In summer 2026, FMOL Health | Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital will open the doors to a new 5,000-square-foot chapel — a sacred space designed for prayer, reflection and healing in the heart of Acadiana.
Every detail of this chapel has been thoughtfully considered, from the stained glass windows that will fill the space with light to the pews that will welcome families into moments of peace and prayer.
These pews are more than furnishings. They are part of a larger story — one of faith, restoration and the belief that what has served generations before can continue to serve the generations still to come.
Today, the Lourdes Foundation is offering naming opportunities for the chapel pews. You can learn more by calling (337) 470-4610.
Where It Began: Sister Uyen’s Vision
Long before the chapel began to take shape, its story was already being written through the people who envisioned what it could become.
For Sister Uyen, that story began far from Acadiana, in South Vietnam, where faith was woven into the rhythm of daily life. After escaping Vietnam with her family, she came to the U.S. carrying with her both resilience and a deep sense of calling.
At just 18 years old, she joined the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady, embracing a life rooted in service and the Franciscan belief of growing where we are called.
Through decades of ministry in healthcare and service, Sister Uyen’s faith has remained anchored in a simple but profound truth: God is present in all things and in every person.
That belief shaped the vision she held for this chapel.
Seeing What Could Be
When a set of pews from an old church was placed into storage — worn, damaged and no longer usable — many saw something beyond repair.
Sister Uyen saw possibility. She saw not what the pews had become but what they could be.
With a vision for the new chapel, she advocated for their restoration, believing these pews could once again become a place where people gather in prayer, find comfort in difficult moments and experience God’s presence in quiet reflection. Not as they once were, but renewed for the mission ahead.
Noah Mudge: The Hands Behind the Work
To bring Sister Uyen’s vision to life, local craftsman Noah Mudge and his team were entrusted with the restoration.
For more than 20 years, Noah has built his business around the kind of work many others would pass over — detailed restoration projects, custom builds and intricate craftsmanship that demand both technical expertise and creative problem-solving.
“Everything we do has a story,” Noah says. “That’s what makes it interesting.”
The chapel pews were no exception. When they arrived at his workshop, they required extensive care and restoration. Years of wear had taken their toll, and bringing them back to life would require patience, precision and deep respect for the craftsmanship that first created them. Piece by piece, Noah and his team have worked to preserve the character of each pew while restoring them for a new purpose. Their work is not simply about rebuilding wood. It is about preserving legacy.
Built for Community
Soon, these restored pews will welcome every patient, family member, caregiver and guest who enters the chapel. They will hold prayers whispered in uncertainty. They will support families giving thanks for answered prayers. They will offer a place of stillness in moments when words are hard to find. They will become part of countless stories of hope, healing, gratitude and grace. This is the heart of the chapel’s mission: to create a place where all who enter can pause, reflect and find peace.
Be Part of Our Story
The restoration of these pews reflects the very spirit of FMOL Health | Our Lady of Lourdes — honoring what has come before while building faithfully for the future. Every detail of the new chapel has been shaped by people who chose to say yes — yes to faith, yes to healing and yes to creating a place of comfort for the families of Acadiana.
