Before beginning the headlong hurtle toward the end of the year, the church calls for Catholics to take the month of November to pause and remember.

Many Catholics struggle with the question, “How do you know the Communion host and the chalice of wine turn into the true body and blood of Jesus when the Mass celebrant raises the host and chalice and pronounces the words of institution: “This is my body, this is the chalice of my blood …? ” 

MBS breaks ground on new buildings

On Nov. 3 in honor of the feast day of St. Martin de Porres and to celebrate Black Catholic History Month, a Mass was held at St. Joseph Chapel at the Catholic Life Center. Following the Mass, a processional was held to the Catholic Life Center, where Bishop Michael G. Duca blessed the portraits of six African Americans on the path to sainthood. They are Venerable Pierre Toussaint, Servant of God Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange, Venerable Henriette Delille, Venerable Father Augustus Tolton, Servant of God Julia Greeley and Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator

On Nov. 1 in commemoration of All Saints Day, churches throughout the Diocese of Baton Rouge held a blessings of graves for families to honor decease loved ones. Bishop Michael G. Duca, left, and Father Cary Bani, pastor of St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge, led a prayer ceremony before blessing the graves in St. Joseph Cemetery. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator