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Owen Tabor, 15, was popular, never bullied, good looking, fun loving, athletic, and came from a stable home with a family rooted in faith that loved and supported him. He was a graduate of St. Jean Vianney School and was a good student at St. Michael High School. When he took his life on April 29, 2023, two weeks from his 16th birthday, his family and friends were filled with heartache.

Kate Stapleton stood with her feet in the waters of the Great Lakes and peered out into the horizon. She searched for answers on how to provide the best life possible for the baby she conceived in an unplanned pregnancy.

Archive records contain a treasure trove of resources that provide depth and detail to the experiences of enslaved African Americans. It also sheds truth and light so sins and mistakes of the past can be corrected, and the descendants of the enslaved can heal and move forward with their lives.

In today's tumultuous world, many families seek to build a domestic church with a foundation built upon rock. Through a new consecration to the Holy Family, they have St. Joseph as their master builder, Mary as their nurturing presence, and Jesus as their pathway to a heavenly home.

Receiving messages of hope … planting seeds of hope. This evangelistic cycle during Advent helps "pilgrims of hope" shine the light of Christ in a darkened world as the Jubilee Year of Hope draws to a close.

St. Paul writes in Hebrews 11:1, "Faith is the realization of what is hoped for, and evidence of things not seen." During Advent in this Jubilee Year of Hope, the Church's liturgy and teachings move the faithful to wait with such confident hope for the first and second comings of Christ

Grappling against the challenges of serving the struggling Hispanic/immigrant community can bring pastoral leaders together in clarity of mission, hope, and joy. Julia Scarnato discovered during a national conference of Hispanic pastoral leaders that the Church’s mission embraces the shared faith, culture, and needs of Hispanic and immigrant communities worldwide. Scarnato is the director of the Hispanic Apostolate of the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

The Diocese of Baton Rouge has added a seventh portrait to its "wall of saints" featuring African American Catholics who are on the path to sainthood. The wall is located in the first-floor lobby of the chancery.

During November, Black Catholics proudly remember their history and heritage within the Catholic Church. Their liturgies feature dynamic gospel music, animated preaching, liturgical dancing, and expressive prayer to honor those who have contributed to the traditions of the Church despite opposition.

The students' love for Friday school Mass at Redemptorist St. Gerard School in Baton Rouge conveys it's a highlight of their week. The altar servers and lectors reverently carry out their roles, and the student choir sings Gospel songs with gusto.

Bishop John Gregory Kelly, bishop of the diocese of Tyler, Texas, instituted seminarians into the ministry of acolyte on Oct. 22 at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. The ministry of acolyte is the final ministry before seminarians are ordained to the diaconate. In the rite of institution, the bishop gives to those to be instituted a patent with bread and says, “Take this vessel with bread for the celebration of the Eucharist. Make your life worthy of your service at the table of the Lord and of his Church.” PIctured, from left, are Very Rev. Joshua Rodrigue (Notre Dame Seminary rector/president), Bishop Kelly, and Grant Caillouet, seminarian of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Photos provided by Notre Dame Seminary

All Saints Day may conjure up in people's minds a picturesque image of the saints in heaven with halos and icons associated with their lives. Students at Our Lady of Mercy School in Baton Rouge discovered the human side of the saints through St. Thérèse of Lisieux. They learned she was also a child who had to learn to overcome fears.

Tucked within the campus of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Baton Rouge is a serene garden. Where neighborhood children once romped and participated in catechetical activities, the space now serves as a space for prayer and speaks of the legacy of sisters Kathleen Bahlinger CJS and Barbara Bahlinger.

Turning to Mary as "Our Lady of Sorrows" helps people find solace, understanding, and grace during times of suffering.

Behind the graves at St. Joseph Cemetery are stories of love, war, tragedy, creativity, young lives cut short, and influencers in the history of Baton Rouge and Louisiana.

In what pro-life advocates describe as "a long time coming," Planned Parenthood shuttered the doors of its remaining facilities in Louisiana, signaling the exit of the abortion industry from the state.

In the 1870s missionary priest Father John Scollard came from the Archdiocese of New Orleans to minister to Catholics in the area stretching from Kenner to Amite and Clinton.

In 2018 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued their pastoral letter on racism, “Open Wide Your Hearts.” The document called people to have an enduring love for people of different backgrounds.

In today's world, as people spread the Gospel message, people may rebuff them and demand to "show me the reason for your hope." Catechesis and evangelization require a knowledge and love of the Lord that speaks of a hope rooted in trust and confidence in God.

Twenty years ago, Hurricane Katrina taught people unforgettable lessons about how fragile life is and how strong human and community bonds can be in response. The Baton Rouge community gathered to remember, give thanks, and share messages of hope during a service hosted by the Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton (IFGBR).