July 21, 2017Ommentator Vol
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
THE CATHOLIC PAGES 10-11 MISSION OF MERCY July 21, 2017ommentator Vol. 55, No. 12 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1963 thecatholiccommentator.org C Diocesan Pastoral Planning Task Force releases summary Special to The Catholic Commentator and priests have given this time of means more our church and less my so. How can we be church with fewer themselves freely because they parish.” priests and more Catholics? We must The Pastoral Planning Task Force believe in the church and the Father Nelson said each par- choose and strive to do it together. has released a summary of its recom- future of the Diocese of Ba- ish has its own needs that Thank you to all of you for your courage mendations that have been implement- ton Rouge. While imple- makes it unique and no two and your openness and your prayers. ed since March 2016. mentation of the recom- parishes are alike but added “It has been my privilege to serve as In 2015, Bishop Robert W. Muench mendations made has that the process has helped the chair of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan- announced during the Chrism Mass not always been easy and “us all to understand what ning Task Force.” celebrated at St. Aloysius Catholic while there has often been it means to journey for- Listed below is the summary of Church in Baton Rouge that a task force high emotion, I have per- ward as one body of Christ. recommendation implemented since had been formed. At that time, he noted sonally found every Cath- “Personally it is my March 2016. that because of a shrinking number of olic lay person to be open heartfelt belief that we are A more detailed description can be clergy members, “demographics clearly and confident that the Holy going where God is lead- found at www.diobr.org. pose a challenge.” Spirit is guiding us into the ing us to go. Our works have 1. Weekend Assistance for Priests Chairman Father Trey Nelson said future. (Bishop Muench) has born much fruit, as you see in A centralized resource has been the task force consists of 12 members continually called us to be more the bullet points of this press established to assist priests with that includes “lay persons, religious ecclesial and less parochial. This release, and will continue to do SEE PLANNING PAGE 19 WOUNDED HEART Santa Croce, where the relics of the cru- Shroud of cifixion are venerated. Father Palermo said he was awestruck by the sign that had been placed over the Jesus’ head, along with one of nails, some of the Turin used thorns from the crown, and even the finger bones of St. Thomas the Apostle that are among the relics. to evangelize However, for Father Palermo the best was yet to come. What he called “the ic- By Richard Meek ing on the cake” came when Father Yi, The Catholic Commentator who is currently the chancellor for the Diocese of Baton Rouge along with pas- The image was daunting, piercing tor at Ascension of Our Lord Church through the heart and right to the soul and St. Francis of Assisi Church, both of Father Jason Palermo. in Donaldsonville, as well as admin- Before him was the Shroud of Turin, istrator at Our Lady of Prompt Succor the stain of Jesus’ blood evidence of the Church in White Castle and St. Joan of torture and suffering he endured at the Arc Church in Bayou Pigeon, showed hands of Roman soldiers on the day he Father Palermo a replica of the shroud was crucified. The image is lasting and in an adjacent room. one that Father Palermo, who is pastor “I was engrossed by it,” Father Pal- at St. Joseph Church in French Settle- Father Jason Palermo, pastor at St. Joseph Church in French Settlement and St. Ste- ermo said. “I thought to myself, as St. ment and St. Stephen the Martyr in phen the Martyr Church in Maurepas, places a replica of the Shroud of Turin in the Thomas did, ‘My Lord and my God.’ Maurepas, wants to share and educate old St. Joseph Church. Father Palermo said he is using the shroud to educate people “In my soul I felt a stirring. It was as others on the torturous sacrifice Christ on the suffering Christ endured on the cross. Photo by Richard Meek | The Catholic Commentator if Jesus were saying, ‘Do you see what I endured. endured out of love for you?’” “First impressions are often lasting while they were attending Notre Dame do so,” Father Palermo said. “He had “When you look at the shroud, you ones,” Father Palermo said of his 2008 Seminary in New Orleans, had made a list of places that he researched and see a different side of the crucifixion, trip to Italy when he first saw a copy of the trip to Italy with six other people. wanted to visit and he invited me to tag you see a different side of Jesus’ suffer- the shroud. He and Father Paul Yi, who ”Back then, (Father Yi) taught me along one day.” ing,” he added. “You don’t see an artist lived across the hall from each other many spiritual things and continues to One of the stops was the Church of SEE SHROUD PAGE 20 2 The Catholic Commentator July 21, 2017 First mission Hearing God’s words By Amy Jones ishes of East and West Baton Rouge, By Dina Dow listen to him he teaches us this path of wis- previous notice having been given dom, he gifts us wisdom which is seeing In January of 1826, St. Joseph one month before, did proceed to the “The kingdom of Heaven: Whoever has with God’s eyes, listening with God’s ears, welcomed its seventh pastor to Ba- dedication of the building, under the ears ought to hear” loving with God’s heart, judging things ton Rouge. Father Antoine Blanc, a title of St. John’s Chapel, which build- The Gospel readings of the with Gods’ judgment. French cleric, had been recruited by ing, under the particular direction upcoming 16th and 17th Sun- These are the things that Bishop Dubourg to serve as a mis- and best exertions of John days in Ordinary Time are Life-Giving Holy Spirit gifts us and we sionary priest in Louisiana. Sullivan, has been erect- parables for the purpose of FAI H can all have this. We just have Prior to his time in the ed on the settlement of revealing and veiling the myster- to ask the Holy Spirit.” Today, Capital City, Father St. John’s Plains by the ies of the “kingdom of God.” They ask the Lord to see, listen and Blanc served the munificence and labor are meant to resonate with those who are love with his heart in order to build up the Indiana and Missis- of the Catholic settlers humble in heart, the childlike in faith. Con- kingdom of God. sippi territories and of that section of the versely, those who are proud lose their abil- Strength had been appointed country. Signed, An- ity to see the real meaning behind Jesus’ The Holy Spirit is a source of strength. pastor to St. Fran- toine Blanc, Mission- message. What does the phrase “kingdom St. Paul writes in his Letter to the Romans cis Catholic Church of ary Pastor.” of God” mean for us? And how can we grasp that the Spirit will aid in our weakness. The Pointe Coupee. Mass times varied at the St. John the meaning of the parables which moves Lord will indeed intercede for us in times Steady growth continued in Ba- Chapel. When St. Joseph enjoyed us to conversion of heart and mind? of struggle, despair and failings. But we ton Rouge, and the need for another the services of two priests, it became The Kingdom of God must ask for the strength to endure that Catholic church became increasing- possible for Mass to be celebrated on As we pray “The Lord’s Prayer,” we plea, which binds us and trust in the love of God ly apparent. In August 1826, Bishop a regular basis, sometimes every oth- “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done…” Do to answer our prayer. A trusting heart is Rosati approved the donation of a er week. At other times, the Eucharist we know what we are pleading for? How do a faithful soul. Those who call upon the we anticipate such a coming, or has it al- Holy Spirit for strength and believe will ready happened? receive. Be courageous and ask the Lord Paragraph 2816 of “The Catechism of for strength to help fortify the kingdom of the Catholic Church” explains, “The King- God. dom of God lies ahead of us. It is brought Parables near in the Word incarnate, it is proclaimed The Gospel parables give five analogies throughout the whole Gospel, and it has in describing the kingdom of God: a sow- come in Christ’s death and resurrection. er, a tiny seed, yeast, a pearl and a net. The The kingdom of God has been coming since sower reminds us that despite the existence the Last Supper and, in the Eucharist, it is of evil, God will harvest what is fruitful and in our midst.” burn that which is fruitless. We are called God’s transcendent power makes pres- to be life-giving disciples of Jesus simply by ent what has been, what is and what will our love. He will take care of evil. Likewise, come. What has been is Jesus, God com- the tiny seed which grows into a large bush ing to us and showing us how to live, love, shows the power of faith.