Investing in youth

A 10-year master plan developed a decade ago at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in
St. Francisville has entered its final stage.

Pastor Father Brad Doyle, surrounded by parishioners, St. Francisville mayor Bobee Leake and a number of young people, helped break ground Dec. 4 on the new Religious Education Building at Mt. Carmel, the final piece of a master plan former pastor Father Cary Bani launched 10 years ago.

“The parishioners are very excited,” Father Doyle, pastor since July 2021, said. “They know the great need we have for such a growing community.”

He noted the parish recently surpassed 500 registered families, necessitating the addition of another weekend Mass and exacerbating an already crowded parking area. The new building, he said, will add dozens of parking spots, which should help “alleviate the crunch.”

The 10,000-square foot building will include eight regular classrooms to be used for PSR classes, a youth group/confirmation room, warming kitchen, increased storage space, maintenance room and another room designed to host parish meetings, choir practices and a bridal waiting room.
 

“To be full of joy, is the experience
of the highest consolation ... Joy is not easy, but with Jesus it is possible.”  

Pope Francis

Completion of the last stage of the master plan will also highlight the stunning Camellia Grove and add overall beauty to the campus.

“It will be a great investment in our youth and will ensure the beauty of our beloved hill,” Father Doyle said.

He noted the $2 million fundraising campaign has surpassed the 50% mark but acknowledged much work awaits.

“I think there are two waves in every fundraising project,” he said. “The first is at the start, and the second comes in after people see the ground break and the project begin. We hope that showing the progress of the project will drum up further support.”

Father Doyle said fundraising and building committees have been involved in the process.

As a novice in building projects, Father Doyle only needed to turn to his former boss, Father Jamin David, for assistance. 

Father Doyle was parochial vicar at St. Margaret Queen of Scotland Church in Albany when Father David guided the parish through an extensive renovation of its historic church. 

Father David is also in the early stages of a campaign to renovate St. Thomas Church in Springfield.

“Not only was I assigned under (Father David) as he finished his own project, (coincidentally with the same architects and construction company Mt. Carmel is using) I’ve also continuously called him for advice in my first year of pastorship,” Father Doyle said.

Mt. Carmel Church Parish was established in 1871 but Catholicism came to the Feliciana’s in the late 1700s when the early French and Spanish missionaries came to minister along the Mississippi River. Early records indicate the town of St. Francisville was named after the early Franciscans, who established a monastery on the high bluffs overlooking Bayou Sara.

The church, listed on the National Register of Historic Places,  was built in 1893 and is situated on top of “Catholic Hill,” overlooking Bayou Sara and St. Francisville.