About St. Anselm · Madisonville, Louisiana
St. Anselm Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Madisonville, Louisiana, part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of New Orleans. The current church was dedicated on July 18, 1965, after Archbishop John Patrick Cody consolidated the two previous Madisonville parishes — St. Francis Xavier and St. Catherine of Alexandria — into a single new parish. A re-built, larger church was blessed and dedicated on August 16, 2009, by Archbishop Alfred Clifton Hughes. Today the parish is led by Pastor Rev. Msgr. Frank J. Giroir, Parochial Vicar Rev. William Mumphrey, and three deacons, and serves the faithful of the Northshore through daily and Sunday Mass, faith formation, youth ministry, RCIA, an active music ministry, and outreach through organizations such as the Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul-style charity work, and Family Promise.
- Established
- 1965
- Patron
- St. Anselm of Canterbury
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Frank J. Giroir
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of New Orleans
Why belong here
St. Anselm is a growing Northshore Catholic community with a deep history stretching back to the 1841 founding of St. Francis Xavier and renewed by the merger of the two Madisonville parishes in 1965. Today it offers multiple Sunday Masses (including a Vigil Mass Saturday evening and a 5:00 p.m. Sunday Mass), daily Mass Monday through Friday, Saturday Confession, and a Live Stream of daily Mass for the homebound. A flourishing faith formation program (Parish School of Religion with the new 'Families Hand on Faith' model), RCIA for adults and children, a Confirmation cohort, CYO youth ministry, choirs (adult, children's, handbell, youth band), First Friday Adoration, Knights of Columbus, Ladies Auxiliary, Legion of Mary, Marriage and Family Life, Family Promise, and a strong social-justice and Respect Life outreach give every age and stage a real way to belong and serve.
Mass times at St. Anselm
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (in the Confessional and Vesting Sacristy)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday Adoration (First Friday Adorers ministry)
Parish History
Catholic life in Madisonville goes back to 1841, when St. Francis Xavier was founded as the first parish on the Northshore. A second parish, St. Catherine of Alexandria, was added in the early twentieth century, and a third chapel — Bedico — served the area about five miles out of town (it is now the chapel at the Carmelite Monastery on River Road). All three were served by Benedictine Fathers of St. Joseph Abbey, with a single priest rotating Sunday Masses between the three churches. After Vatican II, Archbishop John Patrick Cody consolidated the two Madisonville parishes into one new parish, and a diocesan priest, Fr. John J. Den Dulk, was sent as the new pastor. The two old churches were torn down and St. Anselm Catholic Church was dedicated on July 18, 1965. The parish later outgrew that building, and a new, larger St. Anselm Church was blessed and dedicated by Archbishop Alfred Clifton Hughes on August 16, 2009, with Pastor Rev. Msgr. Frank J. Giroir and Parochial Vicar Rev. Hoang M. Tuong.
- 1841: St. Francis Xavier founded — first Northshore parish
- 1880s: Benedictine monks of St. Joseph Abbey begin serving Madisonville
- Early 1900s: St. Catherine of Alexandria established
- Post-Vatican II: Fr. John J. Den Dulk arrives as diocesan pastor
- July 18, 1965: First St. Anselm Church dedicated
- August 16, 2009: New, larger St. Anselm Church dedicated by Archbishop Alfred Clifton Hughes
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by a long-tenured pastor, a parochial vicar, and three deacons, supported by a parish secretary, office manager, and a team of lay directors for faith formation, youth ministry, and liturgical music.
- Rev. Msgr. Frank J. Giroir — Pastor
- Rev. William Mumphrey — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Dennis Hickey
- Deacon Edward R. Morris III
- Deacon Pat Wellmeyer
- Aimee MacIver — Director of Parish School of Religion and Faith Formation
- Colin MacIver — Youth Minister & Confirmation
- Tammy Morris — OCIA Coordinator for Children
- Deacon Ed Morris — OCIA Coordinator for Adults
- Director of Liturgical Music
- Leon Robert (music staff)
- Cally Crum — Office Manager
- Barbara Campbell — Parish Secretary
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Anselm's Parish School of Religion (PSR) supports parents as the 'domestic church' (Ecclesia domestica) through the new Families Hand on Faith model, beginning in 2026-27. PSR is the parish's primary vehicle for ongoing faith formation and sacramental preparation, including First Communion and Confirmation. RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is offered for adults through Deacon Ed Morris, and an OCIA program for children is led by Tammy Morris. There is also a Catholics Return Home ministry for those who have been away from the Church.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) — Families Hand on Faith model launching 2026-27
- First Communion preparation (2026-27 cohort registration)
- Youth Confirmation (cohorts through the PSR program)
- Adult Confirmation for adults who have not yet been confirmed
- RCIA for adults (Deacon Ed Morris, coordinator)
- OCIA for children (Tammy Morris, coordinator)
- Catholics Return Home
Youth Ministry
Youth ministry at St. Anselm is coordinated by Youth Minister & Confirmation Director Colin MacIver and is anchored by the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), including a junior CYO group. Youth are also integrated into parish liturgical life through the Youth Band within the Music Ministry.
- CYO (Catholic Youth Organization)
- CYO Jr. (junior high)
- Youth Confirmation program
- Youth Band (liturgical music)
Liturgical Music & Worship
The parish's Liturgical Music program is built around four ensembles serving different ages and styles. Liturgical schedules for priests, deacons, and Mass assistants are coordinated by the parish, with Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Altar Servers, and the Altar Guild supporting every Mass.
- Adult Choir
- Children's Choir
- Handbell Choir
- Youth Band
- Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Altar Guild
- First Friday Adorers (Eucharistic Adoration)
Parish Ministries & Community Life
St. Anselm is served by a wide network of parish ministries, organized by the parish into Liturgical, Community, Faith Formation, and Youth categories. The Community cluster includes both fraternal and service organizations and hands-on outreach, while Faith Formation covers PSR, Catholics Return Home, and the RCIA tracks. Two advisory bodies — the Pastoral Council and the Finance Council — provide governance support.
- Knights of Columbus
- Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary
- St. Joseph Altar Guild
- Legion of Mary
- Prayer Blanket ministry
- St. Anselm Golden Agers (SAGA) — senior fellowship
- Vocations
- Respect Life
- Evangelization
- Thanksgiving Baskets
- Social Justice / Ministry to the Needy
- Family Promise (homeless ministry)
- Ministry to Individuals with Special Needs
- Angel Tree (Christmas outreach)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Community (Homebound / Hospital)
- Pastoral Council
- Finance Council
Marriage & Family Life
The Marriage and Family Life Ministry supports engaged and married couples through Natural Family Planning education (required for couples marrying at St. Anselm), marriage preparation programs accepted by the Archdiocese, and ongoing enrichment. It also works to support separated and divorced parishioners and offers Christ-centered study series and 'date nights' for married couples.
- Mentor-couple marriage preparation (six-week course)
- Engaged Encounter weekend
- Day for the Engaged
- Natural Family Planning (NFP) classes — required for all couples marrying at St. Anselm
- Ongoing marriage enrichment (e.g., 'United' / 'Love' study series and supper evenings)
- Support for separated and divorced parishioners
Sacraments
St. Anselm prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Sacramental preparation for First Communion, Confirmation, and Baptism is coordinated through the Parish School of Religion. Marriage preparation follows Archdiocese of New Orleans guidelines and includes a required Natural Family Planning class for couples marrying at St. Anselm. Reconciliation is offered weekly on Saturdays, and the homebound and hospitalized are visited by Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Community.
- Baptism (Baptism Seminars in St. Joseph Hall)
- First Communion (PSR sacramental prep)
- Confirmation (youth and adult tracks)
- Eucharist (daily and Sunday Mass, live-streamed daily Mass)
- Penance / Reconciliation (Saturdays 3:00–3:45 PM and by appointment)
- Anointing of the Sick (contact parish office in emergencies)
- Holy Orders — Vocations support
- Matrimony — marriage prep and NFP
Fundraisers & Parish Events
The parish hosts an annual Gala, currently in its 18th year (the 16th Annual Gala was held on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Tchefuncta Country Club in Covington), along with other beloved community fundraisers and traditions throughout the year.
- Annual St. Anselm Gala (18th Annual) — includes car raffle and 50/50
- 'Jewel of Madisonville' fundraiser
- Lenten Fish Fry
- Golf Tournament
Contact & Visit
The parish office is at 505 Pine Street, Madisonville, LA 70447, open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The main phone line is (985) 845-7342, with a fax line at (985) 845-3076 and a general email at [email protected]. In an emergency requiring a priest, parishioners are asked to call the parish office number. Sunday 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM Masses are celebrated in both the church and the Weseman Center; daily Mass is held in the church only and is live-streamed on the parish website for those who cannot attend in person.
- Office: 505 Pine St., Madisonville, LA 70447
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
- Phone: (985) 845-7342
- Fax: (985) 845-3076
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://stanselmparish.org/
- Sunday 9 & 11 AM Masses also in the Weseman Center
- Live Stream of daily Mass on the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Benedictine Fathers of St. Joseph Abbey1880s–post-Vatican II
Served the Madisonville area beginning in the 1880s after the monks moved from Gessen (near Rosaryville) to St. Benedict. A single Benedictine priest celebrated Sunday Mass at St. Francis Xavier, St. Catherine of Alexandria, and Bedico Catholic Chapel — one pastor for three churches.
- Rev. John J. Den Dulkpost-Vatican II – c.1965
Diocesan priest assigned by Archbishop John Patrick Cody as the new pastor when the Benedictines were preparing to leave. A warm, gentle Dutchman who led the consolidation of St. Francis Xavier and St. Catherine of Alexandria into the new St. Anselm Parish, and shepherded the building of the first St. Anselm Church, dedicated July 18, 1965.
- Fr. Alan
Credited on the parish history page as the originator of the vision for the larger, new St. Anselm Church that was eventually dedicated in 2009.
- Rev. Msgr. Frank J. Giroirat least 2009–present
Pastor at the blessing and dedication of the new church on August 16, 2009 (with Parochial Vicar Rev. Hoang M. Tuong), and remains pastor of the parish today.