Alexandria, LA 71306-0417

Diocese of Alexandria

Volume XLI, No. 2

The Church Today
P.O. Box 7417

February 14, 2011

St. Anthony-Bunkie parishioners

On the
Inside March for Life
Louisiana’s first March for
Life attracts thousands

Louisiana’s first March for

Life held Jan. 22 in Baton Rouge
on the 38th anniversary of Roe
vs Wade attracted thousands of
supporters from across the state
and surrounding areas. Read
more on pg. 3.

Fire destroys 155-year-old

church in Washington, La

Immaculate Conception
Church, a 155-year-old historic
church in Washington, La.,
burned to the ground Jan. 14.
Read how it happened on pg. 6.

Father Duane Stenzel

dies at age 83

Father Duane Stenzel,

O.F.M., a Franciscan priest and
national program director for Ra-
dio Maria died Jan. 18. He was
83. Read more about him and
his contributions to Catholic Ra-
dio on pg. 8
Father Jack Michalchuk, pastor
of St. Anthony Church in Bunkie,
and many of his parishioners,
marched in the first March for Life
Jan. 22 in Baton Rouge.
Page 2 February 14, 2011

Bishops support 3 bills to strengthen protections for life

WA S H I N G TO N — T h r e e
bills currently in the U.S. House
of Representatives would help
ensure that adequate protections
are in place for the consciences
of taxpayers and health care
providers and against federal
funding of abortion. In three
letters, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo
of Galveston-Houston, chairman
of the Committee on Pro-Life
Activities of the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops
(USCCB), urged House members
to support the bills.
The Protect Life Act, H.R.
358, Cardinal DiNardo wrote in a
Jan. 20 letter, would address flaws
in the new health care reform law
and bring it “into line with policies
on abortion and conscience
rights that have long prevailed in
other federal health programs.”
It would do so by preventing
funds under the new law from
subsidizing abortion or health
care plans that cover abortion,
protecting the consciences of
health care providers who decline
to participate in an abortion, and
ensuring that the law doesn’t
override state laws on abortion
and conscience.
In a second letter Jan.
20, Cardinal DiNardo urged
support for the Abortion Non-
Discrimination Act (ANDA),
H.R. 361, which will codify into
law the longstanding policy of the
Hyde/Weldon amendment and
give health care entities that do not
provide abortions legal recourse
when faced with government-
sponsored discrimination. The
Office for Civil Rights at the
Department of Health and Human
Services would be designated to
investigate complaints.
“Passage of ANDA is
urgently needed to protect the
civil rights of health professionals
and other health care entities,”
the cardinal wrote. “This bill
reaffirms a basic principle: No
health care entity should be
forced by government to perform
or participate in abortions.”
In a January 21 letter,
Cardinal DiNardo also voiced
his support for the bipartisan
No Taxpayer Funding for
Abortion Act, H.R. 3, which
would “write into permanent law
a policy on which there has been
strong popular and congressional
agreement for over 35 years: The
federal government should not
use taxpayers’ money to support
and promote elective abortion.”
The cardinal wrote, “Even public
officials who take a ‘pro-choice’
stand on abortion, and courts that
have insisted on the validity of a
constitutional ‘right’ to abortion,
have agreed that the government
can validly use its funding power
to encourage childbirth over
abortion.”
Cardinal DiNardo noted that
this agreement is so longstanding
that, during the recent health care
debate, many assumed it was
already in place at all levels of
the federal government, when
in fact the Hyde amendment is
only a rider to the annual Labor/
HHS appropriations bill and only
governs funds under that act.
The cardinal noted, “The
benefit of H.R. 3 is that it would
prevent problems and confusions
on abortion funding in future
legislation. Federal health bills
could be debated in terms of
their ability to promote the goal
of universal health care, instead
of being mired in debates about
one lethal procedure that most
Americans know is not truly
‘health care’ at all.”

Pope John Paul II to be beatified May 1 in Rome

By Carol Zimmermann
Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON (CNS)
-- The news of Pope John Paul
II’s upcoming beatification
was welcomed by many as a
confirmation of something they
already felt from the moment
the shouts of “Santo subito!”
(“Sainthood now!”) reverberated
through St. Peter’s Square at the
pontiff’s funeral.
Many in the crowd were
young people who had a special
affinity to Pope John Paul, whose
pontificate started and ended with
a special greeting to young people.
During his installation ceremony
in 1978, the newly named pope
told youths: “You are the future of
the world, you are the hope of the
church, you are my hope.”
And his last words, reportedly
delivered hours before his death,
were also to youths, in response
to the thousands of young people
praying and singing in St. Peter’s
Square.
“I sought you and now you
have come to me. ... I thank you,”
said the pontiff, who died April 2,
2005 at age 84.
Basilian Father Thomas
Rosica, founder and CEO
of Canada’s Salt and Light
Television, said it was no
coincidence that he heard the
news of the pontiff’s beatification
while attending a meeting in
Spain for the upcoming World
Youth Day.
“A thunderous, sustained,
standing ovation followed the
announcement,” he said in a Jan.
14 statement.
The priest, national director
for World Youth Day 2002 in
Toronto, said the date for the
beatification, May 1, is also no
coincidence. Not only is it Divine
Mercy Sunday, but it is also the
feast of St. Joseph the Worker,
known as “May Day” on secular
calendars.
“Communists and socialists
around the world commemorate
May Day with marches, speeches
and festivals,” he said, adding
that it was fitting that “the man
who was a unique instrument and
messenger in bringing down the
Iron Curtain and the deadly reign
of communism and godlessness
will be declared blessed” that day.
Father Rosica said the
announcement is “the formal
POPE JOHN PAUL II PICTURED IN LOS ANGELES IN 1987. A relaxed Pope confirmation of what many of us
John Paul II answers questions from young people during a 1987 teleconference always knew as we experienced
in Los Angeles. Pope Benedict XVI approved a miracle attributed to Pope John the Holy Father in action
Paul’s intercession, clearing the way for the late pope’s beatification May 1, throughout his pontificate”
Divine Mercy Sunday. (CNS photo/Joe Rimkus Jr.) particularly among youths.
February 14, 2011
First Louisiana Life March draws thousands
By Laura Deavers, Editor
Catholic Commentator
“You are the leaders of the pro-
life movement,” the crowd of over
3,000 participating in the first Loui-
siana Life March Jan. 22 was told
as they stood at the foot of the State
Capitol steps in Baton Rouge. Reli-
gious and elected officials said they
take their direction from the people.
“You are the leaders who are
going to bring us to an abortion-free
nation; an abortion-free Louisiana,”
U. S. Sen. David Vitter told the pro-
life advocates who had just walked
the .8 miles from the Old State
Capitol to show support for life
from conception to natural death.
Marchers had come from all over
Louisiana to show their desire to
put an end to abortion in their state
and the nation.
The march took place on the
38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade,
the U.S. Supreme Court decision
making it legal for abortions to be
performed in the United States.
Bishop Robert W. Muench
YOUNG PEOPLE lead the Life March carrying the landmark banner. Youth
groups and families came from all over the state to attend the first Life March
in the state with hope that Louisiana will be the first state to abolish abortion.
Page 3
gave the opening prayer for the
program. “We respect human life
from conception until natural death
with dignity,” prayed the bishop.
“We boldly and unapologetically
express our conscious and consci-
entious commitment to be witness-
es of your commandment against
murder.”
Vitter said he would be attend-
ing the March for Life in Washing-
ton, D.C., on Jan. 24, and the next
day he would be reintroducing sev-
eral pieces of pro-life legislation.
To the crowd’s approval, he said
the legislation would concern:
Title 10 Family Planning Act
to end taxpayer funding of abor-
tions;
The Abortion Non-Discrimi-
nation Act to make sure all health
care providers have complete free- LOUISIANA’S FIRST LIFE MARCH. Thousands of people gathered on the steps of the Louisiana State Capitol to hear
dom of conscience and do not have pro-life speakers. (Photos by Laura Deavers)
to perform abortions;
The Pregnant Women Health because of (the pro-life members Remarking that Bishop and so they did not raise them to be
and Safety Act is to make sure of Congress) it will be because of Muench had used many of the bibli- anything.”
pregnant women will get full health you,” Vitter said pointing to the cal quotes he had planned to use in The pro-life movement is one
care protection for themselves. crowd. “Every poll indicates that his talk, Land said, “He and I are the Supreme Court vote away from put-
“When we prevail, it won’t be Americans are becoming more pro- liberals’ worst nightmare,” because ting Roe v. Wade “on the ash heap
life, not less. We are moving in the of their work to stop abortion. “The of history where it belongs,” Land
right direction.” Catholics and the Baptists are go- emphasized. “The Supreme Court
Richard Land, president of the ing to get together and put an end to cannot tell us what is right or wrong.
Southern Baptist Convention’s Eth- abortion.” It is only nine justices who can say
ics and Religious Liberty Commit- Referring to recent polls that what is legal or illegal.”
tee, was the featured speaker for the have been taken, Land said 50 per- Lynette Shaffett, a Redemptor-
program. cent of Americans now describe ist High School campus minister, ac-
“Between 50 million and 55 themselves as pro-life; while 42 companied 60 RHS students for Life
million babies have been killed since percent say they are pro-choice. on the Louisiana Life March.
1973, the year of Roe v. Wade,” said “We are winning,” exclaimed Land. Other RHS students left Jan. 20
Land. “This means one in three or “This is the fifth survey in a row” with seven buses of young people
one in four of all babies conceived that has shown a similar shift in pub- and chaperones to attend the March
have been aborted. In the last 38 lic opinion. for Life in Washington.
years, the most dangerous place that Land said the numbers of Shaffett said the Louisiana Life
an American has been is in his or her young people participating in pro- March provided those Redemptorist
mother’s womb between concep- life marches and rallies have im- students who cannot go to Washing-
tion and birth,” said Land. “We have pressed him. “The pro-life people ton for the national march an oppor-
between 25 percent and 33 percent have had their babies and raised tunity to take a public stand against
fatality rate between conception and them to be pro-life. The pro-choice abortion.
birth.” parents have not had their babies,
Page 4
It seems like I am away more
than at home this time of year. As
you can see from the photo-story in
this issue, my trip to Nigeria was
extremely interesting and reward-
ing. Father Remi was a very good
‘tour guide’ and managed to make
sure everything went as planned.
I recently returned from the
trip to the Holy Land during which
I had the privilege of visiting a
number of the shrines and historic
sites such as Capernaum, Naza-
reth, and Jerusalem. The schedule
was tight, but the trip was very
worthwhile. One of the highlights
was the opportunity to celebrate
the Eucharist at the Cenacle. This
Revised Bible offers more clarity for today’s Catholic
By Patricia Zapor
Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON (CNS)
-- The revised New American
Bible that will be released on Ash
Wednesday, March 9, may seem
most notably different to casual
readers for its efforts at providing
context and clarity in how the
passages fit together, according to
the coordinator of its publication.
“It will be like going from
regular TV to high-definition,”
said Mary Elizabeth Sperry,
associate director of New
American Bible utilization for
the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops. “You’ll have the same
programs but more clarity, more
detail.”
What is being called the New
American Bible Revised Edition,
or NABRE, will include the first
revised translation since 1970
of the Old Testament. The New
Testament translation is the same
as in 1986’s Second Edition of the
New American Bible.
The NABRE also will include
the updated Book of Psalms,
which was revised in three phases
between 1991 and 2010 and has
been included in Third Edition
versions of the New American
Bible published since 1991.
The new Bible will be
available in an assortment of print,
audio and electronic formats,
from a variety of publishers.
Individual publishers will roll
out their versions on their own
schedules. For instance, Oxford
University Press announced its
line of compact NABRE editions
will be available by Easter, April
24, and its study Bibles will be on
was impossible until recently.
Even Pope Benedict XVI was not
given permission. I have recently
accepted the invitation to be the
spiritual director for the pilgrim-
age sponsored by the Knights of
the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem in
April 2012 so my recent trip pro-
NEW AMERICAN BIBLE. Copies of the New American Bible, a Catholic Bible
in English first published in 1970, are pictured in the bookstore at the Basilica
of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington Feb. 2.
Revisions were published in 1986 and now this Bible has undergone its first
major update since then, with a revised edition to be released March 9, Ash
Wednesday, and made in available various print, electronic and audio formats.
(CNS photo/Bob Roller)
the market for fall 2011 courses.
The NABRE’s publication
will not affect what Scripture
texts are used for Mass. The
Lectionary translation has already
been updated recently.
Sperry explained that some of
the updating in the Old Testament
resulted from developments in
biblical scholarship since the
last time it was translated. For
instance, recent archaeological
discoveries have provided better
texts, which affected scholarly
views on how certain passages
should be translated, she said.
The goal of retranslating
the Old Testament was to “get it
closer to the original language,”
Sperry said. Scholars start with
the original Hebrew or Greek
vided a good preview.
The season of Lent will soon
begin. Because Easter is very late
this year, almost as late as is pos-
sible and, therefore, Lent does not
begin until March 9. These days
offer us the chance to once again
text, for instance, rather than
simply working from the 1970
New American Bible version, or
from translations used in other
Bible editions.
For the most part, the changes
will be hard to spot, except by
those who are serious students or
scholars, she said.
In other places in the
NABRE, even casual readers may
catch the differences.
She and Benedictine
Father Joseph Jensen, executive
secretary of the Catholic
Biblical Association and one
of the scholars who worked on
the translation, both gave two
examples of the type of changes
everyday readers might notice:
the disappearance of the words
set aside several weeks to prepare
for the great celebrations surround-
ing Our Lord’s death and resurrec-
tion. This marks the final journey
leading to baptism for those in the
parish RCIA programs. The Rite
of Election is scheduled at the ca-
thedral on Sunday, March 13, at
2:30 pm. It is always inspiring to
see people from throughout the
diocese gathered as one family of
faith supporting those who will
be received into the Church at the
Easter Vigil. Please keep them in
your prayers.
As you already know, we will
begin using the English translation
of the 3rd Edition of the Roman
“cereal” and “booty.”
The goal when possible was
“to make the language more
contemporary,” said Father
Jensen. In today’s culture the
phrase “cereal offering” conjures
up images of Wheaties and
Cheerios, not the bushels of
wheat type of offering that the
term is intended to mean, he said.
The word “booty” also has
taken on the slang meanings
of “buttocks” or sometimes,
“sexual intercourse,” instead of
its primary meaning of “plunder,”
such as a marauding army might
acquire.
Sperry said another change
February 14, 2011 Vol. XLI, No. 2
February 14, 2011
Missal on the First Sunday of Ad-
vent this fall. We will be scheduling
some additional training sessions
to assist our priests and other min-
isters, especially music ministers,
in the month ahead. Hopefully, this
will make the transition as smooth
as possible.
Thank you for all you do in
the rich variety of ministries in
your parishes and may all of us be
granted abundant blessings during
the days of Lent that lie before us!
made for contemporary readers
was the elimination of the word
“holocaust” in favor of “burnt
offerings.” Since millions of
Jews were killed in German death
camps before and during World
War II, the word Holocaust has
gradually come to specifically
refer only to that period of history,
she explained.
The completed Old
Testament revision was approved
by the bishops at their November
2008 meeting.
In 2010 the bishops signed
off on the latest revision of the
Psalter, as the book of Psalms is
called.
February 14, 2011
Lectio divina is ideal for Catholics to practice during Lent
By Beth Griffin
Catholic News Service
NEW YORK (CNS)
“Lectio divina,” an ancient
scriptural meditative practice, is
an ideal way for contemporary
Catholics to unplug from worldly
distractions and establish holy
intimacy, permanent friendship
and fruitful companionship
with Jesus Christ, according to
Trappist Brother Simeon Leiva.
And, it’s an ideal practice to
start during Lent.
Brother Leiva, a Scripture
scholar and monk at St. Joseph’s
Abbey in Spencer, Mass., said
encountering the living Christ
in mutual knowledge and love is
transformative and challenging.
“The word of God must
never be a soothing narcotic. God
calls us out of our comfort zone
and offers us new life on his own
conditions,” he said.
“The movement toward
Jesus requires courage and
generosity and is both thrilling
and frightening,” Brother Leiva
said.
“Lectio divina” -- “the
reading of the sacred” or “the
divine reading” -- dates from
the second century. It uses a
pattern of reading, reflection,
prayer, contemplation and action
to meditate on short scriptural
passages.
The American Bible Society
recently launched two books
devoted to the practice: “The
Catholic Prayer Bible -- ‘Lectio
Divina’ Edition” and “Pray With
the Bible, Meditate With the Word
-- a Manual for the Prayerful
Reading of the Bible.”
The new books are a timely
response to a post-synodal
document in which Pope Benedict
XVI urged Christians to get to
know the Scriptures better.
“Verbum Domini” (“The
Word of the Lord”) is an apostolic
exhortation on the 2008 Synod of
Bishops on the Word of God. In
it and in earlier statements, Pope
Benedict recommended “lectio
divina” as an effective way to
encounter Christ in Scripture
and respond with openness and
generosity.
Brother Leiva said “lectio
divina” cultivates the human heart
to activate to its highest potential
and helps bring Christian souls
to their natural state with Jesus
Christ at the center of their being.
“Union with Jesus is the whole of
my life and my relationship with
him is the primal relationship that
invigorates all others,” he said.
He described “lectio divina”
as leisurely, ruminative, cordial,
contemplative, disinterested,
provocative, ecclesial and
mystagogical. “Each session of
‘lectio’ is a modest foretaste of
heavenly experiences,” he said.
He called “lectio divina” a
tool to “make our lives themselves
a living exegesis of the Word.”
Brother Leiva told Catholic
News Service that “lectio divina”
is “a Catholic way to decompress
and pray at the same time. For
whatever reason you practice it,
it requires you to slow down and
unplug yourself. It’s healthy and
it’s very doable.”
Paraphrasing St. Bernard, the
Trappist said, “’Stay at home, you
may receive an important visitor.’
“’Lectio divina’ is coming home
to oneself.”
Page 5
LITURGICAL
YEAR A
ASH
WEDNESDAY
March 9
Ash Wednesday, which marks the
beginning of Lent, is NOT a holy day
of obligation, but is a day of fasting
and abstinence.
Ashes are usually distributed at all
Masses on Ash Wednesday. Check
with your local parish for Mass
schedules.
LENTEN
REGULATIONS
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
are days of fast and abstinence.
This means that we do not eat meat
and we have only one full meal.
The other Fridays of the season of
Lent are days of abstinence from
meat.
The obligation to abstain from meat
binds Catholics 14 years of age and
older.
The obligation to fast, limiting oneself
to one full meal and two lighter
meals in the course of the day, binds
Catholics from the age of 18 to 59.
Those who are younger or older may
freely embrace these disciplines.
But Lenten disciples should never
endanger your health.
It is obvious that abstaining from
meat is meaningless for vegetarians,
who must choose some other form of
abstinence.
It is equally obvious that replacing
meat with a gourmet seafood meal is
not in keeping with the spirit of Lent.
Page 6 February 14, 2011

Fire destroys 155-year-old church in Washington, La

By Deacon Tom Sommers
Acadian Catholic editor
WASHINGTON, LA. --It
took only a few minutes for fire to
race through the historic 155-year-
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH in Washington, La. was destroyed
by fire Jan. 14, a couple of hours after Mass had been celebrated that day.
Although the cause of the fire has not been determined, several parishioners
reported seeing smoke coming from the ducts in the building.
old Church of the Immaculate
Conception in Washington, La.
Friday, Jan. 14.
The St. Landry Parish Fire
Department received the first
alarm at about 9:43 a.m. Other fire
departments from Washington, Parishioners were able to those who watched from across
Ville Platte, Opelousas and safely remove the tabernacle the street, as well as their ancestors
Leonvville were also called out containing the Blessed Sacrament were baptized, received their
to battle the blaze. Firefighters and several of the service books first Communions, were married
arrived within three minutes but used to celebrate Mass. from Immaculate Conception.
the church was already engulfed The rectory, located next Many of the early residents of St.
in flames. Deputies from the door to the church was spared by Landry Parish were buried from
St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s the quick action of the firefighters, Immaculate Conception.
Department and the Washington but there was some scorching of Before I left the scene, I heard
police secured the area. the siding, not serious enough one of the parishioners say, and
There were no injuries to keep the building from being I’m paraphrasing, “The Church is
reported, although morning Mass used. A 100-year old live oak was not the building. It’s the people.”
had been celebrated just a couple also destroyed. And these people will rebuild; the
of hours earlier. There has been This is more than the loss Church cannot be destroyed as
no official cause given as of press of an historic building. Many of long as two or three gather.
time. Parishioners reported that
there had been strange noises
coming from the heating system
in the back of the church and
women who had just finished
cleaning the church said that they
had seen smoke coming from
some of the ducts in the building.
Immaculate Conception
Church was established in 1756,
and the current building was
constructed in 1836.
Father Albert Nunez is the
pastor of Immaculate Conception
as well as pastor of Holy Trinity
Church, also in Washington. He
has served the two congregations
for more than eight years.
“As you can imagine, there
are a lot of memories for the
people here,” he said. “The
Church is its people. But there are
a lot of memories,” Father Nunez BURNED TO THE GROUND. The 155-year-old church was completely
said. Father Nunez said that Mass destroyed by fire Jan. 14. Parishioners were able to safely remove the
would be celebrated in St. Joseph tabernacle containing the Blessed Sacrament. A 110-year-old live oak was
Hall, next door to the church. also destroyed in the fire.
February 14, 2011
2 churches in diocese receive grants
from Catholic Extension for repairs
The Diocese of Alexandria
received funding from Catholic
Extension in 2010 in the amount
of $175,844.
The diocese received a
$150,000 grant from Catholic
Extension for programs and min-
istries.
The diocese also received
$25,844 for two grants awarded
to Holy Ghost Catholic Church in
Marksville and St. Joseph Church
in Trichel.
Holy Ghost Church’s portion
IN NEED OF REPAIR. The windows and sides of the St. Joseph church hall in of the grant was $21,844 to sup-
Trichel were in dire need of repair. Catholic Extension gave the parish $4,000 port phase one of the renovation/
to install vinyl siding to the 26-year-old building. Catholic Extension remains upgrade of the Gymnasium/Ac-
one of the only organizations that continue to support church building projects. tivity Center building. Phase one
of the project included installing
a fire alarm system, a sprinkler
system, plumbing and the cost
of a building floor plan. The
renovation/upgrade project was
necessary after the state fire mar-
shal’s office mandated that the
51-year-old facility meet all state
fire and safety regulations after
the intended use of the building
was altered.
St. Joseph Church in Trichel
received a grant for $4,000 for
repairs and renovations to the
26-year-old parish hall. The proj-
ect included replacing damaged
wood, insulating window and
doorframes, and installing vinyl
siding. The hall is used for re-
ceptions, weekly bingo, monthly
Page 7
suppers, and other parish events.
“Challenge grants are de-
signed to help change a com-
munity’s self-perception – from
thinking they live in a world of
deficit and need to realizing they
have assets and opportunity,” said
Joseph Boland, senior director of
grants management for Catholic
Extension.
“Our role is not to fund an
entire project, but to help dioces-
es and parishes reach their goals.
Time and time again, these chal-
lenge grants give faith communi-
ties the momentum they need to
finish.”
Catholic Extension remains
one of the only organizations that
continue to support church build-
ing projects. In 2010, Catholic
Extension awarded approximate-
ly $2.3 million to support church
building and repair efforts to par-
ishes in 18 U.S. dioceses through-
out the country.
Many people don’t realize
that there is missionary work
going on right here in America -
in our own back yards! Catholic
Extension is the leading supporter
of that missionary work. In fact,
almost every diocese in the United
States has been touched in some
way by Catholic Extension. Since
1905, more than $450 million has
been distributed to dioceses to
help them staff and operate their
small, struggling parishes.
Page 8 February 14, 2011

Father Duane Stenzel, O.F.M. dies at age 83

Rev. Duane Stenzel, a
Franciscan priest and national
program director of Radio Maria,
passed away Jan. 18 at the age
of 83 after a long battle with a
chronic blood disorder.
Fr. Duane was ordained a
Franciscan priest of the Order of
Friars Minor (O.F.M.) in 1954.
After ordination he returned to
school and received a masters
degree in history in Ohio and
some pre-doctoral hours in New
Orleans. For the next 12 years,
he taught history on both the high
school and college level.
In 1966, he began a
ministry with the Cursillos for
the Archdiocese of Louisville;
followed by another ministry that
led him to the Diocese of Houma-
Thibodaux, where he served as
director of Lumen Christi Retreat
Center. As part of this ministry,
Father Duane conducted a daily
TV program titled, “The Lord
Among Us.”
He was also involved in
AA and other 12-Step programs
for addictions and conducted
workshops at national
conferences.
Shortly after his retirement
in 2000, while giving a private
retreat in Alexandria, he was
asked to take over as national
program director for Radio Maria,
a new Catholic radio station that
was being started in Alexandria.
During his 10 years at Radio
Maria, Father Duane and his staff
expanded to 10 broadcasting
station in Louisiana, Texas, Ohio,
Mississippi, and Wisconsin. He
served as host to seven programs
on the air, including House Calls,
one of the most popular programs
on Radio Maria besides the
celebration of the Holy Mass.
“Over the years, Fr. Duane
has touched countless lives
with his words of wisdom,
love, understanding and
encouragement,” said Frank
Hare, production manager.
“Words could never express the
how much he has meant or how
much he will be missed.” Father Duane Stenzel, O.F.M.

Seminarian prepares for diaconate ordination

Seminarian Charles Ray
of the Diocese of Alexandria
Burses
made the Profession of Faith
Feb. 5 and took the Oath of
Donations in January
Fidelity in the presence of the
seminary community at the Knights of Columbus #9217............................................................ $10.00
Pontifical College Josephinum in Msgr. Molenschot Burse
preparation for ordination to the Ms. Wanda Brumley......................................................................... $50.00
diaconate. Fr. James Foster Burse
Candidates for ordination Dr. Joseph Landreneau.................................................................. $100.00
pledge to always remain faithful Msgr. Henry Beckers Burse
to the teachings of the Church Mrs. Kathleen Voltz........................................................................ $100.00
and, with their hand on the Gus Voltz Burse
Book of Gospels, swear before
almighty God to be faithful Total this month.............................................................................. $260.00
teachers of the Gospel and never OATH OF FIDELITY. Msgr. James Wehner, rector of Pontifical College
to lead the people astray with Josephinum, holds the Book of Gospels, while seminarian Charles Ray takes
false teachings. the Oath of Fidelity in preparation for ordination to the diaconate.
Very Reverend James
A. Wehner, STD, rector and
president of the Josephinum,
instructed the seminarians.
“Too often in the Church,
priests have confused the People
of God by offering opinions or
false teachings either as a result of
arrogance or improper training,”
said Father Wehner. “Today,
the Church thanks you for your
commitment to the Gospel, for
saying ‘yes’ to Jesus Christ, and
for your willingness to be heralds
of the Good News.”
February 14, 2011
Sr. Ann Petrus named superior general of CDPs
The Congregation of Divine
Providence (CDP) recently met
Jan. 26-30 in San Antonio, Texas
to elect its leadership team for the
next six-year term.
Sister Ann Petrus, a
native of Alexandria, La., was
elected superior general of the
congregation. She is a professor
of mathematics at Our Lady
of the Lake University in San
Antonio.
“I am very happy for
the opportunity to serve the
Congregation,” said Sister Ann.
“While I know that I will miss
teaching and the interaction
with students, I am also looking
forward to working with the
leadership team and ministering
to the needs of the congregation.”
Sister Ann attended Sacred
Heart Catholic School in
Pineville and graduated from
Providence Central Academy in
1960. She immediately entered
Our Lady of the Lake Convent
in San Antonio, where she
Appointments
Rev. Blake Deshautelle
Is appointed pastoral administrator
pro tem of St. Mary’s Assumption
Church in Cottonport. He will continue
all present diocesan assignments.
received a BA in mathematics in
1965. After professing final vows
in 1969, she earned an MA in
mathematics from the University
of Louisiana at Lafayette in 1971,
and a PhD. in mathematics from
Tulane in 1976.
From 1965-69, Sister Ann
taught math at Providence Central
Academy and then also at Holy
Savior Menard Central High
School, during the transitional
merging of the two schools.
She was director of
formation for the Sisters of
Divine Providence from 1981-
87; served on the CDP General
Council from 1987-93; taught at
Benedictine College in Atchison,
Kan. from 1993-95; and returned
to teaching at Our Lady of the
Lake University in 1995. She
served as department chair of
mathematics at OLL from 1997-
2002.
As superior general, she will
be responsible for the spiritual
leadership of the community as
Rev. Thomas Paul
Is appointed sacramental minister
of St. Mary’s Assumption Church
in Cottonport. He will reside in the
rectory of St. Mary’s Assumption.
Page 9
Members of the General
Council are Sister Lourdes Leal,
a native of San Antonio and
currently serving as deanery
resource coordinator at the
Northwest Urban Deanery in
the Archdiocese of San Antonio;
Sister Helen Marie Miksch, from
Schulenburg, Texas, currently
serving as the director of faith
formation at St. Ignatius, Martyr
Church in Austin, Texas; and
Sister Theresa Anne Billeaud,
from Broussard, La. who
is currently living in New
Orleans where she is involved
in mathematics tutoring. Sister
Theresa Ann also taught at Holy
Savior Menard at one time.
SISTERS OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE SUPERIOR GENERAL. Sr. Ann Petrus, The new Council will assume
(left) a native of Alexandria, is congratulated by Sister Jane Ann Slater, the their responsibilities on June 18,
outgoing superior general of the CDPs. Sister Ann was recently elected the after an installation ceremony in
new superior general of the Congregation of Divine Providence (CDP). San Antonio.
Sister Ann is the daughter of
the late James and Edith Petrus,
well as the adminstrative work congregational meetings and and the sister of seven siblings.
of the congregation including conferences, and representing the
budgeting, planning, attending congregation at events.
Rev. Jamie Medina Cruz
Is appointed parochial vicar of OLPS KC COUNCIL 9217 CELEBRATE 25 YEARS. Tom Wacker, Grand Knight of
Church, Alexandria and St. Rita KC Council 9217, Fr. Adrian Molenschot, Belledeau, presents a certificate Jan.
Church in Alexandria. He will reside 16 to the council’s chaplain, Fr. Silverino Kwebuza, MSFS to commemorate
in the rectory of OLPS Church. the 25th anniversary of the council.
Advertise in
The Church Today
Call
318-445-6424
ext. 264
Page 10
North-Central Louisiana Register predecessor of Church Today
Catholic Press molded by past editors
By Jeannie Petrus
CT Editor
On Dec. 3, 1954, the first issue
of the North-Central Louisiana
Register rolled off the press as
the first Catholic newspaper for
the Diocese of Alexandria. This
first issue marked the beginning
of the Catholic Press in central
Louisiana.
Its predecessor, the Catholic
Action of the South, covered
news and events from the Diocese
of New Orleans, but was available
to people in the diocese.
As bishop of the Diocese of
Alexandria, Charles P. Greco was
named president of the Register;
Msgr. A. Olinger was business
manager; and Rev. Marvin
Bordelon was its first editor.
“Getting out this first issue
has been most exciting,” wrote
Father Bordelon in his first
column titled, Week By Week.
“Three weeks ago, we looked
at three empty offices in the
Chancery Building on East Texas
Avenue. Three days before our
first deadline, Msgr. Olinger
asked me how our first issue was
coming . . . well, I’m glad it did
come out.”
And it’s a wonder how it did
come out. Since it was a part of
the National Register, (which is
printed in Denver, Colo.) all of
the copy and ads (typed on one
LORETTA YOUNG, famous hollywood star of the 1960s, made an appearance
at the Catholic Press Association’s national meeting held in Alexandria in 1963
when Rev. Murray Clayton (escorting Young) was the editor of the North-
Central Louisiana Register.(File photo).
borrowed manual typewriter) had
to be put on a 7:50 a.m. flight out of
Alexandria on Monday to arrive
in Denver at 10 a.m. that same
morning. The layouts (designed
pages of copy, headlines, pictures,
and ads) were created by the
Denver staff, printed in Denver,
and then put on a train (the City
of St. Louis) on Tuesday night at
6:30. The printed papers arrived
at the Alexandria Post Office on
Thursday night, ready for mailing
on Friday.
Although only four-pages,
the first issue was filled with local
diocesan news, features, and
advertisements.
“Our diocesan Register will
carry important religious news
of home and of the world, actual
Church history enacted by clergy
and laity, pronouncements by our
Holy Father and other church
leaders, leading articles of live
interest, editorials by competent
writers, religious instruction,
Bible lessons, stories from the Old
and New Testaments in pictures, a
woman’s corner, household hints,
a page of good comics – all this
and more,” wrote Bishop Greco
in the first issue. “Your new
weekly [paper] will be as good a
Catholic newspaper as any in the
land.”
There were no paid staff
members, but volunteers like
Mrs. Jack Hubley, Miss Johnnie
FATHER MURRAY CLAYTON, the second editor of the North-Central
Louisiana Register, glances through the first issue of the paper published
in 1954. Father Marvin Bordelon was the first editor and Bishop Charles P.
Greco was the president. Father Clayton served as editor for 17 years.
Fletcher, and Mrs. Jewel Casteix,
assisted Fr. Bordelon in writing
articles.
[They] have been a out I was going to be the new
tremendous help these past few
weeks,” wrote Father Bordelon.
“Had it not been for them, I assure
you, we would not have appeared
in print this week.”
Advertisements, representing
businesses in Avoyelles, Rapides,
and Natchitoches, were sold by
the first advertising salesman,
Noah Chatelain. Most of the
businesses in the first issue are no
longer in business, except Kramer
Funeral Home in Alexandria
and Hixon (now Hixon Ducote)
Funeral Home in Bunkie, which
advertised in that first issue and
are still loyal advertisers today.
*****
On June 27, 1958, Rev.
Murray Clayton, was appointed
the new editor and Rev. Joseph
Kidd (chancellor), the new
business manager. Father
Bordelon was assigned to St.
Joseph parish in Shreveport,
and Father Clayton was a young
priest ordained only a year earlier.
“It was a sad day for me,”
joked Father Clayton during a
recent interview, “the day I found
editor. Why me? I didn’t know
a thing about journalism or what
‘putting the paper to bed’ meant.
My dream was to be a missionary
in Mexico, but Bishop Greco told
me that ‘Alexandria needed me
more than Mexico.’ And besides,
when Bishop Greco asks (a.k.a.
‘tells’) you to do something, you
don’t say no.”
As it turned out, he received
a lot of guidance and instruction
from Father Bordelon before he
left. An 18-year-old Judy Michiels
began working after school to
help out with filing and typing
articles. Jeannette Ashley helped
out by selling advertising and
keeping up with circulation. Mary
Lou Suhor, a seasoned journalist
who taught journalism at Loyola
in New Orleans, quickly became
his right hand man (lady).
“She was the ‘assistant
editor,’ but in reality, she taught
me everything,” said Father
Clayton. “I wrote a column, but
spent much of my time learning
how to be an editor. It was a lot
February 14, 2011
harder than I ever imagined.”
Fr. Clayton quickly learned
the ropes and served as editor of
the paper for the next 17 years.
He remembers one event, in
particular, that he considers the
highlight of his career as editor.
The year was 1963 and it
was Alexandria’s turn to host
the national convention of the
Catholic Press Association, a
national organization of Catholic
newspaper editors. It was his
responsibility to find a notable
speaker for the convention.
The first three people he asked
declined his invitation, including
Catholic actress and mega star-
of-the-day Loretta Young, who
declined because she had not
been feeling well.
“I finally got an acceptance
from Archbishop Philip Hannan
of New Orleans to be the primary
speaker,” said Fr. Clayton. “But
at the last moment, I received
a call from Ms. Young, who
announced that ‘she was feeling
much better and would be happy
to come.”
When it was unexpectedly
announced at the convention
that the famous Loretta Young
would be making an appearance,
everyone thought it was joke,
recalls Fr. Clayton.
“But in she walked, with
her famous dramatic Hollywood
glide, and the convention gasped
out loud with excitement!” he
said. “It was a wonderful moment.
I spent the day escorting her
around and taking her to and from
the airport. For years after that,
CPA participants talked about the
‘big surprise at the Alexandria
convention.”
*****
Big changes came to the
Catholic newspaper in Jan. 1970,
when the paper changed its name
from the North-Central Register
to the Church Today. Father
Murray Clayton continued as
editor, but Al Nassif, a seasoned
sports writer from the Town Talk,
joined the staff as associate editor.
Nassif was a journalist by
profession and had more than 20
years experience as a sports and
news writer for the Alexandria
February 14, 2011
and new technology
Daily Town Talk. His experience,
coupled with his many contacts
in the community and his deep
Catholic faith, made him a perfect
asset to the staff.
By January, 1975, Bishop
Greco released Father Clayton
from his duties as editor and
appointed him to St. Joseph
Church in Shreveport. Nassif
moved up and assumed the
role of editor. By this time, the
three-year-old Church Today
newspaper had a staff of five
people – Nassif, Judy Michiels
Moreau as secretary, Ashley as
advertising rep, and two writers.
Between 1978 and 1988, the
newspaper industry underwent a
major technology transformation.
Prior to 1978, newspapers
required the services of several
people to set type, manually
layout ads and design pages using
cutting and pasting, and pictures
were still being developed with
film. Being the traditional
news editor that he was, Nasssif
continued to embrace his manual,
and later electric typewriter to
write all of news stories, while
the new computer technology
of pagination (designing page
layouts on computer) was farmed
AL NASSIF, joined the staff in 1970 as associate editor of the North-Central
Louisiana Register. When he was named editor on Jan. 1, 1975 the name of
the paper was changed to The Church Today. He served as editor until his
death on Dec. 19, 2000. (File photo)
out to outside publishers. He
eventually began using the
computer in the 1990s.
Nassif served as editor of
the Church Today for 30 years,
covering a wide array of events
including the death of Bishop
Greco in 1987. His failing health
caused him to go part time in
1999, and sadly, Al Nassif died
in 2000, after a long illness.
In the next five years, three
people served as editor including
Kay Yerby, Ann Vanderslice,
and Mark Adams. Even though
each editor did not serve long,
major strides were made in the
Church Today office, upgrading
equipment, and ushering in the
new computer technology that
was now available.
When Jeannie Petrus was
named the 7th editor of the
Church Today in 2005, Judy
Michiels Moreau Mcclaran was
still working as secretary, and
Jeannette Ashley was still selling
ads for the Church Today – a
career, both loyally worked for
almost 50 years. Both Moreau
and Ashley retired in 2006, with
a combined 98 years of service
to the Catholic Press in central
Louisiana.
Today, the Church Today is
published monthly and mailed
free to every Catholic household
in the diocese, a decision made by
Bishop Ronald Herzog in 2006.
While Joan Ferguson manages
the advertising and Sandi Tarver
manages circulation, Petrus
writes and edits all stories, and
designs each of the 24 pages on
See CATHOLIC PRESS, pg. 18
Page 11
EARLY JANUARY EDITION OF NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER. The
early January edition of the National Catholic Register shows a photo of Pope
Benedict XVI on the front page. Eternal World Television Network announced
Jan. 19 that it had acquired the newspaper. The paper’s first national edition
appeared in 1927. It has been operated by the Legionaries of Christ since
1995. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)
EWTN buys National
Catholic Register
11, 1905. Under the leadership
By Catholic News Service
of Msgr. Matthew Smith, the
Register system of newspapers
IRONDALE, Ala. (CNS)
was developed, with the first
-- The Eternal Word Television
national edition appearing Nov.
Network, based in Irondale,
has signed a letter of intent to 8, 1927.
acquire the National Catholic In the inaugural issue, Msgr.
Register, which describes itself Smith wrote: “If you like a
as “the nation’s leading Catholic Catholic paper with snap, vigor,
newspaper.” courage, here it is. If you like one
Effective Feb. 1, EWTN will that is easy to read, here it is. If
take full control and ownership you like one that will always be
of the Register, now based in loyal to the church and has no
Irondale. Its editorial and business selfish axe to grind, here it is.”
offices had been based in North The Register system
Haven, Conn., since 1995, when eventually produced 35 diocesan
the Legionaries of Christ bought editions, (including the Diocese
the paper and moved it to New of Alexandria -Shreveport’s
England from California. North-Central Louisiana Register
“I am very pleased and published from 1954-1970)
excited that the Register will now reaching its high point in the
be a part of the EWTN family,” 1950s with a combined national
said Michael P. Warsaw, EWTN’s and diocesan circulation of more
president and chief executive than 700,000.
officer. “All of us at EWTN have In 1970, California
great respect for the Register and businessman Patrick Frawley
the role it has played throughout purchased the Register, which
its history. It’s a tremendous was on the decline at that point,
legacy that deserves to not only and moved it to Los Angeles. In
be preserved, but also to grow 1995, the Legionaries of Christ
and to flourish.” and other investors saved the
The National Catholic newspaper from closing and
Register grew out of the Denver moved it to New England.
Catholic Register, launched Aug.
Page 12 February 14, 2011

ORDINATION OF DEACONS. VILLAGE ARTIFACT. Bishop

Bishop Ronald Herzog was invited Herzog holds an artifact presented
to Nigeria by the congregation of to him by Isiama of Autonomous
the Sons of Mary, Mother of Mercy Community in Imo State Nigeria,
(SMMM) to ordain 14 deacons. the hometown of Fr. Remi. The
(Above) three faces on the artifact signify the
villages that make up the Autonomous
SOLEMN PRAYER. Bishop Herzog Community – Umuihim, Umukaku,
prays at the grave of Fr. Remi and Umuokwaraobi. (Above)
Owuamanam’s mother in Isiama
Autonomous Community in Imo DAUGHTERS OF MARY, MOTHER
State Nigeria. Fr. Remi, who serves OF MERCY. Bishop Herzog
as pastor of St. James and St. celebrated Mass for the Daughters of
Juliana Churches in Alexandria, Mary, Mother of Mercy (DMMM), who
accompanied Bishop Herzog on his operate a hospital and an orphanage
trip to Nigeria. (Below) in Ahiaeke, Umuahia in Abia State
Nigeria. (left)

CHIEF HERZOG. Bishop Herzog was installed as a chief by Eze Sir Philip K.
Ukaegbu, head of the Afara Ukum Community. Being designated a “chief” is
considered a highly coveted honor not given to many, but given to those with
high moral rectitude and patriotism. It means he is a friend of all Igbo people
and is welcomed in all Igbo communities. (Right)
February 14, 2011
Bishop Herzog ordains 14
deacons in Nigeria, Africa
GIFT FROM VILLAGE. Bishop
Ronald Herzog unwraps a gift
presented to him by Isiama of
Autonomous Community in Imo State
Nigeria. Bishop Herzog spent 10
days in Nigeria after being invited by
Archbishop Anthony J.V. Obinna, of
Owerri and the Sons of Mary, Mother
of Mercy congregation to ordain 14 of
its deacons.
Page 13
Our Nigerian Priests
Nigerian priests currently serving
in the Diocese of Alexandria:
• Rev. Remigius Owuamanam, SMMM
• Rev. Ignatius Ibe, SMMM
• Rev. Bartholomew Ibe
• Rev. Christian I. Ogbonna
• Rev. Kenneth Obiekwe
VISITING THE BISHOP. Bishop
Herzog and Fr. Remi visited with
Bishop Solomon Amatu, the Catholic
bishop of Okigwe. He is the bishop
of Fr. Kenneth Obiekwe and Fr.
Bartholomew Ibe. (Above)
SEMINARIANS. Bishop Herzog and
Fr. Remi sit among the more than 50
seminarians currently studying at the
Seat of Wisdom Major Seminary in
Ulakwu Community. (Middle left)
COMMUNITY SUPPORT. A large
crowd of villagers came out to
attend a Mass celebrated by Bishop
Ronald Herzog in the Afaraukwu
Autonomous Community. (Left)
Page 14
EXPLAINING AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP. Ian Kho, father of Lianne Kho,
a first grader at St Frances Cabrini School, gave a presentation recently in
Three students selected Students
the school library for 5th and 6th graders. The presentation was about his
experience with becoming an American citizen last year. Pictured from left to of the Year in district competition
right are
Three students from non-
public schools around the area
were recently selected as district
winners in the annual Louisiana
State Department of Education
Student of the Year Awards Pro-
gram. These three students ad-
vanced to the regional competi-
tion that was held Feb. 8 in Baton
Rouge.
Andre enjoys reading,
swimming, cycling, and running.
He participates in triathlons and
River Oaks to feature Menard artwork, teacher
100 BOOKS IN 100 DAYS. How did you celebrate the 100th day of school? Barbara Clover, art teacher
Reading for pleasure? That’s what a 7th grader at St. Mary’s, at Holy Savior Menard, and her
does on a regular basis. Her reading teacher set a goal for students to read art students will be honored at a
30 books in one year. eached that goal in one month then set herself reception Friday, Feb. 25 from
another goal to read 100 books by the 100th day of school. was able 5 – 7 p.m. at RiverOaks Artist
to reach her new goal by February 3, the 100th day of school at St. Mary’s. Community. An exhibit of
The reading program is designed to encourage students to read for pleasure. artwork by the students and Mrs.
Research shows that the more a child reads, the better reader he or she Clover, titled Kaleidoscopes,
becomes, which in turn increases test scores in all subject areas. will be showcased in the opening
Natchitoches Parish
Businesses
Advertise in
The Church Today St. Romain Oil
Contact the Church Today Convenient, High-Quality Fuels, Food & More
318-445-6424, ext. 264 (318) 240-9494
has quali
is involved in
dance, piano, tumbling, choir,
Girl Scouts, and Beta Club.
She recently coordinated an
information booth at the Relay
for Life to promote information
on kidney cancer, and sings
every Sunday in the choir at
Sacred Heart Catholic Church in
Oakdale. She is the oldest of four
participates
in basketball, track and field,
and loves art. She is currently
president of Student Council and
has spent her last two summers
night. The event is free and open
to the public.
Mrs. Clover was named
the National Secondary Art
Educator of the Year for 2010.
She was recently presented a
Senate Resolution by Senator Joe
McPherson commending her on
the honor.
February 14, 2011
participating in a Catholic Heart
Work Camp mission trip and
attending a weeklong retreat
called Franciscan LEAD. Upon
graduation from high school
this spring, she plans to attend
the University of Notre Dame
and major in English. She has
one older brother, and younger
twin
Winners from the Feb.
8 regional competition will
advance to the state competition
on Thursday, March 3 against
other regional winners in the
state. State winners in each grade
level (5, 8, 12) will be announced
at the reception to be held March
3 at 6 p.m. in Baton Rouge.
On Saturday, Feb. 26, Mrs.
Clover and her art students will
be conducting a workshop titled
Kaleidoscopes -- Circles of Color.
from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at River
Oaks. The cost of the workshop is
$10. To register for the workshop,
call River Oaks to reserve a space.
Limited availability.
February 14, 2011 Page 15

OLPS PRESENTS DISNEY’S ARIS-

TOCATS. More than 100 Our Lady of
Prompt Succor School K-6th grade
students participated in the annual
school play, this year titled Disney’s
Aristocats. Three performances held
on the weekend of Jan. 15-16, net-
ted more than 1,200 tickets.  This is
the 4th year that OLPS and Family
Playhouse have partnered under the
direction of Tina Smith & Catherine
Pears.  The production would not be
a success without the participation
and volunteerism of our OLPS par-
ents.

ROBOTICS TEAM AT ST. MARY’S. The Robotics Team at St. Mary’s

School in Natchitoches, allows students to design and operate a robotic car
to autonomously navigate through a LEGO. The Saint Mary’s Robotics team
will be competing against schools throughout Louisiana at the Mini-Urban
Challenge in Bossier City on Feb. 19. The 1st and 2nd place winners will be
united to compete at the national competition which will be held in Washington,
D.C. Pictured above is Mr. Ken Gardner and some of the members of the
Robotics Team.
100TH DAY OF SCHOOL AT ST. FRANCES CABRINI SCHOOL. Jenny Jeanise’s pre-K class at St Frances Cabrini
School celebrate the 100th day of school.

Virtus Training
Thursday, Feb. 17
6:00 p.m.
St. Joseph Catholic Center
Alexandria, LA
To register, go to www.virtus.com
Page 16
Is it OK to live together before marriage?
80 percent of couples live together before marriage and think it’s OK
Fr. Matthew Habiger OSB
www.nfpoutreach.org
It is estimated nationwide
that 80 percent of young couples
who ask to be married within the
Church are already living togeth-
er. There are still others cohabi-
tating who never ask to be mar-
ried.
This is not God’s plan for
young couple; far from it. Young
couples feel strong pressures
from their peers and from the
dominant culture to begin their
sex lives early. Some say they did
not intend for this to happen, but
they were caught in the current
that pulled them in this direction.
That is where they drifted.
There is a vast difference be-
tween God’s plan for marriage,
spousal love and family and what
our contemporary culture thinks.
We all know that morality is not
determined by opinion polls,
trendsetters, or cultural elites.
Wrong is wrong, even if everyone
is doing it. Right is right, even if
nobody is doing it. One, on the
side of the right, is a majority.
God alone determines the moral
order, what is right and what is
wrong. God alone designs such
basic human realities as human
nature, marriage, spousal love
and family.
If our young people think that
cohabitation is morally accept-
able because everyone is doing it,
and they have not heard anything
to the contrary from the pulpit,
then I want to correct that. As
an ordained priest, God demands
that I teach His plan for marriage,
spousal love and family. As my
parishioners, you have a right to
hear clear and unconfused teach-
ing from this pulpit about God’s
plan for us. And I hope that you
will help bring this message to
cohabitating couples.
What is wrong with cohabi-
tation, and why save sex for mar-
riage? The best way to answer
this is to explain what marriage is,
because that is what most young
people are preparing themselves
for. Marriage is God’s plan for
the vast majority of people.
Marriage is a lifetime com-
mitment. When a man and a
woman fall in love, and want to
share their lives completely with
one another, then they begin to
move towards an engagement
and then to the sacrament of mar-
riage. Marriage requires total
commitment, total offering of self
to the other, and a willingness to
share together whatever the fu-
ture holds for them. It is “until
death do us part.” And marriage
demands total fidelity. Jesus’ love
for his bride, the Church, and the
Church’s love for her spouse, is
the model for all Christian mar-
riage.
World Marriage Day
February 13, 2011
Worldwide Marriage Encounter
If you are not married, then
you are not ready for the great
act of marriage, called the marital
act, or the spousal act. Outside
of marriage you can have a sexual
act, but you cannot have a marital
act. Outside of marriage we call
sex fornication or adultery. These
are serious violations of God’s
plan for sex. They are serious
sins against the Sixth Command-
ment that must be repented of and
confessed.
Why is the marital act re-
served only to husbands and
wives in marriage? What I say
here about a man can be said
equally of a woman. Because
marriage transforms, or changes,
the man from being a single and
unattached bachelor to become a
husband who is totally committed
to the woman who has become
his wife. A husband is a man
who has vowed to love his wife
all the days of his life, in good
times and bad times, in health
and in sickness, for better or for
February 14, 2011
able, by their conscious choice
of making an irrevocable com-
mitment to marriage, are capable
of entering into the marital act.
Only spouses can share fully in
Sponsored by the various goods of marriage:
fidelity, children and the sacra-
ment. Unless and until you have
Love One Another become a spouse, you cannot act
as a spouse. If you are not mar-
ried, it is wrong to pretend that
you are married.
worse. This marriage vow is irre-
vocable. It is a bond upon which Save sex for marriage. That
is its only proper home. Outside
God has placed his blessing. This
is God’s plan for marriage. of marriage, having sex is pre-
tending to be someone you are
The husband and wife begin
not. Fornication does not build a
a new life together, which is their
strong relationship. There is so
marriage. Their relationship is
much missing from a relationship
uniquely theirs. They share them-
built upon cohabitation. Cohabi-
selves, their love, their hopes for
tation is a very flimsy construct.
the future, and their disappoint-
ments at a depth they cannot share There are many natural
reasons why cohabitation does
with anyone else. They enter into
not work, does not bring lasting
what are called the goods of mar-
happiness. You should already
riage: 1) total fidelity in their re-
know these. I am concentrating
lationship as a married couple
upon the most important reason
throughout their lives; 2) the gift
why cohabitation is wrong. It is
of the child; and 3) a special ac-
wrong because it directly violates
cess to God’s grace, called their
sacrament of marriage. God’s plan for marriage, spousal
Only a man and a woman love and family.
who have capacitated themselves,
who have made themselves suit- See LIVING TOGETHER pg. 18
February 14, 2011
Catholic wedding must mean
couple knows church teaching
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) --
Men and women have a natural
right to marry, but that does
not mean they have a right to a
Catholic wedding, Pope Benedict
XVI said.
For the Catholic Church,
marriage is a sacrament that is
witnessed by a priest or deacon,
but performed by the couple who
pledge their union will be forever
and that they will be open to
having and educating children,
the pope said.
“The right to contract
marriage presupposes that one
is able to and intends to truly
celebrate it, that is, in the truth
of its essence as taught by the
church,” Pope Benedict said Jan.
22 when he met with members of
the Roman Rota, a Vatican-based
tribunal that deals mainly with
marriage cases.
Because the church has a very
COUPLE LIGHTS UNITY CANDLE DURING WEDDING CEREMONY AT
Popularity of USCCB’s marriage
NEW YORK CHURCH Megan Ward and Bryce Horsley smile after lighting
the unity candle during their wedding at Sts. Philip and James Church in St.
James, N.Y., this past summer. Pope Benedict recently said that while all
website increases 23% in 2010
couples have the right to marry, not all couples have the right to a Catholic WA S H I N G T O N — T h e
wedding, unless they truly understand what they are doing and accept the popularity of the U.S. bishops’
union as a sacramental marriage. (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz) website for strengthening and
supporting marriage, www.
foryourmarriage.org, continued
to grow in 2010. According to a
report from Google Analytics,
the website received nearly half
a million visits, a 23 percent
increase over 2009.
The website offers practical
information and resources for
married and engaged couples
and people in serious dating
relationships. In addition to
articles on all stages of married
life, the website features a Daily
specific religious understanding
of what marriage is, “no one
can claim the right to a marriage
ceremony” in the church, the
pope said.
In his annual meeting with
the tribunal officials, Pope
Benedict said he wanted to focus
on the legal or juridical aspect
of Catholic marriage preparation
programs, because too often
engaged couples -- and even
those preparing them for marriage
-- consider the courses simply a
bureaucratic hurdle to overcome
before the wedding.
“In fact, often it is assumed
that the priest must act with
largesse, since the natural right
of persons to marry is at stake,”
the pope said, but for the Catholic
Church, there exists only one
kind of marriage -- sacramental --
and the right of Catholic couples
to celebrate the sacrament can
be exercised only if they fully
understand what they are doing.
Pope Benedict said anyone
www.foryourmarriage.org
Marriage Tip, blogs, quizzes,
book reviews, and Marriage in
the News.
“People visit For Your
Marriage because they want
useful and reliable information,”
said Sheila Garcia, USCCB staff
member and the site’s content
editor. “Whether you’re interested
in marriage preparation or
Page 17
involved in marriage preparation
programs, but especially the
priest or other pastoral worker
conducting the obligatory pre-
marriage interviews with the
potential bride and potential
groom, has an obligation to
ensure there is nothing standing
in the way of a valid and licit
celebration of the sacrament.
For the marriage to be valid,
the couple must understand the
commitment being undertaken,
he said.
Pastoral workers and
marriage tribunal officials
together “must work to interrupt
to the extent possible the vicious
cycle frequently noted of too
easily allowing couples to marry
without adequate preparation”
and “the sometimes equally
easy judicial declaration” that a
marriage is invalid, the pope said.
Both approaches give people a
sense that the Catholic Church
no longer sees marriage as truly
being binding forever, he said.
enrichment, or what the Catholic
Church teaches about marriage,
you’ll almost certainly find what
you need.”
The report found that
articles on preparing for a
Catholic wedding are especially
popular. For Your Marriage has
extensive resources for engaged
couples, including the texts of
suggested wedding readings
and commentaries. It also
offers information about music,
ceremony options, interchurch
marriages, and “Ten Tips” for
planning a memorable wedding.
According to the report,
visitors came from 213 countries
or territories. Significant numbers
came from the United Kingdom,
Australia, the Philippines and
India. Visitors from Ireland
increased 500 percent over 2009.
The For Your Marriage
website was launched in 2007
as part of the Bishops’ National
Pastoral Initiative for Marriage.
Strengthening marriage and
family life is one of the USCCB’s
five priorities.
Page 18
Living together:
How to break the trap of living together
& prepare for sacramental marriage
Fr. Matthew Habiger OSB
www.nfpoutreach.org
If you are caught in the trap
of cohabitation, what can be done
to correct the situation and repair
the damage? Let me briefly set
out some sound recommenda-
tions.
1. Start
learning about
God’s plan for marriage, spousal
love and family. Ask your pastor
for some good literature on this.
Read what the Catechism of the
Catholic Church teaches about
marriage. Strengthen your prayer
life, and use the Sacraments regu-
larly, especially the Sacrament of
Reconciliation and the Holy Eu-
charist.
2. Begin to acquire the
virtue of self-possession, of self-
control, the virtue of chastity.
This is a task that everyone must
master, and there are no excep-
tions. Even in marriage you will
need to draw upon this virtue.
Periodic abstinence is part of
natural family planning, which is
the only morally acceptable way
of spacing pregnancies.
3. Make separate living
arrangements with you and your
partner. Since you are not mar-
World Marriage Day
February 13, 2011
Sponsored by Worldwide Marriage Encounter
Love One Another
Catholic Press
Continued from pg 11
a computer. After photos are
imported from a digital camera
and the paper is completed, it is
sent to the printer in Lafayette via
the internet – a process that takes
about 3 minutes.
But in spite of the new
technology, the change in names,
and the change in editors, the
ultimate goal of the Catholic
Press has not changed over
the years. The Catholic Press
remains an integral and necessary
evangelization tool for the Church
today.
ried, it is wrong to pretend that
you are married.
4. If you plan to marry
each other, then go through the
normal steps that lead to making
a permanent commitment in mar-
riage. This means taking a full
marriage preparation course. It
means learning the basic dynam-
ics that go into building a strong
relationship between two imper-
fect, and very complex, persons
of complementary sexuality.
5. I strongly recommend
that you take the full course in
Natural Family Planning. More
and more dioceses are mandating
this for all couples taking mar-
riage preparation.
When you have done all
these things, then you will be
ready for marriage, ready to enjoy
all the various goods of marriage,
and ready to shoulder the serious
responsibilities that accompany
this vocation in life.
God wants all couples, in-
cluding cohabitating couples, to
discover his wonderful plan for
marriage, spousal love and fam-
ily. He wants them to enjoy the
greatly rewarding goods that are
to be found in authentic marriage
and spousal love.
Upcoming Youth Events
In Your Cute Face
Youth Rally
For kids in Grades 3rd-5th
St. Frances Cabrini
Church in Alexandria will host
its first In Your Cute Face mini
conference on Saturday, Feb.
26 for all 3rd, 4th, and 5th
graders.
The conference, which
begins at 9 a.m., will be a fun
day filled with music, good
talks, games, fun outside
activities, and will conclude
with anticipated Mass at 4:30
p.m.
The cost per participant is
$20 if you register by Feb. 11.
After Feb. 11, the cost is $25.
To register online, go to www.
cabrinichurch.com.
For more information, call
318-445-4588 or e-mail
Denise at denise@
cabrinichurch.com or Liz
Hines at lizhines@
cabrinichurch.
S.A.L.T. Retreat
For high school teens
The Office Religious
Formation and Training will
offer the last S.A.L.T. Retreat for
this spring March 5-6 at Maryhill
Renewal Center for all students in
grades 9-12.
The weekend retreat is filled
with fun, music, talks on the faith,
adoration, reconciliation and
Mass.
For more information, call
318-445-6424, ext 221 or go to
www.diocesealex.org and click on
“Youth Ministry.”
Camp Joshua
For high school teens
Louisiana Camp Joshua, a
jam packed pro-life weekend for
high school teens that trains you to
be a true supporter of the Pro-Life
effort, is being offered at three
locations in Louisiana:
Mar. 11-13 in Ruston
April 1-3 in Baton Rouge.
The cost is $75 and includes
meals, t-shirt, program, field trip,
and a bunch of fun.
To register or for more
information, contact Kacie
Hampton, at khampton@
prolifelouisiana.org; or call 1-866-
463-5433 or look for a short video
titled Louisiana Camp Joshua on
YouTube.
February 14, 2011
Abbey Youth Festival
For high school teens
Registration continues
through March 11 for the
Abbey Youth Festival to be
held Saturday, March 26 in St.
Benedict, La.
This year’s theme is
“Forever Ancient, Forever
New.” Festival speakers
include Matt Maher, Paul
George, Judy McDonald,
Archbishop Gregory Aymond,
and the monks and seminarians
of St. Joseph Abbey+Seminary
College.
The Abbey Youth Festival
is an apostolic service of St.
Joseph Abbey and Seminary
College, designed to provide
young people with an
opportunity to experience a
day of prayer and faith
formation with an exposure to
the Benedictine tradition. Its
focus is evangelization and
vocational discernment by
means of Liturgy, prayer,
worship, music and education
appropriate for Catholic young
people.
For more information, go
to www.abbeyyouthfest.com
February 14, 2011 Page 19

Young Adult Conference to be held March 18-20

“Faith: Our Generation” is
the theme of the 2011 Crossroads
Young Adult Conference to be
held March 18-20 at Maryhill
Renewal Center in Pineville. The
three-day conference is sponsored
by the Catholic Diocese of
Alexandria.
Young adults, single or
married between the ages
of 18 and 40, are invited to
attend this up-lifting spiritual
encounter, designed to recognize
the participant’s relationship
with Jesus and to recognize the
need to move forward with that
relationship. The annual event
offers an encounter with Jesus
Christ through Sacred Scripture,
official Church teaching, and
fellow believers.
The keynote speaker, Paul Christian crossover singer/
George, is the director and co- songwriter. His music reflects his
founder of ADORE Ministries, relationship with God, with others
which reaches out to thousands and with the world in general, in
of people each year across the a candidly honest way. He writes
globe. Paul currently lives in about feelings that everyone is
Houma, La., where he serves the prone to experience everyday.
Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Rev. Jack Michalchuk, pastor
as director of evangelization and of St. Anthony of Padua Church
young adult ministry. in Bunkie, will celebrate Mass at
The host for the weekend the conclusion of the conference
will be Paul Hood, the director on Sunday morning.
of Religious Education at Our The registration fee to attend
Lady of Prompt Succor Church in the 3-day conference is $50
Alexandria, La. By using his love through March 1; afterwards it
for music, comedy, and anything is $60. The fee includes meals;
that isn’t bolted down to the floor, housing is extra. 
Paul has ministered to all ages at For more information,
home and abroad. or to register, go to www.
Worship leader, Grae youngadults@diocesealex.org or
McCullough, is a contemporary call 318-445-2401, ext. 221.

LSU-A Catholic Student Center gears up for Spring events

LOUISIANA CATHOLIC COLLEGE STUDENTS (LCCS). Students from the

LSU-A Catholic Student Center recently attended the LCCS conference at
Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond.

AWAKENING RETREAT. An Awakening Retreat was held recently at the LSU-A Catholic Student Center.

FREE MEALS. Catholic adult organizations (like these CDAs from Court Padre Pio in Cottonport, the Knights of
Columbus, and LSU professors) volunteer to cook a free meal for the Catholic students and faculty every Wednesday
at noon at the LSU-A Catholic Student Center.
Page 20 February 14, 2011

Wuerl’s book urges Catholics to take ‘fresh look’ at Mass

By Richard Szczepanowski
Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON (CNS) --
Washington Cardinal Donald W.
Wuerl marked the Feb. 1 publica-
tion of his new book, “The Mass:
The Glory, The Mystery, The Tra-
dition,” by hosting a book signing
the same day at the Basilica of the
National Shrine of the Immacu-
late Conception.
More than 100 people braved
cold, wet winter weather and icy
streets to have copies of their
books signed by the cardinal, who
co-wrote “The Mass” with Mike
Aquilina.
“Thank you for being in-
terested in the book, but more
importantly, thank you for being
interested in the subject of the
book,” Cardinal Wuerl said.
“The Mass: The Glory, The
Mystery, The Tradition,” explains
every facet of the liturgy. The
authors say they wrote the book
because while the Mass “is ever
ancient and ever new, ... it’s time
for us to take a fresh look, from
where we sit now -- and from
where we stand and kneel.”
Beth Garcia, a mother of
three and a parishioner at Our
Lady of Victory Church in Wash-
ington, said she wanted to have a
copy of the book because “we’re many years that Cardinal Wuerl is members of his family.
raising our kids in the faith, and the consummate teaching bishop. “It is good to be reminded
it’s great for my husband and me His Eminence helps us along the just how important the Mass is. As
to have a book like this.” path to holiness by helping us he says in the book, ‘This is who
“You find that the church is learn our faith and deepen our we are,’” Hayes said. “We don’t
like an onion -- there is always faith,” the rector said. “Since want to be sedate or complacent
another layer to peel away and the Mass is our highest form and in the pew. The Mass is something
more to discover,” Garcia said. most perfect prayer as Catholics, from Jesus until now that we’ve
“Having Cardinal Wuerl’s leader- his book on the Mass helps us done every day. Through it, we’re
ship guiding us is a great asset, a better understand that prayer and connected to the eternal.”
great help, to us as we pass on the enter even more deeply into the ---
faith to our kids.” Mass when we come to church on Editor’s Note: “The Mass:
Robert Polkiewicz, a parish- Sundays.” The Glory, The Mystery, The
ioner at St. Mary of the Mills Par- Mike Hayes, a parishioner Tradition,” is available at lo-
ish in the Washington suburb of at St. Hugh of Grenoble Parish cal Catholic book sellers, and
Laurel, Md., also noted that he in Greenbelt, Md. said that he online. It was published by
would share the book with his bought six copies to pass on to Doubleday and costs $21.99. 
family.
“I’m on my faith journey,
and I’ve been looking for a book
like this for a long time,” he said..
“From what I’ve read so far, this
is stuff I wish I knew when I was
a kid, and it’s something I’m go-
ing to share with my wife and
kids.”
Polkiewicz said he purchased
the book, because “I don’t want to
just attend Mass anymore, I want
to participate in it.”
Msgr. Walter Rossi, the
shrine’s rector, said he was not
surprised that people were look-
ing to the book to learn more
about the Mass.
“It has been well known for

Position Available:
Assistant Development Director

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Alexandria is currently

seeking applications for an Assistant Development Director to
work with church parishes and schools.
Experience: Must be proficient in technology, have
the ability to communicate effectively, both verbally
and in writing, and a strong development/fundraising
background. Two years of nonprofit development
experience desired, preferably in church or social service
environment and knowledge of church organization and
procedures. Practicing Catholic strongly preferred.
Education: BS or BA in Communications, Marketing, or
Public Relations or equivalent combination of education
and experience.
Send resume, cover letter, references and salary requirements
to: info@diocesealex.org or to: Diocese of Alexandria,
ATTN: Assistant Development Director, P.O. Box 7417,
Alexandria, LA 71306-0417.

Diocese of Alexandria
February 14, 2011
The Rite: weak effort to show spiritual journey as ‘chillfest’
By John Mulderig
Catholic News Service
NEW YORK (CNS) -- Any
movie that opens with a quota-
tion from Pope John Paul II and
ends with the sight of a dedicated
priest hearing his parishioners’
confessions is well calculated to
win the support and approval of
viewers of faith. And so it is with
the religiously honorable drama
“The Rite” (Warner Bros.).
Considered purely as a piece
of cinema, however, this descent
into the tortured world of the de-
monically possessed, and of those
who courageously minister to
them, proves aesthetically tenta-
tive, its ultimate impact weak-
ened by the effort to showcase its
main character’s spiritual jour-
ney -- a conversion tale based on
real events -- as an old-fashioned
chillfest.
That central character is
skeptical seminarian Michael Ko-
vak, played by feature film new-
comer Colin O’Donoghue in an
impressive first outing.
Having pursued priestly
studies mainly to get a free col-
lege education and avoid fol-
lowing in the footsteps of his
undertaker father, Istvan (Rutger
Hauer) -- with whom he shares
Confession: a new app for examination of conscience
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (CNS)
In his message for the 2011 World
Communications Day, Pope
Benedict XVI said it’s not enough
to just “proclaim the Gospel
through the new media,” but one
must also “witness consistently.”
The developers of
“Confession: A Roman Catholic
App” for Apple’s iPhone, iPad
and iPod Touch think their
product helps people do both.
Brothers Patrick and Chip
Drafting and Design
Architectural, Civil, Mechanical,
www.cenlacadtech.com
THE RITE. Anthony Hopkins stars in a scene from the movie “The Rite.” The
Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture As-
sociation of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some ma-
terial may be inappropriate for children under 13. (CNS photo/Warner Bros.)
a tangled relationship -- Michael
sends off a resignation e-mail
soon after his ordination as a tran-
sitional deacon.
But the recipient of his mes-
sage -- his superior, Father Mat-
thew (Toby Jones) -- is convinced
that Michael possesses at least the
pastoral qualities of a good priest.
Leinen and their friend Ryan
Kreager said feedback has been
positive. The app, reportedly the
only one with an imprimatur, is
designed to help people make
a better confession. Given in
this case by Bishop Kevin C.
Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South
Bend, an imprimatur is an official
declaration by a church authority
that a book or other printed work
may be published.
It declares the published
work contains nothing offensive
3-D design and rendering
318.542.8539
So, to forestall his departure, Fa-
ther Matthew dispatches Michael
to Rome to complete a Vatican-
sponsored course in exorcism.
There Michael vents his on-
going doubts -- not just about
devils and such, but about the
very existence of God as well --
both to fellow student Angeline
to Catholic teaching on faith and
morals.
“The app is really built for
two kinds of people,” Kreager
explained. “For Catholics who
go to confession regularly, it
gives the user information. They
enter their name, age, their sex,
their vocation and their last
confession date, and it generates
an examination of conscience
based on that information.”
Centered on the Ten
(Alice Braga), an Italian reporter
who has enrolled in the class for
research purposes, and to their in-
structor, Dominican Father Xavi-
er (Ciaran Hinds).
Knowing a hard case when
he sees one, Father Xavier ar-
ranges for Michael to serve an
informal apprenticeship with vet-
eran demon fighter Father Lucas
(Anthony Hopkins), a forthright
Welshman renowned for his un-
usual but effective approach to
his work.
The inexplicable experiences
that follow, as Father Lucas and
his initially reluctant protege
wrestle with the dark forces at
work on pregnant teen Rosaria
(Marta Gastini, another newcom-
er), force Michael to reassess his
secular certainties.
The idea that a contemporary
doubter should be moved toward
belief in the source of absolute
good by witnessing the effects of
absolute evil run amok is certain-
ly an intriguing one.
And a few shaky details
along the way -- as when Mi-
chael, though only a deacon, ap-
pears to be giving absolution to
a dying victim at the scene of a
car accident -- can easily be over-
looked in light of screenwriter
Michael Petroni and director Mi-
Page 21
kael Hafstrom’s resounding af-
firmation faith and the value of
priestly ministry.
But Michael’s story -- a
fictionalized version of the life
of Father Gary Thomas of the
Diocese of San Jose, Calif., as
recounted in journalist Matt Ba-
glio’s 2009 book, “The Rite: The
Making of a Modern Exorcist”
-- would have been more effec-
tively presented on its own terms.
Instead, it has been wedged,
somewhat uncomfortably, into
the mold of a conventional horror
movie. The effect is to diffuse --
and slightly diminish -- its valu-
able underlying message, though
enough of that endures to make
the picture, despite the objection-
able features listed below, possi-
bly acceptable for mature teens.
The film contains incest and
suicide themes, some gruesome
imagery, incidental irreverence, a
couple of uses of profanity and a
few rough and crude terms. The
Motion Picture Association of
America rating is PG-13.
Commandments, the examination
would be different for a young
mother than for a teenage boy,
for example.
The examinations were
provided by two different
priests, the app developers said.
In addition to helping Catholics
who already make use of the
sacrament of reconciliation,
Kreager said the confession
app is helping another group of
people.
“It’s also for people who’ve
been away from the church and
want the opportunity to go to
confession,” he told Today’s
Catholic, newspaper of the Fort
Wayne-South Bend Diocese.
“You go to the examination of
conscience and it literally walks
you through, step by step, your
confessions as you’re in the
confessional.”
The app can be downloaded
from iTunes App Store for $1.99.
Page 22
Catholic Charismatic Day of Renewal
The Diocesan Service Committee of the Catholic
Charismatic Renewal of the Diocese of Alexandria will
host its annual Day of Renewal at St. Joseph’s Catholic
Church in Colfax, on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 9 a.m..
The guest speaker, Johnny Bertucci, is a member of
the National Service Committee of the Charismatic
Renewal and the steering committee of the Southern
Regional Charismatic Conference. The event will include
praise and worship music, talks, lunch ($12 per person).
testimonies, and will end with a Mass at 4 p.m.
For more information call Jo Mabou @ 318-442-0584
or Diane Ardoin 318-419-1547.
Heaven’s Chefs
Heaven’s Chefs, an annual food tasting and fellowship
time sponsored by St. Mary’s Assumption Church in
Cottonport, is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 26, from 5:30-
7:30 p.m. in the St. Mary’s gym. Tickets are $10 and
include all you can eat from 20+ food booths. Drinks and
cookbooks will also be available for purchase.
Please contact Charlene Tigner (201-3717) or
Adrienne Blackledge (305-5820) for tickets or for more
information.
Mission with Father Pinto
Sts. Francis & Anne Church, Kolin, will host a Lenten
Mission March 14-20. All are invited to come and be with
us for this special occasion. The theme is ”Precepts of the
Catholic Church” with Fr. Santan Pinto, S.O.L.T. The
mission will include prayer, confessions, Mass, teachings,
healing services, Adoration and Benediction.
For more information, call 443-5118, or Pam
Funderburk at 619-9111, or email at Fundyfam@bellsouth.
net, or Sissy Rice at 449-9420 or email at Dschcrice@aol.
com”
Beginning Experience
Hope for a new beginning for divorced, widowed, or
separated people. Register now for Beginning Experience,
a weekend away toward a lifetime of change on March 25-
27 at Maryhill Renewal Center, in Pineville.
The program helps grieving single-again persons
emerge from the darkness of grief into the light of a new
beginning, and move into the future with renewed hope.
The cost is $185 and includes two nights’ lodging and
meals.
To register or for more information, call Anna at (318)
448-1990 or (318) 452-2678 or Rose at (504) 920-0770.
Avoyelles Parish Brigitte Paul Kelso Insurance, LLC
Businesses Brigitte Kelso
Owner/Agent
Advertise in
2918 S. MacArthur Dr.
The Church Today Alexandria, La. 71301
Contact Carla Moreau Phone: 318.448.2226
Fax: 318.448.2800
318-346-7829 brigittekelso@att.net
AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS. Amahl
as the little crippled boy, King Kaspar (
King Melchior ( ) were part of the production of
“Amahl and the Night Visitors” presented Jan. 16 at St. Francis
Xavier Cathedral in Alexandria. Other performers were Tynan
Davis, Louis Nabors, and Aaron McConnel. (Photo by Laura Voltz)
ST. PETER MISSION, ELMER. The children at St. Peter
Mission in Elmer put on a Christmas play in December.
YARD OF THE MONTH. Saint Joseph Catholic Church, St.
Joseph LA was recognized by St. Joseph Town as a “Yard of the
Month.” (January 2011) Pastor, Fr. Peter J. Kuligowski
February 14, 2011
Local Mardi Gras Parades
FEB. 27
MARKSVILLE MARDI GRAS PARADE.
The Krewe of Cyllenlus Mardi Gras Parade, sponsored
by the Rotary Club of Avoyelles, will be held Sunday, Feb.
27 at 1 p.m. in Marksville.
FEB. 27
BUNKIE MARDI GRAS PARADE.
The Krewe of Cronus Mardi Gras Parade, sponsored
by the Bunkie Chamber of Commerce, will be held Sunday,
Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. in Bunkie.
MARCH 5
NATCHITOCHES MARDI GRAS MAGIC
Enjoy a day of family-friendly Mardi Gras fun in
Natchitoches, including a children’s and pet parade,
children’s activities, live entertainment and food vendors.
),
Krewe of Wag-uns Parade is at 2 p.m., Pre-Parade activities
) sitting, and
from 3-6 p.m., Krewe of Dionysus Mardi Gras Parade is at
6 p.m.
MARCH 5
LEESVILLE MARDI GRADE PARADE
The Leesville Chamber of Commerce Mardi Gras
Parade will be held Saturday, March 5 from 4:30 p.m. –
7:30 p.m. in Leesville.
MARCH 5
ALEXANDRIA CHILDREN’S MARDI GRAS PARADE
The 15th annual Children’s Parade will be held at
10:45 a.m. beginning on Murray Street in downtown
Alexandria.
MARCH 6 ALEXANDRIA MARDI GRAS PARADE
The 1
7th annual Mardi Gras Parade will be held at 2 p.m. in
Alexandria beginning on Texas Avenue.
MARCH 8
SIMMESPORT MARDI GRAS PARADE
The Mardi Gras Parade in Simmesport will be held
March 8 at 10 a.m.
Marian Lenten Pilgrimage
Make a Marian Lenten Pilgrimage to EWTN and
Caritas, Ala. March 21-23 with Fr. Anthony Catella and
other priests for EWTN “live” Mass and program. Be
present at Caritas while Marija Lunetti of Medjugorje will
be visiting and the Queen of Peace appears to her. Trip will
include daily Mass, spiritual enrichment, Rosary, songs
and more. Bus reservation is $135 with room; (some free
meals). Call Kathie at 640-4570 or Patsy at 640-0065 for
itinerary and room reservations before March 5.
February 14, 2011 Page 23

February - March
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

14 15 16 17 18 Diocesan Service
19 20
Committee Day of
Renewal
9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
St. Joseph Church, Colfax

VALENTINE’S DAY
PRAY FOR FR. T. FEY PRAY FOR FR. J. FOSTER PRAY FOR FR. R. GARRIONE PRAY FOR FR. J. GOOTEE PRAY FOR FR. R. GREMILLION PRAY FOR FR. J. HASIEBER PRAY FOR FR. A. HERNANDEZ

21 22 23 24 25
Showcase of Menard Art
In Your
Cute Face
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
26 Mardi Gras Parade:
27
at River Oaks St. Frances Cabrini 1:00 p.m.
5:00-7:00 p.m. Church, Alexandria Marksville
River Oaks Square,
Downtown Alexandria Heaven’s Chefs 2:00 p.m.
5:30-7:30 p.m. Bunkie
St. Mary’s Assumption,
Cottonport
PRAY FOR BISHOP R. HERZOG PRAY FOR MSGR. R. HOPPE PRAY FOR FR. R. HUMPHRIES PRAY FOR FR. B. IBE PRAY FOR FR. I. IBE PRAY FOR FR. H. IMAMSHAH PRAY FOR FR. K. ISHMAEL

28 1 2 3 4 5 6
Mardi Gras:
Children’s Parade
MARCH 10:45 a.m.
Downtown Alexandria Mardi Gras Parade
2:00 p.m.
4:30 p.m. Leesville Alexandria
2:00 p.m. Children’s
Natchitoches
6:00 p.m. Natchitoches

S.A.L.T. Retreat -- Maryhill Renewal Center

FIRST FRIDAY FIRST SATURDAY
PRAY FOR FR. G. KROSFIELD PRAY FOR BISHOP R. HERZOG PRAY FOR FR. P. KULIGOWSKI PRAY FOR FR. P. KUNNUMPURAM PRAY FOR FR. M. LAIRD PRAY FOR FR. R. LEMOINE PRAY FOR FR. R. MATHEWS

7 Mardi Gras Parade

8 9 10 11 12 Rite of Election
13
10:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m.
Simmesport St. Francis Xavier Cathedral,
Alexandria

MARDI GRAS ASH WEDNESDAY Camp Joshua -- Ruston, LA

PRAY FOR FR. J. MEDINA-CRUZ PRAY FOR FR. L. MELCHER PRAY FOR FR. A. MESSINA PRAY FOR FR. J. MICHALCHUK PRAY FOR FR. K. MICHIELS PRAY FOR FR. B. MILLER PRAY FOR FR. J. MONTALBANO

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

ST. PATRICK’S DAY Young Adult Conference -- Maryhill Renewal Center

Mission with Fr. Pinto -- Sts. Frances & Anne Church, Kolin
PRAY FOR FR. C. MORGAN PRAY FOR FR. C. NAYAK PRAY FOR FR. J. NELLIKUNNEL PRAY FOR FR. M. NOEL PRAY FOR FR. K. OBIEKWE PRAY FOR FR. J. O’BRIEN PRAY FOR FR. D. O’CONNOR