Our Lady of Seven Dolors Church, Welsh, 1904; Jefferson Davis, Louisiana Submitted by Kathy Tell Source; Truman Stacey of the Diocese of Lake Charles. Written for the Jubilee Year 2000. Submitted July 2004 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ LOCATION: 209 North Adams Street, Welsh LA, 70591; From I-10, go South on North Adams. The Church is on North Adams between North and South Streets, on the West side of the road. WELSH - Like many other Southwest Louisiana communities, Welsh grew to prominence after the arrival of the railroads in 1880. The town's history, however, can be traced back much farther than that. It began in the early 19th Century when Miles Welsh, a Pennsylvania native, decided to seek warmer climate to soothe his arthritis and rheumatism. Welsh was interested in becoming a cattleman, so after a short stay in New Orleans, he and his family headed west, by wagon, bound for Texas. The family set up camp each night, and upon arriving at a pleasant wooded stream called the Lacassine, Welsh decided to stay for a time in the vicinity. He set up camp in what is now the western part of the town. After a time, Welsh decided to homestead the area, and made it his permanent home. He built a log house, operated a farm, and offered lodging to travelers. Miles Welsh died in 1868, and his oldest son, Henry, took over the Welsh operations. When the Southern Pacific Railway was being built, Henry Welsh offered free right-of-way through his farm, on conditions that all trains would stop at his station. The railroad brought in more settlers from the North and West, and in 1888 the town was incorporated, and named for Miles Welsh. Henry Welsh was the first mayor, and when he died his son, C. D. Welsh, became mayor. As the population of Welsh grew, so did the number of Catholic residents. Priests from Lake Charles made monthly visits, and after 1882, when Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in Jennings was established, Welsh was served by Jennings priests, as a mission. By 1904 the number of Catholics had grown large enough to have their own pastor, so the Most Rev. Placide Louis Chapelle, Archbishop of New Orleans canonically established Our Lady of Seven Dolors Parish. The parish celebrated its 95th anniversary in 1999. The Rev. Francis Cools was named the first pastor, and his parish included not only Welsh but also Elton, Roanoke, Thornwell, Lowery, Bell City, Lacassine, Fenton, Pine Island and Raymond. During Father Cools' administration the mission chapel was renovated, and relocated to the site of the present-day rectory. A wooden church was built on the site of the chapel, and served the parish until 1951, when the present church was built. Father Cools was transferred in 1908, and he was followed by Fathers Edward Rombouts, J. P. Ferret and August Baudizonne. In 1930, however, there began one of the most remarkable pastorates in the history of the Church in Southwest Louisiana, when the Rev. Jules O. Daigle, a 26-year-old native of Lafayette, was named pastor. He was to retain this post for 43 years. Under Father Daigle's guidance, parish activities increased dramatically. Emphasis was placed on religious education for children of the parish, and lay spirituality for the adults. He also began to care for the growing Black population, and sought to obtain recognition for them. Through his efforts the second parish, St. Joseph, was established in 1940. The parish had outgrown its original wooden church, and in 1951 Father Daigle supervised the construction of the present church. The building was consecrated on Nov. 21, 1951, with the Most Rev. Maurice Schexnayder, Bishop of Lafayette, presiding. At the same time, Msgr. Daigle was invested with the robes of a domestic prelate, with the title of "Monsignor." During the middle 1950s it became apparent that a chapel was needed in Roanoke, so Msgr. Daigle had one built upon land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Stelly. The chapel was dedicated to St. Mary, and Masses were celebrated there regularly until it was closed in 1996. In 1952 the Eucharistic Ministers of St. Dominic, a community of religious women, undertook the religious education of the youth of the parish. A convent was built for them in 1952, and a school was constructed in 1953. The sisters guided the religious education programs of the parish until they departed in 1974. In 1974 Msgr. Daigle retired as pastor but continued to be a vital part of the community. During his long pastorship he baptized, married and buried many of Welsh's citizens. He was a staunch advocate of youth, and was the first Catholic clergyman in Southwest Louisiana to be honored by the Boy Scouts of America with the Silver Beaver emblem. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus for 71 years, and was the charter Faithful Friar for both Msgr. Cramers and Msgr. Peeters Assemblies of the Fourth Degree. During his active pastorship Msgr. Daigle often teamed with Dr. Claude A. Martin, father of future Mayor James P. Martin, in visiting the ill. As Msgr. Daigle explained it, "When someone wanted a doctor, they also wanted a priest, so Dr. Martin would pick me up and we would go together". That, of course, was when doctors made house calls. Msgr. Daigle spent his retirement in promoting the Acadian language and culture, which was his second love, and published a number of dictionaries and guidebooks on the subject. Msgr. Daigle was followed as pastor by Fathers Curtis Vidrine, Charles Marin and Frederick Swenson. The Rev. James Gaddy became pastor in 1977 and developed many lay ministries. A full-time director of religious education was hired and currently oversees the instruction of 351 students. In 1978 the Daigle Center was constructed as a religious education building, and the former convent was converted into a youth center. In the early 1980s the church was renovated, and services were held in the First Methodist Church across the street. The church was converted into a contemporary format, and new stained glass windows were installed. A day chapel was created, and the renovated church has a seating capacity of 450. To pay for the renovations Father Gaddy launched the annual "Cajun Food and Fun Festival" the last weekend of April. The event has gathered the community for entertainment and has helped to fund activities of the parish over the years. In 1983 the Rev. Whitney Miller succeeded Father Gaddy as pastor. Under his leadership lay ministries were revised and new ones created. The rectory/carport/garage was turned into offices for the parish staff, and youth activities were emphasized. The Rev. Joseph McGrath followed Father Miller. During his pastorship a Chapel of Perpetual Adoration was established. The Rev. Herbert May followed Father McGrath in 1994 as the 12th pastor of the parish. One of his first tasks was to rebuild the Daigle Center, which was destroyed by fire in 1993. This task was completed in 1996, and "Le Centre de Pere Daigle" was dedicated by the Most Rev. Jude Speyrer, Bishop of Lake Charles. A conference room in the new center was named for Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Stelly, who had donated property for the Mission Chapel in Roanoke. As pastor, Father May has dedicated much of his time to adult education. Many study courses have been offered, including a 22-week course on the "Catechism of the Catholic Church," as well as seminars on the Scriptures and the Sacraments. He has also developed a ministry to the bereaved and for those preparing for baptism. With the assistance of the Parish Pro-Life Committee a prayer garden was constructed at Bon Pasteur Cemetery. One of Father May's saddest duties was to announce the death of Msgr. Daigle on Jan. 2, 1998. Msgr. Daigle was buried in the parish mausoleum on Jan. 5, 1998. Further renovations were made in the church and it was rededicated in September 1999. To defray costs, Fr. May organized the "Autumn Dinner and Auction" to be held annually on the weekend nearest the patronal feast of Sept. 15. Special ministry groups are Our Lady's Consolers, who visit the homes of those who have lost a loved one. Our Lady's Visitors, who visit any parishioner in an area hospital. During the 95th anniversary year the parish honored a man and a woman parishioners as the "Parishioner of the Month." Candidates were nominated by parishioners, and a committee selected the recipients. Each selectee received a plaque. Father May is a native of Lake Charles and was educated at McNeese State University, Notre Dame Seminary and the Catholic University of America. During its history the parish has produced a number of parishioners who have devoted their lives to the Church. In 1951 Claude Martin Jr. made solemn vows as a member of the Order of St. Benedict at Covington. He took the religious name of Matthew, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1954. Later he was elected as the first Abbot of the newly-founded Monastery of Christ Crucified in Esquipulas, Guatemala, where he served until his untimely death in 1991. During the parish ministry of the Dominican Sisters Sybil DeRouen entered their community as Sister Louisa and has served in many leadership capacities over the years. Another parishioner, Bonnie Landry Koehne, entered the Sisters of Emmanuel in 1994, and became the first female judge of the Diocesan Matrimonial Tribunal. Over the years a dozen parishioners have been decorated by the diocese or by the Holy See. One of these is former mayor James P. Martin, a Knight of St. Sylvester. Here is a list of pastors who have served Our Lady of Seven Dolors Parish, with the years in which they were appointed: 1904 - The Rev. Francis Cools; 1908 - The Rev. Edward Rombouts; 1913 - The Rev. John Peter Ferret; 1924 - The Rev. August Baudizonne; 1930 - The Rev. Jules O. Daigle; 1974 - Msgr. Curtis Vidrine; 1976 - Msgr. Charles Marin; Jan.-May, 1977 - The Rev. Frederick O. Swenson; 1977 - Msgr. James Gaddy; 1983 - The Rev. Whitney Miller; 1991 - The Rev. Joseph McGrath; 1994 - The Rev. Herbert May