About St. Andrew · Amelia, Louisiana
St. Andrew Catholic Church is the Catholic community of Amelia, a small bayou town in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. The parish was canonically established in January 1965 by Archbishop John Cody of New Orleans and dedicated on November 20, 1966 by Archbishop Philip Hannan. Today it is one of two Catholic parishes in Amelia (alongside the Vietnamese mission Thanh Gia / Holy Family) within the Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux, and it serves a culturally rich Cajun and Hispanic community with Mass celebrated in both English and Spanish.
- Established
- 1965
- Patron
- St. Andrew the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Alex Okiror (Administrator, appointed July 1, 2026)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux
Why belong here
St. Andrew offers a deeply rooted, multi-generational Catholic community in the heart of bayou Amelia, with weekly Mass in both English and Spanish that welcomes the area's Cajun and Hispanic families. The parish runs active youth faith formation, a Knights of Columbus council, a Ladies Altar Society, and a Parish Council, and it shares ministry with the Vietnamese Thanh Gia (Holy Family) mission — making it one of the most culturally diverse small parishes in the Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux. With a 50-plus-year history, an active CCD program, scheduled adoration and confession times, and the historic Souby bell standing as a daily reminder of its founding, St. Andrew is a welcoming place for anyone seeking traditional Catholic worship and community life in St. Mary Parish.
Mass times at St. Andrew
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
- Tuesday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM
- By appointment (call the rectory at 985-631-2333)
Adoration times
- 1st Friday: 7:00 AM Adoration (followed by 7:30 AM Rosary and 8:00 AM Mass)
- 1st Friday: 11:00 AM Adoration followed by 12:10 PM Mass (per CatholicMassTime listing)
History of St. Andrew Parish
St. Andrew was canonically established in January 1965 by the Most Reverend Archbishop John Cody of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The parish's wooden first church was severely damaged later that same year by Hurricane Betsy, and a new church was erected on a fresh site. While construction was under way, daily Mass was offered in the rectory and in the camp of Mr. and Mrs. Roland Verret Jr., and Sunday Mass was celebrated in the cafeteria of Aucoin Elementary School. The new church was dedicated by Archbishop Philip Hannan on November 20, 1966.
- Founded January 1965 (Archbishop John Cody)
- Wooden church lost to Hurricane Betsy, fall 1965
- New church dedicated November 20, 1966 (Archbishop Philip Hannan)
- Old bell rededicated in memory of Fr. Andrew Souby and mounted in front of the new church
- Mausoleum built in the older cemetery on the old church site, 1973
- Parish hall built in the early 1970s
- C.C.D. (religious-education) building completed in 1984
Cajun Food Festival (Parish Fair)
For many years the Cajun Food Festival, the parish fair held each September or October, was the primary fundraiser for St. Andrew. It was a celebrated community event that brought together the parish and surrounding bayou communities and helped support the parish's growth and building projects.
- Held each September or October
- Served as the parish's main fundraiser for many years
- Centerpiece of the local Catholic social calendar
The Sacraments
St. Andrew prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation and continues to minister to them at every stage of life. Baptisms require a Pre-Baptismal Seminar for parents and godparents; First Communion is prepared within the 2nd-grade CCD program; and Confirmation is a two-year program for 10th and 11th graders. The parish strongly encourages couples to contact a priest at least six months before a planned wedding.
- Baptism — Pre-Baptismal Seminar required; register at the Rectory (985-631-2333)
- First Communion — 2nd-grade CCD preparation
- Confirmation — Two-year program for 10th & 11th grade CCD students
- Marriage — Contact the parish priest at least 6 months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick — Arranged through the rectory
- Reconciliation / Confession — Scheduled times plus by appointment
- Vocations to the Priesthood — Contact the parish priests
Faith Formation and CCD
Religious education for the parish's children and youth is coordinated through the CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program, which has been housed in its own dedicated building since 1984 — ending what parishioners remember as the long 'pilgrimage' of holding classes from home to home.
- Coordinator of Youth Formation: Amber Cavalier (985-519-2369)
- 2nd-grade CCD: First Communion preparation
- 10th & 11th-grade CCD: Two-year Confirmation program
- Adult faith formation: details published through the parish bulletin
Parish Ministries and Organizations
St. Andrew's lay life is organized around several active ministries and councils that serve the parish and wider Amelia community. The Knights of Columbus, Ladies Altar Society, Parish Council, and Youth Formation team all publish contact phone numbers on the parish's ministries page so newcomers can easily get involved.
- Coordinator of Youth Formation — Amber Cavalier (985-519-2369)
- Knights of Columbus Council #8371 — Grand Knight Ted Bailey (985-255-3962)
- Ladies Altar Society — Coordinator Suzanne Woods (985-631-2944)
- Parish Council — President Jason Pennison (985-631-2157)
- Need Prayer — online prayer-request ministry through the parish website
Cemetery
Saint Andrew Cemetery serves the Catholic families of St. Andrew parish as well as those of the neighboring Vietnamese mission Thanh Gia (Holy Family). It is located at 3460 Lake Palourde Road, Amelia, LA, on the same grounds where the parish's 1973 mausoleum was built on the site of the original wooden church.
- Address: 3460 Lake Palourde Road, Amelia, LA
- Office contact: standrewcentral.org / 985-631-2333 / 833 Julia St., Amelia, LA 70340
- Houses the 1973 mausoleum built on the site of the original 1965 church
- Serves both St. Andrew and Thanh Gia (Holy Family) communities
Devotions and Special Services
Beyond the regular Mass and confession schedule, St. Andrew hosts a number of recurring devotions. The First Friday of each month features adoration, rosary, and Mass; healing Masses (such as those celebrated with the Pax Christi Ministry) have been held at the parish; and the community gathers for rosary commemorations such as the annual Fatima apparition observance.
- 1st Friday — Adoration, Rosary, and Mass
- Daily Rosary about 30 minutes before Mass
- Healing Masses with Pax Christi Ministry
- Fatima rosary commemorations
- Participation in the Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux Church Parish Novena
Contact and Visit
St. Andrew's rectory and offices are reached by phone and email, with mail directed to a P.O. Box in Amelia. The parish website links to the current bulletin/calendar and publishes the contact information for ministry leaders.
- Address: 833 Julia Street, Amelia, LA 70340
- Mailing: P.O. Box 310, Amelia, LA 70340
- Phone: (985) 631-2333
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://standrewcentral.org
- Diocese page: https://htdiocese.org/st-andrew-amelia
Related Catholic Community in Amelia
Amelia is home to a second Catholic community, Thanh Gia (Holy Family), a Vietnamese Catholic mission also within the Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux. The two communities share the Saint Andrew Cemetery and serve the spiritual needs of the bayou region's culturally diverse Catholic faithful.
- Thanh Gia (Holy Family) Catholic Church — Vietnamese mission in Amelia
- Both communities served by Saint Andrew Cemetery on Lake Palourde Road
- Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Adrian Caillouet1965 – June 1972
First pastor of St. Andrew; led the founding years and oversaw the construction and dedication of the new church in 1966.
- Msgr. Albert Bergeron1972 – 1975
- Msgr. Robert Vincent1975 – 1985
- Fr. Warren Chassaniol1985 – 1992
- Fr. Joseph Pilola1992 – 1995
- Fr. Charles Perkins1995 – 2003
- Fr. Gregory FrattDecember 26, 2003 – 2007
Transferred out in 2007.
- Fr. Evelio 'Toto' Buenaflor Jr.June 27, 2007 – November 2011
- Fr. Joseph Chacko, I.M.S.November 2011 – 2026
Later appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Golden Meadow (effective July 1, 2026).
- Fr. Joel Cruz
Listed as 'current pastor' on the parish's 50th anniversary history page; noted for leading healing Masses with Pax Christi Ministry.
- Rev. Alex OkirorEffective July 1, 2026
Appointed Administrator of St. Andrew Catholic Church in Amelia for a one-year term by Bishop Simon Peter Engurait.