This Louisiana Priest Has Two Parishes — and a Prize-Winning Gumbo, by Alexandra Greeley

“The very nature of cooking is oriented towards building communion and love with those present.”

By Alexandra Greeley, National Catholic Register, 5/12/20

Something of a minor cooking celebrity, Father Christopher Cambre, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus parish in Baldwin and Immaculate Conception parish in Charenton (both in Louisiana) made a name for himself as a participant in the annual Collarnary Cookoff at John Paul the Great Academy in Lafayette, Louisiana. Actually, Father Cambre has many names for himself as he has been a participant for six years, is a graduate of the academy, and plans to continue competing. (Note: the main challenge of the cookoff has always been making a dazzling gumbo.)

One of seven siblings and raised by very Catholic parents, Father Cambre noted that the family went faithfully to Mass every Sunday, which was really at the heart of their life. “That helped to influence my vocation,” he said. And choosing the priesthood had much to do with his studies at the John Paul the Great Academy. “A priest friend of ours would always come over for big meals,” he said. “And he was really close to our family, and having that kind of connection was important. He always told me that one day I would become a priest.”  ….

Read more here:  https://www.ncregister.com/blog/agreeley/meet-the-louisiana-priest-with-two-parishes-and-a-prize-winning-gumbo