Catholic Charities Diocese of Baton Rouge

Today on , we encourage you to welcome the stranger and embrace refugees who have had to flee their home countries because of war, violence or persecution.

"As we undertake to seek the face of the Lord, we may recognize Him in the face of the poor, the sick, the abandoned and the foreigners whom God places on our way." – Pope Francis

We hope you can join us this Saturday for !

Join us for on Saturday, June 22 at the River Center! We’ll celebrate different cultures, foods, music and more!

We're back with another ! Today, we are featuring Evan and Ashlynn. Learn more about this sweet family at https://www.adoptccdiobr.org/meet-evan-and-ashlynn/.

Hurricane season is in full swing. Every year, we host a hurricane safety Mass where we "pray the rain away." This year, we were honored to also be joined by Catholic Charities USA president & CEO, Kerry Robinson; CCUSA vice president of disaster operations, Kim Burgo; and CCUSA director for capacity building in disaster operations, Jennifer Dyre. After Mass, Bishop Duca blessed CCDBR's box trucks that are used during times of disaster to distribute supplies and necessities to those in need.

Prayer for protection against hurricanes:
Our Father in Heaven through the intercession of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, spare us during this Hurricane season from all harm. Protect us and our homes from all disasters of nature. Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to help us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge hosted leadership from Catholic Charities agencies across the state in addition to representatives from Catholic Charities USA to discuss disaster response. The Catholic Charities network responds to numerous disasters each year, from immediate disaster response to long-term relief and recovery.
Catholic Charities USA Catholic Charities of Acadiana Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans Catholic Charities of North Louisiana Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

We celebrated May birthdays in the office last week. Happy happy birthday to Kiera, Adria and Tanisha!🎉

You may have heard that Feeding Louisiana will begin administering the senior food program, and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New Orleans (CCANO) decided to discontinue their partnership with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH). CCDBR wants clients and the community to rest assured that out Faith-Full Mobile Food Pantry is still operating and is NOT affected by this partnership change. Our food program is steadily growing to meet the needs of the food insecure, and we are always looking for volunteers and donors. Visit CatholicCharitiesBR.org to learn more.

Today we pray in thanksgiving for the life and service of our diocese's shepherd, Bishop Michael Duca. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May He make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.
Happy Birthday, Bishop Duca!

Kiera Meuse-Cash, LMSW and Sandi Gaudin, LCSW, presented on “The Clinical Considerations in Adoption Practice" to the dedicated Social Work staff at Woman's Hospital. Our discussion highlighted often-overlooked clinical issues in working with birth parents, adopted individuals, and adoptive parents. Thanks to Woman's Hospital for inviting us out!

📣❗️We are passionate about best practices in adoption and equipping professionals with necessary tools. we are eager to extend this invaluable training to more organizations. If your staff or organization is seeking comprehensive education on adoption practices, we’d love to connect. Please email [email protected]. 📣❗️

We had lots of fun at our HIPPY end-of-the-year celebration! HIPPY families enjoyed a book giveaway, gently used clothes, flowers for gardening, refreshments, popcorn, snowballs and face painting. It was a great way to kick off summer!

Thanks to for having CCDBR out as a vendor to the Motherhood & Birth Fair! Team members Tanisha and Sandi were able to chat with participants about adoption, pregnancy and mental health services.

Join us to pray the rain away! With this year's hurricane season predicted to be more active than usual, we are praying for extra protection this year! Join us tomorrow, Friday, May 31 at noon at St. Joseph Cathedral to pray for a quiet hurricane season.

Today we honor those who have paid the ultimate price in protecting our nation.

Thank you to the St. Jude Church Catholic Daughters for holding their annual baby shower to support the Baby Love Bags! These bags provide the items an infant would need in the first week of life, and CCDBR distributes to area birthing hospitals for moms in need.

Join us for on Saturday, June 22 at the River Center! We’ll celebrate different cultures, foods, music and more!

What a great day serving moms in need with Capital Area United Way! Special thanks to Molly’s Angels for making this day happen. We provided bags of produce, gift bags and chocolates for moms this Mother’s Day weekend.

People show up at our door everyday in dire need. They are at risk of being evicted, their lights cut off, or a homeless pregnant woman fleeing an abusive relationship. The list goes on. We need your help so we can provide help and create hope for our neighbors in need. Donate to the greatest, immediate needs of our community! https://ccdiobr.networkforgood.com/projects/148722-catholic-charities-of-the-diocese-of-baton-rouge-diocese

Bishop Michael Duca announced today that Stephanie K. Sterling, LCSW-BACS, will become the new executive director of CCDBR effective July 1, 2024.

Stephanie has been providing help and creating hope with the agency for over 12 years in the Family Services Department.

“I am honored to be chosen to lead Catholic Charities and the exceptional people I work with,” Sterling said. “I am committed to maintaining Catholic Charities’ reputation as a reliable agency and community resource in times of crisis, effectively providing innovative solutions for urgently arising needs of the underserved in our area.”

Join us in congratulating Stephanie on her new appointment!🎉

Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge

Thanks to the Women’s Giving Circle for blessing CCDBR Joseph’s Home, which houses formerly incarcerated men!

On April 24, 2024, the Diocese of Baton Rouge’s Women’s Giving Circle gave $105,000 in grants to five local nonprofits that serve individuals who are often forgotten throughout the diocese. The recipients include Alzheimer's Services of the Capital Area, The Arc Baton Rouge, Catholic Charities – Joseph Homes, Family Service of Greater Baton Rouge and St. Lillian Academy. To learn more about the Women’s Giving Circle, visit https://diobr.org/wgc.

Check out Amber Hebert, LMSW, in the Spring 2024 issue of St. Edward’s University Magazine! As the Louisiana State refugee coordinator, Amber helps welcome the stranger for those fleeing persecution and violence in their home countries. https://issuu.com/stedwardsuniversity/docs/23-mktg-12214_magazine_spring_2024_issuu/33

St. Edward's University Magazine, Spring 2024 The Spring 2024 edition of the St. Edward's Magazine.

If Catholic Charities has played a part in your adoption journey (birth parent, adoptive parent or adopted person), please complete this form. We are celebrating 60 years of adoption services at CCDBR, and we want to make sure we have updated contact information! Visit https://forms.office.com/r/cQih5VS0JK to complete the form.

A teenage offender, Louis spent 23 years in prison then found work with Joseph Homes Transitional Housing Program of Catholic Charities Diocese of Baton Rouge, helping long-term prisoners adapt to society, even publishing a book. “Louis has traveled the country as a voice for juvenile lifers,” and serves on the boards of local, state and national organizations advocating for criminal justice reform, says Linda Fjeldsjo, Joseph Homes program coordinator.

So much thanks to the LSU students that helped out with the Faith-Full Mobile Food Pantry on Saturday during Geaux Big Baton Rouge day of service! 💜💛 We would not have been able to assemble 1,487 boxes of food for the in our area without your help! If you would like to volunteer, please visit CatholicCharitiesBR.org.

We need you this weekend! The Faith-Full Mobile Food Pantry is in need of volunteers for Saturday, April 13 to help break down pallets of food and make food boxes. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e44a9ae28a5fcc34-food #/

Hallelujah! He is risen! ✝️

Did you know that before we are able to resettle refugees, CCDBR has to have an apartment set up and ready for them to move in? Here are a few photos of our Refugee and Immigration Services Staff getting an apartment ready for a family who had to flee their country with little to no belongings. Help us welcome the stranger and volunteer to set up apartments for our new neighbors. Visit CatholicCharitiesBR.org to learn how you can volunteer.