THE CATHOLIC December 14, 2011 C Vol. 49, No. 22ommentator SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1962 thecatholiccommentator.org THE SON OF GOD BECAME MAN — This Nativity at St. Thomas More Church in Baton Rouge depicts the traditional images of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the angel, shepherds and Magi. The figures prominently placed in churches on Christmas Day present a visual reminder that God sent his only son to become the savior of the world. Photo by Laura Deavers | The Catholic Commentator Christmas message from Bishop Robert W. Muench Dear Sisters and Brothers born to be the savior, to be our redeemer. migration services and the defense of human life – in Christ, As Catholic Christians, we are called — correction: second only to the government, which we also finan- commanded — to not only respect every other human cially support. “Our religious beliefs compel us to do “Glory to God in the being, believer or not, but to love every neighbor. We it, and our religious liberty guarantees us the right to highest, and on earth acknowledge others’ beliefs and demonstrate our own do it” (Most Rev. Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New peace to those on whom by our commitment to serve others. We stand up for York). his favor rests” (Luke whom we believe, but do not impose our beliefs on This Christmas, may we be instruments in glorify- 2:14). others. We defend our God-given rights and Bill of ing God and seeking to bring peace – in our homes, Rights — protected right to express our beliefs and to neighborhoods, communities, workplaces, schools, These words of the an- practice them according to our conscience. We pro- state, nation and world. gels to the shepherds at the tect our right to religious freedom by not taking it for Merry Christmas, everyone! Prayers and blessings birth of Jesus provide once again the hope of a world granted, for speaking up when appropriate to let all to you and yours. that has become ever more divided and threatened. know that our Christian beliefs are not to be taken for We live in a pluralistic society. We are in this secu- granted, or worse, shoved aside in the interest of not In the Child Jesus, lar world but we must live for a higher world, one that offending non-believers. sets us apart because we do not focus only on the ma- We are proud of our tradition to be the second- terialistic elements of this world. We are called to do largest provider of services for the poor and the needy Robert W. Muench more, to be more, since we believe that Christ was – through health care, education, poverty relief, im- Bishop of Baton Rouge 2 The Catholic Commentator December 14, 2011 | IN THIS ISSUE | DID YOU KNOW 25 YEARS AFTER THE BISHOPS’ PAS- building that was once the church rectory. TORAL LETTER on economic justice was PAGE 19 Use of incense harks back to Exodus published, it still generates debate over whether the United States bishops were | Even before the Magi brought gifts naïve or knowledgeable about the topic. INDEX of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the PAGE 4 CLASSIFIED ADS 18 Christ Child, incense played a major role COMING EVENTS 18 in Israelites’ worship. IN HIS HOMILY FOR THE GOLDEN JUBI- ENTERTAINMENT 14 In the Book of Exodus, God instructs LEE Mass of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, FAMILY LIFE 5 Moses to build a golden altar for burn- Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes speaks of INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL NEWS 4 ing incense. In 1 Chronicles, Christians the many accomplishments of this local hear that the Levites were appointed to LETTER TO THE EDITOR 17 church. PAGE 10 take care of the “sacred vessels as well SPIRITUALITY 7 as the fine flour wine, oil, frankincense A DEC. 11 FIRE AT STS. ANTHONY AND VIEWPOINT 16 and spices.” LE VAN PHUNG CHURCH destroys a YOUTh 12 And in the Psalms, the Jews prayed, “Let my prayer be counted as incense be- – At the Gospel procession and the fore thee, and the lifting up of my hands proclamation of the Gospel itself; Corrections as an evening sacrifice!” (Psalm 141:2) – After the bread and chalice have In the Nov. 2 issue, the caption for the picture on page 10 should have read: Today, the use of incense during the been placed upon the altar, to incense Bishop Robert E. Tracy, third from left, looks over a copy of The Catholic Mass and certain devotions can invoke the offerings, the cross and the altar as Commentator with staff member Jim Falkner, left, Gary Hebert and Joyce an image of prayers that rise to heaven well as the priest and the people; Hebert. Bishop Tracy took great interest in the diocesan newspaper, knowing with a fragrance pleasing to God and – At the showing of the host and the the impact it could have on parishioners. File photo | The Catholic Commen- can add an aura of solemnity and mys- chalice after the consecration. tator tery to the Mass. The incense is kept in a covered liturgi- In the Nov. 16 issue, the story on page 7, “Hospice helps dying to prepare for The General Instruction to the Roman cal vessel called a boat because its shape new, eternal life,” contained incorrect information about Pam Folse, pastoral Missal, which outlines how to celebrate resembles that of a boat. The boat is associate at Our Lady of Peace Church in Vacherie. Folse did not work at St. Mass, states incense may be used if de- made of bronze or brass and comes with Joseph Hospice or any hospice in the Baton Rouge area. She is not a licensed sired in any form at several times in a spoon that is used to scatter the incense hospice chaplain. Also, the daughter of Lloyd Cancienne Sr. is Judy David of Mass: over charcoal that has been lit in another Thibodaux. – During the entrance procession; bowl-shaped container called a thurible The Catholic Commentator regrets these errors. – At the beginning of Mass, to incense or censer. The thurible hangs on chains the cross and the altar; SEE incense PAGE 3 | PRAY FOR those who PRAY FOR us Coming in January Please pray for the priests, deacons and religious women and men in the Baton Rouge Diocese. Dec. 18 Rev. Boby M. Alex Dec. 25 Rev. M. Jeffery Bayhi THE CATHOLIC Dcn. Willie M. Berthelo Sr. Dcn. Barry G. Campeaux Sr. Kathleen Babin CSJ Sr. Judith Brun CSJ Dec. 19 Rev. Vincent Alexius SVD Dec. 26 Rev. Mark B. Beard Dcn. William B. Blair Jr. Dcn. Michael T. Chiappetta CommentatorSERVING THE DIOCESE O F BATON ROUGE SINCE 1962 Br. Donnan Berry SC Sr. Helen Cahill OSF Dec. 20 Rev. David E. Allen Dec. 27 Rev. Gary Belsome Dcn. Daniel S. Borné Dcn. Norman Christophe January 11: Vocations Sr. Sandra Blanchard CSJ Sr. Kathleen Cain OSF Dec. 21 Rev. Joey F. Angeles Dec. 28 Rev. Msgr. Robert H. Berggreen Dcn. Claude H. Bourgeois Dcn. Randall A. Clement Br. Maurus Bordelon SC Sr. Nicetas Bermido Cambiado DM Dec. 22 Rev. Joseph Suresh Arogyasami IMS Dec. 29 Rev. Donald V. Blanchard Dcn. Eugene F. Brady Dcn. Samuel C. Collura Sr. Fides Bourgeois SSND Sr. Carla Marie Candella SSND Dec. 23 Rev. J. Cary Bani Dec. 30 Rev. John Boll OP January 25: Dcn. Jerry W. Braud Dcn. Peter Ai Dang Sr. Carolyn Brady CSJ Sr. Joseph Charles SSF Dec. 24 Rev. Frank B. Bass Dec. 31 Rev. Jules A. Brunet Catholic Schools Week Dcn. Patrick Broussard Dcn. Al Davidson Sr. Patricia Brandner CSJ Sr. Maria Christy MC THE CATHOLIC CommentatorMonth Bishop Robert W. Muench Publisher Wanda L. Koch Advertising Manager Father Than Vu Associate Publisher Penny G. Saia Advertising Sales Deadline for articles, pictures and Laura Deavers Exec. Ed./Gen. Mgr. Lisa Disney Secretary/Circulation Debbie Shelley Assistant Editor Barbara Chenevert Staff Writer advertising is January 18. Donna Perreault Copy Editor The Catholic Commentator (ISSN 07460511; USPS 093-680) 225-387-0893 Published bi-weekly (every other week) by the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge,1800 South Acadian Thru- You can also contact us at way, Baton Rouge, LA 70808; 225-387-0983 or 225-387-0561. Periodical Postage Paid at Baton Rouge, LA. [email protected] / [email protected]. Copy must reach the above address by Wednesday for use in the next week’s paper. Subscription rate: $12.00 per year. POSTMASTER, send address changes to The Catholic Commentator, P.O. Box 14746, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-4746. Website: thecatholiccommentator.org. December 14, 2011 The Catholic Commentator 3 Tureau cooks food for family members and feeds those in need By Barbara Chenevert ing now, because more people are children were still at home. After Staff Writer out of work,” she said as she pulls they graduated from high school out handwritten pages of names and went to college, she lived Ronie Tureau cooks every Sun- of those in need of food. alone. “I stayed busy, working in day for any of her six children, “I do it all by hand. I don’t use the yard and cleaning house, but 15 grandchildren or eight great- computers,” she said. God was calling me, and I just grandchildren who happen to And if that is not enough, couldn’t tell him no.” stop by. But she also feeds hun- Tureau also serves as an extraor- She said her activities are now dreds of other people living in the dinary minister of Holy Commu- restricted by her children, who St. Amant community. nion, participates in the church’s won’t let her drive except back and Tureau is the coordinator of the prayer line and schedules the forth to church, which is only a Holy Rosary Church food pan- volunteers from Holy Rosary who few blocks from her house.