Established
January 9, 1883
Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church was established on January 9, 1883. Over 140 years later, the Lord continues to dwell within our midst here in Broussard, LA, blessing the growth and progress of our parish which presently serves over 2,700 families.
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February 1, 1870 | A portion of prairie land was donated to Archbishop Jean Marie Odin of New Orleans to be used as a place of worship for the good and benefit of Roman Catholics in Broussardville.
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January 9, 1883 | A resident pastor was assigned and the church of Broussardville was declared a new parish by Archbishop Napoléon-Joseph Perché.
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December 19, 1886 | The newly built church and rectory tragically burned, destroying all registers and records, and leaving only the cemetery and church grounds.
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1902 | Broussardville citizens financially contributed to the construction of another church.
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March 1905 | A new rectory is built and ready for occupancy.
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January 24, 1954 | The blessing & groundbreaking for Sacred Heart's current church took place.
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1966 | The old rectory was sold for parts and entirely rebuilt.
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2005 | The parish expanded its facilities with the addition of the Church Narthex, Parish Life Center, & Administrative Building
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2012 | The Adoration Chapel was built and the Parish Life Center expanded to include more meeting spaces.
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August 25, 2023 | Bishop Deshotel blessed the new One Heart Building and performed a ribbon cutting. The building features a multipurpose room, named after Fr. Louis Richard a youth house, named after, Fr. Floyd Calais, a catering kitchen, and multiple meeting rooms.
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The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Delve into the profound history and meaning behind the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the cherished namesake of our parish. Learn about the origins of this sacred image and discover the deep Catholic devotion that shapes our faith and community.
Explore the history of our parish
This list is a continued log of in-kind donations that have helped our parish become a beautiful place of worship. If you know of additional donations not listed, please email kathryn@shbroussard.org so we can continue building a record of gratitude for our parish family.
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Land Donation | Valsin Broussard and his wife, Emma Monte, donated a portion of prairie land to Archbishop Jean Marie Odin of New Orleans. The land was situated in the Parish of Lafayette on the east side of Bayou Vermilion, measuring two arpents front along the public road from Vermilionville to St. Martinville, with a depth of four arpents. The land was bounded south by the public road, and north, east, and west by the land of Valsin Broussard. The donation included all improvements on the land and was conditioned to always be used as a place of worship for Roman Catholics. If not, the land and improvements were to revert to the donor. The original act, signed by V. Broussard and L. II. M. LeCozic, witnessed by Auguste Monnier and Marcel Melancon, was recorded by W. Brandt at the Lafayette Clerk's office in the Book of Donations and Testaments on pages 135, 136, and 137 on February 1, 1870.
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Church Bells | Three bells were donated. One was donated in memory of Charles FF DeLaurel. Another was donated by Alice Billeaud. The third was donated by Della Billeaud. (Read more/see pictures here)
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Rectory Construction | Without an existing rectory, the new pastor, his sister Miss Delphine Drossaerts, and the sexton Herman Boumans were graciously hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Hebert Billeaud. A subscription raised $3,000 for the priest's residence, followed by an additional $1,900. By March 1905, the rectory was ready for occupancy. (Pictured here)
Baptismal Font | Mr. Albert Malagarie donated a marble baptismal font in memory of his father and brother. (Pictured here)
Christmas Crib | The Christmas crib was donated by Rev. A. Drossaerts.
Outdoor Updates | The cow pasture was enclosed with an iron fence, and the old gates were replaced with ornamental iron gates. Hedges, trees, shrubbery, and palms were planted, and walkways were installed. A fishpond, stable, outhouses, and connections for water and light were added.
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Stations of the Cross | Mr. Jos. P. Breaux and his wife, Cecilia Broussard, donated $500 for the Stations of the Cross, made in Kevelaer, Germany and executed on copper plates. They were canonically erected on February 11, 1906, with permission from Msgr. G. A. Rouxel. (Pictured here)
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Walkways | Cement walkways were laid in front of the Sacred Heart Church & Rectory, extending across the church property to connect with the town’s sidewalks. The total cost was $560, collected over three church offerings, with one offering bringing in $240.
Altar Updates | Paul Billeaud donated two angels holding gas candelabras, and Rev. A. Drossaerts donated two others. The side altar panels were donated by the Children of Mary and the ladies of the parish, while the two side altars were gifted by Madame Hebert Billeaud and Rev. A. Drossaerts. (Pictured here)
Window | The Good Shepherd stained glass window was donated by the Billeaud family in memory of Madame Lucille Billeaud. (Pictured here)
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Walkways | A cement walkway connecting the rectory with the front sidewalk was built at a cost of $275, with Mr. & Mrs. Martial Billeaud Jr. donating $55.
Campus Updates | Madame Hebert Billeaud donated a rich velvet and silver-trimmed altar antependium. Mr. Gustave St. Julien & wife donated a $150 Corpus, and Madame Hebert Billeaud donated lumber for a crucifix in the cemetery. Madame Hebert Billeaud also gifted a Pieta and St. Anthony statue, while Rev. A. Drossaerts donated a large gilt chalice and pedestals for these statues.
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Windows | The Sacred Heart of Jesus stained glass window was donated by Madame Hebert Billeaud in memory of her mother. (Pictured here) Rev. A. Drossaerts donated the St. Peter window in memory of Valsin Broussard and his wife Emma Monte, and the St. Paul window in memory of his deceased family. (Pictured here)
Lay Trustees Established | On March 9, 1909, Archbishop J. H. Blenk appointed the first lay trustees of the newly chartered congregation: Hebert Billeaud and Alphonse L. Broussard. Thanks to the efforts of Judge Hortaire Mouton and George Malagarie, the congregation legally became "The Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church of Broussard, Louisiana."
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Window | Mr. & Mrs. Louis Felix St. Julien donated the St. Louis window. (Pictured here)
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Window | The Children of Mary donated the Blessed Mother stained glass window. (Pictured here)
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Altar | The church altar was donated by donated by Monsignor Daniel L. Bernard.
Infant Baptismal Font | Donated in memory of the family of Guillaume Bernard. (Pictured here)
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Sanctuary Wall Mural | Painted by Robert Dafford, the Sanctuary wall mural was donated by Hilta Bernard. (Pictured here)
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First Exterior Sacred Heart of Jesus Statue | Donated by: L.D. Bernard Family, James & Julia Billeaud Family, John Carol Langlinais Family, Harry LeBouef Family, Eucharist & Sue Mouton Family, M/M Louis Martial Billeuad Family, Edward & Claire Bonin Family, M/M J. Edward Comeaux Family, John Ray Trahan Family, Warren Updike Family, Msgr. L. Michael Herpin, Phillip Bodin Family, Jake & René Billeaud, Cecil Chatman Family, Nelson Landry Family, J.H. “Fils” & Lydia B. Bernard, Bill & Hilta L. Bernard Family, M.P. & Flo Dumesnil Family, Clay & Lucille LeBlanc Family, Henri & Virginia Richard. (Installment pictured here)
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Crucifix | A crucifix in the One Heart Building was donated by M.P. Dumesnil, Jr. in loving memory of Flo Dumesnil. (Pictured here)
Under the supervision and direction of the Sisters of Divine Providence, St. Cecilia Convent opened its doors on September 15, 1909, with an enrollment of seventy students.
In 1922, St. Cecilia High School was approved as an elementary and secondary school by the Department of Education.