Father Perino, St. Ann's Church, Pointe Coupee Parish, La. Part Five, "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 March 5, 1914, the late Rt. Rev. Msgr. F.L. Gasser, came to the Church of Our Lady of Seven Dolors, representing Archbishop Blenk to effect the formal transfer of the pastorate of the church from Father LeBerre to the newly appointed pastor - Rev. F. Dominic Perino. The formalities were recorded on March 5, 1914. This marked a new ear for the parish and the inauguration of many activities that were destined to change the parish completely. Father Perion made a survey of the parish placed in his care, and quickly realized that a radical change was essential, as Raccourci, out of touch with the rest of the parish, by-passed by the railroad, dwindling in population, virtually abandoned by river traffic, and reached only by the river road, was no longer the logical seat for the parish. Already in 1914, when preparing for the annual report, he declared that a "chapel in Morganza would promote the interests of religion in the section of Morganza, Grande-Levee and Fordoche; $400 has already been raised for that purpose." On March 29, 1914, just three weeks after his installation, Father Perion offered Mass at Morganza, using the school, the first time, he stated, that Mass had been offered there. He suggested to Archbishop Blenk that a chapel be erected at that point and obtained approval of that prelate for an application to the Catholic Church Extension Society for funds to aid that project. On June 28, 1915, Archbishop Blenk notified Father Perino that he had been informed that the society offered a designated gift of $500 for the erection of a chapel at Morganza, provided that the name of St. Ann be accepted for it. Father Perino had informed the Archbishop previously that he had found a gentleman who was ready to sell six acres of ground at a good location for the building of a chapel, and that he had formed a committee including several businessmen. Father Perino, after learning of the Extension donation, proceeded with the building of the chapel and on September 26, 1915, the cornerstone of the first church in Morganza was blessed. The first Mass was offered in the new St. Ann's Church by Father Perino on April 12, 1916, after he had blessed the new building through special faculties from Bishop Laval, Auxilliary of New Orleans, who was administering the archdiocese during the Archbishop's illness. The pastor also received a generous donation from a friend for Stations of the Cross for the new church. Father Perino also desired to erect a rectory at Morganza, so after disposing of the task of building the church, he bagan work on the presbytery in March, 1917, and on April 20, 1917, he moved from Raccourci to Morganza. For the first time in 45 years, Raccourci had no regular resident pastor. This erection of the Morganza presbytery had been effected by Father Perino through the sale of part of the property at Raccourci. In October, 1916, he wrote to the chancery and explained the situation. The Raccourci rectory, he said, was absolutely too far from the center of the congregation. Parishioners were unable to get the priest by telephone, telegraph or railroad. If the roads were in bad condition, they did not even attempt it. The road between Raccourci and Morganza, he pointed out, was in public opinion, the worst in the civil parish at the time. Father Perino was boarding with a family then and had to walk one-half mile for his meals. He showed that Morganza was the center of the congregation. On the First Friday of October, 1916, he had 67 Communions at St. Ann's Church, Morganza. But his problem for the establishment of the rectory at the latter town, was a question of funds. He proposed the sale of the school- house adjoining the Raccourci church, which had been used as a public school. The building was badly in need of repairs, but the Pointe Coupee school board declined to expend public funds for improvement of religious property, and declared that they would build a new school instead. They offered $600 for half an acre of ground and the building. Very Rev. Jules B. Jeanmard, now Bishop of Lafayette, and then chancellor of the archdiocese, notified Father Perino to proceed (with the Archbishop's permission) for the sale of the property. The Raccourci church board, including the trustees, E.A. Fisher and N. Tircuit, authorized the sale, and this was finally carried through in 1916. Father Perino, after having established himself at Morganza, arranged for a mission to be conducted by a Passionist missionary in 1917. The land for the Morganza church was bought from the Morganza Land Co., and was formerly a part of the Morganza Plantation of Charles Morgan. The property, 240 feet wide, representing four acres, was purchased in the name of the corporation of Our Lady of Seven Dolors at Raccourci. The act of sale was passed on May 6, 1915, at Morganza. Additional property was bought September 23, 1915. The property was at the end of Second Street and Fourth Avenue. Father Perino had been serving the Catholic community at Jacoby, in the chapel belonging to Angelo Sparacino. This building, with the ground upon which it stood, and the cemetery, were deeded to the parish by Mr. Sparacino on May 15, 1918. The act was clarified on March 4, 1937, during the administration of the next pastor, Rev. Paul Gauci. The act of 1918 is recorded in entry No. 2178, Conveyance Book B, May 16, 1918. By 1919, the new church of St. Ann at Morganza had become too small to accomodate the growing congregation, and Father Perino sought permission and means to enlarge it. He was authorized in December, 1919, to proceed with the enlargement. Not only did the pastor devote himself to the improvement of the property of the parish, but above all he gae paramount attention to the spiritual progress and welfare of his flock. Holy Communions that had stood at 950 in 1913, increased to 1275 in the ensuing year, and at the end of the next decade (1915), had reached 5610, but in 1931, the total soared to 7,000. Baptisms also increased steadily and by 1929, there were 72. Marriages, always very few at the Raccourci church, mounted to 13 in 1931. The first Confirmation during Father Perino's pastorate was in 1915, and 211 received that Sacrament, and in 1925, the class numbered 257. Father Perino also directed his efforts to the promotion of parish societies to encourage more Catholic activities and greater spiritual interest. In addition to the Altar Society and the Ladies of St. Ann already functioning, which he activated still further, he organized the Apostleship of Prayer and a Junior Holy Name Society. The Knights of Columbus formed a Council at Morganza, in 1920, and the Catholic Daughters established a court, two and a half years later. Although Father Perino moved from Raccourci in 1917, and Archbishop Shaw in 1921, permitted recognition of St. Ann's Church at Morganza as a parish church, the parish continued to function under the charter of the corporation of Our Lady of Seven Dolors. The final change to Morganza was not effected until 1936. Since 1917 Father Perino continued to serve the Raccourci Church having services every other Sunday, alternating with services at St. Francis Chapel at Brooks. The Church of St. Ann at Morganza was seriously damaged by a storm in June, 1934 Further damage was suffered by an unusually heavy snow storm in January, 1935. It was deemed necessary to build a new church, so in February of that year, demolition of the structure built in 1915, was begun. A larger building with two towers, one at each side of the facade, was erected, work beginning on February 14th. Then new St. Ann's Church was blessed simply on Palm Sunday, April 14, 1935, and on October 8th of that year, Most Rev. Joseph F. Rummel, ninth Archbishop of New Orleans, solemnly dedicated the new edifice. During the next month (November, 1935), energetic and zealous Father Perino, who had accomplished so much for the parish, was transferred to Lockport as pastor. Under his administration, radical changes had been made, and historic Our Lady of Seven Dolors church at isolated Raccourci, had surrendered its prerogative of parish church. With the establishment of the parish seat at Morganza, the parish was tremendously invigorated and Catholic activities took a new lease on life, while spiritual interests increased substantially. It was truly a transformation in Catholic parish life.