The Church Today, July 22, 2013

CHURCH

Volume XLIV, No. 7

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Serving the Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana Since 1970

July 22, 2013

ON THE

INSIDE Pope Francis releases first encyclical, “Lumen Fidei”

On the road to the

Priesthood

Pope Francis released his first encyclical, “Lumen Fidei” (The Light of Faith) on July 5, completing the triology of theological virtues -- faith, hope, and love. Read more about it on page 3.

The “Picture Issue” This month’s issue of the Church Today is filled with pictures of First Communion, Confirmation, and Steubenville. Go to pages 1015 and page 18 to see pictures of hundreds of young people from around the diocese who are actively participating in their faith journey.

Legislation in the news While Texas adopts the toughest abortion laws in the country, the U.S. Supreme Court makes a tragic ruling on same-sex marriage for our country. At the same time, two Catholic groups have conflicting views on the HHS mandate controversy. Read the latest national news affecting our Catholic faith, pages 2-3.

DIACONATE ORDINATION. Bishop Ronald Herzog imposes Reynolds, whileSt.ordaining as a deacon for Thehands classonofTaylor 8th graders from AnthonyhimSchool in Bunkie the Diocese of Alexandria on June 29.

Deacon Reynolds is exshow their joy after graduation. Read more about other senior to be graduations ordained to thearound priesthood year. on Seepgs. page.

7. andpected 8th grade thenext diocese 12-13.

PAGE 2

CHURCH TODAY

JULY 22, 2013

CHA satisfied with HHS mandate; USCCB continues fight

By Joshua McElwee National Catholic Reporter

“We are pleased that our members now have an accommodation that will As the U.S. Catholic bishops ramp up to again fight an Obama administration not require them to contract, provide, mandate regarding coverage of contracep- pay or refer for contraceptive covertive services in health care plans, the lead- age.” ers of the church’s national health care -- Sister Carol Keehan, president have announced they will lay down arms.

The Catholic Health Association (CHA), which describes itself as the largest group of nonprofit health care providers in the nation, said it sees its part in the fight, which began a year and a half ago over concerns that the mandate didn’t offer protections for those opposed to contraception, as basically finished.

The administration “has now established an accommodation that will allow our ministries to continue offering health insurance plans for their employees as

Catholic Health Association

they have always done,” Charity Sr. Carol Keehan, the association’s president, said in a memorandum to the group’s members Monday.

“We are pleased that our members now have an accommodation that will not require them to contract, provide, pay or refer for contraceptive coverage,” Keehan continued.

The Catholic Health Association comprises more than 600 hospitals and 1,400 long-term care and other health facilities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The Department of Health and Human Services first issued the mandate, which the Obama administration has amended several times, in January 2012 as part of the implementation of the health care reform law.

The administration announced its final version of the mandate June 28. The U.S. bishops were initially cautious in responding to that version, saying in a statement they were first going to undertake a “careful analysis” of the 82-page document. The next week, their president, New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, pledged the bishops would continue fighting the measure.

The bishops, Dolan said in a July 3 statement, had not yet “discovered any

“(The U.S. bishops) have not discovered any new change (in the mandate) that eliminates the need to continue defending our rights in Congress and the courts.”

-- Cardinal Timothy Dolan, president U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

new change that eliminates the need to continue defending our rights in Congress and the courts.”

According to the latest version of the mandate, any organization that self-certifies as a nonprofit religious group with religious objections to contraceptive coverage could defer coverage of contraceptives to a separate health insurance issuer.

Supreme Court rules Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional ‘Tragic day for marriage and our nation’ says USCCB on Supreme Court ruling

By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service

(CNS) -- U.S. Catholic bishops said the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 26 rulings on same-sex marriage were a “tragic day for marriage and our nation.”

The court, in separate 5-4 rulings struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, defining marriage as between one man and one woman and also refused to rule on the merits of a challenge to California’s Proposition 8, the voterapproved initiative barring same-sex marriage.

In the rulings, the court said DOMA was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause and they sent back to lower courts a challenge to Prop 8, saying the

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individuals who defended the law in court lacked the legal standing to do so.

A statement by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, and Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco, said the court “has dealt a profound injustice to the American people by striking down in part the federal Defense of Marriage Act.” “The court got it wrong,” they continued. “The federal government ought to respect the truth that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, even where states fail to do so. The preservation of liberty and justice requires that all laws, federal and state, respect the truth, including the truth about marriage.”

The bishops also said it was “unfortunate that the court did not take the opportunity to uphold California’s Proposition 8

but instead decided not to rule on the matter. The common good of all, especially our children, depends upon a society that strives to uphold the truth of marriage.

Now is the time to redouble our efforts in witness to this truth.”

They urged people to “stand steadfastly together in promoting and defending the unique meaning of marriage: one man, one woman, for life.” They also asked for prayers “as the court’s decisions are reviewed and their implications further clarified.”

Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori said the court’s decisions were the “latest in a troubling trend of decisions by lawmakers, judges, and some voters which ignores the fundamental truth about marriage: It is the most valued, most important social unit

in our society and as such is deserving of the protection and special recognition societies have afforded it throughout human history.”

The archbishop, who is chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty, said the courts’ decisions will “also undoubtedly contribute to concerted efforts not just to redefine marriage but to dismantle it, efforts which represent a serious threat to religious liberty and conscience rights for countless people of faith.”

Archbishop Timothy M. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services urged Catholics to “make their voices heard through the democratic process by upholding marriage in their home states.”

JULY 22, 2013

CHURCH TODAY

PAGE 3

Pope’s first encyclical celebrates faith as light of human life

By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis’ first encyclical, “Lumen Fidei” (“The Light of Faith”), is a celebration of Christian faith as the guiding light of a “successful and fruitful life,” inspiring social action as well as devotion to God, and illuminating “every aspect of human existence,” including philosophy and the natural sciences.

The document, released July 5, completes a papal trilogy on the three “theological virtues,” following Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclicals “Deus Caritas Est” (2005) on charity and “Spe Salvi” (2007) on hope. Publication of the encyclical was one of the most awaited events of the Year of Faith which began in October 2012.

Pope Benedict “had almost completed a first draft of an encyclical on faith” before his retirement in February 2013, Pope Francis writes, adding that “I have taken

The entire encyclical can be read at: www.vatican.va

up his fine work and added a few contributions of my own.”

Commentators will likely differ in attributing specific passages, but the document clearly recalls the writings of Pope Benedict in its extensive treatment of the dialogue between faith and reason and its many citations of St. Augustine, not to mention references to Friedrich Nietzsche and Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

On other hand, warnings of the dangers of idolatry, Gnosticism and Pharisaism, a closing prayer to Mary as the “perfect icon of faith,” and an entire section on the relevance of faith to earthly justice and peace echo themes that Pope Francis has already made signatures of his young pontificate.

“Lumen Fidei” begins with a brief survey of the biblical history of faith, starting with God’s call to Abraham to leave his land -- “the beginning of an exodus which points him to an uncertain future” -- and God’s promise that Abraham will be “fa-

ther of a great nation.”

The Bible also illustrates how men and women break faith with God by worshipping substitutes for him.

“Idols exist, we begin to see, as a pretext for setting ourselves at the center of reality and worshipping the work of our own hands,” the pope writes. “Once man has lost the fundamental orientation which unifies his existence, he breaks down into the multiplicity of his desires ... Idolatry, then, is always polytheism, an aimless passing from one lord to another.”

Pope Francis sees another way of turning from God in the Pharisees’ belief that salvation is possible through good works alone.

For faith, Pope Francis writes, truth is not attainable through autonomous reason alone but requires love, a “relational way of viewing the world, which then becomes a form of shared knowledge, vision through the eyes of another and a shared vision of all that exists.”

Texas adopts tough abortion law: no abortions after 20 weeks

By Enedelia J. Obregon Catholic News Service AUSTIN, Texas (CNS) -- The drama in Texas over abortion that drew national and international attention came to an end for the moment after the state House of Representatives then the state Senate voted to adopt tougher abortion regulations.

Gov. Rick Perry promised to sign the bill into law soon.

The law prohibits abortions in the 20th week of pregnancy, requires abortion clinics to be certified as surgical centers and increases regulations on doctors and abortion-inducing drugs.

Jeff Patterson, executive director of the Texas Catholic Conference, said the

law protects life by requiring no termination of pregnancies after the first 20 weeks and it improves standards for abortion facilities.

“Twenty weeks is five months -- that’s late term and a point where babies can feel pain,” Patterson said. “The higher standards for abortion clinics are in case there are complications or problems that occur when providing abortions.”

The stricter regulations for doctors and the abortion-inducing drugs such as RU-486 are to ensure they follow Food and Drug Administration guidelines.

“A lot of doctors don’t follow the prescription guidelines,” Patterson said.

“It means two separate visits, but that’s to make sure there are no problems.”

The measure also requires that doc-

tors performing abortions have hospital privileges within 30 miles of the facility in which the abortion is performed. “About 20 percent of the time there are complications,” Patterson said. “In case there’s a problem they can get the woman to a hospital to care for her.”

For pro-life groups, the legislation is another incremental step in ending abortion. In 2011, Texas legislators passed a bill requiring a woman seeking an abortion to receive a sonogram from the doctor who is to perform the procedure at least 24 hours before the abortion.

This year’s legislation garnered national and international attention during a filibuster by Democratic State Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth June 26, the last day of the first special session, thus killing the

proposed bill.

Perry then called a second special session and added abortion to the agenda.

Under the Constitution, the governor can separately call special sessions on subjects of his choice that may last up to 30 days.

When anti-abortion legislation failed to gain traction during the regular session as lawmakers focused on the state budget and other matters, Perry decided to add abortion to his call for a special session that began hours after the regular session adjourned.

After a series of delays allowed Davis to engage in a filibuster in the waning hours of the session, the measure died despite clear majority support. Perry called a second special session and again added the abortion legislation as an agenda item.

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PAGE 4 We are all still trying to cope with the tragic death of Father Jamie Medina. I was honored to accompany the transport of his body July 10 back to Puerto Rico and to meet with him mother. Please keep him, his family and all of us who knew him in your prayers.

As I am sure you know by now, the Supreme Court handed down several rulings in late June which certainly have potentially significant implications for the Church. The Office of the General Counsel of the USCCB is studying the decisions as well as the 110 page ruling concerning the HHS

CHURCH TODAY ONE IN THE LORD Most Rev. Ronald P. Herzog Bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria mandate. The one good thing is that the implementation date has been moved from August 1 to January 1, 2014. That does give us some time for further study and planning.

It was a great joy to ordain

Taylor Reynolds a deacon on June 29 and he will have a great opportunity to spend his final seminary summer as a member of the clergy.

On the subject of deacons, we will be offering some information sessions in the fall for any men (and

JULY 22, 2013

their wives) who may be considering the possibility of the vocation to the Permanent Diaconate.

We are again planning the annual Taste of Faith dinner in support of our vocation program.

Thanks to St. Rita parish for again making the Family Life Center available. The dinner is on Thursday, August 8. More information is being sent to the parishes.

You may have noticed that St. Joseph’s name has now been added to the Eucharistic Prayers.

This was a decision made recently by the Holy See and is effective immediately. It clearly emphasizes

the prominent role of St. Joseph in the plan of salvation.

Please continue to pray for God’s protection during the hurricane season. Also, pray for our priests who have begun new assignments throughout the diocese.

Thanks to all who participated in the second Fortnight for Freedom that ended on July 4.

May the remaining months of this Year of Faith bring you renewed spiritual blessings!

Why it takes an entire village to raise a Catholic editor There is no such thing as an individual award. That truth manifested itself June 21 at the annual Catholic Media Conference in Denver when I received the St. Francis de Sales Award from the Catholic Press Association for “outstanding contributions to Catholic journalism.”

The award was a blessing and a mystery, mainly because I am a recovering sportswriter.

My dad is nearly 86 and still writing sports columns. He’s absolutely the reason I got into journalism. I wanted to be his carbon copy. (For those of you too young to remember, a carbon copy was something you produced by sliding a piece of inked paper inside two plain sheets of paper.)

I worked for 12 years covering sports for the New York Post and the New York Daily News.

The Post leads the journalistic world in classic headline writing.

When police found a man decapitated one night inside a Queens nightclub, the front page of the Post screamed: “Headless Body

Guest Editorial Peter Finney Clarion Herald Archdiocese of New Orleans

in Topless Bar.” The Post is still at it, even encroaching onto Catholic press turf recently with the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI by trumpeting: “I’M OUTTA HERE, GUYS!” The crawler at the top of the page was even better: “Pope gives God 2 weeks’ notice.”

In a lot of ways, I had the dream job: Super Bowls, Final Fours, Masters, Olympics.

But I’ll never forget the call I got in January 1992. I remember it because I was in a Los Angeles hotel room eating dinner. It was prime rib – medium rare.

My wife Carolyn was back on Long Island with our four children, then between the ages of 7

and 3. I very innocently asked: “So, honey, how’s it going?”

There was this silence – which most husbands can relate to – before Carolyn finally replied: “Well, it snowed 4 inches and I just got finished shoveling the sidewalk.”

Even for someone with “husband hearing” – that’s where you hear every other word or only what you want to hear – that conversation was a wakeup call.

Later that year, I heard through the grapevine that the Clarion Herald was looking for an editor. Other than occasionally reading the Long Island Catholic, I didn’t know a thing about the Catholic press. So I called up Liz

O’Connor, the editor of the Long Island Catholic in Rockville Centre, N.Y., and she gave me the Cliff Notes’ version of what I might be asked in my interview.

One of the persons at my interview in New Orleans was Jerry Costello, the editor of Catholic New York. He asked a trick question I’ll never forget: “Peter, could you tell me who the Vatican secretary of state is?”

I had one of those Jackie Gleason-Ralph Kramden moments, where the only word your mouth can form is “humminah ... ... humminah.” I decided honesty was the best policy and replied: “I have no idea ... but I can learn!”

Somehow, a sportswriter got a job as editor of a Catholic newspaper, and I’m still learning every

CHURCH

day. I truly can say that outside of my family, it has been the greatest blessing of my life.

Eight years ago – which is hard to believe – Katrina came in like a freight train. If the levees had held, Katrina would’ve been just another storm. But the levees broke, and all hell broke loose.

But here’s the Christian moment: In the midst of it all, God was visibly present through the infinite kindnesses of friends and total strangers. For three months, we published the Clarion Herald out of the basement offices of the Catholic Commentator in Baton Rouge. Laura Deavers, the former editor of the Catholic Commentator and a dear friend who just retired last month, simply See CATHOLIC EDITOR, pg 17

TODAY

Volume XLIV, No. 7 • July 22, 2013 P. O. Box 7417 • Alexandria, LA 71303 churchtoday@diocesealex.org 318-445-6424 Publisher: Editor: Advertising: Circulation:

Most Rev. Ronald P. Herzog, Bishop of Alexandria Jeannie Petrus, ext. 255; jpetrus@diocesealex.org Joan Ferguson, ext. 264; joanferguson@diocesealex.org Sandi Tarver, ext. 209; starver@diocesealex.org

THE CHURCH TODAY (USPS 393-240) is published by the Catholic Diocese of Alexandria, once a month, free of charge to members of the parishes in the Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana. Out of diocese subscriptions are $20 a year. The office is located at 4400 Coliseum Blvd., Alexandria, LA 71303. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, LA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The CHURCH TODAY, P. O. Box 7417, Alexandria, LA 71306 The CHURCH TODAY is a member of the Catholic Press Association.

Website: www.diocesealex.org To receive a free subscription, call 318-445-6424, ext 255 or e-mail jpetrus@diocesealex.org

CHURCH TODAY

JULY 22, 2013

PAGE 5

Pope approves inclusion of St. Joseph’s name in Eucharistic prayers

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) -Pope Francis and retired Pope Benedict XVI have a special devotion to St. Joseph and have assured that devotion regularly will be shared at Mass by Catholics around the world.

The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments said Pope Francis confirmed a decision originally made by Pope Benedict to include St. Joseph permanently in the eucharistic prayers used at most Masses in the Latin rite.

Saint Joseph

A decree signed May 1 by Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera, congregation prefect, and Archbishop Arthur Roche, congregation secretary, said Pope Benedict had received petitions from Catholics around the world and approved adding after the name of the Virgin Mary, the words “with blessed Joseph, her spouse.”

Blessed John XXIII had added the name of St. Joseph to the first eucharistic prayer, known as the Roman Canon, in the 1960s.

The new decree inserts his name into eucharistic prayers II, III and IV.

A congregation official told Catholic News Service June 18 that national bishops’ conferences could set a date for the changes to begin if they believe that is necessary, “but because it is a matter of only adding five words, priests can begin immediately.”

The decree described St. Joseph as “an exemplary model of the kindness and humility that the Christian faith raises to a great destiny, and demonstrates the ordinary and simple virtues necessary for men to be good and genuine followers of Christ.”

St. Joseph, “caring most lov-

ingly for the Mother of God and happily dedicating himself to the upbringing of Jesus,” has been the subject of deep Catholic devotion around the world for centuries, the decree said.

The congregation provided bishops around the world with the exact wording to use for Masses in Latin, English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French, German and Polish.

Pope Francis, who has a flower used as a symbol of St. Joseph on his coat-of-arms, also chose the March 19 feast of St. Joseph as the date for his inaugural Mass.

Pope clears way for canonization of Blessed JPII, John XXIII

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis signed a decree clearing the way for the canonization of Blessed John Paul II and has decided also to ask the world’s cardinals to vote on the canonization of Blessed John XXIII, even in the absence of a miracle.

After Pope Francis met July 5 with Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, the Vatican published a list of decrees the pope approved related to Blessed John Paul’s canonization and 11 other

sainthood causes.

Publishing the decrees, the Vatican also said, “The supreme pontiff approved the favorable votes of the ordinary session of the cardinal- and bishop-fathers regarding the canonization of Blessed John XXIII (Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli) and has decided to convoke a consistory that will also involve the canonization of Blessed John Paul II.” Normally, after a pope signs a decree recognizing the miracle needed for a canonization, the pope consults with cardinals around the world and calls a consistory -- a gathering attended by any cardinal who wants and

Blessed John XXIII

Blessed John Paul II

is able to attend -- where those present voice their support for the pope’s decision to proclaim a new saint.

A date for a canonization ceremony is announced formally

only during or immediately after the consistory.

The cardinals and archbishops who are members of the saints’ congregation met at the Vatican July 2 and voted in favor

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of the pope recognizing as a miracle the healing of Floribeth Mora Diaz, a Costa Rican who was suffering from a brain aneurysm and recovered after prayers through the intercession of Blessed John Paul.

The congregation members, according to news reports, also looked at the cause of Blessed John and voted to ask Pope Francis to canonize him without requiring a miracle. According to church rules -- established by the pope and subject to changes by him -- a miracle is needed after beatification to make a candidate eligible for canonization.

St. Joseph Catholic

Center is now closed on Fridays Effective July 19, the St. Joseph Catholic Center, located at 4400 Coliseum Blvd. in Alexandria, will be closed on Fridays.

The Center is officially open Monday through Thursday; from 8 a.m. 12 noon; and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The staff, however, will continue to work on a “flexible schedule” following the same number of hours each week according to the ministry and mission of each department, but will work those hours in only four days instead of five days.

For more information, call 318-445-2401.

PAGE 6

CHURCH TODAY

A Seminary Burse is an invested sum of money, the interest of which is used in perpetuity to help fund the education of men to the priesthood.

A Seminary Burse may be names for anyone – bishop, priest, religious, or lay person – by the original donor, and can be added to and allow to grow.

Seminarian Burses Total contributions from January-June, 2013

A burse is completed when it reaches $15,000.00 but another burse of the same name can be started.

Contributions to any of the burses or to establish a new burse should be sent to the Chancery Office, Post Office Box 7417, Alexandria, Louisiana 71306-0417.

Very Reverend Stephen Scott Chemino Chairman Completed burses at $15,000.00 each: • Bishop Charles P. Greco • Monsignor Thomas F. Early (3 completed) • Monsignor B. A. Scallan • Father H. Gerald Bordelon • Father Bruce Miller • Father William B. Provosty • Angelo R. and Ena F. D’Angelo • John Dominick Driscoll • Miss Mary F. Early • Irvin and Elma Moreau, Harrison P. Moreau, Michael N. Moreau, Deborah S. Moreau Bouchie, Emily A Moreau, Tom and Mary Candiotto, Ruby Moreau • John Gregory Simms The following is a list of established burses and amounts each: Blessed Damien de Veuster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175.00 Bishop William Friend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100.00 Bishop Lawrence P. Graves . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,805.00 Bishop Charles P. Greco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .750.00 Bishop Sam G. Jacobs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,100.00 Monsignor Marcel J. Anderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100.00 Monsignor Leon R. Aycock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,535.00 Monsignor Henry F. Beckers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9,457.50 Monsignor Milburn J. Broussard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5,450.00 Monsignor Norman C. Buvens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100.00 Monsignor Paul E. Conway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .825.00 Monsignor Allen M. Chenevert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,000.00 Monsignor Isidore Deceulaer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160.00 Monsignor S. J. Dekeuwer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .450.00 Monsignor Gerald J. Ducote . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .560.00 Monsignor Robert C. Friend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50.00 Monsignor Ronald C. Hoppe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .750.00 Monsignor James E. Howard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50.00 Monsignor Charles M. Jekeler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .325.00 Monsignor Joseph F. Kidd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,500.00 Monsignor William Kwaaitaal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .850.00 Monsignor Warren T. Larroque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800.00 Monsignor Terrence J. Lennon . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125.00 Monsignor Frederick J. Lyons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,600.00 Monsignor George W. Martinez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .500.00 Monsignor Patrick Murphy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,004.00 Monsignor William C. O’Hanlon . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5,000.00 Monsignor Aloysius O. Olinger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .865.00 Monsignor Mozart Pelletier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100.00 Monsignor John V. Plauche . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .400.00 Monsignor F. Joseph Rateau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .520.00 Monsignor Russell J. Richie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591.14 Monsignor B. A. Scallan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10,085.90 Monsignor Matthew J. Scanlon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .310.00 Monsignor Joseph M. Susi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8,806.00 Monsignor Steve J. Testa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,200.00 Monsignor Henry A. Thompson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .360.00 Monsignor John M. Timmermans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5,070.00 Monsignor Martin J. Tyrrell . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,250.00 Monsignor Henry Van der Putten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,291.89 Monsignor John C. Vandegaer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,350.00 Monsignor Nicholas F. Vandegaer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,350.00

Monsignor John J. Wakeman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100.00 Monsignor Julius G. Walle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,170.00 Father William G. Allison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160.00 Father Peter J. Besselaar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50.00 Father Michael Bodnar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50.00 Father Lawrence Bonin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70.00 Father H. Gerald Bordelon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9,885.00 Father Vernon Bordelon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .445.00 Father Gilles Boyer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85.00 Father Basil Burns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75.00 Father Scott Chemino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100.00 Father Jules L. Claes, C.I.C.M.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,536.00 Father Wilbur G. Cloutier. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,390.50 Father Daniel Corkery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7,400.00 Father Anthony N. Cumella. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,250.00 Father John H. Cunningham. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .475.00 Father Dennis A. Curren. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350.00 Father Leonard Curtis, O.P.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,050.00 Father Ferreolus D’Cruz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 875.00 Father Edward Deasy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 625.00 Father Blake Deshautelle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25.00 Father Rudolph J. Engelen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .550.00 Father Richard Fale. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5,700.00 Father James A. Ferguson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.00 Father Harvey J. Fortier. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 975.00 Father Joseph Alfred Fortin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200.00 Father James A. Foster. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .280.00 Father John M. Gayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .870.00 Father Serafin Glasnovic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150.00 Father Rickey Gremillion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .750.00 Father William M. Hopp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10.00 Father Mark W. Horacek. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50.00 Father Bartholomew Ibe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175.00 Father Tom M. Jezak. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400.45 Father Michael P. Kammer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,216.00 Father W. John Kiley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .625.00 Father Francis X. Kronemeyer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100.00 Father George Krosfield. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50.00 Father Henri Jacquemain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50.00 Father Russell J. Lemoine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .425.00 Father Bernard F. Maguire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105.00 Father Robert M. Maure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10.00 Father Jack Michalchuk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125.00 Father Bruce Miller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7,100.00 Father Adrian Molenschot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,605.00 Father Joseph Montalbano. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.00 Father Govie J. Moraus, Jr.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200.00 Father Peter T. Norek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .400.00 Father Dan O’Connor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,300.00 Father Thomas O’Connors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.00 Father Martin L. Plauche. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50.00 Father Samuel J. Polizzi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 900.00 Father William B. Provosty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105.00 Father Yves J. Robitaille. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,900.00 Father José Robles-Sanchez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .250.00 Father Kenneth J. Roy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,355.00 Father Lloyd M. Samson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50.00 Father Paul B. Smith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150.00 Father August Thompson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,240.00 Father Antonio E. Villaverde. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300.00 Father Nino G. Viviano. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200.00 Father Silvin A. Waterkotte, O.F.M.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160.00 Father Kenneth Williams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 880.00 Father Bernard L. Zagst. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,075.00 Reverend H. Biggers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .158.50 Deacon L. G. Deloach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50.00 Deacon Raymond J. Dunn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300.00

JULY 22, 2013 Deacon Charles A. Jones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,050.00 Deacon Frederick Taylor Reynolds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .760.00 Sister Margaret McCaffrey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100.00 Sister Marie Therese McGee, O.P.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100.00 Ismael and Libby Agosto. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .250.00 Shirley Alexander. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .1,125.00 Charles P. and Florence C. Anastasio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .880.00 Mrs. Germaine Armand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .550.00 Mrs. Virgie D. Aymond. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .225.00 Mr. Bobby D. Basco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,940.00 Harold and Lillie Beridon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,250.00 Dr. Lamar and Jean Boese. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50.00 J. V. Bonnette. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50.00 Mrs. Carolyn Brouillette. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50.00 Nathan Cannella. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .225.00 Mr. Frank V. Cariere. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175.00 Dylan Michael Cashio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .400.00 Mr. T. W. Clark. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50.00 Charles D’Amico. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50.00 Leo Dobard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,050.00 Mr. and Mrs. Philip Flynn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50.00 Mrs. Anne Barry Gallagher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,025.00 Anthony and Mary Glorioso. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100.00 Toby Guedry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000.00 Gail T. Gutierrez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100.00 Mr. William J. Hamlin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500.00 Madeline Jeansonne. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100.00 Gerry and Connie Leglue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.00 Huey and Neen Lemoine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150.00 Judge Alfred and Mary Jo Mansour. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,050.00 Huey and Ethel Mathews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,000.00 Daryl “Pat” Mauterer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50.00 Odis James Miller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190.00 Mr. Gerald Moreau. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215.00 Mrs. Helen Morgan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,000.00 Miss Marge Murrin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315.00 Alcide A. Nassif. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522.29 Mr. Maurice Noel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295.00 N. J. and Hannah Nolan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10,000.00 Mr. W. D. O’Neal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,159.00 David Stafford “Brother” O’Shee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8,294.66 Albert and Elsie Poche. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .900.00 Edna Rabalais. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .325.00 Dr. Sidney Rud. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50.00 Mr. Luis R. Robles-Cortez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125.00 Mrs. Josephine G. Serio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .275.00 John Gregory Simms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,275.00 Joseph T. Simms, Jr.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9,475.00 Gus Voltz, Jr.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,020.00 Larry Lee Wiltse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,825.00 Deceased Members of Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Regina Pacis #1372, Natchitoches . . . . . . . . . . .775.00 In Honor of Providence Central High School Class of 1959. . . . .1,060.00 General Fund. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .500.00 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$439,743.83

Donations in June Knights of Columbus Council 9217 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10.00 Fr. Adrian L. Molenschot Burse Dr. Joseph Landreneau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$25.00 Mrs. Edna Rabalais Burse Deacon & Mrs. Rodrick B. Broussard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$50.00 Msgr. Milburn Broussard Burse Dr. Joseph Landreneau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$100.00 Msgr. Henry Beckers Burse Mr. and Mrs. Robert Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $200.00 Fr. Daniel Corkery Burse Ms. Geraldine B. Deptula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,000.00 Fr. Bruce Miller Burse Total in June. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,385.00

JULY 22, 2013

CHURCH TODAY

PAGE 7

FATHER JAMIE MEDINACRUZ LAID TO REST. Bishop Ronald Herzog and Father Harold Imamshah met with Father Jamie Medina-Cruz’s mother in Puerto Rico after escorting the body of Father Jamie to his homeland.

Father Jamie died June 17. A Mass of Christian Burial for Father Jamie was held July 11 at Our Lady of Maserrat Church, Camuy, Puerto Rico. Interment was held in the Quebradillas Municpal Cemetery, Quebradillas, Puerto, Rico.

Alexandria seminarian Taylor Reynolds, along with Bishop Ronald Herzog and a seminarian friend kiss the altar at the start of the diaconate ordination held June 29 at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral. Reynolds was ordained a transitional deacon and is expected to be ordained to the priesthood next year. He attended seminary at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, and at the North American Pontifical College in Rome, Italy.

Cpt. John Brocato makes front page of Alaska newspaper “I’m famous!” said the subject line of a June 14 e-mail to the Church Today from U.S. Army Captain John Brocato (also known as Father John Brocato here in Alexandria).

His picture and a story about the ministry of being a Catholic chaplain in the U.S. Army ran on the front page of the Alaska Post, of Fort Wainwright, Alaska, where Father John is stationed.

“Performing wedding, providing counseling, retreats and religious services: this is what many people think of when asked what their Unit Ministry Team does. While these things are imporant, it is not all they do,” stated the article.

Eucharistic Miracles of the World Exhibit Several parishes in the diocese will be hosting the Vatican International Exhibit of Eucharistic Miracles of the World during September: Sept. 13-15 Sacred Heart, Moreauville (for public) Sept. 16-18 Sacred Heart, Moreauville (for school children) Sept. 20-22 St. John the Baptist, Moncla Sept. 24-30 Sts. Francis and Anne, Kolin Call the individual churches for specific viewing hours.

The exhibit includes beautiful color display panels that tell the story of more than 100 church-approved miracles of the Eucharist.

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CHURCH TODAY

JULY 22, 2013

117-year-old baptismal font restored at Minor Basilica of the IC Replica of original ‘St. John the Baptist baptizing Jesus’ statue restored to top

By Jeannie Petrus CT editor “It was like a rusty gate welcoming the people into heaven,” said Father Irion St. Romain, pastor of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Natchitoches, speaking of the broken, rusty, old baptismal font in the basilica that was just recently restored.

In 1896 -- 117 years ago -Daprato Rigali Studios, an ecclesiastical design and art company located in Illinois, designed and crafted a $140 baptismal font for the then, Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Natchitoches.

In 2013 -- 117 years later -Daprato Rigali Studios, the same company that is still in existence, restored the magnificent baptismal font to its original grandeur, where it now rests in the now, Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Natchitoches.

“Restoring the baptismal font was a project that could no longer be neglected, given the history and significance of this great minor basilica,” said Father Irion “It has reached a point that the broken, rusty, old font, no longer fit in with the grandeur of the

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117-YEAR-OLD BAPTISMAL FONT RESTORED. Father Irion St. Romain, pastor of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Natchitoches, admires the recently restored baptismal font. Daprato Rigali Studeios, the same company that designed and crafted the font 117 years ago, is the same company that did the restoration. The font was stripped of its six layers of paint, received new porcelain and stainless steel baptism bowls, and a new statue of St. John the Baptist baptising Jesus on the top.

basilica.”

From a distance, the font looked great. Over the years, the font had been restored with a coat of paint -- six coats, to be exact.

To the un-knowing viewer, the font was still beautiful.

But up-close, the font was in need of repair. The porcelain baptismal bowl was rusty near the drain. During baptisms, a piece of dried up cork would sometimes show up in the holy water, from the pipes that used to drain the holy water directly to the ground below.

The statue, of St. John the Baptist baptizing Jesus, that once adorned the top of the font, was long gone -- broken many, many years ago, and never replaced.

The font was heavy (350 lbs.), and hard to move from one place to another -- so it stayed in the front of the church, where it is not really supposed to be.

After doing some research, Father Irion discovered that the same company who made the font, -- Daprato Rigal Studios, was still in business, and with an impeccable reputation for art restoration.

According to Father Irion,

the restoration project took about six months and came with a price tag of $19,000. The renovations were extensive and included hundreds of hours of ecclesiastical artistry.

First the six coats of paint were removed. Underneath the coats of paints, a lot of minute details were uncovered. Each of the four white marbled statues, were replaced with original color replicas of the four evangelists of Christian art -- St. Matthew and the winged human, St. Mark and the winged lion, St. Luke and the winged ox, and St. John and the winged eagle.

The company researched what the original font looked like and made a replica of the original 24-inch statue of St. John baptizing Jesus, that once adorned the top of the font.

The porcelain bowl was replaced with a shiny new stainless steel baptismal bowl. Coasters on a marble base were added to the bottom for easy transport. A small matching table was designed to accompany the font, for use by the priest for oils, linen, and the liturgy used during a baptism.

The final touch included us-

CHURCH TODAY

JULY 22, 2013

Full length view of the restored font. ing 23.5 carat gold paint to highlight the handles and certain details on the font.

The first two baptisms in the

Close up view of the font shows the intricate details.

new font took place June 19 by Father Irion, an honor that to him, gave closure to the entire project.

“It is a beautiful baptismal

font,” said Father Irion, “worthy now, of welcoming people into this beautiful basilica in Natchitoches.”

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Close up view of St. Luke and the winged ox.

Bishop Ronald Herzog blessed the baptismal font June 16 during a special Sunday Mass.

The project was paid for by

parishioners of Immaculate Conception and the local Knights of Columbus Council.

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ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CATHEDRAL FIRST COMMUNION. Four students from St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Alexandria received First Communion recently. Pictured are , and Father Jim Ferguson, rector.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (Dupont) FIRST COMMUNION. Five students from Immaculate Conception Church in Dupont received First Holy Communion recently. Pictured are Father George Krosfield, pastor; and . The class also participated in May Crowning.

HOLY GHOST (Marksville) FIRST COMMUNION. Eight students received First Holy Communion April 27 at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Marksville. Pictured are , Fr. Abraham Varghese, pastor, and Deacon Gary Schupbach.

ST. CHARLES MISSION (Goudeau) CONFIRMATION. was confirmed May 26 at St. Charles Mission in Goudeau. Pictured are Deacon William Daigrepont, , Bishop Herzog, and Father Bartholomew Ibe, pastor.

ST. JOSEPH CHURCH (Marksville) celebrated First Holy Communion on Sunday, April 21 at the 10 a.m. Mass. Pictured are (front row) . Back row: Father Rusty Rabalais,

.

JULY 22, 2013

OUR LADY OF LOURDES (Fifth Ward) FIRST COMMUNION. Five students from Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Fifth Ward received First Holy Communion on May 5. Pictured are In the back are Father Silverino Kwebuza, AJ, pastor; and Lisa Couvillion, First Communion teacher.

JULY 22, 2013

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ST. JAMES MEMORIAL CATHOLIC CHURCH (Alexandria). Eight students from St. James Memorial Catholic Church received First Communion April 28. Pictured are (front row)

ST. JULIANA (Alexandria) FIRST COMMUNION. Nine students from St. Juliana Church in Alexandria received their First Communion on April 21. Pictured are (front row)

Back row: Remigius Owuamanam, pastor;

. Back row: Father Remigious Owaumanam, SMMM,

altar servers; Deacon Rodrick Broussard; Father , altar server; and

ST. GENEVIEVE (Brouillette) FIRST COMMUNION. Seven students from St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Brouillette made their First Communion April 7.

Pictured are (front row) . Top row: Mrs. Judy Decuir (catechist), , Father Jose Pallipurath (pastor), (partially seen in back) altar server. (Photo by CindyLee Dupuy)

ST. MARTIN (Lecompte) FIRST COMMUNION. Six students from St. Martin Church in Lecompte received First Holy Communion on April 21. Pictured are (first row) . Row 2: . Row 3: Cherilyn Melder, CCD instructor, and Father Pedro Sierra-Posada, pastor.

OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOR (Alexandria) FIRST COMMUNION. Sixty-eight students from OLPS in Alexandria received First Communion recently.

Deacon Roderick Broussard, .

ST. LOUIS (Glenmora) FIRST COMMUNION. Two students from St. Louis Church in Glenmora made their First Holy Communion on April 28. Pictured are with Father Bino Pallipparambil, pastor.

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ST. ALPHONSUS CHURCH (Hessmer) FIRST COMMUNION. Fourteen students from St. Alphonsus Church in Hessmer received First Communion on April 7. Pictured are (front row) Chelsi Dauzat, teacher; and Father Edwin Rodriguez-Hernandez. R2:

JULY 22, 2013

STS. FRANCIS AND ANNE (Kolin) FIRST COMMUNION. Twelve students received First Communion April 14 at Sts. Francis and Anne Church in Kolin. Pictured are (front row) .

Row 2: . Row 3: . Top row: Melissa Fuselier, , Deacon Greg LeBlanc, Father Joy Retnazihamoni (pastor), and Carolyn Daigre.

ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL (Leesville) FIRST COMMUNION. Twenty four students from St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Leesvile received First Communion on May 4. Pictured are (front row) . Row 2:

. Row 3: Father Kenneth Michiels,

ST. JOSEPH CHURCH (Colfax) CONFIRMATION. Three students were confirmed recently at St. Joseph Church in Colfax. Pictured are , Bishop Ronald Herzog, , and Father . Row 4: Harold Imamshah, pastor. (not pictured: Jeannine Wentworth).

ST. RITA (Alexandria) FIRST COMMUNION. Nineteen students from St. Rita Church in Alexandria received First Communion.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE (Forest Hill) FIRST COMMUNION. Nine students received First Communion recently at Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission in Forest Hill. Pictured are (front row) . Â Middle row: Altar server , Father Pedro Sierra, pastor. Back row: Elena Vargas and Flor Nolasco, teachers.

JULY 22, 2013

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SACRED HEART of JESUS (Pineville) CONFIRMATION. Seventeen students from Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Pineville were confirmed April 21. Pictured are (front row) Row 2: . Row 3: Catechist-Jessica Bertrand, Fr. Bruce Miller, Bishop Ronald Herzog,

SACRED HEART (Moreauville) CONFIRMATION. Five students from Sacred Heart Church in Moreauville recently. Pictured are the five students, their teacher, Bishop Ronald Herzog, and Father Marc Noel, pastor.

PAGE 13

ST. ANTHONY of PADUA (Bunkie) CONFIRMATION. Nine students from St. Anthony Parish received the Sacrament of Confirmation on April 10. Pictured are (front row) . Back row: Fr. Scott Chemino, pastor; Bishop Ronald Herzog, , and Fr. Joseph Xavier, parochial vicar.

MINOR BASILICA OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (Natchitoches) CONFIRMATION. Twenty-four students from the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Natchitoches were confirmed April 7 by Bishop Ronald Herzog. Those confirmed are

HOLY GHOST CHURCH (Marksville) and ST. RICHARD CHAPEL (Hickory Hill) CONFIRMATION. Nine students from Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Marksville and St. Richard Chapel in Hickory Hill were confirmed May 1 by Bishop Ronald Herzog. Those receiving the sacrament are Also pictured is Father Abraham Varghese, pastor; Father Silverino Kwebuza, AJ; Deacon Gary Schupbach, and Bishop Ronald Herzog.

St. James Memorial and St. Juliana Church (Alexandria) CONFIRMATION. Thirteen students were confirmed May 26 by Bishop Ronald P. Herzog. Pictured are (front row)Â Mrs. Angela Lee, and Ms. Monique Y. Metoyer. Row 2: , Father Remigius Owuamanam. Row 3: Bishop Ronald P. Herzog,

PAGE 14

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OUR LADY OF LOURDES (Fifth Ward) CONFIRMATION. Bishop Ronald Herzog confirmed eleven students April 28 from Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Fifth Ward. They are: (front row) , and Father Silverino Kwebuza, AJ, pastor. Back row: Deacon Ted Moulard, Bishop Ronald Herzog, . Not pictured is April Gaspard.

ST. JOSEPH CHURCH (Marksville) CONFIRMATION. Sixteen students from St. Joseph Church, Marksville received the Sacrament of Confirmation on May 9. Pictured are (front row) .

Row 2: Rev. Shoury Ramji, , and Rev. Rusty Rabalais. Back row: , Bishop Ronald Herzog,

Immaculate Heart of Mary (Tioga) Confirmation. Ten students from Immaculate Heart of Mary Church were confirmed May 4. Pictured are (front row) Back row: , Father Rickey Gremillion, pastor; , Bishop Ronald Herzog, Helen Craig, D.R.E., , Roger Christopher, catechist; Deacon L.G. Deloach, and Â

ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE (Mansura) CONFIRMATION. Seven students were confirmed by Bishop Ronald Herzog May 26 at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Mansura. Pictured are , Bishop Ronald Herzog, , and Father Chad Partain, pastor.

JULY 22, 2013

STS. FRANCIS AND ANNE (Kolin) CONFIRMATION. Bishop Ronald Herzog confirmed seven students on May 19 at Sts. Francis and Anne Church in Kolin. Pictured are (front row) Bishop Herzog, . Row 2: . Row 3:

ST. PETER MISSION (Elmer) CONFIRMATION. Five students from St. Peter Mission in Elmer were confirmed May 5. Pictured are , Bishop Ronald Herzog,

JULY 22, 2013

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ST. PETER MISSION (Elmer) FIRST COMMUNION. Six students from St. Peter Mission in Elmer received First Holy Communion on May 19. Pictured are . Behind them is Father Bino Pallipparambil, pastor.

ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE (Mansura) FIRST COMMUNION. Eight students from St. Paul the Apostle Church in Masura made their First Communion April 21. Pictured are , Father Chad Partain, and Mrs. Gilda Heath.

OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOR (Mansura) FIRST COMMUNION. Three students from Our Lady Of Prompt Succor Church in Mansura made their First Communion April 20. Pictured are , Mrs. Gilda Heath, and Father Martin Laird, pastor.

PAGE 15

ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA (Bunkie) FIRST COMMUNION. Twenty students from St. Anthony of Padua Church in Bunkie received First Communion. Pictured are (front row) . Back row: Father Scott Chemino, and Father Joseph Xavier.

Immaculate Heart of Mary (Tioga) First Communion. Fourteen students from Immaculate Heart of Mary made their First Communion April 14. Pictured are (front row) . Row 2: Madalyn Kirkland, Catechist Asst., . Back row: Deacon L.G. Deloach, Jessie “Sissy” Pace, catechist; Georgette Bradley, catechist; Helen Craig, D.R.E.; Dawn Parker, catechist; and Father Rickey Gremillion, pastor.

ST. MARY’S (Winnsboro) FIRST COMMUNION. Three students from St. Mary’s Church in Winnsboro made their First Communion May 12. Pictured are

ST. GENEVIEVE (Brouillette) CONFIRMATION. Three students were confirmed June 15 at St. Genevieve Church in Brouillette by Bishop Ronald Herzog. Pictured are . Back row is Fr. Jose Pallipurath, pastor; and Bishop Ronald Herzog.

All photos and captions on pages 10-15 were submitted by the individual churches. The Church Today is not responsible for omitted or misspelled names if they were submitted that way.

PAGE 16

CHURCH TODAY

JULY 22, 2013

Fourth Degree Knights host installation, award dinner The Fourth Degree Knighs of Columbus assemblies 0328 Msgr. Anthony Piegay of Alexandria and 2078 Msgr. F. J. DeKeuwer of Natchitoches held their installation of officers dinner July 7 at St. Rita Holy Family Center in Alexandria. After Mass was celebrated by Father Craig Scott in the church, a dinner was held in the Holy Family Center, during which time the officers were installed and awards were given.

KC AWARDS. Several people received awards at the Installation Dinner July 7 at St. Rita Church. Those receiving awards were Glenda Stock (not pictured), Civic Leader of the Year; Robert Sherman, Knight of the Year; Tom and Linda Winegeart, Family of the Year; Father Blake Deshautelle, Clergy of the Year; and Terry Young, recipient of the Order of Merit and the Appreciation Award.

KC 12103 LANDSCAPES BISHOP’S HOME. Members of the Knights of Columbus Council 12103 recently updated the landscaping around Bishop Herzog’s home. The council was approached by Father Bruce Miller, the former council chaplain, who knew that some of the members were nurserymen from the Forest Hill area. The council was happy to take on the project for Bishop Herzog who, also, serves as state chaplain for the Louisiana Knights of Columbus. Members working on the project were Robert Maloney, Jamie Monroe, Brian Johnson, Randy Basco, Stanley Basco, Richard Basco, Stephen Basco, Bryan Kelly, Jacob Andries, and Tim Hart.

FOURTH DEGREE KNIGHTS (Natchitoches) MSGR. F.J. DEKEUWER OFFIERS for 2013-2014. Mike Menou, Faithful Navigator; Richard Eddie, Faithful Captain; John Denny, Faithful Pilot; Buford Grappe, Faithful Admiral; Tom Felchle, Faithful Comptroller; Paul Sklar, Faithful Purser; Mike Yankowski, Faithful Scribe; John Dobernig and Bobby Scott, Faithful Sentinels; Tommy Myrick, Charles Lee, and Buddy Gahagan, Faithful Trustees.

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JULY 22, 2013

OLL (Fifth Ward) VBS. Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Fifth Ward hosts Vacation Bible School July 8-12. Pictured are the students who attended the VBS, the teachers, and Father Silverino Kwebuza, pastor and Deacon Ted Moulard.

Raising a Catholic editor said, “Come here and we’ll take care of you.”

And they did.

When we resumed publication, the papers were dropped off every Friday afternoon. Our staff members backed up their cars to the loading dock and tossed in the bundled stacks. Talk about a content delivery system – we were the content delivery system.

We delivered papers to churches in Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Houma-Thibodaux.

I remember it being 95 degrees and being soaked from head to toe. As I walked to my car with four stacks under my arms, I told our ad sales rep, Ron Kogos, “Man, I’d hate to do this for a living.” And then I caught myself.

“Wait a minute,” I said. “We are doing this for a living!”

As we drove up to churches dropping off the papers, people literally grabbed them out of our hands. Displaced New Orleans Catholics hungered for information on what had happened to their priest and how badly their church had been damaged.

If I ever wondered if what I did for a living had meaning and purpose, the embraces from total strangers provided the answer.

We at the Clarion Herald were blessed because we found that out firsthand.

When you lose most of your material possessions in a natural disaster, there are moments of fog and despair. That’s when the

Emile P. Oestriecher, III, CPA

OLL (Winnfield) CATECHISM PARTY. Children from Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Winnfield celebrated an “end of the year” catechism party May 29 at the home of Vernon and Vickie Weeks.

Continued from page 4

members of the Catholic press and thousands of people from across the country – God’s foot soldiers – carried us. The Catholic Communication Campaign provided two incredibly generous grants to keep us alive. We printed the newspaper free of charge to all parishes for one year after Katrina. The Catholic Press Association also sent money to individuals on our staff whose homes had been destroyed or heavily damaged.

What I also will cherish was the love poured out on us by the staffs of the Louisiana and Mississippi Catholic newspapers who helped us during and after the storm. My Clarion Herald colleagues were heroic in fulfilling

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their mission to provide information and inspiration to readers who were so hurting. We had the privilege and blessing of truly knowing that our work made a difference.

For me, the image of God’s fidelity is manifested in the story of the second collection for Katrina relief taken up on Sept. 18, 2005, in St. Lawrence of Brindisi Parish in the Watts section of Los Angeles. The working-class parish’s average weekly collection was $5,000, but on this day, it raised $7,000 for the Katrina collection alone. The money was earmarked for St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish in New Orleans.

But the real treasure was buried inside one of the collec-

tion envelopes. On the outside of the envelope, written in Spanish, were these words: “Para las victimas del huracan, no traia dinero pero esto debe de tener algun valor. Es de todo corazon” (“For the victims of the hurricane. I did not bring any money. But this should be of some value. It is with all of my heart.”)

Inside the envelope was a woman’s plain gold wedding ring.

So if you want to understand why it took an entire village to raise a Catholic editor, look no further than the spiritual icon that sits on red cloth in a special case on the wall inside the parish office at St. Gabriel.

It is gold and round and anonymous.

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CHURCH TODAY

JULY 22, 2013

2,700 youths attend Steubenville South in new location (Top Right) For the first time ever, Steubenville South was held in the Alexandria Riverfront Center, hosting more than 2,700 enthusiastic youths.

(Photos by James Robichaux) (Top Left) Students from Our Lady of Prompt Succor parish participate in the Saturday evening program.

(Bottom Left) Wearing the “Chosen” t-shirts, St. Genevieve (Brouillette) students and chaperones take a group shot on the side steps of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral.

(Bottom Right) Students from St. Frances Cabrini Church return to the Riverfront Center after the men’s session.

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CHURCH TODAY

JULY 22, 2013

PAGE 19

Start of new school year is right around the corner!

By Jeannie Petrus CT editor

When you see school supplies on display at WalMart and Target, you know that school is right around the corner.

For Catholic school students in the Diocese of Alexandria, that means the second and third weeks of August.

According to Thomas Roque, superintendent of Catholic Schools, school is starting “just a little earlier” this year to accommodate schools who wish to finish the fall semester and take mid-term exams before the Christmas break.

“Other than that,” said Roque, “we are all looking forward to another great year for our eight Catholic schools.”

Roque said he has two main goals for the 2013-14 school year -- implementing phase I of the common core curriculum and finding a more workable solution for the Child Nutrition program (school lunches).

August

12

12

St.

Holy Savior

Anthony Menard

12 St. Mary Cottonport

12

12

16

16

Sacred St. Frances Prompt Joseph Heart Cabrini Succor St.

19 St. Mary Natchitoches

First Day of School for Diocese of Alexandria Catholic Schools

Common Core

Common Core is a U.S. education initiative that seeks to bring diverse state curricula into alignment with each other by following the principles of standards-based education reform.

The goal of the program is to set standards for every grade in every school encouraging collab-

orative teaching that challenges students to achieve higher-level thinking strategies. When a student moves from one school to another, regardless of the school district or the state, the standards would all be the same.

To kick-start the initiative, which began in 2009, the US government used competitive grants

to entice states to adopt the common core. Louisiana adopted the core standards in 2010, but it was not until 2012 that Catholic schools in the Diocese of Alexandria adopted the initiative.

“In this diocese, our teachers will be attending workshops and seminars to learn how to implement the core standards,” he said.

Lunch program

Another goal for the upcoming year is to increase the number

of participants in the Child Nutrition program (school lunches).

“For a variety of reasons, kids don’t want to eat school lunches in the cafeteria,” said Roque. “In order to make a program viable, we must maintain a certain level of participation.”

When kids bring their own lunch, it decreases school lunch participation. When kids don’t like the food in the cafeteria, they skip the meal or eat junk food, which isn’t good either.

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CHURCH TODAY

JULY 22, 2013

Books offer creative ways to teach children how to pray, live holy lives If you are parent with young children or maybe a catechist with a class of young children, you may have already asked yourself: “How do I intoduce God and prayer to my young child?” or “At what age should I start teaching my child to pray?

These questions and much more are answered in Luis M. Benavides new book Introducing Children to Silence and Prayer.

The fact is, young children have a great capacity for contemplation and communion with God -- it only takes a parent, grandparent, catechist, or teacher to awaken the sense of prayer.

In his internationally bestselling book, now in English, Benavides offers catechists and In the midst of a culture that often undermines parents’ efforts to pass on the faith comes This Little Light of Mine: Living the Beatitudes.

In this unique handbook, mother and author Kathleen M. Basi gives families the knowledge, tools, and reflective activities to embody holy living not only in the high seasons, but throughout the year.

Within eight chapters devoted to of the Eight Beatitudes, Basi helps families explore and reflect on how they live elements of the faith, such as the Ten Commandments and the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit. The easy-to-digest chapters begin with a Scripture quotation, include sections

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parents proven methods and creative approaches for awakening their children’s natural desire to pray.

By first exploring the various

forms of personal and communal prayer, Benavies helps adults reexamine their own attitudes toward prayer and their relationship with God.

This Little Light of Mine Living the Beatitudes

By Kathleen M. Basi For Catechists & Parents Paperback ISBN: 9780764819377 $5.99

for adults and children, and end with a “Just Live It” activity that offers concrete applications of the lessons learned. The ninth and fi-

nal chapter helps parents and children focus on living deliberately as disciples who turn to Christ for every need.

He pays special attention to the Psalms and provides methods for using them in prayer exercises with groups of children or individuals.

Recognizing the unique learning styles of children and their natural curiosity, Benavides complements prayer methods with a variety of activities designed to help children recognize God and pray using the five senses, as well as gestures, singing, and drawing.

With the wisdom of one who has long experience teaching children, Benavides also shares games and activities that help children develop their capacity

BOOK

REVIEW and respect for silent moments.

Catechists and parents will find his lists of tried-and-true exercises and practical applications for school or family to be invaluable.

This affordable resource will guide children, and the adults who teach them, to an awareness of living constantly in the presence of God, where prayer is not a task, but a way of life.

JULY 22, 2013

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Powerful documentary investigates Medjugorje phenomenon On July 13, 1917, Our Lady appeared for the third consecutive month to three little children in Fatima, Portugal.

During the apparition, she asked for the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart and the Communion of Reparation on the First Saturdays.

“If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated. In the end, My Immaculate Heart will triumph,” she told the children.

Get ready for The Triumph.

This powerful new documentary has just been released in five countries and in only two dozen cities in the United States.

So far, the film is not being shown in any theatre even close to Central Louisiana, but hopefully, in time, it will.

From the prophesies at Fatima to the miracles at Medjugorje, this film investigates one of the greatest mysteries in the modern world . . . a real-life prophecy unfolding today.

The film centers around a tiny Baltic village of Medjugorje, where Our Lady began appearing to six small children in 1981. For the past 32 years, Our Lady has

THE TRIUMPH The Battle Has Begun

For more information or to view a movie trailer, go to www.thetriumph.org been appearing to the children (now adults) bringing them messages of God’s love to the world.

Since 1981, Medjugorje has received over 30 million visitors and remains the largest active confessional in the world. Because the apparitions allegedly continue to this day through a number of the visionaries, the Church has not authenticated the reported experiences.

While the Magesterium may not issue any kind of ruling until the purported apparitions cease, that hasn’t had any effect

on the growing number of ‘informal’ pilgrimages from across the Globe. The Vatican Commission designated to develop an opinion is rumored to be closer to drawing a conclusion on this mystery.

Award-winning director Sean Bloomfield and producer Zaid Jazrawi both experienced conversions in Medjugorje. Sean has since dedicated his life to producing films about miracles and apparitions.

His last film, If Only We Had Listened, was co-produced by NY Times best selling author,

Immaculee Ilibagiza. The film documents the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and the secrets of Our Lady of Kibeho. If Only We Had Listened has been featured on EWTN and at the John Paul II International Film Festival.

“The film is having a major impact on dialogue during the Year of Faith,” Bloomfield told the South African radio show, Radio Veritas. “People are so amazed that such a strong message of hope can also be so real -- it’s really touching the audience in ways that I never anticipated.”

DOCUMENTARY

REVIEW The filmmakers are hoping the audience can view the movie with an open mind, as they interview skeptics, priests, believers, and non-Christians who have been touched by Medjugorje.

“This is without a doubt one of the greatest historical and spiritual phenomenons that has ever happened in the history of mankind and the great thing about it is that it is happening right now, during our time -- during your time.

“We felt it was very important to allow the audience to explore the phenomenon for themselves with an open mind and an open heart and then decide what to make of it,” said “Triumph” producer Zaid Jazrawi. “Explore the controversy and ask yourself: Is it a hoax?”

“The long-running and highly controversial apparitions at Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina have made Catholics worldwide stop to consider what they really believe,” notes Michael O’Neill, who has studied Marian Apparitions.

“Prudence in these matters is essential but it would be a mistake to underestimate the importance of Marian apparitions in the life of the Church. Throughout the history of the Church, apparition stories have been woven into the fabric of tradition and played a significant role in the lives of the faithful as evidenced by millions of conversions...and the origination of devotionals (including the rosary).”

The filmmakers decided to make this movie a global event upon hearing about people’s experiences and testimonies.

“It’s an ambitious goal,” said Bloomfield,” but if we can bring this message of hope to every corner of the globe, why not -- that’s what the New Evangelization is really about -- talking to folks who don’t yet know how much God loves them.”

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CHURCH TODAY

Marriage Encounter Workshop Happily Married Couples: Are you dieting, jogging, exercising, playing golf or tennis to stay in shape? What are you doing to keep your marriage in shape? Why not attend a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend?

It’s the best proactive program to help married couples to explore, rediscover, and reconnect with one another through this weekend retreat. It has been voted the Best Marriage Workshop in the U.S. for the 2nd year in a row

by About.com’s Reader’s Choice Awards. For more information go to http://wwme-section5.org or call 800-5865469. The next Marriage Encounter weekend in Louisiana is July 26 - 28 at the Bishop Tracy Center on S. Acadian Thruway in Baton Rouge. To apply, go to http://wwmesection5.org/register.php or call 800-586-5469.

Natural Family Planning Classes You are invited to attend a Natural Family Planning class series teaching the Sympto-Thermal Method on the Saturdays of Aug. 3, Sept. 7, and Oct. 12. Attendance of all 3 classes completes the course. Natural Family Planning is 100% safe, natural, and morally acceptable to delay or achieve pregnancy. The Sympto-Thermal Method is over 99% effective. One time fee of $150 includes Student Guide book, fertility tracking charts, basal body thermometer, one year membership to the Couple to Couple League, and a one year subscription to the award winning Family Foundations magazine. To register, contact Michael and Leah Pelto @ michaelandleah@suddenlink.net, or call 318.640.8678, or visit www.ccli.org.

JULY 22, 2013

DIOCESAN

BRIEFS Beginning Experience Widowed, separated or divorced? Don’t know where to turn? Struggling with grief or loss? Beginning Experience is registering now for a weekend away toward a lifetime of change at Maryhill Renewal Center - Pineville, LA for Sept. 20-22. Program helps grieving single-again persons emerge from the darkness of grief into the light of a new beginning, and move into the future with renewed hope. Cost is $185, which includes two nights’ lodging and meals.

To register, or for more information, call Anna at (318) 452-2678 or Rose at (504) 920-0770.

CDA SCHOLARSHIP WINNER. Father Jim Ferguson, rector of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, presents a Catholic Daughters of the Americas scholarship to , an altar server at SFXC. Also pictured is her father, Deacon Richard Mitchell, and members of the CDA Bishop Desmond Court. As winner of the CDA state essay contest, earned the scholarship.

Trip to Portugal and Spain St. Rita Church is offering a pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal and Spain July 26 - Aug. 5, 2014. Experience Fatima . . . and a 7-day riverboat cruise through Portugal and Spain! The pilgrimage begins at the site of the Blessed Mother’s appearances to three shepherd children in 1917.

After the pilgrimage to Fatima, the group will sail on the Duoro River through Portugal’s wine country to Spain aboard the new AMA Ship, the Vida. For more information, contact Travel & Cruise with Me at 318-449-9746.

Taste of Faith

Win a free trip to Holy Land, Medjugorje

Mark your calendars now for the annual Taste of Faith dinner will be held Thursday, Aug. 8 from 5:00-7:30 p.m. at the St. Rita Holy Family Center. This seminarian benefit dinner is prepared by Bishop Ronald Herzog and assisted by the seminarians, the deacons and their wives. All you can eat dishes are free, but donations are welcome. Seatings are at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. To make reservations, please call Sandi @ 318-445-6424 x 209.

You could win a 10-day trip for two to the Holy Land or an 8-day trip for two to Medjugorje in the Radio Maria Immaculate Conception Sweepstakes. To enter, you must fill out an official entry form, available at Radio Maria on Washington Street. A $10 donation is recommended, but not required. All entries must be received by Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013. The pilgrimage offer expires on Dec. 15, 2014. For more info, call 318-561-6145.

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OLL (Winnfield) SENIOR MASS. Two graduating seniors were honored May 17 during a special Senior Mass held at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Winnfield. Pictured are , both graduates of Winnfield Senior High, with Father Christian Ogbonna, pastor. Both seniors were presented with a senior blessing and a crucifix by Father Christian during Mass, and were then honored with a delicious meal prepared by the ladies of the church.

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CHURCH TODAY

JULY 22, 2013

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July - August Monday

Tuesday

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Wednesday

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Thursday

Friday

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Illuminated Rosary 8:15 p.m.

St. Joseph Church, Marksville

Saturday

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Sunday

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VBS -- St. Genevieve Church, Brouillette -- 9:00 am - 12 noon VBS -- Holy Ghost Church, Marksville -- 6:00 - 8:00 pm World Youth Day -- Rio de Janeiro Worldwide Marriage Encounter -- Baton Rouge PRAY FOR FR. R. LEMOINE

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PRAY FOR FR. R. MATHEWS

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PRAY FOR FR. C. MAURICIO

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PRAY FOR FR. L. MELCHER

PRAY FOR FR. A. MESSINA

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AUGUST Illuminated Rosary 8:15 p.m.

St. Joseph Church, Marksville

5

PRAY FOR FR. J. MONTALBANO

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PRAY FOR FR. C. MORGAN

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PRAY FOR BISHOP R. HERZOG

Illuminated Rosary 8:15 p.m.

St. Joseph Church, Marksville

NFP Class

PRAY FOR FR. K. MICHIELS

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Cathechist Training 9:00 am-3:00 pm St. Joseph Catholic Center, Alexandria

VBS -- Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Moreauville -- 8:00FIRST am - 3:00 pm FRIDAY PRAY FOR FR. B. MILLER

PRAY FOR FR. J. MICHALCHUK

FIRST SATURDAY

PRAY FOR FR. C. NAYAK

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PRAY FOR FR. J. NELLIKUNNEL

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PRAY FOR FR. M. NOEL

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Taste of Faith 5:00-7:30 pm St. Rita Holy Family Center, Alexandria PRAY FOR FR. K. OBIEKWE

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School starts: Holy Savior Menard St. Anthony of Padua St. Joseph Sacred Heart St. Mary’s Assumption

PRAY FOR FR. J. PALLIPURATH

PRAY FOR FR. J. O’BRIEN

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PRAY FOR FR. C. OGBONNA

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Illuminated Rosary 8:15 p.m.

St. Joseph Church, Marksville

PRAY FOR FR. W. OKOT

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School starts: St. Frances Cabrini OL Prompt Succor

PRAY FOR FR. R. OWUAMANAM

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PRAY FOR FR. B. PALLIPPARAMBIL

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SOLEMNITY of the ASSUMPTION of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (A Holy Day of Obligation) PRAY FOR FR. J. PARDUE

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PRAY FOR FR. J. RETNAZIHAMONI

PRAY FOR FR. J. ROBLES-SANCHEZ

School starts: St. Mary’s, Natchitoches

PRAY FOR FR. D. O’CONNOR

PRAY FOR FR. C. PARTAIN

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PRAY FOR FR. E. RODRIQUEZ

PRAY FOR FR. T. PAUL

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Illuminated Rosary 8:15 p.m.

St. Joseph Church, Marksville

PRAY FOR FR. J. ROY

PRAY FOR FR. G. POOKKATTU

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PRAY FOR FR. J. RYAN

PRAY FOR FR. R. RABALAIS

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PRAY FOR FR. C. SCOTT

PRAY FOR FR. C. RAY

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PRAY FOR FR. R. SHOURY