A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Rev. Michael J. Barras, 76, on Friday, July 12, at 2 p.m. from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Lake Charles at the corner of Bilbo and Kirby streets. The Most Reverend Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles,will be the Main Celebrant with Reverend Whitney Miller giving the Homily. Father Barras, a retired priest of the Diocese of Lake Charles, died on Sunday, July 7.
Visitation will be on Friday, July 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Johnson Funeral Home. A rosary will be prayed at 1:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel before the procession to the Cathedral. Burial will follow in Highland Memory Gardens, 6325 Common Street.
Born to Emile Mitchell Barras, Sr. and Therese Celine Pellerin Barras on October 20, 1947 in Lake Charles, he was educated at Immaculate Conception Catholic School and Landry Memorial High School before entering Immaculata Seminary in Lafayette in 1961. He entered St. Meinrad College in St. Meinrad, Indiana where he earned a BA in Classical Studies in 1969. He obtained his Theological education at Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans, graduating in 1973 with a Master of Divinity.
Bishop Gerard Frey, Bishop of Lafayette, ordained Father Barras on May 19, 1973 in St. John the Evangelist Cathedral in Lafayette.
He celebrated his first Mass on May 20, 1973 at St. Martin Catholic Church in St. Martinville and celebrated Mass in his home parish of Immaculate Conception in Lake Charles on May 27, 1973.
Assignments over his priestly service have included Associate Pastor at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, St. Martinville; Assumption Catholic Church, Franklin; St. Ann Catholic Church, Mamou; Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, Lake Charles; Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception; and Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Lake Charles.
He was Pastor to St. Paul Catholic Church, Elton, as Administrator of St. Joseph Catholic Church also in Elton and later to St. Joan of Arc in Oberlin.
He was In Residence at St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Westlake and Chaplain for West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital, Sulphur.
During his priestly service, Father Barras has served as a member of the clergy welfare committee of the Diocese of Lake Charles as well the clergy personnel advisory board and the committee on continuing education for clergy. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Father Barras is survived by his sister, Rita Barras Gayle, nephews, Michael McClosky and Byron Gayle, and nieces, Jennifer Watson and Amanda Caraway. He was also a “great” uncle to Kerstin McClosky, Jack and Anna Watson, and Abby, Elizabeth, Joseph, Luke, Andrew and Ella Caraway.
Father Barras was a third generation priest following the first Bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette, The Most Reverend Jules B. Jeanmard (born 1879) and Msgr. Jules A. Jeanmard (born 1913). An interesting point, each of the trio was born 34 years apart.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
