The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1895-05-11
REV. FiTHER WENiRD RE
SIGNED.

After a service Of over % wears first
as assistant and then us pastor of St.
Joseph-s cathnlic Ciuucl. bear .Thiho-
,laux, Key. Father t.. NJ. MenanI,
yielding To the dennuus of humanity
and bowling to the weight Of Years. re-
signed his position as pastor at said
church dnrln. the latter ,,ast Of last
month, and Father Armand Dubourg
was appointed 10y Right Rev. Arch
bishop JanssenS to succeed him.
Father Cllas. VI. Mtnard, now n his
18th year. was born in Lyons, France
April Goth. 1917. When not quite %
Years old. he emigiated to 1Ainerica to
join the Catholic missionary service,
landing i'll New Orleans Gn the 10Th ct
February, 1887 shortly after his ar
rival he was Sent to Missonii to con-
tinue his theological Studio. Eight
cen months afterwards. he returned to
Louisiana aud entered the theological
seminary situated at that time an the
site bow occupied by tie GtluIc!, of
Assumption, near Plotteaviile. III the
Parish of Assumption. Attet-leeeiv-
ing the several minor orders. last
among winch We're those OF SHh.deacon
and deacon, he was ordained to the
priesthood oh January 30th. 1sf2, and
Immediately thereafter. assigned TO
duty us vicar uader Rev. Father st.
Aubin Of 81. Jesephs Cllusels,, where
he celebrated his first mass Oh Zebra
any End, 1912.
On the demise of Father 5. Anbin,
three years later. the young assistant
was appointed pastor OF ST. Joseplls
Church. At that date there We're no
churches in the parish of Yerrebonne,
and only Il on the Bayou Lafourehe
from Plottenville down. that of St. Jo-
seph.
This fact aroused the energy of the
young pastor, and to the erection of
new churches he entered with that
wonderful vigor for which he was ever
SO conspicuous. As il final result of
his interchangeable industry, he built the
church of st. Philomena at Labadie-
vile in 1913 ; the church of st. Mary
Pamela, near RaceIand, in 1919: the
st. Sauveur Church near Lnckport, in
1850; the church Of st. Francis de
Sales in Houma, Terrebonne, III 1854 !:
the church of st. Lawrence at Cllaca-
houla, in 1857: the chapel of St.
Charles, six miles below Tllihodaux.
in 1874 the chapel of st. John, four
miles above ThibodauX, in 1876: the
chapel of St. BIlgitte on the Bayou
Terreboune four miles south of Thibo.
daux in the same year +; and IL few
years after the chapel on cilackhay,
now the church of Notre Dame de
Prompt Secours.
In 1879 twelve large statues were
placed in st. Joseph's Church around
and above the main altar the church
itself had been Increased in size and
beauty in order to meet the demands
of Its Increasing congregation. In or
der that easy access might be had from
the town of Thibodaux to his church,
this venerable father had constructed
a fine banquette on the South side of
the public road from the corporate
limits of the town to the church at IA
cost of nearly $4,000.
These are but a few of the many
works of improvement of this wonder
luI ma WHO, HOW DoW ing nue tile
weight OF years and feebleness, resigns
his pastoral duties and in prayer calm
ly awaits the summons of his Master
to receive the reward due to a long
life SO truly and faithfully spent in
His service, looking to the welfare
both spiritual and physical of his con-
gregation, and to the greater glory of
God.
Father Menard will still reside at
st. Josephss Presbytery, there to live
in peace and prayer, surrounded by
all that is .nst dear to him OIL this
earth.
Father Dubourg, his successor. took
official charge of St. Joseph's Church
on last Sunday.