DIOCESAN NEWS RELEASES

The Diocese of Lafayette announced today (Thursday, March 7, 2019) that Redemptorist Catholic School in Crowley will close its doors for the final time at the end of the 2018-2019 school year.  The school enrolls students in grades Pre-K through eighth grade, and has been educating students in the Crowley community for the past  fifty-nine years.
 
Please see the letter below sent to Redemptorist Catholic parents and guardians by Immaculate Heart of Mary Church pastor Father Jason Vidrine for complete details.

Dear Parents/Guardians,
 
In my previous communications, I explained that after consultation with Bishop Deshotel and Deacon Jeff Trumps, our Diocesan CFO, I was able to open registration for the 2019-2020 school year at Redemptorist Catholic School.
 
I consulted with the Advisory Council and its Finance Committee to discuss ways we could raise revenue and cut expenses, and each of the budgets we considered would require at least 165 students. Despite our best efforts to bring that number down, including raising tuition, the lowest it could be brought down to was 158.
 
However, the actual number registered by February 28, 2019 was 79, far short of our goal. Unfortunately, our school cannot operate with such a low number both educationally or financially nor can its long-term viability be assured.
 
With this in mind, we have had to make the painful decision not to open for the 2019-2020 school year.
 
This announcement is being made at the present time because as many in the school community had expressed, it was necessary in order to allow adequate time for Teachers to find other employment and for parents to have the opportunity to enroll their students in other schools. Neighboring Catholic Schools such as St. Michael in Crowley, Rayne Catholic, St. Francis in Iota, and Maltrait Memorial in Kaplan are ready to accept students. St. Michael’s and Rayne Catholic have both graciously offered to allow the Parents of the RCS students they accept to pay the RCS tuition amount for their first year to allow an adequate adjustment on the part of the families. The Diocese’s Office of Catholic Schools will help find placement for faculty and staff affected by the school’s closure.
 
All registration fees collected for the 2019/2020 school year will be refunded.
 
I know it is a decision neither you nor I wanted to hear. Redemptorist Catholic School will always hold a sacred place in the hearts of all who have benefited by its rich tradition of Catholic education in our community. I would like to sincerely thank all who supported RCS throughout the years. It would not have been possible for us to make it this far without it. Your support will remain a testament to Redemptorist Catholic School.
 
This present challenge will present us with the opportunity to strengthen the catechetical program of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. We look forward to working with students who will enroll for our CCD classes.
 
We trust in God’s will. Through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we ask Our Lord’s compassion, mercy and blessings upon all impacted by this difficult decision.
 
Respectfully Yours in Christ,
Rev. Fr. Jason Vidrine
Pastor
 

   The Danos Foundation made a generous donation to the Prison Ministry of the Diocese of Lafayette. Rick Keen, the Compliance Coordinator of Danos presented Bishop Douglas Deshotel and Office of Justice & Peace Coordinator Stephanie Bernard with a check for $300.

   Rick Keen works for Danos but when he isn't working, he volunteers his time as the coordinator and scheduler of the many prison ministry activities provided by the Diocese of Lafayette to the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center. Among the many services provided to the inmates are regular Communion Services, Confession, Mass, and weekly scriptural aids.

   Danos, an oilfield company based in Gray, La. sponsors a unique program within the company. The Danos Foundation grant program awards funding to approved organizations where Danos employees volunteer their time. The donation made today was made by Danos because of the volunteer work Rick Keen does through the Prison Ministry. A special thank you to Rick and Danos for their commitment to improving our community!

The Discalced Carmelites of Lafayette invite you to join them for the Annual 40 Hours Devotion on the three days preceding Ash Wednesday. The Forty Hours Devotion is a special 40-hour period of continuous prayer made before the Blessed Sacrament in preparation for the holy season of Lent. Stop in for some time of prayer before our Eucharistic Lord, exposed in the Blessed Sacrament on the altar at the Carmelite Monastery to give honor to the true and eternal King of kings.
SUNDAY, MARCH 3 - after 10:00 AM Mass
MONDAY, MARCH 4 - after 6:45 AM Mass
TUESDAY, MARCH 5 - after 6:45 AM Mass
*Note: Each day we will repose the Blessed Sacrament at 4:00 PM.*

For more information please visit their website https://lafayettecarmelites.org/40-hours-devotion/

Bishop Douglas Deshotel of the Diocese of Lafayette has made the following announcements.

Effective February 20, 2019, Very Reverend William Blanda, VF, Dean for South Deanery, has been appointed to the position of Chancellor of Hanson Memorial Catholic School and Saint John Elementary Catholic School until July 1, 2019.  Please keep Fr. Blanda in your prayers!

   Bishop Deshotel has also announced that effective March 11, 2019, Reverend Lloyd Benoit has been appointed as Pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Henderson, together with its mission of Sacred Heart Chapel in Butte LaRose for a period of six years. 
   Please join us in welcoming Fr. Benoit back to Acadiana!
 
 

       DIOCESE SPONSORS PRO-LIFE ORATORY CONTEST



  Aleksandra Adams (above, far right) will represent the Diocese of Lafayette at the upcoming Louisiana Right to Life Oratory Contest.  Aleksandra, a senior at Hanson Memorial Catholic High School, placed first in the Diocese of Lafayette Pro-Life Oratory Contest, held at the Immaculata Center in Lafayette.  Sam Pitre, a senior at Opelousas Catholic in Opelousas, placed second, and Annie Huckaby, a junior at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteu, placed third. Congratulations to all of these outstanding students!