00578717

The Diocese of Lake Charles lcdiocese.org

Vol. 36, No. 2 A Christmas Message from Bishop Glen John Provost “The people who walked in darkness have Magi are “overjoyed at seeing the star” is much too self-absorbed to help us, more ed me with a choice. seen a great light.” Isaiah 9:1 (Matthew 2:10). The star leads them to the conscious of correctness than what truly ails In this moment of “poise,” we join the When we find something really valuable, object of their search that answers the the heart. “Merry Christmas” becomes just shepherds. Gathered on a hillside, we are we rush to possess it. Whether it is finding deepest desire of their hearts. another “Happy Holiday,” and the cause of attending to our work and daily concerns. some treasure we thought we had lost or I recall the Christmas Eve nights of my joy for shepherds and angels is replaced Deep inside us, we know that our hearts finding the answer to a question we have childhood. There was something mystical with a marketing idea of a “Winter Festi- yearn for more and that promises have yet pondered all our lives, we embrace it, we about them. The frosty night descended. val.” to be fulfilled. Suddenly God makes known make it our own, and experience an excite- The house lay decorated awaiting the ar- In spite of all this, the angelic message to us “good news.” We no longer remain ment like no other. Jesus spoke of the exhil- rival of the family on Christmas Day. At remains. “Do not be afraid” (Luke 2:10). aration of discovery when He compared the eleven o’clock we did something we never What a glorious message! The heavens open poised. We are free, we leap up, and we has- kingdom of heaven to the discovery of “a did on any other night of the year. We and angels tell us not to fear. The world ten to the source of our joy. At the end of our treasure buried in a field, which a person dressed in our Sunday best and hurried to would have us fear everything. Everything is journey we find a baby wrapped in swad- finds and hides again, and out of joy goes Mass at midnight. The music was like no in crisis: the economy, peace, employment, dling clothes, asleep in a manger, warmed and sells all that he has and buys that field” other. We sang of “shepherds” and “angels,” our safety, our health. But the angel said: by the breath of cattle, and nursed by a Vir- (Matthew 13:44). Or Jesus said, it is like “a “harps” and “gifts,” and faraway places like “Do not be afraid.” For that matter, so did gin Mother. The sight astounds us, for this is merchant searching for fine pearls. When “Bethlehem.” There was the smell of in- our Lord. And why should we not be afraid? the “Messiah and Lord” proclaimed by the he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and cense in the air, mixed in with a whiff of The angels continue: “For behold, I pro- angels. Our freedom can never be the same sells all that he has and buys it” (Matthew mothballs from woolen coats and furs re- claim to you good news of great joy” (Luke again, because the object of our hearts’ de- 13:45-46). The experience of discovering the leased from storage. The oneness of every- 2:10). We would love to hear “good news.” sire has been revealed. Grace fills our free- long-desired prize is so fundamentally hu- one present was “electric,” as we turned to And what is that news of great joy? “In the dom. “To those who did accept him he gave man, because the human heart is lacking people, known and unknown alike, and of- city of David a savior has been born for you power to become children of God, to those something. God knows it, and Christ comes fered to them our greetings of “Merry who is Messiah and Lord” (Luke 2:11). That who believe in his name, who were born not to provide it. Christmas.” There was a perception of hav- is news like no other. To paraphrase once In one of his early Christmas messages, ing discovered something very special. again the words of Pope Benedict XVI, our by natural generation nor by human choice Pope Benedict XVI said: Christ was born. The Word of God was made freedom is poised between good and evil nor by a man’s decision but of God. And the Despite humanity’s many advances, flesh. We could hear Him, touch Him, feel and much more fundamentally between life Word became flesh and made his dwelling man has always been the same: a free- Him, and, yes, eat His banquet of love. and death. We have a choice. We can choose among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as dom poised between good and evil, be- Only with the passage of time and the ad- light or darkness, feast or famine, good or of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and tween life and death. It is there, in the vance of years, do these mystical experi- evil, and life or death. God has given us a truth” (John 1:12-14). very depths of his being, in what the ences become dulled. They become dulled free will to love, and we misuse that free- To you and your families and friends, I Bible calls his ‘heart,’ that man always not because they lose their significance. dom by making false and deceptive choices. extend my blessings for a joyful and peace- needs to be ‘saved’ (December 25, The message is the same, after all. “A child “Man always needs to be ‘saved’.” That is ful Christmas! 2006). is born to us, a son is given us” (Isaiah 9:5). the basic need we have and the message of To me this is what Christmas proclaims: No, the dullness comes from us. Our hearts Christmas satisfies it. This is why the mes- the answer to the human heart. This is why, are burdened. Our minds become cluttered. sage of the angels is “good news” and why it I think, the shepherds “went in haste,” the We have experienced too much pain, too should bring “great joy.” I have a choice Gospel tells us, “to see this thing that has many disappointments, too great a separa- never to be the same again. I am not locked taken place, which the Lord has made tion through sin. We become cynical, and into selfishness. Death is not necessary. +Glen John Provost known to us” (Luke 2:15, 16). This is why the the world in which we live does not help. It Darkness is not inevitable. God has provid- Bishop of Lake Charles Annual Catechetical Conference Jan. 30 LAKE CHARLES – The Intern at Pax Renewal Cen- annual Diocese of Lake ter in Lafayette. His counsel- Charles Catechetical Confer- ing ministry draws upon his ence will be held Saturday, own experience of the thera- January 30, from 8:30 a.m. to peutic process. 3 p.m. in St. Louis Catholic Petitfils and three other High School, 1620 Bank campus ministers from Street. around the United States Roy Petitfils, a well- have co-authored A Practical known speaker from the Dio- Guide to High School Campus cese of Lafayette, will be the Ministry (St. Mary’s Press, keynoter. The event is spon- 2007) and he has now added sored by the Office of Reli- another title, What I Wish gious Education of the Dio- Someone Had Told Me About cese. Denise Donahoe, the First Five Years of Mar- director of the office, said, riage (St. Anthony Messen- “ and school catechet- ger Press, 2010). ical leaders, parish cate- Petitfils has made presen- chists, school religion teach- Roy Petitfils tations around the country ers, youth ministers, and lege in Covington, La. For including the Archdiocese of Rite of Christian Initiation two years, he studied min- Detroit, Archdiocese of New for Adults and evangeliza- istry and spirituality at the Orleans, Diocese of Little tion team members are invit- Pontifical University of St. Rock, Diocese of Lafayette, Seventy-five men from , Texas, and Mississippi took part in a Come and ed. Actually, any adult wanti- Thomas Aquinas in Rome. Diocese of Shreveport, Dio- See vocation discernment weekend held recently at St. Joseph Seminary College. ng to learn more is Upon returning from Italy cese of Baton Rouge, and the welcome.” he began teaching and min- National Catholic Education Eight of those participants, pictured here with seminarians already attending St. Petitfils is a member of istering at St. Thomas More Association. He has also Joseph, were from the Diocese of Lake Charles. From left, local attendees included, Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic High School in done many school retreats Jared France, Matthew Cormier, Logan Blanchard, Jacob Elly, Levi Thompson, Church Parish in Broussard, Lafayette, serving in numer- and in-service workshops in John Trost, Jacob Rigmaiden, Lee Sonnier, Cristian Gonzales, Larry Finley, and La., and earned his Masters ous capacities. the Diocese of Lafayette. Rev. Ruben Buller. in Counseling from the Uni- Today, Petitfils serves as For more information versity of Louisiana, a counselor and administra- contact the Office of Reli- The next Catholic Calendar will be published Lafayette and is a alumnus tor at St. Cecilia School in gious Education at 337-439- of St. Joseph Seminary Col- Broussard and as Counselor 7400, Ext. 309. on January 22, 2010. Christmas Day Masses in the Diocese of Lake Charles Bell City Hackberry Christ the King (7680 Gulf Hwy.) Oberlin St. John Vianney (7120 Hwy. 14 E.) St. Peter the Apostle (1210 Main St.) 8:00 a.m. St. Joan of Arc (110 W. 5th Ave.) 7:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Immaculate Heart of Mary 10:00 a.m. Cameron Iowa (2031 Opelousas St.) Ragley Our Lady Star of the Sea (135 Our Lady Road) St. Raphael (211 S. Thomson Ave.) 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. St. Pius X Chapel (16816 Hwy 171) 10:30 a.m. 10:15 a.m. Our Lady of Good Counsel (221 Aqua Dr.) 8:30 a.m. Carlyss St. Peter Claver Chapel (503 Second Street) 9:00 a.m. Raymond St. Theresa of the Child Jesus 8:30 a.m. Our Lady Queen of Heaven (3939 Lake St.) St. Lawrence (5505 Pine Island Hwy.) (4822 Carlyss Dr.) Jennings 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. Immaculate Conception Sacred Heart of Jesus (1102 Mill St.) Sulphur DeQuincy (705 S. Lake Arthur Ave.) 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. Immaculate Conception (2700 Maplewood Our Lady of LaSalette (203 S. Grand Ave.) 6:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m. St. Henry (1021 8th Ave.) Dr.) 9:00 a.m. Our Lady Help of Christians (710 N. State St.) 8:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m. Our Lady of LaSalette (602 N. Claiborne St.) DeRidder 8:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. (Spanish) 9:00 a.m. St. Joseph (1125 Blankenship Dr.) Our Lady of Perpetual Help St. Margaret of Scotland Our Lady of Prompt Succor (1109 Cypress St.) 9:00 a.m. (920 S. Broadway) (2500 Enterprise Blvd.) 7:00 a.m. 8:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Elizabeth 10:00 a.m. Sweetlake St. Frances of Rome Chapel (204 Poplar St.) Kinder St. Martin de Porres (5326 Elliott Rd.) 8:00 a.m. St. Patrick Chapel (469 Hwy. 27) 8:00 a.m. St. Philip Neri (607 Fourth Ave.) 8:00 a.m. Elton 9:00 a.m. St. Patrick Hospital Chapel (524 Dr. Michael DeBakey Dr.) Vinton St. Joseph (209 N. Washington St.) Lacassine 9:00 a.m. St. Joseph (1502 Industrial St.) 8:30 a.m. St. John the Evangelist Chapel (306 Ann St.) LeBleu Settlement 8:00 a.m. 7:00 a.m. St. Paul (1100 St. Mary St.) St. Joseph Chapel (2110 Claude Hebert Road) Welsh 7:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. Lake Arthur 8:30 a.m. Our Lady of Seven Dolors (209 N. Adams St.) Fenton Our Lady of the Lake (203 Commercial Ave.) Moss Bluff 8:00 a.m. St. Charles Borromeo (804 Third Ave.) 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m. St. Theodore (785 Sam Jones Pkwy.) St. Joseph (310 N. Sarah St.) 8:45 a.m. Lake Charles 9:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Grand Chenier Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Oakdale Westlake St. Eugene (5035 Grand Chenier Hwy.) (Corner of Kirby and Bilbo Streets) Sacred Heart of Jesus (1208 E. 7th Ave.) St. John Bosco (1301 Sampson St.) 8:00 a.m. 8:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m. (Extraordinary Form) 10:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. This page paid for by the Diocese of Lake Charles through the generous sponsorships of the following: Your In Memory Catholic Charities For sponsorship information Your Knights “Connected Catholics” Watch “Glad Tidings” Knights of Of Your Diocese of Call Laurie Cormier at 337-436-5037 Peter Claver Diocesan Singles Sunday at 6 a.m. Columbus Loved One Lake Charles or [email protected] Council Here Ministry 337-439-7400 on KPLC-TV Council Here Here 337-439-7436 00578714

The Most Reverend Glen John Provost Bishop of Lake Charles

December 25, 2009 Diocesan Briefs Bishop Provost celebrates Mass for Abrazando Cristo registration opens LAKE CHARLES -- Registration for the 2010 Abrazando Cristo Mission Trip to Nicaragua has begun, according to Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Very Reverend Daniel Torres, Vicar General and Pastor of St. Henry LAKE CHARLES – The The trip will be July 3-11 and the cost of the journey is Most Reverend Glen John $1,800, which includes all air and ground transportation Provost was the main cele- costs, meals, lodging, tips, taxes, Retreat, and two mission brant of the Mass honoring shirts. A $300 non-refundable deposit is due by Jan. 15, ac- Our Lady of Guadalupe on cording to Father Torres. Friday, Dec. 11, in St. Henry An information packet and registration form is avail- Catholic Church. The Bishop able by calling Father Torres at 337-439-7400, Ext. 215. celebrated the liturgy in Only 25 seats are available for the trip. Spanish. Diocesan Office Christmas schedule Priests concelebrating were Rev. Arturo Lozano, LAKE CHARLES – The offices of the Diocese of Lake S.J.; Rev. Carlos Garcia; Rev. Charles will be closed until 8:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 4 for Archimandrite Herbert J. the Christmas holidays. May and Rev. Daniel Torres, January SE initial training sessions Vicar General and Pastor of LAKE CHARLES – Three Safe Environment Initial St. Henry Parish. Assisting Training Sessions will conducted in January, according to Bishop Provost were dea- Bernell Ezell, Director of the Office of Child and Youth cons Ray Granger, Edward Protection of the Diocese of Lake Charles. Lavine and Scott Conner. All three sessions will be held in the Chancery of the Rev. Ruben Buller was the Diocese, located at 414 Iris Street. master of ceremonies. The sessions are set for Sunday, Jan. 10 at 2 p.m., Tues- A large crowd was present day, Jan. 19, at 6 p.m. and Monday, Jan. 25, at 6 p.m. for the annual liturgy honor- Please contact Mrs. Ezell at 337-439-7400, Ext. 305 if you ing the appearance of the plan to attend. Virgin Mary to Juan Diego, a native Mexican worker, in “Walk in the Light - March for Life” Jan. 22 December, 1531. The Virgin LAKE CHARLES – The “March for Life” held on the an- told Juan Diego, who became niversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v Wade deci- the first indigenous Ameri- sion will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22 on the steps of the can in 2002 when he Calcasieu Parish Courthouse, where those in attendance was canonized by Pope John can “Stand Up for Life” in remembrance of the unborn. Paul II, that he was to bring At 6:45 p.m., a candlelight procession will move from her message to the bishop of the courthouse to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Con- the area that a church must ception to gather as one voice to pray for an end to abor- be built on the site he had tion. first seen her, Tepeyac Hill. Following the prayer service, the evening will conclude After several attempts to with a “Holy Hour for Life” convince the bishop of the New Life Counseling, the crisis pregnancy center, will validity of his claims, Juan accept donations of baby items, such as booties and blan- Diego was asked to bring kets as well as monetary contributions either at the court- proof of the Lady’s identity. house or during the prayer service. Before he could get back to The event is being sponsored by the offices of Family the Lady, he found that his Life and Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Diocese uncle was dying and he went of Lake Charles. about trying to find a priest, missing the appointed meet- St. Louis Catholic registration dates set ing with the Virgin. LAKE CHARLES – Registration dates for the 2010-2011 However, the Lady met school year at St. Louis Catholic High School have been him on the path and told him announced. that his uncle had been Incoming ninth grade students from support schools cured and that Juan Diego will register from Monday, Jan. 11 to Friday, Jan. 15. was to climb to the top of the In the top photo, Bishop Glen John Provost incenses the altar at the beginning of Ninth grade students entering St. Louis from any other hill where they first met. the Mass celebrated in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Henry Catholic school may register from Tuesday, Jan. 19 through Friday, When he did he miraculous- Church. At the bottom, Rev. Arturo Lozano, S.J., Director of the Office of Hispanic Jan. 22. ly found flowers growing St. Louis Catholic continuing students in the grades 10 from the frozen earth. He Ministry, reads the story of St. Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe during the through 12 will register Monday, Feb. 8 through Friday, gathered them into his cloak musical serenade to Our Lady held before the Mass. Feb. 12. Transfer students in grades 10 through 12 will be and immediately took them able to register Monday, March 1 through Friday, March 5. to show the bishop. most lasting impression was Juan Diego. Thousands of Father Lozano, director of Registration is held on all dates from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. When he arrived, he told the glowing image of the people converted to Chris- the Office of Hispanic Min- the bishop what had hap- Lady imprinted on the in- tianity and Our Lady of istry, read the story of Juan Bishop’s monthly presentations resume in Feb. pened and opened his cloak side of Juan Diego’s cloak, or Guadalupe was later de- Diego and his vision of the LAKE CHARLES – The monthly presentations of Bish- sending the flowers falling to tilma. clared the patroness of all Virgin Mary. op Glen John Provost on the Book of Revelation were not the ground. They were Immediately the bishop the Americas. Following the Mass, a fies- held during December nor will they be in January. Castilian roses, which were set about to build the church Prior to the Friday night ta reception was held in the Bishop Provost’s First Friday Men’s Prayer Breakfast not grown in Mexico. But on the spot where the Virgin liturgy, there was a serenade St. Henry Community Cen- will next be held on Feb. 5 while the Women’s Prayer Lun- what made the largest and had first shown herself to to Our Lady of Guadalupe as ter. cheon with the Bishop has been set for Tuesday, Feb. 9. The Breakfast will be held in Ave Maria Hall at the cor- ner of Kirby and Bilbo Streets at 7 a.m., following the 6:30 Did you know... a.m. celebration of the First Friday Mass in the Cathedral Rev. (later Msgr. George Bod- of the Immaculate Conception. Men may register by call- in) was the founding pastor ing 439-7400. of St. Margaret Parish and The Women’s Luncheon will be held in the Lake saw to the establishment of Charles Civic Center. Those who wish to attend should the school in 1949, which send a check in the amount of $10, payable to the Diocese was staffed by the Sisters of Lake Charles, to Ms. Esther Gallardo, 612 Alamo Street, Marianites of the Holy Lake Charles, LA 70601 and include a stamped, self ad- Cross. The first principal dressed envelope. was Sister Mary Anthony who, along with other “Come Follow Me” Retreat , taught 154 students in grades one through LAKE CHARLES - The Diocese of Lake Charles is join- three. ing with its sister Dioceses of Lafayette and Baton Rouge The Cathedral of the Immacu- to offer a discernment retreat on February 5-7, 2010, at the late Conception, the see Bishop Tracy Center in Baton Rouge. It is open to inter- church of the Diocese of Lake ested men 16 and older, in high school, college or profes- Charles, is not the largest in sional life that may feel a call to the priesthood. terms? of capacity of worship- Registration forms are available from your Church of- pers. Do you know which fice or you may contact Very Reverend Marcus M. Johnson church holds that distinction? Find out in our next Catholic at 436-8093 for more information. Please mail all regis- Calendar. tration to Father Johnson at 2031 Opelousas Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601 Charlene Richard Central Deanery Vocaré meeting dates LAKE CHARLES – The Central Deanery Vocaré meet- bio available ings for the spring have been set, according to Rev. LAKE CHARLES – The Nathan Long, Vocation Recruiter for the deanery. Rev. Joseph Brennan, a priest These Sunday meetings begin with a meal and discus- of the Diocese of Lafayette, sion in the offices of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Church, has penned a biography of The 10th Anniversary of the establishment by the Louisiana Catholic Daughters of 617 West Claude, followed by time for Adoration. Young Charlene Marie Richard, who the Americas of the CDA Kids program was celebrated at St. Raphael Parish in men 16 years or older, who feel they have a vocation call- is known to some as the “Lit- Iowa recently. Local courts in each diocese of the state adopt a special needs child ing should contact Father Long at nathan.long@lcdio- tle Cajun Saint,”. for a year, providing the child with support, whether for medical needs, special toys cese.org, or call Our Lady Queen of Heaven at 477-1236. “My Name is Charlene: Spring meeting dates, all beginning at 7:15 p.m., are or in some cases financial assistance. Helping with the program were special Sunday, January 10; Sunday, March 14 and Sunday, April The Story of a Special Little guests Hambone, Spark, and Grumpy who entertained the children and adults at- Girl” depicts the short, inspi- 11. A Vocaré game day is scheduled for Saturday, May 8 at rational life of the young girl, tending the event. State CDA officers pictured are, from left, Barbara Michael, state a time to be determined, according to Father Long. who died August 11, 1959. The treasurer; Pat Myers, state treasurer; Joyce Stein, 1st Vice Regent and Gloria New- Interested young men are encouraged to attend the book is now available at man, state Regent, with grandchildren Brianna and Katelyn. In the background are Come and See Weekend (for high school seniors and col- lege students) on Feb. 18-20 at St. Joseph Abbey and Semi- Crossroads Bookstore, 601 Mary Jenkins and Tina Dupre from Ville Platte. Two CDA kids who attended the nary College, St. Benedict, LA, and for all men 16 years West Prien Lake Road in event seated, left to right, in front were Taylor Harrington and Mya Louviere. and older on March 26-28 Lake Charles. This page paid for by the Diocese of Lake Charles through the generous sponsorships of the following: Abrazando Cristo Spring Holy Cross In Memory Saint Charles Crossroads For sponsorship information Mission Trip classes Of Your Center/Tabor Your Store of Faith July 3-11, 2010 slated – call Bobbie Loved One Retreat House Call Laurie Cormier at 337-436-5037 474-7100 439-7400, Ext. 215 439-7400, Ext. 309 Here 337-855-1232 or [email protected]