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Father Jack Nutter was remembered not only for his love of life, unwavering devotion to others and a strong sense of loyalty but most importantly for his love of God during his Funeral Mass celebrated Sept. 18 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Baton Rouge.

Billed as the world’s smallest church, Madonna Chapel in Bayou Goula may be diminutive in statue but stands tall in spiritual and historical significance.

Holy Family Church in Port Allen celebrated its centennial of being “good soil” for planting the seeds of faith on the west side of the Mississippi River on Sunday, Sept. 12.

In the three weeks since Hurricane Ida left in indelible mark in Paulina, causing widespread damage in the area, students at St. Peter Chanel Interparochial School have been waiting to return to school.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge will resettle 49 Afghan evacuees. “The American people have shown an overwhelming desire to help those from Afghanistan who risked their lives and the lives of their family members to help our troops,” said David C. Aguillard, executive director of CCDBR.

I have been looking for the Scripture that will speak to the damage, even catastrophic damage, pain and suffering that Hurricane Ida caused as it crashed into southeast Louisiana. As I write this message many today are without water, gasoline, power, even sewage and some are even hard to reach with the emergency aid they need. I hope by the time you read this at least the emergency aid is arriving to those so desperate even if full restoration is weeks, months, maybe years away.

Historic Hurricane Ida and its wind gust of more than 150 miles per hour created widespread damage throughout southeast Louisiana.

Twenty years later, the memories of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America may still evoke a range of emotions, as thousands of lives were lost within minutes when planes crashed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Bishop Reflects on Time in Diocese

Principals will contact parents directly with information about reopening of schools. The following schools have already resumed classes: St. John Interparochial (Iberville) Catholic of PC (Pointe Coupee St. Jude the Apostle (Baton Rouge)

Catholic schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge will be opening when each is able, according to Catholic Schools Superintendent Dr. Melanie Palmisano. Three have already opened and several other schools, especially those in East Baton Rouge Parish, are planning to reopen Tuesday, she said. For schools that sustained damage reopening may be at least two weeks away.

We have had a very hard week here in Southeast Louisiana and it looks to be a long path to put our cities back together. 

Numerous trees were downed on the grounds of St. Margaret Queen of Scotland Church in Albany. A large tree was toppled near the church, and the storm also damaged the cross sitting on top of the church, as can be seen in the upper right. Damage, especially tree damage, was prevalent throughout the Diocese of Baton Rouge. The Catholic Commentator will have the complete story along with photos in the Sept. 10 issue.

Because of the impact of Hurricane Ida, the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University campus will be closed through Monday, Sept 6. All campus operations and activities are cancelled including remote classes and Undergraduate clinicals. ​​​​​​​Graduate clinical students should contact their faculty and/or program directors regarding clinical assignments. If unable to reach faculty or program directors, use your best judgment regarding clinicals. 

As your Bishop, it is with a heavy heart that I share with you news of Reverend Danny Roussel’s death on August 30th. Fr. Danny was a deeply devoted priest who was beloved by his family, his parishioners, and his brother clergy.

Because of widespread power outages and other weather-related impacts, the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University physical campus will be closed through Wednesday, Sept. 1.  All campus operations and activities are cancelled including remote classes. Undergraduate clinicals are also cancelled. Graduate clinical students should contact their faculty and/or program directors regarding clinical assignments. If unable to reach faculty or program directors, use your best judgment regarding clinicals.

In anticipation of widespread power outages and other weather-related impacts, the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University’s physical campus will be closed through Tuesday, Aug. 31. All campus operations and activities are cancelled including remote classes. Students who are enrolled in online classes and students on clinical rotations should contact their faculty and/or program directors for further direction.

Bishop Michael G. Duca of Baton Rouge issued the following statement Aug. 27: In anticipation of the approach of Hurricane Ida, the faithful of the Diocese of Baton Rouge are dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass this weekend, August 28-29, 2021.  The entirety of the Diocese of Baton Rouge is under a hurricane warning with conditions expected to deteriorate beginning Saturday afternoon.

Students at St. Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge, like their peers, are having to make major and daily decisions in the midst of a world packed with distractions. Where to go to college, whom to date, what career to pursue … 

A catastrophic earthquake in Haiti that has claimed nearly 2,000 lives, a number that is likely to climb, also toppled a pediatric hospital in St. Helene that was a mission of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Sisters.