Looking back at the weekly messages of Father Paul Counce, first published in The Carpenter, our weekly Parish Bulletin
Published: February 28, 2021
As you may remember, each 2nd Lenten Sunday in our diocese is “Safe Haven Sunday.” This means that we draw attention to the danger of online pornography within families and especially to their teenagers and even to their younger middle-school children. I can hardly imagine the depth of concern good parents have for their youngsters over this kind of sad, destructive evil. Please listen to the message that Bishop Duca and I will try to share with you this weekend, and make use of the practical resources to use within your home. These are available online at http://cleanheart.online/diocese-baton-rouge-0
The Church has a very flexible process for preparing people over 7 years old for admission into the Catholic Church. It’s known as the Rite of (or Order of) Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA, for short). Depending on their background, knowledge, and moral life, either a longer or a shorter period of preparation is best. It’s interesting that, within it, for mostly historical reasons, the diocesan bishop officially makes the choice: he or his delegate “elects,” that is, chooses if a person is ready for baptism!
This “rite of election” by the bishop will be celebrated here at the Cathedral next weekend. Our catechumen, Mr. Steven Vaughan, will celebrate the brief ritual during our 10:30 am Mass with Bishop Duca. Please add your prayers for him to those of the assembly here that day. In fact, remember in prayer all across the diocese who will be joining our Church at, before, or after Easter!
Well, I only have a little space to work with in this weekend’s issue of The Carpenter. But whether in person or virtually, please continue to make this a good Lent! I’m praying for you!
In the transfigured Jesus,
Fr. Paul Counce
