360° Virtual Tour of St. Louis de France
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The Church is of Georgian Colonial design a wooden construction, 136 feet long and 46 feet wide. The white spire, topped by a golden cross is 90 feet from the ground. Dedicated June 17,1951 (Cal. B. Poulin, architect)

The front lawn sign was created in 1999 ( Beaumont Sign, New Bedford) In Memory of Peter Silvestre

The church seats 500 persons.  The altar features a niche in which are three statues of the Blessed Virgin, St. John and St. Mary Magdalen at the foot of the Cross.

A carved baldachin highlighting a dove representing the Holy spirit stands over the presidential chair. Two woodcarvings on each side represent the chalice with host, grape vines and the image of a phoenix, the mythical emblem of immortality.

A Children ‘s Prayer Room and Weekday Eucharistic Chapel dedicated for the Holy Year 2000 has a side-wall large windowed visual access to the sanctuary for weekend celebrations of the Mass.

“All were filled with the Holy Spirit” – Acts. 2:4

The seven sacraments and other Scriptures are depicted in our stained glassed windows which were installed in1981.

This window depicts the time of the Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles as they gathered in the Upper Room. It awakens our consciousness to the Spirit gift in the Sacrament of Confirmation.

“St. Louis de France”

St. Louis IX, King of France, shown in a scene in his court.

He is the Patron of the parish and his feast is celebrated on August 25

“With that their eyes were opened” – Lk.24:31

The 2 disciples on their way to Emmaus encounter Jesus who dines with them.  They recognize Him in the breaking of the Bread. A Eucharistic theme to remind us of the power of the Eucharist to reveal Jesus to the Faithful.

“Let the little children come to me.”  Lk18:16

This scene depicts the quality of bringing the Good News to the children.  It highlights the attention that the faith community must give to fostering proper care of young people’s faith.

“Father I have sinned against God and against you.”  Lk 15:23

The story of the Prodigal Son is one of the most traditional bible stories proclaimed in the light of our need to confess our sins and seek reconciliation.  The sacrament of Penance his highlighted here.

"I entrust to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven"  Matt.16:19

Here, the Lord Jesus places his church in the hands of Peter who is empowered to lead the church. This power is entrusted to him and to his successors, the popes in the history of the church.  The priestly gift granted to the Vicar of Jesus is shared with priests throughout the world.

"The breath of life returned to her and she got up immediately."  Luke 8:55

The healing of Jairus' daughter reminds us of the power given to the Church in the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

"Jesus performed this first of his signs at Cana in Galilee"  John 2:11

Jesus shows his espousal love for the world by changing the water into wine at the wedding feast of Cana.  Thus he blesses marriage and gives a foretaste of his own espousal love for mankind when wine would be turned into the blood of his self immolation for our sins.

"You are my beloved son, on you my favor rests" - Lk 3:22

The Baptism of Jesus gives new life to the waters of Baptism.  He who accepts the repentance of humanity, in turn opens the life of the Spirit to souls cleansed in Baptism. 

"Blest are you among women" Lk 1:42

The Visitation of Mary with her cousin Elizabeth reminds us once again of the major role of Mary in the history of salvation and in our own parish faith tradition in keeping a close relationship with the mother of Jesus.

The Statue of St. Louis de France stands over the main entrance of our church as a reminder that we enter under the protection of this saint. The statue was repainted in 1999 by Primary Colors of Tiverton, a gift in the memory of M/M Leo LeComte

“Dieu le veut” 

The blazon of King Louis over our left front door shows the triple fleur-de-lis on the French blue, a symbol of the Blessed Trinity. The motto translates into “It is God’s will.”  To follow God’s will was indeed the main task of King Louis.

The Episcopal blazon over our right front door depicts the logo of Bishop Connolly, the Ordinary of the Diocese of Fall River in 1951 at the time of the dedication of the church. His motto was “In cruce salus” (Our salvation is in the Cross).  This is another great affirmation of the Cross symbol in our parish history.

The first church built in 1929 became the parish hall in 1951.

Although a local French Catholic school was opened in 1911, it was not until 1931 that a new building would be erected. From 1971 it has served as the parish Religious Education Center. The building is now in need of external repairs. 

The statue of Mary and the Sacred Heart are also treasures from the niches over the side altars in the first parish church.  They are now united at a candle prayer shrine near the baptismal font of the church.

The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes and Bernadette.

These statues originally fit into a larger grotto placed behind the Convent/School building as a prayer ground for the Sisters of the St. Joseph who lived in our convent.  After the parish school closed, the statues were eventually moved to a smaller grotto area behind the rectory.  It remains a reminder of the history we hold with the Community of the Sisters of St. Joseph du Puy.

The statue of St. Thérèse of Lisieux brings about the special devotion we hold to our saints from French history. This statue is part of the treasures we hold from our original church.  It too keeps us united to the ongoing faith journey of our people.

The crown and cross in the stained window behind her again reflect the love of St. Louis de France for the Cross and the Crown. 

Our greatest treasure of course is the parish church Tabernacle where the Lord reigns and lives among us in Eucharist.  This tabernacle was placed in our present church for its dedication in 1951.  It was refurbished in 1996 as an offering from generous parishioners who wished to remain anonymous.  Next to the parish altar, which must always be the main focus of the parish community’s house of worship, the tabernacle stands as the next important central focus.  It. allows for the continued Eucharistic presence of Christ to be available to the sick and thus presents a place for the veneration and adoration of the faithful. In the liturgical changes of Vatican II Council, it found its way from the center altar to a special shrine in the Sanctuary.