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January 8, Ommentator2016 Vol THE CATHOLIC Students celebrate the season PAGES 10 & 11 January 8, ommentator2016 Vol. 53, No. 24 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1963 thecatholiccommentator.org C MIXED EMOTIONS 2015 one of joy, sorrow in diocese By Debbie Shelley The Catholic Commentator During 2015, the Diocese of Baton Rouge was filled with farewells to beloved leaders, the closing and opening of new doors in edu- cation, anniversaries celebrating 150 plus years of ministry, as well as explosions of fear, frustration and joy. The year started on a somber note as the diocese said goodbye to Vicar General Fa- ther Than Ngoc Vu, who was also pastor of St. Aloysius Church in Baton Rouge. Father Vu died Jan. 28 and was laid to rest on Jan. 31 as hundreds of clergy, including Bish- op Robert W. Muench, Archbishop Alfred Hughes, who was former bishop of this dio- cese, Bishop Shelton Fabre of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodeaux and family and friends gathered to pay their respects at a wake at Christ the King Church and Catholic Center and funeral Mass at St. Aloysius Church. A tremendous outpouring of love came from the Vietnamese community, with people wearing white bandanas around their heads, a traditional symbol of a family in mourning. Following a period of mourning, Father Tom Ranzino was appointed vicar general, and Father Paul Yi, pastor of Ascension of This past year was eventful for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, filled with farewell to beloved leaders, milestone anniversaries, Our Lord and St. Francis of Assisi churches and changes in the educational landscape. Pictured above, one of the more somber moments was Bishop Robert W. Muench in Donaldsonville, chancellor, the position celebrating the funeral of Vicar General Father Than Vu on Jan. 31. Father Vu died Jan. 28. Also dying this past year was the previously held by Father Ranzino. death of Father Leo Guillot, who died Oct. 24. The Catholic Commentator file photo SEE 2015 PAGE 19 OLOL volunteers live out corporal works of mercy by volunteering By Richard Meek were spread across Several volunteers spent their day transferring fur- The Catholic Commentator the city, volunteer- Merciful niture from the existing Sanctuary for Life building to ing in such places an adjacent building that had been recently renovat- Like An unusually warm late fall sun seared volunteers as nursing homes, ed. The older building is also undergoing an extensive from Our Lady of the Lake Hospital as they moved schools and over- the renovation. furniture, planted grass and completed a full land- all helping the Men and women moved sofas, televisions, clothes, scaping project. Hot as they may be, however, their needy. Father desks, beds and other items, mindless of the sweat spirits never wilted. “It’s nice to be YEAR OF MERCY that was forming as they toiled. A water break pro- Nearly 25 OLOL volunteers recently assisted at able to get out of vided a brief respite. Sanctuary for Life and Families First, two agencies of the office to be reminded why you do what you do, and “We are serving those in need and fulfilling the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge that why you are really here,” said Laure Rabalais, division mission of our employer,” said Eva Vallet, manager serve needy families, especially single or expectant director for academic affairs at OLOL. “It is God’s pur- of Our Lady of the Lake’s midcity facility. “We come mothers. Overall, approximately 100 OLOL employees pose, it is about serving others.” SEE VOLUNTEERS PAGE 7 2 The Catholic Commentator The LIGHTER SIDE of FAI t H January 8, 2016 | TREASURES FROM THE DIOCESE | DID YOU KNOW This shrine that depicts Our Lady of Fatima and the shep- Sunday treasure herd children adorns the medi- tation garden at Our Lady of Sunday has long been Mercy Church in Baton Rouge. regarded as the day we The shrine, which was a gift to gather as family and as the only church at that time community to celebrate that was dedicated to Our the Eucharist. Lady in Baton Rouge, was for- The origin of cele- mally blessed in 1955 by Fa- brating the Eucharist on ther Louis E. Marionneaux, Sunday dates to apos- who was chaplain at Louisiana tolic times even though State Penitentiary at Angola the early Christians, who before he was assigned to were converted Jews, con- OLOM. The shrine sits a few tinued to observe the Sab- feet away from the church’s bath on Saturday and even adoration chapel. The medita- celebrated Mass on that tion garden, which began in day. During those early week” reference. 1975, was developed through times, the Mass was celebrated within the Although most Catholics today have an gifts made in honor of de- frame of a meal (an agape), held on Satur- abundance of churches and times from ceased loved ones and also day night after sunset. which to select to attend Mass, the early includes a fountain and Sta- Early in the second century, in some Christians were forced to make great sac- tions of the Cross placed along Christian communities, the Mass itself rifices to receive the Eucharist, even to a winding path. Photo by Richard was separated from the meal and cele- the point of risking their lives. Meek | The Catholic Commentator brated in the early morning hours of Sun- Sunday was referred to as the “Day of day, which became the new Christian day the Lord” by early Christians. According of worship. The Mass was celebrated be- to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, | PICTURES FROM THE PAST fore dawn and traditionally consisted of Sunday symbolizes the new creation a sermon, prayers, singing of Psalms and ushered in by God’s resurrection. The teachings from holy Scriptures. Catechism goes on to say Sunday is “the During the fourth century all Chris- Lord’s Day” and is considered the first of tian communities had replaced the Satur- all feasts. day night meal with the Sunday morning Because the Sunday Eucharist is the celebration. In 313, after the church had foundation and confirmation of all Chris- obtained freedom under Constantine, the tian practice, the faithful are obliged to time of the Sunday morning celebration “participate in the Mass.” was pushed back from early morning to Sundays are also designated by the 9 a.m., an hour the Romans traditionally Catechism as a day of grace and rest from designated for important business. work. Many might remember the days of The first mention in Scripture regard- the old Louisiana “blue laws” when alco- ing celebrating Mass on Sunday, or the hol and other items, including some hard- “Lord’s Day,” comes in St. Paul’s Epistle ware items, could not be sold on Sundays. to the Corinthians, written in the year One thing that has not changed, how- 57. St. Paul refers to “first day of the ever, is our obligation and what should be week” as most appropriate for the cele- our desire to attend Mass on Sunday to bration, and two years later in the acts of hear God’s word and receive the body and the Apostles repeats the “first day of the blood of Christ. If you have news or events coming up in your church parish, school or organization, please let us know about it so we can spread the word! Email Richard Meek at [email protected]; or fax to 225-336-8710 thecatholiccommentator.org | Facebook.com/TheCatholicCommentator Bishop Robert W. Muench Publisher Wanda L. Koch Advertising Manager Bishop Robert E. Tracy is shown in an undated photo preaching from the ambo in St. Jo- Father Tom Ranzino Assistant Publisher Penny G. Saia Production Manager seph Chapel at the Catholic Life Center. The chapel was completed in the late 1960s but Richard Meek Editor Lisa Disney Secretary/Circulation not dedicated until Sept. 30, 1970 by Cardinal John Cody, former archbishop of New Orle- Debbie Shelley Assistant Editor Rachele Smith Staff Writer ans and at the time archbishop of Chicago. On that same day, Cardinal Cody also dedicat- The Catholic Commentator (ISSN 07460511; USPS 093-680) ed the Martin Luther King Jr. Catholic Student Center at Southern University, the Catholic Published bi-weekly (every other week) by the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge,1800 South Acadian Life Center and St. Joseph Cathedral Prep School in Christ Court of the Catholic Life Cen- Thruway, Baton Rouge, LA 70808; 225-387-0983 or 225-387-0561. Periodical Postage Paid at Baton ter, as well as consecrated St. Joseph Cathedral, which had undergone renovations. The Rouge, LA. Copy must reach the above address by Wednesday for use in the next week’s paper. Sub- medallions on the ambo shown above have been saved and will be used in the new ambo scription rate: $14.00 per year. POSTMASTER, send address changes to The Catholic Commentator, P.O. Box 14746, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-4746. recently installed at the chapel. Photo provided by the Archives Department | Diocese of Baton Rouge January 8, 2016 The Catholic Commentator 3 Runners have opportunity to attend unique Mass before marathon By Richard Meek about getting together.” what better place.” people. That is what it is about. God is The Catholic Commentator Father Alello said the initial idea of He said the feedback has been pos- good to us.” the pre-marathon Mass came a year ago itive and, he is optimistic about a good After months of hard work, includ- Runners as devout in their faith as in when he participated in the half-mara- turnout. Runners who are participating ing running the fastest mile of his life, a their quest for speed will have the oppor- thon of the Louisiana Marathon, and af- in the half marathon have even jokingly 7:42 split during a recent four-mile run, tunity to experience both on the day of ter finishing the race was left searching asked him if the Mass can be 13.1 min- Father Alello is hoping to set a personal the Louisiana Mar- for a place to attend Mass.
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