July’s stories highlight leadership, compassion, and the call to serve. In this issue of The Collect, explore how Catholic leaders are shaping the future of faith and education, how families are growing stronger in their domestic church, and how our diocese reaches beyond borders to help those in need. These stories remind us that faith lived out in service becomes a witness to hope.

Brother Malcolm Melcher SC, a Brother of the Sacred Heart and a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana since 2010, passed into eternal life at Our Lady of Wisdom Community Healthcare Center in New Orleans, LA, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.

As children in need prepare to go back to school, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Baton Rouge is giving them a boost of courage and confidence through its Uniform for Kids Program. Instead of dealing with negative peer pressure for not wearing the proper attire, they can focus on succeeding in school and reconnecting with old friends and making new ones.

Brother Lazarus (Phillip) Gordy’s OSB lifelong quest to answer God’s calling for his life led him to the altar at St. Joseph Abbey Church near Covington. There he “died to self” and found a deep joy and freedom through his life as a benedictine Monk.

As director of adult formation and spiritual director at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church in St. Amant, Wendy Enloe ministers to many people who are struggling with the worries and concerns in their lives. People come to her who are dealing with terminal illness, death of a loved one, loss of a job, concerns about world events, etc.

Sunnie Johnson-Lain “fell in love from day one” with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) when she volunteered to answer phones for her parish conference in Dayton, Ohio.

Although Dr. David Bellar is a Northerner by birth, from a “very snowy area,” he has spent most of his career providing strong leadership in universities in the South. Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University (FranU) will benefit from skills and vision for its future as he assumes the role of fifth president of the university.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge (CCDBR) is hosting a one-day donation drive on Thursday, July 17 in response to the flooding catastrophe in Texas. The drive will be held at the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge office at 1900 S. Acadian Thruway, Baton Rouge, LA 70808 from 9:30 a.m.– 5:30 ​p.m.

As we celebrate, honor and pray for our new holy pontiff, Pope Leo XIV ­­– who has cool Louisiana familial connections and who is calling all if us to be a missionaries in our own states of life, I can't help but recall some Eucharistic missionary experiences I've had in the past.

Through her own personal experiences and conversations with other parents, Dr. Holly Taylor Coolman discovered that raising children involves combining daily activities and the big picture idea. As a theologian and a parent who is “also figuring it out,” she shares her wisdom through writing books and speaking about the “complex and beautiful vocation of raising children.”

Dr. Tina Holland has made split-second decisions to say ‘Yes,’ during her life that have provided positive, meaningful experiences which she utilizes to help others cultivate successful, faith-filled lives.

Death is not merely a physical cessation of life, but an intersecting of the physical and spiritual realms, according to Catholic teachings. People filled the Westerfield Center in Baton Rouge to find out more about end-of-life issues in a presentation by Dr. Christoper Ragusa.

June’s stories reflect courage, heritage, and hope. In this issue of The Collect, discover how small communities shape vocations, how cultural richness deepens our faith, and how we come together in prayer and remembrance. These moments remind us that God is at work in every corner of our diocese.

To provide for the pastoral care of the people of God, Bishop Michael Duca makes several new clergy appointments effective 01 August 2025.

What do you do when a wound or a loss leaves you hopelessly disconsolate and there’s nothing you can do to amend the situation?

When Father Brent Maher arrived at St. Agnes Church in 2020, the staff quickly took him to the church’s cafeteria and said, “We need a roof.”

On June 14, Bishop Michael G. Duca ordained Father Huy Duc Tran and Father Josh Zelden the priesthood of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. The new priest’s families and friends packed St. Joseph Cathedral for the ordination Mass.

Father Huy Duc Tran, 29, entered college at LSU with dreams about the diverse experiences of college life he would have and landing a successful career.

Father Josh Zelden’s long and winding path to the priesthood has given him practical and spiritual gifts that will help him accompany people who are struggling with their lives. Bishop Michael G. Duca ordained Father Zelden and Father Huy Tran to the priesthood on June 14 at St. Joseph Cathedral.