News and Press

Bishop Glen John Provost issued a memo on September 29, 2021, concerning a priest from the Diocese of Kottapuram in India illegitimately ministering in the Diocese of Lake Charles. The faithful of the Diocese of Lake Charles are not to attend Masses celebrated by Reverend Vincent Vadakkedath.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Diocese of Lake Charles 

As the saying goes: One good deed deserves another, especially when it comes to disaster relief between two dioceses affected by Category 4 hurricanes one year apart.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Diocese of Lake Charles 

Sometimes the best way to reach students where they are on their faith journey is through their peers. That’s exactly what Awakening retreats do — offer college students the opportunity to encounter Christ on a personal level in community with others their own age.

The 41^st annual Bishop’s Services Appeal, a fundraising campaign to assist in the operation of various ministries and programs of the Diocese of Lake Charles, kicked off the weekend of Sept. 11-12 in church parishes throughout the diocese.

MOSS BLUFF — His Excellency, the Most Reverend Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles, was the celebrant and homilist for the 15^th annual Clergy and Religious Recognition Celebration on Thursday, September 9, at Camp Karol. The Mass took place on the Feast of St. Peter Claver, patron saint for the Diocese of Lake Charles, followed by a luncheon for the honorees.

Bishop Provost has issued the following statement:

LAKE CHARLES — Bishop Glen. John Provost was the celebrant for the annual Red Mass on Friday, September 10, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. He was joined by the Very Rev. Edward Richard, M.S., V.F., who served as homilist, and Rev. Samuel Bond, who assisted as Master of Ceremonies.

Pope Francis, along with six cardinals and archbishops from North, South, and Central America, makes a powerful appeal in an Ad Council campaign reminding people that COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and an “act of love.”

Released on Wednesday, August 18, the public service announcement video, “It’s Up To You,” is delivered in English, Spanish and Portuguese with hopes of inspiring confidence in the vaccines to a global audience.

“Thanks to God’s grace and to the work of many, we now have vaccines to protect us from COVID-19,” Pope Francis says in the PSA. “Getting the vaccines that are authorized by the respective authorities is an act of love.”

To reach this global audience as part of their broader “It’s Up To You” campaign, the Ad Council and COVID Collaborative partnered on this PSA with His Holiness Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome; Archbishop José Horacio Gómez Velasco (Los Angeles, CA, USA), Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes (Mexico City, Mexico), Cardinal Óscar Rodríguez Maradiaga (Tegucigalpa, Honduras), Cardinal Cláudio Hummes (Sao Paolo, Brasil), Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez (San Salvador, El Salvador) and Archbishop Héctor Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte (Trujillo, Perú).

“The role of trusted messengers to educate and inspire their networks is undeniable — and has been a core element of our COVID-19 Vaccine Education Initiative since the beginning,” said Lisa Sherman, president and CEO of the Ad Council. “To the world’s billion-plus Catholics, the Pope is one of the most trusted messengers and holds unparalleled influence. We are extremely grateful to him and the cardinals and archbishops for lending their voices and platforms to help people across the globe feel more confident in the vaccines.”

Watch the PSA featuring Pope Francis here.

For more information and answers to top questions about the COVID-19 vaccines, visit GetVaccineAnswers.org and DeTiDepende.org.

175^th Anniversary of Apparition part of nine-day celebration

By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles

SULPHUR — Our Lady of LaSalette Catholic Church will celebrate a trio of special occasions Sept. 18-26 as it marks the Diamond Jubilee of its parish, the Sacerdotal Diamond Jubilee of Rev. Lawrence Kohler, M.S.; and the 175^th anniversary of Our Lady’s Apparition at LaSalette in France.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Diocese of Lake Charles 

The International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima was welcomed with plenty of praying hands during a tour to eight church parishes in the Diocese of Lake Charles Aug. 13-18.