St. John Chapel celebrates 75 years
The story of St. John community has its beginnings in France in 1814, when Jean Bertrand Pousson was born. At the age of 26, he came to this country and opened a country store in the community of Chataignier in what is now the Diocese of Lafayette. Twenty years later, to honor God for the success he had achieved, Pousson donated land for a cemetery and what is now the church parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.
In 1872, Pousson moved to Lacassine and he welcomed the priests who traveled across the southern prairie into his home. It was not long before the residence became a meeting place where the Mass was celebrated. Pousson reserved a room as a prayer chapel for his family and neighbors where the Blessed Sacrament reposed.
As he had done before, he donated land for a cemetery and church in Lacassine. In 1881, he became the first person buried in the cemetery.
Progress was coming to the area through the railroad and along with the trains came farmers and tradesmen from out of state, which substantially increased the population. Our Lady of Seven Dolors in Welsh was established as a parish in 1904 and Lacassine was one of many villages whose Catholic faithful were served by priests from the church in Welsh.
By 1906, Mass was being celebrated every second Sunday and one Saturday a month in the Lorraine Chapel, originally called the “Lacassine Chapel.” Father Jules Daigle was appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Seven Dolors in 1930 and ministered to the people of Lacassine.
A year later St. Raphael Parish was established in Iowa with Father Wilfred Belanger as founding pastor. Father Belanger became responsible for the Catholics of Bell City and Hayes.
A hurricane destroyed the Lorraine Chapel and it was not rebuilt. St. John Vianney Parish in Bell City was established in 1937 and Father Daigle built the chapel of St. John the Evangelist in Lacassine on property donated by Jean Pousson. Father Daigle celebrated Mass and taught catechism there each Saturday .
The care of St. John the Evangelist was transferred from Our Lady of Seven Dolors to St. Raphael in 1939.
Clergy who have served the St. John include Father Armand Hamel, who replaced Father Belanger; Father J. M. Audette, Father Theo Hassink; Father Anthony Genna; Father Viator Desilets and Father Robert Shreve; Father Aloysius Van Buijtenen; Father Michael Herpin, Father Walter Chmurea, Father Ronald Groth, Father John Poerio; Father Edward Degeyter. Father T. L. Herlong; Deacon Benny Morello. Father Bert Mead, S.J.; Father Gerard Smit, Msgr. Bede Becnel; Father John Poerio; Father Herbert May, Father Milton P. Miller, Father Carlos Garcia, Father Aubrey Guilbeau, Father William Miller; Father Augustine Mulanjanany; and, today, Father Roland Vaughn.
Father Van Buijtenen was an especially beloved shepherd and upon his death in 1983, he was buried at the foot of the cross in the cemetery of St. John the Evangelist, which was his wish.
A memorial altar, paid for with the contributions of the people of Lacassine, Iowa, Bell City and Hayes as well as others, was erected over his vault. Father Mead became the first resident priest in Lacassine in 1983, designated as “priest in charge.” In 2001, Bishop Edward K. Braxton transferred the pastoral care of the chapel from St. Raphael to St. Charles Borromeo in Fenton. In 2003, a fire destroyed the chapel. It was rebuilt and dedicated in 2005 by Msgr. harry Greig, diocesan administrator.
With the community continuing to grow, planning and fund raising has begun for a church hall and religious education building.
