THE CATHOLIC SPECIAL SECTION May 29, 2015ommentator Vol. 53, No. 8 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1963 thecatholiccommentator.org C VALIDATING HISTORY Attendees at an “Encounter the Shroud” presentation at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Baton Rouge view a 14-foot replica of the Shroud of Turin. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator Shroud of Turin exhibit awes observers By Debbie Shelley With a “CSI Jerusalem: The Case of the Missing John 20:1-9, the disciples noted the linen cloth lying The Catholic Commentator Body” theme, Breault presented scientific, historical there, but no body. St. John describes something he and scriptural evidence which he said strongly sug- called a “sudarion” rolled up and in a place by itself. When a gift is purchased for someone, a receipt is gests the shroud is authentic. Accounts about the shroud shows that it has trav- given which shows the price of that gift. The Shroud The first piece of evidence is the 14-foot linen cloth eled extensively. of Turin is the “receipt” of the cost Christ paid for the where there is a front and back of a man with wounds Rome destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D. According salvation of humanity with his death on the cross, ac- consistent with someone who has been crucified. Cit- to the legend of Abgar, a cloth with an image of Jesus cording to Russ Breault, expert on the shroud at his ing Mark, 15:46, Breault noted that Jesus was buried was brought by Thaddeus of Edessa, one of the 70 dis- presentation, “Shroud Encounter,” May 9 at Sacred in a linen cloth according to Jewish custom. ciples, to King Abgar Edessa, who is said to have been Heart of Jesus Church in Baton Rouge. And what did the disciples see? Referring to St. SEE SHROUD PAGE 19 WE’RE GOING TO JUNIOR HIGH – On Vatican letter supports decision the last day of school at Sacred Heart of Jesus School on May to close Redemptorist 21, fifth-grade stu- dents celebrate after By Richard Meek Bishop Muench announced the closure in De- receiving their re- The Catholic Commentator cember, a decision that was appealed by school port cards and their supporters. advancement to the Bishop Robert W. Muench recently received a “Thank you for your helpful letter regard- sixth grade. Photo by letter from the Vatican Congregation for Catholic ing the appeal against the planned closure of Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Education validating the bishop’s decision to close Redemptorist High School in Baton Rouge,” the Commentator Redemptorist High School and junior high June 30. SEE LETTER PAGE 20 2 The Catholic Commentator The LIGHTER SIDE of FAI t H May 29, 2015 | TREASURES FROM THE DIOCESE | DID YOU KNOW The first novena Novenas offer peace as well as hope to fire, which parted and came to rest on Catholics who turn to them during their each of them. The disciples were filled time of need. with the Holy Spirit and began to speak Traditionally, nine-day novenas are in tongues on what was the first Pentecost available for any number of intentions and is considered to be the birthday of the but likely one of the most popular is the church. St. Jude Novena, which is offered for The nine days the disciples spent in hopeless causes. St. Jude is the Catho- prayer awaiting the Holy Spirit has be- lic’s go-to guy in times of stress, whether come the model for all novenas. Pope Leo it’s life-threatening or facing a week of XIII on May 4, 1897 proclaimed that a no- final exams. Even young men have even vena be prayed in all parish churches in turned to St. Jude when preparing to ask the period from the day after Ascension to the most important question a man can Pentecost Sunday. ask a woman, with the hopes of her say- Although no official prayers have been ing yes. written for the Pentecost Novena, the The first novena, which the church church has suggested specific prayers as recently celebrated, dates to the time of well as attending daily Mass, going to Christ. In fact, it was Jesus who after his confession and attending Eucharistic ad- ascension into heaven instructed his dis- oration during that time. It remains the ciples to return to Jerusalem and gather only novena prescribed by the church and A stunning crucifix by Dutch Benedictine priest Father Dom Gregory is the centerpiece in prayer. Nine days later, the Holy Spir- is a powerful plea for the strength and at St. Paul Church in Baton Rouge. The crucifix was originally at Sacred Heart Church in it appeared to the disciples in tongues of love needed by all people. Baton Rouge but was eventually removed after some parishioners expressed discom- fort with the darkness of the Christ figure. The crucifix was in a storeroom when it was donated to St. Paul after Archbishop Joseph Rummel responded to the needs of the A Summer Blessing African-American community and founded the church parish in 1960. The crucifix, which is cherished among parishioners, was also hung in the original church, at St. Paul, May you walk with God In every situation which was the former Capital Theatre. Photo by Richard Meek | The Catholic Commentator This summer In whatever you do Talking with God means... | Wherever you go Praying words of praise PICTURES FROM THE PAST For the beauty of creation Walking with God means... Saying prayers of thanks Walking with honesty For friends and good times, And with courage, Asking God’s help Walking with love In all your decisions And respect Expressing sorrow And concern for the feelings When you have failed of others May you talk with God May you talk to God Every day. Amen. This summer And every day and - Author unknown thecatholiccommentator.org | Facebook.com/TheCatholicCommentator Bishop Robert W. Muench Publisher Wanda L. Koch Advertising Manager Father Tom Ranzino Assistant 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) Golf legend Arnold Palmer is shown posing with officials of the CYO-Arnold Palmer golf Published bi-weekly (every other week) by the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge,1800 South Acadian exhibition at Sherwood Forest Country Club in May 1969. From left are Fred Montalvo, Thruway, Baton Rouge, LA 70808; 225-387-0983 or 225-387-0561. Periodical Postage Paid at Baton president of the sponsoring Afton Foundation; Palmer; Bishop Robert E. Tracy and Rouge, LA. Copy must reach the above address by Wednesday for use in the next week’s paper. Sub- then-CYO director Father Gerard Young. Photo courtesy of the Archives Department, Diocese of Baton scription rate: $14.00 per year. POSTMASTER, send address changes to The Catholic Commentator, P.O. Box 14746, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-4746. Rouge May 29, 2015 The Catholic Commentator 3 Works of Mercy grants providing assistance to needy By Richard Meek percent of every dollar collected goes di- The Catholic Commentator rectly to help the poor. “The support from the (Catholic Church) is important, and it is Key Keen remembers the faces. Faces of a vital part of it.” despair, people threatened with eviction or The organization is staffed by volun- having their lights turned out or even the teers and operates out of the front of the St. possibility of losing their job because they Vincent de Paul Society office in Denham are unable to afford a tank of gas. Springs, for which they pay no rent, only For the past five years, Keen has borne phone and Internet services. witness to those faces from her position She said that in 2013 her organization as president and chief executive officer of distributed approximately $38,000 to the CommUnity Hands of Livingston Parish, needy in the area. which is a group of churches that have “We never write a check to the individ- formed an organization geared to helping Bishop Robert W. Muench recently presented checks to six organizations which were ual,” she emphasized. “We write a check to those in need. awarded grants through the Bishop Stanley Joseph Ott Works of Mercy Trust Fund. the landlord or electric company.” “We are an emergency agency; if the Pictures, left to right, are Kay Keen, president and CEO of CommUnity Works of Liv- She said the organization also contracts rent is late, the electricity late or they have ingston Parish; Chris Andrews, president and CEO of Rebuilding Together Baton with a local service station where individ- received a cutoff notice,” Keen said. “Our Rouge; Liz Betz, president and CEO of CASA; Rafael de Castro, president and CEO of uals can get $30 of gas with the amount clients are really grateful.” Youth Oasis; Bishop Muench; Myrna Jordan, president and CEO of Our Daily Bread billed back to CommUnity Hands. Each The organization was birthed at a table Food Bank of Tangipahoa Parish and Michael Acaldo, president and CEO of St. Vin- individual or family is only eligible for help during a meeting of the parish leaders at cent de Paul Society. Photo by Richard Meek | The Catholic Commentator. once a year, and for only one service, there- Immaculate Conception Church in Den- by allowing the agency to service as many ham Springs in 2009. At the time, Keen Since 1991, Works of Mercy has awarded cese of Baton Rouge. people as possible. said there were many individuals contact- more than $500,000 in grants, all earnings “We ask them everything from who CommUnity Hands has scheduled a fish ing area churches seeking assistance.