CHURCH HISTORIES Terrebonne Parish, LA CATHOLIC - OUR LADY OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC CHURCH AKA - HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC CHURCH Submitted by: Cynthia Daigle Source: The Houma Daily Courier and The Terrebonne Press, Houma, LA. Last modified: 10 MARCH 2008 ================================================== NOTE: Most histories were submitted by the church to the Houma Daily Courier and The Terrebonne Press as part of the newspapers Sesquicentennial Edition. Not all churches submitted histories. ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ================================================== CATHOLIC - OUR LADY OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC CHURCH AKA - HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC CHURCH Location in 2007 - 126 Rosary Street, Houma, LA The Houma Daily Courier and The Terrebonne Press Houma, LA, Oct. 8, 1972, Sunday, Section E BISHOP SCHEXNAYDER INSPIRED HOLY ROSARY In recounting the history and growth of the parish, we are reminded that it was the Most Reverend Maurice Schexnayder, D.D., Bishop of Lafayette, who when serving as Pastor of St. Francis de Sales Church, planned and inspired the Parish of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. In March, 1948, Bishop Schexnayder met with a committee of laymen from East Houma (Daigleville) to lay the groundwork for the new parish. Upon approval of the request for the new parish by Archbishop Rummel, the old Paul Gaidry Estate, situated on East Main Street more than 2000 feet from the city limits of that time, was purchased from Miss Laura Gaidry. In May, 1948, an army chapel located at Gulfport, Mississippi was purchased with the aid of Senator Allen Ellender. In route, via barge, the building was damaged in a collision with a bridge, subsequently arriving in Houma on October 12, 1948. During the erection and renovation of the building, it was enlarged by adding 35 feet to its length. In the interim, an old store building and barn on the site were razed and the salvaged material was used to construct a community hall. A house was moved from the bayou side and converted into a rectory. The Parish of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary was canonically established by Archbishop Joseph Francis Rummel on September 8, 1948, at which time he appointed Reverend Anthony J. Wegmann as Pastor. The first services in the parish were held on September 19, 1948, in the community hall. Five months later, on February 20, 1949, the first Mass in the newly completed church building was celebrated with special permission of the Archbishop. On March 20, 1949, Archbishop Rummel presided at the blessing and Mass of Dedication of the new church. The Sacrament of Confirmation was administered to the first class on May 19, 1949. Land was purchased for the cemetery in 1951. The property was fenced and provided with water and paved walks after the site had been cleared. It was officially opened on July 20, 1952. A mausoleum was constructed in the cemetery in 1968. In 1953, it was decided to enlarge and beautify the church. New pews were provided and the seating capacity was increased. From the beginning, it was planned to have a school for the children of Holy Rosary. The school building was constructed during 1954 and its doors were opened for the first classes in September of that year. The School Sisters of Notre Dame staffed the new school. The sisters were originally housed in a rented residence on Plum Street, around the corner from the church property. Later, the home of Mrs. Ed. Theriot, situated on a site adjoining that on which the school is located, was renovated and converted into a convent for the sisters. During the summer of 1960 the school building was enlarged with the addition of a new wing. The parochial school, administered by the Notre Dame Sisters with the aid of a complement of lay teachers, operated continuously from its inception through the 1970-71 school year. In 1958, a new, modern, two story, brick veneer rectory was built to provide more spacious living and working accommodations for the parish priest. In the ensuing years the former rectory was used for storage and subsequently, the building was sold and removed from the premises. A parking lot now occupies the former site of the old rectory, adjacent to the church. With the continuing growth of East Houma came the decision for the establishment of a new church parish in the area. In the summer of 1963 the Parish of Annunziata was created from that part of the Holy Rosary Parish lying South of Van Avenue and West of Bayou Sale. At the same time, a change in the administration and pastoral care of Holy Rosary Parish took place with the advent of the Redemptorist Fathers into the parish. The V. Rev. Joseph Armshaw, C.SsR. was appointed pastor to succeed Msgr. Anthony J. Wegmann on August 13, 1963. On Monday, October 7, 1968, Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Most Holy Rosary, a concelebrated Mass was offered in celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the parish. The mass was followed by an informal reception in the school cafeteria. The V. Rev. Raymond Gaydos, C.SsR., succeeded Father Armshaw as pastor January, 1970. In January, 1971, a parish council was elected comprised of two lay persons from five districts within the parish. Because of the recent rapid growth of that part of the parish situated North of Bayou Terrebonne, a sixth district was created earlier this year (1972), resulting in two additional lay persons being placed on the council. Holy Rosary will celebrate its silver anniversary on September 8, 1973. Reflecting upon the past, it most assuredly will be a joyous occasion.