A History of Annunciation Catholic Church On the Occasion of the Hundredth Anniversary Part IV

Transcription

1 A History of Annunciation Catholic Church On the Occasion of the Hundredth Anniversary Part IV Father Phelps insight in reaching out and preparing for the future is now providing a very solid financial base to the Parish School insuring funds that will be needed for the future. In 2002 he made arrangements for our current principal to come to Annunciation Catholic School. Under the Society of St. Teresa of Jesus, the Teresian Sisters from Covington, LA provided us with our first nun principal since Sister Amelia Ibarra, S.T.J. took over the administration of Annunciation Catholic School in August, Teresian Sisters in Formation volunteered during their first year providing enrichment in music, art, and Spanish. Sister Angeles, their director, was our part time counselor. In the second year Sister Clarice Suchy became a full time teacher and is today teaching first grade. With Father Phelps blessing a Beautification Committee has worked to renovate the front of the school and plans more improvements in the future. Father Phelps is always there for us, to provide around the clock spiritual assistance. He is forever working in pastoral ministries to bring Jesus to us. You will find that he is approachable and wise in his advice. Annunciation Parish has been blessed with several religious vocations. Of notable mention is our only Bogalusa bred priest and graduate of Annunciation School, Father Michael Jung, O.S. B. Over the years Father Jung has occasionally celebrated weekend Mass here. His regular job was teaching at the college level. Two deacons hail from Annunciation Church. Joseph Lazo began studying while he lived in Bogalusa, but was ordained after he moved to Covington. Charles Chuck Hartman moved here from Slidell and was ordained a deacon during Father Clark s pastorate. He has since retired to live in Florida. This brief historical sketch has highlighted the work chiefly of the priests who have served the parish through the last one hundred years. Of necessity it has been skeletal, leaving out so many, many events and achievements of the parishioners themselves. Numerous times the men and women of the parish toiled, prayed, and donated to build the physical plant of the church and school, to tear down old structures, to conduct raffles, bake sales, festivals and pledges to finance projects. It should be emphasized, however, that without you the people without your generous cooperation and treasure, your talent, time, and initiative the priests simply could never

2 have made a go of it. After all, you, together with the priests are the church, the community, the people of God! And so quite simply, without you, Annunciation could never have reached its one hundredth year. In fact, it would have long ago crumbled and disappeared. Another thing that must be remembered is that the external history of a parish is only a part of its history. God only knows how often His graces have reached all of you, both priests and laity graces and blessings that have poured out to you through the innumerable Baptisms, Confirmations, Confessions heard, Communions administered, Masses celebrated, Weddings witnessed, and holy deaths in Christ, signed with the Oil of the Sick. Think of the countless prayers that have been offered to God here, how many acts of kindness and love, how much concern and support for the sick, the elderly, the poor and needy, and the care and education of the young. So much of this is known only to some of you and to God. These miracles of grace have been the real history of Annunciation Church. And so we give special and sincere thanks to, first of all, our God, for without Him nothing at all could have been done. And we give special thanks for the many good priests He has sent us from St. Joseph s Abbey and through whom He has brought us His grace and love in a special way. And we give thanks for the many, many good and devoted parishioners whom God has brought here to Annunciation Parish and for the graces and blessings they have brought to all of us. Unless the Lord builds the House, they labor in vain who try to build it. In the summer of 2005, just as plans were under way for the Centennial Celebration of 2006 for Annunciation Church, Hurricane Katrina struck. It was the most destructive storm on record. Unprecedented new challenges were faced by the parish family. With deep faith and forbearance, instilled by the shepherding of dedicated pastors, past and present, we carry on. Eventually the ambiance of our beautiful church will soon be restored. With the help of the Holy Spirit we will once again prevail in the face of adversity. By the Grace of God we look forward to the future and the next one hundred years. Deo gratias! Pictorial Views of the Completed Restoration Follows:

3 Easter 2012 Left Side Right side

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5 The Annunciation Cry room

6 Dobyns Center Chapel and Courtyards