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The Latin Name for the Diocese of Baton Rouge is Dioecesis Rubribaculensis.
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1722: THE FIRST MASS IN BATON ROUGE
The Christian history of the Diocese of Baton Rouge began with little-known but heroic efforts of French missionaries among the native American peoples of the area. In particular, French Jesuits and Capuchin Franciscans were responsible for the preaching of the Gospel along the Mississippi River during the first half of the 18th century. It is recorded that Père Pierre Charlevoix, S.J., celebrated the first Eucharist in Baton Rouge on New Year's Day, 1722, on the present site of the State Capitol building.
As permanent settlements were established in the Louisiana colony, churches were erected. The first permanent church in the region was St. Francis Chapel of Pointe Coupée, built in 1728. Parishes were established at St. James in 1767, at St. Gabriel in 1769, at Donaldsonville in 1772, at Baton Rouge in 1792, and at Plattenville in 1793.
1793: THE DIOCESE OF NEW ORLEANS IS FOUNDED
In 1793, the Diocese of New Orleans was established, but an acute shortage of clergy remained a problem for many years. The settlement of Baton Rouge was fortunate in that a resident priest was stationed at Our Lady of Sorrows (later St. Joseph) Parish for most of its first century. Many difficulties were encountered during the 1800's including not only the universal problems of disease, Civil War and Reconstruction, but also sometimes violent ecclesiastical disputes over the legal authority of parochial "trustees." Still, the faith prospered and the institutional Church grew along with it, with Catholic houses of worship and education established during this time throughout the area.
1900's: THE FAITHFUL (AND THE CITY) INCREASE
The first half of the 20th century saw unprecedented growth: the rise of the City of Baton Rouge in industrial, political, and social importance meant a large population increase. The Church in the metropolitan area grew from one Parish in 1900 to nine by 1950 and to fifteen by 1960! In the larger, rural areas of the Diocese, Parishes gradually developed from "mission" chapels as resident priests began to be available.
1961: THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE IS ESTABLISHED
On July 22, 1961, Saint Pope John XXIII established the Diocese of Baton Rouge, comprising the twelve Louisiana civil parishes located in south Central Louisiana. The Holy Father named St. Joseph Church in the See city, built in 1853-1855 and renovated many times since, to be the new diocese's Cathedral. A census conducted in the very first year of the diocese's operation revealed its membership as being 164,476 Catholics (out of the total of 464,904 people reported by the U.S. Census Bureau that year).
The first Bishop of Baton Rouge, Robert E. Tracy, energetically organized the Diocese in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, of which he was a proud participant. The Church of Baton Rouge became a model for other Dioceses in establishing its post-Conciliar administrative structure and consultative process as its pastoral growth continued unabated. A younger-than-average presbyterate proved to be an enormous asset in providing unified pastoral leadership to the local Church in its formative period. Particular emphasis was placed upon liturgical renewal and modern catechetical efforts during this time.
1974: JOSEPH SULLIVAN, THE SECOND BISHOP OF BATON ROUGE
In 1974, Joseph V. Sullivan became Baton Rouge's second bishop. From 2004-2007, three separate lawsuits were filed by three individuals who alleged they had been sexually abused by him when they were minors. These accusations were found to be credible and resulted in settlements.
1983: STANLEY JOSEPH OTT, THE THIRD BISHOP OF BATON ROUGE
In 1983 a former priest of the Diocese, Bishop Stanley Joseph Ott, was named the third Bishop of Baton Rouge. Under his leadership, the local Church devoted itself to a widespread effort at evangelization and spiritual renewal. He called for the laity of the Diocese to take new initiatives to renew their faith and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world. A comprehensive program urging financial, ministerial, and spiritual stewardship was begun, and for this the Church of Baton Rouge again became a model for other dioceses in North America. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults was put in place as a model for evangelization and catechetics. Ecumenical efforts were significant, resulting in notable efforts at interfaith sharing of prayer and some limited ministry. In 1991, however, Bishop Ott was diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer. Yet over the next 18 months, he gave eloquent witness to Gospel values by his manner of ministry, life, and dying. He became a source and focus of unity and grace to Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
1993: ALFRED C. HUGHES, THE FOURTH BISHOP OF BATON ROUGE
In November 1993 Bishop Alfred C. Hughes was installed as Baton Rouge's fourth bishop. He continued to emphasize spiritual growth for the Catholic people of the diocese, especially by active social justice programs and deeper doctrinal formation in accord with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He called courageously for fidelity to the Church and to her teachings in confronting the secularism of the modern world. He re-organized diocesan programs of vocations-recruitment and began a comprehensive process designed to cope with declining numbers of ordained ministers in local parishes. A major capital fundraising campaign, designed to achieve certain specific objectives and focus attention on the need for the Church to face the future with confidence and faith, was overwhelmingly successful. In February of 2001 Bishop Hughes was transferred to New Orleans as Coadjutor Archbishop, eventually becoming the Metropolitan Archbishop there in January of 2002.
2001: ROBERT W. MUENCH, THE FIFTH BISHOP OF BATON ROUGE
On December 15, 2001, the transfer of Bishop Robert W. Muench of Covington, Kentucky to the See of Baton Rouge by Pope John Paul II was announced. Bishop Muench, who grew up in Louisiana and served for 28 years as a priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, was installed on March 14, 2002, as the fifth bishop of Baton Rouge.
Since the day he was installed, Bishop Muench paid special attention to the Church's ministry to young people. In addition to his presiding over the parish celebrations of the sacrament of confirmation whenever possible, he appointed chaplains at all eight Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. He regularly visited each high school, spending the day in conversation - invariably with his infectious laughter! - with the students and faculty on campus. He insisted that the Diocese of Baton Rouge remain a leader in the effort to end the evil of child abuse and provide a safe environment for all children and young people, especially within the structures of the Church. He took special interest in promoting vocations to the diocesan priesthood.
He became the Bishop Emeritus of Baton Rouge 2018 upon the reception of his resignation at 75 years-of-age by Pope Francis and the subsequent appointment of a new shepherd for the diocese.
2018: MICHAEL G. DUCA, THE SIXTH BISHOP OF BATON ROUGE
Michael Gerard Duca, a native of Dallas, Texas, was ordained a priest on April 29, 1978, for the Diocese of Dallas. On May 19, 2008, he was ordained and installed as the second Bishop of the Diocese of Shreveport. On June 26, 2018, he was appointed as Bishop-designate for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. His installation was held on August 24, 2018.
Since his installation, Bishop Duca has made listening to the people of Baton Rouge his first priority. Taking up the extensive schedule of Confirmation in the parishes and inquiring about parish fesitvals and get-togethers, Bishop Duca can be found among the parishioners learning a family's history and sampling the local cuisine.
Bishop Duca has continued to implement the diocean strategic plan begun by his predecessor including the apointment of an Episcopal Vicar of Strategic Planning to aid the process. Intentional about listening in order to understand, Bishop Duca met with each priest and deacon of the diocese to better ascertain what their needs in ministering to the People of God. With collaborative effort, Bishop Duca has overseen the renewal of Diocesan Secretariats and Offices to better serve the Church of Baton Rouge.
At present the Diocese of Baton Rouge is divided into 67 ecclesiastical parishes, two ethnic apostolates, and two additional University chaplaincies. More than 100 active secular and religious priests serve in the Diocese.
2020: THE DIOCESE TODAY
The Diocese itself comprises an area of 5,405 square miles. The total population of the Diocese is listed as 924,844 persons (according to the 2006 government census numbers), and Catholics make up only about 23 per cent of the total population (diocesan census figures put their number at just over 212,000).
Catholics have traditionally exercised a wider influence in society and on public policy over the years. Just under half of all Catholic children in the Diocese attend Catholic schools; others are expected to take part in parochial catechetical programs.
Beyond the devastation caused by the Hurricanes of 2005 to all of southern Louisiana, significant local problems remain. These typically include an area economy which typically lags far behind national averages, infamous political corruption and governmental inefficiency, low educational standards, inadequate health care, pervasive racism and class discrimination, and very limited new interest in priestly and religious leadership and life. Other, more typical problems of secular Western society also are present, such as widespread breakdown of marriage and family life, legal abortion, popular approval of capital punishment, and excessive individualistic materialism.
These are offset at least in part by committed and collaborative clergy and lay ministers; effective lay involvement and trained lay leadership at the parish level; a largely rural culture which tends to emphasize strong interpersonal relationships, even in the midst of family breakdown; and dialogue among disparate factions as a means of furthering progress.