September 28,Ommentator 2018 Vol
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE CATHOLIC PAGE 3 BAA kicks off Oct. 1 September 28,ommentator 2018 Vol. 56, No. 17 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1963 thecatholiccommentator.org C A NEW ERA CTK brings light to house By Richard Meek The Catholic Commentator Out of the darkness of unspeakable tragedy, a light is rising, spreading a pharos of resurgence, and, perhaps most importantly, one of faith. Christ the King Church and Catholic Center in Baton Rouge, through the ef- forts of pastor Father Andrew Merrick and many others, has turned the for- mer Phi Delta Theta fraternity house, where LSU freshman student Max Gru- ver died a year ago during a fraternity hazing incident, into a community of nine Catholic male students living to- gether, sharing their faith while also developing and deepening their own prayer lives. “I thank God for the opportunity HITTING HIS STRIDE – Bishop Michael G. Duca, seen kissing the cross held by New Orleans Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond for all of the things he has done in our during the bishop’s installation ceremony Aug. 24, has kept a busy schedule. In the past two weeks, Bishop Duca has held a lives and to be able to take what was a prayer service for deacons in the Diocese of Baton Rouge and their wives; celebrated the Rite of Admission to Candidacy for terrible tragedy and bring about a sort the priesthood for diocesan seminarians Danny Jude Roussel and Mathew Thomas Dunn; and, celebrated game day Mass at of victory to that,” said LSU senior Christ the King Church in Baton Rouge for LSU’s home opener against Southeastern Louisiana University. Photo by Richard Meek | The SEE CHRIST PAGE 24 Catholic Commentator Sister Helen inspires SJA students By Bonny Van “What a joy!” said the 79-year-old raise our voice.” The Catholic Commentator nun, author of “Dead Man Walking” “I learned to write, I learned to and “The Death of Innocents: An Eye- speak, I learned public speaking at When the bell tone sounded on witness Account of Wrongful Execu- this school and I use it every day of my Sept. 11, hundreds of students at St. tions.” “Because this is a great age to life now to stand up as a woman and Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge be a woman. I stand here and I see be a leader, and our faith is right at the quickly began to fill the bleachers in sanctity, joy and compassion and all of heart of that,” said Sister Helen. the Student Activity Center. In the our sisters here with me, Sisters of St. She told the audience that she had front row of the chairs lined up on the Joseph, and all of you.” just finished writing a memoir called floor sat the Sisters of St. Joseph, al- With her voice gaining strength as “River of Fire.” She said the book, ways considered special guests of the she spoke, Sister Helen stood in front which will be released this summer, is school. Having taken their seats long of a vintage photo of herself as the SJA about the fire of our faith. before the students filed in, the sisters May Queen of 1957. Months after that “Catching the fire is when our faith chatted quietly among themselves and photo was taken, Sister Helen gradu- comes alive, when a wind blows on the with school leaders. Among them was ated from SJA and joined the Congre- coals of our soul and something in us, LATIN FESTIVAL – Large crowds en- Sister Helen Prejean CSJ. Modestly gation of Sisters of St. Joseph. Accord- when we see something, we go, ‘That’s joyed music, food and fun at St. Pius X dressed and diminutive in stature, she ing to Sister Helen, three main lessons not right’ or ‘That needs to change,’ ” in Baton Rouge. Rey Diaz plays the blended in with the other bespectacled from SJA stayed with her throughout she said. “Our conscious kicks in and trumpet during a concert by Mariachi ladies seated around her. Then, she her ministry: the Catholic faith; a we know we gotta raise our voice in Jalisco. See more on pages 12-13. Photo took the stage. challenging education; and the call “to SEE PREJEAN PAGE 23 by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator 2 The Catholic Commentator September 28, 2018 | DID YOU KNOW The movement of the Holy Spirit By Dina Dow in acts of virtue. Avoiding temptations implies avoiding any person, place, event, addiction, The Mass readings during the 26th Sunday experience, media, worldly goods, etc. that in Ordinary Time focus on two movements places one in danger of sin. Jesus says straight of the heart: humility and preservation. The out, “Cut it off” (Mk 9: 43, 45). It is by our rela- reading from the Book of Numbers is about tionship with God, that being a “child of God,” the coming of the Spirit of God. by which we are called to Moses, in distress, cried out for turn to God with total trust help. God answers his plea as the Life-Giving and surrender. He opens the Spirit of God descended into the FAI H path of mercy in the sacrament meeting tent. There, the gathered el- of reconciliation and strength- ders, who were with Moses, stood in the ens us most perfectly in the sac- glory cloud, received the Spirit of God and rament of the Holy Eucharist. We are called vocalized in praise. In addition, two others, to “cut out” what destroys and embrace what on the list but outside the tent, received the gives life. The sacraments enable us to do so. same gift with the same outcome. Those who Out of a rib were in the tent were surprised that these two The Mass readings of the 27th Sunday in had received the same power of the Spirit and Ordinary Time unveil the depths of comple- Notre Dame seminarians Matthew Dunn, left, and Danny Roussel prepare for were prophesying in the camp, apparently mentarily. The sacrament of marriage is a vis- Mass on Sept. 15 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Baton Rouge. Both men ahead of all the others. How could that be? ible sign of the love of God. “At last” are the received Admission to Candidacy for the priesthood by Bishop Michael G. They were not there? Are those who were in words spoken by Adam upon seeing Eve, built Duca. Photo by John Yike the tent given a higher privilege or gift? Mo- up from his rib. It’s interesting that the place ses, appreciative of the wonder of God also from which came forth Eve is that part of knew the unlimited ways of God. “Would that the body which protects the lungs and heart. all the people of the LORD were prophets! These perform main functions of two compli- Steps to the priesthood Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit mentary systems that are life-giving: circula- on them all” (Nm 11:29). God allows people tory and respiratory. The heart sustains the On Sept. 15, at Sacred Heart the ministry of the church? I am,” with various experiences be given similar rhythm while the lungs bring in oxygen and Church in Baton Rouge, seminar- read Father Lorrain from a text gifts with just as much zeal and passion. The rid the body of dangerous gas. Their compli- ians Matthew Dunn and Danny on rites of the church. “Are you re- Holy Spirit moves in many places and on all mentary functions ultimately sustain life. Roussel were admitted to candi- solved to prepare yourself in mind levels. Similarly, when seeking a suitable partner dacy for the priesthood for the Di- and spirit to give a faithful service Similarly, in the Gospel, Jesus defends a for Adam, God did not clone Adam. Rather, ocese of Baton Rouge. Both Dunn to Christ the Lord and his body the man who is performing miracles in his name. he created one that would protect the heart of and Roussel are third year theology church. I am.” Jesus is not bothered by this, for only in God’s man and together share in the breath of the students at Notre Dame Seminary Father Lorrain said that after name are demons cast out. Jesus reminds the mystical body of Christ, so that by their union in New Orleans. According to Fa- each year of seminarian study, stu- apostles, “For whoever is not against us is for life comes into being. The two become one ther Matt Lorrain, director of semi- dents progress through other steps us” (Mk 9:40). Even small things done in the and from them comes a person. narians for the Baton including Ministry name of Jesus (i.e. sharing a cup of water) are The Gospel passage tells of yet another Rouge diocese, the “(The church of Lector and Min- powerful witnesses of his glory. The example moment when the Pharisees are testing Je- simple ceremony is istry of Acolyte. he shares is of a little one (child). He stated the sus, as they ask him the legality of divorce. an important step in has) an annual Before their fourth gravity and repercussions of sin committed if Historically, the only reason divorce was al- the discernment pro- year of study, a sem- it causes this little one to sin. It is interesting lowed in Moses’ time was to battle the actions cess for those consid- evaluation to get inarian is ordained a the timing of this reading. The Holy Spirit is of men who desired to leave a wife, meaning ering a vocation.