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The music had been silenced for hours, candles were down to their final flickers, the sweet aroma of incense beginning to wane. 

A celebration underscoring the legacy of Black Catholics, specifically six African Americans on the path to sainthood, was held Nov. 3 at the Catholic Life Center. The Office of Black Catholics of the Diocese of Baton Rouge sponsored the event to commemorate National Black Catholic History Month.

Bishop Ott fondly remembered

Pandemic restrictions lifted

The lineage of Black Catholics goes back 2,000 years, specifically when St. Matthew left his career as a tax collector and devoted his life to the Lord as one of the Twelve Apostles. 

In a stirring celebration exuding the rich heritage of the Eastern Rite of the Catholic Church, the faithful gathered for a Mass on Oct. 16 at St. Patrick Church in Baton Rouge to honor St. Sharbel, “priest, monk, hermit and ‘in love with God.’ ” 

When hit with a devastating loss or daunting circumstance, words may fail to touch on the suffering or express the pain. 

Many Catholics struggle with the question, “How do you know the Communion host and the chalice of wine turn into the true body and blood of Jesus when the Mass celebrant raises the host and chalice and pronounces the words of institution: “This is my body, this is the chalice of my blood …? ” 

MBS breaks ground on new buildings

On Nov. 3 in honor of the feast day of St. Martin de Porres and to celebrate Black Catholic History Month, a Mass was held at St. Joseph Chapel at the Catholic Life Center. Following the Mass, a processional was held to the Catholic Life Center, where Bishop Michael G. Duca blessed the portraits of six African Americans on the path to sainthood. They are Venerable Pierre Toussaint, Servant of God Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange, Venerable Henriette Delille, Venerable Father Augustus Tolton, Servant of God Julia Greeley and Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator

On Nov. 1 in commemoration of All Saints Day, churches throughout the Diocese of Baton Rouge held a blessings of graves for families to honor decease loved ones. Bishop Michael G. Duca, left, and Father Cary Bani, pastor of St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge, led a prayer ceremony before blessing the graves in St. Joseph Cemetery. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator

Father Michael Alello, pastor at St. Thomas More Church in Baton Rouge, briefly addresses the crowd before opening the doors of the renovated church Oct. 13. Bishop Michael G. Duca celebrated the Mass of Dedication, which was attended by a standing room only crowd.

Emotion rippled through the ballroom of the Catholic Life Center as Chad Judice shared his experience of a life-changing miracle, one that the twofold effect of showing him the depth of God’s mercy and the importance of carrying one’s cross.

As Louisiana moves forward following the overturning of Roe v Wade, much work still must be done to increase awareness of the value of unborn life and to support mothers with unplanned pregnancies.

Dinah’s life has not always been easy, raising a four-year-old son as a single mom in St. Helena civil Parish. 

When he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1998, Jack Kellerman wrestled with the natural pull to focus on his condition in terms of it “stripping away” what he can do.

Wade Berzas, a member of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church in Church Point, was one of six passengers aboard a private jet that took off from Lafayette Regional Airport headed for Atlanta around 9:20 a.m. on Dec. 28, 2019. 

Eucharistic adoration is perhaps one of the greatest gifts the Catholic Church offers, allowing adorers to spend private time with the Lord.

On Tuesday mornings, a group of people from around the Diocese of Baton Rouge who are dedicated to the Blessed Mother gather at the coffee shop at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Baton Rouge. 

An annual Mass celebrating one of the Catholic Church’s greatest healing saints will be celebrated for the 43rd year in the Diocese of Baton Rouge.