St. Mary Magdalen Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Mary Magdalen Church, Rectory, and Cemetery
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 Location in Louisiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 300 Pere Megret St., Abbeville, Louisiana |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1911 |
| Built by | Eugene Guillot |
| Architectural style | Gothic, Romanesque Revival, American Foursquare |
| NRHP reference No. | 88000116 |
| Added to NRHP | February 11, 1988 |
St. Mary Magdalen Church is a very old and important Roman Catholic church located in Abbeville, Louisiana. In 1988, the church, along with its rectory (the priest's house) and cemetery, was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a special historical site.
The cemetery was started around 1844. The church building you see today was built in 1911. The rectory, which is built in the American Foursquare style, was finished in 1921.
The church is made of red bricks and has a Gothic style, which means it has tall, pointed arches and detailed designs. It also has some Romanesque Revival features. The church is shaped like a cross, which is called a cruciform basilica. It has strong supports called buttresses on its outside walls.
Contents
History of St. Mary Magdalen Church
How the Parish Began
St. Mary Magdalen Parish was started in 1842 by a priest named Pere Antoine Desire Megret. The very first church was actually a remodeled home belonging to Joseph LeBlanc. It was built and dedicated in the spring of 1844. From the beginning, it was named after Saint Mary Magdalen, a favorite saint for many people in South Louisiana who were descendants of the Acadian exiles.
Early Pastors and Challenges
In September 1847, Reverend Nicholas Francais took charge of the church. He served there until 1850. In 1851, Archbishop Blanc made Vermilion Parish its own church area, and St. Mary Magdalen's Church became the main church. Reverend Hubert Thirion was the first resident pastor, joined by Reverend Francis Mittlebronn as his assistant.
Later, in February 1853, Reverend J. Regale became the pastor. He left that same year, and Reverend Stephen Joseph Foltier became the new pastor in late 1853.
Fire Destroys Records
In February 1854, a fire at the rectory destroyed many church records. The current records for the parish begin on February 20, 1854. They tried to recreate baptism records by asking people to report their children's baptisms, but all marriage records were lost.
New Leaders and Growth
Father Foltier left in 1856, and Reverend Jean Arthur Poyet took over. Father Poyet was very active and visited many parts of the parish. He left in 1866, and Reverend Theodore Lamy became the new pastor.
In December 1868, Father Lamy welcomed a young priest named Alexandre Mehault. Father Mehault later became one of the most important pastors of St. Mary Magdalen Church.
Father Mehault's Contributions
Father Mehault became pastor in May 1870. During his time, a new rectory was built, a new bell was added to the church, and many improvements were made. He brought back beautiful items from France, like vestments, statues, and stained-glass windows, making the church a very beautiful place. Many of these items were donated by people from Vermilion Parish.
Father Mehault also helped bring Catholic education to the area. He convinced the Sisters of Mount Carmel from New Orleans to open a school in Abbeville.
It soon became clear that the first church building was too small. Everyone agreed a new, larger church was needed. On May 28, 1884, the new St. Mary Magdalen Church was officially blessed. In May 1896, the parish became a legal organization called "The Congregation of St. Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church."
Another Fire and Rebuilding
Father Mehault left Abbeville in July 1899. Reverend Fabian Laforest, from Canada, became the new pastor. Father Laforest was very talented and a good leader. In 1904, he installed a new organ and made the rectory bigger. In 1905, he arranged for a new cemetery and put new pews in the church.
On March 22, 1907, a fire completely destroyed the church and the rectory. The fire also destroyed baptism records from 1901 to 1904. Of the 1541 lost baptism records, only 274 were recovered. Father Laforest quickly built a temporary wooden church. The new St. Mary Magdalen Church, the one standing today, was completed and opened in 1911.
Later Pastors and Modern Changes
Father Laforest passed away in 1915 and was buried in the new cemetery he had helped create. Reverend Julien Ravier Bollard became the new pastor in July 1915. He was a very devoted priest and served in Abbeville for 15 years. During his time, the Diocese of Lafayette was formed, and St. Mary Magdalen Parish became part of this new diocese.
In June 1930, Reverend Edmund Daull became the pastor. He made many improvements to the church. During his time, youth work became very important, thanks to a young assistant priest, Reverend Joseph Verbis Lafleur. Father Lafleur bravely lost his life during World War II while helping others escape a sinking prisoner of war ship. Father Daull passed away in 1949.
Right Reverend Monsignor Paul Fusilier became the new pastor in January 1950. He helped build a new Catholic school building for Mount Carmel in 1953. He also made many repairs and improvements to the church and rectory, even installing a new cross on top of the spire himself. He also established a new chapel and a convent for French Dominican Sisters.
Most Reverend Bishop Robert E. Tracy became the new pastor in 1959. He was only in Abbeville for six months but achieved a lot. He restored the rectory, built a six-room center for religious education, and improved the church's exterior.
In January 1960, Monsignor Ignatius A. Martin became the pastor. He introduced several new groups and programs to the parish. He also helped build a music room and an extra classroom at Mount Carmel. Other improvements included building a mausoleum, a new high school (Vermilion Catholic High), and expanding the church offices.
Monsignor Richard von Phul Mouton became pastor in November 1973. He continued to make the church more beautiful and worked to help the elderly and homebound. He also significantly reduced the parish's debt. In December 1975, a part of the church was renovated into a weekday Mass chapel called Holy Parents Chapel.
In August 1981, the sacristy and chapel were damaged by fire, but they were repaired in 1981-82. In 1984, the community center was given to Mount Carmel for classrooms. A new ministries building, which holds parish offices, meeting rooms, and a bookstore, was completed in 1985.
