About Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception · Lake Charles, Louisiana
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and serves as the seat (cathedra) of the Bishop of Lake Charles. Established in 1869 as the Parish of St. Francis de Sales — the first Catholic parish in Lake Charles — it was rededicated to the Immaculate Conception in 1881 and elevated to cathedral status when Pope John Paul II erected the Diocese of Lake Charles on January 29, 1980. The current Romanesque Revival church, dedicated December 18, 1913, was designed by the prominent New Orleans firm Favrot & Livaudais and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (since 1994). It ministers to approximately 800 registered families and remains the liturgical heart of Southwest Louisiana, having grown into 39 parishes and six mission churches.
- Established
- 1869
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (under the title of the Immaculate Conception)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Ruben J. Buller, V.G.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lake Charles
Why belong here
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception offers something rare: a downtown landmark church where the ordinary rhythm of Catholic life and the extraordinary heritage of a 150-year-old diocese meet under one roof. Daily Mass is offered in both the Ordinary Form (English and Latin Novus Ordo) and the Extraordinary Form (Rubrics of 1962, the Traditional Latin Mass), and the parish maintains a robust devotional calendar — Perpetual Help Novena on Tuesdays, daily Rosary, weekly Adoration, First Friday and First Saturday devotions, Benediction, and Stations of the Cross in Lent. Its ministries reach beyond the parish: a Haiti twinning partnership with Notre Dame d'Altagrâce in Layaye, a Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference, Knights of Columbus, Room in the Inn, Dorothy Day House of Hospitality, a K-8 Cathedral School, RCIA, vibrant youth and music programs, and a parish of about 800 registered families that has been called the 'Mother Church of Southwest Louisiana.' For anyone seeking the historic, devotional, and apostolic heart of the Diocese of Lake Charles, this is it.
Mass times at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Thursday: 11:30 AM – 12:00 noon
- Friday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 noon
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:55 PM
- Sunday: 30 minutes before each Mass
- First Saturday of each month: Confessions during exposition following 8:00 AM Mass
- Or by appointment through the parish office
Adoration times
- Wednesday: Adoration and Rosary at 6:00 PM in the Cathedral
- Wednesday: Rosary at 6:30 PM in the West Transept
- First Friday of each month: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament following the 6:30 AM Mass, 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- First Saturday of each month: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament following the 8:00 AM Mass
History of the Parish
Catholic missionary activity in Imperial Calcasieu began in the 1850s when priests from Texas and later Opelousas came to minister; in 1857 a chapel was built on Ryan and Kirby streets and dedicated to St. Francis de Sales in 1858. The parish was formally established on December 8, 1869, when Archbishop Jean-Marie Odin of New Orleans appointed the Rev. François Magniny as pastor. After surviving an 1879 hurricane under Father Michael Kelly, a new church was dedicated to the Immaculate Conception in 1881. The Great Fire of 1910 destroyed the second church and most parish records; the present Romanesque Revival building, designed by Favrot & Livaudais, was dedicated December 18, 1913. The parish was elevated to Cathedral of the newly created Diocese of Lake Charles on January 29, 1980.
- 1857: Lot at Ryan & Kirby purchased for $375; chapel built for $900
- 1858: St. Francis de Sales chapel dedicated September 26
- 1869: Parish established December 8 by Archbishop Odin
- 1879: Hurricane damages church and rectory
- 1881: Rededication to Immaculate Conception by Bishop Francis X. Leray
- 1910: Great Fire destroys church, rectory, schools, convent
- 1913: Present cathedral dedicated December 18 by Archbishop James Blenk
- 1980: Elevated to Cathedral when Diocese of Lake Charles erected (Jan 29)
- 1994: Listed on National Register of Historic Places (Oct 7)
- 2013: Carrara-marble image of the Immaculate Conception canonically crowned (Aug 22)
- 2019: Major interior restoration completed; Rite of Dedication August 31
- 2020: Roof damage from Hurricane Laura (Aug 27) and Hurricane Delta (Oct 9)
Architecture and the Building
The Cathedral is a Romanesque Revival church with strong Lombardy-Italianate influences — one of the most outstanding examples of Lombardy Romanesque architecture in the United States. Designed by the New Orleans firm Favrot & Livaudais and built by contractors Reinhart and Donovan, the brick church rises with a Greek-cross plan, a clerestory-lit nave, groin-vaulted aisles and transepts, a polygonal apse with half-dome vault, and an Italian-style five-stage campanile topped with polychrome black-white-red brick. The interior features monumental arcades, monolithic columns with carved capitals, a green-rose-gray-beige terrazzo floor in Byzantine geometric patterns, and stained glass in the clerestory. In 1923 three Gothic-style marble altars originally built for the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City were installed, and around 1950 marble wainscoting and a marble pulpit were added.
- Architect: Favrot & Livaudais (New Orleans)
- Builder: Reinhart and Donovan
- Style: Romanesque Revival with Lombardy / Italianate campanile
- Materials: brick walls, stone-lined interior, red tile roof
- Capacity: 800–900 seats
- Bell tower: 5-story campanile, polychrome top stage
- Notable interiors: Carrara-marble altars (1923), terrazzo floor, clerestory stained glass, Stations of the Cross
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1994, ref. #94001201)
Devotions
True to its identity as the Diocesan Cathedral, the parish celebrates the full range of traditional Catholic devotions, guided by the Vatican Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy. The Sacred Heart of Jesus statue in the West Transept is a focal point of prayer; the Cathedral's 2019 restoration brought out new vibrancy in Marian imagery above the altar.
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena — Tuesdays at 11:50 AM
- Holy Rosary — Monday–Friday at 11:30 AM
- Rosary — Wednesdays at 6:30 PM (West Transept)
- Adoration and Rosary — Wednesdays at 6:00 PM
- First Friday Adoration — 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM (after 6:30 AM Mass)
- First Saturday Exposition, Rosary, Confessions — after 8:00 AM Mass
- Stations of the Cross — Tuesdays in Lent
- Liturgy of the Hours
- Sacred Heart of Jesus devotion — West Transept statue
Parish Ministries
The Cathedral offers an unusually broad range of lay ministries covering liturgical service, formation, outreach, fellowship, and parish governance. The Parish Council and Finance Council guide parish life; liturgical ministries include Altar Servers/Masters of Ceremonies, Eucharistic Ministers, Sacristans, Music Ministry, and Greeters & Ushers. Outreach and service ministries include the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus, Ministry to the Sick, Dorothy Day House of Hospitality, Room in the Inn, St. Joseph the Worker Ministry, and the Haiti Outreach Ministry. Formation ministries include RCIA, Funeral Ministry, Wedding Coordinator Ministry, and Gift Shop Ministry; fellowship options include Sunday Coffee and Pickleball.
- Liturgical: Altar Servers/MC, Eucharistic Ministers, Sacristans, Music Ministry, Greeters & Ushers
- Formation: RCIA, Funeral Ministry, Wedding Coordinator
- Outreach: Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus, Dorothy Day House, Room in the Inn, St. Joseph the Worker, Haiti Outreach
- Spiritual: Benedictine Oblates
- Parish life: Pastoral Council, Finance Council, Sunday Coffee, Pickleball, Gift Shop
Haiti Outreach Ministry
Since September 5, 2004, the Cathedral has maintained a parish-to-parish twinning with Notre Dame d'Altagrâce in Layaye, Haiti, on the Central Plateau. The ministry — supported by 'Haiti Sundays' collections averaging roughly $2,300 per month — funds bi-monthly medical clinics staffed by a Haitian physician, deworming and vitamin programs for about 1,000 children, clean-water filtration units serving 800 families (in partnership with Gift of Water), teachers' salaries, parish administration, and a professional trade school opened in July 2009 that trains 30 young adults a year in sewing, tailoring, carpentry, cooking, and sign-making. Periodic medical and dental mission trips bring health professionals from Memphis to Layaye.
- Sister parish: Notre Dame d'Altagrâce, Layaye, Haiti
- Founded: September 5, 2004
- Medical: bi-monthly clinics, medical/dental mission trips
- Education: trade school (since 2009), tuition support, teacher salaries
- Health: deworming program for ~1,000 children; clean-water systems for 800 families
- Average parish support: ~$2,300/month
Immaculate Conception Cathedral School (ICCS)
The parish's PK-8 school, Immaculate Conception Cathedral School, sits on the Cathedral campus and shares in the parish's liturgical and catechetical life. The school describes itself as 'a community of faith, hope and love' dedicated to educating the whole child — soul, heart, mind and body. Catholic identity is woven into every grade through daily Angelus or Regina Coeli prayer, school Masses, adoration from PK through 8th grade, a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium, Advent and Lenten prayer services, the Living Rosary (4th grade) and Living Stations of the Cross (7th grade), First Penance and First Communion in 2nd grade, May Crowning, the annual St. Francis Pet Blessing, class retreats, and the Disciple of Christ – Education in Virtue program.
- Grades: Pre-K through 8th
- Faith programs: Adoration, school Masses, May Crowning, Living Rosary, Living Stations, retreats
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Atrium
- Sacraments: First Penance and First Communion (2nd grade)
- Prayer: daily Angelus or Regina Coeli
- Affiliated with the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception parish
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry supports the Cathedral's sung worship with the Cathedral Choir, Cantors, and instrumentalists serving at Sunday Masses, Holy Day liturgies, ordinations, and special diocesan celebrations. The parish lists Robert Marcantel as Music Director.
- Cathedral Choir (year-round)
- Cantors leading congregational song at all liturgies
- Music Director: Robert Marcantel
- Holy Day and special-event choirs
Sacraments
Baptism and Marriage are scheduled by appointment through the parish office. Sacramental preparation for First Penance and First Communion takes place through ICCS in 2nd grade. The RCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process is available year-round for those inquiring about the Catholic Faith, with Deacon Bill Pettit as a key contact. The Ministry to the Sick brings Holy Communion and the Anointing of the Sick to those who are homebound or hospitalized.
- Baptism — by appointment
- Marriage — by appointment; Wedding Coordinator Ministry
- First Penance / First Communion — ICCS 2nd grade
- RCIA — year-round, Deacon Bill Pettit
- Anointing of the Sick — Ministry to the Sick
Clergy and Staff
The Cathedral is pastored by Very Rev. Ruben J. Buller, V.G., who also serves the diocese as Director of Hurricane Recovery. He is assisted by Rev. Michael Beverung, Parochial Vicar, and Deacon Bill Pettit. The parish staff includes a secretary, receptionists, bookkeeper / safe environment coordinator, OCIA coordinator, youth director, music director, and maintenance engineer.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Ruben J. Buller, V.G.
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Michael Beverung
- Deacon: Bill Pettit (RCIA)
- Secretary: Lavonne 'Cookie' Dennison
- Receptionists: Sue Burke, Michelle Istre
- Bookkeeper / Safe Environment Coordinator: Carmel Fazzio
- OCIA Coordinator: Connie Nodier
- Youth Director: Monica Broussard
- Music Director: Robert Marcantel
- Maintenance Engineer: Brendan Howard
The Diocese of Lake Charles
The Diocese of Lake Charles was erected on January 29, 1980, by Pope John Paul II, with Immaculate Conception designated as the Cathedral Church. The diocese serves the civil parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Jefferson Davis, Cameron, and Calcasieu in Southwest Louisiana, currently comprising 39 parishes and 6 mission churches. The diocesan bishop is the Most Reverend Glen John Provost, M.A., D.D. The Cathedral grounds connect directly to the diocesan chancery, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Laura in 2020.
- Established: January 29, 1980
- Bishop: Most Rev. Glen John Provost, M.A., D.D.
- Cathedral: Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Lake Charles
- Region: civil parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Jefferson Davis, Cameron, Calcasieu
- Number of parishes: 39 (plus 6 mission churches)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. François Magniny1869–
First pastor of the Parish of St. Francis de Sales, appointed by Archbishop Jean-Marie Odin of New Orleans on December 8, 1869.
- Rev. Étienne Badoil1869–
First assistant priest at the founding of the parish.
- Rev. Michael Kelly1879–
Rebuilt after the 1879 hurricane; oversaw construction of boys' school, girls' school and convent; rededication to Immaculate Conception in 1881.
- Rev. Hubert Cramers1902–1935
Dutch-born priest who led rebuilding after the 1910 Great Fire; oversaw construction of the present 1913 church; named Monsignor (Domestic Prelate) by Pope Benedict XV in 1929; died August 10, 1935, and is interred in a vault just outside the sanctuary.
- Monsignor J. A. Vigliero1935–1940
Installed stained-glass windows and the bell in the high campanile.
- Monsignor Louis H. Boudreaux1940–1974
First native-born priest to serve as pastor; during his tenure the church became the first Catholic church in Louisiana to be air conditioned; died December 3, 1974, hours after his retirement.
- Very Rev. Ruben J. Buller, V.G.
Current pastor; led the 2019 restoration and 2013 Carrara-marble Marian coronation events; also Diocesan Director of Hurricane Recovery.