About St. Bernadette · Houma, Louisiana
St. Bernadette Catholic Church (formally St. Bernadette Soubirous) is a Roman Catholic parish located at 409 Funderburk Avenue in Houma, Louisiana, serving the Bayou Cane area of Terrebonne Parish as part of the Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux. Founded on June 29, 1958, the parish has grown from 435 Catholic families at its founding to roughly 2,500 registered families today, making it one of the largest parishes in the diocese. The parish is named for Saint Bernadette Soubirous, the humble visionary of Lourdes, and was shaped from its earliest days by a strong devotion to prayer, the sacraments, and service to neighbor. Today St. Bernadette is a thriving spiritual home with a Catholic school (the "Pandas"), a perpetual adoration chapel, more than 100 lay-led ministries, and active youth, family, and outreach programs.
- Established
- 1958
- Patron
- Saint Bernadette Soubirous
- Rector
- Very Rev. André Melancon
- Diocese
- Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux
Why belong here
St. Bernadette is a large, active Catholic family in the Bayou Cane area of Houma with more than 100 lay-led ministries, a Catholic elementary school, a perpetual adoration chapel, and year-round programs for every age — Children's Liturgy of the Word, Mother/Daughter Tea, Vacation Bible School, LifeTeen youth ministry, RCIA/OCIA, parish missions, and Scripture study. The parish is a pioneer of the Pastoral Council model of shared leadership and reaches out to inactive parishioners through an active evangelization and family-ministry program. With its rich history, deep liturgical and devotional life, and deep community roots in the Houma–Thibodaux Diocese, St. Bernadette offers newcomers a real spiritual home and many ways to belong.
Mass times at St. Bernadette
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before every Mass
- Anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel — weekdays, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (after-hours access available by contacting the parish office for the code)
Parish History
St. Bernadette Parish was officially founded on June 29, 1958, after Archbishop Rummel of the Archdiocese of New Orleans presented Fr. George Herbert as the founding pastor of the Bayou Cane area earlier that year on February 11, 1858 — exactly one hundred years to the day after the Blessed Mother's first apparition to Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes. The parish celebrated its first Mass in its own church on July 5, 1959, and has since grown from 435 founding families to approximately 2,500 registered families, making it one of the largest parishes in the Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux.
Schools and Convent (1961–1968)
In August 1961, Fr. Herbert signed a contract to build a rectory, school, and convent, and secured the Dominican Sisters to staff the school. The parish school opened in August 1962 with grades one through three and 128 students, growing by one grade per year up to seventh grade. Sr. Mary Antoinette Millet, O.P., was the first principal. By 1966 eight additional classrooms had been built, but declining enrollment, lack of funds, and a shortage of qualified teachers prompted the Dominican Sisters to recommend closing the school in 1968.
- First principal: Sr. Mary Antoinette Millet, O.P. (1962)
- School opened August 1962 with 128 students
Keeping the School Open (1968–1979)
Refusing to close the school, parents and the school board launched fundraising projects, added a kindergarten, and obtained state approval in 1970, growing enrollment to 300 under principal Sr. Edmund Gibson, O.P. Herbert Hall, the parish center, was built in 1975 to support the spiritual and recreational life of the parish family. In January 1979 a new school wing added a library, resource room, and band room.
- Herbert Hall parish center built in 1975
- New school wing begun January 19, 1979
Growth and Renovation (1979–2011)
In 1979 the church itself was renovated to accommodate its growing congregation, adding two wings, a vestibule, a cry room, stained glass windows, carpeting, and a more central altar. The Dominican Sisters withdrew from the school in May 1987; Mrs. Patricia Domingue became the first lay principal, and Catholic Daughters were named the parish's Official Hostesses by Fr. Wilmer Todd. A 1995 expansion added classrooms, a science lab, faculty lounge, offices, a larger cafeteria, and a resource room. A parish-wide Neighborhood Blitz evangelization project launched in 2000, a prayer garden was created in 2002, and the church was rededicated January 8, 2011 after the "Renewing the House of the Lord" renovation.
- 1979 church renovation: two wings, vestibule, cry room, stained glass, central altar
- 1995 school expansion with science lab and resource room
- 2000 Neighborhood Blitz evangelization
- 2002 prayer garden created
- 2011 church rededicated after "Renewing the House of the Lord"
Our Staff
St. Bernadette is led by Very Rev. André Melancon, Pastor and Vicar General of the Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux, with Rev. Matthew Prosperie serving as Parochial Vicar and Deacon Jimmy Brunet assisting. The pastoral and administrative staff also includes a business manager, secretary, two youth formation coordinators, school principal and assistant principal, maintenance, and the Pastoral Council President.
- Very Rev. André Melancon — Pastor, V.G.
- Rev. Matthew Prosperie — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Jimmy Brunet — Deacon
- Cynthia Percle — Pastoral Council President
- Danielle Marie — School Principal
- Emily Collins — School Assistant Principal
- Rebecca Landry — Business Manager
- Lauren Boudreaux — Secretary
- Amanda R. Callais — Youth Formation Coordinator (K–8th)
- Youth Formation Coordinator (9th–11th)
- Ralph Mitchell — Maintenance
- Corey Henry — Maintenance
- June Gonzales — Church Environment
Office Hours & Contact
The parish office serves visitors and parishioners Monday through Friday, with morning and afternoon hours Monday through Thursday and half-day hours on Friday. Visitors are warmly invited to call, email, or stop by the rectory at 409 Funderburk Avenue.
- Monday–Thursday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM & 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Friday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Phone: (985) 879-1506
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 409 Funderburk Ave, Houma, LA 70364
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Bernadette spans cradle to adult. OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA) welcomes adults and children over the age of seven who are interested in becoming Catholic or completing their sacraments, with separate sessions for children/youth. Year-round children's ministries include religious education classes, Children's Liturgy of the Word, Children's School Choir, Children's Missions, Mother/Daughter Tea, Art Attack, and the Summer Fun Ministry (Vacation Bible School). Adult faith formation includes educational courses, two parish missions a year, an annual parish retreat, faith-sharing groups, and Scripture Study groups.
- OCIA/RCIA — adult and youth tracks (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist)
- Children's religious education
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Children's School Choir
- Children's Missions
- Mother/Daughter Tea
- Art Attack
- Summer Fun Ministry / Vacation Bible School
- Children and Youth Masses
- Adult educational courses
- Two parish missions each year
- Annual parish retreat
- Faith-sharing groups
- Scripture Study groups
Youth Ministry
St. Bernadette has a robust youth ministry anchored by the LifeTeen Sunday evening Mass at 5:30 PM and the annual Steubenville South Catholic Youth Conference for teens in grades 8–12. Recent trips have taken groups of 14–25 teens plus adult chaperones to the Laborde Earles Coliseum in Alexandria, LA, with themes such as "Worthy," "Fearless," "Illuminate," "Consumed," and "Refuge." Registration and fundraising support are offered to help families cover costs.
- LifeTeen Mass — Sundays at 5:30 PM
- Steubenville South (grades 8–12) at Laborde Earles Coliseum, Alexandria, LA
- Themes: Worthy, Fearless, Illuminate, Consumed, Refuge
- Youth Formation Coordinator (K–8th): Amanda R. Callais
- Youth Formation Coordinator (9th–11th) on staff
St. Bernadette Catholic School ("Pandas")
St. Bernadette Catholic School has been part of the parish since 1962, when it opened with grades 1–3 and 128 students under the Dominican Sisters. After economic hardship in the 1980s, enrollment was rebuilt with the addition of pre-K and the return of two-class-per-grade sections by 1997. The school has grown through multiple expansions and today operates with a lay principal and assistant principal, supported by the parish community and fund-raising efforts such as the Panda Meander Race.
- School opened August 1962 with grades 1–3 (128 students)
- First principal: Sr. Mary Antoinette Millet, O.P.
- Dominican Sisters withdrew in May 1987
- First lay principal: Mrs. Patricia Domingue (1987)
- Pre-kindergarten added in 1990; two classes per grade restored by 1997
- 1995 expansion: science lab, faculty lounge, larger cafeteria, resource room
- Patricia Domingue walking track funded by Panda Meander Race
- Current Principal: Danielle Marie
- Current Assistant Principal: Emily Collins
Parish Organizations & Outreach
St. Bernadette is blessed with active lay organizations and ongoing outreach to those in need, both within the parish and beyond. The parish lists the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, K.C. Ladies Auxiliary, scouts, St. Vincent de Paul, and Men's Club among its active organizations. The parish also maintains a diocesan abuse-outreach line and a family-ministry effort aimed at reaching inactive parishioners.
- Knights of Columbus
- Catholic Daughters — Court Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Official Hostesses since 1987)
- K.C. Ladies Auxiliary
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Men's Club
- Boy Scouts / Girl Scouts
- Diocesan Outreach Line (for abuse victims)
- Family Ministry (in development)
Catholic Daughters of the Americas — Court Our Lady of Perpetual Help
The Catholic Daughters Court at St. Bernadette was named the parish's "Official Hostesses" by Fr. Wilmer Todd in 1987, helping plan and prepare parish functions. Members help with the annual St. Joseph Altar, garage sale, First Communions, Confirmations, rosaries for funerals, Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets, Christmas gifts for Casa teens, a March for Life adoration, Trunk or Treat, and a 50th anniversary cookbook to support church renovations. The Court meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM in Herbert Hall.
- Official Hostesses of St. Bernadette since 1987
- St. Joseph Altar, garage sale, First Communion, Confirmation, funeral rosaries
- Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets; Christmas gifts for Casa teens
- March for Life adoration
- Monthly meetings: first Tuesday at 6:30 PM in Herbert Hall
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical life at St. Bernadette is supported by many choirs and liturgical volunteers who lead celebrations at every Mass. The parish website lists rotating liturgical ministries open to parishioners who feel called to serve, with sign-ups available through the parish office.
- Multiple choirs leading liturgical celebrations at all Masses
- Children's School Choir
- Rotating liturgical ministries (contact the parish office)
Parish Mission & Pastoral Council
St. Bernadette was one of the first parishes to use the Pastoral Council model of shared leadership after the Second Vatican Council. Each year the administration and council hold a one-day retreat; the council actively follows up on goals and objectives at subsequent meetings. The parish describes itself as a planning parish that "dreams, examines, reviews, prays over and finally enacts a mission of growth in line with our mission statement: to evangelize in the spirit of the mind of Christ."
- Pastoral Council President: Cynthia Percle
- Annual one-day Pastoral Council retreat
- Mission statement: to evangelize in the spirit of the mind of Christ
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
Adults and children over the age of seven who are interested in becoming Catholic — or who were baptized Catholic but have not yet celebrated Confirmation and Eucharist — are invited into the parish's OCIA process. Sessions focus on the teachings and experience of the Church and prepare individuals to celebrate the Sacraments of Initiation during the Easter season. Separate sessions are offered for children/youth, and participants are welcomed into a warm, accepting small-group setting where questions, insights, and faith stories are shared.
- Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)
- Preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist at Easter
- Separate sessions for children/youth
- Contact: 985-879-1506
Facilities & Campus
The St. Bernadette campus has grown steadily since the first Mass in 1959 and now includes the church, rectory, parish school, the parish center (Herbert Hall), and a multi-purpose gymnasium with additional classrooms, meeting rooms, and a youth center. Outdoor features include Rebecca's Walk and Meditation Garden, Glenn's Tower, a prayer garden built in 2002, and the Patricia Domingue walking track funded by the school's Panda Meander Race.
- Herbert Hall (parish center, built 1975)
- Multi-purpose gymnasium with classrooms and youth center
- Rebecca's Walk and Meditation Garden
- Glenn's Tower
- Prayer Garden (2002)
- Patricia Domingue walking track (Panda Meander Race)
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel (side of the rectory)
Location & Directions
St. Bernadette Catholic Church is located in the Bayou Cane area of Houma, Louisiana, off of Park Avenue (Hwy 24), just before Southland Mall. Visitors enter the church parking lot from D Street.
- Address: 409 Funderburk Ave, Houma, LA 70364
- Funderburk Avenue is off of Park Avenue (Hwy 24), just before Southland Mall
- Church parking lot entrance is on D Street
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. George Herbert1958–
Founding pastor; built the church (1959), rectory, school, and convent; brought the Dominican Sisters to staff the school.