About Our Lady of the Holy Rosary · Saint Amant, Louisiana
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary is a Roman Catholic parish in St. Amant, Louisiana, situated on the left bank of New River in Ascension Parish and belonging to the Diocese of Baton Rouge. The parish was established in 1905 when St. Joseph Chapel was separated from Sacred Heart of Jesus at Cornerview, and it grew through a dramatic early 20th century history that included the loss of its Roman-style church to a hurricane in 1926. Today the parish is served by a pastor, a parochial vicar, three deacons, and a large lay staff, and offers daily and weekend Masses, an active religious education program, perpetual adoration, a parish food pantry and outreach cafe, and a wide range of lay ministries.
- Established
- 1905
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew P. Lorrain
- Diocese
- Diocese of Baton Rouge
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary welcomes newcomers, visitors, and long-time parishioners to attend any Mass and be greeted as part of the community. The parish lives its mission of forming intentional disciples of Jesus Christ through daily and weekend Masses, an active religious education program for children in grades 1–11, an on-site food pantry and the Full of Grace Cafe that serves hot meals and other services to neighbors in need, perpetual adoration in the House of Prayer and Study, and dozens of lay ministries ranging from Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughters to youth, music, and bereavement outreach.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM
- Tuesday 5:15–5:30 PM
- Wednesday 7:30–7:50 AM
- Thursday 7:30–7:50 AM
- Friday 7:30–7:50 AM
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration in the chapel of the House of Prayer and Study, accessible 24/7 to scheduled adorers by door code (1946*). Scheduled hours run 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily.
Parish History
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary traces its roots to 1868, when Captain Joseph Gonzales offered an upstairs room in his St. Amant home as a chapel for visiting priests from Sacred Heart of Jesus at Cornerview. In 1874 St. Joseph Chapel was built on the left bank of New River on land donated by the Gonzales, Dugas, and Campbell families, and served as a mission of Sacred Heart for over thirty years. In 1905 the chapel was separated from Sacred Heart and consecrated as Our Lady of the Holy Rosary; it became an independent parish under Archbishop Shaw in 1919. The parish's Roman-style church of 1922 was destroyed by the great hurricane of August 25, 1926 but rebuilt in the same style; Holy Rosary marked its centennial in 2005.
- 1868 – First Mass offered in the Gonzales home in St. Amant.
- 1874 – St. Joseph Chapel built on land donated by the Gonzales, Dugas, and Campbell families.
- 1905 – Chapel separated from Sacred Heart and consecrated as Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.
- 1919 – St. Amant declared an independent parish; first resident pastor Fr. A. Delnam appointed.
- 1922 – New Roman-style church with two towers completed and dedicated.
- 1926 – Church destroyed by hurricane; altar found intact; rebuilt in the same Roman style.
- 1945 – Cemetery Association organized.
- 2005 – Parish celebrates its 100th anniversary.
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Father Matthew P. Lorrain as pastor, with Father Huy Tran serving as parochial vicar (assigned in 2025). Three deacons assist: Deacon Michael Parker (also serving as Business Administrator), Deacon David Odland, and Deacon Huy Duc Tran. Father Lorrain also serves the diocese as Secretary for Clergy and Religious Life.
- Rev. Matthew P. Lorrain – Pastor
- Father Huy Tran – Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Michael Parker – Deacon Assistant / Business Administrator
- Deacon David Odland – Deacon Assistant
- Deacon Huy Duc Tran – Deacon Assistant
- Susan Gautreau – Office Manager
- Jamie Lambert – Bookkeeper
- Rachelle Delatte – Administrative Secretary / Communications Specialist
- Rani Coleman – Director of Sacred Arts and Gifts Shop
- Wendy Enloe – Director of Adult Formation and Spiritual Director
- Jessica Clouatre – Director of Religious Education
- Alva Childress – Assistant Director of Religious Education
- Lauren Keller – High School Youth Minister
- Olivia Frederic – Director of Full of Grace Cafe
- Monica Frederic – Full of Grace Cafe Assistant
- Susan Haydel – Ronie Tureau Food Pantry Coordinator
- Sherrie Anderson – Music Ministry
- Duane Miller – Maintenance
Religious Education & Youth Ministry
Religious Education is offered to children in grades 1–11 and their parents, presenting Catholic beliefs and practices in an environment where they may experience God's love, mercy, and forgiveness. Sacramental preparation includes 2nd-grade First Reconciliation and First Eucharist and high-school Confirmation. The parish also runs OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) and OCIC for children, Adult Confirmation in the spring, and a Youth Ministry program led by High School Youth Minister Lauren Keller.
- Elementary Catechist/Assistant/Substitute – classes meet Mondays & Tuesdays
- Middle School Catechist – classes meet on Tuesdays
- High School Catechist/Assistant/Substitute – classes meet on Mondays
- 2nd Grade Sacramental Prep – First Reconciliation & First Eucharist
- Adult Confirmation – six Sunday-morning sessions each spring
- OCIA & OCIC – Christian initiation for adults and children
- Vacation Bible School – one week each summer, 9:00 AM–12:15 PM
- High School Youth Ministry – contact [email protected]
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry is open to anyone interested in playing or singing at weekend Masses, adoration, and other parish events. Vocalists and musicians serve at the 4 PM Saturday Vigil and the 9 and 11 AM Sunday Masses; rehearsals are held every Wednesday at 6:30 PM. A separate Children's Choir rehearses every Wednesday at 5:30 PM and sings once a month at the 9 AM Mass.
- Adult choirs – rehearsal Wednesdays at 6:30 PM
- Children's Choir – rehearsal Wednesdays at 5:30 PM; sings monthly at 9 AM Mass
- Director – Sherrie Anderson ([email protected])
Outreach & Charity: Full of Grace Cafe and Food Pantry
The Full of Grace Cafe serves hot meals to the community on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and also operates a diaper bank, offers free haircuts, and provides tax preparation and other services. The Ronie Tureau Food Pantry distributes weekly food baskets to families facing circumstantial needs. Additional outreach includes Christmas food and gift baskets for the needy and a Bereavement Committee that prepares meals for the families of deceased parishioners.
- Full of Grace Cafe – hot meals Tues/Thurs/Fri; diaper bank, free haircuts, tax prep (Olivia Frederic, Director)
- Ronie Tureau Food Pantry – weekly distribution (Susan Haydel, 225-647-1802)
- Bereavement Committee – funeral meal preparation (Betty Cupit, 225-229-4031)
- Bereaved Service Crew – setup/serving/cleanup (Karen "Tootie" Lambert, 225-715-4186)
- Christmas food and gift baskets (Val Lessard, 225-571-0501 / Cindy Frederic, 225-390-0102)
Parish Organizations & Community Life
A wide range of lay organizations support parish life, spiritual growth, fellowship, and service. These include traditional Catholic fraternal and devotional groups, men's and women's fellowship, and committees that organize parish-wide social events such as the annual La Fête festival held the last weekend in October.
- Knights of Columbus – meets first Wednesday of the month; men 18+
- KC Auxiliary – wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, widows of KC members
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas (Court St. Rose de Lima #11942) – meets first Thursday, 6:30 PM; women 18+
- Jr. Catholic Daughters – girls ages 5–17, service-oriented activities
- Men of the Cross – men's fellowship and faith formation
- Women and the Word – Wednesdays 6:30–7:30 AM, Full of Grace Cafe
- Parish Prayer Line – at-home prayer for community intentions (Heather Sharon, 225-253-6684)
- La Fête Fair Committee – annual 4-day festival the last weekend in October
- Social Committee – refreshments and receptions for parish celebrations
Spiritual Life & Devotions
In addition to daily Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the parish offers Perpetual Adoration in the House of Prayer and Study chapel, Bible study and adult formation programs, a Parish Prayer Line, and a Devotional Committee that gathers to recite the rosary before scheduled Masses and funerals.
- Perpetual Adoration – House of Prayer and Study chapel
- Adult Bible Study / Adult Formation – contact Wendy Enloe or the Parish Office (225-647-5321)
- Spiritual Direction – Wendy Enloe
- Devotional Committee – rosary before Masses and funerals
- Parish Prayer Line – at-home prayer chain
Cemetery
The parish cemetery has served the Catholic community of St. Amant since the days of St. Joseph Chapel. After the 1922 church was completed, the original chapel was moved to the site of the present-day cemetery and reused as the parish hall. The Cemetery Association was organized in 1945 to maintain the grounds. Many early parishioners are also buried at Cornerview Cemetery, which the parish continues to help maintain.
- Parish cemetery located adjacent to the present-day parish hall (former 1922 chapel).
- Cemetery Association organized in 1945.
- Cornerview Cemetery – maintained for early parishioners buried before the parish's expansion.
Visit, Register & Contact
The parish welcomes newcomers and visitors to attend any Mass and to greet parishioners after services. Registration is available through the parish office or website. The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 8:30 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00–4:00 PM, and is closed on Friday. Messages can be left by phone (225-647-5321) or email ([email protected]).
- Address – 44450 Hwy. 429, St. Amant, LA 70774
- Phone – 225-647-5321
- Email – [email protected]
- Office Hours – Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00–4:00 PM; closed Friday
- Website – http://www.olohr.com/
- Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/olohrstamant/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father George Harding1906
First pastor appointed after the chapel became Our Lady of the Holy Rosary; left after about 18 months.
- Reverend A. Delnom1919
First resident pastor after St. Amant was declared an independent parish; began raising funds for a new church.
- Reverend Victor Baron1921
Continued fundraising; construction of the Roman-style church began.
- Rev. Matthew P. Lorrain2022–present
Appointed pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary by Bishop Michael Duca; also serves as Diocesan Secretary for Clergy and Religious Life; in 2025 additionally named Pastor of St. Anne in Sorrento and St. Anthony of Padua in Darrow.