About Maria Immacolata · Houma, Louisiana
Maria Immacolata Catholic Church is a vibrant Roman Catholic parish located at 246 Corporate Drive in Houma, Louisiana, serving more than 1,300 registered families in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. Established in 1963 under the patronage of Mary, Mother of Jesus, the community gathers around a mission drawn from Micah 6:8 — 'to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with our God.' The parish offers daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, a robust CCD/Youth Formation program, OCIA (formerly RCIA), outreach through the Good Samaritan Food Bank and St. Vincent de Paul Society, and a flourishing Youth Ministry that participates in diocesan and national Catholic youth events.
- Established
- 1963
- Patron
- Mary, Mother of Jesus (Immaculate Conception)
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph "Joey" Pilola
- Diocese
- Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux
Why belong here
Maria Immacolata is a large, multigenerational Catholic community of more than 1,300 families that takes its identity seriously — living under the patronage of Mary, Mother of Jesus and grounding its mission in Micah 6:8. Daily and weekend Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and a full Reconciliation schedule make the sacraments readily available. Faith formation is offered for every age through CCD (Lower and Upper), the OCIA process for adults, an active Youth Ministry that travels to Steubenville on the Bayou, NCYC and diocesan rallies, and sacramental preparation for First Eucharist, Confirmation and Baptism. Outreach to the wider Houma community runs through the Good Samaritan Food Bank, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Homebound Ministry, Knights of Columbus Council 13819, the Matthew 25 hurricane/disaster response team, and parish visits to nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.
Mass times at Maria Immacolata
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:20 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:20 AM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:20 AM
- Sunday: 5:00 PM – 5:20 PM
- Anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Youth Ministry monthly Holy Hour in Eucharistic Adoration
Our History
Maria Immacolata Catholic Church was established in 1963 as a new congregation of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, with Archbishop John P. Cody appointing Rev. William M. Fleming as the founding pastor. After two years of Masses at Houma Jr. High School, the first church and parish school on Estate Drive were dedicated on April 25, 1965, staffed by Benedictine Sisters who lived in a convent behind the school. When the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux was created in 1977 under Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux, Maria Immacolata became one of its founding parishes.
- 1963: Parish established; Rev. William M. Fleming appointed founding pastor
- 1965: First church and parish school built on Estate Drive; Benedictine Sisters staff the school
- 1977: Parish becomes part of the new Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux
- 1980: Rev. Richard Hemenway succeeds Fleming
- 1988: Current church on Corporate Drive dedicated on the parish's 25th anniversary
- 1996: Rev. Caesar Silva becomes pastor after the death of Fr. Hemenway; Bell Tower and new sanctuary furnishings follow
- 2004: Rev. Clyde Mahler appointed; Community Gathering Center completed in 2008
- 2014: Rev. Joseph 'Joey' Pilola appointed pastor
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Maria Immacolata spans childhood through adulthood. Children in public school attend CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) at the parish, while Sunday Children's Church offers age-appropriate Liturgy of the Word for the youngest during weekend Masses. Adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church participate in the parish OCIA program.
- Lower CCD — grades 1–5, Monday evenings 5:30–7:00 PM at the Community Gathering Center; prepares students for First Penance and First Eucharist (2nd grade)
- Upper CCD — grades 6–11, Sunday afternoons 3:30–6:30 PM at the Community Gathering Center, ending with the 5:30 PM Youth Mass
- Confirmation — two-year formation within Upper CCD, celebrated in 11th grade at the parish
- Sunday Children's Church — for children age 3 through First Communion age, during weekend Masses
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) — inquiry sessions begin in late October, culminating at the Easter Vigil
Youth Ministry
Maria Immacolata maintains an active Youth Ministry program that meets teen spiritual, emotional and social needs through events both at the parish and across the region. The teens gather monthly for a Holy Hour in Eucharistic Adoration and travel to diocesan and national Catholic youth events.
- Monthly Holy Hour in Eucharistic Adoration
- Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Youth Rally on Palm Saturday
- Jr. High Faith Experience
- Steubenville on the Bayou
- St. Joseph Abbey & Seminary College Abbey Youth Fest (Covington, LA)
- National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC)
- Youth Ministry Director: Mr. Willie St. Pierre (per parish website)
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music at Maria Immacolata is coordinated by Music Director Mr. Blake Guidry, with parish musicians supporting weekend liturgies and the Children's Choir performing during the Christmas season. The parish also maintains an Environment Ministry that cares for the worship space, and a Stewardship effort that supports vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
- Music Director: Mr. Blake Guidry
- Children's Choir — performs at Christmas
- Environment Ministry
- Baptismal Preparation team
Parish Staff
The parish is served by a pastor and two deacons, along with a full lay staff managing faith formation, youth ministry, music, finances, communications and facilities. Safe Environment coordination is handled by the Business Manager.
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph 'Joey' Pilola
- Deacon Chris Prestenback
- Deacon William 'Bill' Dunckelman
- Business Manager / Safe Environment Coordinator: Tina T. Charpentier
- Administrative Assistant: Aimee H. Toups
- Director of Religious Education (DRE): Mrs. Fern Tabor
- Maintenance Technician: Mr. Doyle Prince
- Janitor: Mrs. Katrina Doiron
- Youth Coordinator: Mike DiSalvo (diocese listing)
- Music Director: Mr. Blake Guidry
- Youth Ministry Director: Mr. Willie St. Pierre (parish website)
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is a pillar of parish life. The Good Samaritan Food Bank collects non-perishable food for distribution throughout Terrebonne Parish, and the parish's own Good Samaritan Volunteers provide meals to bereaved families. The St. Vincent de Paul Society operates a thrift store in Houma to serve the indigent, and the Knights of Columbus Council 13819 supports charitable works locally and in the diocese.
- Good Samaritan Food Bank — community-wide food collection and distribution
- Good Samaritan Volunteers — bereavement meals on a rotating basis
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — thrift store and direct aid to the needy
- Knights of Columbus Council 13819 — Catholic men's charitable organization
- Matthew 25 — diocesan disaster response (hurricane relief, cleanup, food, repair, laundry)
- Homebound Ministry — visits and brings Eucharist to the homebound and hospitalized
- Nursing Home & Assisted Living Ministry — at Homestead, Bayou Towers, Maison de Ville, and Terrebonne Place
Fellowship & Community Life
Beyond worship and outreach, Maria Immacolata has a lively fellowship tradition. Parishioners serve through Vacation Bible School in summer, a Bakers ministry that provides confections for events, and a Community Affairs committee that organizes and serves food at parish gatherings. Men's Bible Study is also offered.
- Vacation Bible School (summer)
- Bakers ministry — confections for Youth Group bake sales, Back to School Weekend, Bishop visits
- Community Affairs committee — food preparation for parish events
- Men's Bible Study
Visit Us / Live Stream
Sunday Masses are live-streamed at least once each weekend — primarily the 4:30 PM Saturday Vigil — and the 12:10 PM weekday services are also streamed on Facebook (a Facebook account is required to view). The parish office is open Monday through Friday, and a printable Mass-times popup is available on the website.
- Live-stream Saturday Vigil: 4:30 PM on Facebook
- Live-stream weekday 12:10 PM Monday–Friday on Facebook
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM (per parish website)
- Diocese lists office hours as Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Phone: (985) 876-3313 • Fax: (985) 879-2137
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William M. Fleming1963–1980
Founding pastor; appointed by Archbishop John P. Cody; shepherded the parish from its first Masses at Houma Jr. High School through the 1965 church on Estate Drive and the Benedictine-staffed parish school.
- Rev. Richard Hemenway1980–1996
Succeeded Fleming on June 7, 1980. Led the building campaign for the current Corporate Drive church, dedicated September 30, 1988 on the parish's 25th anniversary. Died in office in April 1996; memorial funds from his family later built the Bell Tower.
- Rev. Caesar Silva1996–2004
Appointed April 1996. Built the Bell Tower, installed a new white marble altar, life-sized statuary of the Risen Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, and added new sanctuary furnishings and liturgical decor.
- Rev. Clyde Mahler2004–2014
Appointed July 2004. Oversaw new processional crosses and candles, altar candles, ambry display case, glass-etched vestibule doors, Italian marble entrance tile, and completion of the Community Gathering Center in August 2008.
- Rev. Joseph "Joey" Pilola2014–present
Appointed June 2014, coming from St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church on the Nicholls State University campus. Fluent in Spanish and American Sign Language; often signs Mass for the hearing impaired. Started regular educational classes for parishioners.