Cristo Rey Graduates First Class Virus Devastates Families
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE CATHOLIC PAGE 16 Pro-life Billboard June 5, 2020ommentator Vol. 58, No. 9 2019 LPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD RECIPIENT thecatholiccommentator.org C ‘RESILIENT GROUP’ Cristo Rey graduates From the Bishop first class Bishop Michael G. Duca By Richard Meek The Catholic Commentator Change Where flood waters once threatened to wash away dreams, hope emerged through under a brilliant sun seemingly beam- ing its approval. Bookended by a catastrophic flood, listening 18 months in windowless classrooms and finally, the coronavirus pandemic, his week, we as a nation, the inaugural graduating class of Cris- watched the horrific and to Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High heart breaking death of Mr. Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High School celebrated its inaugural graduating T School celebrated in an emotional out- George Floyd while being subdued class with an outdoor ceremony. Smiles were evident as the graduates walked from door ceremony. Family members and by police in Minneapolis. (Before the football field where a class photo was taken to the area where the cars were friends, all in their automobiles, parked you read on, remember now what parked and family members awaiting. Photo by Richard Meek | The Catholic Commentator in front of the stage, the blaring sounds your first feelings were when you of horns expressing their congratula- read this first sentence.) tions and pride. pandemic) but God always has a plan. Catholic education with the unique op- We can view this as an isolated “We are the resilient group; we per- “The difficult times shaped us for who portunity of working in the corporate event, but even then, it is by any severed, did not quit and overcame,” we are today.” world for one day a week, an idea en- measure of human common de- salutatorian Bria Coleman said. “We Cristo Rey initially welcomed stu- thusticallly embraced by the business cency a profound disregard of the started late (because of the flood of dents to the site of the old Redemptorist community. human dignity of Mr. George Floyd 2016) and ended early (caused by the High School in August 2016, offering a SEE GRADUATION PAGE 8 SEE DUCA PAGE 13 Virus devastates families By Debbie Shelley members, with at least one family ex- doctor, and she was admitted to the The Catholic Commentator periencing multiple deaths caused by same hospital as her husband. COVID-19. James Rodney died April 9. As families grapple with the death On March 15, St. Paul member Soon after, Keith exhibited coro- of one or more loved ones because of James Rodney, 92, told his sister navirus symptoms but did not want the coronavirus pandemic, church and fellow parishioner Sylvia Trahan to be admitted to the hospital. Keith parishes in the Diocese of Baton he wasn’t feeling well but that it was died at home April 14, leaving behind Rouge are putting their arms around “just a cold.” As his health deteriorat- a wife, son and numerous relatives. them in a way that transcends social ed, he insisted he was “feeling okay.” With her husband of 62 years and distancing by meeting them at the After Rodney fell twice, his wife, her son both succumbing to the virus foot of the cross. Barbara, called 911 and Rodney was dead, Barbara asked the nurses to April Dunn, left, is pictured with Melanie Wash- Among the parishes hit hard by admitted to a local hospital diag- help her call St. Paul pastor Father ington, who was her colleague in the Governor’s the virus include St. Paul the Apos- nosed with the coronavirus. Rick Andrus SVD. Office of Disability Affairs. Dunn spent much her tle Church in Baton Rouge, whose Shortly afterwards, the Rodney’s “She needed someone to talk with young life as a proponent of the rights of the dis- congregation is primarily African son, Keith Rodney of Opelousas, and was crying and so was I. It was so abled before she died from the coronavirus on American, a high-risk population checked on his mother and noticed hard because I could not be with her March 28. Photo provided by Bambi Polotzola for the virus. St. Paul lost three of its she looked ill. He brought her to the SEE FAMILIES PAGE 15 2 The Catholic Commentator June 5, 2020 | PICTURES FROM THE PAST Unity & salvation By Dina Dow divine persons” (CCC 258). “Inseparable in what they are, the divine persons are also in- We are entering a new season. The first separable in what they do. But within the sin- day of summer is two weeks away. The days gle divine operation each shows forth what is of Phase 2 reopening are potentially eminent. proper to him in the Trinity, especially in the The new liturgical season begins. Ordinary divine missions of the son’s incarnation and Time opens with two solemnities the gift of the Holy Spirit” celebrated on these coming Sun- (CCC 267). days: The Solemnity of the Most Life-Giving Made for communion Holy Trinity and the Solemnity FAI H Therein are foundations of the Body and Blood of Christ. We about the human person. We Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, School of Nursing Graduates 1975: OLOL Grad- reflect on the love of unity and the path believe “the human individual, uate Nurses – Thirty-six students graduated from Our Lady of the Lake School of salvation as manifested in the Trinity and is made in the image and likeness of God; a of Nursing Sunday, Nov. 30, at St. Joseph Cathedral. The graduation address the Eucharist. someone; body/soul; capable of knowledge, was delivered by Bishop Stanley J. Ott, who was pastor of St. Joseph Cathe- The Sign of the Cross self-possession and freedom who can enter dral at the time. Bertha Mae Anders, director of Our Lady of the Lake School As Christians, we invoke the Most Holy into COMMUNITY with other persons and of Nursing, awarded the diplomas and Maureen Daniels, associate director, Trinity daily. From personal prayers to the with God” (CCC 357, 362). It is important to presented the school pins. Photo provided by Archives Department of the Diocese of Baton Rouge celebration of the Mass, we call upon the tri- embrace the heart of the Trinity and recog- une God beginning with the sign of the cross: nize that we are made for communion with | “In the name of the father, and of the son and one another and with God! Our relationships DID YOU KNOW of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” In doing so we in- serve beyond individualism. We are to join as voke the mystery of one God in three persons: distinct persons, who are one with each other father, son and Holy Spirit. According to the and one with God, as we are rooted in love Creed vs creed Catechism of the Catholic Church (Para. 232- that desires the good of the other and the glo- 256), “The Holy Trinity is at the very root of ry of God. In this communion, we experience During Mass on Sundays and media.ascensionpress.com. It was the church’s living faith as expressed in the a deep call of love and sacrifice for the good holy days of obligation, Catholics also during this time St. Ambrose creed … as revealed by Jesus, the divine son of the whole. Blessed Trinity. Foundation of have a choice of creeds following and St. Augustine encouraged the of the eternal father … God is the first origin unity. Holy and adored. the homily. One is the Nicene Creed faithful to recite “The Symbol of of everything and transcendent authority; Food for the journey and the other is the Apostles’ Creed. Faith” daily, leading to its inclusion and that he is at the same time goodness and Moses reminds the Israelites in the Book While the latter is a shorter version in the rosary. loving care for all his children.” of Deuteronomy of God’s inexhaustible mer- of the former, both cover the same The Nicene Creed was created Jesus promises the coming of the para- cy and kindness, as God freed them from territory. in 325 by the Council of Nicaea, clete, the Holy Spirit, during the Last Supper, slavery in Egypt and provided daily miracu- According to catholicstraight the first ecumenical council of the and poured out on Pentecost, as we recalled lous manna in the desert, food for the jour- answers.com, the word “creed” is Christian church, “because some this past Sunday. Blessed Trinity. Foundation ney, a bread from heaven. Moses repeated derived from the Latin word “credo” heretics were confusing people,” of unity. Holy and adored. these words again and again, “Remember, which means, “I believe.” The creeds according to “Why Do Catholics Unity of the Trinity recall, don’t forget, God guided you, fed you, are a “statement of faith” which in- Do That?” by Dr. Kevin Orlin John- To divide the blessed Trinity is what my brought you water, always near” (Dt 8:2-3,14- cludes the belief in the Trinity and son. Two claims made in the Apos- graduate school professor would passionately 16). Recalling now the goodness and loving the path of salvation: “Initiated by tles’ Creed, that Jesus “descended say, “Back up. You are entering the waters of care of God, we also have food for our journey the father, the history of salvation into hell” and “the communion of heresy.” Noted. Rather, we believe, “For as that satisfies our “hunger.” What is this food? culminates in Jesus and through the saints,” are not found in the Nicene the Trinity has only one and the same nature, Where can we find it? work of the Holy Spirit, the redemp- Creed.