Invitations from two deacons, the Holy Spirit, move Deacon Doucet answer the call to the diaconate

Deacon Jeremy Doucet has been active in church ministries throughout his life, yet he always felt he was called to give more of himself. After three “knocks on the door” of his mind and soul over the years from two deacons and the Holy Spirit, he discovered that “more” meant to become a deacon for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. 

Bishop Michael G. Duca ordained Deacon Doucet to the permanent diaconate on May 25 at St. Joseph Cathedral. 

A life-long resident of Pointe Coupee Civil Parish, Deacon Doucet’s parents exemplified how to live the Catholic faith through their active service at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Church in Livonia. Deacon Doucet’s father was a member of the Knights of Columbus and served as a grand knight of the council. His mother served on various church councils and in different church ministries. She was also a lector, extraordinary minister of the Eucharist, and member of the choir. His parents were involved with the youth group while Deacon Doucet was in it. 

Deacon Doucet was actively involved in the church as well. After he was confirmed, he lectored and volunteered in various church ministries. 

He attended LSU along with his high school sweetheart, Nichole, whom he met while he was a student at False River Academy, and she was a student at rival school Catholic of Pointe Coupee (CPC). The Doucets attended St. Jude Church in Baton Rouge, which was only a block away from where they lived.

About a year and a half later, Nichole gave birth to their first daughter, and they felt drawn back to Pointe Coupee to live near their parents. They have three children, Emma, 20, who is finishing up her third year at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Elise, 18, who recently graduated from CPC school, and Ella, 15, a rising sophomore at CPC.  

The Doucets have attended Immaculate Conception Church in Lakeland for almost 25 years.  
As Deacon Doucet got involved in the ministries of the church, he also became interested in the history, teachings, and doctrines of the Catholic Church. 



“That led me to go deeper into reading Scripture and that led me into a deeper relationship with Christ,” said Deacon Doucet. 

When Deacon Bob McDonner, retired, was assigned to ICC, Deacon Doucet’s curiosity was piqued about what the role of a deacon is. 

“I thought, ‘That’s pretty cool there’s something like (the diaconate) that exists,’” he said.  

He moved on with his life until early one Sunday morning a couple of years later as he was lying in his bed, a thought “from out of nowhere” prompted by the Holy Spirit popped into his head: “You can become a deacon.” 

“I can remember this feeling of peace and excitement about it,” said Deacon Doucet.  

He attempted to put it out of his mind. Then one Sunday after he had proclaimed the word at Mass and was leaving, a retired deacon from out of state, who usually sat in front of where his family sat, grabbed his arm. 

“He said ‘Have you ever considered you have a call to become a deacon?’” said Deacon Doucet. 

With another seed of the diaconate vocation being planted, Deacon Doucet told the man, “I have thought about it, now that you asked me.”  

A few years later, Deacon McDonner ran up to Deacon Doucet after Mass and said, “We got an email from Father Jamin David (then director of diaconate formation) asking about people in our parishes who we consider would be good for possible diaconate formation. I thought about you.” 

“My wife is standing next to me, and she looks at me and I thought, Okay Holy Spirit, I hear you. That’s the third knock,” said Deacon Doucet. 

He discussed and prayed about it with his wife, and he decided to enter the diaconate formation program. 

While going through diaconate formation, Deacon Doucet had to prioritize things in his life. 

“I learned to understand that my first vocation is my wife and my family,” said Deacon Doucet. “I learned how to prioritize the time that I spend with them and their activities because my kids were very involved (with different activities). 

“I think the diaconate formation has borne fruit and made our family in general closer to Christ,” Deacon Doucet said. 

The formation classes, according to Deacon Doucet, have taught him what the Catholic faith is, it’s history and what it’s supposed to look like when it’s practiced correctly in the “real world,”and intellectual formation. 

“If you don’t know the answer, you know where to find it,” said Deacon Doucet. 

On June 1, Deacon Doucet will begin his assignment, which is a “homecoming” for him as deacon assistant at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Maringouin, and St. Joseph Church in Grosse Tete. The deacon's assigned Ministry of Charity is to assist the faithful with canonical matters related to marriage cases in the Diocesan Tribunal.