The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1879-11-29
A Beautiful Sanctuary.
Graphic Description the Catholic Church
at ThibOdaux.

Graphic Description ofths Catholic Church
! at ThibOt1aux.
TH1BoDAUx, La, Oct. 81, 1879.
DEAR CHIEF:
attended High Mass on last Sunday,
ut the beautiful and magnificent st.
Josepl,s Catholic Church of this p!ace.
1t is almost n mile below town, situated
in picturesque snot in u bend of Bayou,
| Lafourche and fronting the bayou. A
good plank walk, laid from town to
church, renders it accessible. in all kinds
| OF weather. This noble edifce is a credit
to Thibodaux and this parish. It is
built of brick, in the form of a cross, and
III splendid proportions. The towering
steeple-which has recently been re-
ncwcd and surmounted by large metal
cross and glebe-raises itself en high as
if proud of The beauties it covers. The
interior of the church is beautiful and
grand indeed, more than my poor pen
can describe. But as / have set myself
to the task l will make in attempt and
do my best.
AS You enter, your eye is first struck
by the magnifcence of the grand altar
and the tableau that meets your gaze
seems drawn from life Surm5unting,
and back of the altar, in a large niche in
the wall, is cross of snowy w1,itcness
with the life size figure Of the Savior Of
| man suspended upon it, and on either
side the statutes of St. Joseph and the
Virgin Mary, also in full life size. Tho
altar itself appears like mass of snow
and gold. On its front are carved Is
small statues in gold, beautifully re-
lieved by the snowy whiteness Of the
inches i'll which they repose. There are
also, in the sanctuary of the grand altar,
eight life size statues Of Saints-beauti-
full pieces Of workmanslip-tbat were
contributed to the church by different
members They are arranged in a circle
around the altar in heavy and bcauti-
fully carved white bas-reljefs and col
orcd capitals about thirteen feet above
the floor. Above the head of eacl, is IL
round window Of vari-colored glass with
a portrait Of Saint. On the large
dome above is painting Of st. Joseph
with the child Jesus in the Heavens,
surrounded by angels and as the ligh,
shining through the colorcd glass illn-
inmates the whole transept Of the
church, the whole shows off with beauti-
fnl effect. But, to return to the statues
which were, as have said, contributed
by the Ii herality of some of the church
members. They were donated by the
following persons: st. Augustin, by
Major G. Angustin Lagarde; st. Thomas,
by Mr. III tomas J. Daunis; ST. Charles,
by several persons named Charles st.
Cecilia, by Mrs. Cecelia Blake; st. |
Theresa, by the Sisters Of Mount Carmel
Convent of Thibodaux St. John, 10y
Mrs. john Webre St. Patrick, by ten
pious Iri$hmon; st. Bernard, by Mr..
Bernard.
There is also /. large statue of st. |
Louis, with an altar to itself in the
transcpt, whicl, was the gift OF the Hon.
Louis Bush. In the left transept on an
altar is Il statue Of ST. Valerie, presented
by Father MGnard, and below the statue,
lnclosed in glass, is an open coffil, CON
tanning the waxen figure of the last
named Saint. These works of art were
imported from Europe at u great ex-
pe,lsc. In all there are fourteen statues,
seven affairs, and numerous engravings,
on the ceiling in the transept Tho
Twelve large chandeliers sparkle and
lash in the light like huge clusters of
The whole church is frescoed.
The paintings of "Thc way Of the
cr"ss" are in costly frames, carved to
'cprescnt the front of Il Cathedral. The
pulpit is one piece of carving, represent
ng holy symbols, etc, i'll mahogany
But l must close my letter with this
'nly partial description, lest l occupy
90 much Of your space. Let me say,
lough, that the success and beauty of
his Church is due to the ,lntring inter
st and energy of its pastor, the Rev. C.
4. Mcnar!, who, now an old man, has
pent most Of his life in the advancement
nd Improvement of his church. He is
and loved by the people, and is
ct quite active in his duties. AS a
onntry church, ST. Joseph's of Thibo-
aux is we'll worth IL visit from any part
f the State. Perhaps in another letter l
ill have something to say of the ceme-
cry, connected with the church, which
Il very old and interesting spot though
cry much improved.
REMUS.
Among the Useful Toilet Articles