6 minute read
From the Editor
From the Editor
Let’s put the phone down and talk. Fifty years ago this statement would have seemed a bit odd. Cell phones are a marvel of modern technology. In this day and age, we can talk to anyone no matter where they are, from almost any location no matter where we are. Our cell phones are mini computers. Our cell phones are more advanced than many of the computers 50 years ago. While technological advances in communications have their benefits, there are also drawbacks.
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How many times in the course of a day do you see people in a group setting who are paying more attention to their cell phones than they are with the group members. You see it in restaurants, and in family settings. We all do it while traveling on vacations, at home, and even at work.
With the advent of apps available on phones containing games, music, texting availability, and much more, our phones are hard to part with. Some phones, (I know my phone does), even gives me a weekly report that computes how much screen time I used in the previous week.
One could say that many people have lost the art of good conversation. Our phones make it easy to send a quick text message to communicate with one another. Our text messages many times also include an emoji to express our mental or physical state at the time, these emojis show expressions or emotions we are trying to convey.
Recently at work one of our computer techs was installing software on a computer in the Bayou Catholic department. It was a lengthy process. I was sitting in a chair beside the desk where the tech was working. It would have seemed normal to take out our cell phones and do a quick check on what’s happening in the world of social media during this process. Instead with our cell phones in view but not touched, we had a conversation. We had a good conversation. It began mostly about work, then remembering that this person was out the previous week, I asked him about his time off from the office. He told me about the vacation he and his wife had just taken. His face lit up while talking about his vacation. His facial expressions and body language conveyed emotions and feelings that no emoji could. During our conversation we talked about different areas of the country that we had both traveled. We talked about the vastness and beauty of the United States and how in our travels we would meet people we didn’t know but began a conversation with and found out that in many instances we had a lot in common.
We had the same thought that yes, technology is great; it’s a necessity, but it does have its drawbacks. The personal human encounter is missing in many circumstances. He mentioned to me that on his recent vacation to the Ozarks he and his wife had to travel down many country roads where there was no interstate system. We talked about how years ago when we were both younger, our families would travel from state to state sometimes and would have to map out a route on a physical map before
Let’s put the phone down and talk
traveling on a vacation. In those days it was common to frequent many mom and pop stores, and restaurants while traveling. It was a way to meet people, share stories and make memories that would last a lifetime.
It’s not hard to strike up a conversation with someone even during this time of such division in our country. In many instances you will find that there is much common ground that we share with each other.
There are five characteristics of a common ground conversation and ways to approach a good conversation: • Be fully present in the conversation. • Realize and vocalize the things you agree on. • Seek understanding more than being right. • Honor the other person. • Commit to communicate with kindness.
When we embrace these ideas and have conversations with people who share different opinions, we find that we can grow into better versions of ourselves.
Remember, after reading Bayou Catholic, pass it on to a friend or relative who might not be attending Mass. It’s one of the great ways to do your part in spreading the Good News.
Lawrence
Lawrence Chatagnier Editor & General Manager
Bayou Catholic
The offi cial magazine of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux
A MAGAZINE THAT SUPPORTS YOUR FAITH
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Outreach Line
In response to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is offering an Outreach Line (formerly known as the Child Protection Contact Line). The Outreach Line is an effort to continue the diocesan commitment to support healing for people who have been hurt or sexually abused recently or in the past by clergy, religious or other employees of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.
The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Outreach Line operates from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. A trained mental health professional responds to the line. Individuals are offered additional assistance if requested. The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Outreach Line Telephone number is (985) 873-0026 or (985) 850-3172
Línea de Comunicación Diocesana
Con el fin de cumplir con las Políticas de Protección de Niños y Jóvenes de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Los Estados Unidos, la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux ofrece una Línea de Comunicación (antes Línea de Contacto para la Protección de los Niños). La Línea de Comunicación es parte del esfuerzo diocesano de comprometerse con el mejoramiento de aquéllos que han sido lastimados o abusados sexualmente recientemente o en el pasado por miembros del clero, religiosos u otros empleados de la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux.
El horario de la Línea de Comunicación de la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux es de 8:30 a.m. a 4:30 p.m., de lunes a viernes. El encargado de esta línea es un profesional capacitado en salud mental. Se ofrece asistencia adicional al ser solicitada.
Línea de Comunicación de la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux Número de teléfono (985) 873-0026 o (985) 850-3172
Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp Giaùo phaän
Ñeå höôûng öùng Hieán chöông Baûo veä Treû em vaø Giôùi treû töø Hoäi ñoàng Giaùm muïc Hoa kyø, Giaùo phaän Houma-Thibodaux ñang chuaån bò ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp (luùc tröôùc laø ñöôøng daây lieân laïc baûo veä treû em). Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp laø moät söï coá gaéng cuûa giaùo phaän nhaèm cam keát haøn gaén naâng ñôõ nhöõng ai ñaõ bò toån thöông hoaëc bò laïm duïng tính duïc hoaëc gaàn ñaây hoaëc trong quaù khöù bôûi giaùo só, tu só hoaëc caùc coâng nhaân vieân cuûa Giaùo phaän Houma-Thibodaux.
Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp Giaùo phaän hoaït ñoäng töø 8:30 saùng ñeán 4:30 chieàu, thöù hai ñeán thöù saùu. Moät nhaân vieân chuyeân nghieäp veà söùc khoûe taâm thaàn traû lôøi treân ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi. Nhöõng caù nhaân seõ ñöôïc trôï giuùp naâng ñôõ theâm neáu caàn.
