Our Lady of Prompt Succor, White Castle

Built in 1896, Our Lady of Prompt Succor was the first church dedicated to the patron of Louisiana. Originally a mission of Bayou Goula, Our Lady of Prompt Succor became a separate parish in 1899.

Its first pastor was Father J. M. Beronnet, but he died after serving only one year. He was replaced by Father Andrew DeMaurizi who remained pastor for over fifty years. The parish grew and, in 1901, a parish school was opened. By 1903, the church was remodeled and enlarged to include three new altars, twenty statues (some of which were imported from Italy), and twenty-one stained glass windows. The renovation was completely financed by $10,000 donated by the parishioners. In time, however, a new, still larger, church was envisioned by members of the growing community. By 1929, St. Paul Church in Bayou Goula became a mission of Our Lady of Prompt Succor. Forces of nature threatened the church of Our Lady of Prompt Succor and, in 1952, the original church was destroyed by fire. In addition, rebuilding of the Mississippi River levees put the site of the original church at risk. New land was donated and the present church was completed and dedicated by Archbishop Rummel in 1954. 

A new school was dedicated in the parish of Our Lady of Prompt Succor in 1965 staffed by the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. The sisters ceased to service the school in 1981. Tragedy again visited Our Lady of Prompt Succor when, in 1980, fire destroyed the rectory. The prior convent, vacant, was renovated to serve as a new rectory. Tragically, Our Lady of Prompt Succor School was closed in 2000, just one-year shy of its 100th anniversary. In 1999, a Centennial Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated at Our Lady of Prompt Succor, a parish which has triumphed in spreading God’s word despite its difficulties. A ‘Jubilee 2000’ stained glass window was installed in the church’s east entrance to mark the Millennium.