About Our Lady Queen of Angels · Opelousas, Louisiana
Our Lady Queen of Angels is a Catholic parish in the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana, located on the south side of Opelousas at 2125 South Union Street. Established in 1967 by Bishop Maurice Schexnayder, it was carved out of four existing Opelousas parishes (St. Landry, Holy Ghost, St. Leo, and St. Charles Borromeo) and now counts more than 1,700 registered families. The parish is served by Rev. Msgr. Keith J. DeRouen, the fifth pastor, and offers a full schedule of weekend and weekday Masses, a Divine Mercy Adoration Chapel, an active Knights of Columbus council (Council 11270), choirs, youth, couples, and seniors ministries, and ongoing faith formation for children and teens.
- Established
- 1967
- Patron
- Our Lady Queen of Angels (a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the Litany of Loreto)
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Keith J. DeRouen
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
Why belong here
Our Lady Queen of Angels is a large, multi-generational parish where families put down deep roots — its founding members are honored in parish history, and many current ministries are led by the sons and daughters of those charter families. With four Sunday Masses plus a Saturday vigil, a 7:00 a.m. weekday Mass, a Divine Mercy Adoration Chapel, frequent devotions like the Pro-Life Rosary, and welcoming groups for children, teens, young married couples, and the 55-plus, there is room for everyone to serve and be served. The parish is also tightly woven into the life of Opelousas Catholic School and the wider St. Landry Parish community.
Mass times at Our Lady Queen of Angels
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 2:45 – 3:30 PM
- 30 minutes before all Masses
Adoration times
- Divine Mercy Adoration Chapel (perpetual — established by Fr. Gregory Downs in the early 1990s; specific hours not posted online)
Parish Identity & Patron
Our Lady Queen of Angels takes its name from one of the titles of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Litany of Loreto. Bishop Maurice Schexnayder of the Diocese of Lafayette named every new parish he founded after a Marian title, and Our Lady Queen of Angels was his 1967 foundation for the south side of Opelousas. The parish's Marian identity is visible in its newest additions to the sanctuary — statues of Mary and St. Joseph flanking the Italian mosaics behind the cross.
- Patron: Our Lady Queen of Angels
- Feast Day: August 22 — The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Parish History
Founded in the summer of 1967 by Bishop Maurice Schexnayder and organized by its first pastor, Rev. Joseph C. Jaubert, the parish grew from 668 founding families to more than 1,700 registered families today. The original combination church-and-catechetical hall opened in October 1968; the permanent church was completed in November 1982; the rectory and separate office building were dedicated in November 1990; and the parish added a new steeple (2004), cry room window (2005), altar platform (2006), and church sign on LA Hwy 182 (2007). See the full parish history on the church's website for the complete narrative including the succession of pastors and major anniversaries.
- 1967 — Parish established by Bishop Maurice Schexnayder
- 1968 — First Mass in the Church-Hall
- 1982 — Permanent church completed and dedicated by Bishop Gerard Frey
- 1990 — Rectory and office building dedicated
- 1992 — 25th anniversary celebrated with Bishop Harry J. Flynn
Rev. Msgr. Keith Joseph DeRouen
Monsignor DeRouen was born in New Iberia, Louisiana, the fourth child of Olita Mae LaBiche and Lucius DeRouen. He graduated from Teurlings Catholic High School in 1975, earned a B.A. in Philosophy from St. Joseph Seminary College in 1979, and completed a Master of Divinity and a Master in Liturgical Studies at St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota. He was ordained to the priesthood on August 12, 1983, in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette. After service as Associate Pastor at St. Mary Magdalen in Abbeville (1983–86) and St. Michael the Archangel in Crowley (1986–89), he served as Pastor of St. Martin de Tours in St. Martinville (1989–98) and Rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette (1998–2010). He served as Diocesan Liturgist for nearly 30 years before being appointed Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Angels on June 21, 2010.
- Ordained August 12, 1983
- Fifth Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Angels — appointed June 21, 2010
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
Our Lady Queen of Angels offers a full weekly schedule of Masses in English, including a Saturday anticipated Mass and four Sunday Masses. Weekday Mass is offered every morning at 7:00 AM. The Sacrament of Penance is heard every Saturday afternoon and before every Mass.
- Saturday Vigil Mass — 4:00 PM
- Sunday Masses — 7:00, 8:30, 10:30 AM and 5:15 PM
- Weekday Mass — Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM
- Holy Day Vigil — 5:15 PM; Holy Day Masses — 7:00 AM, 12:05 PM, 5:15 PM
- Confession — Saturdays 2:45–3:30 PM and 30 minutes before every Mass
Liturgical Ministries & Music
Liturgy is at the heart of parish life at Our Lady Queen of Angels. Under Msgr. DeRouen — himself a longtime Diocesan Liturgist — the parish choir and liturgical ministries have grown significantly. The 10:30 AM Sunday Mass features more classical music, while the 5:15 PM Sunday Mass features more contemporary music; auditions are a simple try-out for interested singers. Extra-Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist at Mass and bring the Eucharist to parishioners who are homebound or in local nursing homes and hospitals. Lectors proclaim Scripture and commentators lead the assembly.
- Parish Choir (10:30 AM classical; 5:15 PM contemporary)
- Extra-Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors / Scripture Readers
- Commentators
- Altar Servers
- Music selections are recorded and posted on the parish website
Parish Ministries & Organizations
The parish describes itself as "alive and very active with opportunities to serve or be served for all including children, teens, young adults, adults and seniors." Each ministry has a coordinator, and the parish office (337-942-5628) can connect interested parishioners to the right contact. Longstanding ministries include the Ladies Altar Society, the Ushers, the Knights of Columbus Council 11270, and the CCD teachers.
- Knights of Columbus Council 11270
- Ushers (chairman: Albert Simien, 337-331-0919)
- Ladies Altar Society
- CCD / Religious Education
- Teen Ministry (Junior High + High School)
- Couples' Group — 'Lectionary for Children' Ministry at 10:30 Mass
- Young Married Couples' Ministry
- Senior Angels Group (55+)
Sacraments & Faith Formation
The parish coordinates preparation for First Communion and Confirmation (with photos distributed through the parish office) and supports ongoing faith formation for children and adults through its CCD program and the ministry of long-serving deacons and Extra-Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. The Anointing of the Sick and pastoral care of the sick, homebound, hospitalized, and bereaved are central to the parish's outreach.
- First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- CCD / Religious Education
- Anointing of the Sick and care of the homebound
Parish Staff & Office
The parish office at 2125 South Union Street is staffed by a small team under the pastor. Monsignor DeRouen is supported by the parish secretary, a bookkeeper, a Director of Liturgical Ministries (Deacon Pollingue), and two maintenance men. The office is closed on Fridays.
- Pastor — Rev. Msgr. Keith J. DeRouen
- Secretary/Reception — Joan B. Sims
- Bookkeeper — Paulette C. Bussey
- Director of Liturgical Ministries — Deacon Bill Pollingue
- Maintenance — Gordon Ryder & John Ray Perkins
Visiting & Contact
The parish office can be reached by phone at 337-942-5628 (fax 337-942-9708). The mailing address is 2125 South Union Street, Opelousas, LA 70570. Office hours are Monday 1:00–4:00 PM; Tuesday–Thursday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00–4:00 PM; closed Friday. The parish also maintains a Facebook page and posts weekly bulletins, music recordings, and parish news online.
- Phone: 337-942-5628
- Fax: 337-942-9708
- Website: queenofangelschurch.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/Queenofangelschurchopelousas
Getting Involved
Newcomers are welcomed into a parish with deep roots and many opportunities. The Knights of Columbus Council 11270 actively recruits Catholic men, ushers are needed at all Masses (contact Albert Simien at 337-331-0919), and the parish regularly asks for volunteers across its liturgical, formation, and outreach ministries.
- Knights of Columbus — kofc.org
- Ushers needed at all Masses
- Choir auditions (simple try-out)
- Couples' and Senior Angels groups
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph C. Jaubert1967 – 1972
Founding pastor; organized the parish from 668 families, oversaw construction of the first Church-Hall opened in October 1968.
- Rev. Lloyd P. Hebert1972 – 1985
Retired the debt on the Church-Hall within five weeks; oversaw purchase of adjoining lot and house in 1977.
- Rev. Millard Boyer1985 – 1993
Oversaw construction of the permanent church (completed November 1982 — note: Boyer arrived after the church was built; built rectory and office building completed 1990).
- Rev. Angelo Cremaldi1993 – 2010
Began Thanksgiving covered-dish tradition; oversaw new steeple (2004), cry room, altar platform, and church sign; retired with all parish debt paid and over $1 million in savings.
- Rev. Msgr. Keith Joseph DeRouen2010 – present
Fifth pastor; former Diocesan Liturgist and Rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette; expanded music and liturgical ministries.