THE CATHOLIC PAGE 3 Budget cuts could affect Catholic Schools

February 2,ommentator 2018 Vol. 55, No. 26 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1963 thecatholiccommentator.org C ‘UNDER ONE ROOF’

built in the mid-1970s but eventu- St. Aloysius ally the staff outgrew the building and moved into the original convent of the Daughters of Jesus, who in turn took over the smaller office building. More dedicates remodeling and moves into multiple buildings continued over the years to accommodate the growing church new center to the point that “an off-campus resi- dence in the neighborhood became the rectory.” By Bonny Van After prayers and petitions, Fa- The Catholic Commentator ther Cuevas, parochial vicar Father Eddie Martin and Deacon Chauvin “It’s been wonderful,” said Mary Wilkinson walked through the Dawson, director of development 9,958-square foot-administration and communications at St. Aloysius building, blessing each of the offices Church in Baton Rouge. with holy water. They were followed That was her first response when by parishioners, eager to see the new asked what it’s like to work in the new space. Pastoral Services Center on the church “With the completion of our new campus. “In the past, the church staff Pastoral Services center, church staff had to work in three different loca- Father Randy Cuevas, pastor of St. Aloysius Church in Baton Rouge, blesses one of the are finally under one roof again, in a tions on the church grounds, so it’s 18 offices in the Pastoral Services Center. The building also has two conference building specifically designed to bet- been wonderful for us all to be housed rooms, an employee break room and a workroom. Photo by Bonny Van | The Catholic Commentator ter serve the pastoral needs of our pa- in one building. It’s so much more col- rishioners and visitors, and enable our laborative,” she said. tor Father Randy Cuevas for the short for the blessing of the facility. staff to efficiently and effectively func- After Mass on Jan. 21, parishioners walk from the church, across the park- According to Father Cuevas, the tion, communicate and coordinate the and staff at St. Aloysius followed pas- ing lot to the front of the new building first church office for St. Aloysius was SEE PASTORAL PAGE 20 Purgatory ‘cleans up the mess’ SVdP receives

By Debbie Shelley tion (on purgatory) by asking the of the Catholic Church has to say The Catholic Commentator question, ‘What happens when we (1032): All who die in the state $1 million grant die?’ ” said Father Miles Walsh, of God’s grace, i.e., in the state Lent is a time to spiritually ap- pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus of friendship with him, but still By Richard Meek ply the principals of spring clean- Church in Baton Rouge. “The imperfectly purified, are indeed The Catholic Commentator ing the house to spring cleaning church teaches that when we die assured of their eternal salva- the soul so we can be united with we are first of all judged by God, tion, but after death they undergo St. Vincent de Paul Society is on the move the resurrected Jesus at Easter. and at that judgment, which we purification, so as to achieve the again. But struggle as we may to “clean call the particular judgment, we holiness necessary to enter the Weeks before dedicating a 42-bed expan- up the mess,” we may have the learn our eternal destiny: whether joy of heaven. The church gives sion of the Bishop Ott Sweet Dreams Shelter for uneasiness that we are not quite we will spend eternity with God the name ‘purgatory’ to this final Women and Children, executive director Michael ready for heaven if we should die in heaven … or whether we will purification of the elect, which is Acaldo announced that St. Vincent de Paul re- because we still attach ourselves spend eternity apart from him in entirely different from the punish- ceived a $1 million grant from the city of Baton to some sins or “dirt” in our souls. hell. And yet, even if we are des- ment of the damned.” Rouge which will pave the way for a 36-bed ex- Placing a soul in purgatory, tined for heaven, our Catholic tra- Father Matthew Graham, ad- pansion of the Bishop Ott Center and day room. therefore, is God’s merciful, loving dition, including Scripture itself, ministrator of St. Elizabeth Church Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome act of final cleansing of the soul, attests that most of those who will in Paincourtville and St. Jules announced the grant Jan. 29. so it can be perfectly purified and go to heaven must first spend a pe- Church in Belle Rose, talked about “We are so excited about being a part of the brought home to him in heaven, riod of time being purified of any references to purgatory in Scrip- mayor’s vision of responding to the needs of the according to clergy of the Diocese and all attachment to sin, and we ture. He highlighted how St. Paul homeless, especially mothers and children who of Baton Rouge. call this state of being purgatory. wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 that have no place to turn for help,” Acaldo said. “We “We might begin our reflec- “This is what the Catechism SEE PURGATORY PAGE 19 SEE GRANT PAGE 15 2 The Catholic Commentator February 2, 2018 | TREASURES FROM THE DIOCESE Jesus’ healing power

By Dina Dow of the people with leprosy, the sadness of their family and the outright rejection “I turn to you, Lord, in times of trou- by the larger community. If a person ble, and you fill me with the joy of sal- touched another with leprosy, that per- vation.” Ps 32 son was deemed unclean. The reading itself is quite descriptive, causing one It is interesting the liturgical read- to cringe. Understanding ings for the fifth and the terrible effects of such sixth Sundays in Ordi- Life-Giving a disease, one may say, “Do nary Time are actual- you blame the Israelites ly preparing us for the FAI H for having extreme law?” But season of Lent, which hap- think of a time when people pens to immediately follow these. The treated you as if you had a com- themes resonating from the Scriptures municable disease? Rejection is a fore- speak to the realities of challenges faced runner to the realm of hopelessness. by many, including restlessness and re- jection. Yet, these challenges are over- Healing come through the healing ministry of Yet within the storm filled with de- Jesus and the hope of salvation. spair and isolation, there is hope and healing. Jesus, the holiest one, reaches Restlessness and grasps what is drowning us. We, as The Book of Job is an incredible sto- living missionary disciples, are called to ry from the Old Testament detailing the run into the storm and help. St. Paul re- Eva LeGard, far righr, talks with members of the youth panel at the Black Congress experience of a man completely commit- minds us of the call to mission. Spread- held at the Catholic Life Center in Baton Rouge, March 11, 1989. The congress was well ted to God, whose life is filled with utter ing the Gospel message is more than attended by young delegates. Photo provided by the Department of Archives, Diocese of Baton Rogue tragedy and loss. He is strong in faith volunteerism. Rather, it is an enormous and perseveres, yet he asks questions obligation for all baptized Christians to | that we too may ask out of hopelessness. share in the hope of Jesus, especially DID YOU KNOW He expresses restlessness, comparing it when others are in need of healing. to a slave laboring for hours; longing for Jesus’ healing ministry is seen shade from the heat of the sun. Despair throughout the Gospels, particularly Throat blessing is creeping in. Job poses the question, in the liturgy of the coming weeks. We “When shall I arise?” Ask yourself, read, “He grasped the hand of Simon’s Throat a bit sore lately? candles to his prison cell so he could “When have I been exhausted from the mother-in-law and helped her up. Then Hoarseness setting in? read Scripture. challenges, longing for peace? Is hope the fever left her …” (Mk 1:31) and upon No wonder, considering the wacky By the sixth century, St. Blaise was extinguished? Am I restless? If so, what the request from the man with leprosy, weather that has included snow and being called upon for intercession for is the root of this restlessness? “Moved with pity, he stretched out his ice on two occasions since the calendar diseases of the throat. During the Mid- hand, touched him, and said to him, ‘I flipped to a new year. dle Ages his popularity soared, be- Rejection do will it. Be made clean’ ” (Mk 1:41). We Which makes the feast day of St. coming one of the most popular saints We also hear in the Book of Leviticus can easily embrace the first miracle, yet Blaise on Feb. 3, more commonly known during that era. the origin of the law restricting those the second is more challenging. What’s as the blessing of the throats, perfect One reason for his popularity was with leprosy to a life of exile and isola- easier, to touch someone with a fever or timing in an area where nary a family born out of the fact that he was able tion. One can only imagine the despair SEE GOSPEL PAGE 4 or workplace has escaped the ravages of to cure the sick, especially those with the highly contagious strain of flu mak- throat ailments, thus establishing the | CLARIFICATION ing the rounds this winter. foundation for the custom of the bless- Not much is known about St. Blaise ing of throats. During that blessing, the St. Gabriel Church in St. Gabriel was completed in 1776, dependent on the labor except what tradition has passed down. priest touches the throats with two cross of new arriving Acadian exiles. Additionally, all of the archival evidence points to the Historians are in agreement that he was candles while invoking the prayer of St. fact that the church was built on its present tract of land, although it was moved back the bishop of Sebaste in Armenia and Blaise and imparting God’s blessing. from the encroaching Mississippi River. In the late 1890s a New Orleans newspaper martyred around 316. He was apparent- The feast day of St. Blaise is one published a story that the original church was built on Bayou Manchac, which has ly born into a rich family and eventually day after Candlemas Day, which is also perpetuated a myth that has now touched its third century. became a physician before being conse- known as the Presentation of the Lord. crated as a bishop at a young age. During Forty days after the birth of Jesus, Mary persecution in his area, St. Blaise relo- and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple cated to a cave and became a hermit. for the rites of purification and dedica- Legend has it that he healed wild ani- tion as prescribed by the Torah. mals that were sick and wounded. Because Jesus is the light of the world thecatholiccommentator.org | Facebook.com/TheCatholicCommentator Hunters gathering wild beasts even- who came to dispel sin and darkness, tually found him and brought him to since at least the seventh century can- Bishop Robert W. Muench Publisher Wanda L. Koch Advertising Manager the governor of Cappadocia. There, St. dles have been blessed at Mass on Feb. 2 Father Tom Ranzino Associate Publisher Bonny Van Staff Writer Blaise encountered a woman whose pig to be used throughout the liturgical year, Richard Meek Editor Lisa Disney Secretary/Circulation was being seized by a wolf and com- hence the day is known as “Candlemas.” Debbie Shelley Assistant Editor Nicole Latiolais Graphic Designer manded the wolf to release the pig, thus In many Eastern European coun- The Catholic Commentator (ISSN 07460511; USPS 093-680) saving its life. tries, this day officially marks the end Published bi-weekly (every other week) by the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge,1800 South Acadian In prison he cured a small boy who of the Christmas celebration. Noting Thruway, Baton Rouge, LA 70808; 225-387-0983 or 225-387-0561. Periodical Postage Paid at Baton was choking to death on a fishbone that, St. John Paul II began the custom Rouge, LA. Copy must reach the above address by Wednesday for use in the next week’s paper. Sub- scription rate: $14.00 per year. POSTMASTER, send address changes to The Catholic Commentator, P.O. lodged in his throat. The woman whose of keeping the Nativity up in St. Peter’s Box 14746, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-4746. pig was saved brought the future saint Square until Feb. 2. February 2, 2018 The Catholic Commentator 3 Governor’s budget cuts millions for Catholic schools

By Richard Meek matter-of-factly stated. number of different categories, textbook funding for nonpublic would only leave lawmakers The Catholic Commentator Rob Tasman, director of the including school attendance schools would be affected under about three weeks to settle the Louisiana Conference of Catho- rates, bus transportation and Edwards’ proposal. issue from when the session Gov. John Bel Edwards’ bud- lic Bishops, said he was a bit sur- who utilizes it, teacher certifica- In meeting with legislators in ends in early June until July 1, get proposal to slash more than prised by the proposed cuts only tion and teacher development, the days following Edwards’ an- when the new budget goes into $16 million in funding to Cath- because they account for such a Tasman said. He added that the nouncement, Tasman said law- effect. olic schools could have devastat- small percentage of the deficit. law, as originally crafted, re- makers have been receptive in “I am reaching out to key ing effects, especially among low “When you’re dealing with quires each school to be reim- understanding the importance legislators in important com- income families, according to a $1 billion deficit, one of the bursed 100 percent but in three of the funding to private schools mittees like the House Appro- diocesan officials. things that strikes me is these decades that has not happened. but was quick to add that what priations Committee and Senate Edwards revealed what some two streams of funding have More recently, the reimburse- remains a mystery is how and Finance Committee to commu- tagged his “doomsday” budget been completely zeroed out and ment has come in around 29 when the final resolution will nicate to them the importance on Jan 22, a proposal that also (accounts) for only one half of percent. play out. (of continuing these funding lops off millions of dollars in one percent of that entire defi- “(The funding) trickles down No special sessions are sched- streams),” Tasman said. “First, I TOPS and health care funding. cit,” Tasman said. “It really does because obviously that is money uled before the March 11 start of am trying to raise the awareness Edwards said the draconian cuts not make a lot of sense to go af- that comes in as a source of rev- the regular session, but being an of how we are impacted by this, are necessary to meet the loom- ter these two streams of funding enue to a school,” Tasman said. even year no new revenue-rais- second, how important these ing $1 billion shortfall. when private schools are pro- “They receive that check and ing taxes can be passed. Tasman program are to us, and third, be The governor’s proposal viding an incredible service to what they are able to do with said legislators will be only able available if there are questions would eliminate funding for the state in terms of educating that check is up to their discre- to discuss potential solutions or if (LCCB) can help participate the school lunch its children at a tion but is really used to fund during the regular session but in the solution.” program and re- very high capac- critical programs, like academic any action must be taken during He noted that funding for re- imbursement for “If we don’t ity, not only just programs or extracurricular ac- a special session. quired services has been slashed required service forming them tivities. It’s also used for teacher The legislature could paint by nearly 40 percent in the past for all private have funding, academically and professional development.” its own conundrum if there is three years as the legislature has schools in the but also forming Tasman stressed that neither no resolution before the regu- continued to struggle with bud- state. Currently, we would have them to be very school bus transportation nor lar session begins because that get deficits. the school lunch successful hu- program receives no meals.” man beings and about $7.5 mil- active citizens lion in state fund- Lynda Carville who participate ing annually and Director of Child Nutrition Program in the economy required services for the Diocese of Baton Rouge of the state and $8.7 million. the culture of the In the Dio- state as well.” cese of Baton Rouge, the child Tasman agreed that elim- nutrition program receives an inating the funding for the average of $1.5 million annually school lunch program would from the state, a revenue stream create hardships for the needi- that if severed would effective- est of families. Acknowledging he Black and Indian Mission Collection (BIMC) exists to help diocesan communi- ly shut down the program, said “that seems to be a dramatic ties to build the Church and preach the Gospel of Jesus among the African Amer- Lynda Carville, director of the statement,” Tasman said if the ican, Native American, and Alaska Native people of God. Child Nutrition Program for the food service providers are not T Every year, it is the amazing generosity of Catholic faithful just like you who enable the Black and Diocese of Baton Rouge. able to pay equitable wages to Indian Mission Office to support the following important priorities: “It would be devastating,” their employees, “there is no Carville said. “We would have way you will be able to serve the Enlivening Parish Empowering parents and children who are food.” Life & Catechesis Evangelizers (eating) free and reduced (cost) “If you are able to maintain meals through the program. the workforce, you will have Grant funds from the BIMC grant funds They would lose that. to raise the price of the meal BIMC enables us to help African- support parish-based American and “(Parents) would lose the to offset the cost and by doing catechetical programs. Native American comfort of knowing there is a that you are really pricing out ministries to meal prepared at school to help certain families who could not sponsor events and formation to encourage the nourish the children to support afford the meal,” he added. Helping Educators Christian life in culturally appropriate ways. education A hungry child can’t Carville said her office em- Reach Kids Encouraging function.” ploys approximately 180 em- Vocations Carville said in many cases ployees, and is responsible for In 2016, your generous donations reached over children from low-income fam- maintaining equipment in all We need men and 4,000 African- ilies are eating breakfast, lunch of the schools, purchasing of all women living the American and Native and even a hot supper at school the food, garbage collection and consecrated life to give American students in for free. She added there are disposal and transporting food witness to a more than 250 schools radical Christian life. currently four schools where 100 when necessary. and parishes across the U.S. percent of the student body is re- “The money is so well uti- We need priests in order to have the Eucharist! ceiving totally subsidized break- lized,” she said. Please give generously in your parish collection on February 14th. fast, lunch and dinner meals, The funding allocated for re- accounting for a combined 600 quired services was established students. by the state nearly 30 years “If we don’t have funding, we ago and reimburses nonpublic would have no meals.” Carville schools for collecting data in a 4 The Catholic Commentator February 2, 2018 Men’s conference to feature ‘rock star’ lineup

By Richard Meek George Church in Baton Rouge. “It will be a beautiful day to The theme of the conference, and make it approachable and The Catholic Commentator Included among the scheduled be a Catholic man,” Hardin said. which is in its second year and attainable, which, Hardin said, speakers are Father Mitch Pacwa “We are going to have 1,000 guys shifts venue from Sacred Heart is difficult to accomplish. Father An impressive lineup of pre- SJ, who hosts his own show on spending an entire day in fellow- of Jesus Church in Baton Rouge Pacwa is also going to talk about senters including a “rock star” EWTN; Matt Fradd and well- ship, in formation, in catechesis, a year ago, is “A Call to Battle,” the power of reconciliation as it author highlight the second Men known author Dr. Scott Hahn, in encouragement, in worship. with an emphasis on formation, relates to the formation of those of the Immaculata Men’s Con- whom conference organizer Deeper conversion for greater ho- Hardin said. He added the focus in attendance. ference scheduled Feb. 17 at St. Hunter Hardin calls a “rock star.” liness.” will be on how men are forming “Our mission is greater ho- themselves to be those “unique liness for every man,” Hardin creations that God has put us said “The way to get that is deep here to be. What are we doing on conversion through Jesus Christ. a daily basis. What is our forma- That’s the whole point of forma- tion path?” tion, to get closer to the heart of A number of topics to be ad- Christ.” dressed include the destructive Hardin said the response to nature of pornography, breaking the conference has been remark- down complex ideas of faith and able, making it even more amaz- the power of the Mass, specifical- ing since it is only in its second Schedule ly the Eucharist. year. But he said the success goes Hardin said Fradd’s special back to the decades of interces- charism is the ability to attrac- sion and sacrifice for men to be online, on tively and reasonably package the hungry for this type of organized, content of the dangers and dark- group formation. ness associated with pornogra- “Because of those years and your time. phy. Hardin noted that the “ca- years of intercession, the hunger, pacity of lust is in every man and the wellspring that we are seeing some men really struggle with it. come forth in this community is And it absolutely destroys fami- kind of shocking but kind of ex- lies, lives and marriages.” pected,” Hardin said. “When you He also said pornography’s lay that kind of table for the Lord, destructive potential is not given he’s going to bless it.” enough of credit. Tickets are $60 for adults and Hahn will discuss how the $30 for students, who must be at Mass, specifically the Eucharist, least 16 years of age. Registration is a valuable piece in spiritual begins at 6:30 a.m., with the in- warfare. He said Hahn will ex- vocation and confession begin- plain how the Eucharist edifies ning at 7 a.m. Lunch, prepared by and strengthens Catholics as they Chef John Folse, is included, and go forth in the battle. the day is set to conclude at 3 p.m. Father Pacwa will break To register, visit catholicmen- down the complexities of faith br.com.

GOSPEL  consider healing and hope. First, From page 2 where am I in need of healing? Need to schedule a doctor’s Have I received the sacrament of to touch someone with leprosy? reconciliation to be healed from appointment for you or your kids, These are two powerful healings, the burden of sin? Do I seek the and with one touch of Jesus, they holy healing from the divine phy- but don’t have the time during are healed. “Jesus reaches across sician, Jesus? Whom do I know the divide and conquers the un- that is either physically or spiritu- regular business hours? clean by the great power of holi- ally ill? How can I invite them to ness.” (“Ignatius Catholic Study the healing power of Christ? Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group now offers online scheduling Bible, New Testament”) “Praise Second, am I a voice of hope with any of our primary care doctors or pediatricians from the the Lord who heals the broken- for all to hear? Do I share the hope comfort of your own home — 24/7. With more than 25 clinics across hearted” (Ps 147). of God with those who are strug- South Louisiana and Mississippi, accessing the doctor your family gling with isolation, rejection and needs is now more convenient than ever. The hope of our mission despair? How can I reach across There is hope in Jesus, who the divide and share the hope in saves. We are called to share our mission saying, “Jesus loves Schedule online today at ololphysiciangroup.com this hope of salvation with joyful you. You matter. He wants to heal hearts. St. Paul writes, “Do ev- you.” erything for the glory of God … As we prepare for the season of that they may be saved … imitate Lent, let us joyfully thank God for Christ.” (1 Cor 10:31-11:1) The pur- our salvific hope in Jesus Christ. pose of our life is to imitate Jesus *(Be on the lookout for “2018: through humble service. Our ac- The Light Is ON For You” media tions and words should point to outreach during Lent. “How- the glory of God. As we ponder to” resources and videos will be what to “do” or “give up” for Lent, available to download and share.) February 2, 2018 The Catholic Commentator 5 Diocese establishes committee to welcome new bishop

By Richard Meek welcoming a new bishop. Among cess also includes a reception months. although circumstances, includ- The Catholic Commentator the topics to be covered include where the new bishop will greet After the Vatican announces ing if the person appointed is a invitations, including design and the public. The incoming bishop the new bishop, the transition sitting bishop, could alter that The Diocese of Baton Rouge who will be invited to the actual does have the option of choosing is typically about two months, schedule one way or the other. is already making plans as to installation; logistics; commu- where to celebrate his installa- how to welcome whomever is ap- nications; care of guests, which tion, and could possibly include pointed to replace outgoing Bish- includes transportation of guests a larger venue. op Robert W. Muench, who sent to and from the airports, hotel A new priest’s residence is in his retirement letter to the reservations, food and security; currently under construction ad- Mr. D’s Tree Service Vatican on Dec. 28, as required programs; the liturgy for the in- jacent to the new archives build- ovEr 35 yEars ExpErIEncE by Canon Law, on his 75th birth- stallation as well as vespers that ing, which is being built at the day. would include the first meeting same time. The new residence is Don Decell, owner A New Bishop Committee has with diocesan priests before the expected to be completed in late carl BaBin, owner been formed and recently held installation; the coat of arms; an May or early June. • Economical • Fully Insured • Quality Work its first meeting, although the installation budget; and the new Although Bishop Muench sub- announcement of a new bishop, bishop’s residence. mitted his letter of resignation, CALL TODAY! which will come from the Vat- The installation, which tradi- he remains with “full power and 225-292-6756 ican, is likely months away, ac- tionally has been celebrated at authority” until his successor is cording to diocesan officials. St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton announced, said Father Counce, The new committee is ad- Rouge, will not be open to the judicial vicar for the diocese. dressing a wide range of issues public because of space consid- Father Counce said the complex traditionally associated with erations, bur the planning pro- process would likely take several

invites you to join us for breakfast on Saturday, Feb. 17 from 9 a.m. Schools planning makeup days – noon at Oak Lodge Reception Center, 2834 South Sherwood Forest Blvd., Baton Rouge. Our speaker will be Sr. Tracey Matthia Dugas. Staff Report schools must have a minimum of 175 instruc- Sr. Tracey says her favorite thing about being consecrated to The Catholic Commentator tional days annually. However, schools tradi- God is that she’s God’s “audio-visual,” called to commu- tionally schedule 178 instructional days at the nicate him and his love and truth to everyone. Reserva- Record low temperatures that brought an beginning of the year, building in three emer- tions are $22 each thru Feb. 13. No seats will be sold unusual mix of snow and ice on two occasions gency days. at the door. Please indicate the number of reservations in January to south Louisiana also has school Verges said schools are completing their re- and send a check made out to BR Magnificat with officials scrambling to make up unexpected vised calendars and resubmitting them to the attendee names to: Kathy Simoneaux, 9650 Victory days when schools were closed. CSO for review and approval. Lane, Denham Springs, LA 70726. Dr. Melanie Verges, superintendent of Cath- Parents with questions should call their olic schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge, said child’s school. Pearson’s Luggage will be under renovations as of March 1.Pearson’s Travel World will remain open offering 37 years professional customer service to the Baton Rouge area since 1981. Upcoming Travel Shows Feb. 6 – Insight Vacations 2 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. Canyon Lands, Normandy Brittany & Lorie Valley, Ireland & Scotland Feb. 17 – Norwegian Cruise Line 1 DAY CRUISE SALE 10a.m. – 2 p.m. 10 a.m. Presentation on Cruises to Hawaii Norwegian Breakaway coming to New Orleans Tootie Bonacorso Feb. 20 – CIE 2 p.m. Ireland & Scotland Feb. 22 – Royal Caribbean 1 DAY CRUISE SALE on all RCCL ships including Vision of Seas out of New Orleans INSTALLATION OF LECTORS – Eight candidates for the Permanent Diaconate were installed as lectors 2018-2019 at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge on Jan. 28 by Bishop Robert W. Muench. In the rite, the bishop Feb. 27 – Crystal Cruise Lines 2 p.m. hands the candidate a symbol of the ministry to which he is being instituted, namely a copy of the #1 Luxury Cruse Line in the World sacred Scriptures, and he exhorts them to fulfill their ministry faithfully. These men are scheduled to be ordained the summer of 2020. Pictured, from left, are Deacon John Veron, Director of Deacon Life Reserve your spot today! and Ministry; Deacon Minos Ponville, Father. Jamin David, Director of Formation for the Permanent Join our Next Bus Trip: Cajun Comic Relief Diaconate; candidates Moc Pham, St. Jude the Apostle Church Baton Rouge; Alec Campbell, St. Al- with the St. Alphonsus, Limited Space phonsus Church in Greenwell Springs; Billy Messenger, Immaculate Conception Church in Denham Saturday, March 10 Springs; Gabriel Rico, The Hispanic Apostolate; Sammy Chestovich, St. Mark Church in Gonzales; Bish- op Muench; candidates Chris Landry, Christ the King Church and Student Center in Baton Rouge; Give me a call about our Group Departures. Ehren Oschawald, St. Elizabeth Church in Paincourtville/St. Jules Church in Belle Rose; Mark Reyanud, St. Alphonsus; Deacon Tommy Benoit (Assistant to the Office of the Permanent Diaconate); Deacon Pearson’s Travel World Joe Scimeca; and Deacon Tim Messenger. Photo provided by Father Jamin David 7949 Jefferson Hwy., Baton Rouge • 225-926-3752 6 The Catholic Commentator February 2, 2018 Dispensation from abstinence

Please settle a dispute I am having the supreme authority of the church” (No. The Diocese of This is in stark contrast to with a colleague. Our society’s 87). Dallas, for example, the experiences of friends who Qannual St. Patrick’s dinner is nor- A later canon clarifies that “a pastor provided in 2017 that suffered miscarriages later in mally held on a Friday during Lent. We and other presbyters or deacons are Catholics who chose to pregnancy. They have been therefore request a dispensation in order not able to dispense from universal and eat meat on March 17 devastated and truly felt that to serve steak that evening. particular law unless this power has should abstain either on they lost a person, not just a I contend that all we must do is to been expressly granted to them” (No. 89). March 16 or March 18. pregnancy. Are my feelings request that dispensation from the pastor That later canon does seem to suggest, Creatively, the Dallas wrong or worse, sinful? (Cin- of the parish in which the restaurant is though, that the power to dispense from diocese offered still cinnati) located; my colleague, though, says that abstinence may at times be extended by a another option, viz., we need to go to the bishop of our diocese bishop to his priests – and that is, in fact, “for a person to offer Please don’t punish and that only a bishop can grant it. Who both the law and the practice. a decade of the rosary yourself. First of all, is correct? In 2017, when the feast of St. Patrick for the plight of im- Afeelings are outside (I went to a Jesuit college, St. Peter’s; (March 17) occurred on a Friday, a state- migrants/refugees or of our control; morally, we he went to a non-Jesuit school, Seton ment from the Archdiocese of Detroit (to for the intention of an Question Corner are not responsible for our Hall, and I would love to prove him use just one example) said: increase in vocations to feelings, only for our words, wrong. Of course, if he is right, I probably “All priests ministering in the arch- the priesthood.” Father Kenneth Doyle actions or omissions. Yes, won’t tell him!) (central New Jersey) diocese possess the faculty to dispense So the answer to your question de- the church does teach that a child in the (remove) or commute (replace with some- pends on what your own diocese has pro- womb is a person from the moment of Your question is a bit more compli- thing else) the obligation for an individual vided for. (I recognize that my response conception. (And science would seem to cated than you may have thought. or family to abstain from meat on the does not resolve the Jesuit/non-Jesuit support this: heartbeat at 24 days, brain AThe answer is that it depends on Fridays of Lent. Therefore, those wanting rivalry because both of you could be waves at 43, etc.) the diocese in which you are located. The to partake in a celebratory meal on St. right!) But surely, a mother’s emotional link church’s Code of Canon Law situates the Patrick’s Day that includes meat simply to the child grows as the pregnancy authority with the bishop: need to talk to a priest, who may grant A few years ago, I had a miscar- advances which makes it not surprising “A diocesan bishop, whenever he this ‘for a just reason.’ ” riage early in a pregnancy. While that a child lost later in pregnancy would judges that it contributes to their spiritual Generally, when a diocese on such an Qmy husband and I were sad, we prompt deeper pain. Thank God for the good, is able to dispense the faithful from occasion lifts the obligation of abstinence, never really felt a substantial loss perhaps children who are with you now, and look universal and particular disciplinary laws it stipulates that the person should choose because we quickly became pregnant forward, one day, to meeting the one who issued for his territory or his subjects by some other penitential practice instead. again. went to heaven early.

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MAIL TO: THE CATHOLIC COMMENTATOR, P. O. BOX 3316, BATON ROUGE, LA 70821-3316 CSERVING THE DIOCESE O F BATON ROUGE SINCE 1962 February 2, 2018 faith journey The Catholic Commentator 7 Confession shines the light on spiritual healing

By Debbie Shelley Saturday. After (my husband) ize what a mistake that was. childhood. It seemed that I tried peace comes from renewing our The Catholic Commentator Jimmy came home from work How different the sacrament everything to break this bad baptismal promises as we con- that Saturday, I went to church of confession is now (that the habit, even wearing fake nails. fess our sins, said Paula Fabre, As the penitential season for confession. After confess- truth) has been revealed to Amazingly, after making a com- principal of St. Francis Xavier of Lent approaches, Catholics ing my sins to the new, young me. Whereas early in my life I mitment to confession monthly, School in Baton Rouge. whose faith is sparked by the assistant priest, he asked me viewed confession strictly as a I noticed that I was not even “Once we have been baptized sacrament of reconciliation say if that was all. I answered yes. means to have my sins forgiven, tempted to bite my fingernails and we sin, we have to return to it is not a dark moment of ad- Almost apologizing, I told him I now know that this is a sacra- any longer. I wanted to shout that baptism,” said Fabre. “You mitting and being ment of mercy, love from the rooftops that I was know God is a forgiving God sentenced for sins, and grace.” healed. Yes, I eagerly claimed and we have an opportunity to but a “light bulb mo- Abadie and fellow that healing of a 50-year plus begin anew.” ment” when they are Ascension Catholic/ habit. Praise God. We serve an Fabre, who said going to con- aware that God loves St Francis of Assi- awesome God who is filled with fession is part of living out her them. si member Connie surprises and cares about all faith, said she remembers how “When I was a Schudmak’s apprecia- our struggles.” important the first sacrament of child growing up in tion for the sacrament Even more important than reconciliation was to her before the 50s, the sacra- grew after reading the physical healing for Schud- she received her first Commu- ment of confession “The Seven Secrets of mak was the spiritual healing of nion. was viewed quite Confession” by Vinny her soul, and the resulting peace “Every time we go, it should differently from Flynn. They are using that has stayed with her. be just like that part of first how it is perceived the book as a tool to Such power of healing and Communion,” said Fabre. today,” said Elaine help bring others to Abadie, a mem- the healing light of its ber of Ascension of presence. Our Lord Church in “If you look for in- RESTHAVEN Donaldsonville and formation in ‘The Cat- GARDENS OF MEMORY & FUNERAL HOME St. Francis of Assi- echism of the Catholic si Church in Smoke Church,’ You won’t ® Bend. “In my fami- find it (the sacrament We make it personal. ly, we usually went of reconciliation) un- for a better farewell to confession every der ‘forgiveness.’ you other week. And, will find it under the 11817 Jefferson Highway 225-753-1440 before going, mama ‘Sacraments of Heal- www.resthavenbatonrouge.com would always sit us ing,’ ” said Schudmak. down and tell us our “When I read this I sins and how many was encouraged be- 2x2” Rest.small.honor.those.cc’16 Every issue for one year: times we committed cause I seem to con- $113.40 per issue them. Going to con- As strongly advocated by Pope Francis, pictured admin- fess the same sins Most months fession was some- istering the sacrament of reconciliation, going to con- time after time. $226.80/month thing to be feared fession is a good way to receive spiritual healing. Photo by “If our culture because God was CNS News would realize the there judging us, so richness of this sac- we had better be sorry. that I was a stay-at-home mom rament, the line for confession Call Blocker Tree and Landscape today! “Once I reached high school, with three children under the would be out the door and out Fully Licensed and Insured • Free Estimates I went, along with the student age of three. I told him that my of sight. No wonder that the sac- Licensed Arborist #17-2227 • Licensed Irrigation #17-0691 body at Ascension Catholic, to husband worked six days a week rament of reconciliation was my Owners Trey Blocker and Brant Fox confession once a month. Mama while I took care of the children least understood sacrament and no longer told me my sins.” and household duties. also many others too.” An experience in the confes- “His response to me shocked Speaking of the sacrament’s sional compounded this fear for me. He said that I was wasting healing power, Schudmak said, Abadie. his time. From that day on, I “I experienced more than God “I continued monthly (con- only went to confession once a forgiving my sins and wash- fessions) in the early years of year to fulfill my obligation.” ing me clean in this sacrament. my married life until one fateful She added, “I now real- You see, I was a nail biter since

ATTORNEYS AT LAW Printing some 40,000 copies every other week 270 S. Sharp Road • Baton Rouge, LA 70815 • (225) 924-7597 Every issue for one year: JAMES R. COXE, III and ASSOCIATES $88.40 per issue Personal Injury General Practice AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS WILLS and SUCCESSIONS Most months for the Diocese of Baton Rouge WRONGFUL DEATH CORPORATIONS PRODUCT LIABILITY SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY $176.80/month SEAMAN/HARBOR WORKERS CLAIMS REAL ESTATES the Catholic MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CRIMINAL DEFENSE Family Law Personal Bankruptcy Call BlockerNotary Tree and in Office Landscape today! TELEPHONE (225) 924-7597 Fully Licensed and Insured • Free Estimates ommentator “In Home Consultations on Request” CServing the Diocese of Baton Rouge since 1963 Licensed Arborist #17-2227 • Licensed Irrigation #17-0691 thecatholiccommentator.org Owners Trey Blocker and Brant Fox 8 The Catholic Commentator February 2, 2018 Stepmom prays stepson finds freedom through faith

By Bonny Van his journey after his release Dec. 6, living up to the conditions The Catholic Commentator on the streets of Baton Rouge. He spent of his early release his days looking for work. A tip led him to and he was doing Nickolos Marchiafava was recently St. Vincent de Paul. well with his parole granted his freedom by the Department Marchiafava stayed at the St. Vincent and probation. Un- of Corrections but human error landed de Paul overnight shelter and landed a job fortunately, it was him back behind bars. after stopping by to visit St. Romain at a human error that Now, Nicks’ stepmother prays he finds her job as manager of a Baton Rouge area caused this.” freedom through faith. bakery. On Christmas Day, he moved into Marchiafava, who “My prayer for you (Nickolos) right the Catholic Charities’ Joseph Homes, a is a skilled automo- now is that after all of this, you’ll be able temporary shelter for ex-offenders. tive paint technician, to see the good and God can lead you to do Marchiafava was trying to get food will continue to work good to help others,” said Angela St. Ro- stamps, which are supposed to be expe- at the bakery as part main, a parishioner of St. Thomas More dited for newly released prisoners un- of his work release Church in Baton Rouge. der Louisiana’s new prison reform laws. program, which he After serving nine of the past 12 years That’s where he was Jan. 19 when he said takes 64 percent on a variety of charges, Marchiafava was learned police officers went to Joseph of his gross pay. And, Nickolos Marchiafava and Angela St. Romain talk about king cake released Dec. 6. But 47 days later he was Homes looking for him. he’ll report to the orders at the bakery in Baton Rouge where Marchiafava is doing once again wearing the title of inmate af- Officials had contacted St. Romain to West Baton Rouge his work release program to complete a prison sentence. Marchi- ter the DOC determined he had not served let her know that Marchiafava still had Detention Center un- afava was released for 46 days before corrections officials real- all of his time. Marchiafava’s release date, time to serve and should not have been til April 22, 2018. ized he still had five months left on his sentence. His new release according to DOC, was five months later. released until May. After a weekend filled He plans to save date is April 22, 2018. Photo by Bonny Van | The Catholic Commentator “I haven’t thought about it yet. It’s a with anxiety, Marchiafava turned himself up for a vehicle so he blow, it’s a blow,” said Marchiafava, on in on Monday, Jan. 22. can get back to work in his former profes- credit for good time and educational break from his job at a local bakery. Every “It was a human error that we regret,” sion. credits. “It’s very confusing, she said. “But night, he must to report back to the West said Ken Pastorek, communications di- Linda Fjeldsjo, Coordinator of Prison what really spoke to my heart was that Baton Rouge Detention Center. rector of the Department of Corrections. Ministry and Joseph Homes for Catholic Nickolos was going to do the right thing. The catholicweight commentator of the october situation 2017.pdf remains1 10/20/2017 12:36:49“We’re PM doing everything we can to help Charities, said calculating release times Easily, he could have just walked away heavy on his mind. Marchiafava began him out in this situation. He was living can be very difficult because it includes and not deal with it but he didn’t do that.”

YOU STILL HAVE TIME If you have a loved Please one going into or Join Us As the Lent approaches, we already in a nursing are preparing Our Annual C Lenten Guide. This guide will M home, call us to Y include: CM ✞ RECIPES for Lenten meals MY protect your wealth ✞ Spiritual opportunities CY throughout the diocese CMY and life savings. K ✞ Reconciliation ✞ Fundraisers and more ELDER LAW PRACTICE

Send us your Issue Date: 225-769-4200 EVENTS and RECIPES to: February 16 The Catholic Commentator, DEADLINE DATE: -Peter J. Losavio, Jr.- the only Louisiana Certified Elder Law Attorney through the National Elder Law Foundation accredited by the ABA. P.O. Box 3316, Baton Rouge, LA 70821 or email [email protected]. FEB. 6 -Kent DeJean- Attorney at Law. February 2, 2018 The Catholic Commentator 9 Dameans helped usher in Vatican II on a high note

By Bonny Van sponse, Pope John XXII called invited to visit surrounding di- were going through spiritual Until 1970, The Dameans The Catholic Commentators the Second Vatican Council, re- oceses to give concerts, work- crisis, they said our music gave spent every weekend on the road sulting in, among other things, shops for liturgical musicians them the strength to get them for their music ministry. After Every time Darryl Ducote changing the language said in and to play for Sunday Mass, through.” SEE DAMEANS PAGE 20 hears one of his songs played Masses to that of the vernacu- with Ducote, Ceasar and Ault on during Mass, he is moved by lar and a “fully conscious, and guitar, Balhoff on bass and Bak- SINCE 1979 emotion. active participation in liturgi- er on tambourine. “Brings me to tears,” said Du- cal celebrations” by the faith- Ducote said the folk song era cote, from his office at the Dio- ful. That was in 1965. of the time inspired their work. cese of Baton Rouge, where he Ducote, who had been trained “What we were trying to do FAST • AFFORDABLE • GUARANTEED FOR LIFE serves as director of the Office of in Latin to serve at Mass, said it was to provide a vehicle for peo- (228-4882) Ask about our 10% discount. Marriage and Family Life. took a year for the transition to ple to participate (in the Mass). Call 1-800-BATHTUB or 225-753-6810 for Mention code: “Commentator” “I’ve never had the experi- take place, but as the changes So, they needed music that was and receive an additional $100 discount. ence of giving birth but it’s sim- were being rolled out, there was singable and something they a free in-home consultation. ilar,” he laughed. “You created no music appropriate to incor- could relate to, and the folk era STEVE DECELL something and it takes on a life porate into the new English lit- really provided that,” he said. Walk-in Showers Aging-In-Place Consultant Walk-in Tubs of its own because different peo- urgy. The group shortened the ple will express it in a different “There were centuries of Lat- name given to them as students way, so it continues to grow, it in music that was no longer suit- and became known as The continues to change, without ed to congregational singing,” he Dameans. They sent some of Anthony ’s Italian Deli you ever having any influence said. “It was written for choirs their musical compositions to a over it.” and soloists. So, there was a big publisher in Los Angeles and by Ducote is an original mem- void in liturgical music.” 1969, their first album, “Tell the Lasagna To-Go ber of the Cath- World,” was re- Made Fresh Daily olic liturgical leased. Large $47.95 song group The Renee Rich- Dameans. This ard, assistant Small $29.95 month, the archivist at the Dameans, com- Diocese of Ba- Best Muffolettas in town! prised of Ducote, ton Rouge and a Fresh Made Party Trays Paul Ceasar, member of Most • Cheese & Meat • Sandwiches Gary Ault, Gary Blessed Sacra- Daigle and Mike ment Church in 5575 GOVERNMENT ST., JUST WEST OF JEFFERSON HWY. Balhoff, celebrate Baton Rouge, PHONE ORDERS WELCOME! 225-272-6817 OPEN MON.-SAT. 9:30 - 6:00 PM their 50th anni- grew up with Baton Rouge’s only TRUE ITALIAN DELI Since 1978 versary as musi- the music of cians, songwrit- The Dameans. ers and friends. Richard said her The group was mother bought responsible for the group’s first composing scores album in 1969. of songs that can “I was in sev- still be found enth grade when Dedicated to Our Lady of the Cenacle in the Glory & The Dameans perform at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans for I first played Praise hymnal the episcopal consecration of Bishop Stanley J. Ott in 1976. Pic- (guitar) at Mass book. Among the tured are, from left, Darryl Ducote, Mike Balhoff, Paul Ceasar and at Our Lady of most popular ti- Gary Ault. File photo/Archives Department Mercy,” Richard Baton Rouge Morning of Prayer tles are “Look Be- recalled. “That yond” and “All That We Have.” So, the seminarian students, was the first music I learned to Saturday, February 24 The one song that Ducote called Notre Dameans, formed play because they were basic said he hears most often is “Re- groups and, rotating weeks, chords and good melodies.” Cultivating Lenten Hope member Your Love,” which he wrote songs for Sunday Mass, Ceasar said the spirit of the described as a “setting for one setting the text of the antiphons time, in the wake of Vatican II, Our Lady of Mercy the penitential Psalms asking to music. Ducote’s group orig- helped foster what was going on Catholic Church for God’s mercy.” inally included Balhoff, Ault with the group. The musical journey that and two other seminarians. By “We worked so well togeth- Parish Activity Center resulted in 17 albums during January 1968, the group had er,” said Ceasar, who is now the 400 Marquette Avenue a 30-year span and life-long reformed with Ducote, Balhoff, executive director of the Arch- Baton Rouge, LA 70806 friendships among the group’s Ault, Ceasar and Dave Baker diocese of New Orleans Retreat members began simply by di- and began writing hymns. Center. “We were friends and we Presenter: vine intervention. In 1961, at “We were creating hymns in were supportive of each other. 8:00am Mass is offered the age of 16, Ducote entered St. English that were easily singable We worked through any difficul- Judy Klein 8:45am Registration Joseph Seminary in Covington so that people could have full ties that arose that might have 9:15am Program begins to begin his education toward conscious and active participa- torn other groups apart. We 11:30am Conclusion becoming a priest. During the tion in the Mass,” said Ducote. were able to be honest with one next few years, political, eco- Once they began writing another, to accept honest criti- To register: call Susan Halligan (504) 267-9604 nomic, social, scientific, tech- hymns, the group began to get cism and to grow from that. or dial our Toll-free number 1-866-937-9170 nological and cultural changes noticed by those outside of No- “People tell me how much our or visit our website retreat.arch-no.org would sweep the globe. In re- tre Dame Seminary. They were music meant to them. If they 10 The Catholic Commentator | February 2, 2018 February 2, 2018 | The Catholic Commentator 11 The Bishop Ott SWEET DREAMS SHELTER

By Richard Meek as is present in the current shelters for men and The Catholic Commentator women. “You must have children to come here as a Freshly painted walls and the enticing aro- family, that is the key concept,” Acaldo said. ma of new construction sketched a cheery por- “Our target is mothers with children, and that trait of the expansion of the Bishop Ott Sweet will be 95 percent of who will be served. Our Dreams Shelter. next largest group will be on occasion a dad But the $1.5 million expansion is much more with children, although that is not something than bricks and mortar. Rather, each of the where the phone is ringing off the hook.” nine rooms and each of the 42 new beds repre- The facility has been nearly six years in the sent hope for a struggling family, a place secure making, with fundraising efforts launching from life on the street, a pillow to lay their head soon after the men’s dormitory moved to its and allow themselves to new facility above the main dream of a future when dining room in 2012. That the current darkness has “Our target is building was aided with a been snuffed by the light $500,000 grant from the of a new life. mothers with city of Baton Rouge. Each room will have coded entrances, eliminating the need for “I think it’s going to children, and that Little did Acaldo realize keys and providing increased security. mean a lot to the com- at that time one of the larg- munity,” St. Vincent de will be 95 percent of est donors for the expan- Paul Society executive sion would be St. Aloysius director Michael Acaldo who will be served. Church in Baton Rouge, said, adding that a dedi- Our next largest which pledged $100,000. cation of the expansion “That is awesome, isn’t Acaldo shows off one of the is planned for either late group will be on it? A six-figure commit- February or early March. ment,” Acaldo mused. new bedrooms, which will be “If you are a mom, and occasion a dad with “Their St. Vincent de Paul that’s what we anticipate children, although group is very vibrant and able to accommodate a family based on what we see and (pastor) Father Randy the calls we get, and you that is not something (Cuevas) is very support- including, for the first time, a have a male child over the ive.” age of five, this is the only where the phone is The Hugh and Angelina father being able to stay with place in Baton Rouge you Wilson Foundation was can go.” ringing off the hook.” the largest donor with a his wife and children. Each “What it will mean for grant of $200,000. The Full bathrooms are in each of the nine new bedrooms, creating the ladies we are blessed Michael Acaldo Baton Rouge Area Founda- a hotel-like atmosphere for the residents. of the rooms will have single to serve is we will provide Executive Director, St. Vincent de Paul tion committed $180,000, additional options.” with the rest of the dona- bunk beds, and cribs are Acaldo pointed out tions coming through pri- that the homeless shelter for women at St. Ag- vate gifts of all sizes and denominations. available when needed. nes Church in Baton Rouge, staffed by the Mis- However, the project was not without com- St. Vincent de Paul Society sionaries of Charity, accepts male children only plications. The new shelter is a roux of new executive director Michael age five and under, although women can bring construction and renovation of an existing Acaldo smiles as he pauses in daughters above that age. building that was originally completed in 1997. during a tour of the Bishop The Ott expansion will also provide shelter As Acaldo painfully learned, building and elec- Ott Sweet Dreams Shelter for for single men with children who may have trical codes are much different 30 years later, Women and Children. The 42- fallen on hard times. Additionally families, for so the current building had to be brought up bed expansion is expected to the first time, will have a safe haven and not to code, especially electrical, which tacked on be dedicated in the next sev- have to be separated when homeless. added costs. eral weeks. Photos by Richard Meek | Each of the rooms are private, designed sim- The end result is a glistening new shelter, The Catholic Commentator ilar to a hotel setting, although all of the beds awaiting the exuberance of youthful voices and are single bunk beds. A full bathroom complete the sighs of relief from worried parents whose In some bathrooms, a handicap-accessible shower is provided. with shower is also contained in each of the prayers have been answered and hope is in new rooms, rather than a communal bathroom their future. 12 The Catholic Commentator February 2, 2018 Expect the unexpected during March for Life

By Debbie Shelley Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama. charist,” said LeBlanc. “We kneeled and really know what to expect. Just see- The Catholic Commentator “We were just singing, which struck me prayed and we were in God’s presence.” ing that many people in one place and as odd, because most people think that Confession was also available. knowing that they were all there for the First-time and veteran young pil- if there isn’t a band playing they (teens) LeBlanc said he normally “has a plan” same reason, to stand up for the unborn, grims from the Diocese of Baton Rouge won’t sing,” said LeBlanc. when going to confession to state his sins, was so inspiring,” said Madison Nico- encountered the unexpected when they Before the bus stopped at the moth- receive penance, say a prayer and then losi, of St. John the Evangelist Church in journeyed to Washington, D.C. for March erhouse of the Dominican Sisters of St. leave. Plaquemine, who made her first trip to for Life on Jan. 15-20. But they said their Cecilia in Nashville, Tennessee, LeBlanc But the priest compassionately urged March for Life. biggest expectation was fulfilled to return thought about people’s view of religious LeBlanc to reflect during the sacrament, Rachel Hebert, of St. Thomas More filled with joy, peace and passion to de- sisters as strict and serious. catching him off guard. Church in Baton Rouge, who made her fend life. “I figured we would say some prayers “It brought tears to my eyes,” said LeB- second March for Life pilgrimage, said, “I Ethan LeBlanc, of St. Gabriel Church and leave,” said LeBlanc, who was sur- lanc. was prompted to go on the March for Life in St. Gabriel, who made his first trip to prised that many of the women were The trip fueled LeBlanc’s desire to be again this year because I was stoked by March for Life this year, said he had been young and joyful. They got on the bus more involved in pro-life ministry and the amount of people that were there last told the trip is “filled with inconveniences, with them for the rest of the journey, and mission work. He plans to go to Camp year. What was different about this trip but spiritual.” He heard the trip’s mantra even danced in the bus aisle. Pulse pro-life training for youth, attend a was that there were a lot more people who “prayer and sacrifice,” but went because “It gave you the feeling that every one Come and See Weekend at St. Joseph Ab- have gotten involved than last year, and I while he attends Mass at St. Gabriel, he of them was glad to be there,” said LeB- bey in St. Benedict and do mission work was proud to be a witness to the pro-life had never been actively involved in min- lanc. in another country. generation. istry work. He said camp life at Camp Letts was “I hope to open my relationship with “Being surrounded by hundreds of He said as he packed, “I was really con- “so much fun” with lots of dancing and God so he can equip me for bigger and thousands of pro-life people fortified my cerned with what I was to bring with me singing. But he especially remembers better mission work,” said LeBlanc. faith and my commitment to spreading rather than what I would be doing.” Mass and eucharistic adoration. Marching with a multitude of other the pro-life message by making me real- One stop that demonstrated to LeBlanc “We celebrated Mass, and that showed pro-life people also electrified the youth. ize that I have grown in my Catholic faith how different this journey was from oth- me that no matter how big or small (the “We were told that there would be much more and my commitment to the ers was at the Shrine of the Most Blessed venue), you are still celebrating the Eu- a lot of people there, but I still didn’t SEE LIFE PAGE 13 February 2, 2018 The Catholic Commentator 13

 THE CATHOLIC COMMENTATOR LIFE life. What I’ll always remember idea of a pro-life lifestyle that Next Issue Deadline ... FEBRUARY 7 From page 12 are the women who had lost chil- we’re aiming for.” spreading of the pro-life mes- dren to abortion that I saw on the Father Ryan Hallford, pa- sage has flourished more than day of the march. As we passed rochial vicar for Holy Family ever before.” them on the road, our leader re- Church in Port Allen, said the

Unexpected happenings also minded us that ‘These are the pilgrim’s dedication to their mis- touched veteran pilgrims. women you fight for, they still sion shone through in the most First Communion “Having been on the March feel the pain of what happened; difficult unexpected situations. before (2017), I thought that reverence them as we pass.’ “Every year, March for Life is Dresses there would an incredible be very little opportunity I wouldn’t ex- to accompany pect. I was the youth of wrong,” said our diocese on Nicholas DiLeo a spiritual ad- of Our Lady of venture,” said Mercy Church Father Hall- in Baton ford. “For my Rouge. “What bus, this was For when surprised me a special year. most this year Our bus broke you get was just how down and we quickly my bus had to change group became buses six times buffalo’d. something of over the course a family. They of the week. were all zoned Rather than in on the mis- complaining, sion and had a everyone em- Hundreds of youth from the Diocese of Baton Rouge gathered with Joe Skibinski, Agent We’ve got an agent for that. blazing desire braced the op- 1953 Perkins Rd other pro-life advocates in Washington D.C. for March for Life. Photo Baton Rouge, LA 70808 to serve God in portunity to Bus: 225-387-0201 Toll Free: Sometimes you just never know provided by Albert Blount 888-387-0201 this way. I had pray and sac- what’s going to cross your path. mostly expect- rifice. We are Just know I have your back. ed the trip to be comprised pri- When he said that it reminded us all in this together, and as long So when accidents happen, marily of pro-life related activi- that while we march for an end as we are doing it together with you have a real person who ties. However, this was not the to abortion, our actions must be God, we can conquer anything. can get the job done right, and case as the March for Life this inspired by love and compassion “During our last bus trans- right away. Like a good neighbor, year had a strong focus on the for those afflicted by it. fer, which happened on the way ® spiritual development as well. “Something that we saw on back to Louisiana at 2:30 a.m., State Farm is there. “The march allowed me to en- the march was a sign that said: everyone joyfully transferred CALL ME TODAY. counter God in a way that I nev- ‘Is this the only pro-life thing all our luggage. Our theme for er had before, especially when I you’ll do this year?’ We talked the week was ‘fully alive’ and prayed with him in adoration. I about this after the march and when we encounter each oth- hadn’t expected the pilgrimage agreed that it missed the point. It er in community and God in to elicit such deep contemplation made the march a political state- prayer, these relationships are 1101160.2 State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL and progress in my own prayer ment, instead of recognizing the life-giving.” Hospice is not about giving up … it’s about taking control

• We rely upon the intercession of our Blessed Mother to assist us in imitating the healing ministry of Jesus Christ as we care for terminally ill patients and their families.

• We call forth the compassion and kindness of our staff, who serve in this health care ministry, to respond to the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of our patients and their families.

• We believe in the sacredness of life from conception to natural death, and we devote ourselves to supporting patients and families through the dying process at the end of life’s journey on this earth and new life in eternity.

Madison Nicolosi, of St. John the The right people, Evangelist Church in Plaquemine, doing the right thing was among the youth from the Di- for the right reason. SERVING PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS ocese of Baton Rouge who attend- ed this year’s March for Life in www.NotreDameHospice-NO.org • (225) 243-7358 Washington, D.C. Photo provided by Notre Dame Hospice does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability or age in admission, treatment, ability to pay, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. Tonya Nicolosi 14 The Catholic Commentator ENTERTAINMENT February 2, 2018

Motion Picture Association of America rough language and profanities. O; R 12 Strong MOVIE ratings: Warner Bros. G – General audiences; all ages admitted Forever My Girl True military adventures don’t come PG – Parental guidance suggested; some Roadside Attractions any more rousing than this. Chris Hems- REVIEWS material may not be suitable for children USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting Gentle adaptation of Heidi McLaugh- worth plays a Green Beret captain leading PG-13 – Parents are strongly cautioned to classifications: lin’s romance novel has an aspiring coun- a small Special Forces unit on horseback give special guidance for attendance of A-I – General patronage try music star (Alex Roe) returning to his in rugged terrain in the early weeks of children under 13; some material may be A-II – Adults and adolescents small Louisiana home town when a high fighting in Afghanistan after 9/11. Direc- inappropriate for young children A-III – Adults school classmate dies, only to learn that tor Nicolai Fuglsig, working from a script R – Restricted; under 17 requires accom- A-IV – Adults, with reservations panying parent or adult guardian he has a 7-year-old daughter with his ex- by Ted Tally and Peter Craig, avoids what L – Limited adult audience NC-17 – No one under 17 admitted fiancee. This forces him into finally mak- could have become flag-waving jingoistic O – Morally offensive ing adult decisions. Writer-director Beth- moments, preferring to show the Ameri- any Ashton Wolf plays up the romantic cans quietly going about their tasks. In- and faith-based elements to smooth over tense, lengthy and realistic combat vio- Batman and Harley Quinn suggestive sexual situations, one instance stilted performances and unrealistic dia- lence and gore, a scene of an execution Warner Bros. of scatological humor, occasional profane, logue. Adult themes of life and death, ref- of a teacher in front of three young girls. Poorly conceived and produced as well crude and crass language. A-III; PG-13 erences to excessive alcohol use. A-II; PG A-III; R as morally obtuse straight-to-video ani- mated film from DC Comics. Tired of Den of Thieves Hostiles I, Tonya humans despoiling the environment, vil- STX Entertainment Studios Neon lains Poison Ivy (voice of Paget Brewster) A morass of crass. Gerald Butler is a Western, set in 1892, which works from At no point is it clear whether the film- and the Floronic Man (voice of Kevin Mi- rogue and troubled Los Angeles police of- the premise that not only were white makers are sympathetic to the plight of chael Richardson) team up to transform ficer chasing after a hyper-violent crew of soldiers at the time fully aware of their disgraced Olympic figure skater Tonya all animal life on earth into plant hybrids. bank robbers who have, as their ultimate complicity in the decades-long genocide Harding (Margot Robbie) or just want to After Batman (voiced by Kevin Conroy) goal, the heretofore-unassailable Los An- of Native Americans, they also could feel make fun of the skater and the peculiar, and Nightwing (voice of Loren Lester) geles Federal Reserve Bank from which immense, paralyzing guilt about their ac- fleeting nature of fame. Instead, director turn to Harley Quinn (voice of Melissa they hope to “withdraw” $30 million in tions. Director-writer Scott Cooper wish- Craig Gillespie and screenwriter Steven Rauch), the madcap, motley-wearing for- untraceable cash. Director Christian Gu- es to make a strong moral case as he sets Rogers present a coarsening, numbing mer psychiatrist and sidekick to the Jok- degast, who co-wrote the screenplay with an Army officer (Christian Bale) on a long fusillade of domestic abuse and curs- er, for help foiling the plot, director Sam Paul Scheuring, launches several scat- journey from New Mexico to Arizona as ing. Occasionally this is broken up by ice Liu’s movie quickly devolves into a series tershot, implausible plot lines that never he escorts a dying Native American chief skating routines which conform to the of awkward and offensive situations and quite come together. Skewed view of law (Wes Studi) to a reservation. Gun and formula of a sports drama, and eventu- jokes, punctuated by harsh punch-outs. enforcement, pervasive gun and physical physical violence, fleeting gore, some rac- ally the inept execution of a crime – the Frequent cartoon combat violence, two violence, frequent racial slurs, pervasive ist dialogue. A-III; R assault on Tonya’s rival, Nancy Kerrigan, just before the 1994 Winter Olympics. Proud Mary Pervasive scenes of domestic abuse, a Screen Gems nonexplicit scene of sexual activity, per- Tall tale of a hitwoman (Taraji P. Hen- vasive rough language, frequent profani- son) with a heart of gold who takes in ties. A-III; R the orphaned son (Jahi Di’Allo Winston) of one of her victims and dispatches the Maze Runner: The Death Cure Fagin-like leader (Xander Berkeley) of Fox the gang into whose service the lad was In this adaptation of the third and final ensnared in the wake of his dad’s death. novel in James Dashner’s sci-fi trilogy, But this new arrangement does not sit the story of a band of teens and their fear- well with the father (Danny Glover) and less leader (Dylan O’Brien) fighting evil in son (Billy Brown) who run the mob fam- post-apocalyptic world comes to a noisy ily to which she belongs, the latter of and violent conclusion. The gang seeks to whom is also her ex-boyfriend. Intended liberate their peers from tortuous experi- as an homage to female-led blaxploitation ments conducted by a wicked doctor (Pa- films of the 1970s, director Babak Najafi’s tricia Clarkson) and her colleague (Kaya drama is all style and no credibility since Scodelario), who seek a cure to a deadly John Stuart Newman’s screenplay fails to virus that has decimated the population. lay the foundation either of its unlikely Returning director Wes Ball operates at plot or of its adoptive central relationship. a breakneck pace, turning this film into Morality also gets taken out as the script a white-knuckle roller-coaster ride with gives its featured assassin a pass for the more vehicle crashes than you can shake two most prominent of her killings on the a stick at. Despite worthy expressions of grounds that her targets are bad guys. A friendship, loyalty and self-sacrifice and vengeance theme, much stylized gunplay some intriguing Christian symbolism, with fleeting but nasty gore, a scene of the trilogy has clearly outworn its wel- torture, brief partial nudity, several uses come. Relentless but bloodless violence of profanity, about a half-dozen milder and gunplay, scenes of torture, occasional oaths, a couple of rough and numerous crude and profane language, one offen- crude and crass terms. A-III; R sive gesture. A-III; PG-13

@TheCatholicCommentator thecatholiccommentator.org February 2, 2018 The Catholic Commentator 15

1234 56789 11120 131 Ash Wednesday Masses — Feb. 14 41 51 61 ALBANY FRENCH PONCHATOULA 71 81 91 St. Margaret Queen of Scotland SETTLEMENT St. Joseph – 8:30 a.m., 6 p.m. 02 12 22

6 a.m., 6 p.m. St. Joseph – 8:10 a.m., 243 2 265 2 5:30 p.m. (Communion service) PORT ALLEN AMITE Holy Family – 8 a.m., 6 p.m., 72 82 92 310 323

St. Helena – noon, 6 p.m. GONZALES noon (distribution of ashes only) 343 353 3367 St. Mark – 8:30 a.m., 6:30 p.m., BATON ROUGE noon (distribution of ashes only) ST. AMANT 83 93 04 St. Agnes – 6 a.m., noon, 5:30 p.m. Holy Rosary – 8 a.m., 7 p.m. 421 4 34 St. Gerard – 7 a.m., noon, 6 p.m. JACKSON St. Jean Vianney – 6:15 a.m., Our Lady of Perpetual Help – noon ST. FRANCISVILLE 44 54 64 8:30 a.m., noon, 6:30 p.m. Our Lady of Mount Carmel – 74 498 4 MAUREPAS 5:30 p.m. St. Joseph Cathedral – 7:30 a.m., 510 525 35 554 565 noon, 5 p.m. St. Stephen the Martyr – 7 p.m., 7 a.m. (Communion service) SPRINGFIELD 75 598 5 06 St. Paul the Apostle – 6 p.m. St. Thomas – noon 16 26 36 DENHAM SPRINGS PLAQUEMINE Immaculate Conception – St. John the Evangelist – 46 56 66 8:30 a.m., noon, 5 p.m., 7 p.m. 7 a.m., noon, 6 p.m. moc.scilohtacrofsemagdrow.www ACROSS 2 The ole switch___ Stations of the Cross — Feb. 16 1 An Evangelist 3 Showed over 5 Hi-tech tag game 4 Airline ALBANY GONZALES PONCHATOULA 10 Hit series about the Korean War 5 Our Lady, for the Air Force St. Margaret Queen of Scotland St. Mark – (Following 8:30 a.m. St. Joseph – 1:45 p.m. 14 Hershisher of the diamond 6 First letter of the Hebrew alphabet 15 Kukla’s pal 7 Split 5:30 p.m. Mass); 6 p.m. (with school students), 6 p.m. 16 Malarial fever 8 One, in Berlin 17 Standard 9 Matter of law AMITE DENHAM SPRINGS ST. AMANT 18 Holds back 10 “Ave ___” 19 “Too funny” on the Internet 11 Enthralled St. Helena – 6 p.m. Immaculate Conception – 6:30 p.m. Holy Rosary – 6 p.m. 20 Hawaiian acacia 12 Member of mystical Muslim sect 21 Retained 13 Paradise Lost? BATON ROUGE JACKSON ST. FRANCISVILLE 22 Easter ___ 21 ___ Kringle Most Blessed Sacrament – 6 p.m. Our Lady of Perpetual Help – noon Our Lady of Mt. Carmel – 23 Direction from Jerusalem to Nazareth 22 The power to reject 25 Something to cop 24 Gemstones St. Gerard – 11:20 a.m. 5:30 p.m. 28 Padre ___ 25 Leonine sin? St. Jean Vianney – 6 p.m. PLAQUEMINE 29 “Animal House” house 26 Slosh St. John the Evangelist – noon, 30 250, to Caesar 27 Cuts up St. Paul the Apostle – 6 p.m. 33 Georgetown team 29 Number of days Jesus spent in the 6 p.m. (after Mass) 36 The masses desert 38 Spoken 30 Feet in the image beheld by Nebu- 39 Parlor game chadnezzar 40 “Salvation comes from our God…and 31 “___ Holy Ghost, Creator blest…” from the ___” (Rev 7:10) 32 Defamation  main campus with a new construction disaster 41 Harass 34 Treat that can be divided GRANT 43 Name on a check 35 Certain sale From page 1 shelter, we will be able to provide our homeless population with a safe harbor during disaster 44 Turf 36 Single stem 45 Easter flower 37 South American ruminant believe this new facility will position our com- events,” Office of Community Development execu- 46 Ark passenger 39 202, in ancient Rome munity for success in responding to the needs of tive director Pat Forbes said. “The state is com- 47 Disfigure 42 Israel’s airline the homeless during cold winter nights, as well as mitted to sheltering our most vulnerable residents 48 ___-Rheims Bible 43 Epistle writer 50 ___ infallibility 46 Amasses other natural disasters.” during emergency conditions and is pleased that 53 Score 47 Possible Easter month The planned 4,000-square foot building will be East Baton Rouge Parish is using $1 million Com- 54 Samuel anointed Saul with this 48 Lace mat located on the east side of the munity Development Grant 57 Having wings 49 Jeremiah’s description of himself current shelter, replacing what “These services are funding for this important proj- 58 “The bombs bursting ___…” 50 Lenten foliage 60 Killer dog of movies 51 Inter ___ is currently a parking lot. He ect.” 61 Hayes of “The Mod Squad” 52 Gasp for air said the space will also have much needed and will Broome and Acaldo agreed 62 Judas’ blood money bought it (Mt 53 Greek goddess of the earth the capacity to add 36 addi- that the unusually recent, 27:6–8) 55 Alphabet string tional beds during emergency harsh winter weather has rein- 63 Fixing grub for GI’s 56 Easy stride make a tremendous 64 Will Hunting’s forte 58 Suppositions weather conditions, such as forced the need for additional 65 Remains 59 Kind of picking cold weather and hurricanes. difference in the lives emergency shelters in the Baton 66 Rubberneck 60 Dove sound The beds would be placed in Rouge area. Acaldo noted that DOWN a dormitory-style setting that of the homeless in our on Jan. 26 the Ott Center was at 1 He lives in a monastery Solution on page 18 will have adequate bathroom capacity and has been on sev- and laundry facilities for the community.” eral occasions recently. expanded populations in non- Additionally, the men’s shel- emergency situations. Michael Acaldo ter has also been full several “These services are much Executive Director, St. Vincent de Paul nights during the cold snaps needed and will make a tre- that have brought snow and ice mendous difference in the lives of the homeless to the area. in our community,” Acaldo said. “This is a great “We are so pleased that St. Vincent de Paul, a partnership that will pay heavy dividends in the tremendous partner and resource for our region, lives of the homeless. is the recipient of these funds, and we look for- The grant is coming from disaster recovery ward to the grand opening of the expanded shelter funds. next year,” Broome said. “By expanding capacity at St. Vincent de Paul’s Construction is scheduled to start in June. 16 The Catholic Commentator VIEWPOINT February 2, 2018 The most powerful woman in the world Is marriage

od works in mysterious and knows what God has done: “For He has To me, what is more miraculous than dead? surprising ways. He constantly looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; the continued existence of the image Ginvites us by his grace to a deeper behold from now on will all ages call me itself without deterioration is the effect n a recent quiet evening, while relationship with him father, son and blessed. The Mighty one has done great it had on the native population who first surfing the TV channels, I stum- Holy Spirit. But, because he wants our things for me, and holy is his name” (Lk saw it. In 1531, the Franciscan Friars Obled across a talk show that love, he never forces us. His call is always 1:48-49). who accompanied the Conquistadors featured a panel of people, married, an invitation to participate in his plan In its December 2015 issue, National who defeated Montezuma were not able divorced and single, who were debating for our salvation. Even when we do not Geographic Magazine put the Blessed to change the culture of the Aztecs who the question, “Is marriage dead?” respond, in fact, turn away from him, he Virgin Mary on its cover, proclaiming practiced human sacrifices. But after At first, I was surprised that this uses our rejection to call us in another her “The Most Powerful Woman in the Juan Diego brought his roses to the question was even a realistic topic for way. Often that call comes through oth- World.” The accompanying article by bishop of Guadalupe, and he and the discussion. But when I reflected on the ers. Maureen Orth noted that “praying for the native population saw the image they left state of marriage in our current culture, Our Christmas season is not long past. Virgin Mary’s intercession and being de- on the tilda, there was a mass conversion. I realized that this topic might not be so Our attention focused voted to her are a global phe- That was the important miracle. unreasonable. on God’s greatest gift to nomenon ... no other woman There is a similarity in the story of There is no us, the incarnation of his has been as exalted as Mary. Lourdes. The famous grotto where Mary question that own son become man As a universal symbol of in 1858 is believed to have appeared to marriage is in as the child of Mary of maternal love, as well as of St. Bernadette, a teenage French girl, trouble in our Nazareth by the power suffering and sacrifice, Mary and asked her to dig a spring is visited by society. Many of the Holy Spirit. Who is often the touchstone of our six million pilgrims a year. I took a bath sociological was this young woman? longing for meaning, a more in the ice-cold waters fed by the spring. studies sug- A poet once called her a accessible link to the super- It was a shocking as well as a spiritual gest that the “nobody from nowhere.” natural than formal church experience. I was praying when they divorce rate She was a poor girl, still teachings. Her mantle offers dunked me. After that, I was just gasping is nearing 50 in her teens, living in a both security and protection. for breath. But, that evening I saw the percent. With tiny village in the hills Pope Francis, when once hundreds pushing the ill in wheel chairs such a high of Galilee. That is all asked what Mary meant to to the prayer service. It was truly moving failure rate we actually know of her. Another him, answered, ‘She is my to see that faith and hope in action. Be- in marriages, Guest Tradition has assigned mama.’ ” sides the many healings reported, after young people her two saintly parents From Guadalupe in World War II Lourdes attracted veterans are question- Columnist named Joachim and Perspective Mexico, to Lourdes in from both sides who fought in the World ing the vi- Anna, but they are not Father John Carville France, to Fatima in Por- Wars. They met at the grotto to pray ability of such Darryl Ducote found anywhere in the tugal, to Knock in Ireland for peace. The custom continues today unions. As a Bible or any other histori- and Medjugorje in Bosnia among veterans groups. result, each cal documents. We just have the Gospels and Herzegovina, millions of pilgrims Even devout Muslims love Mary. year more of them are choosing to move of St. Matthew and St. Luke who describe have flocked to sights where visionaries There are more mentions of her name, in together rather than marry. annunciation scenes of an angel inform- have reported seeing apparitions of the Maryam, in the Koran than there are in For others, the legalization of same- ing this young Jewish girl that she would Blessed Virgin. I have been to the first the Gospels. An entire sura or chapter, sex marriage is calling into question the become the mother of God’s son. After two sites. It is inspiring to see the simple is devoted to her. In Cairo, Egypt, Coptic very nature of marriage itself. As a result some confusion about how this could faith of the Mexican people as they crawl Catholics have built a church over an old of these conditions, many people are un- happen, she submits to God’s will saying, on their knees across the stone plaza to cave where they believe the Holy Family derstandably confused about the mean- “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. the Basilica of La Senora de Guadalupe. stopped when they fled Herod’s attempt ing of marriage and wonder whether or May it be done to me according to your The image of the virgin that was left on to kill the child Jesus. Those Coptics not it is still a useful concept. word.” (Lk 1:38). the tilda, or cloak, of a Mexican peasant, need her intercession, for many are being This present state of marriage may God is the actor in all of this. Mary, Juan Diego (canonized in 2002), is “one killed by ISIS today because of their faith. cause some Christians to simply wring humble and poor, is the recipient of God’s of the most reproduced female likenesses “Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for their hands in frustration and complain grace. Her acceptance of God’s offer, her ever” according to National Geographic. us now and at the hour of our death. that society is on the verge of collapse. cooperation with his request, changes ev- It is the only image that has ever been left Amen” However, this current situation can offer erything. She is now the most important by Mary herself. According to art histo- people of faith some important oppor- woman in human history. As her cousin, rians, the image would be recognizable to FATHER CARVILLE is a retired priest in the tunities. Believers can take advantage Elizabeth, tells her, “Blessed are you who Aztec Indians. It contains a combination Diocese of Baton Rouge and writes on of the climate of confusion by sharing believed that what was spoken to you by of Catholic and Aztec iconography. It current topics for The Catholic the good news of our Catholic Christian the Lord would be fulfilled”(Lk 1:45). She served as catechism without words to the Commentator. He can be reached at understanding of marriage and fill the is still the humble young virgin, but she native population. [email protected]. see MARRIAGE page 17

| aoPr y f r those who pray for us Please pray for the priests, deacons and religious women and men in the Baton Rouge Diocese.

Feb. 6 Rev. Ryan Hallford Sr. Janice Wray CSJ Dcn. Thomas D. Benoit Feb. 17 Rev. Johnson Kuriappilly Dcn. John W. Veron Feb. 10 Rev. J. Clifton Hill CSSp Sr. Barbara Arceneaux Dcn. Daniel S. Borné Br. Alan Drain SC Dcn. Alfred Adams Sr. Feb. 14 Rev. Juel Kandula Sr. Rosalind Barbeneaux SSF Feb. 7 Rev. Robert Halter Br. Harold Harris SC Dcn. Mark T. Berard Feb. 18 Rev. J. Joel LaBauve Dcn. J. Peter Walsh Feb. 11 Rev. Gordian O. Iwuji MSP Br. Eldon King SC Dcn. Claude H. Brougeois Jr. Sr. Adelaide Williamson CSJ Dcn. Michael A. Agnello Feb. 15 Rev. Jon C. Koehler Br. Roger LeMoyne SC Feb. 8 Rev. Patrick Healy SSJ Sr. Martha Ann Abshire FMOL Dcn. Willie M. Berthelot Sr. Feb. 19 Rev. Kenneth W. Laird Dcn. James E. Wax Feb. 12 Rev. Charbel Jamhoury Sr. Kathleen Babin CSJ Dcn. Jerry W. Braud Br. Clement Furno CSsR Dcn. Frank E. Bains Feb. 16 Rev. Leonard Kraus SJ Sr. Sandra Blanchard CSJ Feb. 9 Rev. Ray Hebert SC Br. Ronald Hingle SC Dcn. William B. Blair Jr. Dcn. P. Chauvin Wilkinson Jr. Feb. 13 Rev. Joshua D. Johnson Br. Noel Lemmon SC February 2, 2018 VIEWPOINT The Catholic Commentator 17 Overcoming the divisions that divide us

e live in a world of deep divisions. both fuel and justify our hatred on ation. The author of the Letter to the Ephesians tells Everywhere we see polarization, religious and moral grounds. We need us that Jesus broke down the barrier of hostility that Wpeople bitterly divided from each only to watch the news on any night to existed between communities by creating one person other by ideology, politics, economic theory, see this. How’s this to be overcome? where formerly there had been two – and he did it this moral beliefs and theology. We tend to use At the more macro level in politics “by reconciling both (sides) in one body through his over-simplistic categories within which to and religion, it’s hard to see how these cross, which put that enmity to death.” (Ep 2, 16) understand these divisions: the left and bitter divides will ever be bridged, How does the cross of Christ put enmity to the right opposing each other, liberals and especially when so much of our public death? Not through some kind of magic. Jesus didn’t conservatives at odds, pro-life vying with discourse is feeding and widening break down the divisions between us by mystically pay- pro-choice. the division. What’s needed is noth- ing off some debt for our sins through his suffering, as Virtually every social and moral issue is ing short of religious conversion, a if God needed to be appeased by blood to forgive us and a war-zone: the status of women, climate religious change of heart, and that’s open the gates of heaven. That image is simply the meta- change, gender roles, sexuality, marriage and contingent on the individual. The col- phor behind our icons and language about being washed family as institutions, the role of government, lective heart will change only when clean of sin and saved by the blood of Christ. What hap- how the LGBTQ community is to be under- In Exile individual hearts first do. We help save pened in the cross and death of Jesus is something that stood, among other issues. And our churches the sanity of the world by first safe- asks for our imitation not simply our admiration. What aren’t exempt; too often we cannot agree Father Ron Rolheiser guarding our own sanity, but that’s no happened in the cross and death of Jesus is an example on anything. Civility has disappeared from easy task. for us to imitate. What are we to imitate? public discourse even within our churches where there is It’s not as simple as everyone simply agreeing to We live in bitterly divisive times, paralyzed in terms now as much division and hostility within each denomi- think nicer thoughts. Nor, it seems, will we find much of meeting amicably on virtually every sensitive issue of nation as there is between them. More and more, we common ground in our public dialogues. The dialogue politics, economics, morality and religion. That stale- cannot discuss openly any sensitive matter, even within that’s needed isn’t easily come by; certainly we haven’t mate will remain until one by one, we each transform our own families. Instead we discuss politics, religion come by it yet. Many groups are trying for it, but without rather than enflame and retransmit the hatred that and values only within our own ideological circles; and much success. Generally what happens is that the even divides us. there, rather than challenging each other, we mostly end most-well intended dialogue quickly degenerates into up feeding each other in our biases and indignations an attempt to by each side to score its own ideological OBLATE FATHER RON ROLHEISER, theologian, teacher, and thus becoming even more intolerant, bitter and judg- points rather than in genuinely trying to understand award-winning author, is President of the Oblate School mental. each other. Where does that leave us? of Theology in San Antonio, TX. He can be contacted Scripture calls this enmity, hatred and indeed that’s The real answer, I believe, lies in an understanding of through his website ronrolheiser.com and its proper name. We are becoming hate-filled people who how the cross and death of Jesus brings about reconcili- facebook.com/ronrolheiser

MARRIAGE  a specific purpose. Experience Christians, on the other hand, become optional accessories. created them out of love and says that purpose is forming understand that marriage in- For Christians, families are calls them to love by “becom- From page 16 the intimate bond of marriage creases in value precisely when essential. God instructed the ing one body.” God created void of meaning surrounding as a means of learning to love the relationship must deal with first humans to “be fertile and them as male and female who marriage in its current state. and providing a stable base for difficulties. As couples work multiply.” Creating and sustain- are “suitable partners,” that As the TV panel discussion raising children. through those difficulties, they ing a family not only continues is, they are equals and are progressed, I detected several Individualism: Asking if are challenged to grow. Thus, the human race, but demands complementary. unspoken assumptions that marriage is dead implies there from the point of view of faith, that the couple allows their love Faith also proposes that seemed to underlie the reason- is a motive for the choices we the rewards of any marriage to overflow beyond themselves the sacrifices demanded by ing of the panelists based on make which is not dependant depend on the commitment of in order for their love to grow. marriage are virtually impos- society’s current view of the on relationships, namely, the the spouses “in good times and Families are also essential for sible on one’s own and require world. Those assumptions can motive to gratify one’s individu- in bad.” Without that commit- the faith community since they the help of God’s grace. This undermine the stability of mar- al needs. Thus, marriage, from ment, the relationship is inher- form the primary school of is indeed “good news” since it riage but may also provide an an individualistic point of view, ently unstable and the true Christian life. means that couples need not opportunity for evangelization can be viewed as an obstacle to benefits of marriage are lost. While this discussion about despair in their struggles, but by those who recognize the sa- achieving that gratification and Sexual Satisfaction: the death of marriage can rather turn to the source of credness and value of marriage. fulfillment. By contrast, most Proclaiming the death of mar- be disturbing for those who their unity for help. Then, with Some of those assumptions spiritual leaders and all of our riage implies that one is free to believe in the sanctity of mar- God as a partner in the rela- and resultant opportunities recent popes clearly state that seek sexual satisfaction for its riage, it stimulates discussion tionship, marriage can lead to for evangelization, include the genuine fulfillment comes, not own sake, even with multiple about the real meaning and personal growth and satisfac- following: from gratifying our individual partners. Given that view, sex purpose of the marital union. tion as well as provide a path to Secularization: To needs, but rather from giving becomes one more appetite The Christian message con- holiness. even have a discussion about ourselves away in love. That to be indulged. Thus, sex is cerning the primacy of love and The witness of loving fami- whether or not marriage is giving ourselves away, after the trivialized. Our Catholic faith the sacredness of marriage, by lies, the testimony of believing dead can only happen within a model of Christ, is at the heart clarifies the deeper purposes of God’s design, is more relevant Christians, and the church’s ef- world-view that makes no refer- of marriage. sex in marriage beyond simply and more urgent for our world forts to safeguard the rights of ence to God, that is, a secu- Disposability: Our culture sexual satisfaction. Faith recog- than ever. couples and families proclaim lar world-view. That secular has grown accustomed to using nizes sex as a gift of the creator At the same time, we must that marriage is not dead. It world-view offers no reflection things for the immediate mo- that expresses and intensifies be careful not to attack those simply needs a renewed appre- on why human beings are dis- ment and then throwing them the unity of the couple. Sex also who question marriage but ciation of its potential to be a tinguished as male and female away when they either become allows the couple to cooperate rather offer an alternative point source of abundant life, as God and what that implies for our inconvenient or seem to lose with God in the creation of new of view. intended it to be. lives. However, people of faith their usefulness. That experi- life. The alternative point of can appeal to human reason to ence appears to have also influ- Family as Accessory: If view from faith proposes that, Ducote is the director of conclude that being male and enced society’s view of mar- marriage is dead, then fami- whether couples recognize it or the Marriage and Family Life female must be part of a grand riage and relationships. They lies, as the building blocks of not, God is an intimate partner Department for the Diocese of design by a loving creator with are likewise seen as disposable. society, are also dead. They in their relationship since he Baton Rouge. 18 The Catholic Commentator COMING EVENTS February 2, 2018

Families of Disabled Talk – Angele Lorio, of Fami- lic women, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 9 a.m. – noon, at the Morning of Prayer – Author Judy Klein will present lies Helping Families associated with Louisiana De- Oak Lodge Reception Center, 2834 S. Sherwood Forest a morning of prayer, “Cultivating Lenten Hope,” on Sat- velopment Disabilities, will present a talk on Saturday, Blvd., Baton Rouge. Reservations are $22 each and can urday, Feb. 24 at The Our Lady of Mercy Parish Activity Feb. 10, 9 – 11 a.m., at the St. Francis Room of St. John be made through Tuesday, Feb. 13 by mailing a check Center, 444 Marquette Ave., Baton Rouge. Mass is of- the Evangelist Church, 15208 Hwy. 73, Prairieville. Lo- made out to BR Magnificat with the names of each at- fered at the church at 8 a.m., and registration begins at rio will discuss how families taking care of loved ones tendee to Kathy Simoneaux, 9650 Victory Lane, Den- 8:45 a.m. The program will run from 9:15 – 11:30 a.m. can self-direct their waiver services and how they can ham Springs, LA, 70726. Minimum offering for the program is $25. To register benefit. Several other workshops will be held at other and for more information, call Susan Halligan 1-866- locations in the near future. For further information, Pro-Life Mass – A monthly pro-life Mass will be cel- 937-9170 or visit retreats.arch-no.org. call Lorio at 504-723-7193. ebrated Tuesday, Feb. 13, 5:30 p.m., at St. Agnes Church, 749 East Blvd., Baton Rouge. All are invited to attend. Day of Prayer – Sister Pat Thomas OP of the Peace Discalced Carmelites – The Secular Order of Dis- For more information, call 225-383-4127. Center in New Orleans will present a day of prayer calced Carmelites will meet Sunday, Feb. 11, 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 27 at Rosaryville Spirit Life Center, at Our Lady of Mercy Parish Activity Center in St. Ga- Busy Person Retreat – The St. Joseph Spirituality 39003 Rosaryville Road, Ponchatoula. The day will briel’s Room, 444 Marquette Ave., Baton Rouge. For Center, 2980 Kleinert Ave., Baton Rouge, will present a start at 9 a.m. with coffee and fellowship. The talks more information, call 225-343-3181 or 225-803- 3391, Busy Person Retreat Monday, Feb. 19 – Friday, Feb. 23. begin at 9:30 a.m. with discussion and quiet time or email [email protected]. The retreat consists of a daily 30-minute commitment for reflection. Lunch will be provided. The day con- to prayer and a conveniently scheduled meeting for 30 cludes with the celebration of Mass around 2:30 p.m. Magnificat Breakfast– Sister Tracey Matthia minutes with a spiritual advisor. The fee for the retreat Cost of the day is $35. For more information and to Dugas, of the Daughters of St. Paul, will speak at the is $100. To register and for more information, visit register, email [email protected] or call 225-294- breakfast meeting of Magnificat, a ministry for Catho- stjocenter.org or call 225-383-3349. 5039.

The Catholic Commentator For help placing your classi ed ad, PO Box 3316 call 225-387-0983. All classi ed ads are prepaid. Baton Rouge LA 70821-3316 C Credit cards are now accepted. ANNOUNCEMENTS BUSINESS SERVICE BUSINESS SERVICE HELP WANTED HELP WANTED While we at The Catholic Commenta- NEED HELP MOVING? Dave’s Bicycle Repair and Sales. Free tor do our best to bring reliable ad- CALL TYRONE pickup and delivery, free estimates, ex- vertisers to our readers, we are not 225-802-4522 OR 225-346-6246 pert economical repair on all brands. Call Teaching Positions Available 225-924-4337 or www.davesbicyclerepair. responsible for any claims made by com. any advertiser. TURNING 65? St. George Catholic School, a National Blue Ribbon School of MEDICARE QUESTIONS? Anthony's Furniture Specialties. We re- Excellence located in Baton Rouge, is seeking teacher applications WE CAN HELP store hurricane damaged furniture. If it's JOE GOODSON 2255722275 furniture, we do it all! Re nishing, re-up- for all grade levels and subjects for the 2018-2019 school year. St. FOR SALE JOHNNY STUART 2259073619 holstery, pick up and delivery, etc. 2263 George has an enrollment of 1,100 students in grades K-8. Dodge Caravan 2010. Excellent condi- Florida Blvd., BR. 225-413-2607. Additionally, a Pre-K program (6 classes) we will be added for the tion. Clean family car. Teacher. 7 passen- CALL TYRONE ger. $5800. Call 225-767-5594 “WHEN IT NEEDS FIXING” LEBLANC’S TREE & STUMP 2018-2019 school year, increasing our enrollment to nearly 1,200 LEAKING SINKS, FAUCETS, TOILETS REMOVAL, INC. AND GARBAGE DISPOSALS Prompt service–Free estimates students. We are seeking highly qualified, dedicated and motivated Dark brown leather sofa $350. Paisley, PLUS OTHER REPAIRS FULLY INSURED educators. burgundy recliner $150. Both in very CALL 225-802-4522 OR 225-346-6246 E. H. “Eddie” LeBlanc good condition. Call 225-450-2307 Phone 383-7316 Teachers at St. George Catholic School: Flowerbeds, landscaping, general yard • Are excellent educators, able to provide rigorous, relevant, work, and debris removal. Commercial Donnie’s Furniture Repair & Upholstery. and residential. Quality work. Licensed We do re nishing, repairs, caning, and engaging lessons, cultivating student growth and BUSINESS SERVICE with references. Free estimates. Call painting of furniture and upholstery. achievement 225-247-6079 In business 43 years. Pick up and de- BROUSSEAU'S Painting livery. 10876 Greenwell Springs Road. • Demonstrate through their actions that they are Catholic/ Interior and exterior painting. Experi- Mr. D’s Tree Service 225-272-2577. See our showroom. Christian role models for their students and community enced and reliable. Free estimates. Call 3 Licensed Arborists 225-241-8488. Free Estimates HOUSEKEEPER • Are willing to be a part of a team of highly motivated, Fully Insured OFFICE CLEANING dedicated educators who put students’ needs first THOMAS LUNDIN, CPA Don Decell & Carl Babin, owners MATURE DEPENDABLE Accounting and taxes for businesses, 225-292-6756 20 + YEARS EXPERIENCE Teachers should hold a State of Louisiana Teacher Credential or HAVE REFERENCES non-pro ts and individuals; business, be eligible to receive one. computer, nancial and management A P Tree Debris Removal LLC CALL DEBBIE services. 30 years experience; profes- Fully insured Free Estimates 225-266-7655 If you desire to work in a supportive, caring environment that sional, prompt and personal attention. Call Call 225-296-0404. 225-716-0191 or 225-337-5875 brings out the best in both teachers and students, please apply. HELP WANTED Interested candidates should submit a letter of introduction and resume to: If you need a job, provide a service or want to tutor, Housekeeper needed. Three days a Mr. Jack Nelson, Principal place an ad in the classi eds! CALL 225-387-0983. week (1/2 days) for a busy family with a large house and pets. Call 225-323-0963. [email protected] Print Your Ad Here MARK LASER MASH OREL OLLIE AGUE NORM RE INS ROFL KOA KEPT VIGIL NORTH PLEA DATES TO RUN: C PIO FRAT CCL Circle Category: Announcements—Business Services—Cards of Thanks—For Rent—For Sale—Help Wanted HOYAS HO IPOLLO I —Positions Wanted—Legal Notices (other ) ORAL CARDS LAMB Mail to: The Catholic Commentator, P.O. Box 3316, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3316 PERSECUTE PAYEE Enclosed is $9.50 for the rst 15 words + 15¢ for each word thereafter + 25¢ per line for each special e ect (all caps, centered SOD LILY HAM L line, bold lettering); for a total of $______for each issue. Call for charging on your credit card. MA IM DOUAY NAME Advertisements will not PAPAL GOAL OIL be published without ALAR INAIR CUJO ADDRESS full payment in advance. LINC FIELD ONKP CITY PHONE MATH STAYS OGLE moc.scilohtacrofsemagdrow.www February 2, 2018 The Catholic Commentator 19

 PURGATORY 1:7, the apostle writes about the assur- ther Walsh and Father Graham pointed gatory is a dishwasher. From page 1 ance that souls in purgatory have of ul- to passages in the Bible and church tra- “Even after the dishes are cleaned, at a person’s judgment their works will timate salvation: In this you rejoice, for ditions that highlight people praying for and the impurities are washed away, be judged by fire to test their quality. If although you may have to suffer for a the dead. Scripture notes that even before some impurities remain, and we use the the person’s works are built upon a solid while, this is so that the genuineness of the days of Christ, Jewish people, such as steaming heat of a dishwasher to sterilize foundation of “gold, silver and precious your faith, which is more precious than Judas Maccabeus them. So also with metals” (rooted in Christ) that person gold tested by fire, may prove to be for and Job in the Old our souls,” said will receive a wage. the praise, glory and honor of God. Testament, prayed Father Walsh. “If But if someone’s work is burned up “Here St. Peter is pointing out that for the dead. we are far from like hay, wood or stubble (through “bad we can voluntarily begin our purgatory Father Graham God at the time works” or sin) that one will suffer loss; – our purification – here on earth – but noted that the of death – though the person will be saved, but only as there will also be a time of purification souls of the dead not deserving of through fire. for us after we have died, a time of prepa- are remembered hell and eternal The fire of purgatory is much different ration for heaven,” said Father Walsh. in the eucharistic separation from than the fire of hell, which is eternal loss Praying for the souls in purgatory, prayers at Mass, God, then our and regret according to Father Walsh and who can no longer do anything for them- as well as in a purgatory will be Father Graham. The fire of purgatory is selves but receive the painful, but neces- prayer over offer- longer and more the soul’s burning desire to be with God. sary, purging of sins by God, is a way to ings for the funer- painful. If we are Father Walsh noted that in 1 Peter assist those souls and receive graces. Fa- al Mass. very close to God, He recom- then our purga- mended that Cath- St. Gertrude the Great Prayer tory will be short olics offer a prayer for Souls in Purgatory and sweet. The for the souls in wonderful thing purgatory once a “Eternal Father, about purgatory C week during Lent. I offer You the most precious blood is that everyone in Additionally, they of thy Divine Son, Jesus, that state knows HELP WANTED HELP WANTED could offer up in union with the Masses said that they will one their fasting for a throughout the world today, day be in heaven deceased family for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, and there is no member or loved for sinners everywhere, longer any desire one. for sinners in the universal Church, or taste for sin. Other ways “And yet there for those in my own home, of remembering is pain, the pain and in my family. Amen.” the dead include of self reflection, lighting a votive sorrow for sin, candle, visiting a and an intense cemetery, reciting lauds or vespers from longing for perfect communion with Development Director the Office of the Dead or the Eternal Rest God.” Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High School seeks candidates Prayer or praying the Requiem aeter- Father Graham compared the soul’s for the position of Development Director. The primary function of nam. need to be purified to the bride’s desire the Development Director will be leadership and oversight for all Father Graham and Father Walsh to be spotless on her wedding day before fundraising activities of the school, including annual giving, grants pointed out that in his Sermon on the coming to her groom. In this case, we, as management, and major gifts. The Development Director will work Mount, Christ warns people to rectify part of the church, want to be spotless with the President and leadership team to develop strategies, generate their relationship with God and others before coming before the bridegroom, prospects, and cultivate relationships. The director will lead a team when he said, “Settle with your opponent Christ. while there is still time, before you go to He also referred to purgatory as a in the execution of fundraising activities to generate resources for the court. Otherwise you will be turned over safety net, because, even if people ques- school. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resumé to the judge, who will hand you over to tion a deceased person’s salvation, no to Brian Moscona via e-mail at ‪[email protected]. For more the jailer, and you will be put into pris- one knows what was in the person’s heart information about Cristo Rey visit the school website at ‪cristoreybr.org. on. I warn you, you will remain there when they died. until you have paid the last penny.” “There are only things that the Lord An image of Father Walsh has of pur- knows,” said Father Graham. Business Manager Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High School seeks candidates ST. ALPHONSUS – Rep. Barry for the position of Business Manager. This detail-oriented member Ivey (R-Baton Rouge) talks with of the school leadership team will manage the school’s accounting, Dr. Cynthia Ryals, principal of as well as provide financial guidance with regard to operations and St. Alphonsus School in Green- strategic planning. The Business Manager will also oversee Human well Springs, about school nu- Resources functions, such as employee payroll and benefits, and will trition. The purpose of the visit, serve as the school’s liaison with insurance providers. Experience in part of Legislative Shadowing bookkeeping, financial management, payroll, benefits, and insurance Week in conjunction with required. Interested candidates should submit cover letter and resumé Groundhog Day, was to give to Brian Moscona via e-mail at ‪[email protected]. For more lawmakers a taste of the Dio- information on Cristo Rey visit the school’s website at ‪cristoreybr.org. cese of Baton Rouge Child Nu- trition Program. The goal is to give lawmakers an opportunity to see first hand Child Nutrition PLACE YOUR AD HERE. Program in the weeks leading Reach some 95,000 readers by placing your ad in The Catholic Commentator! up to the Legislative Session. Photo by Bonny Van | The Catholic Commen- CALL 225-387-0983. Credit cards accepted. tator 20 The Catholic Commentator February 2, 2018

Bishop Robert PASTORAL  large window behind her desk, “I think it’s very welcoming,” From page 1 is located adjacent to the child- she said of the new offices. “It care center, allowing her to allows people to come in and sit Muench and 125 ministries in which our “hear the children playing in and visit. It’s new, it’s fresh, it’s Chef John Folse parishioners are actively en- the yard.” clean and a gift from God.” gaged,” said Father Cuevas. Want to Serve You St. Aloysius parishioner and Your Family at Bryan Jones, one of three co- chairs of the church’s capital the campaign committee, said the new building is part of sev- 23rd Annual eral structures planned for the Count Your Blessings Recipe campus. A new childcare center Ingredients: Count Your has already been completed.

A Great Bishop, a World Blessings Supper “We have several other Famous Chef, Faith, buildings planned that are in Compassion, Sacrifice, Friday, March 2, 2018 various stages of development Humility, Mercy, Time, right now including a new par- Generosity, Love, Grace, Program starts at 7:00 PM ish hall that will serve as a ven- Hope, Our Lady of Mercy ue for large wedding receptions And You - Our Most Parish Activity Center and larger functions that many Important Ingredient! parishioners have longed to see Bishop Robert Muench at St. Aloysius,” said Jones. and Chef John Folse are ready to Stir it Up! Come and Tricia Greeley, director of Count Your Blessings with us. Join us for a simple Lenten children formation, stood in Parishioners and staff members at St. Aloysius Church in Baton Rouge supper of soup and bread – a meal that will nourish you the doorway of her new spa- gather for the blessing of the new Pastoral Services Center on the church campus. The new building has a wing for pastoral care in order both physically and spiritually. cious office and greeted visi------Clip and send in------tors. to maintain privacy for those seeking counsel. Photo by Bonny Van | The Catholic Yes, my family and I want to attend the Count Your Her room with a view, a Commentator Blessings Supper. We would like ______tickets at $10.00 per person. We are enclosing a check for $______. Name: ______DAMEANS  “They played guitars and Dameans continued to write and Address:______From page 9 sang our music at the little vil- record music and give concerts, City: ______State: ______Zip: ______lage church,” Ducote said. “So releasing several more albums. Make checks payable and mail to: St. Vincent de Paul, P.O. road for their music minis- that was wonderful!” Keyboardist Gary Daigle of Gon- Box 127, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0127. For more info., call try. After they were ordained In 1973, The Dameans were zales joined the south Louisiana us at (225) 383-7837, extension O, or online at svdpbr.org. priests, the travel was cut down sent to Germany for a month on based musicians in 1978. Their @svdpbatonrouge to once a month. Their travels behalf of the military aposto- final album was released in 1995 took them to 48 states, including late. Ducote said the stint, which and their last performance was Hawaii and Alaska. included a tour of the military at the 2012 Gulf Coast Confer- “Alaska – that was incred- bases, involved hours of travel in ence in Mobile, Alabama. BUILD A BASKET ible!” laughed Ducote. “Culture the back of army trucks with ac- Besides “Remember Your shock for them and for us! It was commodations he called “abys- Love,” which was a composite FOR A NEEDY CHILD a lot of fun! From Alaska, we mal.” by Ducote, Blahoff and Daigle, went to Hawaii! All of this was “It was absolutely grueling Ducote said “Look Beyond” is When families are struggling to exist on low great fun but it got tiresome.” and really took a toll on all of also widely used. The Commu- incomes, just paying the rent and putting food On one trip to Hawaii, a com- us,” he said. nion hymn, written by Ducote, on the table is difficult. Needy children learn at munity of Filipino nuns minis- The following year, Dave is based on the Gospel of John, an early age that there’s nothing in the budget for extras. Things tering to a small village in the Baker bowed out of the group, chapter 6, the bread of life dis- like Easter baskets are luxuries their families simply cannot mountains invited The Dame- citing the travel was too difficult course. afford. Last year, our Build a Basket campaign was a ans to Sunday Mass. from his Wisconsin home. The “I took Scripture and put it to tremendous success and reached so many children in need. The music and wrote a refrain,” he kids in these pictures were uplifted by this act of sharing. said. “It makes those scriptural

Join us in providing Easter baskets for hundreds passages come to life.” Ducote said he still listens of needy children. You can actually build a basket to the music of The Dameans, yourself (see instructions below) or make a especially the song “Without contribution to the effort online at Clouds,” which he wrote. www.svdpbr.org and we will “It’s so universal. It talks build it for you and give it to a needy or about the consistency of change homeless child. This is a great project for and how we have to adapt to church groups, schools and clubs. For more change on a regular basis,” he information, call us at (225)383-7837 or visit said. us at svdpbr.org. Bring Christ into the lives of those in need! Ducote said he thinks the big- gest contribution The Dameans Build a Basket Instructions For a Happy Easter made was in “facilitating what 1. Lots of love and prayers. 2. A new or gently used basket. the Second Vatican called for in 3. Easter candy of all sorts. (No peanut products.) the liturgical form, namely, full 4. Easter related toys, small toys, stuffed animals, crayons, color conscious and active participa- books, etc. Darryl Ducote, director of The Office of Marriage and Family Life for tion of the laity in the liturgy.” 5. Wrap the basket with Easter cellophane. the Diocese of Baton Rouge, looks over albums from his years with The “People renewed their faith 6. Drop your gift off at our St. Vincent de Paul main charitable Dameans. Many of the songs Ducote and others in the group wrote are campus located at 220 St. Vincent de Paul Place. through our music,” he said. still found in the Glory & Praise hymnals. Photo by Bonny Van/The Catholic Com- “The music was a sign of hope @svdpbatonrouge mentator for many people.”