News - April 2023 RSS Feed

After Jesus rose from the dead, his first appearances were to women. Why?

Dear brothers and sisters, Christ is risen!

The junior class at Ascension Catholic High School in Donaldsonville presented a Live Way of the Cross directed by Paula Simoneaux on March 9 at Ascension of Our Lord Church. The choir members included tenth-grade students. Pictured are, from left, front row, Brennan Tripode, Vanessa Ramirez, Tori Chachati, Kayla Borne, Thomas Nizzo, Easton Dunn, Jackson Melancon, Maya Julien, Sophie Simoneaux, Olivia Blanchard, Emilia Abadie, Alyssa Morales, and Andrew Landry; second row, Daniel Nguyen, Noah Giroir, Jackson Landry, Le’Khai Ester, Cody Cassard, Norie Cassard, Camryn Castrogovannie, Rylee Aucoin, Claire Cassard, Laneigh Breaux, Clotilde Cantin, and Austin Paine; third row, Grant Diez, Travis Cedatol, Reed James, Dwayne Landry, Jake Landry, Luke Templet, Kingston Cayette, Aaron Breaux, Landon Daigle, Karlie Chaney, Allison Griffin, and Kaden McClosky; and back row, Freddie Geason, Emily Morales, Sarah Pizzolato, and Chloe Borne.

I understand that in 1983 Pope John Paul II proclaimed that the year  marked 1,950 years since Jesus died.  That would indicate that Jesus died in the year 33 A.D. Is the year 33 correct?

On a brisk March 14 morning, students from St. Lillian Academy in Baton Rouge stepped onto the Catholic High School campus in Baton Rouge. There waiting, CHS friends in the My Brother’s Keeper Club greeted them by name, ready to hang out and let them experience the large high school campus atmosphere.

The season of Easter continues as we celebrate the Third and Fourth Sundays. The path to Pentecost follows the proclamation of the Paschal Mystery understood as Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. The sacred readings offer three powerful testimonies of guidance, confidence and strength for our prayer and meditation. 

Merging parishes can be spiritually challenging as the congregation of the closing church, in some cases the only church some parishioners have ever attended, casts wary glances at their new home.

On April 22, people around the world will turn their attention to planet Earth. Earth Day is widely recognized as the largest secular observance in the world, marked by more than a billion people every year as a day of action to change human behavior and create global, national and local policy changes.

Miracle leads family to enter the church

Ascension of Our Lord Church in Donaldsonville celebrated its 250th anniversary on April 15 with a Mass and reception. The church was packed with people who fondly remembered the history and vibrant faith of the community. Pictured is Bishop Michael G. Duca and priests from the diocese celebrating the eucharistic liturgy. A story and photos from the event will be in the May 5 issue of The Catholic Commentator. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator

In the path of catechesis on apostolic zeal, let us start to look at some figures who, in different ways and times, bore exemplary witness to what passion for the Gospel means. And the first witness is naturally the Apostle Paul.

The Knights of St. Claver at St. James Church in St. James gifted Bishop Michael G. Duca with a ceremony sword March 5. The bishop was surprised and humbled by the gift and even commented he would ask his nephew to build a cabinet to preserve his new sword along with his father’s Knights of Columbus sword. Pictured with Bishop Duca, from left, are grand Knight Paul Johnson, Deputy Grand Knight Lawrence Ambrose, Recording Secretary Gerard Preyan, Treasurer Milton Cayette, Bishop Duca, Chaplain Leon Walker and Father Matthew McCaughey, pastor of St. James. Photos submitted by Monique Edwards, St. James Church

The Catholic Church marked the beginning of Holy Week with the celebration of Palm Sunday on April 2. Palm Sunday commemorates Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem when palm branches were placed along his path days before he was crucified. As part of the Mass celebration, attendees held up blessed Palm branches during the processional. Pictured holding their blessed palm branches at a standing-room only Palm Sunday Mass at Christ the King Church and Student Center at LSU are, from left, Rachel Heisman and children Matilda, 6, Luke, 10, and Thea 8. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator

St. Catherine of Siena Church in Donaldsonville came alive Feb. 26 as the New Generation Liturgical Dancers worshiped during the parish’s Black History Month Mass.

Linda Owens has fond memories while growing up in Hammond when her family had two St. Joseph’s altars.

What is the history of the Bible?

The iconic 80-foot steeple of Ascension of Our Lord Church in Donaldsonville can be seen by land travelers in the area on both sides of Mississippi River as well as on the river, proudly boasting of its 250-year history of faith and perseverance.