Diocesan Schools Celebrate Their Unity at Catholic Schools Week Mass.

The theme of the 2025 National Catholic Schools Week, Jan. 26 – Feb. 1, was “United in Faith and Community.” On Jan. 29, the schools of the Baton Rouge Diocese joined together at St. Joseph Cathedral to celebrate the week as one community of faith, centered on the Eucharist.

The processional included the schools’ principals and student representatives.

Bishop Michael G. Duca addressed the students during his homily, which was focused on the Gospel reading that day, Mk 4:1-20. The passage features the Parable of the Sower.


“How many of you know what it means to sow?” the bishop asked. 

He described sowing seed in the ground as placing a seed in a hole, covering it up, and watching it grow.

In that day’s Gospel reading, Jesus was talking about sowing the seed of the Gospel, according to the bishop.

In Mark’s Gospel, as the sower scattered the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places where they did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no roots. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  Other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.

“This is important to know because as we celebrate Catholic Schools Week, we learn about the world and learn about God’s love for us and the good news of Jesus Christ,” said Bishop Duca.


He asked the students to think about how they are receivers of the seed of the Gospel and sowers of the seed in the world. If they believe God is calling them to become a priest or religious brother or sister, he urged them to not be afraid to follow where God is calling them to be.

“Take the word of God into your heart and share it,” the bishop said.

He likewise encouraged the educators to continue being good stewards in sowing the seed of the good news of Jesus Christ and having a keen, intentional love for their students.

Following Mass, three individuals were recognized for their service to Catholic education: Becky LeSage, St. Alphonsus Liguori School in Greenwell Springs, distinguished educator; Angele Fontenot, St. George School in Baton Rouge, distinguished administrator; and Father Reuben Dykes, pastor of Mater Dolorosa Church in Independence and St. Helena Church in Amite, distinguished pastor.

Service Awards were presented to educators celebrating 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years.

Special recognition was given to Brother Ray Hebert for 45 years of service.

As part of a CSW Mass tradition, students filled a disaster relief truck from Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge with supplies the schools collected for CCDBR.