About St. Anthony of Padua (Bayou Black) · Houma, Louisiana
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church is a small, welcoming Roman Catholic parish serving the Bayou Black community of Houma, Louisiana, in the Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux. The parish identifies itself as 'a welcoming community of Faith, united in our diversity, rooted in Scripture and Roman Catholic Tradition,' committed to Growing the Family of God by learning, living and sharing God's Word. The mission community along Bayou Black Drive traces its roots to 1873–1876, and today's parish is well known locally for its early-morning daily Masses, a perpetual adoration chapel behind the church, and a strong tradition of Christmas plays and parish-wide events at the Rev. Gerard C. Hayes Parish Center.
- Established
- 1876
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Rev. Carlos Talavera
- Diocese
- Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux
Why belong here
St. Anthony of Padua offers a tight-knit Bayou Black community where daily Mass is the heartbeat of parish life — Tuesday through Friday at 6:30 AM, plus a Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM, Sunday Masses at 8:00 and 10:30 AM, a First Saturday morning Mass, and Monday Liturgy of the Word. Families are drawn by faith formation for children preparing for First Holy Communion, an Easter Egg Hunt, an annual Christmas play in the Rev. Gerard C. Hayes Center, and active outreach to local seniors. The parish also maintains a Perpetual Adoration Chapel behind the church and warmly invites new parishioners to share in Growing the Family of God.
Mass times at St. Anthony of Padua (Bayou Black)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday–Friday: 6:00–6:25 AM
- Saturday: 3:15–3:45 PM (before the 4:00 PM Vigil Mass)
- Sunday: 7:30–7:50 AM (before the 8:00 AM Mass) and 10:00–10:20 AM (before the 10:30 AM Mass)
- Other times by appointment — call the Parish Office (985-872-0922)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration in the Chapel behind the church building — call the Parish Office for the door code
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Anthony of Padua describes itself on its official site as 'a welcoming community of Faith, united in our diversity, rooted in Scripture and Roman Catholic Tradition.' Its mission statement calls the parish to be 'Guided by the Holy Spirit, nurtured by the Sacraments, and inspired by the Holy Family,' committing to 'Growing the Family of God by learning, living and sharing God's Word' and to 'love and serve the Lord by serving one another.' This identity shapes the everyday rhythm of the parish — daily early-morning Mass, generous confession times, and a culture of family-oriented events.
History of St. Anthony of Padua, Bayou Black
The Bayou Black Catholic community is one of the older mission stations in the Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux, established in 1876 (with a local genealogical source listing 1873). The original mission church was destroyed in 1940. Today's parish sits along Bayou Black Drive, the rural corridor between Houma and Gibson, and has grown to include a separate Perpetual Adoration Chapel behind the main church and the Rev. Gerard C. Hayes Parish Center.
- Mission established: 1876 (per GCatholic; 1873 per Christine's Genealogy table)
- Original church destroyed: 1940
- Present church and grounds: 3897 Bayou Black Drive, Houma, LA 70360
- Parish Center named after former pastor Rev. Gerard C. Hayes
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is currently served by Rev. Carlos Talavera as Pastor, listed on the Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux active priests roster with the parish office phone (985) 872-0922 and contact email ctalaverahtdiocese.org. The parish community continues to honor the legacy of a previous pastor, Rev. Gerard C. Hayes, through the naming of the parish center.
- Rev. Carlos Talavera — Pastor
- Contact: [email protected] / (985) 872-0922
- Rev. Gerard C. Hayes — former pastor (Parish Center namesake)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates Baptism and Marriage according to the policy of the Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux, with First Holy Communion prepared for annually. Couples must contact the officiating priest or deacon six months before any planned wedding; infant Baptism requires a parent/godparent seminar the last Saturday of the month prior to the first-Sunday Baptism.
- Infant Baptism — first Sunday of each month; seminar last Saturday of each month at the Parish Center
- Marriage — six-month notice to the officiant; no arrangements before the first meeting
- First Holy Communion — annual parish program celebrated at a Sunday Mass
- Anointing / pastoral visits — by appointment through the Parish Office
Ministries & Parish Life
Parish life at St. Anthony's is family-centered and very community-rooted. Knights of Columbus members help trim palms for Palm Sunday. Children in grades 1–5 look forward to the Easter Egg Hunt after the 10:30 AM Mass on Easter Sunday, and the parish Christmas play (held in the Rev. Gerard C. Hayes Center) is a long-running tradition followed by a tree lighting, hot cocoa, and cookies. Outreach extends to the Bayou Black Community Center through a Seniors Luncheon where parishioners help with food preparation and serving.
- Knights of Columbus (Lenten palms, parish support)
- Children's Easter Egg Hunt (grades 1–5)
- Annual Christmas Play at the Hayes Center
- First Holy Communion preparation program
- Bayou Black Community Center Seniors Luncheon outreach
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel ministry
- Choir / cantors for Sunday liturgy
Facilities: Church, Chapel & Rev. Gerard C. Hayes Center
The parish campus along Bayou Black Drive includes the main church building, a separate Perpetual Adoration Chapel located behind the church building, and the Rev. Gerard C. Hayes Parish Center, which is the hub for faith formation classes, the Baptism seminar, the annual Christmas play, and parish social events. The chapel is open for adoration at all times, with access coordinated through the Parish Office.
- Main church — weekday and weekend Masses
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel — behind the church; door code from Parish Office
- Rev. Gerard C. Hayes Center — faith formation, Baptism seminars, Christmas play, parish events
Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux Connection
St. Anthony of Padua is a parish of the Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux. The parish participates in diocesan-wide events such as the Diocesan Choir for the Chrism Mass and Priestly Ordination at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma, and in listening sessions hosted by Bishop Fabre on the U.S. Bishops' pastoral letter 'Open Wide Our Hearts.' The parish email domain (htdiocese.org) and its listing on the diocesan active priests roster confirm the canonical link.
- Diocese: Houma–Thibodaux
- Cathedral: Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, Houma
- Bishop (at time of recent parish communications): Bishop Fabre
- Parish participates in Diocesan Choir (Chrism Mass, Ordination)
Visiting & Contact
Visitors and new parishioners are warmly welcomed. The Parish Office is open Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM–11:30 AM and 1:00–3:00 PM, and Friday 8:00 AM–12:00 PM. The parish sits along Hwy 182 (Bayou Black Drive) about 7.2 miles south of the Tunnel Blvd. intersection in Houma, between Houma and Gibson. The Perpetual Adoration Chapel is accessible by calling the parish office for the door code.
- Office phone: (985) 872-0922
- Email: [email protected]
- Fax: (985) 872-2001
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:00–11:30 AM and 1:00–3:00 PM; Fri 8:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Driving: 7.2 miles south of Tunnel Blvd. & Hwy 182 intersection, between Houma and Gibson
- Facebook: facebook.com/stanthonybayoublack
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Gerard C. Hayes
Parish Center on the grounds is named 'Rev. Gerard C. Hayes Center' in his honor, indicating a former pastor of long-standing pastoral significance.