Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass Honors 48 Couples

By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles

There is something extra special about Christmas Eve for Rene and Lucy (Leleux) Hanks of Starks. It is the day they were married in 1955, and to hear them tell the story, it was meant to be from the start.

Rene and Lucy Hanks will celebrate 70 years of marriage on
December 24, 2025. They were married on Christmas Eve
in 1955 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Morse, La.
The Hanks were among 48 couples honored during the annual
Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass on Sunday, May 18, in the
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception with Bishop Glen John Provost.
(Photo Credit: Morris LeBleu / Diocese of Lake Charles)

Parishioners of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Vinton, Rene and Lucy were among 96 spouses honored during the 11:15 a.m. Mass on Sunday, May 18, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. For a combined total of 2,380 years of marriage, 48 couples registered for the Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass and reception hosted by the Office of Marriage and Family Life.

His Excellency, Bishop Glen John Provost blessed those marking jubilee anniversaries of 25, 50, 55, 60, 65, or 70 years in 2025.

Young love endures

The spark of love that was ignited more than 70 years ago in Morse, La., between Rene and Lucy still glows when they reminisce about how they met.

“My family moved from Morse to Port Arthur (Texas) when I was 7 years old,” recalled Lucy. “When I was 14, I was visiting cousins in Morse for a couple of weeks. The mother of one of my cousins owned a restaurant where we liked to hang around. Rene walked in with two of his friends. I had my eyes on him,” she said with a big grin.

The fact that Lucy loved to dance as much as Rene did sealed the deal. “We went to Martinez Dance Hall. It was family friendly and open to everybody,” Rene said. “We started Cajun dancing and that was it.”

Lucy was determined to keep the romance alive despite the distance between Morse and Port Arthur.

“When I turned 15, my dad knew that I was in love, so he bought me a little Ford car so I could drive to Morse and see Rene,” she said. “When I told my dad I wanted to get married, he said, ‘I can’t afford your car and your marriage, so sell the car.’”

There is some debate over who popped the question.

“I forget who proposed. I think she proposed,” said Rene, with Lucy chiming in to say, “No, he proposed. He hitchhiked from Morse to Port Arthur (110 miles) to talk to my dad.”

Rene remembers it like this: “It was late at night when I arrived and they were asleep, so I slept in her daddy’s car. I woke up the next morning and he was getting ready to go to work. I guess I gave him a heart attack when he saw me. I don’t think he liked us getting married so young, but he knew we were in love.”

In January of 1955, Rene entered the Air Force. While on a 10-day furlough, which he had to beg to get, he and Lucy were married on December 25, 1955, by Rev. Mathias Cramers in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Morse. With both their birthdays in December, Rene had just turned 21 and Lucy was a mere 16.

Even though their love has never wavered, Rene admits that those early years were rough.

“I was not making much money, and we depended on her parents quite a bit,” he said. “You have to stick it out and work at it. When you are dating, just make sure it is in here,” Rene said pointing to his heart. “When I first met Lucy, she didn’t think I was paying attention, but I was. I knew she was the one for me.”

While they are not on the dance floor as much as they once were, Rene (90) and Lucy (85) now dance to the beat of life with their 3 daughters, 9 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.

Expression of gratitude

In congratulating all the couples, Bishop Provost thanked them for taking seriously the command of the Lord, “As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” (John 31:34) “This is a love that only a Christian can know,” the bishop said.

He continued, telling them, “Our Lord invited you to that profound love. He knew that it was the only love that would unite, a transforming love because it sought not the self but the other. May God confirm you in His love and bring you many blessings and rewards.”

Those celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2025 are:

70 YEARS:
• Rene and Lucy Hanks, St. Joseph, Vinton

65 YEARS:
• Merlin and Burline Fontenot, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Lake Charles

60 YEARS:

Jim and Aline Babineaux, St. Lawrence, Raymond
Curtis and Claudia Dyle, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Lake Charles
Joseph and Anne Newby, Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Lake Charles
Lincoln and Laura Richardson, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Lake Charles
Bob and Kathy Soileau, St. Margaret of Scotland, Lake Charles

55 YEARS:

Willie and Kathleen Ashford, St. Raphael, Iowa
Jack and Susan Blevins, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Lake Charles
Jerry and Janie Doucet, St. Raphael, Iowa
Albert and Sue Duplantis, Christ the King, Lake Charles
Joseph and Angela Fairfield, St. Joseph, LeBleu Settlement
Tim and Gerry Fontenot, St. Theodore, Moss Bluff
Russell and Paula Hanks, St. Theodore, Moss Bluff
Everett and Delora Lovejoy, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Oakdale
Michael and Annette Maneille, Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Lake Charles

50 YEARS:

Jason and Dinah Billings, St. Raphael, Iowa
Doug and Debbie Boudreaux, St. Margaret of Scotland, Lake Charles
Dan and Linda Breaux, Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Lake Charles
Murphy and Kathryn Breaux, St. Pius X, Ragley
Roy and Willa Bushnell, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Lake Charles
Roger and Lois Clausen, Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Lake Charles
Kevin and Debi Comboy, Immaculate Conception, Sulphur
James and Jacqueline Davis, St. Theodore, Moss Bluff
Glenn and Jeanne Delahoussaye, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Lake Charles
Wayne and Susan Fontenot, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Lake Charles
James and Joann Francis, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Lake Charles
Deacon Paul and Melissa Gregory, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Lake Charles
Charles and Karen Guidry, Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Lake Charles
John and Connie Guillory, St. Henry, Lake Charles
David and Andrea Habetz, St. Pius X, Ragley
Danny and Selene Landry, St. Pius X, Ragley
Edward and Barbara LeJeune, Our Lady of Seven Dolors, Welsh
James and Debbie McCarty, St. Joseph, DeRidder
Deacon Jesse and Myrna Menard, St. Joseph, Vinton
Dan and Kathleen Morrish, Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Lake Charles
Abraham and Marva Nash, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Lake Charles
Carl and Judy Reeves, St. Margaret of Scotland, Lake Charles
Greg and Deborah Richard, St. Theodore, Moss Bluff
Glenn and Susan Terrebonne, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Oakdale
Henry and Gayle Vaccaro, St. Margaret of Scotland, Lake Charles
Robert and Ruthie Whelan, Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Lake Charles