You may have noticed that the cover photo on our bulletin has changed. It’s our Sesquicentennial theme and logo! We will be using this as our bulletin cover throughout 2019. The logo is a combination of the distinctive emblem found on the outside of the church building, the entwined AM, for Ave Maria, or Hail Mary, surrounded by the words Immaculate Conception Cathedral * Mater Ecclesia Lacus Carolini which means “Mother Church of Lake Charles” in Latin. Beneath this is the sesquicentennial banner, all above a picture of the Cathedral. Our theme is “Celebrating Our Past With Joy Today and With Hope For the Future.” This theme is perfect for the year which will see the completion of our Cathedral restoration, which honors the past appropriately, along with our hope for the future ... in the form of a beautifully restored Cathedral that will enrich generations to come.  Please click here to read more.

Dear Family, Friends and Parishioners,

 
I wish to invite you on a spiritually edifying pilgrimage to Italy!  Italy’s timeless art and architecture, history and symbols representing two thousand years of Christian faith have fascinated travelers and attracted pilgrims for centuries.
 
Our pilgrimage begins in Rome, the Eternal City, an artistic and historical gift to the world.  We’ll visit Vatican City, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and much more.  See Michelangelo’s original frescoes in the Sistine Chapel including the famous Last Judgment and the Creation of Man.  Take an excursion to Castel Gandolfo, summer residence of the Pope.
 
Our pilgrimage will take us to the following holy places:  Montecassino, site of the first monastery established by St. Benedict, father of western monasticism.  San Giovanni Rotondo, home of St. Padre Pio until his death in 1968.  Monte Sant’Angelo, where St. Michael the Archangel appeared in 490, 492 and 1656, and consecrated the shrine himself.  Lanciano, site of an 8th century Eucharistic Miracle still preserved today.  Manoppello, to venerate the true image of Christ imprinted into a cloth believed to be St. Veronica’s veil.  Loreto, to pray in the Holy House of the Virgin Mary transported by Angels from Nazareth.  Tolentino, to visit the shrine of St. Nicholas of Tolentino, patron of Holy Souls.  Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis and St. Clare.  Orvieto, which hosts a corporal stained with the Precious Blood of Christ.  This 13th century Eucharistic Miracle inspired Pope Urban IV to declare the Feast of Corpus Christi and St. Thomas Aquinas to compose the beautiful Eucharistic hymns we still sing today.  Florence, home to Michelangelo’s David and the finest collection of Renaissance art in the world.  Padua, the famous resting place of St. Anthony of Padua.  We’ll end our pilgrimage in Venice, the city of waterways, gondolas and picturesque bridges where we will visit the Basilica of St. Mark with its magnificent mosaics expressing the story of faith.
 
Come share in this time of prayerful reflection.  Our pilgrimage will be a joyful experience designed to highlight the richness of our Catholic faith, help us appreciate its historical past, learn from the lives of the Saints, and admire the sacred art and marvelous architecture inspired by our Church.
 
Please look over the brochure (click here) and you will see that this 12 day pilgrimage will be a lifelong dream come true.  Act quickly!  Simply complete the reservation form and forward your deposit to secure your place on this exciting journey.  Sincerely yours
 
In Our Lord and Our Lady,
 
 Fr. Rommel P. Tolentino

Listen to the 9:30 a.m. Mass on KLCL AM 1470 or KJEF AM 1290

Please click here to view the slideshow.