News and Press

BALTIMORE, MD -- Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is preparing to assist its local partners in Ecuador in response to a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the country’s coastal region Saturday. At least 233 people were killed – a number that is expected to rise as first responders are reaching affected areas - hundreds more have been injured and there are reports of widespread damage to buildings, roads and other infrastructure. To help provide funding for CRS, click here to donate.

LAKE CHARLES – The Catholic schools in the Diocese of Lake Charles, located in Calcasieu Parish will begin the 2016-2017 school term on Wednesday, August 17 while Our Lady Immaculate Catholic School in Jennings opens a week earlier on Wednesday, August 10, coinciding with the opening of Jefferson Davis Parish schools.

On Friday, April 15, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette hosted the Celebration of the Eucharist and Rite of Installation of His Excellency, the Most Reverend John Douglas Deshotel, DD, as the seventh Bishop of Lafayette. He succeeds the Most Reverend Michael Jarrell, DD, who was among those who participated in Friday’s proceedings.

Statement of Bishop Glen John Provost on appointment of Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel as Bishop of Lafayette

VATICAN CITY -- At a press conference, April 8, in the Holy See Press Office, the post-synodal apostolic exhortation "Amoris Laetitia: the joy of love", was released to the world. Here in the Diocese of Lake Charles, Bishop Glen John Provost, commented "Amoris Laetitia or The Joy of Love, the long-awaited apostolic exhortation on the family issued by Pope Francis, offers all of us much food for thought and reflection.  It reaffirms family life and encourages us to approach the difficulties of the marital vocation with patience, kindness, and understanding. In a world where we find very few, if any, institutions or authorities, except the Church, speaking up for marriage and family life, families and all people of good will should find the Pope’s words supportive and encouraging.”

WASHINGTON — Pope Francis has named Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel, 64, as bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana, and accepted the resignation of Bishop C. Michael Jarrell, 75, from pastoral governance of that diocese. Bishop Deshotel has served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Dallas since 2010.