March 24 - The Catholic Commentator

Transcription

March 24, 2010
VOLUME 48 • NO. 3
inside
Serving the Diocese of Baton Rouge Since 1962
Another Perspective
4
Family Life
5
Spirituality
7
Our Catholic Community8
Youth
12
Entertainment
14
Viewpoint
16
Coming Events
18
Classified Ads
18
Prayers for Priests, Deacons
and Religious Women
and Men
19
Bishop Robert W.
Muench invites all
to Chrism Mass
March 31
Christian
presence in Holy
Land diminishing
page 2
Invitation to
explore God’s call
issued at Called
by Name II
page 3
Serra Club golf
tourney to benefit
Notre Dame
Seminary and
seminarians
page 6
Children’s
book
presents
priesthood
as
vocation for
‘normal’ guys page 19
www.diobr.org/tcc
In this Year for Priests, I cordially invite all who wish to
and can participate to our annual diocesan Chrism Mass to be
held on Wednesday of Holy Week, March 31, 10:30 a.m., at St.
Joseph Cathedral, 412 North St., Baton Rouge, La.
Once a year, on or near Holy Thursday, every diocese
throughout the world gathers together as clergy, religious
and lay faithful to join the diocesan bishop (or another bishop
delegate) to bless the oils that will be used for the coming year
in the diocese: The Oil of Catechumens (for Baptism), the Oil
of the Sick (for Anointing of the Sick) and the Sacred Chrism
(for Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination of priests and bishops,
dedication of new churches and consecrating of new altars).
Additionally, this Mass, transferred for pastoral reasons
from Holy Thursday morning, celebrates the institution of the
priesthood and provides for the Re-commitment to Priestly
Service by the priests present.
The celebration also features the reception of the holy oils
by designated parishioners from each parish and institution (such as hospitals and care centers for the elderly) to
bring back to their locations. Student representatives from
the eight Catholic high schools in the diocese will also be
present.
The Diocese of Baton Rouge has a wonderful tradition
of making this a highlight liturgical celebration each year
by the dignity of the ritual, the uplifting music and the
impressive assembly. The Chrism (Blessing of the Oils)
Mass is one of the most beautiful and powerful liturgies
in the Church year. While the Mass will be videotaped
and broadcast later on Catholic Life Television, being a live
participant is most moving of all.
Human rights report gets little
U.S. notice, but has broad reach
by
Patricia Zapor
Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON – While
much of Washington focused
on health care legislation, the
annual release of the State
Department’s country reports
on human rights practices was
largely out of the limelight this
year, though the massive electronic document – more than
2 million words – helps shape
U.S. policy approaches to the
world.
Vulnerable populations affected by wars and internal
conflicts in places including Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Somalia,
Congo and Sudan were among
the major concerns highlighted
in the report’s introduction
and at its March 11 release in
remarks by Michael H. Posner, assistant secretary in the
Bureau of Democracy, Human
Rights and Labor.
“We live in a world of conflict,” Posner said, with more
than 30 wars and internal conflicts fueled by ethnic, racial
and religious tensions, which
disproportionately affect women, children, people with disabilities and refugees.
He singled out China, Iran,
Nigeria and Cuba as countries
with notably deteriorating hu-
man rights situations in 2009.
Egypt, Russia and Sri Lanka
were cited for what he called
misuse of national security
legislation to broadly curtail
basic civil rights.
Other nations with generally good human rights were
flagged for enacting or considering official government
policies that affect vulnerable
groups. Posner included Uganda’s proposed death penalty for
homosexuals, discrimination
against Muslims in various
countries in Europe and sanctions against the Roma in Italy,
Hungary, Romania, Slovakia
and the Czech Republic.
Posner gave credit to “positive trends” in Liberia, where a
truth and reconciliation report
and the prosecution of former
President Charles Taylor are
helping heal a country torn by a
long civil war. He also pointed
to Georgia’s new criminal procedures, Ukraine’s commission
on anticorruption, Bhutan’s
transition from a monarchy to a
constitutional, elected government and the first multiparty
parliamentary election in the
Maldives.
This year, along with detailed summaries about whose
rights were being abused and
See RIGHTS page 20
news
2
March 24, 2010 • The Catholic Commentator
Christian presence in
Holy Land diminishing
Land have “Bible passages jump out”
as they walk the streets where Jesus
walked and preached about salvation,
Jerusalem, the city where Jesus said Fr. Vasko.
instituted the Eucharist, was crucified
Fr. Vasko explained that the Middle
and rose from the dead, is experiencing East, a land of ancient antiquity as
the demise of the Christian presence. well as civilization, has played a major
As Jews and Muslims move into more role in the development of the world’s
areas of the city and the fighting con- three great monotheistic religions – Jutinues, the Christians, who are primar- daism, Christianity and Islam.
ily Palestinian are leaving Jerusalem.
The early history of the Jewish naFather Peter Vasko OFM, the Catho- tion dates from the Old Testament, telllic chaplain for the U.S. Embassy in ing the story of Moses, Abraham, Isaac
Jerusalem, was in Baton Rouge March and Jacob leading the Jewish people
6 to talk about the religious conditions from Egypt to the Promised Land.
in the Holy Land and what Catholics
Christianity followed Judaism
need to do to maintain the Christian when Jesus Christ, the one pre-figured
presence. Fr. Vasko came to Baton in the books of the Old Testament as
Rouge at the invitation of Hank and the Messiah, died for the sins of all
Faye Heroman, who had been on a persons. Today over a billion people
pilgrimage to the Holy Land with worldwide follow Jesus’ message of
Fr. Vasko. He is the president of the salvation.
Franciscan Foundation for the Holy
Islam traces its roots to the Prophet
Land, an organization created to pro- Mohammed, who was born in Mecca
vide a worldwide voice for Christians around 570 AD. When Mohammed
living in the Holy Land and to ensure was 40, he received a revelation calling
the continued Christian presence in him to denounce the paganism and
the area.
polytheism of Mecca and preach the
CNOcommentatorAd.qxp:Layout
2/17/10
8:59 AM
Page
Pilgrims to Jerusalem and the1 Holy
existence
of the
one1 God. The “Dome
by
Laura Deavers
Editor
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A Franciscan priest leads a group of pilgrims through Jerusalem and past
the “Dome of the Rock,” considered by the Muslims the third holiest shrine
after Mecca and Medina. Three distinct religions have strong connections to
Jerusalem CNS photo
of the Rock” in Jerusalem was built
over the rock where Muslims believe
Mohammed began his journey to
heaven.
The Old City of Jerusalem is divided
into four sections: the Armenian Quarter, the Jewish Quarter, the Muslim
Quarter and the Christian Quarter. The
political and economic tensions in the
Old City have led to clashes among the
33,000 people living there.
Fr. Vasko said the only peace that
will end the war in the Holy Land is
a “peace built on justice and human
rights.”
For 63 years great conflict has ensured. The United States gives billions
of dollars to Israel, but the Christians
have no world power helping them,
he stated.
The wall that separates the city of
Bethlehem prevents people from going to work, to school, to the doctor
and to stores in the other areas. People
have died on their way to the hospital
because it was on the other side.
“If nothing is done in 60 years, all of
the Christians could be gone,” he said.
“Tell the people their church is dying
and needs to experience rebirth,” he
Clarification
The article in the March 10 issue of
The Catholic Commentator, “Msgr.
Lefebvre gives ‘last sermon’ at Christ
the King” stated that several priests
were giving their “last sermon” as part
of a series of lectures at Christ the King
Church and Catholic Student Center on
the LSU campus. These priests have
been invited to speak on the topic that
they would choose if they knew this
would be the last sermon they would
ever give. There is no reason to think
that this will be the last sermon for any
of these priests.
stressed to those at his talk.
Fr. Vasko mentioned that the collection taken in Catholic Churches
on Good Friday goes to preserve the
presence of the Catholic faith in the
Holy Land.
He said he is very concerned about
the young Christians who are leaving
because of the lack of education, employment and housing.
To keep the young people in Jerusalem, Fr. Vasko and his Franciscan
Foundation have opened a boys’ home.
Currently there are 33 children between the ages of 6 and 12 living there.
The children live there six days a week
and spend Sundays with their family.
“Education is the key to keeping
young people here,” said Fr. Vasko.
The Franciscan Foundation has also
begun building apartments, which
are offered to the Christians at a low
rental rate, as a way to keep them in
Jerusalem.
“As Christians, it is our moral obligation to make sure the Christian presence stays in the Holy Land,” stressed
Fr. Vasko.
“As Catholics and Christians, we
stand on the shoulders of those who
went before us,” Fr. Vasko said.
Fr. Vasko said he is concerned that
the only image people have of the Holy
Land is the one put forth by the news
media, which he called prejudicial.
Knowing people understand more
about a problem once they have seen
and experienced it, Fr. Vasko encouraged people to make a pilgrimage
to the Holy Land, and especially to
Jerusalem. He assured those gathered
to hear him that they need not worry
about being hurt. “I will make sure that
you are safe. And besides, you are in
God’s hands, and there is no way God
is going to let you get hurt.”
news
The Catholic Commentator • March 24, 2010
Invitation to explore God’s call issued at Called by Name II
by
Barbara Chenevert
Staff Writer
didn’t make the conference
because he tossed the letter
aside unopened. A couple of
days later, his aunt called him
and asked if he had received
the invitation. He then opened
it and decided to come.
Modicut, a parishioner of
St. Aloysius Church in Baton
Rouge, said about 20 years
ago, a priest told him he would
make a good religious, but he
hadn’t given it much thought
since. In the last few years
though, he found himself reading more religious books and
having spiritual discussions
with Catholics and non-Catholics. Sunday, he came looking
for information.
“It was good. They told me
not to be afraid,” Allison Courville said after the conference.
The 20-year-old LSU student
from Port Allen said she was
trying to discern “my whole
future, not just the religious
life.” She said someone once
told her God can’t steer parked
Melissa Fisackerly has been
thinking about religious life
since she was in fifth grade.
Now 23 and a physical therapy
technician at Our Lady of the
Lake Regional Medical Center,
Fisackerly wants to be open to
God’s call.
Bret Jackson, 18, a parishioner of St. George Church in
Baton Rouge, has been actively
discerning a vocation and is
looking for better insight into
the different religious orders
of the church.
Robby Abboud, 19, wants
to learn everything he can to
give himself what he calls a
“fair chance” to discern every
aspect of his future.
Fisackerly, Jackson and Abboud were among 35 men
and women who attended the
Called by Name II convocation
sponsored by the Diocesan Vocations Office March 24 at the
Catholic Life Center. They
were invited to explore the
possibility of hearing and “Vocation is universal.
responding to God’s call
after being nominated by Everybody has one. But
local Catholics who felt they
when you start thinkpossessed the qualities that
ing about how God
would make a good priest
or religious brother or sister.
wants you to live, it
“Trust in God. Don’t ever
hold back for fear that God
makes it special,“
will ask you to do something
Vocations Director Fathat will not give you joy
and grace,” Bishop Robert ther Matt Lorrain said.
W. Muench told the group.
“You are here because you
want to feel a sense of comfort cars; you have to put the cars
and confidence that God’s in motion.
grace can call you. If you trust
Angelle Damare called the
in God, however it turns out, it conference “informative.” She
will turn out good for you, for said she was trying to be open
God and for the church.”
and to respond to God’s call.
Seventeen-year-old Jordan The 19-year-old psychology
Hume, a senior at Baton Rouge major, who attends LSU, said
Magnet High School, isn’t sure she has been thinking of a vocawhy he was invited. “That’s a tion for about a year.
good question,” he said, when
Abboud said he is part of
asked why he came. “I was a discernment group meeting
invited by my pastor, Father at Christ the King Church and
(Jerry) Martin. I guess I came Student Center on the LSU
to learn, to experience and to campus. He said his group was
see what this is all about.” Al- handing out fliers and one of
though he said he had not been them advertised this conferconsidering a religious voca- ence. He was thinking of going
tion, he said he wanted to just when Father Andrew Merrick,
parochial vicar at Christ the
“listen with an open mind.”
At age 52, Jerry Modicut is King, called him and encourlooking for new direction in his aged him to attend.
“Vocation is universal. Evlife. After being laid off from
his job, Modicut said he was erybody has one. But when you
searching for something and start thinking about how God
wanted to hear more about wants you to live, it makes it
religious life. He said he almost special,“ Vocations Director
Father Matt Lorrain said. “It is
special, not because we chose
it, but because God chose it.
If you feel the urge, God put
it there.”
“We can’t answer the call
unless we hear it,” Abbot Justin
Brown OSB of St. Joseph Abbey
in Covington, told the group.
“God is calling and sometimes
very clearly, but we are too
busy in our lives to pay attention. We have to turn the ear of
our hearts to that call.”
God never calls us to something easy, but he calls us to
something life-giving, he said.
Sister Renee Daigle MSC,
campus minister at St. Albert
the Great Chapel and Catholic
Student Center in Hammond,
encouraged the group to talk
to people and ask questions
to help in their discernment
process. Discernment happens
in stages, she said. “You are
doing something that not everybody else does. Beg God to
give you the grace to be what
you need to be and then pay
attention,” she said, adding
that discernment required
“conscious listening.”
Seminarian Tim Hedrick
said he felt an excitement,
but was scared when he
first entered the seminary.
“Listen to that call. After
two years, I can say ‘it’s
been awesome. I have no
regrets.’ ”
A panel composed of
priests and religious men
and women shared with
the group their experiences
of being called and living the
religious life.
Brother Jude Israel OSB
entered the monastery at age
45 and described it as a major
upheaval in his life. After being
a teacher and a school principal, he was stepping into the
unknown.
Father Michael Alello, pastor of St. Philomena Catholic
Church in Labadieville, said it
was a challenge sometimes to
live alone, but he definitely felt
like part of a family. As a priest,
you are included in everyone’s
family, he said.
Sister Ileana Fernandez, vocations director for the Sisters
of St. Joseph, told the women
that the sisters pray together
each day, but separate for
their different ministries. She
encouraged those gathered to
find a spiritual director or talk
to someone they trust during
their discernment process.
The Called by Name program asks Catholics to submit
names of men and women,
young and old, who might
make good priests or religious.
The nominees are invited to
explore a religious calling
through convocations such as
the one held Sunday. There
will be another opportunity
3
to learn more about religious
life in late summer. Anyone
who feels that God may be
calling them is invited to a Life
Awareness weekend to be held
August 6-8 in Lake Charles.
For more information, call the
Diocesan Vocations Office at
225-387-0561 or e-mail vocations@diobr.org.
Sign up NOW!!!!
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Conversational Spanish –
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Guitar & Bass –
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Prime Time Workout –
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8:30 – 9:30 a.m. • $20/month
For persons over 50, led by
Stephanie Fogleman
All classes are held at the
CYO Center, 10555 Mollylea Dr., Baton Rouge • 225-275-3200
www.brcyo.org • info@brcyo.org
invites you to breakfast 9 a.m. – 12 noon, Saturday,
April 24 at Oak Lodge Reception Center, 2834 S.
Sherwood Forest, Baton Rouge. Our speaker will be Julie Barfield.
A former model and TV personality, Julie has worked in marketing
and public relations for many years. She served as a founding
coordinator for Magnificat and has spoken to many church groups,
at retreats and programs in the religious world as well as the civic
community. She has taught classes and workshop
and has been an active member of the Catholic
Charismatic Renewal ministry. Reservations for
the breakfast are $15 each and can be purchased by
mailing a check to Kathy Hains, 2537 Berrybrook
Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70816 Mar. 21 – Apr. 19.
Your name will be registered at the door.
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4
commentary
Another Perspective
by Father John Carville
Palm Sunday —
Never trust a crowd
On Palm Sunday we go with Christ into
Jerusalem; we enter the mysteries of Holy
Week. This celebration, which is supposed
to mark the triumphant entry of Jesus into
the sacred city, has always felt like a mystery to me. Perhaps it is because I know the
rest of the story. Or maybe it is because of
memories of seminary celebrations of Palm
Sunday in New Orleans.
Marching around St. Louis Cathedral
in cassock and surplice holding palm
branches and singing “Pueri Hebreorum
...” was not my idea of fun. One felt like
a spectacle because we literally marched
around the Cathedral: Pirates’ Alley, Royal
Street, Pere Antoine Alley, around Jackson
Square and back into the Cathedral. It drew
crowds like a Mardi Gras Parade.
I bet the onlookers matched the original
Jerusalem event. There were the French
Quarter regulars – artists, street vendors,
sidewalk musicians, performing beggars –
and tourists in Bermuda shorts munching
beignets as they rushed over from the Café
du Mondé in a cloud of powdered sugar to
see what was happening, lots of policemen
content with a peaceful parade, and the
congregation trudging along behind the
clerics while chanting Latin with enough
spirit to make you believe they understood
what they were singing.
It was all somewhat bewildering and
at least reminiscent of Jesus throwing the
whole city of Jerusalem into turmoil as they
asked, “Who is this” (Matthew 21:8-10).
Some of his onlookers must have heard
of him as a miracle worker, a celebrity,
a famous preacher, a sharp rabbi full of
parables, a crowd-pleaser. Others, of course,
were disciples who had followed him for
three years up and down the length of
Palestine. These he had warned about the
fickleness of the crowd and the danger he
faced in Jerusalem. But that was quickly forgotten in the euphoria of the waving palm
branches, in the hysteria of his triumph.
Because we know the rest of the story –
the agony in the garden, the betrayal, trial
and crucifixion – I have a hard time playacting the triumphant entry part. Yet, it is
a true commentary on human nature. At
least some of the same palm-waving crowd
of Sunday were screaming on Good Friday,
“Crucify him, crucify him.”
The liturgy of Palm Sunday recognizes
this violent madness within humanity.
Once inside church, we hear one of the
“suffering servant” poems from Isaiah: “I
gave my back to those who struck me, and
my cheeks to those who pulled out my
beard; I did not hide my face from insult
and spitting” (Isaiah 50:6-7). Then the Passion is read, and we find ourselves going
with Christ to Calvary and standing at the
foot of the cross. The whole assembly is
invited to proclaim the words of the crowd
in the story, reminding us that it is indeed
our story. One moment we are full of good
resolutions and promises to God to follow
Christ; and the next moment we are among
those who crucify Jesus by our sins. Perhaps
that is the source of our Louisiana tradition
of making a cross of the palm leaves we use
on Palm Sunday and placing the cross on
a wall in our homes. I thought that those
palm crosses were to protect us against
storms – maybe storms of temptation as
well as hurricanes.
The Palm Sunday liturgy is a truthful
way to enter Holy Week, to emerge on
Easter Sunday, one hopes, with a stronger,
more consistent faith.
Father Than Vu
Associate Publisher
Laura Deavers
Exec. Ed./Gen. Mgr.
Debbie Shelley
Assistant Editor
Bishop Robert W. Muench
Publisher
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: $12.00 per year. POSTMASTER,
send address changes to The Catholic Commentator,
P.O. Box 14746, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-4746. Web
site: www.diobr.org/tcc
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Advertising Manager
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Advertising Sales
Lisa Disney
Secretary/Circulation
Barbara Chenvert
Staff Writer
Donna Perreault
Copy Editor
Pope asks Irish to read
his letter on abuse
crisis with open heart
by
Cindy Wooden
VAT I C A N C I T Y — P o p e
Benedict XVI asked Irish Catholics to read his pastoral letter
on the sexual abuse crisis “with
an open heart and in a spirit of
faith.”
Addressing Irish visitors at
his weekly general audience
March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, the
pope said he had written the
letter as “a sign of my deep
concern” over “this painful situation.”
He used his audience to announce that he would sign the
letter March 19, the feast of St.
Joseph, and send it “soon after.”
“My hope is that it will help
in the process of repentance,
healing and renewal,” he said.
In December, the pope had
said he would write the letter
in the wake of the scandal that
followed publication of an independent report that faulted the
church for its handling of 325
sex abuse claims in the Archdiocese of Dublin in the years 19752004. The report said bishops
sometimes protected abusive
priests, and were apparently
more intent on protecting the
church’s reputation and assets
than on helping the victims.
Pope Benedict called all the
bishops of Ireland to the Vatican
in February, discussing both the
scandal as well as the potential
content of his letter.
At his audience, he said that
“the church in Ireland has been
severely shaken as a result of the
child abuse crisis.”
In his main audience address,
the pope continued his series of
talks about medieval Catholic
theologians by looking at the
similarities and differences in
the teaching of St. Bonaventure
and St. Thomas Aquinas, who
were contemporaries.
In the year ’s first outdoor
audience, the pope pointed out
that the statues of the two saints
stand directly opposite each other on the top of the colonnade
embracing St. Peter’s Square.
The 13th-century theologians, who both recognized the
importance of faith and reason
working together in religious
life, still had different opinions
about the ultimate purpose of
theology, the pope said.
St. Thomas saw theology “as
primarily a theoretical science,”
whose aim was to help people
know God.
St. Bonaventure, he said,
“saw it as practical, concerned
with that ‘wisdom’ which enables us to love God and conform our wills to his.”
Reacting to erroneous trends
in theology, which probably
were present among his Franciscan brothers “and are also present in our day,” St. Bonaventure
warned against “the violent attitude” of over-analyzing faith,
thinking that reason can explain
everything about God, the pope
said.
“Before the word of God, we
must contemplate, not analyze,”
the pope said.
The Franciscan saint knew
that while reason was important
and could help explain many
things about God, at a certain
point only love could help
people draw closer to God and
to understanding why he would
sacrifice his son to save humanity, he said.
St. Bonaventure knew that
“precisely in the dark night of
the cross, there appeared the
greatness of God’s love,” the
pope said.
Just before the pope began
speaking, a man in the audience
began shouting “abortion” and
yelled for the pope to “excommunicate Nancy Pelosi and Joe
Biden,” respectively the speaker
of the U.S. House of Representatives and the vice president of
the United States.
The man was escorted out
of St. Peter’s Square by Vatican
security. Because he was not
arrested, the Vatican refused to
release his name.
Editor’s Note: The text of the
pope’s audience remarks in English
will be posted online at: www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/
audiences/2010/documents/hf_benxvi_aud_20100317_en.html. The
text of the pope’s audience remarks
in Spanish will be posted online
at: www.vatican.va/holy_father/
benedict_xvi/audiences/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20100317_
sp.html.
family life
5
Easter is a joyful celebration for families
by
Debbie Shelley
Assistant Editor
Easter is a highlight of the
year for families who establish traditions to celebrate the new
life they have received in Christ.
For the large family of Prados
Savoie Richard Eckert, many
of whom are members of Our
Lady of Mercy Church in Baton
Rouge, Easter is a chance to “get
away” together. For the past 48
years her family members, who
are from all over the United
States, meet on the Gulf Coast
for a time of bonding.
Eckert is one of 11 children
of Charles C. Savoie and Ursula
Prados Savoie. As the Savoie
children married and the family
grew, the concept of celebrating
Easter at the parents’ home became overwhelming. In looking
for solutions, Charles Savoie remembered he and his wife had
many fond memories of visiting
relatives on the Gulf Coast.
In 1962, Charles Savoie
took his family on a Easter trip
to Panama City, Fla. Sixteen
Savoie family members and
their spouses and children attended their first Easter vacation
in Panama City, Fla. Later, the
family vacationed in Mississippi
at Biloxi/Gulf Port and Henderson Point. For the past 16 years,
they have vacationed in Orange
Beach, Ala.
Eckert’s father, who was from
Belle Rose and head engineer for
two family-owned sugar manufacturers that are in their fourth
generation of operation, paid
for the family’s lodging so that
everyone could go. Charles Savoie was 94 when
he passed away four years ago.
Since his death, the siblings
meet the weekend closest to
his birthday, Jan. 13, at a family
camp in the Belle River area to
plan the Easter vacation.
The family begins arriving at Orange Beach on Holy
Thursday.
On Good Friday, Eckert’s
family holds a Way of the Cross.
The family gathers around
the pool for a barbecue lunch
on Saturday. Eckert and her
siblings go out to dinner on
Saturday night.
On Easter Sunday, the family
attends Mass together. Those remaining on Sunday night share
a potluck meal.
There are currently about 100
family members who gather
during Easter vacation. While
a lot of details have to be taken
The family of Prados Eckert gathers for a photograph during Easter vacation in 2004 in Orange Beach, Ala.
Photo provided by
Prados Eckert
care of, Eckert said, “We all
know our jobs and it works.”
Eckert stated the family vacations are enjoyable because her
father kept the family close. Eckert, who has 23 grandchildren,
many of whom attend Our Lady
of Mercy School and are currently or will soon be students
at St. Joseph’s Academy and
Catholic High School, said she
tries to foster such closeness in
her own family.
For other families in the
Diocese of Baton Rouge, Easter
means spending time with their
church family.
The family of Matt and
Amanda Milton, members of
Immaculate Conception Church
in Denham Springs, prepare for
Easter by reading the Lenten
reflection books provided by
their church. Amanda Milton
said her children, Matthew,
12, and Madison, 9, enjoy the
activity-oriented Lenten books
for youth, so they don’t need
much urging to complete them.
The family also attends reconciliation services at Immaculate Conception Church, which
this year is one of the regionally
located churches where priests
are hearing confessions as part
of the Diocese of Baton Rouge’s
“The Light Is On for You” Lenten reconciliation program.
The Miltons also try to receive the traveling chalice for
vocations during Lent. Because
Amanda Milton’s father, Deacon Philip BeJeaux, serves at St.
Alphonsus Church in Greenwell Springs, her family prays
for him and the deacons of the
diocese.
Many students she said, do
not experience such devotional
time with their families.
In addition to dying Easter
eggs, the Milton family also likes
to buy resurrection eggs, which
are decorated with symbols
related to Christ.
Amanda Milton said she
likes to show the resurrection
eggs to the religious education
classes she teaches at Immaculate Conception and talk about
what the symbols mean.
At the 9 a.m. Easter Sunday
Mass Amanda and her son serve
together at the altar. She is an
extraordinary minister of the
Eucharist and Matthew is an
altar server.
“It’s a special time when
we’re in the sacristy together
before Mass,” Milton said. She
added wryly that her son does
not like for her to straighten his
robe or fuss over his appearance.
Some parents with younger
children in the diocese will look
beyond the “Easter bunny”
elements of the holiday and
explain why Easter is important
to Christians.
The family of Jon and Jessica
Cuba, members of St. George
Church in Baton Rouge, will
hide Easter eggs for their three
young children, Jon Michael, 6,
Gabe, 4 and Henry, 1, and enjoy
Jessica and Michael
Cuba want to make sure
their sons, from left,
Henry, Gabe and Jon
Michael, understand
why Easter is important
to Christians. The
f a m i l y i s g a t h e re d
before Easter Mass in
2009. Photo provided by
Jessica Cuba
a crawfish boil with relatives.
They also plan to read biblical
accounts of Christ’s passion on
Holy Saturday.
Jessica Cuba explained it is
time for their sons to realize the
story of Easter is “more than
the Easter Bunny.” She said it is
important that her sons understand that Christ bore great pain
and died for them so they could
have the blessings of eternal life.
Cuba noted that Jon Michael,
a kindergarten student at St.
George, has been learning about
the significance of Lent. She
enjoys hearing him telling Gabe
what he has been taught.
The Cubas have also been
explaining church traditions
to their sons. The parents have
told the older two that the altar
is decorated sparsely during
Lent in recognition of Christ’s
journey to the cross. On Easter
the altar is decorated beautifully
to celebrate the fact that Christ
has risen and has redeemed the
world.
Dressed up for Easter
Sunday Mass at Immaculate
Conception Church in Denham
Springs in 2009 are Matt and
Amanda Milton and children,
Matthew, 12 and Madison, 9.
Photo provided by Amanda Milton
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news
6
Question Corner
by Father John Dietzen
Are those who commit suicide forgiven?
Q. A friend committed are “manifest sinners for whom ecclesiastical funeral
suicide recently, after years
of treatment for depression.
Are such people forgiven? She received a Catholic
burial. What about people who kill themselves who
have no history of mental or psychological issues?
I always believed forgiveness was not possible if
one committed suicide. What is the church’s stance?
(Iowa)
A. Much of the Catholic Church’s stance about
suicides is expressed in the fact that your friend (very
properly) had a Catholic funeral liturgy celebrated
for her after her death.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church reflects
our teaching today when it says we each have
responsibility for our own lives, but we should
not despair of the salvation of persons who take
their own lives. By ways known to him alone,
God provides for them spiritually, and the church
always holds them, as it does all the departed, in
its prayers (No. 2283).
Catholic understanding of the subject is reflected
also in its funeral policies. Canon law lists those who
are to be deprived of Catholic burial. Among these
rites cannot be granted without public scandal” (No.
1184).
Insofar as they are covered at all, people who commit suicide would be part of that group. But are such
people really open, public “sinners” whose Christian
burial would give scandal? Particularly today, with
our much better understanding of the factors that
determine human behavior, bishops and other pastors generally believe just the opposite.
The scandal would be if a Christian burial were
refused. We are aware how limited is our understanding of what really was happening spiritually
and morally with the deceased person, and perhaps
even more aware of the need for compassionate and
loving care for those left behind.
Taking one’s life is a serious matter. But how much
was the individual capable of reflection on what he
or she was doing? How much true consent of the will
was there?
I have had the sad experience of dealing with
suicide many times in my 56 years as a priest. Circumstances surrounding these deaths gave strong
hints to everyone who knew them that the deceased
were hampered mentally or emotionally, often to a
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Father Dietzen answers questions from and about
Catholics. Questions may be sent to Fr. Dietzen, Box 3315,
Peoria, IL 61612 or e-mail: jjdietzen@aol.com.
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severe degree, at the time of death.
Sometimes those hints are overt, with erratic
behavior pointing to some crippling psychological
dysfunction.
Sometimes they are less obvious, when such a
self-destructive action contradicts every experience
with that person. There is no evidence of any plan or
reflection beforehand. To all appearances, something
inside just snapped and likely we will never know
what that might have been.
In celebrating a Christian burial, we make no judgment about that individual’s relationship with God.
As it does for all of us, whoever we are, the church,
with and in Christ, asks God’s mercy on the one who
has died and on those who have been hurt by that
death.
What happened after the death of your friend,
therefore, was strictly in accord with good Catholic
practice. It is a vivid reminder that whatever the circumstances of our life and death, we are all beggars
at the door of God’s mercy.
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The Third Annual Seminarian
Scramble to benefit Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans will be held
April 5 at The Oaks at Sherwood Golf
Course in Baton Rouge.
In their sponsorship of this annual
event, the Serra Club of Baton Rouge
hopes to raise awareness of the needs
of the seminarians at Notre Dame and
to raise money for capital improvements at the seminary.
The seminary needs money to improve the seminarians living quarters,
which are still showing the damage
caused by Hurricane Katrina five
years ago.
The Serra Club’s mission is to create awareness of the priesthood and
support the priests. The golf tournament will also give the Serrans an
opportunity to have members of local
youth groups get to know the priests
and seminarians in this diocese. The entry fee is $250 per golfer,
which pays for a round of golf, use of
a cart, lunch and dinner. Registration
for the golf tournament will begin
at 10 a.m. Tee time for the four-man
scramble is 12 noon. Prizes will be
given for the longest drive and closest to the hole. A golfer who makes
a hole-in-one will receive a new car.
More information on the Third Annual Seminarian Scramble is available
on the Web site, www.seminarian
scramble.org, or contact Mike Norwood at 225-335-0216 or by e-mail at
mynorwood@gmail.com.
Proceeds from the first two tournaments, which raised over $70,000,
were used to rebuild the seminarians’ recreation area, to restore the
gardens surrounding the main building at Notre Dame and to purchase
new appliances for the seminarians’
lounge.
If you are having an subscription problem,
please call Mrs. Lisa Disney at
225-387-0983; Fax 225-336-8710;
or E-mail ldisney@diobr.org.
spirituality 7
Triduum is three-day retreat focused on paschal mystery
by
Debbie Shelley
Assistant Editor
The Triduum, or the “three
days” from Holy Thursday to
Easter Sunday, is a distinct celebration in the church’s liturgical
year when people are invited to
drop out of their daily routines
and enter into a retreat.
“In the midst of spring,
crawfish season and school
holidays, the church urges us
to turn our attention to the
greatest events of our salvation history,” said Father Tom
Ranzino, director for the Office of Worship for the Diocese
of Baton Rouge and pastor of
St. Jean Vianney Church in
Baton Rouge. During these
days, Catholics walk with Jesus
through his passion, death and
resurrection, taking a deeply
reflective look at these events
from different angles, Fr. Ranzino, said.
“Christ redeemed us all
and gave perfect glory to God
principally through his paschal
mystery; dying he destroyed
our death and rising he restored
our life. Therefore the Easter
Triduum of the passion and
death of Christ is the culmination of the entire liturgical
year,” according to The General
Norms for the Liturgical Year
and Calendar by the Sacred
Congregation of Divine Worship.
Services over the three days,
Holy Thursday, Good Friday
and the Easter Vigil/Easter
Sunday, are considered one
service. Each picks up where
the previous one left off, Fr.
Ranzino said.
Although Lent ends with
the Holy Thursday observance,
Catholics are urged to continue
their fast, Fr. Ranzino said.
While the fast during Lent
conveys a desire to repent of
sin, the fast during the Triduum
is an anticipatory paschal fast
to convey excitement over the
events taking place.
On Holy Thursday, the
church celebrates the events
Our Turn
of Jesus’ Last Supper where he
instituted the sacrament of the
Eucharist and the priesthood.
After the Gospel reading, the
presider and parishioners call
to mind Jesus’ example to
humbly serve one another by
washing each other’s feet.
Also the Holy Oils, which
were blessed by the bishop the
day before at the Chrism Mass
and will be used throughout
the church year, are brought
into the church.
At the end of Mass, a eucharistic procession moves
throughout the church before
the Eucharist is put in a place
of reserve. Most churches invite
people to stay with the Blessed
Sacrament until midnight for
private prayer. The Eucharist is
then moved to a reserved place
away from the main church
until the Easter Vigil when
Christ’s victory over death is
celebrated, Fr. Ranzino said.
After the Eucharist is removed,
the altar is stripped bare in
anticipation of the events of
by Therese Borchard
Four ways the church
could be more Christian
In his newest book, “If the Church Were
Christian,” Quaker minister and bestselling author Philip Gulley urges his readers to
think about our Christian churches today and
whether or not they reflect the values of Jesus.
As a Roman Catholic, I am much more conservative than Gulley. However, his 10 suggestions for a more Christian church did prompt
me to raise a few questions, such as, Would
Jesus really have wanted my second-grader to
watch the video “Ricky’s First Reconciliation,”
where the priest looks like a hit man for the
mafia with an earring? Maybe not.
Here is a sampling of four of Gulley’s recommendations. If the church were more Christian:
1. Reconciliation would be valued over judgment.
Gulley asserts that churches today get too
caught up in condemning folks for less-thanperfect behavior, skipping the redemption and
healing that were crucial to Jesus’ ministry.
Where there is a diagnosis, there must also be
a cure in order for hope to thrive.
2. Gracious behavior would be more important than right belief.
Writes Gulley: “When Jesus was asked to
boil down the law to its essential element, he
didn’t hesitate. Love. Love your neighbor. Love
the Lord. Love yourself. Jesus never, not once,
went to the mat for doctrine.”
3. Inviting questions would be valued more
than supplying answers.
When my husband Eric went through the
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, he noticed
that whenever we got to a tough question, we
Catholics pulled out the “mystery” card: “It’s
a mystery!”
Because sometimes when we try to wrap our
human brains around the paschal mystery, we
don’t have the language to explain.
Gulley encourages us to go to the awkward
places of our faith – to ask the hard questions –
and to entertain all kinds of possible answers!
4. Meeting needs would be more important
than maintaining institutions.
Gulley maintains that Jesus didn’t give a
whole lot of thought to – or waste too many
words – describing the kind of institution
that he wanted his church to be. “Though the
church eventually became the means by which
the story and witness of Jesus spread,” writes
Gulley, “neither its genesis nor continuance
seemed a priority to him. Time after time,
meeting human needs took center stage in his
life and ministry.”
Borchard, former editor of U.S. Catholic magazine, lives in Annapolis, MD. She gives a youngadult perspective on current issues and concerns
for Catholic News Service.
Good Friday. There is no closing prayer at the service.
On Good Friday, a day of
fast and abstinence, the church
gathers once again to continue
its observance of the Triduum.
During the Good Friday service, the Passion of Christ is
read or sung, followed by special intercessory prayers that
ask God’s guidance for all in the
world. The cross is carried in or
uncovered and then venerated
by the assembly either with a
touch or kiss. Finally the Eucharist, consecrated at the Holy
Thursday Mass, is brought into
the church and distributed to
the congregation.
The Easter Vigil, the highlight of the church year, begins
outside after dark in recognition of Christ’s death. Each
church lights a new fire, symbolizing the light of the risen
Christ. From that fire, a new
paschal candle is lit that will
burn throughout the church
year. Members of the assembly
then light smaller candles from
the new fire and process into
church.
During the vigil Mass, the
assembly hears the story of
the Catholic faith, with seven
or eight readings that give the
history of salvation from the
creation story, to the freeing of
the Israelites from slavery to
Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones.
The Gospel reading is the story
of Christ’s resurrection.
A highpoint of the vigil Mass
is the baptism of the elect and
the reception into full communion of the RCIA candidates
who will receive the sacraments
of Eucharist and confirmation.
The water in the baptismal
font is blessed with the new
Easter candle, which is plunged
into the water.
On Easter Sunday, the cel-
Father Cleo Milano, pastor
of St. John the Evangelist
Church in Plaquemine,
transfers the Eucharist to its
place of reposition during Holy
Thursday Mass in 2008 at
St. John. Holding the canopy
over Fr. Milano are, from left,
front, Lloyd Bouchereau, Henry
Daigle, Jr.; back, Ruel Seneca
and Barry Lamothe. File photo by
Laura Deavers
ebration of the risen Christ
continues.
As people journey with
Christ and the Church in this
unique way, they are stretched
and spiritually challenged to
deepen their faith, Fr. Ranzino
said. He encourages people
to bring their children and
grandchildren to the services
to introduce them to this rich
tradition of the Catholic faith.
Those who observe these special three days of the liturgical
year experience God’s abundant grace as they look at the
passion, death and resurrection
of Jesus, he said.
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8
our catholic community
HAITIAN RELIEF – The Food for Haiti community event was held from March 4 – 7 on
Our Lady of the Lake’s campus in Baton Rouge. Food collected during this drive filled a 40foot shipping container able to store 43,000 pounds. Our Lady of the Lake Board members
gather in front of the container before it was shipped to Haiti. Photo provided by Our Lady of the
Lake Hospital
Participating in the donation of books to Upper Pointe Coupée
Elementary and Middle Schools are, from left, DCCW Vice
President Cassandra Will, Upper Pointe Coupée teacher Megan
McCrone and DCCW President Barbara Coreil. Photo provided by
the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women
DCCW donates books
to UPC Elementary
BABY SHOWER OF LOVE – The Catholic Daughters Court #1194 St. Rose de Lima of
St. Amant hosted a “Baby Shower of Love” on Feb. 28 at Holy Rosary Church Center in St.
Amant. Collected items will be distributed between Catholic Charity’s Maternity and Adoption
Department and the Battered Women’s Shelter in Gonzales. Photo provided by Catholic Daughters
Court #1194
The Baton Rouge Diocesan
Council of Catholic Women
used a donation toward Project Books Readily Available
for Teaching (BRANT) to purchase books for the children
of Upper Pointe Coupée Elementary and Middle School
in Bachelor.
Over 700 new books were
delivered to Upper Pointe
Coupée Elementary by
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DCCW President Barbara
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Casandra Will and Jim Bolner
on Jan. 28.
“The children were excited
and happy to receive their
very own books. Some said,
‘Is this really my very own
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She added that through
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9
St. Michael High School hosts CSLA meeting
The Catholic School Librarians’ Association (CSLA) held
its second semester meeting
in the St. Michael High School
Boyce Library on Feb. 25. CSLA
includes elementary, middle
and high school librarians from
schools throughout the Diocese
of Baton Rouge. The group fosters professional standards in Catholic
school libraries and works to
improve and encourage communication and cooperation
among the Catholic school
librarians and the Catholic
Schools Office according to
outgoing CSLA president Anne
Blanchard head librarian of St.
Aloysius School. “Basically we
come together to network and
share ideas.”
The meetings, like the one
hosted at St. Michael High
School, rotate throughout the
diocesan schools so that members can experience and learn
from each other’s school libraries. Typically a diocesan representative is present as well as a
special guest speaker from the
library world.
The CSLA group also keeps
abreast of upcoming conferences, author and illustrator
luncheons, speaking engagements and book festival appearances.
“It is so much easier to present a book to students once
you have met the author or illustrator and can pass on their
personal stories and funny anecdotes,” said Blanchard.
New librarians particularly
benefit from the CSLA, though
even the more seasoned veterans find it a useful and necessary support system, Blanchard
noted.
“Since so many things change
and evolve, such as technology,
research databases, and bestbook lists, having the support
Attending the Catholic School Librarian Association meeting hosted by St. Michael High School
are librarians, from left, Ellen Manint, Most Blessed Sacrament; Kathryn Huggett, Holy Ghost;
Anne Blanchard, St. Aloysius; and Jackie Lauve, St. George. Photo provided by St. Michael High School
of the other CSLA members is
such a wonderful resource,”
said St. Michael librarian Amy
Donaldson. “And even though
our schools cater to students
ranging from kindergarten children to high school seniors, we
all share the same interests in
continuing to re-evaluate our
library programs, striving for
best practices.”
LENTEN SERIES–
The Senior Spirituality
Committee at St. Thomas
More Church in Baton
R o u g e s p o n s o re d t h e
series, “A Lenten Journey
with Jesus and Mar y.”
Presenters during the series
are, from left, Pat Prince,
who talked about the call
of the apostles, Glenda
Barras, who spoke on the
“hidden years” of Jesus in
first century palestine and
musician Paula Assaf. Photo
by Debbie Shelley
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ST. JOHN CHURCH HONORS ST. JOSEPH — St. John the Evangelist
Church in Plaquemine had its annual St. Joseph Altar March 14. Above, the
church members, who put in countless hours preparing the food for the altar,
stand in front of the altar, while those representing the Holy Family are seated at
the table. Right, Father Cleo Milano, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church,
blesses the altar and the Holy Family: Caroline Wright as Mary, Gavin Landry
as Jesus and Anthony Zito as Joseph. Photos by Laura Deavers
St. Margaret celebrates
devotion to St. Joseph
Our Diocesan Priests give to us everyday.
They help keep our
churches open and
provide us
with the sacraments
of our
Catholic Faith.
On Easter Sunday
remember them and
all they have done.
Give generously in the
second collection
to help provide them
a retirement
of grace and
dignity.
St. Margaret Church in Albany,
along with its mission church, St.
Thomas in Springfield, had its annual
St. Joseph Altar March 14 in the St.
Margaret Parish Hall.
This year the altar had a special
section dedicated to the St. Margaret
Church centennial and another to the
local military veterans and those currently serving to protect this country.
From March 6 – 14, parishioners
prayed a special novena to St. Joseph.
The prayers included five St. Joseph
prayers, the St. Joseph litany, the rosary, a prayer to St. Margaret and the
St. Margaret Church centennial prayer.
John and Mary Gaeta chaired the St.
Joseph Altar for the fourth consecutive
year. John Gaeta said the altar was part
of the year-long centennial celebration.
He added that hundreds of people
contributed to the altar, members of
St. Margaret as well as people from
surrounding churches.
Above, a special cake was made for the St. Joseph Altar at St. Margaret
Church to mark the centennial of that church in Albany. Below, dozens of pictures
fill the table that was dedicated to the past and current members of the United
States military who are members of St. Margaret. Photos by John Gaeta
news
11
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HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION LUNCHEON — Don Broussard, fourth from
left, was honored at the annual Diocesan Home and School Association Luncheon for his
participation in the Adopt-A-Student Program, sponsored by the Catholic Schools Office.
With Broussard are, from left, Bethany Landry, president of the Diocesan Home and School
Association; Bishop Robert W. Muench; Ann Broussard; Dr. Melanie Verges, diocesan
superintendent of schools; and Father Michael Alello, pastor of St. Philomena Church in
Labadieville, who spoke to those attending the March 16 luncheon about parents making
time for their children in this technology driven world. The Adopt-A-Student Program helps
students who would not be able to attend Catholic schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge
without financial assistance. During the past two years, 122 students at six school have
been helped through the program, which began in 2007. Photo by Laura Deavers
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Ascension’s Most BeAutiful ceMetery
Cable TV features an Easter-season
special on the Shroud of Turin
by
John Mulderig
NEW YORK — In 1988, a team of scientists who
had conducted carbon-dating tests on a portion of
the Shroud of Turin – one of the most significant
of Christianity’s relics since it has been revered for
centuries as the burial cloth of Jesus – announced
that the shroud dated to no earlier than 1260, marking it as a medieval forgery.
Yet, as “The Real Face of Jesus?” – a timely and
intriguing Easter-season special premiering on
cable’s History Channel Tuesday, March 30, 8-10
p.m. – reveals, many scientific mysteries about
this badly damaged 14-foot-long cloth, and the
faint image of a tortured corpse imprinted on it,
endure. The program follows the painstaking efforts of computer graphics artist Ray Downing and
a circle of his associates to extract a 3-D portrait of
the man of the shroud – and therefore, perhaps,
of Jesus himself – from the blurry, bloodstained
original.
The story of their work serves as a springboard
to explore the history – both documented and
speculative – of this unique piece of fabric, and to
examine the many questions about it that exhaustive scientific research has yet to answer.
How is it, for instance, that the wound marks
and bloodstains on the head and body of the dead
man correspond – in the light of contemporary
medical knowledge – so precisely to the details
of Jesus’ scourging, crowning with thorns and
death by crucifixion as described in the Gospels?
And how was his figure – which penetrates only
to the most superficial level of the shroud’s fibers
– created, since scientists have established
that it is neither a painting, nor an etching
nor a photograph?
There is an incidental treatment of early
gnostic Christians that dubiously attempts
to present their cosmic speculations about
unperceived dimensions lurking behind the
perceptible world – ideas which the early
church fathers resoundingly rejected – as a
foreshadowing of today’s most advanced
theoretical physics. And historical conspiracy
theorists will be delighted to discover that
the Knights Templar may have played a role
in preserving the shroud during one of the
more obscure passage of its history.
But on the whole this respectful, indeed
reverent, presentation – which traces the
relic’s possible journey from the empty
tomb in Jerusalem to the ancient Kingdom
of Edessa to Constantinople to Athens and
eventually on to medieval France – raises
fascinating issues about what the narrative
early on identifies as “the most enigmatic
artifact the world has ever known.”
The shroud is scheduled to be displayed in
public for the first time in a decade between
April 10 and May 23 of this year in Turin’s
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, with Pope
Benedict XVI making a pilgrimage there on
May 2.
Mulderig is on the staff of the Office for Film
& Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at
www.usccb.org/movies.
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youth
First-place winners in the fifth- and sixth-grade division of
the Diocesan Quiz Bowl are St. Thomas More School team
members, from left, front row, Cordenne Brewster, Brennan
Burke, Jordan Klemm, with Superintendent of Catholic Schools
Dr. Melanie Verges; back row, moderator Marci Hanegan,
Matthew Berry and Dominic Maggio. Photo provided by the Catholic
Schools Office
READY FOR PALM SUNDAY – In anticipation of Holy Week, first-grade students at Holy
Ghost School made palm branches from construction paper to celebrate Palm Sunday. Waving
their palm branches are, from left, front row, Amelia Pham, Paulina Salzman, Emily Hoover,
Isabella Acunzo, Hannah Lyons, Madison Parra; second row: Leah Lambert, Natalie Hudspeth,
Madeline Ebarb, Caroline Eschette, Hunter Torres, Halle Bouffard, Mackenzie McLaughlin;
third row, Colby Dufrene, Jack Chauvin, Codee Broom; back row, Matthew Binder, Jon Patrick
Watts, Patrick Labbe and Nate Oberschmidt. Photo provided by Holy Ghost School
Winners in the seventh- and eighth-grade division of the
Diocesan Quiz Bowl from St. Jude School are, from left, front
row, moderator Susan Menville, Joseph Nolan, Trey Menville,
Molly Lieux, Superintendent of Catholic Schools Dr. Melanie
Verges; back row, faculty sponsor Camile Gautreaux, Miles
Durio, Ryan Schexnaildre and Phillip Ieyoub. Photo provided by the
Catholic Schools Office
CHS faculty members and Speech and Debate Club co-moderators Travis Kern, far left, and
Christy Kessler, far right, congratulate CHS students, from left, Kevin Ward, Taylor Simon and
Simon Cassel for qualifying for the Catholic Forensic League Speech Tournament May 28-30 in
Omaha, Neb. Photo provided by Catholic High School
Students to attend speech tournament
Three Catholic High students qualified to complete in
the National Catholic Forensic
League Speech Tournament
May 28-30 in Omaha, Neb.
Simon Cassel, Taylor Simon
and Kevin Ward advanced to
the national tournament after
each achieved one of the top
six spots in their event at the
district tournament.
Cassel and Simon qualified in the Lincoln Douglas
Debate; and Kevin Ward was
the district winner in dramatic
performance and is also the top
seed going to nationals.
Students participate in eight
tournaments around the state.
In these competitions, Catholic
High had five students qualify
for the State Tournament of
Champions: Johnny Balance
and Daniel Kleinpeter as a
team for duet acting; Taylor
Simon and Simon Cassel for
debate; and Kevin Ward for
humorous interpretation.
STM, St. Jude winners in
the Diocesan Quiz Bowl
On Feb. 27, the Diocesan
Quiz Bowl was held at St.
Louis King of France School.
Students competed in the fifthand sixth-grade division, and,
seventh- and in the eighthgrade division.
Quiz Bowl is a Diocese of
Baton Rouge competition in
which the elementary and
junior high schools of the diocese compete. A one-day Quiz
Bowl reveals students’ general
knowledge in the subject areas
they study.
There are six students on a
team, but only four compete
in each of three rounds before
finals.
Each round of the competition features students from
each school which the facilitator chooses based on their
academic performance and
conduct throughout the school
year. Tryouts are held to build
the team.
Each year one school hosts
the event. The students practice before school during the
months preceding the competition.
This year’s winners are:
Fifth- and sixth-grade division: first place, St. Thomas
Moore; second place, Ascension Catholic.
Seventh- and eighth-grade
division: first place, St. Jude;
second place, St. Louis King of
France; and third place, Most
Blessed Sacrament.
youth
Portier conveys fun of faith in Web site
by
Debbie Shelley
Y outh
Focus
Assistant Editor
The Web site for the youth
group at St. Margaret in Albany is filled with pictures,
information, comments and
links which show the group
has a lot of fun together. The
site’s Web master, Rachael
Portier, said she enjoys using
her creativity to invite others
to join them.
About three years ago,
Portier, 15, a freshman now at
Albany High School, learned
at her parent’s business about
Microsoft Excel and other programs that are used in putting
together a Web site.
Portier designed her own
Web site in 2007. When the
people from St. Margaret
Church viewed her Web site,
they were impressed and
asked her to design one for
the St. Margaret Youth Group
(www.smyouth.org), which
she launched in January.
Working on the Web site
has provided Portier a venue
in which to express her creativity. She said her favorite
part of being a Web master
is design. She is interested in
becoming an interior decorator or photographer.
Portier said her first personal Web pages were “splotchy,
and everything was in black
and white.” Since then, she
has added photos, quotes,
Y outh
Beat
St. Michael High School senior volleyball players Paige
Mayeux and Marcy Watts
were named to the Composite Academic All-State team,
Rachael Portier, 15
Hometown
Albany
Dr. Sigsworth
Dr. Leroux
Specializing in
the preventive
dental health
and therapeutic
care of
children and
adolescents.
Pa ents
are rlw
ays
welcoam
accomp e to
their ch any
the clinild in
area.ical
School
Albany High School
Church Parish
St. Margaret
blog entries, some neat links
and “lots of color.”
The St. Margaret Youth
Group Web site contains announcements about upcoming
events and news and photos
depicting the youth group’s
activities.
Portier, is involved with
her youth group in many
different capacities, but at
youth events she is a reporter
and photographer. She enjoys
this task because she helps
those who were not able to
attend the events feel like
they were there. She likewise
helps those who attended the
event to remember what they
experienced.
Portier said she is happy
when people comment on
the pictures and information she posts on the youth
group’s Web site; it means
they are paying attention to
which means they are Academic All-State in volleyball
across all divisions.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has recognized Redemptorist High
School senior Dustin Carlino as a National Merit
E x c l u s i v e
the good work the youth and
the church are doing.
She referred to the recent
Diocesan Youth Conference,
which is featured on the youth
group’s Web site as “an amazing event” from which the
youth could draw something
that will deepen their faith.
“People look at all the fun
we have and then they want to
get more involved with what
we are doing,” Portier said.
Technology today provides
many fun ways to teens to
capture one another’s attention, according to Portier. She
hopes to reach out beyond
her church community to
those who are not involved
in church.
Through technology, Portier sees possibilities for casting
a wide net and spreading the
message of God’s love to the
world.
Finalist. Carlino, the son of
Samuel and Alina Carlino,
participates in the Mu Alpha
Theta Club, of which he is
vice president. He also leads
the Last Words Society, Redemptorist’s poetry and literature club. And he placed
first in calculus at the State
High School Literary Rally
last year.
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entertainment
M ovie
Reviews
She’s Out of My League
(Paramount)
Raunchy romantic comedy in
which a nerdy but good-hearted
Pittsburgh airport security agent (Jay
Baruchel) manages to attract the interest of a fetching, sophisticated party
planner (Alice Eve), and endures a
series of romantic ups and downs,
as his three slacker best friends and
co-workers (Mike Vogel, T.J. Miller
and Nate Torrence) as well as his
ornery ex-girlfriend (Lindsay Sloane)
insist the relationship will never last.
Director Jim Field Smith squanders
potentially worthwhile themes about
rejecting stereotypes and basing lasting attachments on personal rather
than merely physical qualities, opting
instead for a barrage of sophomoric
antics and frequently distasteful sight
gags. Pervasive sexual humor, rear
nudity, brief nongraphic sexual activity, implicit approval of premarital
sex, about 10 uses of profanity, and
constant rough and crude language,
including at least 40 uses of the Fword. O; R
Remember Me (Summit)
Less than memorable romantic dra-
ma about the relationship between an
angst-ridden, twentysomething New
York bohemian (Robert Pattinson)
and the university student (Emilie de
Ravin) he initially dates as a practical
joke to get back at her policeman father (Chris Cooper) for roughing him
up and arresting him, but for whom
he eventually falls in earnest. Director
Allen Coulter’s young sophisticates
play cutesy when not dwelling on
the losses – his brother’s early death
and her mother’s murder – that help
them bond. Along with glamorizing
the couple’s premature sexual union,
as well as their eventual shacking up,
Will Fetters’ script moves toward a
climax related to real-life events that
many will find distastefully manipulative. Cohabitation, passionate, but
nongraphic premarital sexual activity,
a couple of uses of profanity, some
sexual references and jokes, including a promiscuous character, frequent
smoking, at least one drug reference,
a few rough and numerous crude
terms. A-III; PG-13
Our Family Wedding
(Fox Searchlight)
Scattershot comedy, prone to
physical gags, about the culture
clash between two families when
a Latina (America Ferrera) marries
an African-American (Lance Gross).
Director Rick Famuyiwa, who co-
wrote along with Wayne Conley
and Malcolm Spellman, leaves no
stereotype untouched in this wildly
uneven combination of “Father of the
Bride” and “Abie’s Irish Rose,” but
mostly manages to stay within tasteful boundaries. A fleeting instance of
crass language and the implication of
a premarital relationship. Probably
acceptable for mature teens. A-III; PG-13
Brooklyn’s Finest (Overture)
Seamy New York police drama
chronicling a week in the lives of a
cynical patrolman (Richard Gere)
on the verge of retirement, an undercover operative (Don Cheadle)
desperate for promotion to a safe
desk job and a narcotics officer
(Ethan Hawke) tempted to steal drug
money to provide for his ill wife and
growing family. Though Catholic
imagery pervades director Antoine
Fuqua’s grim journey through Gotham’s criminal underworld, faith
provides no meaningful guidance to
the conflicted characters as they cross
legal and moral boundaries, and as
the obscenity-laden script lurches
from bloodshed to explicit scenes of
sexuality. Frequent bloody violence,
including beatings, shootings and
strangulation, graphic nonmarital
sexual activity, upper female nudity,
a few uses of profanity, unremitting
rough and crude language. O; R
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Fox)
Mostly likeable, though lightweight, coming-of-age comedy about
the travails of a first-year middle
school student (Zachary Gordon)
whose ill-conceived efforts to gain
popularity and status in his new environment – frequently, though unintentionally, sabotaged by the carefree
nerdiness of his long-standing best
friend (Robert Capron) – instead see
him slipping lower and lower in the
lunchroom and recess pecking order,
while his home life is made miserable
by the petty bullying of his cocky
older brother (Devon Bostick). Director Thor Freudenthal’s adaptation of
Jeff Kinney’s best-selling 2007 novel
in cartoon format offers lessons about
loyalty, self-sacrificing friendship and
gaining genuine acceptance by being
true to yourself; but the proceedings
sometimes veer into mildly off-color
humor, and the script makes it clear
– albeit in a restrained way – that one
of the hierarchical divisions separating the students is based on the rate
of pubescent physical development.
Brief images of a scantily clad woman, a few instances of mildly gross
and scatological humor, a couple of
vaguely sexual jokes, at least one
crass term. A-II; PG
Repo Men (Universal)
Extremely violent futuristic thriller
about two men (Jude Law and Forest
Whitaker) whose job is to repossess
artificial human organs when the recipient falls behind on exorbitant interest payments owed to a malevolent
corporation. Despite a major twist
involving virtual technology, there’s
scant evidence that director Miguel
Sapochink wants to spin a profound
science-fiction yarn, let alone offer
a serious cautionary tale or insightful social satire; with no redeeming
qualities to offset the butchery and
degradation, it counts instead among
the most distasteful and morally barren movies to appear in recent years.
Unrelenting brutal, graphic violence;
grisly images of surgical incisions
and operations; instances of drug
use; fleeting glimpses of bystanders
engaged in sex acts; several implied
or simulated nonmarital sexual encounters between the leading male
and female characters; partial rear
nudity; and pervasive rough, crude
and profane language. O; R
Green Zone (Universal)
Idealistic but raw combat drama,
set in the early days of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, as a dedicated Army
officer (Matt Damon) tries to discover why his unit’s search for the
Saddam regime’s weapons of mass
destruction continually comes up
empty, and finds himself caught in
a power struggle between a Defense
Department intelligence agent (Greg
Kinnear) who’s indifferent to the
justification for American intervention and a rogue CIA station chief
(Brendan Gleeson) who believes the
whole operation rests on a foundation
of lies and fabrications. Director Paul
Greengrass’ uneasy mix of political
conspiracy yarn and action adventure, loosely inspired by journalist
Rajiv Chandrasekaran’s 2007 bestseller, “Imperial Life in the Emerald
City,” increasingly takes on the qualities of a personal crusade by its hero,
thus blunting its ability to dissect
larger questions of real-life morality.
Considerable action violence, some
of it bloody, torture, several uses of
profanity, frequent rough and crude
language. L; R
A-I – general patronage; A-II
– adults and adolescents; A-III –
adults; A-IV – adults, with reservations; L – limited adult audience;
O – morally offensive.
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.
entertainment
On The Record
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by Charlie Martin
God’s gift of resilience
after our poor choices
Katharine McPhee attained
national recognition as a runner-up on the fifth “American
Idol” series in 2006. Even
though she didn’t win, many
believe McPhee has the best
vocal ability of any “Idol”
contestant. She showcases this
talent on her recently released
album “Unbroken.”
Released as a single off
the disc is “Had It All.” In
the song, the main character
laments how she “had it all”
but “threw it all aside thinkin’
there was more there” she
needed to find. Now she wonders: “Why did I let it go to
waste? ... Why’d I have to go
and be a fool again?”
She currently grieves her
“bad choice” and what she
lost. Such feelings are understandable. Yet how can we really know how life will unfold
when we decide on a change?
While the girl’s loss is real,
she will need to become less
judgmental and forgive herself for her poor choice.
This begins by accepting
her hurtful emotions and realizing that all power exists in
the present. God gave each of
us the gift of resilience. Even
when we make a difficult mistake, the power to begin again
never leaves us.
This resilience entails identifying what has been learned
from any past misfortune.
In the girl’s case, maybe
she needs to consider what
really counts in sharing love
with another. Perhaps the
allure of what could develop
with someone else clouded
her appreciation of the person
she was already with. It also
might be true that she could
not have learned this lesson
any other way.
Still, now that she better
understands what it means to
give and receive love, she is
more likely to treasure a good
relationship.
There is no way to live
without making mistakes.
Recognizing mistakes sometimes results in the same
type of regret that the song
describes. But as today’s dis-
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Refrain:
I had it all, I threw it all
aside; Thinkin’ there was
more there I needed to
find; I had it all, baby,
‘til you went away; Blue
skies, sunshine and
butterflies; Those were
the conditions that I left
behind; Why did I let it go
to waste?
I had it all
So where are all the
fireworks I thought I’d
see? I still haven’t found
the magic I was lookin’ for
that made me leave; Oh,
no; I traded in my comfort
zone; For empty nights of
bein’ alone
(Repeat refrain.)
Why did I believe that
little voice; That led me
down the path to this bad
choice? Why don’t I listen
to the angels when they
sing? Oh yeah, they sing,
oh yeah, oh
(Repeat refrain.)
I had it all
Why did I let it go to
waste? I had it all; Why’d
I have to go and be a fool
again?
Sung by Katharine McPhee
Copyright © 2010 by Verve Forecast
ciples of Jesus, we never stop
with regret.
We seek – and accept –
God’s forgiveness, and make
amends to others where possible. Then we start over. We
will not give up on ourselves
because we know that God
never gives up on us.
Yes, acknowledge any and
all feelings that surface that
relate to your mistakes. However, let go of any “only ifs”
or the temptation to remain
guilt-ridden or embarrassed.
The present is what counts
the most, and now is the time
for believing in yourself just
like God believes in you!
Martin is an Indiana pastoral
counselor who reviews current
music for Catholic News Service.
Your comments are always welcom. Write to him at: chmartin@
swindiana.net or at 7125W 200S,
Rockport, IN 47635.
Copyright © 2010 Catholic
News Service/U.S. Conference
of Catholic Bishops
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26
28
29
31
32
33
34
35
39
Why’d I have to go and be
a fool again? Why’d I have
to go and make a big thing
outta nothing? I didn’t
know what I had ‘til you
were gone; It was right in
front of me all along; And
now those days of the
same old story;
Are feeling more
like faded glory
11
16
30
Had It All
10
15
17
27
6
15
41
42
40
43
44
45
46
47
48
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
www.wordgamesforcatholics.com
ACROSS
1 Parisian infant
5 Middle
10 Jesus’ name for the Father
14 Having wings
15 “The bombs bursting
____…”
16 “…but do not perceive the
wooden ___ in your own?”
(Mt 7:3)
17 Diocese in California
19 Former monetary unit of
Italy
20 North American deer
21 Brood
22 Heavenly gates are made of
these
24 What you do not use in
unleavened bread
26 The Theological ____
27 Division of a poem
29 Holy Name ____
30 Assist at Mass
31 LAX postings
32 Whirlpool
33 An archangel
35 Alphabet string
39 A party to
40 Shroud of ____
41 Average man
44 Holy place
45 Covered the wall
46 Spoil
47 Damage
48 “____ us this day our daily
bread…”
49 Catholic letters
52 Cupid
53 Papal
56 Resting place
57 The Diocese of Boise is
here
58 “…___ and female he
created them.” (Gn 1:27)
59 Lyric poems
60 More recent
61 Oaf
DOWN
1 First, second, or third
2 Israel’s airline
3 It’s behind the house
4 To do this is human, but to
forgive is divine
5 Silktree
6 Maladroit
7 Northern European
8 Take a chair
9 Hot and humid
10 Vaporize
11 Capital of Lebanon
12 Cereal plant
13 Gather
18 Astonish
23 Greek goddess of strife
25 One of the 7 deadly sins
26 Ballot choice
27 Wind dir.
28 Spread out for drying
29 Fishing net
33 Strengthen
34 Large crucifix
35 Set afire
36 Crucial
37 Loud noise
38 Wind direction
39 Letters above the cross
40 “…the day of the Lord will
come like a ____ in the
night.” (2 Thess 5:2)
41 Blocked
42 Resist
43 A suit
44 “Jesus Christ, Son of God,
_____”
45 Musical instrument
46 Donate a portion of money
to church
48 Chew on
50 Celestial topper
51 Iditarod vehicle
54 Lyric poem
55 OT book
Solution on page 18
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16
viewpoint
Looking Around
by Father William J. Byron SJ
Politics and drama: A winning combination
Mitch Landrieu will take
office as mayor of New Orleans on May 6, 2010. Politics
runs in the mayor-elect’s family. His father held that
office in the 1970s; his sister is in her second term as a
U.S. senator from Louisiana; and Mitch himself is in his
second term as lieutenant governor of Louisiana, having
served earlier in the Louisiana House of Representatives
from 1987 to 2003.
Only in New Orleans would a move into the mayor’s
office be seen as a step up from statewide office.
I first saw Mitch Landrieu on the stage of the Hartke
Theatre at The Catholic University of America in the
spring of 1982. I had just been named president of that
institution and was on campus to get acquainted.
Mitch had a role in the musical “Joseph and the
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” He was a senior
at CUA, a double major in drama and politics. The
undergraduate department there is called “politics,”
not “political science.” The academic combination of
politics and drama helps to explain the successful route
this politician has followed since graduation.
I knew Mitch’s parents when I served as dean of arts
and sciences at Loyola University in New Orleans in
the 1970s; I could see them both in the face of their son
and in his lively personality there on the Hartke stage.
How did he get from there to where he is today?
In a 2003 book, “Leadership Presence: Dramatic
Techniques to Reach Out, Motivate, and Inspire,”
authors Belle Linda Halpern and Kathy Lubar look
to the stage – to dramatic on-stage experience – to
discover characteristics that can enhance the quality of
leadership. We’ve often heard references to an actor’s
“stage presence.” This book opens the door to further
consideration of how what happens on the stage can
be used to improve the quality of leadership.
It is more than simply speaking well – strong projection, declamation. It has to do with a leader’s “bearing,”
how one establishes oneself in the midst of others.
The actor must be (1) present to himself or herself
(“get into the part”), (2) present to those on stage, and
thus connected with self and fellow actors, and (3) connected to the audience.
In this context, the actor enjoys what is clearly an
influential presence, an interactive influence on self, the
other actors and the audience. And, of course, influence
has everything to do with leadership. Here is how that
point is made in “Leadership Presence”:
“Being present is fundamental to the work of an
actor. The worst insult you can give an actor is that he
‘phoned in’ his performance, that he wasn’t present,
that he simply reeled off his lines and hit his marks.
Being fully present is the first requirement of acting
– be there, in the moment, alive, energized. From that
quality springs all else in the theater. ... Actors spend a
large amount of time training to be completely focused
and concentrated in the moment.”
Since Hurricane Katrina, I’ve thought that the mayor
of New Orleans is like a kid in the backseat of a car with
a toy steering wheel in his hands, not connected to what
it takes to turn the vehicle around; the real power is at
the national and state levels. But now I’m encouraged.
Mitch Landrieu is “completely focused and concentrated in the moment.”
The city’s Saints went “marching in” with their Su-
per Bowl victory; the mayor-elect will do the same for
thousands who lost just about everything but hope in
the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Jesuit Father Byron, a professor of business and society at
St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, writes for Catholic
News Service on current issues. E-mail: wbyron@sju.edu.
In Exile
by Father Ron Rolheiser
The imperative for ecumenism
Home is where we start
from. T.S. Eliot wrote those
words and they are true for
all of us in terms of religion and our understanding
of the particular denomination within which we were
raised.
I was born and raised a Roman Catholic with deep
roots. My parents had a strong faith, and they made
sure that faith and religious practice were central to
every aspect of our lives. We went to mass whenever
we could, daily when it was available, went to confession at least every two weeks, prayed the rosary
daily in our home, recited the Angelus together at
least twice a day, learned a good number of prayers,
memorized the Catholic catechism, had a picture of
the pope hanging in our house, and believed that Roman Catholicism, among all religions and Christian
denominations, was the sole true faith, the only fully
valid religion. We didn’t believe that others, Protestants and peoples of other religions, would not go to
heaven, but we were not exactly sure how this would
happen, given that we believed that they were not of
the true faith. Because of this, we lived in a certain
suspicion of other denominations and religions, secure
in our own truth, but cautious always about intermingling religiously with others, fearing that somehow
what we believed might be watered-down or contaminated by religious contact with non-Roman Catholics.
And that was, and is, a good place to start from. I am
deeply grateful for having such strong, conservative,
religious roots. But a lot of things have changed for me
since I was a young, idealistic, Roman Catholic boy growing up in an immigrant community on the Canadian
prairies. Early on in my seminary years, my professors,
honest scholars (and mostly Roman Catholic priests),
exposed me to some wonderful Anglican and Protestant
biblical scholars and theologians whose insights and
commitment deepened my understanding of Jesus and
helped rivet me more firmly in my own religious life.
Later on in my seminary years, I was joined in the
classroom by men and women from various Christian denominations, all of whom were studying for
ministry and all of whom had a deep commitment
to Christ. Friendship with them and respect for their
faith did not lead me to leave Roman Catholicism and
join another denomination, but it did begin to reshape
my thinking about what constitutes true faith and true
religion. It helped me, too, to realize that our commonality as Christians largely dwarfs our differences.
Since my ordination I have taught and ministered
in various countries and in various universities and
seminaries. I have prayed with, shared faith with,
lectured to, and become deep friends with men and
women of every kind of denominational and religious
persuasion: Anglicans, Episcopalians, Protestants,
Evangelicals, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus and sincere
humanistic searchers. I have been nurtured deeply in
both my faith and my spirituality by Anglican and
Protestant thinkers such as C.S. Lewis, Paul Tillich,
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jim Wallis, Jurgen Moltmann and
Alan Jones, among others. Today, alongside my Roman
Catholic community, among those who help anchor my
religious commitment, soul mates in the faith, there are
a good number of Anglicans, Episcopalians, Protestants,
Evangelicals and persons from various other religions.
Their faith and friendship have helped me internalize something that Virginia Woolf once said: Why are
we so hard on each other, she asked, when life is so
difficult for all of us and when, in the end, we value
the same things? She was speaking about the lack of
empathy between the sexes, but she could just as easily have been speaking about the lack of empathy between different denominations and different religions.
This is not to suggest that all religions are equal
or that all denominations within Christianity are
equal paths to God. There is nothing parochial or
narrow in believing that one’s own church is the
right one or in believing that belonging to a certain
church is more than a matter of historical accident
or simple ecclesial taste. Deep loyalty to the truth
as one perceives it is one mark of a genuine faith.
But this does suggest that we must be open to a new
empathy towards those whose church is different than
ours and to a wider understanding of what it means to
belong to a particular denomination or religion. Sometimes we must repent, too, of our denominationalism.
Perhaps what this suggests most of all is that we
must be open to a deeper understanding of the ineffability of God and the humility that asks of us. I’m
still a committed Roman Catholic, but, like the Evangelist John, I know now that Jesus has other sheep
that are not of this fold. I’m glad for that, glad too for
the words of the 14th century Persian poet, Hafiz:
Would you think it odd that Hafiz said, I am in love
with every church, and mosque, and temple, and any
kind of shrine because I know it is there that people say
the different names of the one God?
Oblate Father Rolheiser, theologian, teacher and
award-winning author, is President of the Oblate
School of Theology in San Antonio, TX. He can be
contacted through his Web site www.ronrolheiser.com.
viewpoint
17
Consider This
by Stephen Kent
Survey uncovers troublesome questions
A recent survey concerning beliefs, attitudes and
practices of Catholics raises
some disturbing questions. It deals with the millennial generation, those between 18 and 29 years of age.
Two-thirds of young Americans in general agreed
with the statement that “morals are relative; that is,
there is no definite right or wrong for everybody.”
When the same statement was presented only to
Catholics in that age group, 82 percent agreed with it.
The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion
conducted the survey at year’s end under the sponsorship of the Knights of Columbus.
Plagiarism is a greater evil than abortion in the
minds of the millennials. While two-thirds agreed
that abortion is morally wrong, 87 percent feel claiming someone else’s work as one’s own is morally
wrong.
It’s difficult not to feel that a lot of tuition money
has gone down the drain when young Catholics – in
greater numbers than their peers – believe in relativism and feel that copying a term paper is a greater
evil than abortion.
The survey also found that 67 percent of Americans
believe “moral values in the country are headed in the
wrong direction.” Millinials may wonder how they
can determine the wrong path when the destination
is relative?
The sponsors found some small comfort in other
parts of the survey. “There is much good news for the
church in this survey, especially when we consider
that two in three Catholic young people want to learn
more about the faith,” said Carl Anderson, supreme
knight of the Knights of Columbus.
The first thing they need to learn is that faith is
about relationship, not rules-following.
Rules do not create relationships; relationships do
not require rules.
They would understand that what is wrong for
everybody at all times is anything that violates any
relationship and certainly the most important one –
that with God.
The millennials and others interested in learning more about Catholic faith could listen to Pope
Benedict XVI, who hardly sounds like the hardnosed
enforcer he’s often stereotyped to be.
Christianity is not a set of moral rules but a path
to a relationship with God, the pope told a group of
young seminarians recently.
Jesus told his disciples that they were not his servants but his friends, the pope said. This illustrates
that Jesus does not call for a blind obedience of rules
but a relationship in which his will would become
the disciples’ will and his love their love, the pope
said.
Earlier the pope told a group of Scottish bishops
that the church’s “positive and inspiring vision of
human life” should not be presented in a negative
light of opposition but as a “message of hope.”
“The church’s doctrine is perceived as a series of
prohibitions and retrograde positions,” the pope said,
“whereas the reality, as we know, is that it is creative
and life-giving.”
Anderson, the supreme knight, sees an opportunity for the church to build upon with the next
generation of Catholics.
But, he said, “it must act and teach in a way that
makes clear the reasons for church teaching as part
of what our pope calls our ‘yes’ to Jesus.”
A place to start would be in recognizing the need
for a right relationship with God. Perhaps what
people would see is not so much the decline in moral
values (a symptom) but the root cause (a decline in
right relationship with each other and with God).
Kent is the retired editor of archdiocesan newspapers
in Seattle and Omaha. Contact him at: considersk@gmail.
com.
Parish Diary
by Father Peter J. Daly
Pornography and fidelity
Years ago,
when Jimmy
Carter was
running for president, he got in trouble with an interview for “Playboy”
magazine. In a moment of disarming honesty, he admitted that he had
at times “lusted in his heart” after
women. The press punished him for
his honesty.
President Carter is a Christian
gentleman. He recognized the danger
of a divided heart in marriage. He also
understood “spiritual” infidelity.
The late 1970s of Jimmy Carter now
seem like an age of innocence compared to the present, when Internetfueled pornography pervades lives.
Americans are “lusting in their
hearts” and online as never before.
Teens are sexting by sending pornographic pictures over their phones.
Adults are downloading horrible
stuff on their home computers where
their children and spouses find it.
People don’t even have to go looking
for it. It comes to them in pop-up messages and unsolicited e-mail.
Pornography is not a new problem,
but with the Internet it is a growing
problem.
It puts people at risk.
They are at risk of losing their
spouses, their jobs, their careers – and
even their very souls.
Ironically, they don’t even derive
any pleasure from it. Internet pornography leaves them exhausted. As soon
as they turn away from the screen,
they feel worse. The word people almost always use when they describe
their feelings is “drained.”
It drains their time, their energy
and their bank accounts. It also drains
their self-respect and joy.
All for what? For an illusion.
This is what we mean in the baptismal rite when we ask people, “Do
you renounce Satan and all his false
allurements?” Internet pornography
is the classic false allurement.
In recent years I have seen Internet
pornography make a train wreck of
people’s lives.
Marriages are ruined as husbands
are unfaithful to their wives online.
Jobs are lost and careers ended as
people use their employer’s comput-
ers to view pornography. Military personnel and law enforcement officers
are disciplined because of abuse of the
Internet. People go to jail if they visit
child pornography sites.
Addiction to pornography even
leads some people to depression
and suicide. A psychologist recently
told me that Internet pornography is
common in cases of depression and
suicidal thoughts.
This is serious business.
The people who get caught up in
this are often very good people in
every other respect.
Once I was interviewed by a federal
agent regarding someone in the community.
After the interview, he said, “You
know, Father, people are not always
what they appear to be.”
I smiled and answered, “You know,
special agent, after 24 years of hearing
confessions, I’ve come to suspect that
might be true.”
So what can we do? What should I
do as a pastor?
First, we need to talk about the
problem. This is a sin and addiction
that thrives in secrecy and silence. If
we talk about it, we break its power.
Second, we need to treat it like an
addiction. For many people it is an
addiction.
We have groups for people addicted to alcohol and drugs. In every
community we need groups for people addicted to pornography. There is
already a network of sexual addiction
groups. We have to make a place to
help people that will not at the same
time put children at risk.
Third, we need prayer. Jesus said
that there are some demons that can
only be exorcised by prayer. Prayers
that people will overcome addictions
to pornography should be mentioned
from time to time in the prayer of the
faithful.
The problem of “lusting in our
heart” is no longer a transitory temptation. It is a powerful presence online
that catches people in its worldwide
Web.
Father Daly, pastor of St. John Vianney
Church, Frederick, MD, writes on parish
life for Catholic News Service.
coming events
18
Last Supper Reenactment – There will be
a reenactment of Leonardo DiVinci’s “The Last Supper” on Palm Sunday, March 28, 7 p.m., at Our Lady
of Pompeii Church, 14450 La. Hwy. 42, Tickfaw. For
information call 225-345-2856.
The Fourth Cup Presentation – Mike Fulmer
will present “The Fourth Cup” on Wednesday, March
31, 7 p.m., in the Main Hall at Immaculate Conception
Church, 865 Hatchell Lane, Denham Springs. Fulmer
will talk about the way the Jewish Passover Meal relates to Christ’s passion and resurrection and why the
Church offers the Eucharist at every Mass throughout
the world. For information call the Immaculate Conception Church office at 226-665-5359.
Legion of Mary Meeting – The annual Acies of
the Legion of Mary will be held Saturday, March 27 after
the 4 p.m. Mass at St. Agnes Church, 749 East Blvd.,
Baton Rouge. A reception will follow in the church’s
cafeteria. For information call the St. Agnes Church
office at 225-383-4127.
Allons Manger Food Festival – The 25th annual
Allons Manger Food Festival will be held Sunday, April
11, beginning at 10:30 a.m., at St. Jules Church, 7165
Hwy. 1, Belle Rose. Food will be served at 11 a.m., and
there will be games for children, live entertainment, an
auction and a raffle. For information call the St. Jules
Church office at 225-473-8569.
at the Grapevine Restaurant and Gallery before visiting
Ascension of Our Lord Church. The tour will end in
time for the 4 p.m. Vigil Mass at Ascension of Our Lord
or at St. John the Evangelist Church in Plaquemine. For
information and to register call Barbara Coreil at 225769-3217 or Laverne Klier at 225-665-7262.
Great Lessons for the Journey – Paula D’Arcy,
writer and retreat leader, will present “Great Lessons for
the Journey,” on Friday, April 16, 7-9 p.m. and Saturday,
April 17, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., at the St. Joseph’s Academy Dining Hall and St. Joseph’s Chapel, 3080 Kleinert Ave.,
Baton Rouge. The fee is $100. Bring a brown bag lunch
for Saturday. D’Arcy will reflect on the challenge of
allowing images and dreams to deepen a person’s self
image. For information and to register call the St. Joseph
Spirituality Center at 225-383-3349.
Divine Mercy Celebration – St. Thomas More
Church, 11441 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge, will
celebrate the Feast of Divine Mercy on Sunday, April
11 at 3 p.m. The service will include benediction of
the Blessed Sacrament, chanting of the Divine Mercy
chaplet and veneration of the Divine Mercy image.
Additionally, the Divine Mercy novena will be chanted
at St. Thomas More from April 2 to April 10 after the
8:45 a.m. Mass. For information contact Glenda Barras
225-925-2660.
Treasure and Stuff Sale – The Foster Grandparents Program of the Diocese of Baton Rouge is sponsoring a Treasure and Stuff Sale on Saturday, April 17, 8
a.m.-4 p.m., at the Catholic Life Center, 1800 S. Acadian
Thwy., Baton Rouge. For information call the Foster
Grandparents office at 225-346-8712.
Discalced Carmelites – The Secular Order of
Discalced Carmelites welcomes those who are interested in developing their prayer life according to the
teachings of the Carmelite saints. Meetings are held
on the second Sunday of each month at Our Lady of
Mercy Parish Activity Center in the St. Gabriel Room,
444 Marquette Ave., Baton Rouge, at 1:30 p.m. The next
meeting will be Sunday, April 11. For information call
225-774-8413 or 225-926-6962 or e-mail halbrig@aol.com
or cland205@aol.com.
DCCW Spring Pilgrimage – The Diocesan
Council of Catholic Women will host a spring pilgrimage of historic churches in the Diocese of Baton Rouge
on Saturday, April 17. The group will meet at 9 a.m. at
the Catholic Life Center, 1800 S. Acadian Thwy., Baton
Rouge, and caravan to St. Gabriel Church in St. Gabriel.
The pilgrims will travel to Donaldsonville to have lunch
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Potentially no charge at present if
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Resthaven Cemetery. 2 plots, Sunset
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HelP Wanted
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Commercial cleaning service seeking part-time help, nights. 225-5054910 or 225-768-0844.
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.
Kitchen counter tops. Call for free
estimates. John O'Neill 225-938-6141
or 225-683-6837.
Gio’s Mezza Luna – Book your
wedding rehearsal suppers, business luncheons, private parties
with us. Great food at great prices.
Airline Hwy. at Old Perkins Rd. or
call 225-335-8880.
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.
Dave’s Bicycle Repair and Sales
Free pickup and delivery, free estimates, expert economical repair on
all brands. 225-924-4337 or www.
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LEBLANC’S TREE & STUMP
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Mr. D’s Tree Service
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Don Decell & Carl Babin, owners
225-292-6756
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.
legal notiCe
Anyone with knowledge of the whereabouts of Jessic Hope Teston (nee
Redmon) is asked to contact the Diocesan Tribunal at 225-336-8755.
Anyone with knowledge of the whereabouts of Genetta DeLanie Overcast
is asked to contact the Diocesan Tribunal at 225-336-8755.
Print Your Ad Here
Portable building clearance sale.
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Free delivery/terms. Call Morgan
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Home for sale
EXCELLENT CONDITION 3BR, 2.5
baths, d/w, m/h f/p, all appliances,
several amenities, DS by I-12, large
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www.wordgamesforcatholics.com
news
19
Children’s book presents priesthood as vocation for ‘normal’ guys
by
Cindy Wooden
VATICAN CITY — At the
Vatican, the Year for Priests
is being marked with serious
academic conferences and solemn liturgies, leading up to a
huge gathering of priests from
around the world in June.
Father Jeffrey F. Kirby, 34,
a priest of the Diocese of
Charleston, S.C., has participated in some of the big
Vatican events, but he really
marked the Year for Priests
by co-authoring a children’s
book.
“Becoming Father Bob”
was written by Fr. Kirby and
Marguerite B. Wirtz, principal
of St. Mary Help of Christians
Catholic School in Aiken, S.C.
The book is illustrated by
Alice Judd, a member of the
parish, and
was released
Feb. 1.
Because
the book
is aimed at
c h ildren i n
g rade s 4 -7,
the tone obviously is not as ponderous
as the Year for Priests’ conferences on the theology of the
priesthood and on the history,
theology and spirituality of
celibacy held in Rome in early
March.
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Position:
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The Catholic Schools Office seeks a coordinator to support
programs such as Federal Title I – IV, Government Grants,
Foundation Funding, and other development programs in
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in consideration of grant report deadlines. The position
will begin in the 2010-11 school year, and salary is
commensurate with ability.
Applicants must have the following:
• Strong Understanding and Commitment to Catholic
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• Master’s Degree Experience in Catholic School(s)
• Good Interpersonal and Communication Skills
• Technology Skills, including ability to conduct web
searches and complete online applications as well as
creating documents through Microsoft Word and Excel
• Ability to work with statistics such as test scores and
school improvement data
To Apply: Complete Diocesan Administrative
Employment application available at www.csobr.org under
“Recruitment.” Also send resume and official transcripts
to: CSO Search Committee, P. O. Box 2028, Baton Rouge,
LA 70821 or via e-mail to secretary@csobr.org .
Deadline for Application: April 1, 2010
DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE
JOB OPENING
The fictional Father Bob’s
vocation story also does not include lightning bolts, strange
voices or miraculous signs.
As a boy and as a teen, the
character has a puppy and is
involved in Boy Scouts. His
palms sweat the first time
he asks a girl out. He goes to
school dances, to university, to
parties and to Mass. He gets a
job and continues questioning
what his life is meant to be.
“Bobby is just living a normal life,” Fr. Kirby said in an
interview in Rome. The boy
in the story is following basic
advice for Christian children:
“Just try to be a good kid, don’t
lie, treat your mom and dad
well, don’t harass your brothers and sisters, pray, take care
of your dog.”
“All he was doing was
trying to be a good kid and
through that he hears God’s
call,” Fr. Kirby said.
The point, Fr. Kirby said, is
that “normal people are called
to the priesthood.”
“Most of us, I think, just live
day in and day out and most
conversions happen slowly
and quietly,“ he said.
Standing in the sunny garden courtyard of the Casa
Santa Maria, a residence for
U.S. priests studying in Rome,
Fr. Kirby insisted he’s one of
those “normal people” and
that studying in Rome and
attending or serving at papal
liturgies was a blessing, not
a goal.
“That could almost be a sequel,” he said. “When we say
Father Jeff Kirby, a priest
of the Diocese of Charleston,
S.C., poses with "Becoming
Father Bob," a children's book
he co-authored, during a
March 16 interview in Rome.
Father Kirby said the boy in the
book "was trying to be a good
kid and through that he hears
God's call" to the priesthood.
CNS photo by Paul Haring
‘yes’ to God, we don’t know
where he’s going to take us or
what he’ll ask of us.”
“I would never have imagined this for my life and my
formation for the priesthood.
All I did was say ‘yes,’ and here
I am,” he said.
Fr. Kirby finished his seminary studies at the Pontifical
North American College in
Rome and was ordained in
2007. His first assignment was
at St. Mary Help of Christians
parish and school.
But he was sent back to
Rome in September to finish
his graduate degree in moral
theology at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, so
he and Wirtz wrote the book
together using e-mails, faxes
and phone calls.
Large swatches of Father
Bob’s story come from the life
of Charleston Bishop Robert E.
Guglielmone, and the puppy
in the book is actually based
on the bishop’s dog, Mickey.
But Fr. Kirby said the character also includes bits and
pieces of other priests’ stories,
including his own. In fact, the
book’s “Father Stan,” who is
preparing seventh-graders for
confirmation and tells them
God has “a plan for them, a
vocation,” is illustrated with a
drawing of Fr. Kirby teaching
at St. Mary Help of Christians.
At that point, the book says,
“Bobby hoped that God’s plan
for him included baseball and
girls.”
Wirtz came up with the
idea of writing the book after
the school received a grant to
buy children’s books on vocations for the school library and
couldn’t find much.
Fr. Kirby said they plan to
write at least two more children’s vocations books: one
on religious life for women,
to be published in February
2011, and then one on “holy
matrimony – I’d like to retrieve
that term to underline that it is
a sacrament.”
Please pray for the priests, deacons and religious women and
men in the Baton Rouge Diocese
Mar. 28......Rev. Paul A. McDuffie
..................Deacon Samuel C. Collura
..................Sr. Rita M. Lambert CSJ
Mar. 29......Rev. Andrew J. Merrick ..................Deacon Guy E. Decker
..................Br. Barry Landry SC
Mar. 30......Rev. Victor G. Messina
..................Deacon Benjamin J. Dunbar Jr.
..................Sr. Frances Landry CSJ
Mar. 31......Rev. Michael A. Miceli
..................Deacon W. Brent Duplessis
..................Sr. Rita Lanie OSF
Apr. 1.........Rev. Cleo J. Milano
..................Deacon Albert R. Ellis Jr.
..................Sr. Joan Laplace CSJ
Apr. 2.........Rev. Michael J. Moroney
..................Deacon John Ellis
..................Br. Warren Laudumiey SC
Apr. 3.........Rev. Caye A. (Trey) Nelson III
..................Deacon H. John Ferguson III
..................Br. Andrew Lawson CSsR
Apr. 4.........Rev. Francis Minh Nguyen ICM
..................Deacon Warren D. Fortenberry
..................Sr. Marie-Paul Le ICM
Apr. 5.........Rev. Hung Viet Nguyen ICM
..................Deacon Robert E. Furlow Jr.
..................Br. Noel Lemmon SC
Apr. 6.........Rev. Nicholas J. (Jack) Nutter, III
..................Deacon Wallace L. Gainey Jr.
..................Sr. Bert Lieux CSJ
Apr. 7.........Rev. John F. Osom MSP
..................Deacon Natale Garofalo
..................Sr. Beth Lieux CSJ
Apr. 8.........Rev. Louis T. Oubre
..................Deacon Richard H. Grant
..................Sr. Lilian B. Lynch OSF
Apr. 9.........Rev. Mansueto P. Palang
..................Deacon Esnard F. Gremillion
..................Sr. Vernola Lyons OSF
Apr. 10.......Rev. Jason P. Palermo
..................Deacon Clayton A. Hollier
..................Sr. Ancilla Marie MC
20
news
Rights
From page 1
Our
L ady
Of
the
L ake
hospital
of the
year
We received this prestigious recognition from the Louisiana State Nurses Association.
Six of our nurses were also recognized with individual awards for excellence in their field.
Thanks to our nurses and all of our dedicated team members
who make Our Lady of the Lake your Hospital of the Year.
| www.ololrmc.com
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System
Tell our advertisers you saw their ad in The Catholic Commentator.
how, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton promised the
State Department would for
the first time, later this year,
present an internal report
of how the U.S. stacks up
against the human rights
standard to which it holds
other countries.
“Human rights are universal, but their experience is local,” Clinton said at the press
conference. “This is why we
are committed to holding everyone to the same standard,
including ourselves.”
She said the U.S. would
participate in the U.N. Human
Rights Council’s universal
periodic review process.
“In the fall, we will present
a report, based on the input of
citizens and NGOs, gathered
online and in face-to-face
meetings across the country
attended by senior government officials,” Clinton said.
One issue that review may
touch on is the death penalty,
raised by the United Kingdom
as a problem in the annual
international human rights
report of its Foreign Office,
released March 17.
The U.K. report was less
broad in scope than its U.S.
counterpart, looking first at
specific issues and how they
play out in various nations,
then focusing in depth on two
dozen countries of concern.
With the death penalty, the
Foreign Office said the British
government raises concerns
directly with the government
of the United States, along
with China and Jamaica, as
well as intervening in individual pending execution
cases in the U.S. Japan, Iran
and China.
On a related subject, also
obscured in the news amid
the focus on health care, were
observances of the 30th anniversary of the Refugee Protection Act, which is intended in
part to help care for the people
whose basic rights are abused
in their own countries.
Organizations that have
long helped resettle the inflow
of refugees, including the
U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services,
marked the anniversary with
reminders of the importance
of providing safe havens for
people who escape rights
abuses, wars and natural disasters.

March 24 - The Catholic Commentator

Transcription

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