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Of Sexual Abuse by Richard Meek “This Is of the Highest Priority to Us

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Of Sexual Abuse by Richard Meek “This Is of the Highest Priority to Us THE CATHOLIC PAGE 8 St. Theresa Avila centennial October 26,ommentator 2018 Vol. 56, No. 19 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1963 thecatholiccommentator.org C Diocese to release names of priests ‘credibly accused’ of sexual abuse By Richard Meek “This is of the highest priority to us. We’re working cused” of abusing minors. The Catholic Commentator on a process to research our files so that when we do The dioceses of Lafayette, Alexandria, Houma- publish the list it will be accurate and complete. Part Thibodaux and Shreveport have also released state- The Diocese of Baton Rouge will join several other of this process is to establish a timeline for the release ments they will reveal the names of priests who were dioceses in the state of Louisiana and release names of the list. As Bishop (Michael G.) Duca said recently, credibly accused of abusing minors. of clergy members credibly accused of sexually abus- we want to be ‘attentive to the issues of justice and In a prepared statement, Archbishop Aymond said ing minors. show concern for victims in a way that is transparent, the clergy files are being “examined very carefully” In a statement released Oct. 16, the Diocese of Ba- credible, honest and caring.’” and review of those files will go back at least 50 years ton Rouge, which was formed in 1961, “will release the The statement came on the same day Archbishop to “ensure the list is accurate and complete. We will names of priests who have been credibly accused of Gregory M. Aymond of New Orleans said he will re- publish the list as soon as the work is finished. It will sexual abuse of minors. lease the names of those clergy members “credibly ac- be sooner rather than later.” WITNESS TO HISTORY Sisters of St. Joseph celebrate milestone By Bonny Van Joseph Cathedral. The Catholic Commentator The Sisters of St. Joseph originally landed in Bay St. Louis from France A smile graced the face of Sister in 1855. Two years later, they expand- Kathleen Babin CSJ as she stopped to ed their ministry to the Archdiocese look at a picture that was more than a of New Orleans, and on Oct. 22, 1868, half century old. four sisters arrived in Baton Rouge, via In the middle of the photograph was steamboat, from the Crescent City. a young woman dressed in a traditional Their mission was to take charge of habit, her gaze looked over the porch an orphanage, a day school and board- of a former classroom in Bay St. Louis, ing school, according to a copy of a let- Mississippi. ter found in the Archives Department of “That’s me,” she grinned, pointing to the Diocese of Baton Rouge. herself in the photo. “The sisters who are sent will have Sister Kathleen is a living witness to much work but they will be able to at- the history of the Sisters of St. Joseph, tain great success,” wrote New Orleans having been around for 75 of the 150 Archbishop Jean-Marie Odin in his re- years the order has been in the Baton quest to Reverend Mother St. Claude, Rouge area. for women religious in Baton Rouge. “I’m grateful, just so grateful that the The original school was named St. sisters came and that they were the ones Joseph’s Day School, coming from St. Sister Kathleen Babin CSJ looks up at a photograph of herself in the 1950s, wearing that were here,” said Sister Kathleen, Joseph Church, now St. Joseph Cathe- a traditional habit. She was pictured on the front porch of a former classroom used who graduated from St. Joseph’s Acad- dral. When the school, orphanage and by the Sisters of St. Joseph in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Photo by Bonny Van | The Catholic Com- emy in 1943 and immediately entered convent moved in 1869 to a new, larger mentator the Sisters of St. Joseph community. location on Fourth Street, it was re- The Sisters of St. Joseph are cel- named St. Joseph’s Academy. de Paul. But education was their main St. Thomas More School and St. George ebrating their 150th anniversary in Other ministries started by the sis- focus and the Sisters of St. Joseph were School, and the high school in New Baton Rouge with a number of events, ters in those early days included pris- called upon to help lead and teach in Roads, which is now Catholic High of including a special Mass celebrated by on ministry and outreach to the poor, other schools in the Baton Rouge area, Pointe Coupee. Bishop Michael G. Duca on Oct. 21 at St. which became the Society of St. Vincent including Sacred Heart of Jesus School, SEE SISTERS PAGE 24 2 The Catholic Commentator October 26, 2018 | PICTURES FROM THE PAST Restoration and love By Dina Dow do you want me to do for you?” Pause for a moment and ponder this “en- There is something about the work of res- counter.” If Jesus were sitting right in front of toration. Many times the term is used in refer- you and asked, “What do you want me to do ence to construction, as seen in the aftermath for you,” how would you respond? When have of storms and floods. People restore dwellings I cried out to Jesus in hopes of being restored? to an original state, perhaps When have I persistently cried with some updating or remod- out to him when others tell eling, accomplished through Life-Giving me to be quiet? Did I persist an enormous amount of sac- FAI H or stay within the boundary of si- rifice, persistence and love. The lence? Is there something I need 30th and 31st Sunday Mass readings to ask Jesus? What is holding me in Ordinary Time (Year B) give insight into back? What needs restoration in my life? God’s restorative love through Jesus Christ Bartimaeus pleads, “Master, I want to see!” for humanity. He not only knows of Jesus’ healing ministry; Restoration he also BELIEVES Jesus WILL restore his The 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time read- sight. Jesus hears his prayer, recognizes his ings begin with the prophet Jeremiah. He faith and restores his sight. Rather than re- Bishop Robert E. Tracy meets with then-Pope Paul VI in 1974 at the Vatican. reassures the exiled Israelites to stand firm turning home, Bartimaeus chooses the sure Pope Francis canonized St. Pope Paul VI on Oct. 14 at the Vatican. Photo courtesy for the day will come when their lives will be path and follows Jesus. of the Department of Archives | Diocese of Baton Rouge restored. Although outcasts, God’s infinite “I love you, Lord, my strength” (Ps(s) 18). love continues to guide them safely over the As a child, the last words I spoke after my terrain until the time of the restoration. He nightly prayers were, “I love you, God.” The | promises an everlasting love which remains simplicity of youth inspired me to say these DID YOU KNOW faithful despite their infidelity. When this day just in case I died in my sleep, for I wanted arrives there will be joyful dancing, praising these to be my last spoken words. Of course and singing of the “great things God has done now my head hits the pillow and I am fortu- Day of the Dead has for us” (Ps(s) 126) because of his great com- nate to even pray the Sign of the Cross. Seri- passion and mercy. ously, though, what is the last the thing we The restoration of the people also wel- think about at the end of the day? various cultural traditions comed the restoration of the temple, where Many people pray an Examination of Con- high priests offered burnt sacrifices and oth- science to review how well they loved God that Many Catholics in the Diocese of pray and perhaps play some music. er offerings for the atonement of sins. This day. A simple examination is similar to what Baton Rouge are finalizing prepa- It is also customary in the His- priesthood was ultimately fulfilled by our Moses is reminding the Israelites of in the first rations to visit their departed loved panic community for parents of de- eternal high priest, Jesus Christ, who offered reading of the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time. ones at cemeteries through south- ceased children to place toys at their the perfect sacrifice once and for all and still He has just passed on to them from God the eastern Louisiana. child’s graves on the Day of the In- intercedes for us at the right hand of God. Ten Commandments as the way of loving God Visiting cemeteries on All Saints’ nocents. On Nov 2, small offerings Thus, by his passion, death and resurrection and others. Ultimately, Moses emphasizes the Day is a time-honored tradition that of alcohol might even be brought to we are set free from the bondage of sin and call to love God alone with the totality of their spans generations. Who among us the adult graves. are restored by sacrificial love into unity with being: heart, soul and strength. We are called could ever forget our mothers load- In Mexico, there is always a con- God where we belong. to the same love through Jesus Christ. This ing us into the family jalopy, the certed effort to ensure the United The Gospel reading from St. Mark is pow- love is to be rooted in our hearts in order to be normal malodorous smell of melted States’ tradition of Halloween is not erful.
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