Catholic Connection June 2014

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Vol. 23, No. 11 June 2014

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New Deacons!

June 28: After four years of Formation, 16 men will be ordained to the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Shreveport

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First Time REceiving the Magazine? Publisher Bishop Michael G. Duca Editor Jessica Rinaudo Contributors Stephanie Boswell

Fr. Rothell Price

Cathy Cobb

Deacon Bill Roche

Bishop Michael Duca

Rosalba Quiroz

Kim Long

Sr. Martinette Rivers

Fr. Matthew Long

Katie Sciba

Lucy Medvec

Randy Tiller

Theresa Mormino

Mike Whitehead

Editorial Board Kim Long Fr. Matthew Long Kelly Phelan Powell Dianne Rachal Christine Rivers Mike Whitehead John Mark Willcox Mission Statement The Catholic Connection is a monthly publication funded by your Diocesan Service Appeal; mailed to every known Catholic household in the Diocese of Shreveport. Our Mission is to advance knowledge and understanding of our Catholic Faith among the faithful. We seek to foster the application of Christ’s teachings and our Church’s mission in our daily lives and to encourage our sense of Catholic identity within our family, parish, and diocesan faith community. Subscriptions & Address Changes Contact: Jessica Rinaudo, Editor Email: jrinaudo@dioshpt.org Write: Catholic Connection 3500 Fairfield Avenue Shreveport, LA 71104 Call: 318-868-4441 Fax: 318-868-4609 Website: www.thecatholicconnection.org

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

The Diocese of Shreveport complies with Virtus’s Protecting God’s Children program. Classes are offered every second Wednesday of the month at the Catholic Center in Shreveport. To report child sexual abuse by a cleric or church worker in the Diocese of Shreveport, call Glennda Lawson. Hotline is 318-294-1031 and your local law enforcement agency.

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his magazine, the Catholic Connection, is the official publication of the Diocese of Shreveport and Bishop Michael Duca’s primary tool for communicating with Catholics in North Louisiana. Funded by the Annual Diocesan Stewardship Appeal, this publication is free to all known Catholics in the Diocese of Shreveport. Over the years, people have told me they are registered with their parish, but do not receive the magazine. And while every donor to the Annual Stewardship Appeal is automatically added to our mailing list, that is not a requirement to receive this publication. I have recently contacted our parishes and asked them to share with the diocese a list of their registered members so we can add them to our mailing list. Several of our parishes have responded to that request, and as a result our mailing list has swelled. With this issue introducing our new deacons who will serve at our churches throughout all parts of the diocese, I can’t think of a better way to begin expanding our readership. We welcome you to the magazine and hope you enjoy it. You can always view our past issues online at www. thecatholicconnection.org. If you need to change your subscription, please e-mail jrinaudo@dioshpt.org, or call 318-868-4441. Thank you, Jessica Rinaudo, Editor

bishop’s june calendar JUNE 1 Confirmation; Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish, Shreveport; 9:00 a.m. JUNE 4 Joint Meeting: Catholic Charities of Shreveport Governing Board of Directors & Membership Board of Directors; Catholic Center; 12:00 p.m. JUNE 6 Hope for the Homeless 1st Annual Crawfish with Clergy; Hope Connections, Shreveport; 5:30 p.m. JUNE 8 Confirmation; St. Matthew Parish, Monroe; 10:30 a.m. JUNE 9-14 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Spring Meeting; New Orleans JUNE 18 Investment Committee meeting; Catholic Center; 10:00 a.m. JUNE 21 Franciscan Missionaries of

Hope Ordinations: Transitional Diaconate: Brother Paul Mutisya, FMH and Priesthood: Deacon John Paul Crispin, FMH; St. Mary of the Pines Parish; 10:00 a.m. JUNE 22 Confirmation; St. Lawrence Parish, Swartz; 10:00 a.m. JUNE 25 Diocesan Finance Council meeting; Catholic Center; 12:00 p.m. JUNE 27 Feast of Sacred Heart of Jesus; Sacred Heart Parish, Rayville; 5:30 p.m. JUNE 28 Permanent Diaconate Ordinations; Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Shreveport; 10:00 a.m. JUNE 29 Confirmation; St. Joseph Parish, Mansfield; 11:00 a.m.


contents

june 2014

columns Some Thoughts for Our Graduating Seniors by Bishop Michael G. Duca........................................................................................... 4-5 Worship Notes: The Lord's Day and Travel by Cathy Cobb..................................6 Second Collections: Peter's Pence and Archdiocese of Military Service by Fr. Rothell Price .....................................................................................................6 Domestic Church: The Adventure of Fatherhood by Katie Sciba......................7

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The Wild Heart of Fatherhood by Katie Sciba .......................................................7 Moveable Feast: Keeping the Faith by Kim Long.................................................8 St. John Berchmans 8th Graders Create Marketplace by Lucy Medvec...........8 School News ...........................................................................................................9 Vocations Corner: Catholic Summer Camps! by Fr. Matthew Long ...................10 Vocations Corner: Support Our Seminarians and Shop for a “Find!� by Randy Tiller ...........................................................................................................10

features

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A Reflection on the Diaconate by Deacon Bill Roche................................................................................................ 11 16 New Deacons June 28: After four years of formation,16 men will be ordained to the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Shreveport by Mike Whitehead .................................................................................................. 12-13 Meet the New Deacons! ...................................................................................... 14-15

news St. Joseph Cemetery: Sold Out? A Myth! by Randy Tiller......................................16

17 on the cover

More Ordinations! Franciscan Missionaries of Hope ..........................................16 New St. Jude Church Dedicated on April 26 by Stephanie Boswell....................17 Catholic Charities Boosted by Give for Good by Theresa Mormino....................18 Boyd Received Catholic Leadership Award.......................................................18 Around the Globe Attending the Canonization of Two Popes by Sr. Martinette Rivers, ols ........................................................................................19 Hispanic Corner by Rosalba Quiroz ........................................................................20 Around the Diocese ...............................................................................................21 Upcoming Events....................................................................................................22 June and July Calendars ......................................................................................23 Picture of the Month by Jessica Rinaudo................................................................24

The 16 men who will be ordained permanent deacons on June 28 stand with Bishop Duca at Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish.

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LA REFLEXIÓN del obispo

por Obispo Michael G. Duca

Algunos Pensamientos para Nuestros Graduados

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ientras escribo este artículo, sé que muchos de nuestros jóvenes Católicos se están graduando de la Preparatoria en toda la diócesis y esperan con gusto las posibilidades que tendrán para ir a la universidad y otros nuevos comienzos. Ustedes están seguramente esperando estos nuevos comienzos como una oportunidad de “descubrir quiénes son” y “experimentar” el mundo más allá de la preparatoria y de su familia y esto es en parte verdad. Pero este nuevo paso en su vida abrirá su mente y corazón a muchas esperanzas, ideas y experiencias nuevas. Descubrirán de una manera más profunda quiénes son y lo que están llamados a ser. Antes de que se vayan, quiero recordarles, que no es que no sepan nada porque USTEDES SI SABEN ALGO ACERCA DE QUIENES SON y el estar conscientes de esto les guiará a dar tanto importancia y sabiduría, como apoyo en su nuevo comienzo. Primero, ustedes saben que son parte de una familia. Tienen un apellido y este representa, espero, una familia de relaciones amorosas que tal vez no valoren ahora pero, si los dejan, ellos los apoyarán y lo más seguro es que serán una fuente de apoyo cuando enfrenten retos en el futuro. Ustedes saben quién es su familia, así que en tiempos de necesidad no tengan orgullo ni miedo de pedir su ayuda y aferrarse a su amor que es como una fuente de fortaleza. Hay muchos aspectos que tienen que considerar en la universidad, pero esto es algo que ustedes ya saben. Sin embargo, cuando conocen a su familia, se conocen a ustedes mismos, saben su procedencia, y esta es una base que les servirá para aprovechar las oportunidades que se les presenten. Saben que son católicos, bautizados en 4 Catholic Connection

Cristo y son verdaderos Hijos de Dios. Esta relación con Dios en la Iglesia, es importante para contrarrestar todas las fuerzas que intentan sacar a Dios de nuestras vidas. Encontrarán maestros y otras personas que los retarán directamente a ustedes, a su fe y a la noción de que Dios existe. Estas personas se van a presentar como muy sabias y sí, saben más que ustedes, pero ustedes no deben aceptar el entendimiento de ellos hasta que ustedes también conozcan más. Estudien e investiguen respuestas al mismo nivel intelectual. Poco conocimiento de la fe no les será suficiente; necesitan buscar un conocimiento más profundo de su fe de igual manera que lo harán con en el conocimiento de sus otras materias. Créanme, si alguien les da un argumento que parece sólido pero contradice la verdad que ustedes conocen, sepan que por más de 2,000 años de Cristiandad ya se han hecho esas preguntas y se han respondido porque la fe las soporta. Encuentren la respuesta, sí existe. No caigan en la mentira de que la fe y la ciencia no se mezclan o que la fe y la razón son incompatibles. Es una característica de nuestra fe Católica a la cual damos un lugar de honor en nuestras vidas a la fe y a la razón. En su libro “La Fe y la Razón”, San Juan Pablo II escribe: “La Fe pide ser entendida con la ayuda de la razón; y en la cumbre de este razonamiento, reconoce que no puede existir sin lo que la fe presenta” (n. 42). Como Santo Tomas de Aquino lo argumentó, porque la luz de la razón y la luz de la fe vienen de Dios, no puede haber contradicción entre ellas (n. 43). (La Fe y la Razón) Podemos ver un ejemplo de cómo la ciencia y la fe sí se pueden mezclar en la vida de Gregorio Johan Mendel, un Fraire

Agustino que es conocido como el fundador de la ciencia moderna de la Genética. También, Santo Tomas de Aquino, un sacerdote Dominicano, y es uno de los grandes filósofos porque tomó a los antiguos pre-Cristianos filósofos como Plató y Aristóteles y aplicó sus conocimientos para crear una filosofía Cristiana que explicara de manera más clara y razonable las verdades de nuestra fe. La Fe y la Razón no son incompatibles, así que dejen que su creencia en Dios sea una fuente de conocimiento y sabiduría en sus estudios en vez de que sea un obstáculo. Ustedes saben que son amados por Dios y con Su amor viene el sacramento del perdón. Probablemente ustedes cometerán errores en su camino, algunos de estos serán grandes errores. No tengan miedo; no se dejen llevar por la vergüenza ni por el orgullo. Sepan que con la gracia de ir a la confesión y recibir el perdón de Dios, podemos comenzar de nuevo. Sabiendo que ustedes son amados también les ayudará a buscar el amor de alguien honesto y fiel, que sea merecedor de matrimonio o tal vez sean guiados al servicio de Dios como sacerdotes o religiosas. Finalmente, sepan que son miembros de la Iglesia. Manténganse conectados con su iglesia si continúan viviendo cerca de casa. Si se van a ir a la universidad, conéctense con el ministerio Católico universitario o con una parroquia cerca de su escuela para que se fortalezcan en todo el conocimiento que menciono arriba. Sentirán el apoyo de la familia, recordarán el amor de Dios, podrán recibir los sacramentos y encontrarán un lugar donde sus preguntas serán respondidas. Espero se animen sabiendo que no están comenzando desde abajo. Ya saben mucho sobre ustedes mismos. Estas verdades: saber que tienen una familia, que son un hijo(a) de Dios, que son amados y que su búsqueda por la verdad en la escuela no se daña con la fe, sino al contrario la enriquece, les da una base en la clase de sabiduría que protegerá su alma. Que Dios bendiga y proteja su camino por la vida.


bishop’s reflection

by Bishop Michael G. Duca

Some Thoughts for Our Graduating Seniors

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s I write this article I know that many of our Catholic young people are graduating from high school throughout the diocese and are looking forward to the possibilities of college and other new beginnings. You are probably looking forward to this new beginning as an opportunity to “discover who you are” and “to experience” the bigger world beyond your high Bishop Duca school and family. This is mostly true. This new time in your life will open your mind and heart to so many new ideas, experiences and hopes. You will discover who you are and what you are called to be in a new and deeper way. But before you go I want to remind you that you won’t be completely clueless, YOU DO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT WHO YOU ARE and being aware of this will give you important wisdom to guide and support you in your new beginning. First, you know that you are part of a family. You have a last name and it represents, I hope, a family of loving relationships that you may not fully appreciate now but they will, if you let them, most likely provide a rock of support as you face future challenges. You do know who your family is, so in times of need do not be afraid or too proud to ask for their help and to hold on to their love as a source of strength. There are many aspects of yourself that you will discover in college, but this is something you already know. When you know your family you know who you are, where you came from, and this is a truth that will ground you as you seek out the opportunities before you. You know that you are a Catholic, baptized into Christ and are truly a Child of God. This relationship with God in the Church is important to fighting all the forces that are trying to strip God out of our lives. You will certainly meet teachers and others who will challenge your faith and the notion that

God exists. They will sound like they know so much, and they do know a lot more than you, but you should not accept their understanding until you know more as well. Study and search for answers of an equal intellectual weight. Platitudes of faith will not be enough; you must seek to deepen the knowledge of your faith just as you are deepening the knowledge of all your other subjects. Believe me, if someone gives you a seemingly solid argument that contradicts the truth of your belief, know that in over 2,000 years of Christianity that question has been asked and answered and the faith endures. Find the answer; it is there. Do not fall for the lie that faith and science cannot mix or that faith and reason are incompatible. It is a hallmark of our Catholic faith that we give an honored place to both faith and reason in our lives. In his book on Faith and Reason, St. Pope John Paul II writes: “Faith asks that its object be understood with the help of reason; and at the summit of its searching, reason acknowledges that it cannot do without what faith presents” (n. 42). As St. Thomas Aquinas argued, “because the light of reason and the light of faith both come from God, there can be no contradiction between them (n. 43).” (Faith and Reason) We can see an example of how science and faith can mix in the life of Gregor Johann Mendel who was an Augustinian Friar and is known as the founder of the modern science of genetics. Also, St. Thomas Aquinas, a Dominican priest, is one of the great philosophers because he took ancient pre-Christian philosophers, like Plato and Aristotle, and applied their insights to create a Christian philosophy that explained in a clearer and reasonable way the truths of our faith. Faith and reason are not incompatible so let your

belief in God be a source of deeper insight and wisdom in your studies rather than an obstacle. Know that you are loved by God and with His love comes the sacrament of forgiveness. You will probably make some big mistakes along the way. Do not fear; do not give in to shame or pride. Know that with the grace of going to confession and receiving God’s forgiveness we can begin again. The knowledge about yourself that you are loved will also help you seek the honest and faithful love of another who will be worthy of marriage or will guide you to the service of God as a priest or sister. Finally, know that you are a member of the Church. Stay connected to your parish church if you stay close to home. If you are going to college, connect with the Catholic Campus Ministry on campus or with a parish close to your campus and you will strengthen all the knowledge I have listed above. You will feel the support of family, you will be reminded of God’s love, be able to receive the sacraments and find a place to have questions answered. I hope you are encouraged that you are not beginning with a clean slate. You know a lot about yourself already. These truths: knowing you have a family, that you are a child of God, that you are loved and that your search for truth in school is not hindered by your faith but rather enriched, will ground you in the kind of wisdom that will protect your soul. May God bless and protect you on your journey of life. June 2014 5


worship notes

by Cathy Cobb

second collections by Fr. Rothell Price

The Lord's Day and Travel Second Collections for Keeping the Sabbath in All Places June and July

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his summer, the pews in many of our parishes will be a little emptier as our families undertake summer vacations. Traveling removes us from our ordinary routine, and thus embarking on even the most relaxing vacation plan can require a lot of energy, especially for families with young children. But when we travel, our senses are attuned to new sights and sounds, different colors and flavors. How blessed we are that as Roman Catholics, we have the privilege of being able to attend Mass almost anywhere in the world we go! We are reminded in the third commandment to keep the Sabbath holy. This includes vacation Sundays! But Sunday Mass attendance is so much more than an obligation; indeed, our Sunday liturgy is “the summit toward which the activity of the church is directed; it is also the font from which all her power flows. (Sacrosanctum Concilium 10)” On the Lord’s Day, or Sunday, the Church celebrates the Resurrection of Christ. The Catechism reminds us that on Sundays, we celebrate both the first day of Creation and also the day of rest, when God looked back on all of creation and saw that it was very good. How good and fitting for us to make celebration of Sunday liturgy a priority when we take vacations with the intent of resting and refreshing our bodies and our spirits. When we enter an unfamiliar Church in a new town, we are reminded that the prayer of the Church is much larger than that just celebrated in our own parish. We open our eyes to a larger vision of Church and we get the opportunity to see different accents superimposed on familiar rituals. For our children in particular, it is so important to demonstrate through our actions that our entire lives are gifts from God, and that the magnitude of this gift means we should gather as a Church in thanksgiving, praise, and worship each Sunday, no matter where we are. Summer travel includes a lot of logistical planning – transportation, lodging, meals, etc. When planning a vacation, Sunday Mass can also be “in the plan.” Online resources such as www.masstimes.org are easy to use. You simply input the name of the town to which you will be traveling and the website locates not only adjacent parishes, but also lists Mass times. The Catholic Directory makes an app that allows you to instantly access information on local Masses using your current location. When we take a vacation, we step away from the ordinary rhythm of work and home to reconnect with loved ones and to remember who God has created each one of us to be. When we maintain our connection to the Body of Christ and the rhythm of the Church, we allow ourselves to be drawn ever more deeply into the mystery of Christ and thus to become more effective witnesses in our daily lives and indeed, to the very ends of the earth. by Cathy Cobb, Director of Faith Formation,St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish 6 Catholic Connection

Peter's Pence & Archdiocese for Military Service

Peter’s Pence

Announcement Dates: June 15th & 22nd Collection Dates: June 28th & 29th

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e a Witness of Charity.” This is the theme for the 2014 Peter’s Pence Collection. This collection provides the Holy Father with the funds he needs to carry out his charitable works around the world. The proceeds benefit the most disadvantaged: victims of war, oppression and disasters. Each of us have been on the receiving end of charity. We have received divine charity: the Eternal Father’s love, the Son’s redeeming sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit’s grace and power. We’ve received the charity of parents, grandparents, siblings, relatives, a neighbor, a teacher or a friend. The saints and angels have been given to us as intercessors, companions and guardians. It’s our turn to “Be a Witness to Charity.” We are given this opportunity to join Pope Francis in bearing witness to what we have gratefully received. Now we show and do for others as has been done for us. This was the mission of Jesus, and this is the mission of his holy people who are the Church. Our Lord bore witness to the Father’s love and mercy. We have this awesome opportunity to do likewise in union with him.

Archdiocese for Military Services Announcement Dates: July 6th & 13th Collection Dates: July 19th & 20th

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he Archdiocese for Military Services, USA provides pastoral and spiritual care for our active duty and retired military personnel and their families. In the third chapter of Luke, our Lord Jesus Christ addresses the spiritual needs and works of soldiers. It is re-assuring that no group or sector of our society is left outside the merciful embrace of our Savior. The bishops of the United States have faithfully addressed the pastoral, spiritual and sacramental needs of our U.S. military personnel and their families. They are asking our help to sustain and advance this apostolate of the Church. This collection gives us at home the religious and civic opportunity to serve those who serve. The Archdiocese for Military Services depends completely on the generosity of the American Catholic Community to operate its necessary programs and services for our service men and women and their families. The funds from this collection ensure all Catholics have access to the sacraments and spiritual guidance of a Catholic chaplain wherever they are stationed. Fr. Rothell Price, Vicar General, is the Director of Special Collections.


domestic church

by Katie Sciba

The Adventure of Fatherhood The Heroism, Battle and Adventure of Teaching About Life

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ild at Heart is in my top five favorite books. Written by John Eldredge for both male and female readers, Wild at Heart took me on an adventure through the soul of every man and explored the universal desires of his heart. While it goes without saying that each man is different from the next, there’s no denying that they aspire to heroism, they seek a battle to fight, and adventure and risk are woven into their fantasies. Ultimately, the answer to all of the above is found in a life lived with God, the very source of each yearning. God Himself is the prime example of what it means to be a warrior, to take risks and to rescue those in danger; and because God created man with these hopes, He offers him the chance to fulfill his dreams in whatever God calls him to do. For millions of men, that call includes fatherhood which never fails to provide opportunity for truly masculine expression. Though it may not entail conventional ideas of heroism, battle and adventure, fatherhood requires every bit of them in abundance. Perhaps surprisingly, heroism is the easiest among the three to achieve in fatherhood. All my husband has to do is look up and he’s a champion. Our small children range from unborn to four-yearsold, so the height of their existence right now is showcasing their abilities: how strong they are and how fast. “Daddy, watch me!” Though they can’t get enough of my attention, it’s their dad’s amazement that they pursue constantly; when Andrew walks away from what he’s doing to affirm that our boys are as great as they hope, he’s a hero. They glow knowing they impress him and make him proud. When it comes to fighting battles,

fatherhood is the perfect place. In family life, confrontation is all too easy to encounter, but the battles that go largely unrecognized are of a spiritual nature. When we have our children baptized, we agree to raise them in the Catholic faith; parents become responsible for their children’s spiritual upbringing, which includes covering them in prayer. Pray for their purity, pray for their fortitude, pray for fervor of faith and the conviction to imitate Christ. Prayers for strength in trial and temptation are equally important as prayers for blessings and joy. My father-in-law began praying for my husband’s future wife when Andrew was still very small. Looking back, it’s wonderful knowing he was covering both Andrew and me in prayer our whole lives. Most don’t think of fatherhood as daring, but what else could be more adventurous than teaching another person how to live? Fatherhood calls a man to teach his kids how to love God and neighbor. So much of the adventure comes in experiencing the thrill of the world through a child’s eyes and in passing on wisdom for another’s benefit. The perk here is that the more adventures come the more present a father is – hunting and road trips, camping, playing catch in the yard. The excitement only increases the closer a man is to his kids. The desires for heroism, fighting battles, and adventure are written on the heart of every man. The secret is knowing that God avails every father the chance to fulfill all three through living more closely with his kids. Doing so will only result in greater joy for dads and children. Katie Sciba is the author of thecatholicwife. net. She lives in Shreveport with her husband, Andrew, and three sons, Liam,Thomas & Peter.

The Wild Heart of Fatherhood Being a dad is a whole-soul deal. It takes heroism, fight and adventure to raise children. Definitely not for the faint of heart, a man will find his masculinity heightened by the privilege of fatherhood.

Look Up

From your phone, from your project, from anything to watch your kids be just plain amazing. Kids are dying to know they can impress you and by affirming them, you’re a hero in no time.

Fight the Good Fight

Fatherhood calls for protection of one’s family, but especially when it comes to spiritual matters. Keep your kids covered in prayer so they will resist temptation and exude strength in trials; most of all, pray that they will imitate Christ.

Dads are Daring

The more present you are to your kids, the more adventures will come. The adventure is born from teaching another person how to be and live, how to love God and others. The perk and the thrill of the ride only increase the closer a father is to his kids.

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moveable feast

St. John Berchmans 8th Graders Create Marketplace

by Kim Long

Keeping the Faith

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is the season of First Communions: white dresses, veils, dark pants, starched shirts and beaming parents as they watch their children gliding down the aisle of their home parishes literally stepping forward into the faith of their families. It is a sight I have beheld as a mother, as a DRE and as a godparent. Being a godmother is one of the most beloved relationships in my life. Being a godparent is an honor, a privilege and a joy. I take it seriously, but I also like to have fun with it which is exactly what I did this past weekend when my eldest goddaughter received Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament for the very first time. Last Saturday I guided her down the aisle of the same church in which she received her baptism. Along with two priests and 36 of her classmates, we stepped forward in space, time and faith. I looked at her, bright and shiny not only in her white dress and veil, but with so much of the innocence childhood and faith can offer. As our row rose and we moved forward I felt so privileged to be a part of the handing on of our faith; the faith into which she was born, the faith I embraced years ago. Later on the ride home I rolled my window down a little and she asked if she could roll hers down. “No,” I said, “Your veil will fly out of the window.” That brought giggles and then the serious conversations only seven-year-old girls can begin. We discussed her veil and how she can hand that down to her daughter when she becomes a mother. How does your family celebrate big events? In our family there is food: the honoree chooses the menu and there is always cake. When CJ was baptized we gathered at the font to see her brought into the Church; she was tiny and her dress, a traditional

christening gown, seemed larger than she was. Later we gathered at my house for dinner, relaxation and, of course, cake. On Sunday as I enjoyed an afternoon of quiet I thought back over all of the communions, confirmations and baptisms which have shaped and marked our years as a family. I was truly amazed and not a little humbled to realize that while our lives aren’t perfect or trouble free by any means, they have been flavored with these sweet celebrations of the intersecting of our time and God’s time, the sacred and the profane, baptisms and baseball games, communions and cheer practice, confirmations and lacrosse games. In other words, it’s a nicely woven blanket to mind me all of my life, as John O’Donohue said in his poem “Beannacht.” And these memories of past sacraments and celebrations, these memories of how much our faith has figured into the daily fabric of life was as sweet as the few remaining slices of cake from yesterday’s supper party. I am filled with gratitude for the gift of faith, the joy of being a parent and the special relationship of a godmother to her godchildren. May you continue to recognize the sweetness God offers all the days of your life!

CJ's Baptism Cake Ingredients: • 2 batches of French Vanilla cake mix (or your favorite cake batter) • Raspberry jam • Apricot jam • 1 quart of heavy whipping cream, whipped with a little powdered sugar Directions: 1) Prepare the cake batter and bake in three round layers. 2) After each layer has

8 Catholic Connection

cooled, split with a serrated knife. Try to do this evenly. 3) Choose a sturdy cake plate or cake stand. Begin with bottom layer and spread a generous amount of raspberry jam and whipped cream. Top with next layer and repeat the process using the apricot jam. Continue this process until the final layer. Brush any crumbs away. 4) Now frost the cake with the whipping cream. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Before bringing to table, top with a large rose.

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or their final social studies project, the St. John Berchmans School 8th grade class created and managed a business of their own design. The students had to build a business plan, calculate finances and make a website to accompany their ideas, and create products to be sold. The students made a variety of products, ranging in price from $1.00-$5.00, which included paracord and rubber band accessories, charm bracelets, crystal necklaces, duct tape wallets and purses, homemade picture frames, homemade cookies, snow cones, and stress balls made from balloons. The 8th grade students sold their products to fellow St. John Berchmans students, parents, and faculty members before school and during the lunch/recess periods. With the success of this venture, the eighth grade class raised $1,500 which was donated back to the school for the upcoming Cathedral Capital Campaign. by Lucy Medvec


school NEWS < Left to right: Madeline Mays, Bradley Potts, Sara Riddick and Will Robicheaux

^ Congratulations to four Loyola College Prep juniors who will be attending Boys and Girls State this summer. The girl delegates are Madeline Mays and Sara Riddick and the boy delegates are Bradley Potts and Will Robichaux. Alternates are Caroline Vanchiere, Gabby Brumfield, Ben Maxey and Chris Fenton. Also, two of last year’s delegates (Chris Bolton and Kensie Yeates) have been asked to return as Junior Counselors this summer. Boys and Girls States will be held June 22-28 on the campus of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches.

^ The fifth and sixth graders of Jesus the Good Shepherd School did a wonderful job depicting the Stations of the Cross during Holy Week. It was a wonderful reminder of what Christ went through to save us. Everyone really enjoyed this beautiful and moving performance.

^ St. Joseph Parish 7th grade students were recognized for their outstanding scores on the ACT/SAT at the DUKE TIP Louisiana Recognition Ceremony. Congratulations to Caroline Haynes (St. Joseph School), Lucas LeBlanc (St. Joseph School) and Abigail Lindsey (Caddo Middle Magnet).

^ After a week of taking Terra Nova tests, the Jr. High students at St. Frederick High School and the 6th graders at Jesus the Good Shepherd School and Our Lady of Fatima School spent a funfilled afternoon playing games and celebrating the end of testing at the annual Warrior Fest held on the SFHS football field.

> St. John Berchmans School has received a statue of the Immaculate Conception of Mary to be placed in the school’s garden. The statue was donated by members of the Marquette Reading Club and was first displayed at the school’s annual May Crowning Mass. The statue will be formally presented and dedicated at the beginning of the next school year.

June 2014 9


vocations corner

Catholic Summer Camps! Support our Seminarians ummer is here! The schools are standing silent and empty as and shop for a "find" the children who give them life enjoy a few months of freedom

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from their confining walls. Those first weeks of summer are the best as those free days stretch endlessly ahead. As the weeks of summer pass, after the initial joy of being lazy, after a trip to the beach or the lake, suddenly you look around and wonder what to do next? Luckily the Office of Church Vocations has a plan in place. This year as summer begins to draw to a close and tedium and boredom set in, the Diocese of Shreveport has something exciting to offer to young men and women. On the weekend of July 11 to 13, the first Beloved Retreat for high school age girls (those completing 8th grade to those completing 12th grade) will be held just outside of Ruston. This camp is being offered by the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows in conjunction with the Office of Church Vocations. It will be a time of growing in faith, growing in fellowship and growing in fun. The day will be interspersed with prayer, inspiring speakers and some really fun activities. We invite all those interested to go to BelovedRetreat.com to learn more. On the weekend of July 25 to 27 the third annual Mission Possible for high school age boys (those completing 8th grade to those completing 12th grade) will be held in a new location just outside of Monroe. We will continue to Pray Hard and have come up with some new activities so that we can continue to Play Hard as well. Our hope is that the camp will continue to grow as it did the first two years from 14 to 32 participants after one year. Our goal is 64 participants for this year. We invite all those interested to go to shreveportvocations.com to learn more. This is a great opportunity for the young people of our diocese to grow in their relationship with God, strengthen their commitment to Christ and His Church and to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit as they traverse the difficult years of high school. It is our prayer that through these retreats they will begin to seek God’s plan for their life and be given the tools to follow it. Please prayerfully consider allowing your sons and daughters this great chance to grow in faith, fellowship and fun in a safe environment. We know that they are your greatest joy and know that we consider them the greatest treasure of the Church in North Louisiana. by Fr. Matthew Long, Director of Vocations.

WHO: Rising Freshman through Graduating Seniors WHAT: Adventure Weekend sponsored by the diocesan Office of Vocations WHEN: Arrive Friday, July 25 at 11am. Depart Sunday, July 27 at 3pm. WHERE: King's Camp near Monroe

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n Saturday June 14, 2014, the Catholic Center and Office of Vocations is facilitating a Seminarian Rummage Sale. No, our seminarians are not rummage and definitely not for sale, however, the Catholic Center has accumulated several pieces of “rummage” that they have offered to the seminarians to use as a fundraiser this summer. Our garages on the lower level of Fairview House will be open for business at 9:00 a.m. and close at approximately 2:30 p.m. unless of course sales are still brisk, then our seminarians will remain open for business. Service groups are being asked to provide water and soft drinks, burgers and hot dogs for lunch. All proceeds will go to the seminarians. There should be a number of furniture items, some household furnishings, lamps, mattresses, books, bookcases, and tables of smaller miscellaneous items. There are some great items for kids going off to college, fishing camps and treehouses. More importantly, however, is an opportunity to enjoy spending time with our seminarians in a very casual, low key setting, and have a good time, enjoy great food and financially support the seminarians. If you have something with some useful life left in it and it will fetch a couple of bucks, call the Catholic Center (318-8684441) and arrange for it to be dropped off. We will not accept broken or non-useful items or clothing. Donations of items for the rummage sale will not be acknowledged for tax purposes. All items unsold will be donated to Catholic Charities, Christian Services, Providence House and other charitable organizations. Please come support our seminarians. Happy shopping! by Randy G. Tiller, Director of Mission Effectiveness.

WHO: Rising Freshman through Graduating Seniors WHAT: Adventure Weekend sponsored by the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows WHEN: Arrive Friday, July 11 at 3pm. Depart Sunday, July 13 at 3pm.

(Transportation from Shreveport provided)

WHERE: OWL Center near Ruston

COST: $25

COST: $25

DETAILS & REGISTRATION: shreveportvocations.com

DETAILS & REGISTRATION: BeLovedRetreat.com

10 Catholic Connection


A Reflection on the

Diaconate by Deacon Bill Roche

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was one of 18 men who were ordained to the permanent diaconate on May 7, 2005, by Bishop William Friend for the Diocese of Shreveport. Our ordination followed four years of formation which included a year of aspirancy and three years of candidacy. During formation we were instructed in sacred scripture, pastoral ministry, theology, Church history, spirituality, canon law, homiletics, and other specific topics which were intended to prepare us for ministry in the Church as permanent deacons. Everything we learned was relevant. Our preparation, however, paled in comparison to the actual practice of ministry. All of the men with whom I was ordained were willing and anxious to serve the people of God and the Bishop of Shreveport but we had no real idea of what to expect. For most of us there had been no practical experience at our home parishes of a functioning deacon. We had no one’s example to follow, except the deacons to which we were exposed during formation. The people of our parishes had no particular expectation of what it was the deacons were going to do. It was new territory all around. Even though I didn’t know what to expect, I was still surprised! At St. Joseph Parish in Shreveport my brother deacon and I were received with open arms and the support of the parish. The gracious welcome wasn’t what was so surprising, but rather that the people were so open to the possibility that having deacons in our parish was going to be a good and positive thing. I think the people had more confidence in our ministry than we ourselves had at that time. This reception was replicated throughout the diocese in the parishes to which the new deacons were assigned. The first months of diaconal ministry were a gradual exposure to the workings of the parish and inclusion in the ministerial life of the parish. Summer vacations, a change of pastors and getting acquainted with a parish ministerial team stretched the process of orientation for me, but it all started to take shape. Those of us who had been active in our parishes were now able to be more involved. For some of us it was our first active involvement. My experience was similar to the other men of my class: we assisted the priest at Mass, we were assigned to preach occasionally, we were beginning to perform some of the baptisms in our parishes, some of us officiated at those weddings which did not include

Mass and we presided at some funerals. As a group of newly ordained deacons, in addition to the ministries we had already been doing, we found ourselves engaged in ministries that we may not have anticipated, or to an extent greater than we had anticipated, whether it was prison ministry, campus ministry, hospital ministry, RCIA, or even in some cases, parish administration. When I look back on the preparation for ministry during our formation there is one area of preparation which has served me better than others. During every year at least one of the courses we took was on Sacred Scripture. We studied the Old and New Testaments and each of the four Gospels. We studied the Letters of Paul and the others. We learned that everything we do as Church is based on the foundation of Scripture. Everything we do as deacons is in service to the Church, which is the people of God. When we studied homiletics, which is how to form and deliver a homily that made sense, we were being prepared to express what we had learned when we studied the Bible. During the Rite of Ordination there are several things that stand out spiritually and emotionally. One, of course, is lying prostrate on the floor of the church as a litany is sung. Another is when the bishop lays hands on the head of each candidate for ordination. Another is when the candidate is vested in stole and dalmatic by his wife and by a brother deacon. Of all that is said and that occurs during the Rite, the one part that has meant the most to me is when the bishop handed each one of us the Book of Gospels and said the words, “Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you now are: believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach.” Those words resonate with me, and through the grace of God and the influence of the Holy Spirit I hope that each of my brother deacons and I have been able to measure up in some small way to the charge of Bishop Friend that day. It is a time of great joy for the local Church as we prepare to receive the active ministry of 16 men who are being ordained to the Order of Deacon. I am confident that they are well prepared and will be welcomed with love by the People of God. We all need to pray for these men and their families, as they are thrust into a new and exciting role in their lives and the life of the Church. June 2014 11


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16 new Deacons by Mike Whitehead

n Saturday, June 28, Bishop Michael Duca will ordain 16 men to the Sacred Order of Permanent Diaconate at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans in Shreveport. More than 1,000 clergy, religious, family, friends and parishioners are expected to gather for the 10 a.m. ordination ceremony.

The ordination represents the culmination of four years of spiritual, academic and pastoral preparation. For these 16 men, the ceremony will also mark the continuation of a calling to a life-long ministry of service.

“The ordination of 16 men to the permanent diaconate is a needed gift to the Church,” Bishop Duca said. “Practically, this ordination class will add more deacons to the eastern deanery of the diocese in both large and small parishes. Pastorally, these new deacons will be a big help to their pastors and their work in the parish will give a clear witness of Christ’s call to serve and not be served. We will all be blessed by the ministry of these new permanent deacons.” The deacon candidates preparing for ordination in the Diocese of Shreveport are Orlando Batongbakal, Scott Brandle, Tom Deal, Chris Domingue, Bill Goss, Bill Kleinpeter, Steve Lehr, Danny LeMoine, Jack Lynch, David Nagem, Robert Ransom, Ricardo Rivera, Charles Thomas, Marc Vereen, Mike Whitehead and Mike Wise. This ordination marks the third group of permanent deacons ordained in the Diocese of Shreveport. The first group of deacons was ordained in 1986. (Twelve men began the formation under the auspices of the Diocese of Alexandria/Shreveport, but the group was divided in two and they were ordained just two weeks after the diocese was split into the Diocese of Shreveport and the Diocese of Alexandria). The second group of deacons (18) was ordained in 2005. Deacon Clary Nash, Director of the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Shreveport, is the thread that weaves all three diaconate ordinations into one cloth. He was ordained in that first diaconate group in 1986. In fact, June 28 will mark his 28th anniversary as a Permanent Deacon. He also was the formation director of the second group of deacons. “Over the past four years, it’s been wonderful to watch the deacon candidates’ enthusiasm, participation and dedication to their [rigorous] academic schedule,” Deacon Nash said. “Their life of service will be like stones rippling in a pond –– the ripples resonate from the altar so they can become the face of Christ, the 12 Catholic Connection

spirit of Christ to the community outside the walls of the church. Then, he will bring his life of service back to the altar as a sign of who he is and what he represents. Being a part of this formation has been a blessing for me, my family and my church family.” Deacon Oscar Hannibal, who assisted in the current formation, echoed Deacon Clary’s thoughts. “These past four years always will be remembered as the high point of my serving as a deacon. My sincere prayer is for each deacon in this Diocese to do God’s will each day and be a very good example for all of God’s children.” When you examine the Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States, you see the mandate for the call to the diaconate. As we read in the document, “one of the great legacies of the Second Vatican Council was its renewal and encouragement of the order of deacons throughout the entire Catholic Church.” We also read in the directory: •The Sacred Order of Deacons is to be a driving force for the Church’s service or diakonia toward the local Christian communities, and as a sign or sacrament of the Lord Christ himself, who came not to be served but to serve. The deacon’s ministry of service is linked with the missionary dimension of the Church: the missionary efforts of the deacon will embrace the ministry of the word, the liturgy and works of charity which, in their turn, are carried into daily life. • In his formal liturgical roles, the deacon brings the poor to the Church and the Church to the poor. Likewise, he articulates the Church’s concern for justice by being a driving force in addressing the injustices among God’s people. He thus symbolizes in his roles the grounding of the Church’s life in the Eucharist and the mission of the Church in her loving service of the needy. Additionally, the deacon proclaims the Gospel, preaches, evangelizes and catechizes in the church, the community and the workplace. He baptizes, witnesses marriages, assists at


Eucharist, leads prayer, brings Viaticum, administers the Church’s sacramentals and connects the Church’s worship with its mission of loving service to the poor and needy. The journey to the June 28 ordination began formally in the fall of 2010 with the first semester of classes. The group quickly discovered the high standard set by the University of Dallas professors. From scripture study and Christology, to philosophy and the study of ministry, the University of Dallas staff set a tone that demanded serious time and effort if a deacon candidate wanted to excel in each class. In all, each deacon candidate spent more than 1,500 hours participating in class and studying outside of class. “These guys went through a challenging and rigorous academic formation process on their way to ordination,” said Jim McGill, instructor in the School of Ministry of the University of Dallas. “They studied the Bible and the theological traditions of the Church, as well as received skillful training in preaching, catechesis and ministry. Their academic formation has prepared them well for serving the diocese as deacons. I am confident that these men will make a significant contribution as deacons to the parishes and communities throughout the Diocese of Shreveport. They are dedicated to serve Christ and his Church in caring for the needs of their brothers and sisters. May God bless them in their witness and their service to the Gospel.” When Deacon Candidate Chris Domingue recalls his journey to ordination, he remembers the call in his heart to become a deacon in the Catholic Church. “Classes were held two Saturdays per month and one Sunday per month for eight semesters in the fall and spring sessions,” he said. “Philosophy, theology, scripture, Vatican II history and documents, church history, liturgy, Christian initiation are but a few of the courses we took. Though challenging (sometimes very challenging) the beauty of what we were learning helped me to grow even more in love with God and my Catholic faith. At every class, each of us brought our own unique gifts and talents and ways of communicating the truths we have come to learn through our

classes and through our individual faith journeys. The journey also allowed me to become part of a new community of men (and their wives and families) whose lives led them to the same calling of service as a deacon in the Church.” Domingue viewed the classes like mini-ministries requiring preparation, prayer and community. They helped him grow in knowledge, but more importantly, like all the deacon candidates, the classes helped him grow spiritually. Through it all, he said, there is no way to over-emphasize the importance of prayer that the group received from families, friends, the parish community and pastors. “I recall many a time written reports were due at the end of the week and I would think to myself that this is going to be impossible,” Domingue said. “The demands of my job, family events, activities and church ministries were all potential obstacles for the assignment not being able to be completed. And yet, Saturday morning my assignments were done and I was ready for class. The impossible was made possible through prayer. God provided when there was no other way. Looking forward, I am humbled by the fact that God still wants me and can use me in the capacity as a deacon. I don’t know what all God will ask of me, but I trust that he will be there with me. Deacon candidate Charles Thomas also is excited about the future. “We are called to do more evangelizing with the gospel, step outside the parish and into the community, the workplace, with friends, literally with everyone we meet in life. It’s what we are called to do. Evangelizing and spreading the gospel is definitely one of my goals.” The ordination of the current group of deacons, Domingue said, is an end to the structural diaconate formation, but it is really the beginning of a life-long formation as a deacon in the church. “I ask that everyone pray for each of the men (and their wives and families) who will be ordained in June,” he said. “Pray that each of us will serve the people of God and the church with love, true humility and steadfastness.”

June 2014 13


Meet the New Deacons! Orlando Batongbakal

SCOTT BRANDLE

Home Parish: St. Clement Parish, Vivian

Home Parish: St. Matthew Parish, Monroe

Orlando serves as the director of Vacation Bible School, a RCIA team member, lector, adult altar server and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. Orlando holds Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP). Since moving to the U.S. in 2009, he has concentrated his efforts in church ministry. He and his wife, Amalia, have two children.

Scott is active in RCIA, music ministry, adult education, apologetics and scripture study. He and his wife have been a Pre-Cana couple for more than 25 years. Scott is the owner/operator of Ads Plus Signs and Banners. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Louisiana Tech. He and his wife, Theresa, have one child and three grandchildren.

TOM DEAL

CHRISTOPHER DOMINGUE

Home Parish: Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish, Monroe

Home Parish: Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish, Monroe

His ministries include Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, lector, choir member, Independent Bible Study/Men’s Group leader, ACTS and Teams of Our Lady ( TOOL) Group. Tom is an insurance agent with New York Life in Monroe. Tom is a graduate of Northeast Louisiana University (University of Louisiana in Monroe). He and his wife, Jo Ann, have two children and three grandchildren.

Chris is involved in ACTS, Teen ACTS, Parish Council, Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Teams of Our Lady Group, lector and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. As a physician, Chris is employed at the West Carroll Health Systems in Oak Grove. He is a graduate of ULL and LSUMC in Shreveport. He and his wife, Szu-Wei, have two children.

BILL GOSS

BILL KLEINPETER

Home Parish: St. Lawrence Parish, Swartz

Home Parish: St. Joseph Parish, Mansfield

Bill is a lector, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, president of St. Vincent de Paul, member of the Knights of Columbus and involved in Adult Christian Education, Community Council and Friday Evening Prayer Leader. He is a risk control consultant for CNA Insurance Companies. Bill is a graduate of Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe. He and his wife, Janet, have two daughters.

Bill is involved in RCIA, teaches scripture study, and is an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and a lector. He serves as fire chief for the Volunteer Fire Department and is an arborist for high school students. He retired from International Paper after 30 years. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from LSU in Baton Rouge. He and his wife, Angel, have three children and seven grandchildren.

STEVE LEHR

DANNY LEMOINE

Home Parish: St. Jude Parish, Benton

Home Parish: Christ the King Parish, Bossier City

Steve is a Pre-Cana marriage mentor, a member of the RCIA team, serves as a cantor and lector, and is involved with ACTS. For more than 25 years Steve has been with Willis Knighton Health System as a Radiological Cardiovascular Technologist and Heart Institute WK-Bossier coordinator. He is a graduate of Northeast University, LSU Health Shreveport Radiology and the British Columbia Institute of Technology. He and his wife, Angela, have eight children.

Danny is a Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, lector and a member of the Parish Council. He has worked as a member of the Bossier City Police Department. Currently, Danny is a teacher in Caddo Parish. He holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree from LSU Shreveport. He and his wife, Linda, have seven children and 15 grandchildren.

14 Catholic Connection


Jack Lynch

DAVID NAGEM

Home Parish: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Shreveport

Home Parish: Sacred Heart Parish, Oak Grove

Jack serves as an acolyte and lector. He has been a member of People of Praise Christian Community for 30 years. Jack is employed with Portico Pediatrics and worked in Catholic education for 15 years. He has a Bachelor’s degree from Minot State University and a Master’s degree from the University of St. Thomas. He and his wife, Teresa, have three children and two grandchildren.

David is involved in outreach ministry, serves on the Parish Council and sings in the choir. He is a member of the Oak Grove Chamber of Commerce and serves on the advisory board of the W.C. Council on Aging. David has worked as a pharmacist. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe. He is married to his wife, Barbara.

ROBERT RANSOM

RICARDO RIVERA

Home Parish: St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Ruston

Home Parish: Christ the King Parish, Bossier City

Robert is an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, lector, a member of the RCIA team, Children’s Liturgy and is a catechist for fifth graders and the Confirmation class. For more than 20 years, Robert has worked for Gardner Denver, Inc. as a design engineer, manufacturing engineer and facility manager. He attended Louisiana Tech University. Robert and his wife, Dawn, have two children.

Ricardo is a liturgist at Barksdale Air Force Base, lector, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and works with Baptism classes, Knights of Columbus and Spanish Ministry. He trains altar servers, lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. He has a Bachelor’s degree from Troy State University and a Master’s degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He and his wife, Wanda, have two children and one grandchild.

CHARLES THOMAS

MARC VEREEN

Home Parish: Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish

Home Parish: St. Joseph Parish, Bastrop

Charles serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, lector, and altar server coordinator. Charles volunteers with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and has served as a parish trustee, president of the Parish Finance Council, and taught PSR. He has been a special clerk for the U.S. postal service for 30 years. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern State University. He and his wife, Nadalie, have two children.

Marc is involved with ACTS and is a past member and president of the Parish Council and a past member of the Finance Council. He is employed with the City of Bastrop and serves as the director of the state “Main Street” Economic/Historic Preservation Program and community affairs director for the City of Bastrop. Marc is a graduate of ULM, Monroe. He is married to his wife Kim.

MIKE WHITEHEAD

MIKE WISE

Home Parish: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Shreveport

Home Parish: St. Jude Parish, Benton

Mike is coordinator of the RCIA team, an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, lector, adult altar server, and member of the HOPE for the Homeless Outreach Ministry. Mike is the publisher and editor of SB Magazine, and is the former executive editor of The Times. He is a graduate of The University of North Texas. He and his wife, Martha, have four children and four grandchildren.

Mike is an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, lector and serves in Empowerment Ministry, as well as ACTS and the Knights of Columbus. Mike is the office administrator of St. Jude Parish. For more than 25 years, he worked for GPC, a Fortune 500 company. He attended Louisiana Tech University. Mike and his wife, Anne, have three children. June 2014 15


NEWS

St. Joseph Cemetery: Sold Out? A Myth!

More

Ordinations!

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t has long been a myth that St. Joseph Cemetery on Texas Street no longer has available plots to sell. I want to dispel that myth and the increased number of interested people contacting the Catholic Center to purchase or verify that plots are available will also dispel that myth. This cemetery, any cemetery, is a tribute to our dead and can be an indication of how we wish to be cared for in death when it is our turn to go to God. For that reason, the Facilities/Cemetery staff of the Diocese of Shreveport work diligently to maintain the respect and beauty of the cemetery. Over the past several years improvement projects have included engraving the marble doors in the Chapel Mausoleum, installing a new irrigation system to maintain a water management program, erecting new perimeter fencing, professionally cleaning numerous statues and monuments, and inviting families and friends of the saints buried at St. Joseph to spend time in prayer and reflection and help to maintain family monuments and surrounding grounds. Future projects may include: updating and replacing the maintenance building, air conditioning the chapel, adding street signage, erecting a sign with a map and ground layout, electronic programmable operators for the gates, additional walkways, and several other beautifying projects. In an effort to determine the future building of additional mausoleum and/ or columbarium structures, a survey of six questions was mailed to over 5,000 households in Bossier and Shreveport requesting interest in future structures, future expansions and additional beautification projects. To date over 300 surveys have been returned. Another mailing to the next radius of households including Benton, Haughton and Princeton will be going out shortly and we anxiously 16 Catholic Connection

await those returns also. Of course a cemetery demands a lot of care, a lot of time, a lot of sweat and tears. The Diocese of Shreveport tries to support the funding of those demands. The price of plots is nominal and any fees associated with burials, opening and closing graves and interments of remains are all based on the costs and the amount of manpower needed. Many people also make donations to the cemetery throughout the year that help fund some of our projects. Organizations and family groups have taken a real interest in helping us to maintain the cemetery. They are interested in holding family visitations and family prayer services in addition to the annual Blessing of the Graves on All Souls Day. We ask that if you are interested in planning an event that you contact the Catholic Center (318868-4441) to verify there is not a funeral scheduled, grounds maintenance or other activities that would preclude you from having access to the cemetery. Perhaps a visit to St. Joseph Cemetery will give you an opportunity to reflect on past generations buried there. The following is a prayer you may want to say when visiting at a cemetery. Almighty God, through the death of your Son on the cross you destroyed our death; through his rest in the tomb you hallowed the graves of all who believe in you; and through his rising again you restored us to eternal life. God of the living and the dead, accept our prayers for those who have died in Christ and are buried with him in the hope of rising again. Since they were true to your name on earth, let them praise you forever in the joy of heaven.

(Excerpt from the English translation of the Order of Christian Funerals Š 1985, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. (ICEL) All rights reserved)

by Randy Tiller, Director of Mission Effectiveness

Deacon John Paul Crispin

Brother Paul Mutisya

With praise and thanksgiving to almighty God

Franciscan Missionaries of Hope (Lyke Community) Joyfully invites you to the Ordination of

Deacon John Paul Crispin to the Priesthood and the

Diaconate Ordination of Brother Paul Mutisya by prayer and the laying on of hands by his Excellency the Most Reverend Michael G. Duca, Bishop of Shreveport, on Saturday, June

21st at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary of the Pines Catholic Church,

1050 E. Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport, LA 71118. Reception following at Vandegaer Hall. First Thanksgiving Mass will be held on June 22 at 9:00 a.m. at St. Mary of the Pines Catholic Church.


New St. Jude Church Dedicated on April 26

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et us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord!” It is a new house of the Lord for parishioners of St. Jude Catholic Church in north Bossier Parish. The breathtaking and awe-inspiring design of the church provides an inspirational atmosphere for worship. While St. Jude has been holding Mass in their new church for several weeks, the Solemn Mass of Dedication was held April 26, the two year anniversary of the building project’s ground breaking ceremony. The dedication began with a procession of Bishop Michael Duca, dozens of priests and deacons from throughout the diocese and the Knights of Columbus. Retired Bishop of the Shreveport Diocese, William Friend, who originally set the vision for this building project, was also present. The procession began at the facility’s Miciotto Family Life Center and moved to the front doors of the new church where the project’s architect, Mark Prevot, General Building Contractor, Hank Boggs, as well as members of the Pastoral and Finance Councils and other key representatives of the project handed the church key over to Bishop Duca. The Bishop then gave the keys to St. Jude Pastor Fr. Pike Thomas. The church was filled with parishioners and guests who experienced a beautiful ceremony and a once-in-alifetime event for many Catholics. One rare experience came after the Litany of Saints when a relic of St. John Neumann was placed under the altar. St. Neumann was the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia; the first American Bishop and the only male citizen of the United States to be canonized. Artisan Justine Sheppard laid under the altar and, after drilling a small hole in the stone, placed the relic inside. The Mass also included a blessing and sprinkling of the congregation with holy qater. Then Bishop Duca and Fr. Pike used Sacred Chrism to

Pastor Fr. Pike Thomas and Bishop Michael Duca rub oil into the new altar.

anoint the altar and walls of the church. Many members of the St. Jude community expressed how touched they were to be able witness the Rite of Dedication and participate in the Mass. Dr. John and Rose Miciotto, who donated the land for the building project, presented the gifts during Mass. During his homily Bishop Duca praised St. Jude parishioners for their hard work and sacrifice to make this dedication of the new church possible. Bishop Duca said he was proud of their accomplishment and looks forward to many future years of successful ministry by St. Jude to the faithful of north Bossier Parish. “The people of St. Jude joined with Fr. Pike in truly working together and sacrificing to make this new sanctuary for St. Jude possible and I salute their dedication to their dream of a new worship home,” said Bishop Duca. It was an emotional day for St. Jude parishioners, many of them shed tears of joy during the ceremony especially when Fr. Pike spoke at the end of the dedication and Mass thanking and acknowledging his church community for all their blood, sweat

and tears to make this day happen. Fr. Pike said, “I was always convinced this new worship resource for Catholics in Northwest Louisiana would be a beautiful and sacred structure, but the completion of the project has revealed a complex even more holy than I would have hoped.” Some of the eye catching features of the new church include the Resurrection stained glass windows, the Texas Limestone Baptismal Font at the front of the church entry and the bronze Tabernacle sculpture of Jesus coming out of his tomb and surrounded by six saints intimately associated to the Christian faith including St. Jude. There are also nine-foot statues of Jesus Prince of Peace and a partnering sculpture of Mary our Mother, both uniquely placed high above the pews on each side of the church as though they are watching over and protecting the congregation. “The monumental bronze sculptures of Mary Our Mother and Jesus Prince of Peace are perhaps my own favorite treasures in the complex,” said Fr. Pike. The sculptures are by Shelley Kolman Smith of Dallas, TX. St. Jude invited members of the community and of all denominations to visit their new site during two open houses on Saturdays May 17 and 24. They were a great way to reintroduce St. Jude to the community and share the spiritual beauty of their new home church. by Stephanie Boswell June 2014 17


NEWS

Catholic Charities Boosted by Give for Good

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ometimes a good idea becomes a great idea and one that has a lasting impact for good. That’s exactly what happened when the Community Foundation of North Louisiana began planning for one big day of philanthropy for north Louisiana non-profit organizations. This trend has taken hold around the country. Widely known as Giving Tuesday, results have been amazing. So the Community Foundation launched “Give for Good,” a 24-hour online giving event. Catholic Charities of Shreveport was happy to be among the 77 non-profit organizations who participated. It’s easy to understand the choice for online giving when you consider the statistics. From the Blackbaud Charitable Giving Report: Overall charitable giving grew 4.9% in 2013, while online giving grew 13.5%. Online giving accounted for 6.4% of all charitable giving in 2013. Large organizations had the greatest increase in overall charitable giving, while small nonprofits grew their online giving the most. As we watched the leaderboard throughout the day on May 6, the excitement grew along with our total donations. The Community Foundation made it even more fun with their lagniappe fund that awarded special prizes throughout the giving period. We were awarded a $500 prize in addition to our total in donations. We are proud to report that we ended with over $15,000 in donations from 102 generous givers. With so many worthy organizations to choose from, it’s even more meaningful that so many selected Catholic Charities. We’ve known for a long time that the people of this community are concerned for others, want to support programs that lift people up and help them become whole and they believe in the work we are doing at Catholic Charities. Having just added our newest program, “Healthy Eating on a Budget,” we now have six programs available to help the poorest and most vulnerable in our area with immediate needs and, more importantly, with life skills that are taught in classes 18 Catholic Connection

designed to complement each program. Our holistic approach as we work with those in need combines specific programs

that will best relieve and restore daily life for a more manageable and hopeful situation for our clients. Funding for them is critical, and because of that we are always looking for new ideas. Give for Good was the perfect idea at the perfect time with great results! We are grateful to our community and to those at a distance who made Give for Good such a great success for Catholic Charities. by Theresa Mormino, Catholic Charities of Shreveport

Boyd Wins Catholic Leadership Award

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he Catholic Youth Leadership Award (CYLA) is conducted by the Knights of Columbus. The award dates back to 1960 and each year since then, they have recognized a male and female state winner. The award offers an opportunity to the youth of Louisiana to be recognized as one of the best Catholic students in their school and in the state. The recognition encourages students to hold true to their Catholic values and accept the leadership roles that they will be asked to fill in the future as Catholic leaders. The CYLA is awarded to a Catholic student who is well rounded while keeping his or her Catholic faith a priority. The award looks at a student’s spiritual activity, scholastic achievement, involvement in the community, athletic activity and social activity. Charlton is very involved with his church, the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, being a Bishop Altar Server and an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion for Loyola College Prep Masses. Charlton was also a member of the Flyers for Life Club at Loyola and volunteered at Bishop Duca’s Pro Life Banquet. He is also an Eagle Scout who has accumulated over 750 service hours in the last four years. Despite this involvement, Charlton has maintained good grades and has excelled on the tennis court by winning the 2011 3A State Doubles Championship, with his brother Carter Boyd as his partner, and the 2013

3A Singles State Championship. In addition to submitting a resume for the award, two interviews that lasted 10 minutes each were conducted by two panels. Charlton had to give a personal background which was followed by two questions from the panel that he had to answer. After answering the questions, Charlton was able to speak on a topic of choice and he spoke about how recent health care changes have infringed upon religious freedom and our Catholic faith. After all 20 interviews were concluded, the judges deliberated and considered the resumes and interviews to decide the winner. Charlton was named the state winner. “I am honored to be the CYLA winner for Louisiana because my spiritual faith as a Catholic is the most important part of my life,” said Charlton. Charlton’s brother Carter also won the CYLA in 2012. by Charlton Boyd


across the

by Sr. Martinette Rivers, OLS

Attending the Canonization of Two Popes

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he Church doesn’t make saints, good people make saints. What the Church did on April 26, 2014 was to recognize that these two great popes, John Paul II and John XXIII, lived saintly lives and were saturated in God’s love. God had a special part for them to play in the human drama of life, so both new saints lived on the world stage, for their Church, the people in the Catholic realm and those outside it and they both lived their parts well. On April 26, they were both proclaimed Saints because of this. There must have been two million people present, if not more. I think all of Italy was out for John XXIII and all of Poland for John Paul II, not to mention others who were there from different parts of the world. Everything was very much like the Beatification, beautifully decorated Piazza, throngs of people and great joy exuding out of the hearts of all. People arrived on foot, trains, buses and planes, some even on horses. The testimony of these two great men touched the depths of our hearts and brought tears of joy to our eyes. It was an indescribable event of a lifetime! These men came from two different worlds: one who suffered greatly in Poland where communism ruled and the other born in Italy with freedom, but both lived saintly lives, totally immersed in God. They were two popes well known by many people around the world. Both chose the path of priesthood and the Church chose them as their leaders. What examples they are for us today! They took the risk and became SAINTS. How does one go about understanding the true spiritual essence of Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli of Bergamo and Karol Josef Wojtyla of Poland? If we may capture that essence, we will live our Christian lives with joy as they did. These were men who were not afraid to speak boldly, who helped to overcome the divisions between the Christians and the Jews; men who were visionaries with incredibly profound prayer lives. We should be grateful for their call to “Be not afraid!” as we too proclaim the Gospel of Life. They were popes who broke records, John XXIII was the first Pope to hug children and allow people to touch him and broke centuries-old taboos, so many that it was hard to keep track of them. John Paul II broke a rule the first day of his election by speaking with the crowds in spite of being told only to bless them. He loved freedom and helped cause the Iron Curtain to fall. Speaking boldly he said, “Be not afraid! Open the doors to Christ!” He became the second lovable, touchable Pope who kissed all the children and hugged young people, moved about in the crowds. Wherever he went his gaze found yours immediately and saw your smile with affection. Looking into his smiling face and piercing blue eyes many times, I have held in my heart that mystical moment as so many others experienced. His warm handshake was different and left me emotionally touched to my very soul. I did not get to know St. John XXIII like I got to know and love St. John Paul II, but from my reading I learned a great deal about him. The poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins, describes himself as “All lost in wonder” in the presence of God. In the face of the beauty and

the power of the people on the day of canonization, all were lost in wonder just as I was. Thousands had been up all night in prayer vigils, singing and sharing, so energized, so filled with admiration for both popes, faces all ‘aglo’ with the joy and presence of God in their midst. One could easily see the Catholic Church is alive. It was not only the same presence of God experienced by a poet, but the event of the year in 2014 experienced by millions of people all at the same time. Our wonderings were very profound as the crowds of onlookers moved steadily forward with no possible place to go so it seemed, with so many people present. Wonder was certainly within our reach, but the aim of everyone was to get closer to the Piazza to see one of the big TV screens set up for them. As they moved slowly, they prayed, sang, danced and smiled at everyone. The new saints were called “superstars” by the crowds and Pope Francis called them, “The Pope of Openness to the Spirit,” namely St. John XXIII, and St. John Paul II, “The Pope of the Family.” The testimony of these two new saints not only touched Catholic hearts, but the hearts of the whole world. Hearts were united at the very seat of Christendom on the streets in Rome, where all stood awaiting the big moment. I thought to myself that these two great popes held two very different keys during their pontificates and not only opened doors to let more “fresh air” in as did John XXIII with Vatican II, but Divine Mercy was the key held by John Paul II, who came from a distant land to Italy and abandoned himself into the hands of Divine Mercy. Could I possibly forget the day I received Communion from the hands of St. John Paul II, or the beautiful garland he placed around my neck and then pinched my cheeks, wishing me well as I was leaving for Bangladesh? Can you imagine a saint bestowing such things on a Louisiana girl? Both men became popes at a difficult time in the history of the Church, John XIII in 1958 and John Paul II in 1978. Yet, both men accepted their responsibility with faith, hope and trust in Divine Providence. Fortunate for the Church that these men said yes, like Mary said yes; that the Apostles said yes; like we too say yes, to our calling in life. They are now our Messengers of Hope and like them we need to ..“put out into the deep” (Luke 5:4) in order to fulfill our calling to service with all God’s people. They taught us that the Church is God’s family and that common belief identifies members of God’s family. How incredible it is that I would be assigned to Italy during the lifetime of Pope John Paul II and live across the street from the Vatican? I’m so happy that I was able to see him in action, speak to him many times, participate in his Masses and, above all, I am so happy I was able to attend his canonization and can truthfully say, “I met a real saint.” What an honor this is for me! May Saints John XXIII and John Paul II bless each of us in the ways they know we need to be blessed. June 2014 19


HISPANIC corner

por Rosalba Quiroz 318-868-4441

Aprovechando el Verano

Calendario Diocesano del Mes de Junio y Julio Junio 1-7 Del 31 de Mayo al 7 de Junio, entrenamiento de Liderazgo Pastoral. Miami, FL.

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esde el comienzo del Año nos vemos llenos de actividades y planes con la escuela, la familia, y la iglesia. Apenas comienza el año, se acerca la Cuaresma, la Semana Santa, la Resurrección del Señor (Día de Pascual), el Día de las Madres, la temporada de exámenes escolares, graduaciones, Primeras Comuniones, Confirmaciones y… ya para el comienzo de junio estamos exhaustos y con las baterías descargadas. Tal vez hasta nuestro Señor sintió cansancio después de crear el cielo y la tierra y todo lo que hay en ellos (Gen. 2:1) y ¿Qué fue lo que Dios hizo después de tanto trabajo? ¡Dios descansó! Por eso es que hay que recibir con alegría y buenas expectativas las vacaciones de verano. Que buen ejemplo nos da el Señor: Trabajar cuando es necesario, con diligencia, dedicación, y buenos deseos para después recibir agradecidos el día (o el tiempo) de descanso con alegría. Vea estas opciones sobre como descansar, cambiar de actividades, y re-energizarse para comenzar la segunda parte del año con energía y buena disposición, que aunque también con muchas actividades ya nos sintamos descansados y bien positivos: a. Tomar un tiempito para relajarse

20 Catholic Connection

28 Ordenación de 16 hombres como diáconos. 10:00a.m. Catedral de San John Berchmans. 910 Jordan St. Shreveport.

escuchando su música favorita, leer ese libro que no ha podido leer por las muchas tareas de la escuela y/o del trabajo. b. Hablar en persona o por teléfono con aquel amigo(a) que ha tenido por ahí olvidado(a). Reírse juntos de sus recuerdos y soñar juntos con los planes futuros. c. Reorganizar su dormitorio, closets, libros, fotos y apuntes que vale la pena guardar y descartar lo innecesario para no llenarse de chácharas. d. Aprovechar el calor para salir a jugar con agua al parque, balneario o simplemente en su patio. (Recuerde, mantenerse hidratado, tomando mucha agua si piensa andar en el calor). e. Escoger uno o dos días donde no hay actividades en el calendario y dedicarse solo a estar en familia, solo para reír, platicar y disfrutarse mutuamente. f. Por último, aprovechar alguna

29 Del 29 de Junio al 5 de Julio, entrenamiento para Pastoral Juvenil, asesores, música, animación y dinámicas. Austin, TX. Julio 19-26 Entrenamiento para Asesores de Pastoral Juvenil. Orlando, FL. 11-13 Retiro para adolescentes (mujeres), Ruston, LA 17 Reunión de voluntarios que deseen servir en el retiro “Experiencia Cristo” 25-27 Retiro para adolescentes (hombres), Monroe, LA

oportunidad de crecimiento, aprendizaje, convivio y/o relajación disponibles en su escuela, parroquia o con amistades. (Ver anuncios aquí y en otra sección de la revista las actividades programadas para jóvenes de la diócesis, en especial dos retiros para adolescentes) Ojalá puedan aprovechar el verano para tomar unas pequeñas vacaciones y que regresen a sus actividades en agosto con entusiasmo y alegría.


around the DIOCESE

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Every month, on the second Monday, some of the ladies at St. Lucy Church in Hodge, LA, gather for food, fellowship and rosary making. They have shipped these rosaries to India, China, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Africa, and most recently, the Philippines. The rosaries were shipped to the St. Vincent de Paul Parish and Shrine and were handed out to the children receiving their First Communion and to the teachers who are assisting them. Pictured are the recipients of the collected gifts.

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Two religious sisters who spent several years working and ministering at Schumpert Medical Center and later CHRISTUS Schumpert, were honored May 10 for their long years of service by their congregation, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. Sr. Ernestine Mulvey and Sr. Rose Marie McDermott were honored for 60 years of service at a Diamond Jubilee Mass and luncheon at the congregation’s Mother House, Villa de Matel, in Houston, TX.

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The Hispanic Youth at St. Paschal Church prayed the Stations of the Cross following the Palm Sunday Mass at 2:30 p.m. The youth dressed in costumes to reenact the Sations of the Cross outside behind the school building. The youth and the congregation walked the journey of Our Lord’s Passion which also included readings of self-examination that are pertinent to our modern time. The youth are led by Mirna Pineda and Arianna Gonzales on Wednesday nights from 6:008:00 p.m.

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On Palm Sunday, April 13, 2014, there were two Easter Egg Hunts at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oak Grove. The first was held after the morning Mass at 11:00 pm. The second was held after the Spanish Mass at 5:00 p.m. A fun time was had by both groups of children.

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Kindergarten and First Graders at St. Joseph Parish in Zwolle, presented a play of Holy Week with Palm Sunday, Last Supper and the Agony in the Garden. These young people may be small, but moved the parishioners’ hearts in a big way.

June 2014 21


upcoming EVENTS June 7: RCIA Workshop The annual retreat entitled, "Evangelization is the Mission - Initiation is the Job Description." Join us for a day to be immersed in the Church's vision of Evangelization and how this takes flesh in our parish ministries of initiation. Using presentation, dialogue and celebration, participants will be deeply formed in an understanding of what it means to be an evangelizing people who are passionate about being and making disciples of Jesus Christ. The concluding session will include time for questions not addressed during the first few hours. The workshop will be led by Jim Schellman, Vice President for Mission at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette, LA. The workshop will be held at the Catholic Center, 3500 Fairfield Avenue in Shreveport from 9am to 3pm. Registration is $40 and can be done by contacting Brandy Boudreau at 318-868-4441, or bboudreau@dioshpt.org. June 14: Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion Retreat The retreat, entitled "Image and Likeness" will take

place at the Catholic Center from 9am to 1pm. Registration is $10. To register contact Brandy Boudreau at 318-868-4441, or bboudreau@dioshpt. org. Deadline to register is June 6. June 14: Mobilizing Volunteers for Your Ministry Workshop The Center for Ministry Development is coming to the Diocese of Shreveport to present a workshop on Mobilizing Volunteers for Your Ministry. Don’t miss this opportunity to get numerous strategies and ideas for recruiting volunteers for your ministry, setting them up for success with the right amount of training, and keeping them through support, affirmation, and spiritual growth. Cost of the workshop is $54, which includes lunch and a handout packet rich in practical ideas and resources. For more information or to register, call Ginger Broussard at 318-868-4441, or visit www.dioshpt.org. June 16 - July 25: Sports Camps at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans The Cathedral of St. John Berchmans is hosting a number of camps this summer for children ages 8-14, including Fitness Camp, Soccer

Camp, Baseball Camp, Softball Camp and Basketball Camp. Each camp is a week long and taught by experienced coaches and instructors at either the Cathedral School or the Loyola Athletic Complex. Cost is $100 each. For more information, contact Megan Funk at 318-221-5296 or mfunk@sjbcathedral.org. July 30 - August 1: High School Youth Ensemble Workshop The National Association of Pastoral Musicians Shreveport Chapter Presents: High School Youth Ensemble Workshop, a three day workshop for experienced youth musicians looking to gain practical skills for playing and leading music for liturgy. Tracks include: woodwinds, guitar, conducting, strings, voice, music planning, percussion, keyboards and liturgy. The workshop is from 10am - 3pm at St. Jude Church located at 4700 Palmetto Dr. in Benton. The workshop is $75 and registration should be completed by July 1. To obtain a registration form, visit your church office or call Loralee Culbert at 318841-8209 or Gwen Stuart at 318-7462508.

2 0 1 4 D i o c e s a n s t e wa r d s h i p A p p e a l

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

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

Please send monthly reminders to:

$800 $750 $650 $500

$400 $350 $300 $250

At this time I / we are enclosing:

$200 $150 $100 $_______

$_____________

Print Name________________________________________________________________________________ Address___________________________________________________________________________________

Diocese of Shreveport The Catholic Center 3500 Fairfield Avenue Shreveport, LA 71104 www.dioshpt.org 22 Catholic Connection

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


calendar

june & july 2014

JUNE 2014 CALENDAR

JULY 2014 CALENDAR

JUNE 1 - Confirmation at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish, 9am Ascension of the Lord

JULY 1 - Blessed Junipero Serra, priest

JUNE 2 - Sts. Marcelinus & Peter, martyrs JUNE 3 - St. Charles Lwanga and companions, martyrs JUNE 5 - St. Boniface, bishop & martyr JUNE 6 - St. Norbert, bishop JUNE 7 - 2014 RCIA Workshop, Catholic Center, 8:30am JUNE 8 - Pentecost Sunday Confirmation, St. Matthew Parish, 10:30am JUNE 9 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Spring Meeting; New Orleans (through June 14) St. Ephrem, deacon & doctor of the Church

JULY 3 - St. Thomas, apostle JULY 4 - Independence Day Catholic Center Closed JULY 5 - St. Anthony Zaccaria, priest; St. Elizabeth of Portugal JULY 9 - St. Augustine Zhao Rong, priest & companions, martyrs JULY 10 - Deadline for August Catholic Connection JULY 11 - BeLoved Retreat for High School Girls, The OWL Center (through July 13) St. Benedict, abbot JULY 14 - St. Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin

JUNE 11 - St. Barnabas, apostle

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

JUNE 13 - St. Anthony of Padua, priest & doctor of the Church

JULY 16 - Our Lady of Mount Carmel

JUNE 14 - Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion Retreat, Catholic Center, 9am Mobilizing Volunteers Workshop, Catholic Center, 10am

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

JULY 24 - St. Sharbel Makhluf, priest

Seminarian Rummage Sale, Catholic Center, 9am The Most Holy Trinity

JUNE 15 - Father's Day The Most Holy Trinity JUNE 19 - St. Romuald, abbot JUNE 21 - Lyke Brothers Priestly and Diaconate Ordinations, St. Mary of the Pines Parish, 10am Confirmation at St. Joseph Parish, Bastrop, 4pm St. Aloysius Gonzaga, religious

JULY 18 - St. Camilus de Lelis, priest JULY 22 - St. Mary Magdalene JULY 23 - St. Bridget, religious JULY 25 - Mission Possible Retreat for High School Boys, Kings Camp (through July 27) St.James, apostle JULY 26 - Sts. Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary JULY 29 - St. Martha JULY 30 - St. Peter Chrysologus, bishop & doctor of the Church JULY 31 - St. Ignatius of Loyola, priest

JUNE 22 - The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) Confirmation at St. Lawrence Parish, 10am JUNE 24 - The Nativity of St. John the Baptist JUNE 27 - The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus JUNE 28 - Permanent Deacon Ordination, Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, 10am

The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

JUNE 29 - Confirmation, St. Joseph Parish, Mansfield 11am Sts. Peter and Paul, apostles JUNE 30 - The First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church June 2014 23


D IO C E S E O F S H R E V E P O R T 3500 Fairfield Ave.

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Shreveport, LA 71104

Fairfield

Photo of the month by Jessica Rinaudo

Workers from Cara Center and Gingerbread House presented the gifts at the Annual Red Mass at Holy Trinity. Both organizations were honored at the annual event. 24 Catholic Connection


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