December 2021

CATHOLIC CONNECTION Volume 31 No. 5 | December 2021

one holy family DECEMBER 2021 1

CATHOLIC CONNECTION PUBLISHER

Bishop Francis I. Malone

EDITOR

Kierstin Richter

CONTRIBUTORS

Mike Van Vranken Kim Long Mary Arcement Alexander John Mark Willcox Patti Underwood Rosalba Quiroz Jori LaCour Polly Maciulski Kate Rhea Benjamin Luckett Julia Vanchiere Carol Gates Olga Trejo

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

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

SUBMISSIONS

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

The Diocese of Shreveport complies with Virtus’ Protecting God’s Children program. 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 your local law enforcement agency and Mary Katherine Arcement, Diocesan Victim Assistance Minister, at 318-584-2411.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Catholic Connection is a monthly publication funded by your Diocesan Stewardship Appeal; mailed to every known Catholic household in the Diocese of Shreveport. Our mission is to advance knowledge and understanding of our Catholic faith among the faithful.

We seek to foster the application of Christ’s teachings and our church’s mission in our daily lives and to encourage our sense of Catholic identity within our family, parish, and faith community.

2 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

editor’s note

The In-Between: Navigating Transitional Seasons with the Holy Family THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN in the back seat of a school van in the Ponchatoula High School parking lot on one of my last weeks of travel season as a college recruiter. I spent just about every weeknight in a Holiday Inn Express, became friends with all the local Popeye’s joints south of I-10, and lived out of a suitcase 80% of the time. I was tired. I had met amazing people on the road, some I kept in touch with, but it all felt temporary. My life was in a constant transitional phase. It felt like I was always moving, always running on chaos, and living like there was no place to lay my head. I was in go go go mode.

And two thousand years ago, on that dark desert night, our Mother Mary and Saint Joseph were no different.

Except while I had my reservations conveniently booked at my favorite Holiday Inn Expresses waiting patiently for the biscuits and gravy and fresh coffee the next morning, the Holy Family was completely turned away from their place to stay, and might I add, deliver a child.

(They didn’t have the IHG app back then. Or insurance.

Or epidurals.) Talk about hardcore.

They were on the road. For a week. 90 miles. Joseph’s feet were probably super sore, and Mary was nine months pregnant on a donkey, so, I can only imagine the urgency the both of them felt to get to a place to rest.

And then once they finally did, they were turned away.

Can you imagine? With the uncertainty of the next steps and the inability to sit and call a place a home, even for a night, Mary and Joseph had to rely completely on faith.

In life, sometimes we feel, “once I am at this place, this destination, I can rest, I can breathe, I can finally be content.” But here’s the thing. Life comes at ya fast.

And then it hits ya. And it continues to hit ya again

and again, and sometimes you feel like you just aren’t catching a break. But like Mary, the queen of sleepless nights and unmedicated childbirth, sometimes you just gotta breathe through it. Sink into the pressure. Sink into the inconvenience. Sink into all that makes you uncomfortable. Because you’ll find after a while, it’s all okay. And when you let go and sink into where God has placed you, you find He has a way of giving you peace.

So as we move into this Advent and this Christmas season, let’s prepare our hearts for the discomfort. Let’s sink into the hurried moments, the unsettlement, the living in transition.

In this issue, we not only talk about Mary and Joseph but also our one holy, apostolic family here on Earth.

From every home and country, our Catholic family extends across the world, bringing diverse art, culture, and personalities - all within the Body of Christ - this big melting pot of love and joy, with whom we share this Holy Family.

One of our friends in our bible study said when she walks into adoration, she sits and asks the holy family to sit with her, calling it their “little family meeting.” I thought that was so beautifully Catholic. So this month, ask the Holy Family to sit with you in the transition of seasons. Ask them to unite us with all our brothers and sisters within the Body of Christ and to joyfully await the coming of our Savior as we begin a new liturgical year. Merry Christmas, everyone. Oh, and Happy New Year!

On the Cover: The Holy Family at Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Shreveport DECEMBER 2021 3

In This Issue: SAINT JOSEPH: A Quiet “Yes” - P. 9

MARY & JOSEPH: Contemplatives in Action - P.10 GROWING CLOSER TO CHRIST THROUGH HIS MOTHER MARY P.12 AFIFA KARAM: A Literary Trailblazer at Rest in St. Joseph Cemetery - P.15 MARY’S JOURNEY: Living the Nativity Story Through Her Eyes - P.18 THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF BLACK CATHOLICS IN LOUISIANA - P.21 HIS BANNER OVER US IS LOVE: A Recipe for a Blessed Christmas - P. 24 DAUGHTERS OF THE CROSS SERIES: Rising From the Ashes - P.26 KINDNESS IS PRACTICED HERE: The Holy Spirit is Alive and Well at Saint John Berchmans - P.28 SAINT JOSEPH SCHOOL: Class’s Compassion Leads to Works of Mercy Tradition - P.30 LOYOLA FLYERS PREPARE TO FEED OVER 650 FAMILIES IN SHREVEPORT: Loyola Students Continue a Long-Standing Tradition of Aiding Families in Need - P.32 SAINT FREDERICK HIGH SCHOOL: Students Celebrate Day of the Dead - P.33 LIBRARY NOTES - P.35 YOUR APPEAL DOLLARS AT WORK: Retired and Infirm Priests - P.36 CATHOLIC CHARITIES: The Rebirth of Normalcy - P.37 4 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

from bishop malone

Of all the feast days/holidays of the year, Christmas is my favorite. In fact, I think for most people, it stands out as their favorite, too. But in order for it to be what it is supposed to be for the Christian, certain aspects of Christmas should be in proper order. Might I suggest that this year we approach this festive day and season in such a way as to make it the best we have ever celebrated.

First, to keep in mind that the Church sets before us a season of spiritual preparation that puts into motion the feast day to come. It is called “Advent,” Four Sundays, and the days to follow in which we anticipate the birthday of Jesus as if His birth was happening for the first time.

If we look upon these weeks as a time when we prepare ourselves spiritually, then Christmas can have an entirely new meaning for us. Preparing for His birth can be a lifechanging experience, especially when what we do is not all that complicated. Let me suggest a return to Sunday Mass. Granted, if you are reading this, you’re probably back to Church, but just in case, the word, “Advent,” means “coming” and not just about the coming of the Christ, but the coming we experience when we return to our spiritual home once again.

Second, how about confession? I’ve noticed over the years how this sacrament has received different titles like “reconciliation,” and “Penance.” I prefer another title: “the sacrament of peace.” I don’t think I have ever ‘liked” going to confession – but I know that I really like the spiritual feeling of leaving the confessional, and “peace” is always how I feel. If you do not like to go to confession, you’re in the majority of people – but I suspect that when you have made a good confession – and all is cleansed, “peace” is what you feel – and it feels good.

Third, one of my favorite contemporary songs is called “Anticipation” by Carly Simon. She sings, “And tomorrow we might not be together. I’m no prophet, and I don’t know nature’s ways. So I’ll try and see into your eyes right now, and stay right here ‘cause these are the good old days.” I think of a season like Advent in which we try to grow closer to the Lord, to “see into His eyes” as we journey to Christmas and when we do, the here and now of Advent and Christmas makes this new season full of memories that years from now we say, “these are the good old days.”

There’s nothing quite like basking in the joy of being in the presence of the Lord as we anticipate His birth, and indeed when He comes. Let’s anticipate what is to come on

December 25 – but not too fast – and not too soon – and reflectively, joyfully await His coming.

Finally, (though I hope you have your own thoughts here) – finally, make these seasons good and holy for someone else. The child in us often finds us at this time of year thinking about ourselves – but for the Christian – it’s always about Jesus, and it’s always about those around us for whom this season is not joyful. But we can make a difference in their lives: we can look into their eyes right now, and see the very person whose birth we are about to commemorate, and the joy we feel is the joy we share with others. Have a blessed Advent, and an even greater and blessed Christmas. It will make the best memories for years to come. “Come, Lord Jesus, Come!”

DECEMBER 2021 5

Por El Obispo Bishop Francis I. Malone De todas las festividades del año, mi favorita es la Navidad.

De hecho pienso que para la mayoría de la gente también ésta es su favorita. Pero para que esta fiesta sea lo que debe ser para un Cristiano, ciertos aspectos de ella deben estar en orden. Les sugiero que este año nos acerquemos a este día y a esta temporada de la mejor manera que se pueda celebrar.

Primero, debemos tener en cuenta que la Iglesia nos presenta una temporada de preparación espiritual en anticipación a la gran festividad y esta temporada se llama “Adviento,” con cuatro domingos y los días que siguen durante la semana anticipamos el nacimiento de Jesus como si su nacimiento fuera a llegar por primera vez. Si observamos estas semanas como un tiempo en el que debemos prepararnos espiritualmente, entonces la Navidad puede tener un significado completamente nuevo para nosotros. Prepararse para Su nacimiento puede ser una experiencia que cambie la vida, especialmente cuando lo que hacemos no es tan complicado. Permítanme sugerir que para empezar ya regresen todos a la Misa Dominical. Claro que podemos pensar que si están leyendo esta publicación, muy probablemente ya están de regreso en la Iglesia, pero en caso de que no sea así, la palabra, “Adviento” significa “venida” y no solamente la venida de Cristo sino la venida que experimentamos cuando regresamos nuevamente a nuestro hogar espiritual.

Segundo, también sería muy bueno ir a recibir la confesión.

Me he dado cuenta que a través de los años este sacramento ha recibido diferentes títulos como “reconciliación,” y “Penitencia.” Yo prefiero darle otro título: “el sacramento de paz.” Creo que nunca me ha “gustado” ir a la confesión – pero lo que EN VERDAD sí me gusta la gran paz que siento siempre que salgo de la confesión. Si no les gusta ir

misas en español CRISTO REY: BOSSIER CITY Rev. Fidel Mondragon 318.221.0238 Oficina Domingo 1:00pm Lunes 7:00pm Sabado 6:00pm Coordinador Oscar Gomez 972.567.2710 San Pascual: W. MONROE Rev. Luis Jost, OFM Domingo: 4:00pm Coordinadora: Lorena Chaparro 318.267.4018

a la confesión, son como la mayoría de la gente – pero me imagino que cuando han hecho una buena confesión – y todo ha sido limpiado, lo que sienten es una verdadera “paz” – y eso sí que se siente muy bien.

Tercero, una de mis canciones favoritas contemporáneas se llama “anticipación” con Carly Simon. Y dice así, “Y mañana puede ser que no estemos juntos. No soy profeta y no conozco el destino de la naturaleza. Por eso trataré de ver en tus ojos en este preciso momento, y quedarme aquí porque estos serán los buenos momentos.” Pienso que la temporada de Adviento en la que tratamos de acercarnos al Señor, para ver en Sus ojos” mientras caminamos hacia la Navidad y cuando lo hacemos, el aquí y ahora del Adviento y la Navidad llenan la temporada de recuerdos que a través de los años vamos a decir, “estos son los buenos momentos.”

No hay nada mejor que sentir el gozo de estar en la presencia del Señor anticipando Su nacimiento, y en verdad, de que Él venga. Esperemos lo que ha de venir el 25 de Diciembre – pero no muy rápido – y no tan apresurados – sino en reflexión y gozosamente esperar Su venida.

Finalmente, (aunque espero que ustedes tengan sus propias ideas aquí) – finalmente, den felicidad a alguien más. Pues el niño que todos llevamos dentro, busca pensar solo en nosotros mismos en esta temporada – pero un cristiano – debe pensar siempre en Jesus, y de todos aquellos para los que esta temporada no son momentos de gozo. Sin embargo, nosotros podemos hacer una diferencia en sus vidas: podemos ver en sus ojos en este momento, y ver la mera persona a la que estamos a punto de celebrar Su nacimiento, y el gozo que sentimos es el gozo que compartiremos con los demás. Que tengan un bendecido Adviento y aún más grande bendición en la sagrada Navidad. Que ésta traiga para ustedes y los suyos los mejores recuerdos para los años venideros. “¡Ven Señor Jesus, Ven!”

SANTO TOMAS AQUINO: RUSTON Rev. Edward Shea, OFM 318.225.2870 Oficina Domingo 1:30pm Coordinadora: Luz Martinez 318.224.0980

STA MARIA DE LOS PINOS: SHREVEPORT Rev. Mark Watson 318.687.5121 Oficina Domingo 11:30am Coordinadora: Alma Mendoza 318.678.9306

NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL PEPETUO SOCORRO: FARMERVILLE Rev. Luis Jost, OFM Sabados 7:00 pm Coordinadora: Paola Gonalez 817.801.3499

SAGRADO CORAZON: OAK GROVE Rev. Jean Bosco Uwamungu 318.428.2983 Oficina • Cada dos semanas, Domingo 5:00pm

6 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

SAN JOHN THE BAPTIST, MANY Rev. Francis Kamau, FMH 318-256-5680 Oficina • primer domingo del mes Domingo 5:00pm SAN PABLO: MINDEN Rev. Rigoberto Betancurt 318-458-6045 Cell 2do Domingo 4:00pm Coordinadora: Dora Rodriguez 870-904-9137

Navidad – Tiempo de Veneración también a María Rosalba Quiroz, Directora

Como cada año, ya se acerca nuevamente la Navidad, y como cada año nos sorprendemos de los acelerados que pasan los meses. Lo cierto es que aunque cada año de la vuelta tan rápida, nuestros corazones están listos para conmemorar nuevamente el Nacimiento de Nuestro Señor. Este año el tema de la revista “Catholic Connection” se sentra en la Virgen María y queremos recordar las cuatro fechas del año en que la Santisima Virgen es recordada por toda la Iglesia: el 8 de Diciembre celebramos su Inmaculada Concepción; el 8 de Septiembre su nacimiento es – lógicamente 9 meses después de su concepción. Pero también el 1º del Año celebramos su Maternidad como Madre De Dios y de la Iglesia; El 15 de Agosto celebramos su Asunción al Cielo.

Oración de San Juan Pablo II a Nuestra Madre en la Misa en Frascati, 8 de septiembre de 1980: ¡Oh Virgen naciente, esperanza y aurora de salvación para todo el mundo, vuelve benigna tu mirada materna hacia todos nosotros, reunidos aquí para celebrar y proclamar tus glorias! ¡Oh Virgen fiel, que siempre estuviste dispuesta y fuiste solícita para acoger, conservar y meditar la Palabra de Dios, haz que también nosotros, en medio de las dramáticas vicisitudes de la historia, sepamos mantener siempre intacta nuestra fe cristiana, tesoro precioso que nos han transmitido nuestros padres! ¡Oh Virgen potente, que con tu pie aplastaste la cabeza de la serpiente tentadora, haz que cumplamos, día tras dÍa, nuestras promesas bautismales, con las cuales hemos renunciado a Satanás, a sus obras y a sus seducciones, y que sepamos dar en el mundo un testimonio alegre de esperanza cristiana! ¡Oh Virgen clemente, que abriste siempre tu corazón materno a las invocaciones de la humanidad, a veces dividida por el desamor y también,

desgraciadamente, por el odio y por la guerra, haz que sepamos siempre crecer todos, según la enseñanza de tu Hijo, en la unidad y en la paz, para ser dignos hijos del único Padre celestial!

Amén.

Celebremos esta Navidad a Nuestra Madre y la Madre de Dios, unidos a Nuestro Señor Jesucristo que vino hecho un hermoso niño al mundo para mostrarnos el camino al Padre. ¡FELIZ NAVIDAD!

Calendario de Diciembre, 2021 4 Reunión de Coordinadores Novenarios y Celebraciones a la Virgen de Guadalupe – Buscar en las Iglesias con Comunidad Hispana.

Posadas y celebraciones de Navidad también siguiente guías y horarios de sus parroquias.

CONTACTO DIOCESANO: Rosalba Quiroz, Directora 318.219.7265 rquiroz@dioshpt.org Maria Ivelis Sanchez, Secretaria 318.219.7257 isanchez@dioshpt.org DECEMBER 2021 7

Saint Joseph & Jesus statue outside Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Shreveport Picture: Kirsten Shrewsberry, Saint Joseph Director of Communications

8 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

Over the years, much of what I’ve learned about getting closer to God, and subsequently becoming a saint, has culminated into one phrase: saying “yes.” Humility! I don’t think any of us, when we think of the attractive virtues, instinctively go to docility. Instead, we may think of patience, chastity, charity, temperance, all of the cool ones that we aspire to ascertain. But when you think about it, how do we practice those virtues- what is at the core of those? Saying “yes” when the opportunity arises.

Much of this humble and obedient theme is focused on our Holy Mother Mary during this time, and rightly so, she is amazing, but there’s another character who also said “yes,” and we know almost nothing about him- St. Joseph.

When you think of St. Joseph, what’s the first title you think of for him? Is it, Terror of Demons? Father of the Universal Church? Carpenter? For me, it’s Father of Jesus, Husband to Mary. And apparently, for Wikipedia, Google, and the USCCB, this is too. We may think to ourselves that that’s such an amazing title for our most beloved saint, but let’s dissect this for a moment. When you die, after living a full life of work, fun, adventure, and creation, after toiling through every emotional roller coaster and dealing with crisis after crisis that at the end of it all you were just remembered as, father of your child?

Picture yourself now and whatever you’re going through, maybe you’re having a hard time at work, your date just got canceled, you’re about to create some awesome sculpture. Now, think about how when you die, no one will remember you for that. How you slaved so much to create this cool sculpture, how you told all the right jokes at a party, how you cried your eyes out last weekend because x, y, or z. Sounds a bit underwhelming right?

When Mary came back from Elizabeth, noticeably pregnant, all eyes were on her. Joseph wanted to secretly divorce her, but an angel told him not to because Mary is the Mother of Jesus. When Jesus was born, Magi and shepherds came to adore Him. When Jesus was presented in the temple and years later found there once again, all eyes were on Mary and Jesus. It’s almost as if Joseph’s whole life, and subsequently what we know about him, stopped being about him when Jesus entered into his life and started being about a question- “how can I serve this child?” We’ll never know what great work Joseph was doing or what clients he had or what his specialty was, but that he was a carpenter. We’ll never know what Joseph taught Jesus about the faith or carpentry or how Joseph loved Mary - if he brought her flowers or sang her love songs, but that he was a spouse and father. We’ll never know exactly how Joseph felt when the Angel came to

Saint Joseph: He Said Yes him and said to not be afraid to take Mary into his house, but that he just... did it.

How amazing.

I don’t have any children, but when I think about being a parent, I think about taking the spotlight off of me and shining it on my child(ren) as much as I can- providing them opportunities for success, extra food off my plate, teaching them how to build a fence, anything that I think will help them succeed or grow. This, I think, is how to be a good Christian - taking the light away from us and answering, “how can I make this other person, more apparent?” Simply put, saying “yes” to the call.

Friends, we should strive to be as invisible as St. Joseph.

To have nothing written about him at the end of his days, not his hobbies, not any famous last words, not his accomplishments, not his trials, but instead the constant “yes” he said in raising a child that biologically wasn’t his. Constantly giving and allowing the spotlight to be on the other and be remembered for that- or better, not remembered. Because at the end of the day, the end of your life, end of time, your earthly audience doesn’t matter as much as the divine playwright and director, God, who will inevitably ask you, “will you do this for me?”

BENJAMIN LUCKETT is the Director of Communications at the Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans.

DECEMBER 2021 9

Mary & Joseph: Contemplatives in Action The Holy Family statue outside Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Shreveport

Many mystics speak of contemplation as a lived experience with God where one sifts through the feelings and thoughts of meditation, discusses these with God, and then, with God’s help, form some sort of action plan to live what they have experienced. It is an integral part of our faith journey where we come to know both God and ourselves better and realize our true identity as God’s beloved called to bring Christ into the world. As Catholics, we have a plethora of lay, religious, and ordained who have lived the contemplative lifestyle and took action to help change the world.

In chapter 1 of Matthew’s gospel, Joseph has decided to divorce Mary quietly so as not to shame her for being pregnant. In a dream, Joseph has a mystical experience with God through an angel advising that he should take Mary as his wife. In the story, this all seems to happen within a few seconds. But we know 10 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

it probably took some reflection and discernment.

Joseph may have asked if his dream was a real experience with God. Could Mary truly be pregnant by the Holy Spirit of God? What will happen if he takes her into his home? How mercilessly will they both be ridiculed? We do not hear how long Joseph sat with all of this, or how his conversation with God went. We do know, probably after deep prayer and discernment, Joseph hears his calling and becomes the earthly father of Jesus. Can you think of a time in your own spiritual journey where you unexpectedly met God and the experience led you to actions that were counter to what the culture would recommend?

Chapter 1 of Luke’s gospel describes Mary’s own mystical encounter. Where no dream is mentioned, she too is the recipient of an angel’s message announcing she will become a mother because of the power of the Holy Spirit. In this case, Luke tells

us that Mary was greatly troubled and pondered these things before she gives her answer. But again, with the contemplation of pondering, listening, and maybe even arguing with God, (“How can this be?”), she agreed to the plan and indeed birthed Christ into the world. However, before the birth, she took immediate action and brought Christ to her cousin Elizabeth.

And in the process, she sang the first canticle of Catholic Social Teaching where God takes the lowly, lifts them up, and calls them blessed, and does great things for them. She proclaims God’s mercy and his distaste for the proud and arrogant. He fills the hungry and continues to show mercy on his people. Early in her journey, Mary is bringing Christ and his mission to the world.

Still, in Luke’s gospel, Mary takes the action of traveling with Joseph to Bethlehem. After Jesus is born, the shepherds visit and recounted their own mystical experiences of angels in heaven. Once again, we are told that Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. More contemplation. More conversation with God. Who is this Jesus she has brought to humanity? What will her future look like? In the early steps of her unknown journey, how frightened this teenage girl must have been. Only eight days after Jesus’ birth, Luke tells us that a man in the temple named Simeon promises Mary that a sword will pierce her heart. I wonder what was moving in her thoughts and feelings. I wonder how she took this to God for help and consolation.

Back to Matthew’s gospel and Joseph has another dream. This time, he’s instructed to take Mary and the baby out of Israel and into the foreign and pagan land of Egypt to save the baby’s life. Joseph in his humanity had to ask: “you want me to do what?”

Become refugees in Egypt? I would love to ask Joseph how those conversations with God in contemplation sounded. But I do know, contemplation usually softens our hearts and leads us to a calling. How we respond is up to us. Joseph took the risk of listening to God and saving the baby Jesus from being executed

by Herod.

Advent is a wonderful time to talk to God about our current journey. It begins with quiet, holy listening.

What is stirring in you? Is it from God? Ask him

Advent is a wonderful time to talk to God about our current journey.

It begins with quiet, holy listening. What is stirring in you?

Is it from God? Ask him and wait. He will answer. And in the wait, allow him to soften your heart. and wait. He will answer. And in the wait, allow him to soften your heart. Then when he asks for your response, your action will be right in line with his desires for you. It is, for me, the best way I can expand my love relationship with God and then do something about it. It’s not difficult. Just follow Mary and Joseph’s lead. They modeled contemplation and action for us 2,000 years ago, and it’s still the perfect model for many today.

MIKE VAN VRANKEN is a spiritual director, a member of the teaching staff for the Archdiocesan Spirituality Center of New Orleans Formation of New Spiritual Directors, an author and a speaker.

DECEMBER 2021 11

“AND MARY SAID, “MY SOUL PROCLAIMS THE GREATNESS OF THE LORD.” -LUKE: 14: 46

Growing Closer to Christ through His Mother Mary Our Diocese is blessed with three patrons, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Peter Claver, and our third patron, perhaps the most recognizable, the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. During your daily prayer, turn to Mary for inspiration as you grow in love, worship, and adoration for God. There is so much to say about our Blessed Mother Mary, the greatest of all saints. She is a model Patron Saint, an example for us in our daily lives. She reminds us how to model joy, even in the face of sorrow. She shows us how to fully receive God. She teaches us how to answer God in whatever He may ask of us. Just as Mary answered, we should also answer, yes. Our positive response will open our hearts and lives to God and His will.

Statue of the Blessed Mother at the Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans; Courtsey of SJB 12 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

Our relationship with Mary leads us to God. Just as when Jesus was upon the cross and spoke His final words to His disciple, we remember this message is for us as well: John 19:27: “Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” Mary is our Mother, too. So we naturally turn to our spiritual Mother in prayer, asking for her intercession, just as we would turn to one another and ask for prayer for our intentions. We join the Church worldwide when we call upon our Mother Mary’s intercession through Marian

Prayers, the Magnificat, Hail Mary, and Memorare (from Saint Bernard of Clairvaux) and when we pray the Angelus (a devotion that recalls the Incarnation) and the Rosary.

Mary is foremost the Blessed Virgin Mother. Yet she has so many titles; this list comes from the Marian Fathers (www.thedivinemercy.org): Theotokos – God-Bearer, Immaculate Conception, Blessed Mother, Mother of Mercy, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of Perpetual Help, Our Lady of Czestochowa, and Queen of Peace.

Pope Francis’ quote reminds us what Mary is not: “It’s true that Christian piety always gives beautiful titles to her, like a son to the mother … how many beautiful things does a son say to the mother? But pay attention: the [beautiful] things that the Church, the saints, say to Mary, take nothing away from Christ’s uniqueness as a redeemer … Jesus extended Mary’s maternity to the entire Church when He entrusted her to his beloved disciple shortly before dying on the cross … From that moment on, we have all been gathered under her mantle” [General Audience, March 24, 2021].

Consider the Vatican-approved Marian Apparitions (earthly appearances of the Blessed Virgin Mary come down from heaven connecting us to Jesus). Many are assigned with special feast days in the life of the Church.

Do you recognize them all?

Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec 12), La Salette (Sept 19), the Golden Heart (Aug 22), Knock (Aug 21), Fatima (May 13), Lourdes (Feb 11), Virgin of the Poor (May 31), Happy Meetings (Sept 27), Miraculous Medal (Nov 27), Hope (Jan 17), Help of Christians (Jan 13), Gietrzwald (June 27), Lezajsk, Siluva (Sept 8), Zion (Nov 17), Mother of the World (Nov 28).

In addition to the apparition feasts, we also celebrate The Feast of the Annunciation (Mar 25), Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Jan 1), Assumption of Mary into Heaven (Aug 15), Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Sept 8), Our Lady of the Rosary (Oct 7), and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec 8). The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception is one of four Marian Church doctrines; this one was defined in 1854 by Pope Pius IX. In 2018, Pope Francis proclaimed that the ancient devotion to Mary under her title of Mother of the Church be included in the liturgical calendar and celebrated each

the blessed mother at a glance Birth September 8, Nativity

Feast day December 8

Death August 15, Assumption of Mary

Note The Blessed Virgin Mary was free of the stain of original sin from the moment of her conception in the womb of her mother, Saint Anne

Patron Patroness of all humanity, of mothers, and the principal patroness of the entire United States, countries, and dioceses year on the day after Pentecost. In 2022, we will celebrate that feast on June 6, another opportunity for prayers to our Lady.

Consider how your prayer life can be enriched with Marian devotions, by turning to Our Mother for intercession and guidance, and more importantly, by growing more fervent in our praise of God and our desire to become closer to Jesus Christ, through His Mother. This is advice all of us can follow, from Saint Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa), “If you ever feel distressed during the day, call upon our Lady, just say this simple prayer ‘Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now.’”

CAROL GATES is the Director of Pastoral Ministries at the Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans in Shreveport.

DECEMBER 2021 13

14 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

AFIFA KARAM: A LITERARY TRAILBLAZER AT REST IN ST. JOSEPH CEMETERY When touring cemeteries, visitors often ask to see the final resting places of famous people; the graves of actors, civic leaders, philanthropists, musicians, and professional athletes alike draw people from all over hoping to pay tribute to their lost heroes. But what of those whose fame is less flashy, dimmed by the passage of time; those “ahead of their time,” individuals who worked tirelessly during their life to change the world, only to be misunderstood or underappreciated while still living? They too deserve such pilgrimages.

Interred in a beautiful, albeit misnamed family tomb in the north section of St. Joseph Cemetery in the Diocese of Shreveport lies a literary trailblazer; a Lebanese immigrant who upon arrival in the United States at the turn of the century began an inimitable journey that would inspire scores of authors, journalists, and novelists for decades to come. Her name was Afifa Karam.

Afifa learned to read and write as a young girl born and raised in the beautiful coastal town of Amchit, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea in Lebanon.

Amchit, rich in historical and archeological sites,

was home to scholars and philosophers renowned in the Levant region for their contributions to society.

Afifa’s journey to the United States began when her cousin John Karam, who was already a successful entrepreneur in Shreveport, decided to go home to Amchit to find a wife. Afifa, just fourteen at the time, acquiesced (whether for love, obedience, or opportunity), and the two made a fitting pair. They married and John Karam returned to Shreveport with his new wife.

Acclimating to her new life and privileged status proved productive for Afifa. She spent her days educating herself, particularly on American history and culture. Living within what The Shreveport Journal described as, “the local Syrian colony,” Afifa had access to Arabic publications by Lebanese and Syrian writers, most of whom resided in New York City.

In the early 20th century, Al-Hoda [“the guidance” in Arabic] was a popular Arabic-language newspaper published by the celebrated intellectual Naoum Mokarzel. Mercurial and controversial, Mokarzel met a young Afifa Karam during a

DECEMBER 2021 15

trip to Shreveport. With much in common, both stalwart, principled, and Marionites from Lebanon, the two began corresponding. They shared writings and became allies in opposition to gender discrimination against women in education; a lifelong passion for them both.

Afifa travelled to New York City often. During these visits, Naoum Maokarzel and his younger brother Salloum introduced Afifa to other Lebanese intellectuals which no doubt fueled her commitment to writing. Karam was first published in Mokarzel’s Al-Hoda at the age of seventeen.

Mokarzel soon assigned her a weekly column. She gained 16 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

popularity and relative infamy within the Arabic-speaking community, often being harassed and even shamed for her bold views and progressive ideas. She then made history in 1912 at the age of twenty-nine by acquiring and managing the monthly Arabic magazine Majallat al-Alam al-Jadid al-Nisaiyah (The New World, a Ladies Monthly Arabic Magazine.)

In the following years, Karam’s career soared, she created another monthly publication, Al-Maraa al-Souriya (The Syrian Woman), translated books from English and French into Arabic, and became the first Arab woman novelist in

history when she published her first book, Badī’a wa Fu’ād in 1906.

Throughout her career, Karam remained a staunch advocate of education, especially for women, once stating, “The worst kind of women are the ignorant ones who are the disease of civilization and the curse of modernization.” Living up to her reputation, she was relentlessly forthright about what she considered the disgrace of illiteracy.

Her articles, books, and translations aimed to expose Arab women in her community to progressive ideas, stressing the importance of knowledge, reason, education, and intellect.

From her position as a wealthy and prominent woman, she continuously emphasized that money and status was useless to a woman who did not educate herself and that literacy was the key to self-improvement and freedom from societal confines. Karam also wrote about the positive impact of women working together, no matter their socio-economic or cultural background, no doubt inspired by her experiences immigrating from Amchit to Shreveport.

During her decades of work, Afifa’s husband John Karam [nearly always credited in newspapers as “K. John” – the same misnomer that graces the front of their family tomb today] steadfastly supported her. Having no children of their own, John and Afifa raised their careers [John, a business owner and often-times accused “bootlegger,” Afifa a successful publisher and influential intellectual] and committed themselves to supporting the betterment of their fellow Lebanese-Americans.

A few years before her death in 1924 at the age of forty-one, Afifa’s dear friend and colleague Naoum Mokarzel called upon her to take over management of Al-Hoda, the same newspaper wherein her first article was published years before. Al-Hoda would go on to become the longest-running Arabic-language publication in the United States, still being published fifty years after Karam’s death. A short announcement about the impressive promotion was printed on page seven of The Shreveport Journal on January 30th, 1919. Her obituary was printed in local papers in late July of 1924; it praised her career and mentioned her widespread charitable giving, but also featured several mistakes including her name.

As the years passed and major colleges and universities around the world began to feature courses on feminist literature, Christian intellectuals, and Arab-American writers, Afifa Karam’s legacy began to be truly realized. Surely she would be proud to know that her influence is increasingly recognized, studied, and honored through the research by women who are walking the trail she blazed over one hundred years ago.

Works Cited: Karroum, Pauline Mouhanna. “Afifa Karam: Arab American Trailblazer for Women’s Rights.” Inside Arabia, May 11, 2021. https://insidearabia. com/afifa-karam-arab-american-trailblazer-for-womens-rights/.

Saylor, Elizabeth Claire. “A Bridge Too Soon: The Life and Works of Afīfa Karam, the First Arab American Woman Novelist,” 2015.

“Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies Archive.”

NC State University. Accessed November 4, 2021. https://lebanesestudies. omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/collections/show/69.

Ghurayyib, Rose. “Afifa Karam: A Pioneering Lebanese Journalist.” AlRaida Journal, 1970, 8. https://doi.org/10.32380/alrj.v0i0.935.

Suleiman, Michael W., Suad Joseph, and Louise Cainkar. Arab American Women: Representation and Refusal. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2021.

KATE RHEA is the Library/Cemetery Administrative Assistant for Slattery Library and Saint Joseph Cemetery at the Diocese of Shreveport.

DECEMBER 2021 17

mary’s journey This month’s column is written from Mary’s point of view from the moment of conception to the moment of Jesus’ birth. Imagine Mary had a journal, and this is what she wrote.

“Madonna and Child,” Bartolome Esteban Murillo, c.1650

DAY 1 I am overcome with utter joy and amazement about what happened to me today. The day started like any other: I woke up, dressed, helped mother with breakfast, and began my daily chores. About midday I decided to rest for a bit, and it was during this time that the most incredible thing happened: an angel of the Lord appeared! I know it sounds a bit crazy, but St. Gabriel was here, in my room, sharing his good news! This good news is so unbelievable that I am almost too shocked to write it. This is what he told me: “Don’t be afraid, Mary; God has shown you his grace. Listen! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of King David, his ancestor. He will rule over the people of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.” I am beyond shocked that God would choose me, a simple Jewish girl with no wealth or prestige. God chose little ol’ me to carry the Savior of the world in my womb.

I am simply at a loss for words. Soon after the angel spoke to me, I immediately reminded him that I am a 18 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

virgin, therefore I cannot be pregnant. Although I am betrothed to sweet Joseph, we are remaining pure. He then spoke these words to me: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you. For this reason, the baby will be holy and will be called the Son of God.” At that moment, God filled me with His peace, and I humbly replied that I am a servant of the Lord, and I am ready to let it be as it was spoken to me.

I must confess here, although God has filled me with His peace, I still have a small piece of my heart that is fearful. What will my parents say? What will Joseph do? Will I be shamed and ridiculed? Am I walking into the fire of judgment and hatred? Holy Spirit, fill this space and atmosphere, flood me with your strength, hold me tight, allow your words to be my words, strip away all fear that still lies within me. You are my wind, you are the breath in my lungs, and you are my guide.

I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

DAY 140 Today I am about halfway there. I cannot wait to meet my sweet boy! Since St. Gabriel visited me, life has been hectic. I, of course, told Joseph immediately.

He was initially shocked and upset. Instead of openly shaming me, he planned a quiet divorce. I am so happy to report he did not go through with it. Not long after I told him about my pregnancy, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in his dreams, and this is what he said: “Joseph, Son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.” Joseph came to me as soon as he woke from his dream, and together we planned our future life. Around this same time, I learned that my cousin Elizabeth is pregnant. I was so thrilled to hear the news that I decided Joseph and I needed to leave Nazareth and go to them right away. The travel there was quite treacherous, but I knew God would guide and protect us throughout the journey. When we finally arrived, I ran inside to greet Zechariah and Elizabeth. I could not believe she was already six months pregnant with her son John. As she embraced me, she told me that when she heard my greetings, the baby leaped in her womb!

How amazing that even John knows that his cousin is the Savior of the world! I stayed with them for about three months and only most recently arrived back in Nazareth. My body is tired from our journey, but it is worth it. I love Elizabeth so.

THE Day: Jesus is here!

My sweet baby is absolutely perfect! He has the most angelic face, the most beautiful brown eyes, and the softest skin! His arrival brought much joy but little ease due to our circumstances. When I was close to giving birth, we learned about the census ordered by Caesar, which required us to travel to Bethlehem. It took us several days to get there. I rode on a donkey, very pregnant, and very uncomfortable.

Unfortunately, when we arrived, none of the inns had any room. I ended up giving birth to Jesus in a nearby stable that had various animals that surrounded us. I was able to wrap him up and place him in a manger.

Shortly after his birth, shepherds from nearby fields came to see Jesus, their Savior. Angels of the Lord who

Holy Spirit, fill this space and atmosphere, flood me with your strength, hold me tight, allow your words to be my words, strip away all fear that still lies within me. You are my wind, you are the breath in my lungs, and you are my guide. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. informed them of his birth visited them before Jesus’ arrival. A few days later, three wise men (known as magi) came to visit. They saw the brilliant star which shone brightly above us and decided to make the long journey to see their new King. All three were not only wise but also very generous. They brought with them gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They informed Joseph and me that King Herod is interested in meeting Jesus, but they fear he wants to kill him because Herod knows Jesus is the new King. This news, of course, frightened me, but I am happy they ultimately chose a different way home to avoid seeing King Herod again.

Regardless of any of it, I would change nothing. I am humbled and honored to be his mother. I love you, my son. Happy birthday, Jesus!

MARY ARCEMENT ALEXANDER is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a private practice in Shreveport, LA. You can read more on her blog, www.throughhiseyes.love DECEMBER 2021 19

20 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

The Remarkable Journey of Black Catholics in Louisiana The early popes, followers, and fathers of the Church were made up of a myriad of skin tones and ethnicities, not unlike the unique melting-pot culture of Louisiana.

“North Africa was the Bible belt of early Christianity,” said Christopher Bellitto, a church historian at Kean University in New Jersey. “And Carthage was the buckle,” he added, referring to the city located in modern-day Tunisia.

Three early popes hailed from that region: the fourteenth pope, Victor I (circa 189-198 A.D.); the 32nd pope, Miltiades (311-314 A.D.); and the 49th pope, Gelasius I (492-496 A.D.). These three popes are considered by scholars to be the Black popes.

The Rev. Cyprian Davis, a Benedictine priest who is a leading historian of African-American Catholicism, explains, “it’s important for us to look and say that yes, the early papacy was not white … it was much more diverse than you might think.”

The early popes, followers, and fathers of the Church were made up of a myriad of skin tones and ethnicities, not unlike the unique melting-pot culture of Louisiana.

These second, third, and fifth-century African popes

represented the culture and color of the Roman Empire, physically resembling modern middle-easterners rather than West or Sub-Saharan African peoples we would describe as Black today, but their appointment during the first few hundred years demonstrates a climate of diversity within the Church; a racial and cultural diversity that the Catholic Church in the United States would struggle and often fail to realize.

With slavery being interwoven in the birth and early development of the United States, featuring prominently in her most intimate internal conflict - the American Civil War, and lingering within cultural identities of citizens hundreds of years later, Black Catholicism did not progress and expand through modern times in the same way it did in other countries around the world.

In 2020, 1,832 years after the first African pope, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Wilton Gregory as the first African-American Cardinal forcing many to recognize the appointment as a confounding example

All Photos: Black Catholic History Mass, Saint Mary of the Pines (November 7, 2021); Kierstin Richter

DECEMBER 2021 21

of that lagging progress. Staggering as that nearly 2,000-year gap may be, the relative absence of African Catholics didn’t begin with what some scholars deem America’s original sin of slavery.

The early Muslim conquests, which began with the arrival of the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the seventh century, spread Islam throughout the Levant, Persia, and into Northern Africa; to this day, those areas are predominantly Muslim. As a result of religious wars and the shifting of powers in Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East up until the twentieth century, Catholics from Sub-Saharan and West African areas accounted for less than one percent of Catholics worldwide.

The unique identity of Black Catholics in America would be realized starting in the eighteenth century, growing for the next hundred years and Louisiana, with its main cultural influences being French, Spanish, and West African would lead the way toward that realization.

Due to the distinctive class and societal structure created in Louisiana, and the former French possession of Louisiana, free people of color, or gens de couleur libre, were able to form their own identity in which Catholicism played a large role. “During the early eighteenth century.

Capuchin missionaries as well as Ursuline nuns built and maintained churches and schools for all people in south Louisiana, no matter their race or social status.” Proselytization of slaves and free people of color pre-Civil War in Louisiana gave way to integrated Catholic congregations by the time parishes were officially designated in 1861. The prevalence of being “in-between,” ethnically, yet bound by the Catholic faith and the French language ensured multi-racial Catholic congregations.

Louisiana had, for a time, distinguished itself as relatively impervious to harshly drawn lines concerning race; for example, a mere decade after the Civil War, P. B. S. Pinchback became governor – a first for Louisiana and the United States overall. However, with the end of Reconstruction looming, Irish and German communities began to assemble private Catholic parishes, excluding themselves and discriminating against diocesan interracial congregations. This selfsegregation by different immigrant communities started before the Civil War but became more prominent in the 22 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

years leading up to 1900. It was during this ambiguous period in Louisiana, Reverend Antoine Blanc founded the first Black Catholic Parish in the United States - St. Augustine Church in New Orleans.

The progress of Black Catholicism, championed by such prominent figures as Daniel Rudd, Servant of God Julia Greeley, Augustus Tolton, and Mathilda Taylor Beasley, OSF would soon meet a nearly insurmountable challenge to its growth – Jim Crow South.

Between 1910 and 1930, the First Great Migration saw some six million African-Americans relocating from the rural, segregated, and discriminatory southern states to the more economically stable and what they hoped would be less racially discriminatory states. An influx of African-Americans to the social, political, and economic centers of the United States – cities like Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D. C. – resulted in more acute segregation among the diverse population remaining in the South. Aggressively-enacted laws regarding disenfranchisement, general underfunding of resources accessible to African-Americans, and discriminatory housing regulations, many of which also affected poor whites, compounded the separation of the races.

In Louisiana, this insidious transformation forced out Black Catholics by the 1920s, just as the rise of the Ku Klux Klan was reaching a fever pitch. Anti-Catholicism was rampant among those who sympathized with the Klan’s ideology, causing more instability within Black Catholic congregations.

What was once a predominately integrated Catholic colony, Louisiana changed rapidly in the late nineteenth century and throughout the early twentieth century, having been permeated by scores of white Anglo-Saxon immigrants from neighboring Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.

“Thus situated in 1920, Louisiana must have seemed like a Kleagle’s dream come true. It was a Southern state, which obviously gave it emotional ties to the Reconstruction Klan; it contained large numbers of Negroes to be “kept in their place;” there were Catholics by the score, who could be characterized as “plotters for the Pope.”

Surviving the post-war lawlessness, violence, and everpresent racial tension led to some Black Catholics in Louisiana joining in the First Great Migration in hopes of a more peaceful place to worship. Nevertheless, many Black Catholics strengthened their established congregations despite the menacing societal and cultural atmosphere in Louisiana. Evidence of this can be seen in the establishment of Xavier University in 1924, the first and only Catholic HBCU (Historically Black College or University), and in the success and growth of previously established ministries such as Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, St. Augustine Church.

Throughout the twentieth century, Black Catholics in the United States established and solidified their place in the Catholic Church by joining together with Catholics of all races to lead an organized and impassioned opposition to segregation. During the 1950 and 1960s, Black Catholics developed their own character concerning liturgy and spiritual patrimony.

This period is known as the Black Catholic Movement and from it, modern Black Catholicism was born and has been passionately practiced by African-American Catholics ever since.

Since that time of rebirth, many of Louisiana’s Black Catholic community have helped to establish national organizations such as the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus (NBCCC) in 1968, The National Black Sisters’ Conference in 1968, National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life (NBCAL) in 1997, and Our Mother of Africa Chapel inside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception – also established in 1997.

KATE RHEA is the Library/Cemetery Administrative Assistant for Slattery Library and Saint Joseph Cemetery at the Diocese of Shreveport.

Footnotes 1 Christina Morales, “The Rise of Wilton Gregory, the First African-American Cardinal,” nytimes (The New York Times, October 25, 2020), https://www.nytimes. com/2020/10/25/us/wilton-gregory-catholic-cardinal.html.

2 Regional Distribution of Catholics, 1910 and 2012, photograph, n.d., Pew Research Center.

3 John Bernard Alberts, “Origins of Black Catholic Parishes in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, 1718-1920.” (dissertation, Louisiana State University, 1998), vi.

4 John Bernard Alberts, “Origins of Black Catholic Parishes in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, 1718-1920.” (dissertation, Louisiana State University, 1998), iii.

5 Kenneth E. Harrell, “The Ku Klux Klan in Louisiana: 1920-1930” (dissertation, Louisiana State University, 1966), Abstract, vi.

6 Kenneth E. Harrell, “The Ku Klux Klan in Louisiana: 1920-1930” (dissertation, Louisiana State University, 1966), 126.

7 Matthew J. Cressler, Authentically Black and Truly Catholic: The Rise of Black Catholicism in the Great Migration (New York: New York University Press, 2017).

Works Cited Alberts, John Bernard. “Origins of Black Catholic Parishes in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, 1718-1920.” Dissertation, Louisiana State University, 1998.

Cressler, Matthew J. Authentically Black and Truly Catholic: The Rise of Black Catholicism in the Great Migration. New York: New York University Press, 2017.

“Examples of Jim Crow Laws - Oct. 1960 - Civil Rights.” Examples of Jim Crow Laws . Ferris State University, Jim Crow Museum. Accessed November 9, 2021. https:// www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/news/jimcrow/links/misclink/examples.htm.

Harrell, Kenneth E. “The Ku Klux Klan in Louisiana: 1920-1930.” Dissertation, Louisiana State University, 1966.

Morales, Christina. “The Rise of Wilton Gregory, the First African-American Cardinal.” nytimes. The New York Times, October 25, 2020. https://www.nytimes. com/2020/10/25/us/wilton-gregory-catholic-cardinal.html.

Regional Distribution of Catholics, 1910 and 2012. February 13, 2013. Photograph.

Pew Research Center.

DECEMBER 2021 23

faithful food

His Banner Over Us Is Love Over the past couple of years, we have experienced many changes as a society, as individuals, and as families. These changes, too numerous and varied to take up in this forum, have affected us in many ways. And while there have been many “unintended consequences” along the way, I am discovering some unexpected blessings, especially as I prepare for the upcoming Advent and Christmas seasons.

Almost daily, we are hearing and feeling the result of supply chain issues. We were urged to shop for Christmas presents in October. I smiled at that sage advice since many friends and myself as well had already been shopping. I belong to a group of friends who are frugal by nature, and we are always open to sales, bargains, and we are also tuned in to the value such exercise brings. I would hazard to guess that there is barely a reader among us who has not experienced the triumph of capturing a sales item which seemed perfect in the store but once settled in our homes never quite fit, worked out, or otherwise functioned as we had hoped. In equal measure, the often-used item we wonder how we lived without. So there are skills involved in the employment of frugality - one skill is consideration, another impulse control. Sadly dear reader, I have yet to master these skills and am still in training.

There is a growing stack of Christmas gifts for family and close and dear friends stowed under a quilt in the library in my house. I wrap (all paper and bags 24 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

purchased on clearance as long ago as two years with tissue paper which has softened from reuse, and I confess I have ironed it before) and smile and crossoff lists, which are as familiar to me as any prayer.

There are sets of recipes in cookbooks and on backs of envelopes smudged with ingredients, who wait to be called up for late November to 12th Night in January.

Tried and true and unusual (one might even say exotic) ingredients for this time of the year alone are purchased wherever and whenever they are found. I am prepared this year for the cooking, the gift-giving, and now I turn my time and attention to preparing myself spiritually to celebrate the seasons of Advent and Christmas, and yes, they are spiritual seasons as charged with wonder as Lent is filled with resolve.

Prayers specific to this time of year are gathered and novenas are scheduled (and yes, I do mean they are added to my calendar), treasured poems and stories are retrieved and placed near a favorite chair, CDs and albums, yes vinyl albums, moved to the front of the line for instant relief and mood elevation, and finally, the old Advent calendar whose thick paper doors have me concerned if they will make another season. I did mention unexpected blessings earlier, and here are some for me as I revel in this special and holy time shot through with memories and traditions. Let’s travel to 1966. In the scene, there are two women, mother, and daughter pasting green stamps in booklets. These were trading stamps that were given as a bonus when one shopped or “traded” with a particular merchant, and while their cash value was nil, they could be traded for

items in the S and H Green Stamps Catalog. That was their goal, for it was just after Thanksgiving, and soon Christmas would be here. These stamps provided all the gifts under the tree that year. I love that memory, for it leads me to the unexpected blessing from my mother and grandmother of faith and works. There was never a doubt shown to us - just faith in the Christ Child and work they had no doubt would be blessed. A second memory is much more recent but still long ago. A financially lean December though our Christmas spirit was undamped. My mother gave gifts she fashioned by her own hand and her own means. One such gift remains in my mind - a jar layered with ingredients, which when combined with milk and an egg would render a sweet loaf of bread good accompaniment to a cup of tea or coffee. Each jar held ingredients she knew the recipient would enjoy, so no two were the same. The bread was good, the blessing of a mother’s love incalculable.

God is no less intimate with us than our loved ones are, has no less knowledge and understanding of our tastes, strengths, shortcomings, and joys. Mary deserves as much reverence and love as we have for our own mothers (those who came to us not only by our birth but also by adoption, absorption into the heart of a family, or marriage). After all, she could have said no, but thankfully she knew what was best for each one of us.

This holy season of Advent I pray with gratitude for being able to go to Mass, to participate fully in the greatest gift ever, the gift of God’s continual self-giving in the Eucharist.

This holy Christmastide, I pray to feel the joy of a gift fashioned for me. This year the blessings are all around us, gathering us into a loving embrace. Can we do less? I think not.

May we carry this joy and feeling of God’s loving embrace forward, and may it serve us well as well as teach us to serve.

Recipe for a Blessed Christmas: • Read Luke and Matthew’s infancy narratives.

• Read Two from Galilee by Marjorie Holmes.

• Listen to John Shea’s Christmas classic “Behold the Vulnerable God.” • Handel’s Messiah and Carol’s from Kings are standard • Charlie Brown Christmas AND Bells of St Mary’s are a must.

• Watch It’s a Wonderful Life.

• Don’t skip adoration... think about the gift!

• Bake all your favorite Christmas delights but call your friends, and maybe do it as a group.

• Begin with the Advent wreath, and even if you live alone as I do, we are not excused from marking and observing.

• Practice at least one random act of Christmas kindness.

• Pray the St Andrew Novena first, then the O Antiphon Novena, then round it out with the Epiphany Novena - quite a roadmap!

• Take the lessons and blessings forward with you and treasure them all the days of your life.

KIM LONG is the Director of Religious Education at Saint Mary of the Pines Catholic Church.

DECEMBER 2021 25

daughters of the cross series

Monsignor Napoleon Joseph Roulleaux with the SVA Graduates of 1915, L-R: Jamie Freeman (Rev. Mother Mary Elizabeth, D. C.), Olange Scallan (Sister Aloysius, D. C.), Msgr. Roulleaux, Olga Drouin (Roy), Iva Hawthorne (Langlow), Mary Stella Griggs (Sister Christina, D. C.) Daughters of the Cross in Louisiana: 1855-1955

Rising From the Ashes It is Friday, March 16, 1906. As the students are enjoying after-lunch recess in the recreation hall, Sister Loretto O’Neill calmly walks in with instructions to go to the chapel to pray for a special intention. The reason, unbeknownst to the girls, is that fire has been discovered in the dormitory on the far side. The fire department is summoned, but with no fire hydrants nearby and a strong, gusty wind whipping the flames, all present soon realize the battle is lost. Within two hours, every building is destroyed except the barn, the chaplain’s cottage, and one shed. Although the material loss is great, the Sisters and pupils are unhurt.

Arrangements are made for the teaching Sisters and the boarders to stay at St. Mary’s Academy in Shreveport.

The Knights of Columbus offer their hall for classes, and the Sisters manage to keep both schools operating in the available space. Local citizens offer support by housing some of the Sisters in their homes. Some Sisters remain at St. Vincent’s to care for the poultry and livestock, sleeping in the barn or in tents.

Fundraising for rebuilding begins immediately with the assistance of Messrs. Hiram Forbing, Joseph Bernard 26 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

Slattery, John Francis Slattery, and Peter Youree. The chaplain, Father Roulleaux, a native of Normandy, France, draws on the Gothic chateaux of his memory in designing the new convent. Under his direction, bricks are made onsite from the abundant red clay and fired in kilns heated with firewood cut from his adjoining property. By early September, the laundry building and adjoining two-story dormitory are ready and the fall term is begun. The east wing and central section are completed in the spring. The public gets a first glimpse of the new school and auditorium for the graduation ceremonies of 1907, followed by dinner on the grounds. The building is consecrated by Bishop Cornelius Van de Ven on August 11, 1907.

Instead of losing students due to the disruption, as is feared, St. Vincent’s retains the ones it has and gains more.

And it continues to grow. Boarders number 88 in 1910; 100 in 1911. Besides the excellent education provided by the Sisters, the pupils get plenty of fresh air and exercise with frequent walks, picnics, and even rides in the creek on Father Roulleaux’s hand-built boat. With the Sisters’ guidance, they joyfully plan and produce celebrations for

St. Vincent’s College and Academy, ca. 1940’s Courtesy of Sister Sharon Rambin, SFCC

Sisters’ jubilees, Bishop Van de Ven’s jubilee, and Father Roulleaux’s papal appointment as Domestic Prelate.

These occasions are marked with imaginative decorations, special meals, plays, recitations, and music (including the favorites of the honorees). At the graduation ceremonies, students receiving top honors are awarded handsome medals donated by local organizations.

St. Vincent’s first graduate, class of 1869, Mrs. Bettie Scott Youree, becomes the first president of the newly formed Alumnae Association in 1912. At the Alumnae Banquet, she announces her gift of $5,000 towards the construction of a new chapel. After a survey of other college and convent chapels, Father Roulleaux chooses the design of the Spring Hill College chapel in Mobile, Alabama. The Jesuit Fathers at Spring Hill graciously give him the plans. A beautiful white marble altar, hand-carved in Italy to Father Roulleaux’s specifications, is donated by Messrs. Thomas and W. A. Caplis in memory of their mother, Mrs. Margaret Hoos Caplis. The west wing of the convent is added, and the cornerstone of the new chapel is laid on September 11, 1916.

The chapel walls have been erected when, on February 20, 1917, the bishop, chaplain, and Sisters notice a roaring sound while sitting on the porch. Presently, a tornado comes into view, carrying along a burning house! It appears to be heading straight for them! Immediately, Monsignor Roulleaux rushes to the edge of the structure and with an upraised hand makes the sign of the cross toward the storm. The tornado turns away and the convent is spared.

The chapel is successfully completed, and the dedication is held on July 27, 1917.

Monsignor Roulleaux’s health quickly fades after this crowning achievement, and he dies on March 9, 1918.

During his 35 years as their chaplain, the Daughters of the Cross has welcomed 17 new Sisters from once-barren

St. Vincent’s Chapel Altar donated by the Caplis family Vincentian Diamond Jubilee Edition: 1869-1944

Louisiana, in addition to the many who have arrived from the French novitiate at Lambezellec. They have added seven new schools within the diocese. With his extraordinary support, they have built a new school and chapel at St. Vincent’s, then rebuilt a magnificent new edifice when the first ones were lost in the heartbreaking fire. The Sisters and their pupils have enjoyed the fruits of a strengthened spiritual and academic program and a spirit of unity, and enrollment has mushroomed.

Monsignor Napoleon Joseph Roulleaux is interred in the Mausoleum at Forest Park Cemetery East in Shreveport, Louisiana, in the lower-left corner on the right-hand side.

PATTI UNDERWOOD is a lover of history and is blessed to be a graduate of St. Vincent’s Academy and LSU-Shreveport.

DECEMBER 2021 27

Kindness is Practiced Here “The Holy Spirit is alive and well at SJB and our future looks extremely bright.”

St. John Berchmans Catholic School is a place full of tradition. For the past twenty years or more, we have met as a school community each day in the morning assembly. We pray together, celebrate each other’s accomplishments, and get set for the day. Each year we come together to celebrate Grandparents’ day, Christmas, and Veterans Day with special programs organized by Tookie Barr. We share our school spirit at Monster Mash and in the festivities of Catholic Schools Week. We grow deeper in our faith with the Living Rosary, All Saints Day Procession, and Living Stations. This year, as we again rejoice in our traditions, we are also experiencing change and new traditions in the making. Our principal, Mr. Trey Woodham, has just finished his first full semester as our leader and ushered in a vision of revitalization for the school.

His plan for the school is summed up best in his own words: “It’s hard to believe the first nine weeks has come and gone. Our school has seen two major aesthetic changes in landscaping to the north and east sides of our building as well as restriping our back parking lot. Academically we have successfully transitioned our middle school to a block schedule, which has been a huge success.

We have also introduced an amazing partnership with LSUS that provides our 7th and 8th-grade college-level instruction 28 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

with a Humanities 101 class. To top it off, our parents have been incredible this year donating their time, talent, and treasure. The Holy Spirit is alive and well at SJB, and our future looks extremely bright. It is an honor to be an active part of our SJB School and church community.”

We began this year with a change to the block schedule for middle school. This schedule change allows students to take eight courses over two days with each student taking Religion, History, Math, Science, Language Arts, Writing, Latin, PE, and an Elective. “I love [the block schedule] because I have more time to incorporate a variety of activities within a class period as opposed to rushing through a lesson in fifty minutes,” says Amy Vitacca--the middle school history teacher. The change to 90-minute blocks has not only affected the opportunities teachers have for more in-depth instruction; Mrs. Vitacca goes on to say, “The students also seem to enjoy it. Rather than hurrying through seven subjects every day, they are able to focus more deeply on four.” The block schedule also provides an opportunity for students to learn lasting skills. The students “are learning to plan ahead, manage their time better, and keep up with their assignments without daily reminders from their teachers. This skill will help them tremendously in high school and beyond.” Some eighth-graders are already putting

these skills into practice in their Algebra 1 class at Loyola.

We are excited to see what other opportunities develop for partnership with Loyola as we continue with a block schedule that matches theirs.

The schedule change has allowed students to engage in their enrichment classes differently. Middle school students now have a choice between four options for their elective time each semester; Art, Media Arts, Computer Literacy, and Basketball PE. These classes are taken for one semester, allowing students to experience two topics and teachers over the year. Preschool, kindergarten, and elementary also take their enrichment classes on the block schedule in thirty-five-minute periods.

This has allowed the students to build a deeper knowledge of the content that they are learning in music, art, and the library.

For example, our preschoolers have story time in the library five times every two weeks. The change helps the students learn the routine of the class and allows me, as the librarian, to help the little ones build habits of readership from the start of their schooling. In Art, Michelle Roppollo uses the Global Art Passport curriculum to bring social studies and geography into her instruction.

For the seventh and eighth grades, the Humanities 101 course offered by LSUS faculty is bringing a new perspective to world history. According to Dr. Cheryl White, who coordinates the biweekly course, “The LSUS at SJB Humanities 101 program has proven to be a mutually beneficial and enriching collaboration. Middle school students benefit from having specialized arts and humanities content taught by university professors, and LSUS benefits from having this unique opportunity to live out its mission of community engagement.

It’s a win-win!” This course offers the opportunity for students to begin their encounter with the history of the western world and explore the history of the church. The Humanities 101 course takes place in the Parish Hall, which currently hosts the Shroud Museum.

COMING UP AT ST. JOHN’S December 4 - Pancakes with Santa December 17 - Christmas Program January 30- February 5 - Catholic Schools Week February 7-28 - Read-A-Thon

“Together we are truly building the foundations of their Catholic faith that they will lean on and continue to build for the rest of their lives.”

Even with all of the exciting changes in our school, our mission is still close to our roots; “anchored in Roman Catholic tradition” as we recite every morning in our mission statement. This focus on our faith begins in preschool.

Shannon Cascio and Regina Stevens “start by teaching the littles the foundation of our faith - The Sign of the Cross.

We use holy water when leaving the classroom and make the sign of the cross as a remembrance of our Baptism and in preparation for Mass on Mass days.” The integration of faith throughout the school day continues as our students grow. In first grade, “children are learning how to relate God’s teachings to their academics and times of play, making them steadfast sons and daughters of Christ,” relates their teacher, Maddie Bodden. “Together we are truly building the foundations of their Catholic faith that they will lean on and continue to build for the rest of their lives.”

As with all we do, we strive to live up to our mission, “nurtur[ing] children in Catholic values, promot[ing] excellence in education and a life of service.”

JULIA VANCHIERE is the School Librarian at Saint John Berchmans.

DECEMBER 2021 29

Class’s Compassion Leads to Works of Mercy Tradition

A couple of years ago, as a sixth grade class at SJS walked through Forest Park Cemetery on class retreat, they noticed that “Lullabyland” (a section of the cemetery where young children and babies are laid to rest) was looking a little shabby. They remarked to their pastor, Fr. Matthew Long (also our Retreat Leader/Tour Guide) that they wished they could clean it up to make it nicer for families coming to visit their loved ones’ graves. Fr. Long remembered that moment, and a year later, he took that class - now in seventh grade - back to Lullabyland, where they worked diligently to improve the area, a form of the Corporal Work of Mercy to bury the dead. This year, a new seventh-grade class continued that tradition, this time accompanied by their Parochial Vicar, Fr. Kevin Mues. They showed up with rakes, gloves, bags and fought the swirling autumn wind like champs. Six bags of leaves and sticks later, Fr Long and Fr. Kevin led the group in a Spiritual Work of Mercy: praying for the dead.

Just a few days later, it was time for this year’s sixth-grade class retreat to the cemeteries, another opportunity to put the Works of Mercy into action. Following a trip to the Forest Park Mausoleum and the Catholic section of the cemetery, they headed to St Joseph Cemetery where Bishop Malone celebrated Mass, and our students led those present in the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary as Bishop blessed graves.

30 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

These trips to the cemeteries for our 6th and 7th grades have not only allowed students to experience an offcampus retreat: they have taught students that we are all connected to one another and that there are many ways we can lift each other up, even those who have died. From the Daughters of the Cross at the Forest Park Mausoleum to the Yellow Fever priests who lie in rest at St. Joseph Cemetery, these students have discovered that there are countless examples of Christian charity in our diocese’s history.

POLLY MACIULSKI teaches 5th-8th grade Religion at Saint Joseph Catholic School in Shreveport.

SJS pilots “Mini Vinnie” in Diocese of Shreveport

SJS Middle School Service Hours to Date: Total - 1,322 6th grade - 418 7th grade - 335 8th grade - 569

St. Joseph School and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul are excited to announce the formation of the first Youth Conference in the Diocese of Shreveport. Adult members of the International Society are called Vincentians, and the SJS Conference will be called “Mini Vinnies.” Under the model of “faith in action,” the goal of the Mini Vinnies will be to assist in serving the poor and those in need in our community.

Since 1833, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been one of the most important Catholic outreach ministries. Working closely with the Shreveport Diocesan Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Mini Vinnies will focus on the components of See, Think, Do. SEE: becoming aware of the needs of our neighbors; THINK: be creative in finding solutions to help with those needs; and DO: putting our faith in action through hands-on service projects.

Just as Mini Vinnie Conferences in both the United States and around the world have successfully served the poor in their own areas, we are excited to see how the St. Joseph School Mini Vinnies will bring Christ to the poor through service to those in need here in the ShreveportBossier City area.

-Jim Beadles, Diocesan Chair, Society of St. Vincent de Paul DECEMBER 2021 31

Flyers Prepare to Feed Over 650 Families in Shreveport: Loyola Students Continue a Long-Standing Tradition of Aiding Families in Need Since 1989, Loyola College Prep students put their faith into action for local families in need during the holiday season. The student-led organization, Flyers Aiding the Hungry (F.Ai.T.H.), is preparing to feed an additional 650 families this year on Monday, Dec. 6.

This year, F.Ai.T.H. is led by chairwomen Emma Cate Dailey, Lauren Henson, and Frances Kalmbach.

“I am honored to be able to continue F.Ai.T.H.’s tradition of excellence through my role as a chairman this year,” said Kalmbach. “Through serving, I’ve been able to recognize the hard work that goes into planning something that is on as large of a scale as F.Ai.T.H. Truly, every member, officer, chairman, and sponsor plays an essential role in making F.Ai.T.H. a possibility.”

Each year F.Ai.T.H. works to provide a holiday meal for disadvantaged families in the Shreveport-Bossier area. Supported by fundraisers, donations, and basket sales, the F.Ai.T.H. organization is able to raise the more than $25,000 necessary to sponsor this event.

This effort is not done by the three chairwomen alone. With 65 officers and 150 members, the F.Ai.T.H. organization at Loyola College Prep works almost year-round to plan, raise money, and organize.

“This project is so much bigger than anything one person can accomplish,” said Susan Hymel, F.Ai.T.H. 32 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

sponsor. “With so many people willing to put service above self, we learn that no matter who we are or how small our personal community may be, we all have the power to affect people far and wide.”

Kalmbach said everyone is most excited about watching their hard work pay off on Dec. 6.

“Knowing that my actions will have a direct impact on making a difference in the lives of families in our community, really instills an indescribable sense of pride in me and the other chairwomen,” she said.

Since its inception, and through the partnerships with area businesses, local elementary schools and middle schools, and the generosity of our many Loyola families and alumni, F.Ai.T.H. has been able to serve over 20,000 families in our community.

Emma Cate Dailey, Lauren Henson, and Frances Kalmbach, Officers

JORDAN HARRIS serves as the Director of Communications at Loyola College Prep in Shreveport.

Saint Frederick High School Students Celebrate Day of the Dead At St. Frederick High School the Day of the Dead is an exciting time of the year! For the past nine years, the Spanish classes have created an Altar of Remembrance that includes photos of deceased loved ones and items representing activities or foods they loved. Over 90 photos decorate the altar every year!

The entire school is invited to bring a photo to place on the altar.

Students learn that the true meaning of this Hispanic tradition is the importance of keeping the memories alive of our loved ones that have passed away. During this time, students learn how to build an “altar” and the meaning of every item placed on it. They learn the

sugar skulls and colorful skeleton artistry represent that death was to be celebrated since it meant a new life or beginning in heaven. This is a time to remember the wonderful lives of their loved ones and pray for them so that they are never forgotten.

All the paper flowers that adorn the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the altar were made by students in their Spanish classes. Mrs. Dollar’s art classes also participated by making paper masks that resemble sugar skulls. Students also made the “pan de Muerto” or Day of the Dead bread to share in class or place on the altar.

OLGA TREJO teaches Spanish at Saint Frederick High School in Monroe.

DECEMBER 2021 33

St. Frederick High School is having a “Legacy Walk” brick campaign and they need your support. You can leave a lasting legacy at St. Frederick High School and support our students by participating in the Commemorative Brick Campaign.

Be a part of history by purchasing a legacy brick to complete the walkway around the prayer garden. Personalize your beautiful 4 x 8 paving brick in memory of an alumni, loved one, or St. Frederick High school family.

The cost of the brick is $125.00. To order your legacy brick please order online at www.stfrederickhigh.org/donate or call the school at 318-323-9636. The proceeds from this campaign will benefit the students to help with academics and tuition assistance.

34 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

library notes SWEET CROSS: A MARIAN GUIDE TO SUFFERING

BY LAURA MARY PHELPS Mary teaches us to be patient in our pain and strong in our suffering. Imitating her virtues fortifies us to embrace our suffering and to see the cross as it truly is: the place where Jesus shows his incredible love for us, and where we are allowed to love him in return. In Sweet Cross: A Marian Guide to Suffering, Laura Phelps reveals not only why suffering is a necessary part of our Christian life, but how we can learn to carry our cross without fear or complaint — and even to find that it is sweet.

The secret is Mary.

THE LIFE OF MARY AS SEEN BY THE MYSTICS

BY RAPHAEL BROWN A masterpiece that combines the visions of four great Catholic mystics into one coherent story on the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Based primarily on the famous revelations of Ven. Anne Catherine Emmerich and Ven. Mary of Agreda, it also includes many episodes described in the writings of St. Bridget of Sweden and St. Elizabeth of Schenau. For young and old alike, The Life of Mary As Seen by the Mystics will forever impress the reader with an inspiring and truly unforgettable understanding of the otherwise unknown facts concerning Mary and the Holy Family.

ORIENS: A PILGRIMAGE THROUGH ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS 2021

BY FR. JOEL SEMBER Oriens is a Latin word meaning “rising” and “dawn.” Father Joel Alexander Sember is your leader on this pilgrimage, one in which you will learn what God is revealing to you through Scripture and prayer. With Oriens as your guidebook, you’ll learn how to pray, or to pray more deeply.

MYSTERY OF THE MAGI: THE QUEST TO IDENTIFY THE THREE WISE MEN FR. DWIGHT LONGENECKER In an astonishing feat of detective work, Dwight Longenecker makes a powerful case that the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem really happened. Piecing together the evidence from biblical studies, history, archeology, and astronomy, he goes further, uncovering where they came from, why they came, and what might have happened to them after eluding the murderous King Herod. The evidence is clear and compelling. The mysterious Magi from the East were in all likelihood astrologers and counselors from the court of the Nabatean king at Petra, where the Hebrew messianic prophecies were well known. The “star” that inspired their journey was a particular planetary alignment—confirmed by computer models—that in the astrological lore of the time portended the birth of a Jewish king.

SAINTLY MOMS: 25 STORIES OF HOLINESS

BY KELLY ANN GUEST The lives of the saints are a great source of inspiration and reassurance for us. The holy women in Saintly Moms can help us better to understand motherhood as a vocation, just like any other calling from God, and a path to holiness. Each chapter profiles a different holy mother who reflects on a lesson learned in her life and ends with prayer through her intercession. While we grow in admiration and devotion to them, these Saintly Moms can help us see the saintly possibilities each one of us possesses.

KATE RHEA is the Library/Cemetery Administrative Assistant for Slattery Library and Saint Joseph Cemetery at the Diocese of Shreveport.

Slattery Library has re-opened to the public! Our hours are 9am-Noon Monday through Friday. As always, if you’d like to inquire about a book or periodical before your visit, please e-mail Kate Rhea at krhea@dioshpt.org or call (318) 219-7264.

DECEMBER 2021 35

Your Appeal Dollars at Work: Retired and Infirm Priests One of the largest allocations of Appeal funds in the coming year will be directed to providing care and outreach to our ever-growing contingent of retired and infirm priests. Appeal funding helps provide these men lead a meaningful life outside of active ministry, including costs for medical care, which have risen dramatically.

With the current high average age of a priest in our diocese, the budget for this important appeal ministry will continue to grow and it is important to remember that several of our older priests are bravely working past the age of retirement in dedication to our people and the mission of Christ Jesus.

Those priests who have served us over the years are connected to God’s people through baptism, the sacraments, and marriage. It is good that we remember the men who inspired us and kept us connected to our faith and the call of Christ. They depend on your appeal generosity to provide for them in the later years, so please be generous to the annual appeal and the annual special collection for the retired priests of our diocese.

JOHN MARK WILLCOX is the Director of Communications and Development at the Diocese of Shreveport.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT OUR RETIRED CLERGY AND OFFER YOUR SUPPORT, SIMPLY REACH OUT TO FR. ROTHELL PRICE, VICAR FOR CLERGY HERE AT THE CATHOLIC CENTER, 1-800-256-1542.

36 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION

The Rebirth of Normalcy From August 26th through September 4th, South Louisiana residents fled from Hurricane Ida. Many left with a day’s worth of clothing in hopes of returning home within days of evacuation. Hurricane Ida showed no remorse, taking 115 lives and destroying homes and lives from Louisiana to the East Coast. The effects of Ida lasted over a month as Entergy worked tirelessly to restore power to Houma, Thibodeaux, and New Orleans residents. While some were fortunate to return to homes unscathed, others had no home or community to return to. Tyranekia Miles and her family of 6 were one of many that had nowhere to go.

Leaving with only several days’ worth of clothing, they assumed the storm would quickly pass. Within seconds Ida successfully wiped the power grid leaving 1.2 million residents without power in 8 states. Without working cell towers and electricity, communicating with family and friends in the affected areas was impossible. After a month of outages, Entergy restored power to its customers— leaving evacuated residents like Tyranekia owing thousands of dollars.

Storm debris filled the streets, forcing road closures throughout Houma and surrounding areas. The Governor declared South Louisiana as a disaster area which meant residents were eligible for FEMA assistance. Instead of providing relief so many hoped for, the agency only added another layer of stress.

With road closures at every turn, the Miles family could not reach their home to assess the damage. Despite the numerous attempts to meet requirements, FEMA canceled several appraisal appointments—voiding Miles’s disaster assistance application. With a void application, the opportunity to receive hotel vouchers, funds to repair their home, and other relief were gone.

The family had no choice but to seek shelter along with thousands of evacuees in the Bossier Civic Center.

Tyranekia shared the immense difficulty separating homeless drug addicts from storm evacuees—making her and her family feel unsafe. Aside from safety concerns, unsanitary conditions added another layer of stress. A trip to the bathroom meant using the restroom in feces-lined stalls. The mile-long lines to enter the building often led them with no other choice but to sleep in their parked car overnight, windows ajar to provide relief from the summer

heat. They spent their days searching for work, often running out of gas leading them to set their pride aside to ask gas station patrons for fuel to continue their search.

After weeks of scrambling around town for shelter, fuel, food, and safety Tyranekia reflected on how they survived Hurricane Gustav in August 2008--Catholic Charities.

Tyranekia called the CCNLA Shreveport office and received help immediately. Their former landlord in Houma contacted a fellow Landlord in Bossier that happened to have an available two-bedroom apartment for the family of 6. Tyranekia Miles expressed, “I knew if Catholic Charities could help me once they could help again.” and help we did.

Blessings continued to pour in for the family when Tyranekia received a job offer at Spring Lake Rehabilitation Center as a CRNA. Her husband is still interviewing for positions in the mechanic industry at this time. And their children have adjusted well to their new settings.

Throughout it all, their faith and humility carried them through the trying times. Through the pain of recounting the past several months and laughter, Tyranekia remarked, “one day I will become really wealthy, and when I die, I will leave my money to Catholic Charities.”

Our disaster relief efforts would not be possible without the help of our devoted community. Thank you for the outpouring of generosity throughout recent months.

JORI LACOUR is the Director of Development at Catholic Charities of North Louisiana DECEMBER 2021 37

The co-authors of the book, “Shreveport Martyrs of 1873: The Surest Path to Heaven.” hosted a book signing at St John the Baptist on October 27th.Shown are Fr. Peter Mangum, Dr. Cheryl White, Ryan Smith and pastor Father Francis Kamau, FMH.

The Cathedral has invited Father Leo Patalinghug, Award-Winning Chef, Speaker, Author, and Catholic Priest, back to Shreveport for an exciting dinner event at the Cathedral!

Friday, December 3, 5:30pm; Tickets: $50 per person (must be 21) Sponsor Tables: $1000 for a table of 6

Zoey Green wears orange for National Unity Day! Zoey Green is a 4th-grade student at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School. She is a High Honor Roll student. Zoey is also a member of the Student Council, Robotics Club, the cheer squad, and a member of a mentorship program with Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. On Unity Day, Zoey shared with our 1stgrade class a story she wrote when she was in 1st grade about the negative effects bullying can have from both perspectives.

We are so proud of Zoey and her stance on bullying. She is truly an inspiration for all ofCATHOLIC us here at Fatima.

38 THE CONNECTION

Sunday, October 31st was Pink out Sunday. The KPC and Ladies Auxiliary honored Cancer Survivors (Sylvia Williams and Nadalie Thomas) seated.

Hearts for Christ Youth Group from Sacred Heart of Jesus attended PULSE Immersion Weekend in Coushatta, Louisiana on October 22th-24th. High school and College Youth from around the Diocese took part in seminars and group projects learning about the significance of protecting human life.

All Souls Day was celebrated at St John the Baptist with Mass in the Cemetery. Former pastors were invited in honor of the 150th Anniversary Year. Shown are Father Joe Martina, Father Mike Thang’wa, FMH, VF, and Father Francis Kamau, FMH.

Annual Diocesan Stewardship Appeal What shall I return to the Lord? ( ) $15,000 ( ) $10,000 ( ) $7,500 ( ) $5,000 ( ) Other $

( ) $3,500 ( ) $2,000 ( ) $1,500 ( ) $1,000

( ) $800 ( ) $750 ( ) $650 ( ) $500

( ) $400 ( ) $350 ( ) $300 ( ) $250

( ) $200 ( ) $150 ( ) $100

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

Enclosed is a pledge payment of: $ for year 2021.

Please make checks payable to Diocese of Shreveport Name Address City/State/Zip Church

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

Seminarian Burses Thanks to our Recent Donors: (033) Alfred & Susan Ozenne ($10000) (019) Barrett & Marcie Ingram ($240) Completed Burses: (001) Fr. Mike Bakowski Memorial Burse #1 ($10000) (006) Msgr. J. Carson LaCaze Memorial Burse #1 ($10000) (010) Memory of Rita Scott from the John Scott Family Burse ($10000) (011) Rev. David Richter Memorial Burse #1 ($10000) (012) Jack E. Caplis, Jr., Memorial Burse ($10000) (013) Mary Evans Caplis Burse ($10000)

(014) Bob & Peggy Semmes Memorial Burse ($10000) (026) Sheryl Seal Sweeney Memorial Burse ($10000) (027) Rev. Richard Lombard Memorial Burse ($10000) (027) Rev. Richard Lombard Memorial Burse #2 ($10000) (031) Pearl Heck & Leona Boudreaux Memorial Burse ($10000) (033) Beryl K. & Joseph D. Ozenne Memorial Burse ($10000) Incomplete Burses: (001) Fr. Mike Bakowski Memorial Burse #2 ($1250)

(002) Joseph & Antoinette Bakowski Memorial Burse ($3050) (003) Sam R. Maranto Memorial Burse ($1650) (004) Kathryn Atherton Cook Memorial Burse ($350) (005) Cathedral of St. John Berchmans Burse ($950) (006) Msgr. J. Carson LaCaze Memorial Burse #2 ($3832.12) (007) Dr. Carol Christopher Memorial Burse ($1200) (008) St. Jude Parish Burse ($6118) (009) St. John Berchmans Knights of Columbus Council 10728 Burse ($1550)

(011) Rev. David Richter Memorial Burse #2 ($3404) (015) Bishop’s Seminarian Burse ($2910) (016) Elaine Malloy Frantz Memorial Burse ($1000) (017) Msgr. George Martinez Knights of Columbus Council 1337 Burse ($7521.57) (018) Knights of St. Peter Claver Council 144 Burse ($1180) (019) Margaret Glenn Memorial Burse ($8700) (020) Dr. James V. Ward Memorial Burse ($9015) (021) Rev. Edmund “Larry” Niehoff Memorial Burse ($2000)

(022) Rev. Blane O’Neil, OFM Memorial Burse ($600) (023) Msgr. Edmund J. Moore Memorial Burse ($1020) (024) Rev. Joseph Puthupally Memorial Burse ($1100) (025) Kathleen Hightower Memorial Burse ($400) (028) Friends-n-Faith Burse ($300) (029) Rev. Kenneth Williams Memorial Burse ($100) (030) Ottis and Anne Krupa Littlejohn Memorial Burse ($3000) (032) Madeline and Joe Tiller Memorial Burse ($1000)

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

Interested in contributing to or establishing a burse?

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

Be sure to note the name of the burse in the memo line. Burses are completed at $10,000.

DECEMBER 2021 39

CATHOLIC CONNECTION DIOCESE OF SHREVEPORT 3500 Fairfield Ave.

•

Shreveport, LA 71104

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

PHOTO OF THE MONTH: Bishop Malone blessing the newly unveiled historical marker at Saint John the Baptist Church, as well as Father Francis for good measure.

40 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION