Retreat Center

The Blessing of the Walkway at The Saint Charles Center.
(April 25, 1998)

Bishop Speyrer:

(Prior to the procession to the gates of the walkway.)
"Let us pray.
O God, you are never far off from those who serve you; with fatherly protection you always guard those who trust in you. By your grace be the guide and companion going with those who use this walk through nature and sustain them on their way.
By your favor protect us all so that at life's end we may safely arrive at our destination and accomplish what your divine will wishes that we do.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen."

(At the gates.)
"Go within his gates giving thanks, enter his courts with songs of praise."

(At the riverside pavilion, shown below, the bishop concluded.)
"May the Lord be the guide on your journeys, so that you may walk in peace and reach eternal life. Amen.
And may almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

In this black and white picture, Bishop Speyrer is with Mr.A.J.M. Oustalet, Jr, whose family made a significant contribution to the building of the Nature Walk. This sketch (right below) of the pavilion on the Calcasieu River and the one of the entrance (left below) were done by Notre Dame seminarian Hodson Solis.) It is felt the use of black and white photographs would complement the black and white sketches; whereas color may detract from his pen'n'inks! (Incidentally, framed originals of Solis' sketches were presented to the Oustalet family at the Blessing.)

On April 25, 1998, Bishop Jude Speyrer of the Diocese of Lake Charles gave the formal blessing of the Nature Walk at Saint Charles Center. This walkway is designed to offer yet another opportunity for guests who may be participating in spiritual retreats or days of recollection or reflection at the retreat center or other facilities. That opportunity may be to stop and reflect upon where that person is in his or her life at this time, or perhaps, to reflect upon the beauty of nature or the variety in nature.

The NATURE WALK, 755 feet in length includes two shake shingle roofed pavilions, a smaller one (eight feet square) with built-in seats about one third the distance to the river, and the larger one (twenty feet by thirty feet) at the riverside. With a grant from the A.J.M. Oustalet, Jr. Family, it was designed and built by Edward 'Buzzy' Ribbeck of Ribbeck Construction Company of Lake Charles. The NATURE WALK is equipped with electricity and running water and built of treated lumber on treated pilings which were driven a minimum of six feet into the ground.

The bridge, reached over a 275 foot concrete walk leading from the circular driveway in front of Oustalet Hall the Center's Administration building, took 1773 man-hours to construct.

Materials used included 2,736 linear feet of eight inch treated wood piling, 3,306 feet of 1x4 treated lumber, 1,600 feet of treated 2x4 lumber, 17,810 feet of treated 2x6 lumber, 5,680 feet of 2x8 treated lumber and 2,816 feet of 2xl2 lumber.

The WALK was fastened using 3500 galvanized wood screws, 300 1/2 - inch x 12 inch galvanized bolts, washers and nuts and 160 14 inch x 1/2 inch bolts, washers and nuts.

The Bishop, Clergy and People of the Diocese of Lake Charles and the A.J.M. Oustalet, Jr. Family are grateful to those whose contractual work, whose corporate and professional acts of generosity, and whose volunteer labor have contributed to the completion of this activity and to the celebration of its dedication.

To view a copy of the Prayer of Dedication, click here.

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Saint Charles Center stands as a place apart, offering an atmosphere of serenity and peace, where one can achieve spiritual renewal and growth - rediscovering life's meaning in quiet reflection.

The Center's two facilities, Tabor Retreat House and the Katharine Drexel Conference Center, offer programs of spiritual growth and educational development for the Roman Catholic community and others of good will.

These two facilities are situated on sixty-nine acres of woodlands and wetlands, near Sam Houston Jones State Park, north of Lake Charles, Louisiana.

There are regularly scheduled periods of activity at each center, some as short as one day, others as long as a week. Some guests choose to set their own schedule of rest and reflection.

It is best to book your reservation in advance, so that accommodations may be made for your visit. For more information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Previously, we made the statement that this is a place "offering an atmosphere of serenity and peace". In April, 1998, a new boardwalk was built that is truly a nature walk. Native birds, turtles, snakes, alligators, plus various forms of plants and trees may be seen from the safety and convenience of the walkway. This walkway was rebuilt by volunteers and continues to provide visitors with the natural beauty of the facility.

Saint Charles Center is a place for retreats operated primarily for the spiritual benefit of the people in the Diocese of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Structured retreats are available as well as unstructured, self directed retreats. 

For more information on scheduled programs, click here or call 337-855-1232.
 

 

The Saint Katharine Drexel Conference Center is a facility built with youth and young adults in mind. Named after the only saint who visited Lake Charles, the Saint Katharine Drexel Center can house 60 retreatants overnight in two dormitories with fifteen sets of bunk beds in each. The Center, which also houses a small chapel, is anchored around a great room which doubles as a conference room and a dining hall.
 
Contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for additional information.