About St. Elizabeth Seton · Lafayette, Louisiana
St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana, serving Catholic families in the northern part of Lafayette. The parish was established on September 14, 1975 — the very day Elizabeth Ann Seton was canonized a saint in Rome — and the current church building was erected in 2000 under then-Pastor Father Harold Trahan.
- Established
- 1975
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
- Rector
- Fr. Travis Abadie
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth Seton is a warm, multi-generational Catholic community with a full weekly schedule: Saturday Vigil and three Sunday Masses, daily Mass Monday through Friday, and continuous Eucharistic Adoration from Tuesday morning to Wednesday afternoon. Parishioners can grow in faith through Religious Education for grades 1–11, OCIA (Christian Initiation of Adults), Vacation Bible Camp, Confirmation prep, EDGE youth ministry, and adult groups like That Man is You, Women at the Well, and the Seton Rosary Makers — while also serving neighbors through Bereavement, Family Promise, Nursing Home Eucharistic Ministry, the homebound ministry, and the Remember Me support group for caregivers of those with dementia or Alzheimer's.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth Seton
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:15–3:45 PM
- Sunday: 7:30–7:45 AM
- Sunday: 9:30–9:45 AM
- Sunday: 5:30–5:45 PM
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 6:30–6:45 AM
- Wednesday: 5:00–5:15 PM
- First Friday: 6:30–6:45 AM
- First Saturday: 7:30–7:45 AM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday 8:00 AM through Wednesday 4:00 PM (continuous Eucharistic Adoration)
History of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish
St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church was established on September 14, 1975 by Bishop Gerard Frey of the Diocese of Lafayette — the very day that Elizabeth Ann Seton was canonized a saint in Rome. Bishop Frey appointed Father Gene Maurice Lafleur as the founding pastor, who guided the parish from modest beginnings through 1987. The present church building was erected in 2000 under Father Trahan, who described the new structure and its people with the words 'beautiful, inviting, open, inspiring, prayerful, unpretentious, and classy.'
- Founded September 14, 1975 by Bishop Gerard Frey
- Five pastors have served the parish since its founding
- Current church building constructed and dedicated in 2000
Parish Staff & Clergy
Parish Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Deacon Nelson Schexnayder — [email protected]
- Deacon Ronald Chauvin — [email protected]
- Blake Harson, Director of Religious Education & Safe Environment Coordinator — [email protected]
- Diane Triche, Welcome & Visitation Minister — [email protected]
- Elmary Francis, Bulletin Editor & Bookkeeper — [email protected]
- Linda Souther, Secretary — [email protected]
- Marc Conque, Music Minister (4:00 & 8:00)
- Michael Grado, Music Minister (10:00)
- Francis LeBlanc, Music Minister (6:00)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish is committed to the 'ongoing spiritual development' of its members and offers catechesis for every age — children, youth, and adults — in line with the parish's call to 'put people in communion with Jesus Christ' (CCC #426). All parish volunteers who work with children must be Safe Environment certified.
- Religious Education / CCD for grades 1–7 — Sundays 11:00 AM–12:15 PM, Family Center
- EDGE youth ministry (grades 5–7) — Sundays 2:30–3:45 PM, Family Center
- Confirmation preparation (8th grade) — Sundays 4:15–5:45 PM, Family Center
- Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) — Wednesdays 6:15–7:15 PM, Ministries Building
- Vacation Bible Camp (VBC) — one week each summer for children entering K–5
- Children's Church at 10:00 AM Sunday Mass for ages 4 through First Communion
Sacraments
St. Elizabeth Seton prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation, healing, and vocation. Couples are asked to meet with a priest or deacon at least one year before their anticipated wedding date to begin marriage preparation, and parents are encouraged to register for the Baptism course during the early stages of pregnancy.
- Baptism — early pregnancy registration recommended
- First Penance & First Communion — 2nd grade registration
- Confirmation — 8th grade registration
- Marriage — 1 year advance meeting with priest/deacon required
- Communion for the Homebound / Anointing of the Sick — contact Diane Triche
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical ministries provide a way for parishioners to take an active role in Sunday and daily Masses. Schedules for Ministers of the Word and Ministers of Welcome are published and downloadable through the parish website.
- Welcome Ministry (Greeters)
- Ministers of the Word (Lectors)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Altar Servers
- Music Ministry (three ministers cover the Vigil and Sunday Masses)
- Art and Environment (Décor) Ministry
- Children's Church
Outreach & Pastoral Care
The parish reaches out beyond its walls through ministries that comfort the grieving, house the homeless, visit the sick, and support caregivers. Remember Me is a notable ministry at St. Elizabeth Seton providing a support group for family and caregivers of those living with dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
- Bereavement Ministry
- Family Promise
- Ministry to the Homebound (Communion visits coordinated through Diane Triche)
- Nursing Home Eucharistic Ministry
- Remember Me — support group for caregivers of those with dementia or Alzheimer's
Family Life & Adult Groups
Beyond the Sunday Mass schedule, St. Elizabeth Seton offers a range of small groups, rosary-making, and faith-sharing gatherings that build friendships and deepen prayer life across generations.
- Faith for Families
- Seton Sunshine
- That Man is You — men's group, Tuesdays 5:30 AM, Family Center
- Women at the Well — Tuesdays 5:30–7:45 PM, Family Center
- Seton Rosary Makers — first Tuesday, 10:00–11:00 AM, Ministries Building (rosaries gifted to veterans in hospice, Carmelites, cancer patients, hospital chaplains, and parishioners)
- Respect for Life Rosary — Thursdays 6:00–7:00 PM in Church
Catholic Schools
St. Elizabeth Seton is an owner parish of Sts. Leo-Seton Catholic School (PreK–8), jointly with St. Leo the Great Church; both pastors serve on the school's faculty, celebrating Mass, hearing confessions and teaching. The pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton also serves as Chancellor of Sts. Leo-Seton. The parish additionally supports Teurlings Catholic High School (grades 9–12). Both schools are SACS CASI accredited.
- Sts. Leo-Seton Catholic School (PreK–8) — jointly owned with St. Leo the Great
- Father David Hebert serves as Chancellor of Sts. Leo-Seton
- Teurlings Catholic High School (9–12)
- Both schools are SACS CASI accredited
Visiting & Contact Information
New parishioners are encouraged to call the parish office to register. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the parish can be reached by mail at 610 Rain Tree Trail, Lafayette, LA 70507. Secure online giving is available through the parish's Giving page, and weekly bulletins are posted on the website.
- Address: 610 Rain Tree Trail (off of Moss Street), Lafayette, LA 70507
- Phone: (337) 235-1483
- Fax: (337) 270-2447
- Office hours: Mon–Thu, 8:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
- New parishioners encouraged to call the office to register
- Online giving available via the parish Giving page
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Gene Maurice Lafleur1975–1987
Founding pastor, appointed by Bishop Gerard Frey on the day Elizabeth Ann Seton was canonized. Passed away June 11, 1989, while pastor of Assumption Church in Mire.
- Rev. Russell Harrington1988–1994
- Rev. Harold Trahan1995–2007
Pastored during the erection and dedication of the current church building in 2000.
- Rev. Marty Borcherding2007–2012
- Rev. David Hebert2012–present
Ordained June 11, 2011. Became pastor July 1, 2012. Also serves as Chancellor of Sts. Leo-Seton Catholic School.