St. Philip Neri Catholic Church
Encyclopedia
St. Philip Neri Paish in Kinder, Louisiana
came into being in 1937, after a long wait by Catholics of the town. The area between Alexandria, Louisiana
and Lake Charles, Louisiana
was virtually unsettled by white people before the Civial War, and its streams were providing sustenance for small villages of the Attakapas.
There were no regular Catholic services in the area until 1893, when a log chapel was built in Soileau, eight miles east of Oberlin, Louisiana
, on a site donated by Johann Simon. Priests from Lake Charles traveled to celebrate Mass and administer the sacraments. The chapel was attached to Immaculate Conception Parish in Lake Charles, which had been established in 1869.
In 1913, the Most Rev. James H. Blenk, Archbishop of New Orleans, established St. Paul Parish in Elton. The territory of the new parish also included all of the newly-established Allen Civil Parish.
That same year, the Rev. A.P. Borel, founding Pastor of St. Paul Parish, built a chapel in Kinder which served the community until St. Philip Neri Parish came into existence.
During its 71-year history, St. Philip Neri Parish has had only five pastors. The founding pastor, the Rev. Paul Fusilier, served from 1937 to 1942. He was succeeded by the Rev. A.J. Robichaud, whose 43- year pastorate was one of the longest in the annals of the Church in Southwest Louisiana.
Most of the St. Philip Neri Parish physical plant was built during Msgr. Robichaud's tenure. The present church building was built in 1961, and seats 1,000.
A parish center was constructed in 1972, consisting of 12 classrooms, an auditorium, kitchen, offices, and a library. It has been named in Msgr. Robichaud's memory. The rectory was completed in 1984. Msgr. Robichaud retired in 1985, and took up residence in Indian Village, where he celebrated Mass in Sacred Heart Mission Chapel until he health failed. He died in 1994.
After Msgr. Robichaud retired, Msgr. Ronald Groth was assigned pastor. Under Msgr. Groth's care and the help of Sister Camille Martinez, SEC the parish ministries rapidly blossomed.
In 1991, Msgr. James Gaddy was appointed pastor. In July 1999, Rev. Carlos Garcia-Cardona was appointed pastor.
A cancer support group has been established for cancer victims and spouses, which is open to all denominations.
The parish sponsors 3 different youth groups: Sr. CYO for high school students, Jr. CYO for 7th and 8th grade, and Faith Kids for 5th and 6th grade.
A Perpetual Adoration program, begun in 1994, continues today.
A Senior Food Program is held at the Parish Hall every second Thursday of each month. Many volunteers from other Faith traditions participate in helping with boxes of food for the elderly.
The St. Vincent's Closet has successfully operated for 8 years. With the help of volunteers the closet has helped many people that are in need in Kinder as well as the surrounding area.
The St. Philip Neri music ministry has also had great success. For special occasions, the choirs of St. Philip Neri join together to create the St. Philip Neri Chorale.
Currently, St. Philip Neri Parish serves 650 Catholic families residing in southern Allen Civil Parish.
Louisiana°N date=December 2010°W
Kinder, Louisiana
Kinder is a town in Allen Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,148 at the 2000 census.The Lieutenant Douglas B. Fournet Memorial Park , an American Legion enterprise, was dedicated on June 11, 1988, in Kinder to remember those who died in military service to the nation.Kinder was...
came into being in 1937, after a long wait by Catholics of the town. The area between Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
and Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
was virtually unsettled by white people before the Civial War, and its streams were providing sustenance for small villages of the Attakapas.
There were no regular Catholic services in the area until 1893, when a log chapel was built in Soileau, eight miles east of Oberlin, Louisiana
Oberlin, Louisiana
Oberlin is a town in and the parish seat of Allen Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,853 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Johan Friedrich Oberlin.-Geography:Oberlin is located at ....
, on a site donated by Johann Simon. Priests from Lake Charles traveled to celebrate Mass and administer the sacraments. The chapel was attached to Immaculate Conception Parish in Lake Charles, which had been established in 1869.
In 1913, the Most Rev. James H. Blenk, Archbishop of New Orleans, established St. Paul Parish in Elton. The territory of the new parish also included all of the newly-established Allen Civil Parish.
That same year, the Rev. A.P. Borel, founding Pastor of St. Paul Parish, built a chapel in Kinder which served the community until St. Philip Neri Parish came into existence.
During its 71-year history, St. Philip Neri Parish has had only five pastors. The founding pastor, the Rev. Paul Fusilier, served from 1937 to 1942. He was succeeded by the Rev. A.J. Robichaud, whose 43- year pastorate was one of the longest in the annals of the Church in Southwest Louisiana.
Most of the St. Philip Neri Parish physical plant was built during Msgr. Robichaud's tenure. The present church building was built in 1961, and seats 1,000.
A parish center was constructed in 1972, consisting of 12 classrooms, an auditorium, kitchen, offices, and a library. It has been named in Msgr. Robichaud's memory. The rectory was completed in 1984. Msgr. Robichaud retired in 1985, and took up residence in Indian Village, where he celebrated Mass in Sacred Heart Mission Chapel until he health failed. He died in 1994.
After Msgr. Robichaud retired, Msgr. Ronald Groth was assigned pastor. Under Msgr. Groth's care and the help of Sister Camille Martinez, SEC the parish ministries rapidly blossomed.
In 1991, Msgr. James Gaddy was appointed pastor. In July 1999, Rev. Carlos Garcia-Cardona was appointed pastor.
A cancer support group has been established for cancer victims and spouses, which is open to all denominations.
The parish sponsors 3 different youth groups: Sr. CYO for high school students, Jr. CYO for 7th and 8th grade, and Faith Kids for 5th and 6th grade.
A Perpetual Adoration program, begun in 1994, continues today.
A Senior Food Program is held at the Parish Hall every second Thursday of each month. Many volunteers from other Faith traditions participate in helping with boxes of food for the elderly.
The St. Vincent's Closet has successfully operated for 8 years. With the help of volunteers the closet has helped many people that are in need in Kinder as well as the surrounding area.
The St. Philip Neri music ministry has also had great success. For special occasions, the choirs of St. Philip Neri join together to create the St. Philip Neri Chorale.
Currently, St. Philip Neri Parish serves 650 Catholic families residing in southern Allen Civil Parish.
Louisiana°N date=December 2010°W