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.