Heavenly Recipes

Heavenly Recipes

Story and Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

Janet brings dessert

This month’s heavenly recipe, blueberry tart, comes from Janet Marcel, staff writer and administrative assistant for Bayou Catholic. Janet got the recipe from her sister, Peggy Pitre.

Janet says that she doesn’t cook often because she was never part of a traditional family model. “My mother passed away when I was a young child and my grandmother did most of the cooking for us. I was young at that time and didn’t have any desire to learn to cook, and didn’t really have a reason to cook.”

While she might not cook much, Janet enjoys preparing desserts for family gatherings and occasional potluck events held at the Pastoral Center where she works.

Janet’s daughter Kelsi Mason, is an eighth grade math teacher at Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma. And she has two grandchildren, Carter and Alayna.

Janet has been working for the diocese for the past 23 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a MBA from Nicholls State University. She began working in the Office of Catholic Schools under the direction of Sister Immaculata Paisant, M.S.C., who was the superintendent at that time. “I enjoyed the interaction between the school personnel, especially the school secretaries and school principals. Sister ‘Mac’ was a great mentor for me. She had a really strong work ethic. I think that inspired me to always want to do my best because I knew that’s what she expected from me. She was also a person I could turn to for advice and support when I went through personal difficulties. I worked in the Catholic Schools Office for 18 years.”

While working in the Office of Catholic Schools, Janet began working part-time for the Bayou Catholic as a a

Heavenly Recipes

Blueberry Tart

First Layer:

1 cup flour 1 stick oleo (softened) 2 tbsp. granulated sugar 3/4 cup pecan pieces

Mix and press in pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until edges start to brown – let cool.

Second Layer:

1 16 oz. container Cool Whip 1 cup powdered sugar 1 8 oz. package Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)

Mix powdered sugar and cream cheese together; stir in Cool Whip. Spread on top of first layer after it cools.

Third Layer:

1 can blueberry pie filling 1 8 oz. container of Cool Whip

Spread pie filling over second layer. Top with small container of Cool Whip. Garnish with pecan halves. proofreader. “I began writing some stories a few years after I began proofing for the Bayou Catholic. When the staff writer at the time left to work in a different ministry, I began writing full time for the Bayou Catholic. I have been working for the publication for about 22 years now. In the beginning, I was working for Louis Aguirre, who was editor at the time.”

“I enjoy gathering information for stories and putting that together to tell a story about someone’s life, their ministry or the church. I also enjoy being able to visit the church parishes and schools, and meeting people I wouldn’t normally get to meet.”

Besides writing articles, Janet proofs copy for the publication and proofs the final print version of the magazine before it goes to press. “I have always been a detail oriented person and excelled in grammar. It is something that I feel confident doing.”

When away from the office, Janet enjoys spending time with her family and watching her grandson participate in sports and school activities.

Janet says she enjoys working at the Pastoral Center. “I enjoy working at the Pastoral Center because I get to be around faith-filled people every day who inspire me to continue learning more about my faith and strive to be a better person.” BC