St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Baton Rouge pastor Father Randy Cuevas has been recognized as one of 13 recipients of the 2022 National Catholic Educational Association 2022 Lead.Learn.Proclam award, which highlights the outstanding work of Catholic school educators across the country. Catholic school leaders, teachers, principals and presidents, pastors, diocesan superintendents, school boards and home school associations are among the troupe of exceptional awardees entrusted with the faith formation in the communities of Catholic school education, NCEA officials said in a press release. “NCEA commends the extraordinary efforts, contributions and achievements of these exceptional leaders in Catholic education,” said Lincoln Snyder, NCEA president/CEO. “They are recognized as ambassadors of faith formation and academic excellence imparting the fullness of the church’s faith for all of us working in Catholic school education.” The honorees will be recognized at the NCEA Convention awards dinner on April 18 at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. The NCEA national convention is being hosted by the Archdiocese of New Orleans and is scheduled April 19-21 at the Riverside Hilton.
Bishop Michael Duca is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Mary Patricia “Pattie” Davis as the new Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, a position she will assume on June 1, 2022. Since 2019, Dr. Davis has been the President and CEO of the Mt. St. Mary Academy and Foundation in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Bishop Michael G. Duca leads the rosary at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge on March 25. The bishop joined Pope Francis in praying an Act of Consecration to entrust Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at St. Joseph on Friday, the solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. Following the rosary, Bishop Duca made the consecration. Priests throughout the Diocese of Baton Rouge prayed the rosary at their respective churches at 10:45 a.m., joining Bishop Duca in the unity of prayer. Photo by Richard Meek | The Catholic Commentator
Bishop Michael Duca shares a moment with the crew that he rode with during the Wearin’ of the Green St. Patrick’s Day parade in Baton Rouge on March 19. Pictured, from left, are Angela Eastridge, Maria Callender, Eastridge’s granddaughter Kaylee and Lawrence Callender. Photo by Nicole Jones | The Diocese of Baton Rouge
In his farewell speech in St. John’s Gospel, Jesus tells us he is going away but that he will leave us a parting gift, the gift of his peace, and that we will experience this gift in the spirit he leaves behind.
“Am I really doing anything special for Lent?” We’re already in the middle of Lent. In South Louisiana we plan for Mardi Gras so well and begin celebrating it so hard right after Jan. 6 with parties, balls and parades that we sort of stumble into church on Ash Wednesday surprised that Lent is already here and wondering what to do to observe it.
The Knights of Columbus Councils for the Diocese of Baton Rouge sponsor a yearly essay contest for students in grades 8 – 12. This year, the students were asked to compose an essay on the theme: “Since Society Has Become More Secular What Obstacles Have You Had to Overcome to Authentically Live a Life of Faith.” Students competed at the local level against other students in their own grade level. The winning local council winner advanced to the diocesan level and the diocesan winner advances to the state competition. Pictured right with Zachary Torregrossa, the eighth-grade grade state essay winner are, Delmas Forbes, left, KC State Community Director and Craig Toups, Grand Knight of KC Council 10613 of St. Agnes Church in Baton Rouge. Pictured below with Isabella Bull, 11th--grade essay state winner are Forbes, left, and Rudy Wolf, Grand Knight of KC Council 9247 of St. Jean Vianney Church in Baton Rouge. Their essays have now been submitted to the Knights of Columbus Supreme Office to compete in the International Knights of Columbus Essay Contest. Both students received various awards for winning their local levels and won a $50 gift card for winning the diocesan level and a certificate and a $250 check for winning the state contest. Photos provided by Delmas Forbes
Las emociones se apoderaron de Britney Umanzor Paz mientras se paraba hombro con hombro con 70 catecúmenos en el altar de la Iglesia St. Pius X en Baton Rouge el 13 de marzo, escribiendo otro capítulo notable en el rico legado de la Diócesis de Baton Rouge.
For people like Lisa Namikas, the war on Ukraine hits close to home. In addition to being a board member for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge and volunteer for refugees, she is also an adopted person who is half Ukrainian, an immigrant to the U.S, a professor of history and an author with expertise in international affairs.
As a former director of the Center for Disease Control, Dr. Robert Redfield was on the frontline when the novel coronavirus announced its presence to an unsuspecting world.
St. John the Evangelist Church in Plaquemine volunteers Betty Aucoin and Rosemary Cox led more than 60 volunteers in creating the altar, baking thousands of cookies and preparing meatless spaghetti with vegetable casseroles for the 700 attendees and home bound. Pictured, from left, are Nicky Migliacio, Linward Barbier and Rosemary Cox. Angels Sadie Fontenot and Caroline Watson are also pictured. Pastor Father Greg Daigle blessed the altar on March 19. The American flag flew in Afghanistan and sent to our altar committee as a thank you for the boxes of cookies mailed to them. Photo provided by Donna Carville | St. John the Evangelist Church
Churches throughout the Diocese of Baton Rouge celebrated St. Joseph’s Day with St. Joseph altars, including Mater Dolorosa Church in Independence, above. A parishioner at Mater Dolorosa and volunteer cook said 45 pounds of red gravy and 125 pounds of pasta were used to prepare for the celebration, which included sardine and many other Italian delicacies. St. Joseph the Evangelist Church in Plaquemine volunteers Betty Aucoin and Rosemary Cox led more than 60 volunteers in creating the altar, baking thousands of cookies and preparing meatless spaghetti with vegetable casseroles for the 700 attendees and home bound. Pictured, from left, are Nicky Migliacio, Linward Barbier and Rosemary Cox. Angels Sadie Fontenot and Caroline Watson are also pictured. Pastor Father Greg Daigle blessed the altar on March 19. The American flag flew in Afghanistan and sent to our altar committee as a thank you for the boxes of cookies mailed to them. Photo provided by Donna Carville | St. John the Evangelist Church
Sunlight splashed through the stained-glass windows of St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge in a display of heavenly joy as 246 people preparing to enter the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil Mass on April 16 responded “Here I am” during Rite of Election on March 6.
As the Lenten journey nears Holy Week, the walk becomes more deliberate. Each step deeply plants upon the path an impression of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Lent offers an opportunity to come to our senses, to sin no more. While we strive for firmer faith, deeper prayer and peace, we are called to repentance and reconciliation.
First Friday is a popular devotion in the Catholic faith, a time to offer reparations for sins. The devotion is said to have originated with the apparitions of Christ in France in the 17th century.
As catechumens, now “the elect,” emerged from the Rite of Election ceremony at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge on March 6 and the Hispanic Rite of Election at St. Pius X in Baton Rouge on March 13, they entered into the part of the RCIA process called the Period of Enlightenment and Purification.