About Our Lady of the Isle · Grand Isle, Louisiana
Our Lady of the Isle is a Roman Catholic parish in Grand Isle, Louisiana, a barrier island community in Jefferson Parish on the Gulf Coast. The parish is part of the Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux and serves roughly 95 families who live year-round on the island, along with the many weekend visitors who come to worship. Its current church building was completed in 1961 to serve both residents and the island's seasonal population, and the parish is known for its deep history rooted in the 1881 Cheniere Caminada church and its legendary storm-tossed bell.
- Established
- 1933
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Isle (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Mark Toups
- Diocese
- Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Isle is a small, tight-knit coastal parish where about 95 families worship together year-round, supported by an unusually full sacramental schedule and a 24/7 Adoration Chapel. The community offers something for every age: a Religious Education program for children, CYO and youth groups, RCIA for adults, guilds like the Ladies Altar Society, St. Martha, St. Joseph, St. Matthew and the Rosary-Altar Guild, plus outreach, a parish cemetery and an annual Men's Retreat led by Fr. Mark Toups. Visitors are warmly welcomed, and weekend confession is offered after every Mass.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Isle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- After each weekend Mass
Adoration times
- Adoration Chapel is open 24/7
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction on the second Tuesday of the month (ending with Benediction at 3:55 PM)
Parish Overview & History
Our Lady of the Isle traces its roots to 1881, when the first Catholic chapel in the area was built at neighboring Cheniere Caminada. That church was destroyed in the great hurricane of October 3, 1893, which killed hundreds on the island. A second church was dedicated in 1918 by Archbishop Shaw near the center of Grand Isle, and the parish was formally established in 1933 with Rev. J.N. Roy as its first resident pastor. The current church on Ludwig Lane was completed in 1961 to serve both year-round residents and the many weekend visitors who worship on the island.
- 1881 — First chapel built at Cheniere Caminada; bell cast with parishioners' gold and silver
- 1893 — Cheniere Caminada hurricane destroys the original church; bell vanishes
- 1918 — Second church dedicated near center of Grand Isle by Archbishop Shaw; bell recovered and returned
- 1933 — Parish formally established; Rev. J.N. Roy first resident pastor
- 1961 — Current church building completed
- 1977 — Historic 1881 bell remounted at the parish
- Recent — Conrad Schmitt Studios installs 18 new stained-glass windows
The Legend of the Bell
The parish's most distinctive relic is the bell first cast in 1881 with gold and silver donated by parishioners for the original Cheniere Caminada church. Through the terrible night of the October 3, 1893 hurricane, its tolling could be heard — and by morning the bell had vanished. Years later it was rediscovered inside a tomb at Westwego Cemetery and returned to Grand Isle in time for the 1918 church. After the 1961 building project made the old belfry unsafe, the bell was stored until 1977, when it was remounted where it still hangs today as a symbol of faith, resilience, and remembrance for the island community.
- Cast in 1881 from parishioners' gold and silver
- Lost in the 1893 Cheniere Caminada hurricane
- Found inside a tomb at Westwego Cemetery
- Returned to Grand Isle around 1918
- Remounted in 1977 in the current bell tower
Religious Education & Sacraments
Directed by Ginny Gibbs, the Religious Education program teaches the message of Jesus Christ through Sunday Eucharist participation, Children's Liturgy of the Word, weekly classes, and sacramental preparation. Students take active roles as altar servers, choir members, ushers, lectors, and gift bearers, and take part in parish traditions like the Christmas Pageant, Stations of the Cross, Procession of Saints, and Marian Devotions. Catechists for 2024–2025 include Ellen Buckland, Blanca Frausto, Rosie Hanley, Meghan Michalak, Lauren Sebor, Maeve Springer, and Tom Graffagnino, with Director Ginny Gibbs.
- First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion preparation
- Altar Server training (Sept–Oct) for students who have received First Communion
- Christmas Pageant, Stations of the Cross, Procession of Saints, Marian Devotions
- Pre-Jordan (Baptism) and Pre-Cana (Marriage) preparation
RCIA & Adult Faith Formation
The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) welcomes adults seeking Baptism, First Confession, First Holy Communion, and/or Confirmation. Coordinator Margaret Colligan invites anyone interested in completing their Christian initiation to get in touch. The parish also brings the Eucharist to the homebound on request.
- RCIA for Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation
- Contact: Margaret Colligan
- Homebound visits arranged by calling the parish
Youth & Family Life
Children, teens and families are well-served at Our Lady of the Isle through its Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), an All-Faith Youth Group, Little League, and a Religious Education program that brings young people into active roles at Mass. Students dress as saints for the All Saints Day Procession and for the Thanksgiving Day Mass.
- CYO Catholic Youth Organization
- All-Faith Youth Group
- Little League
- Thanksgiving Day Mass with students as readers and ushers
Guilds, Councils & Outreach
Parish life is sustained by a network of guilds — St. Martha, St. Joseph, St. Matthew, the Rosary-Altar Guild and the Ladies Guild — and the parish's Pastoral and Finance Councils. Apostolates include Outreach, the parish Cemetery, and the Catholic Ministries Appeal. Virtus–Respect Life is the parish's respect-life organization.
- St. Martha, St. Joseph, St. Matthew, Rosary-Altar and Ladies Guilds
- Pastoral and Finance Councils
- Outreach and Cemetery apostolates
- Catholic Ministries Appeal
- Virtus – Respect Life
Men's Retreat
Fr. Mark Toups leads the parish's annual Men's Retreat, held right at Our Lady of the Isle (195 Ludwig Lane, Grand Isle). The Friday-through-Sunday format moves between conference talks, extended silence and prayer, an optional Q&A, Sunday Mass, and a sharing of graces. Recent themes have focused on prayer and on taking a next step closer to God.
- Retreat leader and speaker: Fr. Mark Toups
- Hosted at Our Lady of the Isle, 195 Ludwig Lane
- Includes talks, silence, prayer, optional Q&A, Sunday Mass, and sharing of graces
Staff, Contact & Visiting
The parish is served by Pastor Rev. Mark Toups, with Mrs. Kristie Domangue serving as Bookkeeper, Project Manager, and Safe Environment Coordinator. Office hours are Tuesday 7:00 AM–12:00 PM and Wednesday 7:00 AM–2:00 PM, with appointments available by calling 985-438-4164. The parish publishes bulletins, podcasts, and videos through its website at ourladyoftheisle.com, and maintains a Facebook page for ongoing news.
- Pastor: Rev. Mark Toups
- Bookkeeper / Project Manager / Safe Environment Coordinator: Mrs. Kristie Domangue
- Office: Tue 7:00 AM–12:00 PM; Wed 7:00 AM–2:00 PM
- Appointments: 985-438-4164
- Parish phone: (985) 787-2385
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: ourladyoftheisle.com
- Facebook: /Our-Lady-of-the-Isle-Catholic-Church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. J.N. Roy1933–
First resident pastor when the parish was formally established in 1933.