CONFESSIONS

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament:
December 31, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Saturday, 3:00 – 3:45 p.m., anytime by appointment.

BAPTISMS

Preparatory classes for Parents and Godparents required before sacramental celebration - to be arranged with pastor.

MARRIAGES

Contact the priest at least four months prior to date of marriage. Pre-marriage preparation required.

SPIRITUAL PROGRAMS

Circle of Love Prayer Meeting, 6:30 p.m. Dates published in bulletin.
Healing Mass, 6:30 p.m.  Dates published in bulletin.
CCD, combined with St. Paul Catholic Church.

ORGANIZATIONS

Choir – Mrs. Julia Boston
Altar Society – Mrs. Catherine Demouy
St. Peter Claver Knights and Ladies and Junior Knights and Daughters

HISTORY

Our Lady of Prompt Succor Parish was established in September of 1937. Until then, all Catholics attended St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church.  When the population of Mansura began to increase, it was decided that something had to be done about building a church to serve the needs of the black Catholics.

Msgr. Nothofer, who was pastor of St. Paul, made an appeal to Cardinal Cushing, the head of The Propagation of the Faith of Boston, Massachusetts.  A gift of $5,000 was obtained from Dr. James Sullivan of Boston and sent to Msgr. Nothofer to build a church for the black Catholics of Mansura.  An altar was needed for the new church.  This time Monsignor went to his sister for assistance.  The altar was brought to Mansura from Lake Providence.

Once these material things were obtained all that was needed was a pastor to administer to the spiritual needs of the congregation.  Msgr. Nothofer asked the late Bishop Desmond to get the Holy Ghost Fathers who were already in the Diocese, to administer to the spiritual needs of the black Catholics of Mansura.

From September 1937 until spring of 1944, the pastor of Holy Ghost Church in Marksville was also pastor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church.  We find in the baptismal records the following names of priests who at one time or another came to Mansura to administer the Sacraments: Frs. Thomas A. Wrenn, Edward W. Wilson, John F. Dodwell, Joseph B. Donahue, William L. Lavin, Francis X. Schillo, who were all Holy Ghost Fathers.

In the Spring of 1944, the separation of the Mission from Marksville was accomplished, with Our Lady of Prompt Succor becoming a canonical entity.  Father Francis G. Walsh, C.S.Sp., the first pastor, resided in Marksville.

Then Mansura began to grow.  Land was bought to build a convent for the Sisters.  The Sisters were from San Antonio, Texas, of the Holy Ghost Order.  In  1945, Father Murnaghan was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor.  The convent was completed in 1945.  A year later a T-shaped hall was built by Father Murnaghan and his parishioners. This included a stage, one classroom and a kitchen.

After all the needs of the parishioners had been taken care of, he began to build a rectory.  Now he had a decent place to rest his bones.  After fourteen and a half years of hard work, he was relieved of his duties at Our Lady of Prompt Succor and sent to Moreauville.

In 1959, Father Joseph Paga came to Mansura to administer to the needs of the people.  He remained in the parish until 1967.  It was during the stay of Father Paga that the Cardinal Cushing School was erected, flourished and had to be closed. Again donations for the school came from Cardinal Cushing.

Then we had a quick succession of pastors.  Fr. Paul O’Donnell came in 1967 and left in 1968. Fr. R. J. Kulwicki came in 1968 and left in 1968.  Next came Fr. Martin Ling who left in1969.  Finally Fr. Martin Kirchbaum came in February 1969 and left in November 1969. This ended the stay of the Holy Ghost Fathers in Mansura.

In November 1969, Fr. August Thompson came to Mansura as the new pastor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church and remained until 1985.

Progress toward the betterment of the parish has continued.  All past due bills were paid on the school and rectory. The interior of the church was redecorated.  It was during this time, under the leadership of Fr. Thompson, the parishioners put into action one of their fondest dreams, that of a much needed multi-purpose building. In May 1973, this structure known as Uganda Center was dedicated in memory of twenty-two Christian Martyrs who died in Uganda, Africa in the year 1886.  We also became active in deanery and diocesan organizations and functions.

In September of 1975, three sisters of the Sisters of Divine Compassion, Sisters Paula, Frances and Joseph,came from New York to do work in the parish.  After three years of ministry to young and old they left in 1978.

We are truly grateful to God and His Blessed Mother for all the blessings received during the years this parish has existed.  We feel we have just begun to take our place as full Christians in the Church.

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