THE CATHOLIC PAGE 7 Meditative Prayer How We Pray Second in a Series September 6, 2013 Vol.ommentator 51, No. 15 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1963 thecatholiccommentator.org C LIKE FATHER, LIKE FATHER Joseph Bass follows his father’s footsteps and enters seminary By Barbara Chenevert The Catholic Commentator Father Frank Bass looked on with pride, oc- casionally nodding in agreement, as his young- est son talked about his career plans. Joseph Bass, son of Father Frank and Donna Bass, wants to be a Catholic priest, like his fa- ther. He entered St. Joseph’s Seminary in Au- gust. Perhaps there will be a lot of talk, maybe even a few jokes, about taking up the family business or following in his father’s footsteps, but for Joseph Bass, 24, the idea of a priestly vocation is just a wonderful gift from God. If Joseph is ordained after formation in the seminary, the Basses’ situation – father and son priests – would be rare, something they both downplay. “We are different, but we don’t feel different,” Joseph Bass said. Father Bass echoed that sentiment. “I think Father Frank Bass shares a laugh with his youngest son, Joseph, who entered St. Joseph Seminary in August. Although of myself primarily as a dad who hopes and the two would be a rare father/son combo when Joseph is ordained, they said they don’t really feel different. Photo by Bar- prays for what is best for my son. If God’s will is bara Chenevert | The Catholic Commentator SEE FATHER PAGE 20 Founding documents of diocese come home By Richard Meek diocese of New Orleans. documents she and her staff The Catholic Commentator The first thing Nolan noticed searched for while preparing upon opening the folder was for the diocese’s 50th anniver- Archivist Dr. Charles Nolan a note dated in 1984 from the sary in 2011. knew he had stumbled across Abbey’s archivist at the time “These are the founding a rare find when he discovered recommending the contents documents of the diocese,” she a file marked “Bishop Tracy” in be returned to the Diocese of added. “Why these didn’t get the archives at St. Joseph Ab- Baton Rouge. He then saw the filed with the chancery I don’t bey in Covington. founding records for the Dio- know.” But not until perusing the cese of Baton Rouge in 1961 and The documents are personal files did Nolan realize he was documentation from Bishop and ministerial but also offer a walking through history, of- Tracy’s appointment as auxil- fascinating look at the secrecy fered a behind-the-scenes iary bishop to the Diocese of that once existed surrounding snapshot at the founding of the Lafayette in 1959. papal appointments. Diocese of Baton Rouge. “You do a double take,” No- Perhaps the most important Bishop Robert E. Tracy was lan said. “I thought ‘This is not Several of the items discovered in Bishop Robert E. Tracy’s personal document is the letter from the the founding bishop of Baton what I thought it is.’ I went back folder included a letter asking if he would be interested in becom- Apostolic Delegation in Wash- Rouge, and included in the fold- and went through the whole ing the founding bishop for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, a letter he ington, D.C., offering Bishop er were documents some feared thing and realized what it was.” wrote to Archbishop Joseph R. Rummel not long after he accepted Tracy the position as founding were lost forever. He immediately contacted the position and a picture of the bishop’s father. Photo by Richard Meek | bishop for the new Diocese of “In going through papers you Abbott Justin Brown OSB, and The Catholic Commentator Baton Rouge. never quite know what you’re they agreed the folder should “From a historical perspec- said Ann Bolton, archivist for To accept the appointment, going to find,” said Nolan, the immediately be returned to Ba- tive, I don’t think you can get the Diocese of Baton Rouge, the letter stated Bishop Tracy longtime archivist for the Arch- ton Rouge. any more important than this,” who added these were the SEE DOCUMENTS PAGE 19 2 The Catholic Commentator September 6, 2013 | IN THIS ISSUE | DID YOU KNOW ST. THOMAS PARISHIONERS Ellis and LIVING A CATHOLIC FAITH comes with Postures of the Mass Juanita Martinez Coutee have estab- responsibility and accountability. PAGE Did you every wonder why Catholics humble gratitude for the marvelous thing lished a nursing scholarship at North- 16 stand, kneel or sit during various parts of God has done in creating and redeeming western State University in memory of the Mass? each of us,” stated the U.S. Conference of their daughter. PAGE 8 These postures are not just part of Catholic Bishops in a handout on liturgi- | IN THE NEXT ISSUE a ceremony. Each carries a particular cal postures. FOUR CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL meaning and is designed to enhance the “By baptism we have been given a ALUMNI were inducted into the CHS worship experience. Each posture rein- share in the life of God, and the posture Grizzly Greats Hall of Fame. PAGE 8 forces the action taking place and unifies of standing is an acknowledgment of this the assembly. wonderful gift,” the USCCB continued. Liturgy is the public prayer of the Because kneeling signifies adoration church, and since the church is made up and reverence, the bishops in the U.S. of human beings, prayer encompasses not have chosen kneeling as the posture for only the mind and heart, but the body and the eucharistic prayer. Kneeling at one Tucked among cypress trees and fishing voice as well. time was associated with penance and camps, Our Lady of Blind River Chapel Standing is a sign of respect and honor, an awareness of sin. The USSCB said, “So ST. THOMAS AQUINAS STUDENTS are beckons thousands to stop for prayer so that Catholics stand when the priest, thoroughly was kneeling identified with dressing down to help the school raise who represents Christ, enters and leaves penance that the early Christians were $250,000 to match a challenge by an the assembly; for the Gospel reading; forbidden to kneel on Sundays and during anonymous donor. PAGE 9 | INDEX the Profession of Faith; the intercessory the Easter season when the prevailing CLASSIFIED ADS 18 prayers; before the prayer over the gifts; spirit of the liturgy was that of joy and CURRENT and from the end of the Great Amen to the thanksgiving.” COMING EVENTS 18 AND FORMER Agnus Dei; and for the closing prayer. However, during the Middle Ages, PARISHIO- ENTERTAINMENT 14 Standing is also the posture for receiv- things began to change and kneeling be- NERS of St. FAMILY LIFE 5 ing Communion in the United States. came an association with homage and ad- Pius X Church INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL NEWS 4 “This posture, from the earliest days oration. gathered at a LETTER TO THE EDITOR 16 of the church, has been understood as the Sitting is a posture of meditation and special Mass SPIRITUALITY 7 stance of those who are ‘risen with Christ listening, so it is appropriate that Catho- to celebrate and seek the things that are above.’ When lics sit to receive the readings prior to the VIEWPOINT 16 the church’s we stand for prayer we assume our full Gospel, for the homily and for the prepa- 50th anniversary. PAGE 10 YOUTh 12 stature before God, not in pride, but in ration of the gifts. LOOK FOR | PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PRAY FOR US THE CATHOLIC COMMENTATOR Please pray for the priests, deacons and religious women and men in the Baton Rouge Diocese. AT YOUR LOCAL OUTLETS INCLUDING: Sept. 8 Rev. Matthew P. Lorrain Sept. 15 Rev. William H. McCue SC ✔ Albertsons on Government St., Bluebonnet Blvd. and College Dr. in Dcn. Micheal J. (Shelley) Joseph Dcn. Edwin J. Martin Baton Rouge and in Denham Springs Sr. Therese Dinh ICM Sr. Dulce Maria Flores HMSS ✔ Alexander’s Highland Market in Baton Rouge Sept. 9 Rev. P. Brent Maher Sept. 16 Rev. Paul A. McDuffie ✔ Ascension Books & Gifts in Gonzales Dcn. John A. Jung Jr. Dcn. Larry J. Melancon Br. Alan Drain SC Sr. Janet Franklin CSJ ✔ Benedetto’s Market in Addis ✔ Sept. 10 Rev. Samuel C. Maranto CSsR Sept. 17 Rev. Roberto Merced OP Bohning Supermarket in Ponchatoula Dcn. Robert J. Kusch Dcn. James J. Morrissey ✔ Calandro’s Supermarkets in Baton Rouge Sr. Dehra Elliot CSJ Br. Clement Furno CSsR ✔ Catholic Art and Gifts in Baton Rouge Sept. 11 Rev. Robert G. Marcell Sept. 18 Rev. Andrew J. Merrick ✔ Daigle’s Supermarket in White Castle Dcn. Thomas E. Labat Sr. Dcn. Jodi A. Moscona ✔ Hi Nabor Supermarkets, Drusilla and Jones Creek Rd. in Baton Rouge Sr. June Engelbrecht OP Br. Henry Gaither SC ✔ Hubben’s Grocery in Port Allen Sept. 12 Rev. Gerard R. Martin Sept. 19 Rev. Victor G. Messina ✔ LeBlanc’s Food Stores in Donaldsonville, Gonzales, Dcn. Ronald D. LeGrange Dcn. Donald J. Musso Hammond, Plaquemine, Plattenville, Prairieville and Zachary Sr. Rosalina Tesoro Evangelista DM Sr. Carol Gonsoulin CSJ Sept. 13 Rev. Patrick J. Mascarella Sept. 20 Rev. Michael A. Miceli ✔ Matherne’s Supermarkets in Baton Rouge ✔ Dcn. Albert Levy III Dcn. Roger A. Navarra Magnuson Hotel in St. Francisville Sr. Dianne Fanguy CSJ Sr. Mary Joel Gubler OP ✔ Oak Point Supermarket in Central Sept. 14 Rev. Matthew E. McCaughey Sept. 21 Rev. Cleo J. Milano ✔ Our Lady of the Lake College in Baton Rouge Dcn. James A. Little Dcn. Angelo S.