CATHOLIC CONNECTION
CATHOLIC CONNECTION
PUBLISHER
Bishop Francis I. Malone
INTERIM EDITOR
Sophia Romanski
CONTRIBUTORS
Karla Alvarez
Delia Barr
MIke Van Vranken
Karl Yabut
Karen Dill
Lucy Medvec
Noemi Saybe
Mary Arcement Alexander
Fr.
Austin Young
Mark Watson
Cassandra Key
Elise Reis
Diane Libro
FEBRUARY 2025
Volume 34, Number 7
BUILDING OUR FAITH
Pope Francis’ Prayer Intention For The Month Of February
FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGOUS LIFE
Let us pray that the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ's mission in the priesthood and religious life.
Cover photo from the Jubilee Opening Mass at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans. Photo by
SUBSCRIPTIONS & ADDRESS CHANGES
Blanca Vice bvice@dioshpt.org 318-868-4441
SUBMISSIONS
Sophia Romanski sromanski@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). Online sessions are 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 Arcement Alexander, Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator at 318-588-2120. Thank you for helping to keep our children and vulnerable adults safe.
The Catholic Connection is funded in part by a grant from Catholic Home Missions and donations to the Catholic Service Appeal.
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.
FEBRUARY SECOND COLLECTIONS
February 1 & 2 - Diocesan Catholic Schools Tuition Fund Support our Catholic Schools! One hundred percent of these collections will remain in our diocese.
Very Rev. Msgr. Matthew T. Long
Dcn. Charles Thomas, OFS
Karla Alvarez
Rev. Kevin Mues
Rosalba Quiroz
Kirsten Shrewsberry.
MONDAY
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord and the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life
Msgr. Matthew T. Long
Confirmation: LIttle Flower of Jesus, Monroe; 9:00 am
Memorial of St. Blaise
Msgr. Rothell Price
2025 Catholic Service Appeal Campaign Reception; St. John the Baptist Parish Hall, Many, 6:00 PM
2025 Catholic Service Appeal Campaign Reception; East Ridge Country Club, Shreveport, 6:00 PM
Fr. Calistus Barasa Makokha
Memorial of St. Scholastica
Fr. Fidel Mondragón
Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes and Wolrd Day of the Sick
Fr. Jerry Daigle
Fr. Gabriel Cisneros Campos
Fête for Life; Bossier City Civic Center, Bossier City; 5:00 PM
Fr. LaVerne “Pike” Thomas
Fr. Keith Garvin, Fr.
Fr. Michael Thang’wa, Fr. James Moran
Fr. James Dominic Thekkemury,
Fr. Peter Romanus Mallya
Fr. Jean Bosco Uwamungu
Fr. Charles Ssennyondo
Fr. Mark Franklin, Fr. Joseph Maddala
2025 Legislators’ Luncheon; Catholic Center, Shreveport; 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Fr. James McLelland, Fr. Karl Daigle
Confirmation; Mary, Queen of Peace Church, Bossier City; 4:00 PM
Fr. Richard Norsworthy, Fr. Rigoberto Betancurt Cortés
Confirmation; Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Shreveport; 9:00 AM Bishop Gregory Kelly’s Installation Mass; W.T. Brookshire Center, Tyler, Texas; 2:00 PM Bishop Gregory Kelly’s Installation Event: Evening Prayer; Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Tyler, TX; 5:00 PM
Feasts & Solemnities Priest(s) in the Diocese of Shreveport to pray for daily
Bishop Malone's Calendar Special Events in the Diocese of Shreveport
Fr. Joseph Ampatt, Fr. Joseph Martina,
Fr. Adrian Fischer, Fr. Patrick Madden
SUGGESTED PRAYER FOR OUR PRIESTS:
Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of our priests. Especially ___________________________________ (insert name(s) here) Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments.
Fr. Philip Michiels, Msgr. Earl Provenza All deceased priests of the Diocese of Shreveport
Help our priests to be strong in their vocation. Set their souls on fire with love for your people.
Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.
Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel.
Allow them to experience joy in their ministry. Help them to become instruments of your divine grace.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest. Amen.
Bishop Francis I. Malone
Fr. Kelby Tingle
Nicholas Duncan
Fr. Mark Watson, Fr. Charles Glorioso
Fr. Kevin Mues Fr. Duane Trombetta
Fr. Tobias Omondi Obado
Timothy Hurd, Fr. Do Minh Vu, Fr, Peter Mangum
Valentine's Day
Fr. Raney Johnson
We Are the Pilgrims of Hope Diocesan Director of Faith Formation Delia Barr walks introduces local pilgrimage sites for the 2025 Jubilee Year.
17
Building Our Faith through the 2025 Catholic Service Appeal Celebrating the kickoff of the 2025 Catholic Service Appeal Campaign!
FROM THE EDITOR
I suppose I should address the elephant in the room. I am not Kirsten Shrewsberry, former editor of the Catholic Connection. I am her temporary replacement, Sophia Romanski. Hello!
My dear friend and her family moved to Florida last month at the behest of the American military. As a military brat myself, I only sympathize. I pray the transition is smooth and they enjoy all the Sunshine State's idiosyncrasies.
As this is my first attempt at writing a column of any sort, I hope you, dear readers, will bear with me. Hope, as it happens, is the theme of this issue. Hope is also the theme of this entire year, according to Pope Francis.
24 Adventures Abroad Diocesan Seminarian Austin Young shares his favorite memories of his trip to Italy!
I've always thought of hope as difficult to define and even harder to maintain, especially in a world as increasingly turbulent as ours. The notion of hope denotes a fragile ephemerality, something wispy and impossible to grasp, like the smoke of a snuffed-out candle. It's been a struggle as I've grown up to reject that notion.
Hope and faith tread hand in hand. As a woman of faith, my trust in God, His plan, and His power is the key to adopting a more accurate image of hope: hope is tough. It's gritty. It's hard-won. Hope is a badge of honor to wield after fighting tooth and nail against a world that seems intent on tearing itself apart.
Hope is the foundation upon which we build our faith.
FROM THE BISHOP
I am pretty sure the first time I encountered the name “pilgrim” was either in elementary school or at a Thanksgiving celebration. I am also pretty sure the first time I heard the name “pilgrim” was in a John Wayne movie – but I digress.
Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, designated the Year 2025 as a Holy Year, a Jubilee Year, celebrating our faith under the theme of “Hope.” We, here in the Diocese of Shreveport, inaugurated this Jubilee Year as the year 2024 ended, in anticipation of a Year of Hope in 2025. For readers wondering what a Jubilee or Holy Year means: it has a history going back many, many centuries to when the entire Church gathered spiritually with the Pope in dedicating their lives throughout a new year under a specified theme. You and I have been invited to become “Pilgrams of Hope,” agents, as it were, to those we live, work, and are associated with to bring a message rooted in Scripture. A theological virtue, hope is one of three virtues we receive at our baptism and is further sealed in us when we are confirmed. A great definition of Hope is found in one of my nightly prayers, “Act of Hope,” in which we pray to receive that which only God can give us: “O my God, relying on Thy infinite promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.”
Reflecting on this prayer’s meaning is more important than just reciting it. If you and I are asked to become pilgrims of Hope, then such reflection can aid not only our own spiritual life but, by example, the lives of those we encounter each day.
One way to undertake such a pilgrimage that impacts others is to look for the prayer’s purpose or intention. For me personally, “the pardon of sins” means just that – “God, I hope that, in spite of my unworthiness, you forgive me my sins.” But it also means that we never pass up the opportunity to tell others that God’s mercy is only a word or two away, that simply “I am sorry” is a perfect way to begin, but also that accompanying these words is the genuine “Hope” that He will do just that.
As a confessor over the years, I have always been amazed with those who have a difficult time embracing the belief that God does, in fact, forgive us our sins when we express our sorrow. In my personal experience of contrition, I have always felt the peace of knowing that my sins are forever gone. That brings me great joy! Why would I not want that same joy for those I encounter each day? It is also the perfect first lesson to teach our children who are embracing the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time.
“Pilgrims of Hope.” So what do you say: that you and I accept the challenge to Hope for ourselves and then, having received the joy it brings, to share that message with others… in this Jubilee Year and beyond?
No me cabe duda que la primera vez que escuché la palabra “peregrino” fue en primaria o durante una celebración de Acción de Gracias. Incluso es posible que haya escuchado el nombre “peregrino” por primera vez en una película de John Wayne, pero estoy divagando.
El Papa Francisco, nuestro Santo Padre, designó el año 2025 como un año santo, un Jubileo, que celebrará nuestra fe bajo el tema de la “Esperanza”. Aquí, en la Diócesis de Shreveport, lanzamos este Jubileo al final del 2024, con anticipación al año de la Esperanza en el 2025. Quienes se preguntan qué significa un Jubileo o Año Santo: la historia comienza hace muchísimos siglos, cuando toda la Iglesia se reunía espiritualmente junto al Papa dedicando sus vidas durante un año bajo un tema específico. En cierto modo, hemos sido llamados a ser agentes, “Peregrinos de Esperanza “, llevando el mensaje enraizado en las Escrituras con quienes vivimos, trabajamos y nos asociamos. La esperanza, una virtud teologal, es una de las tres virtudes que recibimos en el bautismo y queda sellada en nosotros al ser confirmados. Una buena definición de la esperanza se encuentra precisamente en una de mis oraciones de cada noche, “Acto de esperanza”, donde rezamos para recibir lo que sólo Dios nos puede dar: “Señor Dios mío, espero por tu gracia la remisión de todos mis pecados; y después de esta vida, alcanzar la eterna felicidad, porque tú lo prometiste que eres infinitamente poderoso, fiel, benigno y lleno de misericordia. Quiero vivir y morir en esta esperanza”.
Es más importante reflexionar sobre el significado de esta oración que limitarse a recitarla. Si nos piden que seamos Peregrinos de la Esperanza, esta reflexión nos ayudará en nuestra propia vida espiritual y, con nuestro ejemplo, ayudará a las personas con las que nos encontremos a diario.
por el obispo
Una manera de llevar esta peregrinación que impacta a otros es analizar el propósito o intención de la oración.
Para mí personalmente, “el perdón de los pecados” significa precisamente eso: “Señor, espero que, a pesar de mi indignidad, perdones mis pecados”. Pero también quiere decir que nunca dejemos pasar una oportunidad de decirles a los demás que la misericordia de Dios sólo está a una o dos palabras, decir simplemente “lo siento” es un modo ideal para empezar, pero que a estas palabras les acompañe también la auténtica “Esperanza” a que Él haga justamente eso.
Como confesor durante años, siempre he estado sorprendido con aquellos que tienen dificultades en aceptar la creencia que Dios, realmente, perdona nuestros pecados cuando expresamos nuestro dolor. Según mi experiencia personal de contrición, siempre he sentido esa paz del saber que mis pecados han desaparecido para siempre. Esto me produce gran alegría. ¿Por qué no desearía esa misma alegría para los demás? Es la primera lección que podemos enseñar a los niños que reciben por primera vez el Sacramento de la Reconciliación.
Para obtener más información sobre las oportunidades del Ministerio Multicultural en la Diócesis de Shreveport y para encontrar nuestros horarios y lugares de misa en español, por favor escanee el código aquí.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL TIME TO BE ALIVE IN THIS YEAR OF 2025!
What a beautiful calling we have all received to be Pilgrims of Hope. Jesus walked this earth reminding everyone that we were created for heaven, we were created for joy, and above all we were created for endless communion with our Lord.
Living with hope means knowing you were created for more – and so were those around you. Hope inspires courage, perseverance, and joy. Hope does not encourage comfort; rather, it encourages you to test your limits. One cannot grow in the comfort of their home or, as I like to say, you cannot grow from the comfort of your couch.
We are living in a dark time. Awful things are happening all around us, and if we want to find a reason to stay home, we will find 101 reasons. This year, though, we are called to step out of our homes and be a light to those we encounter daily. People out here need the gift of who we are. Hope can look like a hug, a quick prayer with someone that needs it, spending time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, praying a rosary with your family for the reparation of sins, becoming an usher, or signing up to volunteer at a local charity. It might look like choosing forgiveness in-
stead of anger, listening with purpose instead of responding in haste, or paying for someone’s coffee or lunch. Small acts of kindness sow seeds of hope in others’ hearts. Hope challenges you to place yourself last. Hope encourages you to live like Jesus, Mary, and the saints.
I challenge you to stay after Mass and meet someone new, pay for someone’s coffee or lunch, give an extra hug, or invite someone to pray the rosary with you. Let’s sow hope all over the Diocese of Shreveport. I pray that our actions, not our words, bring others to desire intimacy with our Lord and to desire heaven.
Pilgrim of Hope
and St. Clare, who lived their lives as beacons of hope and trust in God. As we journey to Rome and Assisi, we
carry the message of hope not only in our hearts but also as a testimony to those we meet along the way. This pilgrimage is a reminder that hope is not stationary – it moves, grows, and transforms us as we step forward in faith. Like the saints who walked before us, we too are called to bring light into the world, one step at a time.
As part of this Jubilee Year, I have the incredible privilege of leading a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi – two places rich in faith, history, and hope. This journey is not just a visit to holy sites; it is an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of saints like St. Francis
Whether or not you are able to join this pilgrimage, I invite you to reflect on what it means to be a Pilgrim of Hope. Each of us can embark on a spiritual journey – seeking God more deeply, trusting Him more fully, and sharing His hope with those around us. As I prepare to lead this pilgrimage, I am humbled by the opportunity to walk alongside others on their journey of faith. Together, we will celebrate the Jubilee Year by strengthening our hope, deepening our trust in God, and renewing our commitment to live as His disciples. For those who are joining me on this pilgrimage, I
pray it will be a time of renewal and transformation. For everyone reading this, I challenge you to step out in faith – whether it’s through a physical journey, a new act of service, or a commitment to daily prayer. Let us all be Pilgrims of Hope, bringing light to a world in need.
There are still spots available for this incredible journey to Rome and Assisi. I invite you to prayerfully consider joining us as we walk in the footsteps of saints and experience the beauty of our global Catholic family. Let’s answer this Jubilee Year’s call together as Pilgrims of Hope, living lives that radiate God’s love and light. Whether on pilgrimage or in our daily lives, let us sow seeds of hope that will grow into something beautiful, lasting, and life-giving. Together, we can bring others to desire intimacy with our Lord and the joy of heaven.
Embark on a Pilgrimage to Italy with the Department of
Multicultural Ministries!
The Diocese of Shreveport invites you to celebrate the Jubilee Year of 2025 with an unforgettable pilgrimage to Italy alongside thousands of young adults to rediscover the beauty of our Catholic faith!
Karla Alvarez is the Director of Multicultural Ministry for the Diocese of Shreveport.
JULY 26 - AUGUST 5TH, 2025
We are the Pilgrims of hoPe
Prayer as the royal road to holiness, which enables us to be contemplative even in the midst of activity. In a word, may it be an intense year of prayer in which hearts are opened to receive the outpouring of God’s grace and to make the “Our Father,” the prayer Jesus taught us, the life programme of each of his disciples.
Pope Francis, letter announcing Jubilee Year 2025
POPE FRANCIS INVITES THE GLOBAL CATHOLIC COMMUNITY TO EMBRACE THE JUBILEE YEAR 2025 AS "PILGRIMS OF HOPE," URGING THE FAITHFUL TO rekindle hope and look to the future with trust, openness, and vision. The Jubilee officially began on December 24, 2024, with the ceremonial opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Holy Doors at other major basilicas in Rome, including St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls, were also opened.
On Sunday, December 29, Bishop Malone began with a procession from the Chapel of St. Michael the Archangel to the cathedral, where he celebrated the Mass opening the Jubilee Year 2025. This small pilgrimage from the chapel to the cathedral was a model of encouragement to the faithful to go on pilgrimage during this Jubilee year to the holy sites in our diocese designated by Bishop Malone.
For those unable to travel to Rome, Bishop Malone has designated these churches as Holy Places to visit during this Jubilee Year: Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Holy Trinity (Minor Shrine for the Shreveport Martyrs), St. John the Baptist Church in Many, and St. Matthew Church in Monroe. These sacred sites of prayer offer opportunities for indulgences, confession, and spiritual renewal. A pious visit to these holy sites includes spending a “suitable” amount of time during a prayerful visit in Eucharistic adoration (either in exposition or before the tabernacle), meditation, and concluding prayer for the intentions of Pope Francis, recitation of the Our Father, any legitimate form of the Creed, and invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Each of these churches are special in our diocese, the Cathedral as the mother church of the diocese, the other sites are all significant to our Five Priests, Servants of God on their
path to sainthood. These priests are incredible witnesses of “Pilgrims of Hope” as they ministered to the sick and dying during the dark time of the Yellow Fever Epidemic.
Conditions for the indulgenCes
To obtain any of the plenary indulgences, the following conditions must be fulfilled:
• Detachment from all sin, even venial.
• Sacramental confession, holy Communion
• Prayer for the intentions of the pope.
These three conditions can be fulfilled a few days before or after performing the works to gain the indulgence, but it is appropriate that Communion and the prayer take place on the same day that the work is completed.
• A single sacramental confession is sufficient for several plenary indulgences, but frequent sacramental confession is encouraged to obtain the grace of deeper conversion and purity of heart.
• For each plenary indulgence that is sought, however, a separate Holy Communion and a separate prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father are required.
• The prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father is left up to the choice of the individual, but an Our Father and Hail Mary are suggested.
The Jubilee Prayer
Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever. Amen.
Seminarian Brett Reggio carrying the Diocesan Jubilee Cross at the Opening Mass on December 29, 2024
Pilgrims are WelCome!
Cathedral
of st. John BerChmans,
shrevePort
The cathedral is the bishop’s church, in which the cathedra resides. The cathedra is the bishop’s chair where he presides, teaches, and conducts worship for the community. At the cathedral in the sanctuary near the Ambo, you will find the Processional Cross used during the opening Mass for the Jubilee year. This cross will remain at the cathedral throughout the entire Jubilee year. This processional cross has significance because it was carried in procession during the Papal Mass with Pope St. John Paul II in New Orleans on September 12, 1987. Each diocese in Louisiana was given one of the crosses.
st. mattheW, monroe
Father Gergaud, one of the Five Priests, was the pastor of St. Matthew in Monroe. After receiving a letter from Fr. Biler calling for his aid in Shreveport, he, without hesitation, left for Shreveport. His only directive to his assistant was: “Write to Monsignor at once; tell him that I am going to my death, that is my duty and I am leaving.” He lived only 10 days in Shreveport. After Fr. Gergaud's death, a dispute arose between the communities of Shreveport and Monroe over the custody of his remains. In Monroe, Catholics quickly formed a formal memorial association, and within days of his passing, parishioners convened to adopt a resolution advocating for his exhumation and reburial at St. Matthews.
st. John the BaPtist, many
In 1871 Father Francois Le Vezouet founded a permanent mission in Many. The present church, St. John the Baptist in Many, was built in 1922. Responding to the urgent letter requesting help from Fr. Biler in Shreveport, Fr. Le Vezouet put his affairs in order and made the journey. To those who said, “You are going to your death,” he replied, “I believe it, but I know that I am taking the surest and shortest path to heaven.”
holy trinity and minor shrine of the shrevePort martyrs, shrevePort
In October of 2022, Holy Trinity was canonically designated a Minor Shrine to the Shreveport Martyrs. In September of 2023, the Holy Trinity shrine was consecrated at the church by Bishop Malone. When visiting the shrine, you will also see the images of the Five Priests in the stained glass of the church. This beautiful shrine is in the church and is a reverent place to offer prayers for the Jubilee during a pilgrimage visit to Holy Trinity Parish.
For more information on the Shreveport Martyrs, Servants of God, visit www.shreveportmartys.org .
Delia Barr is the Director of Faith Formation for the Diocese of Shreveport.
Hope is Something We Do
WE’VE ALL BEEN ASKED QUESTIONS LIKE “WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE?” OR “WHERE DO YOU FIND HOPE?”
Theologian Norman Wirzba suggests those are the wrong questions, and a better one is, “What do you love?” He agrees with Pope Francis that “Hope is born of love” (Bull of Indiction of the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025, 3). What we are passionate about puts us into action to make things better. The Greek word hope, as used in the Bible, can be translated “to have great expectation” for something, and when we discover our heart’s true love, our passion, we look for ways to improve its situation. Thus, our hope, with great expectation, becomes actively involved in bettering the outcome for our passion.
Of course, it is not always easy. Even when we sincerely desire change, some situations look too large for us to even begin, others inspire us to get off the couch and act, and our emotions rise and fall amid fluid circumstances. Thus, our experiences of hoping take us on a journey: from that first spark of love for something (or someone) through multiple acts of love that eventually improve the situation. Traveling this journey makes us pilgrims. We are crusaders, wanderers, and pioneers who pursue what we love, giving it our all with the great expectation (hope) of a better outcome.
We Christians are encouraged by Scripture, church leaders, and each other to not despair. Yet, we hear others’ gloomy conversations that cause anguish and dishearten us about our world’s many issues. We may love God’s creation, but climate change only increases. We long to provide food and clean water to the world’s poor, yet our leaders spend more money on weapons that destroy.
We love and desire dignity for every human being, but see hopelessness in talks of deporting our brothers and sisters back to areas of crime, abuse, and murder. We are pilgrims on a roller coaster journey of emotions that move us from feeling love for all creation to making specific acts of love in expectation of improving it.
We are also Pilgrims of Hope in our contemplative and compassionate practices of encountering Christ, for our spiritual practices manifest our hope. Through such practices as contemplative prayer, retreats in everyday life, and spiritual direction, we examine our hearts to find our God-given – our authentic – desires of who and what we love. We satisfy these desires by hoping (expecting) to experience the Kingdom of God now, in this life as well as the next.
In this Jubilee Year of 2025, begin discerning, now, what you love so much that God is calling you to act for its betterment. Begin your journey by involving yourself with what you love and confidently expecting to see God’s graces unfold right before your eyes. Hope is acting with great expectations for a positive outcome. It is not something we find or even have. Hope is something we do.
Mike Van Vranken is a spiritual director for the Diocese of Shreveport and a teacher of new spiritual directors for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
El Viñedo de Raquel
Compas vo y estr ctamente Conf denc al
Vengan
Mt 11: 28
El V ñedo de Raquel
Ext ende ayuda a hombres y mujeres quebrantados por el aborto y los acerca al Corazón M ser cord oso de D os. Es un ret ro catól co en un amb ente de comprens on y en total pr vac dad. El V ñedo de Raquel es una exper enc a que le perm te a tu alma aceptar el perdón amoroso de D os dándote esperanza, l bertad y paz.
Separa tu espacio para el retiro de un fin de semana en español lamando al 318-588-1064
D óces s de Shreveport, LA 28 al 30 de Marzo, 2025
Para retiros en otras localidades, búsquelos en https://www rachelsvineyard org/weekend/sitesbydate aspx
four in the afternoon
THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR IS ALWAYS A TIME FILLED WITH EXCITEMENT, REFLECTION, ANTICIPATION for what is in store for the year ahead, and hope For those of you who may not know, SEEK is a college conference hosted by FOCUS, The Fellowship Of Catholic University Students, which had two main locations this year, Washington D.C. and Salt Lake City, Utah.
I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to begin my new year for three years in a row being filled with excitement, awe and anticipation as I get to bring students from across our diocese to attend SEEK25 in Salt Lake City, Utah. This year our diocese brought over 65 attendees to be part of the 20,000 gathered to grow closer to Jesus through awesome keynote speakers, reconciliation, adoration, and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
did you start to like Jesus?” He proceeds in his homily with, “When, my dear brothers and sisters, did you become enamored with Jesus? Andrew, he remembers when he became enamored, it was about four in the afternoon.” This homily reminded me of how our first personal encounter with the Living God will change our lives, and it brought me back to my first time encountering Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration as a teenager and the way it changed my life forever.
For some college students, this conference may be the first time they become enamored with Jesus and the Love He has for them. During this conference may be the first time a college student attended adoration, Mass, or received the sacrament of reconciliation in a long time. This may be their four in the afternoon story, their point of conversion.
It was about four in the afternoon. – John 1:39 " "
Usually, it’s a main keynote speaker that drops a nugget of goodness that leaves me in my seat ready to move mountains or in tears, but this time it was a daily Mass homily from Bishop Austin Vetter of the Diocese of Helena for day three of the conference. In Bishop Vetter’s homily, he tells the story of how his niece (a child at the time of the story) on the day of his priestly ordination asked him about why he became a priest. As his niece pestered to get the answer she wanted, she finally asked him, “Uncle Fr. Austin, when
I cannot thank enough everyone in the Diocese of Shreveport for their generosity and prayers for helping Students Across in a university near you attend this conference and for supporting Campus Ministry. Your generosity and prayers either reminded a student of their four in the afternoon story or helped them have one. I ended my article on SEEK24 hoping that we’d need an entire airplane to attend the conference, and in 2026, SEEK26 will be in Fort Worth, TX. I pray and hope that we will need a caravan of charter buses to attend.
Karl Yabut is the Director of Campus Ministry at the Diocese of Shreveport
How to be a Saint
IN OUR WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY AT ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON, WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING A PROGRAM BY FATHER (NOW ARCHBISHOP!) ROBERT BARRON CALLED “UNTOLD BLESSING.” The videos are based on his 2002 book "The Strangest Way: Walking the Christian Path." He makes a statement in the first chapter that may sound a bit ambitious: we are all called to be saints!
When I first read this teaching, I immediately felt intimidated. Me — a saint??? I couldn’t imagine being canonized on some distant day in the future when I have long since parted this world. But Archbishop Barron goes on to remind us that all of our honored saints started out as ordinary people who ended up doing extraordinary things for God. Then he goes on to give us three practical but challenging paths to this holiness we are all called to aspire to.
of the painful fact that we all sin venially and sometimes even mortally. Those terms have almost gone out of fashion with the idea that “if everyone else is doing it, it must be OK.” Our sense of sinfulness is the natural result of our sense of being loved unconditionally by God. Again, he emphasizes getting back into the teachings of Jesus and the practices of the Church. Do a daily examination of conscience. Go to reconciliation. Be scrupulously honest in small things as well as large ones. And most of all, practice truly forgiving others.
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. - Matthew 5:48 " "
The first method is to strive daily to make Jesus the center of our lives. That sounds simple, but as I examined my own daily routines, I could see how easily other people, activities, or material things get in the way. Tasks, shopping, social media, bad habits — all these things that St. Ignatius called “disordered attachments” - steal our time and attention away from imitating Jesus. How do we get re-centered? Barron has a long list of practices, starting of course with prayer. He adds to that some tried-and-true activities such as fasting, going on pilgrimages, attending daily mass whenever possible, wearing crosses, dressing modestly… his examples are easy and familiar but still things that we do casually if at all. He stresses intentionality. When Jesus is the center, our chaotic lives become orderly, purposeful, and manageable.
Next, he encourages us to remind ourselves daily that we are sinners! St. Ignatius would say “loved sinners,” but sinners nonetheless. He writes that in this modern culture of relativism where “anything goes,” we can easily lose sight
The final path to holiness is to realize that your life is not about you. We are created out of love in order to love God and love others. As Barron puts it, “An uncompromised solidarity and communion is what the works of mercy embody.” He points out that being self-focused ultimately leads to misery. St. Ignatius calls this “desolation,” turning away from God and turning inward. The remedies he proposes are to practice corporal and spiritual works of mercy, strive for non-violence in our daily interactions, and participate joyously in worship.
Most of us won’t become canonized saints. And none of us is perfect, but Jesus encourages us in the verse from Matthew to keep growing spiritually in a righteous direction. I love this quote by Saint Teresa of Calcutta: Saints are only sinners who keep trying. St. Therese of Lisieux in her “little way” added: Holiness consists simply in doing God’s will and being just what God wants us to be. Good luck in your quest for holiness!
Karen Dill is a spiritual director for the Diocese of Shreveport and a parishioner at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE DIOCESE OF SHREVEPORT’S CATHOLIC SERVICE APPEAL. Last year, many of you answered the call and supported the Appeal through your prayers, acts of service, and financial gifts. Your donation paid for the education and continued formation of our six seminarians; parishioners throughout the diocese benefited through retreats, faith formation, and religious education; and students of all ages celebrated their faith through youth summits, camps, retreats, and campus ministry. As we begin a new year (and new Catholic Service Appeal), please give your support through your donation and prayers.
Lucy Medvec is the Director of Development and Stewardship for the Diocese of Shreveport.
Building our faith
THE ANNUAL CATHOLIC SERVICE APPEAL IS A DIOCESAN-WIDE EFFORT THAT SUPPORTS THE MINISTRIES AND PASTORAL SERVICES OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF SHREVEPORT. The Catholic Service Appeal is an opportunity for Catholics across North Louisiana to be good stewards of the Church and its people through sharing their gifts from God.
This year’s theme is “Building Our Faith.” It is through the ministries in our diocese that we receive gifts, knowledge, and grace to build our faith and strengthen our spiritual life on a daily basis. Your support of the Catholic Service Appeal benefits thousands of Catholics in our diocese, as well as others who are less fortunate. A gift to the Appeal provides the funding that is necessary for many important ministries and other programs in our diocese.
February kicks off our 2025 Catholic Service Appeal Campaign, and we invite you to make your gift to this important campaign and pray for its success. Whatever
you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.
~Matthew 21:22 " "
WITH SUPPORT FROM ALL THE FAITHFUL across North Louisiana, the Catholic Service Appeal provides for the material, faith formation, and spiritual needs of God's people across the 16 civil parishes of North Louisiana. The Catholic Servicer Appeal allows everyone to support essential ministries that bring hope to many and build our mission's future.
Building our faith
Gifts to the Catholic Service Appeal build our FAITH by supporting:
• Retired and Infirm Priests
• Diaconate Formation Program
• Campus Ministry (ULM, Louisiana Tech, Centenary, LSU-Shreveport, LSU Shreveport School of Medicine)
• Faith Formation and Family Life Programs
Building our Community
Gifts to the Catholic Service Appeal build our COMMUNITY by supporting:
• Multicultural Ministry
• Charitable Outreach (Society of St. Vincent De Paul,
• Pro-Life Ministry)
• Restorative Justice (Prison Ministry)
• Communication (Catholic Connection and Digital Evangelization)
Building our future
Gifts to the Catholic Service Appeal build our FUTURE by supporting:
• Seminary Education and Formation
• Catholic Schools
• Youth Ministry
2024 Catholic Service Appeal Final Report
Please suPPort the 2025 CatholiC serviCe aPPeal!
AS WE BEGIN A NEW YEAR, prices continue to increase in all areas. It costs the Diocese of Shreveport over $1.6 million to fully fund our many ministries. The past few years, donations have not covered this cost and participation among parish families has been around 25%. One area of focus this year is growth in participation. Participation is fundamental to the success for the 2025 Appeal. We want more parishioners to support the Catholic Service Appeal with a gift of any amount. Your one-time gift of $20, $50, $100, or more does make a difference and is essential to this year’s annual campaign. Together, we can do great things.
In the past year, the Diocese of Shreveport has experienced amazing growth in our Department of Vocations with six young men now in seminary. We have reinstituted the deaconate formation program which will benefit our parishes, especially those in outlying areas, in the coming years. Our Multicultural Ministry continues to celebrate
the many diverse cultures in our diocese with special Masses, retreats, and pilgrimages. Campus ministry is growing on all of our college campuses, building a momentum that spreads into our parishes. More families are able to enroll their children in Catholic schools with the help of tuition assistance, funded by your donation to the Appeal. Gifts to the Catholic Service Appeal continue to support our retired and infirm priests by caring for them in their later years.
Building our Faith
Member(s) of: Church, City
Name:
Yes! I/We want to support our Catholic priests, families, young people and the less fortunate in our diocese. For
Address: City: ST: ___ Zip:
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Pursuing a Lasting Love: Our Hope and Our Mission Jubilee Pilgrims of Hope: A Call to Stregthen Marriage and Family Life
AS WE CELEBRATE THE JUBILEE OF HOPE, THE CHURCH INVITES US TO DEEPEN OUR COMMITMENT TO A GROWN FAITH. This special year marks a global moment of grace, drawing Catholics together in prayer, reconciliation, and renewal. This month begins our diocese’ 2025 Catholic Service Appeal, Building Our Faith. These initiatives open our hearts to new beginnings, especially in relationships with others. Throughout the Jubilee , we will be reminded of the healing that hope brings to our relationships and faith’s significance in married life.
Marriage is not merely a relationship between a man and a woman; it is a dynamic living sacrament that reveals Jesus’ Presence in their lives. As part of the third year of the National Eucharistic Revival: The Year of Mission, Catholics are invited to rediscover the Eucharist. His Real Presence, the Body and Blood of Christ, holds a central place in the Church’s life and for the Sacrament of Marriage. Jesus in the Eucharist becomes physical and spiritual nourishment for married couples. He strengthens them in their commitment, offering them the grace to live their vocation faithfully despite all challenges.
importance of our vocations, and strengthening our faith and that of our families. In this spirit, our diocesan appeal intends to support the many needs of family ministries by helping married couples become witnesses of Christ’s love, ambassadors of hope, and agents of reconciliation.
This year’s appeal centers on Christ’s words, “Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive” (Mt. 21:22), to beautifully echo the Jubilee’s theme: the hope of witnessing God’s provision for both the tangible and, more importantly, spiritual needs of Marriage and Family Life Ministry. Verse 2 Corinthians 5:20 reminds us that we are “ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us” and encapsulates the Church’s mission, especially through married couples.
As generous pilgrims who celebrate this Jubilee of Hope, let us commit to the Sacrament of Marriage, the sanctity of family life, and the unity found in the Eucharistic Jesus. Together, we can personify God’s lasting love in our relationships, bringing hope to the world.
For your Marriage: Pursue a Lasting Love!
The Church celebrates this sacrament annually during National Marriage Week, February 7-14, to honor the beauty and sanctity of marriage. Revisiting the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we are assured that marriage is not just a natural institution, but a sacred covenant (#1639). Through the sacrament’s grace, husbands and wives are equipped to face life’s challenges together, as pilgrims of hope bearing witness to a Lasting Love.
These three events – the Jubilee of Hope, National Marriage Week, and the Eucharistic Revival – together call us to reflect on the profound gift of faith in our family life, recognizing the beauty of marriage and family life, appreciating the
Noemi Saybe is the Director of Family Life at the Diocese of Shreveport.
Procurando un Amor Duradero: nuestra Esperanza y nuestra Mision
Jubileo 'Peregrinos de la Esperanza': Llamados a Fortalecer
el Matrimonio y la Vida Familiar
MIENTRAS CELEBRAMOS EL JUBILEO DE LA ESPERANZA, LA IGLESIA NOS INVITA A PROFUNDIZAR NUESTRO COMPROMISO CON UNA FE MADURA. Este año marca un tiempo especial de gracia universal, reuniendo a los católicos en oración, reconciliación y renovación. También es el momento en que nuestra diócesis hace un llamado a Construir nuestra Fe. Estas iniciativas abren nuestros corazones a nuevos comienzos, especialmente en nuestras relaciones con los demás. Durante el jubileo, se nos recordará la sanación que la esperanza trae a nuestras relaciones y la importancia de la fe en la vida matrimonial.
El matrimonio no es simplemente una relación entre un hombre y una mujer; sino un sacramento vivo y dinámico que revela la Presencia de Jesús en sus vidas. Este año, como parte del tercer Año del Avivamiento Eucarístico: Año Misionero, se invita a los católicos a redescubrir la Eucaristía. La Presencia Real de Jesus, su Cuerpo y su Sangre ocupan un lugar central en la vida de la Iglesia y para el sacramento del matrimonio. Para las parejas casadas, Jesús, en la Eucaristía, se convierte en alimento físico y espiritual. Él fortalece a los casados en su compromiso, ofreciéndoles la gracia de vivir su vocación fielmente a pesar de todos los desafíos. Para celebrar el don de este sacramento, cada año, del 7 al 14 de febrero, la Iglesia celebra la Semana Nacional del Matrimonio, un tiempo para honrar la belleza y la santidad del matrimonio. Este año, la celebración coincide con el Jubileo de la Esperanza y el Avivamiento Eucarístico: 3er Año en Misión. Juntos, estos eventos nos invitan a reflexionar sobre el profundo don de la fe en la vida familiar. El Catecismo de la Iglesia, nos afirma que el matrimonio no es solo una institución natural, sino una alianza sagrada (#1639). A través de la gracia del sacramento, los esposos son equipados para enfrentar juntos los desafíos de la vida como peregrinos de la esperanza, dando testimonio de un Amor Duradero.
Los tres eventos—el Jubileo de la Esperanza, la Semana Nacional del Matrimonio y el Avivamiento Eucarístico—nos invitan a reflexionar sobre la belleza del matrimonio y la vida familiar, a apreciar la importancia de nuestras vocaciones y a fortalecer nuestra fe y la de nuestras familias. Es en este espíritu que nuestra Campaña Diocesana de Servicio Católico busca apoyar las muchas necesidades de los ministerios familiares, buscando ayudar a las parejas casadas a convertirse en testigos del amor de Cristo, embajadores de la esperanza y agentes de reconciliación.
La campaña de este año, centrada en las palabras, "Todo lo que pidan en oración con fe, lo recibirán" (Mt 21:22), resuena bellamente con el tema del Jubileo: la esperanza de ser testigos de la provisión de Dios para las necesidades tanto tangibles, pero más importante aún, espirituales del Ministerio de Matrimonio y Vida Familiar.
Como nos recuerda 2 Corintios 5:20, somos "embajadores de Cristo, como si Dios estuviera apelando a través de nosotros." Este versículo encapsula la misión de la Iglesia, especialmente a través de las parejas casadas. Mientras celebramos este Jubileo de la Esperanza como peregrinos generosos, nos comprometemos con el sacramento del matrimonio, la santidad de la vida familiar y la unidad que nos da Jesus Eucarístico. Juntos, podemos personificar el amor duradero de Dios en nuestras relaciones, trayendo asi esperanza al mundo.
Por su Matrimonio: ¡Dedíquense a un Amor Duradero!
Noemi Saybe es la directora de Matrimonio y Vida Familiar de la Diócesis de Shreveport.
HOPE: Help Open People's Eyes
ON NOVEMBER 6, 2024, MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WOKE UP TO JOY, ELATION, AND HOPE WHILE MILLIONS OF OTHER AMERICAS WOKE UP TO FEAR, DESPAIR, AND HOPELESSNESS. As a mental health professional, I have always been fascinated by how people see the same thing, situation, and person and have completely different views. One sees and feels hope while the other sees and feels hopelessness. This great mystery in human behavior is one reason I am so grateful to only live in this world versus be of this world; it is noteworthy that those tending toward a hopeless lens also tend to not have Jesus in their lives. Many say they are a “spiritual not religious” person, but they more often than not focus too heavily on the threedimensional world around them, which magnifies one hopeless situation after another and is all too ready to hype up the despair and dread persons believe we face, both as Americans and people. Sadly, brothers and sisters, hope now seems a political issue, like many other things. Happily though, Hope is very present in our lives as Catholic Christians, and His name is Jesus.
view your spouse, life, health, politics… anything really, then those things begin to change, sort of. As a personal example… in my late 30’s I experienced significant hopelessness in regards to my then single, childless life. Feeling forgotten by God and an oddity in society, my 35th birthday was the worst one, and my hopelessness reached an all-time high. Fortunately, what goes up must come down.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13) " "
Through significant time spent on personal development and even more spent with Jesus, I slowly changed the way I saw my single, childless life . God showed, and reminded, me how much more I had in my life. He revealed my gifts and talents and urged me on the long journey of mastering, sharing, and growing said gifts. It was when I opened my eyes to how I looked at my life and made a change that my life began to fill with hope and, soon thereafter, a husband!
Consider this article’s acronym title for hope: help open people’s eyes. As I formulated today’s conversation, I was curious about Google’s results for “hope acronyms.” When the above title popped up, it resonated because I feel it is a main aspect of hope. My job as a counselor is literally to help clients move away from seeing and feeling hopelessness about their issues (e.g., life, world situations), to seeing and feeling hopefulness. American author and speaker Wayne Dyer once stated, “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” It is one of my favorite quotes – because it is very true. If you change how you
Brothers and sisters, if you woke up on November 6th feeling great hopelessness – in your marriage, to get out of debt, or even everywhere in your life – I ask two things of you. First, shift your focus onto Jesus and away from the lack in your life. Second, as you focus more on Him, open your heart, mind, and eyes so He can help you change how you look at (fill in the blank). Then sit back in amazement as those things begin to change.
Mary Arcement Alexander is a Licensed Professional Counselor & the Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator.
Adventures Abroad
with Seminarian Austin Young
ONE OF THE MANY BLESSINGS OF BEING AT ST. MEINRAD SEMINARY IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PILGRIMAGES. Last year, I went to Guatemala, where we traveled Blessed Stanley Rother’s steps through his life and ministry there. (As I type this, Tristan and Nathan travel to Guatemala in just a couple of days.) That trip was amazing! But the pilgrimage I want to share with you now happened over Christmas break, when my class and the one above ours visited Italy, stopping at Milan, Padua, Assisi, and Rome.
"Saw the Pope this close!"
In Milan, located in the northern part of Italy, almost near the Swiss Alps, it was very cold! Two highlights there were attending Mass at the Cathedral and praying by the Tomb of St. Charles Borromeo, the Bishop of Milan and a great saint. I find one of his quotes convicting: “Do not be so forgetful of your priesthood as to prefer a late death to a holy one.”
When we arrived in Rome on December 10th, we first visited St. Peter’s Basilica. I noticed chairs being set out, which usually occurs when the Pope celebrates Mass. It was too soon for Christmas; what other big feast days were near? December 12th, Our Lady of Guadelupe! We soon had confirmation – Pope Francis would celebrate Mass that day. I was so excited! Many of us were able to attend it.
To always be close to Jesus, that is my life plan. Blessed Carlo Acutis " "
Austin Young in front of the Baldacchino di San PIetro sculpted by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, St. Peter's Basillica, Vatican City
A fun activity in Rome was getting a haircut by an old fash ion barber. Realizing on my turn that I probably needed to speak Italian to explain how I wanted my haircut, I spoke a couple English words with hand gestures, adding “shorter.” It turned out all right.
In Assisi, I was able to see the tomb of my friend, Blessed Carlo Acutis, who will be canonized (recognized as a saint) in April. A friend recently said that “you don’t choose the saints, they choose you!” I call Blessed Carlo my friend because he has helped me with his prayers and by his life’s example. While praying by his tomb, I got a sense that he told me, “It’s all going to work out.” Maybe we all need to hear that from time to time…
One of my favorite quotes from Blessed Carlo is, “To always be close to Jesus, that is my life plan.” And his great love for Jesus in the Eucharist led to another of his famous sayings, “The Eucharist is the highway to heaven.”
Once again, thank you for your love, prayers, and kindness to the Church through supporting us seminarians. When it comes down to it, it’s because of your generosity that I could go on this trip. God bless you, and may Mary comfort you and St. Joseph protect you.
Austin Young is a serminarian for the Diocese of Shreveport
Austin Young gives his seal of approval to "The Transfiguration" painted by Raphael, housed in the Pinacoteca Vaticana, Vatican City
"One of the many Churches we visited… this Crucifix caught my eye… or rather, my heart."
Jubilee 2025 Speaker Series
Brought to you by St. Mary of the Pines Parish
Queridos hermanos y hermanas:
Vivimos en un mundo que tiene una gran necesidad de la esperanza que sólo puede venir de Dios. En respuesta a esta gran necesidad, el Papa Francisco ha declarado que, desde el 24 de diciembre de 2024 hasta el 6 de enero de 2026, la Iglesia celebrará el Jubileo de la Esperanza.
El Papa Francisco desea que a través del Jubileo el mundo se renueve en la esperanza. En la Bula de convocación Spes Non Confundit, la esperanza no defrauda, el Papa afirma que nuestra esperanza se basa en la muerte y resurrección de nuestro Señor, que nos da la vida eterna.
Un elemento central del Jubileo de la Esperanza es el llamado a los miembros de la Iglesia a ser signos tangibles de esperanza para quienes experimentan dificultades.
La esperanza de Jesucristo debe ser llevada a los prisioneros, a los enfermos, a los jóvenes, a los refugiados, migrantes e inmigrantes, a los ancianos y a los pobres.
En medio de las tormentas de la vida, vivamos en la esperanza y compartamos nuestra esperanza con los demás.
En Gratitud, Padre Mark Watson
En Español
Cristo es Nuestra Pas
Hermana Dolores Sanchez
Oracion de la Serenidad:
Humildad y Coraje
Hermana Dolores Sanchez
Paz del Mundo
Padre Gabriel Cisneros
Paz por el Imigrante
Padre Gabriel Cisneros
El Cristiano Como Agente de Paz
Hermana Julieta
03/28, 7:00 pm
03/29, 7:00 pm
05/16, 7:00 pm
09/13, 7:00 pm
09/20, 7:00 pm
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
We live in a world which is in great need of the hope that can come only from God. In response to this great need, Pope Francis has declared that, from December 24, 2024 until January 6, 2026, the Church will celebrate the Jubilee of Hope.
Pope Francis desires that through the Jubilee, the world will be renewed in hope. In the Bull of Indiction, Spes Non Confundit, (Hope Does Not Disappoint), the Pope states that our hope is based on the death and resurrection of our Lord which provides eternal life.
Central to the Jubilee of Hope is the call for members of the church to be tangible signs of hope to those who experience hardships..
The hope of Jesus Christ should be brought to prisoners, to the sick, to the young, to refugees, migrants and immigrants, to the elderly, and to the poor.
In the midst of the storms of life, may we live in hope and share our hope with others.
In Gratitude, Fr. Mark Watson
In English
Finding Hope in the Storm
Karen Dill
Prodigal Son
Fr. Vinny Fortunato
Spiritual Practice as Hope
Mike Van Vranken
Dancing with the Trinity:
Hope All Around
Rev. Pike Thomas
02/04, 6:00 pm
03/10, 11, & 12, 6:00 pm
04/01, 6:00 pm
10/07, 6:00 pm
Fr. Mark Watson is the pastor of St. Mary of the Pines Parish and Sacred Heart Catholic o f Jesus Church.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF NORTH LOUISIANA INVITES YOU TO AN
PEN H USE
Tuesday, March 4 | 8am or Noon 902 Olive St. Shreveport, LA 71104
PROGRAM TOUR • KING CAKE • COFFEE
& CHECK OUT OUR HIGHLAND PARADE LUNCH STOP EVENT!
SUNDAY, MARCH 2
DONATIONS BENEFIT CCNLA
APRIL’S STORY Rental Assistance Client
“People are having a really hard time financially right now, so I’m grateful for this place. They really lift a burden for us who are struggling.
FEBRUARY 8, 10 AM - 7 PM
CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN BERCHMANS, SHREVEPORT
FEBRUARY 22, 9 AM - 7 PM
JESUS THE GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH, MONROE
Open to all young men currently enrolled in high school in the Diocese of Shreveport.
For more information please contact Vocations Director, Reverend Raney C. Johnson rjohnson@sjbcathedral.org or vocationsoffice@dioshpt.org
To register please scan the QR Code here:
SEMINARIAN BURSES
THANKS TO OUR RECENT DONORS:
(008) St. Jude Parish Burse
Anonymous
(015) Bishop's Seminarian Burse
Rea Papa
NEW
(011) 2 Msgr. George Martinez Knights of Columbus Council 1337 Burse #2
Knights of Columbus Council 1337
(023) Msgr. Edmund J. Moore Memorial Burse #2
Patricia L. McGraw
Ms. Dorothy M. Tipton
(024) Rev. Joseph Puthupally Memorial Burse
Ms. Dorothy M. Tipton
(032) Madeline and Joe Tiller Memorial Burse
Diane Tiller Gainey
(034) Joseph B. and Lucille Provenza Cordaro Burse
Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous
Mr. Frank M. Cordaro
Anonymous
(035)3 Dr. James V. & Rosemary C. Ward Burse #3
Mr. Richard W. Ward
(052) Dr. Matthew Ragan Green, Jr. Memorial Burse
Mr. & Mrs. Charles E. Hubley
NEW (056) Hazel Iles and John Paul Woodley, Sr. Memorial Burse
Mary's Workers Bake Sale for Vocations
NEW (057) Father Robert Inzina Memorial Burse
Mr. & Mrs. James E. McKeithen
The Diocese of Shreveport’s Seminarian Burse Program provides financial support for our seminarians’ livelihood and education until they become ordained as priests. It currently costs an average of $50,000 per year to education and support one seminarian.
A burse is completed once it reaches $10,000 and a new seminary burse can be opened with a donation of $250 or more. Donations of any amount can be made to an existing incomplete burse. For a list of incomplete and completed burses, please scan the QR code on this page or visit www. dioshpt.org/seminarian-burses
For more information on how to establish or contribute to a burse, please contact the Development Office at (318) 2197263.
To see an up-todate list of incomplete and complete burses, please scan here
To donate to an established seminarian burse, please scan here
Msgr. Earl Provenza with donors of the [name of the burse] after the Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated on December 17, 2024
Cathedral of St. John BerC hmanS CatholiC SC hool
ST. JOHN BERCHMANS CATHOLIC SCHOOL IS A SMALL CATHOLIC SCHOOL THAT IS CENTERED ON CHRIST. Our mission states that we are dedicated to the sacred ministry of providing quality education, anchored in the Roman Catholic tradition, which nurtures children in Catholic values and promotes excellence in education and a life of service.
The phrase "dedicated to the sacred ministry" really sums up what we are all about here at SJB. We are dedicated to passing along our faith, to the growth and development of our students and our school, and to our teachers and staff.
As we are preparing to enter the last few months of school and looking forward to a well-deserved summer break, we use this time to plan for the long-term future of SJB. The Catholic Service Appeal is ongoing, and the funds from the appeal help support our Catholic schools. They allow us to continue our mission, dedicated to the sacred ministry of educating our youth to serve Christ and each other. We invite you to invest in the long-term future of SJB by giving to The Catholic Service Appeal today.
Cassandra Key is the Director of Communications and Development for the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans Parish and School.
our lady of fatima CatholiC SC hool
Hope at Our Lady of Fatima School
WE, AS PEOPLE, HOPE FOR MANY THINGS. We hope for life to go well for us. Teachers may hope for our students to feel secure in our classrooms and have successful LEAP scores. On bitterly cold days, we may even hope for a snow day.
At OLFS, middle school students started the New Year by making vision boards for self-growth and hopeful reflection. Elementary classrooms participated in their own New Year activities on the first day back to school. In the months ahead, Mrs. McKenzie will lead the middle school religion students in: Scripture research about Hope, a field trip pilgrimage to the local Jewish Synagogue, and a Jubilee of Hope Booklet for Booklet Fridays. And each month, teachers will receive coloring and game sheets centered around the Jubilee theme.
For Catholic Schools Week, our school will conduct a "Holy Door" door-decorating competition with the Jubilee theme of Pilgrims of Hope. These types of activities are special and tangible ways to bring positivity and the feeling of hope into both teachers’ and students’ lives.
However, when we look at the deeper meaning of the theological virtue of hope, what is it that we should consider? I define hope as a trust in God that sustains us even when life HAS hardships. It is having FAITH and thinking confidently ahead for the future, knowing that Jesus will be with each one of us through anything. He has already overcome; so, we can have hope and confidence in Him.
Our Prayer “Lord, please help all the faculty at Our Lady of Fatima School to embody hope and reflect Your love and kindness to each of our students daily. Help us draw your children to You, to give them a longing in their hearts to know You and love You. Sustain us in our work and be with us that we continue with fervor in our mission as Catholic educators.”
JeSuS the Good Shepherd CatholiC SC hool
Building
Our Faith: A Journey Toward First Holy Communion
AT JESUS THE GOOD SHEPHERD SCHOOL, OUR 2NDGRADE STUDENTS ARE EMBARKING ON A PROFOUND JOURNEY OF FAITH AS THEY PREPARE TO RECEIVE THE sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion this spring. Guided by their dedicated Religion teacher, Mrs. Frantz, these young pilgrims of hope are learning not only the theology behind the sacraments but also the rich traditions and sacred practices of the Catholic Church.
Each week, Mrs. Frantz engages her students in lessons that deepen their understanding of God’s love, forgiveness, and the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist. To complement their classroom learning, the students are also visiting the church to experience the beauty and reverence of the Mass firsthand. This experiential approach helps them connect their lessons to the sacred rituals and objects that are central to Catholic worship.
during Mass, including the chalice and paten. They also discovered the purpose of altar linens like the corporal and purificator and explored the unique sacrar-ium sink, which drains directly into the ground for the reverent disposal of sacred items.
The students were captivated by Fr. Peter’s explanations and eagerly asked questions, re-flecting their enthusiasm and growing understanding of their faith. These hands-on experi-ences are not just educational but deeply formative, planting seeds of devotion that will continue to grow as they move closer to their First Holy Communion.
At Jesus the Good Shepherd School, we are proud to nurture our students’ spiritual growth as they walk this journey of faith, hope, and love. Together, we build a foundation that will guide them throughout their lives as faithful Catholics.
Recently, the 2nd-grade class had the privilege of touring the sacristy at Jesus the Good Shepherd Church with Parish Priest, Fr. Peter Mangum. During this special visit, the stu-dents learned about the vestments worn by priests, such as the alb and chaduble, and the sacred vessels used
Amy Fakhre is the Director of Development at Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic School.
Signs of Hope Abound in Our Community
POPE FRANCIS’ BULL OF INDICTION FOR THIS JUBILEE YEAR 2025, SPES NON CONFUNDIT (HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT), reads like a renewed mission statement for what Catholic Charities should be this year.
“Often we come across people who are discouraged, pessimistic and cynical about the future, as if nothing could possibly bring them happiness. For all of us, may the Jubilee be an opportunity to be renewed in hope” (1).
With the year’s theme of “Pilgrims of Hope,” the pope puts us all on the same playing field. We are all – staff, volunteers, donors and clients – on a journey toward God. Our work of being and of receiving God’s love and mercy brings hope to the world.
Much of the pope’s document focuses on “Signs of hope,” which seems a little contradictory as he describes occasions for hope while pointing out where hope is desperately needed.
and frustrating that our resources wouldn’t cover those few families.
But that afternoon, gratitude replaced frustration when a truckload of baby supplies arrived for Gabriel’s Closet, from Broadmoor United Methodist Church.
Hope won that day.
Pope Francis writes that having hope in the future requires an “enthusiasm for life.”
“We need to recognize the immense goodness present in our world, lest we be tempted to think ourselves overwhelmed by evil and violence” (7).
That contrast is exactly what many of my days at Catholic Charities look like. A few weeks ago when it was cold, our Money School class filled up well before the “official” start time, and I had the job of turning several people away. It was heartbreaking having to tell them, “Try again next week,”
“They suffer from exclusion and indifference on the part of many” (15).
Recalling the poor, he writes: In our modern society it is easy for us to “other” the poor; to assume they suffer from some moral failing.
At Catholic Charities, we instead see a lack of education and incomes that don’t allow for any mistake or emergency. Each time we pay rent or an electric bill for one month, we give hope that next month will be better.
As we make this Jubilee pilgrimage, I pray that our internal journeys of reconciliation and hope are reflected to those in our community who still walk in darkness.
Diane Libro is the Executive Director of Catholic Charities of North Louisiana.
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PHOTO OF THE MONTH: Seminarians Alan Landeros and Brett Reggio attending Mass in thanksgiving for donors to the Seminarian Burses, celebrated by Bishop Francis I. Malone and Msgr. Earl Provenza, December 17, 2024.