By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles
The Hispanic Ministry in the Diocese of Lake Charles has expanded to the West Deanery at St. Joseph Catholic Church in DeRidder.
Since December 1996, St. Henry Catholic Church in Lake Charles was, for the most part, the only Parish to have an active Hispanic community. It will now serve as an “older brother” to the Hispanic community born at St. Joseph on April 28, 2024.
“Let us ask God so that every year a new Hispanic community is born in a different deanery of our Diocese,” said Ricardo Ruvalcaba, Spanish Pastoral Assistant. “I trust that the Holy Spirit is leading us in that direction.”
The first Mass in Spanish to kick off a regular monthly schedule on the fourth Sunday is planned for 5:00 p.m. July 28, with Rev. Wayne LeBleu, Pastor, as celebrant. A reception/fiesta will immediately follow featuring Latino food, St. Henry Folkloric Ballet, live music, games, and an evangelization drama
Leading others to Christ
When Ricardo was appointed Spanish Pastoral Assistant for the Diocese of Lake Charles in July 2021, he had one goal in mind: to bring people to Jesus Christ.
“My priority has always been to follow the same program for the sacraments that the American community does,” he said. “We know the sacraments are a great way to arrive to Jesus.”
Ricardo led a three-day Spanish Retreat at St. Joseph the weekend of April 26-28 to introduce Spanish ministries and apostolates to parishioners.
“I was told that many Catholics had abandoned their Catholic faith because other churches offered religious worship in Spanish,” said Ricardo. “Father Wayne LeBleu, Pastor of St. Joseph, is the answer to many prayers. He is willing to evangelize and help the Hispanic community grow and will be a great blessing for the Diocese of Lake Charles.”
Father LeBleu said that many Hispanics in DeRidder are going to Mass who do not speak English.
“They know I speak somewhat broken Spanish and seek me out for confessions,” he said, noting that he studied Spanish on his first mission trip to Saltillo, Mexico, as a seminarian in 1990. “I fell in love with the excitement of them in the faith.” Father LeBleu was ordained to the priesthood in 1995.
To better serve the newly formed Hispanic community, Father LeBleu just returned from a month-long sabbatical in Costa Rica to brush up on his Pastoral Spanish. Father Levi Thompson, Parochial Vicar at St. Henry Catholic Church, also took part in the Spanish immersion program.
Ricardo said that the Church is missionary by nature, and we are all called to evangelize.
“When I know that our priests are traveling to learn Spanish, that fills me with joy and hope and reminds me of the great missionaries who learned languages to evangelize more souls,” said Ricardo. “Every time we talk about Jesus to another person, our Church grows.”
Forming apostolates, ministries
By the end of the weekend retreat in DeRidder, Ricardo had formed six apostolates, four ministries, one formation class, and one monthly Mass in Spanish. These 12 activities –– 100 percent in Spanish –– will be the foundations for the new Hispanic community.
A total of 43 Latino adults who took part in the Spanish retreat represented 11 countries: United States, Mexico, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala, Panama, and the Philippines. Ricardo said that the intercession of Saint Joseph and the Virgin of Guadalupe was evident throughout the weekend.
“Apostolates and ministries are the best way for Hispanics to become more committed to their Catholic faith. For Hispanics, sacramental life and participation in parish life is essential,” Ricardo said, encouraging all who are baptized to take part in an apostolate.
St. Henry Parish carries out 95 activities each year, including ministries, apostolates, and cultural or social activities among Hispanics. Ricardo remarked that one of several priorities is to offer retreats in Spanish.
“In 2025, we will do the first True Presence Retreat 100 percent in Spanish. We are working on it with a lot of support from our priests and deacons,” he noted.
Traditions preserve identity
A Hispanic Community that does not celebrate or share its traditions is in danger of extinction, according to Ricardo, so it is important to experience growth throughout the Diocese of Lake Charles.
“The Hispanic community is called to know, respect, and live the traditions of Louisiana, and at the same time to preserve its own traditions,” he said. “Americans who have experienced Hispanic traditions grow culturally and become fond of the Hispanic charisma.”
Under Ricardo’s leadership, a few traditions shared by the Hispanic community include:
• The live performance of the Luminous and Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary
• The festive celebration of the Three Wise Men for the Feast of the Epiphany
• Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass and Fiesta on December 12
Monthly Spanish Masses
Father LeBleu said he is “extremely grateful” to Ricardo for assisting him and encouraging him to serve those who feel they are on the fringe of society
“This is an exciting time for St. Joseph Parish in DeRidder. I hope we can continue to collaborate with St. Henry Hispanic community,” said Father LeBleu.
St. Joseph Catholic Church (1125 Blankenship Drive) will celebrate Spanish Mass at 5:00 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of each month with confessions at 4:00 p.m. for 45 minutes.
For those who have been looking for a place of Catholic worship in Spanish, Father LeBleu shares this message: “Bienvenido! Come and join our Community for Mass and join us in fellowship.”
