MOST REV. GLEN JOHN PROVOST, DD, MA
Bishop of the Diocese of Lake Charles
Bishop Provost was ordained to the Episcopacy and installed as the Third Bishop of Lake Charles on Monday, April 23, 2007 in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Lake Charles on March 6, 2007. He was born August 9, 1949 to Cyrus and Sadie Marie Blanchet Provost in Lafayette. He received a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from St. Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict, La., in 1971, studied at the North American College in Rome from 1971 to 1975, received a Sacrae Theologiae Baccaluareus, or Bachelor of Sacred Theology (STB) from St. Thomas University in Rome in 1974 and continued studies for his Licentiate in Sacred Theology at St. Thomas until 1975. He also earned a Master of Arts Degree in English Literature from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette in 1981. Continuing education includes work at L'Institute Catholique in Paris (1972) (French language); the University of London (1980) (Victorian language); Don Quichote Institute, Salmancia (1997) (Spanish language); Institute Santa Maria, Rome (1971) (Italian language) and Archaeological Study Tours to Syria, Jordan and Turkey.
Bishop Provost was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Lafayette by Pope Paul VI on June 29, 1975 in St Peter's Basilica in Rome. He served as an Associate Pastor at Our Lady Queen of Heaven in Lake Charles during the summer of 1975. He was Associate Pastor of St. Mary Magdalene in Abbeville, 1975-1983; Pastor of St. Leo in Roberts Cove, 1983-1985, Pastor of St. John Cathedral, 1985-1998, and Pastor of Our Lady of Fatima, 1998-March 6, 2007. He served as a Judge on the Diocese of Lafayette Tribunal, was a member of the Diocesan School Board, 1987-1996, Vice Chairman of the Council of Priests, 2005-2006; Chairman of the Council of Priests, 1989-1991, 2006-2007; Member of the Council of Priests, 2001-2007; Episcopal Vicar and Dean of the West Lafayette Deanery, a Diocesan Consultor, 1991-2007; and a board member of the Lafayette Catholic Service Center/Opelousas Housing Corporation, 1996-2000. Bishop Provost served as the Bishop's Liaison to the Legal Community and was an instructor in the Department of Theology for Church History, Aquinas Institute, Holy Cross College, Lafayette/New Orleans. He is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, Atakapas Chapter; the National Chaplain's Committee for the Sons of the American Revolution; and a member of various equestrian and knightly orders. The Bishop, since childhood, has studied music, enjoys playing the piano, and served as house organist at the seminaries he attended.
RYAN HANNING, PhD
Fellow, San Juan Diego Institute
Dr. Hanning is a Professor of Theology and Catholic Studies and is a founding Fellow of the San Juan Diego Institute which serves several Universities, non-profits and religious apostolates, and a Fellow of the Havard Institute for Virtuous Leadership Institute and the Institute of Catholic Theology. In addition to teaching and consulting, Ryan also serves as Asst. Editor at Hearth & Field a Christian Agrarian Journal and writes and speaks internationally on education, theology, ecological ethics and virtuous leadership. He is the co-author of The WillPower Advantage: Building Habits for Lasting Happiness, along with Tom Peterson, Founder of Catholics Come Home. Ryan currently homesteads in Tennessee with his beautiful wife Rebecca, and their ten well socialized homeschooled children.
RACHEL TOWNSEND
Senior Program Coordinator and Team Leader, St. John Paul II Foundation
Rachel Townsend is a Senior Program Coordinator and Team Leader for the St. John Paul II Foundation where she serves to support the parishes and couples across the country who are sponsoring and participating in the Together in Holiness Formation series. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Texas A&M University and graduated with Honors in Psychology distinction. Prior to joining the St. John Paul II Foundation, she worked as a Career Counselor for Champions School of Real Estate helping students to achieve their career and licensing goals. Over the years, she has volunteered at her parish community as a member of the altar guild and is currently a parishioner of Presentation of the Lord Catholic Church in Montgomery, Texas.
LARRY G. FREENEY, PHD
Director of Education and Assessments, Rejoice Counseling Apostolate
Dr. Larry serves as a Team Leader, Lead Parish Counselor, and Director of Education and Assessments at Rejoice Counseling Apostolate. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a National Certified Counselor, and an Accredited Financial Counselor Candidate. Dr. Larry completed a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at Sam Houston State University and conducted research on the lived experiences of Millennials with student loan debt. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Christianity (2014) and a Master of Arts in Counseling (2016) at Houston Baptist University. At Rejoice, Dr. Larry coordinates educational opportunities for our counseling team, our parish partners, and their parishioners. He also oversees the administration and evaluation of various psychological assessments, as he received extensive training under a licensed psychologist throughout his doctoral program. As a student supervisor, Dr. Larry works with counseling students from various universities by providing them with a practicum and internship experience that focuses on the wholistic formation of each student. When it comes to counseling, Dr. Larry serves onsite at multiple parishes and counsels from a refined approach that integrates Gestalt-based counseling with traditional, Catholic fundamentals. He has additional experience working as a Care Coordinator and Mental Health Counselor at The Harris Center (formally known as MHMRA) and as a Registered Behavioral Technician at Therapy & Beyond, where he worked with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental disorders. Dr. Larry has also acquired 1500+ hours of experience working with individuals and couples with financial issues, focusing on budgeting, paying off debt, and basic investing.
Aside from counseling, Dr. Larry serves on the Advisory Board for the St. John Paul II Foundation, a national Catholic apostolate dedicated to proclaiming the gospel of life and forming families as intimate communities of love. He also serves as the Secretary for Generosity Works Inc, a non-profit which serves as a vehicle by which employees of Rejoice Counseling Apostolate can develop initiatives that share the gift of counsel with the Church and community. He is a member of the Catholic Psychotherapy Association, where he serves as member of the Intergratus Committee and CEU coordinator. Through this position, he is gaining experience with grant writing, fundraising, and advocacy. Dr. Larry also serves as an adjunct professor at Houston Christian University and he works closely with UST MAXstudios at the University of St. Thomas in Houston where he serves as an outside expert on relationship, communication, and conflict resolution.
Dr. Larry and his family are parishioners at St. Cyril of Alexandria Catholic Church in Houston, Texas.
REV. NATHAN LONG
Pastor, St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church
Fr. Long was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Lake Charles by Bishop Glen Provost in 2008 after finishing his theology and seminary studies at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. From 2008-2011 he served as Parochial Vicar at Our Lady Queen of Heaven in Lake Charles, Louisiana. In 2011, Bishop Provost opened Vianney House, a house of discernment where young men live in residence while considering a call to the priesthood. Fr. Long was named the first Director of Vianney House and served in this role until 2020. From 2011-2015, Fr. Long served as Secretary of Christian Formation for the Diocese of Lake Charles, overseeing various Diocesan offices, including Youth Ministry, Catholic Schools, Communications, and Family Life. From 2014-2020, Fr. Long served as pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel, the personal parish to McNeese State University and home of the “Cowboy Catholics,” the campus ministry attached to the parish. He currently serves as pastor of St. Margaret of Scotland in Lake Charles. Finally, since 2017, Fr. Long has served as Rector of St. Louis Catholic High School, a position he currently maintains alongside his parish responsibilities.
OWEN AND ERIN CLANTON
Parishioners, St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church
Owen was born and raised in Covington, LA. He played college baseball for McNeese State University which is where he met Erin, a native of Lake Charles. Owen is the Administrative Director of Middle Schools for the Calcasieu Parish School Board and Erin is the Curriculum Coach and Technology Coordinator for St. Margaret Catholic School.
Owen and Erin have been married for 15 years and have 4 children; Cullen 12, Ellie 10, Camilla 5, and Cecille 3. Together as a family they enjoy traveling, spending time together, and Saints football. They also love being a part of their church community and are actively involved in both the St. Margaret Church and School Communities. Also, they have been members of Domestic Church since 2016.
