Catholic Schools Week

Schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge celebrated Catholic education’s mission of helping students excel and see the world through the eyes of faith during Catholic Schools Week from Jan. 30 – Feb. 5.

Each school in the diocese celebrated the week with various activities. 

Among the highlights of the week was the Distinguished Graduate dinner Feb. 1 at the Renaissance Hotel in Baton Rouge.

Major General Damien Keith Waddell of the Louisiana National Guard, the Distinguished Graduate of Catholic High School of Pointe Coupee, spoke about the positive impact Catholic education had in his life.

“Catholic education set the foundation and framework for my life. My wife, kids and grandkids have given me the motivation to be the best person I can be,” Waddell said.

A 1995 CPC graduate, Waddell credited Father Miles Walsh with having a tremendous influence on his life when Father Walsh was a chaplain and  Waddell was a student.

The Distinguished Graduate talked about the five values that his Catholic education instilled in him: education, service, faith, teamwork and work ethic. Through them he’s discovered the importance of learning something daily, developed a sense of purpose in helping others, learned to see God’s blessings and accept daily challenges and the importance of working with and leading others.

To get good grades and succeed in his extracurricular activities Waddell conceded that he had to work harder than others. But work ethics pushed him to levels that benefited him and his family.

“I remember when LSU sent me my acceptance letter. It said I had a 24 percent chance of graduating. I hung that on my mirror and I looked at that every single day. It motivated me and I’m proud to say I’m an LSU alumnus,” Waddell said.

Another highlight of the week was the gathering of Catholic students, teachers, administrators and priests of church parishes with Catholic Schools for the CSW Mass on Feb. 2 at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge.

Welcoming the students in his homily, Bishop Michael G. Duca talked to them about how the bishop’s chair, or “cathedra,” is different in size and shape than the pastor’s chair in their home churches. He noted the chair stands for the Office of the Bishop and the bishop in the cathedral gathers the people of the diocese together. 

Then referring to the Gospel reading about the presentation of the Lord, Bishop Duca noted that during those times parents would bring their first-born male to the temple and promise to raise it according to Jewish customs and consecrate him to the Lord.

As with baptisms today, a person coming into the temple when Jesus was presented would have recognized what was happening and not think a lot about it because it was a normal sight.

But when the prophet Simeon saw the Christ child, he immediately recognized it as the fulfilment of the messianic prophecy, according to Bishop Duca.

“He was a man of prayer and a man who contemplated the word of God,” said the bishop. “And what seemed very ordinary, he saw with completely different eyes.” 

Because Simeon immersed himself in the Scriptures, the bishop said he had a unique way of learning that gave him the ability to see something no one else could see.

Bishop Duca said he learned while studying psychology at the University of Dallas the importance of the use of words. One of the words was “respect,” which he said means “to take another look at.” When people respect something they “look at it again” and “dig into it” and look into the deeper meaning of it.

In regards to Catholic education, Bishop Duca said students receive things offered in a traditional education: English, other languages, arts, sciences, etc. But through a Catholic education they are able to see things differently and with a deeper understanding, with a spiritual value.

Bishop Duca thanked the Catholic school employees and parents for their support of Catholic schools, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also thanked the students for their enthusiasm, which is “lifegiving” for him and others when they visit the schools.

He urged the students to study so they can become real leaders in the community and provide for the next generation.

At the end of Mass employees were recognized for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years of service to Catholic education.

The person recognized for the most years of service was Pete Boudreaux, with 55 years. He leads Catholic High School in Baton Rouge on and off the track as coach, with an impressive record of success.

“It’s been a wonderful ride,” said Boudreaux in an interview with The Catholic Commentator after the Mass. “I love what I’m doing and I’ve had the support of my (immediate and school family), and they’ve had so much to deal with.”

He’s been part of 52 state championships during his career, but he takes very little credit.

“I’ve always felt like it’s the young men that make it happen,” Boudreaux said.

A 1959 CHS graduate, Boudreaux stated, “There are so many changes happening at school, but its basic values is one of the things that has never changed since the day I went there as a student.”

The advice Boudreaux would give students is in keeping with the mission of Catholic schools: “Go out and make a difference in the world. Be a difference maker.”