By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles
The line to greet His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke and kiss his ring lasted nearly two hours during a reception hosted in his honor at the American Legion Hall in Vinton on Sunday, October 27, 2024.
The 76-year-old cardinal blessed couples, families, children and individuals. He autographed prayer cards and books. He graciously posed for photographs — with a gentle smile — as countless keepsake images were snapped one after another with smartphones.
Bishop Glen John Provost are pictured in the Chapel of the Assumption
at Saint Charles Center. Cardinal Burke was invited by his longtime friend
and seminary classmate, Bishop Provost, to serve as retreat master
for the Diocesan Priests Retreat in late October.
“I told His Eminence he is like a magnet, attracting many today from Dallas, Houston, Lafayette, and locally in Southwest Louisiana,” said Rev. Canon Jean-Marie Moreau, Rector of St. Francis de Sales Oratory for the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest in Sulphur.
The American Cardinal Prelate of the Roman Catholic Church was invited by his longtime friend, His Excellency Bishop Glen John Provost. The two were seminary classmates in Rome having been ordained to the priesthood on June 29, 1975, by Pope Saint Paul VI.
Named a cardinal in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Burke has written and spoken widely on Roman Catholic canon law, the Holy Eucharist, devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the sanctity of human life.
Wrapping up a week-long visit in the Diocese of Lake Charles, the cardinal served as retreat master for the Diocesan Priests Retreat held October 21-25 at Saint Charles Center in Moss Bluff.
at St. Francis de Sales Oratory in Sulphur. He is assisted by
Canon Jean-Marie Moreau (left) who serves as Rector of the
Oratory for the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest.
“The last visit of Cardinal Burke to the Diocese was in 2010 when he spoke for the New Life Counseling Banquet,” recalled Bishop Provost. “Now he visits us again primarily to direct the annual spiritual exercises for the priests of the Diocese in retreat. These are two subjects close to his heart: respect for human life and the holiness of priests.”
Commenting on their 53-year friendship, “I have known Cardinal Burke since 1971, when we entered the Pontifical North American College together with our class,” the bishop said. “His spiritual and intellectual strengths were respected then as they are now. His fidelity and love for Christ and His Church has never wavered.”
Prior to the reception, His Eminence was celebrant and homilist for a prelatial Low Mass (celebrated by a cardinal) at St. Francis de Sales Oratory.
“It is a source of joy for me to offer in your church a Mass according to the more ancient usage of the Roman Rite on the Feast of the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ,” said Cardinal Burke. “I thank His Excellency Bishop Provost for his warm welcome to the Diocese of Lake Charles and Canon Jean-Marie Moreau for the invitation to offer the Holy Mass today.”
The cardinal reminded those gathered that “the Kingship of Christ clearly extends to the individual human heart, calling forth the obedience which frees each of us to become all that God has created us to be.”
In celebrating the Solemnity of Christ the King in the Extraordinary Form, the cardinal called on everyone “to renew our devotion to His royal heart, keeping before our eyes throughout each day the image of Christ the King who reigns in our hearts with His glorious, pierced heart.”
in a Eucharistic Procession throughout the streets of Sulphur.
To his left is Rev. D.B. Thompson, a priest for the Diocese
of Lake Charles. The procession was part of the celebration
for the Kingship of Jesus Christ, High Priest, on Sunday, October 27.
A Eucharistic Procession and Benediction immediately followed the Mass, with all reciting the Prayer of the Nine-Month Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe composed by Cardinal Burke.
“I was very edified today by the celebration of Holy Mass and Procession and the wonderful participation of so many of the faithful,” the cardinal expressed.
“It is always a pleasure visiting the Diocese of Lake Charles, this being my third time, each visit under the care of your good shepherd and my good friend, Bishop Provost,” he noted.
With a desire to encourage the faithful, the cardinal asked them to “remember what happened in your church today and don’t get discouraged. Our Lord is our King, and He is leading us forward to bring us to victory over all of the trials that we face.”
“Please continue to pray for me as I know you have been doing and pray for your good bishop here in the Diocese of Lake Charles,” he kindly requested. “I promise to remember you in my prayers. God bless you all.”
Legion Hall in Vinton. Several hundred guests waited in line to greet
His Eminence and receive a blessing.
In remarks to Cardinal Burke, Canon Moreau pointed out that he has been a great example to all of us in living out the Cardinal Virtues taught to us in Catechism — prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.
“As His Eminence once said, ‘Being a cardinal is not a piece of cake; it is not easy.’ We assure you of all our prayers,” said Canon Moreau. “It is a great honor to have you with us.”
Canon also extended his gratitude to Bishop Provost for making the cardinal’s visit possible. “It is because of your friendship with His Eminence that Cardinal Burke is here.”
Also, in attendance for the Kingship of Christ celebration were Rev. Canon Matthew Talarico, who was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Burke for the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest; Rev. Canon Joel Estrada, Secretary to Cardinal Burke in the United States; and Rev. Carlos Garcia, Pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Vinton, and Rev. D.B. Thompson, JCL, both from the Diocese of Lake Charles.
To learn more about His Eminence Cardinal Burke, visit his personal website at www.cardinalburke.com.
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