Schools planning for unusual year

Posted July 16, 2020 at 12:00 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 to each school’s individual needs, but the health and safety of all students and faculty remain the top priority.

“One size fits none,” she said. “To make one policy that would affect all 30 schools would not be useful.”

Schools must follow guidelines set by the Louisiana Department of Education. In the current Phase 2 of the state’s reopening, the maximum amount of people in a classroom is 25, including students, teachers and teacher aids. Some schools have already removed bookcases, reading corners and other furniture from their classrooms, creating additional square footage for proper social distancing.

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    Mass in any language

    Although churches in the Diocese of Baton Rouge have opened their doors, albeit with capacity restrictions, many throughout the country remain shuttered, leaving people to view Mass either via livestreaming, or through other means, such as Catholic Life TV in our diocese.

    In the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York, enriched with a tremendous cultural diversity, the closings posed an especially imposing dilemma, mainly how to reach people of varying ethnicities. Previously, the diocesan cable channel NET-TV broadcast Sunday Masses in English and Spanish but the need was so much greater.

    So the diocese dipped into its

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    FOOD PANTRY

    St. Alphonsus parishioners give back

    By Debbie Shelley

    The Catholic Commentator

    On a hot, sunny, June morning cars lined up in front of the St. Alphonsus food pantry off Frenchtown Road in Greenwell Springs.  

    Loading a vehicle with food are, from left, Mark Legendre, Melba Hanks, Juanita Beard and Mike Turuett. Photos by Richard Meek | The Catholic Commentator

     

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Local News

    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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    SIGN OF HOPE

    Posted July 13, 2020 at 12:00 am

    The St. Alphonsus Church in Greenwell Springs Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society recently re-opened its food pantry after closing due to the coronavirus pandemic. Food recipients and volunteers were happy to come

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    Statement of Ncaddhm on George Floyd and the protests

    Posted July 13, 2020 at 12:00 am

    We, the National Catholic Association of Diocesan Directors for Hispanic Ministry, join in solidarity with our Catholic community and leadership, and people of good will in expressing our commitment to the work of racial justice and reconciliation. The meaningless and heartless killing of George

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    Declaración de Ncaddhm sobre George Floyd y las protestas

    Posted July 13, 2020 at 12:00 am

    Nosotros, la Asociación Católica Nacional de Directores Diocesanos para el Ministerio Hispano, nos unimos en solidaridad con nuestra comunidad y liderazgo católico, y personas de buena voluntad para expresar nuestro compromiso con el trabajo de justicia racial y reconciliación. El asesinato sin sentido

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    ST. GABRIEL CONFIRMATION

    Posted July 13, 2020 at 12:00 am

    Bishop Michael G. Duca confirmed youth at St. Gabriel Church in St. Gabriel on June 18. Pictured are, from left, top row, Deacon Kirk Duplantis, Bishop Duca and Father Charles Landry, pastor; and, bottom row, Samantha Waldroup, Michael

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    FIRST COMMUNION

    Posted July 13, 2020 at 12:00 am

    Ninety-five second graders received first Communion at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Baton Rouge between June 16 – June 24. Pictured with OLM pastor Father Cleo Milano are, from left, Liam Perrault, Emilia Davros, Ava Keown

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    FranU funds well in Zimbabwe

    Posted July 13, 2020 at 12:00 am

    Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University’s Campus Ministry in Baton Rouge raised $1,000 to help build a well for the new Sacred Heart College in Gweru, Zimbabwe run by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart.  

    For

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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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    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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    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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    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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    FIRST COMMUNION

    Posted June 18, 2020 at 12:00 am

    Families  celebrate the  Eucharist 

    By Bonny Van

    The Catholic Commentator  

    At the noon

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    Spiritual renewal coming out of isolation

    Posted June 3, 2020 at 9:54 am

    Debbie Shelley

    The Catholic Commentator

    Emerging into the sunshine from “cocoon-style” lives forced by the coronavirus-related restrictions, people are resuming favorite activities – dining in their favorite restaurant, going to the ballpark – leaping for joy like calves let out to pasture.

    The virus has

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    Video rosary honors Mary

    Posted June 2, 2020 at 3:23 pm

    By Richard Meek

    The Catholic Commentator

    Priests, deacons, men and women religious and even lay staff members of the Diocese of Baton Rouge recently participated in a video rosary honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary.

    Nicole Jones, coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Ministry Programs for

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    Blue Cross grant aids St. Vincent de Paul Society

    Posted June 2, 2020 at 3:20 pm

    By Richard Meek

    The Catholic Commentator

    Funding from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation is a welcome contribution that will allow the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to continue to be one of the area’s leaders in providing assistance to the homeless and needy

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    Principals ready for a new school year

    Posted June 2, 2020 at 3:19 pm

    By Bonny Van

    The Catholic Commentator

    Leadership at a number of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge will feature some new faces and some familiar ones when the 2020-21 school year kicks off in August.

    Superintendent Dr. Melanie Palmisano released a list of

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    ISLAND MASS

    Posted June 2, 2020 at 12:00 am

    Parishioners at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Pierre Part arrived on foot, boats and even pirogues to attend Mass celebrated Saturday, May 16 on Virgin Island. Pastor Father Al Davidson celebrated the Mass,

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