News and Press

By Pamela Seal 
Diocese of Lake Charles 

VINTON –– The Most Reverend Glen John Provost dedicated the new altar in the sanctuary at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Saturday, November 16, during the 4:00 p.m. Anticipated Sunday Mass. As the congregation sang “Gather the People” during the entrance procession, they had much to celebrate as they gathered in their newly restored church.

By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles

LAKE CHARLES — St. Louis Catholic High School announced on October 3 it will begin advertising for bids on October 10 for two significant projects — construction of its new campus on Corbina Road and demolition of its hurricane-damaged Bank Street campus.

By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles

The line to greet His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke and kiss his ring lasted nearly two hours during a reception hosted in his honor at the American Legion Hall in Vinton on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

The 76-year-old cardinal blessed couples, families, children and individuals. He autographed prayer cards and books. He graciously posed for photographs — with a gentle smile — as countless keepsake images were snapped one after another with smartphones.

By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles 

LAKE CHARLES –– Dominican Priest Father Aquinas Guilbeau, O.P., traveled to his home state of Louisiana to talk about the “Life of Virtue” at the 13th annual Veritas Conference in the Diocese of Lake Charles on Saturday, September 21. The event was hosted by the Office of Religious Education. 

SULPHUR — His Excellency, the Most Reverend Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles, was the celebrant and homilist for the 17th annual Clergy and Religious Recognition Celebration on Tuesday, September 10, at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church.

For a combined 615 years of service to the Catholic Church, this year’s honorees included a total of 10 priests, 13 deacons, 1 religious brother, and 6 religious sisters. The following were recognized for significant anniversaries:

LAKE CHARLES — The Most Reverend Glen J. Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles, has accepted the recommendation from the Diocesan Search Committee and the Finance Council to appoint Mrs. Robin L. Austin, CPA, CGMA, as the new Chief Finance Officer for the Diocese of Lake Charles effective Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles

LAKE CHARLES — Leroy Crochet remembers finding refuge inside Christ the King Catholic Church during Hurricane Audrey in 1957 when he was 16 years old. It was a mission chapel of St. Margaret of Scotland Parish at the time.

He and his wife, Emma, were among the nearly 60 people gathered at the “Prayer Vigil of Thanksgiving” at 6:30 p.m. on the grounds of Christ the King on Thursday, October 17, as that same church was now a pile of rubble.

LAKE CHARLES — The 13^th annual Catholic Veritas Conference in the Diocese of Lake Charles will feature Father Aquinas Guilbeau, OP, as keynote speaker on Saturday, September 21. A native of Carencro, La., Father Aquinas is a friar of the Dominican Province of Saint Joseph. He is Vice President of Mission and Ministry for Catholic University of America where he also serves as University Chaplain.

The 2024-2025 school year is well under way for 10 seminarians studying for the Diocese of Lake Charles. Two are just starting their seminarian formation while eight are continuing at different stages of their journeys to the priesthood.

LAKE CHARLES — Bishop Glen John Provost was the celebrant for the annual Red Mass on Friday, September 13, 2024, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The Mass coincided with the Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.