August Newsletter

August 14, 2009 Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Dates to Dear Seminarians and Friends,

Remember Vocation work is the type of ministry which alternates between periods
of encouragement and discouragement. Vocation directors are trained
not to get caught up in numbers or a desire for immediate results, or to
♦ Seminarian Mass and
Dinner with Bishop Mu- measure the success of one’s ministry solely by the number of candi-
ench – August 29, 2009, dates studying for one’s community. That being said, the start of this
5:00 pm, St. Isidore the new school year is a time of great encouragement for vocations in our
Farmer Parish, Baker
parishes and Diocese as we welcome seven new seminarians!
♦ Deo Gratias benefit for
St. Joseph Seminary Col- Caleb Bernacchio is 29 years old and a parishioner of Sacred Heart of
lege – August 30, 2009, Jesus Parish in Baton Rouge. He graduated from Walker High School
6:00 pm, Catholic Life (1998) and served four years in the U.S. Army before enrolling at L.S.U.
Center Main Auditorium,
Baton Rouge
and then the Angelicum in Rome where he earned a philosophy degree.
Caleb considered a vocation with the Dominicans and then the Jesuits,
♦ Parish Vocation Com- including one year in the Jesuit novitiate, before discerning a call to the
mittee Workshop – Sep- diocesan priesthood. He will enter his first year of graduate theology at
tember 12, 2009, 10:00 Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.
am, St. Patrick Parish,
Baton Rouge
Reuben Dykes is a 25 year old native of Covington, Louisiana, and a
♦ Father Than Vu’s 25th parishioner of St. Joseph Cathedral Parish in Baton Rouge. He is a grad-
Anniversary Mass – Sep- uate of Covington High School (2002) and has a B.S. degree in Finance
tember 20, 2009, 2:30 from L.S.U. Reuben worked as a residential real estate appraiser and
pm, Christ the King Pa-
rish & Catholic Center,
enjoys hunting, fishing, and team sports in his free time. Reuben will
Baton Rouge attend St. Joseph Seminary College for two years of pre-theology.

♦ Mass and Lunch for Se- Matthew Graham is a 27 year old parishioner of St. Jude the Apostle
minarians and their Par- Parish in Baton Rouge and the oldest of three siblings. He graduated
ents – October 10, 2009,
10:30 am, St. Joseph
from Catholic High School (1999) and holds a B.S. degree in Chemical
Chapel, Tracy Center Engineering from L.S.U. He serves on the diocesan Catholic Committee
on Scouting, the Catholic High Alumni Board, and his Knights of Colum-
♦ Notre Dame Seminary bus Council. Matthew will attend St. Joseph Seminary College for two
86th Anniversary & Gala years of pre-theology.
– October 17, 2009, 7:00
pm, Notre Dame Semi-
nary, New Orleans John Harris is 17 years old and a 2009 graduate of Denham Springs
High School. He was raised in the Methodist religion before choosing to
become Catholic through the R.C.I.A. process at his home parish of
Immaculate Conception in Denham Springs. John will attend St. Joseph
Seminary College for his undergraduate studies in philosophy.

Cody Reed is 20 years old and a parishioner of Immaculate Conception

Parish in Lakeland. He attended Livonia High School, the Louisiana
School for Math, Science, and the Arts (2007) before enrolling at L.S.U.
Cody will transfer to St. Joseph Seminary College and begin his junior
year of undergraduate studies.

Michael Sanders is 31 years old and grew up in Most Blessed Sacra-

ment Parish in Baton Rouge. He is a graduate of Bishop Sullivan High
School (1996) and Louisiana Tech and holds a degree in Marketing. Mi-
chael worked as an independent insurance broker and will attend St.
Joseph Seminary College for two years of pre-theology.

Harry Theriot is a 38 year old native of Brusly and a parishioner of St.

Joseph Cathedral Parish in Baton Rouge. He graduated from Brusly High
School (1989) and has a B.A. in General Studies from U.L.L., and a B.S.
in Computer Science from L.S.U.. He is the youngest of five children and
was employed as a network administrator. Harry will attend Notre Dame
Seminary in New Orleans for his pre-theology studies.

I thank God for having placed His call in the hearts of these 7 men and
our 12 returning seminarians. Together they form an outstanding group
of candidates for the priesthood. Please pray for them and for all others
who are listening prayerfully for God’s call.

In Christ,
Father Matt Lorrain

Mass & Barbeque with Bishop Muench

The annual “back to school” Mass and barbecue with Bishop Robert Mu-
ench and the seminarians will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2009, at
St. Isidore the Farmer Parish in Baker. The seminarians will join the pa-
rishioners of St. Isidore at their regularly-scheduled 5:00 pm anticipated
Sunday Mass, and then gather for a social and meal hosted by Father
Fred Youngs. All priests of the Diocese are also invited to join us for the
meal if they can make it following the conclusion of their own parish vi-
gil Masses. The dinner is expected to begin around 6:30 or 7:00 pm in
the Parish Hall.

Seminarians are asked to wear coat and tie for the Mass and for the for-
mal photographs, which are taken immediately following the Mass. The
dress code for the remainder of the evening is casual.

Pope Benedict XVI has declared June 19, 2009- June 19, 2010 a “Year
for Priests”. The Pope has also declared St. Jean Vianney the Universal
Patron of Priests on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death
of the Curé d’Ars.

Each parish in the Diocese of Baton Rouge will be taking part in this ob-
servance in some way, with a number of diocesan-wide activities as
well, for both priests and others.

More information on the international and national observances may be

found on the US bishops’ website www.usccb.org/yearforpriests.
Baton Rouge Deo Gratias 2009
Deo Gratias (Latin for “Thanks be to God”) is an annual reception and
dinner to benefit St. Joseph Abbey and Seminary College. The Baton
Rouge Deo Gratias 2009 will take place on Sunday, August 30, 2009,
beginning with Vespers at 6:00 pm, then followed by a reception and
dinner prepared by Chef John Folse in the main auditorium of the
Catholic Life Center. Register online at www.sjasc.edu, or contact Ms.
Kit Friedrichs-Baumann either at 985-867-2233 or via her email at
kbaumann@sjasc.edu.

Parish Vocation Committee Workshop

The Office of Vocations has scheduled another training and enrichment
workshop for new and continuing members of Parish Vocation Commit-
tees in the Baton Rouge diocese. The workshop will be held on Satur-
day, September 12, 2009, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon at St. Patrick
Parish Activity Center in Baton Rouge.

The workshop will offer an opportunity to share ideas and strategies for
promoting vocations in our parishes and schools, and also make availa-
ble any new resources for the coming school year.

“Discerning God’s Will” Workshop

The Region V Religious Formation Conference is sponsoring a workshop
on “Discerning God’s Will” on Saturday, September 19, 2009 from 9:30
am to 3:30 pm at the Jesuit Spirituality Center in Grand Couteau, Loui-
siana. The presenter is Father Mark E. Thibodeaux, S.J. The workshop is
open to men and women in all stages of formation, formation directors,
and vocation directors. The cost is $25.00 per person (bring a bag
lunch). For more information and to register please contact, Sister Cla-
rice Suchy, STJ: claricestj@yahoo.com or 985-893-1557.

Mass and Lunch for Parents of Seminarians

The annual Mass and lunch for seminarians and their parents is set for
Saturday, October 10, 2009, at 10:30 am in St. Joseph Chapel in the
Bishop Tracy Center in Baton Rouge. The main celebrant for the Mass,
and also host of the lunch to follow, will be Bishop Robert Muench.

Notre Dame 86th Anniversary & Gala

Notre Dame Seminary will host a Gala celebrating their 86th Anniver-
sary on Saturday, October 17, 2009, from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm at the
Seminary located at 2901 South Carrollton Avenue in New Orleans. The
evening will include hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, musical entertainment,
raffle and auction. Tickets are $100 per person and are available
through the Seminary. Sponsorships are also available. Please contact
Sharon Mason at 504-866-7426 or smason@nds.edu.

Called By Name – Year II

The very successful “CALLED BY NAME” program is being offered for a
second consecutive year for the benefit of those parishes which were
not able to participate in last year’s campaign. “CALLED BY NAME” is a
 program that invites men and women, 16 years of age or older, to con-
Contact Us sider priesthood or consecrated life.
♦ Office of Vocations At the program’s heart is the belief that all of us share a common calling
Diocese of Baton Rouge
P.O. Box 2028
through Baptism, to which we are invited to respond in a variety of
Baton Rouge, ways – marriage, single life, consecrated life, diaconate or priesthood.
LA 70821-2028 The “CALLED BY NAME” process focuses on priesthood and consecrated
life, and stresses the role of the Christian community in calling forth
men and women to consider these vocations.
Telephone
Parishioners throughout the diocese are encouraged to consider who in
♦ 225-336-8778
our midst might serve well as priests or religious and submit their
names at the weekend liturgies January 9-10 and January 16-17, 2010.
There are many good prospective priests, brothers, and sisters who are
Fax
simply waiting to be asked.
♦ 225-242-0342

E-mail
Vocations to the Consecrated Life
♦ vocations@diobr.org
Please pray for those who are in formation pursuing a vocation to religi-
ous life (and please let the Vocations Office know of any others to in-
clude on this roster). Father Matt can provide more information on reli-
Website gious life and the general charisms of specific religious orders, and put
♦ www.diobr.org/vocations
inquirers in touch with the appropriate Vocation Directors for them.

Sr. Mary Corripio (St. Aloysius) ........................ Sisters of Notre Dame

de Namur
Seminaries
♦ Notre Dame Seminary Br. Augustine DeArmond (St. Thomas, Springfield).. ........ Dominicans
2901 S. Carrollton Ave.
New Orleans,
LA 70118-4391
Lacey Flores (Christ the King)......................... Carmelite Sisters of the
504-866-7426 Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles
http://www.nds.edu
Christopher Iwancio (St. Aloysius).................... Capuchin Franciscans
♦ St. Joseph
Seminary College Kevin Piper (St. Joseph, French Settlement) ................. Brothers of the
75376 River Road Sacred Heart
St. Benedict,
LA 70457-9900
985-867-2232
http://www.sjasc.edu
Roster of Diocesan Seminarians
3rd Theology Todd Lloyd 26 St. Thomas More, Baton Rouge
3rd Theology Brent Maher 25 Immaculate Conception, Denham Springs
2nd Theology Peter Dang 43 Sts. Anthony/Le Van Phung, Baton Rouge
2nd Theology Al Davidson 55 St. Agnes, Baton Rouge
2nd Theology Kyle Gautreau 28 St. Mark, Gonzales
2nd Theology Mark Gyan 54 St. John the Evangelist, Prairieville
2nd Theology Matthew McCaughey 25 St. Thomas More, Baton Rouge
1st Theology Caleb Bernacchio 29 Sacred Heart of Jesus, Baton Rouge
1st Theology Joseph Vu 21 Sts. Anthony/Le Van Phung, Baton Rouge
Pre-Theology Reuben Dykes 25 St. Joseph Cathedral, Baton Rouge
Pre-Theology Matt Graham 27 St. Jude the Apostle, Baton Rouge
Pre-Theology Tim Hedrick 27 St. Thomas More, Baton Rouge
Pre-Theology Michael Sanders 31 Most Blessed Sacrament, Baton Rouge
Pre-Theology Harry Theriot 38 St. Joseph Cathedral, Baton Rouge
4th Philosophy Brad Doyle 21 St. George, Baton Rouge
4th Philosophy Joshua Johnson 21 St. George, Baton Rouge
3rd Philosophy Cody Reed 20 Immaculate Conception, Lakeland
2nd Philosophy Logan Roussel 19 St. Michael the Archangel, Convent
1st Philosophy John Harris 17 Immaculate Conception, Denham Springs