Bayou Catholic Magazine June 2017 by Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

INSIDE

Bayou Outdoor Guide

Bayou

Catholic

HOUMA, LA ~ JUNE 2017 ~ COMPLIMENTARY

1977 - 2017

KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST NEWS ON OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING AT HTDIOCESE.ORG/SP

Contents

FEATURES

28 Nancy Diedrich retires

By Janet Marcel

30 Bayou Patrons

By Janet Marcel

32 Bishop Emeritus Michael Jarrell

celebrates 50 years

By Janet Marcel

38 Vandy pole vaulter reaches

new heights

By Janet Marcel

COLUMNS

Comfort For My People

By Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

12 Pope Speaks

Pope Francis I

13 Questions of Faith

By Very Rev. Joshua Rodrigue, S.T.L.

14 Readings Between The Lines

By Father Glenn LeCompte

33 Reading with Raymond

By Raymond Saadi

34 Thoughts for Millennials

By Ryan Abboud

42 Overtime

By Ed Daniels

GUEST COLUMN Bayou O

O O U T D

24 St. Joseph Co-Cathedral

GUIDE R SUMME 2017

rich in symbolism By Father Michael Bergeron

IN EVERY ISSUE

From the Editor

16 Scripture Readings 27 Heavenly Recipes 36 Diocesan Events

38 Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • June 2017

ANNOUNCEMENTS

20 Pastoral appointments announced 41 Food for the Journey

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre speaks

On Our COVER This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Diocese of Houma Thibodaux. We are truly blessed to live in an area of great beauty where there is an abundance of natural resources. Let us be thankful for the unity among our diverse cultures and the many blessings that God has bestowed on us. The diocese is being renewed and its future is full of hope. Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier

Bayou Catholic Vol. 37, No. 12 How to reach us: BY PHONE: (985) 850-3132 BY MAIL: P.O. Box 505 Schriever, LA 70395 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.

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

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

Brooks Lirette

Index to Advertisers Annual Bishop’s Appeal ................................. 2

Peter’s Pence Collection .............................. 23

Cardinal Place ............................................. 35

Plans of Hope ............................................... 3

Diocesan Outreach Line .............................. 41

Re-Bath ...................................................... 36

Galliano Religious Supply House ................. 17

Rod’s Superstore ........................................ 19

Haydel Spine Pain & Wellness ..................... 15

Seminarian Education Burses ...................... 37

Headache & Pain Center .............................. 42

Southland Mall ............................................ 60

Houma Digestive Health Specialists ............. 40

St. Joseph Manor ........................................ 35

LeBlanc & Associates, LLC ......................... 17

Synergy Bank .............................................. 35

Lewis & Company ....................................... 39

Terminix ...................................................... 38

Patrick Yancey Law Firm ............................. 22

Watkins, Walker, Eroche & Hoychick ............ 39

advertising accounts executive

Lisa Schobel Hebert graphic designer

Meridy Liner

accounts receivable/payable assistant

Awards

CPA First Place General Excellence 2013 - 2014 LPA First Place General Excellence 2015 www.bayoucatholic.com

Welcome GENTLENESS

FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT RESPECT

From the Editor 6

As editor of the Bayou Catholic magazine, I scan various articles and news stories that are available to the Catholic press. A recent story that I read from Catholic News Agency had a very simple point, but a very important and meaningful message. The article was written last month after Pope Francis made comments during an off-the-cuff homily while celebrating Mass at Rome’s St. Peter Damiani parish in the Casal Bernocchi neighborhood in the south of Rome. The Pontiff repeated his frequent condemnation of gossip, telling the congregation instead to always treat others with gentleness and respect, as the Holy Spirit does. This is a message that everyone should take to heart. All of us, including those in classrooms and playgrounds at school, those of us who work in office buildings, manufacturing facilities and places of business, as well as all of us in our homes where we live with our loved ones should

practice gentleness and respect. Pope Francis went on to say that each of us should reflect on our own attitude as Christians, asking “is it an attitude of gentleness or of wrath? Or bitterness?” “It’s terrible to see people who say they are Christians, but who are full of bitterness,” Francis said, adding that the language of the Holy Spirit “is gentle ... because he’s gentle. (And with regard to respect) ... Always respect others. He teaches to respect others.” Gentleness and respect can go a long way for the student who doesn’t fit in with the popular crowd at school. Gentleness and respect can help a co-worker who might be struggling at work but is trying their best at his or her job. Gentleness and respect makes for a happy home when a father has to work two jobs to make ends meet and the mother also works at home and takes care of the children. It seems more than ever today we are short on patience with others where we should be long with gentleness. We tend to be quick to judge and slow to show respect. Pope Francis also said that much of the language of today is ambition and jealousy. With the language focused only on ambition

and jealousy, “we push people away and we don’t allow the Spirit to work,” Francis said, explaining that he returns to the topic of gossip so often because “this is the sin that’s the most common in our Christian communities.” Jesting, Pope Francis said he once spoke to a priest who said some of his parishioners could receive communion standing at the back of the church, because their tongue reached all the way to the altar. “We must cherish the Holy Spirit and not speak like the devil teaches us,” he said, adding that gossip “hurts my heart,” and is the sin “that destroys our communities the most.” Everyone wants to be treated with gentleness and respect. Thankfully we have the Holy Spirit who guides us in our daily lives. Our mission is to spread the Good News of Christ. We are to be Christ-like to everyone we meet. Gentleness and respect are two great attitudes to possess as we journey through life trying to fulfill our Christian mission. 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

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • June 2017

Church Life

St. Valerie procession Members of the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department participated in the annual procession in honor of St. Valerie down the streets of Thibodaux to St. Joseph Co-Cathedral. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s procession was part of the parishâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 200th anniversary.

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

www.bayoucatholic.com

Comment

Let us pray together for the renewal of our diocese Comfort For My People

I 8

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

I would like to invite all to join me in praying the rosary, and therein intercede for the success of the diocesan strategic plan. Pope Francis says of the rosary: “The rosary is a prayer that always accompanies me; it is also the prayer of the ordinary people and the saints … it is a prayer from my heart” (The rosary, a prayer from the heart, Pope Francis; May 13, 2014). I am asking that all of us, both the “ordinary people” and “saints,” pray the rosary asking the Lord to bless our beloved diocese. When we reflect upon the Gospel of St. John, Chapter 2, the Wedding at Cana, we see that Mary went to her son asking him to do something that was beyond human capacity. Jesus responded to the needs of the people by responding to his mother and her request for his intervention. What follows is a miracle. Jesus turns water into wine, and in doing so provides for the people more than they could provide for themselves. Imagine with me what might happen if we trust that the same will happen in our lives. Imagine what is possible for our diocese if we fully trust that Jesus will act on Mary’s behalf, just as he did at Cana. Praying the rosary together will avail us of many graces. However, I would like to highlight three things I am confident will happen if we come together in intercession. First, we will be reminded

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • June 2017

that the renewal of the diocese is something that God is doing. The implementation of the strategic plan is not merely an initiative from creative parishioners. It is fundamentally our cooperating with what God wants, with what God is doing. When we ask God to act, it reminds us that this is God’s diocese, God’s plan, and God’s desire for renewal. It reminds us what Jesus taught us, “without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Second, praying the rosary will protect us from grasping at “how” God will renew our parishes and our diocese. There is a difference between a desire and an expectation. A desire is merely an expression of the deepest stirrings of our hearts. A desire is healthy and holy. In contrast, an expectation is expressed in our grasping for “how” God will act. An expectation is when we attempt to control how our desires will come to be. When we ask God to provide for us, it helps to express our desires. Furthermore, controlling our expectations safeguards us from expecting how it will happen, or from expecting that it can only happen in a certain way. Finally, praying the rosary will further unite us together as one people, as one diocese. We may not be able to be together in one physical location. We may not see each other every day. However, in prayer, we are united in God. The unity that is possible through prayer is very real. Let me give an example. In July of 2004, we had four seminarians. At that time, considering the number of seminarians and the number of parishes in the diocese, our seminarian to parish ratio ranked near the bottom 10 percent in the country. In August of 2004, there was an intentional effort to pray the rosary for vocations to the priesthood. Many of you, or many in your parish, began to do so. Day after day, rosary after rosary,

something beautiful happened. People found themselves in situations where they met other people, from different parishes, who were also praying the rosary. Immediately there was something in common. There was a unity, not because of a common parish, but because of a common communion in prayer. Furthermore, the fruit of the diocesan initiative to pray the rosary bore amazing fruit. On Pentecost weekend 2017, we will ordain three men to the priesthood. In a dramatic comparison to our 2004 numbers, I am told by the diocesan Office of Vocations that this August we anticipate having approximately 16 seminarians. Considering the number of seminarians and the number of parishes in the diocese, our seminarian to parish ratio now ranks near the top 10 percent in the country. In response to Mary, Jesus worked miracles in Cana. In response to Mary, Jesus continues to bless our diocese with vocations. Inspired by what we know to be possible, I invite every parishioner in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux to pray the rosary as often as possible and to do so asking God to bless the implementation of our strategic plan. As you conclude each decade of the rosary, please pause and specifically ask God for his blessing. After the first decade, please pray for spiritual protection for all aspects of implementing the strategic plan. After the second decade, please pray for me, the one who serves you as bishop. After the third decade, please pray for all of our priests, deacons and seminarians. After the fourth decade, please pray for the renewal of your parish. After the fifth decade, please pray for the renewal of our diocese. Let us pray together, and then watch to see what our gracious God does for us.

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Comentario

Oremos juntos por la renovación de nuestra diócesis

D 10

Deseo invitar a todos ustedes a rezar el Rosario y así interceder por el éxito del plan estratégico diocesano. El Papa Francisco declara sobre el Rosario: «El Rosario es una oración que siempre me acompaña; es también la oración de la gente ordinaria y los santos… es una oración de mi corazón» (El Rosario, una oración del corazón, Papa Francisco, 13 de mayo, 2014). Pido que todos nosotros, la gente ordinaria y los santos, oremos el Rosario para pedirle al Señor que bendiga nuestra diócesis querida. Cuando reflexionamos sobre el Evangelio del Apóstol San Juan, capitulo 2, las Bodas de Caná, vemos que María se acercó a su hijo para pedirle que hiciera algo que estaba fuera de la capacidad humana. Jesús se encargó de las necesidades de la gente cumpliendo el pedido de su madre haciendo una intervención. Lo que sigue es un milagro. Jesús convierte agua a vino proveyéndoles a los invitados más de lo que ellos mismos podían proveerse. Imaginen que sucedería si nosotros pudiéramos confiar que lo mismo sucederá con nuestras vidas. Imaginen las posibilidades en nuestra diócesis si confiamos plenamente que Jesús actuará en nombre de María, así como en las bodas de Caná. Orando el Rosario juntos nos hará recibir la gracia. Sin embargo, quiero subrayar tres cosas que confío sucederán si nos unimos a la intercesión. Primero, recordaremos que es Dios quien está haciendo la renovación de nuestra diócesis. La implementación del plan estratégico no es simplemente una iniciativa hecha por feligreses creativos. Esto es nuestra forma de cooperar con Dios y con lo que Dios hace. Cuando le pedimos a

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • June 2017

Dios que actúe, debemos recordar que esta es la diócesis de Dios, el plan de Dios y la voluntad renovadora de Dios. Recordemos que Jesús nos enseñó que «sin mí no podrán hacer nada» (Juan 15:5). Segundo, rezar el Rosario nos protege del «cómo» Dios renovará nuestras parroquias y nuestra diócesis. Hay una diferencia entre el deseo y la expectativa. Un deseo es solamente una expresión de las emociones más recónditas del corazón. Un deseo es saludable y santo. Sin embargo, una expectativa es una expresión de nuestro deseo de saber «cómo» Dios actuará. Una expectativa es un intento de controlar cómo se llevarán a cabo nuestros deseos. Cuando le pedimos a Dios que nos ayude, es bueno expresar nuestros deseos. Además, controlar nuestras expectativas nos protege de querer saber cómo se llevarán a cabo estas expectativas o esperando que sucedan de una manera que nosotros queremos que suceda. Finalmente, rezar el Rosario nos unirá como un solo pueblo, una diócesis. Tal vez no podremos estar juntos en un lugar. Tal vez no podamos vernos todos los días. Les daré un ejemplo. En julio del 2004, teníamos solamente cuatro seminaristas. Durante ese tiempo y considerando el número de seminaristas por número de parroquias en la diócesis, nuestro número de seminaristas colocaba nuestra diócesis en el diez por ciento más bajo de la nación. En agosto del 2004, hubo un esfuerzo por rezar el Rosario por las vocaciones del sacerdocio. Muchos de ustedes o muchos de los feligreses lo hicieron. Después de muchos días y después de muchos Rosarios algo bello sucedió. Muchos feligreses se encontraron en situaciones de encuentro con otros feligreses entre parroquias que también rezaban el Rosario. Inmediatamente hubo

algo en común. Había unidad no por una parroquia común sino por una comunión común de oración. Además, el fruto de la iniciativa diocesana de rezar el Rosario dio grandes frutos. En el fin de semana del Pentecostés del 2017, ordenaremos a tres en el sacerdocio. Me ha dicho la Oficina Diocesana de Vocaciones que en agosto anticipamos tener aproximadamente 16 seminaristas. Esto es un aumento enorme en comparación a nuestros números el 2004. Al considerar los números de seminaristas y el número de parroquias en nuestra diócesis, nuestro número de seminaristas por parroquia está ahora cerca del 10 por ciento más alto de la nación. Por la acción de María, Jesús hizo milagros en Caná. Y por intercesión de María, Jesús continúa bendiciendo nuestra diócesis con vocaciones. Inspirados por lo que sabemos que es posible, invito a cada uno de nuestros feligreses en la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux a orar el Rosario seguido y que le pidan a Dios que bendiga la implementación de nuestro plan estratégico. Cuando terminen cada década del Rosario, recen directamente con Dios y pídanle bendiciones. Después de la primera década, oren por la protección espiritual de todas las fases de implementación del plan estratégico. Después de la segunda década, oren por mí, por su obispo. Después de la tercera década, oren por todos nuestros sacerdotes, diáconos y seminaristas. Después de la cuarta década oren por la renovación de su parroquia. Después de la quinta década, oren por la renovación de nuestra diócesis. Oremos juntos y veamos la gracia que nuestro Dios nos otorgará. Traducido por Julio Contreras, feligrés de la iglesia católica Annunziata en Houma.

Binh luan bang loi

Hãy cùng nhau cầu nguyện cho sự canh tân giáo phận của chúng ta

Tôi muốn mời tất cả mọi người tham gia với tôi trong việc cầu nguyện kinh Mân Côi, và cầu xin cho kế hoạch phát triển của giáo phận được thành công. Đức Thánh Cha Phanxicô nói về kinh Mân Côi rằng: “Kinh Mân Côi là lời cầu nguyện luôn đồng hành với tôi, đó cũng là lời cầu nguyện của những người bình thường và cả những người thánh thiện... đó là lời cầu nguyện từ trái tim của tôi” (Kinh Mân Côi, Lời cầu nguyện từ trái tim, Đức Thánh Cha Phanxicô, ngày 13 tháng 5 năm 2014). Tôi đang mời gọi tất cả mọi người, cả “nhữnng người bình thường” lẫn “những người thánh thiện”, hãy cầu nguyện Kinh Mân Côi để xin Chúa ban phúc lành cho giáo phận yêu dấu của chúng ta. Khi chúng ta suy gẫm Tin Mừng Thánh Gioan chương 2, về tiệc cưới Cana, chúng ta nhận ra rằng Mẹ Maria đã đến với con mình và khẩn cầu Ngài làm một việc vượt quá khả năng của con người. Chúa Giêsu đã đáp lại những nhu cầu của người ta bằng việc đáp trả lời cầu xin của Mẹ mình can thiệp cho họ. Điều xảy ra là một phép lạ. Chúa Giêsu biến nước thành rượu, qua đó ban cho họ nhiều hơn những gì họ có thể tự lo cho mình. Hãy hình dung với tôi điều gì đó có thể xảy ra nếu chúng ta tin rằng điều tương tự sẽ xảy ra trong cuộc sống của chúng ta. Hãy nghĩ tới những gì có thể làm cho giáo phận của chúng ta nếu chúng ta hoàn toàn tin tưởng rằng Chúa Giêsu sẽ hành động qua lời chuyển cầu của Mẹ Maria, giống như Ngài đã làm ở Cana. Việc cùng nhau cầu nguyện kinh Mân Côi sẽ giúp chúng ta được nhiều ân sủng. Tuy nhiên, tôi muốn nhấn mạnh ba điều mà tôi xác tín sẽ xảy ra nếu chúng ta cùng nhau cầu nguyện. Trước hết, chúng ta sẽ được nhắc nhở rằng sự canh tân giáo phận là điều Thiên Chúa đang làm. Việc thực hiện kế hoạch phát triển không chỉ là sáng kiến sáng tạo của các giáo dân trong giáo xứ. Về cơ bản chúng ta đang cộng tác với những gì Thiên Chúa muốn, với những gì Thiên

Chúa đang làm. Khi chúng ta cầu xin Thiên Chúa hành động, nó nhắc nhở chúng ta rằng đây là giáo phận của Thiên Chúa, kế hoạch của Thiên Chúa, và ước muốn của Thiên Chúa để đổi mới. Nó nhắc nhở chúng ta những gì Chúa Giêsu đã dạy chúng ta, “Không có Thầy, anh em không thể làm gì được” (Ga 15: 5). Thứ hai, việc cầu nguyện kinh Mân Côi sẽ bảo vệ chúng ta khỏi việc nắm bắt “cách thức” Thiên Chúa sẽ canh tân các giáo xứ và giáo phận của chúng ta. Có sự khác biệt giữa ao ước và kỳ vọng. Ao ước chỉ đơn thuần là sự biểu hiện của sự khuấy động sâu thẳm trong lòng chúng ta. Ao ước là sự lành mạnh và thánh thiện. Ngược lại, kỳ vọng được diễn tả trong sự hiểu biết của chúng ta về “cách thức” Thiên Chúa sẽ hành động. Kỳ vọng là khi chúng ta cố gắng kiểm soát cách thức những ao ước của chúng ta sẽ thực hiện. Khi chúng ta cầu xin Thiên Chúa ban ơn cho chúng ta, nó giúp diễn tả những ao ước của chúng ta. Hơn nữa, việc kiểm soát những kỳ vọng của chúng ta sẽ bảo vệ chúng ta khỏi việc mong đợi nó sẽ xảy ra như thế nào, hoặc khỏi việc mong đợi rằng nó chỉ có thể xảy ra theo một cách nào đó. Cuối cùng, cầu nguyện kinh Mân Côi sẽ liên kết chúng ta lại với nhau như một dân tộc, như một giáo phận. Chúng ta không thể ở cùng nhau trong một nơi chốn theo nghĩa vật lý. Có thể chúng ta không gặp nhau mỗi ngày. Thế nhưng, trong lời cầu nguyện, chúng ta sẽ hiệp nhất trong Thiên Chúa. Sự hiệp nhất thông qua cầu nguyện là điều rất thật. Tôi xin đưa ra một thí dụ. Vào tháng 7 năm 2004, chúng ta có bốn chủng sinh. Vào thời điểm đó, khi xem xét số lượng chủng sinh và số giáo xứ trong giáo phận, tỉ lệ chủng sinh của chúng ta đối với giáo xứ được xếp hạng chót gần 10 phần trăm trong nước. Vào tháng 8 năm 2004, ý kiến đọc kinh Mân Côi cầu cho ơn gọi Linh mục được đề ra. Nhiều người trong Anh Chị Em (ACE), hoặc nhiều người trong giáo xứ của ACE, bắt đầu làm như vậy. Ngày qua ngày, lần hết chuỗi này đến chuỗi khác, có điều gì tốt đẹp đã xảy ra. Người ta tìm chính

mình trong những tình huống mà họ gặp người khác, từ các giáo xứ khác nhau, có những người cũng đang cầu nguyện kinh Mân Côi. Ngay lập tức đã có một cái gì đó chung. Đã có sự hiệp nhất, không phải vì một giáo xứ chung, mà vì sự hiệp thông với nhau trong lời cầu nguyện. Hơn nữa, hoa trái của sáng kiến cầu nguyện kinh Mân Côi của giáo phận đã mang lại những hoa quả tuyệt vời. Vào Lễ Hiện Xuống năm 2017, chúng tôi sẽ phong chức cho 3 Linh mục. Trong sự so sánh với con số năm 2004, tôi được Văn phòng ơn gọi giáo phận cho biết rằng tháng 8 này chúng tôi dự kiến có khoảng 16 chủng sinh. Xét theo số lượng chủng sinh và số giáo xứ trong giáo phận, tỷ lệ chủng sinh của chúng ta so với giáo xứ hiện nay xếp hạng đầu gần 10 phần trăm trong nước. Đáp lại lời cầu bầu của Đức Maria, Chúa Giêsu đã làm phép lạ ở Cana. Đáp lại lời cầu bầu của Đức Maria, Chúa 11 Giêsu tiếp tục chúc lành cho giáo phận chúng ta có nhiều ơn gọi. Được cảm hứng bởi những gì chúng ta biết là khả thi, tôi mời gọi tất cả các giáo dân trong giáo phận HoumaThibodaux cầu nguyện kinh Mân Côi càng nhiều càng tốt để cầu xin Chúa chúc lành cho việc thực hiện kế hoạch phát triển của chúng ta. Khi ACE lần hết mỗi chục của chuỗi Mân Côi, xin hãy dừng lại một chút và đặc biệt cầu xin Chúa ban phúc lành của Người. Sau chục kinh thứ nhất, xin hãy cầu nguyện cho sự bảo vệ thiêng liêng cho mọi lãnh vực của việc thực hiện kế hoạch phát triển. Sau chục kinh thứ hai, xin hãy cầu nguyện cho tôi, người phục vụ ACE với tư cách là Giám mục. Sau chục kinh thứ ba, xin hãy cầu nguyện cho tất cả các Linh mục, Phó tế và chủng sinh. Sau chục kinh thứ tư, xin hãy cầu nguyện cho việc canh tân giáo xứ của ACE. Sau chục kinh thứ thứ năm, xin hãy cầu nguyện cho sự canh tân giáo phận của chúng ta. Chúng ta hãy cầu nguyện cùng nhau, và hãy nghiệm xem những gì Thiên Chúa đã ban cho chúng ta. Dịch thuật do Lm. Francis Bui, SDD và Thầy Paul Vu, SDD. Tu Đoàn Tông Đồ Giáo Sĩ Nhà Chúa www.bayoucatholic.com

Comment

Pope Francis: Fatima reminds us to care for the faith of children The Pope Speaks

V 12

Vatican City, (CNA/EWTN News) On Sunday, May 14, Pope Francis reflected on the May 13 canonization of the child visionaries St. Francisco and Jacinta Marto, saying that their faithfulness, despite their young age, reminds us to pay special attention to children in the ministry of the Church. “In Fatima the Virgin chose the innocent heart and the simplicity of little Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia, as guardians of her message. These children received it worthily, so to be recognized as reliable witnesses to the apparitions, and to become models of Christian life.” “With the canonization of Francisco and Jacinta, I wanted to propose to the whole Church their example of adherence to Christ and of evangelical witness, and I also wanted to propose to the whole Church to take care of children,” he said May 14. The holiness of these children is not a consequence of the apparitions they received, he said, but of the “fidelity and ardor with which they returned the privilege they received of being able to see the Virgin Mary.” “After the encounter with the ‘beautiful lady,’ as they called her, they frequently recited the Rosary, they did penance and offered sacrifices for the end of the war and for the most needy souls of divine mercy.” This is what made them saints, he said. Pope Francis addressed around 25,000 people in St. Peter’s Square

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • June 2017

LUSA Press agency

Sunday afternoon before praying the Regina Coeli. In his greeting, he expressed his gratefulness to God for the opportunity to make a pilgrimage to Fatima May 12-13 for the centenary of the apparitions, going “to the feet of the Virgin Mother as a pilgrim of hope and peace.” He also thanked the bishops of Portugal, and in particular the Bishop of Leiria-Fátima, António Augusto dos Santos Marto, as well as the local authorities and everyone who helped to organize the visit. “Last night I returned from the pilgrimage to Fatima,” he said, pausing to add a greeting to “the Madonna of Fatima!” followed by cheers from those present. “In Fatima, I was immersed in the prayer of the holy faithful people, a prayer that flows there for a hundred years as a river, to beg Mary’s maternal protection on the whole world,” he went on. “From the very beginning, when in the Chapel of the Apparitions I stayed for a long time in silence, accompanied by the prayerful silence of all the pilgrims, a together and contemplative climate was created where the various moments of prayer took place.” And at the center of all of this, he said, was the Risen Lord present in the Eucharist. Even 100 years after the first appearance of Our Lady of Fatima there is still a great need for prayer and penance for the grace of conversion, Francis said. We also

need prayers “to implore the end of so many wars that are everywhere in the world… and which disfigure the face of humanity.” “Let us be guided by the light coming from Fatima. The Immaculate Heart of Mary is always our shelter, our consolation, and the way that leads us to Christ,” he said. Following the prayer, the Pope spoke with sympathy for the people affected by wars and conflicts in the Middle East, both Christians and Muslims, who suffer from violence and discrimination. “My solidarity accompanies the memory of prayer,” he said, thanking all those who provide humanitarian aid and encouraging “the various communities to follow the path of dialogue and reconciliation to build a future of respect, security and peace.” He also mentioned the beatification in Dublin May 13 of Jesuit priest John Sullivan, who lived during the 19th and 20th centuries in Ireland. He was devoted to the teaching and training of young people, the Pope said, “and was loved and respected as a father to the poor and the suffering.” Pope Francis concluded his address by mentioning the celebration of Mother’s Day in several countries. “Let us remember with gratitude and affection all moms, even our moms in heaven, trusting them to Mary, the mother of Jesus,” he said, concluding with a moment of silent prayer for mothers.

Questions of Faith Very Rev. Joshua Rodrigue, STL

Many churches are now saying the rosary aloud before Sunday Mass and even during holy hours. I do enjoy saying the rosary privately, but I don’t like being forced to do so. I believe that my time before Mass should be for solitude and private prayer. Do I have the wrong attitude? The rosary has been an important part in the spiritual life of the church throughout the centuries as a way to meditate on the mysteries of our redemption. While it is considered a private devotion, very often groups will participate in it together publically, especially in the months of October and May, just as in Lent the private devotion of the Stations of the Cross becomes a communal devotion. Especially having just celebrated the 100th anniversary of the apparition and message of Our Lady of Fatima, a renewal in praying the rosary has taken root in a number of families and parish communities. Although the message of Fatima was given last century, its call for the conversion of souls, practice of penance, and offering of sacrifice is still timeless and can benefit the individual, community and world. The rosary can be a good way to prepare for Mass by meditating upon the mysteries; however, others prefer to prepare for Mass by praying with the readings beforehand or with the Liturgy of the Hours or, like in your situation, with their own personal devotions and prayers. The rosary prayed aloud can be distracting to those who prepare differently. Moreover, there are still others who seem to prepare for Mass by catching up on the latest parish happenings, local news, and politics, which seems to be more distracting than the rosary prayed aloud. (I have noticed that the previously mentioned form of “preparation” usually lessens when the rosary is prayed or the choir sings before Mass).

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

If you arrive and the rosary is being prayed, know that you are not forced to pray it with the group offering it. You can pray in the way that best prepares you to enter into the sacred mysteries to be celebrated. Perhaps the church has a daily Mass or adoration chapel to allow for some quiet time while the rosary is prayed. Rather than drop the tradition altogether, perhaps a balance can be found. Very often the Catholic Church is not an either, or but a both, and church. Beginning the rosary earlier and leaving the last 15-20 minutes for silent prayer and meditation can allow those who find great fruit in this way of preparing for Mass to be nourished while still giving others an opportunity for quiet, personal prayer and meditation. Having that time for quiet preparation can extend the fruits of the rosary by allowing for further meditation on the mysteries previously prayed or seeing one’s own spiritual life in connection with those mysteries. In referencing the importance of the church in balancing both the Latin and Eastern traditions to ensure the health of the church, Pope St. John Paul II said in his encyclical Ut Unum Sint (Latin: “That they may be one”), “The church must breathe with her two lungs! (no. 54).” We can perhaps see the communal praying of the rosary and the private preparation as breathing with two lungs. The recited rosary on behalf of the community may be an instrument of grace and support the personal prayer of

individuals within the community, and likewise the personal prayer moves the individual to a greater love for others through our encounter with the Lord. Even though we prepare individually 13 for Mass, we must remember our encounter with the Lord during the liturgy is also in the midst of a community. We must take heart in knowing that Our Lady will never want to overshadow our encounter with her Son, especially in the Mass, but would only want to assist us. In worshipping the Lord in the Mass, we must be cautious that our desire for solitude and private prayer before Mass to help prepare us does not continue throughout the Mass. What is important to remember is that the various preparations, whether individually or communally, should assist us in encountering Christ himself through a full, conscious, and active participation in the liturgy with the worshiping community.

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

God is the ultimate provider of our economic sustenance

I 14

In the last couple of months several of the parishes along the bayous in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux celebrated the Blessing of the Shrimp Fleet, or as it is more commonly referred to, “The Blessing of the Boats.” Because the shrimp harvest is critical to the health of the economy of the region which comprises the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux, we implore God’s blessing upon the efforts of those in the shrimping industry. The Old Testament tells of agricultural festivals celebrated by the Israelites. Might there be a connection between the Boat Blessing and the Israelite festivals? Let us approach this question by reviewing those Biblical festivals. Two such Israelite agricultural festivals are Passover and Unleavened Bread. Exodus 12:120 depicts the two feasts as being celebrated in sequence: Passover on the 14th day of the first month of the Israelite year, and Unleavened Bread extending for a week, beginning with the 15th of the month. But this passage is among the latest strata of literature in the Pentateuch and probably dates to the period after the Babylonian Exile began (587 B.C.), when priests in exile codified the traditional Israelite festivals. In Exodus 12, the feasts are placed in the context of the

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • June 2017

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

final Exodus plague (the death of the firstborn), the night before the Israelites are released by Pharaoh. Originally, however, these feasts were probably separate and had agricultural origins. Most likely Passover originated with Palestinian sheep herders, who may have celebrated it as a fertility ritual (J.J. Castelot and A. Cody, O.S.B., “Religious Institutions” in New Jerome Biblical Commentary, eds. R.E. Brown, S.S.; J.A. Fitzmyer, S.J.; R.E. Murphy, O.Carm., pp. 12771278). A young animal from the flock was sacrificed to implore God to make the herd prolific. Blood was smeared on the nomadic herders’ tent poles just before they broke camp to head for fresh spring pastures. Unleavened Bread was celebrated at the beginning of the barley harvest. It may have been adopted from the Canaanites, but was made into an Israelite feast. For seven days, from Sabbath to Sabbath, bread made from the new grain only, and without leaven, was eaten, with no flour made from the produce of the previous harvest. This ritual symbolized a new start. Josiah, King of Judah from 640-609 B.C., during his reform of Israelite religion, revived the Passover and Unleavened Bread Festivals and may have combined the two (see 2 Kings 23:21-23). During Josiah’s reform, Passover was to be celebrated in Jerusalem (an innovation of the Deuteronomistic school), and it became a pilgrimage festival. After the Babylonian Exile these two feasts were associated with the Exodus from Egypt, and therefore were celebrated together as a

commemoration of the Israelites’ ancestors’ deliverance (Castelot and Cody, “Religious Institutions,” in The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, p.1277). The Feast of Weeks was related to the Feast of Unleavened Bread in that it occurred seven weeks after the beginning of the barley harvest. Apparently, this feast was timed to take place when the barley harvest was completed, in order that an offering of the produce “in proportion to the blessing the Lord your God has bestowed upon you” could be made (Deuteronomy 16:9-10). Leviticus 23:15-21 gives a more detailed explanation of how the feast was to be celebrated. Besides the grain offering, a male goat and two yearling lambs were to be offered as well, and a sacred assembly was to be held. This was to happen on the day after seven full weeks from the Sabbath immediately following the offering of the first barley sheaf. This chronology would place the festival on the 50th day. Hence, the feast also came to be known as “Pentecost,” from the Greek word for 50th. At a later time the feast of Pentecost was associated with the giving of the Law at Sinai. Exodus 19:1 dates the Israelites’ arrival at Sinai to the third month after their departure from Egypt (Castelot and Cody, “Religious Institutions,” in The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, p.1278). The departure took place in the middle of the first month (see Exodus 12:2; 13:17), and therefore the Israelites’ arrival at Sinai would coincide with the time when the Feast of Weeks was celebrated (Ibid.). Therefore, in later times, perhaps after

the Babylonian Exile, the Feast of Pentecost came to be associated with the giving of the Law. Just as Christianity retained Passover with a transformed understanding, viz., that it became for Christians a festival of the Paschal Mystery, so Pentecost came to be associated with the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thus the Feast of Pentecost, which we will celebrate on the first weekend of June this year, has roots that go back ultimately to the Feast of Weeks. So do our Boat Blessings share anything in common with the Israelite festivals described above? By blessing the shrimp fleet we are asking God to “bless the work of our hands” (Psalm 90:17), a request that is rooted in the faith of ancient Israel. Our ancestors in the faith saw an intimate connection between the agricultural trades that they undertook and their relationship with God. Ultimately, they saw the success or failure of their work as being due to God’s favor or the lack of it. For Israel, the appropriate response to the agricultural bounty they reaped

was an expression of thanksgiving to God, an expression which became ritualized in liturgical celebrations called “festivals.” The Boat Blessings, which have long been celebrated in our area, wisely connect our work and our faith. In a world that is becoming increasingly more secular, there might be a temptation to make economic festivals focus on human ability, without a sense of God’s role in our economic sustenance. The Creator is the ultimate provider of the seafood and crops that we

Reflection

harvest. If we have the ability to reap these harvests, it is God who enables us to do so. The same is no less true of industry. Ultimately the raw materials that we shape into useful products, although they may be changed through extensive processes, originate with God. We can never forget the lesson of Genesis 2:4b-9. God creates a male human being to “till the soil,” and a female as a helpmate to him (2:18-22), and thereby God invites them to cooperate with him in his continuing process of creation.

Questions

r hands,” work of you e th ss le “b to at you are ou ask God God for wh n How do y to s k n a th you offer and how do plish? uce or accom ter sense of able to prod ciety a grea so r ou in e ustry? we promot God in ind to g in n How can iv sg k an with and th cooperation y festivals, modern-da er h ot ? How of k in k with faith or w t ec n Can you th n n co rituals that traditions or ? do they do so

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ScriptureReadings and a listing of Feast days and saints

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

1 June

Friday

Saturday

Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and companions, martyrs Acts 28:16-20, 30-31 John 21:20-25

Solemnity of Pentecost Acts 2:1-11 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 John 20:19-23

Memorial of Saint Boniface, bishop and martyr Tobit 1:3, 2:1b-8 Mark 12:1-12

Weekday Tobit 2:9-14 Mark 12:13-17

Weekday Tobit 3:1-11a, 1617a Mark 12:18-27

Weekday Tobit 6:10-11, 7:1bcde, 9-17; 8:4-9a Mark 12:28-34

Weekday Tobit 11:5-17 Mark 12:35-37

Weekday Tobit 12:1, 5-15 Mark 12:38-44

Weekday Memorial of Saint 2 Corinthians 1:1-7 Anthony of Padua, Matthew 5:1-12 priest and doctor of the church 2 Corinthians 1:1822 Matthew 5:13-16

Weekday 2 Corinthians 3:411 Matthew 5:17-19

Weekday 2 Corinthians 3:15—4:1, 3-6 Matthew 5:20-26

Weekday 2 Corinthians 4:715 Matthew 5:27-32

Weekday 2 Corinthians 5:1421 Matthew 5:33-37

Weekday 2 Corinthians 6:110 Matthew 5:38-42

Weekday Genesis 12:1-9 Matthew 7:1-5

Weekday 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 Matthew 5:43-48

Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, religious 2 Corinthians 9:611 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Weekday 2 Corinthians 11:111 Matthew 6:7-15

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Deuteronomy 7:6-11 1 John 4:7-16 Matthew 11:25-30

Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist Isaiah 49:1-6 Acts 13:22-26 Luke 1:57-66, 80

1 July

Memorial of Saint Weekday Genesis 13:2, 5-18 Irenaeus, bishop Matthew 7:6, 12-14 and martyr Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 Matthew 7:15-20

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • June 2017

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, apostles Acts 12:1-11 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 Matthew 16:13-19

Weekday Genesis 17:1, 9-10, 15-22 Matthew 8:1-4

Sunday

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 John 3:16-18

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Deuteronomy 8:23, 14b-16a 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 John 6:51-58

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time Jeremiah 20:10-13 Romans 5:12-15 Matthew 10:26-33

June

Holy Father’s prayer intentions

Universal

Eliminate arms trade. That national leaders may firmly commit themselves to ending the arms trade, which victimizes so many innocent people.

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Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

gives testimony on behalf of Louisiana bishops Full text of Bishop Fabre’s death penalty testimony

In April of this year the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement regarding the death penalty. The statement concluded that the death penalty is not acceptable. The Bishops asked all men and women of good faith, especially those members of the Louisiana legislature, to search their hearts in an effort to seek mercy and love to support the repeal of the death penalty and aid in building a culture of life. Bishop Shelton J. Fabre gave a capital punishment testimony before the Louisiana Senate Committee in Baton Rouge April 24, in the name of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Catholic community of the State of Louisiana. After hearing testimonies Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • June 2017

against and in favor of the death penalty, the Senate’s Judiciary C Committee voted 6-1 to have the full Senate consider Senate Bill 142 by Sen. Dan Claitor, R-Baton Rouge, which would eliminate the death penalty for any offense committed after July 31. When the bill came up for a vote in a House criminal justice committee, it was killed by a measure of 9-8. Following is Bishop Fabre’s testimony: Capital Punishment Testimony Louisiana Senate Committee – April 24, 2017 By Bishop Shelton J. Fabre I consider it an honor to be present here among you today to speak in favor of abolishing the death penalty in the State of Louisiana.

I want to emphasize that I come here today not as a politician or in the name of any political party, but solely as a pastor of souls, who comes before you in the name of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Catholic community in our great state. While there are many reasons to abolish the death penalty, I am present to emphasize and to proclaim again that chief among these reasons is our understanding of the unique beauty and sacredness of all human life from the first moment of conception to the time of natural death. Recognizing that all human life is sacred, I therefore raise my voice along with my brother bishops in stating the importance of abolishing capital punishment in our state, in

our nation, and in the relatively very few places it remains practiced in our world. In the circumstances of this time in history, and with the availability of other options, such as life imprisonment, the Catholic Church considers the death penalty an offense against the holiness of human life. Therefore, the use of the death penalty is unnecessary and unjustified in our time and in our circumstances. It sadly simply perpetuates the cycle of violence in a culture of death that must be transformed into a culture of life. With a heavy heart and great concern, I willingly admit that I, too, am often horrified by terrible acts of violence and the deadly crimes present in society today. Along with the Catholic Community and as a priest and bishop, I am mindful and certainly aware of the anger, pain and great agony felt by families whose lives have been broken by the death of a loved one brought about by the hand of those who commit horrible murders. These families deserve the assistance and help they need to overcome such a great tragedy.

We stand with them in their grief, and offer assistance in finding hope in spite of their suffering as they search for justice. “However, standing with families of victims does not compel us to support the use of the death penalty. Often, these families are further violated by the legal processes and public attention that come with capital punishment. For many left behind, a death sentence offers the illusion of closure and vindication. No act, even an execution, can bring back a loved one or heal terrible wounds. The pain and loss of one death cannot be wiped away by another death” (USCCB, A Culture of Life and the Death Penalty, 2005). Giving over to emotions, in many instances the death penalty is sought for the purpose of revenge, and not justice. We should never equate the value of a person’s life and their human dignity with the worst thing they have ever done, no matter how heinous the content of their worst action. Even though we might want, for whatever reason, to deny the human dignity of others, we must

remember that a person’s human dignity is a gift given to them by God, and is not something earned or lost through their behavior, no matter how good or bad. Laws of retaliation and retribution are found in many places in Sacred Scripture. However, we must always remember that these concerns in Sacred Scripture begin with God not slaying Cain for the death of Abel, and end with Jesus challenging us not to respond to violence with more violence. Therefore, for the Catholic community, ending the death penalty is not about public policy or even public opinion for that matter. Though there are indeed many reasons to end the death penalty, for Catholics, ending the death penalty involves our faith, and the primary and most important reason to end the death penalty is because of our belief that all human life is sacred, and human dignity is a gift from God. Ending the death penalty in the State of Louisiana is essential in rejecting a culture of death and building a culture of life. Thank you.

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Bishop Fabre announces pastoral appointments and retirements In order to provide pastoral care for the people of God of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Bishop Shelton J. Fabre has made the following pastoral appointments, effective July 1. The Rev. Michael Bergeron, 20 who has been retired since July 2016, has been appointed administrator of St. Charles Borromeo Church parish in the St. Charles Community. Father Bergeron, a native of Houma, LA, was ordained to the priesthood June 8, 1996. Deacon Paul Birdsall has been appointed as deacon intern at Christ the Redeemer Church parish in Thibodaux, effective from June until October 2017. The Rev. Duc Bui, who has been serving as diocesan director of Hispanic Ministry since July 2016, has been appointed administrator of St. Andrew Church parish in Amelia. He will continue to serve as diocesan director of Hispanic Ministry. Father Bui, a native of Tan Phuoc, Vietnam, was ordained to the priesthood Nov. 25, 2004. The Rev. Joseph Chacko, who has been serving as pastor of St. Andrew Church parish in Amelia since June 2012, has been appointed Chaplain to Terrebonne General Medical Center in Houma. Father Chacko, a native of Karikulem Kottayam, Kerala, India, was ordained to the priesthood Dec. 22, 1980.

Rev. Michael Bergeron

Deacon Paul Birdsall

Rev. Duc Bui

Rev. Joseph Chacko

Rev. Domingo â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dingâ&#x20AC;? Cruz

Rev. Robert-Joel Cruz

Rev. Vicente DeLa Cruz

Rev. Alex Gaudet

Rev. Brice Higginbotham

Rev. Thomas Kuriakose

Rev. Baby Kuruvilla

Rev. Peter Tai Le

Rev. Glenn LeCompte

Very Rev. Eric Leyble, J.V.

Rev. Jacob Lipari III

Rev. Michael Manase, O.C.D.

Rev. John David Matherne

Rev. Ty Van Nguyen

Rev. Jean-Marie Nsambu

Rev. Blair Sabaricos

Rev. Wilmer Todd

Very Rev. Mark Toups, V.G.

Rev. Joseph Tregre

Rev. Romeo “Billy” Velasco

The Rev. Domingo “Ding” Cruz, who has been serving as associate pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Church parish in Larose since July 2016, will be retiring at the end of June. He will live in residence at Our Lady of the Rosary Church parish in Larose. Father Cruz, a native of Bulacan, Philippines, was ordained to the priesthood Dec. 1, 1973. The diocese thanks Father Cruz for his 26 years of ministry. The Rev. Robert-Joel Cruz, who has been serving as pastor of Sacred Heart Church parish in Montegut since July 2015, has been appointed pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Church parish in Pointaux-Chenes. He will remain pastor of Sacred Heart in Montegut. Father Cruz, a native of Lucban, Quezon, Philippines, was ordained to the priesthood June 8, 1996. The Rev. Vicente DeLa Cruz,

J.C.L., who has been serving as judicial vicar since October 1995 and as pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church parish in Bayou Black since June 2012, has been appointed a judge on the diocesan Tribunal. He will remain pastor of St. Anthony parish. Father DeLa Cruz, a native of Olongapo City, Philippines, was ordained to the priesthood Dec. 8, 1990. The Rev. Alex Gaudet, who has been serving as associate pastor of St. Genevieve Church parish in Thibodaux since July 2016, has been appointed administrator of St. Ann Church parish in Bourg. Father Gaudet, a native of Thibodaux, LA, was ordained to the priesthood May 30, 2015. The Rev. Brice Higginbotham, who was ordained to the priesthood June 3, 2017, has been appointed associate pastor of the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales parish in

Houma. Father Higginbotham is a native of Church Point, LA. The Rev. Thomas Kuriakose, who has been serving as pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Church parish in Point-aux-Chenes since June 2010, has been appointed pastor of St. Lawrence the Martyr Church parish in Kraemer. Father Kuriakose, a native of Kallara, Kerala, India, was ordained to the priesthood Jan. 1, 1983. The Rev. Baby Kuruvilla, who has been serving as pastor of St. Lawrence the Martyr Church parish in Kraemer since 2008, has been appointed pastor of St. Joseph Church parish in Chauvin. Father Kuruvilla, a native of Koodalloor, Kerala, India, was ordained to the priesthood May 12, 1990. The Rev. Peter Tai Le, who has been serving as Chaplain of Terrebonne General Medical Center in Houma since September 2016, has been appointed pastor of St. Joseph Church parish in Galliano. Father Le, a native of Chu-Hai, Vietnam, was ordained to the priesthood June 13, 1998. The Rev. Glenn LeCompte, who has been serving as diocesan 21 director of the Office of Worship since June 2008 and on the faculty of Saint Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict, LA, since January 2017, has been appointed associate pastor of St. Bernadette Church parish in Houma. Father LeCompte, a native of Houma, LA, was ordained to the priesthood May 24, 1986. The Very Rev. Eric Leyble, J.V., who has been serving as administrator of St. Genevieve Church parish in Thibodaux since July 2016, has been appointed pastor of the parish. In addition, Father Leyble, who has served as adjutant judicial vicar since 2016, has been appointed judicial vicar. Father Leyble, a native of Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines, was ordained to the priesthood May 26, 2012. The Rev. Jacob Lipari III, who has been serving as associate pastor of St. Bernadette Church parish in Houma since July 2015, has been appointed associate pastor of St. Hilary Church parish in Mathews and St. Mary Church parish in Raceland, as well as Chaplain to the Knights of Columbus in

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Pastoral appointments the diocese. He will live in residence at St. Hilary Church parish in Mathews. Father Lipari, a native of New Orleans, LA, was ordained to the priesthood May 30, 2015. The Rev. Michael Manase, O.C.D., a member of the Discalced Carmelite Order who has been serving as pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Church parish in the St. Charles Community since June 2008, has been reassigned by his religious superior to ministry outside of the diocese. Father Manase, a native of Muthiyavila, Kerala, India, was ordained to the priesthood March 14, 1977. The diocese thanks Father Manase for his 11 years of service. The Rev. John David Matherne, who was ordained to the priesthood June 3, 2017, has been appointed associate pastor of Sacred Heart Church parish in Cut Off with assistance given to Holy Rosary Catholic School in Larose. Father Matherne is a native of Raceland, LA. The Rev. Ty Van Nguyen, who 22 has been serving as pastor of St. Ann Church parish in Bourg since June 2002, will be retiring at the end of June. Father Nguyen, a native of Mah Son, Vietnam, was ordained to the priesthood May 25, 1985. The diocese thanks Father Nguyen for his 32 years of ministry. The Rev. Jean-Marie Nsambu, who was ordained to the priesthood

June 3, 2017, has been appointed associate pastor of Annunziata Church parish in Houma. Father Nsambu is a native of Kampala, Uganda, Africa. The Rev. Blair Sabaricos, who has been serving as administrator of St. Lawrence Church parish in Chacahoula since July 2016, has been appointed pastor of that parish. Father Sabaricos, a native of Bohol, Philippines, was ordained April 10, 1991. The Rev. Wilmer Todd, who has been serving as pastor of St. Joseph Church parish in Chauvin since July 2014, will be returning to retirement at the end of June. Father Todd, a native of New Orleans, LA, was ordained to the priesthood Dec. 21, 1963. The diocese thanks Father Todd for his 40 years of ministry. The Very Rev. Mark Toups, V.G., who has been serving as vicar general for parish life since April 2017 and coordinator of strategic planning since October 2015, has been appointed administrator of the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales parish in Houma. Father Toups will continue as vicar general for parish life and coordinator of strategic planning. Father Toups, a native of Houma, LA, was ordained to the priesthood May 26, 2001. The Rev. Joseph Tregre, who has been serving as pastor of St. Joseph Church parish in

Galliano since July 2015, has been appointed Chaplain to Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma, E.D. White Catholic High School in Thibodaux and to the diocesan Committee on Scouting, as well as part-time associate pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church parish in Thibodaux. Father Tregre, a native of Houma, LA, was ordained to the priesthood May 26, 2012. The Rev. Romeo “Billy” Velasco, who has been serving as Chaplain of Thibodaux Regional Medical Center in Thibodaux since November 2016, has been appointed associate pastor of St. Genevieve Church parish in Thibodaux. Father Velasco, a native of Atimonan, Quezon, Philippines, was ordained to the priesthood May 6, 1987. The Rev. Sovi DeVisa (not pictured) has been appointed Chaplain to Thibodaux Regional Medical Center in Thibodaux. Father DeVisa is a native of the Philippines. The Rev. Rajasekar Karumelnathan, M.S.F.S., (not pictured) a priest of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales, has been appointed associate pastor of Sacred Heart Church parish in Montegut and St. Charles Borromeo Church parish in Point-aux-Chenes. Father Karumelnathan, M.S.F.S., is a native of India.

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Part 1 of 2

St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux is rich with symbolism Guest Columnist Father Michael Bergeron

The purpose of this article is not to write another history of St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux. The purpose is to discuss the rich symbolism found throughout this magnificent building. But a brief background of the church is helpful to our discussion. Additionally, some new historical information behind some of the objects in the church will help the reader appreciate the richness of the beautiful church. As the war of 1812 was raging and Andrew Jackson was battling the British in South Louisiana, Father Bernardo de Deva, the Spanish Capuchin Friar, was pastor of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Plattenville. Assumption was serving the people at the trading post of Thibodauxville. The war ended in 1815 and two years later, a mission was established in 1817 by Father Deva. Two years after that, a small wooden chapel was built and dedicated to St. Joseph. Father Antoine Potini was assigned as St. Joseph’s first pastor. The mission continued until 1847 when St. Joseph was established

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • June 2017

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier as a parish and the first brick church was built by Pere’ Charles Menard (1845-1896) in 1849. The church was located on Highway 1 at the current St. Joseph cemetery behind the monument to Pere’ Menard. A mausoleum is located where the church once stood. The steeple of the first church was destroyed by a hurricane in 1909 and later, in 1916, the church was destroyed by a fire. Two items survived from the first church. A few of the Stations of the Cross survived, one which can be seen in the vestibule of the church. Others are known to exist in private residences in Thibodaux, but the majority were lost in the fire.

The second item which survived the fire is the relic of St. Valerie. In 1867, Pere’ Menard, the pastor of St. Joseph, made a pilgrimage to Rome to mark the anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Peter the Apostle. He wanted to bring back a relic of a saint for the people of Thibodaux. Requesting an audience with Cardinal Costantino Patrizi Naro, Cardinal Patrizi offered him a choice of two saints (the head of St. Prosper or the arm of St. Valerie) and he chose the arm of St. Valerie, a martyr, because she was French. St. Valerie is a derivative of Valeria. According to legend, Valeria, born of noble parents and baptized at an early age, married Vitalis of Milan who was a soldier. When the physician, St. Ursicinus of Ravenna, wavered when faced with death for Christ, Vitalis encouraged him to stand firm. The governor accordingly ordered Vitalis to be racked and buried alive. His wife, St. Valeria, who had been helping to bury Christians martyred in the Coliseum and had refused to offer sacrifice to the Roman gods, was set upon by pagans near Milan. She refused to denounce her faith and following terrible tortures, Valeria was beheaded in the Coliseum in the company of several other martyrs. Her remains were gathered by other Christians and deposited in the Catacombs of Saint Sebastian. Pere’ Menard’s prized relic was placed in a box of pasteboard, sealed with Cardinal Patrizi’s coat of arms and then sealed in a waxen statue which represented a young woman. It was dressed in a robe of silk moire embroidered with gold and a crimson tunic of velvet and gold ornaments with fringes. It was laid in a coffinlike reliquary of oak and glass from The Netherlands and decorated with gilded copper. That was placed on a catafalque or bier which was fashioned to hold the reliquary. On the morning of April 18, the steamboat Nina Simmes arrived from New Orleans by way of Bayou Lafourche with the reliquary of St. Valerie. It was placed on the altar of St. Joseph Church, with solemn ceremonies attended by more than 4,000 people. Annual processions for St. Valerie were held through the city. The bier was carried by a fire truck. St. Valerie is the patron saint of Thibodaux and is invoked for protection against storms and floods. She is also the patron saint of Seregno, Italy. Her feast day is April 28. On May 25, 1916, a fire began in the sacristy of St. Joseph and within minutes it was realized the church would not be saved. Cries of “Save Saint Valerie! Save Saint Valerie!” were heard from onlookers. The reliquary was one of the few objects saved from the ruins. It was kept at Mount Carmel Convent Chapel until the new church was built, where it was treated with due reverence.

On a side note, Pere’ Menard returned to Rome five years later. Father Jules Bouchet of Assumption Church in Plattenville asked Pere’ Menard to bring back a relic for his church. Pere’ Menard brought back a bone from St. Faustine, a martyr who was also beheaded, as well as a statue. St. Faustine is housed in an almost identical reliquary as St. Valerie. Her feast day is celebrated on April 18 and similar processions were held. Four years after the fire, Msgr. Alexander Barbier (1911-1935), a native of France, initiated the construction and design of a new church to be located on Canal Boulevard on property he purchased for $30,000. This church was completed in 1923 and the first Mass was celebrated on Jan. 23, 1923. The interior of the church, however, took a longer time. The white plaster, gold leaf and painting was not completed until 1931. Msgr. Raphael Labit repainted the church in 1948 and the final painting was in 1954. The church was altered a great deal during the administration of Msgr. Francis Amedee. The lights were replaced, the altar was changed, and tile and marble floors were installed. Again, in 2006, the church received a complete renovation, this time at the cost of approximately $2.5 million. Fortunately, Msgr. Barbier kept notes about much (though not all) of the symbolism and later those notes were organized by the late Gibbens Robichaux. Combining this material with new data and expanding on that, we have a fairly good understanding of the rich 25 symbolism in the church. Construction of St. Joseph took place between 1920 and 1923 at the cost of $300,000 with an additional $100,000 for the inside of the church. The church was designed by a firm of Burton & Bendernagel of New Orleans and the marble shipped by barges to Thibodaux. Joseph Robichaux, the contractor, lived two blocks away. He hired 30 bricklayers to place 400,000 bricks. At times, Robichaux had to alter the plans when problems were discovered. The rectory was built at the same time as the church. Many feared the ground could not hold such a massive structure, but a huge concrete foundation was laid underground. Additionally, it was built four and a half feet above street level, leaving a basement under the church to keep moisture from the floor. This was before air conditioning but the design was perfect for air conditioning ducts which later ran under the church. The church is constructed of pressed bricks and stone trimmings. The roof is covered with terra cotta tile. A large ornamental gable is flanked by two towers or steeples measuring 110 feet with open belfries and ornamental frieze topped by domes. On the outside front of the church, below the niche containing a statue of St. Joseph, is a rose window, a scaled down version of the rose window at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The window was purchased by the Italian families of Thibodaux. Below the window is an arched colonnade holding an ornamental cross with two kneeling angels adoring the cross.

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St. Joseph Co-Cathedral

The architectural style of the church is Renaissance Romanesque. As a person enters the church, the beautiful ceiling is noteworthy. The deep panels in the ceiling are similar to churches in Paris and Rome. While the ceiling looks solid, it is actually suspended with a catwalk above it. Lights in the church are changed from above. Approaching the main altar, the most striking feature is the baldacchino or canopy which is 34 feet high. The columns weigh 5,000 pounds each. The main altar and two side altars are made from French and Italian marble. The base of the main altar is made of Egyptian marble with gold veins running through it. On the canopy’s golden dome is the coat of arms of Pope Pius XI (1922-1939), the reigning pope at the time the church was built. It is also flanked by two angels playing the flute. A theme found on the canopy and columns 26 throughout the church is that of the four winged creatures symbolizing the four evangelists: St. Matthew (winged man), St. Mark (winged lion), St. Luke (winged ox) and St. John (eagle). Below the figures are casts of grapes representing the wine used in the holy Eucharist.

At the column on the left is an angel holding the sacred heart. And on the right, the angel is holding a chalice and Eucharist. Below the angels are depictions of a pelican and her young. This same symbol is repeated in other areas of the church including under the arch over the sanctuary. Most people misunderstand the pelican as a symbol because they think it simply means the State of Louisiana. But the pelican depiction in the church is a symbol of the Eucharist. If a mother pelican Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • June 2017

has nothing to feed its young, it is said that she will tear off her own flesh to nourish them, just as Jesus feeds us with his body and blood. As a symbol of the Eucharist, it is found in many churches. Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Golden Meadow has a stunning mosaic of the pelican with her young on the main altar. In the past, the state flag did not depict the wound on the pelican. Perhaps that is because it was cheaper not to add another color to the flag. After the historical research of Joseph Louviere, a Houma student, pointing out the error, Rep. Damon Baldone, (D-Houma) introduced legislation which passed in 2006 requiring that the three drops of blood be added to the flag to illustrate the state’s willingness to sacrifice itself for its citizens. As one looks up toward the dome, more symbolism is revealed. At the top of the dome is a dove depicting the Holy Spirit. The skylight is adorned with beautiful grillwork with designs of lilies, stars and the doves of peace. Alternating around the dome is the tree of life and the tree of knowledge. The tree of knowledge has a snake and apple depicted to remind one of the story of the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge. The tree of life has a butterfly at the top which represents resurrection and life. In the squares below them are peacocks, representing immortality, triumph and glory of the Resurrection. Ancient legends told of the peacock’s flesh being immune from decay. On each side of the arches in the sanctuary are additional symbols. On one side is the cross, a symbol of the crucifixion. The other side depicts a ladder and a sponge on the end of a reed. These are known as the Arma Christi (“Weapons of Christ), or the Instruments of the Passion. It symbolizes Christ’s crucifixion. (Father Michael Bergeron is a retired priest of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.)

Jackie Waguespack

Lemon

Jackie bakes her

Mother-in-law’s Pie

Ice Box Pie INGREDIENTS: 1 can condensed milk 3 eggs, separated 3 lemons 1 box vanilla wafers 1/2 cup of sugar pinch of salt 1/4 lb. of butter

Story and Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

DIRECTIONS: This month’s heavenly recipe comes from Vacherie native and Thibodaux resident Jackie Waguespack. Jackie’s lemon ice box pie is a recipe she got from her mother-in-law years ago. She has been living in Thibodaux for the past 14 years and considers Christ the Redeemer Church parish home. “I just love Christ the Redeemer. It is a close knit parish community that I can call home,” says Jackie. Jackie is one of 13 children raised on a sugar cane farm in Vacherie. “My mom was a very faith-filled person. I went to Catholic school in New Orleans and was taught by the sisters there. It was the nuns who taught me my faith.” Jackie, who is a widow, loves to cook. “I enjoy cooking and inviting the priests and deacons from Christ the Redeemer over for meals from time to time. I have six children; some live nearby and some live out of town. I tell them all that Christmas Eve is my time. I have all the children and grandchildren over and I prepare a large gumbo for everyone. I love to cook stews and gumbos mostly.” After her kids were grown Jackie went to college and graduated from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux. After graduating she taught at St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School in Thibodaux for a few years. “The Lord has been very good to me over the years; I can’t do otherwise for him,” says Jackie. “I had a wonderful husband and I love my faith.”

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Crush three quarters of the vanilla wafers and put into a pie plate. Add melted butter, mix well, and press down. Line wafers along the inside of the plate to hold the filling in. Empty a can of condensed milk into a bowl. Separate eggs into two bowls, yolks in one and whites in the other. Beat yolks and add to the condensed milk. Add the juice of all three lemons to the mixture. Add 1/4 cup of sugar and a pinch of salt and mix until well blended. Pour into the pie plate over the crushed wafers. To make meringue: In the second bowl with egg whites, add 1/4 cup of sugar and a pinch of salt; beat with a hand mixer. When whites are stiff and stand in peaks, pour over the filling in the pie plate. Put in the oven until meringue is a light brown color. It does not take long, so watch carefully. Put in the refrigerator to cool for a half an hour before serving.

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Nancy Diedrich to retire at the end of this month

Marriage and family counselor served for 24 years

Story by Janet Marcel Nancy Diedrich, LPC, LMFT, NBCC, who has been serving as marriage and family counselor for the diocesan Office of Family Ministries for the past 24 years, will be retiring at the end of this month. After graduating from Nicholls State University with a bachelor’s degree in English and speech education, the Plaquemine native taught English at E.D. White Catholic High School in Thibodaux for 11 years. She says she loved teaching, but after deciding to pursue an advanced degree, she felt like she wanted a change, so she went back to Nicholls and obtained a master’s degree in psychological counseling. She then worked in the Counseling Department at Nicholls where she counseled students, faculty and staff. She also had a private practice for several years. Sister Kateri Battaglia, M.S.C., then diocesan director of the Office of Family Ministries, and Bishop Emeritus Michael Jarrell, second bishop of Houma-Thibodaux, began the diocesan counseling program in 1993 and Diedrich has been the only counselor in the position since that time. “I was the guest speaker at a program the diocesan Office of Family Ministries was sponsoring called, ‘Lifeline,’” says Diedrich. “The next day, Sister Kateri called and asked to meet with me. She told me they had been talking about starting a counseling program in the diocese and asked if I would be interested in applying for the counselor position. She trusted me to set up the office with the

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • June 2017

one stipulation that I would always offer a ‘compassionate response’ to the clients.” Diedrich says what she is most proud of with regard to her job is that so many people have put their trust in her over the years. “That is a very gratifying thing. People have to trust you to let you into their journey – for me that’s an accomplishment.” Building relationships with clients and with her colleagues at the Pastoral Center is what Diedrich says she enjoyed most about working for the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux. “Reaching a very healing point with my clients over the years has brought me many memorable moments throughout my counseling career; it’s the best feeling in the world. When you can see the pain in someone’s eyes when they walk in … and then you see it subside, it’s an amazing feeling. You’re just so happy for them,” says Diedrich. Even though she says she will have no problem setting a new routine, it is her already established routine that she will miss most when she retires, as well as mentally preparing for her clientele everyday on her drive to the office and praying that she will have the right words for them. “Of course, I will also miss working with my colleagues – who have become friends – and the clients I have journeyed with throughout the years,” she says. Diedrich says she is looking forward to traveling and spending more time with her family after she retires. She has three sisters who all live out of town and plans to visit them more often. She also plans to do more cooking, bike riding and working in her yard. In the past year, Diedrich has written a children’s book which has been accepted by two publishers and should be released toward the end of this summer. She is currently working on her second book. “People often ask me how I do what I do because they think it’s so stressful and painful. Even though it can present a lot of challenges, it has been a blessing every day because I’ve grown personally and professionally doing this job, so that can only be a blessing … when you grow in a positive way. Also, working for the church has given me the opportunity to become friends with a lot of the clergy and to experience many things in a spiritual way that I would not have been able to do working somewhere else. Over the years this has been such a faith building experience and I am a better person and a stronger Catholic for everything I’ve gotten from here.”

Cathy Klingman, diocesan director of the Office of Family Ministries, says, “Nancy’s work ethic, compassion and dedication to her clients and to helping those within the diocese was such a wonderful asset to this office. I will truly miss having her on my team. She has shared so many valuable lessons with me over the years, and for that I am truly grateful! I wish her all the best as she enters into new adventures in her life.”

Sister Carmelita Centanni, M.S.C., Ph.D., diocesan victims’ assistance coordinator for the Office of Child and Youth Protection, was one of Diedrich’s 7th grade teachers. “First of all, it is difficult to think of Nancy as retiring; she can’t possibly be old enough!” says Sister Carmelita. “I still remember Nancy as a skinny little girl who was a good student that liked to talk. She was always involved in school activities and was basically an ‘all around student’ who participated in many activities. It has been very special for me to be with her here at the Pastoral Center. And I am especially proud of the ministry she is fulfilling. Being here together is also an opportunity to renew old acquaintances and to get to know Nancy as a mature professional adult. It has been a gift for me to ‘talk shop’ with her. We think a lot alike on many issues and in addition, I have learned from her. I will truly miss her.”

Mike DiSalvo, diocesan director of the Office of Youth Ministry, says his relationship with Diedrich became stronger as he began to answer God’s call to become a licensed professional counselor. “By accepting the invitation to be my on-site supervisor, Nancy showed me what empathy looked like; she shared her wisdom about how to care for the broken and lost, and reminded me over and over again that each day one can choose to see the negative or they can stop, take a breath and reflect on God’s blessings and be grateful. Five years later, I am now a licensed professional counselor and it is with gratitude that I express my love and prayers for Nancy as she moves into this new phase of her life and enjoys what the Lord has in store for her and those she loves the most – her friends and family.”

www.bayoucatholic.com

St . Genevieve

Bayou Patrons

Patron saint of Paris

C 30

Story by Janet Marcel Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

Continuing our Bayou Patrons series, this month’s featured saint is Genevieve, a fair and courageous peasant girl born around 422 in Nanterre, France. When Genevieve was only seven years old, St. Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre, visited Nanterre on his way to Britain. While he was there, many people flocked to receive his blessing. The young Genevieve stood amid a crowd which had gathered around the man of God. He singled her out and foretold her future sanctity. At her request, the bishop led her to a church, accompanied by all the faithful, and consecrated her to God as a virgin. The next day, he presented her with a cross engraved brass medal to always wear around her neck, as a reminder of the consecration she made of herself to God. He ordered her to never wear any other bracelets, necklaces or jewelry, to avoid falling into vanity. Genevieve dedicated her life to prayer, practices of devotion and acts of penance. When she was 15-years-old, she met with the bishop of Paris and asked to become a nun. From this moment on, she began praying continuously and fasting, eating only twice a week, as a sign of her complete dedication to the Lord. She traveled throughout France, sharing the faith, performing acts of charity, praying for the sick and prophesying. Her dedicated Christian way of life was filled with the signs of the Holy Spirit working through her including miracles, visions and spiritually inspired predictions. Bishop Germanus appointed her to look after the welfare of the consecrated virgins. She did so faithfully and helped to lead them into a greater degree of holiness as they grew closer to the Lord. Genevieve died at the age of 89. Shortly after she was buried, the people built a small church over her tomb, asking for the intercession of Saints Peter and Paul. Although her tomb remains there and can still be seen today, it is empty. Her relics were encased by St. Eligius in a handmade gold and silver shrine. Over the years, the Normans

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • June 2017

destroyed the church several times. Once it was rebuilt, St. Genevieve’s relics were returned and miracles began happening, making this church famous all throughout France. Paris experienced proof of Genevieve’s intercession on many occasions, the most famous being the miracle of Des Ardens, when a violent fever swept through the city, and doctors couldn’t stop the people from dying. The shrine of Genevieve was carried in a procession to the cathedral and during the ceremony those who touched her shrine were healed by the power of the Lord. Throughout the whole town, no one else became sick; all the ill recovered and only three people died (www.catholic.org).

Father Eric Leyble, administrator of St. Genevieve Church parish in Thibodaux since July 2016, says St. Genevieve parish itself has a very special place in his heart because it is where he spent his diaconate internship summer. “I had my first taste of ordained life and ministry here. So when I found out that I was going to be assigned here as the administrator it was like coming full circle. It was good to see so many familiar faces, but at the same time it was also fascinating to see new faces. It is truly a clear sign of the growth of the parish.” As for the saint herself, says Father Leyble, she has always been an enigma; there is hardly any literature available on her life. “The one thing that truly captivated my interest on her was the fact that she is the patroness of Paris, which I see as a way for our parish to be spiritually linked with Paris. I also found out that St. Genevieve began her deep relationship with the Lord at a very young age and even though she never entered a monastery, she consecrated herself fully to God. In a way, her life story is an encouragement to all who think that holiness and sanctity is only for those who are called to the priesthood or consecrated life. Her life is a

testament that sanctity and holiness is for everyone, no matter what state in life you are. This is why for us here at St. Genevieve, we carry the motto ‘All are Welcome,’ because we believe that every person has the opportunity to grow in his or her relationship with God and we want to be there to help them.” Father Leyble says that he always seeks the guidance, intercession and protection of St. Genevieve for the parish. He invokes her presence when preparing for Mass and he looks forward to the day when the parish can be more formally consecrated to her patronage. St. Genevieve is depicted in art dressed in a long flowing gown with a mantle covering her shoulders and is often shown with a loaf of bread, representing her generosity toward those in need. She is the patron saint of Paris and her feast day is Jan. 3. www.bayoucatholic.com

Bishop Emeritus Michael Jarrell celebrates his 50th anniversary to the priesthood Bishop Jarrell served the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux for 10 years Story by Janet Marcel Bishop Emeritus Michael Jarrell of the Diocese of Lafayette, and second bishop of Houma-Thibodaux from March 1993 to November 2002, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood 32 on June 3, 2017. Bishop Jarrell will celebrate Mass on June 11 at 2 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette, with a reception afterwards in Cathedral Hall. Everyone is invited to attend the celebration. Bishop Jarrell says he first thought of becoming a priest when he began serving as an altar boy and being around the parish priests. He says that being an instrument of God’s grace is what he has enjoyed most about serving as a priest and bishop. The most challenging aspect of being a priest and bishop for him has always been preaching. During his years as a priest, Bishop Jarrell focused on marriage and family life. “I always thought that was a very important aspect of ministry.” As a bishop he says he enjoyed visiting the parishes and administering the sacrament of confirmation. Also as a bishop, he says he tried to be a pastor for the priests. “The parishioners have a pastor in their parish; I thought it was important to be a pastor for them as pastors.” While bishop in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, he is most proud of his outreach to priests and to the various parishes. “I believe we managed to get the priests in the parishes more involved in their roles. During my time as bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette, I am most proud of the priestly vocations; however, I didn’t do this alone. The priests here in Lafayette really promote vocations and that is much of the reason for our success.” While serving as bishop, he had the opportunity to have three personal meetings with Saint (Pope) John Paul II. “He was always a good conversationalist Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • June 2017

and it was easy to be in his presence and to talk with him.” Bishop Jarrell also had the opportunity to meet once with Pope Benedict XVI. “He met with small groups of about eight to 10 bishops at a time. We had some very interesting discussions in that format … The two popes were quite different, but both had very good meetings.” I recall in both dioceses where I served as bishop, students would frequently ask me, ‘Is it fun being a bishop?’ At first, I didn’t know how to answer that, because it really isn’t; it’s not always fun being a bishop. I would tell them that it is ‘satisfying.’ Children think things are either fun or they’re not fun, but when you grow up, you need some sort of satisfaction in your life. And I have found being a priest and a bishop to be very satisfying and fulfilling.” Since he retired he has gotten involved in parish ministry again. He assists the pastor at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Scott by celebrating Masses and funerals, hearing confessions, and anointing and visiting the sick, etc. He says he is very happy living and ministering in the parish. Bishop Jarrell says he is very grateful to the clergy and people of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. “I really enjoyed my 10 years there serving as bishop. I feel that God has blessed me immensely during all my years of ministry.”

Book Reviews

Mississippi Blood Reading with Raymond Raymond Saadi

The Delight of Being Ordinary By Roland Merullo Doubleday $26.95 Imagine, if you will, the Pope and the Dalai Lama stealing out of the Vatican under cover of night to roam the Italian countryside disguised as ordinary tourists. The plot is a whimsical, inventive and delightful fiction, notwithstanding the stimulating religious discussions and insights. Adding to the fun are the pope’s first cousin and personal assistant, Paolo and his estranged wife, Rosa, who create disguises for the two holy men. Meanwhile, news reports of their disappearance dominate worldwide airwaves and newspapers with more misinformation than facts, including promise of a fabricated five- million euro reward for information on their whereabouts.

High Notes By Gay Talese Bloomsbury $20

By Greg Iles William Morrow $28.99 Readers who’ve followed the fates of Penn Cage, his father, family and friends in the previous two volumes, “Natchez Burning” and “The Bone Tree” will welcome this final chapter in the trilogy. Penn’s father, Tom, the town’s beloved physician, faces trial for the murder of his former nurse, Viola, who, suffering with incurable cancer, has returned to Natchez after 40 years away, to die under Tom’s care. Did doctor Tom illegally help end her suffering? A jury must decide after sitting through a long and sensational trial. Although this volume can stand-alone you very well may want to read it from the start.

No Middle Name The Complete Collected JACK REACHER Short Stories By Lee Child Delacorte Press $27 For fans of Jack Reacher, there’s never enough. This collection of 12 short stories should satisfy even diehard readers until his next novel appears (hopefully soon.) I especially welcomed the story of his childhood with brother Joe and his Dad. Even at 13 and nearing his full height and weight, he was solving crimes and overwhelming bullies. Other stories find him in the usual settings; arriving in little towns he never heard of and almost immediately discovering crime and corruption that he quickly cleans up. It’s standard Reacher, and may he never change.

Racing the Devil By Charles Todd William Morrow $26.99 Five English soldiers, survivors of WWI’s fiercest battles, meet to celebrate the war’s end by racing their automobiles from Paris to Nice over dangerous narrow roads. What they didn’t expect was an unknown assailant’s attempts to kill each of them during the race. Scotland Yard’s top Inspector, Ian Rutledge, arrives to investigate only to be stonewalled by the racers and townspeople, leaving him to his own devices to find the killer.

Talese is well known for chronicling the lives of the famous and infamous. His fascinating essays, “Frank Sinatra Has a Cold,” the hallmark of his observations, along with his description of Tony Bennett warming up for a recording session with Lady Gaga, are revealing. His essay, “The Kingdoms, the Powers, and the Glories of the New York Times,” takes readers behind the newsroom, while “The Kidnapping of Joe Bonanno” exposes the underside of the underworld. www.bayoucatholic.com

Thoughts for Millennials Ryan Abboud

I 34

and the ideal man

If I were to tell you to close your eyes and envision the most masculine man you could imagine, who would it be? Some would say Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, others would say Chuck Norris, and even others would suggest their favorite football player. Either way, no matter what your answer is, we all think of the same “type” of man: big muscles, nice beards, huge stature, and larger-than-life confidence. We think of these characteristics as examples of what we should be and what we should strive for. As men living in today’s day and age, we are constantly being told how we should look, act and feel. Society shoves the “ideal man” in our faces everywhere we turn: television, music and especially over the internet or via social media. For me, it reached the point where it became so overwhelming that I didn’t know where to turn. What’s correct and what’s incorrect? What’s true masculinity? Who’s manly and who’s fake? The day I found the answer to my questions was a day I’ll never forget. It was a Sunday, and when I saw him, I didn’t see the biggest muscles or an incredible, well-chiseled body. I saw a beautiful heart, a crown of thorns, a lot of bloody wounds, and he was hanging on a tree. When I saw the “ideal man,” I saw love. Brothers, I’m here to tell you that the “ideal man” does actually exist, and he’s been around for a long time now. However, if we desire to learn from him, we are called to sit at the foot of the cross. There, we will encounter the King, who both created us and embodied manhood in his own flesh. Jesus singlehandedly exemplified what it means to be manly, yet today, we still search for sustainable role models who will show us how to act, look and feel. In addition to our search for authentic masculinity, we are faced with a set of numerous beliefs that attempt to coach us toward true masculinity. For example, when growing up, young men are often told that real men do not cry. We quickly pick up on the notion that crying is equivalent to femininity. But through John 11:35 and Luke 19:41, Jesus shows us that it is acceptable to weep and to show emotion. Also, as men, we are pushed to be independent and strong. We are put under the notion that it is not manly to need help or to be aided. However, in John 5:19, Jesus shows us that it is okay to acknowledge that you cannot do everything on your own, and that

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • June 2017

Authentic masculinity

you can be dependent sometimes. Lastly, today, we are constantly exposed to how society believes a man should treat a woman. We see terrible examples in music, on television, and also via the ever-growing pornography industry. However, in John 4, we find Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan woman and how he respects and honors her dignity and worth despite her background, gender and place of origin. Ultimately, we are called to look at the life that Jesus lived as a step-by-step guide to our chase for authenticity in our manhood. He lived a life of great sacrifice, service and love which are the traits that we should pursue and desire rather than the materialistic and erroneous qualities that today’s culture pushes down our throats. Now, I’d like to address all of the female readers. Ladies, if you’ve read this far, I commend you for your persistence! I believe that it’s safe to assume that you’ve read this far because you yourself may be wondering who the “ideal man” is, and how to find him in your everyday life. This may be for dating purposes, for your sons, brothers or for your really good male friends. No matter which applies, I want to stress the importance of the role that you play in a man’s search for authentic masculinity. You see, without females holding men to a high standard, there would be no standard for men to live up to. The femininity of women keeps men in a state of constant searching for masculinity and serves as a basis of balance for our gender interactions. I invite all of you women to continue to hold men to a high standard. Require the men in your lives to treat you and others with the utmost dignity and respect as that binds men to the pursuit of authentic masculinity. All in all, I invite all men to look and think beyond the facial hair and the muscle mass when thinking of your “ideal man.” The true embodiment of masculinity speaks to the heart with enduring and unconditional love. We saw the greatest possible expression of love when the “ideal man” hung upon a cross for us many years ago. Through the pursuit of this approach to masculinity we will be able to maximize our potential as men. Men, go out into the world with courage and love others like Christ loved the church! Go be real men! (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

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June

n Ordinations to the priesthood, Saturday June 3, St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux, 10 a.m. n Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s 40th anniversary Solemn Vespers, Saturday June 3, St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux, 7 p.m. n Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s 40th anniversary Mass with Bishop Shelton J. Fabre promulgating the strategic plan, Sunday,

July

n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, July 11, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311 in Schriever, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Speaker, Bishop Shelton J. Fabre. n Kateri Mass, Friday, July 14, 6:30 p.m., Holy Family, Grand Caillou. n Quarterly meeting for Black Catholics, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, Schriever, Saturday, July 15, 10 a.m. until Noon. Contact Christine Streams at (985) 446-0487 for more information.

June 4, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma, 2 p.m. n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, June 6, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311 in Schriever, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Speaker, Father Andre’ Melancon. n Steubenville on the Bayou Catholic Youth Conference, June 16-18, Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, Houma. Go to www. SteubenvilleOnTheBayou.com for more information.

August

n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, August 1, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311 in Schriever, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Speaker, Kristin Niedbala.

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

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One Install day ation

Walk-in Tubs

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 to or establish a burse, send funds to the Pastoral Center, Attn: Seminarian Burse, P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395 or call Darby Robichaux at the Office of the Bishop at (985) 8503124 for more information.

Completed Burses of $15,000 each 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

April 2017 Burse Contributions

Note: Numbers stipulate the amount of completed burses.*

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 & Family 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 Knights of Columbus Leighton Delahaye Mrs. Shirley Conrad Bishop Shelton J. Fabre Elizabeth Hebert Callais Family Fund Rev. Joseph Tu Tran Society of St. Joseph Endowment Fund - $119,136.90

Mr. & Mrs. George C. Fakier ...$200.00 Catholic Daughters ....................$320.00 Msgr. William Koninkx .............$200.00 Rev. Guy Zeringue .....................$200.00 Msgr. James Songy ...................$500.00 Society of St. Joseph ...........$10,000.00

Open Burses with Balance as of April 30, 2017 Sidney J. & Lydie C. Duplantis ......................$13,000.00 Donald Peltier Sr. No. 4 ....................................$13,000.00 Joseph Strada Memorial ..................................$12,642.63 Msgr. Raphael C. Labit No. 2 ........................$11,200.00 Harvey Peltier No. 31 ........................................$10,486.91 Joseph Waitz Sr. ...................................................$10,100.00 Clay Sr. & Evelida Duplantis No. 2 ..............$10,000.00 C. Remie Duplantis No. 2 ................................$10,000.00 Marie Elise Duplantis No. 2 ............................$10,000.00 Maude & Edith Daspit No. 2 .........................$10,000.00 Msgr. George A. Landry ...................................$10,000.00 Mr. & Mrs. George C. Fakier ............................ $9,400.00 Elie & Dot Klingman ............................................ $9,140.00 Rev. Victor Toth ..................................................... $7,000.00 Brides of the Most Blessed Trinity ................ $6,598.00 Msgr. William Koninkx ........................................ $6,400.00 Rev. Peter Nies ....................................................... $6,000.00 Rev. Guy Zeringue ................................................ $5,600.00 Catholic Daughters .............................................. $5,545.00 Msgr. Francis Amedee ........................................ $5,150.00 Mr. & Mrs. Love W. Pellegrin .......................... $5,000.00 Anonymous No. 2 ................................................. $5,000.00 Mr. & Mrs. Caliste Duplantis Family No. 4 ...... $5,000.00 Rev. William M. Fleming .................................... $5,000.00 Mrs. Ayres A. Champagne ................................ $5,000.00 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 No. 2 .............................................. $4,138.00 Msgr. James Songy .............................................. $4,075.00 Kelly Curole Frazier $ ...............................................3,610.96 J. R. Occhipinti ........................................................ $3,400.00 Anawin Community ............................................. $3,400.00 Mr. & Mrs. Galip Jacobs ..................................... $3,060.00 St. Jude ....................................................................... $3,000.00 Diocesan Knights of Columbus No. 2 ........... $2,894.62 Rev. Peter H. Brewerton ..................................... $2,600.00 Mr. & Mrs. John Marmande ............................ $2,500.00 Warren J. Harang Jr. No. 2 ................................ $2,300.00 Willie & Emelda St. Pierre ................................. $2,000.00 Rev. H.C. Paul Daigle ........................................... $1,900.00 Deacon Connely Duplantis .............................. $1,675.00 James J. Buquet Jr. ................................................ $1,650.00 Alfrances P. Martin ............................................... $1,650.00 Preston & Gladys Webre ................................... $1,650.00 Msgr. Francis J. Legendre No. 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 Deacon Robert Dusse’ ........................................ $1,450.00 Jacob Marcello ....................................................... $1,400.00 Msgr. John L. Newfield ....................................... $1,200.00

Rev. Anthony Rousse .......................................... $1,200.00

Judge Louis & Shirley R. Watkins .................. $1,050.00 Ronnie Haydel ........................................................ $1,035.00 Rev. Clemens Schneider .................................... $1,000.00 Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux No. 4 .............. $1,000.00 Msgr. John G. Keller ............................................. $1,000.00 Deacon Willie Orgeron ..........................................$800.00 Ruby Pierce ..................................................................$800.00 Rev. Joseph Tu Tran No. 2 ....................................$764.00 Deacon Roland Dufrene ........................................$750.00 Juliette & Eugene Wallace ....................................$700.00 Deacon Edward J. Blanchard ...............................$660.00 Edna W. DiSalvo ........................................................$700.00

Deacon Raymond LeBouef ..................................$550.00 Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Cannata ..............................$500.00 Bernice Harang ..........................................................$600.00 Anne Veron Aguirre .................................................$380.00 Dean Joseph Chiasson ...........................................$350.00 Deacon Harold Kurtz ...............................................$300.00 Richard Peltier No. 2 ................................................$300.00 Claude Bergeron........................................................ $250.00

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 Burses Total: $1,650,45 8.02 www.bayoucatholic.com

Vandy pole vaulter reaches new heights Story by Janet Marcel

Brooke Brunet, a 2017 graduate of Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma, recently captured the title of Division I state champion girls’ indoor pole vaulter at the AllState Sugar Bowl/Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) state indoor track and field meet for the second year in a row. She has also been the LHSAA Class 4A state runner-up in outdoor pole vaulting for the past four years. This year she was finally able to fulfill her goal of winning the state champion title at that meet. “After coming in second for so long at the outdoor state meet … being almost there, but not quite … to finally come out on top was … amazing,” says Brooke. “It was a sigh of relief to finally get what I’ve been aiming for since ninth grade.” She says the most difficult thing about pole vaulting is definitely

“the mental aspect of it … 100 percent.” While at Vandebilt, she practiced three days a week for about an hour and a half each day. Brooke has been participating in competition sports since the age of six. In gymnastics, she practiced up to 21 hours a week, which she says taught her discipline and perseverance. She competed in the southeast region gymnastics competition. The skills she learned in gymnastics, she says, helped her a lot when she began pole vaulting. She also participated in the Junior Olympics for pole vaulting, which she won in 2012. Brooke was a Vandebilt cheerleader in eighth through 11th grade and competed on competition cheer teams. She is also a member of the National Honor Society. Brooke received a college scholarship to Dartmouth University in New Hampshire where she will be a pole vaulter for the school. She is considering majoring in business,

Brooke Brunet

possibly marketing. Brooke is the daughter of Donna and Allen Brunet and she has one sister, Morgan, who is 22. They are parishioners of St. Bernadette Church in Houma.

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Food bank donation Thelma Boudreaux, a representative from Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church parish’s Altar Society in Chackbay, presented Kristin LaFleur, (at left) manager of the Good Samaritan Food Bank in Thibodaux, a check for $2,150 recently. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • June 2017

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LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

57 E.D.W. students receive academic scholarships The third annual E.D. White Catholic High School Academic Scholarship Signing Day was held recently in the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Student Union in Thibodaux. Fifty-seven students who were offered one or more scholarships from a college or university for academic or leadership reasons were acknowledged. Each senior had his/her own table and at least one table sign indicating the college from which they accepted a scholarship. Seniors attending the signing day are: Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge: Hunter Adams, Maxwell Coffman, Rachael Hopkins, Michael Melancon, Mathew Thibodeaux, Spencer Chiasson, Thomas Bergeron, Eliza Zeringue, Ethan King; Northwestern University, Natchitoches: Emily Adams; Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond: Leah Baudoin, Catherine Loupe, Chloe Powell, Anna Rodenberg; Nicholls State University, Thibodaux: Teresa Blake, Paige Colon, Cameron Fontenot, Lane Gravois, Mallari Guillot, Eli Lasseigne, Gabrielle

LeBlanc, Louis Morrell, Jonathan Omer, Connor Plaisance, Joseph Robichaux, Alyssa Thibodeaux, Claire Boudreaux, Kennedy Taylor, Haley Breaux, Jonathan Gros, Kristen Weimer, Cameron Ray, Morgan 39 Toups, Brian Pinho, Alaina Labat, Abby Rodenberg, Phillip Amedee, Taylor Benoit, Marlie Pierce, Gabrielle Miller, Maggie Brignac, Frannie Smith, Alaina Scioneaux; University of Central Arkansas: Rene Leonard; University of Louisiana-Lafayette: Justin Pitre, Phillip Foret, Paul Lefort, Jason Tregre; Tulane University, New Orleans: Sloane Clay, Lindsey Kiffe; Our Lady of the Lake College, Baton Rouge: Hannah Guillot; Manhattan College, New York: Emily Oldag; University of Southern Mississippi: Jessica Galey; University of Pennsylvania: Michael Jones; Henderson State University, Arkansas: Lindsey Lucas; University of Louisiana-Monroe: Morgan Filce; Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.: Winston Ardoin.

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Lenten Gumbo luncheon donation Representatives of the St. Joseph Lenten Gumbo in Thibodaux presented a check to the Good Samaritan Food Bank of Thibodaux for $32,000. From left are Very Rev. Jay L. Baker, chancellor and rector of St. Joseph CoCathedral; Kristin LaFleur, food bank manager; Margaret Orgeron, parish pastoral ministry director; and Jim Labit, gumbo chairperson. LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/ BAYOU CATHOLIC

Golden Jubilee Day of Refreshment for women The Catholic Charismatic Renewal celebrates its Golden Jubilee this year. To mark this occasion CCRNO will sponsor their annual Day of Refreshment for Women on Saturday, June 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Matthew the Apostle Church parish in River Ridge. “Come to the Water” is the theme with teachings by Women’s Retreat Team members Andi Oney and Denise Beyer. There will be testimonies by women of the region. Prayer and praise will be led by Kim Lukinovich and Linda Kelley. Music by Mercy Beaucoup of Baton Rouge. Cost is $30 and includes lunch. Small groups and prayer ministry will be featured. Please register online at www.ccrno. org by Wednesday, June 21 at Noon, to order a lunch. On-site registrations are accepted but no lunch is guaranteed. For more information, call CCRNO at (504) 828-1368 or visit www.ccrno.org. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • June 2017

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Food for the Journey is July 11

Outreach Line Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux sponsors a monthly lunchtime speaker series on the first Tuesday of the month at the Ellendale Country Club Restaurant located at 3319 Highway 311 in Schriever. The speaker for July 11 is Bishop Shelton J. Fabre. Bishop Fabre studied at St. Joseph Seminary-College in St. Benedict, LA, and the Katholiek Universiteit te Leuven in Louvain, Belgium. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Baton Rouge Aug. 5, 1989. Bishop Fabre served as associate pastor and pastor of several church parishes in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. He was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 2006 and ordained by Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes in 2007. Bishop Fabre was installed as the Fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux on Oct. 30, 2013, at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma. Those who plan to attend the July 11th event should RSVP with their name, phone number and church parish by Thursday, July 6. To RSVP, email FoodForTheJourney@ htdiocese.org or call (985) 8503178. Doors open at 10:45 a.m. Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. The program begins at Noon with the speaker’s presentation from 12:10-12:45 p.m. Cost is $15 and includes meal, drink and tip. Only cash or checks will be accepted. All are invited to come “eat and be fed.”

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

www.bayoucatholic.com

Sports

Has ESPN gotten away from its core business? Overtime

A 42

Ed Daniels

At this year’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, there was an interesting sight. Golfers, caddies, and wellwishers were flocking to the practice range to welcome one of the contestants in the celebrity shootout. The contestant was gracious, as always. He was taking pictures with all, with a kind word for all. My thought? It says something about ESPN that Chris Berman was in New Orleans, and not at the NFL draft. Berman looked like a man who knew he should be somewhere else. As Saints head coach Sean Payton’s interview with local media continued, Berman tapped Payton on the shoulder and walked away. For years, Chris Berman was the NFL draft. It wasn’t the same without him.

But, then neither is his network. The New York Times said ESPN has lost “10 million subscribers over the last several years.” Cord cutting, those no longer subscribing to cable or satellite TV has certainly been a huge problem for ESPN. But, many of its wounds are selfinflected. My take? For one, ESPN got away from its core business. The network built its brand on its Sportscenter highlight shows, and on college sports. ESPN’s foray into pro sports has been costly. The network paid $1.9 billion for the NFL, $1.4 billion for the NBA, and $700 million for major league baseball. ESPN paid $606.3 million for the college football playoff. And, that at a time when many bowls, especially those not involved in the college football playoff, struggle mightily to sell tickets and sustain TV ratings. And, ESPN has gotten far too political. It used to be about sports. But, when transgender athlete Caitlyn Jenner was selected for the Arthur Ashe courage award, many loyal

ESPN viewers were turned off. Arthur Ashe was a true giant in American sports. He was a Wimbledon champion who faced racism daily during his career. In 1973, Ashe traveled to South Africa to become the first African American to play in a national tournament in that apartheid nation. In America, we must respect all, and all deserve a chance to pursue their dreams. But, whether you agree or disagree, many viewed the award to Jenner more as a political statement, than a sports one. In late April, the layoffs at ESPN began, with many of those axed taking to twitter to announce their departures. Some were stunners. They included college basketball reporter Andy Katz, NBA reporter Marc Stein, and NFL reporter Ed Werder. All three are truly accomplished. They report accurately and fairly. Interviewed by si.com, Werder was quoted as saying the following. “I am mad at the people who don’t value real reporting.” Ed Werder, on target, as per usual.

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O U T D O O R

GUIDE SUMMER 2017

Outdoor Guide

On Our

COVER

Saltwater Fishing Rodeos

Captain Eric Pellegrin of Custom Charters caught this beauty this past spring in Lake Pelto behind Last Island using a five inch Berkley Havoc bait called a “grass pig.” This summer season once again promises to be a great time for speckled trout action.

50 46

Cover photo by Captain Tommy Pellegrin Custom Charters

Big game fishing fires up in the summer

Speckled trout summer already here

Experience afternoon delight for specks this summer

52 54 Coastal reds a sure bet in the summer

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Outdoor Guide

2017 Louisiana Saltwater Fishing Rodeos CAPTAIN TOMMY PELLEGRIN/CUSTOM CHARTERS

Swollfest Fishing Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: June 8-10 Headquarters: Sand Dollar Marina (985) 787-2500 Krewe of Terreanians Fishing Rodeo Place: Houma 46 Date: June 9-11 Headquarters: Houma Municipal Auditorium Contact: Paul Chauvin (985) 856-6512 Contact: Donnie Braud (985) 855-6790 CASA of Hope Fishing Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: June 10 Headquarters: Bridge Side Marina Contact: Bridge Side Marina (985) 787-2419 Second Annual TradeWinds Marina Children’s Fishing Rodeo Place: Cocodrie Date: June 10-11 Headquarters: TradeWinds Marina Contact: Debra Duplantis (985) 466-3862 Annual E.D. White Open Family Fishing Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: June 17 Headquarters: Bridge Side Marina Contact: Bridge Side Marina (985) 787-2419

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • June 2017

LA Pipeliners Association Fishing Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: June 22-24 Headquarters: Sand Dollar Marina Creole Classic Fishing Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: June 23-24 Headquarters: Bridge Side Marina Contact: Bridge Side Marina (985) 787-2419 Golden Meadow Fourchon International Tarpon Rodeo Place: Golden Meadow (Port Fourchon) Date: July 6-8 Headquarters: Port Fourchon Marina Contact: Chris Moran (985) 396-2728 Krewe of Houmas Invitational Saltwater Fishing Rodeo Place: Cocodrie Date: July 7-8 Headquarters: CoCo Marina Contact: Charlie Pitre (985) 226-8788 Fourchon Oilman’s Association Annual Fishing Rodeo Place: Port Fourchon Date: July 13-15 Headquarters: Moran’s Marina Contact: Port Fourchon (985) 396-2792

Louisiana Dental Association (LDA) Fishing Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: July 13-15 Headquarters: Sand Dollar Marina Contact: Sand Dollar Marina (985) 787-2500 South Lafourche Cheerleading Fishing Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: July 22 Headquarters: Bridge Side Marina Contact: Bridge Side Marina (985) 787-2419 International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: July 27-29 Headquarters: Rodeo Pavilion near the Sand Dollar Motel and Marina East end of Island Contact: Heather Martin (985) 306-0535 Big Game Vintage Fishing Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: TBA Headquarters: Sand Dollar Marina Contact: Sand Dollar Marina (985) 787-2500 Terrebonne Sportsman’s League 67th Annual International Fishing Rodeo (freshwater, offshore, shoreline, saltwater bowfishing, scuba) Place: Houma Date: Aug. 4-6 Headquarters: East Park Recreation Center Contact: Troy Bonvillain (985) 804-7504

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Outdoor Guide

2017 Louisiana Saltwater Fishing Rodeos PHOTO COURTESY LANCE SCHOUEST

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Mike Bourgeois (Big Daddy) Memorial Fishing Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: Aug. 5 Headquarters: Bridge Side Marina Contact: Bridge Side Marina (985) 787-2419

The Annual Caminada Redfish Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: Sept. 23-25 Headquarters: Sand Dollar Marina Contact: Sand Dollar Marina (985) 787-2500

11th Annual Grand Isle Ladies Fishing Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: Oct. 7 Headquarters: Bridge Side Marina Contact: Bridge Side Marina (985) 787-2419

The 29th Annual Hercules Fishing Rodeo Place: Houma Air Base Arena Date: Aug. 11-13 Headquarters: Houma Air Base Arena Contact: Mark Pitre (985) 637-0683

Annual KC Council 8779 Fishing Rodeo (Freshwater, saltwater, offshore and children’s divisions) Place: Theriot-Houma area Date: Oct. 6-8 Headquarters: Knights of Columbus Home Theriot, LA Contact: Michael Hebert (985) 709-1390

TradeWinds Marina Second Annual Diva Fishing Rodeo Place: Cocodrie Date: Oct. 21-22 Headquarters: TradeWinds Marina Contact: Debra Duplantis (985) 466-3862

Eighth Annual “Ride the Bull” Extreme Kayak Fishing Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: Aug. 26 Headquarters: Bridge Side Marina Contact: Bridge Side Marina (985) 787-2419 The Annual Grand Isle Original Redfish Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: Sept. 1-3 Headquarters: Bridge Side Marina Contact: Bridge Side Marina (985) 787-2419

Attention Rodeo Chairperson:

If you would like to have your rodeo listed in the Summer 2018 Bayou Outdoor Guide email information to: bayoucatholic@htdiocese.org 49

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Outdoor Guide

Speckled trout summer already here

By Chris Berzas Catching quality speckled trout happened very early this season. 50 In mid-May, Capt. Bill Lake with Bayou Guide Service and his clients were already slinging aboard limits of two to four pound speckled trout from the Pickets, the Mardi Gras rigs and Ship Shoal 28. “We caught 850 trout last week alone,” the 61-year-old veteran fishing guide said. Lake and his anglers were catching these fish on doublerigged, Cajun-pepper Egret Baits Bayou Chubs. According to Lake, the trout were taken just before May’s full moon while enjoying light coastal winds and good current flow. “The fish were everywhere on these reefs,” he said. “It was simply a matter of being at the right place at the right time. “Many of those trout had big sacks of roe and were dropping eggs on the Pickets reef,” he said. “These were turbo-trout and they were feeding like crazy.” Speckled trout will be spawning in these areas throughout the summer into August. These fish will choose locations with high salinities in deeper portions of all coastal Louisiana estuaries. Lake’s observations of good Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • June 2017

CAPTAIN BILL LAKE/BAYOU GUIDE FISHING CHARTERS

numbers of quality speckled trout showing south of Dularge tend to agree with data analyzed by fisheries biologists with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). “We’re seeing upticks in speckled trout statewide in our fishery independent sampling,” said Jason Adriance, LDWF Finfish program

manager. “There appears to be a lot of overwinter success, and we have also seen the recreational catch increase in the last three years. “This could indicate a cresting wave of trout arising from each of these subsequent years.” This is very good news for anglers in the Bayou Catholic readership area who should

experience successful fishing for speckled trout this summer. For the summer, Lake advises anglers not to stray too far away from the Pickets, the Mardi Gras rigs, the Enstar platform and Ship Shoal 28. “That’s been the pattern for trout especially early in the summer,” he said. “These locations may well produce even more trout if conditions remain favorable.” Although Lake and his guides will sometimes use live shrimp, he remarked that 90 percent of their fishing is done with artificial lures – mainly plastics. Lake recommends anglers use Egret Baits’ Bayou Chubs and Wedgetail Mullets cast singly or on double-rigs to catch the trout in these locations. His favorite colors are Cajun pepper, LSU, chicken-on-a-chain and glow chartreuse. Regarding fishing inside waters, Lake mentioned that Sister Lake may produce speckled trout in June. “A friend of mine stayed inside Sister Lake because it was a little

breezy offshore,” Lake said. “He ended up catching 25 speckled trout ranging 14 to 18 inches in length on Sister Lake’s north bank.

Expectations based on catches and biological data indicate good numbers of speckled trout to be available this summer – if weather conditions remain favorable. “He caught those fish by working a Cajun pepper Bayou Chub under a cork.” Lake Mechant will also produce

many trout in the summer, but the pattern has been many small fish which tend to be mostly under the 12 inch length limit in the last two years. Another area that can produce speckled trout in the summer includes the Raccoon Island jetties. “You can really fill the cooler with trout here by working the points with Bayou Chubs,” he said. Regarding regulations, anglers are reminded that they may take and keep 25 speckled trout per person at 12 inches minimum total length – except the 15 fish daily take and possession limit, with no more than two spotted seatrout exceeding 25 inches in total length, regardless of where taken in a defined area of Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes in southwestern Louisiana. Please consult the 2017 Louisiana Fishing Regulations Pamphlet before heading out in coastal waters this summer. Captain Bill Lake can be reached at (985) 637-3712. You can also visit his website at www.captlake. com.

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Outdoor Guide

Big

game fishing fires up in the summer Louisiana anglers are fortunate to enjoy the finest big-game fishing in waters just south of the coastline.

PHOTO COURTESY LANCE SCHOUEST

By Chris Berzas South of Cocodrie and Grand Isle, offshore fishing action’s greatest moments can be experienced in the heat of the Louisiana summer. For certain, Lance “Capt. Coon” Schouest of Houma will be one of Louisiana’s most familiar captains out and about, and he’ll first target red snapper in June. “Last year, we went out June 1 and had a limit of red snappers for everyone on board, and they ranged from 14 to 22 pounds,” the 62-yearBayou Catholic • Houma, LA • June 2017

old veteran guide said. “On the way in, we then stopped and caught 100 speckled trout and five redfish.” In federal waters for 2017 however, Louisiana recreational anglers will be facing their shortest season ever – just three days running June 1, 2 and 3. “We do have a small area within state waters that enjoys the longer state season, but it gets quite congested, especially on the weekends,” Schouest said.

Certainly, most of the red snapper south of Houma will be taken 10 to 15 miles offshore on those three days – unless weather conditions prohibit sea travel. They are usually located around rigs in 30 to 40 foot depths. A variety of baits will take red snapper including squid, croaker, cut pogey, hardtails and a wide assortment of plastic lures. Another offshore species that makes its presence known even inside Louisiana waters is the cobia (ling, lemonfish). They’re a prized specimen to most all anglers, and cubed fried cuts of their delicious flesh also make a delightful start to any exquisite seafood platter at the lodge, camp, cabin or the menu right at home. These hefty sleek fish can also be taken on cut bait or artificials. If they’re in the vicinity, you can easily see them cruising on top near any riff-raff or structures aside a rig or other object. Schouest will also seek tuna

in the summer – both yellowfins and blackfins. Blackfins will first show up in June behind shrimp boats, and they can be taken by anglers who chase them. Cobia will also be in the mix behind the shrimpers. The majestic yellowfin tuna will be found deep offshore in the green Canyon where Schouest will make periodic runs for these great fish. In July, Schouest is passionately after his obsession – Louisiana’s huge tarpon. He holds two huge tarpon in the Top 10 in Louisiana gamefish records. His largest is a 228.81-pounder taken in September 2013 and is currently ranked No. 4 in Louisiana records. The other tarpon weighed 226.88 pounds and was taken in November 2015 ranking as No. 6. Schouest is also well-known for his invention of the “Coon Pop” lure for tarpon, and Louisiana’s No. 1 tarpon, a 246.63-pounder, was taken by angler David Prevost on Schouest’s Coon Pop in October 2015. “Last year we had a great couple of days in July chasing and catching tarpon,” Schouest said. “On one day, we hooked 20 and caught 11. On another, we hooked 25 and caught 12.” Like many other anglers chasing the silver kings, Schouest sight-fishes for tarpon and gets into their midst as he and fellow anglers cast Coon Pops for these huge fish rolling in schools on the surface. He’ll run to West Delta 58 out of Grand Isle where he and his clients will find plenty giants to tangle with. His tackle consists of 50-pound mono spooled to Shimano Calcutta reels affixed to Penn International rods. “There is nothing like hooking onto one of these great fish and seeing its huge silver body jump 15 feet up into the air,” Schouest said. “It’s just a spectacular sight.” As you can read from above, there’s a wealth of offshore fishing adventure available along the Louisiana coastline in and near the Bayou Catholic readership area. For more information, contact Lance “Capt. Coon” Schouest at TradeWinds Marina and Lodge in Cocodrie, (985) 466-3838. His facility there is a restaurant and lodge and more information can be obtained by visiting his website at www.tradewindscocodrie.com. Offshore anglers are reminded that in addition to their basic and saltwater licenses, they must have in their possession a valid recreational offshore landing permit (ROLP) when landing the following species or species groups: tunas, swordfish, billfish, snapper, amberjack,

104 East Bayou Rd. (Hwy 308) Thibodaux, LA 70301 (985) 446-3736 www.thibodauxpt.com

PHOTO COURTESY LANCE SCHOUEST

grouper, hinds, cobia, wahoo and dolphinfish. For more information on the free Recreational Offshore Landing Permit (ROLP) and to obtain a permit please visit http://www.wlf.la.gov/rolp.

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Outdoor Guide

Coastal Reds a sure bet in the summer

54 CAPTAIN BILL LAKE/BAYOU GUIDE FISHING CHARTERS

By Chris Berzas Just as soon as the boat entered the canal, wakes were observed heading the opposite way. “They’re in here, and it may be loaded with them,” I said. Jonathan Fontenot nodded his head in agreement upon seeing the action. The marsh canal located within a waterfowl refuge was not a shallow one, and the redfish disappeared into the depths upon perceiving our presence. “Well, we have plenty of plastic lures and a couple dozen bait-sized crabs,” I said. Fontenot began casting portions of cracked crab under a popping cork along the southern bank of the canal. I started by working a chartreusepepper plastic swimbait on a quarter-ounce jighead letting it fall to the bottom and then swimming Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • June 2017

it slowly back to the boat. After moving 50 yards east along the marsh bank, we came upon a few fish. Fontenot’s crab was favored by the first redfish of the day, a 22-incher that quickly forced his popping cork beneath the surface. He later caught two more fish on cracked crab, yet still I remained committed to working my set of plastics. Eventually I added a couple of slot reds in the same size range to our catch count. These fish were strategically located near cuts on the south bank of the canal as they were waiting for crustaceans and fish to flow in with the tide. Having fulfilled our quest for slot marsh reds, we then turned our attention to seeking battles with larger fish at the rock jetties. After running for 30 minutes to a mile-long twin line of rocks running

north-south and divided by the ship channel, Fontenot chose a location where current flow entered a break into the wall. In this location, we both used cracked crab on half-ounce jigheads and cast our offerings into the current. It didn’t take long as both of us were working larger redfish running 28 to 34 inches in length. We released every one of these fish as certainly their lengths went beyond the more delectable slot size on the grill. The details of our trip above are played out pretty much the same in every major inland salt estuary in Louisiana. In the summer, Louisiana coastal anglers will be finding reds in marshes, inland lakes and rock jetties leading to the Gulf of Mexico. Regarding a 2017 summer forecast for finding

redfish, anglers should find plenty along Louisiana’s coast. “They are certainly a statewide species prevalent just about everywhere along the coast,” said Jason Adriance, LDWF Finfish program manager. Capt. Bill Lake of Houma and his guides know this fact all too well. “Lake Mechant will hold redfish in the summer,” he said. “You can catch plenty there casting spinnerbaits and gold spoons along the banks. “The redfish tend to move between the north bank of Mechant at Raccourci Bayou all the way westward to Goose Bay.” These fish will travel in schools consisting of five to nine fish. If anglers see wakes or tails, Lake advises staying at a distance where only long casts can be made ahead of the fish. When fish activity is not visible here, then cracked crabs under popping corks will deliver fish situated at runouts along the banks.

In June, Raccoon Island is the place to be, according to Lake. “On some days, it will be loaded with redfish,” Lake said. “And

No doubt about it, Louisiana’s coastal waters teem with redfish. Here’s where and how to catch them biting. they’ll range in size from slot fish to bull reds. “Fish the jetties right up to the rocks with live cocahoes, croakers or shrimp.”

It’s usually in late July when bull reds pour into all of the Passes in the area. These include favorite locations such as Wine Island Pass and Whiskey Pass. Bull reds will start showing up in late July, and they’ll be in all of the Passes, especially Whiskey Pass and Wine Island Pass. The huge bulls here are known for their preferences for cracked crab cast especially when tides are moving in the Passes. Cracked crabs on Carolina rigs account for the multitude of bull reds taken in these locations. For more fishing information and guide service, Capt. Bill Lake can be reached at (985) 637-3712. He can be reached by email at b.lakejr@comcast.net. All redfish taken by saltwater anglers in Louisiana must be at least 16 inches minimum total length. There is a five-fish-perperson daily bag with not more than one exceeding 27 inches in length. 55

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Outdoor Guide

Experience afternoon delight for speckled trout this summer

CAPTAIN BILL LAKE/BAYOU GUIDE FISHING CHARTERS

By Chris Berzas When it comes to inland saltwater fishing in the summer, we all have our special experiences. I’ll never forget when my buddy Craig Vidrine and I launched out of Calcasieu Point and motored over to Turner’s Bay. It was an afternoon trip taken during the week, and we knew there would be little fishing pressure. Once we arrived at our first location just north of Turner’s Island, we started out by casting VuDu shrimp under a popping cork. We started catching trout immediately. These weren’t very big trout, and they all ranged from 12 to 14 inches – perfect size for the fillet knife and eventually the skillet. “Look at those birds flying around,” Vidrine said pointing to three terns (liar birds) and a solo gull with them. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • June 2017

“Yeah, I have been observing them,” I said. “But the behaviors of those liar birds are confusing me. “They certainly seem to be following some fish the way they are moving along with that gull.” Vidrine then decided to engage the trolling motor to the shallow area the birds were working. “Let’s give it a try under them,” he said. I then cast my VuDu shrimp close to some marsh foliage on the shoreline where the birds were working. The cork immediately went down and the drag started screaming after my hookset. “Redfish,” Vidrine said. But as I worked the fish closer to the boat I felt the familiar head shake. “I’m not sure it’s a redfish,” I said. Sure enough, a rather large silver fish made a run right next to the boat.

“It’s a big trout,” I said. “Get the net.” The fish jumped only once right near the boat and Vidrine was ready and had him aboard. “That’s a good trout,” he said admiring the fish. The fish went 26 inches and I was very happy. Vidrine added his own large specimen later on. Never did we expect to catch these larger specimens with 3.25inch plastic shrimp lures. Usually we would be taking specimens at this size on five-inch topwater plugs and hard-bodied suspending lures. Another surprise was the fact that these fish were being followed by terns (liar birds). Usually such fish cannot be found under birds of any sort. Therefore, liar birds sometimes just don’t lie and quality fish can be taken under them.

But again, this experience happened in the afternoon and during the week when the fish were not receiving much pressure. Other surprises can be experienced when engaging in afternoon fishing during the summer. Ken Chaumont and I were out late trying to entice a few good trout with suspending plugs. It was tough going as the usual locations were not panning out. We had about given up when suddenly I experienced an all-toofamiliar smell. “There’s a slick somewhere,” I said to Chaumont. We both eyed the waters in all directions in the canal we were in. “Look, behind the boat,” Chaumont said. Sure enough, I saw several small, round patches of an oily substance on the water. But they were moving in the opposite direction of the boat. Chaumont made a long way around the area with his trolling motor to get in advance of the developing patches of fish oil emanating from prey that were being bitten. “Let’s check these out to see if they’re trout,” he said. We both picked up rods with Egret Baits’ Kick A Mullets tied on – five-inch plastic suspending fish plugs with jointed, swimming tails. I was the first to have a fish attack the lure. “Got one on and it’s a good fish,” I told Chaumont. Chaumont got the net ready as I worked the fish keeping my rod tip down as it continuously took drag. It finally made its way to the net and I was happy to note its 27-inch length. Chaumont was next to hook up with a similarly sized trout. I was the net man this time, and Chaumont played the large trout the same way allowing it to tire before reeling it in close to the boat. We each caught two more fish in the same size range in the area where the slicks were concentrating. The best thing about the experience? It was an afternoon trip with not a boat in the vicinity – an area well-known to hold quality speckled trout and lots of fishing

During the summer anglers experience the highest fishing pressure early in the morning to midday. Sometimes it’s best just to venture out after Noon to possibly experience fine fishing for speckled trout. pressure early in the day. Therefore, this summer, get away from the crowds who tend to fish early and get off the water by midafternoon.

Some of the best fishing for numbers and quality speckled trout can be the reward. Have a great speckled trout summer.

CAPTAIN BILL LAKE/BAYOU GUIDE FISHING CHARTERS

www.bayoucatholic.com

Outdoor Guide

Fish scents work Another study proved that some fishermen give off offensive enzymes from their hands. So when touching baits and lures, they are more than likely scaring off the game fish they are trying to catch. Saltwater fishermen are guilty of adding to this dilemma when they apply suntan oils to their hands and body. Naturally the suntan oil is needed to protect the skin from the harmful rays of the sun. However, when the same fishermen handle baits and lures, they are also decreasing their chances of catching quality game fish. For this one reason, we will normally designate one or more fishermen in the boat to handle baits and lures. The suntan lotion is applied by someone else, and their hands are not allowed to touch baits or lures.

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Flashing game fish

CAPTAIN TOMMY PELLEGRIN/CUSTOM CHARTERS

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • June 2017

The truth is some saltwater fishermen have found ways to attract more game fish into striking their transom baits. Vicious strikes to these anglers become an everyday occurrence. But more importantly, the size of the fish that attack these transom baits are often the biggest catch of the day. If you have an outboard powered boat, we often call these baits, “Prop Wash” baits. The baits are literally fished only a few feet in back of the prop wash. The outboard motor is actually trimmed up until it begins to cavitate. Now you have a combination of flashing blades on the surface with the propeller creating turbulence on the surface as well. Skilled fishermen who have learned how to flash fish with their propellers, have also found that bigger baits and lures result in more success while using this deadly trolling tactic.

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