CHURCH TODAY Volume XLVII, No. 1 www.diocesealex.org Serving the Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana Since 1970 January 18, 2016 O N T H E INSIDE The Feast of the Thousands expected to Epiphany participate in first Cenla Life March Jan. 30 Why January 6 kicks off Gather your friends and family now and make plans to participate the Mardi Gras season in the first Louisiana Life March in Central Louisiana on Saturday, Jan. 30. Read more about it on page 5. DOA Supt. of Catholic Schools Thomas Roque appointed to BESE Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Al- exandria Thomas E. Roque has been appointed by Gov. John Bel Edwards to the State Board of El- ementary and Secondary Educa- tion (BESE). Find out all of the details and more on page 13. Christmas around the diocese Christmas was a joyful and spiritual celebration around the diocese as schools and churches re-enacted the Christmas story and sang sacred Christmas songs. Go to pages 16-17 for a gallery of Christmas photos. PAGE 2 CHURCH TODAY JANUARY 18, 2016 Canada on track to welcome 25,000 Syrian refugees, says ambassador AMMAN, Jordan (CNS) -- new people and also new notices Mark was a refugee from Mark said of ORAT’s private ment personnel on the ground in As a cautious world rang in the from Amman, the Jordanian capi- Hungary 15 years ago and said sponsorship. “So we are finan- the Middle East have permitted New Year with concerns over tal, that we will be getting around he personally understands the dif- cially responsible for each and the processing of refugees to go terrorism and security, Catholics 300 people.” ficulties faced by those escaping every refugee that we bring into faster to reach the February goal, in Canada were continuing to Canada has one of the big- conflict and discrimination. The the country.” without sacrificing stringent secu- welcome Syrian refugees to their gest resettlement programs in former veterinarian was forced Mark said that in 2015, rity measures. newly adopted homeland. the world for Syrian refugees, to flee factions in his native Hun- ORAT initiated sponsorship and He said immigration, secu- The Canadian target of ac- and the Toronto archdiocesan of- gary who resented his work on resettlement for 2,300 refugees rity, medical and military services cepting 25,000 Syrian refugees fice, known as ORAT, provides behalf of victims of racism. worldwide. Ninety percent, main- have been mobilized for the effort by late February “is well in hand, advice, support and assistance to Mark said ORAT focuses ly Iraqis and Syrians, came from in which “normal vetting process- and we should meet it with no civic sponsors in Canada, includ- mainly on privately sponsored the Middle East. es involved with any immigrating problem,” Bruno Saccomani, ing parishes, communities and refugees. “Only if there is a spe- Saccomani said increased to Canada have been maintained.” Canadian ambassador to Jordan, universities wishing to aid refu- cial need, the government asks numbers of Canadian govern- told Catholic News Service Dec. gees. us to help with government- 30. “That includes privately spon- “I consider it as an emergen- sponsored refugees under the sored and government-sponsored cy evacuation because of the large joint-assistance sponsorship pro- Syrian refugees.” number of people coming and the gram,” he said. This is mainly for Martin Mark, who directs the last-minute arrangements,” Mark refugees who face severe medical Office for Refugees in the Arch- told CNS. “The refugees were en needs. diocese of Toronto, told Catholic route for one or two days and with “We identify our refugees, News Service in early January, the excitement; everyone was re- select and screen them, do all the “Even in the night, we received ally tired when they arrived.” preparations and pay the bill,” Lebanon strains under weight of refugees BEIRUT (CNS) -- While the calculated there were nearly 1.1 this cannot continue for too many flow of migrants into Europe and million registered refugees liv- years,” he told CNS. the West has sparked controversy, ing in Lebanon -- but not all refu- Most of the Iraqi refugees are Lebanon continues to bear the gees are registered with the U.N. Christian, and about 97 percent of brunt of absorbing massive num- agency. the Syrian refugees are Muslim, bers of refugees. A commonly The true scale of the influx is Father Karam said. Consequent- CANADA SYRIA REFUGEES. Syrian refugees wait to register at the office of cited figure is that one in four that there are more than 1.5 mil- ly, the overwhelming presence the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees in Amman, Jordan, Dec. 11. More people in Lebanon is displaced lion Syrian refugees in Lebanon, of Syrian refugees upsets the de- than 1,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan were interviewed for a potential chance from Syria. equal to almost one-third of the mographic balance of Lebanon, to go to Canada. (CNS photo/Muhammad Hamed, Reuters) “They are everywhere ... country’s existing Lebanese pop- which is about 40 percent Chris- in all of Lebanon,” Father Paul ulation of nearly 4 million, Father tian. Karam, president of Caritas Leba- Karam said. In addition, there are “It will destabilize the sys- “So, shall Lebanon have an- these areas are commonly re- non, told Catholic News Service 20,000 Iraqi refugees. tem,” Father Karam warned. other story with the new, let me ferred to as camps. of the presence of Syrian refugees Although Jordan and Turkey Lebanon’s demography is say, scenario, with Syria?” Father On a practical level, Leba- in the country, which is roughly are also hosting Syrian refugees, based on 18 religious confes- Karam asked. He cited the pres- non’s infrastructure cannot cope two-thirds the size of the state of Father Karam noted Jordan is al- sions, 12 of which are Christian. ence of Palestinians in Lebanon with such a huge number of refu- Connecticut. most eight times the size of Leba- At least 65,000 Syrian babies for more than 60 years “and no- gees. Even before waves of Syr- There are no formal refugee non, and Turkey about 24 times born in Lebanon since the out- body has resolved their problem.” ian refugees began descending camps in Lebanon. Rather, some larger. According to a UNHCR break of the Syrian conflict are Currently, there are about 500,000 upon the country more than four Syrians establish -- with the per- report released Dec. 18, Lebanon stateless, with no identification Palestinians in Lebanon, most in years ago, Lebanon had grappled mission of the local municipal- hosts more refugees compared to documents. Their births are not areas agreed upon between Pal- with shortages in water and elec- ity -- informal tent settlements. its population size than any other registered in Lebanon or in Syria. estinians and the Lebanese state; tricity. Others find ways to rent space in country. apartments or squat in abandoned “The Lebanese have shown buildings. a real spirit of welcoming the As of November, the U.N. refugees. They help them, they High Commissioner for Refugees are assisting them, but of course • Behavior Modification • In home, Individual, and • Obedience and Therapy Group Sessions Available Pet Training • Phone Consultations • 30-day Money Back Guarantee and Phone Assessments 985.226.6458 • www.felinecaninecoach.com JANUARY 18, 2016 CHURCH TODAY PAGE 3 Obama vetoes Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act Bill would have defunded Planned Parenthood, repealed key parts of ObamaCare LIFENEWS.COM -- Presi- dent Obama vetoed the reconcili- For the first time in 50 ation bill Jan. 7 that would have years, Congress passed a de-funded Planned Parenthood and repealed key part of Obam- bill to defund Planned aCare. Parenthood; and for the The House voted 240-181 to first time in 50 years, de-fund Planned Parenthood with a president had the option republicans voting 239-3 for the to decide whether bill and Democrats voting 1-178 against it. or not to defund Leading pro-life groups ap- Planned Parenthood. plauded passage of the bill, which is the first time a measure de- funding the nation’s abortion cor- debate on the bill, allowing an up poration has gone to the desk of or down vote. Republicans could any president. only get 53 votes to shut off de- “For the first time in nearly bate. 50 years, the president had the Then, in September, Senate option to decide up or down on a Democrats voted to defeat a gov- bill that defunds Planned Parent- ernment funding bill that would hood, America’s largest abortion de-fund the Planned Parenthood provider,” Susan B. Anthony List abortion business after it was president Marjorie Dannenfelser caught in a series of 10 videos told LifeNews. PLANNED PARENTHOOD PROTESTERS carry signs and an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe outside a Planned Par- selling aborted babies and their “It is the first bill ever to get enthood clinic in Vista, Calif., Aug. 3. Boston Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, head of the U.S. bishops’ pro-life committee, body parts. The Senate voted 52 to the president’s desk that would urged U.S. senators to take the federal money that goes to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and instead to 47 against ending debate. have achieved this longtime pro- fund women’s health care providers that do not promote abortion. (CNS photo/Mike Blake, Reuters) Dozens of leading pro-life life goal. We applaud the House groups have already indicated and Senate’s passage of this rec- their support for the bill, includ- onciliation legislation as the most ing the National Right to Life important vehicle for actually just days after more than half a pro-life voters will need to defeat year, most federal payments to Committee.