BISHOP MICHAEL G. DUCA Hope in the Lord. Special Supplement of The Catholic Commentator August 31, 2018 2B The Catholic Commentator WELCOME BISHOP MICHAEL G. DUCA August 31, 2018 Bishop Duca has been a ‘ friend’ By Jessica Rinaudo Catholic education. Special to The Catholic Commentator He even once told me he would like to come over to our home for dinner. I said a quick prayer that I would In December 2007, newly married and stepping into somehow whip my house into a functional state in the a budding career as a graphic designer and journalist, I couple of weeks I had to prepare. He insisted we do noth- was hired as the editor of The Catholic Connection, the ing special, but we couldn’t let our Italian bishop go with- official magazine of the Diocese of Shreveport. It was a out trying the Rinaudo family meatballs. He visited with time of limbo at the diocese – we had no bishop, and the us from the couch, allowing Sarah to place a unicorn long wait time between the retirement of Bishop William helmet atop his head and laughing as tiny Vera stared at Friend and the anticipated naming of a new bishop fu- him nervously from the corner. And any time the Rinau- eled both excitement and anxiety amongst the staff. do children visited the Catholic Center, you better believe Would our new bishop like a magazine? Would he we had to make a bee-line for Bishop Duca’s office to tell insist we move to a newspaper? Would he even want a him hello. publication? Similar questions floated through every of- Bishop Duca and I had a conversation outside in the fice of the chancery. And then, in April of 2008, a priest hall during a retreat recently. At the time we were talking from the Diocese of Dallas was appointed to be ordained about the plan God has for our lives. The reflection he the Bishop of the Diocese of Shreveport. Once he was had written for the upcoming magazine that month had named, things began to happen very quickly while ev- touched me. In it he said, “It was as though no matter eryone waited on pins and needles, eager to find out what what I imagined my life to be, God was leading me in our new shepherd would be like. another direction that was very different. When I was I have been fortunate enough to visit Bishop Duca’s finally able to accept (i.e., I gave up) that God may have office many times since that day – and rarely has it ever a different direction and a deeper understanding of my felt like I’ve been called to the principal’s office. For just life, I stopped fighting and second guessing God’s will for as he is a bishop, he is also a pastor. I have sat in front of Bishop Michael G. Duca and Jessica Rinaudo my life. Instead I embraced His will and with that sur- him, relatively fresh off maternity leave, nervously and render came a new freedom and wisdom that allows me emotionally explaining that I was pregnant once again every day to accept with joy this wonderful call to be your – this time with twins, no less – and I had no idea how I wasn’t always easy, we did what it took to make it work. bishop, even though I often feel unworthy.” was going to make my life and my job work. He sat with In that time since, I have seen Bishop Duca kneel down During our conversation, I told him how I could have me, listened, and told me, “We will do whatever it takes before my children and earnestly ask them about their never anticipated having four children in four years – it to keep you.” Very few responses have ever meant so favorite parts of Disney World and listen with sincerity completely derailed me, but it also made me who I am. much to me and inspired me to move forward when all as all the names of My Little Ponies were listed off and His words encouraged me; by choosing to accept God’s felt impossible. explained to him. I’ve seen him joyfully present them will in my life, I’m a better person. The twins made their appearance, and even though it with candy bars – purchased from me to benefit their SEE RINAUDO PAGE 22B Welcome Bishop Michael G. Duca The worshiping community of St. Joseph the Worker extends a warm welcome to our new Shepherd, Bishop Michael G. Duca, praying that Mary, the Mother of God, wraps him in her mantle and prays to her Son for his episcopal ministry. We welcome Bishop Duca to join us at our Marian Shrine known as the Blessed Vir- gin Mary Island. It is located on a small Island near the parish rectory along the Pierre Part Bay known to us as “God’s Country.” The parishioners of St. Joseph the Worker have a deep devotion to our Mother, Mary because there is a strong belief that she protects us from disasters. Parishioners gather daily on the Island to recite the Rosary and again on the Fourth of July to re- cite the Patriotic Rosary. Mass is celebrated on the Island in May and October in honor of our Mother, Mary. In 1909, after a severe hurricane, a cypress wood board designed in the form of an arch was placed on the Shrine that read “O MARIE PROTÉGÉ NOUS” (Oh Mary Protect Us). Until this day, the parishioners still pray… “O MARIE PROTÉGÉ NOUS” Church of St. Joseph the Worker August 31, 2018 WELCOME BISHOP MICHAEL G. DUCA The Catholic Commentator 3B ‘I’m just a pastor’ Richard Meek, editor of The like a good place for me to start could hang back and come late Catholic Commentator, recent- in this new adventure. to Stations of the Cross and ly visited Shreveport and sat clean the chalkboards and get a down with Bishop Michael G. Talk about your voca- little special attention. But I was Duca for an exclusive inter- tion. Was it something genuine, I was really thinking view. The interview was three Qyou thought about as a about it. And I remember when I weeks before Bishop Duca was child or did the calling come a was in eighth grade I went to my installed as the sixth bishop of little later in life? mother and said “Mom, I want the Diocese of Baton Rouge. to go into the seminary.” I’m Well I can’t tell you exact- sure her face dropped. She saw Thank you Bishop Duca ly when. I do remember that I was so young, in eighth for taking the time to Aone time I was at Mass grade. Well that year we had a Qtalk to us. The Diocese with my parents and I looked up minor seminary in Dallas and of Baton Rouge is certainly ea- (at the altar) and the priest was that year, in the summer, the gerly anticipating your arrival. doing what he does at Mass. I minor seminary, the high school Just talk a little bit about the said to myself “I can do that.” It seminary, closed, which for me, transition. must have been a grace because I think, was an act of grace as there’s no reason why I should well because I went on to Bish- I guess it’s like any tran- have said that, why should I be op Lynch Catholic High School. sition. There is a sad side, identifying with the priest. But I It was a very important time in Aan exciting side. did. And it gave me a start down my formation, where I really I’m getting letters from peo- a road to pursue in a very kind learned how to relate with peo- ple in Baton Rouge and getting of small way that vocation to the ple, grew up, matured a little, excited about their excitement priesthood. discovered girls and developed about me coming to take over af- I would always tell the nuns in some friendships there that ter Bishop (Robert W.) Muench grade school (when they would were very meaningful in my life. who’s done a great job, who’s left ask) what are the three things But, after (high school) I still a great diocese and so it makes you want to do in life. And, al- thought about the priesthood it easy for me to be excited about ways I would mention priest, and entered Holy Trinity Sem- coming in to a new diocese that not number one but maybe sec- inary in Dallas. There, I think, looks to me to be in good shape ond, maybe third. I also found somewhere along the first or and well organized. It has its out that got me special privileg- second year, I stopped thinking “(Baton Rouge) looks like a good place for me.” challenges like any but it looks es with the sisters, you know, I SEE DUCA PAGE 24B ARCHBISHOP THOMAS J. RODI AND THE PEOPLE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF MOBILE OFFER PRAYERS AND BEST WISHES TO BISHOP MICHAEL G. DUCA AS HE BEGINS HIS SERVICE AS BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE WE PRAY GOD WILL SHOWERSHOWER ABUNDANTAB BLESSINGSBLESSINGS UPONU HIM. 4B The Catholic Commentator WELCOME BISHOP MICHAEL G. DUCA August 31, 2018 Congratulations Most Rev. Michael G. Duca on your appointment as the Bishop of the Bishop Michael G. Duca enjoys visiting every table when attending an event.