Diocese to Offer Course “After the New Testament”

May 03, 2013 jrinaudo No comments

Jim McGill of the University of Dallas’ School of Ministry is offering a year long course on early Christianity entitled “After the New Testament.” The class will meet monthly on Saturdays, September – May, from 9am – 1pm at the Catholic Center in Shreveport. Everyone is welcomed to register for the course. There will be no homework or tests. There will be a textbook with assigned readings.

Tuition for the course is $585 through May 31 and $615 after May 31. Limited scholarships are available from the School of Ministry on an “as need” basis. Scholarships for those directly involved in a parish ministry will be available on “as need” basis from the Office of Catechesis. Registration will close Aug. 15.

To register or get more info, contact Luisa Salomon – lsalomon@udallas.edu, or 972-721-4118. To inquire about diocesan scholarships contact Shelly Bole – sbole@dioshpt.org or 318-219-7302.

Mission Possible: Weekend Adventure Camp for Teen Boys Blends Outdoor Fun and Deep Spirituality

April 02, 2013 jrinaudo No comments

by Sam Alzheimer, Vianney Vocations

What gets young people engaged in the Church? Is it a connection with other young Catholics? Is it a deeper understanding of the faith? What exactly should we do at youth events? Fun stuff? Intensive Bible study? Pizza? Eucharistic adoration?

These are questions youth ministers have asked themselves for decades. Most believe there has to be a balance of playful camaraderie and rich spiritual content for young people to encounter Christ and find their place in the Church.

To strike that balance, the diocese created Mission Possible, a weekend summer camp for teen boys. It involves heavy doses of outdoor fun with serious prayer, led by our seminarians and Fr. Matthew Long, the youngest priest in our diocese.

Patrick X, a 16-year-old who attended Mission Possible last year with his two brothers, summed up his experience succinctly: “Dude, camp was awesome!”

The draw for teen boys is obvious. One entire afternoon is spent on a high-elements rope course, including a 40-ft tall zip line that sends boys hurtling through the woods. Then there’s the giant “earth ball” used for rough-and-tumble, soccer-style tournaments. A 10,000 sq. foot wooden maze has teams of boys scrambling to find the pieces to solve a giant puzzle. Add in an oversized slip-n-slide and water balloon launchers that can send a balloon the length of a football field, and you’ve got the perfect ingredients for a weekend of all-boy fun.
But the fun is only half the story. Mission Possible is also a boot camp for solid Catholic spirituality. Inspiring talks, solemn Masses and heartfelt rosaries are all part of the weekend. The aim is for boys to deepen their relationship with Christ and help them begin to answer the question, “What is God calling me to do with my life?”

Most parents recognize the need for spiritual training for their sons. As boys mature through adolescence they face serious moral challenges in society. Many Catholic teens “check out” of the Church after receiving confirmation. The exodus of college-aged Catholics is well-documented. Thus the high school years are a critical time; teens will either choose Christ or not, run toward the Church or run away from it. For parents who want to encourage their sons to make the Faith their own, Mission Possible is a good choice.

While the camp is sponsored by the Vocations Office, the purpose is not to usher teens right into seminary, said Fr. Matthew Long. “I just want to help young people encounter Christ, whether they’re called to priesthood or to build strong Catholic families in the future. If our young people draw close to Jesus, the priestly vocations will come in time.”

Mission Possible begins Friday afternoon, May 31, and ends on Sunday afternoon, June 2. While there were just 15 attendees at last year’s camp, the diocese is looking to triple that number this year. Plans are also afoot for a girls’ summer camp in 2014.

For more information and to register for Mission Possible, visit www.shreveportvocations.com.

John Paul II Exhibit in New Orleans

February 26, 2013 jrinaudo No comments

NEW ORLEANS – The Archdiocese of New Orleans, in association with the Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas, will host “Portrait of Faith: John Paul II in Life & Art,” March 8-June 16 at the New Orleans Museum of Art.

The exhibit, which will include personal items of Blessed John Paul II, never-before-seen photographs of his historic 1987 visit to New Orleans and sacred artwork from three contemporary artists, has been designed to reach people of all faiths on many different levels, said Wendy Vitter, archdiocesan coordinator.

“I was here when we welcomed Blessed John Paul to the archdiocese, and it’s an honor for us to have him come back in a different way and a spiritual way,” Archbishop Gregory Aymond said. “This will allow us to relive his visit here and recall the great blessing of his being the chief shepherd of the Catholic Church.”

Vitter said the exhibit will have something for everyone.

“If you love history, you will be looking at history through the photographs from 25 years ago,” she said. “If you love art, there will be many pieces of sacred art. If you’ve lost your faith along the way, come and try to be inspired. If you already have faith, hopefully it will be deepened through this exhibit.”

Given the way the civic and ecumenical communities in New Orleans rallied to welcome the pope in 1987, Vitter said Archbishop Aymond wanted to make sure that the museum exhibit was designed to encourage interfaith dialogue. Faith leaders of every major religion eagerly accepted an invitation to be co-hosts, Vitter said.

“This is not just a Catholic exhibit,” Vitter said. “We have leaders of many faiths to serve as co-hosts, and we encourage their congregations to join with them out of respect for this man. He was a great man who opened his arms to all, and we’d like to do the same.”

The exhibit will include a 15-minute video to be used as an introductory part of the tour. It will offer reflections from Archbishop Aymond, Dr. Norman Francis of Xavier University of Louisiana, Rabbi Edward Cohn, a member of the St. Augustine Marching 100, which played for the pope, and many others.

Vitter said she is indebted to NOMA director Susan Taylor and her associate, exhibit co-curator Lisa Rotondo-McCord, and also to Scott Peck, curator of the Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas, and R.J. Machacek, exhibit designer, for their assistance.

Last fall, Peck offered to take the lead in securing artwork and defining the theme of the exhibit, and all of his time and expertise have been a gift to the archdiocese, Vitter said. In 2005, the Dallas museum suffered a massive fire that burned nearly everything in its extensive collection of sacred art except for a zucchetto once worn by Pope John Paul II.

“The fire in 2005 was so devastating that it melted the steel beams of the museum,” Vitter said. “There were a few ashes on the zucchetto, but it was just sitting there in its case. Scott told me, ‘I just feel like it’s the hand of God telling me we need to come and help you.’”

The exhibit will be open six days a week (closed Mondays): Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, active military personnel and members of groups of 10 or more; and $6 for children ages 7-17. Groups are allowed in on their own from 9 to 11 a.m., every day except Monday.

For information, call toll free 1 (866) 608-4799, visit www.JPIIinNOLA.com or email Vitter at wvitter@archdiocese-no.org

by Peter Finney, Jr., Clarion Herald

Rwandan Survivors to Speak at the Cathedral

January 28, 2013 jrinaudo No comments

Immaculee Ilibagiza and Fr. Ubald to share experiences and message of faith

Faith, hope and forgiveness, especially during the darkest times in life, will be the topics of an upcoming weekend of special events at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans from February 22-24, 2013.

Immaculėe Ilibagiza, survivor of the Rwanda genocide in 1994 and best-selling author of Left to Tell and Our Lady of Kibeho, and Fr. Ubald Rugirangoga, of the Cyangugu Diocese in Rwanda, will be the featured speakers as they tell their stories of how prayer and forgiveness helped them survive during one of the most brutal genocides in recent history.

Immaculėe, a member of the Tutsi tribe, hid in a small bathroom for 91 days with seven other women as members of the rival Hutus massacred one million people throughout Rwanda, including the majority of her family. During her time in hiding, she prayed the rosary, read the Bible and asked God to show her how to forgive the killers. Her amazing story of survival and forgiveness is an inspiration to all.

Fr. Ubald has been a Roman Catholic priest for 25 years in Rwanda. During the 1994 genocide, he lost over 80 members of his family and over 45,000 of his parishioners were exterminated. He travels around the world preaching healing, forgiveness and reconciliation and is an advisor to the Government of Rwanda as the country continues to rebuild after the devastation of the genocide.

The weekend retreat will begin on Friday, February 22, at 6:00 p.m. with a special “Meet and Greet” reception with Immaculėe. She will begin her presentation at 6:30 p.m. and continue on Saturday, February 23, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Fr. Ubald will lead a Healing Prayer Service on Saturday, beginning at 2:00 p.m., followed by reconciliation prior to the Saturday Vigil Mass. On Sunday, February 24, at 9:45 a.m., Fr. Ubald will speak on his “11 Points of Forgiveness” and his Center for the Secret of Peace as part of St. John’s Adult Faith Formation series. A collection basket will be passed in support of Fr. Ubald’s Center for the Secret of Peace.

Tickets are $50 each for the Friday “Meet and Greet,” and $30 each for the Friday and Saturday retreat. Fr. Ubald’s talk on Sunday is free to the public. For more information, please call the Cathedral office at 221-5296 or visit the website at www.sjbcathedral.org.

by Lucy Medvec, Cathedral of St. John Berchmans

Encounter Youth Rally

January 28, 2013 jrinaudo No comments

Click here to download the flyer.

What’s “Encounter Faith?” Encounter is what we do as Catholics every time we take the Eucharist. Encounter is what happened when Christ met St. Paul on the Damascus road. Encounters with Christ are what change people’s lives. As 11 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has passed away behold, the new has come.” (NAB) Encountering Christ changes people in a real metaphysical way. We don’t always see God touching the lives of others, but we know the effects immediately. That is what Encounter is always about. And Encounter Faith is an annual day-long retreat and rally designed to uplift the young people of our diocese with spiritual impact.

It is the Year of Faith and in keeping with that theme, I want to invite you to Encounter Faith. Catholic musician and speaker Aaron Thompson will be with us to deepen our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Please join me for this exciting experience of connecting with Christ.

Where? The Catholic Center, 3500 Fairfield Ave., Shreveport

When? Saturday March 2, 2013 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

How? Fill out the forms sent in your church’s registration packet to your Church or parish. Mail check, t-shirt orders and
forms to Office of Youth and Young Adult Office, 3500 Fairfield Ave. Shreveport, LA 71104 by Feb. 18, 2013.

Discount? Yes! If you register your group before Feb. 18, the cost is only $15. T-Shirt order deadline is Feb. 18th as well.

What about? If preregistration is missed the cost is $20 per person. Additional students will be noted at the door and your
parish will be invoiced.

What ages? Encounter Faith is for middle school and high school ages; specific tracts available for each age group.

Any food? Yes, continental breakfast provided from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. for free. Please bring at least $10 for lunch that will be
provided by the Knights of Columbus.

Questions? Please contact the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at 318-868-4441. We can provide additional e-mail packets to anyone. Non-Catholics are always welcome, we just ask you to let us know which church is bringing them. Mass
will be at 4:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity to make an impact on our youth! You don’t want to miss this!

by John Vining, Director of Youth & Yong Adult Ministry

Consecrated Life Mass

January 11, 2013 jrinaudo No comments

On Sunday, January 20, 2013, we will gather to celebrate the presence of religious men and women in the Diocese of Shreveport at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans at the 5:30 p.m. Mass. This diocesan celebration coincides with the celebration conducted in Rome by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. This is an excellent opportunity to encourage vocation awareness, as well as celebrate the jubilees of religious serving in our diocese.

Two men will be celebrating special milestones in their lives as members of religious communities in the Catholic Church. Our jubilarians this year are: Fr. Joseph Kallookalam, CMI (50 years) and Brother Gordon Hayes, OFM (50 years).

All priests, deacons, religious and parishioners in the diocese are encouraged to attend this celebration. All teachers and students in our Religious Education Programs and Catholic Schools are encouraged to take this opportunity during January to raise an awareness of the importance of religious vocations in our Church.
This is an excellent opportunity for those of us in the Diocese of Shreveport to show appreciation for the dedication and service provided by these men and women. For more information, please email Sister Marilyn Vassallo, CSJ, Coordinator for Religious at agoelden@dioshpt.org.

by Sr. Marilyn Vassallo, Coordinator for Religious

Second Collections: Catholic Campaign for Human Development

October 30, 2012 jrinaudo No comments

by Fr. Rothell Price

Collection Dates: November 10 & 11
Announcement Dates: October 28 & November 4

The door to the “Year of Faith” has swung open! Our Holy Father Benedict XVI and his brother bishops opened these 14 months of renewing our faith on October 11. Through union with Jesus in prayer, study of the Bible and teachings of the Lord and His Church, renewed participation in the Sacraments and publicly witnessing to our faith in Jesus Christ, this year will prove powerfully beneficial to each Christian person and the world.

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development provides us with a profound opportunity to connect more intentionally with the Lord Jesus, advance his mission to show forth the Father, join our generosity and sacrifice to his, and give joyful witness to our love for him in the least of his brothers and sisters. Recall the saying, “If you want to feed a person for a day, give them a fish. If you want to feed that person for life, teach them to fish.” The mission, nature and purpose of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development is to develop each person so they will be equipped to provide their own necessities for life and contribute to the overall health of our society.

“For over 40 years, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has funded organizations that work to end poverty and defend human dignity in neighborhoods throughout the United States. With your generous support to the CCHD Collection, we are able to use your gifts of treasure for efforts that help end poverty.” (USCCB) Fight poverty in America and defend human dignity by supporting this work of the bishops in their mandate to present Jesus Christ to our fellow Americans in those endeavors that go beyond the short term to the joy of ending it.

“For over 43.6 million Americans, there is a thin line: between eviction and home, between hunger and health, between unemployment and work, between anxiety and stability. This line is the Poverty Line. For a family of four, that line is $21,834 a year. The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty by funding community programs that encourage independence. You are essential to its success. Your generous donation will give those in poverty the support they need to make lasting changes” (USCCB). Jesus Christ forever changed and redeemed a wounded world; so can you. Our diocese receives large grants from this campaign. I ask for your generous participation in the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

Fr. Rothell Price, Vicar General, is the Director of Special Collections.

Visit Your Local Catholic Pumpkin Patch

October 23, 2012 jrinaudo No comments

October brings a stunning spray of orange that covers the lawn of Mary, Queen of Peace in South Bossier. The parishioners of Mary, Queen of Peace, under the leadership of Deacon Michael Straub, are hosting the 2nd Annual Pumpkin Patch in an effort to support the church’s various youth programs. Fellowship abounds as community members pile in and peruse the patch for that perfect, picturesque pumpkin. Please consider visiting our patch if it’s a pumpkin you are pondering. We are located five miles south of the Jimmie Davis Highway in Bossier City. We would love to help you and appreciate your helping our youth! We will be in place for the duration of October, even through Halloween evening.

And, don’t forget our Pumpkin Patch Carnival on Saturday, Oct. 27th from 5p to 8p. Only $3 admission for all the trunk or treating and gaming playing they can stand! Also, we will have burgers and hot dogs, and cotton candy and other goodies! Oh, you can also have a chance to “dunk the deacon” as well as others in our dunking booth. Come join us for the annual fun and don’t forget to wear your costumes!

Blessing of the Graves

October 10, 2012 jrinaudo No comments

The Church seeks to help the faithful departed by earnest prayer to God, and in particular, by remembrance of them on All Souls Day and throughout the month of November. In the communion of the saints, the communion of Christ’s members with one another, the Church obtains spiritual help for those who have preceded us in faith. This spiritual communion brings the consolation of hope to us who remember with gratitude, love and devotion those who have gone before us in faith. It is in this spirit that we commemorate our faithful departed on All Souls Day and bless their graves. We entrust them once again to the purifying and life giving love of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our priests and deacons will offer prayers at our local cemeteries on the weekend closest to All Souls Day, our annual commemoration of the faithful departed on the following dates:

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Saint Joseph Cemetery, Shreveport, 2:00 p.m. – Rev. Msgr. Earl V. Provenza, V.F.

Centuries Memorial Cemetery, Shreveport, 2:00 p.m. – Rev. Francis Kamau, F.M.H.

Forest Park Cemetery East, Shreveport, 2:00 p.m. – Deacon John Basco

Forest Park Cemetery West, Shreveport, 2:00 p.m. – Rev. Matthew Long

Lincoln Park Cemetery, Shreveport, 2:00 p.m. – Deacon Burt Ainsworth

Rose-Neath Cemetery, Bossier City, 2:00 p.m. – Deacon Freeman Ligon

Round Grove Cemetery, Shreveport, 2:00 p.m. – Rev. Andre McGrath, OFM

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Hill Crest Cemetery, Haughton, 2:00 p.m. - Deacon Michael Straub

Carver Cemetery, Shreveport, 3:00 p.m. – Rev. Michael Thang’wa, FMH

Please contact Father Rothell Price at 318-868-4441, ext. 259 with any questions.

October is Respect Life Month

October 02, 2012 jrinaudo No comments

40 Days for Life in Shreveport Bossier
Since September 26 (and through November 4), our community has been united in a tremendous campaign for prayer to end abortion. The 40 Days for Life Shreveport-Bossier Team would like to thank all who have participated. We would like to assure you that your prayers are being answered:

• Internationally, there are a record 314 campaigns in cities across North America, South America, Europe and more!
• Nationally, the number of crisis pregnancy centers in America is increasing, while the number of abortion centers is decreasing!
• Locally, our recent sidewalk counseling initiative has confirmed the saving of many babies.
The campaign is made up of three key components:
• Prayer and fasting: inviting people of faith throughout Shreveport-Bossier and across the world to join together for 40 days of prayer and fasting to end abortion.
• Peaceful Vigil: standing for life through a 40-day peaceful public witness outside the local abortion center at 210 Kings Hwy.
• Community Outreach: taking a positive pro-life message to every corner of our community through church and school outreach, the media, and public visibility.

Mobilize your church members to attend the Halfway Rally on October 13 at 10:00 a.m. at the abortion center at 210 Kings Hwy, and the Victory Celebration candlelight vigil on November 4 at dusk at the abortion center. Please join us! Contact Chris Davis chris@40daysforlifesb.com, or visit the local campaign website at www.40DaysForLifeSB.com.

by Chris Davis,Campaign Director

One Life Pro-Life Ministry Events
The Cathedral of St. John Berchmans One Life Ministry will host several events for Respect Life Month.

• Free Movie Night featuring October Baby on Saturday, October 6 at 5:15 p.m. in the multi-room of the St. John Berchmans School.

• Rosary for Life on Respect Life Sunday, October 7 in the Cathedral at 10:15 a.m. to pray for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death.

• Bake Sale after the 11:00 Mass on Sunday, October 7. Proceeds will go to the new billboard campaign coming soon on Kings Highway in Shreveport.

• Diaper Drive for Catholic Charities of Shreveport’s Gabriel’s Closet, a ministry for new mothers and infants in need. Diapers can be dropped off at the Cathedral October 1 – 14.

Plan to Attend Bishop Duca’s 3rd Annual Pro-Life Banquet
During the Respect Life month of October, we would like to begin getting the word out for Bishop Duca’s 3rd Annual Pro-life Banquet which will be held on January 31, 2013 at Eastridge Country Club in Shreveport. The guest speaker is going to be Karen Garnett, the Executive Director of Respect Life Ministries of the Diocese of Dallas. Tickets will be $50 per seat/ $400 per table. Proceeds will benefit pro-life work in the Diocese of Shreveport.

Karen Garnett and her team built a solid, grassroots-based organization that has brought the pro-life message to the churches and schools of the Diocese of Dallas. Under Karen’s leadership, with nine distinct ministries, 38 full- and part-time staff members and hundreds of volunteers, the Catholic Pro-Life Committee has been heralded as the largest and most effective diocesan pro-life organization in the world, and a model for the nation.

by Sarah Barlow

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