About Immaculate Conception · Lakeland, Louisiana
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Baton Rouge located in the small community of Lakeland, Louisiana, near scenic False River in southeastern Pointe Coupee Parish — roughly 30 miles northwest of Baton Rouge. The parish traces its roots to a small chapel built in the nearby community of Chenal in 1859 and today serves a faithful drawn from across southern Pointe Coupee and northern West Baton Rouge Parishes. Its present-day church was dedicated in 1927 and remains a quiet centerpiece of rural Catholic life along LA Highway 416, offering daily and weekend Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, religious education, and a thriving parish community under Pastor Father Amrit Raj, IMS.
- Established
- 1859
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (Immaculate Conception)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Amrit Raj, IMS
- Diocese
- Diocese of Baton Rouge
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception offers the full rhythm of Catholic life in a close-knit rural setting: weekend Masses (Saturday 4 PM, Sunday 8 AM and 10 AM), a daily Mass schedule in the chapel, weekly Eucharistic Adoration five days a week, and two regular Confession slots. A religious education program and Pre-K (directed by Dina Tunstall and Skye Johnston) anchors faith formation for children, while the parish's Knights of Columbus Council — named in honor of legendary longtime pastor Father Louis Savoure — and its Auxiliary provide avenues for adult fellowship and service. With a pastoral staff led by Father Amrit Raj, IMS and a deeply rooted Pointe Coupee community going back to 1859, it is a place where generations of families still worship together.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 7:00 AM
- Thursday: 7:00 AM
- Friday: 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church — Overview
Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Baton Rouge serving the rural community of Lakeland, Louisiana, near scenic False River. It draws parishioners from across southern Pointe Coupee and northern West Baton Rouge Parishes and offers a full schedule of daily and weekend Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, religious education, and pastoral care under Father Amrit Raj, IMS. The current church was dedicated in 1927 and has been renovated several times, most recently under Father Todd Lloyd (2013–2022).
- Diocese of Baton Rouge
- Established 1859 (as Chenal Chapel)
- Pastor: Fr. Amrit Raj, IMS (since July 2022)
- Address: P.O. Box 158, 12364 LA Hwy 416, Lakeland, LA 70752
- Phone: 225-627-5124
History of the Parish
The parish began in 1859 as Chenal Chapel, built by Father Francis Mittelbron on land he and Father Thirion purchased with their own funds. It was a mission of St. Francis Church in Pointe Coupee until Father Francois Marion became the first resident pastor in 1861. By 1882 the parish numbered about 2,500 faithful and was expanded twice (1886 and 1900). Father Mittelbron, a Civil War–era pastor, was arrested by Union forces for blessing Confederate soldiers but was freed after local protests. The most legendary pastor, Father Louis Savoure of Brittany, France, arrived in 1896 at age 24 and served 51½ years, overseeing construction of the present 1927 church; he is the only pastor buried in the parish cemetery, and the Knights of Columbus Council is named after him. The Chenal Chapel was torn down in the 1950s.
- 1859 — Chenal Chapel constructed
- 1861 — First resident pastor: Father Francois Marion
- 1882 — About 2,500 parishioners
- 1886 & 1900 — Church expanded twice
- 1896 — Father Louis Savoure arrives from Brittany, France
- 1927 — New church in Lakeland dedicated by Archbishop Shaw
- 1935 — 2-Manual Moller Pipe Organ installed
- 1948 (Jan 27) — Father Savoure dies after 51½ years
- 1950s — Original Chenal Chapel torn down
- 1980s — Building expansions under Fathers Joffrion and Duhe
- 1990s — Church hall built and rectory relocated under Father Lorrain
- 2001–2013 — Office building purchased under Father Daigle
- 2013–2022 — Renovations under Father Todd Lloyd
- July 2022 — Father Amrit Raj, IMS, becomes pastor
Architecture & Historic Furnishings
The present church building was dedicated in 1927 by Archbishop Shaw. Several of its most distinctive furnishings have their own story: the main altar was relocated from St. Maurice Church in New Orleans and enshrines the relics of three martyrs; the stained glass windows were commissioned from the Emil Frei Art Glass Company of St. Louis and Munich and fabricated in Munich, installed shortly after the dedication at a cost of $2,700; and a 2-Manual Moller Pipe Organ was added in 1935. The building has been renovated in 1966, 1968, and during the 1980s.
- Altar: from St. Maurice Church, New Orleans (relics of three martyrs)
- Stained glass: Emil Frei Art Glass Co., St. Louis & Munich (cost $2,700)
- Pipe organ: 2-Manual Moller, installed 1935
- Renovations: 1966, 1968, 1980s
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Father Amrit Raj, IMS, with a small, dedicated office staff supporting both parish operations and religious education. Records — including cemetery records — are maintained through the parish office.
- Fr. Amrit Raj, IMS — Pastor
- Dina Tunstall — Bookkeeper; Director of Religious Education
- Suzanne Maginnis — Office Manager / Cemetery Records
- Doniell Fuller — Administrative Assistant
- Skye Johnston — Director of Pre-K
Religious Education & Pre-K
Faith formation for children is coordinated through the parish's Religious Education office (225-627-5819), under the direction of Dina Tunstall (Director of Religious Education) and Skye Johnston (Director of Pre-K). Families preparing for sacraments such as First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation are typically enrolled in this program.
- Religious Education Office: 225-627-5819
- Director of Religious Education: Dina Tunstall
- Director of Pre-K: Skye Johnston
Sacraments
Immaculate Conception celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments. Baptism preparation involves a meeting with the pastor plus a required seminar for parents and godparents (normally the 1st Wednesday of the month at 6:00 PM in Parish Hall Room 2). Confession is offered twice weekly, and anointing, marriage, and confirmation requests are coordinated through the parish office.
- Baptism — contact parish office; seminar 1st Wednesday at 6:00 PM
- Reconciliation — Tue 5:00 PM; Sat 3:00 PM
- Eucharist — see Mass schedule
- Anointing of the Sick — contact parish office
- Marriage — contact the pastor
- Confirmation — through Religious Education
Knights of Columbus & Parish Fellowship
The parish's Knights of Columbus Council — named in honor of Father Louis Savoure — and its Auxiliary were formed during the 1980s under Fathers Andrew Joffrion and Thomas Duhe. The council offers Catholic men of the parish opportunities for fellowship, faith formation, and charitable service to the wider Pointe Coupee community.
- Knights of Columbus Council (named after Fr. Louis Savoure)
- Knights of Columbus Auxiliary
- Council formed in the 1980s
Immaculate Conception Cemetery
A cemetery has existed at the original Chenal Chapel site since before 1859, predating the parish itself. Today the parish maintains the Immaculate Conception (Lakeland) Cemetery in Pointe Coupee Parish, where Father Louis Savoure — the parish's longest-serving pastor — is interred, the only pastor so honored. Cemetery records are managed by Suzanne Maginnis through the parish office.
- Cemetery dates to before 1859 (older than the chapel)
- Father Louis Savoure is the only pastor buried here
- Records maintained by Suzanne Maginnis, Office Manager
Bulletins, News & Online Giving
The parish posts weekly bulletins online (dating back several years) and offers online giving through its website, where parishioners can set up one-time or recurring donations. The website also has links to Catholic resources through the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
- Online weekly bulletins (multi-year archive on parish site)
- Online giving — one-time or recurring
- Diocese of Baton Rouge link: www.diobr.org / 225-387-0561
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Francis MittelbronBefore 1861; again during the Civil War
Built the original Chenal Chapel in 1859 with Father Thirion on land they purchased with their own funds. Blessed Confederate soldiers and flags; arrested by Union forces, then released after parishioner protests.
- Father Francois Marion1861
First resident pastor of Immaculate Conception; served only seven months.
- Father V. Gavard1863–c. 1868
Replaced Father Mittelbron during Reconstruction.
- Father Pierre Berthet1868
Succeeded Father Gavard as pastor.
- Father Louis SavoureJune 14, 1896 – January 27, 1948 (51.5 years)
Native of Combourg, Brittany, France; arrived at age 24. Oversaw construction of the present 1927 church. Served three terms on the Pointe Coupee Parish Police Jury, one as president. Only pastor buried in Immaculate Conception Cemetery; the parish Knights of Columbus Council is named after him.
- Father Andrew Joffrion1980s
Enlarged parish buildings — new catechism classrooms, office space, and side chapel. Helped form Knights of Columbus Council & Auxiliary.
- Father Thomas Duhe1980s
Continued building expansions begun under Father Joffrion.
- Father Matthew Lorrain1990s
Built the new church hall and relocated the rectory to its current location.
- Father Gregory Daigle2001–2013
Oversaw purchase of the parish's current office building.
- Father Todd Lloyd2013–2022
Led several renovations to the church grounds, buildings, rectory, and interior.
- Father Amrit Raj, I.M.S.July 2022 – present
Current pastor.