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01074604 Vol. 46, No. 1 IMMACULATE CONCEPTION SESQUICENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY Church began under patronage of St. Francis de Sales By Pamela Seal draws people to this par- by the Most Rev. Francis Diocese of Lake Charles ish.” X. Leray, Auxiliary Bishop Father Tolentino com- of New Orleans, on Oct. 2, The Cathedral of the pared the Cathedral’s tra- 1881. It faced the court- Immaculate Conception ditional architecture to house on Ryan Street, as in downtown Lake Charles the stability of Christ. did the old church and rec- has been a symbol of re- “This church was built tory. silience and faith over to last for many years. The Father Kelly used lum- the past 150 years, rising sacred art inside these ber from the old church to above the destruction of walls connects us to the build a boys’ school, and hurricanes and ashes ear- Scriptures and the truth added a girls’ school and a ly on. of the Catholic faith. It is convent. From its humble begin- very tangible, something Destruction would nings as the Parish of St. you can see with your own strike again when The Francis de Sales in 1869 eyes.” Great Fire of 1910 lev- to a majestic Cathedral Today, the Cathedral eled more than seven city now listed on the National ministers to 845 registered blocks of Lake Charles Register of Historic Plac- families (2,117 individu- claiming not only the es, Immaculate Concep- als) and is considered to be church, rectory, convent tion has always been the one of the most outstand- and both the boys’ and center of liturgical life. It ing examples of Lombardy girls’ schools, but most of serves as a reminder of Romanesque architecture the parish church records the pioneering spirit and in the United States. as well. Only a few bap- The church of the Immaculate Conception was dedicated on Dec. 18, 1913, replacing determination of the early tismal records survived. the previous one destroyed by the Great Fire of 1910. The church, pictured here missionaries who helped History of the parish Because of its devastat- establish the first Catholic in 1930, would later become the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception when the While Immaculate Con- ing effects, the Great Fire Diocese of Lake Charles was created on April 25, 1980. This is the third church church in Lake Charles. proved to be a turning Reflecting on the ses- ception was established as structure in the 150 year-history of Immaculate Conception Parish. quicentennial anniversary the first Catholic church of Immaculate Conception parish in Lake Charles Church Parish, which is on Dec. 8, 1869, recorded Dec. 8, the Rev. Rommel missionary activity began Tolentino, pastor of the in the Imperial Calcasieu Cathedral, expressed grat- area as early as the 1850’s itude to those early church as priests from Texas and fathers for their sacrifice later Opelousas and Ab- and dedication to provide beville came to minister to spiritual nourishment to the people. the people in this area. Instrumental in this “The missionaries and role were two missionar- priests deserve a great ies from France, the Rev. P. deal of thanks for being F. Parisot and the Rev. An- faithful to their vocation,” dre Borias, who traveled Father Tolentino said. the ocean for 52 days to an- “Christ commanded the swer the plea of the Most apostles and their suc- Rev. Jean-Marie Odin, cessors — which are the Bishop of the Diocese of bishops and their collabo- Galveston. Their mission- rators, the priests — to ary work in eastern Texas spread the Gospel and to included the western part preach to all corners of of Louisiana in which Cal- the world. They took that casieu Parish and Lake mandate seriously even Charles were also ser- The church of the Immaculate Conception, left, as it was in 1895, was dedicated in 1881 after the original church, through difficult situa- viced. named for St. Francis de Sales, was destroyed by a hurricane in 1879. Lumber from the original church was tions, crossing bayous and The registers of the used to construct a boys’ school, right. The Convent of the Sisters Marianites of Holy Cross can be seen in the marshes, using boats and Galveston Diocese show background. horseback to bring the 129 baptisms were record- ed in Calcasieu Parish out Southwest Louisiana. • 8:30 a.m., Monday, Dec. held at Drew Park. Spe- Gospel and Sacraments point in the history of Im- Eventually, the Diocese of 9: Immaculate Concep- cial honor was given to here to the people of Lake during those early years. The growth of the Catholic maculate Conception par- Lake Charles was formed tion of the Blessed Vir- parishioners 90 years Charles.” ish. on Jan. 29, 1980, and The gin Mary, Immaculate and older: Lois Baham, The sesquicentennial Church soon led to regu- lar visits by clergy from Plans for a new church, Church of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Gerard Becnel, Roland year-long celebration ini- seating between 800 and Conception became the School Mass at the Ca- Bodin, Robert Bou- tially kicked off on Dec. 8, Opelousas. When priests made vis- 900, were approved in Cathedral of the Diocese. thedral, followed by dreaux, Ruthie Brous- 2018, with the theme, “Cel- 1912. Building got under- Generations of parishio- Marian Procession to sard, John Gaspard, ebrating Our Past With Joy its to Lake Charles, Mass was celebrated in the way immediately on the ners in addition to priests ICCS. David Hebert, Marie Today and With Hope For corner of Kirby and Bilbo have served as a symbol of Hebert, Betty Henry, the Future.” courthouse. But as the • 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. number of Catholics con- streets, and the church and fortitude and willingness Theresa Hood, Wil- was dedicated on Dec. 18, to endure hardships for 12, Sesquicentennial liam Langley, Sybil Mc- tinued to grow, it became Anniversary Mass, fol- obvious that a church 1913, by Archbishop James the sake of Christ. Crosky, Hazel McMur- Blenk of New Orleans. On “While the priests lowed by a reception in ray, Teresa Mistretta, building was needed. Ave Maria Hall. In 1857, through the ef- Dec. 8, 1927, Feast of the played an important part Louis Robert, Ruth Ot- forts of Father Francois Immaculate Conception, in the growth and develop- • 11:15 a.m., Sunday, Dec. tenweller, Lena Roush, Raymond from Opelousas, the church was solemnly ment of the parish, the lay 29, Sesquicentennial Olivia Scalisi, Sherman a lot on the corner of Ryan consecrated. This is the people did as well,” Tolen- Anniversary Closing, Solari, Joe Stoma, Lore- and Kirby streets, measur- church that stands today. tino emphasized. “Without Solemn Pontifical Mass, na Stutes, Ione Vincent ing 200 feet by 200 feet was It was under the lead- them, there would not be a followed by a reception and Romona Wall. ership of the Rev. Hubert purchased for $375, and church. They had that pio- in Ave Maria Hall. • Sesquicentennial Gala Cramers, a 27-year-old neering spirit in rebuild- a chapel was built. The The Most Rev. Glen at the Historic Calca- church, constructed for Dutch priest, assigned to ing after the Great Fire John Provost, Bishop of sieu Marine National $900, was dedicated to St. the parish in 1902, that of 1910, and even the hur- Lake Charles, will be the Bank. Francis de Sales on Sept. Immaculate Conception ricane in 1881. Through main celebrant for both 26, 1858, thus making Lake would flourish. Under his the fundraising efforts Sesquicentennial com- Coinciding with the an- pastoral care at that time the anniversary Mass mittee members are niversary year was the ex- Charles a mission of St. they had to do for the bell, were about 4,000 Catholics and closing Mass. Invited Barbara Wyman, Ro- tensive restoration of the Landry Parish in Opelou- the altar, to pay for the sas. and two schools enroll- first church and the new guests for the anniversary land Bodin, Sue Burke, Cathedral. The glorious Mass include former pas- In 1866, after the Civil ing 110 girls and 78 boys. church, … they sacrificed Bob Marcantel, Andrea interior was revealed on In 1929 Pope Benedict XV tors and parochial vicars June 29 during the historic War, the parishes of the a lot.” Prejean, Monica Brous- western part of the state made Father Cramers a The establishment of of Immaculate Concep- ordination of one priest Domestic Prelate with the tion, as well as priests and sard, Richard Moreno, and four transitional dea- were realigned and Lake the first Catholic church Amanda Martin, Charles Charles became a mission title of “Monsignor.” He deacons of the Diocese of cons. in Lake Charles would Marcantel, Janet Stoma, of St. Mary Magdalen Par- would spend the remain- also bear fruit to serve the Lake Charles. “It is such a blessing der of his life as pastor be- Barbara Dubose, Kay Mor- that our own generation ish in Abbeville. The Rev. community’s medical and • A proclamation from Theodore Lamy, pastor fore his health declined. educational needs. gan, Marty Derouen, An- has been able to contrib- He died on Aug. 10, 1935, Mayor Nic Hunter will in Abbeville, visited Lake It was through the ef- drew Steiner and Pamela ute to our history through and his body is interred in be read at all the Masses the capital campaign for Charles at least three forts of Monsignor Cram- during the weekend of Seal. times in 1867 and 1868. a special vault just outside Father Tolentino con- the restoration of the Ca- the sanctuary in the main ers and Dr. John Greene Dec.

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