Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Creole Churches, Cameron Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Kathy LaCombe-Tell Source: Truman, Stacey Submitted July 2004 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Creole P. O. Drawer 9 Creole LA, 70632 ---------------------------------- CREOLE - The first Catholic settlers arrived in what is now Cameron Parish early in the 19th Century. After the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819 fixed the Louisiana border at the Sabine River, rather than the Calcasieu, law and order was gradually established in Southwest Louisiana, and settlers began to move in. Cameron Parish, in the early years, was romantically called "The Hermit Kingdom," but it was not entirely isolated. In fact, it was more accessible (by water transport) than the prairies of the north. The Calcasieu, the Sabine and the Mermentau offered navigable waters, as did Johnson Bayou, LaBauve Bayou and Freshwater Bayou for smaller craft. Pierre Vincent, a native of St. Martinville, was one of the earlier settlers, arriving at what is now Vincent Settlement in 1817. Milledge McCall settled on what is now Grand Chenier in the 1830s. The McCall's were followed by John William Sweeney in 1840. By that time other families were putting down roots along the rivers and the bayous. The Theriot family settled Chenier Perdue in 1847, and in 1849 was homesteaded by the Primeaux family. Sosthene Richard is believed to have been the first person to settle in what is now Creole in 1855. During the 1850s Imperial Calcasieu was visited by a pair of priests from Galveston: The Rev. Pierre F. Parisot, OMI, and the Rev. Andre Borias They made a number of trips across the Sabine, and the records of St. Mary Cathedral show many baptisms in what is now Cameron Parish. In 1856 the first Provincial Council of the Church was held in New Orleans. One of the decrees of the council called for setting up strict parish boundaries in every diocese. As a result the Rev. Gilbert Raymond, Pastor of St. Landry Parish in Opelousas, was made a Vicar Forane, with responsibility of "all the West Country" of St. Landry and Calcasieu Civil Parishes. During the Civil War most religious activities were put on hold, but with the return of peace changes were made. The Abbeville Parish of St. Mary Magdalene was extended westward to the Sabine River. This lasted until 1869 when St. Francis de Sales Parish, which would become Immaculate Conception Parish, was established in Lake Charles. Lake Charles priests visited Cameron regularly until the Rev. E. J. Fallon in Lake Charles persuaded Archbishop Francis Janssens to establish a church parish for Cameron Civil parish, and Creole was selected as the seat. The Rev. John Engberink was chosen as the founding pastor. The date was May 20, 1890. Father Engberink, a native of the Netherlands, was ordained to the priesthood in 1881. He was described as a large man, of great strength and endurance. He was to need both. His flock, scattered through the civil parish, numbered 2,387 Caucasians with 441 Blacks. His parish was 80 miles long and 30 miles wide, with 8,000 acres in cultivation and 125,000 acres in pasturage. Throughout this vast territory, almost as large as the State of Delaware, there was not a single church, chapel or rectory. Property was donated for a church building and a rectory, and building began. The rectory was not finished until 1891 because of floodwaters. By June the church building was completed, but already Father Engberink said, it was too small for all the people, both Catholic and Protestant, who attended Mass. Other towns also needed attention. A chapel in Grand Chenier was completed in 1893. A chapel in Leesburg (now Cameron) wad dedicated in 1894. Later the same year a chapel was built in Grand Lake. Father Engberink said Mass for the first time in a chapel for Black Catholics in Leesburg. In 1895, however, Father Engberink had ended his stay in Cameron Parish, and was transferred to Opelousas as pastor. Another Hollander replaced Father Engberink. He was the Rev. William J. Teurlings, a 23-year-old who had been ordained a little more than a year. He was assigned to Abbeville for six months before being sent to Creole. In Cameron Parish he followed Father Engberink's active schedule, making many journeys under difficult conditions, and suffering from malaria and bad water. In 1898 Father Teurlings was transferred to Washington, Louisiana. The new pastor, the Rev. Theophile Stenmans, had hardly set up his parish schedule before he was plucked from the marshes and sent to New Orleans to be the archbishop's secretary. The next pastor also lasted a short time before he was replaced by another Hollander, the Rev. Hubert Cramers, who came to Creole on July 18, 1899. He was 24 at the time. Father Cramers plunged into his work. He raised funds for a chapel at Choupique, organized a first communion class at Hackberry, and in 1900 a chapel at Cow Island was added. He also began visiting Big Pecan and Chenier aux Tegres in Vermilion Civil Parish. In October 1902, Father Cramers departed Creole to take up the larger task of the pastorship of Immaculate Conception Parish in Lake Charles, where he would remain for 33 years. Father Cramers was followed by nine pastors, all of whom served but a few years. Then, in 1930, the Rev. Francis I. Bischof arrived. He was to labor for 15 years, and earned the affectionate title of "The Missionary of the Marshes." He earned a place in the hearts of his parishioners by his tireless work, preaching, instructing and administering the Sacraments to his widely scattered flock, located not only in Creole, but also Cow Island, Grand Chenier, Little Chenier, Big Lake, Chenier Perdue, Murria, Leesburg and Johnson Bayou. Throughout his 15 years of service he struggled to maintain the facilities in all of these locations. His chores were lightened somewhat in 1938 when the missions of Grand Lake and Sweetlake became the newly established Parish of St. Mary of the Lake, with a resident pastor. Time and his arduous labors had taken their toll on Father Bischof, however, and his health began to suffer. In 1945 he turned the duties of pastor over to the Rev. Theo Hassink, who remained until 1948, when the reins of the parish were taken over by the Missionaries of LaSalette. During the post-war years Cameron Civil Parish prospered and the population increased. In 1955 and 1958, respectively, the parishes of St. Peter the Apostle and Our Lady Star of the Sea were set up in Hackberry and Cameron. In 1961, St. Eugene Parish in Grand Chenier was established, and Sacred Heart Parish was reduced to its present boundaries. No history of the Catholic Church in Cameron Civil Parish would be complete without some mention of the part the weather plays in the affairs of men. Hurricanes have devastated the area on more than one occasion. In September of 1865 hurricane winds and a storm tide of vast proportions inundated the coastline from the mouth of the Mermentau River west to the Sabine. On Oct. 11-12, 1886, another storm struck the area, destroying the towns of Johnson Bayou and Sabine Pass. More than 50 died in Johnson Bayou. In August of 1918 another hurricane of extreme intensity struck the area. The Calcasieu River steamer, Borealis Rex, was sunk, and 34 killed. The hurricane winds leveled or damaged every church building in the civil parish. In June of 1957, of course, the deadliest of all storms blew up out of the Gulf of Mexico. It surged over the coastline with winds of 150 miles an hour. A storm tide as high as 12 feet, with added waves and swells rolling even higher. All of Cameron Parish was stricken, and the town of Creole virtually wiped out. The storm continued north through the Ohio Valley and New York State into Canada. The death toll rose to over 500, four of those occurring in Canada. After each of those devastations, church buildings had to be rebuilt and furnishings replaced. The costs in property and livestock have never been accurately calculated. In 1968 the Missionaries of LaSalette were forced to give up Sacred Heart Parish, and it was returned to the Diocese of Lafayette. The Rev. Frederick J. Webert served as pastor for four years until he was replaced by the pastor who was destined to serve longer than any other -- Msgr. M. J. Bernard. Msgr. Bernard, who had been the Catholic Chaplain at McNeese State University took up the reins in Creole on March 16, 1972, and served until June 30, 1997. During his long pastorship Msgr. Bernard superintended the virtual rebuilding of the parish. He introduced scripture study, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), promoted French retreats for the elderly, youth retreats, married couples retreats, and set up workshop and seminars for religious education teachers. A new organ and new windows were installed in the church. The parish office and rectory were expanded, and a new mausoleum was dedicated. The 100th anniversary of the parish in 1990 was celebrated with enthusiasm and confidence in the future. As the parish celebrates its 110th birthday in this year 2000, parishioners can look back on a colorful and eventful history that few can match. The Rev. Joseph McGrath, current pastor, has continued programs in place, and added a few. A monthly First Friday Mass is now in place, and a parish Legion of Mary group has been formed. The expansion of the Parish Life Center, whereby the hall will be doubled in size and four new classrooms will be added, is nearly complete. Father McGrath teaches at all religion sessions, students at which number 242, and directs the RCIA process. Leaders of other organizations assisting the parish are Knights of Columbus 3014 and Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court 1463. Other parish organizations include the Junior CDA, which serves as weekend sacristans, 31 altar servers, and a number of Lay Ministers of Communion. The Ladies Altar Society sponsors a Tuesday afternoon Mass at South Cameron Hospital and the parish has an active chapter of the Legion of Mary. Father McGrath, a native of Westlake, was ordained May 25, 1985, and held assignments at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish in Lake Charles, Our Lady of Seven Dolors Parish in Welsh, and St. Joan of Arc in Oberlin before his current assignment. Father McGrath continues to do his own cooking and cleaning since he feels that doing so helps him to understand "what our people go through." Retired Pastor Msgr. M. J. Bernard lives in retirement within the parish boundaries and the parish furnishes him with a housekeeper and cook takes care of his utilities and office needs. One mission is still attached to the parish: St. Rose of Lima Mission, also in Creole. During its long history Sacred Heart Parish has been ministered to by 23 pastors. They are, with the date of their assignment: 1890 - Rev. John Engberink, 1895 - Rev. William J. Teurlings, 1899 - Rev. Theophile Stenmans, 1899 - Rev. Joseph Drolet, 1899 - Rev. Hubert Cramers, 1902 - Rev. Joseph S. Schmitt, 1902 - Rev. P. C. Cambiare, 1907 - Rev. John H. Hoes, 1913 - Rev. J. M. Heil, 1914 - Rev. P. J. Buissink, 1919 - Rev. Odilon Brise, 1921 - Rev. Achile Rousseau, 1922 - Rev. Louis Perronet, 1927 - Rev. Cornelius J. van Merrienboer, 1930 - Rev. Francis I. Bischof, 1945 - Rev. Theo Hassink, 1948 - Rev. Emil Chartier, MS, 1953 - Rev. Alvarez Gilbert, MS, 1960 - Rev. Joseph Decoteau, MS, 1962 - Rev. Anthony Bruzas, MS, 1968 Rev. Frederick J. Webert, 1972 - Msgr. M. J. Bernard and 1997 - Rev. Joseph McGrath. (This history is the work of Truman Stacey, a noted historian living in the Diocese of Lake Charles.)