Reading With Raymond

Book Reviews

Raymond Saadi

Ask Peter Kreeft:

The 100 Most Interesting Questions He’s Ever Been Asked By Peter Kreeft Sophia Institute Press $18.95

So, who is Peter Kreeft, you may ask? And that, dear reader, is your first question and a good one. Kreeft is a convert to Christianity and professor of philosophy at Boston College who has written 80 books from which, I’m certain, you’d find the answers you’d seek. This book simplifies that task by posing the most often asked in one volume. “Why are you a Catholic?” is not the first one, but it’s a good start. “What is your favorite proof for the existence of God?” “Why does the church resist the ordination of women?” All good questions, but some defy answers: “How should I vote?” and “What language will we speak in heaven?” I hope it’s Cajun! BC

c orporate

laW ~ Wills & s ucces sions ~ estate p lanning ~ r eal estate

Daniel J. Walker William A. Eroche Daniel L. Hoychick

1340 West tunnel Blvd., suite 306 H ouma, louisiana 985.868.2333 ~ WWelaW.com

Lifespan Why We Age - and Why We Don’t Have To

By David A. Sinclair, Ph.D. Atria Books $28

If we don’t have to age, then how do we avoid it? That question was posed to a 111-year-old veteran of World War II recently on T.V. His response; “Be nice to everyone.” It’s not unusual now to see people reach 100 and even more, so maybe the author has something there. Much of his references are rendered alphabetically; NAD, STAC, PNC1, NAMPT, etc., but the most interesting appears to be NMN, a compound made by our cells and found in foods such as avocado, broccoli and cabbage. Sometimes the answer isn’t a new drug, but too much of an old one, as in the case of the author’s elderly mother whose weak heart left her nearly unable to walk. The culprit, digoxin, which has been used by doctors for over 200 years in small doses for ailing hearts (and in large doses for murderers.) Once discontinued, his mother recovered in a matter of weeks. So, what should we do? Ask your doctor. BC

The Great Big Doorstep

By E.P. O’Donnell LSU Press Edition $25

Commodore Crochet and his family salvage a great big doorstep floating down the river, a sign surely, that they will soon find a wonderful house before theirs collapses. Trouble is, Commodore (Commando in the book), a good-hearted ne’er-do-well has big plans for building or buying a grand house to go with their wonderful doorstep but only ends up becoming a ditch digger while his long-suffering wife, secretly grows oranges and Easter lilies on her neighbor’s properties. If you’ve seen the stage version of the story, you don’t need me to tell you how absolutely funny it is. The play, adapted from the book by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett is true to the characters, locale, and situations playgoers will find familiar and prompt laughter as they read. BC

What It’s Like to Be a Bird

By David Allen Sibley Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group $25.39

Have you ever sat in the early evening listening to the birds chattering and one bird’s strange chirp has you wonder what bird that is? And your wife immediately tells you. What? Has she been reading Sibley’s new book already? Never fear my friend. Get your own copy and soon wife, friend and neighbor bird watcher will be asking you to I.D. birds. Seriously, Sibley’s book is not only informative, but his strikingly beautiful paintings of the birds poised at any moment to fly away will tempt you to change places. BC

Announcement

Wedding anniversary celebrations scheduled for November Liturgies of the Word sponsored by the diocesan Office of Worship

All couples married in the Catholic Church who are celebrating their 25th, 40th, 50th or 60th (and beyond) anniversary during 2020 are invited to one of two diocesan Liturgies of the Word sponsored by the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s Office of Worship.

The celebrations will take place Sunday, Nov. 8, and Sunday, Nov. 22, at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux. Both celebrations will begin at 3 p.m.

The wedding anniversary celebration is not a Mass, but a Liturgy of the Word. All registered anniversary couples will receive an inscribed diocesan certificate in their own church parish during a scheduled parish celebration.

Because of the restrictions in place regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, anniversary couples must R.S.V.P. to the Office of Worship for attendance at one of the diocesan celebrations by Oct. 9. Please call Nicole at (985) 850-3141 to R.S.V.P.

Social distancing guidelines are to be observed at the celebrations. BC

Outreach Line

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

The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Outreach Line operates from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. A trained mental health professional responds to the line. Individuals are offered additional assistance if requested. The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Outreach Line Telephone number is (985) 873-0026 or (985) 850-3172

Línea de Comunicación Diocesana

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

El horario de la Línea de Comunicación de la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux es de 8:30 a.m. a 4:30 p.m., de lunes a viernes. El encargado de esta línea es un profesional capacitado en salud mental. Se ofrece asistencia adicional al ser solicitada. Línea de Comunicación de la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux Número de teléfono (985) 873-0026 o (985) 850-3172

Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp Giaùo phaän

Ñeå höôûng öùng Hieán chöông Baûo veä Treû em vaø Giôùi treû töø Hoäi ñoàng Giaùm muïc Hoa kyø, Giaùo phaän Houma-Thibodaux ñang chuaån bò ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp (luùc tröôùc laø ñöôøng daây lieân laïc baûo veä treû em). Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp laø moät söï coá gaéng cuûa giaùo phaän nhaèm cam keát haøn gaén naâng ñôõ nhöõng ai ñaõ bò toån thöông hoaëc bò laïm duïng tính duïc hoaëc gaàn ñaây hoaëc trong quaù khöù bôûi giaùo só, tu só hoaëc caùc coâng nhaân vieân cuûa Giaùo phaän Houma-Thibodaux.

Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp Giaùo phaän hoaït ñoäng töø 8:30 saùng ñeán 4:30 chieàu, thöù hai ñeán thöù saùu. Moät nhaân vieân chuyeân nghieäp veà söùc khoûe taâm thaàn traû lôøi treân ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi. Nhöõng caù nhaân seõ ñöôïc trôï giuùp naâng ñôõ theâm neáu caàn.

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

Announcement

Annual Red Mass Oct. 7, at Co-Cathedral

Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi

The annual diocesan Red Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, Oct. 7, at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux, at Noon, to pray for all members of the legal profession.

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre will be the presider and the homilist will be Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi of Mobile, AL.

Prior to his seminary studies, Archbishop Rodi earned a juris doctor from Tulane University in New Orleans in 1974 and was admitted to the Louisiana State Bar Association the same year. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1978, bishop of Biloxi, MS, in 2001, and appointed the fourth Archbishop of Mobile, AL, in 2008. He also earned a licentiate in canon law from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and a master of divinity degree from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.

This Mass, which is usually celebrated near the opening of the judicial season, is open to all legal professionals, their staffs, their families and to the public. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing guidelines are to be observed. BC

Announcement

Annual White Mass to be celebrated second and third weekends of October

The annual White Mass for medical and mental health professionals will be celebrated in all individual church parishes the weekend of Oct. 10-11 or Oct.17-18 this year.

The Mass will include a prayerful recognition of those in the medical and mental health professions as well as a blessing over them. The White Mass in the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux is traditionally celebrated the weekend before or the weekend after the Feast of St. Luke, which is Oct. 18. St. Luke is the patron saint of physicians and surgeons.

Medical professionals are asked to wear a distinctive uniform to Mass, and if mental health professionals have something distinctive to wear that represents their profession that they do so as well.

Please check your parish bulletins for the dates and times in your church parish. BC

• Back/Neck care • Work/SportS INjurIeS

MedIcare certIFIed • orthopedIc MaNual therapy • Foot orthotIcS/Foot care preFerred prov NetWork Ider • WellNe • Fu SS prograMS • NctIoNal capacI pre ty e -eMployMeNt te valuatIoN (Fce) StINg phySIcIaN reFerral Not requIred • t rIgger poINt dry NeedlINg • certIFIed haNd therapy

985.447.3164 808 Bayou Lane, ThiBodaux

985.876.1155 1321 Grand CaiLLou, houma