History of Holy Savior Church

Holy Savior Catholic Church

A Short History of the Holy Savior

Catholic Church Community

The present parish of Holy Savior began its ministry of service to the people of Longueville as the Mission of Saints Charles and Andre' on February 21, 1850, when Father Charles Menard dedicated the chapel. Father Menard was known as the "Apostle of Bayou Lafourche".

In 1853, St. Andre' was declared an independent parish but shared a Pastor, Father Amedee Beccard, with St. Marie in Raceland because St. Marie had a rectory and St. Andre' did not. Father Joseph Vanbeveren became the first resident Pastor. During this time, the town of Longueville became known as Lockport. The Holy Savior Cemetery was founded in 1860.

In 1866, Father Peter Letilly built a proper church because the old chapel had fallen into disrepair. The church was built and formally dedicated on April 17, 1870 to St. Sauveur. When the yellow fever epidemic of 1878 hit the Bayou Region, no one in Lockport was stricken. In thanksgiving, Father Letilly decided to open a convent school and invited the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception from Labadieville to staff the school. The school was officially open on May 1, 1879 for day students and boarders.

In the hurricane of 1915, the original Holy Savior Church was destroyed. A new church was built in 1916 under the direction of Father Raynal. On June 27, 1917, the Church received three new bells which were named Eugene, Emile and Laurent. The second Holy Savior Church was very modern in design--clerestories were used to break the roof line which provided natural illumination for the interior. While the new Church was being constructed St. Anthony Chapel was built to serve the people of the Vacherie-Gheens area.

In November of 1935, Father Dominic Perino was appointed Pastor. This began the "modern era" of Holy Savior Parish. Father Perino was a great benefactor, as well as, a good Pastor to Holy Savior. A new Church was necessary because the Church built in 1916 was structurally damaged by termites. The year 1953 saw Monsignor Perino officiate at the ground-breaking ceremonies of the new Church; however, he did not live to see the completion of the new Church. Monsignor Perino died on November 3, 1955 shortly after the laying of the cornerstone.

On March 24, 1956 the first service held in the new Church was a funeral for Sister Lucy Sommers, a native of the Parish. Holy Savior Parish has given nine of its sons to the Priestly service and fifteen of its daughters to the Religious life.

Although the structure of the new Church was complete, the marble for the altars had not arrived due to the marble company's bankruptcy. It took more than one and a half years to get the marble and stained glass window problems solved. The original Stations of the Cross were done in stained glass, and the framed ones were erected later. In the first year of the new Church, altar boys had to flash lights from outside to render the Stations visible inside of the Church.

The Church was not dedicated until February 12, 1995, under the Pastorship of Very Reverend Brendan P. Foley, V.F. during the fortieth anniversary year.