Purgatory cleans up the mess

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1 T H E C A T H O L I C Commentator PAGE 3 Budget cuts could affect Catholic Schools February 2, 2018 Vol. 55, No. 26 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1963 thecatholiccommentator.org UNDER ONE ROOF St. Aloysius dedicates new center By Bonny Van Father Randy Cuevas, pastor of St. Aloysius Church in Baton Rouge, blesses one of the 18 offices in the Pastoral Services Center. The building also has two conference rooms, an employee break room and a workroom. Photo by Bonny Van It s been wonderful, said Mary Dawson, director of development and communications at St. Aloysius Church in Baton Rouge. That was her first response when asked what it s like to work in the new Pastoral Services Center on the church campus. In the past, the church staff had to work in three different locations on the church grounds, so it s been wonderful for us all to be housed in one building. It s so much more collaborative, she said. After Mass on Jan. 21, parishioners and staff at St. Aloysius followed pastor Father Randy Cuevas for the short walk from the church, across the parking lot to the front of the new building for the blessing of the facility. According to Father Cuevas, the first church office for St. Aloysius was built in the mid-1970s but eventually the staff outgrew the building and moved into the original convent of the Daughters of Jesus, who in turn took over the smaller office building. More remodeling and moves into multiple buildings continued over the years to accommodate the growing church to the point that an off-campus residence in the neighborhood became the rectory. After prayers and petitions, Father Cuevas, parochial vicar Father Eddie Martin and Deacon Chauvin Wilkinson walked through the 9,958-square foot-administration building, blessing each of the offices with holy water. They were followed by parishioners, eager to see the new space. With the completion of our new Pastoral Services center, church staff are finally under one roof again, in a building specifically designed to better serve the pastoral needs of our parishioners and visitors, and enable our staff to efficiently and effectively function, communicate and coordinate the SEE PASTORAL PAGE 20 Purgatory cleans up the mess By Debbie Shelley Lent is a time to spiritually apply the principals of spring cleaning the house to spring cleaning the soul so we can be united with the resurrected Jesus at Easter. But struggle as we may to clean up the mess, we may have the uneasiness that we are not quite ready for heaven if we should die because we still attach ourselves to some sins or dirt in our souls. Placing a soul in purgatory, therefore, is God s merciful, loving act of final cleansing of the soul, so it can be perfectly purified and brought home to him in heaven, according to clergy of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. We might begin our reflection (on purgatory) by asking the question, What happens when we die? said Father Miles Walsh, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Baton Rouge. The church teaches that when we die we are first of all judged by God, and at that judgment, which we call the particular judgment, we learn our eternal destiny: whether we will spend eternity with God in heaven or whether we will spend eternity apart from him in hell. And yet, even if we are destined for heaven, our Catholic tradition, including Scripture itself, attests that most of those who will go to heaven must first spend a period of time being purified of any and all attachment to sin, and we call this state of being purgatory. This is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church has to say (1032): All who die in the state of God s grace, i.e., in the state of friendship with him, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation, but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. The church gives the name purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. Father Matthew Graham, administrator of St. Elizabeth Church in Paincourtville and St. Jules Church in Belle Rose, talked about references to purgatory in Scripture. He highlighted how St. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 that SEE PURGATORY PAGE 19 SVdP receives $1 million grant By Richard Meek St. Vincent de Paul Society is on the move again. Weeks before dedicating a 42-bed expansion of the Bishop Ott Sweet Dreams Shelter for Women and Children, executive director Michael Acaldo announced that St. Vincent de Paul received a $1 million grant from the city of Baton Rouge which will pave the way for a 36-bed expansion of the Bishop Ott Center and day room. Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome announced the grant Jan. 29. We are so excited about being a part of the mayor s vision of responding to the needs of the homeless, especially mothers and children who have no place to turn for help, Acaldo said. We SEE GRANT PAGE 15

2 2 February 2, 2018 TREASURES FROM THE DIOCESE Jesus healing power Eva LeGard, far righr, talks with members of the youth panel at the Black Congress held at the Catholic Life Center in Baton Rouge, March 11, The congress was well attended by young delegates. Photo provided by the Department of Archives, Diocese of Baton Rogue DID YOU KNOW Throat blessing Throat a bit sore lately? Hoarseness setting in? No wonder, considering the wacky weather that has included snow and ice on two occasions since the calendar flipped to a new year. Which makes the feast day of St. Blaise on Feb. 3, more commonly known as the blessing of the throats, perfect timing in an area where nary a family or workplace has escaped the ravages of the highly contagious strain of flu making the rounds this winter. Not much is known about St. Blaise except what tradition has passed down. Historians are in agreement that he was the bishop of Sebaste in Armenia and martyred around 316. He was apparently born into a rich family and eventually became a physician before being consecrated as a bishop at a young age. During persecution in his area, St. Blaise relocated to a cave and became a hermit. Legend has it that he healed wild animals that were sick and wounded. Hunters gathering wild beasts eventually found him and brought him to the governor of Cappadocia. There, St. Blaise encountered a woman whose pig was being seized by a wolf and commanded the wolf to release the pig, thus saving its life. In prison he cured a small boy who was choking to death on a fishbone lodged in his throat. The woman whose pig was saved brought the future saint candles to his prison cell so he could read Scripture. By the sixth century, St. Blaise was being called upon for intercession for diseases of the throat. During the Middle Ages his popularity soared, becoming one of the most popular saints during that era. One reason for his popularity was born out of the fact that he was able to cure the sick, especially those with throat ailments, thus establishing the foundation for the custom of the blessing of throats. During that blessing, the priest touches the throats with two cross candles while invoking the prayer of St. Blaise and imparting God s blessing. The feast day of St. Blaise is one day after Candlemas Day, which is also known as the Presentation of the Lord. Forty days after the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple for the rites of purification and dedication as prescribed by the Torah. Because Jesus is the light of the world who came to dispel sin and darkness, since at least the seventh century candles have been blessed at Mass on Feb. 2 to be used throughout the liturgical year, hence the day is known as Candlemas. In many Eastern European countries, this day officially marks the end of the Christmas celebration. Noting that, St. John Paul II began the custom of keeping the Nativity up in St. Peter s Square until Feb. 2. CLARIFICATION By Dina Dow I turn to you, Lord, in times of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation. Ps 32 It is interesting the liturgical readings for the fifth and sixth Sundays in Ordinary Time are actually preparing us for the season of Lent, which happens to immediately follow these. The themes resonating from the Scriptures speak to the realities of challenges faced by many, including restlessness and rejection. Yet, these challenges are overcome through the healing ministry of Jesus and the hope of salvation. thecatholiccommentator.org Facebook.com/TheCatholicCommentator Bishop Robert W. Muench Publisher Father Tom Ranzino Associate Publisher Richard Meek Editor Debbie Shelley Assistant Editor Life-Giving FA I H Restlessness The Book of Job is an incredible story from the Old Testament detailing the experience of a man completely committed to God, whose life is filled with utter tragedy and loss. He is strong in faith and perseveres, yet he asks questions that we too may ask out of hopelessness. He expresses restlessness, comparing it to a slave laboring for hours; longing for shade from the heat of the sun. Despair is creeping in. Job poses the question, When shall I arise? Ask yourself, When have I been exhausted from the challenges, longing for peace? Is hope extinguished? Am I restless? If so, what is the root of this restlessness? Rejection We also hear in the Book of Leviticus the origin of the law restricting those with leprosy to a life of exile and isolation. One can only imagine the despair of the people with leprosy, the sadness of their family and the outright rejection by the larger community. If a person touched another with leprosy, that person was deemed unclean. The reading itself is quite descriptive, causing one to cringe. Understanding the terrible effects of such a disease, one may say, Do you blame the Israelites for having extreme law? But think of a time when people treated you as if you had a communicable disease? Rejection is a forerunner to the realm of hopelessness. Healing Yet within the storm filled with despair and isolation, there is hope and healing. Jesus, the holiest one, reaches and grasps what is drowning us. We, as living missionary disciples, are called to run into the storm and help. St. Paul reminds us of the call to mission. Spreading the Gospel message is more than volunteerism. Rather, it is an enormous obligation for all baptized Christians to share in the hope of Jesus, especially when others are in need of healing. Jesus healing ministry is seen throughout the Gospels, particularly in the liturgy of the coming weeks. We read, He grasped the hand of Simon s mother-in-law and helped her up. Then the fever left her (Mk 1:31) and upon the request from the man with leprosy, Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, I do will it. Be made clean (Mk 1:41). We can easily embrace the first miracle, yet the second is more challenging. What s easier, to touch someone with a fever or SEE GOSPEL PAGE 4 St. Gabriel Church in St. Gabriel was completed in 1776, dependent on the labor of new arriving Acadian exiles. Additionally, all of the archival evidence points to the fact that the church was built on its present tract of land, although it was moved back from the encroaching Mississippi River. In the late 1890s a New Orleans newspaper published a story that the original church was built on Bayou Manchac, which has perpetuated a myth that has now touched its third century. Wanda L. Koch Advertising Manager Bonny Van Staff Writer Lisa Disney Secretary/Circulation Nicole Latiolais Graphic Designer (ISSN ; USPS ) Published bi-weekly (every other week) by the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge,1800 South Acadian Thruway, Baton Rouge, 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, P.O. Box 14746, Baton Rouge, LA

3 February 2, Governor s budget cuts millions for Catholic schools By Richard Meek Gov. John Bel Edwards budget proposal to slash more than $16 million in funding to Catholic schools could have devastating effects, especially among low income families, according to diocesan officials. Edwards revealed what some tagged his doomsday budget on Jan 22, a proposal that also lops off millions of dollars in TOPS and health care funding. Edwards said the draconian cuts are necessary to meet the looming $1 billion shortfall. The governor s proposal would eliminate funding for the school lunch program and reimbursement for required service for all private schools in the state. Currently, the school lunch program receives about $7.5 million in state funding annually and required services $8.7 million. In the Diocese of Baton Rouge, the child nutrition program receives an average of $1.5 million annually from the state, a revenue stream that if severed would effectively shut down the program, said Lynda Carville, director of the Child Nutrition Program for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. It would be devastating, Carville said. We would have parents and children who are (eating) free and reduced (cost) meals through the program. They would lose that. (Parents) would lose the comfort of knowing there is a meal prepared at school to help nourish the children to support education A hungry child can t function. Carville said in many cases children from low-income families are eating breakfast, lunch and even a hot supper at school for free. She added there are currently four schools where 100 percent of the student body is receiving totally subsidized breakfast, lunch and dinner meals, accounting for a combined 600 students. If we don t have funding, we would have no meals. Carville If we don t have funding, we would have no meals. Lynda Carville Director of Child Nutrition Program for the Diocese of Baton Rouge matter-of-factly stated. Rob Tasman, director of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops, said he was a bit surprised by the proposed cuts only because they account for such a small percentage of the deficit. When you re dealing with a $1 billion deficit, one of the things that strikes me is these two streams of funding have been completely zeroed out and (accounts) for only one half of one percent of that entire deficit, Tasman said. It really does not make a lot of sense to go after these two streams of funding when private schools are providing an incredible service to the state in terms of educating its children at a very high capacity, not only just forming them academically but also forming them to be very successful human beings and active citizens who participate in the economy of the state and the culture of the state as well. Tasman agreed that eliminating the funding for the school lunch program would create hardships for the neediest of families. Acknowledging that seems to be a dramatic statement, Tasman said if the food service providers are not able to pay equitable wages to their employees, there is no way you will be able to serve the food. If you are able to maintain the workforce, you will have to raise the price of the meal to offset the cost and by doing that you are really pricing out certain families who could not afford the meal, he added. Carville said her office employs approximately 180 employees, and is responsible for maintaining equipment in all of the schools, purchasing of all the food, garbage collection and disposal and transporting food when necessary. The money is so well utilized, she said. The funding allocated for required services was established by the state nearly 30 years ago and reimburses nonpublic schools for collecting data in a number of different categories, including school attendance rates, bus transportation and who utilizes it, teacher certification and teacher development, Tasman said. He added that the law, as originally crafted, requires each school to be reimbursed 100 percent but in three decades that has not happened. More recently, the reimbursement has come in around 29 percent. (The funding) trickles down because obviously that is money that comes in as a source of revenue to a school, Tasman said. They receive that check and what they are able to do with that check is up to their discretion but is really used to fund critical programs, like academic programs or extracurricular activities. It s also used for teacher and professional development. Tasman stressed that neither school bus transportation nor textbook funding for nonpublic schools would be affected under Edwards proposal. In meeting with legislators in the days following Edwards announcement, Tasman said lawmakers have been receptive in understanding the importance of the funding to private schools but was quick to add that what remains a mystery is how and when the final resolution will play out. No special sessions are scheduled before the March 11 start of the regular session, but being an even year no new revenue-raising taxes can be passed. Tasman said legislators will be only able to discuss potential solutions during the regular session but any action must be taken during a special session. The legislature could paint its own conundrum if there is no resolution before the regular session begins because that would only leave lawmakers about three weeks to settle the issue from when the session ends in early June until July 1, when the new budget goes into effect. I am reaching out to key legislators in important committees like the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Finance Committee to communicate to them the importance (of continuing these funding streams), Tasman said. First, I am trying to raise the awareness of how we are impacted by this, second, how important these program are to us, and third, be available if there are questions or if (LCCB) can help participate in the solution. He noted that funding for required services has been slashed by nearly 40 percent in the past three years as the legislature has continued to struggle with budget deficits. The Black and Indian Mission Collection (BIMC) exists to help diocesan communities to build the Church and preach the Gospel of Jesus among the African American, Native American, and Alaska Native people of God. Every year, it is the amazing generosity of Catholic faithful just like you who enable the Black and Indian Mission Office to support the following important priorities: Enlivening Parish Life & Catechesis Grant funds from the BIMC enables us to support parish-based catechetical programs. Helping Educators Reach Kids In 2016, your generous donations reached over 4,000 African- American and Native American students in more than 250 schools and parishes across the U.S. Empowering Evangelizers BIMC grant funds help African- American and Native American ministries to sponsor events and formation to encourage the Christian life in culturally appropriate ways. Encouraging Vocations We need men and women living the consecrated life to give witness to a radical Christian life. We need priests in order to have the Eucharist! Please give generously in your parish collection on February 14th.

4 4 February 2, 2018 Men s conference to feature rock star lineup By Richard Meek An impressive lineup of presenters including a rock star author highlight the second Men of the Immaculata Men s Conference scheduled Feb. 17 at St. Schedule online, on your time. George Church in Baton Rouge. Included among the scheduled speakers are Father Mitch Pacwa SJ, who hosts his own show on EWTN; Matt Fradd and wellknown author Dr. Scott Hahn, whom conference organizer Hunter Hardin calls a rock star. It will be a beautiful day to be a Catholic man, Hardin said. We are going to have 1,000 guys spending an entire day in fellowship, in formation, in catechesis, in encouragement, in worship. Deeper conversion for greater holiness. The theme of the conference, which is in its second year and shifts venue from Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Baton Rouge a year ago, is A Call to Battle, with an emphasis on formation, Hardin said. He added the focus will be on how men are forming themselves to be those unique creations that God has put us here to be. What are we doing on a daily basis. What is our formation path? A number of topics to be addressed include the destructive nature of pornography, breaking down complex ideas of faith and the power of the Mass, specifically the Eucharist. Hardin said Fradd s special charism is the ability to attractively and reasonably package the content of the dangers and darkness associated with pornography. Hardin noted that the capacity of lust is in every man and some men really struggle with it. And it absolutely destroys families, lives and marriages. He also said pornography s destructive potential is not given enough of credit. Hahn will discuss how the Mass, specifically the Eucharist, is a valuable piece in spiritual warfare. He said Hahn will explain how the Eucharist edifies and strengthens Catholics as they go forth in the battle. Father Pacwa will break down the complexities of faith and make it approachable and attainable, which, Hardin said, is difficult to accomplish. Father Pacwa is also going to talk about the power of reconciliation as it relates to the formation of those in attendance. Our mission is greater holiness for every man, Hardin said The way to get that is deep conversion through Jesus Christ. That s the whole point of formation, to get closer to the heart of Christ. Hardin said the response to the conference has been remarkable, making it even more amazing since it is only in its second year. But he said the success goes back to the decades of intercession and sacrifice for men to be hungry for this type of organized, group formation. Because of those years and years of intercession, the hunger, the wellspring that we are seeing come forth in this community is kind of shocking but kind of expected, Hardin said. When you lay that kind of table for the Lord, he s going to bless it. Tickets are $60 for adults and $30 for students, who must be at least 16 years of age. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m., with the invocation and confession beginning at 7 a.m. Lunch, prepared by Chef John Folse, is included, and the day is set to conclude at 3 p.m. To register, visit catholicmenbr.com. Need to schedule a doctor s appointment for you or your kids, but don t have the time during regular business hours? Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group now offers online scheduling with any of our primary care doctors or pediatricians from the comfort of your own home 24/7. With more than 25 clinics across South Louisiana and Mississippi, accessing the doctor your family needs is now more convenient than ever. Schedule online today at ololphysiciangroup.com GOSPEL From page 2 to touch someone with leprosy? These are two powerful healings, and with one touch of Jesus, they are healed. Jesus reaches across the divide and conquers the unclean by the great power of holiness. ( Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, New Testament ) Praise the Lord who heals the brokenhearted (Ps 147). The hope of our mission There is hope in Jesus, who saves. We are called to share this hope of salvation with joyful hearts. St. Paul writes, Do everything for the glory of God that they may be saved imitate Christ. (1 Cor 10:31-11:1) The purpose of our life is to imitate Jesus through humble service. Our actions and words should point to the glory of God. As we ponder what to do or give up for Lent, consider healing and hope. First, where am I in need of healing? Have I received the sacrament of reconciliation to be healed from the burden of sin? Do I seek the holy healing from the divine physician, Jesus? Whom do I know that is either physically or spiritually ill? How can I invite them to the healing power of Christ? Second, am I a voice of hope for all to hear? Do I share the hope of God with those who are struggling with isolation, rejection and despair? How can I reach across the divide and share the hope in our mission saying, Jesus loves you. You matter. He wants to heal you. As we prepare for the season of Lent, let us joyfully thank God for our salvific hope in Jesus Christ. *(Be on the lookout for 2018: The Light Is ON For You media outreach during Lent. Howto resources and videos will be available to download and share.)

5 February 2, Diocese establishes committee to welcome new bishop By Richard Meek The Diocese of Baton Rouge is already making plans as to how to welcome whomever is appointed to replace outgoing Bishop Robert W. Muench, who sent in his retirement letter to the Vatican on Dec. 28, as required by Canon Law, on his 75th birthday. A New Bishop Committee has been formed and recently held its first meeting, although the announcement of a new bishop, which will come from the Vatican, is likely months away, according to diocesan officials. The new committee is addressing a wide range of issues traditionally associated with welcoming a new bishop. Among the topics to be covered include invitations, including design and who will be invited to the actual installation; logistics; communications; care of guests, which includes transportation of guests to and from the airports, hotel reservations, food and security; programs; the liturgy for the installation as well as vespers that would include the first meeting with diocesan priests before the installation; the coat of arms; an installation budget; and the new bishop s residence. The installation, which traditionally has been celebrated at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge, will not be open to the public because of space considerations, bur the planning process also includes a reception where the new bishop will greet the public. The incoming bishop does have the option of choosing where to celebrate his installation, and could possibly include a larger venue. A new priest s residence is currently under construction adjacent to the new archives building, which is being built at the same time. The new residence is expected to be completed in late May or early June. Although Bishop Muench submitted his letter of resignation, he remains with full power and authority until his successor is announced, said Father Counce, judicial vicar for the diocese. Father Counce said the complex process would likely take several months. After the Vatican announces the new bishop, the transition is typically about two months, although circumstances, including if the person appointed is a sitting bishop, could alter that schedule one way or the other. Mr. D s Tree Service over 35 years ExpErIEncE Don Decell, owner carl BaBin, owner Economical Fully Insured Quality Work CALL TODAY! Schools planning makeup days Staff Report Record low temperatures that brought an unusual mix of snow and ice on two occasions in January to south Louisiana also has school officials scrambling to make up unexpected days when schools were closed. Dr. Melanie Verges, superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge, said schools must have a minimum of 175 instructional days annually. However, schools traditionally schedule 178 instructional days at the beginning of the year, building in three emergency days. Verges said schools are completing their revised calendars and resubmitting them to the CSO for review and approval. Parents with questions should call their child s school. INSTALLATION OF LECTORS Eight candidates for the Permanent Diaconate were installed as lectors at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge on Jan. 28 by Bishop Robert W. Muench. In the rite, the bishop hands the candidate a symbol of the ministry to which he is being instituted, namely a copy of the sacred Scriptures, and he exhorts them to fulfill their ministry faithfully. These men are scheduled to be ordained the summer of Pictured, from left, are Deacon John Veron, Director of Deacon Life and Ministry; Deacon Minos Ponville, Father. Jamin David, Director of Formation for the Permanent Diaconate; candidates Moc Pham, St. Jude the Apostle Church Baton Rouge; Alec Campbell, St. Alphonsus Church in Greenwell Springs; Billy Messenger, Immaculate Conception Church in Denham Springs; Gabriel Rico, The Hispanic Apostolate; Sammy Chestovich, St. Mark Church in Gonzales; Bishop Muench; candidates Chris Landry, Christ the King Church and Student Center in Baton Rouge; Ehren Oschawald, St. Elizabeth Church in Paincourtville/St. Jules Church in Belle Rose; Mark Reyanud, St. Alphonsus; Deacon Tommy Benoit (Assistant to the Office of the Permanent Diaconate); Deacon Joe Scimeca; and Deacon Tim Messenger. Photo provided by Father Jamin David invites you to join us for breakfast on Saturday, Feb. 17 from 9 a.m. noon at Oak Lodge Reception Center, 2834 South Sherwood Forest Blvd., Baton Rouge. Our speaker will be Sr. Tracey Matthia Dugas. Sr. Tracey says her favorite thing about being consecrated to God is that she s God s audio-visual, called to communicate him and his love and truth to everyone. Reservations are $22 each thru Feb. 13. No seats will be sold at the door. Please indicate the number of reservations and send a check made out to BR Magnificat with attendee names to: Kathy Simoneaux, 9650 Victory Lane, Denham Springs, LA Pearson s Luggage will be under renovations as of March 1.Pearson s Travel World will remain open offering 37 years professional customer service to the Baton Rouge area since Upcoming Travel Shows Feb. 6 Insight Vacations 2 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. Canyon Lands, Normandy Brittany & Lorie Valley, Ireland & Scotland Feb. 17 Norwegian Cruise Line 1 DAY CRUISE SALE 10a.m. 2 p.m. 10 a.m. Presentation on Cruises to Hawaii Norwegian Breakaway coming to New Orleans Tootie Bonacorso Feb. 20 CIE 2 p.m. Ireland & Scotland Feb. 22 Royal Caribbean 1 DAY CRUISE SALE on all RCCL ships including Vision of Seas out of New Orleans Feb. 27 Crystal Cruise Lines 2 p.m. #1 Luxury Cruse Line in the World Reserve your spot today! Join our Next Bus Trip: Cajun Comic Relief with the St. Alphonsus, Limited Space Saturday, March 10 Give me a call about our Group Departures. Pearson s Travel World 7949 Jefferson Hwy., Baton Rouge

6 6 February 2, 2018 Dispensation from abstinence Q Please settle a dispute I am having with a colleague. Our society s annual St. Patrick s dinner is normally held on a Friday during Lent. We therefore request a dispensation in order to serve steak that evening. I contend that all we must do is to request that dispensation from the pastor of the parish in which the restaurant is located; my colleague, though, says that we need to go to the bishop of our diocese and that only a bishop can grant it. Who is correct? (I went to a Jesuit college, St. Peter s; he went to a non-jesuit school, Seton Hall, and I would love to prove him wrong. Of course, if he is right, I probably won t tell him!) (central New Jersey) A Your question is a bit more complicated than you may have thought. The answer is that it depends on the diocese in which you are located. The church s Code of Canon Law situates the authority with the bishop: A diocesan bishop, whenever he judges that it contributes to their spiritual good, is able to dispense the faithful from universal and particular disciplinary laws issued for his territory or his subjects by the supreme authority of the church (No. 87). A later canon clarifies that a pastor and other presbyters or deacons are not able to dispense from universal and particular law unless this power has been expressly granted to them (No. 89). That later canon does seem to suggest, though, that the power to dispense from abstinence may at times be extended by a bishop to his priests and that is, in fact, both the law and the practice. In 2017, when the feast of St. Patrick (March 17) occurred on a Friday, a statement from the Archdiocese of Detroit (to use just one example) said: All priests ministering in the archdiocese possess the faculty to dispense (remove) or commute (replace with something else) the obligation for an individual or family to abstain from meat on the Fridays of Lent. Therefore, those wanting to partake in a celebratory meal on St. Patrick s Day that includes meat simply need to talk to a priest, who may grant this for a just reason. Generally, when a diocese on such an occasion lifts the obligation of abstinence, it stipulates that the person should choose some other penitential practice instead. The Diocese of Dallas, for example, provided in 2017 that Catholics who chose to eat meat on March 17 should abstain either on March 16 or March 18. Creatively, the Dallas diocese offered still another option, viz., for a person to offer a decade of the rosary for the plight of immigrants/refugees or for the intention of an increase in vocations to the priesthood. So the answer to your question depends on what your own diocese has provided for. (I recognize that my response does not resolve the Jesuit/non-Jesuit rivalry because both of you could be right!) Question Corner Father Kenneth Doyle Q A few years ago, I had a miscarriage early in a pregnancy. While my husband and I were sad, we never really felt a substantial loss perhaps because we quickly became pregnant again. This is in stark contrast to the experiences of friends who suffered miscarriages later in pregnancy. They have been devastated and truly felt that they lost a person, not just a pregnancy. Are my feelings wrong or worse, sinful? (Cincinnati) A Please don t punish yourself. First of all, feelings are outside of our control; morally, we are not responsible for our feelings, only for our words, actions or omissions. Yes, the church does teach that a child in the womb is a person from the moment of conception. (And science would seem to support this: heartbeat at 24 days, brain waves at 43, etc.) But surely, a mother s emotional link to the child grows as the pregnancy advances which makes it not surprising that a child lost later in pregnancy would prompt deeper pain. Thank God for the children who are with you now, and look forward, one day, to meeting the one who went to heaven early. Look for The CaThoLiC CommenTaTor at your LoCaL outlets including: Affinity Nursing Home, Baton Rouge Anthony's Deli, Baton Rouge Albertsons, Baton Rouge Alexander s Highland Market, Baton Rouge Ascension Books & Gifts, Gonzales Baton Rouge General Hospital, Baton Rouge Baton Rouge Healthcare, Baker Benedetto s Market, Addis Bohning Supermarket, Ponchatoula Calandro s Supermarkets, Baton Rouge Catholic Art and Gifts, Baton Rouge Daigle s Supermarket, White Castle Grace Healthcare, Slaughter Hi Nabor Supermarkets, Baton Rouge Hubbins Grocery, Port Allen Lane Regional Hospital, Zachary LeBlanc s Food Stores, Baton Rouge, Gonzales, Donaldsonville, Hammond, Plaquemine, Prairieville and Zachary Louisiana Vet Home, Jackson Matherne s Supermarkets, Baton Rouge Magnuson Hotel, St. Francisville North Ridgely Healthcare, Baker Oak Point Supermarket, Central Oak Wood Nursing Home, Zachary Old Jefferson Community Care, Baton Rouge Our Lady of the Lake College, Baton Rouge Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge and Walker Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group, offices with locations throughout the Diocese Reeve s Supermarket, Baton Rouge St. Elizabeth Hospital, Gonzales St. Mary s Books & Gifts, Baton Rouge St. Vincent depaul Stores throughout the diocese Schexnayer Supermarket, Vacherie Southside Produce, Baton Rouge Tony s Seafood, Baton Rouge UPS Store, Coursey Blvd., Baton Rouge Whole Foods Market, Baton Rouge 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 Give the Gift of Catholic News will be delivered to their mailbox every other week all year long. 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7 February 2, 2018 faith journey 7 Confession shines the light on spiritual healing By Debbie Shelley As the penitential season of Lent approaches, Catholics whose faith is sparked by the sacrament of reconciliation say it is not a dark moment of admitting and being sentenced for sins, but a light bulb moment when they are aware that God loves them. When I was a child growing up in the 50s, the sacrament of confession was viewed quite differently from how it is perceived today, said Elaine Abadie, a member of Ascension of Our Lord Church in Donaldsonville and St. Francis of Assisi Church in Smoke Bend. In my family, we usually went to confession every other week. And, before going, mama would always sit us down and tell us our sins and how many times we committed them. Going to confession was something to be feared because God was there judging us, so we had better be sorry. Once I reached high school, I went, along with the student body at Ascension Catholic, to confession once a month. Mama no longer told me my sins. An experience in the confessional compounded this fear for Abadie. I continued monthly (confessions) in the early years of my married life until one fateful Saturday. After (my husband) Jimmy came home from work that Saturday, I went to church for confession. After confessing my sins to the new, young assistant priest, he asked me if that was all. I answered yes. Almost apologizing, I told him As strongly advocated by Pope Francis, pictured administering the sacrament of reconciliation, going to confession is a good way to receive spiritual healing. Photo by CNS News that I was a stay-at-home mom with three children under the age of three. I told him that my husband worked six days a week while I took care of the children and household duties. His response to me shocked me. He said that I was wasting his time. From that day on, I only went to confession once a year to fulfill my obligation. She added, I now realize what a mistake that was. How different the sacrament of confession is now (that the truth) has been revealed to me. Whereas early in my life I viewed confession strictly as a means to have my sins forgiven, I now know that this is a sacrament of mercy, love and grace. Abadie and fellow Ascension Catholic/ St Francis of Assisi member Connie Schudmak s appreciation for the sacrament grew after reading The Seven Secrets of Confession by Vinny Flynn. They are using the book as a tool to help bring others to the healing light of its presence. If you look for information in The Catechism of the Catholic Church, You won t find it (the sacrament of reconciliation) under forgiveness. you will find it under the Sacraments of Healing, said Schudmak. When I read this I was encouraged because I seem to confess the same sins time after time. If our culture would realize the richness of this sacrament, the line for confession would be out the door and out of sight. No wonder that the sacrament of reconciliation was my least understood sacrament and also many others too. Speaking of the sacrament s healing power, Schudmak said, I experienced more than God forgiving my sins and washing me clean in this sacrament. You see, I was a nail biter since Printing some 40,000 copies every other week for the Diocese of Baton Rouge t h e C a t h o l i c Commentator Commentator Serving the Diocese of Baton Rouge since 1963 thecatholiccommentator.org childhood. It seemed that I tried everything to break this bad habit, even wearing fake nails. Amazingly, after making a commitment to confession monthly, I noticed that I was not even tempted to bite my fingernails any longer. I wanted to shout from the rooftops that I was healed. Yes, I eagerly claimed that healing of a 50-year plus habit. Praise God. We serve an awesome God who is filled with surprises and cares about all our struggles. Even more important than the physical healing for Schudmak was the spiritual healing of her soul, and the resulting peace that has stayed with her. Such power of healing and RESTHAVEN GARDENS OF MEMORY & FUNERAL HOME for a better farewell Jefferson Highway peace comes from renewing our baptismal promises as we confess our sins, said Paula Fabre, principal of St. Francis Xavier School in Baton Rouge. Once we have been baptized and we sin, we have to return to that baptism, said Fabre. You know God is a forgiving God and we have an opportunity to begin anew. Fabre, who said going to confession is part of living out her faith, said she remembers how important the first sacrament of reconciliation was to her before she received her first Communion. Every time we go, it should be just like that part of first Communion, said Fabre. We make it personal. Call Blocker Tree and Landscape today! 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8 8 February 2, 2018 Stepmom prays stepson finds freedom through faith By Bonny Van Nickolos Marchiafava was recently granted his freedom by the Department of Corrections but human error landed him back behind bars. Now, Nicks stepmother prays he finds freedom through faith. My prayer for you (Nickolos) right now is that after all of this, you ll be able to see the good and God can lead you to do good to help others, said Angela St. Romain, a parishioner of St. Thomas More Church in Baton Rouge. After serving nine of the past 12 years on a variety of charges, Marchiafava was released Dec. 6. But 47 days later he was once again wearing the title of inmate after the DOC determined he had not served all of his time. Marchiafava s release date, according to DOC, was five months later. I haven t thought about it yet. It s a blow, it s a blow, said Marchiafava, on break from his job at a local bakery. Every night, he must to report back to the West Baton Rouge Detention Center. The weight of the situation remains heavy on his mind. Marchiafava began his journey after his release Dec. 6, living on the streets of Baton Rouge. He spent his days looking for work. A tip led him to St. Vincent de Paul. Marchiafava stayed at the St. Vincent de Paul overnight shelter and landed a job after stopping by to visit St. Romain at her job as manager of a Baton Rouge area bakery. On Christmas Day, he moved into the Catholic Charities Joseph Homes, a temporary shelter for ex-offenders. Marchiafava was trying to get food stamps, which are supposed to be expedited for newly released prisoners under Louisiana s new prison reform laws. That s where he was Jan. 19 when he learned police officers went to Joseph Homes looking for him. Officials had contacted St. Romain to let her know that Marchiafava still had time to serve and should not have been released until May. After a weekend filled with anxiety, Marchiafava turned himself in on Monday, Jan. 22. It was a human error that we regret, said Ken Pastorek, communications director of the Department of Corrections. We re doing everything we can to help him out in this situation. He was living up to the conditions of his early release and he was doing well with his parole and probation. Unfortunately, it was a human error that caused this. Marchiafava, who is a skilled automotive paint technician, will continue to work at the bakery as part of his work release program, which he said takes 64 percent of his gross pay. And, he ll report to the West Baton Rouge Detention Center until April 22, He plans to save up for a vehicle so he can get back to work in his former profession. Linda Fjeldsjo, Coordinator of Prison Ministry and Joseph Homes for Catholic Charities, said calculating release times can be very difficult because it includes Nickolos Marchiafava and Angela St. Romain talk about king cake orders at the bakery in Baton Rouge where Marchiafava is doing his work release program to complete a prison sentence. Marchiafava was released for 46 days before corrections officials realized he still had five months left on his sentence. His new release date is April 22, Photo by Bonny Van credit for good time and educational credits. It s very confusing, she said. But what really spoke to my heart was that Nickolos was going to do the right thing. Easily, he could have just walked away and not deal with it but he didn t do that. 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. Please Join Us As the Lent approaches, we are preparing Our Annual Lenten Guide. This guide will include: RECIPES for Lenten meals Spiritual opportunities throughout the diocese Reconciliation Fundraisers and more 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. Send us your EVENTS and RECIPES to:, P.O. Box 3316, Baton Rouge, LA or wkoch@diobr.org. Issue Date: February 16 DEADLINE DATE: FEB. 6

9 February 2, Dameans helped usher in Vatican II on a high note By Bonny Van s Every time Darryl Ducote hears one of his songs played during Mass, he is moved by emotion. Brings me to tears, said Ducote, from his office at the Diocese of Baton Rouge, where he serves as director of the Office of Marriage and Family Life. I ve never had the experience of giving birth but it s similar, he laughed. You created something and it takes on a life of its own because different people will express it in a different way, so it continues to grow, it continues to change, without you ever having any influence over it. Ducote is an original member of the Catholic liturgical song group The Dameans. This month, the Dameans, comprised of Ducote, Paul Ceasar, Gary Ault, Gary Daigle and Mike Balhoff, celebrate their 50th anniversary as musicians, songwriters and friends. The group was responsible for composing scores of songs that can still be found in the Glory & Praise hymnal book. Among the most popular titles are Look Beyond and All That We Have. The one song that Ducote said he hears most often is Remember Your Love, which he described as a setting for one the penitential Psalms asking for God s mercy. The musical journey that resulted in 17 albums during a 30-year span and life-long friendships among the group s members began simply by divine intervention. In 1961, at the age of 16, Ducote entered St. Joseph Seminary in Covington to begin his education toward becoming a priest. During the next few years, political, economic, social, scientific, technological and cultural changes would sweep the globe. In response, Pope John XXII called the Second Vatican Council, resulting in, among other things, changing the language said in Masses to that of the vernacular and a fully conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations by the faithful. That was in Ducote, who had been trained in Latin to serve at Mass, said it took a year for the transition to take place, but as the changes were being rolled out, there was no music appropriate to incorporate into the new English liturgy. There were centuries of Latin music that was no longer suited to congregational singing, he said. It was written for choirs and soloists. So, there was a big void in liturgical music. The Dameans perform at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans for the episcopal consecration of Bishop Stanley J. Ott in Pictured are, from left, Darryl Ducote, Mike Balhoff, Paul Ceasar and Gary Ault. File photo/archives Department So, the seminarian students, called Notre Dameans, formed groups and, rotating weeks, wrote songs for Sunday Mass, setting the text of the antiphons to music. Ducote s group originally included Balhoff, Ault and two other seminarians. By January 1968, the group had reformed with Ducote, Balhoff, Ault, Ceasar and Dave Baker and began writing hymns. We were creating hymns in English that were easily singable so that people could have full conscious and active participation in the Mass, said Ducote. Once they began writing hymns, the group began to get noticed by those outside of Notre Dame Seminary. They were invited to visit surrounding dioceses to give concerts, workshops for liturgical musicians and to play for Sunday Mass, with Ducote, Ceasar and Ault on guitar, Balhoff on bass and Baker on tambourine. Ducote said the folk song era of the time inspired their work. What we were trying to do was to provide a vehicle for people to participate (in the Mass). So, they needed music that was singable and something they could relate to, and the folk era really provided that, he said. The group shortened the name given to them as students and became known as The Dameans. They sent some of their musical compositions to a publisher in Los Angeles and by 1969, their first album, Tell the World, was released. Renee Richard, assistant archivist at the Diocese of Baton Rouge and a member of Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Baton Rouge, grew up with the music of The Dameans. Richard said her mother bought the group s first album in I was in seventh grade when I first played (guitar) at Mass at Our Lady of Mercy, Richard recalled. That was the first music I learned to play because they were basic chords and good melodies. Ceasar said the spirit of the time, in the wake of Vatican II, helped foster what was going on with the group. We worked so well together, said Ceasar, who is now the executive director of the Archdiocese of New Orleans Retreat Center. We were friends and we were supportive of each other. We worked through any difficulties that arose that might have torn other groups apart. We were able to be honest with one another, to accept honest criticism and to grow from that. People tell me how much our music meant to them. If they were going through spiritual crisis, they said our music gave them the strength to get them through. Lasagna To-Go Made Fresh Daily Large $47.95 Small $29.95 Fresh Made Party Trays Cheese & Meat Sandwiches Until 1970, The Dameans spent every weekend on the road for their music ministry. After SEE DAMEANS PAGE 20 SINCE 1979 FAST AFFORDABLE GUARANTEED FOR LIFE ( ) Call BATHTUB or for a free in-home consultation. Walk-in Showers Anthony s Italian Deli Best Muffolettas in town! 5575 GOVERNMENT ST., JUST WEST OF JEFFERSON HWY. PHONE ORDERS WELCOME! OPEN MON.-SAT. 9:30-6:00 PM Baton Rouge s only TRUE ITALIAN DELI Since 1978 Dedicated to Our Lady of the Cenacle Baton Rouge Morning of Prayer Presenter: Judy Klein Ask about our 10% discount. Mention code: Commentator and receive an additional $100 discount. 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10 10 February 2, 2018 February 2, The Bishop Ott SWEET DREAMS SHELTER St. Vincent de Paul Society executive director Michael Acaldo smiles as he pauses during a tour of the Bishop Ott Sweet Dreams Shelter for Women and Children. The 42- bed expansion is expected to be dedicated in the next several weeks. Photos by Richard Meek By Richard Meek Freshly painted walls and the enticing aroma of new construction sketched a cheery portrait of the expansion of the Bishop Ott Sweet Dreams Shelter. But the $1.5 million expansion is much more than bricks and mortar. Rather, each of the nine rooms and each of the 42 new beds represent hope for a struggling family, a place secure from life on the street, a pillow to lay their head and allow themselves to dream of a future when the current darkness has been snuffed by the light of a new life. I think it s going to mean a lot to the community, St. Vincent de Paul Society executive director Michael Acaldo said, adding that a dedication of the expansion is planned for either late February or early March. If you are a mom, and that s what we anticipate based on what we see and the calls we get, and you have a male child over the age of five, this is the only place in Baton Rouge you can go. What it will mean for the ladies we are blessed to serve is we will provide additional options. Acaldo pointed out that the homeless shelter for women at St. Agnes Church in Baton Rouge, staffed by the Missionaries of Charity, accepts male children only age five and under, although women can bring in daughters above that age. The Ott expansion will also provide shelter for single men with children who may have fallen on hard times. Additionally families, for the first time, will have a safe haven and not have to be separated when homeless. Each of the rooms are private, designed similar to a hotel setting, although all of the beds are single bunk beds. A full bathroom complete with shower is also contained in each of the new rooms, rather than a communal bathroom Our target is mothers with children, and that will be 95 percent of who will be served. Our next largest group will be on occasion a dad with children, although that is not something where the phone is ringing off the hook. Michael Acaldo Executive Director, St. Vincent de Paul as is present in the current shelters for men and women. You must have children to come here as a family, that is the key concept, Acaldo said. Our target is mothers with children, and that will be 95 percent of who will be served. Our next largest group will be on occasion a dad with children, although that is not something where the phone is ringing off the hook. The facility has been nearly six years in the making, with fundraising efforts launching soon after the men s dormitory moved to its new facility above the main dining room in That building was aided with a $500,000 grant from the city of Baton Rouge. Little did Acaldo realize at that time one of the largest donors for the expansion would be St. Aloysius Church in Baton Rouge, which pledged $100,000. That is awesome, isn t it? A six-figure commitment, Acaldo mused. Their St. Vincent de Paul group is very vibrant and (pastor) Father Randy (Cuevas) is very supportive. The Hugh and Angelina Wilson Foundation was the largest donor with a grant of $200,000. The Baton Rouge Area Foundation committed $180,000, with the rest of the donations coming through private gifts of all sizes and denominations. However, the project was not without complications. The new shelter is a roux of new construction and renovation of an existing building that was originally completed in As Acaldo painfully learned, building and electrical codes are much different 30 years later, so the current building had to be brought up to code, especially electrical, which tacked on added costs. The end result is a glistening new shelter, awaiting the exuberance of youthful voices and the sighs of relief from worried parents whose prayers have been answered and hope is in their future. Each room will have coded entrances, eliminating the need for keys and providing increased security. Full bathrooms are in each of the nine new bedrooms, creating a hotel-like atmosphere for the residents. In some bathrooms, a handicap-accessible shower is provided. Acaldo shows off one of the new bedrooms, which will be able to accommodate a family including, for the first time, a father being able to stay with his wife and children. Each of the rooms will have single bunk beds, and cribs are available when needed.

11 12 February 2, 2018 Expect the unexpected during March for Life By Debbie Shelley First-time and veteran young pilgrims from the Diocese of Baton Rouge encountered the unexpected when they journeyed to Washington, D.C. for March for Life on Jan But they said their biggest expectation was fulfilled to return filled with joy, peace and passion to defend life. Ethan LeBlanc, of St. Gabriel Church in St. Gabriel, who made his first trip to March for Life this year, said he had been told the trip is filled with inconveniences, but spiritual. He heard the trip s mantra prayer and sacrifice, but went because while he attends Mass at St. Gabriel, he had never been actively involved in ministry work. He said as he packed, I was really concerned with what I was to bring with me rather than what I would be doing. One stop that demonstrated to LeBlanc how different this journey was from others was at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama. We were just singing, which struck me as odd, because most people think that if there isn t a band playing they (teens) won t sing, said LeBlanc. Before the bus stopped at the motherhouse of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville, Tennessee, LeBlanc thought about people s view of religious sisters as strict and serious. I figured we would say some prayers and leave, said LeBlanc, who was surprised that many of the women were young and joyful. They got on the bus with them for the rest of the journey, and even danced in the bus aisle. It gave you the feeling that every one of them was glad to be there, said LeBlanc. He said camp life at Camp Letts was so much fun with lots of dancing and singing. But he especially remembers Mass and eucharistic adoration. We celebrated Mass, and that showed me that no matter how big or small (the venue), you are still celebrating the Eucharist, said LeBlanc. We kneeled and prayed and we were in God s presence. Confession was also available. LeBlanc said he normally has a plan when going to confession to state his sins, receive penance, say a prayer and then leave. But the priest compassionately urged LeBlanc to reflect during the sacrament, catching him off guard. It brought tears to my eyes, said LeBlanc. The trip fueled LeBlanc s desire to be more involved in pro-life ministry and mission work. He plans to go to Camp Pulse pro-life training for youth, attend a Come and See Weekend at St. Joseph Abbey in St. Benedict and do mission work in another country. I hope to open my relationship with God so he can equip me for bigger and better mission work, said LeBlanc. Marching with a multitude of other pro-life people also electrified the youth. We were told that there would be a lot of people there, but I still didn t really know what to expect. Just seeing that many people in one place and knowing that they were all there for the same reason, to stand up for the unborn, was so inspiring, said Madison Nicolosi, of St. John the Evangelist Church in Plaquemine, who made her first trip to March for Life. Rachel Hebert, of St. Thomas More Church in Baton Rouge, who made her second March for Life pilgrimage, said, I was prompted to go on the March for Life again this year because I was stoked by the amount of people that were there last year. What was different about this trip was that there were a lot more people who have gotten involved than last year, and I was proud to be a witness to the pro-life generation. Being surrounded by hundreds of thousands of pro-life people fortified my faith and my commitment to spreading the pro-life message by making me realize that I have grown in my Catholic faith much more and my commitment to the SEE LIFE PAGE 13

12 February 2, LIFE From page 12 spreading of the pro-life message has flourished more than ever before. Unexpected happenings also touched veteran pilgrims. Having been on the March before (2017), I thought that there would be very little I wouldn t expect. I was wrong, said Nicholas DiLeo of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Baton Rouge. What surprised me most this year was just how quickly my bus group became something of a family. They were all zoned in on the mission and had a blazing desire to serve God in this way. I had mostly expected the trip to be comprised primarily of pro-life related activities. However, this was not the case as the March for Life this year had a strong focus on the spiritual development as well. The march allowed me to encounter God in a way that I never had before, especially when I prayed with him in adoration. I hadn t expected the pilgrimage to elicit such deep contemplation and progress in my own prayer life. What I ll always remember are the women who had lost children to abortion that I saw on the day of the march. As we passed them on the road, our leader reminded us that These are the women you fight for, they still feel the pain of what happened; reverence them as we pass. Hundreds of youth from the Diocese of Baton Rouge gathered with other pro-life advocates in Washington D.C. for March for Life. Photo provided by Albert Blount When he said that it reminded us that while we march for an end to abortion, our actions must be inspired by love and compassion for those afflicted by it. Something that we saw on the march was a sign that said: Is this the only pro-life thing you ll do this year? We talked about this after the march and agreed that it missed the point. It made the march a political statement, instead of recognizing the idea of a pro-life lifestyle that we re aiming for. Father Ryan Hallford, parochial vicar for Holy Family Church in Port Allen, said the pilgrim s dedication to their mission shone through in the most difficult unexpected situations. Every year, March for Life is an incredible opportunity to accompany the youth of our diocese on a spiritual adventure, said Father Hallford. For my bus, this was a special year. Our bus broke down and we had to change buses six times over the course of the week. Rather than complaining, everyone embraced the opportunity to pray and sacrifice. We are all in this together, and as long as we are doing it together with God, we can conquer anything. During our last bus transfer, which happened on the way back to Louisiana at 2:30 a.m., everyone joyfully transferred all our luggage. Our theme for the week was fully alive and when we encounter each other in community and God in prayer, these relationships are life-giving. T H E C A T H O L I C C O M M E N T A T O R Next Issue Deadline... FEBRUARY 7 Joe Skibinski, Agent 1953 Perkins Rd Baton Rouge, 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. 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. Madison Nicolosi, of St. John the Evangelist Church in Plaquemine, was among the youth from the Diocese of Baton Rouge who attended this year s March for Life in Washington, D.C. Photo provided by Tonya Nicolosi The right people, doing the right thing for the right reason. SERVING PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS (225) 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.

13 14 ENTERTAINMENT February 2, 2018 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 Batman and Harley Quinn Warner Bros. Poorly conceived and produced as well as morally obtuse straight-to-video animated film from DC Comics. Tired of humans despoiling the environment, villains Poison Ivy (voice of Paget Brewster) and the Floronic Man (voice of Kevin Michael Richardson) team up to transform all animal life on earth into plant hybrids. After Batman (voiced by Kevin Conroy) and Nightwing (voice of Loren Lester) turn to Harley Quinn (voice of Melissa Rauch), the madcap, motley-wearing former psychiatrist and sidekick to the Joker, for help foiling the plot, director Sam Liu s movie quickly devolves into a series of awkward and offensive situations and jokes, punctuated by harsh punch-outs. Frequent cartoon combat violence, two 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 suggestive sexual situations, one instance of scatological humor, occasional profane, crude and crass language. A-III; PG-13 Den of Thieves STX A morass of crass. Gerald Butler is a rogue and troubled Los Angeles police officer chasing after a hyper-violent crew of bank robbers who have, as their ultimate goal, the heretofore-unassailable Los Angeles Federal Reserve Bank from which they hope to withdraw $30 million in untraceable cash. Director Christian Gudegast, who co-wrote the screenplay with Paul Scheuring, launches several scattershot, implausible plot lines that never quite come together. Skewed view of law enforcement, pervasive gun and physical violence, frequent racial slurs, pervasive rough language and profanities. O; R Forever My Girl Roadside Attractions Gentle adaptation of Heidi McLaughlin s romance novel has an aspiring country music star (Alex Roe) returning to his small Louisiana home town when a high school classmate dies, only to learn that he has a 7-year-old daughter with his exfiancee. This forces him into finally making adult decisions. Writer-director Bethany Ashton Wolf plays up the romantic and faith-based elements to smooth over stilted performances and unrealistic dialogue. Adult themes of life and death, references to excessive alcohol use. A-II; PG Hostiles Entertainment Studios Western, set in 1892, which works from the premise that not only were white soldiers at the time fully aware of their complicity in the decades-long genocide of Native Americans, they also could feel immense, paralyzing guilt about their actions. Director-writer Scott Cooper wishes to make a strong moral case as he sets an Army officer (Christian Bale) on a long journey from New Mexico to Arizona as he escorts a dying Native American chief (Wes Studi) to a reservation. Gun and physical violence, fleeting gore, some racist dialogue. A-III; R Proud Mary Screen Gems Tall tale of a hitwoman (Taraji P. Henson) with a heart of gold who takes in the orphaned son (Jahi Di Allo Winston) of one of her victims and dispatches the Fagin-like leader (Xander Berkeley) of the gang into whose service the lad was ensnared in the wake of his dad s death. But this new arrangement does not sit well with the father (Danny Glover) and son (Billy Brown) who run the mob family to which she belongs, the latter of whom is also her ex-boyfriend. Intended as an homage to female-led blaxploitation films of the 1970s, director Babak Najafi s drama is all style and no credibility since John Stuart Newman s screenplay fails to lay the foundation either of its unlikely plot or of its adoptive central relationship. Morality also gets taken out as the script gives its featured assassin a pass for the two most prominent of her killings on the grounds that her targets are bad guys. A vengeance theme, much stylized gunplay with fleeting but nasty gore, a scene of torture, brief partial nudity, several uses of profanity, about a half-dozen milder oaths, a couple of rough and numerous crude and crass terms. A-III; R 12 Strong Warner Bros. True military adventures don t come any more rousing than this. Chris Hemsworth plays a Green Beret captain leading a small Special Forces unit on horseback in rugged terrain in the early weeks of fighting in Afghanistan after 9/11. Director Nicolai Fuglsig, working from a script by Ted Tally and Peter Craig, avoids what could have become flag-waving jingoistic moments, preferring to show the Americans quietly going about their tasks. Intense, lengthy and realistic combat violence and gore, a scene of an execution of a teacher in front of three young girls. A-III; R I, Tonya Neon At no point is it clear whether the filmmakers are sympathetic to the plight of disgraced Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie) or just want to make fun of the skater and the peculiar, fleeting nature of fame. Instead, director Craig Gillespie and screenwriter Steven Rogers present a coarsening, numbing fusillade of domestic abuse and cursing. Occasionally this is broken up by ice skating routines which conform to the formula of a sports drama, and eventually the inept execution of a crime the assault on Tonya s rival, Nancy Kerrigan, just before the 1994 Winter Olympics. Pervasive scenes of domestic abuse, a nonexplicit scene of sexual activity, pervasive rough language, frequent profanities. A-III; R Maze Runner: The Death Cure Fox In this adaptation of the third and final novel in James Dashner s sci-fi trilogy, the story of a band of teens and their fearless leader (Dylan O Brien) fighting evil in post-apocalyptic world comes to a noisy and violent conclusion. The gang seeks to liberate their peers from tortuous experiments conducted by a wicked doctor (Patricia Clarkson) and her colleague (Kaya Scodelario), who seek a cure to a deadly virus that has decimated the population. Returning director Wes Ball operates at a breakneck pace, turning this film into a white-knuckle roller-coaster ride with more vehicle crashes than you can shake a stick at. Despite worthy expressions of friendship, loyalty and self-sacrifice and some intriguing Christian symbolism, the trilogy has clearly outworn its welcome. Relentless but bloodless violence and gunplay, scenes of torture, occasional crude and profane language, one offensive gesture. A-III; thecatholiccommentator.org

14 February 2, ALBANY St. Margaret Queen of Scotland 6 a.m., 6 p.m. AMITE St. Helena noon, 6 p.m. BATON ROUGE St. Agnes 6 a.m., noon, 5:30 p.m. St. Gerard 7 a.m., noon, 6 p.m. St. Jean Vianney 6:15 a.m., 8:30 a.m., noon, 6:30 p.m. St. Joseph Cathedral 7:30 a.m., noon, 5 p.m. St. Paul the Apostle 6 p.m. DENHAM SPRINGS Immaculate Conception 8:30 a.m., noon, 5 p.m., 7 p.m. ALBANY St. Margaret Queen of Scotland 5:30 p.m. AMITE St. Helena 6 p.m. BATON ROUGE Most Blessed Sacrament 6 p.m. St. Gerard 11:20 a.m. St. Jean Vianney 6 p.m. St. Paul the Apostle 6 p.m. GRANT From page 1 believe this new facility will position our community for success in responding to the needs of the homeless during cold winter nights, as well as other natural disasters. The planned 4,000-square foot building will be located on the east side of the current shelter, replacing what is currently a parking lot. He said the space will also have the capacity to add 36 additional beds during emergency weather conditions, such as cold weather and hurricanes. The beds would be placed in a dormitory-style setting that will have adequate bathroom and laundry facilities for the expanded populations in nonemergency situations. These services are much needed and will make a tremendous difference in the lives of the homeless in our community, Acaldo said. This is a great partnership that will pay heavy dividends in the lives of the homeless. The grant is coming from disaster recovery funds. By expanding capacity at St. Vincent de Paul s Ash Wednesday Masses Feb. 14 FRENCH SETTLEMENT St. Joseph 8:10 a.m., 5:30 p.m. (Communion service) GONZALES St. Mark 8:30 a.m., 6:30 p.m., noon (distribution of ashes only) JACKSON Our Lady of Perpetual Help noon MAUREPAS St. Stephen the Martyr 7 p.m., 7 a.m. (Communion service) PLAQUEMINE St. John the Evangelist 7 a.m., noon, 6 p.m. Stations of the Cross Feb. 16 GONZALES St. Mark (Following 8:30 a.m. Mass); 6 p.m. DENHAM SPRINGS Immaculate Conception 6:30 p.m. JACKSON Our Lady of Perpetual Help noon PLAQUEMINE St. John the Evangelist noon, 6 p.m. (after Mass) These services are much needed and will make a tremendous difference in the lives of the homeless in our community. Michael Acaldo Executive Director, St. Vincent de Paul PONCHATOULA St. Joseph 8:30 a.m., 6 p.m. PORT ALLEN Holy Family 8 a.m., 6 p.m., noon (distribution of ashes only) ST. AMANT Holy Rosary 8 a.m., 7 p.m. ST. FRANCISVILLE Our Lady of Mount Carmel 5:30 p.m. SPRINGFIELD St. Thomas noon PONCHATOULA St. Joseph 1:45 p.m. (with school students), 6 p.m. ST. AMANT Holy Rosary 6 p.m. ST. FRANCISVILLE Our Lady of Mt. Carmel 5:30 p.m. main campus with a new construction disaster shelter, we will be able to provide our homeless population with a safe harbor during disaster events, Office of Community Development executive director Pat Forbes said. The state is committed to sheltering our most vulnerable residents during emergency conditions and is pleased that East Baton Rouge Parish is using $1 million Community Development Grant funding for this important project. Broome and Acaldo agreed that the unusually recent, harsh winter weather has reinforced the need for additional emergency shelters in the Baton Rouge area. Acaldo noted that on Jan. 26 the Ott Center was at capacity and has been on several occasions recently. Additionally, the men s shelter has also been full several nights during the cold snaps that have brought snow and ice to the area. We are so pleased that St. Vincent de Paul, a tremendous partner and resource for our region, is the recipient of these funds, and we look forward to the grand opening of the expanded shelter next year, Broome said. Construction is scheduled to start in June ACROSS 1 An Evangelist 5 Hi-tech tag game 10 Hit series about the Korean War 14 Hershisher of the diamond 15 Kukla s pal 16 Malarial fever 17 Standard 18 Holds back 19 Too funny on the Internet 20 Hawaiian acacia 21 Retained 22 Easter 23 Direction from Jerusalem to Nazareth 25 Something to cop 28 Padre 29 Animal House house , to Caesar 33 Georgetown team 36 The masses 38 Spoken 39 Parlor game 40 Salvation comes from our God and from the (Rev 7:10) 41 Harass 43 Name on a check 44 Turf 45 Easter flower 46 Ark passenger 47 Disfigure 48 -Rheims Bible 50 infallibility 53 Score 54 Samuel anointed Saul with this 57 Having wings 58 The bombs bursting 60 Killer dog of movies 61 Hayes of The Mod Squad 62 Judas blood money bought it (Mt 27:6 8) 63 Fixing grub for GI s 64 Will Hunting s forte 65 Remains 66 Rubberneck DOWN 1 He lives in a monastery 2 The ole switch 3 Showed over 4 Airline 5 Our Lady, for the Air Force 6 First letter of the Hebrew alphabet 7 Split 8 One, in Berlin 9 Matter of law 10 Ave 11 Enthralled 12 Member of mystical Muslim sect 13 Paradise Lost? 21 Kringle 22 The power to reject 24 Gemstones 25 Leonine sin? 26 Slosh 27 Cuts up 29 Number of days Jesus spent in the desert 30 Feet in the image beheld by Nebuchadnezzar 31 Holy Ghost, Creator blest 32 Defamation 34 Treat that can be divided 35 Certain sale 36 Single stem 37 South American ruminant , in ancient Rome 42 Israel s airline 43 Epistle writer 46 Amasses 47 Possible Easter month 48 Lace mat 49 Jeremiah s description of himself 50 Lenten foliage 51 Inter 52 Gasp for air 53 Greek goddess of the earth 55 Alphabet string 56 Easy stride 58 Suppositions 59 Kind of picking 60 Dove sound Solution on page 18

15 16 VIEWPOINT February 2, 2018 The most powerful woman in the world God works in mysterious and surprising ways. He constantly invites us by his grace to a deeper relationship with him father, son and Holy Spirit. But, because he wants our love, he never forces us. His call is always an invitation to participate in his plan for our salvation. Even when we do not respond, in fact, turn away from him, he uses our rejection to call us in another way. Often that call comes through others. Our Christmas season is not long past. Our attention focused on God s greatest gift to us, the incarnation of his own son become man as the child of Mary of Nazareth by the power of the Holy Spirit. Who was this young woman? A poet once called her a nobody from nowhere. She was a poor girl, still in her teens, living in a tiny village in the hills of Galilee. That is all Another Perspective Father John Carville we actually know of her. Tradition has assigned her two saintly parents named Joachim and Anna, but they are not found anywhere in the Bible or any other historical documents. We just have the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Luke who describe annunciation scenes of an angel informing this young Jewish girl that she would become the mother of God s son. After some confusion about how this could happen, she submits to God s will saying, Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word. (Lk 1:38). God is the actor in all of this. Mary, humble and poor, is the recipient of God s grace. Her acceptance of God s offer, her cooperation with his request, changes everything. She is now the most important woman in human history. As her cousin, Elizabeth, tells her, Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled (Lk 1:45). She is still the humble young virgin, but she knows what God has done: For He has looked upon his handmaid s lowliness; behold from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty one has done great things for me, and holy is his name (Lk 1:48-49). In its December 2015 issue, National Geographic Magazine put the Blessed Virgin Mary on its cover, proclaiming her The Most Powerful Woman in the World. The accompanying article by Maureen Orth noted that praying for the Virgin Mary s intercession and being devoted to her are a global phenomenon... no other woman has been as exalted as Mary. As a universal symbol of maternal love, as well as of suffering and sacrifice, Mary is often the touchstone of our longing for meaning, a more accessible link to the supernatural than formal church teachings. Her mantle offers both security and protection. Pope Francis, when once asked what Mary meant to him, answered, She is my mama. From Guadalupe in Mexico, to Lourdes in France, to Fatima in Portugal, to Knock in Ireland and Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina, millions of pilgrims have flocked to sights where visionaries have reported seeing apparitions of the Blessed Virgin. I have been to the first two sites. It is inspiring to see the simple faith of the Mexican people as they crawl on their knees across the stone plaza to the Basilica of La Senora de Guadalupe. The image of the virgin that was left on the tilda, or cloak, of a Mexican peasant, Juan Diego (canonized in 2002), is one of the most reproduced female likenesses ever according to National Geographic. It is the only image that has ever been left by Mary herself. According to art historians, the image would be recognizable to Aztec Indians. It contains a combination of Catholic and Aztec iconography. It served as catechism without words to the native population. To me, what is more miraculous than the continued existence of the image itself without deterioration is the effect it had on the native population who first saw it. In 1531, the Franciscan Friars who accompanied the Conquistadors who defeated Montezuma were not able to change the culture of the Aztecs who practiced human sacrifices. But after Juan Diego brought his roses to the bishop of Guadalupe, and he and the native population saw the image they left on the tilda, there was a mass conversion. That was the important miracle. There is a similarity in the story of Lourdes. The famous grotto where Mary in 1858 is believed to have appeared to St. Bernadette, a teenage French girl, and asked her to dig a spring is visited by six million pilgrims a year. I took a bath in the ice-cold waters fed by the spring. It was a shocking as well as a spiritual experience. I was praying when they dunked me. After that, I was just gasping for breath. But, that evening I saw the hundreds pushing the ill in wheel chairs to the prayer service. It was truly moving to see that faith and hope in action. Besides the many healings reported, after World War II Lourdes attracted veterans from both sides who fought in the World Wars. They met at the grotto to pray for peace. The custom continues today among veterans groups. Even devout Muslims love Mary. There are more mentions of her name, Maryam, in the Koran than there are in the Gospels. An entire sura or chapter, is devoted to her. In Cairo, Egypt, Coptic Catholics have built a church over an old cave where they believe the Holy Family stopped when they fled Herod s attempt to kill the child Jesus. Those Coptics need her intercession, for many are being killed by ISIS today because of their faith. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen FATHER CARVILLE is a retired priest in the Diocese of Baton Rouge and writes on current topics for The Catholic Commentator. He can be reached at johnnycarville@gmail.com. Is marriage dead? On a recent quiet evening, while surfing the TV channels, I stumbled across a talk show that featured a panel of people, married, divorced and single, who were debating the question, Is marriage dead? At first, I was surprised that this question was even a realistic topic for discussion. But when I reflected on the state of marriage in our current culture, I realized that this topic might not be so unreasonable. There is no question that marriage is in trouble in our society. Many sociological studies suggest that the divorce rate is nearing 50 percent. With such a high failure rate in marriages, young people are questioning the viability of such unions. As a result, each Guest Columnist Darryl Ducote year more of them are choosing to move in together rather than marry. For others, the legalization of samesex marriage is calling into question the very nature of marriage itself. As a result of these conditions, many people are understandably confused about the meaning of marriage and wonder whether or not it is still a useful concept. This present state of marriage may cause some Christians to simply wring their hands in frustration and complain that society is on the verge of collapse. However, this current situation can offer people of faith some important opportunities. Believers can take advantage of the climate of confusion by sharing the good news of our Catholic Christian understanding of marriage and fill the see MARRIAGE page 17 PRAy for those who pray for us Please pray for the priests, deacons and religious women and men in the Baton Rouge Diocese. Feb. 6 Feb. 7 Feb. 8 Feb. 9 Rev. Ryan Hallford Dcn. John W. Veron Br. Alan Drain SC Rev. Robert Halter Dcn. J. Peter Walsh Sr. Adelaide Williamson CSJ Rev. Patrick Healy SSJ Dcn. James E. Wax Br. Clement Furno CSsR Rev. Ray Hebert SC Dcn. P. Chauvin Wilkinson Jr. Feb. 10 Feb. 11 Feb. 12 Feb. 13 Sr. Janice Wray CSJ Rev. J. Clifton Hill CSSp Dcn. Alfred Adams Sr. Br. Harold Harris SC Rev. Gordian O. Iwuji MSP Dcn. Michael A. Agnello Sr. Martha Ann Abshire FMOL Rev. Charbel Jamhoury Dcn. Frank E. Bains Br. Ronald Hingle SC Rev. Joshua D. Johnson Feb. 14 Feb. 15 Feb. 16 Dcn. Thomas D. Benoit Sr. Barbara Arceneaux Rev. Juel Kandula Dcn. Mark T. Berard Br. Eldon King SC Rev. Jon C. Koehler Dcn. Willie M. Berthelot Sr. Sr. Kathleen Babin CSJ Rev. Leonard Kraus SJ Dcn. William B. Blair Jr. Br. Noel Lemmon SC Feb. 17 Feb. 18 Feb. 19 Rev. Johnson Kuriappilly Dcn. Daniel S. Borné Sr. Rosalind Barbeneaux SSF Rev. J. Joel LaBauve Dcn. Claude H. Brougeois Jr. Br. Roger LeMoyne SC Rev. Kenneth W. Laird Dcn. Jerry W. Braud Sr. Sandra Blanchard CSJ

16 February 2, 2018 VIEWPOINT 17 Overcoming the divisions that divide us We live in a world of deep divisions. Everywhere we see polarization, people bitterly divided from each other by ideology, politics, economic theory, moral beliefs and theology. We tend to use over-simplistic categories within which to understand these divisions: the left and the right opposing each other, liberals and conservatives at odds, pro-life vying with pro-choice. Virtually every social and moral issue is a war-zone: the status of women, climate change, gender roles, sexuality, marriage and family as institutions, the role of government, how the LGBTQ community is to be understood, among other issues. And our churches aren t exempt; too often we cannot agree on anything. Civility has disappeared from public discourse even within our churches where there is now as much division and hostility within each denomination as there is between them. More and more, we cannot discuss openly any sensitive matter, even within our own families. Instead we discuss politics, religion and values only within our own ideological circles; and there, rather than challenging each other, we mostly end up feeding each other in our biases and indignations thus becoming even more intolerant, bitter and judgmental. Scripture calls this enmity, hatred and indeed that s its proper name. We are becoming hate-filled people who In Exile Father Ron Rolheiser both fuel and justify our hatred on religious and moral grounds. We need only to watch the news on any night to see this. How s this to be overcome? At the more macro level in politics and religion, it s hard to see how these bitter divides will ever be bridged, especially when so much of our public discourse is feeding and widening the division. What s needed is nothing short of religious conversion, a religious change of heart, and that s contingent on the individual. The collective heart will change only when individual hearts first do. We help save the sanity of the world by first safeguarding our own sanity, but that s no easy task. It s not as simple as everyone simply agreeing to think nicer thoughts. Nor, it seems, will we find much common ground in our public dialogues. The dialogue that s needed isn t easily come by; certainly we haven t come by it yet. Many groups are trying for it, but without much success. Generally what happens is that the even most-well intended dialogue quickly degenerates into an attempt to by each side to score its own ideological points rather than in genuinely trying to understand each other. Where does that leave us? The real answer, I believe, lies in an understanding of how the cross and death of Jesus brings about reconciliation. The author of the Letter to the Ephesians tells us that Jesus broke down the barrier of hostility that existed between communities by creating one person where formerly there had been two and he did it this by reconciling both (sides) in one body through his cross, which put that enmity to death. (Ep 2, 16) How does the cross of Christ put enmity to death? Not through some kind of magic. Jesus didn t break down the divisions between us by mystically paying off some debt for our sins through his suffering, as if God needed to be appeased by blood to forgive us and open the gates of heaven. That image is simply the metaphor behind our icons and language about being washed clean of sin and saved by the blood of Christ. What happened in the cross and death of Jesus is something that asks for our imitation not simply our admiration. What happened in the cross and death of Jesus is an example for us to imitate. What are we to imitate? We live in bitterly divisive times, paralyzed in terms of meeting amicably on virtually every sensitive issue of politics, economics, morality and religion. That stalemate will remain until one by one, we each transform rather than enflame and retransmit the hatred that divides us. OBLATE FATHER RON ROLHEISER, theologian, teacher, and award-winning author, is President of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, TX. He can be contacted through his website ronrolheiser.com and facebook.com/ronrolheiser MARRIAGE From page 16 void of meaning surrounding marriage in its current state. As the TV panel discussion progressed, I detected several unspoken assumptions that seemed to underlie the reasoning of the panelists based on society s current view of the world. Those assumptions can undermine the stability of marriage but may also provide an opportunity for evangelization by those who recognize the sacredness and value of marriage. Some of those assumptions and resultant opportunities for evangelization, include the following: Secularization: To even have a discussion about whether or not marriage is dead can only happen within a world-view that makes no reference to God, that is, a secular world-view. That secular world-view offers no reflection on why human beings are distinguished as male and female and what that implies for our lives. However, people of faith can appeal to human reason to conclude that being male and female must be part of a grand design by a loving creator with a specific purpose. Experience says that purpose is forming the intimate bond of marriage as a means of learning to love and providing a stable base for raising children. Individualism: Asking if marriage is dead implies there is a motive for the choices we make which is not dependant on relationships, namely, the motive to gratify one s individual needs. Thus, marriage, from an individualistic point of view, can be viewed as an obstacle to achieving that gratification and fulfillment. By contrast, most spiritual leaders and all of our recent popes clearly state that genuine fulfillment comes, not from gratifying our individual needs, but rather from giving ourselves away in love. That giving ourselves away, after the model of Christ, is at the heart of marriage. Disposability: Our culture has grown accustomed to using things for the immediate moment and then throwing them away when they either become inconvenient or seem to lose their usefulness. That experience appears to have also influenced society s view of marriage and relationships. They are likewise seen as disposable. Christians, on the other hand, understand that marriage increases in value precisely when the relationship must deal with difficulties. As couples work through those difficulties, they are challenged to grow. Thus, from the point of view of faith, the rewards of any marriage depend on the commitment of the spouses in good times and in bad. Without that commitment, the relationship is inherently unstable and the true benefits of marriage are lost. Sexual Satisfaction: Proclaiming the death of marriage implies that one is free to seek sexual satisfaction for its own sake, even with multiple partners. Given that view, sex becomes one more appetite to be indulged. Thus, sex is trivialized. Our Catholic faith clarifies the deeper purposes of sex in marriage beyond simply sexual satisfaction. Faith recognizes sex as a gift of the creator that expresses and intensifies the unity of the couple. Sex also allows the couple to cooperate with God in the creation of new life. Family as Accessory: If marriage is dead, then families, as the building blocks of society, are also dead. They become optional accessories. For Christians, families are essential. God instructed the first humans to be fertile and multiply. Creating and sustaining a family not only continues the human race, but demands that the couple allows their love to overflow beyond themselves in order for their love to grow. Families are also essential for the faith community since they form the primary school of Christian life. While this discussion about the death of marriage can be disturbing for those who believe in the sanctity of marriage, it stimulates discussion about the real meaning and purpose of the marital union. The Christian message concerning the primacy of love and the sacredness of marriage, by God s design, is more relevant and more urgent for our world than ever. At the same time, we must be careful not to attack those who question marriage but rather offer an alternative point of view. The alternative point of view from faith proposes that, whether couples recognize it or not, God is an intimate partner in their relationship since he created them out of love and calls them to love by becoming one body. God created them as male and female who are suitable partners, that is, they are equals and are complementary. Faith also proposes that the sacrifices demanded by marriage are virtually impossible on one s own and require the help of God s grace. This is indeed good news since it means that couples need not despair in their struggles, but rather turn to the source of their unity for help. Then, with God as a partner in the relationship, marriage can lead to personal growth and satisfaction as well as provide a path to holiness. The witness of loving families, the testimony of believing Christians, and the church s efforts to safeguard the rights of couples and families proclaim that marriage is not dead. It simply needs a renewed appreciation of its potential to be a source of abundant life, as God intended it to be. Ducote is the director of the Marriage and Family Life Department for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

17 18 COMING EVENTS February 2, 2018 Families of Disabled Talk Angele Lorio, of Families Helping Families associated with Louisiana Development Disabilities, will present a talk on Saturday, Feb. 10, 9 11 a.m., at the St. Francis Room of St. John the Evangelist Church, Hwy. 73, Prairieville. Lorio will discuss how families taking care of loved ones can self-direct their waiver services and how they can benefit. Several other workshops will be held at other locations in the near future. For further information, call Lorio at Discalced Carmelites The Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites will meet Sunday, Feb. 11, 1:30 p.m., at Our Lady of Mercy Parish Activity Center in St. Gabriel s Room, 444 Marquette Ave., Baton Rouge. For more information, call or , or robertwhite456@att.net. Magnificat Breakfast Sister Tracey Matthia Dugas, of the Daughters of St. Paul, will speak at the breakfast meeting of Magnificat, a ministry for Catholic women, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 9 a.m. noon, at the Oak Lodge Reception Center, 2834 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., Baton Rouge. Reservations are $22 each and can be made through Tuesday, Feb. 13 by mailing a check made out to BR Magnificat with the names of each attendee to Kathy Simoneaux, 9650 Victory Lane, Denham Springs, LA, Pro-Life Mass A monthly pro-life Mass will be celebrated Tuesday, Feb. 13, 5:30 p.m., at St. Agnes Church, 749 East Blvd., Baton Rouge. All are invited to attend. For more information, call Busy Person Retreat The St. Joseph Spirituality Center, 2980 Kleinert Ave., Baton Rouge, will present a Busy Person Retreat Monday, Feb. 19 Friday, Feb. 23. The retreat consists of a daily 30-minute commitment to prayer and a conveniently scheduled meeting for 30 minutes with a spiritual advisor. The fee for the retreat is $100. To register and for more information, visit stjocenter.org or call Morning of Prayer Author Judy Klein will present a morning of prayer, Cultivating Lenten Hope, on Saturday, Feb. 24 at The Our Lady of Mercy Parish Activity Center, 444 Marquette Ave., Baton Rouge. Mass is offered at the church at 8 a.m., and registration begins at 8:45 a.m. The program will run from 9:15 11:30 a.m. Minimum offering for the program is $25. To register and for more information, call Susan Halligan or visit retreats.arch-no.org. Day of Prayer Sister Pat Thomas OP of the Peace Center in New Orleans will present a day of prayer Tuesday, Feb. 27 at Rosaryville Spirit Life Center, Rosaryville Road, Ponchatoula. The day will start at 9 a.m. with coffee and fellowship. The talks begin at 9:30 a.m. with discussion and quiet time for reflection. Lunch will be provided. The day concludes with the celebration of Mass around 2:30 p.m. Cost of the day is $35. For more information and to register, scallais@oppeace.org or call PO Box 3316 Baton Rouge LA CLASSIFIEDS For help placing your classified ad, call All classified ads are prepaid. Credit cards are now accepted. ANNOUNCEMENTS While we at do our best to bring reliable advertisers to our readers, we are not responsible for any claims made by any advertiser. BUSINESS SERVICE BROUSSEAU'S Painting Interior and exterior painting. Experienced and reliable. Free estimates. Call 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 Donnie s Furniture Repair & Upholstery. We do refinishing, repairs, caning, painting of furniture and upholstery. In business 43 years. Pick up and delivery Greenwell Springs Road See our showroom. 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Three days a week (1/2 days) for a busy family with a large house and pets. Call HELP WANTED HELP WANTED Teaching Positions Available St. George Catholic School, a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence located in Baton Rouge, is seeking teacher applications for all grade levels and subjects for the school year. St. George has an enrollment of 1,100 students in grades K-8. Additionally, a Pre-K program (6 classes) we will be added for the school year, increasing our enrollment to nearly 1,200 students. We are seeking highly qualified, dedicated and motivated educators. Teachers at St. George Catholic School: Are excellent educators, able to provide rigorous, relevant, and engaging lessons, cultivating student growth and achievement Demonstrate through their actions that they are Catholic/ Christian role models for their students and community Are willing to be a part of a team of highly motivated, dedicated educators who put students needs first Teachers should hold a State of Louisiana Teacher Credential or be eligible to receive one. If you desire to work in a supportive, caring environment that brings out the best in both teachers and students, please apply. Interested candidates should submit a letter of introduction and resume to: Mr. Jack Nelson, Principal Jack.nelson@sgschoolbr.org M A R K L A S E R M A S H O R E L O L L I E A G U E N O R M R E I N S R O F L K O A K E P T V I G I L N O R T H P L E A C P I O F R A T C C L H O Y A S H O I P O L L O I O R A L C A R D S L A M B P E R S E C U T E P A Y E E S O D L I L Y H A M L M A I M D O U A Y P A P A L G O A L O I L A L A R I N A I R C U J O L I N C F I E L D O N K P M A T H S T A Y S O G L E

18 February 2, PURGATORY From page 1 at a person s judgment their works will be judged by fire to test their quality. If the person s works are built upon a solid foundation of gold, silver and precious metals (rooted in Christ) that person will receive a wage. But if someone s work is burned up like hay, wood or stubble (through bad works or sin) that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire. The fire of purgatory is much different than the fire of hell, which is eternal loss and regret according to Father Walsh and Father Graham. The fire of purgatory is the soul s burning desire to be with God. Father Walsh noted that in 1 Peter 1:7, the apostle writes about the assurance that souls in purgatory have of ultimate salvation: In this you rejoice, for although you may have to suffer for a while, this is so that the genuineness of your faith, which is more precious than gold tested by fire, may prove to be for the praise, glory and honor of God. Here St. Peter is pointing out that we can voluntarily begin our purgatory our purification here on earth but there will also be a time of purification for us after we have died, a time of preparation for heaven, said Father Walsh. Praying for the souls in purgatory, who can no longer do anything for themselves but receive the painful, but necessary, purging of sins by God, is a way to assist those souls and receive graces. Fa- CLASSIFIEDS HELP WANTED HELP WANTED Development Director Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High School seeks candidates for the position of Development Director. The primary function of the Development Director will be leadership and oversight for all fundraising activities of the school, including annual giving, grants management, and major gifts. The Development Director will work with the President and leadership team to develop strategies, generate prospects, and cultivate relationships. The director will lead a team in the execution of fundraising activities to generate resources for the school. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resumé to Brian Moscona via at bmoscona@cristoreybr.org. For more information about Cristo Rey visit the school website at cristoreybr.org. Business Manager Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High School seeks candidates for the position of Business Manager. This detail-oriented member of the school leadership team will manage the school s accounting, as well as provide financial guidance with regard to operations and strategic planning. The Business Manager will also oversee Human Resources functions, such as employee payroll and benefits, and will serve as the school s liaison with insurance providers. Experience in bookkeeping, financial management, payroll, benefits, and insurance required. Interested candidates should submit cover letter and resumé to Brian Moscona via at bmoscona@cristoreybr.org. For more information on Cristo Rey visit the school s website at cristoreybr.org. PLACE YOUR AD HERE. Reach some 95,000 readers by placing your ad in! CALL Credit cards accepted. ther Walsh and Father Graham pointed to passages in the Bible and church traditions that highlight people praying for the dead. Scripture notes that even before the days of Christ, Jewish people, such as Judas Maccabeus and Job in the Old Testament, prayed for the dead. Father Graham noted that the souls of the dead are remembered in the eucharistic prayers at Mass, as well as in a prayer over offerings for the funeral Mass. He recommended that Catholics offer a prayer for the souls in purgatory once a week during Lent. Additionally, they could offer up their fasting for a St. Gertrude the Great Prayer for Souls in Purgatory Eternal Father, I offer You the most precious blood of thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal Church, for those in my own home, and in my family. Amen. deceased family member or loved one. Other ways of remembering the dead include lighting a votive candle, visiting a cemetery, reciting lauds or vespers from the Office of the Dead or the Eternal Rest Prayer or praying the Requiem aeternam. Father Graham and Father Walsh pointed out that in his Sermon on the Mount, Christ warns people to rectify their relationship with God and others when he said, Settle with your opponent while there is still time, before you go to court. Otherwise you will be turned over to the judge, who will hand you over to the jailer, and you will be put into prison. I warn you, you will remain there until you have paid the last penny. An image of Father Walsh has of purgatory is a dishwasher. Even after the dishes are cleaned, and the impurities are washed away, some impurities remain, and we use the steaming heat of a dishwasher to sterilize them. So also with our souls, said Father Walsh. If we are far from God at the time of death though not deserving of hell and eternal separation from God, then our purgatory will be longer and more painful. If we are very close to God, then our purgatory will be short and sweet. The wonderful thing about purgatory is that everyone in that state knows that they will one day be in heaven and there is no longer any desire or taste for sin. And yet there is pain, the pain of self reflection, sorrow for sin, and an intense longing for perfect communion with God. Father Graham compared the soul s need to be purified to the bride s desire to be spotless on her wedding day before coming to her groom. In this case, we, as part of the church, want to be spotless before coming before the bridegroom, Christ. He also referred to purgatory as a safety net, because, even if people question a deceased person s salvation, no one knows what was in the person s heart when they died. There are only things that the Lord knows, said Father Graham. ST. ALPHONSUS Rep. Barry Ivey (R-Baton Rouge) talks with Dr. Cynthia Ryals, principal of St. Alphonsus School in Greenwell Springs, about school nutrition. The purpose of the visit, part of Legislative Shadowing Week in conjunction with Groundhog Day, was to give lawmakers a taste of the Diocese of Baton Rouge Child Nutrition Program. The goal is to give lawmakers an opportunity to see first hand Child Nutrition Program in the weeks leading up to the Legislative Session. Photo by Bonny Van

19 20 Bishop Robert Muench and Chef John Folse Want to Serve You and Your Family at the Count Your Blessings Recipe Ingredients: A Great Bishop, a World Chef, Faith, Famous Sacrifice, Compassion, Humility, Mercy, Time, Generosity, Love, Grace, Hope, And You - Our Most Important Ingredient! 23rd Annual Count Your Blessings Supper Friday, March 2, 2018 Program starts at 7:00 PM Our Lady of Mercy Parish Activity Center Bishop Robert Muench and Chef John Folse are ready to Stir it Up! Come and Count Your Blessings with us. Join us for a simple Lenten supper of soup and bread a meal that will nourish you both physically and spiritually Clip and send in Yes, my family and I want to attend the Count Your Blessings Supper. We would like tickets at $10.00 per person. We are enclosing a check for $. Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Make checks payable and mail to: St. Vincent de Paul, P.O. Box 127, Baton Rouge, LA For more info., call us at (225) , extension O, or online at BUILD A BASKET FOR A NEEDY CHILD When families are struggling to exist on low incomes, just paying the rent and putting food on the table is difficult. Needy children learn at an early age that there s nothing in the budget for extras. Things like Easter baskets are luxuries their families simply cannot afford. Last year, our Build a Basket campaign was a tremendous success and reached so many children in need. The kids in these pictures were uplifted by this act of sharing. PASTORAL From page ministries in which our parishioners are actively engaged, said Father Cuevas. St. Aloysius parishioner Bryan Jones, one of three cochairs of the church s capital campaign committee, said the new building is part of several structures planned for the campus. A new childcare center has already been completed. We have several other buildings planned that are in various stages of development right now including a new parish hall that will serve as a venue for large wedding receptions and larger functions that many parishioners have longed to see at St. Aloysius, said Jones. Tricia Greeley, director of children formation, stood in the doorway of her new spacious office and greeted visitors. Her room with a view, a DAMEANS From page 9 road for their music ministry. After they were ordained priests, the travel was cut down to once a month. Their travels took them to 48 states, including Hawaii and Alaska. Alaska that was incredible! laughed Ducote. Culture shock for them and for us! It was a lot of fun! From Alaska, we went to Hawaii! All of this was great fun but it got tiresome. On one trip to Hawaii, a community of Filipino nuns ministering to a small village in the mountains invited The Dameans to Sunday Mass. large window behind her desk, is located adjacent to the childcare center, allowing her to hear the children playing in the yard. They played guitars and sang our music at the little village church, Ducote said. So that was wonderful! In 1973, The Dameans were sent to Germany for a month on behalf of the military apostolate. Ducote said the stint, which included a tour of the military bases, involved hours of travel in the back of army trucks with accommodations he called abysmal. It was absolutely grueling and really took a toll on all of us, he said. The following year, Dave Baker bowed out of the group, citing the travel was too difficult from his Wisconsin home. The Build a Basket Instructions For a Happy Easter Lots of love and prayers. A new or gently used basket. Easter candy of all sorts. (No peanut products.) Easter related toys, small toys, stuffed animals, crayons, color books, etc. 5. Wrap the basket with Easter cellophane. 6. Drop your gift off at our St. Vincent de Paul main charitable campus located at 220 St. Vincent de Paul I think it s very welcoming, she said of the new offices. It allows people to come in and sit and visit. It s new, it s fresh, it s clean and a gift from God. Parishioners and staff members at St. Aloysius Church in Baton Rouge gather for the blessing of the new Pastoral Services Center on the church campus. The new building has a wing for pastoral care in order to maintain privacy for those seeking counsel. Photo by Bonny Van The Catholic Commentator Join us in providing Easter baskets for hundreds of needy children. You can actually build a basket yourself (see instructions below) or make a contribution to the effort online at and we will build it for you and give it to a needy or homeless child. This is a great project for church groups, schools and clubs. For more information, call us at (225) or visit us at svdpbr.org. Bring Christ into the lives of those in need! February 2, 2018 Darryl Ducote, director of The Office of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, looks over albums from his years with The Dameans. Many of the songs Ducote and others in the group wrote are still found in the Glory & Praise hymnals. Photo by Bonny Van/ Dameans continued to write and record music and give concerts, releasing several more albums. Keyboardist Gary Daigle of Gonzales joined the south Louisiana based musicians in Their final album was released in 1995 and their last performance was at the 2012 Gulf Coast Conference in Mobile, Alabama. Besides Remember Your Love, which was a composite by Ducote, Blahoff and Daigle, Ducote said Look Beyond is also widely used. The Communion hymn, written by Ducote, is based on the Gospel of John, chapter 6, the bread of life discourse. I took Scripture and put it to music and wrote a refrain, he said. It makes those scriptural passages come to life. Ducote said he still listens to the music of The Dameans, especially the song Without Clouds, which he wrote. It s so universal. It talks about the consistency of change and how we have to adapt to change on a regular basis, he said. Ducote said he thinks the biggest contribution The Dameans made was in facilitating what the Second Vatican called for in the liturgical form, namely, full conscious and active participation of the laity in the liturgy. People renewed their faith through our music, he said. The music was a sign of hope for many people.

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