Bayou Catholic Magazine September 2016

INSIDE:

Bayou

Marriage

Catholic

His Hands of Mercy

HOUMA, LA ~ SEPTEMBER 2016 ~ COMPLIMENTARY

2

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

Contents FEATURES 30 Christian Leadership Institute

By Janet Marcel

32 Bayou Patrons

By Janet Marcel

34 Bread or Stones Campaign

By Janet Marcel

40 Statue of the Good Shepherd

18

By Janet Marcel

COLUMNS 8 Comfort For My People

By Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

12 Pope Speaks

7

Pope Francis I

13 Question Corner

By Father Kenneth Doyle

14 Readings Between The Lines

By Father Glenn LeCompte

26 Seeing Clairely

By Claire Joller

27 Reading with Raymond

By Raymond Saadi

50 Overtime

4

20

30 Bayou

Catholic

By Ed Daniels

IN EVERY ISSUE 6 From the Editor 16 Scripture Readings 22 Heavenly Recipes 24 Young Voices 39 Diocesan Events GUEST COLUMNS 18 Strategic Planning process

By Very Rev. Mark Toups

28 Mercy and justice

51

By Father Carl Diederichs

36 World Youth Day

By Rev. Mr. Brice Higginbotham

ANNOUNCEMENTS 43 Food for the Journey

32

51

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

Marriage

BER 2016

HOUMA, LA ~ SEPTEM

om

www.bayoucatholic.c

Father Joseph Tregre speaks

44 Director of Hispanic Ministry named 44 Hospital chaplain named 45 Blue Mass Sept. 15 47 Thrift Store grand re-opening Sept. 9

On Our Cover Hannah Porche of St. Ann Church parish in Bourg, and Megan Trosclair of St. Thomas Aquinas Church parish in Thibodaux are shown painting a house in Grand Caillou as part of the Christian Leadership Institute (CLI) experience for young people in grades 10-12. The five-day training experience is designed to give the youth an opportunity to grow in faith and personal responsibility for peer leadership. See pages 30-31 of this issue for more coverage of the CLI event.

Cover Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier

Bayou Catholic Vol. 37, No. 3 How to reach us:

BY PHONE: (985) 850-3132

BY MAIL: P.O. Box 505 Schriever, LA 70395

BY FAX: (985) 850-3232

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

Index to Advertisers

BY E-MAIL: bayoucatholic@htdiocese.org The Bayou Catholic is published monthly, for the people of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux by the H-T Publishing Co., P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395.

Subscription rate is $35 per year.

The Bayou Catholic is a member of the Catholic Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and an associate member of the Louisiana Press Association.

National and world-wide news service and photos by National Catholic News Service.

Lawrence Chatagnier

editor and general manager

Glenn J. Landry, C.P.A.

Advanced Eye Institute ................................ 35

LeBlanc & Associates, LLC ......................... 21

Barker Honda .............................................. 63

Lewis & Company ....................................... 64

Bayou Catholic position ............................... 46

Main Street Special Events .......................... 64

Cannata’s ..................................................... 3

Normans Tuxedos ....................................... 67

Cardinal Place ............................................. 42

Office of Family Ministries ........................... 55

advertising accounts executive

Re-Bath ...................................................... 47

Lisa Schobel Hebert

Cardiovascular Institute ............................... 44 Channel 10 ................................................. 29 Diocesan Outreach Line............................... 45 Diocesan Website ....................................... 61 Gina’s Catering ........................................... 65 God’s Promises Books & Gifts .................... 53 Gulf Coast Orthopedics ............................... 43

Rod’s Superstore ........................................ 41 Seminarian Education Burses ...................... 25 Southland Mall ............................................ 68

business manager

Janet Marcel

staff writer/administrative assistant

Katie DeRoche

graphic designer

Meridy Liner

accounts receivable/payable assistant

Spotlight ..................................................... 48 St. Joseph Manor ........................................ 46

Haydel Spine Pain Wellness ......................... 15

Synergy Bank .............................................. 21

Headache & Pain Center .............................. 50

Terminix ...................................................... 42

Houma Digestive Health Specialists ............. 21

Vision Communications ................................. 2

HTeNews .................................................... 23

Watkins, Walker, Eroche & Hoychick ............ 47

Johnny’s Men’s Shop .................................. 52

Wesley J. Landeche Sales & Services, Inc.... 57

Awards

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

5

Welcome

Cutline

From the Editor

6

While looking through this issue of Bayou Catholic magazine, I couldn’t help but notice an infusion of youth and young adults beginning on the cover with two CLI participants painting a house and continuing to our young voices segment which gives the youth of our diocese an opportunity to express their faith, to coverage of the recent World Youth Day, an event where 18 young adults traveled to Europe to experience the marvel of being in the presence of the Pope.

It is good to see the youth of our diocese in action. I know there is much more happening with our youth than what is covered in our magazine. Youth groups in many of the parishes of the diocese have members who regularly attend nursing homes to visit the elderly, help organize and take part in food drives for the local food banks which help feed the hungry; and there are also many who are part of prayer groups that

continually pray for the needs of many in our diocese.

The youth are an integral part of our church today. It has often been said that the youth are the future of the church. While this statement is true, it can be conceived as limiting.

The youth have much to offer in the church today. Our youth should be part of every church’s parish life.

Our young people should be part of parish ministry that is not limited to youth ministry or youth Masses on Sunday. What will our Catholic church be like 10-20 years from now if our youth are not actively engaged today?

In a message to the young people preparing for World Youth Day, Pope Francis said, “How beautiful it is to see young people who embrace the call to dedicate themselves fully to Christ and to the service of his church! Challenge yourselves, and with a pure heart do not be afraid of what God is asking of you!

From your “yes” to the Lord’s call, you will become new seeds of hope in the church and in society.”

Mike DiSalvo, diocesan director of the Office of Youth Ministry says, “Youth ministry in the diocese has been a constant for the past 30 years.

Many teens and adults have been empowered by the commitment that the diocese has shown to the parishes in the past. When the

RAMONA PORTERO/BAYOU CATHOLIC

strategic planning process began a little over a year ago, I have to admit my emotions were mixed with anxiety and excitement.

Being part of the leadership on the Youth Commission helped me look at ministry from the people’s perspective and not with my director hat on which typically clouds the “truth” of what people need and long for in youth ministry. What has been revealed through prayer and discernment of 65-70 people is that forming young people to be disciples will take the church rooting not just the young people, but the entire church in a relationship with Christ, to empower both young and old. I am hopeful that the Spirit will continue to lead the church to where God desires us to be as his missionary disciples.”

Like much of everything in life, family is a critical component to successfully forming our youth in today’s ever changing world. Let us pray the Holy Spirit will guide our families and the church to help us form the youth of our diocese into mature disciples.

Remember, after reading Bayou Catholic, pass it on to a friend or relative who might not be attending Mass. It’s one of the great ways to do your part in spreading the Good News!

Lawrence

Lawrence Chatagnier Editor & General Manager

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

Donations needed after historic flooding About 6.9 trillion gallons of rain pummeled Louisiana between Monday, Aug. 8 and Sunday, Aug. 14 in what Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards called an “unprecedented catastrophic flooding event that swallowed swaths of Louisiana.”

The National Weather Service reported that the floods were triggered by a complicated, slow-moving low-pressure weather system that dumped as much as two feet of rain on parts of East Baton Rouge, Livingston and St. Helena parishes in 48 hours.

More than 60,000 homes have some kind of damage from the flooding. Members of the Coast Guard and National Guard, along with emergency responders and civilians helped bring more than 20,000 residents to safety. As of press time, officials reported 13 flood-related deaths in five parishes. Twelve parishes have been declared emergency disaster areas and Governor Edwards expects that number to rise, as he has requested emergency declarations in more than a dozen other parishes as well.

“We are all affected by the devastation of the historic floods that took place in our area recently. Whether we were personally affected or not we are all Louisianians. We have all been here. We all know what it is like to have to put your life back together. It is at times like this that people come together and support each other. In the past others have come to our assistance; now, it is our turn. We need to respond to our brothers and sisters in need,” says Bishop Shelton J. Fabre.

Robert Gorman, executive director of Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, said that our diocese has joined Catholic Charities Diocese of Baton Rouge, Catholic Social Services Diocese of Lafayette, Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana and Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans in assisting in their disaster operations. Donations to Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux marked for flood victims will be sent to the Catholic Charities agencies in Louisiana most in need. Donations can be made online at www.htdiocese.org. Please indicate that the donation is for the August Louisiana Floods.

7

www.bayoucatholic.com

Comment

Labor Day: We are more than what we do Comfort For My People Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

T 8

There is a tendency today to define ourselves by that which we do rather than by who we are. In the business of our lives today, we move from task to task, from demand to demand, from one job responsibility to another. In such situations of life today, we understandably focus on what we have to do, but very often do not have the time or even the desire or energy to deal with and reflect upon the more complete picture of who we are. Without this necessary reflection on who we are, we live fragmented lives that are held together only by the mere fact that we move disjointedly from one responsibility to the next.

While responding to life in this way can be a necessity at times, eventually something occurs in our lives, some form of crisis, which drives and demands that we assess things from a more complete picture of the totality of our existence, and not simply from the perspective of moving from one responsibility to the next. When faced with such a question of who we are, we search for some common element upon which we can found the totality of our lives, and thereby gain perspective and meaning for our

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

total existence and the tasks that we undertake.

For those of us who bear the name Christian, our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ must at some point be acknowledged and embraced as this foundational element of our lives. Being a true disciple of Jesus means to allow this relationship to be the universal perspective that permeates into every single aspect of what we say, what we believe and what we do. To be a true disciple of Jesus is a total life commitment, and no aspect of our lives stands apart from this foundation that is Jesus Christ. When we stand on the firm foundation of our discipleship in Christ, then the responsibilities and storms of life do not shake us to our core because we stand of the rock foundation of Jesus Christ.

During the month of September, which begins with our annual celebration of Labor Day, we give thanks to God for the gift of human labor. The dignity of human work assists us in providing for ourselves and for our families, and also experiencing and exercising that portion of our human nature that reflects the creativity and productivity of God, who created all things and placed us as caretakers over all creation. Labor Day bids that we pause and give thanks to God for the necessity and gift of human labor, which assists us in so many ways. However, as stated above, there can be a strong temptation to be solely defined by and to see our value rooted only in what we do, in our employment, our jobs. While human work is an important part of our lives, it is not to be equated with the totality of who we are. We will always be so much more than what we

do for employment. We need to be reminded of this reality in ongoing ways, especially in difficult economic times, such as the present economy that continues to struggle here in our area. When we search for employment, we can also struggle with our own value and worth.

What is needed at such times is a correct perspective on who we are apart from the employment that we have or that we seek. Each one of us is of inestimable value before God and one another.

Each one of us, while recognizing the value, necessity and dignity of human work, is so much more than what we do. We are children of a Father in heaven who loves us and draws close to us in times of challenge to assure us of his presence and fill us with his peace. Each of us has a human dignity before God and before all humanity that ultimately finds its origin and value not in what we do, but in the gift of life that God himself has granted to each and every one of us.

During the beginning of September, we mark Labor Day, and we also continue into what has traditionally been the most active part of the Gulf’s hurricane season. Through the intercession of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, may God spare us all loss of life and property during the totality of hurricane season, especially during this most active part of the season. Let us also pray for all of those who labor, for all who are seeking employment in these difficult economic times, for a successful school year, and for one another. Blessings and peace to all!

Comentario

El Día del Trabajo: Somos más que nuestro trabajo

H 10

Hay una tendencia en la actualidad de definir al ser humano por lo que hace y no por lo que es. En las tareas cotidianas de nuestras vidas, pasamos de una labor a otra, de una exigencia a otra y de una responsabilidad laboral a otra. En estas situaciones de la vida cotidiana, nos enfocamos comprensiblemente en lo que hay que hacer y con frecuencia no tenemos el tiempo, el deseo o la energía para evaluar lo que somos, vivimos vidas fragmentadas que se mantienen adheridas solamente por el hecho que nos movemos de manera dislocada de una responsabilidad a otra. Respondiendo así a la vida suele ser una necesidad, pero suceden cosas en la vida, alguna crisis que nos conduce y nos exige asesorar las cosas con una perspectiva más plena de la totalidad de nuestra existencia y no solamente con una perspectiva de reemplazar una responsabilidad con otra. Al confrontar la cuestión de quién somos, se comienza a pesquisar un elemento común en el que se puede encontrar la plenitud de nuestras vidas y, por tanto, encontrar la perspectiva y el significado de nuestra existencia completa y las labores que debemos realizar.

Para los que nos llamamos cristianos, la relación que tenemos con el Señor Jesucristo debe ser reconocida y aceptada como el elemento fundamental de la vida. El significado de ser un verdadero discípulo de Jesús es permitir que esta relación sea la perspectiva universal que penetra todo lo que se dice, todo lo que se cree y todo lo que se hace.

Para ser un verdadero discípulo de Jesús se debe tener un compromiso completo en la vida y ninguna parte de la vida debe separarse de este cimiento que es Jesucristo. Al colocarnos firmes como discípulos sobre el cimiento

de Cristo, las responsabilidades y las tormentas de la vida no nos sacudirán porque estamos fijos en la base sólida que es Jesucristo.

Durante este mes de septiembre, que inicia con el Día del Trabajo, le damos las gracias a Dios por el don del trabajo humano. La dignidad del trabajo nos ayuda a proveernos a nosotros mismos y a nuestras familias y a vivir y ejercer la parte de nuestra naturaleza humana que refleja la creatividad y productividad de Dios que ha creado todas las cosas y que nos ha encargado al cuidado de toda la creación. El Día del Trabajo nos pide que nos detengamos y demos gracias a Dios por la necesidad y don del trabajo del hombre que nos ayuda de muchas maneras. Sin embargo, como dicho anteriormente, existe la tentación fuerte de ver nuestro valor por lo que hacemos en el empleo. El trabajo humano, siendo parte importante de nuestras vidas, no se puede igualar a la plenitud de lo que somos. Seremos siempre mucho más de lo que hacemos en el empleo. Necesitamos recordar esta realidad de manera continua y especialmente en tiempos difíciles económicos como el actual que sigue siendo difícil en nuestra región. Al buscar empleo, se suele luchar con el valor propio. Lo que se necesita en estos momentos es tener una perspectiva correcta de la identidad

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

propia y de lo que se busca y se quiere. Cada uno de nosotros tiene un valor incalculable para Dios y para cada uno de nosotros. Cada uno de nosotros, debe reconocer el valor, la necesidad y la dignidad del trabajo y, a la vez, que este valor humano es mucho más que el trabajo. Somos hijos del Padre del cielo que nos ama y nos acerca el uno al otro en tiempos difíciles para asegurarnos de su presencia y la paz que nos brinda. Cada uno de nosotros tiene dignidad humana ante Dios y ante toda la humanidad y ella se origina no en el trabajo, sino en el don de la vida que Dios mismo nos ha otorgado a todos.

Con el comienzo del mes de septiembre, celebramos el Día del Trabajo y también continuamos con lo que es tradicionalmente la época más activa de la temporada de huracanes en el golfo. Por medio de la intercesión de Nuestra Señora del Pronto Socorro, pidamos que Dios proteja todas las vidas y propiedades durante la época de huracanes y especialmente durante esta parte activa de la época. Pidamos también por todos los trabajadores, por todos los que buscan empleo ahora en estos tiempos difíciles, por un buen año escolar y por todos nosotros. ¡Bendiciones y paz para todos!

Traducido por Julio Contreras, feligrés de la Iglesia Annunziata en Houma

Binh luan bang loi

Ngày Lễ Lao Động: Chúng ta còn quý hơn cả những gì chúng ta làm

N

Ngày nay có khuynh hướng định nghĩa chính chúng ta qua những gì chúng ta làm hơn là chúng ta là ai. Trong công việc của cuộc sống chúng ta ngày nay, chúng ta di chuyển từ việc này tới việc khác, từ nhu cầu này tới nhu cầu kia, từ trách nhiệm này tới trách nhiệm nọ. Trong những tình huống như thế của cuộc sống hôm nay, thật dễ thông cảm vì chúng ta thường chú ý tới những gì chúng ta phải làm, nhưng lại không có thời giờ hoặc thậm chí không có ao ước hay nghị lực để đối phó và suy tư về bức hoạ hoàn hảo hơn rằng chúng ta là ai.

Nếu không có sự suy tư cần thiết “chúng ta là ai” này, chúng ta sẽ sống một cuộc sống mỏng dòn, gắn liền với nhau chỉ bởi thực tế đơn thuần mà chúng ta di chuyển rời rạc từ trách nhiệm này đến trách nhiệm khác. Đôi lúc phản ứng với cuộc sống theo cách này có thể là điều cần thiết, nhưng rốt cuộc vẫn có cái gì đó xảy ra trong cuộc sống của chúng ta, một số hình thức khủng hoảng, các khuynh hướng và nhu cầu mà chúng ta đánh giá sự việc từ một bức hoạ hoàn chỉnh hơn về tổng quát của sự tồn tại của chúng ta, chứ không chỉ đơn giản từ quan điểm di chuyển từ trách nhiệm này đến trách nhiệm khác.

Khi đương đầu với câu hỏi chúng ta là ai như vậy, chúng ta tìm kiếm một cơ sở chung nào đó mà trên đó chúng ta có thể tìm thấy toàn bộ cuộc sống của chúng ta, và do đó đạt được quan điểm và ý nghĩa cho sự tồn tại của chúng ta và các công việc mà chúng ta làm. Đối với chúng ta là những người mang danh Kitô hữu, thì mối quan hệ của chúng ta với Chúa Giêsu Kitô có lúc phải được thừa nhận và chấp nhận như yếu tố căn bản này của cuộc sống. Là người môn đệ đích thực của Chúa Giêsu có nghĩa là để cho mối quan hệ này

trở thành quan điểm phổ quát, thấm nhập vào mọi khía cạnh của những gì chúng ta nói, những gì chúng ta tin và những gì chúng ta làm. Trở thành người môn đệ đích thực của Chúa Giêsu là lời cam kết của toàn bộ cuộc sống, và không có khía cạnh nào của cuộc sống của chúng ta đứng ngoài nền tảng này, đó là Chúa Giêsu Kitô.

Khi chúng ta đứng trên nền tảng vững chắc của người môn đệ trong Chúa Kitô, thì những trách nhiệm và khủng hoảng của cuộc sống không thể làm cho chúng ta bất an được, bởi vì chúng ta đứng trên đá tảng là Chúa Giêsu Kitô.

Trong tháng Chín, bắt đầu với ngày kỷ niệm hằng năm là Ngày lễ Lao động, chúng ta cảm tạ Chúa vì ân huệ lao động của con người. Phẩm giá việc làm của con người giúp chúng ta trong việc cung cấp thức ăn áo mặc cho bản thân và gia đình, đồng thời cũng trải nghiệm và thực hiện số phận bản chất con người của chúng ta, phản ánh sự sáng tạo và làm việc của Thiên Chúa, Đấng đã tạo dựng nên tất cả mọi sự và đặt chúng ta làm người chăm sóc mọi thụ tạo. Ngày lễ Lao động là ngày chúng ta nghỉ việc và cảm tạ Thiên Chúa vì sự cần thiết và ân huệ lao động của con người, đã giúp đỡ chúng ta trong nhiều cách.

Tuy nhiên, như đã nói ở trên, rất có thể có sự cám dỗ mạnh mẽ để đưa ra một định nghĩa duy nhất và chỉ nhìn thấy giá trị của chúng ta bắt nguồn từ những gì chúng ta làm, nơi việc làm của chúng ta, nghề nghiệp của chúng ta. Tuy công việc của con người là một phần quan trọng trong cuộc sống, nhưng nó không thể được đồng hóa hoàn toàn với chúng ta là ai. Chúng ta luôn luôn có giá trị hơn nhiều so với những gì chúng ta làm.

Chúng ta cần phải được nhắc nhở về thực tại này một cách liên tục, đặc biệt là trong thời buổi kinh tế khó khăn, chẳng hạn như nền kinh tế hiện nay vẫn còn gặp khó khăn ở nơi

đây, ngay trong khu vực của chúng ta. Khi chúng ta tìm kiếm việc làm, chúng ta cũng có thể gặp khó khăn với giá cả và đồng lương của mình.

Những lúc như vậy, điều cần thiết là quan điểm đúng về chúng ta là ai đối với những việc làm chúng ta có hay chúng ta tìm kiếm. Mỗi người chúng ta đều là vô giá trước mặt Thiên Chúa và với nhau. Mỗi người chúng ta, trong khi nhìn nhận giá trị, tính cần thiết và phẩm giá việc làm của con người, còn giá trị hơn nhiều so với những gì chúng ta làm. Chúng ta là con cái của Cha trên trời, Đấng hằng yêu thương chúng ta và ở gần chúng ta trong thời gian thử thách để bảo đảm với chúng ta về sự hiện diện của Ngài và ban cho chúng ta sự bình an của Ngài. Mỗi người chúng ta đều 11 có một phẩm giá con người trước mặt Thiên Chúa và nhân loại, mà xét cho cùng tìm thấy nguồn gốc và giá trị của nó không phải nơi những gì chúng ta làm, nhưng nơi ân huệ của cuộc sống mà Thiên Chúa đã ban cho mỗi người chúng ta.

Trong đầu tháng Chín, chúng ta kỷ niệm ngày lễ Lao động, và theo truyền thống chúng ta cũng tiếp tục đi vào giai đoạn tột đỉnh nhất của mùa bão trong vùng Vịnh. Qua lời cầu bầu của Đức Mẹ Hằng Cứu Giúp, Thiên Chúa có thể giải thoát chúng ta khỏi mọi thiệt hại về nhân mạng và tài sản trong mùa bão, đặc biệt là trong thời gian tột đỉnh nhất của mùa bão này. Chúng ta cũng cầu nguyện cho tất cả những người lao động, cho tất cả những ai đang tìm kiếm việc làm trong thời buổi kinh tế khó khăn hiện nay, cho một năm học thành công, và cầu nguyện cho nhau.

Xin Chúa ban phúc lành và bình an cho tất cả ông bà và anh chị em!

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

Comment The Pope Speaks

V 12

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -Jesus’ compassion toward people in need is not a vague sentiment, but a calling for Christians to bring that same compassion to others, Pope Francis said.

By miraculously feeding thousands of people, Jesus made an act “of faith and prayer” that “shows the full strength of his will to be close to us and to save us,” the pope said Aug. 17 at his weekly general audience.

Thousands of people packed the Paul VI audience hall, waving and stretching out their hands eagerly, hoping to greet the pope.

Noticing a small child surrounded by people trying to greet them, Pope Francis motioned the crowd to make way and gave the child a blessing.

In his audience talk, the pope reflected on the Gospel reading of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. Jesus, he noted, “does not have a cold heart,” but rather is moved by those who follow him and “feels bound to this crowd.”

However, the pope noted that Jesus is not only concerned with feeding the hungry crowd, but also invites his disciples to take part in feeding them.

“The Lord goes out to meet the needs of men and women and wants to make each one of us concretely share in his compassion,” the pope said.

Jesus’ blessing of the loaves before their distribution, he continued, is also repeated in the Last Supper and continues today

CNS photo/Max Rossi, Reuters

In the top photo, Pope Francis blesses a sick woman during his general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican. In the bottom photo the Pope greets the faithful as he arrives to lead his general audience.

in the celebration of the Eucharist.

In living this communion with Jesus, Christians are called not “to remain passive and estranged” but to relate with men and women by offering “a concrete sign of Christ’s mercy and attention,” the pope said.

“While we are nourished by Christ, the Eucharist we celebrate transforms us, little by little, into the body of Christ and spiritual food for our brothers and sisters,” he said.

The miracle of the loaves and

fishes, Pope Francis stressed, is a reminder of the church’s two-fold mission to “feed the people and keep them united; that is, to be at the service of life and communion.”

Christians, he stressed, are called to be “a visible sign of the mercy of God, who does not wish to leave anyone in loneliness and in need.”

“We believers who receive this bread are compelled by Jesus to bring this service to others with the same compassion of Jesus. This is the path,” the pope said.

Pope: Jesus’ compassion is a call to service, not a vague sentiment Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

Question Corner Father Kenneth Doyle

Free to marry?

What you would need to do is to meet with a priest and provide some information about that first marriage; the priest would then submit that paperwork to the diocese for what is generally called a “Declaration of Nullity Due to Lack of Canonical Form.” There is usually a fairly quick turnaround, requiring no more than a few weeks.

I do feel the need, though -- based on your question -- to make two further points. First, you say that you are now living with the woman you may marry.

Q

Q. I was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church. When I was younger, I served as an altar boy for several years. About 12 years ago, I got married in a Methodist church. I never had the marriage “convalidated” in the Catholic Church since my wife was against involving another member of the clergy.

Over the years, I found that my wife was actually an atheist; she would speak negatively about faith in general and especially about the Catholic Church. We have two children.

Due to her infidelity and to her unwillingness to work on our marriage, we are now divorced.

I went to Catholic Masses throughout our marriage. My question is this: If I were to marry again, would I be able to get married in the Catholic Church? I have been living with a wonderful woman who shares my religious beliefs and was also confirmed in the Catholic faith. We attend Sunday Masses together. (Richmond, Virginia)

A

A. Since you evidently did not receive the Catholic Church’s permission to be married in an other-than-Catholic ceremony -you could have, especially if your bride was Methodist and that was her parish -- and since you did not subsequently have the marriage blessed (“convalidated”) by a Catholic priest or deacon, your first marriage was not recognized by the Catholic Church.

You would be free to marry now in a Catholic ceremony.

I’m sure you know that this is in clear violation of Catholic moral teaching; the long-held and consistent view of the church (actually, of many religions) is that a couple should not be living together until there has been a lifelong commitment ratified by a civil and religious ceremony.

Also, the story of your first marriage highlights the need for a couple to take the time during courtship to examine each other’s deepest values; foremost among them, in my mind, are religious values since those affect greatly how a person will think and behave. Thus, the wisdom of preCana programs, which can help prospective spouses do just that.

Scolding from pulpit

Q A

Q. What is the reason behind some sermons sounding like a scolding and some being so uplifting? Our new pastor is the complete opposite of our former priest, and I hate being scolded.

I need instead to be given a positive message to carry me through my week. (City of origin withheld) A. The reason is that a parish priest is father of a spiritual family. As with any family, people need occasionally to be chided, but mainly to be encouraged.

A case in point: A couple of weeks ago at a parish nearby, the celebrant reprimanded those who were leaving Mass early.

(Before the dismissal rite -- in fact, while coming up the aisle 13 after receiving Communion -more than a dozen individuals were heading straight toward the doors.)

The celebrant remarked that such an early exit disrespects not only the Lord but those who are still trying to worship.

His comment created a bit of a stir; some were surprised by its directness, but one woman was heard to remark, “It’s about time somebody said something.”

In my mind, it’s a question of balance. Once in a great while, you can do something like that.

But for the most part -- as you mention -- worshippers need to know that God loves them and that, on the whole, they are pretty decent people.

Catholic News Service

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

Reflections Readings Between The Lines Father Glenn LeCompte

Work is a sacred activity

O 14

Once there was a reporter who decided to do a story on people’s beliefs in life-after-death. She went into an office building and asked if she could see the manager for an interview. The manager consented and invited her in. She explained her purpose and posed the question: “Do you believe in life-after-death?”

Without hesitation the manager said, “absolutely!” The reporter said, “You say that with a lot of certitude. Are you saying that because you are avid about your religious faith?” “No,” the manager said, “I believe in God, but I haven’t practiced my faith with regularity.” The reporter questioned further, “Then what makes you so certain that there is life-after-death?” The manager responded, “Well, I draw my conclusion from being in this office.”

“I don’t understand,” the reporter said. The manager replied, “All you have to do is be here at 5 o’clock in the afternoon and you’ll see a bunch of dead people come back to life!”

This month our society observes Labor Day. The U.S. Department of Labor claims that Labor Day was the product of the labor movement in the late 19th century, which saw the dawn of industrialization. One of the effects of this early observance of Labor Day was the recognition of the human dignity of the people who did the work. It took the

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

labor movement to make society realize, as many business owners at the beginning of the industrial revolution did not realize, that human laborers are not like parts of a machine. There is a reasonable amount of work that can be expected of a worker within a given time and for a reasonable amount of pay.

In 1891, Pope Leo XIII, in his encyclical Rerum Novarum, articulated for the first time in modern history the church’s recognition of the human dignity of workers and along with that their right to organize to call for just treatment.

On the 90th anniversary of Rerum Novarum, Pope John Paul II revisited the concepts Pope Leo XIII articulated in his encyclical and offered further reflection. Like Leo XIII, John Paul II spoke of the right of “worker solidarity.” But he does so in the broader context of what it means to be a human being and to engage in work. Now I don’t know if any of you are formally employed by a business or if you do some kind of service as an independent contractor. But even if we aren’t employed in the sense of formal employment, we all work in some way or other. Pope John Paul II clarified that work is “any human activity, whether manual or intellectual, whatever its nature or circumstances.” On one level, work is something that makes us human;

it is built into our very nature that we are compelled to work.

Indeed a sacred activity, work is an important aspect of the first chapter of the book of Genesis.

There, God is depicted as working as he puts a chaotic universe in order. The pinnacle of his creative work is the human being, created male and female, so that they may cooperate with his continuing creative activity.

God commands the newly created humans to “Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth. God also said: ‘See, I give you every seedbearing plant all over the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food’” (Genesis 1:28-29).

The command to “fill the earth and subdue it” is a command to work, but what exactly does this mean? It means that human beings are invited to cooperate with God in his continual process of creating and bringing order to his creation. “To subdue” has often been mistakenly used to justify a process of ravaging the earth’s goods for selfish purposes, but this is foreign to the concept of keeping God’s creation “ordered.”

Unfortunately, many in our society see work as a secular activity to be distinguished from sacred

a

activities, such as prayer or worship.

Once we conceive of work as a secular activity, the next step is to view work as beyond the governance of morality.

Embezzlement, deception of customers, pricefixing, mistreatment of employees, money-laundering, people not fulfilling their work obligations and numerous other business vices all of a sudden become tolerated.

When this happens society reverts to chaos, which is the opposite of the result of God’s creative work.

If work is truly to be a means of cooperating with God, then we have to observe Christian moral standards when we are doing it.

This applies to both parties in a work obligation: Employees are obliged not to steal from employers by not doing what is necessary to earn their pay. But employers must not take advantage of employees either.

In Psalm 104:16-24, work is seen within the total scope of God’s relationship to the world and activity in it. “The trees of the Lord drink their fill, the cedars of Lebanon, which you planted. There

the birds build their nests; junipers are the home of the stork. The high mountains are for wild goats; the rocky cliffs, a refuge for badgers.

You made the moon to mark the seasons, the sun that knows the hour of its setting. You bring darkness and night falls, then all the beasts of the forest roam abroad. Young lions roar for prey; they seek their food from God. When the sun rises, they steal away and rest in their dens. People go forth to their work, to their labor till evening falls. How varied are your works, Lord! In wisdom you have wrought them all;

the earth is full of your creatures.”

Psalm 104 praises God as creator, and in the verses just quoted we see that every creature God makes fulfills a purpose ordained by God. All of these are general truths about life, and among these is the truth that “people go forth to their work.”

No matter what it is that keeps you busy, whether it be maintaining a household, looking after grandchildren, doing community volunteer work, lending a willing ear to someone who needs to talk, it is first of all work, and secondly it is sacred.

uestions Q n o i t c e fl Re

o a sacred work you d e th es k a ecifically m n What sp activity? means of you do as a t a h w e creation? se you p his good u d n How do il u b to g with God mmunity cooperatin rk form co o w in n o collaborati n How does ple? among peo 15

Michael S. Haydel, M.D. FIPP Michael P. Charlet, M.D., FAAN Karl G. Haydel, Jr., MD Daniel R. Clayton, PA-C Donovan J. Matherne, FNP-C Brandi B. Degruise, FNP-C Interventional Pain Practice

Neurology Clinic

Osteoporosis/Wellness Clinic

Neck Pain/Back Pain Herniated Disc Pinched Nerves Muscle/Arthritic Pain

Headaches/Migraines Sleep Disorders Seizure Disorders EMG - Nerve Conduction Studies

Bone Density Bone Brittleness Compression Fractures General Well-being

The Region’s 1st & Most Comprehensive Spine & Pain Center  No Referral Needed 

Experience Counts • Over 40 Years Combined Experience

Office located in Houma

1022 Belanger Street • 985-223-3132 www.painspecialty.net www.bayoucatholic.com

September

Holy Father’s prayer intentions

Saints

Kieran of Clonmacnois Image © The Crosiers

c. 512 – c. 545 feast – September 9

From his birthplace in Connaught, Ireland, Kieran traveled at age 15 to study under St. Finnian at Clonard. According to legend, he took along a cow for milk. He became the most learned monk there, then spent seven years with St. Enda in the Aran Islands, where he was ordained. He moved on to Isel, but soon left because other monks complained of his generosity to the poor. About 545, with eight companions, he founded the monastery at Clonmacnoise, on the River Shannon, which became a famous religious center for its manuscripts and metal liturgical objects. Kieran died at Clonmacnoise and is counted among the Twelve Apostles of Ireland.

Saints

Matthew first century September 21

Crosiers

Universal Centrality of the Human Person. That each may contribute to the common good and to the building of a society that places the human person at the center.

17

One of the Twelve Apostles, this tax collector is called Matthew in one Gospel (Mt 9:9) and Levi in two others (Mk 2:14 and Lk 5:27).

Scripture scholars believe they are the same man because the call and shared meal with Jesus are similar in all three accounts. He sometimes is credited with writing the Gospel of Matthew, but most scholars think this unlikely. And there is no evidence for early church traditions that Matthew evangelized in Judea, Parthia or Ethiopia, or that he was martyred in Persia.

Saints

Michael, Gabriel and Raphael September 29

Evangelization Mission to Evangelize. That by participating in the sacraments and meditating on Scripture, Christians may become more aware of their mission to evangelize.

See www.apostleshipofprayer.org

Crosiers

These archangels, messengers sent by God, are the only ones named in the Bible. In the Book of Daniel, Michael is called “the great prince”; in the Letter of Jude, he argues with the devil over Moses’ body; and in the Book of Revelation, he leads the battle against Satan.

He is patron of the sick, radiologists and mariners. Gabriel explains Daniel’s visions to him in the Book of Daniel, and in the Gospel of Luke announces to Zechariah and Mary the births of their respective sons. He is the patron of messengers and telecommunications and postal workers. Raphael guides Tobiah in the Book of Tobit; he is patron of the blind, physicians and travelers. The church created their joint feast after the Second Vatican Council.

Saints

CNS www.bayoucatholic.com

Special

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER PHOTOS/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Strategic Plan is focus of priests’ convocation 18

Guest Columnist

E

Very Rev. Mark Toups

Earlier this year Bishop Shelton J. Fabre released a Pastoral Letter: “Allons! Let’s Do This Together!”

With the release of the Pastoral Letter we began a strategic planning process that included listening sessions with priests,

deacons and laity throughout the diocese. Bishop Fabre listened to the concerns, hopes and dreams from over 1,000 people.

From the listening sessions a list of top priorities was established.

Areas that were determined to need attention included: n Preaching and liturgy n Adult and youth formation n Catholic education n Vocations n Parish social ministry n Stewardship In addition to the areas listed above, Bishop Fabre also chose to address issues facing the clergy, the Pastoral Center, and multicultural groups.

In May, six planning “Commissions” were established.

Each Commission consists of

Without exception, our convocation was THE single most important thing that our presbyterate has ever done. There was a coming together of heart and mind, the likes of which I have never experienced in my 24 years as a priest. I believe that as a group, we embark – as the Prophet Jeremiah would say – on “a future full of hope.”

Very Rev. Jay L. Baker, V.G., pastor St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

both clergy and laity. The first six Commissions met during May and June. They assessed where we were, evaluating our strengths and weaknesses. They researched “best practices,” studying who across the country is doing it better than anyone else. They discerned recommended ways we as a diocese could move forward in improvement.

One of the central themes that came to the surface was the recommendation that parishes use their resources to more intentionally form disciples. The call to form disciples comes from Christ himself (Matthew 28:19-20) and is the central theme in Pope Francis’ recent document The Joy of the Gospel.

Three of the first six

a

The convocation has given us priests the opportunity to deepen our unity. In union there is strength. In union, we can always achieve our goals and dreams as a diocese.

Father Evelio “Toto” Buenaflor, pastor St. Gregory Church parish, Houma

Commissions experienced great similarities and overlap. The Parish Commission looked at the “big picture” within a parish, identifying common aspects of parishes that are succeeding.

The Formation Commission looked specifically at how to best form disciples, identifying what parishes, programs and approaches are best doing so. The Youth Commission trends with today’s youth, assessing what is, and is not, working in today’s youth ministry.

As mentioned in his Pastoral Letter, Bishop Fabre has asked that the focus of strategic planning be the renewal of parishes. However, more is needed for the renewal of parishes than simply parish structures. Therefore, in May, strategic planning also introduced three additional Commissions: the Priests Commission, the Stewardship Commission, and the Diocesan Governance Commission.

Each of the Commissions did an exceptional job in their evaluation and research. So as to include the priests in the process of moving

forward, each Commission made recommendations as to how they would like to proceed with the priests’ approval of their recommendations.

During Aug. 1-4 all the priests of the diocese gathered for a fourday convocation. There, the priests addressed issues pertinent to the presbyterate. They also received a big picture overview of the work of all of the Commissions. As coordinator of Strategic Planning, I met with each of the priests one-on-one at the end of August to walk them through the specific recommendations.

In addition to the Commissions mentioned above, new Commissions will launch in September. All parishioners are encouraged to become involved in a Commission of their choice. The new Commissions will focus on some of the following issues … n Sunday Commission: How can we improve hospitality, preaching and music at weekend liturgy? n Deacons Commission: How can we help our deacons serve our

parishes as best they can? n Catholic Schools Commission: How can we deliver the best Catholic education and do so affordably? n Vocations Commission: How can we sustain the number of needed seminarians for our diocese and from our diocese? n Multi-Cultural Commission: How can we as a multi-cultural diocese, retain a Catholic identity 19 within our varied cultures? n Parish Social Ministries (Outreach) Commission: How can we further strengthen the principles of Catholic social teaching into parish life?

In addition there will be opportunities for the people of Morgan City, South Lafourche and South Terrebonne to hear more personally what’s going on with the work of the Commissions.

For more information on the fall Commissions, please visit the strategic plan page on the diocesan website at www.htdiocese.org.

(Very Rev. Mark Toups is the diocesan chancellor and coordinator of Strategic Planning.)

The priests joining hands, declaring their support to the bishop, to work for the common good through this unique opportunity for conversion and renewal among the priests was the most encouraging outcome of the convocation. The bishop accentuated the need for this conversion and moved us to embrace his vision for the good of the diocese.

What encourages me the most is the sense of brotherhood and fraternity we have now. At our last deanery meeting there was so much joy in the room, walls were down in our hearts and we have really made an effort to maintain the unity which we all felt there. We have experienced that unity through the guidance, strength and humility of our bishop and we have made great efforts to remain in unity.

Father John Nambusseril, pastor Holy Savior Church parish, Lockport

Father Mitchel Semar, pastor Christ the Redeemer Church parish, Thibodaux

www.bayoucatholic.com

Personalities

Sustained

by God’s patience and generosity Story by Janet Marcel Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier

20

Father Florentino “Amang” Santiago, a native of Gabaldon, Nueva Ecjia in the Philippines, retired at the end of June after 37 years of active ministry, 25 of those years in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.

He says his fourth grade CCD teacher, a high school student, was the first person to cause him to think about becoming a priest. His teacher was preparing him and his classmates for first Communion and first reconciliation. His classmates were joking around and saying maybe they would become priests, and he said, “No way.” His teacher asked him, “Why not? If God wants you to be a priest, then he will find a way.”

“What she said stuck in my head,” says Father Santiago. “After that, I started going to church, even without my parents, and I joined the church parish choir.”

The Carmelite pastors who served in his home parish also had a big influence on his decision to become a priest. He says he thought about joining the Navy, but even before finishing elementary school he was already thinking of becoming a priest.

Father Santiago was the first person in his hometown to be ordained to the priesthood.

Recalling his ordination in 1978, Father Santiago says it was customary for ordination candidates to choose a symbol for their ordination. He had a yoke made specifically for him and during the ordination a representative from the community brought it to him.

“That was the most emotional part of the ordination for me. I also remember sharing a group hug with my bishop and brother priests after the ceremony.”

He came to the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in 1991. When the Carmelites pulled out of the parish he was serving in, he was sent to Rome for further studies. When he returned home, he applied to his bishop to go back to his former parish. After a while he decided to further his studies and received a scholarship to an interdenominational school in California. During the summer before he was to go to California, he came to the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux to visit one of the priests he had studied with in Rome and decided he wanted to make this his Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

new home. He was incardinated into the diocese in 1994.

Father Santiago says he has always enjoyed living a simple life. Serving in smaller parishes in remote places where there are less worries and more time to get to know the people is what brought him the greatest happiness.

The most challenging aspect of being a priest for Father Santiago has been the administration aspect of running a parish and having to deal with issues such as finances and insurance. “We were never trained to be an administrator of a parish,” he says. “And, it is also a struggle in the beginning because you are full of all of these ideas that you learned in the seminary and you have to figure out how to translate that to the people in a way that they will understand.”

Father Santiago says his greatest accomplishment has been staying in the priesthood this long. He recalls that there were several times he was tempted to leave the priesthood and do something else with his life. “It’s only because of God’s patience and generosity toward me … that I made it this long.” There is also a strong brotherhood among the Filipino priests in the diocese. They gather together formally and informally for a number of occasions on a regular basis and are always there to support each other, he says.

While in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Father Santiago served as temporary administrator of St. Lawrence Church parish in Kraemer, as associate pastor of Sacred Heart Church parish in Morgan City and St. Genevieve Church parish in Thibodaux, and as pastor of Holy Savior Church parish in Lockport, St. John the Evangelist Church parish in Thibodaux and St. Eloi Church parish in Theriot.

Father Santiago says he has just been enjoying the freedom of being retired. He does hope to travel to the Philippines next year to visit his brother and sister and later this year he will be serving as chaplain on a pilgrimage to Portugal, France and Spain.

Embarrassment can’t kill you.

Colon cancer can.

N.S. Teddy Winstead, MD, MSPH, FACP Board Certified Gastroenterologist

21

It’s like a quarterback that

THROWS YOU CASH. 0.10 %

APY*

on all balances even if qualifications aren’t met

2.01

%

APY*

on balances up to $15,000 if qualifications are met

Free Kasasa Cash® checking makes it easy to earn a higher rate.

To earn your rewards, just do the following transactions & activities in your Kasasa Cash® account during each Monthly Qualification Cycle: • Have at least 12 debit card purchases post and settle • Be enrolled and receive your monthly account statement electronically

banksynergy.com

• Have at least one direct deposit or ACH auto payment post and settle *APY=Annual Percentage Yield. APYs accurate as of 6/02/2016. Rates may change after account is opened. Minimum to open is $100 for Kasasa Cash. For Kasasa Cash, if qualifications are met each monthly qualification cycle: (1) Domestic ATM fees incurred during qualification cycle will be reimbursed and credited to account on the last day of monthly statement cycle; (2) balances up to $15,000 receive APY of 2.01%; and (3) balances over $15,000 earn 0.50% interest rate on the portion of the balance over $15,000, resulting in 2.01% - 0.70% APY depending on the balance. If qualifications are not met on Kasasa Cash all balances earn 0.10% APY. Qualifying transactions must post to and settle Kasasa Cash account during monthly qualification cycle. Transactions may take one or more banking days from the date transaction was made to post to and settle account. ATM-processed transactions do not count towards qualifying debit card transactions. “Monthly Qualification Cycle” means a period beginning one business day prior to the first day of the current statement cycle through one business day prior to the close of the current statement cycle. The advertised Kasasa Cash APY is based on compounding interest. Actual interest amount paid may be less than advertised Kasasa Cash APY. Transfers between accounts do not count as qualifying transactions.* ATM receipt must be presented for reimbursement of an individual ATM fee of $5.00 or higher. Contact us for more information about the monthly qualification cycle. Kasasa and Kasasa Cash are trademarks of Kasasa, Ltd., registered in the U.S.A.

www.bayoucatholic.com

Heavenly Recipes

Monique’s

Eggplant Dressing Story and Photos

by Lawrence Chatagnier

22

This month’s heavenly recipe, eggplant dressing, comes from Monique Albarado, LPC, associate director of the Assisi Bridge House and Independent Living program for Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux who has been employed with the diocese for the past 26 years. Monique says that some of her most enjoyable moments as a child were spent with her mom while she was in the kitchen cooking. “My mom doesn’t cook as much now, but when she does it’s usually for family gatherings for the holidays.”

It was during those times with her mom in the kitchen that she learned to cook. “I saw my mom cook. She didn’t necessarily explain what she was doing but I would watch her and learn how she cooked and measured things. I can recall stirring the roux while my mom had to answer the phone. I became very familiar with cooking and all it involved in the kitchen. In addition to my mom, my grandmother was also a very good cook. She took a lot of pride in her cooking. I remember all the things she used to cook, and I miss that.”

These days it seems that Monique is repeating what her mom used to do.

“I like to have friends come over and sit in the kitchen while I prepare a meal. I’m repeating what my mom did.

I’m repeating history. I am preparing the ingredients, measuring things and cooking while I’m talking to my friends in the kitchen. I like to cook from recipes. I’ll find a recipe and experiment on company and hope that it turns out and not bombs; so far it has always been a good experience. I will take a recipe and revise it according to my taste.”

While she enjoys cooking Monique is not the only cook in the house. “My husband David is a very good cook. He tends to cook things that I don’t cook.

We complement each other by cooking what the other one doesn’t cook.”

A native of Labadieville, after high school she graduated with a degree in journalism from LSU and obtained a master’s degree in counseling from Nicholls State University.

After working for a short time at a daily newspaper in Plaquemine, Monique heard about an opening at the

Bayou Catholic from a friend who lived in Thibodaux. Wanting to move back to the Thibodaux area she inquired about the position. In October 1990 she was hired as a staff writer and photographer for the Bayou Catholic newspaper where she was employed until 2005.

It was during her time with the Bayou Catholic that she began discerning the idea of being a counselor. “At one point I began thinking about counseling because it was always in the back of my mind. I had friends and acquaintances tell me I would probably be a good counselor. I spoke to Nancy Diedrich, counselor for family ministries for the diocese and she told me about the night classes for counseling at Nicholls. It took four years to complete my master’s program for counseling because I was also working full time. During my externship while working for the Bayou Catholic I did an article about the Assisi Bridge House. I inquired if I could do some work here; the people who were here then were very accommodating.

The Assisi Bridge House eventually hired me as a counselor in training in 2003.”

Monique says that she has learned much about communication and coping through counseling. “Through working here I have learned much about communication and coping.

In the beginning working as a new

counselor, one listens to the issues while also working on your personal growth. Personal issues are sorted out during that period. It prepares you for helping others. It’s not the reason to be a counselor but in the process you can’t help but learn about yourself and problem solving in your own life,” she says.

She believes that her faith helps her daily in the work she does. “My faith led me here because I prayed about a change in my career years ago. The clearest sign I had from God was when I was pursuing this type of work. I had to see it through completion. I pray from the time I leave my home in Thibodaux until the time I arrive at the Bridge House every morning. I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide me daily in my work with the guys who are working toward recovery.”

Eggplant Dressing 1-1/2 pounds ground turkey or lean ground beef 1 tbsp. olive oil (only if using ground turkey) 1 large eggplant, peeled and diced 4-5 shallots, chopped 1/2 onion, chopped 1 bell pepper, chopped 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 1/2 tsp. Tony Chachere’s 1/2 tsp. black pepper 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. Kitchen Bouquet 1/2 cup chicken broth 1 pouch of Success Boil in Bag brown rice, cooked (=2 cups rice) Brown the meat in a large non-stick skillet. If using ground turkey, first brown the meat in olive oil on high heat. (If using ground beef, there is no need to use olive oil.)

When meat is browned, gradually stir in all the vegetables, Worcestershire sauce, seasonings and Kitchen Bouquet. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring often, for about 20 minutes or until all the vegetables are cooked down. Add the broth and rice, and let cook for about three minutes. Stir occasionally. Let stand a few minutes after taking it off of the heat, then serve.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

(Adapted from Enola Prudhomme’s Low-Calorie Cajun Cooking recipe for Turkey-Rice-Eggplant Dressing)

HT eN

rg

ew

s.o

Try it!

Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s

comprehensive Catholic news website

Featuring

dozens of videos, photos and stories from around the world every week!

Young Voices

Pope Francis told the youth at World Youth Day 2016 to “go forth together to build bridges of brotherhood.” How can today’s youth promote a spirit of brotherhood?

24

In today’s secular world, children are taught from a young age to be careful of the friends you keep.

Secular society teaches that if you hang around with “bad” people; in time you will become like them.

However, when Pope Francis was at World Youth Day, he said, “... build bridges of brotherhood.” As youth, we are naturally close to our friends; we usually share the same interests with our friends so that is who we prefer to grow up with. I believe that when Pope Francis tells the youth to build bridges of brotherhood, he means that we must extend our friendship and our faith to youth that are different than us.

We must “build a bridge” to reach out to them to share our faith and invoke a sense of brotherhood. Pope Francis wants all youth to be one in faith and family, regardless of how different they may be in personality.

John Paul Perez, 16 years old Christ the Redeemer Church parish Thibodaux High School Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

The world has become a very strange place and every day we ask for strength from God to stay on the right path in life. Discrimination and envy will destroy our plans in forming our brotherhood. In becoming united, we must avoid these things and instead worry about being loyal and loving to one another as children of God. In bonding together, we must also communicate with each other.

I would suggest events and occasions like adoration, missions and speakers at your churches to be closer with God and to live in his ways.

Coby Bahena, 15 years old St. Mary’s Nativity Church parish Central Lafourche High School

Today’s youth can promote a spirit of brotherhood by humbling ourselves and trusting in Jesus Christ.

By humbling ourselves, we can learn how to love wholeheartedly. If the church learns how to love like Jesus did, then we can promote a spirit of brotherhood. Humbling ourselves also means we are putting others’ needs before our own. We need to be third. God first, neighbors second and ourselves third. If everyone lives by this, then we would have a strong loving community and we would promote the spirit of brotherhood.

Victoria Battaglia, 16 years old St. Bernadette Church parish H.L. Bourgeois High School

The pope, from the beginning has been challenging the young church in ways we have never thought of before. We are the future of the church and it is through brotherhood and continued kindness to others in which the church will continue to thrive. Brotherhood can be misunderstood as religious life; however, the pope was talking about the relationship between us and others. In today’s world, it is difficult to forgive and forget. This is a huge part of brotherhood, for if we cannot forgive each other, we can never give each other the chance to grow closer to God. As being a part of brotherhood, we are to encourage each other to grow more toward God and the ultimate goal, of course, being heaven. Encouraging others to be an active part of brotherhood goes much farther than simply going to Mass or adoration. It is through the service and love you show to others that can promote and encourage people to be an active part of brotherhood. There are many ways for the young people to promote brotherhood and it can be as simple as sharing a smile or starting a conversation with someone who thought no one noticed them or no one cared about them. The youth should continually be reminded to promote brotherhood in their everyday lives because we are the future of the church. Continue to strive each and every day to promote brotherhood to at least one person. If we all do this, the whole world could be one huge brotherhood.

Haley Fremin, 18 years old St. Genevieve Church parish LSU, Baton Rouge

Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Seminarian Education Burses

What is a seminarian burse fund?

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

How does someone establish a seminarian burse fund?

Very simply, a burse may be established and named for anyone you choose, be it family, friend, bishop, priest, deacon, religious, etc.

When is a seminarian burse complete?

A seminarian burse fund is complete once it reaches $15,000.

If you choose to continue to contribute, a new burse will be created for you.

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

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

Completed Burses of $15,000 each

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

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

July 2016 Burse Contributions Mr. & Mrs. George C. Fakier ............................. $300.00 Msgr. William Koninkx ..................................... $300.00 Edna W. DiSalvo ................................................. $50.00 Daniel Duplantis graduated from St. Joseph Seminary College this past spring and is entering Notre Dame Seminary this fall. He is from St. Louis Church in Bayou Blue. Daniel graduated from Central Lafourche High School in 2012 and attended McNeese State University for one year before entering seminary.

Daniel is co-sponsored by the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and the Archdiocese of Military Service.

Open Burses with Balance as of 7/31/16 Sidney J. & Lydie C. Duplantis ........... $13,000.00 Donald Peltier, Sr. #4 ............................ $13,000.00 Joseph Strada Memorial ...................... $12,642.63 Msgr. Raphael C. Labit #2 .................. $11,080.00 Harvey Peltier #31 .............................. $10,486.91 Joseph Waitz, Sr. ................................. $10,100.00 Clay Sr. & Evelida Duplantis #2 .......... $10,000.00 C. Remie Duplantis #2 ........................ $10,000.00 Marie Elise Duplantis #2 ..................... $10,000.00 Maude & Edith Daspit #2 .................... $10,000.00 Msgr. George A. Landry ...................... $10,000.00 Mr. & Mrs. George C. Fakier ................. $9,000.00 Elie & Dot Klingman .............................. $8,960.00 Rev. Victor Toth ..................................... $7,000.00 Brides of the Most Blessed Trinity ......... $6,165.00 Msgr. William Koninkx ........................... $6,000.00 Rev. Peter Nies ..................................... $5,900.00 Msgr. Francis Amedee ........................... $5,150.00 Mr. & Mrs. Love W. Pellegrin ................. $5,000.00 Anonymous #2 ...................................... $5,000.00 Mr. & Mrs. Caliste Duplantis Fmly.#4..... $5,000.00 Rev. William M. Fleming ........................ $5,000.00 Mrs. Ayres A. Champagne ..................... $5,000.00 Society of St. Joseph .............................. $5,000.00 Rev. Kasimir Chmielewski ..................... $4,839.00 Rev. Gerard Hayes ................................ $4,786.00 Catholic Daughters ................................ $4,705.00 Joseph “Jay” Fertitta .............................. $4,450.00

Rev. Guy Zeringue ................................ $4,400.00 Rev. Henry Naquin ................................. $4,331.00 Harry Booker #2 .................................... $4,138.00 Kelly Curole Frazier ............................... $3,610.96 J. R. Occhipinti ...................................... $3,400.00 Anawin Community ............................... $3,400.00 Msgr. James Songy ............................... $3,075.00 Mr. & Mrs. Galip Jacobs ........................ $3,060.00 St. Jude ................................................. $3,000.00 Diocesan K of C #2 ............................... $2,894.62 Rev. Peter H. Brewerton ........................ $2,600.00 Warren J. Harang, Jr. #2 ......................... $2,100.00 Willie & Emelda St. Pierre ...................... $2,000.00 Rev. H. C. Paul Daigle ........................... $1,900.00 James J. Buquet, Jr. ............................... $1,650.00 Alfrances P. Martin ................................. $1,650.00 Preston & Gladys Webre ........................ $1,650.00 Msgr. Francis J. Legendre #2 ................ $1,645.00 Rev. Robert J. Sevigny .......................... $1,600.00 Rev. John Gallen .................................... $1,600.00 Rev. Hubert C. Broussard ...................... $1,550.00 Msgr. Emile J. Fossier ........................... $1,545.00 Dr. William Barlette, Sr........................... $1,525.00 Msgr. Stanislaus Manikowski ................ $1,525.00 Mr. & Mrs. John Marmande .................... $1,500.00 Deacon Robert Dusse’ ........................... $1,450.00 Msgr. John L. Newfield .......................... $1,200.00 Jacob Marcello ....................................... $1,200.00

Deacon Connely Duplantis ..................... $1,175.00 Rev. Anthony Rousso ............................. $1,150.00 Ronnie Haydel ....................................... $1,035.00 Rev. Clemens Schneider ....................... $1,000.00 Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux #4 ........... $1,000.00 Msgr. John G. Keller .............................. $1,000.00 Judge Louis & Shirley R. Watkins .............. $950.00 Deacon Willie Orgeron ............................. $800.00 Ruby Pierce .............................................. $800.00 Deacon Roland Dufrene ........................... $750.00 Juliette & Eugene Wallace ......................... $700.00 Deacon Edward J. Blanchard ................... $660.00 Edna W. DiSalvo ....................................... $600.00 Deacon Raymond LeBouef ...................... $550.00 Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Cannata .................... $500.00 Bernice Harang ......................................... $400.00 Anne Veron Aguirre ................................... $380.00 Deacon Harold Kurtz ................................ $300.00 Richard Peltier #2 ..................................... $300.00 Dean Joseph Chiasson ............................. $300.00 Claude Bergeron ...................................... $250.00 Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Naquin .......................... $150.00 Deacon Pedro Pujals ................................ $100.00 Deacon Eldon Frazier .............................. $ 50.00 Deacon Nick Messina .............................. $ 50.00 Rev. Warren Chassaniol ........................... $ 50.00

Overall Seminarian Burse Totals: $1,572,621.02 www.bayoucatholic.com

25

Entertainment

Seeing Clairely Claire Joller

I 26

Industrial-size Venetian blinds still hang, but askew at haphazard angles, across wide windows in one wing. That part has yet to be touched by the demolition equipment that lurks in the schoolyard. Elsewhere, brick walls stand halfway up their former expanse, their upper edges like jagged teeth in gap-toothed protest to steel rods falling across them. At one end of the rear wing lies a heaping jumble of roofing, broken bricks and mortar fragments, insulation, mangled rebar and other construction materials that were long ago used to erect the school building now being demolished.

As I drove past the site after the work began, I thought how sad it must be for graduates of the school to see their Alma Mater being destroyed before their eyes . . . no matter how much the building was in disrepair, no matter how much a brand new school building will benefit the grade school children of the district, no matter how it had had to be repurposed through the course of local history.

For years this edifice served as the high school for blacks in our town before integration in the 1960s. In 1952, Southdown High School opened for African Americans, and the next year, 19 students were in the first graduating class.

From the time of its opening in the early 50s, the school was an anchor for young men and women of the black community. Long-ago graduates were quoted recently as being encouraged there, as feeling comfortable as part of an extended school family, and having a sense of identity the school imparted.

There they developed friendships, learned what they needed to enter the workforce or

Mangled memories LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

continue their education, had fun, and aspired to the things every other teenager in the wider community aspired to. It is telling that when students, in 1967, were given the option to stay at Southdown or to attend one of the other high schools, relatively few left. Two years later, desegregation did away with the option to stay, and the school became an elementary school.

I think of my attitude toward the public high school I attended just blocks away from Southdown High. Since I graduated that May day in 1963, I’ve rarely entered the building again. Once I returned to speak to the senior class in assembly, but most of the time I’ve entered those familiar doors only to attend our great-niece’s play performances in the auditorium in recent years.

Each time I did so, regardless of the decades that have gone by, I felt a sense of affection and familiarity, a sense of belonging, of ownership of part of that school’s institutional identity—even though no one there would know me now.

There on the second floor remains “my” locker, where my friends and I had hurried conversations between classes. There in the entrance I always considered elegant, we held French Club flower shows and

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

greeted guests to the state Student Council convention in my senior year. I enter that space and I see my teachers posing with students from Neville High School, Istrouma, and Bolton. I remember individual faces and expressions. There, in a third-floor classroom near the back stairs, we produced an eight-page weekly newspaper. I can still hear the clicking of manual typewriter keys and see the face of advisor Miss Dardeau of the dark hair and broad smile. The space that now serves as a concession booth for auditorium events was my beforeschool hangout, the “booth” used then as a small student bookstore to raise funds for school projects.

The thing is, the school I attended is still there. I can see it and enter it, if I wish. It is a tangible part of my own personal history and that of everyone who attended the school.

Every time I ride by it, it gives me assurance that a particular part of my life echoes faintly there in those halls and classrooms.

In a few weeks, space will be made at Southdown for a muchneeded brand new school building.

But graduates of Southdown High School will no longer have their building to help them look back at their teenage years in quite the same way.

Book Reviews

Robicheaux’s Roots Reading with Raymond Raymond Saadi

By Patricia M. Gaitely LSU PRESS $25 Whether you’re already a fan of Dave Robicheaux, James Lee Burke’s alter ego detective or just curious about his popularity, this is a must read. It’s extensively researched and a perfect resource for the novels, locales, people, and even the local cuisine. One entire chapter is devoted to the city of New Iberia, where Burke, though born in Texas, spent his childhood. If you want to experience the real place from your armchair, click on iberiatravel. com. As for the book, don’t read Robicheaux without it.

The Games, A Private Novel

By James Patterson & Mark Sullivan Little, Brown $28

God and the Afterlife

By Jeffrey Long, M.D. Harper One $25.99

Can science prove God’s existence? Yes, according to the author, a radiation oncologist and near-death experience (NDE) expert in Houma, LA. In his new study of over 4,000 persons, he cites the experiences of hundreds who described encounters with God after being pronounced dead or near dead. “Medically speaking,” Dr. Long says, “near-death experiences should be impossible” … since they “generally occur when the NDErs are so physically compromised that they are unconscious, comatose, or clinically dead.” Yet, according to him, they still do occur. — There’s more on the subject from Dr. Penny Sartori, Ph.D., in her book, #What is a Near Death Experience? (Watkins $12.95).

Sartori’s 20 year experience in Intensive Care in UK hospitals confirms much of Long’s studies.

Interestingly enough, she cites his work as a reference for her book.

Although not as many personal experiences cited, she does have one celebrity, movie star Sharon Stone, who relates hers. Read and decide.

If you enjoyed watching the Summer Olympics you can thank James Patterson’s fictional hero, Jack Morgan, who almost single handedly, thwarted a plan by a disturbed doctor intent on spreading a deadly virus on everyone in the stadium. Not only that, Jack had to save a billionaire’s two young daughters who had been kidnapped while wandering in the wrong section of Rio de Janeiro. It’s another pulse racing 27 thriller from prolific Patterson.

The Fireman

By Joe Hill William Morrow $28.99

Ever since he scared the living daylights out of me with his debut novel, Heart-Shaped-Box, I’ve been a fan of Joe Hill’s novels. My admiration continues with his latest thriller in which a mysterious stranger, “The Fireman,” appears to aid people affected by world-wide spores that spontaneously cause people to suddenly catch fire. A dedicated nurse, Harper Grayson, steadfastly refuses to abandon the hospital where she tends to patients even at risk of her life and that of her unborn infant. Her husband, certain that she has infected him, deserts her, leaving her to depend for her life only on “the fireman.”

Louisiana Wild

By C.C. Lockwood Louisiana State University Press Louisiana is never so beautiful as when it’s seen through Lockwood’s camera’s eye.

With over 200 vivid color photographs illustrating the protected and restored lands of the Nature Conservancy, this coffee table sized book, nearly two years in the making, will be treasured by any family who calls Louisiana home. www.bayoucatholic.com

Comment

Guest Columnist

T 28

Father Carl Diederichs

This is the Jubilee Year of Mercy, and it couldn’t come at a more appropriate time for us in the USA. Our country is in a challenging time, for sure.

We must reevaluate our criminal justice system and our treatment of the poor and marginalized. We need to confront racism head-on. We must take a position on the way we treat lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. If we are to be merciful as our heavenly Father is merciful, our first chore is to re-read the Scriptures and set aside any prejudices and hatreds we may have for people who are not like us. Let’s re-read the parables of mercy and seek to understand and live, as Jesus wants us to live.

The mercy of God is gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin. But God is also a God of justice. The most profound paradox is of a God who is merciful and forgiving on the one hand and ultimately just on the other.

The debate goes on; a God of Mercy or a God who, in the end will be a just judge. I am convinced that the right relationship between these two apparent sides of God, is lived out from our earliest days on earth, how we are “grounded” in love and mercy or guilt and judgment.

There are those who see God as the just judge waiting for us to make a mistake. And when we speak about “justice” in this vein, we are not speaking about “racial or social justice,” which is a direct result of compassion and mercy.

The only way for us to live as Jesus wants is for us to practice

M e& r jus c y ‘

ice

,

The only way for us to live as Jesus wants is for us to practice mercy.

mercy. Justice can be discussed theoretically, I suppose, if we simply say that if there is any getting even it belongs to God alone. And since we need to sift the Hebrew Scripture through the heart of Jesus, our God is a God of mercy and compassion. We see none of the anthropomorphic designations of God as a just judge in the words of Jesus.

But we still hold on to the anthropomorphic definition of God as a just judge, many times. We look to God to make things “right.”

We say out loud or to ourselves that we are waiting for God to punish those we select as needing punishment.

We, “the righteous,” are quick to wish for God to punish those we consider objects of our wrath. Those of us who “play by the rules” cannot abide those we see flaunting God’s commandments and getting away with it. The sad thing is that if our faithfulness to God is motivated by our fear of judgment, there is not much love and mercy there. Our love for God should flow from our deep appreciation of us being loved in spite of our sinful selves. But that presumes we have the insight to see ourselves as sinners and not persons who don’t need to be forgiven, like the Pharisees of old.

None of us gets what we deserve,

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

thanks be to God! If our faithfulness to God is motivated by our fear of judgment and not out of a love that comes from our being forgiven, our lives are pretty hollow.

Mercy is God’s name. And the blood of the lamb, in spite of our sinful selves, has purchased our lives. And our response to God’s love and mercy for us—even before we sin—is to love and have mercy on all others. We are the church of mercy, as we hear Pope Francis say all the time.

“True mercy, the mercy God gives to us and teaches us, demands justice; it demands that the poor find the way to be poor no longer.”

So, God is not a just judge but a merciful and compassionate Father who wants all of us to know we are loved in spite of ourselves and then to bring that mercy and compassion to others, especially the poor and the powerless.

This is the Year of Mercy. Let’s not squander it. Let us pray and work for peace and justice and receive the mercy and compassion of a loving Father, slow to anger and rich in mercy.

(Father Carl Diederichs is the administrator of St. Lucy Church parish in Houma and St. Luke the Evangelist Church parish in Thibodaux.)

e n Tu To...

In

Quality Family Programming for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Cooperation with HTV is currently available on the following cable systems: Comcast of Houma on Channel 10 and 1010 in HD Charter Communications of Terrebonne Parish & Thibodaux on Channel 10 Vision Communications of Larose on Channel 10 and 810 in HD Allen’s Cable TV Service in Morgan City on Channel 71 AT&T Uverse on Channel 10 HTV broadcasts on UHF Channel 30 in the Houma-Thibodaux area & on Channel 7 in Morgan City HTV is also available online at www.htv10.tv You can also watch using your smartphone by downloading the HTV 10 app at your devices app store.

SUNDAY

6:30 A.M. 9:00 A.M. 9:30 A.M.

Proclaim the Good News/The Rosary Closer Walk Comfort For My People

6:30 A.M. 9:00 A.M. 9:30 A.M.

Proclaim the Good News/The Rosary Live with Passion Spotlight

6:30 A.M. 9:00 A.M. 9:30 A.M.

Proclaim the Good News/The Rosary Focus Proclaim the Good News/The Rosary

6:30 9:00 9:30 8:30

29

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

A.M. A.M. A.M. P.M.

6:30 A.M. 9:00 A.M. 9:30 A.M. 11:00 P.M.

6:30 A.M. 9:00 A.M. 9:30 A.M.

6:30 A.M. 9:00 A.M. 9:30 A.M.

Proclaim the Good News/The Rosary Closer Walk Live With Passion Comfort For My People

THURSDAY

Proclaim the Good News/The Rosary Focus Spotlight Spotlight

FRIDAY

Proclaim the Good News/The Rosary Real Food Comfort For My People

SATURDAY

Proclaim the Good News/The Rosary The Choices We Face Spotlight

Programs produced by the Diocesan Office of TV Communications. We reserve the right to make program changes. www.bayoucatholic.com

C L I

2016

Christian Leadership His

30

“‘Anointing’ … ‘empowering’ … ‘uplifting’ … ‘eye opening’ … ‘refreshing’ … ‘created a desire to serve the church with my life … .’”

CLI changes lives

These are just a few of the words that flowed from the mouths of the teens that attended the 2016 Christian Leadership Institute (CLI) – His Hands of Mercy, says Michael DiSalvo, diocesan director of the Office of Youth Ministry. “Perhaps the last phrase sums up what an event of the magnitude of CLI aims to accomplish, and as I reflected on it I would have to say that it most certainly did.”

What is CLI?

CLI is a five-day training experience designed to give young people in grades 10, 11 and 12 the opportunity to grow in faith and personal responsibility for peer leadership. It focuses on skills and develops support systems that help young people become better Christ-like leaders in their churches, schools and community. It is about being “all in.” The Bible says, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. And whatever you do, in word or in deed do everything in the name of Jesus” (Colossians 3).

Story by Janet Marcel

Building team disciples

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

The diocesan Office of Youth Ministry, under the leadership of DiSalvo,

a

Institute 2016 Hands of Mercy

31

has always been intentional in its purpose to build teen disciples and in encouraging those same teens to go back into their families, homes, church parishes, schools and communities and be witnesses for Christ to all.

An encounter with Christ

Pope Francis’ Year of Mercy (Dec. 8, 2015 – Nov. 20, 2016) and the Strategic Planning process here in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, explains DiSalvo, has created a new passion within us to make sure that as a church we don’t miss the opportunity to bring teens to an encounter with Christ, help them understand the richness of our Catholic faith and create an opportunity for them to put their Catholic faith into action.

Called to be a missionary disciple

“I witnessed a glimpse of the passion and hunger that the young church has as they poured out their hearts and hands to a Dulac community in need. By the end of the week the young people understood who they are (God’s children), their call to a more intimate relationship with Christ, an understanding of their worth and giftedness to others, and the courage to place trust in God and be vulnerable to those in need,” says DiSalvo.

“Perhaps the real question is to the teens out there who are longing for more out of their faith. When are you going to step off the sideline and get in the game as the missionary disciple that we as Christians are called to be?”

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier and Ramona Portero www.bayoucatholic.com

Saint Ant hony of Padua

Bayou Patrons

C 32

Continuing our Bayou Patrons series, this month’s featured saint is Anthony of Padua, one of the Catholic Church’s most popular saints. Anthony was born in in Lisbon, Portugal, to one of the most prominent families of the city, and given the name Fernando at baptism. At the age of 15, he entered the religious order of St. Augustine. After two years he was sent to Coimbra where he began nine years of intense study, learning the Augustinian theology that he would later combine with the Franciscan vision.

Fernando is thought to have been ordained a priest during this time.

The life of the young priest took a crucial turn when the bodies of the first five Franciscan martyrs were returned from Morocco, their remains carried in solemn procession to Fernando’s monastery.

Inspired to a momentous decision, he asked to join the Franciscan Order that he might “gain the crown of the holy martyrs.” After some challenges from the prior of the Augustinians, he was allowed to leave that priory and receive the Franciscan habit, taking the name Anthony. The Franciscans allowed Anthony to go to Morocco to be a witness for Christ and a martyr as well. But, the gift he wanted to give was not the gift that was to be asked of him.

We may never have heard of Anthony if he hadn’t gone to an ordination of Dominicans and Franciscans in 1222. As they gathered for a meal afterward, the provincial suggested that one of the friars give a short sermon. Quite typically, everyone objected, so Anthony was asked to just give “something simple,” since he was thought to have no education. Anthony too objected, but finally began to speak in a simple, artless way. The fire within him became evident. His knowledge was unmistakable, but his holiness was what really impressed everyone there.

Soon, his quiet life of prayer and penance at the hermitage was exchanged for that of a public preacher. The problem with many preachers in Anthony’s day was that their lifestyle contrasted sharply with that of the poor people to whom they preached. Anthony saw that words were obviously not enough. The people wanted the genuineness of Gospel living and in Anthony they found it. They were moved by who he was, more so than what he said. He became renowned for his forceful preaching, expert knowledge of Scripture, and undying love and devotion to the poor and the sick.

Among the Franciscans themselves and in the liturgy of his feast, St. Anthony is celebrated as a teacher and preacher extraordinaire. He was the first teacher in the Franciscan Order to be given special

a

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

Preacher extraordinaire, champion for the poor and the sick Story by Janet Marcel Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

This print of St. Anthony comes from the Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua in Lisbon, Portugal.

St. Anthony of Padua, Bayou Black

approval and blessing of St. Francis to instruct his brother Franciscans.

Anthony died in Padua, Italy, and was canonized less than one year after his death by Pope Gregory IX, who was moved by the many miracles that occurred at Anthony’s tomb. He was proclaimed a doctor of the church Jan. 16, 1946, by Pope Pius XII (www. stanthony.org/st-anthony-of-padua).

Very Rev. Vicente DeLa Cruz, J.V., says when he was appointed pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church parish in Bayou Black his journey to priestly vocation came around in full circle.

“I was a product of a Franciscan College Seminary in the Philippines before I came to the United States and joined our diocese. Just like St. Anthony of Padua/Lisboa, I too was inspired by St. Francis of Assisi to follow the way of love as a Franciscan. St. Francis of Assisi and his early disciples gave us all an example of humble and dedicated service to the church and God’s people,” says Father DeLa Cruz.

Echoing the lifestyle of St. Francis of Assisi, one of his former pastors once told him that as a priest, he must always “work hard, be kind and stay humble,” a principle he still tries to follow to this day.

“After the 1986 Peoples’ Power Revolution in the Philippines that ended the dictatorship of the Marcoses, I left the Franciscan Seminary to join our diocese. The ‘Franciscan spirit’ within me, however, continued to inspire my ministry and God’s work in me. Before I became pastor of this church parish, I made a pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2003 just out of devotion to this inspiring saint of God,” says Father DeLa Cruz. “Ten years later in 2013, I made another pilgrimage to this shrine as a pastor of a church under his patronage. I celebrated another Mass at the Shrine and obtained a print copy of the statue of St. Anthony of Lisboa, framed it and hung it in the foyer of our church in honor of the Rev. Gerard Hayes, founding pastor of this church community.”

St. Anthony of Padua, whose feast day is June 13, is the patron saint of lost and stolen items. He is typically portrayed holding the child Jesus, a lily, a book, or all three, in his arms. Anthony was a simple and humble friar who preached the Good News lovingly and with fearless courage. The youth whom his fellow friars thought was uneducated became one of the great preachers and theologians of his day. He was a man of great penance and apostolic zeal. But he was primarily a saint of the people (St. Anthony: Doctor of the Church by Sophronius Clasen, O.F.M.).

www.bayoucatholic.com

33

Church Alive

Bread or Stones Campaign addresses problems facing child well-being in the state

Story by Janet Marcel Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier The Bread or Stones Campaign, an interfaith initiative of the churches of Louisiana through the Louisiana Interchurch Conference to improve the lives of children throughout the state, held a listening post in Houma recently with 70 people from 15 Catholic and Protestant churches within the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux attending.

The campaign’s name “Bread or Stones” is inspired by the passage from the Gospel of Matthew (7:9) where Jesus asks: “Would one of you hand his child a stone when he asks for a loaf … ?”

Rob Gorman, executive director of Catholic 34 Charities Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, chair of the Louisiana Interchurch Conference Public Policy Task Force and Bread or Stones Campaign chair, says “We have a moral obligation to improve our children’s health, reduce their poverty, help them to stay and succeed in school and support their families. We have been handing our children stones instead of bread for too many years.”

The Bread or Stones Campaign will focus primarily on improving services in four areas that most impact child well-being: n maternal and child health, n school readiness and school dropout prevention, n marriage and family supports, and n child poverty reduction.

According to reports from the Annie E. Casey Annual Kids Count, Louisiana has consistently been one of the lowest-ranking states in all measures of child well-being. “We call upon the governor of Louisiana and the Louisiana Legislature to set a goal and commit to a specific improvement in our national ranking on the Kids Count, the March of Dimes report and similar indices. Without setting such a goal, we will continue to fail our children.

We believe that we can improve child well-being by working collaboratively with the government and among religions, non-profits and civic organizations through education, social services, citizenship through advocacy and community building,” says Gorman.

Historically, Louisiana has shown that child wellbeing can be improved through such programs as the Louisiana Children’s Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP), the Louisiana Earned Income Tax Credit, Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

Pastor Robert Ross of the First United Methodist Church in Houma, who hosted the event, addresses those attending the Bread or Stones Campaign listening post.

and Maternal and Child Health Care Initiatives, among others. The state has begun to reduce teen pregnancy rates and has shown improvement in decreasing the number of low-birth-weight babies.

Louisiana’s ranking in several of the child wellbeing indicators has improved; however, among the 1,107,000 children in Louisiana, more than one in four (28 percent) live in poverty. This has a fundamental impact on whether or not children thrive. To decrease that percentage, leaders from hundreds of churches within 16 Catholic and Protestant denominations have come together to form the Bread or Stones campaign.

a

In the photo above, attendees of the Bread or Stones Campaign break out into small groups to discuss challenges facing impoverished families in the community. In the bottom photo, Robert Gorman, executive director of Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, welcomes those present and outlines the focus of the Bread or Stones Campaign.

35

Cataract and LASIK Surgeon

Richard Arceneaux, MD

Cataract and LASIK Surgeon

Satish Arora, MD

Retina Surgeon

LEADER

S

LASIK LASER ASSISTED CATARACT SURGERY RETINA DISEASE COMPREHENSIVE EYE CARE •

Quentin Falgoust, MD

O

UR

IN

•Y

“In addition to services,” says Gorman, “these religious congregations already provide, they have committed to developing new church social services for families, advocating for state and federal children’s programs, educating their members about the State of Louisiana’s children, how to become better parents and organizing people to work together for safer, healthier communities.”

Gorman, along with Father C. Dan Krutz, executive director of the Louisiana Interchurch Conference; Robert Ross, pastor of First United Methodist Church who hosted the event; and Louis Clark, pastor of Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Gray, lead discussions at the listening post about different ways their churches could address the problems facing child well-being in Louisiana at this time.

For more information or to join the Bread or Stones Campaign, contact Gorman at (985)876-0490 or Father Krutz at (225) 344-0134.

HOUMA 985.879.2393 268 Corporate Drive THIBODAUX 985.446.0506 1101 Audubon Avenue, Suite N-5 VACHERIE 225.265.8555 22140 Highway 20, Suite B MORGAN CITY 985.385.5744 1301 Victor II Blvd, # B WWW.FRIENDLYEYECARE.COM www.bayoucatholic.com

World Youth Day 2016

36

18 pilgrims from Houma-Thibodaux travel to Poland to hear Pope Francis

Guest Columnist

A

Rev. Mr. Brice Higginbotham

At 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 24, 18 sleepy pilgrims gathered to depart for the trip of a lifetime.

We were going to walk in the footsteps of saints. We were going to pray with young people from every tribe and tongue, people and nation. We were going to see the Pope.

We boarded the bus for Houston, TX, where we met the rest of our “family” for the next 12 days — 22 pilgrims from San Antonio, TX. The mosaic of language and culture and unity and faith which is World Youth Day had already begun for us. Anticipating the words of the Holy Father, we

began in our own group to build bridges, to share fraternity.

“The new generation of young people … have given a response to today’s challenge, they have given the sign of hope, and this sign is called fraternity. Because, precisely in this world at war, fraternity is needed, closeness is needed, dialogue is needed, friendship is needed. This is the sign of hope: when there is fraternity” (Wednesday Audience, August 3, 2016).

We flew to Poland where we celebrated Mass at St. Maximilian Kolbe’s “City of the Immaculata,” venerated the relics of St. Faustina,

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

and spend half of a day in St. John Paul II’s home town of Wadowice.

There in Wadowice we first the saw the mosaic of colors made by everyone’s national flags as we prepared for Mass with Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia.

The next day we saw Pope Francis. And the pope was speaking to us. “My dear young people,” he began. The man whom Jesus appointed to father us, to guide us, to be our “Papa” was speaking to us! And what did he say? He told us to trade in our sofas for soccer cleats, to trade “vegging out” for vigor. “Dear young people,” he said, “we didn’t come into this world

a

The moment that inspired me most at World Youth Day was when we found the spot in St. Peter’s Square where Pope John Paul II was shot. They marked it with a simple white plaque with his coat of arms and the date. It reminded me of the love and protection that we all have from Mary. The pilgrimage definitely gave me a greater love and appreciation for Mary, not only as the Mother of God, but as our Mom, too.

Brennan Thibodeaux World Youth Day pilgrim

World Youth Day pilgrims at sunrise awaiting the arrival of Pope Francis

to ‘vegetate,’ to take it easy, to make our lives a comfortable sofa to fall asleep on. No, we came for another reason: to leave a mark.” Our Holy Father told us that “Jesus is the Lord of risk, he is the Lord of the eternal ‘more’” (Vigil with the Young People, July 30, 2016).

Hearing the words of the Pope, encountering Jesus, and building bonds of fraternity which have changed our hearts, we set off for Rome, the city whose ground is saturated with the blood of the martyrs, which is the seed of the church. There we prayed

(and we played), encountering Jesus in the churches, in the city and in each other. We return grateful and full. We return with our cleats laced up and ready to “get in the game,” to leave a mark on our families, our community and our world. May God bless all of us with the courage to take the risk of falling in love with Jesus and of living his mercy right here in Houma-Thibodaux.

(The Rev. Mr. Brice Higginbotham is a deacon intern at Christ the Redeemer Church parish in Thibodaux.)

The group from the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, along with 22 pilgrims from San Antonio, TX, gather for a photo before departing for World Youth Day.

Being amid 2 million of the Catholic youth of our world put a fire in my heart and really made me aware of the power of prayer that our church has. It didn’t matter where we came from, what we had been through or who we were. The one thing we had in common and the only thing that matters is 37 that Jesus Christ is our Lord and our love.

Shelby Ellis World Youth Day pilgrim

There were so many aspects to the WYD trip that made it a once in a lifetime experience, also making it hard to sum up in a few words. Aside from the many surreal moments walking where so many saints have walked and praying in the most beautiful churches with numerous relics, what stood out to me was the fact that 2 million youth from around the world gathered in one place proving that the Catholic faith is not dead. While everyone spoke different languages, we all had the faith in common. It was such a blessing to be a part of the experience and one I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Courtney Sylvest World Youth Day pilgrim

www.bayoucatholic.com

Church Life

The women of Holy Cross celebrate 175 years Story by Janet Marcel One hundred seventy-five years ago on Aug. 4, 1841, Rev. Basil Anthony Moreau presented the habit to four young women who were to form the nucleus of a new religious congregation named the Women of Holy Cross.

Father Moreau’s dream was to establish a community of Sisters who would work hand in hand with the Fathers and Brothers in their ministries of teaching, caring for orphans and in the foreign 38 missions. He had always envisioned “three societies in one,” organized on the model of the Holy Family. The priests would represent Christ; the brothers would share the tasks of St. Joseph, and the sisters would be “other Marys.”

The sisters’ original name was Our Lady of the Seven Dolors. In 1847, Father Moreau adopted the title “Marianites” for the women of Holy Cross.

Father Moreau quickly sent members of his fledging congregation to the “foreign missions.” They began ministering in Canada, Bengal, and in the eastern and southern United States. Difficulty in communicating because of distance and misunderstandings caused the Marianites in Indiana and Canada to become separate congregations. In 1869, the Marianites in Indiana became the Sisters of the Holy Cross. The Marianites in Canada became the Sisters of Holy Cross in 1883. In recent years the congregations of women have collaborated on a number of issues. A planning committee with representatives of the three congregations was established to create a website celebrating the 175th anniversary of the Women of Holy Cross – www.womenofholycross.org/. A proclamation signed by council members of the three congregations has designated Jan. 20, 2016, through Jan. 20, 2017, as “a year of celebrating the good things God has done in and through us, and continues to call us to be about the work of resurrection” (The Marianite, Winter 2016).

The Marianite Sisters of Holy Cross first arrived in what is now the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in 1870 and opened the Academy of the Sacred Heart, a Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

Catholic school for girls in Houma. The name of the school was later changed to match the church parish of St. Francis de Sales. Additional sisters arrived in 1890 to begin educating boys. On Sept. 1, 1965, a high school, Houma Central Catholic, opened its doors and St. Francis de Sales transitioned to an elementary school. The following school year, 1966-67, the name of the high school was changed to Vandebilt Catholic.

In 1893 the Sisters opened Sacred Heart Academy for grades one through 12 in Morgan City. In 1964, that school was divided into separate elementary and high schools, and re-named Holy Cross Elementary and Central Catholic High School (CCHS).

During the next four decades, the Marianite Sisters of Holy cross served the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in many different capacities including school teacher, guidance counselor, principal, parish pastoral associate, director of the Office of Family Ministries, and superintendent of schools. The departure of Sister Immaculata Paisant, M.S.C., in 2011, who served as diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools for 24 years, brought an end to a 141-year continuous presence of the Marianite Sisters of Holy Cross in this area.

With the appointment in 2014 of Sister Carmelita Centanni, M.S.C., Ph.D., as the victims’ assistance coordinator for the diocese, the Marianite Sisters of Holy Cross once again have a presence in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.

you

EVENTS

DIOCESAN

www.bayoucatholic@htdiocese.org

september n A 15-week session entitled “The Journey of Grief,” a bereavement support group, is being offered at St. Bernadette Church’s Father Pat O’Brien Hall in Houma on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. Facilitators are Deacon Glenn and Marilyn Porche. To register, call (985) 879-1506. n Pilgrimage Walk, Saturday, Sept. 3, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma, beginning at 7:30 a.m. with rosary and confession; Mass at 8:30 a.m.; walk begins at 9:15 a.m. n Holy Hour of Adoration for Men, Sunday, Sept. 4, 7-8 p.m., Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma. n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, Sept. 6, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311 in Schriever, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Speaker, Very Rev. Vicente DeLa Cruz, J.V. n Adult Faith Formation: Scripture II, Wednesdays, Sept. 7, 14, 21 and 28, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall in Schriever, 6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Deacon John Pippenger. n The Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma is offering an eight week session on bereavement support, Thursday, Sept. 8 through Thursday, Oct. 27 from 6:15 until 7:45 p.m. in the Youth

Center. Call the rectory at (985) 876-6904 to register or for more information. n The annual diocesan Blue Mass will be celebrated Thursday, Sept. 15, at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux, at 11 a.m., by Bishop Shelton J. Fabre. n St. Eloi Church parish will host an Annulment Workshop at 1335 Bayou Dularge Road in Theriot on Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. Speaker is Veronica K. Songe, diocesan tribunal specialist. Everyone is invited to attend. For more information, call the parish at (985) 8722946 or the Tribunal Office at (985) 850-3126. n Cursillo Men’s Weekend, Sept. 29-Oct. 2, at the Lumen Christi Retreat Center. Registration fee is $120. No one will be denied due to financial difficulty. Registration forms can be found at www. htcursillo.weekly.com or email htcursillo@yahoo.com. n The Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma is offering an eight week session on bereavement support, Thursday, Sept. 29 through Thursday, Nov. 17 from 10 until 11:30 a.m. in the Youth Center. Call the rectory at (985) 876-6904 to register or for more information.

october n Pilgrimage Walk, Saturday, Oct. 1, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma, beginning at 7:30 a.m. with rosary and confession; Mass at 8:30 a.m.; walk begins at 9:15 a.m. n Holy Hour of Adoration for Men, Sunday, Oct. 2, 7-8 p.m., Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma. n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, Oct. 4, Ellendale Country Club Restaurant, 3319 Highway 311 in Schriever, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Speaker, Father Joseph Tregre. n Adult Faith Formation: Christology, Thursdays, Oct. 6, 13, 20,

27, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall in Schriever, 6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Father Glenn LeCompte. n The annual diocesan Red Mass will be celebrated Thursday, Oct. 13, at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux, at 11:30 a.m., by Bishop Shelton J. Fabre. n Diocesan wedding anniversary prayer service and celebration, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2 p.m., St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux, for couples celebrating 25, 40, 50, 60 and beyond years of marriage this year. A reception will follow in the Life Center.

november n Adult Faith Formation: Christology, Thursdays, Nov. 3, 10, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall in Schriever, 6-8:15 p.m.

Speaker, Father Glenn LeCompte. n St. Martin de Porres (patron of African-American Catholics) Mass, Nov. 3, St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, 7 p.m. n Pilgrimage Walk, Saturday, Nov. 5, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma, beginning at 7:30 a.m. with rosary and confession; Mass at 8:30 a.m.; walk begins at 9:15 a.m.

c i l o h Cat

n Holy Hour of Adoration for Men, Sunday, Nov. 6, 7-8 p.m., Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma. n Native American Mass, Friday, Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m., St. Charles Borromeo Church in Pointe-aux-Chenes. Reception following at the KC Home. n TEC 77 Retreat, Nov. 18-20 at Lumen Christi’s Souby Building in Schriever.

For great results advertise with us. Call 985-850-3136 www.bayoucatholic.com

39

Special

Local carver transforms block of tupelo into statue of the Good Shepherd Story by Janet Marcel Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier Eighty-three year old Hamilton “Ham” Dantin recently presented Bishop Shelton J. Fabre with a statue of the Good Shepherd, which he carved from a 15 inch square by 48 inch long block of tupelo wood, for the Pastoral Center’s Chapel of the Good 40 Shepherd. Dantin, a Golden Meadow native, has been a resident of Raceland since 1955 and is an active parishioner of St. Mary’s Nativity Church.

Dantin explains that Jimmie Danos, diocesan director of the Office of Building and Construction, called him in September 2014 to see if he knew of anyone who might be able to carve a statue of this size and type. Even though he had never carved anything this big before, he told Danos he would do it. A few months later Danos called for an update on the statue and Dantin told him he was still trying to locate a block of tupelo with those dimensions, as it is not an everyday find.

Dantin explains that he had been calling a lumber mill in Pineville for several weeks in a row to inquire if they had come across a tupelo tree that would provide a carving block of that size. On one of his calls, the owner of the mill asked Dantin why he was so pressed to find that particular sized carving block.

Dantin told the owner of his plans to carve and donate a statue to Bishop Fabre of the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux for the Pastoral Center’s Chapel of the Good Shepherd.

In response, the mill owner told Dantin that he was Catholic, too, and although once found the tupelo block would be a premium piece of lumber, he was going to give it to Dantin, as a way of contributing to the Good Shepherd statue.

Dantin goes on to say that he orders wood carving blocks from this Pineville mill on a regular basis and deals with the same local truck driver for pickup and delivery of the materials he orders. Dantin spoke to the truck driver and put him on notice, Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

Statue of the Good Shepherd

telling him that when the mill called he would like the carving block picked-up and delivered to him as soon as possible. When the truck driver asked why the urgency, Dantin told him what the block of wood was for, that the mill was donating it to him and he was carving a statue for Bishop Fabre at no charge to the diocese. To Dantin’s surprise, the truck driver, whose last name is “Fabre,” told him he was not going to charge anything for pick-up and delivery.

Dantin began working on the 15-month project in October 2014 by sketching the Good Shepherd and bringing that sketch to an office supply store to make it as large as he could. He says he had to work slowly, about three to four hours a day, for the first 10 months of the project so the wood wouldn’t crack because it had a lot of sap in it. In August 2015, he started working on the hands, the arms and the lamb. When he started working on the head he would work for seven to eight hours a day. In November he began carving the face and working on the details. He finished painting it in late December and delivered it to the Pastoral Center Jan. 4 of this year.

Dantin says he started getting interested in carving in the late 60s and early 70s. He is a machinist by trade and says he learned a lot from three good

a

friends who are master carvers. They would come to his shop and ask him to cut pieces of wood for them with his band saw and make things out of the wood. One day, one of them told him, “you’ve mastered working with iron, why don’t you trying carving wood?” and so he did.

In 1982, he says, is when he really got hooked on it. He went a World Championship Carving Competition in Maryland with one of his friends and he entered four ducks that year, as a novice. He placed first, second, third and honorable mention for his ducks. Over the years he has taken many orders from customers to carve all sorts of items including duck decoys, Labrador retrievers, a boxer, fish, oyster shells, turtles, flowers, a full size pelican that he donated to a Nature and Science Museum in Baton Rouge, and even a replica of a fiberglass party boat complete with all the furniture.

“I don’t know if I want to carve anything as big as that statue again because it was a lot of work,” says Dantin. “But I had St. Joseph as my spiritual guide while I was carving it; and I was only too glad to do it.”

Hamilton Dantin is pictured with Bishop Shelton J. Fabre next to the Good Shepherd statue that he carved for the Pastoral Center’s Chapel of the Good Shepherd.

THE ALL-AMERICAN LINEUP Designed, Engineered and Assembled in the U.S.A.

26 CU. FT. FRENCH DOOR REFRIGERATOR

MAXIMA FRONT LOAD LAUNDRY PAIR ™

The flush dispenser with Precision Touch controls provide style and advanced technology, helping to keep track of refrigerator temperatures and settings without opening the doors.

The PowerWash™ System combines the PowerWash™ cycle, the Optimal Dose Dispenser and Power Spray technology to deliver the best cleaning in the industry.*

The Wide-N-Fresh Deli Drawer provides ample storage for large party platters, deli trays and snacks.

TALL TUB DISHWASHER

6.7 CU. FT. GEMINI DOUBLE OVEN ELECTRIC RANGE ®

100% Stainless Steel tub interior maintains a premium appearance while providing higher heat retention for better drying performance.

Silverware Blast™ spray jets eliminates the need to prerinse by focusing 3X water pressure directly onto silverware so even the dirtiest utensils come out clean the first time, every time.

Two separate ovens.

One complete meal.® Dual ovens can bake at different temperatures at the same time, making it easy to cook an entire meal at once.

MHW9000YR & ME/GD9000YR Shown with optional 15.5" pedestals, model XHPC155XR

MFI2665XEM MDB8959AWS

MET8885XS

Power Preheat the upper oven up to 40% faster than full-size conventional Maytag® ovens to help prepare meals more quickly.

6.0 cu. ft. Gas Range also available (MGT8775XS)

Rod’s supeRstoRe Name BraNd TV & appliaNces 879-2403 *Parts vary by model.

Visit maytag.com for warranty details. *Among leading competitive brand front load washers; comparable cycles, using default settings.

Rod’s supeRstoRe

®Registered trademark/™Trademark of Maytag Properties, LLC or its related companies. ©2011. All rights reserved. MYA11071

www.bayoucatholic.com

41

Announcements

Women’s Conference

Oct. 15, in Metairie

42

WINE: Women in the New Evangelization, a national organization focused on encouraging women in their Catholic faith, has announced they will host their first ever New Orleans conference, themed: Mercy: Encountering Boundless Love. In collaboration with the Archdiocese of New Orleans, WINE will host the one-day event as inspired by Pope Francis’ messages of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, with a hope of helping Catholic women more fully encounter God’s love and mercy and bring that love and mercy to others.

The one-day event will be held Saturday, Oct. 15 at Archbishop Rummel High School in Metairie, beginning at 8 a.m. and concluding at 4 p.m. with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond

of New Orleans. More than 700 Catholic women of all ages are expected to attend the event.

The hope and prayer for the conference is that hearts will be drawn into a life-changing encounter with God’s mercy, an encounter that will begin to mend wounds, an encounter that will create a foundation of hope and a network of support. The day will include praise and worship music, food and fellowship, prayer teams, opportunities for the sacrament of reconciliation, Mass, and eucharistic adoration, a chance to visit with local vendors and ministries, shopping, chocolate, and inspirational talks by national and local Catholic speakers.

Speakers include: Teresa Tomeo, a motivational speaker, bestselling author, and the host of the daily morning show Catholic Connections; Kelly Wahlquist, a dynamic and accomplished Catholic speaker, author and evangelist, and founder of WINE: Women In the New Evangelization; and New Orleans natives, singer/songwriter and inspirational speaker, Kitty

n e p O w o N A new residential development for independent residents, 55 & older, who are interested in maintenancefree living, is NOW OPEN. Cardinal Place offers one & two bedroom apartment homes, all featuring balconies or patios. Enjoy access to a community room that includes a fitness center, indoor & outdoor area to entertain.

Cleveland, and Judy Landrieu Klein, Catholic theologian, teacher, and author who evangelizes a message of holy hope.

“We are excited to welcome and collaborate with WINE, to enhance our existing Evangelization efforts,” says Very Rev. David G. Caron, OP, vicar for evangelization for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. “We know the Holy Spirit will assist participants to develop, deepen and engage a vibrant lifetransforming faith.”

Tickets, which include a box lunch, cost $55 per person if purchased before Oct. 1. After the early-bird deadline, ticket prices increase to $65 per person. Tickets for Religious Sisters or Consecrated are $25 per person. Sponsorships may be offered for those in need of financial assistance.

To register online, go to www.NewOrleansWINE-2016. eventbrite.com.

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

CatholicVineyard.com and go to the Event tab or call (985)807-5666.

Protect your Family with Terminix Mosquito Control Call us for a FREE quote

Keep mosquitoes and other biting insects from joining your party with Mosquito Control from the experts, locally-owned Terminix Pest Control of Houma.

(985) 446-9050 1209 Cardinal Drive ~ Thibodaux, LA 70301 www.cardinalplace.org For More Information Contact: Natalie Barbera Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

985-868-3920

www.terminix-houma.com

PEST CONTROL • TERMITE PREVENTION • HOME INSULATION • MOSQUITO CONTROL

Food for the Journey, Oct. 4

Eucharistic procession Father Dean Danos, pastor of St. Eloi Church parish in Theriot, organized a recent adoration on the bayou and blessing of Bayou Dularge. The solemn procession of the Blessed Sacrament included riding in a fire truck then continuing the 24 mile procession by boat down Bayou Dularge. Father Danos prayed the rosary over a loud speaker during the procession.

The diocesan Office of Religious Education sponsors a monthly lunchtime speaker series on the first Tuesday of the month at the Ellendale Country Club Restaurant located at 3319 Highway 311 in Schriever.

The speaker for October 4 is Houma native Rev. Joseph Tregre.

Father Tregre, pastor of St. Joseph Church parish in Rev. Joseph Tregre Galliano and assistant director of Vocations, attended Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans and was ordained to the priesthood May 26, 2012. He has served as associate pastor at Annunziata Church parish in Houma.

Those who plan to attend the October 4th event should RSVP with their name, phone number and church parish by Thursday, Sept. 29. To RSVP, email FoodForTheJourney@htdiocese.org or call (985) 8503178.

Doors open at 10:45 a.m. Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. The program begins at Noon with the speaker’s presentation from 12:10-12:45 p.m. Cost is $15 and includes meal, drink and tip. Only cash or checks will be accepted.

All are invited to come “eat and be fed.”

www.bayoucatholic.com

43

Announcements

Director of Hispanic Ministry named

Register now for Washington, D.C. March for Life Rev. Peter Tai Le

Hospital chaplain named

Rev. Duc Minh Bui, L.C.

In order to provide pastoral care for the people of God in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Bishop Shelton J. Fabre has made the 44 following appointment, effective immediately.

Rev. Duc Minh Bui, L.C., who has been serving as associate pastor of St. Joseph Co-Cathedral parish in Thibodaux, has been appointed diocesan director of the Hispanic Ministry, for a period of three years. Father Bui is a native of Tan Phuoc, Vietnam. He was ordained Nov. 25, 2004.

In order to provide pastoral care for the people of God in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Bishop Shelton J. Fabre has appointed Rev. Peter Tai Le as chaplain of Terrebonne General Medical Center in Houma effective immediately for a period of three years.

Father Le, a native of Chu-Hai, Vietnam, has been on a leave of absence since July 2105. He attended Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans and was ordained to the priesthood June 13, 1998.

CIS welcomes to OUR TEAM

Every year, young people from throughout the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux participate in a youth pilgrimage to the March for Life in Washington, D.C. This lifechanging educational experience takes participants from Louisiana to the White House and from the Holocaust Museum to the steps of the Supreme Court. They join hundreds of thousands of others from across America who want to take a stand for life at the March for Life.

The 2017 charter bus trip will take place Jan. 24-28, 2017, and seating is limited. Registration cost is $650 per person. A $300 deposit along with one registration form per participant is due by Friday, Oct. 14. The remaining balance is due by Thursday, Dec. 1.

For more information, contact the diocesan Office of Family Ministries at (985)850-3129 or visit www.htdiocese.org/M4L.

DR. CHAD DUGAS

Originally from Thibodaux, Dr. Chad Dugas earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and his doctorate at the LSU Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in New Orleans.

Chad Dugas, MD, FACC

His internship in internal medicine was completed at the J. Willis Hurst Internal Medicine Residency at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Dugas completed an internal medicine residency at LSU Health Sciences Center Earl K. Long Memorial Hospital in Baton Rouge, and continued his studies at the Ochsner Heart & Vascular Institute in New Orleans, where he completed a fellowship in cardiovascular disease. His fellowship in interventional cardiology was completed at the Baylor Heart & Vascular Hospital in Dallas, Texas.

Call to schedule an appointment

Dr. Dugas is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine. He holds additional board certification in cardiovascular disease and is also a member of the American Heart Association and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.

Interventional Cardiologist

(985) 446-2021

1320 Martin Luther King Drive | Thibodaux, LA 70301 | cardio.com Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

Blue Mass Sept. 15 Red Mass Oct. 13 both at Co-Cathedral The annual diocesan Blue Mass will be celebrated Thursday, Sept.

15, at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux, at 11 a.m., by Bishop Shelton J. Fabre.

This Mass, which honors firefighters, law enforcement, emergency responders and military personnel, is usually planned on or near the feast of the Archangels, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael (Sept. 29.) St. Michael is the patron saint of community protectors.

All law enforcement, military and fire department personnel throughout the diocese including the South Lafourche communities and Morgan City as well as the Houma-Thibodaux area are invited to attend this special Mass in their honor.

The annual diocesan Red Mass will be celebrated Thursday, Oct. 13, at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux, at 11:30 a.m., by Bishop Shelton J. Fabre. This Mass is usually celebrated near the opening of the judicial season to pray for members of the legal profession, that is, judges, lawyers and their staffs, and all other legal professionals.

“These Masses are celebrations of the entire local church, not simply of those for whom we offer special prayer intentions. We encourage all of the faithful to join in the celebration of these Masses,” says Father Glenn LeCompte, diocesan director of the Office of Worship.

Diocesan Outreach Line

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

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

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

Línea de Comunicación Diocesana

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

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

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

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

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

www.bayoucatholic.com

45

Special

Interfaith prayer service

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre was one of the many members of the clergy who gathered to pray with the residents of Thibodaux during an interfaith prayer service supporting those who serve in law enforcement. Over 100 people gathered at the Thibodaux reservoir to express their unity as children of God through many faiths.

46

Bayou

Catholic

Part-Time Position Available About the Job The Bayou Catholic is looking to hire an experienced advertising sales executive who will represent the magazine professionally. The candidate should enjoy selling ads and helping clients. This is a magazine that locals love and is well respected in the community.

Qualifications: • Goal-oriented with an entrepreneurial spirit.

• Energetic, organized self-starter.

• Cares about the client and the magazine.

• Is a team player who knows how to open doors and close deals.

• Comfortable with cold calls and in-person sales.

• Can work independently and meet with professional executives and business owners.

• Eager, go-getter mentality who works well with other sales colleagues.

• Can work as a team with the sales manager.

• Likes and understands the earning potential of a primarily commission wage structure.

• Serious candidates only.

Applications will be accepted until position is filled.

Interested applicants should send resume and references to: Lawrence Chatagnier, editor and general manager lchatagnier@htdiocese.org Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

1201 Cardinal Drive ~ Thibodaux SAFETY SECURITY COMPANIONSHIP AND MANY AMENITIES

St. Joseph Manor Currently Accepting Applications

For More Information Or To Schedule A Tour, Contact: Natalie Barbera Marketing and Social Director

Retirement Living At Its Best (985) 446-9050 Fax: 449-0047 www.stjosephmanor.org

Vincent de Paul Conference are Annunziata, Maria Immacolata, St. Bernadette, St. Francis de Sales and St. Gregory in Houma, St. Bridget in Schriever, and Our Lady of the Rosary in Larose, which greatly limits its ability to serve the needy.

According to the St. Vincent de Paul Rule, anyone needing financial aid must first be visited by members of their parish St. Vincent de Paul Conference. Home visits are discreet. Vincentians volunteer to help others. Where there is no SVDP Conference, they must rely on churches and other service groups to provide valid information about cases to aid the needy.

In addition to the thrift store, another one of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Diocesan Council of Houma-Thibodaux projects is the St. Vincent de Paul TriParish Community Pharmacy which was founded in September 2001. This project provides vital medicines for those unable to pay for them and have no other source to ensure they receive needed medication.

Medicines are donated by physicians, hospitals and nursing homes. Even with these sources, the pharmacy is unable to fill all prescriptions. All monies donated are used to purchase additional medicine.

The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store supplements the pharmacy’s expenses and has provided operating funds when necessary.

All donations to St. Vincent de Paul stay in the community to help local families in need.

St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store grand re-opening Sept. 9 The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store located at 107 Point St. in Houma is having a grand re-opening and ribbon cutting ceremony, Friday, Sept. 9 from 10-10:30 a.m. Bishop Shelton J. Fabre will lead the opening prayer. Cake and refreshments will be served.

All items in the store will be 25 percent off on this day only.

The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store, a Catholic laymen’s organization to serve the needy, regardless of race or religion, and to provide a place where people can shop economically to provide for their own needs and retain their personal dignity, opened in September 1963. The store also offers many unique, often collectible, one-of-a-kind and do-it yourself items and receives donations such as clothing, furniture, appliances, miscellaneous items, and sometimes monetary donations from individuals, organizations and businesses.

All donations in useable condition are appreciated. Everyone is welcome to shop at the thrift store. Income from the resale of these items is used for St. Vincent casework.

The store is governed by a volunteer board of directors with members from each St. Vincent de Paul Conference serving on the board. The only church parishes in the diocese that currently support a St.

SINCE FAST st Intere Free cing Finan

47

C o r p o r at e L aw ~ w i L L & S u C C e S S i o n S ~ e S tat e p L a n n i n g ~ r e a L e S tat e

Daniel J. Walker ~ William A. Eroche Daniel L. Hoychick ~ Michelle L. Hoychick 1340 West Tunnel Blvd., Suite 306 ~ Houma, Louisiana 985.868.2333 ~ wwelaw.com

RE BATH l

GUARANTEED FOR LIFE

Call 1-800-BATHTUB (228-4882) or 225-753-6810 for a free in-home consultation.

Ask about our $1000 discount.

Mention code: “Bayou Catholic” and receive an additional $100 discount.

l

AFFORDABLE

1979

Tub to Shower Conversions

STEVE DECELL

Aging-In-Place Consultant

One Install day ation

Walk-in Tubs www.bayoucatholic.com

Church Life

Knights of Columbus installation of officers The Knights of Columbus recently held a joint installation of officers at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Bayou Black for the Father Patrick V. Curran Assembly 2214, Chauvin; Holy Family Assembly 2215, Grand Caillou; and Judge A.J. Caillouet Assembly 336, Houma.

48

St. Genevieve community celebration Sept. 24 The second annual St. Genevieve Community Celebration – a day of family fun and fellowship for the entire community – will kick off Saturday morning, Sept. 24, at St. Genevieve Church in Thibodaux. There will be free children’s and youth games and activities – including a fun run, petting zoo, face painting, mechanical bull, bounce houses, balloon making, rock wall, photo booth, dunking tank, wipe out, knocker ball, and more.

Celebrants can also play bingo, participate in a bakeoff, and listen to live music by Adam Foret, Royal Flush, Velvet Sky, and Snapper and the Fishsticks.

Food, drinks, snacks, live and silent auction, and arts and crafts items will be on sale. A Race for the Faith 5-K will be held the morning of the celebration and the Children of Mary will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy in church in the afternoon.

Closing Mass, celebrated by Bishop Shelton J. Fabre, is scheduled for the following morning at 10:30 a.m.

For more information, including the band schedule, event menu, race registration forms, raffle tickets, celebration t-shirt order forms and sponsorship information – or to volunteer – please visit www. stgenevievechurch.com/community-celebration.

Everyone is invited.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

Diocesan Programs This Month “Spotlight on the Diocese” Strategic Planning: A Fall Update with Bishop Shelton Fabre and Very Rev. Mark Toups HTV/VISION COMMUNICATIONS, CHARTER COMM. & COMCAST CHANNEL 10 ALLEN’S TV CABLE MORGAN CITY CHANNEL 71 (Digital Channel 30.1-UHF & Channel 7.1-VHF) Mondays - 9:30 a.m.

Thursdays - 9:30 a.m. & 11:00 p.m.

Saturdays - 9:30 p.m.

If you are not receiving these programs in your area, please contact your local cable provider.

Son Rise Music Fest rescheduled Sept. 18 The steering committee of the Houma-Thibodaux area’s first all Christian music event, the Son Rise Christian Music Fest announced the rescheduling of the event to Sunday, Sept. 18. The location, Ardoyne Plantation, 2678 Louisiana Hwy. 311 in Schriever will remain the same, as will the starting time of 11 a.m.

According to Mercy Bergeron, director of the event’s sponsoring organization, World of Hope Ministries, “The music fest was 100 percent ready to go. The support and response from the community has been overwhelming with great anticipation surrounding the event.

But when news of the devastating floods in and around Baton Rouge and other areas began to come in, key members of the event came together under a consensus that all focus needs to be on the dear people who most desperately need our prayers and our support. For that reason, we have decided to move the event to Sunday, Sept. 18. With the exception of the change in date, all of the other wonderful aspects of the event are expected to continue and we look forward to a perfect day with great weather to offer healing for our community and praise to God through song.”

About the Event The Son Rise Christian Music Fest is a first-ever, day long outdoor music fest that will feature an opening Mass, seven of the area’s local Christian musical groups, as well as incredible food, kids entertainment, a butterfly release and tours of historic Ardoyne Plantation. Admission and parking is free and open to all, however donations to support the worldwide efforts of the World of Hope Foundation to relieve poverty and suffering around the world are welcome.

More information is available at www.sonrisemusicfest.com or by calling Bergeron at (985) 226-2921.

The Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Assemblies of the diocese recently presented a check in the amount of $3,007 to Bishop Shelton J. Fabre to be used by the diocesan Office of Religious Education to train adult catechists. The Fourth Degree Knights have been making a contribution to this fund since 1989. Representatives who presented the check to Bishop Fabre are from left, James Labit, E.D. White Assembly, Thibodaux; Ken Bourgeois, E.D. White Assembly, Thibodaux; Norman J. Legendre, Father Kermit Trahan Assembly, Raceland; Donald Naquin diocesan chairman of Excellence in Religious Education and Father Patrick V. Curran Assembly, Chauvin; Bill Curth, Judge A.J. Caillouet Assembly, Houma; Kervin Voisin, Holy Family Assembly, Dulac; and Mike Callais, St. Pius X Assembly, Cut Off. Not pictured are Ferdinand Cortez, Msgr.

Jules S. Toups Jr. Assembly, Morgan City; and Gary LeCompte Sr., Father August W. Vandebilt Assembly, Houma.

Daughters of the American Revolution ceremony Sept. 17 The Bayou Lafourche Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will hold a bell ringing ceremony Saturday, Sept.

17 at 10 a.m. on the front lawn of the Lafourche Parish Court House, 201 Green Street in Thibodaux, to commemorate Constitution Week.

September 17-23 marks the 229th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of the United States of America.

The DAR petitioned Congress in 1955 to set aside a designated time each year for the observance of Constitution Week.

The resolution was adopted and signed into public law Aug. 2, 1956, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The aims of the celebration are to emphasize citizens’ responsibilities for protecting and defending the Constitution; inform people that the Constitution is the basis for America’s great heritage and the foundation for our way of life; and encourage the study of the

historical events which led to the framing of the Constitution in September 1787.

Americans need only to glance at today’s headlines to find reasons to celebrate the Constitution of the United States of America. In almost every part of the world, there are those struggling for the basic rights we were granted 229 years ago.

You might have heard the phrase, “that’s unconstitutional” or “that’s my constitutional right!”

Many times Americans believe that sayings and phrases are in the Constitution but they really aren’t.

Celebrate Constitution Week by resolving to be better informed and more responsible citizens. Read the Constitution!

(This information was provided by the Bayou Lafourche Chapter, Louisiana State Society, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.) www.bayoucatholic.com

49

Sports

Richard Curlin and steadiness: A South Terrebonne tradition

Overtime

I 50

Ed Daniels

In a world of change at light speed, you can pick up the phone and call the head football coach at South Terrebonne high school and suddenly feel unhurried.

This fall is Richard Curlin’s 27th as the head coach of South Terrebonne, 33rd overall at his alma mater.

And, the fact that he has been in Bourg so long is nothing but a blessing.

He lives “two and a half minutes” from school.

“Point eight miles,” says Curlin.

Richard Curlin has no problem being the south Louisiana version of Mickey McCarty.

Curlin thought it was pretty cool that Neville High School is practically in the backyard of its ultra-successful football coach.

Steadiness is a part of Curlin’s demeanor. And, it is South Terrebonne tradition.

“The school has only had four head coaches,” says Curlin.

Richard Curlin, South Terrebonne class of 1976, played for Buddy Marcello.

And, he learned a lot.

“How to be level headed.”

“How to be yourself.”

“When Coach Marcello raised his voice we all listened,” said Curlin.

“It did not happen a lot.”

Curlin and the Gators won the class 4A state football crown in 1991. The Gators beat Crowley 1412.

Crowley head coach Lewis Cook moved to Notre Dame and is still coaching.

And, so is Curlin.

And, no, coaching college football was never a consideration.

He notes that many of the college coaches that come through on recruiting visits have represented as many as “10, 12, 15” schools.

Curlin said there’s something about coaching and teaching at South Terrebonne.

He notes that more than half of the school’s staff are alums.

Of his 12 coaches, he says eight played for him.

And, he is extremely proud that the school’s diverse student body operates in harmony.

“These kids get along,” said Curlin.

He said his greatest joy is coaching “tough kids.”

“These kids down here are tough by necessity.”

And, he plans to be their head coach, for a while.

Richard Curlin could have been a farmer.

His grandfather owned a farm in Texas.

He spent a lot of time there.

But, his father worked for United Gas. And, Dad’s job took the family to many locales, including Sterlington and Tallulah.

And, just before the start of his junior year in high school, the family moved to Houma.

He had no idea the move would likely be his last.

Richard Curlin taught for half of a year at H.L. Bourgeois.

But, when he had a chance to come home he did.

In a world of light speed, where the internet can take you anywhere, in an instant, the head coach at South Terrebonne is happy in his locale.

That is, two a half minutes from school.​

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

“Call us First”

Mimi Wilson, OT, PA-C Jimmy N. Ponder, Jr., MD Adolfo Cuadra, MD

Your Spine & Pain Relief Specialists

• Low Back Pain • Neck Pain • Herniated Discs • Joint Pain • Shingles • Arm and Leg Pain Gray

985-580-1200 New Iberia

337-560-0880 answertopain.com NO REFERRAL NECESSARY

Bayou

Catholic

51

Marriage HOUMA, LA ~ SEPTEMBER 2016 www.bayoucatholic.com

Contents

58

Advice Can we talk?

Can we k? tal

Meet our couples

54

56

Marriage as a

Sacrament

Partnership

Humility: Foundation for marital happiness

For more articles on strengthening your marriage, visit

52

www.foryourmarriage.org

62 Marriage

Frequently asked questions by engaged couples

64

Why rent when you can own?

605 West 3rd St. ~ Thibodaux, LA 70301 ~ 985.446.1144 Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4:7-8 We have gifts for the following occasions: WEDDING V GRADUATION V ANNIVERSARIES BAPTISM V FIRST COMMUNION CONFIRMATION V PLUS OTHER SEASONAL ITEMS

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

God’s Promises Books & Gifts 648 B Corporate Drive (Behind Target)

(985) 876-1283 Houma

Galliano Religious Supply House 18210 West Main Suite 13 (985) 632-3040 Galliano

God’s Precious Word & Gifts 601 St. Mary Street (Next to Politz)

(985) 449-0618 Thibodaux

Gift Certificates Available Free Gift Wrapping with any In-Store Purchase Donald & Tammy Plaisance, owners ~ Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9-6 Sat. 9-4 Serving the Diocese since 1991

Marriage

Couples featured in our Marriage Special

SAY EGGPLANT PHOTOGRAPHY

The sacrament of marriage is important to us because it represents the love we have for God as well as each other. It also allows us to share our spiritual and emotional union together with God. The sacrament of marriage has made us life partners which will allow us to move through life’s challenges together with God in our lives.

Derek and Stephanie D. Breaux St. Ann Church, Bourg Wedding Date: June 3, 2016

54

BRANDON JONES PHOTOGRAPHY

We believe the sacrament of marriage is a sacred bond shared between two people that have a deep spiritual bond with each other and God. We both grew up admiring the love and relationships that our parents shared. This makes us strive for greatness in our own relationship, and makes what we consider the ultimate commitment for a couple, marriage. The vows that we shared with each other on that very special day are something that we try to always be aware of and work hard to uphold each day.

“On Oct. 17, 2015, I married my best friend, gained a wife and became whole!” Corey P. Sauce Jr. “My husband is my rock, my one true love, and the glue that holds our family together!” Sarah L. Sauce Corey and Sarah L. Sauce Holy Cross Church, Morgan City Wedding Date: October 17, 2015 Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

ADDIE GIBBONS PHOTOGRAPHY

The reason the sacrament of marriage in the church is important to us is because it not only joins Dillion and I as one, but it joins us with God as well. With God, we know anything is possible in our marriage.

With God in our marriage, Dillion and I feel like we can get through any obstacles thrown in our path.

Dillion and Brittany C. Dinger Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church, Chackbay Wedding Date: April 8, 2016

Marriage

Guest Columnist

H 56

Nancy Diedrich LPC, LMFT

Healthy relationships are accomplishments. They take commitment and work, and two people who are willing to meet in the middle and put in the necessary effort. All successful relationships require love, commitment and work. They don’t just happen, or maintain themselves. They exist and thrive when the parties involved take the risk of sharing what it is that’s going on in their minds and hearts. To achieve this, open communication is not just the key; it a necessity.

Have you and your significant other ever had an argument because one of you misunderstood what the other person said? Of course you have.

We all have. In fact, even when couples are not arguing, they’re misunderstanding each other.

It happens more often than we think, especially in this age of technology, where many couples text, tweet, snapchat and communicate with a variety of devices other than with human contact.

It’s no secret that communication can make or break any relationship, especially a romantic relationship. But do you know how complicated communication can be? Even before the smart phone, when communicating was somewhat simpler, it was still challenging!

How in the world did people communicate before the age of wireless devices?

Well, they used verbal communication, of course. And there was also that perplexing, “silent communication”… you know, the “silent treatment”!

Although no words are spoken, a lot of feelings are conveyed.

Communication would get

n a C we k? l a t

really interesting when gestures, tone of voice, looks, touch, action or lack of action were included into the message. That may seem very complicated and chaotic, and oftentimes it was … but it was also “in person.” It was one person communicating with another, eye to eye, voice to voice, and sometimes even touch to touch.

Yes, communication, that vital element of a strong relationship, was once personal.

Couples had to really consider their tone of voice, their eye contact, their facial expression

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

and their body language whenever speaking to someone that they really cared about. They did not want to be misunderstood!!

Misunderstandings lead to unwanted and unnecessary problems for couples.

Communication was not taken for granted. It was not so immediate and not so convenient as it is today. If people were to consider taking away the convenience and immediacy of current communication, it would be chaos!

But if you think that sounds chaotic, just add smart

a

phones, iPads, laptops and other electronic “must haves” for “transmitting” messages and feelings to a romantic relationship!

These are prime elements for misunderstandings.

Let’s just think about this for a minute. If you were to Google “good communication skills,” you would probably have lots of effective and very useful information show up on your screen, relating to “active listening,” because active listening is the key to effective communication … not speaking.

When you actively listen to someone, they usually feel that you are interested in what they have to say and that makes for a better communication.

That makes sense, I guess. But what happens to communication when you can’t tell if someone is actively listening to you? You may have something that you feel is crucial to say to your significant other, and they put you on “speaker,” and go right on watching the ball game or reading their Facebook page while you are talking to them! Do you think a

misunderstanding is possible in that conversation??

Couples struggle enough with communication when they are both actually present in the conversation.

When physical presence is absent, messages really get complicated. There is simply no substitute for eye contact, tone of voice and body language in a meaningful conversation.

Do not misunderstand this message … technology is great; it’s necessary; it’s convenient; it’s fast! It’s a lot of wonderful things, but it’s not personal. I actually love, love, love my smart phone. I love Facebook. I love Twitter and Instagram … but I only love it for quick, convenient “no so personal” messaging.

Technology has changed communication forever and there’s nothing wrong with that. It is an amazing tool for connecting people who may never have connected otherwise. It can offer a sense of “belonging,” a sense of connection and a sense of friendship for which many people yearn. I am sure that the “good” offered by the amazing

methods of modern communication far outweigh the “bad.” However, when it comes to personal messages, modern communication devices fall short.

We have all seen marriage proposals , baby announcements, death notices and other sensitive statements revealed on social media … taking the real personal connection away from the people who are closely involved. Privacy is often stolen or disregarded. The most tender feelings can no longer be private. Modern communication makes whatever people do, say or feel public knowledge.

There is an important place in today’s society for the most advanced technology in messaging, but personal communication is not the place.

Personal communication deserves better.

Our loved ones deserve better.

Our relationships deserve better.

(Nancy Diedrich, LPC, LMFT, a national board certified counselor, is a marriage and family counselor for the diocesan Office of Family Ministries.)

Wesley J. Landeche

SALES & SERVICE, INC.

s e e r c u n t a i i Furn and Appl We Sell Most Major Brands 5092 Hwy. 1 • P.O. Drawer 69 • Mathews, LA 70375 *3 year parts and labor

(985) 532-3689 or (985) 532-5836

Service after the sale www.bayoucatholic.com

57

Marriage Preparation in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux In the past 18 years, 5,159 engaged couples have participated in the diocesan Marriage Preparation program, reports Cathy Klingman, L.C.W.S., diocesan director of the Office of Family Ministries.

Marriage Preparation Day

58

Some engaged couples may view the Marriage Preparation Day as something they “have to do,” but there are many benefits for an engaged couple if they really invest themselves in and fully participate in the process, says Cathy Klingman, L.C.W.S., diocesan director of the Office of Family Ministries.

Some of these benefits are: v A witness from other married couples – a connection with other married couples who hold the same beliefs and values as they do; v Faith based preparation about the sacrament of marriage; v Get a better understanding of marriage as a “sacrament,” Why do you want to get married in the church? There is more to it than just pretty pictures; v Helps them to understand that there is a whole other family unit that wants to help them be successful in their marriage; v Build a strong faith based foundation for their marriage; v A connection back to the church – why it is important to be a part of the church and register in a parish.

FOCCUS Couples Married couples may be invited to participate actively in the marriage preparation of engaged couples in their church parish as FOCCUS couples. FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study) is a premarital instrument designed to help assess a couple’s readiness for marriage; it is a “snapshot”

Marriage as a

Sacrament

Marriage as a Sacrament Marriage as a sacrament is a serious and sacred commitment that calls a couple to each other in the most profound and permanent way. Their mutual love is a reminder of the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. By the grace of their sacrament, they become able to love one another as Christ has loved them. As a married couple, they become a visible sign and reminder of Christ’s sacrificial love for all people.

The Engaged Couple A couple desiring to be married is encouraged to contact their priest/ deacon at least six (6) months (or more) prior to the proposed date of their wedding. This interval allows time to prepare well for such a sacred commitment.

The engaged couple must take an active part in all the steps of these guidelines which apply to them. With the assistance of their priest/deacon, they are to: v Identify and cultivate their strengths, v Deal with the areas of difficulty in their relationship, v Participate in assessment and preparation, v Recognize that marriage is essentially characterized by unity, fidelity, permanence and an openness to children, v Attend a formal marriage preparation program, v Participate in premarital evaluation and counseling when recommended.

A tentative wedding date may be set at the time of this initial contact with the priest/deacon. When the couple has completed phase two of the marriage preparation process, the tentative wedding date will be confirmed or changed.

Responsibilities 1. Priest/Deacon The church has the pastoral obligation to assist those desiring to marry to make a prayerful and mature judgment concerning their marriage.

In particular, the priest/deacon, who plans to witness a marriage, is personally responsible for the complete marriage preparation process. He has the serious moral and ministerial responsibility to assist the engaged couple in understanding the meaning of Christian marriage in its human, spiritual, canonical and sacramental aspects, and to provide a liturgical experience that truly celebrates and manifests the momentous step that the couple is taking.

2. Community The faithful in each parish share in the pastoral responsibility to help engaged couples prepare for their life together. Married couples have a particular responsibility to witness the holiness of their sacramental life of intimacy, unity, self-sacrificing love and commitment. They may therefore be invited to participate actively in the marriage preparation of engaged couples in their parish.

3. Parents The church recognizes the unique and vital role of parents in the psychological, social, moral and spiritual development of their children.

Renewal in the church has included attempts to make sacramental preparation more family centered. Parents are therefore encouraged to respond to the invitation of the priest/deacon to participate actively in the assessment and preparation of their children for marriage in the church whenever possible.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

a

of where the couple is in their relationship at that moment.

The diocese uses this instrument to help couples identify issues that need to be discussed, etc.

FOCCUS couples are trained

by Office of Family Ministries personnel and their number varies from parish to parish and priest to priest.

Attendance at Marriage Preparation Day A maximum of 35 couples per date are able to attend Marriage Preparation Day which is offered eight times throughout the year in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.

Marriage Preparation on the Internet SAY EGGPLANT PHOTOGRAPHY

The Marriage Preparation Process All engaged couples are required to receive sacramental preparation and must meet with their priest/deacon at least six months (or more) prior to the desired wedding date. This marriage preparation process consists of four phases.

1. Phase One: Initial contact with priest/deacon will: v Establish rapport with you in order to support and counsel you at this most important time in your life. v Examine your motives for marriage. v Explore any special circumstances that may affect marriage, e.g., age, cultural background, pregnancy, military service, physical or emotional problems, levels of faith and religious issues. v Explain the marriage preparation process. v Obtain personal information, explain what other documentation is needed, and determine whether any dispensations or permissions will be necessary.

2. Phase Two: Assessment process with priest/deacon will: v Administer a Premarital Instrument* to assist in beginning the assessment of your readiness to marry. v Discuss the results of the FOCCUS instrument. v Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your communication process. v Examine the sacramental aspects of your human covenant. v Assess your readiness for marriage and complete the prenuptial questionnaire. v Begin the liturgical wedding plans and present to you the parish guidelines. Inform you of the cost and suggested offering. *A premarital instrument is a tool designed to help you assess your readiness for marriage. It is not a pass/fail indicator. Instead it is meant to help you discover more about yourselves and each other in a non-threatening and objective way. Our diocese utilizes the FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication Understanding and Study) instrument to help you identify issues that need to be discussed, reflected on, understood, studied for problem-solving, skill-building and decision-making. Your priest/ deacon will give you more information at your initial meeting.

During phase two, the priest/deacon will make the decision to proceed or delay the marriage. If he proceeds, the wedding date will be confirmed and the process continues. If his decision is to delay the marriage, he will follow the procedure found in Delay of Marriage.

a

Catholicmarriageprep.com is an online program based in the Diocese of Colorado Springs, CO, that is featured on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website as a valid marriage preparation course.

This program is approved by the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux for couples with extenuating circumstances.

Updating the program The diocese is constantly looking to update the Marriage Preparation Program and revise its marriage policies in response to changing circumstances in our society, in our economy and in the universal church. The sacrament part doesn’t change, but other factors are constantly changing.

Pre-Cana

Pre-Cana, the name the diocese used for its marriage preparation program for many years, is still the name many parishes and dioceses give to their marriage preparation program. The term is derived from John 2:1-12, the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee, where Jesus performed the miracle of turning water into wine.

Continued on pg. 60

www.bayoucatholic.com

59

Catholic Engaged Encounter This weekend retreat for engaged couples is an in-depth, private, personal, marriage preparation experience within the context of Catholic faith and values. During the weekend retreat there is plenty of alone time for couples to dialogue honestly and intensively about their prospective lives together – their strengths and weaknesses, desires, ambitions, goals, their attitudes about money, sex, children, family, their role in the church and society – in a face to face way.

Marriage as a Sacrament 3. Phase Three: Formal marriage preparation This instructional phase, formal marriage preparation, presents the essential human and Christian aspects of marriage so that the couple becomes aware of the total dimensions of the marriage covenant. Formal marriage preparation includes reflection on the nature and sacramentality of marriage, married love and family life, couple prayer, marital responsibilities, communication within marriage, personal expectations, natural family planning and other practical considerations.

There are two approved options in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. If you are unable to attend such a formal marriage preparation program, you must discuss this with your priest/deacon immediately.

These are the approved options: v Diocesan Marriage Preparation program v Engaged Encounter Weekend Retreat in the surrounding dioceses Schedule of the Day for Marriage Preparation in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

Want to get involved?

60

“The married couples who work with marriage prep really enjoy it. It brings them enrichment in their own marriage, reconnects them to their own spouse. Helps them to see where they are now compared to where they started,” says Klingman. Please contact the Office of Family Ministries if you are interested in working with the diocesan Marriage Preparation program.

Gratitude Prayer

v Location: 2779 Hwy 311 - Schriever, LA 70395 - Pastoral Center Conference Hall v Arrival Time: 8:45 a.m. (The day begins promptly at 9 a.m.) v Dismissal Time: 3:15 p.m. v Registration Fee: $120 (check or money order) If you are engaged and would like to begin your marriage preparation, you will need to meet with your parish priest or deacon at least six months before your desired wedding date. The priest/deacon will give you a marriage preparation booklet which will include all of this marriage prep information and a registration form to attend the diocese’s marriage prep, “Day for the Engaged.” Complete the registration form, detach it and mail the form with your registration fee at least three months before the date you would like to attend. Your fee can be paid with a check or money order made payable to the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. Do not send cash! Come dressed comfortably.

Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016 Saturday, Oct. 22 Sunday, Nov. 13 Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017 Sunday, March 19 Saturday, April 29 Saturday, June 10 Sunday, July 23 Saturday, Aug. 19 Sunday, Oct. 8 Sunday, Nov. 5

for

Married Couples Dear Lord, Thank you for marriage.

I pray right now that I would always have a heart of thankfulness.

I realize that thankfulness and gratitude fuel joy in my heart!

Help me to be appreciative of my spouse.

I pray that there would be encouraging words on my tongue to share with my spouse.

I am thankful for my spouse’s love, hard work and encouragement.

Holy Spirit, fill my heart with gratitude.

May you help me to be thankful every day in Jesus’ name.

AMEN!

4. Phase Four: Completion of marriage prep process with priest/deacon will: v Discuss with you what you have learned and experienced at your formal marriage preparation program. v Discuss with you your understanding of sacrament in light of your formal marriage preparation. v Discuss with you your responsibilities as members of God’s people, as spouses and future parents. v Complete all documentary requirements. As appropriate, grant permission for mixed marriage and/or apply for appropriate permissions or dispensations. v Discuss the reception of penance and holy Eucharist as a fitting preparation for the sacrament of matrimony. v Finalize the wedding liturgy and discuss the wedding rehearsal.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

htdiocese.org

NOW AVAILABLE Like Us On Facebook

facebook.com/htdiocese

Follow Us On Twitter

twitter.com/htdiocese

Marriage

Frequently asked questions by engaged couples How do I know if I’m ready to marry? v Do most people consider you emotionally mature, able to compromise, communicate well, share your feelings, and handle anger constructively? v Do you love this other person so much that you are willing to put his or her happiness before your own? v Are you marrying out of strength (I know who I am and am happy with myself) rather than weakness (I need someone to fill the gaps in my personality)? v Have you developed strong friendships that have lasted over 62 time? v Are you able to keep commitments and delay gratification? v Do you struggle on a regular basis with harmful habits or addictions, e.g. to alcohol, drugs, or pornography?

That’s not necessarily a reason not to marry, but it is something that left untreated can seriously weaken your ability to have a healthy marriage. v Is God calling you to marriage?

Have you prayed and discerned about this?

How do I know if this is the right person? v Do you share similar basic values about respecting human life, fidelity, commitment, what’s right and wrong, honesty, life goals, and lifestyle? v Does your significant other bring out the best in you, and you in him or her? v Are you physically attracted to this person? v Can you imagine growing old together? v Do your trusted family members and friends support your relationship and affirm that it’s

ADDIE GIBBONS PHOTOGRAPHY

healthy and respectful? v Do you experience ongoing conflict or, worse, violence and abuse in your relationship? That is a red flag to slow down and seek advice and help, ensuring your safety if necessary. v Is God calling you to marriage with this person? Have you prayed and discerned about this?

Is it necessary to feel “chemistry” between us for this to be the right person to marry?

Chemistry, or feeling like you “click” with another person, is a natural part of a deepening relationship, and a wonderful part of falling in love, but unfortunately, chemistry is sometimes confused with infatuation, which can be fleeting.

In the good sense, chemistry means you feel a strong physical and emotional attraction to the other person and want to become closer to him or her. You feel happy in his or her presence and enjoy

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

your time together. This sense of unity and joy at the other’s presence can be a great foundation for a happy marriage.

In contrast, infatuation means you are consumed with thinking of the other person to the point of doing silly or risky actions to be together. You are blind to the faults of the other and consumed with being noticed by him or her.

Your need to be liked is so strong that you are willing to give up your own personality or morals for the other’s affection. Often infatuation is an unequal relationship between the object of adulation and the infatuated person. If this describes your relationship, you may want to step back and reevaluate.

Doesn’t living together before marriage prevent me from marrying the wrong person and thus getting divorced later on?

Although it may sound counterintuitive, studies show

a

that cohabiting couples: v Increase their risk of breaking up after marriage (46% higher divorce rate) v Increase the risk of domestic violence for women, and the risk of physical and sexual abuse for children v Have lower levels of happiness and well-being compared to married couples Why should I attend a marriage preparation program? We’ve known each other for a long time and can’t imagine we’d learn anything new.

You don’t have to discover all the things that make a marriage work by trial and error. Others have done some of that work for you.

At a marriage prep program, you get a glimpse into other couples’ marriages so you can have a more realistic sense of what’s normal and what’s not, and you can get solid advice on how to have a happy, holy marriage.

Although every marriage relationship is unique, there are many tips experienced couples can

share that will help you when you face bumps in your own marriage.

Marriage preparation programs also give you an opportunity to talk with each other about the wide spectrum of “must-have conversations” before marriage.

You’ve probably talked about most of them, but you may have avoided a few. This is a time to check yourselves.

Most likely you will find that you gain confidence in your decision to marry as a result of attending a marriage preparation program.

Occasionally, attending a marriage preparation program can make you realize that it isn’t the right time to marry, or that this may not be the right person. That’s okay, because engagement is a time to discern marriage actively and intentionally.

How much income should we have between us to marry?

Many couples, especially younger ones, start their married lives together without a large income, and possibly with debt. This can be a challenge, but it shouldn’t necessarily delay marriage.

There’s no magic number when it comes to the income and financial assets a couple should have before marrying, and bride and groom promise to be faithful “for richer” or “for poorer.” At the same time, it’s important to realize that financial hardship can cause conflict in a marriage, and to talk with each other about your plan for meeting your basic needs. Don’t be afraid to seek wise counsel if you’re not sure how you’ll make ends meet.

How much does a typical wedding cost?

Many wedding planners will tell you that the average wedding costs between $20,000-$30,000, but it definitely doesn’t have to! Although the ante has been rising as to what is considered “typical” for a wedding, simplicity can be elegant.

Consider asking friends and family for help on your big day, having a smaller wedding if cost is a major concern, or researching inexpensive do-it-yourself alternatives. Don’t let the perceived cost of weddings keep you from saying “I do.” And remember, a wedding is a day; a marriage is a lifetime.

63

Introducing the All-New 2017 Honda Ridgeline

Barker Honda 1662 Martin Luther King Blvd., Houma 985-868-4401 • www.barkerhonda.com

www.bayoucatholic.com

Marriage

Humility: Foundation for marital happiness

By Tim Lanigan J. Paul Getty, the oil man, was a billionaire–and proud of it. He was at one time considered the world’s richest man, but during the most active years in his business, he lived alone in a 72-room mansion outside London. Over a 25-year period, he had married and 64 divorced five women. “I hate to be a failure,” he said. “I would gladly give all my millions for just one, lasting marital success.”

Getty gained a fortune. It brought him fame and power. But by his own admission, it did not seem to bring him happiness. His life is an object lesson for our age, which celebrates celebrity, wealth, power–and the pride that comes with it.

It’s been said that pride is a mortal enemy to love, and if so, we can assume a mortal enemy to lasting marital happiness. That may be because pride, and its excessive focus on our egos, prevents us from seeing the world around us as it is, a world in which we are utterly dependent on the God who created us and dependent as well on those who, in turn, depend on us.

The antidote to pride is humility. It is an

BRANDON JONES PHOTOGRAPHY

We decorate any size event, large or small

a

LEARN ROSARY MAKING A Catholic Tradition

Contact us for a catalog and introductory offer!

LEWIS & COMPANY Dedicated to Rosary Making!

(800) 342-2400

rosaryparts.com

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

Main Street Special Events

602 W. 3rd Street Thibodaux, LA 70301 985-446-7799 • 985-637-6052 www.mainstreetspecialevents.com

outlook on life that accepts reality. The reality is that God is the Creator, and we are his creatures. No matter how smart, how good looking or charming, how hardworking and wealthy, or how powerful we are, we are still creatures.

Humility is the acceptance of things as they are. It is seeing our place in the world, not as we would have it, but as it really is. Only the humble have a firm grasp of reality. The proud are inflated with who they think they are; the humble are content with who they really are.

Most of us think instinctively of pride as a high and humility as a low.

When we’re up, we’re proud; when we’re down, we’re humbled. But humility actually falls in the middle, as a golden mean between the two manifestations of pride: the egoism that inflates our self-importance on some days and deflates our true selves on other days.

An adage used by Alcoholics Anonymous describes the way many people view themselves: “Greater than or less than, but never equal to.”

This bouncing back and forth between the earth and the sky takes a toll on our own spiritual and emotional health. When we find that we will never scale the heights we envision for ourselves we become frustrated and dejected, and a burden to those around us, especially our families.

The model of humility is Christ. As Pope John XXIII put it, “the principal center of the divine instruction” is the Gospel passage: “Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.” In other words, this was no idle comment. It was the core of Christ’s personality.

Christ not only preached humility to others, he lived it himself. Though he was the Son of God, he was born in a cave. He worked as a carpenter. He composed no great work of art; built no towering edifice; assumed no great political office. He died nailed to a cross, the fate of a common criminal. He did all this willingly. And yet, he became the central figure in world history.

His central mission was to serve others. If the acceptance of reality is the inward sign of humility, service is its outward sign. It has been said that humility is nothing more or less than the will to serve.

Nothing makes it more difficult to serve God and those we live with than pride. Nothing makes it easier than humility, which opens our hearts to the possibility of serving a person other than ourselves.

There are many opportunities for service in the world, but none more important than those within the family. Christ’s service was built on sacrifice. Our opportunity for humble service may mean a great

sacrifice like putting a career on hold in order to tend to an ill spouse or child. It may mean nothing more than holding our tongue when criticized or helping a child with homework.

Humility is all about relationships. It is an acceptance of the reality that we are dependent on the God who created us, dependent on the love and help of those around us, and created in order to love and serve God and all his creation.

J. Paul Getty admitted to being a lonely man. He said that people liked him primarily for his money.

According to one of his wives, he spent so much time building a business that he had no time to build a relationship with his family.

We don’t need to be wealthy, famous, or powerful to fulfill our destiny. We just need to be humble enough to value the modest gifts we have and loving enough to share them with those around us.

Humility is the acceptance of things as they are.

It is seeing our place in the world, not as we would have it, but as it really is.

simple elegance in catering

Gina’s offers the finest in food and service to suit all your catering needs.

Let us cater your next get together.

We specialize in: Weddings ~ Rehearsal Dinners Wedding Cakes ~ Backdrops ~ Cocktail Parties School Functions ~ Church Socials Corporate Luncheons and much more!

Call for Custom Pricing and Menus Phone: 414-1121 Fax: 492-2504

114 St. Mary St., Thibodaux, LA 70301 www.ginascateringla.com

www.bayoucatholic.com

65

Marriage

Try a five-point tune-up for your marriage

66

BRANDON JONES PHOTOGRAPHY

By Sheila Garcia At the end of each summer, my husband and I receive a letter that urges us to have our heating system checked before the fall. It’s usually slipped through the mail slot on an oppressive August day, when more warmth is the last thing I’m thinking about it. But I realize the wisdom of preventive maintenance now, before a breakdown occurs.

Marriages, too, benefit from preventive maintenance. Do you need to discuss a stressful issue before it erupts? Are you looking for an activity or two to rejuvenate your marriage? The end of summer is a good time to plan for marriage maintenance, before the busyness of fall kicks in. Here’s a five-point list to get started: v Talk Turkey. Thanksgiving (and Christmas) turkey, that is.

Where will you be spending the holidays? Do you turn into jugglers, trying to balance the expectations of both sets of in-laws? If the two

of you agree on a plan now, you’ll be ready to deal with the situation in a way that’s fair to everyone. An added advantage: If you’re flying for the holidays, you’ll be able to shop early for cheaper air fares and the dates you want. v Fall for each other— again. Fun fall getaways abound, everything from pumpkin patches and apple-picking to colorful college football games and tailgate parties.

Get out your calendars now and pencil in a few dates. Don’t forget that romantic drive to view the fall foliage. v Show me the money. The last quarter of the year can bring higher household expenses, including costs associated with the holidays. Can your budget handle it? Be prepared by reviewing your financial status and making any needed adjustments to your spending and saving. v Go back to school. Maybe not literally, but fall is an excellent

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • September 2016

time to learn a new skill or try a new activity. Check out the offerings from your local public school system or community college. Read the parish bulletin or website to see what’s being planned. Sign up—finally!—to walk for your favorite cause. Learning or doing something new, especially if you do it together, can enrich your marriage. If you decide on different activities, share your experiences with your spouse and bring a new dimension to your marriage. v Get fit—spiritually. Summer often means a break from routine.

Have you let your spiritual practices slide over the past couple months?

Rather than become discouraged, make a September resolution to improve. Schedule time for prayer and spiritual reading, even if it’s only a few minutes. Consider setting aside time to pray with your spouse.

Bring closure to the summer by celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation.

When only the Best will do ...

Normans Tuxedos Serving Local Families for over 50 Years!

N

O

R

M

A

N

S

T

U

Why WORRY about an out of state tuxedo not fitting ...

ONLY Normans stocks all our own inventory.

Advance try-ons available.

408 Corporate Drive ~ Houma www.normanstux.com 985.876.3921 GraySON

X

E

D

O

S