CHURCH TODAY Volume XLVIII, No. 11 www.diocesealex.org Serving the Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana Since 1970 November 13, 2017 O N T H E INSIDE Pope Francis designates Nov. 19 as first World Day of the Poor In his apostolic letter to close the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis suggested the Catholic Church set aside one day each year when communities can “reflect on how poverty is at the very heart of the Gospel.” He designated Nov. 19 as the World Day of the Poor. Read more about it on pg. 3. Advent welcomes in New (Liturgical) Year It’s true – Advent, which starts Sunday, Dec. 3, is the season of waiting -- the season of preparing for the birth of Christ. But Advent is also the beginning of the new liturgical year. Have you thought about making spiritual resolutions for the new liturgical year? See page 5 for details. Who is your favorite saint? Schools and CCD classes Welcome to the Holidays! around the diocese celebrated All Saints Day Nov. 1 learning and dressing up like their favorite Manna House saint. Check out the color pictures on pages 12-13 and see if you rec- ognize any of the pint-sized saints. from PREPARING FOR THE HOLIDAYS AT MANNA HOUSE. Jessica Viator, ex- ecutive director of Manna House, said the staff of volunteers is gearing up for serving meals at Manna House throughout the holidays. From Thanksgiving, to Christmas, and through the New Year, the Manna House continues to operate serving meals to those less fortunate in the community. See story on page 16. PAGE 2 CHURCH TODAY NOVEMBER 13, 2017 Knights CEO praises plan for getting U.S. aid to persecuted Christians WASHINGTON (CNS) the Middle East. That word was spokesman for the Knights told -- Carl Anderson, CEO of the genocide. Tonight, those words CNS Oct. 27 that all the money Knights of Columbus, praised the were put into action,” Anderson has been raised and it is commit- decision by the Trump adminis- said in a statement. ted to the project as announced. tration to provide direct U.S. aid He introduced Pence at the A timeline for rebuilding the to persecuted Christians in the dinner, saying that now was the town is still to be determined, but Middle East and route it through time to “rededicate ourselves to the Knights said the project “will the U.S. Agency for International the defense of our brothers and result in hundreds of families Development. sisters in faith -- and to defending from Christian and other minority The aid will go to “faith- them in a Christian way with the communities to move back to the based and private organizations” ethics of love.” homes they were evicted from by to help those who are persecuted “Despite the efforts of so IS in 2014.” in the region, according to Vice many, the world witnesses again The Knights documentation President Mike Pence, who an- and again the crimes against hu- of IS atrocities and its advocacy nounced the move in a keynote manity that we now describe as efforts were decisive in the 2016 address at the Oct. 25 Solidarity genocide,” Anderson told an au- decision by then-Secretary of Dinner for the Washington-based dience that included elected offi- State John Kerry to declare the group In Defense of Christians. cials, bishops, priests and prelates treatment of Christians and other U.S. aid to the region had from the U.S. and throughout the religious minorities in the region previously been given to the Middle East. SUPREME KNIGHT CARL ANDERSON, CEO of the Knights of Columbus, as genocide. Current Secretary United Nations for distribution Pence singled out the Knights is seen in Washington Oct. 2. Since 2014, the Knights of Columbus Christian of State Rex Tillerson reaffirmed in the troubled region, but Pence of Columbus for “extraordinary Refugee Relief Fund has donated more than $17 million for humanitarian as- that designation earlier this past criticized the U.N. efforts saying work caring for the persecuted sistance in Iraq, Syria and the surrounding region. (CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn) July. they had been ineffective in help- around the world.” The Knights of Columbus ing Christians who have suffered “While faith-based groups also will join the U.S. Conference at the hands of Islamic State mili- with proven track records and days are over.” rounding region. of Catholic Bishops for a “Week tants and other terrorist groups. deep roots in these communi- Since 2014, the Knights of In August of this year, the of Awareness” for persecuted “A year ago, the United States ties are more than willing to as- Columbus Christian Refugee Re- Knights launched a drive to raise Christians, which will begin Nov. used the right word to describe sist, the United Nations too often lief Fund has donated more than $2 million to rebuild Karamles, a 26, the feast of Christ the King, what was happening to Christians denies their funding requests,” $17 million for humanitarian as- predominantly Christian town in with a day of prayer for persecut- and other religious minorities in Pence said. “My friends, those sistance in Iraq, Syria and the sur- Iraq that was destroyed by IS. A ed Christians. Deaths of Father Robert Young, O.F.M., Father Walter Ebarb announced News of the deaths of two Father Robert was national Visitation was held Nov. 9 priests widely known in the Dio- priest director of Radio Maria in San Antonio, Texas at Ange- cese of Alexandria, but not part of from 2012-2015. He was such a lus Funeral Home. The Funeral the diocese, was received right at blessing to everyone. He embod- Mass was held Nov. 10 at 11:30 press time. Complete funeral ar- ied a great love for the Word of a.m. at Saint John Neumann rangements/obituary information God and specifically his great Catholic Church, 6680 Crestway was not available at press time; sharing of the Gift of the Divine Drive, San Antonio. however, here is a brief notice: Will as written by Servant of Father Ebarb is very kindly God, Luisa Piccarreta. He worked remembered in the Diocese of Father Robert Young, O.F.M. tirelessly for the Kingdom. Shreveport. Please join us in praying for Please join us in praying for Father Robert Young, the repose of his soul. Rest in the repose of his soul. Heavenly O.F.M., former national priest di- peace, Fr. Young - May our Lord Father, we implore your kind- rector for Radio Maria, died of an keep you now in His Kingdom. ness for Walter, your servant apparent heart attack on Sunday, and Priest, that as you made him Nov. 5. Father Walter Ebarb a steward of your mysteries on Funeral arrangements are Father Robert Young, O.F.M. Father Walter Ebarb earth, so you may bring him to incomplete at this time, but will The Diocese of Shreveport their truth and reality as unveiled be held Nov. 14 at 10 a.m. at St. Ave) in Orange, Texas, where he announces the death of Father this life on All Saints’ Day. He in heaven. Through Christ our Mary Church (912 W. Cherry was confirmed and ordained. Walter Ebarb who passed from was a native of Zwolle. Lord. Amen. For instant news Holy Trinity Ministries about the Diocese of Louisiana of Alexandria Our Focus is... Holy Relics of the Saints u Benefits of Holy Water Like us on Prayer Poems and Requests Marcus and Liz Descant Leesville, Louisiana Facebook (H) 337-238-9642 (c) 337-378-9906 [email protected] NOVEMBER 13, 2017 CHURCH TODAY PAGE 3 Pope Francis designates Nov. 19 as first World Day of the Poor The first World Day of the gelization. It’s also based on “our Poor will be observed on Sunday, understanding that each of us is November 19, 2017. poor in some way, and that we In his apostolic letter to close need to empty ourselves of certain the Year of Mercy, Pope Fran- things so that God’s grace can fill cis suggested that the Catholic us, God’s mercy can fill us,” he Church set aside one day each said, adding that “there’s so much year when communities can “re- we can learn from those who are flect on how poverty is at the very poor as we try to provide.” heart of the Gospel.” He designat- The first-ever World Day of ed this day as the World Day of the Poor, which is titled “Love the Poor and it will be celebrated not in word, but in deed,” is set to on the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary take place exactly one year after Time each year. the close of the Jubilee of Mercy. The World Day of the Poor, The event, Sylva said, is “so which was announced in Pope beautiful and so powerful as a Francis’ closing letter for the Ju- perpetual fruit of the jubilee of bilee of Mercy, is founded on mercy.” World Day for the Poor “this whole notion of reciprocity, “ties perfectly in with the New of sharing with each other of what Evangelization,” he said, “be- each other has,” said Msgr. Geno cause the New Evangelization is Sylva, an English-language offi- able to engage people by present- cial of the Pontifical Council for ing the mercy of God and seeing the Promotion of the New Evan- people in that mercy.” Five ways to observe World Day of the Poor 1. Pray for the Poor starting point for how to care for our neigh- There are many reasons why peo- bors in need.