Bishop Jude Speyrer

Bishop Jude Speyrer laid the foundation for the Diocese and created the infrastructure. He was appointed the first bishop of Lake Charles by Pope John Paul II on January 29, 1980. He was ordained and installed Bishop of Lake Charles on April 25, 1980. He retired on December 12, 2000, serving as Administrator for the Diocese of Lake Charles December 13, 2000, to February 21, 2001. Bishop Speyrer died on July 21, 2013, in Opelousas, La., and is interred in New Bethany Cemetery on the grounds of Saint Charles Center in Moss Bluff.

Bishop Edward K. Braxton

On December 12, 2000, Pope John Paul II appointed the Most Reverend Edward K. Braxton, Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis, as second bishop of Lake Charles. His installation took place on February 22, 2001, in Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church.

Bishop Braxton was named the Bishop of Belleville, Illinois, on March 15, 2005. He was installed as the eighth Bishop of Belleville on June 22, 2005. On June 24, the College of Consultors of the Diocese of Lake Charles elected Monsignor Harry Greig as the Diocesan Administrator to serve until a new Bishop was seated.

Bishop Glen John Provost

His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI appointed the Most Reverend Glen John Provost as third bishop of Lake Charles on March 6, 2007. He was ordained to the Episcopacy and installed on April 23, 2007, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Bishop Provost was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Lafayette by Pope Paul VI on June 29, 1975, in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

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; and expanding the work of Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana throughout the five civil parishes in the Diocese of Lake Charles.