Bayou Catholic Magazine November 2018 by Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

INSIDE:

Bayou

Life and Legacy

Catholic

Bayou Lafourche Eucharistic Procession NOVEMBER 2018 ~ VOL. 39 NO. 5 ~ COMPLIMENTARY

Renovation Campaign

Founded in 1847,

St. Francis de Sales would become the “Mother Church” of all the Catholic Church parishes in Terrebonne which were carved out of her boundaries over time. With the arrival of the Marianite Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1870, the foundation for all Catholic School education for our local area was laid. I would like to When Senator Allen Ellender make a gift in support (President pro tempore of the of the renovation of U.S. Senate) died in office in 1972, President and Mrs. Richard Nixon St. Fr ancis de Sales were among the dignitaries who Cathedr al attended his funeral here at St. Francis. Five years later, our church was elevated to the dignity of a Cathedral for the newly-formed Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. Please visit the parish website at

YES!

Since her foundation, St. Francis de Sales has sought to provide the local Catholic faith community with a vibrant and deeply inspiring expression of Glory to God through her sacred space. The time is once again upon us to renovate and revitalize the Cathedral ensuring “a Future Full of Hope” for generations to come.

www.stfrancisdesaleshouma.org to make an online donation.

This vision can only become a reality with your heartfelt prayers and your generous help.

Artist’s rendering of the proposed interior decorative scheme.

St. Francis de Sales Cathedral

Comfort, When you need it Most

Established in 1987

The Agency of Choice For Bringing Comfort Home 24 Hour On-Call Nursing Services, Chaplain and Social Worker Support, Certified Nursing Assistant care, Medication for pain and symptom management, Medical supplies and equipment. Hospice covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most Private Insurances. Hospice of South Louisiana provides compassionate care and support when most needed to ensure quality of life for those affected by serious illness. Our Hospice and Palliative Care Certified Nurses are here for you.

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

Proudly serving our community for over

30 years

without regard for diagnosis, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, race, creed, disability, age, or place of residence.

Contents

Features 42 Advertiser’s Spotlight

By Janet Marcel

Strategic Plan Update

By Janet Marcel

Columns 8 Comfort For My People

By Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

Pope Speaks

Pope Francis I

Questions of Faith

By Father Wilmer Todd

Readings Between the Lines

By Father Glenn LeCompte

Thoughts For Millennials

By Ryan Abboud

Reading With Raymond

By Raymond Saadi

58 Overtime

By Ed Daniels

In Every Issue 6 From the Editor 16 Scripture Readings 28 Heavenly Recipes 34 Youth in Action 51 Diocesan Events Guest Columns 30 Vocations Awareness

By Father Andre’ Melancon

Following Jesus by honoring the poor

By Agnes Bitature

60 Thanksgiving

By Deacon James Brunet

Announcements 29 Catholic school grant winners 40 Catholic Foundation Update 55 American Indian Ministry retreat,

Dec. 14-16

On Our Cover LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

4 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

Rev. Vicente DeLa Cruz, J.C.L., elevates a monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament on the steps of St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux during the Bayou Lafourche Eucharistic Procession.

Kristin LaFleur

Kristin Bakes:

PUMPKIN BREAD 28

This month’s heavenly recipe, pumpkin cream cheese bread, mes from Kristin LaFleur, a native of Schriever and resident Thibodaux. Kristin has been the manager of the Good maritan Food Bank in Thibodaux for the past four years. “This is a busy time of the year for the food bank. We see any more people this time of the year because of additional penses for families. Many organizations tend to get involved th giving for the needy during the holiday season; this rease in donations also keeps us very busy,” says Kristin. The food bank is there to help families who find themselves an emergency situation with little or no food. “Typically the d bank was set up to be a supplement source for those in a sis situation where they can get food immediately if needed. e food bank also helps families with household and personal giene items that one cannot buy with food stamps.” The food bank is made up of mostly volunteers. “We have proximately 65 regular volunteers who come weekly. We o have some who come to the food bank for service hours; ch as student nurses and Nicholls athletes.” The Good Samaritan Food Bank of Thibodaux is a member ency of Second Harvest Food Bank. “The food bank orders food m Second Harvest at a discounted rate. Some of the items we eive from Second Harvest are free. We are also part of their ail distribution meaning that we can pick up items at Second rvest sites locally. Grocery stores which are members allow us pick up about 200,000 pounds a year from their retail sites.” The food bank is a program of Catholic Charities Diocese of uma-Thibodaux, and receives funds from the United Way d Lenten gumbos, and goods from the annual United Postal rrier drive and the St. Francis Community Garden. The food bank is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from a.m. until Noon and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until Noon. e food bank is always seeking new volunteers. For more ormation call (985) 447-9776. BC

INGREDIENTS:

Bread: How to reach us: 1 large egg BY PHONE: (985) 850-3132 1 cup pumpkin puree BY MAIL: P.O. Box 505 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed Schriever, LA 70395 1/4 cup granulated sugar BY FAX: (985) 850-3232 1/4 cup vegetable oil BY E-MAIL: 1/4 cup sour cream bayoucatholic@htdiocese.org 2 tsp. vanilla extract 2 tsp. cinnamon The Bayou Catholic is published monthly, for 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice the people of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux by the H-T Publishing 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg Co., P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395. 1 cup all-purpose flour Subscription rate is $35 per year. 1/2 tsp. baking powder The Bayou Catholic is a member of the Catholic 1/2 tsp. baking soda Press Association, the National Newspaper

Association and an associate member of the

Louisiana Press Association. Cream Cheese Filling: 1 large egg Lawrence Chatagnier editor and general manager 4 oz. softened cream cheese 1/4 cup granulated sugar Glenn J. Landry, C.P.A. 3 tbsp. all-purpose flour business manager

Janet Marcel

DIRECTIONS:

staff writer/administrative assistant

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour one Cheriewhisk Glorioso 9x5 inch loaf pan; set aside. In a large bowl, the advertising accounts executive first 10 ingredients to combine. Add the flour, baking powder and baking soda and fold in with spatula Brooksa Lirette advertising accounts executive until just combined; set aside. In a medium bowl mix all ingredients the cream Lisa of Schobel Hebert cheese filling with a hand mixer until graphic smooth. Turn designer approximately two-thirds of the bread batter into the Meridy Liner prepared pan, smoothing the topaccounts lightlyreceivable/payable with a spatula. assistant Evenly pour filling mixture over the batter, smoothing lightly and pushing into the corners and sides as Like us on Facebook necessary. or Top filling with remaining bread batter, smoothing Find us on the web the top very lightly so as not to disturb www.bayoucatholic.org the cream cheese layer. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until top is domed, golden and the center is set. Allow bread to Where to find cool in pan for 15 minutes before turning outyour on Bayou a wireCatholic

Bayou Catholic magazine can be found rack to cool completely beforeatslicing and serving. all Catholic churches and Catholic schools

• Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

Bayou Catholic

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread

throughout the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. To pick up a copy, you may also visit the merchants who advertise in our issue. Those wishing to receive the magazine by mail can call Janet Marcel at (985) 850-3132 or write to Bayou Catholic, P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395. Subscription price is $35 annually. For the online edition, go to www.bayoucatholic.com

November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 5

From the Editor

Thanksgiving November is upon us and with it we are closer to the end of another year. The month of November is usually associated with Thanksgiving, a time when family and friends gather and thank God for all the blessings received. Sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends this year might be somewhat uncomfortable, especially if the topic of religion or politics comes up. These days it seems that our nation is divided and fractured along political lines, Republican/ Democrat, liberal/conservative, red/ blue, etc. Is the country really so divided or does it just seem that way? Some even say we are more divided now than ever before in our country’s history. The truth is we have always been divided. Remember the early 1860s and the Civil War? The country was much more divided then. Upon doing research for this article, I found the following from the Pew Organization. A 2017 PEW Research Center poll of 5,000 U.S. adults reported that partisan divide over political issues related to

racial discrimination, immigration, international diplomacy, and government aid to the needy has indeed widened significantly since the early 1990s. There was an average 36 percent difference of opinion on these issues (up from just 15 percent in 1994) across party lines — based on those identifying as or “leaning” to either Democrats or Republicans. This gap dwarfed divisions across differences in age, gender, race, education and church attendance. These results indicate that for those who affiliate with a political party, polarization over “the issues” does seem to have increased over the past 20-30 years. But a 2012 study by Stanford University political science professor Shanto Iyengar and colleagues offers another way of looking at this apparent split. It examined political polarization from a different angle — not from how Americans stand on policy issues, but from the perspective of “affect” — how they feel about those on the other side of the political fence. Drawing from survey data spanning several decades, the study found that the feelings of those who affiliate as Democrat or Republican toward members of the opposing party have become increasingly negative since the late 1980s. So what the Stanford study suggests is that people are less driven by policy than by party affiliation. On a personal note, I find it increasingly difficult to talk about politics in many group situations especially in the workplace. I am sure that many feel the same way.

6 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

What do you do when a particular topic comes up and someone who is obviously either Republican or Democrat expresses their feelings or views and they don’t align with your position on a subject? It can get uncomfortable quickly. Sometimes it’s best to agree to disagree. If you feel yourself getting emotional during a conversation, it might be a good idea to take a break. Knowing when to walk away from a conversation can save a friendship before you say something that you can’t take back. Remember that no matter what your political differences might be, your personal relationship is more important. Enough of that … We are nearing Thanksgiving and at the Bayou Catholic we are very thankful to our loyal readers, advertisers and those who support the publication through the second collection in church parishes across the diocese on the weekend of Nov. 10-11. Through your donation we are able to continue to inform, educate and inspire our readership through the print media of the diocese. Your donation 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! BC

Lawrence

Lawrence Chatagnier Editor & General Manager

Special

Bishop Fabre presents baptismal index of slaves to museum Bishop Shelton J. Fabre presented a baptismal index containing names of 3,000 slaves who were baptized Catholic to the Finding our Roots African American Museum in Houma recently. Pictured with Bishop Fabre are Alvin Tillman, museum co-founder; Gordy Dove, Terrebonne Parish President; and Margie Scoby, museum president. Bishop Fabre toured the museum, which includes an exhibit dedicated to the Georgetown University slave trade. The bishop also viewed an exhibit which includes archival photos from St. Lucy Church and School.

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 7

Comment

Gratitude is an easy virtue to build Comfort For My People Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

This is the time of year when thanksgiving and gratitude should be in a special way our focus in life. We have all experienced someone else’s profound lack of gratitude whether it was a direct personal experience or in tactless behavior witnessed. What is so offensive about ingratitude is more than just simple lack of manners. Gratitude as a habit is something that can and should be developed. Gratitude like any habit can be learned through repetition. Habits are built by repeated actions that then become normal to us. They can be conscious or unconscious. This means that we can make up for what we feel we are lacking by practice. A bad habit such as ingratitude can become ingrained by watching others or being thoughtless. It then takes that much more choice and repetition to develop the opposite habit. Fortunately, gratitude is an easy virtue to build. One way is to call to mind all of the things that we genuinely have the emotion of gratitude for then to offer thanks for those things to God. A second way is by consciously choosing to thank others who do good things for us. St. Ignatius of Loyola instructed the members of the Society of Jesus to examine their lives at the end of each day. The first step to his examination is to bring to mind all of the things he was thankful for and to take that time to offer thanks to God. St. Ignatius’ fundamental intuition was that he could build the virtue of gratitude in his brothers by simply making them mindful of all that God had done in their lives that day. The result of this reflection is that the brother

becomes more aware of the things he is grateful for. His gratitude deepens; it encompasses more subtle things, and it becomes conscious. The end result is that the brother would become grateful for the things that he should be grateful for. His ingratitude was reduced, and his gratitude purified. Often this process starts with the brother only able to be thankful for physically pleasant experiences such as a good meal, fine weather, etc. Now, if he is grateful for the things that bring great pleasure, there is not a lot of merit in it, but if he can begin to cultivate gratitude that allows him to be thankful for things that are unpleasant but lead to personal spiritual growth then he has accomplished something worthwhile. Basic habit formation entails that they are developed by practice, by repetition. No star athlete starts out polished. It is only after thousands of repetitions that the human body can be molded to match the demands of sports. In the same vein, we can train ourselves to act and react in certain

8 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

ways by conscious choices. Gratitude formation can be greatly aided by the mere practice of saying “thank you” whenever another does something for us. When the server in a restaurant brings your food, say “thank you.” When someone holds a door for you, say “thank you.” When you realize that you have caused another inconvenience, thank them for their patience. Done enough, you will not even need to think about it for the words to come to your mouth. Further, consciously choose when to offer thanks to God. Everything that we have is a gift from God. Even the things we have worked for require the good health and good fortune that allowed us to be able to work for it. Offer thanks to God at least as often as you ask him for help. Finally remember that others are watching. Even if we do not feel like being grateful, our practice of gratitude can inspire others to this most noble habit. Happy Thanksgiving! May these days of thanks be days of blessings and peace for you and your family! BC

Comentario

Gratitud es una virtud fácil de construir. Esta es la época del año en que la acción de gracias y la gratitud deben ser de manera especial nuestro enfoque en la vida. Todos hemos experimentado la profunda falta de agradecimiento de alguien más, ya sea una experiencia personal directa o un comportamiento de descuido. Lo que es tan ofensivo sobre la ingratitud es más que una simple falta de modales. La gratitud como hábito es algo que puede y debe desarrollarse. La gratitud como cualquier hábito puede aprenderse a través de la repetición. Los hábitos se construyen mediante acciones repetidas que luego se vuelven normales para nosotros. Pueden ser conscientes o inconscientes. Esto significa que podemos recuperar lo que sentimos que nos falta en la práctica. Un mal hábito como la ingratitud puede arraigarse al observar a los demás o ser desconsiderado. Luego se necesita más oportunidades y repetición para desarrollar el hábito opuesto. Afortunadamente, la gratitud es una virtud fácil de construir. Una forma es recordar todas las cosas por las que realmente sentimos gratitud para ofrecerle las gracias a Dios. Una segunda forma es elegir conscientemente agradecer a otros que hacen cosas buenas por nosotros. San Ignacio de Loyola instruyó a los miembros de la Compañía de Jesús a examinar sus vidas al final de cada día. El primer paso para su examen es recordar todas las cosas por las que estaba agradecido y aprovechar ese momento para ofrecer gracias a Dios. La visión fundamental de San Ignacio fue que él podía construir la virtud de la gratitud en sus hermanos simplemente recordándoles todo lo que Dios había

hecho en sus vidas ese día. El resultado de esta reflexión es que el hermano se vuelve más consciente de las cosas por las que está agradecido. Su gratitud se profundiza; Abarca las cosas más sutiles, y se vuelve consciente. El resultado final es que el hermano estaría agradecido por las cosas por las que debería estar agradecido. Su ingratitud se redujo, y su gratitud se purificó. A menudo, este proceso comienza cuando el hermano solo puede estar agradecido por

elecciones conscientes. La formación de agradecimiento puede ser muy favorecida por la práctica de decir “gracias” cada vez que alguien hace algo por nosotros. Cuando el mesero de un restaurante traiga su comida, diga “gracias”. Cuando alguien le abra la puerta, diga “gracias”. Cuando te des cuenta que has causado un inconveniente, agradece la paciencia. Si realizamos esto, ni siquiera tendrás

experiencias físicamente agradables, como una buena comida, buen clima, etc. Ahora, si está agradecido por las cosas que brindan gran placer, no hay mucho mérito en ello. , pero si puede comenzar a cultivar la gratitud que le permite estar agradecido por las cosas que son desagradables pero que llevan al crecimiento espiritual personal, entonces ha logrado algo que vale la pena. La formación básica de hábitos implica que se desarrollen por la práctica, por la repetición. Ningún atleta estrella comienza siendo experto. Solo después de miles de repeticiones se puede moldear el cuerpo humano para satisfacer las exigencias de los deportes. De la misma manera, podemos entrenarnos para actuar y reaccionar de ciertas formas mediante

que pensar para que las palabras salgan de tu boca. Además, elegir conscientemente cuándo ofrecer gracias a Dios. Todo lo que tenemos es un regalo de Dios. Incluso las cosas por las que hemos trabajado requieren bienestar y buena salud que nos permitieron poder trabajar para alcanzarlo. Ofrezca gracias a Dios al menos con la frecuencia que le pida ayuda. Finalmente recuerda que otros están mirando. Incluso si no tenemos ganas de estar agradecidos, nuestra práctica de agradecimiento puede inspirar a otros a este hábito tan noble. ¡Feliz día de Acción de Gracias! ¡Que estos días de gracias sean días de bendiciones y paz para usted y su familia! BC

10 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

Binh luan bang loi

Lòng biết ơn là một đức tính dễ để xây dựng Đây là thời điểm trong năm khi lễ tạ ơn và lòng biết ơn nên được đặc biệt quan tâm trong cuộc sống. Tất cả chúng ta đều đã từng cảm nghiệm sự thiếu hiểu biết sâu xa về lòng biết ơn của người khác dù đó là một cảm nghiệm cá nhân trực tiếp hoặc trong hành vi không khéo xử đã được chứng kiến. Những gì gây xúc phạm về sự vô ơn thì nhiều hơn chỉ đơn thuần là thiếu cách cư xử. Lòng biết ơn như một thói quen, là một cái gì đó khả thi và nên được phát triển. Lòng biết ơn giống như bất kỳ thói quen khác có thể học được qua sự lặp đi lặp lại. Các thói quen được xây dựng bởi các hành động lặp đi lặp lại mà sau đó trở thành bình thường đối với chúng ta. Chúng có thể là ý thức hoặc vô thức. Điều này có nghĩa là chúng ta có thể bù đắp cho những gì chúng ta cảm thấy mình đang thiếu qua việc thực hành. Một thói quen xấu như sự vô ơn có thể trở thành bám rễ ăn sâu bằng việc quan sát người khác hoặc chẳng quan tâm tới điều gì cả. Tiếp đến là nhiều sự lựa chọn và sự lặp đi lặp lại để phát triển thói quen trái ngược. May mắn thay, lòng biết ơn là một đức tính dễ để xây dựng. Có một cách là nhớ lại trong tâm trí tất cả những điều mà chúng ta thực sự có cảm xúc về lòng biết ơn, đồng thời dâng lời cảm tạ về những điều đó lên Thiên Chúa. Cách thứ hai là bằng việc chọn lựa một cách có ý thức để cảm ơn người khác đã làm những điều tốt lành cho chúng ta. Thánh Inhaxiô thành Loyola đã hướng dẫn các thành viên của Dòng Tên xét mình về cuộc sống vào mỗi tối. Bước đầu tiên để xét mình là nhớ lại tất cả những điều họ đã biết ơn và dành thời gian đó để tạ ơn Chúa. Trực giác cơ bản của thánh Inhaxiô là ngài có thể xây dựng đức tính biết ơn nơi các anh em cách đơn giản là làm cho họ chú ý đến tất cả

những gì Thiên Chúa đã làm trong đời sống của họ trong ngày hôm đó. Kết quả của sự suy gẫm này là để họ trở nên ý thức hơn về những điều mà họ biết ơn. Lòng biết ơn của họ sẽ sâu sắc hơn; bao gồm nhiều thứ tinh tế hơn, và nó trở nên ý thức. Kết quả cuối cùng là họ sẽ trở nên biết ơn vì những điều mà họ phải biết ơn. Sự vô ơn của họ giảm đi và lòng biết ơn của họ đã được thanh luyện. Thường thì quá trình này bắt đầu với những cảm nghiệm vừa ý về thể lý như bữa ăn ngon, thời

ơn có thể được hỗ trợ rất nhiều bởi việc thực hành nói lời đơn giản: “cám ơn” bất cứ khi nào người khác làm điều gì đó cho chúng ta. Khi nhân viên trong nhà hàng đem thức ăn đến cho bạn, hãy nói lời: “cám ơn.” Khi ai đó giữ cửa cho bạn, hãy nói lời: “cám ơn.” Khi bạn nhận ra rằng bạn đã gây ra một sự phiền phức nào đó, hãy cám ơn họ vì sự kiên nhẫn của họ. Khi đã thực hiện nhiều lần, bạn thậm chí sẽ nói lời cám ơn mà không cần phải suy nghĩ về những gì bạn đã nói. Hơn nữa,

tiết tốt, vv... Nhưng nếu họ biết ơn vì những điều mang lại niềm vui lớn lao, thì chẳng có nhiều công đức gì trong đó, còn nếu họ có thể bắt đầu trau dồi lòng biết ơn, mà có thể giúp họ biết ơn kể cả những điều khó chịu trái ý nhưng dẫn đến sự trưởng thành tâm linh cá nhân thì họ đã đạt được điều gì đó thật đáng quý giá. Sự hình thành thói quen cơ bản đòi hỏi rằng chúng phải được phát triển bằng sự thực hành, bằng sự lặp đi lặp lại. Không có vận động viên nào lúc khởi đầu lại được sáng giá ngay. Chỉ sau hàng ngàn lần lặp đi lặp lại, cơ thể con người ta mới có thể được rèn luyện để phù hợp với những đòi hỏi của môn thể thao. Trong cùng một ý nghĩa, chúng ta có thể rèn luyện bản thân để hành động và phản ứng theo những cách nhất định bằng những lựa chọn có ý thức. Sự hình thành lòng biết

hãy lựa chọn một cách ý thức khi dâng lời cảm tạ lên Thiên Chúa. Mọi thứ chúng ta có đều là ân huệ từ Thiên Chúa. Ngay cả những điều chúng ta làm cho sự đòi hỏi sức khỏe tốt và thịnh vượng đều cho phép chúng ta có thể làm việc với sự biết ơn. Hãy dâng lời cảm tạ lên Thiên Chúa ít ra khi bạn cầu xin Người ban ơn giúp đỡ. Cuối cùng, hãy nhớ rằng những người khác đang nhìn thấy bạn. Ngay cả khi chúng ta không cảm thấy phải biết ơn, thì sự thực hành lòng biết ơn của chúng ta có thể truyền cảm hứng cho người khác chú ý tới thói quen đáng quý nhất này. Mừng Lễ Tạ Ơn! Chớ gì những ngày tạ ơn này là những ngày của những điều tốt lành và bình an cho Anh Chị Em và gia đình! Dịch thuật do Lm. Francis Bui, SDD và Thầy Paul Vu, SDD. Tu Đoàn Tông Đồ Giáo Sĩ Nhà Chúa BC

November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 11

Comment

Pope Francis: To hate is to kill in the heart The Pope Speaks

Vatican City, (CNA/EWTN News) A person may not have killed someone, but if they are angry or have hate toward another person, it is like they have killed him or her in their heart, Pope Francis said. To insult or hate someone, or to have contempt, is a way of “killing the dignity of a person,” the pope said recently. One may think: “I’m fine because I do not do anything wrong,” but he or she is deceiving themselves, he continued. “A mineral or a plant, or the sampietrini stones in the piazza, have this kind of existence, a person – a man or a woman – no.” “More is required of a man or woman,” he stated. “Human life needs love.” Pope Francis continued his series of messages on the Ten Commandments at the general audience with a reflection on Christ’s teachings about anger and its connection to the fifth commandment: You shall not kill. Francis referenced the Gospel of Matthew, when Jesus is teaching his disciples on the mountain, and says: “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.” In this passage, the pope explained, Jesus reveals to his followers that “before God’s court, even anger against a brother is a form of murder.” Jesus also says that, by the same logic, insult and contempt are sins too, he added, pointing out how often people are accustomed to insulting

others, even commenting sometimes that so-and-so “is dead to me.” To do so is like killing them in your heart, the pope said: “Jesus says stop!” Pope Francis said the commandment to not kill is more than an order against bad actions, it is also “an appeal to love and mercy, it is a call to live according to the Lord Jesus, who gave his life for us and rose for us.” “And what is authentic love? It is what Christ showed us, that is, mercy. The love we cannot do without is the one that forgives, which welcomes those who have harmed us.” Pope Francis advised Catholics, before the start of Mass, to strive to be reconciled with anyone they have a problem with and to fight against the temptation to be indifferent toward their fellow human beings.

12 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

He pointed to Cain in the Old Testament, who said after he killed his brother Abel, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” This is how killers speak, the pope emphasized: “Are we the keepers of our brothers? Yes, we are! We are the keepers of each other!” There is more to a person than his or her physical body – there is the spirit, he added, saying that even “an inappropriate phrase is enough to violate the innocence of a child.” He concluded by urging Catholics to give thanks to Jesus, “the author of life.” In Christ, “in his love (which is) stronger than death, and through the power of the Spirit that the Father gives us, we can welcome the Word ‘Do not kill’ as the most important and essential appeal: to not kill is the call to love.” BC

Comment

Questions of Faith Father Wilmer Todd

Gray, but not invisible As an older couple, we love our priests and like to stay after Mass to thank him for celebrating our Eucharist. Lately we noticed that some priests do not make eye contact with us when they are shaking our hands. They seem to be distracted and are looking around at other people. Whenever the bishops celebrate Mass, they are pleased to see us, make eye contact, give us a smile and exchange pleasantries. What is going on? — Gray, but not invisible First, you are correct in your observations. In our culture, when we speak to another human being, we should make eye contact with that person and no other. We should be mindful of what we are doing, recognizing the presence of that particular person and nothing else. This is what Jesus did and every one of his followers should do likewise. In other cultures, people do not make eye contact when speaking to another. However, if priests are from other cultures, they need to adopt to our ways. If this is the case, we should not take it personally when they do not look at us in the eye. Another possibility might be that some priests might not appreciate the gifts that we senior citizens made to the church in the past. We are probably not as active as we were in former days but we laid the ground work for the church today. They should say, “Thank you for your service.” BC

Half of the homily

A priest once said that he only gave half the homily, the rest had to be supplied by the worshipers. What does that mean? The purpose of the homily is to break open the Word of God proclaimed in the sacred readings from the Bible and apply them to the congregation. It’s impossible for any homilist to reach everyone in church. The congregation is made up of children, teenagers, married couples, single parents, the elderly, and everyone in between. Applying the readings to all the worshipers present and addressing their particular needs and state of life is very difficult. Another factor, people in the congregation are in different stages of their spiritual development. Some are very close to God and have a deep relationship with the almighty. Others are beginning to walk with the Lord. Still others are only in church because of an obligation. Some other difficulty homilists have to deal with is listening. Some people do not listen to the homily. When I am preaching, I look at the people in the pews and sometimes I see people talking to each other. Obviously, they

are not listening. It takes a real effort to listen, to take in all that the homilist is saying. Even if we are listening, we still have to ask the question, “What is this message saying to me?” I believe that every time we go to Mass, we should arrive a few minutes ahead of time. We should quiet ourselves so we can hear whatever God wants to tell us individually and as his family. I firmly believe that God has a message for everyone in church. Your message might be different from the person sitting next to you. The old proverb says, “We receive ‘things’ according to our openness to receive them.” Are our ears and minds open to receive God’s message? Applying God’s message to everyone in the pews is impossible for the homilist. We have to do some work. We have to make some applications. This is what I think the priest meant by saying he only gave half of the homily; the worshipers had to do the rest. BC

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

November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 13

Reflections

The Responsorial Psalm: Responding to the Lord’s Good News! Readings Between the Lines Father Glenn LeCompte

In the last three Bayou Catholic issues I analyzed the psalms and canticles in the Bible; I mentioned two general classes of psalms, Psalms of Lament and Psalms of Praise. Psalms are musical compositions designed to express prayerfully to God deep inner emotions, either of lament or praise. When these psalms are incorporated into official liturgies, such expressions are sanctioned as a communal means of worshiping God. Some Biblical commentators refer to the Book of Psalms as “Ancient Israel’s Songbook.” That title may not be totally accurate, but it correctly suggests two things: No. 1 that various types of psalms were collected and No. 2 they were collected for a purpose. Regarding No. 1, we can see that there are groupings of similar types of psalms. For example, Psalms 93-99, which are all psalms of the Lord’s kingship (also called “Enthronement Psalms”) probably existed as a collection before being incorporated into the Book of Psalms. C. Westermann (Praise and Lament in the Psalms, p. 255) believes that Psalm 100, which images God as a shepherd and Israel as his flock, was attached to the Enthronement Psalms as a concluding doxology to the collection. While Westermann (Praise and Lament, p. 256) maintains that Psalm 150 similarly forms a concluding doxology to the collection, Psalms 107150, in the Book of Psalms’ final form, it serves as a conclusion to the entire book. The collection of these psalms into one book as we have them now

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happened over centuries. Regarding No. 2 above, the purpose for which these psalms were collected was for use in worship. Actually, the psalms were probably learned not by reading them, but by hearing and then singing them. Of the 150 psalms which appear in the Book of Psalms, 128 of them are used in our Lectionary (the Church’s official book of liturgical readings). In addition, 12 “Old Testament Canticles,” and two “New Testament Canticles” (Luke 1:46-55; 1:68-79, Canticles are psalm-like texts found in biblical books other than Psalms) appear in the Lectionary. One thing that is important to understand is that when these psalms are used in the Lectionary, they are used as a response to the reading which comes before it. As responses to readings, the psalms are not just read and heard, but take on an active liturgical purpose. We make a response to what we have heard in the reading just proclaimed, and because the response is made musically it engages both our minds and hearts. Consider, for example, the first reading (Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7, which recounts the story of the first man and woman falling into sin by disobeying God’s direct command not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil) and its corresponding responsorial psalm (51) on the first Sunday of Lent, cycle A. The refrain of the psalm is “Be merciful, O Lord,

14 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

for we have sinned.” Psalm 51 is an individual Psalm of Lament, and as we saw in our prior analysis there is always a motive for the plea directed toward God. In the case of Psalm 51, the motive is the acknowledgment of personal sin. When Psalm 51 is sung by the congregation as a response to the story of the sin of the humans in the Genesis story then we make that story our own. It is not just a symbolic story which expresses an abstract truth about two human beings; it identifies a characteristic all humans possess– we are sinners. Simultaneously, our singing of Psalm 51 enables us to respond to God properly in light of the acknowledgment of this truth. We express contrition and ask God to remedy the state of our sinfulness: “A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me” (Psalm 51:12). In a previous article, I mentioned that in the typical pattern of the Psalm of Lament, the psalmist utters a vow of praise toward the end of the composition. Some of the Psalms of Praise, the other general category of psalms, may well have been composed in fulfillment of such a vow. Psalm 51:17, “Lord, you will open my lips, and my mouth will proclaim your praise” is this psalm’s vow of praise. As we sing this verse on the first Sunday of Lent, we look forward, both in the concrete situation of our lives and liturgically, to the day when the Lord will

Reflections

answer our petition and we will be able to fulfill this vow. Liturgically, the vow is fulfilled at the Easter Vigil, when, after having recounted the progressive unfolding of God’s plan of salvation in the Old Testament readings, we hear Paul proclaim to the Romans (6:9, 11) that “Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more” and we must think of ourselves “as being dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.” We respond with Psalm 118:1, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever,” and “The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” (118:22), a phrase which the early Christians took as pointing forward to Christ’s resurrection. Therefore, at the Easter Vigil, the plea we made on the first Sunday of Lent for God to absolve us of sin and make of us new people is fulfilled as we acknowledge the benefits of Christ’s death and resurrection for us. By

responding with Psalm 118 to Paul’s declaration of our dying and rising with Christ, we make his assertion our own and fulfill the vow we made on the first Sunday of Lent to sing the Lord’s praises when we experience God’s action of forgiving our sins and restoring us. Another kind of psalm is a Wisdom Psalm, which extols the virtue of wisdom. On the sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle A, we read from a wisdom book, Sirach (15:15-20). In this reading the author exhorts his readers to seek wisdom by keeping God’s commandments, which are life-giving, and not the folly of disobedience to them, which is death-dealing. Consequently, we respond with Psalm 119, in which we celebrate the wisdom of adhering to God’s precepts. Again, by responding with this psalm to the reading with which it is paired, we declare, for ourselves, that it is indeed good and wise to heed the Lord’s command.

Hopefully, this review of the psalms has helped you to understand better why we respond to readings at Mass by singing psalms. “How good to sing praise to our God; how pleasant to give fitting praise” (Psalm 147:1)! BC

Reflection Questions v Look at the first reading and responsorial psalm for the four Sundays in November. How does the psalm make a response to the first reading? v How do we come to own the truth the first reading expresses by responding with the given psalm? v Read Psalm 49. What is the wisdom that the psalmist is urging his reader to acquire? What implications does this have for your life?

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November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 15

ScriptureReadings and a listing of Feast days and saints

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

1 November 2

Friday

Saturday

Weekday Philippians 1:18b26 Luke 14:1, 7-11

Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time Deuteronomy 6:2-6 Hebrews 7:23-28 Mark 12:28b-34

Weekday Philippians 2:1-4 Luke 14:12-14

Weekday Philippians 2:5-11 Luke 14:15-24

Weekday Weekday Philippians 2:12-18 Philippians 3:3-8a Luke 14:25-33 Luke 15:1-10

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 1 Corinthians 3:9c11, 16-17 John 2:13-22

Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, pope and doctor of the church Philippians 4:10-19 Luke 16:9-15

Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 1 Kings 17:10-16 Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44

Memorial of Saint Josaphat, bishop and martyr Titus 1:1-9 Luke 17:1-6

Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, virgin Titus 2:1-8, 11-14 Luke 17:7-10

Weekday Titus 3:1-7 Luke 17:11-19

Weekday Philemon 7-20 Luke 17:20-25

Weekday 2 John 4-9 Luke 17:26-37

Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, religious 3 John 5-8 Luke 18:1-8

1 December 2

Weekday Revelation 1:1-4; 2:1-5 Luke 18:35-43

Weekday Revelation 14:1-3, 4b-5 Luke 21:1-4

Weekday Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22 Luke 19:1-10

Weekday Revelation 14:1419 Luke 21:5-11

Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Revelation 4:1-11 Luke 19:11-28

Memorial of Saint Cecilia, virgin and martyr Revelation 5:1-10 Luke 19:41-44

Memorial of Saint Weekday Revelation 10:8-11 Andrew Dũng Lac, priest, and Luke 19:45-48 companions, martyrs Revelation 11:4-12 Luke 20:27-40

Weekday Revelation 15:1-4 Luke 21:12-19

16 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

Weekday Revelation 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a Luke 21:20-28

Feast of Saint Andrew, apostle Romans 10:9-18 Matthew 4:18-22

Sunday

Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Daniel 12:1-3 Hebrews 10:1114, 18 Mark 13:24-32

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the universe Daniel 7:13-14 Revelation 1:5-8 John 18:33b-37

November

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Life and Legacy

By Adelaide Mena Washington, D.C., (CNA/EWTN News) Death. It’s a subject seen as sad, morbid and fearful, something that people would rather not think about, and certainly not discuss. Yet for Catholics, death is an essential part of the faith. “For those who die in Christ’s grace it is a participation in the death of the Lord, so that they can also share his Resurrection,” reads The Catechism of the Catholic Church. The celebration of the sacraments hearkens for a kind of death: death to self, death as a consequence of sin, a remembrance of Christ’s death and entrance into eternal life. As the 20th century priest Father Henri Nouwen remarked, “Dying is the most general human event, something we all have to do.” The question, he asks, is “Do we do it well?” Hiding from death Advances in medicine and technology have drastically increased life expectancies in the past century. In 1915, most people would not expect to live past age 55. A child born in the U.S. in 2017 is expected to see their 85th birthday. As a result, death has become something distant and even foreign, argues Julie Masters, a professor and chair of the Department of Gerontology at the University of Nebraska, Omaha. “We get lulled into thinking death doesn’t hit us very often, because it waits until people are very old,” she told CNA. “We know that younger people do die, that middle aged people do die, but in this country, the majority of people who die are going to be older people.” The average American in the 21st century simply doesn’t have the experience with death that previous generations had, she said. And this lack of experience can lend itself to fear and a tendency to ignore the uncomfortable unknown of the future. “So we’ll put it off until we have to talk about it, and when we do talk about it, then we get in a pickle because we’re not sure what people want,” Masters said.

Death in the modern age and how to prepare as a Catholic

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Hiding from death can have other consequences, as well. Cultural unease and inexperience with death can affect how we approach loved ones as they die. “If we’re uncomfortable with death, if someone is dying, we may be unwilling to visit them because we don’t know what to say, when in reality we don’t need to say anything,” Masters said. “We may be less available to comfort them.” Avoidance of death can also impact vulnerable members of society who are not actively dying, Masters warned. “Our uncomfortableness with dying may be symptomatic of our desire to control dying and death,” she said. When that control or the fear of becoming a “burden” gives way to conversations about physician-assisted suicide, she continued, “we look at the most vulnerable and say ‘are they

18 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

really worthy of living, think of all the resources they’re taking up?’” “Each step in that slope, it gets easier to get rid of people who are no longer valuable or are vulnerable. Yet don’t we learn from the vulnerable?” she questioned. “They’re the ones who teach the strong what’s most valuable in life.” But Masters also sees a desire to move toward a broader discussion of how to die well. She pointed to the spread of Death Cafes and other guided discussion groups that encourage conversations about death, dying and preparation for the end of life. Churches can offer similar kinds of programming, she suggested: “People want to talk about it, they just need the place to do that.” What does it mean to have a ‘happy death’? While a person may plan for their

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Life and Legacy

A Catholic Death

death, ultimately the circumstances of one’s passing will be out of their control. However, everyone can aspire to a “good” or “happy” death, said Father Michael Witczak, an associate professor of liturgical studies at The Catholic University of America. He told CNA that the essential qualities of a happy death are being in a state of grace and having a good relationship with God. The idea of a happy death, or at the very least the aspiration of it, gained popular consideration in the Ars Moriendi – a collection of 15th Century Catholic works laying out the “Art of Dying,” he noted. The texts elaborate on the temptations – such as despair – that face the dying, questions to ask the dying, advice for families and friends, how to imitate Christ’s life, and prayers

for the bedside. Resources such as these, from ages of the church that had a more daily experience of death, Father Witczak suggested, can be a good resource for beginning to live “intentionally” and to think more about death and how to die well. Masters agreed that intentionality is key in shifting the cultural mindset on death and dying. “What if people approached death with the same joy that they greet the birth of a new baby?” she asked. It’s a fitting analogue, she argues. Both processes – birth and death – are the defining markers of human life, and natural processes that all the living will experience. Both processes also open the door to a similar set of unknowns: What comes next? What will it be like afterwards? How will we cope? She added that the modern tendency to view death with suspicion and

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Life and Legacy

trepidation – or to ignore it altogether – reflects something about the culture. “If we’re so afraid of death and dying, I have to wonder if we’re also afraid of life and living.” Last wishes Discussing death is the first step in making practical preparations for it. Without planning, Masters said, loved ones may not know a person’s preferences for treatment, finances or funeral preparations, which can lead to sometimes sharp divides between friends and family. “When we get comfortable talking about death,” she noted, “we can let people know what our wishes are, so that hopefully our wishes are followed.” Thorough planning includes setting advanced directives and establishing a power of attorney who can make medical decisions on one’s behalf if one is unable to do so. It is also important to be aware of different care options in an individual’s geographic location. These include palliative care, which focuses on improving quality and length of life while decreasing the need for additional hospital visits. Not just limited to end-of-life situations, palliative care is available for a range of long-term illnesses, and seeks to relieve pain rather than cure an underlying condition. Hospice care is also an option when the end of life approaches. At this point, the goal is no longer to

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Life and Legacy

A Catholic Death

extend the length of life, but to prepare for death, trying to alleviate pain and offer comfort, while also helping mentally, emotionally, and spiritually to prepare for death. Funeral planning and creating a will are also important steps in the preparation process. Even for the young or those without material possessions, planning for one’s death can be useful for grieving friends and family members, Masters said. She explained that the idea of creating an “ethical will” is a Jewish tradition in which a person writes a letter or spiritual autobiography, leaving behind the values and morals they found important in their life to pass on to the next generation. The practice, which is growing in popularity, is available to anyone “to put down into words what’s given their

life meaning,” and can have special meaning for those who “feel, because they don’t have a lot of wealth or a lot of possessions, that they have nothing to leave their family.” Masters pointed to a student of hers who wrote an ethical will shortly before passing away in college and the example of her own grandparents instilling the recitation of the Rosary as people who left behind some of their most meaningful gifts to their loved ones. “It’s a testament to what that person believed in. What a gift that is!” Paul Malley, president of the nonprofit group Aging with Dignity, stressed that planning the more specific details of end-of-life care can help respect a person’s dignity during illness or on the deathbed. “Those who are at the end of life, whether they may be suffering with a serious illness or disability, tend to have their dignity questioned,”

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Life and Legacy

A Catholic Death

he told CNA. The sick and dying are often isolated, receiving care from medical professionals, he explained. And while advanced care planning often focuses on decisions regarding feeding tubes, ventilators, and other medical treatment options, that discussion “doesn’t tell your family anything about what dignified care means to you.” “It’s important not to just talk about caregiving in terms of medical issues,” Malley stressed. “That’s a small fraction of a day – the rest of the day plays out at the bedside.” Aging with Dignity promotes planning for acts of comfort, spiritual issues and family relationships in order to make the time surrounding death easier and more dignified for all involved. “These issues were never talked

about when it came to end-of-life care or advanced care planning.” Among some of the requests participants make, he elaborated, are small acts of comfort like cool cloths on a forehead, pictures of loved ones in a hospital room, favorite blankets on a bed, or requests for specific family or friends to come visit. Planning to incorporate what Malley calls “the lost art of caregiving,” was important to his own family when his grandmother died. “One of the most important things for her was that she always wanted to have her feet poking out of the blanket because her feet were hot,” he recalled. Although nurses and care providers would often bundle her feet up to try to keep her warm, her family was able to untuck her feet afterwards so she could stay comfortable. “That might be something that sounds very trivial, very small, but for her, for my grandmother, laying

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24 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

in that bed where she couldn’t get up and couldn’t reach down to pull up her own blanket, having her feet stick out at the edge of the blanket was probably the most important thing to her all day long,” Malley said. The end of the earthly pilgrimage For Catholics, spiritual preparation for death should always include the sacraments, Father Witczak said. The sacrament of reconciliation, important for all the faithful throughout their lives, is a particularly important spiritual medicine for those nearing death. Additionally, anointing of the sick should be sought for those who have begun to be in danger of death due to sickness or old age, and it can be repeated if the sick person recovers and again becomes gravely ill, or if their condition becomes more grave. “The church wants people to celebrate the sacrament as often as they need to,” Father Witczak said.

Life and Legacy

The Eucharist can also be received at the end of life as “viaticum,” which means “with you on the way.” “It’s receiving the Lord who will be with you on the way to the other side,” said Father Thomas Petri, O.P., vice president and academic dean at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies. He added that the Eucharist can be received as viaticum more than once, should a person recover, and can also be given even if someone has already received the Eucharist earlier during the day. A good death is a gift Prayer, reception of the sacraments, and seeking forgiveness from God and one another can mark death as a time of peace, Father Petri said. Death can also be a time of surprise, as it “either amplifies the way a person has lived their life or it causes a complete reversal,” with some people undergoing profound conversions or surprising hardenings of the heart during their last days. “Much of it really does rely on the will of God,” he reflected, adding that we should all pray for the grace of a holy death. Dying a happy death is not only a blessing for the person dying, but can be a gift to others as well, Father Petri said, noting that family and friends can be drawn closer to one another and to God as the result of a holy death. Masters agreed, adding that “the dying can

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November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 25

Life and Legacy

A Catholic Death

serve as examples or role models,” by teaching others how to die without fear. Ultimately, Father Witczak said, Christians “do” death differently because Christians “do” life differently. “I think as human beings, death is a topic we’re afraid of and we’re told not to think about, and the Christian tradition keeps trying to bring it before people, not to scare people, but rather to remind people of their ultimate destiny,” he said. “This is not simple and it’s something people ultimately have to learn for themselves, but it’s the important task of life. I think what the church tries to do is to help people live their life fully and even live their death as an entryway into the life that is promised to us by Jesus Christ.” Looking toward death and the

vulnerability that surrounds it can be a vital way of encountering death – and overcoming the fear of it, he said. Masters agreed, noting that those who have had encounters with death or profound suffering often “look at life differently.” “They understand it is so fleeting. But because they know how close death is they look at life in a different way.” For many people, this different approach to life includes an increased focus on family, friends and service, she said. “That’s how you’re remembered at the end of the day: what did you do for other people?” Starting with even the most basic conversations about death, she added, can be beneficial for those wanting to confront mortality. “When you can acknowledge that you’re going to die, you can begin to live your life.” BC

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Life and Legacy

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

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“Completing the Gift of Life” November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 27

Heavenly Recipes

Kristin LaFleur

Kristin Bakes:

PUMPKIN BREAD Story and Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

This month’s heavenly recipe, pumpkin cream cheese bread, comes from Kristin LaFleur, a native of Schriever and resident of Thibodaux. Kristin has been the manager of the Good Samaritan Food Bank in Thibodaux for the past four years. “This is a busy time of the year for the food bank. We see many more people this time of the year because of additional expenses for families. Many organizations tend to get involved with giving for the needy during the holiday season; this increase in donations also keeps us very busy,” says Kristin. The food bank is there to help families who find themselves in an emergency situation with little or no food. “Typically the food bank was set up to be a supplement source for those in a crisis situation where they can get food immediately if needed. The food bank also helps families with household and personal hygiene items that one cannot buy with food stamps.” The food bank is made up of mostly volunteers. “We have approximately 65 regular volunteers who come weekly. We also have some who come to the food bank for service hours; such as student nurses and Nicholls athletes.” The Good Samaritan Food Bank of Thibodaux is a member agency of Second Harvest Food Bank. “The food bank orders food from Second Harvest at a discounted rate. Some of the items we receive from Second Harvest are free. We are also part of their retail distribution meaning that we can pick up items at Second Harvest sites locally. Grocery stores which are members allow us to pick up about 200,000 pounds a year from their retail sites.” The food bank is a program of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, and receives funds from the United Way and Lenten gumbos, and goods from the annual United Postal Carrier drive and the St. Francis Community Garden. The food bank is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. until Noon and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until Noon. The food bank is always seeking new volunteers. For more information call (985) 447-9776. BC 28 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread INGREDIENTS: Bread: 1 large egg 1 cup pumpkin puree 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/4 cup sour cream 2 tsp. vanilla extract 2 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. baking soda Cream Cheese Filling: 1 large egg 4 oz. softened cream cheese 1/4 cup granulated sugar 3 tbsp. all-purpose flour

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour one 9x5 inch loaf pan; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk the first 10 ingredients to combine. Add the flour, baking powder and baking soda and fold in with a spatula until just combined; set aside. In a medium bowl mix all ingredients of the cream cheese filling with a hand mixer until smooth. Turn approximately two-thirds of the bread batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula. Evenly pour filling mixture over the batter, smoothing lightly and pushing into the corners and sides as necessary. Top filling with remaining bread batter, smoothing the top very lightly so as not to disturb the cream cheese layer. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until top is domed, golden and the center is set. Allow bread to cool in pan for 15 minutes before turning out on a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.

Special

Sera Abadie

Monique Aucoin

Anne Dufresne

Jamie Gaudet

Kristi Gravois

Jamie Rodrigue

Catholic school grant winners announced Story 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 at 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. “Ar-KID-tects At Work,” written by Sera Abadie of St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School in Thibodaux, will give first grade students opportunities to explore their natural sense of curiosity with hands-on materials that embody the STEM concept. The materials will promote a self-centered, inquiry-based, process-focused STEM Center that will allow students to take ownership of their learning, think critically, express their creativity and learn to solve problems. “LAAP is Reading on Chrome,” written by Anne Dufresne of St. Bernadette Catholic School in Houma,

will be used to purchase two Dell Chromebooks and two Dell headsets to meet the needs of first through fifth grade students that are reading below grade level in a small group setting. Having a one-to-one device will allow students to be more actively engaged in the lesson. “Building Blocks,” written by Jamie Gaudet of St. Genevieve Catholic Elementary School in Thibodaux, will allow young kindergarten students to develop better motor skills, math and vocabulary skills, to improve creativity, and to interact socially with their peers by encouraging them to think logically as their minds are stimulated. “Promoting a Culture of Literacy in the Foreign Language Classroom: Using Authentic Literature to Develop Language Awareness in Students,” written by Monique Aucoin of E.D. White Catholic High School in Thibodaux, will be used to purchase grade-appropriate readers, novels and magazines in the target languages to enhance teaching and learning by

providing a more motivating learning experience. Students will negotiate language meaning and develop language and cultural awareness from engaging content in authentic literature that will far exceed the course book culture prevalent in many foreign language settings. “Keying into the Future,” written by Kristi Gravois and Jamie Rodrigue of St. Genevieve Catholic Elementary School in Thibodaux, will be used to purchase keyboard covers to aid in the teaching and learning of keyboarding skills for 480 students in grades kindergarten through seven. These materials will assist students in learning correct typing skills that will help them in the learning process from elementary school and beyond. Funding of these grants was made possible by First American Bank and Trust, Pedestal Bank, Synergy Bank, United Community Bank and the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools. BC

The Office wishes to thank these sponsors of the 2018 Teacher Grant awards. November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 29

Special

Vocations Awareness Week

Father Andre’ Melancon

Vocations Awareness Week is being celebrated Nov. 4-10, 2018. This I think is the perfect time to reflect upon the call that the Lord whispers into our hearts. The church teaches that the primary vocation of every baptized person is to become a saint. To paraphrase the previous Roman Missal, the saint is a living witness to the Gospel, outstanding in holiness, who renews the church in every age by his or her life. This is not the call of just a select group of Christians but the call of every Christian! The church canonizes certain people who they see has given us a clear example of what it means to be a saint. One of the greatest saints that I have known in my life has to be St. John Paul II. I was blessed to be able to see him in person on two different occasions. The first time was at World Youth Day in 2002 in Toronto. This was Pope John Paul’s last World Youth Day before he died. Many young people who have entered the seminary or the convent have attributed their experience at World Youth Day as a catalyst to their answering the call. I would definitely attest to this! I had already made up my mind at that point that I would enter the seminary but World Youth Day was a solidifying experience. I saw that the church was alive! The church was not irrelevant or outdated but was full of youth and life. And I would say that the most alive person there was the 83 year old man dressed in white. Pope John Paul’s words exuded witness, holiness and renewal! He challenged us to be

“

Since the priest scandal broke in 2002, the number of seminarians in the United States has been on a steady incline.

“

Guest Columnist

the salt of the earth and the light of the world. He said as salt is used to preserve and keep, we were called to “preserve and keep alive the awareness of the presence of our Savior Jesus Christ.” He said “as salt seasons and improves the flavor of food, we have to change and improve the ‘taste’ of human history with our faith, hope and love, with our intelligence, courage and perseverance, humanizing the world we live in with the Gospel of

Jesus Christ.” He then challenged us to be light in the midst of darkness. He acknowledged that darkness could even at times creep into the church. He gave this beautiful challenge to the million and a half young people that I still remember today. “Do not be discouraged by the sins and failings of some of her members. The harm done by some priests and religious to the young and vulnerable fills us all with a deep sense of sadness and shame. But think of the vast majority of dedicated and generous priests and religious whose only wish is to serve and do good! There are many priests, seminarians and consecrated

30 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

persons here today; be close to them and support them! And if, in the depths of your hearts, you feel the same call to the priesthood or consecrated life, do not be afraid to follow Christ on the royal road of the Cross! At difficult moments in the church’s life, the pursuit of holiness becomes even more urgent. And holiness is not a question of age; it is a matter of living in the Holy Spirit.” Many people had asked me as I was preparing to enter the seminary in 2002, why do you want to enter the seminary now? Look at what so many priests have done. It was the witness of priests like Pope John Paul II and countless other heroic priests that had been a part of my life that inspired me to say, I will be a priest. I will strive to live a life outstanding in holiness in the priesthood of Jesus Christ. Since the priest scandal broke in 2002, the number of seminarians in the United States has been on a steady incline. We have been very blessed as a diocese with a good group of men who have stepped forward to study for the priesthood for our diocese. We are hoping to have a large incoming class this year of seminarians this year for our diocese, which I believe is a result of the many people who have been praying for and supporting vocations. We are also seeing more young women being open to the call to religious life. During this vocations awareness week, the church asks every Catholic to pray for the desire to become a Saint. If our diocese is full of men and women pursuing sainthood, then the Lord will raise up many holy priests, religious, deacons, married and single lay leaders for the vineyard. May we pray, hope and continue to place our trust in Jesus Christ. (Father Andre’ Melancon is the diocesan director of seminarians at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.) BC

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November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 31

Church Alive

Blue Mass The annual Blue Mass honoring community protectors, firefighters, law enforcement, military personnel and first responders was celebrated recently at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux. Bishop Shelton J. Fabre was the main celebrant of the Mass.

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

32 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

Church Alive

Red Mass The annual Red 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 of the Mass. Bishop Fabre is pictured with the area judges after the Mass.

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 33

Youth

in action

Emma Foret School: Terrebonne High School, Houma Grade: 12 Church parish: Maria Immacolata, Houma; with youth participation at St. Bernadette, Houma Describe your family unit: Mother: Michele; Father: Lynn; Brother: Garrett Favorite Hobby: Traveling Favorite Movie: Star Wars Favorite T.V. Show: Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives Favorite Genre of Music: Contemporary Christian

Where have you experienced Jesus most profoundly in your life? The very first place that popped into my head when seeing this question is Lumen Christi Retreat Center. Lumen Christi has been basically my second home since 2015. So many profound things have happened in my life since I walked through those doors the very first day of TEC 77. When I enter that building it’s like nothing else in the world matters and I can focus on God and what he has in store for me. As soon as I step into the atmosphere of Lumen Christi, I am surrounded by these loving people that even if I have never met them I have always felt like I have had a connection with them for years. I feel at home and loved and so many things have transformed in my life since I entered the retreat center.

I have made so many new lifelong friends that I never knew that I needed until I met them there. Not only have I grown truly beautiful relationships with friends, but I have been blessed to get to know the seminarians, deacons and priests of this diocese and develop truly amazing friendships with them. One of the truly beautiful parts about Lumen Christi that means so much to me is the hill on which the cross is overlooking the lake. This is one of the places where I can go and think so clearly and reflect on what God is trying to tell me. Something that I find so relaxing is to sit at the foot of the cross with my Bible and just look out on the beauty that God has blessed for me to see. Many times when I open up

34 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

my Bible on the hill of Lumen Christi my mind has been put at ease from whatever I would have been struggling with at that specific time. Another place that has been so prominent in the strengthening of my faith life at Lumen Christi is the chapel. Within the chapel I just love to sit and be in the presence of the Lord and when I truly open my heart and open my ears to what God has to tell me during adoration, multiple things become unveiled to me that I never knew about myself. Overall, Lumen Christi for me is a place filled with an overabundance of love that has helped my faith life to blossom most profoundly. BC

Seminarian Education Burses What is a seminarian burse/endowment fund? A seminarian burse/endowment fund is an invested sum of money where the interest is used in perpetuity to help fund the education of men to the priesthood in the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux. How does someone establish a seminarian burse/endowment fund? Very simply, a burse/endowment fund may be established and

named for anyone you choose, be it family, friend, bishop, priest, deacon, religious, etc. Who do I contact to contribute to or establish a fund? To contribute to or establish a burse/endowment fund, send funds to the Pastoral Center, Attn: Catholic Foundation, P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395 or contact the Catholic Foundation office at 985-850-3116 or aponson@htdiocese.org for more information.

Completed Burses and CFSL Named Endowment Funds

September 2018 Burse Contributions

Note: Numbers stipulate the amount of completed burses.*

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

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

Society of St. Joseph Endowment Fund - $119,136.90 James J. Buquet Jr. Julius & Marie Pauline St. Amant Elie & Dot Klingman Bishop Sam Jacobs Endowment – $32,840.43 Giardina Family Foundation Sem. Endowment – $4,337.62 James J. Buquet, Jr. Family Sem. Endowment – $27,979.95 Diocesan Seminarian Endowment – $3,502,699.11 Mary and Al Danos Foundation Sem. Endowment – $38,621.30 Msgr. Amedee Sem. Endowment – $314,838.43 The Peltier Foundation - $14,482.97 Jane and John Dean

Claude & Lucy Mahler Family ...........$200.00

Open Burses with Balance as of September 30, 2018 Sidney J. & Lydie C. Duplantis ...............$13,000.00 Donald Peltier Sr. No. 4 ...........................$13,000.00 Joseph Strada Memorial .........................$12,642.63 Msgr. Raphael C. Labit No. 2 ................$11,440.00 Claude & Lucy Mahler Family ................$10,700.00 Harvey Peltier No. 31 ...............................$10,486.91 Mr. & Mrs. George C. Fakier ..................$10,400.00 Joseph Waitz Sr. .........................................$10,100.00 Clay Sr. & Evelida Duplantis No. 2 .......$10,000.00 C. Remie Duplantis No. 2 ........................$10,000.00 Marie Elise Duplantis No. 2 ....................$10,000.00 Maude & Edith Daspit No. 2 ..................$10,000.00 Msgr. George A. Landry ...........................$10,000.00 Society of St. Joseph ................................. $7,500.00 Msgr. William Koninkx ............................... $7,400.00 Rev. Victor Toth ............................................ $7,000.00 Catholic Daughters ..................................... $6,800.00 Brides of the Most Blessed Trinity ......... $6,598.00 Rev. Peter Nies .............................................. $6,000.00 Rev. Gerard Hayes ....................................... $5,986.00 Rev. Guy Zeringue ....................................... $5,900.00 Msgr. Francis Amedee ................................ $5,350.00 Mr. & Mrs. Love W. Pellegrin ................... $5,000.00 Anonymous No. 2 ........................................ $5,000.00 Mr. & Mrs. Caliste Duplantis Family No. 4 ........ $5,000.00 Rev. William M. Fleming ............................ $5,000.00 Mrs. Ayres A. Champagne ........................ $5,000.00 Rev. Kasimir Chmielewski .......................... $4,839.00 Joseph “Jay” Fertitta ................................... $4,450.00

Rev. Henry Naquin ...................................... $4,311.00 Harry Booker No. 2 ..................................... $4,138.00 Msgr. James Songy ..................................... $4,075.00 Anawin Community ..................................... $3,700.00 Kelly Curole Frazier ..................................... $3,610.96 Mr. & Mrs. John Marmande ..................... $3,500.00 J. R. Occhipinti .............................................. $3,400.00 Mr. & Mrs. Galip Jacobs ............................ $3,060.00 St. Jude ............................................................ $3,000.00 Diocesan Knights of Columbus No. 2 ...... $2,894.62 Rev. Peter H. Brewerton ............................. $2,600.00 Warren J. Harang Jr. No. 2 ........................ $2,600.00 Preston & Gladys Webre ........................... $2,350.00 Willie & Emelda St. Pierre ......................... $2,000.00 Rev. John Gallen ........................................... $1,950.00 Rev. H.C. Paul Daigle .................................. $1,900.00 Deacon Connely Duplantis ....................... $1,700.00 Alfrances P. Martin ...................................... $1,650.00 Msgr. Francis J. Legendre No. 2 .............. $1,645.00 Rev. Robert J. Sevigny ................................ $1,600.00 Rev. Hubert C. Broussard .......................... $1,550.00 Judge Louis & Shirley R. Watkins ........... $1,550.00 Msgr. Emile J. Fossier ................................. $1,545.00 Ronnie Haydel .............................................. $1,535.00 Dr. William Barletta Sr. ............................... $1,525.00 Msgr. Stanislaus Manikowski ................... $1,525.00 Deacon Robert Dusse’ ............................... $1,450.00 Jacob Marcello .............................................. $1,400.00 Rev. Anthony Rousso ................................. $1,250.00

Msgr. John L. Newfield .............................. $1,200.00 Rev. Joseph Tu Tran No. 2 ........................ $1,094.00 Msgr. John G. Keller .................................... $1,050.00 Rev. Clemens Schneider ............................ $1,000.00 Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux No. 4 ............. $1,000.00 Edna W. DiSalvo .............................................. $900.00 Bernice Harang ................................................ $800.00 Deacon Willie Orgeron ................................. $800.00 Ruby Pierce ....................................................... $800.00 Deacon Roland Dufrene ............................... $750.00 Juliette & Eugene Wallace ........................... $700.00 Deacon Edward J. Blanchard ....................... $700.00 Deacon Raymond LeBouef .......................... $550.00 Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Cannata ...................... $500.00 Robert Walsh .................................................... $500.00 Dean Joseph Chiasson .................................. $500.00 Paul & Laura Duet ......................................... $500.00 Anne Veron Aguirre ....................................... $380.00 Deacon Harold Kurtz ..................................... $300.00 Richard Peltier No. 2 ...................................... $300.00 Claude Bergeron ............................................. $250.00 Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Naquin ............................ $150.00 Rev. Michael Finnegan .................................. $150.00 Deacon Pedro Pujals ...................................... $100.00 Rev. Warren Chassaniol ................................ $100.00 Deacon Eldon Frazier ......................................$ 50.00 Deacon Nick Messina ......................................$ 50.00

Overall Seminarian Burses Total: $1,727,418.02 ~ CFSL Seminarian Endowments Total: $3,834,748.91 November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 35

Commentary

The hardest truth to understand Thoughts For Millennials Ryan Abboud

As we traverse the mountains and valleys of life on earth, we experience, realize and understand many “truths” about the theology of our existence. Most of the time, our encounter with these truths come in that exact order. We first experience an event or happening that then causes us to realize a fact about life. Then, we use our intuition or faith to help us process that information and understand it. This process is true for many of life’s truths that we come across. For example (on a much simpler scale), say we go to the store to pick up an item we need. At the checkout counter, our debit card gets declined. At that point we’ve experienced an event that leads us to realize that we’re out of money. Then, we can use our intellect to understand that we probably spent too much money. In the spiritual realm, many of us experience God’s redemptive love and mercy in this same three-part process. Maybe we first felt an overwhelming flood of acceptance and love pour over us when we first experienced a good, longoverdue reconciliation. Next, we identified that as God. We realize that this merciful love that we had heard about really does stem from God. Then lastly, we use our faith to assist us in understanding his nature. As beautiful as this process of understanding seems in theory, it’s not always as clear-cut and mess-free as these examples. You see, there are some truths of life that do not come as easy. These truths in particular may be ones that we just keep experiencing and experiencing and experiencing,

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36 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

but are unable to find any understanding for. While there are many truths that fall into this category, the hardest truth for us to fathom is the idea of unanswered prayers. I’m sure that we’ve all experienced pouring our prayer time and intentions into a particular outcome or goal, only to have that prayer not come to fruition. It can be terribly disheartening and may even be a low-point in some of our spiritual lives. In this process, we experience the sting of this truth. We realize what happened. But we get a disconnect when transitioning into the “understanding” phase. We’re left looking up to the sky and asking, “Why?” Why didn’t the Saints win the Super Bowl this year? Why would God allow this natural disaster to strike us? Why didn’t God spare me of this heartbreak? Why couldn’t my loved one be cured of their illness? Brothers and sisters, I’m not here because I know the answers to those questions; because quite frankly, I don’t know. I don’t know why bad things happen to good people, I don’t know why we must endure heartbreak and loss. However, I do know that God knows why. And I believe that he will reveal that to us at exactly the right time. I trust that I don’t need to know “why,” and I trust that I don’t need to understand; because, I trust him. My favorite explanation of God’s timing was given to me at a young age by my mother. She always compared his timing to a Mardi Gras parade. She’d have me imagine myself as a member of the crowds. I’m simply a little parade-goer, watching floats and catching beads. As the audience, we see one float at a time as they pass in front of us. One float at a time is all we see and know for the time being. Now, imagine God as the individual on the float throwing beads. God is much higher than the crowds due to his positioning on the float. Since he has a better vantage point, He can look ahead and see where the parade is going, and he can see where the parade came from. The man on the float has more knowledge about the parade route than the crowd since he can see more. My mother would always stress that the parade route was our lives. God has a greater advantage because he can see our future and past, but we can only see the present. And that’s why we shouldn’t lose sleep over not understanding delayed or unanswered prayers, but rather, we just trust. When Jesus was teaching, he never told us that our lives would be easy and strife-free. He taught us that difficulty is inevitable, that there would be struggle, and there would be conflict; however, in each of those situations, the Father would provide grace to get us through it. (Ryan Abboud is a 2015 graduate of Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma and a senior at LSU in Baton Rouge.) BC

Book Reviews

Reading With Raymond Raymond Saadi

A Cajun Girl’s Sharecropping Years By Viola Fontenot University of Mississippi $25 The author, the Cajun Girl of the title, tells of growing up in Church Point, LA, the daughter of a sharecropper who made a barguine (bargain) with a landowner giving him one-third of the proceeds and a rent free house. At school Viola learned never, never to speak French, only English. By sixth grade, she was working the fields with her mother and father, later graduating from Eunice High, fifth in her class with a four-year scholarship to LSU. Later, she married Ernest Courville, a marriage that lasted 27 years and produced three children. After Viola retired as a bank vice-president, she teamed up with Table Francis and began her writing career. BC

Conan Doyle for the Defense

The Mind of Pope Francis By Massimo Borghesi Liturgical Press $29.95

From the first time Pope Francis appeared on the scene paying his hotel bill in person and eschewing the palatial suites of the Vatican, many assumed he was far too humble to assume the Papal Throne. Following the intellectual Benedict he seemed ill prepared to relate to a time of change in the church and the world. But, for the first time, Massimo Borghesi recounts and analyzes Bergoglio’s “philosophical, theological and spiritual principles that support the profound vision at the heart of this pope’s teaching and ministry.” In plain English, Francis is more than well prepared for the papacy. BC

By Margalit Fox Random House $27 Imagine an author who creates an incredibly smart detective, then uses that same detective’s innovative crime solving techniques to actually solve two or more crimes. That’s the true story here of Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of the famed Sherlock Holmes mysteries. Of the two wrongly convicted men, one who served 18 years in prison for murder was exonerated and set free thanks to Doyle’s exhaustive study of police records and witnesses who gave false testimony. The other, although already released from prison, had his good name restored. The book is a fascinating study of the evolution of the science of detection. BC

Gumbo - A Magical Bayou Tale By Alexis Braud River Road Press $17.99 Mmmm … What’s that wonderful smell? Are you making gumbo, Cher? What? You don’t know how to make the gumbo? Well, Cher, grab this book and watch how Nanny shows young George how to make it, picture by picture. It looks so easy, Mais I think maybe I could make it too, except my wife always tells me to “Stay out of my kitchen!” Hmm, maybe I’ll give her a copy of this book for Christmas, enh? BC

One, Two, Rougarou By Alexis Braud River Road Press $8.95 If you missed the Rougarou Festival last month in Houma, at least you’ll have this recipe for keeping that scary thing away from your doorstep. In just over a dozen stiff board pages, Ms. Braud spells out in colorful drawings the “how to do it” protection the Rougarou hates but everyone else loves. BC

November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 37

Special

Following Jesus by honoring the poor Guest Columnist Agnes Bitature

“We can best measure our life together by how the poor and the vulnerable are treated” (National Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1986. Economic Justice for All. United States Catholic Conference, No. 8). Care for the poor has always been the center of Catholic social teaching because of the importance of the life and dignity of every human being. When we hear the word “poverty,” we can think of many things: poverty of spirit, lack of love, isolation, etc. Saint Mother Teresa said, “The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved and uncared for ... there are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread but there are many more dying for a little love. The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty – it is not only poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There’s a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God.”

Then there is the poverty of spirit. Mark Shea in his paper on the beatitudes talks about both interior and exterior poverty. He speaks of the common tendency we have in society today of marginalization, blindness and insensitivity to the poor and the failure to see Jesus in them. He acknowledges that poverty is not an automatic qualification for blessedness. He says, “Our culture … likes to hurriedly put emphasis on the words “in spirit” in order to distance ourselves from looking into the faces of the hobos, winos, toothless geezers, street kids with fleas, addicts, schizophrenics, brawling illiterates and smelly people who are, after all, what the word “poor” often refers to.” Van Kasteren writing for the Catholic Encyclopedia, in looking at the original language of the Beatitudes, sees the meaning of the word “poor” as used in the beatitudes as associated with an Aramaic word, “‘ányâ (Hebrew ‘anî), bent down, afflicted, miserable, poor … also the sense of humility; “beggars before God” humbly acknowledging their need of divine help.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church gives us motive for working to “be able to give to those in need. It extends not only to material poverty but also to the many forms of cultural and religious poverty” (2444). On World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis invites us to focus on material poverty in which individuals, families

and communities lack access to the basic things they need to live and thrive: nutritious food, adequate housing, safe neighborhoods, good education, healthcare and decent jobs with fair pay, for example. He says, “For the poor to overcome their oppressive situation, they need to sense the presence of brothers and sisters who are concerned for them and, by opening the doors of their hearts and lives, make them feel like friends and family. Only in this way can the poor discover ‘the saving power at work in their lives’ and ‘put them at the center of the church’s pilgrim way’ (Evangelii Gaudium, 198) … I would like this year’s, and all future World Days, to be celebrated in a spirit of joy at the rediscovery of our capacity for togetherness” (No. 6). How can we respond to Pope Francis’ call, and hear the cries of the poor in our parish, our neighborhood and our communities? One way to do this is to support the work of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). This collection supports the work of groups that empower low-income people to participate in decisions that affect their lives and break the cycle of poverty. (Agnes Bitature is the associate director of Parish Social Ministry for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.) BC

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Announcement

Catholic Foundation announces #iGiveCatholic Catholic Foundation Update Amy Ponson

The Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana not only focuses on the financial future of diocesan ministries but also supports these ministries through present day giving. We are excited to kick off the charitable giving season on #GivingTuesday, Nov. 27 with #iGiveCatholic, our third annual 24 hour giving day that brings the Catholic community together to give thanks and give back. The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is one of 28 dioceses

participating in #iGiveCatholic this year. Last year, our community helped to support our church parishes, schools and ministries through #iGiveCatholic by raising over $175,000 in just 24 hours. These funds supported specific ministries such as a new sewage system for Sacred Heart Church parish in Cut Off; upgrades to classroom lighting at St. Mary’s Nativity School in Raceland; and a new electronic billboard for St. Bridget Church parish in Schriever. This year all 39 church parishes and 12 schools, along with many other ministries in the diocese are participating in #iGiveCatholic, with hopes of raising over $200,000. Participating in #iGiveCatholic is as easy as 1, 2, 3: 1) Visit https://houma-thibodaux. igivecatholic.org/. 2) Select a parish, school or ministry to support. 3) Donate $25 or more. On Nov. 27 (#iGiveCatholic Giving

Day), gifts of a minimum of $25 will help diocesan parishes, schools and ministries continue to build upon the great work they do in the community. Your generous support makes a meaningful difference to each ministry. We encourage everyone to participate on Nov. 27 for #iGiveCatholic or schedule a gift to your favorite ministry through Advanced Day Giving from Nov. 12–26 by visiting https://houma-thibodaux. igivecatholic.org/. Follow us on Facebook @ CatholicFoundationSL or @htdiocese so you can share in the excitement of our Catholic day of giving and remember to “give Catholic” on #GivingTuesday, Nov. 27. For more information about #iGiveCatholic or to plan a legacy for your church parish, please contact Amy Ponson at (985) 850-3116 or by email at aponson@htdiocese.org. BC

November 27, 2018

* S AV E T H E DAT E * Advanced day giving is November 12 through 26. To dontate, visit iGiveCatholic.org and search for: Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux For more information about how you can get involved with #iGiveCatholic, contact us at 985.850.3116 or catholicfoundationsl.org 40 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

Special

Inaugural Dinner The Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana hosted its Inaugural Dinner recently at the Thibodaux Regional Wellness Center where over 250 people gathered for the event. A lithograph entitled “Veronica’s Veil,” by Dorothy Fratt was auctioned for $7,600. Three awards were given during the event. The Matthew 25 Catholic Award was accepted on behalf of the late Al Danos by his family. The Seminarian Champion Award was accepted on behalf of James “Jimmie” Peltier by his family. The Faith in Action Award was presented to Charles “Mike” Callais. Through a live auction the Foundation was able to raise over $40,000 which will benefit the seminarian endowment and the Catholic Charities endowment.

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 41

Advertiser’s Spotlight

Craig Hebert, PT; Lori Matherne, PT, DPT; Craig Pate, PT

Thibodaux Physical Therapy, using the most up-to-date treatment concepts since 1980 Story by Janet Marcel Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier Craig Hebert, PT, owner and president of Thibodaux Physical Therapy (TPT) in Thibodaux, founded his practice in 1980. “There weren’t very many physical therapists in Thibodaux at that time, so I decided to establish my practice here,” says the Thibodaux native, who received his bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans in May 1977. He began his career as a staff therapist at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, LA, where he worked for three years before deciding to return to his home town. Hebert was the only physical therapist at the practice for the first seven years. Currently working alongside him are Craig Pate, PT; and Lori Matherne, PT, DPT. 42 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

The therapists at Thibodaux Physical Therapy provide a comprehensive rehabilitation program for their patients and help them obtain their desired goals by performing a thorough evaluation and developing a specialized program to meet their individual needs. They use the most up-todate treatment concepts, while patients are instructed to be active participants in the rehabilitation process. Patients are given instructions on pain management, proper body mechanics, lifting techniques and modification of work related tasks. TPT also offers membership in its fitness center to the general public, which is ideal for patients who have completed physical therapy and wish to continue a fitness

Advertiser’s Spotlight

program with guidance from their physical therapist. “We see a low volume of patients, but we see them on a regular basis so we get to know the patient pretty well,” says Hebert. “Our faith brings to light the fact that it’s more than just a diagnosis that we’re treating; we are treating the whole person. Our patients are not at their best when they come to us for treatment … it’s usually after surgery or an accident, and they’re hurting. We pride ourselves in making our patients comfortable here. We treat them with respect and we try to make it as pleasant as possible for them when

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they are here. Many of our patients tell us it feels like a family here … and I guess that goes back to our motto, ‘Choose our experienced professionals who will become your trusted friends.’” Thibodaux Physical Therapy’s biggest promoters, says Hebert, are prior patients referring their friends to them. Hebert describes physical therapy as a giving profession. “It is mental therapy as well as physical therapy. There is a lot of encouragement that goes on and a lot of listening in our profession. We probably open ourselves up to our patients more than you would typically see in other professions in the medical field.” Hebert says he just applies the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” when treating his patients and his staff. “I just treat them fairly and listen to their concerns. I’m proud of the stability of my employees and I hope that’s because I treat them the way I want to be treated.” The practice of physical therapy has changed dramatically over the years, says Hebert. “When I first started no one knew what physical therapy was; it was just an oddity out there. We had to do a lot of promoting to doctors about what we could do. Medicine, technology, the aging of America and just the overall promotion of fitness have helped the physical therapy profession. People are living longer; they want to stay fit; and they want to be able to continue doing the things they love to do. Physical therapy is one of the best avenues to achieve that.” There have also been a lot of advancements over the years in the treatment methods used in physical therapy. One of the newer treatment methods being offered at TPT is dry

needling, which Hebert says is at the forefront of physical therapy today. Hebert is a certified provider in Graston instrument assisted soft tissue technique, a certified Kinesiotaping specialist and has completed certification courses in dry needling through the American Academy of Manipulative Therapy. He is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), member and past board member of the Louisiana Physical Therapy Association (LPTA), member and past board member of the Louisiana Physical Therapy Provider Network (PTPN). Pate, a 1992 graduate of LSU Medical Center School of Physical Therapy, has been employed at TPT since 1992. He specializes in orthopedic rehabilitation and is currently certified in trigger point dry needling and Graston technique. He is a member of the APTA and served as a board member of the LPTA. Matherne worked as a PT tech at TPT while obtaining a bachelor of science degree in biology from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux in 2008. She received a doctor of physical therapy degree from LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans in May 2012 and returned to TPT in March 2015. She has training in trigger point dry needling, Kinesiotaping, and is a certified Graston technique provider. She is a member of the APTA and the LPTA. BC

Craig Pate, PT • Lori Matherne, DPT • Craig Hebert, PT For all your physical therapy needs, choose our experienced professionals who will become your trusted friends. 104 East Bayou Rd. (Hwy 308) ~ Thibodaux, LA 70301 ~ (985) 446-3736 www.thibodauxpt.com

November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 43

Bayou Lafourche Eucharistic Procession

Special

People gather for procession A Bayou Lafourche Eucharistic Procession was held recently beginning at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church in Golden Meadow and ending at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux. The procession began by boat down Bayou Lafourche to Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Larose then continued by fire truck to Holy Savior Church in Lockport. After leaving Lockport the procession arrived at St. Joseph Cemetery in Thibodaux where those participating processed on foot to the CoCathedral for vespers and Benediction.

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 45

Special

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November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 47

Strategic Plan Update

Deacon John DiTaranto of the Catholic Leadership Institute leads a group of parish implementation team members during a recent meeting at the Pastoral Center in Schriever.

Parish implementation teams work toward finalizing individual strategic plans Catholic Leadership Institute meets with key parish leaders Story by Janet Marcel Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier After listening to the hopes and dreams, and challenges and frustrations of the people of God during his first two years in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Bishop Shelton J. Fabre issued his first pastoral letter on the subject of strategic planning in March 2016. Since that time, much planning and preparation has taken place in the diocese as the clergy and lay faithful embarked on a journey of revitalizing their church parishes through the formation of missionary disciples. As part of Phase I of the church parish’s strategic planning process thus far, the implementation teams have been meeting to learn how to discern together, and going over the key principles of intentional discipleship in the parish including the nine dimensions of a mature missionary disciple and the five steps in the Formation Life Cycle. The teams have also been assessing the parish’s 48 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

current ministries to determine what is working and why it is working, and what is not working and why it is not working. Living as Missionary Disciples: A Resource for Evangelization, a document published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in May 2017, is being used as the blueprint for parish renewal in the diocese. This pastoral planning framework suggests six key dimensions to assess the current status of the parish, establish an effective ministry and develop a successful pastoral plan. n A planning process is permeated with prayer. n A parish plan provides a direction focused on bearing fruit, not just on having activities. n The parish seeks out effective leaders who can inspire others with an engaging vision of missionary discipleship. n The content of services and ministries is rooted in the

Strategic Plan Update

What participants are saying about the Parish Missionary Disciples program Seeing the growth in understanding the mentoring role, in truly grasping what it means to have Jesus always with us, and the increased enthusiasm of my four peers as well as from all individuals from other parishes attending the Parish Missionary Disciples program was inspiring. The transformations I observed are a glimpse of what is possible within our parish. PMD gave me the confidence to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, through regularly practiced discernment, especially when interacting with others, and also better prepared me to help others on their spiritual journey. By testimonies shared, examples I witnessed and my own experiences, the idea of having Jesus, discipleship, heaven, etc., foremost in mind throughout my day makes me extremely more attuned to the many opportunities I have for evangelizing. That may be from engaging in an affirming exchange with someone that says they are having a blessed/great day/life to an empathetic, and possibly uplifting, exchange with one who indicates they are having a bad day/life … and, much more in-between. Abel Orgeron St. Mary’s Nativity Church parish in Raceland

My parish does not need to fit into a specific mold. We are unique and the Lord works through, not in spite of, the makeup of my parish. The Lord tailors his approach to every soul, but he is consistent in the way he moves in people’s lives in general. If we are aware of that rhythm we can accompany each other as we journey together toward Christ in our everyday lives. Through the Parish Missionary Disciples program, we experienced firsthand what we will be inviting others into. Conversion and growth most often occur in community and experiencing that in a small group was invaluable. We are joyfully inviting our fellow parishioners to take part in something that has blessed us. I am more aware of everyday moments where the Lord is inviting me to bless others by sharing my faith. Often the most ordinary happenings of life can be opportunities to share the reality of hope. I don’t need to know all the answers; I am simply a beggar offering a piece of bread to another. Darby Robichaux St. Genevieve Church parish in Thibodaux

The Parish Missionary Disciples (PMD) faith walk was and continues to be a work in progress: Earmarks of religious fervor galvanizing to intuitive understanding, benchmarks of belief serving as relationship cornerstones with Jesus, quiet moments in quiet places immersed in conversation with the Lord. One person testified his PMD experience saved his soul. I was awakened to clearly see Jesus in those that surrounded me. I gained ownership of a sentiment of expectation to know Jesus and a desire to share discipleship (his great commission to the apostles). When you encounter the gift of the Holy Spirit, it is desirable to want that all of your life; a blessing you seek to extend to your family and others you love. My conversion of heart was opened to limitless possibility; opened to fulfill the great commission from Jesus to make followers of Christ. Prayer is a powerful force. Since the PMD experience, I pray differently; I listen in a different way; I see more empirically; I love with more openness and conviction. I have a personal rapport with Jesus that manifests into the great commission to go and make disciples. Lee LeCompte Maria Immacolata Church parish in Houma

Since my conversion (reversion) 16 years ago, I have always hoped for the availability of adult formation in each parish. Adults should not have to search for information or opportunities to grow spiritually. Along with the diocesan strategic plan, the Parish Missionary Disciples program has given me great hope that in the very near future my parish will flourish with such opportunities for adults to grow in their relationship with our Lord and with one another in community. The knowledge, understanding, and methods that the PMD program provided me with have given me confidence to reach out to, talk with, and work with adult formation. PMD gave me the grace of awareness of aspects of my faith that I had not considered in depth before. It also gave me a curiosity of some aspects that led me to research further and grow in a better understanding of these areas – strengthened what I knew and introduced me to what I didn’t know. Sally Sobert Christ the Redeemer Church parish in Thibodaux

The Parish Missionary Disciples (PMD) program really helped me understand what “go and make disciples” really means. We are all called to this mission. The hope for our parish is to be able to encourage and equip parishioners to be leaders for small group adult formation. Our PMD training was very informative. We were taught how to give a five minute personal testimony on how we encountered Jesus and how our conversion came about. Personal testimony is sometimes better than theological explanations. We were taught to meet people where they are on their spiritual journey and how to ask the right questions to get the information we need. PMD has helped me personally with my prayer life. I now have my prayer room space and I have a set time to pray. I have been able to consistently be successful at it! I personally enjoyed how to pray with people right there on the spot while they are open and ready to receive. I look forward to getting started!! Sarah Pierce Our Lady of the Rosary Church parish in Larose November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 49

Strategic Plan Update

doctrine of the church and supported by foundational pastoral practices that point parishioners toward and prepare them for discipleship. n Parish ministries successfully engage people through welcome, inspiration and effective communication. n The parish commits itself to being a good steward of its human and financial resources, using them prudently and responsibly while continually assessing the effectiveness of its efforts. Beginning in September 2017, three or four people from each church parish attended a yearlong adult formation training program through the Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI) entitled Parish Missionary Disciples. “The participants met one Saturday each month through September 2018. This training allowed them to grow in their own journey of faith to missionary discipleship and empowered them to take a lead with adult formation in their parish,” says Kristin Niedbala, parish liaison for the diocesan strategic planning process. As an extension of the Parish Missionary Disciples training, many church parishes are now starting pilot small groups in preparation to offer an adult formation small group process for the parish. “These groups will be using a resource entitled The Art of Living, which is being produced by the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux. The resource consists of four semesters that are designed to walk participants through an experience of the Formation Life Cycle: Encounter, Connect, Mission, Grow, Conversion. If the Formation Life Cycle is ‘what’ we want to happen in our parishes,” explains Niedbala, “then The Art of Living is ‘how’ to implement that.” The curriculum for the first semester of The Art of Living, “Made for More: Created to Connect,” which focuses on Christian community and small groups, was written by Very Rev. Mark Toups, Father P.J. Madden, Neidbala, and Paul and Gretchen George. The second semester, “Anthropology & Christology: Encounter and Grow,” was written by Very Rev. Mark Toups and Dr. Brant Pitre. The third semester, “Prayer, Conversion & Growing in

50 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

Dennis VanAuken of the Catholic Leadership Institute speaks to parish implementation team members at St. Genevieve Church parish in Thibodaux during a meeting for team members. Virtue: Encounter, Conversion and Grow,” was written by Very Rev. Mark Toups. The fourth semester, “Evangelize and Serve: Mission,” has not been written yet. Niedbala says that the beauty of it being written especially for the diocese is that they are able to wait to see what’s happening, discern and respond to specific needs. Video production for the entire resource is being done by Roch Gernon and Tyler Neil. This fall, parish implementation teams are concentrating on the three items that have been identified as diocesan planning priorities, 1) Sunday, with three areas of focus being homilies, hymns and hospitality; 2) Adult and Youth Formation; and 3) Outreach, parish social ministry or opportunities at major life moments. Every parish team will be completing assessments for each planning priority to gain more information, summarizing their findings and considering what this could look like in their individual parish; and tailoring these priorities to their parish’s plan. The CLI will be providing consultants to help each parish begin finalizing its individual strategic plan. Parishes will be clustered in groups of three with one CLI consultant per group. Each of the groups will meet two to three times, with meetings concluding in January 2019. BC

Diocesan Events

www.bayoucatholic.com

November

n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, November 6, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311, Houma, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. n St. Martin de Porres Mass for AfricanAmerican Catholics, Thursday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m., St. Luke the Evangelist Church, Thibodaux, celebrated by Bishop Shelton J. Fabre. n American Indian Mass of Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 16, 6:30 p.m., St. Charles Borromeo Church, Pointe-auxChenes, celebrated by Bishop Emeritus Sam G. Jacobs. n Vietnamese Martyrs Mass, Sunday, Nov. 18, 4 p.m., St. Andrew Church, Amelia. n #iGiveCatholic giving day, Tuesday, November 27.

December

n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, December 4, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311, Houma, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. n A Mass honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe will be celebrated by Bishop Shelton J. Fabre, Saturday, Dec. 8, 6:30 p.m., at Sacred Heart Church in Morgan City. n American Indian Ministry sponsored retreat, “Cast into the Deep,” begins Friday, Dec. 14, at 5 p.m., and ends Sunday, Dec. 16 with lunch at Noon. Presenter, Sister Judy Gomila, M.S.C.

Protect your world

January 2019

n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, January 8, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311, Houma, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. n Jr. High Faith Experience, Saturday, Jan. 12, E.D. White Catholic High School in Thibodaux, 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. n A Mass honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Sunday, Jan. 20 at 8:15 a.m., St. Lucy Church, Houma, will be celebrated by Bishop Shelton J. Fabre. n A Mass honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Sunday, Jan. 20 at 10:30 a.m., St. Luke the Evangelist Church, Thibodaux, will be celebrated by Bishop Shelton J. Fabre. n Catholic Schools Week, with its theme “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed,” Sunday, Jan. 27 to Saturday, Feb. 2.

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November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 51

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 243 couples. Anniversary couples with the bishop are Dennis and Rachael Anderson, St. Joseph, Chauvin, 25 years; Ricky and Susan Blanchard, St. Thomas Aquinas, 40 years; Delton and Sandra Falcon, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, 50 years; Guy and Shirley Carlos, St. Louis, Bayou Blue, 60 years; and Joseph and Erline Toups, St. Charles Borromeo, St. Charles Community, 76 years.

Diocese honors 243 couples

The annual diocesan wedding celebration which is sponsored by the Office of Family Ministries was held recently at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux. Bishop Shelton J. Fabre presided over the prayer service where 243 couples celebrating 25, 40, 50, 60 or more years of marriage were honored. 25th Anniversary Celebrants: Christ the Redeemer, Thibodaux: David and Sharon Legendre Benoit, George and Brandi Beadle Boudreaux; Holy Family, Grand Caillou: Kelly and Cheryl Ann Callahan Parfait; Holy Savior, Lockport: David and Melinda Plaisance Hitt; Maria Immacolata, Houma: Darryl and Anne Buquet Barrios, Lynn and Michele Boudwin Foret; Sacred Heart, Morgan City: Ruben and Christy Gaspar Thomas; St. Bernadette Soubirous, Houma: Deacon James and Angie Lefevre, Christopher and Cecile Villarrubia Babin; Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma: Glenn and Tara Gaubert Landry; St. Genevieve, Thibodaux:

Bill and Becky LeBlanc Durocher, Justin and Melisa Pope Rodrigue, Dr. James and Mary Vice Soignet, Cedric and Dawn Jeasonne Oubre, Larry and Arlene Breaux Peltier, Todd and Anissa Clement Naquin; St. Gregory Barbarigo, Houma: Matthew and Jill Vincent Sevier; St. Hilary of Poitiers, Mathews: Wayne and Stephanie Williams Gautreaux; St. Joseph, Chauvin: Dennis and Rachael Boudreaux Anderson; St. Joseph CoCathedral, Thibodaux: Doug and Carolyn Hymel Robichaux; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Jarrod and Theresa Prosper Folse, Reggie and Marissa Bergeron Bagala; 40th Anniversary Celebrants: Annunziata, Houma: Barry and Tama Forsyth; Christ the Redeemer, Thibodaux: Harry and Jeanne Becnel Naquin; Holy Family, Grand Caillou: Darrel and Vera Authement Champagne; Holy Savior, Lockport: Johnny and Fran Curole Boudreaux, Curtis and Mona LeBlanc Arcement,

52 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

Bert and Loriane Parks Naquin, Phillip and Marie Delaune Leblanc; Maria Immacolata, Houma: Michael and Karleen Venable LeCompte; Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma: Jason and Justine Dupre Duplantis, Keith and Ann Prosperie Bonvillain; Our Lady of the Rosary, Larose: Kendrick and Cynthia Bairnsfather Duet, Sacred Heart, Cut Off: Alfred (Al) and Ashley Balasco Archer, Jimmy and Sheena Orgeron Allemand; Sacred Heart, Montegut: Eric and Sally Braud Savoie; St. Ann, Bourg: Olden and Nancy Voisin Rodrigue; St. Anthony of Padua, Bayou Black: L.A. and Sherri Pares Robichaux, Deacon Brent and Roxanne Daigle Bergeron; St. Bernadette Soubirous, Houma: Tommy and Sheila Matherne Rodrigue; St. Charles Borromeo, St. Charles Community: Randy and Sheila Chauvin Thibodaux; Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma: Jules and Gina Pellegrin Oubre, David E. and Michele Larke Lottinger;

Church Life

St. Genevieve, Thibodaux: Jeff and Margot Kerne Donnes, Clyde and Sandra Blanchard Waguespack, Andrew and Terri Breaux Robertson, Darroll and Darlene Robichaux Bertrand, Warren Allen Jr. and Bernadette Duet Spears; St. Gregory Barbarigo, Houma: Lewis and Lorrie Bethancourt Tabor; St. Hilary of Poitiers, Mathews: Kevin and Ann Boudreaux Allemand, Michael and Mona Foret Allemand, Dr. Michael and Mary Graugnard Marcello, Troy and Mary Boudreaux Templet, Frank and Andrea Adams Chase; St. Joseph, Chauvin: Herbert and Jennie Courteaux Fanguy; Nolan Jr. and Donna Naquin Matherne, Bryan and Miriam Dupre LeBoeuf, Barry A. and Karen Bergeron Chauvin; St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux: Christopher and Jennifer Jones Rodrigue, Keith and Bessie Hebert Babin; St. Louis, Bayou Blue: Dean and Amy Labit Hutchinson; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Harold and Susan Pierce Danos; St. Thomas Aquinas, Thibodaux: Ricky and Susan Lagarde Blanchard; 50th Anniversary Celebrants: Annunziata, Houma: Ronald and Karen Naquin Brunet, Allen and Sandra Jaccuzzo Trahan; Christ the Redeemer, Thibodaux: Camille Jerome and Dorothy Klingman LeCompte, Richard and Martha Tregre Belteau; Holy Family, Grand Caillou: Pierre and Mary Alice Parfait Solet, Jessie and Joyce Buquet Voisin; Holy Savior, Lockport: Gerald Joseph and Barbara Thibodaux Breaux, Robert and Deborah Chauvin Savoie, Roland Jr. and Evelyn Chauvin Arcement; Maria Immacolata, Houma: Emil William and V. Claire Domangue Joller; Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Chackbay: Clinton P. and Nancy Abadie Benoit, Delmas J. Jr. and Myra Rodrigue Durocher, Gary and Cynthia Caillouet Larousse, Gary and Jean Ordoyne Bourgeois, Keith and Sylvia Becnel Landry, Joseph Jr. and Veronica Landry Bourgeois, Roland Jr. (Sonny) and Marie Hebert Orillion; Our Lady of the Rosary, Larose: Philip and Judy Callais Plaisance; Sacred Heart, Cut Off: Van Kurt and Lola Williams Chouest, Rodney and Dolly Hebert Gisclair; Sacred Heart, Morgan City: Segundo and Luz Maria

Giraldo Vitteri; St. Ann, Bourg: Steve and Suzanne Fabre Robichaux; St. Anthony of Padua, Bayou Black: Dr. Bruce and Pamela Prejean Guidry; St. Bernadette Soubirous, Houma: Raleigh and Cindy Authement Thibodeaux, Gerard (Jerry) and Myra Morganstein Starr, Morris and Sandra Dupre Hebert, Richard (Dicky) and Peggy Kozak Jackson, Gary and Sandra Sue Shroyer LeBlanc, Frank and Elaine Prejean Bayus; St. Charles Borromeo, Pointe-aux-Chenes: Gale and Cynthia Dupre LeBoeuf; St. Charles Borromeo, St. Charles Community: Terry Joseph and Glenda Marie Legendre Toups; St. Eloi, Theriot: Irvin and Gwen Chauvin Champagne; Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma: Louis and Rosalyn Jensen Molaison, Delton and Sandra Taylor Falcon, Melvin and Evelyn Dufrene Boudreaux, Edward and Merlene Blanchard Bonvillain; St. Genevieve, Thibodaux: Robin and Patricia Plaisance Long, George T. Jr. and Peggy Hebert Oncale, Steve and Dot Thibodeaux, Dr. L. Wayne and Janelle Bergeron Shell; St. Hilary of Poitiers, Mathews: Gayle and Kathleen Thibodeaux LeBlanc, Emile and Brenda Gaston Guidry, Beauregard Jr. and Paulette LeCompte Ledet, Archie Norman Jr. and Denise Lalande Duplantis; St. Joseph, Chauvin: Lanny and Maxine Marie Martin; St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux: Simon and Mary Elizabeth Hoffmann Maniscalco, Dr. Dirk and Tateen Aycock Ory, Dewey and Jackie Waguespack Gravois, James and Patricia Babin Caillouet, Lloyd and Judy Voisin Chauvin; St. Joseph, Galliano: Elton and Ena Adams Brunet; St. Lawrence the Martyr, Kraemer: Malcolm and Iris Granier Landry, Glen and Cynthia Kraemer Carriere; St. Louis, Bayou Blue: Eugene and Rose Hebert Naquin; St. Lucy, Houma: Leonard and Teresa Jones Bergeron; St. Luke the Evangelist, Thibodaux: Albert Sr. and Jane Grandpre’ Jenkins, Irving and Ann Consonery Parker; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Deacon Lloyd Jr. and Faie Gaubert Duplantis, Ray and Janie Naquin Folse, Richard John and Peggy Fonseca Adams, George and Barbara Foret Theriot, Sullivan and Barbara Ferguson Lirette; St. Thomas

Aquinas, Thibodaux: Fred and Debbie Marcel Duplechin, John Allen and Jacqueline Thibodaux Guidry; 60th Anniversary Celebrants: Christ the Redeemer, Thibodaux: Malcolm and Joyce Orgeron Duet; Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Chackbay: Earl and Judy Benoit Guidry; Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma: Blake and Juanita Smith Pitre; Sacred Heart, Cut Off: George and Elaine Gisclair Bourque, Bobby and Paula Galiano Hebert, Clinton and Joanne Pierce Bellanger, Lindo and Thelma Dantin Terrebonne; Sacred Heart, Montegut: Jerry and Maudry Trosclair Bourg; Sacred Heart, Morgan City: Joseph and Ruby Broussard Hebert; St. Anthony of Padua, Bayou Black: Riley and Marie Voclain Gros, W.L. and Rita Seebauer Trahan; St. Bernadette Soubirous, Houma: Mark and Bobbie Olivier Steib; Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma: Gerald and Carol Himel Collins, Norman and Jeanette Legendre Simon; St. Genevieve, Thibodaux: John (Pat) and Margaret Gros Barrilleaux, Charles and Betty Chiasson Berger; St. Gregory Barbarigo, Houma: Alva and Felicie Cenac Eschete; St. Hilary of Poitiers, Mathews: Gilbert and Pamela Caillouet Danos; St. John the Evangelist, Thibodaux: Willie and Nobie Pintado Landry; St. Joseph, Chauvin: Curtis and Lou Ann Theriot Duplantis; St. Louis, Bayou Blue: Evance Jr. and Earline Hebert Adams, Gerald and Betty Thibodaux Porche, Guy and Shirley Henry Carlos; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Leroy and Rhea Terrebonne Foret, Cleveland and Joan Baudoin Foret, Deacon Dicky and Joyce Foret Uzee, Herbert and Ethel Hebert Guidry, Ferrel and Geraldine Rumore Falgout, David and Judy Foret Theriot; St. Thomas Aquinas, Thibodaux: Bert and Loretta Mire Andry; 61st Anniversary Celebrants: Holy Family, Grand Caillou: Euland and Georgiana Marin Lapeyrouse; Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Chackbay: Joseph Daniel and Nellie Gauthreaux Clement; St. Ann, Bourg: Andrew and Ernestine Lirette Pitre; St. Eloi, Theriot: Wilbert and Claire Rose Voisin Champagne; Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma:

November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 53

Church Life

Essie and Marceline Landry Cavalier; St. Joseph, Galliano: Jervis and Carolyn Beraud Eymard, William and Annette Guidry Guidry; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Carroll and Gale Sampey Foret, Charles and Beverly Robichaux Mallett, Milton and June LeCompte Robichaux; 62nd Anniversary Celebrants: Holy Family, Grand Caillou: David and Fay Hood Harrison; Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Chackbay: Albert (Al) and Betty Landry Boudreaux; Sacred Heart, Cut Off: Raleigh and Barbara Pitre Terrebonne; St. Anthony of Padua, Bayou Black: Jimmie and Janice Bautreau Sullivan; St. Bernadette Soubirous, Houma: Allen (A.J.) and June Babin Collins, James and Shirley Sevin Bergeron; St. Bridget, Schriever: Andrew and Claire Gros Babin; St. Genevieve, Thibodaux: Kenneth and Faye Hoffman, Murphy and Mary Giroir Morvant; St. Gregory Barbarigo, Houma: Rodney and Shirley Robichaux Bollinger; St. Hilary of Poitiers, Mathews: Milton Sr. and Vera Cedotal Folse; St. Joseph, Chauvin: Magnal Sr. and Mildred Gilfour Martin; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Leroy and Francis Rodriguez Adams, Arthur and Vera Richard Cortez, Martin and Gwen Barbier St. Romain; 63rd Anniversary Celebrants: Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma: Cecil and Evella Boudreaux Champagne; Our Lady of the Rosary, Larose: Andrew and Loretta Comeaux Smith; Sacred Heart, Cut Off: Irvin and Dora Chabert Curole, Numa and Melvina Schouest Breaux; St. Bernadette Soubirous, Houma: Carroll and Ruby Daigle Dugas; St. Genevieve, Thibodaux: Louis and Shirley LeRay Adams; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Arlen and Lillie Blanchard Badeau, Warren and Joyce Babin Dufrene, Ricardo and Marion Babin Labat, Rudolph and Rose Guidry Robichaux; 64th Anniversary Celebrants: Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma: Norman and Geraldine Duplantis Voisin; Sacred Heart, Cut Off: Henry and Janet Galjour Dantin; Sacred Heart, Morgan City: Otis and Betty Lovell Rulf; St. Ann, Bourg: Berwick and Regina Crochet Olivier, Kirby and Helen Hetherington Fabre;

St. Genevieve, Thibodaux: John and Mary June Martin Becnel; St. Gregory Barbarigo, Houma: Norris and Joyce Bergeron Boquet; St. John the Evangelist, Thibodaux: Eugene Charles and Ruby Mae Naquin Blanchard; St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux: Boyd Sr. and Lou Ann Richard Hebert; St. Joseph, Chauvin: Melvin Sr. and Norma Jane Stevens Duplantis, Eugene and Yvonne LeBoeuf Soudelier; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Eroy and Rosalie Robichaux Benoit, Virgy and Mary Bonvillian Estay, Clifford and Doris Arcement Lagarde, Ralph and Norma Molaison Martin; 65th Anniversary Celebrants: Holy Cross, Morgan City: Andrew and Marian Breaux Jones; Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Chackbay: Emmett and Joyce Diana Chiasson Trosclair; Sacred Heart, Morgan City: Harley and Tessie Landry Blanco; St. Charles Borromeo, St. Charles Community: Gleason and Shirley Gros Sanchez; St. Hilary of Poitiers, Mathews: Lovell and Mary Ann Plaisance Saucier, Nessey and Leona Cantrelle Adams; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Donald and Patricia Grimes Kliebert, Benjamin and Gertrude Champagne Matherne; 66th Anniversary Celebrants: Maria Immacolata, Houma: Darwin and Geraldine Terrebonne Lafont; St. Gregory Barbarigo, Houma: Arlen and Jacqueline Guidry Cenac, Wade and Leah Lecompte Use’, Carlton M. and Rita Trahan Falgout; St. Joseph, Galliano: Kearn and Lolita Guidry Chouest; St. Lawrence the Martyr, Kraemer: Callen and Ella Simon Dempster; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Leonard and Alice Robichaux

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54 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

LOCAL

Borne, Larry and Daisy Pierce Galjour; 67th Anniversary Celebrants: Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma: Paul and Jeanette Boudreaux Luke; St. John the Evangelist, Thibodaux: Sterling and Inez Bourg Aysen; St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux: Herbert and Rose Lee Brown Toups; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Dudley and Betty Foret Adams, Harrison and Jeannette Gervais Matherne; 68th Anniversary Celebrants: St. Hilary of Poitiers, Mathews: Thomas and Rita St. Romain Robichaux, St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Joseph and Marie LeBlanc Champagne, Bolton and Cerita Foret LeBlanc; 69th Anniversary Celebrants: Our Lady of the Rosary, Larose: Richard and Jenny Defelice Rodrigue; 70th Anniversary Celebrants: Holy Savior, Lockport: Raymond and Marion Adams Birdsall; St. Ann, Bourg: Curtis and Cecile Fanguy Fabre; St. Joseph, Galliano: Arsen and Doree Dufrene Lasseigne, James and Irma Cheramie Cheramie; 72nd Anniversary Celebrants: Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma: Evans and Miriam Bonvillain Hebert; Sacred Heart, Cut Off: Weston and Doris Richoux Smith; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Philip and Delta Sampey Monier, Camille and Aline Borne St. Pierre; 73rd Anniversary Celebrants: Holy Family, Grand Caillou: Evest Jr. and Mary Crochet Voisin; 76th Anniversary Celebrants: St. Charles Borromeo, St. Charles Community: Joseph and Erline Ledet Toups. BC

Bayou Catholic Call us at 850-3132

Announcement

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux 1220 Aycock St. • Houma, LA 70360

American Indian Ministry retreat is Dec. 14-16 at Lumen Christi

Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Position Available The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is currently seeking a full-time

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Of CAThOLIC ChARITIES Starting Date: April 1, 2019 Applications Accepted Through: January 15, 2019, or until position is filled. Location: Houma, Louisiana Organization Summary: The mission of Catholic Charities is to provide compassionate service and empower people in need through faithfulness to the Gospel. We provide social programs that enhance the dignity of each person, promote Catholic Social Teaching, advocate for those whose voice is not heard, organize people who feel powerless to improve their lives, and join with church parishes and all people of good will to establish a more just and charitable society. Catholic Charities is governed by a board of directors appointed by the bishop who serves as president. A boardelected chair presides at board meetings. An agency of the diocese, though not housed at the Pastoral Center, Catholic Charities operates 15 programs throughout the diocese. In 2004 Catholic Charities was in the first class of 22 Louisiana agencies awarded the national Standards for Excellence Certification and has been recertified continuously ever since. Essential Duties and Reporting: Provide leadership and management for the effectiveness of all Catholic Charities programs and, in cooperation with the board of directors, ensure the implementation of the mission and goals of the agency through strategic and program planning in response to community needs. Communicate Catholic Social Teaching to the agency staff and ensure that these values are at the center of the operating philosophy of the agency. Maintain an effective mix of social services, education, advocacy and community organizing with both agency run programs and parish social ministry outreach.

Sister Judy Gomila, M.S.C.

The diocesan Office of Ethnic Ministries’ American Indian Ministry is sponsoring a retreat entitled, “Cast into the Deep,” at Lumen Christi Retreat Center’s Menard Building in Schriever. The retreat begins Friday, Dec. 14, at 5 p.m., with registration, and ends Sunday, Dec. 16 after lunch at Noon. The presenter will be Sister Judy Gomila, M.S.C., of the Archdiocese of New Orleans who will tie fishing into deepening the spirituality of the participants during the season of Advent. Sister Judy holds a master’s degree in theology and religious studies from St. Paul’s University, in Ottawa, Canada. She has served as a religious educator from elementary schools to seminarian formation. She currently serves as the public relations director for the Marianites of Holy Cross. For more information about the retreat, contact Theresa Dardar at (985)688-8145 (cell), (985)850-3139 (office) or (985)594-7916 (home). BC

Foster good community relations to generate support for the agency both within the Catholic parish community and within the broader community. Secure the necessary human and financial resources required for carrying out the agency’s work. Manage and monitor the annual agency budgets and oversee the general fiscal management of the agency. Oversee the maintenance and upkeep of all CCHT buildings and equipment. Carry out other duties as assigned by the bishop, vicar general and board. The executive director reports to the vicar general for administration. Qualifications and Experience: • Practicing Catholic in good standing • Well-versed in, and strongly committed to, Catholic Social Teaching and Catholic identity • Passion for social justice and services to poor and vulnerable people through agency programs and parish social ministry outreach • Intercultural competence and dedication to inclusiveness and diversity • Ability to recruit, train and retain professional, committed and diverse staff • Teaching/public speaking experience • Executive management and leadership experience including budget planning and oversight • Demonstrated ability to increase charitable program giving, write grants and grow the Catholic Charities Endowment • Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree in a relevant discipline preferred Other Skills Required: • Excellent written and verbal communication skills • Ability to organize and work independently • Ability to write professionally • Proficient in social media platforms • Successfully complete Safe Environment training and background check Working Conditions: Ability to drive throughout the diocese/state for day and night meetings and presentations, able to work a flexible schedule as needed. The current retiring executive director will provide three months of fulltime mentoring. The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against applicants or employees by reason of race, color, religion*, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. (*The diocese, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to require “practicing Catholic” to be a qualification for a position.) Salary and Schedule: This is a full-time, exempt level position of 35 hours per week; Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.4:30 p.m. Schedule will fluctuate with evening and weekend programs. Excellent benefits and generous paid time off included. Salary commensurate with experience and education. Apply: For consideration, please submit a cover letter, including salary requirements, and a resume to hr@htdiocese.org. Applications are now being accepted until the position is filled. See the Catholic Charities website for a more in-depth job announcement.

November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 55

Announcement

Glenn Landry named CFO for Diocese of Baton Rouge

Office of Human Resources & Employee Benefits 2779 Highway 311 • Post Office Box 505 • Schriever, LA 70395 Phone (985) 850-3115 • Fax (985) 850-3215 The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is currently seeking a full-time employee for the ministry of Chief Financial Officer/Coordinator for Administration Ministries This position serves as financial administrator under authority of the bishop to ensure the safe-keeping and proper stewardship of all assets, both financial and non-financial and provides financial and administrative service to the departments, offices, programs, parishes, schools and affiliated entities of the diocese. This position is eligible for full benefits. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (Other duties may be assigned) • Management, budgeting, and financial reporting and recordkeeping for diocesan offices and programs, affiliated entities and trusts, including the diocesan wide centralized programs of payroll, employee benefits, deposits and loans, liability/property insurance, safety, risk management, building and construction, and cemeteries. • Administrative, business, and financial advisor to bishop. • Deliver financial statements, budgets and other information to the diocesan finance council and other affiliated entities/trusts, boards. • Liaison with attorneys for all diocesan, parish and school legal matters. • Maintain professional relationships with external business contacts (bankers, auditors, investment managers, actuaries, insurance brokers, consultants, contractors). • Calculation of Cathedraticum, Christmas and Easter quotas, priest retirement assessment, accumulated priest retirement benefits, property/liability insurance billing. • Must have ongoing continuing education in areas of administration.

Glenn Landry

Glenn J. Landry, CPA, CDFM, CGMA, who has been serving the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux for the past 12 years, has been appointed chief financial officer of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, effective Dec. 3, 2018. Landry was named comptroller for the diocese in July 2006. He was appointed diocesan business manager and coordinator of Administration Ministries in July 2008. The Raceland native obtained a bachelor’s of science degree in accounting from Louisiana State University in 1992. He is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Diocesan Fiscal Manager, and a Charter Global Management Accountant. Landry is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Louisiana Certified Public Accountants and the Diocesan Fiscal Managers Conference. He has been married to Tara Gaubert for 25 years and they have two children, Abigail, 19, and Luke, 17. The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux will begin accepting applications for the position of chief financial officer immediately until Nov. 16. For consideration please submit a cover letter, resume and three professional references to hr@htdiocese.org. BC

OTHER OR SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES: • Review quarterly consolidated financial report for parishes and schools. • Administrative, business, and financial advisor to parishes and schools. THIS POSITION SUPERVISES: • Comptroller and other finance staff, file clerk, front desk receptionist, director of building and construction, director of cemeteries, director of computer operations, director of human resources, administrator of Archives and Historical Research Center. Education and Experience Qualifications: • BA/BS degree in accounting, finance, business administration. • At least 10 years progressive experience in executive level financial management or public accounting. • Administrative leadership experience, preferably in the Catholic Church or non-profit, including working with consultative bodies, supervision, accounting, investing and borrowing. • CPA, MBA or DFM preferred • Must be a practicing Catholic in good standing with the church Other Qualifications: • Strong professional and interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with others on all levels both orally and in writing; excellent presentation skills. • Must be able to multi-task and set priorities. • Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, finance, recordkeeping, budgeting and cost control principles. • Must have excellent computer skills and experience in Microsoft Office Software and accounting software packages. • Experience required in the following areas: property management, investments, employee benefits and insurance. • Familiarity with the Code of Canon Law related to temporal goods preferred. • Ability to establish and maintain friendly and cooperative relations with employees, clergy and parishes, schools, and other organizations the diocese supports. • Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends, and travel. The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against applicants or employees by reason of race, color, religion*, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information of any other basis prohibited by applicable law. *The diocese, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to require “practicing Catholic” to be a qualification for a position.

56 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

For consideration please submit a cover letter, resume and three professional references to hr@htdiocese.org. Application deadline is November 16, 2018.

Announcement

E.D. White has new stadium E.D. White Catholic High School in Thibodaux has new bleachers and a state of the art press box for its football stadium. The bleachers were constructed over the summer months and a ribbon cutting ceremony was held prior to the school’s first home football game of the season.

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier and Kaye Constant

November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 57

Are you

Sports

He said athletics can be a great teacher. “Athletics always will be, because there are instant consequences.” Overtime Douglas has offers from LSU, Alabama, Florida, TCU, Missouri, Ed Daniels Washington State and others. “He is one of the hardest workers I have ever been around. He is always doing extra work for class, in film study and the weight room.” Ward was chosen the school’s homecoming king. Students and faculty Site Name vote on the honor. Site Address Hill said wide receiver Treveon Contact Johnson and athlete Keshawn James Phone / Email are also a big part of the Tigers’ success. He said his team’s businesslike approach has also paid dividends. They met in class at Nicholls State “We are excited about what is going University. on around here,” said Hill. “It was Educational Development “But, we are also staying level 250,” said Terrebonne head coach Gary headed.” Hill. One veteran bayou football watcher is Gary became quick friends with duly impressed. For more information, Tracy, a young lady in the class. contact: “This is the bestplease team in the “She was friendly, and had a great For more information, For more information, personality.” Lafourche/Terrebonne area in the past please contact: please contact: Twenty-three years later, Gary Hill 20 years,” said radio analyst Mike Site Name and his wife, have a daughter, and one Houma Health Detillier, publisher of Digestive his own NFL Site Address of the best teams on the bayou inSite a long Specialists Name Site Name draft guide. Houma Contact Digestive Health Houma Digestive Health 1023 Wood Street time. Site Address Site Address Detillier said Hill as accumulated Specialists Phone / Email Specialists Houma, LA 70360 The Tigers are led by quarterback Contact Contact 1023 Wood Street 1023 Wood Street athletes much like H.L. Bourgeois head Brittany Dupre Ja’khi Douglas, one of the top recruits Phone / Email Phone / Email Houma, LA 70360 Houma, LA 70360 985-601-2658 coach Don Schwab did in the late 70s in the state for the class of 2020. Brittany Dupre Brittany Dupre bdupre@houma-gi.com and early 80s, when he had running In a 33-12 win over East St John, 985-601-2658 985-601-2658 Douglas ran for 109 yards and passed back Jesse Myles and tight end Mitch bdupre@houma-gi.com bdupre@houma-gi.com for 194 yards and two scores. Andrews. He and senior running back Chaz “Gary has a great way of using his Ward are two of the big reasons why offensive talent. He gets the ball to the Tigers are chasing their first district everyone, and keeps everyone happy.” title since 2010. “Terrebonne will make a big run in A district title this season would be Site Name the playoffs,” said Detillier. even more special, said Hill, because Address Destrehan and Hahnville are both in Detillier saidSite for Terrebonne, Site Namethis is the league. Contact their moment in time, their shot. Site Address “It has been awhile since a bayou The coach,Phone who played his high / Email team won a league with those river school football at Contact West Orange Stark parish schools in it,” said Hill. in southeast Phone Texas, is/anchored Email in Destrehan and Terrebonne play in Louisiana. the final week of the regular season. Thanks to that girl he met in Hill said his players are disciplined in Educational Development 250. BC class, and that carries over to the field.

Terrebonne High has best team in Lafourche/ Terrebonne area

58 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

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RLM Global Recruitment Flyer 8.5” x 11”, Version 1.0, 11May2018

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A Prayer of Thanksgiving and Gratitude Father in Heaven, creator of all and source of all goodness and love, please look kindly upon us and receive our heartfelt gratitude in this time of giving thanks. Thank you for all the graces and blessings you have bestowed upon us, spiritual and temporal: our faith and religious heritage, our food and shelter, our health, the love we have for one another, our family and friends. Dear Father, in your infinite generosity, please grant us continued graces and blessing throughout the coming year. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 59

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving Guest Columnist Deacon James Brunet

Back in the middle of September, I remember walking into a large retail hardware store and being greeted by a huge display of yard ornaments and lights. In front were the bright, white lights of Christmas with artificial trees, snowmen and all sorts of glittery angels and reindeer. To the side of

that table were the browns, oranges and yellows of fall with inflatable pumpkins, turkeys and wreaths. But the real eye-catchers looming over it all were the massive haunted house and black cat, being threatened by a huge white ghost followed by a giant orange carriage driven by a skeleton in black robes, holding the reins of a black horse. Amidst the confusing sight before my eyes, all I could think of was, “Wow, am I supposed to be thankful for a scary Christmas this year?” Sometimes, I think a lot of people get confused about holidays. And with displays like this it’s no wonder! Maybe we don’t get to see these displays, but we are bombarded with the ads for the “holiday season” which prompt us to go to a store and buy things for the big day

as if new “things” will make it better and more meaningful. After walking through the fog of consumerist propaganda, we will hopefully get to a point where we do start to reflect on the past year and focus on how we will celebrate these holidays. Will it be different from last year? Do we have traditions that are done every year? What do the holidays mean to us and our family? Thanksgiving is that one holiday in which we pause to give thanks. Throughout history, families all over have gathered for a meal and encouraged each other to be thankful for the blessings that they have. We here in America, as well as other countries, have many things to be thankful for. But, who are we thanking? I think our founding fathers in this country were aware of where the gratitude should be directed. President George Washington in a proclamation on Oct. 3, 1789, stated, “to recommend to the People of the United

l u f k n a Th for all of our blessings, especially our customers and family.

#SynergyGivesThanks 60 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

Giving Thanks

States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.” President Abraham Lincoln in his proclamation also acknowledged, “the gracious gifts of the Most High God” (Oct. 3, 1863). Fortunately, we don’t need presidents, newspaper ads and store displays to remind us to be thankful. It does become hard however, to keep in mind all the blessings when we are living in a chaotic, tumultuous world that seems to assault our very core beliefs and strikes very close to our home and faith. It is very important for us to continually enter into an “attitude of gratitude” if we are to remain mindful of the one necessary thing and that would be our Lord Jesus Christ. How do we increase our awareness of gratitude? We need to include thankfulness in our prayer life every

day. It can’t just be one time of the year, but a daily acknowledgement of what blessing God has bestowed upon us. Just as much as we do our examination of conscience before we sleep, we should give God thanks and praise in the morning. “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1). Beginning to incorporate a grateful posture toward God helps us to foster a sense of generosity. Now you are probably saying … what does thankfulness have to do with generosity? Well, think about it. As we reflect on the gift of self from God the Father sending his son to reconcile us to himself, and the gift of self that Jesus displayed by dying on the cross in atonement for our sins, we can see that true love comes from the giving of self. So, if true love has been poured out upon us and we are so very thankful for that love, it stands to reason that we should, in turn, pour out the love that builds in our hearts to others so that they might experience the

joy of the Lord in their hearts as well. Being thankful transforms us and helps us to conform to the will of God. It’s not just a season; it becomes a way of life. Don’t let the store displays and ads jumble your holidays together this year and leave you exhausted by getting caught up in the spirit of commercialism, rather, let us get caught up in the Holy Spirit! Pause, reflect, pray, and let the Holy Spirit guide us into that giving of self that endures. Be thankful to the Son who poured out his blood for our salvation. Praise God the Father for giving us the breath of life. A thankful heart leads us to a generous heart. A generous heart leads us to a joyful heart. And a joyful heart is contagious, it spreads! Happy Thanksgiving! (Deacon James Brunet is the associate director for continuing formation for the diocesan Office of the Permanent Diaconate.) BC

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Donald & Tammy Plaisance, owners November 2018 • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • Bayou Catholic • 61

Announcement

50th anniversary celebration Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

Daigle Himel Daigle Physical Therapy and Hand Center is celebrating 50 years of service to the Houma-Thibodaux area in 2018. Family, friends and staff recently gathered for a special celebration in Thibodaux where retired priest Msgr. Frederic Brunet blessed the facility and all who were in attendance.

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62 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • November 2018

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‘No one is excluded from the mercy of God ’

Catholic Schools Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service HOUMA, LA ~ JANUARY 2015 ~ COMPLIMENTARY

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

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

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‘You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek’

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There is no joy like Easter joy!

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Farewell

Vegetable garden meets needs of the poorest

Louis G. Aguirre retires

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Saint Teresa, Saint of Mercy

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LENT Pope Francis: Never forget to smile, even when life is hard

HOLY WEEK:

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A time for spiritual memories

Our first 200 years ~ A future full of HOPE

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The Lord is Risen!

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Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

-- 40 Days Of Renewal --

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Blue Mass honors first responders

Jubilation: three men ordained to the priesthood

St. Kateri

HOUMA, LA ~ JULY 2017 ~ COMPLIMENTARY

honored at special Mass

Celebrating Life and Giving Thanks

‘We’ have the capacity to come together HOUMA, LA ~ AUGUST 2017 ~ COMPLIMENTARY

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special collection

in all church parishes nov. 10-11 Thank you for your generosity.

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