About St. Augustine · Belle Rose, Louisiana
St. Augustine Church is a historic mission Catholic chapel in Klotzville (addressed as Belle Rose), Louisiana, in the heart of the Bayou Lafourche African-American Catholic community. It serves as the mission parish of St. Benedict the Moor in Napoleonville/Bertrandville, and together the two form one of the oldest African-American Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. A small, prayerful chapel along Highway 1003, it offers Sunday Mass, a Wednesday evening Mass, and Sunday-morning confessions, and is staffed by the Missionary Society of St. Paul (MSP) under Pastor Fr. Andrew Toyinbo.
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- St. Augustine of Hippo
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Andrew Toyinbo, MSP
- Diocese
- Diocese of Baton Rouge
Why belong here
St. Augustine is a small but deeply historic mission chapel where the African-American Catholic community of Klotzville has worshipped for more than a century. It is a place where families continue a Catholic faith passed down from the era of slavery, sustained by the Josephite Fathers and now the Missionary Society of St. Paul. Worshippers find a warm Sunday morning Mass, weekday Mass on Wednesdays, regular confession, Eucharistic adoration, religious education for children, and a parish family that still lives out the rallying cry of its founders: 'Give us a priest and we will build the church.'
Mass times at St. Augustine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday at St. Augustine 7:30 AM
- Saturday at St. Benedict 4:30 PM
- Available at other times by appointment
Adoration times
- Every Friday at St. Benedict after the 7 AM Mass until 8:30 AM
About St. Augustine Mission
St. Augustine is a small historic mission chapel in Klotzville, Louisiana, sitting on Highway 1003 just down the bayou from St. Benedict the Moor in Bertrandville. Together with its mother church, it forms one of the oldest African-American Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Worship is intimate, rooted in a community that has worshipped on this stretch of Bayou Lafourche for more than a century.
- Type: Mission chapel
- Parish family: St. Benedict the Moor & St. Augustine
- Diocese: Baton Rouge
- Served by: Missionary Society of St. Paul (MSP)
History
The Catholic community in Klotzville goes back to the post-slavery era, when African-American families who had received the faith from the Catholic planters on whose land they worked longed for a church of their own. In 1896 French Augustinians established the first mission chapel in Klotzville, but their ministry ended in 1899. After about a decade without a priest, the community's plea — 'Give us a priest and we will build the church' — brought the Josephite Fathers in 1911, with Father B. Favard, S.S.J., as the first pastor of St. Benedict and the first to minister to mission St. Augustine.
- 1889 — Letter in The Colored Harvest describes Klotzville's fervent Catholic community
- 1896 — French Augustinians (incl. Father Marcelin) open mission chapels at Klotzville and Bertrandville
- 1899 — Augustinians leave the bayou due to lack of financial support
- 1911 — Josephite Fathers arrive; Father B. Favard, S.S.J., becomes first pastor of St. Benedict and ministers to St. Augustine
- 1918 — Father Joseph Peter Van Baast, S.S.J., expands ministry all along Bayou Lafourche
- 1949 — Father Harry J. Maloney, S.S.J., builds and dedicates the present St. Augustine Church
- 2011 — St. Benedict and St. Augustine celebrate their centennial; Bishop Robert W. Muench presides
- 2022 — Father Andrew Toyinbo, MSP, installed as pastor on October 8
Parish Mission Statement
'We, the members of St. Benedict the Moor Parish, are called through baptism to celebrate the presence of Christ in Word and the Sacraments. We are called and sent by Christ to live gratefully the life God has given us and to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. In the spirit of faith, service, and community, we strive to bring our sister churches (St. Benedict the Moor and St. Augustine) and our people of our community together and closer to God.'
Clergy & Staff
The parishes of St. Benedict the Moor and St. Augustine are served by a small staff under Pastor Rev. Fr. Andrew Toyinbo, MSP, of the Missionary Society of St. Paul.
- Rev. Fr. Andrew Toyinbo, MSP — Pastor (installed October 8, 2022)
- Mrs. Jerilyn Williams — Director of Religious Education at St. Benedict
- Mrs. April Bell — Director of Religious Education at St. Augustine
- Mrs. Charlette Williams — Bookkeeper
- Mrs. Darlene Pollard — Baptismal Prep
- Ms. Reyana Johnson — Office Assistant
- Fr. Andrew's Office Hours: Tuesday–Friday 9 AM–4 PM
Ministries & Outreach
Beyond the celebration of the sacraments, the parishes of St. Benedict the Moor and St. Augustine run religious education for children, a St. Vincent de Paul Society for those in need, a youth ministry, and lay-led baptism preparation. The St. Vincent de Paul conference can be reached at 985-369-7220.
- Religious Education — St. Augustine: Mrs. April Bell; St. Benedict: Mrs. Jerilyn Williams
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — 985-369-7220
- Youth Ministry — active group whose centennial project purchased a Sacred Heart of Jesus statue dedicated March 19, 2011
- Baptismal Preparation — Mrs. Darlene Pollard
- Office support — Ms. Reyana Johnson
Location & Visiting
St. Augustine is located at 174 Highway 1003, Klotzville, LA 70341 (often addressed as Belle Rose, LA 70341). The mailing address for both churches is P.O. Box 220, Napoleonville, LA 70390. The parish office can be reached at 985-513-3470 (fax 985-513-3474) and by email at [email protected].
- St. Augustine — 174 Hwy. 1003, Klotzville, LA 70341
- St. Benedict the Moor — 5479 Highway 1, Napoleonville, LA 70390
- Mailing — P.O. Box 220, Napoleonville, LA 70390
- Phone — 985-513-3470
- Fax — 985-513-3474
- St. Vincent de Paul — 985-369-7220
- Email — [email protected]
Related Links
The parish website links out to its diocesan and national organizations.
- Diocese of Baton Rouge
- National Black Catholic Congress
- Office of Black Catholics (Diocese of Baton Rouge)
- Missionary Society of St. Paul
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Benoit (B.) Favard, S.S.J.1911–
First pastor of St. Benedict the Moor; from there he ministered to the mission parish of St. Augustine. Opened the first school by moving out of the rectory.
- Father Joseph Peter Van Baast, S.S.J.from 1918
Built strong Catholic communities all along Bayou Lafourche, from Donaldsonville to Thibodaux.
- Father Harry J. Maloney, S.S.J.
Built the present St. Augustine Church in Klotzville, dedicated in 1949, and a modern school at St. Benedict; a fearless champion of justice for his parishioners.
- Father Joseph Rodney, S.S.J.
Former pastor; blessed the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue at the centennial project.
- Father John Osom, MSP
Pastor at the time of the 2011 centennial.
- Father Charles Andrus, S.S.J.
Josephite priest present at the centennial youth ministry meeting.
- Rev. Fr. Andrew Toyinbo, MSPcurrent
Current pastor; installed October 8, 2022; office hours Tuesday–Friday 9 am–4 pm.