April 14, 2022
Holy Thursday
In 2011 the Diocese of Lake Charles opened Vianney House, a residence for men discerning the priesthood. Father Nathan Long was its first director, and the house was located in the old faculty residence of St. Louis Catholic High School on Bank Street. Vianney House was a great success.
made possible the purchase a new Vianney House located
across from Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church
on Aqua Drive in Lake Charles.
As Bishop Provost observed, “In the last ten years, over half of the men ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of Lake Charles were at one time residents of Vianney House. This is a very good record and shows that the program of prayer, study, and work at Vianney House yielded positive results.”
During the storms of 2020 Vianney House suffered serious damage, but the ice storm of February 2021 had devastating consequences. The Vianney House was forced to close, although the Diocese had every intention of reopening as soon as possible. These possibilities began to unfold providentially at the end of 2021.
Director of Vianney House
Bishop Provost explained, “The Diocese received word of the very generous bequest of Leslie and Elizabeth Singletary Richard. This gift made it possible for the Diocese to purchase a new Vianney House at 206 Aqua Drive, immediately across the street from Our Lady of Good Counsel, an excellent location for a house of discernment.”
The Bishop sees this bequest and the availability of the house on Aqua Drive as an answer to prayer. “We are delighted and very thankful to God for the reopening of Vianney House and look forward to welcoming those who will discern the priesthood before entering the seminary.” Father Michael Caraway, Diocesan Vocation Director, will now become the director of Vianney House.
The Bishop asks that we continue to pray for an increase of vocations to the priesthood in the Diocese and for the eternal repose of Leslie and Elizabeth Singletary Richard whose thoughtful gift made the continuation of Vianney House possible.
If you would like to contribute with a monetary donation to help furnish the Vianney House, checks may be written to the Diocese of Lake Charles with “Vianney House” in the memo and mailed to Diocese of Lake Charles, Attention: Vianney House, P.O. Box 3223, Lake Charles, LA 70602.
A gift registry is also available at https://www.myregistry.com/wishlist/lake-charles-vianney-house-lake-charles-la/3290266/giftlist. As the needs are assessed, more items will be added to the registry.
