All are invited to be a part of new church
RAGLEY — It is an exciting time at St. Pius X Catholic Church as parishioners count the days until they can break ground on their new church at 16816 Highway 171. The much-anticipated ceremony is set for 6:00 p.m. Friday, August 21, 2026, on Feast of St. Pius X and the 12th anniversary of the parish’s founding.
Since being established as a canonical parish in 2014, St. Pius X has outgrown its worship space by more than 135% and has been working hard toward this joyful milestone for the Ragley community. The new church will triple the current seating to nearly 600 people.
The Capital Campaign — “Building the Future, Rooted in Faith” — kicked off in 2024 with a goal of raising $5 million of the estimated $10 million. Before the end of January 2025, the St. Pius X community exceeded its goal with over $5.2 million in pledges.
It is more than simply building a structure. It is about giving everyone who walks through the doors an encounter with Christ.
“This is a parish that loves their Catholic faith. When we were impacted by the storms in 2020, parishioners showed up the day after Hurricane Laura to start cleaning the grounds and spent six weeks handing out supplies,” said Rev. Jeffrey Starkovich, Pastor of St. Pius X in Beauregard Parish. “We want our new church to proclaim the beauty of God and provide the sacraments for years to come.”
All are welcome to attend the groundbreaking and reception to follow in the church hall. It will be a time of rejoicing and thanksgiving to God for his perfect timing in the history of St. Pius X Catholic Church.
LEGACY OF FAITH
As part of the building project, Father Starkovich acquired 11 stained glass windows from the “Sacred Window Rescue Project” that preserves sacred windows from a closed church. The windows for St. Pius X were a set from Our Lady of Holy Souls Catholic Church in Philadelphia that closed when it merged with another parish.
In gratitude to Bishop Glen John Provost for his faithful ministry in the Diocese of Lake Charles, the window depicting the Ascension of Jesus will be dedicated in his honor. The window will also honor all Priests who have served in the Diocese.
A once-in-a-generation opportunity is being offered to anyone who would like to contribute toward the $75,000 total cost of the window.
Gifts of any amount may be made online at https://www.spx.church/stainedglass, by cash, or by check, allowing families, parishioners, and friends of Bishop Provost and the Priests of the Diocese of Lake Charles to take part in this shared tribute of gratitude and remembrance.
If you are interested in learning more about the St. Pius X Capital Campaign building project, visit https://www.spx.church/campaign.
