Post-war, Catholics flourished in Franklinton. Appearing in the documentation provided me by my friend Anita Magee Nicholson were the names of several early Holy Family Catholic Church members and their roles. Mrs. Percy (Regina) Manning held Catechism lessons at her home for the youth including, but not limited to, Betty Jean Manning, L. J. Vessier, Pat LeBlanc, Buddy Manning, and Barbara LeBlanc, in addition to Anita Magee. When the funeral parlor was unavailable, Mrs. Holyne (Gladys) Newman held Masses at her home. And she and my beloved Mamie - Mary Erwin Babington - solicited donations from local businesses for the building fund.
Also, of note, Ms. Dorothy Simmons was the first organist as of January 14, 1950, and Buddy Manning and Jimmy Ulmer were the first altar boys. Teddy Ulmer made her First Communion in October of 1945 in the Mission. The first marriage rectified in the Mission, on that same day in October of 1945, was the union of Cullen A. Seale and Mary Audrey Barnes. Notably, the first child baptism in the Mission was their son Heyward Lawrence Seale. And funds were given to the Mission by the Archbishop and others, leading up to the search for a lot for a chapel. Mr. and Mrs. Ted Terrogrossa were given the task, by Fr. John LeBlanc, of finding a good location for the new church with two lots located, across Bickham Street to the south of the Ulmers' home. They were purchased from Mr. John Green in 1947.
It should be noted at this juncture that the diary of Father Charles Villere was continued by Father John O. LeBlanc who succeeded him. It is their diary, the information of which was compiled into a lengthy handwritten, unsigned document entitled "The Story of Holy Family Mission Chapel" by Father Malachy Burns, O.S.B., that is a primary source of information for this series of columns.
Back to construction, in November of 1947, Fr. John Leblanc learned that the Archbishop would make a donation of "$5,000.00 toward building a church in Franklinton." It was written, "The Archbishop was also instrumental in obtaining a donation of an equal sum through Bishop O'Brien of the Catholic Church Extension Society." One of the conditions was that the church's name be "Holy Name of Mary Church."
Forging ahead, Fr. LeBlanc commissioned two carpenters at the Abbey to make the altar, pews, doors, communion rail, windows, and confessional. With official approval of the plans by the Archbishop on February 23, 1948, the work on the foundation commenced on April 19, 1948. The contractor was Mr. J. N. Young, and he was supervised by Fr. LeBlanc. George Welch of Franklinton was the subcontractor who painted the edifice, and James Vaughn of Bogalusa was the subcontractor who did the plastering. The mission members pitched in with labor and funds. Earl Martin made donations of light poles and other electrical work while Percy Manning used his heavy equipment for clearing the land. The official name of the church was changed on July 11, 1948, to "Holy Family Chapel" as suggested by Bishop O'Brien. On August 8, 1948, the first Mass was said in the new church building.
The dedication followed on October 10, 1948, (document from diary noted it as October 11) when his Excellency Joseph Francis Rummel, Archbishop of New Orleans, came to Franklinton with a delegation for the celebration. Describing the church as a "Miracle of Achievement," he declared it to be "one of the finest mission churches in the Archdiocese." After thanking Fr. LeBlanc, the contractors, and the members of the Mission, he gave special thanks to the donor of the $5,000 to the Mission via the Catholic Church Extension Society of America. Miss Ellen L. Toomey had made the donation in memory of her late parents David A. and Nellie L. Toomey and also her brothers David B., Robert D., and John J. This information derived from a letter she wrote to Fr. John LeBlanc, dated October 10, 1949.
The following account of her is from the lengthy, handwritten history of Holy Family Catholic Church, entitled "The Story of Holy Family Mission Chapel Washington Parish Franklinton, Louisiana" compiled by Fr. Malachy Burns O. S. B., Ph.D.: "In this letter [to Fr. LeBlanc] she (Miss Ellen L. Toomey) related how she at the age of 69 years had fractured her left femur in July, and the right one while she was in the hospital, where she had been confined for nine months. She spent a small fortune on doctors, nurses and hospitals, which money she acknowledged she would have preferred to use in building mission churches in memory of her departed ones. She was still in the hands of a nurse at home and unable to walk when she wrote this letter. Fr. John [LeBlanc] wrote to her in the Spring of 1950. With this letter their correspondence came to a close and we are led to believe that God in the meantime has called her to Himself probably in 1950."
A banquet followed at Amanda's Café, owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Saint, for the clergy and other guests of honor including Mr. R. W. Magee (Superintendent of Washington Parish schools), Mr. George Dick (Mayor of Franklinton), the Town Council, and the building contractors. The Christmas season of 1948 brought with it the first Midnight Mass in the new Chapel.
Notably, Fr. Malachy Burns O.S.B., Ph.D. succeeded Fr. John LeBlanc, O.S.B., after his appointment in the 1950s. And though it was not my intention to proceed much beyond the 1940s with the history of Holy Family Catholic Church, I would be remiss if I didn't make mention of the Rectory. The materials stated that in early 1989 a new Rectory was built. It was under construction during the summer of 1988. This I know because Father Jerome Land O. S. B. (10/87 - 8/89) graciously gave Rodney and me a peek of the building. Meeting with him that summer in preparation for marriage, we were on cloud nine. And it was with great delight that we accepted his offer of a tour. Felicity, all around. We accompanied him, across 14th Avenue from the church hall, to the construction site where the lovely brick Rectory was taking shape.
Pastored today by Father Kyle Sanders, Holy Family Catholic Church is situated at the corner of Bickham Street and 14th Avenue in Franklinton. It is a holy place of worship for the legion of Catholics in our area. And it is owed to the original six Catholic families - Mrs. Howard Zerangue, Mrs. George Dick, Mrs. Robert Shaw, Mrs. J. H. Ulmer, Mrs. Ted Terrogrossa, and Mrs. R. W. Magee - in the 1940s, and the dedicated Catholics who came afterwards. It is exactly as Archbishop Rummel once said, a "Miracle of Achievement."
Note: The materials of Anita Magee Nicholson, the only child of Mrs. R. W. (Winona) Magee, were used in the writing of this series of columns on the history of The Holy Family Catholic Church.
