A century of faith at Our Lady of Prompt Succor

The parish’s bells rang for the first time in more than 30 years at a Vigil Mass celebrated by Archbishop Gregory Aymond, with Father Noel and former pastor Father Ed Grice concelebrating.
 

“There certainly is a sense of history here,” Father Noel said, mentioning a number of parishioners who were military veterans, especially during World War II.
 

Ken Cantrelle, considered the parish historian, wrote a book on the parish history in time for the centennial. Father Noel was quick to tell Archbishop Aymond at the Mass about how faithful Prompt Succor parishioners have been for more than a century.
 

Archbishop Aymond called the celebration a “day of joy as we look back over 100 years and give thanks to God for all he has done for you and with you.” Many stood when he asked if anyone at Mass was there when the current church was dedicated in 1956. 
 

“God was faithful, and so were the prayers of Our Lady of Prompt Succor as a parish, through good times and times of suffering,” the archbishop said. “Through it all, we saw God’s fidelity standing with you and leading you.”
 

Parish dates to 1905
 

While officially named a parish in 1920, Our Lady of Prompt Succor actually was established in 1905 as a mission of St. Joseph Parish in Gretna, with a chapel built in 1906 on donated land on Laroussini Street as the Church of Our Lady of Prompt Succor.
 

Msgr. Albert Koenig was sent to Westwego to serve the growing area in 1913. Archbishop John Shaw officially established Our Lady of Prompt Succor as a parish in 1920.
 

It was Msgr. Koenig who is credited for developing the parish as it is today. He was the longest serving of the parish’s 10 pastors, serving until his retirement in 1962. He saw the development of the first rectory, cemetery, convent, multiple school buildings and an auditorium, rededicated in his honor as the Msgr. Albert Koenig Auditorium in 2006.
Seeing a need for a larger church, Father Koenig procured an unused Jesuit church on St. Charles Avenue.

 

The “Little Jesuits” church was dismantled and shipped across the river to Westwego and then rebuilt. It served the parish until 1956, when its current, Gothic-style church was dedicated.
 

“Father Koenig believed fully in getting things done around the parish, even if he had to do physical work himself,” Father Noel said.
“He was German, and he worked hard to get donations to build the parish, for the good of the kids and the good of the Lord,” said Maude Temento, 97, a Legion of Mary member and parishioner who read the first reading at the centennial Mass. 
 

The eldest of six children, Temento said her parents moved to the area to open a grocery store when she was in third grade. She attended the parish school and received the sacraments of her first Communion, confirmation and marriage there, as did her two children.
 

“I love this parish; it’s the only parish I know,” she said.
 

The school, which was staffed by the Sisters of Mount Carmel from its establishment in 1923 through 1972, expanded over the years to accommodate a growing enrollment that exceeded 1,000 students in 1961. The Salesian Sisters, who are still at the school, have taught there under their charism of “reason, religion and loving kindness” since 1987.
 

Centennial preparation
 

A Centennial Fund was created during the anniversary year – announced by Father Noel during a Mass in 2019 – to spruce up the parish. A historical metal plaque was installed by the Jefferson Parish Historical Commission telling the history of the parish; an $8,500 grant from the Stella Roman Foundation and donations from parishioners enabled the steeple bells to ring again by a computer-controlled striker system. 
 

In coming months, an artist will complete an image of Mary for the sanctuary (to replace artwork lost during Katrina); the church’s plaza and inner doors will be refurbished; its bathrooms reconfigured and its sound system will be replaced.
 

During the 100-year anniversary, festivities have included a family potluck, where parishioners brought in historical photos of special events at Our Lady of Prompt Succor and offered oral histories of parish life. The school held a reunion, and parish families were recognized last fall.
 

Father Noel, assigned to the parish in 2015, said he the centennial year.
    

“There is a sense of history and legacy of what parishioners have received from their forebears,” he said. “Having a cemetery, the history is here with us. Generations have come through here.  We just recently lost our oldest parishioner at 99 – Edmund “Bud” Guidry – who fought in World War II. There’s a sense of extended family. So many people have been here all their lives.”
    

The parish continues its sense of a Catholic family with vespers during Advent, stations of the cross during Lent, regular meetings, RCIA and other events made possible by Father Noel’s opening of the rectory’s first floor for common space. 
    

Father Noel is optimistic about the parish’s future, in part because of the parish’s convenient and beautiful location. He’s noticed an increase in baptisms, which Our Lady of Prompt Succor  celebrates during Mass so parishioners can witness the parish’s future.
  

 “I see growth and enthusiasm,” Father Noel said. “We have youth groups, and I work with young adults. We have numerous people coming through RCIA, including our schoolchildren.”
  

 “A lot has changed since Father Koenig came here by train,” Archbishop Aymond said. “But here is one thing that has not changed – a strong, strong faith of this family community. The fact that you were loved by Our Lady of Prompt Succor, she leads you and guides you and has her hands over you.”

Find more photos of the special event in our online photo album by clicking here.
   

Christine Bordelon can be reached at [email protected].