About St. Frances Cabrini · Alexandria, Louisiana
St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church is a large, family-oriented parish in Alexandria, Louisiana, serving central Louisiana as part of the Diocese of Alexandria. Canonically established on March 1, 1947, by Bishop Charles P. Greco in the post-WWII boom, the parish grew from a former army chapel into a thriving community that today worships in a church dedicated in 1981, operates a Pre-K3 through 8th-grade Catholic school, and offers a full traditional and Latin Mass schedule with daily confessions, Eucharistic adoration, and seasonal devotions.
- Established
- 1947
- Patron
- St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (Mother Cabrini)
- Rector
- Rev. Chad Partain (also Chancellor of the Diocese of Alexandria)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Alexandria (Louisiana)
Why belong here
St. Frances Cabrini offers a rare combination in central Louisiana: a full traditional Catholic life with both English and Latin Masses seven days a week, daily confessions by appointment, weekly Eucharistic adoration, Benediction, Stations of the Cross, First Friday and First Saturday devotions, and a parish school where families can hand on the faith from Pre-K3 through eighth grade. The parish is large and explicitly family-oriented, with active Religious Education and Youth Ministry programs led by named staff, making it a fitting spiritual home for Catholic households across Alexandria and the surrounding parishes.
Mass times at St. Frances Cabrini
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 pm – 4:15 pm
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday 11:00 am – 12:00 noon (Holy Hour)
- Wednesdays at 6:00 pm (May – November) — Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Devotions and Benediction
- Wednesdays 11:30 am — Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Stations of the Cross
Parish History
St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church was canonically established on March 1, 1947, by Charles P. Greco, the sixth Bishop of Alexandria, and is one of the post-WWII foundations of the Diocese of Alexandria. Its first pastor, Father Michael Prevot, celebrated Mass in City Park Auditorium before the parish moved on August 31, 1947, into a former U.S. Army chapel — Chapel No. 1436 of Camp Claiborne. After Father Prevot's untimely death, the parish was led in turn by Msgr. Gerard J. Ducote, Msgr. Martin J. Tyrrell, Father Bernard Zagst, Father Gerard Foley, and Msgr. Ronald Hoppe. The present church was begun in 1979 and dedicated on August 16, 1981, by Bishop Lawrence P. Graves, the seventh Bishop of Alexandria. Today Father Chad Partain pastors the community while also serving as Chancellor of the Diocese of Alexandria.
- Canonically established March 1, 1947 by Bishop Charles P. Greco
- First Mass in own building: August 31, 1947, in former Camp Claiborne Chapel No. 1436
- Present church begun 1979, dedicated August 16, 1981 by Bishop Lawrence P. Graves
Parish Staff
The parish and school staff are led by Father Chad Partain, who serves both as Pastor of St. Frances Cabrini and as Chancellor of the Diocese of Alexandria. The lay staff coordinates religious education, parish life, and the physical plant.
- Rev. Chad Partain — Pastor / Chancellor, Diocese of Alexandria
- Jonathan Brooks — Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Leland McCullough — Plant Manager
- Ashley L. Smeltzer — Parish Life Coordinator
Sacraments
Beyond the Eucharist, the parish celebrates the other sacraments according to the Church's normal order. Baptisms are scheduled individually, and Reconciliation is available weekly and by appointment; Holy Day Masses are added to the regular schedule as they occur.
- Baptism — by appointment
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:30 – 4:15 pm or by appointment
- First Friday and First Saturday devotions with associated Masses
- Holy Day Masses — 7:00 am, 12:15 pm, 5:30 pm
Religious Education and Youth Ministry
Faith formation at St. Frances Cabrini is led by Jonathan Brooks, Director of Religious Education, who also directs the parish's Youth Ministry program. The Youth Ministry vision is 'to serve and outreach the youth of our parish, so they can be young people that love God always any time and at any place — loving God and each other, our youth will be able to keep their life free from addiction, strong and faithful to the values of Christ and the church.'
- Director of Religious Education: Jonathan Brooks
- Youth Ministry contact: [email protected]
St. Frances Cabrini School
St. Frances Cabrini School was established on September 8, 1948 — barely a year after the parish itself — to provide a Catholic education for the children of the new parish. Opened by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word under their first principal, Sr. M. Florentine McGarry, the school began in temporary army surplus barracks with 220 pupils. A new brick school was completed in 1953, adding grades 7 and 8, and by the parish's 1972 Silver Jubilee enrollment had reached 560 students. As the number of teaching sisters declined in the 1970s, lay teachers and a School Advisory Board took up the mission; the 1981 dedication of the new church freed the old church building for school expansion. Today the school serves over 250 students from Pre-K3 through 7th grade (Pre-K3 to 8th per the Diocese of Alexandria listing) in the Incarnational spirit of the founding Sisters.
- Established September 8, 1948
- First principal: Sr. M. Florentine McGarry, Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word
- Originally grades 1–6; grades 7–8 added in 1953 with new brick school
- Address: 2215 E. Texas Ave., Alexandria, LA 71301-4229
- School phone: (318) 448-3333
- Fax: (318) 443-7156
- Current enrollment: 250+ students, Pre-K3 through 7th (Pre-K3 – 8th per diocese listing)
Parish Life and Office
Day-to-day parish life and coordination of lay activities is overseen by Ashley L. Smeltzer, Parish Life Coordinator, while the physical plant is cared for by Leland McCullough, Plant Manager. The parish office follows a traditional Monday–Friday schedule with a midday closure for lunch.
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (closed 12:00 – 1:00 pm for lunch); Friday 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
- Parish Life Coordinator: Ashley L. Smeltzer
- Plant Manager: Leland McCullough
Visit, Register, and Contact
Visitors and newcomers are welcomed at St. Frances Cabrini. The parish maintains a Church Registration page on its website for those wishing to formally join the parish. The parish office can be reached by phone at (318) 445-4588 during published office hours.
- Address: 2211 E. Texas Ave., Alexandria, LA 71301
- Phone: (318) 445-4588
- Website: cabrinichurch.com
- Diocese listing: diocesealex.org/church/st-frances-cabrini-church/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Michael Prevot1947 – (untimely death)
Founding pastor; served until his untimely death. Masses were first celebrated in City Park Auditorium, then in a former army chapel (Chapel No. 1436 of Camp Claiborne) starting August 31, 1947.
- Monsignor Gerard J. Ducote
Successor pastor after Father Prevot's death.
- Monsignor Martin J. Tyrrell
- Father Bernard Zagst
- Father Gerard Foley
- Monsignor Ronald Hoppe
- Father Chad Partain
Current pastor; also serves as Chancellor of the Diocese of Alexandria.