THE CATHOLIC Garden of Angels PAGES 12-13 April 3, 2015ommentator Vol. 53, No. 4 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1963 thecatholiccommentator.org C Father Ranzino appointed vicar general; Father Yi chancellor By Richard Meek scenario that played out diana. He was ordained Currently, he is serving as the chair- The Catholic Commentator in my mind,” said Fa- in 1978 and has served man of the board of the Federation ther Ranzino, who will in several parishes, of Diocesan Liturgical Commission, Humility and honor were the emo- continue as pastor at St. including St. Joseph which is a national organization. He tions expressed by Father Tom Ranzino Jean Vianney Church the Worker Church in will continue to serve as chairman as and Father Ju Hyung “Paul” Yi as they in Baton Rouge, where Pierre Part, Holy Rosa- well as mentoring his eventual replace- assumed their new leadership positions he has served for the ry Church in St. Amant ment for the Office of Worship. in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Father Ranzino past nine years. “And in Father Yi and St. George Church “I think I’m pretty good knowing my Bishop Robert W. Muench on March all honestly, I was very in Baton Rouge. limits in what I can do and can’t do,” Fa- 22 announced the appointment of Fa- humbled. I didn’t really see this. Father Ranzino, who said he was sur- ther Ranzino said. “And I’m pretty good ther Ranzino as vicar general and Fa- “It’s an opportunity for me to be of prised when Bishop Muench approached at delegating.” ther Yi as chancellor effective March service to the diocese.” him about the vicar general’s position a “I’m very grateful to my parish and 23. Father Ranzino, who is currently Father Ranzino, a native of Baton couple of weeks ago, is also the direc- to my parish staff for being able to take serving as chancellor, replaces Father Rouge and the son of Patricia and tor of the Office of Worship, which helps on this duty and to continue to serve Than Vu, who died earlier this year. Thomas Ranzino, was born in 1950 and implement the church’s vision for divine both my parish and the diocese,” he “I thought about what would be hap- attended St. Meinrad Seminary and worship as well as advising the bishop added, saying he is grateful to Bishop pening in the future, but this was not the School of Theology in St. Meinrad, In- and pastors on liturgical matters. SEE APPOINTMENTS PAGE 24 HEARING THE CALL Mom, son to enter Catholic faith at Easter By Debbie Shelley lic schools here than others,” The Catholic Commentator Wood said. But that changed when she Sex. Politics. Religion. attended Boston College in Stafford Wood acknowl- Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. edges these subjects are often “That’s when I experienced taboo in “polite conversation.” the Catholic faith as not some- However, she made this excep- thing ‘other than,’ ” Wood said. tion when announcing to her She explained, “When I family that their “feminist, lib- grew up, there were Catholics eral, divorcée” family member and there were ‘the rest of us is entering the Catholic faith at Christians.’ It was definitely Our Lady of Mercy Church in mysterious to me and outside Baton Rouge at the Easter Vigil of my childhood experiences in Mass on April 4. a lot of ways.” Wood’s decision to become During the past four to five Catholic may surprise some, years, Wood had some “odd because although she grew up experiences” for her Protestant in south Louisiana, she did not background. In Prague she saw have any practicing Catholics the Infant Jesus of Prague stat- in her family. ue, which thoroughly inspired “We’re Episcopalian, Meth- her. She and her son, Steven, odist, some Unitarians, secular 11, who was then 5 ½, went to Stafford Wood and her son, Steven, will enter the Catholic faith at the Easter Vigil Mass at Our Lady humanists … the whole thrust,” Cartagena, Columbia and saw of Mercy Church on April 4. Photo by Marie Constantin said Wood. the uncorrupted body of St. Neither were her friends Peter Claver. through the RCIC program ti-death penalty rally in the justice issues. Catholic. “He looked like he could and will enter the church with Lafayette area when she saw “I’m sitting here in a room “I had more Hindu and get up and run around,” said his mother. the beauty of the Catholic filled with the ACLU, families Buddhist friends in the pub- Steven Wood, who is going Wood also spoke at an an- Church’s involvement in social SEE EASTER PAGE 23 2 The Catholic Commentator The LIGHTER SIDE of FAI t H April 3, 2015 | TREASURES FROM THE DIOCESE | DID YOU KNOW Celebrate Easter Vigil The Lenten sea- can never be artificial son culminates with and must be replaced the paschal triduum, annually. Although di- beginning with the mensions may differ, evening Mass on Holy the candle must be Thursday and clos- large enough to suf- ing with the evening ficiently convey the prayer on Easter Sun- truth that Christ is the day. light of the world. But for all of the The vigil is divided symbolism during into four parts: Service that time, the Eas- of Light; Liturgy of the ter Vigil is generally Word; Liturgy of Bap- regarded as the high tism; and Liturgy of point of the triduum. the Eucharist. Perhaps there is no Typically, the ser- other Mass through- vice begins outside out the year that is as with all of the lights in beautiful and awe-inspiring as the Eas- the church turned off. ter Vigil. Readings are numerous, totaling The celebration is a nocturnal vigil, nine; seven from the Old Testament and meaning it must begin and end in dark- two from the New Testament. One of the ness. By doing so, it retains the ancient Old Testament readings is Exodus 14, character of vigilance and expectation as and typically one of the New Testament Christians await the resurrection. readings is traditionally from St. Paul The fire is blessed, the paschal candle and the other from the Gospel. is lighted to illume the night so that the It is also during this Mass that adult congregation may hear the Easter proc- catechumens and candidates are re- lamation and listen to the Scriptures. ceived into full communion with the The Lucernarium, the Solemn Beginning church. The Christ Triumphant in the apse of Sacred Heart Church in Baton Rouge is one of the of the Vigil, actually takes place before The Easter Vigil also marks the return most moving murals in the diocese. Completed in the 1940s by Father Dom Gregory the Liturgy of the Word. of the use of alleluia during the Mass, deWit OSB, the mural is located in the round dome of the apse and is the dominant In an interesting twist, because sunset which is omitted during the Lenten season. feature of the church. The Christ Triumphant measures 36 feet in width and the head varies depending on location, local weath- Although one of the longer Masses of alone is 7 feet high The right hand is raised in blessing and the left holds a book pro- er stations may be consulted as to when the liturgical year in terms of time, the claiming “Rex Sum Ego” (I am a King). The face has a Sicilian character. Many consider the sun will set so as to plan the vigil. Easter Vigil remains one of the most the Christ Trimphant to be Brother Gregory’s masterpiece. The Catholic Commentator file photo The paschal candle is unique in that it popular among Catholics. | PICTURES FROM THE PAST He is Risen! Happy Easter! TheCatholic Commentator Staff thecatholiccommentator.org | Facebook.com/TheCatholicCommentator Bishop Robert W. Muench Publisher Wanda L. Koch Advertising Manager Father Tom Ranzino Associate Publisher Penny G. Saia Production Manager Richard Meek Editor Lisa Disney Secretary/Circulation Debbie Shelley Assistant Editor Rachele Smith Staff Writer The Catholic Commentator (ISSN 07460511; USPS 093-680) Father Stanley Ott leads a procession into St. Joseph Cathedral for the recitation of the Published bi-weekly (every other week) by the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge,1800 South Acadian Good Friday liturgy in 1963. Father Ott later became Bishop Ott and was the third bishop Thruway, Baton Rouge, LA 70808; 225-387-0983 or 225-387-0561. Periodical Postage Paid at Baton for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Father Vincent Kleinpeter is shown carrying the veiled Rouge, LA. Copy must reach the above address by Wednesday for use in the next week’s paper. Sub- crucifix. If you have a photograph to be considered for Pictures from the Past, please scription rate: $14.00 per year. POSTMASTER, send address changes to The Catholic Commentator, P.O. Box 14746, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-4746. submit to [email protected]. Photo courtesy of the Archives Department, Diocese of Baton Rouge April 3, 2015 The Catholic Commentator 3 Budget focus of lawmakers in upcoming session By Richard Meek they are going to be putting their time on,” through to our ministries,” he said. than 20 weeks the option to bury their child. The Catholic Commentator Tasman said. Tasman said LCCB will be working One issue Tasman will follow closely He added state money is funneled with DHHS to establish a study resolution is the potential re-introduction of what With potentially staggering budget through nonpublic schools and several to clarify an issue for a miscarried child methodology the state will use for capi- cuts looming, lawmakers are likely to agencies of Catholic Charities.