About Immaculate Conception · Jennings, Louisiana
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church is a Roman-Latin rite parish in Jennings, Louisiana, in the civil parish of Jefferson Davis. Established in 1956 by the Most Rev. Maurice Schexnayder, Bishop of Lafayette, it was carved from the older Our Lady Help of Christians Parish (1891) to serve the growing south side of the railroad town. Today the parish belongs to the Diocese of Lake Charles and is served by Reverend Anil Alexander, M.O.C., as Administrator, with about 250 registered families. The church is located at 705 South Lake Arthur Avenue (La. 26), with the rectory office at 515 Bryan Street, and is known in the community for its perpetual Adoration Chapel and a long list of lay-led ministries.
- Established
- 1956
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Reverend Anil Alexander, M.O.C. (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lake Charles (formerly, at founding in 1956, the Diocese of Lafayette)
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is a close-knit parish of about 250 families in Jennings whose history is built on lay involvement — organizations founded in its infancy are still active today, and generations of parishioners have given long years of service in the same ministries. The parish offers a full liturgical life with Saturday Vigil and two Sunday Masses, daily noon weekday Masses, and a Perpetual Adoration Chapel open seven days a week. Visitors and parishioners find a welcoming community rooted in the Diocese of Lake Charles, with outreach programs through Immaculata Center serving the wider Jefferson Davis Parish area.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM (until 4:00 PM)
- Sunday: 6:00 AM – 6:30 AM and 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
- Thursday: 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
- Saturday: 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Adoration Chapel open 7 days a week, from Sunday 8:00 AM through Saturday 3:00 PM (closed 3:00 PM Saturday to 8:00 AM Sunday)
History of Immaculate Conception Parish
Immaculate Conception was officially established as a parish in 1956 by the Most Rev. Maurice Schexnayder, Bishop of Lafayette, carved from territory belonging to the older Our Lady Help of Christians Parish (founded 1891) to serve the rapidly growing south side of Jennings. The founding pastor, the Rev. John Windt — a Holland-born priest — drew up a master plan for an acre along the Lake Arthur Highway that would include the church, a school, a parish hall, a convent, and a rectory. The 400-seat church was dedicated in 1964, with Stations of the Cross, stained-glass windows, and arches designed and painted by an artist Windt brought over from Holland. Father Windt also founded the South Jennings Credit Union (now the John Windt Credit Union), saw the parish hall named John Windt Hall, and was one of the first pastors in the Diocese of Lafayette to integrate his parish.
- Established: 1956 by Bishop Maurice Schexnayder, Diocese of Lafayette
- Church building dedicated: 1964 (400 seats)
- Founding pastor: Rev. John Windt (served until 1967)
- Original parent parish: Our Lady Help of Christians (1891)
- Motto echoed through history: 'The people built the building and breathed the spirit into parish life' (Father Oris Broussard)
Current Staff
The 2024–2025 Diocese of Lake Charles directory lists the following parish staff:
- Administrator: Reverend Anil Alexander, M.O.C.
- Secretary / Bookkeeper: Kori Myers
- Safe Environment Coordinator: Kori Myers
- OCIA Coordinator: Kori Myers
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Angie Comeaux
- Housekeeper: Marc Sonnier
- Maintenance: Owen Cormier
- Director of Music: David Bouley
Parish Ministries & Outreach
Immaculate Conception has a deep bench of lay-led ministries, many of which trace back to initiatives launched in the 1980s and 1990s. The parish's youth and family ministries (Hi God, Scout troop, Mothers Day Out) run alongside adult faith and outreach programs. Immaculata Center, the converted former school building, is the parish's outreach hub, hosting NA, AA, and Al-Anon meetings, counseling for battered women, and offices for the Jeff Davis Council on Aging.
- Hi God youth group
- Scout troop
- Mothers Day Out
- Parish Youth Mission Team — retreats, church missions, youth & children's conferences, home repair visits, nursing home visits
- Immaculata Center outreach hub
- NA / AA / Al-Anon meetings (hosted at Immaculata Center)
- Counseling for battered women
- Jeff Davis Council on Aging offices
- Clothes Room / Catholic Charities
- Adult Friendship Days
- Ministry to the homebound
- Funeral meals
Religious Education & OCIA
Faith formation for children is coordinated through the parish's Religious Education program, led by Coordinator of Religious Education Angie Comeaux. Adults seeking to enter the Catholic Church or to complete their sacraments participate in OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), coordinated by Kori Myers. Safe Environment for children and vulnerable adults is overseen by Kori Myers.
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Angie Comeaux
- OCIA Coordinator: Kori Myers
- Safe Environment Coordinator: Kori Myers
Sacraments
Baptisms and marriages are scheduled by appointment through the parish office. The Sacrament of Penance (Confession) is offered Saturday afternoons, before each Mass, or by appointment. The parish also reaches out to the homebound with Holy Communion and Anointing of the Sick visits.
- Baptisms — by appointment
- Marriages — by appointment
- Penance (Confession) — Saturday 3:00 PM, 30 minutes before Mass, or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — by request to the parish office
- Eucharist to the homebound — by request
Parish Campus & Facilities
The parish occupies an acre of ground on the west side of South Lake Arthur Avenue (La. 26), south of Bryan Street, in south Jennings. The campus grew according to the master plan of founding pastor Father John Windt and now includes the 400-seat church (dedicated 1964), the rectory, John Windt Hall, Immaculata Center (the former school converted in 1986), the Perpetual Adoration Chapel, a Family Room, a Guest Room, the Ladies Altar Society Room, and a Maintenance Room.
- Church (400 seats, dedicated 1964)
- Rectory / Parish Office (515 Bryan Street)
- John Windt Hall (parish hall named for the founding pastor)
- Immaculata Center (former school, now outreach & meeting space)
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel
- Family Room and Guest Room
- Ladies Altar Society Room
- Maintenance Room
Visit, Contact & Directions
The parish office (rectory) is located at 515 Bryan Street, Jennings, LA 70546, with the church itself at 705 South Lake Arthur Avenue at the corner of South Lake Arthur and Bryan Street. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM to noon and 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM. From I-10, take exit 64 south onto La. 26 (South Lake Arthur Avenue) and continue about 2 miles — the church will be on the right.
- Parish Office: 515 Bryan Street, Jennings, LA 70546
- Church: 705 South Lake Arthur Avenue, Jennings, LA 70546
- Phone: (337) 824-1164
- Fax: (337) 824-1717
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: icchurchjennings.com
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–noon and 12:30–4:00 PM
- From I-10: take exit 64 south onto La. 26 (S. Lake Arthur Ave.), ~2 miles to the church on the right
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Windt1956–1967
Founding pastor; priest from Holland who planned the parish campus and commissioned Holland-made Stations of the Cross, stained glass, and arches; church dedicated 1964; organized the South Jennings Credit Union (now John Windt Credit Union); among the first pastors in the Diocese of Lafayette to integrate his parish; the parish hall is named John Windt Hall in his honor.
- Rev. Harry Tiel1967–1976
Continued building up the physical plant of the parish.
- Rev. Nelson Waguespack1976–1979
Succeeded Father Tiel as pastor.
- Rev. Vincent Sedita1979 (10 months)
Brief tenure as pastor.
- Rev. T. L. Herlong1980–1991
Served 11 years and three months; consolidated Our Lady Immaculate School in 1985 and converted the school building into Immaculata Center in 1986; launched Hi God youth group, Scout troop, Mothers Day Out, Skill Days, Catholic Charities, Clothes Room, Adult Friendship days, ministry to the homebound, and funeral meals.
- Rev. Oris A. Broussard1991–2001
Became pastor November 1, 1991; added metal roofs over the Adoration Chapel, Family Room, and Guest Room; built the Ladies Altar Society Room and Maintenance Room; added glass door enclosures and new carpeting in the church.
- Rev. V. Wayne LeBleuFebruary 2001 – October 2002
Appointed pastor in February 2001.
- Rev. Jude Brunnert, M.S.October 2002 –
Missionary of LaSalette who arrived in October 2002 and continued improvements to the parish.
- Rev. Anil Alexander, M.O.C.
Current Administrator; member of a religious order (M.O.C.); previously listed on diocesan records as Pastor.