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 Westwego�s growth. The influx of Catholics in the Westwego vicinity made Father Ehrhart realize that Westwego needed it�s 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. Joseph�s 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

11. The Church of 1920 The church which was bought from the Jesuit Fathers was built in 1920

12. Inside of 1920 Church

13. Blessing of 1920 Church Dedication and blessing of church by Archbishop Shaw on October 31, 1920

14. 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

15. 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