Let’s pray for our schools that this remains the case: “Let it be known to all who enter here that Jesus Christ is the reason for this school, the unseen but ever-present teacher in all its classes, the model of its faculty, and the inspiration of its students.”

mary’s mission

“The Kids are Back! The Kids are Back!”

Mary Arcement Alexander, Licensed Professional Counselor, Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator If the walls of St. Joseph School could talk, this is what I imagine they would say: The kids are back! The kids are back! We love this time of year when summer is coming to an end and our doors are once again opening up. We know the kids and teachers get tired of us after nine months and for the most part, we get it. With that said, we all secretly wish the doors would stay open year round. You may be thinking, “But why? Aren’t you tired of having kids run up and down your hallways, yelling and being obnoxious? Aren’t you ready for a little peace and quiet?” To some degree yes, we are ready for some peace and quiet, however, a few days here and there are sufficient for us. The weekends and holidays offer us more than enough time to recoup and gather ourselves together.

It can be frustrating at times seeing the kids not care if they mark us up with their backpacks and other random items as well as challenging when they do not want to pick up after themselves. Despite it all, we are happiest in August when the doors fly open, the lights come on, and we hear the hustle and bustle of kids, teachers, and staff roaming the hallways, filling up the offices and classrooms. The chaos is familiar, oddly comforting. To us, the sound of children laughing is like an angel serenating God. In case you did not know, we turned 70 years old last year! Is that not amazing? Being in existence for 70 years, speaks volumes about our importance to the Church and the community around us.We all feel so proud to have been built all those years ago and even more proud of how we have grown and flourished over the years.We want to share a few fun facts with you (please pardon our bragging): First, St. Joseph Parish was established in 1949, by the Most Reverend Charles P. Greco, Bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria. Fr. Joseph Gremillion presided over the church as our first pastor. Soon afterwards, the community of believers recognized the great need for a Catholic school, thus we were born.

Second, the Sisters of the Order of Divine Providence served St. Joseph Catholic School from 1951 until 1976. In 1976, we welcomed our very first layperson as principal, Ms. Glenna Arnold.

Third, our middle school kids are able to receive two Carnegie Units in Algebra I and Spanish plus two additional Carnegie Units in World Geography and Health thanks in part to our partnership with Loyola College Prep.

Lastly (and most importantly), the kids at Saint Joseph School begin every day with prayer and attend Mass every

week. This is one of my favorite things about being a part of this great school. Being able to stand by as we listen attentively to the sweet sound of children praying, is truly the highlight of our day.

You may now be thinking, “Don’t you wish you were the walls of one of the larger public schools that have more children and more things offered?” Our answer is a simple no. We can honestly say that we have never been jealous of those schools whose walls reach up higher and stretch out longer, whose hallways are more massive and whose rooms offer more extracurricular activities. The reason is simple, while they have more “stuff and fluff,” we here at St. Joseph School have Jesus. We not only have Jesus but we proudly display Him in the school while simultaneously worshiping Him. We firmly believe, as lifelong walls of a Catholic school, that prayer is the first defense for the protection of our children. We believe that we are sacred because we were built as a Catholic school. We also believe that Jesus, God our Father and Mary our Mother, roam our hallways and bless every person who enters. We are grateful to be here and pray that God allows us to continue to stand strong in 70 more years.

St. Joseph School has a wonderful philosophy; here is a portion of it that we would like to comment further on, St. Joseph Catholic School recognizes that parents are the primary educators of their children, and we view the school as an extension of the family. It is the school’s responsibility to help educate the child in a Christian environment. We recognize that each child has individual gifts and needs.

Through a carefully planned curriculum and qualified staff, we help to develop these gifts and meet the needs of every child. A few key words are, parents are primary educators of their children and Christian environment. First, we, as the walls of St. Joseph’s school, were formulated and built because of the families in this parish. The mothers and fathers, along with Fr. Gremillion, desired not only good education for the children, but more importantly, a Christian education for their children. Parents are vital to our success, and when we see them walking their kids down our hallways or volunteering in our classrooms, we love hearing their thoughts, concerns, and ideas. Everything begins in the home.

We are the literal foundation that protects the children while in school, but the parents and the home they provide is the emotional, mental, and spiritual foundation for their children. In the words of Sister Sledge, “We are family!”

Welcome back to school Falcons!

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Shreveport Martyrs Receive Tomb Markers Dr. Cheryl White Three of the five “Shreveport Martyrs of 1873,” priests who made offerings of their own lives during the city’s great yellow fever epidemic, have had their tombs modified with new epitaphs that recognize their status as “Servants of God” in the Vatican canonization process.

Due to the generosity of local donors interested in their cause, and in the ongoing preservation of historic St. Joseph Cemetery, Father Jean Pierre, Father Isidore Quémerais, and Father Francois LeVézouët, all received new memorial ledgers, which were placed atop their tombs on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.

In addition to acknowledging their titles of “Servants of God,” the ledgers also provide expanded biographical information and theological reflection for visitors and pilgrims to the site. This will include the planned visit of religious and civil officials from France in October 2023, marking the sesquicentennial of the 1873 epidemic. The story of the Shreveport Martyrs has been the subject of a book and a major feature documentary, The Five Priests, which has received international attention and acclaim.

The remains of Fathers Pierre, Quémerais, and LeVézouët, were exhumed from Holy Trinity Church in 1884 and moved to their current location at the prominent “Calvary Mound” inside St. Joseph Cemetery.

The transfer of their remains was accompanied by a public procession from the church to the cemetery, followed by a memorial Mass with hundreds in attendance, as recorded in the surviving diary of Father Joseph Gentille, then pastor of Holy Trinity Church.

Bishop Francis Malone of the Diocese of Shreveport, upon receiving the necessary nihil obstat from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints affirming that an inquiry for sainthood could begin, held a public ceremony at Holy Trinity Church on December 8, 2020 to officially recognize all five priests as “Servants of God.” Two of the other five “Shreveport Martyrs,” Father Jean Marie Biler and Father Louis Gergaud, are buried elsewhere – Biler at Forest Park Cemetery in Shreveport, and Gergaud in St. Matthew’s Cemetery in Monroe, Louisiana.

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It Takes a Village Sr. Carol Shively, OSU, Superintendent of Catholic Schools There is an African proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child,” and every person in our schools’ village has been needed to provide the highest level of Catholic education possible for the past two years. For two and a half years, COVID-19 and its many strains, have held us to creating new ways to partner with parents and meet the daily challenges of forming and educating our students. Pope Francis describes our schools as, “a path that leads to the three languages that a mature person needs to know: the language of the mind, the language of the heart, and the language of the hands. All in harmony. In other words, think of what you feel and do; listen to what you think and what you do; and do well what you think and do.The three languages, in harmony and together.” Our villages have met each challenge with success and most times with a smile.

Our village includes the many educators and staff at the schools that you may not be fully aware of each day.

The team includes cafeteria personnel, maintenance and housekeeping staff, school counselors, and paraprofessionals who interact with the students daily.

Our pastors, chaplains, teachers, and administrators complete the daily circle of care. Each principal in our schools is qualified and State certified for their position.

Academic rigor has been enhanced with diocesan Atlas Curriculum Mapping software, International Baccalaureate® (IB), and Ray Dass Test Preparation.

The spiritual life of the village is being developed and reinvigorated by the implementation of the Franciscan at Home Catechetical Institute program thanks to the Director of Faith Formation, Delia Barr.

There are multiple charts in this report this year to help present the areas of great success and the areas that need improvement. One that is particularly distressing to me is the decline in enrollment.

As you can see, our enrollment has sharply declined, especially during the COVID-19 closure. All of us are ambassadors of welcome to new families by inviting them to look at Catholic education. Come and see what is truly different than any other school in northern Louisiana.

For our schools to be able to recruit the best teachers, we must have students. I am offering a challenge for all Catholic school and all diocesan families, that for the next 24 months, every family introduces a new family to our schools. No longer can the old adage, “we can’t afford Catholic schools” be an acceptable response. We need to demonstrate how Catholics can afford not to partner with the Catholic Church to inform their children. Bishop Malone has said on hundreds of occasions that for any Catholic family wishing to put their children in our schools who need tuition assistance, he will provide support in partnership with the local pastors. New families can also AUGUST 2022

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Church Representation in Schools

121 28 2

Cathedral of St. John Berchmans Christ the King, Bossier City Holy Family Catholic Community AFB

27 158 6 3 13 1

Holy Trinity Jesus the Good Shepherd

apply to Arête Scholars or ACE for the Tuition Donation Credit Program. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the principals for more school specific information. And finally, pray for our schools that they will continue to be a beacon of hope for the future of our Church and world.

For thousands of years, God has asked and equipped teachers and leaders to participate in the work of helping others come to know God and live as people of faith.

These teachers and leaders have come in many shapes and forms, from many backgrounds. However, each has somehow heard a call to teach and has responded. May 2022-2023 be a year of growing more fully in the name of Jesus.

Little Flower of Jesus, Monroe Mary, Queen of Peace Our Lady of Fatima Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament

2 6

Sacred Heart Rayville Sacred Heart of Jesus, Shreveport

64 1 234 20 3 15 8 17 1 3 8 Total: 28

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton St. Joseph, Bastrop St. Joseph, Shreveport St. Jude, Benton St. Lawrence St. Mary of the Pines St. Matthew, Monroe St. Paschal, West Monroe St. Pius X St. Thomas Aquinas, Ruston Other

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DIOCESE OF SHREVEPORT NON-DISCRIMINATORY SCHOOL POLICY July 2022 Shreveport, Louisiana The Diocese of Shreveport School system re-affirms its non-discriminatory policy on the basis of race, sex, color, national, and ethnic origin in its educational programs, activities, and employment policies in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments, and Sections 4.03 (a) and 4.03 (c) Revenue Procedure 75-50.

All students, faculty members and staff, without exception, are admitted to all rights, privileges, and activities generally accorded or made available at the schools which do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national, and ethnic origin in the administration of its employment policies, admission policies, scholarship, and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administrated programs.

St. John Berchmans, Shreveport St. Joseph School, Shreveport Loyola College Preparatory, Shreveport Jesus the Good Shepherd, Monroe Our Lady of Fatima, Monroe St. Frederick High, Monroe Sr. Carol Shively, OSU Superintendent

Catholic School Boards & Council Members St. John Berchmans School Council Very Rev. Peter Mangum, President, Pastor Pam Shaughnessy, Finance Chair Carol Gates, Secretary Trey Woodham, Ex-Officiate Paul Malloy, Council Member Mary Beth Fox, Council Member Chimene Griego, Council Member Clarissa Manno, Council Member- PAP Dan Currey, Council Member Chad Daily, Council Member Jason Feldt, Council Member

St. Joseph School Council

Very Rev. Matthew Long, Pastor Rev. Nicholas Duncan, Parochial Vicar Clayton Cobb, Principal Katherine Suckle, Assistant Principal Dr. Catherine Foret, President Ted Daigle, Vice President Courtney Marston, Secretary Sr. Anna Maria Lanetti, OLS, Catholic Identity Chair Andrew Pringle, Finance Committee Chair Luisa Lemoine, Business Manager Derrie Lindley, Marketing Chair Becky Lawson, Property/Grounds Chair

Our Lady of Fatima Council

Re. Paul Thundurparampil, CMI, Pastor Donna Eichhorn, President Andrew Scurria, Vice-President Donna Glaze, Treasurer Cory Chism, Secretary

Jesus the Good Shepherd Council Very Rev. Michael Thang’wa, Pastor Chad Beasinger, President Lillian Paxton, Vice-President Jason Tiser, Treasurer Lillian Paxton, Secretary Eric Thibodeaux, Member Stewart Traxler, Member Lauren Davis, Member Tommy Hayes, Member Stuart Scalia, Member Lisa Patrick, Principal, Ex-Officio Member Haley Pulliam, Ex-Officio Member

St. Frederick High School Board

Bishop Francis Malone, Chairman Brad Smith, President Michael Creighton, Member Brad Bourgeois, Member Eddie Francois, Member Amy Taylor, Member Rebecca Leaumont, Member Alvin Sharp, Member Violet Roussel, Member Amy Sawyer, Member Michelle Moore, Member Sr. Carol Shively, Ex-Officio Member Dr. Carynn Wiggins, Principal, Ex-Officio

Loyola College Prep School Board

Bishop Francis Malone, Chairman Rev. Jerry Daigle, Diocesan Representative Troy Raburn, President Leland Horton, Vice President John LeBlanc, Secretary Tom Simms, Treasurer Theresa Murphy, Immediate Past President Arthur Carmody, IV, At-Large Member Ashley Rockett, At-Large Member Allyson Brooks, Member Mary Susan Britt, Member Dr. John Carmody, Member Jayne Ruben, Member Margaret Nader Love, Member Hope Ghali, Member LeAnn Waldrop, Member Concertta King Chevalier, Member Thad Thrash, Member Sr. Carol Shively, OSU, Ex-Officio Member Modica Tompkins- LPA Pres, Ex-Officio Member Dr. Rick Michael- AA Pres, Ex-Officio Member Stephanie Johnson, Assistant Principal Tanika Nash, Comptroller Andy Cline, Dir. of Admissions Jordan Harris, Dir. of Marketing Jessica Ray, Dir. of Advancement

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Child Nutrition Program Sr. Ann Middlebrooks, SEC, Associate Superintendent We have all experienced hunger at some point in our lives.

Though it may have only been temporary, we were aware of the hunger. Imagine trying to remain focused and learn in that hungered state; it’s not easy.

The Diocese of Shreveport Child Nutrition Program (CNP) serves students quality meals in a Christian environment by ensuring that the meals are healthy, correctly prepared, and attractively served in pleasant surroundings (adapted from the mission statement). Over the past three years, the CNP has seen a steady increase in the number of students eating the school meals. One can speculate that the governments COVID-19 recovery through the availability of free lunches for all students contributed to the influx. For the 2022-2023 school year, the CNP will return to pre-COVID-19 status

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with families needing to complete a Free and Reduced Meal application. Secretary Tom Vilsak commented on the Passage of Keep Kids Fed Act on 6/24/2022 saying, “…it is important to note that schools across the country will still face ongoing challenges and at USDA, we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to ensure kids get the nutritious meals they need and deserve.”

One thing is for sure, the CNP staff have been busy the past years. Very often, these are the unsung heroes in our school, working behind the counter to produce tasty and nutritious food for our students. They are among the first workers at the schools in the morning. Thank you for being a viable part of “the village” and giving our students the ability to have nutritious meals at school.

We love our cafeteria workers!

Jesus the Good Shepherd School cafeteria staff (from left to right): Donna Johnson, Nina Hendrix, Edith Loyd, and Jana Henderson (manager)

St. John Berchmans School cafeteria staff (from left to right): Flo Alexander, Mareta Coulter, Walter Floyd (manager), Charlesetta Pugh, and Earnestine Smith; inset picture: Barbara Ball

St. Joseph Catholic School cafeteria staff (from left to right): Virginia Grant, Cynthia Jackson (manager), Angela Burris, and Linda Alexandria

Our Lady of Fatima School Cafeteria Staff (from left to right): Teena Lenard (manager), Gwendolyn Jackson, Bessie Pratt, and Theresa Johnson

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School News SFHS Senior Recognized for Outstanding Community Service & State Heisman Jill Wier, SFHS Director of Development Glance over Alyssa Dismuke’s resume and you will quickly notice that she is not only a scholar and an athlete, but also a strong community service leader who has started a ministry and projects of her own. She embodies the charisma of ministry work or “serve like Christ” attitude. Alyssa has been honored by Rustic Pathways for community service; she has won the State Heisman this year, set a record at State in the discus, and placed first in shot put at State.

She was also awarded the Louisiana Legislative scholarship for Tulane by State Representative, Francis Thompson in Bastrop. Her passion for volunteering began modestly at the young age of four when her mother took Christmas dinner to her cousin at a nursing home. That’s when Alyssa noticed that nobody had any presents. After that visit, Alyssa started a project to deliver Christmas gifts to one nursing home that evolved into providing gifts for every holiday to two nursing homes. Alyssa started a ministry called “Alyssa Cares Ministry” that helps those

in need. Alyssa also was president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul chapter at St. Frederick High School. The chapter helps the less fortunate by raising money to pay bills and provide clothing. When asked to give others advice about contributing to society, Alyssa said, “Positive impact does not always have to be seen or heard.

You will never have to brag about something you did for another if it is truly what you want to do.

They never have to be the biggest things, and they don’t have to require any monetary item.

Something as little as kind words make a positive impact. Community service doesn’t have to be very broad or big.” Alyssa said, “you can help your grandparents, help your neighbors or just someone who needs help!” In her free time, Alyssa loves playing the piano, watching documentaries, and listening to classical music. She plans to attend Tulane University in the fall and major in pre-law, where she aspires to become a divorce or criminal lawyer.

Woodham Attends Meitler National Catholic School Mentorship Program Leadership Institute Kimberly Hopwood, MAPS, MSW The Meitler’s National Catholic School Mentorship Program Leadership Institute, co-sponsored by Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities (FADICA) and the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), was attended

by Trey Woodham, the Principal at St. John Berchmans School last month.This is one of several programs that equip Catholic school leaders across the nation with the tools and knowledge they need to keep Catholic schools achieving excellence. Mr. Woodham reported that he chose this program because the Meitler reputation has proven over the past 50 years that following a well thought out and intentional plan is beneficial for schools.

Principals and administrators from Wisconsin, Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Texas, and New Mexico were present and discussed

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best practices. General areas of interest for the group were integrated marketing, school finances, faith and mission, academics, and school governance. Mr. Woodham mentioned, “that while it is concerning that those present have most of the same areas of concern, it is also refreshing to know that I am not alone in my struggles.” While networking with other principals was important, Mr. Woodham was particularly fond of the use of student portfolios that track individualized student growth for the student and the families. “I want to show the families and prospective families the potential growth capacity that each student has by attending not only a Catholic school, but St. John Berchmans specifically.” With the first three and a half days of training finished, Mr. Woodham looks forward to more sessions to assist in implementation of strategies that will assist him to lead the St. John Berchmans School to new heights. Thank you, Mr. Woodham for your dedication to Catholic education.

Bodden & Walker Nominated and Accepted into Loyola Marymount University Catholic School Leadership Academy for their Leadership and Faith Kimberly Hopwood, MAPS, MSW Catholic Extension is a fundraising organization that helps ensure that all American Catholics can practice their faith (excerpt from CE website). They have come together with Loyola Marymount University (LMU), through the Department of Educational Leadership and the Center for Catholic Education, to offer Catholic school leadership an opportunity to earn a Certificate in Catholic School Administration.

The program addresses the four pillars in Catholic school administration: mission-focused leadership; faith and spiritual leadership; operational management; and instructional leadership.

The program incorporates faith and professional practice with project-based learning experiences that will groom future Catholic school administration. The goal is to retain the best human capital that have been entrusted to our Catholic schools, the administration and teachers.

This year, two teachers, Maddie Bodden and Katie Walker, were nominated and accepted into the program for their leadership and faith.

Maddie Bodden is a 1st grade teacher at St. John Berchmans Catholic School. Maddie has successfully completed 2 years with the school.

Maddie received both her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Special Education and Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Louisiana Tech University.The school’s Principal and

nominator,Trey Woodham, said, “Maddie has made a positive impact on our school in a short period of time. She eagerly collaborates with faculty, staff, and administration to continually improve the educational experience for our SJB families. Maddie is the future of what Catholic school administration looks like.”

Katie Walker is a 4th grade math and science teacher and serves as the National Elementary Honor Society Coordinator at St. Joseph Catholic School. Katie taught 3rd grade math and science at St. Joseph School from 2007 to 2011, and then returned to serve in 2014 for a total of 12 years of ministry in the school.

With this program, Katie has committed to at least two more years of service to the school, including devising a program to better the school.

According to the Assistant Principal, Katherine Suckle, “Katie continues to demonstrate her dedication with going above and beyond in her service to the school. She is an energetic teacher who is continuously looking to improve. Her students are engaged in hands-on activities and Katie is always bringing new activities to the classroom.”

Both have agreed to engage in the Loyola Marymount Universities’ Catholic School Leadership Academy and commit to one year of studies and one year of service to include a special project to benefit their current schools. Thank you for you dedication and service. We look forward to seeing the fruit of your labors soon.

Assessment of Children/Youth Religious Education (ACRE) 2021-2022 School Year Results

Since the late 1970’s the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) has offered assessment instruments designed to strengthen catechetical/religious education programs. The Assessment of Children/Youth Religious Education (ACRE) is used in the Diocese of Shreveport to evaluate the faith knowledge and attitudes of students in Catholic schools. ACRE is a multilevel, age-appropriate tool, that is administered in grade 5 (Level 1) and grade 8 (Level 2) and high

school (Level 3). As an integrated assessment tool, ACRE provides faith knowledge questions (cognitive domain) and questions related to religious beliefs, attitudes, practices, and perceptions (affective domain). The graphs below are showing the collective results of the cognitive domain, comparing the national scores with the Diocese of Shreveport Catholic and non-Catholic assessment takers.

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Loyola College Prep Class of 2022: Living the Mission Kimberly Hopwood, MAPS, MSW While Loyola College Prep requires service hours to be completed before graduation, there are many who have gone above and beyond requirement minimums. Loyola College Prep reported that 61% of the Class of 2022, gave more service to the community than what was required. The following students recorded more than 200 hours, contributing significantly to the 11,708 total hours of service rendered to the community.

Thank you, Loyola College Prep Class of 2022, for your outstanding embodiment of your school’s mission, “… faith in action for ‘The Greater Glory of God’.”

Riya Ahula (200+) Madalyn Eagles (200+) John Gray (200+) Jeanette Hardison (200+) Emily Horton (200+) Lane Mull (200+) Graham Trawick (200+) Emma Cate Dailey (419)

Congratulations to all celebrating anniversaries!

2022 35 years Barbara Bell 25 years Claudia L. Park Jim Yatcko 20 years Pamela Hostetler Cathy R. Prince Beatriz C. Sanchez 15 years Katherine Kincaid Gilbert 10 years Amy H. Crick Mary A. Ducote Linda S. Hale Andy Hitt Clifton Del Johnson, II Valorie K. Maniscalco Arelis Soberal Terri Southwell Bridgette Jackson Tannehill Amy Taylor 34

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5 years Janet G.Coughlin Hallie Boubelik Franks Theresa Johnson Shera D. Redding Jones Shelby Leach Scot H. Lee Jennifer Patterson Kiley B. Pulliam Shannon Rahm

2020 20 years Susan Brady Sue Blackford Judith M. Edwards Susan German Sr. Ann Middlebrooks Holly D. Bissell Lisa R. Patrick 15 years Jamie R. Humphrey Susan Hymel Bridget A. Morgan Traci L. Wade

10 years Teena Lenard Janet F. J. Woods 5 years Rachel L. Balsamo Tara Bell Casondra Browhow Brandy Cascio Rhonda K. Davis Darlene Greber Trenda S. Harbert Tacorey D. Johnson Landyn M. Luffey Laura C. Maclin Megan Poindexter Medlin Marcia Guinn Moore Bessie Pratt Lina P. Perez-Vasquez Jennifer N. Roberts Jessica L. Smith Katherine Suckle Theodore Veit

Our Lady of Fatima School Stephanie Haney, Principal

Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School students participated in a Summer Enrichment Camp.

Students worked daily hands-on in Math, ELA, Science, Art, Physical Education, and Library/ Computer. Students were given pre and posttests to see growth. The Pre-test also gave teachers an idea of areas of improvement and areas of enrichment. Hopefully this slowed the loss of learning throughout the summer months as well as gave them a fun safe environment.

Students had so much fun and learned so much!

It was a great summer at OLF! AUGUST 2022

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Loyola College Prep School News Jordan Harris, Director of Communications Loyola College Prep ended the 2021-22 school year on such a high note. With 99% of the graduating class attending college and amassing over $11 million in scholarships (anticipated TOPS included), we are so proud of the Class of 2022 and what they have accomplished and will continue to contribute in their next chapter.

Now, our sights are set on the upcoming school year and how our students will impact our school and the greater community. Below are just a few events to mark on your calendar as we all gear up for a great school year.

FUTURE FLYER NIGHT - FRIDAY, SEPT. 9 Calling all Future Flyers! Loyola College Prep is expanding its Future Flyer Night this year to include football and basketball games in addition to middle school pep rally previews and other fun events for all middle school families. Our first major event is Friday, Sept. 9 for the first Flyer football home game.

“We are excited about our efforts to show our middle school families what being a Flyer is all about with these Future Flyer Nights and our Middle School Pep Rally Preview events,” said John LeBlanc, Principal at Loyola College Prep. “In addition to our open house and private tours, these Future Flyers will have a better understanding about the culture and school spirit of Loyola College Prep. We also know how important it is for parents to feel connected, and our hope is that parents will have an opportunity to see how they will blend into the Flyer Family.”

FLYER GIVING DAY - SEPT. 22 Flyer Giving Day is back again! Mark your calendar for Sept.

22, 2022. Now is the time to help us spread the word, build momentum, and give back!

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Flyer Giving Day is 24 hours dedicated to raising funds to support our school. Last year, the Flyer Family came together and raised over $100,000 in just 24 hours. How much can we raise this year?

Be on the lookout for more information as we get closer to Sept. 22 to learn how and where to give and what your gifts will mean to the future of our beloved school.

Imagine the impact we could have on Loyola and our students if every Flyer rallied together for this exciting day?

Any gift – large or small – will have an impact on our students and our school.

FALL OPEN HOUSE - OCT. 31-NOV. 4 Loyola College Prep invites middle school students and their parents for private tours of Loyola’s campus for our first Open House on Oct. 31-Nov. 4!

“We are excited to welcome future Flyers and their parents, and walk them through a typical school day at LCP. Guests will get to engage with current students and teachers,” said John LeBlanc, Principal at Loyola College Prep. “Loyola offers a different high school experience that is grounded in our Catholic identity with opportunities for students to evolve in academic excellence, faith in action and student involvement.”

In addition to small group tours of the campus during a typical day, students and parents will have the chance to learn about college placement, financial assistance, accommodations, admissions and more.

Visit www.loyolaprep.org/ admissions for more information.

St. Joseph Catholic School Celebrates Staff Milestones Lucy Medvec, Director of Parish Stewardship As St. Joseph Catholic School begins its 71st year, we are thankful for the many teachers and staff members who dedicate themselves to creating an environment of academic excellence surrounded by faith for our students and their families. While all of our employees are special, we wish to recognize the following members of the St. Joseph family who have worked at our school for over 10 years: Gloria Patterson (33 years) – Elementary Religion Peggy Gremillion (23 years) – Administrative Assistant/After Care Director Betty Sanchez (19 years) – Spanish Pam Hostetler (17 years) – Administrative Assistant Bridget Morgan (16 years) – K-4 Aide Polly Maciulski (15 years) – Middle School Religion Katie Walker (12 years) – 4th Grade Math and Science Melissa Wolcott (11 years) – Elementary and Middle School Art/Yearbook Our two religion teachers, Gloria Patterson and Polly Maciulski, are both alumni of St. Joseph Catholic School with a total of 48 years between them as members of the St. Joseph faculty. They both have children who are St. Joseph alums, and Gloria currently has two grandchildren at the school.

While some things may change each school year, the office team of Peggy Gremillion and Pam Hostetler is one comforting constant for school families. Peggy and Pam have

a combined 40 years of service to St. Joseph Catholic School and are invaluable to our school.Their children are also alumni of the school.

Betty Sanchez has taught Spanish to St. Joseph students for almost 20 years, including her children who were also students. In addition to classroom lessons, Betty has organized special events and field trips to enhance the Spanish program at the school.

Bridget Morgan has been a part of the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten programs for 16 years. She has seen many changes as the classrooms moved from the Kindergarten Village to the main school building, but her love for the young students has never changed. All three of her daughters attended and graduated from St. Joseph Catholic School.

Katie Walker has taught third and fourth grade at St. Joseph Catholic School for a combined total of 12 years. Katie left St. Joseph in 2011 to work for STARBASE on Barksdale Air Force Base, but returned to our school in 2014. Her enthusiasm for math and science inspires our students to excel in all STEM subjects.

Melissa Wolcott uses her artistic ability to create a broad arts program for St. Joseph students. As part of her duties, she coordinates the annual student entries and display for the ArtBreak festival, and works with other local organizations in submitting our students’ work for competitions. She also supervises the students who create the annual Talon yearbook.

St. Joseph Catholic School thanks these special women for their many years of service to our school and looks forward to an amazing 2022-23 school year!

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St. John Berchmans School Hires Four Excellent Teachers From the school office on the morning of June 30, you could hear the voice of the Principal, Mr.Trey Woodham. His voice and words were filled with excitement. “We got to get the word out! We got to get the word out! I am so excited about SJB’s future!” Mr. Woodham was elated that he could finally announce that the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans Catholic School had hired four excellent teachers to complement the great teachers and staff.

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Excellent schools are a result of great teachers, staff, parents, and community members. It is with high expectation that our new teachers Jasmine, Joey, Lauren, and Margaret will continue that tradition of excellence with our children academically and spiritually. They will help the SJB faculty raise the already high academic standard and share living the Catholic faith.

Saint Frederick High School News Jill Weir, Director of Development

St. Frederick High School Pursues Authorization as an IB World School St. Frederick High School is a candidate school for the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme and is pursing authorization as an IB World School.* The program, which was developed in Switzerland in the 1960s, is offered in over 5,000 schools worldwide, with only three MYP programs offered in the state of Louisiana. Once authorized, St. Frederick High School will be the only IB World School north of Baton Rouge. The curriculum will be taught in grades 7-10.

The IB places a heavy emphasis on inquiry-based learning. This approach differs from fact-based learning which primarily values recall with little application and creativity. In contrast, the IB student is placed at the center of the learning environment and given a responsibility for their own learning. Each unit is governed by a “statement

of inquiry” that drives the instructional and learning process and targets specific skills, known as “approaches to learning,” that are prescribed and reflected upon preand post-instruction.

Life skills are also part of the curriculum. Students are taught things like how to work collaboratively, take risks, practice empathy, develop time management skills, and practice focus and concentration. Students are also invited to explore cultural diversity, global interconnectedness, and human commonality. *Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP), or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate state gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted.

For more information about St. Frederick High School, please visit www.stfrederickhigh.org or call 318-323-9636. For more information about the IB and its programs, visit www.ibo.org.

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Jesus the Good Shepherd School News Amy Fakhre, Jesus the Good Shepherd School JGS School Accelerated Reader Program ended the school year in May 2022 with an impressive year-end total of 31 Millionaire readers! Our students, teachers and librarian work extremely hard each year to make our AR Program rewarding and most of all fun! Every JGS homeroom teacher works in collaboration with our school librarian, Mrs. Lillian Paxton, to help students find books within their reading level and area of interest, which in turn helps our students stay motivated to read. Students are also able to shop at the AR Store with their accumulated AR points at the end of every nine-week semester. The JGS AR Store is run and maintained by the school PTO and offers children wonderful incentives and prizes to reward their reading success.

We would like to share with you a few facts about our AR Program and outstanding student readers for the 2021-2022 school year: JGS School served 317 students total during the 2021-22 school year.

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At the end of school JGS had 31 Millionaires ranging from grades 2-6. (Millionaire: a student reading at least one million words or more during the current school year.)

Of those 31 Millionaires: 2 students read 5 million words or more 4 students read 4 million words or more 3 students read 2 million words or more 138,702,180 total words were read by JGS Kindergarten-6th grade Accelerated Reader students.

22,871 Accelerated Reader points were accumulated for the school year.

77 students earned 100 Accelerated Reader points or more.

5 of the 77 were 2nd grade students.

We are so proud of our outstanding student readers and of our teachers who continually instill a love of reading in our students!

Our goal is to continue to promote a love of reading and to instill in each student at an early age the importance of reading and the joy and success reading can produce.

around the diocese DIOCESAN STAFF CHANGES KIERSTIN RICHTER, Editor & Director of Public Relations Saint Pius X Confirmation

Father Price had several youth group helpers to serve at the recent parish dinner. Over 100 parishioners attended a Louisiana themed event with food and games focused on Cajun traditions.

LAURIE NICK, Director of Youth Ministry TRACIE COOK, Payroll Accountant MAYELA MENDOZA, Administrative Assistant for Hispanic and Youth Ministry

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament First Communion

“Sunday Funday Nunday” at Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows convent with St Ann’s youth group on May 22, 2022. There was a vocations talk, tour of the convent, and gelato.

Father Duane was presented with a gift from the Parish in honor of his Fourth Anniversary of his Ordination.

Senior Sydnei Henson who graduated first in her class from Evangel Christian Academy, received the Second Father Andre McGrath Scholarship Award from the Knights of Peter Claver and the Ladies Auxiliary Scholarship Award.

Open Diocesan Positions: • Director of Development • Director of Family Life • Admin. Assist. IT Support Please send resumes to Deacon Mike Straub at mstraub@dioshpt.org.

Open Parish Positions: • Caretaker (Cathedral) Please send resumes to Greg Laroux at glaroux@sjbcathedral.org.

June 13 Seminarians, new priest and new deacon visited the OLS convent for prayer and dinner.

Father Duane, Father Bosco, and Arthur Jones were all initiated into the Knights of Peter Claver on Saturday, June 11, 2022.

St. Patrick Church First Communion

Calling All Men! Interested in Joining the Knights of Columbus?

The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal organization that calls Catholic men from all across the world to live out their faith lives at home, at work, in their parish and community. In order to help Catholic men achieve this, the Knights of Columbus offer Faith-in-Action programs and resources that allow for men to deeply root themselves in the faith by acts of consecration, rooting oneself in prayer, and works of charity. Here in North Louisiana, there is a council near you that is looking for more Catholic men to help be the change that our world needs. The Knights of Columbus Council in your parish and knight’s all across the world are there to help you grow as a husband, father, brother, and leader.

Interested in joining? Scan the QR Code (right) or send me, Bobby Brinkerhoff, an email if you may have a question at bealaknight@yahoo.com.

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FEASTS & SOLEMNITIES AUGUST 4 St. John Vianney AUGUST 5 Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major AUGUST 6 Transfiguration of the Lord AUGUST 9 St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross AUGUST 10 St. Laurence AUGUST 11 St. Clare AUGUST 12 St. Jane Frances de Chantal AUGUST 13 St. Pontian & Hippolytus AUGUST 14 St. Maximillion Kolbe AUGUST 15 Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary AUGUST 16 St. Stephen of Hungary AUGUST 19 St. John Eudes AUGUST 20 St. Bernard of Clairvaux AUGUST 21 St. Pius X AUGUST 23 St. Rose of Lima AUGUST 24 St. Bartholomew the Apostle

AUGUST 5 Copy Deadline for the September Catholic Connection If you have any questions, contact Kierstin Richter at krichter@dioshpt.org.

AUGUST 10 6:00 PM Protecting God’s Children @ Catholic Center Protecting God’s Children classes are offered the second Wednesday of every month. They are also available online for those interested. Protecting God’s Children training is required for anyone volunteering around children or anyone who works for the church within our diocese.

AUGUST 20 10:30 AM

Magnificat Brunch @ Catholic Center The Magnificat team would like to invite all women to our next brunch, Saturday, August 20, 2022 from 10:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at The Catholic Center, 3500 Fairfield Ave, Shreveport, LA 71104. Our brunch includes a meal, fellowship, praise and worship and a personal testimony. Our speaker will be Sharon Maggio. Come and hear how the Lord is working in her life.

Tickets are $20.00 per person. Checks should be mailed to Magnificat Nowela Chapter P. O. Box 4293 Shreveport, LA 71134 by August 18, 2022.

Please include the name of attendees with your check. For questions call 318-564-2672 or 318-222-0007.

AUGUST 14 3:00 PM

Diocesan St Cecilia Choir @ St. Jude Catholic Church Sunday, August 14 at 3:00 pm the Diocesan St Cecilia Choir will perform a special concert honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary at St Jude Catholic Church, 4700 Palmetto Rd, Benton LA. The choir will consist of musicians from throughout the Diocese under the direction of Aaron Wilson assisted

by Gwen Stuart.

AUGUST 27 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Dressing Ourselves in Gentleness @ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton A Women’s Day of Reflection presented by Robin Hebert, spiritual director in the Diocese of Lafayette. Registration opens August 1 at www.seasshreveport.com

Rachel's Vineyard Retreat

AUGUST 25 St. Louis

September 23-25, 2022

AUGUST 27 St. Monica

If you or someone you love is hurting from an abortion, please call 318588-1064 for information, or visit the website at www.rachelsvineyard.org.

Absolute confidentiality is maintained by team members and participants prior to, during, and following a Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat. A Rachel’s Vineyard retreat in Spanish is scheduled in the spring of 2023.

AUGUST 28 St. Augustine 42

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Seminarian Burses Thanks to our Recent Donors: (035) Chris A. Ward ($500) (036) Joe D. Santone ($100) (035) Mrs. Rosemary C. Ward ($1000) (035) Chris A. Ward ($200) (017) Knights of Columbus Council 1337 ($500) (041) Anonymous Donor ($10000) (043) Anonymous Donor ($10000) (044) Anonymous Donor ($10000) (040) Anonymous Donor ($10000) (042) Anonymous Donor ($10000) (035) Mr. Richard W. Ward ($350) 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) (040) Father Isidore Armand Quémerais Burse ($10000)

(041) Father Jean Pierre Burse ($10000) (042) Father JeanMarie Biler Burse ($10000) (043) Father Louis-Marie Gergaud Burse ($10000) (044) Father François Le Vézouët 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 ($3410) (016) Elaine Malloy Frantz Memorial Burse ($1000) (017) Msgr. George Martinez Knights of Columbus Council 1337 Burse ($8021.57) (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 ($1200) (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 ($5000) (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 ($6750) (036) Msgr. Earl Vincent Provenza Burse ($1100) (037) Manuel & Catherine Licciardi, and John & Beverly Miller Burse ($4000) (038) The Malone Family Burse ($250) (039) St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Knights of Columbus Council 9260 Burse ($250)

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.

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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.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH: Father Mike Thang’wa, Jesus the Good Shepherd, Monroe, Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession. Join Bishop Malone in the 2022 Eucharistic Revival, as we renew our love for the Eucharist, the source and summit of our faith! (See more on page 10); Photo by Kelly Moore Clark 44 CATHOLIC CONNECTION