Synod: People hunger for faith

Catholics are hungry for evangelization and are looking to the Diocese of Baton Rouge for even more ways to bring fallen away Catholics, including their family members, back to the church.

Unity among clustered parishes in the River Parishes region was also celebrated during a synod meeting Feb. 18 at St. Peter Chanel School in Paulina. 

The synod was one of nine held throughout the Diocese of Baton Rouge in response to Pope Francis’ call for a worldwide synod titled “Toward a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission.” 

Bishop Michael G. Duca led off the synod by telling those gathered that the meeting “We want to know what you have experienced in the church; I want you to speak freely.”
Terry Meaney, a parishioner at St. Joseph Church in Paulina, said most of her family members are not practicing Catholics and she is not aware of any outreach to attract them back to the church.

“I long for something; I would love to have one from the diocesan level,” she said.

Another St. Joseph member, in addressing the issue of fallen away Catholics, said love is the answer and not condemnation.

“There is so much hate,” he said, adding that his son stopped attending Mass following his high school graduation. “All I can do is love (my son) and do my best to live life as Christlike as I can.”

“We need programs for young adults,” he said. “After (the age of 26) there is nothing. I don’t understand that.”

Another parishioner said the truth about Catholicism must be spoken to all Catholics, especially the younger families. 

“I find some of that is lost,” she said. “Some people don’t even know not going to Mass on Sundays is a sin.”

Meaney said Catholics need to be called to the authenticity and truth of church teaching, adding she does not see that happening too often.

“People become easy prey for wrong or harmful messages,” she said.

Picking up on that theme, St. Peter Chanel principal Paula Poche said she believes some publishers of religious books are not always publishing truth about church teachings.

“We used to have the Baltimore Catechism and you knew (the teachings). Maybe they can go back (and publish) some of the old teachings,” Poche said.

“I feel like we have lost so much; novenas, First Fridays, First Saturdays,” a St. Joseph parishioners said. “All of those devotions are lost. Those devotions made you more of a devotional Catholic.”

Father Vincent Dufresne, pastor, suggested offering more educational opportunities virtually, which will open things up, and a possible retooling of some that is used in a virtual setting.

All who spoke also praised the spiritual harmony in the cluster parishes of St. Joseph, St. Michael the Archangel Church in Convent and Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Gramercy. The parishes were clustered in 2002 and now even share a website.

“One of the things I’m proud of, even if it was difficult at first, the cluster situation has brought people to act as a community, sharing has brought people a sense of a larger church. That has been helpful to the community,” said Father Dufresne.

Meaney said she was on a committee when the process first began and noted with pride that “we’ve come a long way.”

Deacon Alfred Adams, deacon assistant at the three parishes and director of the Office of Black Catholics for the diocese, said seeing “where we were and where we are now is a joy. We have our differences but when a crisis happens we come together.”

Overall, progress remains to be made on several levels, people agreed. Poche said she believes it’s time to consider building a high school in the Paulina/Lutcher area. She said Ascension Catholic Diocesan Regional High school in Donaldsonville is thriving and some River Parish students are either attending high school in Baton Rouge or in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

“We are missing out on our young people,” Poche said. 

Regarding leadership roles, Deacon Adams said “we need to start putting different faces in decision-making positions. We are all different ages, ethnicity.”

“We need people at the top making decisions and not one person making a decision for the whole group,” he said. 

Bishop Duca expressed his gratitude for all who spoke.

“What you said is profound,” he said.

Additional synods designed to meet with designated groups will be scheduled during the spring.