CHURCH TODAY Volume XLVI, No. 3 www.diocesealex.org Serving the Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana Since 1970 March 23, 2015 O N T H E INSIDE Celebrating Holy Week Services Looking for a Mass to attend Easter this Easter? or maybe you want to participate in an Outdoor Way of the Cross on Good Friday. Check at Sunrise out all of the Holy Week services in the diocese on pages 8-9. at Holy Rosary Mission, 44 candidates to be welcomed into full Emmanuel, La communion this Easter Following the Rite of Election on Feb. 22, 44 candidates and catechumens are expected to enter fully into communion with the Church this Easter. See pages 12-13 for Rite of Election pics. Pope Francis declares an extraordinary jubilee, Holy Year of Mercy Traditionally, every 25 years the popes proclaim a holy year, which features special celebra- tions and pilgrimages, among other events. Extraordinary holy years, like the Holy Year of Mercy, are less frequent, but offer the same opportunities for spiritual FATHER KENNETH OBIEKWE, pastor of Holy Rosary Mission in Emmanuel, La, celebrates a growth. Find out more on page 2. Sunrise Mass on Easter Sunday, outdoors amid the tall pine trees and blooming azaleas. PAGE 2 CHURCH TODAY MARCH 23, 2015 Christians are dying at the hands of people who hate Jesus Christ VATICAN CITY (CNS) the blasts. Jesus Christ.” -- Condemning deadly terrorist Particularly with the per- In Pakistan, Archbishop Jo- attacks against a Catholic and secution of Christians in Syria, seph Coutts of Karachi, president an Anglican church in Pakistan, Iraq and Nigeria, Pope Francis of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Pope Francis said “the world is frequently has denounced the Conference, urged the govern- trying to hide” a wave of anti- growing wave of anti-Christian ment “to take strong measure for Christian persecution in various violence, a violence that is not the protection of the churches and parts of the globe. simply a matter of restricting re- religious minorities in Pakistan.” “With sadness, with much ligious freedom, but a martyrdom “The government, political sadness, I learned of the terrorist of Christians. parties, religious leaders and ev- attacks today against two church- At a Mass in early February, ery citizen of Pakistan (should) es in Lahore … provoking numer- when the Gospel reading recount- stand against extremist forces and ous deaths and injuries,” the pope ed the killing of St. John the Bap- with their Christian brothers and said March 15 after reciting the tist, Pope Francis said it made him sisters,” the archbishop said in a Angelus with visitors gathered in “think of our martyrs, the martyrs statement, adding that “the whole St. Peter’s Square. of today, those men, women and nation should join hands and Suicide bombers that morn- PROTESTING KILLING OF CHRISTIAN COUPLE. Pakistani members of the children who are persecuted, stand against terrorism.” ing detonated themselves outside Christian minority shout slogans during a Nov. 9 protest in Karachi, Pakistan, hated, chased from their homes, He pleaded with federal and the churches, which are both in against the killing of a Christian couple accused of blasphemy. The Catholic tortured and massacred. This is provincial governments “to take the same predominantly Chris- Church in Pakistan has presented a series of demands to the government, not something from the past; it is effective measures in providing tian neighborhood. Officials said calling for a fair and thorough investigation into the beatings and burning of the happening today. Our martyrs are security to the churches through- 15 people were killed and more young Christian couple. (CNS photo/Shahzaib Akber, EPA) ending their lives under the cor- out Pakistan to ensure freedom of than four dozen were injured by rupt authority of people who hate religion and belief.” Pope seeks prayers for Egyptians beheaded by Islamic State By Carol Glatz and vowed that Egypt maintained ed the way predominantly Mus- Catholic News Service the right to retaliate. lim Egypt’s government was han- Soon afterward, the Egyptian dling the situation. VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- air force began bombing what it “We trust that the role of all Pope Francis called for prayers said were Islamic State targets in institutions of our state was clear for the Egyptian Christians be- Libya. since the beginning of the crisis headed by Islamic State militants In a statement issued Feb. 16 in Libya, and we believe that they in Libya and asked that God rec- by the Coptic Catholic Church, can ensure rights of Egyptian citi- ognize these men killed for their Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac Sedrak of zens,” the Egyptian portal Ahram faith. Alexandria, Egypt, extended his Online quoted Pope Tawadros as He offered morning Mass church’s “deepest sympathies” to saying. Feb. 17 in the chapel of his resi- the families and relatives of the Condemnation for the be- dence for the slain Christians he murdered Christians. heading of the Egyptian Chris- termed “our 21 brother Copts” In apparent reference to the tians in Libya quickly grew whose throats had been slit “for retaliatory military action his beyond Egypt as regional lead- the sole reason of being Chris- country has since taken, Patriarch ers, Muslim and Christian alike, tians,” and he requested people Sedrak also extended his church’s learned of the massacre. pray for the victims so “that the “deepest gratitude” to al-Sisi and WOMEN PRAY FOR 21 CHRISTIANS KILLED IN EGYPT. Coptic Christian Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Lord welcome them as martyrs.” “our country’s loyal armed forc- women attend a Feb. 17 service in Cairo for the Egyptians said to have been whose country is also fighting He called on people to pray es, especially the air forces, for beheaded in Libya. A video released on social media Feb. 15 is said to show Islamic State militants in neigh- as well for the victims’ families the rapid response.” the beheadings. (CNS photo/Mohamed Abd El Ghany, Reuters) boring Iraq and Syria, called and for Egypt’s Orthodox leader, “Egyptian blood is valuable the beheadings of the Egyptian Pope Tawadros II, “who is suffer- and honorable,” he said. Christians a “heinous crime” ing so much.” Pope Francis called Speaking after the video of -- Pope Tawadros offered his cal media reported had been from committed “at the hands of the Pope Tawadros Feb. 16 to express the beheadings surfaced -- but church’s condolences to the rela- the same impoverished village in terrorist gang ... hostile to all hu- his sorrow over the deaths. before the strikes against Islamic tives of the slain Christian mi- Egypt’s South. man values.” Egypt, meanwhile, contin- State in Libya were announced grant workers, most of whom lo- Pope Tawadros said he trust- ued to mourn its 21 nationals, who had been working in Libya when the extremist group kid- napped them. Their beheading was depicted in gruesome detail in a video released Feb. 15 on a pro-Islamic State website. The same evening in a na- tionally televised speech, Egyp- tian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called on his country’s government to provide full sup- port to the families of the victims MARCH 23, 2015 CHURCH TODAY PAGE 3 Pope declares an extraordinary jubilee, a Holy Year of Mercy By Cindy Wooden tions and pilgrimages, strong calls tered along the walls, priests wel- Catholic News Service for conversion and repentance, comed people to the sacrament. and the offer of special opportu- The pope removed his liturgical (CNS) -- Pope Francis an- nities to experience God’s grace vestments and went to confession nounced an extraordinary jubilee, through the sacraments, espe- before putting on a purple stole a Holy Year of Mercy, to highlight cially confession. Extraordinary and hearing the confessions of the Catholic Church’s “mission to holy years, like the Holy Year of others. be a witness of mercy.” Mercy, are less frequent, but offer “God never ceases to dem- “No one can be excluded the same opportunities for spiri- onstrate the richness of his mercy from God’s mercy,” the pope said tual growth. over the course of centuries,” the March 13, marking the second The doors of the church “are pope said in his homily, which anniversary of his pontificate by wide open so that all those who preceded the confessions. God leading a Lenten penance service are touched by grace can find touches people’s hearts with his in St. Peter’s Basilica. the certainty of forgiveness,” grace, filling them with repen- “I frequently have thought Pope Francis said at the penance tance and a desire to “experience about how the church can make service, which featured individ- his love.” more evident its mission to be a ual confessions. It was part of “Being touched by the ten- witness of mercy,” he said during a worldwide celebration of “24 derness of his hand,” people his homily; that is why he decided Hours for the Lord,” in which should not be afraid to approach to call a special Holy Year, which Catholic churches were staying a priest and confess their sins, he will be celebrated from Dec. 8, open for prayer, eucharistic ado- said. In the confessional, one has 2015, until Nov. 20, 2016. ration and confession. “the certainty of being welcomed The biblical theme of the ful,” an admonition that applies Traditionally, every 25 years At each of the dozens of con- in the name of God and under- year, he said, will be “Be merci- “especially to confessors,” the the popes proclaim a holy year, fessionals in St. Peter’s Basilica, stood, despite our misery.” ful, just as your Father is merci- pope said with a smile.