CHURCH TODAY Volume XLVII, No. 9 www.diocesealex.org Serving the Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana Since 1970 September 19, 2016 O N T H E St. Mother Teresa INSIDE USCCB objects to research on part-human, part-animal embryos The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops objected to a National Institutes of Health pro- posal to authorize federally fund- ed research on part-human, part- animal embryos in comments submitted to the agency Sept. 2. Caring for Read more on page 2. the Poorest Historic flooding leaves line of destruction across of the Poor South Louisiana The line of destruction caused by historic flooding in southern Louisiana stretches for 25 miles. It is the worst natural di- saster in the United States since Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Turn to pages 14-17 for story and pic- tures. Fall fairs and festivals offer weekend fun Expect to find a a church or school fair or festival almost every week in the months “Let us always meet each other of September, October and with a smile, November. For a list of church for a smile is the beginning fairs and state festivals, go to of love. page 19. -- St. Teresa of Kolkata PAGE 2 CHURCH TODAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 Man confesses to killing two Sisters of Charity in Mississippi By Dennis Sadowski owner, told The Clarion-Ledger were valiant women. They were Catholic News Service newspaper in Jackson, Missis- dear women who loved the min- sippi, the deaths are “a loss to the istry they were in.” (CNS) -- A man suspected in community. They were loved by In a statement, the leadership the slayings of two nuns found everybody.” team of the U.S. province of the dead in their Mississippi home Authorities have released School Sisters of St. Francis an- confessed to the killings, a sheriff few details about the crime, but nounced its shock and grief over said Aug. 27, in the latest twist to police suspect that robbery was a hearing the news of the deaths. a crime that has horrified people motive. “Sister Margaret has been in the small communities where Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz of a member of our community for the women served. Jackson commended the sisters 49 years and lived her ministry Rodney Earl Sanders, 46, of for their years of dedicated ser- caring for and healing the poor,” Kosciusko, Miss., was arrested vice. the leadership team said. “Please and charged in the deaths of Sis- “They absolutely loved the keep Sister Margaret, Sister Paula ter Margaret Held and Sister Pau- people in their community,” he and their families and loved ones la Merrill, Mississippi Depart- said. “We mourn with the people in your prayers.” ment of Public Safety spokesman of Lexington and Durant and we Sister Paula, a native of Mas- Warren Strain said Aug. 26. Both pray for the Sisters of Charity, the sachusetts, moved to rural Mis- women were 68. SLAIN SISTERS. Sister Paula Merril, 69, a member of the Sisters of Char- School Sisters of St. Francis and sissippi in 1981, serving in health Willie March, the sheriff of ity of Nazareth in Kentucky, and Sister Margaret Held, 68, a member of the the families left behind.” care ministry for more than 30 Holmes County where the kill- School Sisters of St. Francis in Milwaukee, are pictured in undated photos. Sister Susan Gatz, presi- years. She joined the Lexington ings occurred, said he had been The two women religious were found stabbed to death Aug. 25 in their Durant, dent of the Sisters of Charity of clinic in 2010. briefed by police from the town Miss. home, police said. (CNS photo/School Sisters of St. Francis and Sisters Nazareth, asked for prayers of “She was from Massachu- where the killings occurred and of Charity of Nazareth) gratitude “for the precious lives setts, that’s a big leap to move Mississippi Bureau of Investi- of Sisters Paula and Margaret” in down south,” noted Sister Susan. gation officials who took part in a statement on the community’s “There was something about the Sanders’ interrogation. ered a car missing from the nuns’ said Franciscan Father Greg Pla- website. “They served the poor people there and the need of the Sanders confessed in the home the evening of Aug. 25 on a ta, sacramental administrator of so well. Because we are Gospel people there that drew her heart.” interrogation to the killings and secluded street about a mile from St. Thomas the Apostle Church in women, please also pray for the Sister Margaret first minis- gave no reason for the crimes, where the women were found Lexington, where the sisters par- perpetrators,” the statement said. tered in Mississippi as a social March said. dead. ticipated in parish life. Sister Susan also asked for worker at a health center in Holly Sister Margaret Held, 68, a Police officers discovered the “They just bring the light of prayers for the women’s fami- Springs in 1975. She relocated member of the School Sisters of women’s bodies after co-workers Christ to this area here. Both were lies, their religious communities, to Omaha, Nebraska, from 1981 St. Francis in Milwaukee, and called asking to check on them af- extremely loved by the people in those who work at the medical to 1983 as a community health Sister Paula Merrill, 68, a member ter they failed to report for work the area,” Father Plata told Cath- clinic, the clinic’s clients and the nurse with the Visiting Nurse As- of the Sisters of Charity of Naza- at the clinic. olic News Service in a telephone community of Durant. sociation before returning to Mis- reth in Kentucky, had worked at “These were two wonder- interview Aug. 26. In an interview on the moth- sissippi that year. the Lexington Medical Clinic in ful, faith-filled women who just “These two sisters wouldn’t erhouse campus Aug. 26, she said: She became a nurse practi- Lexington, about 10 miles from brought so much life to this poor hurt a flea. It’s almost incom- “We know their death was violent tioner in 1994, serving in Tupelo, the house they shared. little section of Mississippi. They prehensible that someone could and they were two extraordinarily Marks and Lexington. She began Warren Strain, spokesman and so many of the sisters who perpetrate such violence against peaceful women. It’s hard to put her service with her religious or- for the Mississippi Department of have come down here throughout them,” the priest added. those things together. ... The loss der as a teacher at St. Joseph High Public Safety, said police discov- the years are the unsung heroes,” Dr. Elias Abboud, the clinic’s to our congregation is huge. They School in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Q & A FORMER SOCIAL SECURITY JUDGE Q. How do I send in news to PETER J. LEMOINE the Church Today? Social Security Disability Law A. Sending news to the Church Offices in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Cottonport Today is simple. The first step Adjunct Professor (1994-1997), Northwestern State University is write the information in a Mi- MEMBER: Louisiana State Bar Association, American Bar Association, crosoft Word document or in Baton Rouge Bar Association, Avoyelles Parish Bar Association, the text of an email. Don’t worry National Organization of Social Security Claimant Representatives, about HOW it is written, but that Legal Services for Purposes of Disability Committee (Louisiana State all the information is included. Bar Association). Be sure to include pertinent information like the date, time, PUBLISHED ARTICLES: “The Worn-Out Worker Rule Revisited,” “Significant Work-Related Limitations of Function Under 12.05C,” place, cost, and deadlines. “Questionable Retirement and the Small Business Owner,” “Crisis of The last step is to email it to jpe- Confidence: The Inadequacies of Vocational Evidence Presented∲ at [email protected]. There is Social Security Disability Hearings.” no need to call ahead to find out the deadline. Just write it up and send! It’s that easy! 318-876-3174 SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 CHURCH TODAY PAGE 3 Mother Teresa remembered for her holiness, service to others KOLKATA, India (CNS) -- rut. It was her first visit in a war A favorite motto of Blessed Te- zone but not her last. resa of Kolkata was: “Do small Meeting with Red Cross offi- things with great love.” cials about relief needs, she asked But the “small things” she what their most serious problem did so captivated the world that was. They took her to a nearby she was showered with honorary mental hospital that had just been degrees and other awards, almost bombed, requiring immediate universally praised by the media evacuation of 37 mentally and and sought out by popes, presi- physically handicapped children. dents, philanthropists and other “I’ll take them,” she said. figures of wealth and influence. “What stunned everyone Despite calls on her time was her energy and efficiency,” a from all over the globe Mother Red Cross official involved in the Teresa always returned to India evacuation said afterward. “She to be with those she loved most -- saw the problem, fell to her knees the lonely, abandoned, homeless, and prayed for a few seconds, and disease-ravaged, dying, “poorest then she was rattling off a list of of the poor” in Kolkata’s streets. supplies she needed -- nappies On Sept. 4, Pope Francis, (diapers), plastic pants, chamber who has spent this year preaching pots. We didn’t expect a saint to about mercy, canonized Mother be so efficient.” Teresa, who traveled the world She was an advocate for chil- to deliver a single message: that MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY nuns attend a Mass of thanksgiving for the canonization of St.