OPELOUSAS CATHOLIC: Educating mind, body, and spirit
History Timeline:
January 1855: St. Landry Catholic Church pastors Gilbert Raymond and Francois Raymond began small classes in the church rectory for boys.
October 1855: St. Mary’s Academy for boys was opened by Frs. Gilbert and Francois.
October 1856: Marianites of Holy Cross opened the Academy of the Immaculate Conception for girls.
1874: To then provide Catholic education for black students, the Sisters of the Holy Family established St. Joseph’s School.
1895-1900: St. Mary’s Academy for boys was dissolved, and A.I.C. became co-educational.
1921: St. Joseph’s School for black students was united to the newly- established Holy Ghost Church Parish, and was thus renamed Holy Ghost School.
1953: The current building for A.I.C. (now O.C.S.) was built on Prudhomme Street.
1970: Bishop Schexnayder of the Diocese of Lafayette, ordered A.I.C. and Holy Ghost School to combine and become one integrated Catholic school. Thus, Opelousas Catholic School was born.
May 1972: This was the year of the first graduating class of Opelousas Catholic School.
2006: The 150th Anniversary Capital Campaign got underway to raise funds for the aging facilities.
2009: Construction was completed for the renovation of all classrooms and the establishment of a new St. Agnes Chapel.