Four Ordained to Priesthood, One to Transitional Diaconate
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
01088221 Vol. 46, No. 10 Four ordained to priesthood, one to transitional diaconate By Pamela Seal ordinands of the impor- Diocese of Lake Charles tant role prayer plays in their vocation. LAKE CHARLES — “As Pope Benedict in God’s call to five men the Year for Priests re- overcame many twists and minded us, people look to turns in recent months the priest to be an expert leading up to the Sacra- in prayer,” said Bishop ment of Holy Orders on Provost. “Through his ex- Saturday, June 27, in the ample of prayer and per- Cathedral of the Immacu- sonal relationship with late Conception. God, the priest informs The ordinations of the us that God is not some Rev. Samuel Bond, Rev. philosophical abstraction Joseph Caraway, Rev. An- but a deeply personal God drew DeRouen and Rev. who touches our hearts, Levi Thompson to the minds, and souls.” priesthood — the largest At the conclusion of his number of priests to be or- remarks, Bishop Provost dained at one time in the expressed what a happy 40-year history of the Dio- day it was for the Dio- cese of Lake Charles — cese of Lake Charles say- was a reminder that God’s ing, “United with family grace always prevails, and friends, bishop and even amidst a pandemic. priests, deacons and reli- Joining these four men gious, we all rejoice in the on his own priestly jour- graces that will flow at ney was Rev. Mr. Michael the opening of Wisdom’s Beverung as he was or- arms and the embrace of dained a transitional dea- Christ, the bridegroom of con. With God’s grace, he his Church.” will be ordained to the The parents of the four priesthood in 2021. priests were among those Bishop Glen John Provost is joined by the four priests and one transitional deacon ordained during the June His Excellency, The rejoicing. 27 Mass in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Shown, from left, are Rev. Andrew DeRouen, Rev. Levi Most Reverend Glen John Thinking about what Thompson, Bishop Provost, Rev. Joseph Caraway, Rev. Samuel Bond, and Rev. Mr. Michael Beverung. Provost, Bishop of Lake a gift a parent of a priest spiring to see your little child that you raised since he gy in the Diocese of Lake Charles thanking his brother Charles, was the ordain- receives, Marty DeRouen was an infant become a priest.” priests for all their good work. ing prelate for the invi- said he and his wife Ju- Born on the same day as Hurricane Audrey in 1957, The four newly ordained priests offered blessings tation-only Mass that was lie are not giving Andrew Julius Caraway III said his son Joseph could not have individually to Bishop Provost. They will each take up streamed live on social away but instead getting given him a better birthday gift. “I feel like I am going their assignments as parochial vicars effective July 1, media and through the so much back in return. to explode from the inside. It is overwhelming” he said as announced by the Very Rev. Ruben Villarreal: diocesan website. In his “The world just pours standing alongside his wife, Ladonna. “I don’t feel like I homily, Bishop Provost love on him, and we get a am touching the ground. Nothing can top this.” Father Bond at the Cathedral in Lake Charles stressed the importance bigger family through his of Wisdom from the Book priesthood.” In addition to the role parents play in planting seeds Father Caraway at St. Henry Parish in Lake Charles of Sirach. Father Bond’s mother, and cultivating a life of prayer for these young men, priests also serve as mentors during their discernment Father DeRouen at St. Theodore Parish in “A priest must be hum- Mitzi, said she had a hard Moss Bluff and St. Pius X Parish in Ragley ble enough to admit his time identifying what she process. To honor them, the ordinands each choose one weakness, courageous was feeling emotionally priest to assist with vesting. Father Thompson at Our Lady Queen enough to act on the truth, before Saturday’s ordina- Deacon Beverung was assisted by the Rev. Whitney of Heaven Parish in Lake Charles prudent enough to judge tion. “I could not explain Miller. For Father Bond, it was the Very Rev. Ruben Deacon Beverung will serve his diaconate when he must speak, and it, but during the ceremo- Buller, V.G.; for Father Caraway, it was his cousin, Rev. internship at St. Philip Neri Parish in Kinder. patient enough to know ny, I was overcome with Michael Caraway; for Father DeRouen, it was the Very when he must be silent,” emotions of happiness,” Rev. Edward Richard. V.F.; and for Father Thompson, it was Rev. Roland Vaughn. Masses of Thanksgiving — the first ones celebrated he said. “All of this re- she said. “I could not stop by the newly ordained in their home parishes — took quires Wisdom, a Wisdom crying.” Bond’s father Jo- Before the vesting, every priest in attendance lays hands on each ordinand one at a time. This symbol of place in the following churches: Rev. Caraway, St. John which you do not possess, seph said with enthusi- the Evangelist Mission in Lacassine; Rev. DeRouen, Ca- unity among the brother priests was especially poignant that comes from God, and asm, “All things are pos- thedral of the Immaculate Conception in Lake Charles as Rev. Trey Ange and Rev. Michael Caraway laid hands that remains a gift. sible with God.” assisted by Deacon Beverung; and Rev. Thompson, St. on Joseph Caraway. All cousins to one another, Joseph is “A priest needs this Frank Thompson com- Theodore Catholic Church in Moss Bluff — all on Sun- the third among them to be ordained to the priesthood Wisdom in abundance,” pared his experience of day, June 28; and Rev. Bond, Our Lady of LaSalette Par- since 2017. Bishop Provost contin- attending the Mass of Or- ish in DeQuincy on the evening of Saturday, June 27. ued, “especially in this dination with the visit to The collective gathering of priests, including several challenging world. … The Rome he and his wife Eva retired servants of God, was a visible reminder of their ***** greater the challenge, the shared while Levi was selfless vocation in service to others. To read Bishop Provost’s homily in its entirety online, more is required of your studying there. “I feel like Bishop Provost expressed his congratulations to all visit www.lcdiocese.org/3-news/2953-bishop-provost-s- response. This is the work the Heavens are rejoic- the families of the newly ordained saying that the call ordination-homily. To view the Mass of Ordination, visit of Wisdom.” ing. It was unbelievable,” to priesthood issues forth from family life by creating a www.youtube.com/lcdiocese and click on Ordinations to He also reminded the he said. “It was really in- fertile ground of prayer. He also acknowledged the cler- the Priesthood and Diaconate. Decree of Announcement St. Louis graduates of Pastoral Assignments The Most Reverend Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake recognized for achievements Charles, hereby announces the pastoral assignments for LAKE CHARLES — Several St. Louis Catholic High School the year Two Thousand and Twenty for the Diocese of Lake Charles, Louisiana. graduating seniors from the Class of 2020 were recognized for their academic and athletic achievements as their senior year Effective July 1, 2020: culminated in May. Katherine Jester earned a $3,200 scholarship from the The Most Reverend Glen John Provost, The Very Reverend Anthony Fontenot – Pastor, Saint National Honor Society. She applied for the award through Bishop of Lake Charles, has asked that during Raphael Parish in Iowa and its mission, Saint Joseph in the St. Louis Catholic’s school chapter of NHS. Jester plans LeBleu Settlement the hurricane season of 2020 the people of the to attend Texas A&M University and major in chemical Diocese of Lake Charles pray the following The Reverend Jom Joseph, HGN – Pastor, Saint Charles engineering. Jester also earned recognition to the LHSAA prayer, composed in 1957 by The Most Reverend Borromeo Parish in Fenton and its mission, Saint John the Composite All-Academic soccer team for her perfect 4.0 GPA, Maurice Schexnayder, Second Bishop of Evangelist in Lacassine and she also represented Southwest Louisiana on the LHSSCA Lafayette, following Hurricane Audrey: West All-Star soccer team. O God, Master of this passing world, hear the The Reverend Rojo Koonathan, HGN – Pastor, Christ the Athletic achievements included two seniors signing letters King Parish in Lake Charles and Dean of the South Deanery of intent and four others receiving LHSAA All-Academic humble voices of your children. The Sea of Galilee obeyed your order and The Reverend Mr. Michael Beverung – Diaconate Internship, Composite Team honors for maintaining a 4.00 unweighted returned to its former quietude. Saint Philip Neri Parish in Kinder GPA throughout their high school careers. Golfer McKenzie LeDuff signed her letter of intent at You are still the Master of the land and sea. The Reverend Samuel Bond – Parochial Vicar, Cathedral of home this year, but still made her commitment to Alabama We live in the shadow of a danger over which we the Immaculate Conception in Lake Charles, and continuing State University offi cial despite the atypical circumstances have no control: the Gulf, like a provoked and theological studies at the University of Saint Mary of the surrounding COVID-19. Track and fi eld athlete Luke Benoit angry giant, can awake from its seeming lethargy, Lake in Mundelein, Ill. signed his letter of intent with the University of Louisiana and overstep its conventional boundaries, The Reverend Joseph Caraway – Parochial Vicar, Saint Ragin’ Cajuns.