About St. Edmond · Lafayette, Louisiana
Saint Edmond Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the Diocese of Lafayette. Founded in 1974 on land that had belonged to the Orgeron family, the parish serves the southwest side of Lafayette from its campus at 4131 West Congress Street, at the corner of West Congress and Ambassador Caffery Parkway. The parish describes its identity with the phrase 'At the corner of Mercy and Love,' and offers Mass in English and Spanish, plus a deaf-interpreted Mass, alongside an active youth ministry, Knights of Columbus council, RCIA, religious education, and outreach such as disaster relief through St. Edmond and the Knights of Columbus.
- Established
- 1974
- Patron
- St. Edmund (patronally St. Edmond, in honor of land donor Edmond A. Orgeron)
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph Campion, SSJ (Pastor)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
Why belong here
St. Edmond is a mid-sized, multilingual Catholic community on the southwest side of Lafayette that welcomes English-speaking, Spanish-speaking, Chinese, and deaf parishioners alike. It pairs the daily rhythms of traditional liturgy — weekday Masses, weekend Masses including a Spanish Vigil and a deaf-interpreted Sunday evening Mass, regular confession, and Eucharistic Adoration — with a deep bench of lay ministries: Altar Servers, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, Sacristans, Knights of Columbus, KC Ladies Auxiliary, Altar Society, RCIA/Adult Confirmation, Religious Education, Youth Ministry, Scouting, Shut-In and Nursing Home ministries, and a Come Lord Jesus prayer group. For Catholics looking for a parish that takes both worship and service seriously — from local Assistance to the Needy to flood-relief outreach in Avoyelles Parish — St. Edmond is exactly that kind of family.
Mass times at St. Edmond
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday & Thursday: 6:00 – 6:20 am
- Wednesday: 11:40 am – 12:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 – 8:30 am
- Saturday: 3:00 – 3:45 pm
- Sunday: 7:30 – 7:50 am, 10:30 – 10:50 am, and 4:00 – 4:45 pm
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered (contact coordinator Sharron Patout at 337-988-2467 for the current schedule)
History of St. Edmond Parish
The parish was canonically established on May 29, 1974 by Bishop Gerald L. Frey of the Diocese of Lafayette. Its story actually begins in 1960, when the nearby Our Lady of Fatima Parish, through its Auxiliary Bishop Robert Tracy, purchased 10 acres from the Edmond A. Orgeron family on the southwest side of Lafayette; the Orgerons then donated 2 more acres with the stipulation that any parish formed on the property be named for their family patriarch. When the parish was created in 1974 it was formed from the surrounding parishes of Our Lady of Fatima, St. Jules, Holy Cross, and Sts. Peter and Paul in Scott, and was placed in the care of the Washington Province of the Society of Mary (Marist Fathers), with Father Thomas C. Dowling, S.M., as the first Associate Pastor. The parish celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 2024, marking 50 years of Catholic life on the Orgeron property.
- Canonically established May 29, 1974 by Bishop Gerald L. Frey
- Land originally acquired by Our Lady of Fatima in 1960 from the Orgeron family
- First Associate Pastor: Father Thomas C. Dowling, S.M.
- Originally entrusted to the Marist Fathers (Society of Mary, Washington Province)
- Formed from Our Lady of Fatima, St. Jules, Holy Cross, and Sts. Peter and Paul (Scott)
- Golden Jubilee celebrated 2024 (1974–2024) with Mass by Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel on November 16, 2024
Our Patron Saint
The official patron of the parish is Saint Edmund, traditionally spelled with a 'u.' For the Lafayette parish the spelling was changed to 'Edmond' — the French form of the name — both because of Lafayette's Francophone heritage and to honor Edmond A. Orgeron, the landowner whose gift made the parish possible. The parish keeps Saint Edmund's feast day on November 20.
- Patron: Saint Edmund (St. Edmond)
- Feast Day: November 20
- Name adapted to honor Mr. Edmond A. Orgeron, donor of the land
Parish Staff and Clergy
St. Edmond is led by a pastor supported by a parochial administrator, two (formerly three) deacons, and a staff of administrative, formation, and maintenance personnel. The staff page lists both Fr. Joseph Campion as Pastor and Rev. Jesuraj Perkmans as Parochial Administrator, alongside Deacon Frank Cormier, Deacon José Luna-Becerra (Spanish deacon), and lay staff in religious education, youth ministry, discipleship formation, finance, and maintenance.
- Rev. Joseph Campion, SSJ — Pastor (also serves the Chinese 华人团体 community)
- Rev. Jesuraj Perkmans — Parochial Administrator
- Deacon Frank Cormier — also RCIA / Adult Confirmation coordinator
- Deacon José Luna-Becerra — Spanish Deacon
- Deacon Rickey Castaneda (listed in the August 2024 bulletin)
- Regina Bourque — Administrative Assistant & SEC Coordinator
- Kay Richard — Bookkeeper
- Terry Richard — Office Clerk
- Karolyn Comeaux — Director of Religious Education
- Terri Frederick — Discipleship Formation
- Douglas Gauthier — Director of Youth Ministry
- America de Los Rios Daigle — Spanish Liaison
- Maintenance: John Arceneaux, James Cormier, Kade Krouse, Beau Plaisance
Sacraments
St. Edmond offers the full range of parish sacraments, with the parish office or pastor as the point of contact. Weddings require at least six months of preparation with Fr. Joseph Campion, the Anointing of the Sick is available on request, and RCIA / Adult Confirmation is coordinated by Deacon Frank Cormier. Funeral arrangements are made in coordination with the funeral home of the family's choice.
- Anointing of the Sick — pastor notified immediately upon request
- Weddings — contact Fr. Joseph Campion at least 6 months in advance
- Funerals — arranged with the funeral home of choice, in coordination with the parish
- RCIA / Adult Confirmation — Deacon Frank Cormier
- Baptism & Parish Registration — through the parish office or website
Ministries and Parish Life
The parish runs a broad mix of liturgical, formation, and service ministries, with named lay coordinators for each. Liturgical ministries include Altar Servers, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, Sacristans, and Ushers; service and fellowship include the Knights of Columbus, KC Ladies Auxiliary, Altar Society, Come Lord Jesus prayer group, Stewardship Committee, and Assistance to the Needy; outreach extends to Shut-In, Nursing Home, and Scouting ministries, plus disaster relief such as the Avoyelles Parish flood response carried out with the Knights of Columbus.
- Altar Servers — Mark Schmuck (303-7030)
- Lectors — Debra Thibodeaux
- Extraordinary Ministers of Communion — Gina Broussard (257-1078)
- Sacristans — Jim Diaz (296-3234)
- Ushers — Randal Menard (501-7080)
- Altar Society — Carole Gaubert (654-6392)
- Knights of Columbus — Mark Caubarreaux (962-2789)
- K.C. Ladies Auxiliary — Debbie Caubarreaux (280-6489)
- Come Lord Jesus — Charlene Bernard (981-4886)
- Stewardship Committee — Lewis Bernard (981-4886)
- Shut-In Ministry — Coleen Hebert (258-2909)
- Nursing Home Ministry — Tom Grote (984-5876)
- Scouting — David McBride (207-1656)
- Assistance to the Needy — call the Church Office (981-0874)
- ACTS Retreats — contact Fr. Joe (981-0874)
- Gardening Angels — Ellen Grote & Paulette Yandle (280-7723)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Edmond is led by Karolyn Comeaux, Director of Religious Education, with Terri Frederick overseeing Discipleship Formation and Douglas Gauthier directing Youth Ministry. RCIA and Adult Confirmation are coordinated through Deacon Frank Cormier. Together these ministries serve school-age children, teens, adults, and those preparing to enter the Church.
- Director of Religious Education: Karolyn Comeaux
- Discipleship Formation: Terri Frederick ([email protected])
- RCIA / Adult Confirmation: Deacon Frank Cormier
- Parish Registration: through the parish office or website
Youth Ministry
St. Edmond's Youth Ministry, directed by Douglas Gauthier, runs regular gatherings for young Catholics. 'Sanctified Sundays' (Living In Fellowship & Truth) and 'Youth Nights' (Pursuing Ultimate Love) are held in the St. Carlo Youth Room and the parish Family Center, and are open to youth in grades 6–12 and young adults ages 18–30.
- Director of Youth Ministry: Douglas Gauthier ([email protected])
- Sanctified Sundays — Living In Fellowship & Truth (young adults 18–30)
- Youth Nights — Pursuing Ultimate Love (grades 6–12), St. Carlo Youth Room
- Family Center events for youth fellowship
Outreach and Charity
Outreach at St. Edmond includes ongoing local help through the Assistance to the Needy line at the parish office, plus larger responses to regional disasters. In a recent outreach the parish and its Knights of Columbus council collected and delivered essential supplies and financial assistance to families impacted by flooding in Avoyelles Parish — a project highlighted on the parish homepage under the verse 'Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ' (Galatians 6:2).
- Assistance to the Needy — call the Church Office (981-0874)
- Avoyelles Parish flood relief with the Knights of Columbus
- Shut-In Ministry — Coleen Hebert (258-2909)
- Nursing Home Ministry — Tom Grote (984-5876)
Golden Jubilee (50th Anniversary, 2024)
St. Edmond marked its 50th anniversary in 2024 with a year of monthly celebrations under the theme 'Jesus Christ is the Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever' (Hebrews 13:8). The Jubilee Mass was celebrated on November 16, 2024 by Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel of the Diocese of Lafayette, followed by an Anniversary Gala that evening. The parish composed a special 50th Anniversary Prayer giving thanks for the founders, the priests and deacons who have served, the parishioners past and present, and the Bishops and Diocese of Lafayette who have supported the parish over five decades.
- Anniversary theme: 'Jesus Christ is the Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever' (Hebrews 13:8)
- Jubilee Mass: November 16, 2024, celebrated by Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel
- Anniversary Gala: evening of November 16, 2024
- Jubilee Committee Chairs: Albert & Judy Simien; Co-Chairs: Richard & Paulette Yandle
- Signed in jubilee materials by Pastor Father Joseph Campion and Past-Pastor Father Gilbert Dutel
Live-Stream and Online Giving
All Masses at St. Edmond are live-streamed on the parish website and the St. Edmond YouTube channel, with recordings available afterward on the YouTube channel. The parish also accepts electronic online giving through a link on the website. The parish publishes a weekly bulletin in PDF form on its website, and has warned parishioners about a scam in which fake text messages purporting to be from Fr. Joe ask for donations via credit card.
- Live-stream of all Masses on stedmondlafayette.org/live-mass/
- Recordings available on the St. Edmond YouTube channel
- Online Giving option on the parish website
- Weekly bulletin published as PDF (most recent issue listed on the Bulletin page)
- Scam alert: Fr. Joe does not solicit donations by text or credit card
Visiting St. Edmond
St. Edmond Catholic Church is located at 4131 West Congress Street, Lafayette, LA 70506, at the corner of West Congress and Ambassador Caffery Parkway — a location the parish describes poetically as 'At the corner of Mercy and Love.' The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm and 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm, and Friday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm, and can be reached at (337) 981-0874.
- Address: 4131 West Congress Street, Lafayette, LA 70506
- Phone: (337) 981-0874 — Fax: (337) 989-1417
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 am – 12:00 pm & 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm; Fri 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Tagline: 'At the corner of Mercy and Love'
- Map / directions via the parish website's Contact page
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Thomas C. Dowling, S.M.1974
First Associate Pastor, appointed by Marist Provincial Father Charles Barrett when the parish was canonically established May 29, 1974; the parish was entrusted to the Washington Province of the Society of Mary (Marist Fathers).
- Father Gilbert Dutel
Referenced on the Golden Jubilee page as a former pastor ('Father Gilbert Dutel') writing in the anniversary messages.
- Father Joseph Campion, SSJthrough 2024
Pastor at the time of the 50th anniversary; signed the jubilee letter and is listed as current Pastor on the parish staff page and Diocese of Lafayette directory.