Order of St. Lazarus: Imperial Calcasieu Delegation Crest

The The Imperial Calcasieu Delegation includes Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jeff Davis, Lafayette, and Vermilion Parishes of Louisiana.

Seat

  • Lake Charles, LA

The Delegation has adopted as its Hospitaller ministry the War Veterans’ Home in Jennings and Oasis (a home for battered women) in Lake Charles as well as being committed to the Order’s interests in organ and tissue donation.


Members of the Commandery of the Southwest centered in Houston who lived in Southwest Louisiana, decided in January, 2006 to organize themselves, with official approval from the Grand Prior, into a “cadre” or a grouping of less than fifteen members. Some eight individuals became known as “The Imperial Calcasieu Cadre” which is composed of the territory of the former “Imperial Calcasieu Parish” of the State of Louisiana. This area is now five parishes/counties consisting of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jeff Davis Parishes.

By-laws were adopted and it was decided that the Cadre would meet quarterly under the guidance and direction of three officers: a Chairman who was the Senior Chaplain of the Cadre, a Vice-Chairman who was the senior non-clergy member, and a Treasurer who was appointed by the Chairman with the approval of the membership. The membership of the Cadre committed themselves not only to the goals and purpose of the Order on an international and national level but also made two other commitments: 1) Sponsoring an Annual Celebration of our Patron, Saint Lazarus near to his Feast day in December and 2) sponsoring, along with other Orders of Chivalry and local ministerial alliances, an Annual Celebration of Prayer for Christian Unity during the Week of Prayer for such in January.

In November, 2012, on the Feast of Christ the King, the Grand Prior issued a Decree by which he designated the Imperial Calcasieu Cadre as a “Delegation” as it had reached fifteen members. Today, the membership remains at fifteen but “Associate Members” of the Delegation number approximately fifteen more and our hope is to soon become a Lieutenancy.

In 2017, the Delegation was given permission to expand its sub-jurisdiction territory to include Acadia, Lafayette and Vermilion Parishes.


Imperial Calcasieu Delegation conducts Quarterly Meetings (February, May, August, and November) during the year, an Annual Pilgrimage (between March and May), holds a prayer service and Christmas Party on or near the Feast Day of St. Lazarus (December), and in the spring conducts an annual Givers Candlelight Ceremony – Honoring Organ, Tissue and Cornea Donors.