Upcoming Events ... at a glance - Diocese of Lake Charles

Upcoming events around the Diocese of Lake Charles and beyond:

Center for Catholic Studies: Why This Cross?
LAKE CHARLES — The Center for Catholic Studies will offer a four-part series called Why This Cross? Finding Meaning in Redemptive Suffering. The theological presentation with instructor Paula Hunter will address topics that break our hearts and provoke our deepest questions about Faith. Why do bad things happen? How can we respond faithfully but authentically to life’s ongoing hardships?

Hunter is a seasoned Spiritual Director on staff at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sulphur. The series will take place from 5:25 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Jan. 16, Jan. 23, Jan. 30, and February 6, 2025, at the Diocese of Lake Charles Chancery, 1201 Ryan Street. Cost is $35.

CLICK HERE to register online. For more information, contact the Office of Religious Education at 337-439-7400 x200 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

DECEMBER 2024

Thursday, Dec. 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast
LAKE CHARLES — St. Henry Catholic Church will host the annual celebration for Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day on Thursday, December 12. The celebration will begin at 4:45 p.m. with a bilingual rosary followed by Mass at 5:30 p.m. with His Excellency, the Most Reverend Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles. A dinner featuring Hispanic and American cuisine will follow the Mass at 6:30 p.m., with entertainment from 6:45 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. St. Henry Catholic Church is located at 1021 Eighth Avenue.

JANUARY 2025

Saturday, Jan. 4: Diocesan Epiphany Celebration
LAKE CHARLES — The Diocese of Lake Charles will host the third annual “Festival of Nations: Celebrating the Epiphany of the Lord” on Saturday, January 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and Founders Hall, 2031 Opelousas Street.

The event will offer families an opportunity to embrace traditions of other countries, but more importantly, to come together to adore the Lord. Highlights will include Eucharistic Procession, Adoration and Benediction, Confession, entertainment and food from a variety of countries, and gifts for the children from the Three Wise Men.

Saturday, Jan. 11: Theology of the Body training
LAKE CHARLES — Theology of the Body Basic Training for Catechists in the Diocese of Lake Charles will be offered 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, January 11, at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic School. Diocesan requirements are three hours of Basic Certification for teachers in Grades K-5. Cost is $5.00 payable to St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church. Questions may be directed to Becky Clements at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 337-274-6800 (text or voice). Registration deadline is one week prior to training.

FEBRUARY 2025

Saturday, Feb. 15: Theology of the Body training
LAKE CHARLES — Theology of the Body Advanced Training for Catechists in the Diocese of Lake Charles will be offered 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 15, at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic School. Diocesan requirements are 10 hours of Advanced Certification for teachers in Grades 6-12. Cost is $10.00 payable to St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church. Questions may be directed to Becky Clements at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 337-274-6800 (text or voice). Registration deadline is one week prior to training.

Tuesday, Feb. 18: Altar Society Annual Conference
JENNINGS — The annual Altar Society Conference will be held on Tuesday, February 18, at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church, 710 North State Street, and St. Mary Center across the street. Jane Sneed, President of the Ladies Altar Society of OLHC, is requesting that church parishes across the Diocese of Lake Charles please provide the phone and email address of their Altar Society representative for future correspondence. For more information, contact Sneed at 337-329-0897 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PILGRIMAGES

Marian Pilgrimage in 2025
Father Rommel Tolentino will lead a pilgrimage to the Marian shrines of Portugal, Spain and France, April 21-May 4, 2025. The theme for Jubilee Year 2025 is "Pilgrims of Hope." Our Lady's apparitions offer a message of hope and a testament of her motherly love. Learn about Our Blessed Mother's messages of love, hope, and warning in the various places she visited, such as Fatima, Garabandal, Lourdes, La Salette, Rue de Bac in Paris, plus a number of other holy sites — Santarem, Santiago de Compostela, Loyola, Ars, Paray-le-Monial, etc. For more information, call Sara Edwards at 504-258-7282 or visit www.trinitytourtravels.com/fr-rommel-tolentino

ONGOING

Communal First Saturday Devotions at Cathedral

LAKE CHARLES — Communal First Saturday Devotions to Our Lady of Fatima with the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary will be offered on the first Saturday of each month at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 935 Bilbo Street. Schedule includes: 7:20 a.m. – Devotion Prayers; 7:30 a.m. – Rosary; 8:00 a.m. – Mass, receive Holy Communion; 8:30 a.m. – 15-minute meditation on the Mysteries of the Rosary.

Although confession will not be available before Mass, one can make a good confession eight days before or after with the intention of offering reparation for the offenses against Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart, provided you are in the state of grace upon receiving Holy Communion.

Catholics Returning Home

LAKE CHARLES — If you are a Catholic who has been away from the Church for a while, Catholics Returning Home could be just what you need to help find your way back. No matter how long you have been away and no matter the reason, St. Henry Catholic Church invites you to consider renewing your relationship with the Catholic Church.

Informal listening sessions and an update of the Catholic faith, facilitated by former non-practicing Catholics, will begin soon. For more information, call Brittany or Ricardo at 337-436-7223.

Eucharistic Adoration in St. Bernadette Oratory

LAKE CHARLES — The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception will have Eucharistic Adoration in the St. Bernadette Oratory on Fridays during the school year — each Friday following 7:00 a.m. Mass until 8:00 a.m. Everyone is invited to come and spend time with our Lord and pray for the protection of our children and safety of our families.

Holy Hour of Reparation at IHM
LAKE CHARLES — A Holy Hour of Reparation is held weekly on Thursday night, 11:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 2031 Opelousas Street. This is the hour in which Our Lord agonized over our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is the same hour prescribed by the Sacred Heart of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary: “Make reparation for the ingratitude of men. Spend an hour in prayer to appease divine justice, to implore mercy for sinners, to honor Me, to console Me for My bitter suffering when abandoned by My apostles, when they did not WATCH ONE HOUR WITH ME.”

'Together for Life' marriage prep classes

LAKE CHARLES — “Together for Life,” the marriage preparation day hosted by the Office of Marriage and Family Life, announces dates for classes through December 2024: December 14. Classes scheduled so far in 2025 are January 25, February 8, March 15, April 12, May 10, and June 14.

For more information, contact the Office of Marriage and Family Life at 337-439-7400 ext. 220, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Melchizedek Project: Vocation discernment groups

The Melchizedek Project hosts meetings for young men in high school and college in an environment where they can freely consider God's plan in their life. The vocation discernment groups meet bi-weekly, and food will be provided. For more information on meeting times and locations, visit http://lcvocations.com/discernment-groups

Adoration/Divine Mercy at Saint Charles Center
MOSS BLUFF — Deacon Brian Soileau, director of Saint Charles Center, presides over Eucharistic Adoration and Divine Mercy at 7:00 p.m. every Tuesday in the Chapel of the Assumption. Saint Charles Center is located at 2151 Sam Houston Jones Parkway. Please check the Saint Charles Center website calendar, Facebook, or call the office at 337-855-1232 to check for change of venue due to retreats during the week or some unforeseen situations.

Saturday Rosary at Cathedral

LAKE CHARLES — Join the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 935 Bilbo Street, to pray the Rosary every Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. before 8:00 a.m. Mass.

Religious Sisters of Mercy monthly gathering

LAKE CHARLES — Join the Religious Sisters of Mercy for a small group ENDOW study on St. John Paul II's Letter to Women. The group study, for single women ages 18-35, meets on the first Tuesday monthly for dinner and discussion at the Sisters’ convent, 1414 Martha Street. ENDOW (Educating on the Nature of and Dignity of Women) seeks to educate women toward are more profound understanding of their God-given dignity through study in small groups of faith and friendship. Please contact the Religious Sisters of Mercy to register or for more information: Call 337-564-0030 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..