The History of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church in Westwego

1
The History of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church
in Westwego

• By Kelly Bergeron
• Information and quotes provided by
• Ken Cantrelle

2
The First Chapel

• Our Lady of Prompt Succor was first established
  in the early 1800's when the Waggaman family
  decided to build a chapel on their plantation.
  It was blessed by Bishop John J. Chanche, who was
  the first bishop of Natchez, in 1841

3
The Second Chapel

• The first chapel proved to be not big enough
• A larger chapel was built under the title Our
  Lady of the Angels Church and blessed by Antoine
  Blanc of New Orleans in 1854
• The 1893 tragic hurricane at Chenerie Caminada
  aided Westwegos growth. The influx of Catholics
  in the Westwego vicinity made Father Ehrhart
  realize that Westwego needed its own church

4
Establishment of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church

• Ehrhart died in 1905 before he could work out his
  plans for the city of Westwego and his place was
  taken by Father Stenmans
• Father Stenmans immediately turned his attentions
  to the erection of the chapel at Westwego which
  began at the end of 1905
• It was completed in the summer of the following
  year and dedicated on June 7, 1906 and Our Lady
  of Prompt Succor, Westwego, La became officially
  established

5
The Flood of 1912

• In 1912 the Westwego area was under several feet
  of water from the Hymelia crevasse
• The newly built church had water in it up to the
  seats of the pews. People paddled to the church
  in pirogues

6
Reverend Albert Koenig

• In 1913 Father Stenman was given an assistant, a
  priest named Reverend Albert Koenig (pictured to
  the right)
• One of his tasks was to look over the mission of
  Westwego
• He becomes responsible for the building of the
  present day church

7
Rebuilding After the Storm

• By 1917 new roads had been built in Jefferson
  Parish and made the church easier to access
• The church which was destroyed by the storm in
  1912 and was rebuilt and dedicated in 1918

8
Big Plans for Westwego

• The next year the Jesuit Fathers were preparing
  to demolish the wooden church on St, Charles
  Avenue in New Orleans known as The Little
  Jesuits
• Monsignor Koenig saw an opportunity for the
  Westwego congregation
• The frame church was bought from the Jesuits for
  1600

9
Preparing to Rebuild

• It was photographed and marked then dismantled
  and the parts were brought across the Mississippi
  to Westwego
• These parts were stored in a barn of a farmer who
  worked the land where the new church was to be
  built

10
Westwego Becomes a Parish

• The Gretna parish now included all of Jefferson
  parish west of the river down to the Gulf of
  Mexico and it was becoming very difficult for the
  clergy of St. Josephs to serve all of the
  missions properly
• At this time Reverend John W. Shaw, the new
  Archbishop of New Orleans brought a new plan
  devising the establishment of more parishes in
  that territory and therefore Westwego was raised
  to the status of an independent church parish

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The Church of 1920

• The church which was bought from the Jesuit
  Fathers was built in 1920

12
Inside of 1920 Church
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Blessing of 1920 Church

• Dedication and blessing of church by Archbishop
  Shaw on October 31, 1920

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The Dream of the Final Church

• Msgr. Koenig dreamed of a new church ever since
  he became pastor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor
  Church
• To the right is shown the blueprint of the
  current church

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Construction of the Current Church

• The construction of the current church began in
  1955

16
Place of capsule in Cornerstone

• Archbishop Joseph Francis Rummel placing the
  capsule in cornerstone of the 1956 church.

17
Arrival of New Bells for 1956 Church
18
Church Dedication Mass in 1956
19
Blessing of the 1956 Church

• Blessed by Archbishop Joseph Francis Rummel on
  Sunday, June 2, 1956

20
The Final Church

• The present day church was completed in 1956 and
  has remained for the past 52 years