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Cajun artist honors childhood through her paintings

Posted February 1, 2015 at 12:00 am

By Barbara Chenevert 

The Catholic Commentator

“I’m not very good at drawing. I don’t know why people think I can draw. I leave much to be desired,” 90-year-old Marie Swindler said from the couch of her Baker home.

Ninety-year-old Marie Swindler loves to paint Cajun cabins reminiscent of her childhood home in Point Coupée Civil Parish. A parishioner of St. Isdiore Church in Baker, she has generously donated some of her artwork to the church parish. Photos by Barbara Chenevert | The Catholic Commentator

 

But her children, grandchildren and friends fortunate enough to have one of her paintings would disagree.

Swindler’s artwork decorates her home – Cajun cabins reminiscent of her childhood days, swamp scenes, crawfish, chickens and apple paintings cover just about every wall. Some are painted on canvas, some on glass, some on old saw blades.

“I took classes in decorative painting in the early 1980s. That’s what

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    Diocese to host black Catholic conference

    By Barbara Chenevert 

    The Catholic Commentator

    The Diocesan Office of Black Catholics is sponsoring a St. Martin De Porres Catholic conference in May to allow everyone to experience the healing power of God during a time when there is so much division in the country, Father Josh Johnson said.

    “We have all had pain and suffering. We have all experienced division with God and our neighbor,” said Father Johnson, who is parochial vicar at Christ the King Church and Student Center at LSU. The hope of the conference is to bring as many people from the Baton Rouge area together as possible to

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    Statement of Bishop Robert W. Muench

    On the Remembrance of Fr. Than Vu
    Father Than Vu was a priest who believed in God, in the church and in eternal life. He had extraordinary personal, pastoral, spiritual and administrative talents.

    Fr. Than served in a variety of parishes in our diocese (Parochial Vicar: St. Jean Vianney, Baton Rouge (Summer 1984), Immaculate Conception, Denham Springs (1985-1987), St. Theresa of Avila, Gonzales (1987-1989), Christ the King (1989-1993); Pastor: St. Patrick, Baton Rouge (1993-2000), Christ the King (2000-2011), St. Aloysius, Baton

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    Father Than Vu remembered by St. Aloysius School

    By Debbie Shelley

    The Catholic Commentator

    Father Than Vu was dubbed “the Ninja priest” by the students and faculty at St. Aloysius School, demonstrating swift and precise martial art moves during school assemblies. But his “weapons” were spreading joy, giving students his undivided attention and instilling in them that they can do anything they want to do.

    Father Than Vu was a beloved pastor at St. Aloysius School, as he

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    Father Vu fondly remembered

    By Barbara Chevenert

    The Catholic Commentator

    Friends, family and colleagues remembered Father Than Vu as a gentle voice and a powerful intelligent who served God and his church with dedication, humility and a deep spirituality.

    Bishop Robert Muench called Father Vu “a priest who believed in God, in the church Jesus founded and in eternal life. He had extraordinary personal and spiritual talents. Even people who only had a casual acquaintance with him experienced something special about him.

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    Father Than Vu dies

    Father Than Ngoc Vu, vicar general of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, who was widely loved for his inspiring homilies, a keen sense of humor and a deep spirituality, died at 2:04 a.m. Jan. 28 at the age of 56.

    Father Vu, who also served as pastor of St. Aloysius Church in Baton Rouge, had been battling cancer.  He died surrounded by family and friends at a private residence.

     

    A vigil service will be held at Christ the King Church, corner of Highland Road and Dalrymple Drive in Baton Rouge at 7:30

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Local News

    Diocese to host black Catholic conference

    Posted January 23, 2015 at 12:00 am

    By Barbara Chenevert

    The Catholic Commentator

    The Diocesan Office of Black Catholics is sponsoring a St. Martin De Porres Catholic conference in May to allow everyone to experience the healing power of

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    BEAUTIFUL MUSIC

    Posted January 23, 2015 at 12:00 am

    St. John the Evangelist Church in Plaquemine hosted an Epiphany concert on Jan.4 featuring the vocals of Father Greg Daigle accompanied by the Bill Grimes Orchestra. The annual performance was held to benefit St. John

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    Louisiana top-ranked pro-life state

    Posted January 23, 2015 at 12:00 am

    Louisiana has been ranked the most pro-life state in the nation for the sixth consecutive year by Americans United for Life.

    AUL released its 2015 “Life List” Tuesday, Jan. 13, after analyzing progress made legislatively or in

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    OLOL earns prestigious Women’s Choice Award

    Posted January 23, 2015 at 12:00 am

    Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center has been chosen a Women’s Choice Award recipient as America’s Best Hospital for Cancer Care, a distinction that recognizes Our Lady of the Lake for providing exceptional patient care and cancer treatment for women and their

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    MARCHING FOR LIFE

    Posted January 23, 2015 at 12:00 am

    Rally details Terri Schiavo’s fight

    By Richard Meek

    The Catholic Commentator

    Nearly 10 years after the death of his sister, Bobby Schindler continues to

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    HOME GROWN

    Posted August 22, 2014 at 12:00 am

    OLOL helps employees eat healthier

    By Richard Meek

    The Catholic Commentator

    Rosa Hernandez peaked into the large box of vegetables with a

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    Bishop urges prayer for peace

    Posted August 22, 2014 at 12:00 am

    By Barbara Chenevert

    The Catholic Commentator

    Calling peace a “precious gift,” Bishop Robert W. Muench has joined bishops throughout the United States in calling on Catholics to pray for peace and persecuted

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Features

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    COLLECTOR OF LIFE

    Posted January 13, 2014 at 9:08 am

    Organist’s home reflection of his heart

    By Barbara Chenevert

    The Catholic Commentator

    If every item in his home has a story to tell, then Robbie Giroir has a lot to talk about. Musician, teacher, pilot and collector extraordinaire, Giroir’s home is a thumbprint of his life,

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