Catholic presence in the Bayou Lafourche area began in the mid-19th century. In 1842, Father Charles Menard, known as the "Apostle of Bayou Lafourche," established a mission in Brule Labadie. A chapel dedicated to Saint Philomena was blessed in 1848, and the parish was formally created in 1855 by Antoine Blanc, Archbishop of New Orleans, with Father Cyprian Vennisat as its first pastor.[3]
Father Vennisat founded the Institute of the Immaculate Conception in 1871, a teaching order of local women that operated the parish school for decades.[4]
The present church was constructed in 1888 to replace earlier structures. Side transepts were added in 1908 under Father A.F. Ravoire.[4] The parish school continued until 2005, marking over a century of Catholic education in Assumption Parish.[3]
Interior details include false vaulted ceilings with parallel ribs resembling board and batten siding, a nave separated by pillars with foliated capitals and colonnettes, and a second-story gallery with lancet panels. Windows incorporate art glass and opalescent glass.[2]
The rectory, listed as a contributing building, was built contemporaneously with the church and exhibits Greek Revival influences.[2]
Cultural significance
St. Philomene served as a center of Catholic life and education for over 150 years. Its cemetery contains graves of early settlers and a monument to victims of yellow fever epidemics. The parish reflects the resilience of the local Catholic community through Civil War hardships and public health crises.[3][4]
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