About Sacred Heart · Morgan City, Louisiana
Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church is a historic Catholic parish in Morgan City, Louisiana, founded in 1859 (when the town was still called Brashear) and currently part of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. It is administered by Rev. Brett Lapeyrouse, with deacons Larry Callais and Randall Jennings assisting, and offers Mass in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The parish sits at 415 Union Street on the corner of Union and 3rd, and is known locally as the mother church of St. Mary Parish's Catholic life, with a deep tradition of daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Perpetual Help Novena, and a parish thrift store that serves the wider community.
- Established
- 1859
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Brett Lapeyrouse (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux
Why belong here
Parishioners of Sacred Heart enjoy the rhythm of a genuinely traditional Catholic parish: three Sunday Masses (8:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 6:00 PM) plus a Saturday Vigil at 4:30 PM, an early 6:30 AM weekday Mass Tuesday through Friday, a Perpetual Help Novena on Tuesdays, a weekday Rosary, Friday's Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and a powerful 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration from Thursday morning into Friday, followed by a procession of the Blessed Sacrament. The parish also runs the Sacred Heart Church Thrift Store on Railroad Avenue, reaches out through fundraiser ministries like the Baby Bottle Fundraiser, and welcomes worshippers across English, Spanish, and Vietnamese — a community that feels rooted in 1859 and very much alive today.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday Vigil: 3:45–4:15 PM (before 4:30 Mass)
- Saturday: 8:00 AM
- Wednesday & Thursday: 6:00 AM
- 30 minutes before all Sunday Masses
- First Saturday: 8:30–9:20 AM (during Exposition)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration every Thursday 7:00 AM through Friday 6:30 AM (24 hours), with Procession of the Blessed Sacrament before the 6:30 AM Friday Mass
- First Saturdays: 8:30 AM Mass followed by Adoration until 10:00 AM
Parish History
Sacred Heart of Jesus is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in the Bayou Region. Father J.J. Claris offered the first Mass in 1859 in the river town then called Brashear. The parish was originally placed under the patronage of St. Justin the Martyr and later St. Clotilda, Queen of France, before taking its present name — Sacred Heart of Jesus — under its first resident pastor, Fr. Mathurin Chapin. The present church was built up gradually between 1902 and 1924 during the pastorate of Fr. Andrew Souby, who simultaneously ministered to mission communities up and down the bayou. As the area grew, Holy Cross Parish was carved out of Sacred Heart in 1964, and a Louisiana historical marker (erected by the Archdiocese Bicentennial Commission) now commemorates the parish at the corner of Union and Third Streets.
- 1859 — First Mass offered by Fr. J.J. Claris in Brashear (now Morgan City)
- Fr. Mathurin Chapin — first resident pastor; parish takes the Sacred Heart of Jesus as its titular
- 1902–1924 — Present church constructed during Fr. Andrew Souby's pastorate (1898–1935)
- 1964 — Holy Cross Parish formed out of Sacred Heart
- Historical marker erected by the Archdiocese Bicentennial Commission
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently administered by Rev. Brett Lapeyrouse, supported by two permanent deacons, Larry Callais and Randall Jennings. Parishioners can reach the office at (985) 385-0770 or [email protected] during weekday office hours. The office is closed for lunch from 12:00 to 1:00 PM.
- Rev. Brett Lapeyrouse — Administrator
- Deacon Larry Callais
- Deacon Randall Jennings
Sacraments
Sacred Heart prepares parishioners for the Church's seven sacraments. Baptisms are celebrated on Saturdays or Sundays; both parents and godparents are required to attend a baptism seminar held the first Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM in the Gallen Room, and a church baptism application must be turned in beforehand. Couples preparing for marriage are asked to make an appointment with the parish priest at least six months in advance. The parish also arranges Anointing of the Sick, Communion calls to the home, and hospital visits through the rectory.
- Baptism — Saturday or Sunday; seminar first Tuesday at 6:00 PM in the Gallen Room
- Marriage — meet with the priest at least 6 months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick — call (985) 385-0770 anytime
- Communion / Home Visits — call the rectory
- Hospital Visits — call the rectory to arrange
Outreach & Fundraising
Sacred Heart reaches beyond its walls in several practical ways. The parish operates the Sacred Heart Church Thrift Store at 304 S Railroad Avenue (985-385-4749), and it has hosted parish-wide fundraisers such as the Baby Bottle Fundraiser to support local pregnancy-care and pro-life causes. The rectory also fields requests for prayer and Mass intentions.
- Sacred Heart Church Thrift Store — 304 S Railroad Avenue, (985) 385-4749
- Baby Bottle Fundraiser (parish-wide campaign hosted at all Masses)
- Mass intention requests submitted via the parish office
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. J.J. Claris1859
Offered the first Mass in Brashear (now Morgan City) in 1859
- Fr. Mathurin Chapin
First resident pastor; during his tenure the parish's titular became the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Fr. Andrew Souby1898–1935
Built the current church gradually from 1902 to 1924; ministered to Berwick, Ramos, Bayou Boeuf, Bayou L'Ourse, Gibson, Donner, and Chacahoula