Pope Benedict XVI Honored for Job Well Done

by Woody Jenkins, Editor

CENTRAL — Father Mike Moroney of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Central has had quite a month.  He has been honored as National Distinguished Pastor — one of only 12 priests to be so honored in the entire country.
Then last Saturday, he presided over a bang-up success at the St. Alphonsus Auction and A Taste of Central, an annual event which draws hundreds to enjoy the best food of Central restaurants and participate in the auction which produces tens of thousands of dollars for the local church.
Jolice Provost of Central City News captured a photograph of Father Mike riding a bicycle inside the Family Center during the Auction.
“I must have looked pretty stupid,” the father told me when I let him know we had the picture.  “Not at all,” I laughed.  “But you do look like a man of the people!”
Indeed he is.  Ironically, he is a figure who is larger than life but at the same time someone who is highly accessible to everyday church members and to citizens of Central who aren’t members at St. Alphonsus at all.
On Wednesday, Father Mike spoke about Pope Benedict XVI on the pope’s second to last day of service. He remembered his first encounter with the future pope when he was a student in the seminary.  “He is an outstanding writer, and I read him in college.  He is considered a great writer in the Catholic tradition, especially on the Eucharist.”
“He was a wonderful pope who was ecumenical, and that’s important to me.  He will also be remembered for cleaning up things that needed to be cleaned up.”
“Now, with his decision to retire, this is an historic moment.  He had tremendous courage to recognize that it is time to retire.  We all seem to think we can go on forever.  He has made many tough decisions.”
“Normally, when a pope dies, there are nine days of mourning, but that will not occur.  Within the next couple of weeks, the Cardinals will convene.  You know the tradition of black smoke and white smoke.  Each day, if there is no decision, they release black smoke.  But when a pope is chosen, they will release white smoke. Then within minutes, we will know who the new pope is.”
Will the new pope continue the philosophies of Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI?  Father Mike said it is impossible to know.  “We only know after they take office.”
“Perhaps there will be an Italian pope,” he said, “but perhaps not!  One thing is sure: Whoever goes into the meeting a pope will leave as a Cardinal!  The ones who are predicted to be pope never are.”
Catholics and non-Catholics can be grateful for the selfless service of Pope Benedict XVI.  We pray that his health improves and that he has many good years ahead.
***
BREC Plans to Allow Sale of Alcohol at Many BREC Parks.  The Baton Rouge Recreation and Parks Commission Board will hold a public hearing at 5 p.m. today at BREC headquarters on Florida Boulevard.
At the meeting, the board intends to approve a policy allowing the sale and consumption of alcohol at most of the BREC parks in the parish.  This meeting has received almost no public attention, and it appears proper public notice was not given, because no details of the far-reaching policy have been available on the BREC website.
If BREC approves the policy, it will go to the Metro Council, where it has already supposedly been “well lobbied.”
The Central Sports Park is among the parks that will be allowed to sell alcohol at certain times and under certain conditions.  To express your views, contact your Metro Council members.