When white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on May 8, thousands flocked to St. Peter’s square. They were filled with elation at the announcement "Habemus Papam!" (“We have a pope!”). Those emotions were topped with surprise that the first American pope had been elected with Pope Leo XIV.

In consultation with the Clergy Personnel Board, Bishop Michael Duca makes several clergy and pastoral appointments in the Diocese of Baton Rouge effective 01 July 2025 (unless otherwise indicated). We thank these priests and deacons for their many years of service in their various diocesan ministries.

Bishop Duca, along with the clergy and lay faithful of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, congratulate His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, on his election as Roman Pontiff!

Catholics were powerfully present at the Louisiana State Capitol in terms of numbers of attendees and their commitment to stand up for social justice issues during this year’s Faithful Citizenship Day.

St. Vincent de Paul Baton Rouge (SVDP-BR) announced today that the national search for a new CEO has been successfully completed. Sunnie Johnson-Lain, CEO of Catholic Charities Washtenaw County, will join the organization as CEO on or around June 3, 2025. Sunnie succeeds former CEO Michael Acaldo of SVdP-BR who led the organization for over 34 years until his promotion as CEO of SVdP-USA.

To prepare seminarians in the Diocese of Baton Rouge for a new way of life through involvement in parish ministry and in social and charitable outreach, and all in communion with the bishop and presbyterate of Baton Rouge, Bishop Duca is pleased to establish the new Blessed Stanley Rother House of Formation at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Baton Rouge.

It is with sadness that the Diocese of Baton Rouge announces that Father Howard Adkins, a retired priest of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, passed away on 29 April 2025. He was ordained a priest in May 2007 and retired from active ministry in 2018. He was 79.

On April 22, Baton Rouge Fire Department Station 12 assisted St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge in honoring Pope Francis upon his death. The fire department hung the papal colors in 2013 when he was elected, and it hung the black colors 12 years later to mark his death. Photos provided St. Joseph Cathedral

Ashton Kennedy was drawn to the Catholic Church but held back from entering because of unanswered questions. But with the support of family members who had entered the church and a "posthumous nudge" from Father Mark Beard to “get off the fence,” Kennedy took the leap of faith.

People in the Diocese of Baton Rouge gathered at their church parishes for an intense time of prayer during Holy Week and the Triduum, which culminated in the celebration of Easter. The week began with Palm Sunday processionals on Palm Sunday. Photo by Debbie Shelley |The Catholic Commentator. At the Chrism Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral, Bishop Michael G. Duca blessed the sacred oils for the upcoming year and the priests renewed their priestly vows. Photo by Nicole Jones. On Holy Thursday at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Baton Rouge, Father Arockiam Arockiam SVD, pastor, kissed the feet of representatives of the parish in the ceremony commemorating Jesus’ washing of the disciple’s feet. Photo by Desiree Spann. On Good Friday, people remembered the plight of the homeless and marginalized during a Way of the Cross sponsored by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Photo by Debbie Shelley. At Immaculate Conception Church in Denham Springs, Father Matthew Graham, pastor, baptized people entering the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil Masses. Photos by Taylor Edwards Photography