On September 14,
1975, in Rome, Italy, an American, Blessed Elizabeth Ann Seton, was
canonized by Pope Paul VI. On that day, far away, in Lafayette,
Louisiana, Bishop Gerard Frey founded the first church in the world to
bear her new title: Saint Elizabeth Seton.
Reverend Gene Lafleur (affectionately known as "Padre") was appointed
first pastor of the parish. A Native of Prairie Ronde, "Padre" was
well-known in the area. He had previously served in three other
Lafayette churches.
The subsequent appointment of Chester Begnaud and John Benoit as
trustees launched a church which at its inception had no funds for
housing priest or congregation - only these administrators and the
community of Christians contained within four boundary lines: Highway
I-49, Highway I-10, St. Claire Road and Gloria Switch Road.
Lafayette had long since outgrown its mother church, the Cathedral of
Saint John the Evangelist. To accommodate expansion to the north, Saint
Elizabeth Seton, was carved from the parishes of St. Leo the Great,
Lafayette, and St. Peter, Carencro.
The first challenge was finding a place to meet. An agreement with the
Lafayette Parish School Board allowed the new congregation to use the
cafeteria of Acadian Elementary School on Moss Street for weekend
Masses. From September 1975 until July 1978, faithful Catholics large
and small sat on kid-size chairs to worship - chairs and an altar which
had to be set up and taken down weekly.
Within three months, the newly-formed community acquired a rectory on
Bellemont Drive and a part-time associate pastor, Father Harold Trahan,
director of the diocesan Office of Worship. A parish council was
formed, God's Li'l Helpers was founded, and a catechism program was
initiated in association with St. Leo Parish. The carport of the
rectory on Bellemont was enclosed to create a meeting place and chapel
for weekday Masses.
The unified spirit in those early months led to a joyful celebration,
despite the limited cafeteria surroundings, of the parish's first
Christmas, remembered for its children's liturgies, crib scene and
decorations. Longtime parishioners will recall the candle lit cakes
brought in procession at Christmas Masses while everyone sang "Happy
Birthday" to Baby Jesus.
Enthusiasm was contagious. Early the next year, Mr. and Mrs. Emile
Reggie, Sr. formally donated two and a half acres of land on Raintree
Trail and included an option on two additional acres. With that
property as a base for planning, the parish council recommended a
financial drive to secure monies to develop the area as St. Elizabeth
Seton's future home.
Young churches, like the early Christians, have their share of
troubles. Early in April, 1976, a pending lawsuit created a dilemma and
brought to an end the use of the chapel on Bellemont Drive for daily
Masses and parish meetings. Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Camelle solved the
problem by offering their camp on Gloria Switch Road as the site for
daily and Holy Day Masses, meetings and parish functions. The rough
benches and folding chairs of the camp were filled during Lent, and it
was there that we celebrated the first of our traditional Seder
(Passover) Meals.
On September 14, 1976, St. Elizabeth Seton Parish celebrated its first anniversary with pride and optimism.
The fall and winter of that year were marked with other milestones of
parish growth: the hiring of Sister Martha McClellan, M.S.C, as
Director of Religious Education, the donation of two additional acres
of land by the Reggies, the donation of a lot adjacent to the church by
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Breaux, the launching of a highly successful
home-bound religion program and a steady increase in parishioner
involvement in committees and ministries, with more and more lay people
becoming ministers of the Eucharist, ministers of the Word, ministers
of hospitality and acolytes.
The belief that the people are "the Church" and that together they can
reach tremendous goals propelled the parish into further action in
1977. With the savings fund accumulating nicely, we sought and received
the Bishop's permission to start our first building.
Contracts for a multi-purpose building were signed with Meaux &
Weimer Architects-Planners as architects, John R. Thibodaux as general
contractor, Robert Patin as electrical contractor, Francis Camel
Construction as parking lot contractor, Louis Tango as
designer/consultant for sanctuary furnishings and stations of the cross
and J. G. Ryder for stained glass. E. J. Camelle volunteered his
services as clerk of the works. Dennis Carriere with Chanks Air
Conditioning installed the heating/cooling system, and Champagne's
Sheet Metal donated all the ducts for the church.
Our second anniversary, September 14, 1977, featured Bishop Frey
officiating at an open-air Mass and ground-breaking ceremony.
Less than a year later, on the weekend of July 2, 1978, a thankful
congregation celebrated the first Masses in our won church - on seats
made for grown-ups! A week of special events was held to showcase the
new facility.
The neighborhoods around the church continued to develop, and church
attendance rose. With the addition of more staff, more office space was
needed. In 1981 it was decided to build the present ministries
building. It originally housed staff offices and living quarters for
two priests.
Health problems had long plagued "Padre." He left St. Elizabeth Seton
for the smaller, less demanding parish of The Assumption of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, Mire, December 1, 1987 where he was pastor until his death
June 11, 1989.
Until a replacement was found, the people of St. Elizabeth Seton kept a
'round-the-clock prayer vigil before the Blessed Sacrament. Their
prayers were answered with the appointment of Father Russell Harrington
as second pastor on January 6, 1988. Father Russell had grown up in
nearby Estherwood and was known to some of the parishioners from his
earlier days as associate chaplain at U.S.L.
He settles in happily, taking an active part, in addition to his
pastoral duties, in diocesan matters and in the administration of Sts.
Leo-Seton School and Teurlings Catholic High School.
Still we continued to grow.
In September 1989 the parish bought the present pastor's residence
across the street from the church freeing the space in the ministries
building for more offices, a library, nursery and meeting rooms.
The increase in income and staff made possible still more services to
the people of north Lafayette. Besides taking part in sacramental and
catechetical programs, parishioners became involved in outreach needs,
serving the poor, the sick and bereaved. The mission in Haiti of Father
Glynn Meaux, an Abbeville native, was adopted and continues to be
funded regularly. St. Elizabeth Seton members serve on diocesan boards,
serve up meals at St. Joseph Diner and teach Bible classes. They have
been involved for many years with the Ulster Project and are active in
Engaged Encounters, Marriage Encounters, Right to Life, the Cursillo
and Charismatic Movements.
Other organizations have found welcome space in the ministries building
at one time or another: youth groups, Scouts, Alcoholics Anonymous,
Al-Anon, Overeaters Anonymous and others.
Emphasis on inspiring liturgies has been consistent throughout St.
Elizabeth Seton's history, with countless hours of work contributed by
musicians and decorators.
Change came to the parish once again when Bishop Harry Flynn, Bishop
Frey's successor, sent Father Russell to Boston University for graduate
studies in psychology. Father Russell said goodbye to the parish June
14, 1994. Soon after, change came to the diocese as well, for Bishop
Flynn was made Coadjutor Archbishop of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Before
leaving, he appointed as administrator of St. Elizabeth Seton Father
Harold Trahan, who had served the parish nineteen years earlier as
part-time assistant pastor. Father Harold came to us from the adjacent
parish of Our Lady Queen of Peace.
In November 1994, Bishop Edward O'Donnell replaced Bishop Flynn as
fifth ordinary of the Diocese of Lafayette. On March 22, 1995 he
officially named Father Harold St. Elizabeth Seton's third Pastor.
Under the
pastorship of Fr. Harold, the parish undertook the enormous task of
building a new church. After months of consultation and planning,
construction began on February 22, 1999. It was completed and
dedicated on September 14, 2000, the 25th anniversary of the founding
of the parish. Truly an impressive structure, the new church
utilizes all the resources of modern architecture to create a truly one
of a kind environment for the worship of God. Every aspect of the
church is an expression of the communities love of the Lord.
In November 2002, Bishop Charles Michael Jarrell replaced Bishop O'Donnell as the sixth ordinary of the Diocese of Lafayette. Bishop Jarrell apointed Father Marty Borcherding to succeed Fr. Harold on July 2, 2007.
Under Father
Marty's leadership, our fourteen hundred families - single,
traditional, extended - continue to face the challenges of an
increasingly complicated world. Our parish is dedicated to a heroic,
pioneering saint who also lived in troubled times. Whatever the future
holds, may we always follow her example by being a welcoming,
faith-filled community so that others "may know we are Christians by
our love."
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Important Dates in the Life
of St. Elizabeth Seton Church
September 14, 1975
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton is canonized and our parish is founded.
September 15, 1975
Father Gene Lafleur is appointed first pastor.
October, 1975
Our first Parish Council is formed, with Clarence Baldridge, acting administrator, elected president.
November 11, 1975
House on Bellemont is bought for use as a rectory and weekday chapel.
December 3, 1975
Father Harold Trahan is appointed part-time pastor.
March 22, 1976
Property on Moss Street and Raintree Trail is donated by Mr. and Mrs. Emile Reggie.
April, 1976
Meetings and weekday Masses are moved to Camelle's camp until the church can be built.
November 8, 1976
Father Trahan leaves to become full time diocesan Director of Worship.
January 1, 1977
Additional property is donated by the Reggies.
January 18, 1977
Other property is donated by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Breaux.
September 14, 1977
Ground is broken by Bishop Gerard Frey for our future church at a second anniversary outdoor Mass.
July 1, 1978
The first Mass is said in the new church.
August 6, 1978
Pope Paul VI dies.
August 26, 1978
Pope John Paul I is elected.
September 28, 1978
Pope John Paul I dies.
October 16, 1978
Pope John Paul II is elected.
December 1, 1979
Sister Martha McClellan, M.S.C., is appointed SES pastoral associate.
1981
The present ministries building is built.
January 3, 1982
Parishioners move rectory and staff offices to 610 Raintree Trail
(ministries building); the Bellmont house is subsequently sold.
April 19, 1986
Bishop Harry Flynn becomes Coadjutor Bishop of Lafayette.
December 12, 1987
"Padre" Lafleur leaves St. Elizabeth Seton to become pastor of Assumption of the Virgin Mary parish in Mire.
January 9, 1988
Father Russell Harrington is installed as second pastor.
September 1, 1988
The present pastor's residence at 603 Raintree Trail is purchased.
May 13, 1989
Bishop Gerard Frey retires, making Bishop Flynn ordinary of the diocese.
June 11, 1989
"Padre" dies in Mire, hearing confessions before Mass.
February 22, 1994
Bishop Harry Flynn is appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Minneapolis-St. Paul.
June 14, 1994
Father Russell leaves to pursue graduate studies at Boston University.
June 15, 1994
Father Harold Trahan is appointed parish Administrator by Bishop Flynn.
November 8, 1994
Bishop Edward O'Donnell is appointed fifth bishop of Lafayette.
March 22, 1995
Father Trahan is officially named our third pastor by Bishop O'Donnell.
September 17, 1995
Saint Elizabeth Seton Parish celebrates its twentieth anniversary.
February 22, 1999
Construction on the new church begins.
September 14, 2000
Construction is completed, and the new church is dedicated on the 25th anniversary of the Parish.
November 8, 2002
Bishop Charles Michael Jarrell is appointed sixth bishop of Lafayette.
July 2, 2007
Father Martin Borcherding is appointed fourth pastor of our Parish.