The Father Verbis Award
Vermilion Catholic School | Abbeville, Louisiana
The Father Lafleur Award
The most prestigious award at Vermilion Catholic
In honor of Father Lafleur’s first assignment as Associate Pastor at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Abbeville, LA (1938 – 1941), the Father Lafleur Award was established in 1958 and is awarded annually in the Spring to one outstanding male and one outstanding female Vermilion Catholic School (formerly Mount Carmel) athlete. It is the highest and most prestigious achievement award bestowed upon a VC student.
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An athlete must participate in at least one major sport for at least two years (Participation does not include a manager or statistician role).
Scholastically, the athlete must have a 2.0 grade point average or better at the end of the third quarter and no “F” in the senior year.
Key attributes for the winner must include: good character, strong Christian values, exhibits good morals, is an asset to a Catholic school, and presents an upstanding public image.
Did you know?
In addition to being a military hero and chaplain, Lt. Rev. J. Verbis Lafleur was also a talented basketball, football, baseball, and tennis athlete. In his adult years, he served as a coach and mentor to the youth, especially the youth of Abbeville, LA, where he was first assigned as Associate Pastor.
Rev. J. Verbis Lafleur standing in front of St. Mary Magdalene Church, his first assignment as Associate Pastor (1938 – 1941)
Newspaper article announcing Father Lafleur as Associate Pastor of St. Mary Magdalene Church in Abbeville, LA
Mt. Carmel 6-man Football Team | Father Lafleur (standing, right) coached and promoted athletes while assigned as a priest in Abbeville, Louisiana prior to his enrollment in the U.S. Army
"Frenchy" Lafleur on the 1927-1928 St. Joseph Seminary Basketball Team (kneeling, center, bottom)
Carol and Richard (nephew to Fr. Lafleur) Lafleur pictured with winners of the Father Lafleur Award
Fr. Verbis Lafleur (standing, second from right) played for the St. Joseph Seminary Baseball Team. He was a great sports enthusiast.
Fr. Verbis Lafleur on a tennis court in Abbeville, Louisiana, prior to his U.S. military enrollment.
Fr. Lafleur as a young boy
Fr. Lafleur as a young adult in front of his homestead in Opelousas, Louisiana
Father Lafleur as a young priest in Abbeville, LA