By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles
SULPHUR — “Five years in God’s country is like five days,” Rev. Canon Jean-Marie Moreau remarked as he bid farewell to the faithful community of St. Francis de Sales Oratory on Sunday, March 16, during a reception in his honor. He has been reassigned to Reno, Nevada.
A priest for the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, Canon Moreau arrived in the Diocese of Lake Charles in January 2020 to serve as Rector of the first (and still the only) apostolate of the Institute in the southern region of the United States.
Jean-Marie Moreau with the Order of St. Charles in the
Member class for his five years of dedicated service
in the Diocese of Lake Charles. Canon Moreau
had been serving as Rector of St. Francis de Sales
Oratory in Sulphur before being reassigned
to Reno, Nevada.
At the invitation of The Most Reverend Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles, the Institute established the Oratory in Sulphur, breathing new life into the original structure for Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church.
After extensive renovations under the guidance of Canon Moreau, the former church, later repurposed as the Sulphur Judicial Center, became home for the Traditional Latin Mass.
“We know that Louisiana is known for its hospitality. It is with a heavy heart that I have to say goodbye,” Canon Moreau expressed with a tremble in his voice. “It is humbling to see your witness of gratitude, humbling because we know our weaknesses. But God can do great things with humble instruments.”
Canon Jean-Marie Moreau sing an ancient Hymn of Thanksgiving
at the close of a farewell reception in honor of Canon Moreau,
who has served as Rector of St. Francis de Sales Oratory in Sulphur
since January 2020.
Expressing his sincere gratitude, Bishop Provost commented on how God worked through Canon Moreau doing great things through his ministry at the Oratory.
“So much has happened here in Sulphur and in the Diocese of Lake Charles since Canon Moreau arrived,” His Excellency said. “He took a building, which had once been a church, then a courthouse, and rehabilitated the structure, returning it not as it had been, but giving it a new lease on life. The building became a church again, and what a church it is, all for the greater glory of God.”
Noting that this is only part of Canon Moreau’s legacy, Bishop Provost shared a few examples of his gift of service in Christ to the Church.
“One such area is that of educating children in our Catholic faith. I saw this at Confirmation which I had the privilege of officiating more than once in the Oratory,” the bishop said.
Olivier Meney, left, the incoming Rector of St. Francis de Sales
Oratory; and Rev. Canon Jean-Marie Moreau, who served
as Rector since January 2020.
“I always question those who are to be confirmed. For me, it is also an opportunity to visit with the confirmands. They were always well prepared, inquisitive, calm, poised, sure of themselves in the faith. This a bishop likes. Thank you, Canon Moreau, for what you did,” Bishop Provost expressed.
“On Holy Thursday, when I finish the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at the Cathedral, I have a little exercise of driving to some of the area churches, unannounced, dropping in to pray,” he said. “When I have come to the Oratory, the church is beautifully decorated for Our Lord, and many, including large numbers of children, are at prayer. Thank you, Canon Moreau.”
Bishop Provost also noted how Canon Moreau strived to make the Oratory a center of culture. In this, the bishop noted that Canon Moreau was following the charism of the Institute and the inspiration of its chief patron, St. Francis de Sales.
“In a pedestrian world that wanders aimlessly at times between one idle pursuit to another, this effort to anchor a community in the culture of Catholicism is of, in my opinion, quintessential importance,” said the bishop. “To evangelize through beauty, this was thinking of St. Francis de Sales, the thinking of Pope Benedict XVI, and it is the thinking of Canon Moreau. Thank you, Canon Moreau.”
“Finally, I thank you, Canon Moreau, for your friendship. You were always there to assist me in my tasks as bishop. There is only one Catholic Church. Period. There is only one Diocese of Lake Charles. Period. Authority is necessary, and your cooperation, collaboration, and contribution to the life of the Church in our diocese has been truly invaluable,” His Excellency remarked. “The priests respect you and were personally affected by your presence, by your teaching, by your amiability. The faithful, especially those you ministered to in the hospital and in our parishes, appreciate all you did for them.”
To show his appreciation, Bishop Provost bestowed on Canon Moreau the Bishop’s Medal for the Order of Saint Charles, initiated by The Most Reverend Jude Speyrer, the first bishop of Lake Charles.
Special guests at the reception, held in Fr. Vecchio Hall at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Parish, were Bishop Provost; Very Rev. Canon Matthew Talarico, Provincial Superior of the U.S. Province of the Institute in Chicago; Rev. Canon Olivier Meney, incoming Rector for St. Francis de Sales Oratory; Very Rev. Edward Richard, Pastor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church; Princess Maria-Anna Galitzine, granddaughter of Blessed Karl, the Emperor of Austria; Mr. and Mrs. Michael Danahay, Mayor of Sulphur; and Senator and Mrs. Jeremy Stine.
In gratitude for Canon Moreau's dedication to starting an apostolate of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest in the Diocese of Lake Charles, Canon Talarico led the faithful in singing the Te Deum (Tonus solemnis), an ancient Hymn of Thanksgiving.
Reflecting on his own gratitude, Canon Moreau said, “When I came to Louisiana, I did not know Bishop Provost, and I have really found a friend, I can say. I wish I could say thank you to everyone. Please pray for me. You will always be in my heart and in my prayers. I love you. God bless you all.”
To learn more about the Institute of Jesus Christ Sovereign Priest, visit https://institute-christ-king.org.
To learn more about St. Francis de Sales Oratory in Sulphur, visit https://institute-christ-king.org/sulphur-home
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS ON FACEBOOK.
