DOCSLIB.ORG

St. Rita Catholic Church Catahoula, Louisiana

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

ST. RITA CATHOLIC CHURCH CATAHOULA, LOUISIANA CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE In Memory of the Deceased Pastors and Parishioners of St. Rita Church Suggested Reading: Title: Saint Rita: Saint of the Impossible Translator: Rev. John Otto Publisher: Catholic Book Publishing Corp. Title: St. Rita of Cascia: Saint of the Impossible Author: Rev. Joseph Sicardo Publisher: Tan Books Title: The Precious Pearl: The Story of Saint Rita of Cascia Author: Rev. Michael Di Gregorio Publisher: Society of St. Paul Links: www.saintritashrine.org www.saintrita.org http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/RITACAS.htm http://www.marypages.com/Rita.htm http://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/the-prayer-to-st-rita.html St. Rita Window ‒ St. Rita Church Mission Statement The mission of St. Rita Catholic Church is to be a community of disciples of Christ that, guided by the Holy Spirit, brings God’s transforming love to our parish family and to the world; committed to the lifelong process of developing a personal relationship with God through the intercession of the Church, Mary and Joseph, St. Rita, and all the Angels and Saints. The Chapel The Original Church The Renovated Church The Church Today Near the calm waters of Lake Catahoula, under the majestic oaks of its banks, the Indians were succeeded by the Acadians, a handful of courageous and religious people. Despite their hard work in the Atchafalaya Basin ‒ trapping, fishing, and farming ‒ they looked at the bright side of life and handed down their religious and cultural heritage to their children. In the early 1920s, the first spiritual help came from St. Martin de Tours Church under the guidance of Fr. Joseph Peeters. Mass was celebrated in homes, in the public school, and in the storage room of Aurelien Doucet’s grocery store. Aurelien and his wife loaned a temporary place on their property for a modest chapel that was later moved to where the church is presently located. In October 1927, the church property was enlarged when Gaston Rousseau donated a piece of property to St. Martin de Tours Church. In May 1948, a few arpents were added by Joseph Dauphinet, Sr. and his wife, Isabella Bourque. These donations completed the triangular shape of the property where St. Rita Church is located today. Near the end of 1951, the chapel was replaced by the building which became the church of the new parish of St. Rita, which was established by Bishop Jules Jeanmard on May 29, 1952. Bishop Jeanmard appointed Fr. Marcel Dion as the first pastor of St. Rita Church on May 30, 1952. Fr. Dion began with a busy schedule: May 31, the marriage of Marcel Borel and Hazel Latiolais; June 6, the funeral of Bobby Latiolais, 7 year old son of Antoine Latiolais and Ursule Faucheaux; June 8, the baptism of Wayne Pat Lasseigne. During his tenure, Fr. Dion built a rectory and placed on the church grounds a donated statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He effectively gave deep foundations to the good spirit of the community. After Fr. Dion was transferred in June 1961, Bishop Maurice Schexnayder appointed Fr. François Bussieres as the second pastor of St. Rita Church. During his tenure, the rectory was enlarged, After Fr. Dion was transferred in June 1961, Bishop Maurice Schexnayder appointed Fr. François Bussieres as the second pastor of St. Rita Church. By the time Fr. Bussieres left in 1971, the rectory had been enlarged, a parish hall had been built, Our Lady of the Lake Cemetery had been organized, a mausoleum had been constructed, and land had been purchased for a future religious education center. a parish hall was constructed, Our Lady of the Lake Cemetery was organized, a mausoleum was built, and land was purchased for a religious education center. Fr. Bussieres is buried in Our Lady of the Lake Cemetery. After Fr. Bussieres was transferred in 1971, Bishop Schexnayder appointed Fr. John Spekschate as the third pastor of St. Rita Church. During his tenure, the church and rectory interiors were renovated, a parking lot was prepared, and a chapter of the Legion of Mary was formed. In August 1974, Fr. Spekschate retired to his native Holland. Bishop Gerard Frey appointed Fr. Columban Lesquivit as the fourth pastor of St. Rita Church in December of that year. During his tenure, Fr. Columban initiated the installation of stained glass windows for the church, published a pictorial directory, expanded the parish hall, and documented the church community’s history. He served as pastor of St. Rita Church for nearly 15 years, until ill health forced him to retire in March 1989. Fr. Columban is buried in Our Lady of the Lake Cemetery. Bishop Frey appointed Fr. Allen Breaux as the fifth pastor of St. Rita Church in May 1989. During his tenure, the church’s sanctuary was renovated, a second mausoleum was built, the parish hall was further expanded, a youth group was formed, and a Knights of Columbus Council was established. After Fr. Breaux was transferred, Bishop Edward O’Donnell appointed Fr. Donald Pelous as the sixth pastor of St. Rita Church in June 1998. During his tenure, a new rectory was built, the parish hall was renovated, a pictorial directory was published, and the church’s canopy was enlarged. When Fr. Pelous retired in June 2009, Bishop Michael Jarrell appointed Fr. Richard Fabre as the seventh pastor of St. Rita Church. May God, in His goodness, continue to foster the spiritual growth of the people who have been entrusted to the loving patronage of St. Rita of Cascia. The Church Interior Before Renovation Dion Hall, formerly Madonna Hall Our Lady of the Lake Cemetery The Rectory Pastors of St. Rita Church Fr. Marcel Dion Fr. François Bussieres Fr. John Spekschate 1952 - 1961 1961 - 1971 1971 - 1974 Fr. Columban Lesquivit Fr. Allen Breaux Fr. Donald Pelous 1974 - 1989 1989 - 1998 1998 - 2009 Fr. Richard Fabre 2009 - St. Rita was born in Spoleto, Italy, in 1381. At an early age, she begged her parents to allow her to enter a convent. Instead, they arranged a marriage for her. Rita became a good wife and mother, but her husband was a man of violent temper. He often mistreated her. He taught their children his evil ways. Rita tried to perform her duties faithfully, to pray, and to receive the sacraments frequently. After nearly twenty years of marriage, her husband was stabbed by an enemy, but before he died he repented because Rita prayed for him. Shortly afterwards, her two sons died, and Rita was alone in the world. Prayer, fasting, penances, and good works filled her days. In 1417, she was admitted to the convent of the Augustinian nuns at Cascia and began a life of perfect obedience and great charity. Sister Rita had a great devotion to the Passion of Christ. “Please let me suffer like You, Divine Savior,” she said one day. Suddenly, one of the thorns from the crucifix struck her on the forehead. It left a deep wound which didn’t heal and which caused her much suffering for the rest of her life. She died on May 22, 1457. Because of her many trials and sacrifices throughout her life, St. Rita is known as the patron saint of those suffering the afflictions of abuse, sickness, desperate causes, difficult marriages, widows, and those suffering from sterility and infertility. The Memorial of St. Rita is celebrated on May 22. The Basilica of St. Rita Cascia, Italy Interior of the Basilica The Ossuary of St. Rita The Incorruptible Body of St. Rita St. Rita’s body was miraculously preserved after death, defying the normal process of decomposition. It’s been beautifully incorrupt for more than 500 years, a great miracle from God. Her body is on display in the Basilica. HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LAFAYETTE The history of the Catholic Church in southwest Louisiana began in the mid 1750s when settlers came from France, Spain, and Germany. Many were accompanied by priests to administer the sacraments and preach the word of God in the new land. When England expelled the French colonists from eastern Canada, also in the middle of the 18th century, many of these came to south Louisiana where previous settlers had the same French language and Catholic faith of the exiles. The first church parishes in what is now the Diocese of Lafayette were St. Martinville, established in 1756; St. Landry, established in 1776; Grand Coteau, established in 1819; and Vermilionville (now Lafayette), established in 1821. All of southwest Louisiana then was part of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The Diocese of Northern Louisiana, first known as the Diocese of Natchitoches, was established in 1853. It became the Diocese of Alexandria in 1910. In 1918, the Diocese of Lafayette was formed from the civil parishes of southwest Louisiana carved from the Archdiocese of New Orleans. At the time of the Diocese of Lafayette’s establishment, statistics indicated 48 church parishes with a Catholic population of 152,000. Today, the Diocese of Lafayette is comprised of eight civil parishes: Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion. Current Statistics (10-01-2011) • Church Parishes: 121 • Catholic Population: 304,921 • Catholic Families: 103,293 Coat of Arms Diocese of Lafayette BISHOPS OF THE DIOCESE OF LAFAYETTE Bishop Jules Jeanmard 1918-1956 Bishop Maurice Schexnayder 1956-1973 Bishop Gerard Frey 1973-1988 Bishop Harry Flynn 1989-1994 Bishop Edward O’Donnell 1994-2002 Bishop Michael Jarrell 2002- O God, in Your infinite tenderness You have been pleased to regard the prayer of Your servant Rita, and to grant to her the supplication that is impossible to human foresight, skill, and effort, in reward for her compassionate love and firm reliance on Your promises.
Recommended publications
  • Saint Michael Catholic Church

    Saint Michael Catholic Church

    March 11, 2018 •Fourth Sunday of Lent P.O. Box 406 SAINT Crowley, LA 70527 Corner of North Ave. F & Fi h St. MICHAEL PHONE: 337 -783 -7394 - - FAX: 337 788 0237 CATHOLIC www.stmichaelcrowley.org CHURCH [email protected] PASTORAL STAFF Rev. Mikel A. Polson ............................. Pastor Rev. Edward Duhon ……. Sacramental Ministry Dc. Dan Didier ...................................... Deacon Dc. Paul Mae ........ Ms. Helen ’s Soup Kitchen Simone Dubois ... Adult Spiritual Development Gwen Kibodeaux ..................... Office Manager Eva Cormier ....................... Pastoral Associate Jeanne Schmid ............................. Receponist OFFICE HOURS Monday ‒Thursday .... 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ..................................... 1:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Friday ......................... 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. MASS SCHEDULE Saturday (Vigil) ................................ 4:30 p.m. Sunday ......... 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., ...................................................... & 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday ................ 12:05 p.m. Holy Days of Obligaon ........... As announced RECONCILIATION Weekends: Saturdays .... 3:30 p.m. −4:15 p.m. Weekdays: Tues.—Fri. 11:30 a.m. −12:00 p.m. or by appointment St. Michael Elementary School 805 East Northern Avenue 337 -783 -1410 Website: stmike.net Mrs. Sandra B. Dore ’-Principal Notre Dame High School Established in 1897, St. Michael the Archangel Church Parish has of Acadia Parish faithfully served the people of Crowley, Louisiana, and surrounding 901 North Eastern Avenue areas for over 100 years. Today we are a thriving church parish in the Crowley, Louisiana - - Diocese of Lafayee, and we connue the Sacramental Tradions 337 783 3519 Website: Ndpios.com established by Jesus Christ as passed on to us by the Apostles to Mrs.
  • Attakapas Gazette 1966-1994

    Attakapas Gazette 1966-1994

    ATTAKAPAS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION Glenn R. Conrad, President A. Otis Hebert, Vice President Leona David, Treasurer / Albert Silverman, Recording Sec. Mathe Allain, Secretary BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mrs. Larry Baker Mr. Harris Periou Rt. Rev. George Bodin Mrs. Lucille Saltzman Mrs. Henry Duchamp Miss Pearl Segura Mr. Wilbur Gillespie Mrs. Ernest Yongue Mr. Orres LeBlanc STANDING COMMITTEES Publications: Mrs. Henry Duchamp History: Mrs. Larry Baker Genealogy: Rt. Rev. George Bodin Traditions: Mr. Harris Periou Landmarks: Mr. Wilbur Gillespie Membership: Mrs. Leona David Scholarship: Rt. Rev. George Bodin Official Organ of the Attakapas Historical Association P.O. Box 107 St. Martinville, La. 70582 Editor: Mathe Allain Associate Editor: John Cameron Dues Schedule: Life membership for individuals: $100. 00 Annual dues for individuals: a. Active or Associate (out-of-state) membership: $5.00 b. Contributing membership: $15.00 c. Patron membership: $20. 00 Annual Institutional Dues: a. Regular: $5. 00 b. Sustaining: $10. 00 Canadian dues: Same as American dues, payable in U. S. dollars. Foreign dues: $5.00 plus postage. ATTAKAPAS GAZETTE Volume VII March 1972 Number 1 CONTENTS The Dedication of Oak and Pine Alley 2 The Teche Campaign, April 1863 Edited and Annotated by Claude F. Oubre 3 The Acadian Flower and Herb Garden Harris J. Periou 20 Aspects of Slave Management and Maintenance on a Louisiana Sugar Plantation: Petite Anse, 1840-1860 James H. Dormon 23 Acadian Saying Louise Darnall 31 Oak and Pine Alley Jane G. Bulliard 32 English- -Cajun Style Gertrude Prince 39 Un bref episode dans la vie de Monsieur LeDuc, Chirurgien du Roi Jacqueline Voorhies 41 The Ricohoc Train Wreck Albert W.
  • Companions in Jesus

    Companions in Jesus

    JESUITS Central and Southern Fall 2018 Jesuit Brothers: Companions in Jesus Ordination in P.R. | Lessonsxxx from | xxx Angola | xxx | Working for Racial Justice Dear friends in the Lord, Queridos amigos en el Señor, Headlines often capture the Los titulares a menudo capturan los eventos significant events of the moment. significativos del momento. Mientras escribo esto, la crisis As I write this, the abuse crisis and de abusos y su legado exigen merecidamente nuestra its legacy rightfully demand our atención. El santo padre y el padre general han hecho un attention. The Holy Father and llamado a la Compañía de Jesús y a la Iglesia entera para Father General call the Society of atender esta situación crucial, cuidando a quienes han Jesus and the whole Church to attend experimentado abusos y tomando los pasos necesarios to this critical situation, caring for para garantizar la seguridad de todos los niños de Dios. those who have experienced abuse and taking steps Tras los titulares, sin embargo, continúa el trabajo to ensure the safety of all God’s little ones. silencioso y estable de Dios en y a través de la Compañía Beneath the headlines, though, the quiet steady de Jesús. Esta revista recalca esa realidad y nos brinda una work of God in and through the Society of Jesus fe renovada que Él que nos ha bendecido con hombres tan continues. This magazine highlights that reality and maravillosos como los hermanos Markoe y el padre Fichter gives us renewed faith that the One who has blessed continúa llamando nuevos apóstoles para servir al Señor.
  • WINTER 2020 ASBS FIVE YEAR REPORT Introduction Historically, ASBS Leadership Has Prepared an ASBS Report Every Five Years for the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament

    WINTER 2020 ASBS FIVE YEAR REPORT Introduction Historically, ASBS Leadership Has Prepared an ASBS Report Every Five Years for the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament

    VOLUME 18, ISSUE 2 ASBS NEWSLETTER WINTER 2020 ASBS FIVE YEAR REPORT Introduction Historically, ASBS Leadership has prepared an ASBS Report every five years for the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. It affords all of us an opportunity to look at various aspects of our Association through documentation of ASBS activities that have taken place at the national level, and at the local level. We also project our goals that we hope to accomplish in the next five years. As most of you are aware, our focus in the coming years is sustainability of the ASBS at each location. Each ASBS Faith Community is in the process of writ- ing a formal plan to achieve that goal. The following report provides an overview of ASBS activities between the years 2015 – 2020. Associates of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament 2015 – 2020 Report The years 2015 – 2020 have been a time of evangelization, transition, spiritual growth, celebration, and planning for the future of the Associates of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. The following report will provide a summary of these activities. ASBS National Leadership ASBS National Leadership governance between 2015 and 2020 has been com- posed of an ASBS Director and two Assistant Directors. Assignments during those years were as follows: 2015-2016 2016-2019 Carole Blanks-Director Carole Blanks-Director Joan Chisholm-Assistant Director Margie Groot-Assistant Director Joyce Page-Assistant Director Joyce Hadley-Assistant Director During the summer of 2015, Sr. Jane Nesmith was assigned as the liaison to ASBS. In the Spring of 2019, SBS Leadership affirmed that Carole’s assign- ment would be extended as ASBS Director from 2019-2022.
  • CENTRAL OFFICE DIRECTORY Diocese of Lafayette, 1408 Carmel Drive, Lafayette, LA 70501-5298

    CENTRAL OFFICE DIRECTORY Diocese of Lafayette, 1408 Carmel Drive, Lafayette, LA 70501-5298

    CENTRAL OFFICE The Diocese of Lafayette Staff Directory is maintainedDIRECTORY by the Office of Communications as a service to the Bishop, clergy, religious, and laity of the Diocese of Lafayette. These pages may be printed directly from the website. Please report errors or updates by email to Communications Director Blue Rolfes at [email protected]. ALPHABETICAL LISTINGS OF DIOCESAN CENTRAL OFFICES *A complete listing of personnel and contact information for each department is provided on the indicated page. Acadiana Catholic .............................................. 4 Accounting ......................................................... 5 Archives/Research & Information ..................... 3 Auxiliary Services ............................................. 3 Bishop’s Office .................................................. 2 Black Catholic Ministries .................................. 6 Building/Grounds Manager ............................... 5 Building/Renovation .......................................... 5 Catholic Schools/Food & Nutrition ................... 3 Catechetics......................................................... 3 Chancellor’s Office ............................................ 2 Communications……………………………….4 Community Development .................................. 5 Development (BSA) .......................................... 5 Diocese of Lafayette (general information) ....... 2 Financial Affairs ................................................ 5 Financial Officer ...............................................

  • Historic Ceremonial Dedication Rite Honors Restoration Work, Those Who Made It Possible

    01066827 Vol. 45, No. 12 immaculate conception cathedral Historic ceremonial dedication rite honors restoration work, those who made it possible By Pamela Seal (Reprinted with permission) “Temple. House. Presence. Prayer.” These are the words that come to mind when we dedicate the church,” said the Most Rev- erend Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles, as he presided at the Solemn Dedication of the newly restored Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Aug. 31. “What was established in the early Jerusalem, we see here and now in this artistic creation Bishop Provost has blessed new Holy Water, which he uses to bless the church of the new holy city,” Bishop Provost said in praising the massive project accomplished in the edifice and the people. He is aided by Deacon Andrew DeRouen.( Photo by Allie Livingston) Cathedral, located at the corner of Kirby and Bilbo streets in downtown Lake Charles. The Rite of Dedication included the anointing of the altar and walls of the church with Sa- cred Oil of Chrism. The use of Sacred Chrism is significant in that it is only used a few times in the life of the Church — baptisms, confirmations, Holy Orders and the dedication of a church, according to the Very Rev. Ruben J. Buller, Vicar General of the Diocese. “Because there has been major construction in the church, the consecration of the altar with the Oil of Chrism is called for, along with the consecration of the walls of the church,” said Father Buller. The altar is new and was dedicated for the first time.
  • Diocese of San Diego Oe Erected Fed. 3

    Diocese of San Diego Oe Erected Fed. 3

    DIOCESE OF SAN DIEGO OE ERECTED FED. 3 rh« RagUtar Hat tha Intaraatlonal Newa Sarvica (Wlra and M allJ, tha N . C. W. C. Nawa Sarrfca ( l a d ^ u 9**’';* ’ * i Churches, Convents Its Owm ^ • c U l Sanricc* AU tha SmalW Catholic Sorvicos, talOnuitioBal Illustnited Now*, oad Na C Wa C. Plctura Sarvico. i BISHOP BUDDY Local Local “ Pax,” a new society sug­ Edition Edition ENTHRONEMENT, gested by The Catholic Sacked, Burned in Worker, is termed “an or­ THE ganization of Ciif^olics who, while they cannot join any Spain Are 20,000 PLANS LISTED of the existing pacifist \ ■" ■ ...I.. I .1 ■ groups, nevertheless feel 1,400 Priests Killed in Barcelona Alone; Tentative Arrangements Show Archbishop that they cannot, in con­ science, take any part in a Religion Conies to Life Under REGISTER(Name Registered in the U. S. Patent Office) John J. Cantwell Presiding, modem war.” The Catholic Delivering Sermon Worker says: “When the Rightists VOL. XIII No. 2 DENVER, COLO., SUNDAY, JAN. 10, 1937 T W O CENTS next war comes along, and it Paris.— Twenty thousand churches and convents have San Diego, Calif.— (Special 'Telephone Interview)— will. Catholic conscientious ■been sacked or burned in Spain according to documented The solemn erection of the new Diocese of San Diego and objectors will have no stand­ Faithful Pray in Rain for Pope’s Recovery reports published by La Croix du Midi, which is published the enthronement of the Most Rev. Charles F. Buddy will ing with or recognition by at Toulouse and which made use of information obtained be held Feb.
  • Century of Love

    Century of Love

    Century of Love News of the Centennial of the Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana June, 2018 www.diolaf.org The Diocese Comes of Age: Diocese. His persistence paid off, and 18 years Growth of the Church after his installation, the Discalced Carmelites established a home in the city of Lafayette in 1936. As Jules Jeanmard was formally installed Bishop of Bishop Jeanmard saw this powerhouse of prayer the Diocese of Lafayette on December 12, 1918, the as a “lightning rod” for the Diocese. Still today, the 39-year-old Bishop wasted no Carmelites continue their support and prayer for time in setting forth his vision the work of the Church in the Diocese of Lafayette. for growth. The most notable expansion in the early years of Jeanmard’s pride and joy was St. Mary’s Home, an the Diocese of Lafayette was in orphanage located only a few blocks from the its number of parishes and Cathedral and the Bishop’s home. Jeanmard priests. While the Diocese of worked diligently to open this home in 1923, which Lafayette represented a would be run by the Sisters of Charity of the Incar- sizable land area, the popula- nate Word. Bishop Jeanmard was a true father tion west of the Atchafalaya figure to the boys and girls who lived there. Every River was only 25% of the afternoon, he would walk over to the home for population of the Archdiocese games of baseball and recreation with the children. of New Orleans. Lafayette, its In time, St. Mary’s Home would care for over 1,100 biggest city, had well under 10,000 residents.
  • Download Downtown Lafayette History

    Download Downtown Lafayette History

    The History of Downtown Lafayette, Louisiana TM 19th Century Acadian House Poché Prouet Associates, Ltd. Renaissance Market Thomas R. Hightower, Jr. A Professional Law Corporation We are grateful each and every time you © Joel Breaux BroDesign Poupart Bakery Inc. Theriot Design Group, LLC History of the Development of Lafayette Drawing is circa 1918, by J. N. Marchand. It was a gift to The Historic New Orleans Collection by Mary Alma Riess. 2008.0242.3.3 The Early Years - A Background The first European explorers to visit Louisiana came in 1528 when a Spanish expedition led by Panfilo de Narváez located the mouth of the Mississippi River. The French explorer Robert Cavelier de La Salle named the region Louisiana in 1682 to honor France’s King Louis XIV. The first permanent settlement, Fort Maurepas (at what is now Ocean Springs, Mississippi, near Biloxi), was founded in 1699 by Pierre PageLe Moyne d’Iberville, a French military officerSans from Souci BuildingCanada. Prior to November 1762, when France ceded territory rights of Louisiana to Spain, the Attakapas Region was mostly inhabited by Native Americans of the Attakapa-Ishak and Chitimacha tribes. There were only a sparse number of traders, ranchers and smugglers of European descent. Catholic Church records indicate that Acadians arrived in New Orleans in early 1764. Their family names were Cormier, Landry, Poirier, Olivier, Brazier, Richard, Deville, Degoutin, Coutrie, and others. Some moved on to find fertile land in the Attakapas region and beyond. Others settled along the Mississippi River west of New Orleans. In early 1765, there were 4 families of Acadians, a total of 21 people, who settled on the western Attakapas frontier, and shortly thereafter 37 more Acadians arrived.
  • Segregated Catholicism: the Origins of Saint Katharine's Parish, New Orleans

    Segregated Catholicism: the Origins of Saint Katharine's Parish, New Orleans

    Vincentian Heritage Journal Volume 17 Issue 3 Article 2 Fall 1996 Segregated Catholicism: The Origins of Saint Katharine's Parish, New Orleans Douglas Slawson C.M. Follow this and additional works at: https://via.library.depaul.edu/vhj Recommended Citation Slawson, Douglas C.M. (1996) "Segregated Catholicism: The Origins of Saint Katharine's Parish, New Orleans," Vincentian Heritage Journal: Vol. 17 : Iss. 3 , Article 2. Available at: https://via.library.depaul.edu/vhj/vol17/iss3/2 This Articles is brought to you for free and open access by the Vincentian Journals and Publications at Via Sapientiae. It has been accepted for inclusion in Vincentian Heritage Journal by an authorized editor of Via Sapientiae. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 141 Segregated Catholicism: The Origins of Saint Katharine's Parish, New Orleans B DOUGLAS J. SLAWSON During the ante-bellum period and the era of Reconstruction, the religious life of black Christians in New Orleans cast in sharp relief the general experience of their urban counterparts throughout the South, namely, the tendency toward separate Protestant churches for blacks versus the nearly universal practice of integration in Catholic ones. New Orleans highlights this contrast because there the demography of black denominationalism was reversed. In the South, the majority of black Christians, slave and free, belonged to the various Protestant denominations; only a handful belonged to the Catholic body. In the Crescent City, however, the majority of blacks were Catholics, while the minority were Protestants. Black Catholics in New Orleans at- tended racially mixed churches down through the first decade of the twentieth century.

  • Deacon Thompson to Be Ordained to Priesthood May 26 (Read More at Lcdiocese.Org Ents Are Dean B

    The Diocese of Lake Charles lcdiocese.org Vol. 38, No. 11 Deacon Thompson to be ordained to priesthood May 26 (Read more at lcdiocese.org ents are Dean B. Thompson ued studies for the Diocese of “It is hard to imagine, but has brought me, and I am – Deacon Thompson to be or- and Deborah Brown. He was Lake Charles in late 2008. almost eleven years have glad of it, because I may not dained) received into the Catholic He has attended the Pon- passed since I began, in a have had the courage to fol- LAKE CHARLES – The Church and graduated from tifical College Josephinum formal way, to discern and to low Him. Thus, I can only Most Reverend Glen John Baton Rouge Magnet High in Columbus, Ohio, graduat- pursue a priestly vocation, stand or, better, kneel, in awe Provost, Bishop of Lake School in 1999. From 1999 to ing with a Master of Divin- he said. “There are times in and in thanksgiving before Charles, will ordain Dea- 2001, he attended Louisiana ity (MDiv) and will obtain which I was not sure that I con Bryan Thompson to the State University and then en- summa cum laude a Bachelor was following the right path, the loving Providence of God. priesthood for the Diocese of tered religious life with the of Sacred Theology degree, or that I did not have the gen- I can see here an invitation Lake Charles at a 10 a.m. Lit- Legionaries of Christ from awarded through the Pon- erosity to say “Yes” to perse- to trust, an invitation to grow urgy on Saturday, May 26 in 2001 to 2004.

  • Four Ordained to Priesthood, One to Transitional Diaconate

    01088221 Vol. 46, No. 10 Four ordained to priesthood, one to transitional diaconate By Pamela Seal ordinands of the impor- Diocese of Lake Charles tant role prayer plays in their vocation. LAKE CHARLES — “As Pope Benedict in God’s call to five men the Year for Priests re- overcame many twists and minded us, people look to turns in recent months the priest to be an expert leading up to the Sacra- in prayer,” said Bishop ment of Holy Orders on Provost. “Through his ex- Saturday, June 27, in the ample of prayer and per- Cathedral of the Immacu- sonal relationship with late Conception. God, the priest informs The ordinations of the us that God is not some Rev. Samuel Bond, Rev. philosophical abstraction Joseph Caraway, Rev. An- but a deeply personal God drew DeRouen and Rev. who touches our hearts, Levi Thompson to the minds, and souls.” priesthood — the largest At the conclusion of his number of priests to be or- remarks, Bishop Provost dained at one time in the expressed what a happy 40-year history of the Dio- day it was for the Dio- cese of Lake Charles — cese of Lake Charles say- was a reminder that God’s ing, “United with family grace always prevails, and friends, bishop and even amidst a pandemic. priests, deacons and reli- Joining these four men gious, we all rejoice in the on his own priestly jour- graces that will flow at ney was Rev. Mr. Michael the opening of Wisdom’s Beverung as he was or- arms and the embrace of dained a transitional dea- Christ, the bridegroom of con.