History

    The people of Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church were first served by Father Columban Wenzel, one of the pioneers among the Benedictine monks in southeast Louisiana. Fr. Wenzel attended the needs of the Catholics in Independence for his ministry at Saint Joseph's, in Independence, and came every Sunday to celebrate Mass. The church he built was a small frame structure, which had to be enlarged twice because of the rapid growth of the congregation, especially the new Italian immigrants from the island of Sicily. 

     From 1898 to 1908 Mater Dolorosa Church was served by the pastor of St. Helena, in Amite, Fr. Felix Rumf, O.S.B. In 1908 Fr. Placido Gabrielle, O.S.B. became the first resident pastor, according to Roger Baudier in his book The Catholic Church in Louisiana. Soon after his arrival in Independence, Fr. Gabrielle built the present concrete structure which now serves as a museum of ancient traditions, customs, and culture from early times. That church replaced the old one which had been partly destroyed by a storm in 1907. The parish was under the direction of the Benedictine's from 1898 to 1913 when the Dominican Fathers of the Provine of the most Holy Rosary in Spain began their ministry in Independence. The same Dominican Fathers established a seminary for their province at Wadesboro, Rosaryville. The first Dominican pastor was Fr. William Martin.

     St. Dominic has the proud distinction of being the oldest Catholic Church in Tangipahoa Parish. The mission dates back to 1855 when Fr. C.M DuPuy came occasionally from Covington to celebrate Mass in the homes of Noris Baham and Lawrence Husser. In 1864 a church was built of logs cut and hewn by local residents. The hand wrought cross, made by Lawrence Husser, is still attached to the new church at the sacristy entrance. The log church was replaced by a "large box church" in 1880 to a growing membership. 

      In 1931 St. Dominic became a mission of Tickfaw and a frame building replaced the box church. The present brick church was erected and decicated in 1958 when Fr. Odilo Alt, O.S.B was pastor. Fr. Odilo had the exquistely beautiful Stations of the Cross sent directly from Germany. A hand carved rosary, made from a single solid piece of wood, was made by Warren H. Bahm and decorated the vestibule of the church. In 1961, the Diocese of Baton Rouge was formed and St. Dominic became attached to Mater Dolorosa as a mission church. Once again the parish came under the care of Dominican Fathers until 1994 when the diocese assumed pastoral care of the community.