Bayou Catholic Magazine June 2019

Bayou

Catholic

Historical site dedicated JUNE 2019 ~ VOL. 39 NO. 12 ~ COMPLIMENTARY

The collection will be held June 29 - June 30 Thank you for your generosity

Contents

Features 24 Rob Gorman retires

By Janet Marcel

Columns 8 Comfort For My People

By Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

12

Pope Speaks

Pope Francis I

13

Questions of Faith

By Father Wilmer Todd

14

Readings Between the Lines

By Father Glenn LeCompte

32

A Deacon’s Wife’s Confessions

By Angie Lefevre

33

Reading With Raymond

By Raymond Saadi

42 Overtime

By Ed Daniels

In Every Issue 6 From the Editor 16 Scripture Readings 18 Youth In Action 22 Heavenly Recipes 34 Diocesan Events Announcements 20 Pastoral Appointments 28 Motu Proprio Decree 30 Death Penalty 36 Catholic Foundation Update 37 Father Roland Timbre dies at 83 38 Central Catholic names principal 39 Office of Parish Support update On Our Cover LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

4 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre blesses a plaque marking the historical site of Thibodaux College during a recent dedication. See page 7 for more coverage.

Billy Degeyter

Billy makes a great:

RIB SANDWICH 22

This month’s heavenly recipe comes from Billy Degeyter, LAC, LPC, counselor at the Assisi Bridge House, a program of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. Billy’s recipe is for what he calls a big delicious rib sandwich.

Billy says that cooking is a hobby for him, an artistic expression, and also an outlet. “I have always been interested in cooking. My grandmother was the best cook. My mom also has a knack for cooking. I think that rubbed off on me. I like to experiment with cooking. I am fascinated with different cultures and their food.”

Billy’s first experience at Assisi Bridge House was as a resident there due to a court order requiring him to seek treatment resulting from his addiction and legal obligations.

“I had been to different treatment facilities before arriving here. I had been in and out of jail. I was court ordered to stay and receive treatment here. It wasn’t easy being here but I felt that it was the first time that any type of treatment worked for me.”

Billy stuck with the program, graduated drug court and was doing well working as a manager at a retail department store.

He was also working as a tech at the Bridge House when he received a call from Rob Gorman, executive director of Catholic Charities. “In 2006, Rob called and asked if I was interested in working as a counselor-in-training. I thought I would give it a try. I felt as though it was a calling.”

Billy attended Nicholls State University in Thibodaux and received a master of arts degree in psychological counseling and eventually received his licenses as an addiction and professional counselor.

The counselor says he loves his work at the Bridge House. “This is a unique place. I love working here.

The environment, the facility and program is like home to me. We keep in touch with our alumni. After being clean and sober for a year, we offer them the opportunity to work here as a tech. We have a strong network here. We have people who have been a part of this place for 25 years. That says a lot.” BC

30

22 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

Delicious Giant Rib Bayou Sandwich

Catholic

INGREDIENTS:

1 rack baby back ribs, membrane removed (this is essential for de-boning) Dry Rub or use your own favorite 2 tbsp. paprika 1 tbsp. black pepper How to reach us: 2 tbsp. brown sugar BY PHONE: (985) 850-3132 2 tsp. sea salt 1 tsp. garlic powder

BY MAIL: P.O. Box 505 1 tsp. onion powder Schriever, LA 70395 1/2 tsp. cumin BY FAX: (985) 850-3232 1 tsp. chili powder

24

GLAZE:

1 cup barbecue sauce 2 tbsp. honey, optional

FIXINGS:

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.

1 large loaf French bread 1/4 cup butter, melted 1 large white onion, sliced 2 tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped The Bayou Catholic is a member of the Catholic 1 small jar sliced dill pickles Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and an associate member of the Louisiana Press Association.

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 300°F. Lay the ribs on a long sheet of aluminum foil. Cover the ribs Lawrence evenly onChatagnier both sides with dry rub, pressing the rub into anyand cracks and editor general manager smoothing out any large lumps. Wrap the foil around the ribs, making sure they’re completelyJanet sealed.

It’s Marcel important that the juices of the ribs stay inside the assistant staff writer/administrative foil to keep the ribs moist during cooking. Use more Lirette sheets of foil if necessary. Bake the ribs Brooks for 3 hours, advertising accounts executive until tender. Unwrap the ribs carefully, then wiggle the bones out slowly. If you’re having trouble removing LisainSchobel Hebert the bones, use a knife to make small cuts the meat graphic designer to aid their removal. Preheat the broiler on your oven.

Combine the barbecue sauce and honeyMeridy in a small Liner bowl and brush both sides of the accounts deboned slab of ribs assistant receivable/payable generously, being sure to carefully handle the ribs since the meat will be super tender. Broil the ribs for about 5 minutes until the glaze is bubbling and starting to brown. Slice the bread loaf in half lengthwise, then butter both sides of the bread. Toast Like us on Facebook under the broiler for ora few minutes. Keep a careful eye Find us on theon web it as they will burn extremely www.bayoucatholic.org quickly. With two long spatulas or knives, carefully transfer the glazed ribs to the bottom breadtohalf, thenBayou top Catholic Where find your with onions, parsley, pickles, and the top half ofmagazine bread. can be found Bayou Catholic Cut into about 7 2-inch sandwiches, and serve. at all Catholic churches and Catholic schools

40

Bayou

O U T D O O R

GUIDE SUMMER 2019

40

BY E-MAIL: bayoucatholic@htdiocese.org

43

throughout the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.

To pick up a copy, you may also visit the merchants who advertise in our issue. 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

June 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 5

From The Editor

M

agazine vs.

This month I would like to address a few comments from our recent Bayou Catholic survey. While looking over the surveys that we received from our readers, there were a couple of topics that were mentioned more than a few times.

Many readers asked why we use such a glossy paper to print the magazine. Others remarked that it must be expensive to print the publication.

There is a trend in the Catholic press across the country for newspapers to switch over to a magazine format. Magazines tend to stay in the home longer on the coffee table and are shared with family members and friends; so they have a longer “shelf life.”

More importantly as the official publication of the diocese, it is our mission to evangelize, educate, inform and continue to challenge the Catholic faithful of the diocese to become missionary disciples.

Magazines have a look which is more appealing than a newspaper to many. That being said it is important

Newspaper that we offer a publication that the Catholic faithful of the diocese will want to pick up and read. Because the magazine is not mailed to homes in the diocese there has to be a choice made by the readers to pick up a copy. Parishioners choose to pick up the magazine at their church parishes and places of business throughout the diocese.

That is partly why there are glossy pages. It is important to have an appealing look.

I already knew that moving to a magazine format was actually less expensive than the newspaper format. I would like to take the opportunity to dispel some notions that many of our readers have concerning the cost of the magazine format.

A substantial amount of money was spent on printing and composition when the Bayou Catholic was a newspaper, partly because the composition was done at a local newspaper publisher. Now, we do all of the composition in-house which has cut a substantial amount of the cost. In comparison there is a savings of $47,000 per year because of in-house composition and the current print costs of the magazine versus the newspaper.

In regard to the glossy paper, most magazine formats use this type of paper. We are constantly monitoring paper prices and have changed the paper weight of the covers and inside pages which results in a lower monthly printing cost.

The newspaper used to be mailed

6 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

to Catholic households throughout the diocese. In the fiscal year ending June 2011, the last year the Bayou Catholic was a newspaper, nearly $75,000 was spent on postage to mail the newspaper. The Bayou Catholic could not continue this costly expense. In contrast, last year the Bayou Catholic spent just over $11,000 to have the magazines delivered to churches, businesses and a limited number of magazines mailed to subscribers.

We also constantly monitor how many magazines are not picked up from parishes and businesses and adjust our circulation accordingly.

On the average only 2.5 percent of the total number of magazines which are delivered to the churches, schools and businesses are not picked up by readers. Our carrier service picks up these leftover copies which are then recycled.

I hope this info has helped some of our readership better understand why we have switched to a magazine format and how the Bayou Catholic has a high price look at a manageable price.

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! BC

Lawrence

Lawrence Chatagnier Editor & General Manager

Bayou Spirit

Historical site of Thibodaux College dedicated During the dedication of the historical site of Thibodaux College, Bishop Shelton J. Fabre posed with Brothers of the Sacred Heart John Hotstream, Paul Montero, Lee Barker, Ronald Talbot and Ray Hebert. The bishop is also pictured with Thibodaux College alumni present for the dedication. E.D. White Catholic High School president Tim Robichaux led the ceremony.

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

June 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 7

Comment

Please pray for and support our priests

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

It is my honor annually on the first Saturday of June to ordain young men from our diocese as priests, which is one of the greatest signs of hope for our diocese and for our church. Amidst all the scandal and challenges the church faces today, young men are still presenting themselves for priestly ministry. They give up families and careers for a purpose that the wider culture tells them is not worth it.

However, the wider culture misses that this call at its heart is about a person, Jesus Christ, and serving a people, the church. They come to ordination not because of prestige or power or money, but they come to advance and pursue the Kingdom of God. What is a priest? We know who our priests are and what functions they fulfill, but grasping what a priest is can be complex. A priest is an ordinary man chosen by the church from a community.

Coming to seminary and discerning priesthood, some of these young men already have a habit of prayer, and some stand out for their holiness. However, the goal of the vocation director is to look for men who are good men and open to receiving direction. In the seminary, the man is schooled in prayer, discipline, ordered thought and pastoral ministry.

If deemed worthy of priesthood, he is ordained and tasked to teach, govern and sanctify, and to always humbly remember that he is sent to serve and not to be served.

However, he does not leave the seminary fully ready for all of the possible realities he will face. How could he with only classroom knowledge? Instead, during the summers he experiences

parish life. He spends a period of time in a parish as a deacon the year before he is ordained a priest, and then he still has so much to learn. Even after ordination, his first experiences as a priest in his first parish assignment provide practical experience and learning. Here is where the parishioners of his first parish assignment are so important.

“

Priests are not perfect. No one is perfect. I am keenly aware of my own imperfections. Thus, I ask you please be patient with your priests. Prayers go a long way in helping us overcome the daily challenges that we all face.

“

Comfort For My People

The new priest’s interactions with these people provide invaluable experience that will shape him for the rest of his ministry. Each parish receiving one of these so-called ‘baby priests’ is given an important task of shaping good habits in them.

New priests benefit greatly from exposure to new people and circumstances. Being new to a parish can be a challenging experience for anyone. It is made more difficult by being new to priestly ministry. The new priest can easily become intimidated by the sheer number of people with whom

8 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

he is trying to acquaint himself. A simple invitation for coffee in the afternoon can go a long way toward helping the new priest become comfortable. Please note that this is also a good practice when receiving a new pastor, no matter how long he has been in active ministry.

Priests participate in the three main ministries of Jesus: Teaching, governance and sanctification. They teach primarily through their preaching at Mass. They also take advantage of time in the sacrament of reconciliation to provide specific moral instruction to the person. Finally, in all of their ministry, priests share what they have learned through seminary formation and personal experience. Priests govern through general parish administration, which seeks to fully utilize the resources provided to the parish from the people and to guide the wider direction of the parish through pastoral planning. Often it is in the governing ministry where most conflicts arise based on a difference of opinion between people. However, this is also the space where parish life is most enriched by dialogue. Finally, the priest sanctifies through celebration of the sacraments. Primarily this is accomplished through the prayers of the Mass, but is expressed in all of the sacraments. The priest’s careful and pious celebration of the sacraments often brings as much grace into his life as it does to the person or people to whom he ministers.

Please pray for and support our priests. Priests are not perfect. No one is perfect. I am keenly aware of my own imperfections. Thus, I ask you please be patient with your priests. Prayers go a long way in helping us overcome the daily challenges that we all face.

Further, a kind word effortlessly lifts the spirit on a bad day. It is important from time to time to remind ourselves that no matter our differences and difficulties, we are all on that same team trying to achieve the same goals.

At the same time, we should always strive to be better. We are also all in this together. BC

Please pray for our priests June 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 9

Comentario

Por favor oren y apoyen a nuestros sacerdotes experiencias prácticas y de aprendizaje.

Aquí es donde los feligreses de su primera asignación parroquial son tan importantes. Las interacciones del nuevo sacerdote con estas personas proveen una experiencia invaluable que le ayudara para el resto de su ministerio. A cada parroquia que recibe uno de estos llamados “pequenos sacerdotes” se le asigna la importante tarea de formar buenos hábitos en ellos.

“

Los sacerdotes no son perfectos.

Nadie es perfecto.

Soy muy consciente de mis propias imperfecciones. Por lo tanto, les pido que tengan paciencia con sus sacerdotes.

Las oraciones nos ayudan mucho a superar los desafíos diarios que todos enfrentamos.

“

Es un honor para mí, el primer sábado de Junio de cada año, ordenar a jóvenes de nuestra diócesis como sacerdotes, lo cual es uno de los mayores signos de esperanza para nuestra diócesis y para nuestra Iglesia. En medio de todo el escándalo y los desafíos que la Iglesia enfrenta hoy, los jóvenes todavía se están presentando para el ministerio sacerdotal. Renuncian a sus familias y carreras con un propósito que la cultura les dice que no vale la pena. Sin embargo, la cultura más general echa de menos el hecho de que este llamado en su corazón es acerca de una persona, Jesucristo, y servir a un pueblo, la Iglesia. Vienen a la ordenación no por prestigio o poder o dinero, sino para avanzar y perseguir el Reino de Dios. ¿Qué es un sacerdote? Sabemos quiénes son nuestros sacerdotes y qué funciones cumplen, pero comprender lo que es un sacerdote puede ser complicado. Un sacerdote es un hombre ordinario elegido por la Iglesia de una comunidad. Vienen al seminario y disciernen el sacerdocio, algunos de estos jóvenes ya tienen un hábito de oración, y algunos se destacan por su santidad. Sin embargo, la meta del Director de Vocaciones es buscar hombres que sean buenos y abiertos a recibir dirección. En el seminario, el hombre es educado en la oración, la disciplina, el pensamiento ordenado y el ministerio pastoral. Si se le considera digno del sacerdocio, se le ordena y se le asigna la tarea de enseñar, gobernar y santificar, y de recordar siempre humildemente que es enviado a servir y no a ser servido.

Sin embargo, no sale del seminario totalmente preparado para todas las realidades posibles que enfrentará. ¿Cómo podría hacerlo sólo con clases de conocimientos? Durante los veranos experimenta la vida parroquial.

Pasa un período de tiempo en una parroquia como diácono el año antes de ser ordenado sacerdote, y entonces todavía tiene mucho que aprender.

Incluso después de la ordenación, sus experiencias como sacerdote en su primera asignación parroquial prove

Los nuevos sacerdotes se benefician enormemente a presentarse a nuevas personas y circunstancias.

Ser nuevo en una parroquia puede ser una experiencia desafiante para cualquiera. Se hace más difícil por ser nuevo en el ministerio sacerdotal.

El nuevo sacerdote puede fácilmente sentirse intimidado por el gran número de personas con las que trata de relacionarse. Una simple invitación para tomar un café por la tarde puede ayudar mucho a que el nuevo sacerdote se sienta cómodo. Por favor tenga en cuenta que esto también es una buena práctica cuando se recibe a un nuevo parroco, no importa cuánto tiempo haya estado en el ministerio activo.

10 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

Los sacerdotes participan en los tres ministerios principales de Jesús: Enseñanza, gobierno y santificación.

Enseñan principalmente a través de su predicación en la Misa. También aprovechan el tiempo en el sacramento de la reconciliación para proporcionar instrucción moral específica a la persona.

Finalmente, en todo su ministerio, los sacerdotes comparten lo que han aprendido a través de la formación en el seminario y la experiencia personal.

Los sacerdotes gobiernan a través de la administración general de la parroquia, la cual busca utilizar plenamente los recursos proporcionados a la parroquia por la gente y guiar la dirección más amplia de la parroquia a través de la planificación pastoral. A menudo es en el ministerio de gobierno donde surgen la mayoría de los conflictos basados en una diferencia de opinión entre las personas. Sin embargo, este es también el espacio donde la vida parroquial es más enriquecida con el diálogo. Finalmente, el sacerdote santifica a través de la celebración de los sacramentos. Principalmente esto se logra a través de las oraciones de la Misa, pero se expresa en todos los sacramentos. La cuidadosa y piadosa celebración de los sacramentos por parte del sacerdote a menudo trae tanta gracia a su vida como a la persona o personas a quienes acompana.

Por favor oren y apoyen a nuestros sacerdotes. Los sacerdotes no son perfectos. Nadie es perfecto. Soy muy consciente de mis propias imperfecciones. Por lo tanto, les pido que tengan paciencia con sus sacerdotes. Las oraciones nos ayudan mucho a superar los desafíos diarios que todos enfrentamos. Además, una palabra amable levanta el espíritu sin esfuerzo en un mal día. De vez en cuando es importante recordarnos que no importa nuestras diferencias y dificultades, todos estamos en el mismo equipo tratando de alcanzar los mismos objetivos. Al mismo tiempo, siempre debemos esforzarnos por ser mejores. También estamos todos juntos en esto. BC

Binh luan bang loi

Hãy cầu nguyện và nâng đỡ các Linh mục của chúng ta kinh nghiệm thực tế và học hỏi. Giáo dân ở giáo xứ đầu tiên của họ rất quan trọng.

Các tương quan mới của tân Linh mục với những người giáo dân sẽ cung ứng kinh nghiệm vô giá định đoạt cho phần còn lại sứ vụ của họ. Mỗi giáo xứ đón nhận một trong những Linh mục này, quen gọi là ‘Linh mục mới ra lò,’ được trao một nhiệm vụ quan trọng là hình thành các thói quen tốt nơi họ.

“

Linh mục của chúng ta. Linh mục không hoàn hảo. Không ai là hoàn hảo. Tôi nhận thức sâu sắc về sự không hoàn hảo của chính cá nhân tôi. Vì vậy, tôi cầu xin cho mọi người hãy kiên nhẫn với các Linh mục của mình. Những lời cầu nguyện sốt sắng sẽ giúp chúng ta vượt qua những thách đố hằng ngày mà tất cả chúng ta phải đối diện.

“

Vinh dự của tôi hằng năm là cứ vào ngày thứ Bảy đầu tháng Sáu tôi phong chức linh mục cho một số ứng sinh từ giáo phận chúng ta, đó là một trong những dấu hiệu hy vọng lớn nhất cho giáo phận và cho Giáo hội. Giữa các gương xấu và thách đố mà Giáo hội phải đối diện ngày nay, thế mà các bạn trẻ vẫn đang dâng mình cho chức vụ Linh mục.

Họ từ bỏ gia đình và sự nghiệp vì một mục đích mà nền văn hóa thời nay nói với họ là không xứng đáng. Tuy nhiên, nền văn hóa này quên rằng trọng tâm của lời kêu gọi là hướng về một người, Đức Giêsu Kitô, và phục vụ một dân tộc là Giáo hội. Họ được thụ phong linh mục không phải vì thanh danh, quyền lực hay tiền bạc, nhưng là để thăng tiến và nỗ lực tìm kiếm Nước Thiên Chúa.

Linh mục là gì? Chúng ta biết các Linh mục là ai và các ngài thực hiện những chức năng gì, nhưng để hiểu thấu được một Linh mục là ai thì có thể rất phức tạp. Linh mục là một người nam bình thường được Giáo hội tuyển chọn từ một cộng đồng. Khi nhập chủng viện để tìm hiểu ơn gọi Linh mục, một số thanh niên này đã có thói quen cầu nguyện, và một số nổi bật vì sự đạo đức của họ. Tuy vậy, mục đích của vị giám đốc ơn thiên triệu là tìm kiếm những người tốt lành và rộng mở để nhận định hướng đi. Trong chủng viện, họ được học hỏi về cầu nguyện, kỷ luật, suy nghĩ chín chắn và công tác mục vụ. Nếu được coi là xứng đáng và phù hợp với chức vụ tư tế, họ được phong chức và trao cho nhiệm vụ giảng dạy, cai quản, thánh hóa, và luôn luôn khiêm tốn nhớ rằng họ được sai đi để phục vụ chứ không phải để được phục vụ.

Tuy nhiên, họ không rời khỏi chủng viện một khi đã chuẩn bị sẵn sàng cho tất cả những thực tế mà họ có thể sẽ phải đối diện. Làm thế nào họ chỉ có kiến ​​thức trong phạm vi lớp học? Thay vào đó, trong suốt các mùa hè, họ học hỏi kinh nghiệm cuộc sống của giáo xứ.

Trước khi chịu chức linh mục, họ dành một thời gian khoảng một năm giúp giáo xứ với chức vụ phó tế, và sau đó họ vẫn còn rất nhiều điều để học hỏi. Ngay cả sau khi thụ phong, những kinh nghiệm đầu tiên của họ là một Linh mục trong sứ vụ của giáo xứ đầu tiên sẽ giúp thêm

Các tân Linh mục thừa hưởng lợi ích rất nhiều từ việc tiếp xúc với giáo dân và những hoàn cảnh mới. Là người mới đến một giáo xứ có thể là một trải nghiệm đầy thử thách cho bất kỳ ai. Nó càng khó khăn hơn để trở thành mới đối với sứ vụ Linh mục. Tân Linh mục có thể dễ dàng bị dè dặt bởi số người mà họ đang cố gắng làm quen. Một lời mời đơn giản như mời đi uống cà phê vào buổi trưa có thể là phương cách giúp tân Linh mục cảm thấy thoải mái. Xin lưu ý rằng đây cũng là một cách thực hành tốt khi đón nhận một cha xứ mới, bất kể họ đã ở trong chức vụ bao nhiêu năm.

Các Linh mục dự phần vào ba chức vụ chính của Chúa Giêsu: giảng dạy, quản trị và thánh hóa. Họ dạy bảo chủ yếu qua

lời rao giảng trong Thánh lễ. Họ cũng tận dụng thời giờ trong bí tích hòa giải để ban phát những khuyên bảo luân lý cụ thể cho từng người. Cuối cùng, trong tất cả các sứ vụ của họ, các Linh mục chia sẻ những gì họ đã học hỏi được thông qua việc đào tạo của chủng viện và qua các kinh nghiệm cá nhân. Các Linh mục cai quản thông qua việc quản trị giáo xứ nói chung, trong đó tìm đủ mọi cách tận dụng các nguồn lực được cung cấp cho giáo xứ từ giáo dân và hướng dẫn hướng đi rộng hơn của giáo xứ thông qua kế hoạch mục vụ. Thông thường chính trong sứ vụ quản trị mà hầu hết các xung đột phát sinh dựa trên sự khác biệt về quan điểm giữa mọi người. Tuy nhiên, đây cũng là nơi cuộc sống giáo xứ được phong phú nhất qua việc đối thoại. Sau cùng, Linh mục thánh hóa qua việc cử hành các bí tích. Chủ yếu điều này được thực hiện qua những lời cầu nguyện của Thánh lễ, nhưng được thể hiện trong tất cả các bí tích. Việc cử hành các bí tích cách thận trọng và sốt sắng của Linh mục thì thường mang lại nhiều ân sủng cho cuộc sống của chính họ cũng như cho những người mà ngài phục vụ.

Hãy cầu nguyện và nâng đỡ cho các Linh mục của chúng ta. Linh mục không hoàn hảo. Không ai là hoàn hảo. Tôi nhận thức sâu sắc về sự không hoàn hảo của chính cá nhân tôi. Vì vậy, tôi cầu xin cho mọi người hãy kiên nhẫn với các Linh mục của mình. Những lời cầu nguyện sốt sắng sẽ giúp chúng ta vượt qua những thách đố hằng ngày mà tất cả chúng ta phải đối diện. Hơn nữa, một lời nói tử tế dễ dàng nâng đỡ tinh thần vào một ngày tăm tối. Thỉnh thoảng, điều quan trọng là phải tự nhắc nhở bản thân rằng bất kể sự khác biệt và khó khăn nào của chúng ta, tất cả chúng ta đều ở trong cùng một con thuyền đang cố gắng đạt được cùng một mục tiêu. Đồng thời, chúng ta nên luôn phấn đấu để trở nên tốt hơn. Chúng ta hãy liên đới với nhau trong tình đoàn kết.

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

June 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 11

Comment

Pope Francis: No plans for female deacons, but study continues

Vatican City, (CNA) - Pope Francis said recently that the Vatican commission exploring the possibility of female deacons continues its study, but does not have any consensus that would lead soon to a plan of action.

“For the female diaconate, there is a way to imagine it with a different view from the male diaconate,” Pope Francis said May 7 during an in-flight press conference returning from North Macedonia and Bulgaria.

“Fundamentally, there is no certainty that it was an ordination with the same form, in the same purpose as male ordination. Some say there is doubt, let’s go ahead and study,” the pope said.

Much of the Pope Francis’ May 5-7 visit to Bulgaria and North Macedonia was dedicated to ecumenical dialogue with Orthodox Christinity. Among the differences from Catholicism, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has female deaconesses.

The diaconate, as part of the Church’s sacrament of Holy Orders, is currently only open to men. Pope Francis appointed a commission in 2016 to examine the possibility of women serving in some diaconal role, with or without the sacrament of ordination.

During the in-flight press conference, Pope Francis revealed that some in the Vatican commission have concluded that historically the female diaconate was different from the role of male deacons, namely without sacramental ordination.

“For example, the formulas of female deacon ‘ordination’ found until now,

“

For the female diaconate, there is a way to imagine it with a different view from the male diaconate ... Some say there is doubt, let’s go ahead and study.

“

The Pope Speaks

according to the commission, are not the same for the ordination of a male deacon and are more similar to what today would be the abbatial blessing of an abbess,” he said.

Pope Francis said that others in the commission hold that there was “a female deacon formula,” but it is not clear whether it was a sacramental ordination or not.

The pope went on to explain that in the past female deacons assisted with the liturgy, for example, with the full-immersion baptisms of women or to serve as an aid to the bishop in determining the authenticity of domestic abuse with matrimonial disputes.

Archbishop Luis Ladaria, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was appointed president of the study commission on the project, consisting of 12 members - 6 men and 6 women.

These comments by Pope Francis’ on female deacons are very similar as to what he said in 2016 on the subject.

A 2002 document published by the

12 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

International Theological Commission concluded that female deacons in the early Church had not been equivalent to male deacons, and had “no liturgical function,” nor a sacramental one. It also maintained that even in the fourth century “the way of life of deaconesses was very similar to that of nuns.”

During the press conference, Pope Francis also spoke about the cause for sainthood for Croatian Cardinal Aloysius Stepinac, Archbishop of Zagreb from 1937-1960.

Pope Francis told reporters that there are “unclear historical points” on Stepinac’s canonization.

“This is a historical case: the canonization of Stepinac. He is a virtuous man and for this the Church has proclaimed him Blessed, you can pray [for his intercession]. But at a certain point in the canonization process, there are unclear points, historical points,” he said.

“Who is helped by a declaration of sanctity if the truth is not clear?” Pope Francis added.

Stepinac’s cause for canonization remains pending after many in the Serbian Orthodox community expressed skepticism of the cardinal’s wartime record, while other Croatian Catholics claim the record was tainted by a Soviet propaganda smear campaign.

Pope Francis arranged a special commission of Catholic and Orthodox leaders to examine Stepinac’s record, which resulted in disagreement in 2017.

The pope said he was “deeply touched” by his experience in Bulgaria and North Macedonia May 5-7, particularly by his encounter with the poor and the Missionaries of Charity at the Mother Teresa memorial in North Macedonia.

“These sisters who treated every person like Jesus,” he said. “It is one of the most beautiful things to feel the motherhood of the Church.” BC

Comment

Questions of Faith Father Wilmer Todd

Religion and spirituality It happens more each day that I hear people say they don’t believe in organized religions. It appears that fewer people are worshiping at churches whether they are Catholic, Protestant or non-denominational.

Are we becoming a godless society?

What is happening to our world?

Your observations about the decline in church attendance are correct. A report from a 2005 study published in The Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion by sociologists C. Kirk Hadaway and Penny Long Marler revealed a steep decline in church attendance over the last 30 to 40 years.

While the numbers recently showed about 40 percent of the nation belonged to a church, in reality only 17.7 percent were consistent in attending church services every Sunday.

Someone can claim to be a church member but that does not mean that they attend church regularly. Many people only come to church for Easter and Christmas services, so this shows the difference between the 40 percent who belonged to a church and the 17.7 percent who worship God every Sunday. That is the lowest it has been since statistics have been recorded in our country.

These low numbers do not include the people who believe in a divine being but do not belong to an organized religion. A distinction can exist between spirituality and organized religions.

According to the dictionary, a religion

usually has “a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, usually involving devotional and ritual observances and a moral code.” In contrast, we can define spirituality as “the quality of being spiritual.”

The major difference between religion and spirituality is one of believing versus being in relationship to the divine. Religion’s focus deals mainly with the content of one’s belief and the application to everyday life. Spirituality’s focus is attuned to becoming more other worldly.

Religion usually promotes a creed and has a defined code of ethics; it is tangible. Spirituality exists in the hazy realm of the undefinable. Today many people see spirituality as good and religion as bad. Being religious without being spiritual or spiritual without being religious is possible. However, the ideal is to have both as part of our lives.

Another problem we face today is translating the world view that our creeds are imbedded with to make sense to a 21st century inquirer. We no longer live in a three-story universe.

The Earth is not flat and God’s throne is not above the clouds. Jesus does not sit at the right hand of the Father because the Father is a spirit and spirits do not have right or left hands. We need to teach people how to reconcile things like the Genesis’ description of creation with evolution.

Another factor affecting religion is secularism. America is a secular society. We put “In God we trust” on all our money but in reality we trust money more than God. Sundays used to be a sacred day to worship God and

an opportunity to rest and recharge our batteries. Now Sundays look like any other day of the week. Most stores are open, and many activities compete with church attendance. How many Catholics prefer a crawfish boil to Good Friday Services?

We need to put religion back in the home and in the church. My family used to go to church every Sunday and pray together every night; does yours? Do you say grace at meals? Do we encourage family members to thank God for the blessing of the day every night before going to bed and ask God’s forgiveness for the failures of the day?

Do we ask for God’s grace and peace in our lives when we wake up?

Fathers are the greatest influence as to whether their children will attend a church when they become adults. If a father does not go to church at all, less than two percent of his children will attend church when they leave the home, even if the mother attends regularly. When a father attends church regularly even if the mother does not, the number of regularly attending children when they become adults, skyrockets to more than 40 percent. Fathers, be a good model every Sunday! BC

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

June 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 13

Reflections

Luke’s Gospel describes Jesus as ‘setting his face to Jerusalem’ Readings Between the Lines Father Glenn LeCompte

The Sundays of June begin with the Solemnity of Pentecost, followed by two more Solemnities, that of the Most Holy Trinity and the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Only on the last Sunday of the month do we return to our sequential readings from the Gospel of Luke, the Gospel of the current liturgical cycle.

On the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Lectionary gives us a Gospel reading (9:51-62) that is pivotal in Luke’s story of Jesus. Until this time, Jesus has preached, taught and healed in Galilee. Luke first tells us that this next section of his story begins the narrative of the fulfillment of “the days of his being taken up.” The Greek verb of the same root from which “his being taken up” comes refers to Jesus’ ascension in Luke’s sequel, Acts (1:2, 11, 22). In addition, the narrator tells us that Jesus “set his face to go to Jerusalem” (9:51). This is a strong phrase which transcends the idea that he is simply traveling there. Jesus is headed for Jerusalem to fulfill a determined purpose. Earlier (9:22) when Jesus first predicted his passion in Luke’s story, he spoke of it as a matter of “necessity.” It is necessary because it is the Father’s will for Jesus. By describing Jesus in 9:51 as “setting his face to Jerusalem” the narrator connotes that Jesus fully embraces the Father’s will.

In Luke’s Gospel, the very mention of Jerusalem itself is important. Jerusalem is the spatial hub of salvation history.

Young Jesus accompanies Joseph and Mary on pilgrimage to Jerusalem in

fulfillment of prescriptions of the Law (2:41, 43, 45). In Luke’s account of Jesus’ temptation by the devil, the evangelist specifically names Jerusalem, whereas Matthew, in comparison, calls it “the holy city.” (Luke 4:9; Matthew 4:5).

Also, Luke places the temptation in Jerusalem last (Matthew has it first) to build up to the mention of the city.

Only Luke among the Gospels provides the content of Jesus’ conversation with Moses and Elijah in the scene of the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36). The Lawgiver and great Prophet discuss the “exodus” (transit) that he would accomplish in Jerusalem. The risen Lord, prior to his ascension, instructs his disciples to “remain in the city” until they are “clothed with power from on high” (24:48). Once they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, the disciples are then to preach, in Jesus’ name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins to all nations beginning from Jerusalem. Jerusalem, then, is the city where Jesus, according to God’s will, offers himself in sacrifice, a sacrifice which makes reconciliation with God available. In conjunction with Jesus’ atoning sacrifice, and as he finishes his work and ascends to the Father, the Holy Spirit both forms and empowers the church to proclaim the forgiveness of sins his sacrifice has accomplished for all.

During Jesus’ and his disciples’ journey to Jerusalem heavy emphasis

14 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

will be placed upon instructing the disciples. Jesus will first attempt to shape their understanding of the Kingdom of God and secondly will give them an anticipatory taste of the mission to the nations (10:1-20), a mission they will undertake in Acts.

Embarking upon the journey, Jesus and his disciples first enter Samaria (9:52), the region of Palestine between Galilee and Judea. Samaritans and Jews had a centuries-long distaste for one another because the Samaritans were descendants of residents of the fallen northern kingdom of Israel who intermingled with their Assyrian conquerors. Their locus of worship was the Samaritan Mt. Gerizim, in contrast to the Temple as the Jewish center of worship. Jesus is rejected by the Samaritans because Jerusalem is his destination (9:53). The disciples ask Jesus if they wish him to call down fire from heaven to consume those who oppose Jesus (9:54). They are echoing 2 Kings 1:10, 12, 14, where the prophet Elijah does this very thing to warrior emissaries sent by the king of the northern kingdom, Samaria.

But Jesus indicates he will handle things differently when he rebukes his disciples at their suggestion (9:55). On the one hand, the Samaritans’ rejection of Jesus foreshadows his passion in Jerusalem. On the other hand, Jesus’ refusal to invoke divine wrath upon

a

Reflections

his opponents foreshadows the forgiveness he will beg the Father to grant to those who crucify him.

The compassion Jesus shows to the Samaritans is characteristic of Luke’s Jesus.

The next section of the reading (9:5762) consists of a collection of disparate sayings of Jesus, recorded as responses to would-be followers. The narrator mentions that these verbal interchanges happen while Jesus and his disciples are proceeding “on the way,” a reference to the journey to Jerusalem. The first person declares he will follow Jesus wherever he goes (9:57). By telling the person that he does not even have as much of a home as foxes or birds (9:58), he indicates to the person that discipleship means leaving the stability of a place of dwelling. Indeed, in Acts, Paul will journey to numerous places in Syria, Asia Minor, Eastern Europe and eventually to Rome, without having a true home base.

The second potential disciple is invited by Jesus to follow him (9:59). The person expresses interest but wants to attend to what was a serious obligation of Jewish life, to bury one’s father. In reply, Jesus indicates that proclaiming the Kingdom of God takes precedence over even such a significant duty (9:60).

His response may seem harsh here, but he is exaggerating in order to make the point that proclaiming the Kingdom, an essential activity of a disciple, is not a part-time endeavor.

Finally, another who proposes to follow Jesus says he will do so but wishes to take leave of his family first (9:61). Jesus’ figure about a putting one’s hand to the plow and then looking back making a person unworthy to follow him (9:62) again makes a point in the extreme. Jesus asserts here that following him cannot be impeded by attachment to family.

In each case the potential follower has to abandon something important to

follow Jesus. His words here echo what he said earlier to all (9:23): “If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross each day and follow me.” All who would follow Jesus must die with him so that they may also rise with him in the presence of the Father. BC

Reflection Questions v How have you coped with refraining from retaliating against those who reject you? v What important things in your life have you had to relinquish to remain in Jesus’ following? v How do you see your life as a journey to the Father?

June 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 15

ScriptureReadings and a listing of Feast days and saints

Monday

3

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

1 June

Seventh Sunday of Easter Acts 7:55-60 Revelation 22:1214, 16-17, 20 John 17:20-26

8

9

Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and companions, martyrs Acts 19:1-8 John 16:29-33

Easter Weekday Acts 20:17-27 John 17:1-11a

Memorial of Saint Boniface, bishop and martyr Acts 20:28-38 John 17:11b-19

Easter Weekday Acts 22:30, 23:611 John 17:20-26

Easter Weekday Acts 25:13b-21 John 21:15-19

Easter Weekday Acts 28:16-20, 30-31 John 21:20-25

10

11

Memorial of Saint Weekday 2 Corinthians 1:1-7 Barnabas, apostle Acts 11:21b-26; Matthew 5:1-12 13:1-3 Matthew 5:13-16

12

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

13

Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, priest and doctor of the church 2 Corinthians 3:15—4:1, 3-6 Matthew 5:20-26

14

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

15

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

17

18

19

20

21

22

24

25

Solemnity of the Weekday Nativity of John the Genesis 13:2, 5-18 Baptist Matthew 7:6, 12-14 Jeremiah 1:4-10 1 Peter 1:8-12 Luke 1:5-17

Weekday 2 Corinthians 9:611 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

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

Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, religious 2 Corinthians 11:18, 21-30 Matthew 6:19-23

Weekday 2 Corinthians 12:110 Matthew 6:24-34

26

27

28

29

Weekday Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 Matthew 7:15-20

16 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

Weekday Genesis 16:1-12, 15-16 Matthew 7:21-29

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Ezekiel 34:11-16 Romans 5:5b-11 Luke 15:3-7

2

Sunday

Memorial of Saint Justin, martyr Acts 18:23-28 John 16:23b-28

5

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

7

Saturday

4

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

6

Friday

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

16

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Proverbs 8:22-31 Romans 5:1-5 John 16:12-15

23

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Genesis 14:18-20 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Luke 9:11b-17

30

June

Holy Father’s prayer intentions

Life is great ~

Get busy living.

Evangelization

Independent Living Community

Priests. That priests, through the modesty and humility of their lives, commit themselves actively to a solidarity with those who are the most poor.

1201 Cardinal Drive ~ Thibodaux, LA 70301 (985) 446-9050 ~ www.stjosephmanor.org

For More Information Contact: Natalie Barbera

See www.apostleshipofprayer.org

natalieb@stjosephmanor.org

Happy Father’s Day to All Our Great Dads We have gifts for the following occasions: FATHER’S DAY V GRADUATION V WEDDING V ANNIVERSARIES V BAPTISM FIRST COMMUNION V CONFIRMATION V PLUS OTHER SEASONAL ITEMS

We carry a large selection of: BIBLES V CRUCIFIXES V ROSARIES V MEDALS V PRAYER CARDS HOLY WATER FONTS V INDOOR STATUES V BOOKS Gift Certificates Available

FREE GIFT WRAPPING WITH ANY IN-STORE PURCHASE

God’s Promises Books & Gifts

Galliano Religious Supply House

God’s Precious Word & Gifts

648 B Corporate Drive

18210 West Main Suite 13 (985) 632-3040 Galliano Hours: Tues.-Fri. 9-5 Closed Mon. & Sat.

601 St. Mary Street

(Behind Target)

(985) 876-1283 Houma Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9-5 Sat. 9-4 Serving the Diocese since 1991

(Next to Politz)

(985) 449-0618 Thibodaux Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9-5 Sat. 9-4

Donald & Tammy Plaisance, owners June 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 17

Youth

in action

How do you share your faith in your family?

I believe I share my faith in my family in the same ways as most people, by living out my faith in my thoughts and actions. It’s not always easy. It takes an intentional effort on my part to nurture faith and continue the journey God has planned for me.

In order to live my faith, I first had to learn what my Catholic faith teaches.

This was and is an ongoing process that only began in my family. My parents instilled their faith and shared the love of Christ with me and my younger twin brothers. We go to Mass as a family, we pray as a family, and we serve our community as a family. In doing so, I have encountered Jesus in so many ways. Is it always perfect? No, but as a family we turn to God in the good

and bad times. Throughout my youth, I was able to learn and grow into a relationship with Jesus Christ through religion classes, participating in the sacraments, and surrounding myself with friends who also want to live their faith. So many people, adults and peers, in my church family have helped me know who Jesus is and to love him with my heart and soul. As I am filled with the gifts that God has given me, I am able to share that with others,

18 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

Laurel R. Chiasson School: South Lafourche High School Grade: 12th Church parish: Our Lady of the Rosary, Larose Describe your family unit: Dr. Darby and Nickole Chiasson are my parents. I have twin brothers, Jack and Connor, who are 14.

Favorite Hobby: Dancing, watching Netflix, hanging out with friends Favorite Movie: I love movies with music, so Bohemian Rhapsody and Mamma Mia 1 & 2, also any Disney movie!

Favorite T.V. Show: Greys Anatomy Favorite Genre of Music: Pop

especially my mom, dad, and brothers.

This summer I am excited to share Jesus with them as my whole family attends Steubenville on the Bayou! As I prepare to go to LSU next fall, I pray that I continue to discern how to live out my faith and what God has in store for me. I am so thankful for the faith I have received from my family and friends. I pray to be an example of the love of Jesus Christ to all who cross my path. BC

Seminarian Education Burses What is a seminarian burse/endowment fund?

A seminarian burse/endowment 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 HoumaThibodaux.

How does someone establish a seminarian burse/endowment fund?

Very simply, a burse/endowment fund may be established and

named for anyone you choose, be it family, friend, bishop, priest, deacon, religious, etc.

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

To contribute to or establish a burse/endowment fund, send funds to the Pastoral Center, Attn: Catholic Foundation, P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395 or contact the Catholic Foundation office at 985-850-3116 or aponson@htdiocese.org for more information.

Completed Burses and CFSL Named Endowment Funds Note: Numbers stipulate the amount of completed burses.*

Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. C. Thomas Bienvenu Harry Booker Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux (3)* Mr. Eledier Broussard Rev. Adrian J. Caillouet Rev. James Louis Caillouet Bishop L. Abel Caillouet Judge & Mrs. L.P. Caillouet Msgr. Lucien J. Caillouet Abdon J. & Ada B. Callais Harold & Gloria Callais Family Paul A. Callais Peter W. Callais Vincent & Fannie Cannata Minor Sr. & Lou Ella Cheramie Maude & Edith Daspit Mr. & Mrs. Caliste Duplantis family (3)* Clay Sr. & Evelida Duplantis C. Remie Duplantis Marie Elise Duplantis Warren J. Harang Jr. Msgr. Raphael C. Labit

Msgr. Francis J. Legendre Rev. Charles Menard Dr. & Mrs. M.V. Marmande & 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 James J Buquet Jr Julius & Marie Pauline St. Amant

Elie & Dot Klingman Bishop Sam Jacobs Endowment-$32,840.43 Giardina Family Foundation Sem. Endowment-$4,337.62 James J. Buquet, Jr. Family Sem. Endowment-$27,979.95 Diocesan Seminarian Endowment-$3,502,699.11 Mary and Al Danos Foundation Sem. Endowment-$38,621.30 Msgr. Amedee Sem. Endowment-$314,838.43 The Peltier Foundation-$14,482.97 Leo & Ethel Hebert Jane and John Dean Sidney J. & Lydie C. Duplantis Msgr. Stanislaus Manikowski Leon “Ponoke” and Marlene Champagne Sem. Endowment-$2,225.00

April 2019 Burse Contributions Msgr. Francis Amedee .........................$1500.00 Claude & Lucy Mahler Family............$200.00 Dean Joseph Chiasson.............................$100.00

Open Burses with Balance as of April 30, 2019 Donald Peltier Sr. No. 4 ................................$13,000.00 Joseph Strada Memorial ..............................$12,642.63 Msgr. Raphael C. Labit No. 2 ....................$11,440.00 Claude & Lucy Mahler Family ....................$11,100.00 Joseph Waitz Sr. ..............................................$11,000.00 Mr. & Mrs. George C. Fakier .......................$10,700.00 Harvey Peltier No. 31 ....................................$10,486.91 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 Msgr. William Koninkx .....................................$7,700.00 Society of St. Joseph .......................................$7,500.00 Rev. Victor Toth ..................................................$7,000.00 Msgr. Francis Amedee .....................................$6,850.00 Catholic Daughters ............................................$6,800.00 Brides of the Most Blessed Trinity ..............$6,598.00 Rev. Gerard Hayes .............................................$6,286.00 Rev. Peter Nies ....................................................$6,000.00 Rev. Guy Zeringue .............................................$6,000.00 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 Joseph “Jay” Fertitta ..........................................$4,450.00 Rev. Henry Naquin ............................................$4,311.00

Anawin Community ..........................................$4,200.00 Harry Booker No. 2 ...........................................$4,138.00 Msgr. James Songy ...........................................$4,075.00 Kelly Curole Frazier ............................................$3,610.96 Mr. & Mrs. John Marmande ..........................$3,500.00 J. R. Occhipinti .....................................................$3,400.00 Mr. & Mrs. Galip Jacobs ..................................$3,060.00 St. Jude ...................................................................$3,000.00 Diocesan Knights of Columbus No. 2 .......$2,894.62 Preston & Gladys Webre ................................$2,850.00 Warren J. Harang Jr. No. 2 .............................$2,700.00 Rev. Peter H. Brewerton ..................................$2,600.00 Willie & Emelda St. Pierre ..............................$2,000.00 Rev. John Gallen .................................................$1,950.00 Rev. H.C. Paul Daigle ........................................$1,900.00 Deacon Connely Duplantis ............................$1,700.00 Alfrances P. Martin ............................................$1,650.00 Msgr. Francis J. Legendre No. 2 ...................$1,645.00 Rev. Robert J. Sevigny ......................................$1,600.00 Jacob Marcello ....................................................$1,600.00 Rev. Hubert C. Broussard ................................$1,550.00 Judge Louis & Shirley R. Watkins ...............$1,550.00 Msgr. Emile J. Fossier .......................................$1,545.00 Ronnie Haydel .....................................................$1,535.00 Dr. William Barletta Sr. .....................................$1,525.00 Deacon Robert Dusse’ .....................................$1,450.00 Rev. Anthony Rousso .......................................$1,300.00 Msgr. John L. Newfield ....................................$1,200.00 Rev. Joseph Tu Tran No. 2 ............................. $1,094.00

Msgr. John G. Keller ..........................................$1,050.00 Rev. Clemens Schneider ...................................$1,000.00 Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux No. 4 ............$1,000.00 Edna W. DiSalvo .................................................$1,000.00 Bernice Harang ...................................................$1,000.00 Deacon Willie Orgeron ....................................... $900.00 Ruby Pierce .............................................................. $800.00 Deacon Roland Dufrene .................................... $750.00 Juliette & Eugene Wallace ................................ $700.00 Deacon Edward J. Blanchard ............................ $700.00 Dean Joseph Chiasson ........................................ $700.00 Deacon Raymond LeBouef ............................... $550.00 Paul & Laura Duet ............................................... $550.00 Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Cannata ........................... $500.00 Robert Walsh .......................................................... $500.00 Anne Veron Aguirre ............................................. $380.00 Deacon Harold Kurtz ........................................... $300.00 Richard Peltier No. 2 ............................................ $300.00 Claude Bergeron ................................................... $250.00 Rev. Michael Finnegan ........................................ $200.00 Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Naquin ................................. $150.00 Deacon Pedro Pujals ........................................... $100.00 Rev. Warren Chassaniol ..................................... $100.00 Deacon Eldon Frazier .............................................$50.00 Deacon Nick Messina .............................................$50.00 Grant J. Louviere ......................................................$50.00

Overall Seminarian Burses Total: $1,748,793.02 ~ CFSL Seminarian Endowments Total: $4,028,245.59 June 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 19

Announcement

Bishop Fabre announces pastoral appointments In order to provide pastoral care for the people of God of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Bishop Shelton J. Fabre has announced the following pastoral appointments.

Priest Retirements effective July 1, 2019 The Rev. Wilfredo (Freddie) Decal, who has been serving as pastor of Sacred Heart Church parish in Morgan City since July 2016, is retiring. Father Decal, a native of Quezon, Philippines, was ordained Dec. 17, 1977.

The Rev. Patrick (P.J.) Madden, who has been serving as pastor of St. Hilary of Poitiers Church parish in Mathews and the Community of St. Anthony in Gheens since July 2015, is retiring. Father Madden, a native of Ballinasloe, Ireland, was ordained May 14, 2004.

The Rev. Charles (Charlie) Perkins, who has been serving as pastor of St. Mary’s Nativity Church parish in Raceland since July 2014, is retiring. Father Perkins, a native of Thibodaux, was ordained Feb. 25, 1978.

Pastor assignments effective July 1, 2019, for a six-year term The Rev. Cody Chatagnier, who has been serving as administrator of St. Ann Church parish in Bourg since May 2018, has been appointed pastor of that parish. Father Chatagnier, a native of Chauvin, was ordained May 28, 2016.

Msgr. Cletus (Frank) Egbi, who has been serving as administrator of St. Luke the Evangelist Church parish in Thibodaux and St. Lucy Church parish in Houma since December 2017, has been appointed pastor of those parishes. Msgr. Egbi, a native of

Rev. Cody Chatagnier

Rev. Wilfredo Decal

Msgr. Cletus Egbi

Rev. Rholando Grecia

Rev. Brice Higginbotham

Rev. Brett Lapeyrouse

Rev. Jacob Liprari III

Rev. Patrick Madden

Rev. Clyde Mahler

Rev. John David Matherne

Ghana, was ordained to the priesthood July 26, 1980.

The Rev. Clyde Mahler, who has been serving as pastor of Holy Cross Church parish in Morgan City since July 2014, has been appointed pastor of St. Mary’s Nativity Church parish in Raceland. Father Mahler, a native of Kraemer, was ordained May 22, 1999.

The Rev. Thankachan (John) Nambusseril, who has been serving as pastor of Holy Savior Church parish in Lockport since July 2015, has been appointed pastor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church parish in Golden Meadow. Father Nambusseril, a native of Kunhome, India, was ordained Dec. 29, 1993.

The Rev. Joseph (Henry) Sebastian, M.S.F.S., who has been serving as pastor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church parish in Golden Meadow since July 2012, has been appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Church parish in Morgan City. Father Sebastian, a native of Kandarvilagam, India, was ordained April 25, 1989.

The Rev. Joseph Tregre, who has

20 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

been serving as Chaplain of Thibodaux Regional Medical Center in Thibodaux since July 2018, has been appointed pastor of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Church parish in Houma.

Father Tregre, a native of Houma, was ordained May 26, 2012.

Administrator assignments effective July 1, 2019, for a oneyear term The Rev. Samuel (Brice) Higginbotham, who has been serving as associate pastor of Christ the Redeemer Church parish in

a

Announcement

Rev. Thankachan Nambusseril

Rev. Jean-Marie Nsambu

Rev. Charles Perkins

Rev. Patrick Riviere

Rev. Joseph Sebastian, M.S.F.S.

Rev. Mitchel Semar

Rev. Antonio Maria Speedy

Rev. Prentice Tipton

Rev. Joseph Tregre

Rev. Romeo Velasco

Thibodaux since January 2018, has been appointed administrator of Holy Cross Church parish in Morgan City.

Father Higginbotham, a native of Church Point, was ordained June 3, 2017.

The Rev. John David (J.D.) Matherne, who has been serving as diocesan director of Vocations and bishop’s liaison for Youth Formation since July 2018, has been appointed administrator of St. Hilary of Poitiers Church parish in Mathews and the Community of St. Anthony in Gheens. He will continue to serve as diocesan director of the Office of

Vocations. Father Matherne, a native of Raceland, was ordained June 3, 2017.

The Rev. Jean-Marie Nsambu, who has been serving as associate pastor of the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales Church parish in Houma since January 2018, has been appointed administrator of Holy Savior Church parish in Lockport. Father Nsambu, a native of Uganda, Africa, was ordained June 3, 2017.

The Rev. Antonio Maria Speedy, who has been serving in specialized evangelization ministry since December 2017, and as administrator of Holy Family Church parish in Grand Caillou since January 2019, has been reappointed administrator of Holy Family. Father Speedy, a native of Adelaide, South Australia, was ordained Dec. 6, 2014.

Associate Pastor assignments effective July 1, 2019 The Rev. Brett Lapeyrouse has been appointed associate pastor of St. Genevieve Church parish in Thibodaux.

Father Lapeyrouse, a native of Chauvin/

Bourg, was ordained June 1, 2019.

The Rev. Patrick Riviere has been appointed associate pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church parish in Thibodaux. Father Riviere, a native of Thibodaux, was ordained June 1, 2019.

The Rev. Romeo (Billy) Velasco, who has been serving as associate pastor of St. Genevieve Church parish in Thibodaux since July 2017, has been appointed associate pastor of the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales parish in Houma. Father Velasco, a native of Quezon, Philippines, was ordained May 6, 1987.

Diocesan appointments effective July 1, 2019, for one year The Rev. Prentice Tipton, a priest of the Diocese of Saginaw, MI, has been appointed to serve as a senior liaison for the diocesan Office of Parish Support, and as associate pastor of Christ the Redeemer Church parish in Thibodaux. Father Tipton was ordained Dec. 5, 2008.

Diocesan assignments effective July 1, 2019 The Rev. Jacob Lipari III, has been appointed Chaplain of Thibodaux Regional Medical Center in Thibodaux.

He will continue to serve the diocesan Tribunal, as well as continue his postgraduate study of Canon Law. He will live in residence at St. Joseph CoCathedral in Thibodaux. Father Lipari, a native of New Orleans, was ordained May 30, 2015.

The Rev. Rholando (Rholly) Grecia, who has been serving as pastor of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Church parish in Houma since July 2014, has been appointed Chaplain of Terrebonne General Medical Center in Houma. He will live in residence at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales parish in Houma. Father Grecia, a native of Lucena City, Philippines, was ordained Sept. 8, 1998.

The Rev. Mitchel (Mitch) Semar currently serves as pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church parish in Thibodaux and as diocesan director of seminarians attending St. Joseph Seminary College.

In addition, he has been assigned as director of seminarians attending Notre Dame Seminary. Father Semar, a native of Sulphur, was ordained May 26, 2012. BC

June 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 21

Heavenly Recipes

Billy Degeyter

Billy makes a great:

RIB SANDWICH Story and Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier This month’s heavenly recipe comes from Billy Degeyter, LAC, LPC, counselor at the Assisi Bridge House, a program of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. Billy’s recipe is for what he calls a delicious giant rib sandwich.

Billy says that cooking is a hobby for him, an artistic expression, and also an outlet. “I have always been interested in cooking. My grandmother was the best cook. My mom also has a knack for cooking. I think that rubbed off on me. I like to experiment with cooking. I am fascinated with different cultures and their food.”

Billy’s first experience at Assisi Bridge House was as a resident there due to a court order requiring him to seek treatment resulting from his addiction and legal obligations.

“I had been to different treatment facilities before arriving here. I had been in and out of jail. I was court ordered to stay and receive treatment here. It wasn’t easy being here but I felt that it was the first time that any type of treatment worked for me.”

Billy stuck with the program, graduated drug court and was doing well working as a manager at a retail department store.

He was also working as a tech at the Bridge House when he received a call from Rob Gorman, executive director of Catholic Charities. “In 2006, Rob called and asked if I was interested in working as a counselor-in-training. I thought I would give it a try. I felt as though it was a calling.”

Billy attended Nicholls State University in Thibodaux and received a master of arts degree in psychological counseling and eventually received his licenses as an addiction and professional counselor.

The counselor says he loves his work at the Bridge House. “This is a unique place. I love working here.

The environment, the facility and program is like home to me. We keep in touch with our alumni. After being clean and sober for a year, we offer them the opportunity to work here as a tech. We have a strong network here. We have people who have been a part of this place for 25 years. That says a lot.” BC 22 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

Delicious Giant Rib Sandwich INGREDIENTS:

1 rack baby back ribs, membrane removed (this is essential for de-boning) Dry Rub or use your own favorite 2 tbsp. paprika 1 tbsp. black pepper 2 tbsp. brown sugar 2 tsp. sea salt 1 tsp. garlic powder 1 tsp. onion powder 1/2 tsp. cumin 1 tsp. chili powder

GLAZE:

1 cup barbecue sauce 2 tbsp. honey, optional

FIXINGS:

1 large loaf French bread 1/4 cup butter, melted 1 large white onion, sliced 2 tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped 1 small jar sliced dill pickles

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 300°F. Lay the ribs on a long sheet of aluminum foil. Cover the ribs evenly on both sides with dry rub, pressing the rub into any cracks and smoothing out any large lumps. Wrap the foil around the ribs, making sure they’re completely sealed. It’s important that the juices of the ribs stay inside the foil to keep the ribs moist during cooking. Use more sheets of foil if necessary. Bake the ribs for 3 hours, until tender. Unwrap the ribs carefully, then wiggle the bones out slowly. If you’re having trouble removing the bones, use a knife to make small cuts in the meat to aid their removal. Preheat the broiler on your oven.

Combine the barbecue sauce and honey in a small bowl and brush both sides of the deboned slab of ribs generously, being sure to carefully handle the ribs since the meat will be super tender. Broil the ribs for about 5 minutes until the glaze is bubbling and starting to brown. Slice the bread loaf in half lengthwise, then butter both sides of the bread. Toast under the broiler for a few minutes. Keep a careful eye on it as they will burn extremely quickly. With two long spatulas or knives, carefully transfer the glazed ribs to the bottom bread half, then top with onions, parsley, pickles, and the top half of bread.

Cut into about 7 2-inch sandwiches, and serve.

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Rob Gorman, executive director of Catholic Charities, retires after 37 years of service Story by Janet Marcel • Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier For the past 37 years, Robert D. Gorman, L.C.S.W., A.C.S.W., has guided Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux (CCH-T) in its effort “to provide compassionate service and empower people in need through faithfulness to the Gospel.” Through his tireless efforts and determination, Gorman embodies the very mission and vision of the agency he directs. Gorman, who began his career with the diocese as the assistant director of Catholic Charities in 1982, and was named the agency’s executive director in 1999, is retiring at the end of this month.

The New York City native says while he was a freshman in college he was contemplating becoming a Glenmary priest. “I came to Houma in 1971 with some Glenmary priests to visit St. Lucy Church parish, which at the time was a Glenmary 24 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

parish. I spent the night upstairs in the convent (which is now the building that houses the CCH-T offices) and here it is almost 50 years later and I’m still here.”

Gorman remembers his wife Carolyn asking him once why they never moved back up north to be near his family. He told her that he wanted to stay here because “where else would I find another job like I have here working for the church, doing what I love and always wanted to do.” He recalls when he was in the eighth grade, he took a vocational test and was asked what he thought he’d be doing in 10 years. He remembers telling the interviewer that he thought he would be a priest running a human services agency. “I got half of it right, at least,” he says with a chuckle.

“Being able to make a difference” is what Gorman says he

a

Feature

has enjoyed most about working for Catholic Charities.

When asked what he is most proud of with regard to his work with Catholic Charities, he says, “Building Catholic Charities into an agency that has attracted and kept really good staff who are really good at running the programs we have. In our annual report, we not only document our effort but we document our impact, so we know we’re making a difference because we’re documenting the changes that each program makes in people’s lives. We are an agency that not only has charity programs, but we also have social justice programs. We provide compassionate service and we’re empowering people to change their own lives.”

Gorman has many memorable moments and stories to tell about his 37 years working for the diocese.

One of the things he says he’ll never forget happened right after he was hired. He and Sister Miriam Mitchell, S.H.Sp., former executive director of CCH-T were driving around the diocese. They stopped on Pointe-aux-Chenes Road and were sitting on the docks near the game warden’s house. “We were talking about all of the stuff we needed to do and we decided that we wanted to take Catholic Charities out of the office and get it out to the church parishes. We started playing the song On the Road Again, which became our theme song, and from that time on that mentality has been a major part of Catholic Charities. Sister Miriam and I were a good team. She had the vision of empowering the parishes and I bought right into it.

Since I’ve been here the idea has been to help the parishes fulfill the dual role of social action and social services – the work of charity and the work of justice.”

After Hurricane Katrina, the bishop of the Diocese of Toledo, OH, and a religious sister on his staff came down to visit because they sent the diocese a donation, says Gorman.

“I took them to Father Roch Naquin’s house in Isle de Jean Charles. As we drove up we noticed two pit bulls attacking a neighbor’s pet dog. The owner, who was in a wheelchair, was getting ready to hit the pit bulls with a metal folding chair, and the children were upstairs crying. So I ran over and grabbed a hose to spray them down. That didn’t do a thing.

So I grabbed a two by four and started hitting the male pit bull until I knocked him out and then the female ran away. So when I walked back over to Father Roch’s house, the bishop and the sister were just staring at me. Finally, one of them said, ‘Our Catholic Charities staff doesn’t do stuff like that.’”

Another story that stands out in his mind happened after Hurricane Ike. “Red Cross volunteers from out of state had come down to set up relief sites in the diocese. We were at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux where they were distributing items to hurricane victims. One of the Red Cross volunteers comes up to me and says, ‘St. James Mission is a going to be a site for distribution, but we can’t find Choctaw on our GPS.’ I just laughed and said, ‘And you won’t either.

Just follow me and I’ll show you the way.’”

One particular time Gorman was appearing on a TV show with Bishop Emeritus Michael Jarrell, second bishop of Houma-Thibodaux, on the subject of environmental stewardship. “He was interviewing me and I was interviewing him about Care for God’s Creation which is one of the seven

Gorman organizing disaster relief after Hurricane Gustav in 2008 principles of Catholic Social Teaching. I hadn’t warned him in advance that I was going to ask him this, but I said, ‘So bishop, I know you like to fish. Some people have said fishing could be prayer. What do you think about that?’ I thought I was going to get him; but he didn’t miss a beat. He just looked at me and said, ‘Well, as long as it’s not your only prayer, I guess it’s okay.’”

Another incident Gorman recalls was when someone wanted to put up the largest hazardous waste incinerator in the country in Amelia. He talked to his board about testifying at an upcoming public hearing and he got the go ahead to speak. “When I got up to read my testimony, the room got really quiet, because no one knew whose side the church was going to take. When I started testifying against it and everyone realized the church was on their side, the crowd just erupted; people were clapping and saying ‘yeah, yeah the church is with us.’” The people who wanted to build this incinerator recorded Gorman’s testimony and Bishop Jarrell got a call from their attorneys to meet with them a few weeks later. At the end of the meeting Bishop Jarrell said the diocese wasn’t changing its position … and needless to say, the incinerator was never built.

When asked what he will miss most about working for the diocese, Gorman says, “It’s going to be weird. I haven’t quite wrapped my head around the idea of being retired yet. I will definitely miss all of our staff, and I think just being able to make such a difference, being able to direct an agency that is able to make a difference in people’s lives and being able to do creative things with an agency that is neither

a

June 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 25

Feature

Gorman retires

liberal or conservative … but Catholic.”

He and his wife Carolyn have been married 44 years and they have three children, Heather, Kathleen, and Rob, and three grandchildren. When asked how he’s been able to handle a job with so many meetings and so much responsibility and also be there for his family, he simply says, “I brought my kids with me when I was working.” All of his children, and his wife, were involved in different aspects of his work in some way or another through the years.

Gorman has a bachelor of arts degree in social work and sociology from Loyola University in New Orleans and a master’s degree in social work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

During his tenure with the diocese, Gorman developed many programs that are still in operation, including Catholic Housing Services, Coastal Entrepreneur’s Net to Success (C.E.N.T.S.), the Foster Grandparent program, and the legislative action network called A Catholic Voice for Justice.

Under his direction, CCH-T took over St. Lucy Day Care, which was on the verge of closing its doors and turned it into

the St. Lucy Child Development Center. He also took on the project of turning a struggling addiction facility in Houma into the Assisi Bridge House and Independent Living program now located on Bull Run Road in Schriever.

Following Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Gorman helped to create the Terrebonne Readiness and Assistance Coalition (TRAC), the longest continuously operating community-based disaster relief/preparedness organization in the nation. When Hurricane Katrina devastated this region, he created the Matthew 25 Disaster Preparedness and Response Ministry to organize Catholic parishioners into response teams.

“I’m really grateful that I got to do this for so long. I like what I’m doing and I like the people I’ve worked with over the years,” says Gorman. “I never received anything but support from the diocese and every bishop we’ve had. And I was always very proud of the diocese because it has always followed the highest benchmarks for accountability; every penny that we’ve ever gotten has gone to the program it was intended for. I’m also grateful that I was allowed to be creative and try new things.”

Gorman plans to stay involved with the Bread or Stones Campaign, TRAC, The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, and St. Joseph Co-Cathedral’s Lenten Gumbo. BC

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June 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 27

Special

President of U.S. Bishop’s Conference issues statement on Pope Francis’ Motu Proprio decree ordering worldwide response to the evil of sexual abuse A response from Bishop Shelton J. Fabre regarding Motu Proprio As I stated in my Jan. 11, 2019, pastoral letter Light in the Darkness regarding the church’s sex abuse crisis, “In any season of the church that history paints as dark, light has arisen through the lives of the saints. Holiness is always an answer to the challenges of the day.”

Upon the release of our Holy Father’s Motu Proprio decree (“You are the light of the world”) on May 9, 2019, I welcome this portion of his ongoing response to the evils of sexual abuse, coming after the landmark meeting in Rome of all the episcopal conference presidents from around the world.

As the one who serves you as bishop in the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux, I stand committed to enforce and further strengthen our norms in response to this worldwide order from Pope Francis.

Here in the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux, we strive in an ongoing way to protect children and vulnerable adults, and to always be in compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, the groundbreaking Dallas charter from 2002. Our diocesan norms, safeguards and policies all remain in force, and we will continue to examine our approach and update our policies as needed in light of our Holy Father’s new law.

WASHINGTON D.C.,—Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston and president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has issued the following statement regarding the release of Pope Francis’ Motu Proprio.earlier today.

The Motu Proprio, Vos estis lux mundi (“You are the light of the world”), is a worldwide order to the church from the Pope, in response to the evil of sexual abuse. The new law comes after a meeting in Rome that brought together all episcopal conference presidents from across the globe to discuss the church sex abuse crisis.

Cardinal DiNardo’s full statement follows: “Today, Pope Francis ordered a worldwide response to the evil of sexual abuse. It calls for the establishment of easily accessible reporting systems, clear standards for the pastoral support of victims and their families, timeliness and thoroughness of investigations, whistleblower protection for those making allegations, and active involvement of the laity. It also leaves latitude for national bishops’ conferences, such as the USCCB, to specify still more to account for their local circumstances. We receive the Motu Proprio Vos estis lux mundi (‘You are the light of the world’) as a blessing that will empower the church everywhere to bring predators to justice, no matter what rank they hold in the church. It also permits the church the time and opportunity to bring spiritual healing.

The Holy Father said a ‘continuous

28 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

and profound conversion of hearts is needed, attested by concrete and effective actions that involve everyone in the church.’ Pope Francis was clear that this responsibility ‘falls, above all, on the successors of the Apostles.’

As part of this responsibility, bishops also will be held accountable under the authority of this Motu Proprio, which covers sexual abuse of minors or vulnerable persons, sexual acts compelled through the abuse of authority, and any cover up of such crimes.

In publishing this new law, which is applicable to the church throughout the world, Pope Francis has made clear that protection and healing must reach all of God’s children. Following on the meeting just two months ago of all episcopal conference presidents, the Motu Proprio shows Pope Francis expects swift and comprehensive progress. For the church in the United States, the task before us now is to establish whatever is necessary to ensure the effective implementation of the Motu Proprio. Our committees have already begun the work of preparing implementation measures for deliberation at the USCCB Plenary Assembly in June.

I am grateful for the opportunity to build upon the excellent foundation of the USCCB’s Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, the Essential Norms for Diocesan/ Eparchial Policies Dealing with Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons, and the Statement of Episcopal Commitment, all of which date

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back to 2002. The existing framework in the United States including victim outreach, zero tolerance, reporting allegations to civil authorities, and lay expertise on review boards, among other measures - positions us readily to bring the Holy Father’s instructions to action. By embracing the painful experience of survivors and working on these new protections, let us pray we continue to grow into a stronger church.”

Questions & Answers Regarding Pope Francis’s Motu Proprio What does the new Motu Proprio do?

The new Motu Proprio Vos estis lux mundi is a significant move forward for the universal church, one that echoes many of the practices established in the U.S. Bishops’ Essential Norms and the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People that have been in force in the United States since 2002.

For example, it affirms the existing: n Commitment to provide for the spiritual and emotional well-being of victims/survivors and their families; n Duty to comply with all applicable civil laws with respect to the reporting of allegations of sexual abuse of minors to civil authorities; n Right of any person to report such crimes; n Guarantee of a prompt and objective investigation; n Assurance of lay involvement The Motu Proprio also continues to focus on victims by significantly building upon existing local practices, for example by expanding: n The scope of cases to include: 1) The sexual abuse of a new classification of “vulnerable persons,” 2) The use of violence or other abuse of power to perform or submit to sexual acts, 3) Any cover up of such conduct by other; n Those who are to be reported for such cases, namely, cardinals, bishops, other clerics, religious superiors, and other members of institutes of consecrated life or societies of apostolic life;

n Reporting obligations to include mandatory, internal reporting; n Safeguards against retaliation or discrimination by mandating “whistleblower” protections When do these norms take effect? n They will take effect on June 1, 2019; n They will be reviewed by the Holy See after three years and adjusted as needed; n Every diocese and eparchy (either individually or collectively) is to have a publicly accessible means for people to report cases covered under the Motu Proprio by June 1, 2020. In the United States, while this has already been accomplished for cases involving the sexual abuse of minors by priests and deacons, reporting mechanisms will have to be modified to serve the broader categories of the Motu Proprio.

What about cases of sexual misconduct that do not fall under this Motu Proprio? n These are generally already covered by existing diocesan or eparchial codes of conduct. With the help of lay and legal experts, bishops are working on ways to ensure that coverage and enhance awareness and reporting mechanisms for such cases.

How are transparency and confidentiality promoted in this new Motu Proprio? n The Motu Proprio increases transparency by establishing clear procedures that must be followed, reaffirming the obligation to report to civil authorities, providing for lay involvement in internal investigations, protecting from possible conflicts of interest, and ensuring that those who report complaints to the church are also free to report the same information to others and are protected from retaliation. At the same time, because the Motu Proprio involves the investigation of a complaint, it carefully balances the rights of those involved. Confidentiality is needed for the effectiveness of the investigation. It protects victims and witnesses, as well as the presumption of innocence and the seal of the confessional.

Does this new Motu Proprio interfere or hinder civil law, such as mandatory reporting requirements and civil investigations? n In no way. The Motu Proprio establishes the canonical (church law) procedures that are to be followed.

Included in these procedures, however, is the obligation to comply with all applicable civil laws.

Zero tolerance is not mentioned.

Is that no longer the policy of the Catholic Church? n In the United States, zero tolerance has been the policy since 2002, which comes from the Charter and the Essential Norms. The Motu Proprio does not undo this policy.

Other episcopal conferences around the world have or will be developing policies appropriate to their legal and cultural situations. The good news here is that what was first thought of as an “American problem” or a “Western problem” is now on everyone’s radar.

Why does the Motu Proprio focus on the role of the Metropolitan? n The Motu Proprio uses the Metropolitan because it is a position in the church that is grounded in tradition and the teaching of Vatican II and is governed by existing canon law. n This also allows investigations to be carried out on the local level, where the Metropolitan will have more direct access to information, documents, and lay experts to help investigate, and can collaborate with civil authorities. The Metropolitan, being local, can also take measures to preserve and secure evidence. n Recent investigations of misconduct by a bishop, such as in West Virginia, have successfully followed this practice.

What does this mean for the proposals the U.S. bishops considered last November? n The work of our committees that has already taken place will be examined and adapted to work within the framework of the new Motu Proprio and will be the basis for deliberation over its implementation at the USCCB Plenary Assembly in June. BC

June 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 29

Special

LONNIE THIBODEAUX/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre leads a rally of faith leaders on the steps of the state capitol recently to oppose the death penalty in Louisiana.

Church leaders gather at State Capitol to address lawmakers on death penalty Bishop Shelton J. Fabre, along with representatives of the Louisiana Interchurch Conference, and other leaders from various faith traditions gathered in April of this year on the front steps of the Louisiana State Capitol Building to show support of bi-partisan repeal legislation authored by former LA police superintendent Representative Terry Landry (D–New Iberia) and Senator Dan Claitor (R– Baton Rouge).

Dr. Kevin Brown, faculty at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary explains the theological underpinning of this effort: “Christians believe in redemption. We recognize that all have sinned (Romans 3:23), and thus have committed crime punishable by death (Romans 6:23). Instead of the death penalty, however, we have been offered the gift of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), the right to become children of God (John 1:12). As followers of Jesus, therefore, redeemed from a justly deserved death penalty of our own, believing

in the inherent dignity of all humans, followers of an unjustly executed savior who even forgave a fellow prisoner being executed next to him (Luke 23:43), how can we possibly endorse a penalty that ends the possibility of God’s work in and through a criminal sentenced to die?”

Unfair and error-riddled application of the punishment also motivate faith communities. As the Louisiana Interchurch Conference affirmed in a recent resolution: “the application of the death penalty is highly prone to errors and is often biased by race, the quality of legal representation, and the locality of the crime. Since 1976, 82 percent of death penalty convictions have been overturned in Louisiana, the highest rate of reversal in the United States. Several studies have shown that one of the most decisive factors in who is prosecuted for the death penalty is the race of the victim. Too often who lives and who dies depends upon geography– 42 of Louisiana’s 64

30 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

parishes have not returned a death sentence since 2000.”

Bishop Fabre issued the following statement during the event: I am grateful for the opportunity to present this letter in favor of abolishing the death penalty in the state of Louisiana. As always, I want to emphasize that this letter is not sent by me as a politician, or in the name of any political party, but solely as a pastor of souls, who speaks in union with the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Catholic community in our great state. While there have always been in the past and are now in the present an ever increasing number of reasons to abolish the death penalty, I wish 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 the creation of human life to the time of natural death. Recognizing that all human life is sacred, I therefore

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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 inadmissible and 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 simply perpetuates violence in a culture of death, which 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 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 only for the purpose of revenge, and not justice.

We should never solely equate the value of a person’s life and the totality of 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 his murdering Abel, and end with Jesus challenging us

not to respond to violence with more violence.

Therefore, for the Catholic community, I state again that 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.

The event was supported by LA REPEAL, a broad nonpartisan coalition of religious leaders, community activists, conservative leaders, legal experts and The Catholic Mobilizing Network, a national organization of Catholics calling for an end to the death penalty.

On Monday, May 6, Louisiana’s senators overwhelmingly rejected the proposal to end the state’s use of capital punishment. Only 13 senators backed the idea, while 25 opposed it. The legislation needed support from 26 senators to pass. House lawmakers have spurned similar proposals for the last two years. BC

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985.580.1200 June 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 31

Commentary

Judging others A deacon’s wife’s confessions Angie Lefevre

This is a hard one … . I judge other people every day. “Her shoes do not go with that dress! What was he thinking when he bought that truck? I can’t believe they are raising their kids like that!”

This is a really hard one to fix. In fact, it’s still a problem for me. I don’t know if I’ll ever fix it entirely. But here is how I’m trying – every time you see another person, you are supposed to see Christ in them. But that’s not easy.

The smelly guy on the side of the road – he’s Jesus. The lady that yelled at you in the grocery store – she’s Jesus. The

IRS auditor – is Jesus. The guy that stole your bike! – Yes, also Jesus.

Unfortunately, it’s really hard to see Jesus in everyone. That’s why it takes so much practice. The reason we can’t judge others, is that we can only see their face, God sees their heart. We only know what is on the surface, not what is beneath. Maybe the person that yelled at you just lost their job.

Maybe the smelly guy on the street just finished changing a flat tire for a little old lady. And maybe the guy that stole your bike is just bringing it down the street to put air in your tires.

Here is my personal story, which closely resembles the parable about seeing the splinter in your brother’s eye, but not the board in your own!

A family friend drove my parents to the beach for a little vacation. He had been feeling ill for some time with a history of heart problems, but insisted on going. During their trip, he felt worse and had to be hospitalized. This

resulted in me having to drive to the beach to pick up my parents. (Here is the judging part.) “How could he not know, he’s had these symptoms before, why would my parents travel with this person? Now I’m paying the price!”

As I drove to pick up my parents, all these thoughts flooded my mind.

Then I remembered that board in my eye. Years earlier, I went on a cruise knowing that I was ill. I had a mysterious virus that was not properly diagnosed or treated. By the end of the cruise, I was begging to get off that ship! Needless to say, I felt pretty bad about all those thoughts I had about my parents’ friend. We all make bad choices. We just have to remember that before pointing out the flaws in those around us.

(Angie Lefevre is the wife of Deacon James Lefevre, who was ordained to the permanent diaconate in May 2018.

They are parishioners of St. Bernadette Church parish in Houma.) BC

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32 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

Book Reviews

Reading With Raymond Raymond Saadi

“Everything We Have” D-Day 6.6.44

By Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller Andre Deutsch $34.95 General Dwight D.Eisenhower, the supreme allied commander declared, “We’re going there and give them everything we’ve got.” And, so began The Great Crusade, unleashing the largest amphibious invasion in world history; 6,000 ships and landing craft, 11,000 planes, and 150,000 Allied troops committed to take back France from Hitler and his thugs. The whole story of that day and the following days of battle are told in exciting details at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans and described by Mueller, the museum’s president, in this book. The costs of that operation were immense and impossible to calculate in the loss of lives of thousands of soldiers, seamen and airmen. It’s a fascinating compilation of the words and pictures of our fighting forces that come alive in museum exhibits of actual planes, uniforms, armaments and the evolutionary landing craft designed

by New Orleanian, Andrew Higgins.

Visiting the museum this June is a perfect way to commemorate D-Day. BC

Indianapolis

On Faith

By Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic Simon and Shuster $28

By Pope Francis Loyola Press $12.95

Even if you’re familiar with the books, movie, and TV documentaries, this book surprises by revealing unknown facts of the sinking of the Indianapolis, fresh from its’ mission of delivering the components of the first atom bomb to the island of Tinian. This heavily researched story of “the worst sea disaster in U.S. Naval history” is as gripping as the best thriller in its’ horrific description of the sinking of this great ship. Of the nearly 900 men who made it into the water only 316 survived injuries, dehydration and sharks. Since its’ mission was top secret, its’ presence was unknown to rescuers nearly five days. While the captain survived the sinking he could not survive being wrongly court martialed and never lived to see his redemption through the remarkable efforts of an eight-grade student and members of his crew. BC

Pope Francis is certainly prolific at writing wonderful homilies delivered both, at Mass, from his balcony and in print. In this little book of only one hundred pages, there are brief excerpts of his wisdom distilled from his homilies on faith. Using examples from the Old and New Testaments as well as his own life, Pope Francis shows that faith, like hope, is rooted in love. He writes “True faith is that which makes us more charitable, more merciful, more honest and more humane.” BC

Run Away

By Harlan Coben Grand Central $29 Simon’s daughter left home six months ago making it clear she wouldn’t return.

Determined to find her, he continues searching until one day he finds her playing guitar in a park for spare change. He begs her to come home but she, hooked on drugs and a druggie boyfriend, runs away and disappears. Undaunted, her parents continue to search for her in places where no decent person should ever venture, with horrible consequences. Run Away is another of Coben’s “hang on to your hat” thrillers leaving readers guessing all the way to the end. Further complicating matters is the introduction of another missing child, a four-year-old boy, and a young woman involved in a murder for hire cult. Hard to put it down. BC

June 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 33

Diocesan Events

www.bayoucatholic.com

June

n Priesthood Ordination, Saturday, June 1, 10 a.m., Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma. n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, June 4, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311, Houma, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Speaker, TBA.

July

n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, July 2, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311, Houma, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Speaker, TBA. n Kateri Mass, Friday, July 12, 6:30 p.m., Holy Family Church, Grand Caillou.

August

n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, Aug. 6, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311, Houma, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Speaker, TBA. n Acadian Cultural Mass, Thursday, Aug. 15, 6 p.m., St. Hilary of Poitiers Church, Mathews.

Advertise in the Bayou Catholic and help spread the Good News. Call (985)850-3136 for more info.

E llendaleCountryClub invites you to celebrate your next special event with us.

Nestled among beautiful oak trees between Houma and Thibodaux, Ellendale Country Club is steeped in the history of charm, elegance and grace.

Today, members and guests continue to respect and appreciate the comfort, style and traditions found at one of South Louisiana’s premier Country Clubs.

Call to book your event today.

3319 Hwy. 311, Houma, LA 70360 ~ 985.876.4392 ~ www.ellendalecountryclub.net 34 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

Announcement

Catholic Women’s Conference July 27 in Baton Rouge WINE: Women in the New Evangelization, a national organization focused on encouraging women in their Catholic faith, has announced they will host their first Baton Rouge conference, with the theme: Beautifully United in Spirit. In collaboration with the Diocese of Baton Rouge, WINE will host the one-day event with a hope of helping Catholic women come together to encounter Jesus, enjoy a spiritfilled day, and leave with renewed confidence, conviction and hope.

The one-day event will be held Saturday, July 27, at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in St. Amant, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and concluding at 3 p.m.

More than 500 Catholic women of all ages are expected to attend the event.

The day will include praise and worship music, food and fellowship, meetings within prayer teams, opportunities for the sacrament of reconciliation, Mass, and eucharistic adoration, as well as a chance to visit with local vendors and ministries, shopping, chocolate and inspirational talks by national and local Catholic speakers.

Speakers will include: Teresa Tomeo, a syndicated Catholic talk show host, author of numerous books, and an international speaker; and Gloria Purvis, host of EWTN’s Morning Glory radio show and chairperson of the Culture of Life Committee.

Tickets, which include a box lunch, cost $55/person if purchased before June 27. After the early-bird deadline, ticket prices increase to $65/person. Tickets for religious sisters or consecrated are $25/person. Sponsorships may be offered for those in need of financial assistance. To register online, go to beautifullyunitedla.eventbrite.com.

For more information about WINE: Women in the New Evangelization or the upcoming conference visit www.

CatholicVineyard.com and go to the Event tab or call (985) 249-9258. BC

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

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

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

Línea de Comunicación Diocesana

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

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

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

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

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

June 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 35

Announcement

Catholic women’s group living out Mother Teresa’s mission of spreading love Catholic Foundation Update Amy Ponson

their funds. It was one of the hardest decisions, yet so incredibly rewarding, to determine with the committee how much each grant would be.

“

The Mother Teresa Women’s Giving Circle has opened the doors for women to learn about our community and gather together to take action.

“

“Not all of us can do great things but we can do small things with great love” (Mother Teresa).

Springtime for the Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana (CFSL) was one that brought about a new and exciting initiative where Catholic women were able to focus on making an impact on matters locally facing women, children and families.

The 2019 inaugural Mother Teresa Women’s Giving Circle was launched in March with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Shelton J. Fabre.

The Mother Teresa Women’s Giving Circle is an initiative dedicated to bringing together a group of women to learn about the needs in our diocese and community, and to raise awareness and funds for philanthropic giving.

Designed as a giving circle, this group was able to bring about change through the power of grants that transform lives and build the Body of Christ.

With over 100 members in our first year ranging from women in their 30s to their 80s, we were able to come together as one and make a huge impact in the lives of six nonprofits.

Members were invited to a Sip and Learn event to listen to 10 nonprofits explain their mission and how they touch the lives of women, children and families within our community. After the Sip and Learn, members were invited to vote on the six nonprofits they would like to see receive a grant.

The steering committee tallied all of the votes and deliberated on each nonprofit and how they would spend

In May, the members of the Women’s Giving Circle granted out $62,500 with the direct intent to make a difference in the lives of women, children and families within the diocese. Grants were given to the following nonprofits: n Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center, in the amount of $16,000, to be used toward the purchase of a new ultrasound machine; n MacDonell Children’s Services, in the amount of $14,000, to be used toward a new building for 18+ year olds exiting the system; n Upside Downs, in the amount of $2,500, to be used for baskets for parents of new children with Downs Syndrome; n Catholic Charities’ Individual and

36 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

Family Assistance, in the amount of $15,000, for family assistance needs; n Catholic Charities’ Catholic Community Center, in the amount of $10,000 for the food bank, feminine resources and family assistance; n Catholic Charities’ St. Lucy Child Development Center, in the amount of $5,000, to be used for teacher training and resources for STEM. The Mother Teresa Women’s Giving Circle is a way that women of all ages, all wealth capacities, and all backgrounds are able to come together as one to learn about needs within the community, then make a direct impact in the lives of others.

Now that grants have been made, members will go one step further.

On Sept. 5, the feast of Saint Teresa, members will be invited to attend Mass at St. Lucy Church in Houma.

Afterwards, they will visit with several of the nonprofits who received funds.

The goal for the visits is to show the women of the giving circle how their funds are being used.

The Mother Teresa Women’s Giving Circle has opened the doors for women to learn about our community and gather together to take action. The members of the giving circle are truly living out Mother Teresa’s mission of spreading love.

For more information about the Mother Teresa Women’s Giving Circle, please visit https://www. catholicfoundationsl.org. If interested in joining, please call (985) 850-3116 or email aponson@htdiocese.org. BC

Announcement

Retired priest Roland D. Timbre dies at age 83

Rev. Roland D. Timbre

Rev. Roland D. Timbre, a retired priest of the diocese, died Friday, May 3, at the age of 83, following a lengthy illness. Father Timbre, a native of the Philippines, was ordained a priest there Dec. 23, 1961. He was incardinated into the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Jan. 22, 1982.

Father Timbre, who retired at the end of June 2007, was the first priest from the Philippines to be assigned to a parish in the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux.

In a 2007 interview about his upcoming retirement, Father Timbre said, “Every day being a priest is a wonderful day.” He added that he felt fortunate to be given the opportunity to minister to other people, not just Filipinos, because it made him feel like a real missionary.

He served as associate pastor of the

Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma from October 1982 until June 1986, and as pastor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Chackbay from June 1986 until his retirement.

Speaking about his last assignment in the diocese, he said, “Chackbay has always reminded me of the Philippines, weather wise and because of the family and community spirit. The people are easy to get along with and have always made me feel comfortable. I have enjoyed being here because I feel like I am at home.”

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Friday, May 24 at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church in Chackbay, with interment in the cemetery.

Please keep Father Timbre and all those who mourn his death in your prayers. BC

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Announcements

Central Catholic School names new principal for grades 6-12

Peter L. Boudreaux

Morgan City native Peter L. Boudreaux has been appointed as the new principal for grades 6-12 of the recently unified Central Catholic School in Morgan City, which includes grades pre-K-12. He joins Amanda Talbot, who currently serves as principal for grades pre-K-5. Boudreaux currently serves as the assistant superintendent for St. Mary Parish Public Schools.

GriefShare group begins evening meetings at St. Mary’s Nativity

Boudreaux earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration, and a master’s degree in education, plus 30 graduate hours from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux. His areas of certification include principal, secondary school principal, parish/city school supervisor of instruction, and social studies, grades 6-12.

He served as assistant principal of Hattie Watts Elementary School in Patterson, principal of J.B. Maitland Elementary School in Morgan City, and principal of Morgan City High School.

Boudreaux was named supervisor of instruction for St. Mary Parish Public Schools in 2007, a position he held until 2016 when he was named director of human resources. Throughout his 31 years in education, he also taught special education and social studies, and served as assistant baseball coach at Morgan City High School.

Boudreaux also served as a past president of the St. Mary Parish Principals Association and currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of Central Catholic School.

He and his wife Nancy have been married 37 years and have two sons, Zachary and Benjamin. They are parishioners of Sacred Heart Church in Morgan City, where Boudreaux serves as a lector.

“I congratulate Mr. Peter Boudreaux as the new principal of Central Catholic.

Mr. Boudreaux’s passion for education, his extensive experience in both the elementary and high school settings, and his deep commitment to his faith make him an excellent addition to our Catholic school family. I look forward to working collaboratively with Mr. Boudreaux in this important ministry of Catholic education in our diocese,” says Suzanne Troxclair, diocesan superintendent of Catholic Schools. BC

GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone.

If you’ve lost a spouse, child, family member or friend to death, you’ve probably found there are not many people who understand the deep hurt you feel. This can be a confusing time when you feel isolated and have many questions about things you’ve never faced before. Although it may be hard for you to feel optimistic about the future during this time, there are people who

would like to help you move forward.

GriefShare groups are nondenominational and meet weekly to help you face these challenges and move toward rebuilding your life. St. Mary’s Nativity Church parish in Raceland and Holy Savior Church parish in Lockport will begin an evening GriefShare program on Tuesday, July 9. Meetings will be every Tuesday for 14 weeks from 6–8 p.m. at St. Mary’s Nativity Church office.

For more information, call Marty Cortez at (985) 227-0873 or St. Mary’s Nativity Church at (985) 537-3204. BC

38 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

Announcement

Office of Parish Support focuses on renewal of our church parishes Guest Columnist Kristin Niedbala

Church parishes have been working to complete their individual strategic plans. This stage of the process has included each parish identifying their pastoral priorities. These parish priorities are based on the diocesan Pastoral Priorities, which include: Improving the Sunday experience; Adult Faith Formation; Youth Faith Formation and Outreach (both Parish Social Ministries and Outreach during Major Life Moments).

The next step for parishes was establishing goals and then finalizing action plans which will help assist them with intentionally moving forward in the direction that has been discerned.

Once these steps are completed, parishes will begin implementation of their parish-based strategic plans.

The current focus of implementation in parishes is mostly ‘behind the scenes,’ as parishes take time to establish new parish structures and leadership teams to support their Pastoral Priorities.

This may mean re-focusing their implementation teams for this phase of implementation or establishing an adult formation team to oversee new efforts for adult faith formation in the parish. All of these efforts are oriented toward one end: More intentionally helping parishioners grow in their relationship with God. In the effort to support parishes at this stage of the process, the Office of Parish Support has added a library of new resources to the diocesan website. Pastors, parish leadership teams, and staff can find everything

from informational videos about the vision for adult formation to the big picture of our diocesan strategic planning process. There are written and video resources to help with the training of implementation teams, adult and youth formation teams, and more. Even though these webpages primarily exist to support pastors, parish leadership, and staff, there are a number of resources on these pages that can serve to inform parishioners about the vision and implementation of renewal in our parishes.

We would encourage you to visit

our diocesan website at htdiocese. org and look for the button entitled: Office of Parish Support. Once on the homepage of the Office of Parish Support, we invite you learn about the office and how it is serving our parishes in their renewal. You might begin by looking at the following sections: 1) About Us, 2) Strategic Planning, 3) Adult Formation, 4) Youth Formation.

Please pray for the staff in the Office of Parish Support as well as all those that work for the renewal of our church parishes. BC

June 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 39

Announcements

Seminary graduations

Archbishop Gregory Aymond, chancellor, and Very Rev. James A. Wehner S.T.D., rector-president, conferred degrees at Notre Dame Seminary to Houma-Thibodaux seminarians Brett Lapeyrouse, Davis Ahimbisibwe and Patrick Riviere during the recent commencement exercises in New Orleans.

Archbishop Gregory Aymond, chancellor, and Very Rev. Gregory M. Boquet, O.S.B., M.A.Th., president-rector, conferred the degrees to Houma-Thibodaux seminarians Dylan Lirette, Caleb Anderson, Matthew Prosperie, and Joseph Lapeyrouse at St. Joseph Seminary College in Covington. Father Mitchel Semar, director of seminarians for St. Joseph Seminary poses with the graduates.

25th anniversary for St. Kateri celebration July 12 The annual Kateri Mass honoring St. Kateri Tekakwitha is celebrating its 25th anniversary in the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux. The Mass will be celebrated Friday, July 12, at 6:30 p.m., at Holy Family Church in Grand Caillou.

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40 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

Announcement

Vandebilt Catholic High School inducts two new members into the VCHS Hall of Fame Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma recently inducted two new members into its Hall of Fame, Judge Randall Bethancourt and Martin Folse.

Those chosen to the Hall of Fame must be deserving longtime supporters, faculty, staff, alumni, parents or others who have served Vandebilt faithfully and well. Up to four individuals may be chosen each year. Decisions are rendered by a committee of administrators, faculty and alumni.

A 1971 Vandebilt Catholic alumnus, Judge Randall Bethancourt has been a state district court judge for the 32nd Judicial District Court in Terrebonne Parish for the past 16 years. He and his wife Adrienne, who have been married 38 years, have one daughter Brooke, a 2016 Vandebilt graduate who is currently studying English at LSU. Judge Bethancourt has received numerous awards throughout his life, such as the Public Official of the Year award by the Louisiana Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers in 1999, Vandebilt Catholic’s Alumnus of the Year in 2004, Terrebonne Parish Bar Association Community Service award in 2008, and CASA’s Judge of the Year award for the state of Louisiana in 2011. Judge Bethancourt’s courtroom is an educational mecca, and he has had over 18,000 students participate in his Judge in the Classroom program.

He was awarded the Judge Benjamin Jones Judges in the Classroom Award by the Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education in 2016 and was only the second judge to receive this

Judge Randall Bethancourt

Martin Folse

prestigious honor. He is currently the Vandebilt Catholic Consultative School Board chairman and remains an active member of the school community by substitute teaching social studies classes, attending CloseUp in Washington, D.C., and inviting students to his courtroom annually to learn about the judicial system. His leadership and dedication are still recognized in the halls of Vandebilt Catholic each year.

Martin Folse is a 1978 Vandebilt Catholic alumnus, who started the TV station, HTV, at the age of 25.

The TV station has grown from a one-man operation in 1985 to a wellrespected TV station that thrives on local information for Houma and the surrounding areas. Folse has earned many accolades over the years for his contributions to his community, including Vandebilt Catholic Alumnus of the Year in 2003, Woodman of the World’s “Man of the Year” in 2005, and

he was inducted into the inaugural TriParish Hall of Fame in 2008. He has been an advocate to a number of causes including veteran support, local school facility improvements including Vandebilt Catholic, and levee protection. During his broadcasting career, now 33 years strong, Folse has produced over 20,000 programs for the local area. He has interviewed Chris Berman of ESPN, Joe Montana, Archie Manning and Drew Brees. Folse and his station were also honored recently with a Telly Award for the station’s short documentary on the touching story of two special needs athletes at a Lafayette School. Folse continues to grow his station and has a profound love of the area in which he lives and hopes to continue to give back to the communities around him. Folse is a dedicated alumnus who has always used his platform to educate, advertise and promote the accomplishments and causes of Vandebilt Catholic. BC

June 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 41

Sports

Overtime Ed Daniels

A harvest of offensive linemen will propel the Saints in 2019 If you like what you have seen from Saints football the last two seasons, the Vegas oddsmakers say it will likely continue in 2019.

The over/under on Saints wins this coming season is 10.5, the same as the Rams and Chiefs.

Only the Patriots have a higher projected win total at 11.

Why have the Saints ascended again into the upper of the NFL? Running back Alvin Kamara, and cornerback Marshon Lattimore deserve some of the credit, but so does

head coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis.

The pair have spent serious capital on the offensive line, and the results are self-evident.

In 2015, the Saints rushed for 1,491 yards, an average of 3.8 yards per carry.

In 2018, the Saints rushed for 2,025 yards, an average of 4.3 yards a carry.

In the spring of 2015, Payton parted with tight end Jimmy Graham, shipping him to Seattle in a trade that brought center Max Unger and a first round pick.

That pick, linebacker Stephone Anthony, never reached his potential.

But, four years later, the Saints still “won” the trade, getting quality play from Unger.

Also in 2015, the Saints drafted tackle Andrus Peat in the first round.

Two years later, the Saints added tackle Ryan Ramczyk with a first round selection, and then traded up last month in the second round to select center Erik McCoy. Before Peat, the Saints, under Payton and Loomis, had never used a first round pick on an offensive lineman.

The previous highest pick on an offensive lineman in the Payton/Loomis era was a 2010 second round selection, USC tackle Charles Brown.

Maybe Payton and Loomis were lulled into believing they could draft offensive lineman in the later rounds, and develop them into outstanding players.

For a while, that’s exactly what happened.

Jarhi Evans, Carl Nicks and Zach Strief were all quality players, selected in the fourth round, or later.

But, in 2014, the Saints went from a team that won a playoff game, to a seven-win club.

Years later, after a harvest of offensive lineman, the Saints have taken the pressure off their franchise quarterback.

In 2018, Drew Brees threw for 3,992 yards, 13th most in the NFL. However, Brees averaged 8.16 yards per attempt, fifth best in the NFL for full-time starters.

This was accomplished, even with what many would consider to be a pedestrian wide receiver corp, with the exception being star wide out Michael Thomas.

But, here’s the most important number in the last two regular seasons.

For the Saints, it is 24 wins, and consecutive NFC South titles.

So, it was no surprise in April, when the Atlanta Falcons used their two first round picks on a guard and a tackle.

And, Carolina used its second round pick on an offensive tackle.

For two seasons, these teams have watched the Saints win, by winning up front.

A sea change in football philosophy from Saints hierarchy has paid off, handsomely. BC

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Bayou Outdoor Guide Contents

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COVER Captain Tommy Pellegrin of Custom Charters, LLC, in Houma is pictured with a mule trout. Speck fishing was not great in 2018. South Louisiana anglers are hoping for a better trout season in 2019.

Cover photo provided by Tommy Pellegrin Custom Charters

Default red fishing With trout numbers down redfish are the go to catch

50

Basin palm readers 44 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

Saltwater Fishing Rodeos

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Speck-u-lations 2019 trout forecast

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2019 Louisiana Saltwater Fishing Rodeos Swollfest Fishing Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: June 5-8 Headquarters: Sand Dollar Marina Contact: Sand Dollar Marina (985) 787-2500 Cut Off Fishing Club Rodeo Place: Port Fourchon Date: June 7-8 Headquarters: Port Fourchon Marina Contact: Port Fourchon Marina (985) 396-2792 Krewe of Terreanians 20th Annual Saltwater, Freshwater Fishing Tournament Place: Houma Date: June 7-9 Headquarters: Houma Airbase Pavilion (985) 855-6468 Fourth Annual Tradewinds Kids Fishing Rodeo Place: Cocodrie Date: June 8-9 Headquarters: Tradewinds Marina Contact: Celeste Boudoin (985) 688-4358 Louisiana Billfish Classic Place: Grand Isle Date: June 10-16 Headquarters: Hurricane Hole Contact: Crystal LaFosse (337) 802-5525

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Blake Terry Memorial – Pirates of the Gulf Fishing Rodeo Place: Port Fourchon Date: June 14-15 Headquarters: Port Fourchon Marina Contact: Port Fourchon Marina (985) 396-2792

Krewe of Houmas Invitational Saltwater Fishing Rodeo Place: Cocodrie Date: June 21-22 Headquarters: CoCo Marina Contact: CoCo Marina (985) 594-6626

3rd Annual Hargrove Fishing Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: June 15 Headquarters: Bridge Side Marina Contact: Bridge Side Marina (985) 787-2419

Wounded War Heroes Fishing Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: June 28-29 Headquarters: Bridge Side Marina Contact: Bridge Side Marina (985) 787-2419

35th Annual Creole Classic Fishing Tournament Place: Grand Isle Date: June 20-22 Headquarters: Bridge Side Marina Contact: Bridge Side Marina (985) 787-2419

71st Annual Golden Meadow – Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo Place: Golden Meadow (Port Fourchon) Date: July 4-6 Headquarters: Port Fourchon Marina Contact: Port Fourchon Marina (985) 396-2792

LA Pipeliners Association Fishing Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: June 21-22 Headquarters: Sand Dollar Marina Contact: Sand Dollar Marina (985) 787-2500

Fourchon Oilman’s Association Fishing Tournament Place: Port Fourchon Date: July 11-13 Headquarters: Port Fourchon Marina Contact: Port Fourchon (985) 396-2792

46 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

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Bayou Outdoor Guide

Blue Boot Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: July 12-13 Headquarters: Sand Dollar Marina Contact: Sand Dollar Marina (985) 787-2500 Louisiana Dental Association (LDA) Fishing Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: July 18-20 Headquarters: Sand Dollar Marina Contact: Sand Dollar Marina (985) 787-2500 Hooks & Leaders Fishing Rodeo - South Lafourche High School Cheerleaders Place: Port Fourchon Date: July 20 Headquarters: Port Fourchon Marina Contact: Port Fourchon Marina (985) 396-2792 Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: July 25-27 Headquarters: Rodeo Pavilion near the Sand Dollar Motel and Marina East end of island Contact: Heather Martin (985) 306-0535 Terrebonne Sportsman’s League 69th Annual International Fishing Rodeo Place: Houma Date: Aug. 2-4 Headquarters: East Park Recreation Center Contact: Troy Bonvillain (985) 804-7504

Mike Bourgeois (Big Daddy) Memorial Fishing Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: Aug. 3 Headquarters: Bridge Side Marina Contact: Bridge Side Marina (985) 787-2419 Fourth Annual Bow Fishing Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: Aug. 4 Headquarters: Bridge Side Marina Contact: Bridge Side Marina (985) 787-2419 The 31st Annual Hercules Fishing Rodeo Place: Houma Air Base Arena Date: Aug. 9-11 Headquarters: Houma Air Base Arena Contact: Mark Pitre (985) 637-0683

IFA Kayak Fishing Championship Place: Grand Isle Date: Sept. 12-14 Headquarters: Bridge Side Marina Contact: Bridge Side Marina (985) 787-2419 The Annual Caminada Redfish Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: Sept. 27-29 Headquarters: Sand Dollar Marina Contact: Sand Dollar Marina (985) 787-2500 Annual KC Council 8779 Fishing Rodeo Place: Theriot-Houma area Date: Oct. 4-6 Headquarters: Knights of Columbus Home, Theriot Contact: Michael Hebert (985) 709-1390 13th Annual Grand Isle Ladies Fishing Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: Oct. 11-12 Headquarters: Bridge Side Marina Contact: Bridge Side Marina (985) 787-2419

Dufrene Building Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: Aug. 17 Headquarters: Bridge Side Marina Contact: Bridge Side Marina (985) 787-2419 10th Annual “Ride the Bull” Kayak Fishing Rodeo Place: Grand Isle Date: Aug. 24 Headquarters: Bridge Side Marina Contact: Bridge Side Marina (985) 787-2419

Tradewinds Fourth Annual Diva Fishing Rodeo Place: Cocodrie Date: Oct. 19-20 Headquarters: Tradewinds Marina Contact: Amy Schouest (985) 688-1771

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Bayou Outdoor Guide

Default red fishing

With freshwater influencing trout fishing the go-to plan has been redfish

By JOHN FLORES Louisiana’s redfish history is an interesting one. I can recall back in the mid-eighties when Chef Paul Prudhomme created a recipe called blackened redfish that became the craze all across America. Restaurants everywhere seemed to be serving the Cajun dish and redfish seemed to be in heavy demand.

Ten years later, after hard fought battles in the public square and legislatively, gill nets were banned in Louisiana. No, the science wasn’t there measuring the impact of Prudhomme’s recipe on the fish population and some will still argue whether gill nets should have been completely banned. None the less, never have redfish been more plentiful. And never, has there been such tremendous red fishing east to west along Louisiana’s coastline than there is today.

There are very few days that go by on social media where fishing charter captains don’t post a picture or two of ice chests filled to the brim with redfish. The toothy smiles on the faces

A good redfish caught in the Delacroix marsh of happy anglers tell the story.

Gotcha Hooked Guide Service owner/ operator, Sal Fontana, who services clients in the Shell Beach, Delacroix and Hopedale area, as well as the Biloxi State Wildlife Management Area marsh says the red fishing has never been better.

Fontana said, “The red fishing has been great. I mean right now it has been off the charts and I don’t see it doing nothing but getting better as we go into the summer months. We’ve been whacking the heck out of them all spring. I can go catch redfish right now and catch limits – it’s that good.”

Many of Fontana’s clients want to catch speckled trout. But, the last couple of years an abundance of

50 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

JOHN FLORES PHOTO

freshwater from the Mississippi River has influenced the salinity trout prefer in some of the bays and interior marsh in this region. Fontana has been honest with his customers by telling them the truth. As a result, redfish has become his default go to fish.

“I tell them, let’s do this – we’ll go catch our redfish first and then we can go mess with the trout and try to find some, because the water has been really bad with all the dirty freshwater.

Once they start catching those redfish, they find they don’t want to leave. They forget all about the trout,” Fontana said.

The same conditions held true south of Houma in 2018. Freshwater appeared to have influenced the

a

Bayou Outdoor Guide

trout fishing in the Dularge area.

Fishing Charter Captain Bill Lake, owner/operator of Bayou Guide Service, mentioned they were accustomed to catching 10,000 trout a summer, but conditions forced them to go to their default alternative and turn their attention to redfish.

Captain Tim Ortego has been operating a fulltime charter service for the past five years out of Top Water Lodge in Cocodrie.

Ortego said, “Last year here in Cocodrie, we caught a ton of redfish,

to use a 4 Horseman popping cork with a shrimp underneath it, on a kahle hook,” Ortego said.

Some of the best artificial baits to bang the banks for summer redfish are H&H Lures TKO Shrimp, Rat-L-Trap saltwater baits, Marsh Works Spinnerbaits, and Egret Baits Mambo Mullets.

Some of the better Terrebonne Parish redfish locations during the summer are the deep-water bayous just east of Four League Bay like Big Blue Hammock Bayou, Rice Bayou, Little Blue Hammock Bayou and Old Oyster Bayou.

Fontana said, “From what I see your redfish are going to be in your interior

marsh and on the outer bays – your slot redfish – throughout the rest of summer and the rest of the year really. The bigger bulls are out in the bays right now and out around the islands. They’ll probably continue to stay out there. But, I think it’s going to be a good year. The redfish really saved us the last two years.

They’ve really covered our tails I tell ya.”

To book a trip with Captain Ortego you can reach him at (985) 209-1812 or go to his website at www.lalivinadventures. com. To book with Gotcha Hooked Guide Service, you can reach Captain Sal Fontana by calling (504) 812-7773 or go to his website at www.gotchahooked. com. BC

“The red fishing has been great. I mean right now it has been off the charts and I don’t see it doing nothing but getting better as we go into the summer months.

We’ve been whacking the heck out of them all spring. I can go catch redfish right now and catch limits – it’s that good.” which means they had a very good hatch. Ever since they stopped the gill netters there’s plenty of redfish. But, everybody was after the redfish last year around Dularge, because the trout fishing wasn’t very good.”

Ortego says some of the best redfish tactics are to focus on fishing points and any areas that have moving water.

“You want a little current flow and broken marsh with points. Those are the best locations to fish redfish. I like

Redfish have been the default fish to go to by outfitters.

JOHN FLORES PHOTO

June 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 51

Bayou Outdoor Guide

Speck-u-lations 2019 trout forecast

By JOHN FLORES Back in 2018 freshwater seemed to have impacted the trout bite across the southeastern Louisiana coastline. It wasn’t until later in the summer and fall when the speck fishing picked up, where eventually good catches were made.

This past spring has seen a near repeat in some areas along the coast, but possibly worse than last year with the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers still at flood stage going into late May. Captain Sal Fontana, owner/operator of Gotcha Hooked Guide Service in Hopedale says his region had been receiving freshwater from the Mississippi River through the Mardi Gras cut below Pointe La Hatch.

According to Fontana that water had inundated all of the land around Pointe La Hatch including popular fishing areas like American Bay, Black Bay and the area west of Black Bay. Additionally, the charter captain said the Caernarvon Diversion had been dumping wide open into the Delacroix area.

At the time of this interview Fontana said, “Right now about the only thing you can catch in Delacroix is freshwater catfish, bass and some redfish. Trout this year are going to depend on the river stages and whether or not the Corp of Engineers opens the spillway again, but we really think the river is going to eventually drop enough toward mid-summer, where the trout will straighten up.”

Besides decent water conditions with proper levels of salinity one of the most important keys to good speckled trout fishing is obviously the bait. That bait in most

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Bayou Outdoor Guide

cases is shrimp. Fontana points out, when the shrimp start moving and come in with the tidal flows, the speckled trout come in right behind them.

Fontana said, “I think when the water eventually straightens out the bait will start coming in and you’re going to see more and more trout. I think the summer is going to be decent. It’s not going to be what it was a few years back without all this fresh water, but I think it’s going to be a decent year.”

Unlike the Dularge area in 2018, the speckled trout fishing in the Cocodrie area was good, says Captain Tim Ortego.

And, in 2019 the spring has been off to a good start, he says.

Ortego said, “We’ve seen a lot of fish on the coast already this year. I think the speck fishing will be as good or better than last year, because of the way the weather has been this spring. The weather hasn’t allowed the pressure to be on the fish so far this year. We had that tough winter two years ago, where a lot of people said a lot of fish had died. But, I believe that people are on the fish all the way into October and it gets to where it becomes really hard for anyone to find them.”

“This year we had a fairly mild winter other than a couple late cold fronts,” Ortego continued. “I think most of the trout stayed in the deeper water along the beaches and coast this past spring. I don’t think they came in quite as far in the Cocodrie and Dularge areas as they usually do. But, a

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Speck bite

JOHN FLORES PHOTO

June 2019 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 53

Bayou Outdoor Guide

few of them did make their way up into Pointe-aux-Chenes marsh, because I did find a few up there. And, Dularge appeared to have a few more fish this year than they did last year.”

There’s nothing like fishing speckled trout with top water baits. Some of the better baits to try this summer are Egret Baits’ Zombie Ghost, Mirrolure She Dog and Catch 2000, and Heddon’s saltwater Super Spook. All of these baits are great for catching speckled trout under birds during the summer.

“I like to use a 4 Horseman Cork with a live shrimp underneath,” Ortego said. “This set has really been a killer for trout. On a good day you can also catch them with double-rigged matrix shad under birds in the summer, but most of the time live shrimp under a cork works better than artificial bait.”

For locations to check out, Ortego recommends Last Island

“I think when the water eventually straightens out the bait will start coming in and you’re going to see more and more trout. I think the summer is going to be decent. It’s not going to be what it was a few years back without all this fresh water, but I think it’s going to be a decent year.”

– the whole entire island – saying it is usually good. The Sulfur mine out of Bason’s Marina is also good, he says.

To book a trip with Captain Ortego you can reach him at (985) 209-1812 or go to his website at www.lalivinadventures. com. To book with Gotcha Hooked Guide Service, you can reach Captain Sal Fontana by calling (504) 812-7773 or go to his website at www.gotchahooked.com BC

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A good coastal trout caught by Sal Fontana

JOHN FLORES PHOTO

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Basin palm readers

By JOHN FLORES Maybe it was dense fog. Or maybe it was the moisture of the fog’s water droplets that dampened my jacket, where the breeze generated by the boat’s movement gave me a chill.

Whatever it was, in my head playing like a Bluetooth connection, was the Eagles Hotel California tune, where I found myself replacing the words, with anything that related to the river.

Most guys forget the words to songs anyway, including me, so it came sort of natural to plug in my own while the boat slowly made its way deeper into the Atchafalaya Basin.

“On a fog laden river, cool wind in my hair …

“Warm misty fingers, rising up through the air …”

“Up ahead in the distance, I missed a fork by the way …”

“My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim …”

The Atchafalaya Basin is great for summer bream fishing.

“And I could hear them say …”

“Welcome to the Atchafalaya Basin …”

“Such a lovely place …”

What could I say? It was a spiritual thing, what with all of the talk about bream that covered your palm in the basin.

Palm readers. Fish so big they went half way up your wrist; measured by the length of your hand. If they filled

JOHN FLORES PHOTO

your hand like a coffee cup saucer, they were keepers. If not, you toss them back. Now that was “palm reading” in my book.

Nothing against the spiritualists of the world, but really, how hard can palm reading really be? The length of certain wrinkle lines on the palm of your hand, mean certain things. Well, the lips of a shell cracker or bluegill hitting the wrist joint line on my

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JOHN FLORES PHOTO

A good morning catch of redeared sunfish and bluegills

hand tell me something too – I just caught a pretty darn big perch.

“What are we stopping for?” I asked my good friend, Danny Womack, from Lafayette.

Perplexed, trying to make sense through the fog of our whereabouts on the river, my partner replied, “John, did you see a fork in the river? I think we passed where I was supposed to turn off.”

Since I had never been in that part of the basin before and really wasn’t paying a whole lot of attention, let alone looking for a fork I answered, “No man, I didn’t see any fork. When was the last time you were here?”

“Oh … When I was a young man, we used to camp out down here,” my friend said with a smile.

Since the 67-year-old Womack hadn’t been what I considered a young man for quite some time, I wondered if the lake was really there or some aberration from his past.

Right about then, I thought maybe I should have stopped at Sister Palm Readers place to inquire what kind of trip we were going to have. It would have been simple just to slap the ole palm down with a few bucks and check out the fishing lifelines.

I could just hear it, “John, do you see this line on your palm?”

“Yes, madam crock of bull,” says I. “You’ll get lost in the fog, but a bluegill’s tail will stretch from here to your finger tips.”

“Now you’re talking lady!” I’d say and shell out a tip to

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boot for that kind of information.

By the time we got our bearings, the fog was lifting and it was well past 8 a.m., when we actually found my buddies honey hole. I’m sure, like me, fishermen find themselves in a little piece of heaven when fishing the Atchafalaya Basin.

The spot my buddy and I fished was an open pond south of Butte Larose dotted here and there with cypress trees, some housing osprey nests. It provided a picturesque scene and place to relax and enjoy the morning, while reeling in a few fish.

Fishing the Atchafalaya Basin for bream is a matter of keeping things very simple. What’s more, using worms and crickets for bait is as simple as it gets.

One of the tricks for landing palm readers is getting the insects down to the right depth. It may take a few casts and several adjustments, but once that critter drops down to the right depth, you’re in for some real action.

Using crickets doesn’t take a lot of special tackle either. A spring-stick float or 1-inch bobber combined with a number 6 Aberdeen pan-fish hook and removable split-shot is all you need.

In some cases, the split-shot can be over done causing reduced sensitivity, with bait-stealing bream sucking the cricket off of your hook. Use only enough split-shot to where the spring-stick float sets upright vertically on the water and where the bulb is sunk about half way.

Throughout the basin are thick mats of hydrilla. One of the

JOHN FLORES PHOTO

A good Atchafalaya Basin chinquapin caught by the author’s wife Christine

Palm reader

JOHN FLORES PHOTO

58 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • June 2019

keys is to look for openings in the grass to toss or drop your rig in to. Flat Lake, American Lake and Duck Lake are three areas near Morgan City where you’ll find these conditions during the summer months.

Adjust your float starting out approximately 3 to 3-1/2 feet above your hook and only deeper if it becomes necessary. With all fishing, you have to contend with a few small bait thieves.

But, once you’ve found a deep dark hole in the hydrilla that’s producing, it’s not uncommon to pull several palm readers out of it.

For those who enjoy using artificial baits, old stand byes like the 1/16th and 1/32nd ounce Johnson Beetle Spin and Laker Critter Spin are effective along with standard crappie tube jigs.

During the morning, Womack and I got pretty good at palm reading knowing somewhere in our future were fried fillets.

Kicked back and relaxed, the Eagles tune booted up in my head again.

“Welcome to the Atchafalaya Basin …”

“Such a lovely place – such a lovely place …”

“Living it up in the Atchafalaya Basin …”

“What a nice surprise, bring your alibis …”

When it comes to fishing bream, who needs a spiritual advisor when you can do your own “palm reading” in Atchafalaya Basin … BC

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