o t k c a B l o o h c S 2015 Bayou
Catholic
Back To School
Guest Columnist Marian Fertitta
Welcome back to the 2015-2016 school year
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Welcome administrators, faculty and staff, students and parents to the 2015-16 school year. It seems that summers are getting shorter and each new school year rolls around more quickly. I pray that you have all had time for rest, relaxation, fun and spending time with family and friends. The 2014–15 school year in review was one of many accomplishments and changes in our Catholic schools. I would like to highlight a few of these. It is with great pride and much hard work on the part of our schools that we have received national reaccreditation through AdvancED. Our final report from the visiting team confirmed that our system is above the national average on the impact of teaching and learning, leadership capacity, utilization of resources and overall scores. We are very proud to be able to continue to meet the standards set by AdvancED, the largest community of education professionals in the world. The 2014-15 school year ushered in new standardized assessments in our schools. Students in grades three through eight participated in the ACT/ ASPIRE and students in ninth
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2015
Jerry Sanderson and Dr. Connie Urbanski, two members of the AdvancED reaccreditation external review team, observe students at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School in Houma during this year’s accreditation process.
and 10th grades were assessed with ACT/ASPIRE Early High School. Schools have not received the scores at this point due to the amount of time it takes to score the writing and constructed response items. However, once these are in administrators and teachers will be pouring over the results to evaluate their students’ performance. Information received will also be used to review curricula and plan instruction to meet the needs of the students. Our schools will now be able to track and begin preparing students for the ACT beginning in third grade. More information will be presented once the test scores are available. The 2015-16 school year promises
to be another exciting year. Schools are working on purchasing new math textbooks and continuing to train new and experienced teachers in classroom strategies that broaden our students’ ability to think, reason, and apply what they have learned. High schools have added more Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment classes to allow their students to earn college credit while enrolled in high school. The expanded use of technology to enhance classroom instruction will also be evident. Beginning in August, all schools will have new websites and parent portals to access students’ grades, activities, etc. With the new software, all schools will
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Quick facts
LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
now have the ability to notify parents via text and phone messages when necessary. In the past only a few schools had this capability. As a means of continuing to assist parents who are unable to afford the cost of Catholic school tuition we are working with the ARETE and ACE scholars organizations. These Tuition Donor Rebate Programs allow contributors to donate money to the program. Ninety-five percent of the donation is returned to the donor. The organization in turn grants tuition scholarships to students in our diocese. Anyone who is interested in contributing to the fund should call the Catholic Schools Office for
Quick Facts of the Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux: Approximately 5,500 students will report to Catholic schools in the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux in the 2015-2016 school year. Ten percent of the student population during the 2014-2015 school year were nonCatholic; minority students made up 13 percent of the population. Six schools had waiting lists for admission. There are 373 professional staff members (administrators and teachers) and 176 support staff members in the schools. Two hundred eight teachers serve the 10 elementary schools and 143 teachers serve the three high schools. The laity makes up over 99 percent of the faculty; less than one percent is religious. The student/teacher ratio is 15:1. Average tuition per pupil is $ 6,500 for high schools and $ 3,900 for elementary schools. Average salary for a high school lay teacher is $ 42,104; and $ 33,500 is the average salary for an elementary school lay teacher. Number of graduates in the 2013-2014 school year was 360. Percentage of seniors who graduated in 2014 was 99 percent. Percentage of graduates who entered college in 2014 was 96 percent. Total college scholarship dollars awarded in 2013-2014 was $ 9,509,694.
details. Scholarships are available for students entering kindergarten or who are currently enrolled in a public school and whose family meets income guidelines. Families who want to apply for tuition scholarships should contact the Catholic school they are interested in having their child(ren) attend. As you can see we have many exciting happenings in our Catholic schools. It is through the grace of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit that we will continue to provide to our children excellent Catholic education to equip them spiritually to meet the challenges of a secular world and prepare them academically for their future. This does not happen without the
support of our wondrful parents, grandparents and friends. Thank you for sharing your time, talent, treasure and children with us! I would like to share the following prayer. Father, We thank you for the opportunity to begin this new school year, and we ask that you bless the students, faculty, and students’ families that make our school a great place. We pray that you will guide us in all ways, so that we will seek your will in everything that we do. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. David Bennett www.bayoucatholic.com
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Guest Columnist
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Suzanne Troxclair
Ah, summertime! Although the dog days of summer, with their sweltering heat and seemingly daily rain showers may seem almost unbearable to adults bustling to and from work and daily tasks, it is the time of year students anxiously anticipate throughout their nine months of school. Yes, summer is a time for rejuvenation, relaxation and socialization for children of all ages. Summer is also a time of fresh starts for students preparing for a new school year. Without the pressures of assessments and report cards, the summer also provides a unique opportunity for enrichment, an essential component for student success. It affords the opportunity for parents to work with their students to set new goals and to take advantage of the multitude
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2015
Getting a fresh start for a successful school year of learning activities available in the home, community and surrounding areas. Setting a “todo” list of sorts for the summer will not only teach students how to plan, but it will also encourage them to branch out and attempt new challenges during the weeks away from the classroom. One of the most important enrichment activities students and parents can take advantage of in the summer is reading, as it is a critical component of student success. Community libraries host excellent summer reading programs, offering special activities, workshops and even prizes for those reaching their personal reading goals. Participating in these programs with your child can open up a new line of communication and learning. Reading at least one of the same books as your child will allow for casual discussion, encouraging not only reading, but speaking and listening as well. Reading for pleasure in the presence of your children sets a very positive tone, as this behavior tells them that reading is something we want to do
and find entertaining. Another excellent summertime learning opportunity exists outdoors. South Louisiana affords us excellent opportunities to explore nature with its beautiful landscape and abundant plant and animal life. Taking nature walks, going on scavenger hunts, or participating in local science and nature camps encourages students to question and explore the world around them. Without the pressure of worksheets or tests, students are free to learn and explore at their own pace. For those seeking a more structured form of learning, many opportunities exist as well. These opportunities range from free online programs and learning websites to fee-based residential programs at universities. There are opportunities available to meet the needs of all learners, from those needing extra support to gifted students seeking more challenge in their summer studies. More information on specific programs can be found through professional school counselors,
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universities, and Internet research on available opportunities in the area. Once fall schedules and classes are set, parents and students can begin preparing more specifically for the commencement of the new school year. With supply lists often distributed or available by early summer, families can take full advantage of summer backto-school sales and promotions to complete their school shopping needs. It is much easier to locate specific and hard-to-find items when not waiting until the start of school, a time when navigating through crowded aisles of depleted school supplies can be a challenge. Working collaboratively to set a plan for the learning environment at home works to positively impact the start of a new school year. With your child, set a plan or schedule for afternoons that allows rest, relaxation, and study time appropriate to your child’s age and after school activities. Determine a well-lit area of the home where the student feels comfortable to study and complete home learning
assignments. Together, furnish this area with the tools necessary to complete those tasks and keep the supplies stocked throughout the school year. Eliminate distractions in the study area, such as telephones, cellular phones and televisions. Finally, keep the area free of clutter. Devise a plan with your child for engaging in meaningful study tasks each day. Studies show that the more frequently a student engages with content, the easier it is for him to apply it to not only classwork but everyday life as well. Waiting until the night before a written assessment to review material, for example, can make it very difficult for the student to retain the information and may seem too overwhelming. Study habits such as writing note cards each afternoon for content learned that day and reviewing those cards each day thereafter can help to reduce the stress associated with “cramming” that students often feel the night before a test or quiz. Lastly, keep abreast of your student’s progress in his classes.
Speak to your student about how he feels he is mastering the content being taught. Encourage him to communicate with his teacher so that they can work together to help him be successful. Encourage your student to utilize all services available at his school if necessary, such as professional school counselors, tutoring services and study sessions. If you feel that additional support may be necessary, plan a conference with your child’s teacher so that you can work together to devise the best plan possible to ensure your child’s success. With the collaborative work of students, parents and teachers, students will have the best support system possible to assist them in achieving their goals for academic success. For, as former United States Secretary of State Colin Powell once said, “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure.” (Suzanne Troxclair is the curriculum specialist for the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.) 57
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Role of parents in the faith formation of their children Guest Columnist
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Dr. Faith Ann Spinella
Summer has come to an end and a new school year is about to begin. Along with another school year comes the opening of parish schools of religion. Parents and children begin the task of juggling a schedule that works for all of them. Family structures have
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2015
changed and busy schedules have made life difficult for each member of the family. Decisions have to be made such as when to schedule dancing, swimming, gymnastics, team sports, tutoring and after school jobs, to name a few. Most parents begin the task of trying to avoid some activities in order to complete others. Usually it is religion that gets pushed further and further to the back and often out of the picture. In order to cope with life as it exists, parents begin to look at the system and ask questions, such as, aren’t parents the main teachers of their children? If so, then can we skip CCD classes and teach our children at home. Why do the
children have to attend religion classes at all? Why are the CCD classes in our parish on Monday instead of Wednesday, or on Sunday instead of Tuesday? Who makes the rules? Who do we talk to in order to make our lives less stressful, especially as it relates to religious instruction? Other parents are met with the challenge of having the children in one parish one weekend and in another parish the next weekend because parents are not together. Wouldn’t it be easier to just teach the child at home instead of sending him or her to class in different parishes each week? What is the answer to our dilemma? We know that parents are the primary educators of their
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children in the faith; however, the church has been commissioned to aid parents in their efforts to assist in the development of the faith life of children. Parents often need updating themselves in order to share the faith with their children and to provide age appropriate training. It is no secret that communicating the faith effectively is more difficult today than ever before. According to the research on congregational practices, we realize that fewer Catholics receive the Eucharist, or assist at Mass weekly; many cling to the name Catholic while not believing what the church teaches; young people appear to know little about the basic truths and teachings of the faith; generation X or millennial parents bring their babies to church for baptism without ever intending to practice the faith with the child. Even in the midst of such evidence we know that God has already been speaking to the child. If this is understood, it is our responsibility to continue that conversation between God and the
child. Having God as friend and confidant can never be measured for its value. Knowing God and his saints sustains individuals for life. The current church research demonstrates that a family’s religious involvement directly benefits children, teens and adults. One of the most important things that parents can do for their children is to help them to develop a faith life and a prayer life. It is evident that children will mature in the faith if they are raised in homes where faith is a part of the ebb and flow of the family. The way children are raised will influence their understanding and practice of the faith in their own lives. The daily routines of the family help to mold children and their faith lives. The family who has rituals of prayer, conversations about God, use of sacred objects and especially, regular attendance at Mass and reception of the Eucharist and penance will mold children to follow in their footsteps. One’s devotional life is connected to the body of Christ. It includes such practices as public worship,
bedtime prayer, Bible reading and study, grace before and after meals, morning and evening prayers and personal prayer. Spiritual practices must be woven into the fiber of each individual’s being; a total immersion. Parents can use their time to focus on providing caring conversations about faith, developing rituals and traditions, sharing in devotions and providing service to one’s parish. Parents who share their own “faith stories” provide one of the most important influences on the faith life of children and teens. The story of Jesus and our own faith story are woven together as one fabric. These provide an endless variety of caring conversations. One overriding fact is important to remember when considering the faith life of children and teens. The integration of faith and family life are the canvas for experiencing and developing faith in one another. Let us therefore, share our own faith lives and help to foster the faith in our children.
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Guest Columnist
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Michelle Chiasson
It is quite common to hear students grumble about lengthy reading assignments, project deadlines or comprehensive tests. It is even more common to hear this response from their teachers: “I am just preparing you for next year’s course, next year’s teacher, or your first year in college.” As the academic classroom prepares students for the next level of education in a myriad of ways, co-curricular activities serve students as classroom preparation for life – whether it is the workforce, family life, parish ministry or most importantly, one’s faith life. Initially, students simply join a club that interests
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2015
Co-curricular activities: The classroom of life them, try out for a team related to an activity they enjoy or run for office because they want to become involved. Eventually, they realize that their involvement in their club or team is what they will remember most about their high school years. What motivates students to devote countless hours to an activity that actually begins when the “regular” school day ends? In general, the thrill of competition, the call to serve others, the drive to make a difference as a leader, and the desire to grow in faith propel students into fully engaging in the high school experience beyond the traditional classroom. The life lessons afforded to students through their participation in co-curricular activities are immeasurable. The Thrill of Competition Life Lesson No. 1 – It’s all about the journey and the many moments that make up the journey. As alluring as
championships, trophies, rings and titles may be, the real prize for a marching band, sports team, cheer or dance squad, academic team, etc. is the experience of being a part of a winning tradition and not necessarily a tradition of winning. The early morning workouts in the off-season, bus rides, in-season practices, team meals and summer camps create a sisterhood and brotherhood that lasts for years. Memorable moments such as a triple overtime win at the buzzer, a standing ovation after a nearperfect performance, unbearable weather conditions or the student body cheering “I Believe!” in unison overshadow a championship title. A Servant’s Heart Life Lesson No. 2 – We will be remembered by the way we make people feel. Students who devote themselves to serving the elderly, the sick, the poor and the
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neglected make a difference in the lives of all those they serve. While a nursing home resident may never know that Key Club won the most awards at convention, she will always remember the feeling of not being forgotten as a Key Club member played BINGO or prayed the rosary with her. The young boy who attended his first Mardi Gras parade will never forget his “big brother” who fought to get beads for him. The family whose home was destroyed by fire will never forget the feeling of love and hope as they watched a truckload of supplies get delivered to their temporary home. All young people are called to be saints, and it starts with service and humility. The Light of Leadership Life Lesson No. 3 – Leaders make responsible decisions, seek guidance for their decisions and take action on their decisions. By serving as class representatives, board members, team captains and club presidents, students learn valuable lessons about leadership. One of the hardest lessons to learn is that they cannot please 100 percent
of their peers 100 percent of the time regardless of the surveys and polls taken to determine the best dance theme or class song. Student leaders also learn that they cannot succeed without the help of their club or team members. However, the challenge is to motivate others to feel as passionate about the work of their organization and stay as committed to its purpose as the leaders are. To be an effective leader requires goal-setting, communication, organization and listening skills. Good citizenship starts at an early age. The more that young people are empowered to make a difference in their school, they will learn to make a difference in their town, parish, church, state and country. A Witness of Faith Life Lesson No. 4 – Evangelization is not easy. It has never been easy and it will never be easy. (case in point – the fate of the Apostles). Students involved in youth ministry today face incredible challenges from so many directions. Many of them have encountered Christ in a deep, personal way and want to share
their experience with their peers, who are being inundated with continual messages from social media and society that contradict almost everything that is Christcentered. The presence of student ministers at daily Mass, their fight for the unborn, their witness at school retreats, and their reverence for the Blessed Sacrament, speak volumes to their peers, teachers and parents about the hope that lies in their generation to be bold and passionate about their Catholic faith. The co-curricular classroom has unlimited settings, an infinite number of teachable moments, and is the primary source of school pride and spirit. It builds selfesteem, enhances skills needed to be a productive citizen in the 21st century, and provides the sense of belonging that adolescents need. Without a doubt, co-curricular programs are a tremendous asset to holistic education and the mission of any school. (Michelle Chiasson is the principal at E.D. White Catholic High School in Thibodaux.) 61
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All will be well When your child is heading off to kindergarten or college
By BILL AND MONICA DODDS Catholic News Service
--You’re amazed this day has arrived so quickly. --You’re shocked to realize that he or she is in the college graduating class of 2016 (please, God) or the high school graduating class of 2023. --You’re concerned about how this is impacting the family budget. --You’re worried that your child may be negatively influenced by fellow students. --You’re aware that your child is both eager and anxious. --You’re (it’s OK to confess this) looking forward to 62 a little more quiet around the house, and at the same time you’re dreading that little more quiet. Veteran parents, those with a child in the first grade or sophomore year of college, will tell you all will be well. What they might not mention is that they went through all the emotions that you’re experiencing this fall when it was their little one, whether age 5 or 18, heading out the door on this great adventure. It has been said that we want our children to grow up and become independent, and then they double cross us and grow up and become independent. That’s not totally true, of course. They become less dependent. But family is about interdependence. Members compensate for each others’ weaknesses and rely on each others’ strengths. Still, it’s hard on Mom and Dad when a son or daughter reaches an obvious milestone, and that’s what entering kindergarten or college is. There were a lot of steps getting your child ready for this day, but when it finally arrives, it can seem that this step is just too big. If not for your son or daughter, then for you! What can you do to help him or her and help yourself? Four suggestions: 1. Have faith! Trust in your child’s abilities and common sense. Have faith that the values and beliefs you’ve taught them -- and lived -- have been planted well. Those seeds will take root and grow over time. (And, of course, your teaching duties aren’t over yet!) 2. Have hope! Recognize that this big step is one that leads to so many opportunities for your young student. That great big world your child is moving into is filled Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2015
with possibilities and, yes, some of those are scary, but others are wonderful beyond your imagining. 3. Have love! Now your child needs your help in a different way. A kindergartener isn’t a preschooler. A college student isn’t a high-schooler. But, be assured, no matter what age your child is, he or she wants and needs that foundation of love that you have offered and continue to offer. 4. Pray for him or her daily. (But you do that already, don’t you?) And daily, thank God for the incredible gift of being the parent of such an incredible child.
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104 East Bayou Rd. (Hwy 308) ~ Thibodaux, LA 70301 ~ (985) 446-3736 www.thibodauxpt.com
Holy Cross Elementary 2100 Cedar St. Morgan City, LA 70380 Grades PK-6 Amanda Talbot, Principal Phyllis Jensen, Secretary 384-1933 • Fax 384-3270 holycrosselm@htdiocese.org www.holycrosselementary.org Holy Rosary Elementary P.O. Box 40 Larose, LA 70373 Grades PK-8 Scott Bouzigard, Principal Angie Loupe, Secretary 693-3342 • Fax 693-3348 holyroselm@htdiocese.org www.holyrosary.org St. Gregory Elementary 441 Sixth St. Houma, LA 70364 Grades PS-7 Tonia Guidry, Principal Jennifer Torres, Admin. Asst. 876-2038 • Fax 879-2789 stgregelm@htdiocese.org www.stgregorycatholic.org Maria Immacolata Elementary 324 Estate Dr. Houma, LA 70364 Grades PK-7 Prissy Davis, Principal Donna Hill, Secretary 876-1631 • Fax 876-1608 mariaimmacoelm@htdiocese.org www.mariaimmacolata.org St. Bernadette Elementary 309 Funderburk Ave. Houma, LA 70364 Grades PK-7 Susan Chauvin, Secretary 872-3854 • Fax 872-5780 stbernelm@htdiocese.org www.saintbernadettepandas.com
St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School 300 Verret St. Houma, LA 70360 Grades PS-7 Brenda Tanner, Principal Kim Landry, Secretary 868-6646 • Fax 851-5896 stfranciselm@htdiocese.org www.stfrancishouma.org St. Genevieve Elementary 807 Barbier Ave. Thibodaux, LA 70301 Grades PK-7 Chris Knobloch, Principal Stacie Trosclair, Secretary 447-9291 • Fax 447-9883 stgenelm@htdiocese.org www.stgenevieveschool.us Holy Savior Elementary 201 Church St. Lockport, LA 70374 Grades PK-8 Tricia Thibodaux, Principal Terri Vedros, Secretary 532-2536 • Fax 532-2269 holysavelm@htdiocese.org www.holysaviorschool.org St. Joseph Elementary 501 Cardinal Dr. Thibodaux, LA 70301 Grades PK-7 Gerard Rodrigue Jr., Principal Barbara Kliebert, Secretary 446-1346 • Fax 449-0760 stjoeelm@htdiocese.org www.edline.net St. Mary’s Nativity Elementary 3492 Nies Street Raceland, LA 70394 Grades PK-8 Marissa Bagala, Principal Judy Watts, Secretary 537-7544 • Fax 537-4020 stmarelm@htdiocese.org
Central Catholic High School 2100 Cedar St. Morgan City, LA 70380 Grades 7-12 Vic Bonnaffee, Principal Sandy Daigle, Secretary 385-5372 • Fax 385-3444 centcathi@htdiocese.org www.cchseagles.com Vandebilt Catholic High School 209 S. Hollywood Rd. Houma, LA 70360 Grades 8-12 Yvonne Weimer, Principal Shirley Cunningham, Secretary David Boudreaux, President 876-2551 • Fax 868-9774 vandebilthi@htdiocese.org www.vandebiltcatholic.org E.D. White Catholic High School 555 Cardinal Dr. Thibodaux, LA 70301 Grades 8-12 Michelle Chiasson, Principal Cathy Hebert, Secretary Tim Robichaux, President 446-8486 • Fax 448-1275 edwhitehi@htdiocese.org www.edwhite.org Catholic Schools Office Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Marian Fertitta Superintendent of Schools mfertitta@htdiocese.org Suzanne Troxclair Curriculum Specialist Janet Marcel Administrative Assistant 850-3114 • Fax 850-3214
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Catholic Schools Snaps: A quick take on issues and statistics 64
Leslie Daigle, PT • Eddie Himel, PT, DSc., OCS, Cert. MDT • John Daigle, PT, OCS, COMT Tracy Peltier, PT, CMT • Steven Landry, OT, CHT • Sawyer Triche, PT, DPT • Frannie B. Allen, PT, DPT
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Spiritual Renewal By EFFIE CALDAROLA
Catholic News Service
September has always been one of my favorite times. Instead of going in big for New Year’s resolutions, something in me cries out for renewal in autumn. Is it the lifelong habit of getting ready to go back to school? Is there anything that makes you feel as ready for growth and change as a new pair of sneakers and a new backpack? All those clean and new notebooks with empty white pages beckon you to fill them. Autumn offers a chance to reorganize our lives, and I love organization. I love getting back in a routine -- not a boring routine filled with obligation, but a routine that helps energize me and sparks my creativity. I love fall weather with that crisp, just-a-tinge-ofchill feel in the air. When you turn your face to the warmth of the afternoon sun, it seems almost like a prayer. “Every face turned to him grows brighter,” wrote the psalmist, probably on a fall afternoon. So, it’s not surprising that in the autumn, parishes seem to rev up their engines. Committees and clubs that had closed down for the summer start planning their first meetings. Directors of religious education are busy planning speakers and courses. Prayer groups are forming.
NOTICE In accordance with the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) regulations, each of the thirteen Catholic schools, within the parochial school system of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, has a copy of its Asbestos Management Plan on file in the Principal’s Office. Anyone interested in reviewing a particular schools’ Asbestos Management Plan should first contact the school’s principal to schedule a time for the review. This notice applies to the following individuals: • Parents of children who attend one of the thirteen Catholic schools within the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. • Teachers and all other employees within the parochial school system of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux
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Spiritual Renewal
66
Years ago, when I still had kids in grade school, a moms’ group at my parish decided to do a 34-week Ignatian program, a daily prayer commitment based on the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius that involved meeting weekly to discuss what was happening in our lives of prayer. The program started in the fall, of course. Deciding to make that autumn commitment was among the very best decisions I ever made. As fall progressed, I grew into the rhythm of a prayer life. For the first time, I was able to maintain a morning prayer commitment. I do like routine, and I had often scolded myself because my prayer life was catch-as-catch-can. When I would “make” time for prayer, I would often find myself feeling guilty rather than simply yielding quietly to God’s invitation. By placing prayer into the morning, I came to find that there was always time for prayer. In one of my former pastor’s favorite homilies, he talked about trying to fit golf balls into a jar filled with rice. He couldn’t get them all in. He poured the rice out, put the balls in the jar first, and then poured the rice into the jar. The rice conformed itself around each ball. Voila! Both fit in the jar perfectly. The moral of the story: When you put prayer first, the rest of life fits around it quite beautifully. The truth of that was just one of the lovely gifts
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2015
that autumn brought me. In November, my family experienced a serious health emergency. My moms’ group rallied, with prayer and food and help and tons of support. I learned the value of prayer but especially of prayer within community. The emergency subsided. The lessons from that fall did not. Who knows what wonderful experience might await this fall? All kinds of agencies and organizations are searching for volunteers right now. Parishes are eager for people who want to serve the poor through parish projects. Classes and prayer groups are launching. “I make all things new,” Scripture assures us, and, for me, the autumn is a beautiful place to learn that lesson once again.
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