The Diocese of Lake Charles announced the purchase of new administrative offices at 1201 Ryan St. in Lake Charles, the former site of the Safety Council of Southwest Louisiana.

A press release from the diocese stated that the move fulfills “a long-term goal.”

“Since the diocese’s inception in 1980, every bishop has tried to consolidate our ministries to improve our ability to serve the faithful in Southwest Louisiana,” said the Most Reverend Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles. “This new Chancery allows us to bring together 35 employees currently working from five different locations across the Diocese, while also providing significant cost savings and new benefits to our churches and affiliated organizations.”

Working together is emphasized by The Catholic Church, according to the Rev. Jeffrey Starkovich. “Having our coworkers minister in a single location enables them to work together in ways that technology can’t facilitate. It also enables us to pray together.”

The staff hasn’t been able to do that as a group since the storms. The Chancery at 414 Iris Street suffered serious damages after the 2020 hurricanes and closed. To continue ministry, the Diocese scattered her offices across five different leased and borrowed facilities, Starkovich said, the Bishop Harold Perry Building at 411 Iris Street, Our Lady Queen of Heaven at 617 W. Claude Street, l’Évêché at 3835 Lake Street and

Saint Charles Center at 2151 Sam Houston Jones Pkwy. in Moss Bluff.

The location is ideal. The former Safety Council building  is only a few blocks from 414 Iris Street and the Cathedral.

In addition to meeting the diocese’s long-term goal of consolidated central office, officials said the move is cost saving. Based on estimates, purchasing the former Safety Council building will be less expensive by 75 percent compared to the cost of repairing and modifying existing structures in disrepair.

 After a walk-through of the 1201 Ryan Street property, a retired architect and current member of the diocesan building commission noted meeting rooms on both sides of the building with adequate parking and good concrete, standard seam roof and adequate lighting, electrical and air conditioning. The building could not be built from the ground up for the purchase price, according to C. Gayle Zembower.

Repairs to the Iris Street Chancery are estimated to cost at least $15 million. The purchase of the new building and renovations will be approximately $3.3 million, according to the press release from the Diocese of Lake Charles.

The Very Reverend Ruben Buller, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese said the due diligence included much prayer and a three-month inspection period. Ribbeck Construction Company owner Edward M. “Buzzy” Ribbeck helped with inspections.

Buller said  hurricane repairs across the diocese will not be interrupted. No recovery funds allocated to the rebuilding of parishes or schools will be redirected to the purchase of the new Chancery. The Diocese has secured a mortgage for a large portion of the total cost and will finance payments through general operations.

 Effective July 1, 2023, the following diocesan offices will relocate to the new chancery on Ryan Street: Administration; the Office of Catholic Schools; Tribunal; Offices of Marriage, Family and Pro-Life; Communications; Religious Education and Evangelism; Fiscal Services; Vocations; Archives; Child and Youth Protection and Safe Environment; Human Resources; Clergy Immigration; Recovery; and Development.

The Safety Council of Southwest Louisiana is consolidating its offices at its Sulphur location.

For more information about the new offices, the Diocese has set up an informational hub on its website at lcdiocese.org/new-chancery-1023