CHURCH TODAY Volume XLVI, No. 9 www.diocesealex.org Serving the Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana Since 1970 September 21, 2015 O N T H E Welcome to America, INSIDE Pope Francis! Pope Francis simplifies annulment process Pope to visit Washington D.C., New York, Philadelphia Sept. 22-25 Pope Francis has reformed rules for marriage annulment cases, -- making the process free, briefer, and more simple. The reforms came in response to calls that bishops from around the world have been making since before the 1980 Synod of Bishops on the family convoked by St. John Paul II. See page 3. Bishop Herzog ‘seals’ door to Cathedral Bishop Ronald Herzog pre- sided at a special Vespers Ser- vice Sept. 14 at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, where he blessed and “sealed” the east interior door in anticipation of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy that starts Dec. 8, 2015. See page 7. ANNIVERSARY ISSUE In this year of 2015, several LARGE MURAL OF POPE FRANCIS IN NEW YORK CITY. A 225-foot tall Catholic groups, ministries, mural featuring an image of Pope Francis is seen in New York City Sept. 3, and churches are celebrating the day painters put the finishing touches on the artwork. The mural, which significant anniversaries. Check took 10 days to paint, faces Madison Square Garden, where Pope Francis out pages 14-18 for stories will celebrate Mass on Sept. 25. (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz) about each of these special anniversaries and how they are each celebrating. PAGE 2 CHURCH TODAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2015 Pope’s 5-day visit to U.S. is short, but packed full of events Beginning tomorrow, (Tues- “World News Tonight” anchor day, Sept. 22) Pope Francis will David Muir, a practicing Catho- arrive in Washington D.C. for his lic. In addition to the group at Sa- first visit to the United States. cred Heart Parish in McAllen, the His visit will include stops in pope also conversed with home- Washington D.C., New York, and less families in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. with students at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago, which Wednesday serves low-income families. On Wednesday morning The event aired Sept. 4 dur- (Sept. 23) Pope Francis will ing a one-hour special edition of meet with President Obama in “20/20.” The event was staged in the White House, followed by a anticipation of the pope’s trip to prayer service with the bishops. the U.S. Since the pope is visiting Later in the day he will canonize only Washington, New York and Father Junipero Serra at the Ba- Philadelphia, the virtual town hall silica of the National Shrine of gave him a chance to speak with the Immaculate Conception. people in places he wouldn’t be able to visit. Thursday During the virtual town hall meeting, Pope Francis spoke with On Thursday morning (Sept. a 19-year-old man, who shared 24), the pope will address a Joint his experience as an immigrant. Session of the Congress. The me- He told the pope that he is grate- dia is expected to focus on how ful to work and attend college so Catholic lawmakers react to his that he can help support his par- remarks. In late morning, he will ents and siblings because of the visit St. Patrick in the City and ABC VIRTUAL TOWN HALL MEETING. David Muir, anchor of ABC’s “World News Tonight,” talks with Pope Francis Deferred Action for Childhood Catholic charities of the Archdio- at the Vatican during a virtual town hall meeting with Catholics in Chicago, Los Angeles and McAllen, Texas, Aug. 31. Arrivals program. cese of Washington. He departs The meeting via satellite link was arranged and hosted by ABC News. (CNS photo/courtesy of ABC News) A woman from El Salvador, to JFK later in the day and will who was wearing an electronic lead evening prayers at St. Pat- monitoring device around her rick’s Cathedral, New York. Saturday McAllen, Texas has ABC town time was 4 p.m., appearing by ankle, asked for a blessing for her hall meeting with Pope Fancis satellite and speaking to the peo- Friday The pope’s last stop is Phila- toddler son, who has problems delphia on Saturday where he will (CNS) -- At Sacred Heart ple in McAllen was Pope Francis with his vision. Friday morning (Sept. 25) preside over the World Meeting of Church in McAllen, members by means of a “virtual town hall” A young girl from El Salva- marks the Holy Father’s U.N. ad- Families. He will say Mass, visit of the community, most of them arranged by ABC News. dor, who traveled 26 days with dress. Expectations will be high Independence Mall, and attend volunteers at a respite center for “We are thrilled to have been her mother to the U.S., cried as he is likely to push for climate the Festival of Families event. immigrants at Sacred Heart par- a part of this morning’s conversa- when remembering how she and change reforms. Then he will ish hall, were invited to a special tion with Pope Francis via satel- her mother were subjected to attend an ecumentical service at Sunday event held Aug. 31 at 9 a.m. by lite,” said Brenda Nettles Riojas, threatening moments during the the World Trade Center. Later in His last day (Sunday), allows ABC News, but were not in- communications director for the journey. She drew a large picture the day, he will visit a church in him to meet with bishops, visit a formed in advance of just how Diocese of Brownsville. for Pope Francis that said, “Te East Harlem, followed by Mass at prison, offer a concluding Mass, special that event would be. The audience was moder- amo Papa” (“I love you Father”) Madison Square Garden. and thank the event’s organizers. In Rome, where the local ated from inside the Vatican by and showed it to him on camera. Let us help your family manage your financial goals. *Education Funding *Retirement Planning Family Risk Management *Mutual Funds Small Business Planning *Annuities Emile P. Oestriecher, III, CPA Anne Oestriecher, CPA, CFP® 4641 Windermere Place, Alexandria, LA 71303 318-448-3556 • www.o-fms.com *Securities offered through HD Vest Investment ServicesSM, Member: SIPC Advisory services are offered through HD Vest Advisory ServicesSM 6333 North State Highway 161, Fourth Floor, Irving, Texas 75038, 972-870-6000 Oestriecher Financial Management Services is not a broker/dealer or independent investment advisory firm. SEPTEMBER 21, 2015 CHURCH TODAY PAGE 3 Pope simplifies annulment process; urges that it be free Reforms in cost, speed, and simplicity of procedures will lift ‘oppressed shadow of doubt’ By Jeannie Petrus, CT editor dria, after a determination was or longer in some cases.” and combined CNS reports made by the diocesan Tribunal, Worldwide, cases can take the mandatory and automatic ap- “not less than two years and up Pope Francis has reformed pellate review had to be sent to to five years, but sometimes 10 rules for marriage annulment New Orleans, taking as long as years.” cases, -- making the process free, six months. That second review, In the reforms, Pope Fran- briefer, and more simple. The re- now, will no longer be necessary. cis provided a set of brand new forms came in response to calls procedures in which the diocesan that bishops from around the Urging process to be free or as bishop alone can make the deci- world have been making since close to free as possible sion about nullity of marriage before the 1980 Synod of Bish- consent. Then, if anyone feels ag- ops on the family convoked by The U.S. bishops’ website grieved by the bishop’s determi- St. John Paul II. notes that the fees vary from dio- nation, the case can be appealed Pope Francis said the re- cese to diocese within the United to the metropolitan archbishop. forms are designed not to make States with several dioceses al- The new rules spell out spe- it easier to obtain an annulment, ready waiving all fees. cific conditions when a bishop nor does it promote the nullity of “Most tribunals charge be- can issue a declaration of nullity marriages, but to reform the “cost, tween $200 and $1,000 for a for- after an abbreviated process. speed and simplicity” of the pro- POPE FRANCIS BLESSES MARRIED COUPLE. After a year’s work by a mal case depending on how much Those conditions include: cedures so that Catholic couples special legal commission, Pope Francis has approved a reform of the Code of the diocese subsidizes the work • when it is clear that one or both are not “oppressed by the shadow Canon Law to simplify and streamline the marriage annulment process. The of the tribunal,” the bishops’ web- parties lacked faith to give full of doubt” for prolonged periods. new rules were presented at the Vatican Aug. 18 and were laid out in two brief site says. consent to a true marriage; Catholic marriage tribunals papal letters. The changes will go into effect Dec. 8, the opening day of the According to the Statistical • when the woman had an abor- do not dissolve marriages, but as- Year of Mercy. Yearbook of the Church 2013, a tion to prevent procreation; sess whether or not a valid mar- Vatican-published catalogue of • remaining in an extramarital re- riage was present from the begin- statistics, just over 26 percent of lationship at the time of the wed- ning. ments: (1) the spouses are free to Eastern code. The reformed pro- the cases in the United States are ding or immediately afterward; According to Father Bruce marry; (2) they freely exchange cesses were drafted by a special heard for free; close to 30 percent • one partner hiding knowledge Miller, J.C.L., Judicial Vicar for their consent; (3) in consenting committee Pope Francis estab- require partial payment by the of infertility, a serious contagious the Diocese of Alexandria, nei- to marry, they have the intention lished a year earlier.