T. L. Herlong

The Mass of Christian Burial for the Rev. Theophilus L. Herlong, 86, a priest of the Diocese of Lake Charles, will be celebrated by The Most Reverend Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Rev. Don Piraro will be the homilist. Priests of the Diocese will concelebrate. Interment will follow in New Bethany Cemetery on the grounds of Saint Charles Center in Moss Bluff.

Visitation will begin Monday, Jan. 21, at 4 p.m. in Johnson Funeral Home. Monday Evening Prayer will be prayed at 6 p.m. Visitation will be in the Cathedral beginning at 8 a.m. on Tuesday until time of the Mass.

Father Herlong, a native of Lake Charles, died Friday, Jan. 18, in a local hospital. He was born on July 13, 1926 to Theophilus L. Herlong, Sr., and Rose Meche Herlong and had four siblings - George Earl Harveson, Herold Aloysius Harveson, Daniel Webster Herlong and Lozelle Herlong Hoffpauir.

He attended Central School and graduated from Lake Charles High School in 1943 and began his priestly studies at St. Joseph Seminary in St. Benedict, La. (1943-1945), continuing in study with the Society of Jesus at St. Charles College at Grand Coteau, La. (1945-1949). Father Herlong graduated from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala. in 1952 and taught at Jesuit High School in Dallas until 1955 before continuing his theological education at St. Mary's University in Kansas. The Most Reverend Thomas Toolen, Archbishop of Mobile, ordained him a priest of the Society of Jesus on June 18, 1958, in the Spring Hill College Chapel. He celebrated his first Mass on June 22, 1958, in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in downtown Lake Charles.

He continued his education at St. Louis University and earned a Licentiate of Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) in 1959. He returned to Jesuit High in Dallas and later taught at Strake Jesuit in Houston before moving to retreat work, with assignments at Manresa House in Convent, Our Lady of the Oaks Retreat House at Grand Coteau, and Montserrat Retreat House in Lake Dallas, Texas. He also served as a chaplain of Lafayette Charity Hospital and was guidance counselor at Jesuit High School in New Orleans. In 1976, Father Herlong earned an M.S. from the University of Southwest Louisiana.

In 1978, he was incardinated into the Diocese of Lafayette and served as associate pastor at St. Anthony in Eunice, Holy Rosary in Kaplan, and Sacred Heart of Jesus in Ville Platte. Father Herlong was administrator at St. Raphael in Iowa and Immaculate Conception in Jennings.

He was incardinated into the Diocese of Lake Charles in 1981 and named pastor of Immaculate Conception in Jennings, serving there until 1991, when appointed pastor of St. Mary of the Lake in Big Lake. Named to Senior Priest status and retired in 1996, he lived at Holy Ground Community and then in residence at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Moss Bluff. He later moved to Villa Maria Retirement Center.

Father Herlong served a variety of administrative assignments including as a judge in the diocesan Tribunal, on the priest senate, the diocesan school board, and as a diocesan consultor. He also served as Scout Chaplain for the Diocese, Faithful Friar of Msgr. Cramers Assembly, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, and director of Radio Maria.

He was a contributor of numerous scriptural reflections to Emmanuel Magazine, having his commentary on Matthew's infancy narrative published only last year. His book, Maturity Revisited, was published by Liguori Publications in 1972.

Survivors include Nephews and Nieces; Travis Hoffpauir and wife Cathy of Lake Charles, Daniel Herlong, III and wife Ubon of Staunton, VA, Bucky (Raymond) Herlong and wife Dana of Fredericksburg, VA, Susan Herlong Kenney of Falls Church, VA, George Harveson Herlong and wife Koh of Hollywood, FL. He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings and a niece, Kitten (Catherine) Herlong.

Memorials may be made to the Diocese of Lake Charles, 414 Iris St., Lake Charles, LA 70601 for the purposes of Seminary Education.

The family would like to thank Cleve and Elaine Trahan and Sister Mary Pius for their special friendship.