SLS 19RS-162 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 97
BY SENATOR PEACOCK
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church of Bossier City
on its 50
th
anniversary.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To commend the Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church of Bossier City on the occasion of
3 its fiftieth anniversary and to celebrate the sacrifice and faith of its founders.
4 WHEREAS, it is with great respect of purpose that the Legislature of Louisiana does
5 hereby commend the good works and spiritual guidance provided by Mary, Queen of Peace
6 Catholic Church to the community it serves; and
7 WHEREAS, Mary, Queen of Peace has been blessed to be led by exceptional
8 members of the priesthood; today, the present leadership lies in the capable hands of its
9 pastor, the Reverend Fr. Nicholas Onyach, and Permanent Deacon Michael Straub; and
10 WHEREAS, on Sunday, May 19, 2019, the congregation of Mary, Queen of Peace
11 Catholic Church will observe this special occasion with a celebratory Mass, a luncheon, and
12 other activities in recognition of its history and growth; and
13 WHEREAS, the Mary, Queen of Peace Parish holds a special place in the lives of
14 the congregation; the sacred seeds of love and redemption have been sown in the hearts of
15 all who pass through its doorway; its pastor ministers the sacraments to the liturgical needs
16 of the congregates from baptism, first communion, penance and reconciliation, confirmation,
17 the Eucharist, and marriage, until anointing of the sick, requiem, and rite of Christian burial;
18 and
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SLS 19RS-162 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, from very modest beginnings, the notion of Mary, Queen of Peace
2 began with the faith of the Thomas Caplis family that contributed to the development of the
3 farming community of Caplis in south Bossier Parish; and
4 WHEREAS, a son, Johnny Caplis, and his wife, Beatrice, were devout Catholics with
5 a dream of establishing a church; and
6 WHEREAS, Johnny convinced his mother, Maggie, to donate a parcel of land for the
7 site and to consider a suitable name for the church; and
8 WHEREAS, the chosen name of Mary, Queen of Peace was to be in remembrance
9 of family members who had served in World War II and in gratitude of those individuals
10 who remained in the community to continue farming in support of the war effort; and
11 WHEREAS, when completed, the first service performed in the new chapel was the
12 wedding of a nephew, Joseph Edmund Caplis Jr.; and
13 WHEREAS, the chapel of Mary, Queen of Peace was dedicated on May 13, 1969,
14 by Bishop Charles P. Greco of the Diocese of Alexandria as a mission of Christ the King
15 Catholic Church in Bossier City; and
16 WHEREAS, Beatrice Caplis tended to the upkeep of the church until her death in
17 1979; in her will, a trust fund was set aside to maintain the chapel; and
18 WHEREAS, thirty years later, in March 1999, Bishop William B. Friend of the
19 Diocese of Shreveport, established the parish of Mary, Queen of Peace with St. George
20 Catholic Church in Coushatta as its mission; and
21 WHEREAS, the congregation continued to grow and a larger church building was
22 dedicated on December 3, 2005, by Bishop William Friend; and
23 WHEREAS, today, Mary, Queen of Peace serves a devout church population of more
24 than 330 families and the chapel is now referred to as the John Anthony Caplis Center; and
25 WHEREAS, the first pastor to serve the flock was the Reverend Fr. J. Carson
26 LaCaze, while the Reverend Msgr. Earl Provenza served from 1999 until 2006, the Reverend
27 Fr. Joseph Ampatt served from 2006 until 2018, and the Reverend Fr. Nicholas Onyach
28 serves presently; and
29 WHEREAS, the heart of Mary, Queen of Peace is found in those individuals who set
30 about to organize activities that reinforce a sense of spiritual devotion; and
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SLS 19RS-162 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, Mary, Queen of Peace now rests in the capable hands of the latest
2 generation of devoted leadership who flourish in God's grace; and
3 WHEREAS, five decades ago Mary, Queen of Peace was built as a testament to faith;
4 its parish continues as a vibrant community that encourages the tenets of Catholicism
5 through education and service to mankind; and
6 WHEREAS, this faithful congregation of Mary, Queen of Peace are disciples who
7 worship their God, rejoice in a living faith in Jesus Christ, and reflect upon His love,
8 goodness, and teachings.
9 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
10 commend Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary
11 on Sunday, May 19, 2019.
12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
13 Reverend Fr. Nicholas Onyach.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Suzi Montague.
DIGEST
SCR 97 Original 2019 Regular Session Peacock
Commends Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church of Bossier City on its 50th anniversary.
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