Blessing of the Bells

On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, Bishop Deshotel presided over the Sacred Rite of the Blessing of the Bells that will hang in the tower of the new Our Lady of Wisdom church. The bells are a Commemorative Dedication generously donated by the Savoy & Cestia Families. Dr. Wayne "Boo" Cestia shared these remarks on behalf of the families:

Good afternoon.

My name is Wayne "Boo" Cestia, and on behalf of the Savoy and Cestia families, we would like to thank you for the opportunity to speak to this wonderful group of Wisdom Church supporters today.

First, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to Father Patrick Broussard, Father Nick Ware, Deacon Juan Pagán, and Bishop Deshotel for their leadership, guidance, and unwavering dedication to the vision of Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic Church and Student Center. Your faith, passion, and commitment have been instrumental in bringing this remarkable project to life.

Our family is truly humbled to be given the opportunity to have played a small role in supporting this endeavor through the gift of these bells. The bells will serve as a call to prayer, a reminder of God’s presence, and a symbol of faith that will resonate throughout this campus and community for generations to come.

We are especially grateful our children have had the opportunity to be involved in this form of support and service. It is our hope that this experience deepens their understanding of the importance of our Catholic faith, service to others, and commitment to the Church. We pray that their involvement, along with the generosity and dedication of so many others who have contributed to this project, will inspire others to answer God’s call with the same spirit of faith and service.

We look forward to the profound impact the new Wisdom Church campus will have on the students of this university, on the faithful who worship here, and on our broader community.

Thank you, and may God continue to bless Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic Church and your families.

The bells are named Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Teresa of Calcutta, and St. John the Baptist, whose nativity we celebrated on the day of this Blessing of the Bells, June 24. The bells have the ability to sound a funeral toll, play De Profundis, the Angelus, Hour and Half Hour strikes, and the Westminster chime and hour strikes.

Here are more details about each of the bells:

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Symbol: Rose

The rose is in reference to the Castilian roses that miraculously bloomed in winter as a sign that Our Lady appeared to St. Juan Diego.

Dedication: This bell rings in honor of Blair Elizabeth Cestia

Scripture: “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Psalms 23:1

Inscription: Heavenly Father, Make this dwelling place a beacon of light to overcome the darkness and a home where students come to know You and love You. Through the intercession of Mary, Seat of Wisdom, we make this prayer through Christ, our Lord. Amen

(An excerpt from the Wisdom for Every Generation Prayer that has guided the Capital Campaign for the new Our Lady of Wisdom.)

Details: Our Lady of Guadalupe was cast in 2026 and has a 36” diameter, weighing 1,245 pounds. The bell is tuned to A.

Saint Francis of Assisi

Symbol: Bird

St. Francis famously preached his “sermon to the birds” after St. Clare encouraged him to continue preaching the gospel rather than devote himself solely to prayer. The first beings he came upon were a flock of birds and he preached to them with fervor!

Dedication: This bell rings in honor of Zachary Savoy Cestia

Scripture: “For it is in giving that we receive.” St. Francis of Assisi

Crest: His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV. Pope Leo was elected May 8, 2025, twenty-one days after construction began.

Details: St. Francis was cast in 2026 and has a 27” diameter, weighing 700 pounds. The bell is tuned to D.

St. Teresa of Calcutta

Symbol: Stripes

The Missionaries of Charity, founded by St. Teresa of Calcutta, are identified by their habit featuring three blue stripes, representing their vows of poverty, obedience, and chastity or service to the poor.

Dedication: This bell rings in honor of Mia Anne Cestia

Scripture: “With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

Crest: The Most Reverend J. Douglas Deshotel. The Most Reverend J. Douglas Deshotel, Bishop of Lafayette, installed April 15, 2016. After seven years of negotiations, Bishop Deshotel played a key role in securing ownership of the property at 504 East St. Mary Boulevard.

Details: St. Teresa was cast in 2026 and has a 24.5” diameter, weighing 600 pounds. The bell is tuned to E.

St. John the Baptist

Symbol: Oil Lamp

Jesus describes St. John the Baptist as an oil lamp, symbolizing his mission to point others to Christ, the true light. “He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.” (John 5:35).

Dedication: This bell rings in honor of Clay Bujard Cestia

Scripture: “He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none.” Luke 3:11

Seal: University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Our Lady of Wisdom’s Catholic student ministry has served the campus community since 1923. ​​

Details: St. John was cast in 2026 and has a 22” diameter, weighing 500 pounds. The bell is tuned to F#.