Bayou Catholic Magazine March 2016 by Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

INSIDE

Spring Marriage

Bayou

Catholic

Allons! Let’s Go! Let’s Work Together!

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre’s Pastoral Letter on Strategic Planning

HOUMA, LA ~ MARCH 2016 ~ COMPLIMENTARY

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www.bayoucatholic.com

Contents FEATURES

30 Students of the Year By Janet Marcel

34 Bayou Patrons By Janet Marcel

COLUMNS

Comfort For My People

By Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

12 Pope Speaks Pope Francis I

13 Question Corner By Father Kenneth Doyle

14 Readings Between The Lines By Father Glenn LeCompte

36 Seeing Clairely By Claire Joller

37 Reading with Raymond By Raymond Saadi

59 Overtime By Ed Daniels

IN EVERY ISSUE

34 Bayou

Catholic

6 Editor’s Corner 16 Scripture Readings 22 Heavenly Recipes 32 Young Voices 50 Diocesan Events GUEST COLUMNS

18 Corporal Works of Mercy By Father Michael Bergeron

20 Spiritual Works of Mercy By Father Simon Peter Engurait

28 A Lenten reflection By Father P.J. Madden

38 The March that wasn’t ... By Brice Higginbotham

ANNOUNCEMENTS

46 Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

Mar r iage H 2016

HOUMA, LA ~ MARC

TH PHOTOGRAPHY

THERESA ELIZABE

48 Food for the Journey Very Rev. Carl Collins speaks

52 Bishop Michael Jarrell retires Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel new bishop of Lafayette

54 New principal named for Vandebilt

On Our Cover Bishop Shelton J. Fabre’s Pastoral Letter on Strategic Planning for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux can be found on pages 24-27 of this issue. In his letter the bishop says “With God’s help this strategic planning effort can be the beginning of an exciting work of pastoral revitalization.” Cover Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier

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

Index to Advertisers Advanced Eye Institute ............................... 43 Barker Honda ............................................. 73 Betty White Jewelers .................................. 84 Bishop’s Appeal 2016 .................................. 2 Bueche’s Jewelry ....................................... 42 Cannata’s .................................................. 23 Cardinal Place ............................................ 29 Caro’s Cakes, Inc. ...................................... 75 Catholic Relief Services Collection ................ 7 Channel 10 ................................................ 33 Diocesan Outreach Line ............................. 45 Diocesan Website ...................................... 77 Director of Baton Rouge/St. Gerard School... 54 Education to Ministry Collection ................. 51 Financial Report ..................................60 - 64 God’s Promises Books & Gifts ................... 15 God’s Promises Books & Gifts ................... 67 Hampton Inn & Suites ................................ 81 Haydel Spine Pain Wellness ........................ 29 Headache & Pain Center ............................. 59 Holy Land Collection .................................. 49 Houma Digestive Health Specialists ............ 41

Houma Orthopedic Clinic ........................... 41 HTeNews ................................................... 57 Johnny’s Men’s Shop ................................. 66 KEM Supply House, Inc. ............................. 80 LeBlanc & Associates, LLC ........................ 52 Lewis & Company ...................................... 80 Main Street Special Events ......................... 83 Normans Tuxedos ...................................... 75 Office of Family Ministries .......................... 69 Our Lady of Prompt Succor Golden Meadow 100 year Celebration .............................. 39 Peltier Travel Agency ................................... 79 Re-Bath ..................................................... 21 Rod’s Superstore ....................................... 44 Seminarian Education Burses ..................... 19 Spotlight .................................................... 55 St. Joseph Manor ....................................... 54 Synergy Bank ............................................. 50 Terminix ..................................................... 55 Vision Communications ................................ 3 Wesley J. Landeche Sales & Service, Inc. ... 71 Watkins, Walker & Eroche Attorneys at Law.. 42

Bayou Catholic Vol. 36, No. 9 How to reach us: BY PHONE: (985) 850-3132 BY MAIL: P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395 BY FAX: (985) 850-3232 BY E-MAIL: bayoucatholic@htdiocese.org The Bayou Catholic is published monthly, for the people of the Roman Catholic Diocese of HoumaThibodaux by the H-T Publishing Co., P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395. Subscription rate is $35 per year. The Bayou Catholic is a member of the Catholic Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and an associate member of the Louisiana Press Association. National and world-wide news service and photos by National Catholic News Service.

Lawrence Chatagnier

acting editor and general manager

Louis G. Aguirre editorial consultant

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

Peggy Adams

advertising manager

Anna C. Givens

advertising accounts executive

Janet Marcel staff writer

Pat Keese

secretary and circulation

Lisa Schobel Hebert graphic designer

Meridy Liner

accounts receivable/payable assistant

Awards

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

Welcome Editor’s Corner Lawrence Chatagnier Acting Editor & General Manager

Let’s work together!

As the Bayou Catholic’s acting editor, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to our readers. As you may have read in our last issue, our founding editor Louis G. Aguirre announced his retirement. I have been working for the diocese for the past 29 years, 25 of those have been with the Bayou Catholic. Many of you may already know me as the one you have seen taking photos during all the ordinations, special diocesan liturgies, youth rallies, chrism Masses, and many parish celebrations. I will still be behind the camera but now am charged with guiding a dedicated staff as we continue to produce a publication designed to evangelize, inform and challenge the Catholic faithful of the diocese to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. First of all, I want to thank God for having blessed me with a healthy and loving family. I thank my wife Debra who has supported me through the years in all of my endeavors. She was the one who took special care of our children while I was working, and attending meetings or classes, and to my four children for their love and support through the years. I also especially want to thank three people in my professional life who guided me in different ways, but in the same direction. Sister Miriam Mitchell, S.H.Sp., was the director of Catholic Social Services for the diocese when I first met her in 1986. In addition to hiring me to work at the various food banks in the diocese, she taught me about social justice and the importance of treating everyone with respect and dignity, especially the less fortunate. Secondly, I would like to thank Dr. Marian Schwab who was director of the Office of Religious Education and Lay Ministry (REALM) for the diocese. Marian secured grant money for me to work part-time with REALM at the “Evangelization Desk.” With her guidance and encouragement, I enrolled in the LIMEX, Loyola Institute for Ministry, program. It was a great course which helped me learn about my Catholic faith and put it into action both personally and professionally. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

JANET MARCEL/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Thirdly, I want to thank Louis Aguirre, a man who has been my mentor and friend for the past 25 years. Louis took a chance on hiring me - someone with an interest in photography and no journalistic experience - to help out with the Bayou Catholic newspaper. I was assigned to the events section and took some photos. As the years passed I learned about journalism with the help of my co-workers and honed my photographic skills by attending classes at the Nikon School of Photography. As previously stated, Sister Miriam, Marian and Louis all guided me in different ways; however, the one common ideal or philosophy that each one shared was enabling those they worked with. They were enablers eager to allow me to grow even if it meant moving on to a different ministry, and for that I will always be grateful. As the diocese moves forward through renewal and rediscovery with the work of strategic planning, Bayou Catholic will continue to inform the Catholic faithful about the future plans of the diocese. If you enjoy reading Bayou Catholic, pass it on to a friend or relative, who might not be attending Mass, after you have read it. It’s a great way to do your part in spreading the Good News! As Bishop Shelton J. Fabre says in his Pastoral Letter in this month’s issue: Allons! Let’s go! Let’s work together!

SUPPORT THE

CATHOLIC

RELIEF SERVICES COLLECTION

HELP

esus

IN DISGUISE

The special collection will be taken at all Masses March 5 and 6, 2016 Thank you for your generous support

Comment Comfort For My People Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

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We continue our journey into the very heart of the season of Lent, a season in the liturgical church’s year when we seek through our heightened prayer, fasting and almsgiving to renew our relationship with the Living God, who gently calls us back to his love during this holy season. As a liturgical season in the church’s year, the season of Lent has been around for a very long time. One focus of the season of Lent is on those who are preparing to join us fully at the table of the Lord through reception of the sacraments of initiation: baptism, Eucharist and confirmation. We pray in a very special way for all catechumens and candidates who are in the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) process across our diocese. Very soon, we will rejoice to welcome them through baptism and/or confirmation into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. But Lent is also a powerful time for all of us who are already baptized members of the church. During the season of Lent, as we prepare for the celebrations of the life-giving death and resurrection of the Lord, we are challenged to live the dignity of our Christian baptism by engaging in greater prayer, fasting and almsgiving. In this manner, we prepare for the coming season of Easter when we renew the promises of our baptism and thereby pledge

again to follow more closely after the Lord. As those who are baptized or preparing to be baptized, Lent calls us to a heightened awareness of: our need for God; our responsibility to God; and the many ways that God renews his love for us with the passing of each day and each year. For all of us, Lent should be a season of heightened reflection on our lives and on our relationship to God. When we reflect profoundly and directly upon our relationship with the living God, our hearts will be moved to sorrow for those times when we have turned away from the Lord; for those times when we

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

have sinned in his presence. The season of Lent is a powerful time to enter into all of the grace and forgiveness that is available in the sacrament of reconciliation. Please also remember the opportunity for a plenary indulgence that is still available here in our diocese during this Year of Mercy by visiting the Holy Door located at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma or at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux. During this Year of Mercy, we can be confident that the Father, who is merciful, will forgive our sins and welcome us back to the glorious reality of his great love for us. As we come to know the love that the Father has for us, we will also desire to share this love with others. Therefore, I would also like to again call to the attention of all of us the Corporal and Spiritual

Works of Mercy, which certainly define this Year of Mercy and also are an integral part of the season of Lent. There are many in our communities at present who are suffering due to these difficult economic times. Let us earnestly remember them in prayer, and be merciful and generous in remembering their practical needs as through self-denial and sacrifice we seek to assist them with some of their needs. I invite us all who are able to please be generous in donating to our local Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul Societies and our local food banks, and to assisting others in their need as much as possible. Therefore, Lent is not a time simply to count down the days until Easter; nor is the season of Lent something to simply be endured until life can “get back to normal.” If one thinks about it, one understands that Lent is actually that which is “normal” since we are called by God each and every day of each and every year to be concerned about our own growth in love and relationship with him. Through greater self-denial and prayer, Lent challenges us to renew our relationship with God. Lent is like a “shot in the arm” that gets us growing again in the Lord, and hopefully we will keep on growing even after Lent has passed for another year. We engage in this growth anew each year in Lent, and hopefully the spiritual progress that we make during Lent remains to be continually built upon throughout the rest of the year. Lived in this manner, Lent wonderfully prepares us to welcome with joy the Risen Lord at Easter. May Lent be a time of spiritual growth for us all, and may our celebrations of Holy Week and Easter strengthen our relationship with the Lord, who died to set us free.

Lent challenges us to renew our relationship with God Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Comentario

La Cuaresma nos pide que renovemos nuestro compromiso con Dios

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Continuamos nuestro camino al centro de la Cuaresma, época del año litúrgico de la Iglesia en el que con nuestras oraciones, ayuno y limosna renovamos nuestro compromiso con el Dios Viviente que nos llama con amor durante esta época santa. La Cuaresma, siendo parte del año litúrgico, ha existido por mucho tiempo. La Cuaresma se enfoca en aquellos que se preparan para reunirse con nosotros plenamente en la mesa del Señor recibiendo los Sacramentos de Iniciación: el bautismo, la Eucaristía y la confirmación. Oramos de manera especial por los catecúmenos y candidatos que participan en el Rito de Iniciación Cristiana para Adultos (RICA) en toda nuestra diócesis. Muy pronto, regocijaremos la bienvenida de estas personas por medio del bautismo y/o la confirmación a una comunión plena con la Iglesia Católica Romana. Pero la Cuaresma es también una época poderosa para nosotros que somos miembros bautizados de la Iglesia. Durante la Cuaresma mientras nos preparamos para celebrar la muerte del Señor, que nos ha dado vida y la resurrección del Señor. También hemos sido llamados a vivir la dignidad de nuestro bautismo cristiano profundizando nuestras oraciones, el ayuno y la limosna. De este modo nos preparamos para la Cuaresma renovando las promesas de nuestro bautismo y comprometiéndonos nuevamente a seguir al Señor aun más. La Cuaresma nos llama, así como los bautizados y los que están por ser bautizados, a reflexionar sobre nuestra necesidad de Dios, nuestra responsabilidad con Dios y el reconocimiento de las muchas maneras que Dios renueva su amor por nosotros con el pasar de cada día y cada año. Para todos nosotros, la Cuaresma

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

debe ser una época de mayor reflexión en nuestras vidas y en nuestra relación con Dios. Cuando se reflexiona con profundidad y se enfoca nuestra relación con el Dios Viviente, nuestros corazones se volverán tristes por esas veces que le dimos la espalda al Señor; por esas veces que pecamos en su presencia. La Cuaresma es una época poderosa en el que entramos en la gracia y la misericordia que existe en el Sacramento de la Reconciliación. Por favor, recuerden la oportunidad de recibir la indulgencia plenaria que todavía

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

está disponible en nuestra diócesis durante este Año de Misericordia visitando la Puerta Santa en la Catedral San Francisco de Sales en Houma o en la Co-Catedral San José en Thibodaux. Durante este Año de Misericordia, podemos tener la seguridad que el Padre misericordioso nos perdonará los pecados y nos aceptará a la realidad gloriosa de su enorme amor por nosotros. Al conocer el amor del Padre por nosotros, también tendremos el deseo de compartir este amor con nuestros semejantes. Por tanto, quiero hacer el llamado a todos nosotros sobre las Obras Corporales y Espirituales que definen este Año de Misericordia y son parte integral de la Cuaresma.

Hay muchas personas en nuestra comunidad que actualmente sufren dificultades económicas. Recordémoslos en nuestras oraciones y seamos misericordiosos y generosos con ellos tomando en cuenta sus necesidades básicas y tomando una postura de abnegación y sacrificio al ayudarles. Invito a todos quienes puedan con generosidad contribuir a nuestras organizaciones católicas de caridad: las sociedades de San Vicente de Paul y nuestros bancos de alimento locales para atender a nuestros semejantes que se encuentran en la pobreza. Por tanto, la Cuaresma no es solamente una época de conteo de días esperando la Pascua, ni tampoco una época de aguantar hasta que «la vida se regrese a la normalidad.» Al pensarlo, se llega a comprender que la Cuaresma es «la norma» ya que hemos sido llamados por Dios para que cada día y cada año nos dediquemos a nuestro crecimiento en el amor y nuestra relación con Él. Por medio de una mayor abnegación y oración la Cuaresma nos llama a renovar nuestra relación con Dios. La Cuaresma se compara a «una inyección en el brazo» que nos hace crecer de nuevo en el Señor y que con esperanza nos mantendremos creciendo aun después de la Cuaresma este año. Nos dedicamos al crecimiento en la Cuaresma cada año y espero que el progreso espiritual que logramos durante esta Cuaresma se siga construyendo durante el resto del año. Viviendo de esta forma, la Cuaresma nos prepara a recibir con amor y júbilo al Señor Resucitado durante la Pascua. Qué la Cuaresma sea una época de crecimiento espiritual para todos y que nuestras celebraciones de Semana Santa y Pascua fortalezca nuestra relación con el Señor que entregó su vida para librarnos. Traducido por Julio Contreras, feligrés de la Iglesia Annunziata en Houma

Binh luan bang loi

Mùa Chay mời gọi chúng ta canh tân mối quan hệ của chúng ta với Thiên Chúa

Chúng ta tiếp tục cuộc hành trình đi vào trọng tâm của mùa Chay, một mùa trong năm phụng vụ của Giáo hội khi chúng ta tìm kiếm qua việc gia tăng lời cầu nguyện, ăn chay và bố thí để canh tân mối quan hệ của chúng ta với Thiên Chúa Hằng Sống, Đấng hiền lành kêu gọi chúng ta trở lại với tình yêu của Ngài trong mùa Chay thánh này. Như là một mùa phụng vụ trong năm của Giáo hội, nên mùa Chay có một khoảng thời gian rất dài. Một tiêu điểm của mùa Chay là những người đang chuẩn bị để tham dự với chúng ta một cách trọn vẹn vào bàn tiệc của Chúa qua việc lãnh nhận các Bí tích Khai tâm: Rửa tội, Thánh Thể và Thêm sức. Chúng ta cầu nguyện cách đặc biệt cho tất cả các dự tòng và các ứng viên trong chương trình RCIA (Nghi thức Dự Tòng dành cho người lớn) trong toàn giáo phận của chúng ta. Chẳng mấy chốc nữa, chúng ta sẽ vui mừng chào đón họ qua phép Rửa tội và / hoặc phép Thêm sức vào trong sự hiệp thông trọn vẹn với Giáo hội Công Giáo. Nhưng Mùa Chay cũng là thời gian cao điểm cho tất cả chúng ta là những thành viên của Giáo hội đã được rửa tội rồi. Trong suốt mùa Mùa Chay, như chúng ta chuẩn bị cho các ngày lễ tưởng niệm của cái chết và sự phục sinh đem lại sự sống của Chúa, chúng ta được mời gọi để sống xứng đáng với phép Rửa Kitô giáo của chúng ta bằng việc tham gia cầu nguyện, ăn chay và bố thí nhiều hơn. Bằng cách này, chúng ta chuẩn bị cho mùa Phục sinh sắp đến khi chúng ta lập lại những lời hứa của phép Rửa của mình qua việc cam kết lại một lần nữa để theo sát Chúa hơn. Là những người đã được Rửa tội hoặc chuẩn bị để được Rửa tội, Mùa Chay mời gọi chúng ta nhận thức sâu sắc về: nhu cầu của chúng ta đối với Thiên Chúa; trách nhiệm của chúng ta với Thiên Chúa; và nhiều phương cách mà Thiên Chúa canh tân tình yêu của ngài cho chúng ta với sự qua đi của mỗi ngày và mỗi năm. Đối với tất cả chúng ta, Mùa Chay phải là mùa suy gẫm sâu xa hơn về cuộc sống của mình và mối quan hệ của chúng ta với Thiên Chúa. Khi chúng ta suy gẫm sâu sắc

và trực tiếp về mối quan hệ của chúng ta với Thiên Chúa hằng sống, trái tim của chúng ta sẽ xúc động buồn phiền vì những lần chúng ta đã quay lưng lại với Chúa; vì những lần chúng ta đã phạm tội trước sự hiện diện của Ngài. Mùa Chay là thời gian cao điểm để bước vào tất cả các ân sủng và sự tha thứ hiện diện trong Bí tích Hòa giải. Xin cũng nhớ đến cơ hội để lãnh nhận ơn toàn xá mà vẫn còn hiện hành trong giáo phận của chúng ta trong suốt Năm Thánh Lòng Thương Xót bằng việc đi qua Cửa Thánh của Nhà thờ Chánh Tòa St. Francis de Sales ở Houma hoặc tại Nhà thờ Đồng Chánh Tòa St. Joseph ở Thibodaux. Trong Năm Thánh Lòng

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Thương Xót này, chúng ta có thể tin rằng Chúa Cha, Đấng giàu lòng thương xót, sẽ tha thứ tội lỗi của chúng ta và mời gọi chúng ta trở lại với thực tại vinh quang của tình yêu tuyệt vời của Ngài dành cho chúng ta. Như chúng ta biết tình yêu mà Chúa Cha dành cho chúng ta, chúng ta cũng sẽ ao ước chia sẻ tình yêu này với những người khác. Vì vậy, một lần nữa tôi cũng muốn kêu gọi mọi người chú tâm đến các mối phúc thương linh hồn và xác, là định nghĩa của Năm Thánh Lòng Thương Xót này cách chắc chắn và cũng là một phần không thể thiếu của mùa Chay. Có rất

nhiều người trong cộng đồng của chúng ta hiện nay đang phải đau khổ do thời buổi kinh tế khó khăn. Chúng ta hãy tha thiết nhớ tới họ trong lời cầu nguyện, và hãy thương xót và quảng đại bằng việc nhớ tới các nhu cầu thực tế của họ, qua sự hãm mình và hy sinh, chúng ta tìm cách giúp đỡ một phần nhu cầu cần thiết của họ. Tôi mời gọi tất cả những ai có lòng quảng đại trong việc quyên góp cho tổ chức từ thiện Công giáo của chúng ta tại địa phương, Hội Từ thiện St. Vincent de Paul và các Tổ chức tồn trữ thực phẩm địa phương của chúng ta, để giúp đỡ những nhu cầu của người khác càng nhiều càng tốt. Do đó, Mùa Chay không đơn giản là thời gian để đếm hết từng ngày cho đến lễ Phục Sinh; cũng không phải là Mùa Chay của một cái gì đó chỉ đơn giản là để chịu đựng cho đến khi cuộc sống có thể “trở lại bình thường”. Nếu người ta suy nghĩ về mùa chay, họ sẽ hiểu rằng 11 Mùa Chay thực sự rất là “bình thường” vì chúng ta được Chúa kêu gọi mỗi ngày và mọi ngày trong mỗi năm và mọi năm, phải quan tâm về sự tăng trưởng của chúng ta trong tình yêu và mối quan hệ với Ngài. Qua việc tự hãm mình và cầu nguyện nhiều hơn, Mùa Chay kêu gọi chúng ta canh tân mối quan hệ của chúng ta với Thiên Chúa. Mùa Chay giống như một “mũi kim chích vào cánh tay” để chúng ta tăng trưởng trở lại trong Chúa, và hy vọng chúng ta sẽ tiếp tục lớn lên ngay cả khi Mùa Chay qua đi. Chúng ta tham dự vào sự tăng trưởng này một lần nữa mỗi năm trong Mùa Chay, và hy vọng những quá trình tâm linh mà chúng ta thực hiện trong suốt Mùa Chay vẫn tiếp tục kéo dài trong những ngày còn lại của năm. Sống theo cách này, Mùa Chay chuẩn bị chúng ta một cách tuyệt vời để chào mừng với niềm vui Chúa Sống lại vào ngày lễ Phục Sinh. Nguyện xin Mùa Chay là thời điểm phát triển tâm linh cho tất cả chúng ta, và chớ gì việc cử hành Tuần Thánh và Phục Sinh của chúng ta, gia tăng mối quan hệ của chúng ta với Chúa, Đấng đã chết để giải thoát chúng ta. Dịch thuật do Lm. Francis Bui, SDD và Thầy Paul Vu, SDD. Tu Đoàn Tông Đồ Giáo Sĩ Nhà Chú www.bayoucatholic.com

Comment The Pope Speaks

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CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (CNS) -- At the border of Mexico and the United States, Pope Francis blessed a large cross in memory of all the people who have crossed the frontier. The pope said nothing Feb. 17, but he clasped his hands tightly in prayer and bowed his head in silent prayer. He left a bunch of flowers on a table in front of the cross. Then, to the great joy of people, including immigrants, gathered in El Paso, Texas, on the other side of the fence, the pope waved. The whole thing lasted less than three minutes. But with hundreds of thousands of people waiting in a fairgrounds nearby for Mass, the pope was intent on taking the time to acknowledge the significance of the spot. At the foot of the large cross were three small crosses, which the pope also blessed. They will go to the dioceses of El Paso, Ciudad Juarez and Las Cruces, New Mexico. According to the Pew Research Center, there were 11.3 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. in 2014 -- which makes about 3.5 percent of the nation’s population. Mexicans make up about half of all unauthorized immigrants, the center said in a report in November, though their numbers have been declining in recent years. There were 5.6 million Mexican unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S. in 2014, down from 6.4 million in

CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING

Pope Francis prays at a cross on the border with El Paso, Texas, before celebrating Mass at the fairgrounds in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Feb. 17.

2009, the Pew Research Center reported. But it is not only Mexicans who are crossing the border. More and more of the immigrants apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol are from violence-torn Central American countries, particularly El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. According to figures released by the U.S. Border Control, 4,353 people have died trying to cross the border from 2005 to 2015. Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston, one of several U.S. bishops at the pope’s Mass in Ciudad Juarez, said the pope’s brief moment at the border memorial was “a great sign of hope for families separated and suffering.” With 20 years’ experience ministering primarily to migrants,

the cardinal said he can guarantee, “they bring an energy and a work ethic and a spirit of adventure that made America a great country.” Lily Limon, of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in El Paso, whose parents were immigrants from Mexico, put her hand over her heart as she saw the pope bless the border. “To know that he was this close to us, and he took time to bless and look over to us, to the VIPs seated here, our immigrants, our young people that have crossed over undocumented, our migrant workers, this is just an incredible gesture and for us and unforgettable experience.” There were about 550 people seated on the U.S. side of the Rio Grande taking part in the Mass.

In silence, pope remembers those who cross Mexican - U.S. border

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

Question Corner Father Kenneth Doyle

Sunday Mass obligation

Q A

authority. But it doesn’t seem to me that removing the obligation would serve to bring young people back to more regular eucharistic practice. The solution, I think, has more to do with liturgies that celebrate joyfully what Jesus has done, with homilies that are well-prepared and directed to the challenges people face daily, and -- most of all -- with parents who show their children, by example, the importance of the Mass in their lives.

Q. In the Bible, Jesus says: “Do this in memory of me.” But he doesn’t say that it has to be done every Sunday and holy day. So many young people are falling away from the church because of its rigidity. Please explain why we are obligated. (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) A. The responsibility to gather on Sundays for the Eucharist has been recognized by Christians since the earliest days of the church, although it was not specifically written into law until the fourth century. That obligation is codified in the current Code of Canon Law (in No. 1246), which says that “Sunday ... must be observed in the universal church as the primordial holy day of obligation.” Sunday is singled out as sacred, of course, because it was the day of Christ’s resurrection. In the Didache, which was the compendium of Christian teaching written in the second half of the first century, believers were directed as follows: “On Sundays, get together and break the bread and give thanks, confessing your sins in order that your sacrifice may be pure.” It is true, as you say, that the Sunday Mass obligation is a precept of the church rather than a verbatim command of Jesus, and therefore it could be modified by competent church

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

New luminous mystery?

Q. Recently we celebrated the feast of the Epiphany, and I was reminded what an important feast it is. (Jesus and Mary were present, and in some parts of the world, the feast is called “Little Christmas.”) My question is this: Why isn’t the Epiphany one of the mysteries of the rosary? When St. John Paul II introduced the “luminous mysteries,” the Epiphany could have been the third of these mysteries -- instead of “the spread of the kingdom,” which is still a mystery to me! I feel presumptuous secondguessing JPII, but would you please comment? (Dublin, Ohio)

A. When Pope John Paul II in 2002 proposed a new set of mysteries, he did so because he wanted to make the rosary more of an overview of the entire life of Christ. He felt that there was a gap between the childhood of Jesus, which we meditate on in the joyful mysteries, and Christ’s passion and death, reflected on in the sorrowful mysteries. (The glorious mysteries celebrate the triumph over sin and death of Christ and the Virgin Mary.) The pope pointed out that it is during his three years of public ministry that Jesus reveals his identity to us and invites us to share in his vision of God’s plan. (If the Epiphany were to be added, as you suggest, it would properly belong to the joyful mysteries -but that would make six of those, and our present rosary beads would be out of date!) I agree with you that the third of these luminous mysteries (the proclamation of the kingdom) is rather generic and a bit harder to grasp than the other four, which highlight specific events (the baptism in the Jordan, the miracle 13 at Cana, the Transfiguration and the institution of the Eucharist). That third mystery refers to the various parables, especially in Matthew’s Gospel, in which Jesus teaches us the great value of the kingdom of God (a treasure hidden in a field, a pearl of great price, the leaven in the flour, a mustard seed, etc.) Catholic News Service

Questions may be sent to Father Kenneth Doyle at askfatherdoyle@ gmail.com and 40 Hopewell St., Albany, N.Y. 12208 www.bayoucatholic.com

Reflections Readings Between The Lines Father Glenn LeCompte

No exclusive rights to God’s mercy

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“But the LORD sent a large fish, that swallowed Jonah; and he remained in the belly of the fish three days and three nights” (Jonah 2:1). While the foregoing passage expresses what is probably the best-known event in the story of the prophet Jonah, and it certainly grabs people’s attention, it is but one within a story that seeks to convey for its reader a surprising lesson about God’s justice and mercy. The book of Jonah is a wellcrafted fictional work whose protagonist is a Hebrew prophet. The narrative begins (1:1) with God commanding Jonah to embark upon a prophetic mission of announcing God’s word, not an untypical divine assignment for a prophet. However, God’s mention of Jonah’s audience would grab the attention of the reader. Lest God destroy them, Jonah is to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria. Odd is such a mission, considering that while Israelite prophets sometimes utter judgment oracles against foreign nations, they are not sent to call them to repentance. The most dominant nation, politically and militarily, in the Ancient Near East between the ninth and seventh centuries B.C., Assyria constantly tormented and threatened the divided northern and southern kingdoms of Israel. Needless to say, Assyria was hated by the people of Israel.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

Jonah, then, is being sent to a fearsome people. And what are we to make of Jonah’s reaction? Not unusual is it that a prophet should object to the Lord’s call. Jeremiah thought he was too young (untrained) to speak the divine word (Jeremiah 1:6) and Isaiah protested that he was too sinful (Isaiah 6:5), nevertheless, after the objection the prophets called typically obeyed God’s command. Jonah, however, does not verbally object to the Lord’s call, he flees from it, an action which is unprecedented for a prophet summoned to mission by the Lord! Astonished by Jonah’s response to the Lord, the reader would be prompted to ask why he behaves as he does. Knowing the ruthlessness of the Assyrians, the reader may tend to think that Jonah runs out of fear. God, the Master of Creation however, intervenes into Jonah’s flight and redirects the reluctant prophet toward his intended purpose. As Jonah seeks to escape from God by hitching a ride on a trading sea vessel, the Lord conjures up a storm. Fearful because Jonah’s flight from his God has subjected them to this turmoil, they cast him into the sea. The Lord “appoints” a great fish to swallow Jonah, and after a triad of nights and days, orders the fish to spew Jonah out on dry land. The Lord controls all events here. Jonah is re-commissioned by God to preach repentance to the Ninevites (3:1). The narrator describes Nineveh as a “great city,” and the prophet enters it

and embarks upon the mission on which God has sent him. According to the narrator, however, Jonah only goes one third of the way into the city preaching the message of repentance, perhaps a detail that indicates he undertakes the mission half-heartedly. As surprising as it is that Jonah should be sent to preach repentance to the Ninevites, it is equally astonishing that they heed Jonah’s warning! Typically, the Israelites ignore prophetic warnings, but here a pagan nation listens to and acts upon Jonah’s message. Every creature in Nineveh, from the king to the people, even to the beasts, is ordered to do penance. Not only are they to perform acts of selfdiscipline, but they are to turn from evil and violence (3:8). In this, they surpass even the Israelites in their obedience of God, who, in turn, spares Nineveh. The Ninevites’ repentance, however, is not the end of the story, whose primary lesson is to be found in Jonah’s reaction in chapter 4. The prophet is displeased and angry (4:1)! Again, the reader would be prompted to ask, “Why?” Do prophets not preach repentance because they desire the salvation of their audiences? Jonah then confesses to God the reason for his anger. Jonah says that he knew at the time the Lord called him that God was “a God of graciousness, and compassion, slow to anger, great in steadfast love, and reluctant to do harm” (4:2, my translation). Jonah’s perception of the Lord as merciful echoes Exodus 34:6. Now at last we know why

Jonah tried to run from God. He did not want the Ninevites to have a chance to repent, because he despised them. Rather he desired their demise, and now he simply wants the Lord to let him die (4:3)! God’s mercy upsets Jonah’s very static vision that he and his people are the only ones who deserve God’s favor and others deserve his punishment. The Lord then asks a very important question that leaps off the page to the implied reader: “Do you have reason to be angry?” (4:4). In other words, can Jonah’s anger be viewed as wisdom. The question provokes a response from the implied reader, because the reader would tend to think as Jonah does. Jonah then goes east of the city and waits to see what will happen to it, apparently thinking God may yet destroy it. When Jonah settles himself east of the city to watch and see what will happen to it (perhaps God will yet destroy it), God grows a leafy plant to shade Jonah from the hot sun. Jonah smugly relishes God’s favor over him, but then God

kills the plant by sending a worm to eat it. Subjected to the sun’s heat, Jonah becomes faint and contends with God about why he should subject him to such suffering, as well as destroy a plant after only one day of life. The Lord, however, responds to Jonah by pointing out that if Jonah can be so concerned about himself and a plant, how much more should he be concerned about a mass of people who cannot help themselves with regard to salvation. The point made here is that all

people, whether or not they are part of the covenant-people, who heed God’s call to conversion can enjoy his mercy. Also, those already blessed with the gift of God’s mercy should desire it for others as well. Even today, we may want to see ourselves as having exclusive rights to God’s mercy over others we think should not be privy to it. We do this because of insecurity or because we wrongly think that we have earned God’s favor. God’s mercy is purely a gift, and it is available to anyone who turns to him!

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March

Saints

Holy Father’s prayer intentions

Dominic Savio 1842-1857 feast – March 9

Image © The Crosiers

Universal

Growing up in an Italian peasant family, Dominic wanted to be a priest and in 1854 became a student of St. John Bosco at the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales in Turin. There he formed the Company of the Immaculate Conception to pray and help with various tasks. Don Bosco insisted that Dominic balance his spiritual intensity with chores and games. But Dominic’s frail health gave out in 1857, when he was bled for lung inflammation. On his deathbed, he said, “I am seeing the most wonderful things.” In 1859, the 22 men who formed the core of the new Salesian order all were original members of Dominic’s Company. The patron saint of choirboys, Dominic was canonized in 1954.

Saints

Cyril of Jerusalem c. 315-386 feast – March 18 Image © The Crosiers

Families in Difficulty. That families in need may receive the necessary support and that children may grow up in healthy and peaceful environments.

Cyril lived when the Arian heresy was roiling Christianity. Raised and educated in Jerusalem, he was ordained by St. Maximus and succeeded him as bishop of Jerusalem around 350. His episcopate lasted until his death, but he spent 16 years in exile, turned out by emperors influenced by the Arian bishop of Caesarea who claimed ecclesiastical jurisdiction over Jerusalem. The Council of Antioch sent St. Gregory of Nyssa to investigate Cyril and his diocese. He reported that Jerusalem was rife with factionalism and Arianism, but that Cyril was orthodox. He is famous for his extant “Catechetical Instructions,” some of which consist almost entirely of carefully interwoven scriptural passages. Pope Leo XIII named him a doctor of the church in 1882.

Saints

Basil the Younger Image © The Crosiers

Evangelization Persecuted Christians. That those Christians who, on account of their faith, are discriminated against or are being persecuted, may remain strong and faithful to the Gospel, thanks to the incessant prayer of the church.

See www.apostleshipofprayer.org

died circa 952 feast – March 26

As a young man, Basil began living as a hermit near Constantinople, now Istanbul, Turkey. Courtiers of the Byzantine emperor, alarmed at his appearance and fearful of his influence, had him arrested and questioned as a spy. Basil would say only that he was a pilgrim and stranger on earth, but he denounced their immoral lifestyles. According to his hagiography, he survived their cruel tortures and being thrown to a lion unharmed, and was saved from an official drowning by two dolphins. These miracles won him freedom. Thereafter, many of the faithful came to his hermitage for healing, prophecies and instruction. Basil reportedly lived to the age of 110.

Saints

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Corporal Works

St. Vincent de Paul Store

2016 YEAR OF MERCY 2015 By Father Michael Bergeron The following is the third article in a seven-part series on the Corporal Works of Mercy. 3) Clothe the naked Public nakedness in Jesus’ time was more embarrassing to the person who would see a naked person than to be a naked person. So we might look at it this way: what do we want to “turn our eyes away from,” just the way people of Jesus’ time would turn their eyes away from a naked person? What is it that is embarrassing to us to see or to even admit about ourselves. 18 To clothe the naked means to look at what we’d prefer to turn away from or ignore. It could be our military spending, abortions, refugees, our poor treatment of Veterans (22 suicides a day), or the homeless living in the parks, just to name a few. Perhaps there are not a lot of “naked” people out there, but there are some who have pretty smelly clothes and do not have two nickels to rub together to get what they need. Poverty should not be a life sentence. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: “(Human) misery elicited the compassion of Christ the Savior ... Hence, those who are oppressed by poverty are the object of a preferential love on the part of the church” (2448). There is a story about St. Martin of Tours, a Roman soldier and a Christian. One cold winter day, as he was entering a city, a beggar stopped him and asked him for money. Martin had no money, but the beggar was blue and shivering with cold and Martin gave him what he had. He took off his soldier’s cloak, worn and frayed as it was. He cut it in two and gave half of it to the beggar. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

Clothe the naked

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

That night, Martin had a dream. In it he saw the heavenly places and all the angels and Jesus in the midst of them. Jesus was wearing half of a Roman soldier’s cloak. One of the angels said to him, “Master, why are you wearing that battered old cloak? Who gave it to you? Jesus answered softly, “My servant Martin gave it to me.” We do not have to do big things to help the poor. An old saying goes: “big things come in small packages.” Even the smallest things can make a difference in the lives of the poor. Catholic social teaching considers the naked as those stripped of human dignity and power and necessary tools for work. The rights of human beings to dignity, the power to control their own lives, and even to work, are God given. Our moral responsibility is to preserve and protect those rights. To clothe the naked is not just about human warmth; it is the need for human dignity. There are countless ways to avoid this “sin of omission.” We might decide to skip a purchase

from a website or catalog and make a donation instead to a women’s shelter or social service agency. It’s not just about giving unwanted things away. It is about owning less for ourselves and offering more to others. Volunteer at nursing homes to help change soiled clothes and linen. We can act in solidarity to aid sister parishes in areas devastated by tornados, floods, fire, earthquakes and hurricanes, leaving residents with virtually nothing. Reach out to anyone who lost their possessions in fires, floods or in other ways. Encourage others whose dignity may become fragile because of the loss of a job and help them seek work if you can. Remember to maintain the sense of dignity in others and never make someone feel like a “charity case.” Self-esteem is often shattered by the nakedness of poverty. In the April issue of Bayou Catholic, the fourth Corporal Work of Mercy, Shelter the homeless, will be highlighted. (Father Michael Bergeron is the pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church parish in Thibodaux.)

Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Seminarian Education Burses

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

How does someone establish a seminarian burse fund? Very simply, a burse may be established and named for anyone you choose, be it family, friend, bishop, priest, deacon, religious, etc.

When is a seminarian burse complete? A seminarian burse fund is complete once it reaches $15,000. If you choose to continue to contribute, a new burse will be created for you.

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

Completed Burses of $15,000 each

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

- Marie Elise Duplantis - Warren J. Harang, Jr. - Msgr. Raphael C. Labit - Msgr. Francis J. Legendre - Rev. Charles Menard - Dr. & Mrs. M.V. Marmande & Fly - Donald Peltier, Sr. (3)* - Harvey Peltier (30)* - Richard Peltier - The Peltier Foundation (4) - Orleans & Louella Pitre - Msgr. Joseph Wester - Robert R. Wright, Jr. - Rev. Kermit Trahan - St. Bernadette Men’s Club - Diocesan K of C - Leighton Delahaye - Mrs. Shirley Conrad - Bishop Shelton Fabre - Endowment Fund - $119,136.90

January 2016 Burse Contributions Joseph JodephWaitz, Waitz,Sr. Sr...................................................$10,000.00 .......................................... $10,000.00 Ronnie RonnieHaydel Haydel ..........................................................$250.00 ................................................... $250.00 Judge Judge Louis Louis& & Shirley ShirleyR. R.Watkins Watkins..........................$250.00 ..................... $250.00 Preston Preston & & Gladys GladysWebre Webre .........................................$150.00 ................................... $150.00 Deacon DeaconConnely ConnelyDuplantis Duplantis.........................................$50.00 .................................. $50.00 Edna Edna W. W. DiSalvo..........................................................$50.00 DiSalvo ................................................. $50.00 Elie Elie& &Dot DotKlingman Klingman..................................................$40.00 ........................................... $40.00

Open Burses with Balance as of 1/31/16 Sidney J. & Lydie C. Duplantis ........... $13,000.00 Donald Peltier, Sr. #4 ............................ $13,000.00 Joseph Strada Memorial ...................... $12,642.63 Msgr. Raphael C. Labit #2 .................. $11,080.00 Harvey Peltier #31 .............................. $10,486.91 Joseph Waitz, Sr. ................................. $10,100.00 Clay Sr. & Evelida Duplantis #2 .......... $10,000.00 C. Remie Duplantis #2 ........................ $10,000.00 Marie Elise Duplantis #2 ..................... $10,000.00 Maude & Edith Daspit #2 .................... $10,000.00 Msgr. George A. Landry ...................... $10,000.00 Elie & Dot Klingman .............................. $8,960.00 Mr. & Mrs. George C. Fakier ................. $8,500.00 Rev. Victor Toth ..................................... $7,000.00 Brides of the Most Blessed Trinity ......... $6,165.00 Rev. Peter Nies ..................................... $5,900.00 Msgr. William Koninkx ........................... $5,500.00 Msgr. Francis Amedee ........................... $5,150.00 Mr. & Mrs. Love W. Pellegrin ................. $5,000.00 Anonymous #2 ...................................... $5,000.00 Mr. & Mrs. Caliste Duplantis Fmly.#4..... $5,000.00 Rev. William M. Fleming ........................ $5,000.00 Mrs. Ayres A. Champagne ..................... $5,000.00 Rev. Kasimir Chmielewski ..................... $4,839.00 Rev. Gerard Hayes ................................ $4,786.00 Catholic Daughters ................................ $4,705.00 Rev. Guy Zeringue ................................ $4,400.00

Joseph “Jay” Fertitta .............................. $4,350.00 Rev. Henry Naquin ................................. $4,281.00 Harry Booker #2 .................................... $4,138.00 Kelly Curole Frazier ............................... $3,610.96 J. R. Occhipinti ...................................... $3,400.00 Anawin Community ............................... $3,100.00 Msgr. James Songy ............................... $3,075.00 Mr. & Mrs. Galip Jacobs ........................ $3,060.00 St. Jude ................................................. $3,000.00 Diocesan K of C #2 ............................... $2,894.62 Rev. Peter H. Brewerton ........................ $2,600.00 Warren J. Harang, Jr. #2 ......................... $2,100.00 Willie & Emelda St. Pierre ...................... $2,000.00 St. Joseph Society ................................. $2,000.00 Rev. H. C. Paul Daigle ........................... $1,900.00 James J. Buquet, Jr. ............................... $1,650.00 Alfrances P. Martin ................................. $1,650.00 Preston & Gladys Webre ........................ $1,650.00 Msgr. Francis J. Legendre #2 ................ $1,645.00 Rev. Robert J. Sevigny .......................... $1,600.00 Rev. John Gallen .................................... $1,600.00 Rev. Hubert C. Broussard ...................... $1,550.00 Msgr. Emile J. Fossier ........................... $1,545.00 Dr. William Barlette, Sr........................... $1,525.00 Msgr. Stanislaus Manikowski ................ $1,525.00 Mr. & Mrs. John Marmande .................... $1,500.00 Deacon Robert Dusse’ ........................... $1,450.00

Msgr. John L. Newfield .......................... $1,200.00 Deacon Connely Duplantis ..................... $1,175.00 Rev. Anthony Rousso ............................. $1,100.00 Rev. Clemens Schneider ....................... $1,000.00 Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux #4 ........... $1,000.00 Msgr. John G. Keller .............................. $1,000.00 Jacob Marcello ....................................... $1,000.00 Judge Louis & Shirley R. Watkins .............. $950.00 Ronnie Haydel .......................................... $935.00 Deacon Willie Orgeron ............................. $800.00 Ruby Pierce .............................................. $800.00 Deacon Roland Dufrene ........................... $750.00 Juliette & Eugene Wallace ......................... $700.00 Deacon Edward J. Blanchard ................... $660.00 Deacon Raymond LeBouef ...................... $550.00 Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Cannata .................... $500.00 Anne Veron Aguirre ................................... $380.00 Deacon Harold Kurtz ................................ $300.00 Richard Peltier #2 ..................................... $300.00 Bernice Harang ......................................... $300.00 Edna W. DiSalvo ....................................... $300.00 Claude Bergeron ...................................... $250.00 Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Naquin .......................... $150.00 Deacon Pedro Pujals ................................ $100.00 Deacon Eldon Frazier .............................. $ 50.00 Deacon Nick Messina .............................. $ 50.00 Rev. Warren Chassaniol ........................... $ 50.00

Overall Seminarian Burse Totals: $1,567,141.02 www.bayoucatholic.com

Spiritual Works

2016 YEAR OF MERCY 2015

By FATHER Simon Peter Engurait The following is the third article in a seven-part series on the Spiritual Works of Mercy. “My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20). I would like to begin with an illustrating story about Rose and Ann. Rose and Ann met in a small town college, became roommates and best friends. They were like sisters and participated actively in the faith life activities at the Newman Center on their college campus. After graduating, Ann went on to law school and embarked on a legal career in a big city and was soon earning a six figure salary and living a high life. She acquired a luxurious summer place in one of the popular holiday resorts. Rose on the other hand had embraced a career in nursing and soon after graduating married her college sweetheart and began raising a family. They kept in touch and about every other year they had a girl’s get together. Rose began to notice a difference in Ann whenever they communicated or got together; she complained almost about everything and tended to drink a lot. Through a mutual friend Rose learned that Ann was involved in some serious sinful life patterns. At their latest get together, Rose was able to confirm what the mutual friend told her. Now a battle raged in Rose’s mind; what should I do? Should I admonish my friend Ann? The third spiritual work of mercy, “admonishing sinners” is a Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

Admonish the sinner

very important one and yet very delicate as well. To admonish a sinner is to love them and to seek their good. By its nature, sin is a self destructing bondage and many times we are blinded by it. It takes the intervention of another for us to experience the breakthrough. To admonish a sinner simply means to draw their attention to the sin and the need for them to change. Depending on the nature and extent of the sin, this may mean warning, advising, challenging,

reprimanding, etc. In the illustration above, true love for Ann on the part of Rose is to seek her good. To seek the very best for her is to admonish her in her sin, with the ultimate goal of drawing her to conversion and freedom from the sin. To admonish a sinner is a delicate venture because human beings do not like to be told of their failures, much less to admit them. As a result, it has a great potential to generate anger, resentment and

ultimately to a break up of relationships. Leading to the ultimate question: “is it worth it”? The spiritual work of mercy says yes! Another might be quick to add: “didn’t Pope Francis say ‘who am I to judge.’” While he said it, his statement has many times been taken out of context and so, used and abused! Edmund Burke famously said; “All that is needed for evil to succeed is for good people to say or do nothing.” On the other hand, we read from the prophet Ezekiel that: “When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require from your hand. But if you on your part warn a wicked man to turn from his way and he does not turn from his way, he will die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your life” (Ezekiel 33:8-9). It is therefore evident that not to admonish a sinner leads to the detriment of the affected person as well as to the detriment of the one in a position to admonish. To go back to our case, if Rose does not admonish Ann, it will be to the detriment of both of them. If anything happens to Ann, Rose will always live with the burden of guilt especially if she has a well formed conscience. How many today live with a lot of regret that their lack of action in admonishing a sinner has had dire consequences? The obvious question therefore is how do we do it? What are some of the best approaches to living out this spiritual work of mercy? First and foremost, I think it is important to be certain

SINCE FAST st Intere Free cing Finan

about our ultimate motivation in admonishing the sinner. Are we genuinely loving them and based on that love, seeking their good. Many times, attempts at admonishing sinners have failed or been disastrous because they have not been based on the motive of pure love. Sentiments like jealousy or revenge, etc., have instead been the underlying motivations! If we are acting out of love, although the sinner will be pained by the admonishment, the underlying love soothes the pain.

Let us pray to be open to receive admonishment and to have the grace to admonish others Secondly, although not necessarily essential, it is important that we examine ourselves first. Are we in good moral standing ourselves to be able to admonish another? Certainly none of us is perfect, but are we doing our best. The more firm moral ground we stand on ourselves, the better we are in position to admonish another. Otherwise, our own moral standing may dampen the spiritual work of mercy. Our Lord Jesus probably puts it best as reported by the evangelist, Luke: “Why do you look at the

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speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye” (Luke 6:4142). Thirdly, owing to the delicate nature of this spiritual work, where there is no eminent danger, it is important that we are not rushing in undertaking it. Rather we should get all of our facts right so that we are not peddling rumors and more importantly we should pray about it, so that we are guided by the Spirit of God in our action. In addition, owing to the delicate nature, it should be done privately – one-onone as much as possible. Finally, like every other virtue and good thing, the more we do it, the better we get at doing it. When we get into the habit of lovingly admonishing one another, especially in small day-to-day matters, we dispose ourselves to be able to do 21 it in even bigger and more chronic matters. As we continue on our journey of faith through this Jubilee Year of Mercy, let us pray for the grace, on one hand, to be open to receive admonishment from our brothers and sisters for our sins; and, on the other hand, the grace to admonish others who wander from the right path so that together one day we shall stand as saints among the saints in the halls heaven. (Father Simon Peter Engurait is the associate pastor at St. Genevieve Church parish in Thibodaux.)

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Heavenly Recipes

Dorothy’s

i P e n o m e L Cake

Story and Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier This month’s heavenly recipe, lemon pie cake, comes from Dorothy M. Bergeron, a parishioner of St. Bernadette Church parish in Houma. Dorothy and her husband Jess have been parishioners of St. Bernadette for the past 49 years. 22 Originally from Church Point, the couple moved to Houma right after they were married in 1964. Dorothy remembers helping her mom in the kitchen at an early age. “As soon as I was old enough to look over the stove my mom would let me stir in the pots and help her in the kitchen. She was a wonderful Cajun cook. My dad was a farmer; we were raised on a farm. I am the oldest of eight children, so my mom was glad to get the extra help that she could in the kitchen.” Dorothy loves to cook. She especially likes to compete in the Bayou Gourmet Cook Off held annually. “I have been involved in the Bayou Gourmet Cook Off for the past 40 years. I have placed first seven times, second six times and about eight or nine times third. This lemon pie cake recipe was grand prize winner for the cook off in 2001,” she says. Dorothy and Jess have been married for 52 years and have two daughters. Their faith and family are very important aspects of their life. “We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for our faith. The good Lord has seen us through trying times and good times. We are very Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

blessed to have our health and our family. I feel for those who don’t have families. Our kids and grandkids are at home often. To us family is everything.

Lemon Pie Cwake 1 18.25 oz. lemon cake mix 1 package (3.4 oz.) lemon in stant pudding and pie filling mix 4 eggs 1 cup water 1/3 cup oil Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease 2-10 inch Flam or (Tiara) pans. Combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, water and oil in large bowl. Beat at medium speed with electric mixer for two minutes. Pour into both pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 19 minutes or until it

springs back when lightly touched. Cool in pans for five minutes. Invert onto serving plate. Cool completely. Lemon Pie Filling 1 1/2 cups sugar 6 tbsp. corn starch dash of salt 1 1/2 cups water 1/2 cup lemon juice 2 1/2 tbsp. margarine or butter 1 1/2 tsp. lemon flavoring Yellow food coloring (few drops for color) In sauce pan, stir sugar, corn starch and salt together, then add water. Bring to a boil and boil for one minute. Turn off burner and add lemon juice, butter, lemon flavoring and food coloring. Stir until blended. Cool, then divide into top of each cooled cake. Topping 8 oz. cream cheese (lite) 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract 16 oz. non-dairy whipped topping (lite) Whip cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Spread over tops of cake. Refrigerate for two hours or overnight. Makes two cakes, 16 slices in each cake. You may freeze one for later. Thaw in refrigerator overnight.

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Pastoral Letter and hope. Let’s move forward. Let’s work together as one family of faith. Let’s bring Christ to others by being Christ for others, for everyone, both those who are close to us (our families, friends and fellow parishioners) and those who are different from us (strangers, people on the margins of society, even enemies). Pope Francis has declared this year an extraordinary jubilee, a Holy Year of Mercy, to highlight the Catholic Church’s “mission to be a witness of mercy.” This will be a special time for the church, a time when the witness of believers might grow stronger and more effective. It is a time for spiritual renewal and rediscovery. Allons! What better time to look to the future of our diocese and to build up Christ’s church together! Renewal and rediscovery—to be a “witness of mercy”—requires thoughtful and deliberate planning. It requires that we listen to all who seek the mercy of our Lord – the poor, marginalized, sick or suffering – and then be prepared to offer compassion and comfort in meaningful and effective ways. “May the church become the voice of every man and woman, and repeat confidently without end: ‘Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old’” (Psalm 25:6). For the church to become the “voice of every man and woman” in our diocese, I want to foster a culture of thoughtful discernment, collaboration, teamwork and accountability. Why do we do what we do? How can we best function as a team? How are we changing lives? What is our story? In short, we need a process where clergy and laity come together to affirm the mission of our church and pursue a renewed course of action true to our time and place. That is the work of strategic planning. Strategic planning is a “coming together” of our church family for prayerful consideration of the challenges and opportunities before us, and for thoughtful deliberation of our plan of action. The work of planning will not be easy. It will require us to move beyond our comfort zones, as Pope Francis tells us. It will require us to “Go out to the peripheries!” and reach out to those who seek the face of God in this Year of Mercy and always. We can be the face of God for others because we (all of us!) are made in God’s image and likeness. We can be the face of mercy for others (everyone, regardless of their sins) because we have ourselves been forgiven and have accepted the love and mercy of God in Jesus Christ and his church. Allons! What are we waiting for? Now is the time to work together to build Christ’s church by reaching out to others and being Christ for them. We are a relatively young diocese. Just 38 years ago, in 1977, the church recognized the vibrancy of the Catholic faith in our region and responded by

A Pastoral Letter 24

on Strategic Planning from Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

Allons! Let’s Go! Let’s Work Together To Build Christ’s Church! Dear Friends in Christ, Two years ago, you opened your arms and your hearts, and allowed me to serve you as Bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. I will always be grateful to you—the priests and people of this young diocese. You have made me feel at home. More importantly, you have shared with me your hopes and dreams, your challenges and frustrations and your desire that we all work together to build Christ’s church here and now. Now that I have spent two years listening carefully to your thoughts and concerns, I feel compelled in the Spirit to respond in a positive and genuinely pastoral way. I am convinced that we need to come together to build a future full of hope. My dream is to build a culture of forward-thinking, strategic planning that can take the deepest desires of the good people along the bayous and forge a vision and plan that can help make our dreams come true. I can’t do this alone—or even with a small group of clergy and lay leaders. That’s why I am addressing this pastoral letter to all the members of this local church, the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. After all this is your church and your legacy as the people of God, here on the bayous. Allons! Let’s Move Forward As Witnesses of Mercy You recognize this vibrant expression of confidence Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

establishing the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. At that time, 67 percent of the population of our region was Catholic. More importantly, nearly 50 percent of Catholics in our diocese practiced their faith by attending Mass regularly. Today, the population of our region has grown by 20 percent, but the number of Catholics who attend Mass and receive the sacraments has declined—some say by 50 percent. We know that the church is not a numbers game. The work of the Holy Spirit is not confined to percentages, and the vibrancy of faith expressed in the lives of Catholics in Cajun country cannot be limited to statistics and declining numbers. Still, something is very wrong here. If we are truly called to proclaim the Gospel to everyone—Catholics and everyone else—then we cannot be satisfied with our current situation. We are challenged by Pope Francis, who merely echoes the words of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospels, to be missionary disciples. Allons! 2017 Marks 40 Years of Missionary Discipleship on the Bayous! As we prepare to celebrate our 40th anniversary as a local church, a diocese, we cannot be content to stay home and say we believe. We must go out together and carry the Gospel message of hope and joy to the ends of the earth! “Everything great in history has been built by people who believe the future can be better than the past. One of the tragedies of modern-day Catholicism is the disbelief that the future will be better than the past. That is disappointing because we have a mission given to us by God!” — Matthew Kelly Do we really believe that the future will be better than the past? In today’s social and political climate, this is heresy. Gloom and doom are the images we are confronted with on a daily basis. This is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is not the Good News that we are called to proclaim to the ends of the earth—with our voices and our very lives! We believe that the Holy Spirit is at work along the Bayous, and the Spirit’s power can never be limited by the negative voices of the Evil One or the cultural influences that promote discouragement and despair. We believe in a future full of hope. We are called to spread the Gospel message of joy. This is why we plan—to overcome obstacles, with the power of God’s grace—and to share the Good News that God’s mercy has already overcome the power of sin and death in our world! Allons! Together Let’s Begin the Exciting Work of Pastoral Revitalization! Planning is tough work. To be inclusive of the aspirations of our priests and the people in our pews will require full-time focus, dedication and management. Together we can unite the local and larger church of the diocese in ways that have transformational impact—changing the hearts of those who participate and the lives of those served; but only if we dedicate and commit ourselves to the process. With God’s help this strategic planning effort can be for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, the beginning of an exciting work of pastoral revitalization, one that will enable us to face the

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier challenges of the present with enthusiasm, and to prepare for the challenges of the future with 25 confidence. Allons! What Are We Waiting For? Let’s go! Let’s work together to build up the church of Jesus Christ here on the Bayous! Our goal is to renew the minds and hearts of every individual, family and parish community in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. To be successful, we must be people of prayer who listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit who often speaks through the voices of ordinary people—our families, neighbors, the poor and the suffering, all God’s children! We must also be thoughtful, respectful of the ideas, concerns and opinions of others, including those we question or disagree with. Above all, we must be women and men of mercy who can forgive ourselves and one another as the Father has forgiven us by the redemptive love of his son, Jesus. Allons! We Are Many Called to be One! During his closing homily in Philadelphia this past September, Pope Francis said: “We know that the future of the church in a rapidly changing society will call, and even now calls, for a much more active engagement on the part of the laity ... The church in the United States has always devoted immense effort to the work of catechesis and education. Our challenge today is to build on those solid foundations and to foster a sense of collaboration and shared responsibility in planning for the future of our parishes ... ” We are 39 different parishes, 3,440 square miles including Terrebonne Parish, Lafourche Parish, the

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Pastoral Letter

T his is

an exciting time of pastoral revitalization.

Morgan City area and Grand Isle, but we are one diocese, one community of faith. How about we work together? Join me to prepare now and make our 40th Anniversary in 2017, a time of renewal. Let’s use this wonderful opportunity to come together as brothers Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

and sisters, and dream about the possibilities of a happy and vibrant church! And then let’s do the hard work to realize those dreams — together! Here are some important events that will take place during our 40th Anniversary year. Please mark these on your calendar and plan to join us. n June 3, 2017 Ordination to the Priesthood St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux, 10 a.m. n June 3, 2017 40th Anniversary Prayer Service St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux, 7 p.m. n June 4, 2017 40th Anniversary Mass Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma, 4 p.m. Allons! What You Can Do? n Pray for our church and for the success of our efforts to plan for the future. n Attend one of the listening sessions that will be held throughout the diocese. Share your hopes and dreams; listen to others. n Write me a letter or send an email with your thoughts about the most important challenges and opportunities facing our parishes and diocese. You may email me at: bishop@htdiocese.org. You may send mail to: Most Rev. Shelton J. Fabre P. O. Box 505 Schriever, LA 70395 n Volunteer to serve on one of the task forces that will be established to focus on key challenges and opportunities. n Check our website: www.htdiocese.org/sp Allons! Let’s Talk About God to the Men and Women of Our Time! The Year of Mercy marks the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. The Council Fathers at that time strongly perceived, as a true breath of the Holy Spirit, a need to talk about God to men and women of their time in a more accessible way. Pope Francis urges us to continue this quest for accessibility. We have chosen to pursue a process of strategic planning that can help us imagine a future full of hope. This is one of the many ways that we are called to talk about God to the men and women of our time. It is also a wonderful opportunity for us to come together as one family of faith dedicated to building up Christ’s church here in south Louisiana. My hope is that we will respond with open hearts to the Holy Spirit’s invitation to catch fire and to spread the joy of the Gospel! May we truly be women and men of mercy, images of the face of God who bring healing and hope to all. Allons! The moment is now. Let’s go --- together! Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Rev. Shelton J. Fabre Bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Allons!

Strategic Planning Team Our Strategic Planning Team: We look forward to serving you! Very Rev. Mark Toups Chancellor, Planning Coordinator Telephone: (985)850-3146 Email: mtoups@htdiocese.org Trudy Clement Planning Specialist Telephone: (985)850-3173 Email: tclement@htdiocese.org Blanca Robinson Communications Specialist Telephone: (985)850-3173 Email: brobinson@htdiocese.org Kristin Niedbala Assistant to Bishop Fabre Telephone: (985)850-3175 Email: kniedbala@htdiocese.org Cathy Smith Assistant to Father Mark Toups Telephone: (985)850-3143 Email: crsmith@htdiocese.org Listening Sessions Schedule n Wednesday, March 9, 6 p.m. St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland n Wednesday, March 16, 6 p.m. Christ the Redeemer, Thibodaux n Thursday, March 17, 6 p.m. St. Bernadette Soubirous, Houma n Saturday, March 19, 10 a.m. Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma (will focus solely on Catholic schools) Additional sessions will be scheduled with an emphasis on cultural diversity. PLANNING COMMISSIONS n Liturgy and Preaching. How do we improve the execution and celebration of Sunday Mass and preaching? n Priests and Deacons. How do we strengthen the priests and their relationships with each other? How do we help our deacons? n What does a renewed parish look like? Let’s first ask “why are people leaving?” and then study parishes across the country that are thriving? n Formation. Adult education, RCIA, CCD, confirmation to first Communion. How can we do it better? n Youth. How do we best minster to today’s teens? n Lay Leadership. How do we surround our pastors with talent from the pews so that parishes flourish administratively and pastors flourish pastorally? n Catholic Education. How do we offer great Catholic education … and do so affordably? n Stewardship. How do we further create a culture of stewardship? n Outreach/Catholic Charities. How do we create a culture within parishes integrating the principles of Catholic social teaching into everyday life?

n Multi-Cultural. How do we retain an authentically Catholic identify within cultures: African American, Native American, Hispanic, Vietnamese, etc. n Vocations. How do we sustain the number of needed seminarians for our diocese and from our diocese? n Diocesan Governance. What’s needed from the Pastoral Center in order for our parishes to thrive? n Morgan City. Commission regionally hosted so that we include the mind and heart of the people there. n South Lafourche. Commission regionally hosted so that we include the mind and heart of the people there. n South Terrebonne. Commission regionally hosted so that we include the mind and heart of the people there. Allons!

Strategic Planning Prayer Pray With Us and For Us! Holy Spirit we stand before you here, gathered together in your name for a special purpose. Renew by the light of the Gospel your church in Houma-Thibodaux. Bless our efforts to build up your kingdom among us, so that in all things your kingdom may come and your will may be done. Come to us, remain with us, and enter into our hearts. Teach us what we are to do and where we ought to tend; show us what we must accomplish, so that with your help we may be able to please you in all things. As we are gathered together in your name, in all things may we hold fast to you. May you alone be the source and grace of our strategic planning. Incline our hearts according to your will. Open our ears to receive your Word, our minds to discern your call, our hands to undertake your work, and our mouths to proclaim our faith in You. We ask this in the Immaculate Heart of Mary and through the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Amen. www.bayoucatholic.com

Meditations

‘His father ran to him, embraced him and kissed him’ (Luke 15, 20) Guest Columnist

H 28

Father. P.J. Madden

How time flies! We are now about half way along the Lenten road of repentance, to Easter and Resurrection, and I offer this reflection as a time check for you and me! Our Holy Father has declared this year as a Jubilee Year of Mercy. The particular meaning of this is that it is a time for forgiveness and healing of past wounds and grievances. This especially includes forgiving ourselves! We are invited to let go of roadblocks in our lives and accept that we have a merciful, loving Father, who truly loves each one of us unconditionally, that is, without any conditions or expectations. The Gospel of the Fourth Sunday of Lent gives us a powerful, realistic and consoling way to grasp this truth, and more importantly, to surrender our souls to receiving the graces the prodigal son received on his return home. We are encouraged to make a pilgrimage to visit to our Cathedral or Co-Cathedral and enter through the door of mercy and forgiveness. If you cannot go there you can go to your local church and symbolically walk in through the door, praying as you go: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am not worthy to be called your child.” Then let your heart feel the merciful, unconditional love of the Father waft from the tabernacle into your very heart. Carry on to celebrate (yes, celebrate is the

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

The Prodigal Son by Pompeo Badoni

proper word here) the sacrament of reconciliation (confession) and feel the redeeming, healing, grace of Christ flow from his cross into your very veins, without any condemnation or conditions attached! Let’s look closer at the story of the Gospel, filled with important details, to make it crystal clear that God means it when he says “I love you”! The brash young son, heedless of his privileged position in a wealthy home, demands his share of the inheritance from his father. In doing so he shows utter contempt for him, as we do not receive our inheritance until our parent dies! In effect he is saying, “as far as I am concerned you are dead.” Now that’s total rejection! How often have we, in pride or arrogance or conceit, felt like that toward someone who hurt us or even offered some unwelcome but

needed criticism? After losing all his fortune, and only after totally messing up his life, does he see the error of his ways and decide to return home! Now note the posture of the father. As a large landowner he should be busy with his estate business but he is yearning for the lost son. We can actually feel his pain in the description of his watching out across the fields. Seeing the son and “filled with compassion” (mercy), he runs to him! Fathers just don’t behave like that in normal circumstances. Embracing him, he hears the son’s plea for mercy: “Father, I have sinned against you, I am not worthy to be called your son.” There is no record of a single word of accusation or admonition from the Father, just an embrace and a heart bursting with love in the moment. But now we come to

the extravagance of the Father’s mercy in this beautiful story. He orders the servants to dress his son, place a ring on his finger and get him some sandals. The ring, a signet ring, designates him as son and heir once more! The sandals indicate also that he is accepted back into the family, since servants went barefoot, and only family wore sandals! Remember, again, his record of living a totally immoral life, with no regard for anyone but himself! How much of that son do you recognize in yourself this Lent? The more we identify with him, and there is a part of him in all of us, the more we can turn to the Father actually believing he is waiting to give us the same unconditional welcome. Lent is the season for actually examining our lives and making the return journey home to a life of grace, forgiveness and mrcy. If you feel burdened at this time, go to confession before Easter (all parishes will have reconciliation services), offer your life back to God the Father, in Christ, and forgive yourself as he forgives you, that is complete forgiveness with no reservations or looking back at your past. Then take the first steps to celebrate His resurrection this Easter and anticipate your own resurrection to eternal life in glory as you begin to walk with Christ into new life. A final thought as we approach Easter 2016: The only gift we can give God, which he has not given us, is our thanks! Thank God for Jesus, the visible and living sign of his mercy. Happy Easter and new life to you. God bless. (Father P.J. Madden is the pastor of St. Hilary of Poitiers Church parish in Mathews.)

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utstanding William Grace V Sophia Galey

Laura Hamilton

Aidan Beebe

Gavin Blanchard

Katherine Bonvillain

Jolie Boudreaux

Rebekah Bourgeois

Sinclair Callais

Lindsee Case

Lauren Couvillon

Coryn Cunningham

Lauren Daigle

Kyle Davis

Mary DiSalvo

Shelby Ellis

Molly Freeman

Jenna Guidry

Jacob Guin

Bayou Catholic â&#x20AC;˘ Houma, LA â&#x20AC;˘ March 2016

Students Kylie Legendre

Adele Panvelle

Ivy Robichaux

Story by Janet Marcel Outstanding fifth, eighth and 12th grade non-public school students from within the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux were recently chosen to represent their schools as 2016 Students of the Year. The Students of the Year Awards program is sponsored by the Louisiana State Superintendent through the State Department of Education and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Every public and approved non-public school in the state is invited to participate. “The program recognizes outstanding elementary, middle/ junior high and high school students who have demonstrated excellent academic achievement, leadership ability and citizenship in their school and community,” says Marian B. Fertitta, superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. All 13 Catholic schools in the diocese and Houma Christian School participated in this year’s awards program, which resulted in 22 students from the three grade levels competing at the district level. Three candidates from schools within the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux were selected to represent Region VI – Nonpublic Schools – in the regional competition. Fifth grader Laura Hamilton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey D. Hamilton III, St. Gregory Catholic School, Houma; eighth grader Sophia Galey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Donovan Galey, E.D. White Catholic High School, Thibodaux; and 12th grader William Grace V, son of Raquel and Gordon Brown, and William Grace IV, Vandebilt Catholic High School, Houma; competed recently in a regional screening in Baton Rouge. The regional interviewing committee is

made up of individuals from across the state. Suzanne Troxclair, diocesan curriculum specialist and chairperson of the program for the non-public schools within the diocese, will assist with judging at the regional competition. Winners at the regional level will participate in the state competition April 12-13. In addition to the district winners, students selected to represent their school in district competition are as follows. Fifth graders: Aidan Beebe, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacques Beebe, St. Bernadette Catholic School, Houma; Jolie Boudreaux, daughter of Kristi Boudreaux and Malachi Boudreaux, Holy Cross Elementary School, Morgan City; Lauren Couvillon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Couvillon, Maria Immacolata Catholic School, Houma; Coryn Cunningham, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clint Cunningham, St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School, Houma; Mary DiSalvo, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David DiSalvo, Houma Christian School, Houma; Molly Freeman, daughter of Jeanne Gouaux, Holy Savior Catholic School, Lockport; Jenna Guidry, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Guidry Jr., Holy Rosary Catholic School, Larose; Jacob Guin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Shane Guin, St. Genevieve Catholic School, Thibodaux; Kylie Legendre, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jake Legendre, St. Mary’s Nativity School, Raceland; Adele Panvelle, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tyson Panvelle, St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School, Thibodaux; Eighth graders: Gavin Blanchard, son of Mr. and Mrs. Greg Blanchard, St. Mary’s Nativity School, Raceland; Katherine Bonvillain, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kent Bonvillain,

of the Year

Vandebilt Catholic High School, Houma; Sinclair Callais, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Callais, Central Catholic High School, Morgan City; Lauren Daigle, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Damon Daigle, Houma Christian School, Houma; Kyle Davis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chad Davis, Holy Savior Catholic School, Lockport; Ivy Robichaux, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Robichaux, Holy Rosary Catholic School, Larose; 12th graders: Rebekah Bourgeois, daughter of Robyn Varner and John Bourgeois, Houma Christian School, Houma; Lindsee Case, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ree Case, Central Catholic High School, Morgan City; Shelby Ellis, daughter of Scarlet Angelette-Ellis and Dr. James Ellis, E.D. White Catholic High School, Thibodaux. A selection committee reviewed each of the candidate’s portfolios and spent two days interviewing each of them individually, before 31 choosing the district winners. Winners on the district level were chosen on the basis of their portfolio, grade point average, leadership, service/citizenship, involvement in extracurricular activities, writing ability and the manner in which they presented themselves during the interview. Assisting with judging at the district level were Jill Naquin; retired teacher from Terrebonne Parish schools; Marga Toloudis, retired teacher from Lafourche Parish schools; and Troxclair. The diocesan Office of Catholic Schools sponsors an annual breakfast to honor these outstanding students at the Lumen Christi Retreat Center in Schriever. Bishop Shelton J. Fabre, students and their parents, school principals, pastors and selection committee members attend the breakfast.

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Young Voices During this Lenten season, I have decided to strengthen my relationship with Christ through several little changes. First, I will go to daily Mass more often in the morning at school and pray the Way of the Cross. Second, I have decided to give up Netflix, which is basically the only TV that I watch. With this extra free time, I am going to study more and spend more time with my family. Finally, I will be traveling to Haiti on a mission trip for Easter break with other high school students to help bring the joy of Christ to others. Joseph Schonacher, 19 years old St. Genevieve Church parish E.D. White Catholic High School

What are you doing to strengthen your relationship with Christ during this Lenten season?

32 I have always thought of Lent as a good time to strengthen one’s relationship with God and I plan to do a couple of things. One thing I plan to do is attend adoration every Tuesday for a while to pray. Another thing I plan to do is go to Mass on Wednesdays in the morning before school starts. Finally, I plan to continue to attend the rosary at school every Thursday morning. Blake Byrne, 16 years old Holy Cross Church parish Central Catholic High School

By putting earthly pleasures behind me and things of heaven in front of me this Lent, I will give God 20 minutes of prayer every day to maintain a strong bond with him as his child, and I will help out at the Louis Infant Crisis Center by putting time aside for children in need. Jade Cisneros, 17 years old Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales parish Vandebilt Catholic High School

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

This Lenten season I decided to set aside 20 minutes every day just intentionally for prayer. Although I have a daily prayer life, during the semester my days are pretty busy. By setting aside 20 intentional minutes for prayer daily, I hope to strengthen my relationship with God even in the hectic college environment. Megan Trosclair, 19 years old St. Thomas Aquinas Church parish Nicholls State University

e n Tu To... In

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MONDAY Proclaim the Good News/The Rosary Focus Spotlight

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St . Lawrence t he Mart yr

Bayou Patrons

‘Keeper of the treasures of the Church’ Story by Janet Marcel Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

St. Lawrence, Kraemer Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

Continuing our Bayou Patrons series, this month’s featured saint is Lawrence the Martyr, one of seven deacons martyred during the persecution of Valerian in 258. As a deacon in Rome, Lawrence was charged by St. Pope Sixtus with the responsibility for the material goods of the church and the distribution of alms to the poor. After St. Pope Sixtus and his six deacons were beheaded by decree of Emperor Valerian, Lawrence became the highest ranking church official in Rome. The prefect of Rome, a greedy pagan who thought the church had a great fortune hidden away, ordered Lawrence to bring the church’s treasure to him. Lawrence sought out the poor, widows and orphans of Rome and gave them all the money he had on hand, selling even the sacred vessels to have more to give away. Then he gathered a great number of blind, lame, maimed, leprous, orphaned and widowed persons and put them in rows. When the prefect arrived, Lawrence simply said, “These are the treasures of the church.” In great anger, the prefect condemned Lawrence to a slow, cruel death. He was tied on top of an iron grill over a slow fire that roasted his flesh little by little, but legend has it that Lawrence was burning with so much love of God that he almost did not feel the flames. God gave him so much strength and joy that he even told the judge, “Turn me over. I’m done on this side!” And just before he died, he prayed that the city of Rome might be converted to Jesus and that the Catholic faith might spread all over the world. Father Josekutty Varghese, pastor of St. Lawrence Church parish in Chacahoula since July 2008, says he didn’t know much about St. Lawrence before he became pastor of the parish. “I knew that he was a deacon and he was martyred. But after becoming pastor here I did some research and got some more information about his life. I pray for his intercession every day for this parish. I have a special devotion to St. Lawrence,” says Father Varghese. Father Philip Kuruvilla, pastor of St. Lawrence the Martyr Church parish in Kraemer since July 2008, says he is very much attracted to St. Lawrence for his courage to die for Christ and for showing his tremendous love for the poor. “As I have a missionary background and have worked among people of other faiths who were hostile, I also faced oppositions and hardships in my ministry. And, I have worked among the poor and have a great concern for them,” says Father Kuruvilla. “So, St. Lawrence became a model for me to look up to for inspiration and courage to sacrifice things for Christ. I also believe his special prayers help me to serve this parish and overcome whatever difficulties I face here. I have experienced that his saintly role really helps the parish.”

St. Lawrence, Kraemer

St. Lawrence, Chacahoula

Father Kuruvilla says that according to the history of the parish, the home of Lawrence Kraemer was purchased by the church in the late 1800s to be used as the first chapel in the community. Perhaps that had something to do with how the parish came to be named after St. Lawrence, but today, no one really knows for sure. St. Lawrence the Martyr Church parish was established in 1962 and the church was dedicated that year, which was the 1704th anniversary of St. Lawrence the Martyr’s death. Lawrence’s care for the poor, the ill and the neglected has led to his patronage of them. His position as “keeper of the treasures of the church” led to his patronage of bankers. His work to save church documents brought librarians to see him as a patron. And the manner of his death and his incredible strength and courage when being grilled to death led to his patronage of fire and cooks. St. Lawrence is also considered to be a patron saint of deacons, archives, archivists, armories, armorers, brewers, butchers, comedians, comics, confectioners, cutlers, glaziers, laundry workers, lumbago, restauranteurs, schoolchildren, seminarians, stained glass workers, students, tanners, vine growers, vintners, wine makers, Sri Lanka and Rome.

St. Lawrence, Chacahoula www.bayoucatholic.com

Entertainment

Seeing Clairely Claire Joller

Your name is you

In the ancient world, a name represented the very essence of the person named. I remember a long-ago history teacher referring to this when he explained that a messenger would appear before some esteemed personage with the words “I come in the name of” whomever he represented. Even if the messenger delivered antagonistic news, he was often accorded respect due to the important person whose name he invoked. Such is the significance of each of our names. Our monikers are not just labels denoting an object such as that given pieces of furniture, etc. Simply put, my name IS me; your name IS you. And therein lies a (minor) conflict in my life, as well as in the lives of many people I know and have read about. The name given me at birth is Virginia Claire Domangue. But nobody ever called me Virginia. I have always been Claire. In elementary and high school it was easy enough to request being known as my middle name. In college, where “official” meant much more, I became V. Claire Domangue, with which I was comfortable. A nod to the official, but retaining the familiar. But in the wider world, I have discovered the rigidity of name identity, and rightfully so. It’s

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

reasonable, but also annoying at times. I sit in a doctor’s office and someone calls for Virginia. It takes a couple of seconds for me to react, because who is Virginia? Not me. But oops, it’s the official me, so I finally respond. Once in the medical inner sanctum, when I am inevitably called “Ms. Virginia” by polite, much-younger-than-I doctors, I usually ask to be known as Claire. It may stick for the duration of the visit, but the next time I’m back to being the stranger Ms. Virginia who continues to stalk me. The Department of Motor Vehicles requires my birth name on my driver’s license. But my credit card has who I really am on its surface. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had to explain—and prove—that discrepancy to vigilant store clerks doing their jobs. Why don’t I just use my official name on my credit card? Because I have to retain some of my real nature—essence, if you will—on something official. I must say at this point that I love the combination, and the sequence, of the names my parents gave me. Virginia Claire, I think, is a nice

name. So it’s not the pairing that I’m talking about. This is also true for three of my friends. Martha Dianne W., Catherine Elizabeth W., and Caroline Norton S. (known as Sally) all use variations of their birth certificate names. A number of years ago another of our friends was making trip arrangements for some of us, and gave the travel agent the names she knew for three of us—Dianne, Libby and Claire. When passports became involved, the agent asked Dona, “What is it with your friends that they don’t use their real names?” I know the answer to that would truthfully be, “Because that’s not who they really are.” But she wouldn’t have understood, or cared. Think of your name and how it defines you as a person. And how you kind of flinch when someone messes up its spelling or its pronunciation. It’s as though they have somehow injured you, isn’t it? Our names are important. I declare this in the name of V. Claire Domangue Joller. (You can add a Bernadette in there too, if you want to count my confirmation name.)

Book Reviews

Reading with Raymond Raymond Saadi

Browsings By Michael Dirda Pegasus Books $24.95

Seven Last Words: An Invitation to a Deeper Friendship with Jesus

I’ve only recently discovered Michael Dirda and have found his “browsings” totally diverse and entertaining, even laugh-out-loud at times. Here he has collected 50 of the weekly essays he wrote for the American Scholar, and though he is the book reviewer for the Washington Post, these are not reviews of new and current books but rather, his take on favorite authors and their classic works. He is, clearly, quite erudite in his wide range of books, fiction and nonfiction alike and might well tempt readers to skip a current bestseller for one of his chosen favorites.

Shakespeare Stories By Leon Garfield The New York Review Children’s Collection $24.95 Although published by the NYRB’s Children’s collection, kids might have a hard time getting this book away from their parents. The Bard’s plays, 21 of them, are transformed into simple stories while maintaining all his wit and 37 wisdom. The familiar quotes we still use in modern language are intact and Michael Foreman’s amusing illustrations are delightful as well. Even well versed Bard aficionados may find nuances cleverly hidden in the plays.

By James Martin, S.J. Harper One $18 Father Martin offers this portrait of Jesus using his last words from the cross. Based on Martin’s talks at St. Patrick Cathedral in New York, each of the seven sayings of Jesus: “My God my God, why have you forsaken me?” for instance, is accompanied by Father Martin’s own meditative thoughts. Each saying reveals Jesus’ love for men, even his killers, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do,” and as well as his own humanity: “I thirst.” These timely meditations offer immeasurable insights to the events of Good Friday.

Blessed by Less By Susan V. Vogt Loyola Press $13.95 The author’s unique plan for decluttering her house was to give away one thing every day of Lent. Surprisingly, she became addicted to the practice and continued beyond the Lenten season for a full year and found that she felt freer and more fulfilled than ever before. Further, she found a spiritual place to unclutter her mind and deepen her faith. Springcleaning made easy.

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Church Alive

Photos by Michelle Ohmer 38

Pilgrims from the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux pose before the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

The March that wasn’t ... the pilgrimage that was Guest Columnist

Brice Higginbotham

At 5 a.m. on Jan.18, weary pilgrims began to arrive at the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s Pastoral Center. We would soon participate in the celebration of Mass, say goodbye to our families and depart on a 20hour bus ride to Washington,

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

D.C. Our destination: the annual March for Life, protesting the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade which legalized abortion in this country. Our leader: Bishop Shelton J. Fabre. But our experience wasn’t just about the protest. In fact, it wasn’t primarily about the protest. Our experience was mostly about prayer. You see, we had this chant (borrowed, I think, from the Diocese of Baton Rouge): V. “What do we want?” R. “A culture of life.” V. “How are we gonna get it?” R. “Prayer and Sacrifice.” Prayer and sacrifice does change the world. But prayer and sacrifice first changes the pray-er; it first changes the one sacrificing. As our

Houma-Thibodaux pilgrims know well, “A culture of life starts with me.” “Pro-life starts with me.” We were having a great trip! It was a ton of fun and very prayerful! Then, a storm came … literally. Winter storm Jonas was coming at the exact time of the March for Life. We could march in the snow, even in the blizzard, but could we drive straight through the belly of the whale to get home? Our bus driver said “no.” He said that some of the roads we needed would probably even be closed. Concerned with the safety of our teenagers and understanding the worry of their parents, Bishop Fabre decided that we would head back to Louisiana on Thursday night, thus missing the March

for Life. But, we would still get to attend the Geaux Forth rally with the rest of the Louisiana pilgrims and the Life is VERY Good evening of prayer. We would leave at about 10 p.m. on Thursday, right after Life is VERY good. Unbeknownst to the pilgrimage leaders (myself included), one of our teenagers, a very mature and holy young lady, was to speak at the Geaux Forth rally. It was with heavy hearts that we broke the news to our fellow pilgrims: We were going to miss the March for Life. But there was one consolation: Before leaving Washington, D.C., we were going to march the route of the March for Life, praying the rosary at four stops along the way and finishing our prayer with the fifth decade at the steps of the Supreme Court. As I processed my own disappointment, I became convinced that God would provide.

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre and the pilgrims participating in the March for Life are signing a sheet making a commitment to be God’s hands for mercy in today’s world.

I became convinced of the truth that God had known about winter storm Jonas from all eternity and that he was giving us the exact pilgrimage we needed. My faith in God’s provident care for me and for those young

people entrusted to my leadership was truly strengthened. That night (Wednesday) we had a powerful evening of prayer back at the camp. The weather was cutting our trip short, but God is bigger than the weather and he was not going to let a snow storm lessen his impact on our lives. We were going to go home a little bit holier than when we left and set out to be “apostles” of his mercy. At the end of our prayer, we looked out the window to see snow blanketing the ground, something most of us had been hoping for. After some play in the snow, we went to bed, and upon rising Thursday morning, ate breakfast, loaded the busses and headed across town to Geaux Forth. As traffic stacked up, it looked like we might be late. At the same time, the weather reports were getting more ominous. Bishop Fabre

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Church Alive

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre was the main celebrant of the Louisiana Mass which was concelebrated by priests from Louisiana during the pilgrimage to the March for Life in Washington, D.C. The Mass was celebrated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Pilgrimage

decided that we should leave as soon as possible. Calling the organizers of Geaux Forth to cancel our participation, we rerouted to the Washington Monument where (after a brief snowball fight), our own march for life began. This was one of the most beautiful parts of our pilgrimage as we made a two and a half mile walk for life, providing with our prayer spiritual cover for the next day’s protesters. V. “What do we want?” R. “A culture of life.” V. “How are we gonna get it?” R. “Prayer and Sacrifice.” We boarded the bus for home, missing Geaux Forth, missing the March, missing our return-trip stop at the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament. Our hearts were heavy, yes, but they were heavy because they were full. Yes there was some sadness, but we had learned on our pilgrimage what to do with sadness. If we allow sadness to fester in our hearts, it turns into anger or despair. But if we unite our sadness to Jesus’

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

sadness on the cross, it turns into an opportunity for grace. With that sadness (sometimes called holy grief) we were able to experience deep joy. We were sad about our own missed opportunities; we were sad about the evil of abortion; and we were sad that we would get to spend less time on pilgrimage together. But we had become just a little holier than we were when our pilgrimage began. It was a success. On the way home, we continued to pray, we continued to share what moved us during our trip, and we continued to have fun. We had learned that one of our own was scheduled to speak at Geaux Forth and she blessed us by sharing her speech on the bus. Shortly before getting our last night of sleep in the bus, I was chatting with this young lady and her best friend. I asked them, “So, how was it?” They said (if I remember correctly), “I’ve been on three March for Life pilgrimages, but this was the best one.” One said something like, “You know, we didn’t get to march

(but we kinda did), and I didn’t give my speech. I can’t really explain it but, yeah, this was the best March for Life yet.” Above the front door to Notre Dame Seminary is Archbishop Shaw’s crest with the words “Deus providebit,” words which, over the years, have become something of a motto for NDS. What do they mean? “God will provide!” Many things stay with me from our recent pilgrimage. I hold many new friends close to my heart and pray for them fervently. One of those things which remains with me is the witness of those two young ladies who, for no natural reason, had their best March for Life pilgrimage in the year that we didn’t even get to participate in the March. God was in charge of our pilgrimage. And, even though it was nowhere near our plan, God knew about winter storm Jonas and God provided the grace for the best pilgrimage yet. So, as we all return to our everyday lives, I hope that we can all remember that “God’s always got this.” and truly God – will – provide! (Brice Higginbotham is a third year seminarian studying at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.)

An Unborn Child’s Prayer

This is a poem of an unborn child in the womb of its mother who is thinking of having an abortion. I hope everyone who reads this poem will be filled with God’s love. Our Blessed Mother has placed on my heart these words to pass this poem on to others so that it may help women to stop aborting God’s children.

An Unborn Child’s Prayer I know you are hurting so deep within But you are deciding on a fate for me, never knowing what could have been My only hope is for a chance to live and love For I was fashioned by God from heaven above God’s only wish is to amaze you with his grace And bless you with this gift of life that nothing can replace Our love will grow stronger as I am in your womb And God will bless you for not ending my life too soon I live, though some say I’m not alive And God’s grace can strengthen you to let me survive So I may become the person God has created me to be And to share the love He’s given to you and me There are so many children that God has made Who will never see the light of the world They will never have a chance to show love for their mothers Because abortion takes the lives of my unborn sisters and brothers So please, mother, let me have a chance to live I promise to give you all that I can give Just ask God for guidance from heaven above I am sure he will show you His gift of endless love. FRANCES J. BOUDLOCHE JR, “BEATLE”

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Church Life

Bishop Shelton Fabre greets 40 catechumens, 42 candidates

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre prays as the catechumens and their Godparents stand at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux during the Rite of Election on the first Sunday of Lent.

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre greeted 40 catechumens and 42 candidates of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux at the Rite of Election ceremony on the first Sunday of Lent at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux. At the Rite of Election of Catechumens and the Rite of the Call to Continuing Conversion of Candidates, the catechumens and candidates gather with others from throughout the diocese and have

a sense of being part of the larger church community. The catechumens, those who have not been baptized, are called forth by name. Their godparents are questioned with regard to their readiness. The catechumens are then invited to sign their name in the Book of the Elect. Next they are greeted by the celebrant and officially declared to be members of the “elect” or chosen by God to be

initiated at the Easter Vigil. n Catechumens from the church parishes of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux are: Leslie St. Pierre, Tina Howeth, Siera Cortez, Our Lady of the Rosary, Larose; Matthew Guidry, Britanny Stickney, Sacred Heart, Cut Off; Angelique Burns, St. Joseph Galliano; Kaylie Ranches, Austin Authement, St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland;

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Dillon Dinger, Ashley Plaisance, St. Lawrence, Kraemer; Matthew Carmichael, Christ the Redeemer, Thibodaux; Riva Justilian, Holy Cross, Morgan City; Leigh Oncale, Jennifer Scioneaux, Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Chackbay; Alexis Hartman, Ciara Landry, Jeramiah Rink, Maci Rink, Sacred Heart, Morgan City; Breana Dupre, Cassidy Dupre, St. John the Evangelist, Thibodaux; Michael Dardar Jr., Sadie Quick, St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux; Mary Ellis, Elias Gogg, Annunziata, Houma; Steven Fox, St. Ann, Bourg; Melissa Picou, St. Anthony of Padua, Bayou Black; Danielle Ellender, Sammi Olsen, Rylee Theriot, St. Bernadette, Houma; Drew Cunningham, Nicole Smith, Dallas Tabor, Curtis Williamson, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma; Cleveland Bingham, Margaret Guercio, Heather LeJeune, St. Lucy, Houma; Chelsey Gautreaux, Tiffany Gautreaux, John Young, Holy Family, Grand Caillou; Jaylen Hunter, John Larrabee, Maria Immacolata, Houma.

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n Candidates from the church parishes of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux are: Natricia Fillinich, Heloise Lazard, Nikita Gonzales, Our Lady of the Rosary, Larose; Emily Hebert, St. Hilary of Poitiers, Mathews; Megan Boudreaux, Ashly Delatte, Whitney Breaux, St. Lawrence, Kraemer; Lauren Clement, Hollie Foret, Shirley Huggins, Randy Lopez, Christ the Redeemer, Thibodaux; Luke Cunningham, Connie Martin, Patrick Arabie, Holy Cross, Morgan City; Michael Gee, Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Chackbay; Cody Broussard, Sue Ellen Broussard, Kindra Halverson, Brian Hartman, Leo Melancon Jr., Lisa Rink, Sacred Heart, Morgan City; Amber Dugas, Dustin Sevin, St. Charles Borromeo, St. Charles Community; Charles Pearce, St. Genevieve, Thibodaux; Tyler Glaze, St. John the Evangelist, Thibodaux; Bennie Bourgeois, Darby Isham, St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux; Michelle Boudloche, St. Lawrence, Chacahoula; Catina Gaskins, St. Luke, Thibodaux; David Babin,

Omar Corona, Rafael Rodriguez, Annunziata, Houma; Terence Arthur, St. Ann, Bourg; Michael Coston, St. Anthony of Padua, Bayou Black; Jadah McClelland, Seth McClelland, Pedro Santos, Alex Thibodeaux, St. Bernadette, Houma; Amanda Cenac, June Ellen Lopez, Justin Lopez, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma; Rebecca Marchand, St. Lucy, Houma; and Heather Thompson, Maria Immacolata, Houma. Those who participated in the ceremony were Very Rev. Joshua Rodrigue, master of ceremonies; Deacon Stephen Brunet and Deacon Linwood Liner, assisting master of ceremonies; Deacon Ambrose Ayzinne and Deacon Joseph Bourgeois Sr., bishopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deacons; Deacon Dennis Dupre, deacon of the Gospel; Raymond Solito, cross bearer; H.J. Roger, book bearer; Jerry Monier, thurifer; Ken Bourgeois and Irwin Joubert, candle bearers; Melvin Morvant, miter bearer; Peyton Chiasson, crozier bearer; Deacon Lee Crochet, book of the elect; Lillie Brunet, commentator;

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Church Life

In the photo at upper left, Bishop Shelton J. Fabre greets candidate Amanda Cenac of the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma during the Rite of Election ceremony at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux. In the photo above right, catechumen Britanny Stickney of Sacred Heart Church in Cut Off signs the Book of the Elect as Deacon Lee Crochet, diocesan director for the Office of RCIA, looks on.

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Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

Diocesan 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

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre greets catechumen Angelique Burns of St. Joseph Church parish in Galliano during the Rite of Election.

Catechumens, Candidates Dr. Judy Theriot and Nancy Benoit, readers; Amy Adams, psalmist; Linda Ayzinne, Dru Bailey, Jody Bourgeois, Margaret Labit, Margaret Orgeron, reception/hospitality ministers; Rev. Glenn LeCompte, Rev. Joseph Pilola, Amy Adams, Zachary Barker, Kim Champagne, Ellen Heidenreich, Katherine LeBlanc, music ministry/intercessions; and deacons’ wives, diocesan staff, hospitality ministers; Deacon Randall Jennings, Upper Lafourche Deanery; Deacon Davis Doucet, South Lafourche Deanery; Bill Norman, Terrebonne Deanery; calling of the names.

Con el fin de cumplir con las Políticas de Protección de Niños y Jóvenes de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Los Estados Unidos, la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux ofrece una Línea de Comunicación (antes Línea de Contacto para la Protección de los Niños). La Línea de Comunicación es parte del esfuerzo diocesano de comprometerse con el mejoramiento de aquéllos que han sido lastimados o abusados sexualmente recientemente o en el pasado por miembros del clero, religiosos u otros empleados de la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux. El horario de la Línea de Comunicación de la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux es de 8:30 a.m. a 4:30 p.m., de lunes a viernes. El encargado de esta línea es un profesional capacitado en salud mental. Se ofrece asistencia adicional al ser solicitada.

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

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

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

www.bayoucatholic.com

Bayou Spirit

St. Joseph Altars 46

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

In many parishes of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux St. Joseph Altars will be on display for viewing by the general public Saturday, March 19. Following is a list of the St. Joseph Altars available for viewing throughout the diocese. Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma The St. Joseph Altar is being erected in thanksgiving for our bishop, priests, deacons, religious, seminarians, past and present; by the parishioners of the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales who have formed the Society of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary. Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Shelton Fabre Friday, March 18, at 8:30 a.m. The altar will be blessed after the Mass and will remain open until 6 p.m. The Tupa-Tupa will follow the blessing. The altar will be available for viewing Saturday, March 19, from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

Ready for viewing March 19 St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux A St. Joseph Altar will be on display in the church Saturday, March 19. Blessing of the altar will take place following the 6:30 a.m. Mass, and will be available for viewing from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. All visitors to the altar are invited to bring a canned good which will be donated to the Good Samaritan Food Bank. The altar will remain in church throughout the weekend. St. Lawrence, Kraemer A St. Joseph Altar will be available for viewing at St. Lawrence Church

in Kraemer’s Life Center Saturday, March 19 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Sunday, March 20 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Cannata’s Supermarket, West Houma A St. Joseph Altar will be displayed in the foyer of Cannata’s Supermarket, 6307 West Park Ave. in Houma, from Monday, March 14 through Monday, March 21. St. Mary’s Nativity School, Raceland A St. Joseph Altar will be on display at St. Mary’s Community Center Saturday, March 19, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. St. Hilary, Mathews St. Hilary will have its St. Joseph Altar for viewing Saturday, March 19, beginning at 8 a.m. in the multipurpose building. The altar will remain open throughout the day. Mass will be at 4 p.m. followed by a community meal.

Cannata’s Supermarket, Morgan City A St. Joseph Altar will be displayed in the foyer of Cannata’s Supermarket, 610 Hwy. 90 East in Morgan City, from Monday, March 14 through Monday, March 21. Holy Cross, Morgan City A St. Joseph Altar will be available for public viewing Saturday, March 19 in the Life Center beginning after the 10 a.m. Mass. A meal will be served. On Friday, March 18, Holy Cross Elementary and Central Catholic High School students will view the altar. Sacred Heart, Morgan City A St. Joseph Altar will be available for viewing Saturday, March 19 in the church. Blessing of the altar will take place after the 8:30 a.m. Mass. Viewing will be available Saturday until 4:30 p.m., and from 8 a.m. until the 6 p.m. Mass on Sunday, March 20. St. Bridget, Schriever A St. Joseph Altar will be blessed at 7 a.m. Saturday, March 19 with viewing until 6 p.m. A meal will be served. St. Eloi, Theriot A St. Joseph Altar will be available for viewing March 19 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.; March 20 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. A meal

of seafood gumbo and potato salad will be served March 20 beginning at 11 a.m. Our Lady of the Isle, Grand Isle A St. Joseph Altar will be available for viewing at Our Lady of the Isle Church in Grand Isle March 19-20. Blessing of the altar will take place after the 5 p.m. vigil Mass. The altar will also be available for viewing after the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Masses on Sunday and will close at Noon. Cannata’s Supermarket, East Houma A St. Joseph Altar will be on display in the foyer of Cannata’s Supermarket, 1977 Prospect Blvd., Houma, from Monday, March 14 through Monday, March 21. Holy Savior, Lockport A St. Joseph Altar will be available for viewing Saturday, March 19, at 306 School St. in Lockport on the youth side of the new church offices. The altar will be blessed at 8 a.m. with closing at 3:30 p.m. Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Chackbay The blessing of the St. Joseph Altar will be held immediately following the 7 a.m. Mass Saturday, March 19, in the Chackbay Catholic Center. Public viewing of the altar will be held following the blessing until 2 p.m. Seafood gumbo will be served for lunch. Sacred Heart, Cut Off The viewing of the St. Joseph Altar will be held Saturday, March 19. The altar will be blessed after the 8:30 a.m. Mass in the Spiritual Life Center. Lunch will be served beginning at 11 a.m. The closing of the altar will take place at 4 p.m. St. Joseph, Chauvin A St. Joseph Altar will be available for viewing after the 9 a.m. Mass, Saturday, March 19. A procession to the Parish Center will follow the Mass with the blessing of the altar. Lunch will be served at 11 a.m. and the altar will close at 3 p.m. St. Joseph, Galliano A St. Joseph Altar will be on display Saturday, March 19, in the recreation center behind St. Joseph Church, 17980 West Main

Street in Galliano. The altar will be blessed and open for public viewing at 10 a.m. and will close at 2 p.m. A public meal will begin at 11 a.m. Our Lady of the Rosary, Larose The annual St. Joseph Altar will be held Saturday, March 19, in the cafeteria of Holy Rosary School. 47 Mass will be celebrated at 8:30 a.m., in the cafeteria. Blessing of the altar will follow Mass. Shrimp spaghetti will be served beginning at 11 a.m., with breaking of the altar at 5 p.m. St. Genevieve, Thibodaux A St. Joseph Altar will be on display Saturday, March 19, with Mass and blessing of the altar at 10 a.m. Breaking of the altar will be after the 4 p.m. Mass. Maria Immacolata, Houma A St. Joseph Altar will be on display for viewing Friday, March 18 from 11:30 a.m. until 7 p.m., and Saturday, March 19 from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the Maria Immacolata Community Center. Blessing of the altar will take place Friday, March 18 at 11 a.m. A traditional meal will be served. Clement Home, Thibodaux The Battaglia family will host a St. Joseph Altar Saturday, March 19, at the home of Randy and Margo Battaglia Clement, 812 Jackson Street in Thibodaux, from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. The public is invited to join in honoring St. Joseph on this special day. www.bayoucatholic.com

Special Events

Food for the Journey is April 5

Very Rev. Carl Collins, V.F.

The diocesan Office of Religious Education sponsors a monthly lunchtime speaker series on the first Tuesday of the month. The event is now being held at the Ellendale Country Club Restaurant located at 3319 Highway 311 in Schriever. The speaker for April 5 is Very Rev. Carl Collins, V.F. Father Collins, pastor of St. Bernadette Church parish in Houma since June 2012, is a native of Cut Off. He attended Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans and was ordained to the priesthood June 8, 1991. He was appointed Dean of the Terrebonne Deanery Sept. 20, 2007, and is currently a member of the College of Consulters and chairman of the Priests’ Council. Father Collins has served as associate pastor of the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma and

Lenten Mission March 14, at Holy Savior Very Rev. Joshua Rodrigue, S.T.L., will be presenting a Lenten mission entitled “The Lord’s Mercy and Compassion” at Holy Savior Church, 612 Main Street, in Lockport on Monday, March 14 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Father Rodrigue currently serves as pastor of the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma, diocesan Very Rev. Joshua assistant director of Rodrigue Vocations, and director of Seminarians, adjunct professor of Theology and spiritual director for St. Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict. During the Lenten season in this “Holy Year of Mercy,” take time to prepare your heart to receive the Lord’s mercy and compassion. The sacrament of reconciliation will be celebrated after the presentation while the Blessed Sacrament is exposed. Everyone is invited to attend.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

Our Lady of the Rosary Church parish in Larose, and as pastor of St. Eloi Church parish in Theriot; Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church parish in Golden Meadow; and Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Church parish in Houma. Those who plan to attend the April 5 event should RSVP with their name, phone number and church parish by Thursday, March 31. To RSVP, email FoodForTheJourney@ htdiocese.org or call (985) 8503178. Doors open at 10:45 a.m. Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. The program begins at Noon with the speaker’s presentation from 12:10-12:45 p.m. Cost is $15 and includes meal, drink and tip. Only cash or checks will be accepted. All are invited to come “eat and be fed.”

‘A Mission of Mercy’ March 14-16, at Sacred Heart, Cut Off A Lenten parish mission for the Year of Mercy entitled “A Mission of Mercy,” will be presented by Father Glenn LeCompte, diocesan director of the Office of Worship, at Sacred Heart Church in Cut Off, March 14-16, at 7 p.m. each evening. Mercy, like a manyfaceted diamond, can be experienced and expressed in many ways. During this Rev. Glenn retreat our need for divine LeCompte mercy and how we can be transformed by sharing it with others will be considered. n Monday, March 14: Our Need for Divine Mercy, The Joy it Gives Us, Our Call to Share it with Others; n Tuesday, March 15: Mercy and Forgiveness; n Wednesday, March 16: Mercy, Compassion, Transforming Ourselves, Transforming the World! For more information, contact Sacred Heart Church parish at (985)632-3858.

GOOD FRIDAY

A Pontifical Collection

SUPPORT CHRISTIANS IN THE HOLY LAND Like Simon of Cyrene, you can help us carry the cross in the Holy Land. Through the Good Friday Collection, join with Catholics around the world to stand in solidarity with the Church in the Holy Land.

The collection will be held March 25, 2016

Franciscan Monastery oF the holy land 1400 Quincy Street NE, Washington, DC 20017 ~ MyFranciscan.org ~ 202-526-6800

For more information about the Good Friday Collection or the work of the Holy Land Franciscans, visit: MyFranciscan.org/good-friday. www.bayoucatholic.com

DIOCESAN

MARCH

n Adult Faith Formation: Session 13 – The Commandments 1-3, Thursday, March 17, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Deacon Vic Bonnaffee. n Youth Rally, Saturday, March 19, St. Bernadette Church, beginning at Noon. Onsite registration is accepted. n Chrism Mass, Thursday, March 24, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma, 11 a.m.

april

n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, April 5, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311, Schriever, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Speaker, Very Rev. Carl Collins, V.F. n Adore, Wednesday, April 6, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 7 p.m.

n Annual Fishermen’s Mass, Saturday, April 16, Holy Family, Grand Caillou, 4:30 p.m. An evening of music and a social at the gymnasium will follow after the Mass. n Adult Faith Formation: Session 14 – The Commandments 4-10, Thursday, April 7, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Deacon Vic Bonnaffee. n Adult Faith Formation: Trinity, Wednesdays, April 13, 20 and 27, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Rev. Jules Brunet. n Boat blessing and parade, Sunday, April 17, Bayou Grand Caillou, 2 p.m. n Adult Faith Formation: Distribution of certificates and prayer service, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, Thursday, April 21, 6 p.m. n Diocesan Leadership Awards, Wednesday, April 27, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, 7 p.m.

EVENTS may

n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, May 3, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311, Schriever. Speaker, Rev. Alex Gaudet. n Adult Faith Formation: Trinity, Wednesdays, May 11, 18 and 25, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Rev. Jules Brunet. n Transitional Diaconate Ordination, Saturday, May 21, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, 10 a.m. n Priesthood Ordination, Friday, May 27, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, 10 a.m.

Ross Valure

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

Many are Called

Few Are Chosen

This Easter Season Please Remember A Special Diocesan Collection For Education To Ministry. The collection will be held the weekend of March 26 and 27. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

www.bayoucatholic.com

Announcement

Bishop Michael Jarrell retires Pope Francis names Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel as new bishop of Lafayette WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope Francis has accepted the resignation Bishop C. Michael Jarrell of Lafayette, Louisiana, and named Auxiliary Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel of Dallas as his successor. Bishop Jarrell is 75, the age at which canon law requires bishops to turn in their resignation to the pope. Bishop Deshotel, 64, has been a Dallas auxiliary since 2010. The changes were announced in Washington Feb. 17 by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the United States. Both bishops are natives of the Lafayette Diocese; Bishop Jarrell was born in Opelousas; Bishop Deshotel was born in Basile. Dallas Bishop Kevin J. Farrell said the pope “has made an excellent decision” in naming the Dallas 52 auxiliary “to lead the Catholic faithful in Lafayette.” “Bishop Deshotel’s knowledge of the diocese and the wonderful Cajun culture there will be a tremendous asset as he returns as the chief shepherd,” he said in a statement. “Bishop Deshotel is extremely well thought of by parishioners and his brother priests alike. His pastoral manner and deep devotion to our church will certainly be missed by all in our diocese. “I wish him many blessings in this new chapter of his ministry and I am certain he will be a tremendous blessing to the people of the Diocese of Lafayette.” Bishop Deshotel said he was surprised by the news but grateful to Pope Francis, adding that while he looks forward to serving his home diocese, he will miss Dallas. “I entered the seminary here in Dallas in 1972. This has been my home for 43 years. I have loved Dallas and the Church of Dallas and the many dear friends I have made here,” he said in a statement. “But, when I was ordained, I promised my life to God in service to his church,” he added. “The Holy Father has told me he needs me to lead Lafayette and I accept this call as a new opportunity to show my love and fidelity to Christ.” Born Jan. 6, 1952, John Douglas Deshotel attended the Catholic-run University of Dallas, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree. In 1972 he entered Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving, Texas, completing his seminary studies in 1978. That same year he obtained his master’s in divinity degree at the University of Dallas. He was ordained to the priesthood May 13, 1978. After ordination, he had a number of assignments as parochial vicar at parishes in Dallas and Longview. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

Deshotel

Jarrell

He also was a popular pastor at parishes in Greenville, Ennis, Irving and Dallas. From 2001 through 2006, he was the vice rector of Holy Trinity Seminary. In 2008, he was appointed vicar general and diocesan moderator of the curia. He also was the ecumenical officer for the Dallas Diocese. Born May 15, 1940, Charles Michael Jarrell was ordained a priest of the Lafayette Diocese June 3, 1967. St. John Paul II named him bishop of HoumaThibodaux, Louisiana, Dec. 29, 1992. His episcopal ordination was March 4, 1993. He has been bishop of Lafayette since 2002. The Diocese of Lafayette was established in Louisiana in 1918 and is located in southwest Louisiana between the Atchafalaya and Sabine rivers. The diocese serves over 291,000 Catholics and is made up of 121 parishes.

From our Archives

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU

New bishop introduced The late Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux at left, founding bishop of the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux, officially announced his retirement and welcomed the Most Rev. Michael Jarrell, newly appointed bishop of the diocese at a press conference held Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1992, at the Chancery in Schriever.

CATHOLIC

Announcements

New principal named for Vandebilt Sister Rosario O’Connell, S.H.Sp.

Sister Rosario dies at 87

Sister Rosario O’Connell, S.H.Sp., died Tuesday, Jan. 26, at the age of 87. She was a native of Limerick, Ireland who moved to South Louisiana in 1972. Sister Rosario founded The Louis Infant’s Crisis Center in 1979 and devoted the rest of her life to providing for abused and neglected children of the area.

The appointment of Jeremy K. Gueldner as principal of Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma for the 2016-2017 school year was announced recently by Marian Fertitta, diocesan superintendent of Catholic Schools. Gueldner has been serving as principal of Mt. Hermon School in Mt. Hermon, LA, for the past year. He is a native of Independence, LA, and graduate of St. Thomas Regional Catholic High School in Hammond, LA. He earned a bachelor’s degree in general studies in 2002, a master of arts degree in education plus 30 hours in 2007 from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond and possesses educational leadership certification

Jeremy K. Gueldner

for the State of Louisiana. Throughout his career Gueldner has been a teacher, athletic director and assistant principal at Franklinton High School in Franklinton, LA. Gueldner is married to Mary Catherine Goodwin and they have two children, Cate, 8 and Macy, 6. “I am happy to welcome Mr. Gueldner as the new principal of Vandebilt Catholic High School and wish him much success as he begins his ministry in Catholic school education for this diocese,” says Fertitta.

Diocese of Baton Rouge •Catholic Schools Office

Principal Opening 2016-17 School Year

Redemptorist/St. Gerard School Baton Rouge, LA

1201 Cardinal Drive ~ Thibodaux SAFETY SECURITY COMPANIONSHIP AND MANY AMENITIES

The Diocese of Baton Rouge has thirty schools in eight civil parishes, with strong Catholic identity the focus in all schools. The district is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and standardized test scores are above state and national averages. Catholic schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge Evangelize Hearts, Educate Minds, Encourage Talent and Embrace the Future

Marketing and Social Director

Redemptorist/St. Gerard School provides Catholic formation to students in Grades PK4 – 8 and strives to enhance spirituality, pursue academic excellence, and create caring community. With a student population of approximately 200, of which 85% are enrolled through the Louisiana State Scholarship Program, the school community focuses on creating an educational atmosphere which encourages and challenges students to develop their fullest potential. Applicants must meet the following criteria: 1. Practicing Catholic Required 2. Minimum of 5 years of Experience in Catholic Schools Preferred 3. Demonstrated Leadership Ability, Preferably in Catholic Education 4. Must meet LA State Dept. of Education Requirements as Non-Public Administrator 5. Must be Available on or before July 1, 2016 Mail resume, copies of all college transcript(s) showing degrees, and three letters of recommendation to Redemptorist/St. Gerard School Principal Search

Retirement Living At Its Best

Catholic Schools Office P.O. Box 2028 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-2028 Deadline for application: March 15, 2016

St. Joseph Manor Currently Accepting Applications

For More Information Or To Schedule A Tour, Contact: Natalie Barbera

(985) 446-9050 Fax: 449-0047 www.stjosephmanor.org Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

The schools of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, admit students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at its schools. They do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.

Diocesan superintendent leaving at end of June Applications now being sought Marian B. Fertitta, who has been serving the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools for the past 10 years, will be leaving her position as superintendent at the end of June 2016. Fertitta was appointed assistant superintendent in July 2006, a position she held until July 2011 when she became superintendent. “I want to thank Marian for her many years of service to the church and to our schools,” says Bishop Shelton J. Fabre. “I am grateful to her for her contributions which she has made with great zeal and dedication. I wish her well.” Fertitta is a graduate of Thibodaux High School in Thibodaux. She earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in elementary education,

plus 30 hours from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux. Fertitta also has additional certification as a school superintendent, parish/ city supervisor of instruction, provisional principal, provisional elementary principal, and supervision of child welfare and attendance. Throughout her career, Fertitta taught 5th grade reading, English, math, science and art at South Thibodaux Elementary School in Thibodaux. She has also been Title I coordinator, supervisor of technology/staff development and supervisor of middle school education for the Lafourche Parish School system. She currently serves as a member of the Lafourche Parish School Board.

Marian B. Fertitta

Fertitta is a parishioner of Christ the Redeemer Church parish in Thibodaux where she is an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist and serves as a member of the ministry to the shut-ins. Applications for the position of Superintendent of Catholic Schools are now being accepted and may be obtained from the diocesan Office of Human Resources. Call (985) 850-3170 for more information.

Diocesan Programs This Month “Spotlight on the Diocese” Host: Louis Aguirre With Guests: Rev. Glenn LeCompte Office of Worship, Director

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Nation

Justice Scalia remembered as both an upstanding Catholic and jurist By MARK PATTISON WASHINGTON (CNS) -Tributes to the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia poured in almost as soon as news emerged of his Feb. 13 death at a Texas ranch while on a hunting trip. Scalia “was routinely described as a conservative, and so he was. He held fast to a lot of traditional values. He loved his church, his wife and nine children, and his country. He favored small government over big, and local over national,” said a Feb. 14 column by Catholic University of America president John Garvey written for Catholic News Service. “But as a judge he was a democrat, not a conservative, and his death diminishes by one strong voice our commitment to constitutional democracy.” 56 “Justice Scalia was arguably the most consequential Catholic in American public life since the death of John F. Kennedy,” said Villanova University law professor Michael Moreland, a former domestic policy adviser to President George W. Bush, in a Feb. 15 statement. “Justice Scalia remarked once during a visit to Villanova that there is no such thing as a ‘Catholic judge’ just as there is no such thing as a Catholic way to cook a hamburger,” Moreland added. “But, in his commitment to textualism, penetrating prose style, and aspects of his jurisprudence, there are marks of his Jesuit education and lifelong Catholic faith. While Justice Scalia thought contentious social and moral questions were best left to the political process and not to the judiciary, he increasingly came to worry about the state of the legal culture in ways that were inevitably informed by his Catholicism.” Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, who represents the Trenton-area district where Scalia was born, said in a Feb. 15 statement that Scalia was “an extraordinary man of deep faith and great intellect -- who Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

CNS photo/Jonathan Ernst, Reuters

In fine photo, Washington Auxiliary Bishop Martin D. Holley, in red vestments, chats with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas following the annual Red Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew in Washington. Also pictured is U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, lower center right

wrote complex legal analysis with a strength and clarity that will leave an enduring mark on American jurisprudence. Smith added, “His commitment to the Constitution, as written and not as interpreted, and to the separation of powers among the three branches of government, led to Justice Scalia’s ongoing concern about actions by the Supreme Court which he deemed ‘legislating from the bench’ and which he vehemently opposed with his persuasive arguments and votes. A truly gifted writer, he offered articulate, consistent and persuasive opinions on the important issues of our time.” “Justice Scalia had a profound understanding of how our government -- and in particular the

Supreme Court -- is supposed to work,” said Priests for Life founder Father Frank Pavone in a Feb. 13 statement. “He did not want the court to create public policy, whether it was policy he agreed with or not. He urged people to use the political and legislative process to bring about change.” A challenge to the federal Health and Human Services contraceptive mandate under the Affordable Care Act -- to which Priests for Life is a party -- is one of several cases scheduled to be heard in March by the now-eight-member high court. Calling Scalia “very witty and funny,” Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore dwelt more on his legal mind. “Whether one agrees or not with his juridical approach, he was a brilliant jurist.”

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Holy Land Church Commission calls Palestinian situation inhuman By JUDITH SUDILOVSKY JERUSALEM (CNS) -- The Commission for Justice and Peace of the Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land called on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to work for a change in the 58 current violent situation, but it chastised Israel as responsible for its creation. “The present situation for the Palestinians is inhuman,” it said in its statement released to the press Feb. 18. “It is settlers who occupy, day by day, Palestinian land. It is the siege of Gaza for years already ... It is also a siege for the rest of Palestine and diverse hardships, political, economical and social.” Calling the situation in the Holy Land “stagnant and lifeless” with no “light of hope” either for the Israelis or Palestinians, it said Israelis need “security and tranquility” while Palestinians are waiting for an end to occupation and for an independent state. But the situation has become one of an intifada, it said. Palestinians who carry out stabbings and other violent acts against Israelis “plunge to their death out of despair caused by a life full of frustration, humiliation and insecurity, with no hope at all,” it added. “Is Israeli society satisfied with this situation? Is it satisfied with this life in the shadow of continuing hostility with the Palestinian people?” it asked. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

CNS photo/Ammar Awad, Reuters

A Palestinian man lifts his arms before he is searched by Israeli border police near Damascus Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City.

Enumerating a list of hardships and humiliations -- including home demolitions, military checkpoints, the “Judaization” of Jerusalem by “sending away” its Palestinian residents, and accusations of terrorism against all Palestinians and the collective punishments that includes -- it called on Israeli leaders to “enlarge your vision and hearts.” “Change the situation. Shake it out of its mobility. There is enough space in the land for all of us,” it said. “Let all have the same dignity and equality. No occupation and no discrimination. Two peoples living together and loving each other according to the way they choose.” Such an inhuman situation cannot be one which either the Israelis or Palestinians would choose, it said. It urged Israelis to see Palestinians not as terrorists but as people who want to live normal lives but find themselves “oppressed, frustrated and deprived of the freedom God has given them.” “We say to the leaders: Act for

the sake of the human being, the Israeli and the Palestinian. Do not leave the situation as it is, because it is a situation that leads to death,” it said. The commission called on the Palestinian leadership to speak out in a voice for “peace and justice for two peoples.” “Redeem the land again and begin a new history. Redeem Jerusalem again, and begin a new history that conforms with its holiness and universality. Stop every self-interested vision and all corruption,” it said. Once again it emphasized the important role education plays and called for the re-education of the younger generation, which has grown up in an atmosphere where Palestinians are viewed as terrorists and Israelis as the enemy. “Let us begin, all of us, a new history,” it said. “Our land is holy, and the place of our daily living together. Let the two peoples live in peace.”

Sports

Overtime Ed Daniels

Cancel LSU

football? There’s a better chance of North Korea invading Plaquemines Parish

I can hear the phone call going from Baton Rouge to the SEC ofﬁce in Birmingham. “Hi Commissioner Sankey? This is Joe Alleva in Baton Rouge. Sorry but, LSU isn’t playing football in 2016. See you next season, maybe.” Something as preposterous as LSU skipping a football season would never happen. There’s a better chance of North Korea invading Plaquemines Parish next Thursday. So, why would Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards raise such a possibility as part of a dire state budget

scenario? That’s a good question. The governor who championed himself as a military man and leader during the fall campaign has violated the basic tenant of leadership. That is, credibility. No one in the state of Louisiana who is lucid would ever believe what John Bel Edwards said on Thursday, February 11. Edwards said massive layoffs at state universities would force cancellation of classes. “Students will not be able to graduate and student athletes across the state at those schools will be ineligible to play next semester,” said Edwards. “That means you can say farewell to college football next fall.” Laughable, is what it is. And, what it is, is the single most ridiculous thing a politician in Louisiana has ever said, ever. As Edwards himself has said many times over, during this so called “budget crisis,” this isn’t a Republican or Democrat issue. Or black or white. Or urban or rural. He’s right. The folks in Lake Providence, LA, might not have a lot in common with the folks in New Orleans, LA. Other than maybe a love for their family and friends, their faith, their state … and LSU football. What Governor Edwards said on the fateful Thursday night is akin to any of the presidential candidates saying in a debate, if we don’t ﬁx our budget issues, we will abolish Social Security. You will never hear anyone in national politics say such a thing, and until February 12, I never thought I would hear a Louisiana Governor threaten the future of LSU football. Huey Long must be rolling over in his grave or laughing with his constituents, wherever he might be. In four years, my guess is LSU football will still be ﬂourishing. The Tigers will still be landing some of the top recruiting classes in the nation. The Golden Band from Tigerland will still march down the hill on a Saturday evening. My wife will still be wanting to go to the game only if it is not raining and she can sit in a suite. But, Governor Edwards, in four years, I don’t mean to scare you, but I am not quite sure what you will be doing.

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Financial Report

Glenn J. Landry Jr. CPA, CDFM

It is with pleasure I join Bishop Shelton J. Fabre and the entire diocesan staff in presenting the financial highlights of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. The mission statement of the Office of Finance and Accounting states, “to be of service to the parishes, schools and agencies of the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux through proper planning, monitoring and safeguarding of the gifts of treasure entrusted to us by the people of the diocese.” This article tries to capture, in summary form, financial highlights of operations this past year. 60 It is my prayer that this summary is of value to you, the parishioners of Houma-Thibodaux and illustrates our commitment to the mission statement of our ministry and service to the church. Through ministry, each and every one of the diocesan offices and programs exists to provide support and service to our parishes, schools and institutions. I encourage each reader to review the Catholic Directory that is published each year. This directory is a comprehensive guide to diocesan operations and illustrates the offices and programs providing pastoral and administrative services to each parish, school and institution of the diocese. I also would like to take this opportunity to emphasize that our diocese has adopted a centralized approach to many pastoral and administrative programs. This approach allows the diocese to efficiently utilize all resources for the benefit of each and every diocesan entity. Diocesan staff uses a very strong system of internal procedures to properly record the activity of this diverse organization while maintaining separation between all locations. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

Diocese The Audit and the Auditor’s opinion

The financial statements were audited by an independent certified public accounting firm. Diocesan management chooses to hire these auditors to help fulfill its role as good and responsible stewards of the generous funds contributed by its parishioners. The auditors expressed an “unmodified” opinion on the diocese’s financial statements. An “unmodified” opinion means the financial statements are fairly presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The complete audited report is available to all on the diocesan website, www.htdiocese.org. Click as follows: Ministries, then Finance, then scroll to the bottom of the page.

Financial Highlights ASSETS

Cash and investments (excluding loans to parishes but including deposits from parishes, schools and institutions) of the diocese for the year ended June 30, 2015, totaled $47.5 million – a decrease of $2.2 million. One should not be misled by these large figures which

include the deposits and endowments owned by parishes, schools and institutions. These funds are managed by investment managers on behalf of our Central Finance system in order to provide for the highest possible rate of return without undue risk. The endowments held for parishes, schools and institutions in Central Finance increased approximately $114,000 from 2014. Seminarian Education Burse funds increased by approximately $79,500 and the Catholic Charities Endowment increased by approximately $4,100. Please see Chart One for a listing of total diocesan assets.

LIABILITIES

Liabilities at June 30, 2015, totaled $73 million with $56.5 million belonging to parishes, cemeteries, schools, and third parties for deposits and endowments in the diocesan Central Finance program. In 2007, the diocese issued $6.8 million variable rate demand bonds to fund priest pension liabilities. At June 30, 2015, approximately $4.55 million of bond debt was still outstanding. Please see Chart Two for a listing of total diocesan liabilities.

remains stable LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

NET ASSETS

Temporarily restricted net assets are restricted by donors for support of a particular operating activity or donor restricted use. Permanently restricted net assets are restricted indefinitely for diocesan ownership and/or support of a particular operating activity. The diocese maintains several operations that are funded by sources other than general diocesan revenue. The revenues and expenses incurred by these programs are internally segregated, and the programs having revenues in excess of expenditures are reflected as designated net assets to be used in the future by the specific program. These programs are typically referred to as funded operations. Please see Chart Four for a breakdown of net assets.

REVENUES AND EXPENSES

The diocese has various sources of revenue which include cathedraticum, investment return, donations, grants and program service fees. Cathedraticum is essentially an assessment levied on ordinary income and certain extraordinary income of parishes within the diocese. Investment return includes earnings from Central Finance

investments and investments associated with bonds issued by the diocese. Donations include Annual Bishop’s Appeal, special collections and other gifts. Grants and program service fees are generated by diocesan programs or offices for a specific purpose. Please see Schedule A for a summary presentation of all diocesan revenues and expenses. Formation Ministries include the following programs/offices: Formation, Family Ministries, Worship, Catholic Schools, Religious Education, Pastoral Staffing, Conferences, Evangelization, Youth Ministries, Communications, and Bayou Catholic, as well as grants to parishes. Social Ministries include the following programs/offices: Hospital Chaplains, Assisi Bridge House, Independent Living, St. Lucy Child Care Center, Disaster Services, Catholic Housing, Micro Enterprise, Foster Grandparent and Catholic Charities. Clergy and Religious include Seminarian Formation and Education, Vocations, Permanent Diaconate, Continuing Education, Bishop’s residence, Bishop Emeritus, and Retired and Other Priests’ Benefits.

Administration Ministries include the following programs/offices: Computer and Technology Support, Construction, Archives, Tribunal, Safe Environment, Cemeteries Trust, Cemeteries, St. Joseph Cemetery, Casualty Insurance, Central Finance, Lumen Christi Retreat Center, and Human Resources and Employee Benefits. General Administration includes the offices of the Bishop, Chancellor, Vicar General, and Finance and Accounting. There are certain expenses that are included in General Administration and Administration Ministries that have not been allocated to other offices and/ or programs. Like many in our diocese, the church is feeling the decline in the price of oil. During our budget planning process we estimated revenues decreasing approximately $850,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016. Such a large change certainly meant our operations would be affected. We began a thorough internal assessment of operations to determine how to continue serving our churches, schools and 61 institutions while maintaining financial stability with diminished resources. Approximately $863,000 of adjustments was implemented through salary adjustments, position eliminations, additional duty assignments, program eliminations and/or reductions, and revenue sharing adjustments. The process was difficult but a necessary part of our responsibility of good stewardship of the funds entrusted to the diocese. The prayers, support and unity of each location and all parishioners of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is a very important component of success. All are gratefully acknowledged and appreciated in helping us fulfill the mission as set forth for us in the Gospels as part of our mission statement of the diocese.

Glenn J. Landry Jr., CPA, CDFM, CGMA

Coordinator of Administration Ministries and Diocesan Finance Director/ Business Manager www.bayoucatholic.com

Financial Report Chart One

Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Assets Parish loans, $2,354,906

Property, plant & equipment, net, $10,588,703

Other assets, $2,607,073

Other current assets, $1,177,089

Cash and investments, $47,521,544 Some notes regarding the Diocese’s assets: The Diocese’s assets are comprised primarily of investments and property, plant and equipment. The source of the invested funds stems mainly from the Diocesan Central Finance program. Deposits and endowments in the Central Finance program account exceed the total balance of cash and investments. Property, plant and equipment includes property received from the Archdiocese of New Orleans upon the formation of our Diocese in 1977. Also, it includes the cost of fixed asset additions made since the formation of the Diocese (exclusive of replacements), net of depreciation. Chart Two

Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Liabilities Central finance deposits, $38,384,160 Priests' postretirement benefits liability, $9,254,952

Insurance program reserves, $606,518

Series 2007 bonds payable, $4,550,000

Endowments held for others, $18,097,099

Accounts payable and other current liabilities, $2,116,693

Some notes regarding the Diocese’s liabilities and accruals: Seventy-seven percent (77%) of the liabilities of the Diocese result from the inclusion of deposits in the Diocese’s Central Finance program and endowments in the liability category. The liability for priests’ postretirement benefits other than pensions (mainly health insurance and long-term care) have historically been paid and will be paid in the future through the Diocese’s normal annual budgetary process.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

Chart Three

Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Central Finance Deposits Parishes $7,702,906

Cemeteries $4,893,842

Schools and others $25,787,412

Some notes regarding Central Finance Deposits: Deposits from schools are comparatively larger at June 30 than they are at most other times during the year. This is due to the prepaid tuition program in which most schools in the Diocese participate. Approximately 94% of the deposited funds for schools will be drawn by the schools during the year to pay for their operations.

Chart Four

Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Net Assets

$10,000,000 $5,000,000 $$(5,000,000) $(10,000,000)

$7,957,533 $4,669,567

$1,072,679

Permanently Temporarily restricted net assets restricted net assets

Unrestricted, designated net assets

Unrestricted, undesignated net assets

$(15,000,000) $(20,000,000) $(25,000,000)

$(22,459,886)

Some notes regarding the net assets of the Diocese: Net assets represent the difference between the Diocese’s assets and liabilities. Net assets are also commonly referred to as “net worth.” The net assets of the Diocese are segregated into net assets that are restricted as to use by donors and those that are not. For those net assets that are not restricted, the Diocese has designated net assets to fund Diocesan programs and projects. The remaining net assets not designated are classified as “unrestricted, undesignated.” “Unrestricted, undesignated” does not mean that the Diocese has this amount in reserves. Rather, this figure represents total assets minus total liabilities and net assets that are restricted and/or designated. www.bayoucatholic.com

Bayou Catholic â&#x20AC;˘ Houma, LA â&#x20AC;˘ March 2016 $

29,953

178,261

Copying and printing

(1,589,497)

Bond interest and amortization

Excess (deficiency) of revenues over expenses

Telephone 3,058,559

Emergency assistance and disaster relief

Total expenses

5,281

165,068

Central finance interest expense

Depreciation

Contributions and grants

141,444

Papal quota and Catholic Conference

107,539

Other operating expenses

Occupancy expenses

Insurance

(222,418)

1,789,645

24,218

197,666

36,590

861

33,026

79,801

30,755

85,618

39,529

3,116

60,954

Maintenance and repair

Supplies

745,960

Program expenses

40,979 293,229

110,488

Conference and travel

32,873

50,944 68,718

Pension and benefits

Business allowance/reimbursement

130,877

44,812

34,260

632,152

1,567,227

10,932

300,241

21,817

22,446

195,337

71,955

129,180

1,001,517

1,469,062

1,234,237

22,797

Group insurance - religious

Group insurance - lay personnel

Payroll taxes

Salaries - religious

Salaries - lay personnel

Expenses:

Total revenues

Net assets released from restrictions

1,123,998

Program service and other income

345,064

Ministries

Oil and gas royalties

Social

Formation

Investment income

Donations and grants

Cathedraticum

Revenues:

(2,111,754)

2,456,543

5,526

12,723

23,425

18,426

11,847

28,131

738,965

45,426

20,238

13,489

1,349,088

22,064

3,693

55,097

108,405

344,789

6,758

28,884

309,147

Religious

Clergy and

Program expenses

(117,503)

11,947,239

117

748,744

183,583

76,146

2,730,494

92,158

107,877

6,833,101

21,001

32,078

34,624

8,407

157,873

53,699

10,990

856,347

11,829,736

11,429,709

400,027

Ministries

Administration

Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Unrestricted Revenues and Expenses Year Ended June 30, 2015

Total

(4,041,172)

19,251,986

29,861

197,666

748,744

54,594

165,068

179,122

381,478

281,912

2,761,249

192,739

236,491

8,611,255

217,894

153,907

129,010

1,402,738

506,151

174,159

229,527

2,598,421

15,210,814

10,932

12,860,706

450,728

1,888,448

Program

General and

2,300,189

2,397,743

1,045,034

15,241

352,012

13,469

70,820

30,335

184,681

50,006

41,513

27,700

51,681

7,280

24,919

20,456

71,158

23,751

18,280

349,407

4,697,932

400,000

617,553

1,039,253

127,930

2,513,196

Adminsitrative

707,802

255,591

3,740

2,790

371

108,429

1,601

7,695

5,146

12,041

8,002

105,717

963,393

Stewardship

(1,033,181)

21,905,320

1,045,034

45,102

197,666

748,744

406,665

178,537

70,820

213,197

568,949

331,918

2,761,249

234,623

264,191

8,771,365

226,775

186,521

154,612

1,402,738

589,350

205,912

247,807

3,053,545

20,872,139

410,932

13,478,259

1,039,253

450,728

2,979,771

2,513,196

Total

Schedule A

Financial Report Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Unrestricted Revenues and Expenses Year ended June 30, 2015

Bayou

Catholic

Mar riage HOUMA, LA ~ MARCH 2016

THERESA ELIZABETH PHOTOGRAPHY

Contents Marriage

Advice

Does gratitude matter?

Live with faith

72 Meet our couples

Sacrament

Marriage as a sacrament

Advice Avoid wedding-day disaster

For more articles on strengthening your marriage, visit

www.foryourmarriage.org

80 Partnership Falling in love is not enough

82 Coordinating suits for the groom and wedding party. Why rent when you can own.

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Marriage

Couples featured in our Marriage Special

PEONY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

The sacrament of marriage is important to us because it binds us together, not only between the two of us, but in the eyes of God as well! Danielle Lagarde Cheramie and Russ Cheramie Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Larose Wedding Date: December 18, 2015

THERESA ELIZABETH PHOTOGRAPHY

The sacrament of marriage is important to us because it unites two people as one. We are telling God that we will love each other for the rest of our lives together and that nothing can separate us. It means knowing that someone will always support you and believe in you even if you don’t believe in yourself. It’s loving unconditionally and forgiving without question just as God’s relationship is with us. Rebecca Felger Romano and Mark Romano Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma Wedding Date: November 27, 2015 Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

CATHERINE GUIDRY PHOTOGRAPHY

The sacrament of marriage is important to us because we know how truly sacred the sacrament of marriage is and it is the only thing that comes close to the way we feel about each other and the love that we share. Our love has been presented before God, the church and our family and friends. Through this sacrament we also get to bring children into the world and that is something that is extremely important to both of us as well. Caitlyn Bourgeois Minton and Coby Minton Sacred Heart, Morgan City Wedding Date: February 13, 2015

Marriage

Guest Columnist

G 70

Nancy Diedrich LPC, LMFT

Gratitude is the “Gorilla Glue” that keeps couples bonded. Many psychological studies support the idea of gratitude being an integral component of successful relationships. Here are a few reasons why. As marriages move past the “honeymoon stage,” couples go from appreciating and loving every little detail about each other, to taking each other somewhat for granted. They become accustomed to their spouse’s presence, to their smile, their laugh, their “good mornings,” “good nights,” and their “I love yous.” Couples simply get used to having spouses in their lives and don’t pay as much attention to why they chose to spend the rest of their lives with each other. They become less attuned to their spouse’s good qualities and virtues, and sometimes might even focus more on things that annoy them about their partner. Daily routines and the doldrums of typical lifestyles can cause couples to become discouraged, and to wonder, “What happened to our ‘happy ever after,’ or ‘the spark in our relationship,’ or ‘chills up and down our spines’”? Paying attention to everyday responsibilities can become overwhelming for many couples, causing them to feel that they have little time left to pay attention to each other. That’s the time to pull out the Gorilla Glue! Nothing mends the “doldrums of daily routines” better than a drop of “gratitude” here and there. The reasoning for gratitude being the glue for a weary or worn relationship is simple. When a person is shown gratitude, they feel nourished and appreciated … and when they feel nourished and appreciated, they are more likely to show gratitude in return. Couples who have ongoing reciprocal gratitude, feel stronger about themselves and each other in many ways. They begin to recognize each other’s good qualities, strengths and abilities. The intrinsic value of the marriage grows as the couple shows sincere appreciation for each other. “Gorilla Glue” comes in many forms. Gratitude can be shown in words, behaviors, facial expressions, mood or attitude. Regardless of how it is expressed, whenever gratitude is extended in a relationship, the couple becomes sounder and more resilient. They are stronger as individuals, as well as, stronger as a couple. There are many emotional gifts that gratitude can

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

Gratitude

Does matter in marriage?

PEONY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

bring to a marriage. Because appreciation feels good for both the giver and the receiver, couples can feel the power of offering a deep emotional gift to their spouse, as well as, receiving emotional empowerment from their spouse, when they express gratitude. Gratitude brings a sense of connectedness to a couple. It makes them feel exceptionally needed and appreciated, and that translates into feeling deeply desired and loved. Could a married couple ask for better “Glue” than Gratitude? (Nancy Diedrich, LPC, LMFT, a national board certified counselor, is a marriage and family counselor for the diocesan Office of Family Ministries.)

Gratitude Prayer for Married Couples Dear Lord, Thank you for marriage. I pray right now that I would always have a heart of thankfulness. I realize that thankfulness and gratitude fuel joy in my heart! Help me to be appreciative of my spouse. I pray that there would be encouraging words on my tongue to share with my spouse. I am thankful for my spouse’s love, hard work and encouragement. Holy Spirit, fill my heart with gratitude. May you help me to be thankful every day in Jesus’ name. AMEN! 71

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Marriage

Marriage as a sacrament

PEONY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

Marriage as a Sacrament Marriage as a sacrament is a serious and sacred commitment that calls a couple to each other in the most profound and permanent way. Their mutual love is a reminder of the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. By the grace of their sacrament, they become able Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

to love one another as Christ has loved them. As a married couple, they become a visible sign and reminder of Christ’s sacrificial love for all people. The Engaged Couple A couple desiring to be married is encouraged to contact their priest/ deacon at least six (6) months (or

more) prior to the proposed date of their wedding. This interval allows time to prepare well for such a sacred commitment. The engaged couple must take an active part in all the steps of these guidelines which apply to them. With the assistance of their priest/ deacon, they are to:

t Identify and cultivate their strengths, t Deal with the areas of difficulty in their relationship, t Participate in assessment and preparation, t Recognize that marriage is essentially characterized by unity, fidelity, permanence and an openness to children, t Attend a formal marriage preparation program, t Participate in premarital evaluation and counseling when recommended. A tentative wedding date may be set at the time of this initial contact with the priest/deacon. When the couple has completed phase two of the marriage preparation process, the tentative wedding date will be confirmed or changed. Responsibilities 1. Priest/Deacon The church has the pastoral obligation to assist those desiring to marry to make a prayerful and mature judgment concerning their marriage. In particular, the priest/ deacon, who plans to witness a

marriage, is personally responsible for the complete marriage preparation process. He has the serious moral and ministerial responsibility to assist the engaged couple in understanding the meaning of Christian marriage in its human, spiritual, canonical and sacramental aspects, and to provide a liturgical experience that truly celebrates and manifests the momentous step that the couple is taking. 2. Community The faithful in each parish share in the pastoral responsibility to help engaged couples prepare for their life together. Married couples have a particular responsibility to witness the holiness of their sacramental life of intimacy, unity, self-sacrificing love and commitment. They may therefore be invited to participate actively in the marriage preparation of engaged couples in their parish. 3. Parents The church recognizes the unique and vital role of parents in the psychological, social, moral and spiritual development of

their children. Renewal in the church has included attempts to make sacramental preparation more family centered. Parents are therefore encouraged to respond to the invitation of the priest/ deacon to participate actively in the assessment and preparation of their children for marriage in the church whenever possible. The Marriage Preparation Process All engaged couples are required to receive sacramental preparation and must meet with their priest/ deacon at least six months (or more) prior to the desired wedding date. This marriage preparation process consists of four phases. 1. Phase One: Initial contact with priest/deacon will: t Establish rapport with you in order to support and counsel you at this most important time in your life. t Examine your motives for marriage. t Explore any special circumstances that may affect marriage, e.g., age,

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Marriage

as a sacrament

cultural background, pregnancy, military service, physical or emotional problems, levels of faith and religious issues. t Explain the marriage preparation process. t Obtain personal information, explain what other documentation is needed, and determine whether any dispensations or permissions will be necessary. 2. Phase Two: Assessment process with priest/deacon will: t Administer a Premarital Instrument* to assist in beginning the assessment of your readiness to marry. t Discuss the results of the FOCCUS instrument. t Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your communication process. t Examine the sacramental aspects of your human covenant. t Assess your readiness for marriage and complete the prenuptial questionnaire. t Begin the liturgical wedding plans and present to you the parish guidelines. Inform you of the cost and suggested offering. *A premarital instrument is a tool designed to help you assess your readiness for marriage. It is not a pass/ fail indicator. Instead it is meant to help you discover more about yourselves and each other in a nonthreatening and objective way. Our diocese utilizes the FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication Understanding and Study) instrument to help you identify issues that need to be discussed, reflected on, understood, studied for problem-solving, skill-building and decision-making. Your priest/deacon will give you more information at your initial meeting. During phase two, the priest/deacon will make the decision to proceed or delay the marriage. If he proceeds, the wedding date will be confirmed and the process continues. If his decision is to delay the marriage, he will follow the procedure found in Delay of Marriage. 3. Phase Three: Formal marriage preparation This instructional phase, formal marriage preparation, presents the essential human and Christian aspects of marriage so that the couple becomes aware of the total dimensions of the marriage covenant. Formal marriage preparation includes reflection on the nature and sacramentality of marriage, married love and family life, couple prayer, marital responsibilities, communication within marriage, personal expectations, natural family planning and other practical considerations. There are two approved options in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. If you are unable to attend such Bayou Catholic â&#x20AC;˘ Houma, LA â&#x20AC;˘ March 2016

CATHERINE GUIDRY PHOTOGRAPHY

a formal marriage preparation program, you must discuss this with your priest/deacon immediately. These are the approved options: t Diocesan Marriage Preparation program t Engaged Encounter Weekend Retreat in the surrounding dioceses Schedule of the Day for Marriage Preparation in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux t Location: 2779 Hwy 311 - Schriever, LA 70395 Pastoral Center Conference Hall t Arrival Time: 8:45 a.m. (The day begins promptly at 9 a.m.) t Dismissal Time: 3:15 p.m. t Registration Fee: $120 (check or money order) If you are engaged and would like to begin your marriage preparation, you will need to meet with your parish priest or deacon at least six months before your desired wedding date. The priest/deacon will give you a marriage preparation booklet which will include all of this marriage prep information and a registration form to attend the dioceseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s marriage prep,

“Day for the Engaged.” Complete the registration form, detach it and mail the form with your registration fee at least three months before the date you would like to attend. Your fee can be paid with a check or money order made payable to the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. Do not send cash! Come dressed comfortably. Sunday, March 13 Saturday, April 16 Saturday, May 14 Sunday, July 10 Saturday, Sept. 17 Saturday, Oct. 22 Sunday, Nov. 13 4. Phase Four: Completion of marriage prep process with priest/deacon will: t Discuss with you what you have learned and experienced at your formal marriage preparation program. t Discuss with you your understanding of sacrament in light of your formal marriage preparation. t Discuss with you your responsibilities as members of God’s people, as spouses and future parents. t Complete all documentary requirements. As appropriate, grant permission for mixed marriage and/ or apply for appropriate permissions or dispensations. t Discuss the reception of penance and holy Eucharist as a fitting preparation for the sacrament of matrimony. t Finalize the wedding liturgy and discuss the wedding rehearsal. N

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Marriage

Guest Columnist

Y 76

Dr. Susan Caldwell

You are invited to take a brand new look at how couples can cooperate with God in planning their families: Natural Family Planning (NFP). When many people hear “NFP,” they usually recall the Calendar Rhythm Method that was promoted decades ago by the Catholic Church as a way to space the birth of children. This method has been found to be ineffective and is therefore no longer recommended. Modern methods of NFP, however, are scientific, effective and promote the health of spouses, not to mention the many beneficial effects on marriages. Through the use of modern NFP methods, women can effectively monitor their health, understand their fertility and detect changes in their cycle that may indicate a disorder that could adversely affect their health or the health of a preborn baby. The science of Naprotechnology is a new specialty in the field of women’s reproductive health care that allows doctors to accurately diagnose and treat many diseases that have been traditionally managed through the use of hormonal contraceptives. Many women and couples are becoming aware of the medical risks of using hormonal contraceptives and are seeking to understand their fertility and then to use that knowledge to help plan their families. Hormonal contraceptives have been shown in studies to significantly increase the incidence of several cancers in women, as well as increasing a woman’s risk for blood clots, stroke and high blood pressure. Some women are opposed to these medications because of their potential to cause early abortion due to their

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

ability to prevent implantation of a newly conceived embryo. Traditionally, contraceptives have been promoted by doctors as the only treatment for common female reproductive disorders and are widely recommended to assist couples in family planning. Thanks to the work of dedicated, faithful Catholic scientists and doctors, this is no longer the only option for couples today. By learning to observe and record the signs of fertility that a woman’s body reveals each month, a couple can know their fertile days with up to 99 percent certainty. Men are fertile every day, but women are only fertile for approximately 100 hours per month. This small window of fertility can be known by observing signs such as cervical

couples who prayerfully practice NFP rarely experience divorce. Spouses develop a deeper reverence and respect for their partner. NFP encourages couples to develop new and deeper ways of communicating love which enhances their overall intimacy. In addition, NFP helps couples practice the virtues of patience, self-control and generosity which leads to the peace that comes from living out their religious and ethical beliefs. If you are interested in learning more about natural methods of fertility appreciation, please join us for a free informational session in our diocese at the Pastoral Center in Schriever. The next session is April 6 at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact the Office of Family Ministries at (985)

A new look at Natural Family Planning: Answering God’s call to ‘Be fruitful and multiply’ mucus, basal body temperature and hormones measured in the urine. Couples can then use this information to either achieve or postpone pregnancy each month with a clear conscience knowing that they are cooperating with God’s gift of fertility. The most popular NFP methods are: Billings Ovulation Method, Creighton Model FertilityCare System (women observe mucus only), and Sympto-thermal Method (mucus and temperature observations). It is recommended that couples learn their chosen method from a qualified teacher to maximize confidence and accuracy of their observations; however, some couples successfully learn NFP by using online resources. There are numerous advantages to using natural methods of fertility appreciation. NFP enhances unity in marriage by inviting spouses to communicate their desires regarding new life with God and with each other. For this reason,

850-3129. You will learn about the science behind the various methods and you will hear from couples whose marriages have been blessed by NFP. There are several teaching couples in our area who can walk with you as you learn to observe the signs of your fertility. You will also hear more about Naprotechnology and how it can help diagnose and treat a variety of reproductive disorders such as: abnormal menstrual bleeding, infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome, ovarian cysts, recurrent miscarriage and postpartum depression. (Dr. Susan Caldwell is a primary care physician specializing in women’s health including Naprotechnology. She practices at Hope Woman’s Clinic in Metairie, LA. She lives in Schriever with her husband and their three children. She can be contacted by email at scaldwell@womansnewlife.com. Her office number is (504) 4960214).

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‘ Before saying I

By MARY T. CARTY

Catholic News Service

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. (CNS) -- In vintage romantic movies, there is often the final image of the groom carrying the bride over the threshold into their new home to live “happily ever after” and the audience never gets a chance to see what their life will be like on a normal day after they move in together. Today’s modern couple is more likely to cross the threshold exhausted from the honeymoon carrying their own luggage and asking: “What’s for dinner?” This simple question opens up a whole series of responding questions such as: “Is there any food? Who is cooking, setting the table, serving the meal or doing the dishes? What time should dinner 78 be served?” These seemingly small and insignificant decisions concerning the couple’s first meal in their new home illustrates the number of never-ending details that require choices and actions that will define the marriage. Most Catholic couples are required to go through marriage preparation classes where they will discuss some real-life marriage situations aimed to help prepare them for the first 24 hours of marriage when they will be forced to face issues related to household space, food, rest, intimacy, chores and possibly even money. Although it is impossible to be prepared for all of the potential situations in any marriage, it may be helpful for engaged couples to take a look at the following questions before the wedding and begin to work together to decide who is doing what. n Who is doing the cooking, grocery list, and menu for the week? n How and when will the laundry get done? n What time will the alarm be set for weekdays? Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

n What parish to belong to and which Mass will be attended? n How and who will pay the bills? n Will there be specific times for meals and will thanks be given? n How can love be kept alive and is there room for fun in marriage? n How will household space for personal things like books and DVD’s be determined? n Will there be a special time set aside each week to talk about schedules, dreams, goals and responsibilities? The list seems a bit overwhelming,

Who will do what? but there will be a lot of time after the wedding to cooperatively find answers. Here are some general suggestions that might help couples begin to navigate through some of these daily trials and tribulations: n Household issues: First write a list of household tasks that need to be taken care of and then decide who does what for the first few weeks and then revisit the list. Having a written list is both a reference and a reminder. n Finance: Estimate monthly expenses, discuss how and when bills will be paid, and decide how money will be budgeted. The challenge is to pay the bills and set aside a bit of money for fun and

‘

Marriage

entertainment. n Food: Enjoying delicious food is cause to celebrate and there are many opportunities from romantic dinners to picnics to holiday feasts. Keeping an ongoing grocery list and meal plan for the week and deciding when to eat, what to eat, where to eat, and who will cook may be a helpful tools to deal with the daily food/meal tasks. n Friends and family: Spending time with new and old friends and two families is important and enriching. The challenge is how to balance both spouses’ schedules. A calendar is a helpful tool to keep track of and plan for upcoming events and holidays. n Intimacy: Intimacy is a new way of showing and sharing love and it may take time and patience for both partners to feel comfortable talking about their physical relationship. Since this is new territory, it may be helpful for each of the individuals to read about intimacy in marriage and then compare notes. n Communication guidelines: Last, but not least, setting up some guidelines concerning discussions sets a positive tone from the beginning of the marriage. A few basic communication considerations are: Treat the other person with respect. Keep an open mind. Clearly state thoughts and listen, really listen. Use a pleasant tone of voice. Remember the terms collaboration, cooperation and an occasional compromise. Discussing these details might seem like a lot of work but ultimately couples are laying the groundwork for their future years together. A smooth transition to the “happily ever after” phase shouldn’t get bogged down with arguments about why a spouse didn’t make the coffee or put away the dishes. Carty is a freelance writer and author of the 2009 book “PMAT: The Perfect Marriage Aptitude Test.”

By SUZANNE PIETROPAOLI Catholic News Service

Every couple preparing for marriage hopes for a lifetime of happiness. The church, sharing that hope, emphasizes this time as an opportunity for the couple to grow in understanding of themselves, of one another, of their faith and of Catholic teaching on God’s plan for married love and family life. When couples are already living together, however, the marriagepreparation process presents particular challenges. “The whole question of preparation seems to be quarterbacked by couples seeming to be married when they are not,” said Father Garry Giroux, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Constable, N.Y., and member of a pre-Cana team for the Diocese of Ogdensburg, N.Y., since 1996. “Couples come with a presumption that they are already schooled in the mystery of marriage,” he said. “It can be difficult to lead people to an understanding which they believe they already have.” Despite their perception, Father Giroux noted that not only is the couple not married but that living together is not good marriage preparation. At best, he added, the cohabiting couple is in a “trial process, seeking to discover, `Will this work?’” “The need to try one another out in this way indicates a lack of faith in one’s self, in the other and in God,” he said, adding the “trial concept” comes from the idea that “success of a marriage depends on the couple and their resources, rather than on God and his grace.” “`God is not part of our equation,’

THERESA ELIZABETH PHOTOGRAPHY

Live with faith the couple seems to be saying. `We must go it alone,’” Father Giroux said, adding that this is particularly difficult as “the culture does not support fidelity (nor) longterm commitment.” In that situation, the couple is in even greater need of the power and

grace of God to make the marriage work, the priest suggested. Yet, the problem for the cohabiting couple becomes how to “invite God into something they’ve told him to stay out of because it is not his business,” Father Giroux said, noting that marital fidelity is “part of God’s law, God’s plan for human happiness.” “If persons do not value the sacredness of marriage and its requirement of fidelity prior to the wedding, is it realistic to think they will suddenly do so after the ceremony?” He noted that studies indicate that the risk of divorce increases by as much as 50 percent among couples who live together and that formerly cohabiting couples face increased levels of conflict, abuse and violence and decreased levels of happiness when married. In his pre-Cana presentations, Father Giroux promotes the concept of “secondary virginity.” “I encourage cohabiting couples to move to a different level from this point until they are actually married,” he said. Those who choose to reconcile with God through the 79 sacrament of reconciliation “are then able to set aside, and prepare to give their spouse, the gift of a virginal heart,” he added. “By resolving to save sexual intimacy for marriage, they are moving into real spiritual preparation for the wedding day, as well as embracing marriage as a form of Christian discipleship.” It is precisely because God intends marriage to be a path to holiness that good preparation -based on respect for, rather than resistance to, God’s law -- is so vital, he stressed.

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There is much written about the importance of seriously discerning religious and priestly vocations. People spend a lot of time praying and looking at whether God is calling them to be a priest, brother, or sister. Some people take years trying to decide if religious life is their call and, if so, what congregation they are being called to join. Yes, discernment about religious vocations is a crucial factor in decision-making, but it is not the only 80 call that needs to be discerned. Unfortunately, enough is not said about using the discernment process when making a decision about marriage. After all, entering in to the sacrament of marriage is not to be taken lightly. Even so, it has been my experience in my years of working with young adults, and others, that too many people are blinded by infatuation and all too often let their feelings get in the way of making good decisions. Strong emotions sometimes have a way of clouding our ability to reason and we may leap into situations and relationships without enough serious thought. Although the “perfect” person probably won’t come into your life, it is important to think about the values you want in a spouse. If you are an active Catholic and your faith means a lot to you, would it be wise to marry someone who doesn’t believe in God or

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wants no part of church. Are you willing to take the whole responsibility of raising your children in the faith? And if you want to be a parent and want to raise a family, does it seem logical to marry someone who does not share this same desire? Maybe the person says he does but you notice that he is not good with children or a career seems more important to her than motherhood. What about lifestyle preference? Do you observe that material goods seem more important than relationships or work or family? Do you have some interests in common or does each of you have radically different ways of relaxing or having fun? Are not willing to bend and do what the other likes now and then? Is television the center of your potential spouse’s life? Does he or she spend little time communicating with you? Do you love to cook but he would rather have a Big Mac? Do you love to eat but she only knows how to use a microwave and has no desire to learn to cook? And how does each of you deal with money? Are you someone who watches what you spend while the person who wants to marry you spends every dime or loves to gamble?

Had the person displayed some drinking or abusive behavior? Do you think these behaviors will change after you marry? (Just know this rarely happens and these behaviors often get worse!) What are each of your views on forgiveness and faithfulness? Do either of you entertain the thought that if the other one is unfaithful the relationship ends? If living close to your family is important to you, are you sure you want to marry someone whose career requires moving frequently? These and many other questions are considered in the marriage preparation sessions with your priest or his designee. However, this preparation is done after the wedding date is set and the invitations have been sent out! These issues should be discussed long before one says yes to a marriage proposal. Marriage is a sacrament and should not be taken lightly. A red flag should go up if the answers to the above questions do not satisfy you or trouble you. Remember, despite the broken relationships we see all around us, marriage is forever. It is a covenant of everlasting love. Pray for wisdom and the graces needed to make a good decision. And 81 seek a good counselor.

Think about the values you want in a spouse

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Marriage

Avoid wedding-day disaster

By JULIE ASHER

Catholic News Service

If something can go wrong at your reception, it probably will. And while you can’t anticipate a hurricane, blizzard or some other act of nature shutting down not only your event but your entire city or town, if you’ve planned well you can anticipate even small problems that could spoil your special day. When it comes to the basics - having enough room to accommodate all your guests, providing ample food and drink and people to serve it, and ensuring a smooth transition from beginning to end - event planner and wedding consultant Lois Pearce of Hamden, Conn., offers some tips: n Start planning early. n Draw up a budget. n Settle on the number of guests and stick to it. n Ask plenty of questions - about the hall, the caterer and what the prices include, from table linens to the grade of tableware and stemware, and taxes and gratuities. n Get every detail in writing. Never assume anything, even about whether you are allowed to do your own decorating. Hire a professional wedding planner to plan your 82 reception, Pearce suggests, though acknowledging the added expense isn’t required for pulling off an event all - including the bride and groom - will enjoy. How far in advance of the wedding date should the planning begin for a reception? “There isn’t a true timing period because many people plan weddings from as little as two months to several years. The optimal time for peace of mind is nine to 12 months,” said Pearce, who is president of Beautiful Occasions in Hamden and a spokeswoman for the Association of Bridal Consultants. Once you’ve set the date, establish a budget, she said, keeping in mind that today the average wedding with about 175 guests costs about $19,000. “Sixty percent of the cost is the wedding reception,” noted Pearce. Determine how far in proximity “of both time and space” you would like the reception to be from the church, she said. Next, Pearce said, choose the ambiance: Do you want a rustic, contemporary or elegant setting? Do you want to be next to a lake or near a hillside? Do you plan to use the parish hall? She stressed finding a place that will accommodate all of your guests. “Never, never plan a wedding on any guesstimate. If you have 180 guests, you find a facility for 180 guests,” she said. Some people decide they’ll invite 180 but figure 30 definitely won’t show up, so they choose a site that will hold 150, and “the first ones they expected not to come” are the first to arrive, she said. Pearce suggests screening places by calling to find out if they can accommodate the number of guests Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • March 2016

being considered, and then “narrow it down by getting information on the menu and pricing” to see if it fits your budget, whether you’re having a cake and punch reception, a buffet or a full sit-down meal with dancing. Visit those places that meet your initial needs. Review the site and “discuss the particulars - first and foremost the food,” said Pearce. If there is something you want to change on the menu and the reception site is unwilling to meet this initial request, she said, “you can be sure that on down the line, when things get more detailed, there is going to be resistance.” Look at what other events are scheduled for the same day in the hall you want and how tightly events are booked, she said. Make sure that there is at least one hour between events in order that you don’t have to push your guests out the door so someone else’s party can start. If the room is sectioned off, and other events are scheduled in adjacent spaces or in the next room, find out what they are to make sure they won’t be noisy and have the potential to disrupt your party. Beyond the setting, you’ll want to think about the flow of the evening, said Pearce. “So much energy is put into dresses and flowers and food” that people don’t recognize the reception “can go flat if you don’t have someone timing it,” Pearce said. Choose a willing family member, neighbor or friend to oversee the food service, keep things moving, and even make sure the right songs are played. And despite your best efforts, tragedies do occur. On one wedding day, a baker delivered the wedding cake on time, but collapsed just after he handed off the final layer, without the traditional topper, at the reception hall. Sadly, he died, despite the heroic efforts of paramedics. But the wedding party had to carry on. Someone improvised a cake topper using flowers from a bouquet, and the reception went off without a hitch.

Try gifts that keep giving BY SARA ANGLE

Catholic News Service

If you have ever attended a wedding, chances are you have a candle, monogrammed tin of mints, lacewrapped Hershey’s Kisses or a heart-shaped bottle opener to prove it. Wedding favors can be a great way to thank guests for attending and they also say a lot about the couple. When a favor is out of the ordinary, it leaves a lasting impression on guests. “It’s not mandatory, but it’s a good way to thank people. It’s a way for you to express yourself as a couple,” said Jackie Lebowitz, assistant managing editor at Brides magazine. Choosing an original wedding favor can also be an opportunity to give back and share a message about social justice. Fair trade, “green,” recycled or repurposed gifts ensure that your guests are getting something that will not only have an impact on them, but on the world. “I think a lot of brides are looking to reduce their footprints in their wedding; favors are for sure something you can easily have be green,” said Lebowitz. The tradition of gifting a small token of appreciation to wedding guests started in the 16th century with the European aristocratic practice of giving “bonbonniere,” or small boxes made of porcelain, crystal, precious stones or metal that contained sugary treats. The custom spread and certain items became popular based on culture and geography, just as others had a widespread reach in certain eras. The introduction of green and fair-trade initiatives into wedding planning picked up speed in 2008, and is now bigger than ever, with many celebrities adding a green touch to their big day. According to the I Do Foundation, which links engaged couples with charitable gift registries, more than 10 percent of couples incorporate philanthropy into their weddings. Celebrity couple Kaitlin Olson and Rob McElhenny planted a tree in honor of each guest at their wedding. “Top Chef” Nikki Cascone and husband Brad Grossman gave herb plants and seed paper telling guests where to find their seats at their wedding. Eco-friendly and fair-trade items also build a common ground between Catholic wedding attendees and guests from other denominations because many religions share a passion for social justice initiatives. “We must expand our understanding of the moral responsibility of citizens to serve the common good,” the U.S. Catholic bishops said in their 1986 pastoral letter “Economic Justice for All.” Five years later, in their document “Renewing the Earth,” the bishops said the “the fundamental relation between humanity and nature is one of caring for creation.” By supporting an environmental or economic justice initiative in even the smallest way during the course of the wedding planning process, it is a way to reflect on and express Catholic values. “A couple can really show what they believe in and practice what they preach,” said Lebowitz. Giving eco-friendly or fair-trade wedding favors

can be as easy or elaborate as the couple desires. One simple and inexpensive option is to use small tree cookies as stands to hold place cards made from recycled cardstock. For a personalized touch, add a handwritten note to each guest underneath their name on the place card. Seeds or plants also make great gifts and traditional chocolate gifts can be updated with small bamboo boxes of fair trade chocolate. “The Knot,” an online wedding planning site, recommends that couples give soy-wax or beeswax candles which are more eco-friendly than paraffin wax candles. Another trend is to support local businesses by sending guests home with recyclable jars of local jam or honey or custom-labeled wine from a nearby winery. Lebowitz said that since many guests need to travel to the wedding location, it is fun to send them home with a reminder of where the wedding was such as “edible favors that speak to the local flavors or tastes or customs,” that allow them to “go home and experiment and try something new.” Eco-friendly wedding plans don’t have to stop at favors either. Couples can serve local food, swap the limousine for a hybrid car, host their reception in a green hotel and ask guests to make donations to a charity instead of bringing a gift. 83

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