This week, as we prepare for this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus begins to reveal what we call the “Bread of Life” discourse, which serves as a precursor to the beautiful gift of the Eucharist. The crowds, after receiving their “fill” from the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000, sought Jesus following their desire for more.

Employees of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, including educators and support staff from diocesan schools and staff workers from church parishes, gathered today at the Catholic Life Center to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the diocese. Bishop Michael G. Duca, top, led a prayer service, assisted by St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church parishioner Vera Dunbar, lower right, and Deacon Dan Borne. The day featured four food trucks, a cornhole contest and a live band. Photo by Richard Meek | The Catholic Commentator

When Jesus multiplies, He does not multiply so that there is just enough for each person to be satisfied. He gives an abundance of loaves and fish to the crowd. They had twelve baskets of leftovers! I like to use the word overabundance just to help me comprehend how generously God gives to us. He does not just satisfy us but gives until we are overflowing.

(CNA) - A growing number of bishops in the United States, including Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington, have issued guidance regarding groups celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass in their dioceses, after a new document from Pope Francis on Friday imposed restrictions on the use of the traditional liturgy.  The pope's document, a motu proprio entitled “Traditionis custodes,” made sweeping changes to his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI’s 2007 apostolic letter “Summorum Pontificum,” which acknowledged the right of all priests to say Mass using the Roman Missal of 1962, which is in Latin.

VATICAN CITY (CNA) - New Vatican restrictions on extraordinary form Masses elicited passionate responses from Catholics nearly as soon as the motu proprio was published shortly after noon Rome time on Friday. Many Catholics reacted strongly to the promulgation of “Traditionis custodes,” a motu proprio signed by Pope Francis on July 16, offering pithy comments on Twitter as well as more detailed takes.

To the Priests, Principals, and the Faithful of the Diocese of Baton Rouge: Protecting our brothers and sisters and providing a healthy and safe environment for all, especially for our children, faculty, and staff of our Catholic Schools, are chief concerns of our Church.  Offering this protection has been the motivating principle guiding the creation of policies and procedures for our churches and schools throughout this pandemic. 

Protecting our brothers and sisters and providing a healthy and safe environment for all, especially for our children, faculty, and staff of our Catholic Schools, are chief concerns of our Church...Now that the state superintendent of education has clarified the department’s return-to-school guidelines as being recommendations and not requirements, we have reconsidered elements of the policy that was distributed earlier this week.

“O God, for you I long; for you my soul is thirsting. My body pines for you like a dry, weary land without water.”

I was raised as a cradle Catholic, the oldest of eight children born to my parents, Joseph Vallery Will and Jeanne Elizabeth Stadeker Will. I attended St. Augustine Elementary School in New Roads through the fourth grade, taught by the Holy Spirit Sisters and Mary Immaculate of San Antonio, Texas, whose charism was to serve the social and educational needs of the African American community. 

Things are back to normal, and then some.  I went to a restaurant recently, and it was packed at 6 p.m. There were quite a few people I knew in the restaurant and many others I didn’t recognize.  My first thought was, “I hope they are also all vaccinated.”  But the odds are they weren’t.  

Although thunderstorms could be heard rumbling throughout the area, only a few sprinkles fell on the annual Marian procession at Our Lady of Pompeii Church in Tickfaw. 

Perhaps well into the future, when the occasion calls for Father Danny Roussel to use his personal chalice while celebrating Mass, memories will reflect back to a special time shortly before his ordination.

A pair of clothing drives in Baton Rouge and Hammond will help address a growing need among all ages in the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

Wasn’t St. Peter too flawed to be an infallible pope?

The Catholic Health Association, a national group comprised of more than 600 hospitals and 1,600 long-term care and other health facilities in all 50 states, awarded Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge its Achievement Citation, the organization’s top annual honor.

Several people gathered July 2 to pray the rosary outside of the Baton Rouge studio of Catholic Community Radio. Those gathered include, from left, President and General Manager David Dawson, Sharon Hebert, Director of Development Alicia Quebedeaux and Damian Calato. The rosary is prayed on the first Friday of every month at 8 a.m., and the public is always invited to attend. Photo provided by Gaby Smith | Catholic Community Radio

As late spring’s tepidity two-stepped into summer’s sauna and the dreaded June 1 date inched closer, the eyes of Lisa Lee and C.J. Roy were focused on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and beyond.

A popular psalm of the Bible will resound as we celebrate the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, only a week later to be followed by the beginning of the most profound discourse in the Gospel of St. John, The Bread of Life Discourse, proclaimed during the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time.