Ascension of Our Lord celebrating 250-year history

The iconic 80-foot steeple of Ascension of Our Lord Church in Donaldsonville can be seen by land travelers in the area on both sides of Mississippi River as well as on the river, proudly boasting of its 250-year history of faith and perseverance. The community will celebrate that history on April 15.

Ascension Church has served as the center of faith for Christians under the flags of Spain, France and the Territory of Louisiana. It also served under the Confederate States of America and the United States of America.

King Charles III of Spain ordered the founding of the church in 1772, 34 years before William Donaldson founded the city of Donaldsonville. Father Angelus Revillogodos, a Franciscan Capuchin Missionary priest, dedicated the church parish to the Ascension of Our Lord on Aug. 15, 1772.

The church’s official name is “La Iglesia de la Ascension de Nostro Senor Jesu Cristo da Lafourche de los Chitimachas.” The name refers to the Chitimacha Indian tribe which was discovered by early French explorers at the junction of the Mississippi River and Bayou Lafourche at Donaldsonville. Early French missionary priests came to the area in 1704 to evangelize the Chitimachas.

The territory comprising Ascension’s original boundaries included more than the current geographical area of Ascension Parish, which derived its name from Ascension of Our Lord Church.

Throughout its existence, Ascension of Our Lord has been demolished and reconstructed three times.

It’s not clear when the first small chapel was built. But the Acadians settled in the area in 1758 and records indicate that the Spanish militia began construction of a small mission chapel for the settlement on Sept. 10, 1770 on property that is still designated to the church. A missionary priest traveling by boat served Ascension and other churches along the Mississippi River.

In 1783 the chapel was enlarged and later was replaced by an official church building constructed of brick in 1819.

Ascension has held honors in the faith and civic community. The first priesthood ordination in Louisiana was celebrated at Ascension on Oct. 24, 1823 with the ordination of Father Jean-Baptiste Blanc, a native of Lyons, France.

From 1830-31 Donaldsonville replaced the city of New Orleans as the capital city of Louisiana before New Orleans once again became the capital city.

Construction on a second larger church was completed in 1843 at a cost of $19,000.

In Ascension’s first 100-year history it was served by 22 foreign missionary priests.

In 1872, Ascension’s 23rd pastor, Belgian native Father Francis Xavier Ceuppens, immediately began planning the third and present church building.  Construction was slow because of wanting and waiting for imported materials and the lack of funds and was halted in 1883 because of a dispute between the Board of Wardens and the Archdiocese of New Orleans regarding ownership and control of church money and property. Church records show that the celebration of sacraments ended abruptly, which indicates the archdiocese placed the parish under interdict.

The dispute was settled legally in favor of the wardens, but it appears church money and property were transferred to the archbishop because the interdict was lifted when Father Jean Honore Dubenard was appointed as Ascension’s 24th pastor in 1885. Construction then resumed, albeit slowly.

A distinction in color of bricks approximately halfway up the exterior of the wall bears witness to the interruption of construction.

It took 21 years to construct the church at a cost of $80,000. It was opened on March 31, 1896 and wasn’t entirely completed when it was dedicated on April 14.

Father Dubenard oversaw the project through to completion in 1900. Father Dubenard died on Aug. 1, 1902 and his body is interred in a crypt under the sanctuary of the church. His crypt is still present in the church’s “Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament,” located under the sanctuary.

The church as well as its furnishings have undergone several extensive renovations and preservations during the years. One of the most visible in the community is the steeple atop the church’s bell tower. Weakened through the years by strong winds, the steeple was declared unsafe, dismantled and taken down in 1936.

When the church celebrated its 100th anniversary the steeple was restored to the church after being absent for 60 years. The faith community is especially proud of this beacon that testifies that it remains vibrant.

Toni Ourso, chairperson for the anniversary celebration, said she remembers as a child walking with her grandparents up the cobblestone steps that used to be in front of the church and walking into the church with its still present awe-inspiring beauty.

She noted that people from all over the world come to Donaldsonville to visit Ascension and tours of the church will be given upon request.

Ascension’s history is interwoven with Ourso’s own family history.

“It’s a big part of my family history,” said Ourso, a 1986 graduate of Ascension Catholic High School and whose son Nicolas also graduated from Ascension Catholic. She remembers the school Masses, her own graduation Mass and attending her son’s graduation Mass, the funerals of loved ones, etc.

She and her husband Larry Ourso Jr., now deceased, married in the church in 1989. She has also assisted in keeping records of certain recent renovation projects.

Ascension will celebrate its rich history on Saturday, April 15.

Bishop Michael G. Duca will be the celebrant at the 4 p.m. vigil Mass. He will be joined by former Ascension Catholic Pastor Father Phil Spano, Donaldsonville native Father Cleo Milano and current Ascension pastor Father Matt Dupré, who himself graduated from Ascension Catholic.

There will be a reception following the Mass on the church grounds.

“It will be like a big wedding reception for the church,” Ourso said.