About Holy Ghost · Opelousas, Louisiana
Holy Ghost Catholic Church is a historic Black Catholic parish in Opelousas, Louisiana, in the Diocese of Lafayette. Founded in 1920 at the request of African American parishioners of St. Landry Church and staffed from the beginning by the Holy Ghost Fathers (C.S.Sp.), it grew into what local heritage sources call the largest Catholic parish for African Americans in the United States. Today the parish is served by priests of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) and a permanent deacon, and offers a daily Mass schedule, religious education, RCIA, a charismatic prayer group, a weekly teleconference rosary, livestreamed Masses, and a lively parish life including a Black Pot Cook-off and an annual Creole Festival.
- Established
- 1920
- Patron
- Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit)
- Rector
- Rev. Justin Arockiasamy, SVD
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
Why belong here
Holy Ghost Catholic Church welcomes anyone looking for a historic, mission-driven Catholic community in St. Landry Parish. The parish celebrates the Eucharist every day at 7:00 a.m. (with three Sunday Masses at 7:00, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m., a Saturday Vigil at 5:00 p.m., and an 8:00 a.m. First Saturday Mass), broadcasts all of its Masses live for the homebound, and offers confession before each weekday Mass. Its faith-formation life is rich — a Charismatic Prayer Group meets every Monday evening in the Parish Life Center, the SVD teleconference Rosary gathers every Friday, the Rite of Baptism and Baptism Workshop run the first Saturday of the month, and RCIA forms new Catholics throughout the year. Outreach and community ties run through fundraisers like the Black Pot Cook-off, the Parish Life Center, the annual Creole Festival, the parish centennial celebration, an active Religious Education program, and a building-and-renovation effort called 'Building Disciples, Sharing our Blessings.'
Mass times at Holy Ghost
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Weekday Masses: 6:30 AM – 6:50 AM (before the 7:00 AM Mass, Monday through Friday)
Adoration times
- First Friday: Adoration accompanies the 7:00 AM Mass (per parish calendar)
Our History & Heritage
Holy Ghost Catholic Church was founded in October 1920 in Opelousas at the request of the African American Catholic faithful of St. Landry Church and through the efforts of Rt. Rev. Canon A. B. Colliard and Bishop Jules B. Jeanmard of the (then) Diocese of Lafayette. The Holy Ghost Fathers (C.S.Sp.) were invited to take charge, and the young Father James A. Hyland, C.S.Sp. was appointed founding pastor. After worshipping first in the parish school auditorium, the combined church-and-school was dedicated on 6 March 1921 with a Solemn High Mass in the presence of Bishop Jeanmard, and the parish received its civil charter on 7 November 1921. The present church on North Union Street was built in 1948 on land donated by the family of Joel H. Sandoz, founder of the Opelousas Courier, and the parish marked its centennial in 2020.
- Founded October 1920 under the invocation of the Holy Ghost
- First pastor: Rev. James A. Hyland, C.S.Sp.
- Original school by Father Francois Raymond established 1875
- Church-and-school dedicated 6 March 1921
- Civil charter granted 7 November 1921
- Present church constructed 1948 (land from the Sandoz family)
- Centennial celebrated in 2020
Parish Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by priests of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) and a permanent deacon. The diocesan directory and parish website identify Fr. Justin Arockiasamy, SVD as Pastor, Fr. Joshua Munterim, SVD as associate, and Deacon Charles R. Richard, who also serves as the parish business manager ([email protected]). Pastor appointments have historically run through the Holy Ghost Fathers (C.S.Sp.) and now through the SVD.
- Rev. Justin Arockiasamy, SVD — Pastor
- Rev. Joshua Munterim, SVD
- Deacon Charles R. Richard (Business Manager)
Fr. Justin Arockiasamy, SVD — Pastor
Father Justin was born in a small village in India and entered the seminary in 1992 at age 15 after 10th grade. He made his first vows in January 2000 and final vows in January 2006, and was ordained a priest on 7 May 2007. He came to the United States on 22 October 2007 and first assisted at St. Rose de Lima Parish in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. He later served as associate pastor at Notre Dame Church in St. Martinville (2008–2011), then as pastor of Holy Family and St. Ann Church in Lawtell & Mallet (2011–2015), and as pastor of St. Mary of the Purification Church in Houston until June 2022. He has described his appointment to Holy Ghost Catholic Church as a 'home coming.'
Sacraments
The parish website gives detailed instructions for the Sacrament of Baptism — a Baptism Workshop is held the 1st Saturday of the month at 9:00 AM in the Parish Life Center, and the Rite of Baptism is celebrated on the 1st Saturday of the month after the 5:00 PM Vigil Mass. The parish's calendar also lists Confirmation, and adult formation runs through the RCIA program. Couples and families preparing for marriage or other sacraments are asked to contact the parish office at 337-942-2732 to schedule a meeting.
- Baptism Workshop — 1st Saturday, 9:00 AM, Parish Life Center
- Rite of Baptism — 1st Saturday after the 5:00 PM Vigil Mass
- Confirmation — by parish calendar
- RCIA — adult initiation program
- Confession — weekdays before Mass
- Marriage and other sacraments — by appointment through the parish office
Religious Education
Religious Education is a central part of parish life at Holy Ghost, and the parish website highlights it as one of its main outreach areas. Together with the RCIA program for adults, the parish prepares children and adults for the sacraments and offers ongoing formation in the Catholic faith.
- Religious Education for children
- RCIA for adults
- Baptism preparation for parents
Devotions & Prayer Life
Outside of Mass the parish maintains a strong devotional life, anchored by a weekly SVD-led teleconference Rosary and a Monday-evening Charismatic Prayer Group in the Parish Life Center. First Saturday and First Friday bring their own liturgical observances, and the entire worship life is reinforced by livestreamed Masses so that the homebound and sick remain connected.
- SVD Teleconference Rosary — Fridays at 7:00 PM (dial 720-740-9863, access code 3657425#)
- Charismatic Prayer Group — Mondays, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Parish Life Center
- First Friday — 7:00 AM Mass with Adoration
- First Saturday — 8:00 AM Mass
Parish Life & Community Events
Parish life at Holy Ghost is centered in the Parish Life Center and the wider Opelousas community. Beyond worship, the parish gathers around fundraisers, cultural celebrations, and a major capital stewardship effort called 'Building Disciples, Sharing our Blessings.' Photo galleries and archival pages preserve the parish's long history.
- Fundraising Committee
- Holy Ghost Black Pot Cook-off
- Creole Festival
- Holy Ghost Parish Centennial Celebration
- Holy Ghost School Alumnae
- Parish Life Center
- Building Disciples, Sharing our Blessings (stewardship/renovation effort)
- Archived Photos and Archived Parish Information
- Photo Gallery
Livestreaming for the Homebound
All weekday Masses and weekend Masses at Holy Ghost Catholic Church are livestreamed on the parish's Facebook page. This ministry keeps the sick and shut-in joined to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass even when they cannot attend in person.
Visit Us & Contact
The parish office and church are located at 747 N. Union Street, with mailing address P.O. Box 1785, Opelousas, LA 70570. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM, and on Friday from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM. Phone: 337-942-2732; Fax: 337-948-4108. For parish business, contact Deacon Charles R. Richard at [email protected].
- Address: 747 N. Union St., P.O. Box 1785, Opelousas, LA 70570
- Phone: 337-942-2732
- Fax: 337-948-4108
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30–12:00 & 1:00–4:30; Fri 8:30–12:00
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James A. Hyland, C.S.Sp. (Holy Ghost Fathers)1920–1933 (approximately 13 years)
Founding pastor; oversaw construction of the 1921 combination church-and-school, secured parish property in the face of local opposition, received the parish's civil charter on 7 November 1921.
- Various Holy Ghost Fathers (C.S.Sp.) and assistantspost-1933 through late 20th century
Per the parish's own 75-year history (1920–1995): 'Since the formation of Holy Ghost Catholic Church, there have been many pastors and assistants contributing to its growth.'
- Society of the Divine Word (SVD) priestspresent era
Parish is currently staffed by the Society of the Divine Word; diocesan directory lists Fr. Justin Arockiasamy, SVD as Pastor and Fr. Joshua Munterim, SVD as associate.