January 2025

EDOLA's MLK Day of Service

Jan. 20


Celebrate and serve with the whole family!


No registration needed—just show up as you are and dive into service activities that make a real impact.


Bishop Duckworth will celebrate Eucharist and Rev. Audra Ryes will preach.


9:00 AM: Items can be dropped off at Historic St. Luke's

9:30 AM: Eucharist

10 AM - Noon: Day of Service

Service Day Activities Include:


Neighborhood litter cleanup - EDOLA youth groups

Creating new community gardens - Environmental Evangelism Commission

Assembling hygiene bags - St. George's, NOLA

Sorting & storing canned goods - Historic St. Luke's Little Food Pantry

Sorting children's books - Historic St. Luke's summer camps

Gaudet/MLK Tours - Historic St. Luke's, NOLA

Weaving plastic mats for the unhoused - Ministry of St. Paul's, NOLA



Collections of the following:

Plastic shopping bags

Canned goods only (Can be dropped off at Historic St. Luke’s the day of the event, starting at 9 AM.)

Children's books

Another great way to participate:


Purchase needed supplies directly from our Amazon Wishlist HERE!


(Thank you to everyone who has already made a Wishlist purchase! We returned from the Christmas break to find your support waiting for us in the form of packages.)


Contact Tamika Gerhardt at tgerhardt@edola.org with questions.

Little Box of Good News™ Updates!

Join us for a fun, interactive workshop on best practices for using the Little Box of Good News in your church!

Who Should Attend?

3-4 Members from Each Congregation

  • Clergy
  • Director of Faith Formation/Youth
  • Minister (if applicable)
  • Two Additional Adults Involved in Faith Formation and/or Family Life

Workshop Schedule:

  • Wed., Jan. 22 - New Orleans Deanery, @ St. Anna's at Dodwell House, NOLA
  • Thurs., Jan. 23 - Southwest Deanery @ St. John’s, Thibodaux
  • Thurs., Jan. 30 - Jefferson Deanery @ All Saints, River Ridge
  • Thurs., Feb. 6 - Northshore Deanery @ St. Michael’s, Mandeville
  • Mon., Feb. 10 - Baton Rouge Deanery @ St. Francis, Denham Springs

Download Workshop Info Flyer HERE

Register for Workshop



How to Order:

The Little Box of Good News™ is now available for single purchase or as a subscription! Order yours today at littleboxofgoodnews.com.


The creation of our first Little Box of Good News™ has been a true team effort, with many wonderful people contributing their skills, talents, time, and hard work. This is just the beginning — with many more boxes to come, each exploring rich topics of our Episcopal faith together.


We’re also excited to offer Beyond the Box experiences, including small group gatherings (Little Circles of Good News) and an annual family retreat (Little Weekend of Good News).

Follow Us on Instagram:


To stay updated and learn more about what's coming next, follow us @littleboxofgoodnews!

Closing Service for

Chapel of the Holy Comforter

It is with deep sorrow, but also with immense gratitude, that we mark the end of an era in the life of Chapel of the Holy Comforter. It is a time to honor its legacy and to acknowledge the deep bonds formed within its walls. The Chapel of the Holy Comforter has been a place of solace for the grieving, joy for the celebratory, and peace for all who entered its doors. Join us this coming Sunday.


Sunday, January 19, 2025

10 AM Holy Eucharist, Bishop Duckworth - Celebrant & Preacher

2220 Lakeshore Dr, New Orleans, LA 70122

Call for Artists 

Be a part of the Becoming Beloved Community mural project and make Gaudet Hall on the church’s campus an engaging outdoor pilgrimage site.


The total project for the Becoming Beloved Community Grant award is to encourage public liturgy and outdoor pilgrimage at St. Luke’s. The Gaudet mural is the cornerstone of this project. Outdoor Stations of the Cross and Stations of the Resurrection are included in the project. 


Historic Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church is the national shrine for Blessed Frances Joseph Gaudet. Located at 1222 N. Dorgenois Street, Gaudet Hall is named after Blessed Gaudet. Its brick and wooden exterior is the available canvas for a new mural focusing on Blessed Gaudet. You may consult images of Gaudet and articles on her legacy online. 


To apply: prepare a 1-2 page .pdf document. Include your name, contact information, and biographical information. A brief overview of any previous outdoor or mural work is appropriate. Provide a mural sketch, materials list, anticipated cost of materials, and desired stipend amount. 


Applications are due by February 1st, 2025.


Rev. Jane-Allison Wiggin, Rector

rector@stlukesneworleans.com

stlukesneworleans.org

Gaudet Umbrella Ministry

Awarded Grant!

We are thrilled to announce that the Gaudet Umbrella Ministry has been awarded an Evangelism grant to develop and host the "Lens of Seeing the Beloved" Conference! This transformative event will take place over two days this June and is designed to empower lay leaders to deepen their understanding of Mission, Ministry, and God’s Love.


More details to come this spring—stay tuned!

Use this QR code to get Gaudet Umbrella Ministries updates!

Gaudet Umbrella Calendar

Deacons Around the Diocese

Deacon Pat Lyle Family Donates to Film on Deacons


Kevin Lyle and his wife, Renee Chatelain of Baton Rouge, have made a generous donation to the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana to produce a short film explaining the role and function of deacons. The Lyle family made the donation in honor of Deacon Pat Lyle, Kevin Lyle’s mother, who ministered for many years in the diocese, serving the elderly and as a spiritual director.

The film on deacons is being made in honor of Louisiana Deacon Pat Lyle (1934-2024). Photo provided by Cindy Obier.

Deacon Lyle served at different times at St. Margaret’s and St. James, both in Baton Rouge, and was active in many diocesan-wide ministries such as Cursillo and Kairos. Deacon Lyle died in 2024.


“For those of us in the diaconate, Pat Lyle was the consummate deacon—compassionate, tender, tough, tenacious and funny,” said Deacon Charles deGravelles, Archdeacon of the Diocese. “She was among the first female clergy to be ordained in Louisiana which was, in those days, a steep uphill battle. But she knew she was called to be a deacon, and she never gave up.”


“We are deeply grateful to Kevin and Renee for their help in funding this educational video,” deGravelles said. “The diocese is blessed this year with a number of people who have started the discernment process, and this short film will be a great tool to help educate those folks and their discernment committees.”


The video will feature Bishop Shannon Duckworth and a number of deacons who will talk about their respective ministries. “Jesus taught us to serve others,” deGravelles said.

"How will a person know if he or she has a call to be a deacon if he or she is not really sure what a deacon is?"


— Archdeacon Charles deGravelles

Deacon Charles deGravelles being filmed by videographer Tembi Muna at the Cathedral for a new video about deacons. Photo by Cindy Obier.

“Deacons faithfully follow this call--not just as servants but as icons of ministry, serving and inspiring others across the church and the world. Deacons were among the first ministers of the Church, mentioned in the Book of Acts, but the modern diaconate is often misunderstood or poorly understood. How will a person know if he or she has a call to be a deacon if he or she is not really sure what a deacon is? How will a discernment committee help a person find that call if it doesn’t understand what a deacon is and does?”

Filming for the video began on January 9, 2025 at the Christ Cathedral New Orleans with an introduction to the topic by Bishop Shannon Duckworth.

Happenings Around the Diocese

Clergy Conference 2025

Clergy came together at the Solomon Center for a time of fellowship, connection, training, and spiritual enrichment — with the fireplace adding to the warmth of the experience. It was a privilege to have Rt. Rev. Dr. Glenda Curry as our distinguished keynote speaker and preacher, and we are deeply thankful to Matt Lemmler for his inspiring music.

Fr. Ron Clingenpeel Wins Award!

Father Ron and Friends Track Wins Global Music Award, Continue Buffa's Residency

Continuing their Buffa’s Sunday residency, New Orleans-based Father Ron and Friends, a folk/Americana band, are celebrating their Global Music Award for the title track to their new album Forever The Seasons on Louisiana Red Hot Records. Father Ron and Friends are active in promoting justice in the community, from leading “Don’t Let The Fire Die” at an MLK Day Service to children’s singalongs for Little Box of Good News – Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana.

Read More

Bishop's Visitations

St. Patrick's in Zachary, LA, Dec.15, 2024

Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Rosedale, LA, Jan. 12, 2025

We'd love to feature your happenings, parish, and parishioners here, too!


Please share photos of your ministries and community events so we can all see and celebrate the good work that is happening all around the diocese.

To share photos from Bishop Duckworth's Visitations, UPLOAD photos HERE:

Submission Link

Retreats & Special Events

@ Solomon Center

Women’s Gathering in Community Series:

Join women from across the Diocese for a monthly retreat.

When: Second Thursday of each month

Time: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Where: Solomon Episcopal Conference Center

Loranger, Louisiana

Cost: $50 (Lunch included)

February 13, 2025

Topic: Dreams—God’s Unspoken Language

Retreat Leader: Martha Tennison, MSW, LCSW

Certified Dream Facilitator (Haden Institute)


March 13, 2025

Topic: Praying Our Way into Lent: The Labyrinth as a Personal Prayer Tool

Retreat Leader: The Rev. Annie Knazs Jung


April 10, 2025

Topic: Walking with Mary Magdalene to the Cross, the Tomb, and the Garden

Retreat Leader: The Rev. Susan Gaumer


May 8, 2025

Topic: Creative Writing and More

Retreat Leader: Jan Risher, Editor and Columnist for The Advocate

Register

01/17-19

EDOLA Women's Recovery 2025

@ Solomon Episcopal Conference Center

Details & Booking

01/17-18

Inclusive Louisiana Spiritual Retreat

@ Solomon Episcopal Conference Center

Register for Inclusive Louisiana Spiritual Retreat

01/24

Ministry Conference

@ Solomon Episcopal Conference Center

03/14-16

SECC Silent Retreat 2025

@ Solomon Episcopal Conference Center

Renew and discover the inner peace that is found in silence.


SECC Parable Retreat will include reflection and preaching on gospel parables during morning prayer, Holy Eucharist, and evening prayer. This will all be entwined with contemplative silence.


The retreat will be led by Father John Pitzer of Trinity Episcopal Church, New Orleans. This promises to be a weekend to remember!

More Info

04/25-27

Walk Slowy, and Bow Often:

Adventurers on a Contemplative Path

@ Solomon Episcopal Conference Center

Adventure means exploring unknown territory and that can be exciting, transformative, and scary. Walking a contemplative path is an adventure in that we engage The Way of Unknowing.


Thee retreat will be led by William Thiele, PhD, LPC, founding director of the School for Contemplative Living.



Early Bird pricing before Jan 25.

More Info

Other Events Around the Diocese

JANUARY

01/19

Chapel of the Holy Comforter: Closing Service

@ Chapel of the Holy Comforter

2220 Lakeshore Dr, New Orleans, LA 70122

10 AM

01/19

Third Sunday Concert Series: Shades of Praise Gospel Choir

@ Christ Church Episcopal Church, Covington

Doors at 4:30 PM

01/20

EDOLA'S MLK Day of Service

@ Historic St. Luke's Episcopal Church, New Orleans

(see details close to the top of this newsletter)

01/25

Dismantling Racism Training

@ Trinitity, NOLA

9 AM - 3 PM



The EDOLA Racial Healing Commission invites you to a brave space of learning and growth in order to faithfully engage in the work of healing and wholeness to which God is calling us.


Based on the Dismantling Racism training offered through the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing in Atlanta, Georgia, this training will “seek to increase racial healing and reconciliation."

This training is for all members of the church and is especially appropriate for clergy, church staff, and ministry leaders


Lunch will be provided.

Register

FEBRUARY

02/13

Courageous Conversation Series: Racial Healing Commission

12 PM ZOOM

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85838363148?pwd=8MMyiyc593PKBIPD30ujD3QKDvwQwl.1


Let’s have conversations that matter because you matter! Feel free to eat your lunch during this online gathering.

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Walking in Love. Making Jesus Known. Transforming Lives.