A ‘family parish’

Bishop Emeritus Robert W. Muench, during a recent homily in Tickfaw, asked “What does it mean to be a parish?”
Parishioners who had gathered at Our Lady of Pompeii Church to celebrate the 50th anniversary of what was essentially the second founding of the parish knew they were living the answer through the church they so love.

“Everybody seems like family,” one parishioner would say at a reception after the Mass. “We really have a close parish. It has been my life since I was a little girl.”

Bishop Muench joined Our Lady of Pompeii sacramental minister Father Mike Galea in celebrating the anniversary Mass on April 16. Parish life coordinator Deacon Albert Levy III coordinated the Mass and the reception, saying he wanted the  parishioners to have the opportunity to celebrate the historic moment.

The roots of Our Lady of Pompeii were originally planted in Tangipahoa Civil Parish soil in 1909 when Father Placide Gabbrielli celebrated the first Mass in Tickfaw. Two years later, a chapel was dedicated to Our Lady of Pompeii.

In its early days Our Lady of Pompeii served as a mission of Mater Dolorosa Church in Independence.

In 1929 when Father Pelegrin de la Fuente, a Spanish Dominican priest, 

was commissioned to take up residence in Tickfaw, the church became a parish. Our Lady of Pompeii remained an autonomous parish until a shortage of priests during World War II resulted in the church returning to its mission status of Mater Dolorosa, which would continue until 1973.

“I’ve been here all of my life,” said Philip Viaratano, who remembers when the parish was formed 50 years ago. “I was an altar boy. I was a little young man then.”

Viaratano was also baptized at Our Lady of Pompeii.

“The parish has meant a lot to us,” said Lena Viaratano, Philip’s wife. “For a while, they were talking about (closing the church), and we were very upset.”

“We’ve been through a lot with different priests,” she said, noting that her three sons were all baptized at the church and two were married there. “We’ve come a long way and we hope to go longer. Closing the church would be very, very disappointing for everyone. It has been here for so many generations.”

Bishop Muench, who delivered an inspiring spiritual message on what was Divine Mercy Sunday, noted that anniversaries are a time to celebrate. He said they mark points in time for the past and connect it to the present.

was commissioned to take up residence in Tickfaw, the church became a parish. Our Lady of Pompeii remained an autonomous parish until a shortage of priests during World War II resulted in the church returning to its mission status of Mater Dolorosa, which would continue until 1973.

“I’ve been here all of my life,” said Philip Viaratano, who remembers when the parish was formed 50 years ago. “I was an altar boy. I was a little young man then.”

Viaratano was also baptized at Our Lady of Pompeii.

“The parish has meant a lot to us,” said Lena Viaratano, Philip’s wife. “For a while, they were talking about (closing the church), and we were very upset.”

“We’ve been through a lot with different priests,” she said, noting that her three sons were all baptized at the church and two were married there. “We’ve come a long way and we hope to go longer. Closing the church would be very, very disappointing for everyone. It has been here for so many generations.”

Bishop Muench, who delivered an inspiring spiritual message on what was Divine Mercy Sunday, noted that anniversaries are a time to celebrate. He said they mark points in time for the past and connect it to the present.

Answering his own question about what it means to be a parish, Bishop Muench, who will soon be celebrating his 55th anniversary of his priestly ordination, said a parish is a group of human beings, with parishioners moving in, some moving out.

“Some were baptized here, some are buried from this church,” he said. “And we each have a role to play as part of a community.”

He said parishioners rely on each other and that no priest can do it alone. He said it is more than just clergy who make up the parish; it is all of the parishioners of varying ages and circumstances.

“And we make the church alive,” he said.

Patricia Guzzardo said Our Lady of Pompeii will always have a special place in her heart, having been raised at her grandmother’s house in Tickfaw. She made her first Communion and was confirmed at the church.

Guzzardo also sang in the choir.

“There are just a lot of things here at Our Lady of  Pompeii,” she said. “It’s rewarding to see it 50 years later. The parish has been through a lot.”

Barbara Stein remembers moving to her grandfather’s property from St. Bernard Civil Parish in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. She said the parishioners are caring and work well together.

“They all look out for each other,” she said “They get involved.”

The parish might best be known for its Marian celebration on the first weekend of July when a statue of the Virgin Mary is carried for nearly a mile from a eucharistic adoration chapel to the church on Saturday afternoon. The following afternoon the statue is returned to the adoration chapel.

Hundreds of people participate, praying the  rosary during the procession,

“(The church) has had a wonderful spiritual impact in my life,” Guzzardo said.

was commissioned to take up residence in Tickfaw, the church became a parish. Our Lady of Pompeii remained an autonomous parish until a shortage of priests during World War II resulted in the church returning to its mission status of Mater Dolorosa, which would continue until 1973.

“I’ve been here all of my life,” said Philip Viaratano, who remembers when the parish was formed 50 years ago. “I was an altar boy. I was a little young man then.”

Viaratano was also baptized at Our Lady of Pompeii.

“The parish has meant a lot to us,” said Lena Viaratano, Philip’s wife. “For a while, they were talking about (closing the church), and we were very upset.”

“We’ve been through a lot with different priests,” she said, noting that her three sons were all baptized at the church and two were married there. “We’ve come a long way and we hope to go longer. Closing the church would be very, very disappointing for everyone. It has been here for so many generations.”

Bishop Muench, who delivered an inspiring spiritual message on what was Divine Mercy Sunday, noted that anniversaries are a time to celebrate. He said they mark points in time for the past and connect it to the present.

Answering his own question about what it means to be a parish, Bishop Muench, who will soon be celebrating his 55th anniversary of his priestly ordination, said a parish is a group of human beings, with parishioners moving in, some moving out.

“Some were baptized here, some are buried from this church,” he said. “And we each have a role to play as part of a community.”

He said parishioners rely on each other and that no priest can do it alone. He said it is more than just clergy who make up the parish; it is all of the parishioners of varying ages and circumstances.

“And we make the church alive,” he said.

Patricia Guzzardo said Our Lady of Pompeii will always have a special place in her heart, having been raised at her grandmother’s house in Tickfaw. She made her first Communion and was confirmed at the church.

Guzzardo also sang in the choir.

“There are just a lot of things here at Our Lady of  Pompeii,” she said. “It’s rewarding to see it 50 years later. The parish has been through a lot.”

Barbara Stein remembers moving to her grandfather’s property from St. Bernard Civil Parish in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. She said the parishioners are caring and work well together.

“They all look out for each other,” she said “They get involved.”

The parish might best be known for its Marian celebration on the first weekend of July when a statue of the Virgin Mary is carried for nearly a mile from a eucharistic adoration chapel to the church on Saturday afternoon. The following afternoon the statue is returned to the adoration chapel.

Hundreds of people participate, praying the  rosary during the procession,

“(The church) has had a wonderful spiritual impact in my life,” Guzzardo said.

Answering his own question about what it means to be a parish, Bishop Muench, who will soon be celebrating his 55th anniversary of his priestly ordination, said a parish is a group of human beings, with parishioners moving in, some moving out.

“Some were baptized here, some are buried from this church,” he said. “And we each have a role to play as part of a community.”

 

He said parishioners rely on each other and that no priest can do it alone. He said it is more than just clergy who make up the parish; it is all of the parishioners of varying ages and circumstances.

“And we make the church alive,” he said.

Patricia Guzzardo said Our Lady of Pompeii will always have a special place in her heart, having been raised at her grandmother’s house in Tickfaw. She made her first Communion and was confirmed at the church.

Guzzardo also sang in the choir.

“There are just a lot of things here at Our Lady of  Pompeii,” she said. “It’s rewarding to see it 50 years later. The parish has been through a lot.”

Barbara Stein remembers moving to her grandfather’s property from St. Bernard Civil Parish in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. She said the parishioners are caring and work well together.

“They all look out for each other,” she said “They get involved.”

The parish might best be known for its Marian celebration on the first weekend of July when a statue of the Virgin Mary is carried for nearly a mile from a eucharistic adoration chapel to the church on Saturday afternoon. The following afternoon the statue is returned to the adoration chapel.

Hundreds of people participate, praying the  rosary during the procession,

“(The church) has had a wonderful spiritual impact in my life,” Guzzardo said.