On October 19, 2025, St. Paul the Apostle Church in Baton Rouge held a ceremony to rededicate its garden, now named the Sister Kathleen and Barbara Bahlinger Garden. The garden was first dedicated in 2014 to Sister Kathleen Bahlinger. It has served as a place for reflection and prayer in the St. Paul/Eden Park community. The recent ceremony included a Mass and recognized the contributions of both Bahlinger sisters to the parish and local residents.
The garden, sometimes called the ‘Garden of Two Sisters,’ honors the relationship between Kathleen and Barbara Bahlinger. Sister Kathleen was a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph and taught math at St. Joseph’s Academy. Barbara worked with Caritas, a Catholic humanitarian group. Barbara donated a kidney to Kathleen, which extended Kathleen’s life by 25 years.
The Bahlinger sisters also helped establish the St. Paul Adult Learning Center with Sister Lory Schaff in 1983. The center served the community for many years. Former students and parishioners, such as Kim and Lorena Williams, recall the sisters’ roles in organizing activities, retreats, and service projects for local families…