REVERING A SAINT People flock to see relics of old friend

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T H E C A T H O L I C Commentator By Debbie Shelley The Catholic Commentator PAGE 10 Port Vincent Chapel November 24, 2017 Vol. 55, No.

org REVERING A SAINT People flock to see relics of old friend It was as if an old friend had come home for the crowds of people who came to venerate a first-class relic of St.

People kissed, touched a rosary or bowed their head in a moment of silence as they approached the relic and presented prayers of thanksgiving, petitions or relived fond memories of seeing the pope in

At Our Lady of Mercy Church in, people expressed various signs of reverence when venerating the first-class relic of St. John Paul II when it came to the Diocese of.

Photo by Debbie Shelley The Catholic Commentator At the veneration at Our Lady of Mercy, Margie Melancon, of Gonzales, said she came to give thanks for all God s blessings because she is cancer free

1 T H E C A T H O L I C Commentator By Debbie Shelley The Catholic Commentator PAGE 10 Port Vincent Chapel November 24, 2017 Vol. 55, No. 21 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1963 thecatholiccommentator.org REVERING A SAINT People flock to see relics of old friend It was as if an old friend had come home for the crowds of people who came to venerate a first-class relic of St. John Paul II that toured the Diocese of on Nov People kissed, touched a rosary or bowed their head in a moment of silence as they approached the relic and presented prayers of thanksgiving, petitions or relived fond memories of seeing the pope in person. A vial of the saint s blood was displayed at Christ the King Church and Student Center at LSU, Our Lady of Mercy Church in and Holy Rosary Church in St. Amant. At Our Lady of Mercy Church in, people expressed various signs of reverence when venerating the first-class relic of St. John Paul II when it came to the Diocese of. The relic was displayed at Christ the King Church and Student Center at LSU, Our Lady of Mercy Church and Holy Rosary Church in St. Amant. Photo by Debbie Shelley The Catholic Commentator At the veneration at Our Lady of Mercy, Margie Melancon, of Gonzales, said she came to give thanks for all God s blessings because she is cancer free after facing the disease twice. SEE RELIC PAGE 19 Re-entry for inmates present unique challenges By Bonny Van The Catholic Commentator Seven days after 55-year-old Ernest Scott of Baton Rouge was released from prison, he visited the Prison Ministry Office of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of looking for help. Scott was among the 1,900 convicted men and women released Nov. 1 as part of Louisiana s new criminal justice reform package. Soft-spoken, tired and anxious, Scott was seeking a way to find work and a place to stay. (It s) very difficult coming out of prison, knowing I have no support from the family, which causes people Part 2 of a series to do crimes to survive, he said. I didn t find out that I was being released until Oct. 29. Found out through the inmate hotline. Scott was incarcerated in West Feliciana civil parish as part of a work release program. He served a total of 10 years in prison and was able to save enough money to buy a car when he was released. But, with no driver s license or insurance, a traffic accident or ticket could land him back where he started: in jail. Work has been difficult to secure, his record being his albatross. At times, he has been forced to sleep in his car, unable to stay with his either of his two adult children because of Section 8 occupancy regulations. Unfortunately, Scott s story is not unique, as many of the inmates recently released struggle with their own challenges. In fact, at least one of the inmates released Nov. 1 has already been arrested and is back in jail. These are the types of scenarios that has many officials, even those working for justice reform, concerned. There are some services such as Joseph Homes (a program of CCDBR), but everybody is just not ready, said Carl Taylor, shelter supervisor at The Society of St. Vincent de Paul for the Diocese of and who was incarcerated 20 years ago. They want things on their own terms. Don t fit the bill. You can set people up to fail by putting them in a situation that is not going to work. Linda Fjeldsjo, coordinator of the Prison Ministry Office and Joseph Homes for CCDBR, said while the focus in recent months has been on the Nov. 1 released prisoners, this problem is not new for the state, noting that Louisiana, which traditionally is saddled with the highest incarceration rate in the country, releases 18,000 inmates annually. This isn t a new phenomenon, she said. A lot of people want to use this as a scare tactic for the reforms. Fjeldsjo said those in prison ministry see a common theme among a majority of those who are behind bars. In all of our work, we ve never really worked with any rich, rich clients. Poverty, lack of education, they have no true work history, she said. A lot of substance SEE REFORM PAGE 20

2 The Catholic Commentator November 24, 2017 Catholic Charities By Amy Jones Catholic Charities of the Diocese of is a network of agencies which has evolved from a number of different programs, all

1964), and the Office of Social Responsibility (est. 1968).

In 1974, as a result of a study of the Social Apostolate of the diocese commissioned by Bishop Robert E.

In the late 1970s, the Catholic Community Life Office became a major provider of refugee resettlement for those fleeing Vietnam.

Assisting legal immigrants achieve citizenship is an ongoing commitment. Prison ministry was started in 1977 by a volunteer, Doucette Pascal.

By 1992, a fulltime director was hired and service was expanded, including offering emergency assistance to those recently released from prison; coordinating services for families and loved ones of

2 2 The Catholic Commentator November 24, 2017 Catholic Charities By Amy Jones Catholic Charities of the Diocese of is a network of agencies which has evolved from a number of different programs, all of which stem from a shared mission: to help those in need. Catholic Charities has its roots in the Catholic Family Life Bureau (est. 1962), Catholic Social Services (est. 1964), and the Office of Social Responsibility (est. 1968). Originally, the primary focus was on maternity and adoption counseling, emergency aid to the very poor and the preparation of engaged couples for the sacrament of marriage. In 1974, as a result of a study of the Social Apostolate of the diocese commissioned by Bishop Robert E. Tracy, the three departments were joined together to form the Catholic Community Life Office, which was designed to coordinate the diocese s service to people in need. In the late 1970s, the Catholic Community Life Office became a major provider of refugee resettlement for those fleeing Vietnam. Through the years, the office has attended to the needs of those escaping persecution from a variety of countries, such as Cuba, the Balkans, Sudan, Somalia and other European and African nations. Assisting legal immigrants achieve citizenship is an ongoing commitment. Prison ministry was started in 1977 by a volunteer, Doucette Pascal. Initially the program served the needs of elderly inmates eligible for parole, as well as addressed the literacy needs of those in parish prisons. By 1992, a fulltime director was hired and service was expanded, including offering emergency assistance to those recently released from prison; coordinating services for families and loved ones of prisoners; and advocating for criminal justice reform. The organization received a name change on Jan. 1, 1985 when the Catholic Community Life Office became Catholic Community Services of Baton Rouge. The new name symbolized new programs and staff, new agency developments and a renewed commitment to service of individuals and families in need. It was decided that a facility was SEE CCF PAGE 15 Prepare, wait and watch By Dina Dow The season of fall has finally debuted as the leaves fade into rustic hues of orange, brown, yellow and burgundy. Similarly, the colors adorning the sanctuaries around the world will shift from green to white to purple, as we enter into the last week of the Liturgical Year and begin anew with Advent. We end the old year with jubilant celebration and begin a new year with a clear resolution following three principles: prepare, wait and watch. Prepare The Solemnity of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, (aka Christ the King), celebrates the true essence of what is means to be ruler of it all. Comparatively reflecting, the cub Simba, in the Disney movie The Lion King, can t wait to be king because he, seeking independence from everyone, wishes to be a ruler from a selfish heart. Ironically, through a tragic loss and the threat of total destruction by evil, he grows in understanding of the true meaning of kingship: to protect and to lead with love, courage and wisdom. It s not about Life-Giving FA I H him, it s about the good of the herd. Christ, our savior, was cognizant of his kingship very early on. his nature allowed him to know the role of a servant-king, as well as the cost of this leadership. Hence, Jesus modeled his royal kingship as a good shepherd. Being the creator of the universe, his love for us is truly commanding in so much as he expects humanity to simply be as good to one another as he is to us. The Good Shepherd tends, looks after, rescues, give rest, seeks the lost, brings home, helps the wounded, heals and, yes, judges. We are subject to our king, Jesus Christ, and thus are called to be like him. Why? Because He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. Each day, the faithful are to prepare for this moment. How? Jesus explicitly tells the apostles the role of discipleship and the forthcoming judgment that we are to live the faith (believe) and do good works. This is the basis for which ALL will be judged. Be reminded, Jesus did not say If the son of man comes. Rather, Jesus said, WHEN the son of man comes SEE GOSPEL PAGE 15 With FATHER JOHNSON KURIAPPILLY, chaplain, Our Lady of the Lake Hospital Q What is your favorite hobby, and what do you enjoy most about it? A My favorite hobby is photography. I love to look at the world through the lens of the camera. It reminds me about the light and its importance in our lives. What makes the photo a perfect shot is the presence and absence of the lights and shadows. It reminds me of the ups and downs of our lives, which makes it beautiful and worth living. I love to take pictures of the beauty of nature, which is a bigger and beautiful canvas right in front of my eyes. Usually I do not take pictures of the people, because I do not want to make them the subject of my photos. Also I love to paint, which I do not do that often, lack of time and mood. I do have my own website where I upload my pictures (jkuriappilly.com) Feel free to visit!!! Q What is your favorite book you have read? A That is a hard question to answer. I love authors like Richard Rohr, Nikos Kazantzakis, Ronald Rolheiser, Gerhard Lohfink, Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen... Q Of all the places you have visited, which place is your favorite and what makes it your favorite? A I love to travel internationally and there are lots of places which come to my mind. I have visited Austria many times, so I think that is one of the favorite countries I have visited. The people, culture, beauty and food play an important role to consider it as my favorite place! Q What about? A Most is an interesting fact about your home country of India that most people may not know of the people do not know many things about India. Especially in the West the media does not bring anything good about India. People are misguided by the biased report by the media. India is a land of diversity. I would call it a smorgasbord of culture, language, religion and delicious food. India is very rich in its culture and diversity. What media brings out is just one side view of the poverty! Yes, there are poor people in India. The developed world does not see the richness of Indian culture and heritage which takes us back to B.C. I am proud to say that I am from the most beautiful place on the planet earth. I am from Kerala, which is also known as God s Own Country (keralatourism.org). We have 100 percent literacy in my state of Kerala and we have (the) most advanced health care systems in India. thecatholiccommentator.org Facebook.com/TheCatholicCommentator Bishop Robert W. Muench Publisher Father Tom Ranzino Associate Publisher Richard Meek Editor Debbie Shelley Assistant Editor Q What would be the top item on your list of things you have not done yet, but want to do within your lifetime (i.e. bucket list item)? A I would love to visit Reykjavik, on the coast of Iceland, the country s capital and largest city. It s home to the National and Saga museums, tracing Iceland s Viking history. I (would) love to visit the striking concrete Hallgrimskirkja church and rotating Perlan glass dome which offer sweeping views of the sea and nearby hills. Also I would love to go to the geothermal Blue Lagoon spa, near the village of Grindavik. That is on my bucket list. Wanda L. Koch Advertising Manager Bonny Van Staff Writer Lisa Disney Secretary/Circulation Nicole Latiolais Graphic Designer The Catholic Commentator (ISSN ; USPS ) Published bi-weekly (every other week) by the Catholic Diocese of,1800 South Acadian Thruway,, LA 70808; or 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: $14.00 per year. POSTMASTER, send address changes to The Catholic Commentator, P.O. Box 14746,, LA

November 24, 2017 The Catholic Commentator 3 Celebrating Black Catholics By Debbie Shelley The Catholic Commentator Many attending Mass at a predominately African-American church in the Diocese of

They receive a warm welcome, hear jubilant voices of a Gospel choir and Amens ringing out from the congregation as a priest or deacon delivers a passionate message, watch the rhythmic, graceful

During Black Catholic History Month in November, people of all races have had opportunities to look at the contributions of Black Catholics to the church.

according to NBCCC. Black history month is not only a time to pray to all saints and for souls, but also a time to recall the saints and souls of Africa and the African Diaspora.

3 November 24, 2017 The Catholic Commentator 3 Celebrating Black Catholics By Debbie Shelley The Catholic Commentator Many attending Mass at a predominately African-American church in the Diocese of Baton Rouge say it is a worship experience that is alive and vibrant. They receive a warm welcome, hear jubilant voices of a Gospel choir and Amens ringing out from the congregation as a priest or deacon delivers a passionate message, watch the rhythmic, graceful performances of liturgical dancers and pick up on a sense of community. During Black Catholic History Month in November, people of all races have had opportunities to look at the contributions of Black Catholics to the church. On July 24, 1990, the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus of the United States designated November as Black Catholic History Month to celebrate the long and proud history of Black Catholics, according to NBCCC. Black history month is not only a time to pray to all saints and for souls, but also a time to recall the saints and souls of Africa and the African Diaspora. According to Deacon Alfred Adams, director of the Office of Black Catholics of the Diocese of, there are many saints of predominately African heritage to celebrate. Many are familiar with St. Augustine, whose birthday is Nov. 13 and St. Martin de Porres, whose feast day is Nov. 3. Deacon Adams also noted the important role of Daniel Rudd, a journalist and civil rights leader who called for the inclusion of Black Catholics in the church and founded the National Black Catholic Congress. He went to Washington, D.C. doing what he thought was right, and people started to recognized the gifts of Black Catholics, said Deacon Adams. He also recognized the gentle, holy, smiling witness of St. Josephine Bakhita. Born in 1869 in Sudan, she was kidnapped at the age of seven and underwent immense suffering throughout her adolescence before discovering the faith in her early 20s. She was baptized and entered the Canossian Sisters in Italy. She is not only the patron saint of her home country, but for human trafficking victims. Deacon Adams and Father Tom Clark, pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Baton Rouge, also noted that the Catholic faith was enriched by the witness of Black Catholics such as Sister Thea Bowman, who spoke before the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Sister Thea, a Franciscan sister, was a very gifted woman who manifested a joyous and exuberant faith. If we all had more joy and enthusiasm to talk about Jesus and show his love to others, we would have a greater impact as Catholics in our city and region, said Father Clark said. Another Black Catholic who should be emulated by all Catholics is Julia Greeley, according to Father Clark. An enslaved woman, (Greeley) became known as the Angel of Denver after Emancipation. Working as a domestic, she used all her extra money to buy food, clothes and supplies for people in need, said Father Clark. What I love the most about her is that she would only deliver these supplies to people at night so that nobody would know and they could preserve their pride and dignity. Thomas Wyatt Turner was another Black Catholic who enriched the faith, said Father Clark. Thomas Wyatt Turner was a church community activist in the 1910s and 20s, said Father Clark. He organized an organization called the Federated Colored Catholics and strove relentlessly for Black Catholics to be accorded their rightful place in the church. He fought for the ordination of black men to the priesthood, the integration of Catholic colleges and universities, and he documented cases of discrimination and racism in the church. He was a forerunner of empowered lay leadership. In addition to the saints, there are many Black Catholics in the local community who are strong models of living the faith, according to Father Clark, Deacon Adams and Father Ed Chiffriller SSJ, pastor of St. Francis Xavier Church in Baton Rouge. St. Francis Xavier will celebrate its 100th anniversary in The founding members attended St. Agnes Church in under segregated circumstances before pooling their resources together to build St. Francis Xavier. The church has parishioners throughout and beyond, according to Father Chiffriller. St. Francis Xavier School was built two years later and will celebrate its 100 year anniversary in Father Chiffriller noted that even during a time of Jim Crow laws and segregation, Black Catholics remained loyal to the church and their faith. He noted the theme of St. Francis Xavier s centennial celebration will be Through Trials and Tribulations, by God s Grace We Triumph. In light of the celebration, a committee of young people has also been formed to help encourage their peers to learn about the history of the church. They learn about their history, what their great-grandparents, grandparents and elderly parishioners went through yet remained faithful to the church, said Father Chiffriller. He added, There has been a lot of adversity, but the their (Black Catholics ) love of God and family allowed them to persevere and be a model of faith to the people. Deacon Adams said while progress has been made concerning racial relations in the Catholic Church and the diocese, more still needs to be done. He said this comes from admitting that there is a problem with racial relations. Most people are afraid to talk about it, said Deacon Adams. You try to be patient. He said in understanding Black Catholics, it takes listening to their stories with the understanding that you have not walked in the other person s shoes. We need to become brothers and sisters in the family of Christ, said Deacon Adams. It may not come during our time, but the seeds have been planted. Leaders within the Diocese of have been tilling the soil. The church mirrors the society it serves. Just SEE HISTORY PAGE 5 Mr. D s Tree Service over 35 years ExpErIEncE Don Decell, owner carl BaBin, owner RESTHAVEN GARDENS OF MEMORY & FUNERAL HOME Economical Fully Insured Quality Work CALL TODAY! We make it personal. for a better farewell Jefferson Highway Joe Skibinski, Agent 1953 Perkins Rd, LA Bus: Toll Free: First Communion Dresses For when you get buffalo d State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL We ve got an agent for that. Sometimes you just never know what s going to cross your path. Just know I have your back. So when accidents happen, you have a real person who can get the job done right, and right away. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. CALL ME TODAY.

4 The Catholic Commentator November 24, 2017 Puerto Rico archbishop sees spiritual rebirth after storm s wrath BALTIMORE (CNS) Almost two months after the devastating winds and rains of Hurricane

Although some power and phone service have been restored and relief supplies are slowly filtering in, the cleanup Blessing of monastery in July with Archbishop Gregory M.

The archbishop, who attended the U.S. bishops fall assembly in Baltimore, is acutely Abbot Justin Brown and Fr.

quet, President-Rector As we rebuild toward the future, our faith remains resolute. Abbot Justin Br

Renovations to the extensively damaged buildings have begun or have been completed, including: the historic Abbey Church, Monastery, Seminary College classrooms, residence halls, library, gym, dining

Every parish in this archdiocese in the northeast corner of the island was impacted by the hurricane from minimal to extensive damage.

4 4 The Catholic Commentator November 24, 2017 Puerto Rico archbishop sees spiritual rebirth after storm s wrath BALTIMORE (CNS) Almost two months after the devastating winds and rains of Hurricane Maria pummeled the island of Puerto Rico, there is still no clear path to recovery. Although some power and phone service have been restored and relief supplies are slowly filtering in, the cleanup Blessing of monastery in July with Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond Flood of March 11, 2016 and rebuilding is only just beginning. You go day by day, but it s overwhelming and traumatic, said Archbishop Roberto Gonzalez Nieves of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The archbishop, who attended the U.S. bishops fall assembly in Baltimore, is acutely Abbot Justin Brown and Fr. Gregory Boquet, President-Rector As we rebuild toward the future, our faith remains resolute. Abbot Justin Brown, O.S.B. Renovations to the extensively damaged buildings have begun or have been completed, including: the historic Abbey Church, Monastery, Seminary College classrooms, residence halls, library, gym, dining halls, and kitchen. Record enrollment at Seminary College aware of the storm s initial and ongoing impact. Since Maria, he has visited 57 parishes in his archdiocese and has 100 more to go. Every parish in this archdiocese in the northeast corner of the island was impacted by the hurricane from minimal to extensive damage. And as Puerto Rico s Catholics find their way through the wreckage and mud-soaked parish buildings and roofless homes while coping with minimal electricity, food and water, he said they have not lost their faith. For many, their faith has only deepened. Tragedies and adversities have a way of reinforcing our Please remember Saint Joseph Abbey and Seminary College in the parish collection on the weekend of Dec. 9th & 10th. Seminarian Eric Gruspier stands in the floodwater More than $6 million still needed Not only renovating buildings from the 2016 flood but also rebuilding for the next 125 years The monks of Saint Joseph Abbey remain true to their mission of educating young men to serve the Church as priests and community leaders $8.6 million raised Visit to find out how you can help. Thank you for your prayers and generosity. faith and our sense of spirituality, our dependency on God, which also goes hand in hand with an intensified spirit of sharing, generosity and solidarity, he said. Archbishop Gonzalez, who lived in Puerto Rico as a child and has led the San Juan Archdiocese for 18 years, said he has noticed at some recent Masses that the choirs continue to sing the hymns they were singing before but with much more vigor and joy. We are in a sense being rejuvenated, he told Catholic News Service Nov. 13. He isn t surprised by the way people are taking care of each other, or as he put it, the enormous amount of sharing that took place and is still taking place as people make meals for neighbors, for example, on gas-powered stoves. He also has experienced this care firsthand in the calls and s, once they could come through, from other bishops, along with donations and offers of rebuilding help. At the Baltimore meeting, he said a number of bishops told him: We re with you and we ll be sending help. Archbishop Gonzalez and Bishop Herbert A. Bevard of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, another region hard hit by Hurricane Maria, were both invited as observers to the bishops fall meeting and were introduced by Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Puerto Rico, a U.S. commonwealth, has its own Catholic bishops conference and participates in the Latin American bishops council, known as CELAM. During the Baltimore gathering, Dominican Sister Donna Markham, president of Catholic Charities USA, told the bishops that the relief agency had given $2 million in early November to Father Enrique Camacho, director of Caritas Puerto Rico, the Catholic Charities affiliate on the island, and she had just presented Bishop Bevard with $1 million for recovery needs. The funding has been distributed for emergency housing, food, water, cleaning supplies, clothing, bedding, diapers and other baby needs.

November 24, 2017 The Catholic Commentator 5 #1GiveCatholic giving day scheduled Nov.

is co-chair of the Racial Harmony Commission of the Diocese of along with Father Josh Johnson, pastor of Holy Rosary Church in St. Amant.

The Racial Harmony Commission will be calling a meeting in January of all persons in the diocese who want to work together to bridge the racial divide.

Stewardship director Tammy Abshire said the #IGiveCatholic program, which was originally launched by the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 2015, is scheduled Nov. 28 from midnight to 11:59 p.m. She said the day is an opportunity whereby individuals are able to make donations in a 24-hour period to charities of their choice.

This year, that number has grown to 17 dioceses and archdioceses, coinciding with the partnership of the International Catholic Stewardship Council. Nationally, an ambitious $3.

The generosity of the people in the diocese was heartwarming, she said, adding that the goal is to surpass last year s total.

A year ago, participation in the diocese was limited to church parishes, schools and a small number of organizations but this year has been expanded to include any ministry included in the National

Vincent de Paul Society, the Hispanic Apostolate, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of and Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady of the Lake University.

Generally, (an organization or ministry) could give for unrestricted support, Abshire said. But most donors like to give to a specific project. It is more successful.

5 November 24, 2017 The Catholic Commentator 5 #1GiveCatholic giving day scheduled Nov. 28 By Richard Meek The Catholic Commentator HIstory From page 3 as we have a racial divide in Baton Rouge and the surrounding region so we have a racial divide in our diocese, said Father Clark, who is co-chair of the Racial Harmony Commission of the Diocese of along with Father Josh Johnson, pastor of Holy Rosary Church in St. Amant. The events of the summer of 2016 present us with a graced opportunity to take action to bridge that divide. The Racial Harmony Commission will be calling a meeting in January of all persons in the diocese who want to work together to bridge the racial divide. An innovative Catholic fundraising program that debuted in the Diocese of a year ago is expanding with the hope of surpassing what was a rousing success. Stewardship director Tammy Abshire said the #IGiveCatholic program, which was originally launched by the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 2015, is scheduled Nov. 28 from midnight to 11:59 p.m. She said the day is an opportunity whereby individuals are able to make donations in a 24-hour period to charities of their choice. In our case, a Catholic charity, Abshire said. In 2016, the program raised a combined $1.36 million nationally, with a total of seven dioceses and archdioceses participating. This year, that number has grown to 17 dioceses and archdioceses, coinciding with the partnership of the International Catholic Stewardship Council. Nationally, an ambitious $3.5 million goal has been established. In the Diocese of, #IGiveCatholic raised $89,000 a year ago, which Abshire said was overwhelming. The generosity of the people in the diocese was heartwarming, she said, adding that the goal is to surpass last year s total. It really shows how faithfilled our people are and the commitment they have to their churches. This is money the organizations did not previously have. A year ago, participation in the diocese was limited to church parishes, schools and a small number of organizations but this year has been expanded to include any ministry included in the National Catholic Directory. A total of 22 organizations and ministries are participating, including the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Hispanic Apostolate, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of and Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady of the Lake University. Abshire said each ministry has its own profile page on the #IGiveCatholic website, listing its mission statement, logo, a description of its funding need and what the project is supporting. Generally, (an organization or ministry) could give for unrestricted support, Abshire said. But most donors like to give to a specific project. It is more successful. Women s New Life Center raised the most money a year ago, checking in with $41,500. St. Jean Vianney Parish and School in was highest among the church parishes with $6,405 from 47 donors. St. Louis King of France Church in led all organizations with a total number of 63 donors, who donated $5,670. This is really an excellent opportunity for people around the diocese to make a commitment to helping their church or perhaps their favored organization, Abshire said. To have this event at the beginning of the holiday season makes it that much more meaningful. Each gift, no matter how large or small, really does make an impact to every organization, church, school or ministry. To donate, visit igivecatholic. org, which is an online platform with searchable profiles. Donors can give early through Nov. 26. Father Clark said, One of the ways in which we will do this is to invite parishes and individuals into dialogue. By dialogue, we mean active listening to one another that leads to action. This dialogue will fundamentally be a learning process to understand that racism is systemic and that it functions in the policies and practices of institutions to deprive some of their rights because of the color of their skin. Once we see how policies and practices discriminate, intentionally or unintentionally, we can then take action to change them. We also plan to collaborate with others in the city and region for a Day of Racial Healing in January. COMING HOME Bishop Robert W. Muench, left, installed Father Eliseus Ibeh MSP as pastor at St. Benedict the Moor Church in Bertrandville on Nov. 12. Father Ibeh previously served as pastor at St. Benedict from July 1, 2012 June 30, Father Ibeh was greeted with a warm welcome by parishioner. Photo by Richard Meek The Catholic Commentator NOW AVAILABLE! The Diocese of Directory a must have for easy access to the most current listings and information on churches, clergy, religious, schools, diocesan departments and personnel, retreat centers, deaneries, institutions and organizations right at your fingertips. Order yours today! To place your order, fill out the form below and mail to: The Catholic Commentator, P.O. Box 3316,, LA with a check or money order for $9.50 for each directory ordered. Or call to place on your credit card, Number of Directories Ordered Name Address City State Zip Phone including area code D I O C E S E O F B A T O N R O U G E

6 The Catholic Commentator November 24, 2017 Agoraphobia and Mass attendance/ Is sign of peace required?

shudder at the thought of being hugged or have difficulty with extemporaneous small talk.

About once every two or three months, I feel compelled to go into our parish s adoration chapel during Mass and follow the prayers and readings from there or I find it necessary to stay at home and

Agoraphobia is no joke, and even those of us with milder forms suffer greatly. But I believe that we are also loved by God. (Nokesville, Virginia) A No, your behavior does not count as missing Mass.

It is characterized by significant anxiety in places where crowds gather, especially in situations where one might feel trapped and unable to escape.

6 6 The Catholic Commentator November 24, 2017 Agoraphobia and Mass attendance/ Is sign of peace required? Q Togetherness seems to have become such an integral part of Catholicism, and extroverts tend to look disdainfully at those who prefer to sit at the end of the pew, are shy about grasping hands, shudder at the thought of being hugged or have difficulty with extemporaneous small talk. For me, being squashed in the center of a pew is agonizing, and there is no way I can focus on the Mass in that situation. About once every two or three months, I feel compelled to go into our parish s adoration chapel during Mass and follow the prayers and readings from there or I find it necessary to stay at home and follow the Sunday Mass on television from my den. If that counts as missing Mass, there s just nothing that I can do about it. Agoraphobia is no joke, and even those of us with milder forms suffer greatly. But I believe that we are also loved by God. (Nokesville, Virginia) A No, your behavior does not count as missing Mass. And yes, you are surely loved by God. Agoraphobia is a very real disease, affecting as many as 1.9 million U.S. adults at some level in a 12-month period. It is characterized by significant anxiety in places where crowds gather, especially in situations where one might feel trapped and unable to escape. This disease can justify one s absence from Mass as certainly as would a high fever or a contagious cold. If it is more comfortable for you to pray in a side chapel, by all means do that. (Perhaps you might want to mention your situation to your pastor to help him to understand, and you might benefit by his words of approval.) Or, if sometimes you find it necessary simply to stay at home and pray, do that. I credit you for your desire to share in the Eucharist to the extent you are able. Your letter serves, too, as a reminder to us all to forgo judging the behavior of others, those, for example, who insist on sitting at the end of a nearly vacant pew or those who choose to stand in the back of the church. They could well be suffering from the same sensibilities you have Question Corner Father Kenneth Doyle described. Q I have been attending one Catholic church parish in my hometown for several years now. As far as I know, this is the only Catholic church where parishioners do not shake hands at the sign of peace. I can understand churchgoers declining to shake hands if they have a cold or other ailment or at times of widespread sickness. However, at this particular parish, the congregation will not even turn around and greet others let alone, shake hands. It is not really a big deal for me, but I do find it a little odd. Is there an explanation for this, or are church parishes simply not required to follow the practice of shaking hands? (Portland, Oregon) A The General Instruction of the Roman Missal in section No. 82 indicates that the rite of peace should be a regular part of the liturgy in which the faithful express to each other their ecclesial communion and mutual charity before receiving the Eucharist. As to the actual gesture to be used, the general instruction leaves that up to the national bishops conference, to be determined in accord with local culture and customs. For the United States, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has noted that this would typically be done by shaking hands. So while this ritual can be eliminated in particular circumstances a flu epidemic, for example it should not be skipped regularly. In 2014, the Vatican s Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments reminded Catholics that a certain restraint should mark the ritual so as not to distract from receiving Communion, that the gesture of peace should be extended by the faithful only to those nearest them and that such abuses as the movement of the faithful from their places should be avoided. FATHER DOYLE is a priest in the Diocese of Albany, New York. Questions may be sent to Father Kenneth Doyle at askfatherdoyle@gmail.com and 30 Columbia Circle Dr., Albany, NY Look for The CaThoLiC CommenTaTor at your LoCaL outlets including: Affinity Nursing Home, Anthony's Deli, Albertsons, Alexander s Highland Market, Ascension Books & Gifts, Gonzales General Hospital, Healthcare, Baker Benedetto s Market, Addis Bohning Supermarket, Ponchatoula Calandro s Supermarkets, Catholic Art and Gifts, Daigle s Supermarket, White Castle Grace Healthcare, Slaughter Hi Nabor Supermarkets, Hubbins Grocery, Port Allen Lane Regional Hospital, Zachary LeBlanc s Food Stores,, Gonzales, Donaldsonville, Hammond, Plaquemine, Prairieville and Zachary Louisiana Vet Home, Jackson Matherne s Supermarkets, Magnuson Hotel, St. Francisville North Ridgely Healthcare, Baker Oak Point Supermarket, Central Oak Wood Nursing Home, Zachary Old Jefferson Community Care, Our Lady of the Lake College, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, and Walker Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group, offices with locations throughout the Diocese Reeve s Supermarket, St. Elizabeth Hospital, Gonzales St. Mary s Books & Gifts, St. Vincent depaul Stores throughout the diocese Schexnayer Supermarket, Vacherie Southside Produce, Tony s Seafood, UPS Store, Coursey Blvd., Baton Rouge Whole Foods Market, Winn Dixie in Hammond, New Roads and Ponchatoula as well as your local church parish T H E C A T H O L I C COMMENTATOR SERVING THE DIOCESE O F BATON ROUGE SINCE 1962 Food Bank Students from the confirmation class at Immaculate Conception Church in volunteered their time to help sort and package almost 22,000 pounds of food at the Greater Food Bank. 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November 24, 2017 FAITH JOURNEY The Catholic Commentator 7 Advent opportunity to hit reset button on spiritual life By Debbie Shelley The Catholic Commentator Given the natural and manmade chaos that

But as the new liturgical year begins with Advent on Dec.

7 November 24, 2017 FAITH JOURNEY The Catholic Commentator 7 Advent opportunity to hit reset button on spiritual life By Debbie Shelley The Catholic Commentator Given the natural and manmade chaos that appears to be running rampant in the world, like the people of Jesus time, Catholics may be looking for the big wrap up when God cleans out evil and brings his faithful to heaven. But as the new liturgical year begins with Advent on Dec. 3, the church teaches Catholics that their long awaited savior entered the world in a manger in a small town in Bethlehem and still looks for people to make a place for him in the inn of their souls, according to leaders in the diocese. It was in the quiet of the night, it wasn t a giant rebellious event; the people who knew him were shepherds, said Dina Dow, director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of. She notes that Jesus is proclaimed as the Good Shepherd. Through a good preparation for Advent, people come to understand that the child whose birth they wait for will carry them as the paschal lamb through his passion, death and resurrection to new life, according to Dow. There are many good ways for families to embrace the fullness of Advent, according to Dow. Parents can bring their children to live nativity scenes, have their children keep an Advent calendar and earn straw to put in baby Jesus manger in a Nativity scene through good deeds. To further make the point to her children that Christ is the true gift given by God to the world at Christmas, one year Dow decided to not put the baby Jesus in the Nativity scene during Advent. I remember the girls asking, Where is Jesus? Dow said. On Christmas morning, the baby Jesus was under the tree wrapped in a shiny, gold box. Now they are in their 20s, but it s still the first gift they open, smiled Dow. As one prepares for this special gifts of God becoming man and begins a new liturgical year, it s a good time to reflect and spend time with Scripture. James Vu, seminarian for the Diocese of, said he spends time reflecting on the daily readings, which show the events leading up to the birth of Christ, in the adoration chapel at St. Joseph Seminary in St. Benedict. He also likes to reflect on Advent s emphasis on looking forward to the second coming of Christ. I get a sense of clarity. Sometimes I ll leave adoration and get the urgent sense that I can t wait for the Christmas season to start, said Vu, noting that the celebration is just beginning with the birth of Christ. Making time to be with the Lord is also important, Vu noted. He said this doesn t have to necessarily be done with Lighting of an Advent wreath is a popular way to celebrate the season. CNS photo a big chunk of time, but through the practice of mindfulness or living in the present moment. You still have that empty period when you are walking or driving somewhere. You can reflect in that small fraction of a time you have, said Vu. Thinking of Advent as a fresh start is also a good way to prepare for Christ s coming, said Father Eddie Martin, parochial vicar at St. Aloysius Church in Baton Rouge. I reset my spiritual clock at the beginning of the liturgical year, said Father Martin. I like to think about things that I may want to change. He added, If you ve had a bad year and you felt like you tested God and God tested you, it s time to restart. Participating in the sacrament of reconciliation is a good way to re-establish a relationship with God, according to Father Martin. He said he had a memorable experience during one of the first sacraments of reconciliation he received. I don t remember what I had done, but after the priest said, It s time to start fresh I was flying out of there (the confessional), said Father Martin. He said the feeling of freshness and being forgiven brings joy that should be shared with the world. There s a lot of brokenness in the world it needs a lot of joy, said Father Martin. It s a great time to bring Christ into the world, shine the light. Remembering that Advent is more than four weeks but a spiritual journey and way of life looking for Christ coming into one s life is also important, said Father Charlie Landry, pastor of St. Gabriel Church in St. Gabriel and Sacred Heart Chapel in Carville. For me, Advent is the continual getting ready for the Lord and serving the Lord, said Father Landry. An Advent well spent results being ready not only for Christ as the child, but him as the redeemer of their lives. You are growing in faith and developing a personal relationship with Christ, said Vu. Some Catholics don t understand that you can develop a personal relationship with God and follow his will. Dow remembers when the message of Advent hit her powerfully when she served as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist at a Christmas Mass distributing the precious blood of Christ. She went back to the sacristy with the cup containing the remaining precious blood and the choir sang Away in a Manger. She made the connection that the Christ child whose birthday was being celebrated would become the man who went to his death on the cross to redeem man. It was a beautiful song and I m looking at the blood of Christ. It was very powerful. I was thinking, That s his blood, he s given his blood to save us. I was crying, said Dow, with gratitude in her voice. Father Landry s said a secular song which also sum ups Advent well comes from the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young song, Carry On, Love is Coming : The sky is clearing and the night has cried enough The sun, he comes, the world to soften up Rejoice, rejoice, we have no choice but to carry on The fortunes of fables are able to sing the song Now witness the quickness with which we get along To sing the blues you ve got to live the dues and carry on Carry on, love is coming, love is coming to us all 2018 Mass Schedule January 5, MASS SCHEDULE The Catholic Commentator Mass Schedule Diocese of Supplement of The Catholic Commentator Coming January 5, 2018 The Mass Schedules has The most current schedules for the churches in the Diocese of. The most current clergy, phone numbers, mailing and addresses, directions to the churches and website names. Index Masses both alphabetically by towns and by time of day. Lists Spanish and signed Masses for Hearing Impaired Masses. Is inserted into all The Catholic Commentator and circulated into area hotels for guests to use To reserve your space call by December 13 or until all spaces are sold out! Advertising space is limited and sold on a first come first serve basis. Advertisers will receive complimentary color in their ad. Call Wanda Koch at or wkoch@diobr.org

8 The Catholic Commentator November 24, 2017 40 Days for Life ends successful campaign By Bonny Van The Catholic Commentator File Photo The Catholic Commentator When 40 Days for Life wrapped up its

More than 35 different churches and church groups signed up to adopt a time to pray. And, there were 14 saves. (These were) women that specifically said, I have changed my mind.

Van Haute said that knowing these women changed their minds about ending a life is encouraging, but it s much more than that.

We can t calculate that and there are so many others that we know were moved in ways that we will never know on this side of heaven, because we can t always see the affects of our prayer, said Van

8 8 The Catholic Commentator November 24, Days for Life ends successful campaign By Bonny Van The Catholic Commentator File Photo The Catholic Commentator When 40 Days for Life wrapped up its fall campaign in, the numbers told the story. More than 1,400 people stood outside the Delta Women s Clinic and prayed for an end to abortion. More than 35 different churches and church groups signed up to adopt a time to pray. And, there were 14 saves. (These were) women that specifically said, I have changed my mind. I am not going to have an abortion, said Danielle Van Haute, Respect Life Coordinator for the Diocese of. Van Haute said that knowing these women changed their minds about ending a life is encouraging, but it s much more than that. Those decisions will extend beyond these 40 Days, into the years to come and across generations. So, yes, these 14 women changed their minds, but how that will touch the lives of other people. We can t calculate that and there are so many others that we know were moved in ways that we will never know on this side of heaven, because we can t always see the affects of our prayer, said Van Haute. Hunter Hardin, 45, a parishioner at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in St. Francisville, was among those who stood in prayer outside the clinic, usually during his lunch break from work. He went as often as possible during the campaign, which stretched from Sept. 27 Nov. 5. I was adopted in 1972 and Roe v. Wade happened in January 1973, the very next year, said Hardin. I was born a ward of the state at charity hospital to a 16-year-old girl. I could have easily been aborted. So this is very near to my heart. And it s a neat thing for me. I pray for the mothers, the babies, for my birth mother, for my parents that adopted me. It s a multi-faceted and dynamic experience for me. Co-campaign directors were Van Haute along with Charles and Clelie Carpenter of Bethany Church of. According to Van Haute, there was an increase in participation from other church denominations thanks to the involvement of Bethany Church, which has several campuses in the Baton Rouge area. Hardin sometimes brought his family, wife Michele, and children, Katelyn, 20, John Paul, 18, and Mary Grace, 16. I even prayed with my father who is a member of Bethany Church, so that was really special, said Hardin. Besides the powerful unity of prayer, the presence of those praying can be a powerful force. Van Haute said that one day during the campaign, a woman with a 4-year-old child in the back seat of her car stopped to talk to those praying outside the clinic. She mentioned to the sidewalk counselors and the folks that were there that when she was pregnant, she was on her way to Delta and it was that presence that stopped her from choosing abortion, so she just wanted to show them her baby, said Van Haute. She wanted to express her gratitude. Van Haute said that even though the campaign is over, people can continue to pray outside of the clinic, located on Colonial Drive. She said people are there only to pray and not talk to the women or the workers. Hardin said he understands how difficult it can be to be a part of the groups publicly praying to end abortion. He said the experience can be polarizing and uncomfortable. And, even though he invited about 60 people to go pray at the clinic, only about a dozen showed up. I get that it s intense and not everybody s prepared for that, he said. My mind races when I think about what an incredible opportunity that is to just quietly and obediently be present to a real struggle between good and evil. It s unbelievable. Are you called to serve others? If you believe God is calling you to serve others and you wish to explore a religious vocation, we welcome you. We invite all women who feel called to religious life to contact us. We will help you with your spiritual journey. We are praying for you, and that you may find the answer to God s special call Essen Lane,, LA Call (225) fmolsisters.com TOPPING OFF Our Lady of the Lake Children s Hospital celebrated the completion of steel construction at the free-standing hospital with the hosting of special beam. The beams, which were signed in person and virtually by more than 1,000 individuals, represented many supporters of the new hospital from across Louisiana and beyond. In all, 2,500 tons of structural steel were placed along with 600 tons of rebar for foundations and walls, 14,000 cubic yards of concrete and 1,000 piles supporting the hospital and medical office building. The new is expected to open in Photo provided by Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center

November 24, 2017 The Catholic Commentator 9 OLOL returns emergency care to north By Richard Meek The Catholic Commentator Emergency health care has returned to north.

15 dedicated an 8,800-square foot emergency room at its Airline Highway location that also houses OLOL urgent, primary and pediatric care centers, making it one of the more inno- 0vative health care

OLOL chief executive officer Scott Wester said full and quality medical care is now available in an area that has been void of an emergency facility since Baton Rouge General Hospital closed its

This is a model that is being replicated (in other parts of the country). Gov.

9 November 24, 2017 The Catholic Commentator 9 OLOL returns emergency care to north By Richard Meek The Catholic Commentator Emergency health care has returned to north. Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center on Nov. 15 dedicated an 8,800-square foot emergency room at its Airline Highway location that also houses OLOL urgent, primary and pediatric care centers, making it one of the more inno- 0vative health care models across the country. OLOL chief executive officer Scott Wester said full and quality medical care is now available in an area that has been void of an emergency facility since Baton Rouge General Hospital closed its midcity facility in the spring of (The emergency room) is the right care at the right time at the right place, Wester said. This is a model that is being replicated (in other parts of the country). Gov. John Bel Edwards joined fellow elected officials and community leaders as well as several Franciscan Sisters in dedicating the new building, which is modeled after OLOL s ER in Livingston Civil Parish. The facility features eight bays, 11 beds, state-of-the-art medical equipment including a CT scan and x-ray machine, pharmacy and various labs. I made a promise during my campaign that health care in north Baton Rouge would be improved, said Edwards. Today we are delivering on that promise. This is not about improving lives, this is about saving lives, saying the facility would be ministering health care that is most affordable (and appropriate). Financing for the $9 million project was made possible through a unique partnership involving the state and OLOL. Under the agreement, the state contributed $5.5 million, with OLOL footing the rest. Our Lady of the Lake chief operating officer Terrie Sterling, in an interview with The Catholic Commentator the day before the dedication, said it was the state that originally approached the Franciscan Sisters about adding an emergency room at its Airline Highway center. She said she believes the rather abrupt closing of the midcity room, was certainly a contributing factor in the state coming to OLOL. According to Sterling, the emergency room has been in the planning stage for the past 18 months. SEE OLOL PAGE 19 Gov. John Bel Edwards, left, shares a light moment with Sister Barbara Arceneaux FMOL, regional minister for Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady North American Region, center, and Our Lady of the Lake president and chief executive officer Scott Wester following the grand opening of the OLOL emergency room in north. The ER is the first in north since General Hospital closed its mid city facility more than two years ago. 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10 The Catholic Commentator November 24, 2017 November 24, 2017 The Catholic Commentator [1] [2] [3] [1] Father Jason Palermo blessed the new St. Vincent Ferrer Chapel in Port Vincent on Nov. 5.

Above the doorway is a stunning stained glass window created by Steve Wilson that tells the story of Port Vincent.

Manotas thoughts drifted to a different time, when the temperatures were lower but the memories warm. She remembered being in St.

That was special, Manotas recalled, adding that her daughter was also baptized in the church that closed in 2006.

Vincent Ferrer Chapel, which sits on the former St. William site. St. William, which was built in 1956, was torn down in 2012, but Father Jason Palermo, pastor of St.

William Church before it was torn down in 2012. [3] The chapel features two pews that were also salvaged from St.

The Port Vincent Chapel More than 50 people attended the outdoor Mass celebrated by Father Palermo. [4] Parishioners showed their delight as they entered the chapel following the outdoor Mass.

20, 1839 Father Amat, authorized by Bishop Antoine Blanc, blessed the chapel. A second church was built in the early 1900s and renamed St. Agnes, which remained until St. William was constructed.

It was time, he said of the building coming down, which was completed by parish volunteers. The new 35-foot by 90-foot structure has preserved much of St.

10 10 The Catholic Commentator November 24, 2017 November 24, 2017 The Catholic Commentator [1] [2] [3] [1] Father Jason Palermo blessed the new St. Vincent Ferrer Chapel in Port Vincent on Nov. 5. Assisting Father Palermo, who is the pastor at nearby St. Joseph Church in French Settlement and St. Stephen the Martyr Church in Maurepas, is Deacon James Little. Above the doorway is a stunning stained glass window created by Steve Wilson that tells the story of Port Vincent. Photos by Richard Meek The Catholic Commentator Outdoor Mass By Richard Meek The Catholic Commentator As an unusually warm November sun baked worshippers during an outdoor Mass in Port Vincent, Jamie Manotas thoughts drifted to a different time, when the temperatures were lower but the memories warm. She remembered being in St. William Church in Port Vincent during the final Advent the church would be open. Her daughter, who was five at the time, sang Silent Night during Mass. That was special, Manotas recalled, adding that her daughter was also baptized in the church that closed in Manotas was one of more than 50 people who recently braved near summer-like conditions to attend the dedication of the St. Vincent Ferrer Chapel, which sits on the former St. William site. St. William, which was built in 1956, was torn down in 2012, but Father Jason Palermo, pastor of St. Joseph Church in nearby French Settlement and St. Stephen the Martyr Church [2] Father Palermo blesses the outside of the chapel, which are actually built of bricks salvaged from the old St. William Church before it was torn down in [3] The chapel features two pews that were also salvaged from St. William Chapel, along with a stained glass window of the Resurrected Christ and statues of the Blessed Virgin and St. Vincent Ferrer. The Port Vincent Chapel More than 50 people attended the outdoor Mass celebrated by Father Palermo. [4] Parishioners showed their delight as they entered the chapel following the outdoor Mass. Dedication In February 1837 Scivicque donated the land and the chapel to the Archdiocese of New Orleans for the mission of St. Vincent. On Aug. 20, 1839 Father Amat, authorized by Bishop Antoine Blanc, blessed the chapel. A second church was built in the early 1900s and renamed St. Agnes, which remained until St. William was constructed. After St. William closed, the building was leased to a Baptist church for several years before that congregation relocated. St. William was sitting idle and in danger of becoming an eyesore, which is what Father Palermo wanted to avoid. It was time, he said of the building coming down, which was completed by parish volunteers. The new 35-foot by 90-foot structure has preserved much of St. William s past while telling the history of Port Vincent. The bricks, the two pews in the chapel and the stations of the cross are all from St. William. A stunning stained glass structure that details the history of Port Vincent through precise and captivating symbolism crafted by Stephen Wilson contains part of the old stained glass from St. William. And a cross hanging in the chapel was built from wood salvaged from the old church. We wanted to have a Catholic presence in Port Vincent, said Father Palermo, who added the initial decision to tear down St. William was not particularly popular. It does in Maurepas, said he was committed to building a new chapel at the site. The chapel sits in the center of St. William Cemetery, and although the small gothic structure does not have an altar and Mass will not be celebrated there, Father Palermo said the facility will host the rite of committal. It was important to build a new chapel because this is where the Catholic Church in Livingston Parish has its roots, Father Palermo said during the week following the ceremony. We committed to (St. William parishioners) when (announcing the old church would be torn down) there would be a chapel there. It did not feel right to tear down St. William without building a chapel there. That was part of the promise. The Catholic Church s roots in tiny Port Vincent, which throughout much of its history has been a hunting and fishing community, date to 1839 when Father Thadeus Amat CM became the first priest to minister in the area. Three different churches have stood on the land originally donated by Vincent Scivicque, who was an Italian merchant and generally regarded as the founder of Port Vincent. Scivicque had built a small chapel on the site in honor of St. Vincent for his mother who was planning to move from Italy but died before coming to the country. Left, the statue, which was donated to the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1839, was originally at St. Vincent Ferrer Church. Vincent Scivicque, who is generally regarded as the founder of Port Vincent, built the original chapel before donating the land where St. William Cemetery sits to the archdiocese. [4] have a place in (parishioners ) hearts, I can understand that. It s a beautiful place for people to come and pray, he added. It s kind of like a crown jewel in the middle of the cemetery. Although the chapel is always locked, families have been provided keys for accessibility at any time, which, according to Father Palermo, is the chapel s mission. He told parishioners during his homily that the chapel is theirs, and it is their responsibility to take care of it and pass it on. Use it prayerfully, he said. Come and pray and know that God is here. Don t be so busy in your life that you don t feel you have the time to come and pray. Later, while cooling off in some welcome shade, Jinx Berthelot could only smile, looking back at the chapel. St. William will always hold a special place in her heart, recalling that much of her was centered around the church, including getting married there in It has a special memory, she said. But I m looking forward to coming here. Hers was a sentiment shared by many. Above, right, the Stations of the Cross are also salvaged from St. William Chapel. 11

12 The Catholic Commentator November 24, 2017 America Heritage teaches girls Catholic virtues Debbie Shelley The Catholic Commentator Members of the newly formed American Heritage Girls LA Troop 1943

11 12 The Catholic Commentator November 24, 2017 America Heritage teaches girls Catholic virtues Debbie Shelley The Catholic Commentator Members of the newly formed American Heritage Girls LA Troop 1943 served up smiles along with meals as they bustled between the kitchen, serving line and tables at the shelter for homeless women and their children at St. Agnes Church in on Nov. 10. Many mothers dream their daughters will grow up to be the person God created them to be, which is the focus of Troop The group s teachings and activities center on developing the member s faith, increasing their sense of patriotism and positively impacting society through community service, say its leaders. Troop 1943 has been implemented in the Diocese of as part of the of the American Heritage Girls, a national character development organization for girls age five to 18 that embraces Christian values and encourages family involvement. Troop 1943 adheres to guidelines established by the American Heritage Girls National Catholic Committee, which acts as a liaison between the American Heritage Girls and the YOU STILL HAVE TIME If you have a loved one going into, or already in a nursing home call us to protect your wealth and life savings. ELDER LAW PRACTICE Peter J. Losavio, Jr.- the only Louisiana Certified Elder Law Attorney through the National Elder Law Foundation accredited by the ABA. -Kent DeJean- Attorney at Law. Members of American Heritage Girls LA Troop 1943 served dinner to homeless mothers and their children at a shelter at St. Agnes Church in. Photo by Debbie Shelley The Catholic Commentator Catholic Church while providing spiritual development of its Catholic members according to the teachings of the church. What is there not to like about a group whose focus is God, family, country and community?, said Stephanie Aucoin, who serves as a unit leader of the Explorers, for girls ages 9-12, and Pioneers, for girls ages Faith, service and fun are three pillars for the organization, according to Danielle Laird, who helped establish the group in. Originally from, Laird and her husband, C.J., moved to Houston, where her husband was a teacher. Her oldest daughter was one-year old at the time and she was already wondering what kind of organization would help her daughter have a well-rounded life that also had Christ as its center. She met a family who introduced her to American Heritage Girls, which planted the seed in her head. After returning to, C.J. Laird taught at Catholic High School and served as interim administrative principal of Redemptorist St. Gerard Elementary School in before becoming principal at Sacred Heart School, also in. The Lairds were sinking their roots deeper into. My son Collin was involved in Cub Scouts at the time and the girls said, I want to join the Scouts too, said Danielle Laird. The seed planted in Laird about AHG germinated. I was looking for something for the kids, and I thought, If I m going to serve, I need to serve with my family (which AHG encourages), said Laird. The more I through about it, the more excited I got because it s Christ-centered, said Danielle Laird. The Lairds, who were active members of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Baton Rouge, talked to the leadership at Our Lady of Mercy and the diocese. Informational and parent-interest meetings were held and leaders stepped forward who were equally excited about the core values of AHG. Brooke Avery, troop coordinator, said, It (AHG) gives examples of how to witness the faith and what it means to be a woman of strong moral faith. In addition to serving at the St. Agnes shelter, troop members celebrated National Day of Service by picking up trash during a hiking trip. Other upcoming projects include caroling and visiting with the residents at Williamsburg Senior Living Community and adopting families in need for Christmas. As part of the faith elements, the troops studied the 10 qualities of a virtuous woman as written in the Book of Proverbs and prayed the rosary for three weeks to receive the Our Lady of Fatima 100th Anniversary patch, one of many Catholic patches members can earn. For the parents, the biggest sign of how well AHG is serving their daughters is the changes they have noticed in them. Stephanie Stumpf, vice coordinator of AHG, who assists with the planning of large group activities and leads the Tenderheart unit for girls ages 6-9, said of her daughter, Natalie, I see her taking pride in her faith and she is more outspoken about her faith and putting it in action. In learning the AHG Creed, Natalie, 7, said the words she liked best are honest, compassionate and faithful. I don t like to lie, said Natalie, who added that compassionate to her means knowing how someone else might feel about something. The troop members indicated that they are drawn to the spectrum of social, practical and faith lessons embraced by AHG. As a 12-year-old seventh-grader in the Pioneer unit of AHG, Anna Aucoin said she has liked participating in a service project with her troop, picking up trash at a local hiking trail. I like being in a Christian-based program, and I have just fulfilled the requirements to earn the Our Lady of Fatima 100th Anniversary patch. I hope to learn some more outdoor skills at our next meeting and camp out, Aucoin said Audrey Aucoin said, As a 10-year-old fifth-grader in the Explorer unit of AHG, I like attending meetings and learning how to participate in flag ceremonies. At the last meeting, I got to play a patriotic song on the piano and make a presentation about the flag for my troop. I like horses and want to earn the horsemanship badge one day. Even as troop members learn about their gifts, troop leaders said the most important lesson is to learn their strength, knowledge and skills come from Christ and to use them to serve him. In our world, it s so easy to buy into our own personal power, said Laird. We want to draw the girls to Christ and have him working through them.

November 24, 2017 The Catholic Commentator 13 HONORING VETERANS Seventh- and eighthgrade students at St.

The students were happily surprised to get their banner back with signatures from so many veterans. Photo provided by Melissa Thomas St.

Ascension Parish in the Ascension Publication s Official People s Choice Award.

Peter Chanel School in Paulina recently observed Fire Prevention Week with a visit by members of the St. James Fire Department.

They were also able to see a fire truck and hear the sirens.

firefighters. Photo provided by Paula Poché St.

12 November 24, 2017 The Catholic Commentator 13 HONORING VETERANS Seventh- and eighthgrade students at St. Joseph School in Pontchatoula hold a banner they made for the Hammond Veterans Booster Club Banner Project. The students were happily surprised to get their banner back with signatures from so many veterans. Photo provided by Melissa Thomas St. Joseph School ASCENSION AWARD Students at Ascension Catholic High School in Donaldsonville celebrate being voted Best Private School in Ascension Parish in the Ascension Publication s Official People s Choice Award. Photo provided by John Beck Ascension Catholic School FIRE SAFETY Students in grades pre-k third at St. Peter Chanel School in Paulina recently observed Fire Prevention Week with a visit by members of the St. James Fire Department. Students learned about fire prevention and what to do in case of a fire at their home or school. They were also able to see a fire truck and hear the sirens. Pictured from left, second-graders Reese Roussel, Kiptyn Luminais and Caitlyn Simon hold onto fire fighting equipment as they pose with firefighters. Photo provided by Paula Poché St. Peter Chanel School GAME DAY Fourth-grade students in the accelerated resource program at Holy Ghost School in Hammond, studying inventions and inventors, had to create their own board games as part of the lesson. In their designs, students had to create their own directions on how to play the game, the game board and game pieces. Students rotated through each game so they could play all of their classmates games. Pictured, from bottom left, Annie Fritz, Pietro Moreira, Miley Smith and Cianna Newton try out a game called Questiontopia. Photo provided by Cindy Wagner Holy Ghost School

14 The Catholic Commentator ENTERTAINMENT November 24, 2017 MOVIE REVIEWS USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classifications: A-I General patronage A-II Adults and adolescents A-III Adults A-IV

As the trio of mothers (Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn) featured in the 2016 original deal with the wholly unrealistic problems caused when their own moms (Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines

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

reason for the season is an understatement. Ditto returning co-writers and directors Jon Lucas and Scott Moore.

O; R Jigsaw Lionsgate With its franchise s shock value long since played out, this eighth Saw outing, yet another exercise in butchery, accompanied by siren-wail screaming, quickly descends into

Adding to their torment, a marionette, voiced by the evil Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) on taped messages, tells them that there s always a way out if they obey his commands.

13 14 The Catholic Commentator ENTERTAINMENT November 24, 2017 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 A Bad Moms Christmas STX Aggressive vulgarity is the incongruous hallmark of this holiday-themed sequel. As the trio of mothers (Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn) featured in the 2016 original deal with the wholly unrealistic problems caused when their own moms (Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines and Susan Sarandon) show up for Christmas, with or without an invitation, the only thing more tiresome than their sex-obsessed wisecracking is their self-important resolve to take the feast back and celebrate it in their own fashion. Since that approach includes ogling male strippers dressed as sexy Santas, for one of whom (Justin Hartley) Hahn s character falls, to 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 say they ve lost touch with the reason for the season is an understatement. Ditto returning co-writers and directors Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. Blasphemy, cohabitation, drug use, strong sexual content including partial nudity and much obscene humor, several uses of profanity, pervasive rough and crude language. O; R Jigsaw Lionsgate With its franchise s shock value long since played out, this eighth Saw outing, yet another exercise in butchery, accompanied by siren-wail screaming, quickly descends into self-parody. The five trapped victims here, as always in this series, face gross-out hacking in a series of claustrophobic enclosures. Adding to their torment, a marionette, voiced by the evil Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) on taped messages, tells them that there s always a way out if they obey his commands. According to his own warped thinking, the killer is operating as an agent of morality, repaying the quintet for their past sins, which typically involved the death of another person. Having revived their red-eyed villain from the dead who supposedly met his fate in 2006 s Saw III, directing brothers Michael and Peter Spierig give him little to do in his comeback, other than evade the pursuit of the police detective (Callum Keith Rennie) and duo of coroners (Matt Passmore and Hannah Emily Anderson) tracking him. Pervasive gory violence, gruesome images, including dismembered limbs, frequent crude and crass language. O; R Thor: Ragnarok Disney A healthy dose of humor keeps this sweeping Marvel Comics adaptation of the second sequel to the 2011 original on the boil, although it still registers as overlong. The straight-shooting Norse god of thunder (Chris Hemsworth) and his ever-wily brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), will have to patch up their differences if they are to defeat the schemes of their elder sister, the goddess of death, Hela (Cate Blanchett). She has been released from a long captivity by the demise of their father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins), and aims to dominate their home planet, Asgard. Along with Loki s shifting loyalties, Thor must also contend with Hela s destruction of his trademark hammer and with being taken prisoner by a bounty hunter (Tessa Thompson) who hands him over to the impresario (Jeff Goldblum) of a series of gladiatorial games. The mythological elements blended into director Taika Waititi s superhero adventure, which also features Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, aka the Hulk, are not for impressionable kids. But grown moviegoers will find relatively little to object to along the path of this spiffy intergalactic quest. Possibly acceptable for older teens. Constant stylized violence with little gore, brief partial nudity, a couple of mild oaths and crude terms, occasional crass language, at least one sexual reference, mature wordplay. A- III; PG-13 Tyler Perry s Boo 2! A Madea Halloween Lionsgate In this follow-up to the 2016 original, writer-director Tyler Perry s longrunning muumuu-draped moral force played by Perry himself in drag, of course, sets out to rescue her grandniece (Diamond White) from a fraternity party held at a campground where several people had been murdered some years before. The result is very much along the lines of a live-action Scooby- Doo cartoon with the manic matriarch s familiar companions (including Cassi Davis and Patrice Lovely) taking the place of animated sleuthing teens. Perry s Madea films of late have operated not on strongly limned original ideas but on the fumes of public goodwill at the memory of the character s earlier outings. In those, she at least had some moral lesson to convey about the power of family ties and the importance of children obeying their elders. Here, her primary task is to shriek and toss off the occasional line about urinary incontinence. A brief scene of marijuana use, fleeting crude language, two instances of the N-word. A-III; PG-13 The Snowman Universal Director Tomas Alfredson s adaptation of Jo Nesbo s best-selling crime novel occasionally dabbles in penny-dreadful sensationalism, then returns to plodding wearily across the frozen landscape of its unconvincing mystery story. Set primarily in Oslo, Norway, the film tracks the efforts of a gifted but alcoholism-plagued police detective (Michael Fassbender) to catch a serial killer who builds a snowman at each murder site. The officer s search is complicated by the fact that his new partner (Rebecca Ferguson) seems to have a hidden agenda of her own and by his tangled relationships with his ex-girlfriend (Charlotte Gainsbourg), her son (Michael Yates) and her new live-in love interest (Jonas Karlsson). Needlessly shocking visuals punctuate the stilted proceedings while the killer s motivation springs from the sordid personal lives of his victims as well as his traumatic childhood. Excessive gory violence and gruesome images, a suicide, strong sexual content, including aberrant behavior, an adulterous bedroom scene and brief upper female nudity, abortion, domestic abuse and cohabitation themes, a few uses of profanity and rough language, several crude terms. O; R T H E C A T H O L I C Commentator MARK YOUR CALENDAR Next issue, Dec. 8 Issue DEADLINE NOV. 29 Dec 22 Issue DEADLINE DEC. 13

November 24, 2017 The Catholic Commentator 15 CCF From page 2 was needed to accommodate the growing services. Construction began in 1999, and the building was dedicated on March 3, 2000.

The agency responded to Hurricanes Katrina, Isaac and Gustav and the 2016 flood, and has become a leading provider for survivor families in South Louisiana.

14 November 24, 2017 The Catholic Commentator 15 CCF From page 2 was needed to accommodate the growing services. Construction began in 1999, and the building was dedicated on March 3, Disaster relief is also a component of the services offered. The agency responded to Hurricanes Katrina, Isaac and Gustav and the 2016 flood, and has become a leading provider for survivor families in South Louisiana. Catholic Community Services was able to develop a case management policy that has become a model for organizations across the country. Caseworkers went out into the field and were stationed in temporary trailer sites to help evacuees develop and implement their long-term recovery plans. On March 26, 2007, it was announced that Catholic Community Services would change its name to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton GOSPEL From page 2 Rouge. By changing the name to Catholic Charities, the agency was able to join nearly 200 agencies nationwide which enables recognition among the Catholic community and local and national nonprofit and faith-based agencies. On any given day, Catholic Charities serves the needs of individuals and families, working with church and community for justice, peace and compassion in society. Jones is the associate archivist for the Diocese of. Vietnamese children are shown experiencing Santa Claus for the first time in It was the first Christmas in the United States for these tiny members of seven different Vietnamese families who were resettled in the area. File photo (Mt 25:31). This will happen, sooner or later. Ask yourself, Am I ready to meet Jesus? Am I performing good works for others (feeding, clothing, sheltering, listening, consoling, sacrificing, loving)? Do I truly believe what Jesus teaches? Do I honor Jesus, our king, in gratitude and humility by going to Mass, partaking in the Eucharist and praying (REALLY PRAYING), reading Scripture, offering fasting, living the faith? Am I prepared to see Him face to face? It will happen. Wait & Watch So as we prepare, we wait and watch. The Prophet Isaiah writes, God does great deeds for us who wait. Here it is again... patience. This world lacks the patience to wait. People are so aggravated to wait in line, wait for a call, wait for an answer, wait to grow up, wait to get to know others before asking them to change and wait on God. But we, in south Louisiana, will wait hours for a Mardi Gras parade to begin. We also prepare for that wait food, drinks, tents, tables, chairs, music, things to keep the children busy, route to get in and out, all of this. All for what? Beads, cups, coins and a ton of laughter! It s fun. My family will drive back and forth to New Orleans for three days to catch the Uptown parades, but the moment the coffee order takes too long to fill, we get aggravated! It s true! Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. The priest leads us in the prayer, We wait in joyful hope for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ. And we respond, For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever. This is precisely what we are asked to wait for the kingdom to come through the power of THE King, Jesus! As we patiently wait, we WATCH for the glory of God to pass before our eyes. We see this in those we meet, greet and love. We watch the kind exchange between strangers in the grocery store. We watch a soldier come home from a tour of duty to the tearful embrace of his family. We watch our loved ones suffer with illness, only to pray even more, asking God to alleviate their suffering. We watch a family move into a new home built by the hands of volunteers. We watch the volunteer smile with a nursing home resident who rarely has visitors. We watch the sun rise and set over the land we call home, knowing this is God s hand. We also prepare during this time to watch a young couple seek a place to rest, find shelter, in order to share the experience of the birth of the King of the universe. A birth like no other: quiet, simple, impoverished, yet full of expectation, glorious angels and a star illuminating the black sky that ultimately will lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of his mercy. Are you ready to meet him? Are you ready to meet your king? He has come, is present and will come again in glory. Let us joyfully prepare the way of the king. Wait. Watch. Be ready. Amen. Happy Advent! Dow is the director of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of ACROSS 1 Easter 5 Sister of Judah 10 Joseph had a multi-colored one 14 Tropical tree 15 Eleve s place 16 It leads to a deal 17 Soccer moms conveyances 18 Chapter and 19 3 PM prayer 20 Vane reading 21 Mrs. McKinley 22 He could speak well (Ex 4:14) 23 Online sales 26 The New Jerusalem in Revelation was made of this 28 OT prophetic book 29 Stays 33 Saint who saved France 35 Bed problems 37 Thou shalt 38 James was mending these when Jesus called him (Mk 1:19) 39 Draft choice 40 Field yield 41 Rho 42 Past tense of will 44 First murderer 45 Expulsion 47 Catholic cartoonist Keane of Family Circus 48 State in which the Diocese of Salt Lake City is found 49 They go with the flow 52 Lord, us to pray (Lk 11:1) 55 Jonah was thrown into this 57 Scratch (out) 59 Cut ruthlessly 60 Vigorous attack 62 Rubaiyat name 63 Woe! 64 Island in the Bay of Naples 65 Rentals (abbr.) 66 End for tip or pun 67 Ford flop 68 Let it stand 69 Formerly, formerly DOWN 1 Jazz musician and Catholic convert Brubeck 2 Czar s edict 3 Dogma 4 For however many are the promises of God, their is in him. (2 Cor 1:20) 5 Advocate 6 Tea or coffee, sometimes 7 Mrs. Nick Charles 8 Roker and Capone 9 Bray start 10 St. John the Baptist is the patron saint of this country 11 about 12 time 13 Prom attendee 22 Donation to the poor 24 Cries of discovery 25 Electrically charged atom 26 One of the seven deadly sins 27 Multi-volume reference bk. 30 Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews (abbr.) 31 Angelus time 32 NASCAR sponsor 33 Biblical king who destroyed the worshipers of Baal 34 Frequent Mayberry jail occupant 35 Catholic author, Evelyn 36 Former measure of length 38 Sgt., for one 40 Aaron made a golden one 42 Accompanying 43 Three Match 44 Agency headed by uncle of Cardinal Dulles 46 Exhaust 47 Country with the largest Catholic population 50 Entice one to sin 51 Glide along smoothly 52 Give us day our daily bread 53 The Wise Men came from here 54 Peak 55 Drinks slowly 56 Raison d 58 At one time it was at one time 60 Alphabet string 61 Boy 62 Pan-Amer. Union Solution on page 18

Now, as The Catholic Commentator hits the news stands on Thanksgiving weekend, we give thanks for our personal and national blessings.

15 16 The Catholic Commentator VIEWPOINT November 24, 2017 La Misa de Accion de Gracias November has been a month of giving thanks. We honored those who have served us in the various branches of the United States military on Veterans Day. Now, as The Catholic Commentator hits the news stands on Thanksgiving weekend, we give thanks for our personal and national blessings. If you attended the LSU-Arkansas football game (or watched it on TV), you saw a very beautiful half-time show expressing thanks musically and visually to those who have served us in the military. I was particularly impressed by the thank-you to the Marines, in which the band, while playing their hymn, marched into a replica of their insignia with the globe rotating Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor should be typed and limited to 350 words and should contain the name and address of the writer, though the address will not be printed. We reserve the right to edit all letters. Send to: Letters to the Editor, The Catholic Commentator, P. O. Box 3316,, LA , or to tcc@ diobr.org. Mission Statement The mission of The Catholic Commentator is to provide news, information and commentary to the people of the Diocese of, Catholics and their neighbors alike. In doing so, The Catholic Commentator strives to further the wider mission of the Church: to evangelize, to communicate, to educate and to give the Catholic viewpoint on important issues of the present day. in a circle. No one can visit the World War II memorials in the graveyards of Normandy or the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor without getting a lump in the throat. So many gave their lives so that we may live free in America. Thanksgiving Day is a tradition we received from our pilgrim forefathers who wished to thank God and their Native-American neighbors who helped them survive in this new continent. The fact that they took the time and effort to do something, host a meal for others, should remind us that thanks are best expressed by actions of kindness and mercy. I will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day on a mission in General Cepeda, Mexico, and the Mass we will celebrate for that day is called La Misa de Accion de Gracias. Perhaps it is because St. Paul used that phrase in First Corinthians, 10:16, The chalice of our action of thanksgiving (or blessing), doesn t it unite us to everyone in the blood of Christ? That true thanks is expressed in how we treat others is a favorite theme of Pope Francis. During this past April, Pope Francis participated in a TED conference. His words made it quite clear what thanksgiving means to him. Quite a few years of life have strengthened my conviction that each and everyone s existence is deeply tied to that of others: life is not time merely passing by, life is about interactions... As I meet, or lend an ear to those who are sick, to the migrants who face terrible hardships in search of a brighter future, to prison inmates who carry a hell of pain inside their hearts, and to Another Perspective Father John Carville Pray for those who pray for us those, many of them young, who cannot find a job, I often find myself wondering: Why them and not me? I, myself, was born in a family of immigrants: my father, my grandparents, like many other Italians, left for Argentina and met the fate of those who are left with nothing. I could have very well ended up among today s discarded people. And that s why I always ask myself, deep in my heart: Why them and not me?... First and foremost, I would love it if this meeting could help to remind us that we all need each other, and we can only build the future by standing together, including everyone. We don t think about it often, but everything is connected, and we need to restore our connections to a healthy state. Pope Francis knows that good intentions and conventional formulas, so often used to appease our conscience, are not enough. Let us help each other, all together, to remember that the other is not a statistic or a number. The other has a face. The you is always a real presence, a person to take care of. Someone once told me that he likes this pope because he sounds like Jesus. Yes, he does. Jesus Please pray for the priests, deacons and religious women and men in the Diocese. Nov. 28 Nov. 29 Nov. 30 Dec. 1 Dec. 2 Rev. Michael J. Moroney Dcn. Joseph M. Scimeca Br. Marcus Turcotte SC Rev. Caye A. (Trey) Nelson III Dcn. Rudolph W. Stahl Sr. Anne Meridier CSJ Rev. Hung Viet Nguyen ICM Dcn. Michael F. Thompson Br. Xavier Werneth SC Rev. Martin Thanh Van Nguyen ICM Dcn. J. Thomas Traylor Sr. Ann Catherine Nguyen FMOL Rev. Tan Viet Nguyen ICM Dcn. John W. Veron Dec. 3 Dec. 4 Dec. 5 Dec. 6 Dec. 7 Br. James Burns SC Rev. Peter Neuman ICM Dcn. J. Peter Walsh Sr. Huong Nguyen ICM Rev. Nicholas J. (Jack) Nutter III Dcn. James E. Wax Br. William Cawley SC Rev. Desmond Ohankwere MSP Dcn. P. Chauvin Wilkinson Jr. Sr. The Thi Nguyen ICM Rev. Jason P. Palermo Dcn. Alfred Adams Sr. Br. Eldon Crifasi SC Rev. Amrit Raj IMS Quite a few years of life have strengthened my conviction that each and everyone s existence is deeply tied to that of others: life is not time merely passing by, life is about interactions... Pope Francis once told his listeners that everything depended on loving God and neighbor. When asked Who is my neighbor? meaning whom must I take care of, Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan. Pope Francis says that this is the story of today s humanity. And often there is this habit, by people who call themselves respectable, of not taking care of the others, thus leaving behind thousands of human beings, or entire populations, on the side of the road. Fortunately, there are those who are creating a new world by taking care of the other, even out of their own pockets. (St.) Mother Teresa actually said: One cannot love, unless it is at their own expense. Yes, and St. Teresa s nuns are doing just that, right here in. So are the men of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. And their Dec. 8 Dec. 9 Dec. 10 Dec. 11 kind of giving thanks is contagious. When we were without a bishop, after the death of Bishop Stanley J. Ott, and I had to substitute, I spent Thanksgiving morning at the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room off of Convention Street. I was impressed by the huge number of homeless we were feeding, but also impressed by the number of ordinary Catholics who came unasked to help serve them. That was an accion de gracias. Happy Thanksgiving Day! FATHER CARVILLE is a retired priest in the Diocese of and writes on current topics for The Catholic Commentator. johnnycarville@gmail. com. Dcn. Michael A. Agnello Sr. Mary Noel OP Rev. Thomas C. Ranzino Dcn. Frank B. Bains Br. Ramon Daunis SC Rev. Rubin Reynolds Dcn. Thomas D. Benoit Sr. Norma Nunez SOM Rev. Anthony J. Russo Dcn. Mark T. Berard Br. Alan Drain SC Rev. Amal Raj Savarimuthu IMS Dcn. Willie M. Berthelot Sr. Sr. Ruth Nwokike SoM

For over 125 years the monks of the abbey have been educating and forming young men as candidates for the priesthood. This has been their primary mission and their lasting legacy.

16 November 24, 2017 VIEWPOINT The Catholic Commentator 17 Special collection set to benefit St. Joseph Abbey St. Joseph Abbey and Seminary College in Covington, have had a profound influence on the life of the Catholic Church in the Deep South. For over 125 years the monks of the abbey have been educating and forming young men as candidates for the priesthood. This has been their primary mission and their lasting legacy. Most of our own diocesan priests studied there. The monks began this ministry in 1889 at the invitation of the newly installed Archbishop of New Orleans, Francis Janssens. Within his first year as archbishop, he recognized that, for the archdiocese to flourish, it needed to develop a native clergy. He reached out to St. Meinrad Abbey in Indiana, which sent four monks to establish and staff the From The Bishop Bishop Robert W. Muench abbey and seminary. Following the Benedictine tradition of balancing prayer and work, the monks instilled in the young seminarians intentional personal formation, a prayerful spirit, a love for the liturgy, a thirst for knowledge and a respect for manual labor. As a result, the influence of the monks has been felt throughout the Dioceses of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama through the dedicated service of the 900 priests that have since been ordained after seminary formation. Today St. Joseph Seminary College is the largest Catholic seminary college in the United States with over 140 students from 22 dioceses in seven states. Given the urgent need for priests, the continued contribution of the monks of the abbey is invaluable. Now, however, it is the monks who are in need. In March 2016, a disastrous flood overwhelmed the abbey and seminary. The library lost many of its treasured volumes. The ground floor of the monastery sustained significant damage. The gym floor was ruined. And all the air-conditioning and plumbing systems beneath the abbey church were destroyed. In all, 30 buildings on the campus received at least two feet of water. The damage is estimated in the millions of dollars. In order for the monks of the abbey to continue their mission of forming seminarians for the priesthood, they will need the generous help of the people of the Dioceses of Louisiana. This year, after consultation with the Diocesan Presbyteral Council, I have For over 125 years the monks of the abbey have been educating and forming young men as candidates for the priesthood. Bishop Robert W. Muench authorized a special collection to benefit the abbey and seminary. This collection will be taken up in all churches of the diocese on the weekend of December 9th and 10th. (This special collection will take the place this year of the annual collection for retired religious, which our diocese has always been extremely generous in its response.) Please visit the following link for additional information about this important endeavor: google.com/file/d/1zaoanvxy SVXHfgh9W7s9XY5PTPUR up00/view Special envelopes are available for this collection. I strongly urge the people of the diocese to join me in expressing our gratitude to the monks of the abbey by generously helping them to continue their mission of preparing candidates for the priesthood to serve our diocese and the church of the south. Paralysis, exasperation, and helplessness as prayer Several years ago I received an that literally stopped my breath. A man who had been for many years an intellectual and faith mentor to me, a man whom I thoroughly trusted, and a man with whom I had developed a life-giving friendship, had killed both his wife and himself in a murdersuicide. The news left me gasping for air, paralyzed in terms of how to understand and accept this as well as how to pray in the face of this. I had neither words of explanation nor words for prayer. My heart and my head were like two water pumps working a dry well, useless and frustrated. Whatever consolation I had was drawn from an assurance from persons who knew him more intimately that there had been major signs of mental deterioration in the time leading up to this horrible event, and they were morally certain that this was the result of an organic dysfunction in his brain, not an indication of his person. Yet how does one pray in a situation like this? There aren t any words. And we have all experienced situations like this: the tragic death of someone we love by murder, suicide, overdose or accident. Or, the exasperation and helplessness we feel in the face of the many seemingly senseless events we see daily in our world: terrorists killing thousands of innocent people; natural disasters leaving countless persons dead or homeless; mass killings by deranged individuals in New York, Paris, Las Vegas, Florida, San Bernardino, Sandy Hook, among other places; and millions of refugees having to flee their homelands because of war or poverty. And we all know people who have received terminal sentences in medical clinics and had to face what seems as an unfair death: young children whose lives are just starting and who shouldn t be asked at so tender an age to have to process mortality and young mothers dying whose children still desperately need them. In the face of these things, In Exile Father Ron Rolheiser we aren t just exasperated by the senselessness of the situation; we struggle, too, to find both heart and words with which to pray. How do we pray when we are paralyzed by senselessness and tragedy? How do we pray when we no longer have the heart for it? St. Paul tells us that when we don t know how to pray, the Spirit in groans too deep for words prays through us. What an extraordinary text! St. Paul tells us that when we can still find the words with which to pray this is not our deepest prayer. Likewise, when we still have the heart to pray, this too is not our deepest prayer. Our deepest prayer is when we are rendered mute and groaning in exasperation, in frustration, in helplessness. Wordless exasperation is often our deepest prayer. We pray most deeply when we are so driven to our knees so as to be unable to do anything except surrender to helplessness. Our groaning, wordless, seemingly the antithesis of prayer is indeed our prayer. It is the Spirit praying through us. How so? The Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, is, as Scripture assures us, the spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, longsuffering, fidelity, mildness, faith and chastity. And that Spirit lives deep within us, placed there by God in our very make-up and put into us even more deeply by our baptism. When we are exasperated and driven to our knees by a tragedy which is too painful and senseless to accept and absorb our groans of helplessness, it is in fact the Spirit of God groaning in us, suffering all that it isn t, yearning for goodness, beseeching God in a language beyond words. Sometimes we can find the heart and the words with which to pray, but there are other times when, in the words of the Book of Lamentation, all we can do is put our mouths to the dust and wait. The poet, Rainer Marie Rilke, once gave this advice to a person who had written him, lamenting that in the face of a devastating loss he was so paralyzed that he did not know what he could possibly do with the pain he was experiencing. Rilke s advice: Give that heaviness back to the earth itself, the earth is heavy, mountains are heavy, the seas are heavy. In effect: Let your groaning be your prayer! When we don t know how to pray, the Spirit in groans too deep for words prays through us. So every time we are faceto-face with a tragic situation that leaves us stuttering, mute, and so without heart that all we can do is say, I can t explain this! I can t accept this! I can t deal with this! This is senseless! I am paralyzed in my emotions! I am paralyzed in my faith! I no longer have the heart to pray! It can be consoling to know that this paralyzing exasperation is our prayer and perhaps the deepest and most sincere prayer we have ever offered. OBLATE FATHER RON ROLHEISER, theologian, teacher and awardwinning author, is President of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas. He can be contacted through his website ronrolheiser.com or facebook.com/ronrolheiser.

17 18 The Catholic Commentator COMING EVENTS November 24, 2017 St. Aloysius Mission Dr. David Whidden will present a mission, Preparing for Advent, Tuesday, Nov. 28 Thursday, Nov. 30, 6:30 p.m., at St. Aloysius Church, 2025 Stuart Ave.,. For more information, call Humane Vitae Lecture Dr. Marguerite Duane will present a lecture on the 50th anniversary of the papal encyclical Humanae Vitae on Thursday, Nov. 30, 5:30 6:30 p.m., at the Biological Learning and Research Building of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, 5222 Brittany Dr., Baton Rouge, with a reception following. For more information, call Dr. John Meinert at or john.meinert@franu.edu. Praise and Adoration Musician and speaker Cooper Ray will present a night of praise and adoration for sixth-graders and above Sunday, Dec. 3, 5:30 6:30 p.m., at the St. Theresa Middle School Gym, 212 East New River St., Gonzales. The event is sponsored by God s Warriors of St. Theresa Middle School. For registration and information, visit sjp-sta.org. Magnificat Patti Gallagher Mansfield of the Office of Charismatic Renewal of the Archdiocese of New Orleans will speak at the meeting of Magnificat Friday, Dec. 1, 9 a.m. noon, at the Oak Lodge Reception Center, 2834 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd.,. Reservations are $22 each and will be sold through Tuesday, Nov. 28 by sending a check made out to BR Magnificat with each attendee s name to Kathy Simoneaux, 9650 Victory Lane, Denham Springs, LA No tickets will be sold at the door. Healing Service Sister Briege McKenna, who has a ministry of prayer and healing, will hold an evening of healing on Saturday, Dec. 9, 7 9 p.m., at St. Benilde Church, 1901 Division St., Metairie. The service will consist of prayer, praise, a talk and prayer for healing by Sister Briege, a eucharistic procession and benediction. The event is sponsored by Catholic Charismatic Renewal of New Orleans (CCRNO) and is free and open to the public. An offering will be taken. Doors open at 6 p.m. For more information, call or info@ccrno.org. Married Couples Retreat Willwoods Newly Married Couples Retreat for couples celebrating 10 years of marriage or under will be held Saturday, Dec. 9 Sunday, Dec. 10 at the Archdiocese of New Orleans Retreat Center, 5505 St. Mary St., Metairie. Suggested donation is $275. For more information, call Jason Angelette at or visit faithandmarriage. org. Remember Our Children St. Alpohonsus Church, Greenwell Springs Road, Greenwell Springs, will host a candlelight service for people who have lost a child or support them to celebrate the life of the child Sunday, Dec. 10, 6 p.m. For more information, call Christmas Concert St. Mark Church, Hwy. 621 Gonzales, will host its Christmas concert, featuring NaNasha and the Easton Hollis Group Wednesday, Dec. 13, 7 8:30 p.m. For more information, call Beneath the Weight Rosaryville Spirit Life Center, Rosaryville Road, Ponchatoula, will present Beneath the Weight, a program to end emotional eating and achieve a lifestyle that will result in permanent weight loss, Saturday, Dec. 9, 8:45 a.m. 3 p.m. For more information, call or visit catholicretreatcenter.org. Marian Talk Mike Fulmer will present a talk, Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant Tuesday, Dec. 5, 6:30 p.m., at the St. Francis Room of St. Alphonsus Church, Greenwell Springs Road, Greenwell Springs. For more information, call the church s formation office at Catechist Certification Registration is being accepted for the spring session of catechist certification for the ministry and theology program for the Diocese of. Class topics include Christian morality, creed, conversion and spirituality, Luke/ Acts, catechism and catechesis and Catholic identity in the Catholic school. For dates and times and to register, visit evangcatbr.org. The Catholic Commentator PO Box 3316 LA CLASSIFIEDS For help placing your classified ad, call All classified ads are prepaid. Credit cards are now accepted. ANNOUNCEMENTS While we at The Catholic Commentator do our best to bring reliable advertisers to our readers, we are not responsible for any claims made by any advertiser. Dave s Bicycle Repair and Sales. Free pickup and delivery, free estimates, expert economical repair on all brands or com. BROUSSEAU'S Painting Interior and exterior painting. Experienced and reliable. Free estimates. 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CITY FOR SALE Two plots at Resthaven Gardens of Memory in the Garden of Faith. $ Call BUSINESS SERVICE BUSINESS SERVICE CALL TYRONE WHEN IT NEEDS FIXING LEAKING SINKS, FAUCETS, TOILETS AND GARBAGE DISPOSALS. PLUS OTHER REPAIRS CALL or LEBLANC S TREE & STUMP REMOVAL, INC. Prompt service Free estimates FULLY INSURED E. H. Eddie LeBlanc Phone Print Your Ad Here PHONE BUSINESS SERVICE TURNING 65? MEDICARE QUESTIONS? WE CAN HELP JOE GOODSON JOHNNY STUART HOUSEKEEPER OFFICE CLEANING MATURE DEPENDABLE 20 + YEARS EXPERIENCE HAVE REFERENCES TEXT DEBBIE 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. Call 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 Florida Blvd., BR DATES TO RUN: BUSINESS SERVICE NEED HELP MOVING? CALL TYRONE OR Pennington Lawn and Landscape Lawn & bed maintenance. Clean-up neg lect. Call for your free estimate. LEGAL NOTICES Anyone with knowledge of the whereabouts of Robin Michelle Nielson is asked to contact the Diocesan Tribunal at YOUR AD HERE. Reach some 95,000 readers! CALL Credit cards accepted. HELP WANTED 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. Need part time, well-rounded individual to help in woodshop off Siegen Lane in. resume/work experience to info@theoldemill.com or call Dental Lab needs part time runner, shipping and receiving. Must have reliable transportation w/good driving record. Hours are flexible. Call St. Joseph s Academy seeks a parttime math teacher. Experience using technology in the classroom beneficial to employment. Submit resume and references with current transcript to Dean of Academics, Dr. Jason Hanks at hanksj@sjabr.org. D U T Y D I N A H C O A T A K E E E C O L E A N T E V A N S V E R S E N O N E E S E I D A A A R O N E T A I L G O L D H O S R E M A I N S J O A N W E E D S N O T N E T S A L E C R O P C H I W O U L D C A I N O U S T I N G B I L U T A H R A F T S T E A C H S E A E K E H A C K B L I T Z O M A R I S M E C A P R I A P T S S T E R E D S E L S T E T

in Eastern Europe. She said the Blessed Mother guided his steps. Melancon saw the Pope in 1987 when he visited New Orleans. Everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit, said Melancon.

18 November 24, 2017 The Catholic Commentator 19 RELIC From page 1 She said the Lord picked St. John Paul II to be a leader in the church to play a critical role in history, including being a key figure in ushering in major changes in the church through Vatican II and the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe. She said the Blessed Mother guided his steps. Melancon saw the Pope in 1987 when he visited New Orleans. Everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit, said Melancon. The rain came down and nobody got sick. A past member of the Rosary Makers group at Our Lady of Mercy, Melancon, who still makes the devotional tools, was drawn to St. John II because of his love for the devotion. Praying the rosary helped Melancon through many difficult times, especially when her cancer returned. I said, This disease is not going to kill me, it s going to bring my family back to Jesus and the rosary. And it did, said Melancon. She said she had the rosaries she prayed with blessed. When asked if she had prayed many times with those beads, Melancon said, You talk about Al St. Pierre said his visit with the relic reminded him of the time he and his sister, now deceased, got a close up view of the pope when he rode in the popemobile around a New Orleans cemetery during his visit to the city. St. Pierre said the pope was smiling and waving to the gathered crowd. My sister touched the popemobile. She was ecstatic, said St. Pierre, who said the trip has special meaning to him because of his sister. Colleen Peak had seen the pope twice, at St. Peter s Square in Rome and in New Orleans. During the trip to Rome, Peak s nephew and his wife had their marriage blessed by the pope in St. Peter s Square. You could see it in their faces, This is like being in heaven, he s blessing our marriage, said Peak. She added, We have rosaries blessed by him. We re a JPII family. Noel and Pat Ricord said Saint John Paul II has special meaning to them because he had just become pope when the learned they were about to become parents. I feel very close to him because the day I was watching him (the pope) on TV he had just been elected pope and stepped out on the balcony and waved to the people and the social worker called. He came over and said we would be able to adopt a baby. We found out that we had a son, said Pat Ricord. Her face glowed as she said they have two grandchildren with one on the way. The Ricords had just returned from a trip to the saint s homeland in Poland. They visited the convent of St. Faustina, whom St. John Paul canonized, St. Mary s Basilica and the St. John Paul Sanctuary, which has the display of the blood-stained cassock worn by the pope when an assassination attempt was made on his life. What got me is that all bloodstains eventually turn brown, but it was still kind of reddish, said Noel Ricord. The Ricords said they were surprised to learn when they returned from Poland that the relics of St. John Paul were coming to the diocese. We got to see him twice in the last couple of weeks, smiled Noel Ricord. Maybe we ll have some prayer intentions answered, added Pat Ricord. Patsy and Danny Williams and daughter Ali Richard were seeking to have a prayer intention answered through the relic visit. Danny Richard was recently diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer and was awaiting word on whether he would be accepted for a trial program at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Danny Williams said of his visit, I was speechless. I was numb about the experience (learning about his cancer), but I could feel his (Saint John Paul s) presence. He was a great pope and is a great saint. The right people, doing the right thing for the right reason. My heart started beating fast. I knew I was in the presence of holiness. Ali Richard Richard said, My heart started beating fast. I knew I was in the presence of holiness. Kathleen Schexnayder also knows what it means to have quickened pulse at seeing the pope, because she saw him in the blush of youth at International in World Youth Day in 1993 in Denver. I remember I got separated from my youth group (from Memphis) during Mass. I remember he (Saint John Paul) said something about finding the lost, and not long after that I found the youth group, said Schexnayder. She also remembers the pope asking the attendees to hold up their rosaries for a blessing. I still have that rosary, Schexnayder said. She added, I was already a believer, but it put my faith on fire. Shortly after WYD, the church approved girls serving as altar servers. I signed up immediately, and I served the church (in that capacity) for three years until I went to college, Schexnayder said. She said her heart broke when St. John Paul died. I was six months old when he became pope, so he was all I knew, said Schexnayder. When he died, I felt disconnected for a while. The visit, however, brought back good memories for Schexnadyer. I m excited because I touched my mother s (St. John Paul) medal to it (the relic). She passed away in September so this is really special, said a glowing Schexnayder. OLOL From page 9 Hospice is not about giving up it s about taking control We rely upon the intercession of our Blessed Mother to assist us in imitating the healing ministry of Jesus Christ as we care for terminally ill patients and their families. We call forth the compassion and kindness of our staff, who serve in this health care ministry, to respond to the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of our patients and their families. We believe in the sacredness of life from conception to natural death, and we devote ourselves to supporting patients and families through the dying process at the end of life s journey on this earth and new life in eternity. SERVING PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS (225) She said extensive research showed the now shuttered Earl K. Long Hospital, which was also located in north, had about 48,000 emergency visits annually. Currently, the OLOL urgent care is experiencing about 40,000 annual visits. She said statistics showing how many patients from north Baton Rouge zip codes have been visiting the main campus on Essen Lane and the Livingston campus were also analyzed. We really did a lot of research and tried to bring forth what we believe would bring a great access point to the community, Sterling said. We ve been able to do that by creating a very unique environment with an emergency care, urgent care, primary care, pediatric care and an emergency room setting on a free standing campus. Sterling said the ER will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a total staff of about 70 people, including medical and support staff. The urgent care will reduce its daily hours from 8 a.m to 10 p.m. She and East Mayor- President Sharon Weston Broome agree the center will not only meet the community s health care needs but also serve as an economic catalyst for an area of the city sorely in need of a financial boost. OLOL chaplain Father Sam Maranto CSsR, who offered the blessing, said the new ER is there to serve others. He also encouraged others to focus on the needs of the most vulnerable and needy members of the community. What a difference that would make, he said. Notre Dame Hospice does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability or age in admission, treatment, ability to pay, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment.

Danielle Metz of New Orleans was 26-years-old, with a 7-yearold son and 3-year-old daughter, when she was sentenced to three life sentences plus an additional 20 years for conspiracy to distribute

19 20 The Catholic Commentator November 24, 2017 REFORM From page 1 abuse issues, which a lot have not addressed, the poor transportation system. If we thought it was just one thing, we could eliminate that one thing. There are so many parts to this. Danielle Metz of New Orleans was 26-years-old, with a 7-yearold son and 3-year-old daughter, when she was sentenced to three life sentences plus an additional 20 years for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. It was her first offense. I was a first-time, nonviolent offender and I hadn t had a traffic ticket or parking ticket or anything and that s what I was sentenced to, she said. Metz had served 23 years and eight months of her sentence when she was granted clemency by President Barack Obama and released Sept. 15, But, with more than two decades spent behind bars, Metz had a lot of catching up to do in order to navigate through society. She said a friend, who once spent time in prison, helped her apply for college. Because of my sentence, when you re in prison and you re serving that kind of time, you can t take the programs that the people with less time can take, Bishop Robert. W. Muench, who has been committed to prison ministry since becoming bishop of the Diocese of, said at a recent symposium on criminal justice reform, God is a God of second chances, and sometimes, third or fourth chances. Here, Bishop Muench celebrated Mass at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center, June 17, Photo by Richard Meek The Catholic Commentator CELEBRATING THE Reason for the Season Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas. said Metz. So, I really just had to educate myself. One year after being released from federal prison in California, Metz, 50, returned to New Orleans to care for her mother, who died in May. She now works two jobs and attends Southern University at New Orleans where she is studying to become a social worker. And, she wants to tell her story. I came back and I just think that maybe when somebody hear(s) my voice and hear(s) my story, that I can make a change and let them know what they are up against as far as the judicial system and bad company, Metz said. In Louisiana, data on recidivism shows that 48 percent of ex-offenders end up back behind bars within five years. But, that number drops by half, if returning citizens can stay employed for three years. Ronnie Moore, re-entry coordinator for St. Vincent de Paul for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, said the first 72 hours after someone is released is crucial to adjusting to newfound freedom. With volunteers and partners and so forth, somebody has to meet them at the gate within the first 72 hours (of release). (We) make sure they got a place to stay. (We) make sure they are navigated to resources, like where are they going to get their ID s, very basic stuff, he said. We give them a temporary job as well. In 2016, the Louisiana Legislature adopted a Ban the Box bill, which removed questions about criminal history from state employment applications in an effort to help ex-offenders find jobs. Louisiana is one of 24 states in the U.S. that has adopted the policy. But the measure only covers public employers, not private businesses. Johnny Jones, 39, of Ridgeland, Mississippi was released Nov. 1 from Elayn Hunt Correctional Center and thinks the box is keeping him from finding a job. Jones, who has a long criminal history, said he realized it was time to change his ways after a heart condition landed him in the medical dorm at the Hunt facility. There, he saw prisoners dealing with health issues, mental illness and dying on regular basis. Jones, ready to start anew, had spoken with Fjeldsjo before his release and temporarily stayed at the St. Vincent de Paul Homeless Shelter until he was reunited with his girlfriend in Ridgeland. Now, Jones attends church, works on his computer skills and applies for jobs online in Mississippi, which does not have a ban the box policy. In life, we make some decisions that s not good for us, or whatever, but it may be necessary for us to make those bad decisions to become the person that we need to be, he said. A lot of people look at the bad and never understand the type of person you are. Natalie LaBorde, deputy assistant secretary for Louisiana s Department of Corrections, said part of the state s new criminal justice reform package calls for reinvestment into local prisons, which house more than half of the state s prison population, to offer more educational and job skills training. I think people need to give it time to take shape, she said. I ve seen on a smaller scale where these similar reforms work in the past. We re not reinventing the wheel.

20 November 24, 2017 CHRISTMAS 2017 The Catholic Commentator PE AC E joy hope Special Supplement of The Catholic Commentator November 24,

2B The Catholic Commentator CHRISTMAS 2017 November 24, 2017 Advent spiritual events in the Diocese of November 27 Advent Penance Service St. Stephen the Martyr Church 22494 LA Hwy. 22, Maurepas 6 p.

Register online before Monday, Nov. 27 Rebecca East 225-343-6657 ext. 19 November 30 Advent Penance Service Holy Ghost Church Saxon Youth House 600 N. Oak St., Hammond 6 p.m. Lea Smith 985-345-3360 ext.

Participants will discover how to slow down and find joy in preparing for Christmas. December 4 & 5 Advent Revival: God s Unconditional Love! St. Augustine Church 174 Hwy 1003, Belle Rose 6:15 p.m. Praise and workshop featuring St.

Reconciliation will be available both nights at 6 p.m. December 4 6 Authentic Faith, Authentic Life Holy Rosary Church 44450 Hwy 429, St. Amant 6 7 p.m. Advent Mission with Stephanie Clouatre Davis Childcare will be offered for children 3 years and up.

21 2B The Catholic Commentator CHRISTMAS 2017 November 24, 2017 Advent spiritual events in the Diocese of November 27 Advent Penance Service St. Stephen the Martyr Church LA Hwy. 22, Maurepas 6 p.m. November 28, 29, 30 Advent: Unwrapping the Gift of Christmas St. Aloysius Church 2025 Stuart Ave., 6 8 p.m. Light supper in parish hall, followed by presentation by Dr. David Whidden. Register online before Monday, Nov. 27 Rebecca East ext. 19 November 30 Advent Penance Service Holy Ghost Church Saxon Youth House 600 N. Oak St., Hammond 6 p.m. Lea Smith ext. 21 December 3 BEST Advent EVER Sign-up online at DynamicCatholic. com/signup to receive daily s with short inspirational videos, practical tips to incorporated into your everyday life. Participants will discover how to slow down and find joy in preparing for Christmas. December 4 & 5 Advent Revival: God s Unconditional Love! St. Augustine Church 174 Hwy 1003, Belle Rose 6:15 p.m. Praise and workshop featuring St. Augustine Gospel Choir 6:30 p.m. Revival message Rev. Ayo Emmanuel Efodigbue MSP, former pastor of St. Catherine of Sienna, Donaldsonville, will be the speaker for the revival. Reconciliation will be available both nights at 6 p.m. December 4 6 Authentic Faith, Authentic Life Holy Rosary Church Hwy 429, St. Amant 6 7 p.m. Advent Mission with Stephanie Clouatre Davis Childcare will be offered for children 3 years and up. A kid friendly dinner will be served each night. Parents can register for childcare on the Holy Rosary website at holyrcc.org. Jenny Movaks Advent Mission St. Joseph s Church 2130 Rectory St. at LA Hwy. 44 Paulina 7 p.m. December 4, 11, 18 Advent Vespers Holy Ghost Church 600 N. Oak St., Hammond 5:50 p.m.: Chaplet of Divine Mercy 6 p.m.: Vespers and brief talk on the three Archangels: St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael 6:30 p.m.: Soup supper Led by the Marian Servants of the Visitation Trisha Labbe ext. 28 December 5 Advent Penance Service St. Anne/Assumption/Immaculate Conception Chapel St. Anne Church 417 St. Joseph Street, Napoleonville 7 p.m. Cheryl Arboneaux Advent Penance Service St. Joseph Church 255 N. 8th St., Ponchatoula 6 p.m. Terri Albert December 6, 13, 20 Advent Season Reconciliation Immaculate Conception Church 865 Hatchell Lane, Denham Springs 6 7:30 p.m December 7 The Light is On For You Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Ferdinand St., St. Francisville 5:30 7 p.m. Advent Confessions St. John the Evangelist Church Main St., Plaquemine 6 7 p.m. SEE EVENTS PAGE 8B ST JOSEPH u HOSPICE STAT Home Health

CHRISTMAS 2017 November 24, 2017 Area charities need assistance from businesses, individuals This time of year, people focus on giving to others.

Because of current economic conditions, many people will not be able to give presents nor will they be in a position to receive gifts from those

For those who would like to give a gift to those who are in need, here is a list of some of the charitable efforts that are taking place this

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of The Community Comes Together for Christmas Catholic Charities matches individuals and families in need with

Contact Catholic Charities of the Diocese of 225-336-8700 for more information or go to the website at catholic charitiesbr.org.

during the winter months. Contact Catholic Charities of the Diocese of 225-3368700, or donate online at catholiccharitiesbr.org.

#igivecatholic Catholics in the Diocese of are being offered the opportunity to support their school, church parish or favorite charitable

For 24 hours beginning at midnight on Nov. 28, Catholics will be able to visit the igivecatholic.

#igivecatholic is held each year in conjunction with #GivingTuesday, which is celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the widely

#GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving.

needy children in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Donations can be sent to Good Fellows-Good Samaritans, Rotary Club of, 9625 Fenway Ave, Suite A,, LA 70809. Society of St.

225-753-6810 for a free in-home consultation. Walk-in Showers Ask about our 10% discount.

STEVE DECELL Walk-in Tubs Aging-In-Place Consultant Family Christmas Traditions Advent Wreaths, Rings & Candles Ask about Bulk Pricing!

Advent Calendars & Storybooks With 6 or more AdventChristmas Items get 10% off Annual Bishop s Gift Distribution Children who won t have the

23 and receive a gift from him. Many of these children live at the Bishop Ott Homeless Shelter or eat at the St.

Catholic Art & Gifts 6184 Florida Blvd. 225.926.1216 www.zieglers.com Hours: M-F 9am-5pm; Sat. 9:30am-4:30pm St.

Vincent de Paul allows the agency to provide food, shelter and SEE CHARITIES PAGE 4B Pre-planning is a final gift of love. Do it for your family.

Since that time, thousands of families have enjoyed the peace of mind that comes with planning ahead.

22 CHRISTMAS 2017 November 24, 2017 Area charities need assistance from businesses, individuals This time of year, people focus on giving to others. This usually takes the form of gifts that are given to family and friends, with much time spent on choosing a gift that each person will appreciate. Because of current economic conditions, many people will not be able to give presents nor will they be in a position to receive gifts from those close to them. Many people are in desperate need of the basics of life: food, warm clothing, medication and personal hygiene items. For those who would like to give a gift to those who are in need, here is a list of some of the charitable efforts that are taking place this holiday season. Catholic Charities of the Diocese of The Community Comes Together for Christmas Catholic Charities matches individuals and families in need with people who want to provide Christmas for them. Contact Catholic Charities of the Diocese of for more information or go to the website at catholic charitiesbr.org. Keep Christmas Lights Shining Bright Catholic Charities sponsors this program to help with utility bills of struggling families or individuals during the winter months. Contact Catholic Charities of the Diocese of , or donate online at catholiccharitiesbr.org. To Volunteer To volunteer call or go to the website at catholic charitiesbr.org. #igivecatholic Catholics in the Diocese of are being offered the opportunity to support their school, church parish or favorite charitable organization. The Diocese of, along with others, is participating in a Catholic giving day on Nov. 28 titled #igivecatholic. For 24 hours beginning at midnight on Nov. 28, Catholics will be able to visit the igivecatholic.org home page and click on a specific ministry listed to make a donation. #igivecatholic is held each year in conjunction with #GivingTuesday, which is celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday. #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. Good Fellows-Good Samaritans Good Fellows-Good Samaritans is a volunteer organization that raises money to deliver clothing, gifts and books to needy children in East Baton Rouge Parish. All donations go directly to the children who are determined by their school counselors as being truly in need. Donations can be sent to Good Fellows-Good Samaritans, Rotary Club of, 9625 Fenway Ave, Suite A,, LA Society of St. Vincent de Paul The Catholic Commentator 3B7 Merry Christmas SINCE 1979 FAST AFFORDABLE GUARANTEED FOR LIFE ( ) Call BATHTUB or for a free in-home consultation. Walk-in Showers Ask about our 10% discount. Mention code: Commentator and receive an additional $100 discount. STEVE DECELL Walk-in Tubs Aging-In-Place Consultant Family Christmas Traditions Advent Wreaths, Rings & Candles Ask about Bulk Pricing! Fisher-Price Little People Nativity Light Up Angel Tree Toppers Nativities for both Children & Adults! Advent Calendars & Storybooks With 6 or more AdventChristmas Items get 10% off Annual Bishop s Gift Distribution Children who won t have the opportunity to sit on Santa s lap and receive a visit from Santa on Christmas Eve will be able to visit with Bishop Robert W. Muench Saturday, Dec. 23 and receive a gift from him. Many of these children live at the Bishop Ott Homeless Shelter or eat at the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room and depend on St. Vincent de Paul for their well-being. New toys can be dropped off at 220 St. Vincent de Paul Place,. Catholic Art & Gifts 6184 Florida Blvd Hours: M-F 9am-5pm; Sat. 9:30am-4:30pm St. Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal Financial support given to St. Vincent de Paul allows the agency to provide food, shelter and SEE CHARITIES PAGE 4B Pre-planning is a final gift of love. Do it for your family. In 1932, Rabenhorst Life Insurance Company began providing the security of pre-planning with life insurance. Since that time, thousands of families have enjoyed the peace of mind that comes with planning ahead. Today, we have a policy that would suit anyone s personal and financial situation. Single Premium Policies A one-time payment can be made or premiums can be spread over five years. Over-60 Guarantee Pre-arrangements If you are 60 or older, Rabenhorst Funeral Homes & Crematory guarantees to provide the funeral service that you select today, as per the pre-need agreement.* Final Expenses Options And the angel said unto them, Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, Which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David A Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, Lying in a manger. St. Luke Special graded plans mean there are no age or health restrictions. For more information call us. Let us help pre-plan your personalized way of honoring a cherished life. Rabenhorst Life Insurance Company Government St. Rabenhorst Funeral Homes & Crematory Government St Florida Blvd. *Third Party expenses, like police escorts, newspaper notices and cemetery costs, are not included in the guarantee. 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4B The Catholic Commentator CHRISTMAS 2017 November 24, 2017 Diocese of Seminary Scholarship Funds What is a Seminary Scholarship fund?

It is simple. A fund may be established and named for anyone you choose friend, family, bishop, priest, religious, etc. Anyone can name or establish a fund.

Contributions from July through October 2017 Archbishop Antoine Blanc In Memory of: Leo Marshall Honore $10.00 Joseph Boy Ballard $10.00 Mary Gail Rumfola $10.00 Ronald Firmin $10.

23 4B The Catholic Commentator CHRISTMAS 2017 November 24, 2017 Diocese of Seminary Scholarship Funds What is a Seminary Scholarship fund? A seminary scholarship fund is an invested sum of money, the interest of which is used in perpetuity to help fund the education of men studying for the priesthood. How does someone establish a fund? It is simple. A fund may be established and named for anyone you choose friend, family, bishop, priest, religious, etc. Anyone can name or establish a fund. Consider a gift that will last forever honoring or memorizing your loved one: Make a contribution to the seminary scholarship fund of your choice. Contributions from July through October 2017 Archbishop Antoine Blanc In Memory of: Leo Marshall Honore $10.00 Joseph Boy Ballard $10.00 Mary Gail Rumfola $10.00 Ronald Firmin $10.00 By: Joseph/Linda Daigle In Memory of: Leo Marshall Honore $20.00 Paul Ramagos $20.00 Ronald Firmin $20.00 Joseph Olinde $20.00 Joseph Juge $20.00 By: Knights of Columbus #8878 In Memory of: Henry Bill Jarreau By: James/Mary Alice Robert $25.00 KC Archbishop Antonie Blanc Assembly #2047 $ In Memory of: Anetra Lathers $25.00 Joseph A Ballard $25.00 Gayle Rumfolo $25.00 Marshall Honore $25.00 Paul W. Baker Sr. $25.00 Lillie Grace Olinde $25.00 Joseph Olinde $20.00 By: James/Mary Alice Robert $21, Father David M. Chauvin In Memory of: Fr. Louis Oubre By: St. James Catholic Church $ Catholic Daughters St. Philip Court 1504 $ $13, St. Margaret, Queen of Scotland In Memory of: Stephen Bubba Matherne By: Joan Roberts $50.00 By: Michael/Debbie Schanzbach $25.00 In Honor of: Rev. Jamin David - Happy Birthday By: Jimmy/Shirley Darouse $25.00 Joe/Lucie Hanewinkel $25.00 In Honor of: Sandra Raborn $50.00 Rev. Jamin David $50.00 By: Jeanann Haughey and Mack Milton In Honor of: Dorothy Good and Carl Nehlig Wedding By: Joe/Lucie Hanewinkel $25.00 $10, Who do I contact to establish or contribute to a fund? To create a fund or to make a contribution to an existing fund, please send it to the Vocations and Seminarians Department, P. O. Box 2028, Baton Rouge, LA For information call This is only a partial list of all Seminary Scholarship Funds. Visit our website at for a complete list of Seminary Scholarship Funds. Louis and Nita Bonfanti In Honor of: Louis Bonfanti $50.00 By: Anita Bonfanti $2, Deceased Members of Ladies Altar Society St. Gabriel By: Ladies Altar Society of St. Gabriel Church $ $4, Tomorrows Priests By: Ethel Guedry $ $31, Deacon Francis Waguespack Jr. In Memory of: Beth Anne Rodrigue $ By: Wayne/Anne W. Rodrigue $5, Father Maynard Tippy Hurst In Memory of: Cassandra Wall Marge Smith Lester Strate Viloliga Hayes Catherine Gueho Connie Nowocin Rose Mary Millet Marjorie Simpson Page Meyer Tony Guzzardo Antonina Canells Mary Anna Willis Donald Launey Lillie Olinde Ray Porta Josie Messenger Herman Cormier Denver Denison Donald Bugea, Jr. J. B. Delatin By: Court St. Francis of Assisi #1915, Betty Baughman, Patricia Schmit, Margaret Mannino, Teenie Bajon, SLKF Altar Society, Pat Pavlovich, Linda LeBlanc, Geraldine Garafola, Lyn Deville, Margaret Blackwell, Sandra Creoli, Cassye Kessinger, Patricia Ryan $ In Memory of: Ana Snow Benjamin Stoer Russell Joseph Dorothy Lewis Marge Smith Rosalie Agosta Sam Guzzardo Catherine Gautier Marlene Crochet Gary LeBanc Joey Boudreau Bernice Walkowiak By: Court St. Francis of Assisi #1915, Barabara Schmit, Patricia Schmit, Margaret Mannino, Teenie Bajon, SLKF Altar Society, Pat Pavlovich, Margaret Blackwell, Patricia Ryan, Lucy Curry, Will Browning $ By: St. Louis King of Francis Altar Society $1, $15, Additional Scholarship Funds Deceased Members of KC Council # $20, Deceased Members of Pierre Part KC Council # $ Father Patrick Miller... $20, Mary Catherine Muench... $1, Murphy and Wallace Families... $1, CHARITIES From page 3B health care to thousands of people in need each year. Contributions can be sent to St. Vincent de Paul, P.O. Box 127,, LA or online at svdpbr.org. St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy Volunteer pharmacists distribute life-sustaining medication to people who cannot afford to purchase what they need. The pharmacy needs over-the-counter medications such as Advil, Motrin, Robitussin, Benadryl, Maalox, Mylanta, Tums, Rolaids, Tylenol Extra Strength, Pepcid A-C and Zantac, as well as the generics of these medications. Donations can be made at the Community Pharmacy, 1647 Convention St.,. St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room With the meal count going up at the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room, donated food items are critical to provide a hot meal 365 days of the year. The Dining Room is in urgent need of rice, sugar, dry beans, spaghetti, canned vegetables and fruits. During the holiday season, there is also a need for ham, turkey and the trimmings that go with these. Donations can be made at the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room, 220 St. Vincent de Paul Place,. Taste and See: Food for the Body and Soul Cookbook Proceeds from the sale of each cookbook are distributed to the services that are needed at the time. Cookbooks can be purchased at any St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store in, Hammond, New Roads or Brusly and at the St. Vincent de Paul Office, 220 St. Vincent de Paul Place,, or online at svdpbr.org. Bishop Ott Shelter Collection Campaign Men s and women s toiletry items; bed linens for cribs and twin beds; towels and washcloths; all sizes of underwear, clothing and shoes; paper napkins, towels and plates; plastic knives, forks, spoons, cups and sandwich bags and drink mixes are needed year round at the homeless shelters operated by St. Vincent de Paul. Donations can be delivered to the Bishop Ott Shelter, 1623 Convention St., Baton Rouge. SEE CHARITIES PAGE 6B

November 24, 2017 CHRISTMAS 2017 The Catholic Commentator 5B7 Fundraising, social, musical events set for Christmas season All events are free unless stated otherwise.

Jefferson Ave., Port Allen 9 10:30 a.m. Accepting donations for the WBR Food Pantry. Bring camera to take pictures with Santa. Treat bags, donuts, coffee and milk while supplies last.

1 or pay at the breakfast. Pancake and sausage breakfast with Santa. Bring your own camera to take a picture with Santa. December 3 Concert Band Concert St. Joseph Cathedral 412 North Street, 3 p.m. Office 225-387-5928 West Museum s Annual Holiday Open House 845 N.

Also Papa Noel, holiday crafts, storytelling and the favorite Find the Elves scavenger hunt. 225-336-2422 or westbatonrougemuseum.com Breakfast with St.

All proceeds to send our youth to the March for Life in January 2018. Office 225-665-5359 or jessicacowart@me.com Breakfast with Santa Holy Ghost Church Saxon Youth House 610 N.

Lessons and Carols Catholic High School First Baptist Church 529 Convention St., 5 6 p.m. Catholic High School and St.

Kaia Lo 225-383-0397 Pancake Breakfast Sacred Heart Youth Group Sacred Heart Parish Hall 2250 Main St., 9 a.m.

$5 Dine-in or carry out; includes pancakes, sausage and juice or milk Arts and crafts for younger children Proceeds benefit Sacred Heart Youth Group Tiffany Dykes 225-387-6671 9th Annual Winter

m. 5:30 p.m. Light parade and prizes 6 p.m. Boom!

Tour of Father Jason s Christmas Village, craft booths, free activities for children, visit with Santa, hayride and a train ride. Classic Car and Truck Show. St.

Kevin Andry 225-753-9782 Christmas Crafts with Kringle St. Michael High School School Cafeteria 17521 Monitor Ave, 12:30 2 p.m. RSVP Refreshments, pictures with Santa, arts and crafts with SMHS Band Christmas Concert immediately following Khloe Page 225-753-9782 ext.

24 November 24, 2017 CHRISTMAS 2017 The Catholic Commentator 5B7 Fundraising, social, musical events set for Christmas season All events are free unless stated otherwise. November 26 A Swingin Christmas Catholic High School St. Joseph Cathedral 401 S. Main St., 7 8 p.m. Christmas Concert performed by the CHS Percussion Ensemble, CHS/SJA Show Choir and the CHS/SJA Jazz Band Mark Messina December 2 Breakfast with Santa Holy Family Parish Hall 368 N. Jefferson Ave., Port Allen 9 10:30 a.m. Accepting donations for the WBR Food Pantry. Bring camera to take pictures with Santa. Treat bags, donuts, coffee and milk while supplies last. Jennifer LeJeune or jlejeunehfc@gmail.com Breakfast with Santa Catholic Daughters of St. George St. George Cafeteria 7880 St. George Drive, 7:30 10:30 a.m. Adults $5; children 10 & under $3 Tickets can be pre-ordered by Dec. 1 or pay at the breakfast. Pancake and sausage breakfast with Santa. Bring your own camera to take a picture with Santa. December 3 Concert Band Concert St. Joseph Cathedral 412 North Street, 3 p.m. Office West Museum s Annual Holiday Open House 845 N. Jefferson Ave., Port Allen 2 5 p.m. Open to the public Live performances by James Linden Hogg and Lil Jimmy Reed. Refreshments, ornament making and more. Also Papa Noel, holiday crafts, storytelling and the favorite Find the Elves scavenger hunt or westbatonrougemuseum.com Breakfast with St. Nicholas Immaculate Conception Church, Main Hall 865 Hatchell Lane, Denham Springs 8 11 a.m. $7 each or $30 family (max 7 people per family) Pancake and sausage breakfast with St. Nicholas. All proceeds to send our youth to the March for Life in January Office or jessicacowart@me.com Breakfast with Santa Holy Ghost Church Saxon Youth House 610 N. Magnolia, Hammond 10:45 a.m. 12:15 p.m. For PSR K-8th grades. Santa loves Fa-la-la-la Funnel Cakes! All are welcome to come and enjoy. Lessons and Carols Catholic High School First Baptist Church 529 Convention St., 5 6 p.m. Catholic High School and St. Joseph s Academy Symphonic Band will combine with the CHS/SJA Advanced Choir for their Christmas Concert. Kaia Lo Pancake Breakfast Sacred Heart Youth Group Sacred Heart Parish Hall 2250 Main St., 9 a.m. 12:30 p.m. $5 Dine-in or carry out; includes pancakes, sausage and juice or milk Arts and crafts for younger children Proceeds benefit Sacred Heart Youth Group Tiffany Dykes th Annual Winter Wonderland Food Festival A Taste of French Settlement St. Joseph Catholic Church LA Hwy 16, French Settlement 10 a.m. until gone in the food line There will be a charge for the food line. 10 a.m. 6 p.m. 5:30 p.m. Light parade and prizes 6 p.m. Boom! Food line: chicken/andouille gumbo, seafood pistolettes, seafood gumbo, fried fish, jambalaya, pastalaya, chicken tenders, hamburgers, sweet shop with of homemade candy, cookies and cakes. Tour of Father Jason s Christmas Village, craft booths, free activities for children, visit with Santa, hayride and a train ride. Classic Car and Truck Show. St. Michael High School Band Christmas Concert St. Michael High School Gym Monitor Ave, 2 4 p.m. Christmas tunes from the concert band, jazz band and percussion. Kevin Andry Christmas Crafts with Kringle St. Michael High School School Cafeteria Monitor Ave, 12:30 2 p.m. RSVP Refreshments, pictures with Santa, arts and crafts with SMHS Band Christmas Concert immediately following Khloe Page ext. 26 December 5 Latin Prayer and Carol Service Catholic High Junior Classical League Catholic High Cafeteria 855 Hearthstone Drive, 6 7 p.m. Graham Waddell Magnet High School Concert St. Joseph Cathedral 412 North Street, 7 p.m. School office Give Something Lasting For Christmas In The Land O Sugar A book about French Louisiana circa By Mary Louise Johnson Call (225) Large Selection of Nativities Large Selection of Happy Birthday Jesus Items Boxed Christmas Cards Saints Statues Large selection of Children s Books Ornaments Medals Bibles Advent Wreaths Stocking Stuffers starting at 99 December 6 Advent at Aloysius St. Aloysius Church, 2025 Stuart Ave., 5:30 8 p.m. Advent wreaths $10 SEE SOCIAL PAGE 7B Anthony s Italian Deli Panettone Cakes and Christmas Confectioneries Are In! Lasagna To-Go Made Fresh Daily Lg $47.95 Sm $29.95 Cheese & Meat Trays Party Trays 5575 GOVERNMENT ST., JUST WEST OF JEFFERSON HWY. PHONE ORDERS WELCOME! OPEN MON.-SAT. 9:30-6:00 PM s only TRUE ITALIAN DELI Since 1978 M-F 10-6; Sat Florida Blvd., (225) A Holy Family Institute Apostolate

6B The Catholic Commentator CHRISTMAS 2017 November 24, 2017 Readers share their favorite holiday recipes Chicken Broccoli Casserole

jar cheese whiz ½ stick of margarine 1 box frozen broccoli, chopped ½ chicken, boiled and deboned 1 can cream of mushroom soup Tony s

Add frozen broccoli, sauté until defrosted. Add soup, cheese whiz, chicken and cooked rice. Sauté and season to taste.

Joseph s Church, Paulina 3 medium to large onions, slice into rings then cut in half ½ block of butter or margarine 2 cans of Campbell s

stock pot and on medium heat, melt butter or margarine and add onions. Sauté onions for 5 minutes.

Cook mixture on medium to high heat until onions are very tender approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. Season to taste.

Joseph s Church, Paulina 4 sticks butter or margarine 4 c. plain flour 2 c. pecans, chopped 2 c.

margarine and pecans. Press into a long casserole dish or cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees until browned about 10-15 minutes. Cool.

Dave s Hogshead Cheese Dave Kimball Our Lady of Mercy Church, 10 lbs. fresh pork picnic or Boston butt 2 lrg.

cayenne pepper 2 Tbsp. crushed red pepper Cut up meat into 1 lb. pieces. Put in 12 quart or bigger pot with enough water to cover meat.

Bring to boil, reduce to simmer and cook for 1 hour. Remove meat and stock from pot. Return 2 quarts stock to pot. Let meat cool.

Cook for 10 minutes. Add cayenne and crushed red pepper. Add meat and mix until slushy. Do not add too much stock.

CHARITIES From page 4B To Volunteer To volunteer call 225-383-7837 or go online at svdpbr.org.

25 6B The Catholic Commentator CHRISTMAS 2017 November 24, 2017 Readers share their favorite holiday recipes Chicken Broccoli Casserole Eleanor Mitchel St. Thomas More Church, 1 1/2 c. cooked rice 1 medium onion, chopped 1 bell pepper, chopped 8 oz. jar cheese whiz ½ stick of margarine 1 box frozen broccoli, chopped ½ chicken, boiled and deboned 1 can cream of mushroom soup Tony s seasoning to taste Boil chicken. Debone. Cut into bite size pieces. Sauté seasoning in margarine. Add frozen broccoli, sauté until defrosted. Add soup, cheese whiz, chicken and cooked rice. Sauté and season to taste. Pour into buttered casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. French Onion Soup Wendy Oubre St. Joseph s Church, Paulina 3 medium to large onions, slice into rings then cut in half ½ block of butter or margarine 2 cans of Campbell s Beef Consommé soup 2 cans Campbell s Beef Broth soup 1 can of mushrooms, chopped, optional Shredded mozzarella cheese Croutons In medium stock pot and on medium heat, melt butter or margarine and add onions. Sauté onions for 5 minutes. Add soups and mushrooms and bring to boil. Cook mixture on medium to high heat until onions are very tender approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. Season to taste. Serve hot and garnish with shredded mozzarella cheese and croutons. Lucky if you get a piece Dessert Wendy Oubre St. Joseph s Church, Paulina 4 sticks butter or margarine 4 c. plain flour 2 c. pecans, chopped 2 c. Cool Whip 1 bag powdered sugar Strawberries or your favorite fruit Packed strawberry or other fruit flavor pie glaze Mix together flour, margarine and pecans. Press into a long casserole dish or cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees until browned about minutes. Cool. Mix together Cool Whip and powdered sugar together. Spread on the baked crust. Then mix together glaze and cut up fruit and spread on top. Dave s Hogshead Cheese Dave Kimball Our Lady of Mercy Church, 10 lbs. fresh pork picnic or Boston butt 2 lrg. white onions 4 bunches green onions 1 bunch fresh flat parsley 1 Tbsp. salt 2 Tbsp. black pepper 2 Tbsp. Tony s Seasoning 2 Tbsp. cayenne pepper 2 Tbsp. crushed red pepper Cut up meat into 1 lb. pieces. Put in 12 quart or bigger pot with enough water to cover meat. Cut up onions and bottoms green onions and add to pot. Add salt, black pepper and Tony s and stir. Bring to boil, reduce to simmer and cook for 1 hour. Remove meat and stock from pot. Return 2 quarts stock to pot. Let meat cool. Grind the meat up. Do NOT use food processor as it gets too mushy. Chop or grind green onion tops and parsley and add to stock. Cook for 10 minutes. Add cayenne and crushed red pepper. Add meat and mix until slushy. Do not add too much stock. Taste for salt and add if necessary. Makes pounds. CHARITIES From page 4B To Volunteer To volunteer call or go online at svdpbr.org. Greater Food Bank Donating Food While purchasing food for a Christmas dinner at a local grocer, pick up a few additional items and place them in the Food Bank Barrel after checking out. Financial Contributions A $1 donation to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank provides seven meals to a family or individual in need. Donations can be made any time of year through the website brfood bank.org or by sending a donation to the Greater Food Bank, P.O. Box 45830, Baton Rouge, LA To Volunteer Drop by the warewhouse to volunteer at South Choctaw, or call (225) The Food Bank serves people in 11 civil parishes in this area. Bless her Christmas and yours, too! Sponsor a family today. It's easy. Visit CatholicCharitiesBR.org or call

November 24, 2017 CHRISTMAS 2017 The Catholic Commentator 7B7 SOCIAL From page 5B A visit from St. Nicholas to bring treats to the children. A meal will be shared.

Our student band includes woodwinds, brass and strings. Eliska Dumas 225-324-0745 December 8 A Candlelight Christmas Catholic High School LSU Union Theatre 310 LSU Student Union, 7 8 p.m. The CHS/SJA Wind Ensemble will combine with the CHS/SJA Schola Cantorum for the Christmas Concert.

hony Concert St. Joseph Cathedral 412 North Street, 7:30 p.m.

225-695-6859 or Office 225-698-3110 A Bayou Christmas Celebration Madewood Plantation House 4250 Hwy. 308, Napoleonville 5 8:30 p.m. $59 per person plus 10% sales tax Christmas heritage is the essence of an old-fashioned holiday celebration.

dewood.com or Madewoodpl@aol.com December 10 The Christmas Story Our Lady of Mount Carmel 11485 Ferdinand St., St. Francisville 5:30 p.m. Through the Eyes of the Friendy Beasts, A Christmas Play PRS grades K 5 Downtown Choral Pilgrimage Begin s at Mount Zion First Baptist Church Blessing of the Advent Christmas Season!

Joseph Cathedral at about 7:30 p.m. Cathedral office 225-387-5928 December 11 St. George School Christmas Band Concert St. George Church 7880 St. George Drive, 7 8:30 p.m. Lynn Blanchard 225-293-1298 December 14 Holy Family School s Extravaganza Raising Canes River Center 275 S.

26 November 24, 2017 CHRISTMAS 2017 The Catholic Commentator 7B7 SOCIAL From page 5B A visit from St. Nicholas to bring treats to the children. A meal will be shared. Prayer service begins December 7 Christmas Symphony Concert St. Jean Vianney School Orchestra St. Jean Vianney School Gym S. Harrell s Ferry Rd. 6:30 8 p.m. St. Jean Vianney School is the only school in the diocese that has a full orchestra. Our student band includes woodwinds, brass and strings. Eliska Dumas December 8 A Candlelight Christmas Catholic High School LSU Union Theatre 310 LSU Student Union, 7 8 p.m. The CHS/SJA Wind Ensemble will combine with the CHS/SJA Schola Cantorum for the Christmas Concert. Mark Messina Symphony Concert St. Joseph Cathedral 412 North Street, 7:30 p.m. Symphony office December 9 Breakfast with Santa 8 10 a.m. $5 per plate includes Prancer s pancakes, snowman s sausage, jingle bell juice, magical merry Christmas milk Lucas Miles or Office A Bayou Christmas Celebration Madewood Plantation House 4250 Hwy. 308, Napoleonville 5 8:30 p.m. $59 per person plus 10% sales tax Christmas heritage is the essence of an old-fashioned holiday celebration or madewood.com or Madewoodpl@aol.com December 10 The Christmas Story Our Lady of Mount Carmel Ferdinand St., St. Francisville 5:30 p.m. Through the Eyes of the Friendy Beasts, A Christmas Play PRS grades K 5 Downtown Choral Pilgrimage Begin s at Mount Zion First Baptist Church Blessing of the Advent Christmas Season! Monday Nights of Advent Reconciliation December 4th, 11th, & 18th at 6:00 7:00pm 356 East Blvd, 5:30 p.m. Pilgrimage visits several different churches in the downtown area and arrives at St. Joseph Cathedral at about 7:30 p.m. Cathedral office December 11 St. George School Christmas Band Concert St. George Church 7880 St. George Drive, 7 8:30 p.m. Lynn Blanchard December 14 Holy Family School s Extravaganza Raising Canes River Center 275 S. River Rd, 6:30 7:30 p.m. $8 per person Christmas songs performed by students in PreK-8th grades with a live nativity performed by eighth-grade students. Annette Fitzgerald or afitzgerald@hfspa.com December 18 St. George School Christmas Pageant St. George Church 7880 St. George Drive, 6:30 7:30 p.m. The Christmas story is performed by our first-graders with music by music students and choir. Lynn Blanchard December 20 St. Jean Vianney School Grandparents Day S. Harrell s Ferry Rd. 9:30 a.m. noon Children will be singing carols for their grandparents. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served after performance. Eliska Dumas December 20 January 7 Nativity Scene St. John the Evangelist Church SEE SOCIAL PAGE 8B Main St., Plaquemine 8:30 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Mon. Thurs.; til noon Fridays Beautiful, life-size Fontanini creche spans the entire right isle of the church. Marsha Dupont December 24 Christmas Eve Vigil Carol Concert St. Joseph Cathedral 412 North Street, 3:30 p.m. Office SEE SOCIAL PAGE 7B Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to all Christmas Eve Vigil Masses: 4:00pm, 7:00pm, Christmas Day Masses: Midnight, 8:00am, 10:00am PARISH MISSION STATEMENT Our mission as the Body of Christ in the parish of St. Jean Vianney is to model the love of Jesus by discerning and doing God s will, consciously sharing the Word and Eucharist at worship, educating in faith all ages, evangelizing our parishioners for Christ s mission, and serving justly God s people, our sisters and brothers within our parish boundaries, our larger community, and into the world S. Harrell s Ferry Road Exit I-12 south on O Neal Lane to S. Harrell s Ferry Road. Take left. Church is one block on right. St. Jean Vianney Preschool St. Jean Vianney Catholic School Thanks for your support for more than 30 years Come taste some of our award winning soups Fresh fish daily Order your homemade chessecakes & pies 15 varieties to choose from New draft beer on tap New location on Juban Road opening soon ALLOW US TO CATER your next special event in one of our Banquet Rooms or off site at your home or office 7521 Jefferson Hwy. (Jefferson Plaza), Mon. Thurs. 11 am 9:30 pm; Fri. Sat. 11 am til; Sunday 11 am 4 pm / cafeamrest@yahoo.com /

8B The Catholic Commentator CHRISTMAS 2017 November 24, 2017 EVENTS From page 2B December 7, 14, 21 Advent Awakenings: Take the Time Holy Ghost Church Annex of the Parish Hall 511 N. Oak St.

26 December 8 10 Yoga and Contemplative Prayer Advent Retreat Rosaryville Spirit Life Center 390003 Rosaryville Rd.

er 10 Advent Concert Our Lady of Mercy Church 445 Marquette Ave., 4 p.m.

Parish, Marian Hall 474 N. Jefferson Ave., Port Allen 9:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Jennifer LeJeune 225-36-4463 or jlejeunehfc@gmail.com Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass Holy Ghost Church 600 N. Oak St.

Jefferson Ave., Port Allen Begins 6:30 p.m. 225-383-1838 Reconciliation Service St. Joseph Church 2130 Rectory St. at LA Hwy. 44 Paulina 7 p.m. 225-869-5751 er 13 & 20 The Light Is On For You Our Lady of Mercy Church 445 Marquette Ave.

George Drive, 3 p.m. The choirs of St. George present the story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah and the birth of Jesus through lessons and carols.

27 8B The Catholic Commentator CHRISTMAS 2017 November 24, 2017 EVENTS From page 2B December 7, 14, 21 Advent Awakenings: Take the Time Holy Ghost Church Annex of the Parish Hall 511 N. Oak St., Hammond All are invited to join our small faith group during Advent. Sign up at church office. Trisha Labbe ext. 26 December 8 10 Yoga and Contemplative Prayer Advent Retreat Rosaryville Spirit Life Center Rosaryville Rd., Ponchatoula Weekend of prayer, joy and fellowship facilitated by Andrea Ani Vidrine, spiritual director and licensed clinical social worker and teacher of yoga or scallais@oppeace.org or rosaryvillela.com December 10 Advent Concert Our Lady of Mercy Church 445 Marquette Ave., 4 p.m. A sacred concert of Lessons and Carols presented by the Our Lady of Mercy Music Ministry Mary Kannenberg December 12 Coffee and Prayer: Advent A time for Hope, Peace, Joy and Love Holy Family Parish, Marian Hall 474 N. Jefferson Ave., Port Allen 9:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Jennifer LeJeune or jlejeunehfc@gmail.com Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass Holy Ghost Church 600 N. Oak St., Hammond 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided in the gathering area following Mass. Father Robert Merced OP December 13 Advent Parish Penance Service Holy Family Church 369 N. Jefferson Ave., Port Allen Begins 6:30 p.m Reconciliation Service St. Joseph Church 2130 Rectory St. at LA Hwy. 44 Paulina 7 p.m December 13 & 20 The Light Is On For You Our Lady of Mercy Church 445 Marquette Ave., 6 7:30 p.m. Church office December 14 Advent Penance Service St. Mark Church Hwy. 621, Gonzales 7 p.m. Cecile Haley December 17 Lessons and Carols St. George Church 7808 St. George Drive, 3 p.m. The choirs of St. George present the story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah and the birth of Jesus through lessons and carols. Blake Bruchhaus December 20 Advent Reconciliation Service St. George Church 7808 St. George Drive, 6:30 8 p.m. Blake Bruchhaus SOCIAL From page 7B January 7, 2018 Epiphany Concert: Songs of the Christmas Season and Songs to Enjoy St. John the Evangelist Church Main St., Plaquemine 4 5:30 p.m. $25.00 general admission; doors open at 3:15 p.m. Rev. Gregory J. Daigle, Soloist with Bill Grimes and The Epiphany Orchestra All proceeds go to St. John Interparochial School. Marsha Dupont/Johnette Gourgues January 7, 2018 Organ Dedication and Concert St. George Church 7808 St. George Drive 3 p.m. St. George Church and the Church Organ Group presents Maesto Hector Olivera in a dedication concert for the Allen Organ installed with the completion of the St. George Church. This concert will conclude the Christmas season on Epiphany. Blake Bruchhaus As we celebrate the birth of Christ, we are reminded that His message of love and compassion lives on through us. When we Christmas Memories respond to a plea for help with an act of kindness, it is His hand that guides us. This is the best Christmas present we can give: to serve on His behalf in the triumph of faith over adversity. During the holidays, most of us look forward to sharing the peace and joy of this season with family and friends. But for some people, the spirit of Christmas is slowly drowning in an ocean of worries: How will I pay the rent this month? The kids need new clothes. Will I have to tell them that Santa isn t coming again this year? For the poor, the meaning of peace and joy is having enough money to pay the rent and buy a few gifts. For many of those who come to St. Vincent de Paul for assistance, life has always been hard, and their Christmas memories are a source of sadness; for some, the holidays started with a job loss, an accident, illness or homelessness. The photos on this envelope represent just a few of the people whose memories now include St. Vincent de Paul a place of second chances and new beginnings. The people who come to us for help are counting on us. This year, our dining room will serve more than 250,000 meals; our Bishop Ott Shelter will provide over 25,000 guest nights of shelter; and our pharmacy will fill life-sustaining prescriptions worth $1 million for people who have nowhere else to turn. And the expansion of our Sweet Dreams Shelter will allow us to help even more homeless mothers and children this Christmas Season. We ll do our best to make this Christmas Season a good one for as many people as possible. Bishop Muench will once again serve as our St. Nick, distributing gifts to needy children. Our dining room will serve thousands of meals. Our shelters will provide warm beds to homeless men, women and children. We hope that you will consider adding one more person to your Christmas list, and we ask you to consider making a gift using this envelope. If you can t afford to give at this time, please pray for the poor and hold onto the enclosed envelope until a time when you can afford to give. At St. Vincent de Paul, $1 will provide a hot meal; $10 will provide a night of shelter for a homeless family; and $28 will fill a life-sustaining prescription; so you can imagine what a difference a larger gift can make. Any gift, no matter how small, will bring the Christmas spirit to someone in need. Remember the Society of St. Vincent de Paul on Giving Tuesday (November 28 th Use the enclosed envelope to help the poor and homeless, or give online at svdpbr.org.

Part III: Voices from Parishes and Participating Organizations

Part III: Voices from Parishes and Participating Organizations 1. Make a list of some successful ways that parishes / organizations in the region are already responding to the obstacles, challenges and