ST. MICHAEL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH
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It all began with a barren stretch of prairie land that laid flat beneath the summer sky in 1886 as the first train whistle broke through the silence of the desolate horizon. By 1887, a small village called Crowley Switch broke ground, and was founded by the Duson brothers.
Within four years, sixteen Catholic families resided in the small community, and on St. Michael’s Day, September 29, 1895 the community’s original two story wood framed chapel, built in 1892 as a Jesuit mission on the corner of Avenue H and Eighth Street, was named for St. Michael the Archangel and consecrated.
A steeple bell weighing in at a thousand pounds and measuring thirty six and one half inches in diameter was cast by McNeely and Co. of West Troy, New York, in 1895. A Latin inscription engraved within the bell read: “I was dedicated in honor of St. Martin, martyr, and named Martine. I was brought forth unto light by the generosity and work of certain citizens of Crowley, Louisiana, among whom were Phillip Julius Chappuis, mayor of this city; Alexander Meaux; Martin Andrus; and Mary and Catherine Duggan of Baton Rouge.”
Standing forth as godfather and godmother to the church bell were Mayor Chappuis and Mary Duggan, during the reign of His Holiness Pope Leo XIII as Supreme Pontiff, the Most Reverend Francis Janssens as Archbishop of New Orleans, and Francis Leo Gassler, Pastor of the parish.
A letter of petition was later sent to The Archbishop of New Orleans in 1897 by forty six pioneers of St. Michael’s church requesting a resident priest. The petition was signed by forty six men and women; including the total headcount of each household. The numbers quickly rose to one hundred and ninety five parishioners.
In 1895, Father Francis Lee Grassler was appointed shepherd of the flock, and served only until Crowley became an independent parish in 1897. St. Michael’s then welcomed its first residential priest, Father Wencelaus Geens in March of that year. His term, however, was short lived due to illness, and Father P.H. van Alfen became his successor.
Quickly, St. Michael’s new residential priest became a major participant in the growth and development of the churches future and before the turn of the century Father van Alfen had formulated plans for a Catholic school and a new church building.
The first nuns to staff the school arrived on July of 1900 from the Perpetual Adoration order. Father van Alfen, and Mayor and Mrs. P.J. Chappuis greeted their arrival at the train depot before delivering them to a warm home cooked meal provided in their honor at the home of Mrs. T.C. Carver. The nuns were then directed to the home provided to them for residency.
Avenue F, between Fifth Street and Hutchinson became the new location of St. Michael’s church as the building was moved and enlarged into two stories. This would serve as both church and parochial school while the classrooms occupied the ground floor.
On September 1, 1900, the school doors were opened with Sister Mary Clementine as Mother Superior. By October the enrollment had increased to one hundred and twenty five children, and by January of 1902, enrollment had risen once again estimating the increase to two hundred Caucasians and seventy-five African Americans.
By the fall of 1902 the new convent for the nuns was near completion, and the three-story brick structure’s cost totaled at $15,000.00. Two large dinning facilities were established on the ground floor; one for the sisters, and one for the students. A kitchen, pantry, wash house and store room also entailed the ground floor.
Eight rooms occupied the second floor, including a large dormitory for the girls, a study hall for the sisters, a study hall for the students, two large music halls and a parlor.
Fourteen rooms offered shelter on the third floor which included twelve rooms for the nuns, an infirmary, and a guest bedroom. On Sunday, October 26, 1902 six visiting clergymen attended the blessing of the new convent.
On November 7, 1903 plans for a new twenty thousand dollar church were publicized through the pages of the Crowley Daily Signal.
The first published report of confirmation at St. Michael’s was in December of 1904, with one hundred and eight boys and girls participating.
In the spring of 1907, Father van Alfen, accompanied by his friend Louis Kloor, sailed off for a much needed vacation to his homeland in Maastricht, Holland. On May 29, 1907 Father van Alfen died at the age of thirty seven as a result of surgery for a long standing stomach problem. The tragic news was delivered to the residents of Crowley on June 1, 1907 through newspaper media coverage. A memorial service took place two weeks later.
In 1909, Father Anthony Francis Isenberg was the second appointed pastor of St. Michael’s after the death of Father van Alfen, and quickly picked up Father van Alfen’s dream regarding the new church. The St. Michael parishioners responded immediately to the energetic and responsible leadership of their new pastor. Father Isenbergs wisdom and good judgment reflected handsomely within the structure of the new facility, and St. Michael’s parishioners were able to stand proud as the new Italian Renaissance structure began to take shape one hundred and fifty feet long, complete with a cupola and tower one hundred and twelve feet in height.
Archbishop Blenk of New Orleans and Bishop Van de Ven traveled by train, arriving the evening before the dedication of the new structure, and were guests of honor at a reception held at city hall. The new $40,000 structure with a seating capacity of eight hundred people arose on the northwest corner of Avenue F and Fifth Street and was dedicated on May 9, 1912.
The Crowley Daily Signal described the grand structure as a ‘masterful reproduction,’ a ‘refined conception of classical architecture,’ and a ‘classic beauty and perfection of ancient ideals.’ The article continued by describing the circular sanctuary’s interior as softly lighted by the sunlight’s rays through panels of stained glass windows. A circular arch crowned at the cross section with a dome is described as beautifully finished in harmony with the circular sanctuary.
In 1912, The Grand Opera House of Crowley delivered a masterpiece of musical delicacy as the famous prima donna of the Paris Conservatory, Madam de Vilchez visited the The Grand Opera House stage in efforts to raise funds to benefit the church while under the direction of Reverend A.A. Either. The event was considered the ‘greatest event ever held in the city,’ a ‘musical success of the first order,’ and ‘the finest musical treat that Crowley ever had or will have for a long time.’
In 1929 Father Isenberg began a new journey as he embraced his new assignment as pastor of St. John’s Cathedral in Lafayette.
On February 4, 1929 Father Isenberg’s successor, Monsignor George Mollo arrived into Crowley from Jennings, Louisiana. By September 16, 1933 he had submitted a petition to the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works to remove a smaller wooden framed school building, and relocate a larger frame building to remodel as a temporary gymnasium and auditorium. The plans also included building a chain link fence and building the first unit of the new school. The total cost estimated at $27,000.00. A contract was awarded toward the building of a twelve room school house for $23,000.00 to T. Miller and Sons of Lake Charles. The school house was then built on Hutchinson Avenue and Avenue F.
In 1951 the retirement of Father Mollo introduced St. Michael’s parishioner’s to the Most Reverend Maurice Schexnayder, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette. During his pastorate, the church was completely renovated , and the central dome was removed due to leakage. In December of 1953 Notre Dame High School was near completion while under his direction.
In 1956, Bishop Schexnayder became Ordinary of the Diocese and was replaced by Monsignor A.L. Soulier.
During the pastorate of Monsignor Soulier, an extensive building and remodeling program began. A cafeteria for the elementary school was built, a gymnasium and an eight-room wing was then added to the high school. An administration building and new rectory were also constructed. The construction of the Mausoleum at Woodlawn Cemetery was also established.
Housing for the nuns was of critical importance, and a three story building was purchased on October 23,1969 for the purpose for providing suitable housing for nuns who had rendered more than sixty years of service to St. Michael’s parish.
Due to ill health, Monsignor Soulier resigned and was replaced by Monsignor Charles Mallet. The renovations and remodeling changes made to the church by Monsignor Mallet would remain as they are found today.The church interior was completely gutted, and the decor was changed in keeping with the directives of Vatican II. The sanctuary was extended and the arrangement of the pews was changed. The Communion railing and some of the statues were removed and stored away, while new pews, a wooden alter and new alter furnishings replaced them. The church was repainted and embellished with gold leaf highlights. Carpet was laid throughout the sanctuary and silk fabric adorned the lower walls behind the alter in the main part of the sanctuary.
In 1970 the convent building caught fire and was subsequently condemned by the fire marshal. The building was then subject to demolishment in 1979 while under the direction of Father Fred Swenson who became pastorate in April of 1978, and the contents stored within its structure were then auctioned off. This included the hand carved communion rail that once adorned the church sanctuary. The auction of items were held in November of 1978 and brought in $2001.00. The beautiful hand carved alter rail ended up in a bar in Branch which went up in flames some time later.
Currently, St. Michaels Catholic Church is under the direction of Father Gary Schexnayder.
The Parish Mission Statement is: We are a Christian community rooted in the Word of God, the tradition of the Roman Catholic Church, the culture of the Diocese of Lafayette, and the history of St. Michael Church, called to form a family of faith that worships together in celebrating the sacraments, encourages collaboration of clergy and laity, seeks ways to minister lovingly to the needs of all parishioners, engages in continuing evangelization, offers and supports a renewal of knowledge and experience of Jesus Christ and the Church, and provides structures to facilitate this calling.