Monsignor Robert Gabriel "Bob" Angelle
Father Bob
Arnaudville's First Priest!
Born August 23 1931
Ordained May 22, 1956
Died May 11, 2018
It is interesting to note that when Bob Angelle attended church as a young boy in Arnaudville, the Mass at St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church was by a priest from a French-speaking country. Even these priests sometimes viewed the Cajun people as ignorant because they could not read or write French. Consequently, when Bob told his father that he felt called to the priesthood, his father did not believe him, and felt his son to be insulting God because a Cajun was unworthy of being a priest. In 1956, Father Bob was ordained - the first Cajun priest from Arnaudville in its 103-year history as a church parish
Born in Arnaudville on August 23, 1931, the second child of six to Bryant and Marie Mistrot Angelle, Robert Gabriel "Bob" Angelle did become a priest and in December 1970 was made a Papal Chamberlain by Pope Paul, with the title of Reverend Monsignor.
Father Bob has been awarded the following College Degrees:
In February, 1974, Monsignor Bob Angelle was assigned Pastor in Kaplan, Louisiana, and Bishop's Vicar for Education for the Diocese of Lafayette.
In February, 1976, he was made Associate Vicar for Administrative Affairs for the Diocese of Lafayette, and in January, 1978, was made Vicar for Administrative Affairs, Diocese of Lafayette, which post he relinquished June 15, 1979, to devote full time to Education.
Monsignor Angelle has been a member of many professional organizations -- ecclesiastical, clerical, civic, religious and educational -- on local, state, Diocesan, and national levels; has served as Director of Bishop's Services Appeal for 1976 and 1977, and as Diocesan Budget Director and Diocesan Personnel Director.
He served in 1977-80 as Southern Regional Representative of the National Executive Committee of CACE (Chief Administrator of Catholic Education).
In January, 1980, was made Vicar General for the Diocese of Lafayette and on February 18, 1981, was appointed Executive Director of Louisiana Catholic Conference - Church Ministry Division.
On May 22, 1981, Monsignor Angelle was appointed a Prelate of Honor by Pope John Paul II.
He served as Pastor of Saint Mary Parish in Lafayette, Louisiana, where he led his parish family into becoming a model parish for whom stewardship has become “a way of life.”
Monsignor Robert Gabriel Angelle retired from active ministry in the Diocese of Lafayette on October 26, 1998. Since then, Monsignor Angelle has been presenting missions, speaking at national, regional and Diocesan Conferences throughout the United States.
Born in Arnaudville on August 23, 1931, the second child of six to Bryant and Marie Mistrot Angelle, Robert Gabriel "Bob" Angelle did become a priest and in December 1970 was made a Papal Chamberlain by Pope Paul, with the title of Reverend Monsignor.
Father Bob has been awarded the following College Degrees:
- B.A., Philosophy, St. Joseph Seminary (1953)
- B.S., Education, Loyola of the South (1957)
- M.S., Divinity, St. Joseph Seminary (1958)
- M.S., Chemistry, Notre Dame University (1960)
- M.A., Mathematics, Louisiana State University (1964)
In February, 1974, Monsignor Bob Angelle was assigned Pastor in Kaplan, Louisiana, and Bishop's Vicar for Education for the Diocese of Lafayette.
In February, 1976, he was made Associate Vicar for Administrative Affairs for the Diocese of Lafayette, and in January, 1978, was made Vicar for Administrative Affairs, Diocese of Lafayette, which post he relinquished June 15, 1979, to devote full time to Education.
Monsignor Angelle has been a member of many professional organizations -- ecclesiastical, clerical, civic, religious and educational -- on local, state, Diocesan, and national levels; has served as Director of Bishop's Services Appeal for 1976 and 1977, and as Diocesan Budget Director and Diocesan Personnel Director.
He served in 1977-80 as Southern Regional Representative of the National Executive Committee of CACE (Chief Administrator of Catholic Education).
In January, 1980, was made Vicar General for the Diocese of Lafayette and on February 18, 1981, was appointed Executive Director of Louisiana Catholic Conference - Church Ministry Division.
On May 22, 1981, Monsignor Angelle was appointed a Prelate of Honor by Pope John Paul II.
He served as Pastor of Saint Mary Parish in Lafayette, Louisiana, where he led his parish family into becoming a model parish for whom stewardship has become “a way of life.”
Monsignor Robert Gabriel Angelle retired from active ministry in the Diocese of Lafayette on October 26, 1998. Since then, Monsignor Angelle has been presenting missions, speaking at national, regional and Diocesan Conferences throughout the United States.
What is a Priest?
Priests are mystery men. They come in assorted sizes, ages, weights and collars. They are found everywhere -- speeing along, perspiring over, walking by, kneeling on, praying over, laughing with, preaching to, treaching about, pardoning for, and playing baseball with. Little children run to them; teen-agers marvel at them; aged folk turn to them; lay people treasure them; non-Catholics stare at them, and Mary watches over them.
A priest is Prudence in a T-shirt; Fortitude with a breviary in his hand; Justice on a ball diamond, and Temperance at any party. He is Faith with a blueprint; Home with a sense of humor, and Charity with a golf club in hand.
A priest may be anything from a contemplative monk in a monastery to a magazine editor on Wall Street, from a labor mediator to a TV personality, from a student to a professor. Formerly known as the boy-around-the-corner, he is a member of each family, yet belongs to none. He penetrates secrets, shares sorrows, heals wounds. He has the trust of a child, the kindness of a best friend, the sternness of a top-sergeant, the darling of a tight-rope walker, the authority of an encyclopedia, the versatility of a commando, and the salesmanship of a Fuller Brush man.
A priest is a humble creature -- a mystifying worker at all professions. His hours are the longest; his salary the smallest; his Boss the best! He likes good pastors, the smiles of children, a good sermon, a home-cooked meal, and the name "Father."
A priest is all things to all men in the sight of God. He may be misquoted, mistaken and misunderstood, but he'll always forgive -- because, he's a mediator; a peacemaker, a go-between heaven and earth. It's no wonder God loves him.
He's a man standing at an altar, clothed in holy clothes, who while being aware of his own nothingness speaks to God for us and to us for God. And although his greatest act is to offer sacrifice, his most consoling one is to say to me, "Go in peace--your sins are forgiven."
Father Richard Hennesay, S.S.S., editor of "The Eucharist" magazine, found this article on a sacristy wall in a downtown New York church. It first appeared in OUR SUNDAY VISITOR, March 10, 1968.
Priests are mystery men. They come in assorted sizes, ages, weights and collars. They are found everywhere -- speeing along, perspiring over, walking by, kneeling on, praying over, laughing with, preaching to, treaching about, pardoning for, and playing baseball with. Little children run to them; teen-agers marvel at them; aged folk turn to them; lay people treasure them; non-Catholics stare at them, and Mary watches over them.
A priest is Prudence in a T-shirt; Fortitude with a breviary in his hand; Justice on a ball diamond, and Temperance at any party. He is Faith with a blueprint; Home with a sense of humor, and Charity with a golf club in hand.
A priest may be anything from a contemplative monk in a monastery to a magazine editor on Wall Street, from a labor mediator to a TV personality, from a student to a professor. Formerly known as the boy-around-the-corner, he is a member of each family, yet belongs to none. He penetrates secrets, shares sorrows, heals wounds. He has the trust of a child, the kindness of a best friend, the sternness of a top-sergeant, the darling of a tight-rope walker, the authority of an encyclopedia, the versatility of a commando, and the salesmanship of a Fuller Brush man.
A priest is a humble creature -- a mystifying worker at all professions. His hours are the longest; his salary the smallest; his Boss the best! He likes good pastors, the smiles of children, a good sermon, a home-cooked meal, and the name "Father."
A priest is all things to all men in the sight of God. He may be misquoted, mistaken and misunderstood, but he'll always forgive -- because, he's a mediator; a peacemaker, a go-between heaven and earth. It's no wonder God loves him.
He's a man standing at an altar, clothed in holy clothes, who while being aware of his own nothingness speaks to God for us and to us for God. And although his greatest act is to offer sacrifice, his most consoling one is to say to me, "Go in peace--your sins are forgiven."
Father Richard Hennesay, S.S.S., editor of "The Eucharist" magazine, found this article on a sacristy wall in a downtown New York church. It first appeared in OUR SUNDAY VISITOR, March 10, 1968.
Monsignor Robert Gabriel "Bob" Angelle
Eulogy by Monsignor Paul Metrejean
He was always loud. Whether he was teaching or preaching, debating or pontificating, or just holding a conversation, he was always loud. But, as he grew older and his hearing became impaired, he got even louder. We would be in a restaurant and I'd say: "Bob, turn down the volume. Everybody's looking at us." So, he'd lower his voice but two minutes later he was right back to full volume!
It just seemed to be in his nature to be loud. Even his clothes were loud. Who could ever forget the red pants and purple shirt with white belt and shoes? Proud as a peacock.
Bob and I were close friends for over 50 years. He loved his friends and his family. He loved entertaining them. He loved good food, especially his mother Marie's crawfish bisque and sweet potatoes. He loved being Cajun, being an Angelle, being and educator and administrator, being a mathematician, being a Notre Dame Alumnus, being a priest, being a liberal whether in religion or politics or in his attitude toward life. He was fond of reminding people that "Liberal" came from the Latin word for freedom and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. He had a brilliant mind, an outgoing personality, a Benedictine spirituality, an unfailing hope, despite all odds. He was generous in sharing his time, his experience, his food and his money. He provided many scholarship for black students to attend Catholic schools. He saw his generosity and his care as essential for his personal spirituality and his proclamation of the gospel. He knew Jesus crucified through his own sufferings of declining health, rejection and misunderstandings.
I believe his finest achievement and proudest accomplishment was St. Louis High School in Lake Charles. Back in the 1960's he, Bishop Jarrell and I, still young priests, were the resident priest faculty at Landry High School, the school Bob had attended and graduated from when the Christian Brothers ran the school. Together with the Marianites of the Holy Cross, we combined Landry High School, an all boys school, with St. Charles Academy, an all girls school, into St. Louis High School and the Calcasieu Center for Catholic Studies.
Bob Angelle undertook this project with skill and passion and intensity. He studied books and articles and locations of up-to-date high schools throughout the country. One of the ideas he discovered was the open classroom concept. This meant several separate areas of the school were dedicated to different disciplines. They consisted of an open space lobby into which three classrooms opened -- none with doors. While looking good on paper, this concept was a nightmare in reality. But, there were so many other futuristic, beautiful and well-thought out ideas that the school was a model - and a curiosity for other schools.
It was Monsignor Robert Angelle's greatest legacy. And, it continues to be to this day. His contributions at the diocesan level are still intact today. I was blessed to work side by side with him in so many of these projects.
In the gospel today, we are told Jesus cried out in a loud
voice: "Lazarus,come out... untie him and let him go free."
Bob Angelle's loud voice was always directed at freedom - his desire was to untie people from ignorance and small vision and let them go free.
The Book of Revelation today envisions newness - a new heaven and a new earth. And, a loud voice comes from God's throne saying "Behold, God's dwelling is with the human race... I make all things new."
Freedom, life, love, newness - Such is God's vision for us. Bob Angelle must be very happy to join in that loud voice from the throne of God and to see so many of his own dreams and visions fulfilled.
A very special "Thank You!" to Monsignor Paul Metrejean for sharing his beautiful words about Monsignor Bob Angelle. The Nonco Foundation is grateful.