Dear Reader, 

Happy Advent! As we enter this season of joyful anticipation, we are reminded of the sacred space Advent offers for waiting, reflection, and hopeful expectation. It’s a time to prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Christ, embracing quiet moments of peace amidst the busyness of the season.

To fully enter into the holiness of both Advent and Christmas, the Chancery Offices will be closed from December 23 to January 1. As such, we’re delighted to share this edition of The Collect with you a bit earlier than usual. It’s never too early to celebrate the inspiring work and wonderful happenings taking place in our diocese.

In Christ,
The Communications Secretariat of the Diocese of Baton Rouge

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Bishop Duca Announces Changes to the Age of Confirmation

After consultation with our pastors, catechists, and other evangelizers, I have decided to begin a transition plan in our Confirmation programs that will eventually lower the age of Confirmation to the seventh grade. 

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New Transitional Diaconate Ordination Date Signals Change in USCCB Priestly Formation Plan

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) recently updated its pastoral formation plan concerning the time of year seminarians are ordained as transitional deacons. Instead of seminarians being ordained as transitional deacons in the spring, they will be ordained in December. The change essentially allows seminarians to complete their academic studies before entering their vocational synthesis stage.

Please pray for Huy Tran and Josh Zelden who will be ordained deacons on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. 

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St. John of the Cross and Others Helping Russell Miller to Enter Secular Carmelites Order

To fully celebrate Advent, Catholics can turn to the saints whose feast days fall within this time of hopeful anticipation. One of them is St. John of the Cross, whose feast day is Dec. 14. He is among the Carmelite saints who “shined a light on the path” for Rusty Miller of Baton Rouge when he was searching to reconnect with God in his spiritual life. 

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Unborn Life Wins at Born to Run

With cool temperatures and sunny skies prevailing in downtown Baton Rouge on Nov. 16, the race was on. Some participants stretched or jogged in place before approaching the starting line with their minds set on crossing the finish line first. Others approached more leisurely and were content to cross the finish line at all. One thing was clear – they were all winners for supporting the unborn at Woman’s New Life Clinic’s annual Born to Run.

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School, Community, Rallies After Tragic Accident With Basketball Tournament

In the summer of 1994 Brett Frederic and Brett Legette, both 13, looked forward to their upcoming eighth-grade year at St. Theresa of Avila Middle School in Gonzales. They also anticipated entering high school the next year. Those dreams were shattered when they were tragically killed Aug. 20, 1994, in a car accident two days before school began.

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