The Office of the Bishop will be closed on Monday, April 7 to give the diocesan staff a much needed break after Diocesan Convention. | | Guest Preacher for Diocesan Convention Eucharist | |
Shannon Rogers Duckworth was elected the 12th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana on May 14, 2022. She was ordained and consecrated on November 19, 2022. Prior to her ordination, Shannon served as the Canon to the Ordinary to the Rt. Rev. Morris K. Thompson, Jr. Before moving to Louisiana in 2013, she served in various positions throughout the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, where she was born and raised.
She is a 2001 graduate of the General Theological Seminary. She is married to Jimmy Duckworth, a fourth-generation tire and automotive business owner. In 2007, Jimmy retired as Commander in the United States Coast Guard. An avid historian, Jimmy was a founding board member of the National WWII Museum in New Orleans; and alongside a team of veterans and former Higgins Industries employees, spearheaded the construction of a LCVP landing craft for the museum. They have two sons, Nicholas and Tucker.
Bishop Duckworth was honored to be asked to preach at our Diocesan Convention Eucharist by her friend and colleague, Bishop Jake Owensby. She and husband Jimmy look forward to sharing this time with their friends in the Diocese of Western Louisiana.
| | Recovery Ministries of The Episcopal Church Gathering | |
The Diocesan Commission on Addiction and Recovery is excited to announce that the Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church’s National Gathering, "Easy Does It in the Big Easy," will be held May 7-10, 2025, in New Orleans.
For four days, people will worship, share, laugh, and connect with friends old and new, all with that laid-back NOLA rhythm. Think powerful speakers, honest conversations, soulful worship, and plenty of time to soak up the spirit of the city.
For questions, information, or assistance with registration, please contact the Rev. Deacon Michael Parham.
| | Diocesan Convention Updates | |
Stay informed on the latest updates by visiting the Convention Hub on the diocesan website.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Convention opens Friday, April 4, at 5:00 p.m., with Eucharist at St. James, Alexandria, followed by a catered reception in the Parish Hall.
- On Saturday, April 5, Convention check-in will commence at 9:00 a.m. at Best Western of Alexandria Inn & Suites & Conference Center, 2720 N MacArthur Drive, Alexandria, Louisiana 71303, 318-445-5530.
- The business meeting begins at 10:00 a.m.
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DEADLINES
If you have a resolution to be considered for our 2025 Diocesan Convention, please submit no later than April 1, 2024, to Mary Shaddock Jones via email.
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Nomination Slates for Convention Elections
The nomination slates for Standing Committee, Disciplinary Board, Trustee to Sewanee: The University of the South, and 2027 General Convention Deputation are now available.
You can view them by clicking here.
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Lodging Option
A room block has been secured at Best Western Alexandria Inn & Suites. To make a reservation, call the hotel at 318-445-5530 and use the code "Diocese."
Double Queen rooms are $109.49 and King rooms are $104.49 plus taxes and fees.
| | Registration for Camp Hardtner | |
Did you know that 72% of parents said that camp exceeded their expectations in staff training? For over 75 years, Camp Hardtner has impacted the youth in our diocese and beyond. Registration for the 2025 Camp Hardtner season is open.
You can register by clicking here.
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Thanks to the vision and tireless efforts of the Rev. Jim Theus and the support of his wife Caroline, a stunning statue of Solomon Northup is now traveling across the U.S. Last Thursday evening the Alexandria Museum of Art hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception to celebrate the beginning of its six-week stay there.
Entitled Hope Out of Darkness and sculpted by Wesley Wofford, the piece commemorates the life and legacy of Northup, a musician, farmer, and landowner in New York who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Avoyelles Parish. Father Theus came up with the idea for the statue and founded the Solomon Northup Committee for Commemorative Works that has helped transform his vision into reality.
After its year-long journey, Hope Out of Darkness will take up permanent residence on the grounds of the Avoyelles Parish Courthouse in January 2026. Father Theus hopes this statue will inspire others to overcome hardships and remind us that “people are people, and we are all God’s children.”
Click here to see video coverage of the event by local news station KALB
| | A Sanctuary of Hope and Health in the Mountains of Haiti | |
St. Mark’s Cathedral parishioner Dr. Mackey Quinlan serves as President of the Board of Directors for Haiti Healthcare Partners (HHP), a United States-based nonprofit ministry that provides medical services to a mountainous, subsistence farming region southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Read more about the work of HHP here.
You can also visit with Mackey and Holy Cross parishioner Mike Wilkerson, also a board member, who will be staffing a display table at Diocesan Convention on April 5.
| | Becoming Beloved Community Workshop, Lafayette | | This workshop will offer an overview of major events in the last ten years that have shaped the Becoming Beloved Community of the Episcopal Church as well as contend with the present state of Christianity in the United States. The second half of the workshop will offer guidance, exercises, and practical steps for personal action and for parishes hoping to steer their congregations or personal lives to the work of the Becoming Beloved Community including discipleship, formation, fellowship, and advocacy. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. | |
Want to see your congregation or organization featured?
Share your ministry stories, announcements, and events with us through the Digital Hub on the diocesan website.
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House of Bishops gathers in Alabama for prayerful support, discussions of church's 'current realities' |
The House of Bishops gathered March 19-24 at Camp McDowell in Nauvoo, Alabama, for its annual spring retreat, which centered on discussions of witnessing to the Gospel amid today’s contentious political climate and The Episcopal Church’s future in a secular society.
“It’s always an opportunity for bishops to gather, be in prayer together, to reconnect and to consider how we best participate in God’s mission,” Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe said. This was the first in-person House of Bishops gathering Rowe led as presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church and president of the house.
| | | | "Cultivating a Culture of Generosity This Easter" Workshop | |
Easter is a season of renewal, reflection, and celebration—an opportunity to encourage parishioners to embrace spiritual practices that support the mission and ministry of our parishes. As leaders, we often seek to inspire generosity during this sacred time, yet the response may not always align with our members’ best intentions.
Join Episcopal Parish Network partners Jenny Lutter and Ben Keeney for a conversation on how the right tools can empower your congregation to give with greater intention, strengthening your parish’s impact.
This workshop will meet on Zoom Tuesday, April 1 at 2:00 p.m. Click here to register.
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Sources of courage for uncertain times. | | | | | | |