158i8l40M85ut27mraThe Diocese of Lafayette honored exceptional Catholic School Achievers and Supporters at the Diocesan Educators Recognition Ceremony. This annual gathering took place
.
A special tribute was awarded to Mr. Rogers Griffin for his remarkable 26 years of service within the Diocese of Lafayette, highlighting his servant leadership and unwavering commitment as Principal of Holy Family Elementary School. Mr. Griffin plans to retire at the conclusion of the school year.
Professional photographs will be made available to all honorees. Let's take a moment to express our gratitude for their hard work!
SCHOOL EDUCATORS OF THE YEAR
Notre Dame, Jenny Didier
Our Mother of Peace, Rachel Broussard
Rayne Catholic, Stefanie Arceneaux
St. Francis, Ellan Kay Baggett
St. Michael, Jessica Guillot
Sacred Heart, Jeanne Harmon & Kaitlin Deville
Catholic High, Justin Conover & Amber Dubois
St. Edward, Kayan Broussard
Carencro Catholic, Lauren Arceneaux
Cathedral-Carmel, Hallea Ryan
Holy Cross Little Shepherds ELC, Amy Spikes
Holy Family, Nicole Rougeau
Our Lady of Fatima, Ashley Cutrera
St. Cecilia, Mary Attales
St. Genevieve Elementary, Jaime Ibach
St. Genevieve Middle, Melanie Theriot
St. Mary Early Learning Center, Mollie McAlister
St. Pius, Susan Derigo
St. Thomas More, Cathy Walz
Sts. Leo – Seton Catholic, Connie Anderson
Sts. Peter and Paul Lindsey Leger
Teurlings Catholic, Pilar Burson
Academy of the Sacred Heart, Tabetha Mayard
Berchmans Academy, Jessica Boudreaux
Academy of the Sacred Heart/Berchmans, Dr. Lane Nevils
Opelousas Catholic, Lindsey Glynn & Jennifer Keeler
St. Edmund, Suzanne Wimberley & Kristin Evans
St. Ignatius, Katie Cruthirds
St. Bernard, Christina Boudreaux
Hanson Memorial, Ronald Sinitiere & Dema Thomas Schexnayder
St. John, Jaci Myers
Vermilion Catholic, Sarah Blakey & Matt Doktor
ACHIEVERS/SUPPORTERS OF THE YEAR
Notre Dame, Wayne and Debbie Hensgens
Our Mother of Peace, Leah Savoy
Rayne Catholic, Andrew Meche
St. Francis, Tonia Bertrand
St. Michael, Shanna Monk
Sacred Heart, Jamie Vidrine & Rev. Alex Lancon
Catholic High, Jason and Breigh Foster
St. Edward, Brittany Thomson
Carencro Catholic, Nicole Watson
Cathedral-Carmel, Kevin DeCuir
Holy Cross Little Shepherds ELC, Trami Ngo
Holy Family, John and Lucie McElligott
Our Lady of Fatima, Lauren Swan
St. Cecilia, Phyllia Comeaux
St. Genevieve, Heather Belaire
St. Mary Early Learning Center, Lynn Biagase
St. Pius, Grant and Kristi Guillotte
St. Thomas More, Rev. Andrew Schumacher
Sts. Leo – Seton Catholic, Lorna Crevier
Sts. Peter and Paul, Lynzy Cho & Heather Lenox
Teurlings Catholic, Leslie Castro
Academy of the Sacred Heart, Frankie Savoy
Berchmans Academy, Elizabeth McCormick
Opelousas Catholic, Brittany Lafleur
St. Edmund, Brett and Kelly Manuel
St. Ignatius, Chastity Barron
St. Bernard, Marty LeBlanc
Hanson Memorial, Gary and Sandi Adams
St. John, Deanna Savoie
Vermilion Catholic, Heidi Belaire
2025 Jubilee Year Opens
Bishop Douglas Deshotel celebrated the Diocese of Lafayette’s opening Mass for the 2025 Jubilee Year at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, coinciding with the feast of the Holy Family. The Mass included prayers, a Gospel reading, and excerpts from Pope Francis' papal bull, Spes non confundit (“Hope does not disappoint”). The Jubilee Year, declared "extraordinary" by the Pope, runs from December 29, 2024, to December 28, 2025, with the theme "Pilgrims of Hope."
The Jubilee offers various events in the Vatican and dioceses, including designated pilgrimage sites for reconciliation and spiritual benefits. Local pilgrimage sites include the Monastery of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns, Lafayette, Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Lafayette, St. Landry Church, Opelousas, St. Peter Church, New Iberia, and St. Mary Magdalen Church, Abbeville. Those who visit these locations during the Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year will have the opportunity to gain a plenary indulgence by adhering to certain criteria. For more information about Jubilee visit https://www.usccb.org/jubilee2025
Bishop Deshotel Awarded Knight's Commander Cross
Leaders of the Order of the Fleur de Lis gathered at the Immaculata Chapel for a special ceremony in honor of Bishop Douglas Deshotel. The group invested Bishop Deshotel into the Order and presented him with the Knight's Commander Cross, which is bestowed on clergy and Catholic laymen who have contributed in a distinguished and exemplary way to the service of God and country. The Knight's Commander Cross is the highest honor bestowed by the Order of the Fleur de Lis, a Catholic service organization active in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. Its primary mission is the promotion of the love of God and country, as well as research into the history of Catholicism.
Order of the Fleur de Lis members pictured above include John Hains (Dean of the Order), Tim Boudreaux (Grand Almoner), and Russell Ruh (Grand Scribe), with John Halloran, Peter Sahuc, Sr., John Hains II, George Martin and Richard Yandle.
Men Discerning Call to the Permanent Diaconate Build the Kingdom through Building Wheelchair Ramps. Local Church Parish Sponsors the Materials!
By Ben Broussard
Reprinted from Catholic Charities of Acadiana publication "Acadiana MercyWorks"
For a long time, Catholic Charities of Acadiana has dreamed the local church would recognize material needs and respond to those needs in union with us. This past August, the dream was on display in a profound and beautiful way as aspirants to the Diocese of Lafayette permanent diaconate and their families built a wheelchair ramp with Rebuilding Together Acadiana, with St. Anne Catholic Church funding the purchase of the materials!
Here is what one aspirant had to say about the experience:
Today, my family and I attended mass at St. Theresa in Abbeville. The picture of Madonna and Child on the altar reminded me of when the homeowner from yesterday's ramp building project gave us all a big hug in appreciation of our service.
Reflecting on the picture brought many things to mind. One thing is how we are meant to be Jesus to others. Another is how we are meant to see Jesus in others.
That day, I think we were all baby Jesus (disciples in the making) to the homeowner we served, and she was our Mother Mary. We sacrificed that day for our sister. She lovingly embraced us.
Jesus from the cross had this to say during his day of sacrifice -"Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home" (John 19:26-27). We took care of a need for this homeowner much like "the disciple" would have cared for Mary's needs.
Considering today’s Gospel of The Transfiguration of the Lord, I think we were all transfigured to some degree after yesterday's encounter!
Thank you to the Diocese of Lafayette’s Permanent Deacon Aspirants for being the hands and feet of Jesus with us!
THANK YOU to the KC's! On behalf of the Knights of Columbus in the Diocese of Lafayette, Fourth Degree Knight Tim Boudreaux met with Bishop Douglas Deshotel to present the Diocese with a check for Excellence in Religious Education (ERE). The money will be used to assist catechists throughout the diocese in continuing their education. Thank you for your generous support of Catholic Education in the Diocese of Lafayette!
Bishop Douglas Deshotel celebrated the Diocese of Lafayette’s opening Mass for the 2025 Jubilee Year at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, coinciding with the feast of the Holy Family. The Mass included prayers, a Gospel reading, and excerpts from Pope Francis' papal bull, Spes non confundit (“Hope does not disappoint”). The Jubilee Year, declared "extraordinary" by the Pope, runs from December 29, 2024, to December 28, 2025, with the theme "Pilgrims of Hope."The Jubilee offers various events in the Vatican and dioceses, including designated pilgrimage sites for reconciliation and spiritual benefits. Local pilgrimage sites include the Monastery of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns, Lafayette, Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Lafayette, St. Landry Church, Opelousas, St. Peter Church, New Iberia, and St. Mary Magdalen Church, Abbeville. Those who visit these locations during the Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year will have the opportunity to gain a plenary indulgence by adhering to certain criteria. For more information about Jubilee visit https://www.usccb.org/jubilee2025
