Timeline of Little Flower Church & Academy

  • 1939- Bishop Daniel F. Desmond, Bishop of Alexandria, began to plan for a Catholic church to serve the Black community of Monroe
  • February 11, 1940- Fr. Anselm Reckamp, OFM celebrated Mass for the first time in a small frame church on 18th Street, under the patronage of "The Little Flower of Jesus" (St. Therese of Lisieux).
  • September 29, 1941- Four Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help helped open Little Flower of Jesus School with 110 students.
  • June 30, 1942- Fire destroyed the church and part of the priest's home. The new church was ready for use in September 1942.
  • July 18, 1944- A tornado destroyed the new school addition being built. Four days later, Fr. Patrick O'Brien, OFM was assigned as assistant Pastor, making his mark on the school where he was the basketball coach.
  • Summer of 1945- Fr. Clement Martin, OFM was appointed Pastor for nine years. During this time, the high school began and the number of Franciscan Sisters on staff grew to thirteen. The student body in 1952 numbered 554.
  • Summer of 1954- Fr. Ardwin Hiller, OFM was appointed Pastor and he began looking for a larger plant for the church and school.
  • September 1958- The Sister's Convent, the first building on the new campus on 16th Street was completed. In 1959, the gym and school buildings were completed.
  • September, 1965- Bishop Charles P. Greco dedicated the new Church building.
  • 1968- The high school division of Little Flower Academy was closed and the students were encouraged to transfer to the newly built Diocesan St. Frederick High School.
  • October 9, 1971- Bro. Gordon Hayes, OFM, a son of the parish, made his Solemn Vows as a Franciscan of the Sacred Heart Province.
  • 1970s-90s- Little Flower Church and School struggles under increasing financial challenges. The Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help had fewer sisters available to teach and the beloved Sr. Consuella, who had been Principal in the High School and Grade School, was replaced. In the 1990's, Fr. John Eaton served as Pastor and Principal for a number of years. The last Franciscan Sister teaching in the school was transferred in the summer of 1995.
  • June 1994- Fr. Carroll Mizicko, OFM and Sister Dolores Sanchez, OSF came to Little Flower as a Ministry Team to work with parishioners to develop a vision for ministry looking to 2000 and beyond.
  • August 1996- With the last of the sisters leaving, the convent was converted to the Little Flower Church Center and served as the church offices, meeting area, and Religious Education classrooms.
  • August 1998- Little Flower Academy Grade School closed but a pre-school program for the three- and four-year-olds remained, becoming Little Flower Academy Early Childhood Development Center.
  • July 2001- Sr. Dolores Sanchez, OSF concluded her ministry at Little Flower to work with the Hispanic Ministry in the Diocese.
  • July 2002- Fr. Carroll Mizicko, OFM completed his ministry to Little Flower Church. Fr. J Derran Combs, OFM, an African American priest, was appointed as Administrator with Bro. Roch Pfeifer, OFM in charge of maintenance.
  • November 2003- The present Pastor, Fr. Adrian Fischer, OFM was assigned.
  • May 7, 2005- Rev Mr. Verdine Williams, a son of the church, was ordained a Deacon for the Diocese of Shreveport. He was assigned to ministry at Little Flower of Jesus Church.
  • 2011- Little Flower Academy Early Childhood Development Center earned a 4-star rating from the state of Louisiana.