By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles
LAKE CHARLES — Almost 23 years to the day that Christ the King Catholic Church was established as a church parish (November 24, 2002), parishioners of the “little church by the airport” gathered to break ground on a new beginning. On November 22, the eve of the church’s patronal feast, the Solemnity of Christ the King, parishioners looked to the future in this Jubilee Year of Hope.
“How appropriate it is that we gather for this special occasion on the eve of our patronal feast and just days before Thanksgiving,” said Very Rev. Matthew Cormier, V.F., Pastor. “What a wonderful way to give thanks to the good Lord.”
A groundbreaking ceremony took place at the site of the new Christ the King Catholic Church in south Lake Charles on Saturday, November 22, 2025. The church will be built across the road from its current location at 7680 Gulf Highway. From left, are Josh Hoffpauir with Hoffpauir Studio Architecture; Rev. V. Wayne LeBleu, founding pastor at Christ the King; Very Rev. Matthew Cormier, VF, current pastor; Bishop Glen John Provost; Jared Cavys, representing Pat Williams Construction; Lisa Henry and Mickey Richard, both trustees at Christ the King Parish. (Photography credit: Morris Lebleu)
Special guests for the “Rise and Rebuild” project were the Most Reverend Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles; and Rev. Wayne LeBleu, founding pastor of Christ the King. Alison Kethman led everyone in singing “Holy Ground” as the mid-morning ceremony began.
“Five years, two months, and three weeks ago, Hurricane Laura’s fury destroyed the little church by the airport, or rather it destroyed the church building,” said Father Cormier. “It did not and could not destroy the Church.”
A double-wide modular building on the property at 7680 Gulf Highway has served as a temporary worship space since December 19, 2020. The new church will be located directly across the highway.
The groundbreaking took place on the site of where the altar will be placed. Father Cormier chose this spot “since the altar is the focus of our worship, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.”
Father Cormier said that every church building is meant to represent the heavenly Jerusalem, whether it is St. Peter’s Basilica or a little church by the airport.
“Our new church may not be a grand and magnificent basilica, but we will make sure it is still a house fit for a king,” he remarked.
Special thanks were expressed to Rev. Rojo Koonathan who pastored the parish for four years after the storms; members of the finance and pastoral councils, the building committee, the Rise and Rebuild Capital Campaign committee, Shane Swire, J.W. O’Reilly Sr. Knights of Columbus Council 13931, and Mark Vail (for clearing the land).
Project Architect is Hoffpauir Studio, LLC; and General Contractor is Pat Williams Construction.
St. Joseph also played a big part in helping Christ the King Parish break ground.
“After some discouraging developments this past March, St. Joseph and I had a little conversation,” said Father Cormier. “I told him that if he obtained for us some good news, specifically regarding FEMA, we would find a special way to honor him in our new church. On March 19, 2025, the Solemnity of St. Joseph, we received the FEMA obligation. It was clear who the patron of our rebuild should be.”
Parishioners were also faithful in praying the Litany of St. Joseph after every Mass during the 30 days of the bid process.
“We entrusted our capital campaign to him,” said Father Cormier. “After having raised over a million dollars over the course of several years, in just a few months, another one million dollars was pledged for the Rise and Rebuild Campaign, and here we are today.”
Before the shovels went into the dirt, parishioners were invited to add small amounts of dirt from their yards since the new church will be their spiritual home.
Susan Reeds was one of those who contributed. She is the wife of Raymond Reeds who has close ties to the church dating back to 1955. Raymond’s grandmother, Flavia Vincent Reeds, donated $10,000 and 1.5 acres of land on which the original Christ the King Chapel was built. It was all cattle pasture before that.
Holding a jar of dirt that she obtained from the original site of Christ the King, Susan said, “This is my family’s dirt. Cattle have been produced off it. My extended family and I have walked and worshiped on this dirt.”
Bishop Provost expressed his gratitude to Father Cormier as a “fine and competent pastor in helping bring this parish to this moment.”
The bishop also thanked those who have given generously to the Rise and Rebuild campaign. “This could not happen without your generosity and enthusiasm for this project.”
For more information or to contribute to the Rise and Rebuild Capital Campaign, CLICK HERE.
