About St. Francis Xavier Cabrini · Kaplan, Louisiana
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini is a Roman Catholic mission chapel in Kaplan, Louisiana, operating as a mission of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church, the territorial parish. Together the two worship sites serve the faithful of Kaplan and the surrounding Vermilion Parish area within the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana. The mission chapel, located at 901 N. Frederick Avenue, hosts weekday Masses and one Sunday Mass, while Holy Rosary at 602 N. Church Avenue hosts the remainder of the weekend schedule. The combined parish campus also includes Maltrait Memorial Catholic School and the Christians Who Care Center, a charitable resale shop on Main Street.
- Established
- 1944
- Patron
- St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (Italian-American nun, founder of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, first American citizen to be canonized, patron saint of immigrants)
- Rector
- Rev. Stephen Sahayaraj Irudayasamy
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
Why belong here
St. Frances Cabrini offers a full schedule of Masses throughout the week — including a Sunday morning Mass, daily weekday Masses, and a First Saturday Mass — along with regular confession times before each Mass and by appointment. The combined parish campus supports Catholic formation for every age through Maltrait Memorial Catholic School ("God, Children and Learning are Our Priority") and a vibrant Life Teen/EDGE youth ministry, and reaches beyond the parish walls through the Christians Who Care Center resale shop on Main Street that funds charitable outreach. For Catholics in the Kaplan area, it is a worshiping community with deep local roots going back to 1896 and 1944.
Mass times at St. Francis Xavier Cabrini
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM (St. Frances Cabrini)
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:50 PM (Holy Rosary)
- 30 minutes before all weekday Masses
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration in the Adoration Chapel on the west side of the Holy Rosary campus (facing Maltrait); call the office for the chapel code
About the Parish
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini is a Roman Catholic mission chapel in Kaplan, Louisiana, operating as a mission of the territorial parish Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. The two worship sites together serve the faithful of Kaplan and the surrounding area within the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana. The mission chapel is at 901 N. Frederick Avenue; the main parish church (Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary) is at 602 N. Church Avenue; the parish office/mailing address is 613 N. Hebert Avenue, Kaplan, LA 70548.
- Office Phone: 337-643-6472
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu, 9:00 AM – Noon
- Office Coordinator Email: [email protected]
- Parish Secretary Email: [email protected]
History
The Mission of St. Frances Cabrini was established in 1944 with a $1,000 gift from the Bishop of Lafayette and a dismantled Army chapel moved from a Mississippi army base. The mission was placed under the Holy Ghost Fathers and Our Lady of Lourdes in Abbeville. Fire and tornado between 1958 and 1962 destroyed the original wooden mission structures; the current chapel buildings were completed in October 1962. In 1971 Our Lady of Lourdes formally donated the property to the territorial parish, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, which itself dates to 1896 in Cossinade before relocating to Kaplan.
- Founded April 1944
- First resident pastor: Fr. A.D. Ray, appointed July 1955
- New chapel completed October 1962
- Property transferred to Holy Rosary in 1971
Parish Staff & Clergy
The combined parish family of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary and St. Frances Cabrini Mission Chapel is currently served by Rev. Stephen Sahayaraj Irudayasamy as pastor.
- Rev. Stephen Sahayaraj Irudayasamy — Pastor
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
The parish operates a Life Teen youth ministry program, including EDGE for middle schoolers and Confirmation preparation for high schoolers. The ministry has run summer mission trips, NET Ministries middle school retreats, fall retreats, and a Core Team leadership formation process. The parish invites inquiries from teens and adult leaders alike.
- Life Teen (high school)
- EDGE (middle school)
- Confirmation preparation
- NET Ministries retreats
- Life Teen Core Team
Maltrait Memorial Catholic School
Sharing the Holy Rosary campus is Maltrait Memorial Catholic School, named in honor of Father Maltrait, the early pastor who rebuilt the parent parish after a fire and a storm. The school's motto is "God, Children and Learning are Our Priority." Information and registration for the school year are available through the school's website.
- Motto: "God, Children and Learning are Our Priority"
- Website: http://www.maltraitmemorial.com/
- Located on the Holy Rosary campus
Outreach: Christians Who Care Center
The Christians Who Care Center, located on Main Street in Kaplan, is a parish-affiliated resale shop that gives back to the community. It stocks gently used clothing, household goods, books, furnishings, electronics, and more. Hours of operation are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 8:00 AM to Noon.
- Address: 307 Cushing Ave, Kaplan, LA 70548
- Phone: 337-643-1717
- Hours: Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, 8:00 AM – Noon
Visit Us & Contact
The parish office, located at 613 N. Hebert Avenue, Kaplan, LA 70548, is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to Noon. The office phone (337-643-6472) is answered by staff at 9 AM and 3 PM daily, and an after-hours answering service can transfer emergency calls directly to a priest.
- Office: 613 N. Hebert Ave, Kaplan, LA 70548
- Phone: 337-643-6472
- Office Coordinator: [email protected]
- Parish Secretary: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. A.D. Ray1955-
First resident pastor of the Mission of St. Frances Cabrini, appointed July 1955 from Our Lady of Lourdes in Abbeville
- Father Maltraitearly 1900s
Pastor of the parent Holy Rosary parish in Kaplan; rebuilt the parish church twice after fire and storm; honored by the naming of Maltrait Memorial Catholic School