OLOL Celebrates 90 Years of Service
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THE CATHOLIC Diocesan Respect Life Rally held PAGE 3 January 24, ommentator2014 Vol. 51, No. 25 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1963 thecatholiccommentator.org C FRAMING THE FUTURE Construction begins for new parish hall at cathedral By Richard Meek The Catholic Commentator Father Paul Counce walked through what amounted to a forest of plywood, wooden studs serving as skeletons to the past and a prism to the future. His voice exuded excitement and pride as he monitored the progress of construc- tion of a new parish hall at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge. Construction began in November, and if all goes well, a dedication may be held as soon as Octo- ber. “It’s going to be an immense moment in the life of the parish,” said Father Counce, who has served as pastor at St. Joseph since 2009. “The cathedral is symboli- Father Paul Counce, rector at St. Joseph Cathedral, checks progress on the new parish hall currently under construction. The cally the place where the bishop presides new building will feature a choir practice room, multiple meeting rooms and a large assembly hall. As part of the project, the and teaches.” heating and cooling systems in the cathedral are also being replaced. Photo by Richard Meek | The Catholic Commentator SEE BAA PAGE 19 Section B Diocese of Baton Rouge OLOL celebrates 90 years of service Catholic Schools Week January 26 February 1 By Richard Meek Kathleen Cain OSF has born The Catholic Commentator witness to its growth, from a crowded facility in down- They traveled to Baton town Baton Rouge to its Rouge short on expecta- modern and sprawling Essen tions, perhaps even shorter Lane complex. of knowledge. The year was “I’ve watched it grow from 1921 and the travel likely not a teenager into an adult,” Sis- easy, especially in swamp- ter Kathleen likes to joke. laden south Louisiana. The hospital recently cel- Yet, nearly a century af- ebrated its 90th anniversary ter planting the first roots in Baton Rouge with little of quality health care in the fanfare, perhaps reserving a Pictured is the original Our Lady of the Lake Sanitarium built in rich soil near the Mississippi more lavish celebration for 1923. Photo provided by Our Lady of the Lake Catholic schools in the River, Our Lady of the Lake its 100th birthday. However Diocese of Baton Rouge Regional Medical Center has 2013 did mark 100 years of lished a hospital. physicians invited Mother blossomed into the one of the Franciscan Missionar- Eight years later, in 1921, de Bethanie to Baton Rouge celebrate Catholic Schools the area’s most prestigious ies of Our Lady arriving in Monsignor Francis Leon to find a suitable downtown Week January 26 – February 1 hospitals. And for 45 of the the United States, when they Gassler, pastor of St. Joseph location for a facility to serve hospital’s 90 years, Sister landed in Monroe and estab- Cathedral, and a group of SEE ANNIVERSARY PAGE 10 2 The Catholic Commentator January 24, 2014 | IN THIS ISSUE | DID YOU KNOW CONSECRATED LIFE HAS GROWN to motives peers and younger children, include lay people who follow certain illuminating their own paths of faith. Candlemas Day sheds light on Christ spiritual ways of living based on the PAGE 13 Candles used through- rification of the Blessed Gospel. PAGE 5 out the year will be bless- Virgin, falls on a Sunday BISHOP ROBERT W. MUENCH offers tips ed at churches around the this year. It is also the WE TAKE for worshippers and liturgical leaders, world Feb. 2. It is Candle- day that Jesus is given MANY Pre- including priests, as to how to deal with mas Day in the Catholic his name. caUtions the outbreak of the influenza virus during Church. The feast originated in to guard this flu season. PAGE 17 The feast springs from the 4th century in Jeru- against the presentation of the salem and came to be cel- getting the child Jesus in the temple ebrated in Rome by the | IN THE NEXT ISSUE flu this time of season, but what is the 40 days after his birth. middle of the 5th century best way to protect against sins and vices Catholic Commentator The prophet Simeon, who under its Greek name, infecting us with the spiritual flu? PAGE 7 Assistant Editor Debbie worshiped at the temple “Feast of the Meeting.” Shelley is accompanying on a daily basis, recog- According to Jewish CATHOLIC INFLUENCE IS ROOTED nearly 500 young people nized Jesus as the Savior tradition, 40 days after THROUGHOUT LOUISIANA in the from the Diocese of Baton and “a light for revelation giving birth, a woman names of Rouge to the annual March of the gentiles and glory had to purify herself civil for Life Rally in Washington D.C. for the people of Israel.” and present her child parishes. Luke 2:32 at the temple. Mary and Joseph followed Nine civil In the early church, those words of the custom, dedicating their child to the | INDEX parishes Simeon sparked the tradition of blessing Lord and sacrificing a pair of doves or two bear the CLASSIFIED ADS 18 candles to last throughout the church young pigeons as part of the ritual. name of COMING EVENTS 18 year and of holding a candle procession But Simeon recognized Jesus as the saint. ENTERTAINMENT 14 in churches and streets. Today many long-awaited Messiah and declared that PAGE 9 FAMILY LIFE 5 churches still hold a traditional proces- he came for all people, not just the Jews. INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL NEWS 4 sion of candles, while some invite people Simeon’s prophecy also carries a sad note to bring candles from their homes to be as he tells Mary that Jesus will encoun- SPIRITUALITY 7 SCOTLANDVILLE MAGNET HIGH blessed. The feast, which is also known ter opposition and her own heart will be SCHOOL STUDENT AMBER HALL, a VIEWPOINT 16 as the Presentation of the Lord, or the Pu- pierced by a sword. parishioner at St. Paul the Apostle Church, YOUTH 12 | PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PRAY FOR US SEND US Please pray for the priests, deacons and religious women and men in the Baton Rouge Diocese. Jan. 27 Rev. Clarence J. Waguespack Feb. 3 Bishop Robert W. Muench Dcn. Clayton A. Hollier Dcn. Ronald D. LeGrange Br. Paul Montero SC Sr. Georgeann Parizek RSCJ YOUR LENTEN Jan. 28 Rev. Miles D. Walsh Feb. 4 Rev. Howard R. Adkins Dcn. William H. Holtman Dcn. Albert Levy III Sr. Dolores Munez HMSS Br. Eugene Patin CSsR Spiritual Renewal! EVENTS Jan. 29 Rev. Ju Hyung (Paul) Yi Feb. 5 Rev. Donatus Ajoko Dcn. Joshua Johnson Dcn. James A. Little Sr. M. Nathalie MC Sr. Johanne Pedersen CSJ Jan. 30 Rev. Gerard F. Young Feb. 6 Rev. Michael J. Alello AND Dcn. Micheal J. (Shelley) Joseph Dcn. Thomas J. Malinoski Sr. Elizabeth Navya CMC Sr. Cielo Pesigan DM Jan. 31 Bishop Robert E. Tracy Feb. 7 Rev. David E. Allen Dcn. John A. Jung Jr. Dcn. Edwin J. Martin RECIPES! Sr. Ann Catherine Nguyen OSF Sr. Anh-Tuyet Pham ICM Feb. 1 Bishop Joseph V. Sullivan Feb. 8 Rev. Richard R. Andrus SVD Issue Date: February 21; Deadline: February 12 Dcn. Robert J. Kusch Dcn. Wilbur P. Martinez Sr. Huong Nguyen ICM Sr. Cecile Poitras SSJ LENT begins this year March 5 and ends April 18. The Catholic Feb. 2 Bishop Stanley J. Ott Feb. 9 Rev. Joey F. Angeles Commentator will publish its annual Lenten section in print and Dcn. Thomas E. Labat Sr. Dcn. John L. McGinnis Jr. online at thecatholiccommentator.org Sr. Mary Noel OP Sr. Christine Pologa CSJ Lent 2014 will feature: • Opportunities for Spiritual Renewal • Lenten Retreats •Seafood/Lenten Recipes • Fasting & Abstinence regulations in the Baton Rouge Diocese thecatholiccommentator.org | Facebook.com/TheCatholicCommentator • Fund raisers sponsored by churches, schools and Catholic Bishop Robert W. Muench Publisher Wanda L. Koch Advertising Manager organizations Father Than Vu Associate Publisher Penny G. Saia Advertising Sales Richard Meek Editor Lisa Disney Secretary/Circulation For advertising opportunities call 225-387-0983. Debbie Shelley Assistant Editor Barbara Chenevert Staff Writer Email recipes to: [email protected] The Catholic Commentator (ISSN 07460511; USPS 093-680) FAX: 225-336-8710; or Published bi-weekly (every other week) by the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge,1800 South Acadian Thru- way, Baton Rouge, LA 70808; 225-387-0983 or 225-387-0561. Periodical Postage Paid at Baton Rouge, LA. Mail to: The Catholic Commentator Copy must reach the above address by Wednesday for use in the next week’s paper. Subscription rate: P.O. Box 14746, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-4746 $12.00 per year. POSTMASTER, send address changes to The Catholic Commentator, P.O. Box 14746, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-4746. January 24, 2014 The Catholic Commentator 3 Crosses representing the lives of the unborn that are aborted are displayed at various lo- cations around the Catholic Life Center. January marks the an- niversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that le- galized abortion. Photos by Richard Meek | The Catholic Commentator Carney inspires crowd at Respect Life Rally By Richard Meek that mothers have for their chil- porters gathered in the Tracy The Catholic Commentator dren is ultimately what will end Center, where Carney delivered abortion in our nation,” he said. his keynote speech. In the midst of the most som- “Despite the rhetoric, despite Maggie DiLeo delivered her ber month for pro-life support- whatever difficulties are going winning essay that she entered ers, the founder of 40 Days for on (in life of the mother), that in the Pro-Life Oratory Contest.