Deacon Ted Roussel

(January 17, 2009, Altar Server breakfast) Deacon Ted Roussel receives a standing ovation in thanks for the 15 years of service he devoted to the altar server ministry.

Member Highlight

Deacon Ted Roussel

The Lamb

February, 2004

Ted Roussel embraces the culture in which he was raised and epitomizes the faith in which he was ordained a deacon ten years ago. He was born on the Evergreen plantation in Wallace, grew up in Edgard, and lived in Algiers before building his own home in Destrehan.

When Ted was growing up, his father was a butcher but the family rarely got a taste of the beef he sold each day. Without a trace of regret, Ted says “We mostly ate wild game that he hunted, unless there was a little piece of beef meat that he couldn’t sell. Then we’d have us a little feast.” His brows raise and a satisfied grin spreads across his face as the memory comes to life.

Although he now appears by all measures to be quite comfortable financially, he still likes to trap coons, using cat food for bait. He insists that “they taste delicious, but you have to clean them properly. If somebody gave me a coon, I wouldn’t eat it because once you clean them they look just like dog. If you’re going to give me a coon, “ he says with a snicker, “leave one foot on so I can still tell it’s a coon.”

During his varied career, he worked his way up the ladder at Dupont from operations to cashier to production manager. When he was doing shift work, on some of his days off he would work a second job for the bank, not getting much sleep. To this day, he still gets by on just a few hours of sleep each night.

As was the case with many other veteran SCB Men of Manresa, it was Harry “Prof” Hurst who recruited Ted for his first retreat. At the time, Ted’s shift at work was not scheduled to get off until 5:30 A.M. on Friday. Prof Hurst told him to come to Manresa as soon as he got off work that Friday morning, take a quick nap, and be ready for the 10:00 A.M. lecture. He did just that, and the rest is history...

Ted enjoyed his first Manresa retreat so much that he began to go every year. Through thick and thin, Ted had attended retreat at Manresa for 28 consecutive years before he retired as co-captain of his retreat group in 2003. One year, when he had required heart surgery, he went on retreat in December rather than in July because he had just gotten out of the hospital a week earlier.

As of December 2003, Ted Roussel has been a deacon for 10 years. He says that Father John nominated him for the deaconate, supported him in his efforts, and encouraged him in his ministry until his untimely death. It was also Father John who recognized his love for children and appointed him to lead the altar servers.

After Mass, several Men of Manresa and other parishioners make it a point to thank him for his well-prepared homilies. In that regard, he calls himself a “traditionalist,” and says “I don’t go for all this modern [stuff].”

As he drives down bayou roads to his camp in Cocodrie, through familiar cane fields to Vacherie, and to his appointed rounds all across the area, he enjoys and understands the Cajun French music he listens to in his shiny red pickup. Mimicking a recent television ad, he rolls down the window and jokes with a friend, “It’s got a hemi!”

Of course, even in a space this small, you cannot attempt to capture the essence of Deacon Ted without mentioning the love of his life, his late wife Toby. To this day, he honors her in many ways - including the purchase of a new tabernacle for our church in her name. When asked about it, he replied with a smile on his lips and obvious longing in his heart, “I thought it was a fitting tribute to ‘Ms. Toby.’ ”

For years, Ted prepared a delicious Louisiana gumbo for the Men of Manresa at Christmas. Even when when Toby was ill and he could not join us, he prepared it in advance and made sure we got it. Deacon Ted also prepares a fabulous multi-course gourmet dinner each year for his outstanding altar servers. He playfully teases them in advance that their dinner will feature beanie-weenies when in fact it includes such delectable entrees as filet mignon. At least one altar server adopted Deacon Ted’s own humor and later sent him a thank-you card, saying how delicious the “beanie-weenies” were.

This selfless servant of Christ is a prime example of our Men of Manresa motto: “To the Lord I give the hours of my life and the use of my death.” God bless you, Deacon Ted.

A fond farewell to Ted Roussel

Beloved deacon transferred

The Lamb

February, 2004

Spreading the Good News of God - Deacon Mike Stohlman, Father Luke Nguyen, Deacon Ted Roussel, Deacon Harry Schexnayder, and Father Harry Bugler (L-R) gathered with a multitude of parishioners at a January 11 farewell reception for Deacon Ted.

It was Sunday evening, close to 6:00pm and the parking lot was full. No seats were left in church. People were standing in the side aisles. What was going on? Was the Pope coming to SCB? Father Harry and Deacon Harry were the only clergy on the Altar.

At the end of Mass, Father Harry reminded those in attendance that there was a reception immediately following for our departing Deacon Ted Roussel. Okay, that is why the parking lot was filled and there was standing room only in church. People wanted to be there to say farewell to a cherished friend, a member of our Church family, a person who has captured our hearts.

When people entered into the gym, they enjoyed the usual party foods. Deacon Harry Schnexyder was Master of Ceremonies and spoke about how Deacon Ted will certainly be missed by the people of St. Charles Borromeo Parish.

After speaking from the heart about his love for Ted, Deacon Harry asked Fr. Harry to come to the microphone. Fr. Harry, never lost for words, echoed the thoughts of many in attendance when he said the SCB Parish wouldn’t be the same without Deacon Ted.

The entire gym erupted in laughter when Fr. Luke spoke and mentioned that most recently when retired Archbishop Hannan came to SCB for the Confirmation Mass, Deacon Ted quoted Canon Law to the Archbishop. Yep, that’s our Deacon Ted.

Deacon Mike took the “mike” and spoke a few words of appreciation for all that Deacon Ted has done for us over the last ten years. Deacon Mike stated that Deacon Ted had given him the schedule for the Altar Servers for the next 10 years!

Ronald Rodrigue informed the crowd that Deacon Ted was a very generous contributor to our Parish. Many of the items that we take for granted were purchased with money from the good Deacon.

Lalie Montalto presented the Man of the Hour with a farewell gift from the Choir. Following Lalie, Nick Sardegna said a few words and then introduced the two Manresa Captains, Irwin Waguespack and Tony Ferrara. Both Irwin and Tony presented Deacon Ted with a gift from the Men of Manresa.

Finally, it was the man himself that took center stage – Deacon Ted was about to speak. When he took the microphone, the entire gym was completely silenced. We were about to hear from our friend who was leaving to go north, to God’s other country, Franklinton, Louisiana. Deacon Ted thanked those in attendance. He stated that he was very proud to serve at SCB. He said that he is very honored to have been chosen by Archbishop Hughes to serve as the Deacon at Holy Family Parish in Franklinton, which is located about an hour and a half from Destrehan. He told the crowd that he was not moving; he was only packing a suitcase. He will continue to keep his Destrehan home and move a trailer to Franklinton so he will not have to make the long commute too often.

He spoke of the support that Fr. John Phuc gave him when he was contemplating and then when he entered the Deaconate. He said that he has received a lot of support from his co-Deacons (Harry & Mike) as well as the Priests (Frs. Harry & Luke). He spoke of his fond appreciation for all that they have given to him.

Deacon Ted stated that Father Harry has given him an open invitation to all SCB events and that we will certainly be seeing him around in the future. As the evening grew to a close, there was a line of people waiting to give good ole Deacon Ted a hug to wish him well, to thank him for all he has done for us and to let him know that we will never stop praying for him.

God has certainly blessed the people of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in many ways. He has allowed many priests to learn the aspects of their profession in our Church and then moved them to other Churches where they could Shepherd different flocks. Now, God has allowed us to take an ordinary wonderful man, named Ted Roussel, turn him into a great Deacon and let him go somewhere else to spread the Good News of God. Yes, we’ll miss him. More importantly, his presence will always be at SCB and now a little bit of SCB will be in Franklinton. He’ll be around…he only packed a suitcase!

God bless you Deacon Ted! We love you!

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