By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles
RAGLEY — When we give to God our time, talents, and treasures, He will take care of the rest. That’s something the faith community of St. Pius X Catholic Church is counting on.
The “little Catholic church” on Highway 171 launched its “Building the Future, Rooted in Faith” Capital Campaign at the beginning of 2025, but efforts to raise money started long before the targeted fundraising was official.
creative talents to give back to the Lord through “Treasures of
St. Agnes.” All proceeds from items sold are being donated
to the capital campaign to help build a new church for
St. Pius X Parish in Ragley.
“The idea to build a new church for St. Pius X was brought to me by parishioners when I first arrived in 2018,” said Rev. Jeffrey Starkovich, Pastor. “I wanted this to be a project that involved the entire parish, so I encouraged everyone to use their gifts and talents.”
Andrea Habetz is one of many at St. Pius doing her part by giving 100 percent of Treasures of St. Agnes proceeds to the capital campaign. Andrea and her husband David are longtime members of the 68-year-old church community and have seen it grow into the thriving parish it is today.
“David’s parents, Bill and Agnes Habetz, donated land where the original church was built in 1957,” said Andrea. “They continue to be a part of the growth of St. Pius X through Treasures of St. Agnes, a donation store for the new church.”
available in the “Treasures of St. Agnes” donation store at
St. Pius X Catholic Church. All proceeds from the store are
being donated to the "Building the Future, Rooted in Faith”
Capital Campaign to help build the much-needed church
to accommodate the growing faith community in Ragley.
Father Starkovich remarked that one of the hallmarks of St. Pius is the importance of family life and how the connection from one generation to the next lives on.
“Mr. Bill Habetz laid the foundation for the first church with his old tractor. Years later, it was beautiful to see his grandson, Brandon, lead the project to begin the foundation of the new church,” Father Starkovich noted. “It wasn’t just the Habetz family, though. All our families find ways to contribute. I find this so inspiring.”
Examples of this support include the men who are experts in foundations and earth moving. Father Starkovich recalled how he was approached with the idea of donating the dirt work while in a severe drought in 2023.
Other acts of generosity include the students in the Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) who took home boxes shaped like “bricks” and put money inside them, raising more than $5,000. The boxes were used to build a model of the church.
“Treasures of St. Agnes” at St. Pius X Catholic Church
in Ragley. Andrea Habetz sees her creations as a way
to give back to the future of St. Pius much like her
husband David Habetz’s parents, Bill and Agnes Habetz,
did many years ago to get the church started in the 1950s.
When the weather is favorable, Andrea sets up shop for Treasures of St. Agnes outside after all weekend Masses. Among the many selections of religious items ranging from children’s books, icons, statues, pillowcases, aprons, mugs, hats, rosaries and rosary holders, are her unique oyster shell creations.
“I have always liked shells and rocks. So did my momma (Eileen Bruce from St. Theodore Parish). My grandpa was a lapidarist. A couple of my grandkids collect rocks, too. It is just in our blood,” Andrea chuckled.
“I cannot paint but I can decoupage, so I buy the downloads of saints on Etsy to put on the shells,” she said. “Some of the popular requests include Catherine of Siena, Padre Pio, Carlo Acutis, the Holy Family, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Jesus, and various images of the Blessed Mother.”
Andrea doesn’t put herself in the category of artists, but said she enjoys crafts. “I am a decoupage person. When I was in high school, we did it. It is coming back,” she remarked with excitement.
Father Starkovich sees Treasures of St. Agnes as more than just a way to raise funds.
in the parish hall at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Ragley.
“The store is a way to evangelize and strengthen the faith. Andrea is always looking for sacramentals, books, and Catholic gifts because she believes they are ways to hand on our Catholic faith,” he said. “Parishioners even donate their own homemade crafts and paintings to sell.”
The store has not even reached its third anniversary of opening, and sales have exceeded $20,000.
“I am so impressed by Andrea’s dedication and hard work, as well as the generosity and creativity of others,” said Father Starkovich. “They organize fundraisers to help any worthy cause. They volunteer for anything and everything.”
He continued, “This is a parish that loves their Catholic faith. When we were impacted by the storms, parishioners showed up the day after Hurricane Laura to start cleaning the grounds and spent six weeks handing out supplies. It is beautiful to see a parish that loves to practice the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. I am inspired to be a better priest for them every day.”
Andrea sees the store as a way for everyone to be involved in the future of St. Pius.
“All the people supporting Treasures of St. Agnes through their purchases, plus all the work that goes into making the items, is everyone coming together to build the new church,” she remarked.
St. Pius X was a mission of St. Theodore Catholic Church in Moss Bluff before being established as a Parish on August 21, 2014, and has grown more than 135 percent in 10 years. To date, pledges have exceeded $5 million of the estimated $10 million needed in the next five years to begin construction of the church and nearly triple the current capacity to 575 people.
For more information on the new church, visit https://www.spx.church/campaign. For more information on Treasures of St. Agnes, or to make a purchase, call Andrea at 337-274-3302.
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