November 30 - The Catholic Commentator

Transcription

Commentator
t h e
November 30, 2011 Vol. 49, No. 21
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 a t o n r o u g e s i n c e 1 9 6 2 thecatholiccommentator.org
ONE LIT CANDLE — This Advent Wreath, with the first candle lit to mark the first week of
Advent, is in the upstairs foyer
of the Catholic Life Center in
Baton Rouge. Another candle
will be lit each Monday of Advent during a morning prayer
service attended by Catholic
Life Center employees and
visitors. The season of Advent
is a time of anticipation, as
Catholics prepare for the coming of Christ in our lives. Photo by
Laura Deavers | The Catholic Commentator
Bishops discuss religious liberty, marriage at annual meeting
BALTIMORE (CNS) — During their annual three-day fall assembly in Baltimore,
the U.S. bishops discussed threats to religious liberty, efforts to support traditional
marriage and the need to keep a close eye on
health care issues.
They also were updated on the Roman Missal translation and the new U.S. ordinariate
to bring former Anglicans into the Catholic
Church.
During the Nov. 14-16 meeting, they also
voted on several items, ranging from approving the annual budget of the U.S. Conference
of Catholic Bishops to adding new optional memorials for Blessed John Paul II and Blessed
Marianne Cope to the U.S. liturgical calendar.
New Orleans Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond, chairman of the Committee on Divine
Worship, gave a brief report Nov. 15 on the
adoption of the new Roman Missal, addressing questions related to its implementation
this Advent.
When asked if it were possible to still use
the old missal translation in certain circumstances, such as when eucharistic ministers
visit the elderly for Communion services, the
archbishop said: “The guidelines say to use
the new one. But the pastoral practice should
allow for some flexibility.”
In votes cast during the first two days of
the meeting, the bishops elected Archbishop
J. Peter Sartain of Seattle as USCCB secretary-elect and Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des
Moines, Iowa, as chairman of the Committee
on International Justice and Peace.
They also approved a $217.4 million budget
for 2012 and a 3 percent increase in diocesan
assessments for 2013. They also overwhelmingly approved a five-year extension of a
resolution calling bishops to adhere to sound
financial reporting within their dioceses and
voted in favor of priorities and plans for 2012
for the USCCB with a 219-6 vote.
The bishops overwhelmingly approved a
new set of guidelines for how dioceses and
church parishes will administer national collections, that document a combination of history, rationale and how-to guide.
On the first day of the gathering, the bishops voted to establish a permanent Subcommittee on Health Care Issues under the Committee on Doctrine’s jurisdiction.
Prior to the 214-15 vote, Archbishop Henry J. Mansell of Hartford, Conn., said he was
“strongly in favor” of the new subcommittee
because health care is part of “the Gospel
mission of the church” and involves “billions
and billions of dollars in funding.”
The new subcommittee will address such
issues as guidance in implementing the bishops’ “Ethical and Religious Directives for
Catholic Health Care Services” as well as
non-Catholic hospitals in Catholic health systems, for-profit Catholic health care, canonical status of Catholic health facilities, conscience protection and health care reform.
The bishops approved Oct. 22 as an opSee usccb page 10
MeetingHighlights
2011USCCBfallgeneralassembly
APPROVED
• OptionalmemorialsforBlessedJohnPaul
IIandBlessedMarianneCopeforU.S.
liturgicalcalendar.
• Budgetof$217.4millionfor2012and3
percentincreaseindiocesanassessments
for2013.
• EstablishmentofSubcommitteeon
HealthCareIssuesunderCommitteeon
Doctrine.
• NewguidelinesforadministeringUSCCB
nationalcollectionsindioceses.
HEARD REPORTS ON
• ThreatstoreligiouslibertyintheU.S.
• Effortstostrengthenmarriage.
• SituationinIraq.
• ExpandingtheProjectRachelpostabortionhealingprogram.
• NewRomanMissaltranslation.
OTHER BUSINESS
• HeardArchbishopTimothyM.Dolanof
NewYork,inhisfirstpresidentialaddress,
encourageeffortstorestoretheluster,
credibilityandbeautyofchurchineyesof
itsmembersandothers.
• ChoseArchbishopJ.PeterSartainof
Seattleassecretary-elect.
• Learnedthatanewordinariatewillbe
createdJan.1tobringAnglicansintothe
U.S.CatholicChurch.
• WelcomedArchbishopCarloMaria
Viganoasnewapostolicnunciotothe
UnitedStates.
CNS graphic/Emily Thompson
©2011 CNS
Commentator
t h e
November 30, 2011 Vol. 49, No. 21
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 a t o n r o u g e s i n c e 1 9 6 2 thecatholiccommentator.org
ONE LIT CANDLE — This Advent Wreath, with the first candle lit to mark the first week of
Advent, is in the upstairs foyer
of the Catholic Life Center in
Baton Rouge. Another candle
will be lit each Monday of Advent during a morning prayer
service attended by Catholic
Life Center employees and
visitors. The season of Advent
is a time of anticipation, as
Catholics prepare for the coming of Christ in our lives. Photo by
Laura Deavers | The Catholic Commentator
Bishops discuss religious liberty, marriage at annual meeting
BALTIMORE (CNS) — During their annual three-day fall assembly in Baltimore,
the U.S. bishops discussed threats to religious liberty, efforts to support traditional
marriage and the need to keep a close eye on
health care issues.
They also were updated on the Roman Missal translation and the new U.S. ordinariate
to bring former Anglicans into the Catholic
Church.
During the Nov. 14-16 meeting, they also
voted on several items, ranging from approving the annual budget of the U.S. Conference
of Catholic Bishops to adding new optional memorials for Blessed John Paul II and Blessed
Marianne Cope to the U.S. liturgical calendar.
New Orleans Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond, chairman of the Committee on Divine
Worship, gave a brief report Nov. 15 on the
adoption of the new Roman Missal, addressing questions related to its implementation
this Advent.
When asked if it were possible to still use
the old missal translation in certain circumstances, such as when eucharistic ministers
visit the elderly for Communion services, the
archbishop said: “The guidelines say to use
the new one. But the pastoral practice should
allow for some flexibility.”
In votes cast during the first two days of
the meeting, the bishops elected Archbishop
J. Peter Sartain of Seattle as USCCB secretary-elect and Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des
Moines, Iowa, as chairman of the Committee
on International Justice and Peace.
They also approved a $217.4 million budget
for 2012 and a 3 percent increase in diocesan
assessments for 2013. They also overwhelmingly approved a five-year extension of a
resolution calling bishops to adhere to sound
financial reporting within their dioceses and
voted in favor of priorities and plans for 2012
for the USCCB with a 219-6 vote.
The bishops overwhelmingly approved a
new set of guidelines for how dioceses and
church parishes will administer national collections, that document a combination of history, rationale and how-to guide.
On the first day of the gathering, the bishops voted to establish a permanent Subcommittee on Health Care Issues under the Committee on Doctrine’s jurisdiction.
Prior to the 214-15 vote, Archbishop Henry J. Mansell of Hartford, Conn., said he was
“strongly in favor” of the new subcommittee
because health care is part of “the Gospel
mission of the church” and involves “billions
and billions of dollars in funding.”
The new subcommittee will address such
issues as guidance in implementing the bishops’ “Ethical and Religious Directives for
Catholic Health Care Services” as well as
non-Catholic hospitals in Catholic health systems, for-profit Catholic health care, canonical status of Catholic health facilities, conscience protection and health care reform.
The bishops approved Oct. 22 as an opSee usccb page 10
MeetingHighlights
2011USCCBfallgeneralassembly
APPROVED
• OptionalmemorialsforBlessedJohnPaul
IIandBlessedMarianneCopeforU.S.
liturgicalcalendar.
• Budgetof$217.4millionfor2012and3
percentincreaseindiocesanassessments
for2013.
• EstablishmentofSubcommitteeon
HealthCareIssuesunderCommitteeon
Doctrine.
• NewguidelinesforadministeringUSCCB
nationalcollectionsindioceses.
HEARD REPORTS ON
• ThreatstoreligiouslibertyintheU.S.
• Effortstostrengthenmarriage.
• SituationinIraq.
• ExpandingtheProjectRachelpostabortionhealingprogram.
• NewRomanMissaltranslation.
OTHER BUSINESS
• HeardArchbishopTimothyM.Dolanof
NewYork,inhisfirstpresidentialaddress,
encourageeffortstorestoretheluster,
credibilityandbeautyofchurchineyesof
itsmembersandothers.
• ChoseArchbishopJ.PeterSartainof
Seattleassecretary-elect.
• Learnedthatanewordinariatewillbe
createdJan.1tobringAnglicansintothe
U.S.CatholicChurch.
• WelcomedArchbishopCarloMaria
Viganoasnewapostolicnunciotothe
UnitedStates.
CNS graphic/Emily Thompson
©2011 CNS
2
The Catholic Commentator
| IN THIS ISSUE
AN ALARMING NUMBER OF PEOPLE in
the United States are overweight while
the percentage of people living in poverty
and going without food continues to
climb. Charitable institutions and agencies
are struggling to provide nutritious food
to those who have none. Page 4
CATHOLIC
FAMILIES
OBSERVE
ADVENT
in a variety
of ways.
Parents are
encouraging their children to perform corporal works of mercy while they prepare
for Christmas. Page 5
REPEATING BRIEF PRAYERS throughout the day keeps a
person mindful of
the power of prayer
while invoking the
assistance of those in
the heavenly kingdom. Brother Clement Furno CSsR told those attending the
monthly Magnificat meeting that praying
can be likened to breathing.
Page 7
| DID YOU KNOW
Immaculate Conception is U.S. patroness, since 1847
CHURCHES HAVE SCHEDULED TIMES
for reconciliation and Advent Penance
Services. Page 9
CHRISTMAS FOODS & FESTIVITIES, the
annual listing
of church,
school and
public events
taking place
in December,
as well as
some holiday
recipes from
readers, is
included in
this issue.
Pages 1B – 8B
| INDEX
CLASSIFIED ADS
18
COMING EVENTS
18
ENTERTAINMENT
12
FAMILY LIFE
5
INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL NEWS
4
SPIRITUALITY
7
VIEWPOINT
14
YOUTH
16
MASS SCHEDULES 2012
Coming with the December 28 issue of
The Mass Schedules booklet:
November 30, 2011
Mass schedules 2
011
• Is a handy guide to have when seeking
information about all the Catholic
churches in the Diocese of Baton
Rouge – Sunday, weekday and Holy
Day Mass times; clergy; phone
numbers; location; directions; website;
and email address.
• Lists Masses both alphabetically by
towns and by time of day
• Lists Spanish and signed Masses for
Hearing Impaired and other special
Masses.
• Is inserted into the 60,500 copies of
• Is circulated in area hotels for guests to use
Each year our reader response has been overwhelming.
They tell us that they keep their copy of the Mass Schedules booklet
for easy reference all year long.
Advertisers will receive
complimentary color in their ad.
Advertising space is limited and sold on
a first come first serve basis.
To reserve your space call by December 9.
225-387-0983
or email: [email protected] • [email protected]
Did you know that the
Blessed Virgin Mary, conceived without sin, was
named the patroness of the
United States even before
the dogma of her immaculate conception was made
an official article of faith of
the Catholic Church?
In 1846, 22 bishops of the
United States gathered in
Baltimore for the First Session of the Sixth Provincial
Council of Baltimore. At
the time, the ecclesiastical
province of Baltimore comprised the entire United States.
As its first decree, the council of bishops
petitioned the Holy Father to allow it to
name Mary as the patroness of the country
and asked for permission to add the word
“Immaculate” in the orations and preface
of the divine office at Mass and in litanies.
Pope Pius IX approved the petition on
Feb. 7, 1847.
Seven years later, on Dec. 8, 1854, the
pope solemnly declared the Immaculate
Conception of Mary – that Mary had been
conceived without sin – to be a dogma of
faith. Churches throughout the United
States celebrated with
Masses of thanksgiving. In
1866, Dec. 8 became a holy
day of obligation in the
United States.
The devotion of American Catholics to Mary predates the nation’s founding. Largely because of
influences of Spanish settlers, the faithful prayed to
the Blessed Virgin even before the United States was
formed. As the new country began to take shape, so
did the structure of the church.
Father John Carroll was selected the
first bishop of Baltimore, and his diocese
stretched through the 13 colonies, from
Maine to Georgia. When he was consecrated bishop on Aug. 15, 1791, he sent a
pastoral letter to his flock in which he
urged them to join in a “fervent and wellregulated devotion to the Holy Mother of
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that
you will place great confidence in her in
all your necessities. Having chosen her
the special patroness of this diocese, you
are placed, of course, under her powerful
protection.”
| PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PRAY FOR US
Please pray for the priests, deacons and religious women and men in the Baton Rouge Diocese.
Dec. 4
Dec. 5
Dec. 6
Dec. 7
Dec. 8
Dec. 9
Dec. 10
Rev. Henry C. Vavasseur
Dcn. Joseph M. Scimeca
Sr. Mary Rose Therese MC
Rev. Than N. Vu
Dcn. Rudolph W. Stahl
Br. Mark Thornton SC
Rev. Clarence J. Waguespack
Dcn. J. Thomas Traylor
Sr. Thanh Tâm Tran ICM
Rev. Miles D. Walsh
Dcn. John W. Veron
Sr. Margarida Maria Vasques OSF
Rev. Derrick Weingartner SJ
✝ Dcn. Francis J. Waguespack Jr.
Sr. Doris Vigneaux CSJ
Rev. Ju Hyung (Paul) Yi
Dcn. J. Peter Walsh
Sr. Uyen Vu OSF
Rev. Gerard F. Young
Dcn. James E. Wax
Sr. Rachael Williams SSF
Dec. 11
Dec. 12
Dec. 13
Dec. 14
Dec. 15
Dec. 16
Dec. 17
✝ Most Rev. Robert E. Tracy
Dcn. Alfred P. Zeringue
Sr. Adelaide Williamson CSJ
✝ Most Rev. Joseph V. Sullivan
Dcn. Henry J. Zeringue
Sr. Mary Abelette MC
✝ Most Rev. Stanley J. Ott
Dcn. Alfred Adams Sr.
Sr. Martha Ann Abshire OSF
Most Rev. Robert W. Muench
Dcn. Michael A. Agnello
Sr. Jane Louise Arbour CSJ
Rev. Howard R. Adkins
Dcn. Donald L. Ard
Sr. Barbara Arceneaux OSF
Rev. Donatus Ajoko
Dcn. Frank E. Bains
Sr. Mary Ashakiron MC
Rev. Michael J. Alello
Dcn. J. Phillip BeJeaux
Sr. Jane Aucoin CSJ
Commentator
T H E
C A T H O L I C
Month
Bishop Robert W. Muench Publisher
Wanda L. Koch Advertising Manager
Father Than Vu Associate Publisher
Penny G. Saia Advertising Sales
Laura Deavers Exec. Ed./Gen. Mgr.
Lisa Disney Secretary/Circulation
Debbie Shelley Assistant Editor
Barbara Chenevert Staff Writer
Donna Perreault Copy Editor
The Catholic Commentator (ISSN 07460511; USPS 093-680)
Published bi-weekly (every other week) by the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge,1800 South Acadian Thruway, Baton Rouge, LA 70808; 225-387-0983 or 225-387-0561. Periodical Postage Paid at Baton Rouge, LA.
Copy must reach the above address by Wednesday for use in the next week’s paper. Subscription rate:
$12.00 per year. POSTMASTER, send address changes to The Catholic Commentator, P.O. Box 14746, Baton
Rouge, LA 70898-4746. Website: thecatholiccommentator.org.
November 30, 2011
3
New Missal translation receives mixed reactions
By Barbara Chenevert
Staff Writer
“We weathered it.” “It was beau
tiful.”
“There seemed to be a greater sense of
unity and closeness to the congregation.”
“There were awkward moments, laughs,
giggles and smiles, but we made it.” “People may have been more engaged and attuned to the Mass.”
After a year of preparation, Catholics
across the Diocese of Baton Rouge seemed
to take in stride the long-awaited changes
in the English translation the Roman Missal of which they debuted at Masses on the
First Sunday of Advent. Both priests and
lay people said the people listened attentively and participated in the responses,
even though there were some uncomfortable moments.
“It was obvious to me that the prayers of
the celebrant were different, as well as the
tone … with more prayers being sung,” said
Jay Jackson, a parishioner of St. George
Church in Baton Rouge. “It’s too early for
me to say whether I like the changes or not.
I think on this first weekend of changes,
more emphasis was placed on ‘structure,’
which for me takes away from the beauty
and meaning of the Mass. Hopefully, time
will change that,” he said.
But Jackson said he felt the assembly’s
participation was about the same as usual.
In fact, the celebrant at the Mass he attended, Father Brent Maher, congratulated the
assembly as the first new response, “And
with your spirit,” was prayed aloud. “Very
good,” he remarked. The new response replaces, “And also with you.”
Father David Allen, pastor of Holy Family Church in Port Allen, summed up reactions of most at his church like this: “First,
it was a beautiful Mass. Second, we made
it through, we did fine and we will get used
to it.”
“Although most were having to follow
closely, they seemed more connected to
those around them in the pews, as they
shared prayer cards or missalettes … It
felt like friends around a family table. Yes,
there were some uncomfortable feelings
and a lack of a familiar flow to the Mass,
but there was no question all were able to
celebrate as God’s holy family.
“All in all it was a good start, and we will
grow, love and celebrate together no matter what changes come,” Father Allen said.
Pam Folse of Our Lady Queen of Peace
Church in Vacherie said the people at her
church participated well in the prayers,
seemed to be very attentive and responded
wholeheartedly.
Our Lady of Peace had prepared for
about a year with the aid of bulletin in-
serts, articles made available by the Office
of Worship and teaching homilies on the
Eucharist by the pastor, Father Michael
Miceli, she said.
“I have always welcomed change, so to
have this change come during this season
of the church’s year was even more exciting. Father Michael gave us cues on where
we could follow in the worship aid,” she
said.
“I found the Eucharistic prayers to be a
bit more poetic and the new musical settings to be rather refreshing,” Folse said.
However, she questioned whether the
prose and poetry of the new translations,
sometimes in long sentences with very
little pause, are the best way to communicate in today’s culture, where she said less
seems to be best.
Father Paul Gros, who was ordained two
years ago, said he felt like he was celebrating his first Mass all over again. “I certainly was both nervous and excited. Even
after having practiced several times with
the new words, at times it was difficult.
Mostly because some of the new translation is similar to the old translation, and so
I found myself slipping into what I already
know. Overall, it certainly was not overly
difficult. The language of the new translation is a heightened or elevated language,
which makes it beautiful, but not always as
fluent as what I have been used to,” he said.
Father Gros said he was proud and taken
aback at how well the people in his church
parishes of St. Joseph in Paulina, Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Gramercy and St.
Michael in Convent responded. “I guess
we were all in this together, because they
had many new parts also. To be honest, I
think it was some of the best responses I
have heard. People may have been more
engaged and attuned to the Mass. Otherwise they would have been lost.”
Father Jamin David added a little humor
to the reactions, saying the first “victim” of
the new translation might have been the
small altar server at St. Aloysius Church in
Baton Rouge. “My conviction that the Roman Missal weighed more than him was
verified when after 15 seconds his arms
shook so violently that Father could barely
read the new text held before him!”
He said pew cards constantly swayed
around the sanctuary to remind parishioners to follow along with the textual changes. “And yet, it took several attempts to
change the automatic response to ‘The Lord
be with you’ to a thunderous ‘And with your
spirit.’ There were awkward moments, public service announcements, a cacophony of
different responses, laughs, giggles and
smiles – but we made it,” he said.
SEE MISSAL PAGE 20
A Golden Opportunity
in the Tradition of St. Vincent de Paul
We are excited to announce the launch of a new effort at St. Vincent de Paul. This new project
entitled, A Golden Opportunity, will encourage people of goodwill to donate gold, silver and platinum
to help us in our mission of charity. Over 300 years ago, St. Vincent de Paul himself would ask the
nobility and wealthy to give their gold, jewelry and precious stones to help him serve the poor. In this
painting, Queen Anne of France gives her crown and jewels to help St. Vincent de Paul in his work
with the poor.
The idea of donating broken or unwanted jewelry has been lost through the years, but we want to
rekindle that thought and encourage you to donate items that you no longer wear. Whether they are
broken, dated, or just not your style anymore, they have real value and can help in our service to the
poor and homeless.
With the struggling economy, the price of gold is at an all-time high. However, if you try to sell your gold, you will only receive a fraction of
its true value. If you donate it to St. Vincent de Paul, you get a 100% tax deduction on the value of the gold, silver, platinum or diamonds
donated. What better way to help a great cause and receive a tax deduction as well. Help us to keep St. Vincent de Paul’s vision alive and
well by donating items we desperately need.
We encourage you, your family and friends to help us launch this project by donating your unwanted jewelry, gold, silver or
platinum. The process begins with a phone call to St. Vincent de Paul at (225) 383-7837, extension O. From there, we will set up
an appointment at a local jeweler for you to bring in your items, have them valued and begin the process. In addition to helping
one of our area’s oldest charities, you will also earn a tax break and beat the end-of-the-year rush.
Share Your Blessings with Those in Need by Taking Advantage of this Golden Opportunity!
Call us today at (225) 383-7837, ext. O.
4
NATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL
November 30, 2011
Poverty in the midst of plenty: Hunger persists in the United States
WASHINGTON – As U.S. nutritionists cringe over the prospect of an overweight nation
indulging in a two-month binge
of “season’s eatings” – from Halloween candy to Thanksgiving
dinners to Christmas feasts to
New Year’s parties – there are
millions of Americans who aren’t
sure they’re going to get enough to
eat this day or the next.
The problem is made worse by
lack of access to nutritious food,
as residents of America’s poorest
cities and neighborhoods have
little choice but to make do with
fast food or convenience stores
that don’t stock fresh produce.
And even if they were the
food-savviest consumers in the
country, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
– the new name for food stamps
– doesn’t stretch far enough to let
each member in the household
eat a healthy meal three times a
day, seven days a week. Earlier
this year, SNAP benefits were cut
to pay for a boost in school lunch
programs.
Hunger isn’t the only issue.
A Catholic Charities USA
third-quarter “snapshot” of its
member agencies issued Nov.
22 found that 88 percent of the
agencies either had to turn away
people or maintain a waiting list
for at least one service, 64 percent
couldn’t meet the need for emergency financial assistance, and 56
percent couldn’t meet requests for
utility assistance – including 67
percent in Southern states dogged
by heat waves and an extended
drought.
What’s more, requests for help
by the working poor were up 80
percent over the second quarter,
requests by families were up 66
percent, by the homeless up 60
percent – and by the middle class
up 59 percent.
“In the House’s agricultural
appropriations bill for 2012, it
voted to take away nutrition assistance from 600,000 young children and their mothers who now
participate in the WIC (Women,
Infants and Children) program
and to eliminate food aid rations
for 14 million of the most desperate people in the world,” said the
Rev. David Beckmann.
The Lutheran minister, who is
president of Bread for the World,
Texas Priest Hosts
National Parks Tour
Kings Canyon – Sequoia – Yosemite
Arches – Canyonlands – Bryce Canyon
Zion – Capitol Reef – Grand Canyon
14 Days Departs June 22, 2012 from $1398*
Take time for reflection of God’s remarkable creation!
Take a relaxing trip on your luxurious coach as you travel with other Catholics through
the changing desert landscapes of Nevada to the farmlands of central California.
Witness the giant Redwood trees in Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks,
then be amazed at the rock formations and waterfalls in Yosemite National Park.
You’ll also visit majestic Lake Tahoe with 72 miles of pristine shoreline and stop in
historic Virginia City, Reno, Winnemucca and Elko, Nevada. In Utah tour the world’s
largest man-made excavation – the Kennecott Copper Mine; 2, 2/3 miles wide plus
the Great Salt Lake! Next tour the unique rocks shaped by wind, water, sun and
frost at Arches’ National Park; and Canyonlands, with enchanting vistas carved
by the Colorado and Green Rivers. Next your Catholic group will visit Capitol Reef
and Bryce Canyon National Parks and drive through the Dixie National Forest.
On Monday, July 2, you’ll arrive at the grandest of all National Parks, The Grand
Canyon, for both a day and night. Enjoy the sunset that evening and sunrise the
following morning! Spend the fourth of July in exciting Las Vegas with an included
day excursion to Zion National Park. That evening enjoy all the hoopla and
excitement Las Vegas is famous for on Independence Day including free fireworks
shows. Your Chaplain is Father Frank Wittouck, SCJ, from Houston, Texas. He
retired as an Army Chaplain in 2010 yet currently ministers in the Cypress Assistance
Ministries. His recent YMT pilgrimage was to the Holy Land. *Per person, double
occupancy, includes taxes. Airfare is extra.
Hardship in the US
The number of people at risk of hunger increased from
36.2 million in 2007 to 48.8 million in 2010. Charities and
food assistance programs are feeling the strain with these
increased numbers.
unemployed
Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program
households
Food Bank Client
households
20
households (millions)
By Mark Pattison
Catholic News Service
15
10
5
0
BEFORE THE RECESSION
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, USDA, Feeding America
a Christian anti-hunger lobby,
made the comments in a preface
to the organization’s 22nd annual
hunger report, titled this year
“Rebalancing Act: Updating U.S.
Food and Farm Policies.”
The report is peppered with
indictments of current U.S. food
policy. “Current policies favor
production of calories, not nutrients,” it said. “Today, the United
States does not even produce
enough fruits and vegetables for
Americans to meet the recommended daily allowances of vitamins and minerals.”
Elsewhere, the report noted: “Agricultural research has
been starved for public support.
Shrinking food supplies, and the
use of food crops to make biofuels,
such as corn to make ethanol, are
driving up the cost of food well beyond what people in poverty can
afford.” One woman reported that
on days when money is scarce,
she’ll get by on a two-liter bottle
AFTER THE RECESSION
©2011 CNS
of soda to feel full so that her children can eat real meals.
“We do not need farm policies
that encourage farmers to produce more fats and sweeteners to
feed hungry children,” the report
said.
At a Nov. 21 news conference to
introduce the “Rebalancing Act”
report, Rev. Beckmann said a new
farm bill should get rid of agricultural subsidies in favor of revenue
insurance, thus freeing up more
funds for nutrition assistance in
a country where federal statistics
show that close to 46 million people are living in poverty.
Tianna Gaines-Turner, mother
of three children and stepmother
to another three, is a member of
Witnesses to Hunger, founded
in Philadelphia by a Drexel University professor so that hungry
people could document what their
lives are like, continuously living
hand-to-mouth. After two years
of volunteering, she got a job with
Witnesses to Hunger last year and
is helping set up new chapters in
Boston, Baltimore, Omaha, Neb.,
and Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. –
not the first place one associates
with hunger and poverty.
Gaines-Turner told Catholic
News Service Nov. 21 she planned
to spend Thanksgiving “thankful
that I have an adequate meal” and
a safe, secure place to live with her
family.
Some are even less lucky. The
D.C. Central Kitchen prepares
426 breakfasts and dinners each
day for 801 East, a men’s shelter
in Washington operated by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese
of Washington. For many of the
men, it is the only food they’ll eat
all day. The men must be out of the
shelter by 7 a.m. each day and cannot return until 7 p.m. each night.
The number of homeless men
climbed with the onset of the
2008 recession, said Paul Amara,
who helps manage shelters for
Catholic charities. It was in this
downturn, he added, that he first
started seeing young men barely
past the age of majority seeking
shelter.
Amara told CNS that 801 East
tries to give the men a little something extra at Thanksgiving and
Christmas; some of the men may
be taken in by relatives for the holiday. But the dynamics of homelessness are complicated, he said.
“Some stay and move on to
other transitional housing programs. We have guys who come
into the shelter and in the matter of a month or two get a job
or something,” Amara said. “We
have some who stay forever. We
also have recidivists. From November to March, the chronically
homeless stay off the street.
“After that, you see them disappear.”
NCYC attendees put priority on reconciliation
By Sean Gallagher
INDIANAPOLIS — While Lucas Oil Stadium and the many
conference rooms and exhibit
halls in the Indiana Convention
Center were buzzing with laughing, singing and cheering during
the National Catholic Youth Conference, there were some areas in
which the only thing that could
be heard were quiet whispers.
This was where about 100
priests and bishops heard confessions from a steady stream
of youths and chaperones for 12
hours over two days.
As each penitent left those areas, they were given a sticker that
read, “I’m forgiven.”
Countless participants at the
Nov. 17-19 conference in Indianapolis could be seen wearing the
phrase on their clothing.
The group included Logan
Patrick, 18, of Des Moines, Iowa.
“It’s really inspiring,” he said.
“It’s great to see so many Catholics get together to have their sins
forgiven before the Eucharist on
Saturday.”
Madison Beagley, Janna
Schulte and Alexandra Ptacek
are three friends from Russell,
Kan., population 4,280, who attended the national conference.
They were impressed by the lines
of people waiting to go to confession and then showing everyone,
by wearing their sticker, that they
had been forgiven.
November 30, 2011
FAMILY LIFE
5
Advent presents opportunities for family service projects
By Debbie Shelley
Assistant Editor
During Advent, many families
provide hope for others through
good works and experience joy
while waiting for Jesus’ birth by
seeing his face in the people they
serve.
Jeff and Mary Miller, parishioners of St. George Church in
Baton Rouge, believe community
service teaches their children,
Joseph, 16, and Mary Grace, 13,
about compassion.
Two years ago, Mary Miller
asked people who were crowded
into two dilapidated homes what
they needed. She led a drive to
collect items for them for Christmas. On Christmas Day, the Millers and others supporting the
collection delivered numerous
gifts.
“When we knocked on the families’ door at 6 a.m., their faces
were filled with shock and disbelief. They were very surprised at
the amount of food and gifts we
had for all 16 kids, parents and
grandma,” said Mary Grace Miller, a student at St. George School.
During Advent last year, Mary
Miller and her daughter sewed
E
dresses for orphans in Haiti.
Many people became involved in
the project, including Mary Grace
Miller’s teacher, Barbara Bernard,
the students from St. Joseph’s
Academy’s home economics class
and their teachers, several mothers, and Mary Grace’s good friend,
Alaina Bruce.
The Millers also serve through
the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
This year, the family organized a
group of students from Catholic
High School, St. Joseph’s Academy and St. George School to
decorate the St. Vincent de Paul
Dining Room for the society’s annual Thanksgiving dinner, and
will decorate the dining hall again
for Christmas. The Millers will
serve meals for both holidays,
and have invited other students
and their families to do the same.
Mary Miller is also organizing a
drive at St. George to collect small
Christmas gift items that Bishop
Robert W. Muench will distribute to children in need at the St.
Vincent de Paul Dining Room on
Dec. 17.
The family of Esteban and Tara
Herrera, members of Our Lady
of Mercy Church in Baton Rouge,
believe even small gestures make
Preparing sandwiches for the YMCA’s Peanut Butter and Jelly Club are
from left, Matthew, Stephen and Anna Herrera. Photo provided by Tara Herrera
a difference, and that Advent
provides special opportunities to
connect with those who are less
fortunate. One way the Herreras
help is to collect loose change
throughout the year in a “jolly
jar.” During Advent, Tara Herrera
and her sons, Stephen, 19, and
Matthew, 17, and daughter, Anna,
12, give the money to someone in
need. “We get in the car and let
the Lord decide who needs help,”
Tara said.
The Herreras also provide gifts
for needy families through the
Holiday Star Program, sponsored
by the Baton Rouge Bar Association, of which Esteban Herrera is
a member.
The Herreras’ good deeds cultivate generosity in the children.
When Stephen Herrera was a senior at Catholic High School last
year, he contacted Catholic Charities and led his classmates in
adopting a family for Christmas.
The family of Todd and Monica
Alley pull together during Advent
to support the Angel Tree Project at St. Thomas More Church
in Baton Rouge and St. Thomas
More school and preschool.
Monica Alley coordinates the
project, and her children – Michael, 10, Patrick, 8, Emily, 5 1/2,
and Thomas, 2 1/2 – place ornaments containing anonymous,
general information about less
fortunate people on the trees and
help people select ornaments.
Michael Alley said, “I like being able to give people stuff they
might not get otherwise.”
The family of Rhett and Ashley
Allain, members of Holy Ghost
Church in Hammond, celebrate
Advent by bringing joy to nursing home residents. The Allains’
children include Abby, 11, Luc, 9,
Ellie, 8, and Andrew, 5. Ashley,
Allain, a catechist at Holy Ghost,
recruits parish school of religion
students to make Christmas
cards. The Allains and some of
the PSR students give the cards
to the nursing home residents.
Many residents respond joyfully,
and the children reach out to and
pray for those residents who are
having a difficult time.
The Allains also celebrate Advent by preparing for the annual
Holy Ghost Christmas pageant.
Ashley Allain said no one can predict what will happen during the
production, which involves young
children and animals.
To celebrate Christ’s birth on
Christmas Day, the Allains host a
birthday party for Jesus featuring
red velvet cake made according to
a 100 year-old family recipe.
The dangers of sports and the strength they give
verything we do every day
has the potential to be
dangerous. We often ignore
the risks because there’s little that
we can do to reduce or eliminate
them.
For millions of teenagers, that
risk comes from participating
in sports activities. Recent news
stories have detailed events leading up to the unexpected deaths
of three students who had nothing
and everything in common.
Ridge Barden, who had just
celebrated his 16th birthday,
played football for a high school
in Phoenix, N.Y. During the third
quarter of a game a few weeks
ago, he took a hit that left him
stunned, face down on the field.
He was able to sit up, but he
complained of a bad headache. He
collapsed when he tried to stand.
As he was being transferred from
one hospital to a larger medical
center in Syracuse, his condition
deteriorated and he died.
Reggie Garrett also collapsed at
a football game, this one last year
in Texas. The high school senior
had just thrown his second touchdown pass. He ran off the field and
Coming Of Age
Eric Rommel
seemed totally fine. But moments
later fellow players alerted coaches
that Reggie had fallen to his knees
and then onto his side. He was
taken by ambulance to an area
hospital but later died.
It’s not just players on the field
who face risks. Angela Gettis,
16, passed out on the sideline of
a high school football game in
Los Angeles. The cheerleader
collapsed without warning and
was rushed to a hospital, where
she died about three hours later,
reportedly from sudden cardiac
arrest.
Each of these three teens had
a parent or guardian who gave
permission for them to participate
in extracurricular activities.
One of the reasons that parents
are asked to sign such waivers
is that the risk of an accident is
always present.
Since 1977, the Department of
Exercise and Sport Science at the
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, has studied catastrophic
injuries in football, everything
from fatal incidents to collisions
that cause concussions.
Until relatively recently,
concussions were often underdiagnosed and under-treated.
Players and coaches questioned
whether an injury could exist if
you couldn’t see it. However, science has now proven that sitting
out due to a concussion is not a
sign of weakness.
Concussion symptoms include
everything from depression, poor
concentration and headaches to
nervousness, vomiting and irritability. (Of course, if someone hit
me so hard that I had a headache
and wanted to vomit, I’d probably
be a little irritable, too.)
Concussions, of course, are no
laughing matter. Neither are the
injuries that are easier to diagnose.
Since 1977, more than 300 high
school and college football players
suffered spinal cord injuries and
never fully recovered, according
to the Department of Exercise and
Sport Science.
The good news is that improved
equipment and stricter rules have
resulted in a reduced number of
serious injuries: presently, less
than one injury a year for every
100,000 players.
Despite the pain, Jacqueline
Barden, Ridge’s mother, has
spoken out with a message to her
son’s teammates and those who
played on the field opposite him.
She wanted them to know that
what happened wasn’t their fault.
She said that it was an accident,
and that her son would feel the
same way. Even more, even after
what happened, she couldn’t
imagine taking football away
from her son.
A mother to the end, Barden
protected her son’s passion and
stood up for him despite the
worst.
We should all be proud.
ROMMEL is a freelance writer in
Toms River, N.J.
6
November 30, 2011
Can Catholics become Masons?
Q
Are Catholics allowed to join
the Masons? I know that a pope
a long time ago said no, but is
that still in force? If Catholics aren’t allowed to join, why is this so? (Colonial
Heights, Va.)
A
The clearest answer to your first
question comes from quoting the
declaration issued in 1983 by the
Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith: “The church’s negative
judgment in regard to Masonic associations remains unchanged since their
principles have always been considered
irreconcilable with the doctrine of the
church, and, therefore, membership
in them remains forbidden. The faithful who enroll in Masonic associations
are in a state of grave sin and may not
receive holy Communion.”
That declaration of the CDF was signed
by its then-prefect Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI). It was
approved and ordered to be published by
Pope John Paul II, and it remains in force
today.
What prompted the CDF to issue the
statement requires a bit of (convoluted)
history.
For the two-and-a-half centuries prior,
at least seven popes had consistently
prohibited Catholics from joining the
Masons. Canon 2335 of the church’s 1917
Code of Canon Law had stated: “Those
who join a Masonic sect or other societies
of the same sort, which plot against the
church or against legitimate civil authority, incur excommunication.”
In 1974, Cardinal Franjo Seper, thenprefect of the doctrinal congregation, in
a letter to Cardinal John
Krol of Philadelphia, concluded that “Canon 2335
regards only those Catholics who join associations
which plot against the
church.”
Cardinal Seper
evidently meant that, if
a particular Masonic society did not plot against
the church, while membership for Catholics was
still forbidden, a Catholic
who did join was not
thereby excommunicated.
But understandably,
some dioceses in the
United States misinterpreted the Seper letter to mean that
membership in the Masons could now be
permitted, the result being that a number
of American Catholic men did join.
In 1983, when the new (and current)
Code of Canon Law was published, no
mention was made of the Masons by
name. The offenses punishable by excommunication were reduced from 37 to seven
– thus fostering again the (mis)understanding that Catholics were now free to
join the Masons.
This necessitated the publication by the
doctrinal congregation, later in 1983, of
the quite specific prohibition against joining, which I quoted above.
Canon No. 1374, effective Nov. 27,
1983, replaced canon No. 2335 of the 1917
codification. It states: “A person who joins
an association which plots against the
church is to be punished with a just penalty; however, a person who promotes or
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directs an association of
this kind is to be punished
with an interdict.”
Why the prohibition?
The reason is that
Freemasonry is, at its
heart, not a social club but
a religion. It is a religion
of rationalism, which, as
Pope Leo XIII stated in
his 1884 encyclical “Humanum Genus,” has as
its fundamental doctrine
“that human nature and
human reason ought in
all things be mistress and
guide,” and it denies “that
anything has been taught
by God.”
According to Freemasonry, God is the
great architect of the universe, reachable
by reason alone, and the possibility of
divine revelation is rejected.
As a 1985 report by the U.S. bishops’
Committee on Pastoral Research and
Practice explains, “The lodge honors Jesus
Christ as it honors Socrates, Buddha and
Muhammad. It cannot acknowledge any
special spiritual claims by Jesus, since
this would violate the basis of Freemasonry.”
The awkwardness of this prohibition
comes from the fact that more than 3
million American men are Masons and
that the majority of Americans (including many Masons themselves) probably
view Masonry as chiefly a social and
philanthropic fraternity – and certainly
the impetus of the Second Vatican Council
has been to collaborate with all people of
good will on projects that are worthy.
Question Corner
Father Kenneth Doyle
But this does not override the fact that
a Catholic who joins the Masons and who
takes the time to examine its core beliefs
will discover that he has joined another
and very different religion.
Masonry’s fundamental tenets are
simply incompatible with Catholic faith
and practice, which explains why the U.S.
bishops’ committee felt compelled to conclude in its 1985 letter that “The position
of the church remains what it has been for
many years: Catholics in the United States
and elsewhere may not be Freemasons.”
Father Doyle is a priest of the Diocese
of Albany, N.Y., and has served as the
Rome bureau chief for Catholic News
Service. Readers may submit questions
to him at [email protected]
and 40 Hopewell St., Albany, NY 12208.
Collection for religious
men, women to be
taken up Dec. 3-4
The 24th annual collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious will be taken
up Dec. 3-4 in the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
This appeal asks Catholics to share in the
care of more than 34,000 women and
men religious past age 70.
Last year, this diocese contributed
$230,758.26 to this collection.
As a result of the 2010 collection, which
raised $26.7 million, the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) was able
to distribute $23 million to religious communities to help support the day-to-day
care of senior members. An additional
$2.7 million was allocated toward initiatives targeted for religious communities
with the greatest needs. Of every dollar
collected, 93 cents aids elderly religious.
“We are continually humbled by the
generosity shown this appeal,” said
NRRO Executive Director Sister Janice
Bader, a member of the Sisters of the Most
Precious Blood of O’Fallon, Mo. “Since
the fund was launched in 1988, Catholics
have donated $643 million to assist religious communities in caring for their elder members.”
As religious continue to age, fewer members are able to serve in compensated
ministry, leading to a sharp decrease in
income. By 2019, NRRO data projects that
retired religious will outnumber wageearning religious by nearly four to one.
For this reason, the NRRO implemented a comprehensive initiative to provide
education, consultation and financial assistance to communities that are 50 percent or more underfunded for retirement.
Since this program began in 2009, 55
communities, representing some 7,000
women and men religious, have initiated
targeted strategies to address their funding shortfalls.
November 30, 2011
SPIRITUALITY
7
Prayer is as important as breathing
By Debbie Shelley
Assistant Editor
Brother Clement Furno CSsR talked
to attendees at an Oct. 22 Magnificat
Breakfast about how prayer can powerfully invoke heavenly assistance in their
lives.
Brother Clement described prayer
as being as important as breathing. He
noted that St. Alphonsus, founder of
the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, or Redemptorists, of which he
is a member, emphasized that prayer
is vital to people’s spiritual well-being.
Brother Clement said prayer can come in
the form of mantras: one-word or onesentence invocations for divine intervention.
His favorite mantras and prayers include: the holy names of Mary, Joseph
and Jesus; “Thy Kingdom Come;” “Jesus,
Son of David, have pity on me;” “Sanctus;” “Mary, Mother of God;” and the
Hail Mary; the Our Father; the Angelus;
and the Divine Praises.
Brother Clement said he has received
comfort from and has had good conversations with God through prayer. By way
of example, he spoke of the grief his family experienced when his mother gave
birth to his stillborn brother, who was
baptized and named Samuel. When he
attended a memorial service for miscarried, stillborn and aborted children several years ago, he said he found solace,
and God answered some of the questions
he has had concerning Samuel since he
was a young child.
Prayer can also bring people into communion with the saints. Brother Clement
said his order spreads devotion to Our
Lady under the icon and title of Mother
of Perpetual Help.
Noting that the October Magnificat
meeting took place on the feast day of
Blessed Pope John Paul II, whose case
for sainthood took a step forward when
he was beatified this past May, Brother
Clement said the saints are powerful intercessors in people’s lives. He said November, which contains the celebration
of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, is a
good time to rekindle a relationship with
the saints.
Those providing help from above may
be canonized saints or faithfully departed loved ones. Brother Clement said
Brother Clement Furno CSsR
he has traveled from coast to coast and
come close to being in automobile accidents. He believes the intercession of
those in heaven helped him avoid serious
injury and property damage. In one in-
stance he recalled, he was driving from
New Orleans to Baton Rouge when he
blacked out at the wheel and his vehicle
left the road. His car rotated and ended
up facing the wrong direction. Once
he regained consciousness, he slowly
merged, shaken up, but unscathed into
the right flow of traffic.
When he later recounted the incident
to others, someone told him, “Your sister
is looking out after you.” His sister, Rosemary, died from congestive heart failure
a few years earlier.
The brother said every time he gets behind the wheel, he prays for protection.
Referring to the time he spent working
at a homeless shelter in Rome, Brother
Clement also said corporal works of
mercy help a person to be a “heaven-sent
one” for others and to be touched by the
people they serve.
Praying for the souls in purgatory is
a way to receive graces, according to
Brother Clement, and he encouraged attendees to do so.
The Holy Souls in purgatory are our
brothers and sisters undergoing purification before being brought into heaven,
said Brother Clement.
Coping with liturgical change
Y
ou have every right to
complain about the
changes in the liturgy.
Change always produces
anxiety but generally is not
dangerous. Try to calm down;
we can get through this without a crisis.
Keep in mind a few simple
ideas:
– You have chosen to be a
Catholic in order to receive
the Eucharist on a regular
basis.
– You know very well that
the church is not a democracy.
(The truth is that all organizations have a pope figure, even
Protestant churches.)
– You may want the
Catholic Church to be more
democratic, but don’t hold
your breath. If you seriously
want to have a democratic
church, you just might have to
start your own. But be aware
that you might have difficulty
getting everyone to agree on
your rules.
– Those who are searching for a “perfect” church also
have to understand that, once
they join it, it no longer will
be perfect!
The best thing to do, if
you’re seriously annoyed with
Spirituality
For Today
Father John Catoir
the changes, is to blame Pope
Benedict XVI.
On second thought, he
was elected by the bishops of
the world to carry forward
Blessed Pope John Paul II’s
vision.
Liturgical purity was one of
Blessed John Paul’s top priorities. He spoke 12 languages
fluently and discovered in his
travels through many countries that their vernacular
translations for the liturgy
had departed from the essen-
tial meaning of the original
texts.
For instance, when a
church document says that
the Father and the Son are
related in a “consubstantial
union,” it is to uphold the doctrine of the divinity of Jesus
Christ. But when translations
began appearing that indicated only a very close union
existing between them, there
is room for interpreting the
relationship as some kind of
brotherhood.
Pope John Paul II wanted
a much more precise translation to convey the truth that
Jesus Christ is true God and
true man.
As pope, it was Blessed
John Paul’s right and his duty
to change all translations to
read “consubstantial.”
Pope Benedict XVI agreed
with him entirely. He had
been an obedient servant to
Blessed John Paul throughout
the 26 years of the latter’s
papacy. Both of them decided
that the purity of the faith
demanded a more precise
translation.
Greater understanding
will help us get through this
period of change.
What upsets some people
is their belief that the translation puts too much emphasis on guilt. I’ve received a
few letters from scrupulous
readers who are disturbed
by the words “Through my
fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault.” These words are
part of the old prayer, the
Confiteor (which means “I
confess”). Scrupulous people
seem to fear that God hasn’t
forgiven them their past
sins, even though they have
all been confessed.
Of course, we all know that
no translation can be written
to accommodate every single
individual, but, thank God,
we can still use the simple
words: “Lord, have mercy.”
Mercy is just another name
for “love” as it confronts a
humble, penitential spirit.
We all need mercy. Be at
peace and know that all will
be well.
FATHER CATOIOR is chaplain of
an emergency assistance program and writes on spirituality for Catholic News Service.
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8
November 30, 2011
11 ACE teachers
Diocese of Baton Rouge Seminary Scholarship Funds serve 5 Catholic
Funds
Who do I contact to establish or contribute to a fund?
What is a Seminary Scholarship fund?
schools in diocese
To create a fund or to make a contribution to an existA seminary scholarship fund is an invested sum of money,
the interest of which is used in perpetuity to help fund the
education of men studying for the priesthood.
How does someone establish a fund?
It is simple. A fund may be established and named for
anyone you choose – friend, family, bishop, priest, religious, etc.
Anyone can name or establish a fund.
ing fund, please send it to the Vocations and Seminarians Department, P. O. Box 2028, Baton Rouge, LA
70821-2028. For information call 225-336-8778.
This is only a partial list of all Seminary Scholarship Funds.
Visit our website at www.diobr.org/vocations for a
complete list of Seminary Scholarship Funds.
September and October Contributions
Archbishop Antoine Blanc
In Memory of: Steven Craig Lorio
10.00
Sam Vidrine
10.00
By: Joseph/Linda Daigle
In Memory of: Daniel Collins Sr.
25.00
Frances Glenn Chustz (Buck)
25.00
By: James Robert Sr.
$12,621.31
Deceased Members of Ladies Altar Society St. Gabriel
In Memory of: Myrtle Amato
By: John/Jeanne Billodeaux
100.00 $1,100.00
Father Maynard E. "Tippy" Hurst
In Memory of: Jennie Ferrara
Ella Lee Creoli
Anna Martin
Pee Wee Baughman
Donald Forbes
Betty Pavlovich
Rose Fair
Kathleen Cryer
Desmond Redfield
Doris Bueche
Patsy Hohensee
Gregory Furlani
Brennan Brown
Yvonne Andrus
Lee Sheridan
By: Barbara Schmitt
Margaret Blackwell
Patricia Ryan
Dot Devillier
Roberta Farrell
Lucy Curry
Jeanelle DeLaune
Pat Pavlovich
Donna Calabrese
Lyn Deville
Court St. Francis of Assisi #1915
Geraldine Garafola
215.00 $3,812.00
Tomorrow’s Priest
By: Anonymous Bequest
2,880.75 $4,480.75
NEW: Deacon Francis A. Waguespack Jr.
By: Edga/Martha Schexnayder
20.00
The Hymel Family: Cecile Hymel
Greg/Mona Hymel
David/Cindy Hymel
Jim/Cecile Vidrine
George/Eileen Rome
250.00
Louise Waguespack
750.00
M/M Herman Waguespack
50.00
M. Rodrigue and Son, Inc.
500.00
Dean/Kitty Ockmond
100.00
R.J./Lorain Cazenave
25.00
Christine Lumadue Thonell /
James Thonell
100.00
Louise Waguespack
230.00
James J. Hubbell
25.00
M/M Donald F. Hebert
25.00
Mrs. Francis A. Waguespack Jr. 695.00
M/M Brent P. LeBlanc/
M/M V Price LeBlanc Jr.
1,000.00
M/M Percy J. Legendre Jr .
55.00
M/MCarl A. Sandlin
25.00
In Memory of: Beth Anne Rodrigue
By: Wayne/Anne Rodrigue
100.00
By: Reese/Pattie Dismukes
25.00
$3,975.00
Additional Scholarship Funds
Father Gustave Dorval .......................................................... $20,000.00
Archbishop Drossaerts ............................................................ $6,418.38
Stephen Dugas ...........................................................................$8,365.90
Oliver H. Engerran .................................................................$20,382.89
Eugene E. Esnault .................................................................. $20,000.00
Father Matthew Fashan ........................................................... $2,557.89
Monsignor James J. Finnegan ................................................. $5,275.41
Monsignor Andrew Frey .......................................................$77,800.00
Monsignor Leo Gassler ..........................................................$20,100.00
Monsignor Paul J. Gauci ....................................................... $20,000.00
Edward C. Gauthier ...............................................................$20,940.16
Monsignor Patrick Gillespie ................................................ $20,000.00
Monsignor Cage Gordon ...................................................... $20,000.00
Mr. & Mrs. A. X. Guillot ...................................................... $20,000.00
Kathlyn Elise Heroman ........................................................ $20,000.00
Father Salvador Impastato..................................................... $20,000.00
Alene Kaylor ............................................................................ $18,518.68
Rev. Vincent Kleinpeter ....................................................... $20,000.00
Father Wilfred Knobloch ..................................................... $20,000.00
Mr. & Mrs. Albert J. Koppel ................................................ $20,000.00
Father John Koppel ................................................................ $20,115.00
Monsignor Paul Landsman .................................................. $20,000.00
Gerald T. Leblanc ....................................................................$20,475.00
Edith Louise Leonard ..............................................................$10,000.00
Monsignor Louis E. Marionneaux ..................................... $20,000.00
Monsignor Louis E. Marionneaux #2 .............................. $20,000.00
Fathers Martens & Perino .....................................................$23,920.00
Thomas Beatty Mary ..............................................................$18,483.63
Dr. McCaa and Monsignor Marionneaux ......................... $20,000.00
Father Charles McConville .................................................. $20,000.00
John McGinnis ..........................................................................$6,238.46
Father Joseph E. McLaughlin ............................................... $19,324.06
Deceased Members of KC Council #3298 ..........................$6,721.39
Deceased Members St. Alphonsus KC Council #3331 $20,000.00
Deceased Members of KC Council #4030 ...................... $20,000.00
Deceased Members of Pierre Part KC Council #5352 ..... $1500.00
Father Patrick Miller ............................................................ $20,000.00
Mary Catherine Muench ..........................................................$1,675.00
Murphy and Wallace Families ............................................... $1,656.42
Monsignor Charles J. T. Murphy ........................................ $20,000.00
Mr. & Mrs. C. J. T. Murphy .................................................... $20,000.00
Fred Nacol ................................................................................$15,862.30
Monsignor John Naughton ................................................... $20,000.00
Father Aubry Osborn ............................................................$10,654.35
Bishop Stanley J. Ott ..............................................................$26,539.50
The Ott and Berthelot Families .......................................... $20,000.00
Pioneering Fathers of Grosse Tete Ridge ....................... $19,499.44
University of Notre Dame
students participating in the
Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) are teaching this
academic year in five schools
in the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
The teachers, who are themselves students working on a
master’s degree in education,
attended Mass Nov. 9 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in
Baton Rouge with their mentors and principals. Father
Paul McDuffie, Sacred Heart
of Jesus pastor, celebrated the
Mass.
Following the Mass, Melanie
B. Verges, Catholic schools superintendent, along with Notre
Dame alumni living in Louisiana, welcomed the ACE teachers during a dinner coordinated by the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Home and School Association
president, Bridget Akin.
This year’s ACE teachers
are Allison Kochis, Maura
Shea, Meghan Keefe, Stacey
Brandt, Michael Croteau, Amy
Kirkpatrick, Steve Rosenthal,
Dominic Fanelli, Lauren Krasniewski, Tom Bodart and Alison Laycock.
Five of the teachers live and
teach in Baton Rouge at Sacred Heart of Jesus School,
Redemptorist High School
and St. Michael the Archangel
High School. The other six live
in Plaquemine and teach at St.
John High School and Ascension Catholic Diocesan Regional School.
The University of Notre Dame
intends for the ACE teachers to
sustain and strengthen underresourced Catholic schools
through leadership formation,
research and professional service to ensure that all children,
especially those from low-income families, have the opportunity to experience a Catholic
education.
Established in 1993, the alliance this year has placed
teachers in hundreds of
schools in dozens of dioceses
in the United States and in several other countries.
Teaching, community life
and spirituality are the tenets
of the ACE program. The aspiring teachers receive academic, experiential and personal formation so that they
are ready to serve where they
are needed.
November 30, 2011
Advent Reconciliation:
The Light Is On For You
Advent Penance Services
Thursday, Dec. 1 Holy Rosary Church
7 p.m.
44450 Hwy. 429, St. Amant
Immaculate Conception Church
7 p.m.
12364 Hwy. 416, Lakeland
Christ the King Church
7 p.m.
3485 Highland Rd., Baton Rouge
Monday, Dec. 5
St. Gerard Majella Church
9:30 a.m.
5354 Plank Rd., Baton Rouge
Tuesday, Dec. 6
St. Gerard Majella Church
12:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 7 St. Gerard Majella Church
9:30 a.m.
Monday, Dec. 12 St. Mark Church 7 p.m.
42021 Hwy. 621, Gonzales
St. Anne Church 7 p.m.
7348 Main St., Sorrento
St. Helena Church 7 p.m.
122 South First St., Amite
Our Lady of Pompeii Church 7 p.m.
14450 Hwy. 442, Tickfaw
St. Joseph the Worker Church
7 p.m.
3304 Hwy. 70 South, Pierre Part
Tuesday, Dec. 13 St. Joseph Church
7 p.m.
225 North 8th St., Ponchatoula St. John the Evangelist Church
7 p.m.
15208 Hwy. 73, Prairieville
St. Elizabeth Church
7 p.m.
119 Hwy. 403, Paincourtville
St. Jean Vianney Church 7 p.m.
16166 South Harrell’s Ferry Rd., Baton Rouge
St. John the Baptist Church
7 p.m.
402 S. Kirkland Dr., Brusly
Our Lady of the Assumption
7 p.m.
12325 Kernan St., Clinton
Wednesday, Dec. 14 Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Church
7 p.m.
616 East Main St., Gramercy
St. James Church
7 p.m.
6613 Hwy. 18, St. James
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
7 p.m.
11140 Hwy. 77, Maringouin
St. John the Evangelist Church
7 p.m.
57805 Main St., Plaquemine
Holy Ghost Church
7 p.m.
601 North Oak St., Hammond
St. Stephen Church
7 p.m.
22494 Hwy. 22, Maurepas
Our Lady of Peace Church
7 p.m.
13281 Hwy. 644, Vacherie
6:30 p.m.
4727 McHugh Dr., Zachary
Thursday, Dec. 15 St. Theresa of Avila Church
7 p.m.
1022 North Burnside Ave., Gonzales
6 p.m.
4727 McHugh Dr., Zachary
St. Catherine of Siena Church
7 p.m.
421 St. Patrick St., Donaldsonville
Holy Family Church
7 p.m.
319 North Jefferson Ave., Port Allen
St. Margaret Church
7 p.m.
30300 Catholic Hall Rd., Albany
Monday, Dec. 19
Mater Dolorosa Church
7 p.m.
609 West 3rd St., Independence
7 p.m.
1565 Curtis St., Baton Rouge
Tuesday, Dec. 20
St. Paul the Apostle Church
7 p.m.
3912 Gus Young Ave., Baton Rouge
Wednesday, Dec. 21 St. Augustine Church
6 p.m.
809 New Roads St., New Roads
The sacrament of reconciliation will be offered in the following parishes on the
following dates as part of The Light Is On For You this Advent.
Wednesday, Dec. 7: Our Lady of Mercy Church
445 Marquette Ave., Baton Rouge St. George Church 7808 St. George Dr., Baton Rouge St. Aloysius Church
2025 Stuart Ave., Baton Rouge
. 865 Hatchell Ln., Denham Springs
Wednesday, Dec. 14: St. Aloysius Church
Our Lady of Mercy Church
445 Marquette Ave., Baton Rouge
St. George Church
7808 St. George Dr., Baton Rouge
865 Hatchell Ln., Denham Springs
Wednesday, Dec. 21: St. Aloysius Church
Our Lady of Mercy Church
445 Marquette Ave., Baton Rouge
St. George Church
7808 St. George Dr., Baton Rouge
865 Hatchell Ln., Denham Springs
5:30 to 6 p.m.
6 to 7:30 p.m.
6 to 7:30 p.m.
6 to 7:30 p.m.
6 to 7:30 p.m.
6 to 7:30 p.m.
6 to 7:30 p.m.
6 to 7:30 p.m.
6 to 7:30 p.m.
6 to 7:30 p.m.
6 to 7:30 p.m.
6 to 7:30 p.m.
How Do I Go To Confession?
A time of brief preparation is important. Ask God in a short prayer for help, repentance, strength and light. If you can, read a brief passage from the Bible and
think about your life. What choices are you making that are moving you away from
the Lord? If available, use an examination of conscience for your reflection. Go to
the reconciliation room or confessional area in your church, and choose to confess
either face to face with the priest or anonymously.
Here are the usual steps:
As the priest welcomes you, make the sign of the cross with him.
Say, “Amen” after his prayer for you.
The priest may read a passage from Scripture, recite from memory a scriptural
passage or invite you to read from the Bible.
You may begin your confession with the words: Bless (forgive) me, Father, for I
have sinned. It has been ________ since my last confession. These are my sins.
Confess your sins. Simply speak of what you want to ask God’s forgiveness.
The priest may discuss your spiritual situation if that seems helpful.
Accept the penance offered to you by the priest. It may be a prayer, a work of charity or another action which will help you be free of your sin.
You will be invited by the priest to express your sorrow. You can use an act of
contrition that you either read, recite from memory or express in your own words.
The priest will offer this prayer of absolution:
God, the Father of mercies, through the death
and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the
world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among
us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry
of the Church, may God give you pardon and peace,
and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father,
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Say “Amen” when he concludes this prayer.
The priest may add: “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,” to which you respond: “His mercy endures forever.”
As the priest bids you goodbye conclude with “Thank you” or “Thanks be to God.”
Then, later spend a few moments in prayerful reflection in gratitude for God’s loving mercy.
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November 30, 2011
Cardinal says U.S. ordinariate for former Anglicans to be created Jan. 1
By Patricia Zapor
BALTIMORE — A new ordinariate –
functionally similar to a diocese – will be
created Jan. 1 to bring Anglicans into the
U.S. Catholic Church, announced Washington Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl during
the annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Nov. 15.
Cardinal Wuerl also said 67 Anglican priests have submitted their dossiers seeking ordination in the Catholic
Church, and 35 of those have received
initial approval from the Congregation for
the Doctrine of the Faith.
The 35 with initial approval can move
to the second stage of approval, which includes a criminal background check, psychological evaluation and recommendations from the Catholic bishop where each
lives and from the Anglican ecclesiastical
authority who guides him, the cardinal
said.
Cardinal Wuerl told reporters after the
session with the bishops that Anglican
parishes with a total of about 2,000 members have so far asked to become part of
the Catholic Church through the process
established in 2009, when Pope Bene-
dict XVI issued an apostolic constitution,
“Anglicanorum coetibus.” Cardinal Wuerl
was named by the Vatican to head an ad
hoc committee for the constitution’s implementation.
The constitution authorizes the creation
of an ordinariate to bring in Anglicans, or
Episcopalians, as they are known in the
United States, who seek to leave their tradition and join the Catholic Church but
retain certain elements of the Anglican
liturgy and traditions.
The process was established to accommodate whole congregations who choose
to join the Catholic Church after they have
become disaffected with the Anglican
Church over recent changes, such as the
ordination of women, the ordination of
openly gay priests and blessing of samesex marriages and partnerships.
Cardinal Wuerl’s announcement in the
final hour of the public portion of the annual meeting in Baltimore brought immediate logistical questions, such as the relationship between the ordinariate – which
will cover the entire United States – and
the dioceses in which the former Anglican
priests will live.
The physical location of its offices will
be determined after the ordinariate is
erected. Cardinal Wuerl said he assumed
that an ordinary will be named at that
time.
“I remain convinced that this ordinariate will be a true expression of the Catholic Church because of your engagement in
the steps leading up to the acceptance of
the candidates for ordinate and for your
involvement in the catechetical formation of the members of the congregation
seeking membership in the ordinariate,”
he said. “Your involvement is one of the
guarantees of the well-being of the ordinariate as it is established and begins to
receive both clergy and congregations.”
The U.S. ordinariate will be the second
one created under “Anglicanorum coetibus.” The Ordinariate of Our Lady of
Walsingham was established for England
and Wales in January of this year. It is led
by Msgr. Keith Newton, a former Anglican
bishop who is married and was ordained
a Catholic priest. It includes about 1,000
individuals in 42 communities. Its priests
include five former Anglican bishops, according to background information distributed by the USCCB.
The Catholic Church does not allow
married priests – whether those in Eastern rites that allow priests to be married,
or former clergy from other churches who
have become Catholic – to become bishops.
Therefore, the new ordinariate may be
led by a priest, who will have a role similar
to a bishop, according to the background
material. An ordinary who is not a bishop
will not be allowed to ordain priests, however. So, Cardinal Wuerl explained, ordinations for the ordinariate may need to be
done by “one of us” until the ordinariate
has its own bishop.
Cardinal Wuerl did not say where the
Anglican communities seeking to become
Catholic are located. Two such parishes
have already completed the transition –
one in Fort Worth, Texas, and the other
in Bladensburg, Md. – and were accepted
in ceremonies in September and October.
They will become part of the new ordinariate when it is established, though for
now they come under the jurisdiction of
the Diocese of Fort Worth and the Archdiocese of Washington, respectively.
A Vatican-approved pastoral provision
has provided since 1980 a way for individual Protestant clergymen to be ordained
for U.S. Catholic dioceses. It also allows
Anglican parishes to become Catholic
parishes.
USCCB: Bishops launch new website to promote family values
FROM PAGE 1
tional memorial for Blessed
John Paul II in the U.S. liturgical
calendar.
Washington Cardinal Donald
W. Wuerl announced Nov. 15 that
a new ordinariate – functionally
similar to a diocese – will be created Jan. 1 to bring Anglicans
into the Catholic Church.
On the first day of the meeting, Bishop William E. Lori of
Bridgeport, Conn., and chairman of a new Ad Hoc Committee
for Religious Liberty, outlined
threats to religious liberty, saying there seems to be a pattern
in culture and law to treat religion “as merely a private matter
between an individual and one’s
own God.”
Regarding efforts to support
traditional marriage, the chairman of the Committee on Laity,
Marriage, Family Life and Youth
reported to the bishops Nov. 14
that their campaign to strengthen marriage has reached a large
audience and has been honored
by professional advertising organizations.
In a presentation on the work
of the Subcommittee for the
Promotion and Defense of Marriage, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades
of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind.,
said public service announcements with the theme of “a good
marriage goes a long way” were
released in September to 1,600
television stations and 7,000 radio stations.
He also announced the launch
of a new website – marriage uniq
ueforareason.org – aimed at educating Catholics on the meaning
of marriage as the union of one
man and one woman. The website corresponds to a new DVD,
guide and booklet.
In a related report, Bishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of Oakland,
Calif., chairman of the defense
of marriage subcommittee, said
there are a great many challenges
on the legal front to traditional
marriage, ranging from various
states legalizing same-sex marriage to the repeal of the “don’t
ask, don’t tell” policy on gays in
the military.
He said one thread of the subcommittee’s efforts is to work on
persuading the Obama administration to “press the reset button
on the trajectory of undermining
marriage.”
The bishops also heard from
Cardinals Daniel N. DiNardo
of Galveston-Houston, Sean P.
O’Malley of Boston and Wuerl of
Washington about the church’s
efforts to expand and strengthen
the church’s post-abortion healing ministry, Project Rachel.
Women who have had abortions, as well as the men and
parents who might have encouraged it, “need to know that God
forgives them and that all is not
lost,” said Cardinal O’Malley, who
described Project Rachel as “one
of our best pastoral initiatives.”
In another report, two bishops
who recently visited Iraq said
the United States and American
Catholics must do their part to
help keep Iraq from sliding into
chaos once U.S. troops leave the
country at the end of the year.
“The U.S. withdrawal of combat troops does not reduce the
obligation to help,” principally
to protect Iraqis and provide assistance, said Bishop Gerald F.
Kicanas of Tucson, Ariz., chairman of the board of Catholic
Relief Services, during a Nov.
15 press briefing at the bishops’
meeting.
In his opening address Nov. 14,
Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of
New York, USCCB president, said
the church needs to restore its
luster, credibility and beauty in
the hearts of its members.
He called on his fellow bishops to communicate to the world
Bishop Robert W. Muench of the Diocese of Baton Rouge reviews
documents Nov. 14 during the U.S. bishops’ annual fall meeting in
Baltimore. In the row behind him, left, is Auxiliary Bishop Sheldon
Fabre of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Photo by Nancy Phelan Wiechec | CNS
that the sinfulness of the church’s
members is not “a reason to dismiss the church or her eternal
truths, but to embrace her all the
more.”
The archbishop said the church
still has plenty to say to the modern world.
In later remarks, he said he
was encouraged by a Nov. 8 private meeting he had with President Barack Obama at the White
House. He found the president to
be “very open to the sensitivities”
of the U.S. Catholic Church on issues related to religious freedom
that the two discussed.
At a Nov. 14 news conference,
Archbishop Dolan spoke about
Penn State University’s sex abuse
scandal, which he said “shows
that the scourge (of sex abuse) is
not limited to any one faith and
certainly not limited to priests.”
During the first day’s session,
the bishops also met Archbishop
Carlo Maria Vigano, the new apostolic nuncio to the United States.
Contributing to this report
were Nancy Frazier O’Brien,
Mark Pattison and Patricia Zapor in Baltimore and Carol Zimmermann in Washington.
November 30, 2011
PROGRAM
11
12
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
Happy Feet Two
(Warner Bros.)
Penguins are once again tap dancing
at the bottom of the world in director and
co-writer George Miller’s mostly familyfriendly, 3-D animated sequel to his 2006
original. The hero of that film (voice of
Elijah Wood) has married his true love
(voice of Alecia Moore aka Pink) and they
have a cute-as-a-button son (voice of Ava
Acres). But junior is “choreophobic,” as his
dad once was, embarrassed by his two left
fins and a distinct lack of rhythm. Feeling
misunderstood and unloved, the lad runs
away, following a maverick adult penguin
(voice of Robin Williams) to the latter’s
homeland. There, he learns lessons in tolerance and perseverance from the colony’s
leader (voice of Hank Azaria), which come
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
in handy when father and son must join
forces to save their native flock from disaster. What the collaborative script lacks
in originality is more than made up for by
some stunning vistas, a few catchy tunes
and an effective use of 3-D technology. A
few intense action scenes, some mild innuendo and minimal potty humor. A-II; PG
Arthur Christmas
(Columbia)
This mostly delightful 3-D animated
comedy equips Santa Claus (voice of Jim
Broadbent) with a stealth ship, GPS navigation and battalions of ninja-like elves to
fulfill the mission of delivering 2 billion
gifts each Christmas Eve. Santa’s ambitious elder son (voice of Hugh Laurie)
runs the sophisticated global distribution
November 30, 2011
network. Decidedly more low-tech is his
younger brother (voice of James McAvoy) – the titular character – whose task
is to answer, by hand, all the letters Santa
receives from children. When disaster
strikes in the form of an undelivered present, Santa’s aged father (voice of Bill Nighy)
joins forces with the junior sibling to come
to the rescue, and the duo rockets off on
one last mission. Although it has absolutely nothing to do with the true meaning
of the Nativity, first-time director Sarah
Smith’s film does offer a good commentary
on the commercialization of the holiday
and the importance of family, loyalty and
being faithful to one’s promise. Some rude
humor and cartoonish thrills. A-II; PG
The Muppets
(Disney)
Jim Henson’s singing, dancing, wisecracking puppets return to the big screen
in an old-fashioned and genuinely funny
film, which will appeal to nostalgic baby
boomers even as it introduces a new generation to the decidedly low-tech felt figures
for whom charm is a strong suit. The story
centers on a good-hearted small town guy
(Jason Segel) and his brother (voice of Peter Linz) who, as it happens, is a Muppet.
While on a trip to Los Angeles, the siblings
– accompanied by the human brother’s
girlfriend (Amy Adams) – stumble upon
the designs of a wicked oil baron (Chris
Cooper), who wants to tear down the derelict studios where “The Muppet Show” was
once taped and drill for oil. Unless, that is,
$10 million can be raised in just two days.
The gang locates Kermit the Frog (voice
of Steve Whitmire) and persuades him to
round up his former colleagues for a telethon. Under the direction of newcomer
James Bobin, several catchy songs and
exuberant dance numbers add to the fun
for the entire family. A-I; PG
Hugo
(Paramount)
This family-oriented 3-D fable, set in
1930s Paris, follows the adventures of a
12-year-old orphan (Asa Butterfield) who
lives in one of the capital’s great train stations. To avoid being shipped off to an orphanage by the merciless officer (Sacha
Baron Cohen) responsible for the terminal’s
security, the mechanically gifted lad clandestinely carries on the work of the drunk-
en uncle (Ray Winstone) in whose custody
he was left, but who has since disappeared,
by keeping all the clocks on the premises
ticking. In his spare time, he struggles to
repair a mysterious automaton he and his
beloved father had been tinkering with before the latter’s death. His search for the
necessary spare parts brings him into contact with the embittered owner (Ben Kingsley) of a toy shop and with the merchant’s
adopted daughter (Chloe Grace Moretz), a
vivacious girl he swiftly befriends. Adapted
from Brian Selznick’s best-seller “The Invention of Hugo Cabret,” director Martin
Scorsese’s paean to the City of Lights, the
human imagination and – via plot developments concerning the shopkeeper’s mysterious past – the pioneers of early cinema
casts a charming spell. Only fleeting passages of dialogue touching on adult matters
and some mild misbehavior hinder recommendation for all. A few mature references,
occasional peril, some implicitly endorsed
petty lawbreaking. A-II; PG
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1
(Summit)
This fourth addition to the blockbuster
gothic franchise opens with the nuptials
of the ongoing tale’s iconic but ill-assorted central pair – courteous bloodsucker
Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and
mortal teen Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) – chronicles their problematic honeymoon in Brazil and follows the unexpected
pregnancy that results from the trip. With
Bella’s life endangered by having a baby
vein-drainer in utero, the Cullen clan (led
by Peter Facinelli and Elizabeth Reaser)
debate what to do, while perennial third
wheel Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) finds
himself torn between his hopeless love for
Bella and the laws of the vampire-hating
werewolf pack to which he belongs. Director Bill Condon’s adaptation of the first
part of novelist Stephenie Meyer’s bestseller “Breaking Dawn” includes a sexual
interlude, and some grisly ones, that make
it unsuitable for youngsters, though mature viewers will recognize a strongly
pro-life message being conveyed via the
heroine’s unusual plight. Possibly acceptable for some mature adolescents. A scene
of semi-graphic marital lovemaking, some
gory images, abortion theme, several mild
sexual references and jokes, a couple of
crass expressions. A-III; PG-13
Vatican to welcome Christmas with carols this year
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The Vatican is
planning to sing its way into the Christmas season this year, with a chorus and
orchestra leading Christmas carols at the
annual unveiling of its Nativity scene.
The hourlong evening ceremony Dec.
24 will feature traditional Christmas
songs in several languages, performed by
a 100-person choir and orchestra in St.
Peter’s Square.
The Vatican is arranging for worldwide
television broadcasts of the event, accord-
ing to Archbishop Claudio Celli, president
of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. He described it as a “sung
meditation” on Christmas.
As usual, Pope Benedict XVI is expected to bless the gathering from his apartment window above the square.
Vatican workers were already building
this year’s Nativity scene, which features
larger-than-life statues of the Holy Family and the Magi, plus new elements each
year.
November 30, 2011
ENTERTAINMENT
When you tire of carrying another’s emotional baggage
Baggage Claim
I have been draggin’ around your sensitive ego; Making sure that your bags arrive on time for the dog and pony show;
Leather suitcase like a brick; It kinda
makes it hard to get a good grip; I drop
your troubles off at the conveyor belt; I
hand you a ticket to go get it yourself
today; Behind every woman scorned is a
man who made her that way; Go on and
take your little business trip with that
sweet little habit; That you can’t kick; You
better call your momma when you get
to town; ‘Cause I ain’t gonna be hanging
around
Refrain:
At the baggage claim, you got a lot of
luggage in your name; And when you hit
the ground, check the lost and found;
‘Cause it ain’t my problem now; I can’t
carry it on, I got a lot of troubles of my
own; It’s all over the yard, in the trunk of
the car; I’m packin’ it in, so come and get
it
(Repeat refrain.)
If it ain’t obvious what has set me off
Come and get ...
1
2
3
4
5
6
(Repeat refrain.)
O
On The Record
Charlie Martin
Why couldn’t he carry his own
baggage? What was going on in
her own emotions that she got
enmeshed with someone who
was using her to avoid work that
he needed to do to have a better
life?
Such questions try to help
her see the difference between
loving support and doing too
much heavy emotional lifting for
someone else.
If she can honestly face these
questions, she will learn what
motivated her to give more of
herself than is healthy in a relationship.
Sometimes, we think that we
are showing love to another by
doing so much. Loving support does include giving generous, understanding support.
However, genuine love also has
boundaries.
For example, you are not
required to continually protect
someone’s “sensitive ego.” It is
not your responsibility to make
him or her happy!
Admitting the truth of why
you feel so tired of another’s
“baggage” will free you to make
changes in the relationship. You
can say that you have made the
mistake of doing too much, and
without pointing out a lot of
blame, you can say how you want
the relationship to change: that
is, what you will and will not do.
If he or she accepts these new
boundaries, a healthier and
more enjoyable connection will
be formed.
The key to making such a
change is to pause and listen
to your feelings. You will know
when you are doing too much for
another.
Move beyond over-involvement to establish a relationship
that holds promise and blessing
for both of you.
MARTIN is an Indiana pastoral
counselor who reviews current music for Catholic News
Service.
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25
30
29
40
11
13
22
23
48
Come and pick it up, pick it up; Before I
blow it up in flames; You better pick it up,
pick it up; Baby, I’m leaving everything
8
15
45
46
Come and get it
7
14
43
Sung by Miranda Lambert | Copyright © 2011 by Sony Nashville RCA
ut this summer as a MP3
download was “Baggage Claim,” Miranda
Lambert’s first single off her
new disc “Four the Record.” The
song invites this question: When
should you attempt to help others with their difficulties, and
when should you back off from
giving such support?
The song’s character faces this
dilemma. However, using the
metaphor of an airport baggage
claim, she has decided that she
no longer wants to be involved
with her guy’s “luggage.” Instead,
she tells him, “When you hit
the ground, check the lost and
found, ’cause it ain’t my problem
now.”
She is tired of “draggin’
around” his “sensitive ego.” Besides, she realizes that she’s got
“a lot of troubles” of her own. As
such, he needs to come and get
his own life and all of its complications.
It would appear that her new
realization was spurred by
his rendezvous with another
woman. She refers to his “little
business trip with that sweet little habit” that he can’t kick. She
is no longer willing to support a
person who becomes entangled
in other romantic involvements.
She is right to leave the relationship. Deceit has no part in
love.
However, after she gets past
the hurt of his disrespectful
behavior, she needs to ask herself
why she did so much for him in
the first place.
47
51
50
58
52
59
56
57
60
61
62
63
64
65
ACROSS
1 Jacob’s gift to Joseph
5 We are created in God’s ___
10 Celestial topper
14 Urbi et ___
15 ___ obstat
16 Biblical twin
17 False god
18Fail
19 Indian royalty
20Shoes
22 By the end of the 20th century
there had been 265 of these
23 Made a priest
26 Finder of lost things
30 Commandment word
31 Dashboard letters in the US
34 Sexual drive
35 ___ pro nobis
36 Gambling game
37 Holy images
38 “Just ___ thought”
39Shield
40Propend
41 ___ Dhabi
42 Commandment that forbids taking God’s name in vain
43 Smelter input
44 Eve beginner
45Odd
46 Arianism and gnosticism
48 Desert region in Israel
51Block
56 Inter ___
57 First letter of the Hebrew alphabet
59 Affirm with confidence
60 Title for a priest (abbr.)
61Embankment
62 Some cutlets
63 The Wise Men came from here
64Severe
65 Sea eagle
DOWN
1 Cap under a nun’s veil
2 Book containing calendar of
Masses
www.wordgamesforcatholics.com
3Peek-___
4Slant
5Hell
6 English noblewoman
7 Hindu deity
8 Alcoholic liquor
9 North American deer
10 Evil king of the New Testament
11PDQ
12Alley
13 Gallic agreements
21 Tree covered land
22 Abbr. for two NT epistles
24 Pilate ordered this above the
cross (abbr.)
25 “…___ thousand times…”
26 Princeton-educated, Catholic
member of the Supreme Court
27 More pleasant
28 Beef cut
29Posterior
31 Person who dresses stones
32Fork
33Multitude
35 Ursuline order letters
36 Paycheck letters
38 French clergyman
39 Chapter and ___
41 According to I Thessalonians,
we will meet the Lord in this
(with “the”)
42 St. ___, Martyr
44 NT bk.
45 Self-conscious smile
46 The Sacred ___ of Jesus
47Sift
48 In the ___ of the Father…”
49 Actress Lancaster
50 Club stints
52 Jazz musician Brubeck who
converted to Catholicism
53 “…is now, and ___ shall be…”
54 Catholic novelist Koontz
55 Perry’s creator
57 Roker and Capone
58Permit
Solution on page 18
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14
VIEWPOINT
Empathy for the world
T
here’s a story told, more legend perhaps than fact,
about a mayor of a large American city in the late
1960s. It wasn’t a good time for his city: It was
facing financial bankruptcy, crime rates were spiraling, its public transportation system was no longer safe
at night, the river supplying its drinking water was
dangerously polluted, the air was rife with racial tension and there were strikes and street protests almost
weekly.
As the story goes, the mayor was flying over the
city in a helicopter at rush hour on a Friday afternoon.
As the rush-hour bustle and traffic drowned out most
everything else, he looked down at what seemed a
teeming mess and said to one of his aides: “Wouldn’t it
be nice if there was a plunger and we could flush this
whole mess into the ocean!”
He was being facetious, but I worry that we sometimes subtly think the same thing about our world.
Too often we and our churches tend to see the world
precisely as a mess, as caught up in mindless trivialization, as self-indulgent, as narcissistic, as short-sighted,
as no longer having values that demand self-sacrifice, of
worshipping fame, of being addicted to material goods,
and of being anti-church and anti-Christian. Indeed, it
is common today in our churches to see the world as our
enemy.
And, far from feeling heartbroken about it, we feel
smug and righteous as we gleefully witness its downfall:
The world is getting what it deserves! Godlessness is its
own punishment! That’s what it gets for not listening
to us! In this, our attitude is the antithesis of Jesus’ attitude towards the world.
Jesus loved the world. Really? Yes. Is this what the
Gospels teach? Yes.
Here’s how the Gospels describe Jesus’ reaction
towards the world that rejected him: As Jesus drew near
to Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it, saying: “If
T
November 30, 2011
you, even you, had only
recognized on this day
the things that make for
peace! But now they are
hidden from your eyes.”
Jesus sees what happens
when people try to live
without God, the mess,
the pain, the heartbreak
and, far from rejoicing that the world isn’t
working, his heart aches
with empathy: If only
you could see what you’re
doing!
Looking at a world
that’s breaking down because of its self-absorption, Jesus responds with
empathy, not glee; with understanding, not judgment;
with heartache, not rubbing salt in the wounds; and
with tears, not good riddance.
Loving parents and loving friends understand exactly what Jesus was feeling at the moment when he wept
over Jerusalem. What frustrated, heartbroken parent
hasn’t looked at a son or daughter caught up in wrong
choices and self-destructive behavior and wept inside as
the words spontaneously formed: If only you could see
what you’re doing! If only I could do something to spare
you the damage you’re doing to your life by this blindness! If only you could recognize the things that make
for peace! But you can’t see, and it breaks my heart!
The same is true among friends. True friends don’t
rejoice and become gleeful when their friends make
bad choices and their lives begin to collapse. Instead
there are tears, mingled with anxious empathy, with
heartache, with pleading, with prayers. Genuine love
In Exile
Father Ron Rolheiser
is empathic, and empathy is never gleeful at someone
else’s downfall.
We are asked by our Christian faith to have a genuine
love for the world. The world isn’t our enemy. It’s our
wayward child and our loved friend who is breaking our
heart. That can be hard to see and accept when in fact
the world is often belligerent and arrogant in its attitude
towards us, when it’s angry with us, when it wrongly
judges us, and when it scapegoats us. But that’s exactly
what suffering children often do to their parents and
friends when they make bad choices and suffer the consequences of that. They impute and scapegoat. This can
feel very unfair to us, but Jesus’ attitude towards those
who rejected and crucified him invites us to an empathy
beyond that.
Kathleen Norris suggests that we look at the world,
when it opposes us, in the same way as we look at an
angry 17-year-old girl dealing with her parents. At
that moment of anger, her parents become a symbolic
lightning rod (a safe place) for her to vent her anger and
to scapegoat. But absorbing this is a function of adult
loving. Good parents don’t respond to the anger of an
adolescent child by declaring her their enemy. They
respond like Jesus did, by weeping over her.
Moreover, a genuine empathy for the world isn’t just
predicated on mature sympathy. Mature sympathy is
itself predicated on better seeing the world for what it
is. The 17-year-old adolescent standing belligerent and
angry before her parents isn’t a bad person; she’s just
not yet fully grown up.
That’s true too for our world: It’s not a bad place; it’s
just far from being a finished and mature one.
OBLATE FATHER ROLHEISER, theologian, teacher and awardwinning author, is president of the Oblate School of
Theology in San Antonio, Texas. He can be contacted
through his website ronrolheiser.com.
Can the church learn anything from Penn State?
he story is complicated and will
continue to unfold – unravel may
be a better word – for months and
years to come.
Penn State University lost a president
and a football coach in the wake of a
November 2011 grand jury report that a
former assistant coach sexually abused
young boys a decade or so earlier and university officials failed to report the abuse
to law enforcement authorities.
Commentators have already made comparisons with the Catholic Church.
If Penn State were an archdiocese, the
president would be the “archbishop;” he is
no longer president.
The football coach might be thought of
as a “pastor;” he has been fired.
And the assistant coach would be
comparable to an “assistant pastor,” or, as
we now say, a “parochial vicar.” He’s been
arrested and is free on $100,000 bail,
awaiting trial.
Other “archdiocesan officials” (the
university’s athletic director and chief
financial officer), along with a member
of the coaching staff who witnessed one
instance of alleged abuse, are on administrative leave.
The university was slow
to move when reports of
the abuse first surfaced;
it moved promptly when
the grand jury report was
released. The board of
trustees took action.
An important difference between any archdiocese and a university
is the presence and power
of a board of trustees
in a university and the
absence of any corresponding entity in an
archdiocese.
Many were stunned by
the prompt actions taken
by the Penn State board.
Many have been appalled at the inaction
in various dioceses where clergy sex abuse
was reported.
The point here is not to argue that there
should be lay trustees in the church with
oversight responsibilities and the power
to remove a bishop or pastor; the point
is simply to suggest that, in the absence
of trustees, the responsibility to respond
and act decisively when criminal activity
is reported lies within the
persons in authority who
constitute the governance
structure of the church
parish or diocese.
Pastors and bishops
are not accountable to lay
boards; they are nonetheless accountable before
God and higher ecclesiastical authority. They are
also accountable to their
own consciences.
Another difference
between an archdiocese
(or loosely speaking, “the
church”) and a university
is that the church is a mediator of divine forgiveness. It is no exaggeration to say that the
church is in the forgiveness business.
Granting forgiveness can influence the
outlook of church officials relative to the
application and consequences of disciplinary action in areas outside the confessional.
Absolution is and should be readily
given; protection from the consequences
of criminal behavior should not.
Looking Around
Father William J. Byron SJ
Like the church, Penn State had an understandable impulse to protect its image
and its own employees. There was less evidence, however, of an overriding concern
for the safety and welfare of children.
The same can be said of the church in
the wake of disclosures of sex abuse of the
young on the part of church personnel.
In the case of Penn State, the difference
is the presence and action of a board of
trustees.
Few of us, lay or clergy, are willing to
perform surgery on ourselves.
Trusteeship was part of Catholic Church
life in America in the 1780s. It didn’t last.
Nor has it yet been replaced by any mechanism that incorporates lay oversight, lay
power and lay control over parochial or
diocesan affairs.
The church is, of course, divinely established; it is not a human invention. It
relies on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
What might the Holy Spirit expect the
church to learn from the Penn State experience? How can the laity help?
JESUIT FATHER BYRON is professor of business
and society at St. Joseph’s University in
Philadelphia. Email: [email protected].
November 30, 2011
A
VIEWPOINT
Muslim students welcomed at
The Catholic University of America
law professor at a local
university recently filed a
complaint with the District of Columbia’s Office of Human Rights, claiming that The
Catholic University of America
discriminated against Muslim
students.
This came as something of a
surprise to us.
Last year, The Washington
Post reported that the Muslim
population at Catholic University
had grown from 41 to 91 students
in three years, and that the students had a positive experience.
That story was picked up on
National Public Radio and elsewhere. Since then, our Muslim
population has increased to 122.
No matter. The law professor
complained that Muslim students “must perform
their prayers surrounded by symbols of Catholicism – e.g., a wooden crucifix, paintings of Jesus,
pictures of priests and theologians, etc. – which
many Muslim students find inappropriate.”
Worse, some “must do their meditation in (or
near) ... ‘the cathedral that looms over the entire
campus – the Basilica of the National Shrine of
the Immaculate Conception,’ – hardly a place
where (Muslim) students ... are likely to feel very
comfortable.”
There is some truth in these observations.
Our undergraduate population is 81 percent
Catholic. Though we have chapels in a number of
places on campus, and Masses frequently during
the day, we do not set aside worship space for
other faiths. We do not (as some Catholic universities do) hire chaplains of other faiths. Nor
do we have on the undergraduate level officially
sponsored and supported non-Catholic religious
organizations.
We make no bones – in our marketing and
in our life on campus – that we are The Catholic
University of America.
In Advent, hope like a child
with the faith of an adult
C
hildren and adults see the
future differently. Children anticipate the future
with pure hope. That is why the
Advent/Christmas season is their
favorite. But when things don’t
go as they expected, their hope
turns to fear and tears.
When my father returned from
World War II, he and his brother
decided to take their children to
Canal Street in New Orleans right
before Christmas. I remember
getting more excited with every
passing mile on the ride down to
the city. To a 7-year-old like me,
and a 5-year-old like my cousin
Alfred, who came from a small
town like Plaquemine, that was
the most wonderful sight we
had ever seen. Store after store was decorated like a Christmas
fairyland. There were more people on Canal Street than lived in
our home town. And then we saw a real Santa Claus. No one had
told us about the Salvation Army. We were mesmerized, stopped
dead in our tracks. We stared and stared, until finally we looked
around and realized that no one’s legs or belt buckles looked
liked mom’s or dad’s. Our parents had continued on, and all we
could see was a forest of very tall, strange people. We screamed in
unison. Fortunately, it worked, and we were retrieved by parents
who didn’t know whether to laugh or admit that they were a little
worried.
Adults, through painful experience, fear the future, but learn
to live with uncertainty – often, however, through denial. How
many begin each morning these days with a good dose of worry
about the latest deaths in Afghanistan. We manage to bury those
worries with the realization that it is probably no one we know,
and we will probably escape personal suffering. Jesus’ disciples
must have felt the same way when they heard his apocalyptic
warnings about people dying of fright and nations in anguish.
Surely, that couldn’t happen to them. Yet, within 40 years Jerusalem was destroyed by a Roman army. Not a stone upon a stone of
the temple was left.
There are many signs of the times this year to make us hear
the Advent warning of Jesus: “Be on guard lest your spirits
become bloated with indulgence and drunkenness and worldly
cares. ... Pray constantly to stand secure before the Son of Man.”
It has been a bad year with war, terrorism, recession, global and
national debt, so many out of work, dishonesty among business
leaders like Bernard Madoff and the still alleged dishonesty of
the Stanford Group, and continuing sexual abuse scandals. Jesus’
prophesy is being fulfilled, as it has in every generation for 2000
years. The day that Jesus speaks of in the Advent Scriptures will
come upon everyone – because it comes with suffering to transform us, it comes with death to bring us to judgment, and it comes
with the final resurrection to bring us body and soul to God.
Yet Advent is a time also to be alert because our redemption
is at hand. How can that be, with so many signs of evil? Because
they are not the only signs. There are many people in the world
and in the church whose lives testify that the reign of God has indeed taken hold. In them we see honesty and unselfish service on
behalf of others; we see genuine holiness and fidelity. These have
learned to live with the hope of children and the courage of adults.
They are proof that we all can answer the call of Advent to “stand
erect and raise your heads, because your redemption is at hand.”
Christmas is for adults, too!
GARVEY is president of The Catholic University of
America in Washington, D.C.
FATHER CARVILLE is a retired priest in the Diocese of Baton Rouge
and writes on spiritual matters for The Catholic Commentator.
John Garvey
But it is entirely consistent with all this that
we welcome Muslim students and students of all
other faiths to our university. Our Catholic teaching instructs us to embrace our fellow human
beings of all faith traditions. They enrich us with
their presence and help to promote interreligious
dialogue and intercultural understanding.
Here is the interesting part. As last year’s Post
story noted, we have an atmosphere that appeals
to our Muslim students, particularly those who
are religiously observant.
At public universities, the First Amendment
15
requires that we take no account
of religion. At most private universities, it is treated as a private
matter and something that is
slightly uncomfortable to talk
about.
But at Catholic University,
there is nothing strange about
fasting during Ramadan or praying five times a day or covering
your head. Our students fast
during Lent and pray daily; nuns
who study here cover their heads.
Our single-sex residence halls
are appealing to more traditionally religious parents and
students.
Muslim and Catholic students are able to talk about these
things and to form friendships
that embrace their shared religious commitments – and their differences.
The law professor who filed the proceeding
against us had to confess that none of our students had joined in his complaint.
One of them, speaking to the student newspaper, said, “I’m not sure where he got” the idea
that “Muslims can’t pray in a room that displays
Catholic symbols. ... It is not true.”
All this says something important about the
state of religious liberty in modern American
society. There is a danger in trying to translate
religious ideas into secular values.
The local law in Washington, D.C., allows
almost anyone to file a complaint with the Office
of Human Rights – even someone who doesn’t
understand the religion of the group that he is
trying to protect.
The human rights office focuses much of its
attention on the right to equality and the evil of
discrimination. Those are very important concerns. But we could treat Muslims equally with
Catholics by withdrawing support from both.
There is an aphorism in liberal political
theory that says that “the right is prior to the
good.” The idea is that, in a modern society,
people cannot agree on questions of value (good
and bad, right and wrong). Therefore, the organizing principle should be to give people as much
freedom (the right) as possible.
The problem with this ideology is that it can’t
explain why the Constitution of the United States
elevates some freedoms above others.
We celebrate religious freedom (and not,
say, the freedom to go trout fishing or practice
ophthalmology) because the people who wrote
the Constitution thought that it was important to
know, love and serve God, and that the government shouldn’t interfere with efforts to do this.
We should listen to religious people (and not
their self-appointed defenders) in deciding what
accommodations are necessary.
In today’s struggles to protect religious liberty, this little vignette is a reminder that people
of all faiths are on the same side.
Intellect and
Virtue
We should listen to religious
people (and not their
self-appointed defenders) in
deciding what accommodations
are necessary.
Another
Perspective
Father John Carville
16
YOUTH
November 30, 2011
Ben Poirrier, left, and Tyler Himel show the robot they are building as
part of the STEM Education Collaborative in Louisiana. Photo provided by
Donna Kirkland | St. John High School
St. John students join STEM
St. John High School students
have formed a team of “engineers” to learn about, build and
program a robot to perform
tasks autonomously.
The school was invited by
Red Stick Robotics to join the
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematical (STEM)
Education Collaborative of
Louisiana. The main goals of
the initiative are to provide
meaningful, hands-on courses
for teachers and students that
relate vital science, technology,
engineering and mathematical
concepts to learning and to encourage more students to pur-
sue STEM-related degrees. The team is anchored by Tyler
Himel and Ben Poirrier. Their
sponsor and mentor is William
Gregg, science teacher at St.
John. They are attending six Saturday workshops at LSU to design and build their robot.
They will learn computer programming language to “train”
their robot to perform assigned
tasks without remote-controlled
assistance. Regional competition
will be held in April at LSU. The
team has begun building its robot and will add electronics and
an on-board computer that students will program.
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HOUSE OF WAX — Holy Family School’s seventh-grade students transformed the Holy Family Parish
Hall into a Saints House of Wax Nov. 15. Dressed as a specific saint, each student portrayed the life of
that holy person with a prop and a brief presentation. Three students dressed as saints are, from left,
Jennifer Windham as St. Francis of Cabrini; Kelly Marks as St. Catherine of Laboure; and Josh LeJeune
as St. Nicholas. Photo provided by Holy Family School
MBS participates in drive for
Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank
Students at Most Blessed Sacrament School participated in
the annual MBS Student Council’s Turkey Feather Drive to raise
money for the Greater Baton
Rouge Food Bank. A $1 donation
purchased a feather. Classes in
three levels competed to see who
could have the most feathers on
their class turkey poster to earn
free-dress on Nov. 18.
In grades K-2, the class with
the most feathers was 1A; in
grades 3-5, class 5B had the most
feathers; and 6B had the most in
grades 6-8. The grand total MBS
students raised was $3,890.
The week prior to the drive,
Mike Manning, chief executive officer of the Greater Baton
Rouge Food Bank, spoke to the
students at morning assembly.
He explained that a $1 donation
could provide seven meals for a
hungry child. This means MBS
provided the means for 27,230
meals for needy children in the
area.
Hayden Palmer, left, and Isabella
Weber flank the turkey door display for classroom 1A. Photo provided
by Most Blessed Sacrament School
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VISITING THE PUMPKIN PATCH — St. Peter Chanel School’s first-, second- and third-grade students
visited the Pumpkin Patch at the St. James Parish Welcome Center on Oct. 28. While there, they visited
a haunted house, took a hayride, walked a nature trail and toured the Welcome Center, where they
received a brief history of St. James Civil Parish. Students chose pumpkins to bring home. Photo provided
by St. Peter Chanel School
November 30, 2011
YOUTH
17
Gunther helps peers draw
strength from differences
By Debbie Shelley
Assistant Editor
Michael Acaldo, president and CEO of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, visits with St. Aloysius students before morning assembly Nov. 7 to launch Red Beans and Rice Day. Photo provided by St. Aloysius School
St. Aloysius has Red Beans and Rice Day
The traditional meal of red
beans and rice took on a special
meaning for the students and faculty at St. Aloysius School on Nov.
7, during Red Beans and Rice
Day. That day students collected
the staples for the Society of St.
Vincent de Paul dining room.
Seventh-graders, under the
guidance of religion teacher Carol Hill, created posters and distributed boxes and flyers to the
homerooms. Girls in every grade
brought beans; boys brought rice.
The faculty helped to purchase
sausage for the meals.
That morning, the students
placed their beans and rice on
the stage before assembly. Posters made by the seventh-graders
and a giant cooking pot added to
the excitement over the mounds
of food collected.
Michael Acaldo, president and
CEO of the Society of St. Vincent
de Paul, addressed the students
during the assembly.
He explained the significance
of the large contribution of food
with an allusion to LSU’s Nov. 5
football game against the University of Alabama. The stadium in
Tuscaloosa holds 100,000 people. The 218,000 meals served by
SVDP last year fed over two stadiums full of hungry people. He
pointed out that children, as well
as men and women, need meals
at the SVDP dining room.
Acaldo commended the students on their generosity, saying
the LSU victory over Alabama was
“awesome,” but that the collection
of food to help people who need it
is a greater accomplishment.
Following the assembly, seventh-grade students boxed and
bagged the collected food and
loaded it into a SVDP van, almost
filling it.
At lunchtime, students ate red
beans and rice, as well as ice
cream. Carol Forbes, St. Aloysius
School cafeteria manager, reported that 96 fewer students chose
the alternate meal offered than
on a usual red beans and rice day.
The administration of St. Aloysius School has been invited to
serve lunch at the St. Vincent
de Paul dining room on the day
that the red beans and rice are
cooked.
STM teachers make cyber-bullying video
Activities and discussions
about the dangers of drugs as
well as bullying were conducted
during Red Ribbon Week for students of all grades at St. Thomas
More School.
To show support for this campaign, students participated in
fun, theme activities throughout
the week. During morning assembly, STM teachers kicked off
the week with a live skit about
bullying designed for the lower
grade students. The teachers also
created a cyber-bullying video,
which was shown and aimed toward the upper grade students.
As a visible sign of their commitment, students wore red ribbons and mixed matched socks,
favorite team jerseys and red accessories on various days during
the week, with different slogans
for each new day.
Special prayer partner activities were centered on this year’s
theme, “Team Up Against Drugs
Anne Gunther, 16, a junior
at Redemptorist High School,
motivates people to find common ground, whatever their
differences, so they can accomplish a shared mission.
Gunther has siblings who
“are all very different yet alike
in some ways.” She sees the
traits of her brothers and sisters
in other people and effectively
communicates with them. Her
relationships with her siblings
taught her to compromise and
to be confident that people can
work through their differences.
She added, “They helped me
to have compassion in working
with different personalities.”
By serving the community
with her family, Gunther also
learned that every person has
value. Thanksgiving is one time
of year that Gunther and her
family serve at the Missionaries of Charity’s Queen of Peace
Home and Soup Kitchen.
Gunther has grown as a leader in working with her peers
at Redemptorist as a member
of the Beta Club, the student
council, the yearbook staff and
as a student ambassador. She
went to the state finals as a
member of the swim team.
As vice president of the Redemptorist campus ministry,
Gunther, a member of Our
Lady of Mercy Church in Baton Rouge, helps prepare for
the school Masses and assists
Anne Gunther, 16
Hometown: Baton Rouge
School: Redemptorist High School
Church: Our Lady of Mercy
with liturgy. She also facilitates
retreats at elementary schools
in the diocese and for the freshmen and sophomore students
at Redemptorist.
RHS students of various
backgrounds participate in
student ministry, and Gunther encourages them to use
their differences as a means of
reaching many sorts of people.
She shares with them what they
can learn from each other and
helps them identify the gifts
they bring to the ministry.
Gunther said, as a student
minister, she shares her life
with others, and they, in turn,
share their life with her and
help her to clearly define her
beliefs and values. She stated
that she finds it refreshing that
she and those she ministers to
let down their guard and open
their hearts to each other as
“real people.”
State Farm®
Providing Insurance and Financial Services
Home Office, Bloomington, Illinois 61710
Joe Skibinski, Agent
1953 Perkins Rd
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Bus: 225-387-0201 Toll Free: 888-281-0201
[email protected]
P045151 4/04
Prayer partners Jennifer Nguyen, left, and Allison Mermigas enjoy
working together on an activity during St. Thomas More School’s Red
Ribbon Week. Photo provided by St. Thomas More School
and Bullying.”
Older students interacted
with younger students in a positive way, and talked about being
BFF, “Be Friendship Focused.”
Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug prevention
program in the country and is
celebrated the last week in October each year.
Mr. D’s
Tree Service
ovEr 35 yEars ExpErIEncE
Don Decell, owner
carl BaBin, owner
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18
COMING EVENTS
Remembering Our Children – St. Alphonsus Church,
14040 Greenwell Springs Road, Greenwell Springs,
will present a candlelight service on Sunday, Dec. 11,
7 p.m., to honor the life of children who have died. For
information call the St. Alphonsus Church office at
225-261-5650.
John Angotti Christmas Concert – John Angotti, nationally
known Catholic musician and songwriter, will perform a
concert Friday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m., at Holy Ghost Church, 601
N. Oak St., Hammond. The concert is free, but donations
will be accepted. For information call 985-345-3360.
Roman Missal Workshop – St. Thomas More Church, 11441
Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge, will sponsor a workshop
on the new English translation of the Roman Missal, “New
Mass Translations Unpacked,” Dec. 5-6, 6:30 p.m., in the
STM Activity Center. Breakout sessions will be held for
children ages 5-12, led by Mary Jurey, St. Thomas More
School vice principal; teens, ages 13-18, led by Ryan Foulon, youth ministry director; and adults, led by Jacques
Pourciau, liturgy director, and Dina Martinez, director of
pastoral services. Babysitting is available for children up
to 4 years old. For information and to register children for
babysitting, call the STM office at 225-275-3940.
November 30, 2011
Advent Vespers Service – Father Marcus Johnson, pastor
of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Lake Charles,
rector of St. Louis Catholic High School and vocations
recruiter for the Diocese of Lake Charles, will present an evening of prayer, music and reflection, “Ready,
Set, Glow,” on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m., at St. Aloysius
Church, 2025 Stuart Ave., Baton Rouge. For information call the St. Aloysius Church office at 225-343-6657.
ral Director Stephen Galliano, and the CHS Wind Ensemble, under the direction of CHS Band Director and
Moderator Duane LeBlanc. CHS and SJA students will
also play in the CHS/SJA Christmas Band Festival of
Lessons and Carols, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 6:30 p.m., at St.
Aloysius Church, 2025 Stuart Ave., Baton Rouge. The
concert will feature the SJA/CHS Symphonic and Concert bands and the St. Aloysius Church Band and Choir.
For information call the Catholic High School office at
225-383-0397 or the St. Joseph’s Academy office at 225388-2240.
St. Agnes Spanish/Latin Masses – St. Agnes Church, 749
East Blvd., Baton Rouge, now offers a Spanish Mass on
Sundays at 5 p.m. The Latin Masses at St. Agnes will be
celebrated at a new time, 9:15 a.m. Sundays. After the
Latin Mass during December, the Latin Liturgy Association will have its Mary and the Saints 2012 calendars
available for a $10 donation. For information call 225383-4127.
Exhibit on Area Catholics – In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, the Hill Memorial Library at LSU is displaying letters, photographs and
ephemera drawn from the papers of Baton Rouge area
Catholic families from the early 1800s through the 20th
century. The selected items illustrate family members’
religious practice, efforts to observe the faith during the
Civil War, participation in their church communities
and involvement in Catholic schools. The exhibit, which
runs through Saturday, Dec. 17, also includes materials
related to St. Joseph Church (later St. Joseph Cathedral)
and the clergy who served in the area. For information
visit lib.lsu.edu/special/exhibits or call 225-578-6544.
SJA/CHS Christmas Concerts – St. Joseph’s Academy and
Catholic High School will perform two joint holiday
concerts. The first performance will be a Christmas
Choir recital on Sunday, Dec. 4, 5 p.m., at First Baptist
Church, 529 Convention St., Baton Rouge. The concert
will feature the choral students, under the direction of
SJA Choir Director Elizabeth Wallace and CHS Cho-
PO Box 3316
Baton Rouge LA 70821-3316
For help placing your classified ad,
call 225-387-0983. All classified ads are
prepaid. Credit cards are not accepted.
announcements
While we at The Catholic Commentator do our best to bring reliable advertisers to our readers, we are not
responsible for any claims made by
any advertiser.
Senior citizen bus trips: April Branson;
May New York; June Albuquerque, Santa
Fe. Call St. Aloysius parishioner Leslie Tassin. 225-769-5872.
Join a group tour to:
Germany, Austria & Switzerland
June 2012
For additional information contact:
Donna Kirkland
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 225-803-6013
Website: www.donnakirkland.com
Business services
CHRISTMAS – BEAU’S MAINT., LCC
NEIL 225-278-7523
Christmas tree and decorations, as well
as indoor/outdoor lights and decor setup. Free estimates; references available.
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.
Business services
Business services
Business services
For sale
Leaks Stop. Any type roof, free estimate.
Bill’s Roofing Repair, 225-673-4613 or
225-505-6195.
EXPERIENCED CARPENTER
Additions, remolding, honey-do’s. No
job to big or too small. Licensed, bonded, insured. Jay 225-673-9846, 225-9360533.
Flower beds, landscaping, general
yard work, debris removal; commercial;
residential; quality work, licensed, free
estimates, references. 225-247-6079.
5 cemetery plots for sale. Roselawn
Cemetery, Baton Rouge, LA. $1200 each.
225-954-6558.
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.
LEBLANC’S TREE & STUMP
REMOVAL, INC.
Prompt service–Free estimates
FULLY INSURED
E. H. “Eddie” LeBlanc
Phone 383-7316
Donnie’s Furniture Repair & Upholstery. We do refinishing, repairs, caning,
painting of furniture and upholstery.
In business 39 yrs. Pick up and delivery.
10876 Greenwell Springs Rd. 225-2722577.
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.
Pennington Lawn and Landscape
225-806-0008
Lawn & bed maintenance. Clean-up neglect. Call for your free estimate.
Dave’s Bicycle Repair and Sales. Layaway NOW. Sun bicycles, adult tricycles,
recumbent bicycles. Accessories 20% off.
225-924-4337 or www.davesbicyclerepair.
com.
Kitchen counter tops. Call for free estimates. John O'Neill 225-938-6141 or
225-683-6837.
BROUSSEAU'S Painting
Interior and exterior painting. Experienced and reliable. Free estimates. Call
225-241-8488 or 225-928-7194.
Mr. D’s Tree Service
3 Licensed Arborists
Free Estimates
Fully Insured
Don Decell & Carl Babin, owners
225-292-6756
Print Your Ad Here
Black golf for sale, has fold down
back seat. 225-819-8377.
Steel buildings; reduced factory inventory: 30x36 reg. $12,300 now $9,970;
36x58 reg. $20,300 now $16,930; 48x96
reg. $42,400 now $36,200; 81x130 reg.
$104,800 now $89,940. 337-326-4386.
Source #0U2.
Greenoaks Park Cemetery. 2 plots in
Garden of Roses. Value $4190, sell $3500.
Call 225-907-5524 days, 225-261-6149
evenings.
Announcements—Business Services—Cards of Thanks—For Rent—For Sale—Help Wanted
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Mail to: The Catholic Commentator, P.O. Box 3316, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3316
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ADDRESS
CITY
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O
A
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O
O
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N
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E
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T
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O
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E
N
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Advertisements will
NAME
without full payment in
PHONE
advance.
Janitor/Housekeeper needed please.
Send application information to: St.
Thomas More Catholic School, 11400
Sherbrook, Baton Rouge, LA 70815.
For sale
DATES TO RUN:
Circle Category:
Help Wanted
HOUSEKEEPER
Mature, Dependable
20+ Years Exp. References
Debbie
225-266-7655
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.
Want to Buy
I WANT TO BUY SOPHIA DENHAM AND
RHODA STOKES PAINTINGS. CONNIE
225-629-4020.
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Community Services
open at St. Theresa
Church in Gonzales,
please email resume
eatel.net.
Director position
of Avila Catholic
LA. If interested
to hmelancon1@
In sales employment advertisements, the advertiser must name
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Ads must state how wages will be
paid (salary, commissions, etc.) if
money is mentioned. The ad must
also state if there is an investment
required.
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www.wordgamesforcatholics.com
November 30, 2011
19
Local charities responsible stewards of contributions
By Laura Deavers
Editor
Telephone calls and mailed
letters and flyers specifically designed to tug at the heart of those
who understand the meaning
and reason for giving and helping
those less fortunate than themselves come into our homes at
this time of year. For this is the
season of giving to those we hold
close along with those we do not
know, but want to help because
we can.
This is also the time of year to
be aware that not everyone who is
soliciting your financial support
for those less fortunate is doing
so with the best intentions.
Recently, a priest in this diocese received a letter from Cars
for Help in Illinois requesting
that he ask his parishioners to
donate their cars to this organization. The cars would be sold, and
part of the money from the sale
would be returned to the priest’s
church and the remainder would
be used to help various charities.
While Catholic Charities of the
Diocese of Baton Rouge checked
the legitimacy of Cars for Help,
it discovered that of the monies
this nonprofit acquired in 2010,
74 percent went to administrative
costs.
The Better Business Bureaus
around the country alert people
to be wary of any organization
they are making contributions
to, noting especially how the
monies collected are distributed.
In the Diocese of Baton Rouge,
there are several charitable entities that have very good records
of keeping their administrative
costs to a minimum and their
help to the poor at a maximum.
As Christmas draws near,
Catholic Charities of the Diocese
of Baton Rouge has many ways
to help the people it serves.
When asked why people
should give to Catholic Charities,
Carol Spruell, communications
coordinator for the agency, said
flatly, “We give the biggest bang
for the buck. We are known for
our fiscal responsibility and putting as much money as possible
into the programs we have.”
Whether it is the giving tree at
your church, the adopt-a-family
program at your business or any
of the locally sponsored efforts
to provide Christmas to families in need, there is no shortage
of ways to help. With so many
programs, some of those who
are able to give are asking the
question, “Are the same needy
families on more than one list
to receive presents and food at
Christmas?”
Because CCDBR knows personally all of the people it serves,
Spruell said she knows that their
clients are truly in need and not
on multiple lists. “With that special relationship, it does make a
difference,” she added.
The Society of St. Vincent de
Paul also has many ways to help
the hundreds of people it serves
every year. Michael Acaldo, St.
Vincent de Paul’s executive director, said the downturn in the
economy has given a double blow
to his agency: more people are
in need of services while those
who traditionally contribute to
St. Vincent de Paul are not able
to give as much as they have in
Karna Bhujel, right, who is from Bhutan, and Farah Hirsi, who is
from Somalia, load their plates with food at the New Americans
Thanksgiving Celebration held Nov. 24 at the College Park Apartments in Baton Rouge, where the two men live after being resettled
by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Photo by Carol Spruell |
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
the past.
A list of ways people can give
to local agencies is on pages 7B
and 8B in the Christmas Section of this issue of The Catholic
Commentator.
With many local nonprofits operating efficiently to help
those in this community most
in need, it is worthy to question
why resources should be sent
outside the area to support other
charities, with little recourse on
how the money is being spent
and how much the person who
is making the solicitation is paid.
20
November 30, 2011
MISSAL: St. Thomas More offering workshops
FROM PAGE 3
He compared the new text to Louisiana’s weather, saying it is “a mixed bag,
and if you don’t like it, give it 24 hours
and it’ll change. Some things about the
new translation are laudable – rich scriptural imagery otherwise absent in the
1973 edition (of the Roman Missal). Some
things will continue to be a struggle: academic dispute about vocabulary choice,
syntax that often fails to harmonize
with natural cadences in English, the desire to memorize and internalize while
still hinging on the printed word.”
Father Frank Uter pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Denham
Springs said for many people over the age
of 60, the changes may not have seemed
that dramatic. Many of the assembly’s
prayers and responses are what we were
familiar with when reading translations
of the Latin Mass before it was officially
translated in the late 1960s. “I grew up
with ‘Holy Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts’
and adjusted easily to ‘God of power and
might’ at the time of my ordination. It
was sort of a strange déjà vu when, at a
Liturgy Planning Committee meeting,
someone was speaking of changes,” and
he heard of the revision.
“For us older parishioners, that déjà
vu will help with the transition. Though
there may be some difficulties and embarrassing moments for some, I believe
all in all, we will be running smoothly
in a few weeks if we are humble about
it and patient with one another,” Father
Uter said.
Klare Joyce of Sacred Heart Church in
Baton Rouge said the assembly had been
prepared for the changes and the rationale behind them. “The congregation appeared to be ready for the changes and
only missed one ‘And with your spirit’
response. The church had ‘cheat ‘ cards
in all of the books, which was very helpful,” she said.
Jacques Pourciau, liturgy coordinator at St. Thomas More Church in Baton
Rouge, said his church ministers asked
people to be patient and keep their booklets with the new wording open, and
“most people tried. As the Mass went on,
more people realized they couldn’t do
it without looking at the books, and the
responses were better. I think the first
weekend went well and expect it to greatly improve over the next few weeks.”
St. Thomas More is offering a workshop on the new missal on Dec. 5 and 6
from 6:30 to 9 p.m. to explain the changes. For more information or to register,
go to the website stmchurch.org, or call
the parish office at 225-275-3940.
Bishop Robert W. Muench, right, serving as one of the judges observes community
leaders participating in the turkey-carving contest at the St. Vincent de Paul Dining
Room Nov. 23. The carvers were judged in several categories as they sliced the turkeys
to be served at the Thanksgiving Day Meal Nov. 24 at the dining room. Photo by Barbara
Chenevert | The Catholic Commentator
St. Vincent de Paul serves Thanksgiving Day
For the 29th year, the Society of St.
Vincent de Paul served a Thanksgiving
Day meal Nov. 24 to the most vulnerable
citizens in our community — the poor
and homeless.
With the great number of turkeys that
are cooked to have enough to feed the
hundreds of people eating at the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room on Thanksgiving Day, community leaders were
invited to the site the day before to compete in a turkey carving contest.
Bishop Robert W. Muench served as
a judgeassessing the skills of the carvers: District Attorney Hillar Moore,
Constable Reginald Brown East Baton
Rouge Parish Sheriff Sid Gautreaux,
LSU Gymnastics Coach D.D. Breaux,
Brother Eldon Crifasi SC, Southern
University Chancellor Jim Llorens, East
Baton Rouge Mayor President Kip Holden, Steve Lousteau of Capital One Bank
and Jordan Goldson from Congregation
B’Nai Israel.
“Don’t worry, baby,” the young mother said. “I’ll find us shelter, some food and a bed.
Just keep on walking, hold my hand tight. Here, let me hold you; we’ll be all right.
No, you keep my sweater, I’m not cold at all; but let’s stop for a minute and rest by this wall.
I’ve heard of a safe place with people who care. Just keep on walking; we’re almost there.”
Home for Christmas
The short story above is all too true. Every day at St. Vincent de Paul, we see mothers and children
who are living the nightmare of homelessness and poverty. The gift they want more than anything
else is to escape the dangers of the street, to find a safe place to stay – a home for Christmas. With
your help, we can provide the home they so desperately need.
The family in this photo is just one example of the women and children who come to us in need. Kasey’s husband went to
Texas to find a job, but in today’s economy, that’s not always easy. When the rent came due, this young mother and her
children, Preston and Liberty, were evicted. Homeless for the first time in their lives, they came to St. Vincent de Paul for
help. Like most kids, Preston and Liberty miss their dad when he’s away, but they feel safe with Mom at their side. For
now, they are home. This year, our shelters will be home for over 1,200 homeless men, women and children, but we will
also help the poor by serving over 200,000 meals at our dining room and filling over 32,000 prescriptions at our charitable
pharmacy. This Christmas, we really need your help.
We are asking you to help us keep our doors open, not just during the holiday season, but every day of the year.
We hope you will consider using the enclosed envelope to make a financial contribution, or give online at
svdpbr.org. But we also ask that you remember St. Vincent de Paul and the people we serve in your prayers. The
power of prayer is as real as Heaven itself, and through our prayers and actions, lives are changed. How many
lives can you change this Christmas?
One dollar will provide a hot meal; $10 will provide shelter for Kasey and her family each night; and $28 will fill a life-sustaining
prescription; so you can imagine what a difference a larger gift can make. Any gift, no matter how small, will bring the Christmas spirit to
someone in need. You can feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, or fill a prescription.
Won’t you add one more person to your Christmas list this year? One hot meal…one warm bed…one life-sustaining prescription…can
change someone’s life. See the envelope insert in this issue to learn how you can help or go online at svdpbr.org.
Mail your gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, P.O. Box 127, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0127 or give online at: www.svdpbr.org

November 30 - The Catholic Commentator

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