Sacred Heart Chapel on Twelfth Street in Bridge City, Louisiana was a mission to Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Westwego, Louisiana. Msgr. J. Anthony Luminais became the pastor when the mission became a parish in 1963. Msgr. Luminais, was the only pastor of Holy Guardian Angels until retirement on July 1, 2008, when Holy Guardian Angels once again became a mission of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Westwego, Louisiana.
The new Holy Guardian Angels Church on Bridge City Avenue was consecrated on March 14, 1987 by Archbishop Phillip M. Hannan.
Holy Guardian Angels Church is built on the Old Spanish Trail and thus built in Spanish Mission style.
In the Sanctuary, the Altar, Lectern, Ambo, and Wooden Crosses, are all made of pecky cypress from Louisiana, and made by Mr. Elson Griffin, a parishioner. On the back wall of the Sanctuary the three crosses depict our Mystery of Faith, “Christ had died, Christ has risen, and Christ will come again.”
Ruth Goliwas, an artist, designed the Tabernacle, which was placed in the center of the Altar. It depicts “The Ark of the Covenant” and is flanked by angles. Ms. Goliwas also designed the processional cross, the stain glass windows, monstrance, and censer.
The Altar of Sacrifice, contains a first class relic of St. Dominic, and St. John Bosco.
The late Father James Tarantino, a parishioner of Holy Guardian Angels, gave a First Class Relic of the True Cross to Holy Guardian Angels.
A ballot taken by the parishioners chose all the statues on the sidewalls. There are eight female saints on one side and eight male saints on the other side. They are hand carved in linden wood. They were shipped and installed three at a time. The statues and baptismal font were sculpted by Vincenzo G. Mussner of Ortisei, Italy.
The enshrined Guardian Angel statue originally was located at St. Joseph Church in Gretna, Lousiana, the Mother Church of all Catholic churches on the West Bank. Before being placed at Holy Guardian Angels, Msgr. Anthony Luminais saw it at the Jefferson Florist’s window. Msgr. told the florist, “that statue is mine.” The florist replied, “Take it.”
Mrs. Pearl Leggett, painted the Stations of the Cross in oil paints, and the mural in the Training Room in acrylic.
Some of the chandeliers were acquired from the Madonna Manor in Marrero, Louisiana. The additional chandeliers were matched and designed by Avondale Shipyards, Inc.
The pews, made of oak, came from Denham Springs, Louisiana. Knotted Louisiana pine is the material used for the ceiling.
The three bells in the tower are from Good Shepherd Convent, a plantation, and a Baptist church.
On a pilgrimage to Fatima, the Our Lady of Fatima statue was purchased. Additionally, while on a pilgrimage to Mexico, the Our Lady of Guadalupe statue was purchased.