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Life and Legacy Giving Thanks
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Copyright Š 2015, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Photo: Š Peter Howard/CCHD.
The collection will be held on November 19 and 20, 2016 Thank you for your generous support.
Serving Ascension, Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne parishes. Established in 1987
END STAGE ALZHEIMER’S/DEMENTIA WHEN is HOSPICE CARE APPROPRIATE?
Bringing
Comfort Home
WHAT is HOSPICE CARE? Hospice provides comfort, symptom and pain management for patients with a life limiting illness. Compassionate support is offered to family, friends and significant others. Not only can care be provided in the home, but also nursing home, assisted living setting, hospital and personal care homes. Hospice affirms life and focuses on the quality of life remaining for your loved one. Hospice offers a holistic approach that is sensitive to emotional and spiritual support.
WHEN to CHOOSE HOSPICE? When a patient is diagnosed with a terminal illness and the prognosis is measured in months, it is then that hospice care should be considered. Patients have the right to choose the hospice of their choice.
sensitive
• Exhibits any of the following: Unable to ambulate, dress, or bathe without assistance; May be interacting less with family, incontinent of urine and stool. • Cannot sit upright without support. • Difficulty swallowing food, liquids or medications • No longer smiling or interacting with care givers • History of frequent UTI’s, urosepsis, pneumonia, septicemia • Multiple Bedsores • Weight Loss, decreased appetitie,refusal to eat Can Hospice help you? Consultations free of charge, without obligation Call us today 985-868-3095
WHAT SERVICES are PROVIDED by HOSPICE?
WHAT is the CRITERIA for ADMISSION?
• Physicians medical management of pain and symptoms • Skilled nursing for appropriate care • Nurse aides tend to personal care needs • Social workers offer emotional support, counseling and access to community resources • Chaplains provide spiritual guidance • Volunteers compliment the care with companionship and assistance • Therapy when ordered • 24 hour emergency support • Medications related to admitting diagnosis • Medical supplies and equipment • Bereavement and grief support
v A physician must verify the patient’s prognosis of six months or less. v The physician will provide a signed order for an evaluation and admit to hospice. v Hospice will send a registered nurse to conduct a thorough in-home assessment. v The patient and caregivers must have an understanding of the prognosis and are no longer seeking aggressive treatment. v There is a designated primary caregiver that will be available to the hospice team. v The hospice diagnosis shall be related to a life limiting illness or End Stage Disease process such as:
HOW to OBTAIN SERVICES? A physician orders hospice at the request of a patient, relative, friend, medical social worker or pastor. Ask your physician how we can help or call us direct to get more information about the services your loved ones deserve. Remember patients have the right to choose the hospice agency of their choice.
spiritual
• Cardiac Disease • Neurological Disease • Alzheimer’s/Dementia • Parkinson’s/ALS • Renal Disease or Failure • Liver Disease
• Stroke • Blood Disorders • Pulmonary Disease (Respiratory) • AIDS • Cancer
WHO PAYS for HOSPICE?
• Medicare • Most Private Insurance • Medicaid • Veterans Administration (VA) Our staff is available to answer questions regarding benefits and will gladly help to verify coverage for hospice services
205 Bayou Gardens Blvd., Suite E • Houma, LA 70364 Local 985-868-3095 • Fax 985-868-3910 • Toll Free 1-888-893-3829 www.HospiceofSouthLouisiana.com
REFERRALS or INQUIRIES please call our office 985-868-3095. A registered nurse is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, holidays included. NONDISCRIMINATION NOTICE Hospice offers palliative care to terminally ill patients and support to those patients and their families without regard for diagnosis, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, race, creed, disability, age, or place of residence.
Contents FEATURES 36 Bayou Patrons
By Janet Marcel
42 Flood victims assistance
By Janet Marcel
60 Persistence pays off
24
By Janet Marcel
COLUMNS 8 Comfort For My People
By Bishop Shelton J. Fabre
12 Pope Speaks
Pope Francis I
13 Questions of Faith
7
By Very Rev. Joshua Rodrigue, STL
14 Readings Between The Lines
By Father Glenn LeCompte
19 Reading with Raymond
By Raymond Saadi
30 Thoughts for Millennials
By Ryan Abboud
57 Overtime
4
36
42
By Ed Daniels
IN EVERY ISSUE 6 From the Editor 16 Scripture Readings 22 Heavenly Recipes 32 Young Voices 53 Diocesan Events GUEST COLUMNS 20 Vocations Awareness Week
By Rev. Mr. John David Matherne
24 Preparing a funeral liturgy
By Father Glenn LeCompte
28 Journey of Hope
By Cindy Hitt
38 After the election
By Father Wilmer Todd
48 Catholic Campaign for
47 Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2016
60
Human Development
By Margie Duplantis
ANNOUNCEMENTS 50 Coadjutor bishop of Alexandria named 58 American Indian Mass Nov. 18
On Our Cover From time to time we need to be reminded that we should give thanks for all the blessings given to us. During the month of November, a day is set aside just for that. Let us give thanks to God this Thanksgiving Day and be ever grateful for the many blessings that he has bestowed upon us.
Bayou Catholic Vol. 37, No. 5 How to reach us: BY PHONE: (985) 850-3132 BY MAIL: P.O. Box 505 Schriever, LA 70395
Where to find your Bayou Catholic Bayou Catholic magazine can be found at all Catholic churches in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, at the three Catholic high schools in Houma, Morgan City and Thibodaux, as well as the 10 elementary schools throughout the diocese. You may also visit the merchants listed in the Advertisers’ Index to pick up your copy. Those wishing to receive the magazine by mail can call Janet Marcel at (985) 850-3132 or write to Bayou Catholic, P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395. Subscription price is $35 annually. For the online edition, go to www.bayoucatholic.com
Index to Advertisers #iGIVECATHOLIC........................................ 61 Acme Mausoleum, LLC ............................... 29 Advanced Eye Institute ................................ 64 Barker Buick GMC ................................. 39, 51 Bayou Catholic Collection ............................ 35 Betty White Jewelers ................................... 17 Birdsall Jewelry ........................................... 48 Cannata’s ................................................... 23 Cardinal Place ............................................. 51 Catholic Campaign for Human Development... 2 Catholic Schools Office ............................... 34 Chauvin Funeral Home ................................ 31 Daigle Himel Daigle Physical Therapy .......... 41 Diocesan Outreach Line .............................. 58 Diocesan Strategic Planning .................. 18, 67 Diocesan Website ................................. 41, 45 Falgout Funeral Homes, LLC ........................ 25 God’s Promises Books & Gifts .................... 49 Guidry Family Dentistry ............................... 40 Gulf Coast Orthopedics ............................... 63 Haydel Memorial Hospice ............................ 31 Haydel Spine Pain & Wellness ..................... 15
Headache & Pain Center .............................. 57
BY FAX: (985) 850-3232 BY E-MAIL: bayoucatholic@htdiocese.org The Bayou Catholic is published monthly, for the people of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux by the H-T Publishing Co., P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395. Subscription rate is $35 per year. The Bayou Catholic is a member of the Catholic Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and an associate member of the Louisiana Press Association.
Lawrence Chatagnier
Hospice of South Louisiana ........................... 3
editor and general manager
Houma Digestive Health Specialists ............. 52
Glenn J. Landry, C.P.A.
Landmark Home Furnishings ....................... 65 Landry’s Funeral Home ............................... 29 LeBlanc & Associates, LLC ......................... 44 Lewis & Company ....................................... 52 Notre Dame Hospice ................................... 26 Re-Bath ...................................................... 38 Rod’s Superstore ........................................ 21 Samart Funeral Home ................................. 27 Seminarian Education Burses ...................... 33
business manager
Janet Marcel
staff writer/administrative assistant
Katie DeRoche
advertising accounts executive
Lisa Schobel Hebert graphic designer
Meridy Liner
accounts receivable/payable assistant
Southland Mall ............................................ 68 St. Francis de Sales Mausoleum .................. 25 St. Joseph Manor ........................................ 51 Synergy Bank .............................................. 63 Terminix ...................................................... 41 TGMC Mary Bird Perkins ............................. 66 Thibodaux Funeral Home ............................. 30 Thibodaux Physical Therapy ........................ 17
Awards
CPA First Place General Excellence 2013 - 2014 LPA First Place General Excellence 2015
Watkins, Walker, Eroche & Hoychick ............ 44 www.bayoucatholic.com
5
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Saint John XXIII
How Feb. 14 came to be celebrated as the feast for lovers is somewhat a mystery. What little is known of the feast’s namesake can be attributed to the lives of two martyrs: one a priest, the other a bishop. The priest Valentine reportedly was beheaded in 269 by Emperor Claudius II. The bishop, known for healing, was martyred earlier. It’s probable that a medieval custom of sending messages of love on this day somehow merged later with the feast. We have Valentine’s Day resolutions inside.
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From the Editor
6
The Bayou Catholic has been blessed with a loyal readership. From its inception as a weekly diocesan newspaper in 1980 to its current monthly magazine format, it has been well received. Over the years there have been noticeable changes that go beyond the format of the publication. The newspaper was distributed by a subscription based readership at one time. For many years it was mailed to every Catholic household in the diocese. However, due to postal rate increases, mailing the publication became too costly. It was during this time that the former editor, Louis Aguirre, and Bishop Sam G. Jacobs had the foresight to make a change from a newspaper to a magazine format. Throughout the national Catholic press, the current trend is that diocesan newspapers are switching to magazines. The Bayou Catholic magazine was introduced in
February 2012 and was once again well received by its loyal readers. The magazine is now delivered to the 39 church parishes, 13 Catholic schools and many places of business throughout the diocese. Much like the newspaper, the magazine is the primary form of print media for the people of the diocese as well as the method through which Bishop Shelton J. Fabre communicates to the faithful in his monthly column and pastoral letters. The magazine’s mission is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by informing, educating, guiding, inspiring, challenging and unifying the people of HoumaThibodaux through the print media. It is first and foremost designed to be an evangelization tool for the people of the diocese. With the recent downturn of the local economy, the publication has had to rely more heavily on its advertising revenue rather than diocesan support, and since 2015, from a second collection in all of the church parishes. In light of the decrease in revenue, changes have been made, most notably a reduction of the magazine’s staff and changes within the magazine itself. The paper
Bayou Catholic
weight of the covers and inside pages were changed to a lighter grade and the magazine has cancelled its national news service subscription with Catholic News Service of which it has been a member since 1980. We have been making every effort to be good stewards of the resources provided to us. The combined cuts and changes have resulted in a reduction of costs, but we still need your help. This month there will be a second collection in all church parishes of the diocese on Nov. 12-13. Your contribution will help the Bayou Catholic continue to be the informative, award winning publication that the people of the diocese are accustomed to receiving. For those who wish to give online, the Bayou Catholic is participating in #igivecatholic.com, on Giving Day, Tuesday, Nov. 29. See page 44 of this issue of the Bayou Catholic for details. Either method of donating is greatly appreciated. Remember, after reading Bayou Catholic, pass it on to a friend or relative who might not be attending Mass. It’s one of the great ways to do your part in spreading the Good News!
Lawrence
Lawrence Chatagnier Editor & General Manager Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2016
Church Alive
Hundreds of people participated in the annual Life Chain which was held on Respect Life Sunday. People lined the medians of Canal Boulevard in Thibodaux and Tunnel Boulevard in Houma praying silently and holding signs protesting abortion.
Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier
7
Annual
Life Chain
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Comment
Want fulfillment, joy and peace? Consider a vocation as a priest or consecrated religious Comfort For My People
A 8
Bishop Shelton J. Fabre
After examining numerous conclusions from scientific surveys and other information, and also after acknowledging some of the challenges in priestly life, in the conclusion to his book entitled Why Priests Are Happy, Msgr. Stephen Rossetti states, “The overall findings of this study are clear, and when combined with similar findings in other studies, incontrovertible: Priests as a group, are very happy with their lives and their vocations. They are among the happiest of any people in the country” (Rossetti, Why Priests Are Happy, 2011, p. 202). While many people in secular society might disagree with Msgr. Rossetti’s conclusion based on their knowledge of a small number of priests, from my own personal experience of a large number of priests, I agree that priests as a whole group are really joy-filled men. As a priest myself and knowing my own fulfillment in my ministry as a priest and bishop, I also find it easy to believe Rossetti’s assertion that priests are not only happy, but indeed among the most joy-filled people in the country. I have been a priest for 27 years, and in all of those years I have always found great fulfillment in priestly ministry. My heart will
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2016
always be in parish ministry where I found great fulfillment, joy and peace. However, even with all of its challenges and demands, I have also found fulfillment and joy in serving the faithful and the church as a bishop. My focus is on priesthood and religious life because this year the week of Nov. 6–12 is recognized as National Vocation Awareness Week and invites us to focus our attention on the vocation to priesthood and to consecrated religious life. I am truly delighted that our diocesan focus on promoting vocations to priesthood and to consecrated religious life has encouraged 16 men to enter the seminary to discern a possible vocation as a priest. I am equally delighted that there are at least three or four young women from our diocese who are considering or have entered into various religious communities and are discerning a call to consecrated religious life. What a blessing!! Obviously, young people are again coming to know the joy of considering a vocation to priesthood or religious life, and I am grateful to all in our diocese who have fostered such fertile ground for vocations in our diocese. All Saints’ Day, which falls on Nov. 1, reminds us that like all the known and unknown saints in heaven, each and every one of us must embrace during our earthly life the universal call to holiness that is given to us by God. The holiness of the saints in heaven shines brightly, and in a world filled with darkness and doubt we need the good example of the saints to enlighten the way for us. What a joy it is for those who are called through a vocation as a priest or consecrated religious to embrace this call to holiness of life,
and to find in it fulfillment, joy and peace. As bishop, I am delighted to be counted among the priests who serve this diocese. I personally find greater joy and fulfillment in our priests since our convocation in August; a convocation that enabled us to strengthen the ties that bind us as brother priests who seek to build up the Kingdom of God in our diocese by serving those entrusted to our pastoral care, and also serving one another as brother priests. I know that our priests truly find joy in our common efforts to minister to the faithful by way of preaching the Word and making available the sacraments of the church. I am also grateful for the men and women religious, the religious brothers and religious sisters, who serve here in our diocese. How truly blessed we are to have them! They are all very committed to the charism of their religious communities and to the faithful in our diocese. In light of National Vocation Awareness Week, during the month of November I am going to ask the faithful in our diocese to do two things: first, to do something nice for your priest or for a religious brother or religious sister; and second to suggest priesthood or religious life to a young man or young woman in whom you see the qualities of a priest or consecrated religious. Such affirmation will go a long way in supporting our priests and in encouraging and assisting more men and women to hear God’s call to priesthood or consecrated life. During this month, please pray in a special way for all our priests, religious and seminarians, as well as for all the faithful departed whom we remember on All Souls’ Day. Peace!
9
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Comentario
¿Desea satisfacción, alegría y paz? Considere la vocación sacerdotal o la vida religiosa
E 10
En la conclusión del libro titulado Por qué los Sacerdotes son Felices ˗que examina numerosas conclusiones de estudios científicos sobre los retos en la vida en el sacerdocio˗ su autor, el Monseñor Stephen Rossetti declara en la conclusión de su obra: «La conclusión de estos estudios son contundentes y junto a resultados similares en otras investigaciones es incontrovertible: Los sacerdotes son un grupo muy feliz en sus vidas y sus vocaciones. Están entre los grupos más felices del país» (Rossetti, Por qué los Sacerdotes son Felices, pg. 202). He sido sacerdote por 27 años y en todo este tiempo he encontrado gran felicidad en mi sacerdocio. Mi corazón siempre estará con el ministerio de la parroquia donde encontré gran satisfacción, alegría y paz. Sin embargo, aun con todos los retos y exigencias también he podido encontrar satisfacción y alegría al servir los fieles y la Iglesia durante mi obispado. Me concentraré en el sacerdocio y la vida religiosa porque la semana de noviembre 6 al 12 de este año será la Semana Nacional de Reconocimiento de Vocaciones y somos invitados a concentrar nuestra atención en la vocación del sacerdocio y la vida religiosa. Me alegra que el enfoque diocesano en promover la vocación sacerdotal y la vida religiosa haya motivado a 16 hombres a incorporarse al seminario y elegir la vocación del sacerdocio. Me alegra también que haya al menos tres o cuatro mujeres en nuestra diócesis que han entrado o estén considerando entrar a diversas comunidades religiosas y estén pensando incorporarse a la
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2016
vida religiosa. ¡Qué bendición! Es obvio que los jóvenes están volviendo a conocer la alegría de considerar la vocación sacerdotal o la vida religiosa y agradezco a todos en la diócesis que han forjado el ambiente ideal para las vocaciones en nuestra diócesis. El Día de Todos los Santos que se celebra el
LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
1 de noviembre, nos recuerda que como todos los santos conocidos y desconocidos en el cielo, cada uno de nosotros debe aceptar el llamado universal a la santidad que Dios nos da mientras permanecemos en nuestra vida terrenal. La santidad de los santos en el cielo brilla con intensidad y en un mundo lleno de oscuridad y duda necesitamos el buen ejemplo de los santos para que iluminen nuestro camino. Qué dicha para aquéllos que son llamados a la vocación sacerdotal o vida religiosa y aceptar este llamado a la santidad y encontrar en ello satisfacción, alegría y paz.
Me da mucha alegría que como obispo pueda ser uno de los sacerdotes que sirven esta diócesis. Encuentro mayor alegría y satisfacción en nuestros sacerdotes desde nuestra convocación en agosto; una convocación que nos ha permitido fortalecer los lazos que nos une a nuestros sacerdotes hermanos que buscan edificar el Reino de Dios en nuestra Diócesis sirviendo a nuestros fieles y sirviéndonos unos a otros como sacerdotes hermanos. Sé que nuestros sacerdotes encuentran la felicidad en nuestros esfuerzos comunes de servir el ministerio a los fieles por medio de la Palabra y proveyendo los sacramentos de la Iglesia. También agradezco a las mujeres y hombres religiosos, las hermanas y hermanos religiosos que sirven a nuestra diócesis. ¡Qué bendición es tenerlos! Todos ellos están muy comprometidos al cuidado de sus comunidades religiosas y al cuidado de los fieles en nuestra diócesis. Durante la Semana Nacional de Reconocimiento de Vocaciones, y el mes de noviembre, le voy a pedir a todos los fieles en nuestra diócesis que hagan dos cosas: Primero, que hagan una buena obra por su sacerdote o hermano religioso/ hermana religiosa, y segundo, hablen con muchachos jóvenes o muchachas jóvenes que tengan las cualidades para el sacerdocio o la vida religiosa sobre estas vocaciones. Estos actos apoyarán de manera enorme a nuestros sacerdotes y motivará y asistirá a más hombres y mujeres a escuchar el llamado de Dios al sacerdocio y la vida religiosa. Durante este mes, oren de manera especial por nuestros sacerdotes, religiosos y seminaristas y por todos los fieles que han fallecido y que recordaremos en el Día de los Muertos. ¡Paz! Traducido por Julio Contreras, feligrés de la Iglesia Annunziata en Houma
Binh luan bang loi
Muốn vui thoả, hạnh phúc, và bình an? Hãy suy nghĩ về ơn gọi làm Linh mục hoặc Tu sĩ
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Sau khi tra cứu nhiều kết luận từ những cuộc khảo sát khoa học và những thông tin khác, và cũng sau việc nhận thức một số thách đố trong đời sống Linh mục, trong phần kết luận cho cuốn sách có tựa đề Tại sao các Linh mục hạnh phúc, Đức ông Stephen Rossetti nói: “Toàn bộ những tra cứu của việc nghiên cứu này thật rõ ràng, và khi được nối kết với những khám phá tương tự trong các cuộc nghiên cứu khác, không thể chối cãi được rằng: Các Linh mục như một nhóm, rất hạnh phúc với cuộc sống và ơn gọi của họ. Họ ở giữa những người hạnh phúc nhất trong đất nước này” (Rossetti, Tại sao các Linh mục hạnh phúc, 2011, trang 202). Trong khi nhiều người trong xã hội thế tục có thể không đồng ý với kết luận của Đức ông Rossetti dựa trên sự hiểu biết của họ về một số nhỏ các Linh mục, dựa trên kinh nghiệm bản thân của tôi về một số lớn các Linh mục, tôi đồng ý rằng các Linh mục là một nhóm người nam thật sự rất phấn khởi vui tươi. Với tư cách bản thân là một Linh mục và nhận biết sự vui thoả của bản thân tôi trong sứ vụ vừa là Linh mục vừa là Giám mục, tôi cũng thấy dễ dàng tin tưởng vào sự khẳng định của Đức ông Rossetti rằng các Linh mục không chỉ hạnh phúc, mà còn thật sự ở giữa những người tràn đầy niềm vui nhất trong đất nước này. Tôi đã là Linh mục suốt 27 năm, và trong tất cả những năm đó tôi luôn tìm thấy sự vui thoả trong sứ vụ Linh mục. Lòng tôi luôn hướng về sứ vụ trông nom giáo xứ, nơi tôi tìm được sự vui thỏa, niềm vui, và bình an. Tuy nhiên, ngay cả với tất cả những thách đố và đòi hỏi của nó, tôi cũng tìm được sự vui thỏa và niềm vui trong việc phục vụ giáo dân và Giáo hội với tư cách là một Giám mục. Trọng tâm của tôi về đời sống Linh mục và Tu sĩ là bởi vì năm
nay, tuần lễ từ ngày 6 đến 12 tháng Mười được coi là Tuần Lễ Nhận Thức Về Ơn Gọi Toàn Quốc và mời gọi chúng ta chú tâm tới ơn gọi làm Linh mục và Tu sĩ. Tôi thật sự vui mừng vì sự quan tâm đẩy mạnh ơn gọi làm Linh mục và Tu sĩ trong giáo phận đã khích lệ được 16 ứng sinh bước vào chủng viện để tìm hiểu nhận ra ơn gọi làm Linh mục của mình. Tôi cũng vui mừng vì có ít nhất 3 hay 4 thiếu nữ từ giáo phận chúng ta đang suy nghĩ hay đã gia nhập vào các dòng tu và để tìm hiểu nhận ra ơn gọi của đời sống thánh hiến làm Tu sĩ của mình. Thật hạnh phúc thay!! Rõ ràng, các thanh niên thiếu nữ đang đi tới sự hiểu biết về niềm vui của việc tìm hiểu ơn gọi làm Linh mục hay Tu sĩ, và tôi vui mừng với tất cả những người trong giáo phận chúng ta, những người đã nuôi dưỡng mảnh đất màu mỡ cho các ơn gọi trong giáo phận chúng ta. Ngày lễ Các Thánh, mùng 1 tháng 11, nhắc nhở chúng ta rằng giống như tất cả các thánh được biết hay chưa biết tới trên Thiên đàng, mỗi người và mọi người chúng ta phải đón nhận ơn gọi phổ quát nên thánh trong suốt cuộc đời dương thế của chúng ta, đã được Thiên Chúa ban cho chúng ta. Sự thánh thiện của các thánh trên Thiên đàng tỏa sáng, và trong một thế giới đầy bóng tối và hoài nghi, chúng ta cần gương sáng của các thánh để soi đường dẫn lối cho chúng ta. Thật là vui mừng cho những ai được kêu gọi làm Linh mục hay Tu sĩ để đón nhận ơn gọi nên thánh này và tìm thấy trong đó sự vui thỏa, hạnh phúc, và bình an. Với tư cách là Giám mục, tôi vui mừng được kể vào danh sách các Linh mục, phục vụ cho giáo phận này. Cá nhân tôi tìm thấy niềm vui và sự vui thỏa lớn lao nhiều trong hàng ngũ Linh mục của chúng tôi kể từ hội ngộ của chúng tôi vào tháng Tám vừa qua; cuộc hội ngộ đã giúp chúng tôi củng cố các mối dây ràng buộc chúng tôi là các huynh đệ Linh
mục, những người tìm cách xây dựng Vương quốc Thiên Chúa trong giáo phận chúng tôi bằng việc phục vụ những người đã được trao phó cho sự mục vụ của chúng tôi, và cũng phục vụ nhau giữa các huynh đệ Linh mục. Tôi biết rằng các Linh mục của chúng tôi thật sự tìm được niềm vui trong các nỗ lực chung để phục vụ giáo dân qua việc giảng dạy lời Chúa và ban phát các bí tích của Giáo hội. Tôi cũng tri ân các nam nữ Tu sĩ, những người đang phục vụ tại đây trong giáo phận chúng ta. Thật có phúc khi chúng ta có được họ ở cùng! Tất cả những người đã tận tâm với đặc sủng của dòng mình và với giáo dân trong giáo phận của chúng ta. Trong ánh sáng của Tuần Lễ Nhận Thức Về Ơn Gọi Toàn Quốc, trong 11 suốt tháng Mười Một này, tôi sẽ mời gọi các tín hữu trong giáo phận của chúng ta làm hai việc này: Trước hết, làm một điều tốt lành nào đó cho vị Linh mục hoặc cho một Tu sĩ của chúng ta; và kế đến là giới thiệu ơn gọi làm Linh mục hay Tu sĩ cho một thanh niên thiếu nữ nào đó, mà Ông Bà Anh Chị Em biết họ có đủ tư cách để trở thành một Linh mục hay Tu sĩ. Sự khẳng định như thế sẽ đi cùng với việc yểm trợ các Linh mục của chúng ta và trong việc khích lệ cũng như giúp có thêm các thanh niên thiếu nữ lắng nghe tiếng gọi của Chúa để làm Linh mục hay Tu sĩ. Trong tháng này, xin Ông Bà Anh Chị Em cầu nguyện cách đặc biệt cho tất cả các Linh mục, Tu sĩ, và chủng sinh của chúng ta, cũng như cho tất cả các tín hữu đã ra đi trước chúng ta, mà chúng ta sẽ nhớ đến trong ngày lễ Các Đẳng Linh Hồn. Xin bình an của Chúa luôn ở cùng tất cả Ông Bà Anh Chị Em. Dịch thuật do Lm. Francis Bui, SDD và Thầy Paul Vu, SDD. Tu Đoàn Tông Đồ Giáo Sĩ Nhà Chúa www.bayoucatholic.com
Comment
Pope urges protection of invisible and voiceless child migrants The Pope Speaks
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VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis has made an impassioned plea to the international community to protect the world’s “invisible and voiceless” child migrants who fall prey to prostitution, human trafficking and forced labor when they travel far from home. In a strongly worded statement released ahead of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (Jan. 15), Francis said immigration is “growing into a tragic situation of global proportions” and children are being exploited by the “unscrupulous” as they flee violence and poverty. “I feel compelled to draw attention to the reality of child migrants, especially the ones who are alone,” the pope said. “I ask everyone to take care of the young, who in a threefold way are defenseless: They are children, they are foreigners, and they have no means to protect themselves.” The pope said children were the first to suffer and were at times subjected to physical torture and violence as well as psychological aggression that “left indelible scars.” “They are invisible and voiceless,” he said on Thursday (Oct. 13). “Their precarious situation deprives them of documentation, hiding them from the world’s eyes.” Since he was elected in 2013, Francis has often highlighted
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2016
Photo courtesy of Reuters/Stefano Rellandini Pope Francis interacts with a child as he arrives for the audience for workers and volunteers of mercy at the Vatican.
the plight of migrants and refugees and has frequently urged world leaders to do more to welcome those migrants, particularly children, who were escaping war and poverty. According to UNICEF, there are 65 million children around the world fleeing poverty, violence and the impact of climate change in search of a better life. Francis made a heartfelt appeal for longterm solutions and urged the international community to end the conflict and violence that force them to flee their troubled countries. The pontiff has demonstrated his support for migrants on several occasions and regularly sends the Vatican almoner, Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, to migrant
camps in Rome to distribute food to those in need. In April, during a visit to the Greek island of Lesbos, where migrants landed after making dangerous sea crossings from Turkey, the pope took 12 Syrian migrants with him back to Rome. He later invited the Syrian families to lunch at the Vatican. Earlier on Thursday the pope received 1,000 pilgrims -- most of them German Lutherans -- at the Vatican and urged them to seek unity through charity. The Lutherans had an audience with the pope as part of ecumenical preparations to mark the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. (Josephine McKenna is RNS’ Vatican correspondent)
Questions of Faith Very Rev. Joshua Rodrigue, STL
I attended a funeral on Saturday morning and planned on going to the Saturday Vigil Mass. Could I receive Communion at that second Mass? Book IV of the Code of Canon Law (CIC) governs the administration of the sacraments. Before the 1983 CIC, a person could receive Communion only once per day except when in danger of death and preventing irreverence to the sacred species. However, a priest could receive Communion during their celebration of the Mass for a second and third time. After 1965, other occasions were allowed for a second reception of Communion. In 1973, the Congregation for the Sacraments issued an instruction extending permission to those attending Mass a second time in eight categories of special occasions. The 1983 CIC simplifies the previous law stating in Canon 917, “One who had received the blessed Eucharist may receive it again (iterum) on the same day only within a eucharistic celebration in which that person participates without prejudice to the provision of Canon 921 §2.” So, a person can receive the Eucharist a second time in a day in the context of a Mass. It cannot be at a Communion Service. Nevertheless, a person in danger of death may receive Communion again in the form of Viaticum on the same day (Canon 921 §2). Because the church encourages full, conscious, and active participation, reception of the Eucharist at the Mass is part of fully participating. A question was then posed regarding the phrase, “may receive it again on the same day.” Did it mean as often as a person went to Mass? Could a person even receive it three or more
times? The Pontifical Commission for the Interpretation of the Code responded that the word iterum means only a second time and not as often as a person attends Mass. And so, if a person is properly disposed to receive the Eucharist— being free from known mortal sin and having fasted from food (water and medicine excluded) one hour before receiving Communion—yes, a person would be able to receive the Eucharist twice in one day as long as the second time is in the context of Mass.
At what point can you arrive after the celebration of Mass begins and still fulfill your Sunday obligation? Before Vatican II some theologians said arriving before the Gospel was the moment, while some moral theology manuals had arriving before the offertory as the point of fulfilling the Sunday obligation since the Eucharist was seen as the most important part. Perhaps the second sounds like a pastor may have chosen that time to ensure a person arrived to put in the collection basket! Joking aside, after the liturgical reform, there was a greater understanding of the Mass as composed of two important parts— the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The persons of the Trinity communicate their love for us through both the proclamation of the word and celebration of the sacrament. The worshiping community also benefits from our presence and prayer throughout the entire
Mass. The greater question to ask is “Why would I want to know the bare minimum required to fulfill my obligation?” This perhaps forces us to look at how we view the celebration of the Mass and our relationship to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. “Obligation” is a word that true love does not know. If we truly love God, then going to the celebration of Mass is not an obligation but a choice to love God in a greater way since he has first loved us. The theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar writes, “Where love grows sluggish, law flourishes.” Obligation to the law enters when we grow lukewarm in our freely chosen love and response to God. There is no written rule to say what the minimum requirement is. However, because we fulfill our role in the universal priesthood of the baptized by offering prayers and sacrifice, especially in the celebration of the Eucharist, we can look at the instructions for ordained priests concelebrating with other priests at Mass to perhaps give us an answer to the question. The General Instruction of the Roman 13 Missal, No. 206 states, “No [priest] is ever to enter into concelebration or to be admitted as a concelebrant once the Mass has already begun.” Therefore, barring any unforeseen obstacles such as traffic congestion or trying to dress and round up uncooperative children or finding the closest parking spot to be a mile from the church, we should be at Mass for the beginning of the entrance chant and procession, and remain until the blessing and dismissal (don’t do the “Judas Shuffle” out the doors after communion). If there is a habitual arriving late and leaving early, one should really take time in prayer to ask, “Why?”
Readers are encouraged to send their questions to our local Bayou Catholic columnists by email to bayoucatholic@htdiocese.org. www.bayoucatholic.com
Reflections Readings Between The Lines Father Glenn LeCompte
Let mercy become a ‘habit of the heart’
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The Holy Year of Mercy reaches its culmination on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King, the weekend of Nov. 19-20, 2016. I use the word “culmination” rather than “end” because it is important that whatever spiritual growth we have experienced during this Holy Year not be left behind in 2016. Perhaps we accepted the challenge to put the corporal and spiritual works of mercy into practice in concrete ways. That is good, but the purpose of giving greater attention to those works is to develop a more regular, habitual practice of them in our lives. The Gospel reading, the Lucan account of Jesus’ crucifixion (23:35-43), is a most appropriate reading for the culmination of the Holy Year of Mercy, because in this episode of Luke’s passion narrative Jesus models great acts of mercy. Luke’s version of the episode just cited contains some very critical nuances which expose Luke’s unique Christology, especially when we presume that Luke’s primary source for the passion narrative was Mark, secondarily he included some unique material, and thirdly, Luke has made some editorial changes to Mark. Whereas Mark 15:37 and Matthew 27:38 mention Jesus crucified between two “robbers,”
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2016
Luke has him between two “evildoers” (New American Bible translation is “criminals”). This change is significant to Luke’s purpose because Luke emphasizes Jesus’ innocence. Pilate twice declares him “not guilty” (Luke 23:14, 22) and the centurion standing at the foot of the cross deems him “innocent” (23:47). By contrast, the centurion’s remark in the Marcan (15:39) and Matthean (27:54) parallels is that Jesus was “the Son of God.” Luke sharply distinguishes between the character of the two “evildoers” and that of the innocent Jesus. In fact, in Luke’s sequel, Acts (10:38), Peter announces to his audience in Cornelius’ household that Jesus went about “doing good.” Also, in Acts 13:27-28 Paul tells the Jewish crowd in Pisidian Antioch that “the inhabitants of Jerusalem and their leaders” procured from Pilate Jesus’ death “even though they found no grounds for a death sentence.” “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 15:34a). There is some question as to whether or not these words were added to Luke’s text by a later editor, but if they are original, they depict Jesus acting in accord with the characterization of innocence and goodness with which Luke has depicted Jesus. Jesus’ declaration of forgiveness would have to be directed to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and their leaders, who arranged his
crucifixion. The mention of Jesus’ garments being divided and gambled for reflects Psalm 22:8-9, 19, which describes a righteous sufferer, a detail which adds prophetic justification to Luke’s portrayal of Jesus. Luke 23:35 is loaded with irony. The people and their rulers sarcastically observe that since Jesus saved others, “let him save himself, if he is the Messiah, the Chosen one.” The irony here is that Jesus, who, as Messiah, saved others from spiritual and physical bondage through his acts of healing, is now performing the ultimate act of salvation by saving people from their sins. Indeed, he is acting in the person of the “Christ,” “the Anointed One.” In verse 36, Luke parallels the mocking of Jesus’ Jewish detractors by having the soldiers mock him under a political title, “King of the Jews.” Again, Jesus acts according to his Lucan characterization as an innocent and good person in the exchange between himself and those crucified with him (Luke 23:39-43), a scene unique to Luke’s passion narrative. Luke describes the two evildoers as “hanging,” a term reminiscent of Deuteronomy 21:23c, “God’s curse rests on him who is hanged on a tree ... .” One of the evildoers joins the jeers of the crowd and the Roman soldiers in reviling Jesus by suggesting that if he is indeed the Messiah that he save himself and
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him and his fellow evildoer as well (23:39). The other crucified man rebukes the first and points out that their sentence is one of justice for their crimes, whereas in Jesus’ case he has done nothing wrong (23:40-41), yet another declaration of Jesus’ innocence. Indeed an innocent sufferer, Jesus must be serving some purpose by suffering. The crucified man who acknowledged Jesus’ innocence shows that he has a true understanding of Jesus’ Messiahship. As Messiah Jesus offers ultimate salvation, salvation from sin, and the crucified man who confesses Jesus’ innocence requests the gift of salvation from Jesus when he asks him, “Remember me when you come into your Kingdom” (23:42). Having been addressed as a king, Jesus responds regally by declaring that the man would accompany Jesus “in paradise,” and thereby Jesus extends the man a royal pardon. The man does not deserve salvation because of his wrongdoing, but Jesus, out of a sense of compassion grants his request. Jesus, he recognizes, is the
only one who can truly save him at this point. Shifting gears now from biblical analysis to application, I want to connect some of the points I made above concerning Luke 23:33-43 to the spiritual works of mercy. First, by forgiving those who procure his death Jesus both forgives injuries and bears wrongs patiently. His enemies’ act of arranging for his crucifixion is indeed unjust, but Jesus begs the Father’s forgiveness of his adversaries because they are acting in ignorance. Jesus here is depicted as true to his teaching in Luke 6:35, “Love your enemies and
Reflection
Questions
do good to them.” Jesus also bears a wrong done to him patiently by refraining from seeking revenge or allowing himself to be overcome with hate for his enemies. The Holy Year of Mercy ends, then, with Jesus modeling merciful behavior in a most unlikely situation, as he is unjustly condemned and executed. So as the shutting of the Holy Doors brings a close to the Year of Mercy, let us not shut mercy out of our lives, but within our hearts, so that mercy will become for each of us a “habit of the heart.”
ecome ped you to b el h cy er M r of hers? the Holy Yea ling with ot n How has ea d in n so ciful per stances in a more mer cult circum fi if d t os m fully? How e been the to act merci d ge n What hav n le al ? done better have been ch which you ld you have u co t a h W ond? him to did you resp Jesus asked h it w ed fi ci ard him e men cru vorably tow fa ct a n One of th to , is t want him,” that do you mos t a h w “remember r Fo s. is sinfulnes regarding h ou? y of l mindfu Jesus to be
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November Holy Father’s prayer intentions
Universal Countries Receiving Refugees. That the countries which take in a great number of displaced persons and refugees may find support for their efforts which show solidarity.
Evangelization Collaboration of Priests and Laity. That within parishes, priests and lay people may collaborate in service to the community without giving in to the temptation of discouragement.
See www.apostleshipofprayer.org
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Book Reviews
Reading with Raymond Raymond Saadi
Sting How to read the Bible By Harvey Cox Harper One $26.99
Night School By Lee Child Delacorte Press $28.99 Jack Reacher, tough ex-army military policeman who, in his previous 19 adventures, took on the best of the worse villains and quickly dispatched them. But, when the FBI, CIA and National Security Council call on him to help discover what an American soldier has for which foreign agents will pay 100 million dollars, they only get in his way.
How to read the Bible? One could begin “In the beginning” straight through to “… even the world itself could not contain all the books that should be written” (John 21-25). Many have found it harder than it seems. Cox, considered by his contemporaries among our greatest theologians, makes even the most obscure biblical passages accessible to lay readers. He opens new insights to many familiar Bible passages and brings to life other books that may have baffled many.
Seinfeldia By Jennifer Keishin Armstrong Simon & Schuster $26 For dedicated Seinfeld fans, here’s a treasure trove of laughs. Just the mention of “Vandelay Industries,” “Soup Nazi (No soup for you!), and “Marine Biologist” are enough to get a laugh. Interestingly too, are the background facts; how Jerry and Larry David came to create the show and how they managed to get away with gags no other show dared attempt. Photos help take you behind the scenes for this gem.
By Sandra Brown Grand Central $26 Brown keeps fans reading in circles, pulling situations out of her hat, defying readers to guess the outcome of her novels. In Sting, two hit men sitting in a bar in (of all places), Terrebonne Parish, are planning the dispatch of their victim, when she actually walks into the place. Things soon get out of hand; one hit man takes a hit, the other gets away with the intended victim, and … the sting begins.
The Relic Master By Christopher Buckley Simon and Schuster $26.95 This book will either have you laughing out loud or crying sacrilege or both. “Dismas,” the fictional sixteenth century seller of “authentic” holy relics, is desperate to obtain for his most important buyer, the Shroud of Turin. When his artist friend Durer attempts to create a fake, it is soon found out, forcing the two to attempt stealing the real thing. Good luck with that. www.bayoucatholic.com
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Special
God has a plan for each individual person Vocations Awareness Week Nov. 6-12
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Guest Columnist Rev. Mr. John David Matherne
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For years, parishes have been making every effort to intentionally pray for vocations. In my opinion, these prayers have directly contributed to the culture of discernment that has been developing in the youth of our diocese. Young people are more freely questioning if they are called to embrace a life devoted wholly and publically to the church in a religious vocation. In my own process of discerning my vocation, one of the hardest aspects with which I had to wrestle was the fear of telling my parents that I would leave my degree unfinished at LSU and enter the seminary. How were my mom and dad going to react? How
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2016
would my community of family and friends look at me differently? Would I be overly admired or would some say that I was foolish to pass up so many other opportunities? For a 20-year-old, these questions are hard. They carry a lot of weight. And ultimately, they can be a burden that is too heavy to carry alone. The decision to enter into a formal formation program of the seminary or religious household is one that can be isolating and many times this isolation can be inflicted by those closest to the young person. Often, parents will pray the prayers for vocations at Mass on Sunday and even encourage other teens and young adults to enter into the seminary, but what about their own child? The “I want grandchildren” excuse can be one that leads a parent to not accept that God has called their son or daughter to serve the church in a particular way, which does not include marriage. In my life, I remember my mom expressing such concerns and my dad struggling with the fear that I would not be happy alone. These are common fears for parents, and these fears and concerns often
times are warranted in that any good parent wants their child to be happy, successful and safe. These concerns are legitimate, especially in a world that has become estranged to the sacred, a culture that loathes silence, and a society that has belittled sacrifice, but those called to a life of celibacy of the kingdom of heaven are in a sense our Renaissance men and women, who call us back to the sacred and remind us of our ultimate call, an intimate relationship and ever deepening love of God. Our young people who are being called into this type of relationship are embracing a life that God has planned for them from the beginning of time. The words of the prophet Jeremiah are especially relevant as God tells Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you” (Jeremiah 1:5). I have been asked before, “Why is the Holy Spirit calling more young people over the last few years?” For example, both Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans and St Joseph’s Seminary College just outside of Covington have seen enrollment continue
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to climb over the last six years to now having their highest enrollments in decades. I do not think there has been more of a call; instead, I think our young people have been more willing to listen and answer this call because they generally recognize the call that God has put on their hearts is their way to fulfillment. The culture of our diocese has shifted to let discernment become a normal process in youth groups and high schools. There has been more of a freedom for young people to ask these questions about how God is calling them to love. There are a number of obstacles that can stand in the way of this freedom, but it is nothing short of a tragedy that external pressures can force or discourage a young person’s entering into a celibate state of life. I remember speaking with a friend of mine from college about the struggle of being a young, single guy and being treated simply as a prospective seminarian candidate by priests. He felt as if he was continually being recruited and pressured into filling out an
application. This is wrong, but it is similar to a situation where a young person expresses interest in the priesthood or religious life as a product of an active prayer life but faces discouragement from their family or friends. The call to marriage and the call to the priesthood or religious life is God’s call, and it is the role of the family to assist the young person in hearing this call. So what role should parents play in a young person’s life concerning their discernment? Firstly, parents should not to plan out their child’s life for them. Everyone has a personal responsibility to make their own decisions and follow their own discernment, and parents help to form their child for this process. If God is calling someone to a celibate vocation, that is what will truly make them happy. To discourage them would be nothing short of a tragedy. Secondly, parents can openly support the culture of vocations in their homes. Talk about vocations, and if you do not feel qualified to
do so, then learn about vocations through priests or religious in our area. Our diocesan Vocations Office is here to help support young people discerning, as well as their families. Lastly, encourage discernment in young people. There are many youth programs and retreats offered throughout our diocese, and the Vocations Office hosts multiple “Come and See” discernment weekends. These are meant to allow a space for God to speak. Encouraging a prayer life and discernment opportunities can be very beneficial ways for parents to support vocations. God has a plan for each individual person, and the church is most alive when we all live and love in our unique way. May we continue to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and that our young people will be ready to respond freely to God’s call. (The Rev. Mr. John David Matherne is a fourth year theology student at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.)
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Heavenly Recipes
Glenda’s Favorite
Story and Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier
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This month’s heavenly recipe, crawfish casserole, comes from Glenda Santiny, a parishioner of Our Lady of the Isle Church parish in Grand Isle. Glenda got the recipe from The Black Pot Talks Back, a cookbook by her good friends Joyce and Bob Sevin. Originally from Prentiss, MS, Glenda moved to Grand Isle when she was 15 years old. Glenda met her husband Russel when she was 15. The two dated and were married five years later. “I met the only man I ever dated when I was15. We will celebrate 50 years of marriage this December,” says Glenda. While she likes to follow recipes she says she had to adapt to cooking in South Louisiana. “My mother’s way of cooking was completely different from how people cook here. I had to learn how to cook the foods that people enjoyed eating here.” Glenda leads the Ladies Altar Society, teaches sacramental preparation for first Communion students and is an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist at Our Lady of the Isle. “Besides being involved in church ministry, I am also involved in the Grand Isle community. I am a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary. I head the Christmas Club Organization. We buy toys and stockings and fill them with fruit, candy and nuts. We then distribute them to the children of the community. I love doing it.” Glenda says that living on the Gulf Coast is enjoyable but can also be challenging. “Island life is quiet. It is a close-knit community here. Everyone knows each other. It is a Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2016
little inconvenient at times when you need to go to the doctor or shopping. I’ve enjoyed the lifestyle here; it’s not rushed. However I don’t enjoy evacuating for a storm. I have considered moving elsewhere.” Glenda recalls 2005 as a tough year. “We had heavy damage from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. That was also the year that one of my sons was injured from a bomb in Iraq; he is alright now.” It was through that experience that her son Deron became involved in the Wounded Warrior Project. “He works with veterans who have lost limbs and has also worked toward bettering the Veterans Hospitals.” Like everyone Glenda and her family have faced trials and tribulations. “I don’t know how anyone copes with life’s problems without faith in God. I say let go and let God take control. We even
experienced a tornado in 1972 where we lost everything. We were living in a trailer at the time. When the tornado hit we lost our 11 month old child for a while. He was in his high chair. It was found completely smashed under a cabinet with a sheet of paneling on top and a pile of rubble on top of it. He was safe, not a scratch on his head.” Glenda is a firm believer that God is watching over. “Over the past 50 years God has been watching over us in our marriage and continues to watch over us today. You don’t know what tomorrow will hold; and there is no use worrying about it. We have four children and nine grandchildren who are the love of our lives. Even though we have had adversity we are blessed. We have so much to be thankful for.”
Crawfish Casserole 1 lb. crawfish and fat, if available 1 cup chopped onion 1 cup chopped bell pepper 1/4 cup chopped parsley 1 can cheddar cheese soup 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1 stick butter 1 tsp. Cajun seasoning Bread crumbs to cover casserole 3 cups cooked rice Saute’ onions, bell pepper and parsley in butter until onions are clear. Add crawfish, fat, salt and Cajun seasoning; cook for 15 minutes stirring occasionally. Add rice, cream of mushroom soup and cheddar cheese soup. Blend all ingredients well and place in a greased 9x13 inch glass pan. Top with bread crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Life and Legacy
Guest Columnist Father Glenn LeCompte
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The Funeral Liturgy: A Powerful Ritual to Address the Needs of Mourners
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Although as a priest I have assisted many families to prepare funeral rites for loved ones, in 2012, when my father died, I experienced firsthand the power of the funeral rites to convey to us the hope that, through his suffering, death and resurrection, Christ conquered death, and through grace offers us a share in that victory.
What is the Purpose of the Funeral Liturgy?
In the face of death, the church confidently proclaims that God has created each person for eternal life and that Jesus, the Son of God, by his death and resurrection, has broken the chains of sin and death that bound humanity (Introduction to the Order of Christian Funerals No. 1, hereafter IOCF). At the heart of every liturgy is the Paschal Mystery, the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ. Through the liturgy, by means of the grace of the Holy Spirit, we experience the saving benefits of the Paschal Mystery. Death is an aspect of our alienation from God due to sin. As a human being, Jesus Christ experienced death and then overcame it by means of the Father’s raising him from death. Jesus Christ is the “firstborn of the dead” (Colossians 1:18), and Our Lady of the Assumption is “the beginning and image of [the] church’s coming to perfection and a sign of sure hope and comfort to your pilgrim people” (Preface of the Solemnity of the Assumption). These truths of faith, which the Scriptures and our liturgy Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2016
Blessed are those who mourn: Preparing a funeral liturgy which ministers to those in grief LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
articulate, tell us that, in part, the funeral liturgy’s purpose is to help us find strength by reminding us of our hope in eternal life.
Where Should the Funeral Liturgy Be Celebrated?
Canon 1177 of the Code of Canon Law sets the normative venue for the funeral of a deceased Catholic as the deceased’s own parish church. While paragraphs two and three of the same canon allow, for certain reasons, the funeral to be celebrated in another [Catholic] church and never outside of one, as for example, in a secular hall or funeral home chapel. People should be buried from the parish church where they celebrated the other sacraments, at least the place they were doing so at the time of death. Thus we see a continuity in the living of a life of faith. When a funeral rite is held outside of a church, this connection is lost. In the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, the first presumption is that a person should be buried from his or her parish church. For good reasons, funerals are allowed at funeral home chapels, but the Rite outside of Mass is to be celebrated.
Beginning to Prepare the Funeral Liturgy
When a loved one dies, the first thing to do is to call the parish of the deceased person, unless there is a good reason to have the funeral at another parish church. The parish staff there can assist you not only in preparing the funeral rites, but in providing you with pastoral care in your time of grief.
Cremation?
Is cremation acceptable within the scope of Catholic theology and ritual? Many today are asking this question since cremation is becoming more common in society in general for a variety of reasons. Cremation in and of itself is not theologically or morally prohibited, unless it is chosen for reasons contrary to Christian faith, such as denial of the tenet of the resurrection of the body. Regarding the funeral liturgy, the church sees as normative the presence of the body at the funeral rite. If Catholics choose to cremate the body of a loved one, this should be done after the funeral rites. However, the church allows the presence of cremated remains at the funeral, provided they
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Life and Legacy are encased in a dignified urn. Special forms of the prayers during the funeral rites avoid references to the body when cremated remains are present. Cremated remains are treated with reverence when they are interred in a burial space, such as a tomb, mausoleum crypt or columbarium (a small columnar structure designed to hold cremation urns). Cremated remains kept on a mantle in one’s house or sprinkled on the ground or in bodies of water does not constitute a reverent disposition of cremated remains.
Choosing Readings
The Lectionary (the church’s official book of readings for the liturgy) provides a large variety of readings for the funeral liturgy. The first reading comes from the Old Testament (except during the Easter season when a selection from Acts of the Apostles is recommended). A selection of responsorial psalms is also provided; the psalm is better sung than read, since by its nature it is a musical text. The second reading is taken from a New Testament 26 letter, and the Liturgy of the Word
climaxes with a Gospel reading. How can one find the readings? Some parishes have paperback books with all selections of the readings; other parishes print the readings out and clip them in a binder. Of course a person could look through the selection of readings for Masses for the Dead in Volume IV of the Lectionary, a copy of which should be present in your church parish. The best place to find them online is at http://www. usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/ bereavement-and-funerals/ readings-for-the-funeral-liturgy. cfm. So that the word of God, in which Christ makes himself present, is treated with dignity, the readings should be read preferably from the Lectionary or at least from a printed sheet clipped in a binder. Under no circumstances should a person approach the ambo, unfold and read from a loose piece of paper which will be later discarded.
Homily vs. Eulogy
I always find this to be the trickiest part of preparing a funeral liturgy, because people presume, from practice outside of the
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LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
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Catholic Church, that a eulogy is the appropriate form of address at a Catholic funeral. The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines a eulogy as “a commendatory oration or writing especially in honor of one deceased.” IOCF No.27 states, “there is never to be a eulogy.” The same paragraph states that the funeral homily should dwell on God’s compassionate love, the Paschal Mystery of the Lord, the mystery of God’s love and our participation in Christ’s victory over death. The purpose of the homily, then, is to comfort us in the face of death by reminding us of our dying and rising with Christ. The homilist may make reference to the deceased person and may mention details of the person’s life while striving to remain true to the purpose of the funeral homily. The Order of Christian Funerals No. 197 allows for a member or friend of the family to speak in remembrance of the deceased. In the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, these “Words of Remembrance” must be spoken before the funeral rite begins. This means before the liturgical greeting at the beginning of the funeral liturgy.
Choosing Liturgical Ministers
IOCF No. 15 states that lay people may serve as “readers, musicians, ushers, pall-bearers, and, according to existing norms, as special ministers of the Eucharist.” The same paragraph encourages the participation of family and friends in these ministries, as long as their doing so is not encumbered by their “grief and sense of loss.” Especially with regard to choosing readers, families should take into consideration the person’s ability to do liturgical reading and whether or not they are emotionally strong enough to do so. I have seen many unfortunate instances when the powerful and comforting message of a reading was lost because the reader was overwhelmed with grief. Family members may not be the best persons to choose to do the readings.
Choosing Liturgical Music
This is probably the aspect of preparing a funeral liturgy which is most misunderstood. IOCF No. 31 states, “The music at funerals should support, console, and uplift the participants and should help to create in them a spirit of hope in Christ’s victory over death and in the Christian’s share in that victory.” The church does not provide hymns in the text of the funeral liturgy either within or outside of Mass. But in Morning and Evening Prayer for the Dead, contained among the funeral rites, Easter hymns, such as “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” or “Alleluia, The Strife is O’er” are given as the hymns for these liturgies. Recently, I encouraged a family to use such hymns as these and on the morning of the funeral the music minister said to me, “This isn’t going to sound like a funeral.” I answered, “To the contrary, those hymns are quite fitting for a funeral.” The choice of music for a funeral liturgy should not be based upon what the deceased person’s favorite “religious” (sometimes not even liturgical!) songs were. While the usual favorites, “Amazing Grace,” “Be Not Afraid,” and “On Eagle’s Wings” are not inappropriate for funerals, they do not enable us to express our participation in Christ’s victory over death in the way that Easter hymns or hymns that link the Eucharist to Christ’s and our anticipated resurrection (such as “I Am the Bread of Life,” and “Eat This Bread”) do. I hope the guidance I provide in this article will be helpful to all who are involved in preparing funeral rites for the death of a loved one, and that the liturgy which results from their preparations will indeed be one that helps to ease the pain of death by the hope that our faith gives us.
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Life and Legacy
‘Journey of Hope’
Guest Columnist
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Cindy Hitt
The mission statement for the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales’ grief support ministry, “Journey of Hope,” speaks of, “ ... walking the journey of grief with others in the hope that by compassionate listening and sharing of our own experience we can provide avenues of healing which will bring to those who grieve a renewal of faith and hope.” I lost my youngest daughter in a tragic accident. I prayed God would connect me with someone who would be compassionate and say something that would comfort my broken heart. After my daughter’s death, I was blessed to become associated with a group of mothers who had also lost children. There was something about sharing my feelings of loss with someone who had walked in my shoes that gave me the strength to move forward. The little things I couldn’t put into words were understood. Traditionally, my family’s way of dealing with the death of a loved one was to not speak of them. All reminders of the deceased were quickly removed so as not to add to the heartbreak the loss caused. Everyone was expected to move on with life and let the deceased rest in peace. In this group of mothers, however, we were encouraged to bring pictures of our children and share fond memories of them. We spoke openly about our sadness and the difficulties we felt, both real and imagined. I was always so comforted by our meetings that, in my heart, I knew this was the way God intended for me to grieve. When I heard St Francis de Sales wanted to start a ministry for the bereaved, I prayed it would be one that would provide
LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
the comfort I had received. The following is an overview of the Journey of Hope. I hope it gives those who are considering joining some insight. We meet weekly and the presentation topics change every week but all of them focus on the grief process. Over the eight week period, the program addresses many of the feelings normal for the grieving. Anger and guilt are often mentioned when grieving is occurring and that anger is sometimes directed at God. Educational materials, discussion questions, and heartfelt sharing are used in hopes unanswered questions can be addressed. God understands our sadness and our human quality to blame someone as a way of dealing with our loss. Each session begins with a warm, supportive welcome followed by opening prayer. Members introduce themselves and share the name of their loved one. Sharing is encouraged but it is expected that the bereaved will experience new, intense emotions. The support group is a venue to share, or “uncork” those feelings and explore them in a meaningful way. If a member feels any step is too difficult, they may remain silent. There is no pressure to share but we do insist members respect others and confidentiality is stressed. The group understands the courage it takes just to show up and feel blessed that you are there.
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2016
After the presentation, handouts are provided for reflection. If a member has a concern they want to share with the group, the floor is open. As members continue on their journey, sharing becomes easier. The session ends with a closing and a prayer. Each session lasts approximately 90 minutes. Because the process of grief is so complex, the program has structure to keep members focused, but it is also flexible so the individuality of each person can be respected. We believe God gives each one of his precious children the right to choose how they want to grieve with no one way being right or wrong. Each member is encouraged to move through the process at their own pace. For those members who may experience feelings that require more support than our group can offer, professional counselors are available for a fee. Assistance can be provided to arrange appointments. In closing, I would like to say I am honored to be asked to write this article. I am not an expert on grief but I am a person of a healing faith. I thank God for this wonderful ministry and the people he brings to it. Registration is open to all members of the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux by calling St Francis de Sales Cathedral office at (985) 8766904. (Cindy Hitt is a facilitator for the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales’ grief support ministry entitled “Journey of Hope.”)
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Life and Legacy
Thoughts for Millennials
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Ryan Abboud
I think we can all agree that the word “struggle” isn’t necessarily a word that we want to keep in our daily vocabulary (especially when we’re using it to describe aspects of our own lives). Growing up, I’ve always bought into the negative connotation behind the word “struggle.” I’ve always been embarrassed to say that I was “struggling” in a specific aspect of life, and I’ve always felt a certain sympathy for those who are going through a “struggle.” To me, “struggling” always denoted a period of time where an individual was losing. I always used the word with a sense of finality about it. To struggle
It’s OK to struggle was to lose and to lose was to fail. However, the Lord comes to us and informs us that to struggle is not to lose. To struggle is to fight. A struggle does not denote one side prevailing; it denotes two sides battling for a winner. For example, a struggling heart is still a heart that is beating. Therefore, a struggling soul is a soul that can still be won over by the Father. If you’re struggling in your faith, don’t be discouraged. It means that you still have faith. The only way a heart is hopeless and cannot be saved is when it has no more fight left in it. As we go through life, there will be highs and lows. There will be victories and there will be struggles. Sometimes, high school can be a struggle of faith for many. But it’s okay to struggle. College can be a huge test of faith. It’s okay to struggle. Life as an adult can be difficult and might bend your faith life to the point of breaking. But it’s
okay to struggle. As long as we do not give up and forfeit the fight; it’s okay to struggle. The life that God lays out in front of you to follow is a path that was never promised to be easy. However, it is a path that is simple. He walks alongside of us and guides our every step. He’s there through every struggle and he anxiously awaits us to come out of it on the other side. All in all, don’t be afraid to struggle. Own it, embrace it, because it ultimately means that there’s still a fight to be fought and there’s still a victory to won. It’s all in your hands. “It is good to struggle. If you’re struggling, it means that you have faith. A sailor can use any wind to get home, but the only time that a sailor cannot get home is when there’s no wind at all” (Author Unknown). (Ryan Abboud is a 2015 graduate of Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma and a sophomore at LSU in Baton Rouge.)
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Young Voices We can embrace the “giving spirit” as we approach Thanksgiving by the way we give back to the community and with what the spirit gives us. The Holy Spirit gives us many things through the sacraments: life with Christ, love and family, and hope and forgiveness. But most of all it gives us our King and our Savior. These things can all easily be embraced when we say “yes” to the Lord our God. Bailey Dupre, 15 years old St. Ann Church parish South Terrebonne High School
How can the young church embrace a “giving spirit” as we approach Thanksgiving?
32 There are numerous ways that the young church can embrace a “giving spirit” as we approach Thanksgiving. Before we can give we must love all as we love ourselves the way our Lord asks us. Love is wanting what is best for another. If we truly love like Christ, then we will give selflessly to the needs of the other person. What people need is love. Overall, the young church can embrace a “giving spirit” by loving as Christ does. Jacques Dupre, 15 years old St. Joseph Church parish, Chauvin South Terrebonne High School
St. (Mother) Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” By taking these words to heart and sharing ourselves with others fully and with great love, whether it be emotional support, physical assistance, or even a simple smile, the young church can embrace a giving spirit. We don’t even need to travel far; our own homes and communities need our daily acts of love. Sarah Massey, 15 years old St. Anthony of Padua Church parish Homeschooled
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2016
As we, the young church, approach the Thanksgiving Season, there are many things that consist of a giving spirit. Some things could be as simple as giving someone a happy smile. We could give a small portion of our time by helping the needy or visiting a nursing home! You could open the door for someone or help them with their groceries. We could also help our church parish deliver things to the less fortunate. Loren Savoie, 15 years old St. Mary’s Nativity Church parish Central Lafourche High School
Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Seminarian Education Burses What is a seminarian burse fund? A seminarian burse fund is an invested sum of money where the interest is used in perpetuity to help fund the education of men to the priesthood in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.
How does someone establish a seminarian burse fund? Very simply, a burse may be established and named for anyone you choose, be it family, friend, bishop, priest, deacon, religious, etc.
When is a seminarian burse complete? A seminarian burse fund is complete once it reaches $15,000. If you choose to continue to contribute, a new burse will be created for you.
Who do I contact to contribute to or establish a burse fund? To contribute or establish a burse, send funds to Pastoral Center, Attn: Seminarian Burse, P. O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395 or call Jeremy Becker, Director of Stewardship and Development, at 985-850-3155 for more information.
Completed Burses of $15,000 each Note: those wtih a number stipulates the number of completed burses* - Anonymous - Mr. & Mrs. C. Thomas Bienvenu - Harry Booker - Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux (3)* - Mr. Eledier Broussard - Rev. Adrian J. Caillouet - Rev. James Louis Caillouet - Bishop L. Abel Caillouet - Judge/Mrs L. P. Caillouet - Msgr. Lucien J. Caillouet - Abdon J. & Ada B. Callais - Harold & Gloria Callais Family - Paul A. Callais - Peter W. Callais - Vincent & Fannie Cannata - Minor Sr. & Lou Ella Cheramie - Maude & Edith Daspit - Mr. & Mrs. Caliste Duplantis family (3)* - Clay Sr. & Evelida Duplantis - C. Remie Duplantis - Marie Elise Duplantis - Warren J. Harang, Jr.
- Msgr. Raphael C. Labit - Msgr. Francis J. Legendre - Rev. Charles Menard - Dr. & Mrs. M.V. Marmande & Fly - Donald Peltier, Sr. (3)* - Harvey Peltier (30)* - Richard Peltier - The Peltier Foundation (5) - Orleans & Louella Pitre - Msgr. Joseph Wester - Robert R. Wright, Jr. - Rev. Kermit Trahan - St. Bernadette Men’s Club - Diocesan K of C - Leighton Delahaye - Mrs. Shirley Conrad - Bishop Shelton Fabre - Elizabeth Hebert - Callais Family Fund - Rev. Joseph Tu Tran - Endowment Fund - $119,136.90
September 2016 Burse Contributions Callais Family Fund ..................................... $15,000.00 Rev. Joseph Tu Tran #1 ................................. $15,000.00 Rev. Joseph Tu Tran #2 ...................................... $197.50 Brides of the Most Blessed Trinity ...................... $93.00 33
Open Burses with Balance as of 9/30/16 Sidney J. & Lydie C. Duplantis ........... $13,000.00 Donald Peltier, Sr. #4 ............................ $13,000.00 Joseph Strada Memorial ...................... $12,642.63 Msgr. Raphael C. Labit #2 .................. $11,080.00 Harvey Peltier #31 .............................. $10,486.91 Joseph Waitz, Sr. ................................. $10,100.00 Clay Sr. & Evelida Duplantis #2 .......... $10,000.00 C. Remie Duplantis #2 ........................ $10,000.00 Marie Elise Duplantis #2 ..................... $10,000.00 Maude & Edith Daspit #2 .................... $10,000.00 Msgr. George A. Landry ...................... $10,000.00 Mr. & Mrs. George C. Fakier ................. $9,000.00 Elie & Dot Klingman .............................. $8,960.00 Rev. Victor Toth ..................................... $7,000.00 Brides of the Most Blessed Trinity ......... $6,598.00 Msgr. William Koninkx ........................... $6,000.00 Rev. Peter Nies ..................................... $5,900.00 Msgr. Francis Amedee ........................... $5,150.00 Mr. & Mrs. Love W. Pellegrin ................. $5,000.00 Anonymous #2 ...................................... $5,000.00 Mr. & Mrs. Caliste Duplantis Fmly.#4..... $5,000.00 Rev. William M. Fleming ........................ $5,000.00 Mrs. Ayres A. Champagne ..................... $5,000.00 Society of St. Joseph .............................. $5,000.00 Catholic Daughters ................................ $4,905.00 Rev. Kasimir Chmielewski ..................... $4,839.00 Rev. Gerard Hayes ................................ $4,786.00 Joseph “Jay” Fertitta .............................. $4,450.00
Rev. Guy Zeringue ................................ $4,400.00 Rev. Henry Naquin ................................. $4,331.00 Harry Booker #2 .................................... $4,138.00 Kelly Curole Frazier ............................... $3,610.96 Msgr. James Songy ............................... $3,575.00 J. R. Occhipinti ...................................... $3,400.00 Anawin Community ............................... $3,400.00 Mr. & Mrs. Galip Jacobs ........................ $3,060.00 St. Jude ................................................. $3,000.00 Diocesan K of C #2 ............................... $2,894.62 Rev. Peter H. Brewerton ........................ $2,600.00 Warren J. Harang, Jr. #2 ......................... $2,200.00 Willie & Emelda St. Pierre ...................... $2,000.00 Rev. H. C. Paul Daigle ........................... $1,900.00 James J. Buquet, Jr. ............................... $1,650.00 Alfrances P. Martin ................................. $1,650.00 Preston & Gladys Webre ........................ $1,650.00 Msgr. Francis J. Legendre #2 ................ $1,645.00 Rev. Robert J. Sevigny .......................... $1,600.00 Rev. John Gallen .................................... $1,600.00 Rev. Hubert C. Broussard ...................... $1,550.00 Msgr. Emile J. Fossier ........................... $1,545.00 Dr. William Barlette, Sr........................... $1,525.00 Msgr. Stanislaus Manikowski ................ $1,525.00 Mr. & Mrs. John Marmande .................... $1,500.00 Deacon Robert Dusse’ ........................... $1,450.00 Msgr. John L. Newfield .......................... $1,200.00 Jacob Marcello ....................................... $1,200.00
Deacon Connely Duplantis ..................... $1,175.00 Rev. Anthony Rousso ............................. $1,150.00 Ronnie Haydel ....................................... $1,035.00 Rev. Clemens Schneider ....................... $1,000.00 Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux #4 ........... $1,000.00 Msgr. John G. Keller .............................. $1,000.00 Judge Louis & Shirley R. Watkins .............. $950.00 Deacon Willie Orgeron ............................. $800.00 Ruby Pierce .............................................. $800.00 Deacon Roland Dufrene ........................... $750.00 Juliette & Eugene Wallace ......................... $700.00 Deacon Edward J. Blanchard ................... $660.00 Edna W. DiSalvo ....................................... $600.00 Deacon Raymond LeBouef ...................... $550.00 Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Cannata .................... $500.00 Bernice Harang ......................................... $400.00 Anne Veron Aguirre ................................... $380.00 Dean Joseph Chiasson ............................. $350.00 Deacon Harold Kurtz ................................ $300.00 Richard Peltier #2 ..................................... $300.00 Claude Bergeron ...................................... $250.00 Rev. Jospeh Tu Tran #2 ............................. $197.50 Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Naquin .......................... $150.00 Deacon Pedro Pujals ................................ $100.00 Deacon Eldon Frazier .............................. $ 50.00 Deacon Nick Messina .............................. $ 50.00 Rev. Warren Chassaniol ........................... $ 50.00
Overall Seminarian Burse Totals: $1,634,201.52 www.bayoucatholic.com
Special
Denise Alfred
Lauren Boudreaux
Christie Foret
Michelle Lopez
Emily Pizzolato
Catholic School grant winners announced
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By Janet Marcel All Catholic school teachers in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux were given an opportunity in spring to compete for mini-grants as part of the diocesan Educators Conference program. In a ceremony that took place after this year’s Conference, which is sponsored annually by the Catholic Schools Office, five teachers were presented with $500 each to fund the grants they submitted. “Yes! The iPads Are Here!,” written by Emily Pizzolatto, fourth grade teacher at Maria Immacolata Elementary School in Houma, will allow her students the opportunity to utilize an iPad through both individual and group activities in work stations and other classroom instruction as well as create projects in various application formats. “We Can Go the Distance!,” written by Christie Foret, fifth grade teacher at St. Mary’s Nativity School in Raceland, will be used to purchase various manipulatives
such as constant velocity cars, hooked weight sets, stopwatches, and tape measures for designing experiments, selecting appropriate tools to complete tasks, and collecting, recording and analyzing data. These manipulatives will enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential for developmental learning and student engagement. “Light ’Em Up and Learn,” written by Michelle Lopez, prekindergarten teacher at St. Bernadette Elementary School in Houma, will be used to purchase a light table and accessories to enhance the preschool learning experiences in her classroom. The table and accessories will be used during work station learning as students rotate through learning areas, as well as during whole group instruction and teacher demonstrations. “Explore Today, Innovate Tomorrow,” written by Lauren Boudreaux, preschool teacher at Holy Cross Elementary School
The Office wishes to thank these sponsors of the 2016 Teacher Grant awards. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2016
in Morgan City, will be used to purchase theme boxes of manipulatives to engage students with hands-on activities that she can formulate to meet the learning standards of her students in areas such as mathematics to dramatic play while building socialemotional skills. “The Work Station Project,” written by Denise Alfred, kindergarten teacher at Maria Immacolata Elementary School in Houma, will be used to purchase various manipulatives to aid in the teaching and learning of measurement, data and geometry standards through tactile experiences in her classroom and will allow students to participate in hands-on, peer-supported learning through the real-life application of mathematics skills. Funding of these grants was made possible by Coastal Commerce Bank, First American Bank and Trust, Morgan City Bank and Trust, Synergy Bank and United Community Bank.
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How Feb. 14 came to be celebrated as the feast for lovers is somewhat a mystery. What little is known of the feast’s namesake can be attributed to the lives of two martyrs: one a priest, the other a bishop. The priest Valentine reportedly was beheaded in 269 by Emperor Claudius II. The bishop, known for healing, was martyred earlier. It’s probable that a medieval custom of sending messages of love on this day somehow merged later with the feast. We have Valentine’s Day resolutions inside.
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St . Anne
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Continuing our Bayou Patrons series, this month’s featured saint is Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ (also known as Ann or Anna). Her feast day is July 26. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, in Hebrew her name was possibly Hannah, as Anne is the Greek derivative of the name Hannah, also spelled Ann or Anna). All of the information concerning the names and lives of Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of Mary, is derived from apocryphal literature, the Gospel of the Nativity of Mary, the Gospel of PseudoMatthew and the Protoevangelium of James. The Protoevangelium of James gives the following account about Saint Anne. In Nazareth there lived a rich and pious couple, Joachim and Hannah, who were childless. Upon presenting himself to offer sacrifice in the temple, Joachim was repulsed by the High Priest Ruben, who told him that childless couples were unworthy to present themselves before Jehovah. Humiliated and distressed Joachim did not return home, but instead went into the mountains to make his plea to God in solitude. Also, Hannah, having learned the reason of the prolonged absence of her husband, cried to the Lord to take away from her the curse of sterility, promising to dedicate her child to the service of God. Their prayers were heard; an angel came to Hannah and said: “Hannah, the Lord has looked upon thy tears; thou shalt conceive and give birth and the fruit of thy womb shall be blessed by all the world.” The angel made the same promise to Joachim, who returned to his wife Hannah. She gave birth to a daughter she called Mary. Although she wanted a child very badly, Saint Anne knew she had to honor her promise to the Lord. When Mary was three years old, they brought her to the Temple and gave her to the service of the Temple; they did not see her again. Rev. Ty Van Nguyen, pastor of St. Ann Church parish in Bourg since June 2004, says the feast of Sts. Anne and Joachim, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the grandparents of Jesus Christ, is the feast of grandparents; it reminds grandparents of their responsibility to establish a tone for generations to come: They must keep the traditions alive and offer them as a promise to their children. But the feast also reminds the younger generation that older people’s greater perspective, depth of experience and appreciation of life’s profound rhythms are part of a wisdom that is not to be taken lightly or ignored (Saint of the Day, p.181).
a
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2016
Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ Story by Janet Marcel Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier
St. Ann, Bourg
According to Gleanings of Saint Ann Parish written by Father James Caillouet, in December 1872 a small chapel named La Petite Chapelle de Sainte Anne was built for the people of Canal Belanger (now Bourg). In September 1908, Archbishop James Hubert Blenk of New Orleans conducted a canonical visitation at La Petite Chapelle de Sainte Anne and in December of that year, St. Ann Church parish was established. “Our ancestors and parents have chosen St. Ann to be the patron for our church,” says Father Nguyen. “The Church is like the human family. The old person passes on his or her own experience to the next generation. When we celebrated the church parish’s 100th anniversary in 2008, during the procession into the Mass, the older people carried in a flamed torch and a young person walked beside him or her into the church. Before the procession out of church, the old person passed on the torch to the young person who carried it out, symbolizing the passing of ‘the torch of faith from us to our children and children’s children.’ We - each and every one, young and old – do our part, not only keep our Catholic faith ‘alive,’ but ‘influence’ the lives of others.” Father Nguyen says the parish celebrates the feast of Sts. Anne and Joachim every year. On the Saturday before the feast day, the Eucharist is celebrated for the feast day. After Mass, the parish eats together as a church and a human family. “It is a wonderful feast day spiritually and physically,” says the priest. “We are brothers and sisters in the family of Jesus Christ. St. Ann Church welcomes everyone – young and old!” St. Anne is most commonly known for being the patroness of pregnant women, women in labor, unmarried women, childless people, housewives, mothers, grandmothers, horseback riders, cabinetmakers, miners, sailors and protector from storms. She is usually represented in art holding Mary or Jesus in her arms or lap, at her betrothal to Joachim, teaching Mary to read the Bible, greeting Saint Joachim at the Golden Gate or with a book in her hand. Her emblem is a door.
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Comment
Guest Columnist
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Father Wilmer Todd
When Pontius Pilate was questioning Jesus, he asked, “What is truth?” Jesus didn’t answer because maybe he realized that politicians and truth do not always go together. For the past year or more, we have been bombarded with “truths” from liberals, populists and conservatives. We have seen politicians substitute sound bites for truth. Their motto: “If you say it enough times, it must be true.” We find ourselves stuck in the middle of a political slugfest that is more interested with gaining, or retaining, power than with discovering the truth. Where do we go from here? True Catholicism must look beyond politics and remain true to Jesus Christ. However, we must confront the predominant ideologies head on in our allimportant quest for truth. We first address the predominant political ideology of populism. Current American populism has Donald Trump as its most prominent spokesperson. So what is populism? Wikipedia defines populism as an ideology that “pits a virtuous and homogeneous people against a set of elites and dangerous ‘others’ who are together
SINCE FAST st Intere Free cing Finan
Picking up the pieces after the election depicted as depriving (or attempting to deprive) the sovereign people of their rights, values, prosperity, identity and voice.” The major problem with current populism is a lack of conviction for certain definable beliefs, whether moral, ethical, constitutional or political. What makes current populism possibly dangerous is its reliance on anger and vengeance. Further, populism, instead of seeking to solve problems through dialogue and compromise, builds socially divisive “walls,” while calling people insulting names and inciting unnecessary violence. Wikipedia defines the next ideology, liberalism, as: “a political philosophy or world view founded on ideas of liberty and equality.” Yet a more realistic definition would be: a philosophy that stresses human freedom but neglects and even denies the rights of God in religion, the rights of society in civil law, and the rights of the church in her relations to the state. Current
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American liberalism has Hillary Clinton as its most prominent expression, but liberalism in 2016 American society isn’t as virtuous or magnanimous as the definition given to us by Wikipedia. Wikipedia defines the final ideology, conservatism, as: “as a political and social philosophy that promotes retaining traditional social institutions in culture and civilization.” Conservatism in 2016 America can better be understood as a mixture of ideologies such as libertarianism, fiscal conservatism and pseudo-conservatism, all fighting for our vote. True conservatism builds upon JudeoChristian values, traditional family values, constitutional rights and small government. Sadly, true conservatism is either falsely promised from a career politician or is an ideal unattractive to an ever progressively leaning society. How do we live with these different ideologies in the next four years and beyond? A
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Memorial Service was held for former first lady Betty Ford, wife of President Gerald Ford, at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Palm Desert, CA, on July 12, 2011. Present were top political and government officials. She was remembered as an outspoken, transparent woman who advocated for women’s right and bravely fought her own battles with the cancer and alcohol addiction. Delivering the first eulogy, former first lady Rosalynn Carter said that Betty was “an excellent role model and a hard act to follow. Millions are forever in her debt today because she was never afraid to tell the truth.” Betty’s eldest son, Mike Ford, brought out some religious strength his mother exhibited. “Faith, hope
and love are three remarkable qualities of the human spirit that we as her family have seen and experienced in mom throughout her life. Mom’s faith was especially evidenced through her personal renewal in faith late in her life at the beginning of her recovery from her dependency on alcohol and prescription drugs.” “We know of her hope that each of us as family might discover and embrace that special call of God on our lives and for our futures,” he said. “Bringing good out of evil, healing out of brokenness, joy and dancing out of sorrow.” Betty Ford had asked NPR news analyst and political commentator Cokie Roberts to eulogize her and even gave “instructions.” She specified five years before that the eulogy should be about the power of friendship to mend political differences even in these hyperpartisan times. Ford asked her to talk about a time in Washington when Democrats and Republicans could be friends and partisan politics did not paralyze government. Roberts’ father, Democratic Congressman
Hale Boggs of Louisiana, was House majority leader and Republican Gerald R. Ford was House minority leader. She said they could argue about issues but get together as friends afterward. The two families became close as did the Ford and Carter families, despite Jimmy Carter defeating Ford in the 1976 presidential election. “She wanted me to talk about being friends across the aisle, and how it made it easier to govern,” Roberts said. “Political wives were absolutely essential to their relationship.” Betty Ford is a good model for all of us today. Like her, may we learn to bring good out of every evil situation, healing out of brokenness, joy and dancing out of sorrow. May we also be transparent, not letting setbacks keep us from being the persons God wants us to be. May we discover how we can disagree with others without letting our differences interfere with friendship. May all politicians learn that the good of the country must always come before party politics. (Father Wilmer Todd is the pastor of St. Joseph Church parish in Chauvin.)
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Testimonial By Dr. Glenn Manceaux As discussion developed regarding a Strategic Plan for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, a number of commissions were created to study various areas of the function of our diocese. Among the first created was the diocesan Governance Commission. This focus group which has 30-40 members has undertaken a study of the current and future operations, funding and organizational structure of the Pastoral Center. In the 39 year history of the diocese, nothing like this has ever been undertaken. This bold initiative is a direct result of the leadership and transparency Bishop Shelton J. Fabre. He recognized that like other dioceses around the country, we face unique challenges of an aging group of regular churchgoers and a growing void of those younger members of our flock. Sources of funding have changed, communication has changed and certain business practices have 40 changed, but the real reason we exist as a diocese has not changed. It is because the Catholic Church is still the original church started by Christ himself. When we as a commission began looking at the Pastoral Center, it became evident that we needed to target our focus on a few key areas. As a result, we developed four subcommittees which have been reviewing Finances, Communications, Human Resources and the Lumen Christi Retreat Center. The Diocese of Houma-
Enthusiasm and passion is generated during strategic planning process Thibodaux is one of our region’s largest employers and educates thousands of our area children. Our 39 church parishes seat thousands of parishioners each weekend and deliver countless services in spiritual, educational and humanitarian ways. We are facing many challenges to keep our diocese vibrant! Diocesan Governance has had multiple meetings with consultants and presentations from other commissions. We have more meetings scheduled for the entire commission and for our subcommittees. Our goal is to complete our year of work this December with recommendations for some changes and improvements to Bishop Fabre and his cabinet. Throughout our process, Bishop Fabre and the Pastoral Center staff have been extremely helpful
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and appreciative of the volunteer work being done by lay leaders. When the entire Strategic Plan is unfolded next year, hundreds of lay volunteers will have a much better understanding of how our diocese operates, how funding is achieved and how we can better connect the Pastoral Center to our church parishes. It has never been a better time to be a Catholic and especially with the enthusiasm and passion being generated during this strategic planning process. It has been hard work, but nothing could be more rewarding than helping to strengthen our Lord’s church. For all who have contributed, thank you! (Dr. Glenn Manceaux is the chair of the Diocesan Governance Commission for the strategic planning process.)
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300,000
collected in the diocese for LA flood victims Story by Janet Marcel
Between Monday, Aug. 8 and Monday, Aug. 15, 2016, approximately 7.1 trillion gallons of rain fell in Baton Rouge, Lafayette and the surrounding areas during what is being called a “no-name” rain storm event. That is enough water to fill Lake Pontchartrain about four times and almost 5 trillion gallons more than Hurricane Katrina produced in 2005. According to the American Red Cross, this rain event was characterized as the worst U.S. natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy in 2012. 42 Members of the Coast Guard and National Guard, along with emergency responders and civilians helped bring more than 30,000 residents and 1,400 pets to safety. There were 13 flood-related deaths reported in five parishes. An estimated 146,000 homes were damaged in the flooding and according to FEMA, 20 parishes were declared emergency disaster areas. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said the cost of the floods stands at an estimated $8.7 billion and that number is expected to rise as assessment of the damage continues. Robert Gorman, executive director of Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, reports that the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux joined Catholic Charities Diocese of Baton Rouge, Catholic Social Services Diocese of Lafayette, Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana and Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans in assisting with their disaster operations. During the last two weeks in August, the church parishes in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux took up special second collections for the flood relief. Based on need, the Diocese of Baton Rouge was given $154,920, Lafayette, $29,048; and Lake Charles, $9,683. As of press time, Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux collected $51,126 for flood relief efforts. They distributed $33,000 to Catholic Charities Baton Rouge; $13,000 to the Diocese of Lafayette Flood Relief Fund, and $5,126 to Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana. These donations, which are in addition to the diocesan second collections, have come from local families and from people as far away as California, Michigan, Maine and all states in between. “This outpouring is a testament to the generosity of Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2016
RICHARD MEEK/CATHOLIC COMMENTATOR
Bishop Shelton J. Fabre and Robert Gorman, executive director of Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, presented a check for $154,920 from the second collections taken in church parishes throughout the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux to Bishop Robert Muench and Carol Spruell, communications coordinator for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
people throughout the country who are taking to heart the words of Jesus in Matthew 25: ‘For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me ... whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me,’” says Bishop Fabre. “Having been victims so many times ourselves, we know well the feelings of loss and loneliness following a disaster. Through the countless works of charity by Catholic individuals and organizations, the people of this diocese have demonstrated care and solidarity with the many hurting flood victims.” Donations of items such as cleaning supplies, household paper products, toiletries, disposable diapers, sheets, pillowcases and blankets, water, food, school supplies and rosaries were collected at the Pastoral Center, Catholic Charities, Good Samaritan Food Banks, in Catholic churches and Catholic schools throughout the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and sent to communities in and around the Baton Rouge and Lafayette area in cars, pickup trucks and donated 18-wheelers. Over 500 volunteers from the diocese including seminarians, Catholic school students and faculty, members of various Catholic groups and organizations helped clean and tear out sheetrock and insulation in hundreds of homes, prepared and delivered thousands of hot meals, and went door-to-door checking on families to see what was needed. Local grocery stores, contractors, trucking and boating companies also donated manpower, equipment and supplies to the relief efforts. “It just amazes me, in a wonderful way, that in the midst of hard financial times here on the bayou, people are so incredibly generous with money and time. We’ve collected more in donations for flood victims than ever before. And I should mention that the generosity also comes from all over the country. People from our diocese spontaneously drove to the flooded areas to cook, clean and commiserate – sometimes without even knowing anyone, but feeling the need to go, to give back or pay it forward. People have been so generous to us, and we have been so
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blessed to be spared disaster for over seven years that we feel a call to reach out to families in need. I’m grateful to work for a diocese like ours,” says Gorman. Linda Raush, curriculum specialist for the Diocese of Baton Rouge’s Catholic Schools Office, says the whole situation was surreal. She had about four feet of water in the home she’s lived in for the last 39 years. “I can’t say enough about the help I received from Catholic Charities (Diocese of HoumaThibodaux). It was just wonderful. There were about eight people who worked for six or seven hours tearing down sheetrock and carrying my stuff out to the street. They were all so kind and respectful of my personal items and they never threw anything away without asking me first, even though nothing was salvageable,” she says. “I have no doubt that the damage
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LISA DISNEY/CATHOLIC COMMENTATOR
LISA DISNEY/CATHOLIC COMMENTATOR
would have been a lot worse if I hadn’t had their help. I truly appreciated it.” Lisa Disney, who serves as circulation secretary/ bookkeeper and secretary to the editor of the Diocese of Baton Rouge’s newspaper The Catholic Commentator, says there are no words to describe how grateful she is for the help she received from the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. There was about five feet of water in her home. “Thank you just doesn’t seem like enough. I don’t know what I would have done without them. They worked hard and fast for two days tearing out sheetrock and taking everything down to the studs. We are still cleaning out and cleaning up while we live in an RV in our driveway,” says Disney.
Eileen Bourgeois, secretary/ecclesiastical notary for the Diocese of Baton Rouge’s Tribunal, says she was thoroughly satisfied with the assistance she received from the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. “I felt so sorry for the men who came to help because the conditions they had to work in were horrendous. My house had four and a half feet of water in it initially and it was two weeks before they could start gutting it. The guys helped tremendously and did a wonderful job. I am just so grateful for their help; the gratitude cannot be put into words,” says Bourgeois. Approximately $300,000 in total was collected in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux through church parish collections, Catholic Charities, Catholic schools, and other individual donors. “Even in the midst of our own economic hardship, the good people of this diocese have generously offered financial resources to their hurting brothers and sisters. The witness of your generosity and charity inspires me and gives me great hope for the Catholic Church here in Houma-Thibodaux. With my gratitude for your generosity, I call down God’s blessing upon you and thank you for your faith and your service,” says Bishop Fabre. Donations for the flood relief effort can still be made online at www.htdiocese.org. Please indicate that the donation is for the 2016 August Louisiana Floods. www.bayoucatholic.com
Special
Local Catholics urged to participate in , Nov. 29 The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux has joined forces with the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and dioceses of Baton Rouge, Biloxi and Jackson to participate in #iGiveCatholic, a Catholic giving day on #GivingTuesday, November 29. The #iGiveCatholic campaign is a 24-hour online crowdfunding effort organized by The Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese of New Orleans to support the work of Catholic schools, ministries, parishes and other charitable organizations affiliated with the participating dioceses. Throughout the giving day, from midnight on November 29 until the stroke of midnight on November 30, Catholics can go to the iGiveCatholic.org home page and click on a specific ministry listed there to make a donation with their credit card. Last year, The Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese 44 of New Orleans launched #iGiveCatholic, the first-ever online giving day by Catholics for the works of the Catholic Church in the history of the United States, and raised an unprecedented $1.3 million in 24 hours to benefit 112 parishes, schools and ministries in the Greater New Orleans region. This year, #iGiveCatholic has set a goal of 200 participating organizations and $1.5 million to be raised within the 24-hour period. #iGiveCatholic is held each year in conjunction with #GivingTuesday, which is celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday; #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-ofyear giving. All Catholic schools, parishes and ministries affiliated with the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux (i.e., included
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Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2016
in the Catholic Directory) are invited to participate as recipients of donations if they meet the three requirements: 1) complete and submit a commitment form; 2) attend an #iGiveCatholic training session; and 3) beginning Sept.1, register their organization online at iGiveCatholic.org. A total of $24,000 will be available in prizes to participating organizations as an extra incentive to participate. The prize money is funded by #iGiveCatholic sponsors. Whitney Bank is again this year’s presenting sponsor. While Catholics represent 48 percent of the HoumaThibodaux population (about 126,000 people) and are charitable, non-Catholics who believe in the work of the various Catholic ministries in the area are invited to give as well. The #iGiveCatholic campaign wants to target people who have not given to Catholic institutions before and create relationships with them, especially with the younger generation. Local Catholic organizations have been finding different ways to get the word out, and the use of the #iGiveCatholic hashtag has been essential to spreading the word. Jeremy Becker, diocesan director of the Office of Stewardship and Development, says that Catholic leaders are starting to realize that the church’s ministries need to tell their stories better, so people feel personally involved in the church’s work. The #iGiveCatholic campaign is an opportunity to show the church’s members and donors that “little is much when God is in it,” so even a gift of $25 makes an impact.
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Catholic Schools
Hundreds attend Educators Conference The annual Educators Conference sponsored by the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools was held recently at Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma. Fran Kick, educational consultant and keynote speaker, addresses the group. Bishop Shelton J. Fabre blesses the commissioning prayer cards. Lydia Landry, principal of St. Bernadette Elementary School in Houma, presents fourth grade teacher Destini Rickman with a prayer card.
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Educators honored
LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2016
The following educators were honored for 25 years of service in Catholic education during the annual Educators Conference. Honorees pictured with Bishop Shelton J. Fabre and Suzanne Troxclair, diocesan superintendent of Catholic Schools; are from left, Michelle Chiasson, E.D. White Catholic High School, Thibodaux; Kris Guillot, E.D. White Catholic High School; Wendy Matherne, Vandebilt Catholic High School, Houma; and Michele Whitney, St. Bernadette Elementary School, Houma.
Church Life
Filipino Mass Filipinos from across the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux gathered at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Church parish in Houma for a Filipino Mass celebrating the feast of St. Lawrence Ruiz and St. Peter Calungsod.
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Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier
New Judicial Year The annual Mass honoring all judges, lawyers and those in the legal profession was celebrated recently at St. Joseph CoCathedral in Thibodaux. Bishop Shelton J. Fabre was the main celebrant and Very Rev. Vicente DeLa Cruz, J.V., was the homilist of the Mass, which is usually celebrated when the Supreme Court opens its new term. www.bayoucatholic.com
Special
Guest Columnist
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Margie Duplantis
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is an initiative of the Catholic Church working to carry out the mission of Jesus Christ, “… to bring good news to the poor … release to captives … sight to the blind, and let the oppressed go free” (Luke 4:18). Established in 1970 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, CCHD has a two-fold mandate: n To help low-income people participate in decisions that affect their lives, their families and communities. n To provide education and promote understanding about poverty and its root causes. This dual strategy of “helping people who are poor speak and act for themselves” and “education for economic justice” reflects the mandate of the Scriptures and the principles of Catholic social teaching. Pope Francis speaks to the mission of CCHD: “The future of humanity does not lie solely in the hands of great leaders, the great powers and the elites. It is fundamentally in the hands of peoples and in their ability
Catholic Campaign for Human Development ‘helps people help themselves’ to organize. It is in their hands, which can guide with humility and conviction this process of change. I am with you. Each of us, let repeat from the heart: no family without lodging, no rural worker without land, no laborer without rights, no people without sovereignty, no individual without dignity, no child without childhood, no young person without a future, no elderly person without a venerable old age” (Pope Francis, Address at the World Meeting of Popular Movements, Bolivia). Our own Bishop Shelton J. Fabre serves on the CCHD committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and helps oversee the program. “I encourage everyone to support CCHD, which has been wonderful to community organizations in our diocese making a real difference,” says Bishop Fabre. CCHD funded organizations have helped waiters get higher pay in New York City, Oglala Lakota tribal members receive recognition in South Dakota, reform payday lending practices in Las Cruces, organize clean-out and flooded house gutting in Baton Rouge and
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free swimming lessons for lowincome children in Thibodaux. By assisting poor people in participating in the decisions and actions that affect their lives and communities, CCHD “helps people help themselves” to move beyond poverty. The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is made possible by the generous support of Catholics in the United States, especially through the annual parish collection in November. CCHD grants to local anti-poverty efforts are screened, awarded and monitored in close partnership with our own Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. By getting involved with CCHD you can make a difference. Please donate. Your generous support, in the parish collection and throughout the year, is vital to CCHD’s antipoverty mission and creates real change. Pray for those who give and receive CCHD support. For more information visit www. povertyusa.org or call Catholic Charities at (985)876-0490. (Margie Duplantis is the associate director for Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s Parish Social Ministry.)
Pro-Life Mass
Knights of Columbus Houma Council No. 1317 and Grand Knight Lou Hebert sponsored its annual Pro-Life Mass celebrated by Father Cody Chatagnier Sunday, Oct. 2, at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma. Pro-Life representatives are Anders and Rochelle Pedersen with their son Finn Dominic, and Nathan and Meghan Meidinger with their daughter Analiese Virginia. Pro-Life chair couple David and Mary Daigle organized the celebration. Diocesan Fourth Degree Knights provided an honor guard during the Mass.
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Announcement
Pope Francis names Bishop David P. Talley as coadjutor bishop of Alexandria Pope Francis has appointed Bishop David P. Talley, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, to serve the people of the Diocese of Alexandria, LA, as coadjutor bishop to Bishop Ronald P. Herzog. The announcement was made Sept. 21, 2016, by Bishop 50 Herzog at the St. Joseph Catholic Center in Alexandria. “I’m happy; I’m excited to be here in the Diocese of Alexandria,” said Bishop Talley during a meeting with the priests of the diocese. “I pray that I will be the bishop that I need to be for this diocese.” Atlanta Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory said in a statement that the pope has given the people of the Diocese of Alexandria a “tremendous pastoral gift.” “Bishop Talley is a servant minister of our church, who is graced with extraordinary wisdom, patience, kindness and dedication. He developed those gifts as priest and bishop here in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, where he always cared for our people as a true minister of mercy and kindness,” said Archbishop Gregory. “Thus he now begins this new appointment with exceptional credentials.” The Mass of Welcome in Alexandria is planned for Monday, Nov. 7. A native of Columbus, GA, Bishop Talley, 66, was ordained a priest on June 3, 1989, at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta, by Archbishop Eugene Marino, S.S.J. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2016
Bishop David P. Talley
He earned a licentiate and doctorate in canon law from the Gregorian Pontifical University in Rome, Italy. He has served in a number of pastoral roles in the archdiocese, including as pastor of three metro Atlanta parishes, the archdiocesan vocations director, the chancellor of the archdiocese, and as judicial vicar of the Metropolitan Tribunal. He was named a prelate of honor, with the title of monsignor, by Pope John Paul II in May 2001. On Dec. 17, 2012, he was named an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta by Pope Benedict XVI. He became the first native-born Georgian to serve as a bishop in the Archdiocese of Atlanta when he was ordained April 2, 2013. His episcopal motto is “He will give you a new heart.” When he was director of vocations, the archdiocese initiated a crosscultural immersion program for seminarians where they spent time living in El Paso, TX, and in Juarez, Mexico, to learn Spanish and be more knowledgeable about Hispanic culture and more skilled at ministering in a variety of communities. One of his roles in the archdiocese was as chaplain to the Disabilities Ministry. His experience ministering among people with disabilities, which began at his first parish assignment, is key to his spiritual life, he said. “All they can do is ask the Lord for help. That simplicity and humility is where I think the church should be—humble before God,” he said in an interview in 2013. Bishop Talley was raised as a Southern Baptist but said he left the church as a teenager over the issue of racial segregation.
At Auburn University he met Catholics and read the writings of Thomas Merton, which led him to become Catholic, he said. He was 24 when he joined the church at St. Mary Church in Opelika, AL. Family members remain faithful Baptists, including a brother who is a deacon. That background gives him a broad view, he said. “I do know a faith across the spectrum,” he said. Bishop Talley also received a master’s degree in social work from the University of Georgia. For a time before entering the seminary, he worked as a caseworker in Atlanta’s Fulton County to protect children from abuse. He studied at St. Meinrad Seminary in St. Meinrad, IN, before ordination, where he received a master of divinity degree. Bishop Talley most recently served the Archdiocese of Atlanta as vicar general and director of priest personnel, and as a member of the Council of Priests and the Committee for Ongoing Formation. He serves on various committees for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, such as the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Special Assembly Planning Committee, and the Secretariat of Child & Youth Protection Services. As coadjutor bishop, Bishop Talley will assist Bishop Herzog, working in harmony with him in governance of the Diocese of Alexandria. A coadjutor bishop has the right of succession, and so Bishop Talley will succeed Bishop Herzog at the time of his retirement. Bishop Herzog has served the Diocese of Alexandria as bishop since January 2005. The Diocese of Alexandria, consisting of 13 counties, includes some 50 parishes, 22 missions and more than 44,000 Catholics. “We will sorely miss him in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, even as we thank him sincerely for sharing himself with us over these years, but we will gladly accompany him with our prayers and warmest best wishes as he starts his service to Bishop Herzog and to all of God’s people in the Diocese of Alexandria. May the Lord watch over him and all those entrusted to his pastoral care,” said Archbishop Gregory.
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Announcements
Guest columnist takes hiatus
National Merit Semifinalist recognized Claire Joller
Claire Joller, the author of Seeing Clairely, a monthly guest column in the Bayou Catholic, was injured in a fall in September. She fractured her shoulder which required surgery for it to heal properly. During her period of recuperation she will be unable to write her column. Please keep Claire in your prayers during this difficult time of recovery and rehabilitation. We look forward to sharing her column with Bayou Catholic readers again upon her recovery.
Mexico City pilgrimage 52
Very Rev. Mark Toups, diocesan chancellor, will join world-renowned Theology of the Body author and teacher Christopher West on a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Mexico City to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec. 8-13. West will provide daily formation on the profound connection between Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Theology of the Body. Father Toups, who will be the chaplain, will celebrate daily Mass as well as hear confessions and provide additional formation during the week. Pilgrims will be immersed in the rich Catholic culture of Mexico while exploring a profound lesson for the New Evangelization: How do we reach the modern world with the Gospel? Packages for the pilgrimage start at $1,999, not including airfare to and from Mexico City. Complete details can be found at www.corproject.com/mexico.
Hayden Cagle
Hayden Cagle, senior at Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma, has been officially recognized as a National Merit Semifinalist. About 1.6 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2015 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test®, which serves as the initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. Hayden is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam and Madeline Cagle of Gray.
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EVENTS
DIOCESAN
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november n C.E.N.T.S. will be offering the Small Business Course beginning in November through Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. This course is designed to help people who are interested in starting a small business or currently have one. It will be held one evening a week for nine weeks. A different business topic will be discussed each week. There is a $20 fee for the nine week session. Call Brooks Lirette at (985)876-0490 to schedule an orientation appointment. n Adult Faith Formation: Christology, Thursdays, Nov. 10, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall in Schriever, 6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Father Glenn LeCompte. n Pilgrimage Walk, Saturday, Nov. 5, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma, beginning at 7:30 a.m. with rosary and confession; Mass at 8:30 a.m.; walk begins at 9:15 a.m.
n Holy Hour of Adoration for Men, Sunday, Nov. 6, 7-8 p.m., Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma. n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, Nov. 8, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311 in Schriever, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Speaker, Father Jules Brunet. n Vocations Awareness Week Night of Prayer, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 7-8:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma. Eucharistic adoration and prayer for vocations to priesthood and religious life. Everyone is invited. n American Indian Mass celebrating the American Indian heritage, Friday, Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m., St. Charles Borromeo Church in Pointe-aux-Chenes. Reception following at the KC Home. n TEC 77 Retreat, Nov. 18-20 at Lumen Christi’s Souby Building in Schriever.
december n Pilgrimage Walk, Saturday, Dec. 3, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma, beginning at 7:30 a.m. with rosary and confession; Mass at 8:30 a.m.; walk begins at 9:15 a.m. n Holy Hour of Adoration for Men, Sunday, Dec. 4, 7-8 p.m., Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma.
53 n Diocesan Day of Reflection for the National Black Catholic Congress XII with Bishop Shelton Fabre, Dec. 10, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the diocesan Pastoral Center in Schriever. Theme is “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me: Act justly, love goodness and walk humbly with your God.”
january 2017 n Holy Hour of Adoration for Men, Sunday, January 1, 7-8 p.m., Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma. n Adult Faith Formation: Church History, Thursdays, Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26 diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall in Schriever, 6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Father Danny Poche. n Pilgrimage Walk, Saturday, Jan. 7, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma, beginning at 7:30 a.m. with rosary and confession; Mass at 8:30 a.m.; walk begins at 9:15 a.m.
n Junior High Faith Experience, Saturday, Jan. 14, E.D. White Catholic High School, Thibodaux. Doors open at 9 a.m. n Adult Faith Formation: Ecclesiology, Wednesdays, Jan. 18, 25, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall in Schriever, 6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Father Robert Rogers. n Youth Pilgrimage to the March For Life for youth in grades 1012, Jan. 24-28, 2017. Call (985)850-3129 for more information or visit www.htdiocese.org/M4L.
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Church Life
Wedding
Anniversaries
LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
Bishop Shelton J. Fabre presided over the annual wedding anniversary celebration recently at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux, which honored 278 couples. Anniversary couples with the bishop are Deacon Daniel and Barbara Blake, 25 years; Michael and Elizabeth Scurto, 40 years; Hank and Beverly Boudreaux, 50 years; Andrew and Claire Babin, 60 years; and Joseph and Erline Toups, 74 years.
Diocese honors 278 couples
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The annual diocesan wedding celebration which is sponsored by the Office of Family Ministries was held recently at St. Joseph CoCathedral in Thibodaux. Bishop Shelton J. Fabre presided over the prayer service where 278 couples were honored. 25th Anniversary Celebrants Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma: André and Susan Picou Brunet, Darryll and Carol Robichaux Domangue; Christ the Redeemer, Thibodaux: David and Marjorie Walsh Gauthreaux, Johnny and Carole Lombard Gonzalez, Kenny and Angie Bourgeois LeBouef, Kenneth and Cindy Vargas Richard; Maria Immacolata, Houma: Jason and Richelle Hebert Bergeron; Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Chackbay: Travis and Elaine Adams Chiasson, Douglas Jr. and Regina Chenier Oubre; Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Golden Meadow: Troy and Karen Griffin Morales; Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma: Mark and Angela Dupre Olivier; Our Lady of the Rosary, Larose: Norman Jr. and Leslie Galiano Lefort, Mark and Mary LeBoeuf Thibodaux; Sacred Heart, Cut Off: Mitchell and Nicole
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2016
Bourgeois Pitre, Larry and Dorothy Terrebonne Weidel; Sacred Heart, Morgan City: Randall and Amanda Lovell Jennings, Curtis and Loren Sampey Kenney; St. Ann, Bourg: Brian and Colleen Bourg Aucoin; St. Anthony of Padua, Bayou Black: Michael and Pamela Charpentier Folse; St. Bernadette, Houma: James and Corine Soudelier Barlow, Randy and Nora Lee Pena Breaux, Errol and Jennica Adams Champagne; St. Bridget, Schriever: Ricky and Nina Dupre Billiot; St. Eloi, Theriot: Matthew and Celeste Vice Arseneaux; St. Genevieve, Thibodaux: Paul and Luci Lovoi Sposito; St. Hilary of Poitiers, Mathews: Terry and Stephanie Lirette Thibodaux; St. John the Evangelist, Thibodaux: Edward and Kim Zeringue Thibodeaux; St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux: Michael and Stacy Foret Badeaux, Troy and Maria Richard Benoit, James and Lona Naquin Bernard, Daniel and Barbara Tauzin Blake, Matthew Sr. and Leotha Robinson Dumas, Ronald and Elaine Rodrigue Falgoust, Gilford and Shonet McAdams Vedros; St. Joseph, Galliano: Curtis and Maureen Lasseigne Cheramie, Todd and Stacy Rousse Lorraine, Scott and
April Adams Santiny; St. Lawrence the Martyr, Kraemer: Keith and Valerie Daigrepont Sepulvado; St. Lawrence, Chacahoula: Thomas and April Norris Boudreaux, Perry and Dawn Toups Tyler, Larry and Endya Hebert Zeringue; St. Louis, Bayou Blue: Stephen and Lisa Vedros Naquin, Paul and Lanetta Fournier Poincon, Guy and Monica Fournier Theriot; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Thomas and Darolyn Portier Dufrene, Roy and Andre’ Gervais Gros, Ken and Angelle Spahr Kraemer; St. Thomas Aquinas, Thibodaux: Jeffery and Renee Giroir Barrilleaux, Corey and Jamie Guidry Schouest; 40th Anniversary Celebrants Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma: Lee and Beulah Davis Crochet; Christ the Redeemer, Thibodaux: Kent and Theresa Clement Barrilleaux, Steve and Sharon Cancienne Sauce, Gerald and Evelyn Ledet Toups; Holy Savior, Lockport: Donald and Mary Plaisance Curole; Maria Immacolata, Houma: Lloyd and Evelyn Rodrigue Duhe’, Louis and Diane Carite Moore, Chris and Katherine Richoux Prestenback; Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Chackbay: Malcom and Judy
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Lajaunie Landry, Bruce and Karen Levron Lasserre; Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma: Greg and Gwen Dupre Eaton, Nolan and Anita Thibodeaux Granier; Our Lady of the Rosary, Larose: Perry and Cindy Authement LeBlanc; Sacred Heart, Cut Off: Keith and Paula Plaisance Guidry; Sacred Heart, Morgan City: Louis Jr. and Mary Blum Tamporello; St. Ann, Bourg: Weldon and Elena Rhodes Savoie; St. Anthony of Padua, Bayou Black: Francis and Linda Duplantis Rodrigue, David and Nancy Young Smith; St. Eloi, Theriot: Randy and Mary Beth DeHart Liner; St. Genevieve, Thibodaux: Gerard and Loretta Albarado Borne; St. Gregory Barbarigo, Houma: Michael and Elizabeth Michel Scurto; St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux: Clay and Nadine Constant Breaud, Lawrence and Debra Lavergne Chatagnier, Kevin and Theresa Duet Davis, Glenn and Daisy Naquin Froisy, Walter and Susan Schmidt Gilbert, Neil and Anne Falgout Jordan, Jerry D. and Monica Joseph Wilson; St. Joseph, Chauvin: Mark and Louise Chauvin Lapeyrouse, Kent and Julie Babin LeCompte; St. Joseph, Galliano: William and Robbin Brunet Avera, Sidney and Kathy Terrebonne Sandras; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Rodney and Amy Sampey Foret, Rudy and Karen Knight Foret, Dirk and Laurie Folse Matherne, Randy and Denise Dantin Matherne, Brian and Mary Beth Landry Rodrigue; 50th Anniversary Celebrants Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma: Samuel and Mary Sue Barker deGeneres, Michael and Bernita Thibodaux Guidry, Jude and Susan Dill Laperouse; Christ the Redeemer, Thibodaux: Carl and Shirley Adams Andras, Bobby and Diane Roundtree Benoit; Holy Cross, Morgan City: Dan and Barbara Badeaux McCloy; Holy Family, Grand Caillou: David and Mary LeBlanc Folse; Holy Savior, Lockport: Henry “Hank” and Beverly Pitre Boudreaux, Bobby and Faye Falgout Dominique, Abel and Emma May Dufrene; Maria Immacolata, Houma: Michael and Patricia Hebert Arceneaux, Charles and Jane Crowley Hebert; Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Chackbay: Steward and Corlis Legendre Chiasson, Roy and
Brenda Landry Guillot, Lawrence and Nora Malbrough Hebert, Larry and Beverly Naquin Rodrigue; Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma: Carroll and Carol Cadiere Bergeron, Ivy and Theresa Naquin Boudreaux; Our Lady of the Rosary, Larose: Clifford and Catherine Guidry Ougel; Sacred Heart, Cut Off: Roland and Gwendolynn Pitre Cheramie, Ronald and Judy Hebert Cheramie, Louis and Patsy Terrebonne Griffin, Edville and Linda Adams Lorraine, Rudy and Nellie Galjour Savoie; Sacred Heart, Morgan City: Murphy Martin Jr. and Bridget McCleary Arcemont, John Michael and Sundra Martin Deshotel, Vincent and Gail Guarisco Dupuis, Larry and Nedra Gautier Giroir, Warren and Barbara Mula Landry; St. Anthony of Padua, Bayou Black: Marvin and Bertha Bono Domangue; St. Bernadette, Houma: Oris H. Jr. and Donna King Dinger, Terry and Lillie Camardelle Doughty, Ulyse “Woody” and Pamela Chauvin Louviere; St. Charles Borromeo, Pointe-aux-Chenes: Anesie Sr. and Jane Verdin Verdin; St. Eloi, Theriot: Joseph and Marjorie Theriot Crispino, Glenn and Marylin Alleman Porche; St. Genevieve, Thibodaux: John Jr. and Janelle Naquin Becnel, Robert “Bob” and Kathleen Robichaux Broggi, David and Connie Percle Richard; St. Gregory Barbarigo, Houma: Wade and Elizabeth Porche Boquet, Sterling and Judith Rhodes Fanguy, Wayne and Linda Dupre Garibaldi; St. Hilary of Poitiers, Mathews: Irvin and Manuella Sampey Adams, Roland and Loretta Bye Breaux, Nolan and Charlene Chabaud Cressionie, Terry and Julie Duet LeBlanc, Abel and Linda Bauldin Orgeron; St. John the Evangelist, Thibodaux: Donald and Sadie Thibodaux Comeaux, Edward and Linda Parsons Guillot, Harold and Elaine Tregre Terracina, Tom and Barbara Maston Wilczewski; St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux: Larry and Doris Lasseigne Barrilleaux; St. Joseph, Chauvin: Thomas and Claudette Lapeyrouse Lirette, Earl Jr. and Lana Lirette Pellegrin; St. Joseph, Galliano: Keith and Ann Rousse Doucet, Allen and Anna Duet Lafont; St. Lawrence the Martyr, Kraemer: George and Victoria Hotard
Clement, Anthony and Sandra Martinez Cortez, Douglas and Wanda Granier Cortez, Ray and Deborah Becnel Hotard, Warren and Shelia Kraemer Larousse; St. Louis, Bayou Blue: Leroy and Patricia Callahan Degruise, Gary and Gloria Saucier LeCompte; St. Lucy, Houma: Sherrill and June Babin Bergeron, William Jr. and Helen Boudreaux Norman; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Leroy and Betty Landry Champagne; St. Thomas Aquinas, Thibodaux: Francis and Sharon Matherne Robichaux, Charles and Marjorie Amedee Verret; 60th Anniversary Celebrants Christ the Redeemer, Thibodaux: Malvin and Evelyn Gervais Comeaux, MT and Louise Adams Melvin, Kenneth and Barbara Leonard Richard; Holy Cross, Morgan City: Charles and Monica Hebert Arnie; Holy Family, Grand Caillou: David and Fay Hood Harrison; Holy Savior, Lockport: Wallace and Robbie Wiggins Arceneaux, Rodney and Laura Ordoyne Strevig; Maria Immacolata, Houma: Ivy Jr. and Hazel Pitre Redmond; Our Lady of 55 Prompt Succor, Chackbay: Albert “Al” and Betty Landry Boudreaux; Our Lady of the Rosary, Larose: Clyston and Anne Lorio Saucier; Sacred Heart, Cut Off: Melvin and Lou Ann Toups Guidroz, Raleigh and Barbara Pitre Terrebonne; Sacred Heart, Morgan City: Melvin and Geri Biundo Bourgeois; St. Ann, Bourg: Donald and Betty Boudreaux Naquin; St. Anthony of Padua, Bayou Black: Irvin and Earline Arceneaux Hebert, Ernest and Audrey Schexnayder Miller, Jimmie and Janice Gautreau Sullivan; St. Bernadette Soubirous, Houma: Roy and Catherine Hebert Babin, James P. and Shirley Sevin Bergeron, Roy J. Jr. and Jewell Falgout Breaux, Allen “A.J.” and June Babin Collins; St. Bridget, Schriever: Andrew and Claire Gros Babin; St. Genevieve, Thibodaux: Roy and Azelie “Lou” Rodrigue Rodrigue; St. Gregory Barbarigo, Houma: Rodney and Shirley Robichaux Bollinger; St. Hilary of Poitiers, Mathews: Dale and Catherine Theriot Boudreaux, Carol and Betty Landry Boudreaux, Milton and Vera Cedotal Folse, Alexandre and Wyonnia Comardelle Romero;
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Anniversaries
St. Joseph, Chauvin: Magnal and Mildred Gilfour Martin; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Leroy and Frances Rodriguez Adams, Franklin and Barba Dufrene Champagne, Arthur and Vera Richard Cortez, Harvey and Mary Ann Arceneaux Robichaux, Martin and Gwen Barbier St. Romain; 61st Anniversary Celebrants Holy Savior, Lockport: Herbert and Geraldine Plaisance Chiasson, Clarence and Doris Parr Ledet, Wilton and Mary Forestier Morvant; Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma: Cecil and Evella Boudreaux Champagne, Camille and Betty Martin Dupre, Larry and Daisy Boudreaux Porche; Our Lady of the Rosary, Larose: Andrew Jr. and Loretta Comeaux Smith; Sacred Heart, Cut Off: Numa and Melvina Schouest Breaux, Lurey and Jeannette Danos Terrebonne; St. Bernadette, Houma: Carroll and Ruby Daigle Dugas; St. Eloi, Theriot: Marvin and Loretta 56 Young Marmande; St. Genevieve, Thibodaux: Louis III and Shirley LeRay Adams, Frankie and Irene Whipple Tabor; St. Joseph CoCathedral, Thibodaux: Charles and Barbara Badeaux Eschete; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Arlen and Lillie Blanchard Badeau, Warren and Joyce Babin Dufrene, Ricardo and Marion Babin Labat, Claude and Gloria Rousseau Matherne, Rudolph and Rose Mary Guidry Robichaux; 62nd Anniversary Celebrants Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma: Henry and Frances Falcon Rodrigue, Norman and Geraldine Duplantis Voisin; Sacred Heart, Morgan City: Otis and Betty Lovell Rulf; St. Ann, Bourg: Kirby and Helen Muriel Hetherington Fabre, Floyd and Anna Belle Foret Trosclair; St. Gregory Barbarigo, Houma: Norris and Joyce Bergeron Boquet; St. John the Evangelist, Thibodaux: Eugene and Ruby Naquin Blanchard; St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux: Boyd Sr. and LouAnn Richard Hebert; St. Joseph, Chauvin: Eugene and Yvonne LeBoeuf Soudelier; St. Joseph, Galliano: Jimmie and Renamae Guidry Gisclair; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Eroy
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2016
and Rosalie Robichaux Benoit, Virgy and Mary Bonvillain Estay, Clifford and Doris Arcement Lagarde; 63rd Anniversary Celebrants Holy Savior, Lockport: Edgar and Gloria Gravois Hicks; Maria Immacolata, Houma: Hartwell and Myrtle Babin Aucoin; Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Chackbay: Emmett and Joyce D. Chiasson Trosclair; St. Ann, Bourg: Leward and Margaret Bascle Boquet, Claude and Ezoline Robichaux Bourg, Berwick and Regina Crochet Olivier; St. Charles Borromeo, St. Charles Community: Gleason and Shirley Gros Sanchez; St. Hilary of Poitiers, Mathews: Nessey and Leona Cantrelle Adams, Lovell and Mary Ann Plaisance Saucier; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Calvin and Doris Babin Breaux, Donald and Patricia Grimes Kliebert, Benjamin and Gertrude Champagne Matherne; 64th Anniversary Celebrants Holy Family, Grand Caillou: James and Beverly Authement Trosclair; Maria Immacolata, Houma: Darwin and Geraldine Terrebonne Lafont; Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma: Dan and Robbie Guedry LeBlanc; Sacred Heart, Cut Off: Raymond and Betty Lefort Melancon, Jimmie and Anna Mae Cheramie Plaisance; St. Joseph, Galliano: Kearn and Lolita Guidry Chouest; St. Louis, Bayou Blue: Norris and Barbara Boudreaux Ledet; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Leonard and Alice Robichaux Borne, Larry and Daisy Pierce Galjour; 65th Anniversary Celebrants Christ the Redeemer, Thibodaux: Glen and Aline Martin Durocher; Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma: Paul and Jeanette Boudreaux Luke; St. Joseph CoCathedral, Thibodaux: Herbert and Rose Lee Brown Toups; St. Joseph, Galliano: Eeris and Velma Collins Bouzigard; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Dudley and Betty Foret Adams, Joseph and Marie LeBlanc Champagne, Harrison and Jeannette Gervais Matherne; 66th Anniversary Celebrants St. Hilary of Poitiers, Mathews: Thomas and Rita St. Romain
Robichaux; St. Joseph CoCathedral, Thibodaux: O.K. Pat and Beverly Fremin Szush; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Bolton and Cerita Foret LeBlanc; 67th Anniversary Celebrants Our Lady of the Rosary, Larose: Richard and Jenny Defelice Rodrigue; St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux: Charles and Mercedes Daigle Stevens; St. Joseph, Galliano: Eumes and Julia Sanamo Griffin; 68th Anniversary Celebrants Holy Savior, Lockport: Raymond and Marion Adams Birdsall; Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Chackbay: Charles and Elsie Legendre Landry; Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma: Howard and Jeanette Pierre Breaux; St. Ann, Bourg: Curtis and Cecile Fanguy Fabre; St. Joseph CoCathedral, Thibodaux: Roland Sr. and Billie Babin Soignet; St. Joseph, Galliano: James and Irma Cheramie Cheramie, Arsen and Doree Dufrene Lasseigne; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Ivy and Shirley Waguespack Foret; 69th Anniversary Celebrants Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma: Evans (Vince) and Miriam Bonvillain Hebert; 70th Anniversary Celebrants Christ the Redeemer, Thibodaux: Edward and Marie Guillot Tabor; Holy Cross, Morgan City: Ferris and Margaret Smith Romaire; Sacred Heart, Cut Off: Weston and Doris Richoux Smith; St. Charles Borromeo, Pointe-aux-Chenes: Louby and Emmadel Dupre Dupre; St. Joseph, Chauvin: Claude and Merle Lapeyrouse Lirette; St. Lawrence, Chacahoula: August and Ruby Deslatte Aucoin; St. Louis, Bayou Blue: Jackson Sr. and Loretta Marcel Chaisson; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Philip and Delta Sampey Monier, Camille and Aline Borne St. Pierre; 71st Anniversary Celebrants Holy Family, Grand Caillou: Evest Jr. and Mary Crochet Voisin; Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Golden Meadow: Irwin and Neva Cheramie Callais; 73rd Anniversary Celebrants Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Chackbay: Wilver and Esther Allemand Trosclair; 74th Anniversary Celebrants St. Charles Borromeo, St. Charles Community: Joseph and Erline Ledet Toups.
Sports
Overtime
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Ed Daniels
Saturday, October 15th Nicholls State University snapped an eight game losing streak at the hands of Stephen F. Austin. A big reason why? A snowstorm. Last January, the University of Maryland made a big push to sign Rummel quarterback Chase Fourcade. After visiting College Park, Fourcade decided to remain firm in his commitment to Nicholls State. Fourcade’s uncle, John, the former Saints quarterback said after days of snow, his nephew was ready to come home. “I don’t think he was happy seeing that.” In a double overtime win over the Stephen F. Austin, Fourcade accounted for 254 yards of offense and four touchdowns. He threw a touchdown pass in the first overtime. And, ran for another in the second OT. “He doesn’t look like a freshman,” said John Fourcade. He should know. John started as a 14 year old freshman quarterback at Archbishop Shaw. And, as a freshman at Ole Miss. Ironically, John and Chase both made headlines against the University of Georgia. John ran for 37 yards on the option on his first collegiate rushing attempt. Chase Fourcade threw two touchdowns passes as the Colonels came within a whisker of a giant upset, falling 26-24 to the Bulldogs in Athens. John could tell, early, that Chase was a natural thrower. “At eight or nine years old, you could see it,” said Fourcade. “Chase just had that natural throwing motion.”
A winter storm blows in Chase Fourcade for Colonels “He has always been a much better passer that I was.” John said much of the credit to the quarterback’s development should go to his father, Keith. He said Keith worked diligently with his son in playground football. That work has paid off. And, so has the quarterback’s mental toughness. “He really does want the ball in his hands with the game on the line,” said John Fourcade. “I watch him on the sidelines interact with junior and seniors. They talk to him. They respond to him.” The win over Stephen F. Austin was the Colonels third in four Southland Conference games. Fourcade’s high school coach Jay Roth is not surprised. “Chase was 46-6 here as a starter,” said Roth. “And he was never hurt.” On a trip to Athens, GA, Fourcade earned more admirers, including former Bulldog legend quarterback Buck Belue. “Buck told me before the game that he thought they would win by anywhere from 25 to 35 points,” said John Fourcade. The Dogs got quite a scare. And, a winter storm on the east coast should at least get some of the credit.
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Announcements
Our Lady of Fatima statue on tour
The world-famous International Pilgrim Virgin Statue created in 1947 based on Sister Lucia’s description of her encounters with Our Lady at Fatima that has been traveling worldwide for nearly 70 years will be at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 10-11. There will be a procession into the Cathedral and a crowning before the 8:30 a.m. Saturday Mass. Patrick Sabat, statue custodian, will speak after Mass, followed by a rosary and consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Divine Mercy Chaplet will be prayed at 3 p.m. Saturday. Private prayer will continue in the Cathedral Saturday until the 4 p.m. 58 Vigil Mass. After Mass, private prayer will resume until the 7 a.m. Sunday Mass. A hospitality room will be open all night in the Youth Center. Private prayer will resume before and after the 9 and the 11 a.m. Masses and end just before the 5:30 p.m. Youth Mass. For more information about the event, contact Christine Robinson, visit coordinator, at (985) 856-3228, or by email at mcrpraisethelord@ gmail.com. Learn more about the tour and the statue at www. fatimatourforpeace.com.
Annual American Indian Mass Nov. 18
The Annual American Indian Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Shelton J. Fabre, Friday, Nov. 18 at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Pointe-aux-Chenes, beginning at 6:30 p.m. This cultural heritage celebration will be followed by a reception at the KC Home. All are invited to attend. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2016
Outreach Line In response to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is offering an Outreach Line (formerly known as the Child Protection Contact Line). The Outreach Line is an effort to continue the diocesan commitment to support healing for people who have been hurt or sexually abused recently or in the past by clergy, religious or other employees of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Outreach Line operates from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. A trained mental health professional responds to the line. Individuals are offered additional assistance if requested.
The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Outreach Line Telephone number is (985) 873-0026 or (985) 850-3172
Línea de Comunicación Diocesana
Con el fin de cumplir con las Políticas de Protección de Niños y Jóvenes de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Los Estados Unidos, la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux ofrece una Línea de Comunicación (antes Línea de Contacto para la Protección de los Niños). La Línea de Comunicación es parte del esfuerzo diocesano de comprometerse con el mejoramiento de aquéllos que han sido lastimados o abusados sexualmente recientemente o en el pasado por miembros del clero, religiosos u otros empleados de la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux. El horario de la Línea de Comunicación de la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux es de 8:30 a.m. a 4:30 p.m., de lunes a viernes. El encargado de esta línea es un profesional capacitado en salud mental. Se ofrece asistencia adicional al ser solicitada.
Línea de Comunicación de la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux Número de teléfono (985) 873-0026 o (985) 850-3172
Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp Giaùo phaän Ñeå höôûng öùng Hieán chöông Baûo veä Treû em vaø Giôùi treû töø Hoäi ñoàng Giaùm muïc Hoa kyø, Giaùo phaän Houma-Thibodaux ñang chuaån bò ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp (luùc tröôùc laø ñöôøng daây lieân laïc baûo veä treû em). Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp laø moät söï coá gaéng cuûa giaùo phaän nhaèm cam keát haøn gaén naâng ñôõ nhöõng ai ñaõ bò toån thöông hoaëc bò laïm duïng tính duïc hoaëc gaàn ñaây hoaëc trong quaù khöù bôûi giaùo só, tu só hoaëc caùc coâng nhaân vieân cuûa Giaùo phaän Houma-Thibodaux. Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp Giaùo phaän hoaït ñoäng töø 8:30 saùng ñeán 4:30 chieàu, thöù hai ñeán thöù saùu. Moät nhaân vieân chuyeân nghieäp veà söùc khoûe taâm thaàn traû lôøi treân ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi. Nhöõng caù nhaân seõ ñöôïc trôï giuùp naâng ñôõ theâm neáu caàn.
Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp Giaùo phaän Soá ñieän thoaïi: (985) 873-0026; (985) 850-3172
Giving Thanks
Guest Columnist
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Father Cody Chatagnier
Thanksgiving … A holiday hopefully filled with good food, good family, good conversations, good football, good shopping and good memories. Speaking of good memories, I have many good memories regarding Thanksgiving. Firstly, my birthday is on the 25th of November, so as a child I would be the only one to receive presents for Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving. Secondly, when I was young, my family and I would travel from Bayou Black to T’Calliou to my grandmother’s house and have dinner with all my aunts and uncles, and their families. Like all Cajun families there was an adult table and a kid table and the best and most bountiful cooking in the kitchen. I can still remember my Aunt Nancy’s apple and cherry crunch and her world famous mini pecan pies, my Uncle Reynold’s turkey and sweet ham, my grandmother’s chicken-sausage gumbo, my mother’s cornbread dressing, and the inevitable nap that my Uncle Randy would take after dinner. Thanksgiving was a day filled with great food and adventure. I remember after dinner my cousins and I would get into all kinds of trouble playing in my grandmother’s backyard or that time my dad and I almost burned down the porch while attempting to fry a turkey. I remember playing in countless backyard football games or riding with my uncles on the 4-wheeler or dirt bike. Thanksgiving is filled with great memories and I think when we get older we try to recreate or make similar memories with our children, grandchildren and relatives because we feel it is important to share the blessings
Thanksgiving: Fried turkey, family and good memories
of our lives with the ones that mean so much to us. What we celebrate on the fourth Thursday of November is an important holiday not only for people of the United States but also for Catholics. In essence, Thanksgiving is that holiday where American national pride and Catholic religious ideals meet. Like all good grade school students, we know that the holiday of Thanksgiving has its roots with the pilgrim settlement on Plymouth Rock and giving thanks for having made it across the Atlantic and surviving a very harsh New England winter. But let’s not forget that the pilgrim settlers were highly religious people who left Europe to find religious freedom in the New World. So, in essence the first Thanksgiving was not only a celebration of a hardship over-come, but a celebration to thank God for his grace and blessings in helping these pilgrims survive through the charity and compassion of a local Native American tribe. When we express the feeling of thankfulness, we are thankful for something or someone and we are thankful to something or someone. Although there are two aspects in the feeling of thankfulness, I believe the latter (being thankful to something or someone) has fallen by the wayside. We have all seen movies where a model family is gathered around a table and the patriarch or matriarch stands and offers a toast of thanksgiving where he or she states what they are thankful for. Rarely do we hear
or see that family leader thank the cause of his or her blessings. God is the source of all grace and blessings in our lives. And although it is not illustrated in popular culture we should be thankful to God for all that he has given us. Being realistic, I know that in South Louisiana in 2016 there might not be as much to be thankful for. A lot of people have lost their jobs because the oilfield 59 is down, parts of Baton Rouge and Lafayette are still recovering from a massive flood, the Saints and LSU are having horrible football seasons, and the fish aren’t biting in Lake De Cade. As the old adage states: “When it rains, it pours.” But, we must remember that we are not believers in a property Gospel. We believe in a God who suffered and died on a cross for us, and asks us to pick up our crosses and follow him. If God thought it worth-while to die on a cross for us, isn’t it worthwhile for us to suffer a little in this world as we await eternal paradise? The hardships in our lives are not dismissed because of our faith, but our faith shows those hardships as small compared to what awaits us in heaven. So, if you feel you do not have much to give thanks for around your thanksgiving table, remember we can at least give thanks to a God who loves us so much that he is willing to sacrifice his only begotten son for our salvation. (Father Cody Chatagnier is the associate pastor at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales parish in Houma.) www.bayoucatholic.com
Giving Thanks
NSU football player believes in persistence LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
Story by Janet Marcel Twenty year old Morgan City native Garret LeBlanc has had more than his fair share of injuries during his football career, but he has always remained positive and never given up on playing the sport he loves. “I am a testament to sticking with your dreams and 60 not giving up,” says Garret. “You just have to know that God is always with you and Jesus has your back.” Garret is the son of Jay and Valerie LeBlanc and he has two brothers. Conner, 22, played football for LSU, and Cooper, a junior at Central Catholic High School (CCHS) in Morgan City, plays for the Eagles. Their father also played football in high school. “My dad loves football; my mom’s family loves it and my brothers love it. My father instilled that love in us. We all grew up playing football. When you don’t know if you are good enough to play at the next level and then you realize you are, you just want to keep going,” Garret says. While at CCHS, he was a three star linebacker and a fullback. Garret graduated with honors in 2015 and reported to LSU that summer to begin conditioning and practice. His dream was to play football for LSU. Thinking back to his sophomore year in high school, Garret explains he fractured his L5 vertebra and herniated a disc in his back in the middle of football season. He didn’t really know what was wrong so he just played through the pain. Before the last game of the season he finally went to the doctor and was told what was wrong. He opted to finish the season because they were in the playoffs. Afterwards, he had to wear a back brace for six months so the bone could heal. For the next two and a half years he had nine epidurals in his spine to manage the pain. Nevertheless, he continued to play the sport he loved … through his pain. During the first game of his senior year, he broke his wrist, but didn’t realize it was broken and continued to play. After football season was over, he Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2016
had surgery to repair his wrist and exactly one week later he had surgery on his knee to clean out some loose cartilage that had accumulated there. While practicing at LSU, he dislocated his kneecap and the trainers wanted him to have surgery on the knee again. He said he just couldn’t do another surgery … that he thought it would be too much for him to come back from. He was told that if he didn’t have the surgery he wouldn’t be able to play for LSU. That was really hard to hear, he says, because at that point he thought football was over for him. Then Tim Rebowe, head coach of the Nicholls Colonels, called and asked him to play for his team beginning with the fall 2015 season. Coach Rebowe told Garret he didn’t have to have surgery if he thought he could play. During his freshman year he was redshirted because of his knee injury, however he was named Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year, which is the highest honor for a redshirt freshman. He currently plays tight end for the Colonels. Garret says rest, epidurals, a lot of prayers and his Catholic faith helped get him through his pain. “My mom and dad were always my biggest supporters. My dad always told me after every epidural and every surgery, ‘Doctors can do a lot, but Christ heals.’ That always stuck with me.” He says he was also surrounded by a lot of good people at CCHS. He recalls studying in the mall at CCHS one day when Cherie Michel, the Learning Center aid, came over to talk to him. “She told me to ‘pray for others more than you pray for yourself and good things will happen.’” He remembers what she told him like it was yesterday and still to this day when he prays he always picks out a few people to pray for before he asks for anything for himself. “When I do that,” he says, “things start to look up.” Something else Garret says has helped him through tough times is persistency. He recalls Coach Rebowe telling the team a story about persistency before their last game. “He told us that if you have a river
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moving against a mountain, eventually that river is going to break through that mountain. It won’t happen in a few days, months or years; but it will happen over millions of years.” Garret says hearing that really hit home for him and made him think about everything that happened to him over the last few years. “After my back injury and my first epidural, my second, my third, all the way to my ninth one, my knee surgery, my wrist surgery, having to transfer from LSU to Nicholls in order to follow my dream … it was all about being persistent. Do I want to say I questioned God? I don’t think I really ever did; it crossed my mind maybe, but never did I stop praying or turn away from God. I was always very persistent with my prayers, until this day. No matter where I am, when I travel I always bring my Bible and my daily prayer book. Before I go to bed every day, I set time aside to read and say my prayers,” says Garret. “I think being persistent with my prayers, going to Mass, setting a good example for my little brother all played a big role in where I am today. It is all about my Catholic faith and being taught how to understand it.” Garret says he is thankful for many things in his life. First and most importantly, he is grateful to his mom and dad because without them, he says he couldn’t have done half of the things he’s done. They have always encouraged him and are there for him
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My dad says ... ‘Doctors can do a lot, but Christ heals.’ That always stuck with me.
PHOTO COURTESY OF VALERIE LEBLANC
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at all times. “My whole family grew up LSU fans; my mom’s dad was always LSU all the way. He graduated from there and always has season tickets. But every weekend, home or away, my mom and dad are at my NSU games and my (maternal) grandpa comes to all my home games,” he says. He is thankful for his friends who are always there for him and never let him down. And he is thankful to Coach Rebowe for giving him the incredible opportunity to play football again. “He didn’t have to give me a chance, but he believed in me. He saw potential in me and thought enough of me to ask me to come to Nicholls and play for him.” Garret is a sophomore majoring in business administration and wants to work in the family business after graduation. He says he would also like to be a part-time assistant high school football coach one day. “God’s miracles don’t happen a day at a time, weeks or even months at a time, but if you are persistent in your prayers and your faith, and you do your part for God, good things will happen,” says Garret.
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Giving Thanks
Guest Columnist
What are you truly and deeply grateful for?
Nancy Diedrich
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Gratitude means thankfulness, counting your blessings, noticing simple pleasures, and acknowledging everything that you receive. It means learning to live your life as if everything were a miracle, and always being aware of how much you’ve been given. Gratitude shifts your focus from what your life lacks to the richness that you already have. In addition, behavioral and psychological research has shown an abundance of life improvements that can stem from the practice of gratitude. Giving thanks makes people happier and more resilient, it strengthens relationships, it improves health, and it reduces stress. Research has shown in one study after another that gratitude heightens the quality of life in people who consciously practice feeling thankful for the blessings in their lives. A renowned psychologist, Robert Emmons of the University of California at Davis, has written much on gratitude and its impact on well-being. His research and writings indicate that daily gratitude exercises result in higher reported levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism and energy. In addition, Dr. Emmons’ research shows that those who practice gratitude tend to be more creative, bounce back more quickly from adversity, have a stronger immune system, and have stronger social relationships than those who don’t practice gratitude. There are many ways to practice gratitude. A common method to develop the practice
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2016
of gratitude is to keep a gratitude journal. This exercise basically consists of writing down every day a list of three to 10 things for which you are grateful; you can do this first thing in the morning or before going to bed at night. This exercise helps a person to recognize people, places things and daily experiences as blessings, rather than just ordinary people, places, things and experiences. Practicing gratitude is intentional. Each day you might see the same co-workers, friends or family members, but as you practice being grateful for them, you will see them in an entirely different way. You may see something good about them that you overlooked before. This intentional approach to being thankful can cause more happiness and heighten the quality of your life one day at a time. Every minute of every day is a gift. Every person in our lives is a gift. Every reward, every problem, every boost-up, every let-down … they are blessings from which people learn and grow. When people learn to intentionally see the potential for good in every aspect of their lives, they can then begin to experience gratitude. Once you become oriented toward looking for things for which to be
grateful, you will find that you begin to appreciate simple pleasures and things that you previously took for granted. Gratitude should not be just a reaction to getting what you want, but an all-the-time gratitude, the kind where you notice the little things and where you constantly look for the good even in unpleasant situations. Today, start bringing gratitude to your experiences, instead of waiting for a positive experience in order to feel grateful. With the season of Thanksgiving quickly approaching, it is a very appropriate time to consider the practice of gratitude. It’s a great way to see the world differently, to appreciate all the blessings in our lives, and to face each day with a grateful attitude. Remember, giving thanks makes people happier and more resilient, it strengthens relationships, it improves health, and it reduces stress. We don’t even have to wait for Thanksgiving … We can start right now! “If the only prayer you say in your life is ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.” – Meister Eckhart (Nancy Diedrich, LPC, LMFT, a national board certified counselor, is a marriage and family counselor for the diocesan Office of Family Ministries.)
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Giving Thanks
Creamy Cauliflower Soup Serves 8 I love soup and I especially love to make variations on the classic base of leeks and potatoes, this time by adding cauliflower. You can use just about any vegetable. Or make a simple potato and leek soup, and serve it chilled for a great vichyssoise.
PHOTO BY MAURA McEVOY
Ingredients 1/4 cup olive oil 1 whole leek, trimmed and chopped 1 head cauliflower, trimmed and chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 large potato, peeled and roughly chopped 4 cups chicken stock 1/2 cup cream Salt and pepper
Chef John Besh
Recipes
Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat and sweat the leeks and cauliflower, stirring, for about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 2 minutes more. You want a white soup, so don’t let the vegetables brown. Add the potatoes, stock and cream. Bring to a boil then reduce immediately to a simmer. The potatoes will become soft and silky in about 20 minutes. Transfer the soup to a blender and puree. I have a tendency to blow this up from time to time, so make sure not to overfill the blender and blend on low speed. Add salt and pepper.
From Besh Big Easy: 101 Home Cooked Recipes by John Besh/Andrews McMeel Publishing 64
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Corn & Crab Fritters Serves 10-12 Your friends are going to love me for teaching you this recipe. What’s not to like about these hot, crispy balls of corn and crab in a cornmeal batter? It’s like hush puppies married crab cakes.
Wet your hands and form small balls of mixture. Drop, a few at a time, into the hot for 3–4 minutes, turning, until the fritters on all sides. Transfer to paper towels to sprinkle with salt. Serve immediately.
the fritter oil and fry are brown drain and
Ingredients Canola oil, for frying 8 tablespoons butter 1 cup corn kernels (from about 2 ears) 2 eggs, beaten 1 cup sour cream 3 green onions, chopped 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced 1 pound crabmeat 1 cup stone ground cornmeal 1/2 cup flour 1-1/2 tablespoons baking powder 1 tablespoon sugar 2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper Heat about 3 inches oil in a small saucepan to 350°. Melt the butter and pour into a mixing bowl. Stir in the corn, eggs, sour cream, green onions and jalapeño. Fold in the crabmeat. In another bowl, mix together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and pepper. Stir the dry ingredients into the crabmeat mixture until well combined.
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Giving Thanks
Creole Stuffed Bell Peppers Serves 6-8 Everything about making this dish is such a sensory experience: the act of cutting the peppers and saving the tops to chop for a gumbo or stew, the tactile feeling of stuffing each pepper with my hands, the way the stuffed multi-colored peppers look in the pan and the gorgeous aroma after they’ve baked. Such a delicious and easy way to manufacture dinner.
Pour the remaining 2 cups tomato sauce into a small baking dish. Fit the peppers upright in the baking dish snugly, shoulder to shoulder. Sprinkle on salt and pepper, and drizzle with the olive oil. Cover with foil and bake for about 45 minutes. Uncover and let the stuffing brown for another few minutes. Serve in shallow bowls with plenty of the tasty juices.
Ingredients 1 pound pork sausage, removed from casings 1 onion, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1 teaspoon dried thyme Salt and pepper 3/4 cup uncooked white rice 3-1/2 cups tomato sauce 8 bell peppers, different colors if possible, tops cut off and seeded 2 tablespoons olive oil
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Preheat the oven to 325°. Mix the sausage meat with the onions, garlic, pepper flakes, thyme, salt and pepper a large bowl. Stir in the rice and 1-1/2 cups of the tomato sauce. Stuff each bell pepper with the mixture, mounding it over the tops.
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