1970's Chapter - Historical Review

1970’s

"Let us pause, momentarily at least, to rekindle the spirit of our purpose.These efforts, and the buildings which become the tools of these efforts, are extended for one basic purpose: to seek our eternal destiny of everlasting happiness in the heaven which God has prepared and whose gates have been reopened to us through the Redemption won for us by Jesus Christ.We are building a House of God!" -Leo Cavell, Parish Council President 1973

New Church The Building Committee, chaired by Alfred Leonpacher, visited a number of new churches and found the style of St. Bernadette Church in Bayou Vista the most attractive.

The building would be a total of 9,280 square feet at an estimated cost of approximately $30 per square foot. The architectural firm,-David L. Perkins and Associates, was selected and began their work in May 1973. In May 1974, Father Donald Theriot signed a contract with Arnold Bernard Construction Company to build the new Church at a cost of $348,485.22. The majority of the cost was covered by a loan of $250,000 at 6.5% interest from the Diocese.

The Groundbreaking Ceremony was held on Saturday, May 25, 1974. Though the Church was used prior to this date due to the infamous tornado, the Dedication Ceremony wasn’t held until August 1975. Bishop Gerard Frey was the celebrant.

Msgr. A. O. Sigur, Msgr. Harry Benefiel, Fr. Joseph Brennan, Fr. Angelo Cremaldi, Fr. Charles Zaunbrecher, and Fr. Donald Theriot were the concelebrants.

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Building Committee

Alfred Leonpacher (Chairman) Thomas Muffoletto Katie McBride William Gearheard Expadie Laperouse

Maintenance Committee

Lynn Deselle (Co-Chair) Carlton Boudreaux (Co-Chair)

Father Angelo J. Cremaldi January 1972—September 1972 Father Angelo J. Cremaldi, the second pastor· of St. Pius X Church, was born on September 11, 1934 in Patterson, Louisiana. As the son of a sugarcane farmer, his roots were rural and modest. After graduating from Patterson High School in 1952, he entered the Immaculata Seminary in Lafayette that fall, then began his major seminary preparation at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans in 1954. He was ordained a priest of the Lafayette Diocese on June 4, 1960. His initial assignment was as an associate pastor to Msgr. Louis Boudreaux at Immaculate Conception Church in Lake Charles where he served for eight years. In 1968, he was assigned to St. Peter's Church in New Iberia, where he served under Auxiliary Bishop Warren Boudreaux for three years.

Spending his initial 11 years of priesthood under two outstanding prelates, Msgr. Boudreaux and Bishop Boudreaux, he was able to develop the priestly and personal spirituality that many recognized in Father Cremaldi. He felt a personal need for stronger catechetical instruction which was not available to him and his public high school peers in his home parish at that time. To describe his call to the priesthood, Father Cremaldi noted, “After taking classes offered by the Knights of Columbus, it was then that I came to a truer appreciation and knowledge of my faith. It was in that study that I received my first nudge towards consideration of a possible priestly vocation."

September 1972—February 1987 Reverend Father Donald C. Theriot became the third pastor of St. Pius X Church on September 8, 1972. ·He was serving as pastor of St. Ann Parish in Cow Island since 1970 before his assignment at St. Pius X Church. His predecessor, Father Angelo Cremaldi, then replaced him at his assignment as pastor of St. Ann’s in Cow Island. Born in Gueydan on November 20, 1931, Father Theriot was one of three children born to Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Theriot. He was educated there and graduated from Gueydan High School in 1948. That September, he began his formal priestly preparation, entering St. John Seminary in Little Rock, Arkansas. Upon successful completion at the seminary, he was ordained a priest on June 1, 1957. His first assignment was in Lafayette as an associate pastor at the Cathedral Parish of St. John the Evangelist, serving there until 1961. He then was named associate pastor of St. Mary Magdalen in Abbeville. After serving seven years in Abbeville, he received his first pastorate in 1968 at St. Mary of the Lake Parish in Big Lake, Louisiana. After only one year there, he was named pastor of St. Ann Church in Cow Island before he came to St. Pius X. He served as pastor of St. Pius X Church for fourteen years and five months. Father Theriot helped to leverage the use of councils and committees, which also led the efforts to build a new Church in 1975.

Farewell from Father Benefiel "I hope we have both grown closer to God in these three and a half years, for God has been good to each of us. If I have offended anyone, in any way, with my rough Irish brusqueness, I want to sincerely apologize. If you have come to know God a little better, then every sacrifice was worth the price.You are wonderful people, and I know you will give my successor, Father Angelo Cremaldi, all of the cooperation you so generously gave me.

Although I am leaving, the ten acres of God's Kingdom, known as St. Pius X, will always be etched in my heart."

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As the St. Pius X Church family grew, so did the socials!

January 1972

Fr. Benefiel left to accept his new appointment. Fr. Angelo Cremaldi arrived at St. Pius X after his tenure at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in New Iberia.

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September 1972

Fr. Donald Theriot replaces Fr. Angelo Cremaldi as pastor of St. Pius X Church after serving as pastor of St. Ann Parish in Cow Island since 1970.

September 1972

After a short-term implementation of recurring coffee and donut events in the 60's, they returned after the 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Masses through the efforts of the Women’s Altar Society.

November 1972

Bishop Schexnayder retires after 16 years.

Most Reverend Gerard L. Frey, Bishop of Savannah, Georgia, became the third Bishop of Lafayette, he also was the third Louisiana native to shepherd the Diocese.

January 1974

Msgr. H. A. Larroque, vicar of administrative affairs at the Diocese, appointed the first 9 Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to serve the Parish at Mass for the first time.

July 1975

Construction of a 9,280 sq. ft. Church was completed by architect, David L. Perkins and general contractor, Arnold Bernard Construction Company, at a cost of $348,485.22.

July 1976

Sister Carmelita Latiolais became the coordinator of religious education and served 11 fruitful years in the Parish. In 1978, Tim D’Avy was hired as the first full-time youth director.

July 1978

The Development Center (202 E. Bayou Pkwy.) was purchased in the summer of 1978. The property, adjacent to the rectory, was purchased at a cost of $51.4 thousand.

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Stained Glass Windows The live oak tree used here as the "mystical tree" played a prominent part in the life of Evangeline. With live oak trees so prevalent in the area, the artist, Robert Harmon, hoped it would remind us of our Lord in our daily quest for being. Explicitly, the birds in the tree represent the twelve apostles. Implicitly, their placement in trees, the streets and countryside are used to represent symbols of the Holy Spirit. The circle encompassing the tree symbolizes eternity and that completeness which we seek in Christ. The trees, earth, clouds, sun, moon, stars, water and weather were used to suggest how our everyday environment can remind us of the human condition and the explicit nature of the "Ecclesia."

The bramble bush, the eye of the hurricane, the angry cloud and the water sweeping over the land speak to the tragedy of the human condition. The seed which becomes the flowering dogwood under the rainbow speaks of redemption through Christ. The window on the right side of the sanctuary speaks to our waking hours. The window on the left side of the sanctuary speaks to the nighttime of our existence. The cypress tree growing out of the depths of the swamp, and the swamp fire in the tree with twelve flames symbolizing Pentecost, were used to recall the personal and emotional dimensions of our lives in dialogue with the Holy Spirit. The pelican feeding the fish to its young is an ancient symbol of the Mass. In placing the pelican symbol in the midst of the bayou among the reflections of the sun, moon and stars, an attempt has been made to suggest the feeling of depth and mystery present in the liturgical celebration of Mass.

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The live oak tree represents the "mystical tree" used in Scripture and theology in reference to the cross on which Jesus was crucified.

The pelican, feeding the fish to its young, is an ancient symbol of the Mass.

Stanley Hymel Leo Cavell Harold Suire

Blending Christian heritage with an Acadian cultural background the artist, Robert Harmon, used symbolism in his expression.

Administration Commission Diocesan Pastoral Council President Vacation Bible Camp & Youth Group Youth Choir Folk Choir (Youth)

Les Waguespack Margaret Kresse & Steve Spedale Jean Angelle & Parish Bazaar Carrol Green Tim D’Avy Come Lord Jesus (Youth) Jesse Gary (Chairman) Paschal Supper Todd McFarland PYO President Marla Mooring PYO Vice-President Stephanie Hebert PYO Secretary Shirley Leonpacher & Prayer Share Groups Sr. Carmelita Latiolais Vivian Begnaud & Pro-Life Education Diane Dubroc Paul Boriskie, Ray J. Cor- Extraordinary Ministers of nay, Lynn Desselle, Gerald Holy Communion Dubroc, Dr. Ray Lacour, Clayton Meaux, Frank G. Primeaux, Dudley Romero, and Gerard L. St. Martin

Other ministries and initiatives with leaders that are unknown include: Charismatic Renewal Prayer Group, Family Fun Day, St. Pius Saints Carnival, and the Usherettes.

Patricia Colbert-Cormier became the 1st AfricanAmerican parish council member in 1975. After joining the Parish in 1970, she also served in the choir, played the organ, taught religion classes, and served as a lector, sacristan, and as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. She attributes her comfortableness with the Parish and interest in getting involved to the warmth and friendliness of Weldon and Millie Dufrene. Civically, she’s won numerous awards locally, nationally and statewide including the 2015 Human & Civil Rights Award from the Louisiana Association of Educators.

Margaret Kresse & Steve Spedale led the first choir with contemporary “folk” music. Pictured is Hope Higginbotham, Karen Begnaud (now Melancon), Dave Landgrave, and Tim D’avy.

Confirmation candidates including Susan Dooley Wolf and Connie Dufrene Benoit.

Patricia ColbertCormier receiving a humanitarian award from LEF.