Financial help continues to roll in for the Black Churches destroyed by fire this year in St. Landry Parish.

Bishop Douglas Deshotel of the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette presented three checks totaling just over $50,000 to the pastors of three Baptist churches in St. Landry Parish destroyed by an alleged arsonist earlier this year.

The funds were raised during a recent second collection at each Catholic parish in the Diocese of Lafayette.  Pastor Harry Richard of Greater Union Baptist Church in Opelousas, Pastor Gerald Toussaint of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, also in Opelousas, and Pastor Kyle Sylvester of St. Mary Baptist Church in Port Barre received the donations from Bishop Deshotel.  Each church congregation was blessed with a check totaling just over $16,800.

Bishop Deshotel said Catholics in the Diocese were horrified and heartbroken when they learned of the devastating loss each of the pastors and their congregations had suffered.  Bishop Deshotel said he and the Diocese are honored to play a small role in the rebuilding efforts, and that “Evil brings opportunities for good, and this is a good way to do that.” 

Please keep these three religious leaders and their congregants in your prayers!

 

Diocese of Lafayette