About Holy Family · Dulac, Louisiana
Holy Family Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic parish in the unincorporated bayou community of Dulac, in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, part of the Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux. Rooted in a historic mission served from St. Eloi Church in nearby Theriot and founded as an independent parish on September 6, 1952, Holy Family has long served a predominantly Native American (Chitimacha, Choctaw, and Houma) congregation of shrimpers and bayou families along Bayou Grand Caillou. The parish is best known for its annual Blessing of the Boats down the bayou, its perpetual adoration chapel, and its resilient recovery from Hurricane Ida (2021), after which weekend Masses moved to the parish Knights of Columbus Hall before the main church finally reopened in 2025.
- Established
- 1952
- Patron
- The Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Rector
- Rev. Antonio (Speedy) Farrugia, PFGM
- Diocese
- Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux
Why belong here
Holy Family offers a small, tight-knit Catholic home on the bayou, where Mass is celebrated in both English and Spanish, perpetual adoration is available around the clock in the Sts. Kateri & Jean Marie Vianney Adoration Chapel, and the centuries-old Blessing of the Boats brings the whole community together each spring. The parish has demonstrated remarkable resilience — moving its weekend Masses to the Knights of Columbus Hall for nearly four years after Hurricane Ida and reopening its doors on May 31, 2025 — and welcomes visitors, fishermen, and families seeking prayer, fellowship, and outreach through programs like the Free Clothing Garage.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before every Mass
- Sunday: 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
- Thursday: 5:30 PM – 5:50 PM (during Holy Hour/Adoration)
- Friday: 5:30 PM – 5:50 PM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM
- Other times by appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Holy Hour, followed by 6 PM Mass)
- Perpetual Adoration — Sts. Kateri & Jean Marie Vianney Adoration Chapel (24/7; call the parish office for the key code)
- Private prayer welcome in the adoration chapel at any time
History of Holy Family Catholic Church
Holy Family traces its roots to a mission of St. Eloi Catholic Church in Theriot, where bayou priests had been traveling to Dulac since at least 1915 to serve local families. The original mission church — along with many Dulac homes — was destroyed by a hurricane in 1925; Mass was offered in a saloon until a new church was built in 1928. On September 6, 1952, Fr. Marcel Fourcade officially founded Holy Family as an independent parish, built the first rectory, and organized the core ministries — choir, altar servers, Ladies Altar Society, ushers, and Holy Name Society — that still anchor parish life. The current church was dedicated in December 1982. From 1952 to 1977 the parish was staffed by priests of the Archdiocese of New Orleans; since the Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux was erected in 1977, diocesan priests have served. The community also experienced the difficult end of racially divided seating in the 1960s and the deaths of two pastors in service — Fr. Adrian Caillouet (1988, auto accident) and Fr. Jerome Weber (2001).
- Mission of St. Eloi, Theriot — priestly visits since 1915
- Original church destroyed by hurricane, 1925; rebuilt 1928
- Parish founded September 6, 1952 by Rev. Marcel Fourcade
- Current church dedicated December 1982
- Under Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux since 1977
- Hurricane Ida damage, August 29, 2021; rededicated May 31, 2025
The Blessing of the Boats
The annual Blessing of the Boats down Bayou Grand Caillou is the parish's signature community event. Holy Family's boat blessing is documented at least as far back as 1960 and traditionally begins with a Mass, followed by a procession of decorated shrimp boats, the priest sprinkling holy water from a lead vessel, and the Holy Name Society floating a wreath in memory of fishermen lost at sea. A cross has been erected at the church in honor of deceased fishermen. The celebration is for the whole bayou community, not just parishioners, and concludes with music, food, and family day festivities at the Grand Caillou Gym.
- Documented at Holy Family since at least 1960
- Annual Mass + procession down Bayou Grand Caillou to the Ship Channel
- Wreath laid in memory of those lost at sea
- Prayer pamphlets and medals given to boat captains
- Family day with music and food at the Grand Caillou Gym
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Most of Holy Family's enduring lay ministries were organized by founding pastor Fr. Marcel Fourcade in 1952 and continue to shape parish life today. In addition, the parish operates a Free Clothing Garage for community members in need, hosts a St. Vincent de Paul Society conference, and supports a Knights of Columbus council that meets in the KC Hall ("Our Lady of Good Voyage") on Shrimper's Row.
- Choir (since 1952)
- Altar Servers (since 1952)
- Ladies Altar Society (since 1952)
- Holy Name Society (since 1952)
- Ushers (since 1952)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Knights of Columbus Council / 'Our Lady of Good Voyage'
- Free Clothing Garage (open Thursdays and Saturdays)
- Hispanic Ministry (Spanish-language Mass, Sundays at 5 PM)
Hurricane Ida Recovery & Reopening
When Hurricane Ida struck on August 29, 2021, the church was devastated and rendered unusable. For nearly four years the parish adapted: weekend Masses moved to the Knights of Columbus Hall on Shrimper's Row and daily Mass was celebrated in the on-site chapel. The parish accepted monetary donations, supply donations, and volunteer help, and continued its outreach through the Free Clothing Garage. On Saturday, May 31, 2025, Bishop Emeritus Sam Jacobs celebrated the rededication of the church and altar, concelebrated by many diocesan priests including several former pastors. Parishioners described the reopening as a sign of 'renewal, hope and love.'
- Church damage sustained August 29, 2021
- Weekend Masses relocated to KC Hall, 5396 Shrimper's Row
- Daily Mass in the rectory chapel
- Donations accepted for Hurricane Ida Relief (memo on checks)
- Free Clothing Garage continued through recovery
- Church and altar rededicated May 31, 2025 by Bishop Emeritus Sam Jacobs
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
The parish celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments — including weekly Mass in both English and Spanish, Reconciliation before and after Mass, the Anointing of the Sick, and the coordination of baptisms, weddings, and funerals. Sacramental records from 1952 onward are maintained at the parish office, with requests handled in person Monday through Thursday from 9 AM to 1 PM.
- Eucharist — daily and Sunday Mass, English & Spanish
- Reconciliation — before each Mass and by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — by request through the parish office
- Baptism, Marriage, Funeral coordination
- Sacramental records requests — in person, Mon–Thu, 9 AM–1 PM
Native American Heritage & the Houma Community
Holy Family has been a predominantly Native American parish — Chitimacha, Choctaw, and especially United Houma Nation families — since its founding. Sacramental records for the parish (baptisms, marriages, burials) are documented in Marquette University's Guide to Catholic Records About Native Americans as repository entry LA-8, dating from 1952 to the present. The parish's perpetual adoration chapel is dedicated to Sts. Kateri Tekakwitha and Jean Marie Vianney, reflecting the deep local devotion to Kateri as a Native American saint among the Houma. From the 1950s through the 1980s, religious education was taught by the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Eucharist of the Third Order of St. Dominic (now the Dominican Sisters of Peace).
- Historically Chitimacha, Choctaw, and United Houma Nation parishioners
- Sacramental records (1952–ongoing) listed in Marquette's Catholic Native American archives
- Adoration chapel dedicated to Sts. Kateri Tekakwitha & Jean Marie Vianney
- Religious education taught by Dominican Sisters of Peace (formerly Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Eucharist), 1952–1980s
- Rev. Roch 'Rock' Naquin — first Native American pastor (Houma), 1988–1997
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently administered by Rev. Antonio 'Speedy' Farrugia, PFGM, a member of the Little Friars of Jesus and Mary — a religious institute combining Carmelite contemplative prayer with Franciscan active evangelization, founded in Sicily in 1999 by Fr. Volantino Verde. Fr. Antonio also serves as administrator of St. Eloi Church in Theriot, Holy Family's mother parish. A parochial vicar is also assigned to both parishes per the Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux priests list.
- Rev. Antonio (Speedy) Farrugia, PFGM — Administrator
- Parochial Vicar — also assigned to St. Eloi, Theriot
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9 AM – 1 PM
- Funeral and sacramental records requests handled in person at the office
Visit, Contact & Giving
Visitors and returning parishioners are warmly welcomed. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9 AM to 1 PM, and the perpetual adoration chapel is open around the clock (call the office for the key code). Donations toward ongoing Hurricane Ida recovery — and general offertory giving — can be made by check mailed to the parish's PO Box or through the online giving page linked from holyfamilydulac.org.
- Address: 6641 Grand Caillou Rd., Dulac, LA 70353
- Mailing: PO Box 87, Dulac, LA 70353
- Phone: (985) 563-2325
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: holyfamilydulac.org
- Office hours: Mon–Thu, 9 AM – 1 PM
- Online giving via the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Marcel Fourcade1952–
Founder of the parish on Sept. 6, 1952; built the first rectory and organized the choir, altar servers, Ladies Altar Society, ushers, and Holy Name Society.
- Rev. Michael Finnegan
Second pastor; served during the difficult period of integration in the 1960s.
- Rev. Roch (Rock) Naquin1988–1997
A Houma-Thibodaux diocesan priest; one of the pastors most associated with the parish's Native American community. Returned to celebrate the rededication Mass in June 2025.
- Rev. Joey Pilola1997–2001
Parochial Vicar; returned to concelebrate the 2025 reopening.
- Rev. Jerome Weberapprox. 1998–2001
Died in his sleep at the rectory in 2001 after serving the parish a little more than three years.
- Rev. Etienne LeBlanc2001–
Appointed pastor of Holy Family in 2001; presided over his first Dulac Blessing of the Boats that same year.
- Rev. Adrian Caillouet
Died in an automobile accident in 1988 while on vacation promoting the Holy Name Society.
- Rev. Alexis Lazarraapprox. 2017
Presided over the 2017 annual Blessing of the Fleet.
- Rev. Joseph Tregre2018 (Administrator)
Returned to concelebrate the June 2025 reopening.
- Rev. Antonio (Speedy) Farrugia, PFGMcurrent
Member of the Little Friars of Jesus and Mary; leads the parish through post-Ida recovery and the 2025 rededication.