MANY, La- Many Mayor Ken Freeman, in one of his last official acts, issued a proclamation on Friday that honors and celebrates the 150th Anniversary of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
Father Francis, the priest at St. John’s; Thomas Andries, chairperson of the planning committee for the year-long celebration; and JJ Blake, whose family has been active members of St. John’s for five generations, were at City Hall to meet with Mayor Freeman and accept the proclamation.
The history of St. John the Baptist Church of Many began in 1870 when the first resident priest, Rev. J.A. Aubree, arrived. By 1871, the diligent work of Father Aubree and his parishioners resulted in the completion of a frame church. Because Catholic education was a priority, Father Aubree started a school in the rectory around 1878 and taught the students himself.
Father Aubree died in 1897 and was buried in the Many Catholic Cemetery.
St. John’s, located at the tip end of San Antonio Avenue, is commemorating its 150th anniversary with a year-long calendar of events.
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