THE CATHOLIC PAGE 1B-8B Graduating Class of 2013 May C31, 2013 Vol. 51,ommentator No. 8 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1963 thecatholiccommentator.org Father Vu, Deacon Johnson ordained for Diocese of Baton Rouge By Debbie Shelley Assistant Editor Shouts of joy burst forth like a loud “Amen” follow- ing the recessional song “O God, Beyond All Praising” at the ordination Mass of Joseph Hoang Vu to the priesthood and Joshua Daniel Johnson to the diacon- ate at St. Joseph Cathedral May 25. Many of the standing-room only crowd poured out of the cathedral to congratulate Deacon Johnson and Father Vu, who gave many blessings as a newly ordained priest. Among them were people from New Orleans, including Father Vu and Deacon Johnson’s classmates from Notre Dame Seminary, and religious men and women. Priests and deacons from the Diocese of Baton Rouge attended the ceremony, showing their sup- port for the newly ordained. Following the prayers of ordination, investiture, presentation of the book of the Gospels to Deacon Johnson and the anointing of hands and presentation of bread and wine to Deacon Vu, Bishop Robert W. Muench gave Father Vu and Deacon Johnson a kiss of peace. The deacons did the same for Deacon Johnson while the priests did so for Father Vu. Music, which was provided by the choirs of St. Joseph Cathedral, St. Francis Xavier in Baton Rouge, Assumption of Mary Mission Church in Avondale and various musicians, was an important Bishop Robert W. Muench ordained Father Joseph Vu, left, and Deacon Joshua Johnson May 25 at St. Joseph element of the celebration. Jubilant and medita- Cathedral. For more on the ordination see pages 9 – 11. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator tive songs greeted people as they entered the cathe- dral and continued throughout parts of the liturgy. Marrero also performed a liturgical dance. with the first reading and Gospel printed in Vietnam- Children from St. Agnes Le Thi Than Church in Vietnamese was also incorporated into the liturgy, SEE ORDINATION PAGE 9 Meek named editor Catholic schools to accept more of The Catholic Commentator scholarship students By Barbara Chenevert Because of his dynamic personality By Laura Deavers that the Minimum Foundation Pro- Staff Writer that transcends all race, gender and Editor gram (MFP) cannot be used to fund demographic groups, formerly exiled nonpublic schools. Jindal is propos- Richard Meek, a veteran newsman Catholics are returning home, their As the Louisiana Legislature de- ing that funds for the scholarship from Metairie, is the new editor and hearts touched by the Holy Spirit bates where the funds will come from program be moved out of the MFP to general manager of The Catholic Com- through Francis’ words. This is per- to pay for the state voucher program, make the final scholarship payment mentator. haps the most exciting period to be a 24 schools in the Diocese of Baton for this year. For next school year, the Meek has served in just about ev- Catholic in my lifetime.” Rouge have agreed to participate in legislature will consider pulling the ery capacity in the newsroom from Meek replaces Laura Deavers, who the program to provide a quality edu- scholarship student count out of the reporter to editor to publisher in his is retiring after almost 29 years as edi- cation for students in failing public MFP and using the funds to pay for 36-year career as a journalist. Most tor. schools. a line in the budget which funds the recently he worked as marketing di- “I am taking over for a well-liked Even though the Louisiana Su- program. rector for the Audubon Golf Course in and well-respected journalist in Lau- preme Court ruled on May 7 that the The funds paid to the schools New Orleans. ra,” Meek said. “I have a difficult job funding of the scholarship program is participating in the scholarship pro- “This is a thrilling time to be a part ahead, but I am embracing the chal- unconstitutional, Gov. Bobby Jindal gram this school year do not have to of the Catholic Church,” Meek said. lenge. I am thrilled with the oppor- on May 15 affirmed his continued be paid, but the public schools are “Pope Francis has re-energized the tunity to join a very talented staff of support for the Louisiana Scholar- owed money for the students that Catholic community and the excite- writers at The Catholic Commentator. ship Program. The Louisiana Su- were not there because they enrolled ment is palatable early in his papacy. SEE EDITOR PAGE 20 preme Court ruled that the money SEOE scH LARSHIP PAGE 20 2 The Catholic Commentator May 31, 2013 | IN THIS ISSUE | DID YOU KNOW WOMEN NEED TO SET ASIDE THEIR majority of priests surveyed. PAGE 19 BUSYNESS and make time for Jesus. Holy hearts full of symbolism PAGE 5 SPECIAL SECTION – Graduation in The Diocese of Baton Rouge Images of the heart to the Blessed Moth- SAINT GERARD frequently convey mes- er’s joys, sorrows, vir- CHURCH IS sages of love. Look at tues and love of God. MINISTERING Valentine’s Day cards for Images often show her TO CHILDREN example. Symbols of love heart, a symbol of love, in the hope in the church are no dif- surrounded by roses, that the entire ferent. representing the puri- community will be drawn closer to the The feasts of the Sa- ty of heart with which Catholic faith. PAGE 7 cred Heart of Jesus (June Mary lived. A sword 7) and the Immaculate (and sometimes seven Heart of Mary (June 8) are celebrations of swords) lance the heart, a reminder of the tremendous love – the love Jesus has for Seven Sorrows of Mary, the first of which his people and the love the Blessed Mother is the prophesy of Simeon, who predicted has for her son. the life of Jesus would be like a sword that Images of the Sacred Heart are steeped would pierce Mary’s soul. In honoring in symbolism, the most prominent of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Catholics which is the flaming fire coming from the unite themselves with Mary in loving Je- | heart, depicting the burning love that Je- sus and imitate her virtues. ALLIGATORS ARE BRINGING COMFORT INDEX sus has for his people, love that purified Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus to children impacted by Hurricane Sandy. CLASSIFIED ADS 18 humanity through his death and resur- has been practiced as a private devotion St. Jean Vianney students shipped many COMING EVENTS 18 rection. since the Middle Ages. In17th century stuffed alligators to a Catholic school in ENTERTAINMENT 14 A crown of thorns encircles the heart, France, Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque New Jersey. PAGE 12 FAMILY LIFE 5 symbolizing the suffering Jesus endured claimed to have visions of Jesus in which for the redemption of humanity. There is a Jesus showed her his heart. The church INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL NEWS 4 THE NEW ROMAN slash in the heart, a reminder of the lance was at first skeptical. It wasn’t until the MISSAL TRANS- SPIRITUALITY 7 that pierced Jesus as he hung on the cross. end of the 19th century that Pope Leo XIII LATION is not very VIEWPOINT 16 In some depictions blood is dripping from officially instated the Feast of the Sacred popular among a YOUTH 12 the heart, representing the blood of Christ, Heart of Jesus into the church year. In which brought new life to his followers. fact, he encouraged the church to dedicate The Immaculate Heart of Mary refers SEE HEART PAGE 3 | PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PRAY FOR US Give us a Ring! Please pray for the priests, deacons and religious women and men in the Baton Rouge Diocese. June 2 Rev. Michael A. Miceli June 9 Rev. Nicholas J. (Jack) Nutter III Dcn. J. Peter Walsh Dcn. Frank E. Bains Sr. Dehra Elliot CSJ Br. Clement Furno CSsR June 3 Rev. Cleo J. Milano June 10 Rev. Marcel E. Okwara CSsR Dcn. James E. Wax ✝Dcn. J. Phillip BeJeaux Sr. June Engelbrecht OP Br. Henry Gaither SC June 4 Rev. Nutan Sylvester Minj IMS June 11 Rev. John F. Osom MSP Dcn. Alfred P. Zeringue Dcn. Willie M. Berthelot Sr. Sr. Rosalina Tesoro Evangelista DM Sr. Carol Gonsoulin CSJ June 5 Rev. Michael J. Moroney June 12 Rev. Louis T. Oubre Dcn. Henry J. Zeringue Dcn. William B. Blair Jr. Sr. Dianne Fanguy CSJ Sr. Mary Joel Gubler OP June 6 Rev. Caye A. (Trey) Nelson III June 13 Rev. Mansueto P. Palang Dcn. Alfred Adams Sr. Dcn. Daniel S. Borné Sr. Ileana Fernandez CSJ Sr. Mildred Guillot CSJ June 7 Rev. Hung Viet Nguyen ICM June 14 Rev. Jason P. Palermo Dcn. Michael A. Agnello Dcn. Claude H. Bourgeois Sr. Dulce Maria Flores HMSS Sr. Melanie Guste RSCJ June 8 Rev. Tan Viet Nguyen ICM June 15 Rev. Suchit Paul Parakathil IMS Dcn. Donald L. Ard Dcn. Eugene F. Brady Sr. Janet Franklin CSJ Sr. Ursula Harelson CSJ THE CATHOLIC If you don’t see The Catholic Commentator at your CommentatorMonth church, call your church parish and let them know. Bishop Robert W. Muench Publisher Wanda L. Koch Advertising Manager Father Than Vu Associate Publisher Penny G. Saia Advertising Sales Or, if you would prefer to receive it another way, please call us. We can email Laura Deavers Exec. Ed./Gen. Mgr. Lisa Disney Secretary/Circulation it to you; you can read it online at thecatholiccommentator.org in PDF format or story form; or if none of these are the way you want to read your diocesan Debbie Shelley Assistant Editor Barbara Chenevert Staff Writer newspaper, we can mail it to you.