Menard Memorial High School - Menardian Yearbook (Alexandria, LA)

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ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CATHEDRAL St. Francis Xavier Church was built in 1895 by Rev. Father L. Menard, ln 1912 Rt. Rev. CL. Van de Ven, D.D., moved his Episcopal See from Natchitoches to Alexandria. St. Francis Xavier Church then became the Cathedral of the Diocese. Today the old church built by Rev. Father Menard is one of the prettiest churches in Louisiana. The interior renovation started by Rev. Father Neudlin in 1938 has been comp'eted by the present rector, Rt. Rev. Monsignor J. Plutz.

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fr' 'L ,T U f L NEW, S ECO N D SC H OO L 'R i i he L ST. FRANCIS XAVIER COMMERCIAL COLLEGE 190341923 On December 29th, 1895, the church and the rectory burnt, Father L. Menard chose the present site on Fourth Street for his new church. In order to have o more compact Catholic center the Brothers' Schcol was moved from Second ond Ogden Streets to Fourth and Beauregard in 1903. 1, N 32 .-rf' . Y it k xt izzgj . Q L .r ? in 5 9 if as 1' F -91

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RT. REV. C. VAN de VEN Nov. 30, 1904 - May 8, 1932 Rt. Rev. C. Van de Ven, before becom- ing bishop of Natchitoches, was pastor of Saint Joseph's Church in Baton Rouge. lt was during his pastorate in Baton Rouge that Bishop Van de Ven came to know and admire the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. When his Epis- copal See was moved from Natchi- toches to Alexandria, he became an almost daily visitor to the school and to the Brothers. The present school building was erected during his epis- copocy. -- RT. REV. A. DURIER Mar. 19, 1885 - Feb. 28, 1904 Rt. Rev. A. Durier was the bishop of the diocese when the Brothers of the Sacred Heart came to Alexandria to establish the first boys' school in Cen- tral Louisiana. On his arrival to dedi- cate the school on the second Sunday of September, 1893, he was met at the Union Station by Rev. Bro. Felix, Principal of the School's first faculty, which comprised Rev. Bros. Robert, German and Austin.