June 12, 2015Ommentator Vol
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THE CATHOLIC Walk His Way Couch Relay PAGE 12 June 12, 2015ommentator Vol. 53, No. 9 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1963 thecatholiccommentator.org C EXTENSION OF CHRIST Bishop Muench ordains three priests at St. Joseph Cathedral By Richard Meek The Catholic Commentator A standing-room-only crowd joined Bish- op Robert W. Muench in welcoming three new priests to the Diocese of Baton Rouge during ordination ceremonies Saturday, May 30 at St. Joseph Cathedral. Father Brad Doyle, Father Reuben Dykes and Father Matthew Graham were ordained by Bishop Muench in a tradition-laden cer- emony with the St. Joseph Cathedral choir providing a stunning musical backdrop. “The church teaches that both in essence and in degree the ministerial priesthood eclipses the shared priesthood of the faith- ful,” Bishop Muench said in his homily. “In addition to the grace it bestows, holy orders confers an indelibly permanent sacramen- tal character or seal by which the ordained share in the priesthood of Jesus himself. This defines a priest’s identity since it depicts the priest as intrinsically connected to and part of Christ himself.” Bishop Muench recalled how many years Bishop Robert W. Muench ordained three seminarians to the priesthood during an ordination Mass on May 30 at St. Joseph ago he was asked by Archbishop Philip M. Cathedral. Pictured, left to right, Father Brad Doyle, Bishop Muench, Father Reuben Dykes and Father Matthew Graham. SEE PRIESTS ON PAGE 8 Photo by Richard Meek | The Catholic Commentator CCDBR helps rebuild lives after disasters By Richard Meek responder to natural disasters, lending volunteers and The Catholic Commentator financial assistance to help people begin the arduous process of rebuilding wrecked lives. Natural disasters are often cruel, whether it’s a hur- “People expect the church to respond,” said Carol ricane devastating a city, flood waters wreaking havoc Spruell, communications coordinator for Catholic in previously drought-stricken states, tornadoes flat- Charities Diocese of Baton Rouge. “That is where tening entire communities or a terrorist attack that (people) go when they need help first.” cripples a community. “Nationally, (Catholic Charities) is known as one Left in their wakes are countless stories of torment, of the top three responders,” she added. “We are the Catholic Charities Diocese of Baton Rouge is one of the people whose lives have been uprooted, who are sud- leading disaster case management team, sticking area’s major recovery responders during any disaster. denly seeking shelter after finding their homes re- around for the long haul and the hard work of rebuild- CCDBR formed an Incident Command Structure in the duced to mere rubble. Uncertainty is a constant com- ing people’s lives.” aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to better serve the needs panion, fear of the future its partner. Because of her communications background and of the area during any disaster. Catholic Commentator file photo For years Catholic Charities USA has been a major SEE DISASTERS ON PAGE 20 2 The Catholic Commentator The LIGHTER SIDE of FAI t H June 12, 2015 | TREASURES FROM THE DIOCESE | DID YOU KNOW What visitors will notice most as they enter and exit St. Louis Moses the author? King of France Church in Baton Rouge is a stunning statute of In the beginning there was ... well, let’s whelmingly suggests Moses as the author, the Risen Christ. The statue is a just say a little confusion. in both the Old Testament and New Tes- Frank Hayden original and was The first five books of the Bible are eas- tament. originally placed in the sanctu- ily recognizable: Genesis, Exodus, Leviti- He was familiar with the geography ary when the church was com- cus, Number and Deuteronomy. Yet, they of the area, and the reality is he certainly pleted in 1972. However, parish- are referred to by a variety of names, and had time to write, spending 40 years wan- ioners voiced their concerns even the author remains a point of discus- dering his way to the Promised Land and and desire for the more tradi- sion. another 40 after that. tional depiction of Christ on the Many refer to the first five books as the However, some counter that the Penta- cross to hang over the altar. So Pentateuch, translated from Greek into teuch is a result of a compilation of series about 18 months later, the Risen “five books.” In the Jewish community, of ancient documents. One theory sug- Christ was replaced and spent the same books are commonly called the gests the documents were put together many years in the tiny chapel at Torah. Other cultures and religions call in their current forms by an enterprising the old Tezcuco Plantation near the first five books The Books of Moses editor around the time of 400 B.C. Theo- Burnside. Fortunately, the chap- or, as the case in the Norwegian Bible, logians and many others blame the con- el was spared when the main the books are titled the first through fifth clusion on what they claim is erroneous home of the planation burned book of Moses. For example, it not unusu- methods of investigation. in 2002. The statue was placed al to hear Genesis referred to as The First No matter the author, the five books into storage and returned to St. Book of Moses. of the Bible are some of the most import- Louis about five years ago. Doubt, albeit not in abundance, re- ant. They provide a matrix as to how we About two years ago, it was mains as to who authored whatever one should live our lives, the spiritual laws by placed in its current location. might wish to call these five books. Al- which we should abide, and thousands of Photo by Richard Meek | The Catholic Com- though nowhere in the Pentateuch is the years later, those same laws and princi- mentator author definitely revealed, evidence over- ples still apply, under any name. Christopher Iwancio. We actually spent are some of the thrills of the sport? the majority of our time with him at the Caphuchin Friars friary in Berkeley just I have been blessed with the op- across the bay. We took a day trip into A portunity to spend two summers … with FATHER ANDREW MERRICK pas- Napa to visit a mutual friend and spent a working at Camp Chosatonga in Brevard, tor, St. Elizabeth Church in Paincourtville day and night in Yosemite National Park. NC as a counselor at a boys’ wilderness and St. Jules Church in Belle Rose Our camping trip got “rerouted” as a for- camp. Despite being from south Louisi- est fire started the day before we arrived ana, I was able to be on the rock climbing Tell us about the old grey Ford pick- and closed off the route to our campsite. staff at the camp. It was my responsibility Qup truck you own. We were able to spend some time in the to teach kids the basics of climbing and “valley” and take in the beauty of the park. take them out on trips. I LOVED rock That’s a funny question, because it On our way out, we were able to see up climbing! It is a combination of physical A is still hard for me to think of my close and personal (45-50 yds.) two of the challenge, mental challenge, adrenaline truck as old even though I have had it since “air tankers” – a fire helicopter – put out rush, sheer beauty and absolute peace. the middle of my senior year in high school some of the flames. One day Father Paul One of my favorite memories is climbing – over 16 years ago. She has been very and I decided to rent a “go-car” to tour a spire in Linville Gorge (aka The Green good to me and has rolled for over 248,000 ketball, but all sports really), Saints, and part of San Francisco. It was basically a Grand Canyon). I had to repel down from miles. My parents quit asking me when I Pelicans ... Oh, and don’t forget about the mesh between a motorcycle and go-cart the ridge to reach the base of the spire was going to get another vehicle and now USA Stars and Stripes international foot- with a GPS-based audio tour. It was a lot located inside of the main ridge. As I just smile when someone else brings up the ball (soccer) team. While I do enjoy keeping of fun. At one point we were sandwiched ascended the spire, the route wrapped question. It is paid for, comfortable, and I up with sports, I certainly don’t watch it as in-between a couple of buses like a mouse around to the other side. At that point I like it. Why change that? I know that the much as I used to, that’s for sure. among elephants. At that point Father was exposed to the inside of the gorge, time for a new vehicle is coming sooner Paul’s blood pressure was a little higher which is between 1,000-1,400 ft. deep. To rather than later, but until then, you can What are some of the songs you than normal. feel the gust of the wind, look down the find me in my 1999 Ford pickup. Q like to sing when you sing loudly gorge, and see the river below was stun- when in a good mood? Where are some of the places you ning. I felt like I was hanging between What type of sports do you like Q have been rock climbing? What heaven and earth.