About Our Lady of LaSalette · Sulphur, Louisiana
Our Lady of LaSalette Catholic Church is a Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette (M.S.) parish located at 602 N. Claiborne Street in Sulphur, Louisiana, within the Diocese of Lake Charles. The parish was established in 1958 as a mission of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Parish and was elevated to an independent parish on September 17, 1961. The parish takes its name from the 1846 Marian apparition at LaSalette-Fallavaux in the French Alps, where the Blessed Mother appeared to two shepherd children, Maximin Giraud and Mélanie Calvat, with a message of reconciliation. Today the parish numbers roughly 600 families and is best known locally for its seven-acre campus, its perpetual Adoration Chapel (maintained nearly continuously since 1992), and its outdoor Shrine to Our Lady of LaSalette — a 'facsimile' of the Holy Mountain in France, dedicated in 2018 and open to the public from dawn until dusk.
- Established
- 1958
- Patron
- Our Lady of LaSalette (Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of her apparition at LaSalette-Fallavaux, France, in 1846)
- Rector
- Father Ronald B. Foshage, M.S. (Missionaries of Our Lady of LaSalette)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lake Charles
Why belong here
Our Lady of LaSalette is a small, family-oriented parish that proudly describes itself as 'big on prayer and even bigger on family.' With about 600 families on seven acres in Sulphur, it offers the full rhythm of Catholic life — daily and weekend Mass, weekday confession, and one of the longest stretches of perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in southwest Louisiana (begun in 1992). The parish's signature outdoor Shrine to Our Lady of LaSalette, an exact replica of the Holy Mountain in France dedicated in 2018, is open to the public from dawn until dusk and gives visitors a rare place to walk the rosary and meditate on Our Lady's message of reconciliation. Active ministries — Altar Society, Catholic Daughters, Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, CCD, RCIA, CYO, ACTS, Prayer Blanket, Grace Through Grief, Bereavement, Food Distribution, and more — give parishioners concrete ways to serve.
Mass times at Our Lady of LaSalette
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
- Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 8:25 a.m. (before daily Mass)
Adoration times
- Adoration in the chapel, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Vocations Adoration on Sundays, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel in operation since May 31, 1992 (historically 24-hour; check parish for current perpetual status)
Our Story: From Mission to Independent Parish
Our Lady of LaSalette began in 1957 when Father Denis Monahan, M.S., pastor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Parish in Sulphur, purchased property on North Claiborne Street. The new church was completed in April 1958 and the first Masses were celebrated by Father Albert Rosset, M.S., on Easter Sunday, April 6, 1958. Bishop Maurice Schexnayder of Lafayette formally blessed and dedicated the church on October 19, 1958. On September 17, 1961, Bishop Schexnayder elevated the mission to an independent parish and installed Father Leoda Joseph Martel, M.S., as its first pastor. The parish celebrated its 60th anniversary as a parish on September 26, 2021. Throughout its history, Our Lady of LaSalette has been served by the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette (M.S.).
- 1957: Land purchased on N. Claiborne Street
- April 6, 1958: First Masses celebrated on Easter Sunday
- Oct. 19, 1958: Church blessed and dedicated by Bishop Schexnayder
- Sept. 17, 1961: Elevated to independent parish; Father Leo J. Martel, M.S., installed as first pastor
- Sept. 26, 2021: 60th anniversary Mass celebrated
Shrine to Our Lady of LaSalette and Prayer Garden
The parish's signature feature is its outdoor Shrine to Our Lady of LaSalette, an exact replica of the Holy Mountain in LaSalette-Fallavaux, France, where the Blessed Mother appeared in 1846. Construction began in 2016 under Father Andrews Kollannoor, M.S.; 250 dump-truck loads of dirt were hauled in to build the mountain on Claiborne Street. Seven life-size Carrara marble statues donated by the Missionaries of LaSalette (Province of Mary, Mother of the Americas) were installed, along with a 280-foot oversized rosary, metal bridges, memorial bricks, and over 100 rose bushes. The Shrine was solemnly blessed and dedicated on September 22, 2018 by Bishop Glen John Provost and Father Rene Butler, M.S., Provincial Superior of the Missionaries of La Salette. The Shrine is open to the public from dawn until dusk. Adjacent to the Shrine is the parish Prayer Garden, built in 1992 with walking paths, Stations of the Cross, and a gazebo for meditation.
- Built as a 'facsimile' of the Holy Mountain in LaSalette-Fallavaux, France
- 250 dump trucks of dirt used to create the mountain
- Seven life-size Carrara marble statues donated by the LaSalette Missionaries
- Distance from base to top of mountain replicates the distance Mary walked with the children
- Dedicated September 22, 2018 by Bishop Glen John Provost
- Open to the public dawn to dusk
Devotions
The parish maintains a rich devotional life centered on Our Lady of LaSalette and the Eucharist. The monthly Novena to Our Lady of LaSalette is prayed from the 11th through the 19th of each month before Mass. Vocations Adoration is held Sunday evenings. The parish has historically celebrated the feast with a Marian procession to the Shrine, a live re-enactment of the Apparition on the mountain, a Live Nativity, and Christmas illumination events.
- Novena to Our Lady of LaSalette: 11th–19th of each month, before Mass
- Vocations Adoration: Sundays, 5:00–6:00 p.m.
- Marian procession to the Shrine on the September 19 feast
- Live Nativity and Christmas illumination
- Re-enactment of the LaSalette Apparition on the mountain
Parish Staff
The parish staff supports daily operations, music, faith formation, and facility care.
- Father Ronald B. Foshage, M.S. — Pastor
- Father John Welch, M.S. — Pastor on Medical Leave
- Teresa McBride — Secretary
- Tara Reeves — Bookkeeper
- Katie Evans — Music Minister
- Cay Gibson — CCD Director
- Riley Abshire — Sacristan
- Bobbie Clopton — Housekeeper
- Leeferd Breaux — Maintenance
Pastoral Council
The Parish Pastoral Council advises the pastor and provides lay leadership for the parish's spiritual and pastoral life.
- Father Ronald Foshage, M.S. — Chair
- Paul Reed — Vice-Chair
- Kathy Breaux — Secretary
- Jennifer Watts
- Buckie LeBouef
- Kevin Boullion
Ministries and Organizations
Our Lady of LaSalette supports a wide range of spiritual, charitable, and service ministries for all ages — from youth formation to bereavement support. The parish is a chapter of Catholic Daughters and Knights of Columbus and hosts the LaSalette Laity lay association.
- CYO (Catholic Youth Organization)
- CCD — Cay Gibson, Director
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- A.C.T.S.
- Prayer Blanket Ministry
- Grace Through Grief
- Bereavement Committee
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Food Distribution
- Holy Entanglements
- Altar Society
- Catholic Daughters
- Knights of Columbus
- Legion of Mary
- Altar Servers, Lectors, Ushers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- LaSalette Laity
Sacraments and Sacramental Life
By 2021 the parish had celebrated 4,330 baptisms, 1,157 marriages, and 1,706 funerals. The parish celebrated its first Confirmation in 2014 with 36 candidates. The LaSalette Missionaries have commissioned lay ministers of Holy Communion, including the parish's first three — A.L. Chenevert, P.E. Papillion, and Charles Richard — commissioned by Father Leo Martel. Confessions are heard six days a week, before daily Mass and Saturday afternoon.
- 4,330 baptisms recorded by 2021
- 1,157 marriages recorded by 2021
- 1,706 funerals recorded by 2021
- First Confirmation celebrated November 2014 (36 candidates)
- First three lay ministers of Communion commissioned by Father Leo Martel
Facilities and Campus
The parish property consists of seven acres on which stand three buildings representing three aspects of ministry: service, preaching, and education. After the 2008 expansion by Ave Maria Construction, the church includes a larger confessional, cry room with restroom, new sacristy, upgraded altar-server room, wider aisles, and a new high altar blessed by Bishop Provost. The Pavilion in the Pines (built 1984 from a steel structure donated by Mr. Cyril Leonard and dismantled by parishioners in Hayes, Louisiana) hosts church bazaars. The Perpetual Adoration Chapel, Prayer Garden, and Shrine to Our Lady of LaSalette are open to the public.
- Seven-acre campus at 602 N. Claiborne Street
- Three buildings: service, preaching, education
- 2008 expansion: 3,200 sq. ft. added; $526,000 by Ave Maria Construction
- Pavilion in the Pines (1984) — for bazaars
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel (1992)
- Prayer Garden (1992) with Stations of the Cross and gazebo
- Shrine to Our Lady of LaSalette (2018) — facsimile of the Holy Mountain
Getting Involved
Visitors are warmly welcomed to weekday or Sunday Mass, to spend time in the Shrine or Prayer Garden from dawn until dusk, or to join one of nearly twenty parish ministries. New members can register online at the parish website (ollsulphur.com). Online giving is available by texting 'OLLGIVE' to 73256. The parish describes itself as 'a small church, big on prayer and even bigger on family.'
- Register online: ollsulphur.com
- Text 'OLLGIVE' to 73256 to give online
- Visit the Shrine and Prayer Garden, dawn to dusk
- Join a ministry — RCIA, CCD, Altar Society, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, Legion of Mary, and more
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Leoda Joseph Martel, M.S.1961–retired as Pastor-Emeritus (Jan 18, later year); returned as pastor 1967–1977
First pastor of the independent parish; installed Sept. 17, 1961 by Bishop Maurice Schexnayder.
- Father James Shahrigian, M.S.1967–1968
Second pastor; reassigned to Immaculate Conception Parish in Maplewood.
- Father Leoda Joseph Martel, M.S. (return)1968 (returned)
Returned as third pastor.
- Father David Hennessy, M.S.
Fifth pastor.
- Father Joseph A. Decoteau, M.S.1980–2000
Sixth pastor and longest-serving; oversaw pavilion, prayer garden, and start of perpetual adoration chapel.
- Father Lawrence Kohler, M.S.2000–2006
Seventh pastor; retired August 1, 2006, remained in residence.
- Father James M. Winiarski, M.S.2006–2014
Eighth pastor; oversaw 2008 church expansion; celebrated 50th Sacerdotal Jubilee in 2016.
- Father Andrews Kollannoor, M.S.2014–onward
Ninth pastor; directed construction of the LaSalette Shrine (2016–2018) as a facsimile of the Holy Mountain in France.
- Father Ronald B. Foshage, M.S.Current
Previously served 40 years at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Jasper, TX; member of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette.