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Fairchild finds excitement, challenges in ‘dream job’

Posted August 10, 2020 at 12:00 am

By Richard Meek 

The Catholic Commentator 

Fund raising in an era when the Catholic Church has recently come under scrutiny and a historic pandemic is endangering the economy can admittedly appear daunting but Gwen Fairchild, freshly-minted director of stewardship for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, eagerly embraces those challenges.  

Gwen Fairchild

 

Difficulties await, but Fairchild said her job is perhaps made a bit easier because of the multitude of services the diocese continues to provide, even in these uncertain times. She said spreading the word of those success stories, whether through video conference calls or webinars, is pivotal.  

Fairchild, an Oklahoma native who moved to Sunshine in 1972 and converted

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    Six new permanent deacons ordained

    Bishop Michael G. Duca ordained six news deacons to the permanent diaconate at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge on Aug. 8. The deacons were the first to be ordained through the new deacon formation program at Franciscan Our Lady of Missionaries University. Pictured from left are Deacon Gabriel Rico, Deacon Ehren Oschwald, Deacon Christopher Landry Deacon Alexander Campbell, Deacon William Messenger and Deacon Mark Raynaud. For complete coverage of the ordination please read the Aug. 28 issue of The Catholic Commentator. Photo by Richard

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    Six new permanent deacons ordained

    Bishop Michael G. Duca ordained six news deacons to the permanent diaconate at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge on Aug. 8. The deacons were the first to be ordained through the new deacon formation program at Franciscan Our Lady of Missionaries University. Pictured from left are Deacon Gabriel Rico, Deacon Ehren Oschwald, Deacon Christopher Landry Deacon Alexander Campbell, Deacon William Messenger and Deacon Mark Raynaud. For complete coverage of the ordination please read the Aug. 28 issue of The Catholic Commentator. Photo by Richard

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    Angola chaplain finds ‘face of Christ’ in inmates

    By Richard Meek

    The Catholic Commentator

    The response was simple and direct.  

     

    Jay Jackson, right, who recently retired as chaplain at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, unloads supplies at the prison in 2018. He is assisted by Linda Fjeldsjo, coordinator of Joseph Homes/Prison Ministry for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, and Rob Tasman, center, executive director of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops. File photos | The Catholic Commentator

     

    More than two decades ago, a co-worker

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    Catholic schools set to reopen in August

    By Richard Meek

    The Catholic Commentator

    Schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge are scheduled to open in early August, according to a statement from the diocese released July 22.

    The diocese released the statement on the same day the East Baton Rouge School System announced the delay of the start of students attending in-person classes until at least Labor Day, with online classes beginning Aug. 10. 

    The statement read that start dates for all diocesan, parochial and private schools which are part of the Catholic schools district are listed on the Catholic Schools

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    RESTORING BEAUTY

    Volunteers  remodel ICC chapel 

    By Debbie Shelley

    The Catholic Commentator  

    The adoration chapel at Immaculate Conception Church in Denham Springs has been “silenced” at times during its 24 years of existence, including the flood of 2016 when it took on more than five feet of water and now with the coronavirus pandemic.  

    Mike Richard replaced the

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Local News

    Catholic schools set to reopen in August

    Posted July 28, 2020 at 4:57 pm

    By Richard Meek

    The Catholic Commentator

    Schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge are scheduled to open in early August, according to a statement from the diocese released July 22.

    The diocese released the statement on the same day the East Baton Rouge School System

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    Declaración Comisión de armonía racial Diócesis de Baton Rouge

    Posted July 28, 2020 at 4:06 pm

    La Comisión de Armonía Racial de la Diócesis de Baton Rouge, la comisión bi-racial, que consta de 12 miembros e incluye clérigos, religiosos y laicos de la diócesis, continúa reuniéndose bajo la dirección del obispo Michael G. Duca para explorar formas de comprender mejor los efectos del racismo

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    Bishop Duca, governor discuss pandemic

    Posted July 28, 2020 at 2:29 pm

    By Debbie Shelley

    The Catholic Commentator

    Bishop Michael G. Duca and Gov. John Bel Edwards discussed balancing fear with faith during the nationally syndicated radio program “Catholic Connection” on July 22 on Catholic Community Radio.

    Host Teresa Tomeo said in regard to the coronavirus pandemic

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    Catholic schools set to reopen in August

    Posted July 28, 2020 at 2:04 pm

    By Richard Meek

    The Catholic Commentator

    Schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge are scheduled to open in early August, according to a statement from the diocese released July 22.

    The diocese released the statement on the same day the East Baton Rouge School System

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    STA student earns diocesan KC award

    Posted July 28, 2020 at 4:00 am

    Juliette LeRay, a St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Catholic High School in Hammond Class of 2020 graduate was selected as the overall Diocese of Baton Rouge Knights of Columbus Catholic Youth Leadership Award and Scholarship Winner.  

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    Pro-life leaders react to court’s pro-life ruling

    Posted July 17, 2020 at 1:47 pm

    By Richard Meek

    The Catholic Commentator

    The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision striking down Louisiana’s abortion law holds doctor who perform abortions to a lower standard of health care than that of their peers, Danielle Van Haute, Respect Life Coordinator for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, said.

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    Schools planning for unusual year

    Posted July 15, 2020 at 10:16 am

    By Richard Meek

    The Catholic Commentator

    Schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge are scheduled to open in early August, with principals using the month of July to tweak protocols, according to Dr. Melanie Palmisano, Superintendent of Catholic Schools.

    Palmisano emphasized protocols will be tailored

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    Statement of Racial Harmony Commission Diocese of Baton Rouge

    Posted July 3, 2020 at 8:19 pm

    Over the last month, protesters and marches have become frequent occurrences in our country.
    The public, brutal killing of George Floyd by police has shaken our nation, and we mourn his death.
    The deaths of Mr. Floyd and so many other African Americans and Hispanics – Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Rayshard Brooks,

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    Clergy abuse list updated

    Posted July 1, 2020 at 9:00 am

    As part of our ongoing commitment to transparency, the following entry in the diocesan list of credible accusations of sexual abuse by clergy is hereby revised as shown below to reflect the recent receipt of additional allegations:

    Fr. George Gensler

    Dates of Abuse: Late 1970s

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    Catholic Commentator wins Newspaper of the Year award

    Posted June 30, 2020 at 3:40 pm

    Staff report

    The Catholic Commentator

    The Catholic Commentator earned Newspaper of the Year in its respective division in the Louisiana Press Association Better Newspaper Competition for 2020.

    The designation for the Newspaper of the Year is based on the number of points earned in the

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    FINAL CUT

    Posted June 30, 2020 at 12:00 am

    Popular  barber  retires 

    By Richard Meek

    The Catholic Commentator  

    A weathered red and white pole stands sentry

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    FOOD PANTRY

    Posted June 30, 2020 at 12:00 am

    St. Alphonsus parishioners give back

    By Debbie Shelley

    The Catholic Commentator

    On a hot, sunny, June morning cars lined up in

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    Coming Events

    Posted June 23, 2020 at 11:09 am

    Perpetual Help Mass

    St. Gerard Majella Church in Baton Rouge will celebrate the feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Help on Saturday, June 27 with a Mass 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.

    Pro-Life Mass

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    Wedding prep going virtual

    Posted June 18, 2020 at 4:30 pm

    By Debbie Shelley

    The Catholic Commentator

    While many things are put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Office of Marriage and Family Life of the Diocese of Baton Rouge is moving forward by providing virtual retreats to help engaged couples fulfill diocesan requirements before

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    Pro-life leader says pro-abortion lobby ‘terrified’

    Posted June 18, 2020 at 10:45 am

    By Bonny Van

    The Catholic Commentator

    Abby Johnson’s name is synonymous with the anti-abortion movement but that hasn’t always been the case.

    For eight years, she worked at the Planned Parenthood Clinic in Bryan, Texas, eventually becoming director and counseling young women on their

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    Sexual abuse policy in the Diocese of Baton Rouge

    Posted June 18, 2020 at 12:00 am

    Churches, schools and youth organizations have an obligation to provide children and youth with a safe place to worship, study or participate in activities sponsored by the Catholic Church.

    In its ongoing effort to ensure that this is being accomplished, the Diocese of Baton Rouge has

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