Father Gauci Carries On, St. Ann's Church, Pointe Coupee Parish, La. Part Six, "Historic Sketch" File submitted by Pauline Bizette Brandy This is an excerpt from the booklet, "Historic Sketch, St. Ann Parish, Morganza, La. Diamond Jubilee, 1872 to 1947". It was compiled and published for the church's Diamond Jubilee which was celebrated at Morganza, La. on January 18, 1948. It is reprinted by permission of St. Ann's Catholic Church, Morganza, La. For records of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, you may contact the Archives via mail: Diocese of Baton Rouge, Archives, P.O. Box 2028, Baton Rouge, La. 70821-2028 Phone: (504) 387-0561 Fax: (504) 387-8789 E-mail: chancery@diobr.org Or visit their website at http://diobr.org/Welcome.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------ ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ------------------------------------------------------------------ On November 15, 1935, Rev. Paul Gauci, native of the island of Malta, and previously administrator of St. James Major parish at New Orleans, was named administrator of St. Ann's Church, Morganza, by His Excellency, Archbishop Rummel. A few years later, he was designated as pastor, a post he holds at the present time, during the diamond jubilee of the parish. His administration has covered a period of 12 years, during which the famous parish has reached the fruition of years of effort, dreams, aspirations and labors for God, His Church and immortal souls. A number of important events have featured Father Gauci's pastorate, principal of which was the incorporation of St. Ann's congregation at Morganza as a separate congregation, September 9, 1936, under the title, "Congregation of St. Ann Roman Catholic Church of Morganza." The board consisted of His Excellency, Archbishop Rummel, president; Rt. Rev. Msgr. Francis M. Racine, Vicar General, Vice-President; Rev. Paul Gauci, pastor, secretary-treasurer; and the trustees, Robert Charles Dawson and Leonce P. LeBlanc. With this incorporation, the Raccourci Church of Our Lady of Seven Dolors was dissolved as a corporation, and all of its property was transfered to the name of the new Morganza corporation. Father Gauci, like Father Perino, continued to serve the historic parent church at Raccourci, but its years were numbered. After the tragic flood of 1927, the federal government undertook to make every possible provision for prevention of such a disaster again. One of these was the installing of spillways to carry off flood waters and such a runway was designated from the Mississippi River to the Atchafalaya, across northern Pointe Coupee Parish. In the path of the spillway, known as Morganza Spillway, was Raccourci. The government ordered the removal of all buildings, so the settlement was dismantled, and historic Our Lady of Seven Dolors Church was likewise demolished. From October 1, 1939, services had been discontinued at Raccourci, and Mass instead was offered every Sunday at St. Francis Church of Pointe Coupee. The last Mass at Raccourci was on September 24. The parish was indemnified by the federal government. With approval of His Excellency, Archbishop Rummel, the Raccourci church was dismantled in 1940, and the material was transported to Morganza, where it was used to construct a parish hall adjoining St. Ann's Church. The property had formerly belonged to the Pointe Coupee Parish School Board and a public school had been built on it. The board on July 3, 1940, sold the ground, measuring 235 feet front, to St. Ann's parish. It was there that Father Gauci built a modern, attractive and spacious parish hall at a cost of $2,300, and dedicated the grounds to recreation purposes. The parish units of the Catholic Youth Organizations and parish societies use this hall for their many activities. It was dedicated on October 20, 1940. Some of the ornaments and furnishings of the Raccourci church, including chandeliers and statues were installed in St. Ann's Church at Morganza. The pews were transferred to St. Francis Chapel. Some two years after Father Gauci took charge, a tornado wrecked the old St. Joseph Chapel at Torras, and the building was not replaced. Provisions of the donation by Mr. Torras required that a convent be erected, and that the funds would revert to the family, if this was not carried out. Due to the inability to carry out the provises of the donation, the donation lapsed and reverted to the Torras family. (Thus another old Catholic landmark of North Pointe Coupee passed into history.) About the year 1940, Father Gauci directed the rebuilding of the chapel at Jacoby, which together with the land, had been donated to the parish by Anthony Sparacino. The new structure was blessed Father Gauci, with permission of the Archbishop, under the title of Christ the King. Mass is offered there once every two months. Father Gauci also began to serve the Catholic community of Argyle in the interior section of the parish, and once each month, Mass is offered at the home of the late Vito Triola. Because Catholics are few, no chapel has yet been erected at that point. The new pastor also made improvements to the parish rectory. In December, 1939, he announced that the parish was free from debt of $6,000 which had been incurred when the present church had been rebuilt. During the first full year of his pastorate (1936), the number of Holy Communions totalled 6,350, but two years later (1938), they had increased to 8,500, surpassing all previous records in the parish. Parish societies came in for major attention by the new pastor, with several new groups established. The 1936 report lists them as follows with number of members: Altar Society, 92; League of the Sacred Heart, 75; Catholic Daughters of America, 27; Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, 78; Holy Name Society, 65; Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 52; and the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women, 97. A number of improvements were made to historic St. Francis Church of Pointe Coupee, at Brooks. The building exterior was painted, a statue of St. Francis was installed in the sanctuary, a sidewalk was installed in front of the chapel, and a pipe fence was erected around the building. Regular Mass was inaugurated at the chapel in October, 1939. Pews at the chapel that year, were placed on a rental basis, and at Morganza, at the same time, some pews on the side aisle were reserved for the Colored. In March, 1947, Rev. Charles Crowley, S.S.J., conducted a mission for the Colored at the chapel probably the first mission for Colored ever given there. Improvements were made likewise to St. Ann's Church at Morganza, as for example, installation of a butane gas tank and four heaters; lighting fixtures; two side vestibules; iron fence from Torras church erected in front of Morganza Church; bell from Raccourci church installed in the Morganza church; new tabernacle installed on main altar, donation of Altar Society and Mr. Curtis Dayries; attic fans for summer; new $3,000 pipe organ bought and put into use, July 27, 1947; repainting of church pews; and installing of loud speakers in 1946, through funds raised by Knights of Columbus Council. Establishment of a parochial school was deemed impossible, but to provide opportunity for Catholic education to children of the parish, Father Gauci purchased on September 17, 1945, a second-hand school bus for $1,300 to transport Morganza pupils to St. Joseph Academy at New Roads. At present 32 pupils are transported daily from Morganza. A new Cemetery Association was formed by the pastor on November 1, 1936, for the proper care of the parish cemetery. That year a drive was conducted also for the beautification of the church grounds with shrubbery and plants. The parish rectory was also improved, the exterior repainted, a porch was enclosed to give additional room and a new roof of asbestos shingles applied. One of the principal efforts of the pastor has been the religious instruction of the children of the parish. The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine was organized on December 17, 1935, and since then its work has been constant and highly effective, not only at Morganza, but also at various school centers in the parish territory, under direction of Father Gauci. At the LaBarre School in 1935, the teachers began giving instructions for about 15 minutes daily before the classes begin. Since then the LaBarre School has been closed and religious instruction is given to them at Morganza School which they attend. The Confraternity classes for 1947, began in October, with classes every Tuesday at Morganza for one-half hour. Ten classes are conducted by public school teachers. Enrolled, including high school students, were 246 pupils. At Innis, two classes were conducted for 62 children from the elementary grades each week, and at Schexnayder School, 33 Colored children were instructed once each week by Colored teachers. All children were supplied with a free weekly copy of The Messenger editions. Funds were obtained by the Confraternity benefit affairs. Another method employed for instruction of children has been the summer religious school. These sessions are held during the vacation period and are conducted by Sisters of St. Joseph. The 1944 summer school was attended by 323 children. The 1947 session extended over five weeks with 250 white children in attendance, and some 40 Colored children present at the evening classes for them at Pointe Coupee and Morganza. On December 16, 1945, a High Mass was chanted to mark the 25th anniversary of the chartering of the local council of the Knights of Columbus and Rev. Irving DeBlanc, state chaplain, preached the sermon. The boys of the vicinity of Morganza were given the benefits of a Boy Scout Troop. A Parishwide rally was held on the Church playgrounds April 1941. Fairs for the benefit of the parish church have been held in the fall each year by Father Gauci. Days of recollection for men have been sponsored in the parish by the Knights of Columbus, and for women by the Catholic Daughters of America Court. Every three years, the Most Reverend Archbishop has visited the Church of St. Ann for Confirmation. On the occasion of graduations, a special Mass of thanksgiving is offered by the pastor, and breakfast served to the graduates. Missions have been given by noted missionaries periodically. Such, briefly, have been some of the activities and achievements of Father Gauci and his parishioners since the beginning of his administration in 1935, a notable array of energetic tasks and fruitful labors. It is a far cry from the pioneer days of the early Capuchin missionaries who planted the Faith in Pointe Coupee Parish, and the days of Father Charpentier and his temporary Church of Our Lady of Seven Dolors at Raccourci, and his successors. However, the success and achievements of today are the harvest of their patient toil and devoted work, supplemented by the zeal and devotion of the present pastor, collaborating with inspiring spirit of the devoted Catholics of northern Pointe Coupee Parish, developed not only during the past three-quarters of a century, but implanted over scores of years in their self-sacrificing forebears.