St. Paul Church, Elton, 1913; 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: Travel along US 190 to the West in Elton, at Langley Street, go North. St. Paul is north of the intersection of Langley and St. Mary Street. ELTON - St. Paul Parish of Elton was canonically established on October 13, 1913. Prior to that time the Elton community had been ministered to by priests from Lake Charles and then Jennings. Early mission chapels were established in Soileau, Darbonne Prairie, Hickory Flats (Cheno) and Soileau, where the liturgy was celebrated by visiting clergy. The advent of the railroads around the turn of the century brought new settlers to Imperial Calcasieu, and a chapel was built in Elton to serve its growing Catholic population, on land donated by Benjamin Buller. The Most Rev. James H. Blenk, Archbishop of New Orleans, established St. Paul Parish in 1913, and named the Rev. A. P. Borel as the founding pastor. At the time the parish included the town of Elton, plus mission chapels in Oberlin, Soileau and Oakdale. In 1914 Father Borel obtained permission to build a chapel in Kinder, and that, too, was attached to St. Paul Parish. By 1920 Elton's parishioners felt it was time for a Catholic school in the parish. In 1920 Fr. Borel and the two parish trustees, Home Buller and Joseph Landry, voted to acquire property for a school and a convent for the nuns who would teach at the school. A two-story building was constructed with four classrooms on the ground floor and an auditorium with a stage on the second floor. At the time Misses Hazel Broussard, Frances McCormack, Pauline Massart and a Mr. Schwartzenburg were hired as lay teachers. In 1923 Fr. Borel was succeeded as pastor by the Rev. Eugene H. Derivas, who was able to secure the services of five religious sisters as teachers: Sisters Conception, Honorine, Eulalie, and Mercedes were teachers, while the fifth, Sister Aqualina, had the task of cooking for the sisters, lay teachers, day students and boarders. In 1924 the parishioners sent a petition to the Most Rev. Jules B. Jeanmard, Bishop of Lafayette, asking that Fr. Derivas be made a permanent pastor. In 1926 Fr. Derivas organized a laymen's retreat at Grand Coteau, as he continued to develop the spiritual life of the parish. In 1928 four students were graduated from St. Paul School: Edward Abdalia, Walter Buller, Edmae Landry and Marjorie Fontenot. In 1928 Fr. Derivas' illness became terminal, and he passed away in September. He was replaced by the Rev. William Frantzen, a native of Aix-la-Chapelle. In 1929 the rigors of the Great Depression began to strike Southwest Louisiana, and the lack of funds forced the closing of St. Paul School. The Jeff Davis Parish School Board then rented the school building to provide classrooms to care for the 80 students who now attended public schools. This arrangement continued until 1930, when the public elementary school building was completed. In 1929, only a few months after Fr. Frantzen arrived, the church was destroyed by fire. Temporary services were held in the auditorium of the former school building which was remodeled as a church, the roof being lowered and the seating capacity increased. After the school was closed religion classes were taught by lay volunteers, with classes being held on Sunday between the two Masses. In 1950 a small building was purchased and moved to a lot across the street from the public school. Permission was given by the parish school board for Catholic students to attend religion classes one hour a week during school time. This building was later moved to parish property and is still being used for religious instruction. In 1951 St. Joseph Parish was established for Elton's Black Catholic Community, which previously had been under the care of the priests of St. Paul Parish. In 1952 a new church building was built, and dedicated by Bishop Jeanmard. The former church was converted into a parish hall. In 1957 a new rectory was completed. In 1963 St. Paul Parish held a triple celebration: the 50th anniversary of the parish and Fr. Frantzen's 35th year at Elton and the 40th anniversary of his priesthood. In 1970 Fr. Frantzen retired, and was succeeded by the Rev. Eugene LaFleur, under whose administration the construction of a new parish hall was begun. The church also acquired a new organ. In 1975 Fr. LaFleur was succeeded by the Rev. Michael Herpin. He began construction on an eight-room religious education building. He was replaced by the Rev. Willard Dugas. It was during his administration that the religious education building was completed and named the Thornton Center. On Jan. 17, 1980, Fr. Frantzen died after a five-month illness. The Most Rev. Maurice Schexnayder, Bishop of Lafayette, celebrated the funeral Mass, with six priests of the area as pallbearers. Interment was in St. Paul Mausoleum, which had been completed in 1963. The Rev. Michael Barras was appointed pastor in 1980, and that year John H. Eaves, a dedicated lay parishioner, was ordained as a Permanent Deacon. The ordination was held in Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Jennings. On January 25, 1982, once again St. Paul Church was destroyed by fire. The rectory and church records were saved, and the bell tower was spared. It remains today as a link with the past. The construction of a new church was begun immediately. The new building was dedicated by the Most Rev. Jude Speyrer, Bishop of Lake Charles, on Jan. 25, 1984. The new church has a seating capacity of 500, plus a weekday chapel, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, reconciliation rooms, a sacristy and a bride's chamber. In 1992 the present pastor, the Rev. Marshall Boulet, was appointed to succeed Fr. Barras. Two hundred twenty five students are involved in the religious education program. Among the major parish organizations are the Ladies Altar Society which purchases supplies needed for the church and conducts a monthly senior citizens event for the Elton community; and the Sons of Saint Paul, a men's organization formed to serve the needs of the parish, as well as to provide spiritual programs and fellowship for all men of the parish. The following pastors have served St. Paul Parish, with the year of their assignment: 1913 - Rev. A. P. Borel; 1923 - Rev. Eugene H. Derivas; 1928 - Rev. Williams Frantzen; 1970 - Rev. Eugene LaFleur; 1975 - Rev. L. Michael Herpin; 1978 - Rev. Ralph Landry; 1978 - Rev. Willard Dugas; 1980 - Rev. Michael Barras; 1992 - Rev. Marshall Boulet