By LEONARD GRAY

PARADIS – The Rev. Monsignor T. Raymond Bane, 77, founding pastor of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Paradis, was laid to rest Monday following his death of natural causes, following a five-month illness.

A native of County Cork, Ireland, and resident of Bayou Gauche, Bane retired seven years ago.

He was the son of the late Thomas and Mary Woods Bane, and brother of Angela Lonergan, and the late Maureen White. He attended universities in Ireland and in Washington D.C. and was ordained on June 6, 1951 and served at churches in West Africa and Savannah, Ga. before being named administrator at St. John the Baptist Catholic Chapel in 1968. He was named pastor of the new church in 1971 and served until his retirement in 1995.

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church was established in 1900 as a mission of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Taft. After Hurricane Betsy demolished the old chapel, the parishioners were challenged by then-Archbishop Philip Hannan to raise $5,000 toward building a new church. Through the leadership of Bane, not only was the money raised, but also land acquired for the church. It was established as a parish church in 1971.

Hannan attended the funeral Mass for Bane.

St. Charles Parish School Board member Clarence “Sonny” Savoie, whose wife, Merle, worked as Bane’s secretary the entire time of his tenure, called the late pastor “a man of deep faith and conviction who truly loved God.”

He noted that after retirement, Bane could have gone anywhere, but he chose to remain in the community, building a house near Bayou Gauche.

“He could have moved anywhere in the world, but he chose here, where he felt wanted and welcomed,” Savoie said.

Savoie swept his hands around during the visitation prior to Mass and commented, “What you see here has his design on it. He left a legacy here for hard work and dedication.”

Roy Landry, of the church lay leadership, called Bane “one of a kind.”

“He came here and inspired people,” Landry said.

Bayou Gauche real estate developer Dr. Ray Matherne added, “He was also very personable. He kept everything going with the parish. He was extremely intelligent and well-informed.”

Parish President Albert Laque, who was married in the old chapel, recalled his sons were all altar boys here.

“After Betsy blew down the old mission, he held Mass at J.B. Martin school until, with his prodding, he got the land for the chruch and got the church. He built this church, and it was here because of him.”

The Rev. Bernard C. Francis of Holy Rosary spoke on Bane’s impact on the community and recalled Bane as “a constant source of strength and peace. He was an irreperable loss.”

Bane was succeeded at St. John the Baptist by the Rev. Msgr. James C. Moragne in 1995.

Services were followed with interment at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery in Taft.

Savoie echoed much of the sentiment in the community, and said, “He was a great friend to my family, and he’ll be sorely missed.”