Bayou Catholic Magazine January 2017

INSIDE

Catholic Schools Week

Bayou

Catholic

Pope Francis: Never forget to smile, even when life is hard HOUMA, LA ~ JANUARY 2017 ~ COMPLIMENTARY

PARTNERS IN

2017 1977 - 2017

1977 - 2017

Contents FEATURES

20 Teens Encounter Christ retreat

By Janet Marcel

30 Bayou Patrons

By Janet Marcel

33 Annual Bishop’s Appeal

20 Heavenly Recipe

7

COLUMNS

eat well

nourish the

BODY

positive thinking Cathy Klingman

nourish the

8

Comfort For My People

By Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

12 Pope Speaks

MIND

Cathy Cooks:

QUICK FIX MEALS

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As the diocesan director of the Office of Family Ministries for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Cathy Klingman is very busy these days. Her office is coordinating the March for Life to Washington, D.C., later this month. As a wife and mother of three, she finds herself spread thin between work and family life. “Trying to keep up with three different school schedules with three kids can be a chore at times.

There are many days where I have to figure out what we should have for supper. There is not a lot of time to prepare for it. One of my go-to-quick fix meals is the Tex Mex casserole.

Although it is quick and simple, my family enjoys it. Over the years I have tried several variations of this meal. We try to eat together as a family but it doesn’t always work out with our schedules.”

Cathy says when they do eat together as a family it is a time that is cherished.

“It is a special moment when we can gather together and share our day’s or week’s events and plan ahead for what’s coming. As a Catholic family this is what the domestic church is all about, gathering with the family just as we gather at Mass with our church family.”

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Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

SPIRIT

New resolve, Chicken new year, Tex-Mex Casserole new life in 2017?

INGREDIENTS:

2 Cans (10 1/2 oz.) Cream of Chicken Soup 2 Large cans (9.75 oz.) Premium Chunk Chicken Breast (drained) 1/2-3/4 of 16 oz. container of Sour Cream (reserve some for topping) Seasoning: (or you can use some seasoning from a Taco Seasoning packet) Chili Powder Cumin Onion Powder Garlic Powder Shredded Cheddar Cheese (8 oz. bag) Corn tortilla shells (or flour tortilla shells) Salsa

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Bayou

DIRECTIONS:

Catholic

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease/Spray bottom of a 12X8 baking dish. In a large bowl, mix the drained chicken, cream of chicken soup, sour cream and seasoning (to taste). Heat the tortilla shells slightly in skillet. Place one layer of tortillas on bottom of baking dish, then add a layer of chicken mixture. Continue layering mix and tortillas.

Cover top with shredded cheddar cheese. Bake in oven for 15 minutes until dish is melted and bubbling slightly.

Allow dish to cool. Cut into servings and serve. (This dish can be dressed with sour cream, salsa, jalapenos, lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, avocado, etc. You can also substitute cooked ground beef February 4 instead Januaryof29 - canned chicken).

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By Very Rev. Joshua Rodrigue, STL

14 Readings Between The Lines

nourish the

Pope Francis I

13 Questions of Faith

compassionate living

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By Janet Marcel

Catholic Schools Week 2017 LIC

LAWRENCE CHATA

CATHO GNIER/BAYOU

By Father Glenn LeCompte

18 Seeing Clairely

By Claire Joller

19 Reading with Raymond

By Raymond Saadi

34 Thoughts for Millennials

By Ryan Abboud

40 Overtime

By Ed Daniels

IN EVERY ISSUE

6

From the Editor

16 Scripture Readings 22 Heavenly Recipes 35 Diocesan Events 56 Young Voices GUEST COLUMNS

24 New year new life in 2017

By Father Joey Pilola

ANNOUNCEMENTS

39 Gulf Coast Faith Formation

Conference Jan. 12-14 in Kenner

On Our Cover For Pope Francis, one of the most needed virtues of modern time is hope, which is something he said must never be abandoned no matter how hard life gets, and which is often expressed in the simple act of a smile. See page 12 of this issue of the Bayou Catholic and read what Pope Francis says about keeping a smile even during hard times.

Bayou Catholic Vol. 37, No. 7 How to reach us:

BY PHONE: (985) 850-3132

BY MAIL: P.O. Box 505 Schriever, LA 70395

Where to find your Bayou Catholic Bayou Catholic magazine can be found at all Catholic churches in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, at the three Catholic high schools in Houma, Morgan City and Thibodaux, as well as the 10 elementary schools throughout the diocese. You may also visit the merchants listed in the Advertisers’ Index to pick up your copy. Those wishing to receive the magazine by mail can call Janet Marcel at (985) 850-3132 or write to Bayou Catholic, P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395. Subscription price is $35 annually. For the online edition, go to www.bayoucatholic.com

Index to Advertisers Advanced Eye Institute ................................ 32 Annual Bishop’s Appeal ................................. 2 Birdsall Jewelry ........................................... 31 Cannata’s ................................................... 23 Cardinal Place ............................................. 29 Catholic Schools Supporters ....................... 63 Central Catholic High School ....................... 47 Collection for the Church in Latin America ... 11 Decorative Mailboxes .................................. 27 Diocesan Outreach Line .............................. 36 Diocesan Website ................................. 17, 26 E.D. White Catholic High School .................. 50 God’s Promises Books and Gifts ................. 17 Haydel Spine Pain & Wellness ..................... 15 Headache & Pain Center .............................. 40 Help Me Pray ................................................ 3 Holy Cross Elementary School .................... 54 Holy Rosary Catholic School ....................... 53 Holy Savior Catholic School ........................ 52 Houma Digestive Health Specialists ............. 29 LeBlanc & Associates, LLC ......................... 29 Maria Immacolata Catholic School ............... 55

Patrick Yancey Law Firm ............................. 37 Re-Bath ...................................................... 24 Riviere Insurance Agency Inc. ..................... 38 Rod’s Superstore ........................................ 25 Seminarian Education Burses ...................... 21 Southland Mall ............................................ 64 St. Bernadette Catholic School .................... 57 St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School .......... 58 St. Genevieve Catholic School ..................... 59 St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic School ......... 62 St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School ........ 61

BY FAX: (985) 850-3232

BY E-MAIL: bayoucatholic@htdiocese.org The Bayou Catholic is published monthly, for the people of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux by the H-T Publishing Co., P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395.

Subscription rate is $35 per year.

The Bayou Catholic is a member of the Catholic Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and an associate member of the Louisiana Press Association.

Lawrence Chatagnier

editor and general manager

Glenn J. Landry, C.P.A. business manager

Janet Marcel

staff writer/administrative assistant

Katie DeRoche

advertising accounts executive

Lisa Schobel Hebert graphic designer

Meridy Liner

accounts receivable/payable assistant

St. Joseph Manor ........................................ 29 St. Mary’s Nativity School ........................... 60 Synergy Bank .............................................. 27 Terminix ...................................................... 27 The Center for Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine ............................... 45 Thibodaux Physical Therapy ........................ 34 Vandebilt Catholic High School .................... 48

Awards

CPA First Place General Excellence 2013 - 2014 LPA First Place General Excellence 2015

Watkins, Walker, Eroche & Hoychick ............ 34 www.bayoucatholic.com

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Welcome

From the Editor 6

Doesn’t it seem that not so long ago we were saying, “Wow, it’s already 2016”? Here we are in 2017 and time is moving along just as it has since the beginning of creation. Time feels like it is speeding up, but I think that it is just our busy lifestyles that make it seem that way. It seems there aren’t enough hours in a day to accomplish the things we need to do.

Technology was supposed to help us manage our time.

Our smartphones have apps that allow us to shop without leaving home, order our medical prescriptions with the swipe of a finger, let us know when our next meeting is scheduled and even give us a detailed map with directions letting us know where traffic jams are on the highway.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

Still we don’t have enough time.

The problem is that what time we do save we tend to fill it with something else to do. Why can’t we be still?

We fill our days by running the kids to school, rushing to work so we don’t get there late, then after work its soccer practice or dance lessons, then to the gym for a quick workout session.

Once at home mom has to prepare something that’s quick for supper while the children wrap up homework, an after school project or try to get in some practice on their musical instruments to learn the music that the band teacher expects them to play well. In the middle of all this we try and keep up with our friends and relatives on social media because we have to post the things we did today.

Lifestyles are ever changing.

We live in a fast paced world. How many times have you noticed that when people are gathered at an event and something great or what we deem important happens the smartphones pop up and there is either a photo or a video capturing the moment … or is it?

Are we really capturing the moment on our phones? Can

our phones take in what our senses bring to life for us? If we allow our senses to take over and see before us what the camera doesn’t see, smell the air that the camera can’t smell and then allow our brain and heart to connect to truly enjoy the moment we will have an experience unlike what can be captured on a smartphone.

This new year maybe it would benefit us to slow down a bit.

Take in the beauty of a sunset with all the majesty and colors painted in the sky. Turn off the radio on the way to work and listen to what God has to say to us. Find some quiet time during the day to reflect on our lives and what is happening around us. When we see the beauty of nature around us and take time to be still then we can hear God’s voice giving us direction.

Remember, after reading Bayou Catholic, pass it on to a friend or relative who might not be attending Mass. It’s one of the great ways to do your part in spreading the Good News!

Lawrence

Lawrence Chatagnier Editor & General Manager

Church Life

Our Lady of Guadalupe 7

A Mass honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe attracted a large gathering of Hispanics from across the Diocese of Houma Thibodaux recently at Annunziata Church parish in Houma.

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre was the main celebrant of the Mass. Father Duc Bui, diocesan director of Hispanic Ministry, was the homilist for the celebration.

A procession with prayers and music preceded the Mass.

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

www.bayoucatholic.com

Comment

Help Louisiana’s impoverished children Comfort For My People

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Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

Are you looking for a New Year’s resolution that will make a difference not only in your life, but in the lives of our children?

Please read, reflect and act on what I am asking of you in this article.

What is the first word that comes to mind when you think about children? Laughter, love, innocence, dreams?

For one out of four children in Louisiana the word is: poverty.

For one out of 10 newborn babies it is low birth weight. For the families of over 6,700 disabled Louisiana children what comes to mind is a waiting list of up to 10 years for desperately needed services. Louisiana ranks 48th out of 50 states in the 2016 Kid’s Count measuring child well-being across America. And Louisiana has been mired in this shamefully low ranking, or worse, for the last 25 years in a row.

Recently, however, the churches of Louisiana have joined together through the Louisiana Interchurch Conference to profess with one voice that child well-being is a moral issue that our faith calls us to improve. Our Bread or Stones Campaign for child well-being takes its name from the Gospel of Matthew 7:9 where Jesus asks: Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? We have been handing our children stones for too long.

The leaders of thousands of churches in 16 Catholic and Protestant denominations in Louisiana, including me and all of my brother bishops, have

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

1 IN 4 CHILDREN LIVES IN POVERTY formally committed to the Bread or Stones Campaign. We have four goals: improve child and maternal health, increase school readiness and decrease school dropouts, support marriage and families, and reduce child poverty. We are doing this through four strategies in our churches: service, education, citizenship and community. n Service: Develop programs that help our children and their families. n Education: Inform our parishioners about the needs of our Louisiana children and the resources available to families to meet these needs. n Citizenship: Encourage ideas, programs and new legislation that help our children and their families. n Community: Join with local groups serving children and their families.

Churches who want to improve our children’s lives can join this campaign by becoming a Bread or Stones Covenant Congregation.

I have personally supported Bread or Stones since it began when I served as president of the Louisiana Interchurch Conference.

As your bishop, I encourage each parish in the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux to become a Bread or Stones Covenant Congregation and I urge every parishioner to join. Many of you are already

in a Matthew 25 ministry or A Catholic Voice for Justice, a parish social ministry or family ministry committee, a religious education program or youth group. You might be in the Knights of Peter Claver or Columbus or a St. Vincent de Paul Society. Each of these ministries and many more touch the lives of children. Learn about the Bread or Stones Campaign and get involved.

As Christians we share a common concern for our children, as the Gospel demands. Every child in Louisiana is a child of God and deserves our unwavering commitment to improving his or her life. By serving our children we are serving God most tenderly.

The Bread or Stones Campaign is a way for us, together in religious congregations and as concerned citizens throughout Louisiana, to act on our moral obligation to improve our children’s health, help them to stay in school, support their families and reduce their poverty.

Contact Catholic Charities, (985) 876-0490, for more information.

Visit http://www.breadorstones. com and watch the Bread or Stones Campaign video at http:// www.htdiocese.org/catholiccharities.

Jesus asks: Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone?

How will you answer?

Comentario

Ayudémosles a los niños pobres

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¿Busca usted un buen propósito para el año nuevo que hará impacto en su vida y en la vida de nuestros niños? Lea, reflexione y actúe sobre lo que les pido en esta publicación. ¿Cuál es la primera palabra que se le ocurre cuando piensa sobre los niños? ¿Risa, amor, inocencia, esperanzas?

Uno de cada cuatro niños en Luisiana vive en la pobreza.

Además, uno de cada diez neonatos nace prematuro. Para las familias de más de 6,700 niños minusválidos en Luisiana hay una lista de espera de diez años de duración para recibir servicios. El rango de Luisiana es cuadragésimo octavo de 50 estados en la Cuenta de Niños 2016 que estudia la calidad de vida de los niños en los Estados Unidos. Luisiana se ha mantenido estancado en este rango vergonzoso y peor, se ha mantenido en este bajo rango por 25 años consecutivos.

Sin embargo, últimamente las iglesias de Luisiana se han unido por medio de la Conferencia InterEclesiástica de Luisiana para profesar unísonas que la calidad de vida de los niños proviene del Evangelio según Mateo 7:9 cuando Jesús pregunta: « ¿Acaso alguno de ustedes daría a su hijo una piedra cuando le pide pan?» Les hemos dado piedras a nuestros niños por demasiado tiempo.

Los cabecillas de miles de iglesias en 16 denominaciones católicas y protestantes de Luisiana, que me incluye a mí y a mis hermanos obispos, se han comprometido de manera formal a la Campaña de Pan o Piedras.

Tenemos cuatro objetivos: mejorar la salud infantil y materna, aumentar el nivel educativo y disminuir el número de estudiantes que no logran obtener un diploma, apoyar a los matrimonios y familias y reducir la pobreza infantil.

Nuestras iglesias tienen cuatro estrategias: servicio, educación, ciudadanía y comunidad.

n Servicio: Desarrollar programas que proveen ayuda a nuestros niños y a sus familias. n Educación: Informar a nuestros feligreses las necesidades que tienen los niños de Luisiana y los recursos disponibles para familias que requieren estas necesidades. n Ciudadanía: Promover ideas, programas y leyes nuevas que ayuden a nuestros niños y a sus familias. n Comunidad: Unirse a organizaciones locales para servir a los niños y a sus familias.

Las iglesias que quieren mejorar la calidad de vida de nuestros niños pueden unirse a esta campaña convirtiéndose en una Congregación de Pan y Piedras.

He apoyado a Pan y Piedras desde sus inicios cuando yo era presidente de la Conferencia Inter-

Pedro Claver, Colón o la Sociedad de San Vicente de Paul. Cada uno de estos ministerios y muchos más impactan las vidas de los niños.

Puede aprender sobre la Campaña de Pan y Piedras e involucrarse.

Como cristianos compartimos una inquietud común por nuestros niños, como el Evangelio lo exige.

Todos los niños en Luisiana son hijos de Dios y merecen nuestro compromiso incansable por mejorar sus vidas. Al servir nuestros niños estamos sirviendo a Dios con amor.

La Campaña de Pan y Piedras nos permite, juntos en congregaciones religiosas y como ciudadanos de Luisiana, actuar según nuestra obligación moral para mejorar la salud de nuestros niños, asistirles a permanecer en la escuela, apoyar a sus familias y disminuir la pobreza. Llame a Caridad Católica, 9

Eclesiástica de Luisiana. Le pido a cada parroquia en la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux convertirse en una Congregación de Pan y Piedras y le pido a cada feligrés que se incorpore. Muchos de ustedes ya son miembros del ministerio Mateo 25, La Voz Católica por la Justicia, un ministerio social de parroquia o comité de ministerio para familias, un programa de formación religiosa o grupo de jóvenes. Podría ser miembro de los Caballeros de

(985) 876-0490, para recibir más información. Visite http://www. breadorstones.com y vea el video de la Campaña Pan y Piedras en http://www.htdiocese.org/catholiccharities.

Jesús pregunta: « ¿Acaso alguno de ustedes daría a su hijo una piedra cuando le pide pan?» ¿Cómo contestará usted?

Traducido por Julio Contreras, feligrés de la Iglesia Annunziata en Houma www.bayoucatholic.com

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Binh luan bang loi

Hãy giúp đỡ các trẻ em nghèo khổ ở Louisiana

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Ông Bà và Anh Chị Em đang tìm kiếm điều đoan hứa của Năm mới sẽ tạo sự khác biệt không những cho cuộc sống của quý vị, nhưng còn cho cuộc sống của con em chúng ta không? Hãy đọc, suy tư và hành động dựa trên những gì mà tôi yêu cầu quý vị trong bài viết này.

Từ ngữ đầu tiên xuất hiện trong tâm

cái bánh, mà lại cho nó hòn đá chăng?

Chúng ta đã đưa hòn đá cho các trẻ em của mình quá lâu rồi.

Các nhà lãnh đạo của hàng ngàn giáo xứ trong 16 giáo phái của Công giáo và Tin Lành tại Louisiana, trong đó có tôi và tất cả các Giám mục Hiền Huynh của tôi, đã chính thức cam kết Chiến dịch đóng góp Lương Thực để giúp các trẻ

trí khi Ông Bà Anh Chị Em nghĩ về trẻ em là gì? Tiếng cười, tình yêu, sự ngây thơ, và những ước mơ chăng? Đối với một trong bốn trẻ em ở Louisiana từ ngữ đó là: nghèo đói.

Một trong số 10 trẻ sơ sinh sanh ra bị thiếu cân. Hơn 6,700 gia đình trẻ em khuyết tật ở Louisiana những gì đến với tâm trí họ là một danh sách chờ đợi lên đến 10 năm cho những dịch vụ tối cần thiết. Trong bảng thống kê trên khắp nước Mỹ, tiểu bang Louisiana đứng hàng thứ 48 trong số 50 tiểu bang các trẻ em lành mạnh trong năm 2016. Và Louisiana đã bị sa lầy trong bảng xếp hạng thấp đáng hổ thẹn này, hoặc tệ hơn, trong suốt 25 năm qua vẫn như thế.

Tuy nhiên gần đây, các giáo xứ ở Louisiana đã liên kết với nhau qua Hội nghị các giáo phái ở Louisiana để nói lên rằng: trẻ em lành mạnh là một vấn đề đạo đức mà đức tin của chúng ta kêu gọi phải cải tiến. Chương trình Vận động đóng góp Lương Thực để giúp đỡ cho các trẻ em được lành mạnh lấy tên từ Tin mừng của thánh Matthew 7: 9, nơi mà Chúa Giêsu hỏi: Có ai trong anh em, nếu con mình xin

em. Chúng tôi có bốn mục tiêu: cải tiến sức khỏe trẻ em và các bà mẹ, gia tăng học sinh đi học và giảm bớt học sinh bỏ học, hỗ trợ hôn nhân và gia đình, và giảm nghèo ở trẻ em. Chúng ta đang thực hiện điều này thông qua bốn giải pháp trong các nhà thờ của chúng ta: phục vụ, giáo dục, quyền công dân và cộng đồng. n Dịch vụ: Phát triển các chương trình giúp các trẻ em và gia đình của chúng. n Giáo dục: Thông báo cho giáo dân về những nhu cầu của trẻ em Louisiana và các nguồn lực sẵn có cho các gia đình để đáp ứng những nhu cầu này. n Quyền công dân: Khuyến khích các ý tưởng, các chương trình và luật pháp mới giúp con em chúng ta và gia đình của chúng. n Cộng đồng: Tham gia với các nhóm địa phương phục vụ trẻ em và gia đình của chúng.

Cácgiáo xứ nào muốn cải tiến cuộc sống của các trẻ em có thể tham gia chiến dịch này bằng việc trở thành một thành viên của Hội đóng góp lương thực này (Bread or Stones Covenant Congregation). Cá nhân tôi đã hỗ trợ Hiệp Hội này kể từ khi nó bắt đầu, khi tôi từng là chủ tịch

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Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

của Hội nghị các Giáo phái ở Louisiana.

Với tư cách là Giám mục của Ông Bà và Anh Chị Em, tôi khuyến khích mỗi giáo xứ trong giáo phận Houma-Thibodaux hãy trở thành một Hội đóng góp lương thực và tôi khuyến khích mọi giáo dân hãy tham gia. Nhiều người trong quý vị đã là thành viên của Ban Mục vụ theo Matthew 25, hay Tiếng nói người Công giáo về Công lý, Ban Xã hội của giáo xứ, hoặc Ban Mục vụ Gia đình, Chương trình Giáo dục tôn giáo, hoặc nhóm Giới trẻ. Quý vị có thể ở trong Hội các Hiệp sĩ của thánh Peter Claver hoặc Hiệp Hội Columbus hoặc Ban Xã hội của thánh Vincent de Paul. Mỗi Ban Hội của các mục vụ này và nhiều hơn nữa, đã chạm tới cuộc sống của các trẻ em. Hãy tìm hiểu về cuộc vận động đóng góp lương thực này và hãy tham gia.

Là những Kitô hữu, chúng ta chia sẻ một mối quan tâm chung cho các trẻ em của chúng ta, như Tin mừng đòi buộc.

Mỗi trẻ em ở Louisiana đều là con cái của Thiên Chúa và xứng đáng sự cam kết kiên định của chúng ta để cải thiện cuộc sống của các em. Bằng việc phục vụ các trẻ em của chúng ta, chúng ta đang phục vụ Thiên Chúa cách dịu dàng nhất.

Chiến dịch đóng góp Lương Thực là một cách để chúng ta, cùng nhau trong các cộng đồng tôn giáo và các công dân chân chính sống ở Louisiana, hành động nghĩa vụ đạo đức của mình để cải thiện sức khỏe con em chúng ta, giúp đỡ các em theo học, hỗ trợ các gia đình của các em và xóa đói giảm nghèo của các em.

Xin liên lạc Hội Từ Thiện Công Giáo, (985) 876-0490, để biết thêm thông tin. Xin vào trang mạng: http:// www.breadorstones.com và xem video của Chiến dịch đóng góp Lương Thực tại: http://www.htdiocese.org/catholiccharities.

Chúa Giêsu hỏi: Có ai trong anh em, nếu con mình xin cái bánh, mà lại cho nó hòn đá chăng?

Vậy Ông Bà và Anh Chị Em sẽ trả lời thế nào?

Dịch thuật do Lm. Francis Bui, SDD và Thầy Paul Vu, SDD. Tu Đoàn Tông Đồ Giáo Sĩ Nhà Chúa

The collection will be held January 21 and 22.

Thank you for your generosity.

Comment

The Pope Speaks

V 12

Vatican City, (CNA/EWTN News) For Pope Francis, one of most needed virtues of modern time is hope, which is something he said must never be abandoned no matter how hard life gets, and which is often expressed in the simple act of a smile.

Referring to the “dramatic moment” of Israel’s exile in the desert, Pope Francis said that this time was especially hard for the people because they had lost everything, and felt “abandoned and without hope.”

“When we are in darkness and difficulty the smile doesn’t come, but there is the hope that teaches us to smile on that path to find God,” Francis said, noting that one of the trademarks of those who break away from God is “the absence of the smile, the smile of the hope of finding God.” Perhaps these people know how to “have a good laugh” or make jokes, but they are missing the smile that only God knows how to give, the Pope continued.

Life, he said, “is often a desert, it’s hard to walk in it, but if we entrust ourselves to God it can become beautiful and wide like a highway.”

“It’s enough to never lose hope, it’s enough to continue to believe, always, despite everything,” he said, noting that often when we find ourselves in front of a child, “there is a spontaneous smile because a child is hope.”

“Let us also smile even if it was a difficult day, because we see the hope.”

Pope Francis spoke to the thousands of pilgrims present for his Wednesday general audience in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

Pope Francis: Never forget to smile, even when life is hard After concluding his yearlong catechesis on mercy during the Jubilee, Francis began a new series on Christian hope.

Hope, he said, is needed “so much in these times that appear so dark, in which at times we feel lost in front of the evil and violence that surrounds us, in front of the pain of our brothers and sisters.”

Noting how many can feel lost, discouraged and even “powerless” in front of a darkness that seems like it will never end, the Pope stressed that “we mustn’t let hope abandon us, because God with his love walks with us, he doesn’t leave us alone,” but has instead “conquered evil and opened to us the path of life.”

Pope Francis said that as a Father, God consoles his children by “raising up comforters” who are tasked with encouraging the people by announcing that their tribulation and pain is over, and that their sin has been forgiven.

“This is what heals the afflicted and frightened heart,” he said, adding that for the people, consolation begins with the possibility of walking along the path God carves out for them in the desert, which is a “new path, rectified and viable” which allows them to return to their homeland.

The people to whom Isaiah speaks were living “the tragedy of exile,” but now hear that they will be able to return to their homeland on a wide and level road, without

the obstacles that often make the journey “arduous,” he said.

Preparing this path, Francis said, “means to prepare a path of salvation and liberation from every obstacle and stumbling block.”

When Isaiah says that he is the voice “of one crying out in the desert: prepare the way of the Lord,” the Pope noted that it’s a voice that seems to be crying out in a place where “no one is listening” and which mourns “the loss owed to the crisis of faith.”

However, he stressed that the true story is not the one made by the powerful who are seen by the world, “but rather the one made by God together with his little ones.”

Zechariah and Elizabeth were elderly and “marked by infertility,” and Mary was a young virgin betrothed to Joseph, while the shepherds who met the infant Jesus “were despised and didn’t count for anything,” the Pope observed.

“It is the small ones, made great by their faith, the little ones who know how to continue to hope,” he said, adding that it is they who are able to transform “the desert of exile, of desperate loneliness, of suffering, into a level road on which to walk to meet the glory of the Lord.”

“Let us therefore teach hope, let us look forward faithfully to the coming of the Lord and whatever the desert of our lives, it will become a flowery garden.”

in life and death, it would certainly be permissible to be buried with your wife and her family.

Questions of Faith Very Rev. Joshua Rodrigue, STL

I am a Catholic and my wife is not. My wife’s family has reserved an extra cemetery plot for me. Is it okay for me to be buried in a cemetery that is not specifically Catholic?

In south Louisiana, it is almost commonplace for each Catholic Church to have its own cemetery with both Catholics and nonCatholics buried in them; however, in other areas of the country, the contrary is true. From the Code of Canon Law, it states the following: n If a parish has its own cemetery, the deceased members of the faithful must be buried in it unless the deceased or those competent to take care of the burial of the deceased have chosen another cemetery legitimately (Canon 1180). n Everyone, however, is permitted to choose the cemetery of burial unless prohibited by law.

Often it is misread that the Catholic person must be buried in the Catholic cemetery, but Canon Law is not restricting the ability of the faithful to choose where they are to be buried. Instead, it is ensuring that the parishioner is given preference before others and will be able to be buried in the parish cemetery if they so desire.

Therefore, the church is putting the burden on the parish and not the deceased to ensure the person is buried in the Catholic cemetery.

The person’s concern may be centered upon being buried in consecrated ground, which Catholic cemeteries are. One should remember that at each burial, whether it is in a Catholic cemetery or not (i.e., a national cemetery), the funeral rite provides a blessing for the individual grave before the body is committed to its burial place.

As the church recognizes the importance of the bonds of family

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

At what age should children start to regularly attend Mass?

“Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them but Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these’” (Matthew 19:13-14).

The Lord’s desire is for the children to be brought to him. In marriage, a husband and wife promise to be open to children and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and his church.

At baptism, the parents again promise to bring their child up in the practice of the faith. By virtue of their baptism, a baby has a right to attend church, and in fact, has been attending since the time they were in the womb. Why stop after they are born?

Parents don’t want to keep their young children from church, but are afraid they become a disruption at Mass. They fear the scowls of those sitting around them or, God forbid, a reproach from the priest. The little voices, crying, and disruptions of children should

be a sound of hope for us all that God has not given up on humanity and that the faith will continue to remain alive and be passed down.

Patience and a consoling smile to the parents on the part of the surrounding parishioners go a long way.

A child’s religious education in the faith begins before they even enter formal religious education classes; unconscious education begins before conscious education.

Bringing your child as a baby or toddler allows him or her to learn the place, people, music, sights, sounds and smells of the Mass before gaining the ability to understand fully the Mass. Your child will begin to ask questions about the Mass as they grow older, giving the parents an opportunity to be the first teachers of the faith.

Most parents of babies and toddlers sit in the back for a quick escape. While it may be counterintuitive, sit toward the front so the child can see. Imagine the view a toddler gets from the back—the backsides of standing parishioners. Seeing the action in the sanctuary often keeps their 13 attention during Mass. Religious books or toys or a “Going to Mass” bag can help keep them occupied during the homily.

Finally, Mass is a family celebration, so try to avoid going in shifts. If there is a feeling of not getting anything out of Mass because of constant “child-herding,” know that the Lord will give you the grace needed to go through the week. You are fulfilling your role as a parent and are receiving the joy of knowing that you are following the Lord’s command, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them,” and also are receiving the love that Christ bestows for bringing your child to him from the very beginning.

Readers are encouraged to send their questions to our local Bayou Catholic columnists by email to bayoucatholic@htdiocese.org. www.bayoucatholic.com

Reflections Readings Between The Lines Father Glenn LeCompte

Preparing to hear Matthew’s Gospel

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“Every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old” (Matthew 13:52). Matthew 23:34 speaks of prophets, sages and scribes whom Jesus’ enemies will kill, crucify, scourge and pursue because they, like their Jewish counterparts, will proclaim the teaching of the Torah (the old), but with the new understanding of it Jesus supplies (the new).

During the current liturgical Sunday cycle, we will read primarily from the Gospel of Matthew. My intention in writing this column is to present some of the primary and unique theological themes of Matthew’s Gospel.

Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man The primary characteristic of Jesus in Matthew is that he is the Son of the Divine Father.

There are two equally important aspects of his Sonship. On the one hand, as Son of God he is perfectly attuned in mind and heart to the Father’s will, which he carries out in the course of Matthew’s story (Matthew 3:17). On the other hand, he is Son of Man, a title used of Jesus in reference to his activity of breaking the reign of evil by healing people (e.g. 9:6-7), to his role as the endtime universal judge who will

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

come to consummate the advent of the Kingdom (e.g. 13:41; 16:27-28; 24:27, 30, 37, 39, 4425:31-46), or as authentic interpreter of the Law (12:8), as a prophetic (12:40) or a regal (19:28) figure.

Jesus as the Fulfillment of Jewish Messianic Expectation From the very beginning of his Gospel, Matthew depicts Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. By means of a genealogy (1:1-17) which begins with the father of the Israelite nation, Abraham, and proceeds through David and the nation both before and after the Babylonian Exile, Matthew depicts Jesus as the descendent in whom all the hopes of Israel culminates.

This theme continues throughout the story, e.g. when Jesus invites the imprisoned John the Baptist, who asks whether or not Jesus is the one they have expected, to answer his own question in view of Jesus’ healing ministry. The theme also surfaces when Peter answers Jesus’ question about his identity by saying that he is “the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (16:16).

Jesus as Emmanuel, “Godwith-us” Matthew characterizes Jesus as Emmanuel in his first narrative episode (1:18-25), wherein Joseph accepts his divine appointment as adoptive father of Mary’s son.

Matthew interprets Mary’s bearing the Savior and Joseph’s acceptance of his divinely-given task to name Jesus at his birth as a fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14,”Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means ‘God is with us’” (Matthew 1:23). To Jesus’ words over the cup at the Last

Supper in Mark 14:25, “I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God” Matthew adds “with you” after “drink it” in order to emphasize the presence of Jesus with his disciples in the Kingdom (26:29). Matthew makes this editorial change to emphasize Jesus’ presence with his church, especially in the Eucharist. Finally, at the end of the Gospel (28:16-20), the risen Lord does not ascend to the Father, but rather declares that he will be with the disciples until the end of time. Jesus is ever “Emmanuel” for his church.

Jesus, THE Teacher of Israel The primary indication that Matthew depicts Jesus as the most significant of all teachers of Israel is to be found in his grouping Jesus’ teaching into five great discourses (Matthew 5-7; 10:1-11:1; 13:1-53; 18:1-19:1; 24:151). Throughout Matthew’s story Jesus is embroiled in controversy regarding teaching, especially when it comes to interpretation of the Jewish Law (Torah), e.g.

Sabbath controversies (see 12:114). The Scribes and Pharisees, who stand as rival teachers to Jesus, are threatened by the depth of his didactic wisdom to the extent that they procure his death. Before his crucifixion, however, Jesus finally demonstrates his superiority as a sage in his controversies in the Temple over halakhic (legal) issues and in haggadhic matters (nonlegal matters of faith, 21:23-23:39), in other words, over the whole realm of teaching regarding Jewish faith. The crux of the controversy has to do with the Matthean Jesus’ principle of interpretation of

a

the Law, which is comprised of the two Great Commandments: to love God with every ounce of one’s being and to love one’s neighbor as oneself (22:34-40). Every question of Jewish religious law or faith must be viewed in light of love for God and neighbor.

The Church One of the great discourses (18:119:1) mentioned above deals with relationships among members of the Matthean community, or the church. In their attempt to live as a community, Jesus’ followers will inevitably encounter conflict. Yet, every authentic member must be disposed to forgiveness and the desire for reconciliation in the midst of these conflicts. Prior to this “Church Order Discourse,” in the episode where Peter, in response to Jesus’ question about the disciples’ perception of his identity, declares him “the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (16:13-20), Jesus in turn states that Peter’s faith is the foundation on which his church will be built. The church is comprised of a union of his disciples, held together by the teaching of Jesus,

whose apostles are given the authority to “bind and loose,” that is, to apply the teaching of Jesus to new circumstances.

Jesus as Hope of the Gentiles Episodes such as the favorably depicted visit of the (Gentile) Magi to the infant Jesus (2:1-12), and Jesus’ healing of Gentiles (8:5-10; 15:22-28) as well as his declaration that, surprisingly, people will come from “east and west” to recline at table with the Israelite patriarchs in the Kingdom banquet demonstrate that Jesus is savior

of them as well as of the Jews. At the end of the Gospel (28:19), Jesus sends his disciples out on a mission to make disciples of panta ta ethne, “all the nations/Gentiles” (ethne can mean either), again reinforcing the theme of salvation for the Gentiles.

Though this is not an exhaustive treatment of Matthew’s theology, those who keep in mind these significant elements of it will have an advantage in understanding the message of Matthew’s Gospel as it is proclaimed to us week-afterweek during this liturgical year.

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ScriptureReadings and a listing of Feast days and saints

Monday

Tuesday

5

Thursday

9

10

11

Weekday Hebrews 2:14-18 Mark 1:29-39

Weekday Hebrews 3:7-14 Mark 1:40-45

Weekday Hebrews 4:1-5, 11 Mark 2:1-12

Weekday Hebrews 4:12-16 Mark 2:13-17

16

17

18

19

20

21

27

13

7

Saturday

3

12

6

Friday

2 January

Feast of the Weekday baptism of the Lord Hebrews 2:5-12 Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 Mark 1:21-28 Matthew 3:13-17

4

Wednesday

Christmas Weekday Solemnity of the Epiphany of the 1 John 5:14-21 Lord John 2:1-11 Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12

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16

Weekday Hebrews 5:1-10 Mark 2:18-22

Memorial of Saint Anthony, abbot Hebrews 6:10-20 Mark 2:23-28

Weekday Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17 Mark 3:1-6

Weekday Weekday Hebrews 7:25—8:6 Hebrews 8:6-13 Mark 3:7-12 Mark 3:13-19

Memorial of Saint Agnes, virgin and martyr Hebrews 9:2-3, 11-14 Mark 3:20-21

23

24

25

26

28

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children Hebrews 9:15, 24-28 Mark 3:22-30

30

Weekday Hebrews 11:32-40 Mark 5:1-20

Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor of the church Hebrews 10:1-10 Mark 3:31-35

31

Memorial of Saint John Bosco, priest Hebrews 12:1-4 Mark 5:21-43

Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul the apostle Acts 22:3-16 Mark 16:15-18

Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, bishops 2 Timothy 1:1-8 or Titus 1:1-5 Mark 4:21-25

Weekday Hebrews 10:32-39 Mark 4:26-34

Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor of the church Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 Mark 4:35-41

1 February

2

3

4

Weekday Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15 Mark 6:1-6

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Malachi 3:1-4 Hebrews 2:14-18 Luke 2:22-40

Weekday Hebrews 13:1-8 Mark 6:14-29

8

Sunday

15

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 49:3, 5-6 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 John 1:29-34

22

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 8:23—9:3 1 Corinthians 1:1013, 17 Matthew 4:12-23

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Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13 1 Corinthians 1:2631 Matthew 5:1-12a

5

January

Holy Father’s prayer intentions

htdiocese.org

Evangelization

Christians at the service of the challenges of humanity. That all Christians may be faithful to the Lord’s teaching by striving with prayer and fraternal charity to restore ecclesial communion and by collaborating to meet the challenges facing humanity.

See www.apostleshipofprayer.org

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Entertainment

Seeing Clairely

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Claire Joller

Seasons come and seasons go, bringing with them changes deeper than the flowers of spring and the golden trees of autumn. We humans experience our own seasons, and some of them sneak up on us through circumstances that gradually aim us into unexpected but ordained directions.

In May 1999, I left my last fulltime job. I spent that summer idly writing essays on a variety of subjects, just because I wanted to.

Later, after months of retirement, I realized I was bored and wanted at least something part-time to do with my days.

So one night the following January, I prayed that God would send me just the right thing. I told my husband that night that I felt a confirmation in my core that something perfect was going to present itself.

The very next morning Louis Aguirre, then editor of the Bayou Catholic, called to ask me about writing a column for the publication, with wide latitude as to subject matter. I had 13 essays already written, so I had a coincidental head start on weekly columns that ran from January 13, 2000, in a newspaper format, until February 2012 when the monthly magazine format began.

It has been my joy to write Seeing Clairely for the past 17 years, especially since I considered the opportunity a God-sent gift.

A gift, too, were the affirmations from readers that have filled my scrapbook with notes and letters commenting on particular columns, or particular excerpts, that had struck a chord with them in some way. I tried to acknowledge them all, but I want to publicly thank you again for

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

To everything a season providing ever-renewed impetus to do my best work through the years.

Some of your kind comments live with me still.

The column also indirectly brought other joys. When I contacted my wonderful college English teacher, Dr. Max Quertermous, to thank him for teaching me writing skills I was using again, I found out his vision was severely impaired. We embarked upon weekly sessions for me to read to him. His choice of material was rich in subject matter, and I learned even more from that brilliant man during the three years I read for him.

The part-time nature of producing Seeing Clairely allowed me to pursue other writing projects, as well. The book Louisiana in Words published two of my slice-of-life pieces. Since 2007, I worked with former schoolmate Dr. Christopher Cenac Sr., to write three hardcover coffee-table size books: the docunovel Eyes of an Eagle published in 2011, Livestock Brands and Marks published in 2014, and Hard Scrabble to Hallelujah currently in publication (about existing and bygone plantations and other landmarks along Terrebonne’s bayous). Again, I was doing the writing I love to do, and I learned so very much about our local area.

My two decades of Bayou Catholic columns, and all these

writing projects, have provided me immense satisfaction, and a sense of purpose and service.

You have not seen my usual column for three months or so because I’ve been recuperating from surgery and the aftermath of a Sept. 20 accident that shattered my shoulder. I’m writing this on Dec. 2, 2016, and physical therapy has helped to rehabilitate my left arm considerably so far. But it will take time to regain full use.

A further unexpected gift resulted, even from this situation— the gift of time. During my long days after surgery when all I could do was think and pray, and even since I have been able to return to limited activity, I had quite a bit of time to review my life and my goals.

Lawrence Chatagnier, the current editor of Bayou Catholic, called me this morning. When he gave me the luxury of deciding for myself how to proceed with my column, I decided that it’s time to discontinue Seeing Clairely.

After a total of 470 columns, it is becoming more and more difficult for me to come up with fresh topics to comment upon, or to write about experiences—and insights derived from them—that I haven’t explored before.

There is, indeed, a season for everything . . . and I am so very thankful for having had this long season to write for you.

Book Reviews

Reading with Raymond Raymond Saadi

Avid Reader Fidelity

By Jan Fedarcyk Simon & Schuster $25

Killing the Rising Sun

The author’s background as former assistant director in charge of the Agency’s New York office, lends authenticity to the inner works of the agency. In the novel, her heroine, Kay Malloy, goes from a gung ho cop in Baltimore to a rookie FBI recruit charged with investigating the loss of Russian double agents.

By Robert Gottleib Farrar, Straus and Giroux $28 There are many fascinating insights into the publishing world in this excellent memoir by the former editor of Simon and Shuster and Knopf, two giant publishing houses in New York. Gottleib reveals the fierce battles of publishers to sign public personalities like Salman Rushdie and Lauren Bacall to their catalog. Readers will appreciate his love of books and be captivated by portraits of his family and famous friends.

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By Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard Henry Holt & Co. $30 O’Reilly’s gift for words and Dugard’s meticulous research combine to paint a picture of the horrors of war, particularly the infamous treatment of American servicemen by the Japanese. Among the many interesting revelations was that the iconic photo of General Douglas McArthur walking in knee-deep water to return to the Philippines would never have been made if a dock he requested had been built. On the use of the atomic bombs, both generals Eisenhower and McArthur argued forcibly against, arguing that the war was almost over, but evidence showed that the Japs were not even close to surrendering and newly installed president Harry Truman gave the go ahead. This is a powerful look at war and hopefully, the writers will release a less horrific version for youngsters.

Kill or Be Killed

By James Patterson Little, Brown $25 Patterson, apparently not satisfied enough with delivering one good thriller, he’s invented a new genre’ he calls “BookShots,” four fast paced and intriguing thrillers in one volume. Included here are the “Women’s Murder Club,” Lindsay Boxer’s courtroom shocker and “Heist” in which two rival gangs eistd attempt a diamond theft at the same time.

Deer Island in autumn

By Robert J. Blackwell Jr. Page Publishing $49.95 Local author, Blackwell, has written an absorbing novel of the fates and fortunes of the fictional Addison clan from 1840 to 1921 played out against a background of the fauna and flora of Terrebonne’s Deer Island. The book, two volumes in one, features fascinating facts about the history of the place and its’ early settlers.

www.bayoucatholic.com

TEC retreat:

Unlike any other experience Story by Janet Marcel Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) is a three-day retreat based on the Paschal Mystery of Christ which is a reflection of his life, death and resurrection. This retreat is an excellent opportunity for youth in 10th-12th grades to further develop their relationship with Christ.

Small group discussions, adult and youth presentations, prayer and community building exercises are utilized during the TEC retreat and the sacraments of reconciliation and Eucharist are celebrated.

“This event is unlike any other experience we offer to the young people because it is a personal invitation for a one-on-one encounter with Christ, no matter where a young person might be coming from,” says Mike DiSalvo, diocesan director of the Office of Youth Ministry.

“The goals of the TEC retreat are to opens hearts and make participants realize they are not alone, regardless of where they are in their journey of faith, that we have a God that loves them, that meets them where they are and that is never going to stop chasing them.”

Mary Laura Zeringue, parishioner of St. Genevieve Church, says, “My greatest experience at TEC was during adoration. Earlier, we had been given a large nail, representing our sins. After the best confession of my life, I stood before the Blessed Sacrament. I truly felt Christ’s presence. Holding out my nail – my sins – I dropped them at the feet of Christ.”

The idea is for teens to understand what love is and in our Christian faith it means the unconditional love that God has for us to send his only son to die for us, explains DiSalvo. “If their hearts are open then they are open to a lot more; they are open to seeing Jesus more in themselves and in one another and to living like they know Jesus loves them.”

They leave on Sunday, which is “Go Day” says DiSalvo, to go and make disciples. “We try to instill Christ’s love so that they understand that Christ lives inside of them and the way they should view themselves and the world is through Christ’s eyes, and that knowledge changes their actions. For a lot of them, it’s a conversion experience.”

The Teens Encounter Christ 78 retreat will take place Feb. 1719 at the Lumen Christi Retreat Center in Schriever. For more information, call the Office of Youth Ministry at (985) 850-3151.

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Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Seminarian Education Burses

What is a seminarian burse fund?

A seminarian burse fund is an invested sum of money where the interest is used in perpetuity to help fund the education of men to the priesthood in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.

How does someone establish a seminarian burse fund?

Very simply, a burse may be established and named for anyone you choose, be it family, friend, bishop, priest, deacon, religious, etc.

When is a seminarian burse complete?

A seminarian burse fund is complete once it reaches $15,000.

If you choose to continue to contribute, a new burse will be created for you.

Who do I contact to contribute to or establish a burse fund?

To contribute or establish a burse, send funds to Pastoral Center, Attn: Seminarian Burse, P. O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395 or call Jeremy Becker, Director of Stewardship and Development, at 985-850-3155 for more information.

Completed Burses of $15,000 each

Note: those wtih a number stipulates the number of completed burses* - Anonymous - Mr. & Mrs. C. Thomas Bienvenu - Harry Booker - Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux (3)* - Mr. Eledier Broussard - Rev. Adrian J. Caillouet - Rev. James Louis Caillouet - Bishop L. Abel Caillouet - Judge/Mrs L. P. Caillouet - Msgr. Lucien J. Caillouet - Abdon J. & Ada B. Callais - Harold & Gloria Callais Family - Paul A. Callais - Peter W. Callais - Vincent & Fannie Cannata - Minor Sr. & Lou Ella Cheramie - Maude & Edith Daspit - Mr. & Mrs. Caliste Duplantis family (3)* - Clay Sr. & Evelida Duplantis - C. Remie Duplantis - Marie Elise Duplantis - Warren J. Harang, Jr.

- Msgr. Raphael C. Labit - Msgr. Francis J. Legendre - Rev. Charles Menard - Dr. & Mrs. M.V. Marmande & Fly - Donald Peltier, Sr. (3)* - Harvey Peltier (30)* - Richard Peltier - The Peltier Foundation (5) - Orleans & Louella Pitre - Msgr. Joseph Wester - Robert R. Wright, Jr. - Rev. Kermit Trahan - St. Bernadette Men’s Club - Diocesan K of C - Leighton Delahaye - Mrs. Shirley Conrad - Bishop Shelton Fabre - Elizabeth Hebert - Callais Family Fund - Rev. Joseph Tu Tran - Endowment Fund - $119,136.90

November 2016 Burse Contributions Rev. Guy Zeringue .......................................... $1,000.00 Msgr. William Koninkx ..................................... $200.00 Mr. & Mrs. George C. Fakier ............................. $200.00 Rev. Peter Nies .................................................. $100.00 21

Open Burses with Balance as of 11/30/16

Sidney J. & Lydie C. Duplantis ........... $13,000.00 Donald Peltier, Sr. #4 ............................ $13,000.00 Joseph Strada Memorial ...................... $12,642.63 Msgr. Raphael C. Labit #2 .................. $11,080.00 Harvey Peltier #31 .............................. $10,486.91 Joseph Waitz, Sr. ................................. $10,100.00 Clay Sr. & Evelida Duplantis #2 .......... $10,000.00 C. Remie Duplantis #2 ........................ $10,000.00 Marie Elise Duplantis #2 ..................... $10,000.00 Maude & Edith Daspit #2 .................... $10,000.00 Msgr. George A. Landry ...................... $10,000.00 Mr. & Mrs. George C. Fakier ................. $9,200.00 Elie & Dot Klingman .............................. $8,960.00 Rev. Victor Toth ..................................... $7,000.00 Brides of the Most Blessed Trinity ......... $6,598.00 Msgr. William Koninkx ........................... $6,200.00 Rev. Peter Nies ..................................... $6,000.00 Rev. Guy Zeringue ................................ $5,400.00 Msgr. Francis Amedee ........................... $5,150.00 Mr. & Mrs. Love W. Pellegrin ................. $5,000.00 Anonymous #2 ...................................... $5,000.00 Mr. & Mrs. Caliste Duplantis Fmly.#4..... $5,000.00 Rev. William M. Fleming ........................ $5,000.00 Mrs. Ayres A. Champagne ..................... $5,000.00 Society of St. Joseph .............................. $5,000.00 Catholic Daughters ................................ $4,905.00 Rev. Kasimir Chmielewski ..................... $4,839.00 Rev. Gerard Hayes ................................ $4,786.00

Joseph “Jay” Fertitta .............................. $4,450.00 Rev. Henry Naquin ................................. $4,331.00 Harry Booker #2 .................................... $4,138.00 Kelly Curole Frazier ............................... $3,610.96 Msgr. James Songy ............................... $3,575.00 J. R. Occhipinti ...................................... $3,400.00 Anawin Community ............................... $3,400.00 Mr. & Mrs. Galip Jacobs ........................ $3,060.00 St. Jude ................................................. $3,000.00 Diocesan K of C #2 ............................... $2,894.62 Rev. Peter H. Brewerton ........................ $2,600.00 Warren J. Harang, Jr. #2 ......................... $2,200.00 Willie & Emelda St. Pierre ...................... $2,000.00 Rev. H. C. Paul Daigle ........................... $1,900.00 James J. Buquet, Jr. ............................... $1,650.00 Alfrances P. Martin ................................. $1,650.00 Preston & Gladys Webre ........................ $1,650.00 Msgr. Francis J. Legendre #2 ................ $1,645.00 Rev. Robert J. Sevigny .......................... $1,600.00 Rev. John Gallen .................................... $1,600.00 Rev. Hubert C. Broussard ...................... $1,550.00 Msgr. Emile J. Fossier ........................... $1,545.00 Dr. William Barlette, Sr........................... $1,525.00 Msgr. Stanislaus Manikowski ................ $1,525.00 Mr. & Mrs. John Marmande .................... $1,500.00 Deacon Robert Dusse’ ........................... $1,450.00 Msgr. John L. Newfield .......................... $1,200.00 Jacob Marcello ....................................... $1,200.00

Deacon Connely Duplantis ..................... $1,175.00 Rev. Anthony Rousso ............................. $1,150.00 Ronnie Haydel ....................................... $1,035.00 Rev. Clemens Schneider ....................... $1,000.00 Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux #4 ........... $1,000.00 Msgr. John G. Keller .............................. $1,000.00 Judge Louis & Shirley R. Watkins .............. $950.00 Deacon Willie Orgeron ............................. $800.00 Ruby Pierce .............................................. $800.00 Deacon Roland Dufrene ........................... $750.00 Juliette & Eugene Wallace ......................... $700.00 Deacon Edward J. Blanchard ................... $660.00 Edna W. DiSalvo ....................................... $600.00 Deacon Raymond LeBouef ...................... $550.00 Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Cannata .................... $500.00 Bernice Harang ......................................... $400.00 Anne Veron Aguirre ................................... $380.00 Dean Joseph Chiasson ............................. $350.00 Deacon Harold Kurtz ................................ $300.00 Richard Peltier #2 ..................................... $300.00 Claude Bergeron ...................................... $250.00 Rev. Jospeh Tu Tran #2 ............................. $197.50 Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Naquin .......................... $150.00 Deacon Pedro Pujals ................................ $100.00 Deacon Eldon Frazier .............................. $ 50.00 Deacon Nick Messina .............................. $ 50.00 Rev. Warren Chassaniol ........................... $ 50.00

Overall Seminarian Burse Totals: $1,635,701.52 www.bayoucatholic.com

Heavenly Recipes Cathy Klingman

Cathy cooks a

QUICK FIX MEAL

Story and Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

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As the diocesan director of the Office of Family Ministries for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Cathy Klingman is very busy these days. Her office is coordinating the March for Life to Washington, D.C., later this month. As a wife and mother of three, she finds herself spread thin between work and family life. “Trying to keep up with three different school schedules with three kids can be a chore at times.

There are many days where I have to figure out what we should have for supper. There is not a lot of time to prepare for it. One of my go-to-quick fix meals is the Tex Mex casserole.

Although it is quick and simple, my family enjoys it. Over the years I have tried several variations of this meal. We try to eat together as a family but it doesn’t always work out with our schedules.”

Cathy says when they do eat together as a family it is a time that is cherished.

“It is a special moment when we can gather together and share our day’s or week’s events and plan ahead for what’s coming. As a Catholic family this is what the domestic church is all about, gathering with the family just as we gather at Mass with our church family.”

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

Chicken

Tex-Mex Casserole INGREDIENTS: 2 Cans (10 1/2 oz.) Cream of Chicken Soup 2 Large cans (9.75 oz.) Premium Chunk Chicken Breast (drained) 1/2-3/4 of 16 oz. container of Sour Cream (reserve some for topping) Seasoning: (or you can use some seasoning from a Taco Seasoning packet) Chili Powder Cumin Onion Powder Garlic Powder Shredded Cheddar Cheese (8 oz. bag) Corn tortilla shells (or flour tortilla shells) Salsa

DIRECTIONS: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease/Spray bottom of a 12X8 baking dish. In a large bowl, mix the drained chicken, cream of chicken soup, sour cream and seasoning (to taste). Heat the tortilla shells slightly in skillet. Place one layer of tortillas on bottom of baking dish, then add a layer of chicken mixture. Continue layering mix and tortillas.

Cover top with shredded cheddar cheese. Bake in oven for 15 minutes until dish is melted and bubbling slightly.

Allow dish to cool. Cut into servings and serve. (This dish can be dressed with sour cream, salsa, jalapenos, lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, avocado, etc. You can also substitute cooked ground beef instead of canned chicken).

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Guest Columnist Father Joey Pilola

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If each of us – as a human being – is an immortal soul which is manifested by our body, through our mind and in union with God in our spirit, then doesn’t it make sense our resolutions should encompass all that we are?

Our Body

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When Jan. 1 rolls around many of us look at our own bodies and notice what “rolls around.” At this time of the year I’m sure every gym, diet company, infomercial and marketer of the latest health “thing-a-ma-jiggy” is more than happy to sell us the “quickest” way we can improve ourselves.

However, no matter what you buy – you still have to find the internal motivation to use it. If you cannot find that motivation, whatever you bought is just gathering dust.

So what would be a good motivation for developing our bodies once again? There is an old Latin proverb, “Mens sana in corpore sano” which means “A sound mind in a sound body.”

Another motivation is each of our bodies is a “temple of the Holy Spirit.” I have found people

SINCE FAST st Intere Free cing Finan

positive thinking

nourish the

BODY

MIND

compassionate living

nourish the

SPIRIT

New resolve, new year, new life in 2017? must love themselves to take care of themselves, but rarely, do they care for themselves if they do not love themselves first. Jesus told us the First Commandment is to love God. The Second Commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves.

If the health of our body is the measure of our love for ourselves – do our neighbors even have a chance? Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati once noted, “What wealth it is to be in good health, as we are!

But we have the duty of putting our

RE BATH

Our Mind

Through the mind the person learns, thinks, evaluates, decides and chooses what to do. In a way, how people use their minds is a sign of where the course of their

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health at the service of those who do not have it. To act otherwise would be to betray that gift of God.” No gift of God, including our health, is just meant for ourselves. Rather, it is a gift intended for the good of all in the family of God.

Tub to Shower Conversions Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

STEVE DECELL

Aging-In-Place Consultant

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lives will go. From a spiritual perspective, St. Augustine says, “Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore, seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand.” We, as Catholics, see a relationship between our faith and reason. From what St. Augustine is saying, our development of mind is not for the purpose of growing in faith, but rather, it is evidence that our faith is growing. Our faith connects us with the great mind of God. Our individual minds will determine how that faith is applied to our individual lives in the midst of our families and our greater society.

Consider how your mind can grow in the coming year. Is the Lord calling you by your special interest in a certain topic or issue? I suggest not only learning more about it, but praying more about it. Perhaps, God put that subject on your mind and heart because you are supposed to do something about it. Keep your eyes open. Perhaps, an opportunity to grow may present itself in a seminar, a workshop or retreat

you may attend. Also, never forget the opportunity to do research on your own – church documents, the public library, as well as credible sources on the Internet may offer you deeper insight to what God put on your heart.

Our Spirit

In the coming year, consider taking on a resolution to grow in spirit. God is Spirit and so growing spiritually implies growing in our capacity to connect with God. To do this concretely, consider setting up specific times to pray, for example, morning, noon, and/or night before bed. Or, pray all three for good measure to make God part of your daily life. Many people try to pray a five decade rosary every day.

By praying the joyful, luminous, sorrowful and glorious mysteries on a regular basis you are meditating regularly on the life of Our Lord and Our Lady as well as on the basis of our faith and its ultimate union with God himself. Some of us try to pray all 20 decades every day. It is possible. Resolving to go to confession on a regular basis by

yourself or as a family will help you be honest with yourself, be humble before your neighbor, and stay in God’s love and mercy. If you have this regular habit you will have no fear that death will catch you offguard. You will always be ready to meet God. Being in God’s presence by regular eucharistic adoration will help you walk with God in your daily life. Praying before the Blessed Sacrament is intended for you – the believer. Archbishop Fulton Sheen once compared it to the radiation therapy he used to take for his cancer in his later years. He said, “You don’t have to see it to believe it! You don’t even have to know how it works! Just be there and Jesus will burn out the cancer of sin from your life!”

Consider all your New Year’s resolutions in a greater light. You are much more than your body. If you also grow in your mind and your spirit, your whole life will be better as well as the lives of all those that you love.

(Father Joey Pilola is the pastor of Maria Immacolata Church parish in Houma.)

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Special

Bayou-Guatemalan bridges and connections after a year of mercy

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By MARIELLA OBIOLS AND DEANN PONCIANO Taking in a foreigner or visiting the poor are among the mercy actions that Pope Francis encouraged us to do during the year of mercy.

Catholic Student Exchange (CSE) is a program that allows families to host a foreign student between the ages of 11 and 17 for eight weeks (October-December).

Each exchange student attends school, pays their own expenses, transportation and medical insurance.

Hosting gave families from Louisiana, and all of our students, the opportunity to learn Spanish and value human relationships in their own homes and communities. Instead of building barriers, they built bridges among cultures. Traveling and hosting provide priceless experiences that cannot be learned in books.

There comes a time when we realize, that no matter how much technology we have and use, human relationships are the most important thing. Communication is essential in getting to know each one individually.

CSE brings our faith and similar cultural values together through our families, thus creating everlasting friendships.

The program coordinators thank Bishop Shelton J. Fabre, the priests, principals, teachers and families for all of their help, support, prayers and work. They are the ones who make all of these success and growth stories possible. The risks of moving forward in the direction of spiritual growth were outweighed by all the blessings received by these kinds of travels and experiences.

There have been many acts of kindness since 2000. Our exchange families have made lasting bonds and friendships.

Leaving the Bayou area was hard Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

Deann Ponciano and Mariella Obiols

for families who hosted exchange students from Guatemala and even sadder were the departing students who went back home. They now have an extended family for life.

The schools and families from this area that participated were St. Genevieve Elementary School in Thibodaux, Helen Husband (Ana Laura Leal); E.D. White Catholic High School in Thibodaux, Olivia Champagne (Ana Toc) and Zy Gros (Pedro Galindo, brief visit); Holy Rosary Catholic School in Larose, Riley Barrois (Diego Betancourt); St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School in Houma, Antoinette Savoie (Ani Moran); and Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma, Anna Pennison (Ithaisa Najera).

Many people from the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux also had a chance to be merciful by taking part in the traveling mission trips to Guatemala in 2016, including the LSU/TULANE Global Healing Clinics and the Encontrandome con Cristo Mission. Spanish Language Schools and traveling in Guatemala to help orphanages and schools were also very popular trips.

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Please consider joining any of the three trips planned for 2017. n February 22-28: helps orphans and HIV children in Sumpango; n May 29-June 7: LSU/TULANE Medical Clinics in Guatemalan Highlands (no medical background is necessary); n Last week in June: Encontrandome con Cristo Mission in Cahabon – travel with Father Robert-Joel Cruz, diocesan director of the Missionary Childhood Association.

Cost for complete trips range from $1,300 to $1,900 which includes all travel, transportation, accommodations and meals. If you are interested in traveling on any of these trips, contact infocse@ catholicstudentexchange.org.

Let us continue extending our family’s faith throughout our communities. You can host a student in 2017 or travel on a mission! The opportunities are here, and must be taken.

(Deann Ponciano, the late Father Ramon Vega and Diane Landry founded the program in 1999. Mariela Obiols is the Latin Coordinator.)

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Saint Charles Borromeo

Bayou Patrons

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Continuing our Bayou Patrons series, this month’s featured saint is Charles Borromeo, whose name is associated with reform. His feast day is November 4.

Charles Borromeo was born in 1538 near Milan. His father was the Count of Arona and his mother a member of the House of Medici.

Although he belonged to Milanese nobility and was related to the powerful Medici family, he desired to devote himself to the church. When his uncle, Cardinal de Medici, was elected pope in 1559 as Pius IV, he made Charles cardinaldeacon and administrator of the Archdiocese of Milan while he was still a layman and a young student.

Because of his intellectual qualities he was entrusted with several important offices connected with the Vatican and later appointed secretary of state with responsibility for the Papal States. The untimely death of his elder brother brought Charles to a definite decision to be ordained a priest, despite relatives’ insistence that he marry to preserve the family name. He was ordained a priest at the age of 25 and soon after was consecrated bishop of Milan.

Because of his extensive work at the Council of Trent, he had a hand in the reform of the whole church. It was Charles who encouraged the pope to renew the Council in 1562 after it had been suspended for 10 years.

Eventually, Charles was allowed to devote his time to the Archdiocese of Milan, where the religious and moral picture was far from bright. The reform needed in every phase of Catholic life among both clergy and laity was initiated at a provincial council of all the bishops under him. Charles took the initiative in giving a good example. He allotted most of his income to charity, forbade himself all luxury and imposed severe penances upon himself. He sacrificed wealth, high honors, esteem and influence to become poor. During the plague and famine of 1576, he tried to feed 60,000 to 70,000 people daily. Whereas the civil authorities fled at the height of the plague, he stayed in the city ministering to the sick and dying.

Eventually, the Archbishop’s life of work

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

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Patron saint of bishops, catechists, seminarians and spiritual leaders Story by Janet Marcel Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

St. Charles Borromeo, Pointe-aux-Chenes

St. Charles Borromeo, St. Charles Community

and toil began to take its toll. In 1584, he became ill and after returning to Milan his conditioned worsened and he died Nov. 3, 1584, at the age of 46.

He was canonized by Pope Paul V on Nov. 1, 1610 (franciscanmedia.org).

Father Michael Manase, O.C.D., pastor of St. Charles Borromeo parish in the St. Charles Community since June 2008, says that St. Charles Borromeo has a special relevance not only for him, but for the church parish, as well. He notes that there are numerous places, streets and even a civil parish in Louisiana named after St. Charles, which shows the special importance of this saint in the area.

“After I became the pastor of this church parish, I tried to learn more about the life and spirituality of St. Charles as a means, through his intercession, to help my parishioners to be more faithful to their commitment to Christ and the Gospel, as disciples of Jesus. As the pastor of this church,” says Father Manase, “St. Charles Borromeo’s life reminds me that I should always be faithful to my call as a priest and religious. If I wish to reinvigorate the St.

Charles Community, I must model the same reform of St. Charles in my life, especially as I interact with our people in their own lives.”

According to Father Manase, it was the vision of Pere Charles Menard from Thibodaux to construct a mission chapel about six miles down Bayou Lafourche. The chapel was named St. Charles from 31 which the community proudly takes its name. Until the pastorate of Father John G. Keller in 1976, the church parish had simply been known as St. Charles.

One of the first questions Father Keller sought to answer upon his arrival was, “Which ‘Saint Charles’ was the church named after?” The answer came from two statues of St. Charles Borromeo, one located in the church and the other in the church hall. His investigation revealed the identity of the statues, and since then, the church parish has been officially known as St. Charles Borromeo.

In honor of St. Charles Borromeo as the patron saint of seminarians, says Father Manase, the congregation of St. Charles Borromeo in the St. Charles Community is proud to be the first church parish in the diocese to have organized a

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St. Charles Borromeo, Pointe-aux-Chenes

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functioning religious support group, which provides financial assistance to those from the parish pursuing religious vocations.

Father Thomas Kuriakose, I.M.S., pastor of St. Charles Borromeo parish in Pointe-aux-Chenes since June 2010, says there is no explanation in the parish archives as to why the parish was named for St. Charles Borromeo, however there is a statue of this saint in the church that was donated by the Archdiocese of New Orleans, so that might have been the reason.

The first chapel in Pointe-aux-Chenes was built in 1921. This mission chapel was damaged by a hurricane in 1926 and the men of Pointe-aux-Chenes who originally built it, repaired it and paid off the debt. In the summer of 1940, construction began on a new church to replace that chapel. The church was dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo and blessed as a mission church by Archbishop Joseph F. Rummel of New Orleans.

“I love catechists and St. Charles Borromeo was known for teaching the faith by both word and example through his actions of helping those in need.

I have a special devotion to him. I pray to St. Charles then I pray the rosary and the prayers of the hour,” says Father Kuriakose.

St. Charles Borromeo is the patron of bishops, catechists, Lombardy, Italy, Monterey, California, cardinals, seminarians, spiritual leaders and Sao Carlos in Brazil. He is often depicted in art wearing his robes, barefoot, carrying the cross with a rope around his neck and his arm raised in blessing.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

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Together in the Work of the Lord Annual Bishop’s Appeal underway Story by Janet Marcel “Together in the Work of the Lord,” the theme for the 2017 Annual Bishop’s Appeal, is based on the Scripture passage “For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building (1 Corinthians 3:9).

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre chose this theme in 2014 for his first appeal as fourth bishop of HoumaThibodaux. He explained then that the emphasis should be on how we as a diocese, “will need to work together to make all that we do a success.” According to Jeremy Becker, diocesan director of the Office of Stewardship and Development, research has shown that the more consistent an appeal of this type is, the more successful it is, which is one of the reasons the theme has remained the same since that time.

Introduction Weekend for the 2017 Annual Bishop’s Appeal is January 28-29. The following weekend, parishioners will receive a letter from Bishop Fabre along with a brochure explaining the Appeal. “‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a HOPE’” (Jeremiah 29:11). This verse is one of the centerpieces for the theme of the 40th Anniversary of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux – HOPE, which is in 2017.

“Hope gives us all something to look forward to regardless of what we are facing,” says Bishop Fabre.

“When facing any type of challenge in life, we can all look to Christ who is within us all. The hope that is in you, with the assistance of Jesus, gives you the power to create your future and to affect the lives of others in a truly positive manner. One of the beauties of the Annual Bishop’s Appeal is that it offers everyone in the diocese the opportunity to provide hope to those who need it. As we come “Together in the Work of the Lord” during our year of hope, I thank you for your support and prayers, and I invite you to please take a moment to learn more about the importance of the Annual Bishop’s Appeal.”

The funds received from the 2017 Annual Bishop’s Appeal will once again be used primarily in the five areas of retired priests, youth ministry, family ministries, religious education, and parish sharing.

The diocesan goal is $900,000. n The Priests Retirement Fund is currently assisting a total of 10 priests in active retirement. n The Office of Youth Ministry impacts over 5,000 teens in the diocese through events such as Youth Rally and Junior High Faith Experience, and other numerous retreats and programs n The Office of Family Ministries annually makes a difference in the lives of 2,000 people through programs such as Marriage Prep, the marriage anniversary celebration, Relay for Life, and grief counseling, to name a few. n The Office of Religious Education serves the teaching mission of the church through

PARTNERS IN

2017 1977 - 2017

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religious education programs geared toward adults, evangelization and small Christian communities in parishes and schools of the diocese. n Parish Sharing, which began in 2015, allows parishes to receive a percentage of funds paid over their goal back to the parish as long as the diocese reaches its goal in funds paid. These funds will be unrestricted and the parish leadership will be able to decide how best to use the funds.

The Crozier Society, which is being introduced for the 2017 Annual Bishop’s Appeal, will comprise individuals who contribute at a level of $10,000 or higher. Not only will donors that give at this level have the utmost appreciation from the diocese, but they will have the opportunity to gather with Bishop Fabre for a special meeting.

Those who wish to contribute to the 2017 ABA can choose to make a one-time gift or use the pledge system in which they can make eight monthly contributions. Donations can also be made on-line by visiting www.htstewardship.org. A video which includes the bishop’s message and how the funds will be used is available to view on the diocesan website.

As of the end of December, the 2016 Annual Bishop’s Appeal has received $955,509 in commitments, with 4,020 gifts, on a $900,000 goal.

For more information about the Annual Bishop’s Appeal, contact Becker in the Office of Stewardship and Development at (985) 850-3155. www.bayoucatholic.com

Thoughts for Millennials Ryan Abboud

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y h t r o w n u The

Most of us are very familiar with the concept of churches. Many of us grew up in them. We were there every Sunday morning with our parents and siblings beside us, and a lot of us can still be found there on Sundays with our families, loved ones, and friends. There is no denying that churches play such a dynamic role in both our Catholic faith as well as the community we share with our Catholic brothers and sisters.

However, I’m sure that the majority of us have felt “unworthy” to enter such a holy place. Our humanity accentuates how broken we are and how incredible God is. This is what causes us to see ourselves as “unfit” to be in his presence. Unfortunately, this can lead to a vicious cycle of never going to church because we feel to unholy to enter, and we continue to settle into our sin since we refuse to go. We see many adults and youth leaving the church for this reason today. We think that God will not love us if we’re not squeaky clean and free of sin.

Brothers and sisters, I’m here to tell you that God still does love us despite our sins and vices. He calls us just as we are. He doesn’t want us to waste another second waiting for us to “freshen up.” He wants us like we are now, at this very moment. Think about it: we don’t clean ourselves before we get in the shower.

We don’t sweep and mop the house before the maid comes. That’s why showers and maids exist; it’s their job. Just like showers and maids, God has a purpose.

He wants to save us. That’s why God is the savior.

He came to save. Allow him to do that. The God of the

effect

universe wants you right now. All you have to do is say “yes.” Go to confession. Go to Mass and sit amongst the sinners. We’re all beggars just looking for our fill. It’s so important to remember that church is not a trophy case for saints. It’s a hospital for sinners. We don’t go to Mass because we’re perfect. We go to Mass because we know that God is.

All in all, if you’re waiting for yourself to get your act together and become “worthy” of God’s love, that time will never come. We were created human and imperfect, and that’s okay. We’re not perfect, but we are forgiven.

(Ryan Abboud is a 2015 graduate of Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma and a sophomore at LSU in Baton Rouge.)

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Diocesan Events

www.bayoucatholic.com

January

n Adult Faith Formation: Church History, Thursdays, Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall in Schriever, 6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Father Danny Poche. n Pilgrimage Walk, Saturday, Jan. 7, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma, beginning at 7:30 a.m. with rosary and confession; Mass at 8:30 a.m.; walk begins at 9:15 a.m. n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, Jan. 10, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311 in Schriever, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Speaker, Father Simon Peter Engurait. n GO! Gulf Coast Faith Formation Conference, for those involved in catechesis and evangelization in the Catholic Church, Jan. 12-14, Pontchartrain Center, Kenner.

February

n Adult Faith Formation: Ecclesiology, Wednesdays, Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall in Schriever, 6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Father Robert Rogers. n Adult Faith Formation: Church History, Thursdays, Feb. 2, 9, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall in Schriever, 6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Father Danny Poche. n Pilgrimage Walk, Saturday, Feb. 4, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma, beginning at 7:30 a.m. with rosary and confession; Mass at 8:30 a.m.; walk begins at 9:15 a.m. n Holy Hour of Adoration for Men, Sunday, Feb. 5, 7-8 p.m., Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma. n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, Feb. 7, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311 in Schriever, 10:45 a.m.-

March

n Celebration of the Feast of St. Katharine Drexel (who visited St. Joseph Church parish in 1918 & 1923), March 3 at 6:30 p.m., St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux. n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, March 7, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311 in Schriever, 10:45 a.m.12:45 p.m. Speaker, Deacon Lloyd Duplantis.

n Junior High Faith Experience, Saturday, Jan. 14, E.D. White Catholic High School, Thibodaux. Doors open at 9 a.m. n Adult Faith Formation: Ecclesiology, Wednesdays, Jan. 18, 25, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall in Schriever, 6-8:15 p.m.

Speaker, Father Robert Rogers. n Youth Pilgrimage to the March For Life in Washington, D.C., Jan. 24-28 for youth in grades 10-12. Call (985) 850-3129 for more information or visit www.htdiocese.org/M4L. n Inaugural Mass Celebrating “Our First 200 Years … A Future Full of Hope,” St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux, Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 6:30 p.m.

35 12:45 p.m. Speaker, TBA. n In commemoration of the first 387 conferrals of the sacrament of confirmation in St. Joseph church parish in Thibodaux on Feb. 14, 15 and 16, 1821, by Most Rev. Louis Dubourg, bishop of New Orleans, St. Joseph Co-Cathedral parish will celebrate the sacrament of confirmation Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. n Free income tax preparation and e-filing is available every Tuesday (Feb. 7 – April 11) from 9 a.m.–3 p.m., on the second floor of the Terrebonne Parish Main Library, for individuals/ families making up to $55,000. n TEC 78 Retreat, Feb. 17-19 at Lumen Christi Retreat Center’s Souby Building in Schriever.

n Adult Faith Formation: Pastoral Theology and Administration, Wednesdays, March 15, 29, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall in Schriever, 6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Kathy Lirette. n Celebration of the Feast of St. Joseph, Sunday, March 19 at 9:30 a.m., St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux. Bishop Shelton J. Fabre, presider.

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#iGiveCatholic raises over $70,000 in diocese The Diocese of HoumaThibodaux recently participated in #iGiveCatholic, a 24-hour online crowdfunding effort organized by The Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

All Catholic schools, parishes, ministries and organizations affiliated with the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux were invited to participate as recipients of donations.

Jeremy Becker, diocesan director of the Office of Stewardship & Development, reports that the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux 36 raised $73,090 for 29 different parishes, schools, organizations and ministries.

“I am pleased with the results we had for our first year participating in #iGiveCatholic. For the diocese to raise that much money in one day is impressive. It was fun to watch some of the parishes and schools who really bought in to the process see their donations increase throughout the day,” says Becker.

“Planning efforts are already underway for next year as this continues to be a success not only here but in the other participating dioceses, as well.”

Throughout the giving day, Catholics are invited to go to the iGiveCatholic.org home page and click on a specific ministry listed there to make a donation with their credit card. #iGiveCatholic is held each year in conjunction with #GivingTuesday, which is celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday; #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-ofyear giving.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

Outreach Line In response to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is offering an Outreach Line (formerly known as the Child Protection Contact Line). The Outreach Line is an effort to continue the diocesan commitment to support healing for people who have been hurt or sexually abused recently or in the past by clergy, religious or other employees of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.

The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Outreach Line operates from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. A trained mental health professional responds to the line. Individuals are offered additional assistance if requested.

The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Outreach Line Telephone number is (985) 873-0026 or (985) 850-3172

Línea de Comunicación Diocesana

Con el fin de cumplir con las Políticas de Protección de Niños y Jóvenes de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Los Estados Unidos, la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux ofrece una Línea de Comunicación (antes Línea de Contacto para la Protección de los Niños). La Línea de Comunicación es parte del esfuerzo diocesano de comprometerse con el mejoramiento de aquéllos que han sido lastimados o abusados sexualmente recientemente o en el pasado por miembros del clero, religiosos u otros empleados de la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux.

El horario de la Línea de Comunicación de la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux es de 8:30 a.m. a 4:30 p.m., de lunes a viernes. El encargado de esta línea es un profesional capacitado en salud mental. Se ofrece asistencia adicional al ser solicitada.

Línea de Comunicación de la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux Número de teléfono (985) 873-0026 o (985) 850-3172

Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp Giaùo phaän Ñeå höôûng öùng Hieán chöông Baûo veä Treû em vaø Giôùi treû töø Hoäi ñoàng Giaùm muïc Hoa kyø, Giaùo phaän Houma-Thibodaux ñang chuaån bò ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp (luùc tröôùc laø ñöôøng daây lieân laïc baûo veä treû em). Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp laø moät söï coá gaéng cuûa giaùo phaän nhaèm cam keát haøn gaén naâng ñôõ nhöõng ai ñaõ bò toån thöông hoaëc bò laïm duïng tính duïc hoaëc gaàn ñaây hoaëc trong quaù khöù bôûi giaùo só, tu só hoaëc caùc coâng nhaân vieân cuûa Giaùo phaän Houma-Thibodaux. Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp Giaùo phaän hoaït ñoäng töø 8:30 saùng ñeán 4:30 chieàu, thöù hai ñeán thöù saùu. Moät nhaân vieân chuyeân nghieäp veà söùc khoûe taâm thaàn traû lôøi treân ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi. Nhöõng caù nhaân seõ ñöôïc trôï giuùp naâng ñôõ theâm neáu caàn.

Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp Giaùo phaän Soá ñieän thoaïi: (985) 873-0026; (985) 850-3172

Catholic Community Radio fundraiser Feb. 4

Vandy girls cross country team wins state title The Vandebilt Catholic High School girls cross country team won their first ever Class 3A state championship at the 2016 AllState Sugar Bowl/Louisiana High School Athletic Association state meet at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches. Members of the girls cross country team are: Anna Lynn Haydel, Madison Richoux, Eleana Callejas, Kate Cazayoux, Amelia Viator, Caroline Lindsay, Leanna Teuton. Coaches are: Jason Ray, David Malone, Melanie Prentice.

David Dawson, president of Catholic Community Radio, has announced that Chef John Besh will headline its second annual fundraiser brunch on Saturday, Feb. 4 at the Renaissance Hotel, 7000 Bluebonnet Blvd in Baton Rouge.

The “Jam and Jazz Chef’s Brunch” will feature celebrated, award-winning New Orleans Chef John Besh, preparing a south Louisiana brunch favorite. Chef Besh will be joined on stage by his longtime friend, Msgr. Christopher Nalty, pastor of the Good Shepherd Church parish in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

A pre-brunch social will start at 9 a.m., followed by a live preparation of the main course of the brunch at 10 a.m. Reservations may be purchased in advance for $75 per person or $700 for a table of 10 at 37 www.CCRadio.live. The fundraiser will benefit Catholic Community Radio which has two radio stations, WPYR, 1380 AM in Baton Rouge and WQNO, 690 AM in New Orleans.

For more information, contact David Dawson by email at davedaws1@gmail.com, or by phone at (225) 448-3754.

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E.D. White girls swim team takes home state championship The E.D. White Catholic High School girls swim team won their third straight Division III state title at the 2016 Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s championship state meet at the SPAR Aquatic center in Sulphur. Members of the girls swim team are: Emily Wolfe, Alex Smith, Molly Hansen, Paige Granier, Blaire Bogle, Alyssa Battaglia, Isabel Boudreaux, Madalyn Perk, Morgan Perk, Ali Poimboeuf, Erin Toups, Caroline Constant, Lindsey Lucas, Jane Glover, Noelle Toups, Claire Labat, Sarah Catherine Bernard.

Coach is Christina Lasserre.

38

E.D. White boys are cross country state champs The E.D. White Catholic High School boys cross country team won their second straight Class 3A state title at the 2016 AllState Sugar Bowl/ Louisiana High School Athletic Association state meet at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches. It is the team’s 16th cross country championship in the school’s history. Members of the boys cross country team are: Braeden Methvin, Samuel Avants, Justin Guillory, Jay Barrilleaux, Jacob Guillory, Zachary Robichaux, Race Bourgeois, Gerard Lotz, Cade Granier, Cameron Ray, Phillip Constant, Matthew Holland, Lucas Marcello. Coach is Thomas Schexnayder.

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Gulf Coast Faith Formation Conference scheduled Jan. 12-14 in Kenner

By Peter Finney Jr. Clarion Herald

The Gulf Coast Faith Formation Conference Jan. 12-14 at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner, Louisiana, will have a distinctly local and regional flavor for the more than 1,000 parish and school catechists, religion teachers, religious and clergy who attend, said Dr. Alice Hughes, executive director of the Office of Religious Education (ORE) for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Eight dioceses from across the Gulf South – New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Houma-Thibodaux, Lake Charles and Alexandria in Louisiana; Jackson and Biloxi in Mississippi; and Birmingham in Alabama – assumed the planning duties for the conference, which will explore the theme “Prayer: The Faith Prayed and Lived.”

“We’ve always wanted to have more of a local flavor of the Gulf Coast for the conference, and now we do,” Hughes said.

When the conference’s long-time planner was unable to continue this year, the planning dioceses searched for a new coordinator and found one in their backyard.

Aline Harbison, associate director for catechetical leadership for the archdiocesan ORE, volunteered for the task.

“Aline has done an incredible job,” Hughes said. “The whole conference looks different. People are going to be so impressed when they come. We’re excited because we have more people registered for this year’s conference compared to this time last year.”

The conference offers those involved in catechesis and evangelization the opportunity to deepen their own Catholic faith and then network with others ministering in those fields, Hughes said. There are three keynote speakers – Benedictine

Sister Lynn McKenzie, who will speak on the theme “pray”; Dr. Grant Pitre, “reflect”; and New Orleans Auxiliary Bishop Fernand Cheri, “witness.”

In addition to dozens of workshops in evangelization, technology, Catholic identity, Pope Francis and discipleship, adolescent/ youth catechesis, forms of prayer, spirituality, family catechesis and special needs, there will be an entire track devoted to liturgy.

“A liturgy track is something

people have been asking for, and it’s never come to fulfillment until now,” Hughes said. “We’ve certainly got some great national speakers and presenters, but we also have at a minimum two presenters from every diocese that is participating.

We’ve got that local flavor.”

The conference will start with a “leadership day” beginning Jan. 12 at 1 p.m. Dominican Father David Caron, vicar of evangelization for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, will speak about spiritual leadership and evangelization.

At 2:45 p.m., Dr. Daniella ZsupanJerome, professor of pastoral 39 theology at Notre Dame Seminary, will speak on “Connected Toward Communion”; at 4 p.m., Paul Sanfrancesco, director of technology for the Owen J. Roberts School District in Pottsdown, Pennsylvania, will discuss “Cultivating a Faith-Based Digital Community.”

Archbishop Gregory Aymond will celebrate the conference-opening Mass on Jan. 13 at 8:30 a.m., followed by Sister Lynn’s keynote at 12:45 p.m. Sister Lynn is a practicing attorney who lives at the Sacred Heart Monastery in Cullman, Alabama. In her legal practice, she works with children who have been abused or neglected, with juveniles and with the disabled.

Pitre, professor of sacred scripture at Notre Dame Seminary, and Bishop Cheri will deliver their keynotes on Jan. 14 at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.

For registration information, go to www.go4th.faith or call Aline Harbison at (504) 861-6255. www.bayoucatholic.com

Sports

Overtime

I 40

Ed Daniels

If Chip and Joanna Gaines, the stars of the TV show Fixer Upper are looking for challenging work, they can certainly find it, out on Airline Drive.

Although this job will require more than new cabinets, counter tops and backsplash.

Joanna might turn to Chip and say something like this.

“Honey, there’s a lot of money invested in these two houses.

Both of them are in bad shape, and I am not sure we can renovate them without taking a loss.”

As of Sunday night, Dec. 11th your New Orleans Saints and your New Orleans Pelicans possessed a total of three wins against teams with winning records.

The Saints, with more than $145 million in actual cash paid out in 2016, had only win over a team (Seattle) with a winning record.

That cash figure doesn’t include $10.7 million in salary cap dead money paid to players no longer on the roster.

The Pelicans owned two wins over teams with winning marks (Boston and Charlotte), none in the Western Conference.

This season, the Pelicans will spend approximately $100 million on payroll.

Solomon Hill, averaging 5.7 points and 3.8 rebounds a game, is the second highest paid player on the team, earning $11.7 million this season.

Not far behind is center Omer Asik, averaging 3.5 points and 6.2 rebounds a game.

Asik is earning $9.9 million this season.

And, if he picks up his player option for the 2019-2020 season, the Pelicans are on the hook for

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

Two houses on Airline Drive in need of Fixer Upper $39 million over the next three seasons.

The games are difficult to watch, even harder to comprehend what is actually happening.

At Tampa Bay, the Saints somehow got to the Bucs three yard line with 48 seconds to go in the half, and holding two time outs, yet had to settle for a field goal on third down.

Throw in three Drew Brees interceptions and two dropped touchdown passes, and the Saints lose to a team that had only eight first downs in the second half.

Three days earlier, the Pelicans lost at home to Philadelphia.

The Sixers snapped a 23 game road losing streak dating back to Jan. 20, 2016.

Three days earlier, the Pelicans lost at home to Memphis in double overtime.

The Pels literally stole defeat from the jaws of victory, allowing game tying three pointers at the end of regulation and at the end of the first overtime.

It says something about the year for New Orleans pro sports fans when the highlight is the Zephyrs changing their name to Baby Cakes.

At the unveil, the crowd chanted, “Go Cakes, Go!” It sure got me fired up.

When Joanna and Chip show the owners their new renovated home for the first time, there is often a moment of pleasant astonishment at the sight of the new digs.

If anyone needs a pleasant surprise right now, it is the season ticket holders of the Saints and Pelicans.

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Catholic

Catholic Schools Week 2017 January 29 - February 4 LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Catholic Schools Week

Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

Catholic School Administrators

Marissa Bagala

St. Mary’s Nativity

Central Catholic

President, Vandebilt

David Boudreaux

Scott Bouzigard

Prissy Davis

Genevieve Gottschalk

Jeremy Gueldner

Tim Robichaux

Gerard Rodrigue Jr.

Deacon Vic Bonnaffee

Holy Rosary

42

Michelle Chiasson E.D. White

Maria Immacolata

Chris Knobloch

Lydia Landry St Bernadette

President, E.D. White

Amanda Talbot

Brenda Tanner

Tricia Thibodaux

St. Genevieve

Holy Cross

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

St. Francis

St. Gregory

Holy Savior

Vandebilt

St. Joseph

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. 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

St. Gregory Elementary 441 Sixth St. Houma, LA 70364 Grades PS-7 Genevieve Gottschalk Interim Principal Jennifer Torres, Admin. Asst.

876-2038 • Fax 879-2789 stgregelm@htdiocese.org www.stgregorycatholic.org

Holy Savior Elementary 201 Church St. Lockport, LA 70374 Grades PK-8 Tricia Thibodaux, Principal Marcia Hebert, Secretary 532-2536 • Fax 532-2269 holysavelm@htdiocese.org www.holysaviorschool.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. Joseph Elementary 501 Cardinal Dr. Thibodaux, LA 70301 Grades PK-7 Gerard Rodrigue Jr., Principal Ann Ledoux, Secretary 446-1346 • Fax 449-0760 stjoeelm@htdiocese.org www.stjosephcesthibodaux.org

St. Bernadette Elementary 309 Funderburk Ave. Houma, LA 70364 Grades PK-7 Lydia Landry, Principal Susan Chauvin, Secretary 872-3854 • Fax 872-5780 stbernelm@htdiocese.org www.saintbernadettepandas.com

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 Jeremy Gueldner, 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 Suzanne Troxclair Superintendent of Schools stroxclair@htdiocese.org Lisa Davies Administrative Assistant 850-3114 • Fax 850-3214

htdioceseschools.org/st-marys-nativity-school

Our Catholic schools do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex or national origin.

Catholic Schools Week Guest Columnist Suzanne Delaune Troxclair

I 44

In the Apostolic Exhortation of Saint Pope John Paul II entitled Catechesi Tradendae, God’s holy servant reminds us that, as schools noted for their academic excellence, the special character and reason for the existence of the Catholic school is the quality of the religious instruction integrated into the overall education of the students (Catechesi Tradendae, 69).

Keeping this as the center of Catholic education in our diocese is the beauty of the ministry as we work to form missionary disciples of Christ.

On Jan. 29-Feb. 4, along with Catholics throughout the United States, we celebrate in a special way the uniqueness of the ministry of Catholic education and its rich value to our youth during National Catholic Schools Week. The theme of Catholic Schools Week, sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), is “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.”

This theme has given us the opportunity to rejoice in the many blessings our Catholic schools are able to share with our church, our communities, our nation and our world. What better way to celebrate a new year than with a diocesan celebration of the deep commitment to Catholic education that exists in our diocese?

As we approach this weeklong celebration, there are many ways we can come together and express our commitment and devotion to the ministry of Catholic education in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.

Please journey with me through

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

Catholic Schools: Communities of faith, knowledge and service Catholic Schools Week Jan. 29 - Feb. 4 the week as we examine ways to celebrate the uniqueness of our dedication to forming missionary disciples of Christ.

Sunday, Jan. 29: Celebrating your parish The prayers, religious support and guidance provided by our church parishes are essential to the ministry of Catholic education in our diocese. n Celebrate the beginning of Catholic Schools Week by participating in one of the many Masses throughout the diocese to pray for the ongoing success of the ministry. n Pray a novena to honor the patron saint of one of our schools. n Reflect on a Gospel passage, such as the Parable of the Good Samaritan, as an inspiration for the day. n After Mass, ask Catholic school students to share how they have come to know God better through their service.

Monday, Jan. 30: Celebrating your community A vital part of Catholic education is learning and experiencing the importance of service to others.

In Catholic schools, students demonstrate the values and faith they learn as they participate in service projects and activities. Our

service to the community serves as an example of the importance of the ongoing help we give others throughout our lives as we work to serve Jesus Christ. n Visit residents of a nursing home. n Visit someone who is homebound and pray the rosary with him or her.

Schools throughout the diocese celebrate National n Contemplate ways to extend your service to a Catholic school in your community.

Tuesday, Jan. 31: Celebrating your students Catholic Schools Week by planning meaningful and enjoyable activities to highlight the importance of the ministry.

All are encouraged to prayerfully reflect on how Catholic education is grounded in faith, knowledge and service to others. n Find out a school’s list of activities marking Catholic Schools Week and plan to attend any events open to the public if possible, especially the school’s special Mass. n Write a letter to a Catholic school’s faculty thanking them for all that they do to impart the Catholic faith on the students in their schools. n Write a letter to a class

a

to share the profound impact Catholic education (in a school or in Catechism) has had on you.

Wednesday, Feb. 1: Celebrating the nation On this National Appreciation Day for Catholic Schools, educators, students, families and other Catholic school supporters share the value of Catholic education with government leaders.

They pray for the nation and recognize all who serve it. n Share your appreciation for Catholic schools on social media platforms using #CSW17. n Share Catholic Schools Week events and celebrations on social media. n Follow NCEA on Facebook or Twitter.

Thursday, Feb. 2: Celebrating vocations Catholic schools prepare students to use their talents to the fullest as they mature by focusing on faith, knowledge and service.

National Catholic Schools Week offers students an opportunity to explore the many paths available that allow them to use their talents to serve others. n Write thank-you letters to

priests, deacons, sisters and brothers who serve our Catholic school communities. n Volunteer at or bring a warm meal to a home for retired priests or nuns. n Pray for vocations.

Friday, Feb. 3: Celebrating faculty, staff and volunteers Teachers are the ever-present role models for our children in our Catholic schools. This day honors teachers, administrators and staff, as well as parents, grandparents, alumni, advisory council members and parishioners who volunteer in our schools. n Write thank-you notes to school workers and volunteers. n Ask to decorate the teachers’

lounge or workspace in a school. n Recognize teacher-ministers, administrators, staff and volunteers on social media for their dedication to Catholic education.

Saturday, Feb. 4: Celebrating families Parents are vital to the ministry of Catholic education.

As the first educators of their children, they instill in them values and expectations for academic excellence in their homes.

We celebrate their contributions to the success of our schools on this last day of National Catholic Schools Week and all year long! n Share a prayer for families. n Learn more about the lives of saints who are important to families: Saint Gianna, Saint Pope John Paul II, Saint Joseph, St. Francis of Assisi and Saint 45 Raphael. n Attend Mass as a family.

As we begin 2017, I humbly pray for the ongoing strengthening of Catholic education in our diocese and throughout the world. May we all use the many gifts God has given us as we work together to form missionary disciples of Christ.

www.bayoucatholic.com

Catholic Schools Week

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Central Catholic High School A school with a family atmosphere Faith.

Knowledge.

Service.

Catholic schools across the nation work to foster a community rich in these values, which comprise the theme of Catholic Schools Week. Catholic schools exemplify the mission of the church—share God’s message to make society a place that mirrors the kingdom of God and bring about heaven on earth. Catholic schools recognize the importance of an educated society for the greater good. They understand that faith in God is necessary in order to put knowledge into practice to serve our fellow man.

To explain the importance of Catholic schools, students at Central Catholic High School (CCHS) in Morgan City were asked to share their thoughts on why they chose to attend and what they like most about Catholic school. They also discussed how CCHS helps its Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

students develop and prepare for life beyond high school.

In the words of students, CCHS, as a model Catholic school, helps individuals grow in their relationship with God. Students have the privilege to speak openly about God and pray as brothers and sisters in Christ. The atmosphere in a Catholic school is characterized by the belief that everyone is uniquely created in the image of God. Out of this respect of others, members of the CCHS community help students strengthen and draw upon their faith to develop their moral character and face times of adversity. At CCHS, students and teachers alike help each other to become their “best selves,” which leads to lifelong application in service to others.

Central Catholic High School helps prepare students for life by drawing upon the ideas instilled

in Catholic schools around the world. The faculty, staff and administration is dedicated to providing academic opportunities while helping to form students’ souls into a state of grace and love. CCHS provides a top-quality education which goes beyond teaching core subjects and extends to the development of the whole child.

The most positive aspect of Central Catholic High School, according to the surveyed students, is the family atmosphere. Members of the CCHS family care for the well-being and development of one another, a perfect example of the unconditional love of a family.

CCHS joins Catholic schools across the globe in fostering an environment of faith, knowledge and service to prepare their students for life.

Central Catholic High School 2100 Cedar Street, Unit 1 Morgan City, LA 70380 985-385-5372

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facebook.com/

Eagle Pride!

Registration

Re-Registration is February 13 through February 24, 2017 New Students March 5 through March 17, 2017 For information call (985) 385-5372 Central Catholic High School does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national or ethnic origins.

Tuition Assistance Available

www.cchseagles.com

www.bayoucatholic.com

Catholic Schools Week

Community “Vandebilt Catholic molded me to give back to the community by facilitating the Big Brother program, Christmas project, Campus Ministry, and peer tutoring, just to name a few.

Now, as an adult, I am a part of a Big Brother program at my church and my family adopts a family in need for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I have a nine year old son that will attend Vandebilt because I want him to be rooted in the same great values.”

- Jerwaski Coleman, Class of 2003, current faculty member, and parent of a future student

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Vandebilt Catholic’s rich history began in 1870 when the Marianite Sisters of Holy Cross opened St. Francis de Sales Academy for girls. Boys were admitted for the first time in 1890.

With the arrival of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in the early 1950s, the school divided into St. Francis de Sales Boys’ and St. Francis de Sales Girls’ High Schools. The two schools merged in 1965 under the name Houma Central Catholic High School.

In 1966 the school was dedicated as Vandebilt Catholic High School, named in the memory of Fr. August Vandebilt who was a longtime pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish. Vandebilt Catholic offers a college preparatory curriculum and stresses a personal approach to the education of the whole student through diverse spiritual, academic, athletic, and co-curricular programs.

The mission of Vandebilt Catholic High School is to provide students with a holistic education that is rooted in religious values, structured through friendly discipline, nurtured by personal attention, and committed to academic excellence.

“Habits, gaining experience, learning responsibility - Vandebilt helped me in these areas through service hours. I think I took it for granted, but service hours did give me an incentive to go out and help others and to learn the value of service to community.

Recently though, some Vandebilt teachers painted the grave of Fr. August Vandebilt, and I think that did more than all the service hours combined, because it showed me the way, an example to follow. I had already graduated when I saw those teachers painting, but that memory will stay with me, and every time I pass the grave of Fr. Vandebilt as I walk into Saint Francis Cathedral, I think of those teachers who gave up their Saturday morning to do something important. I will always have their example to look back on.”

- Matt Prosperie, Class of 2015, Seminarian

Yesterday, Today, Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

of Faith, Knowledge and Service “Spending seven (or more) hours a day in a place, where faith is so openly talked about and encouraged, has helped me to grow in desire for our Lord and our heavenly home. Through the daily prayer in which I participate at Vandebilt, and particularly with the people there, the Lord has humbled me and drawn me closer to Him. Through these same people that inspire me in my faith, He teaches me the beautiful knowledge of the laws of His creation and the awesome knowledge of His own Heart.”

- Katherine Beyer, VCHS graduating senior

“Community is so important in Catholic formation.

There is a unified message to students at Vandebilt Catholic that giving back is a very rewarding achievement.

Our children have many opportunities to assist, mentor and tutor younger kids. This assistance teaches the older students responsibility, and instills in our younger students the “pay it forward” mentality and commitment to serving others first.

From the completion of service hours to the numerous service projects that the students give time, talent and money to support, it gives them a sense of community, not entitlement.”

- Kevin Ramirez, current VCHS parent

“Being a student at Vandebilt Catholic has changed the essence of who I am and how I live my life.

Through constant demonstrations of good faith and charity, I have been taught how to use my love and faith to help every individual person I possibly can, trying my best to emulate the image of Christ we were all made in. Assisting others through Christ has been extremely fulfilling and has only been possible for me through everything Vandebilt has offered, both academically and spiritually.”

- Farid Abou-Issa, VCHS graduating senior

“When I questioned him about his studies while at Vandebilt, my child’s famous line was “I’ve got this!” Of course, this response drove me crazy, but it was a reflection of the confidence he had in himself that was developed during his time at Vandebilt. Because of his confidence, I even saw him develop a love for learning. I am so thankful for the teachers who saw his potential and encouraged him, when I was clouded with worry.

Vandebilt seeks the potential of each individual. I believe that my youngest child will have his own unique style of learning. I know the goal will be the same.”

- Erin Wilder Wagner, Class of 1988, current faculty member, and parent of graduate and future student

and Forever

“The Catholic faith is at the center of everything we do at Vandebilt. The religion classes have helped me to understand my own faith, so that I can live and share my faith in the world. School-wide Mass is celebrated every other week, but what really sets Vandebilt apart from other schools is the chapel, where daily Mass is celebrated before classes start and where Adoration and Confession are held every Wednesday at lunch. The school is truly one big family that exudes a sense of belonging to anyone and everyone who walks on campus. For me, Vandebilt is a home: a home for learning, faith, service, and community.”

- Hayden Cagle, VCHS graduating senior

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PLACEMENT TEST January 28, 2017

REGISTRATION

February 1-24, 2017 Vandebilt Catholic High School 209 S. Hollywood Rd. Houma, LA 70360 985-876-2551

www.vandebiltcatholic.org

Hebrews 13: 8 www.bayoucatholic.com

Catholic Schools Week

E. D. White Catholic - Com E. D. White Catholic High School

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Edward Douglas White Catholic High School’s legacy can be traced back to 1855 when Father Charles Menard, assisted by the Sisters of Mount Carmel, opened Mount Carmel Academy for girls. In 1861, St. Joseph Parish acquired the all-boys Thibodaux College and later contacted the Brothers of the Sacred Heart to run the school. The two schools merged 50 years ago. For 161 years, E. D. White Catholic and its predecessor schools have been building communities of faith, knowledge, and service by offering a holistic education, rooted in Christian values, structured through friendly discipline, nurtured by personal attention and dedicated to academic excellence.

How We Build Community: • Daily Mass offered in the school’s chapel • Active campus ministry program • Weekly adoration of the Blessed Sacrament • ACT scores consistently above the state and national averages • Renowned music program • Outstanding athletic program with 42 state championships • Over 20 clubs and organizations • Students contribute over 14,000 hours of community service annually • 82% of graduates qualify for the TOPS program • An academic enhancement program for students with dyslexia and other learning differences

“Growing in faith and scholarship through prayer, scholarly study, and service to others is an expected occurrence at E. D. White Catholic. The opportunity for all three areas to overlap is abounding. It is a privilege to participate in an environment where all three areas can overlap through classroom discussions, prayer, and service. One area is not necessarily more important than the others. The three complement each other regularly and provide for the complete development of the whole student, as well as the faculty and staff who are fortunate to be a part of the E. D. White family.” Greg Torres, Faculty Member

2017-2018 Registration:

E. D. White Catholic High School is open to all students and Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

mmunity of Faith, Knowledge and Service “E. D. White is so much more than just a school to me. It has shown me how to be a strong Catholic while at the same time succeeding in the social and academic aspects of life. E. D. White has allowed me to grow spiritually, academically, and morally through various classes and service organizations. My years at E. D. White will never be forgotten!” - Spencer Chiasson ‘17

“As mentors, we are very proud that at E. D. White Catholic we are able to minister to every need of the student’s life - mind, body, and spirit.”

- Brother Patrick McGinity, S.C.

“E. D. White offers many opportunities for its students to grow in their faith. We have daily Mass, morning prayer, and clubs such as Campus Ministry and Pro-Life. It is the presence of Christ on our campus that gives meaning to all these things. All of our teachers are tirelessly working not only to teach us about Christ, but to teach us how to do things the Christian way.” - Claire Boudreaux ‘17

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“EDW is more than just a school. It is a community that promotes faith, knowledge and service, and it has helped to shape me into the person I am today. Without E. D. White’s many opportunities to grow as a Catholic, gain more knowledge, and give back to those in need, I would not be where I am today. E. D. White offers many opportunities to grow in the Catholic faith, including daily Mass and lunch prayer. The teachers are unlike others; they care about the students, their well-being, and their success in and out of the classroom. As Catholics, we believe in serving the people around us, which is why many students join Key Club in addition to performing their regular service hours. EDW is a school unlike any other; its close-knit community of faith, knowledge, and service truly makes it one of a kind.” - Thomas Bergeron ‘17

March 6-March 17, 2017

does not discriminate on the basis of race or national origin. www.bayoucatholic.com

Catholic Schools Week

Holy Savior Catholic School

Diving into God’s Word as a community of faith, knowledge and service Holy Savior Catholic School in Lockport has been providing generations of families in the Central Lafourche area the finest in Catholic Education since 1879. Nursery one through eighth grade students from Lockport and the surrounding areas are provided a nurturing and faith-filled environment where all 52 students are encouraged to develop their talents, skills and abilities. The school’s mission teaches the students to live the principles of Catholic tradition which is deeply-rooted in the Gospel of Jesus. This allows students to learn how to serve God and others, to strive for academic excellence, and to become lifelong learners.

Holy Savior’s faith formation and Catholic identity are lived out daily by the students in a way that helps to prepare them for a positive spiritual life. Our students attend daily religion lessons, weekly Masses, grade level retreats, and monthly rosaries.

While our faculty and staff are committed to offering opportunities for students to succeed academically, we also work together to ensure that each child’s spiritual, social and physical needs are met. Teachers use various teaching strategies and integrate technology using interactive Promethean Boards and Chrome Books to help develop critical thinking skills. Besides the major subjects, Holy Savior offers music, choir, computer, library and physical education classes. Our students are offered a variety of clubs, such as 4-H, L.A.S.T., Student Council, art, performing arts and BETA. Students who enjoy sports can join the school’s cross country, soccer and basketball teams or the cheerleading squad.

The importance of service and charity are stressed at Holy Savior. Our students are encouraged to live out the Gospel values Jesus taught and to make a positive impact to those in our community. Through our various service learning opportunities, our students grow to understand the importance of diving into God’s word.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

Holy Savior strives to create students who excel academically, are prepared to enter high school, and are eager to make a lasting difference in the world around them. Our students are leading the way in faith, knowledge and service.

HOLY SAVIOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL 201 Church Street ~ Lockport, Louisiana 70374 Phone: (985) 532-2536 ~ Fax: (985)532-2269 http://plusportals.com/holysavior

Established in 1879

State Approved Curriculum ~ Grades K-8 State Certified Teachers ~ Grades K-8 Full and Part-Time Structured State Approved Pre-K Program for one, two, three and four year olds Strong Family Orientation Daily Religious Instruction & Weekly School Masses AdvancED Accredited Academically Oriented Kindergarten Band, Choir & Computer Programs Weekly Library Class Instruction with Certified Librarian Academic Enhancement, Tutoring Program Before & After School Care Program Reasonable Tuition Rates Gym Facilities, Basketball, Soccer, Cheerleading, Cross Country Caritas, 4-H, Beta & Student Council Clubs Parent/Teacher Activities Committee For more information or to request a tour of our facility, please contact Tricia Thibodaux, Principal ~ tthibodaux@htdiocese.org Terri Vedros, Bookkeeper ~ tvedros@htdiocese.org Holy Savior does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national or ethnic origin

Excellence in Academics + a God-Loving CATHOLIC Environment = Success

Holy Rosary Catholic School

A community of faith, knowledge and service for Catholic education is HRCS’ proven formula for success. Together the school family prepares students who are ready and willing to make a difference in the community and world; and to succeed in their future endeavors through their faith, knowledge and service experiences at Holy Rosary Catholic School.

Holy Rosary Catholic School

In teaching the Gospel message of Christ, Holy Rosary Catholic School in Larose recognizes students’ talents and abilities and strives to develop their highest potential. HRCS offers quality academics in a nurturing, Christ-centered environment to students three years old through the eighth grade.

In 1963, Holy Rosary Catholic School began offering Catholic education to the South Lafourche community under the leadership of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. Current administration holds fast to the traditions of Catholic education while ensuring high standards to meet today’s challenges. The religious and secular curriculum is periodically evaluated and enhanced to enrich faith experiences and improve students’ learning skills.

Enrichment programs are selective and include those that instill community service, academic and social development, but most importantly our Catholic faith. Programs include: DARE, social studies fair, geography bee, Math-A-Thon, an award-winning 4-H club, BETA club, HAWKS club, Big Buddies, Altar Servers’ club, Living Apostles, school choir, Book It!, Reading Counts, Fiesta, Literary Rally, Passion Play, Nativity Play, cross country team, volleyball team, basketball team, cheering squad, essay/art contests and an edible garden.

Holy Rosary recognizes Christ as the heart of its mission. Traditions of an active and exemplary religious program are professed through weekly liturgies, monthly adoration, and daily instruction in the Catholic faith, service clubs and service projects for families, faculty and students. Through its mission work, HRCS is recognized as an instrumental supporter of Veterans, the Holy Childhood Association, Knights of Columbus and St Vincent DePaul Society, to name a few. The school expands its faith experiences in the school chapel, Jesus Prayer Garden and pilgrimage to Washington, D.C. All HRCS teachers are certified and qualified for their role as dedicated instructors. The majority are certified catechists. The combination of instruction in the Catholic faith, dedicated and experienced educators, the teaching of values, academic excellence, a safe and caring environment and the support of parents

OFFERING TRADITIONS OF CHRIST-CENTERED, CHALLENGING ACADEMICS SINCE 1963

COME GROW WITH US www.holyrosary.org 985-693-3342 12925 E Main St • Larose, LA 70373 HRCS adheres to the non-discriminatory policy set by the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

www.bayoucatholic.com

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Catholic Schools Week

Holy Cross Elementary School Where good deeds occur daily

Holy Cross Elementary School in Morgan City is more than just a school; it is a community of faith, knowledge and service! At Holy Cross, faculty, staff, parents and students generously donate food items for Thanksgiving baskets for the needy; provide nursing home residents with clothing and personal items; and 54 fill stockings with funds to purchase toys and clothes for disadvantaged children at Christmas. At Holy Cross Elementary, faculty and staff members know the children and greet them by name. Faculty, staff and students pray daily for the child or family member who is ill, for the baby born too soon or the sixth grader who has been hurt. Good deeds such as showing kindness to others, listening quietly to a teacher and lending a helping hand occur daily and are rewarded.

The faith of students and staff is put into action at a Living Rosary held annually and attended by local citizens who join us in prayer. In thanksgiving for their service, Holy Cross Elementary students create cards for our community helpers – police, fire and medical personnel – as well as our veterans.

Through the generosity of the H and B Young Foundation, Holy Cross Elementary will be outfitting the computer lab with 34 new computers. A new reading program for all grades, Pre-K3 through sixth, will be implemented in the 2017-2018 school year.

The following enhancements in the areas of math, reading and technology have continued at Holy Cross this year. MY MATH, grades Pre-K through sixth, provides a variety of resources that allow each child to learn in the way that is best for the child. ALEKS math software, grades three through six, uses adaptive learning to reach every child at their level of learning.

Lexia, grades Pre-K through sixth, addresses learning skills and predicts reading success. TYPE FOR LEARNING, an interactive keyboarding course, is opening the world of computers to students.

Holy Cross Elementary students are a community of faith, knowledge and service in a school where this Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

faith, knowledge and service is actually put into action.

If you are considering a school for your child that is rich in academics and rooted in faith and service to others, then Holy Cross Elementary is right for you.

Your children and your family will be enriched by the experience of a Holy Cross education!

HOLY CROSS

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL H C

Let Your Child Grow With Us!

OPEN HOUSE Tuesday, January 12, 8:15 a.m.

Life Center

985-384-1933 l www.holycrosselementary.com 2100 Cedar Street, Unit 2 l Morgan City, LA 70380 Holy Cross Elementary admits students of any race, creed, sex, or national origin.

Maria Immacolata Catholic School ‘TEAM JESUS’ For the 2016–2017 school year, Maria Immacolata Catholic School in Houma is concentrating on being a part of TEAM JESUS in every way, every day. We have concentrated on the words thoughtful, empathetic, appreciative and motivated to guide us in being a part of TEAM JESUS in our daily lives.

MICS educates 170 students from preschool age through seventh grade. Every classroom teacher has a degree, several have a master’s degree and all are certified in their subject areas. MICS continues to focus on academic, faith development and service activities throughout the school year.

At MICS, each day begins and ends with prayer. A religious virtue is concentrated on each month and includes a saint and bible verse that corresponds with that virtue. Each month, a student is selected from each class who best represents that virtue. The virtues include: hospitality, zeal, acceptance, docility, unselfishness, fidelity, silence/recollection, kindness, confidence and endurance. Every Friday morning, students, faculty and community members gather to celebrate the Eucharist together. Classes have an opportunity to host a school Mass each week. In honor of Our Lady, our statue of the Blessed Mother goes home with a family each week after Mass for them to pray for our school, community and nation.

Our teachers continuously strive to prepare our students to be college and career ready in order to become our future leaders. We have established an Academic Support Program, specifically set up to help those students having difficulty with their subjects. We have also been able to incorporate the beginnings of an inclusion program for special needs children at our school. As more funding becomes available, we hope to expand on these programs.

All faculty, students, parents, grandparents and friends of Maria Immacolata are also part of the spirit of the school when it comes to faith and service. Everyone is encouraged to participate in service activities that are held monthly throughout the school year, including: Change for Change (Missionaries of the Poor), Animal Rescue Shelters, Coats for Kids, Toys for Tots, local food bank drive, and a blanket drive. Many of these projects are sponsored by our 4-H club. Our Beta club also sponsored “Geaux Pink Day” for Breast Cancer Awareness. Our biggest service to the community is our Live Nativity, an annual December drive-through event depicting the scenes of the birth of Jesus.

Maria Immacolata Catholic School in Houma has as its mission to continuously strive for “academic excellence within a Christian setting.” This mission statement reminds us daily the importance of our Catholic identity while we strive for excellence in all of our students.

Maria Immacolata Catholic School 324 Estate Drive, Houma • 985.876.1631 www.micsbluejays.org

Come Join Our MICS Family!

PreK3 - 7th grade Open House: January 31 New Student Registration: March 6 Academic Excellence Within a Christian Setting

Maria Immacolata Catholic School is open to all students and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, nationality or ethnicity. www.bayoucatholic.com

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Young Voices

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God wants us to love our neighbors as ourselves, and community service is a great way to demonstrate our faith. When you serve others, you are not only serving them, but you are also serving God. I like to serve in my community because I love to see how much the community appreciates my service to them. Whether it be playing BINGO at the nursing homes or working at community gatherings and celebrations, it is always so fun to see people’s happy faces filled with gratitude. Community service is a benefit for all.

Holden Amedee, 14 years old St. Genevieve Church parish E. D. White Catholic High School

Throughout my years in high school, I’ve learned that service portrays my faith life perfectly. When I am playing with kids who are less fortunate or interacting with those who are disabled, I see Jesus Christ present in their lives. Their happiness gleams through their words and actions, despite their current condition.

Service has shown me that even when life seems bleak, we can still be happy and joyous with the love of God. Spencer Chiasson, 17 years old St. Genevieve Church parish E. D. White Catholic High School Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

How do you demonstrate your faith through service to others?

I am able to show my faith through service to others by always lending a helping hand to my classmates. I do my best to share my academic talent with them as much as possible if they ask me for help. God wants us to share our gifts and talents with as many people as we can as often as we can. It’s also important to remember that when we share our gifts and talents, we don’t always have to get something back. We should want to do things for others out of the kindness of our hearts and because we know it’s something that Jesus would want us to do to show our faith to others, not so we can get praise or an award.

Alyssa Burton, 17 years old Holy Cross Church parish Central Catholic High School

There is so much that can be done to demonstrate your faith to others through service. In my school, I am involved in many clubs that do this. For example, I am in Key Club which is a service group that does multiple service projects throughout the year. Also, I am in Pro Life where we fight against abortion. My cheerleading team also does monthly service projects. In everything I do, I try to demonstrate my faith to others because this is extremely important to me.

Sydney Schwab, 15 years old Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales parish Vandebilt Catholic High School

St. Bernadette Catholic School Living faith Achieving excellence Serving others St. Bernadette Catholic School in Houma remains faithful to its mission of being a Christ centered faith community which fosters spiritual growth and academic excellence. We strive to instill in our students a lifelong commitment to learning, to Christian values and to community service. The theme for the National Catholics Schools Week 2017 is “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.” All three aspects of this year’s theme have been and will continue to be the foundation of the school’s teachings.

St. Bernadette School’s Catholic identity is evident, as we are deeply committed to the spiritual formation of the students with religion classes being part of our daily schedule. As a community of faith, the students consistently attend weekly school liturgies, adoration and penance services. Annual events based on the manifestation of the faith of our students include the Live Nativity, the Blessing of the Animals, the Seder Meal and the celebration of the Guardian Angel.

As a community of knowledge we continue to strive for academic excellence resulting in lifelong learning. Our curriculum is balanced and includes the core subjects, religion, a foreign language (Spanish), a library program, physical education and music education.

It is a curriculum which fosters critical thinking, inquisitiveness, and understanding with technology integrated in all content areas. St. Bernadette School has a Beta Club and participates in the Literary Rally, the Duke University Talent Program, the geography bee and the social studies fair.

At St. Bernadette School our number one priority is the spiritual development of the child. We are committed to providing an opportunity to experience religion as a way of life and living our faith in our everyday activities. The students are challenged to engage in service projects for the needy of the community as well as foreign mission projects.

St. Bernadette Catholic School continues to build on the foundations laid by the Dominican sisters over 50 years ago. Individual achievement and responsibility acquired through a sound Catholic education prepares our students with everything needed for their future.

Not only do we prepare the students academically and spiritually, we aim to prepare them for life!

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FOSTERING SPIRITUAL GROWTH & ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE! Open House for New Families

Thursday, February 2, 2017 Anytime between 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Registration for New Families begins Monday, March 6, 2017

St. Bernadette CatholiC SChool

985-872-3854 309 Funderburk Avenue • Houma, LA 70364 www.saintbernadettepandas.org St. Bernadette School does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex or religion www.bayoucatholic.com

Catholic Schools Week

St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School A Christian community at worship, work and play In the tradition of excellence established by our founders, the Marianite Sisters of the Holy Cross, St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School in Houma is a family oriented parish school. The school serves children of St. Francis de Sales parish, the surrounding Catholic parishes, and those children of other faiths who represent our values and beliefs. St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School has a mission to teach its students to not only learn the foundation of their faith, but to live their lives daily emulating the teachings of Jesus.

A strong academic curriculum and a variety of cocurricular activities are offered at St. Francis de Sales School, which emphasize Catholic faith and values, foster a love of God and strive to develop students into missionary disciples. Students are provided with an 58 orderly academic environment. They are stimulated to relate their study to real life situations that will prepare them for the world outside the classroom. The latest approaches in education are utilized with an emphasis on innovation in organization, content and method.

Value is placed on the development and enrichment of each student’s self-esteem, self-confidence, values, morals and knowledge for their personal development.

A focus is placed on honoring the individuality of each learner.

Supplemental programs are available to support the varied learning needs of our student body. The varied pull-out programs that are available strive to provide all students with the opportunity for success and enrichment.

During the 2016-2017 school year, student lead service projects have increased awareness of the needs of others within our community. Geaux Pink Day was held to benefit Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at Terrebonne General Medical Center. The one-day event raised $1,144.22 to assist the patients of Mary Bird Perkins and their families. In November, a food drive was held to benefit the Terrebonne Parish Food Bank and a memorial Mass and reception were held to honor all veterans. A coat and blanket drive was held in December to assist individuals within our parish during the winter months. For Lent and in the spring, students and faculty will work together to determine another local religious or community organization to assist. By helping others, students are given the opportunity to experience a Christian community at worship, work and play.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES CATHEDRAL SCHOOL A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE

OPEN HOUSE FOR PARENTS OF NEW STUDENTS FOR 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2017 9:00 A.M. PRE-SCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN AGE STUDENTS (TOUR WILL BE INCLUDED)

10:30 A.M. 1ST - 7TH GRADE STUDENTS (TOUR WILL BE INCLUDED)

Open House will provide an opportunity for parents to tour the school and learn about the academic and extracurricular programs offered.

300 VERRET STREET  HOUMA, LA 70360 PHONE 868-6646  FAX 851-5896

www.stfrancishouma.org

St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School is open to all students and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national, or ethnic origin.

St. Genevieve Catholic School A community of faith enriching traditions

St. Genevieve Catholic School in Thibodaux strives to create an atmosphere that promotes a community of faith, knowledge and service. We seek to know Christ in our daily school experiences and honor him in each individual. Our students are nurtured in all developmental areas – spiritually, intellectually, physically, socially and emotionally.

Christ is the center of our school as evidenced by the deep spirituality that is developed here. Our students know that they are loved and share that love as they greet visitors in a warm and caring way.

So many of the traditions at St. Genevieve Catholic School enrich our faith including Advent Wreath Lightings, the Epiphany Mass, and student responsibility for the ministries at our weekly school Masses. “Children of Mary” are very active on the campus, leading a decade of the rosary every first Friday of the month and during the recitation of the rosary during the month of October. Our students attend adoration twice a year during the school day, and are encouraged to attend evening youth adoration monthly.

The faculty works diligently to prepare our students for weekly Mass, always striving to help them attain a deeper understanding of scripture. Our faith is woven into the entire school day and in all areas of academic instruction. Our day begins with faculty prayer and special intentions. We are often asked to pray for students and graduates long after they have left our school and for others in our community who know us as “prayer warriors.” We are a family and take care of one another, in times of need and in times of celebration.

At St. Genevieve School we strive to keep abreast of current teaching strategies by providing opportunities for professional development for our faculty. As a learning community, we set high standards for our students and ourselves. We know that we are held to a higher degree of responsibility and accountability, and accept the challenge. Our teachers are given many opportunities for professional growth though workshop and seminar attendance.

Important to our mission is to instill in our students

a sense of service to others. They first learn to take care of one another. Our seventh graders are “big buddies” to our kindergarten students. Students “pair off” at other grade levels, giving older students an opportunity to mentor and model good behavior for younger students.

Through our student job program, students are given responsibility for the operation of their school. We have recess secretaries, teacher aides, P.E. helpers, a maintenance team, computer and library helpers, a sign team and flag bearers. We believe when students are included in the daily operation of their school, they have a sense of pride and ownership.

Our student service organization, “Patriots,” participate in several projects yearly to help raise funds for nonprofit organizations such as Hope for Animals, Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center and the Missionary Childhood Association. We have been recognized at a diocesan level as the top contributors to the Missionary Childhood Association for the past nine years. Our Patriots also visit and make holiday cards for the elderly and send cards to men and women in the military.

We believe in ourselves and in our community. We want to be all that we can be. We are thankful for and grateful to all those who will help us on our journey, most especially, our Lord.

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ST. GENEVIEVE CATHOLIC SCHOOL 2017-2018 Registration March 6 - March 10 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM “My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there.” - Charles F. Kettering Ponder a moment that quote from an elementary student’s point of view. How seriously we must take our role in their future! We are here to touch that future, dramatically. We hope that you see our school as an investment in the future.

807 Barbier Avenue • Thibodaux, LA

(985) 447-9291 stgenevieveschool.us

St. Genevieve School invites and encourages members of all races, nationalities, and faiths that support our values and traditions to apply. www.bayoucatholic.com

Catholic Schools Week

St. Mary’s Nativity School Emphasizing a foundation of faith

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Though our students excel in subject-matter knowledge, as proven by success in high school and by standardized test scores, and though service becomes second nature to them through ongoing opportunities at school and in the community, the basis for all their success is the bedrock of our Catholic faith: we teach it; we practice it; we live it.

St. Mary’s Nativity School in Raceland goes beyond weekly Mass attendance and the studying of our faith in religion classes. Even our three-year-olds understand being reverent in church and prayerful at the beginning and end of the school day, and before and after lunch. Weekly adoration also strengthens devotion.

All of the students learn to share during prayer circles, asking for prayers for loved ones, sharing their worries and love for others—and their own feelings.

The circles meet weekly in class; monthly in “families,” groups of different ages together and once every nine weeks with parents and teachers in the evening.

Students and adults appreciate the quiet reflection time the prayer circles afford us, and when “families” meet, the children complete projects to bring Scripture to life. These activities ensure that students grow in their understanding of faith as a personal journey.

The beautiful Rosary Garden built and expanded over the last two years is used by each class at least once every nine weeks. Special Masses the community shares with the school include a pet Mass and blessing, with enthusiastic support from a variety of animals.

Another beautiful Mass is held in honor of veterans and includes a tribute to family members who have served. Veterans participate in the flag-raising ceremony after Mass.

From the opening day of school, our school emphasizes faith. Faculty members handed out candles on the first day as students were dropped off, with a request to parents to pray for the school, in thanksgiving or for testing.

Even our discipline program is faith-based. We use the Virtue-Based Restorative Discipline system, which emphasizes prayerful discussions, empathy and the restoring of dignity to those who have been hurt rather than shaming and punishment.

All of these activities demonstrate the high level of faith at St. Mary’s Nativity School and our commitment to pass our strong faith on to our children.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

St. Mary’s Nativity School 3492 Niles Street • Raceland, Louisiana 70394 (985)537-7544 • https:www.plusportals.com/StMarysNativity

2017-2018 Registration Current Students February 13-17, 2017 New Students March 6-10, 2017 Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service

Pre-K 3 through 8th grade

St. Mary’s Nativity School is open to all students and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion or ethnic origin.

St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School A safe, Catholic, Christ-centered environment As we celebrate the theme of Catholic Schools Week, “Catholic Schools-Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service,” we reflect on how we have lived out our mission and this year’s St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School in Thibodaux’s theme: “On a Mission with God.” Communities of Faith As a school family, we profess our faith openly and invite others in our community to join us in worship, respect and prayer. Each morning a student led prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance echoes the halls of our buildings and can be heard by all passing near our school. A decade of the rosary is prayed on Mondays over the intercom led by students in third through seventh grades. Faculty members gather outside in the meditation garden for morning prayer and reflection, for wherever two or more are gathered in prayer, our Lord is in our midst. On Friday mornings, we gather under one roof to sing and worship at our weekly liturgy to thank God for all of the blessings. We are reminded that our school is a part of a larger faith community as we celebrate school sponsored liturgies at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral. The recitation of the rosary in conjunction with Right to Life Sunday is yet another means for neighboring parishes to sing and pray together along the streets of Thibodaux reminding others of the importance of life from conception to natural death. Each child who attends SJCES becomes a member of the school family as well as a church parish member and community member. Students experience a retreat at each grade level focused on forming a personal relationship with Jesus, and developing positive character traits and relationships with classmates. SJCES exists to educate the youth of the area spiritually and morally.

Communities of Knowledge Faculty members embrace the latest instructional strategies and integration of technology to ensure students are prepared young adults acclimated to the demands and rigor set for them globally.

Students learn to work together in small groups and communicate by expressing themselves verbally and in writing. Opinions, views and ideas are molded to help each child make sound decisions based on fact and truth. Academic excellence is a strength we continue to nurture. Community members as well as parents are invited to share their knowledge and wisdom with students as an outreach program.

Communities of Service Pro-social behavior and positive outcomes of

interactions are being recognized and promoted at a school level through our Paws-i-tive Prints recognition program. Random acts of kindness and service to others are acknowledged and the recipients are pictured along the hallway on a paw print to recognize our jaguars for their kindness and compassion. Many school clubs such as 4-H, Builders Club and Student Council sponsor activities to promote service and giving of ourselves to others whether it be 4-H caring crosses or the Student Council Thanksgiving food and toiletry drives.

The Builders Club members volunteer at community functions such as Bayou Country Children’s Museum’s Night at the Boo-seum, art classes make cards for patients at TRMC, religion classes participate in the Giving Tree project at the co-cathedral, as well as monetary collections for the missions in third world countries. Local public, private and diocesan schools exercise good sportsmanship and healthy competition as our soccer, cross country, basketball, volleyball and swim teams demonstrate team building while physically engaging in competitive sports activities with other students their age. This is another example of how our school lives out our mission. We promote social interaction in a safe, Catholic, Christ-centered environment.

St. Joseph Catholic Elementary family members continue to strive to live our lives as Jesus would, embracing each other and extending ourselves to those in need spiritually and physically.

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OPEN HOUSE FOR NEW FAMILIES FEBRUARY 9th - 6:00 P.M.

Class visitation Thursday, February 16th - 9:00 - 10:00 A.M.

Catholic Education Rooted in Faith

Continuing the Tradition of Providing a Quality Catholic Education since 1855

A Values-Oriented Curriculum Fostering Individual Growth Spiritually, Morally, Academically & Socially • Nationally Accredited by AdvancED • Committed to Academic Rigor and Technology Integration • Dedicated, caring, certified Faculty & Staff • State of the Art Library, Computer Lab & Promethean Classrooms • A.C.T./Aspire Assessment Program • Full-Day Pre-K for Four-Year-Olds • Daily Prayer & Weekly School Liturgies • Student Clubs, Sports Teams, Music/Band/Art Programs • Attention to Special Academic Needs • Optional Before & After School Care

St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School 501 Cardinal Drive • Thibodaux, LA 70301 (985) 446-1346 • FAX (985) 449-0760 www.stjosephcesthibodaux.org

St. Joseph C.E.S. does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, national, or ethnic origin and is open to students who share our values and traditions.

www.bayoucatholic.com

Catholic Schools Week

St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic School A community of faith, knowledge and service

At St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic School in Houma, we love first and then teach. We see Jesus in all children, accepting children and families with unique needs and realizing that children are precious gifts from God. As a Catholic school, St. Gregory promotes the development of joyful, loving and responsible children who realize how God fits into everyday life and who have a personal commitment to becoming disciples of Jesus Christ. Students grow spiritually through unique classroom experiences, participation in liturgical planning, daily participation in prayer and worship, school wide service projects, and weekly 62 the entire school celebrates Mass as a school family - one very special privilege at our little school. Our students express their desire to serve others through their involvement in service projects such as feeding the hungry of our community; this and many others projects are examples of how our students are involved in giving of themselves just as Jesus taught us to do.

Offering a Catholic education to children age three through seventh grade, St. Gregory provides a learning environment in which research-based methodologies are implemented to meet the varied learning styles of students and to challenge them to reach their individual potential; the students are challenged to succeed in a safe, interactive learning environment. In keeping with the idea that parents are the first educators of their children, we encourage parents to have an active role in the education of their children, so we partner with parents and assist them in understanding the curriculum. Our technology program provides students with differentiated learning opportunities across the curriculum. St. Gregory cultivates a faculty and staff of people who are dedicated, caring and effective.

Teachers are continually encouraged to participate in professional development and set goals for reaching higher standards of teaching.

In addition to meeting the academic and spiritual needs of our students, we believe children should have the opportunity to develop and foster additional interests. The following enrichment opportunities are provided: band, art, library and computer classes.

Several computer-based academic intervention Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • January 2017

programs are also offered to our students, namely Moby Max, Accelerated Reader, Lexia, Reflex Math and Aleks. Extracurricular activities offered at St. Gregory included 4-H, 4-H Cloverbuds, Junior BETA, science club, yearbook club, and Royal Ministers of Christ a campus ministry. After receiving the sacrament of first Eucharist, children are encouraged to serve our church as altar servers. Students may also participate in our school choir - a nice addition to our weekly school Mass. As the back of our spirit shirts state, we at St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic School are “Building God’s Kingdom, One Child at a Time.”

Building God’s Kingdom. One Child At A Time!

ST. GREGORY BARBARIGO CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Open House for new families will be February 2nd at 6:00 p.m.

New Student Registration begins March 6th

Educating students age 3 through 7th grade Principal: Genny Gottschalk

Small Class Sizes Morning and Midday Prayer Time Family-Oriented Environment SmartBoard Technology Ipads and Kindles Computer Lab & Library

Weekly School Mass Monday School Assembly Music Ministry STEM Program/Robotics Yearbook Club Art Classes

Royal Ministers of Christ Parent Teacher Organization Award Winning Junior BETA Club Award Winning 4-H Club Buddy Programs Before/After School Care Program

441 Sixth Street ~ Houma, LA 70364 ~ (985) 876-2038 http://www.stgregorycatholic.org

t r o p p u s e W

Catholic Schools

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