Rayne Catholic Church Named in National Register of Historic Places

RAYNE, La – The Rayne Catholic Church, school and convent, Shrine of Our Mother of Mercy, was named in the National Register of Historic Places.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 24, at 1 p.m. will honor the 101-year-old structures on-site at 600 W. Jefferson Davis Ave.

Reverend Edward Chiffriller, Mayor Chuck Robichaux and the Rayne Historic Preservation Commission announce that the celebration will begin with a brief ceremony at 1 p.m. at the church and a ribbon cutting at 1:30 p.m., followed by a reception and guided tours.

The upcoming ceremony honoring the historic Rayne Catholic Church, school and convent marks the collaborative efforts of many months of researching and documenting the history of the church.

Distinguished guests will include personnel of the State National Register and the Historic Preservation Office, Most Reverend J. Douglas Deshotel, Bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette, a representative of the Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser’s office and local and state dignitaries.

With the Shrine of Our Mother of Mercy, the City of Rayne is now home to three listings as part of the National Register of Historic Places, with even more to come, as announced by the Rayne Historic Preservation Commission.

The public is invited to attend and enjoy the celebration of this historic landmark. 

According to its website, the Shrine of Our Mother of Mercy was founded in 1924 as a mission of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Crowley. It became an independent parish under the guidance of the Josephite Fathers and Brothers, who have faithfully served the congregation since its inception.

In its early years, the parish addressed the educational needs of the community by opening a school in 1924, utilizing materials from the original St. Joseph’s Hall.  This initiative, supported by Mother, now Saint, Katharine Drexel, aimed to uplift the African American community in the area.