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Ash Wednesday Letter
from Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe
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Dear people of God in The Episcopal Church:
When God told Moses to lead the ancient Israelites out of slavery in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh stood in his way. Pharaoh wanted power and control over God's people, and Exodus tells us that the more serious the situation got, the more hardened his heart became.
| | | | Official Notice: ECW Board Positions to Be Filled in 2026 | | |
The ECW Board Nominating Committee is giving Notice of Board Positions to be filled by Election and Request for Nominations.
In 2026, the terms will end for the following elected, board positions:
- Communications Secretary
- Recording Secretary
- UTO Coordinator
- Triennial Delegate and One Alternate
To learn more and submit a nomination, visit the ECW ministry page HERE!
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Lent can feel like wilderness—uncertain, stretched thin, and loud with the chaos of the world. For LGBTQ+ people and allies, that wilderness can include grief, fear, fatigue, anger, and the ache of being misunderstood. This retreat is an invitation to practice wilderness grace: to name what’s real, to remember we are beloved, and to build the kind of community that helps us keep going.
Fr. Tommy Dillon, Fr. John Pitzer, and Fr. Buddy Stallings use scripture, storytelling, reflection, and simple spiritual practices to help deepen resilience and strengthen connection. You will leave this special retreat with practical tools for living with courage, tenderness, and hope.
Scholarship funds are available.
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| HAPPENING is back, and we can’t wait for EDOLA youth to be part of it!! | | |
Is your high schooler (grades 10–12) looking for a deeper faith experience? Happening is a youth-led weekend retreat where students explore honest questions about faith and grow in their relationship with God. Set within a supportive and joy-filled community, Happening offers space for meaningful conversation, worship, laughter, and growth—often becoming a weekend youth remember as a turning point in their faith journey.
April 10–12, 2026
Trinity Episcopal Church/Baton Rouge
$99 (scholarships available)
Questions?
General info: Sarah Bolt at sarah@stlukesbr.org
Scholarships: Lauren Dunn at ldunn@edola.org
| | For Parish Administrators & those who prepare the bulletin/digital newsletter: | | |
EDOLA Youth has its own Instagram—follow, share, and spread the word!
It’s your go-to spot for all things EDOLA youth: created by youth, for youth, and all about EDOLA youth. A great way for young people (and parents!) to stay connected.
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Save the Date -- Gaudet Umbrella Ministries Event:
April 25 - Earth Day @ Solomon Center
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Most of us grew up thinking of Lent as a season of giving things up, like chocolate or fried foods. Now as adults, we "sacrifice" social media or that second cup of coffee. But does the practice of less caffeine give you more God? Are you replacing screen time with prayer or community service? While fasting has its place, the ancient tradition of Lent invites us into something even richer: a season of intentional growth.
What if, instead of subtracting, your family added something this Lent? Something that brings you together around the table, opens up conversations about faith, and gives your children a tangible sense of what this season is really about: orienting ourselves towards God.
That's exactly what the Little Box of Good News is designed to do. Each box has six activities designed to help you and your family find a particular concept (Prayer, Scripture, Belonging, and/or Peace) in yourself, your home, your family, your community, and the world.
And guess what? There are six weeks of Lent! Your family could take on one activity a week in preparation for Easter. We deliver faith formation activities, stories, and resources straight to your door — created specifically for families who want to walk the road towards resurrection together. Shop options here.
No complicated prep. No screens required. Just your family, gathering around something meaningful and fun. That's Good News!
| | NEW: Family Camp @ Solomon Center | | For Parish Administrators and those who prepare the bulletin: please add this Family Camp graphic to your bulletin. | | | |
LISTEN to the podcast HERE
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For Parish Administrators and those who prepare the bulletin: please add this QR code so parents can easily access our weekly podcast.
Hosts Grace and Lauren talk thoughtfully about Christian parenting, offer practical ways to use the seasons to guide formation, and keep things lively with plenty of humor.
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We are grateful to have Davey Gerhard, Executive Director of TENS, closing out our webinar series. We’re excited for his wisdom, practical insight, and encouragement as we continue strengthening stewardship across our congregations.
The focus of the webinar includes:
✔️ Setting an overall vision and tone for your congregation (stewardship as part of discipleship)
✔️ How to speak from the pulpit, teaching generosity through storytelling and testimony
✔️ Segmented communications: personalized letters, targeted events, small-group appeals
✔️ Identifying your go-to supporters — both your lay leadership team that asks and the donors who will always be there to give
✔️ Role-playing: how to be forthright, direct, and effective in making an ask
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Cookies for Kairos Prison Ministry
April 10-12
| | The Kairos Prison Ministry is collecting cookies for an upcoming Kairos weekend; the cookies are a tangible way incarcerated participants experience God’s love, the strength of Christian community, and the gift of grace and forgiveness. Your contribution helps make this powerful ministry of hope and transformation possible. Thank you for being a part of Kairos Prison Ministry for Women! | | Pilgrimage to the Holy Land | | |
A pilgrimage to the Holy Land is one of the most powerful experiences in Christian life. Technology allows us to explore these places through video and books, which is a gift. But, when possible, an in-person pilgrimage is different. It changes the pilgrim, and it deepens the faith of those who hear the stories brought home.
In Lent 2027, we will have the chance to make such a pilgrimage together. Our Diocese has organized Holy Land pilgrimages since 2012. They were paused in 2020, and now, by God’s grace, they will resume. The pilgrimage is scheduled for March 3 through March 6, 2027. We will visit the Church of the Nativity, marking the place of Jesus’ birth; the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, marking his death and resurrection; and the many sacred sites in between.
Registration for this pilgrimage will open in late March and the capacity is limited to 35 participants.
Two Zoom information meetings will be held at 7 p.m. on March 11 and
March 16. These sessions will explain the itinerary, costs, and expectations, and will help you decide whether this pilgrimage is right for you. If you would like to participate in one of these sessions, please contact Lisa Sibal (lsibal@cccnola.org) to get the zoom link. If neither date works for you, but you would still like to consider participating, Lisa will take your contact information, and will arrange an alternative time to share the information.
| | Happenings Around the Diocese | | |
Conference on Ministry
January 23-24, 2026 @ Solomon Center
| Our thriving diocese: 9 Aspirants, 9 Postulants, 3 Candidates, 3 others in seminary, 9 Discernment Groups, the Commission on Ministry, the Standing Committee, a Canon to the Ordinary, and our Bishop! | |
Clergy Conference
February 2-4, 2026 @ Solomon Center
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Clergy gathered at the Solomon Episcopal Conference and Retreat Center for two meaningful days of learning, fellowship, worship, and growth.
We are deeply grateful to the Rt. Rev. Justin Holcomb of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida for being with us and for his thoughtful leadership. Grounded in the Book of Acts, Bishop Holcomb reflected on the importance of our calling to preach with faith and courage in this particular moment.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this time so enriching, inspiring, and memorable!
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We'd love to feature your happenings, church, 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. Send photos to Nicole Eiden at neiden@edola.org.
| | New Employment Opportunities | | |
Rector, St. Augustine Episcopal Church, Metairie
Read OTM Portfolio HERE.
| | JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER COMMUNITY | | Sign up to stay informed, learn more, and get involved. We send a diocesan newsletter once/month and occasional updates. | | | | |
