Public defenders underfunded

Posted January 20, 2019 at 12:00 am

By Bonny Van

The Catholic Commentator

Money to pay for public defense attorneys in Louisiana is slowly drying up, according to Richard Pittman, deputy public defender with the Louisiana Public Defender Board. He said funding comes from a combination of state money and local revenue, “the primary driver of which is traffic tickets and the court costs that come with traffic tickets.”

“The number of traffic tickets filed into courts in Louisiana have declined literally nine consecutive years,” explained Pittman to the Louisiana Interchurch Conference Commission on Criminal Justice.

A shift in funding from the state helped shore up some of the expenses but it’s still not enough, he said.

“The number of criminal cases has declined but not at the rate of the decline of funding. That follows a national trend. There’s a national trend that police aren’t writing as many traffic

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    Holiday joy can lead to the blues

    By Richard Meek

    The Catholic Commentator

    The tree is down, those joyful memories of Christmas morning buried in the brown needles that seem to hang around seemingly until spring.

    The Nativity has been stowed and the outdoor decorations shoved back into the cramped attic.

    The Christmas season is over.

    For many, this is the time of year when the holiday blues take root, the euphoria of the holidays morphing into a slight depression of unmet expectations, dreary weather and the onslaught of January bills.

    “I think the holiday blues are real,”

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    EYE ON THE FUTURE

     St. Francis celebrates centennial

    By Debbie Shelley

    The Catholic Commentator 

    A welcome mat of excitement and hospitality was rolled out to usher people into a Mass closing out a yearlong 100th anniversary celebration at St. Francis Xavier Church in Baton Rouge on Dec. 30.  

    The Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary kneel in prayer during Mass. Photos by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator 

     

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    Starlight shines bright

    The universe is vast, precise and infinite. The more we seek to find the endpoint, the more we realize the magnitude of space and time is something to behold. We know who created the universe. As Catholic Christians, we begin the Creed with these words, “I believe in one God, the father almighty, maker of heaven and earth … ” Thus, it makes sense to look to the sky as a compass for travel and time. Therefore, we begin the new calendar year (the Gregorian calendar year,

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    Continuing Formation Days upcoming

    Dear People of God of the Diocese of Baton Rouge,

    The upcoming annual Continuing Formation days for our priests are Jan. 14-17. These days represent an important occasion for our priests’ renewal and growth in intellectual and spiritual formation, emotional maturity and physical well-being. Since these days are offered once a year and is a commitment by the diocese for their on-going formation, participation by our active priests is mandatory. 

    With the guidance of the Diocesan

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    OFF TO THE MARCH

    Youth from the Diocese of Baton Rouge check in before loading the buses at the Catholic Life Center January 14 to go to March for Life in Washington D.C. on January 18. This year nine buses and 457 pilgrims from over 20 churches and schools traveled to the march. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator

     

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    Noted actor sees God’s hand in latest role

    By Richard Meek

    The Catholic Commentator  

    Moments before taking the stage, a familiar feeling of nervousness that often morphed into anxiety engulfed Jim Coleman.  

    Jim Coleman captured Father August Tolton’s love for the Eucharist on his journey to becoming the first African-American priest in America during the production, “Tolton: From Slave to Priest.” Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator 

     

    He immediately dialed in his

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Local News

    Public defenders underfunded

    Posted January 18, 2019 at 12:00 am

    By Bonny Van

    The Catholic Commentator

    Money to pay for public defense attorneys in Louisiana is slowly drying up, according to Richard Pittman, deputy public defender with the Louisiana Public Defender Board. He said funding comes from a combination of state money and local revenue, “the

    … Read Full Story…

    Holiday joy can lead to the blues

    Posted January 18, 2019 at 12:00 am

    By Richard Meek

    The Catholic Commentator

    The tree is down, those joyful memories of Christmas morning buried in the brown needles that seem to hang around seemingly until spring.

    The Nativity has been stowed and the outdoor decorations shoved back into the cramped attic.

    … Read Full Story…
    ladies auxiliary color retouch.tif

    EYE ON THE FUTURE

    Posted January 18, 2019 at 12:00 am

     St. Francis celebrates centennial

    By Debbie Shelley

    The Catholic Commentator 

    A welcome mat of excitement and hospitality was rolled out to usher people into a Mass

    … Read Full Story…
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    CHECKING IN

    Posted January 18, 2019 at 12:00 am

    Youth from the Diocese of Baton Rouge check in before loading the buses at the Catholic Life Center January 14 to go to March for Life in Washington D.C. on January 18. This year nine

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    Father LeDoux dies

    Posted January 18, 2019 at 12:00 am

    By Richard Meek

    The Catholic Commentator   

    Father Jerome LeDoux SVD, former columnist for The Catholic Commentator and who previously served as pastor at St. Paul

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    Interim principal named at Sacred Heart

    Posted January 18, 2019 at 12:00 am

    Sacred Heart of Jesus School in Baton Rouge has appointed Carolyn Guidry as interim principal, succeeding principal C.J. Laird who announced his resignation from the school in December.

    Guidry’s appointment was effective Jan. 7.

    It was also announced that Cecilia Methvin, a former assistant

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    CELEBRATING A SUCCESSFUL YEAR

    Posted January 18, 2019 at 12:00 am

    The Knights of Peter Claver Wilfred B. Ricard Council #116 has completed a year of service to Immaculate Conception Church in Baton Rouge and the community by hosting its annual Christmas dance. During the year,

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    Technology through robotics

    Posted January 18, 2019 at 12:00 am

    By Bonny Van

    The Catholic Commentator 

    With eager faces, members of the robotics team from Holy Family School in Port Allen grabbed base plates, iPads and bins of

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    YEAR OF CHANGE

    Posted January 4, 2019 at 12:00 am


    Bishop Duca  installed as new shepherd 
    By Bonny Van

    The Catholic Commentator 

    The past

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    Cathedral music director dies

    Posted January 4, 2019 at 12:00 am

    Robbie Giroir, 60, longtime musical director at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge, died Dec. 23 after fighting an acute illness.  

    Giroir served for more than 30 years as the musical

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    Continuing Formation Days upcoming

    Posted January 4, 2019 at 12:00 am

    Dear People of God of the Diocese of Baton Rouge,

    The upcoming annual Continuing Formation days for our priests are Jan. 14-17. These days represent an important occasion for our priests’

    … Read Full Story…
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    SITTING IN SANTA’S LAP

    Posted January 4, 2019 at 12:00 am

    Josiah Franklin, 7 months, sits in Bishop Michael G. Duca’s lap before the bishop gives him a gift at the bishop’s distribution of gifts to children of families in need at the St. Vincent de Paul Society

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    LIGHTING THE WAY

    Posted January 4, 2019 at 12:00 am

     

     

     

    St. Joseph’s Academy/Catholic High School | Baton Rouge 

    Catholic Elementary of Pointe Coupee | New Roads 

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    Family Christmas centered on faith

    Posted December 21, 2018 at 1:00 am

    BISHOP DUCA’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
    Every year as Christmas draws near, I call to mind good memories of family celebrations, Christmas feasts, the gathering of relatives, the lighting of the final candle of our family Advent wreath and midnight Mass.  I am sure that many of

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    #iGiveCatholic campaign tops $100,000

    Posted December 21, 2018 at 12:00 am

    By Richard Meek

    The Catholic Commentator

    As the fledgling #iGiveCatholic campaign neared, Tammy Abshire, stewardship director for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, expressed optimism that the third year would show continued growth.

    But not even Abshire could have predicted such success.

    During the 24 hours of the

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    Continuing Formation Days upcoming

    Posted December 21, 2018 at 12:00 am

    Dear People of God of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, </span id=”0″>

    The upcoming annual Continuing Formation days for our priests are Jan. 14-17. These days represent an important occasion for

    … Read Full Story…
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    Father Johnson, Father Alello honored

    Posted December 21, 2018 at 12:00 am

    By Debbie Shelley

    The Catholic Commentator 

    Residents in Ascension Civil Parish have praised Holy Rosary Church’s ability not only to overcome adversity, but to extend its arms and welcome, serve and evangelize by voting

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