CHURCH HISTORIES Terrebonne Parish, LA CATHOLIC - SACRED HEART 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 - SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH Location in 2007 - 1113 Hwy 55, Montegut, LA The Houma Daily Courier and The Terrebonne Press Houma, LA, Oct. 8, 1972, Sunday SACRED HEART HAS ORIGINS IN CIVIL WAR By Mary Tracy Duplantis Sacred Heart Church, Montegut, had its origin during Civil War days, and was, from the outset, a vital part of the vast parish known as "Lower Terrebonne", St. Francis, "eldest daughter"; its limits included the present parishes of : St. Joseph, Little Caillou; Sacred Heart, Montegut; St. Ann, Bourg; and Holy Family, Grand Caillou. Lower Terrebonne's first pastor was Rev. Jean Marie Joseph Denece, a native of France, recruited in 1863 by Archbishop Olin, second Archbishop of New Orleans. The fifty-one recruits (priest and seminarians) arrived in New Orleans on Good Friday, April 3, 1863 aboard the charted ship, "St. Genevieve". Pere Denece administered his vast parish by traveling on horseback and by paddling his pirogue. For twenty-six years he tendered his far-flung flock faithfully; his death, in 1890 was a great loss. (The Catholic Daughter Court in Montegut is named in his memory.) Rev. Peter C. Paquet was appointed second pastor of Lower Terrebonne by Archbishop Janssens. He moved from Little Caillou to Montegut; the church there became the Parish Church with Little Caillou as one of its Missions. Of Father Paquet it is said that he developed a great sense of "parochial pride in his parishioners. In 1895 Father Paquet was transferred to Houma, and Rev. Charles Richard became the third pastor of the area. On Dec 17, 1897, he purchased a tract of land on Upper Little Caillou, and built a chapel there. Next, he built a chapel at Canal Belanger (Bourg) named it for St. Anne. In December of 1908 St. Ann became a full-fledged parish. In 1910 Rev. Joseph Quennielliere succeeded Father Richard, transferred to Edgard, as pastor until 1920. He was followed by Father Pierre who served from 1920 to 1922. (Records regarding these two pastors are sparse.) Father Colombe served as pastor for 15 years, 1922-1937. During his administration, he devoted much time to the development of the Pointe-aux- Chenes area and built its first Chapel. Rev. Charles Beauvais, pastor for five years, 1937-1942, built a new church at Pointe-aux-Chenes. He was later elevated to the rank of Monsignor and served as Moderator of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women for many years. Rev. Edwin Gubler came to Montegut in 1942. During his pastorate the parish was divided, and he became the first pastor of St. Joseph's church on Little Caillou. He is specially remembered for his dedicated service to Scouting, for which he was the Deanery Moderator. Rev. Marcel Fourcade came next, and served until 1948. His successor was Father Peltier, who built St. Peter's chapel on Lower Terrebonne. In 1952 Rev. Bernard Mistretta became pastor. During his administration the church "burned down to the ground." The present brick structure replaced it. Rev. Winus Roeten succeeded Father Mistretta, serving until August of 1962. Much youth work was done by him, and he strove to intensify the spiritual life of the parish. Since Rev. Ivern Bordelon's advent as pastor in 1966, many changes have taken place in parish life, and much has been achieved in all phases of parish life.