As the oldest parish of the diocese, it is from St. Matthew the origin
from which all other parishes throughout the area were created. This has
caused many to affectionately refer to St. Matthew as the "Mother Church"
of northeast Louisiana. The history of the parish, beginning in 1851,
is replete with the many contributions of the faithful and friends from
throughout our region. St. Matthew and the clergy who served here have
been a unifying force in this community throughout the last 150 years,
and it will continue to be so into this third Millennium.
| 1787 |
The first priest
known to have come to the Ouachita Post was the Reverend Louis de
Quintanilla, a Spanish Capuchin Friar. |
| 1798 |
A
Franciscan Friar, the Rev. Don Juan Brady resided at Fort Miro (old
site of Monroe) from 1798 to 1801. |
| 1802 |
Father Patricio
O'Lonergan was curate of the posts of Avoyelles (now Marksville),
Rapides (now Alexandria), and Ouachita (now Monroe.) |
| 1828 |
The
Rev. J.E. Martin, Missionary of Avoyelles, came to Monroe, leaving
records in French. |
| 1840 |
The Rev. John Timon,
a Lazarist father, came to Monroe, leaving records of baptisms. |
| 1851 |
The
Rev. Patrick Canavan, the first missionary assigned with headquarters
in Monroe, established the parish of Saint Matthew and started the
first Catholic church built in Northeast Louisiana. |
| 1852 |
The Rev. J. J. O'Daugherty
worked as a missionary in Monroe area for six months. |
| 1853 |
Catholic
church built at Milliken's Bend, Madison Parish, the second Catholic
church built in northeast Louisiana. |
| 1856 |
The Rev. Louis Gergaud
appointed the first resident pastor of Monroe. He finished the church
begun by Canavan, which was later dedicated to Saint Matthew, June
9, 1856. |
| 1859 |
Catholic
church was begun at Lake Providence by the Rev. M. Chopin, who resided
at Milliken's Bend, Madison Parish. |
| 1859 |
A mission was established
at Bastrop by Rev. Louis Gergaud. |
| 1861 |
Saint
Matthew Altar Society founded at Saint Matthew Church by Rev. Louis
Gergaud of Monroe. |
| 1863 |
With only 34 Catholic
families in Monroe, the Rev. Louis Gergaud started the first Catholic
school in Northeast Louisiana. |
| 1865 |
Catholic
church in Lake Providence destroyed by fire. |
| 1866 |
The Daughters of
the Cross from St. Vincent's Convent, Shreveport, La., take charge
of the school in Monroe and start St. Hyacinth's Academy. |
| 1867 |
Catholic
church in Lake Providence rebuilt. |
| 1868 |
The Rev. Gentille,
then residing in Monroe, as assistant pastor, built rectory in Lake
Providence. |
| 1869 |
The
Rev. Gentille appointed first resident pastor of Lake Providence. |
| 1870 |
Catholic church
built in Bastrop by the Rev. L. Enaut, then assistant at St. Matthew
Church. |
| 1871 |
Catholic
cemetery of Saint Matthew started in Monroe. |
| 1871 |
Catholic school
started in Lake Providence, the second in northeast Louisiana. |
| 1873 |
Father
Louis Gergaud falls victim on October 1, 1873, to Yellow Fever in
Shreveport, La. |
| 1874 |
Father Ludovic Enaut
succeeds Father Gergaud as pastor of St. Matthew Church. |
| 1875 |
Father
Quellard made pastor of St. Joseph's Church, Bastrop. |
| 1881 |
the Rev. Jerome
Bres, first native of northeast Louisiana ordained a priest. He celebrated
his first Mass in St. Matthew Church on Christmas Day, 1881. |
| 1882 |
Catholic
church moved from Milliken's Bend to new location three miles from
Tallulah. |
| 1884 |
Catholic church
built in Delhi by Rev. Enaut. |
| 1885 |
The
Rev. R. H. Smith, S.M., ordained a priest, the second Monroe native
to receive Holy Orders. |
| 1887 |
Catholic church
built in Vidalia. |
| 1896 |
Father
J.B. Limagne succeeds Father Enaut as Pastor of St. Matthew Church. |
| 1896 |
Father Adolphus
Verstrepen succeeds Father Limagne as Pastor of St. Matthew Church. |
| 1896 |
Property
on Jackson and Grammont Streets acquired for construction of new St.
Matthew Church. |
| 1897 |
Construction was
begun on present St. Matthew Church, with the first brick laid by
pastor, Rev. Adolphus Verstrepen |
| 1898 |
Foundation
started for new brick church in Monroe, La. |
| 1899 |
Cornerstone laid
for the new St. Matthew Church, Monroe, La. |
| 1905 |
New
brick church dedicated to St. Matthew, Monroe, La., Dec. 27, 1905. |
| 1907 |
Father Celestine
Mahe succeeds Father Verstrepen as Pastor of St. Matthew Church. |
| 1907 |
Knights
of Columbus Council 1337 organized in Monroe by the Rev. Father C.
Mahe, then pastor of St. Matthew Church. |
| 1912 |
Father Nicholas
F. Vandegaer succeeds Father Mahe as Pastor of St. Matthew Church. |
| 1913 |
St.
Francis Sanitarium built in Monroe. The first Catholic Hospital of
Northeast La. |
| 1920 |
Catholic Church
built in Rayville. |
| 1923 |
Property
and old St. Hyacinth's Academy bought by St. Matthew Church from the
Daughters of the Cross and made a Parochial School. |
| 1928 |
New brick Parochial
School built in Monroe, La. |
| 1931 |
Additional
property purchased for St. Matthew Catholic Cemetery. |
| 1934 |
St. Anne's Circle
organized by Father M. R. Gremillion. |
| 1935 |
New
Catholic Church built in Lake Providence, La., by Father F.J. Plutz. |
| 1939 |
First Franciscan,
The Rev. Father Anselm Rechamp, O.F.M., arrives in Monroe, Dec. 30,
1939, Little Flower Parish soon follows. |
| 1940 |
St.
Joseph's made a parish with a resident priest under the care of the
Josephite Fathers. |
| 1941 |
First Catholic School
for African Americans opened at Little Flower Church, Monroe, La.,
by Father Anselm Reckamp, O.F.M. |
| 1941 |
St.
Paschal's School opened in West Monroe, La. |
| 1941 |
St. Charles Church
for African Americans built in West Monroe, La. (Now defunct) |
| 1942 |
St.
Charles School opened by Father Berchmans. |
| 1944 |
Our Lady Help of
Christians Church built in Bastrop. |
| 1945 |
Catholic
Church built at Grambling, La., by the Rev. Myron Landholt, O.F.M. |
| 1945 |
The Rt. Rev. Msgr.
N.F. Vandegaer, Pastor of St. Matthew Church for 33 years, died June
9th, 1945. |
| 1945 |
New
Brick Catholic Church built in Delhi, La., by the Rev. Walfrid Boesche,
O.F.M. |
| 1945 |
The Rev. J.C. Marsh,
appointed Pastor of St. Matthew Church, Monroe, La., July 4th, 1945. |
| 1947 |
New
Catholic Parish established at Oak Grove, with the Precious Blood
Fathers in charge. |
| 1950 |
New brick gymnasium
as well as present rectory are built. |
| 1952 |
Lady
of Fatima Parish is established, December 5th. |
| 1960 |
New Catholic Parish
dedicated, Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish. |
| 1963 |
A
new mausoleum was dedicated at St. Matthew Parochial Cemetery. |
| 1970 |
Following the retirement
of Fr. Marsh, there followed the succession of Father Belton A. Scallan
as Pastor of St. Matthew Church. |
| 1975 |
Father
Terrence J. Lennon succeeds Fr. Scallan as Pastor of St. Matthew Church. |
| 1975 |
St. Matthew Gymnasium
and Parochial School Building are sold. |
| 1976 |
Msgr.
George W. Martinez succeeds Fr. Lennon as Pastor of St. Matthew Church. |
| 1990 |
Msgr. Warren T.
Larroque succeeds Msgr. Martinez as Pastor of St. Matthew Church. |
| 1993 |
Rev.
William H. Carey succeeds Msgr. Larroque as Pastor of St. Matthew
Church. |
| 1993 |
Ground breaking
ceremonies were held for the new Catholic Center at Northeast Louisiana
University. |
| 1995 |
With
the departure of Fr. Carey, Msgr. Norman C. Buvens is appointed as
Pastor of St. Matthew Church. |
| 1996 |
Father John D. Kennedy
succeeds Fr. Buvens as Pastor of St. Matthew Church. |
| 1997 |
Renovation
& Restoration of St. Matthew Church gets underway. |
| 1997 |
St. Matthew Church
celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Church Sanctuary. |
| 1997 |
With
the departure of Fr. Kennedy, Father Joseph Puthuppally is appointed
as administrator of St. Matthew Church. |
| 1998 |
Completion of the
first phase of renovation to the sanctuary of St. Matthew Church is
completed. |
| 2001 |
Painting
of the ceiling of St. Matthew Church is undertaken by the artist,
Glenn Kennedy, continuing the work he began three years before. |
| 2001 |
150th Anniversary of St. Matthew
Parish, celebrated on September 23, 2001. |
