By Richard Meek
The Catholic Commentator
Amid the chaotic setting of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on a busy Thursday night, Dauda Sesay was encased in his own emotional cocoon.
While taxi drivers were picking up fares, and passengers were scrambling to make flights, Sesay was silent among the flurry of activity, corralling a preponderance of emotion that was 16 years in the making. Eventually, the gates opened and tears of joy flowed as he embraced his children, not wanting to release them from his grasp ever again.
Overcome with emotion, Dauda Sesay is embraced by his children, Bai, left, and Mariama, shortly after arriving at Louis Armstrong New
By Bonny Van
The Catholic Commentator
Early on the morning of Sept. 19, the campus of St. John School in Plaquemine was just beginning to buzz with activity from cars filled with teens pulling up to park on one side of campus, to carpool lines of parents dropping off younger students in another area.
Father Gregory Daigle, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church in Plaquemine, gives blessings
The Diocese of Baton Rouge, which was formed in 1961, will release the names of priests who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors. This is of the highest priority to us. We’re working on a process to research our files so that when we do publish the list it will be accurate and complete. Part of this process is to establish a timeline for the release of the list. As Bishop Duca said recently, we want to be “attentive to the issues of justice and show concern for victims in a way that is transparent, credible, honest
By Richard Meek
The Catholic Commentator
An unusual late September calescent sun blistered a multigenerational volunteer corps that totaled nearly 300 men, women and children at St. Margaret, Queen of Scotland in Albany on a recent early fall morning.
Father Jamin David, pastor at St. Margaret, Queen of Scotland Church in Albany, blesses the property where a new piazza will soon be built. The ceremonial groundbreaking marked the beginning of a major renovation and expansion of the church, which was built in 1910. Photos by Richard
By Bonny Van
The Catholic Commentator
It’s almost that time of year, the time for reaching out to friends and relatives during the Christmas season. For more than 500 inmates in the Tangipohoa Parish Jail in Amite, making those connections is especially important. Deacon Nat Garofola, who visits those incarcerated at the jail regularly, began distributing the Christmas cards 11 years ago.
Deacon Nat Garofola sorts through some of the Christmas cards donated for inmates at the Tangipahoa
By Bonny Van
The Catholic Commentator
The Catholic Church has erred in the past in effectively addressing racism in the United States, but there are signs of progress and hope for the future, according to Bishop Edward K. Braxton, bishop of the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois.
Bishop Edward K. Braxton, bishop for the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois and former bishop of the Diocese of Lake Charles, speaks
By Richard Meek
The Catholic Commentator
Father Joshua Johnson admittedly never enjoyed writing, not as a high school student, nor as a seminarian.
As someone who once shuddered at the thought of even writing a term paper, the idea of becoming a best-selling author appeared ludicrous. Yet, Father Johnson, pastor at Holy Rosary Church in St. Amant, recently reached the pinnacle of Amazon’s best selling list with the release
By Debbie Shelley
The Catholic Commentator
Mid-term elections on Nov. 6 can be the time to “throw the rascals out” and send a message to the nation’s leaders on how they are doing as Republicans and Democrats battle for control of the U. S. Congress. By researching candidates and issues, educating themselves on Catholic social teachings and praying, people can be sure they are voting with a well-formed conscience, according to clergy and lay leaders of the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
By Debbie Shelley
The Catholic Commentator
The lives of the unborn will hopefully be among many saved during Baton Rouge’s annual 40 Days for Life, Sept. 26 – Nov. 4, according to Danielle Van Haute, who co-chairs the event with Clelie and Charles Carpenter.
The Baton Rouge event is part of a national 40 Days for Life peaceful vigil of prayer and fasting for the end of abortion.
Overall, the days have been “filling
Father Clair M. Cazayoux SJ, a native of Baton Rouge, died Sunday, Sept. 30 in Grand Coteau. He was 88 years old, a Jesuit for 69 years and a priest for 56 years.
A scientist by training but a pastor by nature, he was remembered in a
By Debbie Shelley
The Catholic Commentator
Mid-term elections on Nov. 6 can be the time to “throw the rascals out” and send a message to the nation’s leaders on how they are doing as
By Debbie Shelley
The Catholic Commentator
West Giffin, the new project coordinator for the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, is utilizing his administration skills honed by working with athletic organizations and
By Debbie Shelley
The Catholic Commentator
Catholics may consider Jesus’ final beatitude, “blessed are those persecuted for righteousness sake,” to also be the final challenge. But the glory of heaven waits on the other
GRAPEVINE, Texas (CNS) – When Sister Lucero Espitia looked around the ballroom, she saw other people like herself.
While the Disciple of Jesus sister from Aguascalientes, Mexico, didn’t see many other habited consecrated
Pictured left, Bishop Michael G. Duca, right, presents Father Pat Broussard with the keys to St. Mary of False River Church in New Roads during a pastor
Father Matthew Graham, pastor of St. Elizabeth Church in Paincourtville and St. Jules Church in Belle Rose, recently celebrated Mass at the Westfield Sugar Mill in Paincourtville in preparation for the start of the grinding season.
Staff Report
The Catholic Commentator
A federal appeals court ruling upholding a 2014 Louisiana law requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital was praised by pro-life officials.
The U.S. Fifth Circuit
Sesay family together again after 16 years
By Richard Meek
The Catholic Commentator
Amid
The second Annual Ladies of Grace luncheon by Knights of Peter Claver, Meritorious Ladies of the fourth Degree, Constance Butler Chapter 9 was held
By Richard Meek
The Catholic Commentator
In a statement released Sept. 25, Bishop Emeritus Robert W. Muench said he has been diagnosed
Father Tom Ranzino, vicar general for the Diocese of Baton Rouge and pastor at St. Jean Vianney church in Baton Rouge, was presented the prestigious Alleluia Award during the annual Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions 2018
By Richard Meek
The Catholic Commentator
Father Joshua Johnson admittedly never enjoyed writing, not as a high school student, nor as a seminarian.
Deacon Minos Ponville Jr., deacon assistant at Holy Family Church in Port Allen, blesses pets during the annual Blessing of the Pets on Sept. 27 at the school. Many parishes and schools hold a blessing of the pets
By Richard Meek
The Catholic Commentator
An unusual late September calescent sun blistered a multigenerational volunteer corps that totaled nearly 300 men, women and children at St. Margaret, Queen of Scotland in Albany on a recent early
By Bonny Van
The Catholic Commentator
It’s almost that time of year, the time for reaching out to friends and relatives during the Christmas season. For more than 500 inmates in the Tangipohoa
By Bonny Van
The Catholic Commentator
The Catholic Church has erred in the past in effectively addressing racism in the United States,
By Bonny Van
The Catholic Commentator
It’s almost that time of year, the time for reaching out to friends and relatives during the Christmas season. For more than 500 inmates in the Tangipohoa
By Richard Meek
The Catholic Commentator
Fresh off a record-setting campaign that topped the $1 million mark for the third time in the past four years, the Bishop’s Annual Appeal will soon be launching with a renewed sense of optimism, said Tammy Abshire, stewardship director for
From staff reports
The Catholic Commentator
A special Mass celebrating the feast day of St. Padre Pio is scheduled Sunday, Sept. 23 at 3 p.m. at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Baton Rouge.
The Divine Mercy Chaplet will be sung beginning at 2:30 p.m.
Thursday, August 23, 2018, at 7:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer at St. George Catholic Church
Reception to follow in the gym. Open to the public.
This event will also be aired live on Catholic Life TV
and streamed.
Friday, August 24, 2018, 2:00 p.m.
Installation at St. Joseph Cathedral
Staff report
Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High School is still seeking 18 jobs to allow students to report to work in September in conjunction with the school’s unique corporate work program.
The money earned by the students pays their tuition. Through the corporate work program,
By Debbie Shelley
The Catholic Commentator
Hungering and thirsting for righteousness means loving people enough to get involved in their lives and protect their dignity as sons and daughters of God, according to Father Rick Andrus SVD, pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Baton
Staff Report
More 20 deacons along with their wives from the Diocese of Baton Rouge attended the 2018 National Diaconate Congress in New Orleans July 22-28.
There were over 2800
Bishop Robert W. Muench, left, hugs Father Michael Micelli after instating him as pastor of St. Patrick Church in Baton Rouge on Aug. 4. Looking on is Deacon Pete Walsh. Photo
By Debbie Shelley
The Catholic Commentator
Sleepy teens from St. John the Baptist Church in Brusly boarded a bus around 6:45 a.m. on July 14 for the almost 2-hour drive to the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola,
By Debbie Shelley
The Catholic Commentator
It was the excitement of back to school shopping for school clothes, at least for girls, who walked
Dear God, I must rely more on you than on me.
I must rely more on your perfection than on my holiness.
I must rely more on your faithfulness than on my promises.
I must rely more on your goodness than on my inclinations.
Father Cleo Milano, pastor of Our Lady of Mercy School in Baton Rouge, greets students and their families on the first day of school on Aug. 9. Students in grades 3Y through first
