News From the Bishop’s Office
Shreveport Martyrs Cause Affirmed
by USCCB
What better way to celebrate the anniversary of the creation of the Diocese of Shreveport than the unanimous confirmation by the USCCB for the continuation on the diocesan level for the advancement of the cause of beatification and canonization of the five Shreveport priests known as the Shreveport Martyrs. Praise be to God!
CLERGY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Effective June 30, 2023
CLERGY ANNOUNCEMENT
Effective November 9, 2022
Reverand Peter Romanus Mallya, F.M.H. has been appointed Parochial Vicar at Saint John the Baptist, Many.
FUNERAL SERVICES FOR FR. JUAN GARCIA
It is with sadness and joy that I write to inform you that Father Juan Garcia went to his eternal rest in the Lord this morning, September 20th, 2022.
Visitation: Sunday, September 25th, 2022 from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM at Osborn Funeral Home, 3631 Southern Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana 71104
Vigil Service: Sunday, September 25th, 2022 beginning at 5:00 PM at Osborn Funeral Home, 3631 Southern Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana 71104
Funeral Mass: Monday, September 26th, 2022 beginning at 10:00 AM at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, 939 Jordan Street, Shreveport, Louisiana 71104.
Interment: Burial will take place at a later date.
No reception is planned.
Together we pray:
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord;
And let perpetual light shone upon him.
And may he rest in peace, Amen.
May Father Juan’s soul,
And the souls of all the faithful departed
Through the mercy of God,
Rest in peace. Amen.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+ Francis I. Malone
Bishop of Shreveport
Clergy Announcement
August 19, 2022
I am pleased to make the following clergy announcement:
Effective August 17, 2022:
Reverend Dhanraj Narla, a priest of the Diocese of Nellore, INDIA, has been appointed Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+ Francis I. Malone, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Shreveport
Clergy Announcements
I am pleased to make the following clergy announcements:
Effective June 1, 2022:
Reverend Monsignor Earl V. Provenza’s earlier assignment as Senior Priest at Christ the King Parish, Bossier City, has been modified. Msgr. Provenza has agreed to offer Masses at Christ the King Parish on an as needed basis.
Effective July 1, 2022:
Reverend Timothy C. Hurd has been granted a leave of absence to care for family members in Iowa.
Reverend Raney C. Johnson has been appointed Pastoral Administrator of St. Pius X Parish, Shreveport and St. Clement Parish, Vivian. This temporary assignment does not alter his current assignment at St. Mary of the Pines Parish, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church and Loyola College Prep.
Deacon Daniel LeMoine has been appointed to serve as Permanent Deacon at Sacred Heart Parish, Oak Grove.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+ Francis I. Malone, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Shreveport
Parishes May Resume Distribution of the Precious Blood Beginning Corpus Christi Sunday (June 19, 2022)
Dear Brothers in Christ,
In reference to my letter dated March 12, 2021, in which I brought to a halt the distribution of the Precious Blood from the cup due to the coronavirus, by this letter I wish to inform you that you may resume the distribution of the Precious Blood from the cup on Corpus Christi Sunday, June 19, 2022.
Obviously, parishioners who are concerned about receiving the Precious Blood from the cup should be informed that it is their option whether to receive from the cup or not. Please inform your parishioners if they are experiencing any health issues, they should refrain from receiving the Precious Blood from the cup.
This also prompts me to inform you of the need for a Eucharistic Revival in the upcoming year beginning with the first Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2022. More information to follow.
I am sincerely yours in the Risen Lord,
+ Francis I. Malone, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Shreveport
Clergy Announcements
Bishop Malone is pleased to make the following clergy announcements:
Effective May 25, 2022:
Reverend Mr. Gabriel Cisneros Campos has been assigned to serve as Deacon at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Shreveport. This assignment will end following notification from me and/or the end of Summer 2022 to allow Deacon Cisneros time to return to Notre Dame Seminary for his final year of formation.
Effective June 1, 2022:
Reverend Nicholas E. Duncan has been appointed Associate Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Shreveport.
Effective June 30, 2022:
Reverend Joseph Ampatt’s assignments will come to a conclusion as Pastoral Administrator of Christ the King Church at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and Senior Priest In-Residence at Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish, Monroe. His request to retire from active ministry has been accepted. Father Ampatt plans to return to his homeland, India.
Effective July 1, 2022:
Reverend Raney Johnson has been appointed Diocesan Master of Ceremonies.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+ Francis I. Malone, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Shreveport
Clergy Announcements
Bishop Malone is pleased to make the following clergy announcements:
Effective April 18, 2022:
Reverend Raney C. Johnson has been appointed Pastoral Administrator of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Monroe, and its mission, St. Lawrence Church, Swartz through June 30, 2022. He continues in his role as Parochial Vicar at St. Mary of the Pines Parish, Shreveport, and Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Shreveport, and Co-Chaplain at Loyola College Prep, Shreveport.
Effective June 1, 2022:
Reverend John Paul Crispin, F.M.H. has been relieved of his assignment as Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Mansfield and its mission, St. Ann Church, Stonewall, and has been appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, and its mission, St. Lawrence Church, Swartz, Campus Minister of Christ the King Church at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and Co-Sacramental Minister to St. Frederick High School, Monroe.
Reverend Jerry J. Daigle has been relieved of his assignment as Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Shreveport, and Co-Chaplain at Loyola College Prep, Shreveport, and has been appointed Pastor of St. Paschal Parish, West Monroe, and its mission, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Farmerville.
Reverend Mark Franklin has been relieved of his assignment of Pastor of St. Matthew Parish, Monroe, and has been appointed Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Mansfield, and its mission, St. Ann Church, Stonewall.
Reverend Timothy C. Hurd has been relieved of his assignment as Pastoral Administrator of St. Joseph Parish, Bastrop, Sacred Heart Parish, Rayville, and its mission, St. Theresa Church, Delhi, and Sacramental Minister to St. Frederick High School, Monroe, and has been appointed Pastor of St. Pius X Parish, Shreveport and St. Clement Parish, Vivian. He continues in his role as Director of Permanent Deacons and Coordinator of the Permanent Deacon Formation Program.
Reverend Joseph Kallookalam, C.M.I. has been appointed Pastor of St. Paul Parish, Minden, and its missions, St. Margaret Church, Homer, and Blessed Sacrament Church, Ringgold.
Reverend Joseph A. Martina, Jr. has been relieved of his assignment as Pastor of St. Pius X Parish, Shreveport, and Pastor of St. Clement Parish, Vivian, and has been appointed Pastor of St. Matthew Parish, Monroe, Sacred Heart Parish, Rayville, and its mission, St. Theresa Church, Delhi.
Reverend Kevin Mues has been relieved of his assignment as Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph Parish, Shreveport, and has been appointed Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Ruston, Campus Minister at the E. Donn Piatt Catholic Student Center at Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, and Pastoral Administrator of St. Benedict Parish, Grambling.
Clergy Announcement
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I am pleased to announce that Father Joseph Kallookalam, CMI has been appointed Pastoral Administrator of St. Paul Parish, Minden, and its missions, Blessed Sacrament Church, Ringgold and St. Margaret Church, Homer, effective February 1, 2022. This appointment will conclude on June 30, 2022.
Father Biju Kuriakose, CMI will be returning to India on February 3, 2022.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+ Francis I. Malone
Bishop of Shreveport
Clergy Announcements
Effective October 26, 2021:
Reverend Dariusz Pawlowksi’s priestly faculties have been revoked to serve as a priest in the Diocese of Shreveport. This is not a penal action. Father Pawlowski has been released to seek an assignment in another diocese.
Effective November 1, 2021:
Reverend Joseph Ampatt has been appointed as Senior Priest In-Residence at Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish. This additional assignment runs concurrently with his assignment as Pastoral Administrator at Christ the King Church at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He will continue to reside in Jesus the Good Shepherd Rectory.
Effective November 11, 2021:
Reverend Monsignor Earl V. Provenza’s term as dean (vicar forane) of the Western Deanery has concluded.
Reverend Mark Watson has been appointed to serve as dean (vicar forane) of the Western Deanery for a term of three years.
This is provided for your information only. While I am directing that this announcement be placed on the diocesan website and social media accounts, I request that it not be published on parish media.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+ Francis I. Malone, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Shreveport
Bishop Malone on the 2023 Synod of Bishops
This September, Pope Francis initiated a process of reflection throughout the world which will lead to a meeting of Bishops in Rome 2023. Here, Bishop Malone speaks on what this means for us as a diocese.
Effective October 1, 2021:
Reverend Dariusz Pawlowski has been relieved of his assignment as Pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Lake Providence and Sacred Heart Parish, Oak Grove.
Effective October 15, 2021:
Reverend Duane Trombetta has been appointed Pastor of Holy Trinity Parish, Shreveport, and Pastoral Administrator of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish, Shreveport. He replaces Father Jean Bosco Uwamungu who has a new assignment.
Reverend Jean Bosco Uwamungu has been appointed Pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Lake Providence and Sacred Heart Parish, Oak Grove. He replaces Father Dariusz Pawlowski.
Please keep everyone in your prayers during this time of transition.
ORDER OF THE FLEUR DE LIS
PRESS RELEASE
Bishop Francis I. Malone receives the Knight Commander Cross of the Order of the Fleur De Lis.
On Saturday, August 28, 2021, Most Reverend Francis I. Malone, 3rd Bishop of Shreveport was invested into the Order of the Fleur De Lis in Memphis, TN. Bishop Malone was consecrated as Bishop of Shreveport on January 28, 2020. Prior to his appointment Bishop Malone served in the Diocese of Little Rock as Chancellor and Vicar General.
The Order of the Fleur de Lis is an organization of Catholic men incorporated under the laws of the state of Louisiana as a not-for-profit organization. The Order’s domain is a five states region consisting of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.
The objectives of the Order include: supports and defends the Holy Catholic Church and its teachings; promotes patriotism and good citizenship, encourages public morality and unselfish service to God and country; assists and publicizes the activities of other organizations which also promote the above; memorializes and popularizes the memories and achievements of Catholic leaders in religion, the arts and sciences, philanthropy education, exploration and archeology, government and international relations, medicine and jurisprudence and other established professions.
The Order of the Fleur de Lis encourages and recognizes leadership in living the values and principles of our Catholic faith by presenting the Msgr. Joseph Susi Award of Honor to an individual who has excelled as a Catholic leader in any one of the following: religion, family values, youth, aging, politics, patriotism, the arts and sciences, education, philanthropy, public morality, management-labor, the media, or medicine and jurisprudence.
Photo attachment: Front row left to right – Most Rev. Robert W. Marshall, Jr. – Bishop of Alexandria, LA, Most Rev. Francis I. Malone – Bishop of Shreveport, LA, Most Rev. J. Mark Spalding – Bishop of Nashville, TN.
Second Row left to right – H. Jerry Brecher (AL), Rennan J. Duffour (LA), Rodney L. Sandoz II (MS), Eric J. Pelton (TN).
New Pastoral Assignments
I am pleased to announce the following pastoral assignment, effective September 1, 2021:
Reverend LaVerne “Pike” Thomas has been appointed to serve as pastoral administrator at St. Paschal Parish, West Monroe, through January 15, 2022.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+ Francis I. Malone
Bishop of Shreveport
New Pastoral Assignments
I am pleased to announce the following clergy changes:
Effective August 16, 2021:
Reverend Joseph Ampatt has been appointed to Pastoral Administrator of Christ the King Church at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He is relieved of his assignment as Associate Pastor at St. Joseph Church, Shreveport.
Effective September 1, 2021:
Reverend Edward Shea, OFM, has been appointed Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Ruston. He replaces Father Jose Antonio Posadas, OFM, who left the diocese for a new assignment.
Please keep everyone in your prayers during this time of transition.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+ Francis I. Malone
Bishop of Shreveport
August 6, 2021
To the people of the Diocese of Shreveport:
I don’t know if I ever shared this story with you about a pastor who was always looking for a way to get his parishioner’s attention on any given subject. One week he decided to have a huge sign printed which he placed over the entrance of the Church. It read, “THROUGH THESE DOORS WALK SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD!” It was a big success – because it was just one of a number of things he did to let people know that he appreciated them.
I thought, in light of the new mandate for the wearing of masks indoors just reinstated by our Governor this past week – that I would tell you that if I could put that sign on each of our Churches I would do that – not just because it’s true, but because I feel pretty much the same way as you do about wearing masks, and that since I have an obligation to tell you about this mandate – which won’t be received with great enthusiasm or joy – I might as well tell you something that just might soften the message a little.
So here it is: the Governor has reinstated the mask mandate for the entire state of Louisiana until September – and it seems as though we just put the previous mandate to bed – and now here we go again. The facts cannot be disputed: the number of fellow Louisianans who have contracted the Covid variant has increased so rapidly within such a short period of time – that our State ranks at or near the top of the entire country with this new variant – and if that doesn’t scare the average person – nothing will.
We are all in this together – we belong to one another – we have an obligation – not only to protect ourselves but one another – and ONE tool we have that we can easily use is a face mask. I AM NOT DIRECTING THAT THOSE WHO DO NOT WEAR MASKS BE REFUSED ADMISSION TO OUR CHURCHES – but I AM asking everyone to bear with us as this mandate is an attempt to get this new variant under control.
One of the saddest experiences of my short life as your bishop was when COVID fist hit – and I walked into the Cathedral under the new directives – and the Church was empty – It was like a punch to the gut – and I never want to go back to empty Churches and the many other mandates that virtually closed us down. It was a very bad time to be a bishop – a pastor – and I know it had to be a very bad time for you. But there is ONE thing we can do to get on top of this, one thing among many, but this one thing that can help – wear a mask – not just to Church, but wherever you are going that takes you indoors. Evidence shows that failure to take actions like this might shut our doors, and I cannot imagine going through that again.
And while I am also convinced that getting the vaccine is the prudent thing to do – failure for us to act against this virus will be our own undoing. Think, for just a moment, of your parish Church. Imagine a HUGH sign over the front doors which reads, “THROUGH THESE DOORS WALK SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD!” And then join me in the difficult responsibility of protecting one another by wearing a mask for our own good and the good of others.
I truly love you, all of you, each of you. We can do this, and I ask you, as your bishop to put the masks back on – and let’s ban together to beat this pandemic once for all!
Sincerely and lovingly in Christ,
Bishop Francis Malone
Bishop of Shreveport
