CHURCH TODAY Volume LII, No. 1 www.diocesealex.org Serving the Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana Since 1970 January 25, 2021 Meet the Diocesan staff What exactly is the “Chancery” and who are the people who take care of the day-to-day goings on behind the scenes that keep the diocese operating? Meet the individuals whose ministry is to work at the St. Joseph Catholic Center to support the churches, schools and other ministries within the Diocese of Alexandria. INSIDE March for Life to be Catholic Schools Week: Ash Wednesday: nothing lasts forever, virtual this year Jan. 31-Feb. 6 including this pandemic For the first time since 1974, when it first This year, Catholic schools in the Diocese Ash Wednesday reminds us that nothing began, the message of the national March for of Alexandria began in a manner unlike at any lasts forever in this world, not material things Life to participants is: Stay home. This year, the other time in recent history. The pandemic and especially not us. The season of Lent is pandemic and circumstances around the Capitol certainly changed our lives and changed the way designed to separate us from “things” so we can building made it impossible to hold the rally and we conduct classrooms. See page 20 to learn focus on what is important – on our relationship march – read the story on page 2. how our Catholic schools are doing. with God. Read about it on page 6. PAGE 2 CHURCH TODAY JANUARY 25, 2021 INDEX Heavy security in D.C., ongoing pandemic mean March for Life will be virtual By Kurt Jensen a small group of pro-life leaders Question Corner .....................2 Catholic News Service from across the country to march National / World News ............3 this year,” Mancini said. Meet the staff ...........................4 WASHINGTON (CNS) “These leaders will represent Plenary Indulgence ..................7 — For the first time since 1974, pro-life Americans everywhere when it first began, the message who, each in their own unique Burses / Vocations ...................9 of the national March for Life to ways, work to make abortion Parish Spotlight .....................10 participants is: Stay home. unthinkable and build a culture Student Spotlight ...................11 Like the satellite events where every human life is valued connected to the annual National and protected,” she added. Picture Spread .......................12 Mall rally and march to the Marches in recent years Feature Story .........................14 Supreme Court, including the had drawn at least 100,000 Feature Story .........................16 Rose Dinner, a youth conference MARCH FOR LIFE. Holy Savior Menard participates in March for Life in participants, and last year’s event, and the Mass for Life, the rest of it Washington, DC in January 2016. when President Donald Trump Schools / Youth .....................20 will be online only Jan. 29. spoke at the rally, was believed to Diocesan Briefs .....................22 March organizers had already U.S. Capitol Jan. 6 and threats of statement issued late Jan. 15. have had the largest attendance in Calendar ................................23 hired a production company subsequent violence by domestic “In light of the fact that we its history. The smallest March for to make a livestreamed event terrorist groups, as reported by the are in the midst of a pandemic Life previous to this was in 1987 possible in the wake of COVID-19 FBI, made security impossible. which may be peaking, and in during a snowstorm, and drew an pandemic restrictions, and to “The protection of all of those view of the heightened pressures estimated 5,000. enforce mask wearing and social who participate in the annual that law enforcement officers and The march is held on or near CHURCH distancing. March, as well as the many law others are currently facing in and the anniversary of the Supreme But the plan was still to enforcement personnel and others around the Capitol … the annual Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade TODAY have as large a live rally as who work tirelessly each year to rally will take place virtually and decision, which legalized abortion could be arranged. Many of the ensure a safe and peaceful event, we are asking all participants to on demand. bus caravans from the Midwest, is a top priority of the March for stay home and to join the march The National Park Service long a staple of the event, were Life,” Jeanne Mancini, president virtually.” closed “core areas” of the National canceled last fall as a result of the of the March for Life Defense There will still be a small in- Mall Jan. 15. They will remain pandemic, and the assault on the and Education Fund, said in a person presence. “We will invite closed at least through Jan. 21. Volume LII, No. 1 January 25, 2021 How to ‘bless the Lord’? / Sacrifice as substitute for Friday abstinence P. O. Box 7417 Alexandria, LA 71303 Q. Please clarify something Despite the lifting of the [email protected] that I don’t understand when I am mandate, a fair number of 318-445-6424 praying. In the Gloria at Sunday Catholics continue to abstain Mass, we say “We praise you, Question Corner from meat on Fridays, and that Publisher: we bless you, we adore you, we is surely consistent with the 1966 Most. Rev. Robert Marshall glorify you.” In Psalm 63, we statement’s recommendation: Publication Manager / Editor: pray, “I will bless you as long By Father Kenneth Doyle “Among the works of Cari Terracina, ext. 255, as I live; I will lift up my hands, Catholic News Service voluntary self-denial and personal [email protected] calling on your name.” And in penance which we especially Multimedia Manager / Advertising: Psalm 103, we say, “Bless the Joan Ferguson, ext. 264; commend to our people for the Lord, my soul; all my being, bless [email protected] future observance of Friday, When God blesses us, we conference for Catholics of that Circulation: Sandi Tarver, ext. 209; his holy name!” My question is even though we hereby terminate [email protected] this: What does it mean for us to are helped and strengthened and region.) the traditional law of abstinence “bless the Lord”? How can we made better off than we were; but In that 1966 statement, the binding under pain of sin... we The CHURCH TODAY (USPS do that? (Indiana) when we “bless” God, that adds U.S. bishops said: “Friday should give first place to abstinence from 393-240) is published by the Catholic A. Your question makes nothing to God’s greatness but be in each week something of flesh meat. We do so in the hope Diocese of Alexandria, once a sense: How can we, who have simply indicates our wholehearted what Lent is in the entire year. that the Catholic community will month, free of charge to members of received all that we have from the gratitude for his divine favors. For this reason, we urge all to ordinarily continue to abstain the parishes in the Diocese of Lord, bless God who possesses Q. I understand that the prepare for that weekly Easter that from meat by free choice as Alexandria, Louisiana. Out of everything already? And the prohibition against eating meat comes with each Sunday by freely formerly we did in obedience to diocese subscriptions are $20 a year. answer has to do with the Hebrew on Friday was lifted with the making of every Friday a day of church law” (No. 24). word for “bless.” It has the same expectation that we would choose self-denial and mortification in Among the other ways of The office is located at root as the word for “kneel,” and another penitential practice prayerful rememberance of the voluntary sacrifice recommended 4400 Coliseum Blvd., it really means to “adore” God, to instead. If I don’t do an act of passion of Jesus Christ” (No. 23). by the 1966 statement are “doing Alexandria, LA 71303. praise him for his magnificence sacrifice and still eat meat on The use of the words “urge” and volunteer work in hospitals, Periodicals postage paid at and thank him for his abundant Friday, am I committing a sin? “freely” seem to me to be clear visiting the sick, serving the Alexandria, LA. favors. (Suffolk, Virginia) evidence that the obligation is needs of the age and the lonely, Postmaster: Psalm 103, for example, A. To answer that question, not one binding under pain of instructing the young in the faith” Send address changes to whose opening verse you quote, we do best to go back to the sin. That conviction is further The CHURCH TODAY, P. O. Box (No. 27). goes on to say: “Bless the Lord, statement issued by the bishops strengthened by a later section of 7417, Alexandria, LA 71306 my soul; and do not forget all of the United States in 1966 this same document, which says, Questions may be sent when they lifted the mandatory “We emphasize that our people Website: www.diocesealex.org his gifts, who pardons all your to Father Kenneth Doyle at obligation of Friday abstinence. are henceforth free from the To receive a free subscription, sins, and heals all your ills... [email protected] (The church’s law concerning this obligation traditionally binding call 318-445-6424, ext 255 or and crowns you with mercy and and 30 Columbia Circle Dr. is a matter that can be determined under pain of sin in what pertains e-mail [email protected] compassion, who fills your days Albany, New York 12203. with good things.” by each national bishops’ to Friday abstinence” (No. 25) JANUARY 25, 2021 CHURCH TODAY PAGE 3 Cardinal Gregory prays for all who died of COVID-19 By Richard Szczepanowski hearts just a little bit more to one Catholic News Service another.” In addition to Cardinal WASHINGTON (CNS) Gregory and the incoming -- Saying the nation “reverently president and vice president, pauses in supplication to participants at the Lincoln remember and to pray for the Memorial event included many thousands of people who Grammy Award-winning gospel have died from the coronavirus singer Yolanda Adams, who during this past year,” sang “Hallelujah.” Lori Marie Washington Cardinal Wilton D.