Last Friday, May 1, our community gathered at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Shreveport for the 32nd Annual Red Mass, organized by the Shreveport Red Mass Society and the Diocese of Shreveport, with Bishop Francis I. Malone serving as the principal celebrant. Fr. Duane Trombetta, pastor of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church, and the Minor Shrine of the Shreveport Martyrs, acted as the master of ceremonies. Msgr. Rothell Price, Fr. Raney Johnson, and Fr. Calistus Makokha were concelebrants. Deacons Chris Domingue and Ricardo Rivera assisted at the altar. Shreveport mayor Tom Arceneaux was in attendance, along with many judges, lawyers, public officials, first responders, and representatives of local governments. Despite the rainy weather, it was a beautiful morning to see so many people from the legal and faith communities come together to start the day in prayer.
Understanding the Red Mass
If you’ve ever wondered about the history, the Red Mass is a very old tradition that officially opens the judicial year. It is a Solemn Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit, and “votive” simply means it’s offered for a specific intention. The name comes from the red vestments the clergy wear to represent the tongues of fire of the Holy Spirit. It also points back to the bright scarlet robes that judges used to wear long ago.
While this tradition started in places like Rome and London centuries ago, it made its way to the United States in 1928, starting in New York City. For us as US Catholics today, it is a time when people of all faiths who work in all branches of government join together. We ask for God’s help and guidance for everyone who acts as an administrator of justice.
A Reflection on Justice
Fr. Matthew Long, JD, served as our homilist. Since he practiced law before he discerned his call to the priesthood, his perspective on the intersection of faith and the legal profession is always insightful to hear. He spoke about the true meaning of justice and the heavy responsibility those in legal fields have to protect people who are vulnerable or can’t protect themselves. It was especially poignant given Shreveport’s recent experience with heart-wrenching tragedy and the violent loss of eight innocent lives. We’re working to obtain a recording of his homily and hope to share it soon so that all may be blessed, encouraged, and challenged by his words.
Our lectors for the Mass were Rabbi Dr. Jana L. De Bendetti from the B’nai Zion Congregation and the Honorable Carl E. Stewart of the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. We also had 8th grade students from St. John Berchmans Catholic School serving as altar servers, and they did a fantastic job with their responsibilities.
Music and Community Prayer
The music for the Mass was a collaborative effort by the Zion Baptist Church Choir, directed by Pastor Brady L. Blade, and the St. Cecilia Choral Society, directed by Aaron Wilson. Gwen Stuart played the organ beautifully, and Kara Price helped us lift our voices together as our cantor. All of the music was incredibly moving and uplifting, and it filled the space and seemed to help carry our prayers and worship upward.
During the Universal Prayer, several members of the local judiciary read petitions, including:
Honorable Jay B. McCallum, Honorable Michael Pitman, Honorable Jerry Edwards, Honorable Allie Aiello Stahl, Honorable Emily S. Merckle, Honorable Shonda D. Stone, Honorable Justin Courtney, and J. Marshall Rice of the Shreveport Bar Association.
The Honor Guard was provided by the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus from the Bishop Desmond and Msgr. Chenevert assemblies in Shreveport and Bossier City. Our gift bearers were Briana Bianca, Cecilia Woodley, and Joe Bulger.
Serving the Vulnerable
During the Mass, we took a moment to recognize Catholic Charities of North Louisiana. They do so much for the poor and vulnerable in our community, like helping with financial education and providing rent and utility assistance. They served over 2,600 people across 16 parishes last year through their financial education, immigration legal services, and family stability programs. It’s a great reminder of how we’re called to put our faith into action, and they’re a wonderful example of that. You can learn more about their recent work on their website.
It’s a privilege to see our diocese and community come together to pray for those who labor in the pursuit of justice. We’ve put together a full photo album from the event if you’d like to see more highlights from the morning.
