Mass of Thanksgiving for Bishop Glen John Provost

Diocese celebrates his many years  
of holy service to the Church 

By Pamela Seal 
Diocese of Lake Charles 

LAKE CHARLES — The gratitude area Catholics have for His Excellency, The Most Reverend Glen John Provost, was evident as a Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated in his honor on Saturday, August 10, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. 

On the Feast of St. Lawrence of Rome, Deacon and Martyr, the special liturgy was held to recognize his turning 75, as well as his many years of holy service to the Church — 49 years a priest and 17 years as the third bishop in the Diocese of Lake Charles. 

The nearly full cathedral included family members, friends, clergy, Religious Sisters, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, and laity from around the diocese. Assisting during the 10:00 a.m. Mass were seminarians for the Diocese of Lake Charles. 

Joining the clergy as out-of-town guests were Monsignor Douglas Courville, Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Corpus Christi, and Reverend Michael Murray, Priest Director of Catholic Cemeteries for the Archdiocese of Washington. Both are longtime friends of Bishop Provost, making their presence of special significance. 

“Monsignor Courville and Father Murray are the only two priests still living who attended both my priesthood ordination at St. Peter’s in Rome and my very First Mass at St. Mary Major in 1975,” the bishop pointed out.

Also present at the Mass of Thanksgiving as well as Bishop Provost’s ordination and First Mass in Rome was his niece, Annette Marie Guillory, from New Orleans. 

“Having reached seven decades plus five, the Church requires me to submit a letter of resignation,” Bishop Provost said at the beginning of his homily. “The occasion merits being surrounded by loyal and supportive family and friends. For this I am heartily grateful to and humbled by my Vicars General and staff for having made this celebration possible.” 

The bishop remarked that he was “deeply touched by the generosity of the Cathedral Parish” for sponsoring the occasion where he has celebrated Mass and the Sacraments since 2007. 

“These years have been good and blessed, and I would hope to continue in future service both as bishop and the emeritus,” he continued. 

Upon being installed as shepherd of the Diocese of Lake Charles, Bishop Provost chose as his motto, Pro Venturis Serit (He plants for those to come). 

The Very Reverend Ruben J. Buller, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, referenced this motto in closing remarks to the bishop. 

“We, of course, know that what we do as ministers of the Church is about those we encounter, those who come afterwards,” Father Buller said. “In your ministry here in the Diocese, more than anything else, you have reminded us to always look to Christ. He is First and the Last, our beginning and our end, and our reason for all things.” 

Father Buller, who also serves as Pastor of the Cathedral, extended his gratitude to Bishop Provost for his faithful service to this local Church and his continual service as long as the Lord sees fit. 

Giving thanks to God for 75 years and looking forward to whatever is left of his life, Bishop Provost expressed his appreciation to parishioners of the Cathedral, to Father Buller, Monsignor Daniel Torres, Vicar General; the faithful priests of the Diocese, and the good and faithful laity and clergy “who have had only the good of the Church in mind.”    

Sentiments for Bishop Provost 

Born to Cyrus and Sadie Blanchet Provost on August 9, 1949, in Lafayette, Bishop Provost remarked that he learned from his parents long ago to put everything in God’s hands. 

“I began my life as a little kid in Lafayette and end it as a Catholic bishop in Lake Charles,” he noted.

His 93-year-old brother, Cyrus Provost Jr., of Morgan City, was among the bishop’s relatives in attendance at the Mass and a reception that followed in the Diocesan Chancery. 

“I am lucky to be here today to celebrate this milestone in my brother’s life,” he said. “I can still remember him going up in the choir loft at church as a little boy and being taught how to play the organ. He mastered the music.” 

Cyrus said he knew his brother had the qualities it took to be a leader in the Church.  

After being appointed bishop, “he had an intent as to what he was capable of doing and what he wanted to accomplish,” said Cyrus. 

Enola Provost May, a cousin to Bishop Provost, grew up attending the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette, where then-Monsignor Provost was once assigned. 

“When my husband, Bobby, and I were married in 1965, Glen played the organ for our wedding. I think he had just entered the seminary,” Enola recalled. “In that same church, he officiated at the wedding for our daughter, he conducted christenings for our grandchildren, and he officiated at funerals for our family, the most recent one for my husband who died on December 26, 2022.” 

Monsignor Courville said being a “man of faith” has served Bishop Provost well as a priest and bishop. The two met in 1965 at Immaculata Seminary in Lafayette. 

“Bishop Provost has always taken great care to be a man of prayer. He has always practiced his devotions,” said Monsignor Courville. “He is very sincere, dedicated, task oriented, and has a real sense of humor. He is a faithful friend.” 

Monsignor Courville also commented on Bishop Provost’s talent as an accomplished musician and also noted that he has a great interest in literature and a deep appreciation for art.    

More work to be done 

Several endeavors of particular importance to Bishop Provost over his Episcopacy include his dedication to Catholic schools, his devotion to increasing vocations to the priesthood with “40 Hours Devotion” in each church parish; the restoration of the historic Cathedral, the construction of Camp Karol Catholic Youth Camp in Moss Bluff; and expanding the work of Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana throughout the five civil parishes in the Diocese of Lake Charles. 

Bishop Provost referred to a famous quote reportedly uttered by St. Lawrence when he was being roasted alive on an iron grill — “I am done on this side. Turn me over.” The bishop noted that this expression of resignation communicates the acceptance of suffering in the Christian life.  

“What is true of a deacon is as true of a bishop,” he continued. 

“The future holds only the unknown, but I have learned to trust in God, and He will take care of everything. He always has, and He always will,” said Bishop Provost. “I am not done. Turn me over on the other side.”