Some 6,000 Catholics are expected to participate in the celebration of the Diocese of Baton Rouge’s “Born in the Spirit of Faith” 50th anniversary Mass at the River Center downtown this Sunday (Nov. 6) at 3p.m.
Bishop Robert W. Muench, Bishop of the Diocese, will be the primary celebrant, along with ten other bishops and archbishops from across the region, as well as the Abbot of St. Joseph Benedictine Abbey. Archbishop Alfred Hughes, fourth Bishop of the Diocese, will be the homilist.
This day commemorates the ending of the Jubilee year, and the occasion of the installation of the first Bishop of the Diocese, Bishop Robert E. Tracy on November 8, 1961.
“This Jubilee has provided Catholics throughout this area with a unique opportunity to reflect on the history of the diocese while joyously participating in the year-long celebration of activities,” said Bishop Muench,
The Jubilee Year opened on Sunday, November 7, 2010 with a prayer service incorporating music, video and story-telling to recount the history of the development of Diocesan life. People of diverse cultures and heritages found their unity in Christ through the church in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. In the following year, celebrations continued highlighting major events in the establishment of the Diocese. One was the patronal feast day of the Diocese, March 19, the Feast of St. Joseph, namesake of the Diocesan Cathedral. This event was marked with the preparation of a diocesan-wide curricula for Catholic Schools and Parish Religious Education programs focusing on the history of the Diocese, the role of a Cathedral in the life of Catholics and the ministry of the Bishop of Baton Rouge.
The Jubilee was further commemorated with the July 22, 2011 burial of a Time Capsule on the grounds of the Catholic Life Center campus, which presents a visual history of the fifty years of Diocesan life and service. The Time Capsule marks July 22, 1961, which was the issuing date of the Papal Bull (Decree) establishing the new Diocese of Baton Rouge.
On September 2, a commemorative quilt was received and blessed, with each square representing the 64 parishes of the Diocese. The quilt is a testimony to the unique gifts each parish contributes to Diocesan life. The quilt will be on display at the Closing Jubilee Mass at the River Center on November 6, then moved to St. Joseph’s Cathedral the week of November 7, until returning to permanent display at the Catholic Life Center.
The Diocesan history of faith actually began in 1682 when Rene’-Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle of France explored the length of the Mississippi River and claimed the entire region, which he named La Louisiane for France.
In 1699, another French explorer, Pierre LeMoyne d’Iberville and his company identified the site of Baton Rouge, naming the place after a red pole erected on the riverbank by First People. The earliest recorded celebration of the Eucharist was held in 1722 on the grounds of the present State Capitol Building.
The Catholic faith took root, as more Church parishes were established in the 1700s in Pointe Coupee, St. James, Donaldsonville, St. Gabriel and Baton Rouge. The Diocese of Louisiana (eventually to become the Archdiocese of New Orleans) was established in 1793. Subsequently, the founding of many more church parishes in our region demonstrated to Blessed Pope John XXIII, on July 22 1961, to separate from the Archdiocese of New Orleans a new territory known as the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
The Diocese has grown dramatically from its humble beginnings, encompassing church parish communities covering 5,513 square miles in 12 civil parishes. In addition, there are numerous Catholic faith based elementary, high schools and college, along with numerous medical institutions, as well as services provided by Catholic Charities. The Catholic population of the Diocese is at 204,000 people.
Bishop Robert W. Muench, Bishop of the Diocese, will be the primary celebrant, along with ten other bishops and archbishops from across the region, as well as the Abbot of St. Joseph Benedictine Abbey. Archbishop Alfred Hughes, fourth Bishop of the Diocese, will be the homilist.
This day commemorates the ending of the Jubilee year, and the occasion of the installation of the first Bishop of the Diocese, Bishop Robert E. Tracy on November 8, 1961.
“This Jubilee has provided Catholics throughout this area with a unique opportunity to reflect on the history of the diocese while joyously participating in the year-long celebration of activities,” said Bishop Muench,
The Jubilee Year opened on Sunday, November 7, 2010 with a prayer service incorporating music, video and story-telling to recount the history of the development of Diocesan life. People of diverse cultures and heritages found their unity in Christ through the church in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. In the following year, celebrations continued highlighting major events in the establishment of the Diocese. One was the patronal feast day of the Diocese, March 19, the Feast of St. Joseph, namesake of the Diocesan Cathedral. This event was marked with the preparation of a diocesan-wide curricula for Catholic Schools and Parish Religious Education programs focusing on the history of the Diocese, the role of a Cathedral in the life of Catholics and the ministry of the Bishop of Baton Rouge.
The Jubilee was further commemorated with the July 22, 2011 burial of a Time Capsule on the grounds of the Catholic Life Center campus, which presents a visual history of the fifty years of Diocesan life and service. The Time Capsule marks July 22, 1961, which was the issuing date of the Papal Bull (Decree) establishing the new Diocese of Baton Rouge.
On September 2, a commemorative quilt was received and blessed, with each square representing the 64 parishes of the Diocese. The quilt is a testimony to the unique gifts each parish contributes to Diocesan life. The quilt will be on display at the Closing Jubilee Mass at the River Center on November 6, then moved to St. Joseph’s Cathedral the week of November 7, until returning to permanent display at the Catholic Life Center.
The Diocesan history of faith actually began in 1682 when Rene’-Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle of France explored the length of the Mississippi River and claimed the entire region, which he named La Louisiane for France.
In 1699, another French explorer, Pierre LeMoyne d’Iberville and his company identified the site of Baton Rouge, naming the place after a red pole erected on the riverbank by First People. The earliest recorded celebration of the Eucharist was held in 1722 on the grounds of the present State Capitol Building.
The Catholic faith took root, as more Church parishes were established in the 1700s in Pointe Coupee, St. James, Donaldsonville, St. Gabriel and Baton Rouge. The Diocese of Louisiana (eventually to become the Archdiocese of New Orleans) was established in 1793. Subsequently, the founding of many more church parishes in our region demonstrated to Blessed Pope John XXIII, on July 22 1961, to separate from the Archdiocese of New Orleans a new territory known as the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
The Diocese has grown dramatically from its humble beginnings, encompassing church parish communities covering 5,513 square miles in 12 civil parishes. In addition, there are numerous Catholic faith based elementary, high schools and college, along with numerous medical institutions, as well as services provided by Catholic Charities. The Catholic population of the Diocese is at 204,000 people.
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