About Saint Louis · Glenmora, Louisiana
St. Louis Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the small Central Louisiana town of Glenmora (Rapides Parish), serving the faithful of Glenmora and the surrounding rural communities of Allen, Rapides, and Vernon parishes. Established in 1941, it belongs to the Diocese of Alexandria (Central Deanery) and is the mother church of two mission parishes: St. Jude Mission in Sieper and St. Peter Mission in Elmer. The parish is a bilingual community, celebrating Mass in both English and Spanish, and offers a full schedule of weekday and Sunday Masses along with traditional devotions such as First Friday adoration, the Rosary, and Stations of the Cross during Lent.
- Established
- 1941
- Patron
- Saint Louis IX, King of France
- Rector
- Rev. Edwin Rodriguez-Hernandez
- Diocese
- Diocese of Alexandria (Central Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Louis is a small, bilingual parish where the pastor and lay staff know their people by name — a place where English-speaking and Spanish-speaking families worship side by side at Sunday Mass. The parish keeps a steady rhythm of traditional Catholic devotions (First Friday Mass and Adoration, weekly Rosary, Lenten Stations of the Cross) and runs religious education and youth ministry for the children of Glenmora and its mission communities. Because St. Louis is the mother church of two missions (St. Jude in Sieper and St. Peter in Elmer), belonging here also means helping sustain the Catholic presence across a wide swath of rural Central Louisiana.
Mass times at Saint Louis
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before Mass and by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday 7:00–8:00 pm (Español / Spanish Holy Hour)
- First Friday 7:00–8:00 pm (English, following the 6:00 pm First Friday Mass)
- Benediction every First Friday at 5:00 pm (older schedule listing)
Parish Identity and History
St. Louis Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Glenmora, Louisiana, established in 1941 and entrusted to the Diocese of Alexandria. It is named for Saint Louis IX, King of France, whose feast day is August 25. The parish was founded to serve the small lumber-mill town of Glenmora and the surrounding rural communities of Central Louisiana, and from its earliest decades it has also shepherded mission churches in nearby Sieper and Elmer. Today it remains the spiritual hub for Catholics across a wide, rural stretch of Rapides, Allen, and Vernon parishes.
- Established: 1941
- Patron: Saint Louis IX, King of France (feast day August 25)
- Diocese of Alexandria, Central Deanery
- Listed in the 2026 Diocese of Alexandria parish directory
Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by its pastor with a small lay staff who together cover worship, music, and faith formation. The pastor is assisted by a Music Director and a combined Director of Religious Education / Youth Director.
- Rev. Edwin Rodriguez-Hernandez — Pastor
- Tom Heinle — Music Director
- Ellen Jennings — Director of Religious Education / Youth Director
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
Religious education for children and youth is coordinated by Ellen Jennings, who serves as both Director of Religious Education and Youth Director. The program prepares the young people of Glenmora, Sieper, and Elmer for the sacraments and accompanies them into adult parish life.
- Religious Education (CCD) for parish children
- Youth Ministry program
- Combined Director of Religious Education / Youth Director: Ellen Jennings
Music Ministry
Music at St. Louis is directed by Tom Heinle, who leads the parish's liturgical music for English and Spanish Masses, Holy Days, and special celebrations throughout the liturgical year.
- Music Director: Tom Heinle
- Supports English and Spanish Masses, First Friday devotions, and Holy Day liturgies
Mission Churches
St. Louis Church is the mother parish of two mission communities in surrounding rural areas. The pastor and staff of St. Louis shepherd these missions so that Catholics in outlying communities can worship close to home.
- St. Jude Mission — 78 Price Road, Sieper, LA. Mass: Saturday 4:00 pm (year-round); Adoration First Friday 5:00 pm; Confession before Mass and by appointment.
- St. Peter Mission — 6684 Hwy 112, Elmer, LA. Masses: Sunday 10:30 am and Wednesday 6:30 pm; Adoration First Friday 6:00 pm; Stations of the Cross Wednesday 6:30 pm during Lent; Confession before Mass and by appointment.
Parish Office and Contact
Parish business and sacramental scheduling are handled from the parish office on 8th Street in Glenmora, with hours published in the diocesan directory.
- Physical address: 826 8th Street, Glenmora, LA 71433
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 636, Glenmora, LA 71433-0636
- Phone: (318) 748-8324
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Wednesday–Friday, 9:00 am–3:00 pm
- Website hosted via the Diocese of Alexandria: diocesealex.org/church/st-louis-church/
Pastoral Succession
In the modern era the parish has been served by several priests whose wider diocesan roles have been significant. Their tenures together show St. Louis's place in the life of the Diocese of Alexandria.
- Msgr. Ronald C. Hoppe — served as pastor of St. Louis and its missions in Elmer and Sieper; later Vicar General and Diocesan Administrator; made Prelate of Honor (Reverend Monsignor) by Pope St. John Paul II in 1988; retired 2009; died 2022.
- Rev. Kenneth Obiekwe — pastor of St. Louis and its two missions in the 2016–2022 period; presided with Bishop David Talley at the blessing of a new altar on September 29, 2018; re-appointed pastor in 2022 diocesan assignments.
- Rev. Edwin Rodriguez-Hernandez — granted a two-year extension at St. Alphonsus Church, Hessmer, in 2022; currently pastor of St. Louis Church, Glenmora, per the 2026 diocesan directory.
Bilingual Catholic Life in Central Louisiana
St. Louis is one of the bilingual parishes of the Diocese of Alexandria, with regular Spanish-language Masses on Wednesday evenings and Saturday evenings, and a Spanish Holy Hour on Wednesday nights. For English- and Spanish-speaking families in Glenmora, Sieper, and Elmer, the parish is a single Catholic home where two language communities pray, receive the sacraments, and form their children together.
- Spanish Mass: Wednesday 8:00 pm
- Spanish Mass: Saturday 7:30 pm
- Spanish Holy Hour / Adoration: Wednesday 7:00–8:00 pm
- English Mass: Sunday 8:30 am; Thursday & Friday 8:00 am; First Friday 6:00 pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Ronald C. Hoppe
Pastored St. Louis Church in Glenmora and its missions in Elmer and Sieper during his decades of ministry. Named a Prelate of Honor (Reverend Monsignor) by Pope St. John Paul II in 1988; retired from active ministry in 2009. Died April 4, 2022, at age 92.
- Rev. Kenneth Obiekwe
Listed as pastor of St. Louis Church, Glenmora, and its two missions in 2016 diocesan coverage; presided at the blessing of a new altar by Bishop David Talley on September 29, 2018. Re-appointed pastor in 2022 diocesan assignments.
- Rev. Edwin Rodriguez-Hernandez
Granted a two-year extension as pastor of St. Alphonsus Church, Hessmer, in 2022; currently serves as pastor of St. Louis Church, Glenmora, per the 2026 Diocese of Alexandria directory.