By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles
WELSH — A tug at Betty LaBouve's heart four decades ago has grown into a Christmas tradition at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church making spirits bright for countless families.
This year, nearly 100 Community Christmas Baskets were prepared with food and other essentials, along with hundreds of wrapped gifts for children. Among the presents too big to wrap were 30 bicycles on many “wish lists.”
LaBouve was inspired to start the Community Christmas program during her first year as Director of Religious Education at Our Lady of Seven Dolors. She was 33 years old at the time. Now, she is 73 and said, “It is still very rewarding and fulfilling 40 years later.”
As the holiday season was approaching, LaBouve recalls hearing the students talk to each other about the gifts they wanted and reminded them that Christmas was about Jesus and not the presents.
“A student, probably in the first or second grade, was telling his friends he did not think he would be getting anything for Christmas that year because his family had to take care of his momma,” she said, recalling that the child’s mother was sick. “I walked away because I wanted to cry.”
At the time, there was nothing like the Community Christmas program in Welsh and LaBouve said that there were many people in need.
“I felt God calling me to do something to help. If you listen, God does speak to you,” she said. Through LaBouve's actions, Our Lady of Seven Dolors is spreading the love of Christ through His humanity to those around them.
“We started out doing five or six baskets in that first year, and it grew and grew. The past 20 years it has gotten bigger. I remember about five years ago collecting enough to fill 123 baskets,” said LaBouve.
A “giving tree” goes up at the church two weeks before Black Friday for parishioners to select families who have registered for the Community Christmas Baskets. They do not know who they are buying for. The tags on the tree list only gender, age, clothes size and top three gift items for each person.
Donations of food come from Our Lady of Seven Dolors parishioners, Welsh Elementary and Roanoke Junior High schools. Area businesses donate money to buy the meat (sausage, fryers, roast, turkey, ham, and Cornish hens) for the food bags.
“Forty-five baskets were distributed to shut-ins (many of them delivered to their homes) with the remaining 52 baskets given to families with children,” said LaBouve. “Everyone will receive nonperishable items.”
A few days before the distribution of gift baskets on Saturday, December 21, a dozen volunteers spent four hours wrapping several hundred gifts for children. LaBouve said that you are never too old to lend a helping hand.
“One of the volunteers this year –– a 91-year-old lady who helped wrapped gifts –– told me, ‘I never realized how much work y’all put into the program. This is unreal’,” said LaBouve, who works closely with Charlotte Berken and Jacquetta Navarre through the process.
Grand Knight Melward J. Doucet and Greg Saulnier, both members of the Knights of Columbus Rev. Monsignor Jules O. Daigle Council 2855, traveled many miles around Welsh and as far as Roanoke to bring the true meaning of Christmas to the elderly and shut-ins. They were greeted with big smiles and wishes of Merry Christmas!
Saulnier has been volunteering for nine years while this is Doucet’s second year to spread some Christmas cheer.
“We are with the Knights of Columbus and that’s what we do, take care of those in need,” Doucet said without hesitation. “I have helped in other ways before, but this is my second year being Santa Claus.”
LaBouve also gives credit to the community for the growing success of the Christmas program.
“Our community supports us so well, including the students at Welsh Elementary School,” she said. “Instead of the third, fourth, and fifth graders exchanging gifts with each other, they are contributing items for the Christmas baskets.”
Acknowledging that she is very blessed, LaBouve said, “I know that the Lord sent me on this journey for a reason.”
Soon after the Christmas season is over, planning will begin for the 2025 Community Christmas Baskets. Anyone wanting to donate or volunteer their time may contact Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church office at 337-734-3446.
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