News - March 2023 RSS Feed

Bishop Michael G. Duca is pictured with the unbaptized catechumens, now the elect, and their sponsors from the Hispanic Apostolate and Holy Ghost Church in Hammond during the Rite of Election at St. Pius X Church in Baton Rouge on March 5. Thirty-two catechumens and 38 previously baptized candidates from the Hispanic Apostolate in addition to those from Holy Ghost will enter the Catholic church at the Easter Vigil Mass April 8. Photo provided by Jose Raffucci LLC

The night before he died, Jesus struggled mightily to accept his father’s will. The Gospels describe him in the Garden of Gethsemane, prostrate on the ground, “sweating blood” and begging his father to save him from the brutal death that awaited him.

In the last catechesis we saw how the first “council” in the history of the church – council, like that of Vatican II – the first council, was convened in Jerusalem over a matter linked to evangelization, namely the proclamation of the good news to non-Jews.

Haley Arceneaux was 29 years old when she and three other civilians aboard the Crew Dragon Resilience spacecraft launched into space from Kennedy Space Center at Merrit Island, Florida on Sept. 16, 2021.

Many parents of children with disabilities make an exodus out of the church or “split shifts.” Instead of attending Mass as a family, one parent watches the children at home while the other goes to Mass.

  I noticed that sometimes during Mass we recite the Nicene Creed and other times we recite the Apostles’ Creed.  Why do we change?

CRS Rice Bowl can often be perceived as the annual campaign to feed thousands of faceless families in faraway places.

Hundreds of cars from throughout the Diocese of Baton Rouge went through the lines for Chef Folse’s Lenten soup of Belle River crab and artichoke bisque during the annual St. Vincent de Paul Society’s Count Your Blessings to Geaux Supper March 3 at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Baton Rouge. The Count Your Blessings Supper was created by Chef John Folse in 1996 to create an awareness of poverty, hunger and homelessness. Joining together to show their support and sing throughout the event are, from left, John Pastorek, Bishop Michael G. Duca, Bishop Emeritus Robert W. Muench and Folse. Photo provided by Michael Acaldo | St. Vincent de Paul Society

In a recent interview, Pope Francis has discussed the possibility of revising the Western discipline of priestly celibacy.

Our Lenten pilgrimage is nearing the end. We began in the desert, our foreheads dusted with ashes, our posture of penance with promises of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Now we kneel before the Lord, hearts and heads bowed for his great mercy as we pray, “Save us, our Savior of the world, for by your cross and resurrection you have set us free.”

After wrapping up the goodies and putting away the baskets which held the chocolate bunnies, the celebration of Easter is far from over. In fact, it’s just beginning.

Helping youth discover “the whole point” of Lenten practices in order to draw them closer to Jesus in a relationship they yearn for will help them approach those sacrifices authentically, said youth ministers in the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

Bishop Michael G. Duca tosses beads to a throng of people gathered for the 38th annual Baton Rouge Wearin’ of the Green Parade on March 18. The parade began at Hundred Oaks Avenue and proceeded to the surrounding neighborhoods. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator

CCDBR helps resident rebuild house

The biblical story of Saul is one of the great tragedies in all of literature. Saul’s story makes Hamlet look like a Disney character. Hamlet, at least, had good reasons for the bitterness that beset him. Saul, given what he started with, should have fared better, much better.

“Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation!” (2 Cor 6:2).

Father Cayet Mangiaracina OP places ashes (above left) on one of the younger Catholics in Holy Ghost Church in Hammond on Ash Wednesday. Father Mangiaracina (left) and Holy Ghost pastor Father Charles Johnson OP spread the ashes following the 12:15 p.m. Mass. Photos by Richard Meek | The Catholic Commentator Below St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge was overflowing with people coming to receive ashes on their forehead on Ash Wednesday. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator