SLS 17RS-2258 ORIGINAL
2017 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 215
BY SENATOR BOUDREAUX
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Father Robert Seay, OFM, and expresses appreciation
to the Franciscan Friars for their administration of St. Paul the Apostle/Our Lady of Good
Hope Catholic Church.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend Father Robert Seay, OFM, pastor of St. Paul the Apostle/Our Lady of Good
3 Hope Catholic Church in Lafayette, Louisiana, for his pastorship and express
4 appreciation to the Franciscan Friars for their administration of the Church parish.
5 WHEREAS, St. Paul the Apostle is the oldest Black community in Lafayette and
6 Diocese of Lafayette; and
7 WHEREAS, in 1980, the Franciscan Friars arrived to shepherd the flock at St. Paul
8 the Apostle Church succeeding the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) Fathers who had served the
9 Church parish since its inception in 1911; and
10 WHEREAS, in 1980, the Franciscan Friars took over the parish of St. Paul the
11 Apostle, and the first Franciscan pastor was Father Ric Schneider, OFM, who served for
12 three years, providing great spiritual leadership and during that time the St. Paul parish hall
13 was built in 1983; and
14 WHEREAS, the Franciscan Friars are men of great faith, and this was especially
15 exemplified in Father Michael Doerflein, OFM, who served from 1983 to 1988; Father
16 Dennet Jung, OFM, who served from 1988 to 2000; and Father Robert Seay, OFM, who has
17 served since 2000; and
18 WHEREAS, Father Robert Seay, OFM, always dreamed of being a Franciscan priest,
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SLS 17RS-2258 ORIGINAL
1 but it took him a little longer than most to realize that dream as a nontraditional Black,
2 seminarian; and
3 WHEREAS, Fr. Seay has worked to quell hotbeds of riots and racial unrest in
4 Boston, New York, and Louisiana, and is often invited to consult on testy, delicate
5 community situations; a peacemaker whose quiet presence has calmed even the most volatile
6 rabble-rousers; and
7 WHEREAS, Father Seay, at age eighty-three has been a priest for forty-one years and
8 wherever he has been, he has made a difference; and
9 WHEREAS, through his tireless ministry to the parishioners of St. Paul the
10 Apostle/Good Hope Catholic Church, he exemplifies what a blessing all the Franciscan
11 Friars called to serve the parish have been; and
12 WHEREAS, on June 25, 2017, the St. Paul the Apostle/Good Hope Catholic Church
13 will have an appreciation day celebrating the Franciscans upon their departure.
14 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
15 does hereby commend Father Robert Seay, OFM for his pastorship of St. Paul the
16 Apostle/Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church; does hereby recognize the good works
17 and services Father Seay has performed; does hereby express gratitude for the many lives
18 Father Seay has touched during his ministry; and does hereby extend to him best wishes for
19 health, happiness, and God's richest blessings in the years to come.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does
21 hereby express appreciation to the Franciscan Friars for their administration of St. Paul the
22 Apostle/Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church and their service and contributions to its
23 parishioners.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
25 Father Robert Seay, OFM, and to the Franciscan Friars.
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
SR 215 Original 2017 Regular Session Boudreaux
Commends Father Robert Seay, OFM, for his pastorship of St. Paul the Apostle/Our Lady
of Good Hope Catholic Church and expresses appreciation to the Franciscan Friars for their
administration of the Church parish, and their service and contributions to its parishioners.
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