On Feb. 3, the Catholic Church celebrated the Feast of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr. It is said the governor of Cappadocia imprisoned St. Blaise in a cave outside Sebaste. A mother came to the bishop, asking him to cure her son, who was choking on the fishbone, stuck in his throat. St. Blaise saved the boy with his prayer and with the sign of the cross. Therefore, St. Blaise is known as the patron saint of throat illnesses, wool combers, and animals. Many churches celebrate the feast day with a blessing of the throats. Parishioners and students at Our Lady of Mercy Church and School in Baton Rouge received the blessings after the day’s Masses. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator
Days after nearly 8 inches of snow fell in Baton Rouge during a record-breaking winter storm for Louisiana, hundreds of people marched at the state capitol area for the unborn.
The theme of the January 26 Louisiana Life March South event was “Every Life Worth Living.”
Couples bearing the cross of infertility can receive a Valentine’s Day Weekend gift in the midst of their struggles during a Springs in the Desert Ministry Retreat.
Sts. Anthony of Padua and Le Van Phung Church in Baton Rouge celebrated the Vietnamese Lunar New Year on the weekend of January 25-26. Bishop Michael G. Duca and Vicar General Jamin David joined the church community in the festivities, which included music, fireworks, food, dance, and rickshaw rides. Photos provided by Father Jamin David
Bishop Michael G. Duca selected the episcopal motto “Hope in the Lord” when he received his first appointment as bishop of the Diocese of Shreveport. This motto has an apropos connection with this Jubilee Year of Hope’s emphasis on trusting in God’s promises and future heavenly reward during times of suffering.
Franciscan Missionaries of Our University has been designated a Heart Safe Campus, the first entity in Baton Rouge and the first University in Louisiana with the distinction.
The theological virtue of hope develops from understanding that Jesus lifts the burden when we struggle with difficulties. We are then sent forth to spread hope to others who suffer, according to Becky Eldredge, an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and author.
In this Jubilee Year of Hope, many people may struggle with believing that “good things are to come.” Darryl Ducote, LCSW, director of the department of marriage and family life of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, recently talked about the brain’s ability to change and grow. This causes people to have hope in the face of adversity.
The Holy See issued a decree on May 13, 2024, outlining the many ways that Catholics can obtain a plenary indulgence during the 2025 Jubilee Year. In the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Catholics can gain a plenary indulgence by making a pious pilgrimage to St. Joseph Cathedral or one of the five other churches designated by Bishop Duca.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul released the following news release about their plans:
St. Vincent de Paul’s Bishop Ott Shelter Program has initiated its plan for the current cold nights (39 degrees & below). We will expand bed capacity for men, women, children, and families experiencing homelessness during the cold days and nights to come. We provide day and night shelter services to men, women, and children, and annually, provide over 30,000 guest nights of shelter.
At a Eucharistic celebration at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge, the Diocese of Baton Rouge joined the universal church in opening 2025 as a Jubilee Year of Hope. The faithful were encouraged to embrace their trials and crosses in life and move forward in faith with a “hope that does not disappoint.”
Tao Van Vu has amassed a large collection of Christmas lights and decorations over the past 44 years through his volunteering to set up the nativity scene and Christmas displays at Sts. Anthony of Padua and Le Van Phung Church in Baton Rouge. Parishioners admired his work and wanted to contribute to its success.
As we celebrate the joy of Christmas, let us also look forward to the hope and transformation that the Jubilee Year brings. May it lead each of us to a deeper understanding of God's love and inspire us to live that love more fully in the world.
In the summer of 1994 Brett Frederic and Brett Legette, both 13, looked forward to their upcoming eighth-grade year at St. Theresa of Avila Middle School in Gonzales. They also anticipated entering high school the next year. Those dreams were shattered when they were tragically killed Aug. 20, 1994 in a car accident two days before school began.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) recently updated its pastoral formation plan concerning the time of year seminarians are ordained as transitional deacons. Instead of seminarians being ordained as transitional deacons in the spring, they will be ordained in December. The change essentially allows seminarians to complete their academic studies before entering their vocational synthesis stage.