St. Bernard Church History

St. Bernard Church History. . , Since its settlement in the late 1700s by Catholic French Acadians, the village of Pont Breaux (now Breaux Bridge) has been a gathering place for the faithful of the area. Initially, services were held in private homes and by 1840 a group of residents arranged with the priest from St. Martin de Tours for the establishment of the community's first Catholic Chapel. This would become known as "Mission du Pont Breaux" and it was located at the corner lot now occupied by F&M Bank. In 1847 Rev. Antoine Blac, Bishop of Louisiana, purchased a lot approximately seven arpents in size from Eurasie Breaux Chaigneau. This would become the site of St. Bernard Church, thus establishing St. Bernard Parish. The growing congregation quickly outgrew the first small chapel and several methods were attempted by early priests to raise sufficient funds to build a more adequate church. These included a subscription list, the auctioning of reserved church pews, and the establishment of a new cemetery with the sale of cemetery lots. Between 1857-1865 Father Jean Honore Dubernard was assigned to Pont Breaux and he succeeded in erecting the first suitable wooden church which stood until 1933. Between 1888-1900, Father Borias, a native of France, oversaw many needed improvements to the church including the addition of wings and the installation of the first pipe organ. He was mentor to a young parishioner from Breaux Bridge, Jules Benjamin Jeanmard, who would go on to become the first native Bishop in Louisiana (see inset at right). By 1933, due to space constraints of a growing congregation and the aging original wooden church, a new church was needed. Ground broke in August of 1933 and after the wooden church was demolished, its lumber was salvaged for the foundation, subflooring, ceiling, scaffolding, and mill work for the new church. Designed by architect Owen D. Southwell, the exterior was considered quite contemporary for the time whereas the interior reflects a more Byzantine style., Reflection and Connection , The buildings, grounds, and services of St. Bernard Church create opportunities for connection and reflection beyond those which take place during daily Mass. , The Borel Community Center, built in 2000 on the site of the old community center, offers space for classes and celebrations. , A beloved feature of the church grounds is the Chapel of Perpetual Adoration where anyone is invited to pray, meditate, read, and spend time with Christ at anytime of the day or night. Parishioners are encouraged to sign up for an hour each week to be present with the Blessed Sacrament. , St. Bernard Church is an active participant in the annual Fete-Dieu du Teche Eucharistic Procession, a celebration of the arrival of the Catholic faith and the connection of that faith to the culture of the Bayou Teche. A procession of boats leads religious leaders along the Teche, stopping at multiple churches throughout the dày to host services. The event occurs every August 15 to coincide with the Feast Day of the Assumption of Mary. Mary is the patron Saint of the Acadians., Bishop Jeanmard , Jules Benjamin Jeanmard (1879-1957) was a native son of Breaux Bridge. He and some of his eight siblings were among the first students to be educated in the new school on St. Bernard Church grounds. He was ordained in New Orleans at the age of 23 by Archbishop Chapelle. He went on to serve numerous leadership roles within the Archdiocese of New Orleans. At 38 years old, he was appointed the first Bishop of the newly created Diocese of Lafayette. Bishop Jeanmard was instrumental in assisting Father Borel to obtain a loan for the construction of the “brick chuch" in 1933. In memory of his childhood pastor, Father Antoine Borias, he donated the crucifix that hangs over the entrance to the Sanctuary., Connect With St. Bernard Church , You're encouraged to spend time enjoying the Church grounds and cemeteries, the community of Breaux Bridge, and the Bayou Teche. There are many ways to forge a deeper connection to St. Bernard Church-attend services, register to join the Parish, and support the Church financially. For more information, visit www.stbernardch.com. To contact the Church, stop into the office at 219 E. Bridge St. or call 337-332-2159.