About Our Lady of the Lake · Delcambre, Louisiana
Our Lady of the Lake is a Roman Catholic parish in the small fishing community of Delcambre, Louisiana, situated on La. Highway 14 at the border of Vermilion and Iberia parishes. Founded in 1897 by Father August Vandebilt, it is the first Catholic church of Delcambre and belongs to the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana. The parish shares ministry with the neighboring St. Martin de Porres Church in Delcambre, both served by the same pastor, and serves a community with deep Acadian Catholic heritage rooted in the bayou and shrimp-boat culture of Vermilion Bay.
- Established
- 1897
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Lake (the Blessed Virgin Mary, venerated under the title 'Our Lady of the Lake')
- Rector
- Rev. John "Buddy" Breaux
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Lake offers a deeply rooted Catholic community in the heart of Delcambre, with Mass celebrated several times each week and the Sacrament of Reconciliation available before every Mass. Parishioners can join a wide range of ministries — choir, lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, altar servers, ushers, gift bearers, catechists, the St. Ann's Society, and more — that welcome volunteers of every age and talent. As one of two Catholic churches in Delcambre sharing a single pastor and parish staff with St. Martin de Porres, it is a small, family-style parish where nearly every member can find a way to serve and belong.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Lake
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM
- Sunday: 6:40 AM and 10:40 AM
- Wednesday: 11:50 AM
- Friday: 6:10 AM
- Half an hour before all other Masses
Parish Identity & Heritage
Our Lady of the Lake is the oldest Catholic parish in Delcambre, Louisiana, founded in 1897 by Father August Vandebilt. A new church was built on West Church Street in 1936 to replace the original structure, and the parish remains part of the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana today. The parish serves a community with deep Cajun and Acadian Catholic roots in Vermilion Parish, near the shrimp docks of Vermilion Bay.
- Founded 1897 by Father August Vandebilt
- New church built 1936 at 206 West Church Street
- Part of the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
Clergy & Parish Staff
Our Lady of the Lake and the neighboring St. Martin de Porres Church in Delcambre share a single pastor, Rev. John 'Buddy' Breaux. The parish office is staffed by a deacon, a Coordinator of Religious Education, a bookkeeper, and a church office manager who handle the day-to-day life of both Delcambre churches.
- Rev. John "Buddy" Breaux — Pastor
- Patrick Burke — Deacon
- Stephanie Fremin — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Jill Gary — Bookkeeper
- Valerie Jackson — Church Office Manager
Liturgical Ministries (During Mass)
The parish invites parishioners of every age and talent to take part in the sacred liturgy. The website describes each liturgical role in detail and welcomes new volunteers to contact the church office. Confirmation is the typical prerequisite for service as a Eucharistic Minister.
- Choir — choral singers, soloists, and instrumentalists
- Lector — reads Scripture and the Prayers of the Faithful
- Eucharistic Minister — assists with distributing Holy Communion
- Altar Server — assists the priest at the altar
- Usher — welcomes the assembly, takes up the collection
- Gift Bearer — brings forward the bread and wine
Service & Behind-the-Scenes Ministries
Beyond the liturgy, the parish relies on a network of volunteers who care for the church building, linens, decorations, and the homebound. These quiet but essential roles keep the parish running smoothly week to week and at the great feasts of the year.
- Bringing Communion to the Sick
- Sacristan (regular Masses)
- Funeral Sacristan
- Wedding Sacristan
- Church Decoration (Christmas, Easter, etc.)
- Church Maintenance (lights, pews, gutters, painting)
- Cleaning of Mass Linens
- St. Ann's Society (women's service organization)
Religious Education & Catechesis
Religious education at Our Lady of the Lake is coordinated by Stephanie Fremin and depends on volunteer catechists to teach the faith to children from Kindergarten through 11th grade. The parish places special emphasis on the need for catechists, calling teaching 'among the most needed ministries' and noting that those who teach the path of following Christ 'will have the greatest rewards in heaven.' Catechists teach age-appropriate lessons, lead retreats for middle and high school students, and help with reconciliation services for their classes.
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Stephanie Fremin
- Programs for K through 11th grade (Confirmation)
- Volunteer catechists and teacher's aides always needed
- Includes retreats and reconciliation services for students
Parish Office & Contact
The parish office serves both Our Lady of the Lake and St. Martin de Porres Church in Delcambre. Office Manager Valerie Jackson can be reached by phone during office hours, and bulletins are posted on the parish website.
- Phone: (337) 685-4426
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Manager: Valerie Jackson
- Website: https://www.delcambrechurches.com/
Visiting Delcambre
Delcambre is a small town on La. Highway 14 at the border of Vermilion and Iberia parishes, and Our Lady of the Lake sits in the heart of town on West Church Street. From Highway 14, head south on Railroad Street and then turn right onto Church Street to reach the church at 206 West Church Street. The town's shrimp docks and connection to Vermilion Bay remain central to community life.
- From La. Hwy 14, turn south onto Railroad Street, then right onto Church Street
- Address: 206 West Church Street, Delcambre, LA 70528
- Delcambre sits on the Vermilion–Iberia parish line