CHURCH TODAY Volume L, No. 2 www.diocesealex.org Serving the Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana Since 1970 February 18, 2019 Family foundations This month, we celebrate marriages and families! See inside or visit www.diocesealex.org for photos submitted from couples across the diocese. INSIDE Diocese releases names of clergy. Golf Tournament to benefit Join us to celebrate weddings Manna House. and anniversaries this month. On Feb. 6, the Diocese of Alexandria released the names of those clergy credibly The annual APT/WAPT (Women’s) Golf We celebrate Natural Family Planning, accused of the sexual abuse of minors. See Pro Tour and the Hixson Ford Pro Am Golf weddings, and anniversaries this month. See pages 6-8 for the Letter to the Faithful of the Tournament hosted at Oakwing Golf Club in pages 12, 14, and 18 to join in the celebration. Diocese of Alexandria from Bishop David P. Alexandria will once again benefit Manna House. Pictured above, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Perot Talley, as well as the list of names. See page 9 for more Manna House updates. celebrate their marriage, Feb. 7, 1959 at Church of the Immaculate Conception in Natchitoches. PAGE 2 CHURCH TODAY FEBRUARY 18, 2019 INDEX Looking back National / World News ............. 3 February 2014: Love the Liturgy ....................... 4 Longest married couple in U.S. attends Holy Ghost Church in Marksville - Bishop’s Column ..................... 5 Norman and Norma Burmah recently celebrated their 83rd wedding Feature Story ........................... 6 anniversary, making them the longest known married couple in the United States. Feature Story ........................... 7 The couple were first recognized in 2012 by the Louisiana Family Forum as being Social Justice .......................... 9 the longest married couple in Louisiana, but after more research, it was discovered Vocations .............................. 10 that they are also the longest known married couple in the United States. At 103 Anniversary Pictures ............. 12 and 100, Norman and Norma live independently in their home in Marksville, where Feature Story ......................... 14 they attend Holy Ghost Catholic Church. Diocesan / Local News .......... 15 Schools / Youth ..................... 20 February 2019: Diocesan Briefs ..................... 22 Join us as we celebrate weddings and anniversaries around the diocese. See Calendar ............................... 23 pages 12, 14, and 18 for anniversary pictures from around the diocese, information on natural family planning, and tips on how to navigate conversations in marriage. Mrs. Burmah, pictured to the left, passed away in Sept. 2014, and Mr. Burmah CHURCH passed away in Sept. 2015. TODAY Feast of the Month: St. Claude de la Colombiere By Emily Ann McCullough trust in the mercy of God. He Volume L, No. 2 February 18, 2019 Guest Contributor wrote this prayer: Lord, if I have St. Claude de la Colombiere’s grievously offended You, My Feast Day: P. O. Box 7417 The Story of Redeemer, let me not offend You Friday, February 15 Alexandria, LA 71303 St. Claude de la Colombiere even more by thinking that You [email protected] are not kind enough to pardon 318-445-6424 “O Sacred Heart of Jesus, Me. Amen. “We cannot honor God by Publisher: Most Rev. David P. Talley, I place all my trust in You.” expecting great things from Him. Bishop of Alexandria Nearly every Catholic is This dear Saint is the Confidence is the virtue that Publication Manager / Editor: familiar with these words and the patron of toy makers and his gives Him the greatest honor.” Cari Terracina, ext. 255, devotion to the Sacred Heart of feast day is February 15. [email protected] Multimedia Manager / Advertising: Jesus that came about as a result Joan Ferguson, ext. 264; of a vision of Jesus in which Emily Ann and her husband, [email protected] He exposed His Sacred human Prayer and Action a former Protestant minister, Circulation: Sandi Tarver, ext. 209; heart, aflame with love for us, Then after much prayer he was became Catholic in 1998. She has [email protected] to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. convinced of their validity and - Create a colorful banner or worked in Religious Education The CHURCH TODAY (USPS On the other hand, few persons became not only her supporter a prayer card with a large Sacred ever since, and at present teaches 393-240) is published by the Catholic know of her spiritual director, St. but a champion and apostle of the Heart of Jesus and the words, Religion to third graders at St. Diocese of Alexandria, once a Claude de la Colombiere, who devotion to the Sacred Heart of “Jesus I trust in You” on it and Frances Cabrini School. month, free of charge to members of was responsible for making that hang it somewhere that you will the parishes in the Diocese of Jesus for the rest of his life. Alexandria, Louisiana. Out of vision known. While on assignment in see it daily. diocese subscriptions are $20 a year. St. Claude was a Jesuit priest England, he was falsely accused - Light a candle at church as from France who came to know and thrown into prison. When he a prayer for a loved one who has The office is located at Do you know someone St. Margaret Mary by way of his was finally released, his health great doubts about God’s love for 4400 Coliseum Blvd., who wants to receive Alexandria, LA 71303. appointment as rector to the Jesuit had taken a turn for the worse. them. the Church Today Periodicals postage paid at Community at Paray-le-Monial, He returned to France to die. He - Go to confession with a FREE of charge? Alexandria, LA. including the church next to the was beatified by Pope Pius XI renewed trust in the mercy of God Postmaster: monastery of the Nuns of the and canonized by Pope John Paul and offer your penance joyfully, Send address changes to Visit the sign-up form Visitation, her order. St. Margaret remembering that your sins The CHURCH TODAY, P. O. Box II, who said that St. Claude’s at www.diocesealex.org, 7417, Alexandria, LA 71306 Mary had suffered greatly from promotion of devotion to the actually no longer exist. or email persecution due to her sisters’ Sacred Heart provided “spiritual - Ask St. Claude to pray cari.terracina@ Website: www.diocesealex.org unbelief of her ongoing private strengthening for Christian for you to be able to abandon a diocesealex.org To receive a free subscription, revelations. She opened up her communities so often faced with specific worry you have to the with their name and call 318-445-6424, ext 255 or heart to St. Claude, who listened Sacred Heart of Jesus. mailing address. e-mail [email protected] increasing unbelief.” to her story a number of times. St. Claude taught boundless FEBRUARY 18, 2019 CHURCH TODAY PAGE 3 Pope names organizing committee for abuse conference in February By Carol Glatz and will involve a process of Catholic News Service initiatives on regional, national and diocesan levels,” he said. VATICAN CITY — Pope Gracias told Crux in October that Francis named U.S. Cardinal the February meeting “cannot be Blase Cupich of Chicago to be cosmetic” or superficial. “Either it part of the organizing committee will be successful, or it will be a preparing for a meeting of the disaster for the church.” world’s bishops’ conferences, The other organizing and representatives of religious committee member is Scicluna, orders to address the abuse and who has assisted the pope protection of minors. with several high-profile abuse The Feb. 21-24 Vatican investigation cases. He serves meeting is not only “about as adjunct secretary of the keeping children safe from harm Congregation for the Doctrine of worldwide,” said Greg Burke, the Faith and is president of the head of the Vatican press office, congregation’s board that reviews in a written statement Nov. 23. appeals filed by priests laicized “Pope Francis wants or otherwise disciplined in sexual church leaders to have a full abuse or other serious cases. understanding of the devastating Scicluna said the meeting impact that clerical sexual abuse will include “a penitential liturgy” has on victims,” he said, soon USCCB MEETS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE SUMMIT IN FEBRUARY. Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago has been because “Pope Francis wants after the Vatican announced appointed by Pope Francis to be part of the organizing committee for the Vatican's Feb. 21-24 global bishops meeting it.” He said abuse survivors “are the members of the preparatory to address clerical sexual abuse. Cupich is pictured during the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and going to be a part of that liturgy committee. vocational discernment at the Vatican Oct. 18. (CNS/Paul Haring) too, just as they will be consulted Together with Cupich, the in advance of the meeting and be committee will include Cardinal listened to during it.” Oswald Gracias of Mumbai, India; for dioceses around the world.” O’Malley said the pontifical solutions moving forward,” the The meeting will mark “the Archbishop Charles Scicluna “We must continue commission, as an advisory body cardinal said Nov. 23. beginning of a new approach that of Malta; and Jesuit Fr. Hans to embrace and practice a to the pope, proposed the global Cupich told Crux it will be I hope will be global, because Zollner, president of the Centre commitment to zero tolerance, meeting for the world’s bishops. critical that all church leaders it concerns the whole church,” for the Protection of Minors at the work for greater transparency, He said the commission has hosted take “ownership for our failures he said. However, all solutions Pontifical Gregorian University including the release of names meetings between survivors and fully in order to ensure they are and approaches will have to be and a member of the Pontifical of clergy accused of abuse, and groups of newly named bishops, not repeated.” This will require lived concretely on the local Commission for the Protection of encourage all religious orders and those meetings “have inspired clearly defining responsibilities level, “in every parish, in every Minors.