History

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 150^th 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.