April 18 - The Catholic Commentator

Transcription

Commentator
T H E
April 18, 2014 Vol. 52, No. 5
Bishop
Muench’s
Easter
Message
C A T H O L I C
S E R V I N G T H E D I O C E S E O F B AT O N R O U G E S I N C E 19 6 3
HE IS RISEN
LSU students
stunning in the
Passion
PAGES 10-11
thecatholiccommentator.org
To: The Clergy, Religious and Lay
Faithful, Diocese of Baton Rouge
Dearly Beloved Sisters and Brothers
in Christ All:
It changed them. It changed the
world. It must change us. The “it” is
Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. The
“them” are those who remained faithful apostles and disciples to Jesus. The
“change” is a radical transformation of
self and life, an ultimate new defining
moment, for individuals and groups, for
all time and for all eternity.
The setting could not have been
more bleak. The diminished number of
Jesus’ faithful followers vicariously experienced with him intense suffering.
His torture, physical and emotional,
A stained glass window at St. John the Evangelist Church in Prairieville depicts the resurrection of Christ, which Catholics
around the world celebrate during the 50 days of the Easter season. Photo by Richard Meek | The Catholic Commentator
included his agony in the garden, betrayal, arrest, imprisonment, denial,
trials before Pontius Pilate and Herod,
scourging at the pillar, crowning with
thorns, carrying the cross of his execution, being humiliated, mocked and ridiculed, stripped of his clothing, nailed
to a cross (crucifixion), death on a cross,
then burial in a tomb. These events left
those followers in utter grief, depression, confusion, bewilderment, at the
brink of utter despair and hopelessness.
Their subsequent encountering the
risen Christ could not have been more
unexpected or stunning. In various accounts of sacred Scripture (Mt 28, Mk
16, Lk 24, Jn 20-21, I Cor 15) Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalen; Mary, the
mother of James, Salome and Joanna,
then Cleophas and another disciple on
SEE BISHOP PAGE 16
Family of nine to be baptized
By Barbara Chenevert
The Catholic Commentator
The nine members of the Todd Ross family being baptized at the Easter
Vigil at Immaculate Conception Church in Denham Springs are, from left,
dad, Todd, holding Joseph; mom, Samantha; LeAnne; Hayden; Blake;
Hunter; Logan; and Brett. Photo by Barbara Chenevert | The Catholic Commentator
For 16-year-old Brett, the Catholic Church
feels like home.
Fourteen-year-old LeAnne said simply, “I
was meant to be here.”
And 13-year-old Hunter can’t wait to be
baptized so he “can go into the water like Jesus did.”
Nine members of the Todd and Samantha
Ross family of Walker – ranging in age from
40-year-old Todd to 10-month-old Joseph –
will be baptized together at the Easter Vigil at
Immaculate Conception Church in Denham
Springs. It is the largest family to be baptized
at one time at Immaculate Conception.
“I never really went to church with my
parents,” said dad Todd Ross. “When I got old
enough to make a decision, I started looking
around. I was exposed to non-Catholic viewpoints, but they didn’t make sense. When I
explored Catholicism, it all made sense.
“I had been indecisive, but the kids were
getting older and if I didn’t commit they
would bounce around and be confused.” As a
father, I have a responsibility for their spiritual upbringing,” he continued.
A prolific reader, Ross said he began reading everything he could about the Catholic faith. He called Father Jason Palermo, a
friend of his aunt, to ask some questions and
talked to him for more than an hour before
deciding definitely to begin RCIA classes at
Immaculate Conception.
SEE FAMILY PAGE 8
2
| IN THIS ISSUE
| DID YOU KNOW
CATHOLIC LIFE TELEVISION is airing a
new documentary featuring the St. Joseph
Cathedral Choir, one of the hidden musical
gems of the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
PAGE 4
FATHER “PAUL” YI delivered a powerful
keynote address with his words and stunning singing voice during the Diocesan
Home and School Luncheon. PAGE 9
BISHOP ROBERT W. MUENCH ANNOUNCED five clergy assignments, which
will take effect July 1. PAGE 19
| IN THE NEXT ISSUE
During his annual visit
to Death Row at the
Louisiana State Penitentiary, Bishop Robert
W. Muench laughed,
talked and prayed
with inmates. Also, a
story of how two inmates are spreading
the word through their ministry.
FOR THE COCO FAMILY OF BATON
ROUGE, Easter is a time for their large
family to gather and carry on what has
become established traditions. PAGE 5
THE DEAF COMMUNITY is hearing
loud and clear
the message from
Father Ghislain
Cheret Bazikila,
the first deaf priest
assigned to the
Diocese of Baton Rouge and the state of
Louisiana. PAGE 7
The
April 18, 2014
| INDEX
CLASSIFIED ADS
18
COMING EVENTS
18
ENTERTAINMENT
14
FAMILY LIFE
5
SPIRITUALITY
16
YOUTH
12
Look for
CaThoLiC CommenTaTor
aT your LoCaL ouTLeTs inCLuding:
✔ Albertsons on Government St., Bluebonnet Blvd. and College Dr. in
Baton Rouge and in Denham Springs
✔ Alexander’s Highland Market in Baton Rouge
✔ Ascension Books & Gifts in Gonzales
✔ Benedetto’s Market in Addis
✔ Bohning Supermarket in Ponchatoula
✔ Calandro’s Supermarkets in Baton Rouge
✔ Catholic Art and Gifts in Baton Rouge
✔ Daigle’s Supermarket in White Castle
✔ Hi Nabor Supermarkets, Drusilla and Jones Creek Rd. in Baton Rouge
✔ Hubben’s Grocery in Port Allen
✔ LeBlanc’s Food Stores in Donaldsonville, Gonzales,
Hammond, Plaquemine, Plattenville, Prairieville and Zachary
✔ Matherne’s Supermarkets in Baton Rouge
✔ Magnuson Hotel in St. Francisville
✔ Oak Point Supermarket in Central
✔ Our Lady of the Lake College in Baton Rouge
✔ Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge
✔ Our Lady of the Lake Physicians Group offices with locations throughout
the Diocese
✔ Reeve’s Supermarket in Baton Rouge
✔ St. Elizabeth Hospital in Gonzales
✔ St. Mary’s Books & Gifts in Baton Rouge
✔ St. Vincent de Paul Stores throughout the diocese
✔ Schexnayder Supermarket in Vacherie
✔ Whole Foods Market in Baton Rouge
✔ Winn Dixie on Coursey Blvd. and Siegen Ln. in Baton Rouge,
Hammond, New Roads and Ponchatoula
as well as your local church parish
C
T H E
7
VIEWPOINT
C A T H O L I C
S E R V I N G T H E D I O C E S E O F B AT O N R O U G E S I N C E 19 6 2
Upon further review
“Imprimatur.” “Nihil Obstat.” “Imprimi potest.”
You have probably seen these Latin
words in many books about our Catholic
faith. But did you know that those words
signify that the local bishop has reviewed
the book and is satisfied that the content is
free of doctrinal or moral error?
When an author
wants to publish a
religious book, he or
she seeks the approval of the bishop where
he or she resides or
where the book is to be
published. The bishop will usually ask a
knowledgeable priest to review the book
and make any corrections that may be
necessary. Once the priest has made corrections, he will stamp the publication
with nihil obstat, which means “nothing
obstructs.”
The bishop will then give the book the
imprimatur, which translates “let it be
printed.”
The imprimatur is generally on the second page of a book and contains the name
of the bishop and the date of approval.
The imprimatur, or nihil obstat, does
not mean that the local bishop agrees with
the book, or any opinions expressed in it,
only that it contains nothing contrary to
Catholic faith or morals.
A religious writing a book must receive
the approval of the superior of his or her
order. In this case an imprimi potest, Latin for “It can be printed” is issued. The imprimi potest clears the
way for the writing to
receive the bishop’s
imprimatur.
Writings that require the imprimatur
are: books of prayers
for public or private use; catechisms and
other writing pertaining to catechetical
instruction; books on questions of sacred
Scripture, theology, canon law, ecclesiastical history and religious or moral disciplines when they are used for instruction
in schools of religious education programs; books dealing with questions of
faith or morals if they are exhibited, sold
or distributed in churches; and reprints of
collections of decrees or acts issued by the
local ecclesiastical authority.
When an author wants
to publish a religious
book, he or she seeks the
approval of the bishop...
| PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PRAY FOR US
Please pray for the priests, deacons and religious women and men in the Baton Rouge Diocese.
Apr. 21 Rev. Tan Viet Nguyen ICM
Dcn. Thomas J. Malinoski
Sr. Frances Landry CSJ
Apr. 22 Rev. Nicholas J. (Jack) Nutter III
Dcn. Edwin J. Martin
Sr. Rita Lanie OSF
Apr. 23 Rev. Marcel E. Okwara CSsR
Dcn. Wilbur P. Martinez
Sr. Joan Laplace CSJ
Apr. 24 Rev. Louis T. Oubre
Dcn. John L. McGinnis Jr.
Br. Warren Laudumiey SC
Apr. 25 Rev. Jason P. Palermo
Dcn. Larry J. Melancon
Sr. Marie-Paul Le ICM
Apr. 26 Rev. Bernard J. Papania
Dcn. James J. Morrissey
Br. Noel Lemmon SC
Apr. 27 Rev. Suchit (Paul) ParaKathil IMS
Dcn. Jodi A. Moscona
Sr. Lilian Lynch OSF
Apr. 28 Rev. Thomas C. Ranzino
Dcn. Leon Roy Murphy Jr.
Sr. Vernola Lyons OSF
Apr. 29 Rev. Anthony Rauschuber SJ
Dcn. Donald J. Musso
Sr. Joan Manuel CSJ
Apr. 30 Rev. Rubin Reynolds
Dcn. Roger A. Navarra
Sr. Ancilla Marie MC
May 1 Rev. Anthony J. Russo
Dcn. Angelo S. Nola
Sr. M. Vida Marija MC
May 2 Rev. Amal Raj Savarimuthu IMS
Dcn. Ricky P. Oubre
Sr. Ancilla Mathew CMC
May 3 Rev. Michael J. Schatzle
Dcn. Stephen Paul Ourso
Br. Will McCue SC
May 4 Rev. Alexander J. Sheldon
Dcn. Ricky A. Patterson
Sr. Evelyn Mee CSJ
thecatholiccommentator.org | Facebook.com/TheCatholicCommentator
Bishop Robert W. Muench Publisher
Father Than Vu Associate Publisher
Richard Meek Editor
Debbie Shelley Assistant Editor
Wanda L. Koch Advertising Manager
Penny G. Saia Advertising Sales
Lisa Disney Secretary/Circulation
Barbara Chenevert Staff Writer
The Catholic Commentator (ISSN 07460511; USPS 093-680)
Published bi-weekly (every other week) by the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge,1800 South Acadian Thruway, Baton Rouge, LA 70808; 225-387-0983 or 225-387-0561. Periodical Postage Paid at Baton Rouge, LA.
Copy must reach the above address by Wednesday for use in the next week’s paper. Subscription rate:
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Rouge, LA 70898-4746.
April 18, 2014
3
Priesthood strikes harmonious chord with Saints fan
By Barbara Chenevert
A New Orleans Saints sweatshirt hangs casually on the back
of the chair. A poster of Saints’
quarterback Drew Brees looks
over the room, while a collection
of footballs sits prominently on
the bookshelves.
A pro football player’s office?
No, this bastion of Saints football
is the office of Father Cayet Mangiaracino, a 79-year-old Dominican
priest who admits the loves of his
life are football and music. (He
once wrote a song recorded by pop
legend Ricky Nelson.)
Every Sunday
during football
season the parochial vicar at Holy
Ghost Church in
Hammond ends
the service with
“a blessing of the
Lord and a blessing of the boys,”
referring to the
Saints football team. “If I forget,
one of the parishioners will remind me,” he says.
Father Cayet, who was born
and attended school in New Orleans, is celebrating his 50th anniversary as a priest at the 4 p.m.
Mass on April 26 at Holy Ghost
Church.
“I enjoy priesthood. I enjoy
celebrating the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and anointing
of the sick. I enjoy being a people
person, talking and meeting with
people. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I can’t see myself being
anything other than a priest. I see
it as a gift – a calling from God,”
he said.
That call to priesthood came
at an early age, when he attended
St. Anthony of Padua School and
Church, which was manned by
Dominican priests. “I can remember looking at one of the young
priest who was about 26. I looked
at what he was doing and said,
‘Someday I would like to do that.’
He was a charmer with the youth
and the elderly. He played touch
football with us,” Father Cayet
said.
From there he went to Jesuit High School but said he never
once was attracted to the Jesuit
order. “The white habit was more
attractive than the black cassock,”
he said, referring to the respective
garb worn at the time by each order.
When he graduated from Jesuit, he was supposed to go to Loras
University in Iowa, where many
Dominicans studied, but opted instead to attend Loyola University
in New Orleans.
While at Loyola in 1953 he
joined a rock n’ roll band called
the Sparks. It was during that
time that he penned a song he
called, “Merry, Merry Lou,” which
became a local hit for the Sparks.
After Father Cayet had already
entered the seminary, the Sparks
won a battle of the bands, and
earned a prize of having a recording session with Decca Records.
The band chose
to record “Merry, Merry Lou.”
It was later also
recorded by Sam
Cooke and Bill
Haley and the
Comets.
When Ricky
Nelson released
“Hello,
Mary
Lou, Good-bye
Heart” in the
1960s, the song was remarkably
similar to “Merry, Merry Lou.”
The publishing company filed and
won a suit, and Father Cayet was
given co-authorship of the song
with Gene Pitney. He has received
Father Cayet is
celebrating his 50th
anniversary as a
priest at the 4 p.m.
Mass on April 26 at
Holy Ghost Church.
Father Cayet Mangiaracino OP stands by his collection of footballs in
his office at Holy Ghost Church in Hammond. Father Cayet is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his ordination on April 26. Photo by Barbara
Chenevert | The Catholic Commentator
royalties ever since, which went
to his mother until her death and
now go to the Dominican province. But he said when word got
out about the song, “It was embarrassing because everyone wanted
to know if I had a girlfriend and
was jilted. But it was just a crazy
little song that didn’t have much
meaning.”
In his second year at Loyola,
the Dominicans asked him to go
to Loras. “It was good to get away
from home. I was introduced
to snow and the beautiful fall
season,” he said. From there he
went to the novitiate in Wynoma,
Minn., which he said was even
colder. After taking his simple
vows, he attended school in Illinois studying philosophy for four
years, and finally theology school
in Dubock, Iowa. He was ordained
April 18, 1964.
Becoming a priest at the time
the changes from the Second Vatican Council were taking place
made up some of the highlights of
his priesthood. Celebrating Mass
in English was “marvelous. We
didn’t really understand Latin, We
prayed in Latin, but we didn’t understand it.”
The other highlight for him
was the introduction of folk music
into the liturgy, which he credited to Ray Repp, a Catholic singer-songwriter. Father Cayet said
he would often play guitar with
the folk choir if he wasn’t presiding at Mass.
Father Cayet has been assigned
to church parishes in Atlanta, Ga.,
Illinois and San Antonio, Texas,
but said he was happy to return
to Louisiana where he has served
recently at St. Joseph Church in
Ponchatoula and Holy Ghost. He
loves celebrating liturgy, greeting people before and after every
Mass and preaching. “I heard
nice, positive comments about my
preaching,” he said modestly. “I
use my hands a lot, you might say
I can be dynamic.”
He said he hopes to continue
his ministry of celebrating Mass
and visiting the sick as long as possible. “I don’t know how to spell
the word retirement,” he said.
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April 18, 2014
CLTV to air documentary highlighting Cathedral Choir
By Collette Keith
Special to The Catholic Commentator
It was Holy Thursday a year ago when
Catholic Life Television director Stephen
Lee was first inspired about featuring
the talent of what might be one of Baton
Rouge’s most discrete gems, the St. Joseph Cathedral Choir.
Lee had spent Holy Week sitting in
the camera control room at the cathedral, giving him what might have been
the most unparalleled view in the church.
Overlooking the entire congregation,
he experienced the week leading up to
Easter in a completely unique way. Lee,
along with his crew, had taped every service that week, spending hours inside the
PALM BLESSING – Bishop Robert W. Muench blesses palms before the celebration
of Palm Sunday Mass on April 13. The congregation processed from One American
Place into St. Joseph Cathedral. Palm Sunday opened the holiest week of the year
for Catholics around the world. Photo by John Balance | Special to The Catholic Commentator
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one interviews with the choir members
throughout the documentary. However,
while the music means something different to each person, they all share one
specific trait, fueled by the perfectionism
of their conductor: a commitment to excellence.
Yet, they don’t see this as a labor.
In a personal interview, choir member
Andy Plaisance explained that to those
involved, being a Cathedral musician is
more an art form than anything.
“There are notes on the pages that are
just like paint for an artist,” he said. “It’s
not until we get the paint out and start
mixing it that we get all these different
hues of color and put it on the canvas and
create art. That’s what we do at the cathedral.”
The passion the “Cathedral Musicians”
have for their work is tangible and radiates from the screen to the viewer.
“We wanted to get the viewers to not
only be aware that this fantastic choir is
there, but also, if you had a talent to sing,
to go to your parish and volunteer and be
a part of the ministry,” Lee said. “Be more
involved with your parish, because everybody has a unique gift to give.”
“Cathedral Musicians: Enhancing
Worship” premiered April 13 and will run
for two weeks. It can be seen Sundays at
5:30 a.m., Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m., and Fridays at 10:30
a.m.
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church, prepping and running cameras.
Although Lee possessed the technical
background to bring such a project to fruition, he needed a musician. He needed
someone who knew the ins and outs of
music that could help him highlight the
talent he felt called to showcase, so Lee
called the only man he believed was fit for
the job: Darryl Ducote.
“Steve asked me to come help because
of my musical background, and also because of the theology background that
I had,” said Ducote, who was previously a member of the musical group The
Dameans. “I have really strong experience in church music and in liturgy. I was
able to combine those, and it worked out
really well.”
Together, the two pulled the music
down out of the rafters and captured it
into an exquisite feature presentation.
The hour-long piece, “Cathedral Musicians: Enhancing Worship,” displays not
only the raw talent that each member possesses, but also the dedication and devotion they put into fine-tuning that talent.
“There’s a lot of commitment that’s
involved,” explained cathedral choir director and conductor Robbie Giroir. “You
have to have skills, you have to have experience, and you have to have the time
to give to this ministry and to this profession.”
To each singer, music represents
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Three non-profit agencies have each
been awarded $5,000 through the Bishop
Stanley Joseph Ott Works of Mercy Trust
Fund.
Those receiving the grants are the Baton Rouge Crisis Intervention Center, The
Life of a Single Mom Ministries and the
St. Elizabeth Foundation.
“We are thrilled to be able to help each
of these worthy organizations in a meaningful way,” said Tammy Abshire, director of stewardship for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. “Each organization, in its own
unique way, has a profound and positive
impact on the people they serve and ultimately on the entire community.
“We are proud to play a role in their
ministries.”
Grant money awarded to the Baton
Rouge Crisis Intervention Center will be
directed to the Traumatic Loss Outreach,
a program that addresses the emotional
support needs identified by the community and East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s
office to provide immediate assistance
and support to those who have experienced the death of a loved one by traumatic means, in addition to support for
suicide survivors.
The Life of a Single Mom Ministries
will offer financial education classes consisting of teaching young mothers topics
related to finances and community resources. Instructors will include financial
advisors and counselors, child advocates,
credit bureau experts and mortgage specialists.
The St. Elizabeth Foundation will use
its grant to fund its Adopt a Birthmother
program, which provides housing, transportation, job search and education for
birthmothers. The program will also offer
support counseling services.
The fund was established in 1991 in the
wake of the announcement that Bishop
Ott suffered from terminal cancer. Funds
are administered by the stewardship office and non-profits are selected by invitation only.
“We do not accept unsolicited proposals,” said Eric Guerin, assistant stewardship director. “We are looking for something that is a good fit.”
April 18, 2014
FAMILY LIFE
Easter is a time for families to celebrate life
And in Plaquemine at St. John the
Evangelist Church, Laurie and Jacob Barbier and children Sarah, 7, and Linward,
5, make the walk up to the summit of the
liturgical year by attending the Triduum
services during Holy Week.
This year will be Anne Barbier’s second
year to be the flower girl in the Holy Thursday procession.
The family also attends the Stations of
the Cross on Fridays and the Good Friday
service.
The younger children grapple with understanding Jesus’ passion and death. But
she and her husband answer their questions truthfully and in a way they understand.
The children also celebrate traditional
Easter activities. They dye and hunt eggs
and have their pictures taken with the
Easter bunny at the Knights of Columbus
Council 970 Easter party.
The Barbiers’ children receive catechesis
all year long, with Anne and Linward attending children’s church and Sarah staying in regular church with her parents.
However, Easter is a special time for them
to focus on God’s plan for salvation, according to Barbier.
“It’s the most important time of the year
for sharing Catholicism, and sharing the
faith,” said Barbier, who entered the church
through the Rite of Christian Initian in
2002.
“It’s nice to pass on the traditions to
the children,” Barbier said. “I’m learning
things as I pass them on to them.”
By Debbie Shelley
Easter is a time for families to celebrate
the goodness of life, in its earthly, natural
state and the eternal life provided by Christ
when he rose from the grave.
For the family of Johnny and Lynn Coco
of St. Patrick Church in Baton Rouge, who
have 11 children and 22 grandchildren with
two more on the way, Easter activities vary
across the ages.
“It is a glorious and happy time,” said
Lynn Coco.
When the Coco children were younger,
the older ones helped the little ones, including helping them to lay out clothes and
shining shoes the night before, hiding Easter eggs and watching after them at Mass.
Lynn Coco said Easter is an important
time for a family to look their best when going to Mass because, “It’s a symbol of how
we feel on the inside. If you’re going to see
the king, you dress up.”
After Mass it was time to put on the play
clothes and have fun outside.
After an Easter egg hunt in the morning,
the Cocos met with Lynn Coco’s siblings
at their parent’s house. The Coco children
participated in a second Easter egg hunt
with their cousins, and the older children
played basketball and other sports.
“We bought a lot of eggs and Easter bunnies,” Lynn Coco said.
The Coco family members keep in close
contact and still enjoy gathering for Easter with their children. One of the biggest
I
Ready for Easter Sunday Mass in 1990 are Coco family members, from left, front row, Shawn,
Luke, Paul; middle row, Ashley Coco Anderson, Renee Coco Allen, Ana Coco Champion;
back row, Lisa Coco Hargrave, Eric, Lynn Nesbit Coco, Patrick, Johnny, Amy Coco Clark and
Kim Coco Stewart. Photo provided by Lynn Coco
events is a cooking contest, with categories
including entrées, vegetables, salads and
desserts.
“My kids are very competitive,” Johnny
Coco mused. He said his wife is not allowed
to compete, because she is acknowledged
as the best cook.
“Those who don’t think it’s too cool (the
children and youth activities) get excited
about the cooking contest,” said Lynn Coco.
She said all of her children were educated at St. Thomas More School and St. Jo-
5
seph’s Academy or Catholic High.
“With hard work, generous scholarships, prayers and the grace of God, all 11
graduated from college,” Lynn Coco said.
She said family members are “in and
out” of each other’s lives during the year.
But Easter for them is an exciting time because that’s when they make a special effort to get together. Lynn Coco said while
she didn’t expect to have as many children
as she did, she said she is so blessed she
wouldn’t have it any other way.
How to keep your home free from clutter
look around the house and
wonder how I came to possess so many things. Forty
years ago, as I recall, I began
our marriage with a few items of
clothing, a box or two of books,
a clock radio and a typewriter.
Now my “starter home” –
which turned out to be our only
home – is packed with hundreds
of items. I suppose 40 years will
do that.
The advantage of living in the
same house for so many years
is that the mortgage is paid off.
The disadvantage is that there
are decades worth of things
crammed into it. And now with
the coming of spring, there’s
some primal urge to sort, clean
and simplify. I’m fighting it the
best I can.
I understand and like the
concept of living a simpler life.
It’s getting to that simpler life
that seems so complicated. A
simpler life would be easier, but
making life simple is so hard.
This is the house where Mon-
Your Family
Bill Dodds
ica, my late wife, and I raised
our three children, where we
started and ran a nonprofit and
where I’ve worked for the past
25 years as a freelance writer.
What that means is that
there’s stuff in every room, in
the attic, in the garage, on the
patio, even in a long-abandoned
chicken coop at the far end of
the lot. It is stuff that’s going to
stay where it is until I do some-
thing about it.
With that in mind, here are
some of the things I’ve been telling myself to get motivated:
• You can clean one drawer,
make it an easy one, make it one
that you stand a good chance of
cleaning.
• No one needs three claw
hammers, the top to an old
blender, four long-dead computers or a ball of twine (maybe
the ball of twine. It’s probably a
collector’s item).
• Most, if not all, of the items
you think are “collector’s items”
are worth less than the dust
collecting on them.
• There are people who need,
could use and would be so
happy to have the extra coats,
jackets, scarves, gloves and hats
in your front closet; ditto with
all those towels and sets of bed
sheets.
• What if you didn’t have a
junk drawer?
• And this sobering thought:
God forbid something should
happen to you, and the kids had
to sort through all your stuff.
There is nothing exciting or
interesting to see, just a mess, a
lot of work for them.
• The above thought is followed by this rebuttal thought:
Some of it is their junk! Maybe
they should, go through it, sort
it, dump stuff and take what
they want to keep.
• One closet. I could clean out
one closet, then one room, not
the attic, not yet, no sense going
crazy here.
On a serious note, I know
there’s no rush to get rid of anything that was Monica’s. I sorted
and gave away a few months
after she died. On the first anniversary of her death, I donated
some of her clothes to a clothing
bank to help those in need. It
was a happy thought, imagining
women so pleased to have items
she had liked.
DODDS and his late wife, Monica, were the founders of the
Friends of St. John the Caregiver. He can be contacted at Bill
Dodds@YourAgingParent.com.
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6
April 18, 2014
Christ’s mentions of heaven and hell; why fish, no meat?
Q
I have read a statement
by a religion writer
that Jesus spoke more
about hell than about heaven. Is this a fact, and are you
aware of any research that
supports such a statement?
(Although I know that Jesus
definitely did speak of hell, I
have always felt that this was
balanced by the times he referred to people being in union
with God in the next world.)
(Lancaster, Ohio)
A
The difficulty of doing
a “word search” is that
Jesus uses several different expressions for heaven
and for hell, and each must be
interpreted according to the
context.
One commentator on
religion, a man named John
Wallace who writes a blog
called “John’s Ramblings,”
attempted the comparison
you asked about. He looked at
the times the Bible referenced
Christ talking about “paradise”
and “kingdom of heaven” and
matched them against quotes
including expressions such as
“Gehenna,” a Hebrew word also
referencing hell, and “darkness.”
His conclusion was that
heaven was spoken of by Jesus
in the Gospels 123 times and
hell used 27 times. No tally will
be universally accepted. But the
important thing is that Jesus
talked about heaven and hell.
Q
Question Corner
A
binding. National conferences
of bishops, and even bishops of
each diocese, have some discretion in applying the rules of fast
and abstinence.
In the diocese where I live,
for example, Catholics are
asked to refrain from eating meat on the Fridays in
Lent. However, the published
guidelines specify that “by
retaining these traditions for
our diocese we do not intend
Why is it OK to eat
fish on Fridays during
Lent, but not other animals? Isn’t fish meat as well?
Is shellfish, like lobster and
shrimp, considered fish, and
does the church allow its consumption on meatless days?
(It seems to me that lobster is
extravagant and shouldn’t be
eaten during a season when
almsgiving and abstinence are
encouraged.) (Canal Winchester, Ohio)
First, a clarification on
the rule. The prohibition
against meat on Lenten Fridays is not universally
Father Kenneth Doyle
that they be interpreted as
laws binding under pain of sin,
but as customs from which we
will not hold ourselves lightly
excused.”
Evidence from the church’s
earliest centuries indicates
that meat was already singled
out as a particular type of food
from which Christians occasionally abstained. Why meat?
Because meat was associated
with celebrations and feasts
and was considered a luxury
in some cultures. Fish, by
comparison, was more often
the poor man’s meal.
Your observation that fish is
also meat is correct – technically and biologically. It is the
flesh of an animal, but in many
Western languages the term
“meat” is used customarily to
refer only to the flesh of mammals and fowl.
In his 1966 apostolic constitution on penance, Pope Paul
VI used the Latin word “carnis” in regard to abstinence, a
word that refers specifically to
mammals and birds.
As to lobster and shrimp,
they are indeed fish, and so
there is no prohibition against
eating them on days of abstinence. But I agree with your
point: The spirit of Lent is
one of penance, in memory of
Christ’s suffering, and of sharing our blessings with the poor.
To forego a hamburger on a
Lenten Friday and substitute
instead a lobster tail seems a
bit hypocritical. As a matter of
fact, the bishops of the United
States agree; their website
says, “While fish, lobster and
other shellfish are not considered meat and can be consumed on days of abstinence,
indulging in the lavish buffet
at your favorite seafood place
sort of misses the point.”
FATHER DOYLE is chancellor for
public information and a pastor in the Diocese of Albany,
N.Y. Questions may be sent
to Father Kenneth Doyle at
askfather doyle@gmail.com
and 40 Hopewell St., Albany,
NY 12208.
Ministry
and theology
Summer 2014
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April 18, 2014
SPIRITUALITY
Living with faith
I
’ve often written about the
years when I served with the
Jesuit Volunteer Corps long
ago in a remote Alaskan bush
village where I taught at a Jesuit
boarding school. A large staff
worked at the isolated mission:
Jesuits, Ursuline sisters and
a large contingent of mostly
right-out-of-college “Jesuit
volunteers.”
Looking back from a vantage
of almost 40 years, what I
realize is what I share with so
many my age: We were young
and invincible once, and now
the years bring the reality of
mortality. It’s a reality we all
face as we grow older, and how
we deal with this reality is at the
heart of our faith.
From that perspective, it’s
a challenge. Lent and Easter
are consoling times to face that
challenge.
Living in a community in a
remote locale produced tight
friendships and even a few
marriages, including my own.
With no restaurants, pubs or
movie theaters in the village,
we learned to make our fun
together.
No television meant that entertainment came in old movies
shipped out from Anchorage,
which we ran on an old-time
reel projector. Netflix, computers and cellphones were still
science fiction dreams then, and
the Alaskan bush was far more
behind the times than most
of the rest of the world in the
1970s.
The dorms in which our
Yupik Eskimo teen boarders
lived had popcorn makers, and
we’d haul garbage bags full of
leftovers into the staff lounge
for our after-hours movies.
How many times did we
watch “The Sound of Music?”
I can’t even count, but I deny
that all those screenings had
anything to do with the fact that
I eventually named a daughter
Maria.
Guys who would have
scorned their mom’s card parties learned how to play bridge,
not to mention canasta and
cutthroat poker. Our rickety
old gym saw school dances on
Friday nights, and then pickup
basketball games for volunteers
after the kids were in bed.
The school had a plentiful
supply of nearly antique wooden
cross-country skis, and an enthusiastic Jesuit eager to get us
7
First deaf priest assigned to diocese
By Debbie Shelley
For The Journey
Effie Caldarola
all out onto the frozen river and
the snow-laden hills.
Then, we were young,
healthy, with lives ahead of us.
We filled our days with laughter
and optimism, and many of us
forged bonds that have remained strong as we left, married, had kids, sought advanced
degrees, made job changes and
moved around the country.
So now, inevitably, as we’ve
shared the joyous news of
babies being born, and then
grandchildren coming along, we
now begin the season of sharing
the passing of those we grew to
love in our salad days. It seems
too soon. We’re mostly 60, give
or take a year or two, too early
to see friends pass, but there
you are.
The years sneak up, don’t
they? It’s something you can
never quite explain to the
young. And that’s probably
a good thing. It’s a luxury we
possess early on, the sense that
life spreads out before us with
an almost limitless horizon,
with choices and possibilities
limitless as well.
But it’s also not such a bad
thing to look at the horizon in
the later third of life. The losing
of friends is sad, but the horizon, now limited, has beauty in
its temporality, each day more
precious. There aren’t any to
squander.
And we hold to our faith,
made clear in the liturgy for
Christian burial: Lord, for your
faithful people, life is changed,
not ended.
CALDAROLA, who writes a
general-interest column, can
be reached at Catholic News
Service, 3211 Fourth St. N.E.,
Waahington, DC 20017.
The deaf community of the
Diocese of Baton Rouge is hearing loud and clear the message
from one of their own, Father
Ghislain Cheret Bazikila: I am
here to serve you.
Many hearing impaired people throughout the diocese met
the first deaf priest assigned to
the diocese and the state of Louisiana at The Cabin Restaurant
in Gonzales on April 3.
Since his arrival in Baton
Rouge on March 31, Father Bazikila has been on a mission: to
bond with the deaf and draw
them into the life of the church.
In the past he has been particularly successful in getting young
deaf people connected with
their faith. He said that no matter what has happened in their
lives, they must “fight the past
and go forward.”
“We need to be involved in
the church, to have a mission.
We have to go out to the people,”
Father Bazikila said. His stated
goal is to help hearing impaired
people have joyful, fulfilling
lives.
“I want them to believe in
themselves,” Father Bazikila
said.
The priest emphasized that
a hearing impairment, or any
other challenge, doesn’t have to
mean that one should withdraw
into themselves. His own life
models how determination is a
key factor in succeeding.
Father Bazikila was born
and raised in Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of Congo.
His family was deeply rooted
in the Catholic faith. Their influence, and the influence of the
religious he came into contact
with, and most especially, the
Blessed Mother, inspired him
to become a priest. He entered
the seminary at age 13. But after
losing his hearing from an undiagnosed illness, he feared ordination would not happen.
“The rain would be hitting
the roof and I could not hear it,”
Father Bazikila said. He stated
his mother noticed his hearing
loss and had it diagnosed by
doctors.
The priest struggled with his
hearing loss, asking himself in
confusion and fear, “Why is this
happening to me? Why am I going deaf?”
But he was determined to
Father Ghislain Bazikila converses with Rita Hankel, left, and Ann
Gremillion. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator
succeed in life. He went to the
University of Brazzaville. He became adept at reading lips and
taking good notes. He received
a bachelor’s degree in sociology and deaf cultures. People
were amazed that he was able to
complete his college degree in a
“hearing setting” despite being
deaf.
But wondering what road he
should take, he strongly heard
God’s call again to enter the
seminary, and specifically to
serve the deaf community.
“This time I felt God was
leading me to meet the needs of
deaf people,” he said.
By this time, he had the support and mentorship of religious
and people who helped get him
resources he needed to continue
his studies.
Among the places where Father Bazikila has served has
been Washington State, Texas,
Philadelphia, Boston and San
Francisco.
In order to communicate
more directly with the deaf
community, Father Bazikila
learned American Sign Language.
He comes to Baton Rouge
from the Archdiocese of San
Francisco, where he was ordained in 2008.
Father Bazikila plans to host
retreats, administer the sacrament of reconciliation, visit the
nursing homes, meet people
and celebrate Mass regularly for
the deaf community, to which
the hearing community is invited, each Sunday. Masses are
currently being held at 10 a.m.
at the Resurrection Chapel of
the Catholic Life Center. The
Deaf Apostolate will be moved
to St. Agnes Church in Baton
Rouge in July at which time the
Masses will be held at St. Agnes,
according to Deaf Apostolate officials.
Those who would like to contact Father Bazikila can call his
video phone at 225-341-6482.
There are only a few deaf
priests in the United States. Father Bazikila said deaf priests
can best minister to their own
because they can communicate
without an interpreter.
Father Bazikila emphasized
that he wants the deaf to be
thankful to the diocese for allowing the deaf ministry to continue.
His vision is to also see that
hearing people have some understanding of the deaf community so they can form the bonds
that make the church whole.
“We want hearing people to
become family as well,” Father
Bazikila said.
8
FAMILY 
April 18, 2014
Samantha said studying the
Catholic faith has made the family more positive, although both
Mom Samantha said she had Todd and Samantha agree that
been to Pentecostal and Baptist they have always tried to instill
churches in the past, but decided goodness and principles as they
to follow the lead of her husband reared their children. “I didn’t
into the Catholic Church and know until later that what I was
found, “It was the right choice.”
teaching them was the Catholic
The Rosses and their sev- teachings,” Todd said.
en children, ages 16 years to 10
“The Catholic Church is the
months, attend Mass together last bastion for families. Everyevery Sunday. “I love to see their thing else is falling like domifaces. We sit right up in the front noes. I hope the church never
so they can see everything,” backs down from its moral stanTodd said. All but the three dards,” he added.
youngest – Joseph, Hayden and
Instruction in the Catholic
Logan – are enrolled in RCIA or faith has opened doors of friendRCIC classes.
ship for them also. “People would
“They are a really neat fami- always ask us if we were Catholic,
ly,” said Immaculate Conception especially at the ballpark, I guess
RCIA coordinator Judy Graphia. because we were a large family.
“To get seven kids ready for 9 Now we can say ‘yes.’ ” Samana.m. Mass every Sunday is a big tha said. And several of the chilcommitment. But they are al- dren said they now talk about
ways there,” she said. “Todd has their faith with other Catholics,
been diligent about
now that they have
getting the family
gained knowledge.
into the program
Hunter added,
here.”
“I meet people now
LeAnne, the only
that I didn’t know
girl among the sevwere Catholics. I
en siblings, said, “I
didn’t know anythink the Cathothing about being
lic Church is much
Catholic. I didn’t
prettier. When I
even know what it
first walk in and see
meant.”
the stained glass, it
And Blake likes
feels like a church.
to “wear his faith
It feels like I was
on his sleeve,” his
meant to be here. It
dad said. “He loves
feels right.” A cheerto tell everybody”
leader and straight
Todd Ross
about his new
A student at Walker
found religion.”
The wonderful parishioners
Freshman School, LeAnne said
the Catholic Church is “different of Immaculate Conception and
in a good way. Everything seems Father Frank Uter have “flung
open the doors for us with their
to flow better.”
Blake, 11, said the Catholic support and encouragement,”
Church was “funner” than the Todd said.
Ross, a digital control techBaptist Church he attended with
a friend, because it does things nician, said after the Newtown
that “relate to Jesus. When we Connecticut school shootings he
go into church we genuflect, put started reading a Bible that his
down the kneeler and pray. I son, Hunter, had given him. “I
never did that before.”
had never read the Bible. I read
Brett, a sophomore at Walker it all. You cannot read the Bible
High School, said the Catholic without it pointing to Catholifaith was different from what he cism.”
had expected. “I never went to
He said he used to joke
church until I came here. I like it around about having 10 kids but
better.”
he never really intended it. As for
Learning about the faith has Samantha she wanted a boy and
prompted the family to bring a girl. “But I love them all. Anyreligious articles into the home, time one or two are out of the
including an Advent wreath that house you want them back in,”
Blake described as “Cool. We she said.
stood as a family around the taLeAnne observed that they
ble and lit the wreath every Sun- all seem happier since discoverday and said the prayers together ing Jesus in the Catholic faith,
as a family,” he said.
but they are still the typical famAnd dad brought home a ily. “We still have our arguments,
prayer to say before meals, he just not as bad as it used to be,”
added.
she said.
From page 1
“The Catholic
Church is the
last bastion
for families.
Everything else
is falling like
dominoes.”
April 18, 2014
9
Eucharist focus of keynote address
By Richard Meek
Loving the Eucharist and
keeping the body of Christ in the
daily lives of Catholics was the
theme of Father Paul Yi’s keynote
address at the Diocesan Home
and School Luncheon.
But the lingering memory for
the several hundred educators,
Catholic school supporters and
young people who gathered at
the April 1 event likely will be
two stunning singing performances by Father Yi, who is the
pastor at Ascension of Our Lord
and St. Francis of Assisi churches
in Donaldsonville. In a beautiful voice Father Yi sang the Italian Christmas hymn “Tu Scendi
Dalle Stelle,” (“You Come Down
From the Stars”) and a prayer
composed by St. Francis Assisi.
He performed each piece in Italian.
Both the song and prayer
punctuated Father Yi’s message
of the Eucharist.
“When we encounter the
Christ Child we change,” he said.
“At the heart of the mystery of the
Nativity of Our Lord we encounter this Christ Child every day. Do
we see him?
“Do we recognize him?”
He cautioned those in attendance to be mindful of what is
preventing us “from seeing our
Lord’s love for us in our daily
lives.”
He quoted a letter Mother Teresa of Calcutta wrote to her sister
warning of obstacles that could
close one’s heart to Jesus, includ-
ing hurts of life, human mistakes,
temptations of the devil using
self-accusation and self-condemnation and the error of thinking
happiness is achieved through
worldly pleasure and success.
Father Yi related a story about
how a young boy asked his mother, who was a self-professed atheist, who she loved more: he or
God. When the mother replied,
“You, of course,” the boy answered, “I think that is your big
mistake.”
“I wonder what went through
that mother’s mind,” Father Yi
said. “We must look deep in our
hearts to look at our lives and
change our behaviors and actions
that keep us from being our Lord’s
love in this world.
“Without prayer, without
searching our hearts, we cannot
know what separates us from our
Lord’s heart. With great humility, we must ask our Lord daily
whether we have recognized him
and served him.”
Father Yi said the Christ Child
is a living person, present in the
lives of all, to be touched, to be
held and to be loved. He recalled
what a seminary professor once
taught him, saying that the lives
of parents are forever changed
once their child is born.
Rather than having more of
a carefree attitude, parents of a
newborn begin to see the world
through a more mature set of eyes
and worry about how to make
their child happy.
“Isn’t this the reason why those
of you who are sitting here at this
ceremony are inspired to give so
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much of your time helping the
school?” he said. “Imagine, then,
how the Christ Child inspires you
to go a step further beyond the
boundary of your family.
“Jesus is born to not just the
family of Mary and Joseph but to
the entire human family.”
During the ceremony, Charles
Roemer V, a fifth-grader at Our
Lady of Mercy School in Baton
Rouge; Marigny Broussard, an
eighth-grader at St. Theresa of
Avila School in Gonzales; Richard
Tuminello Jr., a senior at St. Michael the Archangel High School
in Baton Rouge; and Audrey
Marsh, a senior at St. Joseph’s
Academy in Baton Rouge, were
honored as the 2014 Student of
the Year Award winners.
Also honored were the 2014
Distinguished Educators – Dis-
Dr. Melanie Verges, superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, right, presented the Student of the Year Awards
during the Diocesan Home and School luncheon on April 1. Award
winners, from left, are Richard Tuminello Jr., St. Michael the Archangel
High School in Baton Rouge; Audrey Marsh, St. Joseph’s Academy in
Baton Rouge; Charles Roemer V, Our Lady of Mercy School in Baton
Rouge and Marigny Broussard, St. Theresa of Avila School in Gonzales. Photo By Richard Meek | The Catholic Commentator
tinguished Pastor, Father Vincent J. Dufrense, St. Peter Chanel
School; Distinguished Elementary Teacher, Sister Micha DeMart
MHS, St. John Primary School;
Distinguished Elementary Principal, Maria Cloessner, Most
Blessed Sacrament School, Baton
Rouge; and Distinguished Secondary Educator, Linda Harvison, St. Joseph’s Academy.
The Mother Seton Award winners from each parish were also
honored.
10
The Catholic Commentator | April 18, 2014April 18, 2014 | The Catholic Commentator
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By Richard Meek
nguish wept from the voice of Jordan Frantz, the
stinging sound of a bullwhip piercing a somber
silence.
Frantz, recognizing that each cry of pain brought him
in closer communion with Christ, readily accepted each
slashing blow. Frantz, a graduate of St. Michael High
School in Baton Rouge and a senior at LSU, was stunning
in his recent portrayal of Jesus in the production of The
Passion at Christ the King Church in Baton Rouge, held
April 7-8.
“It really allows me to dive deeper, nowhere near the
amount of suffering Christ suffered, but if I can get a
little bit closer to (the pain he endures) then I think I can
portray him a little more accurately,” Frantz said of the
scourging, which he admitted was not as severe as appeared to the audience. “I’m supposed to feel some pain.
I don’t think I could at all get close to portraying Christ if
I’m not feeling at least some kind of uncomfortableness.
“The Lord has really invited me to a deeper knowledge
of what he went through.”
Produced and directed annually by LSU students, the
play follows the life of Christ through one of the Gospels,
this year was St. Luke, culminating in a dramatic crucifixion where the person portraying Jesus is raised up
on a large cross. The play has become a mainstay on the
Lenten calendar of many area Catholics, partly because
of the reputation of excellence the students have earned.
The process begins in the summer when the script is
completed and submitted for approval by Christ the King
pastor Father Bob Stine.
Then comes the daunting task of identifying and selecting the cast, most of whom are likely not to have any
acting experience.
This year, that fell on the shoulders of co-directors of
Camille Pere and Alex Rueff.
“It’s been a lot of prayer and rolling with the punches
and leaving it up to God,” Pere said. “We knew he would
make it happen and he did.
“I truly believe we got the people that we needed to be
a part of the play.”
Rehearsals began in January and although Frantz had
previously portrayed Jesus in a production of the Passion
when he was in the eighth grade at St. Jean Vianney Elementary School in Baton Rouge he was surprised at the
role’s emotional toll.
“I don’ think I realized how big of a sacrifice it would
be,” he said, adding he experienced a few anxious moments the first couple of times the cross was raised in
rehearsal. “Both figuratively portraying the ultimate
sacrifice but also just literally for me kind of being very
sacrificial. It’s a big role so for a student, that means a lot
of time is put into this. But I think the bigger sacrifice,
even, though I’m portraying the crucifixion and the passion, it still hurts. A lot.”
Frantz said one of his most spiritual moments came
during the practicing of the scourging.
“It kind of hit me,” he said. “The guys who were portraying the soldiers are people that I love; guys that I’m
really good friends with. Even though they were acting, I
think the Lord still allowed me to experience a little more
of the fact he truly loved the people that were scourging
him. And how much that hurt.”
Playing a much different role was Reid Frances, who
was cast as Satan. Frances, a freshman at LSU, admitted playing the “most evil person in the world was a
little weird” but allowed him to experience a deeper
spiritual awakening.
“A couple of times when we were doing the
scene when sentencing Jesus to death, I was
lurking around, mirroring the chief priest,
showing how I am controlling what they are
doing,” he said. “I started questioning my
own faith at that point. How do we know
this actually happened?”
“Then I realized it was Satan entering my mind,” Frances added. “I prayed
the St. Michael prayer (a practice he
continued during the rest of rehearsals)
and got those thoughts out. I’ve always
known spiritual warfare (existed) but
never really witnessed it
personally until this.
It has helped me
grow closer to
God.”
Frances
said he
endured
goodnatured
taunting
and verbal
jabs from his
friends.
“Things like ‘Get
behind me Satan,’ or
“Don’t trust him, he’s
Satan,’” he said with a
chuckle.
For Afton Rosenbloom, portraying the
Blessed Mother helped
her grow closer to
Mary in a way she never
envisioned.
“A couple of years ago
I remember thinking, ‘I
don’t have a devotion to
Mary, don’t know how to talk to her,’ ” she
Tom Holsteen, left, portrays Pilate as he questions Jesus shortly before
said.
sentencing him to death.
Rosenbloom said during the past two
years Mary has given her confirmations of love. Shortly
after Rosenbloom finished her consewith that. How do I say things like the Blessed Mother?
cration (to Mary) in December she
“It’s been a lot for me to figure out.”
Through prayer, she asked for Mary’s guidance, and
was asked to play the role of Mary,
“that is what she has been doing. She has definitely
which was a spiritual blessing
played a role in this.
but also came with some difficulties.
“It’s a hard thing to wrap my mind around because I
“She’s the holiest
never thought I would have a relationship with her let
woman ever in crealone portraying her in a play. I always thought Mary is
ation, and how do
so perfect and it’s unattainable to imitate her heart. But
you portray that,” she was human.”
she said. “I’ve
Even though his role of Jesus has ended, Frantz said
been finding he hopes the experience has helped him grow in his faith
it difficult
and in his life.
to find
“I feel like I’ve been called more by God’s grace,” he
where
said. “I think that I’ve responded more to the call to love
to go
my brothers and sisters here at a deeper level and to practice that forgiveness that Christ practiced immediately
and perfectly.
“Christ constantly renews us if we allow him to change
our hearts.”
Mary, played by Afton Rosenbloom,
holds Jesus in her arms after
the crucifixion.
12
YOUTH
FOR THE TROOPS – Community Cougars, a service organization of St. Jude School, recently completed
“Project Operation Quench.” The students, faculty and staff collected 6,588 single serve drink mixes
to be sent to the troops in Afghanistan. Susan Abshire, center, with Soldier’s Angels, and Donna Dufor,
center left, member of the Family Readiness Group, came to the school March 18 to receive the donations. Participating in the program were: from left, Ben Weber, Emma Benton, Will Evans, Nicholas
Nolan, Stg. Abby Richard, Abshire, Dufour, Madeline Territo, Brianna Alumbaugh, Grant David, John
Michael King, Bryce Purpera and Cathryn Morris. Photo provided by Starr Driesse | St. Jude School
April 18, 2014
AUTHOR VISIT – Author Ernest Gaines, center, recently discussed his book, “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman,”
with eighth-grade students at St. Francis Xavier School. Gaines
talked about writing style, character development, historical
research and perseverance. With him is his wife, Dianne, and
SFX student Gerard Eaglin. Photo provided by Paulette Hamilton | St. Francis
Xavier School
St. Thomas More student chosen as governor for mock legislative session
During a two-day mock legislation held
at the Old State Capitol, St. Thomas More
School students learned about all aspects
of the legislative process including, electing
a governor, and house and senate officers.
Student legislators drafted bills, presented
them for legislation and participated in debate before putting them to a vote. Elected officials included St. Thomas
More eighth-grade students Vivian Brown
as governor, Audrey Graves as secretary
of health and welfare, Sydney Hamilton
senate president pro tem, Lily Abadie as
senate chaplain, Ann Nguyen as house
clerk and Clacey Tibbetts as house chaplain. This is the fifth consecutive year that
the governor has been elected from St.
Thomas More.
Four bills sponsored by STM students
passed both the house and senate and were
signed into law by Governor Brown. STM students inducted into the Youth
Legislative Hall of Fame included: Madi
Boudreaux, Madison Bridges, Maia Calkins,
Maddie Corvers, Alexandra Fields, Camille
Frugé, Hunter Ivey, Anna Claire Rabalais,
Ashley Ross, Madison Szekely and Gabbie
Taylor. These students will have the opportunity to attend a special Youth Legislature
event during the summer.
Youth Legislature is sponsored by Boys
and Girls Club, which helps middle school
students work to understand and experience government in action and encourage
students to become future leaders of the
State of Louisiana.
April 18, 2014
YOUTH
13
St. Joseph’s freshmen impress at Engineering Day
St. Joseph’s Academy freshmen Kathryn Nastasi and Blake
Caronna joined co-director of
technology John Richardson
and help desk manager Colette
Burke as presenters at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum’s
inaugural Engineering Day. The
interactive, family festival was
held March 29.
Visitors enjoyed a presentation by Dr. Keith Comeaux,
NASA engineering operations
chief, Mars Science Laboratory
Project. There were also nearly two dozen demonstrations
and activities that introduced
guests to many engineering
specialties, including electrical,
mechanical and petroleum, robotics, deepwater ROVs, solar
cars, chemistry, bridge building
and more.
SJA staffed a booth showcasing two of the school’s 3D
printers and the 3Doodler, a
handheld 3D printing tool.
Museum patrons watched the
3D printers in action as they
printed student designs. They
were also able to ask questions
and brainstorm ideas for how
their schools or organizations
could collaborate with and benefit from SJA’s expertise in this
field.
“This event was an excellent
opportunity to share with the
had a great time demonstrating
and teaching about something I
love to do. It was a new experience for me, and I’m more than
willing to do it again because I
enjoyed it so much.”
Nastasi said Engineering
Day was a wonderful experience. “I met a couple of SJA
alumnae who were absolutely
blown away by the increase
of technology since their time
here,” she said. “It was also
St. Joseph Academy students captivated people with their presentation on 3D printers during inaugural Engineering Day the Louisiana
Arts and Science Musuem. Photo provided by Mindy Averitt | St. Joseph’s Academy
Baton Rouge community all
the special projects our technology and art students have
been working on,” Burke said.
“I was especially excited to see
so many young girls come out
to explore their interests in
the STEM fields, as they are
the future engineers and technologists we so sorely need
in male-dominated fields. We
look forward to partnering with
LASM for any future tech- and
engineering-centric showcase
events.”
Caronna said she especially
enjoyed teaching visitors about
the capabilities of 3D printers.
“When I first came to SJA, I
had questions about 3D printing, and I’m sure other people
did, too,” she said. “By going
to LASM, I could help answer
questions. I really enjoyed being able to share my knowledge
of 3D printing and getting people interested in it. I thought the
people’s reactions were funny.
They assumed Kathryn (Nastasi) and I were seniors in high
school, so when we told them we
were freshmen who picked up
3D printing in our spare time,
the looks of shock were great. I
270 S. Sharp Road Baton Rouge, LA 70815 (225) 924-7597
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First Communion Bibles (engraving available);
Mass, prayer, & Bible stories books; photo
albums & frames; music boxes; gift sets; statues;
ties, veils, headbands, purses, handkerchiefs;
rosaries & rosary boxes; saints medals; jewelry &
rosary bracelets; greeting cards, gift wrap!
Bishop Muench’s Sacrament of
Confirmation 2014 Spring Schedule
Apr. 22 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 23 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 24 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 26 4:00 p.m.
Apr. 27 11:30 a.m.
Apr. 27 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 28 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 29 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 30 7:00 p.m.
May 1 7:00 p.m.
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Jun. 8 3:00 p.m.
a great opportunity for the
younger children who attended.
It was wonderful seeing the
looks of wonder on their faces.
Our table was really crowded.
We were definitely a hot spot to
visit at the fair. We even managed to teach a couple of college
students a thing or two about
printing. I think we really connected with people about technology and definitely inspired a
few to look at it in a new light.”
F
munion, R
m
o
CI
tC
s
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A
i
“The little book store with a big heart and a thirsting
desire to spread the Good News”
11232 Florida Blvd. | Baton Rouge, LA | 225-272-4030
14
MOVIE
REVIEWS
USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting
classifications:
A-I – General patronage
A-II – Adults and adolescents
A-III – Adults
A-IV – Adults, with reservations
L – Limited adult audience
O – Morally offensive
Sabotage
Open Road
Excessive violence and a flawed moral
outlook characterize this Arnold Schwarzenegger action vehicle directed and cowritten by David Ayer. Schwarzenegger
plays the head of an elite DEA unit made
up of skilled but crooked agents, among
them Sam Worthington, Terrence Howard, Mireille Enos, Josh Holloway and
Joe Manganiello. After the $10 million
they collaborated to steal during a drug
raid goes missing, members of the team
begin turning up dead, murdered in spectacularly brutal ways. As the straightarrow police detective (Olivia Williams)
assigned to the case works diligently to
get to the bottom of it all, the remaining
operatives wonder whether it’s the cartel
they robbed that’s hunting them down
ENTERTAINMENT
Motion Picture Association of America
ratings:
G – General audiences; all ages admitted
PG – Parental guidance suggested; some
material may not be suitable for children
PG-13 – Parents are strongly cautioned
to give special guidance for attendance
of children under 13; some material may
be inappropriate for young children
R – Restricted; under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian
NC-17 – No one under 17 admitted
or one of their own. With the sole exception of Williams’ character, greed and
vengeance are the dark motives guiding
everyone’s behavior within the seamy environment of this sometimes suspenseful
but ethically unanchored film. Pervasive
bloody, sometimes gruesome violence,
including torture and extreme images of
gore, graphic sexual activity, some of it
aberrant, upper female nudity, drug use,
much sexual and scatological as well as
brief irreverent humor, several uses of
profanity, relentless rough and crude language. O; R
Need for Speed
Disney
The nearly plot-free milieu of director
Scott Waugh’s action flick may appeal to
young men who prefer their car chases
April 18, 2014
uncomplicated. But many others will find
his big-screen version of the eponymous
video game series morally troubling. Illegal city street racing, at great hazard
to passers-by, is glamorized, while the
pedal-to-the-metal rivalry between an
ex-con (Aaron Paul) and his principal
competitor (Dominic Cooper) is fuelled
by the convict’s thirst for revenge. Things
reach a low point as the speed junkies
heedlessly destroy the possessions of a
homeless man. Reckless street racing,
rear male nudity, some crude and crass
language. A-III; PG-13
Noah
Paramount
What begins as a fairly straightforward
recounting of the biblical story of the
flood veers off into a grim, scripturally
unfounded drama about a family dispute
driven by the titular patriarch’s (Russell
Crowe) misguided interpretation of God’s
purposes in causing the deluge. His extreme pro-nature, anti-human reading of
the situation brings him into conflict with
his wife, Naameh, (Jennifer Connelly),
with his two older sons, Shem (Douglas
Booth) and Ham (Logan Lerman), and
with his adoptive daughter – and Shem’s
destined bride – Ila (Emma Watson). Director and co-writer Darren Aronofsky
serves up predictably impressive special
effects, and convincingly portrays the
wickedness from which the Earth is to
be cleansed – a range of sinful tendencies
embodied in the impious self-proclaimed
“King” Tubal-Cain (Ray Winstone). But
his script, written with Ari Handel, departs from its inspired source material
in order to turn Noah, at least temporarily, into a religious fanatic who will stop
at nothing to carry out the mission entrusted to him. Though it approaches its
weighty themes with due seriousness, the
film requires mature discernment and
a solid grounding in the relevant, sometimes mysterious passages of the Old Testament. Much stylized violence with minimal gore, an off-screen encounter that
may be premarital, distant partial nudity,
some mild sensuality. A-III; PG-13
Bad Words
Focus
Jason Bateman stars in and makes his
directorial debut with this surly comedy
about an abrasive underachiever who exploits a loophole in the rules of a national
spelling bee in order to compete against
its field of kid contestants. His maneuver outrages the children’s parents and
frustrates the competition’s hard-nosed
director (Allison Janney) and professorial founder (Philip Baker Hall). But a
relentlessly good-natured, unflappably
upbeat fellow entrant (Rohan Chand) is
determined to befriend the thick-skinned
loner. The path of screenwriter Andrew
Dodge’s script leads, ultimately, toward
redemption of a sort for its protagonist.
Yet its route takes in not only his strictly
physical, and somewhat perverse, relationship with a journalist (Kathryn
Hahn) but his deeply corrupt behavior
toward Chand’s preteen character which
involves introducing the boy to alcohol,
shoplifting, pornography and the exposed torso of a prostitute. Immoral values, including a benign view of petty theft
and underage drinking, graphic nonmarital sexual activity, some of it aberrant,
upper female nudity, much sexual and
brief scatological humor, several uses of
profanity, pervasive rough and crude language. O; R
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Disney
The big guy with the red, white and
blue shield returns to save the planet in
this rousing follow-up to 2011’s “Captain
America: The First Avenger,” and 2012’s
“The Avengers.” The director (Samuel
L. Jackson) of an international crimefighting bureau discovers the agency has
been compromised from within by one of
his fellow leaders (Robert Redford). He
turns to Captain America and his sidekicks, Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson)
and Falcon (Anthony Mackie), to unravel
the conspiracy that threatens world peace
and freedom. But first they must defeat
the baddies, led by the Winter Soldier
(Sebastian Stan), whom Captain America
seems to have met before. This 3-D popcorn movie, directed by brothers Anthony
and Joe Russo, is sure to please fans of the
Marvel Comics superhero with its patriotic, gung-ho tone and grandiose action
sequences (which may be too intense for
younger viewers). Screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who
penned the first Captain America script,
expand their horizons with a smart and
timely story touching on national security,
government surveillance and the price of
freedom. Intense but largely bloodless violence, including gunplay. A-II; PG-13
Cesar Chavez
Lionsgate
Understated but valuable portrait of the
famed labor leader and pacifist (Michael
Pena) who, together with Dolores Huerta
(Rosario Dawson), founded the union that
would eventually be known as the United
Farm Workers of America in 1962. In director Diego Luna’s leisurely paced dramatization, Chavez struggles against the
oppressive machinations of various farm
owners (most significantly John Malkovich). But his single-minded dedication to
achieving justice through nonviolence –
which, at one point, leads him to undertake
a prolonged, life-threatening fast – exacts
a toll on his supportive wife (America Ferrera) and alienated eldest son (Eli Vargas).
Together with the educational significance
of the film as a whole, believers will especially appreciate the fact that Chavez’s
Catholic faith is always in the background
and sometimes front and center as this
meditative take on his story unfolds. Possibly acceptable for older teens. Some violence, racial slurs, a few uses of profanity,
at least one rough term, occasional crude
and crass language. A-III; PG-13
April 18, 2014
ENTERTAINMENT
1
Cry
You’ll never know what it feels
like ‘til you’re there
When love changes, faces appear from nowhere
Where beautiful, lovely is ugly
or alone
You need me back bad, just
can’t be on your own
Love is not a battle, it’s a ticking
time bomb
Yeah, love is not a battle, it’s a
ticking time bomb
I’m gonna let you bleed for a
little bit
I’m gonna make you beg just for
making me cry
I’m gonna make you wish you
never said goodbye
Now your life is broken, revolves around love
No love of yourself but the love
you have lost
than that
If you’re gonna get me back,
you’re gonna have to ask nicer
than that
time bomb
time bomb
Nicer than that!
Nicer than that!
Nicer than that!
Nicer than that!
little bit
making me cry
never said goodbye
little bit
making me cry
never said goodbye
little bit
making me cry
never said goodbye
I’m gonna let you bleed a little
bit
making me cry
never said goodbye
Never said goodbye
(Nicer than that)
Sung by The Used |Copyright © 2014 by Anger/Hopeless Records
T
Love is not a time bomb, nor filled with anger
he band The Used has
alive and with those who formed his
achieved considerable succommunity, teaching us that even
cess, especially with two
death is not stronger than love. Yes,
albums going gold and platinum.
we have a much different view on
Their musical style, sometimes claswhat it means to love than what this
sified as “emo,” “screamo” or just
song suggests.
“alternative rock,” doesn’t appeal to
Insight can be helpful, but actions
me, but “Cry,” the first release from
are what counts. The song is helpful in
their new disc, caught my attention.
how it describes situations in relationIn the song, one person appears
ships that really hurt us. But disciples
to be hurt by another’s decision
of Jesus do not see love as a “ticking
to end their relationship. Now the
time bomb” even when we’re hurt.
individual who asked for the sepaInstead, we stand ready to forgive and
ration wants the relationship back.
to love again.
However, the song’s character is not
As we do so, we may also need to
Charlie Martin
ready to resume their romance.
draw boundaries. If you recognize
Instead, he wants to punish the
that another person is not trustworthy
other person. He tells her that “I’m
or will not respect your gift of love,
going to let you bleed for a little bit,
do not set yourself up for more hurt.
I am going to make you beg. ... I’m gonna make you
Continue to care about him or her but establish safe
wish you never said goodbye.”
boundaries, and don’t become involved in a romance
The song’s protagonist says that “if you’re gonna
with that person.
get me back, you’re gonna have to ask nicer than that.”
If you are hurt while the romance already has
The song’s character also holds this perspective
started, don’t look to punish the other person as the
on love, namely, that “love is not a battle, it’s a ticking
protagonist of the song says, but assess whether he or
time bomb.” Perhaps love had little to do with their
she has changed. If not, forgive the other person but
past or what is likely to ensue from this point on.
move forward and away from a romance with that
What the song’s character needs is new considerperson.
ation on what it means to love. We who aspire to be
Love is not a “bomb” that can explode at any time,
today’s disciples of Jesus have a clear model for what
but a deep well of compassion, forgiveness and relove is. All we have to do is consider what is recalled
spect for ourselves and others.
in a special week, a memory so sacred that we call it
The whole story of Holy Week and Easter is a wonHoly Week.
der, so full of emotions that are difficult to explain.
We hear again and again how Jesus gathered those
most dear to him and told them of his impending
MARTIN is an Indiana pastoral counselor who reviews
death, and yet gave them the Eucharist as one way
current music for Catholic News Service. Write to at:
that he could always be with them. His death, in the
chmartin@hughes.net, or 7125 West CR 200 South,
name of love, is soberly remembered. Good Friday
Rockport, IN 47635, or like this column on Facebook
shows that love has no bounds.
at “Charlie Martin’s Today’s Music Columns” and
Finally, we witness the miracle of Easter, Jesus
post a comment or suggestion.
On The Record
2
3
4
5
6
14
We said desperation is lonely
despair
You don’t love yourself, you’ve
got no love to share
If you’re gonna get me back,
you’re gonna have to ask nicer
7
8
10
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17
18
23
24
21
13
33
34
35
58
59
60
22
26
27
28
30
31
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37
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32
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41
42
44
48
12
19
25
40
11
16
20
47
9
15
45
50
49
52
43
46
51
53
54
55
56
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61
62
63
64
65
66
www.wordgamesforcatholics.com
DOWN
1 The ___ Dolorosa
2 Mother of Mary
3 Banned pesticide (abbr.)
4 Roman crowd?
5 Pertaining to modern
humans
6 St. Therese, the Little
___
7 Lady Chaplin
8Amer.
9 Member of an order
10 Book written by St.
Thomas More
11 St. Elizabeth ___
12 Crucifix
13 “…___ one another with
a holy kiss” (1 Cor 16:20)
18 Second of IHS
22 Attends to
23Pains
24 Harbor towns
25 Greek goddess of the
rainbow
26 Malarial fever
27 Teen scourge
29 St. ___ Stein
31 Lost luster
33 People St. Patrick converted
34 Musical instruments
35 Physicist, Niels ___
38 Bank contents
39 Number of choirs of
angels
41 “…___ of my bones and
flesh of my …” (Gen
2:23)
43 An epistle
44 Prayer time after midnight
45 “Jesus Christ, Son of
God, ___”
47 Archdiocese in Morocco
48 The Audacity of Hope
author
49Men
51 Ten decibels
53 Madame Bovary
56 Pamplona cheer
57Summit
58 Nest egg, briefly
59 CC + CCI
60 Job app ID
Solution on page 18
ACROSS
1 “Quo ___?”
6 Number of horsemen in
Revelation (Rev 6:2–8)
10 Mil. branch
14 Tradition says Bartholomew preached here
15 “For whoever would save
his life will ___ it” (Mk
8:35)
16 Land area (abbr.)
17 Mass response
19 Native American
20 The Archdiocese of
Dubuque is here
21 Inflict
23Each
26 Contrary to
27 Nut of an oak
28 “Salve ___”
30 From the Greek word
meaning “the anointed
one”
32Pairs
33Swan
36 James was mending
these when Jesus called
him (Mk 1:19)
37 Farewell, from Jacques
39 Mount from which Moses
saw Canaan
40 Winding shape
41 Spoiled child
42 Old Testament town that
was home of the tribe of
Ephraim
44 January and February
46 Go into
47 Republic in Europe
50 Superior of convent
52Subsides
53 “…is now, and ___ shall
be…”
54 Indonesian resort island
55 Art of preaching
61 “So be it!”
62 Patron saint of sailors
63 The Seven Last of Jesus
64 Soviet news service
65 “Angel of God, my guardian ___…”
66 Paul said he would travel
here after leaving Rome
(Rom 15:28)
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16
| EDITORIAL
VIEWPOINT
April 18, 2014
How Christians suffer, die and rise with Christ
Easter season a time for
spiritual resurrection
A
season that begins with a sprinkling of ashes and a reminder
of our own immortality culminates with the celebration of the
risen Lord and the promise of eternal life.
The challenges of Lent, a time when we walk through a spiritual desert of sacrifice for 40 days, provide an opportunity to purge our souls
of the sinfulness that are roadblocks in our journey of faith. Through
Christ’s crucifixion, through his blood, our souls are cleansed and hopefully eager to embrace a spiritual renewal.
How will we answer this calling? Will we be afraid to bear the cross,
to understand that each of life’s difficulties is a gift from God, his way of
bringing us as sinners closer to him?
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen once said it takes a hero to embrace the
cross.
During this time of Easter renewal, let us celebrate our own spiritual
resurrection, our own renewal of life. Let us all be heroes for Christ.
Happy Easter!
BISHOP 
From page 1
the road to Emmaus; the apostles without Thomas; the apostles with
Thomas; the apostles before his Ascension; the apostles on the mountain in Galilee; the disciples Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel of Cana,
Zebedee’s sons and two other disciples in the Sea of Gailee; at the Ascension itself; and the conversion of Saul/Paul on the road to Damascus.
After these encounters, an absolutely dramatic change of person and
behavior ensued. The doubting became believing, the uncertain persuaded, the hesitant decisive, the confused enlightened, the discouraged inspired, the lethargic energized, the timid daring, the cowardly
fearless, the frightened emboldened and the depressed exuberant. Except for St. John, the surviving apostles, including Paul, died as martyrs
in testimony to their faith, along with Stephen, the deacon. How greatly
compelling witnesses!
What about us? Have we personally met the risen Christ? “Theophany” experiences (dramatic manifestations of God) such as to Moses in
the burning bush or to Peter, James and John at the transfiguration, or
appearances of angels, the Blessed Mother or other saints are extremely
rare and not to be expected. The prophet Elijah was told by God to await
him. There followed a violent wind, earthquake and a fire. But then
came a gentle whisper, where Elijah heard God. Like Elijah we must
also intently listen to experience God. We should look for an ever growing deeper encounter with Jesus in mind, heart, body, spirit, emotion
and will, through faith, sacrament, word, prayer (mental and verbal,
individual and group), devotion and good works.
The Lord is Risen, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! He is truly risen, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Yours in the unconditional, limitless love of our Divine Redeemer,
Robert W. Muench
Bishop of Baton Rouge Letters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor should be typed and limited to 350 words and
should contain the name and address of the writer, though the
address will not be printed. We reserve the right to edit all letters.
Send to: Letters to the Editor, The Catholic Commentator, P. O. Box
14746, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-4746, or to tcc@diobr.org.
I
n this new information age
explained to them that he was layone could easily become
ing down his life willingly as an exschizophrenic. We in
ample of forgiveness, even of those
Louisiana can empathize with
who would falsely condemn him to
our neighbors to the north
death. On Good Friday we read the
who are still being battered by
passion of his crucifixion where,
ice and snow as Easter, and a
dying, he forgives those who perselate Easter at that, is almost
cuted him: “Forgive them, Father,
upon us. We all have had our
for they know not what they do.”
coldest and stormiest winter
And in the readings of the Masses
in years. We share the fear of
of the resurrection the meaning
NATO allies as a militant Rusof Jesus’ sacrifice becomes clear.
sia threatens to move west and
After his resurrection, Jesus apswallow the Ukraine, renewpears to his apostles and disciples
ing the possibility of a not
(Lk 24:46-47) and says, “Thus it
so cold war. A new financial
is written that the Messiah would
scandal shakes our confidence
suffer and rise from the dead on
in Wall Street, and new gun
the third day and that repentance,
Father John Carville for the forgiveness of sins, would be
violence kills three teens in
Baker. Spring is supposed to
preached in his name to all the nabring hope?
tions ... .”
At the same time, as I look back at what I
When Jesus said “Do this in remembrance
have written about in this column since Jan. 1, of me” at the Last Supper, he was not only talkPope Francis has made the cover of both Time ing about repeating the Eucharistic liturgy of
and Rolling Stone, inspiring the world with his the Mass but also about our living out the offercall for a new evangelization that emphasizes ing of our lives for others as he did. From the
the joy of the Gospel and a poor church to care Roman martyrs of the early church to those of
for the poor of our world. “Though we will not Latin America today like Oscar Romero and the
escape suffering,” he says, “we must let the joy priests, nuns and laity killed in El Salvador and
of faith revive us.” We don’t want to be like those Nicaragua, Christians have joined the suffering
Christians “whose lives seem like Lent without of Christ. In our own country it is the story of
Easter.” The popularity of the pope’s message Martin Luther King. Through their non-violent
seems to indicate a world-wide thirst for spiritu- acceptance of suffering for the sake of others,
ality, for resurrection hope.
what attacked them as sin returned to the world
Bad news, good news – what really justi- as grace.
fies the joy of the Gospel? To live with Christian
A great example of this mystery of life, death
hope and joy in a world like ours, we have to tru- and resurrection is a story told by Jerome Kodell
ly understand Easter. This means understand- OSB, Abbot of Subiaco Abbey in Arkansas. In
ing how Jesus’ love for us led him to identify America Magazine, April 25, 2011 he wrote
completely with our suffering, and how he re- about an interracial retreat held at the height
deemed us by transforming that evil into grace, of the interracial violence during the 1960s. A
freedom, love and union with our loving God.
young man who worked in voter registration atJesus, a poor rabbi, spoke truth to those who tended the retreat. His was a dangerous job, and
had sold their souls to politics, money, prestige the abbot asked him if he had ever been hurt
and power – the sources of most of the evil in himself. “Yes,” he answered, “I’ve been spit on,
this world, even though they are necessary for beaten with fists, with pipes, with chains and
society to function when used correctly. The so- left a bloody mess.” Asked if he had fought back,
ciety Jesus lived in did not enjoy justice, and the he said, “Yes. At first I did fight back ... but then
people suffered. Jesus identified with his people I realized that by fighting back I wasn’t getting
in their poverty and their suffering. His mes- anywhere. The hatred coming at me in those
sage was a threat to Caiaphas, the high priest of fists and clubs was bouncing right off me back
the temple and head of the Jewish high court, into the air, and it could just continue to spread
the sanhedrin, to Herod Antipas, the tetrarch like electricity. I decided I would not fight back.
of Galilee, and to the pharisees who were the I would let my body absorb that hatred so that
religious leaders. They wanted Jesus dead and some of it would die in my body and not bounce
pressured the Roman Governor Pilate into or- back into the world. I now see that my job in the
dering his crucifixion. So Jesus not only shared midst of that evil is to make my body a grave for
our inevitable death but suffered it under the hate.” The abbot added, “We were all shaken by
most shameful and painful circumstances, what this young man said. But what he was decondemned falsely as a common criminal. “No scribing was the Gospel of Jesus.”
greater love than this has any man, that he lay
This is the meaning of Jesus’ death. His resdown his life for his friends.”
urrection was God’s confirmation that Jesus is
But, how does this redeem us? Remember indeed his only begotten Son, and his way is the
that we Catholics celebrate Easter with three only way the world can be redeemed. As St. Paul
different services – the institution of the Eu- pointed out to the Romans (12:21), the solution
charist on Holy Thursday night, the passion to evil is “to overcome evil with good.”
and death of our Lord on Good Friday, and the
Masses of Resurrection on Saturday night and FATHER CARVILLE is a retired priest of the Diocese of
Easter Sunday. After predicting his own death Baton Rouge. He writes on current topics for The
three times earlier in the Gospels, Jesus gath- Catholic Commentator and can be reached at
ered his disciples for a last meal together. He johnnycarville@gmail.com. Another
Perspective
April 18, 2014
VIEWPOINT
17
Clergy to attend Spring Formation days
D
ear People of God of the Diocese of Baton
Rouge,
One of the important ways in which the
priests of our diocese are formed for ministry occurs
through what is called the annual Spring Formation
(Continuing Education) days held for all priests in the
diocese in May of each year. 2014 will be the last year
these formation days will be held in the spring. Beginning in 2015, the Continuing Formation of the Clergy
Committee decided to change these days to the ‘Annual
Priests’ Formation Days’ to be held in the second full
week in January.
These formation days offer the priests opportunities
for growth in intellectual and spiritual formation, emotional maturity and physical well-being. Since these
days are offered once a year, and is a commitment by
the diocese for their on-going formation, participation
by the priests is mandatory. However, on occasion,
ministry needs arise at the same time preventing the
priests from participating in these Spring (Annual)
Formation days.
With the guidance of the Diocesan Presbyteral
Council, the Continuing Formation of the Clergy Committee has secured a site for this year’s Spring Formation, May 5-8, in Lafayette. The committee and I are
aware that the distance from Lafayette to many of our
diocesan parishes would be significant and that pasto-
S
everal years ago, Mel Gibson produced and directed a movie which
enjoyed a spectacular popularity.
Entitled, “The Passion of the Christ,”
the movie depicts Jesus’ paschal journey from the Garden of Gethsemane to
his death on Golgotha, but with a very
heavy emphasis on his physical suffering. The movie shows in graphic detail
what someone who was being crucified
might have had to endure in terms of
being physically beaten, tortured and
humiliated.
While most church groups applauded the film and suggested that,
finally, someone made a movie that
truly depicted Jesus’ suffering, many
Scripture scholars and spiritual writers
were critical of the movie. Why? What’s
wrong with showing, at length and in
graphic detail, the blood and gore of the
crucifixion – which, indeed, must have
been pretty horrific?
What’s wrong (or better, perhaps,
amiss) is that this is precisely what the
Gospel accounts of Jesus’ death don’t
do. All four Gospels take pains to not
focus on the physical sufferings of Jesus.
Their descriptions of his physical sufferings are stunningly brief: “They crucified him with the two criminals.” “Pilate
had Jesus scourged and handed him
over to be crucified.” Why the brevity
here? Why no detailed description?
The reason that the evangelists
don’t focus us on what Jesus was enduring physically is that they want us
to focus on something else, namely, on
ral ministry can and
will occur during these
days. Nonetheless at
the express request
of the Continuing
Formation Committee
and the Presbyteral
Council, I am expecting priests to attend
the entire formation
days’ schedule. I know
this may affect certain
regular ministries,
such as daily Mass and
funerals. The daily
Mass schedule in your
parish can be adjusted
as determined by your
parish priest to meet the needs of your parish during
Spring (Annual) Formation. While this is a sacrifice, I
consider this sacrifice worth making.
Regarding funerals, I would ask that funerals be
scheduled either before Spring (Annual) Formation
begins or after, but not during, the scheduled Spring
(Annual) Formation days. If this is completely impossible, one of the deacons from the diocese can provide
the needed funeral rites, namely the vigil wake, funeral
From The Bishop
Bishop Robert W. Muench
In summary, every priest of the
diocese is expected to be present
and take part in Spring (Annual)
Formation days in Lafayette.
without Mass and rite of committal. If the local parish staff is unable to secure a deacon for this special
funeral need, the parish staff may call the Office of the
Vicar General at 225-387-0561 for further assistance.
Over the years attendance at our annual Spring Formation and Priest Retreat has been remarkably consistent. Pressing ministry could compromise and jeopardize our commitment to these special opportunities. I
hope this letter helps you understand and support our
priests with their commitment to their formation for
ministry. I ask that you pray for our priests and our
diocese during these days.
In summary, every priest of the diocese is expected
to be present and take part in Spring (Annual) Formation days in Lafayette. I appreciate your affirmation and
encouragement of our clergy who give so much of their
lives for our diocese. May God be generous in leading
us into the future with hope.
The Garden of Gethsemane
what Jesus was enduring
emotionally and morally.
The passion of Jesus is,
in its real depth, a moral
drama, not a physical
one, the suffering of
a lover, not that of an
athlete.
Thus we see that,
when Jesus is anticipating his passion, the anxiety he expresses is not
about the whips that will
beat him or the nails that
will pierce his hands. He
is pained and anxious
rather about the aloneness he is facing, how
he will be betrayed and abandoned by
those who profess to love him, and how
he will, in the wonderful phraseology of
Gil Bailie, be “unanimity-minus-one”.
That the passion of Jesus is a lovedrama is also evident in its setting. It
begins with him sweating blood in a
garden – and ends with him being buried in a garden. Jesus is sweating blood
in a garden, not in an arena. What’s
significant about a garden?
In archetypal symbolism, gardens
are not for growing vegetables or even
for growing flowers. Gardens are for
lovers, the place to experience delight,
the place to drink wine, the place where
Adam and Eve were naked and didn’t
know it, the place where one makes
love.
And so the evangelists place the
beginning and the end of
Jesus’ passion in a garden
to emphasize that it is Jesus, as lover (not Jesus as
king, or magus, or prophet)
who is undergoing this
drama. And what precisely
was the drama? When
Jesus is sweating blood in
the garden and begging his
father to spare him having
to “drink the cup,” the real
choice he is facing is not:
Will I let myself die or will
I invoke divine power and
save my life?
Rather the choice was:
“How will I die? Will I die
angry, bitter and unforgiving, or will I
die with a warm, forgiving heart?”
Of course, we know how Jesus
resolved this drama, how he chose
forgiveness and died forgiving his
executioners, and how, inside all that
darkness, he remained solidly inside
the message that he had preached his
whole ministry, namely, that ultimately
love, community and forgiveness triumph.
Moreover, what Jesus did in that
great moral drama is something we’re
supposed to imitate rather than simply
admire because that drama is also
ultimately the drama of love within
our own lives, presenting itself to us
in countless ways. Namely: At the end
of our lives, how will we die? Will our
hearts be angry, clinging, unforgiving
In Exile
Father Ron Rolheiser
and bitter at the unfairness of life? Or,
will our hearts be forgiving, grateful,
empathic, warm, as was the heart of
Jesus when he said to his father not my
will but yours be done?
Moreover this is not just one, major
choice we face at the hour of death; it is
also a choice we face daily, many times
daily. Countless times in our daily interactions with others, our families, our
colleagues, our friends and with society
at large, we suffer moments of coldness,
misunderstanding, unfairness and positive violation. From the indifference
of a family member to our enthusiasm,
to a sarcastic comment that is intended
to hurt us, to a gross unfairness in our
workplace, to being the victim of a
prejudice or abuse; our kitchen tables,
our workplaces, our meeting rooms and
the streets we share with others, are all
places where we daily experience, in
small and big ways, what Jesus felt in
the garden of Gethsemane, unanimityminus-one. In that darkness will we
let go of our light? In the face of hatred
will we let go of love?
That’s the real drama of the Passion
of the Christ – and the ropes, whips
and nails are not the central drama.
FATHER ROLHEISER, theologian, teacher
and award-winning author, is president of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas. He can
be contacted through his website ron
rolheiser.com; facebook.com/ronrol
heiser.
18
COMING EVENTS
April 18, 2014
Pilgrimage Way of the Cross – A Pilgrimage Way of the
Cross from St. Mary’s Chapel in Union to Holy Rosary,
44450 Hwy. 429, St. Amant, is scheduled Friday, April 18,
from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Those participating will assemble
at Holy Rosary beginning at 4:30 a.m. For more information, please call Tim Lessard at 225-715-5103 or email
Donovan Scioneaux at doncno@eatel.net.
gelist, 15208 Hwy. 73, Prairieville, is holding its annual
Festival de la Prairie on April 25-27. Activities include carnival rides, children’s games, crafts, raffles and live entertainment. Cajun cuisine will be available throughout the
weekend. A silent auction will open April 25 and close at
3 p.m, April 27. A 5K race and 1 mile fun run is scheduled
April 26 at 8 a.m.
St. John the Evangelist Fun Fete – St. John the Evan-
Divine Mercy Sunday – The Catholic Daughters of the
Americas Court 1642 will lead the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
on Sunday, April 27, 3 p.m. at St. Michael the Archangel
Church, 6476 Hwy. 44, Convent. The chaplet will be followed by a benediction. For information, call 225-8695751.
Christ the King Annual Raffle – Christ the King Church
on the LSU campus at the corner of Dalrymple Dr. and
SEE EVENTS PAGE 19
PO Box 3316
Baton Rouge LA 70821-3316
For help placing your classified ad,
call 225-387-0983. All classified ads are
prepaid. Credit cards are not accepted.
Announcements
Business Service
For Sale
Help Wanted
Help Wanted
While we at The Catholic Commentator do our best to bring reliable advertisers to our readers, we are not
responsible for any claims made by
any advertiser.
St. Joseph is the Patron Saint of a
Peaceful Death. St. Joseph Hospice is
available to support families as they face
end-of-life decisions. Peace, comfort,
dignity and support can make every day
"a good day." Call 225-368-3100 for more
information.
LEBLANC’S TREE & STUMP
REMOVAL, INC.
Prompt service–Free estimates
FULLY INSURED
E. H. “Eddie” LeBlanc
Phone 383-7316
Firewood all sizes and amounts for
BBQ, fire places, cookouts bon fires $25
& up. Enjoy the outdoors, 225-229-4126.
Assistant for young lady with developmental disability for daily activities
and out in community. Must have excellent references, current drivers’ license
and insurance. Background check will
be done. 3 - 4 weekdays, 10 am – 4 pm.
$12.62 hr. Call: 225-252-1567.
Social work position available at Birmingham, Alabama Catholic Family
Services. Applicants should possess the
following: licensure at the LGSW, LCSW
or LPC levels; graduation from an accredited graduate school program in social work or counseling; background in
the provision of counseling and mental
health services to individuals and families; Spanish speaking would be a major
plus for any applicant. Send résumé to:
Tom Cook at tcook@cfsbhm.org or Linda
Stephenson at lstephenson@cfsbhm.
org. Phone contact can be made at 205324-6561.
Business Service
OFFICE CLEANING
After hours/weekends
Mature/Dependable/References
Debbie 225-266-7655
Donnie’s Furniture Repair & Upholstery. We do refinishing, repairs, caning,
painting of furniture and upholstery.
In business 43 yrs. Pick up and delivery.
10876 Greenwell Springs Rd. 225-2722577. See our showroom.
THOMAS LUNDIN, CPA
Accounting and taxes for businesses,
non-profits and individuals; business,
computer, financial and management
services. 30 years experience; professional, prompt and personal attention.
225-296-0404.
Baton Rouge Care Service. Serving Baton Rouge and surrounding areas since
1960. Registered sitters, nurses, and
nurses aides for the sick and elderly in
the home, nursing homes and hospitals.
Licensed and bonded for private duty
care. 225-924-6098 or 225-667-0480.
www.batonrougesittersregistry.com.
Anthony's Furniture Specialties. We
restore hurricane damaged furniture.
If it's furniture we do it all! Refinishing,
re-upholstery, pick up and delivery, etc.
2263 Florida Blvd., BR. 225-413-2607.
Flower beds, landscaping, general
yard work, debris removal; commercial;
residential; quality work, licensed, free
estimates, references. 225-247-6079.
For Sale
Greenoaks Memorial Park tandem
graves 1-4. Section 21, lot 521. Will sell
together for $9500 or 2 for $5000. 305284-0835 or 786-271-3476.
Kitchen counter tops. Call for free estimates. John O'Neill 225-938-6141 or
225-683-6837.
Mr. D’s Tree Service
3 Licensed Arborists
Free Estimates
Fully Insured
Don Decell & Carl Babin, owners
225-292-6756
Dave’s Bicycle Repair and Sales. Free
pickup and delivery, free estimates, expert economical repair on all brands.
225-924-4337 or www.davesbicyclerepair.
com.
Cards of Thanks
Holy Spirit, you who solve all problems,
who light all roads so that I can attain my
goal, you who give me the divine gift to
forgive and to forget all evil against me
and that in all instances of my life you are
with me. I want this short prayer to thank
you for all things and to confirm once
again that I never want to be separated
from you ever and in spite of all maternal
illusion, I wish to be with You in Eternal
Gloria. Thank you for your mercy towards
me and mine.
TDCH
Thanks to St. Jude for prayers answered
and favors granted.
CC
Help Wanted
Teaching
Positions
Available
Pennington Lawn and Landscape
225-806-0008
Lawn & bed maintenance. Clean-up neg
lect. Call for your free estimate.
BROUSSEAU'S Painting
Interior and exterior painting. Experienced and reliable. Free estimates. Call
225-241-8488 or 225-928-7194.
Greenoaks Memorial Park, BR, – 2
plots in Garden of Roses. Valued $4200,
sell $3000 both or $1600 each. Call 225261-6149 after 6 p.m.
Holy Family School is seeking full time, certified
teachers for the 2014/2015 school year.
Position #1 – Middle School Math (6th-8th)
Position #2 – Middle School Science (6th -8th)
Please send cover letter and resume to:
Brenda Fremin, Principal at bfremin@hfspa.com
Holy Family School, 335 N. Jefferson Ave.
Port Allen, LA 70767
Full time custodial worker. Christ The
King Church & Student Center LSU.
Partial duties include restroom cleaning, floor maintenance, general dusting
and room setup. Contact Darrel LeBlanc
225-344-8585 x 15.
Seeking Executive Director of the Catholic
School Athletic League
The Principal’s Association of the Diocese of Baton Rouge is seeking a
leader with a proven record of vision, strategic planning and organizational
development skills to guide the board of directors and the organization in
its on-going success.
The mission of this elementary school athletic program is to provide an
opportunity for students enrolled in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge to participate in an organized interscholastic athletic program
which is consistent with the philosophy and values of our Catholic schools.
The Executive Director is responsible to the CSAL Board of Directors
and the Principal’s Association and will oversee all aspects of the organization’s operations in the attainment of the CSAL’s goals. This position is a
part-time assignment for which a stipend is paid.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
– Making decisions with regard to CSAL programs.
– Organizing CSAL activities.
– Preparing all sports schedules.
– Securing authorized officials for all CSAL activities.
– Taking minutes of all board meetings.
– Securing and maintaining all CSAL correspondence.
– Receiving and collecting all money for the CSAL programs.
– Depositing CSAL funds into such accounts and at such banking
institutions as the board shall deem proper.
– Keeping accurate records of receipts and disbursements.
Experience and Qualifications:
• At least 3 years of prior work in sports administration, preferably with
a Catholic school.
• Exceptional skill in building and maintaining strong relationships with
diverse constituents to achieve broad, mutually beneficial goals.
• Practicing Catholic preferred .
Please send letter and resume to:
Search Committee, Sacred Heart School, 2251 Main Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
or fax to 225-383-1810 or email to jhutson@sacredheartbr.com
Deadline for application is April 28, 2014.
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www.wordgamesforcatholics.com
April 18, 2014
Bishop announces
pastoral changes
By Richard Meek
Bishop Robert W. Muench has announced
five pastoral assignments effective July 1.
Vocations Director Father Matt Dupré has
been assigned as pastor of St. Patrick in Baton
Rouge. Father Dupré is currently the temporary administrator of St. Theresa of Avila in
Gonzales.
Father Eric Gyan has been appointed pastor at St. Theresa of Avila, replacing Father Father Matt Dupré
Dupré. Father Gyan is currently the pastor at
St. John the Evangelist in Prairieville.
Father Jerry Martin has been appointed
pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Prairieville.
Father Michael A. Galea has been appointed pastor of Holy Rosary in St. Amant. Father
Galea is currently the pastor of St. Anne in Sorrento and St. Anthony de Padua in Darrow.
Father Galea is succeeding Father Jon
Koehler, who is retiring.
Father Keun-Soo Lee has been appointed Father Eric Gyan
pastor of the cluster parishes of St. Anne and
St. Anthony of Padua. Father Lee is pastor of
St. Ann in Morganza.
Father Dupré, a native of Belle Rose, was
ordained by Bishop Alfred C. Hughes in 1998.
He has previously served as pastor of St. John
the Baptist in Brusly.
He has also served as parochial vicar at
Holy Rosary, Christ the King and St. Jean
Vianney in Baton Rouge and was temporary
administrator at St. Joseph the Worker in Father Jerry Martin
Pierre Part.
Father Galea, a native of Gozo, Malta, was
ordained in 1980 at St. Joseph Cathedral by
Bishop Abel Caillout of New Orleans. In addition to being pastor in Sorrento, Father Galea
has also served as pastor at St. Francis Assisi
in Donaldsonville and St. Philomena in Labadieville.
Father Galea has previously served as parochial vicar at St. Theresa Avila, St. Anne,
and Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Mercy in
Baton Rouge and Immaculate Conception in Father Michael A. Galea
Lakeland. He was also administrator of St.
Stephen the Martyr in Maurepas.
Father Gyan, a native of Baton Rouge, was
ordained by Bishop Stanley J. Ott in 1986. He
has served as pastor at St. John the Baptist
in Brusly and St. Charles Borromeo in Baton
Rouge, which is now closed. He served as
parochial vicar at St. Aloysius and St. Louis
King of France in Baton Rouge, Ascension of
Our Lord in Donaldsonville and St. Alphonsus Liguori in Greenwell Springs.
Father Martin has served as pastor at St. Father Keun-Soo Lee
Joseph in Grosse Tete, St. Isidore in Baker
and St. Patrick. He has served as parochial vicar at St. Pius X, Our Lady of
Mercy, St. George, St. Thomas More and Christ the King in Baton Rouge
and St. John the Evangelist. He has also served as CYO director, youth director and associate vocations director.
Father Lee has served as pastor at St. Stephen, St. Philomena and St.
Ann. He has also served as parochial vicar at St. Jean Vianney and St. Alphonsus.
All pastors are assigned for six-year terms.
EVENTS 
FROM PAGE 18
Highland Road, Baton Rouge is holding its annual
Paint the Town Red fund raiser Friday, May 2,
from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the activity center. Tickets are $100 and includes entrance for two adults,
Taste of Baton Rouge appetizers, music, dancing,
door prizes and one chance in the $10,000 raffle.
Patrons are encouraged to dress in red. For more
information, call 225-344-8595.
St. Alphonsus Festival and Run – St. Alphonsus
Church, 14040 Greenwell Springs Road, Green-
19
well Springs, will host its Festival of Two Rivers
5K and Fun Run on Saturday, May 3. Register online at eventbrite.com or festivaloftworivers.com.
For information, call 225-261-4650.
St. Thomas More Festival – St. Thomas More,
11441 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge, will host
its festival Friday, May 2, through Sunday, May
4. The event will include food, live music, rides,
games, a crawfish boil raffle, and silent and live
auction, 5K run, bingo and other entertainment.
For information, call 225-275-3940 or visit st
mchurch.org.
KIDS’ HEALTHY
FUN FEST
Presented by
Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital
SATURDAY, MAY 3
10 AM — 2 PM
MALL OF LOUISIANA
STUFFED ANIMAL CLINIC
FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS
ENTERTAINMENT
ololchildrens.org
20
April 18, 2014
| OBITUARIES
Deacon Gremillion, Sister Eva Regina die
MAKING WAY – The former St.
George rectory and the house
next to it on Kinglet Drive are being torn down to make room for a
new St. George Church to be built
on the corner of Kinglet and Siegen
Lane in Baton Rouge. Photos by Teri Cangelosi| St. George Church and Richard Meek | The
Catholic Commentator
Deacon Esnard F. “Gremi” Gremillion,
who was “characterized by a warm spirit of
service,” died April 11 at the age of 81.
Ordained a permanent deacon in the
Diocese of Baton Rouge
in June 2006, Deacon
Gremillion served at
Immaculate
Conception Church in Denham
Springs.
Father Frank Uter,
pastor of Immaculate
Conception, said Deacon Gremillion “served
his family and served Deacon Gremillion
his church in a beautiful way. It didn’t matter if he was healthy or
sick. Even after retirement because of illness,
he offered to serve. He was characterized by
a warm spirit of service. I am sure he will be
praying for and serving us in heaven.”
Deacon Gremillion retired from BASF as
a maintenance mechanic after 26 years. He
also served in the U.S Navy during the Korean War.
He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Margaret “Peggy” Rapier Gremillion, children,
Douglas Gremillion and wife, Kathy; Duane
Gremillion and wife, Robin; Mary Gremil-
lion Stovall and husband, William; Angela
Gremillion Hedrick and husband, Chad; Liz
P. Lavender; Jim Planchard and wife, Dinah;
Andy Planchard; and Patrick Kimble. He has
21 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Esnard and Maude Gremillion; his wife of 41
years, Angela Moran Gremillion: six brothers; three sisters; and a grandson.
Funeral services were held April 15 at Immaculate Conception.
Sister Mary Eva Regina Martin, a former
principal of St. Francis Xavier School, died
April 7 at the age of 74.
A native of Grand Coteau, Sister Eva Regina entered the Congregation of the Sisters
of the Holy Family in 1959 and has served in
numerous roles as an educator, catechist and
retreat director in Louisiana, Texas and Belize.
She has been director and a faculty member of the Institute of Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University in New Orleans and
director of archives for Loyola and Xavier
universities. She served in leadership roles in
her order and was presiding as congregation
leader at the time of her death.
Services were held April 14 at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans.
=We are Called to Love One Another
After more than 2,000 years, Jesus’ message lives on. Our world may have changed, but our faith has not. As
disciples of Christ, we are called to love one another, to extend a helping hand to those in need – not just during
Holy Week and Easter, but throughout the year. With His help, we can perform miracles. We can turn misery
into hope; despair into joy. And through service to others, our own faith is strengthened.
At St. Vincent de Paul, we see people every day whose faith has been tested. They have lost so much, and many
times, their faith is the only thing they have left. Our hearts are touched by their stories and the strength of their
convictions. They come to us for help, trusting in Christ’s mercy and the kindness of strangers.
=We are All God’s Children
Every person we serve at St. Vincent de Paul is a child of God, but our hearts are especially touched by the plight of
the children. They are faced with circumstances beyond their control, and providing a basic necessity can change
their tears to smiles. You can see the happiness we were able to bring to Hailey’s face, and that’s what we see at St.
Vincent de Paul every time we provide a hot meal, a warm bed, clothing, or a prescription.
The need for these basic necessities continues to grow, and you can help us respond to the needs of all God’s
children. Your support can bring smiles to so many faces and make a difference in so many lives.
At St. Vincent de Paul, we know that faith without works is dead, and faith is the foundation for everything we do.
Last year, we served 232,450 meals; provided more than 26,000 guest nights of shelter for homeless men, women and children; and filled
over 38,000 prescriptions.
As disciples of Christ, we are called to extend a helping hand to those in need – not just during Holy Week and Easter, but
throughout the year. We need your help to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and fill prescriptions for the needy.
Help Hailey and all God’s Children by using the enclosed envelope to make a gift or give online at svdpbr.org!

April 18 - The Catholic Commentator

Transcription

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