THE CATHOLIC PAGES 13 – 15 FBI: Faith Based ommentator Investigators CMarch 4, 2016 Vol. 54, No. 2 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1963 thecatholiccommentator.org ‘EVERYTHING IS GONE’ Families rebuild after deadly storm By Debbie Shelley The Catholic Commentator Homes looked like either a bomb had ex- ploded in them, their frameworks had been swept off their foundation by a push broom or like boxes without lids because of missing roofs after a deadly tornados plowed through Assumption, Ascension, St. James and Liv- ingston Civil Parishes on Feb. 23. There were 11 confirmed in Southeast Lou- isiana that day, a record. In Assumption Parish, one of the hardest hit places was the Magnolia Subdivision in Belle Rose, where family and neighbors are one in the same. Most of the residents, who are parishioners of St. Benedict Church in Bertandville, lost most or all that they had in an instant. Irvin Fleming and his wife, Ruth, mem- bers of St. Benedict the Moor, were at home when the electricity went off. “I said, ‘look at the sky, something is defi- nitely wrong,’ ” said Irvin Fleming. “When I looked again, it (a tornado) was right there in the trees. It was brown with debris and dirt. I A statue of the Blessed Mother was all that was left of the home of St. Benedict the Moor parishioners Donovan and Andrea said, ‘Quick, get in the bathtub.’ Two seconds Johnson Forté in Belle Rose after a destructive tornado struck South Louisiana on Feb. 23, killing two and injuring dozens and it was over with.” of others. In many instances where homes were destroyed, statues of Our Lady remained, as if exhorting people to have SEE STORM PAGE 4 faith and courage. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator St. Mary launches campaign to renovate historic church By Richard Meek none as important as the roof, which was most The Catholic Commentator recently replaced in 1952. As if to punctuate the need to parishioners, a leak developed in front of The grand dame of False River, whose el- the tabernacle during a recent rainstorm while egance has been a bit tarnished by age, will soon Mass was being celebrated. A wooden board be receiving a facelift to restore her to her origi- now directs the flow of the leak into a bucket nal beauty and charm. placed in front of the sacristy. Significant renovations scheduled at St. Mary “We had a good visual aide,” Msgr. Berg- Church on False River could potentially begin as green said with a laugh, saying rainwater has early as April, according to pastor Msgr. Robert previously seeped into the church. He added a Berggreen. The church parish recently launched parishioner at the church immediately made a a $1.5-million campaign to renovate and repair campaign donation following Mass. the historic church, which was originally built Church secretary Cathie Crochet noted it was Water damage can be seen extensively at historic St. Mary of False in 1904 and was the site of the wedding of for- the first time rain had leaked into the church River Church in New Roads. The church parish recently launched a mer U.S. House representatives Hale and Lindy when people were present. $1.5 million capital campaign that will restore the elegance to the Boggs. “Now they saw it,” she said. historic church. Photo by Richard Meek | The Catholic Commentator The list of repairs is lengthy but perhaps SEE RENOVATION PAGE 28 2 The Catholic Commentator The LIGHTER SIDE of FAI t H March 4, 2016 | TREASURES FROM THE DIOCESE | DID YOU KNOW Commingling dates to Gospel Perhaps one of the greatest mysteries Masses to his Roman titular priests, at Mass is commingling, when the priest which they in turn would add to the Sa- drops a part of the host into the chalice. cred Blood at their parishes. Commingling, which dates to at least Justin Martyr, who was born toward the 8th century, is rooted in the Gospel, the beginning of the second century and when Jesus, at the Last Supper, broke the was eventually tortured and beheaded bread and gave it to his apostles. with six of his companions by the Ro- Ancient church tradition says the man Emperor Junius Rusticus because To the left of the altar at Sa- bread used for the Eucharist is unleav- they would not sacrifice to Roman idols, cred Heart Chapel in Carville ened and usually baked into small round said commingling is an important part sits a beautiful statue of the forms, call “hosts.” The word host is tak- of the Eucharist celebration. He said the Madonna and her child. Al- en from the Latin word hostia, which Eucharist is a “participating of that over though the artist is not means victims, reminding Catholics that which thanks has been given,” describ- known, the statue was crafted Christ is the paschal victim who was ing the bread and wine consecrated by in 1450 in Italy. It is the only slain so that our sins would be forgiven the priest. The thanks he describes is surviving statue from an Ital- Before the actual commingling be- the prayer offered by the priest as well ian church that was bombed gins, the host is “fractioned,” meaning the as the congregation. during World War II. The stat- priest breaks a large perforated host into In the modern Western church, com- ue was donated to Sacred smaller pieces. The risen Christ is recog- mingling is less elaborate, with the priest Heart during the 1970s by the nized through the breaking of the bread. breaking off a small fraction of the larger Lazarus Hospitaliers. Photos by Commingling also has a deeper host used at that Mass and placing it into Richard Meek | The Catholic Commentator meaning, dating to old Roman tradi- the chalice while quietly praying. tions that had part of the host from the In Orthodox and Eastern Rite Cath- previous Mass, call the sancta, placed in olic Churches, Communion is often dis- the chalice before Communion. This act tributed by immersing the consecrated represented the unity of the specific sac- bread into the chalice with the consecrat- rifice of the Mass that also dates to the ed wine. Individuals receive Communion Last Supper. from the eucharistic minister under both Additionally, the pope would send species deposited directly in the commu- portions of the Eucharist from his own nicant’s mouth by means of a spoon. Bishop Muench announces pastoral assignments Bishop Robert W. gelist in Prairieville, St. Muench announced the Joseph in Paulina, Most appointments of Father Sacred Heart of Jesus Michael Alello as pas- in Gramercy and St. Mi- tor of St. Louis King of chael in Convent. France Church in Baton Father Alello Father Decker, who Father Decker | Rouge and Father Chris was in the same ordina- PICTURE FROM THE PAST Decker pastor of the cluster church par- tion class with Father Alello, has been ishes of Immaculate Heart of Mary in serving as pastor at the cluster parishes Maringouin, St. Frances Xavier Cabri- of St. Philip in Vacherie and St. James in ni in Livonia and St. Joseph in Grosse St. James since July 1, 2010 and chap- Tete. lain at Ascension Catholic Regional The appointments are effective July 1. High School since 2014. He has previ- Father Alello, who was ordained ously served as parochial vicar and ad- May 26, 2007 by Bishop Muench at St. ministrator at St. Thomas More in Baton Joseph Cathedral, has been serving as Rouge and parochial vicar at Immacu- pastor at St. Philomena in Labadieville late Conception of the Blessed Virgin since July 1, 2009. He has also served Mary in Denham Springs and St. Jude as parochial vicar at St. John the Evan- the Apostle in Baton Rouge. thecatholiccommentator.org | Facebook.com/TheCatholicCommentator Bishop Robert W. Muench Publisher Wanda L. Koch Advertising Manager Father Tom Ranzino Associate Publisher Penny G. Saia Production Manager Richard Meek Editor Lisa Disney Secretary/Circulation Debbie Shelley Assistant Editor Rachele Smith Staff Writer A tornado ripped through Amite on April 6, 1940, destroying nearly every major building The Catholic Commentator (ISSN 07460511; USPS 093-680) in the downtown area. The tornado destroyed St. Helena Church, pictured above, and the Published bi-weekly (every other week) by the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge,1800 South Acadian church hall. Directly behind the church is the rectory, which was also damaged. Weekend Thruway, Baton Rouge, LA 70808; 225-387-0983 or 225-387-0561. Periodical Postage Paid at Baton Mass was celebrated at a local movie theater and daily Mass was celebrated at the rectory Rouge, LA. Copy must reach the above address by Wednesday for use in the next week’s paper. Sub- until the current church was completed and dedicated in 1941. Photo provided by the Archives De- scription rate: $14.00 per year. POSTMASTER, send address changes to The Catholic Commentator, P.O. Box 14746, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-4746. partment, Diocese of Baton Rouge March 4, 2016 The Catholic Commentator 3 OLOL breaks ground on new children’s hospital would be the first children’s hos- with approximately 60 pediatric Bluebonnet boulevards, near pital to be built in Louisiana in medical subspecialists providing OLOL’s main campus. John Paul, more than 40 years. He said the care in about 20 different medi- president of the Our Lady of the facility is an “opportunity to pro- cal specialties. Lake Foundation, said about half vide long-term positive impact The new freestanding facility, of the initial goal of raising $50 to children of Baton Rouge and which will come at a cost of $230 million has been met, and said beyond.” million, will be located on 66 the fundraising effort is “ongo- “We will provide world-class acres of property that parallels ing and will not stop once we healthcare,” he said, adding that Interstate 10 between Essen and reach our goal.” the hospital will have the tools to teach young children how to be healthy and lead healthier lives.