About St. Francis de Sales · Echo, Louisiana
St. Francis de Sales is a small Roman Catholic parish in the rural community of Echo, Louisiana — a tiny hamlet about 20 miles south of Alexandria along Hwy 1 in Rapides Parish — that has been serving Catholic families in the lower Red River region since 1894. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Alexandria's Avoyelles Deanery and is pastored today by Fr. Dwight De Jesus, VF, supported by a parish secretary/bookkeeper and a director of religious education. Worship is centered on a weekly Vigil Mass on Saturday, a Sunday morning Mass, two weekday Masses (Tuesday morning and Wednesday evening), and a robust round of traditional devotions: First Friday Mass and Adoration, weekly Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet at an outdoor Prayer Garden, Lenten Stations of the Cross, and a novena leading into Divine Mercy Sunday.
- Established
- 1894
- Patron
- St. Francis de Sales
- Rector
- Rev. Dwight De Jesus, VF
- Diocese
- Diocese of Alexandria (Louisiana)
Why belong here
St. Francis de Sales is a deeply rooted rural Louisiana parish where the same families — and local craftsmen — have shaped the sanctuary for more than a century, and where traditional Catholic devotions are very much alive. Sunday Mass, weekday Mass, First Friday Adoration, a weekly outdoor Rosary at the Prayer Garden, Lenten Stations of the Cross, and a novena for Divine Mercy Sunday give parishioners a full sacramental and devotional rhythm. The parish also comes together socially through the annual September Church Fair (sponsored by the Knights of Columbus), the October Rosary Garden gathering, the children's All Saints' Parade, the December Christmas Program, and deanery-wide collaborations like ACTS retreats, men's ministry "God on the Move," catechism, and Bible study — making it a true spiritual home for Catholics in the Echo area.
Mass times at St. Francis de Sales
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before weekend Masses
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday: 6:00 pm (Mass and Adoration)
About St. Francis de Sales Parish
St. Francis de Sales is a small, country Catholic parish in the rural community of Echo, Rapides Parish, Louisiana — about 20 miles south of Alexandria on Louisiana Highway 1. Founded in 1894, it belongs to the Avoyelles Deanery of the Diocese of Alexandria and today is pastored by Rev. Dwight De Jesus, VF, who also serves Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Fifth Ward. The parish office is staffed by a secretary-bookkeeper and a director of religious education, and the church itself is a true community-built sanctuary, constructed largely by parishioner craftsmen in 1970.
- Year established: 1894
- Diocese of Alexandria, Avoyelles Deanery
- Pastor: Rev. Dwight De Jesus, VF
- Patron: St. Francis de Sales
History of the Parish
The Catholic community in Echo began in 1884 as a mission of St. Francis Xavier in Alexandria, with Fr. Limagne as the first visiting priest. Land for a small chapel was donated by Paul Guillory, whose family later gave additional acreage for a parish cemetery. In 1894 the mission was elevated to an independent parish under the patronage of St. Francis de Sales, with Fr. Regis Dumas as first pastor — buried, after his death, under the church floor. A larger Roman-style church was built in 1906, and the present church replaced it in 1970.
- 1884 — Mission of St. Francis Xavier, Alexandria
- 1894 — Erected as an independent parish; Fr. Regis Dumas first pastor
- 1906 — Larger Roman-style church built
- 1925 — Fr. Joseph Jacquet built mission church at Egg Bend
- 1944 — Brick rectory built under Fr. Herman Couvillion
- 1947 — Sisters of Divine Providence open parish school (closed 1962)
- 1952-55 — Fr. William Allison builds parish hall and Grotto of the Blessed Mother
- 1970 — Current church designed by Harold DeKeyser, built under Fr. Joseph Van Winkle, C.I.C.M.
- 2006 — New tabernacle and Sacred Heart statue installed
- 2019 — 125th Anniversary Mass and Church Fair on October 5
The 1970 Church & Its Furnishings
The present church was designed by architect Harold DeKeyser and erected under Fr. Joseph Van Winkle, C.I.C.M. in 1970. Its sanctuary was largely a work of the parish: local craftsmen built the pine pews, the altar, the side benches, and the bishop's chair, along with the rest of the sanctuary furniture. Antique statues of the Blessed Virgin and of St. Francis de Sales, made by the Daprato Statuary Company, were preserved from the 1906 church that preceded it. The Stations of the Cross inside the present church incorporate the original stations from 1906, and in 2006 a new tabernacle was placed in the church alongside an antique statue of the Sacred Heart.
- Architect: Harold DeKeyser
- Building pastor: Fr. Joseph Van Winkle, C.I.C.M.
- Pew, altar, bench, bishop's chair: built by local parishioner craftsmen
- Daprato Statuary Company statues of BVM and St. Francis de Sales preserved from 1906
- 2006: New tabernacle and Sacred Heart statue added
Devotions
St. Francis de Sales maintains a strong devotional life centered on the Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady, and Divine Mercy. First Friday brings a 6:00 pm Mass with Adoration; Mondays at the Prayer Garden offer a rotating Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet at 6:00 pm; Lent brings Wednesday Stations of the Cross; and Divine Mercy Sunday is preceded by a parish novena.
- First Friday: 6:00 pm Mass and Adoration
- Divine Mercy Sunday: Novena the week before
- Stations of the Cross: Wednesday during Lent
- Rosary/Divine Mercy: 6:00 pm every Monday at Prayer Garden
- Rosary: before Saturday Mass
- May Crowning
- October outdoor Rosary in the Rosary Garden
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Beyond its sacramental life, the parish runs an active Religious Education program and partners with the Knights of Columbus Council #9294 for its biggest annual social event. The parish also collaborates with neighboring Avoyelles Deanery parishes on retreats, men's ministry, catechism, and Bible study.
- Religious Education / CCD — Sandi Brouillette, DRE
- Knights of Columbus Council #9294
- Men's Ministry: 'God on the Move' (Avoyelles Deanery)
- ACTS retreats (Avoyelles Deanery)
- Bible study (Avoyelles Deanery)
- Children's All Saints' Parade (November)
- Christmas Program (December)
- Outdoor Walking Stations of the Cross (Lent)
Annual Parish Life
Parish life in Echo follows the rhythm of the Church year, with several hallmark gatherings: the September Church Fair (sponsored by the Knights of Columbus #9294), an outdoor Rosary in the Rosary Garden in October, the children's All Saints' Parade in November, the December Christmas Program, the Lenten outdoor walking Stations of the Cross, and the May Crowning.
- September: Annual Church Fair (Knights of Columbus #9294) — Friday evening and Saturday
- October: Outdoor Rosary in the Rosary Garden
- November: Children's All Saints' Parade
- December: Christmas Program
- Lent: Outdoor walking Stations of the Cross
- May: May Crowning
Parish Staff & Office
The parish is led by its pastor and supported by a small but dedicated lay staff who handle faith formation and the day-to-day operation of the parish office. Office hours are by appointment Monday through Thursday; messages can also be left by phone or email.
- Rev. Dwight De Jesus, VF — Pastor
- Sandi Brouillette — Director of Religious Education
- Lisa Dufour — Secretary/Bookkeeper
- Office Hours: Monday-Thursday, by appointment
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 37, Echo LA 71330
Visit & Contact
St. Francis de Sales is at 104 Echo Street in Echo, Louisiana, at the end of Echo Street where it meets River Road; the main church entrance is on River Road. The mailing address is P.O. Box 37, Echo LA 71330, and inquiries can be directed to the parish phone or email.
- Address: 104 Echo Street, Echo, LA 71330
- Mailing: P.O. Box 37, Echo LA 71330-0037
- Phone: (318) 563-4530
- Email: [email protected]
- Approximately 20 miles south of Alexandria on LA Hwy 1
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Regis DumasFrom 1894
First pastor of St. Francis de Sales after it was designated an independent parish; buried under the church floor after his death.
- Fr. Joseph Jacquetc. 1925
Missionary priest from France stationed in Echo; built the first church at Egg Bend mission (Our Lady of Lourdes); buried next to that church.
- Fr. Isadore Deculear
Served Echo and its mission churches; traveled by horse and buggy.
- Fr. Herman CouvillionThrough c. 1940s
Directed the building of the brick rectory in 1944.
- Fr. George MartinezLate 1940s
Helped open the Sisters of Divine Providence school (grades 1-8) in 1947; school closed 1962.
- Fr. William Allison1952-1955
Built the parish hall and the Grotto of the Blessed Mother; a Protestant convert who credited the Blessed Virgin with his recovery from tuberculosis.
- Fr. Joseph Van Winkle, C.I.C.M.Built 1970 church
Erected the present church designed by Harold DeKeyser.
- Rev. Dwight De Jesus, VFCurrent
Current pastor; also appointed pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, Fifth Ward; previously served St. Joseph, Cheneyville.