Bayou Catholic Magazine January 2023

Bayou Catholic

Eucharist:

The official magazine of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

Food for the journey of our lives

Copyright © 2021, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Photo: Diocese of Carupano, Venezuela.

Bayou Catholic

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 Houma-Thibodaux by the H-T Publishing Co., P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395. Subscription rate is $35 per year.

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

Lawrence Chatagnier editor and general manager

April LeBouef business manager

Janet Marcel staff writer/administrative assistant

Tisha Rachal graphic designer

Becky Thibodeaux accounting specialist

Like us on Facebook or Find us on the web www.bayoucatholic.org

Where to find your Bayou Catholic

Bayou Catholic magazine can be found at all Catholic churches and Catholic schools throughout the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. To pick up a copy, you may also visit the merchants who advertise in our issue. Those wishing to receive the magazine by mail can call Janet Marcel at (985) 850-3132 or write to Bayou Catholic, P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395.

Subscription price is $35 annually. For the online edition, go to www.bayoucatholic.org

‘I bid you adieu’

It’s official! I have made the decision to retire at the end of March of this year.

It has been great to work for the diocese for almost 37 years, 32 of those years with the Bayou Catholic.

I have many wonderful memories of the hundreds of people that I have met through the years. I have gotten to know many dedicated bishops, priests, deacons and religious while covering countless events. I have also met many wonderful lay people who have invited me into their homes and allowed me to write their stories of faith, endurance and sometimes hardships.

In 1986, I met Sister Miriam Mitchell, S.H.S.P., then executive director of Catholic Social Services for the diocese, at a meeting in Thibodaux for organizing people in the community to establish a food bank to help those in need when this area first experienced an economic downturn in the oil industry. Sister Miriam guided me and helped me to become the first manager of the three food banks at that time serving the people of Houma, Thibodaux and Central Lafourche. I will be forever grateful to her for her guidance and support through the early years of my career.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Dr. Marian Schwab, then director of Religious Education and Lay Ministry (REALM) in 1987, who introduced me to the Loyola Institute for Ministry (LIMEX) program, which was being offered at the time for adult formation in pastoral studies. I also had the opportunity to work with (REALM) for a few years at the “evangelization desk.” It was a time of learning and experiencing first-hand how the church ministered to the Catholic faithful.

Sister Miriam was instrumental in introducing me to Louis Aguirre, editor of the Bayou Catholic at the time. I was seeking extra hours to work, and Louis gave me the opportunity to do some writing and photography for the weekly newspaper.

With Sister Miriam’s blessings, I made the change from food bank manager to editorial assistant at the Bayou Catholic. Sister Miriam always spoke of the importance of enabling people. Thank you, Sister

Miriam for enabling me to grow in my faith and change the direction of my ministry.

To say that I have enjoyed my work at the diocese would be an understatement. I loved working for the diocese. As I mentioned before I have met so many wonderful people during my time here. I have taken thousands of photos of people at various events and during significant moments in their lives. The camera opened the door for me to explore the creativity of photography while at the same time tell the story of the diocese and the wonderful people who make up the church of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.

I thank Louis Aguirre, who taught me well about the importance of the Catholic press and preserving historical moments through the print media.

During the years, I was always surrounded by gifted and talented co-workers who supported me along the way, and who were people of faith and love.

I thank my wife Debra, and my children, for allowing me to spend much time away from home on evenings at meetings or events that had to be covered. Without their support and understanding, I wouldn’t have been able to meet the demands of the job.

During my retirement, I hope to continue exploring my love of photography, enjoy the slower pace of retired living, and spend some time fishing.

I still plan to celebrate many diocesan events in the future. So, if you see me, let’s chat for a while and reminisce about the “good ole days.”

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

Lawrence Chatagnier Editor & General Manager

AmericAn indiAn mAss

Bishop Emeritus Sam G. Jacobs was the main celebrant of the American Indian Mass celebrated recently at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Pointe-aux-Chenes. Parishioners and people from across the diocese gathered for the celebration BC

by Lawrence Chatagnier

Photos

Message from our Administrator

Very Rev. Patrick J. (P. J.) Madden

My beloved sisters and brothers in Christ, I wish you all a very blessed and Happy New Year. How quickly we remove the signs and symbols of Christmas and, unfortunately, sometimes also pack away the good cheer and goodwill of that season!

In our Christmas edition, I wrote that “the best Christmas gift we can receive and give, which is Christ’s gift to us, is his peace.” In the quiet and dark January evenings, I invite you to reflect on that gift and pray about how you will, with God’s grace, continue to give and receive his peace to others in the year ahead.

As people who accept Christ in our lives, we are called to witness his peace every day, in spite of all the distractions of our times! As I have said many times, we do this by prayerfully trying to see Christ in every other person we encounter, and, if that is not possible, in some situations, then to allow them to see Christ in us.

We do this by being truly Christian in all aspects of our daily lives; a task which is not at all easy to accomplish in our divided and harsh world, filled with noise and argument, which drowns out the voice of God and silences the Spirit within us!

To begin then, look at your Christmas presents and especially any cards you received and read again the messages on them! All that positive goodwill is now yours to share! Did you send cards or Christmas messages? Then continue to think the positive thoughts you offered to your family and friends!

Above all, each new year is an invitation from almighty God to be thankful that we have completed another chapter in life and opened a

To witness Christ’s peace we must allow others to see Christ in us

new one! In this time of Eucharistic Revival, find time to visit Jesus in your local church between Sundays, even for a fleeting moment. Make a resolution to renew your commitment to Sunday Mass as a public witness to your faith and your desire to radiate Christ’s peace all week! If we take the year a week at a time it becomes easy to create a new lifestyle pattern with Christ as center. It is well worth

These simple resolutions can make a major difference as to how we live out our daily lives.

In a nutshell, the best New Year’s resolution that you can make is to open your Bible daily, and open your heart weekly, to hear and receive the Word made flesh, to nourish your soul and guide you along the way. After all Jesus himself told us: “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Is there anything more we can ask for? As you begin this year of Eucharistic Revival, I pray you will reawaken in your heart a love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and make a special effort to come and feed on his Word and Body at Sunday Mass. I offer you, again, in closing, the prayer of St Thomas Aquinas as an inspiration:

a try, believe me! Other little ways to focus on Christ include praying a rosary (even a decade would be great), or the Chaplet of Divine Mercy daily. If you have children, or grandchildren who visit, a short prayer before meals, or the simple prayer before bedtime reminds all present that Jesus is watching over us at all times! I recommend a simple prayer which children memorize with ease: “Jesus, I love you; thank you, Jesus, for loving me.”

“O sacred banquet, in which Christ is received, the memory of his passion is celebrated, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us. Lord Jesus, present to us in the Eucharist, we place our trust in you; make us signs of your presence.”

May the Peace of Christ reign in your hearts and minds throughout the year 2023 and let us all pray that his peace will enter the hearts of all world leaders, to end wars and deprivation, and open us up to love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Happy New Year! God bless. BC

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As people who accept Christ in our lives, we are called to witness his peace every day, in spite of all the distractions of our times!

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Para testimoniar de la paz de Cristo debemos permitir que otros vean a Cristo en nosotros.

Mis queridos hermanos y hermanas en Cristo, les deseo a todos un muy feliz y bendecido Año Nuevo. ¡Con qué rapidez quitamos los signos y símbolos de la Navidad y, desgraciadamente, a veces también empaquetamos el buen ánimo y la buena voluntad de esa temporada!

En nuestra edición de Navidad, escribí que “el mejor regalo de Navidad que podemos recibir y dar, es el regalo de Cristo para nosotros, es su paz”. En las tranquilas y oscuras tardes de enero, les invito a reflexionar en ese regalo y a orar, acerca de cómo, con la gracia de Dios, seguirán dando y recibiendo su paz en los demás, en el año que comienza.

Como personas que aceptamos a Cristo en nuestras vidas, ¡estamos llamados a dar testimonio de su paz cada día, a pesar de todas las distracciones de nuestro tiempo! Como ya he dicho muchas veces, lo hacemos al orar profundamente, tratando de ver a Cristo en cada persona con la que nos encontramos, y, si eso no es posible en algunas situaciones, permitir que los otros vean a Cristo en nosotros.

Lo hacemos siendo verdaderamente cristianos en todos los aspectos de nuestra vida cotidiana; una tarea que no es nada fácil de realizar en nuestro mundo dividido y duro, lleno de ruido y discusiones, que ¡ahoga la voz de Dios y silencia el Espíritu que hay en nosotros!

Para empezar, ¡mira tus regalos de Navidad y, especialmente, las tarjetas que has recibido, y vuelve a leer los mensajes que contienen! ¡Todos esos buenos deseos son tuyos para compartir! ¿Has enviado tarjetas o mensajes navideños? Entonces, ¡continúa con los pensamientos positivos que ofreciste a tu familia y amigos!

Por encima de todo, ¡cada año nuevo es una invitación de Dios todopoderoso a dar gracias por haber

completado otro capítulo de la vida y haber abierto uno nuevo! En este tiempo de avivamiento eucarístico, encuentra tiempo para visitar a Jesús en tu iglesia local entre domingo y domingo, aunque sea por un momento fugaz. ¡Decídete a renovar tu compromiso con la Misa dominical como testimonio público de tu fe y de tu deseo de irradiar la paz de Cristo durante toda la semana! Si nos tomamos el año semana a semana, resulta fácil crear un nuevo estilo de vida con Cristo como centro. ¡Vale la pena intentarlo, créeme! Otras pequeñas maneras de centrarse en Cristo incluyen rezar un rosario (incluso una decena sería estupendo), o la Coronilla de la Divina Misericordia diariamente. ¡Si tienen hijos o nietos de visita, una breve oración antes de las comidas o una sencilla oración antes de acostarse recuerda a todos los presentes que Jesús vela por nosotros en todo momento! Recomiendo una oración sencilla que los niños memorizan con

facilidad: “Jesús, te quiero; gracias, Jesús, por quererme”.

Estos sencillos propósitos pueden marcar una gran diferencia en la forma en que vivimos nuestra vida cotidiana.

En pocas palabras, el mejor propósito de Año Nuevo que puedes hacer es abrir tu Biblia diariamente, y abrir tu corazón semanalmente, para escuchar y recibir la Palabra hecha carne, para alimentar tu alma y guiarte en el camino. Después de todo, Jesús mismo nos dijo: “Yo soy el camino, la verdad y la vida”. ¿Hay algo más que podamos pedir? Al comenzar este año de Reavivamiento Eucarístico, les ruego que despierten en su corazón el amor a Jesús Sacramentado y hagan un esfuerzo especial para que vengan y se alimenten de su Palabra y de su Cuerpo en la Misa dominical. Les ofrezco de nuevo, para terminar, la oración de Santo Tomás de Aquino como inspiración:

“Oh sagrado banquete, en el que se recibe a Cristo, se celebra el recuerdo de su pasión, se llena la mente de gracia y se nos da una prenda de la gloria futura. Señor Jesús, presente a nosotros en la Eucaristía, ponemos en ti nuestra confianza; haznos signos de tu presencia”.

Que la Paz de Cristo reine en sus corazones y mentes a lo largo del año 2023 y recemos todos para que su paz entre en los corazones de todos los líderes mundiales, para acabar con las guerras y las privaciones, y nos abra a amarnos unos a otros como hermanos y hermanas en Cristo.

¡Feliz Año Nuevo! Que Dios les bendiga. BC

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Como personas que aceptamos a Cristo en nuestras vidas, ¡estamos llamados a dar testimonio de su paz cada día, a pesar de todas las distracciones de nuestro tiempo!

Để làm chứng cho bình an Chúa chúng ta phải cho

Anh chị em rất thân mến trong Chúa Kytô, tôi ao ước tất cả anh chị em một năm mới thánh thiện và vui mừng. Thật quá nhanh khi chúng ta dọn dẹp chữ viết và dấu tích Mùa Giáng Sinh và thật không may đôi khi lại cất đi sự vui mừng và ý tưởng tốt của mùa đó! Trong ấn bản Mùa Giáng Sinh tôi chia sẻ rằng “Một món quà Giáng Sinh tốt nhất mà chúng ta có thể nhận và cho đi, nghĩa là món quà của Chúa Kytô cho chúng ta, là bình an Ngài.” Trong sự thinh lặng và những ngày trời tối tháng một tôi mời gọi anh chị em suy tư về món quà đó và cầu nguyện làm sao mình sẽ, với ơn sủng Chúa, tiếp tục cho đi và lãnh nhận bình an Ngài cho người khác trong năm nay.

Là những tín đồ đã lãnh nhận Chúa Kytô trong đời sống chúng ta được mời gọi làm chứng nhân cho tình yêu Ngài mỗi ngày, mặc cho mọi sự cám dỗ trong đời. Như tôi đã chia sẻ nhiều lần, chúng ta làm thế do sự cầu nguyện cố gắng nhận ra Chúa Kytô trong từng người chúng ta gặp, và nếu điều đó không thể, thì trong một vài trường hợp thì giúp người khác nhận ra Chúa Kytô sống trong ta.

Chúng ta làm điều này do bởi sống đúng thân phận người Kytô chân chính trong mọi tình thế mỗi ngày; một việc làm không dễ thực hành trong một thế giới bị chia rẽ và đảo điên, bủa vây bởi ồn ào và lộng ngôn, mà nó làm cho tiếng nói của Chúa bị khô cằn và chết đi và tiếng nói của Thần Khí trong ta. Để rồi bắt đầu ngay xin nhìn lại những món quà và thiệp Giáng Sinh mà anh chị em đã nhận được và đọc lại những lời hay ý đẹp trên đó lần nữa. Tất cả những lời chúc tốt đẹp là của anh chị em bây giờ để chia sẻ. Anh chị em có gửi thiệp và tin nhắn không? Nếu có thì tiếp tục suy nghĩ tích cực về gia đình và bạn bè!

Trên tất cả, khởi đầu năm mới Thiên

Chúa mời gọi chúng ta biết tri ân rằng mình đã hoàn tất một trang sử trong đời và mở ra trang mới! Trong thời gian hâm nóng Bí Tích Thánh Thể thì nên tìm thời gian viếng Chúa trong nhà thờ mình giữa các Chúa Nhật, mặc dù lúc đó tránh thực tại. Làm một kế hoạch để hâm lại ý định tham dự Thánh Lễ Chúa Nhật như là hành động công khai đức tin và ước ao làm sáng lên bình

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Là những tín đồ đã lãnh nhận Chúa Kytô trong đời sống chúng ta được mời gọi làm chứng nhân cho tình yêu Ngài mỗi ngày, mặc cho mọi sự cám dỗ trong đời.

người khác thấy Chúa Kytô trong ta ‘

an Chúa Kytô trong tuần. Nếu chúng ta sống từng tuần một trong năm thì nó sẽ trở nên dễ dàng tạo ra một nếp sống mới trọng tâm là Chúa Kytô. Nó rất giá trị khi chúng ta thử, tin tôi đi. Những con đường đạo đức nhỏ khác bao gồm đọc kinh mân côi (mười kinh kính mừng cũng là nhất), hay đọc kinh lòng thương xót Chúa hằng ngày. Nếu bạn có con hay các cháu tới thăm, cầu nguyện trước các bữa ăn, hay vài câu kinh đơn sơ trước khi ngủ nhắc nhở cho ta rằng Chúa Giêsu đang bảo vệ chúng ta luôn luôn. Tôi khuyến khích những lời kinh đơn giản mà con nít dễ nhớ: “Lạy Chúa Giêsu, con yêu mến Ngài;

cảm ơn Ngài, lạy Chúa Giêsu vì Ngài thương con.” Những quyết tâm bé nhỏ này có thể là cái gì to lớn nếu chúng ta thực thi trong đời sống.

Một cách ngắn gọn, quyết định tốt nhất của Năm Mới mà anh chị em có thể thi hành là đọc kinh thánh hằng ngày, và mở tâm hồn mỗi tuần, để lắng nghe và chấp nhận lời Chúa nhập thể, để nuôi dưỡng tâm hồn và hướng dẫn anh chị em trong hành trình đức tin. Nói tóm lại chính Chúa Giêsu đã nói với chúng ta: “Ta là Đường, và là Sự Thật và là Sự Sống.” Chúng ta còn thắc mắc gì nữa không? Trong khi hâm nóng lại Bí Tích Thánh Thể năm nay, tôi cần nguyện cho anh chị em sẽ làm sống lại tâm hồn tình mến yêu cho Chúa Giêsu trong Bí Tích Thánh Thể và cố gắng tham dự và lãnh nhận lời Chúa và Mình Thánh Ngài trong Thánh Lễ Chúa Nhật. Tôi giành cho anh chị em một lần nữa kết thúc bài suy niệm này với lời cầu nguyện của Thánh Tôma như một lời nâng tâm hồn lên:

“Ôi bữa tiệc Thánh, trong đó ta lãnh nhận Chúa Giêsu, cuộc tử nạn Ngài được ghi nhớ, tâm hồn được tràn đầy hồng ân, và lời hứa đời sống vĩnh cửu được ban cho chúng ta. Chúa Giêsu Kytô, ở bên chúng con trong Thánh Thể, chúng con đặt niềm tin vào Ngài; hãy làm cho chúng con là dấu chỉ Ngài hiện diện.”

Xin Bình An của Chúa Kytô cai trị tâm hồn và trí khôn anh chị em trong năm 2023 và cùng cầu nguyện rằng bình an Ngài sẽ ngự trị tâm hồn các nhà lãnh đạo trên thế giới, để kết thúc chiến tranh và đàn áp, và mở rộng tâm hồn yêu thương người khác như anh chị em với nhau.

Chúc Mừng Năm Mới! Xin Chúa chúc lành. BC

Pope Francis’ spiritual life tip:

A daily examination of conscience helps to avoid repeating mistakes

The Pope Speaks

By COURTNEY MARES

(Rome CNA) Pope Francis has recommended a daily examination of conscience as an “indispensable” practice in spiritual life.

An examination of conscience is a prayerful reflection on one’s thoughts, words and deeds that helps to identify moments of sin and ask for God’s mercy.

This daily examination can be “an invitation to learn from our experiences” and “not to continue to repeat the same mistakes,” the pope said.

Speaking at his general audience recently, Pope Francis said that the devil’s temptation “starts from what is most dear to us and then, little by little, reels us in.”

He said: “This is why a daily examination of conscience is so important. Before finishing the day, stop for a while. What happened? Not in the newspapers, not in life — what happened in my heart?”

“Noticing what happens is important, it is a sign that God’s grace is working in us, helping us to grow in freedom and awareness. … Learn to read in the book of your heart what happened during the day.”

Pope Francis’ advice was part of his 10th catechesis in a weekly series on spiritual discernment, which he began at the end of August.

The pope noted that prayer during the day should not be viewed as a way to avoid a job or task that needs to be done, as in “every time I have to wash the dishes or clean the house, I have a strong urge to pray!”

“Prayer is not an escape from one’s responsibilities,” he said. “On the contrary, it is an aid in realizing the good we are required to do, here and now.”

In celebration of the feast of St. Andrew, the pope announced that a delegation of the Holy See had traveled to Constantinople.

“I wish to express my special affection to my dear brother Patriarch Bartholomew I and the entire Church of Constantinople,”

Pope Francis said.

“May the intercession of the Holy Brother Apostles Peter and Andrew, grant soon to the church the full joy of her unity and peace to the whole world, especially at this time to the dear and tormented Ukraine, always in our hearts and prayers.”

Five Kenyan acrobats performed stunts in St. Peter’s Square toward the end of the audience to the movie soundtrack of the Blues Brothers. The pope smiled and clapped as the group — called The Black Blues Brothers — put on an acrobatic show to the musical soundtrack from the beloved 1980 comedy film. BC

Questions

of Faith

Suffering in the world

How can there be a good God when there is so much suffering in the world?

The problem of human suffering and of a loving God has been a topic for discussion throughout human history. Many people are struggling with that same question today.

The Book of Job was one of the first books to take on this question. Job is a pious man whose faith is tested when God allows him to undergo multiple disasters until he is naked and ill and with only three friends. Job finally demands an accounting. God visits him and tells him that his purpose is not to satisfy human needs. Job, recognizing God’s majesty, says he is sorry for questioning God’s motives, and God rewards him with health, wealth and children. Everyone, including good people, must contend with tragedy without expecting God’s intervention.

The inspired author of Job reminds us that Satan cannot bring financial and physical ruin on us unless God allows it. It is beyond our human ability to understand the “why’s” behind all the suffering in the world. The wicked will eventually receive their just dues. God may sometimes allow suffering in our lives to purify, to test, to teach, or to strengthen our spirits. God deserves our love and praise in all circumstances of life.

Author C.S. Lewis wrote The Problem of Pain in 1940. In the book, he seeks to reconcile God’s power and goodness with the presence of evil and suffering. Lewis’ main answer to the question throughout the book

is that God can use evil and pain to mold us and to make us into the persons God meant for us to be. This is God’s love.

Distraught by the loss of his son to a crippling disease, Rabbi Harold Kushner wrote When Bad Things Happen to Good People to share what he learned from the tragedy and to help others find their way through loss and suffering. Kushner’s main idea is that God cannot or will not intervene to protect people from tragedies by preferring that humans use their free will without interference. Bad things happen to good people by accident or from malicious people. In all suffering, God offers his support and love. People must find meaning and purpose from their own God-given strengths.

Pain and suffering can teach us to avoid actions that injure us. As for malicious damage caused by evil people, such as Hitler’s Holocaust, God shares our anger but will not intercede because this would negate our free will and discourage us from doing the good works that greatly exceed the bad deeds. God does not step in to prevent bad things from happening. The almighty does offer love and strength to those who ask for his aid. In praying for fortitude to overcome pain, people often find they have more than enough power to prevail over the disaster.

We often fail to see true significance of things. What appears to us to be a

tragedy may have effects that cause greater good, and conversely, what appears to us as a good thing may prove harmful. Many stories are told of people who had cancer or other life-threatening diseases that have turned around their lives. Look at the many people whose wealth has ruined their lives.

God created human beings with a free will to choose between good and evil, but he cannot also force those creatures to choose the good. If he forced their choice, we would not be free. C.S. Lewis says, “If you choose to say, ‘God can give a creature free will and at the same time withhold free will from it,’ you have not succeeded in saying anything about God.”

In coping with great loss, people often blame themselves by believing they have done something wrong to deserve such a fate. Others, angry with sudden misfortune, try to find someone to blame, including God. These efforts only harden the suffering heart and slow the process of grieving and recovery. Those who are willing to continue with prayer and participation in their religious community can find their way back to the simple joys of life. They can heal by accepting their group’s love and support and by supporting others, by forgiving bad deeds, and by recovering in their hearts a love for people and for God.BC

Father Wilmer Todd

Reflections

Readings Between the Lines

Last year I wrote several articles on biblical foundations of the Eucharist in accord with the Eucharistic Revival the U.S. Bishops have initiated. My aim was to emphasize why our regular participation in the sacrament of the holy Eucharist is essential to our faith-lives. In this article I will review the reasons the Eucharist is so important to us.

Unity. As Christians we are not “lone rangers,” rather we are members of a community of people who embrace a common faith. It is necessary that we gather with other Christians to celebrate our common experience of salvation, an experience that has forged a bond among us. We must come together to celebrate as one and live our lives with a sense of unity.

Meal and Sacrifice. Christ’s sacrifice has saving benefits for us; he atones for our sins and reconciles us with the Father. Those benefits are mediated to us through the experience of the sacraments. Jesus linked the Last Supper meal to the sacrifice he would offer the next day, and then commanded us, “Do this in memory of me.” The eucharistic celebration is the continuation of the Last Supper for us; it is one of the primary ways we share in the saving benefits of Christ’s sacrifice.

Paschal Mystery. This phrase refers to Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection, all aspects of one continuous saving event. In Luke 24:13-35, two disciples experience a spiritual transformation when they recognize that the stranger who breaks bread with them is the same as the man Jesus of Nazareth whom they had seen executed by crucifixion on the previous Friday. When they embrace the faith that the Messiah

Eucharist: Essential to our faith lives

had to suffer and die so as to rise, several things happen for them: 1) they gain a sense of hope, 2) they understand that what happened to Jesus was not a grave misfortune but part of God’s unfolding plan of salvation, 3) they begin to realize that Jesus’ resurrection means he has emerged victorious over sin and death. The disciples’ experience of the risen Lord in the breaking of the bread means that all who would gather (including us today) for this ritual find themselves in the presence of the risen Lord. Our experience of being in the presence of the risen Lord in the Eucharist grounds our faith in his resurrection and encourages us to live for him.

Interrelationship of the Eucharist with Other Aspects of Church Life. In Acts 2:42-47, the life of the early Christian community consists of four elements: 1) the apostles’ teaching, 2) communal life, 3) breaking of the bread and 4) prayer. Each of these elements is essential to the identity of the church, and the breaking of the bread (the Eucharist) is among these. Moreover, all four of the elements are so interrelated that if any one were missing it would affect the integrity of the others. For example, a church that engages in social justice activity can lose the sense of its true purpose if it does not gather to celebrate that activity in the Eucharist, and then find in

the Eucharist an empowerment to continue the ministry.

Partaking of Christ’s Precious Blood. Very Rev. Patrick J. (P.J.) Madden, our diocesan administrator, has given permission for parishes to resume the distribution of the chalice at Mass. Hopefully, the offering of Christ’s precious blood to the assembly will again be a regular practice throughout our diocese. That is because our partaking of Christ’s eucharistic blood enables us to reaffirm our faith in the truth that his blood was shed for our salvation. According to Leviticus 17:14, Israelites were not to consume the blood of animals, for life is in the blood. Yet, if life is in the blood, to drink of Christ’s precious blood is to share life in him (John 6:53-54).

Food for the Journey. The Eucharist is food for the journey of our lives. Through faith in Jesus Christ we receive the gift of eternal life (John 3:36), and this life is sustained by the eucharistic food, even as ordinary food nourishes our physical lives. Regular participation in the sacrament of the holy Eucharist enables us to live lives which reflect faith in Jesus Christ.

Eucharist Anticipates the Coming Kingdom. While engaging in the Last Supper meal, Jesus uses the image of a banquet for the kingdom which he announces is to come when he says, “I shall

Father Glenn LeCompte

indeed not drink from now on from this cup of the produce of the vine until that day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father” (Matthew 26:29). If the Eucharist we celebrate today re-presents Christ’s sacrifice, it also looks forward to the consummation of the kingdom Jesus inaugurated in his earthly ministry. One important aspect of Christianity is the anticipation of Christ’s return. The advent of the kingdom will have the qualities of a banquet where fellowship and sharing exist and no one goes hungry. To anticipate the coming kingdom in the Eucharist is to remind ourselves to work to make its characteristics present in our own day.

Giving Thanks. The English word

Mass (mainly in the preface) is called “The Thanksgiving.” The whole prayer is an offering of thanks to the Father, an offering that is mediated by Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. Thanks is offered for the Father’s gift of his Son to die and rise for our salvation. Participating in the Eucharist is the primary way we thank God for our salvation.

Visible Sign of a Hidden Spiritual Reality. The son of Mary, born in Bethlehem, swaddled and laid in a manger is the visible sign of the invisible God. Jesus’ disciples discerned his divine sonship by listening to him speak human words and observing his human actions. Even as God’s son was manifest in human flesh in his birth, so the risen

(bread, wine, water, oil, etc.) which are consecrated and through which God’s power and presence are made available to us.

All of the above are reasons why we believe Christ is indeed truly present in the holy Eucharist and why it is necessary for us to partake of this sacrament at least weekly. BC

Reflection Questions

v Consider how you experience the Eucharist according to each of the categories mentioned above.

v How do each of the aspects of the Eucharist mentioned above strengthen your faith in Christ’s

January Scripture Readings

and a listing of Feast days and saints

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

Numbers 6:22-27 Galatians 4:4-7 Luke 2:16-21

Memorials of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, bishops and doctors of the church 1 John 2:22-28 John 1:19-28

Christmas Weekday

1 John 2:29—3:6 1 John 1:29-34

Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious

1 John 3:7-10 John 1:35-42

Memorial of Saint John Neumann, bishop 1 John 3:11-21 John 1:43-51

Christmas Weekday

1 John 5:5-13 Mark 1:7-11

Christmas Weekday 1 John 5:14-21 John 2:1-11

Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 Matthew 3:13-17

Weekday Hebrews 2:5-12 Mark 1:21-28

Weekday Hebrews 2:14-18 Mark 1:29-39

Weekday Hebrews 3:7-14 Mark 1:40-45

Weekday Hebrews 4:1-5, 11 Mark 2:1-12

Weekday Hebrews 4:12-16 Mark 2:13-17

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 49:3, 5-6

1 Corinthians 1:1-3 John 1:29-34

Weekday Hebrews 5:1-10 Mark 2:18-22

Memorial of Saint Anthony, abbot Hebrews 6:10-20 Mark 2:23-28

Weekday Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17 Mark 3:1-6

Weekday Hebrews 7:25—8:6 Mark 3:7-12

Weekday Hebrews 8:6-13 Mark 3:13-19

Memorial of Saint Agnes, virgin and martyr Hebrews 9:2-3, 11-14 Mark 3:20-21

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 8:23—9:3

1 Corinthians 1:1013, 17 Matthew 4:12-23

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children Hebrews 9:15, 24-28 Mark 3:22-30

Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor of the church Hebrews 10:1-10 Mark 3:31-35

Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle Acts 22:3-16 Mark 16:15-18

Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, bishops 2 Timothy 1:1-8 Mark 4:21-25

Weekday Hebrews 10:32-39 Mark 4:26-34

Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor of the church Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 Mark 4:35-41

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13

1 Corinthians 1:2631 Matthew 5:1-12a

Weekday Hebrews 11:32-40 Mark 5:1-20

Memorial of Saint John Bosco, priest Hebrews 12:1-4 Mark 5:21-43

Saintly Inspiration St. Fancis de Sales January 24th

All Christians are called to be saints. Saints are persons in heaven (officially canonized or not), who lived heroically virtuous lives, offered their life for others, or were martyred for the faith, and who are worthy of imitation (https://www.usccb.org/offices/public-affairs/saints).

The Catholic Church recognizes about 11,000 saints, and of that number there are certainly many whose names are unknown, and whose historicity is debatable.

The saints of the church are a diverse group of people with varied and interesting stories.

St. Francis de Sales, Patron Saint of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

Holy Father’s prayer intentions January

January 24 marks the Feast of St. Francis de Sales, the patron saint of writers and Christian unity whose role as a priest and bishop helped bring thousands of Protestants back to the Catholic Church. In the late 16th and early 17th century, St. Francis de Sales conducted spiritual direction both in person and in written correspondence. This inspired his famous work “Introduction to the Devout Life.” During his ministry in Switzerland, he wrote and distributed religious tracts that made inroads among Protestants and helped between 40,000 and 70,000 return to the Catholic faith. Because he is a patron saint of writers, his feast day traditionally marks the release of the Pope’s annual message for World Communications Day. Pope Francis in his 2022 Message for the World Communications Day emphasized the quality of listening, which he says, “is decisive in the grammar of communication and is a condition for genuine dialogue.”

St. Francis de Sales was no stranger to unpopularity. As a priest he volunteered to lead a mission to return the Calvinist Switzerland back to the Catholic faith. He faced much hostility, including death threats and would-be assassins. He was born in 1567 in the Savoy region in what is now part of France. He was a diplomat’s son, born into a household with great devotion to St. Francis of Assisi. He studied rhetoric, the humanities and law in preparation for a political career. He had resolved to hold to religious celibacy and he held a deep devotion to the Virgin Mary, but he kept this strong spiritual life secret from the world. This devotion clashed with the wishes of his father, who had arranged a marriage for him. The Catholic bishop of Geneva found Francis de Sales a position in the Swiss Church, leading to his ordination as a priest in 1593. He was named Bishop of Geneva in 1602, after which he worked to restore Geneva’s churches and religious orders. He helped the future saint Jean Frances de Chantal, whom he had served as spiritual director, found a women’s religious order. He died in 1622 in Lyons at a convent he had helped to found. Francis de Sales was canonized in 1665 and named a Doctor of the Church in 1877. BC

Guest Columnist

Very Rev. André Melancon, V.F.

I have been asked to give a second reflection on my Camino journey which I happily said yes to. One of the greatest blessings of walking the Camino has been the ability to share the Camino with others. Sharing my journal articles on Facebook while I was walking and then speaking to people about my experience since I have been home has brought me great joy.

One of the most common questions I have gotten from people when asked about my Camino experience is: “Did the Camino change me?” The short answer to that question is “Yes.” And then I follow that yes with “it made me stronger.” Now obviously, walking 500 miles in 26 days made a tremendous impact on my physical strength. I lost weight during the Camino and gained muscle. My cardiovascular strength was better than maybe it had ever been in my life. But the real strength that I felt increased was more internal. It was a strengthening in virtue. The Catechism has defined virtue as “habitual and firm disposition to do good” (CCC 1833). The virtues help us habitually do what is good.

As we begin this new year, many of us will make new year’s resolutions. These are typically connected to a desired growth in healthy habits or healthy virtues. We have probably all experienced in the past making these new year’s resolutions only to find ourselves failing and abandoning them almost as soon as we make

In preparation for his 500-mile Camino de Santiago (Way of St James), Very Rev. André Melancon did a fair amount of physical training. He is shown here completing his walk from St. Bernadette Church in Houma to St. Genevieve Church in Thibodaux, about 12.5 miles, which would be considered a light day for the Camino. He began his Camino journey on June 25 and finished it four days early on July 20. Pictured with Father Melancon is Father Stephen Castille, special assistant to the Office of the Bishop, who greeted him upon his arrival at St. Genevieve.

them. I definitely have experienced this personally. But how can this be different for us?

As I prepared for my Camino journey, there was a conscious desire in me for growth. Growth in physical health was of course there but more importantly growth in spiritual health. I felt a desire to grow in freedom in my life and to grow in my ability to love God and serve God with a renewed strength. The Camino helped to give me a focus and a structure to aid me in achieving these goals. As I mentioned in my previous article, before I began the Camino, I lost 25 pounds. This was accomplished through a change in my diet and the extra physical conditioning that I did to prepare for my long journey. I would walk back

and forth with my heavy pack over the bridge by Terrebonne General Hospital and I took a Saturday journey from St. Bernadette in Houma to St. Genevieve in Thibodaux in the hot summer heat. The goal of being able to be successful on the Camino helped me to be focused on my training.

While on the Camino, several things helped me to accomplish growth. The first and most profound thing was the increase of silence while walking. Walking for an average of eight hours a day, some days as much as 10, gave me a tremendous amount of time for quiet reflection. I used this time to pray devotional prayers like the rosary and divine mercy chaplet but also to do a lot of listening to God. God spoke through all sorts of

“All of us can attain to Christian virtue and holiness, no matter what condition of life we live and no matter what our work may be’

Father André Melancon’s second reflection on Camino de Santiago

On Day 10, Very Rev. André Melancon walked about 15 miles from Agés to Burgos. “There is definitely a sense that one’s Camino should have meaning and purpose and not just be a really long walk. One of the themes that is present on the Camino is the release of burdens. Most people carry certain burdens at one time in their life. Whether it be unforgiveness, a particular sin, an addiction, or whatever one’s burden may be, there is an invitation to release these things on the Camino,” says the priest.

ways on the Camino and I was in a posture of being able to listen because of the silence.

Another help to this growth was a specific destination to my journey. I knew I wanted to make it to the tomb of St. James in Santiago, and I knew I had a limited time to do that. I knew I wanted to walk the full 500 miles. This specific destination motivated me every day to hit the trail and walk the miles. There were days that I was tired and sore, but I pushed through and began again every day. Recognizing that the destination of Santiago was a symbol for me of my true destination of heaven put it all in perspective. I wanted to reach Santiago but much more importantly, I want to reach heaven.

Another help to this growth was doing it every day. Pushing myself physically and spiritually for that long of a time made my daily walking and daily prayer and listening habitual. It became easier to do it as the time went on because a habit was being formed. A virtue was being strengthened. The virtue that I saw being cultivated was the virtue of fortitude. The Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks of the virtue of fortitude as “the cardinal virtue that ensures a steadiness of the will in the pursuit of the good notwithstanding any difficulties” (CCC 1808).

Through daily spiritual and physical conditioning, my will was being strengthened. These helps that the Camino offered me helped me to grow in this virtue of fortitude which made me stronger to persevere in the things that God has asked of me. Sometimes, we need these helps to help us to accomplish our resolutions.

As I said in my last article, I am not speaking about the Camino simply to advertise it. Some may be able to make the specific journey, but some may not. But all of us can identify the potential helps in our lives to help us to grow in the ways God calls us to grow. St. Francis de Sales says, “All of us can attain to Christian virtue and holiness, no matter in what condition of life we live and no matter what our life work may be.”

Happy New Year to all of you and let us pray for one another as commit again to growth in the Lord.

(Very Rev. André Melancon, V.F., is the pastor of St. Bernadette Church parish in Houma, and the dean of the Terrebonne Deanery.) BC

“My backpack, which weighed about 20 lbs., went everywhere I went. Some pelegrinos chose to ship their backpacks every day, but I wanted to carry mine. It was a bit heavy, which represented carrying a sacrificial weight. But it was also light signifying that the less we have, the less weight figuratively and literally we have to carry. It also reminded me reminded me that Jesus was carrying this weight with me,” says Very Rev. André Melancon. “On the pack, you can see my Galician clam shell, which was given to me by a parishioner from St Bernadette. It had the St. James cross drawn on it and it was my symbol of being a pelegrino in the way. The shell was used as a symbol traditionally due to the legend of St James using the shell to baptize. Also, it is said to represent an open hand outstretched ready to help your fellow pilgrims. The holy medal on my shell is also of St. James.”

The 2023 Bishop’s Appeal has diocesan goal of $950,000

Story by Janet Marcel

The 2023 Bishop’s Appeal will be introduced in church parishes on the weekend of February 4-5, with a diocesan goal of $950,000.

The funds received from the 2023 Bishop’s Appeal will support seminarian education, retired priests of the diocese, youth and adult formation, and the Office of Catholic Schools.

“Serving as a priest and diocesan administrator for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is something that I cherish deeply,” says Very Rev. Patrick J. (P.J.) Madden. “My heart is filled knowing that I serve such a wonderful Christ-filled community and am able to continue to answer the Lord’s call even in my ‘retirement.’ I am overwhelmed by your generosity, the people of the Cajun kingdom of God, and the love you share for Christ. While being challenged over the last several years, we were still able to come together through our faith to live out the Lord’s mission. As we continue in good faith to move forward in our diocese, I am asking for your help this year to continue leaving your lasting impact. It is my hope that you can join me this year in support of our Annual Bishop’s Appeal. Your generosity is an expression of hope and strength for our nine seminarians, 14 retired priests, and the many families you will impact through your gift. Will you join me this year by making a gift in support of these key ministries here in our diocese, and of course, the gift of your prayers, that the good word of the Gospel will flourish. Please be assured of my sincere gratitude for all that you do, and I ask for your prayers for me as well.”

Seminarian Education

It costs approximately $45,000 to educate one seminarian annually and it takes seven to eight years for him to be ordained a priest. The diocese currently has nine seminarians. Due to the generosity of the Catholic faithful, the seminarians are able to focus their time and energy on their studies and do not have to worry about the cost of their education, room and board, or their healthcare needs.

How Your Gift is Used

Your gift will provide hope for our retired priests, seminarians, schools and parishes through your prayers and generous gifts.

Retired Priests

Retired priests continue to be part of the diocesan family and receive continued support in their retirement through supplemental health insurance, long term care needs and other important required services. The diocese is honored to support its priests in their retirement, and your prayers and gifts allow them to continue to serve the faithful of the diocese and be part of the diocesan family.

“As a newly retired priest,” says Father Dean Danos, “I have been truly blessed to be part of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. Great things continue to happen in our diocese as we continue to pray and give together for the Bishop’s Appeal.”

Catholic Schools

Catholic schools are the largest formation ministry in the diocese with 10 schools serving more than 4,800 children. The Catholic schools provide a unique education that is Christcentered to enhance the children’s learning and spiritual growth. Your prayers and gifts directly support the Catholic Schools Office by enhancing the quality of the curriculum and growth of each of the schools.

“Catholic schools are blessed to be offered support from the Bishop’s Appeal,” says Elise LeBoeuf, principal of St. Bernadette Catholic School in Houma. “Your gifts help us provide opportunities for our teacher-ministers and administrator-ministers to continue to grow in their professions and in their faith. These dedicated men and women provide a Christ-centered educational experience for the more than 4,800 students in our diocese. As a school principal and parent to three Catholic school students, I am so thankful for the work these educators do in our Catholic schools, and the Bishop’s Appeal helps make it happen.”

Youth & Adult Formation

The formation of youth and adults is vital to the diocese to facilitate spiritual growth and opportunities to engage in a deeper relationship with Christ. With your prayers and gifts, the diocese is able to provide resources and train lay leaders to provide best practices for youth and adult participants.

The Bishop’s Society recognizes members of the Catholic faithful who contribute $250 or more to the Bishop’s Appeal. This commitment makes a tremendous impact on the immediate needs of our ministries and parishes. Special recognitions and informational opportunities are available to members of the Bishop’s Society, including the following.

Bishop’s Partners in Hope ($250 to $499)

● Monthly email messages

● Annual progress report

● Inclusion in bishop’s personal Mass prayer intentions

Bishop’s Circle ($500 to $2,499)

All of the above, plus the following:

● Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana Annual Report

Mitre Society ($2,500 to $4,999)

All of the above, plus the following:

● Invitations to special diocesan events such as State of Diocese Address, Chrism Mass and Ordination

Crozier’s Society Bishop’s Guild ($5,000 to $9,999)

All of the above, plus the following:

● Private tour of the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma or St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux, followed by Mass and lunch with key diocesan leaders (based on availability of staff and donor preference)

Society of the Good Shepherd ($10,000 and above)

All of the above, plus the following:

● Private meal and gift from the Bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

Join the St. Francis Circle with a Recurring Gift Recurring gifts are environmentally friendly gifts that help to reduce printing, postage and administrative costs, while helping to sustain the ministries of the Bishop’s Appeal.

Those who wish to contribute to the 2023 Bishop’s Appeal can do so on-line by visiting www.htdiocese.org/ bishopsappeal, placing your donation in the pew in your church or mailing your check to Bishop’s Appeal, P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395.

For more information about the Bishop’s Appeal, call (985) 850-3122 or email nbernard@htdiocese.org. BC

Lawrence’s Banana Nut Bread

In this month’s Heavenly Recipes, Lawrence Chatagnier, editor and general manager of the Bayou Catholic magazine, shares his recipe for Banana Nut Bread, which he received from a neighbor in the early 1980s and has been using ever since. The neighbor brought his family some banana nut bread as a gift and the recipe was included on the card.

Lawrence says he learned to cook at his first job as a galley hand for Texaco almost 50 years ago. “Galley hands generally help clean the kitchen and help the cooks prepare meals. Occasionally when a cook would go on vacation, I would fill in for him,” he says.

Over the years, he has had a lot of practice cooking many different types of meals from main dishes to soups and stews, as well as venturing into baking. One of his favorite things to prepare is jambalaya. Lawrence says he enjoys preparing meals that he can share with his family members. He also enjoys grilling on the weekends.

Lawrence announced his retirement in this issue of Bayou Catholic after serving the diocese for over 35 years in different capacities, most memorably for our readers as the diocesan photographer for 30 of those years. He has also authored Heavenly Recipes since the first magazine was published in February 2012 … that’s 124 recipes!

Since one of Lawrence’s favorite pastimes is cooking, we thought it was appropriate to turn the tables on him by interviewing him for our Heavenly Recipes feature this month. a

Story and Photos by Janet Marcel

Lawrence Chatagnier

Lawrence’s Banana Nut Bread

Ingredients:

1 stick margarine

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1-1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

Dash of salt

3 ripe bananas

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

Cream margarine, sugar and eggs. Add flour, baking soda and salt. Mash bananas and add to batter with chopped nuts. Pour into greased and floured loaf baking pan.

Bake for 55 minutes at 350 degrees. Check with knife in center; if knife is moist bake for 5 more minutes.

Enjoy!

When Lawrence first began the Heavenly Recipes feature, he says he mainly interviewed cooks and housekeepers in the church parishes, as well as a few priests. After exhausting those resources, he began interviewing the laity or people who were referred to him by either pastors or secretaries in the church parishes. Often these people cooked for various events in the church parishes.

“I had the opportunity to meet many wonderful faith-filled people during that time,” says Lawrence. “Heavenly Recipes became more than just people sharing their recipes with me. People were sharing their faith and life experiences ... both good experiences and challenges they may have been facing. Everyone has a story whether they think they do or not.”

Lawrence says he always enjoyed photography from a very young age. “I have always valued the integrity and the importance of a great photograph - in its technical aspect as well as for its ability to tell a story,” he says. “I always enjoy capturing a moment during an event. I like the idea of a photograph freezing a moment in time and letting you experience what the subject is experiencing at that moment.”

Lawrence says being the diocesan photographer has allowed him to meet thousands of people that he would not have met otherwise. “When our former editor Louis Aguirre and Bishop Sam Jacobs (third bishop of Houma-Thibodaux) decided to switch to a magazine format, I knew it would be a great medium for photos to illustrate and give an appealing support to our stories in the magazine because magazines are very visual. To be a little selfish it is always rewarding to see a photograph that you’re proud of in the publication or even on the cover. It has been an honor to document the happenings of the diocese for the past 30 years.” BC

It is not good for the man to be alone

Community is something we all have to work at

If only you could have been there … in the year 1987, my family moved from the bustling streets of Bayouside Drive in Little Calliou to the relatively quiet neighborhood of Cypress Village in Bayou Black. We, like many families, were looking to move up after Hurricane Juan flooded our area. We left the beautiful community of St. Joseph in Chauvin with the legendary Msgr. Frederic Brunet to join St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Bayou Black.

Growing up at St. Anthony in the late 80s, 90s, and early 2000s was an experience! We had Father Gerard Hayes who was known for his brief

but deep homilies and his unwavering love for our parish. There was the New Creation Music Ministry, which must have had around 20 members that filled our church with beautiful music. Later the Kepha Youth Group was started and benefitted the parish in many ways including music ministry, retreat ministry, Bible studies and much more. We even had a parish song: “Father make us one,” or as the teenagers called it “Father make a swan.” We sang that song occasionally at the beginning of Sunday Mass holding hands and even stretching into the aisles to emphasize our togetherness. The parish was filled with energy! I remember growing up with this sense of pride that I belonged to the great community of St. Anthony!

When my dad broke his arm and couldn’t work for six months, it was St. Anthony that paid our electric bill. When I was an obese teenager struggling to find an identity, it was the community of St. Anthony and the many mentors in my life that

helped me to realize I had value and I was loved by God. When I was a little kid, it was where I had the opportunity to be one of the three kings in the Christmas play. It was where I accidentally peeled-out in the parking lot one day as a teenager and was scolded by the late Mrs. Peggy Huval, who was DRE at the time. It was where I acted-out the role of Pontius Pilate three years in a row in the greatest passion play known to man. It was where we had these awesome dinner theatres where Father Mike Bergeron was Sonny Bono and Father Josh Rodrigue was Willie Nelson. It was/and still is my home. I could go on and on sharing memories, but I’ve made my point that the Community of St. Anthony helped to shape the man and the priest I am today.

As we begin the year of our Lord 2023, here in the United States and in many places around the world we have this great tradition of looking back at the end of the year and creating New Year’s

Guest Columnist

Father Cody Chatagnier

resolutions. Many people, including myself, start with our diet and exercise routines only to be thwarted by the first sight of that Red Velvet King Cake at Cannata’s. Another very popular resolution revolves around our spiritual lives. A Len Wilson survey states: “January is a good month for (church attendance). People make new life commitments during this time, which often includes higher levels of church participation.” In fact, looking at the statistics of this survey, January and February are the two highest months for church attendance in the entire year, excluding Palm Sunday, Christmas and Easter. As a pastor of a parish, I often wonder why my parish can’t maintain the momentum of January and February. I think it’s easy, maybe borderline lazy, to chalk it up to a lack of will power, but I often wonder how best to change this disturbing statistic.

When I am out and about, I often run into people who once seeing my priest collar start making promises that they will return to Mass or tell me reasons why they don’t attend Mass. A large majority of the reasons I hear have to do with a conflict either with the priest or another parishioner that drove them away from Mass and the community. Personally, I can say these stories break my heart. When in these conversations, I try to avoid making false promises. For example, I try not to say, “Well that parish is just toxic but at St. Ann everything is great and wonderful.” Or, “St. Ann used to be like that back in the day, but we have changed.” I don’t say things like that because it’s not true. St. Ann has a beautiful community, and I could list just as many beautiful memories as I did about St. Anthony. But, its pastor and its parishioners are not without faults. I can’t guarantee that there will be no relationship conflicts or tensions. I can’t guarantee that every homily will be a homerun. I can’t guarantee that we have a ministry that meets everyone’s wants/needs. I can’t guarantee perfection.

My point is: We need to be realistic about what a good parish community looks like and we need to recognize that community is something we all have to work at. I began this article with a bunch of good memories from my home parish, but I can share many bad memories as well. All of those memories were a product of people coming together to make community. The best advice I can give someone seeking to plug back into a parish community is to fight, to grind, and to work! I ask you to fight because you have a right to belong to your parish! If you haven’t been to Mass in a while, firstly I suggest going to confession. Then, when/if that judgmental parishioner gives you the stink-eye because you haven’t been to Mass in a long time, you can at least be confident that you are right with the Lord. I ask you to grind, meaning to persevere through difficulties. In St. Ignatius’ Rules for Discernment, he says when we are in desolation we should trust that the Lord will send a remedy as soon as possible. And I ask you to work. Just like any marriage, the relationship demands that the husband and wife continue to give themselves completely in the marriage. The same is true with any church parish community. It may be more complex because there are a lot more relationships, but to pull away from the relationship completely, normally ends

with its destruction. Instead, working through difficult and tense situations normally bears a stronger and more durable relationship.

Perfect church parish communities do not exist on this side of heaven. We can put a lot of effort in trying to find the “perfect parish,” and when we think we have found it we can become disenchanted when it turns out to be flawed. Please don’t let judgmental parishioners push you away from the parish that you have a right to belong to. Instead, I suggest spending energy building the community. Authentic community only happens when people become vulnerable and share themselves with one another. Sometimes that vulnerability leads to heart ache and sometimes it leads to beauty. We continue to enter into community because we know the possibilities that coming together can produce. I promise the juice is worth the squeeze. We can’t be church without each other! BC

Youth in action

Marijain Elizabeth Burns

School: Holy Rosary Catholic School, Larose

Grade: 8th Church parish: Our Lady of the Rosary, Larose

Family Unit: Desiree Darda (mother); Jonathan Darda (stepfather); Dain Burns (father); Jerica Burns (stepmother); Cullen St. Amant (stepbrother); Nathan Darda and Ezra Burns (brothers); Haisley Burns, Vivianne Darda and Emmalina Darda (sisters)

Favorite Hobby: Swimming Favorite Movie: The Impossible

Favorite T.V. Show: Boy Meets World Favorite Genre of Music: Pop

What

There are many resolutions for the new year that will help me grow my faith and here are some I hope to keep:

• Reading the Bible 15-20 minutes a day every day

• Going to Mass every week without fail

• Setting aside 10 minutes to pray to God before I go to sleep

• Asking a different friend to Mass each week

• Starting to volunteer more at your church parish with things like reading

• Reading a Christian book a month

• Showing more love to my enemies

Refusing to gossip about others

can

suggest you start small and focus on one goal at a time because the best resolutions are the ones you can actually keep. One of these that you should definitely make time for is going to Mass without fail because it is already in the Ten Commandments. Out of these 10 resolutions, you should pick five that you can make time for and will not say “I will do that tomorrow,” because we all know you will most likely forget about it tomorrow, also. BC

Seminarian eDucation burSeS

Seminarian Spotlight

Anthony (Tony) LaJaunie

St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux

n When did you hear your call to the priesthood?

In the latter half of 6th grade after I began to pray more as a result of my grandmother’s death.

n Where are you studying and in what year of your studies are you?

I am studying at St. Joseph Abbey Seminary College (more fondly known as St. Bens) as a freshman.

n What do you prefer? The book or the movie Objectively the book is better, but I love movies and shows because it is amazing to see an artist’s story come to life.

n Are you an early bird or a night owl?

I am required to wake up early and do enjoy, but let it be known that if I was not a seminarian, I would have a sleep schedule as if I lived on the other side of the world.

n Who is your favorite saint & why?

Mother Mary, specifically her appearance at Lourdes. It would not be giving her enough credit to say she has just “saved my life,” for she has done so much more.

DiD you know?

Eucharist: An invitation to an intimate relationship with Christ

Guest Columnist

Emily LeBlanc

In being Catholic, one of the greatest opportunities we have is to receive the sacrament of the Eucharist. It is said that even the angels in heaven are envious of this unique relationship we get to experience with Christ while alive on Earth. Through the Eucharist, God is able to give himself entirely to us and we are given the opportunity to open ourselves entirely to him, making the reception of the Blessed Sacrament the single most intimate way to experience Christ.

It’s the incarnation, Christ given up for us on the cross, but also at the Last Supper and every Mass, that saves us. At each and every Mass, we have the opportunity to witness the incarnation of Christ in complete body, blood, soul and divinity. And even more so, at every Mass, we have the opportunity to receive Christ incarnate and welcome him into ourselves entirely. By saying yes to this relationship and welcoming Christ into ourselves, it allows God to mold us from the inside out. Through the Eucharist, through that intimate relationship, we are able to live in communion with God and discern his will more clearly for the betterment of ourselves and those around us.

First and foremost, the Eucharist is not simply a representation or metaphor for Christ. Through the consecration, bread and wine become the flesh and blood of Christ. In John’s Gospel, Jesus says to the Jews, “Amen, amen, I say to you,

unless you eat of the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you” (John 6: 5159), This is the most fundamental teaching of the church and subsequently, often causes many to walk away. Understandably so, it is hard to understand how this makes sense; why would Jesus ask us to consume his flesh and blood, and how can simple bread and wine transform into the carnal version of Christ?

unlike any other. It’s a full giving and receiving of self, done completely out of love for the other.

Bread and wine are transformed into the flesh and blood of Christ through consecration. God, the creator of the universe, of every star, of every person, of every grain of sand, has the capacity to turn bread and wine into his flesh and blood. Jesus, the man who raised Lazarus from the dead, cured the blind man, and turned water into wine, possesses the ability to turn bread and wine into his flesh and blood. If we are to believe his ability to do all else, why should we doubt this? Through the priest, through the Mass, and through consecration, transubstantiation takes place, and bread and wine become body and blood.

Because the sacrament of the Eucharist is so intimate and relational, its effect on us is just as profound. That relationship and communion that comes from the blessed sacrament allows us to more easily discern God’s will for us. By appreciating God’s sacrifice for us we better experience his love; by better experiencing God’s love we are better able to love others. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

We consume the flesh and blood of Christ for that intimate relationship. By receiving the sacrament of the Eucharist, we completely give ourselves to Christ and allow him to completely give himself to us. We can look to marriage as a reflection of this relationship. The bride and bridegroom offer their bodies entirely to one another to create a more intimate relationship and express an adequate display of the love between them. In the same way, Christ, as bridegroom, offers his body entirely to the church, as bride, at every Mass. It’s relational and intimate and allows love to be shown in a way

Over the past year of my life, I have been able to witness that relationship and love bloom within myself and others firsthand. Through the people I’ve come to call friends and their own relationships with God, I’ve truly learned what it means to love with an open heart. At the beginning of my freshman year, I was introduced to my college’s Catholic Center. Originally, I stuck around because I enjoyed the good company, but after a while I realized there was much more to be offered. I noticed people at the Catholic Center loved in a completely different way than I had ever experienced from people

a

‘

‘

First and foremost, the Eucharist is not simply a representation or metaphor for Christ. Through the consecration, bread and wine become the flesh and blood of Christ.

my age. They truly cared about what I was doing and wanted only growth and betterment for me and everyone else they met.

After getting to know everyone at the Catholic Center, I decided however they were living their lives was working out much better than whatever I was doing. So, I started doing more of what they did. I went to daily Mass, spent time in the chapel, joined a Bible study, and eventually, I came to realize why I loved them so much. The parts of them that I loved, were the parts of them I was able to see God through. Whether it was their optimism, their listening, their kindness, their boldness, their intentionality, it was all a reflection of God I was able to see in the ways they loved me; and the only way they were able to reflect God’s love in those ways was by knowing him.

From that moment on I realized if I wanted to love people as well as I had been loved, I needed to truly build my

relationship with God. So, I went to retreats, multiple Bible studies and even moved to a different state for a three-month summer program! But nothing deepened that relationship quite like spending time with and receiving Christ through the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist.

By spending time with the Blessed Sacrament, I came to see God as a person. I talked to him, I cried with him, I took everything I was feeling to him first. He became my rock, my constant, and my go to. Through receiving the Blessed Sacrament at Mass, I was able to open myself and my heart to God entirely. I made a space for Christ and welcomed him into every aspect of myself. By growing my relationship with God through the Blessed Sacrament, my life, and the way I view the world changed entirely. I am better able to love people and see the beauty of creation. Every person, every sunset, and every flower has been willed into

creation by God himself. We get to exist within all the beauty of creation, and experience so many different types of love, yet none of it compares to the love we receive from Christ through the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist. The intimate, self-giving love we are able to receive from the Eucharist is the greatest gift we will ever be granted in this lifetime, and we have the opportunity to receive this gift at every Mass.

Make a place in your heart to receive the Lord in such an intimate way and be a witness of that love to everyone you encounter. It is only through the Eucharist and the relationship we build with God that we can truly be missionary disciples of Christ.

(Emily LeBlanc is a native of Labadieville. She is a sophomore studying English with a concentration in writing and rhetoric at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux.) BC

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

January

Daily Prayer for Clergy and Religious

Lord Jesus, hear our prayer for the spiritual renewal of bishops, priests, deacons, brothers, sisters, lay ministers and seminarians of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. We praise You for giving their ministry to the Church. In these days, renew them with the gifts of Your Spirit.

You once opened the Holy Scriptures to Your disciples when You walked on this earth. Now renew Your ordained and chosen ones with the truth and power of Your Word.

In Eucharist you gave Your disciples renewed life and hope. Nourish Your consecrated ones with Your own Body and Blood. Help them to imitate in their lives the death and resurrection they celebrate around Your altar.

Give them enthusiasm for the Gospel, zeal for the salvation of all people, courage in leadership and humility in service.

Give them Your love for one another and for all their brothers and sisters in You. For You love them, Lord Jesus, and we love and pray for them in Your Holy Name, today especially for _______________________. Amen.

Sponsored by: of the Word

Cardinal Drive, Thibodaux, LA • marianservantsoftheword@gmail.com

Very Rev. Patrick (P.J.) Madden Rev. Peter Tai Le Rev. Glenn LeCompte

Very Rev. Eric Leyble, J.V. Rev. Joey Lirette Deacon Timothy Vedros Rev. Clyde Mahler

Rev. Fernando Anaya Rev. John David (J.D.) Matherne Very Rev. Andre Melancon, VF

Very Rev. John Nambusseril, VF Seminarian Chad Cheramie Rev. Jean-Marie Nsambu Rev. Joseph Pilola

Rev. Patrick Riviere Rev. Robert Rogers Rev. James Rome Deacon Timothy White Rev. Mitchel Semar Rev. Carlos Talavera Rev. Joseph Liem Van Than, CRM

Rev. James Thien Van Nguyen, CRM Very Rev. Mark Toups Sister Mary Immaculata Man Nguyen, FMSR

Rev. Mike Tran Rev. Joseph Tregre Rev. Joe Varghese Rev. Billy Velasco

Rev. Shenan Boquet Rev. Thomas Bouterie Bishop Emeritus Sam G. Jacobs

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Guest Columnist

Father Rusty Bruce

Most of us, if not all, have made dozens of New Year’s resolutions in our lifetime. Things from joining a gym to get in better shape, to taking up a new hobby to help rejuvenate us, being intentional about staying connected with loved ones, or saving money for that dream vacation … our list goes on. And no doubt, while the desire to begin these new important endeavors was strong, somewhere along that journey we probably got worn out and might have even given up on what we once hoped to achieve.

One reason why we find it difficult to achieve our goals is not because they are too lofty, but because we often do not have a concrete course of action to help us reach those goals. The goals that we are intentional about planning how exactly we are going to achieve are the ones that we find most successful. If growing in holiness is a goal of yours this

Holiness:

A New Year’s resolution worth keeping

year, then here are just five concrete ways in which you can actively work toward achieving that goal.

Secure a Supportive Surrounding

The company we keep is important. If you need convincing, read Luke 5:17-26, where Jesus heals the paralyzed man because of the faith of his friends. Without the help of his friends, the paralyzed man would never have encountered Jesus. Finding a group of friends who share the same goals as us matters because the people we surround ourselves with will be the ones who will either encourage us or discourage us when things get difficult. As the saying goes, “we are who we hang out with,” because the people we hang around help to shape, either positively or negatively, our habits,

behaviors, and even how we see things. Accountability helps to keep us honest. Being in the presence of others who desire heaven gives us the space to listen and speak with those who are working toward the same goal. You should know that securing a supportive environment might mean that we will have to cut ties with current acquaintances who make growth in holiness difficult. We have to be willing to ask the tough question, “Does that person bring me closer to God, or push me further away from God?” Good discernment will help us to answer that question honestly and to take the right course of action.

Adopt a Saint

Keeping good company is important, so what do we do about the times when we are

physically away from those who help us to pursue our heavenly goal? For this, we have the communion of saints, God’s intimate friends, who can do the same for us as our earthly friends. If we want to be holy, then we must have examples held up for us of what holiness looks like in our particular state of life. Seeing other men and women in similar situations to ours, and how they overcame what we also face, not only gives us a path to follow, but also hope that with God’s grace, we too can overcome them.

But how do we keep good company with the saints when there are so many of them out there? Instead of “speed dating” through the diverse and extensive liturgical calendar where the church highlights men and women each day on their feasts, slow it down and adopt a saint for the entire year. Even if you already have a patron saint, your saint will not mind sharing you with others. Place several names of saints that you find to be interesting or helpful in a hat. On New Year’s Day, pull one name and spend the rest of that year learning about that saint through books that have been written about his or her life either by that saint or by others. Find devotions or prayers that the saint might have prayed or personally written. Spend time asking that saint for help. Become his or her friend. Remember that there are benefits to being around others who are not like us, so do not be afraid to mix it up with people who are not like you. There is beauty and growth not only in the complementary, but also in contrast.

Make a Monthly Confession

Authentic holiness does not happen without first repenting from our sinful ways which keep us from God. Advent reminds us of this when we read about the ministry of John the Baptist. This forerunner of Christ goes out into the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord by preaching about repentance (Matthew 3:1-12). True repentance is an acknowledgement of our sins with

a desire to turn away from those sins and turn back to God.

As Catholics, we live out our ongoing conversion through the sacrament of confession where we encounter God’s love and mercy. Our guilt and sin are cleansed and we are given God’s grace to overcome our sinful inclinations. Regular confessions are key to growing in holiness. Think of the routine oil changes or tune ups that are needed for our vehicles in order to keep them working at their best. The same is true for us. Our spiritual lives need tuning, and we are at our best when we are in a state of grace, which comes from confession. However, a good confession begins before we walk into the confessional; it begins with an honest and thorough examination of where we are in relationship with God.

Make a Nightly Examination

Just like routine confessions are important, so too are daily examinations as they help us to make a good confession by bringing to light what is often left in darkness. Examining our consciences daily helps us to keep a current list of where exactly we need God’s grace in our lives. When we go to the physician, it is helpful to the one treating us if we can pinpoint exactly where the pain is occurring, how long it has been occurring, and where we think it started. The same is true of confession. The more we bring to the sacrament, the better the divine physician can heal our sinful wounds through our awareness of what needs to be done or avoided.

Nightly examinations are a great tool because they allow us the opportunity to go over our day and see where God was and where we missed his calling. Confession is not just for the big sins, but also for the smaller ones. God wants to heal everything. Keeping a list on hand to bring with us when we go to confession is not a bad idea either so that we do not forget anything. With our list handy, we are better prepared for the moment when the

Holy Spirit moves us.

Draw Close to the Eucharist

Finally, there is no growth in holiness without God. The Church reminds us that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith (CCC 1324-1327). This is true because the Eucharist is not a thing to be taken, but a person to be encountered and received. The Eucharist is Jesus Christ, the Word of God who became flesh for you and I so that God could make his dwelling among us forever. In the Eucharist, Christ keeps his promises that he will not leave us orphaned (John 14:18) and that he would be with us for all time (Matthew 28:20). It is in the Eucharist that he waits for us to come to him so that he can fulfill our deepest desires. All of us at some point have experienced the daunting truth in the famous words of St. Augustine that remind us that our hearts are truly without rest until we are resting in the Lord. We have to make time, outside of the one hour that we spend with him in Mass, for God. It is only in his presence that we can come to truthfully see what God sees in us. Time with God is time well spent. As time is valuable to us, this will require us to be intentional about when we are going to pray. That means putting it on our calendar and not letting anything else distract us from that appointment. It means we will have to say no to certain things and people, which is never easy, but a no to them means we are free to say “yes” to God. Our relationship with the Lord should be the most important resolution we set out to achieve, and it is one worth keeping.

(Father Rusty Bruce is the administrator of St. Hilary of Poitiers Church parish in Mathews and the Community of St. Anthony in Gheens.) BC

raises over $1.5 million in diocese

By JANET MARCEL

The Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana recently hosted its 7th annual #iGiveCatholic campaign, a 24-hour online giving event on #GivingTuesday (Nov. 29) that celebrates the work of Catholic church parishes, ministries, schools and other charitable organizations within the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux.

With over 2,300 donations from 1,917 donors to 59 ministries, a total of $1,762,607 was raised for the local community, reports Amy Ponson, executive director of the Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana. The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux raised the second-highest figure of all Louisiana dioceses and was ranked third nationally.

“The good and faith-filled people of our diocese are simply one of a kind with the most generous hearts in the world,” says Charlotte Bollinger, chairwoman of the Board of the Catholic Foundation. “This year was our Foundation’s seventh year to host #iGiveCatholic for the diocese and never in our wildest dreams did we ever think that we would engage almost 2,000 people to give more than $1.7 million for our local

parishes and schools. Our diocese may be small, but our faith and our hearts are as big as they come. From the entire board and team of the Catholic Foundation, thank you to every person who prayed for our success and helped to support their favorite ministry through #iGiveCatholic. You surely gave big and gave Catholic!”

The abundant generosity and powerful level of engagement were led by these three:

1. St. Bernadette Catholic School (REACH, LIFTS programs) – 197 donors

2. St. Mary’s Nativity Church and School (security fence) – 191 donors

3. St. Genevieve Catholic School (classroom interactive boards) – 178 donors

Within the diocese, $561,540 from 64 donors was raised for E.D. White Catholic High School in Thibodaux’s Our Lady of Mount Carmel Grotto and Devotional Garden, a figure that not only topped the list locally, but also nationally.

Rounding out the top three highest monetary donations within the diocese were:

2. Holy Trinity Academy – $535,659 from 23 donors

3. Holy Rosary Catholic School, Larose (A/C, sewer improvements) –$77,095 from 97 donors

“I am overwhelmed by the support of the E.D. White family through the #iGiveCatholic program for the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Grotto and Devotional Garden. We are one step closer to honoring the Sisters of Mount Carmel who have paved the way for Catholic education in our community,” says Tim Robichaux, E.D. White’s president.

Nationally, over $16.7 million was raised for 1,553 ministries this year – making this the most successful Catholic crowdfunding event to date.

#iGiveCatholic is held each year in conjunction with #GivingTuesday, which is celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday; #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-ofyear giving.

For more information about #iGiveCatholic or to view the full list of results visit https://houmathibodaux.igivecatholic.org or catholicfoundationsl.org or call (985) 850-3116. BC

IN REMEMBRANCE

A memorial event remembering the 135th anniversary of the Thibodaux Massacre was held recently in Thibodaux in honor of military veterans of the area and citizens who died during the Massacre of 1887. The United Veterans League provided an honor guard. There was a groundbreaking for the Thibodaux Veterans Museum and blessing of the grounds.

Photos by Kennedy Harry

Diocesan collections to the

Holy See acknowledged

Unity Ecumenical Prayer

An Ecumenical Prayer Service sponsored by the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux and its partners in Christian Unity is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 22, at 2 p.m., at First United Methodist Church in Houma.

The Ecumenical Prayer Service is an application of the following principle which is set down in the Roman Catholic Church’s Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism Nos. 109, 110: “Prayer in common is recommended for Catholics and other Christians so that together they may put before God the needs and problems they share, e.g., peace, social concerns, mutual charity among people, the dignity of the family, the effects of poverty, hunger and violence, etc. Shared prayer should, however, be particularly concerned with the restoration of Christian unity. It can center, e.g., on the mystery of the church and its unity, on baptism as a sacramental bond of unity, or on the renewal of personal and community life as a necessary means to achieving unity. Prayer of this type is particularly recommended during the ‘Week of Prayer for Christian Unity’ or in the period between Ascension and Pentecost.”

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has been observed every year since 1908 on January 18-25.

Christine Streams, diocesan liaison for Black Catholic Ministry and Father Glenn LeCompte, diocesan director of the Office of Worship, are collaborating with a committee consisting of both Protestant ministers and Catholic clergy to coordinate this worship service.

All are invited to participate in prayer and song to pray for the unity of Christians. A reception will follow the prayer service at 6109 Hwy 311 in Houma. BC

Two Masses scheduled for the preservation of peace and justice, Jan. 15

Two separate Masses are scheduled to be celebrated this month for the preservation of peace and justice in remembrance of the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The first Mass will be celebrated Sunday, Jan. 15 at 8:15 a.m., at St. Lucy Church in Houma. The second Mass will be celebrated Sunday, Jan. 15 at 10:30 a.m., at St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Thibodaux.

These Masses are being celebrated in conjunction with the national celebration of the birth of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. BC

Informational

Pastoral Notice

Please be informed that His Holiness, Pope Francis, in two separate decisions, decreed the return to the lay state of the following inactive presbyters of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux:

(a) Mr. James “Jim” Morrison, on April 28, 2022

(b) Mr. Stephen Paul Lefort, on July 1, 2022

Published in the Bayou Catholic by order of the Very Rev. Patrick J. (P.J.) Madden, diocesan administrator. BC

Two diocesan staff appointments announced

the Bishop. He is responsible for the transition effort once the new bishop is announced, and upon his installation, will serve as advisor to the bishop.

Thibodeaux previously served as the diocesan director of communications for the last four years. Prior to joining the diocese, he worked for 35 years in corporate public relations, organizational leadership and the media. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science/pre-law and an associate degree in legal assistant studies from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux.

Maegan Martin has been appointed as director of communications. As such she is responsible for all digital and print content, working with the communications staff to align the vision, messaging and brand of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.

Lonnie Thibodeaux has been appointed as diocesan director of media and public relations, Office of the Bishop. As such he is responsible for all external media relationships and public relations for the diocese, in consultation with executive leadership and the Office of

Martin previously served as the social media specialist and content strategist with the diocesan Office of Communications for the last year. Prior to her employment at the diocesan Pastoral Center, Martin served as director of discipleship formation at Holy Cross Church parish in Morgan City and as a FOCUS Missionary at St. Thomas Aquinas Church parish in Thibodaux. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing from Texas State University in San Marcos, TX. BC

The following staff appointments were recently announced by William (Bill) Barbera, chief operating and financial officer for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, as part of the strategic alignment of the diocesan communications strategies.

Lonnie Thibodeaux

Maegan Martin

Lawrence Chatagnier, who has served the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux in various capacities since 1987, has announced that he will be retiring at the end of March 2023.

“I received Lawrence’s letter of retirement with very mixed feelings,” says Very Rev. Patrick J. (P.J.) Madden, diocesan administrator. “He has been so integral to our diocese, for so long, always there with his camera and discreet presence at every public function, that I wanted to say, ‘You can’t go, Lawrence. You belong here, so I refuse to accept this.’ But Lawrence has also been a personal friend of mine for at least 20 years, and I know he more than deserves our blessings and good wishes on his retirement. In his later years, he rose to the editorship of the Bayou Catholic and was diligent in promoting and expanding it, as

evidenced by the continued support of many advertisers. On behalf of all our priests, deacons, religious and diocesan family, I wish my dear friend and faithful servant of the Gospel, every blessing in his retirement. I know we can always call on him because he never learned to say ‘No.’ So, to Lawrence I say not farewell but “Au Revoir, Mon Ami and from the bottom of my heart, Thank You, Lawrence.”

Effective immediately, Schriever native Janet Marcel, who has been working as staff writer and administrative assistant for Bayou Catholic since July 2016, will be acting editor and general manager.

Marcel began working as administrative assistant for the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools in October 1998, a position she held until June 2016. In 2000, she began

Bayou Catholic editor retiring at the end of March 2023

working part-time as proofreader for Bayou Catholic and in August 2005 her responsibilities for the publication were expanded to staff writer. She has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in business administration from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux.

Chatagnier’s various positions in the diocese include serving as manager of the Food Banks, as associate editor, and as editor and general manager of Bayou Catholic since July 2016. He has also served as the diocesan photographer for almost 30 years covering ordinations, special diocesan events and various church parish happenings. Chatagnier will remain as editorial consultant to Bayou Catholic until he retires at the end of March. BC

Lawrence Chatagnier

Janet Marcel

Baby Bottle Campaign

The Knights of Columbus Immacolata Council 13819 recently had its most successful Baby Bottle Campaign to date thanks to Maria Immacolata Church in Houma’s parishioners. All of the cash, change and checks collected through the baby bottle campaign raised a grand total of $10,623.90 for the Hope Restored Pregnancy Resource Center in Houma. Pictured from left to right are Lynn Foret, past grand knight and treasurer; Michael Rodrigue, past grand knight and current grand knight; Maria Braud, Hope Restored Pregnancy Resource Center executive director; and Brother Jim Thibodaux, KC life director. BC

Excellence in Religious Education

The Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Assemblies of the diocese recently presented a check in the amount of $2,628 to Very Rev. Patrick J. (P.J.) Madden, diocesan administrator,

Excellence in Religious Education fund.

been

a contribution to

fund

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for the

The Fourth Degree Knights have

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BC Representatives who presented the check to Very Rev. Madden are Leland Neil, Father Patrick V. Curran Assembly 2214, Chauvin; Kell Luke, LA District Master and Judge A.J. Caillouet Assembly 336, Houma; Rocky Bush, District Marshall and Judge A.J. Caillouet Assembly 336, Houma; and Randolph Dandry, Father Kermit Trahan Assembly 1878, Raceland.

U.S. Catholic population shows growth, trends southward

By KEVIN JONES

Denver, CO, (CNA) The Catholic population in the United States has grown by about 2 million people in 10 years. With nearly 62 million people, it continues to constitute the largest religious body in 36 U.S. states, according to the latest religionfocused survey of America’s religious congregations.

Over the last decade, many Catholics, the survey found, have moved to the South.

“Perhaps the most notable changes were by region,” Clifford Grammich,

a political scientist involved in the U.S. Religion Census, told CNA in December 2022.

“Fifty years ago, 71 percent of U.S. Catholics were in the Northeast and Midwest; in 2020, 45 percent were. And the South now has more Catholics than any other region. I was surprised to see there are now more Catholics than Southern Baptists in Missouri and Virginia.”

The U.S. Religion Census is conducted by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies every 10 years. Its latest

report was released in November 2022.

Its 2020 survey reported that there were 61.9 million Catholics in the U.S., about 18.7 percent of the population. The survey identified 372 religious bodies with more than 356,000 congregations and 161.4 million adherents in the United States. With a population of 331.4 million Americans, that would mean 48.7 percent of the country is a member of a religious congregation. While other surveys group Americans by how they self-identify,

researchers for the religion census focused on counting people who have some connection with a religious congregation.

While Protestants collectively outnumber Catholics in the U.S, the researchers of the U.S. Religion Census viewed various Protestant bodies as their own denominational groups, not collectively. According to this categorization, Catholics are the single-largest religious group in the U.S. There are about three times as many Catholics as nondenominational Christians or Southern Baptists, the next two largest groups.

Despite being the largest religious group, Catholics have the fourthmost congregations of all religious bodies. The survey identified 19,405 Catholic congregations. The number of Catholic congregations is the lowest the religion census has found in more than 50 years.

According to Grammich, the decline in congregation numbers reflects consolidation in the Church. Grammich, who authored a report focused on the 2020 survey’s Catholic findings, is an associate of the Glenmary Research Center. The center provides research for the Glenmary Home Missioners, a Catholic society of priests and religious brothers who focus on serving the people of Appalachia and the South.

Grammich told CNA he was not surprised to find that the Catholic population remains at around 60 million, about the same since 2000.

The 2010 edition of the religion census found 58.9 million Catholics affiliated with 20,589 congregations. The population figure was a decrease of 5 percent from the 2000 census results, which reported 62 million Catholic adherents, though this change in part reflected differences in methodology.

For the purposes of the 2020 census, a Catholic “congregation” means a parish, mission, or other site with regularly scheduled public Mass at least six months of the year. A Catholic “adherent” is an individual “associated with a Catholic church in

some way.”

Researchers focused on the proportion of the population who self-described as Catholic and said they attended religious services “more frequently than ‘never.’” Other surveys indicate millions of people self-identify as Catholics but also say they never attend religious services.

Researchers drew on sources such as diocesan data, which includes the figures in the Official Catholic Directory. They also drew on vital statistics, sacramental statistics, and survey statistics from sources such as the Pew Forum. The quality and completeness of diocesan data can vary greatly, and data collection was made more difficult due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This survey reports the lowest number of Catholics compared with other recent surveys. By comparison, the 2018 National Opinion Research Center General Social Survey reported 76.6 million Catholics, about 23 percent of the U.S. population, while the Official Catholic Directory says there are about 67.6 million Catholics in the U.S.

The Catholic Church has been the single-largest religious body in the U.S. for more than a century. The average number of adherents per congregation is 3,000 for Catholics, unusually high compared with other groups. No other group had as many as 2,000 adherents per congregation, and only five others had as many as 1,000.

Large Catholic congregations are especially common in the West, where there are 4,700 Catholics per congregation.

Catholics are overrepresented in urban locations and underrepresented in rural areas. They also are the largest religious body in 36 U.S. states. Southern Baptists comprise the largest religious body in nine states in the U.S. South. Nondenominational Christians predominate in Alaska, Washington state, and West Virginia, while adherents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as Mormons, predominate in Idaho and Utah.

Unlike in 2010, Catholics no longer comprise the largest body of religious adherents in Alaska and Washington state. However, they have become the largest religious body in two other states, Missouri and Virginia.

At the county level, Catholics are most prevalent mainly in New Mexico and in Texas along the Rio Grande. There is at least one Catholic congregation in 2,961 U.S. counties, a feat second only to the United Methodists.

The religion census reported on other Christian denominations and religious groups. It found almost 21.1 million nondenominational Christians in more than 44,000 congregations, 17.6 million Southern Baptist adherents in more than 51,000 congregations, and 8 million United Methodists in 30,000 congregations.

United Methodist numbers could decline significantly due to changing circumstances. Many American United Methodists have rejected communion with global Methodism and deny historic Christian teaching on matters such as abortion, samesex marriage, and sexual ethics. Last weekend, hundreds of congregations in Texas alone voted to disaffiliate with United Methodism. Many are expected to join the Global Methodist Church, a new denomination.

As for other religious bodies, the religion census reported 6.7 million Latter-day Saint adherents in 14,000 congregations and an estimated 4.4 million Muslims in 2,700 congregations.

The top 10 largest religious bodies include several million other Americans who are adherents, respectively, of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the Assemblies of God, Jehovah’s Witnesses, or the predominantly African American National Missionary Baptist Convention.

Other Christian and non-Christian minorities did not fall within the top 10 largest religious bodies. Among other non-Christian groups, the census counted one Baha’i group, three Buddhist groups, three Hindu groups, and four Jewish groups. BC

Overtime

Daniels

Not since Dec. 1, 1973, when Tulane ended 25 years of misery at the hands of LSU was there this much unabashed joy surrounding Green Wave football.

A few hundred yards from where Green Wave nose tackle Mark Olivari had his famous sack of LSU quarterback Mike Miley, fans rushed the field at Yulman Stadium and surrounded star Tulane linebacker Nick Anderson.

Anderson’s reaction was priceless. As students pounded his shoulder pads, Anderson just watched and smiled, taking in the moment.

His August declaration had come true.

“Conference championship is the standard,” said Anderson after a sultry practice on an August morning.

One day later, Tulane officially accepted a bid to the Cotton Bowl.

University President Michael Fitts, who has greatly enhanced the athletics budget since arriving on campus, was thoroughly enjoying

Unabashed joy surrounds Tulane football

the moment. As Fitts and a reporter chatted, the reporter told Fitts the following.

“Let do this again.”

It has been a generation since the football program had this type of momentum.

It is time to seize the day.

Director of Athletics Troy Dannen said plans are in the works to extend the contract of head coach Willie Fritz.

And, then sometime later this month, he and Fritz will discuss the next steps for the Tulane football program.

Football badly needs an operations center with a state of the art weight room.

Many of the schools in the American Athletic Conference have indoor facilities, including many of the six new schools who will enter the league in the fall of 2023.

Several of the big plays made in Saturday’s win over Central Florida were made by local stars.

Running back Tyjae Spears (Ponchatoula) rushed for 199 yards and a touchdown.

Four rushed the ball for the Green Wave in the American Athletic Conference championship game. Three were from metro New Orleans, including Shaadie Clayton-Johnson (Warren Easton), and Iverson Celestine (Fontainebleau).

Wide receiver Jha’Quan Jackson (Hahnville) and Lawrence Keys (McDonogh 35) combined for six receptions for 100 yards.

Jackson had one of the biggest plays of the game.

With Tulane holding a 31-28 lead, his 13-yard reception on 3rd and 8 at the Tulane 27 kept a drive alive.

On the next play, quarterback Michael Pratt threw to Shae Wyatt for 60 yards and a touchdown.

On defense, safety Macon Clark (Destrehan), and defensive tackle Patrick Jenkins (John Ehret), made a host of big plays.

Clayton-Johnson, Keys and Jenkins also began their college football careers elsewhere, but came home.

On the night of Dec. 3, before an overflow crowd at Yulman Stadium, they were rewarded.

Many in the crowd Saturday night were New Orleanians who were getting another taste of Tulane football after a prolonged absence.

That’s what winning a conference championship and going to a New Year’s Six Bowl does. It brings the fans back.

And, it puts the wind at your back.

And, that is clearly the case with Tulane football, right now.

The next level was reached, but additional commitment is needed to make it stick. BC

Ed

TM

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