CHURCH TODAY Volume XLV, No. 12 www.diocesealex.org Serving the Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana Since 1970 December 15, 2014 O N T H E INSIDE Papal Blessings are still available, but only through the Vatican On page 7 of the Nov. 17 is- sue of the Church Today, an ar- ticle titled, “Vatican ends sale of Papal Blessings” was published. It was not entirely accurate. Ef- fective Jan. 1, 2015, the Vatican has indeed ended the sale of Pa- pal Blessings among independent vendors, however, Papal Bless- ings will continue to be offered at the Vatican, through the Office of Papal Charities. For details on how to obtain a Papal Blessing, see page 2. Tis’ the Season for Pilgrimages Two groups in the diocese recently travelled abroad on pilgrimages. One group from the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception visited Rome and the Vatican and another group of confirmation students from St. Mary’s in Winnsboro visited the Vatican and sites in Italy. Read more about these trips on pages 14-17. Merry Christmas and a 2014 Vatican Christmas stamp jointly issued with Argentina. The 2014 Vatican Christmas stamp is a joint issue Blessed New Year in 2015! with Pope Francis’ native Argentina. The Nativity scene is from a painting by Argentine artist Raul Soldi (1905- 1994). (CNS photo/courtesy Vatican Philatelic and Numismatic Office) PAGE 2 CHURCH TODAY DECEMBER 15, 2014 Papal Blessings are still available through Office of Papal Charities (Editor’s note: On page 7 of the Nov. 17 issue of the Church Today, an article titled, “Vatican ends sale of Papal Blessings” was published. It was not entirely accurate. Effective Jan. 1, 2015, the Vatican has indeed ended the sale of Papal Blessings among independent vendors, however, Papal Blessings will continue to How to request a Papal Blessing be offered at the Vatican, through the Office of Papal Charities. I. By letter or fax If you would like to request a Papal Blessing, go to www.el- Requests for Papal Blessings on parchment can be sent to the emosineria.va. A downloadable Elemosineria Apostolica - Office of Papal Charities only by regular post request form is available at the or by fax (but not by e-mail). (A downloadable request form is available website; or follow the instruc- online at www.elemosineria.va) tions on the right.) If you don’t use the request form, a written request should include: (Vatican Radio) Archbishop (Click on the English site.) which was granted later. A Bull • the name, surname and address of the person making the request; Konrad Krajewski, the head of • the name and surname of the person(s) for whom the blessing is the Holy Father’s Alms-giving The scrolls can be ordered di- of Pope Innocent III (1198-1216) rectly in the Vatican, or by send- mentions the post of Almoner as being requested; office (“Elemosineria”), has con- • the reason or occasion prompting the request; firmed that as of Jan. 1 2015, Pa- ing a special order form via mail already in existence. or by fax. The scrolls are shipped The first Pope to organize • the date, the name of the Church and the address are required when pal Blessings will no longer be the blessing is requested for the celebration of a sacrament, a religious available from stores and busi- almost anywhere in the world. the Office of Papal Charities was Msgr. Krajewski notes that Blessed Gregory X (1271-1276), profession or an anniversary; nesses outside the Vatican. The • the address of where to send the parchment and payment details. Vatican’s Office of Papal Chari- as of last September, Pope Fran- who set down the duties of the cis also extended to apostolic Almoner. In a Bull of 1409, Al- ties will now be the only place The payment should be made after you receive the Papal Blessing. It is where an authenic Papal Blessing nuncios the right to grant Papal exander V laid down guidelines Blessings on parchment paper. and regulations for the Office, possible to make the payment in one of two ways: may be obtained. • via a bank transfer (the banking coordinates will be sent to you in the In a note, the Apostolic Al- He confirms that the decision which has always functioned will not affect the jobs of calligra- as an expression of the constant same parcel as the parchment) moner recalls that the Alms-giv- • or by online credit card payment via our website. ing office is tasked with carrying phers who draw up the blessings. concern of the Roman Pontiffs. out “works of charity for the poor The Alms-giving office has a staff The Almoner of His Holiness has of 12 and relies on a group of 17 the rank of Archbishop; he is a The fee includes the cost of the parchment (cost varies depending on in the name of the Supreme Pon- the requirments of the occasion) and the postage costs. tiff” and that the resources needed outside specialists for assistance. member of the Papal Family and to do so derive from donations This tradition of papal alms- as such takes part in the Holy Fa- giving goes back to the earli- ther’s liturgical celebrations and The time required for receiving the parchment is approximately one raised from the blessings. month from the date when the request is received. In the past, the office had est centuries of the Church. The official audiences. website of the Apostolic Alms- Pope Leo XIII, as a means collaborated with stores and in- Requests made by telephone are not admitted. stitutions outside the Vatican to giving office gives some historic of helping to fund the charitable permit a greater number of faith- reference points: Originally one works carried out by the Office, A Papal Blessing is granted for the following occasions: ful to obtain the blessings. In re- of the immediate responsibilities delegated the Almoner to grant cent years, however, the faithful of the Deacons, responsibility the Apostolic Blessing by parch- 1. Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation have been able to order blessings for the Pope’s charities was later ment certificate: these parch- 2. Marriage directly from the charitable office exercised by one or more mem- ments, in order to be authentic, 3. Priestly Ordination after obtaining information from bers of the papal household with must bear the Almoner’s signa- 4. Religious Profession its website www.elemosineria.va. no particular hierarchical dignity, ture and the seal of his Office. 5. Secular Consecration 6. Ordinations of Permanent Deacons 7. Marriage Anniversaries (10, 25, 40, 50 , 60 years)*, Priestly Ordina- tion Anniversaries, Religious Profession Anniversaries 8. Birthdays (18, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100)* 9. Catholic individuals or families (with name and surname of the spouses united in a religious marriage). The asterisk (*) indicates the need for the approval of ecclesiastical authority. Requests for papal blessings for other occasions will not be accepted. Mail requests to: Fax requests to: Elemosineria Apostolica (+39) 06.69883132 Parchment Office (Fax machines are open 00120 Vatican City 24 hours) DECEMBER 15, 2014 CHURCH TODAY PAGE 3 Police officer leans on Catholic faith during Ferguson crisis By Dave Luecking Catholic News Service Prayer for Policemen ST. LOUIS (CNS) -- Among O Almighty God, the iconic images of the 9/11 trag- edy, photographs of policemen whose great power and eternal and firefighters stand out: The wisdom embraces the universe, first responders were entering the watch over all policemen and doomed World Trade Center as law enforcement officers most everyone else was filing out. everywhere. They embraced the danger of Protect them from harm the moment, most going ultimate- in the performance of their duty ly to their death, because the job to stop crime, robbery, requires it. First-responders sign riots and violence. up for this risk; they accept it as We pray, help them keep our streets part of their service. and homes safe, day and night. Similarly, in the situation We commend them to your loving that has become known as simply “Ferguson,” Sgt. John Wall of the care because their duty St. Louis County Police Depart- is dangerous. ment knew in the second week of Please God, protect these brave August that the time had come to men and women. Grant them stand up and be counted. Peaceful ST. LOUIS COUNTY POLICE OFFICER LEANS ON CATHOLIC FAITH DURING FERGUSON CRISIS. Sgt. John strength and courage protests after the Aug. 9 shoot- Wall poses outside of the St. Louis County Police Department in Clayton, Mo., Nov. 21. Wall has relied on his Catholic in their daily assignments. ing death of Michael Brown by a faith during the ongoing crisis in Ferguson, Mo., which began with the fatal shooting of a black teen by a white police Grant them your almighty protection, police officer during a confronta- officer Aug. 9. The St. Louis County prosecutor announced Nov. 24 a grand jury determined there was not enough Unite them safely with their families evidence to indict Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown. (CNS photo/Lisa tion had devolved into rioting and after duty has ended. -- Amen. looting. Johnston, St. Louis) A QuikTrip near the shooting site had been looted and burned. Police had lobbed tear gas and fortunate for being there. the part about loving thy neigh- that there would be no indictment and fellow officers have leaned on shot rubber bullets to disperse This from a man who in 12- bor. of the police officer who killed. the pastoral care of county police crowds, presumably while real hour shifts on his two weeks of “Faith comes into every as- When Ferguson Police Offi- chaplains.