Seminarians' Summer Was Full of Many Experiences
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0 0 7 1 2 0 3 4 The Diocese of Lake Charles lcdiocese.org Vol. 37, No. 21 Seminarians’ summer was full of many experiences LAKE CHARLES – The ate on Aug. 6. Ruben Vil- the Seafarers Center at the seven men studying for the larreal, now studying at the Port of Lake Charles. John priesthood for the Diocese North American College in Souder, Joseph Ferrer, Mat- of Lake Charles are all deep Rome, spent the summer at thew Cormier, and Trey Ange into their respective fall St. Henry Catholic Church in shadowed Father Charles terms at four different semi- Lake Charles. Okorougo and Father Brian naries – three in the United Matthew Cormier, who re- King at St. Patrick, visiting States and one in Rome. turned to Notre Dame Semi- patients with the priests and While continuing their stud- nary in New Orleans, worked praying with the families. ies during this school year, with the faithful at St. Philip Bryan Thompson, Matthew they will have many memo- Neri Catholic Church in Cormier and Cristian Gonza- ries of their summer intern- Kinder. Cristian Gonzalez, in lez shadowed Deacon Patrick ships in the local church of his third year at St. Joseph Lapoint, director of the Sea- Southwest Louisiana. Seminary College in Coving- farers Center and the experi- Each of the seminarians ton, was at Our Lady Queen ence allowed them to under- was assigned to a different of Heaven Catholic Church. stand the life of sailors and parish for the summer. Dea- The three newest semi- how diffi cult it is to be away narians are all studying at Seminarians studying for the priesthood for the Diocese of Lake Charles take part in con Bryan Thompson, now from their families for such St. Joseph Seminary College. a therapeutic riding program at The Stables at LeBocage, at the end of their summer back at the Pontifi cal Col- long periods. Trey Ange interned at St. lege Josephinum in Colum- At the end of July, the men work. Pictured with workers at LeBocage are, helping the rider John Souder, left in Paul Catholic Church in El- bus Ohio, served at Immacu- spent a morning assisting a baseball cap, and right Trey Ange, orange shirt. Waiting their turn to assist, at right, ton, Joseph Ferrer was at Im- late Heart of Mary Catholic therapeutic riding program are Joseph Ferrer, Cristian Gonzalez, and Matthew Cormier. maculate Conception Church at The Stables at LeBocage. Church in Lake Charles. He in Maplewood, and John was ordained to the Diacon- This program uses horses as Souder served his summer at a tool for physical therapy St. Peter the Apostle Catholic for riders with autism, brain Church in Hackberry. Three St. Louis Catholic seniors injuries, Down Syndrome, In addition to their work and other cognitive and/or in the various parishes, the emotional disabilities. Each seminarians assisted each seminarian assisted clients Friday at Catholic Charities earn National Merit recognition by helping them mount their of Southwest Louisiana. Dur- horse and by leading the LAKE CHARLES -- Three a Merit Scholarship award, percent of the more than 1.5 ing those months, they par- horse and rider around the seniors at St. Louis Catholic Semifi nalists must advance million students who took the ticipated in different types ring. High School have received to the Finalist level of the PSAT last year. of services with the purpose recognition in the 2012 Na- competition by fulfi lling sev- of assisting those who were Hanh Vu, Associate Di- NMSC, a not-for-profi t tional Merit Scholarship eral requirements. About most in need. As an added rector of Catholic Charities, organization that operates Competition (NMSC). Mat- 90 percent of the Semifi nal- benefi t, the seminarians monitored the seminarians without government assis- thew Jester has been named ists are expected to attain were given opportunities to work with Catholic Charities. tance, was established in 1955 a National Merit Semifi nal- Finalist standing, and ap- experience the various min- “It is important to note that in specifi cally to conduct the ist while Sarah Lungaro and proximately half of the Final- istries of the Church. One of all of these experiences the annual National Merit Pro- Joseph Vanchiere have been ists will be selected as Merit those jobs was working with sole purpose was not to get gram. Scholarships awarded named Commended Stu- Scholarship winners, earn- Rebuilding Together Calca- their hands dirty, although through the program are un- dents. ing the Merit Scholar title. sieu in painting a Moss Bluff their hands became dirty derwritten by NMSC’s own plenty of times, but, rather it Jester was identifi ed as Lungaro and Vanchiere man’s home. Their work ethic funds and by approximately served as an opportunity for an academically talented were selected among 34,000 was exceptional, according to 500 business organizations the seminarians to under- high school senior who will high performers on the basis staff, in that what previously and higher education insti- took two groups of volunteers stand the life of others,” Vu have an opportunity to con- of their exceptional academ- said. tinue in the competition for ic promise. Although they tutions that share NMSC’s two days to complete, the sev- goals of honoring the nation’s en seminarians were able to “I am incredibly proud some 8,400 Merit Scholarship will not continue in the 2012 scholastic champions and en- Ruben Villarreal works, fi nish in 3.5 hours. of each seminarian for their awards, worth more than $36 competition for National alongside his fellow The group also assisted hard work and willingness to million to be offered next Merit Scholarships, the pair couraging the pursuit of aca- seminarians, on a paint- Catholic Charities in June serve others,” he continued. spring. To be considered for placed among the top fi ve demic excellence. ing project at a house in and July with food distribu- “It is inspiring to see such a talented and compassionate Moss Bluff during their tion at the 1225 Second Street location. The seminarians group of young men who will summer internship. The visited with and carried food become the future leaders seminarians were assist- to the clients’ cars. Other jobs of our church. I am forever ing Catholic Charities of included painting and yard grateful for the experience Southwest Louisiana’s work at St. Joseph Church of working with the seminar- work with Rebuilding Cal- in Vinton and two weeks ians. They are incredible of rotating between Chris- witnesses to the brilliance of casieu Together. tus St. Patrick Hospital and God’s light.” Catholic Schools Notes Our Lady’s Catholic School wheels were planted at the roadside of the Our Lady’s School honored St. Francis with school to promote awareness of peacemaking. the Annual Blessing of the Pets on Wednesday, Oct. 5. Community members brought a wide Saint Margaret of Scotland Catholic School variety of pets and livestock to be blessed in October has been a busy time at school! A Matthew Jester Sarah Lungaro Joseph Vanchiere a special ceremony lead by Fr. Joe Aquino of successful United Way Campaign was con- St. Theresa Catholic Church. OLS celebrated ducted by faculty and staff and these contri- Homecoming on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at W.W. butions will help fund many worthwhile com- Veneration of relics set at St. Peter the Apostle Lewis Middle School’s football fi eld. The an- munity organizations. Five teachers attended HACKBERRY – St. Peter a.m. and in the Extraordi- nual auction on Saturday, Oct. 15 saw a huge the Technology and Learning Conference on the Apostle Catholic Church nary Form at 6 p.m. followed turnout and a great time. Oct. 15 to gain new and exciting strategies in will host the relics of over by Compline or night prayer – technology integration in their classrooms. 25 Catholic Saints for pub- the last of the daily Offi ces of Sacred Heart of Jesus/ Red Ribbon Week was celebrated the week lic veneration on Tuesday, worship. St. Katharine Drexel Catholic School of Oct. 17-21 with a variety of activities and a Nov. 1, All Saints Day, in the “Don’t miss this wonder- The students of Sacred Heart/SKD were program sponsored by the Student Council. church. able to attend the Creole for Kids event at ful opportunity not only to Included are relics from honor the saints on the very the Civic Center. This was a unique experi- Immaculate Conception Cathedral the 12 Apostles, with St. Mat- day the Church dedicates to ence, which celebrated the History of Zydeco. thias replacing Judas; St. Catholic School them, but also to be honored The Grammy Award winning singer Terrance Paul, the Apostle to the Gen- The Annual Immaculate Conception Ca- by their holy and venerable Simien was featured at the event in the Rosa thedral School Greenery Fundraiser sale tiles; St. Joseph; St. John the Hart Theatre. Bishop John Glen Provost vis- Baptist; St. Mary Magdalene presence,” said Father Rom- continues through October 27. ICCS will be mel Tolentino, pastor of St. ited the school on Wednesday, Oct.12. He pre- offering online sales again this year, so please and a host of other Virgins, Martyrs, Religious and Con- Peter the Apostle Church. sided over a Blessing Ceremony of a mosaic visit the website at www.shop.iccschool.org . of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and a portrait fessors. Read more about saintly of the founding women - Eleanor Figaro and The Holy Sacrifi ce of the relics at http://live.lcdiocese. Our Lady Immaculate Catholic School Mary Ryan, fi rst teachers, and St.