The Diocesan Office will be closed on Monday, January 16 in observance of Martin Luther King Day.

Normal operations will resume January 17.

Before the New Year began, Bishop Owensby was elected to serve as Chancellor of Sewanee: The University of the South. Sewanee is an Episcopal institution. It has 27 constituent dioceses, and Western Louisiana is one of them.

The Chancellor must be one of the diocesan bishops from the constituent dioceses and serves a six-year term. However, Bishop Owensby is not going anywhere. As the bishop noted in his announcement, his day-to-day duties will not be changing too much. He looks forward to serving everyone in this new role.

You can read more by clicking here.

The Diocesan Council is excited to announce two ambitious new programs to the benefit of congregations and ministries throughout our Diocese.

First is Mission and Ministry Grants. These serve two main purposes:

1. Mission, Ministry, and Outreach Programs.
2. Incentivizing Care of Creation Programs throughout Western Louisiana.

Second is Capital Improvement & Deferred Maintenance Loans. These will enable congregations and ministries to realize capital improvement needs and address maintenance issues.

Clicking those links will take you to a Google form. Applications will be considered by the Finance Committee on behalf of the Diocesan Council. These forms are also available on the Diocesan website. Click here to go to that page.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Will Harp, Diocesan Treasurer.

The new ministry of a Rector is celebrated in the context of a eucharist. The bishop is normally the chief celebrant. During the service, a Letter of Institution is read by the bishop after the wardens state that the new minister is well qualified, and that they have been prayerfully and lawfully selected.

Join Bishop Owensby and the congregations below in celebrating the upcoming installment of two new Rectors in our Diocese!

January 24

The Rev. Annie Etheredge

Episcopal Church of the Epiphany

6:00 p.m.

303 W Main St

New Iberia, LA US 70560

February 1

The Rev. Drew Christiansen

St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church

6:00 p.m.

123 West Sale Road

Lake Charles, LA US 70605

The Diocesan Convention Hub on our website will be updated with more information soon.

Necrology and nomination forms for Diocesan Convention are available on the website.

Click here to go to that page.

Registration for Diocesan Convention will open up on January 17.

Have you seen the calendar of events on the new diocesan website? Find diocesan events for various categories: Bishop's Visitation, Youth Events, Christian Formation Workshops, and more. Explore the diocesan calendar of events by clicking here.

Camp Hardtner has enriched the lives of many people over the years. Making lifelong friends, learning about your faith, and unconditional love are all part of the camp experience. Now you can sign your children up for the 2023 Season.

Camp Hardtner provides summer camp sessions for different age ranges. Plus they are bringing back Camp Able this year, which is for adults 18 years or older with special needs. This is a great way for your children to spend their summer.

You can register by clicking here.

The Grace Episcopal Day School students and church parishioners generously donated hundreds of new socks in December to warm the soles of those less fortunate in the Monroe community.

The socks were prayed over during the Grace Day School weekly chapel service on December 14th by The Rev. Don Smith. The socks were then delivered to the local shelter to be distributed. 

Picture: The Rev. Don Smith joined the students in Grace Day School's chapel to bless the socks.

Several people gathered around a laptop on a table to watch Bishop Owensby receive Lee Gardner, a member of Epiphany Opelousas, into the Episcopal Church. 

Some tears were even shed at being able to celebrate such an occasion, even from a distance. 

Lee was received by the bishop at St. James in Alexandria during the Bishop's visit.

Congratulations to Lee on his confirmation!

Picture (Right): Parishioners of Epiphany in Opelousas watched the livestream from St. James in Alexandria.

Picture (Below): Bishop Owensby, The Rev. Deacon Michael Parham, and The Rev. Canon John Bedingfield stand with the newly received people at St. James in Alexandria.

Leonidas Polk in Leesville recently honored a huge milestone. The church has been a part of their community for 75 years.

The ceremony of remembrance of the charter of Polk Memorial Church was a joyous occasion with members and those who were members years ago. The Rev. Bill Phillips officiated the Eucharist of 1 Epiphany. After the service those attending enjoyed fellowship and eats in the Parish Hall.

Photo: The Rev. Bill Phillips celebrates the anniversary of Polk Memorial during their service.

The parishioners of St. Andrew's, Moss Bluff are planning to give away seedling trees to the Lake Charles community. This will be held January 21. Donations that are collected will go to St. Andrew's Outreach Fund.

St. James in Shreveport is going to be hosting their annual Mardi Gras Ball. This will be held January 27 at 7:00 p.m. They invite you to join us for an evening of celebration, live music, and fun. Put on your best Mardi Gras attire and come party with them. 

Every three years, the Episcopal Church convenes an international youth event so “that the energy of the youth of the Episcopal Church can continue to be utilized in active ministry as members of the Body of Christ.” 

The next Episcopal Youth Event (EYE23) will be held from July 4-8, 2023 on the campus of the University of Maryland in College Park, MD, which sits approximately four miles from the northeast border of Washington, D.C. EYE23 participants must have turned at least 15 and be no older than 19 by July 4, 2023.

Participants should be enrolled in 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade during the 2022–2023 school year, or equivalent for non-traditional or non-US school settings.

Registration is due February 10. The cost for youth is $100. You can register by clicking here. If you have any questions, you can contact Etienna Wright or Joy Owensby.

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.

Dioceses and parishes across The Episcopal Church will honor The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on the holiday weekend of his birthday, Jan. 14-16, in services and other events.

King, who would have turned 94 this year, spearheaded the national movement for racial justice and civil rights as a Baptist preacher in Montgomery, Alabama, and Atlanta, Georgia. He is honored in The Episcopal Church's Lesser Feasts and Fasts on April 4.

You can read more by clicking here.

Photo: Martin Luther King Jr. speaks to a crowd of 5000 people at the University of California, Berkley in May 1967.

Do you feel called to the work of church and community redevelopment? The Episcopal Church’s Office of Church Planting and Mission Development is offering an online discernment retreat for those seeking to discern their role and fit in church redevelopment.

This will be held from 11:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. on Feb. 9, 16, 23, and March 2.

The cost is $350. You can register by clicking here.