Church History

Immaculate Heart of Mary Church honored is to be a granddaughter parish of Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and daughter of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) retained in part the names of its progenitors: Immaculate Conception and Sacred Heart.

In the fall of 1949, Father Clement Roach, C. S. Sp. pastor of Sacred Heart Parish became concerned with the people in the outlying areas of the parish. It soon became evident that a mission chapel was needed. A five-acre lot was purchased and a four room multi-purpose hall was constructed. This new mission was assigned to Fr. Harold S. McNeil, C. S. Sp., the assistant pastor of Sacred Heart.

Due to the continued growth of the mission Bishop Jules B. Jeanmard the first bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette in 1953 made IHM a parish. Fr. McNeil was appointed as the first pastor. Recognizing the need for religious instruction for the children, he obtained the help of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.

On August 20, 1960, Fr. Herbert F. Schuster, C. S. Sp. was assigned as pastor. Fr. Schuster was young and energetic. Known as the “Rodeo Priest”, he introduced Immaculate Heart of Mary to the rodeo. The rodeo was the most successful in the history of the Parish. Due to its success plans were initiated to build a new rectory and donated buildings were renovated to open the parish school. The school was staffed by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. During his pastorate the bells were installed in the bell tower, the Holy Name and St. Vincent DePaul Societies were formed. The Knights and Ladies Auxiliary of St. Peter Clever, Council and Court #141 were established.

Due to the sudden death of Fr. Schuster, in September of 1970, Father Joseph A. Behr C. S. Sp. was appointed pastor and served until 1973. He worked hard to raise funds to pay off the church debt.

Father Roger Duffy, C. S. Sp. succeeded Fr. Behr in 1973 as pastor. He is remembered as the singing priest, implementing more vernacular music in the Liturgy because of the Liturgical reforms of the second Vatican council. During his pastorate Founders’ Hall was built on the church grounds to serve as a multipurpose building for meetings, parish events, as a gymnasium for the school and a cafeteria.

In the summer of 1976, Father Michael Carr, C. S. Sp. became the pastor. During this time we celebrated the Silver Jubilee and Mr. James R. Granger was assigned as the first permanent deacon of the parish. Social events such as the Martin Luther King Rally, the Black Heritage Festival and the Gala Weekend (replaced by the Fall Bazaar) were started.

In 1985, Fr. James Burke, C. S. Sp. became the sixth pastor of the parish. Under his leadership, we celebrated our 35th anniversary as a parish, acquired and renovated the old Cherry Street School as the new home for the School.

On July 1, 1993, the Holy Ghost Fathers departed the parish, which had just celebrated its 40th anniversary. The Holy Ghost Fathers of the U.S Western Province discerned that they could no longer staff the parish and so the Diocese assumed responsibility for its parish. Fr. Herbert May, the Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Lake Charles was assigned as pastor.

In the fall of 1994 Monsignor Ronald Groth was named Parish Administrator and July 1995 was assigned as pastor. Msgr. Groth aided the parish in its Evangelization efforts. At the close of term in 1997 due to low enrollment and financial burdens, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School ceased operating.

On July 1, 1999, Fr. Karl Fusilier was assigned as pastor. Under his tenure Fatima Chapel was renovated and the highlight was the installation of fourteen beautiful stained glass windows depicting the Stations of the Cross. Mr. Joseph Elray Bushnell was ordained as permanent Deacon by Bishop Edward Braxton in December of 2001 and he was assigned in a capacity that continues.

On May 18, 2002, Marcus M. Johnson, baptized at Immaculate Heart of Mary in February 1977 became the first parishioner to be ordained a priest. On August 17, 2002, Clyde Thomas sponsored by the parish became the second parishioner to be ordained a priest. Both are Diocesan Priests for the Diocese of Lake Charles. Another joyous celebration included the 50th anniversary of the erection of the parish.

In November of 2003, Father Timothy Goodly was assigned as pastor. During Fr. Goodly’s tenure the new rectory was built, the sanctuary and church interior were renovated and Fr. Goodly led efforts to fix buildings on the physical plant affected by Hurricane Rita.

In 2009 Father Marcus M. Johnson was assigned as pastor. Improvements/renovations made by Fr. Johnson to date include the renovation of the Sacristy, adding of two new classrooms to Founders’ Hall and landscaping of the church grounds.

Father V. Wayne LeBleu was appointed Pastor July 1, 2015.   Fr. Joby K.  Mathew was appointed associate pastor July 1, 2015.

On July 9, 2016 yet another parishioner, Fr. Gerard Jordan, became the third parishioner to be ordained a priest. He was born and baptized in November 1967. He entered the monestary and consecrated religious life in August 2005 with the Order of Canons Regular of Premontre'. He was the first African American seminarian in the United States to be vested as a Titular Canon of the Holy Sepulchre Jerusalem in November 2013.

Father Rommel Tolentino was appointed Pastor July 1, 2022.

We’ve come this far by the Grace of God and the generosity of his people. Looking forward to continued blessings.

Others Assigned to IHM Parish Over the Years