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American Press
3 days ago
- General
- American Press
Changing landscape: Catholic Cemetery has new look as improvements continue
Repurposed fencing has been erected around Catholic Cemetery in a cement foundation with the capability of removing the panels if need arises. The central gate with brick columns and metal arch sign have also been completed. (Crystal Stevenson / American Press) By Vincent Lupo The old Catholic Cemetery at the corner of Common and Iris streets has a 'nice' new look thanks in part to an old fence in a very new location. By divine providence and some curious coincidences, the black aluminum fencing that formally surrounded the housing project at the corner of Lake and 18th streets now encircles the cemetery, which is owned by the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. How all of this came about is described below. In the middle part of November of 2024, my dear friend Jimmy Bushnell mentioned to me that there was an aluminum fence around the Lloyd Oaks Dixie Drive Housing Project that was being demolished for the construction of new housing at that location. He wondered what would happen to that fence and if it could be salvaged for re-use at the Catholic Cemetery. Later that week, while driving by the demolition site on Lake Street, I noticed the contractor for the preliminary work at the new Mid-City Lofts project was Alfred Palma Construction. The Palmas have been friends of my family for many years. My wife, Paulette, through her former employment (she is now retired) with the city of Lake Charles Permit, Inspection and Planning departments, has worked with three generations of Palmas — Alfred; his son, James; and James' son, Michael. James' wife is also distantly related to me. I immediately phoned my wife and asked her to contact James Palma about the fate of the fence and explain to James why the Cathedral was interested. James, part of a family that has always been extremely charitable both to its own Catholic parish (Our Lady Queen of Heaven) as well as the city itself, was agreeable to donating the fence to the cemetery project — with one caveat. The fencing had to be removed by the Cathedral within a 20-day window so as not to delay the demotion work. After contacting Cathedral receptionist Sue Burke and reviewing information provided by her, I reached out to Richard Moreno. In an unpublished draft article on the history of the cemetery Moreno wrote, 'In 1997, Patrick Webb, Margaret Schmitt and Roland Bodin, a group of persons interested in preserving and restoring the cemetery to the extent possible, formed Catholic Cemetery Restoration Project, Inc. (CCRP), a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation seeking to plan for restoration of the cemetery.' The initial directors were Roland Bodin, Jack Brooks, Mary Louise Elms, Zeb Johnson, Taylor Kaough, Sallye LeBleu, Dorothy Plauche, Margaret (Peggy) Schmitt and Patrick Webb. The directors as of 2025 are Sue Burke, Jude Hilliard, Lauren Harrell, Shane Hinch, Aric Pohorelsky, Jared Watson and Moreno who serves as its present chairman. Moreno's unpublished article states the cemetery was opened after land was donated for that purpose in 1861. 'Since its closure to new burials in 1915, the cemetery condition deteriorated due to passage of time, effects of weather, lack of maintenance and occasions of intentional vandalism.' For seven years the CCRP had been considering how to raise funds for a plan proposed by former cathedral pastor the Rev. Rommel Tolentino. Father Tolentino had a vision for the cemetery, which was captured in architectural renderings created by local architect Jeff Kudla. The plans included fencing around the cemetery site to replace the chain-link fence taken down during recent natural disasters as well as an entrance gate, an altar for Masses and a brick memorial wall to honor those persons who are buried in the cemetery but whose grave markers are missing. Work on those plans habitually stalled due to financial constraints. The committee was, however, successful in obtaining a $200,000 NGO grant from the Louisiana Legislature through the 2020 efforts of Rep. Troy Romero and Sen. Jeremy Stine The grant was obtained and placed in an escrow account. Deadline for use of the funds was June 30, 2025. If not used by that date, the money would have to be returned. However, costs continued to rise. In a 2024 email to the state treasury office seeking guidance about changing the scope of the cemetery project or the proper procedure for returning the funds, the CCRP said 'Despite best efforts of our Architect (Kudla) the cost escalation of the contemplated project has continually exceeded funds on hand. As a result, the project as designed is no longer considered feasible with funds on hand in the corporation and the NGO (state grant) funds.' Later, however, with the sudden, unexpected contribution of the fence materials, the CCRP emailed Kudla, 'That fence donation is making it possible to go forward with the project now. That would eliminate cost of new fencing from (the) bid but add the removal costs. There could be enough fence for the entire cemetery perimeter (a square acre — 208.7 feet per side.') In his response, Kudla agreed. 'Vincent Lupo called me about this. Great idea and opportunity!' The Kudla plans had already been approved by the Diocesan Building Committee. At the request of present cathedral pastor, the Rev. Ruben Buller, Bishop Glen John Provost approved the fence replacement project if it could be performed solely with the $200,000 state NGO grant. Due to the short deadline to remove the fence and being aware of the extensive work Ribbeck Construction Corporation had performed for the Diocese of Lake Charles — including the restoration of the cathedral in 2019 — the CCRP reached out to Edward 'Buzzy' Ribbeck. Ribbeck's company almost immediately removed the fence and stored it until preliminary work at the cemetery site was completed. The fencing was then erected in a cement foundation with the capability of removing the panels if need arises. The central gate with brick columns and metal arch sign were also completed. Due again to financial constraints other portions of the project have now been put on hold. However, according to an email from Ribbeck to Moreno and the CCRP, Ribbeck 'would like to complete the south wall, east end foundation and pickets next to the wood fence.' 'When able, I will pay for that by donation from Ribbeck Construction Corporation,' Ribbeck said noting, 'I am certain at some point that the neighbor's wood fence will disintegrate and will not be reinstalled.' 'One of the perplexing long-term issues facing the cemetery,' Moreno said in his unpublished article, 'is restoration of the graves. The cost alone for inspecting the graves for condition and to develop plans for restoration using period material is substantial. There is the added complication of trying to identify the current owner of a grave in which burial occurred over a hundred years ago. 'As a related matter,' he added, 'graves belong to the family of the person buried therein and not to the (Cathedral) parish. Furthermore, state law requires the permission of the owner of an individual grave if a non-owner desires to perform work on an individual grave. The passage of time since the last burial in the 1910s means that any one grave will have multiple generations of family owners. As a result, the (Cathedral) parish has no right to perform any work on any graves even if it had funds. The (Cathedral) parish only owns the land. There is no easy solution to this problem in the foreseeable future barring substantial donations.' Although the entire dream project for the cemetery has not become a reality, a good portion has been completed. And that would not have happened without a chance conversation, a few phone calls, some altruistic individuals and God's hand in all of this. Like Ribbeck said in another email to Moreno, 'It really looks nice, and my crew said people are always stopping by making very nice comments on how nice it looks.'
American Press
12-06-2025
- General
- American Press
Sherman J. Solari Jr.
Sherman J. Solari Jr. passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, the 10 of June 2025. It was a blessing to have his three children caring for him together through his last day in this earthly life. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, the 13 of June, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Burial will follow at Consolata Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, the 12 of June, at Johnson Funeral Home from 5 p.n. until 8 p.m. with a Rosary being prayed at 7 p.m. Sherman was born on Dec. 31, 1927 in Lake Charles. He shared his God given talents as a craftsman in his family business, Solari Marble and Granite Works. Not only did he use his artistic skills, he truly listened when people were going through some of the most difficult moments in their lives. There were few things that Sherman enjoyed more than his daily bike rides along the lake. He was a very private person but cherished the relationships that he made through these quiet encounters. He was a faithful parishioner of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. One of the things he missed the most in his last months was not being able to attend Mass. He was immensely grateful to those who faithfully brought the Precious Body of Christ in Holy Communion to his home and those who came to visit with him. Sherman is survived by his three loving children, Mike and wife, Kim, Tom and wife, Elaine, and Suzy. He was blessed with five beautiful grandchildren, Chris (Casey), Ben (Kara), Scott (Courtney), Caroline (Scott), and William. His memory will also live on through his great-grandchildren, Chloe, Stella, Teddy, and Patrick. He is further survived by in-laws, Louise Solari, Phyllis Solari, Glenda (Norman) Manuel, and Delores Stagg. Sherman was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 48 years, Joyce Bertrand Solari, as well as his parents, Anita Breaux Solari and Sherman J. Solari Sr. and siblings, Audrey, Archie, and Jimmy Solari. Memorial donations may be made to Immaculate Conception Cathedral School at 1536 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601. The family would like to express their thanks for the loving care given by Harbor Hospice and Home Instead, especially caregiver, Sylvia Matthis.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
New Jersey Catholic bishop says diocese will no longer oppose investigation into abuse allegations
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Camden, NJ (Image: AP) CAMDEN: The Catholic bishop of a New Jersey diocese said he would no longer oppose a state grand jury investigation of clergy sexual abuse that the church has been fighting behind closed doors in court for Bishop Joseph Williams , who took over the diocese in March, told the Philadelphia Inquirer on Monday the diocese no longer wants to prevent the attorney general's office from seating a grand jury to investigate allegations of sexual abuse by priests and other religious told the newspaper it was important to help those harmed by the church and that he doesn't want to stop their voices from being heard."Our people need to hear this, the clergy needs to hear this, so that it never happens again, first of all," Williams said.A message seeking comment Tuesday was left with the change comes a week after attorneys for the diocese argued before the state Supreme Court that prosecutors did not have the authority under court rules to use a grand jury to investigate private church officials. Instead, the lawyers argued, the rule requires grand jury presentments to tackle public officials and high court has not yet issued an opinion on the not immediately clear how the bishop's new position would affect their state attorney general's office said in an emailed statement Tuesday that it welcomes the "introspection that produced this shift in the Diocese of Camden's position."The statement pointed out that prosecutors are still subject to lower court orders that blocked the Crawford, state director of Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests, said in a text message Tuesday that the change was "long overdue.""We are cautiously optimistic as this is certainly the right thing to do and for the right reasons," he said. "This should have happened long ago and seeing Bishop Williams take a different approach is encouraging."The issue dates to a Pennsylvania grand jury report in 2018 that found more than 1,000 children had been abused in that state since the 1940s, prompting the New Jersey attorney general to announce a similar the results of New Jersey's inquiry never became public partly because a legal battle led by the Diocese of Camden was unfolding behind closed doors amid sealed this year the Bergen Record obtained records disclosing a trial court's judgment in favor of the diocese and revealing the diocese's objection to the grand jury. And in March, the Supreme Court ordered more documents in the case core disagreement is over whether a court rule permits grand juries in New Jersey to issue findings in cases involving private individuals. Trial and appellate courts found for the oral arguments, Supreme Court justices at times sounded skeptical of the diocese's then-position that the grand jury investigation would amount to a condemnation of the church and its officials."We don't know what a grand jury would say, am I right?" Justice Anne Patterson asked at the time.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Important thing to be able to witness': Praying for Pope Francis at Wichita church
Jason Houpt held the rosary as he and his girlfriend, Bella Petrakis, prayed for Pope Francis during a service Saturday morning at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita. 'I think Francis' impact on the church in the last 12 years has been really great and his compassion for people who are marginalized should be celebrated,' said Petrakis, 26. Saturday's Wichita service was an opportunity for local Catholic faithful to participate in remembrance of Francis, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio and died on Monday at age 88. An estimated 250,000 people, including royalty and presidents, including U.S. President Donald Trump, had attended Francis' funeral in Rome also on Saturday morning, according to Vatican figures. Houpt and Petrakis both attend the church. Houpt, a 27-year-old former college basketball player, said he was a recent convert and felt it was important to attend since coming back to the church. 'It was an important thing to be able to witness,' he said. Francis was elected pope in March 2013, succeeding Pope Benedict XVI after his resignation in February of the same year. Bishop Carl A. Kemme, who was appointed to his position in Wichita by Francis, also touched on Francis' love for marginalized during the service attended by about 80 people. 'Like every leader, especially those on the world stage, Pope Francis had his many admirers and his critics. I for one, was an admirer of him,' Kemme said. 'A few months after my own consecration here in the cathedral, I had the great honor of going to Rome with all the other bishops that he had appointed in that period of time. And at the end of our time together, we had the blessing of meeting him personally. Our meeting was very brief, of course, since there were over 200 of us in our group, but in those few short moments, I was moved personally by his captivating smile, his engaging eyes, and the warmth of his reading and his handshake. In those few moments, I felt like I was the only person in the room.' Kemme said it was the same way the other three times he met him. 'All of this reminds me, in a powerful way, that for Pope Francis, the individual person right in front of him was always his sole focus,' Kemme said. 'Pope Francis had a heart for people, especially the simple, the humble, the poor, the marginalized, how inspiring it was for us to see year after year on Holy Thursday (he would) go to prisons to wash the feet of prisoners or to host a lunch for the homeless and the poor of Rome, where he sat among them and enjoyed their company, or to touch and interact with people most of us ... we would shy away from. And this was not fake or staged, but real, true humanity. In these gestures, we saw the human person who occupied the throne of Saint Peter, who tried as best as he could in our modern world to be Christ's representative on Earth.' Francis' funeral starts the beginning of nine days of mourning called Novemdiales. Following the vacancy of the pope position, the papal conclave must convene within 15 to 20 days and begin the task of voting for the 267th pope, which will likely be among the group of the 135 cardinals, a majority of which were appointed by Francis, who are under the age of 80 and can vote.
HKFP
23-04-2025
- Politics
- HKFP
Pope Francis: Hong Kong Catholic Church holds condolence service, requiem mass for late pontiff
The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong has announced that a condolence service will be held until Saturday for the late Pope Francis, followed by a requiem mass next Monday. Seen as a radical pontiff and champion of the underdogs, Pope Francis died on Monday at the age of 88. Francis, dubbed 'the people's pope,' suffered a stroke and subsequent heart failure, according to the Vatican. Hong Kong's remembrance service began on Tuesday and will continue until 4pm at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Mid-Levels. Members of the public can sign a book of condolence at the church. The requiem mass will begin at 8pm next Monday at the same venue. 'Committed to world peace' In a Monday statement from the Hong Kong diocese, Cardinal Stephen Chow expressed 'his deepest condolences.' 'Pope Francis had been committed to promoting inter-religious dialogue and world peace, and he was determined to reform the Holy See, such as allowing the participation of women at the decision-making level. He was respected and loved by the faithful during his pontificate,' the statement said. China's foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun paid tribute to the pontiff on Tuesday. 'In recent years, China and the Vatican have maintained constructive contact and engaged in beneficial exchanges,' he said. 'The Chinese side is willing to work together with the Vatican to promote the continued improvement of China-Vatican relations.' The Holy See and the atheist Chinese Communist Party have a tumultuous relationship, with disagreements over who appoints the country's Catholic bishops. Vatican City has not had formal ties with China since 1951. It remains one of the few territories that recognises the sovereignty of self-governing Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own. Despite China's constitution guaranteeing freedom of religion, Catholics are only permitted to worship under the direction of the Patriotic Catholic Association, which does not recognise the authority of the Vatican. The election of a new pope usually begins 15 to 20 days after the death of the pontiff. Cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote, including Hong Kong's Cardinal Chow.
