About Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary · Kaplan, Louisiana
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary is a Roman Catholic parish in Kaplan, Louisiana, part of the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana. Founded in September 1896 in the once-thriving community of Cossinade, the parish has served the Catholic faithful of Vermilion Parish for more than 125 years and today worships across two sites: the main church at 602 N Church Avenue and the mission chapel of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini at 901 N Frederick Avenue. The parish campus also houses Maltrait Memorial Catholic School, a Perpetual Adoration Chapel, and the Christians Who Care Center thrift ministry.
- Established
- 1896
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Mikel A. Polson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
Why belong here
Holy Rosary offers a full weekly schedule of Masses across two worship sites — Holy Rosary church and the mission chapel of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini — including daily Mass, Saturday vigil, and a Sunday evening Mass for those who work weekends. The parish grounds include a Perpetual Adoration Chapel on the west side of the campus, Maltrait Memorial Catholic School, and the Christians Who Care Center, a resale shop whose proceeds return to the community. It's a small-town Cajun parish with a deep Catholic heritage in Vermilion Parish, deeply rooted in its 1896 founding, and welcomes visitors and new parishioners warmly.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:50 PM (Holy Rosary)
- Sunday: 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM (St. Frances Cabrini)
- Sunday: 9:30 AM – 9:50 AM (Holy Rosary)
- Sunday: 4:00 PM – 4:50 PM (Holy Rosary)
- Also available 30 minutes before all weekday Masses and by appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration in the Adoration Chapel on the west side of the Holy Rosary campus, facing Maltrait (call the parish office for the chapel code)
About Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church serves the faithful of Kaplan and the surrounding Vermilion Parish area from its main church at 602 N Church Avenue and the companion mission chapel of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini at 901 N Frederick Avenue. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana and worships in the Roman-Latin rite.
- Main church: 602 N Church Avenue, Kaplan, LA
- Mission chapel: St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, 901 N Frederick Avenue, Kaplan, LA
- Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
Parish History
Holy Rosary Parish was established in September 1896 in Cossinade, then the commercial heart of the area. Archbishop Hanssens of New Orleans came to dedicate the first chapel and place it under the patronage of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. When the 1902 railroad bypassed Cossinade, plans were made to move the church to Kaplan, but a fire destroyed it on the eve of the move. Father Maltrait's subsequent church served the people for 51 years before the present Holy Rosary church was completed on January 18, 1955, designed by Kaplan native Lionel Abshire of Baton Rouge.
- Founded September 1896 in Cossinade
- Archbishop Hanssens of New Orleans dedicated the original chapel
- Original church destroyed by fire in 1903 before move to Kaplan
- Present church completed January 18, 1955; designed by Lionel Abshire
History of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Mission
The mission of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini began on April 4, 1944, when the Bishop of Lafayette donated $1,000 to establish a mission in Kaplan, initially guided by the Holy Ghost Fathers and Our Lady of Lourdes in Abbeville. An old Army chapel was dismantled in Mississippi and rebuilt in Kaplan as the first mission church. After Fr. A.D. Ray became its first pastor in July 1955, the mission grew but was struck by a fire (1958–1962) that destroyed the church and a tornado that destroyed the convent and rectory; new buildings were completed in October 1962. In March 1962 the Holy Ghost Fathers asked Bishop Schexnayder to place Cabrini under the care of the territorial parish, and in 1971 Our Lady of Lourdes formally donated the property to Holy Rosary.
- Founded 1944 with $1,000 gift from the Bishop of Lafayette
- First pastor: Fr. A.D. Ray (July 1955)
- Original structure: Army chapel relocated from Mississippi
- Placed under Holy Rosary's care in 1962; property formally transferred 1971
Maltrait Memorial Catholic School
Maltrait Memorial Catholic School is the parish's Catholic school, with the motto 'God, Children and Learning are Our Priority.' It is located on the Holy Rosary campus and serves local families with a faith-centered education.
- Address: 307 Cushing Ave, Kaplan, LA 70548
- Phone: 337-643-1717
- Website: www.maltraitmemorial.com
- Motto: 'God, Children and Learning are Our Priority'
Christians Who Care Center
Christians Who Care Center is a parish-run resale shop described as 'a resale shop that gives back.' It offers gently used clothing, household goods, books, furnishings, electronics, and more, with proceeds supporting the parish's charitable outreach.
- Gently used clothing, household goods, books, furnishings, electronics
- Hours: by appointment
- Parish outreach ministry
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is currently served by Rev. Mikel A. Polson as pastor, with Rev. Stephen Sahayaraj Irudayasamy listed as Director on the parish website. The parish office is staffed Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to noon, and an answering service handles calls after hours, checking messages at 9 AM and 3 PM and able to transfer emergency calls to a priest.
- Pastor: Rev. Mikel A. Polson
- Director: Rev. Stephen Sahayaraj Irudayasamy
- Parish Secretary: [email protected]
- Office Coordinator: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Thu, 9:00 AM – noon
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or in person during office hours. After hours, calls are forwarded to an answering service that checks messages at 9 AM and 3 PM and can route emergencies to a priest.
- Office Phone: 337-643-6472
- Office Coordinator Email: [email protected]
- Parish Secretary Email: [email protected]
- Office: 613 N Hebert Ave, Kaplan, LA 70548 (Mailing)
- After-hours: answering service with priest on call for emergencies
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Maltrait
Early pastor who built (and rebuilt after a storm) the church that served Holy Rosary for 51 years before the 1955 church.
- Rev. Paul Bienvenu
Recent pastor of Holy Rosary before being assigned as pastor of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Maurice.