A H i s t o r y o
f
G o o d S h e p h e r d
While
south Louisiana is usually thought of as having been settled by the French,
Calcasieu Parish in southwest Louisiana was settled by Europeans of several
nationalities. The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd is an early witness to
the presence of English-speaking Christians in this area.
Founded as a mission in 1885, the people of
Good Shepherd spent the first year worshipping in such diverse locations as the
Court House, the Knights of Pythias Hall, and the Masonic Temple. In May, 1886 a
frame church was built on Hodges Street between Pujo and Kirby.
Good Shepherd became a parish in 1896. In 1897 it dedicated its new, and current building, on Kirkman Street. The gothic structure of Texas sandstone and Calcasieu yellow pine seated 350 people and was built at a cost of $12,000.
On August 5, 1918, the church was all but destroyed by a hurricane which left only the stone walls intact. The parish rebuilt the building at a cost of $20,000. During this time, the parish held services at Temple Sinai at the invitation of the Jewish congregation.
Over the years, several additions were made to
the building:
One of the most vibrant ministries at Good
Shepherd is the Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School (EDS). It began in 1953 as a
kindergarten program in the Parish Hall. In 1956, a first grade was begun with a
total of nine students. An additional grade was added each year until there were
six grades. The first EDS building was built in 1961, housing six classrooms. Over
the years additions and renovations to the school have been made. In addition,
seventh and eighth grades have been added. Today, there are almost 400 students, pre-kindergarten
through eighth grade attending EDS. Its academic standards and reputation are
well-documented.
In addition to EDS, the people of Good Shepherd are active in many other ministries. Many of these are focused on people inside the parish such as visiting hospitals and nursing homes, distributing altar flowers each Monday, preparing meals for the sick, and taking communion to the shut-ins. Other of our ministries are focused outward such as preparing food to distribute to transients, contributing to local missions and food banks, and providing help to stranded travelers. Finally, other of our ministries are focused on missions, primarily through our active support of the Tend My Lambs Haiti project.
The Church of the Good Shepherd, today, is a
diverse congregation. The four worship services on Sundays offer different
worship styles that appeal to different people. Our many activities and
ministries provide places for people to fit in, participate, and exercise their
many talents and interests. We also believe that Good Shepherd is fun place to
be. God is present here and good things are happening.
Interested in finding out more
about Good Shepherd?
For more information, contact the church
office.