THE CATHOLIC PAGE 10 St. Sharbel Shrine October 27,ommentator 2017 Vol. 55, No. 19 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1963 thecatholiccommentator.org C SACRED SOUNDS The band members said Deacon Music adds Musso is involved with adoration. “He even locks up afterwards,” smiled Averette. In selecting the music for adora- blessing tion, Averette said, “It’s all about the words and the soulfulness of the song, that it sets up a tone where people can at adoration hear God speaking to them.” Adam Fields, pianist and vocalist, said there’s various signs of worship By Debbie Shelley the congregation shows during adora- The Catholic Commentator tion. “You see many things,” said Fields. “The atmosphere is changing now, “You see people singing along with for the spirit of the Lord is here,” sang the songs, people looking at the mon- the adoration band of Most Blessed strance, some people kneeling, some Sacrament Church in Baton Rouge in people standing with their hands rich harmony as lights softly fell on the The adoration band of Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Baton Rouge performs in- raised up. Blessed Sacrament. The congregation’s spiring music during an evening of praise, worship and eucharistic adoration. Photo by “With adoration, every night is an reverent response conveyed during the Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator incredible experience.” night of praise, worship and eucharistic Drummer Ryan Landry is con- adoration that the people understood “A lot of Catholics don’t actually re- containing the Eucharist to the altar for sidered by the other musicians as “the they were in a holy time of prayer and alize what adoration is. Adoration can exposition, knelt and waved a thurible heartbeat of the songs.” It’s a role he contemplation. include a band. We wanted to bring filled with incense before the mon- humbly plays. On the third Tuesday of each month people (worship) music they hear on strance and joined the congregation for “I try to be the glue keeping things at 7 p.m., seven gifted musicians offer the radio that they hear normally. We praise and worship. together,” said Landry, who sits and their talents in a ministry that “compli- wanted them to come here to talk to This is a time Deacon Musso and his plays on a box-style drum. “My goal is ments what is happening on the altar” God, praise him and sing to him,” she wife, Janice, enjoy. not so much to be the musician in the during eucharistic adoration. said “I usually come and sit down with foreground, but to keep things togeth- According to bandleader and vocal- The Oct. 17 eucharistic adoration my wife,” said Deacon Musso. “It’s a er,” he said. ist Sarah Averette, the praise and wor- opened with the band performing “O spiritual and meditative time. And I Guitarists Emma Hymel, a student ship style of adoration comes from a de- Come to the Altar.” Deacon Don Mus- get to hold her (Janice’s) hand a lot of at Denham Springs High School, and sire to “bring out” the time of devotion so, deacon assistant at Most Blessed times. I think that’s something special, Mary Johnston, said they enjoy the fun and place an emphasis on it. Sacrament, brought the monstrance Jesus looking at both of us.” SEE MBS PAGE 19 Pastoral direction next for task force By Richard Meek Topics to be addressed include, but are not limited The Catholic Commentator to, possible reconfigurations of deanery boundar- ies, the role of parochial vicars, Mass schedules and With the announcement of the closing of three perhaps even more churches that might need to be church parishes during the past several months, the merged, Father Nelson said. diocesan Planning Task Force is now turning its at- “We are at the point where we need to be more tention to pastoral direction from diocesan priests, strategic and proactive and less reactive,” he added. chairman Father Trey Nelson said. SSA Consultants, who have been working with Father Nelson, pastor at St. Jude the Apostle the task force for the past four years, will gather and Church in Baton Rouge, said the task force is meet- compile the information. Existing and new task force members will analyze the data and make a proposal CHRISTMAS CARD CONTEST – Anna Claire Camp- See related article on page 9 to Bishop Robert W. Muench. bell, a seventh-grader at St. John Interparochial Earlier this year, the Diocese of Baton Rouge an- School in Plaquemine, makes the final touches on ing with priests during strategy input sessions. He nounced the amalgamation of St. Pius X Church in her artwork for the Catholic Schools Office Christ- said the meetings, which have already started and Baton Rouge with St. Isidore the Farmer Church in mas card contest. See article on page 11. Photo by should wrap up by the end of the month, are focused Baker, effective at the end of May. Bonny Van | The Catholic Commentator not on concept, but structure and configuration. SEE TASK PAGE 20 2 The Catholic Commentator October 27, 2017 The Catholic Life Center Living in the Spirit By Renee Richard the bishop’s residence. At the heart of the By Barry Schoedel God, and one another, what is wrong? complex is Christ Court, a large covered What is missing? The Catholic Life Center is the official outdoor pavilion that can handle as many Disciples of Jesus are Of every possible re- headquarters of the Diocese of Baton as 3,000 people. a people who allow the Life-Giving sponse to that inquiry, Rouge. Bishop Robert E. Tracy attended Originally, the complex included St. Holy Spirit to penetrate FAI H many of which may ana- all of the sessions of the Second Vatican Joseph Cathedral Prep School, a four-year their heart, calling them out lyze the situation well and Council which convened shortly after his high school for boys interested in pursu- from the idolatry that is the root offer helpful, but partial, installation. One of the many in- ing a vocation to the priesthood. of all sin. Sin is that which leads us principles and remedies, there is one novative ideas he brought When the school closed, the away from the communion with God response that is the greatest, i.e., the back was the construction facility was renovated to and one another, that we were created most complete. Our reading from the of a building created in serve the ongoing spiri- for. It isolates us from the love of God. Gospel of St. Matthew reminds us of the spirit of Vatican II. tual formation and ed- Isolated from the love of God, we lack it: “You shall love the Lord, your God, His vision for the ucational needs of the an experience of the depths of love we with all your heart, with all your soul, building was to be- diocese and renamed are called to for one another. and with all your mind. This is the come the focal point the Bishop Robert E. In the readings from the 30th Sun- greatest and first commandment. The of the diocese. The ar- Tracy Center. It is also day of Ordinary Time we are remind- second is like it: You shall love your chitect for the Catholic available to secular orga- ed from St. Paul’s letter to the Thes- neighbor as yourself.” Life Center was Desmond nizations in the community. salonians that those who follow Jesus A disciple of Jesus listens to his Miremont & Associates, with John In 2000, a new Catholic Commu- are a people who have “turned to God words and imitates him as Lord. Here A. Bani and J. Roy Haase, associate ar- nity Services office building, the Wester- from idols to serve the living and true we have a teaching where he reveals chitects. The Life Center opened on Jan. field Conference Center and an overnight God.” They have become imitators of to us through his dialogue with the 4, 1967 and received an Honor Award at retreat center were completed on the the Lord and received the word amidst Pharisees and Sadducees the most the Gulf States Regional Conference of campus. Since then, Catholic Life TV, a great suffering, but with a joy that foundational and fundamental law or the American Institute of Architects that full-time TV station owned by the dio- corresponds to its saving power. In principle by which we are to live. It is same year. cese, has been added to the Catholic Life our time, too, we live amidst great suf- as if Jesus is saying: apart from loving Vatican II emphasized the social and Center complex. Early in 2018, a new ar- fering. We may distract ourselves from communion with my father, and fa- community aspect of living a truly Chris- chives building and priests’ residence are it or refuse to look at it, particularly in therly care for your neighbor, all other tian life. The Catholic Life Center was scheduled to be completed. the stranger, but if we open our eyes works are in vain. designed with not only administrative The Catholic Life Center is located in we will see it. Do we see complete and loving offices but with various facilities for com- the heart of Baton Rouge at 1800 South Concurrently, we may find that we communion with God, a communion munity functions and programs. Bishop Acadian Thruway. It can be reached in are obsessed with it, hardly able to that encompasses neighbor, and even Tracy envisioned a place where all mem- about an hour from the farthest areas of focus on anything else as almost every enemy, as the most fundamental bers of the diocese and the community the diocese, making it truly centrally lo- form of media seems to communicate project of our life? Do we see it as the could gather for a multitude of events.