The Diocese of Lake Charles continues its recovery from the catastrophic storms of Hurricane Laura and Hurricane Delta in 2020. The entire five-parish region was devastated by Laura’s wrath of destruction as the Category 4 storm made landfall along the Gulf Coast in the early morning hours of August 27. Laura was the most powerful storm to ever strike Southwest Louisiana surpassing the devastation of Hurricane Rita in 2005 and even Hurricane Audrey in 1957. Six weeks later October 9, Hurricane Delta (a Category 2 storm) added insult to injury to the severely damaged diocese.

Of the 39 church parishes at that time, at least six suffered destruction, while at least a dozen other churches were highly compromised. A total of 72 Diocese of Lake Charles project sites were impacted by Laura. More than 500 structures in the DOLC — including churches, schools, rectories, administrative and ancillary buildings — were affected with an estimated $150 million in total damages.

A decision was made to amalgamate Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Cameron, St. Eugene Catholic Church in Grand Chenier, and Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Creole and relocate to Sweetlake given the elevation of the property. In the meantime, Sacred Heart of Jesus in Creole is using its Parish Life Center for Masses.