Catholic Connection

VOL. 18, NO. 6 JaNuary 2009

• Catholic Connection Expands, pg. 2

• Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows Celebrate “Year of Elisabetta”, pg. 6

• Fr. Rothell Price Celebrates 25 Years as Priest, pg. 19

Feast of Epiphany p.7

From the ChanCellor Bishop miChael DuCa’s January 2009 sCheDule

CatholiC ConneCtion expanDs

by Christine rivers, ChanCellor

by JessiCa rinaudo, editor

Bishop J. Kevin Boland, acting in his position as Promoter of the Apostleship of the Sea, has

requested that the accreditation process for cruise ship priests offered by the Apostleship of the Sea be encouraged throughout the dioceses of the United States. It has been noted that Roman Catholic priests who serve occasionally on cruise ships respond to the spiritual needs of vacationers and crew members and may visit dioceses that serve as ports of call. Bishops in these dioceses have expressed concern that priests who serve on cruise ships often are not screened. The Apostleship of the Sea accreditation process includes verification that a priest is in good standing. This process is a way to ensure that qualified and suitable ministers serve the faithful. For additional information, telephone 202-541-3035 or go to the website at www.aos-usa.org.

A DAy of PrAyer AnD PenAnce for Life: JAnuAry 22, 2009

In all the dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. The Mass “For Peace and Justice” (no. 22 of the “Masses for Various Needs”) should be celebrated with violet vestments as an appropriate liturgical observance for this day.

General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 373

other cALenDAr items:January 1: Mary, Mother of God (Catholic Center Closed)January 2: Catholic Center Closed January 19: Martin Luther King, Jr. BirthdayJanuary 22: A Day of Prayer and Penance for LifeJanuary 28: Diocesan Finance Council Meeting

Jan. 3: Annual Mardi Gras Mass at St. Pius X Church, 9:00 a.m.

Jan. 4 - 8: Region V Bishops Retreat, Manresa Retreat Center.

Jan. 11: Mass and Prayer Garden Ground Breaking at Mary Queen of Peace Church, 11:00 a.m. / St. Joseph Church, Shreveport Youth Group at 6:00 p.m.

Jan. 12: St. Joseph School PTO Meeting at St. Joseph Family Life Center in Shreveport, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 24: Diocesan Liturgical-Catechetical Conference, Catholic Center, 9:00 a.m.

Jan. 25: Mass at St. Mary of the Pines Church, 9:00 a.m.

Jan.28: Western Deanery All Schools Mass at Loyola College Prep, 9:30 a.m.

Jan. 29: Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops Board Meeting, Baton Rouge.

Jan. 30: Eastern Deanery All Schools Mass at Church of Jesus the Good Shepherd, 9:00 a.m.

On the Cover: Three Wisemen. Photo © Sylwia Tulajew | Dreamstime.com

As we enter 2009, your Catholic Connection magazine continues to grow and receive support

from our community. During my first year as editor I was pleasantly surprised at the number of article submissions I received each month. As the year progressed, I had to start cutting out articles due to lack of space in the publication. I tried a number of things to relieve this overcrowding, including bringing text and image sizes down, editing down lengthy articles, and eliminating some sections all together! It was a bittersweet problem to have. How exciting that so many people want to contribute to our publication.

After fighting the space battle for several months, I put together a proposal for expanding the Catholic Connection for Bishop Michael Duca. After weighing the pros and cons of adding more pages, both Communications Director John Mark Willcox and Bishop Duca agreed that it was time for the Catholic Connection to take the next step.

Beginning with this issue, the Catholic Connection will expand from its traditional 16-page format to a larger 20-page format. With this page increase comes several new columns. By request of Hispanic Ministries, there is now a page of our magazine dedicated to events and issues in the Latin community. The expansion also allows for monthly

columns on Church vocations, aging and more room for national and international Catholic news. Additionally, with the help of your parish secretaries, the Catholic Connection now receives your weekly bulletins, alerting me to upcoming events in parishes that we can share with all the churches in the diocese.

Although I have lots of big ideas about the ways this new space can be utilized, it is the information you provide that keeps us going. I would like to thank all of the parishioners across our diocese who have so enthusiastically submitted articles, photos, poetry and newsletters to the magazine this past year. Your interest in this publication is what makes the Catholic Connection successful and keeps our information relevant to those all over the Diocese of Shreveport.

How appropriate that as the Catholic Connection celebrates its twentieth year as a publication, that it grows to 20 pages. As always, please continue to submit your articles and pictures. I look forward to hearing from you during the coming year!

Jan. 3 2008 - Movie Night at St. John Berchmans Cathedral. One Life group will show Saint John Bosco: Mission to Love. 5:30 p.m. Free Admission.

Jan. 6 2009 - The Irish Come South! St. Jude will be hosting the University of Notre Dame Chorale at 6:30 p.m. The Chorale is the official concert choir of Notre Dame. Contact Jeremy Dixon at 318-746-2508 for more information.

Jan. 9-10 2009 - Marriage Enrichment Retreat at St. Joseph Church, Shreveport. Hosted by the Office of Family Life Ministries of St. Joseph Church and the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans. The cost is $40 per couple. To register or for more information, please call Dotye Sue Stanford at 318-841-8208.

Jan. 24 2009 - Diocesan Liturgical - Catechetical Conference. Keynote Speaker will be Rev. Msgr. Kevin W. Irwin. Catholic Center, 9:00 a.m.

Jan. 28 2009 - Holy Hour for Vocations with Fr. David Richter at Mary Queen of Peace Church. 6:00 p.m.

Feb. 6-7 2009 - “Live in the Light” Young Adult Conference for young adults in their 20’s and 30’s at the Catholic Center. Featuring Fr. Mike Joly. Feb. 6, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. and Feb. 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. $20 registration. For more info call 1-800-256-1542 or 318-868-4441 or visit www.dioshpt.org/yyaministry/yyaministry.html

Feb. 8, 2009 - Fr. Phil Michiels’ 40th anniversary to the priesthood. 11:00 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

From the Chancellor by Christine Rivers ............................................................................. 2Bishop Michael Duca’s January 2009 Schedule .................................................................. 2Catholic Connection Expands by Jessica Rinaudo ............................................................... 2Official Appointments by Christine Rivers ........................................................................... 4Fr. Phil Michiels to Celebrate 40th Anniversary by Anna Provenza ................................. 4Bishop’s Reflection by Most Rev. Michael Duca .............................................................. 4-5Diocese of Shreveport Catholic Schools Collections by Fr. David Richter ...................... 6Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows Celebrate "Year of Elisabetta" by Sr. Sandra Norsworthy ... 6Feast of Epiphany by Dianne Rachal .................................................................................... 7Priest Spotlight: Father Pike Thomas .................................................................................. 8Statement of the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops........... 9Holy Hour for Vocations by Kevin Nolten .......................................................................... 10The Wisdom of Aging by Sr. Martinette Rivers ................................................................. 10Greco Institute Spring 2009 Schedule ........................................................................... 11-14School News ......................................................................................................................... 15Catholic Schools Celebration Set for Last Week of January by Sr. Carol Shively .......... 15International Seminarians in Demand by Martha Fitzgerald ..................................... 16-17Highlights of 2008 USCCB Fall General Assembly by Chaz Muth ................................. 17Christ the King Feast Day Celebration by Nancy Miller .................................................. 18Diocesan Liturgical-Catechetical Conference .................................................................... 18Father Rothell Price Celebrates 25 Years of Service by Kim Long ................................. 19World Day for Consecrated Life by Sr. Marilyn Vassallo .................................................. 19Woodley Family Spearheads Operation Stocking Stuffer by Jessica Rinaudo ............... 20Louisiana Seminarians Compete in Annual Football Game by Joshua Sanders ............ 20Hispanic Corner / Nuestra Página por Rosalba Quiroz ................................................... 21Marriage Encounter by Deacon Mark Campbell .............................................................. 22Happy Together: The Blueprint for a Loving Marriage by Dotye Sue Stanford ............ 22Night with Mike Patin by Julia Norton ............................................................................... 22Calling Catholics Home ........................................................................................................ 23Deaf Ministry Offers Sign Language Class by Deacon Freeman Ligon ......................... 23January Calendar .................................................................................................................. 23

table of contents

upcoming events

by JessiCa rinaudo, editor

For a free subscription, address changes or article submissions:EMAIL: [email protected]: Catholic Connection

The Catholic Center 3500 Fairfield Avenue Shreveport, LA 71104

CALL: 318-868-4441 OR 800-256-1542 FAX: 318-868-4609WEBSITE: www.dioshpt.orgThe Catholic Connection is a member of the Catholic Press Association.

Publisher • Bishop Michael G. Duca

Editor • Jessica RinauDo

Felicia Gilliam John Mark WillcoxChristine Rivers Rev. Charles Glorioso

Christie Weeks Dianne RachalCathy Cobb Kim Long

The Catholic Connection is a monthly publication funded by your Diocesan Service Appeal; mailed to every known Catholic household in the Diocese of Shreveport. Our Mission is to advance knowledge and understanding of our Catholic Faith among the faithful. We seek to foster the application of Christ’s teachings and our Church’s mission in our daily lives and to encourage our sense of Catholic identity within our family, parish, and diocesan faith community.

Our Diocese is recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals as a Non-Profit Organization capable of giving Immigration Legal Advice. We offer Immigration Profes-sional Services to Low-Income Families. To find out if you or someone you know qualifies for an Immigration benefit, please contact Mrs. Rosalba Quiroz at 1-800-256-1542, ext. 265 or 318-219-7265 or email [email protected]

Editorial Board

Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows Celebrate Year of Elisabetta, pg. 6

4 Catholic Connection January 2009 4 Catholic Connection January 2009

Esta es mi primera celebración del Año Nuevo en Shreveport y quiero hacia el futuro, pero

no quiero verlo solo. Juntos como diócesis comenzaremos un plan para el futuro. Pero primero, como ya mencioné a nuestros sacerdotes, necesitamos comenzar a crear un sueño en común de cómo queremos que crezca nuestra iglesia. Esta es una declaración importante porque con frecuencia nos proponemos metas y esperamos el resultado que PRIMERO soñamos. Antes de ponernos metas necesitamos estar juntos en la imagen de la Iglesia y como la soñamos. Les muestro unas ideas para comenzar que espero nos ayuden a crear un sueño en común para el futuro.

Estoy convencido de que debemos continuar remarcando la necesidad que tenemos de vocaciones sacerdotales y religiosas en la diócesis. Mi esperanza no es solamente animar a más hombres y mujeres jóvenes al servicio de la iglesia, sino de crear en todos nosotros un deseo de servir a Dios que sea más grande que nuestro deseo por el éxito en cosas terrenales. Si nuestra relación con Dios y con Su iglesia es el segundo o tercer número en nuestra lista, entonces el mensaje de esta relación no nos es tan importante. Piensen cuantas cosas durante el año son más importantes que ir a Misa el domingo o que darnos el tiempo para hacer un acto de caridad.

Quiero imaginar una Iglesia en Shreveport que está tan viva en Cristo que nuestra fe sea obviamente el compromiso más importante en nuestras vidas y que sea una parte visible de todos nuestros

compromisos. Así mujeres y hombres jóvenes verán el valor de dedicar sus vidas a Cristo porque ven vida en la parroquia.

En este año voy a crear y reunir un Consejo Pastoral Diocesano de gente laica de toda la diócesis para que pueda escuchar directamente las necesidades y sueños de todos y cada uno en la diócesis. Esta será una parte importante en mantener nuestros sueños para el futuro de la iglesia basados en la vida real y experiencias vivas de toda la Gente de Cristo.

Finalmente, seguiré conociendo la diócesis con visitas regulares a las parroquias. Ya le puse 10,000 millas al carro en este tiempo y seguro que le voy a poner otras 10,0000 más para antes del verano. Espero que esto me mantenga conectado con ustedes y sus sueños para el futuro.

Nuestra fe en Jesucristo nos recuerda que Él hace todas las cosas NUEVAS. Podemos comenzar este año nuevo como Iglesia y como individuos, confiando que con SU gracia podemos crear un nuevo camino, vencer nuestras fallas y ser mas como Cristo en nuestra vida diaria. Al imaginar nuestra Iglesia para el futuro, necesitamos alejar la oscuridad del pesimismo y lo que parezca una carga del pasado. Necesitamos fijar nuestras metas con el optimismo de que las podemos lograr solamente con fe en el poder de Dios que hace todas las cosa nuevas. Que Dios los bendiga a todos con un Año Nuevo lleno de gracia y esperanza.

La Reflexión del Obispo

MiChael G. duCaObispO de la diócesis de shrevepOrt

The following information is provided at the direction of the Most Reverend Michael G. Duca, Bishop

of Shreveport. Reverends Peter B. Mangum, Philip

F. Michiels, LaVerne “Pike” Thomas and Mark A. Watson are appointed to membership on the Presbyteral Council for a term of 3 years.

Very Reverend David T. Richter is appointed to serve as ex-officio member of the Presbyteral Council until the end of his assignment as Vicar General.

Very Reverend Timothy C. Hurd is appointed to one additional year of service as Dean of the Southern Deanery to end December 31, 2009, and to a voting position on the Presbyteral Council in association with the appointment as Dean.

Reverend Monsignor Earl V. Provenza is appointed to one additional year of service as Dean of the Western Deanery to end December 31, 2009, and to a voting position on the Presbyteral Council in association with the appointment as Dean.

Very Reverend Joseph Puthuppally is appointed to one additional year of service as Dean of the Eastern Deanery to end December 31, 2009, and to a voting position on the Presbyteral Council in association with the appointment as Dean.

Given at the Chancery on the 3rd day of November 2008.

oFFiCial appointments

Fr. phil miChiels to CeleBrate 40th anniversary

by Christine rivers, ChanCellor

by anna Provenza

Please plan to join with Bishop

Michael Duca in the celebration of a Mass of thanksgiving for Fr. Phil Michiels’ 40th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on February 8, 2009 at the 11:00 a.m. Mass. Afterwards our celebration will continue with a reception in the Burleigh Center honoring Bishop Duca and Fr. Phil.

4 Catholic Connection January 2009 5 4 Catholic Connection January 2009

This is my first New Year celebration in Shreveport and I want to look ahead, but I do

not want to look alone. Together as a diocese we will begin to set a plan for the future. But first, as I have mentioned to our priests, we need to begin to create a common imagination of

how we want our Church to grow. This is an important statement because we often set our goals to meet a hoped for result that we have FIRST imagined. Before we set goals we need to be together on the image of the Church we want and how we imagine it to be. Here are a few beginning ideas that I hope will help us create a common imagination for the future.

I am convinced that we must continue to stress the need for priestly and religious vocations in the diocese. My hope is not only to encourage more young men and women to the service of the Church, but to create in all of us a desire to serve God that is greater than our desire for earthly success. If our relationship with God and His Church is only second or third on our list, then the message is that this relationship is not that important. Think of how many things during

the year are more important that attending Mass on Sunday or more important than making time for an act of charity. I want to imagine a Church in Shreveport that is so

alive in Christ that our faith is obviously the most important commitment in our lives and a visible part of all of our commitments. Then young men and women will see the value of dedicating their lives to Christ because they see it lived in the parish.

I will in this New Year create and convene a Diocesan Pastoral Council of Laity from throughout the diocese so I can directly listen to the needs and hopes of everyone in the diocese. This will be an important part in keeping our imaginations for the

future of the Church based in the real life experiences of the whole People of Christ.

Finally I will continue to get to know the diocese in regular visits to

the parishes. I already have 10,000 miles on my new car and I am sure I will put another 10,000 miles on before summer. I hope this will keep me in touch with you and your hopes for the future.

Our faith in Jesus Christ reminds us that He makes all things NEW. We can begin this New Year both as a Church and individually, trusting that with HIS grace we can create a new path, overcome our faults and be more like Christ in our daily lives. As we imagine our Church for the future, we need to cast off the darkness of pessimism and the seeming burden of the past. We need to set our goals with the optimism that can come only with faith in the power of God to make all things new. May God bless you all with a hopeful and grace-filled New Year.

Bishop’s Reflection

MiChael G. duCabishoP of the dioCese of shrevePort

I want to imagine a Church in Shreveport that is so alive in Christ that our faith is obviously the most important commitment in our lives and a visible part of all of our commitments.

by bishoP MiCheal G. duCa

Judge Wendall Manning, Fr. Joseph Puthuppally, Bishop Michael Duca and Fr. Mark Watson at Eastern Deanery Red Mass. Photo by Jessica Rinaudo.


Announcement Date: Jan. 11 & 18 Collection Date: Jan. 24 & 25

What is the place of Catholic Schools in our local Church? Our society has become

more complex, presenting us with a changing and challenging cultural and moral environment. Catholic schools meet this challenge, collaborating with parents in forming their children by a sound education that is rooted in the Person of Jesus Christ, his Gospel, and his Church. Young people learn

the traditions and liturgical practices of our Faith, and with them, a solid foundation to engage the world in our day. They will offer the Church capable leadership in the future.

There is a need for tuition assistance for Catholic families who strongly desire such an education for their children but are not able to cover all of the costs. Your contribution to this collection will both help some of these families and help make our schools strong.

How well did the diocese do?How well did you, the lay faithful,

contribute to the Diocese of Shreveport’s Second Collections? Here is a recent report from our Diocesan Business Office of monies collected.

Diocese of Shreveport Retired Priests Fund $55,601.54

Home Mission Appeal $19,547.87

Peter’s Pence $24,811.78

Thank you especially for your generosity for the Retired Priests Fund! We are making progress on our unfunded liability.

DioCese oF shreveport CatholiC sChoolsby fr. david riChter, viCar General

sisters oF our laDy oF sorrows CeleBrate "year oF elisaBetta"by sr. sandra norsworthy

The Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows opened the "Year of Elisabetta" in honor of the

150th anniversary of the death of their Mother Foundress, Elisabetta Renzi on November 19.

Blessed Elisabetta Renzi was born in 1786 in Saludecio, Italy to wealthy and devout parents. As a young child she was educated and catechized by the Poor Clares. As a teenager she entered the Augustinian monastery at Pietrarubbia. There she became a novice and lived a remote and impoverished life with the cloistered nuns. Before completing the novitiate, a decree by Napoleon caused all religious houses to close and she returned to her parents’ home. For the next several years, she remained with her family, uncertain of what would become of her life. She had a strong desire to live out a religious vocation, but at that particular time in history, it was no longer a possibility.

As the years went by, Elisabetta became dissatisfied with her life and felt a longing for something more than what she was living. She felt a calling to give her life to the service of God. Elisabetta’s spiritual director invited her to explore a small school for girls in the town of Coriano. It was there Elisabetta began to work as a teacher and became a role model for poor girls. Elisabetta’s desired to educate young women in the responsibilities of being a good mother and wife, as well as to educate them in the basic subjects of reading, math and,

above all, religion. She believed that if young girls become good and holy women, their families, in turn, would become good and holy families.

During this time, Elisabetta desired to join the Daughters of Charity, the congregation of Maddalena of Canoss, yet God had something else in mind for her. In 1828, Elisabetta became director of the small school in Coriano and she was also encouraged to start her own religious congregation. On August 26, 1839, Elisabetta received diocesan approval to begin a new religious congregation and three days later, on August 29, Elisabetta and 10 companions received the religious habit of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows. She and her sisters continued to serve God’s people through education - focusing on the young, the poor, the weak and the needy.

On August 14, 1859, after a life of struggle and suffering, but also of great spiritual joy, Mother Elisabetta died, leaving an example of holiness of life and of great trust in God. The Congregation has grown from it’s Italian beginning to reaching out to God’s people in several countries throughout the world, including Italy, Louisiana, USA, Mexico, Brazil, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

The Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows are primarily educators and find themselves in a variety of ministries

including child development centers, day cares, schools, orphanages, residential facilities for individuals who are mentally challenged, community homes, parish ministries, and nursing homes. In the Diocese of Shreveport, the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows serve at Holy Angels Residential Facility for children with special needs, Elizabeth Renzi Child Development Center, Renzi Education and Art Center, and Our Lady of Sorrows Convent, a house of formation and retirement.

On June 18, 1989, Mother Elisabetta was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Rome, thus given the title “Blessed Elisabetta Renzi.”

The Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows invite you to join them in praying for specific needs to Blessed Elisabetta, especially during this special year dedicated to her. We continue to hope and pray that she may soon be canonized.

Employees and residents of Holy Angels and the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows at the balloon release opening the Year of Elisabetta. Photo by Sherry Crider.


by dianne raChal, direCtor of the offiCe of worshiP

Feast oF epiphany

Epiphany means “to show forth” or “shining forth.” This feast celebrates the revelation of God to mankind in human form in the person of Jesus

Christ. Epiphany is among the oldest of the Church’s feasts, next to Easter. The roots of the feast of Epiphany on January 6 lie in the East, while the oldest witness for the feast of Christmas on December 25 originates in the West. The celebration of Epiphany enters into various western rites as late as the fourth century. The Eastern feast of Epiphany was originally a festival with several themes, above all that of the birth and baptism. Epiphany included the manifestation of Jesus’ divinity at his birth and his baptism, but also the coming of the Magi and the changing of water into wine at Cana. Originally, these themes were combined with each other in the eastern feast of Epiphany, and the notion of the manifestation of Jesus’ divinity lay at the root of them.

The early Christian church at Syria originally celebrated the birth of Jesus, brought about by the Holy Spirit at his baptism in the Jordan. Syrian extra-canonical Gospels narrate the appearance of fire and a great light at the baptism of Jesus, as well as the stopping of the current of the Jordan River. Gradually, there was a shift of emphasis to the inclusion of the physical birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, likewise worked by the Holy Spirit. There was tension between the baptism of Jesus, understood as his birth, and his birth in Bethlehem. The emphasis either shifted to Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, as was the case in Jerusalem for a time, or else a new feast was introduced. This new feast of Christmas on December 25, which commemorated Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, was separated from Epiphany on January 6, the feast of Jesus’ baptism.

The original understanding of the baptism of Jesus

was as his divine begetting and birth, not a rebirth and not a revelation of his deity. Jesus was born as the Son of God at his baptism, “You are my Son, this day have I begotten you.” The baptism of Jesus itself was understood as his birth, and the occasion of his glorification.

The oldest attestation of the Feast of Epiphany comes from Basilides, originally from Syria before making his way to Egypt, and his followers in the first half of the second century. The followers of Basilides celebrated the baptism of Jesus in Egypt on the eleventh of the month of Tybi in the Alexandrian festal calendar. This date corresponds to January 6, the date of the Feast of Epiphany as we know it. The great light, originally a part of the baptism of Jesus, expanded to the account of his birth in Bethlehem. The theme of the feast of Epiphany expanded from the baptism of Jesus, formerly understood as his birth, to his baptism in the Jordan along with his birth in Bethlehem. Fourth century Alexandria celebrated both the baptism of Jesus and his birth on January 6.

Great significance was attributed to the shining light as the sign for the divine origin of Jesus: starting from the baptism at the Jordan, where the light originally substantiated the divine begetting of the Son. The great light then became combined with his equally miraculous birth, with his transfiguration, and also with his ascent into heaven.

During the fourth century the two themes of Epiphany, baptism and birth, separate and a new feast was introduced, namely, the celebration of the birth of Jesus on December 25. John Chrysostom will speak of two epiphanies: the “epiphany” at Jesus’ birth and the “epiphany” of his baptism on January 6. (To this day, the Armenians have no birth festival on December 25, but celebrate the birth and baptism of Jesus on January 6.) The writings of Egeria’s pilgrimage to Jerusalem in the second half of the fourth century indicate that at that time the liturgical year began with the feast of Epiphany on January 6. This is due to the fact that the feast of Epiphany was originally associated with the beginning of Jesus.

About the time that the East took up the December birth celebration, the West took up the Eastern Epiphany feast on January 6. Initially, Epiphany in the West retained all of its chief characteristics: baptism, Magi and Cana. As time went on, the West attached overwhelming importance to the apparition of the Magi. This has given rise in the West to the notion of a twelve day festival, starting on December 25, and ending on January 6, called the twelve days of Christmas.

Prior to 1970, the Roman Catholic Church reckoned Epiphany as an eight-day feast, beginning on January 6 and continuing through the Octave of Epiphany, or January 13. More recently, Roman Catholics in the United States mark Epiphany on the Sunday after the first Saturday in January. Now Catholics formally end the Christmas season on the Sunday immediately following January 6, or for American Catholics, the ensuing Monday in years when the Epiphany falls on January 7 or 8. The feast of the Baptism of the Lord is observed on the following Sunday.

From Gabriele Winkler, “The Appearance of the Light at the Baptism of Jesus and the Origins of the Feast of Epiphany: An Investigation of Greek, Syriac, Armenian, and Latin Sources” in Between Memory and Hope, Readings on the Liturgical Year, Maxwell E. Johnson, editor.


priest spotlight: Fr. Pike Thomas, St. Jude Church, Bossier City

I can trace my call to the priesthood all the way back to my youth, even though it did not

come to fruition until I was 39-years-old. I really tie the working out of my decision over so many years to a series of model priests.

My first memory of church is Fr. Joe Gremillion, who ran an exciting new parish (St. Joseph) where Mass was held in a movie theatre only 24 hours after we kids had screamed our way through our favorite westerns and mysteries, cheered the heroes and booed the villains lustily. From the time of my first communion, I was always attracted to the spiritual life, I even had a little “shrine” in my closet: a statue of Mary, the Sacred Heart and St Therese of Lisieux (Little Flower).

In New Orleans as a young teen, I was an altar server, loving the connection with the Lord in the Mass. (I even made a slide presentation to teach others) I served with wonderful Jesuit Fr. O’Callaghan – a “bigger than life joker”– and relished the adventure of navigating my bike through the streets at 5:30 a.m.

On moving to Baton Rouge, I entered public high school and through virile young Fr. Lester Lacassagne I was chosen as President of Young Chritian Students (YCS), a Vatican II–style discussion group in which we attempted to integrate our spirituality and our responsibility in the world.

Then a very difficult college freshman year away from family caused my first brush with seminary. Fr. Condry of Jesuit High School in New Orleans heard my plea and brought me to the Grand Coteau novitiate for an interview. The incisive Jesuit Director saw immediately I was not ready but only using God to escape. I continued college and put the vocation on the backburner for 20 years!

For too many young adult years, my faith was only a horizon which provided limits to otherwise unbridled self-centered behavior. I blush at admitting this, but it was

true. I moved around a good bit, sometimes sang in church choirs, but generally that was but a selfish activity as well, since it gave me great pleasure to sing. I cannot say I was more than a peripheral church member. I feel the loss of those precious years deeply even today.

I finally landed in California in my early 30’s, and it was only after a good friend and colleague to whom I had entrusted my home (my job of fund-raising for colleges, cultural institutions, hospitals kept me away for weeks at a time as I managed large campaigns) grew seriously ill that I began to reconsider where my life was leading, and felt God beckoning me to a different vision. When my friend died, I turned in earnest to my faith and enlisted the aid of Dominican Fr. DeSylva in the Bay area, where I was at the time. He shepherded me through several months of heavy spiritual lifting to discern that this crazy idea of being a priest seemed a genuine God-driven movement. Bt this time, the focus of my vocation was not primarily my own holiness, but assisting others to find their own close relationship with the Lord. And this has lasted from that time in the early ‘80s.

My time at Seminary was idyllic and exciting, which deepened my conviction of making the right decision, and it was there that I developed, with the aid of my leprechaun mentor Fr. McMurray, a sort of personal spirituality amid that of the wider Church. I learned to pray, to do spiritual reading and meditation, to love the Eucharist as the Lord’s greatest gift to us, and to relish the sweet work of collaborating with others for the betterment of church and society. That direction has been constant, as many know. My joy is to watch some layperson – youth or elder – discover the joy of using their own special gift! A companion joy is to help parishioners see the immense spiritual benefits of participating fully in the Eucharist and the renewed vision we have of that Sacrament thanks to Vatican

II. To be able to lead God’s People at Mass is a humbling, but exalting spiritual experience. I find other great satisfaction in my Spiritual Direction and my teaching through Greco and other avenues.

I confess that the pace of my life as a priest means I am often identifying myself almost 24/7 as pastor. It is not a burden, but a joy! But as I move closer to the “senior” life (above 70), I look forward to a more leisurely walk with the Lord. But even now I find enough “free time” to involve myself in the classical music scene in our area. Every so often I get to have a total immersion experience, as at Santa Fé several summers ago, with my best friend Fr. Adam of Connecticut and Poland – with four Operas in five nights! A second love is family history, derived from my deep interest in American history. I have written two popular books on my family (LeDoux and The Scotts of Southwest Virginia) both of which have found a considerable audience (1000 copies+ each) . I find genealogy akin to a giant puzzle which never ends. You can always find more!

That elusive “more” is perhaps my life metaphor. For some, around the corner is simply an unknown, maybe even serious sin. For me, around the corner we find God’s Amazing Grace!

Fr. Pike Thomas. Photo by Mike Silva.


statement oF the presiDent oF the uniteD states ConFerenCe oF CatholiC Bishops

The Bishops of the Catholic Church in the United States welcome this moment of historic transition and look forward to working with President-elect

Obama and the members of the new Congress for the common good of all. Because of the Church’s history and the scope of her ministries in this country, we want to continue our work for economic justice and opportunity for all; our efforts to reform laws around immigration and the situation of the undocumented; our provision of better education and adequate health care for all, especially for women and children; our desire to safeguard religious freedom and foster peace at home and abroad. The Church is intent on doing good and will continue to cooperate gladly with the government and all others working for these goods.

The fundamental good is life itself, a gift from God and our parents. A good state protects the lives of all. Legal protection for those members of the human family waiting to be born in this country was removed when the Supreme Court decided Roe vs. Wade in 1973. This was bad law. The danger the Bishops see at this moment is that a bad court decision will be enshrined in bad legislation that is more radical than the 1973 Supreme Court decision itself.

In the last Congress, a Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) was introduced that would, if brought forward in the same form today, outlaw any “interference” in providing abortion at will. It would deprive the American people in all fifty states of the freedom they now have to enact modest restraints and regulations on the abortion industry. FOCA would coerce all Americans into subsidizing and promoting abortion with their tax dollars. It would counteract any and all sincere efforts by government and others of good will to reduce the number of abortions in our country.

Parental notification and informed consent precautions would be outlawed, as would be laws banning procedures such as partial-birth abortion and protecting infants born alive after a failed abortion. Abortion clinics would be deregulated. The Hyde Amendment restricting the federal funding of abortions would be abrogated. FOCA would have lethal consequences for prenatal human life.

FOCA would have an equally destructive effect on the freedom of conscience of doctors, nurses and health care workers whose personal convictions do not permit them to cooperate in the private killing of unborn children. It would threaten Catholic health care institutions and Catholic Charities. It would be an evil law that would further divide our country, and the Church should be intent on opposing evil.

On this issue, the legal protection of the unborn, the bishops are of one mind with Catholics and others of

good will. They are also pastors who have listened to women whose lives have been diminished because they believed they had no choice but to abort a baby. Abortion is a medical procedure that kills, and the psychological and spiritual consequences are written in the sorrow and depression of many women and men. The bishops are single-minded because they are, first of all, single-hearted.

The recent election was principally decided out of concern for the economy, for the loss of jobs and homes and financial security for families, here and around the world. If the election is misinterpreted ideologically as a referendum on abortion, the unity desired by President-elect Obama and all Americans at this moment of crisis will be impossible to achieve. Abortion kills not only unborn children; it destroys constitutional order and the common good, which is assured only when the life of every human being is legally protected. Aggressively pro-abortion policies, legislation and executive orders will permanently alienate tens of millions of Americans, and would be seen by many as an attack on the free exercise of their religion.

This statement is written at the request and direction of all the Bishops, who also want to thank all those in politics who work with good will to protect the lives of the most vulnerable among us. Those in public life do so, sometimes, at the cost of great sacrifice to themselves and their families; and we are grateful. We express again our great desire to work with all those who cherish the common good of our nation. The common good is not the sum total of individual desires and interests; it is achieved in the working out of a common life based upon good reason and good will for all.

Our prayers accompany President-elect Obama and his family and those who are cooperating with him to assure a smooth transition in government. Many issues demand immediate attention on the part of our elected “watchman.” (Psalm 127) May God bless him and our country.

“If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do its builders labor; if the Lord does not watch over the city, in vain does the watchman keep vigil.” Psalm 127: 1

Auxiliary Bishop Richard J. Sklba of Milwaukee speaks from the floor at the annual fall meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore Nov. 11. The bishops were commenting on a proposed letter from the USCCB president regarding the political situation in the United States. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec) (Nov. 11, 2008)

by Cardinal franCis e. GeorGe


holy hour For voCations at st. Joseph ChurCh

the wisDom oF aging

by Kevin nolten

by sr. Martinette rivers, sPiritual GerontoloGist

When we look around our country today, we see that the general population is

increasing, that the number of Catholics is increasing, but at the same time, the number of priests is decreasing. What is wrong with this picture? It is with this decreasing number of priests where, in 20, 10, or even five years from now we will soon see (if not already seen) Masses being offered decrease, sacraments being offered decrease, all leading to the decrease of the Consecrated Eucharist for the faithful to be fed. It is this food that is a staple for our existence on this earth as Christians, as Catholics, as believers in the true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

It is now when we need to turn to this Bread in prayer, not only for our nourishment but for the nourishment of the seeds that have fallen on fertile and rocky soil. Prayer is to vocations as water is to the crop in the field. Both need to

be nourished. It is through our prayer at the foot of the Blessed Sacrament that will inspire, instill and foster the courage for young men to take up their cross and follow Christ; to be the shepherd of His flock, and to feed His people through the nourishment of the Body and Blood of Christ. “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers to gather in His harvest” (Mt 9:37; Lk 10:2).

Fr. David Richter in conjunction with the Office of Vocations and the Serra Club has begun to hold Holy Hours for Vocations. These Holy Hours are held once a month at various churches around the Diocese of Shreveport. The first was held at St. Joseph Church in Shreveport, with the next scheduled for Mary Queen of Peace on January 28, at 6:00 p.m. The focus of this Holy Hour is prayer through

the Eucharist; that God will enable and empower those to answer God’s call to minister to His people. Encourage your parish family as well as your own family to participate in the Holy Hour offered in your parish or neighboring parish. It is going to be through your prayer and encouragement that the fostering of vocations in the Diocese of Shreveport will be plentiful.

Fr. David Richter leads the Holy Hour for Vocations at St. Joseph Church, Shreveport. Photo by James Barnard.

What wonderful and funny things happen to us as we find ourselves growing older

and grayer, as we travel through the different avenues of the seasons of our lives. As Agers our spring, summer and fall are finished and we have now entered our last stage, winter. Our Aging can not be judged by our other seasons or how we are living out our winter. We can only judge the person by the “essence” of who they became and whether they had a joy-filled season in the midst of pain and diminishment. Have we allowed the pain of one of our seasons to destroy the joy of all the rest? Only God can measure at the end how we have lived out each season of our lives.

My Apache Indian friend in Texas is an artist. Together we brainstormed and created a symbol for aging. The circle represents the seasons of life. It helps us find life’s purpose through the seasons of holiness, so that when we have completed it we have reached the fullness of God, our wholeness.

The hexagon represents living in harmony while being aware of God’s grace given to you each season as you

needed it. The peaks outside the hexagon represent the mountains we have climbed, those we may have faced with great difficulty, yet faced with faith in our hearts. Our faith helps us remove doubt and despair from our hearts and fill it with trust in God. The red represents

the powerful, passionate, love of a Father, who shed His blood for us and the same passion we should have for Him.

The boundless enthusiasm we should have for life is passion. Your passion for prayer should help you improve your memory. What’s to stop you? Age only makes it better. Meditation will clear your mind of its cobwebs. It helps you release the thoughts in your mind and the tension in your muscles. Let your prayer become the retreat for your soul. It will put you in a natural state of well being each day and carry you into tomorrow.

Keeping passion, prayer and enthusiasm alive in your heart as you age is the antidote one needs to keep the mind sharp. Whatever nourishes

you spiritually and physically, go for it. Healthy, spiritual aging can be lived with passion as old things pass away and new things burst forth like a seasonal resurrection.

This makes the symbol of the butterfly all the more important, because as we flit and fly from season to season, we become the new person, the resurrected and newly transformed person we were meant to be, with a restored body, mind, spirit, heart and soul. Become an enthusiastic, passionate Ager so you can bring about attitudinal change in others. God is offering each of us 8,776 hours in 2009 to share with others the treasure and blessing that we are. Time is our friend so let us use it wisely.

Be grateful for who you have become and do not become “geriatric hazards” as you age. The older the butterfly becomes, the more beautiful and fascinating it becomes. With the time you have, let yourself age with grace, surrender and sweet adventure. Keep moving your body, mind, spirit, heart and soul away from the past and launch out into the future. Lose yourself in the new moments you will create. Aging belongs to you now. Experience the exhilaration of the discovery of the new aging you. The new blessing yet to be in 2009.

Sr. Martinette with her symbol for aging.






our LADy of the BLesseD sAcrAment AcADemyby JessiCa rinaudo, editor

As part of National Children’s Book Week, Bishop Michael Duca read The Cow That Went

Oink by Bernard Most to the students at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Academy. The children were very enthusiastic and chimed right in with Bishop Duca. After he finished reading the book, the children sang a song to the bishop and thanked him for his visit.

st. JosePh schooLby luCy MedveC, direCtor of develoPMent

December was a busy month for the students and families at St. Joseph School. Here is a

glimpse of our holiday activities:• “Bridging to the Big School”

Open House welcomed prospective kindergartners and first graders.

• Annual SJS Family Fun Night. • Santa and his elves visited the

St. Joseph Family Life Center for our “Breakfast with Santa.”

• Our Christmas musical, “I Witness News: Live from Bethlehem.”

• A holiday clothing drive in conjunction with our school Mass. Students brought in new clothing to be donated to Christian Services.

st. John BerchmAns cAtheDrAL schooLby Katie sCiba, seCretary

At St. John Berchmans Catholic School, we are proud to have our Science Olympiad teams and

our chapter of the National Junior Beta Club. Both organizations encourage students to challenge themselves to excel in academics and as upstanding citizens in their communities. Beta recently held their induction ceremony, accepting new members into the club. While our Science Olympiad teams traveled to Dallas to compete in the Greenhill Invitational, where they won six medals and the Spirit Award for the second consecutive year.

Jesus the GooD shePherD schooL by Missy MCKenzie

JGS students McKenna Sanderson, John Mitchell McDuffie, and Elizabeth Hancock along with Fr.

Mark Watson are shown at the lighting and blessing of the school Advent wreath. Each week the students will light a candle in honor of the liturgical season of Advent and to prepare for Christmas.

schooL news CatholiC sChools CeleBration set For last week oF Januaryby sr. Carol shively, suPerintendent

Catholic Schools Week, the annual celebration of Catholic schools and their contribution

to their communities and the nation, is set for Jan. 25 through Jan. 30, 2009. For more than three decades, the nation’s Catholic schools have spent the last week of January recalling what makes Catholic education special.

The 2009 theme is “Catholic Schools: Celebrate Service,” which highlights the mission of Catholic schools to provide a faith-based education that supports the whole child academically and spiritually and prepares students for future success.

The Catholic schools in the diocese will host many activities including open-house.

The western deanery Catholic school communities will gather together Wednesday, January 28th at Loyola College Prep to celebrate and pray. Bishop Michael Duca will serve as the main celebrant. Bishop will be joined by the priests of the area at the Mass. Please consider joining us as we celebrate Catholic Schools in the Shreveport-Bossier area.

The eastern deanery Catholic schools will gather on Friday, January 30th, at Jesus the Good Shepherd Church to celebrate and pray. Bishop Michael Duca will serve as the main celebrant. The priests of the area will join Bishop in celebrating Catholic Schools.

Anna Katherine Harvey, Elizabeth Anne Fleniken, Reagan Stewart, Beth Ann Arcement and Sarah Catherine LaCour at the annual “Breakfast with Santa” pancake breakfast.

The picture with the group of students (Science Olympiad) shows: Top Row (from R to L): Crystal Bordelon, Kim Le, John Fenton, Morgan Murray, Connor Brooks, Christopher Fenton. Bottom Row (from R to L): Sophia Simon, Nathan Cowart, Andrew Pousson, Andy Nguyen, Stephen Stringfellow


gooD news aBout voCations pt. 4 oF 6 international seminarians in DemanDby Martha h. fitzGerald, forMerly a ColuMnist and assoCiate editorial PaGe editor for The ShreveporT TimeS, develoPs indePendent booK ProJeCts throuGh Martha fitzGerald ConsultinG and little dove Press.

Foreign-born priests have served the Americas since Ferdinand and Isabella colonized the New

World. Franciscans joined Christopher Columbus on his second voyage, and Jesuits accompanied Lord Baltimore, founder of the colony of Maryland. Driven by successive waves of immigration, the Catholic Church in America survived and thrived by importing its priests from western Europe—Spain, England, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and, especially, Ireland.

Today’s international priests, however, hail from more exotic places—Asia, Latin America, eastern Europe, and Africa. And they’re likely to have come to our shores before—not after—ordination.

Foreign-born seminarians, in fact, account for much of the recent uptick in ordination numbers.

According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, 32 percent of the priests ordained in 2008 are native to other countries. That’s up eight percent since 1999. By the time of ordination, these immigrant priests had lived in the United States an average of 13 years.

They hail from 15 countries, but most were born in Mexico, Vietnam, Poland, or the Philippines.

Seminaries report a similar diversity headed for ordination in 2009 or later. About fifteen percent of students enrolled are Hispanic or Latino, and twelve percent are Asian.

Many immigrant seminarians come to this country as youths or young men. Others transfer from theologate training in their home countries. Several U.S. dioceses, pressed by the late 20th century wave of new immigrants and shortage of native-born vocations, actively recruit overseas seminarians and pay for part if not all of their final years of training.

By all indications, this growing trend of international seminarians augurs well for the future. It helps address some of the challenges of importing priests, particularly language issues and cultural differences.

“While they’re studying, they’re able to learn not just the academics but the culture,” says Father Joe Noonan, director of the archdiocesan vocations office in Chicago.

The archdiocese has separate formation programs for priest candidates from

Spanish-speaking countries (Casa Jesus, founded in 1987), from Poland (Bishop Abramowicz Preparatory Seminary), and from Africa (Tuite House). They spend a year or more in language training and cultural orientation while determining whether the U.S. priesthood is their future.

“The one struggle that is universal is accent. People want to be able to understand their priests,” Noonan says. The archdiocese offers accent reduction classes. “We work on that a lot.”

As it happened, all of Chicago’s diocesan ordinands in 2008 were foreign-born, and all but one of the 2007 class. That wasn’t intentional, Noonan says. It reflects two things: success of the outreach programs and the precipitous drop of native-born seminary entrants seven years ago, during the most heated media coverage of the priest abuse scandals. But enrollment of native-born students is beginning to rebound at Mundelein Seminary outside Chicago.

Immigrant seminarians are most likely to be recruited by an archdiocese or attend a major urban seminary. They reflect the changing demographics of the Church in America, particularly in large cities.

Since 1965, the U.S. Catholic population has jumped by nearly 19 million. Hispanics represent more than 70 percent of the growth. But the Church no longer has the luxury of national or culture-specific parishes—Irish Catholic churches down the street from Italian ones, for example. Instead, this new wave of immigration spawned parishes of mixed cultures in dioceses across the country, and created a greater need for priests who are multilingual.

One in five of all U.S. parishes has a Hispanic ministry. The archdiocese of Los Angeles offers liturgies in 28 different languages or dialects.

Today’s diversity complicates Catholic ministry, says Sister Katarina Schuth, OSF, an authority on priestly training. She holds the Chair for Social Scientific Study of Religion at Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity in Minnesota. Few priests in the past had multicultural training. But that is changing, she says. Most seminarians today at least learn about Hispanic culture

and spirituality. Foreign-born students, however, need something entirely different: “a rather thorough and long-term orientation to the [U.S.] culture, so they have an understanding of American parish life, theology, everything about the American church.”

Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans addresses both needs. It offers a Hispanic Studies program and, for international students, intensive language training, pastoral experiences, and other encounters with local culture.

Last fall Notre Dame enrolled 32 foreign-born seminarians—fully one-third of its student body. Most were natives of Vietnam, others of Mexico, the Philippines, Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda. Sixteen are already U.S. citizens, or permanent residents. Six were sent by religious institutes or overseas dioceses, such as Tororo in the Republic of Uganda, and will return to their native countries. The rest will seek resident status when their studies end.

Many of those who stay in this country will serve Anglo congregations, but others will enter specialized ministries. With the demand for multicultural priest candidates growing, “I wish we had more,” says the seminary’s president rector, Father Jose Lavastida, himself a native of Cuba and a U.S. citizen since 1974.

It must be noted, however, that far more international seminarians show interest in coming to America than are admitted. Diocesan vocations directors receive unsolicited email inquiries every week. They prefer to recruit their own candidates, using screening tests, International Seminarians continued on page 13.

Stewardship and Communications Director John Mark Willcox with Diocese of Shreveport seminarian John Bosco Nyirenda, a native of Songea, Tanzania attending seminary at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.


highlights oF 2008 usCCB Fall general assemBly

background checks, and personal contacts at seminaries and dioceses abroad. Also, Noonan says, tighter immigration laws keep out of the seminaries those aspirants who may have lived in the United States since childhood but were never documented.

However they arrive on these shores, immigrant clerics are essentially missionaries to America, much as their counterparts were in previous generations. They serve in small as well as large dioceses across the country.

“We’ve been blessed by their presence,” says retired Bishop William B. Friend, former shepherd of the Diocese of Shreveport in northwest Louisiana. “Were they not present, we would have more pastors with multiple churches to serve. That is particularly difficult in rural areas.”

The bishop well understands the cultural challenges of international priests and seminarians. He was chairman of the board of CARA, the Center for Applied Research of the Apostolate, from 1997-2003, and co-edited The Culture of Bible Belt Catholics. (Paulist Press, 1995), a scholarly look at the strength of Catholicism in the heart of the Anglo-Saxon Protestant South.

Before his retirement in 2006, the bishop imported priests from vocations-rich India. The diocese also partnered with an African order to help educate brothers and future priests in exchange for their work in pastorates, hospitals, and social ministry.

Immigrant priests and seminarians, he points out, have value far beyond supplementing the native-born ranks of clergy. “They help prepare us for the world, the global culture,” the day in which the United States will become a nation of minorities.”

What’s more, Bishop Friend says, “They offer a beautiful spirituality. They’ve brought a great gift to the diocese.”

Noonan agrees. “The culture in other countries is often very rich.” Learning their traditions, such as devotions to Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of Czestochowa, expands our own understanding of Catholic doctrine and belief, he says.

In short, priests and priests-to-be from other countries remind us, in a personal and very powerful way, of an essential truth: Catholicism is a universal church.

Coming next: New Orders of Religious Emerge

© 2008 Martha H. Fitzgerald“International Seminarians in Demand” may be reprinted only with permission of the Catholic Connection magazine and Martha H. Fitzgerald.

International Seminarians continued from page 12.

by Chaz Muth, CatholiC news serviCe

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- At the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Nov. 10-12 fall general assembly

in Baltimore, the bishops:-- Heard their president, Chicago

Cardinal Francis E. George, acknowledge the historic significance of the election of President-elect Barack Obama and pray that the incoming president will be able to succeed in his task for the good of all.

-- Warned the new administration and new Congress that lifting existing federal abortion restrictions would permanently alienate tens of millions of Americans and could be seen as an attack on religious freedom.

-- Said the church will continue in a time of economic crisis to reach out to those in need, stand with those who are hurt, and work for more just and compassionate policies.

-- Approved another lengthy section of the English translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal, which must now be confirmed by the Vatican.

-- Chose the Revised Grail Psalter produced by the monks of Conception Abbey in Missouri over the Revised New American Bible translation of the Book of Psalms for liturgical use in the United States.

-- Overwhelmingly approved a liturgical service in English and Spanish for blessing children in the womb.

-- Elected Bishop George V. Murry

of Youngstown, Ohio, as USCCB secretary-elect and chose chairmen-elect for five USCCB committees.

-- Approved a $144 million budget and a lengthy list of plans and programs for the USCCB in 2009.

-- Set a host of goals for five task forces on issues ranging from strengthening marriage to addressing cultural diversity in the church as priority initiatives through 2011.

-- Heard a report from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development that it cut off funding earlier this year to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, known as ACORN, for reasons unrelated to the organization’s current troubles over voter registration and partisan politics.

-- Voted in favor of a revised process for submitting “varia” -- new issues that an individual bishop or group of bishops would like to see considered by the full body.

-- Explored how domestic and international charitable organizations have found encouragement and helpful guidance in Pope Benedict XVI’s first encyclical,“Deus Caritas Est” (“God Is Love”).

-- Learned The Catholic University of America in Washington has had a record-breaking year for freshman enrollment and for national fundraising, but lost millions in investments in the 2008 economic meltdown.

U.S. bishops go about their work Nov. 11 at the annual fall meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore. At top from left is conference vice president Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of Tucson, Ariz., president Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago and Msgr. David Malloy, USCCB general secretary. Henry M. Robert III, the meeting's parliamentarian, is at right. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec) (Nov. 11, 2008)


2009 Diocese of ShreveportLiturgicaL-catecheticaL conference

Christ the king Feast Day CeleBration by nanCy Miller, Christ the KinG ChurCh

Keynote Speaker:

rev. Msgr. Kevin W. irwinDean, School of theology and religious Studies,

catholic university of america and advisor to the uSccB committee on Divine Worship

to speak on his book Models of the Eucharist

Saturday, January 24, 2009 • 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Catholic Center • 318-868-44413500 Fairfield Avenue • Shreveport, LA 71104

Christ the King Catholic Church celebrated the feast day of Christ the King on November 22 with

a beautiful liturgy and a reception following. Bishop Duca celebrated and our pastor, Fr. Charles Glorioso concelebrated the 11:00 a.m. bilingual Mass. The church was filled close to capacity with our English and Spanish communities coming together for this special celebration.

Bishop Duca delivered a richly inspiring homily encouraging the people of Christ the King to live a Christ-like life. He emphasized that we should be a people of hope and that Christ will come again. The Bishop went on to say if we have strived to live a Christian life and heard the Word of God, we can look forward to eternal life with our Father in Heaven. Some things we can do while here on earth are clothe the naked, feed

the poor, and visit the sick and imprisoned as Jesus did.

At the closing of the Mass, everyone walked over to the auditorium for a celebration of one another and lots of food! Finger foods, sandwiches, desserts of all kinds, and hot tamales galore were prepared by parishioners. There were meat, vegetable and dessert hot tamales. Our English and Spanish communities certainly shared their expertise in cooking. Everyone enjoyed the fellowship with

other parishioners and visiting with the Bishop and Fr. Charles.

This event was made possible because so many of our parishioners, both American and Hispanic, came together as one community and created a very special liturgy and reception. There are so many to name that we won’t attempt to at the risk of missing someone. May God bless everyone who helped make this a joyous occasion. And we wish to extend a very special thank you to

Bishop Duca for joining Christ the King parish on our Feast Day.

Fr. Charles Glorioso and Bishop Michael Duca celebrate Mass on Christ the King Feast Day. Photo by Manuel Quiroz.


Fr. rothell priCe CeleBrates 20 years oF serviCe

worlD Day For ConseCrateD liFe FeBruary 8, 2009

by KiM lonG, dre, st. Mary of the Pines

by Marilyn vassallo, Coordinator for reliGious

by nanCy Miller, Christ the KinG ChurCh

St. Mary of the Pines in Shreveport was the setting on November 22, the vigil of

the feast of Christ the King, for the celebration of Fr. Rothell Price’s 20th year anniversary to the priesthood. The celebration began with the brandishing of swords by the Knights of Columbus and a procession by the Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver and ended with a lavish reception in Vandegaer Hall.

As the readings were proclaimed we heard of shepherds who look after and tend the sheep of the Lord; in the gospel of Matthew we heard

with new ears that familiar passage reminding us that when we have done it to the “least of these, you have done it to me also.”

Fr. Price, known for his homilies, gave us more than just food for thought; he gave us lessons for life. As he recounted those cherished words of that particular gospel passage, he reminded us that we won’t be judged on what we materially accomplished and amassed but rather on how well we loved.

Bishop Duca stated that in affirming the one, we affirm the many. In honoring our priest, Fr. Price, we honor all those who have chosen to serve God in this way. In praying for our priest, we are also to pray for all our priests.

Some places remain, for a variety of reasons, significant in our memory. Perhaps it is the place we met someone who influenced us, the place

we were when we experienced a significant event. Fr. Price has served the following parishes- St. Mary of the Pines, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, St. John’s, St. Benedict the Black, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St. Jude, Our Lady Queen of Heaven Chapel, Sacred Heart of Jesus and once again St. Mary of the Pines.

St. Mary’s holds a distinctive place in the map of the last 20 years for Fr. Price. He was first assigned here in 1988 as a Parochial Vicar. Before he had completed his six year appointment, he was transferred to Our Lady of the

Blessed Sacrament. We cried our tearful goodbyes but knew that the Blessed Sacrament community was in for a treat!

Eighteen years later, the St. Mary’s faith community welcomed him back as pastor. During these past few years we were privileged to be with him as he celebrated his 50th birthday; we were humbled to be with him as he sustained the loss of his grandmother, mother and

nephew and our tears flowed once again for him. Now as we gathered on the Feast of Christ the King, we brought gratitude and thanks to the Mass for the many years of service Fr. Price has rendered to our God and our Church. We were also grateful as individuals for the times he baptized our children, confirmed our teens, witnessed our marriages, heard our heartbreaks in confession and our joys in everyday conversation, and helped us say goodbye as we suffered our own losses. In addition, Fr. Price has also served the diocese on a number of committees and in a number of roles.

As a token of appreciation, Fr. Price received a vestment and plaque as well as many good wishes, hugs and handshakes. When asked what was next, Fr. Price stated that he had “twenty years down and eighty to go!” Talk about going forward in hope!

Bishop Michael Duca and Fr. Rothell Price at Fr. Rothell's 20th anniversary to his ordination of the priesthood celebration.

On Sunday, February 8, 2009, a special Liturgy will be celebrated by Bishop Michael G. Duca for

the religious men and women serving in the Diocese of Shreveport. The Centenary Camerata will join in this celebration of prayer, worship and song as we honor the religious of our diocese!

In 1997, Pope John Paul II instituted World Day for Consecrated Life as a universal event to celebrate the call to religious life. This event in our diocese coincides with the celebration conducted in Rome this year by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

All parishioners in the diocese are encouraged to attend this celebration. Bishop Duca has also extended a special invitation to students in our religious education programs and Catholic schools. Our young people preparing for Confirmation are especially encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to experience the church’s celebration of religious life.

The Eucharistic Liturgy will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, followed by a reception at the multi-room in the Cathedral School.

This is an excellent opportunity to encourage vocation awareness, as well as celebrate the jubilees and anniversaries of religious serving in our diocese. For more information contact Sister Marilyn Vassallo, CSJ, Coordinator for Religious at 318-868-4441 or email Ann Goelden at [email protected].

Sr. Cristina Angelini and Fr. David Richter at the planning meeting for World Day for Consecrated Life.


wooDley Family spearheaDs operation stoCking stuFFer

louisiana seminarians Compete in annual FootBall game

by JessiCa rinaudo, editorby Joshua MClean sanders, seMinarian

Joseph, Maria and Lucy Woodley stand with some of the 200 stockings stuffed with gifts that were sent to troops in Iraq and Afganistan.

During each holiday season the Woodley family puts together a special family project. This year, Joseph and Rosie, along with their children Lucy, Maria and

Joseph, headed up Operation Stocking Stuffer. The purpose of this effort was to send Christmas stockings stuffed with a host of non-perishable items, such as food, medical supplies and stationary, to troops overseas. Rosie Woodley said with the help of Operation Support Our Troops, they were able to send these gifts to men and women in remote locations of Iraq and Afghanistan who are not normally reached by military Christmas efforts.

Although this started out as a family project, the Woodleys were quickly overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from their parish, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and Loyola College Prep, where all three of their children attend school. This community effort resulted in donations of over 200 stockings as well as payment for the cost for over $600 in postage.

Each stocking included personal cards and greetings and this message: “Here is a touch of the holiday from your friends back home in the U.S.A. Though far away, may you be blessed this season. Merry Christmas and prayers for a safe return. Your friends at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.”

The support of Shirley Olivieri-Mathies at Operation Support Our Troops played a big role in the success of the Woodley’s project. This organization helped donors find and reach remote troops, as well as provide important guidelines on the types of things to send to support our men and women without offending Islamic authorities.

When talking about the success of their project, Rosie Woodley was overjoyed and amazed at the number of donations made by such a loving community.

For more information on Operation Support Our Troops, please visit www.west-point.org/family/support-our-troops.

“Strap on your cleats again. It’s time for football, the fire, and your friends. Cutting down trees, camaraderies. It’s bonfire at St. Ben’s again.”

No this is not me trying out for a career in writing music, this is the first part of the St. Ben’s bonfire song that is sung before and after bonfire day at St.

Joseph. Once a year, like clockwork, St. Joseph Seminary College and Notre Dame Theology College duke it out on the football field for the glory of winning the St. Ben’s Bonfire Trophy, followed by a grand light show that is the bonfire.

Each year the student body tries to make the bonfire taller than the year before. This year was no exception with a bonfire that stood 24-feet tall, breaking last years height of a mere 21-feet. Everyone was excited about the day’s events, none more than Keith Meshell and myself, because Bishop Duca had been invited to come and celebrate a special Mass for the students of both schools just prior to kick-off. Many knew Bishop Duca from his previous days as Rector of Holy Trinity in Texas, and everyone was very happy to have him say Mass for us. Although we have many different priests come and celebrate Mass thoughout the year, Bishops do not get the time to come that often, and this year only one other Bishop came.

Once the Mass was finished it was off to the football game between the St. Joseph Ravens and the Notre Dame Hunchbacks, and I am very happy to say we demolished the Hunchbacks with a score of 38-0. GO RAVENS! After the game was finished, we all went in for evening prayer and a delicious roasted pig for dinner.

Finally, the moment came for the senior class to light the 24-foot bonfire. Within seconds, the fire grew to twice the size of the bonfire itself! As the night went on, we all watched and waited to see when the first tier of logs would fail. After about an hour or so into the bonfire, Bishop Duca, Keith and myself got a pleasant surprise when our seminary brother from Notre Dame, John Bosco Nyirenda, was finally able to come and join in the celebration. But as the night grew later, John Bosco had to get back to Notre Dame, Bishop Duca had to rest for his early departure the following morning and Keith had to prepare to leave for his Mexico trip at 4:00 a.m. that morning. So we all decided to call it a night and retreat back to our bed after enjoying this year’s bonfire.

Seminarian Joshua Sanders, Bishop Michael Duca and Seminarian Keith Meshell at the St. Joseph Seminary Bonfire Games.


Como CatóliCos perteneCemos a la DióCesis De shreveport

CalenDario DioCesano Del mes

hispaniC Corner / nuestra página misasBossier City: Parroquia de Cristo Rey(Christ the King)425 McCormick Street Bossier City, LA 71111Domingo 3:00 p.m.Representante: Marilú Rodriguez Tel: 318-286-1492

Farmerville: Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro (Our Lady of Perpetual Help)600 E. Water Street, Farmerville, LA 71241Sábado 7:00 p.m.Representante: P. Luis JostTel: 318-243-0115

Mansfield: Parroquia de San José (St. Joseph)305 Jefferson Street, Mansfield, LA 710522do Domingo 2:00 p.m. y 3er Martes 6:30 p.m.Representante: Teresa PérezTel: 318-871-8037

Minden: Parroquia de San Pablo (St. Paul)410 Fincher Road Minden, LA 71055Viernes 7:00 p.m.Representante: Margarita BrattonTel: 318-377-9684

Oak Grove: Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón(Sacred Heart)201 Purvis St, Oak Grove, LA 71263Domingo 5:00 p.m.Representantes: Feliciano y Rosa Alviso Martinez Tel: 318-428-2137

Ruston: Iglesia de Santo Tomás de Aquino(St. Thomas Aquinas)810 Carey Ave, Ruston LA 712702do y 4to Domingo 2:30 p.m.Representante: Padre BlaneTel:318-225-2870 Ext.15

Shreveport: Santa María de los Pinos(St. Mary of the Pines)1050 Bert Kouns Ind Lp. Shreveport, LA 71118Domingos 1:00 p.m.Representante: Carmen BradfordTel: 318-671-9111

West Monroe: Parroquia de San Pascual(St. Paschal)711 N 7th Street, W. Monroe, LA 71291Domingo 2:30 p.m.Representante: Lorena ChaparroTel: 318-651-9136

Le informamos que El Ministerio Hispano ya cuenta con su página en español dentro de la revista

mensual (Catholic Connection) de la Diócesis. Este es un excelente medio para enterarse de eventos diocesanos, horarios de Misas y comunidades que ya cuentan con ministerios en español. Otro medio es la página de internet www.dioshpt.org de la diócesis, la cual tiene también la sección en español donde encontrará links a páginas católicas. Para recibir la revista mensualmente gratis llámenos al Centro Católico con Gabby la secretaria 318-219-7311 o Rosalba 318-219-7265 o gratis al 1-800-256-1542 y marque la extensión 311 o 265. O simplemente llene la forma adjunta y entréguela al coordinador de su comunidad.

¿YA PERTENECE A SU PARROQUIA? Pertenecer a una parroquia en Estados Unidos no es una opción. Si usted y su familia son católicos y quieren recibir beneficios que la iglesia ofrece y estar sentir la cercanía de sus hermanos católicos hispanos, necesita buscar la parroquia mas cercana con comunidad activa y registrarse. La parroquia mantiene

una lista de los feligreses activos. Como miembro activo usted:

1. Recibe la revista mensual en su hogar sin costo y se mantiene informado de actividades y eventos que ayudan a practicar y crecer en la fe.

2. Su congregación lo conoce, conoce sus necesidades, dones y le puede asistir de acuerdo a sus posibilidades.

3. Se une en oración a su comunidad, pidiendo juntos por necesidades mutuas, de sus familias y del mundo entero.

4. Aprovecha servicios comunitarios en el área y clases como Año Litúrgico, Sacramentos, Biblia Inglés como segundo idioma y muchos más.

La iglesia también lo necesita a usted… Sí, a usted y a todos los católicos hispanos. Nuestra diócesis necesita gente que quiera utilizar y compartir sus talentos sirviendo al Señor en su comunidad. ¿Qué espera? ¡Anímese y participe, Conéctese!

4-10 Semana Nacional de la Migración – La conferencia Episcopal de Obispos de Los Estados Unidos nos pide que oremos de una manera especial esta semana por los refugiados, por las víctimas de tráfico humano, por la dignidad humana y por una reforma migratoria justa. 5 Reanudación de clases escolares y catequéticas. 5-6 Celebraciones de La epifanía de los Reyes – Levantadas del niño Dios.24 Conferencia Diocesana Litúrgica-Catequética Centro Católico. (Inglés)

Si usted o alguien que usted conoce aun no recibe esta revista en su hogar, por favor pídale que corte esta forma, la llene y se la entregue a su coordinador(a).

Nombre y Apellido(s)______________________________

Teléfono (___) - ________ - _________

Dirección____________________________________________

Ciudad________________________ Estado__________

Código Postal _______________

rosalba QuirozdireCtora interina del Ministerio hisPano

rev. al JostCoordinador de la viCaría del este

Gabriela arGuetaseCretaria


DeaCon ministries: marriage enCounter happy together: the Blueprint For a loving marriage

night with mike patin

by deaCon MarK CaMPbell

by dotye sue stanford

by Julia norton, Coordinator of youth and younG adult Ministry at st. JosePh ChurCh

As a requirement for our ordination to the diaconate, aspiring deacons had to attend

a Marriage Encounter weekend. My wife Libby and I thought we had a good marriage and did not need to go, but we decided to view this as a blessing instead of a requirement. We decided we would open our hearts and our minds to this retreat, and trust others that had gone before us. We put ourselves, for one whole weekend, in the hands of God and the retreat team.

Even though it was tough getting away for a whole weekend, we did it, and we were pleasantly surprised. We had a wonderful weekend and received what God had in store for us. Of course, we did not realize that He had in mind our becoming the Clergy Couple for the team for future weekends, but as God surprises us all, and that is exactly what happened.

This article isn’t long enough to tell the history of our journey to Marriage Encounter, but we can tell you that God’s plan was not our plan. I thought my ministry, besides my duties at St. Pius X, would be with Holy Angels or the nursing homes. We are very grateful to have the counsel of all who have gone before us in National Marriage Encounter, including Fr. Bob Inzina, Rev. Wesley and JoAnn Pittman and Deacon Clary and Mary Nash. We are new and learning, but feel very blessed to be able to help the faithful of our community enjoy, grow and fulfill their Sacrament of Marriage with more understanding, dedication and joy.

Genesis makes it clear. Marriage is a place where people develop the capacity to love in a way that reveals God. This passage says a human being cannot be the image of God in isolation. Only in relationship with one another in LOVE are we most truly God’s image. Marriage is a HOLY way of life.

When a marriage is enhanced by a M.E weekend, everyone in the family and community benefits. Not only us as couples, but our friends, community and children are blessed by the grace given to us during this time.

My wife and I found we do have a good marriage. Before we went to Marriage Encounter we were flying through life and getting by. After our weekend, I was able to let her completely into my life and share deeper than I ever had before. I was able to love her and myself with a beautiful joy that came deep from within. I discovered my wife and who she is, not who I thought she was, more deeply than before. We were very good communicators and we did not think we needed help in that area, but since then our spiritual and physical togetherness has become better.

Little did we know that when Fr. Calvo started Marriage Encounter, it would become the “in thing to do.” According to a recent Good Morning America, you should give your marriage a check-up just as you check out your furnace, your car and your health. They suggested counseling sessions to see how you are doing in your marriage. Marriage Encounter has been offering this for years and you do not have to keep going back every week.

A Marriage Encounter weekend introduces you to a communication technique that offers unlimited growth in your relationship. This weekend is designed for all married couples, young and old, in all walks of life. Through focusing on your spouse you will be amazed at the renewed closeness that can result in just one weekend.

National Marriage Encounter is presently a non-denominational, Christian weekend experience which helps you to understand the part God plays in a Christian marriage. For Catholics it is our Sacrament that brings grace and blessings into our lives.

The next Marriage Encounter is scheduled at Camp Harris in Minden on Feb. 13-15. You can call Deacon Mark and Libby Campbell at 318-425-3901, or email [email protected] or Maureen and Bob Barber at 318-746-3978, or email them at [email protected].

There is no such thing as a perfect marriage. There are only imperfect men and

women who marry to find happiness in each other’s company. The fact is that many of us struggle and face challenges as a couple that we never imagined we would encounter on the day we said “I do.” The marriage enrichment program on January 9 and 10, led by Chris and Kathy Owen (Director of Family Life and Pro-Life of the Lake Charles Diocese), will share a blueprint for a loving marriage that is based on the Christian belief that God made the relationship of husband and wife in His own image. Marital happiness is achieved when couples love as God loves. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to fall in love with your spouse all over again! The cost is $40 per couple. To register or for more information, please call Dotye Sue Stanford at 318-841-8208.

All Middle Schoolers and

High Schoolers are invited to come Thursday, January 29th to St. Joseph Church, Shreveport in the Activity center from 6:30-8:00 p.m. for an amazing night with our guest speaker Mike Patin.

Mike has been in youth ministry for many years and has been all around the world for youth events. He brings a remarkable “new light” on the good news of God’s presence among us, with his humor and energy. He has been to over 95 dioceses around the world and led hundreds of teens at World Youth Day in 2007 in Vancover, Canada.

Mike Patin


January CalenDar

Jan. 1: New Years Day Catholic Center & Catholic Schools Closed Octave Day of Christmas The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God World Day of Prayer and PeaceJan. 2: Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen, bishops, doctorsJan. 3: The Most Holy Name of JesusJan. 4: The Epiphany of the LordJan. 5: Catholic Center & Catholic Schools Reopen John Neumann, bishopJan. 6: Blessed André Bessette, religiousJan. 7: Raymond of Peñafort, priest Orthodox ChristmasJan. 8: Feast of Our Lady of Prompt SuccorJan. 9: Deadline for Catholic Connection February IssueJan. 11: Baptism of the LordJan. 13: Hilary, bishop and doctorJan. 14: Protecting God's Children, Catholic Center, 6:30pmJan. 15: Advisory Board for Religious, Catholic Center, 11:30am Serra Club Meeting and Mass, Catholic Center, 12:00pmJan. 17: Anthony, abbotJan. 18: Week of Prayer for Christian UnityJan. 19: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. HolidayJan. 20: Fabian, pope & martyr; Sebastian, martyrJan. 21: Agnes, virgin & martyrJan. 22: Day of Prayer and Penance for LifeJan. 24: Liturgical-Catechetical Conference: Models of the Eucharist Catholic Center, 9:00am Second Collection: Catholic Schools Francis de Sales, bishop & doctorJan. 25: Second Collection: Catholic SchoolsJan. 26: Timothy & Titus, bishopsJan. 27: Angela Merici, virginJan. 28: All Schools Mass, Loyola College Prep, 9:00am Holy Hour for Vocations, Mary Queen of Peace, 6:00pm Thomas Aquinas, priest & doctorJan. 29: LA Conference of Catholic Bishops Meeting, Baton RougeJan. 30: All Schools Mass, Jesus the Good Shepherd, 9:00amJan. 31: John Bosco, priest

All events are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice.

Calling CatholiCs home

DeaF ministry oFFers sign language Classes

During the 2009 Lenten season, parishes throughout the diocese are taking the opportunity to welcome back those

who were “once Catholic” by beginning the program, Calling Catholics Home.

The Calling Catholics Home program has been initiated to reach out to those who have left the Catholic Church. As Catholics we know it is important to recognize hurts, apologize, make amends and move forward.

Fallen-away Catholics are people who for one reason or another have stopped attending the Catholic Church and no longer participate in the sacraments.

This will be the fifth year for this successful and educational program in our diocese with more people attending each year. Please keep this program in mind while visiting with family and friends who might be fallen-away Catholics and encourage them to attend.

This six week program will begin in Shreveport and Bossier City on February 16 at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans in Shreveport.

T he Diocese of Shreveport Deaf Ministry in conjunction with the Hands of Praise Deaf Ministry and

the members of the Northwest Louisiana Deaf Community will be offering a sign language class for hearing persons interested in communicating with the deaf. The class will also be a gateway for those interested in interpreting in the religious setting. It is set to begin February 5 through April 30. The class will be held at the Hands of Praise Deaf Ministry building, which is located at 521 Barksdale Blvd., Bossier City.

We are also excited to announce a workshop seminar focused on how to interpret in all religious settings. If you are interpreting, signing songs, or know some signs and would like to learn more, a group of interested people are meeting at the Broadmoor Branch Library on Saturday, January 10 at 10 a.m. Come, meet, learn and share your faith. The library is at 1212 Captain Shreve Dr, Shreveport, LA 71105. For more information or to register for these exciting classes, go to www.dioshpt.org/dfministry/deafministry.html, or email Deacon Freeman Ligon at [email protected] or Peggy Gray at [email protected].

by deaCon freeMan liGon

24 Catholic Connection January 2009

D I O C E S E O F S H R E V E P O R T3500 Fairfield Ave. • Shreveport, LA 71104

Fairfield

high sChool rallyThe High School Rally titled, "Encourage the Storm" took place at St. Joseph Church in Sheveport on November 15. High School students gathered to hear Bishop Michael Duca talk about how God is calling them.

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