2020: A year of challenges

Even though the sickly pall of COVID-19 and social unrest threatened to seal many dreams in a coffin in 2020, stories of  courage, inspiration, celebrations, dialogue, ordinations and forward-looking changes give glimpses of new dreams and hope for the future.

The Diocese of Baton Rouge found itself grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, which spread like a spider web across the globe, causing death and isolation, crippling economies and making “mask up,” “keep social distance” and “wash your hands” a mantra from health officials and other leaders. As Louisiana became a hotspot for COVID-19, and state mandates were issued, the diocese adjusted by making liturgical changes. As Louisiana shut down for several weeks, in-person Mass celebrations were cancelled. The impact was keenly felt by many parishioners when they could not gather to celebrate Holy Week and Easter.

Holy water and baptismal fonts were emptied and remain dry. Non-profit organizations, such as Society of St. Vincent de Paul, also struggled to find ways to protect employees and volunteers as they continued their mission to serve the needy and vulnerable of society.

But Catholics showed resilience in the midst of the pandemic. Churches responded with mask-making ministries,  reaching out to their at-risk population and serving meals to healthcare workers.

Neighborhood “drive-by” Stations of the Cross also provided an alternative for celebrating Good Friday. Parishes celebrated live-streamed Masses so people could, and continue to do so, “attend Mass from home” and receive spiritual Communion. Parishes and schools also hosted virtual events and fundraisers.

Couples married in scaled down ceremonies. Catholic institutions such as Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University in Baton Rouge graduated nurses on a “fast track” so they could relieve frazzled medical workers.

In Catholic schools, teachers held drive-by parades to say goodbye to their students, who left the classrooms for virtual lessons after the pandemic took hold. Graduates received their diplomas, albeit in much smaller ceremonies, to accommodate social distancing and safety standards, and showed creativity and spirit in doing so. Among those schools was Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High School, which held its inaugural graduation.

Once school was back in session for the fall, many students came forward with smiles under their masks and were excited to see their peers after a long absence from the classroom and adapted to new safety protocols.
Even as the nation was in dire need of a COVID-19 vaccine it was further distressed over the outbreaks of violent protests in reaction to several killings of Blacks by white police. The Diocese of Baton Rouge was a beacon of light as it confronted racial prejudice by issuing statements condemning racial bigotry, hosting workshops and days of reflections and highlighting African Americans on the pathway to sainthood to promote racial harmony.

When Formosa Plastics proposed to build a chemical site in St. James Civil Parish at a gravesite for slaves, Bishop Michael G. Duca celebrated an All Saints Day prayer service at the site. The event was attended by several clergy  members from across the diocese and lay faithful.
The diocese also stood by its neighbors through an outpouring of generosity when Hurricane Laura struck the Gulf Coast and southwest Louisiana, and particularly, the Lake Charles area. The diocese, along with several church parishes and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, coordinated their relief efforts.

Adding some sparkle in the darkness in 2020 were anniversary and benchmark achievement celebrations.

In January, St. Francis Xavier School and Church in Baton Rouge marked its centennial celebration, showing how a community can come together in the midst of adversity.

Father Joshua Johnson, pastor of Holy Rosary Church in St. Amant, was internationally recognized as one of 12 people in the world to restore people’s faith. As he was honored, Holy Rosary received recognition for its outreach to the poor and marginalized through its Full of Grace Café, a vision of Father Johnson’s that became a reality through the collaborative efforts and talents of parishioners.

In February, St. Gabriel Church in St. Gabriel celebrated living “his-story” for 250 years along the banks of the Mississippi River.

Cupid also demonstrated he can “hit the mark” as couples celebrating their 25th, 50th, 65th & over anniversaries gathered at St. Thomas More Church in Baton Rouge for a Wedding Mass celebration and reception. Among those were Lloyd and Audrey Schroeder, who celebrated eight decades of love and their 75th wedding anniversary.

It was “cordon blue” time for St. Jude School and Catholic High School, both in Baton Rouge, as they were recognized as national Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence.

In October Catholic High School celebrated with a double orange and blue ribbon cutting ceremony for achieving a national record-setting sixth blue ribbon and marking the official opening of its stunning Brother Donnan Berry SC Student Center.

St. Gerard School in Baton Rouge celebrated its 75th anniversary. Attendees reminisced over Mardi Gras celebrations, scoring with “deadly jumpers” in basketball games and meeting that “special someone” resulting in a marriage that spanned several decades in the place that they call “home.”

Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge celebrated the first anniversary. In March the hospital dedicated a newly opened chapel featuring rainbow-color stained glass windows that serve as God’s presence to families with children facing medical crisis.

In conjunction with its first anniversary, the hospital also opened its newest addition to pediatric service offerings –  a Level III Surgical Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

While the coronavirus postponed, it did not stop the vocational call for men who were ordained to the priesthood, transitional diaconate and permanent diaconate in ceremonies that were “scaled down” in number of attendees but not in reverence and anointing of the Holy Spirit. On Aug. 1 Bishop Duca ordained Father Mathew Dunn as priest and Deacon Taylor Sanford as transitional deacon at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge.
One week later Bishop Duca ordained six new permanent deacons, also at the cathedral. Making history as the first graduating class since the Diocese of Baton Rouge and FranU collaborated together to offer a new diaconate formation program were Deacons Ehren Oschwald, Alec Campbell, William Messenger, Gabriel Rico, Chris Landry and Mark Reynaud.

And in envisioning the future, the diocese made history by appointing Ann Boltin as archivist, the first lay person to serve as chancellor in its 59-year history. Her appointment was among significant structural changes, including the re-establishment of the Bishop’s Cabinet to serve as an advisory council to Bishop Duca in administrative matters at the Catholic Life Center.

As the new liturgical year dawned, the diocese launched a new redesigned website that is not only an invitation to evangelization but also an information outlet for all diocesan news. The website, which was launched on the First Sunday of Advent, provides information and resources to Catholic Life Center to employees as well as the entirety of the faithful of the diocese.