About Our Lady Queen of Peace · Lafayette, Louisiana
Our Lady Queen of Peace is a Roman Catholic parish in North Lafayette, Louisiana, situated at 145 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Established in 1969 by Bishop Maurice Schexnayder as a territorial (not ethnic-based) parish, it grew out of the Truman Addition and Washington Heights neighborhoods and is recognized as a historically Black Catholic church deeply rooted in the local Creole culture. The parish serves a diverse, multiracial congregation that worships with an adult choir and a strong sense of community. It belongs to the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana and is currently led by Rev. Peter Emusa as pastor.
- Established
- 1969
- Patron
- Our Lady, Queen of Peace
- Rector
- Rev. Peter Emusa
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
Why belong here
Our Lady Queen of Peace is a historically Black Catholic parish whose Creole heritage and welcoming, multiracial congregation make it a genuinely distinctive spiritual home in the Diocese of Lafayette. Members are nourished by a full sacramental life — daily and Sunday Mass, Friday Adoration and Benediction, regular Confession, and the sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Anointing of the Sick — along with active ministries for every age, including an adult choir, Knights of Peter Claver Council #206, Legion of Mary, Ladies Altar Society, lectors, ushers, a youth group, a grief support group, and outreach to the homebound.
Mass times at Our Lady Queen of Peace
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 4:45 PM – 5:15 PM
- Saturday: 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM
Adoration times
- Friday: 6:00 AM Adoration, followed by 7:00 AM Mass and Benediction
About Our Lady Queen of Peace
Our Lady Queen of Peace is a Roman Catholic parish located at 145 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in North Lafayette, Louisiana. Originally established to serve the residents of the Truman Addition and Washington Heights neighborhoods, it has become a place where people from all backgrounds come together to worship. The parish is recognized as a historically Black Catholic church with deep roots in the Creole culture of Acadiana. Mass is celebrated with an adult choir and music intended to lift the spirit of all who gather in worship, and the parish offers a full sacramental life along with numerous ministries for every age and stage.
Parish History
The parish was born from the determination of families in the Truman Addition and Washington Heights neighborhoods who once had to walk past a white-only parish to attend Mass at St. Paul's Catholic Church. As early as 1960, residents purchased land on Rubria Street in Washington Heights and spent the next five years raising $4,000 toward a chapel, supplemented by $15,000 from the Diocese. When that property proved too small, additional land was purchased on Lillian Road. In June 1969, Bishop Maurice Schexnayder formally established Our Lady Queen of Peace as a territorial (not ethnic-based) parish, opening its doors to all. Weekend Masses were first held at the Lafayette Catholic Center on North University Avenue and then in the Truman Elementary School gymnasium until the present church building was dedicated in November 1975.
- 1960: Land purchased on Rubria Street, Washington Heights
- 1960–1965: Community raises $4,000 toward a chapel
- Lillian Road property acquired after Rubria Street lot deemed too small
- June 1969: Parish formally established by Bishop Schexnayder
- 1969–1975: Masses held at Lafayette Catholic Center, then Truman Elementary gymnasium
- November 1975: Church building on Lillian Road / Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. dedicated
Parish Staff & Leadership
Beyond the pastor, the parish is served by a small, dedicated staff and a Parish Life Coordinator who helps ministries stay connected and active.
- Rev. Peter Emusa — Pastor
- Rashida McZeal — Parish Life Coordinator
- Mary Johnson — (parish staff)
- Joseph 'Sonny' Dugas — (parish staff)
- Edmond LaStrapes — Church Maintenance Supervisor
- Secretary / Bookkeeper (contact via [email protected])
Office Hours
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday mornings and closed on Friday.
- Monday – Thursday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Friday: Closed
Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation
The parish celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments, with preparation programs for children and ongoing pastoral care for the sick and homebound. Requests can be made through the parish office.
- Baptism
- First Penance (Reconciliation) & First Communion
- Confirmation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Communion to the Homebound (Homebound Eucharistic Ministers)
- Mass Intentions
Clubs & Ministries
Our Lady Queen of Peace runs a wide array of ministries that touch every part of parish life — from liturgy and music, to outreach, formation, and fellowship. Members are invited to share their gifts and become a volunteer.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (incl. Homebound Ministers)
- Ministers of Hospitality
- Ushers Society
- Lectors
- Adult Choir
- Ladies Altar Society
- Legion of Mary — Our Lady Queen of Peace Praesidum
- Knights of Peter Claver Council #206
- Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Court #206
- Young Ladies in Christ Youth Group
- Come, Lord Jesus! Fellowship
- Grief Support Group
- Digital Services Ministry
Music Ministry
Mass at Our Lady Queen of Peace is celebrated with the parish's Adult Choir, whose music lifts the spirit of all who gather in worship and reflects the parish's deep Creole heritage.
- Adult Choir
Outreach & Pastoral Care
The parish reaches beyond its walls to care for neighbors who cannot come to church, and welcomes suggestions for new forms of community outreach.
- Communion to the Homebound (by appointment — call 337-233-1591)
- Grief Support Group
- Community outreach initiatives suggested by parishioners
Visit & Contact
The parish welcomes visitors and newcomers. For information about sacraments, ministries, volunteering, or to schedule a visit to a homebound loved one, contact the parish office.
- Address: 145 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Lafayette, LA 70501
- Phone: (337) 233-1591
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://queenofpeacelafayette.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Jude Speyrer1969 (founding pastor)
First pastor; later became Bishop Edward J. Speyrer.
- Father Val Pullman
- Father Danny Regan
- Father Ken Broussard
- Father Harold Trahan
- Father Jason Mouton
- Father Hampton Davis, III
- Rev. Peter Emusa
Current pastor; listed by the Diocese of Lafayette as Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace.