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131 years… 1879—10 acre plot valued at $80 was donated by Col. Henry M. Favrot and John W. Lamon 1880—picnic held to raise money to buy lumber for the first chapel to seat 50 people (worshippers attended monthly Mass traveling on foot, horseback, buggies, or wagons) 1908—became a chapel of St. George. (Priests traveled on steamboat from St. George at Gardere landing to Port Hudson) 1921—Mission church of St. Anthony 1928—second chapel built (seating 250) blessed by Bishop John Laval 1944—Mission church of St. Gerard June 28, 1958—became an official parish with the Rev. Robert Mylie as its first pastor 1959—plans for new church to seat 960 and classrooms-at a cost of $300,000 1960—St. Isidore Elementary School opened—126 children K-3rd. Bishop Caillouet dedicated the new church on June 11, 1961 December 1976—the parish population was estimated at 1,400 families. There were 170 students attending the school and about 700 young people attending the CCD program 1979—Centennial fund drive: new office space, parish center, school classrooms, daily chapel, and rectory for the priests 1993—"Future is Now" fund drive to build a new church—groundbreaking ceremony in 1994 June 11, 1995—Dedication of the present church by Bishop Alfred Hughes |