On Monday, the Diocese of Lafayette donated to three St. Landry Parish churches burned earlier this year. Checks were presented to the pastors of three Baptist churches in an effort to help in the rebuilding process.
Bishop Douglas Deshotel presented three checks totaling just over $50,000 to the pastors of three Baptist churches in St. Landry Parish. Those three churches which includes Greater Union Baptist Church, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church and St. Mary Baptist Church were burned by an alleged arsonist.
The funds were raised during a recent second collection at each Catholic parish in the Diocese of Lafayette. On hand to receive the donations 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.
Each church congregation received a check totaling just over $16, 800.
"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. "The Diocese are honored to play a small role in the rebuilding efforts. Evil brings opportunities for good, and this is a good way to do that."
