December 7, 2018 | DID YOU KNOW What Should I Do?
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THE CATHOLIC PAGE 4 Faith Fund helps people with Payday loans December ommentator7, 2018 Vol. 56, No. 22 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1963 thecatholiccommentator.org C HOLIDAY SCRIBE Fr. Uter personalizes Christmas messages By Debbie Shelley The Catholic Commentator Shortly after Labor Day, when the only signs of Christmas are at retail outlets and drug stores, Father Frank Uter takes a seat at his kitchen table in his rectory and pens personal tid- ings in Christmas cards to each of the Father Frank Uter writes messages in Christmas cards that will be mailed out to parishioners at Immaculate Conception Church 4,100 families at Immaculate Concep- in Denham Springs and its mission church, Sacred Heart in Livingston. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator tion Church in Denham Springs and its mission church, Sacred Heart in Liv- out the personalized Christmas cards parish and her ministries and religious “That was my first pastorship,” he ingston. came from Pope Paul VI’s 1975 encycli- education. But Pope Paul VI reminded said. He has carried out this tradition for cal, “Evangelii Nuntiandi” or “Evangeli- us how important it is to evangelize, to The St. Mary staff had Christmas decades, across the Diocese of Baton zation in the Modern World.” reach out beyond the pews.” cards printed up and were going to Rouge at the various church parishes “Evangelization has always been Father Uter attended workshops on print labels and send them out. where he has served. During that time part of the church’s ministry since the the encyclical, and in 1976 he was as- “I got a few parishioners together he has likely used many gallons of ink. ascension of our Lord,” said Father Uter. signed as pastor to St. Mary of False that were active in the parish and a few Father Uter’s inspiration for sending “But our focus primarily was within the River Church in New Roads. SEE CARDS PAGE 19 Sticker campaign spreads nationally By Richard Meek when the young priest was serving as pa- The Catholic Commentator rochial vicar at St. John the Evangelist Church in Prairieville, called his friend Perhaps never before has a governmental agency flub presented and asked, “How many stickers do you such an opportunity for evangelization. want?” Yet, that is what happened from the fallout of the Louisiana Sec- “He told me I was crazy, which I retary of State’s office running out of ‘I Voted’ stickers Tuesday, Nov. probably am,” said Husers an insurance 6, when voters went to the polls. The governmental faux pas created agent, who remains a St. John parishio- a tsunami of complaints on social media, with people asking why ner. they were unable to get the sticker, which is ubiquitous on election “I had no intention of making stickers,” day. admitted Father Alello, who maintains an ac- At one point, Father Michael Alello, pastor at St. Thomas More tive social media presence and believes that me- Church in Baton Rouge, posted on his social media account, “Don’t dium is one of his ministries. “It was simply a sar- worry, you will get an “I Prayed Today” sticker today when you castic joke to play on what was going on in the community come to Mass.” at the time.” Even the personable Father Alello, who admitted his post was a A week later, ministers at St. Thomas More were distributing “sarcastic joke,” could not predict the impact that post would have 2,500 stickers at the weekend Masses, as were ministers at St. not only in the Baton Rouge area but across the country. Shortly John. Additionally, Father Josh Johnson ordered stickers to be dis- SEE STICKERS after reading the post, Todd Husers, who first met Father Alello tributed at Holy Rosary Church in St. Amant. PAGE 20 2 The Catholic Commentator December 7, 2018 | DID YOU KNOW What should I do? A Pearl By Dina Dow how we may have subtly drifted away from our relationship with God, or how others we know The liturgical season of Advent is upon have seemingly drifted. What causes this us. This year there are 23 days in Advent, yet drift? It depends. Some are moving so quickly Harbor at the time of this publication, there will be (12,300 mph perhaps), others struggle to face 17 days remaining. This means the day, while still others Christmas Day is 18 days away. just do not think about it. However, wait a moment be- Life-Giving Whatever the reason, it is in hero fore jumping ahead to Christmas. FAI H these times we are to be a light Rushing through Advent is like rush- of joy to another through prayer On the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, ing the cooking time of a roast, which and action. In fact, in the Letter Father Al Schmitt, a Navy chap- ends up being under-cooked; it is not quite to the Philippians, St. Paul prays with “joy lain aboard the USS Oklahoma in ready. Advent tends to be over-shadowed by and confidence.” His prayers ask that their Pearl Harbor, awoke to celebrate the secularism of the season. People’s anxi- love will increase in knowing Jesus, in aware- Mass on board the Nevada-class ety levels increase the closer Christmas draws ness of his life and in discerning the value of battleship. near for various reasons: impending travel, good moral actions. We can ask for the same, Only minutes after the Sun- purchasing gifts, socializing events. Still oth- praying, “Lord, help me to know, to love and day morning Mass had ended, the ers are struggling with the loss of a loved one, to serve you.” Oklahoma was torpedoed during illness, economic strife and other life issues. St. John the Baptist knew this so well. the Japanese’s surprise attack The Mass readings for the second and Placed in the historical context, the Gospel on the Hawaiian Islands. Father commissioned a destroyer escort third Sundays in Advent offer an invitation of Luke describes the state of the union by Schmitt, along with several other named the USS Schmitt in 1943, to set aside our anxieties and awaken to the listing the earthly power in the early years of shipmates, was trapped in a small which was launched by the chap- splendor of the Lord. Imagine the most beau- Jesus’ life. Here stands St. John the Baptist compartment with only a small lain’s sister. tiful sunrise ever seen. We stop, take a mental on the threshold of covenants. Behind him porthole as an escape route. In 1944, the Navy Department image and feel the surge of something beyond are generations following God’s plan for sal- Father Schmitt, a native of St. presented a 24-inch crucifix, ourselves. Advent is this holy pause, a slowing vation. Some paths are straighter than others Lucas, Iowa who was ordained made of teakwood recovered from down to see the rays shoot up as the dawn re- are. In front of him is the path, theway, and Dec. 8, 1935, helped several men the deck of the Oklahoma and veals the “light of glory” pouring forth from only way. However, the way must be prepared. to escape, and when it came time metal from the ship’s deck, to the the Nativity of the Christ. If we are moving 12,300 mph, we may not be for him to leave, he declined. Ul- Archdiocese of Dubuque. 12,300 mph able to stop fast enough, to make ready and to timately, he helped 12 men escape Additionally, the Christ the It is impressive that the latest NASA In- relish this moment. We must remember those before he died, becoming the first King Chapel at Loras College in Sight Lander entered the atmosphere of Mars who have gone before us to clear the path. Our chaplain of any Dubuque, where at the speed of 12,300 mph, and then gen- calling is similar: to make straight the path for faith to die in World Father Schmitt at- tly landed in six minutes and 30 seconds by those who follow us as we hand on the faith War II. Father Schmitt tended, was dedi- means of a parachute, 12 powerful engines to our children, family, friends and strangers. His heroics re- cated in his mem- and three legs. Talk about a rapid slow down! Who prepared the way for me? How can I pre- portedly inspired a was honored ory. Some of his This precision took years of preparation. Ad- pare the way for others? number of priests to property that was vent is the season to prepare and to rapidly What should I do? become chaplains posthumously donated to the slow down, and gently step into the Nativity St. John the Baptist, as written in the Gos- during the war. school is on display of our Lord. pel of Luke, is asked, “What should I do?” as Following or- with a Purple in the chapel. The second Sunday of Advent helps steer he just proclaimed to those within earshot to dination Father In September our course toward the Incarnation with a prepare the way for the Lord. People from all Schmitt, who as a Heart along with 2016, it was an- sense of gratitude, joy and confidence. The states-of-life ask him this question. He shares seminarian stud- nounced that Fa- prophet Baruch tells of God’s plan to lead fundamental answers, “Share clothing and ied at the Pontifical the Navy and ther Schmitt’s re- the “scattered” suffering back together.