January 10 - The Catholic Commentator

Transcription

Commentator
t h e
January 10, 2014 Vol. 51, No. 24
C a t h o l i c
S e r v i n g t h e D i o c e s e o f B at o n R o u g e s i n c e 19 6 3
Page 3
Two
pro-life rallies
approaching
thecatholiccommentator.org
COLLECTOR OF LIFE
Organist’s home
reflection of his
heart
By Barbara Chenevert
The Catholic Commentator
St. Joseph Cathedral Music Director Robbie Giroir sits in front of one of the many musical instruments he has collected since
the ninth grade. Photo by Barbara Chenevert | The Catholic Commentator
If every item in his home has a story to
tell, then Robbie Giroir has a lot to talk about.
Musician, teacher, pilot and collector extraordinaire, Giroir’s home is a thumbprint
of his life, an interesting mixture of whimsical memorabilia and valuable, one-of-a-kind
collectables.
“Your house has to be a reflection of you.
You don’t get an interior decorator from Dallas to do your home. You have to let your
pulse be evident in your home,” said Giroir,
who for 29 years has been music director at
St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge and Baton Rouge Magnet High School.
Every square inch of Giroir’s home is
chock-a-block full of his collections: musical instruments, clocks, vintage fans, motorbikes, model trains, toy fire trucks, bicycles, fire hats, luxury car grills, Christmas
figurines. It is a virtual wonderland of displays hanging from the ceilings, attached to
See giroir page 10
Year of Faith a success in Diocese of Baton Rouge
By Richard Meek
Although the recently concluded Year of Faith appeared to garner little attention nationwide, it proved
to be successful in the Diocese of Baton Rouge, according to Rhonda Parenton, director of Evangelization and Catechesis for the diocese.
Pope Benedict declared a Year of Faith beginning
Oct. 11, 2012 and ending Nov. 24, 2013. The time was
“a summons to an authentic renewed conversion to
the Lord, the One Savior of the world.” According to
the United States Conference of Catholic of Bishops,
the Year of Faith was “an opportunity for Catholics to
experience a conversion – to turn back to Jesus and
enter into a deeper relationship with him.”
However, Pope Benedict resigned from the papacy
in February, which may have derailed the momentum
for the year.
“I think the purpose was to create a greater consciousness about our faith and how faith is a part of
our entire lives,” Parenton said. “When (Pope Benedict) wrote the document to introduce the Year of Faith he included
in there the whole idea of how this
faith and art relates to another and
how art and faith in some ways are
part of each other.”
She pointed out several positive
spiritual impacts, perhaps the most
significant being the development
and production of a seven-part video series, “How to
Live a Faith-filled Life.” Catholic Life TV filmed and
produced the series, which was hosted by Diane Hanley and included guest speakers who spoke on specific
topics.
Parenton said six of the presenters were from the
diocese, and the other was Father Matt Lynn SJ, who
is a frequent retreat presenter in the Baton Rouge
area.
A new video was released every two months and
was sent to parishes that had requested them in advance. Additionally, Parenton’s office invited
small groups from various parishes to reflect on each presentation.
“A lot of time and work went
into those videos,” Parenton said,
adding that the series was born out
of an idea coming from the adult
faith committee at St. Jean Vianney Church in Baton
Rouge. She said the committee had been planning for
the year and originally discussed the idea of a video
series.
“It was a grass roots effort of the faith formation
team at St. Jean,” she said. “It was a big undertaking.”
See year page 20
2
| IN THIS ISSUE
January 10, 2014
| DID YOU KNOW
WORDS ARE THE TOOLS BY WHICH WE
LIVE but when misused can be harmful
and inflict great emotional pain. Page 16
| in the next issue
THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR is
the perfect time to start planning for your
family’s financial success. Page 5
ST. ALOYSIUS CHURCH IN BATON
ROUGE is beginning a Stephen Ministry
program in February, which will minister
to those in need. Page 7
BISHOP ROBERT W. MUENCH and several others share their New Year’s resolutions. Page 9
18-YEAR-OLD ZOE JUMONVILLE was
first introduced
to Catholicism
during the annual
March for Life in
Washington, D.C.
Her experience led
to her conversion.
Page 13
In 1921, Mother de Bethanie Crowley and
her fledgling group of Franciscan Missionaries
of Our
Lady
were
invited
to open
a hospital in downtown Baton Rouge.
This past year, OLOL celebrated its 90th
anniversary in the area, proud of its past,
hopeful of its future. | index
Classified Ads
18
Coming Events
18
Entertainment
14
Family Life
5
INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL NEWS
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
4
16
Spirituality
7
Viewpoint
16
Youth
12
Coming January 24, 2014
y
CatholiC SChoolS Week
2014
Of special interest to parents, The Catholic Schools Week
section will feature information about the Catholic schools in
the Diocese of Baton Rouge, current registration for the next
school year, distinguished graduates and more.
Deadline for advertising is January 14, 2014.
Call 225-387-0983, or email your sales rep.
COMMENTATOR
T H E
C A T H O L I C
Shrine honors site of miracle
Louisiana is home to the only location
in the United States where the actual
site of a miracle has been preserved as a
shrine.
A simple unadorned chapel, which
once served as an infirmary, stands as a
tribute to the apparitions of St. John Berchmans to a young novice at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Goteau
almost 150 years ago. Visitors can step
into the actual room when the miracle
occurred.
St. John Berchmans, a Jesuit priest,
was born in Belgium in 1599 and had just
been beatified when, in 1866, a young
postulate named Mary Wilson became
deathly ill and began praying to him. Wilson was born in Canada, but was moved
to Louisiana as a postulant of the Society
of Sacred Heart in hopes that the gentler
climate would aid her poor health.
Prior to receiving the habit, she grew
gravely ill. “During this time I was dangerously ill, vomiting blood two and
three times a day, with constant fever
and violent headaches,” she said in an
account of the miracle. Her doctor had
given up hope and stopped giving her
medicine because “it was useless to torture me more.”
Unable to speak without blood pouring from her mouth, Wilson said she
asked God, through the intercession of
the Blessed Berchmans, for relief and
health.
She said she heard a whisper “Open
you mouth.” She felt someone, “as if put
their finger on my tongue and immediately I was relieved.”
She said when she opened her eyes she
saw a figure and asked if it were Blessed
Berchmans. He replied he was and had
come by the order of God.
Wilson was restored to perfect health
and was able to return to community life.
The miracle led to the canonization of St.
John Berchmans.
The Academy of the Sacred Heart
was founded in 1821 and is the oldest
continuously operated of the more than
200 schools of the Society of the Sacred
Heart.
For information or to visit the shrine
call 337-662-5494.
| Pray for those who pray for us
Please pray for the priests, deacons and religious women and men in the Baton Rouge Diocese.
Jan. 13
Jan. 14
Jan. 15
Jan. 16
Jan. 17
Jan. 18
Jan. 19
Rev. Louis T. Oubre
Dcn. Samuel C. Collura
Sr. Joan Laplace CSJ
Rev. Jason P. Palermo
Dcn. David L. Dawson III
Br. Warren Laudumiey SC
Rev. Bernard J. Papania
Dcn. Guy E. Decker
Sr. Marie-Paul Le ICM
Rev. Suchit (Paul) ParaKathil IMS
Dcn. Benjamin J. Dunbar Jr.
Br. Noel Lemmon SC
Rev. Thomas C. Ranzino
Dcn. W. Brent Duplessis
Sr. Lilian Lynch OSF
Rev. Anthony Rauschuber SJ
Dcn. Jeff R. Easley
Sr. Vernola Lyons OSF
Rev. Alexander J. Sheldon
Dcn. Albert R. Ellis Jr.
Sr. Joan Manuel CSJ
Jan. 20
Jan. 21
Jan. 22
Jan. 23
Jan. 24
Jan. 25
Jan. 26
Rev. Philip F. Spano
Dcn. H. John Ferguson III
Sr. Ancilla Marie MC
Rev. Robert F. Stine
Dcn. Natale (Nat) J. Garofalo
Sr. M. Vida Marija MC
Rev. Martin N. Thanh ICM
Dcn. Edward J. Gauthreaux
Sr. Ancilla Mathew CMC
Rev. Frank M. Uter
Dcn. Steven C. Gonzales
Br. Will McCue SC
Rev. Henry C. Vavasseur
Dcn. Richard H. Grant
Sr. Evelyn Mee CSJ
Rev. Joseph H. Vu
Dcn. Esnard F. Gremillion
Br. Malcolm Melcher SC
Rev. Than N. Vu
Dcn. Ronald J. Hebert
Sr. Anne Meridier CSJ
thecatholiccommentator.org | Facebook.com/TheCatholicCommentator
Bishop Robert W. Muench Publisher
Father Than Vu Associate Publisher
Richard Meek Editor
Debbie Shelley Assistant Editor
Wanda L. Koch Advertising Manager
Penny G. Saia Advertising Sales
Lisa Disney Secretary/Circulation
Barbara Chenevert Staff Writer
The Catholic Commentator (ISSN 07460511; USPS 093-680)
Published bi-weekly (every other week) by the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge,1800 South Acadian Thruway, Baton Rouge, LA 70808; 225-387-0983 or 225-387-0561. Periodical Postage Paid at Baton Rouge, LA.
Copy must reach the above address by Wednesday for use in the next week’s paper. Subscription rate:
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Rouge, LA 70898-4746.
January 10, 2014
3
Diocesan rally highlights two weekends of pro-life activities
By Richard Meek
Pro-life supporters are gearing up for
two rallies on consecutive weekends, the
first is scheduled this weekend at the Catholic Life Center.
The 21st annual Diocesan Respect Life
Rally scheduled Sunday, Jan. 12, from 2 to
4 p.m. in the main auditorium of the Catholic Life Center. Shawn Carney, one of the
co-founders of 40 Days for Life, is scheduled to be the keynote speaker.
The following Saturday, Jan. 18, the annual march at the State Capitol is scheduled, beginning at noon, with supporters
gathering at 11:45 a.m.
“(The pro-life rally) is an opportunity
for people to come together with others in
the respect life movement, get energized,
get ready for what’s coming up in the year
ahead,” Danielle Van Haute, director of the
Respect Life Program for the Diocese of
Baton Rouge said. “It’s also a way to find
different ways to connect with respect life
organizations within the community.”
She said several pro-life organizations
will have display tables set up with information regarding their mission and how
people can become involved.
“People can go around, get more infor-
mation on what we have in the community
and find out how they might fit in with their
particular gifts and talents,” Van Haute
said. “It’s a perfect opportunity for someone
who is a little bit hesitant or doesn’t know
where to begin to get involved.”
Van Haute is also excited about having
Carney deliver the keynote address, calling
him “one of the most, if not the most, dynamic speakers in the country today.”
She said landing him was a blessing and
added he has worked well with the diocese
in the past.
“He sees it as part of his passion, to share
his knowledge and experiences with as
many people as possible,” Van Haute said.
Carney has become world renowned for
his speaking engagements and spoke in England in early December.
In addition to Carney’s remarks, the rally
will include awards presented to St. Joseph
Academy junior Maggie DiLeo and homeschooled junior Erin Hobbs, who finished
first and second respectively in the pro-life
oratory contest in November. DiLeo is expected to deliver her essay to a crowd that
could top 300, Van Haute said.
She said the rally will take on added
significance this year with the potential of
Planned Parenthood building an abortion
facility in Baton Rouge. Plans for a mam-
OPEN HOUSE
Wednesday, Jan. 29, 9:00-1:00
400 Marquette • Baton Rouge • (225) 924-1054 • olomschool.org
Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School does not discriminate
on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin.
moth, 7000-square foot clinic in New Orleans have been announced, with construction likely starting soon.
Speculation has been rampant that the
organization is planning a similar clinic in
Baton Rouge but no announcements have
been made. Delta Clinic is the only abortion
provider in this area.
“I think any opportunity we have to get
together and strengthen our relationships
as a community and as a church is a huge
help when we’re looking at any outside neg-
ative influence, especially looking at the
possible expansions of Planned Parenthood,” Van Haute said.
She said Carney was involved in the closing of a Planned Parenthood facility in Texas.
“I think he’s going to add another dynamic reflection to what’s going on locally
and really be able to speak to what we’re facing right now,” Van Haute said.
The rally is open to all ages and free of
charge. Catholic Life TV will broadcast it on
a delay basis.
FROM THE BEGINNING – Samuel Moran, who was the first person to be baptized at
Sacred Heart Church in Baton Rouge, is recognized by Pastor Father Miles Walsh
during services commemorating the 85th Anniversary of the parish. Photo by Barbara
Chenevert | The Catholic Commentator
4
national | international
Pope limits ‘monsignor’ honor
for diocesan priests
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis has decided to limit the honor of
“monsignor” among diocesan priests
and grant it from now on only to those at
least 65 years of age.
The change, which is not retroactive
and does not affect Vatican officials or
members of religious orders, was announced in a letter from the Vatican Secretariat of State to nunciatures around
the world, along with instructions to inform local bishops.
Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the United States, informed
U.S. bishops of the new policy in a letter
dated Dec. 30. Msgr. Ronny E. Jenkins,
general secretary of the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops, forwarded the letter to the bishops Jan. 3.
Of the three grades of monsignor –
apostolic protonotary, honorary prelate
of His Holiness and chaplain of His Ho-
liness – only the last will be available to
diocesan priests who meet the new age
requirement.
Bishops must resubmit any pending
requests for papal honors in accordance
with the new rules.
Archbishop Vigano’s letter did not
give a reason for the change, but Pope
Francis has often warned clergy against
the temptations of careerism and personal ambition.
The archbishop noted that there had
been no change regarding the granting
of ecclesiastical honors to laypeople.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the
Vatican spokesman, noted Jan. 6 that
Pope Paul VI had reformed the system of
ecclesiastical honors in 1968, reducing
the number of titles to three.
“Pope Francis’ decision thus follows
in the same line, with further simplification,” Father Lombardi said.
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January 10, 2014
New rules set on relations between bishops, religious orders
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis
said he has ordered a revision of what he
called outdated Vatican norms on the relations between religious orders and local
bishops, in order to promote greater appreciation of the orders’ distinctive missions.
The pope’s words were published Jan.
3 in the Italian Jesuit magazine La Civilta
Cattolica. He made the comments Nov. 29
at a closed-door meeting with 120 superiors general of religious orders from around
the world.
Pope Francis referred to “Mutuae Relationes,” a set of directives issued jointly by
the Congregation for Bishops and the Congregation for Religious in 1978. The document said that religious orders are part of
the local church, though with their own internal organization, and that their “right to
autonomy” should never be considered as
independence from the local church.
“That document was useful at the time
but is now outdated,” the pope said. “The
charisms of the various institutes need to
be respected and fostered because they are
needed in dioceses.”
The pope, who until his election in March
2013 served as archbishop of Buenos Aires,
Argentina, and formerly served as a Jesuit
provincial, said he knew “by experience the
problems that can arise between a bishop
and religious communities.” For example, he
said, “If the religious decide one day to withdraw from one of their works due to a lack
of manpower, the bishop often finds himself
suddenly left with a hot potato in his hand.”
“I also know that the bishops are not
always acquainted with the charisms and
works of religious,” he said. “We bishops
need to understand that consecrated persons are not functionaries but gifts that
enrich dioceses.
“The involvement of religious communities in dioceses is important,” the pope
said. “Dialogue between the bishop and
religious must be rescued so that, due to
a lack of understanding of their charisms,
bishops do not view religious simply as useful instruments.”
At the Nov. 29 meeting, the pope also
asked the heads of the Congregation for
Religious to finish a pending document
on male religious who are not priests. He
acknowledged a “vocational crisis” among
such men, but said he believed they still
had a role in religious life.
The 15-page article by Jesuit Father
Antonio Spadaro, editor of La Civilta Cattolica, quoted extensively from the pope’s
remarks at the three-hour meeting, which
Father Spadaro attended.
Father Spadaro’s wide-ranging interview with Pope Francis, published in the
same magazine in September 2013, included the pope’s controversial statement that
the church “cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use
of contraceptive methods.”
During the meeting with religious superiors, Pope Francis preferred “neither to give a
talk nor to listen to their prepared remarks:
He wished to have a frank and free conversation consisting of questions and answers,”
Father Spadaro wrote.
Bishop Robert W. Muench’s 2014 Winter Confirmation Schedule
Friday, Jan. 17
Thursday, Jan. 23
Saturday, Jan. 25 Thursday, Jan. 30 Thursday, Feb. 6 Saturday, Feb. 8 Tuesday, Feb. 11 Saturday, Feb. 15 Sunday, Feb. 16 Tuesday, Feb. 18 Thursday, Feb. 20 Sunday, Feb. 23 Monday, Feb. 24 Tuesday, Feb. 25 Wednesday, Feb. 26 Thursday, Feb. 27 Immaculate Conception, Denham Springs
St. Theresa, Gonzales Ascension of Our Lord/St. Francis,
Donaldsonville Our Lady of Mercy, Baton Rouge Immaculate Conception, Lakeland St. Ann, Morganza Most Blessed Sacrament, Baton Rouge St. Augustine, New Roads St. James/St. Philip, St. James Our Lady of Peace, Vacherie St. Joseph/Immaculate Heart of Mary/
St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, Grosse Tete Sacred Heart, Baton Rouge St. Mary of False River, New Roads St. Stephen/St. Joseph, Maurepas St. Michael/Most Sacred Heart, Convent St. Joseph, Paulina 7:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
8:00 a.m.
7:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
11:00 a.m.
7:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
Sacrament of Reconciliation Schedule for Baton Rouge high schools Feb. 4
Redemptorist Bishop Robert Muench, Rev. Marcel Okwara CSsR,
Rev. James Hooks SJ and other priests
Feb. 6-7
St. Michael
Bishop Robert Muench, Rev. Gerard Martin,
Rev. Matthew McCaughey and other priests
Feb. 10-11 Catholic High Bishop Robert Muench, Rev. Matthew Dupré,
Rev. Miles Walsh, Br. Ray Hebert SC and other priests
Feb. 13-14 St. Joseph’s Bishop Robert Muench, Rev. Jack Nutter, Rev. Cleo
Academy
Milano and other priests
Schools outside of Baton Rouge have their chaplains oversee reconciliation services.
January 10, 2014
family life
5
New year is great time to plan for financial success
By Debbie Shelley
At the beginning of the year,
many families resolve to improve
their finances, but get bogged
down in the details of how to
do it. How can families enhance
their quality of life while living
out their vows to spend less and
save more?
Mike Olinde of Olinde Financial Group in Baton Rouge and
member of Our Lady of Mercy
Church in Baton Rouge, said people are living longer, and many
are afraid because they don’t
know how much money to spend
and how much to “put away” for
the future.
“Not knowing is scary,” said
Olinde, a graduate of Catholic
High School and Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala. He explained
that many couples let the fear of
the unknown prevent them from
doing anything. Those who don’t
have faith financially find themselves without a direction to go in
and their finances fall apart.
R
ecently, Belgium’s Senate
voted overwhelmingly to
extend legal euthanasia to
children of any age. The proposal, which will likely become law,
limits the practice to children
who are terminally ill, suffering
great pain and have their parents’ permission.
In theory, they must also understand what they are asking
for (if that is even possible for,
say, a 10-year-old).
This horrifies most Americans. Perhaps The New York
Times exaggerates when it
makes a subtle comparison to
“the horrors of Nazi Germany, which killed thousands of
mentally and physically handicapped children,” but that does
not mean the Belgian proposal
is wise or well-thought-out.
Philippe Mahoux, sponsor of
the Belgian bill, argues that ever
since Belgium legalized adult
euthanasia, doctors have been
killing terminally ill children
anyway and covering it up. He
hopes to spare those doctors
from prosecution.
Once death is pursued as an
acceptable medical outcome,
medicine is changed. Mahoux’s
Not being afraid of looking at income versus expenditures each
month is the beginning of good financial planning. File Photo
The first step to overcome that
fear is to look at income versus
expenditures each month, stated
Olinde. He explained that faith
should be the operational basis
for making decisions on finances
and all areas of life.
“Faith is the cure for everything,” said Olinde. He is past
president of the Serra Club of
Baton Rouge, a board member
of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and board member of Closer
Walk Ministries and member
of the Equestrian Order of the
Holy Sepulchre.
One of Olinde’s favorite sayings is, “Most people don’t plan to
fail, they fail to plan.”
By making an appointment
with a financial planner, families
often find out that their financial picture is better than they
thought, said Olinde. He said a
financial planner can help couples look at their fixed costs and
income, set financial priorities
and plan for retirement. With-
out a budget, families often find
themselves not knowing where
the money that they had, went. In
the case of serious financial debt,
a planner can also refer them to
a debt consolidation company,
attorneys or other professionals
for further help.
Olinde advised couples that
when picking a financial planner,
they should be comfortable with
that person, agree with his or her
financial philosophy and not be
afraid to call and ask questions.
Because finances can be one
of the major sources of tensions
for couples, Olinde said they
must also commit to working together on budgeting.
He said he is often contacted
by couples where each spouse has
separate accounts that are “his”
or “hers.” Also, a spouse may
have unhealthy spending habits,
such as frequently participating
in online gambling or making
continual shopping sprees.
The financial advisor emphasized that couples should include
financial planning in their efforts
of “becoming one.”
“Couples should work together toward a common goal,”
Olinde said. “Make the singular
plural.”
Talking openly and honestly
about finances can bring a couple
closer together, Olinde said.
A couple must also be flexible and adjust as circumstances change, said Olinde. He also
recommended that when people
pay their monthly bills they “pay
themselves first” by putting away
money for retirement or in a
specified savings account.
When a couple successfully manages their finances, they
have a sense of freedom and wellbeing, stated Olinde.
The most important financial
advice Olinde has for Catholics
is to place their finances in God’s
hands and to live according to
what God wants them to do.
“If you always do the right
thing, you will be rewarded,”
Olinde said. “God takes care of
his children like all good fathers
do.”
Opting out of the Belgian solution
Guest Opinion
John Garvey
argument implies as much. And
if doctors can cause the death
of suffering adult patients,
then what argument is there to
deprive children of the same
option? Dr. Jan Bernheim of
the Free University of Brussels
makes precisely this argument
in favor of Mahoux’s bill.
Across the border, the Royal
Dutch Medical Association has
taken the argument a step further still. Although euthanasia
is illegal in the Netherlands for
children under 12, the association holds that “severe suffering
(by) the parents” over a newborn’s abnormalities is sufficient
to justify euthanasia. This is the
scariest position of all, depriving medicine of any reference
whatsoever to the patient’s
well-being.
It is not hard to deduce
from this mindset the danger it creates for patients who
are incapacitated or who feel
pressure (real or imagined)
from family or society to choose
death. Underlying the embrace
of doctor-assisted suicide and
euthanasia is a conviction that
suffering is pointless.
My brother Kevin died from
leukemia when he was 13. His
form of the disease is survivable
today, but in those days few survived more than 18 months. It
was a hard trial for Kevin, who
as a child was afraid of a lot of
things, including scary movies,
large birds, spiders and needles.
He needed bone marrow
transplants and blood transfusions, both of which involved
large, painful needles. The drug
regimen caused his hair to fall
out. When he couldn’t fight an
infection and his temperature
spiked, the doctors would put
him in a tub full of ice water.
He became thin and weak. He
eventually bled to death.
But as Kevin grew weaker
from the disease, he grew in
wisdom and holiness. For our
family it was a period full of
grace. I was 10 years older, but
I found myself making mental
notes of how I could be more
like him. He had long since
overcome his fear of needles, the
least of his problems.
By his last Christmas, he
knew he was going to die,
though he didn’t burden the
rest of us with the knowledge.
I remember praying the rosary
with him and thinking what
a privilege it was to pray with
such a saintly young man.
Catholics maintain that
suffering has meaning and can
be redemptive. Kevin’s suffering
changed his family, his doctors
and the children around him in
the hospital. After he died, my
parents bought a house in Buffalo, N.Y., near the hospital, for
the use of patients and families
who needed a place to stay while
being treated.
Since then, hundreds of
other houses have cared for
thousands of families. These
things wouldn’t have happened
if my parents had opted for the
Belgian solution.
Garvey is president of The Catholic University of America in
Washington.
Honor Those We Love.
G ARDENS
OF
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225-753-1440
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6
January 10, 2014
Rules for Catholics; listening to non-Catholic preachers
Q
I follow your column weekly and am fascinated by
how often you quote a rule from our catechism,
numbered into the thousands. Is everything Catholics do covered by a rule, and how is the ordinary person
supposed to know every rule? Didn’t Jesus say there are
two commandments: love God above all things and love
your neighbor as yourself? (Bradenton, Fla.)
A
The Catechism of the Catholic Church serves as a
handy summary of the church’s basic teachings.
True, there are 2865 “sections” (each of them normally a single paragraph).
The vast majority, though, are not “rules” but explanations of Scriptural passages and of church teaching over
the centuries. (Most religions, by the way, have multiple
“rules” as a helpful guide to life’s varied situations. The
Jewish Talmudic law had 613 precepts.)
I do, as you state, frequently quote the catechism as a
handy way of responding to readers’ queries. I have referenced the catechism in response to questions as diverse as
the morality of artificial insemination and whether blessed
articles can be resold.
To answer your question as to how ordinary Catholics
can know “every rule” of the church, the answer is that
they can’t, which is the reason for a column like this. (Even
easier than reading a column, though, is simply to ask a
local priest or religious educator.)
Your appeal to Jesus’ quote on loving God and neighbor
is important. To be fair, Christ did not say that these two
were the only commandments. His answer (in Matthew
22:34-40) came in response to a lawyer’s question as to
which was “the greatest” of the commandments. Jesus
said, “The whole law and the prophets depend on these
two commandments.”
He did not say that this was all you needed to know.
Finally, as to whether everything Catholics do is “covered
by a rule,” the answer is absolutely not. It would be far easier
if that were so, if we could simply turn to a page in a book for
clear-cut answers to every challenge of daily living.
Most of our moral issues are complex: how to be a good
parent, how to get along with people at work, how to use to
the fullest the talents God has given us. On these things, a
manual of behavior doesn’t always help, only daily reflection, guided by prayer.
Q
Is a Catholic allowed to listen to and heed the
advice of preachers from other religions? (I find
sermons from people like Joel Osteen and Joyce
Meyer seem to hit home more often than the lofty thoughts
of some Catholic priests.) (Albany, N.Y.)
A
First, for the reader who may not know: Joel Osteen
is a Christian televangelist and pastor of Lakewood
Church in Houston who is seen weekly by viewers
in more than 100 nations; Joyce Meyer is a charismatic
Christian author and speaker who appears regularly on
television in a program called “Enjoying Everyday Life.”
The Second Vatican Council’s declaration “Nostra Aetate”
addresses your question about reflecting on the insights
offered by other religions. It states in No. 2 that “the Catholic
Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions
... (and) regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct
Ministry and theology
• The course fee is $25 per class. Tuition must be paid in advance and is
due one week before class begins. After classes start, $35 per class.
• Each class is held on Saturdays from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at
the Bishop Robert E. Tracy Center, 1800 S. Acadian Thruway, Baton
Rouge. A Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church are to be
brought to each class.
• To achieve the 10-clock-hour requirement, a reflection paper is required
after completing each course.
• For more information, contact Office of Evangelization & Catechesis at
(225) 336-8760 or e-mail: [email protected].
MAT I
Baton Rouge Classes Only
 Christology
January 18
 Sacraments
February 15
 Morality
March 22
 Evangelization, Catechesis,
Mission
April 5
MAT II
Baton Rouge Classes Only
 Pauline Literature
January 18
 Johannine Literature
February 15
 Sacraments of Initiation
March 22
 Sacraments of Healing
and Service
April 5
Registration must be done online at
diobrchristianformation.org. Click on calendar,
then the date to register for selected class(es).
Mail your payment to:
Office of Evangelization & Catechesis, Diocese of Baton Rouge,
P. O. Box 2028, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-2028
The
and life, those precepts and
teachings which, though
differing in many aspects
from the ones she holds
and sets forth, nonetheless
often reflect a ray of that
Truth which enlightens all.”
So the answer to your
question is a clear “yes.” It
can be beneficial to listen
to preachers of other faiths
and to take value from
Father Kenneth Doyle
what they say.
In my experience, Protestant pastors often devote more time each week to the
preparation of their Sunday sermon than Catholic priests.
This is due, in part, to the reality that Catholic parishes are
generally far larger, with more pastoral demands on the
priest’s time.
But it’s also due to the fact that the sermon is the center
of many Protestant services while the focus in the Catholic
Church is always on celebrating the Eucharist, which was
the particular way Jesus asked his followers to keep his
memory alive.
Pope Francis, though, in his November 2013 pastoral
exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium,” urged priests to give
increased attention to the quality of their homilies.
Question Corner
Father DOYLE is in the Diocese of Albany, N.Y. Send questions to [email protected] or 40 Hopewell St.,
Albany, NY 12208.
Look for
CaThoLiC CommenTaTor
aT your LoCaL ouTLeTs inCLuding:
✔ Albertsons on Government St., Bluebonnet Blvd. and College Dr. in
Baton Rouge and in Denham Springs
✔ Alexander’s Highland Market in Baton Rouge
✔ Ascension Books & Gifts in Gonzales
✔ Benedetto’s Market in Addis
✔ Bohning Supermarket in Ponchatoula
✔ Calandro’s Supermarkets in Baton Rouge
✔ Catholic Art and Gifts in Baton Rouge
✔ Daigle’s Supermarket in White Castle
✔ Hi Nabor Supermarkets, Drusilla and Jones Creek Rd. in Baton Rouge
✔ Hubben’s Grocery in Port Allen
✔ LeBlanc’s Food Stores in Donaldsonville, Gonzales,
Hammond, Plaquemine, Plattenville, Prairieville and Zachary
✔ Matherne’s Supermarkets in Baton Rouge
✔ Magnuson Hotel in St. Francisville
✔ Oak Point Supermarket in Central
✔ Our Lady of the Lake College in Baton Rouge
✔ Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge
✔ Our Lady of the Lake Physicians Group offices with locations throughout
the Diocese
✔ Reeve’s Supermarket in Baton Rouge
✔ St. Elizabeth Hospital in Gonzales
✔ St. Mary’s Books & Gifts in Baton Rouge
✔ St. Vincent de Paul Stores throughout the diocese
✔ Schexnayer Supermarket in Vacherie
✔ Whole Foods Market in Baton Rouge
✔ Winn Dixie on Coursey Blvd. and Siegen Ln. in Baton Rouge,
Hammond, New Roads and Ponchatoula
as well as your local church parish
C
T H E
C A T H O L I C
S E R V I N G T H E D I O C E S E O F B AT O N R O U G E S I N C E 19 6 2
January 10, 2014
spirituality
7
Those in crisis find spiritual companion through program
By Debbie Shelley
Beginning in February, people facing a life crisis will be
able to receive one-on-one support at St. Aloysius Church in
Baton Rouge through Stephen
Ministry.
The program is based on the
Scripture passage, “Bear one
another’s burdens, and in this
way you will fulfill the law of
Christ (Galatians 6:2).”
Stephen Ministers are laypeople who provide personal
care to people having a difficult
time, such as grief, divorce, job
loss, chronic or terminal illness, relocation or separation
due to military deployment
and crisis pregnancies.
Four St. Aloysius parishioners attended an intensive
six-day workshop in Dallas in
July to become members of a
Stephen Ministry leadership
team at St. Aloysius: Ann Sperry, who is the team leader; Marie Hebert; Mary Morain; and
Robert Miller. Since their return, they have worked with St.
James and St. Luke Episcopal
Stephen Ministers receive training at St. Aloysius Church in Baton
Rouge. Photo provided by Mary Morain
churches, which were already
involved with Stephen Ministry, to implement the program
at St. Aloysius. The church
parish’s staff, clergy and parishioners refer people facing
difficulties to Stephen Ministry
leaders, who refer those people
to Stephen Ministers.
These ministers commit to
at least two years of training,
service and supervision.
Sperry said Stephen Ministers must be trustworthy, faithfilled and compassionate.
Miller said the objective of
Stephen Ministry is in keeping with Catholic social justice teachings and St. Aloysius’
mission of serving the commu-
nity. He added that the program is designed so that care
receivers can confidentially receive support and services in a
structured environment.
Sperry noted that care receivers have emotional as well
as physical needs.
People who will be coming to
Stephen Ministers need someone to listen to them and “show
that someone cares about what
they are going through,” said
Morain.
Miller explained that a Stephen Minister is like someone
who comforts children who
are scared in the middle of the
night and knows God loves
them, but needs to be with
someone “in flesh and bones.”
“To me, that is essentially
what we are doing,” Miller said.
Morain said since there are
fewer priests today, Stephen
Ministers help the church
reach out to people in need.
Hebert pointed out that
Stephen Ministry is a way of
getting people to understand
the needs of people in a deeper
sense while showing God’s love
and compassion.
Training for Stephen Ministers took place at St. Luke, St.
James and St. Aloysius.
At a recent Stephen Minister training at St. Luke, those
training to be ministers learned
about some of the practical issues they are likely to face, and
what their response should be.
They took turns playing the
role of caregivers and care receivers facing a particular life
crisis.
Morain, who led the training
session, instructed the trainees
to concentrate on what they
can do to help people and leave
the results to God. She advised
them to focus on servanthood
and caring, not curing. This al-
lows the people to heal.
According to Becky Williams, Stephen Ministry leader
at St. Luke, Stephen Ministers
are taught not to judge and to
allow people to express themselves. She emphasized that
talking with and praying for
people helps them heal. She
said this is especially critical for those having suicidal
thoughts.
Helen Reynaud, a trainee
and member of St. Aloysius,
said, “I hope to be a good listener. I hope that I will grow
through this.”
Being a Stephen Minister
means realizing God is in control, according to Reynaud.
“Sometimes I have to learn
how to let go,” she said.
Miller said the commitment
required by Stephen Ministry
can be daunting, and it takes
“pulling together” by the leaders, ministers as well as the
church. But the efforts are
worth it because everyone becomes more effective in ministry.
“It’s an incredible thing for
our parish,” Miller said.
Finding hope by helping those who need us
S
ometimes it seems as if
we live in a world awash
in misery, but then you
encounter someone who’s cheerfully making a difference.
I recently interviewed a
woman who volunteers and
works with refugees. Despite the
hurdles a refugee must overcome, she used the word “hope”
to describe her work.
As a mentor, one of her
duties involves showing her refugee family how to ride the bus
in the northern U.S. city where
they have been resettled.
Even if you live in a city with
a great public transportation
system, you know it’s daunting
the first time you travel from
point A to point D. Where do I
transfer? Which line do I want?
Imagine that you don’t speak the
language, public transportation
is new to you, you’re in a cold environment where the darkness
intrudes in the afternoon and
the bus system is skimpy and
poorly explained.
The woman I interviewed
said riding the bus and trying
to teach others to navigate the
For The Journey
Effie Caldarola
system was one of the hardest
things she has done. A trip that
would have taken 15 minutes in
her car took her and her refugee
family a couple of hours by the
time they made the transfers.
“It’s an inhumane system in
a city with unforgiving weather,”
was her conclusion. But the buses are a necessity for the family.
Still, she said, “the key word
is hope.”
The refugees themselves,
the woman told me, come filled
with hope, despite discouragement and struggle. The prospect
of having a home, away from
the terrors of war and persecution, holds promise. They may
never have seen a flush toilet,
but they’re willing to do what it
takes to make it.
A refugee is not the same
thing as an immigrant. Most of
us are the descendants of immigrants – people who chose a new
country over an old one.
A refugee has traveled a
different journey. They’ve fled
their homeland because of war
or persecution, be it religious,
social, political or racial and
simply escaped the borders. The
United Nations estimates there
are more than 15 million refugees worldwide, basically people
without a country. Some hope to
return home, a few will become
citizens of the country to which
they’ve fled. A tiny group – less
than 1 percent – will be resettled in countries that will accept
them. The United States has
helped resettled more than 3
million refugees since 1975.
If selected for resettlement,
a refugee does not choose the
nation that will accept him. He
could end up in Sweden or in
Montana.
The woman I interviewed
works with people from Darfur,
Sudan, Somalia. She sees in
their plight a brokenness that
helps her grow closer to Jesus.
After all, she said, when you
walk into a Catholic Church, you
see a bleeding, crucified man.
“Jesus is all about being
broken and growing from brokenness. God comes to us in our
vulnerability, and the refugees
are by their very nature vulnerable.”
It’s not just the refugee who
is struggling in the United States
right now, she pointed out. People are having a tough time all
over. She believes it’s important
to reach out because there is “a
danger in being protected by my
advantage.”
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and many dioceses
work directly with refugees. It
would make a great New Year’s
resolution to see how we might
help them.
Caldarola, who writes a
general-interest column, can
be reached at Catholic News
Service, 3211 Fourth St. N.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20017.
8
January 10, 2014
.
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o
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t
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January 10, 2014
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20
Custom Made, Hand Smocked
Dresses, Gowns & Bonnets:
Christening,
Flower Girl, Christmas,
First Communion, Easter
Resolutions
Bishop Robert W. Muench
Aaron Nola, pitcher for LSU
baseball team
“To celebrate with joy the life
of Reverend Mother Janet
Erksine Stuart RSCJ, a
brilliant educator and
woman of faith and the
sixth Superior General of
the Society of the Sacred Heart
who died in 1914. And to give life to her
invitation to be a joy-bearer and a joy-giver,
for this says everything; it means that one is
faithfully living for God and that nothing else
counts, and if one gives joy to others we are
doing God’s work.”
Sr. Georgeann M. Parizek RSCJ
“In 2014, I plan to kickoff my
tour of Louisiana’s seven
founding culinary nations.
I’m beginning with Spain
and a walk along The Way of
St. James.”
Chef John Folse
“Be closer to the Lord Jesus as
well as my parishioners of St.
Benedict the Moor and St.
Augustine”.
Father Gordian Iwuji,
pastor of St. Benedict
the Moor
WBRZ Meteorologist, Pat Shingleton
“Continue to affect positive
change in our community
to be a better place ...
each and every day.
Our children and
grandchildren deserve no
less.”
Davis Rhorer, director of the Downtown
Development District of Baton Rouge
“My resolution is to work
at balancing my family
responsibilities and my
diaconate ministry. In
the diaconate formation
it was emphasized that our
priorities should be family first,
job second and diaconate third. I resolve to give
particular attention to being true to that order
of responsibilities.”
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“To take time out each day to
say a rosary. This past year
it was every now and then. I
want to pray the rosary at a
steady pace this new year.”
“I believe one of the greatest
messages that was advanced
to a ‘resolution’ was
delivered to me many years
ago. Some believe the local
‘weatherman’ has something
to do with atmospheric
conditions because he is pontificating and
predicting the weather on a daily basis, on
television, seven days a week. Prior to a huge
and important community event, years ago –
that being The St. Patrick’s Day Parade, The
Wearin’ of the Green – agreement among many
concluded that a wash-out of the parade was
expected. On that early Saturday morning,
under mostly sunny skies, Archbishop
Alfred Hughes, greeted me and said … ‘Pat,
always remember… YOU… are in SALES, not
MANAGEMENT…’ May the peace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit
and the mercy and amazing grace of God, our
father be with us now, forever, and especially,
in the Year of the Lord – 2014…”
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“Our human emotions must
be regularly monitored,
acknowledged and
managed. By living in the
perspective of eternity, we
can and must maintain a
positive disposition and outlook
about ourselves and the moment-to-moment
circumstances of our lives.”
9
10
The Catholic Commentator | January 10, 2014January 10, 2014 | The Catholic Commentator
from
organs to ornaments (and everything in between!)
giroir: ‘Things’ tell stories about period of time, value of friend
from Page 1
the walls, over and under tables, on bookshelves and kitchen counters.
The constant ticking of clocks fills the
house, interrupted occasionally by chimes
or the call of a cuckoo bird from Giroir’s collection of clocks from Austria. It makes the
house “alive,” he said.
“These are not just things. They tell a
story. They tell about a period of time or the
value of a friend,” said Giroir, who has been
collecting for most of his life. “Everything
has a story or a relationship attached to it.”
Why does he collect so much?
“The challenge is to make your life interesting,” he said. “As a child I was interested
in a lot. In those days, before computers, we
would be hands on. We went to train shows,
we rode bikes. There are so many people
without hobbies today.
“I’m not trying to show off. It’s just natural
that I gravitate to interesting objects.”
Giroir said the fun part of collecting is
Giroir said the fun part of
collecting is establishing
relationships, networking and
gaining knowledge.
to play for his neighbors. Photos
Robbie Giroir brings his calliope onto the driveway
by Barbara Chenevert | The Catholic Commentator
One room of Giroir’s house is dedicated to his collection of vintage Lionel trains.
Bonanza. He said he has been flying since he
was 17.
Giroir’s full-time position as music director at the cathedral keeps him busy, looking
for new music that is authentic and grand
enough for a cathedral, practicing, facilitating choir members, rehearsals and playing
for services. In addition he teaches each day
at Baton Rouge Magnet High School and
travels with the BRHS choir that has been
invited to sing internationally.
But “sometimes you have to recharge your
batteries. Rest and relax. Having other interests is important,” he said.
Vintage fans are clustered on the floor of the family room.
To combat a hectic work schedule, Giroir
keeps most of his collections in full view in
his home, something he said inspires him
– like the Fitz and Floyd nativity scene that
stays up all year, mainly because it is beautiful.
“Everything is centered on beauty. You
go to church for the beauty of the sacrament or the beauty of the music … We need
beauty for inspiration. We need to collect
and recollect and allow ourselves to be quiet,
away from the noise, to allow yourself to be
inspired.”
“I’ve been inspired by people, interest-
establishing relationships, networking and
gaining knowledge. “I have met people I will
never forget. People who are unique,” he
said.
Giroir’s collections began, not surprisingly, with music. When he
was in ninth grade, his parents
purchased for him a 1947 Moeller
organ, which had been in St. Ann
Church in Morganza. His collection has since grown to 10 organs
and a slew of pianos and percussion instruments, each of which
has its own history which Giroir
loves to share: Like the 1938
Wicks organ that was played at
City Park in New Orleans for the
1938 Eucharistic Congress. Or the
1923 Werlein player piano built
in New Orleans. Both, along with
many other musical instruments,
now line the walls of what once
served as the home’s living and
dining rooms.
He even keeps an organ in an
airplane hangar in New Roads,
where he sometimes practices.
“I open up the hangar door
and play. The pilots just love it,”
he said. Incidentally, he is also a
pilot, owning his own Beechcraft
Giroir points to his collection of luxury car grills. Every collectible has a story, he said.
ing people; people who are truthful, honest
and in themselves beautiful. Hopefully I am
inspiring my students,” Giroir said.
One entire room of his home is devoted to
vintage Lionel trains, which run on a multi
level track, winding through makeshift
towns and businesses. Giroir says most of
his trains are from the 1940s and 50s, but he
has some historic cars and engines that date
from the 1920s and mid 1930s and are worth
up to $3,000.
He also collects motorbikes from the
1950s and 60s that he still rides, and vintage
bicycles. Sitting under his carport is an old
fire truck that he had refurbished.
Hanging on a kitchen wall are grills from
a 1960 Rolls Royce, a 1960 Bentley, 1954
Mercedes – all of which he says carry memories since they once belonged to a deceased
friend. “They are not static here. It’s a great
way of remembering people,” he said.
And then there is the collection of wooden
statues of St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music; the Radco Christmas ornaments; magnets of every kind covering the refrigerator
and fire hats lining the ceilings.
But Giroir said he is finally slowing down
in collecting. “The yard is my hobby,” he said.
A hutch in the kitchen houses Christmas collectibles – from a collection of St. Cecilia statues to oneof-a-kind ornaments made by his students at Baton Rouge Magnet High School.
11
12
YOUTH
January 10, 2014
SJA students take computer
programming challenge
Three St. Joseph’s Academy students
participated in Programming Challenge
for Girls Dec. 7 at Louisiana State University. The educational experience was
hosted by the LSU Center for Computation and Technology and the Louisiana
Alliance for Simulation-Guided Materials
Applications.
Sophomores Anna Capdevielle and
Elizabeth Sicard and freshman Kathryn
Nastasi spent the day learning computer
programming through storytelling. They
used the Alice programming language.
Claire Luikart, SJA’s technology special projects manager, accompanied the
group. “It was an excellent opportunity for
our students to connect with their fellow
tech-savvy girls from other high schools
in the area and bolster their programming
skills.”
Nastasi said her team used Alice to code
three different scenarios within a limited
time frame. “Alice uses models and 3D
graphics to create short animations,” she
said. “The scenarios were story boarded
and given to us, we had to turn the story
into a fully animated clip. I wanted to go
mainly because it was something new and
cool, and I’m always open to trying new
things. The Alice program was really fun
to learn to use and manipulate and completely non-experience friendly. It was a
really fun event, and I encourage people to
try it and step out of their comfort zone.”
Sicard teamed with Capdevielle to create Harriet the Hare and Tina the Turtle,
who were challenged to kick soccer balls.
“Alice is basically a 3D storytelling program where you can come up with a storyline and make the characters talk and
move,” Sicard said. “We didn’t win, but
Alice was a lot of fun learning to use.”
Capdevielle said she enjoyed creating animation through code. “What I really enjoyed was that each code made the
animation do something different, and
the same code could be used to do several
things, so you had to think outside the box
and use trial and error to find the perfect
code,” she said. “I wanted to participate
because I thought the idea sounded awesome.”
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS – On Dec. 17, the kindergarten students at Holy Ghost School
presented “The First Christmas.” The students performed for the younger students and for the upper grades. Parents and grandparents watched the play the
following day. The Angel Gabriel, Cade Comeaux, left, listens to Mary the Mother of
God, Hannah Stanley. Photo provided by Cindy Wagner | Holy Ghost School
The 2013-14
Baton Rouge Diocesan
Directory is here!
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201
Diocese of Baton Rouge Directory
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January 10, 2014
YOUTH
Jumonville walks into embrace of
Catholic faith at March for Life
By Debbie Shelley
Hundreds of teens from the
Diocese of Baton Rouge will trek
by bus to Washington, D.C., to
participate in March for Life on
Jan. 22. Zoë Jumonville said the
event changed her life, not only
because she joined thousands of
her peers in a poignant expression of supporting life, but because while there she awakened
to the beauty and richness of the
Catholic faith and decided to enter it.
Jumonville, 18, a member of
St. Mary of False River Church
in New Roads, grew up Baptist,
but attended Catholic Elementary and Catholic High School
of Pointe Coupée. She said
even though she was a nice girl,
Christian and a good student,
her prayers were often for material things.
“Even though I attended
church and youth (group) physically does not give the excuse
that I wasn’t there mentally and
spiritually. It seemed as if I was
just a physical substance wandering aimlessly with no reason
to actually be,” Jumonville said.
When she heard about March
for Life at school, Jumonville,
who has always supported life,
thought, “why not?”, and went
on her first trip to the march in
2012.
She said, “Before I attended
the March for Life I had the expectations of a fun time, long
bus trip, snow, new friendships
and saving the lives of the innocent unborn. Little did I
know Christ had so much more.
I actually believe that others
had the same feelings because
countless times did they tell me
to ‘pray for the preparation of
your heart.’ I had no clue what
that meant. The closest things I
came up with for any reason to
prepare my heart was for vulgar
images and stories about abortion.
“The whole reason for me
going to the march was for the
cause of stopping abortions,
saving babies and being pro-life,
not much more.”
That belief in “so much more”
deepened during the bus trip.
One of the most memorable
stops for Jumonville was at
the convent of the Dominican
Zoë Jumonville, 18
Hometown: New Roads
School: Catholic High School of Pointe Coupée
Church: St. Mary of False River
Sisters in Nashville, Tenn. Jumonville said she discovered
how nice the place was and how
beautiful and joyous the nuns
were.
“Considering that I was Baptist, I had never experienced this
way of life or gave it any thought
of mind,” Jumonville said.
She stated that even more
importantly, Christ spoke to her
heart saying, “Come follow me.
Do my word.”
Jumonville, who had experienced Mass and Eucharistic adoration “from the outside looking in,” began hungering to fully
participate in the Catholic faith.
In addition to praying for the
life of the unborn, Jumonville
said she prayed about her conversion to the Catholic faith.
“On that trip I began to actually have a relationship with
Christ, and I got immensely
closer to him. It was absolutely
lovely. But the hard part was
coming home and having to face
reality,” Jumonville said.
One of the main questions
Jumonville was asked concerned whether she was too
young to be making a decision
to join the church. She had support from her family, which includes parents, Gary and Wendy, and brothers Benjamin, 9,
and Ryan, 6.
Emily Phroeba, former youth
director at St. Mary, and Joe
Bass, former religion teacher
and coach at Catholic High of
Pointe Coupée, who is now in
the seminary, answered her
questions about the Catholic
faith. Jumonville is also thankful for the many cards, letters
and words of support she received as she went through the
Rite of Christian Initiation for
Adults.
Jumonville
entered
the
church April 8, 2013. “I had the
best Easter ever. I can’t imagine me being anywhere else but
where God planned for me to be
today.”
Returning to March for Life
again this year, Jumonville said
participating in the sacrament
of reconciliation, Eucharistic
adoration and Mass makes the
event even more meaningful for
her.
Jumonville said she plans to
attend the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and major in
education and be a high school
theology teacher and youth
minister.
“I want to do something along
the lines of evangelization,” said
“Before I attended
the March for Life I
had the expectations
of a fun time, long
bus trip, snow, new
friendships and
saving the lives of the
innocent unborn.”
Zoë Jumonville
Jumonville, who encourages everyone to become Catholic.
She said her brother Benjamin has expressed interest in
becoming Catholic and she gives
him information and support. “I
tell him, ‘Go for it,’ ” Jumonville
said.
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MOVIE
REVIEWS
USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting
classifications:
A-I – General patronage
A-II – Adults and adolescents
A-III – Adults
A-IV – Adults, with reservations
L – Limited adult audience
O – Morally offensive
Out of the Furnace
Relativity
Grim journey into hardscrabble, rust-belt
America where two Pennsylvania brothers –
the older (Christian Bale) a steel worker, the
younger (Casey Affleck) a directionless Iraq
War vet – suffer a series of personal misfortunes. These culminate when Affleck’s
character tries to make a living as a bareknuckle boxer and, despite the warnings of
a local bookie (Willem Dafoe), gets mixed
up with a vicious backwoods fight promoter
(Woody Harrelson). Religion in general, and
Catholicism in particular, are shown to offer
a ray of hope to the good characters in director and co-writer Scott Cooper’s often bleak,
sometimes touching drama. But plot developments involving vigilantism are treated
equivocally at best and thus require mature
ENTERTAINMENT
Motion Picture Association of America
ratings:
G – General audiences; all ages admitted
PG – Parental guidance suggested; some
material may not be suitable for children
PG-13 – Parents are strongly cautioned
to give special guidance for attendance
of children under 13; some material may
be inappropriate for young children
R – Restricted; under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian
NC-17 – No one under 17 admitted
interpretation. Much harsh violence with
some gore, revenge and narcotics themes,
cohabitation, several uses of profanity, pervasive rough and crude language. L; R
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Weinstein
Handsome but flawed biographical profile
of South African dissident-turned-president
Nelson Mandela (Idris Elba) who, after
spending 25 years in prison for resisting
apartheid, advocated peace and forgiveness
and endeavored to steer his country away
from violence toward reconciliation. Based
on Mandela’s 1994 autobiography, the movie
glows with admiration for its subject and is
bent on demonstrating the historical significance of his personal journey, with second
wife Winnie’s (Naomie Harris) vengeful
January 10, 2014
reaction to the mistreatment she suffered
serving as schematic counterpoint. Director
Justin Chadwick’s glossy presentation has
a static quality, as if he’s trying to preserve
Mandela’s legacy in amber. But regardless of any cinematic or historical limitations, the picture rightly lauds a statesman
whose greatest virtue was his ability to see
beyond his personal circumstances and
discern what was best for his nation as a
whole. Considerable violence – including
many gun battles, bombings and an immolation – demeaning treatment of prisoners, a half-dozen premarital and adulterous
sexual situations, though without nudity or
explicit activity, some crude language and
hate speech. A-III; PG-13
avail. But when Travers’ fortune eventually dried up, she was forced to reconsider.
So she headed to Hollywood, determined
to protect her prized creation from being
“Disney-fied.” A battle of wills ensued, until Disney learned the personal side to the
volumes, including the story of Travers’ beloved father (Colin Farrell), the inspiration
for the fictional George Banks of the title. A
handful of emotional scenes may be too intense for pre-teens. But the overall sincerity
and wholesomeness of this blend of comedy
and tear-jerking drama make for a welcome
change at the multiplex. A-II; PG-13
American Hustle
Warner Bros.
Two long-retired boxing rivals (Robert De
Niro and Sylvester Stallone), each of whom
scored a single victory against the other, are
lured back into the ring for a tie-breaking
rematch. Besides their professional competition, their antagonism is also fueled by
unresolved personal issues, De Niro’s character having had a one-night stand with
his adversary’s love (Kim Basinger) that resulted in the couple’s breakup – and in the
birth of her now-grown son (Jon Bernthal).
Director Peter Segal’s comedy amuses intermittently. But its theme of family reconciliation is undercut by the misuse of a child
actor’s (Camden Grey playing Bernthal’s
son) age-appropriate innocence to forward
some of the script’s frequent sex jokes. More
predictably, screenwriters Tim Kelleher and
Rodney Rothman’s dialogue is chockablock
with foul vocabulary. Mature themes, including promiscuity, pugilistic violence, an
off-screen nonmarital encounter, much sexual humor, about a dozen uses of profanity,
a single bleeped instance of the F-word, pervasive crude and crass language. L; PG-13
Columbia
Con-game comedy set in the late 1970s
centers on a pair of flimflam artists (Christian Bale and Amy Adams) forced by an FBI
agent (Bradley Cooper) to entrap politicians
using a fake Arab sheik eager to invest in
Atlantic City casinos. Inspired by the reallife Abscam scandal and concerned with
the theme of self-creation, the fictionalized
story makes dynamic use of the period’s
music, fashion, beauty and decor trends.
Director and co-writer David O. Russell
adopts a simultaneously mocking and sympathetic tone; laudable tolerance and hints
of moral relativism are both detectable. In
the end, despite being fundamentally optimistic, the movie’s ceaseless barrage of vulgar language and its emphasis on carnality,
alongside other notes of disrespect and condescension, will lead viewers to conclude
that somebody is trying to make a sucker
out of them. Some violence, a nongraphic
nonmarital sexual encounter, constant
sensuality – including frequent partial upper female nudity, numerous gropings and
sexually aggressive poses – several brief
instances of drug use, much profanity, pervasive rough and crude language, considerable banter and innuendo. O; R
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas
Grudge Match
Paramount
The one-note joke of a clueless TV anchor
played by Will Ferrell goes all stale and
moldy when he enters the dawn of 24-hour
cable news in 1980. This satire, directed by
Adam McKay, who co-wrote the script with
Ferrell, is done in by gags left over from the
first film, 2004’s “Anchorman.” Additionally, the racism on display, though intended as
comic, is instead off-putting. A scene of nongraphic premarital sexual activity, drug use,
some racist dialogue, fleeting sexual banter
and profane language, frequent crude and
crass terms. A-III; PG-13
Saving Mr. Banks
Disney
Director John Lee Hancock’s fact-based
film recounts the behind-the-scenes circumstances surrounding the making of the
classic 1964 Walt Disney musical “Mary
Poppins.” Having promised his daughters
he would make a movie from the children’s
books they loved – tales of the magical nanny Poppins written by P.L. Travers (Emma
Thompson) – Disney (Tom Hanks) lobbied
for the film rights for two decades, to no
Lionsgate
Broad-strokes comedy is interspersed
with a strained family drama as the freewheeling matriarch of the title (Tyler Perry
in drag) travels from Atlanta to rural Alabama in the company of her uptight niece
(Anna Maria Horsford) to surprise the latter’s grown daughter (Tika Sumpter) with
a holiday visit. Their hostess is less than
pleased to see them, however, since she
has been concealing from her overbearing
mom her elopement with a white agriculturalist (Eric Lively) whose kindly redneck
parents (Kathy Najimy and Larry the Cable
Guy) know about the marriage and have
been invited to spend Christmas with the
newlyweds. A subplot involving a corporate
sponsor’s efforts to denude the local yuletide
festival of all references to Christianity finds
the townsfolk determined to stay focused on
the reason for the season. But in adapting
his stage play for the screen, writer-director
Perry stuffs viewers’ stockings with an excess of vulgar wisecracks. Much crude and
some mildly irreverent humor, at least one
use of profanity, drug references, numerous
crass terms. A-III; PG-13
January 10, 2014
ENTERTAINMENT
A new year begins with a plan
Who You Are
She tells me love is like a train and she keeps
falling off again
I guess she’s sick of being left behind
She says this story’s all the same
So full of circumstance and shame
I guess she’s sick of watching life pass by
Refrain:
I said what keeps you going?
What keeps you waking up?
She just smiles and shrugs her shoulders and
says you know, it’s not so tough
‘Cause if there’s one thing in life
That I’ve learned so far
It’s that we’re all a little stronger
Than we think we are
And you can bend a little farther or stay just
how you are
Just how you are
She says there must be more than this
I work two jobs to feed two kids
And it’s been two months since he left without
goodbye
I’ve still got bills to pay
The world feels heavier every day
Slowly getting harder for me just to try
Repeat refrain.
She said I’m trying to have faith
But even food has lost its taste
My greatest fear is I’ve been left here all alone
She said I miss him every day
All I can do is pray he’s safe
We live in memories
Oh, we used to call this home
She said Sammy, I need something
Just once in my life
I need someone else to tell me
Everything will be all right
I said there’s one thing in life
That I’ve learned so far
It’s that we’re all a little stronger
Than we think we are
And you can bend a little farther but just
remember who you are
Oh, who you are
Oh, who you are
Sung by Paradise Fears | Copyright © 2013 by Paradise Fears
I
always look around on the charts
to find a song that might help us
begin a new year. For 2014, I was
drawn to a group unknown to me,
named Paradise Fears. This group
met while attending high school in
Vermillion, S.D. They are familiar
to pop/rock fans in that area, but
they are not exactly on the national
radar. However, with a fall tour
and new songs such as “Who You
Are,” good things seem to be on the
horizon for this group.
The song describes a woman who
feels that “love is like a train” and
she “keeps falling off.” Her life is
“full of circumstances and shame”
as she watches “life pass by.” She
works “two jobs to feed two kids” because her
husband “left without goodbye.”
For her, “the world feels heavier every day”
and it is “slowly getting harder for me just to try.”
When a friend asks her “what keeps you going?”
she replies, “I’ve learned so far, it’s that we’re all a
little stronger than we think we are, and you can
bend a little farther or just stay how you are.”
Clearly, she faces difficult challenges, and
perhaps you do, too, as 2014 begins. Even if life is
going fairly well, almost all of us can give and get
more out of life. Much depends on how expansive your vision is and how you access the inner
strength that the song describes.
The key words are “give” and “get.” Let’s start
with “give.” As we begin a new year, take a look
around. Who can benefit from your energy,
strength and vision? While you might want to
begin with your family and friends, there may
be groups at your school that are involved with
service projects.
Start your new year with a commitment to
give to them. Whether you give to
those you know personally or to the
community around you, “you are
stronger than you think” and have a
lot to offer.
As you consider how you want
to help, you might be able to offer
your talents to solve bigger problems
in our world, such as hunger. You
can offer your time and effort to an
organization that is already working
to solve these larger issues.
While today’s disciples of Jesus
always want to be helpful to others,
they also want to focus on moving
their lives forward. This is the “get”
part. Again, you need to see what
interests you. Maybe this means
taking on a new challenge that you have backed off
from in the past.
Let’s say you discover you want to be more
physically fit. You know that doing so would give
you more energy. Take on this challenge. Start by
creating a plan. Tell one of your best friends about
it and ask them to periodically check with you on
your progress or to join you.
Don’t just put up a new calendar and expect
the rest to fall into place. Ask God to help you
carry out the new year in a new way, to give and
get more out of life. By doing so, you can discover
“who you are.”
On The Record
Charlie Martin
MARTIN is an Indiana pastoral counselor who
reviews current music for Catholic News Service. Your comments are always welcome. Please
write at: [email protected], or at: 7125 West
CR, 200 South, Rockport, IN 47635, or like this
column on Facebook at “Charlie Martin’s Today’s
Music Columns“ and post a comment or suggestion.
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www.wordgamesforcatholics.com
ACROSS
1 Paul was upset because of
the number of these in Athens (Acts 17:16)
6 David is their patron saint
11Craze
14 Explorer Sebastian
15 Bizet work
16 Island (Fr.)
17 Biblical tree
18 Pope before Benedict III
19 Wind dir.
20Reticent
22 Head of a diocese
24 Strong preference
25Chunk
26Loops
28Substantial
32 First word in the name of a
Parisian basilica
33 Nickname for a Catholic
university
34Tear
35 Have regard
36 The intestine
37 Veni, vidi, ___
38 ___ mode
39 Roof overhangs
40Doctor
41 ___ of Hospitality
43 Attack on all sides
44 OT historical book
45 Breathe hard
46 “Jesus Christ, Son of God,
___
49 Founder of Islam
53 US government agency
54 Catholic United States Chief
Justice Taney
56Discontinue
57 Balaam spoke to one (Num
22:28)
58 Beef cut
59 “The ___ near!”
60 Tool of trade for Peter and
Andrew
61 Passover meal
62Meat
DOWN
1 NT epistle
2 Broad valley
3Sashes
4 Small parrot
5Aseptic
6 Countrymen of John Paul II
7 Pundit’s page
8 US government agency
9 Ecclesiastical court
10 Nest egg
11 This was offered to the risen
Jesus (Lk 24:42)
12 “And ___ with you.”
13 “…and darkness was upon
the face of the ___” (Gen 1:2)
21 Vessel or duct
23 John Paul II often did this
25 Catholic actress and First
Lady of the American Theatre
26 “Regina ___”
27 Body of salt water
28 The ___ of Babel
29 The Church is the ___ of
Christ
30Lawful
31 “Cast of thousands” flick
32Fraud
33 Hang suspended in the air
36 It’s often on after a shower
37 Alb or stole
39Conducts
40Threats
42 Roman crowd?
43 Exclamation of contempt
45Cleaner
46 Catholic actor Connery
47 Church section
48Immense
49 Word on a biblical wall (Dan
5:25)
50 “…begotten not ___…”
51 John Paul II’s “Ecclesia in
___”
52 School spot
55 He called to Adam, “Where
are you?” (Gen 3:9)
Solution on page 18
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16
VIEWPOINT
| editorial
Choose words carefully
W
ords are the tools by which
we live, the most basic
form of communication
even in today’s evolving world of
modern technology. Without words
innovations such as email, Twitter,
and social media sites would be useless technological toys.
Yet words, when misguided or
spoken out of prejudice, hate or
anger, are dangerous – their edges
sharper than any blade, their potential to inflict emotional pain and
inflict lasting scars greater than any
manmade weapon.
It’s a lesson Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson has learned the
hard way. In a paradoxical interview with the national magazine
GQ, Robertson’s words served up
a quizzical mix of venomous hatred
and the espousal of the most basic
of Christian doctrines that we are all
challenged to live by.
Robertson, who was briefly
suspended by A&E Network in the
days after the interview, called homosexual behavior sinful and used
rather crude language when comparing homosexual activity to that of
heterosexual activity. Obviously,
those remarks were despicable, and
he deserved the harsh criticism
directed his way.
Yet, in the same thought but
receiving much less fanfare, he also
called out adulterers, drunkards,
idolaters, the greedy and other types
of offenders. Is it because those
offenses fall out of the arena of political correctness that they are less
subject to the court of public opinion
and therefore received such little
attention?
Also given far less notoriety is
Robertson paralleling the message
of Pope Francis earlier this year in
his now famous “Who am I to judge
interview?” Similar to the pontiff,
Robertson says the world would be a
far better place to live if all humans
loved each other and put their trust
in God. He also said his family never
judges someone on who’s going to
heaven or hell, claiming that is God’s
responsibility, which was also Pope
Francis’ message that was misinterpreted by so many.
And therein lies the daily challenge of being a Christian in an
increasingly secular world. Somehow, we must balance the seemingly
seismic shifts of the needle of political correctness while adhering to
our own Christian principles. It’s a
balancing act that can only successfully be negotiated through our faith
and spiritual lives.
Criticism of Robertson was
justified for his demeaning remarks
toward the gay community and even
his crudeness toward heterosexual
activity. For that he has paid a price.
But perhaps conveniently lost in
the secular reporting of the interview was his message of faith, a love
of God that guides not only himself
but his family. Toward the end of the
interview Robertson simply points
out that if we have faith that Christ
came to earth as a fellow human and
died on the cross to save us all from
sin, and then was raised from the
dead, then all of our problems will be
solved.
Those are words of comfort, of
healing and not of hate. And words
by which we should all live.
| letters to the editor
No longer a church of robots
In reading Mr. Sam Gallo’s letter
in the Dec. 27 issue of The Catholic
Commentator, I’m brought to remembering the pre-Vatican church
I grew up in. Yes, it was a church of
ritual, beauty and strict obedience,
but little feeling. We did what we
were told to do because the priest
and nuns said that was the way to
heaven, but there was little personal
relationship with God. We didn’t
have to think for ourselves which is a
much easier way to live. The Second
Vatican Council ushered in a time
to question, to think for ourselves
and to converse personally with
God. The Church is better today for
having experienced Vatican II. Mr.
Gallo, many of us were around “back
then,” too, and we see things differ-
ently than you, but that is OK. There
is room in our church for everyone. If
we all thought alike we would be robots and not humans, and that’s not
how God made us.
Fr. Carville is a wonderful, wise
priest who speaks from his heart.
He was a pastor who appreciated the
gifts of the laity and encouraged us
to use those gifts. I am grateful he is
still a voice for Catholics like myself
who look forward to a loving church,
not a punishing one. In the end, love
is all that matters, not rules and regulations; only love and service to our
fellow human beings done in Christ’s
name and example.
Susan J. Lambert
Baton Rouge
S
January 10, 2014
What Pope Francis is telling us in
‘The Joy of the Gospel’
ince the close of the Second
in truly modern style, his purpose
Vatican Council in 1965
or mission, fits the KISS principle
the Popes – Paul VI, John
of program planning –“Keep It
Paul II, Benedict XVI and now
Simple, Stupid!”
Francis, have been writing about
Pope Francis’ mission in
the need of a new Catholic form
writing “The Joy of the Gospel”
of evangelization to address the
is simple. When we accept Jesus’
spiritual desolation of modern
offer of salvation and follow him,
times. The world is becoming ever
we are freed “from sin, sorrow,
more secular, cynically driving
inner emptiness and loneliness.
even the mention of God out of
With Christ, joy is constantly
its public life. Freedom of religion
born anew.” Francis wants us “to
now means freedom to say your
embark upon a new chapter of
prayers in private – not at football
evangelization marked by this joy.”
games, not in public schools and
No one is excluded from the joy
not on plaques in public buildings.
of the Gospel because “Whenever
In his latest exhortation, “Evangelii
we take a step toward Jesus, we
gaudium,” (“The Joy of the Gosrealize he is already there.” In both
Father John Carville the Old Testament and the New,
pel”), Pope Francis lists the evils
or forces of modern day life that
Francis finds abundant evidence
are fueling this flight from God: “consumerism,
of Christian joy. There is the loving invitation of
desolation ... born of a complacent yet covetous
God in the Book of Sirach (14:ll, 14), “My child,
heart, feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures and treat yourself well, according to your means... .
a blunted conscience.” He says that our interior
Do not deprive yourself of the day’s enjoyments.”
life has become so stuffed with the pursuit of
The pope comments, “What tender paternal
passing things that there is no room for others
love echoes in these words!” And from the New
or the poor.
Testament we have the angel’s greeting to Mary,
The traditional forms of evangelization – the
“Rejoice!” (Lk 1:28) and her response, “My spirit
multiplication of churches on every corner,
rejoices in God my savior” (Lk: 1:47). St. John in
a multitude of priests and religious brothers
his Gospel has Jesus himself declaring his intenand sisters teaching in ever expanding Cathotion: “I have said these things to you, so that
lic schools, the same vowed religious serving
my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be
as missionaries and simultaneously agents of
complete” (15:11).
colonizing governments in foreign countries,
Pope Francis is not playing Pollyanna in
and the rote repetition of church doctrine in
emphasizing the joy of the Gospel. He quotes
catechisms – worked in their day, but are out of
Paul VI saying that “Technological society has
sync with the spiritual needs of modern society.
succeeded in multiplying occasions of pleasure,
They aren’t stirring the souls of our young peoyet has found it very difficult to engender joy.” It
ple at home or winning converts to Catholicism
is true that in following Jesus we must carry our
elsewhere. Previous popes since Vatican II have
cross daily, but though we will not escape suffercalled for new forms of evangelization and new
ing, we must let the joy of faith revive us. Sadly,
participation of the Catholic laity in the work of
the pope notes that “There are Christians whose
evangelization based on the baptismal call of all
lives seem like Lent without Easter.”
to spread the Gospel. Pope John Paul II, the “jet
The true joy of the Gospel is available to
age pope” with his ceaseless travels around the
everyone. Pope Francis makes an observation
world, exemplified a new papal way of evangeliz- that I have seen myself in many countries: “I can
ing, and he had a good effect on young people
say that the most beautiful and natural expreswith his World Youth Days. Now our new pope,
sions of joy that I have seen in my life were in
Francis, is trying to focus us on a new, biblically
poor people, who had little to hold on to.” And
based call to follow the Christ of the Gospel.
he continues, “I also think of the real joy shown
There is no doubt that Vatican II increased
by others who, even amid pressing professional
the participation of the laity in our Catholic
obligations, were able to preserve, in detachChurch.
ment and simplicity, a heart full of faith.” True
In fact, I would say that the full-time work
Christian joy comes from following Jesus in
of the laity in our parishes and dioceses has
happiness and in pain, committing our lives to
saved our church at a time when the appeal of
him. This encounter, says Pope Francis, libervocations to religious life has declined. As we in- ates us from our narrow self-absorption. In it we
corporated the laity into full-time church work,
receive a love that restores meaning to our lives,
it often became necessary to explain to everyone a love we must share. And that is the source and
just what we were doing. There developed the
inspiration of the new evangelization.
practice of writing a brief mission statement for
The above comments were drawn from
our parishes and dioceses, sometimes followed
only the introduction to “The Joy of the Gospel.”
by a longer vision statement further detailing
There follow five chapters. They will be the
what we planned to do. I think that Pope Francis subject of future columns.
has done the same for the Church Universal in
“The Joy of the Gospel.” This isn’t a complete
FATHER CARVILLE is a retired priest of the Diocese
break with the past. In good Italian fashion, he
of Baton Rouge. He writes on current topics for
has taken 160 pages to flesh out his vision of
The Catholic Commentator and can be reached
what the new evangelization will look like. But
at [email protected]. Another
Perspective
January 10, 2014
D
VIEWPOINT
T
17
My 10 favorite books of 2013
e gustibus non est disputandum.
That’s a famous line from St.
Augustine wherein he suggests
that taste is subjective and that what one
person fancies might not be to another
person’s liking. Under that canopy I
would like to recommend the following
books to you. Among the books that I
read in 2013, these 10 stayed with me in
ways that the others didn’t. So, with no
promises that your tastes will echo mine,
here goes ...
Among the different novels that I
read, I recommend:
Alice Munro’s, Dear Life - Stories:
These stories won’t give you easy moral
comfort, but will stretch you. They’re
moral in that they name things as they
are. Munro might have entitled these
stories – It is what it is! Since publishing
this novel, she has won the Nobel Prize
for Literature, no surprise to anyone in
Canada.
Barbara Kingsolver’s, Flight Behavior: This is a novel about global warming which won’t be everyone’s cup of
tea, though everyone will learn from it.
More important even than her moral
message is the flashlight she shines into
ordinary life. Told from the viewpoint of
a young mother, trapped in poverty and
frustrated by her lack of education and
her lack of choices, Kingsolver brilliantly
lays bare a human heart, with both its
temptations and its virtues.
Toni Morrison’s, Home: Morrison isn’t
easy reading, and her story line isn’t always the easiest to follow, but her writing
is art, the best, and her language conveys
oday’s society has become
a prisoner of numbers, or
at least a combination of
numbers and letters.
Think about how many times
during the course of a day you
have to dig into your memory
bank and remember passwords
that nearly always contain some
numeric combination. When
you awaken, if you are like me
(for your sake I hope you’re not)
the first thing you might do is
check your smart phone to see
what important emails or tweets
you may have missed during the
night.
At least on a smart phone,
that requires some sort of passcode.
From there, the numbers rule
our day, like Bingo balls falling in the cage of life. We need
passwords to access our home
security systems, office computers, ATMs, online banking and
a color and feeling that has
few equals among novelists. She didn’t win the
Nobel Prize for literature
undeservedly.
Within the genre of biography and history, these
books stood out:
Roger Lipsey’s, Hammarskjold, A Life: Lipsey,
using mountains of
material from Dag Hammarskjold’s journals and
letters, reveals that Hammarskjold was all that was
hinted at in Markings,
and more. Hammarskjold,
both as a public figure and
in his private life, tried to
mirror the greatness of life. Nearly 800
pages long, it’s worth the effort, the story
of a great soul.
Brenna Moore’s, Sacred Dread, Raissa
Maritain, the Allure of Suffering and the
French Catholic Revival (1905-1944): Not
an easy read, but anyone with an interest
in the world of Maritains, Leon Bloy,
Charles Peguy and the French Catholic
Revival at the beginning of the last century will be given a deeper insight into
that world.
Kay Cronin’s, Cross in the Wilderness:
An old book, published in 1960, and now
available only in libraries, Cronin traces
the history of the Oblate missionaries
coming to Oregon and British Columbia
and opening churches there. I was truly
inspired by the selflessness and courage of these men and what they accom-
plished. French intellectuals, many of them, were
sent into the wilderness
with little preparation and
survived there on ideals
and faith, and flat-out
toughness. Food, shelter
and doctors often weren’t
available. Reading their
story made me, more
than ever, proud to be a
member of the Missionary
Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Mary Gordon’s, The
Shadow Man, A Daughter’s Search of Her Father:
We only understand
ourselves when we understand our parents and how their virtues
and weaknesses helped shape our own
souls. Mary Gordon, better than most,
has been able to do this. Many of us are
familiar with her brilliant book on her
mother, Circling my Mother. Here she
does the same thing with her father. How
she understands her father will help us to
understand our own.
In the area of spirituality, I much
recommend:
Belden C. Lane’s, The Solace of Fierce
Landscapes, Desert and Mountain
Spirituality: Very much in the genre of
Bill Plotkins’, Soulcraft, Lane gives us
insights into the important role that
geography can play in shaping our souls,
and hints of how we might more deliberately expose ourselves to that. For Lane,
spirituality isn’t something that should
In Exile
Father Ron Rolheiser
be done only in air-conditioned prayer
centers. Rather, nature, the desert, the
wind and the sun need also to wash over
our souls and bodies.
Jim Wallis’, Rediscovering Values On Wall Street, Main Street, and Your
Street, A Moral Compass for the New
Economy: This book should come with a
warning: It will upset you if you’re a fiscal
conservative, but, if you are, you might
want to give yourself this challenge. Wallis is as close to a “Dorothy Day” as our
generation has.
Donald H. Dunson’s and James A.
Dunson’s, Citizen of the World, Suffering and Solidarity in the 21st Century:
Socrates once said that he was a citizen
of the world first and only, after that, a
citizen of Athens. How do we widen our
hearts and our attitudes so as to live out
a citizenship that’s wider than our own
ethnicity, nationality, history, geography,
self-interest and natural affinity? Donald
and James Dunson try to answer that,
and they do it with remarkable nuance.
This book is a genuine moral compass,
what prophecy should be. Good prophets
don’t spray you with guilt; they make you
want to be a better person.
Again, de gustibus non est disputandum.
Father Rolheiser, theologian, teacher and
award-winning author, is president of
the Oblate School of Theology in San
Antonio, Texas. He can be contacted
through his website ronrolheiser.com.
Now on Facebook facebook.com/ronrol
heiser.
Counting to 10 not always so easy
Wandering
Catholic
Richard Meek
credit card accounts.
And how do we remember
all of these numeric matrixes
so we don’t break down on the
highway of modern technology
while the rest of the world whiz-
zes by while punching in the
passcode to their iPad? Because
of my, shall we say, advancing
age, the memory bank appears
to diminish each year, so simplicity is critical. My numeric
combinations usually involve
some derivative of the holy grail
of golf scores, a number that’s
only been achieved a few times
on the PGA Tour and certainly
never threatened by me.
Amazingly, though, so many
of us can remember a myriad
of numbers but forget how to
count to 10. Often lost in our
trove of numeric combinations
is The Ten Commandments,
God’s laws of life that were
burned into what became the
world’s first and most primitive
iPad.
We can remember with ease
the most complex combinations
that will allow us access to a
social media site but can’t re-
member to count to 2, as in the
Second Commandment: Thou
shalt not take the name of the
Lord thy God in vain. Raise your
hand if you did not violate this
commandment while watching the LSU-Alabama game.
Thought so.
Online shopping and you
need your member identification number to access the
website? No problem. But what
difficulty we have in counting to
3: Remember the Sabbath day,
to keep it holy. Translated, that
means attend Mass. The fact
that only one-third of Catholics
attend Mass regularly is evidence that No. 3 is not an element of our spiritual passcode.
We are guilty of these
infractions because we are
human. It’s easier to remember a password that grants us
access to a shopping website,
social media website or perhaps
even a dating website, rather
than a number corresponding
to a commandment. Frankly,
what’s more enjoyable? Buying something trivial online or
counting obeying the dreaded
8th Commandment, which is
the dreaded no gossiping (isn’t
that the purpose of the break
room?).
Somewhere lost in our bowing to the numeric trappings of
our lives the most important
numbers are often forgotten.
The next time you punch
in a passcode, correlate each
number with one of the commandments. Watch how your
life improves, and how suddenly
those seemingly important
numbers seem so trite.
Meek is the editor and general
manager of The Catholic Commenator and can be reached at
[email protected].
18
COMING EVENTS
Women’s Morning of Reflection – Dr. Mary Wallace, a
specialist in resource education and workforce development, will present a women’s morning of reflection, “Being a Daughter of God,” sponsored by Court Regina Coeli
#2063 of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Saturday, Jan. 18, 8:30 a.m. – noon, at St. Jude Church, corner
of Highland Road and Gardere Lane, Baton Rouge. To
register, call 225-448-3299 or 225-769-5763.
Father Matt Linn Retreats – Father Matt Linn SJ will
present two retreats sponsored by the St. Joseph Spirituality Center at St. Joseph’s Academy’s Mother Alice
Hall, 3050 Kleinert Ave., Baton Rouge. He will present
January 10, 2014
a parents’ retreat, “What is My Song?” Friday, Jan. 24,
8:30 – 11:30 a.m. The retreat will help parents show their
children their purpose in life. Cost is $20. On Sunday,
Jan. 26, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Father Linn will present a Spanish retreat, “Finding the Life in Our Lives,” which will
include a healing Mass and lunch. The retreat will focus
on a reflective practice called the examin. Cost is $40. To
register and for information, call 225-383-3349 or visit
stjocenter.org.
Anne Trufant Talk – Anne Trufant, retreat leader,
speaker and musician, will present a talk Wednesday,
Jan. 15, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., at St. Jules Church, 7165 Hwy.
1, Belle Rose. The talk will be based on Ephesians 1:18,
“May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you
may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what
are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy
ones.” Call 225-473-8569.
St. Jules Mission – Father Wade Menezes CPM will present a mission, “Work Out Your Salvation,” Sunday, Feb. 2
through Thursday, Feb. 6, 7– 8 p.m., at St. Jules Church,
7165 Hwy. 1, Belle Rose. Confessions will be heard from
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. and after the mission, which will conclude with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and
benediction. Call 225-473- 8569.
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INCOME TAX PREPARATION
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Business Service
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225-241-8488 or 225-928-7194.
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Mr. D’s Tree Service
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Flower beds, landscaping, general
yard work, debris removal; commercial;
residential; quality work, licensed, free
estimates, references. 225-247-6079.
Kitchen counter tops. Call for free estimates. John O'Neill 225-938-6141 or
225-683-6837.
Donnie’s Furniture Repair & Upholstery. We do refinishing, repairs, caning,
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In business 43 yrs. Pick up and delivery.
10876 Greenwell Springs Rd. 225-2722577. See our showroom.
LEBLANC’S TREE & STUMP
REMOVAL, INC.
Prompt service–Free estimates
FULLY INSURED
E. H. “Eddie” LeBlanc
Phone 383-7316
Dave’s Bicycle Repair and Sales. Free
pickup and delivery, free estimates, expert economical repair on all brands.
225-924-4337 or www.davesbicyclerepair.
com.
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.
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.
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.
Help Wanted
Help Wanted
Athletic Director
Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School seeks joyful, energetic,
talented and faith-filled candidates for the position of Athletic
Director. A qualified candidate will be organized, responsible,
and an excellent communicator. The ideal candidate will have
significant experience playing and/or coaching sports, and
will be committed to the philosophy of athletics as a valuable
means of Christian formation for young people. Duties include
management of all athletic programs including: basketball,
cheer, cross country, dance, football, swimming, tee ball, track
& field, and volleyball. The Mercy Athletic Director also coordinates schedules for all athletic facilities including the gym and
field while maintaining those spaces in good working condition. The Athletic Director will select, train and evaluate coaches for all Mercy sports teams. This position may be full-time or
part-time depending on the skills, experience and vision of the
applicant. Interested candidates should submit a resume’ and
cover letter to principal Brian Moscona via e-mail at bmoscona
@olomschool.org.
Business Service
Baton Rouge Care Service. Serving Baton Rouge and surrounding areas since
1960. Registered sitters, nurses, and
nurses aides for the sick and elderly in
the home, nursing homes and hospitals.
Licensed and bonded for private duty
care. 225-924-6098 or 225-667-0480.
www.batonrougesittersregistry.com.
IT Specialist
Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School seeks a joyful, knowledgeable, dedicated computer specialist capable of assisting the school with computer hardware and software, server
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supporting faculty, staff and administration with computer issues, as well as determining best ways to integrate instructional technology into the classroom setting. Interested candidates should send cover letter and resume’ to Principal Brian
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Looking for Great Teachers!
Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School in Baton Rouge, LA seeks
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degree in education and will be committed to ongoing professional development. Our Lady of Mercy serves 800 students in
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www.wordgamesforcatholics.com
January 10, 2014
“Life Offers No Guarantees.
Abortion Offers No Chances”
SPONSORS:
Louisiana Right to Life, Louisiana Conference of
Catholic Bishops, Knights of Columbus, Louisiana
Baptist Convention, Louisiana Family Forum, Baton
Rouge Right to Life, Hippocratic Resource, and the
Concerned Women for America
FEATURING:
A powerful march from the Old State Capitol to the
current State Capitol in Baton Rouge with prayer
and presentations on the steps of the Capitol.
Gather by 11:45 AM behind the Old State Capitol!
Downtown Baton Rouge
SATURDAY JANUARY 18, 2014
NOON - 2:00 PM
www.LALifeMarch.com
1.866.463.5433
19
20
January 10, 2014
Year: Lack of interest forces cancellation of Vatican II classes
GRADUATES HONORED – Our Lady of the Lake College graduates who
received the highest honors at the college’s recent commencement are, from left, Christina Bennett, a bachelor of science in
nursing graduate, was recognized with the Board of Trustees’
Medal, awarded to the bachelor’s degree recipient with the
highest grade point average; Vittoria Soleto, a bachelor of science in nursing graduate, received the President’s Medal, awarded to the bachelor’s degree recipient with the second highest
grade point average; and Mary Chiappetta, an associate of science in arts and sciences graduate, earned the Dean’s Medal
which is awarded to the associate degree recipient with the
highest grade point average. Photo provided by OLOL College
from page 1
Each video is about 45 minutes and includes the speaker’s
presentation, reflection questions and discussion time.
Parenton said she is hoping to
be able to offer the series to all
parishes within the diocese to be
used in a variety of ways, including RCIA as well as an evangelization tool.
“I think there’s a lot of possibilities,” she added. “Something
like this would not have been
done if it was not for the Year of
Faith. It’s one of the biggest positives.”
Parenton said the diocese also
offered an icon presentation,
which proved to be popular, as
well as a luncheon to recognize
volunteers and employees of religious education for specific years
of service.
Additionally, Parenton’s office
utilized social media for a daily
devotion to Mary, organized the
Theology on Tap series, which is
geared toward young adults, and
incorporated the Year of Faith
into diocesan youth events.
columnist Father John Carville
also authored a series of columns
highlighting his experiences in
Rome during Vatican II.
Several church parishes also
recognized the year in varying
ways but perhaps none as active
as St. Benedict the Moor Church
in Bertrandville and its sister
chapel St. Augustine in Klotzville. They launched the year by
ringing the St. Benedict Church
bell for three minutes and praying the rosary outside of the
church. They also restored the
former practice of ringing the
bell one hour before all weekend
Masses and after all funerals.
Eucharistic adoration was
held on Fridays from 7:30 a.m.
to 6 p.m., with the rosary being
recited at 5:30 p.m. Church officials said both of those practices
are continuing.
The congregation prayed a
Year of Faith prayer at each Mass
^45 Because %46
SHE DESERVES TO
BE IN SURROUNDINGS
as BEAUTIFUL
AS
SHE
IS.
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and is continuing with a prayer
written by pastor Father Gordian O. Iwuji MSP. The church
marked the end of the year by
personal faith testimonies by
parishioners after each weekend
Mass.
A Lenten mission and individual presentations by parishioners on “Why We Are Catholic When We Can Be Anything
Else” highlighted the year at the
cluster parishes of St. Joseph in
French Settlement and St. Stephen the Martyr in Maurepas.
The Gospel of Matthew was
also examined during Scripture
study.
A three-night mission featuring nationally known speaker
and Catholic musician John Michael Talbot anchored the year’s
activities at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Pierre Part. Also, a
monthly hour of adoration was
held on the last Sunday of each
month from January through
June to pray for life, marriage,
and religious liberty; Catholicism was discussed in an 11-week
course; an eight-week study was
offered utilizing the reading and
reflection of Scripture to help
make real changes in life; and a
stress relief and mediation night
was held for young adults.
One negative, Parenton cited,
was two classes scheduled on
Vatican II that included a speaker were canceled because of lack
of interest.
“We had hoped there would
be more interest in Vatican II
because it was celebrating its
50th anniversary,” she said. “At
the same time there has been
enough distance when Vatican
II happened and now where it
doesn’t have the same impact
and meaning for the current
generation. For young people it’s
more like history.
“We just didn’t get the interest. I’m not surprised.”
Also, an intermediate course
on the Catechism of the Catholic Church and a presentation on
apologetics were canceled.
To see past issues of The
Catholic Commentator
go to the website,
thecatholic
commentator.org,
and click on
“ISSUES”

January 10 - The Catholic Commentator

Transcription

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