March 2026 Prayer Intentions of Pope Leo XIV and Bishop Glen John Provost:

Penance Nights have been scheduled throughout each of the four Deaneries Monday-Thursday, March 23-26, 2026, in the Diocese of Lake Charles. The following church parishes will be open from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on each designated day:

LAKE CHARLES — The good works of Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana will be in the spotlight during its annual Jazz Brunch fundraiser to benefit its ministry of serving the poor.

The event will be Sunday, March 15, at the Historic Cash and Carry, 801 Enterprise Boulevard, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m., allowing guests time to browse and bid on silent auction items before brunch begins.  

Every Catholic, to enter more deeply into the life of Christ, is to participate in some way in the spiritual and penitential disciplines of Lent. The regulations for the Catholic Church in the United States are as follows: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. The other Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat.

By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles

WESTLAKE — Rev. Mr. Fred Reed marks his 50^th anniversary as a deacon on February 1, 2026. He was ordained a permanent deacon by Bishop Jerome J. Hastrich on February 1, 1976, at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Oberlin.

Deacon Reed, who has served as a deacon for 42 years at St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Westlake, celebrated this milestone of his ministry with his wife Judy and their family on Saturday, January 3, at the 4:00 p.m. Mass.