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History of St. Stephen's Church - Continued
These arduous labors were in time to take toll of this dynamic Josephite. His steps became slower, unsteady, shaky. The time came when a younger priest, Father Strype, was sent to assist Father in his pastoral cares. Gradually he yeilded the more arduous tasks of the mission life to the young priest who succeeded to the pastorate upon Father Sweeney's virtual retirement due to in health.
While walking on October 1, 1946, about the school grounds where he loved to watch the children play, he was suddenly strickened with a stroke. At 8:30 O'clock that evening he died. We who knew him cannot help but feel that he smiles down upon us benignly and asks the good Lord to bless those who made possible our Beloved Church and School.
During the years following the death of Father Sweeney other dedicated Priests of the Josephite Order, and Sisters of the Society of the Holy Ghost have gone through many hardships in order that the people of St. Stephen's might receive the word of Christ. To them the people of St. Stephens' will always be grateful.
Since the death of Father Sweeney the following Josephite Priests have served St. Stephen's as Pastors:
Father George Strype
Father John Rottman
Father John Murphy
Father Philip McLoone
Father Alphonse O'Rielly	^
Between 1946 and the present St. Stephen's and its people have gone through many difficult periods. Three of these being major hurricanes. The last, Hurricane Camille in 1969, causing severe structural damage to the church itself; but through the tireless efforts of Father Philip McLoone, and the people of St. Stephen's, the church was restored, larger and more beautiful than ever.
In 1973 after four years of prayerful and painful deliberations, St. Stephen's status was changed from that of a Mission Church to the Main Church for the Catholic Parish of DeLisle, and the Josephite's responsibilities for St. Stephen' were transferred to their Spiritual Brothers the Trinitarians.
Now the people of St. Stephen's have opened not only the doors of their church, but also the doors of their hearts, so that, as Jesus prayed, "All may be one