By Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap.
One of the deepest desires of the human heart is to discover our identity. So often, as a society and as individuals, we identify ourselves by what we do. We base our worth on how productive we are at work or at home, and we determine our lives to be more or less good depending on the degree of independence or pleasure. We may even begin to believe that if our lives, or those of others, don’t “measure up” to a certain standard, they are somehow less valuable or less worth living.

WASHINGTON — Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), welcomed the release of Pope Francis’ encyclical on ecology, Laudato Si’, June 18.

LAKE CHARLES – Two very special individuals, Debbie Warshaw and Annie Hachtel, were honored as individuals who gave of themselves for the betterment of those in need at the annual Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana Jazz Brunch, held at the Lake Charles Country Club.

WASHINGTON - The 2015 class of men ordained to the priesthood report that they were, on average, about 17 when they first considered a vocation to the priesthood and encouraged to consider a vocation by an average of four people.

LAKE CHARLES -- Keith Manuel was installed as Grand Knight of the reactivated Knights of Columbus Council 1207 of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception following the celebration of  Holy Mass on Tuesday, April 7 in the Cathedral.


VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis' decision to convoke a special Holy Year of Mercy, beginning on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8, 2015 and closing on Nov. 20, 2016 - the Feast of Christ the King, has its roots in the event that led a teen-age Jorge Mario Bergoglio to the priesthood.