Land has been purchased for a new home for St. Louis Catholic High School — the next step in its recovery from the 2020 hurricanes. The new site is a 47-acre tract on Corbina Road in east Lake Charles.

St. Louis Catholic, the Diocese of Lake Charles’ lone Catholic high school, was largely destroyed by Hurricane Laura in 2020. It has operated as a temporary campus in modular buildings in the time since.

“We are excited to announce this purchase for several reasons,” said the Rev. Nathan Long, rector of St. Louis Catholic High School. “Practically, because this means we can begin adding structures the very moment the funding becomes available. Symbolically, because this means the future is wide open to St. Louis Catholic. We will have 47 acres on which to grow and form lifelong Saints.”

With the school’s current storm-damaged campus limited to approximately 15.5 acres, the new, larger property offers opportunities to expand.

“Curriculum development requires the right facilities, ministry opportunities call for a beautiful worship space, and reaching more students means more classrooms,” Long said. “All of this will soon be possible. We will all be blessed to have a school that truly addresses future needs: one that can navigate the tough cultural waters ahead, allow for growth over time, and honor God through worship in a full-sized chapel.”

The recovery process has taken more than two years to reach this milestone. “Just as with our black-eyed Saint mascot, it’s not the challenges and obstacles that define us — it’s how we refuse to give up the fight,” said Mia Touchet, principal. “That’s what makes this place so special.”

In the new year, the milestone — the acquisition of the property for the new campus — will be commemorated with a “ground blessing” and community celebration at the site.

“While this process has not been comfortable or easy, I believe that in the end it will have been worth the wait and challenges,” Long said. “No longer will we have doubts such as ‘Can we do it?’ now that we have the space. We would always much rather say yes to our students’ educational and formational needs.”

Touchet said, “Future Saints and their families will look back and recognize the dedication and perseverance of this school community in making this project become a reality. Like the leaders from our three founding schools in 1971 — St. Charles Academy, Landry Memorial and Sacred Heart High School — we envision a bright future for generations to come.”