About Christ the King · Simmesport, Louisiana
Christ the King Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic parish serving Simmesport, a town on the west bank of the Atchafalaya River in southeastern Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Alexandria (Avoyelles Deanery) and was canonically established as an independent parish in 1955, though the Catholic community in the Simmesport area dates back more than a century. Today the parish ministers to local families, French Creole and Italian-descent Catholics of the Atchafalaya basin, and residents of the surrounding rural communities of Yellow Bayou, Odenburg, and Naples. Worship, faith formation, music, and devotional life are led by a small but committed staff of clergy and lay ministers.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- Christ the King (Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe)
- Rector
- Rev. Kurian Zachariah (per current diocesan parish page; the 2026 diocesan directory lists Rev. Thomas Kennedy as Pastoral Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Alexandria (in Louisiana), Avoyelles Deanery
Why belong here
Christ the King offers a tight-knit Catholic home on the Atchafalaya River where Mass is celebrated several times a week, including a Saturday Vigil, two Sunday Masses, weekday Masses in the chapel, and a weekly Mass at the Bayou Chateau nursing home. Parishioners are formed in faith through the Director of Religious Education's programs, supported by two co-directors of music, and sustained by a rich devotional life of weekly Eucharistic Adoration, First Saturday Divine Mercy devotions, Stations of the Cross in Lent, and a parish Knights of Columbus council. Visitors and new parishioners are welcomed into more than a century of French Creole and Italian Catholic heritage in the heart of Avoyelles Parish.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before Saturday Vigil Mass
- Sunday 8:30–8:45 am
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Every Friday, 8:00–11:00 am in the Chapel
- Every Saturday, 3:00–3:45 pm in the Chapel
- First Saturday: Divine Mercy devotions before the Vigil Mass, followed by Adoration
Parish Overview
Christ the King Catholic Church is the Catholic parish of Simmesport, Louisiana, in Avoyelles Parish on the Atchafalaya River. It belongs to the Diocese of Alexandria (Avoyelles Deanery) and was canonically established in 1955, though the Catholic community traces back more than a century to a mission of Sacred Heart Church in Moreauville. The parish is a small but active community serving French Creole, Italian-descent, and other Catholic families of Yellow Bayou, Odenburg, Simmesport, and Naples.
- Diocese: Diocese of Alexandria (Avoyelles Deanery)
- Established: 1955
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 186, Simmesport, LA 71369-0186
- Phone: 318-941-2381
- Office hours: Tuesday–Thursday, 8:00 am–12:00 noon
History of Christ the King
The parish's history reaches back to the early 1900s, when Catholic life in the area was first served as a mission of Sacred Heart Church in Moreauville. In 1923 the mission relocated to Odenburg, an Italian and French Creole settlement on the Atchafalaya River; the community worshipped there until 1935, when the church was permanently moved into Simmesport and consecrated as Christ the King. On November 22, 1955, it was formally erected as an independent parish.
- Early 1900s — Catholic mission of Sacred Heart, Moreauville begins in the Simmesport area
- 1923–1935 — Mission based at Odenburg
- 1935 — Church permanently moved to Simmesport and consecrated as Christ the King (80th anniversary, 2015)
- 1955 — Christ the King becomes an independent parish (60th anniversary, 2015)
- 1965 — Current church building completed (50th anniversary, 2015)
- 2015 — Anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop Ronald Herzog with Father Dwight de Jesus and former pastors
An Atchafalaya Catholic Community
The parish has documented its heritage in the book Christ the King: An Atchafalaya Catholic Community: 115th, 80th, 50th, 30th Anniversaries by Natt Couvillon, Randy DeCuir, and Wayne Coco. The volume tells the story of the Italian and French families who settled along the Atchafalaya River and built the parish through Yellow Bayou, Odenburg, Simmesport, and Naples — a rich, multi-generational Catholic culture unique to the basin.
Parish Staff
Christ the King is served by a small team of clergy and lay staff. Worship and music are led by two co-directors of music, while faith formation is coordinated by a Director of Religious Education.
- Rev. Kurian Zachariah — Pastor
- Rev. Thomas Kennedy — Pastoral Administrator (per 2026 Diocese of Alexandria directory)
- Krista Ducote — Secretary
- Regine Guillot — Co-Director of Music
- Gloria Patterson — Co-Director of Music
- Lynn Gunnells — Director of Religious Education
Ministries and Organizations
The parish runs religious education (CCD) for children, supports a music program with two co-directors, and is home to the Christ the King Council #10564 of the Knights of Columbus, which led the procession into the church during the 2015 anniversary Mass. A youth group is also active in the parish.
- Religious Education / CCD — Lynn Gunnells, DRE
- Music Ministry — Co-Directors Regine Guillot and Gloria Patterson
- Knights of Columbus Christ the King Council #10564
- Youth Group
- Nursing Home Ministry at Bayou Chateau
Sacraments and Pastoral Services
Beyond the regular Mass and confession schedule, Christ the King ministers the sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick through the parish office. The 2015 anniversary records show that from December 1964 through December 1965 — the first year of the current church building — the parish celebrated 45 baptisms, 41 First Communions, 92 Confirmations, and 23 marriages.
- Baptism
- First Holy Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
- Funerals (Christ the King Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum on parish grounds)
Christ the King Catholic Cemetery
The parish maintains the Christ the King Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum on its grounds in Simmesport, serving the burial needs of parishioners and their families in the Atchafalaya region.
Visit, Contact, and Office Hours
The parish office is located at 705 Main Street, Simmesport, Louisiana (mailing address P.O. Box 186, Simmesport, LA 71369-0186). The office is open Tuesday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon, and the parish phone is 318-941-2381. Visitors and new parishioners are warmly welcomed.
- Address: 705 Main St., Simmesport, LA 71369
- Mailing: P.O. Box 186, Simmesport, LA 71369-0186
- Phone: 318-941-2381
- Office hours: Tuesday–Thursday, 8:00 am–12:00 noon
- Website: diocesealex.org/church/christ-the-king-church/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Dwight de JesusOrdained 1985 on the Feast of Christ the King; pastor at least through 2015
Celebrated the 30th anniversary of his ordination in 2015 alongside the parish's 60th; led the building of a new rectory announced at the anniversary.
- Rev. James NellikunnelFormer pastor (concelebrated 2015 anniversary Mass)
- Rev. George KrosfieldFormer pastor (concelebrated 2015 anniversary Mass)