June 26, 2015Ommentator Vol
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THE CATHOLIC Dancing her way into young hearts PAGE 12 June 26, 2015ommentator Vol. 53, No. 10 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1963 thecatholiccommentator.org C GOD’S PLAN Robert W. Muench celebrates 25 years as bishop By Richard Meek pel this false rumor,’ ” Bishop Muench The Catholic Commentator recalls. A few hours later, however, during a The morning of May 1, 1990, began late night meeting, he was left speech- like any other for then-Msgr. Robert less when Archbishop Schulte brought Muench. He began with a prayer, fol- him in the chapel at Notre Dame Semi- lowed by Mass. A post-breakfast meet- nary and informed him, “You are the ing was scheduled, as was a confirma- next auxiliary bishop of New Orleans.” tion later that night, but “I was totally shocked certainly nothing to sug- ... he “never, never, and flabbergasted,” said gest the day would be life Bishop Muench, who 25 changing. never” thought years later is preparing In fact, later that night to celebrate his silver during the confirma- that as a young jubilee. “As God is my tion ceremony at St. Paul witness, I never thought Church in New Orleans, priest he would about, considered the then-Msgr. Muench by possibility of, wanted his own admission was ever become a to be, expected to be, furious when pastor Fa- planned to be, or prayed ther Michael Fritzen bishop and lead to be a bishop. After SVD, (now deceased), becoming an auxiliary thanked him for fill- a diocese. bishop, I never thought ing in for Archbishop of myself as becoming a Francis Schulte and added, “After all, diocesan bishop.” everyone knows Msgr. Muench is going But God had other plans, one that to be the next auxiliary bishop of New would take him from the Crescent City Bishop Robert W. Muench was installed as the fifth bishop for the Diocese of Baton Orleans.” to the Ohio River near his Kentucky Rouge on March 14, 2002 at St. Joseph Cathedral. Bishop Muench said he “never” “I thought to myself, ‘I will never dis- SEE BISHOP PAGE 10 thought about himself becoming a diocesan bishop. Commentator file photo All creation sings God’s praise, but people are silencing it, pope says By Cindy Wooden A lack of respect for creation is a lack “The earth, our home, is beginning not only insists that wealthier nations Catholic News Service of respect for God who created all that to look more and more like an im- who contributed more to despoiling the exists, the pope says. In fact, he contin- mense pile of filth,” the pope writes in earth must bear more of the costs of VATICA N CIT Y – The earth, which ues, a person cannot claim to respect the document. remedying the damage, he also calls for was created to support life and give nature while support- While acknowledg- their solidarity with the poorest of the praise to God, is crying out with pain ing abortion, nor can ing science is not the earth. He urges generosity in transfer- because human activity is destroying one claim to be pro-life Catholic Church’s area ring clean technology, protecting small it, Pope Francis says in his long-awaited without a commitment of expertise, Pope farms, opening access to markets and encyclical, “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our to reversing damage to Francis says “a very protecting people’s jobs. Common Home.” the environment. solid scientific consen- Quoting St. John Paul II and a con- All who believe in God and all peo- With unusually sus” points to global stant theme of the church’s social doc- ple of good will have an obligation to blunt language for a warming and indicates trine, Pope Francis says the church rec- take steps to mitigate climate change, papal document, the “human activity” has ognizes the “legitimate right” to private clean the land and the seas, and start pope decries centuries seriously contributed property, but that right is never “abso- treating all of creation including poor of exploiting the earth, to it, threatening the lute or inviolable,” since the goods of the people with respect and concern, he exploiting other people and acting as if planet and all life on it. earth were created to benefit all. says in the document released at the the point of human life is to buy and con- Situating ecology firmly within Regarding pollution and environ- Vatican June 18. sume as much as possible. Catholic social teaching, Pope Francis SEE ENCYCLICAL PAGE 5 2 The Catholic Commentator The LIGHTER SIDE of FAI t H June 26, 2015 | TREASURES FROM THE DIOCESE | DID YOU KNOW In the Resurrec- tion Chapel, a Catholic hero small, intimate chapel located George Washing- the prayer may still be on the campus ton is generally con- used today for gather- of the Catholic sidered one of the ings outside of Mass Life Center, this country’s iconic he- and during Mass at tender portrait roes, not only for serv- the conclusion of the of the Madon- ing as America’s first Universal Prayer. na and Child president but also for Archbishop Car- awaits visitors. his leadership during roll, regarded as the The painting the Revolutionary Patriarch of American adorns a wall War. Naturally, the fa- Catholicism, in 1791 set away from bled cherry tree story, authored a Prayer for the chapel’s whether fact or fiction, the Nation, urging main door, yet speaks to his integrity. Catholics to pray it its placement Washington was frequently with their still draws ev- also heralded among parish communities ery eye. Here, Catholic colonists, as and ask for God’s Mary tenderly he was an ardent supporter of the faith at blessing of the president, the country and holds the in- a time of intense prejudice against Cathol- the faith. fant Jesus as he icism and its followers. Archbishop Carroll’s prayer has with- appears to In November 1775 he banned the an- stood the test of time because it is as in- reach for her in ti-Catholic Guy Fawkes’ celebrations that sightful and relevant today as it was more a loving embrace. The beautiful image of the Madonna’s face is intricately drawn, help- included the burning of an effigy of the than two centuries ago. The prayer is ing to convey the quiet symbolism of a caring mother. Painter Adalie’ Brent (1920-1993) pope. He wrote in “Order of Quarters” on neither politically divisive nor partnered was well-known for her strong command of religious symbolism. A painter, designer of Nov. 5, 1775 that such an insult to Catho- with any specified ideology. Rather it pe- stained glass and a teacher (who taught art at St. Joseph’s Academy as well as at LSU). lics would be “so monstrous, as not to be titions God to guide political leaders and Brent was also a graphic designer and the first director of the Louisiana Arts and Science suffered or excused.” states that true freedom, wisdom and Center. Her Madonna and Child painting was just one of many commissioned works for His words were of little surprise to most peace comes not from government but the Catholic Life Center. Several of her other designs also grace the Bishop’s Chapel, in- since Washington, in addition to his public from God. Those words still ring true for a cluding a stained glass wall, crewelwork, an enamel crucifix and candlestick holders. All support of Catholicism, also occasionally country with so much racial, political and of these works were developed by Brent to complement each other, tying together the attended Mass. During the Constitutional cultural dividedness. chapel’s theme of resurrection. Photo by Richard Meek | The Catholic Commentator Convention in 1787, he led a delegation to Two months after Washington’s death attend Mass in Philadelphia. The actions in 1800, Archbishop Carroll delivered a crystallized his message that Catholics moving eulogy for the late president at | PICTURES FROM THE PAST would be held in the same standing as St. Peter’s Church in Baltimore. The eu- Protestants in the fledging nation. logy, delivered on Feb. 22, 1800, which is Washington also counted numerous Washington’s birthday, honored the first Catholics among his circle of friends, in- president and his legacy. cluding Archbishop John Carroll, the first Archbishop Carroll also orchestrated bishop in the United States who would lat- the founding and early development of er serve as archbishop of Baltimore. Georgetown University. The school began Washington even had Archbishop Car- instruction in November 1791. As grati- roll, who was the only bishop in the coun- tude for the archbishop’s support during try at the time, author a prayer for the the war, Washington gave him a modified president’s inauguration in 1789. Accord- version of the seal of the United States ing to the United States Conference of to Georgetown, a seal the university still Catholic Bishops, the prayer, or sections of uses today. | CORRECTION St. Joseph Church Parish in French Settlement borrowed $809,978.30 for construc- tion of the new church. The resolution on file at the chancery gave authorization for a total cost of construction in the amount of $2,169,060. The loan was paid off in May. thecatholiccommentator.org | Facebook.com/TheCatholicCommentator Bishop Robert W. Muench Publisher Wanda L. Koch Advertising Manager Father Tom Ranzino Assistant Publisher Penny G. Saia Production Manager Richard Meek Editor Lisa Disney Secretary/Circulation Debbie Shelley Assistant Editor Rachele Smith Staff Writer Father Stanley J. Ott celebrated his first Mass in December 1951 at Trinita dei Monte, The Catholic Commentator (ISSN 07460511; USPS 093-680) Rome, shortly after his ordination Dec.