The History of Our Lady of LaSalette Church in Sulphur, LA
1957
Father Denis Monahan, M. S., pastor of the parish of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, sought for land upon which a church could be constructed and bought a property on North Claiborne Street. There was general apathy among the people in regards to a church being built.
1958
In April the new church was completed.
April 6: It was Easter Sunday and the first masses were celebrated.
Father Albert Rosset, M.S. said
both Masses, 7:00 & 8:30AM and continued to serve here. At the early Mass
he usually said a few words in French since many of the older people did not
understand English very well. A great many careless and fallen-away Catholics
were gradually brought back to the practice of the faith through his efforts.
October 19: The blessing of the
Church and ceremony of dedication by Bishop Maurice Schexnayder of Lafayette
took place at 3:00 P.M.
Father Rosset said the Mass and
Father Joseph McMahon, M.S. preached for the occasion. There were 1/2 dozen LaSalette priests in attendance.
1961
In September, Bishop Maurice Schexnayder made the decision to elevate the mission to the status of an Independent Parish.
September 17: Bishop Maurice
Schexnayder installed Father Leoda Joseph Martel, M. S. as the first pastor of
Our Lady of La Salette Church.
Father Francis Lavin, M. S.,
pastor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Parish, preached the sermon for the
occasion.
September 24: Cynthia Jean
Granger, daughter of James Ola Granger and Gertrude Adams Granger, received the Sacrament
of Baptism, the first Baptism performed in the parish.
September 30: The first
Sacrament of Holy Matrimony was performed, uniting John Waldon Montie and Hilda
Lynette
Hoffpauir in marriage. Parents
of the groom—Eraste Montie and Nolia Broussard Montie and Parents of the
bride — Everet Hoffpauir and Florence Granger Hoffpauir.
November 5: The Altar Society
was begun, and the first church bulletin was printed. The Holy Name Society was
begun on
the following Sunday.
For the next fifteen months,
the new pastor lived at the rectory of Our Lady of Prompt Succor. Plans were
laid for the new
rectory and for the parking lot
around the church. One hundred loads of fill dirt were brought in and then
thirty-five
truckloads of shell were
obtained to cover over the fill dirt.
November 10: The first
Confirmation was held. 36 people received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
November 25: The first funeral
mass was held for Mrs. Zeledia Hebert, age 78. She was laid to rest at Mimosa
Pines Cemetery.
1962
May 13: For the first time, 52 people received the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
June: An air conditioning unit
was installed in the church.
July 29: Construction of the
new rectory was begun.
December 9: The new rectory was
completed.
December 10: The first
assistant, Father Henry LaChapelle, M.S., was assigned to the parish.
December 30: An open house was
held at the new rectory.
1963
March: Construction of the new Catechetical Center was begun.
March 3: The second assistant,
Father John McNamara, M.S., was assigned to the parish.
September: The new Catechetical
Center was completed for a cost of $82,311. The parish indebtedness stood at $75,000
for this project.
November 22: Bishop Maurice
Schexnayder blessed the new CCD building.
December 8: The Altar Society
and Holy Name Society sponsored a barbecue, and it was a grand success.
1965
February 7: The second pastor, Father James Shahrigian, M.S., is assigned here. Father Leoda Joseph Martel, M.S., is appointed to a parish in Golden Meadow, Louisiana.
December 7: The second
Confirmation was held.
1967
August: The third assistant, Father John Nally, M.S., was assigned to the parish.
September 17: The third pastor,
Father Leoda Joseph Martel, M.S., returns to our parish. Father James
Shahrigian, M.S., is
appointed pastor of Immaculate
Conception Parish in Maplewood.
October: The third Confirmation
is held.
November: Plans for a pledge
drive were initiated to help meet the expenses of upcoming church renovations.
Pledges were
made by 168 families totaling
$26,000 over a period of two years.
1968
February: Renovations to the church were begun.
May 12: Renovations to the
church were completed. At that time a loan was made for $20,000 to be paid in
three years.
July: An extra air conditioner
was purchased for $6,000 and installed.
August: The fourth assistant,
Father John Troesser, M.S., is assigned to our parish.
1969
January 12: The fifth assistant, Father Peter Kohler, M.S. is assigned to our parish.
December 3: The fourth
Confirmation was held.
1970
May: Father Peter Kohler, M.S. is assigned to the Madagash mission.
June 7: The sixth assistant,
Father Ronald Groschen, M.S. is assigned to our parish.
1971
August: Last payment is made to the bank for the $20,000 loan made three years previously.
September: The present
indebtedness of the church is $29,000.
September 19: The Feast of Our
Lady of LaSalette. A benefit dinner was held to celebrate the 10th anniversary
of our parish.
1972
The seventh assistant, Father Clifford “Cliff” Hasler, M.S., is assigned to our parish.
1976
The eighth assistant, Father Edward Brunnert, M.S., is assigned to our parish.
May 23: Father Leo Martel, M.S.
commissioned our first three Lay ministers of Communion, Mr. A.L. Chenevert,
Mr. P.E. Papillion and Mr. Charles Richard.
1977
The ninth assistant, Father Anthony Morin, M.S. is assigned to our parish.
1978
January 18: Father Leo Martel, M.S., retired as Pastor-Emeritus.
1979
The fifth pastor, Father David Hennessy, M.S. is assigned here.
Father Anthony Morin, M.S. died.
1980
The sixth pastor, Father Joseph A. Decoteau, M.S., returns to our parish.
1982
The front entry to the Church is renovated to add an entry vestibule, Bridal room and two restrooms. New stained-glass
windows, depicting each of the
seven sacraments, and doors, depicting the Holy Family and Our Lady of LaSalette, are
installed throughout the church.
April 30: The first Permanent
Deacon, Brother Ed. Normantowicz M.S. is assigned to our parish.
1984
Construction of the pavilion: Father Joseph A. Decoteau, M.S. met with
Mr. Cyril Leonard whereas Mr.
Leonard donated a metal structure for the purpose of building a church
pavilion. A crew of
men from our parish went to
Hayes, LA and dismantled a 50x100 ft. steel structure and transported all the
parts back to
the church grounds.
Construction of a beautiful
“Pavilion in the Pines” was completed and Father Joseph A. Decoteau, M.S.
blessed the structure
which became a wonderful place
for future church bazaars.
The tenth assistant, Father
Ronald B Foshage, M.S. is assigned to our parish.
1985
One of the rectory front offices was remodeled as a reception room for the parish secretary.
1986
The existing carport is enclosed to make a conference room.
The new carport was designed
not only as a place to park cars but to serve as booths for the annual summer
festival.
The census now showed a growth
to 1,200 families in the parish.
May 1: Knights of Columbus
North Sulphur Council 8978 was Chartered and named after Father James
Shahrigian, M.S.
July: The eleventh assistant,
Father Charles Gendron, M.S., is assigned to our parish.
The 12th assistant, Father
Lawrence Kohler M.S., is assigned to our parish.
1987
The 13th assistant, Father William P. O’Brien M.S., is assigned to our parish.
He also served as Chaplain at
West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital, Sulphur, LA.
1989
June: A new metal roof was installed on the church.
1990
February: A new storeroom and workshop was built at the end of the carport.
The building behind the church
is remodeled into a library and conference room.
1992
The conference room by the rectory was remodeled into the Perpetual Adoration Chapel with the help of Mr. Tom Khoury.
May 31: The new Chapel is
blessed by Father Joseph Decoteau, M. S. and opened for 24-hour Perpetual
Adoration.
Our Lady of LaSalette Church
receives a donation from the Campbell family Estate, consisting of
approximately five acres of
adjacent land south of the
existing property. This land on Claiborne Street would later become the
location of the
Prayer Garden and Shrine.
Father Joseph Decoteau, M.S.,
upon receiving a generous donation to construct a prayer garden, formed a
committee to plan
walking paths and stations of
the cross for personal meditation. The prayer garden also has a beautiful
gazebo for relaxation
and prayer. Once completed, the
prayer garden was blessed by Bishop Jude Speyrer.
1996
Land is purchased on the north side of the property.
December 21: Mr. Maurice Serice
and Mr. Johnny Mounce was ordained as Permanent Deacons for the Diocese of Lake
Charles and assigned to our
parish.
2000
June: Father Joseph Decoteau, M.S. retires.
Father Lawrence Kohler, M.S.
becomes our 7th, Pastor.
More land is purchased on the
north side of the property. Buildings were used for CCD and residence for
priests.
2002
June 8: Heavy damage was sustained to the library when a burglary and arson took place. The books were cleaned and stored
until a conference room and
library was set up on the west end of the CCD building.
2003
Due to the library being heavily damaged, it was decided the building be sold “as is”. The adjacent buildings on the north
property were also sold, making
room for additional parking for the church. Plans then began for the church expansion.
2006
August 1: Father Lawrence Kohler, M.S. retires as Pastor, but remains in residence continuing to serve as a Spiritual Director
and celebrate Sunday Mass at 8
A.M.
Father James M. Winiarski, M.S.
becomes our 8th, Pastor.
2008
Church Expansion Project completed to add 3,200 square feet to the church building. These renovations included a
larger confessional, a new cry
room with restroom, new storage rooms, a new Sacristy, an upgraded Altar Server
room, wider
church aisles, and a more
beautiful Sanctuary with a wonderful new high altar. Bishop Glen John Provost
re-dedicated the
church and blessed the new
altar. Construction was done by Ave Maria Construction for a total cost of
$526,000.
2012
December 15: A man with a sledgehammer vandalized our Church and Adoration Chapel destroying the front door and many
statues. When news of the
destruction was announced, an outpouring of parishioners descended on the
church and began
picking up remnants of the
statues and preparing this sacred place for mass to be celebrated later that
day. Father James
Winiarski, M. S., Pastor,
expressed he had never seen a parish come together as a family to accomplish a
goal such as this.
Mr. Kermit Allen of Crowley
restored the Crucifix and the Sacred Heart statues to their former beauty.
2014
May 23: Our 9th Pastor, Father Andrews Kollannoor, M.S. replaces Father James Winiarski, M.S. as he retires.
Father Lawrence Kohler, M.S.
remains in residence at the parish.
June 7: Mr. Matthew Cormier, lifelong
member of our parish, son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael (Lanell) Cormier, was
ordained a
priest by the Most Reverend
Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles.
Father Matthew Cormier is the
first member of Our Lady of LaSalette Parish to be ordained.
2016
Under the direction of Father Andrews Kollannoor, M. S., Pastor, construction began on the addition of Our Lady of
LaSalette Shrine as an
extension to the prayer garden. He requested the Shrine to be a “Facsimile” of
the Holy Mountain in
France. Two hundred fifty dump
trucks loaded with dirt were brought in to create the mountain on Claiborne
Street.
Seven life-size Carrara marble
statues were donated by the Missionaries of LaSalette, Province of Mary,
Mother of the
Americas, for use in our future
shrine.
November 6: Our Lady of La
Salette Parish hosted the celebration for the 50th Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee in
honor of Father
James Winiarski, M. S. The day
began with the celebration of Mass. Father James Winiarski, M. S. was the main
celebrant.
Con celebrants were Father
James Kuczynski, M. S. and Father Andrews Kollannoor, M. S. Following mass, a
parish
luncheon was held. Father Jim’s
two brothers were guests of honor.
2018
Statues are brought in from New York State.
July: Much preparation was
needed to get the existing prayer garden ready for the upcoming feast. Cleaning
and painting
of statues, fixtures and
Stations of the Cross was done. Some of the stations needed to be re-located to
make room for a
life-size crucifix and corpus
to be placed on the west side. An oversized rosary, measuring 280 feet,
consisting of large beads
and chain, was constructed. At
the base of the mountain is an area designated for memorial bricks. A pair of
metal bridges
were constructed to connect the
shrine to the existing garden.
September: Prayer Garden
facelift complete. An army of workers came together to cover the mountain with
sod. Statues were
installed. On our mountain, one
of the unique characteristics that was re-created is the distance from where
Our Lady is
seated, at the base, to the top
of our hill. This distance is the exact distance Mary walked with the children
on the Holy
Mountain in France. This was
installed so that those seeking peace and tranquility can journey in reverence
with Our
Mother as the children of LaSalette did. At the top of the mountain, prayer benches await at the feet of
our Ascending
Mother. Over 100 rose bushes
were planted to adorn the garden.
With this done, the Shrine was complete.
Sept. 22: Bishop Glen John
Provost and Father Rene Butler, M.S., Provincial Superior, Missionaries of La
Salette, Mary,
Mother of the Americas Province
took part in the Solemn Blessing and Dedication of “our mountain.”
2019
June 20: Our parish hosted the first day of the LaSalette Laity Summit IV. The day began with a live re-enactment of the
Apparition of Our Lady at LaSalette on the mountain, complete with live animals. People from all over the world
attended
and enjoyed our southern
hospitality. The day ended with a marvelous Mardi Gras celebration, which
included live music,
great food, and an authentic
Mardi Gras parade.
2020
March 13: Due to the Corona virus pandemic:
LOCKDOWN!
Our Perpetual Adoration Chapel
closes.
Our Church is closed.
Parishioners are forced to
watch Mass by a live stream.
The church becomes like an
empty tomb.
NO COMMUNION
March 17: Bishop Glen John
Provost issues a dispensation to the faithful who are unable to attend Mass.
August 27: Our area received
the direct hit from Hurricane Laura. The rectory and church buildings were
severely damaged
and about 1/3 of the trees on
the property were destroyed. Our Lady protected the statues of herself and the
children as no
damages were sustained on the
mountain.
August 30: Lighthouse Charity
Team from Texas came to our aid cooking lunch and supper for several days.
So many individuals and
organizations came to our rescue bringing us our basic needs, everything from
cleaning supplies to
toilet paper.
November 29: Bishop Glen John
Provost lifts the dispensation.
2021
To date, we have had 4,330 Baptisms; 1,157 marriages; and 1,706 funerals in our parish.
At Our Lady of LaSalette
parish, it is not uncommon for generations of families to share their love and
faith together.
Whether it is participating in
church bazaars, Live Nativity and illumination at Christmastime, or a
re-enactment of the
LaSalette Apparition, there is
one thing that remains constant: a true spirit of community.
To be continued...