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The Catholic Connection

A Call to Minister

June 2024

DeSales: The Right Place to Be

This article originally appeared as one of The Record's Class of 2024 student essays. To see more of this year's student essays, click here.

By Joseph Nnamuchi



All my life was spent in Africa. I was born and raised in Delta Asaba, Nigeria, where I spent my freshman and sophomore years at St. Augustine High School.


Going into high school for the first time is truly a life-changing experience. I tried to do my best, I showed up to school early and completed my assignments on time. 


No one is really going to make you do it, because some of the teachers in Nigeria didn’t really care about students.


Receiving a scholarship from DeSales High School is one of the biggest achievements I’ve ever had in my life. Upon entering DeSales High School, I never expected it to be this good; everyone in the school building sees each other as family.


I remember my first day at DeSales as a junior; I couldn’t come in because I had surgery on my stomach the day before. I showed up the next day, struggling to walk well and carrying a backpack full of books. 


As I was walking through the front door, Mrs. Quirk (the principal), noticed me and asked if I was the student who had surgery the day before. I confirmed, and she advised me not to attend school that day. I told her I was fine but was not allowed to carry heavy stuff. Meanwhile, Jace Arnold overheard our conversation and decided to...Read More

Youth and Young Adult Ministry

Michal Horace, Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adults, joins Dr. Brian Reynolds, Chancellor of the Archdiocese, to discuss his role and the work of his office, the challenges facing youth and young adults today, and the call we each have to minister to young people.

New episodes of What's New in ArchLou will be available on the first Tuesday of each month here.

The Importance of Connecting to Care for Creation

By Pam Raidt


I remember the first summer of the COVID pandemic. I had just retired from teaching and was isolated at home. Before the pandemic, I had been active with the environmental committee at St. Francis of Assisi parish, but with COVID, those meetings stopped. Fortunately, I found other environmental groups that met on Zoom. I also heard about an online course for “Laudato Si’ Animators''. Since I read the encyclical with my parish group five years earlier, I was eager to learn how I could put the Pope’s teaching into practice. The course included readings and reflections, but for me the most powerful part of the experience was meeting virtually with Catholics from around the world. Catholics in the Philippines and India and countries in Africa and Europe described their experiences of climate change and the actions they were taking to address it. The global connections were inspiring, but I didn’t know how to connect with local Catholics who were also ready to act on the principles of Laudato Si’.


Then in January of 2023, I signed up for another online course on Laudato Si’ led by Fr. Jim Flynn. This was an opportunity to reread the encyclical and share insights with others, including members of local parishes. After completing the course, Fr. Jim gathered a local group to participate in the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, an initiative of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. The Platform supports individuals, schools, parishes, dioceses, and other Catholic organizations in developing Laudato Si’ Action Plans that promote concrete actions to protect our common home. Two of us met with Archbishop Shelton and presented our proposal for an Archdiocesan Creation Care Team with our mission, “to encourage and empower the people of our Archdiocese to express love for God and one another and respect for all life by exercising good stewardship and care for God’s creation as an essential practice of our faith.”


Since the Archbishop has now officially recognized our Creation Care Team, we are eager to connect with parishes, schools, and other groups within the Archdiocese in our work to achieve Laudato Si’ Action Goals. As a first step, we will send out a survey with questions about actions each parish, school, or group is already taking. We want to recognize the many programs and services in the Archdiocese that already embody care for God's creation. 


The importance of making connections to share information and resources throughout the Archdiocese is illustrated by an image used by John Mundell, Director of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform. In a presentation last January at Epiphany Catholic Church, he showed two photos. The first was a single drop of water causing ripples on the surface of a pool. The second was a powerful ocean wave. Individually, our actions to care for God’s creation can make ripples, but together, we can be a powerful force for addressing the environmental challenges to our common home. 


If you would like to connect with our Archdiocesan Creation Care Team, please email CreationCare@archlou.org or find our webpage at archlou.org/creation-care


Pam Raidt is a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, who retired after teaching 47 years in the Archdiocese of Louisville.

Resources & Recommendations

This month, we're highlighting some helpful and timely resources for Catholics throughout the Archdiocese. We encourage you to check out the resources below.


Save the Dates

July 4-9: The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage is an initiative of the Eucharistic Revival that seeks to take Jesus to the world on foot across the entire nation. Four routes begin with kickoff events on Pentecost, May 19, 2024. Each route will walk with Jesus across the country for approximately two months. All four groups will meet in Indianapolis on July 16 to attend the National Eucharistic Congress. The routes will cover 6,500 miles, 27 states, and 65 dioceses. We are blessed that the Juan Diego route, originating in Brownsville, Texas, will pass through the Archdiocese of Louisville from July 4 – 9. There will be several opportunities to interact with the pilgrims while here through prayer and fellowship. A schedule of events can be found here. At this site, you can follow an interactive map of the Juan Diego route and click on specific stops along the route for more information or to register for liturgies or events. We are particularly in need of volunteers to host the pilgrims overnight for one or two nights. Hosts must have Safe Environment training and be willing to host two or more young adults age 19-29. If you are interested in hosting, please contact Chenele Shaw here.


July 17-21: The National Eucharistic Congress will take place from July 17-21, 2024, and will feature compelling programming geared to various audiences, including youth, families, and individuals. For more information on the Congress, go here.


Day passes to the Eucharistic Congress are now available for purchase. Please go here for more information about the day passes. Purchase these passes directly at the Eucharistic Congress web page. Those interested in attending also can still purchase discounted tickets to the full Eucharistic Congress. The Archdiocese has received a discount on tickets, reducing the price from $360 to $299 per person. To access this code, email or call archdiocesan Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Richard “Tink” Guthrie here or call 502-585-3291, ext. 1118. Please contact Tink Guthrie as soon as possible. This discount may be discontinued at some point, and it is important to secure limited lodging opportunities.


Registration does not include the cost of transportation, housing, or food. More information about hotels and housing can be found here.


Catholic Charities of Louisville Opportunities

The Father Jack Jones Food Pantry at Holy Name Parish Campus

In 2024 the Father Jack Jones Food Pantry has distributed food to over 2,000 household members each month. In March, it averaged about 175 households and 506 members each week. Every week the food pantry is open on Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon, providing people with fresh produce, meat, and dry goods. The pantry is set up like a farmer’s market outside of Holy Name Church and remains open in rain, storm, or shine.


The Father Jack Jones Food Pantry can always use the following goods:


  • Peanut butter.
  • Cereal.
  • Pasta and pasta sauce.
  • Canned soup/ravioli.
  • Rice.
  • Canned vegetables (beans, corn, carrots).
  • Any other non-perishable goods.
  • Monetary donations are used towards fresh meat purchases each week.
  • We could also use another outdoor canopy, especially during this rainy season.


If anyone is interested in volunteering, there are opportunities on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Reach out by email here

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