CHURCH HISTORIES Terrebonne Parish, LA CATHOLIC - ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH - CHAUVIN 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 - ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH - CHAUVIN Location in 2007 - Hwy 56, Chauvin, LA The Houma Daily Courier and The Terrebonne Press Houma, LA, Oct. 8, 1972, Sunday, Section E, page 9 Author: St. Joseph, Chauvin, Mrs. Thelma Duplantis ST. JOSEPH'S HAS RICH FRENCH HERITAGE (Editors note - The early history of St. Joseph's Church, Chauvin, is incorporated in that of Lower Terrebonne of which good Pere Denece was the first pastor. It is found in the chronicle of Sacred Heart Church, Montegut.) Rev. Edwin Gubler, the founding pastor, built the parish rectory in 1947. Reviewing the history of the church structure from its beginnings we find that - The original small chapel was replaced by a larger church on June 5, 1866; the later was destroyed by the hurricane of 1915, and was rebuilt by Father Quenouilliere. Again in 1926, a hurricane struck and damaged the church, and it was rebuilt, only to be razed by a fire in 1928. A new church was built under the direction of Father Coulombe, the interior of which was completed by Father Beauvais. This structure has since been moved to the rear of the parish cemetery, and has been replaced by the magnificent brick building, which was constructed during the pastorate of Rev. Charles Pagluighi, and brought to completion by Rev. Allen Roy. It was dedicated by Archbishop Philip M. Hannan on October 16, 1966. Linguistically, up to the early 1940's, French was the principal language spoken in the community, and the parish priest usually gave the homilies en Francais. About this time, French and English were used at alternate Masses. During Father Guber's administration English took the ascendancy, and French is now seldom heard in Mass. Following the demise of Father Denecee in 1890, the following priest served St. Joseph's church: Rev. P.C. Paquet, 1890-1895; Rev. Charles Richard, 1895-1911; Rev. Joseph Quenouillere, 1911-1920; Rev. Joseph Pierce, 1920-1922; Rev. Joseph Coulambe, 1922-1936; Rev. Charles Beauvais, pastor, and Rev. Henry C. Bezou, assistant, 1936-1944; Rev. Edwin Gubler, pastor and Rev. John Bendix, assistant, 1944-1950; Rev. Lloyd Caballero, pastor, and Rev. Michael Fennegan and Rev. Marcel Fourcade, assistants, 1950-1956; Rev. Charles A. Pagluighi, pastor, and Rev. Emile LaFranz and Rev. Louis Generes, assistant, 1956-1966; Rev. Allen Roy, pastor, and Rev. Wilmer Todd, Rev. Emery Weber, Rev. Father Smith, Rev. Joseph Chotin and Deacon Jack Monteleone, assistants, 1966-1972. Rev. Fred Brunet is now serving as pastor, with Rev. Joseph Chotin as assistant. Several priest who served at St. Joseph's later rendered distinguished service to the Archdiocese, Monsignor Henry C. Bezou was Archdiocesan Superintendent of Schools for twenty-five years. Rev. Louis Generes has served as both assistant Superintendent and Superintendent Rev. Emile LaFranz has served as regional Superintendent, and is now on the Notre Dame Seminary faculty. Rev. Charles Pagliughi has served as rector of the St. John Viannery Prep School. Monsignor Gubler has served at State Chaplain of the Catholic Daughters of America. Rev. Wilmer Todd is chaplain at the Aquinas Center, Nicholls State University. Monsignor Beauvais, who was Moderator of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women for many years, loved St. Joseph parish so much that he requested its cemetery as his 'final resting place; his wish was granted.