May 19 - The Catholic Commentator

Commentator
t h e
May 19, 2010 Vol. 47 No. 7
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 www.diobr.org/tcc
Crowd gathers to show
support for Pope Benedict
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service
Pope Benedict XVI is seen on a monitor in St. Peter’s Square as he greets people
gathered for the “Regina Coeli” at the Vatican May 16. Some 120,000 people attended the “Regina Coeli” in a show of support for the pope. Photo by Paul Harin | CNS
VATICAN CITY — An estimated
120,000 people converged on St. Peter’s Square to express support for Pope
Benedict XVI in dealing with the clerical
sexual abuse scandal.
Thanking the crowd for their presence and affection May 16, Pope Benedict said, “The true enemy to fear is sin,
the spiritual evil that unfortunately
sometimes infects even members of the
church.”
“We Christians are not afraid of the
world, even if we have to be careful of
its seductions. Rather we must fear sin
and, for that reason, be strongly rooted
in God and solid in goodness, love and
service,” he said at his weekly Sunday
blessing.
With trust in the Lord and a renewed
commitment to following him, he said,
the church can become holier by going
through “the trials” it is facing.
The Italian National Consultation
of Lay Groups, a Catholic organization,
spearheaded the effort to bring Catholics
to the square to join the pope and show
their support. A variety of Catholic organizations and movements, labor unions
and political groups joined them, filling
St. Peter’s Square and spilling onto the
adjacent streets.
Paola Dal Toso, secretary of the national consultation, told Vatican Radio
that participants wanted to pray for the
victims of sexual abuse, but also “to recall all the good that many priests do,
which does not make the news.”
Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco of Genoa,
president of the Italian bishops’ conference, led the crowd in prayer before the
pope arrived at his studio window to address the gathering.
“Almighty and eternal God, comfort
of the afflicted and support of the troubled, hear the cry of those who are in
pain so that they would find justice and
comfort,” the cardinal prayed.
He also prayed that the abuse vicSEE POPE page 20
Loss of sight has been challenge and gift for Father Pat Mascarella
By Barbara Chenevert
Staff Writer
Teacher, student, community advocate, priest, blind man...
To Father Pat Mascarella, the loss of his eyesight to multiple
eye diseases has been both a challenge and a gift, closing some
doors while opening new ones.
“I don’t want to be a hero. I’m no different from anyone else.
My task is finding the dream God has for me,” Father Pat said
from the Spanish Town apartment where he lives independently and continues to work in ministry.
“I struggle between trusting in God and fear. I’m trying not
to be afraid. I have to come to terms with my disability and
limitations, and I struggle to deal with trust. But I believe that
God will take care of me, even when I sin,” he said.
A priest for almost 45 years, Father Pat has had trouble with
his eyesight since he was 2. During the past 15 years, his eyesight grew progressively worse until he could no longer see
anything but light and an occasional shadow.
He took a leave of absence from parish work in 2007 to attend
the Affiliated Blind of Louisiana Center in Lafayette, where he
received training in Braille, computers and independent living
skills, such as cooking and cleaning.
When he returned to Baton Rouge, there was no parish position open for him, and he and the diocese agreed he should
retire.
But not one to be idle, he immersed himself in teaching others and himself. He takes classes to help him adjust to the
limitations of his blindness. He studies Scripture, leads missions and retreats, preaches at Sunday Mass and works to raise
awareness of issues facing people with disabilities.
“Some days I am frustrated, and some days I see blindness
as a gift,” he said. “This has made me recognize that I have not
always been caring and sensitive and did not always use my
time wisely, even though at the time I thought I did. To some
degree this is helping my own spiritual life.”
Father Pat says he misses being able to see people and things,
See MASCARELLA PAGE 19
Carrying the white cane of the blind,
Father Pat Mascarella is able to walk
to Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral. Photo
by Barbara Chenevert | The Catholic Commentator
2
The Catholic Commentator
May 19, 2010
| IN THIS ISSUE
VATICAN RELEASES NEW SERIES of books on the
Roman Inquisition to dispel age-old biases
and misunderstandings about actual
events in the Middle Ages. PAGE 4.
OLDER PARISHIONERS PROVIDE
ministerial
leadership to
their churches
since they
have time, experience and knowledge of
how to get things done. PAGE 5.
OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOR has come to
the aid of those in need of help quickly. In
Louisiana, special prayers are offered to
her during hurricane season. PAGE 7.
HOLY GHOST
CHURCH
BREAKS
GROUND
for new
building,
which
will be
the first of several construction projects
planned for the church and Holy Ghost
School. PAGE 10.
| DID YOU KNOW
ROBOTICS EXHIBITION gives seventh graders
opportunity to demonstrate
what they
learned
about
computer
programming and
building
robots. PAGE 11.
MP3 RALLY
draws youth
from
throughout
the diocese
to learn
about the
power of the Holy Spirit. PAGE 12.
| index
Classified Ads
18
Coming Events
18
Entertainment
14
Family Life
5
NATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL NEWS
4
Spirituality
7
At the first clergy meeting after the
establishment of the Diocese of Baton
Rouge in 1961, Bishop Robert E. Tracy
stated to the assembled clergy his intent
to end all traces of racial segregation in
the institutions, activities and life of the
diocese.
Following this initial pronouncement,
Bishop Tracy issued a series of major
statements on racial justice and the policy of the diocese on this matter, among
which were:
– A personal letter from the bishop
mailed to each of the 40,000 households in the diocese. Included with the
letter was a copy of the statement of the
Bishops of the United States, issued in
1958, entitled “Discrimination and the
Christian Conscience.”
– Publishing “The Official Position of
the Diocese of Baton Rouge on Racial
Justice,” which he issued July 14, 1963.
– A pastoral letter on racial justice issued on May 23, 1965.
During the first two sessions of Vatican Council II, Bishop Tracy was the
only Council Father, out of 2,600 bishops, to speak expressly on the race question.
An account of the intervention ap-
Bishop Tracy
| Pray for those who pray for us
peared on the front page of major newspapers around the world.
In 1963, at the direction of Bishop Tracy, the Diocesan School Board Office prepared, published and distributed a booklet entitled “A Syllabus on Racial Justice”
and all Catholic schools were directed to
use this in teaching racial justice to all
Catholic students.
Many other initiatives and policies concerning racial equality were undertaken
and established by the first bishop of Baton Rouge.
Please pray for the priests, deacons and religious women and men in the Baton Rouge Diocese.
May 23 May 24
May 25
May 26
May 27
May 28
May 29
Rev. Peter J. Callery SJ
Deacon Michael T. Chiappetta
Sr. Uyen Vu OSF
Rev. Joseph M. Camilleri
Deacon Norman Christophe
Br. Xavier Werneth SC
Rev. John Carville
Deacon Randall A. Clement
Sr. Rachael Williams SSF
Rev. Thomas F. Clark SJ
Deacon Samuel C. Collura
Sr. Adelaide Williamson CSJ
Rev. Michael J. Collins
Deacon Guy E. Decker
Sr. Mary Abelette MC
Rev. Paul D. Counce
Deacon Benjamin J. Dunbar Jr.
Sr. Martha Ann Abshire OSF
Rev. Randy M. Cuevas
Deacon W. Brent Duplessis
Sr. Jane Louise Arbour CSJ
May 30
May 31
June 1
June 2
June 3
June 4
June 5
Rev. Gregory J. Daigle
Deacon Albert R. Ellis Jr.
Sr. Barbara Arceneaux OSF
Rev. Thomas Danso
Deacon John Ellis
Sr. Mary Ashakiron MC
Rev. Jamin S. David
Deacon H. John Ferguson III
Sr. Jane Aucoin CSJ
Rev. Christopher J. Decker
Deacon Warren D. Fortenberry
Sr. Kathleen Babin CSJ
Rev. Tran Quang Dinh ICM
Deacon Robert E. Furlow Jr.
Br. Donnan Berry SC
Rev. Vincent J. Dufresne
Deacon Wallace L. Gainey Jr.
Sr. Sandra Blanchard CSJ
Rev. Jerome A. Dugas
Deacon Natale Garofalo
Br. Maurus Bordelon SC
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: www.diobr.org/tcc.
May 19, 2010
The Catholic Commentator
3
Church accepts research on adult
stem cells, infant cord blood
By Barbara Chenevert
Staff Writer
Courtney Vehnekamp says she
is living a “recycled” life.
On May 21, the 23-year-old
LSU student will receive a degree
in elementary education and begin a job search, just like thousands of other college graduates.
But, for Courtney, it’s a future
she couldn’t see five years ago.
Diagnosed with leukemia at the
age of 17, she was given little hope
of survival without a bone marrow transplant. Unable to find a
match, Vehnekamp’s hopes were
dwindling until she was offered
a cord blood transplant at Duke
University.
Five years after her transplant,
Vehnekamp is cancer free. “I
definitely didn’t see much to my
future five years ago,” she said.
“Now I am 100 percent cured.”
Cord blood is blood drawn
from the umbilical cord of an
infant immediately after birth.
The stem cells (immature cells)
are separated from the blood and
stored. The stem cells can then be
used for transplant into patients
suffering from life-threatening
diseases, such as leukemia or
sickle cell disease.
“This is a gift a mom, a baby
and a family is providing to patients in need throughout the
world,” said Terri Turner-Marse,
executive director of LifeShare
Cord Blood Bank, the public
cord blood bank of Louisiana.
Last June, LifeShare affiliated
with Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge to open the statewide
public cord blood bank. Almost
400 donations of cord blood have
been collected in the first year of
operation.
Even though there have been
many medical milestones using
stem cells, controversy contin-
ues to surround the use of stem
cells when they are taken from
embryos. Turner-Marse stresses
there are no embryonic stem cells
used, and no tissue is drawn from
miscarried or terminated pregnancies.
“The resource we use is the
blood that remains in the umbilical cord. Our process doesn’t
even begin until after the baby
“Adult and cord
blood stem cells are
now known to have
great versatility and
are increasingly
being used to reverse
serious illnesses
and even help in
rebuilding damaged
organs.”
Cardinal Justin Rigali
is delivered,” Turner-Marse said,
adding the placenta and umbilical cord would otherwise be
eventually discarded as medical waste. “This is a by-product
of a natural delivery. There is no
harm to anyone,” she said.
Father Than Vu, vicar general
for the Diocese of Baton Rouge,
said it is commonly agreed that
this type of stem cell research
(cord blood) is acceptable and in
accord with the church teachings.
In March, Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia, chairman
of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops pro-life activities,
pointed out that “adult and cord
blood stem cells are now known
to have great versatility and are
increasingly being used to reverse serious illnesses and even
help in rebuilding damaged organs.” However, he reiterated the
church’s opposition to embryonic
stem cell research.
Woman’s Hospital, which delivers about 8,000 babies a year,
could eventually house a cord
blood bank in Baton Rouge, Dr.
Beverly Ogden, medical director
of laboratory services at Woman’s Hospital, said. “We’re slowly
growing into this. We have made
a philosophical commitment to
help because it is the right thing
to do,” she said.
About 18,000 people die each
year because they are unable to
find a match for a transplant.
Since the criteria for a match using cord blood isn’t as strict, the
door could be open to save many
of those lives, she said.
“Why wouldn’t a mother donate
the umbilical cord? She is giving
life to one child and she could
save the life of another mother’s
child at the same time,” she said.
Cord blood is drained from
the umbilical cord within 8 to 10
minutes of the birth. It is sent to
Duke University, which is a partner with the program here and
a pioneer in cord blood transplants. Duke processes the stem
cell harvest, freezes the product
and posts it on the national transplant registry, which is available
to transplant centers worldwide.
The cord blood bank was
launched with a $1 million appropriation from the Louisiana
Legislature.
In order for a mother to consent
to donate the cord, she must be at
least 18, be at or past 28 weeks of
gestation, be in good health and
be pregnant with a single infant.
Courtney Vehnekamp in the spring of 2005 when doctors gave her
little chance of surviving leukemia. Photo provided by Courtney Velnekamp
Consent forms are signed prior to
the birth. There is no cost to the
parent to participate, and there
is no harm to either the mother
or baby, Ogden and TurnerMarse stressed.
“We are harvesting a product that for years and years
had been disposed of as medical waste,” Turner-Marse said.
But because of new technology,
Louisiana, with its diversity and
richness, can help our state and
people all over the world, she
said.
Courtney Vehnekamp’s mother agrees. “We’re so thankful to
the parents who donated the cord
blood,” said Debbie Vehnekamp.
“Because of what they did,
Courtney is alive and will have
a full life. This is the ultimate
recycling.”
Courtney Vehnekamp today after a transplant using stem cells
taken from cord blood. Photo by
Barbara Chenevert | The Catholic Commentator
LCCB tracking 164 bills
By Laura Deavers
Editor
The second half of the 2010 Louisiana legislative
session will focus on the $1.3 billion in budget cuts
proposed by the Jindal administration, reports
Danny Loar, executive director of the Louisiana
Conference of Catholic Bishops. Loar is tracking,
for the Louisiana bishops, 164 of the 2,248 bills
filed during this legislative session.
“The budget cuts will fall primarily on higher education and health care,” said Loar. “This has been
necessitated by the shortfall in revenue due to falling corporate, sales and personal income taxes,
which in turn is due to the national recession.”
Loar said the first half of the session has been
dominated by bills on abortion and a voucher for
students with disabilities.
He added that the oil spill in the gulf will add to
the budget problems for the state.
270 S. Sharp Road Baton Rouge, LA 70815 (225) 924-7597
JAMES R. COXE, III and ASSOCIATES
Personal Injury
AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS
WRONGFUL DEATH
PRODUCT LIABILITY
SEAMAN/HARBOR WORKERS CLAIMS
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
Family Law
General Practice
WILLS and SUCCESSIONS
CORPORATIONS
SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY
REAL ESTATES
CRIMINAL DEFENSE
Personal Bankruptcy
Notary in Office
TELEPHONE (225) 924-7597
“In Home Consultations on Request”
4
The Catholic Commentator
NATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL
Ministry and theology
“Stand, take up your MAT and go...”
MT 9:6B
Ministry and Theology (MAT) is a program sponsored by the
Diocese of Baton Rouge. It is designed to provide continuing formation for today’s Catholic who is presently engaged
in ministry, considering active ministry in the church or desiring
further knowledge of the teachings of the church. The eight-course
program addresses areas of theology, ministry and spirituality.
Summer 2010
MAT I: Basic Courses
Catholic Life Center, 1800 South Acadian Thruway, Baton Rouge
ChristianConversion
June 7-10
9 to 11:30 a.m.
OldTestament&NewTestament
June 7-10
12:30 to 3 p.m.
ChurchHistory
June 21-24
9 to 11:30 a.m.
Creed
June 21-24
12:30 to 3 p.m.
Christology
July 12-15
9 to 11:30 a.m.
Sacraments
July 12-15
12:30 to 3 p.m.
Morality
July 19-22
9 to 11:30 a.m.
Evangelization,Cathechesis&Mission
July 19-22
12:30 to 3 p.m.
MAT II: Intermediate Courses
Wisdom
June 21-24
9 to 11:30 a.m.
JohannineLiterature
July 19-22
9 to 11:30 a.m.
To register please complete this form and mail it to:
Office of Christian Formation, Diocese of Baton Rouge,
P. O. Box 2028, Baton Rouge, LA 70821
or call 225-336-8760 or check our
website [email protected]
The cost is $20 for each course.
Please make check payable to: The Diocese of Baton Rouge.
Please enroll me in:
ChristianConversion&Spirituality
OldTestament&NewTestament
ChurchHistory
Evangelization,Cathechesis&Mission
JohannineLiterature
Date
Creed
Christology
Sacraments
Morality
Wisdom
Time
NAME
ADDRESS
CITY
CHURCHPARISH
HOMEPHONE
WORKPHONE
E-MAILADDRESS
ZIP
May 19, 2010
The Inquisition and the Index:
Vatican records shed light on legends
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY – The Roman Inquisition and the Index of Forbidden Books
obviously do not represent the brightest
chapters in Catholic history, but newly
published documents from Vatican archives should help scholars distinguish
between the truth and the dark legends.
Hundreds of documents detailing the
church’s investigations of individuals and
of written works during the Roman Inquisition have been published – most of
them for the first time – in a new series
released by the Vatican.
Reproducing records about the Inquisition’s activities – records held in the formerly secret archives of the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith – the series
hopes to shed light on how the Roman Inquisition really worked and to dispel ageold biases.
A lack of access to the archives, which
were opened to the public only in 1998,
meant some scholars and historians made
“sweeping generalizations without sufficient foundation” about the church’s aims
during the Inquisition, a former papal
theologian wrote in the volume’s preface.
Cardinal Georges Cottier, theologian
of the papal household under Pope John
Paul II, wrote that by focusing only on
cases in which the church acted extremely harshly – such as the condemnation
of Galileo Galilei and the burning at the
stake of Giordano Bruno, some historians
concluded the church was engaged in a vicious war against science.
It is “misleading to see the activity ...
as a struggle against science undertaken
in the name of faith” when the Roman
Inquisition actually was concerned more
with preventing Protestant ideas from
spreading, he wrote.
Released at the Vatican May 12, the first
volume represents 13 years of organizing,
studying, cataloguing, and then transcribing thousands of documents from
the Roman Congregation of the Holy Office, which dealt with individuals suspected of heresy, and the Congregation of the
Index of Forbidden Books, which handled
the suppression or correction of written
works.
Titled “Catholic Church and Modern
Science: Documents from the Archives of
the Roman Congregations of the Holy Office and the Index,” the series’ first volume
reproduced all the doctrinal congregation’s documents concerning science and
natural philosophy from 1542 to 1600.
The volume contains the documents in
their original language – Latin – but offers extensive footnotes, summaries and
commentary in English by co-authors Ugo
Baldini, a history professor at Italy’s Padua
University and an expert on Galileo Gali-
lei, and Leen Spruit, an expert on the censorship of science in early modern history.
Spruit told Catholic News Service that
the Roman Inquisition did not target science and natural philosophy. Rather, he
said, certain individuals and authors were
condemned, “often for their faith or religious creed.”
A perfect example, he said, is Nicolaus
Copernicus, the 16th-century Polish scientist who first proposed in 1543 that the
earth revolved around the sun – a theory
that would get Galileo in trouble a century
later.
Copernicus was virtually ignored by
censors until a Protestant wrote about his
work and that author was put on the Index, not for supporting heliocentrism, but
for being a Protestant, the book said.
Scientific ideas and proposals never
mattered to inquisitors unless those theories negatively impacted the church’s religious view of mankind, he said. And then
it was the unorthodox anthropology that
received condemnation, not the science,
he added.
The first and only purely scientific trial the Roman Inquisition pursued was
against Galileo, “and I think they consider that now as a very big mistake,” said
Spruit.
In addition, scientific works like those
written by Copernicus and Galileo were
not condemned until they were published
in the vernacular rather than in Latin, he
said, “because then they could be more
dangerous for a broader audience.”
New documents pertaining to Galileo’s
trial are to appear in the series’ next volume, dealing with the 17th century, which
is expected to come out in 2014.
The authors asked what kind of impact
the Inquisition had on the scientific community and if it hampered scientific progress.
While the authors didn’t claim to have
the answers, they did suggest historians
will now be able to make a more honest
assessment based on the series’ full reproduction of the archives.
The authors wrote that of the 86 cases
handled in the 16th century, the majority
of individuals involved were given very
lenient sentences and their careers most
often continued to thrive.
Baldini said authors in some disciplines,
particularly astrology, became “more cautious” and censored more “risky” ideas
themselves before publication.
The Inquisition certainly produced a climate of fear and intimidation, they wrote,
but any claim that it was so oppressive
that science was stunted “is enormously
exaggerated,” Baldini said.
In the authors’ opinion, scientific advancement depends greatly upon economic development and available technology,
not just religious or cultural approval.
FAMILY LIFE
May 19, 2010
The Catholic Commentator
5
Seniors provide ‘power’ behind many church ministries
By Debbie Shelley
Assistant Editor
Many church parishes and the senior
citizens involved in their ministries have
a mutually beneficial relationship. The
seniors find a “fountain of youth” as they
serve and engage with others and the
church parishes have the volunteers they
need to reach out to their communities.
Ronie Tureau, 91, of Holy Rosary Church
in St. Amant, has volunteered so much
time in her church and community, the
Volunteer Ascension agency presented her
with the Life Time World of Difference Volunteer Award in April 2009.
Among the organizations that Tureau
belongs to are the Catholic Daughters of
Court Rose de Lima, which she joined in
1963 and later served as president, and the
Holy Rosary Altar Society, of which she
served as president for over 14 years.
“All her life has been devoted to assisting those less fortunate in the community.
Some refer to her as our Mother Teresa of
St. Amant,” said Tammy Vidrine, director
of the youth at Holy Rosary, who nominated Tureau for the award.
In 1968, Tureau served on the pastoral
council. While on the council, she helped
form an organization called Community
Responsibility Committee (CRC), which
comprises several outreach ministries.
Tureau has served as chairperson of each
of the ministries and chairs the CRC.
Vidrine added, “This sweet, tiny woman
has the capacity of a team of volunteers.”
On top of helping with these ministries,
Tureau is an extraordinary minister of the
Eucharist. She also served many years as a
religious education teacher.
Tureau is also vice president and founding charter board member of Fellowship
Center Board, established in 1973.
Furthermore, Tureau oversees Holy Rosary’s food pantry.
Community service comes naturally for
Tureau because as she grew up “neighbors
looked after each other.” With six children
in their farming family, her parents provided for all who needed food.
St. Alphonsus Prime Time Coordinators
John and Barbara Culmone visit with Smiley Anders, center. Photo provided by St. Alphonsus
Church
Tureau’s motto is “You
have to keep moving.” “I
just thank God every day
that I am able to do the
things I do.”
At St. Alphonsus Church
in Greenwell Springs, John
and Barbara Culmone
serve together in ministries
that impact different facets
of their church parish life.
The Culmones enjoy cochairing the Prime Tim- Holy Rosary Youth Group members helping Ronie Tureau,
ers group, which provides fourth from left, coordinator for the Adopt-A-Family for
fun and entertaining social Christmas program, distribute gifts are, from left, Lauren
opportunities for St. Al- Himel, Andrea Boe, Briana Benzine, Taylor Poche and Jorphonsus parishioners 60 dan Teel. Photo provided by Tammy Vidrine | Holy Rosary Church
years of age or older. Prime
Timers sponsors programs with speakers, according to Barbara Culmone.
including former LSU head football coach
The Culmones help the area’s poor
Paul Dietzel, media personalities such as through the St. Alphonsus Society of St.
Smiley Anders and Leo Honeycutt. The Vincent de Paul Conference. John Culmogroup also takes out-of-town trips. The ne is president of the conference and his
Columones said they enjoy the opportu- wife assists him. “It makes us appreciate
nity to bond with their fellow parishioners. the blessings we have,” said John Culmone.
The Culmones also co-chair the ChristBarbara Culmone helps enrich church
mas Living Giving Tree ministry. Barbara parish life as a member of the hospitality
Culmone said St. Alphonsus parishioners ministry, which coordinates receptions for
are very generous in donating to this proj- special events and Masses.
ect.
The Culmones enjoy recruiting other
The St. Alphonsus’ St. Joseph Altar min- members for the ministries.
istry is a family affair for the Culmones,
“Serving others is not really a ‘ministry’
whose children and grandchildren help or ‘project.’ It’s a way of life you can fall
prepare the altar and serve and clean up, into,” John Culmone said.
A television show with a powerful message
Sometimes unusual messengers impart wisdom in a
far more effective way than do
those people we hear every day.
One of the most powerful
messages today can be found on
MTV.
There are many criticisms
that can be leveled at MTV,
and many are true. Sometimes,
however, it’s possible to shoot
the messenger because we don’t
like the message.
MTV’s latest message show is
“16 and Pregnant.” Now in the
middle of its second season, the
reality show highlights the issues faced by teen girls through
the final months of their pregnancies and the first few weeks
of motherhood.
The information in the show
isn’t anything teens haven’t
heard already. Teen moms
rarely stay with the fathers of
their children; they often feel
removed from their friends,
and in many cases, dreams of
careers or college or even just
graduating high school have to
be reconsidered.
What is different about “16
Coming Of Age
Eric Rommel
expect anyone else to,” she said.
“I don’t want my kids to look
back and not know who their
parents are.”
Leah is fortunate to have
parents who support her, but
her life has changed. She’s now
living the lecture parents give to
their teens every day. She wants
to be a nurse and planned to
attend West Virginia University,
three hours from her home.
Now she’s planning to attend
West Virginia State University,
only 20 minutes away.
She also wants to be with the
father of her children, but right
now they’re struggling and not
together.
There has always been a
disconnect between what adults
think teens should consider
important and the degree of
importance placed by teens
on those same issues. Watching reality through the eyes of
E x c l u s i v e
and Pregnant” is that you’re
not hearing a lecture. You’re
peeking into the life of an actual
pregnant teen.
One girl featured on the show
is Leah, a 17-year-old in West
Virginia. She became pregnant
one month into a rebound relationship. Leah understands her
responsibility.
Even when she learned she
was having twins, she chose to
keep the children. “I made my
bed so I have to lie in it. I don’t
someone living in this situation
helps make that connection.
There are some topics that are
difficult to discuss, and for
many sex is one of them.
We should be grateful MTV
is eliminating a barrier in that
dialogue. After all, what’s more
important, the messenger or the
message?
ROMMEL is a freelance writer in
Toms River, N.J.
Resthaven Mausoleum
Spaces (for 2)
*
just $ 3,995*
These specially priced outdoor crypts are located at
levels 7 & 8 in our beautiful mausoleums. Affordable
term payment plans are available. Limited time offer.
11817 Jefferson Hwy at Airline • 753-1440
Funeral Home, Mausoleums & On-Site Crematorium
w w w. R e s t h av e n B a t o n R o u g e . c o m
3x3” Rest.maus.spec’09cc 10-1-09
6
20
The Catholic Commentator
July 4, 2007 • The Catholic Commentator
May 19 ,2010
Religious Studies Institute
The Diocese of Baton Rouge in affiliation with
St. Joseph Seminary College invites you to a challenging
growth experience in Adult Faith Formation
Established in 1982, the Religious Studies
Institute is an accredited college-level religious formation program designed for the lay
Catholic Christian leader who wishes to make
a long-term commitment to church ministry.
The Goals of the Institute are:
• To offer training in ministry and
leadership for parish lay leaders
• To serve as a pre-requisite for
the diaconate program
• To enable the lay person, through
prayer and discernment, to develop
a deepening sense of love and
service, obedience and self-giving, in
his/her relationship with God
• To provide accredited college-level
courses for the development of
individual ministries
Curriculum:
NEW TESTAMENT – 2 sem. hours
OLD TESTAMENT – 3 sem. hours
THE SPIRITUALITY OF VATICAN
COUNCIL II – 2 sem. hours
BASIC DOCTRINE – 2 sem. hours
LITURGICAL STUDIES – 2 sem. hours
SPIRITUALITY – 2 sem. hours
Bishop Robert E.
Tracy Center
Catholic Life Center
1800 South Acadian Thruway
Baton Rouge
2010-2011 Schedule
Orientation (required)
August 26
Retreat (required)
August 28, 2010
Classes
September 11
October 2 & 23
November 13
December 11
January 8, 2011
January 29
February 26
March 26
April 9
May 7
Required Class Schedules and Registration
—Orientation, Retreat & all 11 Classes are held on Saturdays from
8 a.m to 4 p.m.
—Tuition: $57 per semester hour – can be paid at orientation
—Non-Refundable Registration Fee: $30 by July 15; $45 if postmarked
July 15 or later
—Application deadline is August 11, 2010
Scholarship Funding is Available
Contact the Office of Christian Formation, attention Charles Jumonville, at
(225) 336-8760 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.
To obtain more information and an application for
Religious Studies Institute, complete this form and mail it to:
Religious Studies Institute, Diocese of Baton Rouge, Office of Christian Formation,
P.O. Box 2028, Baton Rouge, LA 70821 or E-mail: [email protected]
NAME
MAILING ADDRESS
CITY
PHONE: (H)
E-MAIL ADDRESS
CHURCH PARISH
CHURCH ADDRESS
ZIP
(W)
(Cell)
spirituality
May 19, 2010
The Catholic Commentator
7
People call on Our Lady of Prompt Succor during hurricane season
By Debbie Shelley
Assistant Editor
Forecasters are calling for an “above average” 2010
hurricane season, which begins June 1 and ends Nov.
30. Colorado State University forecasters predict El
Nina conditions will dissipate this summer and that the
warmer- -than-usual tropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures will remain at their current levels.
The university’s forecasters are calling for eight hurricanes, four of which are expected to develop into major
hurricanes of at least a category 3 storm, and 15 tropical
storms.
In the face of such gloomy predictions, many Catholics pray to God and seek the intercession of the Blessed
Mother under the title of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, the
patroness of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana.
The Statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor came to New
Orleans during a turbulent time for the city. In 1727,
the Ursuline nuns established a convent and school for
girls, the Ursuline Academy, which educated children
of European colonists, Native Americans and local Creole people. The convent and academy flourished until
1800, when the territory went from Spanish control
back into French possession, and most nuns, fearing
the anti-clerical sentiment of the French Revolution,
fled to Cuba.
Facing a shortage of teachers, Mother Saint Andre
Madier wrote a letter in 1803 to her cousin, Mother
Saint Michel Gensoul, who ran a Catholic girls boarding
school in France, requesting the transfer of some nuns
from France to New
Orleans to assist the
Ursulines. Mother
Michel,
knowing
that the church
was in distress in
her homeland and
abroad, approached
Bishop Fournier of
Montpelier to request the transfer.
Many nuns had
been killed during
the revolution, and
Bishop
Fournier,
not wanting to lose
any more nuns,
said, “The Pope
alone can give his
authorization. The
Pope alone!”
A Statue of Our Lady of Prompt
Pope Pius VII was Succor at the Old Ursline Convent
a prisoner in France in New Orleans. Photo provided by Our
at that time, and it Lady of Prompt Succor National Shrine
was unlikely that
anyone could communicate with him. Mother Michel prayed before a
statue of the Blessed Virgin and vowed that if she would
receive a prompt and favorable answer to her request
to the pope, she would have her honored in New Orleans under the name of Our Lady of Prompt Succor.
She sent a petition to the pope on March 19, 1809, and
received a letter from him on April 29, 1809, granting
her request. Mother Michel commissioned a statue of
the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus. She
arrived in New Orleans with the statue of Our Lady of
Prompt Succor on Dec. 31, 1810, along with several postulants. Many miracles, including two of historical significance,
have been attributed to Our Lady of Prompt Succor.
In 1812, a fire ravaged New Orleans. The Ursuline
convent was facing destruction. The nuns received an
order to evacuate their premises, but Mother Saint Michel instructed a lay person to place a small statue of
Our Lady of Prompt Succor on a windowsill facing the
fire. Then she prayed, “Our Lady of Prompt Succor, we
are lost unless you hasten to our help.”
Instantly the wind changed and the convent was out
of danger.
The second miracle came in 1815 during the Battle of
New Orleans. There were 15,000 British troops against
6,000 American troops. The Blessed Mother, however,
answered the prayers of the Ursuline nuns and the New
Orleans’ faithful and the Americans defeated the British.
During hurricane season, prayers are said requesting
Our Lady of Prompt Succor’s intercession.
On Friday, May 28, the dioceses in the state of Louisiana will celebrate the fifth Annual Day of Prayer and
Fasting for Protection from Hurricanes. That day in the
Diocese of Baton Rouge, Bishop Robert W. Muench will
celebrate a Mass for protection from hurricanes at 12
noon at St. Joseph Cathedral.
Advice to those fed up with the church
Disgust over the sex abuse
scandals has led many to leave
the Catholic Church. Even
before these scandals, there was
some significant leakage.
Despite this unrest, nearly
69 million Americans still call
themselves Roman Catholics.
Protestant ministers have had
serious problems with sex abuse
scandals, and church members
have been just as scandalized.
Many Protestants think of
themselves as generic Christians
rather than as Lutherans or Presbyterians or Congregationalists.
Many years ago, when I was
attending ecumenical meetings
for the Catholic Press Association, I heard Protestant editors
reporting that their magazines
were dying due to massive subscription renewal losses.
I asked them what was behind
it.
They replied that their subscribers were losing the avid
denominational loyalty of their
parents. As years rolled along,
the size of many Protestant congregations continued to decline.
The Catholic Church has
experienced similar losses, with
church parishes closing in many
dioceses; however, the Catholic
census numbers
remained fairly
constant due
to an influx of
Hispanic, Polish
and other immigrants.
The number
of Catholics who
have joined the
ranks of the
unchurched is
growing. As this
trend continues, projections
are that their
children will become even more
detached.
The evolution toward the
privatization of religion is welladvanced in America.
A woman from Ireland told
me that her son was so fed up
with the church that he walked
out and became an agnostic, a
person who believes that the human mind cannot know if there
is a God or an ultimate cause.
I thought to myself, “At least
he’s alive and thinking; agnostics admit they don’t have all the
answers.”
I would like to
whisper in his
ear, “While it is
a good thing to
follow your conscience, it is better to do yourself
no harm. Hold
on to your joy!
“Remember
the words of Jesus: ‘I have told
you this so that
my joy might be
in you and your
joy might be
complete’ (John
15:11).
“Don’t let a
church scandal screw up your chances for
spiritual happiness. Do not lose
your joy because of the sins of
others; that would be a form of
self-sabotage.
“There have always been bad
people in the church: bad popes,
bad bishops, bad priests, bad
men and bad women. Despite
them, decide to be joyful, no
matter what.”
My advice to anyone who is
fed up with the church is this:
Spirituality
For Today
Father John Catoir
Don’t let anyone steal your joy!
If you must, become a joyful
agnostic! Be joyful because of
your hope that there just may be
a God who loves you and wants
to remain close to you.
Jesus taught us to reject the
sin but love the sinner, and we
all must try to do that.
So don’t forget to make an act
of contrition now and then for
your own faults and failings. No
one is without sin.
Also, never abandon the Eucharist. Forfeiting this wonder-
ful gift would be the worst act
of self-sabotage for Catholics.
Receive Holy Communion now
and then. It will please the Lord
immensely if you share an intimate moment with him.
And pray often, Lord, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” (Mark
9:24).
FATHER CATOIR, a canon lawyer, is
chaplain of an emergency assistance program and writes on
spirituality for Catholic News
Service.
Tax-Deferred Annuities • IRA • Rollovers
Tired of Watching
Your Retirement
Funds Vanish in
the Stock Market?
5.4
%
APY
Includes Current Yield +
1.80% Bonus
Don’t kiss your hard-earned retirement dollars goodbye. Instead, roll
them over to Catholic Life Insurance and watch them grow! Because our
fixed annuities are not tied to the ups and downs of the stock market,
we guarantee that you’ll have more in our IRA or Annuity tomorrow than
you have today.
Call now: Frank Lamulle
504-458-0957
*Interest rates are subject to change & vary by plan. Rate guaranteed for 1st year. Minimum guarantee is 2.50%
8
The Catholic Commentator
Q
Authentic and superstitious devotions
I am a former Protestant, now Catholic
for 10 years. I’ve come
to realize there are fundamentalists and zealots in every
denomination. Somehow, this
seems connected to a rejection
of grace, when these groups
apparently thrive on the feeling
they have it right and one can
“earn” a special position with
God only by adopting their
ideas, which typically involve
a bunch of legalistic requirements.
Recently, in the Easter season,
I saw a film and was honestly mortified. It described the
graces one receives on Mercy
Sunday (Sunday after Easter) as
essentially an eighth sacrament,
how people must say certain
prayers exactly in a specific
format to receive the graces of
God’s mercy.
When do promoters of these
“devotions” go too far and
become just another extremist
group? (New York)
A
May 19, 2010
Unfortunately, it is
not uncommon for
Catholics (or people
of other faiths, for that matter)
to become so enamored with a
particular expression of faith
that they want
to freeze it and
make it, as you
say, an eighth
sacrament,
nearly necessary
for salvation
for everyone
else. That’s
understandable
perhaps, given
human nature,
but spiritually
unhealthy at the
very least.
Some structured forms of prayer have
become accepted by long tradition in the church. Even these,
however, need to be understood
correctly or they might be seen
as a sort of magic.
Novenas are a good illustration. Nine consecutive days of
prayer as a sign of faith and
expression of persevering trust
in God’s love can be an excellent way of laying our petitions,
praise and thanksgiving before
the Lord.
We do not, however, attribute
anything miraculous or automatic to the number nine. When
we become
wrapped up in
pious specifics,
they become
hard to distinguish from
plain superstition.
According
to one popular
devotion, for
example, we are
told that “families who keep
a holy hour of
reconciliation
on Thursdays
and Fridays will
receive a special grace through
which (Mary) will free a member of their family from purgatory within eight days, if one of
them keeps one day of fasting
on bread and water.”
Those who fast thus on
Mondays will free a priest from
purgatory. Those “who say one
Hail Mary during November
will free 10 souls from the place
of suffering.” (Another common
element in most of these unusual devotions is their eccentric
fascination with purgatory.)
Nothing in Catholic tradition or teaching gives basis
Question Corner
Father John Dietzen
or credence to this brand of
spirituality.
At what point does this expression of “religion” cease to be spiritually authentic and healthy? St.
Thomas Aquinas says it is when
one carries religion too far, giving more importance to external
details of religious observance
than to what is going on in the
heart (Summa Theologiae II-II,
93, 2).
In other words, it happens
when we no longer understand
our relationship with God as an
interpersonal one of trust, love
and caring, and begin to treat
God as some “thing,” a guaranteed source of magic if only he is
invoked and manipulated with
proper invocations and rituals.
What you experienced is
one more indication that we
Catholics need to examine carefully and intelligently whatever
affects our faith, no matter how
spiritual and devout the source
appears to be.
FATHER DIETZEN is a retired priest
answering questions for and
about Catholics. Send questions
to him at Father John Dietzen,
Box 3315, Peoria, IL 61612. or
e-mail: [email protected].
NOW IS THE TIME
Don and Carl of Mr. D’s say don’t wait for
disaster to strike. Tree removal is a highly
technical, yet a delicate task that requires
qualified professionals. Call on us BEFORE the
HURRICANE SEASON and we will give you a
FREE quote on any tree removal or trimming.
Call Today!
225-292-6756
Mr. D’s Tree Service
Don and Carl say THANKS to their customers in
the Baton Rouge area for over 35 years of service!
Licensed and fully insured
Never a
trim or ttempt to
close to remove trees
structur power lines or
e
result in s, as this could
injur y an serious or fatal
damage d/or signif icant
to your
propert home or
y.
St. Vincent de
Paul providing
summer meals
Children attending several
camps this summer will be able
to receive free meals, if the children meet the income guidelines
for reduced price meals in the National School Lunch Program.
The Particular Council of St.
Vincent de Paul in Baton Rouge
will provide lunch and an afternoon snack through the Summer Food Service Program to
children attending camp at Sacred Heart Elementary School,
St. Louis King of France Early
Learning Center, St. Vincent de
Paul Women’s and Children’s
Shelter and Adventureland, all
in Baton Rouge, and River Road
Daycare in Port Allen.
Children who are part of households that receive food stamps or
benefits under the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) or Family Independent Temporary Assistance
Program (FITAP) are automatically eligible to receive free meals.
Acceptance and participation
requirements for the program
and all activities are the same for
all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal
service. Meals will be provided at
the sites.
St. Stanislaus
makes changes
Brother Ronald Hingle has
been named principal of St. Stanislaus College in Bay St. Louis,
Miss., and Brother Bernard Couvillion will serve as president.
The appointments for these two
Brothers of the Sacred Heart will
be for the 2010-2011 academic
year.
Brother Hingle is currently
president and interim principal
of the school, a Catholic residency
and day school for young men in
grades seven through 12 and post
graduate. He served as principal
from 1998 until 2006 when he
became president.
Brother Couvillion is the
school’s director of faculty formation. He has served on the Brothers’ Province leadership team
for three years and as provincial
for two consecutive three-year
terms. He was superior general
for the brothers in 1996.
May 19, 2010
The Catholic Commentator
9
MBS students honor principal with “Walk for the Cure”
By Debbie Shelley
Assistant Editor
Most Blessed Sacrament School students chanted, “MBS!” as they waited in
the school gym to start their first “Walk
for the Cure.” They cheered as MBS
Principal Maria Cloessner, who led the
walk, entered the gym. The students
quieted to hear the results of their two
days of fund-raising and shouted with
joy when they learned they had raised
$1,320 for the Susan G. Komen Breast
Cancer Foundation in honor of Cloessner, who was diagnosed with breast
cancer last November.
Going outside, students and faculty
processed around the buildings on the
school campus and those on the adjoining property of Most Blessed Sacrament
Church in Baton Rouge.
Cloessner led the parade driving a
maintenance cart decorated entirely in
pink with a sign on the back, which read,
“Queen of the Race.” She and the teachers wore pink wigs.
A beaming Cloessner said the walk was
a beautiful way of celebrating life.
Cloessner, who has no recent history
of breast cancer in her family, said she
was shocked by the diagnosis last fall.
She said after the doctor told her about
her cancer God let her know that her
Heavenly Father would be taking care of
her. This helped her to think positively
throughout surgery to remove the tumor
and lymph nodes and subsequent chemotherapy treatments.
Cloessner emphasized she is learning
to live by the School motto “Let Go and
Let God.”
As Cloessner relies on God while she
undergoes cancer treatments, she realizes her life can be an example to others
that they will be OK as they go through
life’s difficult circumstances.
“The teachers tell me, ‘We never see
you without a smile on your face,’ ” said
Cloessner, who has missed very little
work since the diagnosis.
The love and support she receives
from the students, parents and teachers
at MBS School and parishioners at MBS
re-enforces Cloessner’s positive attitude.
“I’ve had so many people tell me
they have offered prayers for me,” said
Cloessner.
The MBS student council showed the
principal its concern by organizing the
first “Walk for the Cure,” according to
student council sponsor and secondgrade teacher Mary Speranza. Students
brought in their donations, in memory
of deceased loved ones and in honor of
survivors, and art teacher Carolin Milner placed the names on a banner she
made. Beaming with happiness over the
MBS celebration, Cloessner noted that
she will conclude her cancer treatments
in mid-June and celebrate her 40th wed-
| OBITUARY
Sister Mary Ann Farris CSJ
Sister Mary Ann Farris (formerly Sister Mary
Mark), a Sister of St. Joseph for 60 years, passed
away at Mount St. Mary Convent in Wichita, Kan.,
on May 12, at the age of 77. She was the daughter of the late George E. and
Zula Farris. She is survived by two sisters, Margaret Bayhi and her husband Alfred “Buck” Bayhi and
Eloise Persac; two brothers, Anthony “Tinker” Farris and wife Rita, and George E. Farris Jr. and wife
Julia, all of Baton Rouge; and numerous nieces and
nephews. She was predeceased by brother-in-law
Robert Persac.
Sister Mary Ann entered the Sisters of St. Joseph
in New Orleans in 1950 and served 33 years as a
teacher and administrator in Catholic elementary
Sister Mary Ann Farris CSJ
and secondary schools, from 1952 to 1985, at Sacred
Heart, St. George and St. Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge; at St. Rita in Harahan; St. Pius X and St.
Joseph Academy in New Orleans; and at O’Connell High School in Galveston,Tex. She
then served eight years on the leadership team of her religious community and ministered eight years as a consultant in the field of conflict mediation. Because of failing
health she moved to Mount St. Mary Convent in Wichita in 2008, where she continued her ministry of prayer.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Sister Mary Ann’s nephew, Rev. Jeffrey Bayhi, on May 18, at 11 am at Mount St. Mary Convent in Wichita. Burial followed
in the Sisters of St. Joseph Cemetery in Wichita.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated in Baton Rouge on Thursday, May 27, at 4:30
p.m. in St. Joseph’s Academy chapel.
Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph c/o Sister Carolyn
Brady CSJ, 4664 Jamestown Ave., Suite 125, Baton Rouge, LA 70808.
Most Blessed Sacrament Principal Maria Cloessner enjoys leading the “Walk for the Cure”
while sporting her pink wig. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator
ding anniversary about two weeks later.
She and her family will have a “double
celebration” of love and life at that time.
“Life is good,” Cloessner said.
Voyager is Coming in 2011!
YEAR-ROUND FROM NEW ORLEANS!
7-Day Western Caribbean
Roundtrip New Orleans to Cozumel, Mexico;
George Town, Grand Cayman & Falmouth, Jamaica
inside $
from
519
balcony $
from
799
Don’t Miss MEGA SHIP Voyager of the Seas
®
Restaurants, Royal Promenade,
Rock Climbing, Mini-Golf, Golf Simulator,
Inline Skating, Ice Skating & MORE!
Special Departure
Voyager of the Seas®
13-Night Transatlantic
Barcelona to New Orleans
Barcelona, Caragena & Cadiz,
Spain; Ponta Delgada, Azores
PLUS relaxing sea days!
Call for special cruise rates!
Join St. Alphonsus Church aboard CARNIVAL TRIUMPH on 10/07/10!
4-Day W. Caribbean Cruise from New Orleans – Call Tootie: 225.236.1185
We Love Groups!
We organize your group while you
raise money for your favorite charity!
Our services are FREE and include:
• Itinerary planning • Flyers & postcards
• Presentations • Reservations & more!
We have the best rates
in town the country!
If you find a better rate ANYWHERE, even on the
internet, we’ll match it PLUS give you
FREE Travel Protection or
Extra Amenities... GUARANTEED!***
225•236•1185
We Make Vacations Affordable.
www.vacationsbycrown.com
Prices are per person, double occupancy, for minimum category & are date specific. Port charges included. Govt fees & taxes are additional. Fares may be subject to additional fuel surcharges.
Restrictions apply. Best Deal Guarantee details available at cruisedealsforless.com. Ship’s registry: The Bahamas
Crown’s Adventures At Sea • Trusted Quality & Service for Over 25 Years • 800•330•1001
7569 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge (next door to the Mail Bag, across from Town Center)
10
The Catholic Commentator
May 19, 2010
Holy Ghost breaks ground
for new covered drop off
Breaking ground for new construction at Holy Ghost Church in Hammond are, from left, Kyle Kent, contractor; Chris Combs, project manager; Leslie Bolner, parish finance committee member; Father Ed Everitt
OP, pastor; Steve Hoover, buildings and grounds committee member; A.J. Collura, church parish council
president; and Tom Pistorius, architect. Photo provided by Nick Gagliano | Holy Ghost Church
Specialists as trusted as the
name that stands behind them.
Our Lady of the Lake Genetic Services
Duane W. Superneau, M.D.
Dr. Superneau is Board Certified in pediatrics and in clinical genetics and is a
graduate of the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. He
completed his internship and residency in pediatrics at Charity Hospital in New Orleans.
Dr. Superneau also completed a fellowship in medical genetics at the University of
To meet the increasing needs
of its growing church congregation, representatives of various
ministries at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Hammond broke
ground on a new porte-cochere.
“This covered drop-off area
will be a blessing to many of our
parishioners,” said Holy Ghost
Pastor Father Ed Everitt OP. “I
envision this porte-cochere being a huge benefit for our church
community. During inclement
weather, it can be used for Mass,
funeral and wedding drop-offs.”
Construction is now underway
and the project should be completed by the end of the summer.
Local architect Tom Pistorius
designed the project that Kent
Construction is building.
Father Everitt added that this
is just the first phase of a multiphase master plan for Holy
Ghost Church Parish. This phase
includes the renovation of the
old church and storage facility.
Plans call for the interior of the
old church to be renovated to
become a reception facility and
gathering space.
The second phase will be the
construction of an early learning center for pre-kindergarten
and kindergarten students, renovation of classrooms, and the
construction of a new assembly
center to accommodate sporting
events, drama and art performances and general school and
church gatherings.
“Our parishioners have been
very generous with their resources of time and treasure,”
said Father Everitt. “We look forward to the future and accommodating a very active, growing
and vibrant church community.”
South Alabama College of Medicine Department of Medical Genetics in Mobile.
Dr. Superneau is interested in all aspects of genetic disease, particularly those
relating to birth defects and cancer genetics as well as providing genetic counseling
to patients and families. His career in medical genetics spans thirty years.
8415 Goodwood Blvd., Suite 202, Baton Rouge, LA
(225) 765- 8988 Hours: M-F 8am - 5pm
http://www.bumbabella.com
custom made
First Communion
and
Flower Girl Dresses,
Christening Gowns and more
(225) 284-1098
OLOLPhysicianGroup.com
2415 Dogwood Ave.
Baton Rouge, LA 70808-2123
Subscription problems?
Call 225-387-0983.
May 19, 2010
The Catholic Commentator
11
Students program robots to maneuver around track
By Laura Deavers
Editor
Without realizing it, more
than50 students from eight middle schools in the Baton Rouge
Diocese became pioneers this
school year. These students were
the first in this diocese to program computer robots as part of
their academic work.
The first Robotics Exhibition
was held May 5 at the Catholic
Life Center. Ten teams demonstrated their computerized robots and were interested in how
other teams had programmed
their robots to perform various
maneuvers.
“Those of you here tonight are
pioneering this program – and
I have no doubt you will lead
the way for your classmates and
teachers, here and throughout
the diocese – in participation
of the Robotics program,” said
Sharmyn Little, director of computer technology for the Catholic Schools Office in welcoming
the students, their parents and
teachers to the exhibit.
Each team programmed a robot using Lego Mindstorms to
navigate obstacle courses made
by the students.
“Building the robot is harder
than programming it,” said Jason
DeVillier of Schoolfiles Software,
who last fall gave instructions to
middle school teachers in how to
build and program the robots.
The schools participating were
Ascension Catholic Middle, Catholic Elementary of Pointe Coupée,
Most Blessed Sacrament, Our
Lady of Mercy, St. Aloysius, St.
George, St. Jean Vianney and St.
Theresa.
Computer teachers in these
schools chose different ways of
teaching the students how to
make the robots. A computer club
was started at St. Jean Vianney,
while St. Theresa had the training as part of a class.
In addition to learning computer science – how to program
the robot – students learned how
to communicate with each other
as they explained each step of the
process. One advisor said some
students who usually do not participate in sports or extracurricular clubs took great interest
in the computer robots and are
excited about doing the project
next year. These students, who
will be eighth-graders, will carry
what they have learned to the
next class.
A member of the four-person St. Jean Vianney School robotics team points out how the robot follows the
path laid out in black tape. Photo by Laura Deavers | The Catholic Commentator
Mother Seton Award given to outstanding volunteers
Every academic year, each
school in the Baton Rouge Diocese selects an individual who
has contributed his or her time
and talent to the school in a special way. These people are recognized each year at the Mother
Seton Awards Ceremony sponsored by the Catholic Schools Office and the Diocesan Home and
School Association.
“The Mother Seton Award is
to honor those individuals who
have shared their gifts through
exemplary service,” said Bethany
Landry, president of the Home
and School Association. “The
sharing of these gifts strengthens our Catholic school system
and our community.”
Following the presentation of
the Mother Seton Awards, Nicole Holmes, the recipient from
St. Francis Xavier School, lit a
candle to indicate the close relationship between homes and
Catholic schools in this diocese.
With Holmes, who represented
all those who received the Moher Seton Award, was Sister Joseph Charles SSF, principal of St.
Mater Dolorosa; Dana Baggett,
sost Blessed Sacrament; Connie Young, Our Lady of Mercy;
Alina Carlino, Redemptorist
High; Stacey Kleinpeter, Sacred
Heart; John Michael Lamana,
St. Aloysius; Marcy Stevens, St.
Alphonsus; Robin Gaudet, St.
Elizabeth; Celeste Hollis, St.
George; Johnny Ray Smith, St.
Gerard Majella; Stacey Babin,
St. Isidore; Happi Hoffer, St.
Jean Vianney; Andrea Young,
St. John; Mari Tumminello, St.
Joseph’s Academy; George Waddell, St. Joseph; Melinda Francioni, St. Jude; Heather Scallan,
St. Louis; Angela Simoneaux,
St. Michael; Kim Bourgeois, St.
Peter Chanel; Anna Michelli, St.
Theresa Middle/St. John Primary; Dean Hughes, St. Thomas
Aquinas; and Terre Smith, St.
Thomas More.
Anthony’s
Italian Deli
Baton Rouge’s only TRUE ITALIAN Deli
Since 1978
Nicole Holmes, the Mother Seton Award recipient from St. Francis Xavier School, represents all of the 2010 recipients as she lights a candle
signifying the association between home and school in the Catholic
schools of this diocese. With her is Sister Joseph Charles SSF, principal
of St. Francis Xavier. Photo by Laura Deavers | The Catholic Commentator
Francis Xavier, representing the
diocese’s principals.
Others receiving the Mother
Seton Award May 3 at the Catholic Life Center, and the schools
that recognized them, are:
Donnie Olivier, Ascension
Catholic; Gwen Cotton, Catholic
High; Martin Frey, Catholic of
Pointe Coupée; Monique Simpson, Holy Family; Tricia Jarratt,
Holy Ghost; Joseph Patanella,
Sandwich
Trays!
MUFFOLETTA TRAYS or
“Mix ‘n’ Match” – Roast Beef
with Provolone, Turkey with
Swiss, Ham and Cheese,
Muffoletta. Serves up to 20.
Phone orders welcome!
10248 Florida Blvd. (BON AMI shopping center)
(225) 272-6817 • Mon. - Sat. 9:30 am - 6 pm
12
The Catholic Commentator
YOUTH
May 19, 2010
Youth pray for the Holy Spirit’s power at MP3 Rally
By Debbie Shelley
Assistant Editor
On May 8 around 300 youth in the Diocese of Baton Rouge heard about how the Holy Spirit helps them
be confident in their faith life and draw closer to God
when they attended an MP3 (Music, Prayer, Play and
Praise) Rally, themed “Veni Sancte Spiritus,” or “Come
Holy Spirit.”
Those attending the rally, which was held at Our
Lady of Mercy Church in Baton Rouge, were greeted
with music played by Brad Doyle and friends.
Courtney Brown, featured speaker at the rally, then
spoke about how the Holy Spirit helps people overcome their fears.
Brown said he has two paralyzing fears: water, which
he said developed after watching the movie “Jaws,”
and heights.
During his senior year at high school, Brown was on
a hiking trip with friends at Steubenville, Ohio, when
they came to the base of a high cliff that overlooked a
large pool of water. One of the group members, Paul,
who performed stunts, urged the hikers to make their
way to the top of the cliff and jump into the water.
Brown said he told himself, “I’m staying here where
it’s dry and safe.”
Brown’s friends prodded him to go to the top of the
cliff. He said he went and looked over the cliff at the
water and became petrified. His doubts about being
able to survive the plunge grew after Paul said the
jump would be his highest attempt. He said Paul landed in the water, splashing like Shamoo, and shouted
with excitement. One of Brown’s friends, Jacob, urged
him to jump by telling him he would not regret it if he
did so.
“I felt God say, ‘You need to jump,’” Brown said.
During his dive the only thing Brown saw was “blue
skies, trees and water.” He stated that he wondered on
the way down, “Where will Jaws be?”
After he landed in the water, Brown was so exhilarated he shouted with joy.
Youth from around the Diocese dance to music at a MP3 Rally at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Baton Rouge. Photo by
Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator
Just as his friend, Jacob, encouraged him to jump
into the water at Steubenville, Brown said when he
was in high school, a teacher encouraged him to dive
deeper in his faith.
Desperately wanting to make friends during his teen
years, Brown associated with the wrong people and
made mistakes that were taking him away from God.
A teacher challenged Brown to pray for ten minutes a
day, promising him that he would not regret it and his
life would change. He said as he prayed, Christ made
him uniquely his and the Holy Spirit began working
in his life.
Brown acknowledged to the youth at the rally that
they will face temptations and struggles. He noted
that when Jesus went into the desert after his baptism,
the devil tempted him to turn away from his mission.
“Satan attacked Christ’s identity,” Brown said.
He emphasized to the youth that the devil also at-
tacks their identity. He said Christ offers them an
identity that is rooted in him that will not change as
difficult circumstances arise.
“You’ve got to take that stress, frustration and anxiety to the cross,” Brown said.
He stated God will take away what “is not of him,”
and the pain with it. He told the young Catholics to
seek God by praying, receiving Communion, visiting
the Blessed Sacrament and going to confession.
Brown concluded his talk by telling the teens that instead of trying to clean themselves up before going to
God, they should go to God and let Him clean them up.
Following Brown’s talk, the youth ate jambalaya,
played games including Wii Wars and Bungi Run, and
listened to music by Brother Brother, which was the
headline band at Abbey Youth Fest in March.
The evening concluded with Eucharistic Adoration
and benediction.
KCs present youth with leadership award
MAY CROWNING — Abby Johnson places a crown on a statue of
the Blessed Mother during May Crowning on May 5 at St. Margaret Church in Albany. The crowning began with a procession of
the religious education students and their teachers. The reading
for the Mass was Luke 1:26. Assisting Johnson with the crowning
of the statue is her father, Ricky Johnson, who is a member of the
Knights of Columbus at St. Margaret. Photo provided by Doris Innerarity
Four students from the Diocese of Baton Rouge were finalists in the Knights of Columbus
Catholic Youth Leadership
Award.
The recipients are: Elliot
Rodrigue, St. John the Baptist
Church, Zachary; Ben Jumonville, St. Aloysius Church, Baton Rouge; Chelsie Bergeron,
St. Ann Church, Napoleonville; and Emily Flanders,
Holy Rosary Church, St.
Amant.
More than 400 senior
boys and girls from 200 KC
councils throughout Louisiana participated in the CYLA
event. Twelve girls and 12 boys
were selected as finalists.
The youth were nominated
through their KC council,
based on their involvement
in school, church parish and
community.
Each finalist received a $500
scholarship.
Jumonville placed second
overall in the state and received
an additional $3000 scholarship.
Youth from the Diocese of Baton Rouge were finalists for the Knights
of Columbus Catholic Youth Leadership Award are, from left, Elliot Rodrigue, Ben Jumonville, Chelsie Bergeron and Emily Flanders. Photo provided by Charles Jumonville
YOUTH
May 19, 2010
The Catholic Commentator
13
Send your Letters to the Editor
to P. O. Box 14746, Baton Rouge,
LA 70898-4676 or [email protected].
WATCH THIS SPACE!
Participating in the LHSAA state gymnastics championship on May 1, were, from left, Peyton Robb, Breanna
Kleinpeter, Kaitlin Young, Holly Smith and Victoria Conti. Photo provided by St. Joseph’s Academy
SJA, St. Michael gymnasts win at state meet
St. Joseph’s Academy and St.
Michael High School gymnasts
succeeded at the Louisiana High
School Athletic Association state
gymnastics championship on
May 1.
The St. Joseph’s Academy gymnastics team won its fifth consecutive state title at the meet, held
at Baton Rouge Magnet High.
The SJA Redstickers scored
223.90 points to finish ahead of
Catholic-New Iberia (219.60),
Caddo Magnet (215.00), Baton
Rouge Magnet High (215.00) and
Dutchtown (132.25).
SJA won the Division III, Level
4 title, scoring 112.00 points. Senior Ellyn Marks captured the
all-around title in Level 4, and
sophomore Holly Smith finished
third. Senior Madison Moore
finished third in the all-around
competition in Level 8.
The team is coached by Ana
Wiggins, a member of SJA’s first
gymnastics team, in 2003.
Marks scored 37.50 points in
the all-around competition. “It
feels amazing to be state champs
again,” she said. “We had a very
young team this year, so we knew
it would be a challenge to try and
win state. Our team really worked
hard and supported each other
throughout the year. It all paid
off when we were announced the
state champions.”
Smith scored 37.20 points in
the Level 4 all-around. She said
the state championship was especially rewarding, as few gave the
young team a chance to defend its
title.
Moore tallied 37.75 points en
route to her third-place finish.
“As an individual, I did well, but it
was because of the support from
the team and knowing that my
performances were counting towards the total that I went into
the meet to have fun and score
big,” she said. “We have such a
great team this year, and I am
glad that I could share the excitement with everyone. I am truly
going to miss competing for SJA
next year, but it has been a great
time all four years. We came in
determined to do well and left as
the champions once again.”
Senior Erica Lloyd finished
first on the balance beam (Level
5). “Being state champs again
feels great,” she said. “As a senior,
it feels good to leave with a bang.
We were really worried that we
weren’t going to win, but when
they called our name, it was such
a great feeling. On beam, I went
last, and I knew that it was up to
me to win the event. When they
called my name for first place, I
was so excited and proud of myself.”
Sophomore Kaitlin Young finished second on the uneven bars
(Level 5). “I am so proud of our
team,” she said. “We have an immense amount of talent, and all
the girls are encouraging of each
other.”
St. Michael High School had
a pair second-place finishes in
the 2010 Girls Gymnastics State
Meet. Senior Camille Bauer
placed second overall in the Level
8 all-around and sophomore
Megan Reid was the overall allaround runner-up for Level 5.
On her way to second place,
Bauer placed second on the bars
and first on beam and floor. In
addition to being the Level 5 runner-up, Reid placed second on the
beam and fourth on vault. Also
on the Warrior team is freshman
Jade Beuerle.
“The St. Michael gymnastics
team is small compared to the
other schools that they competed
against, but that did not discourage them. They did extremely
well, placing in almost every
event at both the local meets and
the state meet,” said gymnastics
moderator and cheer coach Ally
Simmons
| YOUTH BEAT
Gaines publishes ‘Footsteps of the
Lamb’ St. Michael High School junior Julia Gaines
has published “Footsteps of the Lamb,” a book
of reflections on the Stations of the Cross.
Gaines wrote the booklet in her freshman year.
In 2009 Gaines received the Gold Key Award
for her poem “From the Heart of Michaelangelo’s David” in the Scholastic Art and Writing
Awards competition. She is also a contributing
poet to the “Voices of the Future” anthology
that was presented to President Barack Obama
on his 48th birthday on Aug. 4, 2009.
Cowart wins KC free throw competition
Hannah Cowart, a fifth-grader at St. Alphonsus School won first place in the ten-year-old
girls division of the state Knights of Columbus
Free Throw Championship in Lafayette on May
20.
Specializing in
the preventive
dental health
and therapeutic
care of
children and
adolescents.
Dr.
Comeaux
Dr.
Delarosa
Dr.
Leroux
Dr.
Sigsworth
Pa ents
are rlw
ays
welcoam
accomp e to
a
their ch ny
the clinild in
area.ical
Robert L. Delarosa, DDS
Bradley S. Comeaux, DDS
Paige Sigsworth, DDS
Brynn L. Leroux, DDS
225-924-6622
• Baton Rouge • Prairieville
• Dutchtown • Denham Springs
Indiana Priest to Host
Hawaii
15 Day – 4 Island Tour
Departs November 4, 2010


            

          
 
          
           
             




           
       


          

            








14
The Catholic Commentator
ENTERTAINMENT
May 19, 2010
Battle over violent video games goes to Supreme Court
By John Mulderig
Catholic News Service
NEW YORK – Recently the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case that
may determine the ability of state governments across the country to regulate violent video games.
The case, Schwarzenegger v. Entertainment Merchants Association, is California’s appeal of rulings by two lower
courts, both of which struck down a 2005
Golden State law designed to restrict the
circulation of such games to adults.
The statute requires the display of a label flagging violent content; it also makes
the sale or rental to minors of any game
deemed violent punishable by a $1,000
civil penalty. Though there are a number
of further qualifications, the law’s basic
definition of a violent game is one “in
which the range of options available to
a player includes killing, maiming, dismembering or sexually assaulting an image of a human being.”
Less than two weeks after it was signed,
and well before it was to take effect, two
industry groups – the Video Software
Dealers Association (now part of the Entertainment Merchants Association) and
the Entertainment Software Association
– sued to block the measure. Their position was upheld first by the U.S. District
Court, Northern District of California,
and subsequently by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.
The case, as shaped by the contending
sides, essentially pits free-speech rights
under the First and 14th amendments
against the state’s compelling interest in
protecting children from the potential
psychological and neurological damage
that mayhem-laden games might induce.
Originally, California also cited a compelling interest in forestalling “violent, aggressive and antisocial behavior” among
its youngsters, but the state’s attorneys
later jettisoned that line of argument.
While casting doubt on the sociological studies on which the California Legislature had relied to demonstrate the
deformative effects of violent gaming,
the 9th Circuit court also pointed to the
industry’s voluntary self-regulation system – administered by the Entertainment
Software Rating Board – as providing an
already existing and less intrusive means
of advancing the state’s interest in protecting minors.
Established in 1994, the rating board
plays fundamentally the same role in the
field of computer and video games as the
Motion Picture Association of America
does in the realm of film. Through the
use of six basic age-based classifications –
ranging from EC for Early Childhood and
E for Everyone to AO for Adults Only –
and 30 more specific content descriptors,
the board evaluates virtually all games
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
Letters to Juliet
Summit
Director Gary Winick’s old-fashioned
romantic comedy explores time-honored
themes of love, loss, family and destiny
amid a beautifully photographed Italian travelogue as it chronicles New Yorkbased magazine fact-checker Sophie’s
(Amanda Seyfried) journey to Verona —
the city of “Romeo and Juliet” — where,
left on her own by her food-obsessed chef
fiance Victor (Gael Garcia Bernal), Sophie
visits Juliet’s house and discovers a kind
of Wailing Wall for the amorous, where
lovesick women leave letters seeking relationship advice. Sophie’s answer to one
such missive, penned 50 years before by
Englishwoman Claire (Vanessa Redgrave),
prompts Claire to return, with her obnoxious grandson Charlie (Christopher Egan)
in tow, determined to find her long-lost
idol Lorenzo. An implied premarital relationship, a brief obscene gesture. A-II; PG
Iron Man 2
Paramount/Marvel
Stylish sci-fi follow-up charting the further adventures of a freewheeling weapons manufacturer (Robert Downey Jr.)
— whose high-tech suit of armor transforms him at will into the titular hero —
as he battles a gifted but warped Russian
scientist (Mickey Rourke) and competes
against a smarmy rival industrialist (Sam
Rockwell) with the on-again, off-again
help of his former military liaison (Don
Cheadle) and the steady support of his
frequently exasperated executive assistant (Gwyneth Paltrow). In his second
adaptation of a popular comic-book series
that originated in 1963, director Jon Favreau crafts an almost entirely gore-free,
though steadily clash-laden, cautionary
tale about the two-edged potential of
modern munitions. Considerable, though
virtually bloodless, action violence; some
sexual humor and references; at least one
instance of profanity; a bleeped use of the
available for retail purchase in the United
States and Canada.
The software board also enforces industry-agreed advertising standards and
rules about the display of their ratings on
product packaging. For online video game
ratings, go to www.esrb.org.
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
F-word; a couple of crude expressions;
and occasional crass language. A-III; PG13
Robin Hood
Universal
Thematically ambitious yet enervated
version of the much-filmed legend concerning the 13th-century English outlaw
(Russell Crowe) who, in this serious reworking awash in political intrigue and
salubrious civics lessons, goes from common archer on King Richard’s Crusade to
the valiant unifier of a downtrodden, suffering nation. Director Ridley Scott drains
the tale of energy and emotion without
offering action thrills that would attract
a new generation of viewers. Though hovering on the edge of bawdiness, and despite jabs at the cold-hearted, oppressive
church leaders of the period, the movie
may be acceptable for some mature teenagers. Much — mostly bloodless — battle
violence, a nongraphic sexual situation
with fleeting rear nudity, an attempted
rape, callous clergy, some innuendo and
anatomical references, one instance each
of crude and crass language. A-III; PG-13
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Warner Bros.
Crazed killer Freddy Krueger (now
played by Jackie Earle Haley) and his fatal fingers return to prey on the dreams
— and real lives — of a new generation
of small-town teens (including Rooney
Mara, Kyle Gallner, Katie Cassidy and
Kellan Lutz). Veteran music video director Samuel Bayer’s unwelcome reboot of
the 1980s slasher franchise — his feature
debut — relies on the tried and trite recipe
of sending interchangeable insomniacs
to a gory doom. Intense bloody violence;
gruesome imagery; a pedophilia theme;
an implied nonmarital relationship; a
couple uses of profanity; at least a dozen
instances of the F-word; and some crude
language. O; R
ENTERTAINMENT
May 19, 2010
Seeing beauty in the world and in yourself
Beauty in the World
I know you’re fed up; Like a lead up for us;
All they talk about is; What is going down?
What’s been messed up for us? When I look
around I see blue skies; I see butterflies for
us
Listen to the sound and lose it; Its sweet music and dance with me; There is beauty in the
world; So much beauty in the world; Always
beauty in the world; So much beauty in the
world; Shake your booty boys and girls for
the beauty in the world; Pick your diamond
pick your pearl there is beauty in the world;
All together now
We need more loving; We need more money,
they say; Change is gonna come; Like the
weather; They say forever; They say; When
they’re in between; Notice the blue skies;
Notice the butterflies; Notice me
Stop and smell the flowers; And lose it the
sweet music and dance with me; There is
beauty in the world; So much beauty in the
world; Always beauty in the world; There
is beauty in the world; Shake your booty
boys and girls for the beauty in the world;
On The Record
Charlie Martin
MARTIN can be contacted at: chmartin@swindiana.
net or at 7125W 200S, Rockport, IN 47635.
4
5
6
7
8
9
16
17
18
19
20
30
you ever doubt that you are loved,
look around.
Your God so loved you as to provide you with the splendor of the
Earth, even far beyond the “blue
skies” and “butterflies” that Gray
mentions.
Even with this knowledge, we
can see that this beauty is not
always appreciated or preserved.
That is why it is important to keep
a focus on your own small corner
of our planet. Clean it up, safeguard it and celebrate it. This is
where you live and where beauty
is, God is.
I especially like the part of
Gray’s song when she says, “Notice
me.” Each of us bears the unique imprint of the
Creator. Your goodness and beauty are without
doubt. Yet, as Gray stated in her words about this
disc, sometimes we lose sight of who we are.
Sometimes this occurs because we start “measuring” ourselves against others. We think that
“better” exists and that whatever composes this
is what we lack. Maybe, as Gray suggests, we lose
our way not being who we are in our attempts to
measure up.
If we are fortunate, eventually we learn to throw
away the yardstick. Life is not a contest that we
win or lose. Rather, it is an incredible opportunity
to keep finding the best that God has placed within us and bring it out through our own particular
style. As we do so, our inner beauty shines!
3
15
Heya throw your hands up and holla; Throw
your hands up and holla; When you don’t
know what to do; Don’t know if you’ll make
it through; Remember God is giving you
beauty in the world; So love (beauty in the
world); Yeah love (beauty in the world)
Hey baby when I’m looking at you; I know
it’s fact is true; There is hope for love; There
is beauty in the world; Hey baby; Hey baby
when I’m looking at you; I know this vibe
is true; There’s love; There’s hope for love;
There’s beauty in the world
2
14
23
Sung by Macy Gray | Copyright © 2010 by Concord Records
Remember Macy Gray? Well,
she is hardly a newcomer to the
pop/rock scene. Yet Gray hasn’t
had a new disc out for three
years. She discussed how she
needed time to assess who she
is at this point in her life and
career.
However, she also stated
how her new CD, “The Sellout,”
reveals “how I found my salvation in just being myself instead
of who other people thought I
should be.” She went on to state
how the new disc “reflects my
true identity.”
No matter what one’s focus in
life, being the person, the soul
that God made you to be is often a process of discovery. Perhaps as a statement of how Gray now
sees herself is the first song released off her new
disc, “Beauty in the World.”
In the song, the character expresses frustration
that the world’s many problems can keep us from
seeing the goodness and beauty that remains all
around us. She reaffirms that “so much beauty
in the world” exists and tells another: “Notice the
blue skies, notice the butterflies.” She also adds,
“Notice me!”
She is right. What God creates is both good and
beautiful. These qualities exist in each of us. Yet it
can be a challenge to continue seeing these qualities, especially within ourselves
As I write this column, it is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. While I often say that every day
should be Earth Day, it is helpful that we take this
occasion to recognize what God has given us. If
1
Pick your diamond pick your pearl there is
beauty in the world; All together now
There is beauty in the world (beauty in the
world); Beauty in the world (beauty in the
world); Shake your booty boys and girls
(boys and girls); All the beauty in the world
(beauty in the world); Pick your diamond
pick your pearl (pick your pearl); There is
beauty in the world (beauty in the world); All
together now; Yeah love; Yeah love; Oh love;
All together now
15
The Catholic Commentator
21
11
12
13
27
28
29
52
53
22
24
25
31
32
37
26
33
34
38
35
36
39
41
40
42
45
43
46
47
49
54
10
55
44
48
50
56
51
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
www.wordgamesforcatholics.com
ACROSS
DOWN
1 Auto innovator
1 Archdiocese in Nebraska
5 St. Thomas ____
2 Father of Rachel
9 Eden fruit?
3 Legal right
14 An evangelist
4 Some are thick
15 Fusses
5 Swampfever
6 Smells
16 Head of a monastery
7 Cheerful
17 “___ Ben Adhem”
18 The ___ Sheep
8 Superlative ending
19 Commuter’s choice
9 Poise
20 Rosary prayer
10 “…____ from the Father and
22 Catholic football great, Knute
the Son”
_____
11 Select
23 Deer horns
12 Bank transaction
24 Unspecified in number
13 Perry’s creator
25 ___ Lanka
21 French “thank you”
26 ___ papam
22 ____ to Damascus
30 Reagan security program
24 Catholic actor Martin ____,
33 Put a lid on
of The West Wing fame
36 “We ___ to say, Our
27 Spouse
28 Trinity author, Leon _____
Father…”
37 Play part
29 Withered
39 Fish eggs
30 “You are the ____ of the
40 Up and about
earth” (Mt 5:13)
41 Told an untruth
31 602, to Nero
42 Holy one, in Paris
32 Separate article
44 Wind direction
34 Says the Nicene Creed
45 Paul wrote him a letter
35 Hawaiian food
47 Scrap of food
38 Worship of a false god
49 Robert E. and family
40 Lofty nest
50 Members of the clergy
42 Son of Noah
54 Gentile prophet of the Old
43 Plague
46 Tantalizer
Testament
57 The ___ church (family)
48 Tried out
58 Tumults
50 John, Paul, and John Paul
59 Long cloak-like vestment
51 Vestment made of a narrow
60 Commotion
strip of cloth
61 Worship
52 Certain waves
62 ____ wide the doors to
53 Teatime treat
Christ
54 Bathing suit tops
63 Style
55 Verdi opera
64 Lascivious man
56 Spoils or plunder
65 ____ in peace
57 Narcotic
66 Editor’s comment
59 One of two epistles (abbr.)
Solution on page 18
Shane T. Bennett, CPA, CVA
A Professional Accounting Corporation
• Income Taxes
• Monthly Bookkeeping
• Business Valuation
3752 North Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Ph. 225-343-4715, FAX 225-343-4726
[email protected]
16
The Catholic Commentator
VIEWPOINT
May 19, 2010
Are you missing the third coming of Christ?
Most of us Catholics are familiar with two “comings” of Christ. As the Word of God, the second person
of the Blessed Trinity, Jesus became man 2010 years
ago according to our present calendar. That was Jesus’
first coming. He lived, died, rose from the dead and
ascended into heaven, from which he will come again
at the end of the world. This he prophesied himself in
Matthew 25:31, “When the Son of Man comes in his
glory, with all the Angels with him...”
There is a third coming of Christ, in the Holy Spirit,
which he sent upon his disciples at Pentecost and
continues to send until the end of time. Jesus says
that the Father will send the Holy Spirit to be with His
disciples always (John 14:16) and that the Father will
send the Holy Spirit in his (Jesus’) name (John 14:26).
And in John 16:7, Jesus says that he, Jesus, will send,
the “Advocate,” the Spirit, to them. The coming of this
Holy Spirit, the Spirit that comes from the Father and
the Son, is what we will celebrate in a few days on
Pentecost Sunday.
The Spirit is a power within us to act as Jesus did.
While he was with his disciples, it was Jesus who was
filled with the Spirit, and it was Jesus who glorified
God in his actions while the apostles stumbled and
failed. After Pentecost, the Apostles and their first
converts were strengthened to “remain in Jesus” as
branches on a vine. The Acts of the Apostles is a history of the working of the Spirit in the first Christians.
The letters of Paul give testimony to the power of that
Spirit. “It was in one spirit that all of us, whether Jew
or Greek, slave or free, were baptized into one body. All
of us have been given to drink of the one Spirit” (1 Cor
12:12-14).
The hustle and
bustle of our modern
life often causes us
to ignore the coming
of Christ’s Spirit to
us in our daily lives
just as he came to the
apostles and disciples
on Pentecost and
thereafter in their
ministry and daily life.
If we would but reflect
on our lives in prayer,
we would recognize
the presence of Jesus’
Spirit in them. We
might, as St. John was
when completing his
Book of Revelations,
be moved to exclaim,
“Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev: 22:20).
True prayer is a longing for God to fill our emptiness.
Nothing on earth can completely satisfy us—not work,
not success, not wealth, not recreation, not hobbies,
not even the love of friends, spouse or children. As St.
Augustine noted, God created us in such a way that our
hearts are restless, and they cannot find rest except in
God. That longing for God in all of us was recognized
long ago by the Hebrew prophets who prayed to God,
“Rouse up your might and come!” To satisfy that longing, Jesus sent us the gift of the Holy Spirit.
It sounds presumptuous to say that we are in touch
with God’s Spirit, yet that is exactly the way St. Paul
Another
Perspective
Father John Carville
describes prayer. “The Spirit, too, comes to the aid of
our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we
ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts
knows what is the intention of the Spirit” (Romans
8:26-27). Contemplative prayer is trying to be attentive
to that voice of the Spirit within us. It is only presumptuous when we think that those “groanings” are clear
directions about what others should be doing, rather
than the Spirit renewing us with God’s presence.
Personal prayer, like every spiritual activity, is a response to the Spirit. Prayer is, first of all, a movement
of the heart that occurs only under the influence of the
Holy Spirit. The Spirit is always present to us, though
unfortunately, we are not always in touch with that
presence. Prayer puts us in touch with God’s Spirit. As
Richard Hauser SJ describes it, “In prayer we set time
aside to allow God’s Spirit to join our spirit and to raise
our hearts to God.”
We often erroneously assume that we pray only to
ask special favors from God. Actually, our deepest
need is for God’s presence and support. What we are
really seeking is a confirmation of God’s love for us.
Like Jesus in the garden, we pray to be delivered from
this illness, this problem, this difficult relationship.
But whatever happens, God had better be with us –
and He is. Prayer is, at its root, simply listening for that
presence. But it takes some quiet, and some time. God
has given us His Spirit so that we may constantly pray,
“Come, Lord Jesus.”
FATHER CARVILLE is a retired priest in the Diocese of Baton
Rouge and writes on spiritual matters.
Jesus Christ pushed social justice
Not too long ago, Glenn Beck said on
his radio and television shows, I beg
you to look for the words social justice
or economic justice on your church
website. If you find it, run as fast as you
can. Social justice and economic justice, they are code words. ... If you have
a priest that is pushing social justice,
go find another parish. Go alert your
bishop and tell him, ‘Excuse me, are
you down with this whole social justice
thing?’ If it’s my church, I’m alerting
the church authorities: ‘Excuse me,
what’s this social justice thing?’ And
if they say, ‘Yeah, we’re all in on this
social justice thing,’ I am in the wrong
place.”
Later, Beck held up a picture of a
swastika and one of a hammer and
sickle, declaring again that “social
justice” has the same philosophy as the
Nazis and communists, and that the
phrase is a code word for both.
I don’t know Mr. Beck, I don’t listen
to him, and I have no reason to attack
him; but as Reverend Jim Wallis pointed out, Mr. Beck made a statement here
that calls for a serious conversation.
For the record, I’m a priest who is
pushing social justice.
The Diocese of Baton
Rouge is pushing social
justice. Alas, the Roman Catholic Church is
pushing social justice. Think of the high
priest Jesus Christ
who pushed social
justice and asked us to
reach out to “the least
of my brothers (and
sisters).” Think of the
Old Testament prophets who reminded us
that the sacrifice God
wants from us is not
holocaust offerings but
that we care for widows and orphans,
unshackle the oppressed, feed the
hungry. Think of the great modern
popes of the Church who pushed social
justice, from Leo XIII to John Paul II
to Benedict XVI, and who championed
respect for human dignity, including
the dignity of the poorest of the poor.
I’m not into politics, and certainly
not partisan politics. I’m a priest who
knows little about politics.
What I do know from
my studies of the Scripture and the Tradition
of the Church is that
God loves us and calls
us to love and care for
one another the same
way he loves and cares
for us. Whatever we call
it, this is the Gospel
teaching. And, if it’s
labeled social justice,
then “I’d rather obey
God than men (sic).”
Every Sunday we
profess our belief in the
communion of saints,
the bond that makes us
members of the same body. So many
are obsessed with having “Jesus as my
personal Lord and Savior.” A simple
Orthodox monk in a monastery on the
famed Mount Athos in Greece once was
asked whether Jesus was his “personal
Savior.” His answer was at once simple
and profound: “No, I like to share him.”
For some students, the life we share
together at Christ the King is quickly
coming to an end as the pace quickens:
Guest Columnist
Father Than Vu
end-of-year banquet, finals, commencement and good-byes.
With some of you, God willing, our
paths will cross again. With others, we
perhaps won’t see each other. Whatever
happens and wherever life takes us, all
of us have become part of each other’s
history and helped make each other
into the persons we are.
The bond we share extends beyond
Christ the King to the larger local
Church of Baton Rouge. To celebrate
this and to affirm our priests, Bishop
Robert Muench invites at least 10 parishioners from every church parish to
come to the prayer service marking the
conclusion of the Year for Priests. The
service will be at 7:00 p.m. on May 24
at St. Jean Vianney Church.
Peace of the Risen Christ be with
you!
FATHER VU is vicar general of the Baton
Rouge Diocese and pastor of Christ the
King Church in Baton Rouge.
Reprinted with permission from The
LSU Catholic Bulletin for Christ the
King Parish and Catholic Center; May
2, 2010, issue.
VIEWPOINT
May 19, 2010
Razing Arizona
On sidewalks, on
buses and in stores
you see them,
the increasing
number of IDtagged people with
employer-issued
cards clipped to
their pockets or
hanging from their
necks.
Why not make it
universal, requiring a national
identification card,
complete with a
photo, bar code
and a statement
guaranteeing that
the bearer is indeed a citizen and
entitled to be abroad in public?
That’s a really bad idea, you say?
Well, not as bad as the legislation
the state of Arizona plans to impose on people within its borders
come this summer.
That state’s Legislature recently
passed – and its governor signed
– the Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods
Act. This legislation exemplifies
what happens when emotion and
bluster overwhelm thoughtful and
discerning debate in the legislative process.
The most egregious element of
this legislation requires police to
stop and question anyone about
his or her immigration status.
The law makes it a crime to be
in Arizona without immigration
documentation, even though
federal law treats that as a civil
violation.
It further gives anyone the right
to bring suit against police for not
doing the job.
Those unable to produce documents allowing them to be in the
United States could be arrested,
fined $2,500 and face a jail term
of up to six months.
Arizona definitely faces a problem of illegal immigration. It is
reported that 460,000 undocumented people live in the state,
which has the most illegal border
crossings from Mexico.
Gov. Jan Brewer said her state
must act because the federal
government has failed to stop the
flow of drugs and undocumented
people from Mexico.
Perhaps so. But there are
many – such as the president of
the United States, the bishops of
Arizona and New Mexico, and numerous civil rights groups – who
strongly believe this particular
legislation is not the way to do it.
The governor
said police will be
trained to avoid
racial profiling.
Good luck with
that. It is a wellknown fact that
natives of Mexico
do look, well,
Mexican.
Should the flocks
of winter “snowbirds” from British
Columbia and
Alberta, Canada,
be stopped and
questioned about
what horror they
are about to wreak
on the state? What about European-accented tourists? While
they may look like “us,” they don’t
sound like “us,” a certain reason
for suspicion.
President Barack Obama called
the law “misguided” and ordered
the Justice Department to review
it.
The Catholic bishops of New
Mexico called the law “wrongheaded.”
Tucson, Ariz., Bishop Gerald F.
Kicanas, referencing an earlier
pastoral of the bishops’ conferences of the United States and
Mexico, said the law continues a
climate where human rights are
abused, families are separated
and racist and xenophobic attitudes remain.
He will ask the U.S. bishops to
join legal challenges to the constitutionality of the law.
“A mean-spirited bill of doubtful constitutionality that has as
its intention the expulsion of the
immigrant,” said New York Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan.
Arizona said it passed the law
because federal action was not
forthcoming.
It is true that Congress has
shown a lack of political courage
by backing away from immigration reform as too hot a topic to
take up in an election year. However, immigration law is a matter
for federal jurisdiction, not states’
jurisdiction.
The goal is a comprehensive
immigration reform bill that
provides for control of national
borders and a system that offers
some undocumented workers a
legal path to citizenship.
Consider This
Stephen Kent
KENT, a retired editor of archdiocesan newspapers in Omaha
and Seattle, can be contacted at:
[email protected].
The Catholic Commentator
17
A meta-narrative
of consolation
Several years ago, I was at a symposium at which we were discussing
the struggle that many young people
have today with their faith. One of the
participants, a young French Canadian
Oblate, offered this perspective:
“I work with university students as a
chaplain. They have a zest for life and
an energy and color that I can only envy.
But inside of all this zest and energy,
I notice that they lack hope because
they don’t have a meta-narrative. They
don’t have a big story, a big vision, that
can give them perspective beyond the
ups and downs of their everyday lives.
When their health, relationships, and
lives are going well, they feel happy and
full of hope; but the reverse is also true.
When things aren’t going well the bottom
falls out of their world. They don’t have
anything to give them a vision beyond the
present moment.”
In essence, what he is describing might
be called “the peace that this world can
give us.” In his farewell discourse, Jesus
contrasts two kinds of peace: a peace that
he leaves us and a peace that the world can
give us. What is the difference?
The peace that the world can give to us is
not a negative or a bad peace. It is real and
it is good, but it is fragile and inadequate.
It is fragile because it can easily be
taken away from us. Peace, as we experience it ordinarily in our lives, is generally
predicated on feeling healthy, loved and
secure. But all of these are fragile. They
can change radically with one visit to the
doctor, with an unexpected dizzy spell,
with sudden chest pains, with the loss of a
job, with the rupture of a relationship, with
the suicide of a loved one or with multiple
kinds of betrayal that can blind-side us.
We try mightily to take measures to guarantee health, security and the trustworthiness of our relationships, but we live with
a lot of anxiety, knowing these are always
fragile. We live inside an anxious peace.
As well, the peace we experience in our
ordinary lives never comes to us without
a shadow. As Henri Nouwen puts it, there
is a quality of sadness that pervades all
the moments of our life so that even in our
most happy moments there is something
missing. In every satisfaction there is an
awareness of limitation. In every success
there is fear of jealousy. In every friendship there is distance. In every embrace
there is loneliness. In this life there is not
such a thing as a clear-cut, pure joy. Every
bit of life is touched by a bit of death. The
world can give us peace, except it never
does this perfectly.
What Jesus offers is a peace that is not
fragile, that is already beyond fear and
anxiety, that does not depend upon feeling
healthy, secure
and loved in
this world.
What is this
peace?
At the last
supper and as
he was dying,
Jesus offered
us his gift of
peace. And
what is this? It
is the absolute
assurance
that we are
connected to
the source of
life in such a way that nothing, absolutely
nothing, can ever sever – not bad health,
not betrayal by someone, indeed, not even
our own sin. We are unconditionally loved
and held by the source of life itself and
nothing can change that. Nothing can
change God’s unconditional love for us.
That’s the meta-narrative we need in
order to keep perspective during the ups
and downs of our lives. We are like actors in a play. The ending of the story has
already been written and it is a happy one.
We know that we will triumph in the end,
just as we know that we will have some
rocky scenes before that ending. If we keep
that in mind, we can more patiently bear
the seeming death-dealing tragedies that
befall us. We are being held unconditionally by the source of life itself, God.
If that is true, and it is, then we have an
assurance of life, wholeness and happiness beyond the loss of youth, the loss of
health, the loss of reputation, the betrayal
of friends, the suicide of a loved one, and
even beyond our own sins, and betrayals.
In the end, as Julian of Norwich says, all
will be well, and all will be well, and every
manner of being will be well.
And we need this assurance. We live
with constant anxiety because we sense
that our health, security and relationships
are fragile, that our peace can easily disappear. We live, too, with regrets about our
own sins and betrayals. And we live with
more than a little uneasiness about broken
relationships and loved ones broken by
bitterness or suicide. Our peace is fragile
and anxious.
We need to more deeply appropriate Jesus’ farewell gift to us: I leave you a peace
that no one can take from you: Know that
you are loved and held unconditionally.
In Exile
Father Ron Rolheiser
OBLATE FATHER ROLHEISER, theologian, teacher
and award-winning author, is president
of the Oblate School of Theology in San
Antonio, TX. He can be contacted through
his website www.ronrolheiser.com.
18 The Catholic Commentator
COMING EVENTS
Theology of the Body – The Culture of Life Committee
of St. Agnes Church in Baton Rouge is sponsoring a
presentation by Deacon Pete Walsh, who is assigned
to St. Patrick Church in Baton Rouge, on Pope John
Paul II’s teachings on Theology of the Body, Saturday,
June 5, and Sunday, June 6, 6-8 p.m., in the St. Agnes
cafeteria, 749 East Blvd. The material is appropriate
for single and married adults and mature teens. Four
hours of continuing education credit may be earned by
attending the presentation. For more information call
the St. Agnes Church office at 225-383-4127.
Catholic Daughters Garage Sale – The Catholic Daughters
of the Americas Court Regina Coeli #2063 will have
a garage sale Friday, June 4, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturday, June 5, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., at St. Jude the Apostle
Church Activity Center, 9150 Highland Rd., Baton
Rouge. There will be furniture, housewares and other
items. For information call 225-769-0122.
Monastic Discernment Program – St. Joseph Abbey, a
community of Benedictine monks in St. Benedict,
will host a program for men ages 20 to 45 interested
in discerning a call to monastic life. The program, entitled “Living the Monastic Identity,” will be held from
Wednesday evening, July 7, through Sunday, July 11.
Participants will pray and work with the monks as well
as attend seminars on topics related to monasticism.
May 19, 2010
Participants will also have the opportunity to celebrate the Solemnity of St. Benedict with the monastic
community. Anyone interested in more information
is asked to call Brother Jude Israel OSB, vocation director of St. Joseph Abbey, at 985-867-2249 or e-mail
[email protected].
on dates and an application call the Diocese of Baton
Rouge Office of Christian Formation at 225-336-8760
or e-mail [email protected].
Healing the Hurts of the Heart – Deacon Pete Walsh, who
is assigned to St. Patrick Church in Baton Rouge, will
conduct a benediction and healing service on Wednesday, June 2, 7 p.m., at St. Patrick, 12424 Brogdon Lane.
For information call the St. Patrick Church office at
225-753-5750.
Waiting for Eli – Chad Judice, a teacher at St. Thomas More High School in Lafayette, will talk about his
book, “Waiting for Eli: A Father’s Journey From Fear
to Faith,” Thursday, June 17, 7-8:30 p.m., at Our Lady
of Mercy Parish Activity Center, 444 Marquette Ave.,
Baton Rouge. Judice will talk about the struggles, miracles and joys he experienced from the time he learned
that his son, Eli, would be born with spina bifida until
he held him in his arms. For information call the Our
Lady of Mercy Church office at 225-926-1883.
Dubbie Waller Memorial Golf Tournament – The Dubbie
Waller Memorial Golf Tournament, benefitting Holy
Family School Athletics, will be held on Saturday,
June 5, at Westside Golf Club, Brusly. Team registration is $240 and individual registration is $60. For
information call Bart Saia at 225-938-4667 or e-mail
[email protected].
Religious Studies Institute – The Diocese of Baton Rouge
and St. Joseph Seminary College will host the Religious Studies Institute at the Bishop Robert E. Tracy
Center, 1800 S. Acadian Thwy., Baton Rouge. The
curriculum includes: Old Testament, New Testament,
spirituality of Vatican Council II, basic doctrine, liturgical studies and spirituality. Each class will meet
11 times. Students are required to attend orientation
on Aug. 26 and a retreat on Aug. 28. All classes and
the retreat are held on Saturdays.. For information
MAT Classes – The Office of Christian Formation of the
Diocese of Baton Rouge will sponsor Summer Ministry and Theology classes. Topics will include: Christian conversion, Old Testament and New Testatment,
church history, creed, Christology, sacraments, morality, evangelization, catechesis and mission, wisdom
and Johannine literature. Cost is $20 per class. For information visit [email protected]
or call 225-336-8760.
The Catholic Commentator
PO Box 3316
Baton Rouge LA 70821-3316
For help placing
your classified ad,
call 225-387-0983
announcements
Business services
Business services
Business services
For rent
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.
HOUSEKEEPER
Mature, Dependable
20+ Years Exp. Ref’s
Debbie
225-266-7655
POOL SAFETY FENCES
Lightweight and Removable.
Guy’s Fencing Repair
Installation of all fences.
225-955-3703
WALLPAPERING
30 years exp. Ref’s
Debbie
225-266-7655.
Borel and Associates, LLC
Certified Public Accountants
Baton Rouge, LA
Accounting, Taxes,
and Auditing Services
Thayer Borel, Managing Partner
Michele Giarrusso, Partner
225-769-9100
Hall Rentals with kitchen, VFW Post
3784, 13214 S. Choctaw Dr., B.R. All occasions. 225-273-1999.
LEBLANC’S TREE & STUMP
REMOVAL, INC.
Prompt service-Free estimates
FULLY INSURED
E. H. “Eddie” LeBlanc
Phone 383-7316
EXCELLENT CONDITION 28x80 double
wide mobile home, 3BR, 2.5 baths, f/p, all
appliances, several amenities, DS by I-12,
large lot, wood fence, $59,995. 225-6677363/225-229-5519.
In sales employment advertisements, the advertiser must name
the product or service to be sold.
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.
Business services
Mr. D’s Tree Service
3 Licensed Arborists
Free Estimates
Fully Insured
Don Decell & Carl Babin, owners
225-292-6756
THOMAS LUNDIN, CPA
Accounting and taxes for businesses,
non-profits and individuals; business,
computer, financial and management
services. 30 years experience; professional, prompt and personal attention.
225-296-0404.
Donnie’s Furniture Repair & Upholstery. We do refinishing, repairs, caning,
painting of furniture and upholstery.
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.
Kitchen counter tops. Call for free estimates. John O'Neill 225-938-6141 or 225683-6837.
Dave’s Bicycle Repair and Sales. Free
pickup and delivery, free estimates, expert economical repair on all brands.
225-924-4337 or www.davesbicyclere
pair. com.
Anthony's Furniture Specialties. We restore hurricane damaged furniture. If it's
furniture we do it all! Refinishing, re-upholstery, pick up and delivery, etc. 2263
Florida Blvd., BR. 225-413-2607.
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.
BROUSSEAU'S Painting
Interior and exterior painting. Experenced and reliable. Free estimates. Call
225-241-8488 or 225-928-7194.
Homes For sale
For rent
DATES TO RUN:
Announcements—Business Services—Cards of Thanks—For Rent—For Sale—Help Wanted
—Positions Wanted—Legal Notices (other
)
Mail to: The Catholic Commentator, P.O. Box 3316, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3316
Enclosed is $9.50 for the first 15 words + 15¢ for each word thereafter + 25¢ per line for each special effect (all caps, centered
line, bold lettering); for a total of $___________for each issue.
Advertisements will
NAME
not be published
ADDRESS
CITY
without full payment in
PHONE
advance.
Dependable female for part-time job
at Anthony’s Italian Deli. References required. To apply call 225-272-6817, 3-5
p.m. Mon.-Sat.
Luxury condo in Orlando, Fla. Sleeps 6,
2 bathrooms, furnished kitchen, washer/
dryer, balcony overlooking lake, 2 pools,
concierge service, complimentary shuttle
to Disney, Sea World, Universal Studios,
Located 1 mile from Disney, near other
attractions. Greg or Jody Brandao: Greg@
eriservices.com, 225-266-9702; jody.
[email protected], 225-802-2600.
Print Your Ad Here
Circle Category:
Help Wanted
O
M
A
H
A
L
A
B
A
N
D
R
O
I
T
S
A
L
T
D
C
I
I
I
T
E
M
B
R
A
S
A
I
D
A
L
O
O
T
S
M
K
A
U
L
L M A
L E R
S R I
C A
I I
D
S
O T H
L E E
A A M
T S
R E
Y R
Classified
Ads Work!
O
D
O
R
S
P
R
A
Y
S
C
O
R
R E
O S
S T
Y
R
S O
H A
P E D
O E
I N T
O
P R
D O M
O P E
P E N
E S T
A
P
L
O
M
B
P
R
O
C
E
E
D
A S
E
R T
I E
E S
T
E
D
P
I
C
K
L
O
A
N
E
R
L
E
M
A
T
E
U
R
I
S
S
E
R
E
S
T
O
L
E
T
I
D
A
L
S
C
O
N
E
www.wordgamesforcatholics.com
YEAR FOR PRIEST
May 19, 2010
The Catholic Commentator 19
MASCARELLA:
‘I’m no different than
anyone else.’
FROM PAGE 1
but he has learned to join his suffering
and disability “to the cross of Christ. My
struggle is I also have to allow Christ to
come down from the cross and join me
in my cross.”
That struggle is often frustrating.
When a friend advised him to embrace
the cross, Father Pat said he “felt like
kicking him.” But he said he realizes he
can say “go away and leave me alone”, or
he can live life to the fullest. “My words
have been saying this for years, but now
my actions need to say it, too.”
Father Pat’s home in Spanish Town,
a historic district in downtown Baton
Rouge, is within walking distance of St.
Joseph Cathedral, the YMCA, restaurants and other activities. He described
it as a small neighborhood that “I’m sort
of able to navigate.”
His apartment is nicely furnished and
neatly organized with special computer
and Braille-embossing equipment taking up an entire wall. Several walking Father Pat Mascarella works at a special computer that enables him to continue in ministry after the loss of his eyesight. Photo by Barbara
canes stand near the front door. It is a Chenevert | The Catholic Commentator
challenge, both physically and emotionally, for him to live alone.
the events of Jesus’ life and what he
He continues to take classes in Braille said, but one has to search deeper for
and computer and receives training in the revelation in the story, he said.
using the white cane of the blind. His
“My ministry now – and what it
immediate goal is to learn to use public should have been all along – is to invite
transportation and to navigate the LSU people to come and see” what Jesus has
campus.
to offer, he said, citing the Scripture
U N I F O R M S
The centers for the visually impaired passage of the Samaritan Woman at
try to instill the spirit that “I can do the Well, one of the topics of his misanything anybody else does but with sion talks.
some adjustments,” he said. “I can get
A new role for him is working with city
around, but I can’t
and state officials to
drive. I can say Mass,
improve accessibility
but I need Braille, a
for people with dismemory and some
abilities. Recently he
assistance. I can live
was appointed by the
independently but it
governor to the Louihas to be in an envisiana Rehabilitation
ronment where I get
Council, a board that
used to a certain rouadvises the state Detine and follow it.”
partment of Social
The centers teach
Services on issues
the blind to notice
affecting those with
WE'RE MOVING!
signs such as smells,
disabilities. As a
On June 1, we'll be opening
sounds and cracks in
blind person, he said
our brand-new store at
Father Pat Mascarella
the sidewalk to keep
he wants to be a wit11626 Sherwood Forest
track of where they
ness to the church
Court, in the Sherwood
are. If one gets corand to the commuForest/Airline Hwy. area,
just behind the Golden
nered, he listens and
nity.
Corral Restaurant. Our
finds a solution to get
Father Pat presides
Drusilla Shopping Center
to safe ground, Father Pat said, adding at Masses, helping other priests when
location will close May 29.
he once walked down the middle of the he can, but admits he needs to be in a
street, but thought he was on the side- church that is familiar. He said he has
walk. “People started yelling to me. I received support from the diocese, from
won’t let that happen again.”
family and friends, and tries to give it
225.922.9495
Father Pat, who has served in 10 par- back by helping his fellow priests. “Othwww.inkas-uniforms.com
ishes in the diocese, spends much time er priests are suffering as much as I am,
in prayer and in listening to Scripture but in different ways. Just none of them
and commentary. The evangelists tell carry a white cane as I do.”
Inkas'
“My ministry now
– and what it should
have been all along – is
to invite people to come
and see” what Jesus has
to offer
Save 10% on everything you
buy through July 10!
i
20
The Catholic Commentator
May 19, 2010
POPE: Current trials will make church stronger
From page 1
tims would return to participating in the life of a “purified” church, so that they could
“rediscover the infinite love of
Christ.”
In a rare exception, Vatican
officials allowed the organizers
to hang banners from the colon-
nade surrounding the square;
many proclaimed, “Together
with the pope.”
“We young people are with
you,” “The people of Rome with
the pope” and dozens of other
signs, banners, balloons and
flags expressed love for the pope.
Salvatore Martinez, president of the Italian Renewal in
the Holy Spirit movement, told
Vatican Radio that Catholics
recognize that some people
in the church have seriously
sinned, “but the church is alive,
the church is still standing. The
laity and the movements are expressions of it through their vitality, their beauty and through
the strength of the witness they
—
Y
!
R
e
R
c
HU Chan
Last you could Win
the 2010
Mansion
Children’s Miracle
A 2,309 sq. ft. 4 bdr. 3 bath home in Audubon Lakes in Zachary valued at over $312,000.
M A N S I O N
S P O N S O R S
Audubon
Lakes
PLECO Ron Babb • Edward Carroll • Paul Carroll
P R O C E E D S
B E N E F I T
Buy your $100
ticket today!
Drawing on June 6. For tickets,
call (225) 757-2663 or
(877) 757-2663 or visit us
online at ololchildrens.com.
give each day.”
when the world’s people are in
Andrea Olivero, president of need of hope, some people are
an Italian Christian workers’ asking if the church really is a
group, told the radio that mem- place to find it.
bers of his group appreciated “In the past few months,
the pope’s bluntness in recog- we repeatedly have had to face
nizing that some priests have news that could attempt to rehurt children and betrayed the move the joy from the church,
trust placed in them.
news that obscures it as a place
The abuse scandal, he said, of hope,” he said.
“should be experienced as a Using the words of a Bible
cross by all of
parable, the
us. We canpope said that
not allow our
people may be
pastors to be
tempted to ask
the only ones
God whether
who live with
he sowed the
this suffering,
seeds of his
which is a sufGospel
in
fering that afgood earth.
fects the entire
“Weeds exchurch.”
ist even in the
heart of the
At the same
church
and
time, Olivero
among
those
said, all Cathowhom
the
lics must make
Salvator Martinez
Lord
has
wela
renewed
President of the Italian Renewal in the Holy
comed
into
c om m it ment
Spirit movement
to living their
his service in
faith and to
a special way.
helping the poor, the weak and But the light of God has not set,
the good grain has not been sufthe hurting.
Pope Benedict also referred focated by the seed of evil,” the
to the scandal when he wrote to pope said.
participants in a large ecumeni- The church continues to be a
cal gathering in Germany. The place of hope, he said, because
ecumenical Kirchentag, which it is the place where people hear
ended May 16, had focused on the word of God, “which purifies us and shows us the path of
the theme of hope.
The pope said that at a time faith.”
The church is alive,
the church is still
standing...The laity
and the movements
are expressions of it
through their vitality.