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 50th 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.
Read more: Deacon Reed Celebrates 50th Ordination Anniversary
By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles
LAKE CHARLES — One of Bishop Glen John Provost’s favorite things to do as Bishop of Lake Charles is celebrate the annual Catholic Schools Week Mass. He has been doing so for 19 years.
“It is always a pleasure to celebrate Catholic Schools Week with all of you,” he said as he looked out among the many students from across the Diocese of Lake Charles. “I look forward to this special Mass every year, with this year falling on the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas.”
The Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops recently released the Principles and Priorities for the 2026 Legislative Session:
Read more: LCCB Outlines Priorities for 2026 Legislative Session
By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles
LAKE CHARLES — “Love Them Both” was the theme for the 30th annual Louisiana Life March Southwest through downtown Lake Charles on Thursday, January 22, 2026. The pro-life March takes place every year on the “Day of Prayer for Legal Protection for Unborn Children.”
An otherwise cloudy and dreary day gave way to a beautiful sunset as nearly 200 walked in support of the sanctity and dignity of life at all stages, and to hear the story of Amber Dubois who was conceived in rape.
