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Bayou
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r te f L a e i f f i e ? L HOUMA, LA ~ OCTOBER 2015 ~ COMPLIMENTARY
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Bayou Catholic
Serving Ascension, Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne parishes.
Bringing
Comfort Home
WHAT is HOSPICE CARE?
Hospice provides comfort, symptom and pain management for patients with a life limiting illness. Compassionate support is offered to family, friends and significant others. Not only can care be provided in the home, but also nursing home, assisted living setting, hospital and personal care homes. Hospice affirms life and focuses on the quality of life remaining for your loved one. Hospice offers a holistic approach that is sensitive to emotional and spiritual support.
WHEN to CHOOSE HOSPICE? When a patient is diagnosed with a terminal illness and the prognosis is measured in months, it is then that hospice care should be considered. Patients have the right to choose the hospice of their choice.
sensitive
Established in 1987 www.HospiceofSouthLouisiana.com
WHAT SERVICES are PROVIDED by HOSPICE?
WHAT is the CRITERIA for ADMISSION?
• Physicians medical management of pain and symptoms • Skilled nursing for appropriate care • Nurse aides tend to personal care needs • Social workers offer emotional support, counseling and access to community resources • Chaplains provide spiritual guidance • Volunteers compliment the care with companionship and assistance • Therapy when ordered • 24 hour emergency support • Medications related to admitting diagnosis • Medical supplies and equipment • Bereavement and grief support
v A physician must verify the patient’s prognosis of six months or less. v The physician will provide a signed order for an evaluation and admit to hospice. v Hospice will send a registered nurse to conduct a thorough in-home assessment. v The patient and caregivers must have an understanding of the prognosis and are no longer seeking aggressive treatment. v There is a designated primary caregiver that will be available to the hospice team. v The hospice diagnosis shall be related to a life limiting illness or End Stage Disease process such as:
HOW to OBTAIN SERVICES? A physician orders hospice at the request of a patient, relative, friend, medical social worker or pastor. Ask your physician how we can help or call us direct to get more information about the services your loved ones deserve. Remember patients have the right to choose the hospice agency of their choice.
spiritual
• Cardiac Disease • Neurological Disease • Alzheimer’s/Dementia • Parkinson’s/ALS • Renal Disease or Failure • Liver Disease
• Stroke • Blood Disorders • Pulmonary Disease (Respiratory) • AIDS • Cancer
WHO PAYS for HOSPICE?
• Medicare • Most Private Insurance • Medicaid • Veterans Administration (VA) Our staff is available to answer questions regarding benefits and will gladly help to verify coverage for hospice services
205 Bayou Gardens Blvd., Suite E • Houma, LA 70364 Local 985-868-3095 • Fax 985-868-3910 • Toll Free 1-888-893-3829
REFERRALS or INQUIRIES please call our office 985-868-3095. A registered nurse is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, holidays included. NONDISCRIMINATION NOTICE Hospice offers palliative care to terminally ill patients and support to those patients and their families without regard for diagnosis, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, race, creed, disability, age, or place of residence.
Contents
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FEATURES
46 Assisi Bridge House By Janet Marcel
COLUMNS
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Comfort For My People
By Bishop Shelton J. Fabre
12 Pope Speaks By Pope Francis I
13 Question Corner By Father Kenneth Doyle
14 Readings Between The Lines By Father Glenn LeCompte
18 Seeing Clairely
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By Claire Joller
19 Reading with Raymond By Raymond Saadi
61 Overtime By Ed Daniels
IN EVERY ISSUE
6 Editor’s Corner 16 Scripture Readings 20 Young Voices 24 Diocesan Events 26 Heavenly Recipes
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58
Bayou
Catholic
GUEST COLUMNS
28 Is there Life after Life? By Father Wilmer L. Todd
30 Straight talk about cemeteries By Father Michael Bergeron
38 Annulments By Very Rev. Vicente DeLa Cruz, J.V.
44 Strategic Planning By Very Rev. Mark Toups
57 World Mission Sunday
Bayou ide u Outdoor20G15 Fall Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
By Father Robert-Joel Cruz
58 The Lector By Father Glenn LeCompte
ANNOUNCEMENTS ARY ER 2015 ~ COMPLIMENT
HOUMA, LA ~ OCTOB
51 Food for the Journey Jimmie Danos speaks
FLIP THIS ISSUE!
Bayou
Catholic
Is there
Life after Life ? HOUMA, LA ~ OCTOBER 2015 ~ COMPLIMENTARY
On Our Cover Is there Life after Life? Father Wilmer Todd, pastor of St. Joseph Church parish in Chauvin, writes that as Christians we have faith in the afterlife. There is more than our life on Earth. He goes on to say that St. Paul’s experience of the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus is the greatest proof that Jesus is alive. “If Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead?” (1 Corinthians. 15:3-12).
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 ten 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
Bayou Catholic Vol. 36, No. 4 How to reach us: BY PHONE: (985) 850-3132 BY MAIL: P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395 BY FAX: (985) 850-3232 BY E-MAIL: bayoucatholic@htdiocese.org The Bayou Catholic is published monthly, for the people of the Roman Catholic Diocese of HoumaThibodaux by the H-T Publishing Co., P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395. Subscription rate is $35 per year. The Bayou Catholic is a member of the Catholic Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and an associate member of the Louisiana Press Association. National and world-wide news service and photos by National Catholic News Service.
Louis G. Aguirre
Index to Advertisers Acadian Total Security ............................... 43 Acme Mausoleum, LLC .............................. 36 Advanced Eye Institute .............................. 41 Annual Fundraising Gala-Crossroads ....... 59 Barker Honda ............................................. 22 Bayou Catholic .............................................. 2 Bella Cosa Fine Gifts .................................. 45 Bueche’s Jewelry ....................................... 22 Cannata’s ................................................... 60 Cardinal Place ............................................ 22 Cardinal Place ............................................ 55 Channel 10 ................................................. 25 Chauvin Funeral Home .............................. 32 Crossroads ................................................. 22 Daigle Himel Daigle ................................... 23 Diocesan Outreach Line ............................ 29 Diocesan Website........................................ 27 E.D. White Catholic High School ............... 53 Earl Williams ............................................... 23 Edward J. Laperouse Metal Works ............ 22 Falgout Funeral Homes, LLC ..................... 23 Falgout Funeral Homes, LLC ..................... 30 Felger’s Footwear ...................................... 23 God’s Promises Books & Gifts, God’s Precious Word & Gifts, Galliano Religious Supply House ........................................ 23 God’s Promises Books & Gifts .................. 57 Good Shepherd Nativity Mission School .. 47 Hagen Beyer Simon ................................... 23
Haydel Family Practice .............................. 22 Haydel Memorial Hospice ......................... 35 Haydel Spine Pain & Wellness .................. 39 Headache & Pain Center ........................... 61 Hospice of South Louisiana ......................... 3 Houma Digestive Health Specialists .......... 47 HTeNews ...................................................... 7 Joseph “Joe” Fertitta Campaign ................ 59 KEM Supply House, Inc. ............................ 22 Lafourche Ford Lincoln .............................. 23 Lanaux & Felger ......................................... 23 Landry’s Funeral Home ............................. 34 Lewis and Company .................................. 59 Mr. Ronnie’s Donuts ................................... 23 Notre Dame Hospice ................................. 33 Office of Family Ministries .......................... 22 Robichaux’s Pharmacy ............................... 22 Rod’s Superstore ....................................... 15 Samart Funeral Home of Houma ............... 37 Seminarian Education Burses ................... 11 Southland Drugs No. 2 .............................. 23 Spotlight ...................................................... 48 St. Joseph Manor ....................................... 22 St. Joseph Manor ....................................... 53 Terminix ...................................................... 49 Terrebonne-Lafourche Right to Life ........... 22 Thibodaux Funeral Home .......................... 31 Vandebilt Catholic High School ................. 55 World Mission Sunday ............................... 49
editor and general manager
Lawrence Chatagnier managing editor
Glenn J. Landry, C.P.A. business manager
Peggy Adams
advertising manager
Anna C. Givens
advertising accounts executive
Janet Marcel staff writer
Pat Keese
secretary and circulation
Lisa Schobel Hebert graphic designer
Meridy Liner
accounts receivable/payable assistant
First Place Winner 2013-2014 General Excellence
www.bayoucatholic.com
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Welcome Editor’s Corner Louis G. Aguirre Editor & General Manager
Good News
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Help us spread the Good News!
Our first bishop, Warren Louis Boudreaux, was one of the kindest Your contributions to the Special and most pastoral priests I have ever Bayou Catholic Collection known. While he was my boss from will help us continue 1977 until his retirement in 1992, he Nov. 7-8 was also my friend then and until his to spread the Please use death in 1997. Good News. envelope in “Louis,” he’d say with that inimitable this issue smile of his, “yours is a noble profession to make your and ministry! You see, you follow in the steps of Matthew, Mark, Luke and tax-deductible John … they were the first Christian contribution Bayou journalists. Always remember that today. Catholic your ministry helps to educate, inform, evangelize and energize the faithful.” In my 44 years as a Catholic journalist I have seen the power of the and the advertisers. While we have not raised the written word, especially as it relates to the church. cost to the parishes in many years, we truly are And when I get the chance to see previous issues in need of additional revenue. Our present bishop, of the Bayou Catholic, especially those from the Shelton J. Fabre, met with the Priests’ Council and beginning of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, I it was agreed that we be allowed to take an annual also realize how important our publication is for collection so we may be able to continue serving the preservation of our history. YOU, our readers, in the manner in which you are Three-plus years ago we went from newspaper to accustomed. magazine, with the blessings and encouragement An exciting possibility would be that if donations of Bishop Sam G. Jacobs. The move has proven to from the collection exceeded our current needs we be quite successful and, based on feedback from could print even more copies to satisfy the current readers and advertisers, the magazine is read, demand. passed around to friends and relatives and many One example is Cannata’s stores in Houma hate to part with it. and Morgan City. We drop off hundreds of copies As many of you know Bayou Catholic has been at each of the three stores and by the end of the the recipient of numerous awards, especially in the month they are all gone! Imagine how many more past three years. We hope you enjoy reading it and people could be evangelized if we had the ability to find some of its offerings to assist you in nourishing print more copies. your faith. This Nov. 7-8, please be generous and support Bayou Catholic is complimentary, we do not your Bayou Catholic! Please use the envelope charge for it. It is a “gift” from your church. Its enclosed in this issue to place your contributions revenues are totally spent on the product, it does in the collection basket or to mail it directly to us not – nor is it intended to – make any money. We at P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395. try to print as many copies as possible and in many May God continue to bless you and yours! cases the supply does not meet the demand. We currently print between 14,000 and 15,000 copies (depending on when our Catholic schools are open). Our revenues come from two sources: the parishes Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
Comprehensive Coverage For news, photos and videos of Pope Francis’ historic visit to Cuba and the United States, go to
HTeNews.org
Comment Comfort For My People Bishop Shelton J. Fabre
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There are so many wonderful things about the month of October. During the month of October, the colorful season of autumn, or fall, which happens to be my favorite season of the year, can certainly be seen as the leaves turn color and felt as the days begin to be shorter and cooler, and the weather more pleasant. As I have stated before, I think that some of the best weather here in southern Louisiana happens during the month of October. Also, one of the most enjoyable events that cause me to rejoice during the month of October is the fact that my birthday falls during the month of October! I am tremendously grateful to God for the gift of life, and the month of October annually ushers in another anniversary and celebration of the gift of life that God has given to me. The fact that I celebrate my birthday during the month of October has always wonderfully coincided with something else that the church invites us to reflect upon during the month of October. The month of October in the church bears the title Respect Life Month, and we are all invited in a focused and heightened way during this month to reflect upon and to thank God for the wonderful gift of human life. Each year, a theme is provided for Respect Life Month, and the theme this year is Every Life is Worth Living. Respect Life Month reminds us that each and every life is a gift to be cherished and nurtured. No matter how long or short that life,
every life is worth living. Human life is a gift of God, and each and every person is precious in the eyes of God. Therefore, each and every person should be precious in our eyes as well. Every Life is Worth Living. Sadly, there continue to be many attacks against the sanctity, the holiness, of human life. Chief among all these attacks against life remains the evil of abortion. I am sure that all of us found to be horrifying and deeply troubling the videos that have been played on a national stage presenting the sale by Planned Parenthood of the body parts of aborted babies. This is tragic and very sad. Clearly, our country continues to live in a culture of death when the
we kill people who kill people to teach that killing people is wrong?” Add to this dreadful list Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Human Trafficking, and a number of other attacks against the sanctity of human life, and you will clearly see why the church during the month of October invites us to pray, reflect upon and celebrate the gift of human life. All human life is sacred from the first moment of conception until the time of natural death. Every Life is Worth Living. As we again mark Respect Life Month during October, I invite you to join me at our annual Respect Life Mass, which will be celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma at 11 a.m. on the
unfortunate reality of abortion, the killing of our children, continues to be legal in our land. More and more countries in recent years have also legalized Euthanasia, or the killing of those who are ill or suffering in some manner. Euthanasia puts forth the false reality that the elderly, the ill and the troubled are a burden and of no value, and therefore they should simply be done away with through Euthanasia. We all know this view of the ill and suffering to be very far from the truth. Capital Punishment, or the Death Penalty, continues to be advocated in response to violence and a disregard for life. As has been stated by others in reference to Capital Punishment, “Why do
first Sunday in October, Respect Life Sunday, which this year is Oct. 4. As we lift our voices in prayer together, the Eucharist will nourish us to join our voices and our actions to all that is being done today to foster respect for all human life. As I write this article, our country is still in preparation for the upcoming Papal visit, and I am planning to make my way to be present when Pope Francis travels to the United States. Let us pray that our country will reflect upon all that Pope Francis has shared with us during the days of his visit, and seek to put into practice all that he calls us to embrace as disciples of the Lord. May God bless and keep you in these days, and always!!!
Every Life is Worth Living
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
Comentario
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Toda Vida Es Importante
Hay muchas cosas bonitas en el mes de octubre. Durante este mes, la estación colorida de otoño, mi estación favorita, se puede presenciar con el cambio de color de las hojas y con los días más cortos y más fríos dándonos un clima agradable. Como lo he dicho antes, pienso que el mejor clima del sur de Luisiana sucede durante el mes de octubre. También, ¡uno de los eventos más felices que tengo este mes es mi cumpleaños! Le doy enormemente las gracias a Dios por el don de la vida y el mes de octubre me brinda cada año otro aniversario y otra celebración del don de la vida que Dios me ha dado. Mi cumpleaños coincide de manera maravillosa con un evento que la Iglesia nos invita a participar en este mes de octubre. La Iglesia ha nombrado el mes de octubre «El Mes de Respeto por la Vida» y hemos sido invitados a reflexionar sobre el don de la vida que Dios nos ha otorgado. Cada año, se crea un lema para El Mes de Respeto por la Vida y el lema de este año es Toda Vida es Importante. El Mes de Respeto por la Vida nos recuerda que toda vida es un don que se debe nutrir y cuidar. No importa como sea de larga o corta la vida, toda vida es importante. La vida humana es un don de Dios y todo ser humano es valioso ante los ojos de Dios. Por tanto, todo ser humano debe ser valioso ante nuestros ojos también. Toda Vida es Importante. Es triste que continúen los ataques contra la santidad de la vida, la santidad de la vida humana. El ataque principal contra la vida es el mal del aborto. Estoy seguro que todos han encontrado chocante y horrible los videos que se han presentado a nivel nacional sobre la venta de partes de cuerpos de fetos abortados por Planned Parenthood. Esto es trágico y triste. Nuestro país continúa viviendo bajo una cultura de muerte cuando la triste realidad
del aborto, la matanza de nuestros niños, continúa siendo legal en nuestra tierra. Un número mayor de países en los últimos años han también legalizado la eutanasia o la muerte de aquéllos que padecen de enfermedades o sufrimiento. La eutanasia presenta la realidad falsa de que los ancianos, los enfermos y los que sufren son un estorbo sin valor y que, por tanto, deben ser simplemente desechados por medio de la eutanasia. Todos sabemos que este punto de vista sobre los enfermos y los que padecen de sufrimiento está muy lejos de ser la verdad. La Pena Capital, o La Pena de Muerte continúa siendo promovida para contrarrestar la violencia y los asesinatos. Muchos lo dicen de manera común al referirse a la Pena Capital, « ¿Por qué matamos a los que matan para enseñarles que matar gente es malo?» Le añadimos a esta horrible lista la Investigación en Células Madre, el Tráfico Humano y un número de ataques contra la santidad de la vida humana y verán claramente por qué la Iglesia nos invita a rezar, reflexionar y celebrar el don de la vida humana durante este mes de octubre. Toda vida humana es santa desde el momento de la concepción hasta el momento de la muerte natural. Toda Vida es Importante. Los invito a que atiendan conmigo nuestra misa anual de Misa de Respeto Por la Vida que se celebrará en la Catedral de San Francisco de Sales en Houma a las once de la mañana el primer domingo de octubre, Domingo de Respeto por la Vida, el cuatro de octubre de este año. Levantemos
nuestras voces en oración juntos y permitamos que la Eucaristía nos alimente en nuestras voces y acciones unidos para fomentar el respeto por la vida humana. En este momento, nuestro país todavía se prepara para la venida del Papa y planifico ir para estar presente cuando el Papa Francisco viaje a los Estados Unidos. Oremos
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para que nuestro país reflexione sobre todas las cosas que el Santo Padre haya compartido con nosotros durante su visita y tratemos de ejercitar todas las cosas que él nos pida aceptar como discípulos del Señor. ¡¡¡Qué Dios nos bendiga y nos proteja en estos días y por siempre!!! Traducido por Julio Contreras, feligrés de la Iglesia Católica Annunziata www.bayoucatholic.com
Binh luan bang loi
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Mọi Cuộc Sống đều Đáng Sống
Có rất nhiều điều tuyệt vời về tháng mười. Trong suốt tháng mười, mùa đầy màu sắc của mùa thu, là mùa yêu thích nhất của tôi trong năm, chắc chắn có thể được nhìn xem lá cây đổi màu sắc và cảm thấy như ngày bắt đầu ngắn hơn và lạnh hơn, và thời tiết dễ chịu hơn. Như tôi đã nói lần trước, tôi nghĩ rằng có một số thời tiết tốt đẹp nhất ở đây tại miền nam Louisiana xảy ra trong suốt tháng mười. Ngoài ra, một trong những biến cố thú vị nhất khiến tôi vui mừng trong suốt tháng mười là ngày sinh nhật của tôi rơi vào tháng mười! Tôi rất cảm tạ Thiên Chúa vì món quà sự sống, và tháng mười hằng năm còn dẫn tôi vào một lễ kỷ niệm khác và tán tụng món quà sự sống mà Thiên Chúa đã ban cho tôi. Thực tế là khi tôi mừng ngày sinh nhật của mình trong tháng mười thì luôn luôn trùng hợp với một điều gì khác tuyệt vời mà Hội Thánh mời gọi chúng ta suy niệm trong tháng mười. Trong Hội Thánh tháng mười có tên là Tháng Tôn Trọng Sự Sống, và tất cả chúng ta đều được mời gọi trong một chiều hướng tập trung và chủ tâm trong suốt tháng này để suy niệm và cảm tạ Thiên Chúa vì món quà tuyệt vời của sự sống con người. Mỗi năm, một chủ đề được nêu lên cho Tháng Tôn Trọng Sự Sống, và chủ đề của năm nay là Mọi Cuộc Sống đều Đáng Sống. Tháng Tôn Trọng Sự Sống nhắc nhở chúng ta rằng mỗi người và mọi cuộc sống là một món quà được yêu mến và nuôi dưỡng. Cho dù cuộc sống đó dài hay ngắn, mọi cuộc sống thật đáng sống. Cuộc sống con người là món quà của Thiên Chúa, mỗi người và mọi người đều quý trọng trong ánh mắt của Thiên Chúa. Do đó, mỗi người và mọi người đều quý trọng trong ánh mắt của chúng ta nữa. Mọi Cuộc sống đều Đáng Sống. Đáng buồn thay, vẫn còn có nhiều cuộc tấn công chống lại sự thánh thiêng, sự thánh thiện, của sự sống con người. Đứng đầu trong số tất cả các cuộc tấn công chống lại sự sống vẫn là tội ác phá thai. Tôi chắc chắn rằng tất cả chúng ta đều nhìn thấy sự khủng khiếp và gây phiền muộn
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
sâu sắc về các băng video được trình chiếu trên sân khấu quốc gia trình bày sự buôn bán các bộ phận cơ thể của các em bé bị phá thai do tổ chức Kế Hoạch Hóa Gia Đình. Thật là một bi thảm và rất đáng buồn. Rõ ràng, đất nước chúng ta vẫn tiếp tục sống trong một nền văn hóa của sự chết khi thực tế không may của nạn phá thai, giết hại
và ca tụng món quà sự sống của con người. Tất cả sự sống của con người là thánh thiêng từ giây phút đầu thụ thai cho đến lúc chết cách tự nhiên. Mọi Cuộc Sống đều Đáng Sống. Một lần nữa khi chúng ta đánh dấu Tháng Tôn Trọng Sự Sống trong suốt tháng Mười, tôi mời gọi ông bà anh chị em tham dự Thánh Lễ Tôn Trọng
trẻ em của chúng ta, vẫn tiếp tục được coi là hợp pháp trong đất nước chúng ta. Trong những năm gần đây càng ngày càng có nhiều quốc gia cũng đã hợp pháp hóa sự an tử, hoặc giết những người bị bệnh hay đau khổ bằng một số phương cách. Sự an tử đặt ra thực tế sai lầm rằng người già, người mắc bệnh và gặp khó khăn là một gánh nặng và không có giá trị, và do đó cách đơn giản họ nên được ra đi với cái chết êm dịu. Tất cả chúng ta đều biết rằng quan điểm của những người bệnh tật và đau khổ này thì rất xa vời với sự thật. Án tử hình hoặc tử hình vẫn tiếp tục được ủng hộ trong sự hưởng ứng với bạo lực và coi thường mạng sống. Như có những người nói đến Án tử hình như sau: “Tại sao chúng ta giết người phạm tội giết người để dạy rằng giết người là sai?” Thêm vào danh sách khủng khiếp này như Sự nghiên cứu Tế bào Phôi thai, buôn bán người, và một số các cuộc công kích khác chống lại sự thánh thiêng của sự sống con người, và ông bà anh chị em sẽ thấy rõ ràng lý do tại sao hội thánh trong tháng mười lại mời gọi chúng ta cầu nguyện, suy niệm,
Sự Sống hằng năm với tôi, sẽ được cử hành tại nhà thờ Chính tòa Saint Francis de Sales tại Houma lúc 11 giờ sáng Chúa Nhật đầu tháng Mười, Chúa Nhật Tôn Trọng Sự Sống năm nay vào ngày 4 tháng mười. Khi chúng ta cất tiếng cầu nguyện với nhau, Thánh Lễ sẽ tăng sức cho chúng ta chung tiếng nói và hành động của mình với tất cả những gì đang được thực hiện ngày hôm nay để giúp tôn trọng mọi sự sống của con người. Khi tôi viết bài này, quốc gia chúng ta vẫn đang trong thời gian chuẩn bị chuyến viếng thăm của Đức Thánh Cha sắp tới, và tôi đang lên kế hoạch để tranh thủ có mặt khi Đức Giáo Hoàng Phanxicô đến Hiệp Chủng Quốc. Chúng ta hãy cầu nguyện cho đất nước của chúng ta sẽ suy tư tất cả những gì Đức Giáo Hoàng Phanxicô sẽ chia sẻ với chúng ta trong suốt những ngày thăm viếng của ngài và tìm cách đưa ra thực hành tất cả những gì ngài kêu gọi chúng ta để ôm ấp như các môn đệ của Chúa. Xin Chúa chúc phúc lành và gìn giữ ông bà anh chị em trong những ngày này và mãi mãi !!! Dịch thuật do Lm. Francis Bui, SDD và Thầy Paul Vu, SDD. Tu Đoàn Tông Đồ Giáo Sĩ Nhà Chú
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 - Endowment Fund - $119,136.90
August 2015 Burse Contributions Msgr. Francis Amedee ....................................... $310.00 Warren J. Harang, Jr. #2 ..................................... $100.00 Joseph “Jay” Fertitta .......................................... $100.00 11
Open Burses with Balance as of 8/31/15 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 Clay Sr. & Evelida Duplantis #2 .......... $10,000.00 C. Remie Duplantis #2 ........................ $10,000.00 Marie Elise Duplantis #2 ..................... $10,000.00 Maude & Edith Daspit #2 .................... $10,000.00 Msgr. George A. Landry ...................... $10,000.00 Elie & Dot Klingman .............................. $8,720.00 Mr. & Mrs. George C. Fakier ................. $8,400.00 Rev. Victor Toth ..................................... $7,000.00 Mrs. Shirley Conrad ............................... $7,000.00 Brides of the Most Blessed Trinity ......... $6,165.00 Rev. Peter Nies ..................................... $5,900.00 Msgr. William Koninkx ........................... $5,400.00 Msgr. Francis Amedee ........................... $5,150.00 Mr. & Mrs. Love W. Pellegrin ................. $5,000.00 Anonymous #2 ...................................... $5,000.00 Mr. & Mrs. Caliste Duplantis Fmly.#4..... $5,000.00 Rev. William M. Fleming ........................ $5,000.00 Mrs. Ayres A. Champagne ..................... $5,000.00 Rev. Kasimir Chmielewski ..................... $4,839.00 Rev. Gerard Hayes ................................ $4,786.00 Catholic Daughters ................................ $4,705.00 Rev. Guy Zeringue ................................ $4,400.00
Joseph “Jay” Fertitta .............................. $4,350.00 Rev. Henry Naquin ................................. $4,281.00 Harry Booker #2 .................................... $4,138.00 Kelly Curole Frazier ............................... $3,610.96 J. R. Occhipinti ...................................... $3,400.00 Anawin Community ............................... $3,100.00 Msgr. James Songy ............................... $3,075.00 Mr. & Mrs. Galip Jacobs ........................ $3,060.00 St. Jude ................................................. $3,000.00 Diocesan K of C #2 ............................... $2,894.62 Rev. Peter H. Brewerton ........................ $2,600.00 Willie & Emelda St. Pierre ...................... $2,000.00 St. Joseph Society ................................. $2,000.00 Warren J. Harang, Jr. #2 ......................... $2,000.00 Rev. H. C. Paul Daigle ........................... $1,900.00 James J. Buquet, Jr. ............................... $1,650.00 Alfrances P. Martin ................................. $1,650.00 Msgr. Francis J. Legendre #2 ................ $1,645.00 Rev. Robert J. Sevigny .......................... $1,600.00 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 Preston & Gladys Webre ........................ $1,150.00 Rev. John Gallen .................................... $1,100.00
Rev. Anthony Rousso ............................. $1,100.00 Rev. Hubert C. Broussard ...................... $1,050.00 Rev. Clemens Schneider ....................... $1,000.00 Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux #4 ........... $1,000.00 Msgr. John G. Keller .............................. $1,000.00 Jacob Marcello ....................................... $1,000.00 Deacon Willie Orgeron ............................. $800.00 Ruby Pierce .............................................. $800.00 Deacon Roland Dufrene ........................... $750.00 Juliette & Eugene Wallace ......................... $700.00 Ronnie Haydel .......................................... $685.00 Deacon Edward J. Blanchard ................... $660.00 Deacon Connely Duplantis ........................ $625.00 Judge Louis & Shirley R. Watkins .............. $600.00 Deacon Raymond LeBouef ...................... $550.00 Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Cannata .................... $500.00 Deacon Harold Kurtz ................................ $300.00 Richard Peltier #2 ..................................... $300.00 Anne Veron Aguirre ................................... $280.00 Claude Bergeron ...................................... $250.00 Bernice Harang ......................................... $200.00 Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Naquin .......................... $150.00 Deacon Pedro Pujals ................................ $100.00 Joseph Waitz, Sr. ...................................... $100.00 Deacon Eldon Frazier .............................. $ 50.00 Deacon Nick Messina .............................. $ 50.00 Rev. Warren Chassaniol ........................... $ 50.00
Overall Seminarian Burse Totals: $1,530,451.02 www.bayoucatholic.com
Comment The Pope Speaks
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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Trust in Mary, who urges people to believe and do what Christ says, Pope Francis said. In his message for the Feb. 11, 2016, celebration of World Day of the Sick, the pope highlighted the importance of entrusting oneself to Jesus and his mercy just like Mary did and to “do whatever he tells you.” The Vatican released the pope’s message Sept. 15, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. Illness, especially serious illness, “always places human existence in crisis and brings with it questions that dig deep,” the pope wrote. While faith in God might be tested and some people might fall into despair or be angered, illness also can deepen faith, he wrote. “Not because faith makes illness, pain or the questions which they raise disappear, but because it offers a key by which we can discover the deepest meaning of what we are experiencing; a key that helps us to see how illness can be the way to draw nearer to Jesus, who walks at our side, weighed down by the cross.” Mary gives people that key because she has experienced this path herself firsthand, he wrote. Jesus comes to those in need, offering his mercy and healing, the pope wrote. Mary also provides comfort and “we see reflected the tenderness of God” in her concern for her children.
CNS photo/Giampiero Sposito
Slippers worn by Pope Clemente XII and St. Pius X are seen in a museum at the papal villa in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Sept. 11. The Vatican Museums and the Italian railway have partnered to offer train tours from the Vatican to Castel Gandolfo. The tours will allow visitors to enter the papal villa and see a new museum housing papal artifacts and portraits. The tour also includes the Italian Renaissance-style Barberini Gardens.
“This same tenderness is present in the lives of all those persons who attend the sick and understand their needs, even the most imperceptible ones, because they look upon them with eyes full of love.” Serving those in need “can be tiring and burdensome, yet we are certain that the Lord will surely turn our human efforts into something divine,” like he did at the wedding feast of Cana, when servants obeyed Jesus, as Mary told them to, and the water turned to wine. “We too can be the hands, arms and hearts, which help God perform his miracles so often hidden. We too, whether healthy or sick, can offer up our toil and sufferings
like the water which filled the jars at the wedding feast” and then became the finest wine, the pope wrote. World Sick Day is marked each year on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. The main 2016 celebration will be held in Nazareth in the Holy Land. The full message in English can be found online at: https:// w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/ en/messages/sick/documents/papafrancesco_20150915_giornatamalato.html The text in Spanish can be found at: https://w2.vatican. va/content/francesco/es/ messages/sick/documents/papafrancesco_20150915_giornatamalato.html
In sickness or in health, trust in Mary’s intercession
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
Question Corner Father Kenneth Doyle
Announcements during Mass
Q
the bulletin home and read it.) I make exceptions for the following: a) a schedule change from what had been printed; b) a coffee hour or a welcome reception for new parishioners following that particular Mass; and c) a holy day of obligation during the coming week. (With all of the current confusion about holy days and which day of the week they happen to occur on, it doesn’t hurt for people to be reminded of the fact twice.) The net result is that pulpit announcements in our parish happen rarely, which is what I want.
Q. I am uncomfortable when Mass is interrupted by announcements relating to parish activities and events prior to the actual end of Mass. After holy Communion at our parish, when the vessels have been cleaned and the priest is seated behind the altar, general announcements are made. Then, after the reader has concluded, the priest gives the final blessing and says, “Go forth. The Mass is ended.” Are these interruptions to be considered part of the Mass? (Charlottesville, Virginia)
A
A. As to whether announcements are technically “part of the Mass,” I suppose that reasonable minds could argue either way. (My position would be that announcements can occur within the context of a Mass but are not actually a part of it.) The current edition of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (the “rule book” on the Mass) provides for “brief announcements, should they be necessary” (as it says in No. 90a) and situates them at the end of Mass, between the prayer after Communion and the blessing/ dismissal prayers. The key words here are “should they be necessary.” I share your view that announcements can interrupt the flow of the liturgy and the prayerfulness that should envelop it. And so, in our parish we have a narrow guideline: Anything that can be, or has been, in our printed weekly bulletin does not get announced from the pulpit. (This also encourages people to take
Why no garden weddings?
Q
Q. My daughter and her fiancé, who both went to Catholic schools from preschool through college, would like to get married in an outdoor ceremony in a garden. My understanding is that the church requires that sacraments be performed inside a blessed building, but I just can’t understand why. The first baptism was performed outside, and the pope distributes Communion at Masses held outdoors. I would love for my daughter to have her marriage blessed by the Catholic Church, but this seems to be an unreasonable rule. Isn’t it true that wherever two or more are gathered in his name, God is there? (Mantua, New Jersey)
A
A. It is not unusual for people to say (young people in particular) that they experience the wonder of God most directly when they are outdoors -- gazing at a glorious sunset over a lake, for example, or hiking in the mountains. So it is not surprising that they would opt to profess and celebrate their love in such a setting. But you are correct that the Code of Canon Law (in No. 1118) says that “a marriage between Catholics … is to be celebrated in a parish church.” While the rule is not absolute (No. 1118, Section 2, does say that the “local ordinary can permit a marriage to be celebrated in another suitable place”), the vast majority of dioceses would not normally allow it in the situation you describe. The church desires to highlight the fundamental spiritual nature of the occasion: The couple is affirming God’s role in having brought them together and seeking God’s blessing through the years to come. It is a sacred and sacramental event -- an act 13 of worship -- so it is celebrated where Catholics traditionally worship: in the presence of Christ in the tabernacle. In my experience, the situations in which a bishop would see fit to dispense from that tradition are rare, although I have seen them (a case, for example, in which the bride’s grandfather was seriously ill and unable to leave home and travel to a church.) It would be best if you could convince your daughter and her fiancé to respect your family’s Catholic allegiance by having their vow ceremony in a church -- followed by a reception in the garden setting. If your plea fails and they insist on being married outdoors, the next best thing would be to encourage them to have their marriage blessed later by exchanging vows before a Catholic priest. 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
Jesus the priest, Jesus the offering, and we, the forgiven ones
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This month our second reading will come from the Letter to the Hebrews, a New Testament epistle about which curiosities abound. Who were the “Hebrews” to which the letter is addressed? The first attribution of the name “Hebrews” to the letter comes from a papyrus fragment dating to the late first or early second century. Biblical scholars have proposed several possible addressees, including Jerusalem Jewish priests, Roman Christians and Jerusalem Christians (not exclusively priests). R. Brown (Introduction to the New Testament) believes that the letter was written between the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple (70 A.D.) and the beginning of the persecution by Emperor Domitian (96 A.D.) to show that Christ and his sacrifice have replaced the Temple cult. Brown admits it could have been written either to Jerusalem or Roman Christians, but favors the latter. The heavy emphasis on the priesthood of Christ and on images of priestly worship would cause me to lean toward Jerusalem Christians, who were not yet a sect distinct from Judaism. Consequently the Jerusalem (Jewish) Christians would have been trying to come to terms with that aspect of
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
their Jewish identity, namely the Temple and priesthood, which had been lost since the destruction of the Temple. The letter was once thought to have been written by Paul. But compared to Paul’s known letters, Hebrews bears differences in vocabulary and style, methods of structuring arguments and ways of introducing Scripture, all of which suggests that Paul did not write it. Furthermore, on the one hand, Hebrews lacks Paul’s persistent emphasis on Christ’s resurrection and gives much greater treatment to the issue of cultic priesthood, a concept that was of little concern in Paul’s known letters. The selections from Hebrews for the weekend Masses during October this year are taken from the first five chapters of Hebrews, chapters in which the author gives considerable thought to the “Christology” or theological identity of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1:1-3 gives a summary presentation of the author’s Christology. While God had revealed himself to humanity in many and varied ways through the ancestors of the Hebrews and Israelite prophets, God has done so most clearly and completely through “a son.” By calling Jesus God’s son, he is not necessarily declaring him divine, but telling his reader that Jesus is the perfect representative of the Father in matters of revelation. The son’s revelation has been made in “these last days,” meaning that what Jesus revealed has ushered in the ultimate age in God’s of salvation. Jesus is the incarnation of Wisdom
in Proverbs 8:22-31, which is depicted there as God’s agent in creating the world. Furthermore, that which the son had a share in creating he has inherited and now reigns over. He assumed his universal reign once he had done the work of procuring forgiveness for sins, a work which points to the theme of Jesus Christ’s priesthood, which the author will develop as the letter unfolds. The author of Hebrews emphasizes the human nature of Jesus, especially in Hebrews 2:14-18. He died as we all do, and his death served as an expiatory sacrifice, to free us from the bondage of sin and destroy the power of death. Jesus accomplished this victory as a human being, as one who assumed the “same nature” that we have. For Hebrews’ author, Jesus’ sharing in our human nature was essential to the divine plan to effect our expiation. Even as the Israelite priesthood was considered a very important institution in restoring the people’s relationship with God in view of its sinfulness, so Jesus served as the ultimate high priest who atoned for sins by making the definitive sin-offering. The author observes that Jesus can identify with our sufferings and temptations because he, being fully human, endured both. This dual fact, that he endured temptation and overcame it (Hebrews 4:15), uniquely qualifies him to serve as the ultimate high priest. Subjected to temptation yet victorious over it, Jesus can make a truly effective sin-offering to the Father. We have seen that the author
a
has established that Jesus qualified as the definitive high priest. To atone for sin the Israelite priest offered a bull (e.g. Exodus 29:1-14) or a goat (Leviticus 4:24-30) or, in some cases a lamb (Leviticus 4:32). The sacrifice Jesus the High Priest offers is himself (Hebrews 7:27). Just as the author of Hebrews has made the case that Jesus was the most perfect high priest, he is also an offering that supersedes that made of bulls and goats. Whereas the bulls or goats had to be offered over and over for repeated sin, Jesus’ offering of himself wins atonement for sin once-and-for-all. What makes him as a sacrifice more perfect than a bull or goat? Bulls and goats were precious to Israelite people, for they represented the people’s livelihood. Jesus as a sin-offering is more perfect not only because he is a human being, but because he offered his entire life to the Father in perfect obedience (Hebrews 5:79). His death was the culmination of the perfect offering he had been making for his entire existence as a human being. His suffering was the ultimate means by which he
displayed obedience to the Father. This is because as he faced his suffering he had a choice to endure it for the sake of the Father’s will or to give into temptation and abandon it; he chose the former and won salvation for all. In case anyone questioned Jesus’ priestly qualifications by observing that he was never physically anointed to function as a priest, the author of Hebrews contends that Jesus was anointed by God (Hebrews 1:9), inasmuch as Jesus, as son, fulfills the prophetic function of Isaiah 45:7, which
intimates that the son supersedes the angels because he is anointed. In its theology of priesthood and sin-offering, the Letter to the Hebrews provides us with an important theological foundation for the eucharistic Liturgy. Every Mass is not a repetition of, but a re-presentation of Christ’s act of offering himself as the perfect sacrifice by which our sins are expiated. Through our participation in the Mass, we are subject to the saving benefits of Jesus’ most perfect offering made on our behalf.
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October
Saints
Holy Father’s prayer intentions
Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher Image © Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
1811 - 1849 feast – October 6
Eulalie Durocher was the youngest of 10 children in a pious Quebec family; three brothers became priests and two sisters also became nuns. Because of ill health, Eulalie attended school sporadically and was rejected by several religious orders. For 12 years she helped one of her priest-brothers in his parish, organizing charitable works and the first Confraternity of Mary in Canada. In 1843, with two friends and episcopal permission, she founded the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary to educate poor youths, especially in the countryside. As Mother Marie-Rose, she led the congregation until her early death; she was beatified in 1982. Holy Names’ sisters serve today in Canada, the United States, Lesotho, Peru and Brazil.
Saints
Paul of the Cross Image © The Crosiers
Universal Human Trafficking. That human trafficking, the modern form of slavery, may be eradicated.
1694 - 1775 feast – October 20
Paolo Francesco Danei, the oldest son in a poor but noble Italian family, lived austerely even as a teen. After a year in the Venetian army, he returned to a monk-like life of prayer and penance, and refused to marry. In a vision in 1720, Our Lady, wearing a black habit with a white cross and bearing Jesus’ name, told Paul to start an order to preach Christ’s passion. With his bishop’s approval, he founded the Discalced Clerks of the Most Holy Cross and Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which he led for the rest of his life, and later began a nuns’ institute. Passionists were soon doing missions, retreats and spiritual direction throughout Italy. Paul was canonized in 1867.
Saints
Simon and Jude Images © The Crosiers
Evangelization Mission in Asia. That with a missionary spirit the Christian communities of Asia may announce the Gospel to those who are still awaiting it.
See www.apostleshipofprayer.org
first century feast – October 28
Listed among the Twelve Apostles in the New Testament, Simon is “the Canaanite” to Matthew and Mark and “the Zealot” to Luke; Jude is “Thaddeus” to Matthew and Mark, “Judas of James” to Luke, and “Judas, not Iscariot” to John. After Pentecost, they disappear. However, according to Eastern tradition, Simon died peacefully in Edessa, while Western tradition has him evangelizing in Egypt, then teaming up with Jude, who had been in Mesopotamia, on a mission to Persia, where they were martyred on the same day. Simon is the patron saint of tanners and lumberjacks; Jude is the patron of desperate causes, possibly because early Christians would pray to him, with a name evoking Judas Iscariot, only when all else failed.
Saints
CNS www.bayoucatholic.com
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Seeing Clairely Claire Joller
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Once the sole domain of Barbara Eden in I Dream of Jeannie in 1960s TV and in risqué movies, navels are on display these days more than I care to think about. The navel for public viewing is now just about everywhere in print, film, and, alas, in the flesh on the streets. Not satisfied with showing their innies, outies, and everything in between, girls and women now often festoon them with hardware of various ilk— rings and gemstones that sit tight or dangle, bringing to mind the hanging chads of the Florida Bush-Gore vote recount. This heretofore private body part for centuries was mentioned in polite conversation only in relation to babies and their separation from the infant umbilical cord. When I was a child, I saw babies’ bellies being given special attention, with many mothers of Mom’s generation wrapping the baby’s cord remnant with a soft cloth band that encircled the entire little body. I saw specific unguent ministrations applied with tenderness upon the precious spot that had connected child to mother, but have no memory of what the ointment was. I do remember the adult joy that accompanied Baby’s cord remnant “dropping.” It was a fact to report to aunts and grandmas, as though the infant had accomplished an extraordinary task, something to be proud of— instead of what it was, the body discarding what wasn’t needed anymore. So important was that piece of dried-up flesh that a whole old wives’ tale grew up around it. To bury that piece of cord under a plant in the garden meant that
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
The cord that binds the plant would flourish. I’ve been thinking about the possible reason for this folk saying to have begun. It is obvious that the discarded cord was very important to people for generation upon generation. I can see that the parents could associate it with the very being of the baby itself, containing a sort of nourishing power to promote other life, albeit from the ground. After all, “trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home,” the poet William Wordsworth wrote. I love this image of babies bringing with them heavenly clouds that reach all the way to their earthly birth. If we can identify with this thought, then how illogical is it, really, to suppose that that glory could carry over to the very soil underlying a rosebush? It must have been in that spirit that I kept my granddaughter’s dropped cord, and intended to “plant” it. (I sealed it well in a container, so don’t be grossed out.) But I never did get around to nourishing any bushes with it. I just sort of forgot about it. Until now, years later. Emilie is six years old. She and I unearthed it behind piles of
accumulated stuff at our house together recently. I explained to her what it was, and asked her, “Wouldn’t it be nice for us to put it in the ground together?” She took a look at it and said, “Eeeuuuw! Janou, it’s weird that you saved a body part from me,” and changed the subject. So it didn’t take a particularly wise grandmother to know she wouldn’t think it charming to continue the “tradition,” albeit six years late. Regardless, with her mother, she did join me in planting the cord remnant beside one of the Chi Chi camellias we just added to our landscaping. The look on her face was loaded with skepticism. But the next time she came over a week later, she checked to see if the plant had visibly grown yet. I don’t want her to think it’s a magical thing, and only meant to acquaint her with the tradition of my grandmothers. I’m sure she’ll keep an eye on that camellia, though. If that one shrub begins to outgrow and out-bloom the other three nearby camellias, I’ll get great satisfaction in thinking that those “clouds of glory” Wordsworth wrote about trail a little person’s being far beyond infancy.
Book Reviews
Reading with Raymond Raymond Saadi
The Little Paris Bookshop By Nina George Crown $25 Monsieur Jean Perdu sells books from his “Literary Apothecary,”, a converted barge docked on Paris’ Seine River. From here his prescience allows him to diagnose the ills of patrons and expertly prescribe the perfect remedy with the appropriate book from “La Pharmacie Litteraire.” Unfortunately, Perdu cannot cure the pain he himself suffers since Manon, the woman he loved, left him suddenly 20 years before leaving only a sealed letter that he has stubbornly refused to read. That is, until a new woman, Catherine, comes into his life and convinces him to open and read it. The letter devastates Perdu as Manon confesses her love for him, that she is deathly ill, and pleads with him to come to her in Avignon. Perdu impulsively undocks his barge and steers southward joined by Max, a young bestselling author suffering writer’s block and Cuneo, a lovelorn chef. Together they find unexpected companionship in the villages and towns of southern France still not knowing if Perdu can shed his grief for Manon and embrace life again?
The Hummingbird By Stephen P. Kiernan William Morrow $25.99 This is the courageous story of Deborah Birch, a seasoned hospice nurse who struggles with life on two fronts; attempting to reignite her loving marriage with her husband, Michael, who’s just returned, distant and unreachable, from his third deployment to Iraq; and her attempts to care for and comfort Barclay Reed, a retired history professor dying of liver cancer. An intriguing third story is told through the professor’s last and unpublished book on the mostly unknown Japanese bombing of Oregon in WWII. Michael is filled with guilt over his killing of several Iraqis whose faces he saw and can’t forget. Debbie never gives up on him, even willing to sacrifice her life to save him. The professor, embittered by an undeserved disgrace, his many books removed from University shelves, has Debbie read to him his last book about the pilot who dropped those incendiary bombs on the Oregon forest, chapters interspersed, but somehow related, to her marital problem. Beautifully written, this is a heartening contemplation on death and optimistic assurance of life.
Dead Wake By Erik Larson Crown Publishing $28 She was beautiful, sleek, fast and longer than two football fields. 19 On May 1, 1915, the Lusitania set out for Liverpool from New York defying many warnings, including newspaper ads placed by the Germans. Captain William Thomas Turner chose to take that risk relying on the gentleman restrictions that protected civilian ships, a constraint not honored by Walther Schwieger, the German Captain of Unterseeboot-20. Schwieger, firing one torpedo sank the Lusitania in 18 minutes, killing 1,198 passengers and crew. Among the dead were 123 Americans, which provoked America to finally enter the war, but not soon enough to suit Winston Churchill who complained that President Woodrow Wilson’s delay caused thousands of unnecessary British deaths. Larson’s incredible research and writing makes this, despite our knowing the outcome, quite suspenseful.
www.bayoucatholic.com
Young Voices The best part of being a Catholic is that God is everywhere. I don’t have to drive to a church to talk to him. Being that my sister and mom are both Catholic, we bring God into everything we do. God is always next to me when I’m stressed about school or in an argument with some friends; he is and always has been right next to me. There’s a small campus ministry we have at South Terrebonne and I try to attend morning prayer every day!
Even when life gets super busy or chaotic my time with God is never sacrificed. I make sure to thank him every morning for waking me up. My sister and I try to say the rosary on the way to school; and if we don’t, we go to morning prayer at school. Going to Mass on Sunday is really important to me because without that time with God, my week usually doesn’t go really well.
Nicole Cohen, 17 years old Sacred Heart Church parish, Montegut South Terrebonne High School
Stephanie Cohen, 17 years old Sacred Heart Church parish, Montegut South Terrebonne High School
When life gets busy, what do you do to make sure that time with God isn’t sacrificed?
20
Lauren Gervais, 14 years old St. Mary’s Nativity Church parish Central Lafourche High School In order to make sure my time with God isn’t sacrificed, I try to incorporate prayer throughout my daily actions. Every day when my mom and I are driving to school we read from a daily devotional which sets our attitude for the day. I also say grace when I sit down for lunch every day. Being a band student is extremely exhausting at times, but no matter how tired I may be I always say my prayers before going to bed every night.
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
Hunter Soudelier, 16 years old St. Joseph Church parish, Chauvin South Terrebonne High School I tend sometimes to fall into the trap of letting God start to slip out of my life. When this starts, he always brings me back in one way or another! I am a large member of the campus ministry at South Terrebonne; it keeps me motivated to help others in their faith! This keeps me close to God in those tough times! Also, a Bible study group and just praying with friends helps!
Louis Aguirre
Rev. Carl Diederichs
Glenn Landry Jr.
Melissa Robertson
Rev. Mitchel Semar
Very Rev. Mark Toups
Pastoral, diocesan appointments chancellor, pastor, administrator, coordinators, director
The following pastoral and diocesan appointments, effective Oct. 1, have been announced by Bishop Shelton J. Fabre. Father Very Rev. Mark Toups, who has been serving as pastor of Christ the Redeemer Church parish in Thibodaux, has been appointed as diocesan Chancellor, and as such will oversee the diocesan strategic planning process. “This bold initiative to undertake a diocesan wide strategic planning project that engages our parishes, schools, the Pastoral Center, and all our ministries, requires a visionary perspective and a talent for team building and collaboration. I believe that Father Mark’s professional experience in management consulting, his recognized leadership in vocations, and his work with three parishes
as pastor has helped prepare him for this new challenge,” says Bishop Fabre. “As Chancellor, he will be working closely with our priests and deacons, our entire diocesan staff and our lay leaders throughout the diocese. Together, we will design and implement a strategic planning process that will transform our church here in Southeast Louisiana.” Father Mitchel Semar, who has been serving as pastor of St. Lucy Church parish in Houma and St. Luke the Evangelist Church parish in Thibodaux, has been appointed pastor of Christ the Redeemer Church parish in Thibodaux. Father Carl Diederichs, who has been serving as associate pastor of St. Lucy Church parish in Houma and St. Luke the Evangelist Church parish in Thibodaux, has
been appointed administrator of these two parishes. Louis G. Aguirre, who serves as diocesan Coordinator of Formation Ministries, will now also serve as diocesan Coordinator of Social Ministries. Robert Gorman will continue to serve in his role as executive director of Catholic Charities Houma-Thibodaux. Glenn Landry Jr., who serves as diocesan Coordinator of Administration Ministries, will now also oversee Lumen Christi Retreat Center. Chris Domingue will continue to serve as the executive director of Lumen Christi Retreat Center. Melissa Robertson, who serves as diocesan director of Human Resources and Employee Benefits, will now also serve as diocesan director of Personnel. www.bayoucatholic.com
21
The annual Houma Life Chain
will be held on Respect Life Sunday,
October 4, 2015 from 2-3 P.M. (rain or shine). Those participating will line the median of Tunnel Boulevard in Houma and stand
prayerfully, silently holding Life Chain signs. The Thibodaux Life Chain
will line Canal Blvd . from 2-3 P.M.
Join with other pro-life Christians to make a statement to our community that “ABORTION KILLS CHILDREN”
Haydel
Respect Life Sunday BARKER HONDA
FAMILY PRACTICE
A Professional Medical Corporation Richard M. Haydel, M.D. ~ Scott A. Haydel, M.D. Lisa B. Black, M.D. ~ James M. Watkins, M.D.
502 Barrow St. • Houma, LA • 985.876.2150
1662 Martin Luther King Blvd., Houma 985-868-4401 • www.barkerhonda.com EDWARD J.
LAPEROUSE
METAL WORKS, INC.
FLEU R DE LIS
Since 1937
Earrings and Pendant
Ronald J. Robichaux, Pharmacist/Owner 616 Crescent Avenue Lockport, LA 70374 (Next to Lockport Post Office)
(985) 532-9140
Industrial and Commercial Roofing Contractors
Houma, Louisiana
985.872-4511
Terrebonne-Lafourche Right to Life Working to restore the right to life a labor of love.
Free Pregnancy Tests & Ultrasounds Pregnancy & Parenting Support Counseling Post Abortion Healing
851-BABY
Fall Gala Oct. 21st • 6:30 P.M. • Nicholls Ballroom
105 St. Louis St., Thibodaux
(985) 446-5004
help@crossroadsprc.org www.crossroadsprc.org
P.O. Box 6041 • Houma, LA 70361
Bueche’s Jewelry 730 Grand Caillou Rd. Houma • 985.868.9611 Mon. - Fri. 9-6 • Sat. 9-1
KEM
SUPPLY HOUSE, INC.
102 West 4th Street • Thibodaux, Louisiana 70301
OFFICE SUPPLIES & FURNITURE JOB PRINTING JANITORIAL SUPPLIES FULL LINE OF COMPUTER SUPPLIES
THIBODAUX (985) 447-7343 HOUMA (985) 876-2730 FAX (985) 448-0727
Shop at kemsupply.com
55+ Communit y
(985) 446-9050
1209 Cardinal Drive ~ Thibodaux, LA 70301 • www.cardinalplace.org
1201 Cardinal Drive, Thibodaux, LA 70301 (985) 446-9050 Fax: 449-0047 • www.stjosephmanor.org
Retirement Living At Its Best
www.ptcenter-la.com 447-3164
808 Bayou Lane
Thibodaux
OPEN 24 HRS
Earl Williams 7873 Main St. Downtown Houma
868-1505
Felger’s
505 Dunn Street • Houma, LA 70360 MATTHEW G. BEYER, M.D. 1125 Audubon Avenue • Thibodaux, LA 70301 DAVID L. HAGEN, M.D. CHAD M. SIMON, M.D. (985) 448-1030
Foot Wear
Perfect Fit - Since 1991
Wal-Mart Center
1539 MLK Blvd Houma
851-1559
God’s Promises Books & Gifts
Galliano Religious Supply House
648 B Corporate Drive
18210 West Main Suite 13 (985) 632-3040 Galliano
(Behind Target)
(985) 876-1283 Houma
God’s Precious Word & Gifts 601 St. Mary Street (Next to Politz)
(985) 449-0618 Thibodaux
(985) 872-0423
WE’RE DEALING MON. - FRI. 8 A.M. - 7 P.M. SAT. 8 A.M. - 2 P.M.
www.LafourcheMotorCo.com www.LafourcheLincoln.com
Houma
Houma
1171 West Tunnel Blvd Houma, LA 70360 (985) 868-9065
447-5852 1117 Audubon Ave. Thibodaux, LA 70301
LANAUX & FELGER
Certified Public Accountants A Professional Corporation 5779 Highway 311, Houma, LA 70360
1-800-375-5547 1-985-532-5547
5878 Hwy. 1, Lockport, LA
223-4760
Southland Drugs No. 2
Ear, Nose, Throat, and Sinus Specialists
Men & Women’s Clothing
876-1155
1321 Grand Caillou 125 Bayou Gardens
(985) 851-0883
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU! We Offer: Auditing, Review & Compilation Services Income Tax Planning & Return Preparation Business Plans & Strategic Planning QuickBooks Support & Consulting Business Consulting Accounting Services.
www.lanauxfelger.com Thomas J. Lanaux, CPA Mark S. Felger, CPA
Celebrating 31 years of Commitment to our client’s success.
Falgout Funeral Homes, LLC Caring You Can Count On Four locations to better serve the Bayou Region
3838 Hwy. 1 17330 Hwy. 1 600 Church St. 211 Westside Blvd. Houma, LA Raceland, LA Galliano, LA Lockport, LA 537-5261 876-5442 537-5261 632-6112
oCTOBER
and 28, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Very Rev. Josh Rodrigue. n Adult Faith Formation: God and the Human Person, Thursday, Oct. 8, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Father Mitchel Semar. n Love & Life workshop – understanding God’s plan for your marriage and family by using natural methods of family planning, October 13, 6:30-8 p.m., diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall. No registration required; free workshop. n Adult Faith Formation: The Old Testament, Thursday, Oct. 15, diocesan Pastoral Center
nOVEMBER
24
n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, Nov. 3, Quality Hotel, Houma, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Speaker, Jimmie Danos. n Adult Faith Formation: Liturgy, Wednesdays, Nov. 4 and 11, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Very Rev. Josh Rodrigue. n Adult Faith Formation: The Trinity, Wednesday, Nov. 5, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m.
Speaker, Rev. Jules Brunet. n Directors of Religious Education meeting, Wednesday, Nov. 5, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 9 a.m.-Noon. n Mass for Black Catholics, Friday, Nov. 6, St. Lucy, 7 p.m. n Marriage Preparation Day for pre-registered couples, Sunday, Nov. 8, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall. Contact your church parish or call the Office
Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Deacon John Pippenger. n Catholic Charismatic Renewal Silent Retreat for Women, Oct. 16-18, Lumen Christi Retreat Center. Call (985)856-4269 or (985)688-5578 for more information. n Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Celebration Prayer Service, Sunday, Oct. 18, Cathedral of St. Frances de Sales in Houma, 2 p.m. Reception following in the courtyard. n Adult Faith Formation: Jesus in the Gospels, Thursday, Oct. 22, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m. Speaker, Deacon John Pippenger.
of Family Ministries at (985) 850-3129 for registration details. Additional information available online at www.htdiocese.org. n TEC 75 Retreat, Nov. 13-15, Lumen Christi’s Souby Building, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and concluding at 4 p.m. on Sunday. n Native American Mass, Friday, Nov. 20 at 6:30 p.m., St. Ann Church in Bourg.
DECEMBER n Deadline to register for Junior High Faith Experience 2016 is Thursday, Dec. 1. n Adore, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m., diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall.
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
DIOCESAN
n Marriage Preparation Day for pre-registered couples, Saturday, Oct. 3, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall. Contact your church parish or call the Office of Family Ministries at (985) 850-3129 for registration details. Additional information available online at www.htdiocese.org. n Respect Life Mass, Sunday, Oct. 4, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, 11 a.m. n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, Oct. 6, Quality Hotel, Houma, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Speaker, Deacon Cody Chatagnier. n Adult Faith Formation: Liturgy, Wednesdays, Oct. 7, 14
www.bayoucatholic@htdiocese.org
EVENTS
e n Tu To... In
Quality Family Programming for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux ~ Channel 10* on Comcast of Houma and CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS of Terrebonne Parish ~ Channel 10* on CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS in Thibodaux ~ Channel 10* on VISION COMMUNICATIONS of South and Central Lafourche ~ Channel 10* AT&T U-Verse *Channel 10 is provided by and in cooperation with HTV of Houma. ~ Channel 71, ALLEN’S TV CABLE of Morgan City
6:30 A.M. 9:00 A.M. 9:30 A.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.
6:30 9:00 9:30 8:30
SUNDAY
Proclaim the Good News/The Rosary Closer Walk Comfort For My People
MONDAY Proclaim the Good News/The Rosary Focus Spotlight
TUESDAY
Proclaim the Good News/The Rosary Live with Passion Proclaim the Good News/The Rosary
WEDNESDAY Proclaim the Good News/The Rosary
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.
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 Live With Passion 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
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Heavenly Recipes Story and Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier This month’s heavenly recipe, Italian Tuscany Soup, comes from Una Authement. She says that in the fall months her mind goes directly to soup recipes. This is one of her favorites. She is convinced that God’s love is like a hearty soup. It contains tons of nourishment! Una and her husband Deacon Doug Authement were high school sweethearts and were married three days after Una’s graduation. Una recalls the time when she was a young bride and she decided to cook a gumbo for her mother and father-in-law. “I prepared a gumbo for my in-laws and it was like glue. It was the consistency of Elmer’s glue. I couldn’t cook. We had just gotten married. I didn’t know how to boil an egg. They laughed but ate it anyway.” Perhaps the funniest part of the story is that her father in law was the owner and cook of the Seabreeze Restaurant in Houma and according to Una and Doug he was a very good cook. In fact Doug’s father had brothers who were also 26 cooks. Cooking was in the genes. As time went on Una would eventually learn how to cook. “I used to stand next to the stove and watch my father-in-law cook. That’s how I learned. It wasn’t easy though because he would never measure anything when he cooked. He would add the ingredients without measuring and it would be delicious,” says Una. As time passed Doug and Una moved to Houston where Doug went to law school. It was during this time that Una tuned her cooking skills. “I would buy cookbooks and try different recipes and the dishes would come out really good. When we moved to Houston Doug’s tall Texas friends would come home for lunch. I cooked gumbo and they loved it. We used rice and they didn’t cook with rice. They didn’t know how to use the rice. They would come over quite a bit. I remember one day one of his friends ate about three bowls of gumbo then moaned and groaned out the door. However he made sure to take some home to eat later.” Doug finished law school when Una was 27. They had four children and were beginning a law practice in Houma. Their spiritual journey Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
Una’s Italian Tuscany
p u o S
led them to the Center of Jesus the Lord in New Orleans where they became friends with Father Emile Lafranz. “We went to every retreat that was offered. Every class offered. Father Emile was a spiritual mentor in every way,” says Una. Doug was ordained a permanent deacon in 1989 in New Orleans for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. “Our commitment to our church was complete with his ordination. Our Catholic faith and our parish family became our life. We were at Maria Immacolata for 30 years. There we both served in many capacities. Our home became an open house of prayer. We hosted many retreats, gatherings, religion classes and intercessory prayer meetings.” As the years passed Doug was appointed director of the permanent diaconate in the diocese. Una was there at his side as his helper. “The diaconate school was being held here in our diocese and it was a full time job. The diaconate became his and my priority. I had worked at Doug’s law office and that experience helped me be of help to him,” she says. Doug and Una have been married for 57 years. Una says that it continues to be a joy-filled life as they get older. “Doug is semiretired from his law practice and we now do a little work from our home and I am still his secretary.” Una has more time to paint now, a hobby which she enjoyed years
ago. When she was younger she took art classes at Nicholls State University, and studied with art teachers in New Orleans and Houston. In addition to painting she is an avid gardener. She now enjoys raising chickens. She currently has five which produce many eggs for the kitchen. “As we age we seem to be enjoying each other’s company as we sit outside in the late afternoon. We have faced many difficult challenges over the years. With the help of God, family and our faith, we survive daily.” Italian Tuscany Soup 1 lb. ground Italian sausage 1/4 lb. Italian sausage (sauté and cut into pieces) 1 large onion (white or sweet Vidalia) 3 slices of bacon cut into pieces 2 tbs. diced garlic 10 cups of chicken broth 1 cup of heavy cream 1 lb. (3 large or 4 small) russet potatoes 1/4 bunch of kale Sauté sausage and crushed red pepper in a large pot. Remove from pot; drain fat. In the same pot sauté bacon, onions and garlic for about 15 minutes. Add chicken broth and heat to boiling. Add thin sliced potatoes and cook until soft, about 25 minutes. Add cream and thoroughly heat (can use almond milk). Stir in the sausage and kale. Heat thoroughly and serve. (Makes 6-8 servings)
䐀䤀伀䌀䔀匀䔀 伀䘀 䠀伀唀䴀䄀ⴀ吀䠀䤀䈀伀䐀䄀唀堀
栀琀搀椀漀挀攀猀攀⸀漀爀最
一伀圀 䄀嘀䄀䤀䰀䄀䈀䰀䔀 䰀椀欀攀 唀猀 伀渀 䘀愀挀攀戀漀漀欀
昀愀挀攀戀漀漀欀⸀挀漀洀⼀栀琀搀椀漀挀攀猀攀
䘀漀氀氀漀眀 唀猀 伀渀 吀眀椀琀琀攀爀
琀眀椀琀琀攀爀⸀挀漀洀⼀栀琀搀椀漀挀攀猀攀
䐀漀眀渀氀漀愀搀 伀甀爀 䄀瀀瀀
猀攀愀爀挀栀 昀漀爀 栀琀 搀椀漀挀攀猀攀
Cover Story
Guest Columnist
P 28
Father Wilmer L. Todd
People today want solid proof for their beliefs. Our scientific mentality demands that we take nothing for granted. We sometimes apply this to religion. When Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life, those who believe in me will never die”; how do we know that his message is true? We can believe with blind faith or we can also see the realizableness of his statement. Yet, how can we prove that there is life after life? Let’s start with Jesus’ Resurrection. All four Gospels have an account of Jesus’ Resurrection. They said he appeared to many people during the 40 days after he rose from the dead on Easter Sunday morning. All of the apostles except John and many disciples died for their faith in Jesus’ Resurrection. When faced with a cruel death, a person is not going to die for a lie. However, no one who saw the Lord after he was alive ever said, “We just made that story up so you would follow him.” They all died because they really experienced the risen Lord in their life. St. Paul in his Letter to the Corinthians talks about Jesus’ Resurrection and what that means for him and us: “For I handed onto you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. “Then he appeared to more than 500 brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
Is there
af ter Life e f i ? L appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to someone untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain . . . Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead?” (1 Corinthians 15:3-
12). To me, Paul’s experience of the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus is the greatest proof that Jesus is alive. Here was someone persecuting Christians for their belief in the Risen Lord, then he has an encounter with Jesus and his whole life is turned around. How else could someone explain this sudden turnaround? I worked as a chaplain for Hospice groups for more than
a
seven years. All the medical personnel I was associated with experienced dying patients seeing and talking to deceased relatives and friends before their deaths. Some people even saw Jesus or some saintly person. Their visions of these people were so vivid that they wondered why anyone else couldn’t see them. Some could even tell you the day they were to die. It seemed like these visitors came to escort them into the next life. Then we have many near death experiences. The new film, 90 Minutes in Heaven, is based on Don Piper’s bestseller autobiographic novel by the same name. Don Piper was involved in a horrific car crash and was pronounced dead at the scene and covered by a tarp. Ninety minutes later he was brought to the emergency room and returned to life; and he claims to have seen heaven and visited with deceased relatives while there. There are many stories like this. They usually involve a person leaving their body and looking down at it. They see people bending over their body. As the ambulance arrives, a blinding light surges and softly beckons the person. They follow the light through a tunnel to a place more vividly real and spectacular than anything they ever experienced. They are sure they have arrived in the hereafter. Weeks later, they wake up to the steady beeps of an EKG monitor next to their hospital bed. Patients in intensive care are sometimes afraid to tell their stories. They are afraid people will not take them seriously. People who go on these fantastic journeys are often forever changed. Many seem to come back happier and no longer fear death. The experience becomes a cornerstone of their lives. Dr. Jeffrey Long at the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Houma has written a book entitled Evidence of the Afterlife: The Science of Near-Death Experiences. He presents the results from his research of more than 1,300 neardeath experiences from around the world, forming the largest scholarly study of such experiences ever reported. I hope this has been enough proof to deepen your faith in the afterlife!
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. For detailed reporting procedures see: www.htdiocese.org. Click on the Safe Environment tab, then on S.E. Forms and Links.
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. Vea el detallado procedimiento de informes en: www.htdiocese.org. Haga clic en Safe Environment y luego S.E. Forms and Links.
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. Caàn bieát theâm chi tieát veà caùch baùo caùo xin vaøo trang web cuûa ñòa phaän laø www.htdiocese.org. Baám vaøo muïc Safe Environment, sau ñoù tôùi muïc S.E. Forms vaø Links.
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Life and Legacy
S traight
talk about cemeteries
Guest Columnist
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Father Michael Bergeron
In preparation for All Saints Day on Nov. 1, much time and effort is spent making cemeteries and gravesites attractive with fresh paint and beautiful flowers as a sign of respect for those who have died. Following are some frequently asked questions about cemeteries in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.
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Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
How many church parishes in the diocese have cemeteries? There are 30 cemeteries in the diocese. The cemeteries are managed by the church parishes, but must comply with the rules of the diocesan Office of Cemeteries. The diocese has a Cemetery Board, as well. The Office of Cemeteries manages St. Joseph Cemetery in Thibodaux. A little known fact is that St. Anthony Cemetery in Bayou Black is not a church cemetery but a public cemetery managed by a private cemetery board. Even though it bears the name of the church, it does not belong to the diocese and the church is not responsible for its upkeep. How do you keep track of people in the cemetery? Some churches do this manually and others have computerized databases. Some parishes have taken on the task of gathering all the old information which was poorly documented and getting it organized. This can be a difficult task because in the past records were kept manually, sometimes
saying things like “Mr. Brown, next to Mr. Jones, behind Mrs. Smith.” Numbering systems had to be assigned, titles issued and locations computerized. St. Lawrence and St. Patrick went from a poorly documented to a well-documented cemetery. The method was to first draw the cemetery from an aerial photograph and assign numbers to the rows and tombs. Then they walked through the cemetery and recorded everything on every tomb. Then they used every piece of paper that referred to the cemetery in their offices to further document. Afterward, they consulted genealogical material such as WPA (Work Progress Administration) cemetery books written in the 1940s which document cemeteries throughout the area. Finally, they got elderly parishioners to walk through the cemetery and identify where people they knew were buried. This was completed in 2005. Today, both cemeteries are well-documented. Other cemeteries were well documented from the beginning such as the cathedral
and co-cathedral parishes. Why did they take out the iron crosses in the cemeteries of the diocese? In another part of the country, some children were playing in the cemetery. One child jumped from a grave and was impaled by an iron cross. Insurance companies took notice and required that iron crosses be removed from all cemeteries. Notice was given to people to either remove the crosses or to lay them down into a concrete base (at the expense of the title holder). They were given ample time to do this. Most people did not respond after the required period of time because these graves were so old their descendants probably did not know the graves existed. After a period of time, the remaining crosses were removed. Occasionally you will see non-Catholic cemeteries with iron crosses. Chances are that those cemeteries do not carry liability insurance. How much does it cost to buy a plot in the cemetery? First, of all, no one has ever “bought” a plot in a
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Local families serving local communities in the Houma-Thibodaux Diocese Offering Burial Services, Cremation Services and Guaranteed Pre-need Services
There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 104 St. Patrick Hwy. • Thibodaux, LA 70301 • (985) 446-8826 www.thibodauxfuneralhome.com
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Life and Legacy
Cemeteries
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cemetery of most dioceses. Some people believe that they “own” that piece of property. But in truth, in the past, people were allowed to purchase the “right of burial.” No one except the church owns the property. The Cemetery Office has discontinued selling “right of burials” unless a vault or tomb is immediately placed on the property. That is when the “right of burial” is obtained. Some cemeteries build tombs in advance and place vaults in advance which are ready for purchase. But today, the “right of burial” is sold only when a vault or tomb is placed at the same time. Selling “right of burial” without a tomb or vault, as was done in the past, causes numerous problems for the cemetery. Some people purchase “right of burial” and wind up being buried elsewhere, thus creating a hole in the cemetery where grass has to be maintained forever. The
same is true if the person buys the “right of burial” years in advance. It gets increasingly difficult to cut the grass because of all the tiny unused spaces scattered throughout the cemetery. Riding mowers cannot get to them. It increases manual labor required. Furthermore, when the cemetery develops around this space, it may become impossible for a vehicle to get to that space to drop the vault or build the tomb. On the other hand, when tombs or vaults are placed immediately in a row as most cemeteries now do, the cemetery expands in an orderly fashion and the tombs or vaults are “coped” (concrete laid from tomb to tomb). This allows for orderly maintenance of the grounds. Another problem with selling these “rights of burial” is that sometimes a “neighbor” will drop a vault in the wrong position, taking up more space than is allotted. The person next to them may not have enough room to place their vault or tomb, making the other space useless. In the past, sometimes people put in their vaults in
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LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
For over 80 years, we are honored to have served the Families oF terrebonne, laFourche, and surrounding parishes We are proud of our tradition of providing professional, affordable funeral services to our community We strive to meet the needs of each family we serve We are a full service funeral home with a focus on creating a meaningful ceremony to honor your loved one
Our Services Include: • Traditional funerals • Memorial services • Military services • Cremation services • Graveside ceremonies • Advanced planning
HONORING LIVES, HEALING PEOPLE HONORING LIVES, HEALING PEOPLE 5899 Highway • Houma, 5899 311 Highway 311LA 70360 Jessica P. Williams, Manager Houma, LA 70360 Office: (985)868-2536 • Fax: (985)876-5032 985.868.2536
email: chauvinfh@bellsouth.net • www.chauvinfuneralhome.com Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
the wrong place and have blocked off entire aisles. Sometimes when trying to maintain the lawn in those tiny unused spaces, the lawn mower tire brushes against a tomb and leaves a black mark, or if some grass gets on the vault next to it and possibly stains the vault, complaints are received. These are just a few problems caused by selling the “right of burial” without the tomb or vault being placed immediately. What happens when the cemetery runs out of space? Good question. It will run out of space quicker if we keep “selling” individual vaults, which is actually a poor use of land. While vaults are still permitted at some cemeteries, mausoleums are a better use of land. For instance, the mausoleums at St. Bridget in Schriever hold twice as many people as the entire cemetery. Mausoleums are a better value, particularly if you purchase it when it is being built. They can be financed at that time at a very low interest rate with small monthly payments. There is even insurance
on the mausoleum so that if the purchaser dies before it is paid off, the debt will be erased. The church, however, does not finance tombs, vaults or mausoleums. Mausoleums are financed by the builder. According to the cemetery guidelines, “To conserve valuable land and to produce maximum revenues (for cemetery maintenance), multiple burial facilities (such as mausoleums or crypts and tombs) should be promoted. Ground vaults for single burials are to be discouraged, if not forbidden.” In another place it states: “Ground vaults are not recommended due to the excessive use of land. However, sometimes vaults are requested for burials and therefore are constructed. Again, we strongly discourage this practice. For those unable to afford any more than this, we suggest a paupers’ tomb.” What’s a paupers’ tomb? Cemeteries maintain tombs which are used for multiple burials known as paupers’ tombs. It allows for burials for those people
who cannot afford them. Paupers’ tombs, however, do not have the peoples’ names listed on them and except for family members who attended the funeral, most people are unaware of them. Some hold as many as 35 people. What is a columbarium? A columbarium is a small mausoleum crypt used for cremations. It is designed for one but usually can hold the cremains of two people. You can find them at some cemeteries as part of the larger mausoleum. What is the cost of a mausoleum space or a columbarium? These figures are average costs and include the permit and the “right of burial”: single mausoleum (one person only) $3,000 - $6,500; double mausoleum (two people only) $6,000 - $12,000; quad mausoleum (four people) $11,000 - $16,000; columbarium (two cremains) $1,000 - $1,800. Cost will vary according to the location. If they are purchased in advance at the time of construction, they can be financed through
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Deacon Brent Bourgeois, Chaplain, has been a deacon for 9 years with 6 years of hospice experience and is a deacon with St. Marys’ Nativity Church parish in Raceland. Lisa Adams is a Patient Care Representative with 8 years of experience and is a member of St. Ann Church parish in Bourg. Deacon Daniel Blake, MSN, RN, has 20 years of nursing experience, 3 years of hospice experience and is a deacon for St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux.
Deacon Brent Bourgeois, Chaplain ~ Lisa Adams, Patient Care Rep. ~ Deacon Daniel Blake, MSN RN
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Life and Legacy
Cemeteries
the contractors. You also have a greater selection of locations. If they are purchased at the time of burial, they cannot be financed and by that time the location is limited. Why are my silk flowers stolen and/or put on other graves? Usually, your flowers are not being stolen. There is a perpetual problem which occurs with flowers in the cemetery that most people are not aware of. When placing arrangements in cement vases or in the vases hanging on mausoleum doors, the arrangement is often on Styrofoam. When it rains, Styrofoam floats! So the flowers pop right out of the vases. The wind will blow them down the aisle and they are found on the ground. People will often pick them up and instead of throwing them away, try to guess where they belong. Sometimes they are wrong. If your flowers are in the wrong place, put them where they belong and 34
stop using Styrofoam. No vases, statutes or shrines may be placed on the floor in a mausoleum. Sometimes people bring live plants such as lilies, poinsettias or mums. When they return weeks later, they complain that their plants are gone. Yes, they are gone. Plants require water and if it doesn’t rain, they shrivel up and die, and become unsightly. It is then and only then, that they are thrown away. To prevent missing flower arrangements, you can do the following: 1) do not use Styrofoam, 2) fasten the flowers to the vase with wire, or 3) drill a small hole at the bottom of the vase to drain the rain water. Can the cemetery work on a tomb or vault that belongs to someone? Can the cemetery reclaim abandoned tombs? Yes, if it is necessary for maintenance and beautification, Louisiana Revised Statue 8:903 gives the cemetery much latitude in maintaining cemeteries. Remember, people have purchased a right of burial, but they
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Family owned and operated throughout five generations Providing dignified and quality care for the local communities in the Houma-Thibodaux Diocese Offering Guaranteed Pre-need Burial Services and Cremation Services “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26
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must maintain their tombs, unless they have contracted for perpetual care through the Cemetery Office. A burial plot may also be reclaimed by the cemetery if, after proper notice, it has not been used for 50 years. Is the cemetery responsible for the upkeep of my tomb or vault? No, unless it is under perpetual care, the titleholder is responsible for the upkeep of the tomb or vault. If a tomb is falling apart or in danger of being breached, the heirs will be contacted to repair it. If the heirs are not able to be contacted, a notice will be put on the tomb that the heirs must contact the church parish office. In time, if no one contacts the office, the tomb will be reclaimed by the cemetery so that repairs can be done or it can be demolished. If a tomb or vault is in good enough shape to qualify for perpetual care, it may be obtained for a fee of $1,300 to $6,000 from the Cemetery Office depending on the condition of the tomb. Those tombs will be kept up and repaired
LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
by the cemetery. If this is desired, it is wise to obtain perpetual care when the tomb is purchased and before it is painted. This guarantees the proper materials are used. Perpetual care is not available for dilapidated tombs. Mausoleums are perpetually cared for automatically and do not require contracting for perpetual care. That is another reason mausoleums are such a wise choice.
Can I claim a tomb listed as abandoned if I do not have paperwork? If you are an heir to a tomb marked abandoned, identify the tomb to the church parish office. If there are no indications of ownership otherwise, an affidavit needs to be filed along with an explanation of genealogical connection. After processing, the cemetery may issue a title. This applies only to abandoned tombs.
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Life and Legacy
Discussing death with loved ones eases burden, says noted author By NANCY FRAZIER O’BRIEN Catholic News Service
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In the days immediately before and after a loved one dies, time may slow to a crawl or pass in a flash. But how can people be sure to do or say the things they want to in that critical time period? “Practically speaking, you need to pull a support system together,” says Sherri Auger, an elder-care planning consultant who co-wrote “Now What? A Practical Guide to Dealing with Aging, Illness and Dying” (Novalis, 2010) with health journalist Barbara Wickens. Even better, if the death is not sudden, you can help your loved one to plan ahead so that his or her wishes for end-of-life care and a final remembrance can be carried out easily. “It takes a huge burden off the family if they know they have done what you want them to do,” she said.
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Auger, an only child, found out the importance of such planning 10 years ago when her father became ill. His illness took its toll on her mother, who also became ill and died three weeks later. Auger then had to plan her mother’s funeral, settle her estate, sell her parents’ home and find long-term care for her father without much guidance or advance discussions about her parents’ wishes. The process led Auger, who was then working in the corporate world, into the relatively new field of eldercare planning. She now teaches on the subject in the Toronto area and heads Caring Matters, which helps individual clients with elder care and estate planning. Starting a discussion about end-of-life care and funeral arrangements with elderly parents is difficult and doesn’t get easier as parents get older, Auger acknowledges. She said adult children approaching middle age should make out their own wills and put their funeral plans in writing, then raise the topic with their parents. Here is some of Auger’s best advice for the time when a loved one is dying and the period immediately afterward: n “The center of attention always has to be on the person passing away,” she said. Those in the room with a dying person must remember that “the last sense that people lose is the sense of hearing” and must give one another “space and respect,” acknowledging that not everyone wants to be in the room at a death and trying not to “put their own feelings on other people.” n As a person begins transitioning into death, he or she might “need to be given permission to pass away,” Auger said. Handholding and applying hand cream can be very welcome, but it is important to know too that some people might find it uncomfortable to be touched as the end nears. n Keep practical considerations in mind, such as the fact that the dying person might not be wearing his or her dentures and could find it difficult to speak. “You cannot expect them to say their dying words to you,” Auger said. “Don’t leave what you want to say until the very end. Have the words you want to have with them before it reaches that stage.” n Last rites or a final blessing from a priest or other religious leader can ease the transition to death, she added. n Once death has occurred, “you don’t have to rush away.” Instead, Auger recommended that people “take whatever time you need to be with the person.” She also recommended that after a grieving person returns home they should “mark that moment in some special way, with something pleasant” such as a hot bath. n In looking for support through the grieving process, she advised people to consult the many resources available through churches and hospice programs. Ask friends and family members for help, especially with tasks that match well with their expertise. But be aware that the people closest to you might not be able to help “because they are grieving too” she added. n On a practical note, she advised next of kin of the deceased to avoid getting robbed from those who prey on the grieving by asking someone to stay at the house during the funeral.
Samart Funeral Home & Crematorium of Houma is holding its 6th annual blessing ceremony for the loved ones interred in Rogers and Matherne Cemeteries on Sunday, November 1, 2015 2:00 p.m. Service will be conducted by Rev. Robert Rogers Pastor of St. Louis Catholic Church
Let Samart Funeral Home & Crematorium Inc. be your 1st choice when selecting a provider for your pre-need and at-need funeral services.
Walton “Jr.” Guidry Manager
635 Bayou Blue Road Houma, Louisiana 70364
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www. samartfuneralhome.com LOCAL PEOPLE SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1995
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Special
Annulments Why ... and how ... has the process changed? Guest Columnist
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O
Very Rev. Vicente DeLa Cruz, J.V. Judical Vicar
On Tuesday, Sept. 8, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Francis promulgated a document with the force of law entitled Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus (The Lord Jesus, Gentle Judge) “On the Reform of the Canonical Process for Cases of the Declaration of Nullity of Marriage in the Code of Canon Law.” This document, together with the accompanying document for the Eastern Church, revised the procedure in the processing of petitions for a declaration of nullity of marriage according to the 1983 Code of Canon Law. This new procedure will take effect on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8, 2015. The Code of Canon Law (the Code) is the set of ecclesiastical laws governing the Roman Catholic Church throughout the world. Aside from the usual administrative norms and guidelines the Code also deals with the spiritual and sacramental aspects of the Roman Catholic Church; this includes the celebration of marriage in the church. From the beginning of our existence, the church has always taught that “the first marriage of all baptized is valid and sacramental.” The Roman Catholic Church
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
Jesus the Gentle Judge
believes that regardless of religion and denomination (Catholic, Anglican, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc.), one who was validly baptized and enters a marriage for the first time, commits him/herself to a lifelong committed relationship of life and love that can only be dissolved by death. This life-long relationship is modeled and patterned after Christ’s relationship with us, the church (his bride) to whom he gave up his life for our salvation. In the marriage of man and woman, our relationship with Jesus Christ is reflected. This is the reason why marriage as an expression of one’s vocation is so protected by the church. From the selfless giving of husbands and wives, the church as a whole is
perfected, made holy and blameless before God’s eyes. But as in every human case, some marriages were not modeled and patterned after Christ’s, some people enter it for reasons other than what God has decreed and what the church has taught; and when these people do, the marriage becomes sacramentally invalid from the beginning. What does sacramentally invalid mean? It means that grace that should come from consecration of man and woman and the spiritual effects that should flow from it did not happen. The sacramentality of a marriage creates a bond that encompasses the totality of each person. That bond once sealed by God cannot be unbroken. This bond is
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determined by the couple who gives and receives each other in the presence of the church’s minister and witnesses. However, when and if the “bond” is defective for some reason or reasons, or when it was given and received not in accordance with God’s ways and the church teachings then as they say it, “Houston, we have a problem.” In cases like this, the marriage could be invalid. Since only those who contract the marriage could question its validity, it is up to the former husband or wife to petition the tribunal of the church to investigate and declare their marriage to be so. This is the reason why it is called “a declaration of invalidity (aka “nullity”) of marriage. In the process, the church’s tribunal will not deny that the marriage took place or that it would simply wipe away the 10, 20 or more years the couple cohabitated. The process would simply declare based on the declarations of the parties and their witnesses that the “sacramental effects and the spiritual bond that the marriage
should have incurred at the time of the wedding did not happen because of some reasons that through intensive investigations, the church’s tribunal has determined to be present at the time of the wedding. Relationships take time to develop and mature before they result in marital unions. The length of courtship plus cohabitation is the total span of how long a couple has been together. The longer the couple has been together, the lower the presumption of its marriage invalidity. When a marriage fails then, the burden of overturning this presumption falls on the one who will question its invalidity. And this takes time. A party or anyone for that matter cannot simply declare and demand that a relationship that one was involved in for years should be pronounced invalid at one instant; there’s more to a failed marriage. The extensive investigation that a tribunal does in processing a petition hopes to protect the rights of both parties and to establish the truth. For decades now, this
has been the approach of tribunals throughout the world that resulted in a long, tedious and drawn-out process that prompted the bishops of the church who attended last year’s initial convocation of the Synod of Bishops in Rome to petition the Holy Father to do something. As many of us saw and heard, on Sept. 8, the pope responded. The letter (called “motu proprio”) that Pope Francis promulgated Sept. 8 hopes to streamline the processing of annulment petitions and to give diocesan bishops more authority in handling marriage invalidity cases. The Holy Father set up the premise for his letter by invoking the last and most important law of the church found in the Code: “the salvation of souls, which in the church must always be the supreme law” (Canon 1752). In doing this, the Holy Father wants to make sure that all of us, regardless of our status in the church, will remain focused on what this letter and his action is really all about – saving souls! It is not a coincidence that the Holy Father unveiled this
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Annulments new procedure on marriages on the eve of the World Meeting of Families that will be held in Philadelphia Sept. 22-25. The Holy Father also declared that beginning Dec. 8, 2015, until Nov. 20, 2016, the church will observe the “Year of Mercy.” In this backdrop, the Holy Father emphasizes that in strengthening the basic institution of the church, i.e. the family, we must begin with the persons first. The strength of the family, and for that matter the community, comes from the wellness of persons who constitute it. Please don’t misinterpret the action of the Holy Father. The Holy Father is not changing the doctrines and teaching of the church on marriage, nor is he “doing away” with anything. This new procedure involving annulments is not 40 to favor the nullity of marriages but to process without delay the administration of justice in the church. The Holy Father is not advocating that we will have more annulments in the church but, rather, to eliminate whatever is unnecessary and burdensome to people who exercised their rights to be heard by the church. By doing this, the Holy Father removed all those aspects of the current procedure that are not intrinsic to the process itself but simply lengthens and delays the completion of a petition. The new procedure involves five major areas, 1) new rules for tribunal competence, 2) new requirements for tribunal personnel, 3) the elimination of the required conforming decision from the court of second instance, 4) a rare shorter process to be judged personally by the diocesan bishop, and 5) some recommendations on recovering tribunal expenses. The current rule for tribunal competence determines whether a tribunal can process a petition or Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
not (Canon 1673, Nos. 1-4). The four levels of competence are: 1) the wedding took place in that diocese, 2) the respondent lives in the same diocese, 3) the petitioner lives in the same diocese, and some conditions, and 4) the majority of evidence will be collected in the same diocese. These levels of competence sometimes pose a problem especially when the parties involved have moved to different dioceses, states or countries, or when proposed witnesses to the marriage in question live everywhere. The current procedure is very strict about protecting
the rights of all parties, and therefore every effort must be made to ensure that each one was given the opportunity to participate and be heard in the process. This is time-consuming and causes serious delays. For this reason, the revised and new procedure proposes that the level of tribunal competence will be determined as, 1) the wedding took place in the diocese, 2) either party lives in the diocese, and 3) the majority of relevant evidence will be collected in the diocese. As you can see, the new procedure streamlined the processing of petitions and eliminated what was unnecessary and burdensome to the process and people. The new procedure also eliminated the required conforming decision that comes from the appeal court. In the current procedure, the
decision made in the tribunal of Houma-Thibodaux must be sent to the court of second instance in New Orleans for ratification. The reason for this requirement is to protect the rights of the respondent, the integrity of the procedures and the dignity of the sacrament. Because the court of second instance ratifies the decisions of all six dioceses in the State of Louisiana, certain delays can be expected. The new procedure will not require this and, therefore, cuts the processing time. It does not mean that the rights of the respondent and the dignity of the sacrament have been put aside with the new procedure. The Holy Father presupposes that the judge in the case, exercising in full his pastoral ministry, vigilance and diligence has already done this so when he accepted and heard the case, mindful always that it is “the salvation of souls” that he is after. The Holy Father stated that his aim is that “the heart of the faithful awaiting clarification (of their marital status) is not long oppressed by the darkness of doubt.” The new shorter procedure that the Holy Father proposed in his letter involves the direct involvement of the diocesan bishop and the preponderance of documentary evidence. The new procedure states that if the invalidity of the marriage is clearly evident, then a shorter process can be initiated under the direction of the diocesan bishop. As of this writing, we are still not sure how this part of the new procedure will be implemented. The Code and the current procedure have always given the diocesan bishop the right to reserve a case to himself. This means that he would personally receive, instruct and complete the case all by himself with the assistance of the members of his court. This is time-consuming for the bishop and would require his full and dedicated attention. The usual and current practice is for him to delegate his judicial vicar and the judges of the matrimonial court
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of his diocesan tribunal to adjudicate all cases, recusing himself from processing cases. We hope to get more instructions and guidelines on this new approach before the new procedure takes effect. The ideal length of time for the processing of petitions in marriage nullity cases in the Code of Canon Law is one year (from the time the petition is received and the second decision issued). In keeping with this ideal processing time, the court of first instance in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux has been working so hard these past few years to keep our processing time within a year. However, once a case leaves our Tribunal Office we’re not in control of the time element. In some tribunals in the country and abroad, their processing time is between three to five years, sometimes longer. These long waits have caused undue anxiety among those who have been waiting to return to the sacraments of the church. The Holy Father hopes that this new procedure will help
all tribunals to not only keep the ideal processing time, but also prevent undue delays. Like all other departments and offices in the diocese, the Tribunal Office is staffed by lay personnel who exercise the special ministry to the divorced and separated. A donation of $400 is requested from petitioners to help defray the cost of processing their petitions which includes a lot of paperwork, mailings, court of second instance fees and in some cases, fees to mental health professionals. Regardless of one’s ability to donate the said fees, all cases are accepted and processed in our tribunal. Some people think and believe that it is expensive to file a petition, and that money plays a part in the process. To eliminate this false idea and perception, the Holy Father proposed in the new procedure that the Bishops’ Conference of each country find ways and means to make the annulment process readily available to all people with less or no cost at all. The new procedure will take effect Dec. 8. Those who already
have a case pending before the tribunal before this date will still be processed using the old procedure. In short, the new procedures will NOT affect cases already pending and awaiting decisions at our tribunal. It is interesting that the Holy Father used the Latin term “mitis iudex” appropriately translated “gentle judge” as a title for his letter and the new procedural norms. “Mitis = gentle” is a word and expression that is found in the Scriptures that closely identifies God. Some examples are from the Gospel of Matthew (11:29-30), “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” From 1 Peter 3:15,“but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” From the Letter of
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www.bayoucatholic.com
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Annulments
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James 3:17, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” All these quotes reflect the kind of spirit and attitude of which the Holy Father wants the process of annulment to be guided and experienced. Taking our cue from most of his writings, addresses and impromptu speeches, we can confidently say that our Holy Father is reclaiming the approach of the church that for centuries has learned from the examples of Jesus Christ that each one of us is worth saving. Even though the saving process sometimes appears to be harsh, difficult and painful (as in the case of the annulment process), the gentleness of God’s love and his
‘
The only thing that matters is the salvation of souls
,
ways encourages us to persevere. This perseverance in the face of adversities is what will eventually save us. As the last canon of our church law says, the only thing that matters is the salvation of souls.
LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
Teachers honored for 25 years of service The following personnel were honored for 25 years of service in Catholic education during the annual Educators Conference held recently at Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma. Honorees pictured with Bishop Shelton J. Fabre and Marian Fertitta, diocesan superintendent of Catholic Schools; are from left, Bill Jennings, St. Genevieve Elementary School, Thibodaux; Celeste Brown, St. Joseph Elementary School, Thibodaux; Marion Oncale, Holy Savior Elementary School, Lockport; Marilyn Brown, St. Mary’s Nativity Elementary School, Raceland; Rebecca Pitts, E.D. White Catholic High School, Thibodaux; Cindy Blanchard, St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School, Houma; Gwen Bye, St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School; Rochelle Lirette, St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School; Jenny Paris, St. Gregory Elementary School, Houma. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
St. Andrew is Golden
LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
St. Andrew Church parish in Amelia will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a Mass of Thanksgiving Sunday, Oct. 11, at 10:30 a.m. Bishop Shelton J. Fabre will be the main celebrant. A reception will be held in the church hall immediately following the Mass.
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Church Alive
44 LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
Very Rev. Mark Toups addresses the diocesan staff at the Pastoral Center in Schriever during a meeting in which the goals of the diocesan-wide strategic plan are explained to the group.
Guest Columnist
D
Very Rev. Mark Toups, Chancellor
During my 14 years of priesthood I have met thousands of people. Each has an unrepeatable relationship with God and a uniquely personal story of life. That was true about Charles Mack. He was the patriarch of the African American community in Thibodaux. He was bold, colorful, and wise. I first met Charlie Mack in 2006. During my first days as pastor I walked the neighborhoods near St. Luke’s. As I was welcomed in his home it was during my first
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
WE ARE
... 126,000 Catholics ... 39 parishes ... one diocese ... in this together
visit with him that he told me: “The priest has the authority, but the people have the power. How about we work together?” Charles Mack, may he rest in peace, was a wise man. We have to work together. We face unique challenges in our culture, in our nation and in our state. However, we also face unique challenges here – in our families, in our parishes and in our diocese. Our shepherd, Bishop Fabre, understands the challenges we face. Yet, Bishop Fabre also knows the wisdom of Charles Mack: We
have to work together. We have 39 different parishes. It’s easy for us to focus on our parish. It’s there that we live, pray and enjoy community. However, our church – our faith – is bigger than merely one parish. The challenges we face are bigger than merely a parish. While we are 39 different parishes, we are one diocese. We all experience life together. We face present challenges together. We face the future together. Bishop Fabre is conscious that our Diocese of
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Houma-Thibodaux is merely two years away from its 40th anniversary. To best prepare for the diocese’s 40th anniversary, Bishop Fabre has called for the development of a diocesan-wide strategic plan. Planning together will unite our individual parishes with the larger family of HoumaThibodaux in a way that has a transformational impact – renewing the hearts of those who participate and the lives of those we serve. Psalm 25:6 reminds us: “May the church become the voice of every man and woman, and repeat confidently without end: ‘Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.’” For the church to become the “voice of every man and woman” in our diocese, Bishop Fabre seeks to foster a culture of us working together. Why do we do what we do? How can we best work together? What is our story of faith? In short, we need a process where we are together. We face many challenges; however, we must look
to each other in Christ and prepare for our future together. Clergy, religious and laity: we must work together. Our 39 parishes, all of them unique, must come together as a single diocese. That is the work of strategic planning; that is the work to which Bishop Fabre has called me as chancellor. Strategic planning is a coming together for prayerful consideration of the challenges and opportunities before us and for thoughtful deliberation of our plan of action. Planning is tough work. To be inclusive of the aspirations of our priests at the pulpit and our people in the pews will require full-time focus, dedication and management. Together we can unite our parishes in ways that have transformational impact. But only if we dedicate and commit ourselves to the process and only if we work together. In the coming months I will be working with all of you to develop a planning process appropriate and meaningful to our diocese. Before I entered the seminary, I worked for the largest management consulting firm in the world.
Accenture, the firm I worked for, remains the best of the best when it comes to strategic planning and consulting. Yet, while there are literally thousands of “how to” manuals from the experts on strategic planning, we are called to seek our own unique path. We will certainly consider the experts, but I want to listen to you, to engage you, because we’re in this together. We stand together at a historic moment. Our future stands before us. I can hear the echo of Charlie Mack: “Father Mark, the priest has the authority, but the people have the power. How about we work together?” Maybe if Charlie Mack were still by my side he’d say something like: “We are 39 different parishes, but we are one diocese. How about we work together?” Bishop Fabre is calling us to prepare for our 40th anniversary. Bishop Fabre is calling us to strategic planning. As a son of this diocese, I’m all in. As a priest of Jesus Christ, I’m all in. As newly appointed chancellor, I’m all in. How about we work together?
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Assisi Bridge House 46
Making a difference for 36 years
The Assisi Bridge House (ABH) and Independent and living on the streets. In many instances they do Living Program is a 15-bed facility that offers longserve clients whose addictions have made them do term drug and alcohol rehabilitation in a structured things they ordinarily wouldn’t do such as stealing or environment for men age 18 years and older who have fighting, and a few have experienced homelessness. completed primary treatment (a 28 day inpatient “But in reality,” says Albarado, “we treat many treatment program) within the past year, have middle class young men ranging from age 20 to 30 been clean and sober 30 days before admission, and affected by the heroin epidemic in our community are stabilized on any (nonnarcotic) prescription which claims too many lives. You wouldn’t know these medications. Residents must be willing to defer guys were addicts or alcoholics if you passed them on employment; and they must acknowledge their the street, but their disease has certainly gotten in addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. the way of them keeping jobs, getting an education Monique V. Albarado, LPC, who has been serving and getting along with their families.” as associate director for the ABH since 2014 and as Billy Degeyter, LAC, counselor at the ABH, explains a counselor there since 2007, says that even though what he says most people don’t realize about addicts. there is more information than ever in the media “In the beginning, there is an element of choice, about addiction and addiction treatment, there is still but people who develop addictions have a genetic a stigma attached to the population they serve. predisposition in that they don’t have that ‘off button’ “Some people don’t view addiction as a disease or that ‘kill switch’ in the brain that satiates – that but rather a choice. I want everyone to know that at mechanism in our brain that tells us when we’ve had Assisi Bridge House, we view addiction as a treatable enough and when we need to stop. And after using disease. We treat addiction through counseling in certain substances over a period of time, they damage group and individual therapy and we support the 12 the structure of the brain and its chemical balance. step programs for alcohol and narcotics. We teach “When an addict has a craving for alcohol or a our clients how to live a healthy lifestyle, how to certain drug, that signal in the brain is as powerful communicate better, how to resolve conflicts, become as the signal in the brain of a person in the state of more responsible, and deal with stressors.” starvation who is craving food. They can’t just use She goes on to explain that there is a misconception willpower. Their brain really believes they can’t that at Assisi Bridge House survive without this drug; Story by Janet Marcel they treat either dangerous that’s why there is so much criminals or only older resistance to treatment.” Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier alcoholics who are homeless The ABH is helping Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
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qualifying men of any age, race or religion that have an addiction to a substance by coaching them to reform their behaviors to be successful, healthy, productive members of the community. While at the ABH, these men work hard on themselves through assignments, therapy, meeting participation and service work, says Albarado. They also give back to the community by doing service projects for various groups in the area. Clients are referred to ABH by other treatment agencies or the court system. According to a recent National Substance Abuse Treatment Services Survey, it costs an average of $7,000 a month for substance abuse rehab in the United States. For a service fee of $300 a month, a client at the ABH gets four group therapy sessions a week, individual therapy, family therapy, yoga classes, transportation, housing and more. Results from the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) concluded that in 2014, 27 million people age 12 and older, or one in 10 people, used an illicit drug within 30 days of being surveyed. This percentage was higher than those in every year from 2002 through 2013, with marijuana users accounting for 22.2 million of the total. Christopher Koerner, 35, whose drug of choice is heroin, had four knee surgeries and began using painkillers as a coping mechanism. He says he’s endured a lot of grief throughout the years that he didn’t know how to deal with and the painkillers made him feel better. After Hurricane Katrina, he was staying with his
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Assisi Bridge House associate director and counselor Monique V. Albarado, LPC, talks with ABH resident Timothy Anderson.
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Assisi Bridge House residents Christopher Koerner, Timothy Anderson and Stuart Pratt, share a light moment on the grounds at the bridge house.
Bridge House
mother who was dying of cancer, but he couldn’t really help her because he was crippled at the time. He says he used to listen to her crying out to God in pain and he just couldn’t take it. That’s when his dependency on painkillers became worse and he started using cocaine. He was arrested, charged with a felony and lost his jobs. His mother died; he tried to commit suicide, then his father died suddenly and he didn’t know how to cope. He tried to stop using by himself, but couldn’t. He got arrested again, sent to CARP in Baton Rouge, which is a 28 day inpatient treatment center, and then he ended up at the ABH. Koerner says he found out a lot about himself at the ABH through counseling and he’s learning some management, life and coping skills. “I am really grateful to be here. I’m trying to get as much out of it as I can and be fully equipped for when I go back out there. No one in my family does drugs and they are all very supportive. My whole family is ecstatic that I am in recovery,” says Koerner, who is looking forward to going back to college when he leaves the ABH. Twenty-two year old Timothy “T.J.” Anderson, whose drug of choice is Xanax, had high hopes of receiving a scholarship to play baseball at LSU, but during his second semester of junior college his labrum was torn in his shoulder. He says he smoked marijuana before he injured his shoulder, but after the injury he found his drug of choice and his life started going downhill at that point. He began Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
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taking a lot of pills and selling drugs, then was arrested for possession of marijuana. He knew he needed help so he went to a recovery treatment center in Houston, stayed clean and sober for 11 and a half months after he left there, then he relapsed. He went back to the same treatment center, stayed sober for four months and then relapsed again. During that time, he had been arrested four or five times and even tried to join the military, but was denied for drug related reasons. Looking back now, he realizes that after he lost the baseball scholarship, he felt like he had nothing. In June of this year, he went back to the same treatment center in Houston again. From there he was released to the ABH, which is the first long term treatment center he’s ever been to. “I feel like I’m making a whole new life here,” says Anderson, who has been at the ABH for two and a half months. “I’m trying to find a new purpose for my life now. I’m so grateful to be here and soon I’m going to be looking at trying to go back to school. One of the things that really helped me when I got here was the meditations we do in the morning. I have a lot of faith now where I had none before.” Stuart Pratt, 31, whose drugs of choice are alcohol and cocaine, has struggled with addiction, anger issues and authority figures most of his life. He has been in jail several times, gone to at least 20 drug court mandated inpatient treatment centers and three halfway houses. Pratt’s parents divorced when he was eight years old; his father was an alcoholic and his mother worked a lot so he says he and his brother basically raised themselves. Pratt started selling drugs on the streets at a young age, fathered a daughter when he was 17; when he and his girlfriend broke up he tried to commit suicide for the first time. Afterwards he went back to selling drugs, was arrested and sent to a prison with a recovery center. When he was released he went back to selling drugs, was arrested again, and the cycle continued for several years. In 2006, he went to a treatment center in Florida where he had some success. He stayed sober for almost a year and a half, but ultimately relapsed again, this time worse than ever. He was admitted to a mental hospital while awaiting trial and ended up going to prison for five years. A couple of months after he was released, his father died, which caused him to relapse again. He …all of are usare are called to be on mission …all called to be …allofofusus called toon bemission on mission
says he has been completely miserable and for him being at the ABH is a life or death situation. “I have no other choice; if I ever get arrested again, I will go to prison for life,” says Pratt. “I feel much better about myself now. I don’t feel like I hate myself anymore and I’ve become way more spiritual and religious here. I understand when I’m getting mad and I’m learning to deal with it; it’s all about changing my reactions to things. I’ve learned how to make positive decisions being here.” Pratt has been a client at the ABH for three and a half months. He says his goal is to go back to school to become a counselor that works with children. “I have a lot of respect for these men. It takes a lot of courage to be able to identify these things about themselves and make changes,” says Albarado, who asks for prayers for the men in treatment and for the entire staff at the ABH because addiction is a very difficult disease to deal with and conquer. The Assisi Bridge House, which has been in existence for the past 36 years, is licensed by the State of Louisiana, certified by the Louisiana Office of Behavioral Health, and accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) International. Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, administering the Assisi Bridge House, is certified under the national Standards for Excellence. The program is supported by United Way for South Louisiana, South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority, Medicaid, donations, grants and service fees. 49
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Special
Guest Columnist
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Marian Fertitta
The Catholic Schools Office is very pleased to announce that on July 17, 2015, official notification was received that the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Catholic Schools had been awarded reaccreditation by the largest global accreditation agency, AdvancED. This reaccreditation means that our schools continue as part of the 32,000 schools and districts in more than 70 countries that are committed to continuous improvement through accreditation. Preparation for the reaccreditation process began over a year before the visiting team arrived. This involved reviewing multiple sources of data, apprising the Catholic Identity of our schools, surveying teachers, staff, students and parents, and conducting schools’ strategic plans reviews by our own teams comprised of administrators and teachers from various schools. On March 1-4 of this year, the AdvancED External Review Team arrived to review the system, to evaluate the adherence to the AdvancED Accreditation Standards and to make a recommendation for AdvancED School System Accreditation. Besides addressing the AdvancED standards, our diocesan schools became one of the first in the country to also address the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) Benchmarks and Standards for Quality Catholic Schools as part of the accreditation process. The team consisted of five trained professionals from across the nation. They reviewed documents and performance data; interviewed system, school and community stakeholders;
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
Reaccredited by conducted site reviews at six schools; and observed system and school practices in action. The team offered both recognition of strong practices, as well as areas for improvement to the system. Included in the report presented by the team were the Index of Education Quality (IEQ) scores. These scores provide a holistic measure of our overall performance on the indicators and other evaluative criteria. It is a tool to assist our system in identifying areas of success as well as areas in need of focus. When the review was completed the team found that all of the requirements for accreditation were met and announced that it would recommend the system for AdvancED School System Accreditation. The recommendation was reviewed and acted upon by the national AdvancED Accreditation Commission June 25, 2015. To remain accredited our system must: 1) continue to meet the AdvancED Accreditation Standards; 2) implement a continuous process of improvement; and 3) engage in quality assurance through internal reviews and an external review every five years. Why is AdvancED School System Accreditation important? It demonstrates to our students, parents and community that we are focused on providing safe and enriching Christ-centered learning environments that reflect the teachings of the Catholic Church, raising student achievement, and maintaining efficient and effective operations staffed by highly
qualified educators. In two years, the system must report to AdvancED its progress in addressing the team’s Improvement Priorities. We strongly believe that the AdvancED School System Accreditation Process will make us even better. Students win when the entire school system commits to examining all of its processes and systems to determine what more we can be doing to benefit the students we serve. This is the essence of our undertaking the accreditation process. Dr. Mark Elgart, president/CEO of AdvancED, stated, “AdvancED School System Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school system on the primary goal of creating lifelong learners. The Diocese of HoumaThibodaux Catholic schools are to be commended for engaging in this process and demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement.” Parents and interested community members can learn more about the system accreditation process at www.advanc-ed.org. It is through the hard-work and efforts of our administrators, teachers, and school staffs that we can continue to achieve national accreditation. What an honor it is to serve with these dedicated, Christloving individuals in the Catholic schools of the Diocese of Houma– Thibodaux. Congratulations to all of you for a job well done! (Fertitta is the diocesan Superintendent of Catholic Schools).
Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux
AdvancED
Overall Score
304.07
282.79
Teaching and Learning Impact
296.83
274.14
Leadership Capacity
322.22
296.08
Resource Utilization
295.83
286.32
This chart indicates the scores of the schools in the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux compared to the other institutions in the AdvancED Network.
LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
In March of this year, the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux underwent an extensive external review to evaluate adherence to the AdvancED Accreditation Standards and to make a recommendation for AdvancED School System Accreditation. Preparation for the reaccreditation process began over a year before the visiting team arrived. In the above photo, Ray Poplus, director for the AdvancED Louisiana Office, presents Marian B. Fertitta, diocesan superintendent of Catholic Schools, Catholic Schools Office staff and school administrators with a plaque to symbolize that the schools of the diocese have been awarded reaccreditation by AdvancED.
Food for the Journey is Nov. 13 The diocesan Office of Religious Education sponsors a monthly lunchtime speaker series on the first Tuesday of the month at the Quality Hotel on Hollywood Road in Houma across from Vandebilt Catholic High School. The speaker for Nov. 3 is Jimmie Danos. Danos has served as diocesan director of the Office of Building and Construction for the past 31 years. During this time he has passionately pursued the promotion of evangelization in our diocese. As part of their formation, Danos taught a course on evangelization to the permanent deacon class of 2015. This year he was a speaker for the Adult Faith Formation class on the topic of Spirituality and was a keynote speaker at the 2014 Man of God Conference.
Jimmie Danos
In 1986, he was awarded the diocesan bishop’s medal by (the late) Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux in recognition of his efforts in evangelization. He has preached several parish Lenten and Advent missions, given talks at many diocesan sponsored events, to
parish RCIA and confirmation groups and at numerous church parish gatherings throughout this diocese and beyond. Danos and his wife Mona are parishioners of Christ the Redeemer Church parish in Thibodaux. Those who plan to attend the Nov. 3 event should RSVP with their name, phone number and church parish by Thursday, Oct. 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 $17 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
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Catholic Schools
Hundreds attend Educators Conference
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The annual Educators Conference sponsored by the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools was held recently at Vandebilt Catholic High School in Thibodaux. Bishop Shelton J. Fabre was the celebrant of the opening Mass in which approximately 450 educators from all of the Catholic schools of the diocese were in attendance. Father Joseph Pilola, pastor of Maria Immacolata Church parish in Houma, was the keynote speaker for the event.
Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
Foster Grandparents LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
Catholic Charities Houma-Thibodaux board of directors, Foster Grandparents advisory board members and community supporters gathered for a meeting at the Lumen Christi Retreat Center in Schriever recently for a Foster Grandparent advisory board meeting. In the photo at right, O’Neil Darden Jr., tribal council chairman of the Chitimacha tribe of Louisiana signs a tribal council resolution with Vickie Schenk, the state program director for the Corporation for National and Community Service; and Van Johnson, associate director for the Foster Grandparent Program for the diocese. The Foster Grandparent Program will support the services of the Child Development Center for tribal children in grades Pre-K through 8. The Chitimacha tribe is located mainly in Chareton, LA, in the Diocese of Lafayette. That diocese has given the Foster Grandparent Program of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux approval to aid the children there.
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Church Life
St. Louis is 50
54 An Anniversary Mass celebrating 50 years as a church community took place at St.
Louis Church parish in Bayou Blue. Bishop Shelton J. Fabre was the main celebrant of the Mass which was concelebrated by Bishop Emeritus Sam G. Jacobs, Father Robert Rogers, pastor; and retired priest Father Roch Naquin. Parishioners gathered on the church grounds after the Mass for a reception.
Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
Acolytes instituted Twenty-nine men from across the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux were instituted as acolytes by Bishop Shelton J. Fabre during a Mass at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma recently.
Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier 55
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Bayou Spirit
Vandebilt celebrates 50 Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with a Mass of Thanksgiving. Vandebilt president David Boudreaux welcomed those in attendance and thanked everyone who supported the school during its
50 years. Bishop Shelton J. Fabre was the main celebrant of the Mass which was concelebrated by priests of the diocese. Students, faculty, alumni and friends of Vandebilt attended the Mass.
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Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
Guest Columnist
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Father Robert-Joel Cruz
Peace! A great day is coming – and you can be part of it! Oct. 18 – World Mission Sunday – is a special day for all of us who are called, by baptism, to be involved in the missionary work of the church. On that Sunday, every nation, even the poorest mission countries, contributes to the mission needs of the church worldwide. World Mission Sunday truly belongs to the world. It is celebrated in every country, in every diocese and in every parish
World Mission Sunday: It’s our world on mission
— in a remote chapel far out in the African bush, in a predominantly Muslim or Hindu area in Asia, in a poor village in Latin America. We are citizens of the world, members of the one Body of Christ, and are at our best when we act lovingly and generously to our brothers and sisters in the missions. So this year remember that on Oct. 18, World Mission Sunday, the family of the church celebrates that we are “one family in mission.” Please pray for the people of the missions and for missionaries. I ask also for your generous help, to provide for the work of the mission church in pastoral service, education, health care and community outreach. Whatever you can contribute to the collection for the Society
for the Propagation of the Faith will be a great blessing to local priests, religious and lay catechists throughout Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Europe and Latin America. Asking the Lord to bless you for your generous missionary spirit, I am Rev. Robert-Joel Cruz, diocesan director for The Society for the Propagation of the Faith, 1220 Aycock Street, Houma, LA 70360. All for the Greater Glory of God! (For more about this important celebration of the universal church, please visit our special World Mission Sunday web site: www. IAmAMissionary.org. For more on staying “in touch” with the changemakers of the mission church every day, in real time, visit Missio.org and download the Missio app.) 57
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Guest Columnist Father Glenn LeCompte
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Good stories can have a unique and powerful impact upon our lives. Although I haven’t read Victor Hugo’s massive book, Les Miserables, I became familiar with the story through the musical. It is a powerful, gripping tale that reinforced my sympathy for the plight of the poor and deepened my sense of the overwhelming love of God, who sides with them in their misery and suffering. While good stories can touch our hearts, they also have the power to preserve a group’s identity. Every American student learns the story of the American Revolution. Yes, the story is about people who dressed, spoke and, in general, lived very differently from 21st Century Americans. Yet there is a timeless quality about their story, because their dream and struggle for religious and political freedom established the principles by which we live as an American society today. For an American to learn the story of the Revolution is to learn who he or she is. And this story is passed down to every generation of Americans, not only so they can understand their identity and what binds us together as a people, but so they might be moved to uphold and preserve that freedom. As in the case of every culture in the world, Christianity has its own stories that it cherishes as if they were family heirlooms, because they are. The stories of the Scriptures are the precious treasures of the Christian family; they define for us who we are as children of God in union with his Son, Jesus Christ. The readings of the Easter Vigil, when done in their entirety, tell our story from creation to redemption and new
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2015
The Lector:
Keeper of the heirlooms of Christian identity creation in summary fashion by means of nine readings, beginning with the first story of creation (Genesis 1) and ending with the finding of Jesus’ tomb empty. This grand narrative of our salvation has the power to instill in us a sense of dignity and hope for an eternal future in the presence of the one who created us.
LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
Lectors in our churches are the custodians of the Christian community’s stories and foundational beliefs. When they read, they do more than tell us nice stories with tidbits of wisdom for daily living. What they read is an expression of what we have become through faith. They tell us stories of new life through God’s mercy, healing and comfort for the afflicted and new life through faith. Consider for example a reader’s proclamation of Exodus 32:1-14.
While Moses is in God’s presence on Mount Sinai, the Israelites below rebel against the Lord and transfer their allegiance to a golden calf they build with their own jewelry. God informs Moses that he intends to exact justice against them by wiping them out. Moses, however, intercedes for the people and God refrains from punishing them. This is not just a story about characters in a narrative that experience God’s mercy. It is our story, the story of our own experience of undeserved divine compassion. The story says something about who we are; we are the people who likewise deserve death for our sins, but have been granted clemency by God through his Son, Jesus Christ. At the end of that reading, the reader declares, “The word of the Lord,” and we reply, “Thanks be to God.” That “Thanks be to God,” however, is meant to be exuberantly emphatic. On the one hand, we have to express happiness for the people in the story who experience divine compassion, even as sometimes in a movie people clap when the character with whom they sympathize emerges victorious over turmoil. On the other hand, our proper response should reflect a heartfelt joy at discovering that that story articulates our own experience of God’s mercy. Therefore, instead of a limp, rote verbalization, “thanks be to God,” our response should be an emphatic, “THANKS BE TO GOD!!!!!!!!” Certainly we can read the Scriptures in the privacy of our own homes, but there is something different about a public reading of them. I suggested above that the narration of a biblical story at Mass is a declaration of our personal experience of salvation, but that experience is also a
a
shared one. Not only have I, personally, experienced God’s compassion, everyone around me has, too. That means that we all stand in the same situation before God, in need of divine forgiveness and having it gratuitously bestowed upon us. The public proclamation of a story that articulates our common shared identity puts us all on an equal playing field and implies the unity we share as a church. No less than ministers of holy Communion, lectors distribute the Lord to the members of the assembly. How can I say this? Vatican II’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, No. 7 tells us that Christ himself “is present in his word, since it is he himself who speaks when the holy Scriptures are read in the church.” When lectors read at Mass they become the vehicles through which Christ makes himself present to us in his word. In the very act of reading, lectors deliver a message that can heal and instill hope. To be an effective proclaimer of God’s word requires the mastery of the mechanics of proclamation. But there is more to being a good lector than just developing good public reading skills. Lectors must have a deep reverence and love for the word of God. Indeed a good reader must have a constant hunger for the word, a driving desire to go back to it when they are away from it. Reading and praying with Scripture must be an aspect of a lector’s prayer-life. How can we expect others to savor God’s word if we do not do so ourselves? How can we give what we do not possess? They must see that their liturgical ministry is a unique and important aspect of the liturgy. The significance of the lector at Mass is underscored by the General Instruction of the Roman Missal No. 59, when it states: “The function of proclaiming the readings is by tradition not presidential but ministerial,” that is, the readings are properly proclaimed by a lay reader rather than by the priest or deacon. More than any of this, lectors must see themselves as the keepers of the communities treasury of biblical stories and epistolary exhortations in which are contained the Christian community’s identity. I would suggest that what is said in Revelation 1:3 of those who read and listen to the words of John the prophet applies to our experience of the Scriptures being read and heard at Mass: “Blessed is the one who reads aloud and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near.”
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Sports
Do the
Overtime
I
Ed Daniels
It is a new world for the New Orleans Saints. It is a five game stretch where the Saints could be a pick it or underdog. The Saints travel to Carolina, host Dallas, play at Philadelphia, host the Falcons, and then play at Indianapolis. So, the Saints will face quarterbacks Cam Newton, Tony Romo, Sam Bradford, Matt Ryan and Andrew Luck at the worst time. That is, with a depleted secondary. After the season opening loss at Arizona, safety Rafael Bush was placed on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle. Cornerback Keenan Lewis (hip) is still several weeks from a return. And, safety Jairus Byrd was still out with what the Saints are calling a knee injury on the official NFL injury report. Being a potential underdog for such a stretch is new territory since Sean Payton and Drew Brees arrived on campus in 2006. So, are the Saints in a downward spiral? Or, if they can just hang on, is there a chance to make a big push on the back end of the schedule? Following the Oct. 25 game at Indianapolis, the Saints host the New York Giants, and Tennessee, and travel to Washington and Houston. If the Saints can avoid major injury, they figure to be a much better team at mid-season than right now. A slew of rookies will have a half season of experience, and some of the key parts will likely return from injury. And, the Saints offense will hopefully get a boost from the return of running back CJ Spiller, who reportedly had knee surgery
“Call us SAINTS First” have one more run left?
during the preseason. If the downward spiral continues, the Saints may decide to go into full rebuild mode. Does Drew Brees, who would count for $27.4 million in cap charges next year, return? If Brees isn’t your quarterback, who is? If Brees isn’t your quarterback, is Sean Payton your head coach? For an NFL franchise that has had the same general manager, head coach and quarterback for the past decade those are unsettling questions. And, here’s another scenario. The Saints start poorly, finish fast, finish the season at eight and eight, and barely miss the playoffs. Do the Saints add another draft class, extend Brees’ contract to make it more cap friendly, and try to make one more run? Trying to reload quickly with a franchise quarterback has been done before. After losing to the Giants in the Super Bowl in February 2008, New England lost their first playoff game in back to back seasons. The Patriots re-tooled their roster and beat Seattle in the Super Bowl. But, after beating the Patriots in the Super Bowl in February 2012, the New York Giants have been stuck. The Giants have recorded seasons of nine wins, seven wins, and six wins. Do the Saints have one more run left? A question to ponder as they go through a stretch of games in a very different role ... as underdogs.
Mimi Wilson, OT, PA-C Jimmy N. Ponder, Jr., MD Adolfo Cuadra, MD
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