St. Philip, Vacherie

The history of the church of St. Philip begins long before the first church was actually built. Early German immigrants and Acadian exiles formed small settlements that eventually led to a church community in this area. Slightly upriver was the settlement of St. James, which served missions of Vacherie. But residents on the west bank of this Second German Coast longed for their own church and resident pastor. Additionally, the Emancipation Proclamation of 1862 added people of African descent to the community which would become St. Philip Parish.

The Catholic faith was strong in this French-speaking community, but sacraments were rarely received by many people in the Vacherie area because of the distance from neighboring churches and terrible road conditions, especially in winter. Archbishop Perche encouraged Father A. Dubourg, pastor of Our Lady of Peace in Vacherie, to build a chapel there. Funds were scarce, but the community purchased an old Protestant church, dismantled it and brought it on rafts to the river bank near the proposed site. This first Catholic chapel in North Vacherie was reconstructed near the intersection of Highways 18 and 20 and dedicated to Our Lady of Prompt Succor in 1873. In 1877, the mission became an independent parish, and Father Louis Ozanne, was named pastor. Land was purchased for the church and rectory. The people considered moving the chapel to the new site but, because of its poor condition, the archbishop advised
the building of a new church.

A temporary church was constructed. An old building that served partly as a dance hall and residence became the temporary rectory. All unnecessary expenses were avoided. Plans were made to add a belfry to the church later, but the spire was never added. Additionally, the interior was never finished and the chapel never saw paint. Mass was celebrated for forty-two years in the uncompleted church.

St. Philip Church, a beautiful Roman-style frame structure, was dedicated in 1921 by Archbishop J. W. Shaw.  Disaster struck the parish a few years later during a church fair. A tornado demolished the church hall on August 24, 1924. Many people were injured, and eight people attending the fair were killed. Today’s parishioners at St. Philip, inspired by the deep devotion of their ancestors, remain dedicated to their baptismal call to live and spread the faith, ensuring that the Church’s rich traditions will endure for many generations to come.