About St. Anne · Youngsville, Louisiana
St. Anne Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Youngsville, Louisiana, in the Diocese of Lafayette, that has served Acadiana continuously since 1859. The parish was founded by the donation of land by Mr. Desire Roy of Royville (the original name of Youngsville) and was the first resident-pastor parish in the area. Today the church offers daily and weekend Masses in English, a Saturday Reconciliation schedule, an active Parish School of Religion (Grades 1–11), a Montessori-based preschool using the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, parish ministries for adults and youth, and an extensive cemetery with five mausoleums. Fr. Michael J. Russo serves as the current pastor, and the parish is undertaking a major capital campaign to expand and renovate its historic church building.
- Established
- 1859
- Patron
- St. Anne (originally dedicated to St. Etienne; name and dedication changed to St. Anne in 1869)
- Rector
- Rev. Michael J. Russo
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
Why belong here
St. Anne offers a rare combination of small-town heritage and an active, multi-generational Catholic community: families have worshipped on this site for more than 165 years, with sacraments, faith formation, and a Catholic preschool stretching across every stage of life. The parish runs a Parish School of Religion for Grades 1–11, a Montessori-based Catechesis of the Good Shepherd preschool for 2–4 year olds, daily and weekend Masses in English, Saturday Reconciliation, ongoing Eucharistic Adoration (planned), and ministries ranging from That Man is You to Meals on Wheels outreach. With Youngsville among the fastest-growing cities in Acadiana, joining St. Anne today is a chance both to root yourself in a documented Cajun-Catholic heritage and to help shape a growing parish on the brink of a major Gothic-style expansion.
Mass times at St. Anne
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM
- Weekdays — 20 minutes before each Mass
- By appointment through the parish office
Adoration times
- Planned: Adoration Chapel in renovated historic church (not yet open as of latest parish statement — confirm with office)
About St. Anne Catholic Church
St. Anne is a 165-year-old Roman Catholic parish in Youngsville, Louisiana, in the Diocese of Lafayette. The parish was founded in 1859 on land donated by Mr. Desire Roy of Royville, and the same property remains the heart of the parish at 201 Church Street. Today the church serves as the spiritual home for generations of Acadiana families and runs an active Parish School of Religion, a Catholic preschool, and outreach ministries — while preparing for a major Gothic-style expansion to seat 856.
- Founded 1859
- Originally dedicated to St. Etienne; renamed St. Anne in 1869
- Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
- Pastor: Fr. Michael J. Russo
- Retired priest in residence: Fr. Randy Moreau
Parish History
The parish traces its origins to a July 29, 1859 donation of nine arpents by Mr. Desire Roy to Archbishop Antoine Blanc of New Orleans. Fr. Etienne Jules Foltier became the first resident pastor (1859–1862). After a brief vacancy served from Lafayette, Fr. Joseph Viau (1864–1867) built a new church in 1867 that Archbishop Napoleon Perche blessed in 1868. The current church building dates to at least 1887 and was remodeled in 1954; parish records do not confirm whether the older structure is the same building. The original central bell tower was destroyed by a storm around 1915 and re-erected as a cast-stone belfry on the east side in 1953, topped with a life-size statue of St. Anne. A 1996 renovation added stained-glass windows, a handicapped ramp, side/front coverings, paved parking, and wooden entry doors. The 1983 Parish Hall, with ten classrooms, anchors faith formation, while five mausoleums (1963, 1969, 1976, 1981, 1990s) and hundreds of graves make up the historic St. Anne Cemetery. Over the decades, the parish has ceded territory to four other parishes and supported the mission of St. John of the Cross in LeBlanc (1952–1973).
- 1859: founding; nine arpents donated by Desire Roy
- 1864–1867: Fr. Joseph Viau builds a new church
- 1869: dedication changed from St. Etienne to St. Anne
- 1887: earliest confirmed date of current church building
- 1915: storm destroys central bell tower
- 1953: new cast-stone belfry erected on east façade
- 1954: church remodeled
- 1967: new rectory built (Fr. John Windt)
- 1983: Parish Hall dedicated (Rev. François Bussieres)
- 1990: rectory/offices renovated (Rev. Jody Simoneaux)
- 1996: stained-glass windows, ramp, parking, wooden doors installed
- 1990s+: five mausoleums completed
Sacramental Records & Early Catholic Life
Parish records preserve the firsts of Catholic life in Youngsville — including the first Baptism (March 28, 1859, by Fr. Foltier), the first wedding (Bievenue Roy and Louise St. Julien, November 20, 1860), the first Confirmation (Archbishop Jean Marie Odin, August 22, 1865, with 119 candidates), and the first recorded funeral/burial (January 20, 1880). Some First Communion and Confirmation records from 1859–1865 are missing, as are funeral records before 1880.
Sacraments
St. Anne celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments and provides structured preparation programs for families. Baptisms are celebrated on the First Saturday of the month at 10:00 AM (with required parent/godparent prep classes on Sundays at 9:30 AM in the Parish Hall), while First Eucharist is prepared in 2nd grade and Confirmation in 11th grade. Marriage preparation begins by contacting the parish office, and Anointing of the Sick and Holy Orders are supported as needed.
- Baptism — 1st Saturday at 10:00 AM
- First Reconciliation / First Eucharist — 2nd grade
- Confirmation — 11th grade
- Marriage — contact parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — on request
- Holy Orders — vocations supported
- Rite of Reconciliation — Sat 3:00–3:45 PM, weekdays 20 min before Mass, or by appointment
Parish School of Religion & Faith Formation
The Parish School of Religion (PSR) serves students in Grades 1–11 and is led by Jessica Currier, DRE ([email protected], 337-857-6382). Classes meet in the ten classrooms of the Parish Hall. The program also supports adults through TMIY (That Man is You) men's formation and offers Spiritual Direction (referenced in the parish bulletin).
- Grades 1–6 and 9–11: classes begin in October
- Grades 7–8: classes begin in January
- DRE: Jessica Currier
- TMIY (That Man is You) men's formation
- Spiritual Direction available
St. Anne Preschool — Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
St. Anne Preschool, a ministry of the parish, is a Tuesday–Thursday program serving 2-, 3-, and 4-year-olds in the Parish Hall (201 Church Street). The 3- and 4-year-old classes use the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based Catholic faith-formation program with hands-on, contemplative learning. Academics use the Experience Curriculum. Director: Kim Landry ([email protected], 337-857-6323).
- School year 2025-26: Aug 19, 2025 – May 7, 2026
- Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- 2-day option (Tue/Thu) and 3-day option (Tue/Wed/Thu)
- Registration: $125/$100 parishioners; $150/$125 non-parishioners
- Director: Kim Landry
Liturgical Music
The 11:00 AM Sunday Mass is led by a schola; other weekend Masses use cantor/keyboard or keyboard/guitar and flute ensembles. The parish announced an organ donation to give the pipe organ 'prime of place' in the sacred liturgy, as called for by Church documents.
- 11:00 AM Sunday Schola
- Cantor/keyboard ensemble
- Keyboard/guitar/flute ensemble
- Pipe organ donated for the sanctuary
Ministries & Outreach
In addition to faith formation, the parish supports senior fellowship, men's formation, liturgical service, and community outreach including Meals on Wheels. Young at Heart hosts regular social events such as Prize Bingo, and liturgical ministers serve as ushers, lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and musicians. Bereavement and other parish ministries are advertised in the weekly bulletin.
- Young at Heart (senior fellowship)
- That Man is You (men's faith formation)
- Meals on Wheels outreach
- Liturgical Ministers (ushers, lectors, EMHC)
- Bereavement / Grief Ministry
- Parish socials (e.g., Parish Hall bingo)
Parish Staff
The parish staff is led by Fr. Michael J. Russo (Pastor) and includes Fr. Randy Moreau (Retired/In Residence). Lay staff oversee religious education, the preschool, parish finances, and parish office administration.
- Fr. Michael J. Russo — Pastor
- Fr. Randy Moreau — Retired / In Residence
- Jessica Currier — Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Kim Landry — Preschool Director ([email protected])
- Mona Bouillion — Bookkeeper
- Faith Breaux — Parish Secretary ([email protected])
- Lesha Theriot — staff
- Nick Hebert — Maintenance
Capital Campaign — 'A Legacy of Love'
To accommodate Youngsville's rapid growth (the city is projected to grow 341% between 2017 and 2040), St. Anne is undertaking a 3–5 year capital campaign with a $12,000,000 goal. The project includes a new traditional-Gothic-style church expansion that will seat 856, conversion of the current church into an Adoration Chapel and Baptism space (preserving its historic statues), a new 136-space east-side parking lot with five ADA spaces, new sound system, organ, and stained-glass windows. As of the latest parish report, $11,803,898 has been raised in donations and pledges.
- New Church Expansion: $9.2M (856 seats, traditional Gothic style)
- Preserving & Renovating Current Church: $1.5M (Adoration Chapel + Baptism)
- Upgrades & Preservation: $3M (pews, altar, sound, organ, stained glass)
- Parking Lot, Lighting, Drainage: $1.3M (136 spots + 5 ADA)
- Total raised in pledges: $11,803,898
St. Anne Cemetery & Mausoleums
The historic St. Anne Cemetery, adjoining the church property, contains hundreds of grave sites and five mausoleums. The oldest monument is that of Clementine Roy, wife of Pierre Lassalle (1839–1859). Mausoleums were added over five decades: St. Anne Mausoleum (1963), Garden Catacomb (1969), Chabrier Mausoleum (1976), Assumption Mausoleum (1981), and Garden Mausoleum (begun 1990, final addition completed later).
- St. Anne Mausoleum (1963)
- Garden Catacomb (1969)
- Chabrier Mausoleum (1976)
- Assumption Mausoleum (1981)
- Garden Mausoleum (1990s)
Visit, Contact & Directions
Parish offices are open Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00–3:00 PM, closed Friday. The church is located at 201 Church Street, Youngsville, LA 70592, with parking to the right (east) of the church and rectory. Visitors are warmly welcomed at any Mass or by appointment.
- Address: 201 Church Street, Youngsville, LA 70592
- Phone: (337) 856-8212
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9 AM–12 PM and 1 PM–3 PM (closed Fri)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Emile Hilairepre-1859
Pastor of Vermillionville (now Lafayette); the Royville area was first served from his parish before a resident pastor was assigned.
- Fr. Etienne Jules Foltier1859–1862
First resident pastor; originally served as assistant to Fr. Emile Hilaire. Solicited Mr. Desire Roy's July 29, 1859 donation of nine arpents. The parish was originally dedicated to St. Etienne under his tenure.
- Fr. Joseph Viau1864–1867
Second pastor; oversaw construction of a new church in 1867, blessed by Archbishop Napoleon Perche on August 7, 1868.
- Rev. François Bussieresc. 1983
Pastor at the time the Parish Hall (with ten classrooms) was dedicated on September 19, 1983.
- Fr. John Windt1967 (at least)
Oversaw the building of a new rectory in 1967.
- Rev. Jody Simoneaux1990 (at least)
Oversaw the 1990 renovation of the rectory and offices.
- Rev. Michael J. Russopresent
Current pastor; came to St. Anne around mid-2019 (referenced 'two months' in a September 2019 bulletin). Leading the 'A Legacy of Love' capital campaign.