Love & Lent - February 2023

CATHOLIC CONNECTION

CATHOLIC CONNECTION

PUBLISHER

Bishop Francis I. Malone

INTERIM EDITOR

Kirsten Shrewsberry

CONTRIBUTORS

Laurie Nick

Deacon Kelby Tingle

Kim Long

Mary Arcement Alexander

Karen Dill

Karl Yabut

Dr. Cheryl White

Lucy Medvec

Kathy Schimschock

Rosalba Quiroz

Polly Maciulski

Trey Woodham

Jordan Harris

Deacon Scott Brandle

Adam Ryland

EDITORIAL BOARD

Deacon Mike Whitehead

Kim Long

Kate Rhea

Rosalba Quiroz

Msgr. Matthew T. Long

Dr. Carynn Wiggins

Fr. Pat Madden

SUBSCRIPTIONS & ADDRESS CHANGES

Contact: Blanca Vice Email: bvice@dioshpt.org

Write: The Catholic Connection 3500 Fairfield Ave. Shreveport, LA 71104

Call: 318-868-4441

Fax: 318-868-4609

SUBMISSIONS

Contact: Blanca Vice Email: bvice@dioshpt.org

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

The Diocese of Shreveport complies with Virtus’ Protecting God’s Children program. (www. virtus.org) Classes are offered every second Wednesday of the month at the Catholic Center in Shreveport. Online sessions are also available. To report child sexual abuse by a cleric or church worker in the Diocese of Shreveport, call your local law enforcement agency and Mary Katherine Arcement, Diocesan Victim Assistance Minister at 318-588-2120. Don’t forget to check your Virtus accounts monthly to stay up to date on your bulletins. You don’t have to wait for an email you can login at anytime to check your training status. Many times, the monthly emails from Virtus are sent to your SPAM folder so please check there as well. Thank you for helping to keep our children and vulnerable adults safe.

MISSION STATEMENT

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

Lent: A Love Letter from the interim editor

By now you’ve probably had your share of king cake. Your home is probably full of purple green and gold, and your cupboard has a dozen new plastic cups that will inevitably go missing over the next few months. There may still be a box of king cake on your counter (with the knife in the box, this is the way). It’s easy to feel like Mardi Gras is “the most wonderful time of the year” in Louisiana. If Mardi Gras is the peak of Louisiana living, what does that make the season to follow? When most people think of lent they think of ashes and fish, self-denial and sacrifice. Lent is a season of preparation, a season of meditation on the sacrifice Christ made on the cross for our salvation. What if, at the same time, lent can also be a season of love? I urge you to take some time as we enter into this most holy season of preparation to think of how you can use this precious time to turn towards the love of Christ. When deciding what your Lenten sacrifice should be, take time to meditate on the love of Christ and choose only sacrifices that will bring you closer to the Lord. Fasting, prayer, and almsgiving are the pillars of Lent. I pray you find a way to engage in all three this Lent.

My favorite ways to include prayer and almsgiving into my Lenten journey? I’m always a fan of Fr. Mike Schmitz’s podcasts, with both his Bible in a Year and his new Catechism in a Year podcast. Adding daily Mass once a week is another great opportunity to deepen your faith life. I love attending school Mass on Fridays at St. Joseph Church in Shreveport.

For almsgiving I like to first contemplate the needs of my diocese and how to increase my weekly giving, and then I like to pray and consider what Catholic-Affiliated Charities are on my heart. Personally I always like to support the Archdiocese of the Military Services as that’s where I was baptized. Maybe consider a gift to the church where you were baptized?

As we prepare for this season of lent I hope you’ll take pause to consider the great love of God. Love and Lent are not incongruent. So maybe lent is a time you think of with pangs of hunger, the grit of ashes on your forehead, and more fish fries than you would ever reasonably need…but I hope in your reflection and prayer you take pause to also consider the love. The love of our Savior and his sacrifice on the cross. The love of our beautiful Faith. The love that is making a fervent dedication of your heart to our Lord and Savior.

PS- Yes, it’s a new Kirsten as interim editor. I am honored to have the opportunity to help the Diocese of Shreveport bring you this month’s edition of the Catholic Connection!

“Love to be real, it must cost—it must hurt—it must empty us of self.” -Saint Theresa of Calcutta

Kirsten Shrewsberry, Interim Editor

Cover photo courtesy of Sara Moore, photography by Micahla Vaughn

FROM THE BISHOP: Plans for the Catholic Center

“THREE YEARS!!!” My how time passes so quickly. I was ordained your bishop now three years. Frequently, people both in Northern Louisiana and in the Diocese of Little Rock where I came from ask me a couple of identical questions. The first comes mostly from Arkansas, “how are they treating you in the Diocese of Shreveport?” I am quick to respond that “they,” meaning YOU – are treating me just fine. I have found a very affirming welcome here, and while I have yet to acquire a taste for boudin – I love the rest of Cajun cuisine. I enjoy my visits to parishes, whether for Confirmation or celebrations, or just visits. Though our schools are small in number, I thoroughly enjoy any visit with our school children. I look forward to any of our PSR groups inviting me as well. So, what I am saying is that I feel right at home here in our diocese, and I thank you for the welcome you have shown me.

There’s a consistent “second question” people have asked me since I became bishop – and it has to do with the Catholic Center. More times than I can count, here is the most frequent question, “bishop, what are you going to do with the Catholic Center?” The asking person usually goes on to tell me the obvious: that the Catholic Center, formerly St. Vincent Academy is such a massive set of buildings, is there a plan? I am happy to tell you of what has already begun, a vision I would like to see carried out, and a schedule – however ambitious. My hope is that when finished, the entire diocese can make use of these facilities to enhance your spiritual lives and those of our Catholic organizations. The Catholic Center houses the central offices of the Diocese, but there is more space than what we use…so here we go:

We are already underway on the renovation of the Chapel at the Catholic Center. When finished we will rededicate it under the name of “St. Vincent’s Chapel” to honor the central feature of the former Academy.

I wanted to start with the Chapel because it IS the central feature for the entire campus. There is a picture of its finished design at the end of this article. The statue of St. Vincent de Paul is central to the new entrance of the Chapel in an alcove surrounded by the stained glass windows from the previous Chapel. Presently the statue is located outside of the East Wing of the Campus buildings. The seating for the Chapel will be around 100 with a large Holy Water font, and space for a piano.

If you can locate the statue of St. Vincent de Paul outside, it is situated on the front of the East Wing. I mention this because long before I arrived here, the East Wing was deemed unsafe to use because of serious foundation issues. Upon the completion of the Chapel, this East Wing will be taken down since these issues make it unusable and too expensive to repair.

If you are familiar with the Chapel, you will note that there is a long hallway which adjoins the Chapel. This Hall, and the supporting rooms along side of it will feature our history from when St. Vincent’s Academy once occupied the space. I am confident that the diocesan family, and especially the St. Vincent alums will be very pleased with the fact that what we enjoy as the Catholic Center, we owe in no small measure to our diocesan history on this campus when it was an Academy, and a place where our Catholic faith was taught for many years.

Travel down that hallway and you will enter “Fairview House.” On either side of that long hallway are two “social rooms,” which were used by the Sisters who occupied the Convent. These two rooms are largely unused, and so the plan is to combine both rooms into one large conference room which will facilitate gatherings for meetings, etc.

Bishop Francis I. Malone, Bishop of Shreveport

To accommodate both the renovation of the Chapel and Fairview House, additional restroom facilities in the entrance of the Catholic Center and in the Conference area will support large gatherings of people.

Such undertakings are not inexpensive, but if we do not answer the second question with a useful plan for our facilities, we are losing a valuable resource for our future, which leads to the dormitory area where the Sisters use to live, and consists of multiple sleeping and bathroom facilities. The plan – at least at this point –is that when the Chapel and the Conference facilities are complete – we move to renovate the sleeping facilities where each bedroom has its own bathroom, and ample overnight and weekend accommodations for retreats. If our resources are sufficient and we are able to complete these three projects, then there is your answer: the vision is to establish a Diocesan

Retreat Center available to parishioners from the entire diocese, with comfortable lodging, meeting facilities, and a beautiful Chapel to spiritually enrich those who make use of the entire facility.

How long? It all depends on our financial resources and donations and gifts from the diocesan Church. My hope is that in sharing this information with you –that you anticipate the spiritual growth of the faithful by providing a place for prayer, worship, spiritual enrichment, and a resource the entire Diocese can enjoy for years to come. Please pray with me that we will be successful, and through the intercession of Saint Vincent de Paul, our efforts will bear fruit to the glory of God and for the good of the entire diocese.

Diaconate Ordination in Rome

ON THE FEAST OF THE ARCHANGELS

MICHAEL, RAPHAEL, AND GABRIEL, September 29th, twenty-three of my classmates from the Pontifical North American College and I were ordained to the transitional diaconate in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican by Bishop Austin Vetter. After seven years of seminary formation, and many more years prior of discerning

the Lord’s calling in my life, words truly cannot describe the profundity and beauty of receiving this gift. By our diaconate ordination, my classmates and I became the Lord’s servants and desire nothing more than to be attentive in all our thoughts, words, and actions to the needs of His most holy Church.

In the ordination Mass, my brother deacons and I freely made the promises of prayer, celibacy, and obedience. It is in and through these three promises that we are called to offer our lives in prayerful service to God’s people and to the Church. The first promise that is made is to pray the Liturgy of the Hours and, by doing so, keep the command of Christ to pray always. When praying the Liturgy of the Hours, the deacon, and all those who promise to pray it, is not only offering these prayers for himself and sanctifying the hours of his day; rather, he prays for the sanctification of the Church and God’s people worldwide. In his homily, Bishop Vetter beautifully said, “When we get to heaven, I think that we will be shocked by the difference that our praying the breviary has meant for the world.” We, therefore, pray with and for the world! We also promise obedience to our bishops and their successors, in whom we are privileged to share in the ministry entrusted to them. In the promise of

Deacon Kelby Reece Tingle, Seminarian at the Pontifical North American College

chaste celibacy, we unite ourselves to Christ and become fully committed in making the Kingdom of God present in the world.

After being ordained and vested in the proper vestment of the deacon, I knelt before the bishop as he handed me the Book of the Gospels and said, “Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.” This is a beautiful prayer and a profound commission that the Holy Church gives to deacons; to receive, believe, proclaim, and teach the Gospel of Christ. Throughout my month of being a deacon, I have loved the gift of proclaiming the Gospel as deacon within the Holy Mass and also of preaching the Gospel message through my life and through homilies. I have been privileged to preach and serve the altar as deacon many times since I have been ordained at holy sites like the rooms of Ignatius, where I prayed especially for Loyola College Prep, my alma mater, and for the students there, and at the tomb of St. John Berchmans, where I prayed for the Cathedral parishioners and indeed for the faithful of the Diocese of Shreveport.

Throughout the next several months, I will continue my studies and priestly formation. In a beautiful and exciting manner, the primary focus for this academic year is rooted in learning how to celebrate the Sacraments worthily and prayerfully; namely, the Holy Mass, Marriage, Baptism, and Reconciliation. While I continue my studies, I look forward with great anticipation to my priestly ordination. On June 24th, 2023, the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, Bishop Malone will ordain Deacon Gabriel Cisneros Campos and myself to the holy priesthood at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans at 10 AM. All are welcome and encouraged to join in this wonderful

celebration!

The days leading up to and following my diaconate ordination, I received many messages of congratulations and prayers from the wonderful, faithful people of the Diocese of Shreveport. I was grateful to be once again reminded of the prayers and support of all the many people who encouraged and inspired me to openly follow the Lord. Once again, I am incredibly grateful. Throughout the next few months, I humbly ask that you continue to pray for Deacon Gabriel and for me. Please also join me in praying that more men from the Diocese of Shreveport will openly and prayerfully consider the beautiful and life-giving vocation to the Holy Priesthood.

JUNE 24, 2023, 10 AM

CATHEDRAL

“Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”

ST. JOHN BERCHMANS

Ordination to the Priesthood for Deacon Kelby Reece Tingle and Deacon Gabriel Cisneros Campos

Laundry, Love, and Lent

IN MY EARLY DAYS as a Catholic I was not tuned in to intercessory prayer. Growing up in a Baptist household I knew virtually nothing about that form of prayer beyond the prayer chain scotch taped to my grandmother’s and mother’s refrigerator door. Mostly I was taught to take it, as the song says, to the Lord in prayer…myself. As a young girl we kept quiet about our needs and issues and problems and if we talked at all it was usually to Jesus in hurried, hopeful prayers just before sleep overtook us.

The prayer chain seemed so much out of my own realm and that of my friends; it seemed reserved for adults who

had years of spiritual training under their belts. When the phone rang (in those days not frequently) it was usually a short exchange unless the prayer chain had been activated. Mrs. Jane Cutrer would call my grandmother who would call Mrs. Jessie Bruner, who would call someone else and prayers were made quietly and privately. It was such a singular yet communal act. One day, I mused, I would wear a hat and gloves to church and one day my name and telephone number would be taped to the door of refrigerators.

Alas that was not the path God had chosen for me. Coming into the Catholic family fold I realized that intercessory prayer extended to the next world in the communion of saints. I still was slow to embrace all that it offers, widening my circle only to the Blessed Mother for several years. Now I am much more tuned in and more comfortable with both the idea and the practice.

As I was hanging some blankets on the clothesline my eyes caught for the first time in a while names of a friendship

Kim Long, Saint Mary of the Pines DRE

“First of all then I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone.”

1st Timothy 2:1

quilt that my great grandmother and her church friends made decades ago in a small Baptist church in rural Texas. Each square was pieced together and in the center the name of the woman who pieced that square was embroidered, just their name nothing else. I gazed at my great grandmother’s name as she had stitched it Mrs. I. A. Cowan. Truthfully I had not given much thought to the other women’s names. I also saw that some squares were frayed, this treasure needed some TLC, it needed mending. I thought if they had taken the time to create this I could take an hour and mend it.

I know if these ladies were friends of Mamaw Cowan then they are certainly gone from this world but what about their own families; their great granddaughters and beyond? Do they not need a prayer or two?

In that overcast breezy afternoon a decision was made; during the Lenten season I would pray for each of these ladies and their families.

My mother copied some old family recipes for me decades ago; two were from Mamaw Cowan. My mom took the time to write them by hand and in this pie

recipe she wrote “ Mamaw always said this was a man’s pie.” I have no basis for this statement nor did I question it, simply taking it as wisdom from the ages.

In my mind’s eye I see the pie steaming and on the table, I see a cup of coffee and a piece of that pie waiting for me along with a list of names. So I will eat, drink, and pray knowing that the prayer chain of my childhood is not so much written on paper and taped to the fridge rather it is written in my heart.

May this holy Lenten season be filled with love and prayers for those near and far, those intimate and unknown, and those whom we have yet to learn how to hold close.

I never thought of the laundry serving as a GPS but it can. Here is to Mrs. Murphy, Mrs. Tubbs, Mrs. Hewett, Mrs. Hervey, Mrs. Simms, Mrs. Butler, Mrs. Goff, Mrs. Standifer, Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. Dechaume, Mrs. McBride, Mrs. Kessinger, Mrs. Rehoders, Mrs. Meador, Mrs. Meador, and my great grandmother Rhoda Black Cowan, may you be forever cradled in the arms of our loving savior, may you know that you and your kin are prayed for, and may you know you are not forgotten.

RHODA COWAN’S CHESS PIE

1 unbaked pie case (shell)

5 whole large eggs

1 ½ cup of sugar

Preheat oven to 375

Cream butter and sugar.

Beat eggs until frothy, add milk and lemon extract.

Add to sugar and butter and beat until mixed well.

1 stick of butter, very soft

1 cup whole milk

1 teaspoon lemon extract

Pour into pie case (shell) and bake until middle is set and tester comes out clean.

Serve slightly warm with whipped cream.

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

Mary Arcement Alexander, Licensed Professional Counselor & Diocesan Victim Assistance Minister

FEBRUARY, BY ALL ACCOUNTS, IS THE MONTH OF LOVE.

As we all know, February 14 is Valentine’s Day, and it is just around the corner. Tis the season for kids handing out valentine cards with a candy attached to their classmates, husbands and boyfriends buying their annual dozen of roses along with their wife or girlfriends favorite candy (unless she’s on a diet, then just the roses), and all the restaurants filled to the brim with two-top tables. Ahh, love. It smells so sweet this time of year. It is unfortunate that yet again the secular culture hijacked a day initially reserved for Christians. Valentine’s day is no longer about St. Valentine or his message of love for Christ, rather it is mostly about roses, chocolate candy, cupid, chalk-like candied hearts with messages and dining out with your favorite valentine. Even though history recorded little facts, let us still take a closer look at St. Valentine.

According to the Catholic Education Resource Center (CERC), there are technically three St. Valentines but little is known about the second and third saints other than, they too were martyred. CERC goes on to say, “The first St. Valentine was a priest and physician in Rome. He along with St. Marius and his family comforted the martyrs during the persecution of Emperor Claudius II, the Goth. Eventually, St. Valentine was also arrested, condemned to death for his faith, beaten with clubs, and finally beheaded on February 14th, AD 270. He was buried on the Flaminian Way.” In the thirteenth century, his relics moved to the Church of Saint Praxedes where we can still find them today. The article continues, “The popular customs of showing love and affection on St. Valentine’s Day is almost a coincidence with the feast day of the saint: During the Medieval Age, a common belief in England and France was that birds began to pair on February 14, half-way through the second month of the year. For this reason, the day was dedicated to lovers and prompted the sending of letters, gifts, or other signs of affection” I believe it is unfortunate we no longer acknowledge the true meaning of St. Valentine’s message, love for and from our Lord. With this said I am not opposed to receiving flowers, a sweet card and/or going out for a romantic dinner with my husband. Nor do I mind cupid (but the chalk-like candy still gets a thumbs down). I do however wish we could make this “love” holiday one in which we express our love for Christ more than we do for our sweethearts.

mary's mission

A day where we focus on falling in love with our Savior more than falling in love with our spouse or significant other. A day focused on being with our Lord, one on one, through daily Mass and sitting with Him in the adoration chapel. Close your eyes for a moment and envision everyone going to daily ass and then the adoration chapel on Valentine’s Day instead of or in addition to going out to dinner. Can you see the look of surprise and pleasure on the priest face? I believe every priest would smile from ear to ear seeing the sea of faces during a non-holy day of obligation Mass as well as a line around the church, all waiting eagerly to spend time with Jesus, all waiting eagerly to adore Him. Imagine a world where all adore Him, all profess their love, all humble themselves before our Lord. Now imagine the look of surprise and pleasure on Jesus’ face. Can you see it? His eyes are lit up from the sheer joy of witnessing His children loving Him. His smile is from ear to ear as He looks upon the sea of faces. He is very pleased. Brothers and sisters, His love for you is sacrificial, self-less and unconditional. It is because of this love from Jesus that we too are to make sacrifices for our sweetheart and to love him or her selflessly as well as unconditionally. I have a challenge for you this Valentine’s Day and although it may sound like too much to do, I ask that you keep an open heart and mind. Here is it: first, forego all of the flowers, candy and fancy dinners (your wallet will thank you), secondly, attend daily Mass and/or go to the adoration chapel together, thirdly, spend one to two minutes praying out loud together, fourth, skip the Hallmark card and write your love a love letter, lastly, love each other as Christ loves you. That last one is most important. If you are married, I pray God blesses your marriage with a lifetime of love and joy that can only come from our Lord. If you are single, I pray God blesses you with a lifetime of love and joy that can only come from our Lord.

“To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek Him the greatest adventure; to find Him, the greatest human achievement.” - St. Augustine

PREPARING FOR THE DESERT JOURNEY

Karen Dill, Spiritual Director

With Epiphany behind us, we find ourselves at the threshold of the liturgical season of Lent. In just a few more days, I will have already received the ashes on Ash Wednesday to remind me that I am dust, and to dust I shall return. I think of the many times I have practiced this ritual, always reverently, always with the intention of experiencing this yearly season wholeheartedly. I always intend to “give up” something superfluous in my life that is keeping me from a closer walk with Jesus. Often it is food: desserts, alcohol, chocolate, meat on Fridays, all manners of self-indulgence. In the epicurean Louisiana culture I have been blessed to live in, these sacrifices have never been all that painful. At best, they have served to remind me occasionally of the spiritual journey and transformation that Lent is supposed to represent. Other years, I have resolved to give up certain bad habits such as gossiping or being critical of people or wasting my time on Facebook. Those resolutions proved more difficult than the edible ones and they, too, all too easily were broken when my spirit was willing but my flesh became weak. Besides, as a friend of mine recently pointed out, we’re not supposed to be gossipy or critical in the first place so why are those things we should be giving up??? Good point! So now, a few days from embarking on this year’s Lenten path, I find myself

called to do something different, to take this year’s Lent to an even higher spiritual level so that it can truly be the transformational experience I think the Church means it to be.

I love to travel! Whether it’s an overnight trip, a weekend destination or a European tour, I relish the idea of leaving my everyday life behind for a time to discover new worlds or spend quality time with people I love. Right now I am eagerly anticipating exploring Fort Worth, Texas in a few months when one of my grandchildren goes off to college there. In preparation for this anticipated trip, I’ll probably have to do some rearranging of my schedule. I will mentally make checklists and plan what to wear. I keep looking at the Google map of downtown Fort Worth to get my bearings as to where I’ll be staying and what I want to see while I’m there. And I know that, no matter how thoroughly I plan or how carefully I pack, I will be surprised with new situations along the way that I have no way of foreseeing. God willing, I’ll return changed in a way. I will have new insights from having visited a place I haven’t been to in quite a while. I’ll have new memories on my cell phone. I’ll have stories and souvenirs to share with my family and friends.

If I were getting ready to literally travel for forty days across the desert, I know I would not be quite as excited. The only desert I have ever seen in person is the wilderness of New Mexico. I remember it as being dry, harsh and monotonous. Traveling there was difficult because for miles and miles there were no rest stops to conveniently meet my physical needs. Smart travelers set out with extra gas, food and water they might need to endure the trip. And maps – don’t forget the maps!

The prospect of spending forty days in the spiritual desert is equally daunting. I’m more aware this year that successfully navigating this journey requires some serious spiritual preparation. One encouraging thought is that I won’t be making it alone. I will have my fellow parishioners, my sweet church lady friends of St. Anne’s Circle, my close Catholic sister/friends, my husband, my Bible study group and my spiritual director to accompany me along the way. Prayer will help fuel my efforts to go further. Scripture will be my spiritual food. I find special encouragement in the gospel account of Jesus beginning his ministry in the wilderness. He was tempted in the

same ways I am tempted – tempted to satisfy his appetite, tempted with worldly things, tempted to put God to the test, tempted to bask in His own glory and forego His Father’s mission. Mark says He was surrounded by wild animals but the angels attended to Him. So Jesus leads the way on this trip, and with His guidance I feel confident that I can spiritually thrive through this period and reach the glorious destination of Easter.

I know that if I can ignore the distractions of the world around me and find time each day to follow my Savior’s footsteps, I won’t get lost. I expect the landscape to be sparse and uninviting as I become even more painfully aware of the times I have strayed from the path. But I can also remember the beauty of the desert as well. I felt something peaceful when I surveyed its vastness. Dawns and sunsets were breathtaking reminders of God’s artwork. Infrequent rains made the parched land burst into bloom. So I am confident there will be graces along the way as well. Refreshing oases. Thrilling detours. Unexpected insights. The cross of Good Friday will be always visible on the horizon. Beyond that, the glory of the empty tomb!

Campus Ministries Attends SEEK23

Karl Yabut, Campus Minister, Western Deanery College Campuses

“Jesus is calling you the light of the world. He is asking you to let your light shine before others. … Are you ready for it?”

St. John Paul II, To The Young People at Kiel Center 1999

Can you imagine how it must’ve felt to be in that convention center in 1999 with the Vicar of Christ asking you if you’re ready to step up to the plate? What is so cool to me is that a SAINT was in that same room as all of us in attendance. Asking the same age group if they were ready to be the light to others.

In 2019, I attended the SEEK19 conference in Indianapolis, IN with 18 friends from ULM (NLU to most of you) and I was just overwhelmed in joy and amazement that Our Lord called every person that week -all 17,000 of us- to encounter Him deeper in the sacraments, in prayer, in community, and to have full surrender. In 2022, SEEK22

was virtual so I hosted a watch party that weekend for undergraduate and professional students in our Diocese to encounter Christ in their local communities. This was a great event that came with many fruits for campus ministry, but I knew that encountering the mystical body of Christ in a greater scale would make such a lasting impact in their lives.

“SEEK23 was such an inspiring and spiritually rejuvenating experience. Being at a conference with 17,000 other Catholic college students and young adults was really awesome. Being able to converse with many other people from all around the world, all with different stories, but all with one thing in common.. God… Most importantly, I enjoyed hanging out with my ministry family. We laughed together, cried together, and we grew closer as a community.”

- Connor Fisk, Centenary College ‘26

So in January 2023, 14 students from across the diocese went to St. Louis, MO to attend SEEK23 and nothing has changed. I was filled with the same sense of overwhelming

-

“SEEK23 Convinced me of the most integral truth of Catholicism: the non circumstantial, radical, never ending love of the Father for me. It also showed me how we integrate this love into our daily lives to spread the gospel to others.”

- Seth Guidry, ULM College of Pharmacy ‘26

joy to be surrounded by so many others journeying in the faith and still amazed that Our Lord called every person that week, all 17,000 of them to encounter Him deeper in prayer, community, and to have full surrender. Maybe I’m biased because I want this incoming generation of young people to experience the joy I’ve experienced from attending, but from these testimonies featured here I think it’s clear the students shared that same joy.

“SEEK23 was such a spiritually filling experience! At SEEK, my faith life found nourishment and growth through the speakers, conversations, and people I was surrounded by! Christ met me and opened my eyes to see Him more deeply in everyone and in everything”

- Jessica West, LSUS ‘24

The beauty of SEEK23 is that invitation to attend is only the beginning, for what happens after for college students to live a life on mission, unafraid, to make life-long Catholic missionary disciples of Jesus Christ is the deeper call. It’s so easy for us to see Lent as a dreadful time of less– how about we think of it as a call. I hope these testimonies inspire you to answer the call to encounter Christ MORE in the midst of our sufferings, in the midst of silence, in

“SEEK was a faith deepening, spiritually fulfilling, and eye-opening experience for me. It taught me the importance of Christ’s love in my life, but also the importance of a surrounding holy community who is desiring the same things as me. I would love for all Catholic college students to be able to undergo the change of heart that I went through!”

- Mackenzie Olinger, Centenary College ‘25

the midst of service, in the midst of joy, and in the midst of the community that God called us to be in during this upcoming Lenten season. Thank you for your continuous support for Campus Ministry in this diocese, pray for this ministry and the lives these students encounter on their campus.

“From someone that is converting to Catholicism, it was emotionally and spiritually overwhelming to see so many people my age practicing their faith. SEEK provided me with information and connections to strengthen my relationship with God and I will be forever grateful.”

- Katelyn Schneider, LSUS ‘24

Father

Robert

Spitzer,

S.J.,

Ph.D.: Leading Scholar On Faith And Science Presents At The Cathedral Of St. John Berchmans

BY CHERYL H. WHITE, PH.D.

ON JANUARY 14-15, 2023, the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans in Shreveport hosted Father Robert Spitzer, S.J., Ph.D., a leading international scholar on the topic of faith-science dialogues. Father Spitzer is the host of a popular EWTN program, “Father Spitzer’s Universe,” and is President of The Magis Center, dedicated to ongoing initiatives to “turn the rising tide of unbelief in our culture through contemporary, rational, and science-based evidence.” The talks were both held in the Cathedral and drew a total crowd of approximately 450 people.

On Saturday, January 14, Father Spitzer gave a presentation covering the topic of “Science at the Doorstep of the Holy Eucharist,” which examined all of the scientific information regarding three Eucharistic

miracles that have been thoroughly investigated under Vatican supervision. The findings related to the bleeding Eucharistic hosts of Buenos Aires, Argentina,Tixtla, Mexico, and Sokolka, Poland conclusively reveal authentic cardiac tissue and AB blood typing. The theological implications of Jesus’ Real Presence in the Eucharist is profound and compelling, adding an empirical basis for what Catholics believe about the Eucharist.

On Sunday, January 15, the presentation of “Science at the Doorstep of Mary” offered insights related to the study of the Tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Father Spitzer gave an overview of the history of the miraculous image, as well as the scientific findings regarding the image itself – its complete lack of natural deterioration, its complexity, and the testing which has proven that the eyes of the image of Our Lady have observable depth of field and the dimension of actual human eyes.

A Jesuit priest, Father Spitzer holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy and is the former president of Gonzaga University. His primary work of the past several years has been devoted to educational methods that focus on science as a way of illuminating faith. This has resulted in projects as diverse as understanding the created cosmos and exploring the image formation process of the Shroud of Turin, among other related topics.

St. Joseph Church to Host Devoted Women’s Conference

St. Joseph Catholic Church in Shreveport is hosting its second annual Devoted Women’s Conference on Friday, February 24, and Saturday, February 25, on the St. Joseph campus. This year’s keynote speaker is Kathleen Higgins, a Catholic speaker and podcaster who also serves as the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. She is a co-host of The Catholic Underground (www.catholicunderground.tv) and has worked in Catholic radio for several years. Joining Kathleen for the conference is musician and songwriter Angela McCann from South Louisiana, and Shreveport artist Cathy Cobb who will conduct a Prayer Painting session for the attendees on Saturday afternoon. The focus of this year’s Devoted conference will be on

Lucy Medvec, Director of Development

the Eucharist and adoration. The women’s conference is open for women from age 18 to 100 who wish to grow their faith through fellowship, prayer, and devotion to Christ. The Devoted Women’s Conference will open on Friday afternoon with vendor shopping, dinner, keynote speaker, Eucharistic Adoration, music worship, and reconciliation. Saturday’s activities will include morning Mass, speakers, music, shopping, lunch, and an afternoon experience featuring painting and prayer.

CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System is the presenting sponsor for the Devoted Women’s Conference. Tickets are $50 with a student price of $25. For more information about the conference or to purchase tickets, please visit the St. Joseph Church website at www.stjosephchurch.net or call the church office at 318-865-3581.

Bingo on the Delta with Catholic Charities

the Ladies Auxiliary who will prepare dinner for the event. A Silent Auction will take place during the evening and a cash bar will be available. Restaurants, boutiques, and businesses interested in donating items for the silent auction are asked to contact our office. Your sponsorship and donations are needed and appreciated.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! It’s time to celebrate with Bingo on the Delta, Monroe, LA. Catholic Charities of North Louisiana announces the return of “Bingo on the Delta” - Our fundraising event will be held at Jesus the Good Shepherd Gymnasium in Monroe, Louisiana on SATURDAY, April 15, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. All the proceeds will benefit CCNLA programs in North Louisiana. Kirsten Gladen, Regional Manager, directs our Monroe office located at 3208 Concordia Street, Monroe, LA and her staff includes LaTris Smith, Intake Coordinator, and Jamie Worley, Outreach Coordinator.

Our Master of Ceremony for Bingo on the Delta will be State Representative, Mike Echols who serves on Louisiana’s Health and Welfare Committee and is an integral member of the Catholic Community. We are excited to announce Very Rev. Mike Thang’wa, Pastor of JGS and Rev. Tobias Obado, Parochial Vicar of JGS, will be two of our Bingo callers. As in the past, we will invite priests and religious from parishes in North Louisiana to serve as bingo callers. Individual Tickets will be $50 and includes dinner and two bingo cards. Table placement of no more than 4 cannot be guaranteed unless a table sponsorship is purchased. Table sponsorships for 8 people are available and begin at $1000. Table Sponsors will be recognized in all media and advertising materials.

We will kick off the event with an evening of food, fun and fellowship that we’ve not shared together since 2020. Dress is casual and is open to guests 21 years and older. We are grateful to several of the Knights of Columbus and

We hope you can join us as we celebrate what Catholic Charities of North Louisiana continues to do by helping those in need in our communities through our many social programs. CCNLA helps people not only meet their immediate needs with emergency assistance of rent and utilities, but our clients can also receive education on money management thru our weekly Money $chool classes, child safety and care. Parents can use merits they’ve earned for attending parenting classes to get baby clothes, diapers, formula, and other items for their small children thru Gabriel’s Closet. We offer a First-Time Home Buyers program and CCNLA is also a Gold Partner for State Benefits.

Last year CCNLA served 4406 individuals and 1083 households in north Louisiana, and we continue to bring Christ’s message of love to the poor and vulnerable by providing quality social services to families and individuals, without discrimination and in accordance with Catholic Social Teachings and professional standards.

Please contact Kathy Schimschock at 318-865-0200, ext 109 or development@ccnla.org for more information about event tickets, table sponsorship forms or if you’d like to donate auction items. Ticket purchases may be mailed to our Main office – DEVELOPMENT, 902 Olive Street, Shreveport, LA 71104. Tickets can also be purchased on our website through PayPal ccnla.org/bingo-on-the-delta/ A small service fee will be included.

We thank the people who help support CCNLA and make our work possible: Our generous donors and granters: Community Foundation, Beaird Family Foundation, Grayson Foundation, Sister of the Holy Spirit, Louisiana Bar Foundation, Walmart, CCUSA, City of Bossier, Caddo Parish Commission, First United Methodist Church, The Westerman Foundation, Poindexter Foundation, Cadence Bank, Jonesboro State Bank, ANECA Federal, Regions Bank, J.P. Morgan Chase, and United Way of Northeast Louisiana.

Kathy Schimschock, Development Director Catholic Charities of North Louisiana

COME & SEE VOCATIONS RETREAT AT ST. JOSEPH SEMINARY

MARCH 31 - APRIL 2

Open to young men, 15-22 years of age

Attendees will join in on regular seminary events, tour St. Joseph Seminary, hike, and enjoy other outdoor activities. The Spring retreat always includes a huge crawfish boil!

Transportation and expenses are fully covered by the Diocese of Shreveport.

Contact Director of Vocations to reserve your spot:

Father Peter Mangum, mangum@sjbcathedral.org

2023 Diocesan Youth Summit

SINCE I STARTED WORKING AT THE DIOCESE

in August, I have heard from people of all ages, including young people, that there is a need for youth in our diocese to encounter other youth living out their Catholic faith. To address this need, the Diocesan Office of Youth Ministry, with the help of many throughout the Diocese, is hosting its first Diocesan Youth Summit at the Catholic Center in Shreveport.

The theme for the event is “Belong.” According to the Springtide Research Institute, nearly 40% of young people feel at times that no one knows them (2020). I often get asked, where are the young people in our Catholic Churches? Young people will only stay active in their churches if they feel like they belong.

I ask that you pray for the youth who attend the 2023 Diocesan Youth Summit. It is going to be a special day where the youth of our diocese come to know that the Catholic Church is their home; the Catholic Church is where they belong.

WHO:

Youth in the 6th through 12th grades in the Diocese of Shreveport

WHEN:

Saturday, March 4, 2023 from 10 AM to 5:30 PM

WHERE:

The Catholic Center (3500 Fairfield Ave. Shreveport, LA 71104)

WHY:

This year’s theme is “Belong.” Throughout the day, the message the youth will hear is that the Catholic Church is their home; the Catholic Church is where they belong. Katie Prejean McGrady and her husband, Tommy McGrady, are the speakers for the event. They live in Lake Charles with their two kids and have traveled the world speaking to audiences of all ages.

HOW:

Register with your church parish

Laurie Nick, Diocesan Director of Youth Ministry

NUEVO AÑO, NUEVOS COMIENZOS

Rosalba Quiroz, Directora

POR MÁS DE 30 AÑOS la oficina del Ministerio Hispano ha servido de puente entre los hispanos que viven o pasan por nuestra diócesis. Con servicio pastoral y ministerios ofrecidos para el bienestar espiritual de los feligreses y toda persona que ha buscado servicios tanto de inmigración en el pasado, como el continuo apoyo a las parroquias y organizaciones en el área.

Este año, la oficina del Ministerio Hispano está pasando a una transformación positiva: Además de expandir sus servicios a otras culturas, cambiando así el nombre a Oficina de Ministerio Multicultural, también tendrá una nueva directora. Karla Álvarez, nacida en Arkansas de papás mexicanos, comienza su trabajo en nuestra diócesis, este mes.

Por mi parte, he sido muy feliz sirviendo en el ministerio por 19 años. Ahora el Señor me ha llamado a servir a su iglesia en una manera diferente. Este año trabajo en la oficina del Obispo, procesando proyectos para las parroquias, así como trabajo de administración y apoyo a los ministerios diocesanos. Suena esto muy sofisticado, pero en realidad es el mismo servicio a la iglesia, pero ahora a todas las parroquias y no solo a las que tienen comunidad hispana.

Se que la oficina anteriormente conocida como Ministerio Hispano y ahora Ministerio Multicultural estará en excelentes manos y yo seguiré apoyando de acuerdo con mis posibilidades. En una buena nota, somos ya cuatro personas trabajando en el Centro Católico que hablamos español y el obispo desea seguir sirviendo a todos sus feligreses y en una manera especial a los hispanos, por lo que les extiendo mi servicio y cariño.

Karla usará su primer año de trabajo aquí para conocer los servicios disponibles a los hispanos, continuar con el apoyo a las parroquias y evaluar el trabajo del Ministerio. Por favor den la bienvenida a Karla, su apoyo y cariño, así como ella nos dará su conocimiento, entrega.

Bendiciones.

Por el Obispo

Cómo pasa el tiempo. Hace ahora tres años que fui ordenado su obispo. Con frecuencia, la gente, tanto del norte de Luisiana como de la diócesis de Little Rock, de donde vengo, me hace un par de preguntas idénticas. La primera viene sobre todo de Arkansas: “¿Cómo le tratan en la diócesis de Shreveport?”. Me apresuro a responder que “ellos”, es decir, USTEDES, me tratan muy bien. Aquí me han acogido muy bien y, aunque todavía no me acostumbro al sabor del probado el boudin, me encanta el resto de la cocina cajún. Disfruto de mis visitas a las parroquias, ya sea para la Confirmación o celebraciones, o simplemente visitas. Aunque nuestras escuelas son pequeñas en número, disfruto mucho de cualquier visita con nuestros niños. También espero que me invite alguno de nuestros grupos de RSP. Lo que quiero decir es que me siento como en casa en nuestra diócesis, y les agradezco la acogida que me han brindado.

Hay una “segunda pregunta” constante que la gente me ha hecho desde que soy obispo - y tiene que ver con el Centro Católico. Más veces de las que puedo contar, ésta es la pregunta más frecuente: “Obispo, ¿qué va a hacer con el Centro Católico?”. La persona que pregunta suele decirme lo obvio: que el Centro Católico, antes era la Academia de San Vicente, es un conjunto tan enorme

“¡¡¡TRES AÑOS!!!”

de edificios, ¿hay algún plan? Me complace hablarles de lo que ya ha comenzado, de una visión que me gustaría ver realizada, por ambiciosa que sea. Mi esperanza es que, cuando esté terminado, toda la diócesis pueda hacer uso de estas instalaciones para mejorar sus vidas espirituales y de las de nuestras organizaciones católicas. El Centro Católico alberga las oficinas centrales de la Diócesis, pero hay más espacio del que utilizamos... así que allá vamos:

Ya estamos trabajando en la renovación de la capilla del Centro Católico. Cuando esté terminada, la rebautizaremos con el nombre de “Capilla de San Vicente”, en honor al elemento central de la antigua Academia. Quería empezar por la capilla porque ES el elemento central de todo el edificio. Al final de este artículo hay una foto de su diseño final. La imagen de San Vicente de Paúl estará en el centro de la nueva entrada de la capilla, en un espacio rodeado por las vidrieras de la capilla anterior. Actualmente, esta imagen se encuentra en uno de los costados de los edificios. La capilla tendrá unos 100 asientos, una gran pila de agua bendita y espacio para un piano.

Si localizan la imagen de San Vicente de Paúl en el exterior, está situada en la fachada del Ala Este. Menciono esto porque mucho antes de que yo llegara aquí, el Ala Este se consideró insegura debido a graves problemas de cimentación. Una vez finalizada la construcción de la capilla, el Ala Este será desmantelada, ya que estos problemas la hacen inutilizable y demasiado cara de reparar.

Si están familiarizados con la Capilla, notarán que hay un largo pasillo que se une a la Capilla. Este pasillo, y los salones contiguos, mostrarán nuestra historia de cuando la Academia de San Vicente ocupaba este espacio. Estoy seguro de que la familia diocesana, y especialmente los antiguos alumnos de San Vicente, estarán muy satisfechos sabiendo que lo que disfrutamos como Centro Católico, se lo debemos en gran medida a nuestra historia diocesana en este edificio cuando era una escuela y un lugar donde se enseñó nuestra fe católica durante muchos años.

Recorre ese pasillo y entrarás en la “Casa Fairview”. A ambos lados de ese largo pasillo hay dos “ salones sociales”, que fueron utilizados por las Hermanas que ocuparon el Convento. Estas dos habitaciones están en gran parte sin utilizar, por lo que el plan es combinar ambas habitaciones en una gran sala de conferencias que facilitará las convocatorias para reuniones, etc.

Para dar mayor uso, tanto a la renovación de la Capilla como a la de la Casa Fairview, se habilitarán baños adicionales en la entrada del Centro Católico y en la zona de Conferencias, que permitirán albergar grandes reuniones de personas.

Tales emprendimientos no son baratos, pero si no respondemos a la segunda pregunta con un plan útil para nuestras instalaciones, estamos perdiendo un recurso valioso para nuestro futuro, que conduce al área de dormitorios donde las hermanas religiosas vivieron, y consiste en múltiples instalaciones para dormir con sus baños. El plan - al menos en este momento - es que cuando la Capilla y las instalaciones de la conferencia estén terminadaspasemos a renovar las instalaciones para dormir donde cada dormitorio tiene su propio cuarto de baño, y un amplio alojamiento para pasar la noche y los fines de semana para retiros. Si nuestros recursos son suficientes y podemos completar estos tres proyectos, entonces ahí está la respuesta: la visión es establecer un Centro Diocesano de Retiros disponible para los feligreses de toda la diócesis, con alojamiento cómodo, instalaciones para reuniones, y una hermosa Capilla para enriquecer espiritualmente a aquellos que hagan uso de todas las instalaciones.

¿Cuánto tiempo durará este proyecto? Todo depende de nuestros recursos financieros y de las donaciones y regalos de la Iglesia diocesana. Mi esperanza es que al compartir esta información con ustedes - que anticipen el crecimiento espiritual de los fieles proporcionando un lugar para la oración, la adoración, el enriquecimiento espiritual, y un recurso que toda la Diócesis pueda disfrutar en los años venideros. Por favor, recen conmigo para que tengamos éxito, y por la intercesión de San Vicente de Paúl, nuestros esfuerzos den fruto para la gloria de Dios y para el bien de toda la diócesis.

Our Lady of Fatima School

Stephanie Haney, Principal

ABOVE: Our Lady of Fatima’s Jr. Student Council were very special guests at the Monroe City Council Meeting. Students were there to hear about all the important tasks that Monroe City has in the upcoming months. They met with the Mayor Friday Ellis and other Council members and even got to sit on the board! The students were very excited about having this opportunity to be involved in their community! A special thanks to Mayor Friday Ellis and Mrs. Deljorie Stewart(OLF Student Council Chair) for making this happen.

LEFT: Congratulations to Aniyah Samuel our 5th Grade Student of the Year and Phillip Toston III our 8th Grade Student of the Year!

Saint Joseph School News

Polly Maciulski, Middle School Religion

STUDENTS OF THE YEAR 2023

Saint Joseph Catholic School is pleased to announce our Students of the Year for 2022-23: Vera John (fifth grade) and Reagan Locklear (8th grade). Finalists in fifth grade were: Katie Sugar-Bruce, Isabel Carney, Vera John, Lenisse Perez, Catherine Altimus, and Greyson Floyd. Eighth grade finalists were: Ethan Armand, Beau BonDurant, Cohen Golden, Reagan Locklear, Maddie Mathias, Julianna Meiki, and Sebastian Gallego. We congratulate all of you on your dedication and hard work in and out of the classroom, and we pray for Vera and Reagan as they prepare for the next level of competition. We know you will do a great job representing SJS!

ART TEACHER IS ONE CLASS AT A TIME AWARD WINNER!

We had a surprise visitor at our Christmas program in December: our beloved Art teacher, Mrs. Melissa Wolcott, learned that she was the recipient of the One Class at a Time Award from KTBS! Mrs. Wolcott submitted a grant to provide robotics and coding within her STEM lab, and so she proposed Sphero Mini educational robotic balls (16-classroom pack). In her grant, she says, “I hope to meet these

K4 KREWE OF THE CARPENTER IS COMING!

objectives and goals by developing a love of technology, coding and problem solving for each of my students. Robotics is a production-based learning module. Students have the opportunity to create something tangible and make it perform the actions that they program it to do. Not a lot of fields combine creativity with engineering and technology— robotics does.” We are so happy for Mrs. Wolcott - but also for her students, who will benefit from her initiative and creativity!

SJS 8TH GRADERS WIN KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ESSAY CONTEST

We are so happy for our eighth grade student, Maddie Mathias, for winning the Knights of Columbus essay contest this year! Maddie, a student at SJS since K4, won the contest for both the school and the Diocese of Shreveport. Students were asked to write an essay to explain how young Catholics can evangelize their faith to families and friends who have turned away from religion, and encourage them to return to the Church and embrace the sacraments.

The annual SJS Krewe of the Carpenter has begun preparations for their annual Mardi Gras Parade! This long-standing tradition is a favorite at SJS, as the K4 classes are the stars of the parade and make their way around the route in amazing homemade floats. The fun starts Tuesday, February 21, at 1:15 pm in the parking lot and will go until the beads run out. Our 8th grade students will also enjoy a cross-curricular lesson on the history of Mardi Gras in Louisiana - good food included!

JESUS THE GOOD SHEPHERD SCHOOL: ACCELERATED READER SPOTLIGHT

Amy Fakhre, Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic School Development Office

DURING THE FIRST NINE-WEEKS OF SCHOOL, JGS teachers completed the Carmel Hill Education Fund Read Up Challenge-Round 1. Every JGS teacher in grades 1st6th met and exceeded the criteria for the challenge which included all students completing at STAR test and 85% of each class meeting their AR goal with 90% accuracy! The teachers received an award certificate for their classroom and an Amazon gift card for their achievement.

During the first and second nine weeks of school, JGS accumulated a total of eight Million-Word Readers: (1 million words read) Katie Barkley-6th, Rosemary Paxton-5th, Chidu Anumele-6th, Lillian Sanford-4th; (2 million words read) Parker Traxler-6th, Hannah Hill-5th, Peyton Traxler-4th; and (5 million words read) Cyrus Tuft-5th.

These students are awarded a Million-Word Reader yard sign to proudly display in their yard. Their photos are displayed in the upper-grade hallway at JGS School on the Accelerated Reader Wall of Fame. They are recognized in our Ram Reader monthly newsletter and also on our school social media pages. These reading athletes are also granted early-bird shopping at the Accelerated Reader Store held at the end of each nineweek semester.

For over 20 years, Jesus the Good Shepherd School has fostered a love of reading in students through the Renaissance Accelerated Reader Program. JGS students complete Renaissance Star Reading Assessments every nine weeks during the school year, which provide teachers with universal screening, progress monitoring and goal setting criteria for each student on an individual and age-appropriate basis. A reading goal is assigned based on the reading assessment

scores for the nine weeks and students are then allowed to read books of their liking within their reading goal parameters. The Accelerated Reader Program guides students to select books on their reading level, read independently and take independent AR quizzes on each book read right from their school assigned laptop. JGS teachers monitor reading progress closely, set individual goals and challenges for their students all the while the AR program tracks their reading progress. We are so proud of our JGS teachers for fostering a love of reading in their classrooms and of our students for continuing to excel as reading athletes!

Loyola College Prep News

Jordan Harris, Loyola College Prep Director of Communications

Future Flyer Informational Night

Loyola also uniquely provides quality individualized advising and preparation for college. Fifteen advanced placement courses, several dual enrollment courses and standardized test preparation develops experience and college credit. The Loyola Administration team intentionally strives to keep tuition affordable and accessible by charging less than the actual cost of education for all students. Loyola offers a variety of tuition assistance options.

“We want to make options available for all students who seek a Catholic high school education, and at Loyola we have a dedicated team who is willing to work with each individual family and their needs,” said John LeBlanc, Principal at Loyola College Prep. “We have very generous alumni, parents and

Loyola College Prep offers a faith-based high school experience grounded in Catholicism and growing students in conscience, character and compassion. The Loyola experience provides opportunities for students to evolve in academic excellence, faith in action and student involvement. The Diocese of Shreveport is inviting all middle school families who might be interested to learn more about Loyola College Prep to attend Future Flyer Invitational Night beginning at 5:30 p.m., February 2nd, at the Catholic Center.

“This is an opportunity for families to learn more about Loyola and what makes our high school experience so special,” said Andy Cline, Admissions Director at Loyola. “We are grateful for the Diocese to host this event, and we look forward to sharing different perspectives from students, parents, teachers, and administrators in a causal atmosphere.”

The event will showcase the many opportunities of a Catholic education at Loyola College Prep and will have information on Loyola academics, athletics, student life, our Catholic identity, the enrollment process, tuition assistance, accommodations, as well as parent and student testimonies. Students of all faith backgrounds join as a student body for weekly Mass at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans just footsteps away from the campus. Of the 35 student organizations available at Loyola, there are countless opportunities to serve the community and show the love of Jesus Christ.

friends of Loyola who help provide tuition assistance to students through financial donations to our school. We are grateful for their contributions and dedication.”

To register for Future Flyer Informational Night or for more information on Loyola College Prep, visit www.loyolaprep.org or call 318-226-6285.

Saint Frederick High School News

Deacon Scott Brandle, Adam Ryland, IB Director

ST. FREDERICK HIGH SCHOOL LAUNCHES A DRONE PROGRAM

SFHS kicked off its Drone Program this semester in Digital Design with its freshmen and sophomore students. The students will learn Block, Python, and JavaScript coding in the classroom using the Tello drone. Mr. Lindow will cover safety, regulations, and the real-world applications of drone technology. The students will be using science, technology, engineering, and math skills as they build and fly their drones. The students also visited Mr. Darrion Flunder-Jenkins at the University of Louisiana - Monroe this semester. He spoke to the students about the importance of drones in today’s society and how you can get a degree in learning how to fly and program commercial and military drones. He shared that there is a lot of potential for drone usage, and learning about them can be a valuable asset. Potential jobs using drones could include agriculture, search and rescue, construction, real estate photography, and the military. Our students are excited to learn how to program and fly drones this year.

St. John Berchmans School News

Claudia Park, Resource Teacher

THE POWER OF SJB TEACHERS AND A NEW READING CURRICULUM

When it is working, shout about it. Better yet, READ about it! Under the leadership of Principal Trey Woodham, big things are happening at St. John Berchmans School with reading, and we could not be more excited. In August 2022, SJBS adopted a new reading curriculum in grades K4 through fifth. In addition, a resource teacher was hired to assist with students who were not where they needed to be in terms of reading skills and who might need a little extra attention meeting their future reading goals. Our curriculum, Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA), is based on what has become known as “The Science of Reading.” It is based on years of research about how children learn to read. Our teachers are effectively implementing CKLA with enthusiasm and fidelity to the program’s process and procedures and are seeing reading skills improve and grow at a rate not seen in many years at our school.

In addition to an excellent curriculum, we benchmark the reading skills of students in grades kindergarten through third three times a year using Acadience (formerly DIBELS)beginning the first week of school. Students who do not meet a benchmark begin receiving extra support - that is beautiful. Subsequent benchmarking, coupled with progress monitoring, helps us to ensure that students are continuing to progress as needed. If not, adjustments are made in the classroom or resource room.

There is nothing more powerful than early intervention. The earlier we identify a student who is struggling to meet a benchmark, the easier it is to re-mediate that benchmark skill. For example, in August of 2021, only 33% of our kindergarten students benchmarked in the skill known as First Sound Fluency. By December, 80% of them reached or exceeded the

benchmark in this skill.

Once First Sound Fluency is established, students are ready to segment all the sounds in a word. This skill is known as phoneme segmentation. In December of 2022, this skill was benchmarked in kindergarten, 93% of our kindergartners benchmarked, with the majority of them exceeding the benchmark.

These statistics underscore the power of a strong curriculum delivered by skilled, enthusiastic, and passionate teachers coupled with extra resource help when needed. Early intervention is key!

By setting high reading standards and providing extra support for those who need it, our students are being setup for years of future reading success. After all, our ultimate goal is to develop lifelong readers and learners.

Please feel free to reach out to our reading resource teacher if you would like to discuss in detail the exciting things happening with St. John Berchmans’ literacy program in the classroom and the support provided in our reading resource room.

New Year, New Beginning

Rosalba Quiroz, Director

FOR OVER 30 YEARS the Hispanic Ministry office has served as a bridge for Hispanics throughout our diocese. Pastoral services and ministries have been offered for the spiritual well-being of anyone seeking guidance. It also offers support to parishes and organizations in the area whenever needed.

This year the Hispanic Ministry office is undergoing a new transformation. In addition to expanding its services to other cultures, thus changing the name to the Office of Multicultural Ministry, it will also have a new director - Karla Alvarez. Born in Arkansas to Mexican parents, Karla begins her work in our diocese this month. She has previously worked in the Hispanic Ministry in her hometown diocese.

I have happily served this ministry for the past 19 years, and now the Lord has now called me to serve his Church in a different way. As of this year, I will be working in the Chancery office, as the Executive Administrative Assistant to the Bishop, aiding all our parishes and diocesan ministries. I look forward to continuing to serve the people of the Diocese of Shreveport.

I know that the office formerly known as Hispanic Ministry and now Multicultural Ministry will be in excellent hands, and I will continue to support it as much as I am able.

Karla will use her first year to learn about the services available to Catholics of different cultural backgrounds, continue to support parishes and evaluate the work of the Ministry. Please welcome Karla, give her your support and love, as she will give us her knowledge and dedication.

around the diocese

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Cemetery is now an Official Wreaths Across America location. Special thanks to the Fort Jesup Society Children of the American Revolution for their hard

work in making sure that ALL veterans in the cemetery had a wreath this year, participating in the Wreaths Across America Program.

This past month the ULM Catholic Campus Ministry participated in the Northeast Louisiana March for Life. CCM students joined other churches and other organizations in spreading their support and raising awareness for the life of the mothers and their unborn children.

ULM CATHOLIC CAMPUS MINISTRY

CONGRATULATIONS TO VERY REVEREND MONSIGNOR MATTHEW T. LONG, J.D., V.G.

“The title of ‘Monsignor’ may be given to the Vicar General of a Diocese, if he has not already received a Pontifical Honor with this title, but only for as long as he holds the office of Vicar General.”

Therefore, and indeed, for as long as he holds such a title and the Office of Vicar General, effective this Christmas Day, I designate the title of ‘Monsignor’ to Very Reverend Monsignor Matthew T. Long, J.D., V.G.

Barbara Schleben had the opportunity to meet Father Robert Spitzer at the Cathedral of St John Berchmans Saturday Evening for his seminar “A Study Of Eucharistic Miracles. “

- Submitted by Megan Rolfe

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH CONT.

The children of Saint John the Baptist reenacted the Christmas Story at the Christmas Vigil Mass. One of the wise men was Father Francis Kamau’s nephew, Leon Kamu, who was visiting for the holidays.

Ash Wednesday Mass Schedule

Cathedral of St. John Berchmans - Shreveport

8:30 AM, 12:10 PM, 5:30 PM

Holy Trinity Church - Shreveport

7:25 AM, 12:05 PM, 5:15 PM

St. Joseph Church - Shreveport 7:00 AM, 8:15 AM, 6:00 PM St. Pius X Church - Shreveport

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church - Shreveport

AM, 12:05 PM, 6:00 PM

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament ChurchShreveport 9:00 AM

St. Mary of the Pines Church - Shreveport

8:30 AM, 6:30 PM (Bilingual)

Sacred Heart of Jesus Church - Shreveport

12:05 PM, 5:30 PM

Christ the King Church - Bossier City 8:15 AM, 5:00 PM

Mary, Queen of Peace Church - Bossier City 8:30 AM, 6:00 PM

St. Joseph Church - Bastrop

PM St. Jude Church - Benton

Saint George Church - Coushatta

St. Joseph Church - Mansfield 8:00 AM, 5:00 PM

St. John the Baptist Church - Many

AM

the Good Shepherd Church - Monroe

PM Catholic Campus Ministry - ULM

Flower of Jesus Church - Monroe

Our Lady of Fatima Church - Monroe

St. Lawrence Catholic Church - Swartz

Matthew Church - Monroe

AM, 6:00 PM St. Paschal Church - West Monroe

AM, 6:00 PM, 7:30 PM (Spanish)

St. Benedict Church - Grambling

PM

Heart Chuch - Rayville

PM

Thomas Aquinas Church - Ruston

St. Lucy Church - Hodge

Joseph Church - Zwolle

Thanks to our Recent Donors:

(035) Mr. or Mrs. L.L. Elford ($100)

(011)2 Mr. or Mrs. L.L. Elford ($100)

(036) Mr. or Mrs. L.L. Elford ($100)

(036) Mary Ann Bargmann ($100)

(036) Mr. or Mrs. Joe Cordaro ($150)

(035) Mr. Richard Ward ($300)

(023) Van or Patricia McGraw ($500)

(036) Anonymous ($100)

(034) Anonymous ($100)

(036) Francis & Rita McClernon ($1000)

(005) Cathedral of St. John Berchmans ($50)

(008) William & Dolores Walker ($100)

(015) Edward & Cathy Dinger ($500)

(036) Ms. Debora L. Prest ($100)

(036) Sally Cox ($50)

(035)2 Mrs. Rosemary C. Ward ($500)

(035)2 Chris A. Ward ($250)

(036) Carefree Janitorial Supply ($1000)

(024) Ms. Dorothy M. Tipton ($500)

(035)2 Mr. Richard Ward ($2000)

(023) Van or Patricia McGraw ($100)

SEMINARIAN BURSES

(032) Diane Tiller Gainey ($1000)

(030) Mr. & Mrs. Joseph W. Littlejohn ($1000)

(035)2 Chris A. Ward ($250)

Completed Burses:

(001) Fr. Mike Bakowski Memorial Burse #1 ($10000)

(006) Msgr. J. Carson LaCaze Memorial Burse #1 ($10000)

(010) Memory of Rita Scott from the John Scott Family Burse ($10000)

(011) Rev. David Richter Memorial Burse #1 ($10000)

(012) Jack E. Caplis, Jr., Memorial Burse ($10000)

(013) Mary Evans Caplis Burse ($10000)

(014) Bob & Peggy Semmes Memorial Burse ($10000)

(019) Margaret Glenn Memorial Burse ($10000)

(020) Dr. James V. Ward Memorial Burse ($10000)

(026) Sheryl Seal Sweeney Memorial Burse ($10000)

(027) Rev. Richard Lombard Memorial Burse ($10000)

(027) Rev. Richard Lombard Memorial Burse #2 ($10000)

(031) Pearl Heck & Leona Boudreaux Memorial Burse ($10000)

(033) Beryl K. & Joseph D. Ozenne Memorial Burse ($10000)

(035) Dr. James V. & Rosemary C. Ward Burse ($10000)

(040) Servant of God

Fr. Isidore Armand Quémerais Burse ($10000)

(041) Servant of God

Fr. Jean Pierre Burse ($10000)

(042) Servant of God

Fr. Jean-Marie Biler Burse ($10000)

(043) Servant of God

Fr. Louis-Marie Gergaud Burse ($10000)

(044) Servant of God

Fr. François Le Vézouët Burse ($10000)

Incomplete Burses:

(001) Fr. Mike Bakowski Memorial Burse #2 ($1350)

(002) Joseph & Antoinette Bakowski Memorial Burse ($3150)

(003) Sam R. Maranto Memorial Burse ($1650)

(004) Kathryn Atherton Cook Memorial Burse ($350)

(005) Cathedral of St. John Berchmans Burse ($1300)

(006) Msgr. J. Carson LaCaze Memorial Burse #2 ($3832.12)

(007) Dr. Carol Christopher Memorial Burse ($1200)

(008) St. Jude Parish Burse ($6318)

(009) St. John Berchmans Knights of Columbus Council 10728 Burse ($1550)

(011) Rev. David Richter Memorial Burse #2 ($4400)

(015) Bishop’s Seminarian Burse ($4410)

(016) Elaine Malloy Frantz Memorial Burse ($1000)

(017) Msgr. George Martinez Knights of Columbus Council 1337 Burse ($8021.57)

(018) Knights of St. Peter Claver Council 144 Burse ($1180)

(021) Rev. Edmund “Larry” Niehoff Memorial Burse ($2000)

(022) Rev. Blane O’Neil, OFM Memorial Burse ($1250)

(023) Msgr. Edmund J. Moore Memorial Burse ($2520)

(024) Rev. Joseph Puthupally Memorial Burse ($1600)

(025) Kathleen Hightower Memorial Burse ($400)

(028) Friends-n-Faith Burse ($300)

(029) Rev. Kenneth Williams Memorial Burse ($200)

(030) Ottis and Anne Krupa Littlejohn Memorial Burse ($6000)

(032) Madeline and Joe Tiller Memorial Burse ($5000)

(034) Joseph B. and Lucille Provenza Cordaro Burse ($6100)

(035) Dr. James V. & Rosemary C. Ward Burse #2 ($3000)

(036) Msgr. Earl Vincent Provenza Burse ($4300)

(037) Manuel & Catherine Licciardi, and John & Beverly Miller Burse ($4000)

(038) The Malone Family Burse ($250)

(039) St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Knights of Columbus Council 9260 Burse ($250)

(045) Sister Martinette Rivers Memorial Burse ($200)

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.

JOIN OUR NEW EMAIL NEWSLETTER!

Do you want to know more about what’s going on around the Diocese, but don’t want to wait for the next Catholic Connection issue to come out? Join our new bimonthly diocesan email newsletter!

Just go to www.dioshpt.org/newsletter to sign up or email Ben Luckett, Director of Digital Evangelization at bluckett@dioshpt.org

FEASTS & SOLEMNITIES

FEBRUARY 2

Presentation of the Lord

FEBRUARY 3

Saint Blaise, Bishop and Martyr; Saint Ansgar, Bishop

FEBRUARY 6

Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs

FEBRUARY 6

Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs

FEBRUARY 8

Saint Jerome Emiliani; Saint Josephine Bakhita, Virgin

FEBRUARY 10

Saint Scholastica, Virgin

FEBRUARY 11

Our Lady of Lourdes

MISAS EN ESPAÑOLDIÓCESIS DE SHREVEPORT

CRISTO REY: BOSSIER CITY

Rev. Fidel Mondragon

FEBRUARY 14

Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop

FEBRUARY 17

The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order

FEBRUARY 21

Saint Peter Damian, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

FEBRUARY 22

Ash Wednesday

FEBRUARY 23

Saint Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr

FEBRUARY 27

Saint Gregory of Narek, Abbot and Doctor of the Church

upcoming events

FEBRUARY 21, 1:15 PM

Krewe of the Carpenter Mardi Gras Parade @ St. Joseph Catholic School

Open to the public, join St. Joseph Catholic School for their annual K-4 parade in their homemade floats.

FEBRUARY 24-25

Devoted Women’s Conference @ St. Joseph Church Shreveport

The 2nd Annual Devoted Women’s Conference presenting sponsor: Christus Shreveport-Bossier Health System. Tickets are on sale now at stjosephchurch.net

MARCH 4, 10 AM5:30 PM

BELONG Diocesan Youth Summit @The Catholic Center

Open to all students grades 6-12. Registration is $25/youth, register with your parish youth ministry program.

APRIL 15, 6 PM

Bingo on the Delta @ Jesus the Good Shepherd Gym

All proceeds will benefit CCNLA programs in North Louisiana.

Calendario de Febrero, 2023

FEBRERO 3-5

Retiro Emaús de Mujeres Hombres, Scottsville, TX

FEBRERO 18

Programa Proceso de Renovación Parroquial, Cristo Rey de 8:00 AM5:00 PM

318.221.0238 Oficina

Domingo 1:00pm

Lunes 7:00pm

Sabado 6:00pm

Coordinador Oscar Gomez 972.567.2710

SAN PASCUAL: W. MONROE

Rev. Luis Jost, OFM

Domingo: 4:00pm

Coordinadora: Lorena Chaparro 318.267.4018

SANTO TOMAS AQUINO: RUSTON

Rev. Kevin Mues

318.225.2870 Oficina

Domingo 1:30pm

Coordinadora: Luz Martinez 318.224.0980

NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL PEPETUO

SOCORRO: FARMERVILLE

Rev. Luis Jost, OFM

Sabados 7:00 pm

Coordinadora: Paola Gonalez 817.801.3499

STA MARIA DE LOS PINOS: SHREVEPORT

Rev. Mark Watson

318.687.5121 Oficina

Domingo 12:30 am

Coordinadora: Alma Mendoza 318.678.9306

SAGRADO CORAZON: OAK GROVE

318.428.2983 Oficina, Domingo 1:00pm Rev. Rigoberto Betancurt 318-458-6045 Cell

SAN JOHN THE BAPTIST, MANY

Rev. Rigoberto Betancurt

318-256-5680 Oficina

primer domingo 1:00pm

SAN PABLO: MINDEN

Rev. Rigoberto Betancurt

2do Domingo 4:00pm

Coordinadora: Dora Rodriguez 870-904-9137

SAN JOSE: MANSFIELD

Rev. Rigoberto Betancurt 305 Jefferson Street Mansfield, LA 71052

3er Domingo 3:00pm

where is bishop malone this month?

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1ST

St. Francis Medical Center Board of Directors’ Meeting; Monroe; 11:30 AM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND

Religion Scholars’ Bowl, Cathedral of St. John Berchmans School, Shreveport; 9:00 AM

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH

Confirmation; Little Flower of Jesus Church, Monroe; 9:00 AM

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH

Fete for Life; Bossier Civic Center, Bossier City; 6:00 PM

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH

Catholic Scouting Mass; Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Shreveport; 11:00 AM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH

Dedication of the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; 11:00 AM

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY

22ND

Ash Wednesday Mass; Cathedral of St. John Berchmans; 5:00 PM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD

Legislators’ Luncheon; Catholic Center, Shreveport; 11:00 AM

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH

St. Frederick High School Board Meeting; St. Frederick High School Library, Monroe; 6:00 PM

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: Seeing Double?? Bishop Francis Malone had the honor to meet Pope Francis during his trip to Rome this past September.