St. Francis Celebrates Centennial
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THE CATHOLIC PAGE 7 Gift of the Chalice January 18,ommentator 2019 Vol. 56, No. 25 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1963 thecatholiccommentator.org C EYE ON THE FUTURE St. Francis celebrates centennial By Debbie Shelley The Catholic Commentator A welcome mat of excitement and hospitality was rolled out to usher peo- ple into a Mass closing out a yearlong 100th anniversary celebration at St. Francis Xavier Church in Baton Rouge on Dec. 30. Members of the Knights of Peter ladies auxiliary dressed elegantly in white smiled to passersby as they pre- pared to take group photos, with the Knights dressed in regalia standing nearby. Ushers greeted people and opened the door to a church brimming The Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary kneel in prayer during Mass. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator with people and a soulful Gospel pre- lude before the liturgy. “Today we celebrate 100 years – 100 ton Rouge native, has served as priest with the Feast of the Holy Family, Fa- The theme of the centennial marker years,” said Father Roderick Coates and Josephite leader for more than 25 ther Coates said, “We, too, are the fam- was “Through Trials and Tribulations, SSJ in his homily, and applause rolled years. ily of God. We come together like the by God’s Grace We Triumph.” across the church. Father Coates, a Ba- Connecting the centennial theme SEE ANNIVERSARY PAGE 10 Holiday joy can lead to the blues By Richard Meek real,” said Paula Davis, a social what their houses look like and how The Catholic Commentator worker and mental health profes- perfect and happy their children are sional with Catholic Charities Dio- with their brand new toys.” The tree is down, those joyful cese of Baton Rouge. “I would say “I think it just feeds into people’s memories of Christmas morning the majority of the blues are before thoughts that that may be failing at buried in the brown needles that and during the holidays. And I think family or even at life. I think (social seem to hang around seemingly un- the media feeds into that, such as media) does a number on a lot of til spring. the Christmas specials that you see people.” The Nativity has been stowed or this idea that there has to be all of Davis agreed and warned that and the outdoor decorations shoved these presents under the tree. what people are posting is often back into the cramped attic. “I think people lose focus about “carefully curated to present a pic- The Christmas season is over. what the Christmas season is really ture and it’s not necessarily a reflec- For many, this is the time of year about.” tion of how it really is. when the holiday blues take root, the Stephanie Sterling, director of “People spent a lot of time mak- euphoria of the holidays morphing the Maternity, Adoption and Behav- ing things look a certain way but it’s into a slight depression of unmet ex- ioral Health Services Department of not their own reality.” See Catholic Schools Week special section pectations, dreary weather and the CCDBR, said social media is also a So how does one combat those inside onslaught of January bills. culprit, noting that people are post- pesky holiday blues, and nip it so it “I think the holiday blues are ing “all kinds of perfect pictures, SEE BLUES PAGE 20 2 The Catholic Commentator January 18, 2019 | PICTURES FROM THE PAST Spirit and life By Dina Dow fense against God, sinfulness creates an exile, a separation from God. Thus, our homeland The joy of this past Christmas resonates is open to occupants not of God. It captures as we begin in Ordinary Time of the liturgi- our being and casts us out. Eventually the cal season. Even though the decorations are dwelling will decline into ruins. Yet, in grace stored away for another year con- and mercy, God sends the sider finding a space to display at one who is above sin, be- least one sign of Jesus’ Nativity as Life-Giving stowed with confidence and a reminder of the joy of His hum- FAI H leads with courage to restore ble birth. The celebration of the Sec- our body and soul. ond and Third Sunday Masses of Ordi- The joy of the restoration nary Time empower us to recognize the joy of shines from the sacrament of reconciliation God, the movement of the Holy Spirit and the and a deeper strengthening through the Eu- mission of Jesus Christ. charist. Jesus invites sinners to the table of Children from St. Augustine Church in New Roads carry a banner during the God rejoices in his people the kingdom: “I came not to call the righteous, Martin Luther King Jr. march Jan. 15, 2001, reminding all to keep Dr. King’s The joy in a person is something to behold. but sinners” (Mt 9:13). He invites them to that dream alive. Martin Luther King Day will be celebrated Jan. 21. Photo from The Think of the times we see one who returns conversion without which one cannot enter Catholic Commentator archives home from military service. Separation from the kingdom, but shows them in word and family, friends and familiar faces dissolves deed his father’s boundless mercy for them and is filled with embraces, tears and comfort and the vast “joy in heaven over one sinner | DID YOU KNOW to welcome them home. Hearts move with joy who repents” (Lk 15:7). The supreme proof of and compassion. Perhaps you have witnessed his love will be the sacrifice of his own life “for a little child walking for the first time, parents the forgiveness of sins” (Catechism Para. 545). cheering him or her as they attempt to take Movement of the Holy Spirit Can you hear the bells? that first step. Everyone is cheering! What The First Letter to the Corinthians, Chap- about a wedding day: man and woman deeply ter 12, is widely recognized. St. Paul explains Bells will be ringing. the ringing of the bells but that prac- committed to one another, adorned in beau- the gifts of the Holy Spirit, freely given to us Or maybe not. tice was made optional by Pope Paul tiful garments vowing to be a light of Christ in baptism, which enable us to move with God Depending on the church one at- VI during a revision of the Mass in through their love as families realize time re- on our journey to eternity. Each individual tends, altar servers might or might the 1960s. ally does go by swiftly. Take these moments has spiritual gifts for service, worship and not ring the Sanctus bells during the One of several misconceptions and others similar then multiply the joy by in- tangible benefit for the kingdom of God. consecration, trumpeting the turn- today is that the bells were silenced finity. This is how much God rejoices in you. Through baptism we are united in the ing of the bread and wine into the by Vatican II, which is not true. The Yes, you! This joy is unbreakable, inseparable, mystical body of Jesus Christ. St. Paul gives body and blood of Christ. church’s Sacred Congregation for unstoppable and unfathomable. For this, we a terrific “anatomy lesson” explaining partic- According to the General In- Sacraments and Divine Worship shout back to him in joy! ular functions of organs, each with a specific struction of the Roman Missal, the reinforced the option documented God also rejoices in the restoration of our role, yet crucial to the entire body. Likewise, how to manual on cele- in the GIRM with a re- “homeland.” The reading from the Book of each of us have a pivotal role in the move- brating the Mass, there Some insist the sponse in 1972, stating Nehemiah is the tail end of the story of the ment of the mystical body of Christ for the are two occasions the ringing of bells “de- Israelites’ return from exile. Faced with re- purpose of building God’s kingdom. Fortified when bells might be bells help them pends on the different building Jerusalem after centuries of occupa- by the Holy Spirit our role holds equal bear- used during the litur- circumstances of plac- tion, progress comes with the confidence and ing to another’s. One role is not greater than gy. Of course, the most connect to God es and people.” courage of one leader, Nehemiah, to restore that of another. Rather all roles are necessary common is during the The congregation the confidence and courage in the people. He for the entire body. We are called to function consecration. in a deeper went on to say the ring- surrounded himself with good people to help, together without division and with the same Bells may also be ing depends on the lo- dispelled the enemies who desired to sabo- concern. When one member suffers, all suffer. rung shortly before and perhaps cal custom. tage the progression, and upon completion When one rejoices, all rejoice. We are made the consecration, ac- What is true is that celebrated the restoration showing gratitude for community. cording to the GIRM, even more under the promulgation to God with joy and recommitment. Being in the one body of Jesus allows for when the priest is of what many old-tim- The same happens to us in a spiritual diversity. We have different gifts, yet share praying the Holy Spirit ers refer to as the “new sense. The “homeland” of our very being is these for the good of the whole.