News and Press

By Pamela Seal 
Diocese of Lake Charles 

The Hispanic Ministry in the Diocese of Lake Charles has expanded to the West Deanery at St. Joseph Catholic Church in DeRidder. The first monthly Sunday Spanish Mass was celebrated by Rev. Wayne LeBleu on July 28, 2024, making history as St. Joseph Parish received a “new life” in the Diocese.

By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles

Jesus Christ did not come to be served but to serve. This act of humility was on full display as members of the Hispanic Community at St. Henry Catholic Church washed the feet of Perpetual Pilgrims on the St. Juan Diego Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage passing through the Diocese of Lake Charles on June 4.

By Pamela Seal 
Diocese of Lake Charles 

The Hispanic Ministry in the Diocese of Lake Charles has expanded to the West Deanery at St. Joseph Catholic Church in DeRidder. 

Since December 1996, St. Henry Catholic Church in Lake Charles was, for the most part, the only Parish to have an active Hispanic community. It will now serve as an “older brother” to the Hispanic community born at St. Joseph on April 28, 2024.

By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles

CAMERON PARISH –– For the first time since 2020, the annual “Mass to Avert Storms” was celebrated closer to the coast –– this year on Friday, May 31, in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Life Center in Creole. A vehicle procession followed to the Historic Shrine of Our Lady Star of the Sea for the Blessing of the Coast by the Most Reverend Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles.

July 13, 2024

By Pamela Seal  
Diocese of Lake Charles  

LAKE CHARLES –– The annual Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass honored 74 spouses on Sunday, May 26 — the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity — in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. For a combined 1,910 years of marriage, 37 couples registered for the Mass and reception hosted by the Office of Marriage and Family Life.

LAKE CHARLES – Based on results of the 2024 on-site audit of the Diocese of Lake Charles, the Diocese has been found compliant with all audited Articles within the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People for the audit period of October 1, 2021, through March 31, 2024.

The Most Reverend Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles, hereby announces pastoral assignments for the year Two Thousand and Twenty-Four for the Diocese of Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Effective July 1, 2024:

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Rev. Michael J. Barras, 76, on Friday, July 12, at 2 p.m. from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Lake Charles at the corner of Bilbo and Kirby streets.  The Most Reverend Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles,will be the Main Celebrant with Reverend Whitney Miller giving the Homily. Father Barras, a retired priest of the Diocese of Lake Charles, died on Sunday, July 7.

SULPHUR -- Father Lawrence Anthony Kohler, M.S., 89, a Missionary of Our Lady of LaSalette, died May 15, 2024.  Fr. Kohler has served at Our Lady of LaSalette Parish in Sulphur since 1986 and served as Pastor of the parish from 2000-2006.