CHURCH TODAY Volume XLVI, No. 2 www.diocesealex.org Serving the Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana Since 1970 February 16, 2015 O N T H E We Are the INSIDE Pro-Life Generation! Bishop Herzog is Hundreds of Central Louisiana groups released from hospital travel to Washington DC for 42nd March for Life Bishop Ronald Herzog is ex- pected to be released from St. Frances Cabrini Rehab Hospital Feb. 17 after a brief stay. For more information and details, see page 3. Area students participate in March for Life in Washington DC Several student groups and parish groups from the Diocese of Alexandria participated in the March for Life in Washington Jan. 22. For a full story and lots of pictures, go to pages 10-12. Are you ready for Lent? Lent begins this week on Ash Wednesday, followed by 40 days of penance, fasting, and almsgiving. If you haven’t decided what to do for Lent yet, flip to pages 6-7 and see the schedule of extra Masses, Stations of the Cross, Missions, and Penance Services available in the diocese. For an updated list of Lenten events throughout the 40 days, go to www.diocesealex.org HOLY SAVIOR MENARD students on the steps of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC. PAGE 2 CHURCH TODAY FEBRUARY 16, 2015 Congregation for Divine Worship publishes Homiletic Directory Handbook gives tips on preparing homilies, tying them to catechism By Cindy Wooden be brief.” Catholic News Service A Good Homily . In making suggestions, the directory notes that its applica- (CNS) -- A homily at Mass tion can and should vary depend- is not a mini catechism class, the ing on the congregation and the Vatican says in a new document individual preacher with his on homilies, but it is an opportu- “gifts and limitations.” nity to explain church teaching In general, however, it says • is one that relates the Scripture using the Scripture readings and readings to church teaching an effective homily always re- the Catechism of the Catholic quires prayer, preparation, knowl- Church. edge of the people who will be in • uses stories, legends, personal “In the broadest sense, the the congregation, a reflection on homily is a discourse about the experiences to illustrate a point what is happening in the commu- mysteries of faith and the stan- nity and the world, and an invi- dards of Christian life,” says the • is delivered in a context of prayer tation to the Holy Spirit “as the Homiletic Directory published by principal agency that makes the the Congregation for Divine Wor- • delivers a message appropriate hearts of the faithful amenable to LEAVE THEM LAUGHING. Bishop Christopher J. Coyne, newly appointed ship and the Sacraments. to the age/make-up of people at the divine mysteries.” Bishop of Burlington, VT, shares a funny story at the start of his homily. Dated June 29, 2014, and ap- that particular Mass “The homily will be deliv- proved by Pope Francis, the direc- ered in a context of prayer,” it tory was released at the Vatican says, “and it should be composed • is prepared in advance through Feb. 10, along with an appendix isn’t boring.” If one looks at the bond” between the homily and the in a context of prayer.” prayer and reflection of passages from the catechism homilies of Pope Francis, he said, Eucharist and because the homily While the directory offers matched to each of the three read- “there is nothing boring. There is itself is “an act of worship,” the suggestions for how to tie spe- ings for the three-year cycle of always something that challenges directory reaffirms church disci- • is brief (10-15 minutes) cific Sunday readings to church Sunday Masses and major holy people. This is the point.” pline that only ordained ministers teaching on a variety of theologi- days. It also includes notes on Montfort Missionary Father -- bishops, priests or deacons -- cal and moral topics, it insists a preaching at weddings and funer- Corrado Maggioni, congregation are to deliver the homily at Mass. Eucharist, the directory says. homily cannot “address some is- als, two occasions when, it says, undersecretary, said laypeople “Well-trained lay leaders “The homily in some sense sue completely unrelated to the many of the people present may can help their priests. “We priests can also give solid instruction parallels the distribution of the liturgical celebration and its read- not be regular churchgoers. may need someone to tell us: ‘It’s and moving exhortation, and Lord’s body and blood to the ings” or “do violence to the texts Guinean Cardinal Robert too long,’ ‘It’s too repetitive’ or opportunities for such presenta- faithful during the Communion provided by the church by twist- Sarah, whom Pope Francis named maybe ‘Little notes might help tions should be provided in other rite,” it says. “In the homily God’s ing them to fit some preconceived prefect of the worship congrega- you not go off on tangents.’” contexts,” but not at the moment holy word is ‘distributed’ for the idea.” tion in November, told reporters Pope Benedict XVI had after the readings and before the nourishment of his people.” “The homily is not catecheti- that for many Catholics the hom- asked the congregation to draw liturgy of the Eucharist at Mass, The document includes quo- cal instruction, even if catechesis ily, experienced as “beautiful or up the directory after many par- it says. tations from the long section is an important dimension of the awful, interesting or boring,” is ticipants at the 2005 Synod of Preaching at Mass, the hom- about preparing and delivering homily,” it says. And, while the their basis for judging an entire Bishops on the Eucharist and the ilist should show people how homilies in Pope Francis’ 2013 preacher’s personal experience Mass. 2008 synod on the Word of God God’s word is being fulfilled in apostolic exhortation, “Evangelii can help illustrate a point, “the British Archbishop Arthur requested a handbook to help their midst, how it calls them to Gaudium” (“The Joy of the Gos- homily should express the faith Roche, congregation secretary, priests with their homilies. growth and conversion and how pel”), including his belief and of the church and not simply the said it is important that “a homily Because of “the integral it prepares them to celebrate the practice that the homily “should priest’s own story.” What’s the appropriate length and style for a homily? By Cindy Wooden November, spoke at a Vatican much,” he said, “but in Africa, legend” about a man who asked The wolves were not eating the Catholic News Service news conference Feb. 10 to pres- 20 minutes isn’t enough because God who his neighbor would be in goats and the goats were not ent the congregation’s new Hom- people travel a great distance to heaven. “To have a bad neighbor afraid of the wolves,” Cardinal (CNS) -- As long as it is in- iletic Directory, which provides hear the word of God. If the priest on earth is bad, but we’d have him Sarah said. spired by prayer, refers to the guidance to bishops, priests and speaks only for 10 or 15 minutes, as a neighbor only for 50 years, “After the prayer was over,” Mass readings and is in harmony deacons on preparing and writing it’s just not enough. How to nour- but to have him as a neighbor for he said, the man asked Maimuna with church teaching, a homily’s their homilies. ish the people of God depends on eternity would be very difficult. how the wolves and goats could appropriate length and style are The directory recommends the culture.” “So,” the cardinal continued, be together without danger. “And judged largely by the particular that a homily be “neither too long The cardinal also was asked “Allah said, ‘Your neighbor is she tells him, ‘I improved my re- congregation at Mass, said the nor too short.” Determining ex- how he ensures his homilies are named Maimuna.’ And he asked, lationship with God and God im- new head of the Congregation for actly how many minutes such a not boring. ‘Who’s Maimuna.’ And he is told proved the relationship between Divine Worship and the Sacra- homily would be, Cardinal Sarah “In my culture,” he said, “it Maimuna is a crazy person who the wolves and my goats.’” ments. said, depends on the people at the is important to use images and keeps goats near the cemetery.” The cardinal told reporters Guinean Cardinal Rob- Mass, their culture and the occa- legends” or familiar stories. The man goes to the ceme- that using legends and stories ert Sarah, whom Pope Francis sion. “For example, to underline tery “and finds Maimuna praying. “can help capture the minds of named congregation prefect in “Clearly in the West, going the importance of prayer,” the While she was praying, wolves the people, making the homily over 20 minutes seems like too cardinal said, “I use a Muslim mix in with Maimuna’s goats. more attractive.” FEBRUARY 16, 2015 CHURCH TODAY PAGE 3 Pope gives step-by-step primer on contemplative prayer with Gospel By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service “Turn off the TV, tune out the neighbors, and spend VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- 10 or 15 minutes reading a Gospel passage Turn off the television, tune out and speaking to Jesus.” -- Pope Francis the neighbors, and spend 10 or 15 minutes reading a Gospel passage and speaking to Jesus, Pope Fran- In the day’s Gospel story, he hope is something that only “is cis told people Feb.