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El Camino walk ‘healing’

Posted March 22, 2019 at 12:00 am

By Richard Meek

The Catholic Commentator 

Alone in his thoughts, aching muscles voicing their displeasure, a world apart from Maringouin, Father Chris Decker was startled by the voice of God.  

Father Chris Decker spent more than 30 days walking the El Camino De Santiago. Father Decker called the experience “incredibly healing.”  Photos provided by Father Decker  

 

Walking in an area far removed from cell phones, electricity and wifi, God simply asked Father Decker, “Ok, now it’s just you and me. Can we talk?”  

“Essentially, I’m thinking this is strange,” Father Decker, pastor at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Maringouin, St. Francis

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    Through suffering comes redemption

    By Debbie Shelley

    The Catholic Commentator
    (Second in a series)

    Cries of physical agony as the cold metal of nails are hammered into his warm flesh. Looks of anguish on his face from the piercing of his heart from the sword of betrayal, beginning with a kiss from Judas, the mockery of the crowds and the abandonment of those who were closest to him. And the most difficult thing to bear – our sins as the reason he is there and will surrender everything saying, “It is finished.”

    To understand the redemptive power of the long,

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    Patriotic essay winners

    By Bonny Van

    The Catholic Commentator 

    “The first place winner of the Patriotic Essay for the diocese (of Baton Rouge) and the winner of $300 in prize money – Landry Mayeaux!” announced David Goldsmith, of the Bishop Stanley J. Ott Assembly of the Knights of Columbus, following the school Mass at St. Jude the Apostle in Baton Rouge on Feb. 20.  

     

    St. Jude School had five

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    Rice Bowl ‘opens minds’ of St. Michael students

    By Bonny Van

    The Catholic Commentator 

    Wearing a grin and a bucket of water on her head, Emily Froeba, director of campus ministry at St. Michael the Archangel High School in Baton Rouge, walked into the crowded cafeteria, demonstrating a keen sense of balance and strength – until she slowly turned. Quickly she caught the bucket before it crashed to the floor but not before most of the water sloshed out, to the delight

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    Come Lord Jesus! celebrates anniversary

    By Debbie Shelley

    The Catholic Commentator 

    When the fire of the Holy Spirit was breathed into the apostles at Pentecost, they were emboldened to preach the word as Jesus taught them and “go out to the ends of the earth.” Many were even persecuted for it, so it could be passed down to people of today. Following the pattern set by the apostles into modern day life, participants in the Come Lord Jesus! program

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    Loss of respect for human life drives spiritual decline

    By Debbie Shelley

    The Catholic Commentator  

    When disregarding signs and warnings that they are going down a wrong road, people make many twists and turns before they stop and ask in dazed confusion, “Where are we?” and “How did we get here?”  

    Father Jeff Bayhi

     

    The same is true concerning the challenges our nation faces today, according to Father Jeff Bayhi, pastor of St. John

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Local News

    Number of priests decline; percentage of Catholics remains steady

    Posted March 15, 2019 at 12:00 am

    VATICAN CITY (CNS)  – The percentage of Catholics in the world has remained steady, while the number of priests has decreased for the first time in almost a decade, according to Vatican statistics.

    Meanwhile, the numbers of bishops, permanent deacons, lay missionaries and catechists have all

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    La Eucaristía al Estilo Latino

    Posted March 15, 2019 at 12:00 am

    Padre Donnell Kirchner, CSSR

    Paroquia de San Geraldo

    La  Iglesia Católica en el mundo entero, crece y se alimenta alrededor de la Eucaristía. La Eucaristía es el evento primordial y fundamental a través del cual se congregan las personas de más de 200 diferentes países

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    St. Joseph’s Day Altars

    Posted March 15, 2019 at 12:00 am

    March 15 and 16

    Friends of St. Joseph

    Immaculate Conception Church

    865 Hatchell Lane, Denham Springs

    March 15 – Blessing of the altar in main hall after 7:00 p.m. Mass. 

    March 16 – 11:00 a.m. Feeding of the saints followed by

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    Through suffering comes redemption

    Posted March 15, 2019 at 12:00 am

    By Debbie Shelley

    The Catholic Commentator
    (Second in a series)

    Cries of physical agony as the cold metal of nails are hammered into his warm flesh. Looks of anguish on his face from the piercing of his heart from the sword of betrayal, beginning with a kiss

    … Read Full Story…
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    CELEBRATING STUDENTS

    Posted March 15, 2019 at 12:00 am

     
    Area Catholic students showcase achievements and participation in a number of activities
     

     

    DRAGON BYTES ROBOTICS – St. George School’s first FIRST LEGO League team, the Dragon Bytes, received the Judge’s Award at both the Woodlawn High School

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    FEEDING SOULS

    Posted March 15, 2019 at 12:00 am

    St. Joseph’s Altar unites Morganza

    By Richard Meek

    The Catholic Commentator 

    Drive through Morganza during winter’s last gasp and one is likely to be tantalized by the savory aroma of Italian

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    REMEMBER YOU ARE DUST

    Posted March 15, 2019 at 12:00 am

    Churches around the Diocese of Baton Rouge were packed to overflowing from morning to evening with people receiving ashes on their forehead to mark the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday, March 6. At St. Joseph Cathedral

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    El Camino walk ‘healing’

    Posted March 15, 2019 at 12:00 am

    By Richard Meek

    The Catholic Commentator 

    Alone in his thoughts, aching muscles voicing their displeasure, a world apart from Maringouin, Father Chris

    … Read Full Story…

    Confession offers healing

    Posted March 1, 2019 at 12:00 am

    By Debbie Shelley

    The Catholic Commentator

    Weeds compete with flowers, grasses and plants for water, sunlight and nutrients and weaken non-weed plants, leaving them prone to insects and disease. In the same way, sin damages the soul and leaves it prone to the destructive forces of

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    Catholic men called to pick up daily crosses

    Posted March 1, 2019 at 12:00 am

    By Richard Meek

    The Catholic Commentator

    A sold out crowd of 1,200 is expected to fill St. George Church in Baton Rouge for the third annual A Call to Battle: Catholic Men’s Conference presented by the Men of the Immaculata scheduled March 9.

    The theme

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    St. Joseph Spirituality Center closing in June

    Posted March 1, 2019 at 12:00 am

    By Richard Meek

    The Catholic Commentator

    The trustees of St. Joseph Spirituality Center and the Sisters of St. Joseph who sponsor the center announced it will cease operations June 30.

    The center was opened 35 years ago out of the need for spiritual opportunities that

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    VIETNAMESE NEW YEAR

    Posted March 1, 2019 at 12:00 am

    Bishop Michael G. Duca joins Father Peter Tan Viet Nguyen, pastor of Sts. Anthony of Padua and Le Van Phung Church in Baton Rouge, to celebrate Mass on Sunday, Feb. 3, commemorating the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. 

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    TUITION ASSISTANCE

    Posted March 1, 2019 at 12:00 am

    The Knights of Columbus of the Louisiana Council have initiated a new program designed to give Catholic school tuition assistance to children of Knights of Columbus members. Winners from a lottery drawing receive $500 towards

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    Heart to mouth

    Posted March 1, 2019 at 12:00 am

     

    By Dina Dow

    The Liturgical Season changes from Ordinary Time to Lent. The next Sunday Mass Readings over the next two week offer a challenge to the faithful to “hold on to the word of life.” [Phil 2:16]

     

    The Heart at Work

    What is in your

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    CATHOLIC CHARITIES HONOREES

    Posted March 1, 2019 at 12:00 am

    On Feb. 13, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge staff, volunteers and board members celebrated the agency’s accomplishments of the past year and highlighted plans for the future. At the meeting, Jeff Smith was presented

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    ‘MY PARISHIONERS’

    Posted March 1, 2019 at 12:00 am

    By Bonny Van

    The Catholic Commentator 

    Overcast skies, chilly winds and the constant threat of rain greeted Bishop Michael G. Duca on his first visit to death

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    Bringing mercy to Guatemala

    Posted March 1, 2019 at 12:00 am

    By Debbie Shelley

    The Catholic Commentator  

    Looking into the grinning, giggling faces of Guatemalan orphans wrapped in their outstretched arms, four area missionaries experienced the tangible rewards Christ

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    EXEMPLIFICATION CEREMONY

    Posted March 1, 2019 at 12:00 am

    The Knights of Peter Claver St. Agnes Assembly #9 in Baton Rouge held an Exemplification Ceremony on Jan. 24. This ceremony allows new men to enter the Fourth Degree of the Knights of Peter

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    A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

    Posted March 1, 2019 at 12:00 am

    By Richard Meek

    The Catholic Commentator

    Initial excitement was quickly doused with a healthy dose of doubt when presented with an idea that would certainly remove me from my comfort zone.

     The Vatican is brilliant as dawn announces

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    Through the lens of Fr. Burns

    Posted March 1, 2019 at 12:00 am

    By Debbie Shelley

    The Catholic Commentator  

    Father Gerald Burns captures adventurous moments in his life through photography. With liveliness and awe of nature reflected in his

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    Pro-life leaders speak out on New York law

    Posted February 15, 2019 at 12:00 am

    By Richard Meek

    The Catholic Commentator

    New York state’s recently adopted legislation allowing abortion up until the time of birth, and a similar proposal in Virginia that went even a step further has sparked outrage from pro-life leaders on the local and nationals levels.

    … Read Full Story…
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