Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel delivered the Diocese of Lafayette's "Quinquennial Report" to Pope Francis during a private audience at the Vatican this week. Bishop Deshotel, who was joined by Vicar General Msgr. Curtis Mallet, was also accompanied by several Diocesan priests and seminarians currently studying in Rome, including Fr. Michael Richard and seminarians Seth Lemaire and Alex Lancon. The Quinquennial Report is an extensive, 100 plus page document that answers a lengthy series of questions about the current status and operations of our Diocese, and is delivered every ten years to the Pope, in person, by our Bishop. The report is delivered during what's known as the Bishop's "Ad Limina" visit. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the Visit Ad Limina means, technically, the obligation incumbent on bishops of visiting, at stated times, the "thresholds of the Apostles", Sts. Peter and Paul, and of presenting themselves before the Pope to give an account of the state of their dioceses. The object of the visit is not merely to make a pilgrimage to the tombs of the apostles, but, above all, to show the proper reverence for the Successor of St. Peter, to acknowledge practically his universal jurisdiction by giving an account of the condition of particular churches, to receive his admonitions and counsels, and thus bind more closely the members of the Church to its Divinely appointed head. An exciting time for our Bishop and our Diocese!