About Our Lady of LaSalette · DeQuincy, Louisiana
Our Lady of LaSalette is a Catholic parish in DeQuincy, Louisiana, belonging to the Diocese of Lake Charles. The parish was officially established on November 1, 1955, by Bishop Maurice Schexnayder of Lafayette, and named after the Marian apparition of Our Lady of LaSalette, which took place in the French Alps on September 19, 1846. Now in its seventh decade, the parish serves the Catholics of DeQuincy and the surrounding Calcasieu Parish area, offering weekend and weekday Masses, the sacraments, perpetual Eucharistic adoration, religious education, and active lay organizations such as the Knights of Columbus and the Legion of Mary. The current pastor is Rev. Louis Tigga, H.G.N.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- Our Lady of LaSalette
- Rector
- Rev. Louis Tigga, H.G.N.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lake Charles
Why belong here
Our Lady of LaSalette is a welcoming parish rooted in the Marian devotion of the 1846 LaSalette apparition, with a strong tradition of lay involvement that goes back to its days as a mission chapel. The parish offers the full sacramental life — daily and weekend Mass, perpetual Eucharistic adoration in its on-site Adoration Chapel, and regular confession — alongside faith formation for youth and adults, a preschool, and outreach such as its used-clothing distribution program. Active lay organizations like the Ladies Altar Society (the parish's oldest organization), the Knights of Columbus, and the Legion of Mary, together with choirs, lectors, altar servers, youth and pro-life groups, make it easy for newcomers to find a place to serve.
Mass times at Our Lady of LaSalette
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM (before the 5:00 PM Anticipated Mass)
- Sunday 9:15 AM – 9:45 AM
- By appointment (call the parish office at 337-786-3500)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel available 24 hours (call parish office for code/access)
- Tuesday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament begins 9:00 AM
- First Friday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament begins 4:00 PM in the Church
Parish History
Our Lady of LaSalette in DeQuincy was officially established as a parish on November 1, 1955, by the Most Rev. Maurice Schexnayder, Bishop of Lafayette. Its roots, however, reach back to the 1880s railroad boom, when scattered Catholic families were visited by priests from Immaculate Conception in Lake Charles who traveled by riverboat and on horseback. By 1922 a mission chapel was established as a mission of Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Sulphur, and in 1948 a second chapel — St. Martin de Porres — was built for the African American community. After more than three decades of mission life, the parish was erected in 1955 with the Rev. Eugene A. Veillard, M.S., as founding pastor.
Our Lady of LaSalette's Marian Message
The parish takes its name from the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to two shepherd children — Mélanie Calvat and Maximin Giraud — at LaSalette, France, on September 19, 1846. The message of Our Lady of LaSalette is a call to repentance, conversion, prayer, and reconciliation. Mary wept over the sins of her people and called them to honor Sunday Mass, to do penance, and to turn away from sin, warning that great sufferings would befall the world if her message were ignored. The parish celebrates the feast on September 19 every year.
- Apparition date: September 19, 1846, in LaSalette, France
- Visionaries: Mélanie Calvat and Maximin Giraud
- Key themes: repentance, prayer, Sunday Mass attendance, conversion of sinners
- Parish feast day: September 19
Parish Buildings & Campus
Over the decades, the parish has steadily built up its campus on South Grand Avenue. The current church was constructed in 1973 under pastor Rev. Richard Donahue, M.S., with a multi-purpose hall added and the complex dedicated by Bishop Gerard L. Frey on February 14, 1974. A new rectory followed in 1975. A religious education building was dedicated in December 1980 in conjunction with the parish's 25th anniversary, with Bishop Jude Speyrer of Lake Charles officiating. A preschool facility was added in 1992, a Perpetual Adoration Chapel in 1994, and a new catechetical building in 1997. The parish also operates a storage building for distribution of used clothing to the needy (built 1987) and a church van for parish transportation.
Sacraments of Initiation
Our Lady of LaSalette prepares Catholics of all ages for the sacraments of initiation. Baptisms are celebrated during or after a Sunday Mass, with preparation required and at least three months' notice. First Eucharist is offered through the parish's faith formation program, and Confirmation is a one-year program for 11th-grade CCD students; adults receive Confirmation at the Easter Vigil through the parish's OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program. Directors of Religious Education are Twila Hagen and Sunny Miller, reachable through the parish office at (337) 786-3500.
- Baptism: during or following a Sunday Mass; preparation required
- First Holy Communion: through CCD/faith formation
- Confirmation: 11th-grade CCD one-year program; adults through OCIA at Easter Vigil
- OCIA (RCIA) for adults
Parish Ministries & Lay Organizations
A wide range of lay groups and ministries animate parish life at Our Lady of LaSalette. The Ladies Altar Society — the oldest lay organization, founded while DeQuincy was still a mission chapel — has hosted hundreds of meals for visiting priests over the years. Other active groups include the Knights of Columbus and the Legion of Mary, plus choirs, lectors, altar servers, ushers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, religion teachers, marriage-preparation teachers, youth groups, evangelization teams, and a pro-life group.
- Ladies Altar Society
- Knights of Columbus
- Legion of Mary
- Choir
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Ushers
- Lay (Extraordinary) Ministers of Holy Communion
- Religion Teachers
- Marriage Preparation Teachers
- Youth Groups
- Evangelization Groups
- Pro-Life Groups
Faith Formation & Education
The parish runs a CCD/Religious Education program for youth, coordinated by Directors of Religious Education Twila Hagen and Sunny Miller. The 11th-grade Confirmation track spans one year and culminates in the sacrament. Adults seeking baptism, First Communion, or Confirmation join the parish's OCIA (RCIA) program and are received into the Church at the Easter Vigil. A preschool facility has been part of the parish campus since 1992, and a dedicated catechetical building was added in 1997.
- CCD/Religious Education for children and youth
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Confirmation preparation — 11th-grade year
- Parish preschool (since 1992)
Outreach & Charity
Our Lady of LaSalette maintains a storage building (built 1987) used to distribute used clothing to those in need, and operates a parish van to provide transportation for individuals and organizations. The Ladies Altar Society has long organized hospitality for visiting priests, and the parish's pro-life group supports the local cause for life.
- Used-clothing distribution ministry
- Parish transportation van
- Pro-Life Group
- Hospitality for visiting priests (Ladies Altar Society)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Eugene A. Veillard, M.S.1955–1960
Founding pastor; served until his death in 1960. Purchased a house and lot on Hall Street for a rectory.
- Rev. James J. Shahrigian, M.S.1960–1963
- Rev. Francis W. Lavin, M.S.1963–1964
- Rev. James A. Droney, M.S.1964–1966
- Rev. Thomas Leary, M.S.1966–1967
- Rev. Justin Dolan, M.S.1967–1971
Purchased land on Highway 27 in 1969 as the site for a new church.
- Rev. William P. Hanafin, M.S.1971–1972
- Rev. Richard C. Donahue, M.S.1972–1975
Built the new church and multi-purpose hall in 1973, dedicated Feb. 14, 1974 by Bishop Frey.
- Rev. Louis M. Perpete, M.S.1975–1976
- Rev. Roland Bernier, M.S.1976–1981
Launched new building program including religious education building and Ragley chapel.
- Rev. John Blumm, M.S.1981–2001
Parish grew significantly under his guidance; led 25th anniversary celebration.
- Rev. Roger Appuhamy2001–2002
- Rev. Scott DesOrmeaux2002–2006
- Rev. Kingsley Nonis2006–2007
- Rev. Edward Brunnert, M.S.2007–2017
- Rev. Jude Fernando, T.O.R.2017
- Rev. Vincent Vadakkedath2018–2019
- Rev. Louis Tigga, H.G.N.2019–present
Current pastor.