July 2014 Bayou Catholic Magazine by Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

Bayou

Catholic

The magazine for the people of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

Corpus Christi HOUMA, LA ~ JULY 2014 ~ COMPLIMENTARY

Together in the

Work of the Lord For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. 1 Corinthians 3:9

For more information, visit: www.htdiocese.org

92,839

little miracles

Even over 60 years, that’s a lot of babies. And it’s just the start. We’ve not only shared the unbridled joy of new beginnings but your burden of worry during hard times as well. And all along, our dedication to your wellbeing has never wavered. It’s a true calling for all the doctors, nurses, and staff that are proud to call this area home. Visit TGMC.com.

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HONORI NG OUR PAST SHAPI NG THE FUT URE

6/23/14 12:54 PM www.bayoucatholic.com

Contents

FEATURES

24 Recognizing outstanding youth Diocesan Leadership Awards

30 St. Gregory School principal Elizabeth Scurto retires

34 Steubenville on the Bayou Thousands attend youth conference

48 Assisi Bridge House administrator Brother John Olsen, C.F.X., Ph.D. retires

COLUMNS

Comfort For My People

By Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

16 Pope Speaks By Pope Francis I

17 Question Corner By Father Kenneth Doyle

18 Readings Between The Lines By Father Glenn LeCompte

32 Seeing Clairely By Claire Joller

60 Overtime By Ed Daniels

IN EVERY ISSUE

Bayou

Catholic

k c a B to l o o h c S 2014

6 Editor’s Corner 7 Diocesan Events 19 Scripture Readings 22 Heavenly Recipes 26 Our Churches GUEST COLUMNS

38 The ever changing phases of marriage By Catherine Klingman, L.C.S.W.

42 Catholic Charities disaster relief By Tim Sullivan

ANNOUNCEMENTS

50 Mass of Thanksgiving Bishop Emeritus Sam G. Jacobs Celebrates anniversaries

51 Food for the Journey Father Danny Poche’ speaks Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

On Our Cover Bishop Shelton J. Fabre processes with a monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, or Corpus Christi. See pages 14-15 for photos of the eucharistic procession. Cover Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier

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

Bayou Catholic Vol. 35, No. 1 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

editor and general manager

Lawrence Chatagnier managing editor

Index to Advertisers Advanced Eye Institute ..........................21 Asbestos Hazard Act .............................74 Bishop’s Appeal .......................................2 Bueche’s Jewelry ...................................25 Cannata’s ...............................................84 Catholic Schools Annual Fund ..............83 Catholic Schools ....................................71 Channel 10 ..............................................62 Coastal Commerce Bank .......................80 Conference Office ..................................29 Daigle Himel Daigle ...............................77 Diocesan Outreach Line ........................49 Diocesan Website ..................................33 Fabregas Music .....................................70 Family Vision Clinic ................................68 Felger’s Foot Wear .................................76 Haydel Memorial Hospice .....................15 Haydel Spine & Pain ..............................25 Headache & Pain Center .......................31 Houma Digestive Health Specialist .......59 HTeNews ................................................53

Invitation to Bishop Jacobs’ celebration ...........................................39 KEM Supply House ................................67 Lafourche Ford Lincoln ..........................75 Landmark Home Furnishings .................81 LeBlanc & Associates, Inc. ....................51 Lee’s Education Center .........................70 Lirette Ford Lincoln ................................79 Maison Jardin .........................................36 Pilgrimage to Rome ...............................23 Re-Bath ..................................................30 Rod’s Superstore ...................................45 Seminarian Education Burses ...............41 Spotlight .................................................48 St. Joseph Manor/Cardinal Place ..........51 Synergy Bank .........................................82 Terminix ..................................................36 Terrebonne General Medical Center .......3 Thibodaux Physical Therapy .................67 Vision Communications .........................37 Vocations Office.......................................47

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

Janet B. Eschete

accounts payable assistant

Meridy Liner

accounts receivable assistant

First Place Winner 2013 & 2014 General Excellence www.bayoucatholic.com

Welcome

JEREMY BECKER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Bishop Shelton Fabre (center) poses for a photo with Bayou Catholic’s award winning members and columnists. They are, front row (from left) Claire Joller, columnist; Louis Aguirre, editor and general manager; Bishop Fabre; Peggy Adams, advertising manager; Father Glenn LeCompte, columnist. Second row (from left), Lawrence Chatagnier, managing editor; Janet Marcel, staff writer; Lisa Schobel Hebert, graphic designer; and Pat Keese, administrative assistant.

Editor’s Corner Louis G. Aguirre Editor & General Manager

Bigger, better

For the second year in a row, Bayou Catholic is bringing home the highest award from the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada (CPA). Your diocesan magazine has once again received first place for the coveted General Excellence award Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

in competition with diocesan magazines in North America. In recognizing us as the best diocesan magazine, the judges said, “This magazine has a high quality feel, print and design, and covers relevant issues with empathy and integrity.” Additionally, the magazine has received 12 other awards from both the CPA and the Louisiana Press Association (LPA), as follows: From CPA – Best Cover, second place, “Purgatory: Reality or Myth?” photo by Lawrence Chatagnier; Best Editorial, second place, “Why, God?” by Louis Aguirre; Best Regular Column, General Commentary, second place, “The pleasure of not knowing why,” by Claire Joller; Best Coverage of the Year of Faith, third place, “The Constitution on Divine Revelation,” by Father Glenn LeCompte; Best Multiple Picture Package, News, third place, “Shelton J. Fabre, Fourth Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux,” by

Lawrence Chatagnier; and Best Ad Copywriting, Honorable Mention, “Keeping Christ in Christmas,” by Peggy Adams and Lisa Schobel Hebert. From LPA – Best Multi Ad page, second place; Best Services Ad, Non Retail, second and third place; Best Front Page, third place; Best Ad Campaign, third place; and Best Special Section, Advertising, third place. Now for the really good news: starting with this issue the Bayou Catholic is expanding in size and scope. As you will notice when paging through the magazine, we have repackaged the product with a thicker cover, more pages, articles, photos and features. As always, we thank Bishop Shelton J. Fabre and you, the priests, religious and laity, who continually support our publication.

july

august

n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, Aug. 5, Quality Hotel Houma, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Speaker, Rev. Danny Poche’. n Morality, Wednesdays, Aug. 6, 13, 20 and 27, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6:30-8:45 p.m. Speaker, Very Rev. Joshua Rodrigue, S.T.L. n Acadian Mass, Friday, Aug. 15, St. Hilary of Poitiers, Mathews, 6 p.m.

september n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, Sept. 2, Quality Hotel, Houma, 10:45-12:45 p.m. Speaker, Rev. Joseph Tregre. n Morality, Wednesday, Sept. 3, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6:30-8:45 p.m. Speaker, Very Rev. Josh Rodrigue, S.T.L. n Man of God Gathering, Tuesday, Sept. 9, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall.

Emeritus Sam G. Jacobs and Friar Antonio. n Christian Leadership Institute, July 16-20, Souby Retreat Building. n aNew Experience, Thursday, July 17, St. Bernadette, 7-9 p.m. n Man of God Retreat, Saturday, July 26, diocesan

Pastoral Center Conference Hall. For online registration, visit www. htconferences.org or by phone (985)850-3171. Early registration is $24 per person and includes meals; all men over 18 years of age are invited. Speakers, Bishop Emeritus Sam G. Jacobs and Friar Antonio.

n Married Couple’s Date Night with “The Groove,” Saturday, Aug. 16, Courtyard Marriott Ballroom, Houma, 6 p.m. Visit www.htconferences.org for online registration. Everyone must preregister by Friday, Aug. 8; seating is limited. If registered by Friday, Aug. 1, names will be entered into drawing for free room at Marriott for Date Night. Cost is $75 per couple for dinner and dancing

(Room packages available online) Full service dinner includes appetizer, salad, main course and dessert. n Feeding from the Hand of the Shepherd: Spiritual Nourishment from Pope Francis Retreat, Saturday, Aug. 16-17, Lumen Christi Retreat Center, 8 a.m., concluding with Mass on Sunday at 10:45 a.m.

Meal served at 6 p.m.; events begin at 6:30 p.m. Free event; all men over 18 years of age are invited. n Grace-full Catechesis: The Call and the Challenge, Thursday, Sept. 11, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6:30-8:45 p.m. Speaker, Mrs. Kathy Hendricks. n The Call to Holiness, Thursday, Sept. 18, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall,

6:30-8:45 p.m. Speaker, Rev. Simon Peter Engurait. n Adult Retreat, Saturday, Sept. 20, Souby Retreat Building. n Adore, Wednesday, Sept. 24, Houma Municipal Auditorium, 7 p.m. n Revelation, Tradition and Magisterium, Thursday, Sept. 25, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6:30-8:45 p.m. Speaker, Rev. Simon Peter Engurait.

Did you know?

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

DIOCESAN

n Woman of God Retreat, Saturday, July 12, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall. For online registration, visit www. htconferences.org or by phone (985)850-3171. Early registration is $24 per person and includes meals; all women over 18 years of age are invited. Speakers, Bishop

St. Lawrence Church in Chacahoula, the second oldest existing church building in the diocese (after Sacred Heart in Morgan City) was built in 1911, and was made entirely of virgin cypress by volunteers who traveled by foot and in wagons to build the church. Chacahoula, at that time was a bustling community as the lumber industry was predominant in the area. Priests traveled from St. Joseph in Thibodaux to minister there.

EVENTS

www.bayoucatholic.com

Comment

Comfort For My People Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

When you receive this issue of the Bayou Catholic, our celebration of Independence Day on July 4 will have passed. However, the entire month of July each year seems to focus

our attention on the celebration of the birth of our country and the many freedoms that we enjoy here. When he came to the United States in 1997, St. John Paul II said the following about freedom here in the United States, “Among the many admirable values of this nation there is one that stands out in particular. It is freedom. The concept of freedom is part of the very fabric of this nation as a political community of free people. Freedom is a great gift, a great blessing of God . . . . From the beginning of America, freedom was directed to forming a well-ordered society and to promoting its peaceful life. Freedom was channeled to the fullness of human life, to the

preservation of human dignity and to the safeguarding of all human rights. An experience in ordered freedom is truly a cherished part of the history of this land” (Sept. 10, 1987, during the Pope’s visit to the USA). Freedom is one of the values of this nation that is very precious, and many have given their lives protecting our freedom. Let us never forget them or their sacrifice. We give thanks to God for our country, and for the freedom enjoyed here. Freedom is a value that is also important in our relationship with God, and therefore very important in the teaching of the Catholic Church. The church’s understanding of freedom

‘Freedom is a great gift, a great blessing of God’ Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

9 is stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church in the following manner: “Freedom is the power, rooted in reason and will, to act or to not act, to do this or that, and so to perform deliberate actions on one’s own responsibility. By free will one shapes one’s own life. Human freedom is a force for growth and maturity in truth and goodness; it attains its perfection when directed toward God, our beatitude” (Catechism, No. 1731). The teaching of the church therefore clearly states that freedom has an important role to play in our relationship to God. God has gifted us with freedom, or free will, and therefore we have the ability to choose or not to choose that which is good. However, as the Catechism states, freedom attains its perfection when directed toward God, who is our beatitude, or our eternal happiness. Therefore, in the church’s understanding, freedom must be exercised in cooperation with what God desires for us. “The more one does what is

good, the freer one becomes. There is no freedom except in the service of what is good and just. The choice to disobey and do evil is an abuse of freedom and leads to the ‘slavery of sin’” (Catechism No. 1733). To do that which is contrary to God’s will is to allow ourselves to be captured by sin. If we are captured by sin, our freedom is not perfect, and therefore we are not truly free. In the church’s understanding of freedom, to truly be free and for our freedom to be perfect we must live our lives in accord with God’s will for us by choosing the good and rejecting that which is evil. In doing so, we will truly be free in the best sense of the word. One of the freedoms we enjoy here in the USA is religious freedom, rooted in the First Amendment to the Constitution. In the recent past, the Catholic Bishops here in the United States have been calling our attention to threats and challenges to religious freedom here in our own country, and indeed in our world. With regard to

challenges to religious freedom here in the USA, the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty stated that religious freedom “. . . is our American heritage, our most cherished freedom. It is the first freedom because if we are not free in our conscience and our practice of religion, all other freedoms are fragile. If citizens are not free in their own consciences, how can they be free in relation to others, or to the state? If our obligations and duties to God are impeded, or even worse, contradicted by the government, then we can no longer claim to be a land of the free, and a beacon of hope for the world” (Statement of Religious Liberty, April 12, 2012). During this month of July we give thanks to God for our country and its heritage of freedom. Let us continue to ask God’s blessings upon the USA, especially upon all the wonderful freedoms, including religious freedom, which we enjoy here. www.bayoucatholic.com

Comentario

«La libertad es un gran don, una gran bendición de Dios»

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Cuando usted reciba esta publicación de Bayou Catholic, nuestra celebración del Día de Independencia del cuatro de julio ya habrá pasado. Sin embargo, parece que durante todo el mes de julio, nuestra atención se concentra en la celebración del nacimiento de nuestra nación y en las libertades que gozamos aquí. En su visita a Estados Unidos en 1987, San Juan Pablo II dijo lo siguiente sobre las libertades de esta nación: « Entre los muchos valores admirables de esta nación existe uno que descuella de modo particular: la libertad. El concepto de libertad forma parte de la constitución de esta nación como comunidad política de personas libres. La libertad es un gran don, una gran bendición de Dios…. Desde los orígenes de Estados Unidos, la libertad se orientó a constituir una sociedad recta y ordenada y a la promoción de una vida pacífica. La libertad fue canalizada hacia la plenitud de la vida humana, hacia la tutela de la dignidad humana y la salvaguardia de los derechos de la persona. La experiencia de una libertad ordenada es ciertamente parte integrante de la historia de esta tierra» (10 de septiembre, 1987, durante la visita del Papa a los E.U.A.) La libertad es uno de los valores de esta nación que se considera muy valiosa y muchos han sacrificado sus vidas protegiendo nuestras libertades. No olvidemos a aquéllos que se han sacrificado ni olvidemos sus sacrificios. Demos gracias a Dios por nuestra nación y por las libertades que gozamos aquí. La libertad es un valor que también tiene importancia en nuestra relación con Dios

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

y por eso es muy valioso en las enseñanzas de la Iglesia Católica. La definición de libertad según la Iglesia ha sido declarada en el Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica: « La libertad es el poder, radicado en la razón y en la voluntad, de obrar o de no obrar, de hacer esto o aquello, de ejecutar así por sí mismo acciones deliberadas. Por el libre arbitrio cada uno dispone de sí mismo. La libertad es en el hombre una fuerza de crecimiento y de maduración en la verdad y la bondad. La libertad alcanza su perfección cuando está ordenada a Dios, nuestra bienaventuranza» (Catecismo, No. 1731). Las enseñanzas de la Iglesia, por tanto, expresan con claridad que la libertad desenvuelve un papel importante en nuestra relación con Dios. Dios nos ha otorgado el don de la libertad, o libre albedrío y por tanto tenemos la capacidad de elegir o no elegir lo que es bueno. No obstante, así como el Catecismo lo declara, la libertad alcanza su perfección cuando está ordenada a Dios, nuestra bienaventuranza, o nuestra felicidad eterna. Por tanto, según la Iglesia, la libertad debe ejercerse con la voluntad de Dios. « En la medida en que el hombre hace más el bien, se va haciendo también más libre. No hay verdadera libertad sino en el servicio del bien y de la justicia. La elección de la desobediencia y del mal es un abuso de la libertad y conduce a ‘la esclavitud del pecado’» (Catecismo No. 1733). Hacer lo que está en contra de la voluntad de Dios es permitirnos ser envueltos por el pecado. Si llegamos a ser capturados por el pecado, nuestra libertad no es perfecta y por tanto no somos verdaderamente libres. En la definición de libertad según la Iglesia, para llegar a ser libre

de verdad y para que nuestra libertad sea perfecta, debemos vivir nuestras vidas siguiendo la voluntad de Dios, eligiendo el bien y rechazando el mal. Al hacer esto seremos verdaderamente libres. Unas de las libertades que gozamos en los E.U.A. es la libertad de culto, enraizada en la Primera Enmienda a la Constitución. En tiempos recientes los Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos nos han advertido de las amenazas y desafíos a la libertad de culto en nuestra propia nación y en nuestro mundo. El Comité USCCB Ad Hoc por Libertad de Culto ha declarado que la libertad de culto ha sido amenazada en los E.U.A. y que la libertad de culto « es parte integrante de los Estados Unidos y nuestra libertad más valorada. Es la libertad primordial porque si no somos libres de conciencia y libres para ejercer nuestra religión, todas las otras libertades son frágiles. Si los ciudadanos no son libres de conciencia propia, entonces, ¿cómo podrán ser libres en relación a los demás o al estado? Si nuestra obligación y deber con Dios es impedido, o peor, contrariado por el gobierno, entonces no podemos declarar que somos una tierra libre y una luz de esperanza para el mundo» (Declaración de Libertad de Culto, 12 de abril, 2012). Durante este mes de julio le damos gracias a Dios por nuestra nación y su herencia de libertad. Pidámosle a Dios que derrame sus bendiciones sobre los Estados Unidos y en especial a esas libertades maravillosas que incluyen la libertad de culto que gozamos en la actualidad. Traducido por Julio Contreras, feligrés de la Iglesia Católica Annunziata en Houma.

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

www.bayoucatholic.com

Binh luan bang loi

Töï Do Laø Moùn Quaø To Lôùn, Laø AÂn Suûng Lôùn Lao Cuûa Thieân Chuùa

K 12

Khi anh chò em nhaän ñöôïc tôø nguyeät san Bayou Catholic (Coâng Giaùo Nhaùnh Soâng) thaùng naøy Leã Ñoäc Laäp Hoa Kyø ñaõ qua. Tuy nhieân, thaùng baûy moãi naêm nhö laø duøng ñeå nhaém vaøo muïc ñích töôûng nhôù ngaøy hình thaønh toå qioác vaø nhöõng töï do maø chuùng ta ñang thöøa höôûng taïi ñaát nöôùc naøy. Khi ñaët chaân leân maûnh ñaát Hoa Kyø vaøo naêm 1987 Ñöùc Thaùnh Cha Gioan Phaoloâ II ñaõ noùi nhö sau veà töï do cuûa ñaát nöôùc naøy, “Moät trong nhöõng giaù trò thuoäc veà quoác gia naøy maø coù theå noùi noåi baät nhaát chính laø töï do. Caên tính cuûa töï do laø moät phaàn cuûa töøng mieáng vaûi taïo neân moät quoác gia trong coäng ñoàng chính trò cuûa nhöõng con ngöôøi coù töï do. Töï do laø moùn quaø to lôùn, laø aân suûng lôùn lao cuûa Thieân Chuùa…. Ngay töø khi laäp quoác, töï do ñaõ ñöôïc ñònh ñoaït ñeå taïo neân moät xaõ hoäi coù traät töï vaø ñöôïc ñaûm baûo ñôøi soáng bình an trong xaõ hoäi. Töï do ñaõ ñöôïc hoaøn toaøn ñaët vaøo ñôøi soáng con ngöôøi, ñeå baûo toàn giaù trò linh thieâng cuûa noù vaø ñeå duy trì nhaân quyeàn trong moïi khía caïnh. Thaät vaäy, kinh nghieäm trong töï do traät töï chính laø moät khía caïnh trong lòch söû quoác gia” (ngaøy 10 thang 9, 1987, trong luùc Ñöùc Thaùnh Cha toâng du Hoa Kyø). Töï do laø moät trong nhöõng moùn quaø giaù trò cuûa quoác gia naøy. Noù thaät laø quyù giaù vaø raát nhieàu ngöôøi ñaõ hy sinh ñeå baûo veä noù. Xin ñöøng queân nhöõng anh huøng cuûa töï do. Chuùng ta taï ôn Chuùa vì quoác gia naøy vaø töï do maø chuùng ta ñang thöøa höôûng.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

Töï do thaät coù giaù trò cuõng nhö quan troïng trong söï lieân leä giöõa Chuùa vaø chuùng ta vaø vì theá raát quan troïng trong giaùo huaán cuûa Hoäi Thaùnh. Söï hieåu bieát veà töï do cuûa Giaùo Hoäi ñaõ ñöôïc nhaéc nhôû trong Giaùo Lyù Hoäi Thaùnh nhö sau: “Töï do laø söùc maïnh, ñöôïc ñaâm reã töø lyù trí vaø yù chí, ñeå haønh ñoäng cuõng nhö khoâng, laøm ñieàu naøy hay ñieàu kia vaø thöïc thi coâng vieäc trong yù thöùc do traùch nhieän cuûa caù nhaân. Do baûn naêng töï choïn maø hoï tìm höôùng ñi cho mình. Töï do cuûa con ngöôøi laø söùc maïnh ñeå phaùt trieån vaø tröôûng thaønh trong söï thaät vaø söï toát laønh; noù ñaït ñöôïc söï veïn toaøn khi nhaém vaøo Ñaáng Toái Cao, laø lôïi loäc cuûa chuùng ta” (Giaùo Lyù Coâng Giaùo 1731). Chính vì theá, giaùo lyù Hoäi Thaùnh ñaõ minh baïch raèng töï do ñoùng vai troø quan troïng veà söï lieân heä cuûa chuùng ta ñoái vôùi Chuùa. Chuùa ñaõ ban cho chuùng ta töï do hay baûn tính töï chuû, vaø vì theá chuùng ta coù khaû naêng löïa choïn hay khoâng caùi gì goïi laø toát. Tuy nhieân, töï do mang ñeán söï toaøn haûo khi noù höôùng veà Chuùa, laø phuùc ñöùc cuûa chuùng ta, hay dieãm phuùc ñôøi ñôøi. Vì theá, Giaùo Hoäi hieåu raèng töï do phaûi ñöôïc haønh ñoäng trong söï coäng taùc trong nhöõng khao khaùt maø Chuùa muoán nôi chuùng ta. “Ai caøng haønh ñoäng trong söï thieän thì seõ caøng ñöôïc töï do hôn. Khoâng theå naøo coù töï do ngoaïi tröø hoï phuïc vuï cho söï toát laønh vaø coâng lyù. Löïa choïn trong söï baát tuaân vaø laøm ñieàu xaáu chính laø laïm duïng töï do vaø ñöa ñeán noâ leä ‘cho toäi loãi’” (Giaùo Lyù Coâng Giaùo 1733). Laøm nhöõng gì ngöôïc laïi vôùi thaùnh yù Chuùa töùc laø laøm noâ leä cho

toäi loãi. Neáu chuùng ta bò toäi naém ñaàu thì töï do cuûa chuùng ta trôû neân baát toaøn vaø vì theá chuùng ta khoâng hoaøn toaøn ñöôïc töï do nöõa. Moät trong nhöõng töï do maø chuùng ta ñöôïc höôûng laø töï do tín ngöôõng, ñöôïc ghi trong baûn Tu Chính ñaàu tieân cuûa Hieán Phaùp. Vaøo nhöõng naêm thaùng gaàn ñaây caùc Giaùm Muïc Coâng Giaùo Hoa Kyø ñaõ vaø ñang nhaéc nhôû chuùng ta raèng töï do tín ngöôõng ñang bò ñe doaï vaø thaùch thöùc taïi ñaát nöôùc naøy cuõng nhö caû theá giôùi. Lieân can ñeán töï do tín ngöôõng taïi ñaát nöôùc naøy, tieåu ban cuûa Hoäi Ñoàng Giaùm Muïc Hoa Kyø veà Töï Do Tín Ngöôõng noùi veà töï do tín ngöôõng nhö sau “… truyeàn thoáng toát ñeïp cuûa chuùng ta laø töï do. Noù ñöùng haøng ñaàu vì neáu chuùng ta khoâng coù noù trong löông taâm vaø thöïc haønh ñaïo thì moïi thöù töï do khaùc trôû neân doøn moûng. Neáu nhaân daân khoâng coù ñöôïc töï do löông taâm thì laøm sao chuùng ta coù ñöôïc töï do lieân heä ñeán ngöôøi khaùc, hay quoác gia cuûa mình? Neáu traùch nhieäm vaø boån phaän ñoái vôùi Chuùa bò caûn trôû, hay teä hôn nöõa, bò chính phuû phuû nhaän, thì chuùng ta khoâng coøn goïi mình laø quoác gia töï do nöõa, vaø laø ngoïn ñeøn hy voïng cuûa theá giôùi” (Tieåu Ban Töï Do Tín Ngöôõng, ngaøy 12 thaùng 4, 2012). Trong thaùng baûy naøy chuùng ta taï ôn Chuùa cho quoác gia cuûa mình vaø truyeàn thoáng töï do cuûa noù. Chuùng ta tieáp tuïc xin Chuùa ban pheùp laønh treân Hoa Kyø, ñaëc bieät treân nhöõng töï do toát ñeïp, keå caû töï do tín ngöôõng nöõa, maø chuùng ta ñang ñöôïc höôûng nôi ñaây. Dòch thuaät: Linh Muïc Pheâroâ Leâ Taøi, Chaùnh sôû nhaø thôø Our Lady of the Isle.

www.bayoucatholic.com

Bayou Spirit

Corpus Christi Solemnity, exposition, adoration A eucharistic procession was held celebrating the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ or Corpus Christi at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma recently. Bishop Shelton J. Fabre led the procession around the city block of the cathedral. Participants sang and prayed during the procession which was followed by an evening prayer service with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and eucharistic adoration.

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

Bayou Catholic â&#x20AC;˘ Houma, LA â&#x20AC;˘ July 2014

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Comment The Pope Speaks

V 16

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In sharing the Gospel with others, Christians must be like St. John the Baptist, preparing the way for the Lord, pointing him out to others, then stepping aside, Pope Francis said. Celebrating the feast of the birth of St. John the Baptist June 24, Pope Francis called him “the greatest among the prophets,” because he knew how to prepare people, discern the Lord’s identity and “diminish” so Jesus could increase. John the Baptist was an important man, “people sought him out and followed him,” the pope said during an early morning Mass in the chapel of his residence. According to Vatican Radio, the pope wondered aloud whether St. John was ever tempted “to think that he was important, but this never happened.” Instead, he always replied that one mightier than he was coming. John the Baptist knew his role was “to prepare the people, prepare people’s hearts for an encounter with the Lord,” Pope Francis said. The prophet also needed the gift of discernment to be able to recognize Jesus as the messiah, the pope said. “The Spirit revealed this to him and he had the courage to say, ‘It’s him. This is the lamb of God who will take away the sins of the world.” Finally, the pope said, St. John knew that his gift for speaking,

CNS PHOTO/ERIK DE CASTRO, REUTERS

Filipinos carry a statue of St. John the Baptist June 24 as they take part in a religious ritual known locally as “Taong Putik” (Mud People) in the village of Bibiclat, Philippines, while celebrating the feast of their patron saint. At the Vatican, Pope Francis also celebrated the feast of the birth of St. John the Baptist and called him “the greatest among the prophets.”

preaching, moving people’s hearts and attracting a crowd had a purpose that had nothing to do with him and everything to do with Jesus. As a model for evangelizing, St. John the Baptist demonstrates that “a Christian does not proclaim him- or herself, but another, and prepares the way for another: the Lord. A Christian must know how to discern and must discern the truth from that which seems to be true, but isn’t,” the pope said. Finally, “a Christian knows how to diminish so that the Lord increases in the hearts and souls of others.” In his homily the previous day, Pope Francis focused on Jesus’ telling the disciples in Matthew 7:1-5, “Stop judging that you may not be judged” and “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye?” “One who judges another is

wrong, simply because he is taking a role that is not his,” but belongs only to God, the pope said. People get “so obsessed by what they want to judge, by that person, that the splinter keeps them from sleeping and they are not even aware of the beam they have.” Judging another, he said, “ends badly, because the same measure you use will be used to judge you.” In the Bible, the pope said, Jesus is described as an advocate for his followers and he sends the Holy Spirit to defend them. Interestingly enough, he said, the one the Bible labels -- in Revelation 12:10 -- as the “accuser” is the devil. “If we want to follow Jesus’ path, we must be defenders of others, not their accusers,” he said. “If I see someone do something bad, do I defend him? No! But keep quiet. Go and pray and defend him before God, like Jesus does. Pray for him, but don’t judge him.”

Pope points to St. John the Baptist as model for evangelization Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

Question Corner Father Kenneth Doyle

Annulment without witnesses?

possible that a marriage tribunal might accept the simple sworn testimony of a spouse -- although that tribunal might also require that someone who presently knows the spouse attest to that person’s veracity and reliability. The best advice I can give is that the person you have in mind should speak with a priest with long experience in handling marriage cases and seek his guidance on how to proceed.

Q. I am grateful for your informative comments in a previous column regarding annulments. But they have generated an additional question for which I seem to be getting different answers. If one of the spouses alone, without any additional witnesses, attests that he/she was not committed to the marriage but went through with it anyway, is that by itself enough to obtain an annulment? (New Berlin, Wisconsin)

A. Generally speaking, no. Such an unsupported statement by one of the spouses would normally not be sufficient grounds for granting an annulment. As you can imagine, this would make the process all too easy and render any serious evaluation of the marriage meaningless. Instead, you would need the support of witnesses -- family members or friends -- who could verify, for example, that at the time of the marriage one or both of the spouses did not intend the marriage to be exclusive and lasting or lacked free consent due to family pressure or other circumstances. I can conceive of situations, however, where such verification might be difficult. For example, let’s say the marriage took place many years ago and people who knew the couple well back then are no longer around or available. Under this circumstance, it’s

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Price for a funeral

Q. Recently, in answering a question about Mass cards, you indicated that the donation given for the Mass was a freewill offering and that it should be explained as such, rather than as the “cost.” But my experience is otherwise; currently, at our parish, the fixed price is $15. Similarly, when my mother passed away some years ago, I was told by the undertaker that our pastor requested a fee

of $100 before the Mass could be offered. That upset me, especially since I was involved in several ministries at the parish. Could you comment, please? (Southwestern New Jersey)

A. Though I’ve said it before, it’s worth mentioning again: The answer to the often-asked question “how much does a Mass card cost?” ought to be “whatever you would like to donate.” In our parish we usually add “the customary offering is $10” because we’ve found that people do like some guidance. (Additionally, our secretary is instructed that, if she senses that a donation might be a burden, no money should be taken.) When it comes to funerals, some parishes do have a set charge, which helps with the upkeep and maintenance of the church. For our parish, the charge is $125, but that amount is simply a passthrough to whatever organist is hired to play and sing for the funeral. The church itself gets nothing. We ask our local funeral homes to explain to the bereaved family 17 the reason for the fee. (And again, we’ve sometimes waived even that charge when a family was struggling financially.) In the case you bring up, it’s possible that the information you received (about the $100 fee upfront) might have been a mistranslation, in which case you would have been better off talking to your pastor rather than to the funeral director.

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

‘Does the Word of God sown in us have room to grow?’

Parables are more a part of our everyday conversation than we might realize. We speak in parables when we try to explain one event in terms of a more familiar event, or when we tell a story with a moral in order to make a point. In chapter 13, Matthew weaves together a number of parables attributed to Jesus into one long speech or discourse. Along with the other four long discourses Matthew depicts Jesus as delivering, the Parable Discourse aids the evangelist’s effort to depict Jesus as the authoritative teacher of Israel. Jesus uses parables to teach about the Kingdom of Heaven. For those who do not yet possess Jesus’ vision of life and faith (the “secrets” of the Kingdom), however, Jesus’ parables are veiled speech. The disciples ask Jesus why he is now speaking in parables, rather than in the straightforward way he had been speaking up to this point (13:10). Jesus answers that he does so because the people have refused to receive his message. Beginning with chapter 11, the people begin to reject Jesus. As Matthew’s story proceeds from that point, Jesus directs his ministry more and more to those who do accept him and his message, those who will eventually form the church.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

The last two of Jesus’ five long speeches in Matthew (18:1-19:1; 24:1-26:1) are delivered only to the disciples. Jesus cites an adapted version of Isaiah 6:9-10 (Matthew 13:14-15) to point out the people’s deficiency in comprehending his message. They hear the message, but do not understand it. They see, but possess no insight. Their lack of perception is due to their obstinacy. Jesus’ parabolic speech presents a challenge to the crowds. Only if they begin to see life and faith as he does will his message afford them wisdom. Here again we see Matthew’s emphasis on Jesus’ role as a teacher with regard to God’s plan of salvation. One must be enlightened by Jesus’ teaching if he or she is to enter the Kingdom. The parable of The Sower (13:38), of itself, addresses the crowd’s rejection of Jesus and the ultimate outcome of his ministry. Jesus’ ministry of teaching, preaching and healing is the seed being sown. Israel’s rejection of Jesus and his ministry will prove to be obstacles to it. The footpath, the rocky soil, and the thorn plants which prevent the seed from growing represent the obstacles Jesus’ ministry will face. But his ministry will be accepted by some, and his word will bear fruit abundantly in them. The three cases out of four in which the seed will face obstacles to its growth represent the large number of people who will not accept Jesus’ message. By presenting the seed as bearing fruit in only one case out of four (i.e., when the seed fell on the good soil), Jesus implies that only a small number (at least from among the Israelites) will accept his ministry. This small number will be the nucleus of the new people which will do God’s will (see 21:43). Matthew has Jesus speak, beyond the purview of the story,

to the reader of the Gospel. He has Jesus do so by using timeless expressions such as “You will hear (explained) then the parable of the sower” (13:18). The explanation of the parable of The Sower (13:18-23), furthermore, envisions situations which apply to readers of the story, who live in a time posterior to that of the story. The plants scorched by the sun because they cannot root themselves in rocky ground represent those who, not having let the word take root in them, stop following Jesus when persecution comes. The plants which are choked out by thorn plants symbolize those in whom the word is overcome by worldly cares and the lure of wealth. We could also see these explanations as warnings to the disciples in the story not to fall away at a later time. If that danger is possible for the disciples in Matthew’s story, it is also possible for the later disciple who is coming to faith in Jesus by reading the story. Some of the dangers depicted by Jesus’ explanation are realized within the story. In general, Jesus’ word will take no root in the crowd, and thus will be like the seed on the footpath. Peter’s faith will be shown not to have taken firm root when he will deny knowing Jesus after the latter is arrested (26:6975); although, Peter will recover from that denial (28:16-20). In 19:16-22, a rich young man, who will seek deeper insight into Jesus’ teaching, will not accept Jesus’ word because of his attachment to material things. Thus, Jesus’ explanation of the parable of The Sower gives specific examples of how characters in Matthew’s story will lack understanding and vision, and thereby be deprived of the healing needed to be reconciled with God (13:14-15).

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not ud roved it was ave yo e h s u w a o cares p c e y b l nH d n l e r o k e you as sha and w w hav hings o t faith w H l a ? i h r t i ate our fa have m ge to y n e l n How l a e ch ties? ’s nam lves a ifficul n God d i themse s e s rt e e o h ff th m, ith t your e tive to n p e e c h dealt w e w r were a time people ect on w e fl f e a R e n us ptive . unrece it beca u e r r f e e w r bo many hough even t

Scripture Readings Monday

7 July

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

and a listing of Feast days and saints Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Weekday Isaiah 6:1-8 Matthew 10:24-33

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 55:10-11 Romans 8:18-23 Matthew 13:1-23

Memorial of Kateri Tekawitha, virgin Isaiah 1:10-17 Matthew 10:34â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 11:1

Memorial of Bonaventure, bishop and doctor of the church Isaiah 7:1-9 Matthew 11:20-24

Weekday Isaiah 10:5-7, 13b-16 Matthew 11:25-27

Weekday Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19 Matthew 11:28-30

Weekday Isaiah 38:1-6, 2122, 7-8 Matthew 12:1-8

Weekday Micah 2:1-5 Matthew 12:14-21

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Wisdom 12:13, 16-19 Romans 8:26-27 Matthew 13:24-43

Weekday Micah 6:1-4, 6-8 Matthew 12:38-42

Memorial of Mary Weekday Magdalene Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10 Micah 7:14-15, Matthew 13:1-9 18-20 John 20:1-2, 11-18

Weekday Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13 Matthew 13:10-17

Feast of James, apostle 2 Corinthians 4:715 Mathew 20:20-28

Memorial of Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary Jeremiah 7:1-11 Matthew 13:24-30

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 Romans 8:28-30 Matthew 13:44-52

1 August

Weekday Jeremiah 13:1-11 Matthew 13:31-35

Memorial of Martha Weekday Jeremiah 14:17-22 Jeremiah 15:10, John 11:19-27 16-21 Matthew 13:44-46

Memorial of Ignatius of Loyola, priest Jeremiah 18:1-6 Matthew 13:47-53

Memorial of Alphonsus Liguori, bishop and doctor of the church Jeremiah 26:1-9 Matthew 13:54-58

Weekday Jeremiah 26:1116, 24 Matthew 14:1-12

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 55:1-3 Romans 8:35, 37-39 Matthew 14:13-21

Weekday Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22 Matthew 14:22-36

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 2 Peter 1:16-19 Matthew 17:1-9

Weekday Jeremiah 31:31-34 Matthew 16:13-23

Memorial of Dominic, priest Nahum 2:1, 3; 3:13, 6-7 Matthew 16:24-28

Memorial of John Vianney, priest Jeremiah 28:1-17 Matthew 14:22-36

Papal Trip

During August trip to South Korea pope will beatify

124 martyrs

no divisions of class, also pushed the limits of what was socially acceptable. In 1784, one believer trekked to what is now Beijing MANILA, Philippines (CNS) -- When Pope Francis to be baptized and returned to baptize numerous comgoes to South Korea in August, he will put 124 martyrs panions. According to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference on the path to sainthood. Many in this group estabof Korea, persecution of early Catholics started off with lished the Catholic Church in that East Asian country. some leniency; mostly owners of homes where believers “They are ... the fathers, of the (103) Korean martyrs, gathered were exiled. who really founded the Catholic Church with their blood, with their But things faith, compassion with the fledgling ... their blood shed church of 4,000 for Christ,” said Letook a turn for the gion of Christ Faworse when, in ther Simon Chung 1791, Paul Yun Jiof Seoul. chung, a member Pope John Paul II of the nobility and canonized 103 Koone of the 124 marreans 30 years ago, tyrs to be beatified, and Father Chung buried his mother said many were the according to Cathograndchildren and lic burial rites. He 20 great grandchiland some other nodren of the 124 up bles burned sacred for beatification in tablets that were August. Beatificabelieved to hold a tion is a step on the person’s spirit afpath to sainthood. ter their death and The church in Kowere used to venerrea had no missionate them. aries at its origins. Yun was the first Instead, in the late Catholic in Korea CNS PHOTO/COURTESY ARCHDIOCESE OF SEOUL 1700s, intellectuals to be executed for A painting depicts 103 Korean martyrs canonized by Pope John Paul among the Korean his belief. RecentII in 1984. When Pope Francis travels to South Korea in August, he nobility got hold of ly arrived priests will put 124 additional martyrs on the path to sainthood by beatifying books on Catholifrom China and them. cism from China. France also were Historical accounts killed. The 124 said they absorbed these writings and were convinced martyrs also include Augustine Jeong Yak-jong, a noof the church’s teachings. bleman catechist considered the father of the church, Father Chung, who helped document the sainthood and two married couples who consecrated their lives to cause for the 124 martyrs, said the scholars studied God, living chaste lives. thoroughly what they learned and compared it with In four other instances over the next 100 years, some the dominant religion in Korea at the time, Confucian10,000 faithful were killed. ism, and to a lesser degree, Buddhism. Father Chung said the beatification of the first 103 This intense study combined with the deeply inin the 1970s brought a surge in Catholicism in South grained cultural practice of honoring the king and Korea, where growth has been steady ever since. He showing filial piety to one’s parents helped form the expected another surge once these 124 are beatified. foundation for the church. “You look at their lives. It’s amazing how deep was Father Chung said, “When they found out there’s retheir faith in God and how profoundly they lived their ally the king of kings, the lord of heaven and earth and life of faith, hope and love in God,” he said. “It’s amazthis lord of heaven and earth is the creator of everyone, ing what they have left us, and we need that. (The) Koand he’s the great father of all creation, they said we rean Catholic Church, we need that spirituality again have to honor this ... lord.” to renew our faith.” This turned society on its head and Catholicism, with By Simone Orendain Catholic News Service

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

Saints

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Our Lady of Mount Carmel 12th century feast - July 16

Google, public domain

Mount Carmel, which juts out into the Mediterranean near Haifa, Israel, has been considered a sacred place since the prophet Elijah built an altar there in his contest with the prophets of Baal. The Carmel headland is traditionally associated with the beginnings of the Carmelite order around 1195, when a group of lay hermits formed a community there. Mary had been honored there as early as the fifth century, and by the 12th century Mount Carmel had become a site of Marian devotion. The Carmelites chose Mary as their protectress and dedicated their oratory on Mount Carmel to her. Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the patron of Bolivia and Chile. This Marian feast became an optional memorial in the Revised Roman Calendar of 1969.

Saints

James the Greater first century feast - July 25

Google, public domain

Jesus called James and John, the sons of Zebedee, to leave their livelihood as fishermen and follow him. Perhaps because of their zeal or temperament, Jesus called them “sons of thunder.” James was the first of the 12 to be martyred; he was beheaded in Jerusalem by order of Herod Agrippa about 44. He is the patron saint of pilgrims, laborers, rheumatism, several Latin American countries and Spain, where Santiago de Compostela has been a famous pilgrimage center since the Middle Ages. Some legends say James preached in Spain before his death; others say his relics were transferred there. “The greater” distinguishes him from the other apostle James, “the lesser,” who likely was smaller or younger.

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Saints

Quentin D. Falgoust, M.D., A.M.C.

Peter Chrysologus circa 380 - circa 450 feast - July 30

Google, public domain

Born in northeastern Italy, Peter was a deacon before Emperor Valentinian III named him archbishop of Ravenna, capital of the Western empire, about 425. The empress heard his first sermon as bishop and became a patron regarding building projects and church reforms. Many of his sermons survive; they reveal good preparation, pastoral warmth and many details of Christian life in fifth-century Ravenna. Peter supported Pope Leo the Great’s teaching on the Incarnation and counseled Eutyches of Constantinople to accept Rome’s authority. He may later have been dubbed “chrysologus” (Greek for golden-worded) to give the Western church a preacher equal to John Chrysostom (golden-tongued) in the East. Peter was declared a doctor of the church in 1729.

Saints

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Heavenly Recipes

‘Mama Rose’s’

t o P k Croc

T S A RO Story and Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier

This month’s heavenly recipe is a crock pot roast from Rose Sampey. She is affectionately known as “Mama Rose” to many in the Mathews community. She is a parishioner of St. Hilary of Poitiers Church parish. Rose and her friends Linda Thomas and Judy Bourg prepare meals for the deanery meetings when they are held at the church parish. Rose’s involvement in the church parish grew shortly after her husband died. “Living alone in a big house can be lonely. Becoming more involved in church life was the best way for me to spend my extra time after my husband passed away. It was therapy for me. I used to babysit at my home for years. After my husband died I couldn’t just stay home anymore,” she says. Originally from Bayou Dularge, she met her husband who was from Gheens and after dating and marriage they moved to Mathews in 1965. Rose found this recipe years ago when she and her husband would go camping with their three kids. “It’s a perfect recipe to use when camping. You put the roast in the crock pot and go about doing other things.” She loves to cook. Rose says that she learned to cook from her mother and her aunts. “It was a different way of cooking then. I can remember my mother laboring over the stove for hours. People don’t have the time to cook like that today. Everyone wants something that is quick and simple to prepare.” Although she spends much time with church activities such as bringing Communion to the shutins, working with the children’s Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

liturgy, decorating the church, and being the vice president of the parish’s Council of Catholic Women she still has time to cook and invite her friends and priest friends over for a meal which might be chicken stew, which is her favorite. From time to time she will prepare a meal for Father Benny, the pastor at St. Hilary. “I know that he is a busy man. He usually cooks for himself. Sometimes he is too busy to cook so I will prepare a meal for him and bring it to him.” Father Benny is most appreciative of all the work that she does. He has told her, “Mama Rose, I thank you for everything that you do for me. I know that you are doing this from the kindness of your heart. You are not doing it only for me. You would do it for whoever is priest of this parish. Thank you.” When “Mama Rose,” with her good health and positive attitude, is not out in the church parish she will be in the kitchen cooking a meal to share with anyone of her many friends for a long time.

Crock Pot Roast (any kind of roast)

1 four to five pound roast Brown gravy mix (dry) Italian salad dressing mix (dry) Ranch dressing mix (dry) One half cup water Place roast in crock pot. Mix the dry ingredients together and sprinkle over roast. Pour water around the roast. Cook on low for 7-9 hours. I also use pearl onions, carrots and Brussels sprouts which I put around the roast. I only put half of what is in the packets of dry ingredients to reduce the sodium content. Can be served over rice or creamed potatoes.

Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

Pilgrimage to Rome Featuring Assisi and Florence

The diocesan Office of Stewardship and Development along with Very Rev. Jay Baker, V.G. as the spiritual guide, would like to invite all for a trip to Rome January 19, 2015.

Highlights of the tour will include:

• Attending the Papal Audience given by Pope Francis • Daily Mass in some of Rome’s most beautiful churches • Scavi Tour - A tour of the excavations under St. Peter’s Basilica • One day trip to Assisi • One day trip to Florence • Superior Four Star Hotel Accommodations a block from St. Peter’s Basilica • Airfare, daily breakfast, three dinners and much more Price for the trip is $2,950 based on a double occupancy not including all airport taxes and fuel surcharges.

Reservations must be made by July 31, 2014; space is limited. Please contact Jeremy Becker Director of Stewardship and Development 985-850-3155 jtbecker@htdiocese.org

Youth

Diocesan Leadership Awards Recognizing outstanding youth

Story by Janet Marcel Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier

The Diocesan Leadership Awards, sponsored annually by the Office of Youth Ministry for over 27 years, recognizes youth who have demonstrated exceptional character, leadership skills, service and Catholic identity in their church parish or school. It is the highest honor and achievement that a high school junior, senior or college freshman can receive. The youth for this award are selected at the church parish and school level. “A letter is sent to the pastor of each church parish, the DRE or CRE, and parish youth minister, as well as the principals and campus ministers at the three Catholic high schools,” says Rachel LeBouef, assistant director for the diocesan Office of Youth Ministry and coordinator of the program. LeBouef explains that the qualifications for selection of each of the candidates are as follows: n must be a witness to others through their involvement with their church parish, school and family by sharing of their gifts of time, talent and treasure; n must share their leadership skills, dedication, Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

responsibility and faith with others in their church parish, school and family; n should be involved in diocesan ministry such as Teens Encounter Christ (TEC), Christian Leadership Institute (CLI), aNEW, Youth Rally, Steubenville on the Bayou, etc. Each young person receives a diocesan leadership medal comprised of a white and red banner, image of an eagle, a cross and the diocesan crest, which is symbolic of the award. The white in the banner represents one’s baptism; the red signifies the Holy Spirit and the blood of Jesus Christ. The image of the eagle signifies the many qualities of a leader such as courage, strength, loyalty, self-confidence, passion and perseverance. The cross is one of the most recognizable symbols of Catholic Christian faith. And, the diocesan crest represents the place where the recipients of the award were nurtured to become the outstanding young people they are today. Recipients of this year’s Diocesan Leadership Awards were honored at an appreciation banquet and Mass at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral Church in Thibodaux. They are: Amber Morvant, Hunter White, Annunziata, Houma; Hannah Benoit, Cody LeBouef, Christ the

Redeemer, Thibodaux; Matthew Barbier, Jeanne Hidalgo, Holy Cross, Morgan City; Sabrina Bergeron, Sarah Foret, Holy Family, Grand Caillou; Jacob Posey, Katelyn Stewart, Holy Savior, Lockport; Garrett Foret, Courtney Guidroz, Maria Immacolata, Houma; Karley Creppel, Joseph Hebert, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma; Katelyn Cortez, Alyce Granier, Our Lady of Pompt Succor, Chackbay; Marley Duet, Dari Lynn Griffin, Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Golden Meadow; Macy Griffin, Trace Hebert, Sacred Heart, Cut Off; Erin Belanger, Stefon Naquin, Sacred Heart, Montegut; Callie Breaux, Laura Canty, Sacred Heart, Morgan City; Bethany Woods, St. Andrew, Amelia; Amber Maronge, Matthew Prosperie, St. Ann, Bourg; Madison Barrios St. Anthony, Gheens; Mallory Labit, Patrick Watson, St. Anthony of Padua, Bayou Black; Blaire Fos, Kensey Thibodaux, St. Bernadette, Houma; Nicholas Billiot, Tyler Dean, St. Bridget, Schriever; Benjamin Adams, Lauren Sylvest, St. Charles Borromeo, St. Charles Community; Gabrielle Pitre, St. Charles Borromeo, Pointe-aux-Chenes; Trent Constant, Devin Malbrough, St Eloi, Theriot; Will Curth, Rachel Haydel, Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma; Rebecca Grabert, Meghan Rodrigue, St. Genevieve, Thibodaux; Cullen Diebold, Dylan Kay, St. Gregory, Houma; Allen Lepine, Sarah Plaisance, St. Hilary of Poitiers, Mathews; Adrien Gautreaux, Brennan Thibodeaux, St. John the Evangelist, Thibodaux; Jean Paul Guidry, Courtney Troxclair, St. Joseph Co-Cathedral,

Thibodaux; Jacquelyn Bruce, Meghan Doucet, St. Joseph, Galliano; Kayli Breaux, Blaise Chauvin, St. Joseph, Chauvin; James Rodrigue II, Elizabeth Theriot, St. Louis, Bayou, Blue; Xavier Washington, St Lucy, Houma; Kianna Louis, Jada McGuin, St. Luke the Evangelist, Thibodaux; Morgan Becnel, Patrick Zeringue, St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland; Tabitha Kearns, Thomas Legendre, St. Thomas Aquinas, Thibodaux; Bennett Duffy, Kate Patterson, Central Catholic High School, Morgan City; Annie Knight, Joseph Schonacher, E.D. White Catholic High School, Thibodaux; Derek Brondum, Zachary Poche’, Vandebilt Catholic High School, Houma.

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Our Churches

St. Hilary,

Story by Janet Marcel Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

Mathews Soon to celebrate golden anniversary Situated in a residential area about one half mile off of LA Hwy 1 along Bayou Lafourche is St. Hilary of Poitiers Church parish in Mathews, which is named after the fifth century bishop. In January 1965, the new parish was carved from St. Mary’s Nativity Church parish in Raceland. For over 20 years, parishioners attended Mass in several different structures and locations before the first permanent church was built and dedicated in 1985. That church, which still serves the parish today, is built in the Greek Cross design. Because of his love of Greek architecture, Father H.C. Paul Daigle, pastor at the time the church was built, chose unique Italian mosaics of various saints and Stations of the Cross, instead of traditional statues, to decorate the church. The interior features an open ceiling with wooden arches, imported marble, and handcrafted stained glass windows and archways. On the exterior, a statue of St. Hilary of Poitiers sits at the base of a 33-foot bell tower. In 1966, the parish opened St. Hilary School which was staffed by the Sisters of Mercy from Dublin, Ireland, until their departure in the late 1980s. Lay people staffed the school until it closed in 1993. Father Sabino “Benny” Rebosura II, pastor since June 2009, is only the fourth pastor of the church parish in its almost 50 year history. There are currently 1,300 families in the parish made up of an evenly distributed, balance of the young and the old, something the pastor feels is rather unique and different from other church parishes where he has served. “However, the church parish leadership consists mostly of men and women in their 50s. I have found that although many younger people do volunteer when they are needed, they are hesitant to step up to leadership roles,” says Father Rebosura. The church parish offers several organizations/ ministries. There is an active youth group who performs a well-attended living Way of the Cross during Lent, as well as attending many diocesan events, and there is also a junior high youth group. The parish is currently working on a program for youth to become more visible in the community.

Our Churches

St. Hilary, Mathews There is a nursing home ministry, a hospital ministry, a ministry to the shut ins, neighborhood Masses, a men’s gathering the first Wednesday of every month, a women’s gathering the second Thursday of every month, FOCCUS, CCD, Vacation Bible School, Knights of Columbus and KC Ladies Auxiliary, KC food drive in November, toy drive and an Angel tree for Christmas, a Council of Catholic Women, a bereavement group, a well-attended Grief to Grace support group that meets on the second Tuesday of the month, a music ministry which has three different groups, a children’s choir, Children’s Liturgy, a perpetual Adoration chapel, a candle chapel, adult Bible study, a garden committee that takes care of landscaping the church grounds, a fellowship refreshments committee that prepares refreshments for various parish events, greeters, ushers, a maintenance committee, an active pastoral council and finance council. “I am very appreciative and proud of the pastoral and finance council members. They really have a sense of ownership in this parish and are always coming up with new ideas to make the parish stronger and more ‘alive,’” says Father Rebosura. “We have lot of volunteers in the parish. And, everyone here is generous and kind.” The parish is currently preparing for its 50th anniversary which is in January 2015.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

Staff St. Hilary of Poitiers parish personnel front row from left are Peggy Mayet, secretary; Father Sabino â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bennyâ&#x20AC;? Rebosura II, pastor; and Diane Melancon, religious education coordinator. Back row from left, Johnny Cancienne, maintenance; Lisa Ledet, youth minister; and Hannah Arceneaux, music coordinator. Not pictured is Father Mario Veloso, associate pastor.

www.bayoucatholic.com

Personalities

Retired St. Gregory School principal:

‘I always knew I was going to be a teacher’ Story by Janet Marcel Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier After much prayer and discernment following the birth of her first grandchild, Elizabeth M. Scurto, principal of St. Gregory Elementary School in Houma for the past eight years, made the decision to retire at the end of the 2013-14 school year. Scurto is a native of Houma and a charter member of St. Gregory Church parish where she taught first grade CCD for seven years while in high school and college. She attended St. Francis de Sales Elementary School, is a graduate of Vandebilt Catholic High School and earned a bachelor of arts in education, a master’s degree in curriculum and early childhood education, plus 30 hours in administration and supervision from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux. She taught special education and kindergarten for 30 10 years, served as assistant principal at Southdown Elementary School in Houma and principal of Grand Caillou Elementary School in Houma. Scurto also worked as supervisor of elementary education for six years for the Terrebonne Parish School Board and as superintendent of Terrebonne Parish Schools for four years. She had been retired for two years when she became principal of St. Gregory School. Scurto says that Father Francis Bui, pastor of St. Gregory Church parish at the time, called her several times about applying for the job and even told her he had prayed to the Holy Spirit that she would make the right decision. “I just woke up one morning and I remember thinking, ‘I’m going to die if I don’t get this job.’ I went that day to pick up the application.” She is married to Michael Scurto and the couple

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Elizabeth Scurto, former principal of St. Gregory Catholic Elementary School in Houma, stands beside a construction paper mosaic made by the early childhood class of 201213. The mosaic of the Blessed Mother which took months to complete is very dear to the principal.

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retirement, the students all wrote has one daughter, Mary Elizabeth and one grandchild, Hadden Scurto letters about what she has Michael who is three months old. taught them and she says she had Scurto says her husband no idea that she taught them so has been very supportive of much until she read the letters. her entire career. “He is the “One letter that especially touched one who encouraged me to get me said that I taught them that further education and to go into ‘children’s prayers can create administration. “He’s always miracles.’” believed in me and has been St. Gregory School has a unique right alongside of me here at St. approach to disciplining children, Gregory.” based on something Scurto read: Of her career in education, “The best correction is a response Scurto says as long as she can of love” (Mother Teresa). remember she knew she was going “When a child comes in with to be a teacher. “I loved school; a discipline problem,” says the I played teacher as a child and I principal, “first we pray together always knew I was going to be a and I bless them with holy water. teacher.” Then we talk about what they Being an educator has never did and why it was wrong. When been difficult for her in any way, children have detention, we go to says Scurto. “The Lord blessed church, say the Act of Contrition, me with a great deal of common each child tells me why they are sense and a great deal of faith and there; and then I let them go to when you use those to make your a quiet place in church to pray decisions and always base your silently. This decisions on what really works is best for the because you children, then don’t want to it all falls into God is calling just change place.” their behavior; She says what me now to be an you want to she has enjoyed active part of my new most about being change the principal at St. reason they were grandson’s life. Gregory is being misbehaving. able to bring You want to the children change their closer to Jesus. thoughts and “When I first their hearts.” got here, I think I had a little After she settles into her too much ‘public’ in me. When retirement, Scurto says she thinks the reality hits you that you are she would like to teach CCD again. responsible for the faith formation She loves to attend daily Mass and the spiritual development of and in her free time she reads all the adults and children under prayer books, self-help books and your care, it changes your life cookbooks. profoundly. My spiritual life has In a letter to parents, Scurto definitely grown since I’ve been explained that her decision to here and I truly believe that my retire was a very difficult one. blessing to have worked here will “Just as I knew eight years ago help me to reach eternal life, and that God called me to serve your there’s no greater gift than that.” children, I know that he is calling Scurto has a very special me now to be an active part of my devotion to Our Blessed Mother new grandson’s life and spend and she is proud of bringing more time with my family,” the children to the Blessed she said. “The Lord has blessed Mother and teaching them about me with 40 happy years as an her. “This past May we did a educator. My years at St. Gregory, consecration to Mary because she without a doubt, have been the is our special path to Jesus, and happiest and most rewarding. the children understand that and Serving God’s children and they know that if they ask Mary working with such a caring and anything and she asks her son, he loving faculty and staff has truly never tells his momma no.” Upon learning about her been a wonderful experience.”

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Entertainment

Seeing Clairely Claire Joller

T 32

They look back at us every day from the page designated for them in the local newspaper. Their images range from the elderly to middling to young to alarmingly young. Obituary pictures arrest our attention regardless of the age of the deceased. Here was a man who was born in the Roaring Twenties of the previous century, fought in Europe in World War II, worked hard to raise a family of 11 children, became a grandfather and then great-grandfather, an aged patriarch who leaves behind a sizeable bloodline legacy. The picture the family chooses to remember him is his photo as a young soldier. He smiles out at the world that he helped to secure, a young dark-haired man in the robustness of youth who looks dashing in his dress uniform, his cap at a slightly rakish angle. The picture exudes the confidence of the young. Here is a woman whose kindness shows in her octogenarian face. On the edges of the photo can be seen snippets of evidence of other people standing by her side, carefully cropped from the picture. The decorous background says that it was probably snapped at a special birthday, anniversary, or family wedding. Her silver hair is neatly styled, and her eyes almost twinkle out from the newsprint photo. This is a face that smiled more than it frowned, that laughed more than it cried. The pictures that accompany obituaries range from snapshots to studio poses, and they all have their stories to tell. But I am often puzzled by the choices made for some of the death notice

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

The lasting image Lgserxd aldkj admn aldkfaoieru kdn mnodiyrtbeknd ajdhib ajndjuib bnmnisu eisjhw jnwnc qoieyt shdngkl kdoik, l;kwkw bn cjeu smnd dnpdop nad wtjhe the aodll andn kdjg. Jaldkj admn aldkfaoieru kdn mnodiyrtbeknd ajdhib ajndjuib bnmnisu eisjhwjnwnc qoieyt shdngkl kdoik, l;kwkw bncjeu smnd dnpdop nad wtjhe the aodll andn kdjg al dkj admn aldkfaoieru kdn mnodiyrtbeknd ajdhib ajndjuib bnmnisu eisjhwjnwnc qoieyt shdngkl kdoik, l;kwkw bncjeu smnd dnpdop natyb d wtjhe the aodll andn k djg ldkj admn aldkfaoieru kdn mnodi yrtbeknd ajdhib ajndjuib bnmnisu eisjh wjn wnc qoieyt shdngkl kdoik, l;kwkw bncjeu smnd dnpdop nad wtjhe the aodll andn kdjg Ealdkj admn aldkfaoieru kdn

mnodiyrtbeknd ajdhib ajndjuib bnmn isu eisjhw jnwnc qoieyt shdngkl kdoik, l;kwkw bnwro cjeu smnd dnpdop nad wtjhe the aodll andn kpldmdjg. Balekj admn aldkfaoieru kdn mnodiy rtbeknd ajdhib ajndjuib bnm nisu eisjhwjnwnc qoieyt shdngkl kdoik, l;kwkw bncjeu smnd dnpdop nad wtjhe the aodll andn kdjg. Caldkj admn aldkfaoieru kdn mnodiyrtbe kdejk nd ajd hib ajndjuib bnmnisu eisjhwjnwnc qoieyt shdngkl kdoik nd ajdhib ajndjuib bnmnisu eisjhwjnwnc qoieyt shdngkl kdoik, l;kwkw bncjeu smnd dnpdop nad wtjhefgjn the aodll andn kdjg Jaldkj admn aldkfaoieru kdn mno ib. di yrtbeknd ajdhib ajndjuib bnmnisu eisjh wjn wnc qoieyt shdngkl kdoik, lalkds.

photographs. One such memorial within the past month was preceded by the photo of a boy of about seven. The notice with it, however, was for a young man in his late twenties. Surely, for someone born just two decades ago, photos of him as an adult must exist somewhere. But maybe his family wanted the world to remember him as he was at the age this school picture was taken. He is smiling broadly, his fresh boyish face totally without guile. Maybe to have seen the boy was to have seen the young man he became. Not long ago a sepia tone photo accompanied the obit of a man who died just before he reached seventy. He is a young man of high school age in the photograph, his face angled as the school photographer no doubt instructed, and his head of ash brown hair combed back full and high in the style the Everly Brothers popularized. The circumstances of the man’s subsequent life chronicled in the obituary left no doubt that there had been countless other pictures

of him through the years. I decided that his wife may have sentimentally chosen this particular photo because this was what her loved one looked like when she first fell in love with him. After all, it’s not uncommon for us to look at our spouses and see them as they were then, no matter how many pounds, wrinkles, and grey hair separate them in actuality from their previous selves. The most gratifying obit photos I’ve witnessed were during a brief time that the local newspaper allowed families to submit two photographs of the deceased. Most families chose first their mothers’ and fathers’ photos as young men and women, and the second taken in their older age. It was oddly satisfying for me to see these strangers’ time in this world properly commemorated in words, as well as appropriately reflecting stages of their lives in pictures. (For comments or inquiries about this column, Claire Joller can be contacted by e-mail at clairely1@ comcast.net).

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Church Alive

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

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2,500 Youth attend Steubenville on the Bayou

The ninth annual Steubenville on the Bayou Catholic Youth Conference was held recently at the HoumaTerrebonne Civic Center in Houma. Keynote speakers gave inspirational talks to thousands of youth from across the country. Bishop Shelton J. Fabre was the main celebrant of the Mass which was concelebrated by Bishop Emeritus Sam G. Jacobs and visiting priests, and priests of the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux. Praise and worship music was provided by More Than Sunday. Bayou Catholic â&#x20AC;˘ Houma, LA â&#x20AC;˘ July 2014

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Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier www.bayoucatholic.com

Hagen family creates Charities Endowment Fund

The children of Dr. and Mrs. Werner Hagen have created the Dr. Werner J. and Virginia S. Hagen Family Fund to honor the memory of their parents, who left a legacy gift to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and several other organizations in the local area. “My mother and father both recognized the great works of Catholic Charities in the mid-1960s, when my father became a board member,” says local attorney Matt Hagen. “I was blessed to be asked in the early 1990s by (the late) Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux to serve on the Catholic Charities board and have continued to serve to the present day under Bishops Michael Jarrell, Sam G. Jacobs, and Shelton J. Fabre, with eight of those years as board chair,” continues Hagen. “On behalf of my brothers Dave, Jim and Pat, and my sister Ellen, we wish to thank the staff at Catholic Charities for their hard work and dedication, and encourage other families to consider creating similar 36 endowments for their loved ones.” The Catholic Charities Endowment provides funding, in perpetuity, for the charitable works of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux through Catholic Charities. Social services, Catholic social teaching education, social justice advocacy, and community organizing are all supported through the endowment. “Dr. Werner Hagen was not only a long-time Catholic Charities board member, but was one of the local physicians who treated children in our adoptions program,” says Robert Gorman, Catholic Charities executive director. “We are very grateful to the Hagen family, and to all the other families, who have donated to our Catholic Charities Endowment.” The mission of Catholic Charities is to provide compassionate service to people in need through fidelity to the Gospel.

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Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

The children of Dr. and Mrs. Werner Hagen have created the Dr. Werner J. and Virginia S. Hagen Family Fund to honor the memory of their parents who left a legacy gift to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and several other organizations in the local area. Local attorney Matt Hagen at left, presents a check to Robert Gorman, executive director of Catholic Charities Houma-Thibodaux.

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Guest Columnist

A 38

Catherine Klingman, L.C.S.W.

All married couples are invited to attend a Married Couples’ Date Night that is being co-sponsored by the diocesan Offices of Family Ministries and Conferences on Aug. 16 at the Courtyard Marriott Ballroom in Houma, beginning at 6 p.m. The night will consist of great food, music and fellowship. The understanding of marriage in our society is shaped by those around us; our families, friends, fellow parishioners and society. In answering the call to marriage, married couples share many joys, sorrows, blessings and challenges. Living through difficult times brings a greater appreciation for the joyful times. There are lots of books and articles on marriage, but many couples still feel lost at times and disillusioned. As couples grow together in understanding and gain knowledge, experience humility and strength, they can create a more secure and sound relationship. It is important for couples to spend time getting to know each other’s gifts, vulnerabilities, faults and strengths. As couples grow older, they need to continuously learn about each other and understand themselves, too. There are times when marriage is romantic, but most of the time marriage is ordinary and routine. During the ordinary routine times, it is important for married couples to stay connected with each other. Communication is essential! Couples should share their lives with each other; the good, the bad and the ordinary. The little things mean a lot. A marriage isn’t just built on romantic notions, special gifts or special vacations. All of those things are wonderful, but marriage is so much more than

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

The ever changing phases of marriage that. What happens on a daily basis in marriage is of utmost importance! Our love account needs attention every month, every week, every day, not just during special occasions. Couples need to pay attention and understand there are many ways to show love and affection; helping each other with supper and cleaning the house; being there to listen to each other and share news;

being able to laugh at things no one else understands or sees; taking care of each other during times of illness and rejoicing during times of good health; or sharing dessert and spending time together. God knows no one is perfect and marriages are never perfect. Through the grace of God, couples find strength and courage to forgive; and be there for each other. Couples who have been married for many years understand and know the changes that occur and the different phases of marriage couples

cycle through. Relationships move through the dating phase when couples feel passion and romance. Everything feels wonderful. They aim to please. As time passes, relationships move into a time of settling down and locking into a daily routine with work, home life and schedules. It is crucial that couples deepen their communication skills and learn more about each other (including faults) and how to negotiate and accommodate. Relationships enter a phase of power struggles when they see each other’s faults. The notion of “we” turns into “me.” Individuality and independence rise to the surface and it is important for couples to learn how to forgive and find balance. If couples push through they can find themselves in the phase of discovery, reconciliation and beginning again. They discover and create a new connection with each other. Their relationship has new meaning – a deeper meaning, a more solid meaning. They learn how to appreciate and respect each other, including their flaws. They also see their own imperfections and what needs to be addressed. All married couples are encouraged to continue growing, learning, forgiving and loving. Keep Christ at the center of the marriage and remain prayerful. Make time to spend quality time together. Visit www.htconferences.org for online registration. Everyone must pre-register by Friday, Aug. 8; seating is limited. If registered by Friday, Aug. 1, names will be entered into drawing for free room at Marriott for Date Night. Cost is $75 per couple for dinner and dancing (Room packages available online) Full service dinner includes appetizer, salad, main course and dessert. For more information call (985)850-3171.

The Most Reverend Sam G. Jacobs Bishop Emeritus of Houma-Thibodaux requests the honor or your presence at the celebration of His Excellencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s significant Anniversaries 50 years to the Priesthood and 25 years to the Episcopacy at a Holy Mass of Thanksgiving

Sunday, August 24, 2014 2:00 p.m. The Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma 500 Goode Street Houma, Louisiana 70360 A reception will follow in the Parish Youth Center Your presence and prayers are gift enough.

Pope condemns Mafia, says members are excommunicated By Cindy Wooden

Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In the stronghold of an Italian crime syndicate believed to be richer and more powerful than the Sicilian Mafia, Pope Francis said, “Those who follow the path of evil, like the mafiosi do, are not in communion with God; they are excommunicated!” During a Mass June 21 in the southern region of Calabria, Pope Francis made clear that even if the mob families continue to go to Mass and decorate their homes and hideouts with religious pictures, they have cut themselves off from communion with the church and with God. “When instead of adoring the Lord, one substitutes the adoration 40 of money, one opens the path to sin, personal interests and exploitation,” Pope Francis said to applause from an estimated 250,000 people gathered in a field near the town of Sibari. “When one does not adore the Lord God, one becomes an adorer of evil, like those who live lives of crime and violence.” “Your land, which is so beautiful, knows the signs and consequences of this sin. This is what the ‘Ndrangheta is: the adoration of evil and contempt for the common good,” Pope Francis said. The ‘Ndrangheta is a crime syndicate based in Calabria. The pope began his nine-hour visit to the Diocese of Cassano allo Ionio meeting prisoners at the Rosetta Sisca jail in Castrovillari. At the jail, he met the father and grandmothers of Nicola Campolongo, a 3-year-old killed with his grandfather in January. The boy’s parents, and several other relatives, are in jail on drug trafficking charges. Italian police said it appeared the boy was caught in the crossfire between rival clans over a drug deal. In a speech to all the detainees and staff, Pope Francis called for Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING

Italy’s flag is seen as Pope Francis greets people at Rome’s Church of St. Gregory VII after a prayer service for victims of the Mafia.

prisons to offer programs aimed at rehabilitation: “When this objective is overlooked, the penalty becomes an instrument only of punishment and social retaliation, which damages both the individual and society.” The pope also told the prisoners to use their time in prison to think about the impact of their crimes on their families, society and their relationship with God. “The Lord is a master at rehabilitation,” the pope said. “He takes us by the hand and brings us back into the social community. The Lord always forgives, always accompanies, always understands; it is up to us to let ourselves be understood, forgiven and accompanied.” Before leaving, Pope Francis made his usual request for prayers, then added: “Because I, too, have done wrong and I, too, must re-

pent.” The pope also visited a hospice for the terminally ill, where a doctor removed a small splinter from one of his fingers, according to Vatican Radio. Although he did not give a formal speech at the facility, Italian news media quoted him as telling the staff, patients and their family members that holding and caressing someone are the best uses of one’s hands. “Sickness is awful, but hands are powerful,” he said. Through people’s hands, “the caress from God’s hands touches the depths of one’s being.” Before having lunch with a group of poor families assisted by the diocesan Caritas and with participants in an addiction-recovery program, Pope Francis stopped in the diocesan cathedral for a meeting with priests.

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)* - 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 (2) - Orleans & Louella Pitre - Msgr. Joseph Wester - Robert R. Wright, Jr. - Rev. Kermit Trahan - St. Bernadette Men’s Club - Diocesan K of C - Endowment Fund - $119,136.90

May 2014 Burse Contributions Rev. Hubert C. Broussard ............................... $1,000.00 Catholic Daughters ............................................ $300.00 Mr. Eledier Broussard ........................................ $100.00

Open Burses with Balance as of 5/31/14 Mr. Eledier Broussard ................. $14,100.00 Sidney J. & Lydie C. Duplantis ........... $13,000.00 Donald Peltier, Sr. #4 ............................ $13,000.00 Msgr. Raphael C. Labit #2 .................. $10,960.00 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 .............................. $8,360.00 Mr. & Mrs. George C. Fakier ................. $7,700.00 Rev. Victor Toth ..................................... $7,000.00 Brides of the Most Blessed Trinity ......... $5,935.00 Rev. Peter Nies ..................................... $5,810.00 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 Rev. Kasimir Chmielewski ..................... $4,839.00 Rev. Gerard Hayes ................................ $4,786.00 Msgr. William Koninkx ........................... $4,700.00 Rev. Henry Naquin ................................. $4,221.00 Harry Booker #2 .................................... $4,138.00 Mrs. Shirley Conrad ............................... $4,000.00

Catholic Daughters ................................ $3,980.00 Joseph “Jay” Fertitta .............................. $3,800.00 Kelly Curole Frazier ............................... $3,610.96 J. R. Occhipinti ...................................... $3,400.00 Msgr. James Songy ............................... $3,075.00 Mr. & Mrs. Galip Jacobs ........................ $3,060.00 St. Jude ................................................. $3,000.00 Diocesan K of C #2 ............................... $2,894.62 Rev. Peter H. Brewerton ........................ $2,600.00 Anawin Community ............................... $2,300.00 Rev. Guy Zeringue ................................ $2,200.00 Mrs. Ayres A. Champagne ..................... $2,100.00 Willie & Emelda St. Pierre ...................... $2,000.00 Rev. H. C. Paul Daigle ........................... $1,900.00 Warren J. Harang, Jr. #2 ......................... $1,700.00 James J. Buquet, Jr. ............................... $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 Rev. Hubert C. Broussard ...................... $1,050.00

Rev. Clemens Schneider ....................... $1,000.00 St. Joseph Italian Society ...................... $1,000.00 Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux #4 ........... $1,000.00 Msgr. John G. Keller .............................. $1,000.00 Rev. Anthony Rousso ............................. $1,000.00 Deacon Willie Orgeron ............................. $800.00 Jacob Marcello .......................................... $800.00 Deacon Roland Dufrene ........................... $750.00 Juliette & Eugene Wallace ......................... $700.00 Deacon Edward J. Blanchard ................... $660.00 Deacon Raymond LeBouef ...................... $550.00 Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Cannata .................... $500.00 Ronnie Haydel .......................................... $485.00 Deacon Harold Kurtz ................................ $300.00 Richard Peltier #2 ..................................... $300.00 Claude Bergeron ...................................... $250.00 Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Naquin .......................... $150.00 Deacon Connely Duplantis ........................ $100.00 Deacon Pedro Pujals ................................ $100.00 Rev. John Gallen ....................................... $100.00 Deacon Eldon Frazier .............................. $ 50.00 Deacon Nick Messina .............................. $ 50.00 Rev. Warren Chassaniol ........................... $ 50.00

Overall Seminarian Burse Totals: $1,445,218.39 www.bayoucatholic.com

Catholic Charities disaster relief:

Bringing Christ to those in need

Guest Columnist Tim Sullivan

When a person goes to work for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux one of the first things he discovers is the extensive work Catholic Charities does in helping people, especially people with limited resources recovering from hurricanes. While most people in South Louisiana have considerable experience in dealing with the aftermath of hurricanes they may not realize how many years the recovery and mitigation efforts continue after a storm, or more likely a series of storms, has taken place. Since 2005, when our diocese was hammered first by Katrina and then Rita less than a month later followed by Gustav, Ike, the oil spill, the 2012 spring floods and then Isaac, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux has spent over $7 million for direct assistance to recovering families. Almost all of this money was private donations from Catholics and others who wanted to help families recover. Much of the case management for the families that received help was provided by Terrebonne Readiness and Assistance Coalition (TRAC). Most of the projects in the last year have been building ramps or putting in lifts for homes that have been elevated. A month or so after TRAC completes the

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

home owner’s project using CCHT funds, we will give the family a call to see if they would like a deacon or a priest to bless not only the lift or ramp but the whole house. Almost all respond they would love to have a house blessing. We do the blessings for a variety of reasons. The most important of course is simply to bless a family’s home. Families love and are proud of their homes no matter how modest. It also gives the priest or deacon a chance to evangelize to families. The families may or not be Catholic - we never ask. One time we blessed the home of a Baptist preacher who was happy to have

a blessing from a Catholic priest. Finally, it is a way for Catholic Charities to follow up with the home owners after a couple months of use to see how their ramp or lift is working out for them. It has been a special experience to be allowed a glimpse of people’s homes and lives as we do our blessings. Every home, every story is different. The stories may be different but one thing that is similar is the tremendous need the family has for their ramp or lift. In most cases the news that they are getting their lift brings tears, cries of joy, or in one case a little happy dance.

Sometimes this improvement to their home is life changing. Imagine if for some reason you suddenly become wheel chair bound. If your house is elevated you are trapped in your home with no easy way to get out. The vast majority of our disaster lift or ramp grant recipients are elderly and on a fixed income. When you suddenly start having health issues at that point in your life there is usually is no money for a lift which can cost up to $6,000. Many of the families do pay part of the cost of the lift or ramp. All of the families we do blessings for struggle financially but some are truly poor and living in very difficult circumstances. During a cold spell we were having one month this winter several of the homes we visited were very cold with the family members all wearing coats. In one case the only heat appeared to be coming from the stove burners. I had the chance to be present at several blessings with Father Joseph Varghese from St. Lawrence Church parish in Chacahoula. All of the people we visited were very poor. Father Varghese, who grew up in a very poor area of India, said to call him any time Catholic Charities needed help working with poor families. He has a special place in his heart for people who are poor because of his own experiences growing up. Another Catholic we all know has also been talking about the poor. Pope Francis in his Joy of the Gospel wrote; “We have to state, without mincing words, that there is an inseparable bond between our faith and the poor. May we never abandon them.” Occasionally when I tell the priest the name of the family asking for a blessing, he knows them right away because they are parishioners who attend Mass regularly. Other times we get to the home and find out they are Catholic, but have not been active. The priest or deacon usually has to answer a question or two about the Catholic Church. The family is always invited back to church and Mass. Father Thomas Kuriakose, I.M.S., pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Church parish in Pointaux-Chenes, blessed a home for an older couple who are raising their

grandson. After visiting with them a while, they shared their story with us. The boy’s mom and dad were unable to care for him. He had never been baptized, was having a difficult time at home and also was struggling in school. Father Kuriakose explained to them what was required to have their grandson baptized. He encouraged them to follow up on the baptism and, in addition to the house blessing, he did a special blessing for their grandson. I walked away from their house feeling I had been given a gift just to be present for these blessings. In many of the homes we visit at least one person has serious health issues. More than once, in addition to the house blessing, we prayed for their recovery from illness. Deacon

‘

Consider joining a parish Matthew 25 team

Gary Lapeyrouse from St. Joseph Church parish in Chauvin and I visited a home where the new lift was truly a life saver because one of the parents was in such pain it was almost impossible to climb the stairs. As we were getting ready to leave, Deacon Lapeyrouse gathered me and the other family members around the person in pain and we put a hand on her as Deacon Lapeyrouse prayed a blessing of healing. There were a few tears shed during a very moving blessing. It also has been a great pleasure to spend some time with the priests and deacons who do the blessings. As we travel from the parish to the home we are going to bless, I get to hear a bit of each priest or deacon’s story and maybe a little bit about

life in the parish. The priests also come from a wide variety of backgrounds and they each bring a bit of that background with us as we visit with the family and bless their home. Father Varghese, for example, has a holy water aspergillum (sprinkler) from India. It has a distinct shape that clearly has origins in India. The deacons and priests truly have a compassion for the people they minister to. As we prepare for yet another hurricane season Catholic Charities encourages everyone to prepare their family and home. TRAC publishes the Louisiana Storm Survival Guide http://trac4la. wordpress.com/category/resources/ with all kinds of helpful ideas. This guide can be found at the local church parishes or at the Catholic Charities office on Aycock Street in Houma. Bayou Interfaith Shared Community Organizing (BISCO), a local interfaith organization, has several helpful planning tools that can be downloaded from their website at: http://www.bisco-la.org/ Matthew 25 is the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s parishbased volunteer disaster response 43 program. After major storms, parish Matthew 25 teams have been very active helping disaster victims by distributing meals or cleanup kits, cleaning up for parishioners or at parishes, and doing a variety of other jobs. Consider joining a parish Matthew 25 team. If your parish does not have a team, help get one organized. When the next hurricane hits South Louisiana you can trust that Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and our Matthew 25 parish partners will be working hard to help those that are impacted; especially the families who can least afford to recover from the damage. It has been a gift for me to be allowed to follow up with the families recovering and preparing for future storms. But then I have always heard that those who minister receive more blessings from those they serve than they ever give. (Tim Sullivan is the former director of Parish Social Ministry, Catholic Campaign for Human Development and Catholic Relief Services for Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.) www.bayoucatholic.com

Special

At New Orleans meeting

Bishops focus on religious liberty, elections, synod By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service

NEW ORLEANS (CNS) -- During their June 11-13 spring general assembly in New Orleans, the nation’s Catholic bishops voted to extend their Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty and to approve work on a limited revision of their quadrennial document aimed at guiding Catholics in election decisions. They also were urged to promote and support Catholic families by paying close attention to the upcoming synod on the family at the Vatican and to promote the World Meeting of Families next year in Philadelphia. The bishops heard about the progress made and the work that still needs to be done on efforts to protect children from sexual abuse. They received a report about their aid to typhoon victims in the Philippines and were advised about the work being done to make sure religious educational materials conform to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The public sessions of the meetings took place June 11 and the morning of June 12 before the bishops went into executive session. “It is always a great joy for us to be together,” Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the United States, told the bishops at the start of their meeting. There is “unity and strength from the Holy Spirit when you gather as one church,” he added. The nuncio emphasized the need to be in solidarity not only with each other but also with Catholic leaders and the faith community in the Iraqi city of Mosul, where Christians were among the hundreds of thousands of people who began fleeing June 9 after Islamist forces took over much of the city. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

CNS PHOTO/BOB ROLLER

Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, gives the homily during Mass June 11 at St. Louis Cathedral during the annual spring meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in New Orleans.

“We join with them in solidarity and hope that the international community will not remain insensitive” to the attacks, he said. Prior to the vote on a three-year extension of the Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty, Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori, its chairman, compared the body’s work to the “humble beginnings of the pro-life movement.” The ad hoc committee was formed in 2011 and the “need for its sustained work is at least as great as when it started,” he told the bishops. Several bishops said they appreciated the materials the committee provided them and their dioceses and felt the work was important.

Another item the bishops unanimously approved was a limited revision of the 2007 statement “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” and the draft of a new introductory note for it. The revision and draft will be presented for a vote by the U.S. bishops at their annual fall assembly in November. The document has been issued before every presidential election for almost four decades. A note in the current introduction, revised in 2011, clarifies that the document is “does not offer a voters’ guide, scorecard of issues or direction on how to vote,” but instead “applies Catholic moral principles to a range of important issues and warns against misguided appeals to ‘conscience’ to ignore fundamental moral claims, to reduce Catholic moral concerns to one or two matters, or to justify choices simply to advance partisan, ideological or personal interests.” The bishops also voted to permit the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations to seek a renewed recognitio, or approval, from the Vatican for the National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States. Vatican approval to the text would be for another five-year term. The bishops, by applause, showed their support of a letter to be from Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, to Pope Francis, inviting him to attend the World Meeting of Families next September in Philadelphia. Read at the meeting by Archbishop Kurtz, the letter said the pope’s presence would “add significance” to the gathering and “deepen the bonds of affection” many Catholics feel for the Holy Father.

Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, said the Philadelphia gathering was a key factor in promoting family life, which he said is currently in crisis. “The family today is living out a paradox,” he told the bishops. “On the one hand, great value is given to the bonds of family, everywhere in the world” but he also noted that today’s families are weakened and often “lose their way.” Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput told the U.S. bishops the 2015 gathering “comes at a time when the church in the United States urgently needs an opportunity for joy and renewal. It’s also a time of great confusion about the nature of marriage and the family.” “Our goal is to exclude no one from the excitement of this meeting. Our goal is to offer the beauty of Catholic teaching about marriage and the family with confidence and a spirit of invitation to every person of good will,” he said. “That’s the heart of our theme: ‘Love is our mission; the family fully alive.’” Archbishop Kurtz spoke about

the upcoming extraordinary synod on the family at the Vatican, noting that it will take its cue from responses given in surveys of Catholic families worldwide. He said while the responses remain confidential, one trend they indicate is Catholics’ eagerness to respond to questions about family life; many have expressed a desire to hear more clear explanation of church teaching about marriage and families. He also said many parents indicated that they are “at a loss” for how to transmit the faith to their children and they also face challenges from today’s economy, busy schedules and from living in a culture that they’ve described as being “hostile” to their faith. The synod will bring together presidents of bishops’ conferences, the heads of Eastern Catholic churches and the heads of Vatican offices to discuss “pastoral challenges to the family in the context of evangelization.” In his presentation June 11, San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, chairman of the

CNS PHOTO/BOB ROLLER

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre makes the sign of the cross during the U.S. bishops meeting in New Orleans for their spring general assembly.

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Special USCCB’s Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, noted that the redefinition of marriage is not only occurring at the state level but federally. He urged the bishops to move forward recalling the words of Pope Francis: “Challenges exist to be overcome! Let us be realists, but without losing our joy, our boldness and our hope-filled commitment.” A report by the bishops’ national advisory council called the bishops effort to defend marriage “an urgent priority.” The report emphasized an agreement with issues on the bishops’ agenda for the spring meeting and also urged the bishops to develop materials to help dioceses address “how it cares for those in pain” and alienated from the church. The group asked the bishops to continue to review the federal government’s Common Core State Standards initiative and to consider more diocesan programs to help men to get more involved in the church. A report by the National Review Board, which monitors dioceses’ 46 performance in dealing with sexually abusive priests and creating a safe environment for children, said progress has been made but much work still needs to be done. In a report on the work of the Subcommittee on the Catechism, Archbishop Leonard P. Blair of Hartford, Connecticut, and chairman of the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, noted how the bishops’ subcommittee reviews 25,000 pages of religious education materials a year to determine if they conform with the catechism. He said that just as the bishops developed high school catechetical materials they should now focus similar efforts on a curriculum format for primary grades. The bishops were also told how the $21 million in aid relief from U.S. Catholics to Catholic Relief Service helped with immediate and long-term aid and reconstruction of churches in the Philippines after last year’s Typhoon Haiyan. At the opening Mass June 11 at St. Louis Cathedral, Archbishop Kurtz urged his fellow bishops to encourage Catholics, society at large and each other. He also thanked New Orleans Archbishop Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

Bishops focus on religious liberty, elections, synod

CNS PHOTO/BOB ROLLER

Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the United States, and Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, share a light moment before celebrating Mass June 11 during the USCCB’s annual spring meeting in New Orleans.

Gregory M. Aymond for the “truly warm New Orleans welcome.” On June 12, the bishops heard from Helen Alvare, law professor at George Mason University Law School in Arlington, Virginia, who spoke about the link between new evangelization and poverty; and Brad Wilcox, associate professor of sociology and director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, spoke about marriage and the economy.

Alvare urged bishops to continually bring Jesus to those they minister to and to act as he did, making time for people and having personal interaction with them. Wilcox, citing numerous studies, spoke of the erosion of marriage in society and its negative impact on children. He urged the bishops to articulate with Catholics the benefits of an “intact marriage” but also to “stand in solidarity with couples in crisis.”

Summer 2014 Vocation Retreats

joyful

a come & see retreat for women diocese

daux houma-thibo

Join Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart (Daughters of Mary of Nazareth), Sister Effata, Sister Letizia (Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary), Fr Josh Rodrigue, and our Vocations Office staff for 2 days of community, prayer, and talks about vocation, discernment, and religous life. WHAT WHO WHEN WHERE

A discernment and informational 2-day retreat for women wanting to know more about religious life. High School Junior & Senior Women | College-Age Young Adult Women (from the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux) Saturday, July 26, 800am - Sunday, July 27, 600pm Borromeo House @ the Convent | St Francis de Sales Cathedral campus 501 Grinage Street, Houma, LA 70360 (Parking Map on our FB Page) COST The retreat is free. For more info or to sign up, contact the Vocations Office.

sponsa christi

fraternity t for men a come & see retruea x ma-thibodau diocese

Join Fr Josh Rodrigue, other priests, our seminarians, and our Vocations Office staff for 2 days of fraternity, prayer, and talks about vocation, discernment, priesthood, and seminarian life. WHAT WHO WHEN WHERE

A discernment and informational 2-day retreat for men wanting to know more about priesthood & seminarian life. High School Junior & Senior Men | College-Age Young Adult Men (from the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux) Saturday, July 12, 800am - Sunday, July 13, 600pm Borromeo House @ the Convent | St Francis de Sales Cathedral campus 501 Grinage Street, Houma, LA 70360 (Parking Map on our FB Page) COST The retreat is free. For more info or to sign up, contact the Vocations Office. Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Office of Vocations to Priesthood and Religious Life PO Box 505 | 2779 LA-311 | Schriever, LA 70395 Fr Joshua Rodrigue, Director of Vocations (985) 850-3149 | vocations@htdiocese.org | htvocations.com htvocations

@htvocations

htvocations

Personalities

Brother John Olsen retires Leaves legacy of dedicated service

Story by Janet Marcel Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier

Brother John Olsen, C.F.X., Ph.D., who served as associate director of the Assisi Bridge House from 1990-2000 and then again from 2009 until last month, has retired. Brother John, who turned 85 this year, says his plans for retirement came suddenly after he suffered a stroke. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Brother John was educated by the Xaverian Brothers at St. Michael’s School starting in preschool. After high school he went on to earn a Ph.D. in administration and human resources and is a certified addictions specialist. Because he became associated with the brothers at such a young age, Brother John says he doesn’t remember ever wanting to do anything else with his life. “I can’t think of myself as not being a brother. I feel so rich and blessed in my ministry with the Xaverian Brothers. It has been an extraordinary life in every aspect of administration and teaching.” Brother John says that what he has enjoyed most about being a brother is the sense of community that the brothers have, Brother John Olsen, C.F.X., Ph.D. something that continues even today. In 1990, a research project he was working on brought him to the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux for the first time. While here, he learned that the Assisi Bridge House needed a counselor, so he recruited a member of his Xaverian community. Then Rob Gorman, executive director of Catholic Charities Diocese of HoumaThibodaux, asked Brother John if he would serve as the Bridge House’s administrator, which he did until 1999. For the next 10 years, Brother John ministered to the marginalized in Bungoma and the Kangemi slum of Nairobi, teaching and counseling at Tangaza College as well as other schools and counseling centers, working with those in treatment for various addictions, and assisting dioceses, other religious congregations and Host: Louis Aguirre non-profit organizations in a number of ways. Brother John says he loves the church and its With Guest: people here in South Louisiana and was glad for the opportunity to return in 2009. “I always felt very Robert D. Gorman, L.C.S.W., A.C.S.W. welcome here in the diocese. What made returning Executive Director Catholic Charities here even more special was the chance to work at the Assisi Bridge House again. My ministry there has been a big part of my life.” HTV/VISION COMMUNICATIONS, Rob Gorman, executive director of Catholic Charities CHARTER COMM. & COMCAST of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, says, CHANNEL 10 “We wish Brother John well in retirement and thank ALLEN’S TV CABLE MORGAN CITY him for his many years of service in the Diocese of CHANNEL 71 Houma-Thibodaux. He has thoroughly enjoyed his (Digital Channel 30.1-UHF & Channel 7.1-VHF) years at the Assisi Bridge House and leaves many Mondays - 9:30 a.m. friends here.” Thursdays - 9:30 a.m. & 11:00 p.m. Brother John will be residing at the Xaverian Saturdays - 9:30 p.m. Brothers Ryken House, 1607 Poplar Level Road in If you are not receiving these programs in your area, please contact your local cable provider. Louisville, KY 40217.

Diocesan Programs This Month

“Spotlight on the Diocese”

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

Lumen Christi offering spiritual nourishment retreat Aug. 16-17 A retreat entitled “Feeding from the hand of the shepherd: Spiritual nourishment from Pope Francis” will be held at Lumen Christi Retreat Center in Schriever, beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16 and concluding with Mass on Sunday, Aug. 17 at 10:45 a.m. Rev. Glenn LeCompte, S.T.L., will direct the retreat, which is intended to help retreatants reflect upon the refreshing and challenging message Pope Francis has communicated to the world in the past year, that we might embrace our faith with renewed love and devotion. Conferences include “Embracing the Good News of Jesus Christ,” Demolishing the Idols,” “The Mercy of God leads us to freedom” and “Our mission to bring the Joy of the Gospel to the World.” To register or obtain more information contact Aimee Hebert, (985)868-1523 or at lumenchristi@ htdiocese.org.

St. Ann, Bourg dedication set

St. Ann Church parish in Bourg will host the dedication of its new parish center at 4 p.m., Saturday, July 26, the feast day of its patron saint. Bishop Shelton J. Fabre will celebrate the dedication Mass. Father Ty Van Nguyen, pastor, along with visiting priests, will be concelebrants. The dedication will be held under the portico of the St. Ann Parish Center with a dinner reception to follow. The new center will replace the 60 year old multipurpose building. Its first floor will house administrative offices, a large assembly room, a youth room, a conference room and kitchen facilities. The second floor will have nine classrooms. The public is invited to attend this event.

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.

www.bayoucatholic.com

Special Event

! e t a r b le e

Mass of Thanksgiving to honor Bishop Emeritus Sam G. Jacobs Bishop Emeritus Sam G. Jacobs will be celebrating two significant anniversaries with a Mass of Thanksgiving, Sunday, August 24 at 2 p.m., at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma. Bishop Emeritus Jacobs was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Lafayette June 6, 1964 (50 years);

and to the episcopacy for the Diocese of Alexandria Aug. 24, 1989 (25 years). He served as bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux from October 2003 until September 2013. A reception will follow in the parish youth center. LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Bayou Catholic â&#x20AC;˘ Houma, LA â&#x20AC;˘ July 2014

Food for the Journey Aug. 5 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 August 5 is Houma native Father Daniel “Danny” Poche’. Father Poche, who retired from active ministry June 30, has served the diocese in many capacities. He attended Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans and was ordained to the priesthood March 4, 1978. He served as associate pastor at St. Joseph Church parish in Chauvin and St. Bernadette Church parish in Houma; and as chaplain at Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma and the for Louisiana State Police – Troop C. He served as pastor at Sacred

Rev. Danny Poche’

Heart Church parish in Cut Off; St. Hilary of Poitiers Church parish in Mathews; and Holy Cross Church parish in Morgan City. Father Poche’ has also been a member and chairman of the diocesan priests’ council, a member of the College of Consultors, an

advocate and defender of the bond for the diocesan Tribunal, spiritual director for the Cursillo Movement and the Holy Name Society, diocesan director of the offices of Worship, Seminarians and Vocations, and dean of the Upper Lafourche Deanery. Those who plan to attend the August 5th event should RSVP with their name, phone number and church parish by Thursday, July 31. To RSVP, email FoodForTheJourney@htdiocese.org or call (985) 850-3178. 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 $13 and includes meal, drink and tip. Only cash or checks will be accepted. All are invited to come “eat and be fed.” 51

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By Julie Asher

Catholic News Service

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (CNS) -Pope Francis’ dream for the Catholic Church is to not only be a teacher but also a mother “caressing her children with compassion,” the president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications told members of the Catholic media. “The church is not only an institution but a church that is able to go around and walk with humanity, with the men and women of today,” said Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli said in a talk at the 2014 Catholic Media Conference in Charlotte June 19. Pope Francis feels the greatest challenge for the church today is “to become mother,” he said, and the other challenge is to figure out “how to express in our media the maternity of the church.” “We can be very much correct and faithful to doctrine, but people face so much difficulty to stay in this church. The doors must be open for all to enter regardless of their standing in life,” the archbishop said, and like any mother, 52 the church might not always like her children’s behavior but she still loves them. Archbishop Celli spoke at a general session on the second day of the annual gathering of members of the Catholic Press Association of the U.S. and Canada and the Catholic Academy of Communication Professionals. The conference was hosted by the Diocese of Charlotte and its news outlet, the Catholic News Herald, and drew more than 200 reporters, editors, communication directors and others serving in Catholic media across the U.S. and Canada. The “ever-changing dynamics, trends and ways of working in the field of communication ... are profound and rapid. ... It is difficult to know where things are going,” Archbishop Celli said. “We can, however, share our experiences and expertise in order to become more attentive, knowledgeable and flexible so as to respond better to our calling as church communicators, who share the Gospel message through our personal and professional lives,” he said. He cited a new survey by the Reuters Institute for the Study Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

of Journalism that shows, among other things, 37 percent of respondents said they access news from a smartphone every week; social networking sites are key drivers in disseminating information, especially Facebook and Twitter; newer platforms are emerging, such as Google Plus and WhatsApp; and there is an ever-widening gap in the ways young people engage with media and news compared to their parents or grandparents. The survey also showed that respondents were inclined to trust individual journalists more than the organizations or the institutions for which they work, he said.

Catholic media urged to bring fresh energy, compassion to their work “The key question for Catholic media professionals is to consider how best we can be present in this emerging digital arena,” Archbishop Celli said. Pope Francis recognizes “the extraordinary potential for good which digital media can have in bringing people closer together, he said, but the pope “also stresses that communication should always be understood as a human rather than a technological achievement and that social networks are ultimately constituted by people rather than wires or cables.” “Notwithstanding, the ‘newness’ or ‘difference’ of the digital arena,

the church must endeavor to be present if the word of God is to encounter people fully in this dimension of their lives,” the archbishop said. Archbishop Celli also stressed the need to keep the tone of debates on social media civil and charitable, because too often the tone “can be very critical or very negative.” Quoting Pope Francis, he said: “We need to resolve our differences through forms of dialogue which help us grow in understanding and mutual respect. A culture of encounter demands that we be ready not only to give, but also to receive.” The archbishop said that Pope Benedict XVI shared the same sentiment when he said: “The social media thus need the commitment of all who are conscious of the value of dialogue, reasoned debate and logical argumentation.” In the past 10 years, the Vatican has expanded its media efforts beyond its newspaper, radio and TV outlets and website in response to “massive changes in the media landscape and the way people communicate and relate” and to have an effective presence in the digital world. The Vatican has had a YouTube channel since 2009. The web portal www.news.va was started in 2011. The Vatican launched the mobile and tablet version of news.va called “The Pope App” in 2013; an updated version is being released sometime in July. As more new technologies emerge, church communications must continue to adapt, Archbishop Celli said, and he urged the Catholic communicators to bring fresh energy and imagination to their work. He ended his talk with a favorite story about a musician who went from village to village riding his donkey and carrying his harp. One day thieves attacked him, took the donkey and harp, and left him injured in the road. Passers-by asked him what happened. “He told them the thieves stole his donkey and his harp but they could not steal ‘the music from my heart.’ What we have to communicate is the music we are keeping in our heart,” Archbishop Celli said. “People will be enchanted only by the music of the heart.”

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Surge of children By Brenda Nettles Riojas Catholic News Service

McALLEN, Texas (CNS) -Scared, tired and hungry, immigrants, mostly mothers with their children, have been arriving at the McAllen and Brownsville bus stations at odd hours. Most hope to travel farther to connect with waiting family members. They are among hundreds of immigrants -- mostly from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala -- arriving daily, dropped off by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents after being apprehended in the United States. Because of the vast number of families and children traveling on their own who have been picked up on the border, mostly in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, ICE has 54 been giving families permission to travel on to their final destination with instructions to appear in court for deportation proceedings. More than 52,000 minors traveling alone and 39,000 families have been picked up this fiscal year. The number of children traveling alone has doubled over a year ago and is more than seven times the number that was typical annually through 2011. For the past two months, volunteers acting on their own have been meeting immigrants at the bus station. They provide food and help the disoriented families navigate bus travel. As the numbers escalated, Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley opened two assistance centers. When they arrive at the bus station, “they are scared, they’re hungry, they’re tired,” said Sister Norma Pimentel, a member of the Missionaries of Jesus, who is executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley. “They don’t know who to trust. They fear someone will take advantage of them.” She said she told the people at Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

the bus station, “Somos de la iglesia. Estamos aqui para ayudar.” (“We are with the church. We are here to help.”) One center is at Sacred Heart Church, near McAllen’s bus station. Volunteers helped approxi-

will receive asylum if they cross into United States with their children, for example. Asylum is a status available to people who have a credible fear of persecution or physical harm in their homelands. Being released by ICE with or-

CNS PHOTO/TYLER ORSBURN

Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas, addresses the House Judiciary Committee in Washington June 25 about the unprecedented rate of unaccompanied and undocumented minors entering the U.S. from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. Bishop Seitz testified that Congress should see it as a humanitarian crisis and urged immigration policies that ensure children receive appropriate welfare and legal services.

mately 200 people the first day. A second center is in the gymnasium across the street from Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Brownsville, and a third is planned in Harlingen. “The assistance centers are an immediate and temporary response to the need,” said Sister Pimentel. “A long-term solution is needed.” She said false information circulating in Central America has contributed to the influx. Some are under the impression that they

ders to appear in immigration court is confusing to some, said Sister Pimentel. “They think they are being offered amnesty.” In reality, the immigration agency “is giving themselves space to breathe” because it is overwhelmed by the number of children and families being detained in the area. One young man in his early 20s arrived from Guatemala with his infant child. His wife had been kidnapped in Mexico and he was he forced to continue without her.

Another, Roger (his last name has been withheld for his safety), 14, is a U.S. citizen who was living with his aunt in Miami. He flew to Honduras to accompany his mother as she crossed illegally into the United States. He said it took them four tries before they finally crossed the Rio Bravo in the dark. He said he would do it again. Another teen, a 16-year-old from the department of Morazon, El Salvador, spent four days lost in the

Rio Grande Valley, drinking dirty water and eating oranges to survive before he found help. He was left on his own by smugglers who were paid $3,000 to get him into the United States. The oldest of five children, Juan was sent north by his parents, who wanted him to get an education. As the youngest of the 11 young men who were traveling in an enclosed truck, he said he was hit and teased. He told The Valley Catho-

lic, newspaper of the Brownsville Diocese, that he had not had anything to eat or drink during that trip. He was found on the side of the road and brought to the assistance center at Sacred Heart. There, after a 19-day journey, he contemplated whether to turn himself in to Immigration and Customs Enforcement or figure out a way to get to New York to the uncle who was waiting for him. Sister Pimentel said she and the other volunteers are inspired by the response from the community. As soon as the call for donations went out, people started bringing needed items to the center. One business donated 600 pairs of new shoes. Others have provided portable showers. Some of the immigrants have gone weeks without a shower or change of clothes as they traveled across their home countries and Mexico. The centers are offering food, clothing, toiletries, baby supplies and travel packets. Sister Pimentel said one group of volunteers stays until 1 a.m. cleaning and preparing for the next day’s newcomers. Others volunteer along with their children as young as 8. Ivania Molina Melendez, a parishioner at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in McAllen, said she was exhausted by the end of her day of helping, but that she was filled with joy from serving. She said the volunteers are overwhelmed by the stories the women share about their journey. They see them arrive hungry and grateful for a place to rest, grateful for a bag of supplies, grateful for the prayers from strangers before their bus leaves, en route to Boston, New York City, Houston, San Antonio, Chicago. “They come with so many hopes,” she said, “It is difficult to know what waits for them, and how long they will remain.”

‘

More than 52,000 minors traveling alone and 39,000 families have been picked up this fiscal year. The number of children traveling alone has doubled over a year ago and is more than seven times the number that was

typical annually through 2011.

Texas diocese responds to scared, tired, hungry immigrants www.bayoucatholic.com

Tonia V. Guidry

St. Gregory principal is named

Tonia V. Guidry has been named as the new principal for St. Gregory Catholic Elementary School in Houma for the 2014-2015 school year, Marian B. Fertitta, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools, announced recently. Guidry is a graduate of Vandebilt 56 Catholic High School in Houma. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in educational leadership K-12 from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux. She is taking classes toward a master’s degree in Theological Studies from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. She taught fourth, fifth and sixth grades at Elysian Fields Middle School in Houma and Dularge Middle School in Houma for 18 years, was a master teacher at Grand Caillou Elementary School and an assistant principal at Grand Caillou Elementary School in Houma. She has been married to John Guidry for 24 years and they have two children, Tori Lynn, 23; and Katelyn, 13. They are parishioners of St. Eloi Church parish in Theriot. “I am happy to welcome Tonya Guidry as the new principal of St. Gregory Elementary School. Being a Catholic high school graduate, Mrs. Guidry is excited about the opportunity to minister in the Catholic school system. We look forward to working with her as she begins this new endeavor,” says Fertitta. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

Knights of Columbus Houma Council No. 1317 announces its 20132014 Catholic Youth Leadership Award winners, Vandebilt Catholic High School seniors Mary McMahon and Craig Brunet. Presenting the award is Houma Council 1317’s Catholic Youth Leadership Award chairman, Jay Luke.

Father Semar to manage diocesan social media Bishop Shelton J. Fabre has appointed Father Mitchel Semar as manager of social media for the Office of Communications of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, effective July 1. Father Semar will develop a diocesan app, as well as create and maintain Facebook and Twitter accounts. Father Semar serves as pastor of both St. Lucy Church parish in Houma and St. Luke the Evangelist Church parish in Thibodaux and also heads the diocesan Office of Young Adult Ministry. The Sulphur native holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from McNeese State University, as well as a master’s degree in divinity from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. He was ordained to the priesthood May 26, 2012.

Rev. Mitchel Semar

“We are excited to have Father Semar become part of our communications team,” says Louis G. Aguirre, diocesan director of the Office of Communications, adding: “He will help us enhance our communication efforts as we endeavor to bring the Good News to everyone.”

By Cindy Wooden

Catholic News Service

Money, beauty, power are forms of slavery, cut us off from God

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Attachments to money, beauty and power are forms of slavery that make one’s heart old and cold, cutting the person off from God and from others, Pope Francis said. “Love, patience, serving others, adoring God -- these are true riches that can never be stolen,” the pope said June 20 at his early morning Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae where he lives. According to Vatican Radio, Pope Francis focused his homily on the day’s Gospel reading, Matthew 6:19-23, which includes Jesus telling his disciples, “Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” Pope Francis said that even on a practical level, Jesus’ admonition to his disciples was very wise, because earthly treasures “are not certain: they fade or thieves come” and steal them. The first of the treasures Jesus warns against, he said, “is gold, money, riches: You aren’t safe with these because they can be stolen, right? Investments do not give se- 57 curity because the stock market can crash and you will be left with nothing. And, besides, would just one more euro make you happy?” Money, he said, is useful for supporting one’s family and accomplishing many good things, “but if this is your treasure, it will steal your soul.” Another danger, the pope said, involves vanity, prestige and looking good, which all come to an end. As St. Bernard of Clairvaux said, in the end one’s beauty is simply “food for worms,” Pope Francis noted. As for power, the pope said, it often makes people a target and very seldom lasts long. “How many great, proud, powerful men and women end up forgotten in poverty or prison,” he said. Jesus’ message is that focusing on money, vanity, power and pride “binds one’s heart. Your heart becomes a slave,” he said, while Jesus wants people to have a “heart that is free.” Earthly treasures, Pope Francis said, “weigh down the heart,” age it and darken it, making it impossible to see the light that leads to love, joy and eternal life. www.bayoucatholic.com

CNS PHOTO/JIM BOURG, REUTERS

A pro-life demonstrator holds her child as activists gather outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington June 26 to celebrate the court decision striking down a Massachusetts law that mandated a buffer zone to keep pro-life demonstrators away from abortion clinics.

Supreme Court strikes down abortion clinics’ buffer zone By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- In a June 26 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that 35-foot buffer zones around abortion clinics -- meant to keep demonstrators away -- violates First Amendment rights. The decision, a victory for pro-life groups, reversed an appellate court decision upholding a 2007 Massachusetts law that made it a crime for anyone other than clinic workers to stand within the yellow semicircular lines painted 35 feet from entrances of Planned Parenthood clinics in Boston, Springfield and Worcester. Eleanor McCullen, lead plaintiff in the case, McCullen v. Coakley, said she should be able to speak and offer advice to women going to these clinics. McCullen, a 77-year-old who attends Mass at St. Ignatius Church at Boston College said when the case was brought to the Supreme Court that she had helped many women decide against abortion. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

The Supreme Court, in its opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts, said the state law blocked public sidewalks that have been traditionally viewed as open for free speech. It also said the government’s ability to limit speech in those places is “very limited.” The law in question was put in place in an attempt to prevent violent demonstrations or protests outside clinic entrances. It replaced a 2000 state law that kept protesters from approaching within 6 feet of a person who was within 18 feet of an abortion clinic -- similar to a 2000 law in Colorado that the Supreme Court upheld that year. The Supreme Court’s opinion distinguished protesters from those who “seek not merely to express their opposition to abortion, but to engage in personal, caring, consensual conversations with women about various alternatives.” The U.S. Supreme Court upheld freedom of speech for pro-life Americans in a June 26 decision in the case of McCullen v. Coakley. The Court unanimously

declared unconstitutional a Massachusetts law barring pro-life advocates from public sidewalks near abortion facilities. The court’s decision “has affirmed the American tradition of basic constitutional rights for all,” said Boston Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities. He said in a June 26 statement that the now-overturned legislation “reflects an ominous trend in our society” because it reveals how abortion supporters seek to deny Americans who “seek to protect the unborn” their right to freedom of speech and association as well as the “right to participate in the public square and serve the vulnerable in accord with our moral convictions.” The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops had joined with other religious groups in filing an amicus, or friend of the court, brief for this case. Tom Brejcha, president of the Thomas More Society, a Chicago-based law firm, used the words “fantastic, wonderful” and “great achievement” to describe the court’s decision. Brejcha is familiar with the notion of buffer zones because his firm has defended pro-life advocates accused of violating Chicago’s “bubble-zone” law, which forbids picketers, protesters or counselors within 50 feet of the clinic entrance to approach clients within 8 feet to talk or give literature. He said some of the passages of the court’s decision are “almost lyrical” particularly when it describes how the plaintiff was “trying to communicate a peaceful message.” He said the court’s opinion that sidewalk counselors are not necessarily protesters -- but people who want to engage in one-on-one conversations -- confirms the work they do which he described as “conversations at the edge of an abyss.” A group that was praying outside a Planned Parenthood facility in Worcester, Massachusetts, on June 26, also was pleased with the court’s decision. “I’m very excited,” said Nancy Clark of Worcester, one of the plaintiffs in the case, “The Holy Spirit is slowly guiding us in the right direction.” Mark Bashour, another plaintiff, has been doing sidewalk counseling in Worcester for 30 years. “Obviously I am very pleased,” he said. “Now we can get closer and they can hear us much better. “It was a long, time-consuming three-year process taking the issue to the Supreme Court,” he said, “but by winning, now no other states will try to pass a law like this. It is very important.” In a concurrence with the main opinion, Justice Antonin Scalia discusses what he sees as the court’s “onward march of abortion-speech-only jurisprudence.” He was joined by Justices Anthony Kennedy and Clarence Thomas. Scalia observed that the court’s majority opinion “carries forward this court’s practice of giving abortionrights advocates a pass when it comes to suppressing the free-speech rights of their opponents.” He said that the opinion “has something for everyone,” and invalidating the law in question because it is inadequately tailored to circumstances is “certainly attractive to those of us who oppose an abortion-speech

edition of the First Amendment.” But the main part of the opinion moves toward creating a version of the First Amendment that applies only to speech about abortion, he said. By concluding that a statute like the one overturned is not content-based and therefore not subject to strict scrutiny under the law, “the court reaches out to decide that question unnecessarily,” Scalia wrote. Scalia cited ways in which he says the main opinion singled out abortion-only speech in reaching its conclusion that the law was unconstitutional. And he concluded that although he agrees with what the court decided, he thinks it unnecessarily addressed the issue of whether the law was sufficiently narrowly tailored. “The obvious purpose of the challenged portion of the Massachusetts Reproductive Health Care Facilities Act is to ‘protect’ prospective clients of abortion clinics from having to hear abortion-opposing speech on public streets and sidewalks,” he said. “The provision is thus unconstitutional root and branch and cannot be saved, as the majority suggests, by limiting its application to the single facility that has experienced the safety and access problems to which it is quite obviously not addressed,” he concluded. Justice Samuel Alito also had a separate concurrence. In it he faulted the majority for concluding that the Massachusetts law is viewpoint neutral, but he nevertheless agreed that it is unconstitutional because it burdens free speech more than necessary to accommodate state interests. 59

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Sports

Overtime Ed Daniels

W 60

When they convene again, your New Orleans Saints will be in training camp at White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. As the clock ticks on the Drew Brees (and likely Sean Payton) era, there’s only one goal in 2014. “I would like to get a ring,” said defensive end Cam Jordan. NFL rosters are always works in progress. But, the Saints have done a dramatic re-tool since the club lost to the 49ers in the 2011 divisional playoffs. The 2011 team was arguably the best in the NFL that season. However, only six starters remain on the current roster. Only one defensive starter remains. He is end Cameron Jordan. The Saints roster overhaul has brought in several outstanding young players. Jordan had 12.5 quarterback sacks in 2013. At mini-camp a reporter asked Jordan if he thought he was one of the best players at his position in the NFL? “Your words, not mine,” said Jordan. But, moments later as the interview continued he volunteered this nugget. “I don’t want to be good, I want to be great.” Greatness is what defensive coordinator Rob Ryan predicts for fellow defensive lineman Akiem Hicks. Hicks improved from zero quarterback sacks in 2012 to 4.5 in 2013. His combined tackles were up to 56 from 20. Wide receiver Kenny Stills, a fifth round pick last season, was a huge find. Stills had five touchdown receptions as a rookie. His initial

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

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NFL season included receptions of 67, 69 and 76 yards. But, what stands out about Stills is his approach. He is measured in what he says to the media. His approach to his job is dead serious. He’s quickly become a solid pro. Running back Travaris Cadet could be a wild card. Cadet showed great cut back ability in mini-camp and appeared to be getting more comfortable as a runner. Cadet has carried the ball once in an NFL regular season game. Yet, head coach Sean Payton, who is never resistant to giving young players a chance, appears ready to give Cadet a much larger role. Free agent Khiry Robinson, last season’s biggest surprise, has a whole different look. Robinson is running with confidence.

Which is a feeling that permeates the entire organization. Payton’s desire to re-locate for three weeks of camp is somewhat of the same blueprint he used in 2006. White Sulphur Springs has a far more temperate climate than Jackson, Mississippi. But, the desires are the same. Bond as a team. Wall off the world. Get ready. Getting past the Seahawks and 49ers won’t be easy. Seattle beat the Saints twice last season. And, New Orleans needed 10 late points to rally past San Francisco. The Seahawks and 49ers, and even the Panthers play a tough, physical brand of football. It is something the Saints must match.

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Elephant-riding bishop The late Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux rides an elephant during the opening of the Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers Circus in Morgan City in 1985. Bishop Boudreaux was the honorary ringmaster for the evening. www.bayoucatholic.com

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k c a B to l o o h Sc 4 201

Back To School

Guest Columnist Marian Fertitta

Welcome back to the 2014-2015 school year

Here it is July and already we are talking about “Back to School.” But in education back to school is more meaningful for parents and students because when the bell rings on the last day of school, teachers and administrators begin preparing for the next school year. You may ask, “What are they doing all summer?” Many attend university classes to work on advanced degrees. They are working on curriculum, reviewing test data, preparing lessons, attending professional development to learn the latest engaging classroom strategies, and others are rearranging and sometimes even painting their classrooms to make sure that these are bright and cheery for the new group of smiling faces that will soon be there. Parents and students, welcome back to the 2014–2015 school year. The Lord has truly blessed our Catholic schools in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in so many ways by sending us phenomenal people to work in our schools, remarkable students, supportive parents and grandparents, and generous community members who support us in so many ways.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

As students prepare for the new school year, which is right around the corner, it’s a good idea for those who have problems with their eyesight to have an examination before school begins, advises Dr. Lawrence Breaux of Family Vision Clinic.

What a blessing it is to work here! This year we welcome several new and some familiar faces to the administrative teams in four schools. David Boudreaux, who has been serving as president of E.D. White Catholic High School in Thibodaux, will become the president of Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma. He will be joined by Yvonne Weimer as principal. Weimer has been principal at Maria Immacolata Elementary School for the past four years. Tim Robichaux, band director at E.D. White, will replace Boudreaux as president of the school. Three new principals will be joining us. Amanda Talbot will become the new principal at Holy Cross Elementary School, replacing Mamie Bergeron who has retired. Geraldine “Prissy” Davis will become principal at Maria Immacolata. Replacing Liz Scurto who retired as principal of St. Gregory Elementary School in Houma will be Tonia Guidry.

There are other exciting changes taking place in 20142015. During the first week of March 2015 our Catholic schools will be undergoing AdvancED diocesan reaccreditation. It seems impossible that five years have gone by since we became the first diocese in the State of Louisiana to receive national accreditation. We will once again be one of the first dioceses in the nation to use the National Catholic Benchmarks for Quality Catholic Schools along with the AdvancED standards for reaccreditation. This process is very intense and requires personnel at all of the schools and the Catholic Schools Office to use multiple sources of data to determine to what degree we are meeting the standards. On March 1–4, 2015, a team of Catholic educators from across the nation will visit our schools and review our findings to conclude if we have met reaccreditation standards. Our goal in maintaining accreditation

Quick facts

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

is to ensure that all of our schools are preserving our Catholic identity while providing our students with high academic standards and quality education. Standardized testing will see a change in the spring as we administer the ACT/ASPIRE test to determine student progress. This test is the new version of the Stanford 10 which has been used for many years. The new test will be administered in grades 3â&#x20AC;&#x201C;8 and is aligned with the ACT College and Career Readiness Standards. We will now be able to track student progress toward meeting the ACT standards beginning in third grade assuring that our students are well prepared for the ACT. To ensure that what is being taught is aligned with these standards our curriculum facilitator and groups of teacher representatives from each school worked throughout the past school year and into the summer to

Quick Facts of the Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux: Approximately 5,550 students will report to Catholic schools in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in the 20142015 school year. Ten percent of the student population during the 20132014 school year were non-Catholic; minority students made up 15 percent of the population. Six schools had waiting lists for admission. There are 377 professional staff members (administrators and teachers) and 154 support staff members in the schools. Two hundred six teachers serve the 10 elementary schools and 146 teachers serve the three high schools. The laity makes up over 99 percent of the faculty; less than one percent is religious. The student/teacher ratio is 15:1. Average tuition per pupil is $ 6,500 for high schools and $ 3,650 for elementary schools. Average salary for a high school lay teacher is $ 41,960; and $ 34,323 is the average salary for an elementary school lay teacher. Number of graduates in the 2012-2013 school year was 356. Percentage of seniors who graduated in 2013 was 99 percent. Percentage of graduates who entered college in 2013 was 95 percent. Total college scholarship dollars awarded in 2012-2013 was $ 8,502,834.

establish curriculum maps. The maps are a guideline as to what needs to be taught at each grade level to avoid gaps in instruction and duplication of content from year to year. Our administrators, teachers and staff are working diligently to maintain and obtain up-todate technology for our students. Several schools are in the process of updating their computer labs. Several are working on funding to purchase iPads for use by our middle school students. Through grant funding all schools are now equipped with wireless Internet. Our goal is continue to upgrade technology in an attempt to keep pace with the rapidly changing technological world our students experience each day. Finally, and most importantly, our major goal is to try to create within our walls a climate in which the studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; faith will gradually mature and enable them

to assume the responsibility placed on them by their baptism (The Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education). Working with our parents, it is our task as Catholic schools to form our students into students of virtue and eventually into young men and women of Christ. It is our hope that each person who enters the doors of our schools can truly feel the presence of Christ. With the help of God and the guiding intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary I am confident that our school year will be blessed and that our students will grow in faith, love, knowledge and service. I pray that you continue to enjoy these final weeks of summer. In turn, I ask you to pray for our administrators, faculties, staff, and me as we continue to prepare for this upcoming school year. May God continue to pour out his blessings on each of you. Marian B. Fertitta Superintendent of Catholic Schools www.bayoucatholic.com

Back To School

Guest Columnist

A 66

Preparing for a new school year

Gerard Rodrigue Jr.

As a child I remember looking forward to the summer with great anticipation because it provided a break from the structured routine of school – playing outside till dark, going to bed later, sleeping late in the morning, and of course no homework or studying for tests. Back then summer vacation was three months, but nowadays with all of the extended holidays during the school year, summertime has been whittled down to about two months. In any case I do hope you and your families are enjoying the less hectic days of summer – maybe taking a family vacation, spending more time enjoying your favorite hobby, watching the kids play ball games at the park, swimming, eating more meals together as a family, or just not rushing around so much. As the summer winds down, parents and kids everywhere will be gearing up for a new school year. But before we get to that, research shows students can lose two to three months of learning over the summer break. Kids (and yes, parents, too) deserve time off from the school routine, but that doesn’t mean learning has to go by the wayside. Today there are more fun and interesting opportunities available than ever before to ensure that students stay sharp and keep learning over the summer. If you haven’t found the time yet, it’s not too late – here are a few suggestions: n Nourish your faith! Remember to continue making time for religious services and activities. Set aside time to pray together as a family, say grace before meals, attend Mass every Sunday and maybe on a weekday as well, or spend an hour of prayer in one of our area Adoration Chapels. Many of our local churches sponsor vacation Bible schools and youth ministry events over the summer. n Read, read, read. Instilling a love of reading is important for all children, whether they be infants or teenagers. The summer is a perfect time for fluent readers to read books of their choice or maybe start a fun new series. Visit your local library and if you’re searching for titles, a great placed to start is your child’s Scholastic Reading Counts or Accelerated Reader school list. For still emerging readers, parents should read to or with their child every day. Reading skills improve more quickly when parents ask questions about what children have read. Be sure to let your child see you reading – nothing beats modeling what you preach. n Writing – today there is more and more emphasis on the importance of students’ writing skills. A good way to help keep writing skills sharp over the summer is to have them write a short synopsis or essay when they finish reading a book. A great way

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

to link Scripture with creative writing is to have them write a devotional. All children can experience success writing devotionals, no matter their reading and writing levels. First, select a short, appropriate Bible verse for them to read (at first you may have to read it along with them). Have them re-read it then meditate or reflect on the passage and think of how it relates to their everyday life. Finally, have them write a short devotional (50-250 words) based on something they learned, observed, or personally experienced with a theme inspired by the Scripture passage. This not only enhances their writing skills, but helps them learn what God has taught through his word and makes them think about their relationship with him and the people in their lives. n Math – stay sharp by pairing math and technology this summer. There are tons of math sites and/or apps with games and customized learning activities which engage and challenge kids, preventing learning loss while getting a head start on the coming year. n Science – inspiring curiosity through hands-on activities helps to strengthen science skills during summer break. Again, we are fortunate to have in our area a multitude of scientific opportunities that allow kids to go outside and explore. Planting a vegetable garden helps children learn how photosynthesis

works. Telescopes, magnifying glasses or microscopes can provide many hours of discovery and exploring for youngsters. For children of all ages you may consider visiting a local zoo, planetarium, or science and nature museum. And let’s not forget the awesome opportunity that exists right here in our own backyard – The Bayou Country Children’s Museum! What a great gift and educational opportunity this museum has provided our community with – take advantage of it. n Stay active! Swap sedentary time for active time. Children burn 30-50 calories an hour when they are sitting, but 400-500 calories in an hour when running or playing. Limit time spent in front of the television, on the iPad or playing video games. It’s okay for children to engage in these, but encourage “active breaks” often and get them playing outdoors. n Discourage mindless munching. Make healthy snacks accessible, taking advantage of the many fruits and vegetables available in the summer months. Look at summer as a great opportunity to help your child stay active, healthy, and to continue learning. Enjoying the summer with your children will bring you closer as a family. Parents, you have more power than you realize to guarantee a healthy future for your children. Finally, as the new school year inches closer there will be more and more things on the “to do” list to make sure your children are ready for that first day of school. I offer these few suggestions as a way to make a smooth, less hectic transition into the new year: n Shop for and purchase school supplies in advance.

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This way you will avoid the crowded aisles and checkout lines as the beginning of school nears. n Do the same when purchasing school uniforms and shoes for your child. Be sure to carefully check the uniform dress code at your child’s school to avoid returns or exchanges. Shop smart and thrifty – some local uniform/shoe stores offer good discounts during the summer. Also, your child’s school may offer free uniform give or take opportunities and our local Gym Dandy store has uniforms available at bargain prices. n Gradually transition your child and family back to the more structured school schedule. This is especially true for bed times and wake up times. It is wise not to go from one to the other overnight – a gradual transition will provide your child with a much more rested, stress-free beginning of school. n Discuss and make travel and child care plans prior to the start of school. Most schools offer a before and after care program which is a necessity for working parents. If your child will be riding a bus to and from school, I encourage you to have them ride from day one. This helps the school establish student bus counts and provides the information and opportunity to balance bus loads early. My hope and prayer is that you enjoy what’s left of summer and come August, that you and your family are re-charged, well-prepared, and eager to begin the 2014-15 school year! (Gerard Rodrigue Jr. is the principal of St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School in Thibodaux.)

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Back To School

Guest Columnist

F 68

Suzanne Troxclair

Catholic school students ‘give back’ to the community through service projects

For as long as I can remember, “giving something back” has been an integral part of my life as a servant of Jesus Christ. In fact, some of my fondest memories of childhood involved just that – working alongside others in my faith community offering help where and when it was needed. Whether it was providing meals and supplies to the people of Juarez, Mexico, during a mission with Father Dean Danos, or stocking the shelves with my mother at Gym Dandy, E.D. White’s thrift store run by the school’s Mothers Club, I was learning the importance of fostering my true spirituality through stewardship – the gift of time, talent, and treasure. The gift of service to others is deeply rooted in and an integral part of the Catholic faith. It is one way in which we, as Christ’s servants, are able to offer ourselves to God the father. A strong commitment to service, both at home and at school, deepens the understanding of our young church in their role in the ministry of service. The Catholic schools of the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux have made that commitment and accepted the challenge of fostering an atmosphere of service within their school communities. This is evident in the vast array of projects and activities embraced by the schools that are designed to help those with various needs throughout their schools, communities and far beyond. It is not necessary to look far to find Christ present in our students. The examples of service abound. In the early grades and years of school, our elementary students have the opportunity to participate in several organizations that are designed to serve others. The Caritas club, student council, junior beta club, builders club and 4-H club, to name just a few, are all strong service organizations in which our students have the opportunity to participate. These clubs lead service projects throughout the schools so that all students are able to participate. For example, the student council of St. Joseph Catholic Elementary in Thibodaux conducts a food drive during the month of November to provide the local food bank with a greater supply of nonperishable items to distribute to the needy in the community. Members place boxes in all homeroom classes so that all students are able to participate in the mission. At St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary in Houma, the 4-H club led a group of students, parents and teachers in a service project at the Ronald McDonald House in Houma, a haven for children with serious and/or life-threatening illnesses and their families.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

Members of the school family spent their day cleaning toys, sweeping and completing various other chores as needed. Participants were humbled to see, first-hand, the crosses some children are bearing on a daily basis as they face serious medical conditions and procedures. Service in the elementary schools of the diocese, however, is not all club-sponsored. For instance, faculty, parents and students at Holy Cross Catholic Elementary in Morgan City participate in holy walks to the homes of the elderly near the school to share the gift of prayer with their neighbors. St. Genevieve Catholic Elementary in Thibodaux raises money through a school wide fund drive to support Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center in Thibodaux, and the fourth grade class of St. Mary’s Nativity Elementary in Raceland “adopts” a seminarian from the diocese, writing letters to him and offering prayers for his journey of faith.

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Vandebilt and E.D. White Catholic High School students and faculty traveled to St. Anne’s Mission, which is run by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in Klagatoh, New Mexico, to provide assistance to the residents. The students helped build ramps, dug outhouses, repaired homes, provided fun nights for the local children, painted and served at a nursing home.

As our youth mature and move on to high school, the ministry of service becomes more focused as students continue putting the Gospel into practice. All three diocesan high schools employ a service awareness program in which all students actively participate. Many students participate through service projects sponsored by clubs such as National Honor Society, Key Club, 4-H, campus ministry and student council. Additionally, service projects abound which are not club-sponsored. An appropriate number of hours is expected of each student; however, our students never cease to amaze us as they clock thousands of hours year after year for the betterment of their schools, churches, communities and beyond. At Central Catholic High School in Morgan City, for example, students witness the message of the Word of God through activities such as their coat drive for the less fortunate, as well as their regular visits with the elderly in assisted living facilities. Under the direction of Brother John Hotstream, S.C., both students and faculty at E.D. White Catholic High School in Thibodaux and Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma participated in a mission trip to Klagatoh, New

Mexico. There, under the guidance of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, St. Anne’s Mission exists to provide for those in need. At the mission, students and faculty of the two schools built ramps, dug outhouses, repaired homes, painted, and provided fun nights for the local children. This opportunity to form relationships through service is an integral part of stewardship. Although service awareness hours are a part of the high schools’ policies, required numbers do not seem necessary. As Deacon Vic Bonnaffee, principal of Central Catholic High School, so eloquently shared, the time our students give “… are apostolic hours, as we are all disciples of Christ.” I continue to be humbled by what our students contribute to their schools, communities and beyond. They are truly walking with Jesus as they continue to grow into faith-filled servants of God. “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there my servant will be also; if anyone serves me, the father will honor him” (John 12:26). (Suzanne Troxclair is the curriculum specialist for the Catholic schools in the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux.) www.bayoucatholic.com

Back To School

Thoughts

as school gets underway

By KASE JOHNSTUN

Catholic News Service

I was conducting a quick Google search -- my Internet mode of scouring for needed information. I typed “back to school” into the search box, hoping to find loads of information about teens going back to school and issues that come up that first day or within that first month when everything is new, confusing and even a little scary at times. I found nothing until close to the 20th “page” of sites. What I did find were articles for kids going back to school and a million back-to-school shopping pages, including articles on which stocks to buy to cash in on the current purchasing patterns of teens. But searching and searching I stumbled upon YouthNoise.com and liked this site. While I don’t advocate everything I found, there is a lot of good stuff there. The site encourages teens to take stock of their world and to change things for the better by making their voices heard. Check it out, but, like all things on the Internet, use discretion. This site really seems to be on the right track in many ways, pushing toward changing the world to make it a better place.

While on this website I found a “Top 10” list that I liked: the Top 10 things to do before going back to school. No. 10 and No. 9 urged teens to read at least one more book on their summer reading lists and to see a summer movie. Next was to “clean out your closet” and “take the clothes, shoes and accessories you don’t wear anymore to your local Good Will or Salvation Army” center. No. 7 was to “brush up on current events,” and No. 6 was to purchase school supplies. This point noted that “everyone loves getting new pens and binders, but some kids can’t afford them.” So it urged teens to “buy some extra supplies and donate them through your church or school. Or when you check-out at stores like Office Depot, request that 5 percent gets donated to your school of choice.” Next the list urged teens, rather than walking through the doors of the school and beginning to complain, to “think of ways to make your school better.” Getting a haircut came next on the list, along with a recommendation that those with long hair donate their tresses to “Locks of Love or Wigs for Kids to help kids with cancer.”

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The list’s third point was a recommendation that teens think about where they stand on standardized testing and teen drinking. No. 2 urged teens to learn about volunteer opportunities that could help meet their school’s service requirement. Finally, the top thing to do before going back to school was to “trust yourself.” As the list put it, “only you know who you are, what you believe and what you stand for.” It urged teens to stand by their decisions on “drugs, alcohol, sex, smoking and violence” and to “know how to get out of risky situations before you get into them!” So many of these 10 points shout “Give!” I like that. And that final point – “trust yourself” – really nails it. Know what you think going in. Bring your Christian values with you and defend them. You don’t have to yell at the top of your lungs “I’m Catholic and proud of it,” because your actions will make the noise for you. Defend what you believe in simply by refusing to cave in to peer pressure, by standing up for others and avoiding situations you shouldn’t be in anyway.

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Holy Cross Elementary 2100 Cedar St. Morgan City, LA 70380 Grades PK-6 Amanda Talbot, Principal Phyllis Jensen, Secretary 384-1933 • Fax 384-3270 holycrosselm@htdiocese.org www.holycrosselementary.org Holy Rosary Elementary P.O. Box 40 Larose, LA 70373 Grades PK-8 Scott Bouzigard, Principal Angie Loupe, Secretary 693-3342 • Fax 693-3348 holyroselm@htdiocese.org www.holyrosary.org St. Gregory Elementary 441 Sixth St. Houma, LA 70364 Grades PS-7 Tonia Guidry, Principal Jennifer Torres, Admin. Asst. 876-2038 • Fax 879-2789 stgregelm@htdiocese.org www.stgregorycatholic.org Maria Immacolata Elementary 324 Estate Dr. Houma, LA 70364 Grades PK-7 Prissy Davis, Principal Donna Hill, Secretary 876-1631 • Fax 876-1608 mariaimmacoelm@htdiocese.org www.mariaimmacolata.org St. Bernadette Elementary 309 Funderburk Ave. Houma, LA 70364 Grades PK-7 Joan LeBouef, Principal Susan Chauvin, Secretary 872-3854 • Fax 872-5780 stbernelm@htdiocese.org www.saintbernadettepandas.com

St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School 300 Verret St. Houma, LA 70360 Grades PS-7 Brenda Tanner, Principal Kim Landry, Secretary 868-6646 • Fax 851-5896 stfranciselm@htdiocese.org www.stfrancishouma.org St. Genevieve Elementary 807 Barbier Ave. Thibodaux, LA 70301 Grades PK-7 Chris Knobloch, Principal Stacie Trosclair, Secretary 447-9291 • Fax 447-9883 stgenelm@htdiocese.org www.stgenevieveschool.us Holy Savior Elementary 201 Church St. Lockport, LA 70374 Grades PK-8 Tricia Thibodaux, Principal Terri Vedros, Secretary 532-2536 • Fax 532-2269 holysavelm@htdiocese.org www.holysaviorschool.org St. Joseph Elementary 501 Cardinal Dr. Thibodaux, LA 70301 Grades PK-7 Gerard Rodrigue Jr., Principal Barbara Kliebert, Secretary 446-1346 • Fax 449-0760 stjoeelm@htdiocese.org www.stjosephcatholicschool.net St. Mary’s Nativity Elementary 3492 Nies Street Raceland, LA 70394 Grades PK-8 Marissa Bagala, Principal Judy Watts, Secretary 537-7544 • Fax 537-4020 stmarelm@htdiocese.org

Central Catholic High School 2100 Cedar St. Morgan City, LA 70380 Grades 7-12 Vic Bonnaffee, Principal Sandy Daigle, Secretary 385-5372 • Fax 385-3444 centcathi@htdiocese.org www.cchseagles.com Vandebilt Catholic High School 209 S. Hollywood Rd. Houma, LA 70360 Grades 8-12 Yvonne Weimer, Principal Shirley Cunningham, Secretary David Boudreaux, President 876-2551 • Fax 868-9774 vandebilthi@htdiocese.org www.vandebiltcatholic.org E.D. White Catholic High School 555 Cardinal Dr. Thibodaux, LA 70301 Grades 8-12 Michelle Chiasson, Principal Cathy Hebert, Secretary Tim Robichaux, President 446-8486 • Fax 448-1275 edwhitehi@htdiocese.org www.edwhite.org Catholic Schools Office Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Marian Fertitta Superintendent of Schools mfertitta@htdiocese.org Suzanne Troxclair Curriculum Specialist Janet Marcel Administrative Assistant 850-3114 • Fax 850-3214

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Guest Columnist

T 72

Renee’ Naquin

What do teachers really do during the summer?

The dismissal bell on the last day of school is a glorious sound – not only to students but to teachers too! We’ve worked hard all year planning awesome lessons, teaching our hearts out, managing our classrooms, grading test papers, reading essays, attending faculty meetings, etc. We deserve a break, don’t we? Of course teachers rest and relax over the summer. That is expected. It’s the things that people don’t see that we do that would surprise many and maybe change their minds about teachers having the WHOLE summer off. First off, about halfway through the school year we start making lists about things we want to do during the summer. These lists have nothing to do with visiting the spa or going on lavish shopping sprees. These lists are things we want to accomplish during the summer to make the education we provide in our classrooms during the next school year even better than last year. Many of our summer “vacation” days are spent tackling this list of tweaking lessons, implementing strategies, learning new curriculums, etc., all to ensure that we measure up to the administrators’ and parents’ expectations of our instruction in the classroom and to guarantee that our students are prepared for the following grade level and the real world. We attend various professional development trainings at different times during the summer to learn new techniques and information that will enhance the education our students receive from us. And this is just June!! The majority of July is spent preparing our classrooms for the new little darlings that will be ours from August until May. We paint, we clean, we spruce up, we hang new posters, and we reorganize. We come up with creative seating charts. We plaster our little darlings’ names everywhere we can so that come August they feel welcome in their new home away from home. We attend more meetings and trainings to ensure that the upcoming school year will produce successful results. All this extra work over our “summer vacation” with no extra pay! Of course we take family vacations over the summer like everyone else. We spend time with our own children attending baseball games or swim meets. We act as taxi drivers, hauling our kids to gymnastics, swimming lessons, bible school and other activities. We catch up on movies and books that we didn’t have time to view or read during

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

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the school year. We vow to start an exercise routine, although we know as soon as school starts in August we will have forgotten all about that vow. During all of these “normal people” activities we run into past students in public who look at us like we are aliens from another planet because everyone knows teachers just climb into their classroom closets and wait for next school year to begin. Even while away from home and staying busy being “normal people,” our gears are constantly turning, and we are always on the lookout for things to take back and use in our classrooms. So you see, although teachers have ALL summer off, we are never truly off. We are always working to better ourselves so that we can improve the quality of the education we provide to our students. Even with all this work, you’ll never hear us complain because we know how blessed we are to have been called to such a noble profession. We are dedicated, hardworking, caring, loyal teachers. We patiently listen to 20 stories about a topic that has nothing to do with what we are learning. We tie 50 pairs of shoes a day. We pull teeth. We teach and reteach so that EVERY child in our classroom knows his or her multiplication facts. We stay at school until 7 p.m. making sure we have everything ready for the next day’s lesson. We sit at the soccer field grading test papers. We inhale our lunch so that we can attend parent teacher conferences to ease the minds of parents. Being a teacher is hard work, but every year on the night before the first day of school we will be giddy with anticipation of what the school year will bring with our new little darlings. (Renee’ Naquin is a third grade teacher at Holy Savior Catholic School in Lockport.)

Be part of creating a safe space for all teens

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

By Karen Osborne

Catholic News Service

What’s the most important thing a teen can have? A smartphone, a driver’s license, or a date to the prom? A magic wand that does your homework when you wave it? I would argue that the most important thing a teenager can have is a safe space, where he or she feels free to share feelings, hopes and dreams without fear of ridicule or recrimination. This can be found in a physical item, such a journal, or it can be a class or club where the person feels accepted and understood: the school newspaper, theater, forensics, or the football team. One of my most important safe spaces as a teenager was my church youth group. My youth minister was supportive and encouraging. We always felt safe asking questions about what it was like to be Catholic in a secular world. A friend who is a youth minister recently told me that the teenagers she works with have stopped talking in class and at retreats. They wouldn’t talk in small groups or share their feelings about faith with the other kids. At first, she didn’t know why. They would voluntarily silence themselves in a way she’d never experienced. Worried, she took the teenagers aside, one by one, asking them why they were so quiet all the time. The answer was telling: The teens were scared that their classmates would surreptitiously film their comments about their Catholic faith and religion, and put them online for the ridicule of the entire school. It had happened before and the teens were afraid of it happening again. Instead of participating, their response was to remain silent, to disengage and to drop

out of the conversation. Mobile devices have created a world in which no 73 space is safe at a time when teens need safe spaces the most. I was teased in front of a class of 20. I can’t imagine what it would be like to grow up in a world where I’m teased by the world. It would be terrifying to be muffled and silenced because technology provides a means to violate crucial trust, privacy and safety. This isn’t just cyberbullying. We don’t need crazy government conspiracy theories because we already are living in a surveillance state, one we control and police all by ourselves. Some people would say that the answer would be to shut off mobile phones entirely, to take them away. I’m not sure that’s the right response. In the right hands, a mobile phone can change the world for the better. The technology is here and it is not going away. What we need is to learn how to be respectful and responsible users of technology. Teens need to be courageous. Now is the time to engage with the world, to speak up and talk about all of the ideas and questions bubbling up inside of you no matter what your friends are doing with their smartphones. Don’t let fear control your life. Don’t engage with mean texts and don’t share videos meant to hurt and bully. Bullies like having an audience. Don’t be a part of creating a mean audience, in person or online. If you’re part of a support group for teens, be more aware of how technology affects their lives and be ready to give them strategies to better deal with problems. It takes a little more work to create safe spaces these days, but it’s absolutely necessary. www.bayoucatholic.com

Back To School

‘ Extreme

parenting: The Back-to-School Edition

By Bill and Monica Dodds

Catholic News Service

“Extreme” competitions from cake baking to world travel continue to make some prime-time television shows popular, but when it comes to parenting, it’s not a good idea. Here’s a tongue-in-cheek look at how moms and dads could win “Extreme Parenting: The Back-to-School Edition” by going way too far one way or the other. 1. Pull to a complete stop, but don’t shut off the car’s engine when you drop off your child on the first day of the new school year. Yell “see ya!” Then floor it. (The cameras will love this, especially if you really peel out from the school parking lot.) Or, go in with your student and never leave his or her side. Ever. 2. Spend thousands of dollars to make sure that your 74 child is leading the fashion trend, whatever it may be. Or, get only “sensible” items for school clothes. Yes, they make your darling look as if he or she just stepped out of a picture from 1965. (Older viewers of the show will really love this: “I had a skirt just like that!”) The other children won’t tease him or her, will they? As a rule, classmates are always kind and sensitive, right? 3. Make it known to all, especially to your child’s teacher, that your angel is never at fault, no matter what others may say or see. Completely believe whatever your son or daughter tells you about an “incident.” (The editors will cut from the incident of your child committing the deed to him or her lying to you about it, a little tear running down a sweet face. That’s good

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TV!) Or, always take the teacher’s side; assume your child is at fault -- again -- and punish accordingly. 4. Homework? Hey, you’re not in school. You don’t have homework; your child does. Your student is on his or her own. Sink or swim, baby! Or, allow your poor, “ stressed” son or daughter to watch TV, surf the Net, text and chat or play video games while you stay up late, finishing a diorama on “The Secret Garden” (camera close-up on the shoe box.). 5. Let other parents -- a lot of other parents -- know if you disagree with something that your child’s teacher did. That’s not gossiping; it’s healthy networking. If you must talk to someone official, go straight to the principal. Or, become the “teacher’s little pest” and visit, email, text or phone dozens and dozens of times every week with helpful “feedback” on his or her teaching. (Another close-up: Teacher blocking your phone number.) 6. Make it known that a teacher is a saint, is perfect. For your child to even hint anything to the contrary is heresy. Or, trash-talk your child’s teacher in front of your child. Trash-talk all teachers. And the profession: “They work six hours on weekdays and have all summer off, plus they have a week’s vacation every month and winter break. Give me a break!”(TV camera shows a clock past midnight and a teacher at a kitchen table with stacks of papers to be corrected.) Needless to say, a show like that would be a hit, and parenting like that would be a disaster. Here’s to a successful, “extreme-less” 2014-2015 school year!

NOTICE In accordance with the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) regulations, each of the thirteen Catholic schools, within the parochial school system of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, has a copy of its Asbestos Management Plan on file in the Principal’s Office. Anyone interested in reviewing a particular schools’ Asbestos Management Plan should first contact the school’s principal to schedule a time for the review. This notice applies to the following individuals: • Parents of children who attend one of the thirteen Catholic schools within the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. • Teachers and all other employees within the parochial school system of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

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e h t g n i Beat

Time-pressed families heading back to school this fall may find they really need that extra hour of morning sun offered by daylight savings time. The transition from the schedule-free days of summer to the more regimented requirements of school can create chaos in even the most orderly home. Parents can employ planning and preparation to streamline the back-to-school transition, and help ensure everyone leaves the house on time - and in a good mood. Here are some simple tips: Create a Family Calendar From Dad’s golf lessons to Mom’s business meetings, from Sam’s

soccer practice to Dylan’s debate team sessions, the school year is full of important moments that require parents to develop the scheduling skill of a diplomat’s personal assistant. Creating a family calendar and posting it in a central place in the home can help ensure no important dates get missed - and everyone knows what everyone else is doing and when. To make it even easier to track schedules, use different colored markers for each family member. Use a stand-out color such as red to note events that will require participation from every family member, like Grandma’s 80th

birthday party. Gather everyone together on Sunday night and make updating the calendar for the week ahead a group activity. Pre-route Travel Jill’s off to college this fall and Ted is starting as a freshman at the new high school across town. Dad has new clients an hour’s drive away and Mom’s networking sales business is taking off. Pre-planning the routes your family will travel to school, work or events can save time and money. Use a navigation system or the internet-based traffic service Traffic.com to avoid traffic jams, detours, construction delays

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and time lost to being lost. Traffic.com offers realtime information on current traffic conditions in most regions of the country. Didn’t have time to hop online before you left the house? Traffic.com information can be accessed from your cell phone by calling (866) MYTRAFC (866-698-7232). If you have a GPS device, be sure it’s up-to-date with the latest maps. Updating your device’s maps at www. navigation.com helps you to identify the best route to your destination, gets you around detours, and can even help you find a gas station, ATM or convenience store, helping you manage your already busy schedule. Create Time Of course you can’t really add hours to the day, but you can copy the daylight savings time approach. Set the clock back by performing “morning tasks” - like organizing outfits, lunch boxes, book bags - the night before. Also, fill the gas tank on the drive home instead of adding a stop to your morning commute. Use a coffeemaker with a timer, prepare the coffee the night before and then set to perk automatically in the morning. Each task may take just a few minutes to complete in the morning, but by bundling them together and moving them to the night before, you enjoy real-time savings during your morning routine. With planning and preparation, you can help ensure you family stays on track - and on time - this school year. Then you can all use that extra hour of daylight for family fun. Courtesy of ARAcontent 77

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Back To School

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

for Peacemaking 101

BY CHRISTOPHER CARSTENS 78 Catholic News Service Every year kids go back to school planning on some improvements. Maybe you want to keep tidier notebooks or do all your homework on time. Those are fine ideas, but I would like to suggest another goal in the context of your Christian life. This year, when you go back to class, be a peacemaker in your own life. It’s easy to talk about how the Israelis and the Palestinians need to make peace. It’s not hard to think up ways other people could solve their struggles. The real challenge for peacemaking comes when one of the people in the fight is you. Jesus made it clear that making peace was not just a nice idea. It was a basic requirement for Christian living. Right now, you could probably list three people at school for whom you hold some kind of a grudge. The guy who insulted you in the lunch line. Your former boyfriend or girlfriend, the one who went out with somebody else behind your back. The kid who spread rumors about you. The student who got the part you wanted in the spring musical. The wise guy in English who makes condescending remarks about anybody else’s ideas. Often we don’t even notice that we are not at peace. We just think that there’s something wrong with the other guy, who is too selfish, too stupid or too inconsiderate to see things our way. If you spend time grinding your teeth, because somebody angered you or hurt your feelings, you are not at peace. If you avoid certain people or don’t have lunch at certain tables, the peace in your heart is troubled. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

If you’re holding a grudge, or nursing an old resentment, it’s time for you to face the challenge of peacemaking. Staying angry is the most natural thing to do -- one of the things we humans are best at. Jesus calls on us to do something totally unnatural. There is no instant or easy formula for making peace. If there were, a long list of ancient hatreds would have been laid to rest long ago. Peacemaking, however, has three clear components: thoughts, words and deeds. First, declare peace. If the conflict was internal (a burning annoyance or resentment), there’s no need to say anything out loud. Just internally declare peace, saying to yourself, “Doug, I’m not going to be angry about your stupid jokes anymore.” If your conflict has been out in the open, tell the person of your intention to make peace. No lengthy explanation is needed. A simple statement will do. “Jenna,” you might say, “I’m not going to avoid you anymore -- I figure we might as well get along.” You may get a frigid reaction. “Sure, like I want to get along with you!” You offer peace and then live it out, whatever the reaction may be. Next, stop throwing wood on an old fire. No catty remarks behind the other guy’s back. No grinning while other people put him down either. When your intent is to make peace, you need to bow out of the hateful talk altogether. Finally, live as if you don’t have the old grudge anymore. Talk to the person as often as the opportunity arises. Look for chances to say or do things that help the person. Translate your intentions into actions. Sign up for a new course this year: Peacemaking 101. The homework can be tough, but you’re really going to love the Teacher.

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Pope says schools must show connection of

truth, goodness, beaut y

By CINDY WOODEN

Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis told about 300,000 Italian students that he loved school as a boy, as a teacher and as a bishop because it was a place where he met different people and where he was challenged to try to understand reality. Meeting with the students in St. Peter’s Square -- and along the wide boulevard leading to it -- the pope said he has never forgotten his first grade teacher. “I love school because that woman taught me to love it.” “Going to school means opening your mind and heart to reality in all its richness and various dimensions,” he said. “If one learns how to learn -- this is the secret, learning to learn -- this will stay with you forever.” The pope, who taught high school literature and psychology as a young Jesuit in Argentina, warned

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • July 2014

teachers that their students would be able “to smell” it if a teacher lacked the enthusiasm to keep learning. The evening celebration of “the world of Italian schools,” an event sponsored by the Italian bishops’ conference, was designed to promote collaboration between the Italian church, its schools and the government and its schools. Italian comedians, actors, singers and students entertained the crowd in between speeches from the pope, teachers and Stefania Giannini, Italy’s education minister. Addressing the students, teachers and Italian bishops, Pope Francis said a school is not “a parking garage,” where parents simply drop off their children. “It is a place of encounter along our journey.” While parents are the first educators of their children and the family is the first place people learn to get along with others and value

differences, he said, “at school we are ‘socialized.’ We meet people who are different from us, different in age, culture, origin and ability.” “Families and schools should never be in opposition,” he said, but they must work together for the good of the child. “This makes me think of a beautiful African proverb, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’” The pope said he also loves schools because “they educate us about truth, goodness and beauty, which all go together. Education cannot be neutral, either it is positive or it is negative; it enriches or impoverishes; it helps the person grow or it suppresses or even corrupts them.” In the end, he said, a mature person will graduate speaking “three languages: the language of the mind, the language of the heart and the language of the hands,” making sure their actions are well thought out and are motivated by what is true, good and beautiful.

CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING

Pope Francis delivers a blessing during an encounter with Italian students, teachers and parents in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. About 300,000 attended the event.

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