Our Lady of Pompeii Church, 14450 Hwy. 442, Tickfaw, will hold its Blessed Mother Feast Saturday, July 2 – Sunday, July 3. The events include the procession of the Blessed Mother statue at 4:45 p.m. from the Mother of Grace Chapel to the church for Mass at 5:30 p.m. and includes a stop at the cemetery to bless the graves. There will also be booths, concessions and games in Pompeii Hall. On Sunday, there will be a benediction at 6 p.m., and a brass band will lead a procession of the Blessed Mother statue back to the chapel. For more information, call 985-345-8957.
The Catholic Life Center campus will be closed on Monday, July 4 in celebration of Independence Day! Join our staff in celebrating America and the freedoms that we enjoy as citizens of this great nation.
The Secretariat for Communications is responsible for the effective and efficient communication of news, events, and any public information released by the Bishop of Baton Rouge. The group gathers today for its bimonthly meeting.
In this course, we will not only define prayer, but look at the richness of prayer through the history and lens of the Catholic Church and some of its saintly members.
The first five books of the Bible lay out the foundation of God’s plan for salvation for all. The stories and directives within the Books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy reveal the love of God for His Chosen people and how this plan provides for a pathway to eternity.
St. Joseph Cathedral, Fourth and Main streets, Baton Rouge, will host a first Wednesday eucharistic adoration on Wednesday, July 6, 10 a.m. – noon. Parishioners and friends are invited to spend at least one-half or hour before the real presence of Christ in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in the East transept of the cathedral. Persons interested in learning more about the eucharistic adoration ministry or becoming committed adorers on the first Wednesdays of the month can call the cathedral office at 225-387-5928 or email [email protected]
The Secretariat for Pastoral Services aims, through its ministries, to help others enter into communion with the charity of Christ. Resource sharing and planning takes place in their bimonthly meeting.
This course introduces participants to the Catholic Catechism of the Catholic Church and explains its importance, how it’s related to the Deposit of Faith, how to enter into its great depths and use it as an effective tool to deepen one’s own faith life as well as the faith lives of those we teach. It explains how the Catechism is centered on God and how it pulls from Sacred Scriptures to support its teachings. The purpose of this course is to form participants as catechists, that is, as those who are able to pass on the Catholic faith to others through teaching it.
The Secular Order Discalced Carmelites will meet Sunday, July 10, 1:30 p.m., at the Our Lady of Mercy Church Parish Activity Center in the St. Gabrielle Room, 445 Marquette Ave., Baton Rouge. For details, call Ethlyn White 225-803-3391 or email [email protected]
In this course you will learn the bases for understanding the sacraments, the origin of the sacraments, as well as how the Sacraments are important ways Christ has entrusted to the Church to participate in the mysteries of his life. You will see how each of the seven sacraments are instituted by Christ and have corresponding words and actions that help us live out the mission of the God’s spiritual family. The sacraments are sources of grace in our lives, but God’s grace is never forced upon us; it is, rather, proposed and invited. Therefore, you are invited to participate in this course as a way of nourishing not only your mind, but also your soul.
The course explores the Gospel of John, John’s epistles, and the Apocalypse according to St. John, i.e. the Book of Revelation. In the 4th century AD, Saint Gregory said of John’s writings that they were “like a little pool in which babies can wade safely, and yet it’s a river that can swallow and drown elephants.” We could spend our entire lives plumbing the depths of these books of the Bible, but let’s just wade in a bit for now.
The Secretariat for Administration will meet for its bimonthly meeting to discuss pertinent matters related to the Administration of the Catholic Life Center and administrative matters related to diocesan parishes, schools and other institutions.
The Office of Marriage and Family Life of the Diocese of Baton Rouge will offer an introductory class on natural family planning via Zoom on Tuesday, July 12, 6 – 7:30 p.m. To register and for more information, visit diobr.org/nfp-101-the-basics-course.
Immaculate Conception Church, 665 Hatchell Lane, Denham Springs, will host a conference for men 18-years-old and older, “Men of the World,” Tuesday, July 12, 6 – 9 p.m., in the ICC Main Hall. The night will begin with Mass in the church, followed by dinner and a talk by Frank Titus, who is in formation for the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. The night will conclude with benediction in the church. The event is free, but RSVP by Friday, July 8. For more information, email Amanda Milton at [email protected] or call the ICC office for 225-665-5359.
Pauline theology, Romans, authentic Pauline Books are illuminated in this course which focuses on the deep theological writings of St. Paul. Emphasis is placed on the power of conversion, the outreach to the Gentiles and the strength to overcome adversity in the face of persecution. Participants will have the opportunity to understand how the teachings of St. Paul are still very important for those who follow Jesus today.
The Secretariat for Evangelization comprises the departments and persons responsible for providing support to clergy, school, and parish catechetical leaders through consultation related to evangelization and catechesis. Meetings held bimonthly advance the diocesan cause to preach the Gospel in new and unique ways.
This course expands the ability to articulate a Catholic approach to moral decision making according the Church’s teaching. Participants will be formed on how to identify the criteria for determining whether a given action is moral or immoral, understand the relationship between personal moral decision making and the teaching authority of the Church, the process of moral development and how to make a moral decision covering a variety of current issues.
This course is two-fold, initially focusing on the Sacraments of Healing, comprised of Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick. It will explore the gift of Holy Orders and Marriage, as the Sacraments of Service. Combined, these sacraments will strengthen the participant’s understanding of the power of Jesus’ healing, both spiritual and physical, as well as an appreciation of the role of priest, deacons and couples in serving God’s people through their particular role.
The Secretariat for Catholic Schools comprises the departments and persons responsible for providing support for Catholic schools and related programs, assisting them to promote excellence in faith formation, academic rigor, innovation programs, responsible stewardship, and joyful celebration of service to the community. The group meets bimonthly to collaborate and plan.
The Office of Charismatic Renewal of the Diocese of Baton Rouge will host a Morning of Prayer and Praise Saturday, July 16, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., at the Our Lady of Mercy Parish Activity Center, 445 Marquette Ave., Baton Rouge. There will be praise and worship, testimony, prayers for healing and prayer teams available for those needing prayer. The event is free and lunch will be served. For more information, call 225-636-2464.
Allison Dreher will provide formation in St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body for teachers, staff, catechists, youth ministers and anyone interested who works with any grades Kindergarten through high school seniors. This training will provide guidance to create lessons for any age level. An overview of Pope Saint John Paul II’s teachings will be explored as well as how these teachings fit into the developmental psychology of children. No training manual will be provided but there will multiple resources available for you to peruse so that you can determine the program that works best for your situation (Ascension Press, Ruah Woods, etc.). Catholic Sexual Morality (CSM) credit or Enrichment credit will be awarded to those who complete the course in its entirety.
The Secretariat for Clergy & Religious Life comprises the departments and persons responsible for providing support not only for priests and deacons, but also the members of religious orders active within the diocese. Their bimonthly meeting promotes greater communication and collaboration across departments.
A St. Dominics Men’s Walk to Emmaus Retreat will be held Friday, July 29 – Sunday, July 31, at the Archdiocese of New Orleans Retreat Center, 5500 St. Mary St., Metairie. For more information and to register, visit the St. Dominic Church in New Orleans website at stdominicparish.com or call Steve Schulkens at 504-401-6690.