Beloved Community Spotlight

Joe Boniol has been part of the St. Margaret’s community for nearly nine years. In that time he and his husband, Rev. Deacon Lester “Les” Mut, have found a spiritual home rooted in welcome, inclusivity, and deep affection for one another.

For those who aren’t sure, a small note of help: Joe says his last name is pronounced “bone-yul,” and Les’s last name is pronounced “just like the dog.”

Joe and Les have been together for 32 years, a love story that began quietly—and memorably—during daily noon Mass in Lent at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church. Each attended on his own, noticing the other from a distance. One Friday, with the church full, the only open seat Joe could find was next to Les. During Mass their hands accidentally touched, sparks flew, and after a brief introduction Joe slipped away to pray, convinced he’d missed his chance. But in the nearly empty parking lot, Les was waiting. Lunch at Roman’s on Government Street followed, and, as Joe puts it, “the rest is history.”

The Boniol–Mut household includes three much-loved “fur babies”: dachshunds Georg and Ivy, and Mia, a bipolar Siamese cat. Their lives are also enriched by extended family and close friendships, including Corey Tullier and Lance Martin, as well as Todd and Bryan LeBlanc. Joe and Les have lived in Mid City Baton Rouge for 31 years and are currently in the process of downsizing, with hopes of renting a condo or garden home in the 70810 area.

Joe’s Baton Rouge roots go back even further. He moved to the city in 1972 to attend LSU, having been born in Alexandria and raised in Lecompte. He retired in 2017 after many years as a florist, a career that suited his creative spirit and love of beauty. Les is a licensed funeral director and crematory operator and serves St. Margaret’s as an ordained deacon.

Joe’s faith journey has been long and varied. Raised in a devout Southern Baptist family, church life filled much of his week. In college, he was drawn to a more “high church” tradition and joined the Methodist Church. He attempted to join an Episcopal Church in the 1980s but was turned away because he was gay, which led him to the Roman Catholic Church for many years.

Ultimately, it was St. Margaret’s where he finally felt fully welcomed. What Joe loves most about the parish is its warm inclusivity and the genuine love members show one another. He especially treasures the congregation’s diversity and its desire to reach out, embrace one another, and serve those beyond the church walls.

At St. Margaret’s, Joe’s life of faith has also been deeply intertwined with Les’s call to ordained ministry. Soon after they joined the parish, Les entered the discernment process for the diaconate, a journey that included Joe every step of the way. Joe speaks with gratitude about how supported and included he felt, and how meaningful it has been to see Les fulfill a long-held dream through the encouragement of this community.