Bayou Catholic Magazine November 2012 by Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

Bayou

Catholic

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

Saint Kateri Lily of the Mohawks canonized

HOUMA, LA ~ NOVEMBER 2012 ~ COMPLIMENTARY

Contents

On Our Cover A woman holds a banner honoring Saint Kateri Tekakwitha as pilgrims gather for a canonization Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Oct. 21. Saint Kateri, an American Indian born in upstate New York, was one of the seven people canonized during the celebration. Bishop Sam G. Jacobs along with 20 Native Americans from the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux attended the canonization.

Heavenly Recipes Joel’s Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole

Our Schools

CNS photo/Paul Haring

Year of Faith

Life and Legacy

Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy

A collection of inspirational stories

St. Joseph “We’re on God’s Team”

Bayou

Bayou Christmas raditions

Our Churches Our Lady of the Rosary Larose

• Welcome

• Question Corner

6 17

52 • Reflections

• Scripture Readings

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

Bayou Catholic Vol. 33, No. 5

The Bayou Catholic is published monthly, for the people of the Roman Catholic Diocese of HoumaThibodaux by the H-T Publishing Co., P.O. Box 505, Schriever, LA 70395. Subscription rate is $35 per year. The Bayou Catholic is a member of the Catholic Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and an associate member of the Louisiana Press Association. National and world-wide news service and photos by National Catholic News Service.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

Catholic

Bayou Christmas Traditions 2012

• Young Voices

• Overtime

Louis G. Aguirre editor and general manager Lawrence Chatagnier managing editor Glenn J. Landry, C.P.A. business manager Peggy Adams advertising manager Janet Marcel staff writer Pat Keese secretary and circulation Lisa Schobel Hebert graphic designer Janet B. Eschete accounts payable assistant Meridy Liner accounts receivable assistant

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

Index to Advertisers Acme Mausoleum, LLC ...................................57 Advanced Eye Institute ...................................29 Barker Honda ..................................................69 Bayou Catholic..................................................68 Bueche’s Jewelry ............................................73 Cannata’s ..........................................................3 Cannata’s Catering .........................................79 Catholic Campaign for Human Development..37 Catholic Foundation ........................................23 Channel 10 ......................................................25 Chauvin/Twin City Funeral Homes ...................56 Daigle Himel Daigle ........................................76 Diocesan Outreach Line ...................................5 Diocesan Website ...........................................47 Dr. Neil Maki ....................................................73 Emile’s Furniture & Appliances .......................68 Fabregas Music ..............................................71 Falgout Funeral Homes ..................................58 Family Vision Clinic .........................................45 Felger’s Footwear ...........................................64 God’s Precious Word & Gifts ..........................78 God’s Promises Books & Gifts .......................67 Haydel Spine & Pain .......................................51 Headache & Pain Center ................................39 Johnny’s Men’s Shop .....................................66 Journey Hospice .............................................55 KEM Supply ....................................................74 Landmark Home Furnishings/Sleep Shoppe...72 Landry’s/Thibodaux/Samart Funeral Homes...53 LeBlanc & Associates, Inc. .............................44 Mall Ministry ....................................................61 Mitch Theriot for Judge .....................................7 Mpress ............................................................17 Re-Bath ...........................................................33 Rod’s Superstore ............................................43 SEECA ...............................................................2 Seminarian Burse ............................................21 Southland Mall ................................................80 Spotlight ..........................................................19 St. Joseph Manor ............................................30 Sunshine Equipment ......................................75 Synergy Bank ..................................................65 Terminix ...........................................................66 Terrebonne General Medical Center ................9 The Wishing Well, Inc. ....................................77 Thibodaux Physical Therapy ..........................44 Thibodaux Regional Medical Center ..............63 U-Drop Packing & Shipping ............................70

Diocesan Outreach Line

In response to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is offering an Outreach Line (formerly known as the Child Protection Contact Line). The Outreach Line is an effort to continue the diocesan commitment to support healing for people who have been hurt or sexually abused recently or in the past by clergy, religious or other employees of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Outreach Line operates from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. A trained mental health professional responds to the line. Individuals are offered additional assistance if requested. The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Outreach Line Telephone number is (985) 873-0026 or Toll free 1-866-444-4241 or Call the Victim Assistance Coordinator at (985) 850-3129

Línea de Comunicación Diocesana

Con el fin de cumplir con las Políticas de la 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 (previamente la 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 HoumaThibodaux. 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 Llamada gratuita 1-866-444-4241 o Llame al Coordinador de Asistencia para las Víctimas al (985) 850-3129

Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp Giaùo phaän

Ñeå höôûng öùng Hieán chöông Baûo veä Treû em vaø Giôùi treû töø Hoäi ñoàng Giaùm muïc Hoa kyø, Giaùo phaän Houma-Thibodaux ñang chuaån bò ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp (luùc tröôùc laø ñöôøng daây lieân laïc baûo veä treû em). Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp laø moät söï coá gaéng cuûa giaùo phaän nhaèm cam keát haøn gaén naâng ñôõ nhöõng ai ñaõ bò toån thöông hoaëc bò laïm duïng tính duïc hoaëc gaàn ñaây hoaëc trong quaù khöù bôûi giaùo só, tu só hoaëc caùc coâng nhaân vieân cuûa Giaùo phaän Houma-Thibodaux. Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp Giaùo phaän hoaït ñoäng töø 8:30 saùng ñeán 4:30 chieàu, thöù hai ñeán thöù saùu. Moät nhaân vieân chuyeân nghieäp veà söùc khoûe taâm thaàn traû lôøi treân ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi. Nhöõng caù nhaân seõ ñöôïc trôï giuùp naâng ñôõ theâm neáu caàn. Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp Giaùo phaän Soá ñieän thoaïi: (985) 873-0026 hoaëc Soá mieãn phí: 1-800-444-4241 hoaëc goïi Nhaân vieân Trôï giuùp Naïn nhaân soá (985) 850-3129 www.bayoucatholic.com

Welcome

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

Anticipation

As autumn unfolds before us we begin to anticipate the many wondrous celebrations that are yet to come. Preparations for Thanksgiving and Christmas are already underway in many of our households. Personally, my most immediate anticipation is the canonization of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks. You see, because of magazine deadlines I am writing this welcome on October 17. Tomorrow, God willing, a group of us from our diocese will be joining thousands of others on our pilgrimage to Rome to witness Kateri’s elevation to sainthood on Sunday, Oct. 21. I have been privileged to attend many of the Tekakwitha Conferences held in the United States throughout the years. Additionally, I volunteer my time and talent to the national Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions as managing editor of their quarterly magazine The Sentinel. This trip for me, then, is the culmination of a dream. Native Americans have much to teach us. They are salt of the earth people who have a deep understanding of God and creation. Just as Kateri did, they have endured pain, suffering and discrimination. Above all, they are a patient and forgiving people. Kateri was born in Auriesville, NY, in 1656 to a Mohawk chief and a Catholic Algonquin captive. Her kind but uncompromising witness to the faith resulted in persecution. She fled to Canada where she died of natural causes in 1860. Prayer to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha God of all creation, goodness and love, our hearts are filled with gratitude and praise to you. In our beloved Saint Kateri you have found gentleness and peace. In her you have heard once more “Jesus I love you.” In Saint Kateri Tekakwitha you have given your Church a new maiden of the Gospel for your Son. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

As the indigenous peoples of North America celebrate her goodness and as all of the Church honors her holiness we raise our voices of praise and joy. You have given us a gift beyond all measure and we ask you to help us celebrate this treasure as we live holy and peace-filled lives in your name. Please continue to grant our requests and the needs of our brothers and sisters through Saint Kateri Tekakwitha’s intercession in her heavenly home.

www.bayoucatholic.com

n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, Nov. 6, Quality Inn, Houma, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Speaker, Rev. Joseph Pilola. n Excel Workshop, Thursday, Nov. 8, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. n Marriage Preparation, Saturday, Nov. 10, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. n aNew Experience, Wednesday, Nov. 14, St. Hilary of Poitiers, Mathews, 7-9 p.m. n Adult Faith Formation-Faith Enrichment, Wednesdays, Nov. 14, 28, diocesan Pastoral Center

december

n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, Dec. 4, Quality Inn, Houma, 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Speaker, Rev. Mark Toups. n Adult Faith Formation, Thursday, Dec. 6, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m. Topic, “Baptism and Con-

Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m. Topic, “Pastoral Theology and Administration.” Speaker, Kathy Lirette. n Steubenville on the Bayou group registration opens, Thursday, Nov. 15. n TEC 67 Retreat, begins Friday, Nov. 16 at 5 p.m. until Sunday, Nov. 18, at 4 p.m., Lumen Christi’s Souby Retreat Building. n Native American Mass, Friday, Nov. 23, 6:30 p.m., St. Charles Borromeo, Pointe-AuxChenes. n ADORE, Wednesday, Nov. 28, Houma Municipal Auditorium, 7 p.m. n Catholic Charismatic Re-

newal monthly prayer meeting, Wednesday, Nov. 28, Lumen Christi Retreat Center, 6:30-8:30 p.m. n ADORE, Wednesday, Nov. 28, Houma Municipal Auditorium, 7 p.m. n NCCYM, Orlando, FL, Nov. 28-Dec. 1. Contact the Office of Youth Ministry for more info. n Adult Faith Formation-Faith Enrichment, Thursday, Nov. 29, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m. Topic, “The Trinity.” Speaker, Rev. Jules Brunet.

firmation.” Speaker, Rev. Robert Rogers. n Adult Faith formation, Wednesday, Dec. 12, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m. Topic, “Pastoral Theology and Administration.” Speaker, Kathy Lirette.

n Adult Faith Formation, Thursday, Dec. 13, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m. Topic, “Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick.” Speaker, Rev. Robert Rogers. n Junior High Faith Experience registration due, Friday, Dec. 14.

january 2013 n Marriage Prep, Sunday, Jan. 6, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. n Food for the Journey, Tuesday, Jan. 8, Quality Inn, Houma, 10:45-12:45 p.m. Speaker, Rev. Robert Rogers. n Catholic Charities VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) training, Jan. 9, 10 and 11, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Terrebonne Parish Main Library’s Long Distance Learning Room. n Adult Faith Formation-Faith Enrichment, Wednesdays, Jan. 9, 16 and 23, diocesan Pastoral

DIOCESAN

November

Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m. Topic, “Trinity.” Speaker, Rev. Jules Brunet. n Adult Faith Formation-Faith Enrichment, Thursday, Jan. 10, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m. Topic, “Matrimony and Holy Orders.” Speaker, Rev. Robert Rogers. n Women of God Gathering, Tuesday, Jan. 15, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall. Meal served at 6 p.m.; events begin at 6:30 p.m. Free event; all women over 18 years of age are invited. n Adult Faith Formation-Faith

Enrichment, Thursday, Jan. 17, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m. Topic, “The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Church.” Speaker, Rev. Jules Brunet. n ADORE, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 7 p.m., Houma Municipal Auditorium. n Adult Faith Formation-Faith Enrichment, Thursday, Jan. 31, diocesan Pastoral Center Conference Hall, 6-8:15 p.m. Topic, “Freedom, Law and the Beatitudes. Speaker, Rev. Andre Melancon.

www.bayoucatholic@htdiocese.org

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

EVENTS

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Choose TGMC for life.

tgmc.com / 888-543-TGMC (8462)

Comment Jesus Is Lord Bishop Sam G. Jacobs

W 10

What is sin? “Sin is an offense against reason, truth and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as ‘an utterance, a deed or a desire contrary to the eternal law’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1849). “Sin is an offense against God: ‘Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight.’ Sin sets itself against God’s love for us and turns our hearts away from it. Like the first sin, it is disobedience, a revolt against God through the will to become ‘like gods,’ knowing and determining good and evil. Sin is thus ‘love of oneself even to contempt of God.’ In this proud self-exaltation, sin is diametrically opposed to the obedience of Jesus, which achieves our salvation” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1850). From the above, a way to identify sin is to say it is the absence of authentic love of God, of self and of others. As darkness is the absence of light, so sin is the absence of authentic love. The first sin was that of Adam and Eve, who though made in the image and likeness of God and sharing in his divine life by grace, chose their will over the will of God. They sought to please themselves rather than to be in union with God. Their sin

is replicated in the actions of their descendants through the ages. St. Paul stated it thus: “Although they knew God, they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks. Instead, they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened. … Therefore, God handed them over to impurity through the lusts of their hearts for the mutual degradation of their bodies. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered

and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen” (Romans 1:21-25). I entitled this tract: Sin: Reality or myth? Why? Recently, I came across an article that denied the existence of sin itself. It stated that it is something that has been embedded in our psychic by others. But the reality, this article says, is that sin does not exist. Here is a quote from that article: “The good news is that we

SIN: Reality or Myth? Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

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The first sin was that of Adam and Eve, who though made in the image and likeness of God and sharing in his divine life by grace, chose their will over the will of God.

never sinned. We are incapable of sinning. Sin is impossible. Sin, like the unicorn, is a concept which we all carry in our minds yet which does not actually exist in reality. Not only have we not sinned, no one ever has and no one ever will. It simply is not in our nature to do so. Sin does not exist.” For people like this, sin is a myth. Can we see how this thinking is totally contrary to God’s revelation as found throughout the sacred Scriptures and the authentic teaching of the church? Why would God promise a Messiah/Savior to redeem mankind from the effects of sin? Why was Joseph told that the son Mary has conceived should be named “Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins”? (Matthew 1:21). Why would Jesus forgive the sins of the paralyzed man before he healed him physically? Why would Jesus teach us to pray the Our Father in which we acknowledge our sins and the need to ask for forgiveness as well as to forgive? If sin does not exist, what does the author of the First Letter of John mean when he states clearly the existence of sin? “My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. He is expiation for our sins and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2). If sin does not exist, why would St. Paul in Romans 3:23 state: “All have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.” What is the underlying motivation of denying the reality of sin? It seems to me that to deny sin is to deny that there is any absolute moral Law, which indicates what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is evil. If there is no moral law, then is there a God? If there is no God, then man is the center of the universe. All is subjective and relative, depending upon the times and thoughts of the day. What will result will be chaos and anarchy. Each individual will then be free to do whatever is pleasing to him or her. And no one has a right to stop them. On the other hand, the reality of sin points to the reality of good verses the absence of good, which

is evil. Sin exists because human beings have a free will to choose to do good or to do evil. If there was no free will, there would be no sin. Without free will, we would not be fully human but mechanical robots. God in his love chose to create human beings with the freedom to choose to love or not to love, to choose to exercise the gift of free will in a way that would reflect relationship of the creature with the Creator. Even though the first human beings chose what was initially and temporarily pleasing to them, they soon recognized that they lost something more precious and permanent, namely, relationship with the other. Without this relationship they were “naked” and so hid themselves from God in shame and guilt, in blame and accusation. God in his mercy promised to reconcile human beings to himself by sending a Savior who would destroy sin and its eternal consequence of separation from God. This, Jesus did through his sacrifice of the cross. Even knowing the weakness 11 of human beings because of the consequences of sin, God knew that they would need continual forgiveness and grace to choose to remain free from sin. So in his mercy, we have the sacrament of reconciliation. Where sin abounds, grace abounds the more. Though sin is of human origin, the response of God to sin shows the nature of God’s love and mercy beyond measure. Though sin is abominable in the eyes of God because of what it does to the person who sins, God’s outreach is because he sees the person who is in need of him rather than the sin that separates. To God the person is of greatest worth. The parables of the lost coin, the lost sheep and the prodigal son (Luke 15) all point to both the reality of sin and the depth of God’s merciful and forgiving love. The concluding statements of the parables are indicative of God’s response to the reality of sin. “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who so repents than over 99 righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7). www.bayoucatholic.com

Comentario

Q ¿ 12

¿Qué es el pecado? «El pecado es una falta contra la razón, la verdad, la conciencia recta; es faltar al amor verdadero para con Dios y para con el prójimo, a causa de un apego perverso a ciertos bienes. Hiere la naturaleza del hombre y atenta contra la solidaridad humana. Ha sido definido como ‘una palabra, un acto o un deseo contrarios a la ley eterna.’» (Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica, 1849) «El pecado es una falta a Dios: ‘Contra ti, contra ti sólo he pecado, lo malo a tus ojos cometí’. El pecado se levanta contra el amor que Dios nos tiene y aparta de Él nuestros corazones. Como el primer pecado, es una desobediencia, una rebelión contra Dios por el deseo de hacerse ‘como dioses’, pretendiendo conocer y determinar el bien y el mal. El pecado es así ‘amor de sí hasta el desprecio de Dios’. Por esta exaltación orgullosa de sí, el pecado es diametralmente opuesto a la obediencia de Jesús que realiza la salvación.» (Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica, 1850) De lo alto, una manera de identificar el pecado es no tener amor auténtico por Dios, de sí mismo y de los demás. Así como las tinieblas son la ausencia de luz, así el pecado es la ausencia de un amor auténtico. El primer pecado lo hicieron Adán y Eva. A pesar de haber sido creados a imagen y semejanza de Dios y compartir por la gracia su vida divina, eligieron imponer su propia voluntad en lugar de seguir la voluntad de Dios. Buscaron satisfacerse ellos mismos en lugar de estar unidos con Dios. Su pecado se multiplica en las acciones de sus descendientes a través de los tiempos. Es por eso que San Pablo dijo: « A pesar de que conocían

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El Pecado: ¿Verdadero o Mito? Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

a Dios, no le rindieron honores ni le dieron gracias como corresponde. Al contrario, se perdieron en sus razonamientos y su conciencia cegada se convirtió en tinieblas…. Por eso Dios los abandonó a sus pasiones secretas, se entregaron a la impureza y deshonraron sus propios cuerpos. Cambiaron la verdad de Dios por la mentira. Adoraron y sirvieron a seres creados en lugar del Creador, que es bendecido por todos los siglos. ¡Amén!» (Romanos 1:21-25) Titulé este artículo: El Pecado: ¿Verdadero o Mito? ¿Por qué? Hace poco leí un artículo que negaba la existencia del pecado en sí. Decía que el pecado es algo que ha sido sembrado en nuestro síquico por los demás. Pero la verdad, dice este artículo, es que el pecado no existe. He aquí una cita de ese artículo: «La buena noticia es que nunca hemos pecado. No tenemos la capacidad de pecar. Pecar es imposible. El pecado —como el unicornio— es un concepto que llevamos en nuestra mente pero que no existe en el mundo real. No es solamente que jamás hayamos pecado, sino que nadie ha pecado en el pasado ni pecará en el futuro. Simplemente no está dentro de nuestra naturaleza hacerlo. El pecado no existe.» Para los que

‘

Dios misericordioso prometió reconciliar a los seres humanos enviando al Salvador que destruyó el pecado y sus consecuencias eternas de la separación de Dios. Jesús hizo esto a través de su sacrificio en la cruz.

piensan de esta manera, el pecado es un mito. ¿Podemos ver cómo esta manera de pensar está enteramente opuesta a la revelación de Dios que leemos en todas las Escrituras y en las enseñanzas auténticas de la Iglesia? ¿Por qué nos prometería Dios enviarnos un Mesías/Salvador para redimir a la humanidad de los efectos del pecado? ¿Por qué se le dijo a José que el hijo que María daría a luz sería llamado «Jesús, porque Él salvará a su pueblo de sus pecados.»?(Mateo, 1:21). ¿Por qué perdonaría Jesús los pecados del paralítico antes de sanarlo físicamente? ¿Por qué nos enseñaría Jesús a orar el Padre Nuestropara reconocer nuestros pecados y reconocer la necesidad de pedir perdón como también perdonar? Si el pecado no existe, entonces ¿qué es lo que el autor de la Primera Carta de Juan nos quiere comunicar cuando afirma con claridad la existencia del pecado? «Hijitos míos, les he escrito esto para que no pequen; pero si uno peca, tenemos un defensor ante el Padre, Jesucristo, el Justo. Él es la victima por nuestros pecados, y no sólo por los nuestros, son por los del mundo entero.» (1 Juan 2:1-2) Si el pecado no existe, entonces ¿por qué San Pablo nos dice en Romanos 3:23: «Pues todos pecaron y están faltos de la gloria de Dios.»? ¿Cuál es el motivo principal de negar la realidad del pecado? Me parece que negar el pecado es negar la existencia de una Ley moral absoluta que indica lo que es recto y lo que es malo, lo que es bueno y lo que es malvado. Sin la ley moral, entonces ¿existe Dios? Si Dios no existe, entonces el hombre es el centro del universo. Todo es subjetivo y relativo, dependiendo en los tiempos y pensamientos del día. El resultante sería el caos y la anarquía. Todas las personas estarían libres a hacer lo que les parezca placentero. Nadie tendría el derecho de detenerlos. Por otro lado, la realidad del pecado señala la realidad del bien versus la ausencia del bien, que es el mal. El pecado existe porque el hombre tiene el libre albedrío de elegir hacer el bien o hacer el mal. Si no existiera el libre albedrío no hubiera pecado. Sin el libre

albedrío no fuéramos humanos si no autómatas. Dios en su amor eligió crear seres humanos con el libre albedrío de elegir amar o no amar, de ejercer el don de libre albedrío de manera que reflejaría la relación entre la criatura con el Creador. Aunque los primeros seres humanos hayan escogido lo que inicialmente y temporalmente era placentero para ellos, reconocieron muy luego que perdieron algo mucho más valioso y permanente: la relación de uno con otro. Sin esta relación se sintieron «desnudos» y se escondieron de Dios avergonzados y sintiéndose culpables bajo culpabilidad y acusaciones. Dios misericordioso prometió reconciliar a los seres humanos enviando al Salvador que destruyó el pecado y sus consecuencias eternas de la separación de Dios. Jesús hizo esto a través de su sacrificio en la cruz. Dios, conociendo la debilidad del hombre por las consecuencias del pecado, sabía que necesitamos el perdón continuoy la gracia de permanecer libre de pecado. En su misericordia tenemos el sacramento 13 de la reconciliación. Donde haya pecado, la gracia abunda más. Aunque el pecado es de origen humano, la respuesta de Dios al pecado demuestra la naturaleza inmensurable del amor de Dios y su misericordia. Aunque el pecado sea abominable ante los ojos de Dios por el efecto que tiene en el pecador, Dios lo atenderá porque Él ve cómo el pecador lo necesita en lugar de ver el pecado que los separa. Para Dios lo más valioso es el pecador y no el pecado. Las parábolas de la moneda perdida, la oveja perdida y el hijo pródigo (Lucas 15) señalan ambos la realidad del pecado y la profundidad del amor misericordioso y piadoso de Dios. Las declaraciones que concluyen las parábolas son una indicación de la respuesta que Dios da a la realidad del pecado: «Yo les digo habrá más alegría en el cielo por un solo pecador que vuelve a Dios que por noventa y nueve justos que no tienen necesidad de convertirse.» (Lucas 15:7) Traducción de Julio Contreras, feligrés de la Iglesia Católica Annunziata, Houma. www.bayoucatholic.com

Binh luan bang loi

Toäi loãi laø gì? “Toäi loãi laø söï suùc phaïm choáng laïi lyù leõ, söï thaät vaø löông taâm ngay chính; moät söï thaát baïi trong tình tinh yeâu chaân chính daønh cho Thieân Chuùa vaø ñoàng loaïi do bôûi söï loâi cuoán truïy laïc cuûa baûn thaân vôùi nhöõng gì ñoù. Noù laøm toån thöông baûn tính con ngöôøi vaø laøm hö haïi söï lieân ñôùi vôùi moïi ngöôøi. Toäi loãi ñöôïc ñònh nghóa nhö, moät lôøi noùi, haønh ñoäng hay moät öôùc voïng ñi ngöôïc laïi vôùi luaät vónh cöûu” (Giaùo Lyù Coâng Giaùo soá 1849). Toäi loãi laø söï suùc phaïm choáng laïi Thieân Chuùa: ‘Choáng laïi Ngaøi, chæ mình Ngaøi, maø con ñaõ suùc phaïm, vaø haønh ñoäng gian taø tröôùc maët Chuùa.’ Toäi loãi laø töï ñaët mình ñi ngöôïc laïi vôùi tình yeâu maø Thieân Chuùa daønh cho chuùng ta vaø höôùng loøng ñi höôùng khaùc. Nhö toäi nguyeân thuûy, vì baát tuaân phuïc, noåi daäy choáng laïi Thieân Chuùa vôùi söï ao öôùc trôû neân gioáng ‘chuùa,’ cuøng bieát vaø nhaän thöùc ñöôïc toát xaáu. Vì theá toäi loãi laø chæ laøm thoûa maõn yù rieâng mình, choáng laïi Thieân Chuùa. Vôùi öôùc muoán töï ñöa cao mình leân, toäi loãi nhö laø moät söï ñoái choïi ñaâm thaúng vaøo söï tuøng phuïc cuûa Chuùa Gieâsu, Ngöôøi ñaõ ñöa chuùng ta ñeán ôn cöùu ñoä” (Giaùo Lyù Coâng Giaùo soá 1850). Döïa theo nhöõng gì noùi ôû treân, moät caùch ñeå nhaän ra toäi loãi töùc laø noùi leân raèng khoâng coù tình yeâu chaân chính daønh cho Thieân Chuùa, cho baûn thaân vaø ñoàng loaïi. Cuõng nhö ñeâm toái laø söï vaéng boùng cuûa ban ngaøy, vì theá toäi loãi laø söï thieáu xoùt cuûa tình yeâu thaät söï. Toäi toå toâng laø, maëc daàu Adong vaø Evaø ñaõ ñöôïc taïo döïng gioáng hình aûnh Thieân Chuùa töø trong ra ngoaøi vaø cuøng chia seû ñôøi soáng vôùi Ngaøi qua aân suûng, ñaõ ñaët öôùc muoán cuûa mình leân treân Ñaáng Taïo Hoùa. Hoï ñaõ tìm thoûa maõn baûn thaân thay vì keát hieäp vôùi Thieân Chuùa hoaøn toaøn. Toäi cuûa hoï ñaõ bò gaén lieàn vôùi con chaùu hoï cho ñeán baây giôø vaø maõi maõi. Vì theá Thaùnh Phaoloâ noùi, “Maëc daàu chuùng nhaän bieát Thieân Chuùa,

chuùng khoâng vinh danh Ngaøi nhö Ngaøi ñaùng ñöôïc vinh danh hay caûm taï. Thay vaøo ñoù chuùng trôû neân voâ lyù vôùi nhöõng lyù leõ cuûa chuùng, vaø ñaàu oùc voâ lieâm só cuûa chuùng trôû thaønh ñen toái…. Vì theá, Thieân Chuùa ñaõ ñeå cho chuùng soáng trong söï dô baån cuûa nhöõng taâm hoàn duïc voïng roài ñöa ñeán söï hö naùt cho thaân xaùc. Chuùng thay

ñoåi söï thaät cuûa Chuùa vôùi söï löøa doái vaø ngoaûnh maët ñi höôùng khaùc vaø toân thôø taø thaàn thay vì Ñaáng Taïo Hoùa Chí Toân, Ngöôøi ñaùng ñöôïc ca tuïng muoân ñôøi. Amen” (Roâma 1:21-25). Toâi ñaët teân cho baøi vieát naøy laø: Toäi loãi: Söï thaät hay thaàn thoaïi? Taïi sao? Gaàn ñaây toâi ñoïc ñöôïc baøi baùo maø baøi baùo ñoù choái boû toäi loãi. Baøi baùo ñoù

Toäi Loãi: Söï Thaät Hay Thaàn Thoaïi? Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

CNS PHOTO

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Nguï ngoân veà ngöôøi maát ñoàng baïc, maát con chieân vaø ngöôøi con hoang ñaøng (Luke 15) ñeàu noùi veà söï thaät cuûa toäi loãi vaø loøng thöông xoùt vaø söï tha thöù voâ bôø beán cuûa Chuùa.

cho raèng toäi loãi laø caùi gì ñoù do ngöôøi khaùc ñaët vaøo taâm linh cuûa chuùng ta. Nhöng trong thöïc teá, baøi baùo ñoù noùi toäi loãi khoâng toàn taïi. Toâi trích moät ñoaïn nhö sau: “Tin toát laø chuùng ta khoâng bao giôø phaïm toäi. Chuùng ta khoâng coù khaû naêng phaïm toäi. Toäi loãi laø khoâng theå naøo coù. Toäi loãi, nhö con kyø laân, moät khaùi nieäm maø chuùng ta mang noù trong ñaàu, nhöng treân thöïc teá noù khoâng toàn taïi. Khoâng chæ chuùng ta khoâng phaïm toäi, maø ai coù theå phaïm, vaø khoâng moät ai seõ phaïm. Noùi caùch ñôn giaûn laø baûn naêng töï nhieân khoâng phaïm toäi. Toäi loãi khoâng toàn taïi.” Ñoái vôùi nhöõng ngöôøi nhö theá, toäi loãi laø huyeàn thoaïi. Chuùng ta coù theå thaáy ñöôïc loái suy nghó naøy hoaøn toaøn traùi ngöôïc vôùi maëc khaûi cuûa Chuùa nhö ñaõ ñöôïc baûy toû trong Kinh Thaùnh vaø vaø giaùo huaán cuûa Giaùo Hoäi? Taïi sao Chuùa laïi höùa ban cho nhaân laïo Ñaáng Cöùu Tinh do chính toäi loãi gaây ra? Taïi sao Thaùnh Giuse phaûi ñaët teân cho Haøi Nhi maø Maria sinh ra laø Gieâsu, ñeå Ngaøi cöùu daân Ngaøi khoûi toäi? (Mathew 1:21) Taïi sao Chuùa Gieâsu laïi tha thöù toäi loãi cho ngöôøi bò queø tröôùc khi chöõa beänh cho anh? Taïi sao Chuùa Gieâsu daïy chuùng ta ñoïc Kinh Laäy Cha vaø trong kinh ñoù chuùng ta nhaän mình laø ngöôøi coù toäi vaø ñieàu caàn thieát laø xin Chuùa tha toäi nhö chuùng ta cuõng tha? Neáu toäi khoâng toàn taïi, vaäy thì taùc giaû thö thöù nhaát cuûa Thaùnh Gioan muoán aùm chæ gì khi maø taùc giaû nhaéc veà söï toàn taïi cuûa toäi loãi? “Caùc con thaân meán, cha bieân nhöõng doøng chöõ naøy cho caùc con ñeå caùc con traùnh toäi. Nhöng neáu ai phaïm toäi, thì chuùng ta ñaõ coù Ñaáng Baàu Chöõa vôùi Chuùa Cha laø Ñöùc Kytoâ laø ngöôøi coâng chính. Ngaøi caàu xin ñeå chuùng ta ñöôïc tha toäi, maø khoâng phaûi cuûa chuùng ta maø thoâi, maø cuûa caû nhaân loaïi nöõa” (1John 2:1-2). Neáu toäi khoâng toàn taïi, Taïi sao thö Thaùnh Phaoâloâ göûi giaùo ñoaøn Roâma ñoaïn 2 caâu 23 ñaõ noùi: “Taát caû ñaõ phaïm toäi vaø bò töôùc ñi vinh quanh cuûa Chuùa?” Caùi gì ñaõ laø ñoäng löïc thuùc ñaåy ñöa ñeán taåy chay toäi loãi? Theo toâi taåy chay toäi loãi coù nghóa laø choái boû luaät luaân lyù hoaøn toaøn, maø luaät ñoù ñònh nghóa ñuùng vaø sai, toát xaáu. Neáu khoâng coù luaät luaân lyù, roài sao coù Chuùa? Neáu khoâng coù Chuùa thì con ngöôøi chính laø troïng taâm cuûa vuù truï. Taát caû moïi ñieàu laø chuû quan vaø töông ñoái, tuøy theo thôøi gian vaø tuy theo tö töôûng cuûa moãi ngaøy. Keát quaû thì seõ voâ toå chöùc vaø hoãn loaïn. Moãi caù nhaân vì theá seõ ñöôïc tö do laøm thoûa maõn cho chính

rieâng mình. Khoâng ai coù quyeàn caám caûn hoï. Maët khaùc, söï thöïc toäi loãi vaïch cho thaáy ñieàu gì toát vaø ñieàu gì xaáu. Neáu khoâng coù töï do löông taâm thì seõ khoâng coù toäi. Khoâng coù töï do löông taâm thì chuùng ta khoâng phaûi laø ngöôøi nhöng laø nhöõng boä maùy roâboâ. Trong tình yeâu Thieân Chuùa ñaõ taïo döïng con ngöôøi vaø ban cho hoï töï do choïn löïa ñeå yeâu vaø khoâng yeâu, choïn ñeå thöïc haønh moùn quaø löông taâm döïa theo chieàu höôùng maø noù seõ giuùp gaày ñöïng söï lieân heä vôùi Chuùa vaø con ngöôøi. Maëc daàu con ngöôøi nguyeân thuûy ñaõ choïn töø luùc ñaàu vaø trong giaây phuùt laø laøm thoûa maõn cho hoï, hoï ñaõ choùng nhaän ra raèng hoï ñaõ maát ñi caùi gì ñoù raát quyù vaø maõi maõi, nghóa laø söï lieân heä vôùi ngöôøi khaùc. Vì khoâng coù söï lieân heä naøy neân hoï nhaän thaáy mình traàn truoàng vaø vì theá hoï ñaõ laån troán khoûi maët Chuùa vì maëc caûm xaáu hoå vaø toäi loãi, vaø coøn ñoå toäi cho nhau nöõa. Thieân Chuùa vì loøng nhaân töø höùa seõ hoøa giaûi giöõa hoï vaø Ngaøi neân ñaõ göûi Ñaáng Cöùu Ñoä ñeán ñeå xoùa tan toäi loãi vaø haäu quaû muoân ñôøi do toäi loãi gaây neân laø xa lìa Chuùa. Chuùa Gieâsu ñaõ chieán thaéng toäi loãi qua söï hy sinh cuûa caây thaäp töï. Bieát raèng vì söï yeáu ñuoái cuûa con 15 ngöôøi do toäi loãi gaây ra, Chuùa bieát raèng con ngöôøi luoân caàn ñöôïc hoøa giaûi lieân tuïc vaø caàn ôn thaùnh Chuùa ñeå traùnh toäi. Vì theá, vì loøng thöông xoùt Ngaøi ban cho chuùng ta bí tích hoøa giaûi. Choã naøo coù toäi thì ôû ñoù coù ôn thaùnh. Maëc daàu toäi loãi phaùt xuaát töø con ngöôøi, vaø ñeå keøm cheá noù Thieân Chuùa theå hieän cho chuùng ta tình yeâu Ngaøi vaø loøng khoan dung khoâng bôø beán. Maëc daàu toäi loãi raát gheâ tôûm tröôùc maët Chuùa vì noù gaây ra cho ngöôøi phaïm toäi nhö theá naøo, Thieân Chuùa ñaõ giang caùnh tay ra ñeå ñoùn nhaän toäi nhaân vì hoï caàn ñeán Ngaøi, chöù khoâng phaûi vì söï ngaên caùch maø toäi loãi gaây ra. Ñoái vôùi Chuùa con ngöôøi coù giaù trí thaät lôùn. Nguï ngoân veà ngöôøi maát ñoàng baïc, maát con chieân vaø ngöôøi con hoang ñaøng (Luke 15) ñeàu noùi veà söï thaät cuûa toäi loãi vaø loøng thöông xoùt vaø söï tha thöù voâ bôø beán cuûa Chuùa. Nhöõng ñoaïn keát thuùc cuûa nhöõng nguï ngoân ñoù laø vaïch ra nhöõng ñöôøng loái maø Thieân Chuùa thoáng trò toäi loãi. “Vaø vì theá, toâi noùi cho baïn hay, seõ coù nhieàu nieàm vui hôn ôû treân thieân ñaøng vì moät ngöôøi toäi loãi aên naên hoái caûi hôn laø 99 ngöôøi coâng chính khoâng caàn thoáng hoái” (Luke 15:7). Dòch thuaät: Linh muïc Pheâroâ Leâ Taøi , chaùnh xöù nhaø thôø Our Lady of the Isle, Grand Isle. www.bayoucatholic.com

Comment The Pope Speaks

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Second Vatican Council’s call for “renewal” did not mark a break with tradition or a watering down of the faith, but reflected Christianity’s lasting vitality and God’s eternal presence, Pope Benedict XVI said. Christianity is always young and in “perpetual bloom,” he said during an audience Oct. 12 with 15 bishops who participated in Vatican II between 1962-65. The private audience also included the patriarchs and archbishops of the Eastern Catholic churches and presidents of the world’s bishops’ conferences, who were attending the Synod of Bishops on the new evangelization. Pope Benedict fondly recalled the council, saying it was a time that was “so vivacious, rich and fruitful.” He praised Blessed John XXIII’s usage of the term “aggiornamento” or “renewal” for the church, even though, he said, it’s still a topic of heated and endless debate. “But I am convinced that the insight Blessed John XXIII epitomized with this word was and still is accurate,” he said. “Christianity must never be seen as something from the past, nor lived with one’s gaze always looking back, because Jesus is yesterday, today and for all eternity,” Pope Benedict said. “This ‘renewal’ does not mean a break with tradition, rather

it expresses a lasting vitality,” he said. Renewal doesn’t mean watering down the faith, lowering it to fit modern fads or trends, or fashioning it to fit public opinion or one’s own desires, “rather it’s the contrary,” he said. “Exactly as the council fathers did, we have to make the times in which we live fit the Christian event; we have to bring the ‘today’ of our time into the ‘today’ of God,” which is eternal, he said. Vatican II taught the church that it always must speak to the people “of today,” he said. However, there is no easy way to do it; it has to be done by people whose lives are firmly rooted in God and who live their faith “with purity,” he said. Remembering the past is important, he said, but the best way to honor Vatican II is to return to the living Gospel and bring Christ’s presence and love to today’s world, he said. During an evening candlelight vigil Oct. 11, reminiscent of one held exactly 50 years earlier, Pope Benedict warned of sin and imperfection within the church. Recalling an event marking the opening of the Second Vatican Council, Catholic Action of Italy and the Diocese of Rome led a prayerful candlelight procession along the wide boulevard of Via della Conciliazione to St. Peter’s Square, where people holding large candles assembled to form the shape of a large cross lighting up the darkness. The event reenacted a similar gathering of faithful Oct. 11, 1962, after which Blessed John XXIII came to his studio window and gave his impromptu “Moonlight Speech” in which he reassured the world that “the pope is with us, especially in times of sadness and bitterness.” From his apartment window, Pope Benedict spoke off-the-cuff to the nearly 10,000 people gathered

in the square and recalled how he had been at that candlelight procession 50 years earlier, looking up at the same window from where he now stood. It was a time of great joy and enthusiasm, he said, because “we were sure that a new springtime of the church, a new Pentecost” would come with a new emphasis on the liberating grace of the Gospel. “Even today we are happy,” but it’s a joy that’s more “restrained” and “humble,” he said. The past 50 years have shown that despite the joy and optimism for the future, “there are always weeds, too, in the field of the Lord. We have seen that you can find bad fish in Peter’s net,” he said. Original sin can be manifested everywhere, even in the very structures of the church, he said. “We have seen that human fragility is also present in the church, that the vessel of the church is also navigating with strong headwinds, in storms that threaten the vessel and sometimes we have thought, ‘The Lord is asleep and has forgotten us,’” the pope said. However, that is only part of what the church has experienced the past half-century, he said, underlining that there have been “new experiences of the Lord’s presence, of his goodness and strength.” “Even today, in his humble way, the Lord is present and warms our hearts, shows life, creates charisms of goodness and charity that light up the world and are, for us, a guarantee of God’s goodness,” Pope Benedict said. “We can be happy even today” because Christ is alive and well, and his goodness never dies, he said. Pope Benedict repeated a phrase from Pope John’s “unforgettable” speech that night, saying, to applause and cheers, “Go home and give your children a kiss and say it’s from the pope.”

Vatican II’s call for renewal did not break with tradition, pope says Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

Question Corner Father Kenneth Doyle

Is there a path toward Communion for a remarried Catholic?

I am a divorced and remarried Catholic, married now for more than 20 years to my second wife. I continue to attend Mass, but since my marriage have been unable to receive holy Communion. It seems to me that, if a priest can forgive a murderer -- assuming that the person is truly repentant -- he should also be able to forgive someone for remarrying after a divorce. (I am truly sorry for what I did to contribute to the divorce, and in particular for the pain which the divorce caused our children. But the situation is irreversible now; I cannot simply leave my present wife, whom I love very much.) I honestly feel in my heart -although this might be wishful thinking -- that God has already forgiven me, but the church seems fearful of allowing me to participate fully in the Mass by taking Communion. What is a divorced Catholic to do to receive forgiveness? Is not the forgiveness of sin really between the heart of the sinner and God? (Livonia, Mich.)

Your question, so honestly and articulately expressed, speaks to the situation of many individuals

and tugs at the heart of anyone attempting to answer. The first instinct of a priest -- and of the church -- is to want to respond with compassion and leniency. At the same time, the church is the bearer of Christ’s teaching and feels compelled to be faithful to the Gospel. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, with specific references to the first three Gospels and to Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, states in No. 2382 that “the Lord Jesus insisted on the original intention of the Creator who willed that marriage be indissoluble.” The catechism goes on to clarify in No. 2383 that, in certain cases, the separation of spouses can be warranted, together with a civil divorce when necessary to preserve legal rights. But as to remarriage outside the church, the language of the catechism is stark and straightforward (No. 2384): “Contracting a new union, even if it is recognized by civil law, adds to the gravity of the rupture: The remarried spouse is then in a situation of public and permanent adultery.” In light of this, the church (charged also to be the guarantor of the purity of the sacraments) does not feel free to admit to holy Communion someone who has contravened such an essential teaching. In saying this, neither I nor the church presume to invade the sanctity of your conscience and to proclaim where you stand before God. That is ultimately, as you indicate, a private matter between you and the Lord. Clearly, though, you feel some ambiguity within, and just as clearly you long to receive the Eucharist. You might think about looking into the possibility of a church annulment for your first marriage. Often enough, even when a marriage has lasted for a while, it can be established that from the start there was something to indicate that the relationship could never really last -- perhaps immaturity or emotional instability on the part of one or both spouses. My best advice would be for you to meet with a sympathetic priest and discuss your situation fully. 2012 Catholic News Service

? What is a

divorced Catholic to do to receive forgiveness? Is not the

forgiveness of sin really between

the heart of the

sinner and God? (Livonia, Mich.)

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

www.bayoucatholic.com

Reflections Readings Between The Lines Father Glenn LeCompte

Origin of the New Testament Part II

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In my last column, I mentioned that growing geographical distance between Christian communities prompted Christians to write in order to communicate the Christian faith. Along with geographical distance, chronological distance contributed to the formation of a New Testament. By 65 A.D. all the apostles directly chosen by Jesus had most likely been martyred, and there was a need to preserve the apostolic tradition by more than just oral means. This phenomenon gave rise to the next stratum of New Testament writings, the written Gospels. As Luke indicates in his Gospel’s prologue (1:1-4), his purpose for writing is to collect into an orderly presentation the disparate bits of catechetical tradition upon which the instruction of his community members was based. Since the evangelists were writing for specific communities they selected specific elements of the tradition and adapted others for the purpose of addressing their communities’ spiritual and catechetical needs. The church’s attempt to understand the person of Jesus Christ and his mission has grown throughout the centuries. This growth in understanding was already apparent in the first century and continued to escalate in the second. As divergent traditions formed about the person and mission of Jesus, the church found itself in a situation of having to discern which ones were theologically

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

correct. During the second century a number of other Gospels were produced by a movement within Christianity called Gnosticism. Gnostics were not renegade troublemakers; the church had to evaluate their version of the Gospel in comparison to others. Eventually the Gnostic Gospels were rejected. Before, however, the church could even consider evaluating the various Gospels, evaluative criteria had to be determined. There appears to be four criteria that developed in the early church: 1) apostolic origin of the teaching, 2) history and importance of the community for whom the work was produced, 3) conformity to the rule of faith and 4) the role of chance. The fourth criterion just mentioned has to do either with correspondence that was sadly lost (e.g. see 1 Corinthians 5:3), or whether or not the works could survive the scrutiny involved in evaluating them. Another factor that contributed to the development of the New Testament is the relevance of “the Scriptures” (what we know as the Old Testament) to the newly emerging Christian faith. Marcion, an influential Christian of the first half of the second century made a collection of Christian writings and excised Old Testament quotes from the Gospel of Luke because he wanted to eradicate any references to what he saw as the wrathful god of the Jewish Scriptures. While Marcion’s criteria, nor his collection in total, were not accepted by the early church, the fact that he collected a group of Christian writings moved forward the idea of the church having an authorized collection of Christian writings. In addition, his rejection

of the Jewish Scriptures would have made second century church leaders consider whether or not the Jewish Scriptures were to be included in a Christian canon. In the mid-second century St. Justin Martyr provides for us in his work, “First Apology,” a description of the Christian worship service, which included reading from the Scriptures and “memoirs of the apostles.” He does not identify these “memoirs,” but they are most likely Christian writings, perhaps some of those in our New Testament but possibly others as well. In the latter half of the second century Christian writers make mention of the use of the Jewish Scriptures by Christians, even referring to them as a Testament. Around 180 A.D., St. Irenaeus of Lyons gives us a clear indication that the only Gospels the church cites as firmly reflecting apostolic origin are the four currently in our New Testament. Early Christian writers, Tertullian and Clement of Alexandria, both make reference to two testaments. There is scanty evidence that Paul’s letters may have been circulated by the end of the first century. The Muratorian Canon Fragment mentions four Pauline letters that were rejected, probably because they either originated from or were used by heretical groups. By the end of the second century there is evidence of a collection of “normative” Christian writings, but it took another couple of centuries before all the disputes were ended and the church deemed 27 works to be inspired, and therefore worthy to be included in a collection of writings that were normative for the faith and morals of all Christians.

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Questi n o i t c Refle

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Diocesan Programs This Month

Charles Borromeo 1538-1584 November 4

Crosiers

Though Charles suffered all his life from a speech impediment, his intelligence and zeal made him an outstanding figure of the Catholic Reformation. In 1560, he was named a cardinal and administrator of the Archdiocese of Milan by his uncle, Pope Pius IV, but was kept in Rome to assist with the reconvened Council of Trent. He helped draft the council’s catechism and liturgical books, and in 1563 was ordained a priest and bishop. Finally, in 1566, he was allowed to go to Milan, where he worked tirelessly to reform priestly training and lay catechesis. He also exhausted his own funds to provide relief during periods of famine and plague. He is the patron of seminarians and catechists.

“Revival”

Host: Bishop Sam G. Jacobs Co-Host: Regina Thibodeaux Wednesday 8:30 p.m. Friday 9:30 a.m. and Sunday 9:30 a.m. HTV/VISION COMMUNICATIONS, CHARTER COMM. & COMCAST CHANNEL 10 ALLEN’S TV CABLE MORGAN CITY CHANNEL 71 (Digital Channel 30.1-UHF & Channel 7.1-VHF) Mondays - 9:30 a.m. Thursdays - 9:30 a.m. & 11:00 p.m. Saturdays - 9:30 p.m.

Saints

“Spotlight on the Diocese” Host: Louis Aguirre With Guests: Rev. Glenn LeCompte

Felicity second century November 23

CNS

Felicity, or Felicitas, is thought to be a widow who was martyred in Rome about 165 and buried in the cemetery of Maximus on the Salerian Way. According to a legend, she had seven sons and was devoted to charitable works. When pagan priests complained about her winning converts to Christianity, Felicity was arrested and ordered to worship pagan gods. She refused, as did her sons; the emperor had them all executed. Seven male martyrs, the so-called Seven Brothers, were buried in Roman cemeteries; one of them, Silvanus, was buried near Felicity’s tomb, which may have prompted the legend that the seven were her sons. Felicity is a patron saint of childbirth and barren women.

Spiritual Director of Lumen Christi Retreat Center

Mike DiSalvo

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

Serving Bayou businesses and the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux since 1997 with quality printing and mailing.

Saints

Andrew first century November 30

Crosiers

In the synoptic Gospels, Andrew is a Galilean fisherman grouped with his brother, Peter, and with James and John in the inner circle of apostles; in John’s Gospel, he is the disciple of John the Baptist who is the first to follow Jesus and who brings his brother to the Lord. Many traditions about Andrew come from the apocryphal second-century Acts of Andrew, which depicts him as a zealous missionary in the Black Sea region who is crucified — tied to an x-shaped cross — by the Roman governor. Some early church historians also said he evangelized in Greece and Asia Minor. He is the patron saint of Scotland, Russia, Greece and those who fish for a living.

Saints

Call Rick at 504-570-0948 or E-mail: rgallioto@mpressnow.com www.bayoucatholic.com

Scripture Readings Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

and a listing of Feast days and saints.

Thursday

Friday

1 November 2

Saturday

Sunday

Weekday Philippians 1:18b26 Luke 14:1, 7-11

Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time Deuteronomy 6:2-6 Hebrews 7:23-28 Mark 12:28b-34

Weekday Philippians 2:1-4 Luke 14:12-14

Weekday Philippians 2:5-11 Luke 14:15-24

Weekday Weekday Philippians 2:12-18 Philippians 3:3-8a Luke 14:25-33 Luke 15:1-10

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 1 Corinthians 3:9c11, 16-17 John 2:13-22

Memorial of Leo the Great, pope and doctor of the church Philippians 4:10-19 Luke 16:9-15

Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 1 Kings 17:10-16 Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44

Memorial of Josaphat, bishop and martyr Titus 1:1-9 Luke 17:1-6

Memorial of Frances Weekday Xavier Titus 3:1-7 Cabrini, virgin Luke 17:11-19 Titus 2:1-8, 11-14 Luke 17:7-10

Weekday Philemon 7-20 Luke 17:20-25

Weekday 2 John 4-9 Luke 17:26-37

Memorial of Elizabeth of Hungary, religious 3 John 5-8 Luke 18:1-8

Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Daniel 12:1-3 Hebrews 10:1114, 18 Mark 13:24-32

Weekday Revelation 1:1-4, 2:1-5 Luke 18:35-43

Weekday Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22 Luke 19:1-10

Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Revelation 4:1-11 Luke 19:11-28

Memorial of Cecilia, Weekday Memorial of Andrew virgin Revelation 10:8-11 Dung-Lac, and martyr Luke 19:45-48 priest; and Revelation 5:1-10 companions, Luke 19:41-44 martyrs Revelation 11:4-12 Luke 20:27-40

Weekday Revelation 14:1-3, 4b-5 Luke 21:1-4

Weekday Weekday Revelation 14:14-19 Revelation 15:1-4 Luke 21:5-11 Luke 21:12-19

Weekday Revelation 18:1-2, 21-23, 19:1-3, 9a Luke 21:20-28

Feast of Andrew, apostle Romans 10:9-18 Matthew 4:18-22

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Daniel 7:13-14 Revelation 1:5-8 John 18:33b-37

1 December 2

Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Seminarian Education Burses

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

How does someone establish a seminarian burse fund? Very simply, a burse may be established and named for anyone you choose, be it family, friend, bishop, priest, religious, etc.

When is a seminarian burse complete? A seminarian burse fund is complete once it reaches $15,000. If you choose to continue to contribute, a new burse will be created for you.

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

Completed Burses of $15,000 each

Note: those wtih a number stipulates the number of completed burses* - Anonymous

- Clay Sr. & Evelida Duplantis

- Mr. & Mrs. C. Thomas Bienvenu

- C. Remie Duplantis

- Harry Booker

- Marie Elise Duplantis

- Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux (3)*

- Warren J. Harang, Jr.

- Rev. Adrian J. Caillouet

- Msgr. Raphael C. Labit

- Rev. James Louis Caillouet

- Msgr. Francis J. Legendre

- Bishop L. Abel Caillouet

- Rev. Charles Menard

- Judge/Mrs L. P. Caillouet

- Donald Peltier, Sr. (2)*

- Msgr. Lucien J. Caillouet

- Harvey Peltier (30)*

- Abdon J. & Ada B. Callais

- Richard Peltier

- Harold & Gloria Callais Family

- Orleans & Louella Pitre

- Paul A. Callais

- Msgr. Joseph Wester

- Peter W. Callais

- Robert R. Wright, Jr.

- Vincent & Fannie Cannata

- Rev. Kermit Trahan

- Minor Sr. & Lou Ella Cheramie

- Diocesan K of C

- Maude & Edith Daspit

- Endowment Fund - $119,136.90

September 2012 Burse Contributions Donald Peltier, Sr. #3 ...................................... $1,000.00 Mr. Eledier Broussard ........................................ $100.00 Catholic Daughters ............................................ $100.00 Elie and Dot Klingman ........................................ $40.00 21

- Mr. & Mrs. Caliste Duplantis family (3)*

Open Burses with Balance as of 9/31/12 Mr. Eledier Broussard ................. $12,100.00 Sidney J. & Lydie C. Duplantis ........... $10,800.00 Msgr. Raphael C. Labit #2 .................. $10,720.00 Harvey Peltier #31 .............................. $10,486.91 Donald Peltier, Sr. # 3 ........................... $10,100.00 Clay Sr. & Evelida Duplantis #2 .......... $10,000.00 C. Remie Duplantis #2 ........................ $10,000.00 Marie Elise Duplantis #2 ..................... $10,000.00 Maude & Edith Daspit #2 .................... $10,000.00 Msgr. George A. Landry ...................... $10,000.00 St. Bernadette Men’s Club .................... $8,850.00 Rev. Victor Toth ..................................... $7,000.00 Mr. & Mrs. George C. Fakier ................. $6,800.00 Brides of the Most Blessed Trinity ......... $5,935.00 Rev. Peter Nies ..................................... $5,600.00 Elie & Dot Klingman .............................. $5,120.00 Mr. & Mrs. Love W. Pellegrin ................. $5,000.00 Anonymous #2 ...................................... $5,000.00 Mr. & Mrs. Caliste Duplantis Fmly.#4..... $5,000.00 Rev. William M. Fleming ........................ $5,000.00 Rev. Kasimir Chmielewski ..................... $4,839.00 Harry Booker #2 .................................... $4,138.00

Rev. Henry Naquin ................................ $3,905.00 Rev. Gerard Hayes ................................ $3,886.00 Msgr. William Koninkx ........................... $3,800.00 Kelly Curole Frazier ............................... $3,490.96 J. R. Occhipinti ...................................... $3,400.00 Catholic Daughters ................................ $3,330.00 Joseph “Jay” Fertitta .............................. $3,145.00 Mr. & Mrs. Galip Jacobs ........................ $3,060.00 St. Jude ................................................. $3,000.00 Diocesan K of C #2 ............................... $2,894.62 Rev. Peter H. Brewerton ........................ $2,600.00 Mrs. Ayres A. Champagne ..................... $2,000.00 Rev. H. C. Paul Daigle ........................... $1,900.00 Anawin Community ............................... $1,900.00 James J. Buquet, Jr. ............................... $1,650.00 Msgr. Francis J. Legendre #2 ................ $1,645.00 Msgr. Emile J. Fossier ........................... $1,545.00 Dr. William Barlette, Sr........................... $1,525.00 Msgr. Stanislaus Manikowski ................ $1,525.00 Rev. Robert J. Sevigny .......................... $1,500.00 Msgr. John L. Newfield .......................... $1,200.00 Rev. Guy Zeringue ................................ $1,150.00

Rev. Clemens Schneider ....................... $1,000.00 St. Joseph Italian Society ...................... $1,000.00 Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux #4 ........... $1,000.00 Msgr. John G. Keller .............................. $1,000.00 Warren J. Harang, Jr. #2 ......................... $1,000.00 Deacon Willie Orgeron ............................. $800.00 Rev. Anthony Rousso ............................... $800.00 Deacon Roland Dufrene ........................... $750.00 Mr. & Mrs. John Marmande ...................... $700.00 Deacon Edward J. Blanchard ................... $660.00 Deacon Raymond LeBouef ...................... $550.00 Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Cannata .................... $500.00 Deacon Robert Dusse’ ............................. $450.00 Deacon Harold Kurtz ................................ $300.00 Richard Peltier #2 ..................................... $300.00 Claude Bergeron ...................................... $200.00 Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Naquin .......................... $150.00 Rev. Hubert C. Broussard ........................ $ 50.00 Deacon Eldon Frazier .............................. $ 50.00 Deacon Nick Messina .............................. $ 50.00

Overall Seminarian Burse Totals: $1,346,987.39 www.bayoucatholic.com

Heavenly Recipes

Joel’s Thanksgiving

S Casserole

weet potato

Story and Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier

This month’s heavenly recipe is a Thanksgiving favorite in many households during the holidays. Carol Bergeron, cook at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales parish, prepared the dish that was her brother-in-law Joel Bergeron’s favorite. Joel was the sacristan at the cathedral parish for 12 years before he died last year. “This recipe has been in our family for the past 40 years. Joel gave it to me many years ago. I always prepare it for Thanksgiving and Christmas for my family,” says 22 Carol. She has been cooking at St. Francis for the past 10 years. “I began cooking here when Msgr. Latino (now bishop of Jackson, MS) was pastor. I stayed through the priest changes and have adapted my cooking to serve the needs of the pastors and associates through the years. The biggest change came when Father Vic DeLa Cruz came to the parish. I learned how to cook a few Filipino meals for him and his friends,” she says. “I enjoy cooking. I am one of six children and we all stay pretty close. I cook on Sundays and everyone comes over to eat. My husband and I have four children and seven grandchildren who also like to come visit and eat with us on Sundays. We usually have a full house every Sunday.” Father Paul Bergeron is Carol’s brother-in-law. “Whenever Father Paul is in town he usually comes over on Sundays, also. He likes gumbo. I usually make a chicken and sausage gumbo when he comes over,” she says. Bergeron says that she did not learn to cook from her mother. She started following recipes after Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

Joel’s Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole

3 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/3 cup milk 1/2 cup butter or margarine Topping 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/3 cup all purpose flour 1/3 cup butter or margarine 1 cup finely chopped pecans Combine sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk and 1/2 cup butter; beat with electric mixer until smooth. Spoon into greased 2-quart shallow casserole dish. Topping: Combine brown sugar, flour, 1/3 cup butter and pecans; sprinkle over top of casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Yield 8-10 servings. she got married and learned to cook from them. She cooks mostly traditional foods such as beans, gumbos and stews. There is one thing her mother baked that she also likes to prepare, banana nut bread. “I like to bake once in a while and I love to bake banana nut bread. Everyone loves

it and it is so easy to bake,” says the cook. Carol plans to cook at the parish as long as she is healthy. She loves the atmosphere and the people she works with. As for her family, they all know if it’s a Sunday there will be plenty of good food and good times at Carol’s house.

Young Voices

In what ways are you being that servant to others? I believe that Jesus’ message of service calls out to all of us, young and old, to be servants through his word, and through his word great things can be accomplished. At Christian Leadership Institute (CLI) 2012, I, along with many others, spent a week together growing and learning more of his word and I believe through it we have all grown to be better servants. I try to serve anyone in as many ways as I possibly can,

whether it is cleaning up an older person’s yard for them, volunteering at church or just helping out my family. No matter what it is that you are doing, you are being a servant to others and our Lord Jesus Christ. Trace Hebert, 15 years old Sacred Heart Church parish, Cut Off South Lafourche High School

For me, the message of service to others is really shown in how Jesus came to serve and not to be served. This is an example of how I know I should live my life. The service I feel called to is evangelizing, so I am learning as much as I can through any means of Bible study possible. I am also volunteering to work for church events.

Kayli Breaux, 15 years old St. Joseph Church parish, Chauvin St. Faustina Private Home School

I believe that Jesus tells us to live as he did and to strive to help others and put ourselves last. We are called to know, love and serve God. In my life I serve in any way that I can, by going to my local nursing homes and speaking with the elderly and putting smiles on their faces or getting together with a youth group and doing service projects to help a family in need.

Eriq Blanchard, 16 years old Holy Cross Church parish, Morgan City Central Catholic High School

Jesus’ message to serve others is a constant voice in my head. Serving others means serving God. I do it because serving others is what I am called to do, not because someone told me to. I’m a leader for my youth group; I always try to be helpful to the church and my friends. I try to give my best while babysitting or even simply talking, because that’s how God works through me.

Adrianna Gros, 16 years old St. Joseph the Worker Church parish, Pierre Part Assumption High School

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

Tune In To... Quality Family Programming for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

~ Channel 10* on Comcast of Houma and CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS of Terrebonne Parish. ~ Channel 10* on CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS in Thibodaux. ~ Channel 10* on VISION COMMUNICATIONS of South and Central Lafourche *Channel 10 is provided by and in cooperation with HTV of Houma. ~ Channel 71, ALLENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TV CABLE of Morgan City

SUNDAY

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

Proclaim the Good News/The Rosary Closer Walk Spotlight/Revival

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

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

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

Proclaim the Good News/The Rosary Divine Intervention Proclaim the Good News/The Rosary

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY Proclaim the Good News/The Rosary

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

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

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

Closer Walk Live With Passion

THURSDAY Proclaim the Good News/The Rosary Living Scripture Spotlight/Revival Spotlight/Revival

FRIDAY

Proclaim the Good News/The Rosary Live With Passion Spotlight/Revival

SATURDAY Proclaim the Good News/The Rosary Real Food Spotlight/Revival

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

Our Schools

St. Joseph Catholic Elementary, Thibodaux, celebrates 50

‘We’re on God’s Team’ Story by Janet Marcel Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School in Thibodaux opened in September 1962 as a consolidation of kindergarten through seventh grade students from Mt. Carmel Academy and Thibodaux College, continuing the tradition of Catholic education in Thibodaux which began in 1855. Gerard Rodrigue Jr., principal since the 2006-2007 school year, says there are approximately 660 students enrolled for the 2012-2013 school year, which marks its 50th anniversary. The school chose “We’re on God’s Team” as the theme for its anniversary. A 50th anniversary logo was designed for use throughout the year and will be featured on the school’s spirit shirt and school correspondence. Former school principals and teachers have been invited to talk to the students after school Masses throughout the year. A reception and celebration is also being planned to take place during Catholic Schools Week 2013. Rodrigue says this anniversary year has a special Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

significance for his family as his wife was in the first kindergarten class at St. Joseph; his oldest daughter was in kindergarten for the school’s 25th anniversary, and his grandson started Pre-K this year. One of the things that make St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School unique is that it offers a wide variety of clubs and activities in addition to the core curriculum. Among these extracurricular activities are student council, band, choir, cheerleaders, basketball, swim team, cross country team, 4-H club, Caritas service club, chess club, math team, yearbook club, and an Angel’s choir for the younger students. Hannah Verret, seventh grade student, has enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the various organizations the school offers. She says, “What I value most about my education at St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School are my teachers, the staff and helping out in service clubs. I value my teachers because they

set good examples by teaching about God in prayer and service. I also value the service clubs here at St. Joseph because they teach me to help others. I am very blessed to have a Catholic education because it helps me learn more about God and will encourage me all throughout my life to help and respect others, help the community, and spread the word about God.” Other things that make St. Joseph unique are its well-staffed faculty that is able meet the needs of its students with learning challenges, support personnel at all grade levels, and its emphasis on cutting edge educational technology which includes promethean boards in every classroom. St. Joseph also has a full-time music teacher/band director which allows students in grades kindergarten through seventh to attend a daily music class geared toward their age group. Kindergarten through third grade students are taught general music, fourth graders learn to play the recorder, and fifth through seventh graders choose an instrument. Members of the band participate in the District VII Band Festival held at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux and have participated in band festivals at the state level. Rodrigue, who began his career in education as a band teacher, says music is near and dear to his heart. “I believe music is a very important part of the educational process with respect to educating the whole child,” he says. “Research has proven over and over again that music and the arts enhance and increase student achievement academically.” Parent involvement is a trademark of Catholic schools, says Rodrigue, and St. Joseph is no exception. “Parents who send their children to Catholic schools have high expectations for them academically as well as behaviorally; and because they’re paying tuition they also have high expectations for the school. We have an awesome PTC who does a lot of extra things for the school and for the students such as funding teacher grants, capital improvements for the school and providing teachers with supplemental instructional materials and equipment.” Students also seem to enjoy when their parents’ are involved at the school. Third grade student Emma Miller, says, “I like St. Joseph because it has nice teachers who work really hard. I like to hang out with my friends at recess. I like that my mom gets to help at school. I am glad I can learn about my Catholic faith at school. St. Joseph IS THE BEST!!” Lisa Robinson, who has been teaching first grade at St. Joseph for 22 years, says, “The opportunity to teach in a Catholic school both my daughters were enrolled in, influenced my decision to teach at St. Joseph. In the summer of 1990, Gene Harrell, principal at the time, approached me about an opening teaching first grade. After teaching three years in a Catholic school in Houma, then nine years in the public school system, coming to St. Joseph was an exciting time in my life. The daily prayers, the weekly liturgies, faculty, staff, students and parents are all amazing parts that make a Christ-centered environment at St. Joseph. I have been truly blessed to teach and be a part of the St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School family.” Samuel Konur, fifth grade student, says “The best

Third grade student Emma Miller

thing I like about attending St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School is I feel like a part of a big family. The teachers really care about me and our school brings me closer to God.” Operating a large elementary school like St. Joseph is not without its challenges, says the principal. “First of all, keeping the lines of communication open and communicating information effectively in a timely manner so that everyone knows what’s going on can be a challenge at times. Secondly, keeping tuition affordable and paying teachers fairly while still being able to provide students with the best education possible is another concern. And thirdly, scheduling is a challenge because of all the different auxiliary classes we offer to our students.” One area that Rodrigue notes is a big plus is the school’s structurally sound, well-maintained facilities. The school also has a stable faculty base, with onethird of its teachers having been at the school for over 20 years. Nadine Delatte, the school’s librarian who has also taught seventh grade science, social studies and religion; sixth grade science, social studies and math; and fifth grade language arts, has been at the school for 35 years. “In 1976, I enrolled my daughter Heather in

www.bayoucatholic.com

Our Schools

St. Joseph Catholic Elementary

Lisa Robinson, first grade teacher

kindergarten at St. Joseph, and in 1977 she coaxed me into applying for the vacant position of sixth and seventh grade science and social studies teacher because she wanted me to be at St. Joseph with her. Deacon Willie Orgeron, principal at the time, offered me the position and I listened to my heart and accepted the job. After all these years I still love my job and my St. Joseph family; and I thank God and my daughter for bringing me to St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School,” says Delatte. Celeste Brown, fourth grade math and religion teacher, who is in her 23rd year of teaching at St. Joseph, says, “Catholic education has been a huge part of my life. I attended St. Joseph from kindergarten to seventh grade and E.D. White from eighth to 12th grade, as did my husband and our two girls. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be a teacher and to teach at St. Joseph. (You could say it was my childhood dream.) I actually started my teaching career at a public school, but something seemed missing. I couldn’t pray aloud in class or even mention God to students. After about five years in the public school system I was able to ‘come home’ to St. Joseph, and I have been here ever since. To be able to teach about God and share my faith with my students is an extraordinary experience!” Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

Very Rev. Jay L. Baker, rector of St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, and St. Joseph principal Gerard Rodrigue Jr.

Fifth grader Samuel Konur

Seventh grade student Hannah Verret

Nadine Delatte, librarian

Celeste Brown, fourth grade math and religion teacher www.bayoucatholic.com

Church Life

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Father Ruiz dies at age 82 Father John Ligan Ruiz, a retired priest of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, died Oct. 5, following a lengthy illness. He was 82 years old. Father Ruiz was born in 1930 in Cebu City, Philippines. He was ordained to the priesthood in Cebu City March 26, 1955. Following extensive ministerial services in his native country and in California, Father Ruiz began serving the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in 1985 and was incardinated Jan. 8, 1990. He retired from active ministry June 30, 2004. Father Ruiz served as associate pastor at St. Mary’s Nativity in Raceland, as administrator and pastor at St. Charles Borromeo in Pointe-aux-Chenes, as senior priest at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux, and as chaplain at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center. Bishop Sam G. Jacobs celebrated a funeral Mass Monday, Oct. 8 at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux with interment at the Priests’ Tomb at St. Joseph Cemetery in Thibodaux.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

St. Joseph Manor

Retirement Living At Its Best 1201 Cardinal Drive ~ Thibodaux SAFETY SECURITY COMPANIONSHIP AND MANY AMENITIES

St. Joseph Manor Currently Accepting Applications

For More Information Or To Schedule A Tour, Contact: Natalie Barbera

Marketing/Social Director, St. Joseph Manor

1201 Cardinal Drive, Thibodaux, LA 70301

(985) 446-9050 Fax: 449-0047 www.stjosephmanor.org

Life Chain

Houma, Thibodaux communities show support Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

Hundreds of people participated in the annual Life Chain which was held on Respect Life Sunday. People lined the medians of Canal Boulevard in Thibodaux and Tunnel Boulevard in Houma praying silently and holding signs protesting abortion.

www.bayoucatholic.com

Guest Columnist Rev. Mark Toups

T 32

The diocesan Vocations Office is pleased to announce the anticipated opening of a “House of Discernment” in the fall of 2012. The diocese has made an agreement with the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales parish to renovate and use the convent formerly occupied by the Marinates of the Holy Cross. The convent, built in the early 1950s by the church parish, was primarily occupied by the Marianites of Holy Cross from the early 1950s until 2010. In their nearly 60-year history in the diocese, the Marianite Sisters primarily staffed the cathedral’s elementary school. At their peak, over 20 Marianite Sisters lived in the convent. Sister Immaculata Paisant, M.S.C., was the last Marianite Sister to live there; with her departure in 2011 it became vacant. From June 2011 to June 2012 the convent remained vacant. Bishop Sam G. Jacobs, Very Rev. Joshua Rodrigue, rector, and the cathedral parish of St. Francis de Sales came to an agreement in June 2012 that the building would now be used by the Vocations Office. The convent will now be named “The Borromeo House at the Convent” after Saint Charles Borromeo (1538-1584), the patron saint of seminarians. He was a diocesan priest, cardinal, and archbishop in Milan, as well as a pioneer architect of the Counter Reformation. The Vocations Office intends on using the convent as a “Vocations Hub” of sorts. The diocesan Office for Seminarians will use the building for the Year of Spiritual Formation. The Spiritual Year is a

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

Vocations

Former St. Francis Convent becomes ‘House of Discernment’ one-year program for seminarians who have finished philosophy and will soon enter theology. During that year the seminarians live with the diocesan director of Seminarians and primarily focus on their spiritual life. Seminarians Christopher Dehart and Brice Higginbotham are in residence this year. The Vocations Office will open a house of discernment. Men who are in formal discernment for the diocesan priesthood may live there and continue to work or go to school. They will receive formation and spiritual direction as they discern. During the next year the Vocations Office intends on having at least one man, perhaps two men, living there in the formal discernment program.

In addition, the Vocations Office will use the convent for recruiting and formation. AMP (a group of college-age young adult men growing in holiness) and IGNITE (a group of young men in 11th and 12th grade growing in holiness) will meet there. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays the Vocations Office will use the convent to host college and high school men. Additionally, the Vocations Office will host weekend retreats for AMP and IGNITE. Finally, the Vocations Office will use the convent to host weekend retreats for men interested in the priesthood and women interested in religious life. Weekend discernment retreats will be held every summer.

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Church Life

Diocese honors Filipinos Filipinos from across the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux gathered at St. Louis Church parish in Bayou Blue for a Filipino Mass on the feast of St. Lorenzo Ruiz. Bishop Sam G. Jacobs was the main celebrant of the Mass which was concelebrated by Filipino priests of the diocese.

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

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Year of Faith

Guest Columnist Father Glenn LeCompte

Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy

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With his opening address to the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council, Pope John XXIII set the tone for the deliberations to follow. Pope John had a vision of reformulating the truths of faith “in contemporary terms,” with the idea that the faithful might better comprehend and make the faith their own. In addition, the pope wanted Catholic faith to be able to speak to the modern world. This was no less true of the Sacred Liturgy. Far from being an impulsive project, The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (CSL) was the result of a movement that was over a century and a half in the making. After the French Revolution, the monks of the Abbey of Solemes in France promoted the idea of the liturgy as a focal point for the reestablishment of community among people, a community that had been broken down by the Revolution’s emphasis on individualism. The monastic scholars began to research the history of the liturgy and found that the early church’s liturgy was simpler, more focused on the fullness of the mystery of Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection, and that the assembly had more of a participatory role in it. In 1903 Pope Pius X described the true Christian spirit as “active participation in the sacred

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

mysteries and in the public and solemn prayer of the church” (Tra le Solicitudini). In the 1950s another pope named Pius, the 12th, restored the celebration of the Sacred Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil) and acknowledged the benefits of some use of the vernacular language in the Mass. The Central Preparatory Commission for the Vatican II document schemas which were presented to the Council Fathers said that they were guided in preparing the draft by these five criteria: 1. The commission would exercise great care in conserving the liturgical patrimony of the church. 2. It would be guided by a few principles that would undergird a general renewal of the liturgy. 3. It would derive its practical and rubrical directives from a doctrinal base. 4. It would insist on the necessity of instilling in the clergy a deeper sense of “the liturgical spirit” so that they could be effective teachers of the faithful. 5. It would take as its aim leading the faithful into an ever more active participation in the liturgy (J.W. O’Malley, What Happened at Vatican II?, pp. 130-131). After setting forth some general principles the document deals with the Eucharistic Mystery (the Mass), the Sacraments and sacramentals,

the Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours), the Liturgical Year, Sacred Music, Furnishings and Art. The most important issue that emerged in the document was the concept that the faithful should participate fully, consciously and actively in the liturgy. CSL goes so far as to say that such participation is both a right and duty of the faithful by virtue of their baptism (CSL No. 14), and is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy. The liturgy is to be the center of the spirituality of the faithful, and this happens when the faithful take part fully aware of what they are doing (CSL No. 11). That the liturgy forms the center of the faithful’s spirituality is indicated by the fact that the Council Fathers called the liturgy “the summit toward which the activity of the church is directed [and] ... the font from which all her power flows. The most hotly debated liturgical issue at the Council was the language of the liturgy, that is, whether or not it should be in the vernacular, the language of each culture and nation. The idea of putting the language in the vernacular was partly the result of study of the ancient liturgy, but it also built upon Pope Pius X’s call for participation of the faithful and Pope Pius XII’s application of that by suggesting some use of the vernacular. Interestingly the Asian bishops at the

Council were strongly in favor of a vernacular liturgy. Some Council Fathers could accept use of the vernacular in the celebrations of the sacraments (such as baptism), but not in the Mass. Perhaps the most influential voice concerning the language of the liturgy was Melkite (Catholic) Patriarch Maximos IV Saigh. Coming from a sector of the Catholic Church where Latin was not the normative language and perhaps feeling the Western Church weighing down on the Eastern, Maximos questioned the value assigned to Latin in the liturgy. He pointed out that Christ spoke the contemporary language, and in the Eastern Church all languages were recognized as liturgical. In addition, he maintained that the church is a living entity and therefore its language, the vehicle of the Holy Spirit’s grace, must be living (O’Malley, What Happened ... , p. 136). Maximos wanted the document to read that Latin was to be preserved in the Latin Rite, and he won his case, because that is what CSL No. 36 does indeed say. But it goes on to acknowledge that the vernacular in the liturgy has proved to be of “great advantage” (CSL No. 36) and therefore “the limits of its employment may be extended.” Within a few years the entire liturgy was translated into English for English-speaking countries. Another primary change made to the liturgy was to give Sacred Scripture greater prominence so that the people might partake more lavishly of the rich fare of God’s Word (CSL No. 51). In addition, CSL No. 7 states that when the Scriptures are proclaimed Christ is made present because it is he himself who speaks. The Homily was now to be based upon the Scriptures read at the Mass. The Prayer of the Faithful, which has come to be known as the Universal Prayers, was restored to the liturgy, inasmuch as liturgical research had recovered this form of prayer from the ancient liturgy. CSL No. 102 called for a restoration of the liturgical year with Sunday being the central day of the liturgical week, for on that day, in accord with ancient tradition, the church recalls Christ’s resurrection. In addition, within the cycle of a liturgical year the faithful have the opportunity to experience the unfolding of the entire mystery of Christ’s saving work, from his incarnation and birth, to his ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Through the liturgy they encounter the risen Lord still working and ministering among them. The Council also emphasized the importance of Sacred Music in the liturgy in that it “adds delight to prayer,” “fosters unity,” and “confers greater solemnity upon the sacred rites.” Also, Sacred Music is to be coordinated with the liturgical celebration and is viewed as not “a nice thing to do” but as integral to the liturgy (CSL No. 112). In sum, CSL accomplished the following: 1) it adapted the liturgy to contemporary circumstances, 2) allowed for adaptation to local circumstances, 3) gave bishops in a region greater authority to make decisions about the liturgy there, and 4) encouraged the full, conscious and active participation of all in the liturgy. As the Body of Christ we join together to worship the Head of the Body and, through him, the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit.

Year of Faith Prayer

O God, as you sent your Holy Spirit upon the early church in the fiery tongues and the mighty wind of Pentecost, so now, we ask you to send that same Spirit upon us that we may go forth to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to every creature. We humbly pray that you deepen your Trinitarian life within us; make us effective and holy witnesses of Jesus’ death and resurrection; help us to live our Catholic faith with such joy, conviction and love that others will be drawn to the sacred mystery of your church and the powerful grace of the sacraments. We implore you to make us ministers of your Word, in speech and action, in truth and charity, in the mystery of Jesus’ cross and the light of his resurrected glory. Amen.

Rezo del Año de la Fé

Oh Dios, que derramaste tu Espíritu Santo sobre la Iglesia primitiva en las lenguas ardientes y el poderoso viento de Pentecostés, ahora te pedimos que derrames ese mismo Espíritu sobre nosotros para que podamos proseguir y proclamar el Evangelio de Cristo a todos los seres. Te pedimos humildemente que profundices tu vida Trinitaria en nosotros; Conviértenos entestigos santificados de la muerte y resurrección de Jesús; ayúdanos a vivir nuestra fe católica con la alegría, la convicción y el amor que se requiere para acercar a nuestros semejantes al misterio sagrado de tu Iglesia ya la gracia poderosa de los sacramentos. Te rogamos que nos conviertas en los ministros de tu Verbo, endiscursantes y acción, en verdad y caridad, en el misterio de la Cruz de Jesús y la luz de su gloria resurrecta. Así sea.

Kinh Naêm Ñöùc Tin

Laäy Chuùa, nhö xöa Chuùa ñaõ göûi Thaùnh Thaàn ñeán vôùi Giaùo Hoäi tieân khôûi vôùi nhöõng moâi mieäng can ñaûm vaø ngoïn gioù thaàn khí trong ngaøy Thaùnh Thaàn xuoáng, vì theá hoâm nay chuùng con xin Ngaøi göûi cuøng moät Thaùnh thaàn ñeán ñeå chuùng con coù söùc maïnh ñi rao truyeàn Phuùc AÂm Chuùa cho moïi loaøi thoï taïo. Chuùng con khieâm nhöôøng caàu xin Chuùa ban cho chuùng con tham gia saâu ñaäm vaøo ñôøi soáng Chuùa Ba Ngoâi; laøm cho chuùng con trôû neân nhöõng chöùng chaân höõu hieäu vaø thaùnh thieän cho cuoäc töû naïn vaø phuïc sinh cuûa Chuùa Gieâsu; cuøng giuùp chuùng con soáng ñöùc tin Coâng Giaùo vôùi nieàm hoan hyû, xaùc tín vaø yeâu thöông ñeå nhöõng ngöôøi khaùch ñöôïc loâi cuoán vaøo maàu nhieäm cuûa Giaùo Hoäi Chuùa vaø caûm nhaän söùc maïnh ôn thaùnh cuûa caùc Bí Tích. Chuùng con thaønh khaån xin Chuùa laøm cho chuùng con trôû neân nhöõng ngöôøi rao giaûng lôøi Ngaøi, trong lôøi noùi vaø haønh ñoäng, trong söï thaät vaø baùc aùi, trong maàu nhieäm thaùnh giaù Chuùa vaø aùnh saùng phuïc sinh raïng ngôøi cuûa Ngaøi. Amen. www.bayoucatholic.com

Entertainment

Faded letters, clear images Seeing Clairely Claire Joller

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These two months at the end of the calendar year call forth memories of valued relationships and general impressions of the lifeflow factors that are the foundation of our existence. As we gather around the Thanksgiving table, our minds go to blessings received and people loved, not only in the present but also in the past. Celebrating Christmas always has components of remembering. Remembering what is important and who is important. Remembering the circumstances, choices, and people that have produced the textures of our being. Remembering our place in our particular sphere. In those year-end reckonings, it is not the large, singular events that combine to create the fabric of what we perceive as our lives. Most often, we don’t conjure up images of the car accident we had in March, or the promotion at work in August, or the prized possession we finally could afford to buy last month. Instead, it is the steady hum of our everyday lives that seems to define us to ourselves, and perhaps to others, as well. Not long ago I had the privilege of reading letters written beginning in 1854 between a man who became a prominent planter in our parish, and his beloved wife. The letters span their antebellum courtship years and his service as a Confederate captain during the Civil War. What I came away with from their letters was not the solid substance of dramatic events of their early adult years with war churning in the background as they fell in love, nor the subsequent turmoil of the war

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

itself. Instead, their letters left with me an impression of two people whose focus was on each other, family, home—their own sphere, their own place. This rugged young man wrote to his beloved about his family’s holiday candy pullings, and about the prolific fruit of his land’s 50 peach and orange trees. In an 1858 missive he assured her that Bayou Black was safe for swimming, since there were no alligators in the water. He further enticed her with the “fine place” where she could “raise ducks and geese out here.” The protective father of their young son cautioned her in an 1860 letter when she was visiting family in Baton Rouge not to let him play with marbles. He chronicled the health fears of 1854 yellow fever in Thibodaux and the May 1860 measles and whooping cough outbreaks that had taken the lives of two children nearby. But through even these concerns, there remains a steady tenor of everyday-ness. On a visit to town, he wrote, he was surprised to find the new churches nearly completed. He reported in 1860 in one letter while she was away that her turkey was doing quite well, as was her garden. In that same letter, he told his wife that he had found “the old bird nest” in “the front part of the yard next the garden.” It contained four eggs. None of these details is extraordinary. But to that man more than 150 years ago, these

candy pullings, fruit trees, ducks and geese were worthy of inclusion with the more bold stroke parts of their lives when he sat down to put pen to paper. I can imagine his delight as he found the bird’s nest that the two of them had searched for the previous spring; I can see the four eggs, and my mind forms a picture of him walking back into his house to share a precious little homey detail with the woman he loved. Our own accustomed daily routines, familiar sights, and small pleasures hover as the undergirding beneath the more uncommon events of our years. And whatever comprises our individual usualness, in the long run, becomes what we grasp onto as we assess our lives. (For comments or inquiries about this column, Claire Joller can be contacted by email at clairely1@ comcast.net).

The collection will be held November 17 and 18, 2012

402016-12

Special Events

Blue Mass

The annual Blue Mass, honoring community protectors, firefighters, law enforcement and military personnel, was celebrated recently at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux. Bishop Sam G. Jacobs was the main celebrant of the Mass. Community protectors who have died during the past year were remembered in a special way in the Prayers of the Faithful.

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier Bayou Catholic â&#x20AC;˘ Houma, LA â&#x20AC;˘ November 2012

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

Red Mass The annual Red Mass honoring all judges and lawyers was celebrated recently at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux. Bishop Sam G. Jacobs was the main celebrant of the Mass. The Red Mass, which is usually celebrated when the Supreme Court opens its new term, has its origins in the 1200s when judges and professors wore red.

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Our Churches

Our Lady of th

Story by Janet Marcel Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

he Rosary, Larose

Blessed with good leadership and energy

In the1860s, the legendary Pere Charles Menard would travel from the northern part of Lafourche Parish to perform baptisms, distribute Communion and give religious instruction four times a year in a small chapel in a developing community on the banks of Bayou Lafourche, which did not yet have a name. Residents of this area would travel up Bayou Lafourche to Lockport for weddings and funerals. In 1873, a small wooden church was built on donated land and Our Lady of the Rosary Church parish in Larose was established, the first in Southern Lafourche parish. Father Hyacinthe Brindejone served as the parish’s first pastor to approximately 300 people. The present church was built in 1933 in the Italian Romanesque style of architecture. The most distinctive feature of the exterior of the church is a simple iron cross on a gold dome which sits on a prominent bell tower, all of which can clearly be seen from the overpass on Highway 308 as one nears the community. The stained glass windows on the outer walls of the church illustrate the mysteries of the Rosary. The domed ceiling above the altar is decorated with Greek letters which signify the Alpha and the Omega. Father Ronila Villamor, pastor of the parish since June 2012, has been ministering in the diocese since September 2007 and was incardinated for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux on Sept. 1, 2012.

He says there are approximately 1,200 families currently in Our Lady of the Rosary Church parish, with a good mix of younger families with children and older couples. Among the parish’s many active organizations and ministries are a finance council, pastoral council, liturgy committee, CCD program, RCIA, a community life committee, a service committee which sponsors such activities as the Jesse Tree, Angel Tree and Thanksgiving Baskets; Ladies Altar Society, Holy Name Society, St. Vincent de Paul Society, an active Knights of Columbus, a youth group and an evangelization committee. As part of the parish’s evangelization efforts, Father Villamor goes house to house visiting sick parishioners and inactive Catholics. “It’s amazing to visit the people. Sometimes only one parent is Catholic and the children are in CCD. Sometimes they have been baptized Catholic but are going to other churches; in that case, I tell them ‘I just want to take you back,’” he says. As a way to keep parishioners and other members of the community informed, the weekly bulletin has been updated and improved, and the parish website is kept up to date. “We have made the bulletin the venue for the parishioners to get to know what’s happening in the parish and in the school,” says Father Villamor. “It’s like the hard copy of our website.” Father Villamor is also working toward more

www.bayoucatholic.com

Our Churches

Our Lady of the Rosary 42 collaboration between the school and the parish. “Every week we have a link to the school through the Friday morning Mass. The church is always full,” he says. The pastor and associate pastor also participate in many other school activities and the school’s principal, Scott Bouzigard, stays active in the church parish. Being new to the parish, Father Villamor has been working with parish leaders to assess the needs and work toward accomplishing the goals and objectives that were set before he arrived. “It has been challenging … working with the already established goals of the parish. We just have to get organized. I believe that one of the marks of a healthy organization is that everybody is more or less happy and fulfilled because they know what they’re doing and are confident they are doing the right things. We have a good staff here. We just have to become the best of ourselves.” The parish also has an abundance of good leadership and key people on different committees, says the pastor. “We have many active volunteers … they always step up whenever I need something. In fact, we are currently working on some way to recognize these outstanding volunteers and leaders who go the extra mile in the parish. Hopefully this recognition will inspire others to come forward. I pray that even more will step into ministry, because it’s ministry that gives the church life. The mission and vision of the church is to be the manifestation of Christ’s love, especially in the hurting and the needy, so I say let’s make it happen. Let’s put it into action.” Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

Our Lady of the Rosary Church parish staff are from left, Deacon Davis Doucet, Verna Ponville, housekeeper; Jennifer Sanamo, DRE; Scott Bouzigard, Holy Rosary School principal; Father Ronila Villamor, pastor; Deacon Michael Cantrelle; Father Rholando Grecia, associate pastor; Lauren Moore, secretary/receptionist; and Lisa Danos, business administrator. 43

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Special

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

The Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Assemblies of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux recently presented a check to Bishop Sam G. Jacobs to be used by the diocesan Office of Religious Education. The Fourth Degree Knights have been making a contribution to the Excellence in Religious Education (ERE) fund since 1989. Assembly representatives who presented the check to Bishop Jacobs are from left, Mike Callais, Alvin Ordoyne, Ferdinand Cortez, Gerald Crochet, Gary LeCompte Sr., Donald Naquin, diocesan ERE coordinator; Allen LaCoste, Kell Luke, Rickie Boudwin and Kervin Voisin.

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LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER PHOTOS/BAYOU CATHOLIC

As part of the Council of Catholic Schools Cooperative Clubs’ (CCSCC) 2012 Inspirational Teachers of the Year awards program, teachers were given the opportunity to write for $300 mini-grants. Marian Fertitta, diocesan superintendent of Catholic Schools, recently presented checks to the teachers who wrote the four winning grants. Pictured above with Holy Cross Elementary School in Morgan City principal Mamie Bergeron are Jenny Chamberlain and Susie Accardo whose grant entitled “The Vegetable & Flower Garden Project of PK4” was chosen for funding. They will use the grant money toward the purchase of materials for this hands-on physical activity that includes a daily schedule with jobs for each of the students in the class. This project teaches students teamwork, sharing, responsibility and the joy of success as they nurture, then harvest their crop. Pictured below with St. Genevieve Elementary School in Thibodaux principal Chris Knobloch, is Erica Annis whose grant entitled “Singapore Math” will be used to purchase instructional materials in the areas of math, science, and English grammar and writing for her 5th grade class. Singapore Math instruction provides an opportunity for differentiated learning and higher order thinking skills. Kathryn Bernard’s grant entitled “Digital Microscope” will enable her to purchase the Celestron LCD deluxe digital microscope which will be used in the school’s science lab. Celeste Molaison and Kim Vice’s grant entitled “EdMark Reading Program” will be used toward the purchase of the program which is designed as an intervention for students in kindergarten through third grade who struggle with reading. The program is a research based, sight word program used to help students who need an alternative to phonics.

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Special Events

ADORE Ministries continues

Bishop Sam G. Jacobs has announced that ADORE Ministries will continue in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux under the direction of the diocesan Conference Office. ADORE Houma will host two “big” Worship Nights per semester (fall and spring) and offer Home Nights to families willing to host small worship nights in their homes, inviting others to join them. The purpose of the ADORE Worship Nights is to bring the community together into deeper worship before Our Lord. These nights are free and open to the public. The ADORE Worship nights are held at the Houma Municipal Auditorium in Houma, 46 on Wednesdays beginning at 7 p.m. The last fall night is set for Nov. 28, and the spring dates are Jan. 23, 2013, and April 24. The Home Nights are being offered as a way to bring others, especially new people into the ministry and closer to Christ. An ADORE priest and worship leader will be present at each Home Night, offering an opportunity for a teaching and time before the Blessed Sacrament. These nights will be arranged through the Conference Office and are free as well. “Our hope is that by persons familiar with ADORE hosting these nights and inviting their friends who are unfamiliar with the ministry, we will have a further reach into the community of Houma-Thibodaux,” says Bishop Jacobs. Everyone is invited to attend the next ADORE Worship Night and to contact the Conference Office at (985) 850-3171 or www. AdoreHouma.com if they are interested in hosting a Home Night. All inquiries and questions should now be directed to the Conference Office. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

WINNER A winner has been chosen for Bayou Catholic’s “Where Am I” contest for the month of September. This stained glass window is located at St. Bernadette Church in Houma. Many correct entries were received and a winner was drawn at random. Kate Allemand of Raceland is the winner of a gift card in the amount of $50 from God’s Precious Word and Gifts.

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

Food for the Journey is Dec. 4 The diocesan Office of Religious Education sponsors a monthly lunchtime speaker series on the first Tuesday of the month at the Quality Hotel on Hollywood Road in Houma across from Vandebilt Catholic High School. The speaker for Dec. 4 is Houma native Father Mark Toups. Father Toups, who was ordained to the priesthood May 26, 2001, currently serves as diocesan director of Seminarians. As a faculty member of the Institute of Priestly Formation, a non-profit, Public Association of the Faithful committed to serving bishops by working directly with priests, seminarians and seminaries so that spiritual formation is the center around which all other aspects of priestly formation are integrated, he teaches Pastoral Theology at Notre Dame Seminary’s Graduate School of Theology. Since being ordained, he has served as associate pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Church parish in Larose, as pastor of St. Lucy Church parish in Houma and St. Luke Church parish in Thibodaux, and as diocesan director of the

Rev. Mark Toups

Office of Vocations. Those who plan to attend the Dec. 4th event should RSVP with their name, phone number and church parish by Thursday, Nov. 29. To RSVP, email FoodForTheJourney@ htdiocese.org or call (985) 8503178. Doors open at 10:45 a.m. Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. The program begins at Noon with the speaker’s presentation from 12:10-12:45 p.m. Cost is $13 and includes meal, drink and tip. Only cash or checks will be accepted. All are invited to come “eat and be fed.”

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Special

Anniversary couples honored Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier

Bishop Sam G. Jacobs presided over the annual wedding anniversary celebration recently at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux which honored 240 couples and was sponsored by the diocesan Office of Family Ministries. Wedding anniversary couples shown with the bishop from left are Scott and Tessie Guidroz, 25 years, St. Louis, Bayou Blue; Edward and Sandria Beauty, 40 years, St. Lucy, Houma; Edna and Russell DiSalvo, 50 years, Maria Immacolata, Houma; and Ann and Dr. James Peltier, 60 years, St. Joseph Co-Cathedral.

The annual diocesan wedding anniversary celebration which is sponsored by the Office of Family Ministries was held recently at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux. Bishop Sam G. Jacobs presided over the prayer service where 240 couples celebrating 25, 40, 50, 60 or more years of marriage were honored. 25th Anniversary Celebrants Annunziata, Houma: Antoine and Chloris Soudelier Caillouet, Robert and Mary Chaisson, Keith and Kimberly Poston Dupre; Christ the Redeemer, Thibodaux: Ricky and Gigi Legendre Bonvillain, Edward and Janice Chiasson Chiasson, Ivy and Susan Gauthreaux Daigle, Ron and Mert Duet Gaudin, Christopher and Roxanne Adams Legendre; Holy Family, Grand Caillou: Clark and Angela Ross Trosclair; Holy Savior, Lockport: Joey and Michelle Gautreaux Foret; Maria Immacolata, Houma: Gordon and Donnette Matzke Doiron; Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Chackbay: Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

240 couples couples 240 recognized recognized Marty and Thelma Mahler Boudreaux; Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma: Herbert and Debbie Falgout Cressoine; Sacred Heart, Montegut: Jerry and Susie Simoneaux Parrott; St. Anthony of Padua, Bayou Black: Mark and Donette Falgout Chaisson, Bennett Sr. and Susan Patterson Porche; St. Bernadette Soubirous, Houma: Mark and Rebecca Boudreaux Landry; St. Bridget, Schriever: Johnny and Julie Brunet Olin; St. Charles Borromeo, Pointe-auxChenes: Alton Sr. and Bernice Billiot Billiot; St. Charles Borromeo, St. Charles Community: Michael and Regina Danos Arabie; St. Eloi, Theriot: Edward and Tania Porche Theriot; Cathedral of St. Francis de

Sales, Houma: Dwain and Sheri Reynolds Eaton, Luigi and Lisa Spurgin Vegas; St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux: Teddy Jr. and Linda Holley Baudoin, David and Jami Covington Chadwick, Richard and Cynthia Ledet Parro; St. Joseph, Chauvin: Wilton and Bernadine Pitre LeBoeuf; St. Lawrence the Martyr, Kraemer: Vance and Janice Morvant Granier; St. Lawrence, Chacahoula: Todd and Renee Boudreaux Martin; St. Louis, Bayou Blue: Scott and Tessie Bergeron Guidroz; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Dwayne and Constance Pitre Bourgeois; 40th Anniversary Celebrants Annunziata, Houma: Larry and Mary Kay Brooks Frederick, Patrick and Debra Lapeyrouse Neal; Christ the Redeemer, Thibodaux: Jimmy and Connie Gravois Bellow, Donald and Elaine Chiasson Daigle, Robert and Joan Lajaunie Durocher, Randy and Geraldine Scioneaux Himel; Community of St. Anthony,

Anniversary couples Gheens: Dally Jr. and Brenda Pierce Breaux; Holy Savior, Lockport: Chris and Gayle Gaudet Arceneaux; Maria Immacolata, Houma: Donald and Lois Nelson Crochet, Kenneth and Yolanda Vita Trahan; Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma: James Rene’ and Marsha Eschete Williams; Sacred Heart, Cut Off: Albert and Gail Cheramie Lefort, Wayne and Jerrie Charpentier Tyler; St. Ann, Bourg: Burt and Mary Chauvin Brunet, Selwyn Jr. and Kathleen Bourg Gilmore, William and Emma Thibodeaux Leonard; St. Bernadette Soubirous, Houma: Harold Mack Jr. and Laura Himel Cancienne, Novel Jr. and Kathryn Duet LeBoeuf, Kenneth and Theresa Daigle Lirette, Glenn and Elaine Clement Malbrough, Victor and Sheila Adams Michel, Ray and Sarah Foerster Sick; St. Charles Borromeo, Pointe-auxChenes: Archie and Elwanda Levron Dupre, Ray and Delinda Dupre LeBoeuf; St. Charles Borromeo, St. Charles Community: Charles and Judy Rousseau Burleson, David and Annette Rousselle Champagne, Glenn and Trudy Babin Rodrigue; Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma: Vernon and Janet Picou Babin; St. Hilary, Mathews: Irvin and Judy Rogers Bourg, Randy and Stephanie Forrestier Dandry, Kerry and Laura Martinez St. Pe’; St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux: Andrew and Jennica Matherne Angelette, Kenneth and Audrey Boudreaux Borne, Gary and Sara Savoie Hebert, Kent and Loretta Rousseau Lirette, Robert and Penny Cutrera Naquin, Michael and Roslyn Legendre Rhodes; St. Joseph, Chauvin: Jerry and Regina Manzo Foret, Terry and Billie Duplantis Matherne; St. Joseph, Galliano: Sidney and Octavia Chauvin Lee; St. Lawrence the Martyr, Kraemer: Callen and Mona Hotard Cortez, Nathan and JoAnn Boudreaux Granier, Jules and Amanda Kliebert Kraemer; St. Lawrence, Chacahoula: Ranis and Janice Babin Avet; St. Lucy, Houma: Edward and Sandria Lewis Beauty; St. Luke, Thibodaux: Gary and Rose Bergeron Clement; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Lilier and Linda Babin

Adams, Nolan and Alice Brown Baye, Allen and Shelly Breaux Hebert; 50th Anniversary Celebrants Annunziata, Houma: Carol and Emily Voisin Bascle, Donald and Betty Houck Chauvin; Christ the Redeemer, Thibodaux: Jerome and Geraldine Lasseigne Cavalier, Bobby and Betty Duet Theriot; Holy Cross, Morgan City: Jerry and Denise Parra Bostic, John and Mary Lou Brunson Conrad; Holy Family, Grand Caillou: Jeffery and Linda Rodrigue Scott; Holy Savior, Lockport: Chris and Darlene Robichaux Castalano, Rudy Sr. and Claire Cormier Dufrene, Donald and Nettie Arceneaux Falgout, Kenneth and Pamela Zeringue Plaisance; Maria Immacolata, Houma: Irvin and Glorise Hebert Bergeron, Russell Sr. and Edna Willig DiSalvo, Max and Charlene Callahan Guidry; Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Chackbay: Roland and Elaine Sampey Clement, Elves Jr. and Therese Lasserre Mars, Larry and Lillian Rodrigue Ordoyne; Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma: Hayes and Thelma Griffin Babin, James and Jane Cunningham Breaux, Ray Sr. and Judy Guilfour Duthu, Earl and Rose Brunet Eschete, Joseph and Patricia Engeron Ledet; Our Lady of the Rosary, Larose: Emery and Bertie Cavalier Acosta, Earl and Eva Chabert Legendre; Sacred Heart, Cut Off: Dave Jr. and Betty Chouest Bourgeois, Melvin and Anna Aupied Constransitch, Theodore and Joycelyn Badeaux Renois, Elmo Jr. and Doris Chabert Robichaux, Dennis and Ann Arceneaux Viator; Sacred Heart, Morgan City: Donald and Karen Melancon Loupe; St. Ann, Bourg: James and Roberta LeBoeuf Duplantis, Floyd and Carolyn Pellegrin Dupre, Clayton and Lynndell Hymel Guedry, Ashley and Beverly Peltier Matherne; St. Bernadette Soubirous, Houma: Whitney Peter Jr. and Janice Blanchard Armond, Donald and Mercedes Leonard Bascle, Gary and Judith Berniard Landry, John B. and Rose Scurto Marceaux, Otis and Anita Arceneaux Portier, Harold and Sylvia Folse Savoie, Richard and Marilyn Egle Sonnier; St. Bridget, Schriever: Harold and Clara Foret Sevin, Leo and Una Gros Terracina; St. Charles Borromeo, St. Charles Community: Roland and Rosalie Chauvin Knobloch, Lawrence Paul and Mabel Marie Lirette Mayet, Jene and Annette Chauvin Ullo; St. Eloi, Theriot: Charles and Judith LeBlanc Bonvillain, Gilbert and

Mary Blanchard Naquin; Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma: Ira and Eloyne deGeneres Bergeron, Jerome and Carmel Breaux Daigle, Anthony and Patricia Alfani Herques, Greg and Sandra Lea Moise, Clifton and Kay Evans Stoufflet; St. Gregory, Houma: Clay and Carolyn Hebert Theriot; St. Hilary, Mathews: Charles and Carol Schouest LeBlanc, Donald and Clara Brocato Theriot, Earl and Katie Ledet Uzee; St. John the Evangelist, Thibodaux: Lanny and Beverly Blanchard Borne, Earl and Evelyn LeBlanc Navarre; St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux: Roland “R.J.” and Stella Vicknair Boudreaux, Albert and Ellen Lasseigne Gayral, Robert and Camilla Poche Ledet; St. Joseph, Chauvin: Leland and Emily Dupre Neil; St. Joseph, Galliano: E.J. and Janet Champagne Dugas, Linton and Martha Doucet Griffin; St. Lawrence the Martyr, Kraemer: Ashton and Marion Landry Granier, Toby and Garnet Becnel Granier; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Roland and Diana Babin Griffin, Jerry and Diana Sapia Martin, Calvin and Sherry Fremin Thibodeaux; 60th Anniversary Celebrants Annunziata, Houma: Don and Dee 49 Whipple McCullough, Levis Jr. and Billie Stevens Pellegrin; Holy Family, Grand Caillou: James and Beverly Authement Trosclair; Maria Immacolata, Houma: Darwin and Geraldine Terrebonne Lafont, Milton and Betty Duplantis White; Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma: Dan and Robbie Guedry LeBlanc, Burleigh and Molly Moore Ruiz; Sacred Heart, Cut Off: Ames and Earline Cormier Allemand, Alvin and Beatrice Vegas Charpentier, Herbert and Peggy Dufrene Charpentier, Larry and Daisy Pierce Galjour, Raymond and Betty Lefort Melancon; St. Bridget, Schriever: Paul and Marilyn Talbot Thibodaux; St. Charles Borromeo, Pointe-aux-Chenes: Elias and Shirley Dupre Levron; St. Eloi, Theriot: Raymond and Brunella Duplantis Brunet; Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma: Jack and Gert Belanger Butler, Jerry and Florence Guidry Cunningham; St. Gregory, Houma: Arlen and Jacqueline Guidry Cenac, Carlton and Rita Trahan Falgout, Wade and Leah LeCompte Use’; St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux: Dr. James and Ann Armstrong Peltier; St. Joseph, Chauvin: Ferrel and Grace Pellegrin Chauvin, Paul and Irene LeCompte Lyons; St. Joseph, Galliano:

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Anniversary couples Ervin and Aline Adams Bruce; St. Lawrence the Martyr, Kraemer: O’Neil and Annette Boudreaux Andras, Callen and Ella Simon Dempster, Roy and Lorraine Lassere Kraemer; St. Louis, Bayou Blue: Norris and Barbara Boudreaux Ledet; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Leonard and Alice Robichaux Borne; 61st Anniversary Celebrants Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma: Reynold and Lucille LeBlanc Pitre; St. Bernadette Soubirous, Houma: Euma and Betty Naquin Allemand; St. John the Evangelist, Thibodaux: Sterling and Inez Bourg Aysen; St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux: Herbert and Rose Lee Brown Toups; St. Joseph, Galliano: Eeris and Velma Collins Bouzigard; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Dudley and Betty Foret Adams, Gus and Bernice Matherne Falgout, Pierre and Dolores Breaux Foret, Harrison 50 and Jeannette Gervais Matherne; 62nd Anniversary Celebrants Holy Savior, Lockport: Calvin and Anna Rose Marie Guidroz Allemand; St. Hilary, Mathews: Thomas and Rita St. Romain Robichaux; St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux: Deacon Pedro Pablo and Graziella Maria Muniz ` Pujals; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Joseph and Mary LeBlanc Champagne, Bolton and Cerita Foret LeBlanc; 63rd Anniversary Celebrants Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Golden Meadow: Ellis and Iona Collins Lefort; Our Lady of the Rosary, Larose: Richard and Jenny Defelice Rodrigue; Sacred Heart, Cut Off: Roman and Mabel Autin Guidry; Sacred Heart, Morgan City: James Jr. and Betty Landry Rink; St. Hilary, Mathews: Hubert and Loyce St. Pierre Gaudet; St. Joseph, Galliano: Elphege Jr. and Vina Mae Hebert Brunet, E.J. and Julia Sanamo Griffin; St. Lawrence the Martyr, Kraemer: Philip and May Oubre Granier; 64th Anniversary Celebrants Holy Savior, Lockport: Raymond and Marion Adams Birdsall; Maria Immacolata, Houma: Billy and Jane Boudreaux Bundy; St. Ann, Bourg: Curtis and Cecile Fanguy Fabre; St. Hilary, Mathews: Tony and Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

Velma Adams Plaisance; St. Joseph CoCathedral, Thibodaux: Roland and Billie Babin Soignet; St. Joseph, Galliano: James and Irma Cheramie Cheramie; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Ivy and Shirley Waguespack Foret; 65th Anniversary Celebrants Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Houma: Evans (Vince) and Miriam Bonvillain Hebert, Albert and Velma Guidry Trahan; Sacred Heart, Cut Off: James and Thelma Foret Alario; Sacred Heart, Morgan City: Merlin and Genevieve Mula Theriot; St. Ann, Bourg: Selwyn and Mabel Nini Gilmore; St. Charles Borromeo, Pointe-auxChenes: Louby and Joyce Dupre Ledet; St. Charles Borromeo, St. Charles Community: Wilbert and Mercedes Ledet Knoblock; Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma: Norman and Ruth Daigle Giroir, Frank and Claire Olivier Porretto; St. Hilary, Mathews: Albert Jr. and Lorita Detillier Loupe; St. Joseph, Galliano: Nolan and Octavia Rousse Lasseigne 66th Anniversary Celebrants Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Golden Meadow: Ernest and Lovinia Gisclair Eymard; Sacred Heart, Cut Off: Weston and Doris Richoux Smith; St. Bernadette Soubirous, Houma: Victor and Irene Crochet Michel; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Philip and Delta Sampey Monier,

Camille and Aline Borne St. Pierre; 67th Anniversary Celebrants Holy Family, Grand Caillou: Evest Jr. and Mary Crochet Voisin; Sacred Heart, Cut Off: Harold and Emelia Lorraine Callais; 68th Anniversary Celebrants Holy Family, Grand Caillou: Irvin and Drussella Eschete Duplantis; St. Mary’s Nativity, Raceland: Gatewood and Earline Sevin Folse, Abraham and Folssie Foret Martin; 69th Anniversary Celebrants Holy Savior, Lockport: Roland Sr. and Euna Mae Bourgeois Arcement; St. Joseph, Galliano: Gilbert and Irene Plaisance Griffin; 70th Anniversary Celebrants St. Charles Borromeo, St. Charles Community: Joseph and Erline Ledet Toups; 71st Anniversary Celebrants St. Bernadette Soubirous, Houma: David and Elsie Champagne Champagne, John and Marie Clark Prejean; 72nd Anniversary Celebrants Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Golden Meadow: Henry Sr. and Norma Pitre Lafont; St. Ann, Bourg: Charlie and Flavia Crochet Redmond; St. Hilary, Mathews: Alex and Esma Knight Babin; 74th Anniversary Celebrants St. Hilary, Mathews: Douglas and Genevieve Folse Acosta.

Did you know? Did you know that in the past 15 years 4,547 couples have participated in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s marriage preparation program which is conducted by the diocesan Office of Family Ministries with the help of 12 married couples who have been trained for the program.

Sports

Overtime

Ed Daniels

Since this is a Catholic publication, I have a confession to make. I am a big basketball fan. But, in Louisiana, being a college basketball fan is very hard to do. I would ask, has the college game in our state ever been any worse? In last season’s SEC tournament, Kentucky fans packed New Orleans Arena for a noon Friday tipoff. The paucity of LSU fans in the building was embarrassing. It was clear LSU fans had not only a disconnect from hoops, but from head coach Trent Johnson. LSU was more than happy to see Johnson depart for TCU. Maybe new head coach Johnny Jones, a former Tiger will be the coach who brings LSU basketball back. Jones has far more personality than Johnson, a coach who never seemed to be the right fit in Tigertown, even when he won an SEC championship. In the meantime, each March the NCAA tournament seems to

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Local basketball stars need to stay home go on just fine without Louisiana schools. LSU hasn’t won a tournament game since 2009. Southern hasn’t reached the NCAA tournament since 2006. The Jaguars haven’t won an NCAA tournament game since 1993. UL-Monroe’s last trip to the Big Dance was 1996. UL-Lafayette used to be a school with rich basketball tradition. But, the school that produced Bo Lamar and Andrew Toney hasn’t reached the tournament since 2000. The Ragin Cajuns are 20 years and counting since their last NCAA win. Tulane hasn’t reached the NCAA tournament since 1995 where the Wave reached the round of 32. UNO’s last NCAA visit was 1996. McNeese’s last NCAA trip was 2002. Southeastern’s only trip was in 2005. The Nicholls State Colonels haven’t been to the Big Dance since 1998. No. 14 seed Northwestern State’s 2006 upset of No. 3 seed Iowa seems like it happened a lifetime ago. Louisiana Tech, the school that

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produced Karl Malone and Randy White hasn’t been to the Big Dance since 1991. La Tech’s last NCAA tournament win was 1989. College basketball watchers in our state will tell you that it makes a big difference in Louisiana if LSU is good in the sport. But, there has been little carry over from the Tigers’ 2006 trip to the Final 4. In Dale Brown’s heyday, Louisiana’s stars went to LSU. Johnny Jones played at DeRidder High School, where he was a Class 4A MVP. LSU stars like Nikita Wilson (Leesville), Leonard Mitchell (St Martinville), and Howard “Hi C” Carter (Baton Rouge) seemed destined to be Tigers. But, in the class of 2012, 51 Louisiana stars headed to Texas. Forward Rico Gathers of Riverside signed with Baylor. Guard Javan Felix of St. Aug signed with the University of Texas. Louisiana has several outstanding prep stars in coming classes. Let’s hope they stay home. But, if they don’t, a state that barely notices can’t be surprised.

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Life and Legacy

Honoring our dead: Diocese has

30 cemeteries November is a special According to Cooke’s month set aside to records, one marker in remember and pray for the cemetery reads, “In all of the deceased. On Memory of Thirty-Nine all Saints Day Catholics Members of Co. A 2nd recognize and honor the Texas Calvary who fell at saints as well as other the Battle of Lafourche men, women and children Crossing – June 21, 1863.” who have led good and The Cathedral of St. faithful lives, but who Francis de Sales parish have not been officially has two cemeteries named “saints” by the directly behind the church church. on Goode Street, and At this time of the year, another four miles away much time and effort on Hwy. 24 in the area is spent making the known as Bayou Cane. gravesites and cemeteries Other church cemeteries attractive with beautiful in the diocese include St. flowers and fresh paint Andrew Cemetery, Amelia; as a sign of respect for St. Lawrence Cemetery, those who have died. The Chacahoula; Our Lady of 52 cemeteries are visited Prompt Succor Cemetery, by those who come from Chackbay; St. Patrick near and far to pray and Cemetery, Gibson; remember their deceased St. Charles Borromeo family members and Cemetery, St. Charles friends. Community; St. Bridget There are 30 Catholic LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC Cemetery, Schriever; cemeteries within the Pere Menard’s tomb is located in St. Joseph Cemetery, St. John Cemetery, boundaries of the Diocese Thibodaux. Thibodaux; St. Anthony of Houma-Thibodaux. Cemetery, Gheens; “St. Joseph Diocesan Cemetery pioneer of Thibodaux who walked St. Lawrence the Martyr in Thibodaux is the oldest Catholic all the way to Chalmette Field to Cemetery, Kraemer; St. Mary’s cemetery in the diocese,” according join Jackson’s Army,” according to Nativity Cemetery, Raceland; St. to George Cooke, director of the Cooke’s records. Hilary Cemetery, Mathews; Holy diocesan Cemetery Office. Also buried in St. Joseph Diocesan Savior Cemetery, Lockport; Holy “The cemetery was officially Cemetery, is Father (Pere) Charles Rosary Cemetery, Larose; Sacred adopted by the St. Joseph CoMenard, the pioneer of many Heart Cemetery, Cut Off; St. Cathedral parish in 1817 when churches and schools up and down Joseph Cemetery, Galliano; Our property was acquired by St. Bayou Lafourche, in what is now Lady of Prompt Succor Cemetery, Joseph for the church and cemetery, the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. Golden Meadow; Our Lady of the but the cemetery was already in Pere Menard has been called “the Isle Cemetery, Grand Isle; use at the time,” he said. “Some of Apostle of Bayou Lafourche.” St. Louis Cemetery, Bayou the tombs were documented before The gravesites of Bishop L. Abel Blue; St. Ann Cemetery, Bourg; 1817.” Caillouet, former auxiliary bishop St. Joseph Cemetery, Chauvin; of New Orleans and the only native St. Joseph Diocesan Cemetery Holy Family Cemetery No. 1 and bishop of this diocese; Alexdre. has several points of interest as a 2, Grand Caillou; Holy Rosary Ph. Nicolas Coulon, born in Paris historic cemetery of the diocese. In Cemetery, Houma; Sacred Heart in 1774, who was president of this cemetery lie the remains of the Cemetery, Montegut; Dugas St. Joseph Church; and Richard last soldier of Andrew Jackson’s Cemetery, Montegut; St. Charles Dalton William, an Irish Patriot Army to die, Pierre Aaman Lejeune, Cemetery, Pointe-aux-Chenes; St. and poet who died in 1862 at the born in 1790 and died in 1894, age of 40, can be found in the Eloi Cemetery, Theriot; and St. who fought in the Battle of New historic cemetery. Orleans. The tomb calls him “the James Cemetery, Kraemer. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

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Life and Legacy

Catholic chaplains

help military families cope with loss By FELIX RIVERA

Catholic News Service

Military chaplains not only help soldiers handle loss, they also make sure these men and women can continue their duties in the midst of tragedies. Father Redmond Raux, a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston who is a chaplain with the Air Force, said his job is to make sure the troops are mission ready at all times, especially after a loss. “It is my job to make sure they know they did everything they were trained to do,” he said. “It helps to facilitate a faster return to ‘normality.’” “Military chaplains get to engage with the airman in the workplace, be a part of the system,” he said. “We can minister from within.” 54 Even so, Father Raux said, that chaplains provide much of the same services as those on the “outside”: rites, religious education, funeral services, marriage and more. The priest, a lieutenant colonel, noted the accessibility chaplains have in their ministry as one major difference. In fact, Father Raux, who was ordained as a priest in 1982, said he made an effort to avoid being a strange face to the troops and to build spiritual relationships. “It is important that chaplains realize these folks are not just a number,” he said. He remembered one story in particular where he ministered to a young woman who had just learned about the loss of her grandmother and, because of strict rules concerning emergency leave during deployment, could not return home for the funeral. Father Raux was able to talk to her about the grieving process and about her faith, even though she was not Catholic. “It is a matter of just passing someone in the hallway and being able to talk to them freely about what is going on,” he said. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

Father Kieran Mandato, a chaplain for the Washington Naval District, has had a very different set of experiences. Father Mandato, a priest of the New York Archdiocese who has been on active duty with the Navy since 1992, presides over burials at Arlington National Cemetery for the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. He follows what he calls his “regimen” for notifying families about a loss. After receiving a notification about a death, he sends a letter to each family, followed up by a phone call. “Many times, these phone calls turn into opportunities for me to listen to the grieving families,” said the priest, who holds the rank of commander. “It allows me to have a ministry of presence for them, even on the telephone.” Many times, when families will come in to speak with Father Mandato face-to-face, he notices their expressions and the hurt they feel. Often, this grief is expressed during the burial.

“Sometimes the grief has dissipated, and other times it has resurfaced because families are finally able to pay tribute to their loved ones,” he said. Father Mandato shared one story about a burial he described touching. During his usual phone call to the family, the wife of a deceased Marine Corps general read a part of the will. “In that will,” the priest said, “he had requested not to have any of the Marines do any honors for him because they had been doing exactly that for the last 30-plus years,” the amount of time the general had served in the Marines. “This was a beautiful burial because of the general’s humility,” he said. “It was in the pouring rain no less.” He also recalled instances where he would preside at the burial of one spouse, only to be at the burial for the other spouse a few months later. Father Mandato called the military burial process a “ministry unto itself.”

CNS PHOTO

Words to say, and By JESSICA PALL

Catholic News Service

AVOID saying, to the grieving

Helping others cope with their grief is difficult, even if you have experienced your own tragic loss, but knowing what to say or what not to say can help you comfort the griever without putting him or her in additional pain. “Often, I think the cliches we use to try and comfort people puts a burden on them by requiring them to be strong, to not cry and to move on with life when they are in the middle of an incredibly difficult part of grief,” said Maureen Waldron, associate director of the Collaborative Ministry Office at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. Sometimes we encourage people to move on with grief because we’re uncomfortable being around the “depth of their pain,” she said in an e-mail to Catholic News Service. The collaborative ministry office at Creighton University has posted online resources to help people through stages of grief: http://onlineministries. creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Grief/avoidcliches.html. According to the material, individuals should say “I’m sorry” instead of “I understand how you feel.” Or “I don’t know why it happened” instead of “It all happened for the best.” Rather than trying to answer the bereaved’s unasked questions or provide philosophical reasoning, simply listening or expressing confusion and offering supportive help is appropriate. “How are you doing with all this; I’m here and I want to listen; you must really be hurting; take all the time you need; I’ll call tomorrow; and please tell me what you are feeling” are some of the appropriate phrases to say, according to the article. Although it isn’t always easy to support a grieving person, people can be most helpful by entering into a griever’s pain and being willing to meet them where they are. “They don’t want to hear that it will get better,” Waldron said, “because right now their grief might make it difficult for them to even function, it could be very helpful for someone simply to be with them in that incredible grief, not to say I know how you feel.” She added that the grief process cannot be rushed and that everyone heals at different times. “Offering someone a safe place to express his/her grief, over and over again, could be the most healing thing we offer,” Waldron said. “The most important advice is to listen, not tell people what they should be feeling or how to deal with their grief.” Donna McCarthy, who works as a consultant, specializing in oral and communication skills, said: “There isn’t a real formula for knowing what to say, but basically talking from the heart is often the best.” McCarthy, is an associate of ECCO International, based in St. Paul, Minn. The company -- Effecting Creative Change in Organizations -- helps individuals expand their influence and organizations expand their global possibilities.

Phrases like “my heart is broken for you,” “words fail me” and “I am so sorry for your loss” are meaningful, healing words she said. Words to avoid, she said, include expressions like “I know what you’re going through” and “it was God’s will that this happened.” “It is a common temptation to use your life example and compare it to the bereaved,” McCarthy said, but “now is not the time to do it as their grieving situation is unique to them.” Above all, McCarthy said family and friends should listen as it is such a powerful communicator. Even an embrace or a touch on the shoulder is a nonverbal way to offer your sympathy and can be a huge gift to someone. “It is essential for people to come to the funeral service because it shows honor for the deceased and the person who is grieving. It is the Christian thing to do, as it communicates your respect and support,” McCarthy said. She also advised individuals to call their friend or family member directly before and after the death, as these are critical times for the bereaved.

Journey

Hospice

Our Philosophy on Hospice Care Includes: • Allowing the patient to continue seeing their physicians. • Providing the medications, supplies (diapers, nutritional supplements) and all medical equipment. • Providing care for those who suffer from: Heart, Liver, and Kidney Disease, Dementia, Cancer, and other chronic illnesses. • Providing Crisis Care for patients and their caregivers who experience symptoms that are related to the patient’s disease process. • Providing hospice care for patients while at home, in assisted livings, nursing homes and hospitals. • Our services are paid by Medicare, Medicaid, Private Insurance, or our indigent program. • We continue medications and nutritional supplements while on our service. • Our patients are allowed to be admitted to a hospital for symptom management. • We use RN’s and LPN’s for our nursing care, along with CNA’s, Social Workers, Chaplains, and Volunteers. • We provide bereavement for no less than a year following a patient’s passing. • Along with our Medical Director, we work with the patient’s physician to provide the best continutity of care for the patient. To learn more about our services Call: 985-223-1865 598 Corporate Drive • Houma, LA 70360 24 Hours 7 Days a Week

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Life and Legacy

Monks casketmaking reflects spirituality CNS PHOTO

As Houma and Morgan City’s Oldest and continually owned funeral homes, we’ve been there for you. Through these difficult economic times we want you to know we will continue to be there with afforable funeral and cremation services. Our directors are here to help you plan a ceremony to honor your love ones, however traditional or unique as you wish. Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

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By CAROL ZIMMERMANN Catholic News Service

Trappist and Benedictine monks in the United States support their lifestyle predominantly by selling homemade products such as preserves, fruitcake, beer, candy and, in some cases, wooden caskets. Although caskets do not seem to fit with the traditional homemade food and drinks, the monks who make them say the ministry is unique to their spiritual understanding of simplicity in life and death and the belief that at the end of life, the body is returned to the earth but the soul endures. Most monks have been burying their brother monks in caskets they make for decades, but since the 1990s, a few U.S. monasteries started approaching this work as a possible business venture. Casket prices typically range from $1,500 to $2,000. The New Melleray Abbey in Peosta, Iowa, describes the casket business they have been operating since 1999 as an extension of their sacred work. “Our philosophy calls for us to labor quietly with our hands in support of our life of simplicity. We bring old world craftsmanship and sensible prices to fine wooden caskets,” it says on the website trappistcaskets.com. The monks also stress their commitment to responsible stewardship stating that they only use wood of local origin -- much of it coming from their own 1,200 acre forest -- and they plant a tree in honor of each person buried in one of their caskets. They view casket-making as part of the corporal work of mercy to bury the dead; they also bless each casket.

Benedictine monks of St. Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad, Ind., have also been selling wooden caskets since 1999. On their website, abbeycaskets.com, the monks equate their steady casket sale business to “a surge of interest in spirituality and in monasticism” in the United States. “We see an increasing desire from those outside the monastery to connect with the monastic community in a variety of forms. One form of this desire has surfaced in a request for and a positive response to a casket modeled after the traditional monastic casket,” the site adds. They advertise that the caskets enable people to share with the monks their “belief in the Christian’s ultimate poverty before God. … What more powerful symbol to express this kinship than a casket? What more solemn occasion than death?” Although funeral homes sell caskets, they also allow families to supply their own. In 1994, the Federal Trade Commission ruled that funeral homes may not charge a surcharge or handling fee to those who wish to supply their own casket for funeral arrangements. In Louisiana state law allows only licensed funeral homes to sell caskets to the public, and this has had an impact on the casket-making business of the Benedictine monks of St. Joseph Abbey in Covington who launched their casket business in 2007. In the summer of 2010, the monks filed a lawsuit in a federal court in New Orleans to sell the caskets within the state. In the suit, Benedictine

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Life and Legacy

Monks Abbot Justin Brown said the monks simply want to “be able to construct, craft and build simple wooden coffins to sell to our friends, associates and the general public. We are not a wealthy monastery, and we were hoping that the income we could generate from the sale of these coffins would help us meet the educational and the health care needs of our monks.” The monks at New Melleray Abbey in Iowa have not faced these hurdles and as a result they have seen their business grow. Five years ago they received local zoning approval to build a new woodworking facility at the abbey enabling them to produce up to 2,500 to 3,000 caskets a year. Sam Mulgrew, the operations general manager for Trappist Caskets, said the monks were not looking to make more than 3,000 caskets a year. “They’re not doing this for wealth,” he told the Northwest Indiana Catholic, newspaper of the Diocese of Gary, Ind., after the expansion was announced. “This is to pay bills and take care of the monks’ charities.” 58

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Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • November 2012

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