About St. Benedict the Moor · Napoleonville, Louisiana
St. Benedict the Moor is a historically African American Catholic parish in the Bertrandville community of Napoleonville, Louisiana, in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Founded in 1911 and served for decades by the Josephite Fathers (Society of St. Joseph), it is recognized as the oldest African American Catholic church in the diocese. Today the parish is led by Rev. Andrew Toyinbo, MSP, and is united with the mission parish of St. Augustine in nearby Klotzville, sustaining a worship tradition that spans more than a century along Bayou Lafourche.
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- St. Benedict the Moor
- Rector
- Rev. Andrew Toyinbo, MSP
- Diocese
- Diocese of Baton Rouge
Why belong here
St. Benedict the Moor is the oldest African American Catholic church in the Diocese of Baton Rouge — a living witness to more than a century of Black Catholic worship on Bayou Lafourche. Visitors and parishioners find a warm community that gathers for two Sunday Masses, a Saturday vigil, and daily weekday Masses, with confession on Saturday and Sunday. The parish runs an active Order of Peter Claver chapter, sustains eight parish ministries, and proudly promotes the six African American candidates for sainthood, making it a distinctive home for anyone who values this heritage.
Mass times at St. Benedict the Moor
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM (at St. Benedict)
- Sunday 7:30 AM (at St. Augustine)
Adoration times
- Friday 7:30–8:30 AM
History of St. Benedict the Moor
The parish traces its roots to the African American Catholic communities of upper Bayou Lafourche, who worshipped at mission chapels built at Bertrandville and Klotzville by French Augustinian monks beginning in 1896. After the Augustinians departed in 1899, local families went ten years without a resident priest and pressed for one of their own. Their appeal was answered when the Josephite Fathers took charge of the Black Missions along the bayou, and Father Favard, S.S.J., arrived as the first pastor of St. Benedict on October 11, 1911, also serving the mission parish of St. Augustine. The opening of a parish school was his first priority.
- 1896 — French Augustinian monks establish mission chapels at Bertrandville and Klotzville.
- 1889 — Letter to Archbishop Janssens in The Colored Harvest praises the zeal of Black Catholics at Klotzville.
- 1899 — Augustinians leave the bayou.
- 1911 (Oct. 11) — Father Favard, S.S.J., arrives as first pastor.
- 1918 — Father Joseph Van Baast, S.S.J., arrives; builds up Catholic communities across the bayou region.
- Father Harry J. Maloney leaves a legacy of a fine church in Klotzville and a modern school at St. Benedict.
Parish Identity & Heritage
St. Benedict the Moor is recognized as the oldest African American Catholic church in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Its identity is shaped by a deep commitment to Black Catholic heritage, including the promotion of the six African American candidates for sainthood and the work of community members like Jerilyn Williams (parishioner and director of religious education) and Deacon Alfred Adams, who serves the parish and was ordained as the first Black deacon in the diocese.
- Oldest African American Catholic parish in the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
- Named for St. Benedict the Moor (feast day April 4).
- Home to Deacon Alfred Adams, first Black deacon of the diocese.
- Jerilyn Williams serves as director of religious education and parish historian.
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
The parish is currently served by Rev. Andrew Toyinbo, MSP, as pastor, with Deacon Alfred Adams assisting. St. Benedict is united with the mission parish of St. Augustine in Klotzville under the same pastor, and together the two communities sustain worship and ministry along Bayou Lafourche.
- Rev. Andrew Toyinbo, MSP — Pastor (also pastor of mission parish St. Augustine, Klotzville).
- Deacon Alfred Adams — first Black deacon ordained in the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
St. Benedict and its mission St. Augustine together offer a full week of Masses, including two Sunday morning celebrations and a Saturday Vigil at St. Benedict, with weekday Masses at both churches.
- Sunday Mass: 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM
- Weekday Mass: Mon 5 PM, Tue 5 PM, Wed 7 AM (and 5:30 PM at St. Augustine Chapel), Thu 7 AM, Fri 7 AM
- Confession: Sat 4:30 PM at St. Benedict; Sun 7:30 AM at St. Augustine
- Adoration: Fri 7:30–8:30 AM
Mission Parish — St. Augustine, Klotzville
From its founding in 1911, St. Benedict has ministered to the nearby Black Catholic mission at Klotzville — St. Augustine. The two parishes are united today under one pastor, with shared weekday Mass times and the long-standing Klotzville church built under Father Harry J. Maloney.
- United with St. Benedict under one pastor.
- Site of an early mission chapel established by the Augustinians in 1896.
- Houses a fine church constructed under Father Maloney's pastorate.
- Sunday confession heard at St. Augustine at 7:30 AM.
Ministries & Faith Formation
The parish runs eight ministry areas, sustains an active Order of Peter Claver chapter, and supports faith formation through its director of religious education. Music and liturgical life, outreach to the local Black Catholic community, and promotion of the six African American candidates for sainthood are central to its mission.
- Religious Education — directed by Jerilyn Williams.
- Order of Peter Claver chapter.
- Eight parish ministry areas.
- Promotion of the six African American candidates for sainthood.
- Music and liturgical ministry.
Sacraments
St. Benedict celebrates the full sacramental life of the Catholic Church, with regular confession on Saturday and Sunday, weekday and weekend Masses, and preparation for baptism, confirmation, marriage, and anointing of the sick. The parish also shares in the diocesan mission of forming deacons and priests — notably producing the diocese's first Black deacon in Deacon Alfred Adams.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist
- Penance (Confession)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders
- Matrimony
Visit & Contact
St. Benedict the Moor is located on Highway 1 in the Bertrandville community of Napoleonville, Assumption Parish, Louisiana. The parish can be reached by phone or through its Google Sites page and Facebook presence.
- Address: 5479 Highway #1 (Bertrandville), Napoleonville, LA 70390
- Phone: (985) 513-3470
- Website: sites.google.com/view/bertrandvillecatholics/home
- Facebook: facebook.com/p/St-Benedict-the-Moor-Napoleonville-La
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Favard, S.S.J.1911–
First pastor; arrived October 11, 1911, also ministering to mission parish of St. Augustine. Opened the parish school.
- Father Joseph Van Baast, S.S.J.from 1918
Zealous Josephite missionary who built up Catholic communities from Donaldsonville to Thibodaux; reportedly rode horseback along Bayou Lafourche to serve parishioners.
- Father Harry J. Maloney
Legacy of a fine church in Klotzville and a modern school at St. Benedict in Bertrandville; championed justice and reforms for parishioners.