News - Local News RSS Feed

Historical and cultural changes over the years have created complex views about marriage. The wisdom of the Catholic Church's teachings brings couples "back to the basics" to understand the sacrament of marriage as God created and intended it to be.

St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) celebrated the opening of its first upscale thrift store, Rosalie's Boutique, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 16.

Ascension Catholic Diocesan Regional High School held its Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 9 at Ascension Catholic Church in Donaldsonville. Its baccalaureate Mass was held on May 7 at Ascension Catholic Church. Harlee Marie Landry was named valedictorian and Halle Catherine Gomez was named salutatorian. Photo provided by Wendy Poirrier

Hunter Grace Layrisson recently received the State Knights of Columbus Award Catholic Youth Leadership Award (CYLA). She is a 2026 graduating senior from St. Thomas Aquinas Regional High School in Hammond.

Contributing to the successes of the Diocese of Baton Rouge's Catholic schools are people working "behind the scenes" helping the schools send forth students that will change the world.

The Women's Giving Circle, a group of philanthropic-minded women of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, completed its fifth season of growing its impact within the community. This year it awarded $120,000 in grants to six non-profit organizations.

A large group of Catholics made their presence known amid the buzz of the activity at the 2026 Louisiana legislative session during Faithful Citizenship Day.

Woman's New Life Clinic (WNLC) began 25 years ago as a belief that God was calling a community to be a sign of love in the world. God honored that act of faith through increasing WNLC's ability to provide life-affirming care to women with unplanned pregnancies, according to Allison Daigle, WNLC CEO.

Louisiana state legislators are bustling about the halls and meeting rooms of the Louisiana State Capitol conducting business during the 2026 regular legislative session. The Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops (LCCB) is educating legislators on bills that can impact people physically and spiritually, according to LCCB Executive Director Tom Costanza.

Three Diocese of Baton Rouge Students of the Year joined other accomplished student from the state at the 2026 Louisiana Catholic Schools Student of the Year Ceremony.

Many new Catholics experience the satisfaction of looking back and seeing the beauty of how the pieces of their story fit together for their entry into the church.

For the second time in seven months, a sister of St. Joseph of Baton Rouge has been "dubbed royalty" with a tierra and sash to mark her 100th birthday.

The Diocese of Baton Rouge joined in the Catholic Church's celebration of the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ beginning on Holy Thursday, April 2, through Easter Sunday, April 5.

On March 31, priests, religious, and laity filled St. Joseph Cathedral to capacity as the Diocese of Baton Rouge celebrated its annual Chrism Mass, held each year during Holy Week. During the ancient Mass, holy oils were blessed which richly signify God’s grace, the Holy Spirit’s presence, and strength being poured out onto the faithful and into the world. These oils are used in several sacraments throughout the year. The priests of the diocese also renewed their sacred vows.

As Catholics listen to a Sunday Mass homily, they may think, 'That was a nice message. That was good for back then.' But they don't think God is speaking to them personally,” said Kevin McCall, a board member of The Mission on the Mountain (TMOTM), a Catholic lay ministry focused on helping individuals to live out their faith.

On Palm Sunday, March 29, the Catholic Church began its observance of Holy Week with the commemoration of Jesus' triumphant arrival in Jerusalem. The churches in the Diocese of Baton Rouge marked the occasion with processions of palms and the reading of Christ's Passion. At St. Aloysius Church in Baton Rouge the congregation gathered outdoors to begin the procession and proceeded into the church. Pictured is Father Michael Alello blessing the palm branches. Photos by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator

Baton Rouge, LA – Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University proudly celebrated the inauguration of David M. Bellar, Ph.D., as its fifth president on March 26, 2026, at St. Joseph Cathedral, marking a historic moment in the university’s continued growth and mission-driven future.

As we prepare to enter Holy Week, we prepare to enter the central liturgical experience of the Catholic faith, according to Father Tom Ranzino. Father Ranzino is the director of the office of worship of the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

After many years of absence, St. Michael High School in Baton Rouge’s (SMHS) St. Joseph Altar resumed this year with strong support from students.

Church parishes in the Diocese of Baton Rouge celebrated the Feast Day of St. Joseph with St. Joseph Altars. A St. Joseph Altar is a Sicilian Catholic tradition of building a food altar, typically on March 19, as an act of thanksgiving for favors granted and to petition for special needs. The altar is a charitable display designed to feed the poor, honoring St. Joseph through meatless, symbolic, and religious-themed food. Surplus food is donated to local charities to help freed those in need. St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge Pastor, Father Cary Bani, blessed the Cathedral's St. Joseph Altar on March 19 after the noon Mass. Many Mass attendees stopped by the altar to take pictures and pray, and accepted the Cathedral's invitation to enjoy a meatless lunch. Photos by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator