The Catholic Commentator

08/01/2020

Deacon Taylor Sanford, left, and Father Mathew Dunn, right, were ordained by Bishop Michael G. Duca on Aug. 1 at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge. For coverage of the ordinations, see the Aug. 14 issue of The Catholic Commentator. Photo by Richard Meek | The Catholic Commentator

06/23/2020

St. Gerard Majella Church in Baton Rouge will celebrate the feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Help on June 27 with a Mass on Saturday, June 27 at 4 p.m. Novenas will continue to be prayed before the daily 9 a.m. Mass through June 26. For more information, call 225-355-2553.

06/09/2020

Message from Bishop Michael G. Duca:

Change through listening

This week, we as a nation, watched the horrific and heart breaking death of Mr. George Floyd while being subdued by police in Minneapolis. (Before you read on, remember now what your first feelings were when you read this first sentence.)
We can view this as an isolated event, but even then, it is by any measure of human common decency a profound disregard of the human dignity of Mr. George Floyd who when he cried out for help, his cries were ignored.

Read more here:
http://thecatholiccommentator.org/pages/?p=53989

06/05/2020

06/05/2020

Mass attendance encouraging

As many churches in the Diocese of Baton Rouge reopened the weekend of May 16-17, pastors were not sure what to expect.

Sure, safety measures were in place, several parishes had established a reservation protocol and pews were distinctly marked for social distancing.

But the underlying question was how many people would actually attend.

Using the first two weeks of reopening as a small sample size, the results have been encouraging.

http://thecatholiccommentator.org/pages/?p=54122

Photo: Small bottles of holy water, missalettes and armbands that say “Pray Louisiana!” on one side and “Heal Our Land” on the other were distributed after all Masses at St. Patrick Church in Baton Rouge the weekend of May 23-24. The parish requested 500 bracelets from Gov. John Bel Edwards’ office. The idea was originally introduced at the governor’s Prayer Breakfast on March 10.

05/27/2020

Call to serve leads to diaconate program

Alexander Campbell has walked a winding vocational discernment trail, but its end will find him making history. He will be part of the first class to be ordained permanent deacons since the Diocese of Baton Rouge and Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University entered a partnership to provide formation through FranU’s theology program.

Read the full story here: http://thecatholiccommentator.org/pages/?p=53964

05/24/2020

Good neighbor: St. Paul the Apostle Church in Baton Rogue

Cars lined Gus Young Avenue as St. Paul the Apostle Church in Baton Rouge dished out jambalaya lunches seasoned with faith, hope and charity to some of the area’s poorest residents on May 8.
“When I looked at the unemployment figures this morning for the area, it was near 20 percent. In this neighborhood it’s probably closer to 70 percent unemployment,” said St. Paul pastor Father Rick Andrus SVD as he scooped jambalaya into Styrofoam containers. “That’s why we needed to do something like this.”

Read the full story here:
http://thecatholiccommentator.org/pages/?p=53946

05/23/2020

Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University Received $5,000 Entergy Grant

Baton Rouge, LA -FranU received an emergency aid grant of $5,000 for 48 students who graduated early from both the respiratory therapy and the nursing programs. Students will be able to use this aid as a substitute for lost wages to cover the immediate cost of living expenses or expenses related to entering professional practice while continuing to pursue their degrees. The funding will provide much-needed relief for students who will fill essential roles in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vice President of Business and Economic Development for Entergy Louisiana Eduardo "Ed" Jimenez said, "We truly believe that we are only as strong as our communities. So we took a look at what was needed the most during these difficult times and knew that helping the health care industry was critical. As a company that responds when major disaster strikes, we understand the value and importance of having as many frontline employees as possible. This contribution is our way of providing support to health care students to accelerate their graduation and get them in the frontlines to assist with the COVID-19 health crisis."

FranU received calls from area hospitals and health systems desperate for respiratory therapists (RRTs) and nurses, positions short-staffed before the onslaught of COVID-19 in Louisiana, and critical in the fight against the virus.

FranU responded to the call for help by graduating 11 respiratory therapy and 37 nursing students early on April 27. However, many students lost their part-time jobs because of recent layoffs, upon which they rely on paying tuition and affording daily needs. In addition to covering the everyday cost of living expenses, the early graduates were also required to pay for expenses related to entering professional practice: exam prep courses, exam fees, licensing fees, new uniforms and equipment.

The expectation is that 100 percent of these graduates will be employed within the next few months, serving the community's most urgent needs related to this pandemic.

Photos by Rachel Street

05/15/2020

A Vatican staff member in protective gear sanitizes the holy water font inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican May 15, 2020, ahead of the resumption of Masses during the COVID-19 pandemic. (CNS photo/Yara Nardi, Reuters)

05/12/2020

BISHOP'S ANNOUNCEMENT

The Diocese of Baton Rouge announced today that Catholic churches may re-open for congregational worship as early as this weekend, starting with Vigil Masses Saturday afternoon, if they can conform to strict directives regarding occupancy, social distancing and sanitary conditions.

The diocese said it expects all its parishes to celebrate public Masses the weekend of May 23/24.

Baton Rouge Bishop Michael G. Duca announced the action in a letter to a quarter million Catholics who live in the diocese's 12 civil parishes. The letter is being distributed by church parishes to their faithful on their websites and on other social media platforms.

The bishop's action comes after Governor Edwards relaxed restrictions on certain types of public gatherings, effective May 15.

The bishop's letter says that the Sunday Mass obligation will continue to be dispensed indefinitely, and it urges those who are vulnerable or recovering from the coronavirus to stay home and prayerfully watch Masses that will continue to be live-streamed. It also outlines new guidelines for the communal celebration of Mass, the distribution of Holy Communion and reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The bishop's earlier directives concerning funerals, marriages, baptisms, the anointing the sick and taking Holy Communion to the homebound will remain in effect for the time being.

"Gathering together under these new guidelines is a big undertaking by your pastor and parish staff," the bishop said. "Expect that each parish will begin public Masses when prepared and will adopt different options that reflect the size of the parish, number of priests, available resources, readiness and parishioner support," he added.

"I invite you not to compare what is going on in another parish with your parish’s situation. Be patient with your pastor and accept that it will take a few weeks to accommodate this new reality," the bishop said.

The text of Bishop Duca's letter to the faithful is attached. Parishioners are urged to be in touch with their parish offices for information on when and how their churches will return to congregational worship.

For additional information please contact:

Deacon Dan Borne'
Communications Secretary
Diocese of Baton Rouge
[email protected]
225-229-9500

Kelly Alexander
Media Liaison
Diocese of Baton Rouge
[email protected]
225-936-7373

05/07/2020

COUPLES GO ON WITH MARRIAGE PLANS DESPITE RESTRICTIONS

Church pews were mostly empty as bride and groom met at the altar, but that’s where God’s presence filled any lack as they established their lifelong relationship, say couples in the Diocese of Baton Rouge who have married during the coronavirus pandemic.

Read the full story here:
http://thecatholiccommentator.org/pages/?p=53773
Pictured below, from left, Sidney and Michael Batson with Fr. Jamin David; Megan and Michael Willis; and, Irene and Christopher Lilly.

05/07/2020

GRAB N GO MEALS BEGIN MONDAY, MAY 11

The Diocese of Baton Rouge Child Nutrition Program announced it will be offering Grab N Go meal services at four sites beginning May 11.
The program will be offering free breakfast and lunch curbside pickup service for all students in the Baton Rouge area. The service is available for all students 18 years of age and younger regardless of school enrollment.
Drive-thru meals will be provided on Mondays only from 10 a.m.-noon.
Each student will receive a package containing five breakfasts and five lunches. Walk-up service will also be available but all should maintain proper social distancing, according to program officials.
Packaged meals will be distributed first-come/first serve basis at the following schools in Baton Rouge: Our Lady of Mercy Church, St. Francis Xavier, Redemptorist St. Gerard and St. Jean Vianney.
Nutrition program staff members will be wearing face masks or face shields when appropriate. Also, the temperature of each staff member will be taken before entering the café.
They will also be cleaning and sanitizing their work areas when on the school campus.