About Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist · Lafayette, Louisiana
The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist (La Cathédrale St-Jean) is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana and the oldest Catholic parish in Lafayette Parish, tracing its origins to 1821. Originally named l'Église St-Jean du Vermilion, it became a cathedral in 1918 when the Diocese of Lafayette was carved out of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Located in downtown Lafayette at 515 Cathedral Street, the present Dutch Romanesque Revival church was built 1913–1916 under the direction of Monsignor William Joseph Teurlings, with a cornerstone laid in November 1913 and a dedication on June 27, 1916. The parish continues to serve roughly 2,816 families and operates Cathedral-Carmel School, the oldest Catholic school in Lafayette (founded 1846), alongside a historic cemetery that holds the remains of the Mouton family and diplomat Jefferson Caffery.
- Established
- 1821
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Very Rev. Chester C. Arceneaux, V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
Why belong here
St. John Cathedral offers a rare combination of historic depth and active parish life: a 200-year-old mother church serving roughly 2,816 families in downtown Lafayette, with a full schedule of daily and Sunday Masses, daily Eucharistic adoration (including extended 'exposed' adoration Wednesday evening through Friday morning), multiple devotions (Mother of Perpetual Help novena, French, Padre Pio, and Pro-Life rosaries), and the ministries of an on-site Catholic school, an historic cemetery, and a parish outreach office. As the seat of the Diocese of Lafayette, it also gives parishioners a direct connection to the bishop and the broader life of the local Church in Acadiana.
Mass times at Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–4:00 PM
- Half hour before all weekday Masses
Adoration times
- Adoration Chapel open daily 6:00 AM–6:00 PM
- Exposed Adoration: Wednesday 6:00 PM through Friday 10:00 AM (open 24/7 to parishioners with code)
- 24-Hour Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: Thursday before First Friday, beginning 6:00 PM in the Chapel of the Beloved Disciple
About the Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist has witnessed Christ in downtown Lafayette for more than 200 years. It is the mother church of the Diocese of Lafayette and the oldest Catholic parish in Lafayette Parish. Its mission is to communicate the love of God the Father in Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit, accomplished through the work of clergy, staff, and parishioners in five areas: Liturgy and Spirituality, Parish Stewardship, Faith Formation, Parish Outreach, and Community Outreach.
- Mailing address: 914 St. John Street, Lafayette, LA 70501-6701
- Phone: (337) 232-1322
- Email: [email protected]
- Reception: Karen Broussard (337-232-1322)
- Parish Secretary / Wedding & Baptism Coordinator: Danielle Huval (337-270-8118)
Cathedral-Carmel School
Cathedral-Carmel School, located on the parish campus at 848 St. John Street, is a co-educational Catholic elementary school serving PreK through 8th grade. Founded in 1846 (the oldest school in Lafayette), it is the historic combination of Mount Carmel Academy and Cathedral School and is operated by the Cathedral parish in the Diocese of Lafayette, affiliated with the Sisters of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the De La Salle Christian Brothers. Students attend a weekly liturgy every Thursday at 8:15 AM in the cathedral, with classes rotating to prepare and participate. The principal is Kay B. Aillet.
- Founded 1846 — oldest school in Lafayette
- PreK through 8th grade, co-educational
- Weekly Thursday 8:15 AM School Mass in the cathedral
- Affiliated with Sisters of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel & De La Salle Christian Brothers
- Principal: Kay B. Aillet
Parish Staff & Diocesan Leadership
The cathedral is shepherded by its rector, Very Rev. Chester C. Arceneaux, V.F., with the diocesan bishop, Most Rev. J. Douglas Deshotel, serving as canonical pastor. A parish office team supports liturgy, music, communications, evangelization, faith formation, outreach, and the cemetery.
- Rector: Very Rev. Chester C. Arceneaux, V.F.
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. David Furka
- In Residence: Rev. Cyprian Eze
- Deacons: Dcn. George Jourdan, Dcn. Kyle Polozola
- Bishop: Most Rev. J. Douglas Deshotel (Diocese of Lafayette)
- Director of Communications & Development: Molly McCracken
- Director of Liturgy & Music: Joseph Smaldino; Co-Music Director: Regina Barnett
- Director of Evangelization: Trevor Beach
- Director of Outreach Ministries: Donna Gazzana
- Director of Montessori Programs & Development: Teresa Wittry
- Reception: Karen Broussard
- Parish Secretary / Wedding & Baptism Coordinator: Danielle Huval
Sacraments
Baptisms are normally celebrated on the second Saturday of each month at 9:00 AM and on Saturdays following the 4:00 PM Vigil Mass, by a Cathedral priest or deacon. First-time parents and godparents are required to attend a baptism preparation class; virtual resources are currently used through diolaf.org. Non-parishioners must provide a Letter of Permission from their home pastor. Weddings are coordinated through Danielle Huval at the parish office. Reconciliation is offered Saturday afternoons and before weekday Masses.
- Baptism: 2nd Saturday of month at 9:00 AM and Saturdays after 4:00 PM Vigil Mass
- Baptism prep class required for first-time parents/godparents
- Marriage: contact Parish Office (Danielle Huval) well in advance
- Reconciliation: Saturday 3:00–4:00 PM and 30 minutes before weekday Masses
- Anointing of the Sick: through the Parish Office
St. John's Cemetery
St. John's Cemetery, located behind the cathedral, is the oldest cemetery in the city of Lafayette. It holds the graves of several figures central to Louisiana history. The cemetery is open daily 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM; the cemetery office is open Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–3:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM. Recent additions under Fr. Arceneaux include new mausoleums and a chapel.
- Oldest cemetery in Lafayette
- Notable burials: Jean Mouton, Alexandre Mouton, Alfred Mouton, Jefferson Caffery
- Daily hours: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Cemetery office: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–3:00 PM, Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
- New mausoleums and chapel added under Fr. Arceneaux
History & Architecture
The present cathedral is the third church on the site. The cornerstone was laid in November 1913 and the building completed and dedicated June 27, 1916, under the direction of Monsignor W. J. Teurlings, who commissioned the Dutch Romanesque Revival design from an unemployed Dutch architect, Cousin, whom he met in Holland in 1910. The seven-bay basilican plan, with its red-and-white brick exterior, buttresses, square bell tower with Flemish-style bell, vaults, and round arches, was built by general contractor Eugene Guillot of New Iberia. Emil Frei Art Glass of Munich, Bavaria, produced the stained-glass windows at a cost of $10,000; in the 1920s artist Rudi Compti painted and stencilled the interior. A Casavant Frères organ was installed in 1985. The cathedral and the 7-acre surrounding historic district (cathedral, Bishop's residence, and cemetery) were placed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 27, 1979, with a boundary increase on January 25, 2024.
- Architect: Cousin (Nijmegen, Netherlands)
- Contractor: Eugene Guillot of New Iberia
- Style: Dutch Romanesque Revival
- Stained glass: Emil Frei Art Glass, Munich, Bavaria
- Interior painting/stencilling: Rudi Compti (1920s)
- Casavant Frères organ (1985): 3 manuals, 54 ranks, 3,038 pipes
- NRHP listed: July 27, 1979; boundary increase January 25, 2024
Office Hours & Visiting
Parish Office: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and Monday–Thursday 1:00–4:00 PM (summer hours May 23–August 1, 2025: Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–1:00 PM; Friday closed). Cemetery is open daily 8:00 AM–5:00 PM. Masses are live-streamed through the parish YouTube channel.
- Parish Office: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM; Mon–Thu 1:00–4:00 PM
- Summer hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–1:00 PM (Fri closed)
- Cemetery: Daily 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Mass live-stream: parish YouTube channel
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michel Bernard Barrière1821–
First pastor; missionary priest from Bordeaux, France, appointed by Bishop duBourg. Served the scattered French Catholic settlers of the Attakapas region.
- Rev. Ernest Forge1881–1906
Spearheaded extensive remodel of the mid-19th-century church: electric lights, stained-glass windows, Italian marble altar, added transepts for the African-American Catholic community. In 1881 a 3,000-pound church bell was donated by the Black Catholic community.
- Rev. W. J. Teurlings (later Monsignor)1906–1929
Dutch-born pastor who designed and oversaw construction of the present cathedral (cornerstone 1913, completed 1916). Opened Cathedral School for boys in 1919. Continued as rector after the parish was elevated to cathedral in 1918.
- Rev. Anthony Francis Isenbergfrom 1929
Oversaw the final beautification of the cathedral (marble wainscotting in the sanctuary, large marble altar gifted by Bishop Jeanmard). Paid off the cathedral's building debt during the Great Depression; helped open Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in 1949.
- Rev. Glenn Provostfrom 1985
Appointed rector after major 1984 renovations; instituted several new parish programs and led celebration of the parish's 175th anniversary.
- Msgr. Keith Derouenfrom 1998
Completed additional building and renovation projects; oversaw thorough mapping of the cemetery and digitization of sacramental records and parish archives.
- Very Rev. Chester C. Arceneaux, V.F.2010–present
Installed as rector in June 2010. Oversaw renovation of the Youth Center and Spirituality Center, new buildings at Cathedral-Carmel campus, renovation of the Chapel of the Beloved Disciple, new mausoleums and a chapel in the cemetery, and completion of Cathedral Hall in 2016. Parish census has grown by more than 1,600 families to roughly 2,816.
